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An exclusive excerpt of a selected scene from A.D. Robertson's Captive (October 22, 2013) is available on Heroes and Heartbreakers to members. Please log in or register to read the full excerpt.
Twenty-five-year-old Tristan Doran enjoys a life of incredible power and privilege. As a direct descendant of the Keepers—witches who have embraced dark magic—he defers to no one but his overlord, Lord Bosque Mar. For most of his life, Tristan has been kept out of the centuries-old Witches War, his bloodline too valuable to risk in battle.
But when a beautiful, young human Searcher named Sarah is captured and made a prisoner in his Irish castle, Tristan's infatuation with her flings him headlong into the fray. Captive and captor, unable to contain their longing, embark on a passionate, forbidden romance together—only to learn that their love is at the heart of a prophecy predicting the downfall of the Keepers' ages-old reign.
Captive explores the darker side of the richly imagined Nightshade universe, a fantasy world of powerful dark witches, shape-shifting wolf warriors, and fascinating history. The first of three erotic novels, Captive delves deeply into the fiery, illicit romance of two young lovers whose very desires invite their doom.
Get a sneak peek of A.D. Robertson's Captive (available October 22, 2013) with an exclusive excerpt of a selected scene. A. D. Robertson is also the author of the young adult Nightshade series (as Andrea Cremer). Captive marks the first adult book in the forbidden (and sexier!) side of the Nightshade series.
Sarah hovered just outside his door. She didn't want to stop talking with Tristan, but she questioned the wisdom of so willingly accepting an invitation into his bedroom. She stood there, looking at the open door.
It's just a room. A room where there happens to be a bed. No need to read anything more into the situation. God, I'm terrible at lying to myself, Sarah thought as she went through the door. No matter how much she tried to convince herself otherwise, she was well aware of the thrill she felt at being invited into Tristan's bedroom and how much she wanted to be there.
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Photographer's Note
I am pretty sure that the merchandise on display I captured in this image does not resemble whatever people used to sell and buy in this old market square centuries ago but it still looks interesting and kind of exotic.
The man in the background, the owner of the shop, was standing by the door sipping tea but for him it was not a relaxing afternoon. The business was not going well, I suspect because the high tourist season had not yet started, and he looked a bit stressed out. Fortunately, he did not seem to mind my taking photos of the place for some 20 minutes.
In WS another glimpse at the modern face of Baku, to, once again, as in the previous two posts, show some of the big contrasts in that small country. I am convinced that trendy pizza joint with a catchy slogan (it reads in Azeri, more or less: "our pizza is as good as our ingredients") experiences no problems attracting customers.
Critiques | Translate
PiotrF (28492) 2014-06-09 14:21
Czesc kasiu
Senna atmosfera Baku przelozyla sie na Twoje zdjecie. Pewnie faktycznie to jeszcze nie sezon, ale ma to swoj urok, brak tlumow, pospiechu, mozna zatrzymac sie na dluzej, co bardzo dobrze oddaje ta prezentacja.
lousat (103153) 2014-06-09 15:14
Hi Kasia,magnificent and artistic capture from this old market corner,what a class to do this composition with the DOF on the things and the seller in the blurred background! And i like a lot the WS too,a piece of Italy is there too...hhehe....have a nice day and thanks,Luciano
jjcordier (79297) 2014-06-09 23:13
Excellente photo avec un travail parfait sur la profondeur de champ et une très bonne composition.
shreya2000 (2809) 2014-06-10 1:43
Dear Kasia,
Set of utensils is shown nicely. A lot of variety shown by you. Nice pic showing the subject.
danos (105274) 2014-06-10 8:41
Witaj Kasia,
nice the view as the presentation of this little snapshot from the market of the Baku,with the owner of the shop to be placed in the scene and to looks so dimly.Excelelnt the details as your informative note from this almost unknown for me country.
rychem (49215) 2014-06-10 8:45
To wygląda jak pchli targ, takie ciekawe bibeloty, a te naczynia chyba się wzięły z baśni "Tysiąca i jednej nocy"
pozdrawiam Ryszard
siudzi (34141) 2014-06-14 3:06
Witaj Kasiu,
Fantastycznie skomponowana scena! Super głębia ostrości oraz osiągnięty poziom detali. Wyjątkowa i oryginalna prezentacja. Brawo!
Miłego dnia!
Hello my dear friend
interesting capture of this scenery
but I would like to see clearly
the designs of the handmade carpet
on the wall
I love shots of this kind
have a nice weekedn
daddo (28618) 2014-06-15 4:11
Zdravo Kasia. Interesting note-20minutes! I wonder if you bought a cilim. As for the pizza sign, it begs the question about the ingredients. A revealing trio of photographs which reflect your roving eye. Pozdrawiam. Klaudio.
Silvio1953 (162200) 2014-06-16 6:30
Ciao Kasia, lovely composition with beautiful objects in FG, excellent clarity, wonderful colors and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio
holmertz (64560) 2014-06-19 7:33
Hello Kasia,
This is a bit unusual for you, at least I can't recall any similar photo before in your gallery. But diversity is certainly better than showing the same kind of pictures over and over, like some people do. These items were worth a photo, and I enjoy the view of the shop owner in the background, although out of focus. His presence, and the carpets, give us an idea of his shop.
Kind regards,
mesutilgim (98550) 2014-06-23 12:22
Hello Kasia,
Nice Street scenery of this giftshop in Baku.
Good idea to keep the backround blurred.
Interesting notes.
TFS and best regards
Photo Information
- Copyright: Kasia Nowak (kasianowak) (11209)
- Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2014-05-04
- Categories: Daily Life
- Camera: Nikon D800, NIKKOR 70-300mm VR
- Exposure: f/5.6, 1/400 seconds
- Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
- Date Submitted: 2014-06-09 13:01
- To COSTANTINO: Carpet (1)
by kasianowak, last updated 2014-06-14 05:55
- To daddo: Buying carpets (1)
by kasianowak, last updated 2014-06-15 04:57

subset: commoncrawl


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KAMLOOPS — The annual air report from Domtar shows improvements in air quality, though the company is claiming the public tolerance for smell may be getting lower as well.
Overall, complaints in 2013 were 'notably fewer' than the previous two years, which the company attributes to the measurable reductions in total reduced emissions from the high stack. The company says the typical trend is for the number of complaints to increase during the warmer summer months with decreased complaints in cooler weather.
"(There) appears to be a heightened sensitivity by the community to odour," the report notes, "with an increasing number of complaints occurring when measured ambient levels are very low."
The air report, which must be submitted by March 1 every year, shows all emissions levels met requirements and several areas even saw the lowest levels measured in recent years.
Reduced sulfur emissions, one of the causes of odour from the plant, were the lowest measured in the past seven years according to the report while the sulfur dioxide emissions, a cause of odour and haze in the city, were consistent with historical levels.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at email@example.com or call 250-819-3723. To contact the managing editor, email Marshall Jones at email@example.com or call 250-718-2724.


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Circus is the sixth jazz album released for Norwegian double bass player Ole Amund Gjersvik. The album has many influences such as the waltz, tango, and Latin. Every song on this album has been arranged and composed by Gjersvik.
Gjersvik has recorded with many musicians such as Jerry Donahue, Doug Morter, Jens Falck, Bob Mintzer, Mick Ronson, Gabriel Rivano, Victor Villadangos, Gabriel Libedinsky, Gabriel Viggiano, Daniel Amaro, Neil Sedaka, Gilbert O. Sullivan, Ketil Bjørnstad, Per Jørgensen, Nils Peter Moldvær, Bendik Hofseth, Egil Kapstad, Dag Arnesen, Olav Dale, Ole Jacob Hystad, Jan Kåre Hystad, Karl Seglem, Kenneth Sivertsen, and many more. In 1990 Gjersvik formed jazz label Acoustic Records. Today he leads two groups: Ole Amund Gjersvik Quintet (jazz) and Combo Tango (Argentinean tango).
The album commences with the track, "The Clown" which has a medium tempo and a pure horn section which acts as the perfect segue into the next track, "Appasionata Criminelle." Eivand Waage Austad on piano truly shines with his dazzling solo. The song has an upbeat yet melancholy melody further accented by Gjersvik on bass. The mood shifts with the third track, "Bossa Experimental." It is soft and one of the more romantic tracks on the album. Gjersvik and the band collaborate beautifully and there is a sense of improvisation that comes together effortlessly. The tracks, "Tango", and "Sad And Lonely", are haunting and tinged with melancholy. "The Bassist" highlights Gjersvik's extraordinary talent. On the seventh track, "Bossa For Ada" the mood becomes melancholy once again, this track is suave and Are Ovesen is showcased with his amazing trumpet playing talent. The album continues with the tracks, "The Joker", "Buena", "Circus", "The Pianist", "Memories Of A Lost Time", and the final track, "The Melancholy Clown."
The title of each track is indicative of what to expect. Each song is unique and all of the various musical influences are evident with each song. The Ole Amund Gjersvik Quintet has arrived with the release of this album! It is worthy of your attention.


