text:
This week has been nonstop action and work as several books get closer to being sent to the printer. It has been a lot of long hours, but worth every minute. Whew, read all about it while I sit back for a minute to catch my breath.
UPDATE: Online Sales – at last, some good news. Online sales were solid over last weekend and steadily climbed throughout the week to give us what was looking like the best week of sales in a long while. Then the bottom dropped out this morning. Depending on overnight sales, Palladium should still see a good week, but this morning's were pitiful. I had hoped we were through the slump and sales would keep going up or stay strong from this point forward, but it seems the roller coaster ride continues. Oh well. The good new is that, overall, sales have picked up and Palladium has been seeing a little of everything selling: Back stock titles, pre-orders for upcoming releases, bookmarks, zombie prints, T-shirts and especially Christmas Surprise Packages. Half our sales this week were Surprise Packages. I guess all I can say is, keep 'em coming.
New books at last! Two books out by the end of November. Two or three more in December.
UPDATE: Robotech® New Generation™ Sourcebook – Progress is made! Approvals are in, and as you read this, Wayne Smith is busy laying out the New Generation™ Sourcebook. When done we send it in to Harmony Gold for final approval. With any luck, we'll get approval back in a couple days and we can send the book off to the printer next week. We are excited to finally have this book heading for the printer. Keep those pre-orders rolling in, because this sourcebook has a little of everything: Use mecha from all eras of Robotech® in one setting, Veritech Fighters, Hover Tanks, Cyclones, and something called "Frankenmecha" – giant robots combined with the limbs, weapons and body parts of two or more mecha – rules for creating Frankenmecha, new weapons, new vehicles, seven new resistance fighter O.C.C.s, Invid Hives, key characters from the TV show, world overview, great art and more. And, due to popular demand, it is in our usual 8½ x 11 book format. Ships November 28.
UPDATE: Rifts® Path of the Storm™ – One writer's vision for the Rifts® Movie – is also ready for layout. As soon as Wayne is done with Robotech® New Generation™, he jumps into laying out Rifts® Path of the Storm™ and off it goes to the printer. Chuck Walton has been working on the cover here at the Palladium offices. It is half done and looking fabulous. In my opinion, this may be his best color work to date. I've had Matthew write a few additional sets of stats, so there are more NPCs, monsters and villains for game use. The book includes his full screenplay (a fun read), plus an introduction about Rifts® and Hollywood by me, and stats for three new demons, key villains and several heroes from the script. A lot of fun for the holidays. Cat. No. 305, 96 pages. Ships November 28.
UPDATE: Rifts® Lemuria. I continue to pound away at Rifts® Lemuria. It is packed with information about the Lemurian people, their floating cities, new Biomancy magic spells, Millennium Tree items, aquatic riding animals, sea monsters, sea dragons, sea serpents, living armor and weapons, special powers, and more. There is a lot of great stuff in this hotly anticipated World Book. Getting it finished is my top writing priority.
UPDATE: Dead Reign™ Sourcebook 3: Endless Dead™. This is another book that is coming along nicely. We are still waiting for the finished cover, but artist, E.M. Gist says it is his personal favorite of them all, and that's saying quite a lot considering how great the other covers have been. Much of the interior art coming in is jaw-dropping amazing. Nick Bradshaw is a mad man, and he and Mike Mumah have taken their art to a new level. As for the new source material? Zombies like you have never seen them, 7 new types of them, 5 new survivor O.C.C.s including the Wheelman and Zombie Hunter, vehicle armor rules, many encounter tables, adventure tables, what the military is doing and more. 96 pages of gruesome goodness. At this point, the book is going to slip into an early December release. We're thinking around December 12.
But you can get your zombie fix right now by purchasing the 11x8½ inch or 17x11 inch Endless Dead zombie print by artist Mike Mumah. What adds to the fun is that the zombie horde is the Palladium staff and notable freelancer artists and writers; 36 of us in all. Scary and fun. All zombie prints are signed by me and the rest of the Palladium staff. The prints may be requested in Christmas Surprise Packages but only some requests will be honored and you are most likely to get the small, 11x8½ inch version. You can also request a photo of the staff as zombies. (Our drawn heads from the print superimposed on our photographed bodies. Fun.)
BACK IN STOCK! Dead Reign™ T-shirts are available now. As announced last week, this fan favorite T-shirt is available now and selling well. They look great. Most sizes are available. The price is the usual $18.95 for Small to X-Large, more for the larger shirts. This shirt is scary, ironic and funny all at the same time. Order yours today. And a set of bookmarks too. ;)
UPDATE: Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook. I am still planning to get this book out in 2011. And our goal remains to put things in place to release a new book every month starting now.
UPDATE: Christmas Surprise Package. $80-$90 worth of product, sometimes more, for only $38 plus shipping and handling. Plus we'll sign the books if you request it. This is the deal of the holiday season for gamers. All items are handpicked from your "wish list" and if you want them, all books are autographed by available Palladium staff and any freelancers who walk through our door. Get signed books, prints, back issues of The Rifter®, original artwork, T-shirts and other Palladium goodies to fill in holes in your collection, or to try new games settings, or to get collectibles and unusual keepsakes like the bookmarks, staff photo, zombie staff photo, prints, etc. And, of course, to get holiday gifts for your gaming buddies. A great way to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions too. We ship every couple of days (every day as we get closer to the holidays). Take advantage of this wonderful offer and see some of the new products available below.
Available only in Surprise Packages! 2011 Palladium staff photograph, signed by the six of us, is available by request in Palladium Christmas Surprise Packages. It has a value of $10.00; included only when people request one. HOWEVER, you can also (or alternately) request the Zombie Staff Photo. Just for fun, Wayne Smith grabbed the zombie head shots of us from the Mike Mumah black and white art and replaced our real heads in the photo with the line art. The resulting zombie-bobble head appearance was hilarious and we thought some of you might get a kick out of it, so we are making it available in Christmas Surprise Packages. Only people who request either Staff Photo will be considered to receive one. Both have a $10.00 value. Only available in the X-Mas Grab Bag.
NEW! Palladium Bookmarks are available now. Sales and requests in Christmas Surprise Packages are picking up as word spreads. A set of four is only $5.00, and they are fun and useful. You get a bookmark for Rifts®, Palladium Fantasy®, Dead Reign™, and Heroes Unlimited™.
UPDATE: Back in print – soon. There are several books we hope to get back into print, before the Christmas.
UPDATE: The Rifts® Game Master Support Kit has been available since late last week from DriveThruRPG.com for $5 and people seem to be enjoying it. By the way, that's 50 pages for five dollars, so check it out and order your copy today. It includes G.M. reference sheets, Rifts® Combat Matrix, Rifts® Skill List, Alphabetized Spell Sheet, 'Borg Worksheet, Rifts® Character Sheets, 20 complete, pre-rolled characters for players, and other material that should give Game Masters a nice, solid resource to draw upon to run games on the fly and help in the running of demos and pickup games, as well as personal campaigns.
I've kept Wayne too busy this week for him to finish the Palladium Fantasy® Game Master Support Kit, but we hope to have it available in a week or two. Meanwhile, Carl Gleba is already working on a Phase World®/Three Galaxies Game Master Support Kit.
UPDATE: DriveThruRPG.com offers 90+ Palladium titles as PDFs including The Rifter® #1-48, first edition printings of Rifts®, Palladium Fantasy®, Heroes Unlimited™, BTS, and other game lines, as well as books such as Nightbane® Book Four: Shadows of Light™ and both versions of the The Mechanoids® RPG (1985) and The Collected Mechanoid Invasion® Trilogy (1981-1983), plus the new G.M. Support Kits and sneak previews of various books. The sneak peeks for Rifts® Lemuria, Vampires Sourcebook, and Endless Dead™ will be appearing soon.
UPDATE: Palladium Open House, May 4-6, 2012. We want to see you there, so please start making your plans. If Christmas is only 44 days away, then the POH is coming up fast. Order your tickets now and start saving to come on over and be part of this truly unique and special gaming event. I mean, you get to meet dozens of Palladium creators, chat, get autographs and game with the very people who made the RPGs you love! And it's all role-playing games all weekend. I want to make this the biggest POH blowout ever and see a record number of gamers in attendance. See the description of the event toward the end of this Weekly Update. Join the fun.
UPDATE: Kevin's Online Toy & Collectibles Store. Alex and I have been steadfast in continuing to put a lot more toys and action figures into my online store. They might make nice holiday presents. Once a week we also try to add a few Palladium collectibles, art prints, original artwork and out of print books (signed) for our gaming fans. We'll keep adding toys every day or two and Palladium Collectibles at least once a week.
UPDATE: Comic books. Our efforts to create and release comic books based on Rifts® and other Palladium intellectual properties continue behind the scenes. We are very happy where things are going, but don't want to talk about them too much until we have something to show.
Halloween Store – QueenofGhouls.com – Kathy Simmons sells life-sized Halloween props all year long, as well as a few delightful Christmas figures. All are realistic, durable, suitable for all weather conditions, fun and funny. As good as they look in the photos, they are so much better in person. Kathy's life-sized Halloween props are unlike anything you have ever seen (unless you've been to the Palladium Open House). If you are looking for a standout Halloween or Christmas item for your front lawn, one of these will do the trick. Stands are also available for use on the porch and indoors. Easy to set up, wet weather is no problem. Folds up for storage. QueenofGhouls.com
Alex is doing great. Alex recently enjoyed more positive news about his medical condition. In short, everything is under control. It is something that has to be monitored and managed for the rest of his life, but right now he's doing great. Meanwhile, my friend Kay Kozora continues to fight hard in her battle with cancer.
We'll be giving you fuel for your imaginations with 5-6 new game books to close out the year, and with several new titles in the pipeline for quick release at the onset of 2012. Won't that be nice?
– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Writer & Surrogate Santa
During the holiday season, we like to let you see some of the many comments we get with the Christmas Surprise Packages. It's a nice way to acknowledge some of our fans and to share with you the kinds of words we hear from gamers throughout the season. We show only initials as some people would rather keep their identity private. Our thanks for your kind words of appreciation and encouragement.
You are very welcome. We are happy to do the Christmas Surprise Packages and spread a little joy and fun around the globe. It is a privilege and an honor to touch so many people with our games. Keep those imaginations burning bright, game on and find joy this holiday season. – Kevin Siembieda
T.B. in Lawrenceville, Georgia, writes: I really should send you all a picture of our wall 'o Palladium games. We have been playing in your worlds for years and introducing new players as we can. The current group is up to 12 players, most of which hadn't ever seen BTS before now. And they are loving it. Thanks again for making our Saturdays all about good times, friends and adventure.
