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excerpted from "A Cool Pool Story," The Autism Trail Guide: Postcards from the Road Less Traveled, by Ellen Notbohm (2007, Future Horizons)
During the years my kids (one with autism and one with ADHD) were in swim activities, they loved a water-tag game called Sharks and Minnows. One swimmer is the Shark and the rest of the swimmers are the Minnows, who must swim from one end of the pool to the other without being tagged by the Shark(s). Each swimmer who is tagged becomes a Shark. Soon the Sharks begin to outnumber the Minnows and the odds of success for the Minnows shrink to nothing.
Some children take to the water like fish, metaphor intended, but for others it will be a figurative game of Sharks and Minnows. Many children with autism are very much Minnows, who must make it past the Shark-infested waters of innumerable sensory challenges, with plenty of social communication lampreys and piranhas thrown in. Success requires by recognizing and addressing some of these not-so-obvious impediments.
My son with autism didn't learn to swim until he was eight years old, but when he was ready, and with the right accommodations, he went from the proverbial zero to sixty in five seconds, covering five levels of the Park Bureau's swim program in five weeks and going on to swim competitively for two summers. With the whole-hearted help of the swim program's administrators and instructors, we were able to identify and vanquish many obstacles, such as:
A cavernous locker room booby-trapped with clammy puddles, funky odors and screaming hair dryers will be enough to stop a child with sensory issues such as autism. On top of that are safety issues, particularly if you are a mom with a boy or a dad with a girl.
Stranger-danger is real and scary enough for any child, but for your special needs child, the thought is just heart-stopping. The outside entrance to most pool locker rooms is not visible from the pool deck. You must do whatever is necessary to keep your child safe in loose public venues like this. Some pools now offer family changing rooms, a boon for parents with opposite gender children. If your pool doesn't, and you truly can't take your opposite sex child through the locker room, (I did, without apology) ask if you can come in to the pool through a side exit, employee entrance or other alternative where you can accompany him.
Once you make it out of the locker room; you now confront the actual pool, where there are no end of sensory insults. If you have a choice between indoor or outdoor pool, here are some considerations:
* Heavy chlorine odor can cause headaches and nausea in some children
* Steamy atmosphere can cause some children to overheat
* Echo-chamber effect of shouted instructions and continual splash can make it impossible for the child to understand his teacher.
* Competing noise from simultaneous activities can be overwhelming. One busy summer, we were contending with the noise of an adjacent class, the swim team practice, the steady fwap! from the springboard diving class, and the boombox music from the synchronized swim group at the far end of the pool.
* Water may be too cold or too murky/slimy (from dozens of kids slathered in sunscreen, peeing in the pool); floating dead bugs may scare some children.
* Weather issues can create discomfort – breeze on wet skin, air temperature too cold, rain during the lesson.
* Visual and aural distractions abound – people constantly moving around the pool deck, deck chairs being dragged, glare from the sun, puddles of melted snow cones.
And now, on to…
The size and pace of typical group lessons may be too large for the instructor to give your child the attention he needs and to provide adequate personal space around him during the lesson. Consider the pros and cons of private or semi-private lessons. A one-on-one lesson may be appropriate, or it may be too intense, causing the child to feel the pressure of expectation. A semi-private group of 2 or 3 children, preferably friends your child already knows, can provide a sense of fun, especially if the teacher sets aside a few minutes at the end of the lesson for play activities like diving for rings or bobbing around on an inner tube. All the children in the group should be at about the same skill level.
Ask the pool manager which times of day are the most and least popular, and choose your time accordingly. Some instructors assume a drill-sergeant barking style in order to be heard over the din. Ask the instructor to speak directly to your child from a distance of no more than two feet, to give clear instructions in plain language, no slang.
Acknowledge and respect that there is a fear factor. For any child, there is the fear of going below the surface of the water and not being able to come back up. For any child, there must be a level of comfort and safety. Ask the pool manager what kind of assistive equipment is available. Flotation aids like the foam 'taco' (a neoprene shell with two arm holes ) or float mat help kids get used to the feeling of immersion. Both support the child's body weight so s/he is able to breathe but still acclimate to the feeling of the weight of the water on the body.
Most importantly, remember that it's not as much about flutter kicking and an overhand stroke as it is as about allowing the child to explore their parameters without forcing expectations upon them. As one instructor told us: "Children are very sensitive to their parents' reactions, so consider how they will internalize those reactions. When a child is learning to swim, what is most important is the patience and the encouragement of both teacher and parent, allowing the child the freedom and the permission to progress at whatever individual pace makes them feel safe."
For us, I knew I had found the right instructor when, from my perch in the bleachers, we couldn't hear a word she was saying to my child. I didn't have to. Her written evaluation at the end of the first two-week session said it all:
Wow! An eager swimmer and an absolute pleasure to teach.
Ear to the water, bubbles down, great job!
© 2006, 2010 Ellen Notbohm. Contact author for permission before reproducing in any manner.


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Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Illinois
I own a home in IL, which I lived in for 5 years and have rented for the last 3 years...it has been vacant since November 2010 & I am currently renting a home as my primary residence in another town but cannot continue to pay both a rent & mortagage...I'm having trouble renting my property to a good, reliable tenant...I'm upside down in my mortgage & considering short-selling or foreclosure...
1) what is my best option?
2) what are the implications if I don't have to/want to file for bankruptcy?
3) can the lender seize my assets, i.e., savings account, vehicles, etc.?
4) do lenders work out payment plans to resolve a deficiency if a short sale is approved?
5) Can I walk away without proving hardship, losing savings & assets?
Due to the vast decrease in property value in the area along with undesirable tenants/residents & crime, the property has become a liability for me & financially draining (high interest mortgage, association fees, property taxes, insurance, improvements/repairs, maintenance). At this point, suffering from bad credit for 7-10 years seems a small price to pay for peace of mind & shedding stress, which is taking its toll on my health.
Many thanks for your advice,
IL resident with an albatross around her neck
2 Answers from Attorneys
Your best bet would be to file a bankruptcy, as it is unlikely that you would find a viable purchaser.
Frankly, my thinking is that this is too complicated on the one hand, and there are other factors that you may not be sharing, that could have a bearing on how to answer this, that makes an email response in my opinion inadequate. For example, it might make sense to find a way out of your lease and move back to the devalued property and possibly talk to the lender about a loan modification even with the decrease in value. It may make sense to talk to the lender about a short sale and finding a way to deal with what is called forgiveness of debt income. Do you have a family with additional considerations? Or as Mr. Dobra says bankruptcy may be a way out but again there are potential income tax consequences. You'd be best advised to sit with an attorney and work through the options with a complete assessment of your situation.

subset: commoncrawl


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Just above Cuesta Blanca snowfield
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Public record for May 15, 2008
-- JENNIFER E. ULBRICH, 19, of 1034 9th St., Beloit, on charges of identity theft, obstructing and a probation violation Tuesday night at an apartment in the 1400 block of Canyon Drive, Janesville.
-- KRYSTAL A. RUCKS, 18, of 1430 W. Memorial Drive, Janesville, on a charge of child neglect Tuesday afternoon at her home.
-- CHRISTOPHER A. DOWNING, 33, of 5423 E. Highway 14, Janesville, at a residence in the 1000 block of South Jackson Street, Janesville, on Tuesday evening on a Walworth County warrant charging misappropriation of identity information and a Rock County bench warrant charging failure to appear in court on an earlier charge of fourth-offense driving on a revoked license.
-- TIMOTHY J. RAY, 21, of 778 S. Main St., Janesville, at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Janesville Police Department on two counts of delivering marijuana.
Intoxicated driving arrests
-- MELISSA J. HENDERSON, 38, of 111 Melody Lane, Edgerton, at 8:16 p.m. Saturday on Highway 59 east of Casey Road in Porter Township.
-- JOHN J. HULL JR., 51, of 1506 Happy Hollow Road, Janesville, at 12:26 a.m. Wednesday on County J north of Avalon Road in La Prairie Township. It is listed as his second drunken-driving arrest.
-- BURGLARY to Floral Expressions, 320 E. Milwaukee St., Janesville, reported Monday. No estimate reported on many damaged items; a boom box, tools and telephone�total value $75�were reported stolen.
-- GANG GRAFFITI reported Tuesday on a stop sign at the intersection of King Street and Oakhill Avenue in Janesville.
-- HUMES ROAD WEST OF LEXINGTON DRIVE, JANESVILLE, at 3:40 p.m. Wednesday. A motorcycle driven by Timothy J. Soellner, 40, of 1814 W. Happy Hollow Road, Janesville, was in a right-turn lane when a car in the right lane moved into the right-turn lane, forcing the motorcycle off the road. Soellner was thrown from the motorcycle and treated and released at Mercy Hospital. The car was last seen heading south on Lexington Drive.
-- CAMERON J. SIFRER, 16, of 25 S. Sumac Court, Janesville, with burglary and operating a motor vehicle without owner consent in connection with the theft of a car from a garage in the 600 block of South Fremont Street in Janesville in February.
-- TROY A. ALSTEENS, 32, of 1133 S. Cherry St., Janesville, with identity theft and obstructing after a Wisconsin State Patrol trooper reported receiving false information during a traffic stop Monday.
Walworth County
-- KYLE R. FIELD, 27, Nekoosa, with escape. He is accused of leaving the Walworth County Huber dorm Dec. 18 and not returning. He was serving a sentence for retail theft as party to a crime and possession of drug paraphernalia.
-- DONALD J. TITONI, 52, N3112 Poplar Drive, Lake Geneva, escape. He is accused of leaving the Walworth County Huber dorm for work Nov. 30 and not returning. He was serving a one-year sentence for possession of cocaine. Titoni also was charged with felony bail jumping and possession of drug paraphernalia after a traffic stop Nov. 24 in Lyons Township.
-- TRACY A. STARR, 38, of 215 Lewis St., Elkhorn, identity theft to avoid prosecution. She is accused of using someone else�s name and birthday during a traffic stop Jan. 7, 2006, in Geneva Township to �avoid getting into trouble,� according to a criminal complaint.
-- BRYAN W. NATYNSKI, 32, W4099 Linton Road, No. 1, Lake Geneva, physical abuse of a child. He is accused of stomping his foot near his 2-year-old son and when the boy started crying, grabbing him by the arm and throwing him 3 feet across the room April 17. The boy suffered minor injuries.
-- MIGUEL J. HANSEN, 26, of 203 Sunny Lane, Janesville, possession with intent to deliver marijuana and resisting an officer as a repeater after a traffic stop May 4 in Elkhorn.
-- JERRY L. SADOWSKI, 36, Scottdale, Ga., felony bail jumping. He is accused of having a 20-minute telephone conversation with a 13-year-old Williams Bay girl in violation of his bond.
Last updated: 9:09 pm Thursday, December 13, 2012