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Brig. Gen. Robert Gueï, head of the military junta that overthrew Pres. Henri Konan Bédié in a bloodless coup on Christmas Eve 1999, was himself the target of a failed military assassination attempt on Sept. 18, 2000.
On January 12 the newly formed coalition government that included former prime minister Alassane Ouattara's Rally of Republicans (RDR) was further strengthened when four members of Laurent Gbagbo's Ivorian Popular Front agreed to join the cabinet. The new government pledged to tackle corruption, reduce administrative costs, boost the flagging coffee and cocoa sectors, and restore civilian rule by October. In a July referendum voters approved a new constitution that included a last-minute addition requiring that both parents of presidential candidates be Ivorian. The clause was widely interpreted as another means of preventing Ouattara, whose mother was said to be Burkinabe, from contesting the October presidential elections.
Protests against the government continued, and tensions remained particularly high in Abidjan. Despite the lifting in May of a ban on political meetings, three journalists from an independent newspaper were arrested on May 16 following publication of an article critical of Gueï. In a May 18 cabinet reshuffle, eight army officers were appointed to office; all but one minister of Ouattara's RDR were dropped, however. Rumours of a new coup swept the country on June 22, causing panic and sporadic looting. Soldiers demanding the payment of a promised bonus mutinied on July 5; Abidjan, Bouaké, and Korhogo were virtually shut down in the two-day crisis, during which a news photographer in Bouaké and several others reportedly were killed. Despite earlier promises that he would withdraw from government following the October 22 elections, Gueï announced in August that he would run for president as an independent.
In the highly volatile event, Gueï, though losing to opponent Laurent Gbagbo of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), attempted to remain in office by halting the vote count. Violence swept the country as Gbagbo supporters staged a popular revolt; Gueï went into hiding, and Gbagbo assumed office. Another uprising occurred when followers loyal to Ouattara clashed with Gbagbo supporters. Following a week of unrest, in which about 50 opposition leaders were massacred, soldiers and police returned to their barracks. Gbagbo later gave his consent for an international inquiry into the killings.
On October 26 Gbagbo was installed as president, and the following day he named a new prime minister, Affi N'Guessan, the minister of industry and tourism in the outgoing regime. Meanwhile, Ouattara, who had initially refused to support the new government, pledged not to block its formation.
Gueï reemerged in November and instructed the military to support the new government, which hinted that it would not seek prosecution for human rights abuses committed during Gueï's tenure.
When parliamentary elections were held in December, Ouattara was again blocked from participating. More than 20,000 people demonstrated, and at least 20 persons were killed. Both the UN and the European Union condemned his exclusion. Of the 225 parliamentary seats, the FPI captured 96, the Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire won 77, independents held 16, and 28 were left vacant, awaiting elections in the northern constituencies.
In early January Gueï suspended payments to foreign creditors but assured them that the measure was only temporary. By January 27 the government had repaid the last of the approximately $30 million of European Union money that had mysteriously "disappeared" under the old regime. Nevertheless, owing to the volatile political situation, major donors refused to renew most assistance to the country.
|Quick Facts
|322,463 sq km (124,504 sq mi)
|(2000 est.): 15,981,000
|Seats of government:
|predominantly Abidjan; some ministries have relocated to Yamoussoukro
|Chiefs of state:
|Brig. Gen. Robert Gueï and, from October 26, President Laurent Gbagbo
|Head of government:
|Prime Ministers Daniel Kablan Duncan, Seydou Elimane Diarra from May 18, and, from October 27, Affi N'Guessan


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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, in his first appearance in a 2016 battleground, offered South Carolina hope for a brighter Republican future and, perhaps, a glimpse at his own aspirations.
"Change happens quickly," he told thousands at the state GOP's annual Silver Elephant Dinner.
"A lot of Republicans are demoralized about November 2012," he said. But just as Republican gloating in 2005 turned to dismay when the party lost control of Congress the next year, then the White House in 2008, "things can change quickly."
South Carolina's first-in-the-South primary is a key hurdle toward the White House. That alone was enough to fuel speculation about the polarizing and highly visible Texas freshman.
And the state capital was abuzz Friday night. Vice President Joe Biden starred at a Democratic dinner two miles from the fairgrounds where Cruz took a GOP spotlight shared through the years by presidential ticket-toppers including Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush and John McCain.
Last year's Silver Elephant headliner was a potential rival, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, another tea partier, reportedly was miffed to be passed over this year.
"It's a fairly coveted invitation," said Katon Dawson, who chaired the South Carolina GOP for eight years and led Texas Gov. Rick Perry's 2012 campaign in the state. "It always helps when you get an audience in front of the red meat activists. It just does."
And red meat is what Cruz offered.
He tweaked Biden just for being in town. "The great thing is, you don't even need a punch line," he said.
He jabbed Obama, who visited Mexico this week, for blaming U.S. guns for some of that country's violence.
Cruz has tamped down talk of a 2016 run, though not forcefully.
When the conservative National Review, quoting unidentified friends, reported this week that he is seriously considering a run, he labeled it "wild speculation" — without denying anything.
This year's Silver Elephant dinner was a tribute to tea party leader Jim DeMint, who recently left the Senate to run the influential Heritage Foundation. An early Cruz backer, DeMint insisted that Cruz is focused only on Senate business, even as he suggested that voters will look closely at his disciple in 2016.
"He's one of the strongest Republicans in the country now," DeMint said as a few thousand Palmetto State Republicans chowed down on barbecue, shrimp and pecan pie. "They're hungry for someone who's not afraid, and willing to stand up and try to change the status quo."
Whatever Cruz's intentions for 2016, he's taking many of the steps an ambitious young senator would take to position himself.
He'll headline a New York state GOP dinner May 29 in Manhattan and another in Orange County, Calif., two weeks later, letting him rub elbows with moneyed elements of the party.
Hours before arriving in South Carolina on Friday, Cruz got a prolonged ovation in Houston at the National Rifle Association convention.
Two months ago, he got a rock star welcome at the Conservatives Political Action. He used that spotlight to collect contact information, by steering supporters to his website and urging them to sign up for text messages. He repeated that Friday night.
Cruz was well-received in South Carolina, drawing applause when he accused Obama of assailing religious rights and gun rights, and recounting a filibuster over U.S. drone policy.
But in Washington, Cruz has alienated colleagues in both parties, drawing complaints that he's condescending and a latter-day Joe McCarthy.
This week in Texas, Cruz told FreedomWorks members that the problem with many GOP senators is that they're "a bunch of squishes" — a critique of the sort that has fueled his reputation among colleagues as impertinent and self-aggrandizing.
Dawson rejected the idea that Cruz, as some grumble in Washington, has grown too big for his britches.
"He is advocating his positions, he is upping his national profile," Dawson said. "That's good for Texas. That's good for the conservative movement, and if it's good for Senator Cruz, good for him."
Cruz seized the opportunity Friday night, urging Republicans to reframe their message in a way that broadens the party's appeal.
"One-third of young people age 25 to 29 are moving back in with their parents. One-third," he said. "As Republicans we need to be challenging every day the way you achieve prosperity is you have economic growth."
Follow Todd J. Gillman on
Twitter at @toddgillman.