M.R. in Littletown, Colorado, writes: Mr. Siembieda, I want to thank you for the games that you have developed. I have only been a player, not a G.M. . . . your games have done two things for us: 1) Kept me and others out of serious and deadly trouble (prison politics) and 2) been a strong part of my recovery (16 years clean). Gaming is a privilege in here.
M.L. in Glen Burnie, Maryland, writes: Love the Surprise Package. Can't get enough of it! Keep up the great work at the studio, keep the ideas coming!
S.G. in Curtis Bay, Maryland writes: I've always had great enjoyment coming from the X-Mas Grab Bags. I especially love being able to show off the signed stuff to my friends.
H.H. in Oberursel, Germany, writes: Dear Santa Kevin & his Elves. ;-) every year since I ordered my first X-Mas Surprise Package I have done it again and again, but I ask myself whether it can actually be worthwhile for you aside from, well, making me and I assume a whole bunch of other fans extremely happy . . . Kindest Regards.
S.S. in Tulsa, Oklahoma, writes: This is for my son. Last time I asked, he had around 160 books. He is a big fan of you guys. Thanks for making him happy.
M.B. in Las Vegas, Nevada, writes: . . . Other than that, great work! Rifts® is the best tabetop RPG I've ever played. :D
N.H. in Rusk, Texas, writes: . . . I do want to say thank you for all the awesome and wonderful games you have put out over the years. I don't get to play any more (no friends around that play), but most of my life I have been able to enjoy the amazing worlds you created. So again, THANK YOU!
A.R. in Fort Collins, Colorado, writes: Palladium has given me many years of role-playing fun. I look forward to many more years.
This book is epic in scope and opens up an entirely new range of game play by allowing mecha and characters from all eras of Robotech® in one setting. For the first time ever, Veritech Fighters, Destroids, Battloids, Hover Tanks, Cyclones, and something called "Frankenmecha" – giant mecha amalgamations that combine the limbs, weapons and body parts of two or more mecha. There are also rules for creating Frankenmecha, new weapons and vehicles, seven new resistance fighter character classes, Invid Hives, key characters from the TV show, world overview and more. 8½ x 11 book format (not manga size), 96 pages.
The battle for the liberation of Earth starts here. For the first time in its history, the Earth has been invaded and occupied by alien invaders – the Invid. The Invid think they have won, but Freedom Fighters, UEEF soldiers and other heroes continue to fight until they win.
This is a unique, fun product that presents an entire screenplay written on speculation by Matthew Clements. That's how Kevin met Matthew, he showed up at the Palladium office with a Rifts® screenplay in hand and said, "Hi, I'm a screenwriter and I've written a Rifts® screenplay, would you like to read it?" Kevin read it, was impressed, and met with Matthew afterward several times to discuss changes and improvements. Matthew did a second draft and it was sent to Jerry Bruckheimer Films for their consideration. Meanwhile, Matthew and Kevin hit it off and the next thing he knew he became Palladium's new staff writer.
Kevin and company thought it would be fun to let Rifts® players see the type of Rifts® movie we at Palladium Books would like to see made. So we are presenting Matthew's screenplay as a proposed Rifts® movie script and Rifts® sourcebook. The screenplay is a fast, fun adventure story, and worth the read. To make it more fun, Matthew has statted out the key characters in the script and you can use the heroes, villains and story ideas in your own campaign should you want to do so.
This was all Kevin Siembieda's idea. He thought fans might like to see one of the attempts to get the Rifts® movie made. "Matthew's Rifts movie script, written entirely on spec," said the Publisher, "is one of the best I have seen. That's why I had him do a second draft and try to get JB Films to take a look at it." This screenplay is not likely to ever be turned into a movie, but now that it has been published, it is part of Palladium canon and can be drawn upon as a resource if Hollywood should choose to do so.
In addition to Matthew's Rifts® movie script and RPG character stats, there is some text by Kevin Siembieda about his adventures in Hollywood, as well as some artwork. This is a unique product and a fun read that lets you step behind the veil at Palladium Books. A bit of insight on just one of the many projects that have gone on behind the scenes this year at Palladium.
A zombie horde stumbles toward you, but these aren't ordinary zombies, they are the Palladium staff and freelancers! That's right, this horrifying mash of zombies includes Kevin, Wayne, Alex, Kathy, Julius and Matthew, as well as Kevin Long, Ramon Perez, Freddie Williams, Mike Mumah (the artist), Mark Dudley, Chuck Walton, Nick Bradshaw, Carl Gleba, Jason Richards, Brandon Aten, Greg Diaczyk and many, many others (36 monstrous faces total). Available in two sizes, both signed by the Palladium staff.
A set of four, 2 x 6 inch bookmarks, each depicting a different Palladium game line: Rifts®, Palladium Fantasy®, Heroes Unlimited™ and Dead Reign™. They are attractive, useful and make a fun collectible.
The shirt is here and looks even better than the original version printed on a white shirt back in the 1990s. We tweaked and darkened some the artwork to make it even more dynamic. We have made this shirt affordable so as many people as possible can get one if they want it.
The T-Shirt depicts a Coalition Dog Pack man-handling Santa. (He is a magic user, after all.) Scattered on the floor from Santa's bag of presents are action figures of a Skelebot, Glitter Boy, Erin Tarn, Emperor Prosek, Victor Lazlo, Mechanoids, a Dog Boy plush toy, Spider-Skull Walker, RPG books and other items. The words: "Merry Christmas from the Coalition States."
This T-Shirt has been a fan fave requested for years, but the art for the shirt was lost. The T-shirt place had gone out of business, artist Scott Johnson had sold the original art at a convention and did not have a photocopy, and Palladium's original design and photocopies had vanished. It was only recently that Publisher Kevin Siembieda found a photocopy tucked away where it didn't belong in the Palladium archives. The rediscovery of the photostat has allowed us to reissue this beloved T-shirt in all sizes for the first time in a decade.
As noted earlier, Kevin thought this fun and playful shirt should be made available for the holidays at prices affordable for everyone. These lower than usual prices are good from now through New Year's Eve. Order yours today.
The ultimate Zombie Apocalypse T-shirt: The front depicts a woman armed with a shovel standing on the roof of her car as a massive horde of zombies swarm around her. The front of the shirt reads: "Ever have one of those days?" Below the art is the Dead Reign™ logo and the words "The Zombie Apocalypse." Printed white on a black T-shirt. Art by Amy Ashbaugh.
The back of the shirt is red on black and says, "Relax, it's not like it's the end of the world or anything." - but most of that statement has lines crossing it out, leaving only the words "it's the end of the world." Under it is a Nick Bradshaw zombie silhouette and a small version of the Dead Reign™ logo. Funny, poignant, awesome!
We plan to reprint this T-shirt as soon as our cash-flow improves, probably in a couple weeks. It has the symbol of the Coalition Army and the words, "Property of the Coalition States" emblazoned on it.
Don't forget there is also a fabulous Property of the Coalition States™ coffee mug; white image on black cup. Perfect for that hot cup of cocoa on a cold winter's night, or soda when you game. Looks very official. Everyone at Palladium has one. Holds 15.5 ounces. Mircrowave safe. Cat. No. 2543. Other coffee mugs include Rifts®, Dead Reign™ and Gamer mugs. See the Palladium Books online store for complete details.
As time goes on, the zombie hordes only grow in size and strangeness. This book contains horrifying new zombies to haunt your player characters along with new O.C.C.s and tons of tables for detailing Survivors' Hideouts, Safe Haven Communities, Death Cults and more. Survival is not enough. Now is the time for the war against the Endless Dead™. This book is going to be epic. Kevin and all the Palladium creators are pushing the envelope with each and every book they work on.
With zombies and horror all the rage in film and books, this RPG captures all the best aspects of the zombie genre. The setting is as much about survival in a post-apocalyptic world as it is about battling legions of walking dead. If tales of human survival, horror and zombies are of interest, you will love this fast paced game and its sourcebooks.
The power, secrets and magic of the underwater realm of Lemuria revealed. Player characters can use symbiotes, magic and technology to breathe underwater and spend time below the waves.
Lemuria is more than an underwater civilization of aquatic beings. They can trace their lineage as far back as the Atlanteans and can survive on dry land as well as underwater. In fact, their greatest secret is that there is no one resting place for the Lemurians, their great cities are always moving. Learn about the people of Lemuria, new Biomancy magic and weapons, Biomancy engineered riding animals, sea herbs, new powers of healing, sea monsters, and more. Epic adventure awaits.
Unknown to most humans, deep within Mexico the vampires have established entire kingdoms. There they live like tyrants and gods, dominating an underclass of cattle people used as slaves and foodstock. Learn more about the vampires, their rivals, allies and the humans who willingly serve their supernatural masters for a chance to join the undead. A must-have guide for those who wish to travel deeper into the Vampire Kingdoms or play as vampires and their human minions.
The Genesis Pits™ Sourcebook takes a deep look at one of the most awesome and terrifying powers wielded by the Invid: the ability to alter genetic structures and evolve their own species as well as other beings. To that end, the Invid have built massive evolutionary laboratories across the Earth and numerous worlds in an effort to find the perfect form to dominate the universe forever. The sourcebook includes a wide range of mutations, different types of Genesis Pits, new Robotech O.C.C.s and new "Frankenmechs" – hybrid mecha made from the leftovers of Earth's fallen defenders.
The Genesis Pits™ Sourcebook goes beyond the cartoon and deep into the machinations of the Invid and their deadly consequences for all who happen into their path.
We wanted this truly epic title out in December or January, but February is just a more realistic release date. We sure don't want to rush a book so many people have been waiting for. We hope you understand.
The Minion War spills across Rifts Earth, where demons and infernals hope to recruit allies and use the Rifts as gateways of destruction. Their influence shakes things up across the planet, especially at locations where demons and Deevils already have a strong presence. More details to follow, but for now, 'nuff said.
Data about the chaos and madness of the early days of the Great Cataclysm, and the brave men and women who tried to stem the tide of destruction and save lives, the First Responders.
This is a great resource for getting out of print Palladium titles and other select books. We've made 90 titles available as PDF digital downloads from DriveThruRPG.com. This is a great way to try Palladium products and get access to out of print RPG source material. Some notable titles include:
All of the following (and more) are being written right now. A few are already finished. Most will be 2012 releases. And this does not include projects I would like to do for Palladium Fantasy®, Dead Reign™, Warpath™: Urban Jungle and new mediums.
Beyond the Supernatural™: Arcanum
Beyond the Supernatural™: Tome Grotesque
Beyond the Supernatural™ Sourcebook
Chaos Earth™ First Responders
Chaos Earth™ – Zombie Apocalypse Rifts-style during the Great Cataclysm.
Heroes Unlimited™ – Had two people who were supposed to be working on a pair of books, but they disappeared on me, so we are looking for folks to write a couple of HU2 sourcebooks.
Nightbane® – An as of yet untitled project, and looking for more.
Palladium Fantasy® – Mysteries of Magic 2 & 3
Palladium Fantasy® – Tombs of Gersidi expanded and new. Plus I have a few ideas on this front myself to revitalize this line, including writing Land of the Damned 3 for 2012 release.