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Each year, the University recognizes a classified employee with at least five years of continuous service who has demonstrated extraordinary support for the university's missions and goals. The recipient completes work with a high degree of efficiency, initiative and creativity and enjoys outstanding rapport and respect of peers, students and the public. The award is funded by the University of Nevada, Reno Foundation.
Donna Brown, an administrative assistant with Environmental Health & Safety, is the 2007 Classified Employee of the Year. Her nominators wrote this about her:
Brown is and has always been a strong supporter for the University and its goals. She keeps in mind that the University exists to educate students and do research, uses that as motivation, and maintains focus on the big picture.
This attitude allows her to keep priorities in line and be a positive factor for compromise and cooperation when necessary. She consistently reminds the student workers in our department that they are here to learn and not to neglect their studies for a bigger paycheck.
She assists them with administrative problems when she can, even with academic issues. She always has time to listen and give guidance.
Brown can always be counted on to be friendly, helpful, and supportive to anyone with whom she comes into contact. She is often the first person sought for assistance because she is respected for her knowledge, temperament and ability to resolve issues.
She treats everyone with respect and as if they matter.
Donna takes great pride in her work and deservedly so. Her duties are numerous and she completes them all as if each one is just as important as the other. Her storehouse of knowledge makes her the de facto point of contact for the department and for building occupants when it comes to facility issues.
Her information is accurate and trusted and her performance is stellar.
Organized, neat, and complete are Donna's trademarks. She handles a tremendous volume of work in an efficient and timely manner. She keeps track of all assignments and can provide status of any project.
She maintains the time cards for more than a dozen students workers without error and ensures everyone follows the time restrictions. She maintains leave records without error and can tell any faculty or staff members how much they have and when they used any portion of his or her allotment.
Donna is always willing and seeks opportunities for professional development. She has attended many of the classes the University offers employees. She keeps up with her required training and makes the effort to improve her job skills whenever she can. Her work related classes have helped her obtain the level of competence everyone appreciates.
Donna excels at committee support. She served on the Staff Employees' Council for three years, filling the duties of Council Secretary two consecutive years. She has been the lead for the EH&S Department in providing one of the largest displays for the SEC.
Open House each year she has been with the department. She worked on the Facilities Resource Committee as a representative of the SEC. The committee found her input so valuable that they asked her to stay on to represent EH&S after she was no longer a member of the SEC.
Her EH&S committee support includes work with the Occupational Safety Committee, Emergency Planning Committee and the Radiation Safety Committee.
Her genuine belief in the welfare of the school and community, as well as promotion of the ideals of safety and health, are demonstrated in her volunteer activities. She twice assisted and participated in a department display at the Bud Beasley Elementary School Health and Safety Fair.
She was wonderful interacting with the kids and explaining safety in terms they could understand. She is also a member of the steering committee for the EH&S Jim Randolph Memorial Scholarship. She has been a major part of creating and nurturing a grass roots effort that has provided three annual scholarship awards and has enough to funds to provide six more, even if fund raising were to stop today.


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One of the first graded stakes races of
the new year, the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita Park may
be one of the best betting races of the weekend. Nine horses will go
postward Saturday afternoon after the scratches of Black Spirit and
Willyconker, including an 8-year-old going for his third San Gabriel
victory. Here's a look at the field.1) Slim Shadey (9/2)Pros: One
of several old pros in this field, Slim Shadey loves Santa Anita. All
four of his U.S. victories have come at this track, including three
Grade 2 wins.Cons: None of those victories are recent. He has
just one win in the last 15 months and has not finished better than
fifth since February.2) Te Rapa (9/2)Pros: An
ultra-consistent 5-year-old, Te Rapa has hit the board in seven
consecutive outings since June, with three victories. His win two
back, where he closed from well off a slow pace at Betfair Hollywood
Park, was particularly impressive.Cons: None of the gelding's six
victories have come at Santa Anita, where he's mustered just one
second and one third in seven tries. Also, he's making his first
stakes start after a career that's included several outings in
claiming company.3) Artic North (8-1)Pros: Both of
his tries in graded company may be better than they look. A
traditional closer, Artic North went longer than he might have liked
in both the Red Smith and Hollywood Turf Cup, and in both races, the
Peter Miller trainee had no pace to run at.Cons: He's still
eligible for a non-winners of two other-than allowance, and there's a
chance his two off-the-board finishes in graded company mean he's
just not a graded stakes-caliber horse.4) Dubai You X Y Z (3-1)Pros: The gelding by E Dubai came off the bench running
last out, recording his sixth win in 10 lifetime starts last month
after seven months on the shelf. He's finished off the board just
once, and he owns two wins and a second-place finish in three starts
at Santa Anita.Cons: That off-the-board finish game in his lone
try against graded stakes company, the 2012 Shoemaker Mile. That
field may have been better than the one he faces today, but the
winner of that race was Jeronimo, who lines up today.5) Fire With Fire (10-1)Pros: Neil Drysdale's entrant has run in
nothing but stakes races since March. The run has included two
victories, as well as a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Berkeley
Handicap at Golden Gate last out.Cons: Those two wins came in
ungraded stakes races at Santa Rosa and Fresno, and his other two
career victories came in the summer of 2011. Additionally, the son of
Distorted Humor is winless in eight career starts at Santa Anita.6) Utopian (12-1)Pros: We can safely assume he needed his last
race. His run in the Lure Stakes this past October was his first
since June of 2012, and his worktab since then hasn't been bad. At
his best, the graded stakes-winner, who also ran third in the 2012
Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap, is more than capable.Cons:
This is another horse who may not like Santa Anita. He's 0-for-6
lifetime here, and he might need another race (at least) to recapture
his 2012 form.7) Empty Headed (20-1)Pros: For a
stretch late last year, the son of Unusual Heat got pretty good. A
five-start stretch that featured three wins and two second-place
finishes included two wins and two seconds at Santa Anita, and he
returns to Arcadia after several unsuccessful tries at Betfair
Hollywood Park.Cons: This is a massive class jump for him, and it
will be his seventh start since the beginning of October.9) Jeranimo (5/2)Pros: This horse has a track record of great
success in this race. He won it in 2010 and 2013, and was second in
2012. Most of his 2013 campaign came against Grade 1 competition, and
he won one of those races, the Eddie Read at Del Mar.Cons: It
would've been nice to have seen a little more from him since the
Eddie Read. He ran ninth in the Pacific Classic, ninth in the Awesome
Again, and seventh in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. The class relief
here should help, but it's possible he's a bit past his peak, and the
outside post doesn't help.10) Huntsville (10-1)Pros:
Mike Smith hops aboard a gelding cutting back in distance, and both
of those things should help him. Four back, he ran a big race at this
route, closing into moderate fractions to run second and nose out Te
Rapa.Cons: This is a horse that doesn't like winning. He's
winless in his last 18 starts, ever since an allowance at Santa Anita
in September of 2012. The post is a killer, and his recent tries in
graded company haven't been great.
Meet Andrew Champagne
A native of upstate New York and a graduate of Ithaca College, Andrew Champagne fell in love with horse racing at a very early age on summer trips to Saratoga. His turf writing credits include time spent as a sportswriter, weekly columnist, and handicapper at The Saratogian, a summer working for The Saratoga Special, and "field research" at OTB facilities in Saratoga Springs and his hometown of Kingston. He also spent two years in the athletic communications office at Siena College, and interned with NBC Olympics at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.
Andrew moved to Pasadena, Calif., in October of 2013, and now serves as an Associate Producer in HRTV's Digital Media department and Horse Racing Nation's Southern California writer. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewChampagne, and email him at firstname.lastname@example.com.
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text:
4 servings
Delicious on its own, or served with Mikaela Reuben's Ginger Qi'a Vegetables recipe, this makes the very best of quinoa and the butternut squash, holding it all together.
Cilantro Oil
- 5 cups water + 1/8 cup water
- 2 cups chopped cilantro - packed
- 1 tsp pressed garlic
- 1 tsp minced jalapeno – deseeded ¼ tsp sea salt ½ cup olive oil
Cilantro Quinoa
- 3 cups water
- 1 ½ cups quinoa
- 4 tbs rice wine vinegar
- ¼ cup fine chopped green onion
- 1 tsp ground pepper
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/8 cup cilantro oil Cilantro paste – from cilantro oil recipe
Butternut Squash
- 4 cups diced butternut squash
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp sea salt
Sweet Potato Rounds
- ½ medium sweet potato - peeled
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
Cilantro Oil
- Bring 5 cups of water to a boil.
- Add cilantro for 13 seconds, then remove from hot water and cover in cold water.
- Squeeze all the water out with paper towel.
- Add cilantro, garlic, jalapeno, sea salt, and olive oil to the mini prep cuisinart and pulse for 45 seconds.
- Add 1/8 cup water and pulse again for 30 seconds.
- Strain through fine mesh strainer. Use spatula to help push all the oil out.
- Set the cilantro paste from strainer aside. 8. Keep cilantro oil in small container.
Cilantro Quinoa
- Rinse quinoa in cold water.
- Add quinoa and water to a pot and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat once boil is achieved, and simmer with a lid until quinoa is cooked and water is absorbed, approximately 15 minutes.
- Toss quinoa with rice wine vinegar, green onions, pepper, salt, cilantro oil, and cilantro paste.
Butternut Squash
- Preheat oven to 350.c and position a middle rack.
- Peel, remove the seeds, and cube the squash into small ¼- ½" pieces.
- Toss with olive oil and sea salt.
- Place squash on a parchment lined baking sheet for 40 minutes.
Sweet Potato Rounds
- Preheat over to 350.c and position a middle rack.
- Peel sweet potato and slice into rounds 1/8 inch thick, making 15-20
- Place rounds onto parchment, so none of them are overlapping
- Roast for 30 minutes, then allow to cool.
- Set aside 12 sweet potato rounds, and finely dice the rest.
- Mix quinoa with butternut squash and finely diced sweet potato. Mix well and taste.
- Using a 1 cup measuring cup from a set of circular measuring cups, add 2-3 sweet potato rounds spread out along the bottom to create a single layer of potato.
- Pack the measuring cup with quinoa.
- Press in well, then gently tap the mold back out onto the plate or into the palm of your hand and place onto plate.
- If smaller quinoa molds are desired use 1/3 cup or ½ cup measuring devices.
- Surround the quinoa with droplets of cilantro oil to serve.