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Jagged Alliance: Back in Action v1.13 Review
Jagged Alliance: Back in Action's release was accompanied by a lot of emotions. The JA community was stunned by a variation of the standard real-time with pause combat and the game's generally more mainstream direction.
Since then publisher bitComposer and developer Coreplay added some key features requested by the community, most importantly optional fog of war, a sector inventory and a high difficulty level, and polished things up quite a bit with dozens of small improvements. We've played the campaign for 80+ hours. Read on to find out where Jagged Alliance: Back in Action's strengths and weaknesses are.
General Overview
Your task in Jagged Alliance: Back in Action (JA:BiA) is to liberate the island Arulco from its dictator, Deidranna. To achieve that you hire a small number of mercenaries, form squads and explore the zoomable strategy map. Exploration can be done in whatever order you desire, including different map regions at the same time by multiple squads. A couple of crucial locations have to be seized, for example: the airport. Others are optional or part of a side quest.
When you decide to engage a sector, your squad's position on the strategy map determines its starting location on the sector map. The mechanism isn't 100% precise, but a full zoom-in on the strategy map should give you a good idea where your squad will start. After the battle, armed militia can be appointed, to make sure Deidranna doesn't take back what used to be hers.
The Squads
Mercenaries are hired from a merc organisation. They're paid only once - a lot of money upfront. The maximum squad size is 6 mercs, the number of squads only limited by money and the number of available mercs.
Each mercenary has his or her own special set of stats, skills and traits. The RPG mechanics are standard: XP for doing stuff or shooting enemies, 7 skill points per level, level cap is 10.
Jagged Alliance: Back in Action comes with an interesting camouflage system. Clothes have camouflage values for four different environments. The overall values, in combination with other elements, influence how easily a mercenary can be seen or heard by a guard. Both visibility and audibility are displayed next the the character portraits, so they can easily be watched. While the camouflage system sounds nice on paper, I doubt its practical value. I didn't notice any significant difference, positive or negative, based on camouflage.
A couple of times over the course of the game, often after a successful quest, an NPC asks to join your squad. An offer you'll usually want to accept, more often than not to assign this NPC to a support squad. Even a weak fighter can still be used for logistic purposes, for example carrying supplies from the airport to your spearhead squad.
Plan&Go Combat
Let's get it over with: Jagged Alliance: Back in Action is not turn-based! Instead it uses a custom-built version of the well known and generally totally mediocre (read: mass market compatible) real-time with pause (RTwP) called "Plan&Go". Everything happens simultaneously.
Unless you enable the optional Fog of War added with a patch, all enemies can be seen as soon as you enter the sector. Only enemies inside of huge buildings are displayed as bigger clusters representing an unknown number of troops.
Plan&Go works fine and it's not primitive at all. The player not only has a lot of control, he actually should pause the game to plan his next steps and coordinate his squad members. Apart from the mop up job at the end of a mission, going into RTS auto-pilot and casually shuffling mercs around will lead to a quick defeat. JA:BiA is neither an RTS nor an action game, it's still a tactical game which requires slow and careful play. A hasty course of action will lead to frustration. Effectively, the RT in RTwP will only be used to move quickly from A to B.
Now on to the juicy details. You can choose from a list of Stop conditions. When a condition is met - or you press space - the game pauses and the screen turns grey. Mercs, neutral NPCs, enemies and their field of vision are highlighted on the map.
Each squad member has his own command queue you can fill from an assortment of options. The key to Plan&Go is that command queues can be coordinated on the timeline by simply dragging order B (do this … ) over order A (… simultaneously to that). A multitude of commands are available: You can choose between stealth gameplay and more noisy solutions, fire X times at an enemy's head, body or legs, change your merc's body posture, move to a different position and then look in a certain direction, use a med kit, change weapons, reload, switch fire modes, throw a grenade, enter guard mode …
Such a selection makes it possible to plan relatively complex combat tactics while still maintaining good control over your squad.
Injured mercs can be healed if one of his comrades carries medical supplies - he won't regenerate to full health though, just to a certain percentage. If he gets shot again, this regen value shrinks more and more. Curing wounds requires a more advanced med-kit and enough medical skill to use it. Full regeneration is automatically done on the strategy map, if you let enough time pass until this merc has to go to work again.
The limitations to climbing or use of explosives are a bit disappointing: both are reserved for a few specific locations only. Blowing a hole into a wall really would have added interesting tactical options.
Interface & Technical Stuff
Graphics and sound are more than okay for a game like JA:BiA. Little details can be found everywhere. I like the limping animation for injured mercs, for example. All the gear your people wear is shown on the character portraits, which is a nice touch. Unfortunately the portraits themselves are ugly though, which costs a bit of atmosphere. The same can be said about the weak story and its presentation.
The interface has seen massive improvements since release. JA:BiA's biggest problem was the lack of comfort functions outside of the very comfortable Plan&Go combat system. Looting, sorting, distributing the good stuff and selling the junk took forever. Up to an hour on a big map.
The patches solved this.
Thanks to the new sector inventory you no longer have to explicitly loot all trivial caches. Only hidden boxes have to be accessed once. Even militia can be supplied with gear from the group inventory, plus it can be leveled up directly from the world map.
Other new or improved comfort functions include item drag & drop between mercs, mouse-scrolling when you reach the edge of the screen and easier handling of multiple squads, both in the same sector and on the world map. So the interface issues criticized by a couple of early reviews are gone.
Gameplay & Verdict
A typical JA:BiA campaign unfolds like this:
You hire a few mercenaries and build a secure base near Drassen airport in the far north of Arulco. Then you slowly explore the world map. Discovered hostile locations are marked red. You move your squad to a carefully chosen starting point near an enemy camp and enter the location. Superior coordination allows you to conquer the sector, so your daily income will increase. After that you spread out your party members to find hidden treasures, visit merchants, recruit militia and talk to quest-NPCs. When you've prepared your party for the next encounter, you go back to the strategic map, slow down time and decide on the next sector to liberate. Every now and then you buy new gear in the online shop, hire better mercs. The cycle repeats, occasionally interrupted by counter attacks. Of course the number of enemies gets bigger, their equipment more lethal, the settings more tricky. Later on you'll have to deal with heavily armed soldiers supported by tanks.
The lion's share of the playing time in Jagged Alliance: Back in Action is spent on the tactical map, using Plan&Go to decimate enemy troops. The strategy elements are negligible. Sure, you could carefully work out a defensive strategy to hold the liberated areas. You could recruit militia, equip them with decent gear, level them up and support them with mercenary teams at key locations. But your effort would be wasted. Deidranna's counter attacks are predictable. All you have to do is maintain a firm grip on a few select areas and she won't be able to break out.
The thin strategy layer makes JA:BiA a pure squad tactics game with character development. That's neither good nor bad, it's just the game's focus. A tight focus leading to the question whether the tactical combat holds up over a ca. 60 hours campaign. The answer is: Yes. Plan & Go provides enough diversity and allows enough player control to entertain for many hours. The mix of carefully planned actions and selective use of automatics works fine.
Experienced players will find certain limitations though. The AI for example is quite decent, but it's not aggressive enough and it makes exploitable mistakes. JA:BiA's AI would be okay for a Command & Conquer, but I think a squad tactics game would have benefited from a more challenging AI.
As it is, JA:BiA is sitting between the chairs. It has too way much tactical depth to be played casually, but it's probably too simple for a hardcore TB strategy player. Plan&Go combat is fun, while the story is not much more than an excuse to liberate Arulco. The gameplay flow is nice, thanks to the usability improvements through the patches.
Jagged Alliance: Back in Action isn't the debacle the shit storm accompanying the release would make you believe. Not even close. It's a good game, leagues ahead of the gazillion Jagged Alliance clones which came out over the years. The game mechanics work, it's fun to play - although the atmosphere is a bit sterile - and it's technically stable. If you can live with the Plan&Go system, JA:BiA is certainly worth a try.
Information aboutJagged Alliance: Back in Action
Developer: Coreplay
SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Modern
Genre: Strategy-RPG
Combat: Pausable Real-time
Play-time: Unknown
Voice-acting: Unknown
Regions & platforms
· Homepage
· Platform: PC
· Released at 2012-02-10
· Publisher: bitComposer
More information
Other articles
- good, reasonably deep combat mechanics
- comfortable combat interface
- long campaign
- attractive graphics
- not turn-based
- weak story
- ugly character portraits
- mercenaries lack personality


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Don't write me off, says Brian O'Driscoll
Brian O'Driscoll last night insisted he had a "pretty realistic" chance of returning to rugby.
Fears regarding the future of the Ireland captain's playing career grew yesterday after it was revealed that he will have an operation on a trapped nerve in his shoulder carried out by surgeon Ashley Poynton in Dublin next week.
However, while O'Driscoll may not feature again for Leinster this season, he's confident he will return to the sport.
"(The surgeon) has given me a likelihood, percentage wise, of what my chances are of getting back," said O'Driscoll, who will turn 33 in January.
"It's pretty realistic and a lot of it is about whether you are asymptomatic when you do eventually come back and do all the rehab and then get into the collision side of things.
"I do have the rest of my life to think about as well and if there was any chance of playing through discomfort again then probably the smart move would be to call it a day, but that's thinking very far ahead and we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
"As far as I'm concerned, there's huge positivity to be taken from the results that have been seen on this injury before and I've seen plenty of guys come back from it so there's no reason why not."
O'Driscoll revealed that he has struggled with the injury since this year's Six Nations and accepted the surgery was inevitable.
"Post-World Cup I saw a few specialists and they were all saying the same thing. Probably last week or maybe before that I realised (the surgery) was going to happen. It was just a case of which surgery more than when.
"There have been different specialists looking at different scans and we have been getting as many opinions as possible and sometimes it's a relief when they are all saying the same thing. I needed it for quality of life post rugby and that makes it a bit easier to get the surgery as well."
O'Driscoll refused to set a date for his comeback but his contract runs until the end of the 2013 season which means he could feature in next summer's three-game |tour of New Zealand.
Belfast Telegraph
Related Content
- 'Terrified' Brian O'Driscoll faces uncertain future after injury nightmare
- Leinster in good shape despite the loss of star O'Driscoll
- A litte bit of R&R will see Brian O'Driscoll a Lion king in 2013


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After coming out with the successful line of TPOWER P45 motherboards which are popular among the overclockers, Biostar is set to accomplish another feat with the X58 chipset. Biostar touted 12 phase power design for Core i7 processors, support for DDR3-2000(OC)/1600/1333 memories and dual PCIE X16 slots for SLI/CrossfireX.
Support Intel socket 1366 Nehalem Core i7 Extreme/ Core i7 45nm processors
Support Intel QPI (Quick Path Interfase) up to 6.4GB/s transfer rate
Support 6-DIMM DDR3-2000(OC)/1600/1333
Support Tri-Channel up to 192bit data bandwidth
Intel X58 / ICH10R chipset
Support Dual PCIE X16 slots
Support both SLI and CrossfireX dual graphics technology
Expansion Slots
2 x PCIE X16 slots
1 x PCIE X4 slots (3rd PCIE X16 slot)
1 x PCIE X1 slots
2 x PCI slots
2 portseSATA2 up to 3.0Gb/s data transfer rate
Support SATA RAID 0/1
6 ports SATA2 3.0Gb/s
Dual GbE
Support 2 ports IEEE1394a by Ti 43AB22
Support 8+2 channel HD Audio by ALC888S
Support optical S/P DIF audio interface
Support coaxial S/P DIF audio interface


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ACParadise Network: American Cosplay Paradise American Cosplay Experience American Cosplay Snapshots
Cosplayer Anna-neko > Costume of Rinna (Panyo Panyo Di Gi Charat)
- Most Recent Photo
- 02-24-2012
- Series
- Panyo Panyo Di Gi Charat
- Character
- Rinna
- Year Completed:
- Construction Difficulty:
- Costume worn at:
- Anime Expo New York 2002
- Videos
- Featured in 1 Videos
This Costume has been retired
About this Costume
- Construction Details:
Scott & Darcy made most of it. I simply supplied the petticoat & wig
- Personal Thoughts:
- Our little dance skit was fun! We didn't get to rehearse very much, and I been awake for 2 days straight ... but that fit rather well w/ the character! She yawns and sleeps lots so me nearly falling asleep worked to my advantage for once
Add a Comment