Phase World®: United Worlds of Warlock™
Phase World®: Pirates of the Three Galaxies™
Rifts® Antarctica
Rifts® Black Market
Rifts® China Three
Rifts® Deep South
Rifts® New Navy™
Rifts® Northern Gun™ Books One & Two.
Rifts® Sovietski™
Rifts® Titan Industries™
Robotech® Genesis Pits™ adventure sourcebook.
Robotech® UEEF Marines™
Splicers® Sourcebook One – concepts and art by Charles Walton.
Splicers® Sourcebook Two – concepts and art by Charles Walton.
The Christmas Surprise Package is our way of saying thank you to our fans and putting smiles on the faces of gamers around the world.
What is a Palladium Christmas Surprise Package? $80-$90 (or more!) worth of Palladium Books product for only $38 plus shipping and handling. A minimum of eighty dollars ($80) retail. Sometimes much more! Santa Kevin often packs in $90-$100 worth of goodies.
It's a surprise package because you never know exactly what you're going to get or who will sign your books. We try to include many of the items on your "wish list," but we'll surprise you with stuff you are not expecting. All Surprise Packages are "handpicked" by Kevin Siembieda from YOUR "wish list." All books will be autographed if you want us to sign them. For many of you, this is the only way to get autographs!
We are taking orders right now. Buy one or ten, but get at least one. Buy them as gifts or to try a new game line, or fill holes your collection. Just don't miss out. The Surprise Packages will be available till December 23, 2011.
Spread the word. Tell all your gaming pals, because the Christmas Surprise Package is only publicized by word of mouth, to readers of The Rifter® and on Palladium's website, so tell everyone you know. Buy one for every gamer you know and have a very Merry Christmas.
Click here for more information and to place an order.
The Palladium Open House (POH) is, plain and simply, a blast for everyone.
Think family reunion with people you like from around the world that involves laughs, fun and three days of role-playing games. (Four for those who attend VIP Thursday.) We invite you into our home – the Palladium warehouse and office – where we make the games you love and treat you like family and welcomed guests.
● 40+ Palladium creators are there for you. The Palladium staff and as many of the freelance writers, artists, Game Masters and Megaversal Ambassadors as possible (typically 30-45) are present the entire event. Many run games you can play in. All are there to sign autographs and talk with you.
Unlike game conventions, at the Palladium Open House you have unprecedented access to Kevin Siembieda and other Palladium creators, because they are there, on the floor with you all day long. They are happy to talk about Palladium Books, artwork, writing, movies, comic books and exchange stories about their own gaming experiences as well as listen to yours. Some artists are willing to do sketches of your characters, others bring prints and original artwork to sell. All are friendly and goofy gamers just like you. It seems like we laugh and have fun all weekend long, stopping only to catch a little sleep.
● Gaming events are run all day and into the night. Many are run by the very people who create the games, like Kevin Siembieda, Julius Rosenstein, Carmen Bellaire, Carl Gleba, Brandon Aten, Mark Oberle, Irvin Jackson and many others. There is also an open gaming area for pick up games. When gaming ends for the day at Palladium, there are two meeting rooms at the hotel where you can continue to play games, chat and have fun into the wee hours of the night.
● Panel talks (every day). I and others host several panel talks and question and answer sessions that reveal secrets, offer G.M. tips, player tips and lots of laughs.
● Costume contest (Saturday). YOU should make a costume based on one of Palladium's RPG settings and enter the costume contest. It is always a ton of fun and winners who take 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place all get Palladium gift certificates and a plaque worthy of hanging on the wall. Best of show gets a $100 gift certificate (actually, it's Palladium Bucks redeemable wherever you find Palladium, at the POH, conventions, or via mail order). Costume contest categories are: Rifts/Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror/Modern/Superhero, and Best of Show.
● Live auction (Saturday). Get rare, out of print books, proofreader copies, artwork, prints, posters, collectibles, and strange things put up for rapid-fire auctioning by Kevin Siembieda.
● Meet fans from around the world. This year we already have gamers coming from Japan, Australia, Germany, England, Canada and across the country. Note: Our capacity is limited to about 350 people, so if there is a bigger than usual turnout, you may not be able to attend. Order your admissions tickets and reserve your hotel room now. The hotel will not be charged to your credit card till the day before the event.
● The POH is inexpensive compared to most game and comic conventions. You get more bang for your buck, total access to Palladium creators and enjoy everything for the price of admission.
The cost of admission covers everything. The games, the panel talks, the auction, entry in the costume contest . . . EVERYTHING.
The hotel is only $69.95 a night for a room with two double beds or one king-size bed. Suites are under $140. Free hot breakfasts. Note: you MUST tell them you want a room in the Block Reserved for Palladium Books to get the special rate. Your credit card is not charged until a day before the event, so reserve early. Call 734-455-8100, Comfort Inn Plymouth Clock Tower Hotel.
Food and stores all around. There are fast food places and inexpensive restaurants to eat all around Palladium Books. A Bennigans is across from the hotel. Denny's, Dunkin Donuts and McDonald's are down the street one direction, Burger King, McDonald's, Wendy's, Lee's Chicken, Baskin & Robbins, and more are down the other way. Westland Mall is a half mile away, so is Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target, Kohls, Macy's, Sears, JC Penny, Lowes, Meijer, Sam's Club, Ikea and Dollar Tree, among many others. A large movie theater is around the block, almost walking distance, and another is near Westland Mall. We've got it all. ;)
$40 for the Three Day Weekend (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) when ordered in advance per each individual. $50 at the door and after March 31, 2012, if space is available. Cost of emission covers all events. Note: VIP Night, May 3, 2012, is an additional cost. A new batch of tickets will be made available in February, 2012.
$20 for Friday 9:00 AM till Closing.
$20 for Saturday 9:00 AM till Closing.
$10 for Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
$75 per person for VIP Night – Thursday – May 3, 2012. VIP night is a catered event limited to around 70-80 gamers plus Palladium creators. It is an additional cost, so if you plan to attend the entire weekend you must get a weekend ticket as well. NOTE: Since VIP tickets sell out so fast, we offer them in two batches. The first is sold out. The second offering will be in February 2012. VIP Thursday, May 3, 2012: 3:00 P.M. till 11:00 P.M.
Placing Your Order: Please include your FULL address and apartment number. Also include the complete NAME of EACH person you are ordering a ticket for, as well as your telephone number in case there is a problem and we need to contact you.
Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard and most credit cards are accepted. All Credit Card orders must include: Credit Card No. – Name on the card – Address of the Credit Cardholder – Expiration Date – Telephone Number of the cardholder. If you are buying tickets for several people, please make sure we have the full NAME of each person.
By Telephone: Call (734) 721-2903 – have your credit card information ready. You may place your reservation online in a similar way as placing a book order or you may use Palladium's order line (734) 721-2903.
Check or Money Order by Mail: Sent via the USPS or other delivery service. Send check or money order to:
Palladium Books
Dept. POH
39074 Webb Court
Westland, MI 48185-7606
Please include your FULL address and apartment number. Also include the complete NAME of EACH person you are ordering a ticket for, as well as your telephone number in case there is a problem and we need to contact you.
All tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis, so get your reservations in as soon as possible! Due to space and parking limitations and safety concerns, attendance will be limited to approximately 350 admission tickets.
Click here for more details and to reserve your tickets.
The Queen of Ghouls – Palladium's very own Kathy Simmons – is locked in her dungeon, devising new ghouls. Go to queenofghouls.com to see her current selection of life-sized Halloween props. See her zombie doctor and other new zombies, Jack Skellington and Sally, and more. New creations are on the drawing board, and so is a new website. Each Halloween prop is truly life-sized (most are 6 feet or taller – Jack is almost 8 feet) and seems almost alive.
Each is an all-weather, life-sized Halloween prop that can handle rain and snow, and is a one-of-a-kind work of art (no two are exactly the same). Each looks frighteningly "real." All come apart and fold down to slightly larger than a king-size pillow for easy storage. Comes with easy instructions, a plastic storage bag, and the lawn stake to stand it up in your front yard. Indoor stand sold separately.
Types of "Ghouls" include: Zombies (all kinds!), killer clowns, wizards, witches, devils, grave ghouls, scarecrows, executioners, mad doctors, deadly nurses, vampires, werewolves, and more. Kathy's also now offering an array of hand-painted Halloween signs, signs with heads and bodies hanging from them, witch's brewing pots, Halloween centerpieces and more. Best of all, her high quality creations are much more affordable and imaginative than most competitors or mass produced items in a store, making them affordable Halloween fun.
If you think the photos online look good, you should see them in person. A typical "ghoul," as she calls her creations, costs $129-$259. You can see some of her work at her Queen of Ghouls™ Ebay store – queenofghouls.com.
Palladium Books has already reserved its booth at Gen Con Indy 2012.
We want to have a bigger presence at Gen Con Indy 2012 and that means more Palladium gaming events. We want Palladium Books to be a much bigger part of the gaming experience at Gen Con Indy 2012. Toward that end, we're hoping a number of Game Masters will step forward and run "official" gaming events at Gen Con. To do that we need your help.
Please let us know if you are planning to run at Gen Con Indy 2012, but most importantly, YOU NEED to contact Gen Con directly and fill out the Event Submission form/application and send it in to them BEFORE THE JANUARY DEADLINE. This can all be done online.
Note: Though there are different "rounds" and deadlines for submitting events, it is our experience that submitting in time for the very first deadline is the only way to sure-fire guarantee the event will be included. So please, let's plan now and get our events entered in the first round, mid-January 2012. Megaversal Ambassadors, please be a vocal and visible part of getting people to run Palladium gaming events for Gen Con Indy 2012. Any and all game settings (Rifts®, Heroes Unlimited, Palladium Fantasy®, Robotech®, Dead Reign™, Nightbane®, Splicers®, BTS, and all the rest) are welcomed. Let's make the halls of Gen Con Indy 2012 ring with Palladium gaming.
© Copyright 2011 Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved.
Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Palladium Books®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Phase World®, Nightbane®, Megaverse®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars® and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. Beyond the Supernatural™, Chaos Earth, Coalition States, Dead Reign, Heroes Unlimited, Ninjas & Superspies, Minion War, Mysteries of Magic, SAMAS, Thundercloud Galaxy, Three Galaxies, Vampire Kingdoms, Warpath, and other published book titles, names, slogans and likenesses are trademarks of Palladium Books Inc., and Kevin Siembieda.
Robotech® and Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles® are Registered Trademarks of Harmony Gold USA, Inc.
This press release may be reprinted, reposted, linked and shared for the sole purpose of advertising, promotion and sales solicitation.