text:
Legal Question in Criminal Law in Texas
If i purchase something with a credit card i found , such as a smart phone and send it to mexico, will there be trouble?
Asked on 7/11/13, 6:27 pm
1 Answer from Attorneys
Cynthia Henley Cynthia Henley, Lawyer
Yes. It is a felony called credit card abuse.
Answered on 7/12/13, 12:38 pm
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text:
New decision-support tools are helping participants in consumer-driven health plans make better use of their dollars. However, there's still plenty of room for improvement.
In the ideal world of health-care consumerism, Internet-savvy patients access customized information to compare the quality and cost of doctors and hospitals. But in today's world, they get what they get: decision support tools that range from barely useful to cutting edge.
Things are getting better as health insurance companies and other tool developers focus on making consumer-oriented information more precise and user-friendly, experts say. For all its current shortcomings, a field that's barely a decade old has seen great advances.
"This piece of health care is in its early infancy. It will continue to evolve," says Don Whitford, director of product development at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan in Detroit.
Long available to health-industry insiders, data on hospital quality, drug prices and other aspects of medical care is filtering down to the patient level. "How you make that actionable from a consumer standpoint is the trick," says Ann Mond Johnson, president of Chicago-based Subimo, which has developed health-care decision-support software called Healthcare Advisor.
Web-based tools that let users compare health plans, hospital quality and the cost of medical services and drugs are increasingly common as employers strive to control health-care costs by encouraging employees to become more informed consumers. The software is proliferating, too, in the wake of criticism that workers have been thrown into consumer-driven health plans without enough information to help them make critical and money-saving decisions.
The new decision-support applications help patients navigate the complex world of health care as they've never done before, consumerism advocates say. At the same time, they acknowledge, not everyone is an early adopter, and there's room for improvement.
Early Signs of Hope
Whether the software will revolutionize health care remains to be seen, but there are early promising signs. A Watson Wyatt Worldwide/National Business Group on Health survey of 585 companies earlier this year revealed that 76 percent of the "best performers," defined as those with the lowest two-year median medical-cost increases, gave employees information on provider and/or hospital quality, compared with only 54 percent of poor performers.
Other research shows that hospitals improve their quality when data about them is publicly reported. The fact that prospective patients could eyeball the data -- regardless of whether or not they actually did -- was apparently enough to goad hospitals into strengthening obstetric and cardiac care, according to a study by the University of Oregon for the Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative in Madison, Wis. Hospitals that received quality feedback privately or not at all did not improve as much. (See "Does Publicizing Hospital Performance Stimulate Quality Improvement Efforts?" in Health Affairs, March/April 2003, for more details.)
The EHCAC, comprised of 144 self-funded employers in south-central Wisconsin, regularly updates its "QualityCounts" report on hospital quality and encourages hospitals in its service area to complete the Leapfrog Group's annual survey, says alliance CEO Cheryl A. DeMars. "Our hope was that hospitals would look at the data and use it as an opportunity for improvement," she says.
The employer-supported Leapfrog Group, based in Washington, annually surveys hospitals on their outcomes on seven high-risk procedures and asks whether they follow 20-plus safety practices. Its ratings on hospitals' patient-safety practices are available on its Web site (www.leapfroggroup.org) and are incorporated into many health plans' data on hospital quality.
As of July, 19 of 35 hospitals in the alliance's provider network had completed the Leapfrog survey. Hospitals that make progress in computerized ordering of tests and medicines, and intensive-care-unit staffing, get favorable reimbursement rates from alliance employers and publicity as high-quality facilities in the group's provider directory, DeMars says.
The pressure of public accountability has also worked for the state of Maine, which recently published an online list of "preferred" hospitals for the nearly 40,000 people covered by its self-insured employee health plan. As of July, 14 of the 36 hospitals in the plan's network were on the list, having completed the Leapfrog survey and met other safety criteria.
"We have found that many (members) are using the list for elective procedures. The reaction has been extremely favorable. The reaction from the medical community has been favorable as well," says Frank A. Johnson, executive director of employee health and benefits for the state of Maine. As an incentive for employees, any hospital services (except for emergency care) billed by preferred hospitals are exempt from the annual deductible.
These apparent successes in the use of health-care tools mask the issue of participation. Many employers don't know who is and isn't using the tools they offer, partly because many insurers and vendors don't measure usage beyond Web "hits." Watson Wyatt has found that high users include members of CDHPs and other high-deductible plans, which provide the greatest financial incentives to spend health-care dollars wisely, says Justine Goode, a health-care consultant in the consulting firm's Minneapolis office.
Colleen M. Murphy, president of Asparity Decision Solutions Inc. in Durham, N.C., says the heaviest users of its health-plan comparison tool, Comparison Module, are age 45 or younger, have family coverage or have annual incomes of $50,000 or more.
"That's unfortunate, because those making less than $50,000 could benefit from making a wiser health [plan] choice," she says. "It's a more difficult population to reach."
Enter human resource professionals, who can educate employees about the usefulness of whatever software is on the market. This benefit communication and support is needed all year long, not just during open enrollment, Goode says.
"It's important to have these tools available across multiple channels" because different employees learn differently, adds Meredith Baratz, vice president of market solutions at Definity Health in Dulles, Va. Definity Health, a CDHP provider owned by UnitedHeath Group, supplements its online content with written materials and live telephonic help from specially trained nurses.
A little cash never hurts, either. Some employers offer modest sums of $25 to $50 to employees who use a health-plan comparison tool, though it's not a common practice, experts say. The most common method is good old-fashioned communication.
"We spent a considerable amount of time from April through June doing approximately 50 employee orientation programs explaining the [preferred hospital] list and how it was developed," says Johnson of the state of Maine. In addition, the state's benefits Web site (www.maine.gov/beh) lists the preferred hospitals, explains the selection criteria and includes "points to remember" in seeking quality care.
State of the Art
Health-care decision-support software includes products that allow users to find and compare the quality and prices of drugs, hospitals, outpatient procedures and, to a lesser extent, doctors. As with the medical providers they rate, quality varies.
The oldest, most robust tools let employees compare health-plan options at open enrollment time. "This is one of the most expensive and important decisions an employee makes each year," Murphy says.
Users input their age, gender, health status and expected medical usage for the coming year (number of office visits, prescriptions, lab tests and so on), then see a side-by-side comparison of up to three plans, with information on each plan's expected employee premiums, out-of-pocket costs and total costs. Some products also let users figure out how much to contribute to flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts.
Asparity's tool ranks health plans in order of "best fit" by allowing employees to first rate the importance of various plan features. Most enrollees focus on a mix of 11 attributes, including cost, care access and customer satisfaction, Murphy says.
Prudential Financial Inc. introduced Asparity's tool at the same time it added consumer-driven and high-deductible health plans last fall, bringing its number of plan offerings to four. "Prudential had never used anything like this before," says Paul Virtell, director of employee benefits for the Newark, N.J.-based financial services company. "We wanted to make sure [employees] were well-armed with information so they would be better consumers."
About 6,300 of 18,000 covered employees used the tool to compare health plans and, for the most part, chose the recommended plan, according to Virtell. "The tool was very successful," he says, thanks in part to an educational campaign that included announcements about it in internal newsletters, a home mailing and "road shows" at 13 company locations.
On the quality side, hospitals-comparison tools are rapidly improving -- a boon for people planning elective procedures. The best of these applications massage complex data into easy-to-understand numbers and charts showing hospital- and procedure-specific patient volume, mortality and complication rates and other information. A simple graphic -- a pie chart or number of stars -- indicates overall quality, adjusted for risk and severity. Examples of these tools include the federal government's Hospital Compare, Subimo's Healthcare Advisor and Cigna HealthCare's Hospital Value Tool.
The fact that one hospital may be better than another comes as a surprise to many people, consumerism experts say. "For a lot of [members], this was their first exposure to the fact that [hospital] quality varies significantly," says Johnson, referring to the Maine state government's experience rolling out its preferred-hospital list.
Yet there are limits. Data is available only for some hospitals and the most common surgeries and procedures. In addition, "the requirement is that the information be very objective, but care can be very subjective," says Jeffery Lanzet, executive vice president of consumer-driven benefit solutions at SHPS, a health-benefits management company based in Louisville, Ky.
Finally, tools that provide once-secret prices have hit the market big time. "Many health plans are announcing plans to publish prices in one form or another on their Web sites," says Goode. "That's the direction consumers have to go."
The best tools today compare prescription drug prices. Cigna HealthCare's Hospital Value Tool shows real-time, out-of-pocket prices for prescription and generic drugs at its mail-order pharmacy and more than 54,000 retail pharmacies by zip code. Many other tools show only price ranges.
Meanwhile, tools for estimating out-of-pocket costs for common inpatient and outpatient procedures have recently become available. Because treatment varies among patients, costs are stated as ranges or averages rather than exact prices. The differences can be big. For example, the cost of a hip replacement at three Los Angeles hospitals ranged from $6,432 to $33,822, according to Cigna's Hospital Value Tool.
In general, price estimates for outpatient procedures are narrower than those for hospital procedures because there's not as much variability in services, says Jim Nastri, Cigna's vice president of product development. Cigna's cost-comparison tool for 15 outpatient procedures and three radiology tests, introduced last April in Wichita, Kan., and New Hampshire, was rolled out nationally in September.
Even the most progressive employers don't use pricing tools much yet. In the Watson Wyatt survey, 19 percent of the best-performing employers and 9 percent of the poor performers provided online pricing tools.
The Future of Decision Support
Predictions about health-care information applications vary as much as the tools themselves. Some experts see a need to better integrate cost and quality information -- and to make both more precise -- while recognizing that employees with different needs will use the tools in different ways.
"The challenge is to pair price information with quality information so consumers can judge value," says Suzanne Delbanco, CEO of the Leapfrog Group.
Asparity's Murphy says the future includes HR's ability to use the data generated by tools to offer health plans and premium levels that best suit the workforce. Asparity's SimHR product analyzes employee preferences after enrollment as a guide for next year's plan offerings. "It's about using the information from the tools to become a better health-care supplier," Murphy says.
Lanzet of SHPS predicts more high-touch services, such as live telephonic help from nurses, to steer people through the maze of choosing providers and paying medical bills. At the same time, "push technology" and health-care statements akin to 401(k) statements will give information to people who haven't reached out for help.
In the long run, software may be used to model "health and wealth" scenarios to help people calculate how much to save for medical care during retirement, health-care consultants say. The idea is to budget for future health-care needs through health savings accounts or other means, a little-practiced skill that's likely to become more important.
For now, consumerism advocates will settle for people taking a crack at the tools.
"The ultimate goal . . . is for individuals to take ownership of their care," says Lanzet. "This will take great behavioral change. It's a shift from entitlement to empowerment. There will come a day when people shop for care based on cost and quality."