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Meet Ben and Becky. After graduating from college this spring, these two friends decided to spend 40 days crisscrossing the US on a "last adventure prior to entering the real world." They left Maine with a tankful of gas, a trunkful of L.L.Bean camping gear and a spirit of adventure.
Their planned route, which will take them from Portland, Maine, to Portland, Oregon, and back to West Virginia, spans over 10,000 miles, 34 states (plus one Canadian province) and 25 campgrounds. They'll visit dozens of national parks, monuments and other attractions, both natural and man-made.
Throughout their voyage, Ben (who is the son of a long-time L.L.Bean employee) and Becky will be sending us periodic updates from the road. As guest bloggers on our Trail Mix blog, they'll share stories of their adventures, photos and travel tips they've learned – sometimes the hard way – along the way.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Hey everyone, this is Becky & Ben. After dodging tornadoes and windstorms throughout the Midwest, we have landed in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. If you guessed that it's freezing here still, you are far smarter than we who drove up in T-shirts and shorts with snow still on the ground. Don't worry, it didn't hinder our excitement!
During our afternoon at Rocky Mountain National Park, we took a scenic driving tour on Fall River Road, which circumnavigates the entire park up to the tallest peaks. As we steadily climbed over 12,000 feet, we were awestruck that we were passing through layers of clouds. We were on top of the world! To our surprise, as we ascended the road, we found more and more snow. Naturally, a quick June snowball fight commenced.
Our L.L.Bean gear kept us cozy and warm during our stay! Between our dome tent and down sleeping bags, we didn't even notice it was snowing outside. We stayed in the Aspenglen campsite, which afforded us a flat space for the tent, picnic table and bearproof box. Using our propane stove, we prepared a luscious pasta dinner. Looking from our site, we saw massive rock faces suspended from the side of the mountains. A memorable campsite to say the least!
And what would camping be without making friends with the neighborhood animal population? Herds of elk roam the entire park and graze on the fields in front of you. If elk don't strike your fancy, you can watch bighorn sheep climb the Rocky Mountains or see hawks fly above you as you hike.
That's all for now! As we continue our forty days and forty nights from Portland to Portland, look for highlights of our adventures here on the L.L.Bean blog.
Travel Tip: If there's snow on the ground, it is never a good idea to hike in sandals. Even if you grew up in Maine, your feet can freeze just like everyone else's.
Leave a comment below to wish Ben and Becky good luck on their adventures!


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1/4 ctw Bezel and Bead-Set Diamond Hamsa Pendant with Chain in PalladiumProduct ID: NCP-ZO-23779
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Stone Information
A combination of bezel-set and bead-set diamonds make this palladium Hamsa pendant truly a work of wearable art. With 19 diamonds, totaling 1/4 carat, this Hamsa is sure to sparkle away the evil eye!
Stone Type Diamond
Number of stones 19
Stone description Round G-H SI2
min. ctw = 0.25
min. ctw = 0.25
1/4 ctw Bezel and Bead-Set Diamond Hamsa Pendant with Chain in Palladium
The Hamsa symbol, depicting an open right hand, has been embraced throughout Middle Eastern cultures as a sign of G-d's protection (or amulet) with power to ward off the evil eye. Initially adopted by Middle Eastern Jewish communities, the Hamsa has now become a well-recognized Jewish symbol among Jews throughout the world. This Hamsa pendant features 7 bezel-set and 12 bead-set round diamonds, creating a stunning way to keep evil at bay.
This pendant includes an 18-inch 14k white gold twisted rope chain with a lobster claw clasp.


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You can add a custom resource from the Configure Managed Resources page by using the following steps.
Open the Configure Managed Resources page if it is not already open (Managing the Resources List).
In the Custom Resources section, click Add Custom Resource to add a row to the table.
Enter the resource class path for the resource, or enter your custom-developed resource. For adapters provided with Identity Manager, see theSun Identity Manager 8.1 Resources Reference for the full class path.
Click Save to add the resource to the Resources list.


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Fred Jackson inactive for TNF, Bryce Brown to startThursday, November 13, 2014, 7:19pm
Bills Inactives
Ron Brooks CB
Marquise Goodwin WR
Fred Jackson RB
Randell Johnson OLB
Cyrus Kouandjio T
Phillip Tanner RB
Jarius Wynn DE
Fred Jackson is inactive as expected. Multiple reports say that Bryce Brown is starting at RB for the Bills, which is encouraging news for those owners depending on him this week. In the last two weeks, Anthony Dixon has out-carried him 31 to 14, but the ratio was 9:7 in Week 10 and Brown caught six passes against the Chiefs, out-touching Dixon 13 to 9. Brown looked explosive and particularly good in the passing game, so he's a low-end RB2 in standard and a solid RB2 in PPR formats.
With Goodwin out, Mike Williams returns to the active roster.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014, 1:39pm
The Buffalo Bills are signing former Dallas Cowboys running back Phillip Tanner, according to a league source.
The Bills needed help at running back with injuries to C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson. Tanner has visited the San Francisco 49ers this year and previously worked out for the Seattle Seahawks and Indianapolis Colts.
Tanner spent the last three seasons with the Cowboys and rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns, as well as nine receptions for 93 yards. He recorded 21 special teams tackles.
Tanner will be behind Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014, 4:30pm
The Colts signed RB Phillip Tanner, 5-10, 208 pounds, who spent the last three seasons with the Dallas Cowboys (2011-13), where he recorded 56 carries for 149 yards and two touchdowns, as well as nine receptions for 93 yards.
He also made 21 special teams tackles. In 2013, he tied a career-high with nine special teams stops, while adding nine rushing attempts for 12 yards and a touchdown. Tanner was originally signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent on July 28, 2011. He finished his collegiate career at Middle Tennessee State University with 430 carries for 2,024 yards (4.7 avg.) and 33 touchdowns.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013, 9:46am
Dallas rookie RB Joseph Randle would get the first crack at the full-time job for however long DeMarco Murray misses.
Randle had just 17 yards on 11 carries against the Redskins, but HC Jason Garrett will not condemn the numbers because of how Washington was selling out to stop the run late in the game.
Many feel Lance Dunbar would normally get the start with no Murray in the lineup, but Dunbar has a hamstring injury and has yet to run since getting hurt in the Denver game. Dunbar is not expected to play this week. Phillip Tanner is the only other back on the 53-man roster. We've seen reports that Murray will be out and others that said he's still questionable, so it's a situation to monitor. If you're a Murray owner, Randle is the RB to pick up if you're in a bind and it's an attractive matchup against the Eagles defense. This week's game is an early start, so we'll know Murray's status in advance.
Beat: DeMarco Murray most likely out Week 7Monday, October 14, 2013, 3:44pm
According to a source, Dallas running back DeMarco Murray will most likely be unable to play against the Eagles because of injuries suffered in the team's 31-16 win Sunday against the Washington Redskins.
At 3-3, Dallas and Philadelphia share the lead in the NFC East.
Lance Dunbar is battling a hamstring issue and didn't play last week and would normally be the RB2. If Dunbar can't go again this week, the Cowboys would turn to rookie Joseph Randle, who had 11 carries for 17 yards and a touchdown against Washington, and Phillip Tanner, who had one carry for 2 yards. It's still a pretty good matchup against the Eagles defense that's starting to show signs of improvement.
Friday, September 6, 2013, 6:25pm
Cowboys RB Lance Dunbar (foot, out) missed practice all week and is out for Week 1. Phillip Tanner and Joseph Randle figure to back up DeMarco Murray.
Thursday, September 5, 2013, 6:42pm
Cowboys RB Lance Dunbar (foot) missed practice again Thursday. Dunbar is looking very iffy for Week 1. Phillip Tanner and Joseph Randle figure to back up DeMarco Murray.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013, 7:17pm
Cowboys RB Lance Dunbar (foot) did not practice Wednesday. Dunbar is looking iffy for Week 1. Phillip Tanner and Joseph Randle figure to back up DeMarco Murray.
Monday, July 22, 2013, 2:08pm
Cowboys RB Joseph Randle on practice field for first time. Missed offseason with thumb injury.
Randle will compete with Lance Dunbar and Phillip Tanner to back up DeMarco Murray.
Friday, June 21, 2013, 6:14pm
Dallas running back Phillip Tanner looked quicker and more explosive in the spring practices.
Tanner, a former Dallas Kimball standout, played his way onto the roster in 2011 as an undrafted player out of Middle Tennessee State. But in the last half of 2012, the Cowboys used him less and less as Lance Dunbar emerged, and it looked like Tanner was falling out of favor.
When the Cowboys drafted another running back, Oklahoma State's Joseph Randle, and signed an undrafted back, Kendial Lawrence of Missouri, it only added to the perception.
Tanner said he put all that out of his mind.
"Coming in and working hard every day, working with the offensive line and jelling with my team is the big thing," he said.
Randle will likely back up DeMarco Murray this season leaving Tanner and Dunbar to battle for the RB3 spot in camp.
Monday, June 17, 2013, 2:05pm
Cowboy RB Joseph Randle has not taken a snap because of thumb surgery but should be ready to go for the opening of training camp. He has done everything the athletic training staff has asked, and running backs coach Gary Brown has liked how attentive Randle has been on the practice field even if he can't carry the ball.
The Cowboys believe he can be a full-time back if something happened to RB DeMarco Murray, but he was a fifth-round pick. Randle will have to show he can beat out Lance Dunbar and Phillip Tanner to do the job. Getting a late start doing that isn't a positive.
Dez Bryant active for CowboysSunday, December 16, 2012, 3:21pm
Cowboys Inactives
G David Arkin
CB Morris Claiborne
OL Kevin Kowalski
S Charlie Peprah
DT Jay Ratliff
RB Phillip Tanner
T Darrion Weems
Dez Bryant will give it a go today with his broken finger in a splint. It remains to be seen how Bryant will fare with the splint, but only Calvin Johnson has been hotter down the stretch.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012, 7:04pm
Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray (foot, doubtful) won't return this week. Cowboys RB Felix Jones (knee, questionable) is questionable with a knee issue. If Felix can't go, Lance Dunbar would get the start and be a desperation flex play option with Phillip Tanner working behind him.
Felix Jones questionable for ThursdayWednesday, November 21, 2012, 2:48pm
Running back Felix Jones didn't practice on Tuesday and his status for working with the rest of his Cowboys' teammates is uncertain for today.
Jones has a knee issue which is concerning for the Cowboys. He's played and practiced through numerous ailments during the season but with a short week there could be an issue about him playing Thanksgiving Day against the Washington Redskins.
If Jones doesn't play or is limited in what he can do, Lance Dunbar, who has moved up the depth chart with the absence of DeMarco Murray (foot), might get his first NFL start.
Phillip Tanner will also be in the mix, but Dunbar has been the primary backup to Jones, so he figures to get most of the work if Felix can't play.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012, 6:13pm
Cowboys running back Felix Jones (knee) missed practice on Tuesday and if he's unable to play Thursday against the Washington Redskins, Lance Dunbar or Phillip Tanner will take over. Both players share first-team reps in practice.
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Did You Know They Were Once Homeless? 11 Celebs Who Hit Rock Bottom Before They Reached Fame
Unlike the overexposed child stars of the present, many of the entertainers who have become iconic in their respective fields were not born famous. Some of them had to blaze their own trails to success and overcome serious hurdles before reaching the limelight. We've heard a few of their stories but were shocked to discover others. Check out nine celebs who were homeless at least once before they were rich and famous.
As a rebellious teen, the rap legend lived on the streets when feuding with his mom.
Halle Berry
The big screen bombshell spent some time in a shelter in NYC.
Tyler Perry
Pre-millionaire status, the movie maker lived in a Geo Metro convertible in Atlanta, Georgia.
Jim Carrey
Before he hit it big, Carrey and his family slept in a van; and when he was older, they camped out on his sister's lawn in a tent.
Lil' Kim
Long before becoming Biggie's sidepiece, the rap vixen and her mother spent a period of time living in a car.
Carmen Electra
In her twenties, the sex icon was homeless in LA after a boyfriend stole her savings.
Hilary Swank
The "Million Dollar Baby" actress once had very little and for a bit, had to live in a car with her mom.
Djimon Hounsou
The actor/modeling god lived on the streets of Paris during his teens.
Kelly Clarkson
Before becoming an American Idol she lived in a car and a shelter when a fire destroyed her home.
Kurt Kobain
This rock legend lived everywhere from under a bridge to a hospital waiting room.
StyleBlazers, who'd we miss?
–Qimmah A. Saafir-Dobaria
- Celebrity Nail Roundup: 9 of the Hottest Nail Trends Spotted on the Hottest Stars (Katy, Kylie, Lauren & More!)
- 8 Celebrities Who Started Out Sweet But Turned Seductive (Welcome to the Dark Side!)
- Instagram Bikini Faceoff: 10 of the Best Bikini Bodies to Invade Instagram (Lawd! These Celebs Look GOOD!)
- 9 of The Cutest & Shortest Celebrity Men (Did You Know They Were This Short?!)
- 9 Iconic Movie Looks (These Ladies Stole Our Hearts And We Stole Their Style!)
- 9 Hot Celebrities with Even HOTTER Moms (She Definitely Got It From Her Mama!)
- Gender Benders: 8 Actors Who Play Gay But Really Are Straight or Vice Versa (Are Their Roles Believable?)
- 9 Hollywood Stars With Signature Styles (See Who Loves to Wear What!)