text:
The Queen has sent a message of support to the victims of the Glasgow police helicopter crash.
A police helicopter carrying three people crashed into a pub in the city centre on Friday evening, killing those on board and five inside the pub. Scottish police confirmed a further 14 people are being treated for "very serious injuries" in several hospitals across Glasgow.
The 87-year-old monarch, who is currently at Windsor Castle, said "her thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the crash" on Saturday afternoon.
On Saturday morning, Scotland's First Minster described it as a "black day for Scotland," while adding "but it is also St Andrews Day and we can take pride in how we respond to adversity".
Prime Minister David Cameron also praised the help of individuals who raced to the scene of the accident to offer support.
"I want to thank the emergency services who worked tirelessly throughout the night and I also want to pay tribute to the bravery of the ordinary Glaswegians who rushed to help.
'We have offered the Scottish Government our support in any way we can and we are all wishing a speedy recovery to those who are injured."
It is thought that approximately 120 people were in the pub at the time of the crash. The majority of people were rescued or escaped, but others were trapped by a collapse on the left-hand side of the building.
Today was supposed to be a day of celebration and rejoice in Scotland to mark St Andrew's Day. However, many parades and celebrations have been called off as a mark of respect for the victims. A minute of silence was also held at a football match between Falkirk and Rangers prior to the match.
This is not the first time a police helicopter has crashed in Scotland. In 1990 poor weather conditions caused a crash killing a police sergeant and in 2002, a helicopter came down in a field but luckily all three people on board survived.
The situation in Glasgow is ongoing and a full investigation will now happen to establish the cause of the accident.
::Police Scotland Casualty Bureau number is 0800 092 0410 – for those concerned about relatives.
photo credit: geishaboy500 via photopin cc