text:
Proclaiming that the tomb is empty – that Jesus has risen from the grave – is the most powerful witness any Christian can offer. But if our Easter celebration stops at proclamation then we've shortchanged the world of the hope and joy it sorely needs. The resurrection must also be about embodiment. It should change the way we live and move and have our being. Easter should transform and strengthen us to participate in God's reconciling work in the world.
That's why I chose to spend this Easter worshipping in a very different way and in a very different place. There was no midnight watch service or large family dinner, but there were countless moments of hope and an abiding trust in the possibility of new life.


text:
This port installs a few frequently-needed packages from SuSE Linux 9.2. These
packages, in conjunction with the linux.ko kernel module, form the basis of the
Linux compatibility environment.
This port is available for the i386 architecture and experimentally for amd64.
If you use an Alpha computer, please install the linux_base-debian or
linux_base-gentoo-stage1 port instead.
If you want to run Linux X11 applications, please install the
x11/linux-XFree86-libs port.
WWW: http://www.novell.com/linux/suse
No installation instructions: this port has been deleted.
The package name of this deleted port was: linux_base-suse
PKGNAME: linux_base-suse
ONLY_FOR_ARCHS: amd64 i386
distinfo: There is no distinfo for this port.
There are no ports dependent upon this port
No options to configure
Number of commits found: 11
Despite trevor commits 7 weeks ago the ports remained broken and trevor
has again been unresponsive to reports of the problem. Honour the original
expiration date and remove the ports.
Approved by: portmgr (self)
Revert back previous commit of removing deleted ports from
CONFLICTS variable. Give happy users just another chance to
update their systems.
Pointed out by: infofarmer, kris
Remove deleted linux_base-* and linux_locale* ports from CONFLICTS variable
of the remaining linux ports.
Reviewed by: netchild (agreed in principle)
BROKEN: Does not build
Update the bzip2 RPM (description from the INDEX file provided by Novell):
bzip2 could crash or run into an enless loop when decompressing
certain specially crafted archives. This problem has been fixed.
An advisory is at
Update the coreutils RPM (description from the INDEX file provided by Novell):
Fix a bug in the cp and mv utilities that cause them to terminate
with a segmentation fault when copying extended attributes fails.
Update the zlib RPM:
Mark deprecated and set expiration time for various reasons:
- superseeded
- outdated/EOL
- no maintainer
- bitrod
While I'm here add some more conflicts.
Reset maintainership to ports@ after ~4 months without any response to any
Thanks for contributing.
Since the acroread7 port is a somewhat important port for our users, I
will hand it over to emulation@ if no _active_ *committer* takes it
before the ports freeze.
While I'm here:
- fix a little nit in the csound port (I think the intention was to
create no backup file instead of creating one with a "-e" extension)
- set ARCH to i386 in the amd64 case for the acroread7 port. This
is a work-around to be able to install everything when a dependency
is not already installed (ARCH is read-only in sub-makes, so the
dependencies can't change it). This should be removed when the
dependencies are fixed or converted to use bsd.linux-rpm.mk. [1]
Not objected to by: portmgr (explicit: krion; silence: rest)
Maintainer timeout: ~4 months
Submitted by: Sangwoo Shim <email@example.com> [1]
Approved by: krion@
Set NO_LATEST_LINK, requested by kris.
Remove expired linux_base-6 port.
new port linux_base-suse-9.2, based on the latest SuSE point release
Servers and bandwidth provided byNew York Internet, SuperNews, and RootBSD
No vulnerabilities have been reported in the past 14 days
* - modified, not new
All vulnerabilities


text:
Former Penn State coach Joe Paterno is listed in serious condition after suffering complications in his battle with lung cancer, says a family spokesman.
Paterno, 85, began hospital treatment for the disease on Jan. 13, after being diagnosed in November. Around 9 p.m. Jan. 21, erroneous reports circulated that Paterno had died, prompting one of the coach's sons to Tweet, "Joe is continuing to fight."
On campus, the dark stadium was playing football videos, seemingly in "JoePa"'s honor, and people were flooding the area where his statue stands, despite freezing temperatures. Tears flowed.
"Over the last few days Joe Paterno has experienced further health complications," spokesman Dan McGinn told the Associated Press on Saturday. "His doctors have now characterized his status as serious.
"His family will have no comment on the situation and asks that their privacy be respected during this difficult time," McGinn added.
Before being hospitalized Paterno's impressive 46-year career as head coach ended as a result of a sex-abuse scandal allegedly involving former assistant Jerry Sandusky.
• Reporting by RENNIE DYBALL


text:
The Republic of ColoradoPublic Group active 1 year, 2 months ago
Based in the liberal-trendy bastion of Boulder, expanding outward to the rest of Colorado, looking to reverse the fed, the gmo, the class warfare, and the NWO…. If your in Colorado join and let's make something happen…lighting fires in the minds of mountain men.
Please Login to view the content.