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Picture: Marcia Cross The Montblanc Signature for Good Charity Gala held at the Paramount studios - Arrivals Los Angeles, California - 20.02.09
Actress MARCIA CROSS is teaming up with a food charity to help the fight against children's hunger.
The Desperate Housewives star will front Mott's Wake Up Call, a programme run by the Feeding of America organisation.
Cross was moved to support the cause after becoming a mother to her own kids - two-year-old twin daughters Savannah and Eden.
She says, "It's a really painful thing to think about a child being hungry, but now as a mother, to imagine my own children hungry is unfathomable in this day and age."
And the 46-year-old reveals her young girls only know how to eat healthy - because that's all she's ever fed them.
She adds, "I keep them away from junk food. They don't know about cookies yet so everything they eat is healthy. They've had a bite of an organic cupcake for their birthday but it's always healthy foods - especially now before they find out about junk food."
Cross signed on as a spokesmodel for apple sauce giant Mott's back in December (08).


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Grateful Dead
My Account
Public Profile Info (Optional)
- Interests
- Music, good friends, Photographing
- Full Name
- Stein Henriksen
- Website
- http://www.freewebs.com/st1h1rik
- About Me
My name is Stein, born in 1955 in Oslo, Norway, living together with my wife, just outside Oslo, the capital of Norway in a place called Lørenskog. The Grateful Dead never came to Norway, but 1990 was a great year for Norwegian/Swedish deadheads , we took a trip to Sweden to see The Grateful Dead live, a great day for me. One of my friends was on a Deadconcert in Denmark sometime in th 80's but this was my first time. Maybe a trip to the USA next year (2008) for a holiday and to look up some great concerts, Ratdog or maybe Bruce Hornsby, we'll se........
- Member for
- 10 years 24 weeks


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Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz suggested Tuesday night that the Republican establishment is beginning to rally around front-runner Donald Trump, all in a concerted effort to squash the Texas senator's chance at the White House.
Cruz told Buzzfeed News in New Hampshire that it's no surprise the "Washington Cartel" — Cruz's famous label for the Washington status quo — is in "full panic mode."
"We predicted from the very beginning that the Washington cartel would fire every tool in its arsenal to prevent a conservative victory in this primary," he said.
To that end, Cruz said that because the cartel chooses the "winners and the losers" through "cronyism and corporate welfare," it's no surprise that they are supporting a man like Trump, because the real estate mogul has "promised to make deals and to continue the cronyism and corporate welfare of Washington."
"That's what the cartel does," Cruz added. "They make deals with Democrats."
He also addressed Trump's claim that Cruz has a "rough temperament." Trump made the claim in Iowa on Tuesday, citing the one time Cruz labeled Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell a "liar" on the Senate floor.
"Donald Trump said just yesterday that the problem with me is that I wouldn't go to Washington to make a deal and go along to get along with the Democrats," Cruz said. "If you're looking for someone who's a dealmaker, who'll capitulate even more to the Democrats who'll give in to Chuck Schumer, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi, then perhaps Donald Trump is your man."
Follow the author of this story on Twitter and Facebook:
Follow @chrisenloe


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Audience announces voice processor A1028 for mobiles
3 comments
LONDON – Audience Inc. has announced the latest addition to its family of voice processor chips, the A1028.
The A1028 features technology that replicates the functions of human hearing to enhance sound quality and suppress noise thereby improving mobile speech recognition performance in noisy environments. The voice processor also extends Audience's noise suppression to support the speakerphone mode in mobile devices.
Audience (Mountain View, Calif.) is a privately held company founded in 2000. It's EarSmart technology mimics in a DSP chain the workings of the human inner ear and distinguishes and interprets sounds as people do, to enhance the primary voice signal and filter out unwanted background noise.
The A1028 system-on-chip processor improves on previous offerings from Audience mainly by enhancements targeting handheld speakerphone mode and automatic speech recognition (ASR) applications. The company did not provide more detail nor did it state what manufacturing process technology the A1028 is being implemented in.
The chip has customizable voice quality tuning capabilities, a post-equalization filter for voice color tuning and to allow handset manufacturers to manage frequency response, and a multi-band compander to improve audio quality and reduce distortion for end-users when receiving communication, or using the phone's speakerphone function.
To support design-in of the A1028 Audience has created a graphical design tool called AuViD 1.0. AuViD 1.0 provides visually-guided tools allowing handset manufacturers to easily tune and customize the audio features of their handset models. The A1028 chip is provided in a highly compact 2.7mm x 3.5mm, 40-pin WLCSP (0.5-mm pitch) package that can fit any handset style or design to support all existing mobile phone architectures.
"Several of the leading smartphones and advanced feature phones launched this year have placed an increasing importance on enhancing voice quality and supporting voice-enabled technologies," said Linley Gwennap, principal analyst of The Linley Group. "The voice processing capability offered by Audience is helping to drive this trend."
Handsets offering Audience's A1028 voice processor will be launching in the first half of 2011, the company said.
Related links and articles:
News articles:
Voice processor firm raises $15 million
Audience brings audio noise suppression to AT&T mobile devices