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Southwest Pacific
The region's islands are also known for their coral reefs, coastal mangrove forests and vast stretches of open water.
Protecting the PacificBut not all is perfect in paradise. The region is threatened by unsustainable tourism, overfishing and climate change.
Many islanders rely on fisheries as a source of food and income from coral reef and mangrove habitats that are threatened by warming ocean temperatures and sea level rise.
Through its Pacific programme, WWF works to raise awareness and increase resilience to the adverse impacts of climate changes as well as focus its efforts on natural resource management and marine conservation throughout the region.
Fiji's marine protected areas
Prohibited fishing zones have been set aside within Fiji's Great Sea Reef, the third largest barrier reef in the world, to conserve the most diverse amount of species and habitats as possible.
Where is the Southwest Pacific region?
View WWF Critical Regions of the World in a larger map


text:
You will learn
How to setup SAP Cloud Appliance Library account and then install preconfigured SAP solution in the cloud.
Install a preconfigured SAP solution in the cloud using SAP Cloud Appliance Library
How to setup SAP Cloud Appliance Library account and then install preconfigured SAP solution in the cloud.
In the end of this tutorial you'll install an SAP solution on AWS. This will take some time (about 30 minutes up to 1 hour).
Although SAP offers trial editions for free you will still have to cover the costs for running these trial editions on AWS!
Navigate to https://cal.sap.com/ and login using your SCN user. Accept the terms and conditions.
Switch to the Solutions tab and Search for SAP NetWeaver AS ABAP and SAP BW 7.5 SP01 on SAP HANA SP10 [Developer Edition] and click the Try Now button. Accept the terms and conditions. [Note: If this solution is not available, try the versions closer to this one]
Navigate to the Accounts tab and create a CAL account by clicking on the Create Account link in the top-right corner.
On the first wizard page (Define General Properties) provide a Name for your account (e.g. SAP Cloud Platform Backend). Then, select Amazon Web Services as Cloud Provider. Also provide your AWS Access Key and Secret Key in the related input fields. Click on Next.
On the third wizard page (Select Account Users) you can maintain (additional) users for this account. Your user should be registered by default. Click on Review.
Review all the information and then click on Create.
Navigate back to the Solutions tab in the CAL cockpit and select again the SAP NetWeaver AS ABAP and SAP BW 7.5 SP01 on SAP HANA SP10 [Developer Edition] entry in the list of solutions
Click the related Activate button, and afterwards the related Create Instance button.
On the first page of the Create Instance wizard you are asked to define the general properties of the to be created instance. Provide a Name for your instance (e.g. NW App Server 7.5 Public.) Your Account information should be filled in already as well as the default Region to be used. Keep everything as Default and enter the Password of your choice
Proceed by clicking Create.
Once you confirm the Create instance wizard dialog, the selected solution will be provisioned to your AWS account and from that moment on you are generating costs!. When you do this for the first time it may take up to 35 min to setup the solution. Note: AWS account generates costs
You'll be prompted to store and/or download the generated license key (PEM file).
Once the instance is up and running it will be listed under the Instances tab of the CAL cockpit. If you click on the link in the Instance Name column you can open up a pop-up window to take a look at (and edit) the individual settings. You can select Public Static IP Address if you want one. One of the most important information being displayed is the IP address of your instance.
Once the AWS instance has been started, you can connect to it and use the installed SAP NetWeaver Application Server for ABAP. There is also a SAP HANA Cloud Connector installed and running on the AWS instance. You can use it for your on-premise extension scenarios in which you connect SAP Cloud Platform applications to the ABAP system on AWS.
Details how to connect and use the AWS image are described in this PDF document. We briefly summarize the most important points:
Connect to the AWS instance using a Remote Desktop Client (on Windows start e.g.
mstsc.exe). You can find the of your AWS front end instance by clicking on the instance name in your SAP Cloud Appliance Library account. Take the External IP of the front end instance and use the OS user Administrator with the master password you have specified before to log in with your remote desktop client.
Connect to the ABAP system on the AWS instance with SAP GUI, you can use the already installed SAP GUI on the AWS front end instance. Start the SAP Logon and logon to the preconfigured system with Username as DEVELOPER and your master password. (Server name:
abapci, System ID:
A4H) add an ABAP system with following properties:
|Field Name
|Application Server
|Instance Number
|System ID
|User name
|your master password
To use the SAP HANA Cloud Connector, enter the URL https://abapci.dummy.nodomain:8443/ and log on with user Administrator with the master password.
On the AWS front end instance, there is also an Eclipse Luna version installed and available on the desktop. The Eclipse instance is already prepared for SAP Cloud Platform and you can use it to develop SAP Cloud Platform applications.
Deploy an JCo/RFC based on-premise extension using SAP HANA Cloud Connector
Updated 04/04/2018
Contributors Provide Feedback
10 Min.