text:
2014 Valentine's Day Special Offer For IDeer Blu-ray Player Windows & Mac Released
iDeerApp Software announced 2014 Valentine's Day special offer for iDeer Blu-ray Player. Users can get iDeer Blu-ray Player with a lower price and watch Blu-ray movies to make Valentine's Day more perfect.
February 14, 2014 (Newswire.com) - iDeerApp Software Announced 2014 Valentine's Day special offer for iDeer Blu-ray Player Mac and Windows. Users can get iDeer Blu-ray Player with a lower price as for 2014 New Year, and watch Blu-ray movies at home to make Valentine's Day more perfect.
For 2014 Valentine's Day, iDeerApp Software is offering a discount for iDeer Blu-ray Player suite: Mac + Windows, as for the New Year. With this suite, users can install iDeer Blu-ray Player on a Mac computer and a Windows at the same time. For more information, please enter iDeer Blu-ray Player store page (http://www.ideerapp.com/purchase.html).
Based on constant improvement, iDeer Blu-ray Player has become one of the best Blu-ray player software applications, which is powerful and multi-functional. It brings smooth Blu-ray playback to users on Windows PC and Mac without any trouble. Most video and audio formats are supported as well, including DVD,CD, MOV, AVI, FLV, WMV, MP4, MPEG, RMVB, MP3, WMA, AAC, AC3, etc.
With a user-friendly interface and fantastic audiovisual experience, iDeer Blu-ray player software also be fully compatible with Mac & Windows operating systems, including the latest Windows 8 and Mac OS X 10.9. iDeer Blu-ray Player has been updated to v1.4.7. Any new user is eligible for a free trail. Free download is available at: http://www.ideerapp.com/download.html.
iDeer Blu-ray Player is an officially authorized Blu-ray media player by BDA(Blu-ray Disc Association). The 1080p video and DTS 5.1 audio systems were included to get a better audiovisual experience. AirX technology makes it possible for users to watch movies on the mobile devices, such as iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, etc. In 2013, Cinavia protection was also solved to support more movies.
Pricing and Availability:
iDeer Blu-ray Player for Mac or Windows is available through the official online website at $59.95, with one-year extended upgrades service. Enter the official website now, there is a special offer for 2014 Valentine's Day, only $59.95 for Blu-ray Player Mac + Windows with lifetime extended upgrades service. Before purchase, users are allowed to experience full features and it is a free Blu-ray player for DVD and general video formats.
About iDeerApp Software
iDeerApp Software is an online provider for Blu-ray playback solution with its Blu-ray player software, Mac and Windows versions. iDeer Blu-ray Player can play Blu-ray discs, Blu-ray ISO files and other multimedia formats on both Mac and Windows operating systems. For more details about iDeerApp Software and its Blu-ray player, please enter: http://www.ideerapp.com
Categories: Computers and Software
Tags: blu-ray playback, Blu-ray player software, ideer blu-ray player, play blu-ray disc


text:
A ridge of high pressure combined with warm offshore-flowing winds kept the South Bay warm and brought another day of record-breaking temperatures to Long Beach on Thursday.
Temperatures reached 79 at Los Angeles International Airport, 80 degrees in Torrance, and 83 in Long Beach by Thursday afternoon, said National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Sirard. It was the warmest day on record in Long Beach since 1976, and the same temperature reached Wednesday, which was the warmest Christmas since 1972.
"For the next couple of days, we're looking at more warm temperatures," Sirard said. "Sunny days and clear nights."
Locals and tourists took advantage of the unseasonable weather at the Hermosa Beach pier by shopping, lying on the beach and riding bicycles and scooters along The Strand.
Marcelo Cavalcanti bought his daughter a cotton-candy flavored ice cream at Tiki Mon Hawaiian Ice Cream & Cafe.
"It's like summertime," Cavalcanti said. "Today we're riding bikes and spending time with the grandparents. It's a perfect day. I feel like jumping in the ocean."
John Oh, who manned the cash register at nearby Tiki Mon surf shop, said the store had been busy since early in the week.
"We had bad weather last year, but Wednesday was one of the best Christmases we've had in a long time," Oh said, adding that most people come to buy Hermosa Beach shirts.
The weather is expected to remain warm until Saturday, when it will be slightly cooler and partly cloudy, Sirard said.


text:
Football fans can learn more about how chemists are contributing to the production of pharmaceuticals around the world at this week's UT Pregame Showcase.
Pregame Showcase News
Play Date: Saturday's UT Pregame Showcase to Focus on Importance of Play
Gordon Burghardt, Alumni Distinguished Service Professor in the departments of Psychology and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, will be talking about the importance of play at this week's Pregame Showcase prior to Saturday's football game against the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Pregame Showcase Focuses on 17th Century Finance Schemes in Rome
Art history professor Dottie Habel will take football fans on a journey back to Rome during her Pregame Showcase presentation on Saturday at UT.
UT Pregame Showcase Focuses on Methodism and Eighteenth-Century Theater
Misty Anderson, an English and theatre professor, will be speaking at this week's Pregame Showcase on "Methodism and Eighteenth-Century Theatre." This week's showcase will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 4, two hours before the Vols' home game against the Florida Gators.
Pregame Showcase Marvels at the Matter Surrounding Us
Norman Mannella, associate professor of physics and astronomy, will talk about the "Marvels of Matter All Around Us" at this week's Pregame Showcase at the University of Tennessee. The showcase will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 6, in the Carolyn P. Brown University Center Ballroom (Room 213), before the Vols take on Arkansas State University.
Pregame Showcase Marks Twenty-Fifth Year with Diverse Topics, Noted Faculty
It's football time in Tennessee, and that means a new Pregame Showcase lineup. Now in its twenty-fifth season, the Pregame Showcase gives fans the chance to hear from esteemed faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences prior to each gridiron matchup. This year's first showcase will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 31, before the Vols face the Utah State Aggies.
Pregame Showcase to Feature Scientific Computing Expert
Before the Vols' football game against Vanderbilt on Saturday, fans can learn about the past, present, and future of scientific computing at the College of Arts and Sciences Pregame Showcase. Steven Wise, associate professor of mathematics, will discuss the evolution of scientific computing and look at the challenges that lie ahead beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the UC Ballroom. This is the final Pregame Showcase of the season.
Shefner to Talk about Austerity Policies at Pregame Showcase
Football fans can learn more about austerity policies before the Vols vs. Tigers football game on Saturday at the College of Arts and Science Pregame Showcase. Jon Shefner, head of the Department of Sociology, will present "Making the Cuts: Austerity Policies and Their Social Implications," explaining the effects of spending cuts, tax hikes, and other measures governments use during adverse economic conditions.
Pregame Showcase Features Expert on Ghosts in Buddhism
Before the Vols vs. Gamecocks football game on Saturday, fans are invited to hear some pre-Halloween ghost stories from Thailand, as part of the College of Arts and Science Pregame Showcase. "Haunted Bangkok: Angry Spirits, Buddhist Power, and Popular Media in Thailand," features Rachelle Scott, associate professor of religious studies. The showcase kicks off at 10:01 a.m. in the University Center Ballroom.
Dean Theresa Lee to Discuss Sleep Habits at Pregame Showcase
Having trouble catching Zs? Wide-awake football fans are invited to learn all about sleep patterns at this week's Pregame Showcase prior to the Vols game against the University of Georgia on Saturday, October, 5. Theresa Lee, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and a biopsychologist, will discuss how sleep patterns vary through life and explain what is considered normal. The showcase will be held at 1:30 p.m. in the Carolyn P. Brown University Center Ballroom.


text: Behind every great woman lies the support of a true female friend, writes a Fin24 user:STAGES, indecision, frustration, people pleaser, backstabber, sulking, bff (best friends forever), achiever, leader, caring, wife, single mom, are but just a couple of words to describe a woman's life. What if I had... can play like a record in women's minds forever.There's a saying that goes: "Behind every great man is one woman of strength and substance." True as that may seem to be, I believe behind every great woman is one of her true female friends who had her back through it all. I honestly cannot remember the number of times I dropped my girlfriends for a man, how many times I didn't pitch for girl's night out because I had a bad day at work, not to mention the times I didn't bother to call them to check up on them but only communicated when I needed that shoulder to cry on. Typical of us ladies.A male friend of mine once said: "If the world was run by women alone, there would be a lot of jealous countries not communicating with each other for no reason!" To him and a couple of friends it was the joke of the year, to me it was a slap in the face. I mean really, is that we women are all about, fighting and envious of each other and no united front?I thought he had a nerve even thinking about some statement like that. Needless to say, I gave him attitude for a week till I realised that no matter how raw his opinion was, it was so true of how we women interact amongst ourselves.A man's best friend could steal his girlfriend from him; fists will fly but rest assured, after one or two beers, days after that encounter you sure to catch a glimpse of their bald heads in the same car driving to a soccer match or boys' night out. It just gives you goose-bumps thinking about it, hey. Hold onto the thought that a man would never steal his friend's girl; when a man sees his friend with a beautiful woman, he gets inspired to go and search for (his own) beautiful girlfriend.However, it's in a woman's nature that when they see their girlfriend with a handsome, successful man, they do the opposite of men, they want that girl's man!It''s stuck in their brain that this man is the only one left in the world, no use going to search for another, steal your girlfriend's man... why, why, why? Then you wonder why we women do not trust each other around our men.When the tables are turned and another woman snatches your man, better yet let that woman be your friend or someone you know - all hell breaks loose! Cat fight alert, possibly smashed window screen of your car and public insults when you bump into each other in the streets a year later. Well ladies, beware you don't get caught in this one wearing a wig or hoop earrings 'cause all that will most definitely be seen flying in the air. After all, drama is a woman's middle name, isn't it?On the brighter side of women's relationships between themselves, a loyal friend will still be your friend even when she can plainly see you always need her in times of trouble. A true friend will be honest with you when the outfit you think the world of just doesn't cut the edge for that big job interview. Your girlfriends will take you in when the man you dumped them for, kicks you out of the house.If only we women could but learn never to backstab each other, not to forsake each other or laugh at another woman's trials, and think twice before we decide to snatch or have an affair with another woman's man. Don't hesitate to lend a helping hand to a fellow woman on her way down; you might be going uphill today but tomorrow you could just be on your way down and trust me, we would not break any bones by complimenting each other. - Fin24*This guest post is by Zinzile Mthethwa, Accounts assistant at RAGE.* Add your voice to our Women's Wealth Issue and help empower others this Women's Month. Write a guest post Share your coping tips Ask the experts


text:
One of the city's oldest jazz and blues venues, Smyth's does good music every night bar Wednesdays. There's an acoustic open-jam session on the first Tuesday of every month, and fine jazz is the order of the night on Monday, Thursday and Sunday. The keen, friendly crowd and cheap pints are added bonuses.
Area Temple Bar
Transport Bus 16, 16A, 19, 19A, 83/Luas St Stephen's Green.
Telephone 475 2565
Open Live music from 9pm Mon, Tue, Thur-Sun.
Admission prices vary.