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PlayStation 4 Won't Be Announced at E3 2012 Trade Show
Kaz Hirai, who oversees Sony's video game and consumer electronics businesses, said that the rumored PlayStation 4 won't make its debut at E3 2012.
Rumors surrounding the next PlayStation have surfaced in the past week. The most prominent rumor was the one stating that the PS4 would be announced by Sony at this year's Electronic Entertainment Show (E3).
However, Kaz Hirai stated that this is simply untrue. "I've always said a 10-year life cycle for PS3, and there is no reason to go away from that," Hirai explained.
At the Consumer Electronics Show, Hirai made further comments that put a stop to the PS4 at E3 2012 speculation. "Andy (House) is absolutely right in that we are not making any announcements at E3," Hirai said.
Gamers' opinions on the PS4 rumor being debunked varied.
Game Informer website user Brokensteel1228 posted, "Thank God I think the current consoles are doing fine (minus the Wii). I love my Xbox 360 and PS3. The games, graphics, and design are great. I don't need to have to worry about a new console coming out."
"Now we can only wait to see if the Next Box rumors will be cut down or not," he continued. "If both release in the same window of time, I'm gonna have to say I'm gonna have to stick with Microsoft. But I'm still looking forward to what the PS4 has to offer, but maybe after 2013."
Other gamers feel that a new system is long overdue, though. "I do not find the lack of announcement this year hard to believe, but 10 years is way too long of a life cycle for one console generation," Game Informer user jmeyer2039 posted.
"The current hardware started showing its age to me a year or two ago. And he's saying he wants that same outdated hardware to last until late 2016? x_x"
A slew of new rumors also pointed to the Sony's PlayStation 4 being a more powerful console than Microsoft's next Xbox.
Video game magazine PSM3 noted the information it received on the PS4 came from its anonymous sources. The magazine stated that the PS4's technical specifications are looking "more powerful" than Microsoft's next-generation Xbox console.
No specific details on Sony's next console were revealed, but an improvement in graphical quality and motion controls are expected. No official release date has been announced thus far as well.
Now that the PS4 has been debunked as an E3 announcement, all eyes are now on Microsoft. Other rumors stated that the next Xbox should be debuting at 2012 trade show.
Also, the Wii U from Nintendo will also be reintroduced to the gaming public. New video game console announcements are to be expected at E3.


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Fresh off loading up at the trade deadline for a third straight title run, the Windsor Spitfires got a chance to show off the new weapons in their arsenal, outgunning the Ottawa 67s 6-3 on Friday night at the Rona Centre.
And it was the new additions that did most of the damage for the Spitfires, with big gunners Jake Carrick and Taylor Carnevale, as well as depth acquisition Jeff Brown all figuring in the scoring.
Carrick finished with two goals and two assists, Carnevale had a pair of assists, and Brown had one goal and an assist.
If the 67s wanted a chance to test their mettle post-deadline, they got it in spades with the two-time defending Memorial Cup champs, kicking off a weekend that also pits the 67s against division rival Oshawa Generals and the league-leading Mississauga St. Michaels Majors, both on the road.
Ottawa coach Chris Byrne said his team has a lot to learn from the defending champs.They played well, and I think our guys realize there's another level to get to here, said Byrne. We don't like losing, but this is a night where we find out a bit about our team, and we've got some things to work on.
On Friday, the teams traded chances early and emerged from the first period tied 1-1 after Alexander Khokhlachev opened the scoring at 3:53 on a setup from Carrick.
Tyler Toffoli extended his points streak to 24 games with his first of two on the night, rifling a shot past Jack Campbell with 29 seconds left in the opening frame after Shane Prince found Toffoli alone at the right circle.
Toffoli scored his second from almost the exact same spot on the ice on a second-period power play. On that goal, his 40th of the season, Toffoli was parked all alone at the faceoff dot waiting for the Ryan Martindale feed for a one-timer that went right through Campbell.
But the Spitfires roared back with two quick strikes coming 20 seconds apart.
After making fans wait for nearly 10 minutes early in the second while reviewing an apparent Carnevale goal, only to rule the big centre knocked the net off its moorings before pushing the puck over the line, officials apparently lost their appetite for video review.
Replays showed Stephen Johnstons stick was at least at crossbar level while tipping in a point shot to tie it, but officials refused to call upstairs despite pleas from the Ottawa bench.
Brown put the Spitfires ahead 20 seconds later on a nifty feed from Ryan Ellis.
Carrick scored his first of two at 14:08 of the second, sparking a heavyweight tilt between Dalton Smith and Zack Kassian, a dustup that went the distance and left both bruisers exhausted after each absorbing some heavy hits.
After Martindale scored in the third period, Kassian put the game away with his 18th of the season with 1:06 left on the clock.
Spitfires GM Warren Rychel was pleased with what he saw from the new faces.
Carrick was a force on the wall, he had a couple of real nice goals, and Carnevale was great on the faceoffs and he picked up a couple of assists. Brown is a junkyard dog, he plays hard. He had one shift there where he got (one goal and one assist) in 20 seconds. He doesn't give you an inch, and he's tough to play against.
I like our guys, said Rychel. Obviously we won't ever be able to put together a team like we had last year, that was a special team, I don't think anyone's going to see a team like that for a while. We're going to have to win by committee, and I thought the new guys did a real good job.


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Everyone says you should have your cholesterol levels checked. But what is cholesterol? And why is it important?
Cholesterol is a kind of fat in your blood that is naturally formed in your body. It is normal, and essential to certain cell functions.
When your cholesterol levels are checked, the test involves three different types of fat in your blood:
Each is unique and affects your body in a different way. And because they are different, each has a different ideal level. Your doctor measures all three cholesterol levels to calculate your total cholesterol score. If your total cholesterol is too high, your doctor will work with you to help get it to target levels.
Bad cholesterol, known as LDL cholesterol, is the main kind of cholesterol in your blood. But when too much LDL cholesterol circulates in your blood, it can slowly build up in the walls of the arteries. This buildup, called plaque, can slow blood flow.
Good cholesterol, known as HDL cholesterol, is another type of lipid (fat) found in the blood. According to the American Heart Association, an HDL cholesterol less than 40 mg/dL is low for men and less than 50 mg/dL is low for women. If your good cholesterol is low, your doctor may try to raise it.
Triglycerides are a type of fat in the blood. They're made in the liver and also come from foods that you eat. A high triglyceride level combined with low HDL or high LDL is associated with the buildup of fat in the blood. That's one reason you want your triglycerides to be lower.
If eligible, save up to $70 for NIASPAN per
If you have questions,
please call 1-844-415-0681
* Eligible patients will pay the first $5 and receive up to a maximum savings of $70 for NIASPAN per 30-day supply. Eligibility: In Massachusetts, co-pay assistance is not available for products with certain generic equivalents (for example, any product with an AB-rated generic equivalent). Available to patients with commercial prescription insurance coverage for NIASPAN. Co-pay assistance program is not available to patients receiving prescription reimbursement under any federal, state or government-funded insurance programs (for example, Medicare (including Part D), Medicare Advantage, Medigap, Medicaid, TRICARE, Department of Defense or Veterans Affairs programs) or where prohibited by law. If at any time a patient begins receiving prescription drug coverage under any such federal, state or government-funded healthcare program, patient will no longer be able to use the NIASPAN, savings card and patient must call NIASPAN customer service to stop participation. Patients may not seek reimbursement for value received from the NIASPAN savings card from any third-party payers. Offer subject to change or discontinuance without notice. Restrictions, including monthly maximums, may apply. This is not health insurance.
High cholesterol itself isn't painful; in fact, you can't feel it at all. Even if your doctor says you have a serious cholesterol problem, you may feel perfectly healthy. Working with your doctor by taking a simple blood test can help you determine if you have high cholesterol. And if you do, the first steps in managing your high cholesterol should be to make changes in your diet and exercise habits.
Please see the full Prescribing Information for NIASPAN and discuss it with your healthcare provider.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call
If you cannot afford your medication, contact www.pparx.org for assistance.
Legal Notices/Privacy Policy. Copyright 2013, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. If you have any questions about AbbVie's Niaspan.com website that have not been answered click here. This website and the information contained herein is intended for use by US residents only, is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace a discussion with a healthcare provider. All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a healthcare provider and consider the unique characteristics of each patient.
For more information, talk with your healthcare provider.
NIASPAN® (niacin extended-release) tablets are a prescription medication used along with diet when a low-cholesterol diet and exercise alone are not enough.
Taking NIASPAN with another cholesterol-lowering medicine (simvastatin) does not reduce heart attacks or strokes more than taking simvastatin alone.