text:
Thursday, 4 October 2012
Announcement: PDSA Fundraiser
New Release: Equestrian and Hunter Boots
Sunday, 2 September 2012
Archie Appeal - paying it forward
Archie and I would like to thank everyone who's have contributed to this fundraiser. All week I have laughed with you, cried with you and shared stories of heart wrenching sadness together with others of unbridled joy. To feel so much empathy and to be the recipient of so much kindness has left me both bewildered, humbled and immensely grateful.
Saturday, 25 February 2012
New Release: Aviator Boots
Introducing Aviator, the essential new Winter boot from Gos. Immaculately detailed with exquisite stitching, folded seam beneath the zippered side, creased upper, thick-tread soles and leather strapped ring to the ankle, Aviator is the boot of the season with two separate lines to provide a unique look for both men and women.
Amelia was crafted for the female fashionista, complete with show/hide rolled sock tops and shape change between a tight fit zipping high on the leg, and the loose fit which pulls wider around the calf. Choose between 5 sock colours for the single boot colours and an array of 16 if you purchase the fatpack, shifting your shoe shape and changing your hosiery to allow complete customisation of your Amelia Aviators to best suit your outfits.
Yeager is designed just for men, coming with both the loose fit option to wear tall over your pants and a short style to sit comfortably beneath your trouser cuffs. Scripted for dynamic shape change, Yeager is both fun and functional, offering quick customisation to suit your latest style.
With advanced fitting menu for a completely personalised fit to your body shape, Aviator is available in single colours of Black, Camel, Chocolate, Tan and Worn or as a fatpack of all 5.
Add Aviator to your collection by visiting the Gos Mainstore or Marketplace now.
New Release: Wellingtons
New from Gos, mesh wellington boots in 12 glossy colours to brighten up your wardrobe. Certain to get you noticed whatever the weather, these boots deliver a perfect fit with three pairs of rigged boots and one pair of attachable boots included with each purchase.
Available in single colours, with custom resprays available, or as an all-colour fatpack, you can easily create your own personal colour combinations, changing the details to match your latest outfit. With side buckle detail and tracked rubber sole, Gos Wellingtons are a classic addition to your footwear collection making a bold statement that's sure to get people talking.
Purchase from the Gos mainstore or on Marketplace.
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
New Release: Storm
Add an edge to your outfit with Storm, the new release from Gos. A cutout platform sandal set on a cushioned sole, Storm commands attention, finishing any outfit with definitive style. Flatteringly feminine while maintaining a distinct military feel, Storm is available in a range of high shine leather and suede finishes to suit every occasion.
Storm creates a mood for your whole outfit, and it can be as dramatic, exciting or wild as you want to make it. Storm is sold in single colours and fatpack versions, with additional colour updaters. With every part customisable on demand, there are 123 billion possible combinations, meaning it could take you 4,000 years to try them all! Find your individual look by using the simple on-touch menus - or you can always have some fun with the 'random' button to discover a bold new look.
Available now from the mainstore and on marketplace.
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
New Release: Cinch Belt
Introducing the Cinch Belt from Gos, with script technology that will change the way you accessorise your outfits.
This versatile belt is wonderfully feminine, an asymmetric design with wide front that tapers to an elastic fitting around the side and slimmer band to the back. Accented with a unique hook fastening and sophisticated stud clasp, this offers a flattering fit whether you choose to emphasise your curves by wearing it up on the waist, or drop lower to the hips for a different look entirely.
The innovative scripting system allows for a completely custom resize for a perfect fit to your figure, eliminating the awkward oversize common with other belts on the market. Taper and stretch on every axis; save copies to work with different shapes or around the other prims you're wearing - Cinch is the perfect compliment your latest look.
Sold in 10 colours that co-ordinate perfectly with the Curvaceous boots range, Cinch comes in suede and leather textures with both gold and silver metal parts to set off your outfit. The Gos Cinch-Belt is also available as a fatpack at a hugely discounted price and can be two-toned for even more styling options.
Transform your wardrobe with the Cinch Belt: now available from the Gos Mainstore and Marketplace.