text:
At any given time, there is a Plymouth GTX just waiting to do a burnout in a mall parking lot. This is one of those times.
Rally: Because GTX? Cute lil thang you so perty.
Hey Guys, Saw all this talk about rally and maybe even a little talk about a GTX, Raphael?, and thought I'd throw this out really quick.
1969 Plymouth GTX is a "sporty performer"
Keeping with our "Gentleman's muscle car" theme of our vintage Car and Track road tests over the past couple weeks (1971 Oldsmobile 442 and 1969 Studebaker Avanti II) let's take a look at the 1969 Plymouth GTX. If you are a Jalopnik reader who has a strong zest for living, this 1969 Plymouth GTX test could be your…
REPORT: Devon GTX Gets Axe Along With Viper
According to Automobile, the Devon GTX has gone the same way as the Dodge Viper its based on. Such a shame, especially considering the 650 HP, carbon-bodied supercar set lap records at both Laguna Seca and Willow Springs. [Automobile]
Devon GTX: 650 HP Viper In Disguise
The Devon GTX, revealed yesterday at Pebble Beach, is a 650 HP V10-powered super car from LA-based industrial design house Devon Motorworks. If the $500,000 car looks familiar, it should. It's based on the Dodge Viper SRT/10. Gallery below.
1968 Plymouth GTX for a Documented $119,900!
If movies have taught us anything, it's that orphans are typically sad, but plucky. Today, Nice Price or Crack Pipe has found a little orphan Hemi, but you might need to be Daddy Warbucks to buy her.
Devon GTX Heading To Pebble Beach Despite Losing Viper Bid
The Devon GTX was supposed to be based on the Dodge Viper. Unfortunately, Scott Devon's $5.5 million bid for the Viper brand and factory was turned down. What can he use instead?
PCH, 80s Acronymic Forced Inductors Edition: Dodge Omni GLHS or Mazda 323 GTX?
Welcome to Project Car Hell, where you choose your eternity by selecting the project that's the coolest... and the most hellish! Like chlamydia and financial crises, turbocharging was hot in the 80s…
You Need An Autogyro To Get Spy Shots Of The Fuego GTX!
While we'd prefer to get into the Turbo Zone with a Fuego, the naturally-aspirated GTX was obviously quite the mysterious machine. Look how angry it gets when gyrocopter-equipped spy photographers attempt to capture it on film in its desert habitat (where, apparently, it emerges from its underground bunker only to…
PCH, Subcompact Turbo Hoonage Edition: Mazda GTX or Turbo Geo Metro?
Not very surprisingly, the '63 Jaguar XK-E emerged victorious from Dead Man's Curve in yesterday's Jan & Dean-themed Choose Your Eternity poll. If it hadn't been for the unifying theme, I'd never have set a Chevy up against a car whose soul is possessed by the Prince of Darkness. But no matter- today we're going to…
SEMA 2007: Plymouth GTX Wagon for 1968
The story goes the original owner of this wagon was dismayed to find that the Plymouth GTX came out just weeks after he purchased the mighty land yacht. So dismayed in fact he took it back down to the dealer and made them option it the same as a Belvedere-based Plymouth GTX coupe. A 440 with six-pack bolted to a…
Plymouth Rapid Transit System Brochure
While modern automakers try to infuse us with computer generated images of brush strokes morphing into luxury cars or show us smarmy future executives happily tossing their light blues and khakis out of the window on their way out of town, they seem to have long and truly forgotten something. Driving is supposed to…
Classic Ad Watch: 1970 Plymouth Rapid Transit System
Road Runner, Road Runner: Plymouth's Glory Days [Internal]
The Original Shutdown King: '67 GTX Ad
Overshadowed in the annals of musclecardom by its more-brightly-colored, cheaper or sportier brethren, the top-trim Plymouth B-Body was nonetheless a helluva car. We think if we were a swinging early thirtysomething car guy in '67, we just might pop down to our Plymouth dealer and pick one up. Hemi, please.
Before Operation Condor: The Dodge GTX in Argentina
During the early 1970s in Argentina, before a Per n returned to the president's chair, before that Per n was succeeded by his popular but weak-willed wife, and before that wife was thrown from office by a military junta that would regularly use "disappear" as a transitive verb, a "Dodge GTX" could be had. It was so…


text:
Mailinglist Archive: opensuse-kde (339 mails)
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Re: [opensuse-kde] Cannot open forum in Konqueror
- From: Malte Gell <malte.gell@xxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2011 15:07:55 +0100
- Message-id: <firstname.lastname@example.com>
Matt Hayes <dominian@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote
On 2/4/2011 8:29 AM, Malte Gell wrote:
Malte Gell <malte.gell@xxxxxx> wrote
running KDE 4.4.4, why can't I open this forum in Konqueror?
It works fine in Firefox, but it cannot be opened with Konqueror in KDE
KDE 4.6.0 does not work either with this link
Is this the only website you have issues with?
At the moment, yes, the only one. But, I just have started to use Konqueror
more often, so more websites with this issue might appear.
To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-kde+unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxx
For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-kde+help@xxxxxxxxxxxx
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text:
Home > Book (Nonfiction) > Other Books > Expectations > Chapter 4
Chapters: « Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next »
Chapter Two: Friends"True friendship consists not in the multitude of friends, but in their worth and value." – Ben Jonson
Friends; besides our family, they are the ones we spend the most time with. And as we grow older, especially into our ten years, we spend more time with them then we do our family. However, that also means we have more expectations on them as time progresses. And although we age, it does not certainly mean we mature. And if even more mature elders can make unreasonable expectations, why not the less mature folk? As stated in the previous chapter, those close to us are often subjected to our expectations.
Expectations to friends are a little different from those that we place upon our flesh kin, our family that is. However, this does not mean that these expectations carry less potency than the ones that are placed on family. Rather, these expectations could be more direct and thus have a more obvious, or immediate effect on the other party, in this case being friends.
Such expectations often cause misunderstandings and problems between friends as well as breaking up friendships. If expectations on family cause stress, expectations on friends cause frustration.
What matters though, is that the expectations still have effects on those that they are placed on. Examples of such expectations can range from: expecting friends to back you up even though they are unable to, or expecting to be treated better even though you haven't been treating others the same.
Let's see how expectations cause problems between friends in this short story:
Hazel was a studious and sporty teen. She had it great; captain of the school's netball team, excellent grades and a group of good friends to support her all the way. She was a perfect candidate for a scholarship to an Ivy League university. She had a bright future looking ahead. In retrospect, she would have been able to have a prosperous life. That is, if she hadn't made friends with the wrong kind of person.
Her best friend's name was Alice. Now Alice wasn't exactly sporty and her grades were just about average. She wasn't that popular either. However, her parents were aching for her to get into a good college and she would need a scholarship for that. So she decided to sit in a qualification exam for a scholarship, along with Hazel. Since they had known each other since they were born, Alice expected Hazel to help her study in the exam.
Hazel on the other hand, was preoccupied with activities and her own studies so she had no time. Alice didn't even try to make an effort or ask Hazel for help because she took Hazel for granted. All those other times Hazel had helped her understand everything and so she had no need to try so hard. Now Hazel had left her on her own and the day of the examination was closing in. There was one last resort.
Alice went to Hazel's house, expecting her to agree. For the past few weeks, Hazel hadn't helped her at all, so this was retribution for that. But when Hazel heard Alice's plan, she was shocked. "You want me to help you cheat in a national examination?" Hazel exclaimed, making sure no one else could hear her.
"It's only fair since you haven't helped me at all for the past few weeks," replied Alice indignantly.
"It's your own fault that you didn't make the effort to study. I told you that I would be busy for these few weeks. You don't listen. You never do! I'm not having a part in this and that's final!" said Hazel, almost loud enough for the neighbors to hear.
She almost regretted it, but it was for Alice's own good. Cheating would do her no good if she couldn't cope with the hectic schedule of the university. If Alice had just asked Hazel to help her persuade her parents to go to an average university, perhaps none of this would have started in the first place; but Alice was the kind of person who would rather do something by relying on someone else than trying to achieve at something that she could do by herself. She was already reliant on others helping her. And her dependency would cost her.
Being stubborn, Alice didn't take the rebuking so well. So, together with Hazel's rival, Jessica, who just wanted Hazel to flunk her exams and make her as miserable as possible, the two started to plan how to sabotage Hazel in the exam.
For the next few days after that, whenever Hazel tried to talk to Alice, Alice would steer away from her and hang out with Jessica instead, plotting for the right time to get at Hazel. And as the day of the examination drew near, the distance between the two former friends grew further.
Soon enough, the day of the examinations came. And while the candidates entered the hall nervous about the exam, Alice had a strange nasty smug on her face, as if she were looking forward to something. Though, the examination proceeded rather smoothly, at least until Hazel had to use the washroom. Alice took that little time to place little slips of paper into Hazel's pencil case, scribbling something on them. She smiled to herself as she savored the feel of getting sweet revenge.
And as Hazel re-entered the examination hall and sat down, she would get the shock of her life. "Someone's cheating!" shouted a voice behind Hazel.
When she looked back, she found the source of the voice: Alice. And a finger of accusation raised in the air was pointing at her. The examiner briskly walked towards her table to confirm the statement and raised her stationery case, from which the slips of paper fell out. Immediately, Hazel was disqualified from the examination for cheating.
Alice smiled wickedly as Hazel was escorted out of the room. That might have been the end to the story, except having her once best friend betray her was too much for Hazel. And she just snapped. In one swift move, Hazel slammed Alice's head into the table, hard enough to draw blood. With that, she left the girl to bleed, unconscious. Some people went to help Alice while others restrained Hazel from doing any more damage. The police was there in ten minutes and Hazel was taken away for questioning.
Meanwhile, Alice was brought to the hospital, where she had fallen into a coma. The intensity of the attack had been enough to knock her into having a concussion, resulting in her comatose state. Luckily, her life was saved by the amazing skills of the doctors, however the trauma that she had suffered from the impact was enough to cause a problem in the nervous system, rendering her unable to move or talk. Hazel on the other hand, had been convicted of assault as well as attempted murder and sent to prison, although she had no intention on reflecting about anything. The two girls now suffered different fates, caused by one incident. Neither came out better than the other. One had a criminal record and the other would never be able to have a normal life ever again. Only time would tell what would happen next.
Given, this is an exaggeration of sorts, but therein lies the story of the chains of friendship breaking apart. Why did all this happen though? Mostly, it was because Alice thought that Hazel's world should revolve around her. She was entitled, and thought that Hazel should do everything for her. Obviously, this wasn't so. Also, if she could have put more effort into doing things on her own, perhaps she would not have had to rely on others to such a large extent.
Let's take a moment to think shall we? If Alice had examined herself and expected less of Hazel, might this problem have been averted? If she had relied on her own skill and was less dependent on others, would it have been any different? Think about it.
Questions to ponder:
What makes you feel frustrated? Did you ever consider it when you expected something from a friend?
Do you take your friends for granted sometimes?
Do you expect things from others even if you lack the ability yourself?
Are you overly dependent on others for help?
Do you expect others to handle everything that comes your way?
Chapters: « Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next »