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Iowa lawmakers question Schultz over 2012 voting problem
Senate hearing called in wake of Cerro Gordo County voting incident
Editor's Note: A version of this story was posted Feb. 3, 2014 with a word not inadvertently dropped from the fourth paragraph. There are indications that the database used to restore voting rights was not updated with 100 percent accuracy. This information was changed at 7:20 a.m. on Feb. 4, 2014.
DES MOINES � State lawmakers and Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz ended a politically charged hearing Monday on problems associated with Iowa�s voting system vowing to work together to find solutions to ensure that all votes cast by eligible participants are properly counted in future elections.
Monday�s Senate hearing was called in the wake of reports that came to light last week indicating that three valid 2012 ballots cast in Cerro Gordo County were improperly rejected based on inaccurate voting eligibility information indicating the trio were convicted felons to had lost their voting rights.
In testifying before the Senate State Government Committee, Schultz said his office has been the target of �baseless attacks by the media� because his agency merely acts as a �filing cabinet� for information � good or bad -- supplied by the Iowa Judicial Branch and 99 county auditors that creates a �multi-level� verification problem.
Schultz, who is a GOP candidate in Iowa 3rd congressional district, also said problems date back to an executive order former Gov. Tom Vilsack issues in 2005 that restored voting rights for qualifying � but not all � felons, and there are indications the database was not updated with 100 percent accuracy. The problem came to light when a state Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) agent working with Schultz�s office determined three people whose names should not have been on the ineligible voter list had votes they case in the 2012 election rejected by a Cerro Gordo County election panel.
�That�s a travesty, that�s a problem and we think it needs a solution,� Schultz told committee members. �It shouldn�t happen.�
Schultz recommended that county sheriffs be tasked with researching the criminal history of individuals identified as potential felons who have cast provisional ballots to determine if an individual�s right to vote was ever revoked and, if it was, it it was later restored. He also called for a task force of representatives from his office, the governor�s office, the Legislature, state and county court officials, and county auditors to evaluate the best way moving forward to improve the accuracy of the felon file currently containing 46,768 records.
�It�s unfortunate this committee hasn�t taken voting fraud seriously until now,� said Schultz, who has pressed for voter identification and other election-law changes that have stalled in the split-control Legislature.
Committee member Sen. Tod Bowman, D-Maquoketa, said he didn�t appreciate the tone of Schultz�s opening statement to the committee and expressed concern that �miscues� like what happened in Cerro Gordo County run counter to state efforts to provide a �welcoming� process for voters.
Committee member Sen. Matt McCoy, D-Des Moines, noting Schultz�s office will have spent $240,000 this year to probe voter fraud � an effort that has netted 26 arrests and five guilty pleas � while his agency is still hand-inputting some voting data via a �technologically unsophisticated� system.
�That�s embarrassing in 2014,� said McCoy, who also called it �a reach� on Schultz�s part to attach blame to Vilsack for problems surfacing nine years later.
Schultz noted that he inherited a problem that would not have come to light had he not had a DCI agent probing voting irregularities that found three ballots improperly rejected but another five that were cast but disqualified because the voters were not eligible to participate in the 2012 election.
Brad Anderson, a Democrat running for Secretary of State in 2014, said Monday�s testimony confirms the office needs to be modernized, calling it �unprecedented and unacceptable� that three eligible Iowa voters had their 2012 vote thrown out because of poor record keeping.
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Ways To HelpWe kindly ask all visitors to our web site to make a tax-deductible donation to Songs of Love. You can give an ailing child a wonderful reason to smile through the gift of song. Check out our other ways you can help us to keep the music playing for kids all across the country and the world.
Donate to the Songs of Love Foundation and make a lasting impression on a deserving child! Of the many gifts given to children, a song is one that will last. It is something that can be played over and over again in any situation, for years to come. To see the smile on a child's face as they realize that a song is written all about them is a feeling incomparable with anything else, and the comfort that these songs bring is truly meaningful.
Songs are used as therapeutic tools in and out of hospitals!
- • During medical treatments to help alleviate fear, pain and trauma
- • On car rides to the hospital
- • During 'end of treatment' parties
- • During show & tell
- • Before bedtime
- • At family events
Donations are fully tax-deductible!
Donations of any amount will help underwrite the cost of producing a "song of love," and give this priceless gift to a child!
A donation of $250 will sponsor a "song of love!" You will get a copy of the child's song, with your name included on the CD booklet.
Organizations and companies might consider sponsoring a group of children.
4 songs = $1,000.00
10 songs=$2,500.00
20 songs=$5,000.00
For a donation of $2,500 or more (depending on travel expenses) we can engage your company or group in The Songs of Love Experience™ program.
New and Exciting ways to help!
With The Songs of Love Experience™ program, your company, organization or school can come together and support the Songs of Love Foundation. For a predetermined donation, 'Songs of Love' will come to you and record a 'Song of Love' for one very special child.
Donate your car, boar, or other items of value! Through our Children Are Receiving Songs (CARS™) program you can donate your car, boat, or truck and support the Songs of Love Foundation. Donations are fully tax-deductible, and are 100% free and easy.


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At Gemvara, we believe that the rose gold solitaire knot jewelry you wear should be precious because it's personal. Every beautiful Gemvara design is made just for you, in your choice of gems and precious metals. Your child's birthstone in platinum. Your favorite gem in yellow gold. Add your own meaning to every design, creating beautiful memories and brilliant reminders. It's jewelry for all life's occasions, from an anniversary or graduation to your own personal milestones and celebrations. Our brilliant gift ideas with a personal touch will make this a Mother's Day to remember. Gemvara uses only the highest quality materials to craft your rose gold solitaire knot jewelry with meticulous attention to detail. Our precious metals are recycled or responsibly mined. Our wide selection of rose gold solitaire knot jewelry by Martha Gomez Gutierrez, Jessica Behzad, Carl Ansley, and other talented designers means you can find jewelry that's just your style. Gemvara's stunning solitaire styles add timeless glamour to everything you wear. Ties of love, family and friendship connect us to the people who make life worth living. Celebrate those bonds with a beautiful piece of Gemvara Love Knot jewelry. Rose gold adds a touch of sweetness to traditional gold. Gemvara offers a choice of 14k rose gold, the most popular variation or 18k rose gold, which has a higher gold content. Clean your rose gold solitaire knot jewelry with mild dish soap: use a soft brush where dust collects. Gemvara's fine quality rose gold solitaire knot jewelry is designed to be passed down for generations to come, crafted by hand in the United States.
We can help right away. Chat with a jewelry expert now!


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Bride Plush Hooded Spa Robe
Your favorite bride will love stepping out of the shower and wrapping herself in this luxurious robe. Perfect for a spa experience, the robe offers a stylish hood design and is embroidered with "Bride."


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Comment #2 Tuesday, March 13, 2012 5:09 PM
Why is there a Falcon Duo dream in the zip file?
My apologies robynjh, I have rectified this issue.
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Scholarshipping Our Sisters brochure
Scholarshipping Our Sisters bookmark
The General Conference Women's Ministries (GC WM) scholarship program is established to give scholarships to women who are committed to serving the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church who would otherwise be unable to afford a Christian education. Scholarship awards are based on academic achievement, financial need, and community outreach. Specific amounts of scholarship awards vary from year to year and are dependent on the amount of funds available in your division. Scholarships may only be obtained through your home division.
Who is Eligible?
Any woman who is planning to attend a Seventh-day Adventist college in the division in which she lives. Primary consideration will be given to those in the last two years of college-level study. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of need, ability, and the recipient's determination to improve herself. She must be committed to serve the Lord in whatever way He directs and committed to the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Women interested in applying for the scholarship should get an application form from the Women's Ministries (WM) director in your division.
You will be asked to fill out the application, provide a photo, a transcript of your most recent year in school and three recommendations written by your pastor, church leaders, and/or teachers.
Scholarships should be submitted first to your conference WM director who will send it to the union WM director, then the division WM director and finally to the GC WM director. If you have no conference WM director send the application to your union WM director. If there is no conference or union WM director then send it directly to your division WM director.
Applicants will be screened by a committee at your division's Women's Ministries Department in your division and then by the General Conference Women's Ministries Scholarship Committee.
Download the GCWM Scholarship Application. (Available in Adobe Acrobat)
Residents of the USA, Canada, and Bermuda, and Guam, download the NORTH AMERICAN application here.
Prior to 2004 all scholarships were funded by profits from the Women's Ministries' daily devotional books for women. The first devotional book was printed in 1993 and was titled Among Friends. Since then 26 more books have been published. The 2018 devotional book is Notes of Joy.
In 2004 we became aware of our need to raise even more funds for this program as we were turning down almost 50% of all applicants. A program was developed to raise funds that would allow more women to receive help. This new program is called "Scholarshipping Our Sisters" (SOS) and is managed by the GC Women's Ministries department.
Funds are solicited from businesses, retirees, women's organizations, and other interested groups and individuals. Donations may be named or unnamed. Donors are free to specify if their donation is for a particular field of study or if it can be used generally. And donors can give a donation in memory of, in honor of, or just as a gift.
Each quarter we print an SOS newsletter updating you on what your donations are doing and giving you true stories of some of our recipients.
If you are interested in making a donation, please contact us at:
Thank you for strengthening our Church by Scholarshipping our Sisters.
From its inception in 1991 the Women's Ministries scholarship program has given a total of 2,371 scholarships in 132 countries amounting to more than $1 million dollars.


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my parents were good friends with this married couple i ended up having sex with her husband,while we were having lunch while shopping she told me she knows about us two the only thing i could say was iam sorry, we than go to an adult toy store she picks out this huge strap-on it was like 12 in long she said if u let me fuck u in the ass with this i wont tell anybody and i will forgive you...all i can say is it hurt like hell
could have been good, but unfortunately it was shot with a Fisher Price video camera.
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Custodians protest for unpaid wages
February 16, 2009
CLEARWATER, FL — Cleaning workers picketed outside of the Mercantile building last week for wages not paid for work performed from October to December of last year, according to WTSP-TV.
Anago Cleaning Systems, the company providing janitorial services to the Mercantile building, says Star Sun Management has been behind from the beginning when workers started cleaning the building two years ago; recently, however, they have lagged further and further behind on payments, the story stated.
Anago owner Veronica Shevlin said: "When they went three months behind and now over $12,000, I got scared, so I sent them a letter of possible suspending of the building if I didn''t receive the check. At that point, they threatened, telling me to get out of the building with all my equipment and my people. Otherwise, they''re going to change the locks and get me for trespassing."
The company charges $4,200 a month for the cleaning services they say were not paid for October through December of 2008, a total of $12,600, the story noted.
Star Sun Management signed an agreement to repay almost $11,000 after some damages were deducted from the total, the story added.
According to the story, nothing has further transpired and it has been a week since Shelvin has heard from Star Sun Management regarding payment.
Click here to read the complete article.
For related information, click here.