text:
Construction of the new $200 million Caterpillar Inc. facility in Athens is on track to meet its March 2013 deadline for occupancy, and the company will begin hiring the plant's first 300 employees early next year. Todd Henry, the plant manager, hosted a press conference and tour Aug. 22 in order to update the community about progress at the 248-acre site. The shell of the first of two large buildings is up, and construction workers now are focusing on its cavernous interior. The walls of the other building were still being erected.
Manufacturing is to begin late next year and ramp up to full production over the following five years. The plant will become the "worldwide source" for Caterpillar's small track-type tractors. It also will produce mini hydraulic excavators, with about 40 percent of those to be exported overseas.
For the full story, see the Aug. 29 issue of the Barrow Journal.
Athens' Caterpillar plant getting ready for March opening
No Trackbacks
Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)


text:
There is an article on SecurityFocus from The Register discussing that if software piracy could be cut or stopped it would jumpstart the sluggish global economy.
I am sure that if piracy were cut there would be an increase in spending, but statistics have a habit of serving their master and representing what the authors want them to.IDC analysts estimate that reducing this figure to a third (30 per cent) could lead to the creation of 1.5 million new jobs, increase economic growth by $400bn and generate $64bn in new taxes.
Full Article
When I have used "pirated" software it has almost always been to dabble with some technology that I wouldn't otherwise get to play with. For instance, if I download and install a pirated Microsoft Exchange I get to familiarize myself with the software and become proficient in configuring and administering it.
If I was somehow blocked from getting a pirated copy it does not mean that it would spur the economy. I just wouldn't use it. I have no real need for Exchange and can't afford to buy Exchange for my little 3 computer home network. In my opinion, piracy in this form actually helps the industry because it makes me into a product evangelist and gives me the skills needed to administer this in the real world.
For most instances, there are time-lapsed trial versions so you don't need a "pirate" copy, but my point is that many people who are using pirated software would not run out and buy a legitimate version if they couldn't get the pirated copy. They would either do without or find some other freeware / public domain alternative.


text:
Featured Content
SAP Components in Virtual and Cloud Environments
Get an overview on the support of SAP applications, operating systems, and databases, and their required setup and configurations in both environments.
How to protect SAP applications against L1 terminal fault exploit?
SAP Applications Supported with Hyper-V 2016
Huawei and Open Telekom Cloud certified by SAP
Alibaba Cloud certified by SAP
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure certified by SAP
Premium Managed Disks on Microsoft Azure Supported
SAP NetWeaver Applications on Google Cloud Platform
New Performance Guidelines for Windows Server 2016
VMware vSphere: Possible Performance Degradation on Windows
If you use Windows Server 2012, 2012 R2 or 2016 guests with VMware vSphere and you experience an increased rate of "Received Dropped Packets," see this blog for more information.
Updated Microsoft SQL Server Best Practices Guide for VMware vSphere 6.5 Available Now
SAP Applications on IBM Cloud Infrastructure Now Supported
Windows Server 2016 Now Supported
New Best Practices for SAP HANA on VMware vSphere
Azure Resource Manager Deployments on Microsoft Azure Supported
SAP now supports Azure Resource Manager (ARM) to deploy virtual machines running Linux and Windows guest operating systems.
VMware vSphere 6.5 Now Supported by SAP
VMware vSphere 6.5 is now supported for use with all SAP applications which are covered by the General Support Statement for Virtual Environments.
Blog How to Move SAP Applications onto Microsoft Azure
A new blog referring to recent updates, recommendations and new technologies for customers moving SAP applications onto Microsoft Azure has been published by Microsoft.
Support Issue: High Latency with VMware FT 6.0
If you use FT 6.0 (with more than one vCPU) and you experience high latency and low throughput, check your ESXi 6.0 patch level.
Support Issue with VMware NSX for vSphere 6.2.x
Support Issue: Hanging VMs with VMware ESXi 5.5
Support Issue: Unresponsive VMs after VMware vMotion
VMs configured with large virtual hardware resources and memory-intensive workloads might become temporary unresponsive after vMotion with VMware ESXi 5.5 and 6.0. Read VMware KB 2144984 and configure your host accordingly.
SAP on Microsoft Azure: News on SLES, Red Hat and HANA support
New SAP Note on the Use of Azure Premium SSD Storage Now Published
With SAP Note 2367194, Microsoft published valuable guidance when to use Premium Storage for SAP DBMS Instance with Microsoft Azure.
Support Issue: Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Guest OS Causing Network Issues
Microsoft SQL Server on VMware vSphere: Updated Best Practices
Support Issue with SAP kernel on Windows Server 2008 & Current Hardware
You recently changed your hardware or moved your running SAP system to virtual environments using the newest processor generations. You determine crashes of different SAP executables of SAP kernel release 7.45 on an irregular base.
Support Issue: Performance Degradation with Hyper-V 2012 R2
Due to an issue in Windows Server 2012 R2 Hyper-V, you might encounter high performance regression in virtual machines when running CPU-intensive operations.
Support Issue: Performance Degradation with VMware vSphere 6.0
New VMware Best Practices Guides Available Now
Updated versions of the guide 'Architecting Microsoft SQL Server on VMware vSphere' and of the 'VMware Best Practices Guides' for vSphere 6 has been published by VMware. Furthermore, check the blog Protecting SAP Systems Running on VMware with Azure Site Recovery.
Support Issue with VMware ESXi 5.5 U3 and 6.0
New SAP Notes on Monitoring VMware Virtual Environments
Support Issue: Possible Data Corruption with VMware vSphere 6.0
Contact us
Related Resources
Wiki Documentation
Virtualization and Cloud Infrastructure Home
SAP Development and Technology Partners Update
Related Community Topics
Product and Solution Pages
SAP Standard Application Benchmarks
Document Archive
Virtualization and Cloud Infrastructure
Discussion Archive
Virtualization and Cloud Infrastructure
All Blogs and Questions


text:
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- After opening up OVC play against the current top two teams in the conference, the Tennessee Tech soccer team will look to snap their two-game losing streak as they take on Murray State and UT Martin on the road this weekend.
Tech is coming off of two tough losses from last weekend's road trip into Kentucky, when they squared off against Ohio Valley frontrunner Morehead State for a 2-0 loss, and the no. 2 Eastern Kentucky Colonels in a hard-fought, 1-0 loss.
The Eagles and the Colonels also handed Murray and Martin, this week's opponents, two losses apiece in their first week of OVC play. Murray however, found momentum swinging their way slightly last weekend, as the Racers are coming off of a one-nil win over Jacksonville State and a 110-minute tie with Austin Peay.
Tennessee Tech will face Murray State first on Friday at 4 p.m. With the 11-game series dead even between the Golden Eagles and the Racers (5-5-1) and all-time scoring statistics sitting at 20 goals to 19 for Tech, the Golden Eagles will be looking to avenge the OVC tournament loss that ended their season in 2009, when no. 3 Murray netted four goals on TTU to advance.
Murray faced Tech once prior in 2009 as well in a 1-3 match favoring the Racers in late September.
Capping off play for the weekend, the Golden Eagles will visit Martin on Sunday for a 2 p.m. afternoon game before returning to Cookeville. UT Martin finds themselves in a situation similar to Murray's this weekend, blanking Jacksonville State 2-0 and netting one on Austin Peay for their second consecutive shutout last weekend, evening their record to 2-2.
TTU holds a slight edge over the Skyhawks, leading the lifetime series with a record of 8-5-1, having notched 24 goals to UTM's seven over the course of 11 years. The last meeting between the pair, however, only favored Tech 1-0 in a double overtime victory.
"It's no secret that this weekend will be crucial for our season," said head coach Daniel Brizard. "We've found ourselves in several close matches already, and we need to come together to be on the winning end of those games.
"We're not getting beat by huge numbers," Brizard continued. "We've had five single goal losses on the season. It's imperative for us to start working harder for all 90 minutes to win those close games, rather than give up that back-breaking point to our opponents."
Fans who cannot make it to Murray this weekend can follow the Live Stats at the link below. Live Stats will be unavailable for the UT Martin match-up.