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How can i order an ipad 2 online 3g and wifi without the data plan or do I have to do the data plan?
I live abroad and I only need the device itself, not the data plan...Is that possible? Also, is the iPad 2 unlocked and will it work in other countries?
- Asked by Inas E
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They Stay Dead, Joy Subtraction
Joy Subtraction, Black Cat Attack
Three Links
2704 Elm Street
Dallas, TX, 75226
Doors 8:00 PM / Show 9:00 PM
This event is all ages
Past and present members of: Wretch Like Me, Minutes Too Far, Euclid Crash & Black Flag/Screeching Weasel
The subtraction of joy. It's not a new concept—individuals and organizations have been engaging in it for as long as there have been individuals and organizations. Some notable practitioners include the U.S. Congress, girlfriends and wives, Mel Gibson, anyone who thinks Ayn Rand had good ideas, Jonathan Franzen, Nazis, Gwen Stefani, every chamber of commerce, and Ted Nugent. But there is an entity that has made the practice a fine art, elevated it to a level higher than Mount Olympus. Because it's one thing to subtract joy—anyone can do that. But that is merely one tine of a forked tongue. That's just nihilism. There's no greater purpose being served. The trick is to subtract the joy of others while maximizing one's own pleasure. That's when Joy Subtraction can become art.
It didn't start out that way. The band had noble intentions. "It began as a vehicle to transmit the plight of the oppressed, a sort of electric clarion call, if you will," says one of the members. "But then my wife got this killer corporate gig as an attorney, so now we find that our interests often conflict with those of the oppressed. It's really hard for us. On the one hand, you want to care, but, on the other, you don't want to lose any money. So I'm still finding my artistic voice. This country has been so bad to so many people, but it's been so good to me and my family that I'm tending to look the other way. We'll see what shakes out." Of course, what started as looking the other way inevitably became the active dismaying of those around him, and that ethos soon became the modus operandi of the entire band.
Regarding the music, Joy Subtraction sounds like whatever you hate; whatever makes you feel ugly and insecure; whatever garnishes your wages. Do you like Radiohead? Joy Subtraction sounds like the exact opposite of Radiohead. Do you hate Black Flag, Burning Brides, NoMeansNo, Future of the Left, and The Beatles? Good—because Joy Subtraction kind of sounds like all of those bands rolled into one. Except way better.
Regarding your feelings, ha ha ha ha ha. Do you want things to work out for humankind? Joy Subtraction is here to tell you they won't. Do you like good times and great oldies?
Joy Subtraction likes the day the music died. Do you think Jesus wants you to be rich and successful, white and thin? JS is here to tell you he doesn't. He wants you to be killed and eaten by poor people.
Do you want math with your metal? Steam with your punk? Psycho with your billy? Stoner with your rock? Art with your house? Hip with your hop? Power with your pop? Alt with your country? Hard with your core? Shoe with your gazing? Well, piss off— you'll get whatever gruel JS decides to sling your way. Lap it up, lapdog.
Do you think glittering prizes and endless compromises shatter the illusion of integrity? Of course you don't—you're American. Well, so is Joy Subtraction. That and greed are the only things you both have in common. But it's enough, isn't it? So break out your mom's wallet and buy their music. Do it for capitalism. Do it for American especialism. Do it before your mom loses her job. Do it before we all go up in flames. Because, as Joy Subtraction will be the first to tell you, the firestorm's coming. It's on its way now. Feel the heat? You will.
For decades, Punk bands have been split up into sub-genres, and sub-sub-genres based off of everything from sound, to content, to hairstyle but those bands worthy of praise often find themselves making music between those lines and turning the expectation for whatever style fans see them as having on its head. Black Cat Attack (BCA) is one of those bands.
Marrying dark lyrical themes and the soft melodic vocals typically associated with Horror Punk acts with a rhythm section based on the hard, fast and driving bass and drums of the Hardcore movement has helped BCA carve out a place in Southern Ontario's music scene that is truly their own.
"Since we've gone through such a huge change over the last few years we're kind of a different band now," said Valerie Knox, the band's guitarist, leader and only original member.
Originally seeing BCA as an outlet for her love of Rockabilly and traditional Horror Rock, time and line-up changes have morphed the band into something different and something more.
With Oshawa Punk rock standout Bryan Dickface bringing his thunderous bass skills and a stage presence that few can match to the line up, BCA took a step in a different direction. Now, with seasoned drummer, Ari Greenberg added to the band in 2011, BCA had solidified their brand of dark, eerie punk.
After releasing their first studio recording, a 7-track, 15-minute party starter titled Lonely Horror Stories, BCA started turning up in reviews and websites internationally. From America to Russia, horror themed music fans are taking notice and rightly so, BCA are one of those rare bands that that can rebuild styles and expectations.
BCA is currently recording their second studio album with Producer Dave Baksh, and Engineer James Welsh. Black Cat Attack can be contacted directly through their Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/BCA666, or by email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Upcoming Events
Three Links
Fri, November 24
Elm Street Tease
Sat, November 25
Mike Herrera
Sun, November 26
3rd Annual Ghosty Awards
Tue, November 28
CoLab, Friday's Foolery
Wed, November 29
The Creepshow


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Korean Spiced Pan Seared Salmon with Shrimp, Corn and Herbs
Episode 1115 - Ian Lai in Richmond BC
Important Message for Ziplist Users
Serves 2
2 8oz salmon fillets
6 shrimp, cleaned, de-veined with shells (and head, if possible)
2 tablespoons canola oil
1/2 cup lemon verbena leaves, chopped
2 ears corn
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon gochugaru (Korean chile pepper flakes)
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
herb mixture
1 cup each of sweet potato leaf, baby kale, thai basil and red shiso)
1. Season both sides of salmon fillets with salt and chile pepper. Season shrimp with salt only.
2. Using a sharp knife, remove corn kernels from cob and set aside.
3. In a large skillet over medium high heat, add 2 tablespoons oil and 1 tablespoon butter. Swirl oil/butter mixture to coat bottom of pan. Add the salmon to the pan, with the top side down. Cook for 1 minute. To the same pan, then add the shrimp, filling the areas around the salmon fillets. Cook for 3 additional minutes to develop golden crust on the salmon.
4. Meanwhile, in a small skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter. Add corn and verbena. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes until corn is cooked through.
5. When ready, flip the shrimp pieces and salmon. Cook additional 1-2 minutes. For rare, salmon should be hot on outside and cool on inside. Transfer salmon and shrimp to warm platter reserving the pan and its contents.
6. To the same pan used for the shrimp and salmon, add the herb mixture. Stir to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Deglaze the pan with vinegar. Cook for 1 minute to lightly wilt leaves.
7. To serve, spoon corn mixture to center of plate. Place salmon piece on corn, with 3 shrimp to the side. Top with wilted herb mixture.
Related recipes
Pan Seared Halibut with Roasted Sunchokes
Faroe Islands Salmon Cake with Spicy Asparagus Salad
Eggs en Cocotte with Salmon Tataki
Simply Ming In Your Kitchen
NOW AVAILABLE. Ming's newest cookbook includes 80 new recipes with QR codes to access streaming videos of Ming preparing each one.


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NAFCU Nominates Two to Fed Consumer Council
Duke University Federal Credit Union Chief Operating Officer Daniel Berry and First Financial Federal Credit Union President/CEO Issa Elias Stephan have been nominated by NAFCU to the Federal Reserve Board's Consumer Advisory Council.
Berry has helped develop the credit union's financial education program and a money market savings program for low-income members. Stephan has led his credit union through a charter conversion and installed software to minimize delinquencies and charge-offs.
If selected by the Fed, Berry and Stephan would join the 30-member council founded in 1976 to represent the interests of consumers, communities and financial institutions. The board will pick 10 people to begin three-year terms next January.