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Study Tips Part II by Kinch
Submitted by kinch
First and foremost, I think it's important to stress that planning and strategy is a vital part of any study. Make set goals for yourself, build a plan, and stick to it. Working on the theory of "I'll study whatever I fancy at any particular time" is a bad way to start. There are numerous study materials out there: Textbooks, audio courses, games, children's books, grammar books, vocabulary lists, songs, tv shows... the list goes on. Finding a good resource for beginners is often an excellent first step.
Another part of your plan should be variety. Listening to the same audio lessons is okay, but after a while it looses the impact. Spice things up a bit, using some of the resources listed above. A textbook will often provide you with basic grammar. Then you have vocabulary lists. Once they get boring, kick back with some audio lessons. After them, you can try your hand at games or children's stories. Remember what I said earlier about practicing every day? If you can utilise all those things (particularly vocabulary) in your daily practice, you'll be off to an excellent start.
There are several tools out there designed to help you memorise things. Two that spring immediately to mind are Super Memo, and MindLifter. These tools work on the same principle as Pimsleur (or maybe it's the other way around). The idea is that after a while, your brain starts to forget things. If you're prompted to recall that thing just before you forget it, the next duration for forgetting will be slightly longer, and so you need to be reminded of it again. I've spoken to people who swear by those applications and say that they now can keep a list of several thousand items memorised simply by spending a few minutes a day refreshing the items that are due to be forgotten. I've found both those tools (particularly Super Memo) to be very, very difficult to get working properly, and have yet to have my own success with them. Your mileage may vary.
Here's another memory tip. Sleep. Sleep deprivation has been shown to have devastating effects on the brain, learning, and memory. Staying awake for those few extra hours of learning may seem like a good idea, but all the research seems to indicate that the sleep would be more beneficial. Most discussions recommend the minimum of 7 or 8 hours sleep per night for studying. While on the topic, diet and exercise are also touted as being important. The brain apparently uses 20% of the oxygen we breathe in. With diet and exercise, you have better blood circulation, and more oxygen going to the brain. Again, this is open to personal interpretation.
Here's something to try to avoid doing. It's a mistake I've made over the last few months. Library building. I have downloaded every single Japanese learning resource I can find. Books, audio, webpages, video shows, and more. I have copies of numerous things taken from my local library. If I had to make a conservative guess, probably close to 2GB of stuff is just sitting here. But I don't know which of it to use. Why? No study plan. If you're working you're way through a course that you know will take you another few months, don't download an extra course. Stick with the one you're on. Finish it. Then you can look for what to do next. I'm sure that if I learned everything that I have here, I'd be fluent in Japanese. But making a good study plan when you have an over-abundance of items just makes it harder.
How to Begin
Write out a plan. Write out which audio course you want to start with, which textbook, which games, which... whatever. It's up to you. You can find numerous recommendations both on the web, and on these pages, and I will provide some of my own. You will need a tutor. Someone who speaks the language better than you. If you're not doing a course at school/university, you need to find friends who are skilled in Japanese, who you can ask complex grammar questions, and who can answer them for you. Personally, I recommend Japanese natives who speak English. There are lots of them out there, and the Japanese page's Friends page is a good place to start. You may even be surprised to see the Japanese person knows more English than you. I certainly found that out (one of my Japanese friends knows what a 'copula' is, whereas I don't. I still don't. I know it's a grammar thing, but I have no idea what it's supposed to represent, nor do I much care). Try to get as many friends as you can, and spend as much time writing letters to them (or online chats). Practice practice practice. If you're actually communicating with someone, it's all the better. Another thing I would recommend (although it's a subject of some debate) is to learn hiragana/katakana as much as possible. This is another part of your plan that I forgot to mention earlier. Kanji. You need to decide now whether you will study kanji, and how. Kanji is almost like another language on top of japanese that you have to learn. It's of course vital to learn if you're going to be reading a lot of Japanese. But each person must decide on their own. Even if you have no plans of reading kanji at all, I still recommend learning to read hiragana as fluently as possible.
Next (this will depend partly on your study resources) you need to decide how you're going to advance. There are many vocabulary lists available. For example, you could choose to focus on the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) words, in the hope of passing that. You can focus on the 1945 Jouyou kanji, and use them as a basis for learning. You can find a children's school textbook for grade 1 and learn the way a child would learn going through the Japanese education system. It's up to you, and each will have benefits and limitations. Do a bit of research before-hand, choose your path, and write it into your plan. Maybe you'll focus on business words? Or entertainment? Or maybe the important words for personal communication? It's up to you, and it depends partly on your goals for the language.
Well, there's an idea on how to start, and some things you might try. I had a few other things to say, but they might have to wait until part #3. For now, hopefully this will get you started on the right track.
Good luck!
First off if you happen to come across anything I write from here on out check out the "subject." Look it up, it will help you learn a little.
I started with two semesters of Japanese in my college using "Japanese for Busy People. I" After going through the class, I can pronounce properly, I know a few Kanji, I can read hiragana and katakana. I can also form small sentences. Now that I'm out of the class I'm going through the book by myself and
1.writing down a list of the vocab and other words that are new
2.copying each one a couple of times
2.5 making flash cards that are categorised to my liking.
3 doing each excersise in the book
4. doing each excersise in the Workbook that goes with it
5. I printed off the pdf of 1000 kanji from this site and will copy those each a couple of tmes
6. playing on this website.
And doing those steps in order.
With a process, I know i will tackle the whole book by the end of the year.
Later I'll get the next book and repeat.
Any Japanese who is learning English can send me a message, we'll teach each other.
Because I am a grammar nerd
Besides the fact that English speakers are not taught the fundamentals of grammar (how many of you have heard of the subjunctive mood?), you might also have problems recognizing the copula because that term isn't used much in English. I read the term in a book about Japanese grammar, so I asked my English teacher about it, and he didn't even know what it was. The name used more often in English is "helping verb." For instance, the verbs "to be," "to seem," and "to look." "Desu" is the most common Japanese copula.


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Sofa government is alive and well, in the form of the chancellor, "who bears the imprint of the last person who sat on him", said George Osborne to Alistair Darling yesterday. And he quoted an article by the former home secretary Charles Clarke, who this week tore into the pre-budget report with the enthusiasm of a starving dog falling upon a dead rat. The burden was that the chancellor had allowed himself to be beaten down by the prime minister and the prime minister's best mate, Ed Balls, and had produced a report that admitted nothing and helped no one.
It didn't matter. Mr Darling is the human sponge. Thump him as hard as you like, and he springs right back, just oozing slightly.
He was, he said, well aware of what Charles Clarke thought, so there was nothing new there. It wouldn't matter if you called him the most incompetent and vindictive chancellor since Henry VII's John Morton. (He invented Morton's Fork: if you lived in luxury, clearly you had lots spare for taxes. If you lived simply, it was because you were hiding your money, and so had lots spare for taxes. Mr Darling uses the same system, though he calls it "halving the deficit", which sounds better.)
You could accuse all the women in his life of being on the game, and he would deny it, but in the most unruffled way.
Or you could say, as Mr Osborne did, that he had "betrayed the high responsibilities of his office by failing to stand up to a prime minister who is pursuing a policy of scorched earth and political dividing lines". (As they say in the New Yorker: "Block that metaphor!")
Mr Darling said something vague about it being too early to produce the figures as there was lots of uncertainty about.
Henry Bellingham, a Tory, asked how much we would have to pay in interest on the national debt, this year and next. Did he get a clear, crisp reply? Don't be daft.
"The debt would be very much higher if we had not taken the steps we did," said Mr Darling, calmly.
It must be like picking an argument with a stick of candyfloss: the more you shout, the more of it disappears.
Later Bob Ainsworth made a statement about providing more Chinook helicopters. The first choppers (or "elicopters" as the defence secretary calls them) will turn up in 2012, a year after President Obama plans to start pulling troops out. So the British are like a guest who arrives after the party has ended, but at least brings a bottle of wine.
I am told that Mr Ainsworth has turned out to be a better defence secretary than many expected. Though he does have a strange way with words. On a recent visit to Afghanistan he said he had come to see "life at the chalk face". The "chalk face" is derived from "coal face", and is a jokey way teachers refer to their job. To describe fighting a guerilla insurrection in that way is just weird.
Yesterday he promised to "push down hard on overheads", which made it sound like Boat Race night revellers smashing each others' top hats.


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Gudenå Open Water Event
With three different distances, the Familierute, the Medium, and the Long, varying from 1 to 5.7 km., there's a challenge level for everyone.
Sign-up for the event is open until the 25th of June at the regular price, with sign-ups on the day of the event having an extra 50 DKK charge.
Further information can be found at the Gudenå Open Water site (in Danish).
The Gudenå Open Water event is the second leg of The Danish Classics, which is a four-discipline challenge to test your skills and tenacity in cycling, swimming, running, and mountain biking. More info for The Danish Classics can be found on their website (in Danish).