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Woodbury man gets 42 months for role in fatal crash
A Woodbury man whose truck struck and killed a motorcyclist in Cottage Grove in September 2007 was sentenced last week to 42 months in prison in connection with the accident.
The fatal crash occurred Sept. 6 when Theodore William Krinke, 39, was driving north on County Road 19 in Cottage Grove.
According to police reports, Krinke was returning home after boating in Hastings when the 2001 Dodge pickup he was driving struck a motorcycle operated by Donald Jerome Cohoon, 59, Cottage Grove, from behind. Cohoon was stopped at a stop sign at Indian Boulevard.
The collision threw Cohoon nearly 40 feet into the intersection. Although he was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision, he died later that day at Regions Hospital from head injuries.
Krinke was charged with criminal vehicular homicide and third-degree DWI in connection with the incident. He was sentenced in Washington County District Court, Stillwater for criminal vehicular homicide the week of June 9.
In 2002, Krinke was convicted in Dakota County of misdemeanor DWI, for which he received two years probation. The arrest for the 2002 incident was made in South St. Paul.


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BRONC / LADY BRONC HOOPS - The Sheridan high school basketball teams both won Friday night the Lady Broncs beat Green River 65-37 Mali Wright led the scoring with 14 points. They play at Billings West today.
Reed Ritterbusch poured in 30 for the Broncs as they whipped the Wolves 77-47. The Broncs host Billings West at 4:30 today you can hear the game live on 14-10 KWYO and 87.7 FM ESPN radio.
BH / TR HOOPS - The Big Horn and Tongue River basketball teams opened their seasons Friday at tournaments in Lusk and Thermopolis, The Eagles and Lady Eagles both beat St.Stephens.
The Lady Eagles blew St. Stephens out 85-21 while the Eagles took their game 70-52 both teams continue play today in Thermop.
The Rams and Lady Rams are in Lusk, the Lady Rams lost 38-36 against Burns the Rams beat the Broncs 63-55.
SC HOOPS - The Sheridan college Lady Generals dropped at 70-59 game to Salt Lake community college in Twin Falls Idaho Friday they play the College of Southern Idaho tonight.
The Sheridan college Generals lost 88-83 to the Elite all-stars Friday night, tonight they play Western Nebraska at the Hoffman dome at 5:00 to finish up their tournament.
UW HOOPS - The Wyoming Cowgirls and Cowboys both play at home today. The Cowgirls are 4-1 and will host Eastern Michigan.
The Cowboys are 7-0 and host 19th ranked Colorado you can hear that game live on KWYO and 87.7 FM broadcast time is at 7:30.
BRONCO FOOTBALL - The Denver Broncos play at home tomorrow against Tampa Bay. We will have the game live for you on KWYO and 87.7 FM pregame starts at 12:05 with kickoff at 2:00.


text: Salaried partners as a proportion of total partners in law firms are on the increase. However, there are good, bad and not such good things about many implementations of the salaried partnership regime in firms. It makes real sense to ensure that your salaried partner structure is working in the best way possible. This means… Continue Reading


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Veet is the personification of femininity, a brand that has been inspirational to women across the globe. The Veet woman radiates confidence with a hint of feminine charm and is admired by all those that surround her.
Veet is the personification of femininity, a brand that has been inspirational to women across the globe. The Veet woman radiates confidence with a hint of feminine charm and is admired by all those that surround her. Veet gives her the confidence to be more than a woman. She is surrounded by admirers, both men and women and needless to say, she is the centre of attention. Over the past few years, many top models and actresses such as Katrina Kaif have represented and captured the essence of the Veet brand, making glamour a significant part of the Veet world.
With this essence in mind, Veet hosted a mega fashion presentation in Karachi at the PC hotel on 21st.May.2010, under the theme of Veet- Celebration of beauty. Veet encouraged new ideas, concepts, and talent in 2010 and entered this year again with a big bang. This time VCB brought together a great emblem of designers which included renowned names such as: Nilofer Shahid, Nickie Nina, Maria.B, Nomi Ansari, Deepak Perwani and a promising new designer Zaheer Abbas. The collections depicted versatile themes and took influences from across the globe, merging them with the unique Pakistani essence and presented before the bustling 500 strong audience in their own signature styles.
A highlight of the show was a spellbinding performance by the evergreen pop star of Pakistan, Shehzad Roy, who performed a medley of his hit numbers. "Saali;"Karar". The performance, presented during designers showing, left the audience in awe as the models walked the ramp to their moving tunes.
Apart from the great line up of Designers, Veet continued to innovate its fashion platform and brought forth an idea of hunting the emerging modeling talent of Pakistan i.e. Miss Super Model. The hunt was done in collaboration with Pakistan's prominent Choreographer Frieha Altaf's Cats Modeling Agency and Veet. The event was conceptualized, choreographed and produced by Frieha Altaf of Catwalk Productions while the PR was managed by Frieha Altaf through Catalyst the PR and Marketing Company.
Frieha Altaf's sound choreography on local and international tracks brought the audience to applause. Iraj, Nadia Hussain, Humaima Abbasi, Tooba Siddiqui, Sunita Marshall, Nadia Ali, Mehreen Syed, Faiza Ansari, Cybil and Saima Haroon (Veet's Miss Super Model) were some of the names who gracefully presented the collections on the ramp. The hair and makeup was by Sabz who did an excellent job to compliment the dresses.


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The Witcher - Review @ GameOver
Gameover has posted their review of The Witcher, giving it a 78% score, citing interface issues, inventory confusion and the autosave and long load times as the main faults:
Ignore this review for the crap it is since everything he says that is bad about this game is nonexistent and the rest is over exagerated. For the inventory problems there is a place called an inn where you can store stuff and all the items that stack have a number on them which means the reviewer is blind since he can't see them. The autosaves have a limited amount of slots that is fairly high and maybe should be reduced some but are not unlimited.
I know the entire review isn't crap but the reasoning behind giving it a 78% instead of much higher is pure crap.
EDIT: Just to let people know my game only has 4 autosaves and they are all during the current chapter I am on and not from before the current chapter. I have had way more then 4 autosaves during this chapter alone.
I thought it was funny how they admitted they give average games a score of about 75%, because it's nice to know who doesn't take scores seriously and where to avoid getting a good review from.
The review seemed pretty fair to me, especially considering he's not necessarily a die-hard fan of the genre.
I have to say I find the general attitude towards this game around here pretty amusing. I like The Witcher a lot, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate that some reviewers won't forgive obvious flaws because they're so taken with the rest of the game.
People will do anything to objectively justify how they feel about something, but in the end we're all blinded by emotional bias in so many ways it boggles the mind, and it goes for this place as well as any other.
I wouldn't be mad if he didn't lie about most of the reason he gave the game a 78% and gave it that with good truthful reasons.
Well what do you think an average score is?
From my experience with the demo, I'd say around 80% is about right, so I don't really think they're that far off.
Unfortunately, many reviewers played only the demo (i.e. the game up to Act I), which is not bad, but the Vizima parts are much better.
I have to agree with DArtagnan - while I enjoy the game greatly, the flaws certainly are present (loading times, inventory, etc), and I understand people that just can't ignore them.
I think often a climate of adulation and hyperbole creates a backlash, where people's expectations are raised but then they're disappointed when the game plays out differently for them than it has for the rampant fans. Also some people just get turned off, feeling that nothing can possibly be THAT good. So in some senses, excessive praise can really be setting a game up to fail. Factor in the elusive things that make a game appeal to any one given person plus the fact that some people's minor annoyances can be other people's profoundly irritating frustrations, and there you are--80%. And in some extreme cases, lower.
On the whole, I think he gave the game a fair score from his perspective, and a score of almost 80/100 is nothing to be insulted about. It still rates higher than that for me, but I also can understand that other people may have a different experience with it.
I guess fun is as difficult to translate or explain as humor. :)
Very well said magerette, I've been playing the demo off and on over the last 2 days and wondering what the hell all the fuss was about.
You won't find out from only the demo.
As far as storyline and plot\character development no, but it gives me a good look at the combat engine and overall feel of the game, ie: graphics, music, voiceovers, etc.
It may be suitable for RPG watch to do without scores just like Codex. Generally speaking, I am skeptical of scores and tend to ignore them especially when the score is unusual. Personally, I took the "review" here is about the world setting (Even so, 100% made my brows knitted, to be honest). I have already read quite a variety of reviews. My main concern about the Witcher is that the game-play. The evaluation of gameplay seems to be drastically different dependent on reviewers and a point-and-click action RPGs are not my cup of tea. However, after playing the demo, I found it O.K. I think the unanimous and persistent criticism about the loading time, inventory management and some character models and odd dialogs and voice acting are legitimate, too. "Sex thing" seems to be totally avoidable since I haven't encountered any except some hints. That said, my priority is the content and it looks promising in the demo.
BTW, after actually playing the demo, what I felt odd is that I wonder if the Witcher would like to go for a direction of an interactive movie or that of an improved version of point and click action RPG. Especially, fast paced action movie like cut-scenes and the method of area transitions didn't fit together to me. Also, even in cut-scenes, the camera work seems to be odd at times. As a point-and-click RPG, I still have to let Geralt work around and talk to people by point-and-clicking, which is rather slow paced while cut-scenes are very fast paced. I don't feel the pacing is well designed to fit together. This is like I am walking around a country side and find myself in a roller-coaster at times. Mixing fast paced parts and slow paced parts without letting the players feel odd is probably an issue for RPG with movie-influences.
It's not going to change for the moment…maybe we'll revisit it next time we write something really controversial. :)
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