text:
Man struck, killed on highway ramp in Webster
Driver was located in Woburn
Man struck, killed on highway ramp in Webster
Driver was located in Woburn
WEBSTER, Mass. —
State police are investigating the death of a 24-year-old pedestrian who was struck and killed on a ramp to Interstate 395 in Webster.
Police say they responded to the scene at about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. The male victim was declared dead on the way to the hospital.
Based on witness interviews and physical evidence, police identified the tractor-trailer that possibly struck the man and did not stop.
State police got the dispatch office for the trucking company that owns the tractor-trailer to contact the driver, who pulled over in Woburn and awaited arrival of police. The truck was then towed to a secure location for processing.
No names were released and no charges were immediately filed.


text:
Alpaca farms around the country participated in National Alpaca Farm Days this weekend.
Each year National Alpaca Farm days aims to educate people about alpacas. The Alpacas of Spring Acres enjoys having people out to tour the family farm each year as part of the national event. However, Jaime Morgan said she likes to give tours year round.
"We do really like the public to come out," Morgan said. "We do free tours all year around for educational purposes. One of my goals is to get the younger crowd into this livestock."
The Morgan's have over 60 alpacas on their farm. They show the alpacas and shear them every year to produce scarves, rugs and other items that are made out of the alpacas' Fiber. But that's not the only reason they raise them.
"For the most part they're fun. I don't want to say they're like dogs, but personality wise that's kind of how I view them. Of course we live in this barn above you, so we're with them everyday."
For more information the farm's website at www.thealpacasofspringacres or give them a call at (740) 796-2195.


text:
I've been thinking about the BMS. I want a system that enables me to read voltage of each sell to an Arduino and I can then play around with the data. Then I need some sort of balancing (thinking about bottom balancing) and overcharge control. My battery back is 24s Lipo, but I might replace it with larger LiFePo4 pack in the future.
Any suggestions what BMS to use?


text:
CHICAGO (AP) — A 2-year-old girl who was implanted with a windpipe grown from her own stem cells has died, three months after she became the youngest person to receive the experimental treatment.
Hannah Warren died Saturday at Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria, hospital spokeswoman Shelli Dankoff said. Dr. Rick Pearl, one of three surgeons involved in the operation, told The Associated Press that Hannah died of lung complications following a second surgery, but that the new windpipe "worked very well" until the end.
Her family asked for privacy, but expressed their sorrow in a fundraising blog updated Sunday: "She is a pioneer in stem-cell technology and her impact will reach all corners of our beautiful Earth. Her new trachea was performing well, but her lungs went from fairly good, to weak, to poor."
Hannah's treatment was part of an ongoing scientific effort to develop lab-grown tissues and organs. Similar methods have been used to grow bladders, urethras and last year a girl in Sweden got a lab-made vein using her own stem cells and a cadaver vein.
In Hannah's case, the stem cells came from her bone marrow. They were seeded in a lab onto a plastic scaffold, where it took a few days for them to multiply and create a new windpipe, which was implanted April 9.
Hannah was born in South Korea and traveled to Illinois for the surgery. A pediatric surgeon in Peoria had met Hannah's family while on a business trip to South Korea and helped connect them with Dr. Paolo Macchiarini, an Italian surgeon based in Sweden who pioneered the technique.
Hannah's parents, Darryl Warren and Lee Young-mi, had read about Macchiarini's success using stem-cell based tracheas, but they couldn't afford to pay for the operation at his center in Stockholm. Dr. Mark Holterman, the Illinois doctor, helped the family arrange to have the procedure at his hospital with Macchiarini leading the surgical team. Children's Hospital waived the cost.
The hospital is part of OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, a Roman Catholic system that considers the operation part of its mission to provide charity care and a way to champion a type of stem-cell therapy that doesn't involve human embryos, the surgeons said in April. The Catholic church opposes using stem cells derived from human embryos in research or treatment.
Hannah had lived in a Seoul hospital all her short life before flying to the U.S. and her lungs weren't strong, said Pearl, who is surgeon-in-chief at Children's Hospital. She required a second surgery June 11 for a leak in her esophagus. Lung complications followed.
The girl's family and her caregivers believe the knowledge gained from her surgery will benefit other patients.
"We learned the trachea transplant worked. That's very important and nobody should lose sight of that," Pearl said.
Hannah would have been 3 years old on Aug. 22.
"We will forever miss her infectious personality and miraculous strength and spirit," her family wrote on their blog.
AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner contributed to this report.
AP Medical Writer Carla K. Johnson can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/CarlaKJohnson
Regenerative Medicine: http://1.usa.gov/13IWdrx


text:
Johnson County Business Success Story
The Kerksieck family of Chilhowee was able to buy a local grocery store with help from a a business counseling team at the University of Missouri Extension's Small Business & Technology Development Centers. At right, owner Brandon Kerksieck is pictured at the store with his daughter, Riona.
Brandon and Chris Kerksieck first saw the "For Sale" sign as they were going to church one Sunday morning. Chilhowee's only grocery store was on the market.
Chilhowee is a small town in west central Missouri. Its population stretches to little more than 300, within the city limits. The next closest grocery lies more than 15 miles away in Holden. If Chilhowee's grocery store shut down the Kerksiecks feared their town would lose a vital cog.
The Kerksiecks chose Chilhowee as their home because of its proximity to Brandon's work. He's an aircraft production controller at Whiteman Air Force Base, about 25 miles east of Chilhowee. They feel it's a great place to raise their kids. And the town also reminds Brandon of his childhood home in Barrytown, a rural burg of 200 in west central Alabama.
Darrell Brammer and his business counseling team at the SBTDC, added to the advice the Kerksiecks received. These business experts helped the Kerksiecks explore the financial factors to consider. They also assisted the couple in developing a business plan, which the Kerksiecks needed to apply for a loan.
Share This
About this Story
Campus: Extension
Key words: Health, Teaching, UM System,
County: Johnson


text:
64 injured in huge Quebec chain-reaction crash
VAL-MORIN, Que. – Whiteout conditions on Monday morning led to two fatal crashes in Quebec, as well as a 47-car pileup that left more than 60 people injured.
The chain-reaction series of collisions happened around 11:15 a.m. near Val-Morin, Que., about an hour north of Montreal.
Cars, minivans and SUVs were seen bunched up side by side with smashed front and rear ends.
At least 64 people were injured, including three who were transported to hospital in critical condition.
Their condition was upgraded to serious condition by mid-afternoon.
About 30 people were trapped in their vehicles, overwhelming paramedic crews.
A school bus was brought in to transport victims to area hospitals.
Highway 15, the main north-south thoroughfare in Quebec, was completely closed in both directions from Val-Morin to the Montreal suburb of Laval, 70 km to the south.
There were several other road collisions across southern Quebec, including two that were deadly.
A truck driver lost lost control of his vehicle and veered into the oncoming lane about an hour east of Montreal on Monday morning.
The truck collided head-on with a car, killing a man in his 50's.
Around the same time, east of Quebec City, a 17-year-old girl died when the car she was driving drifted into the path of an oncoming transport truck.
Slippery road conditions and strong winds that whipped up snow contributed to several crashes across Eastern Canada on Monday.
Near Ottawa, a portion of Hwy. 416 was closed in the morning because of a multi-vehicle pileup involving two tractor-trailers.


text:
Get the Mortal Kombat [ALL] Trailer off WP (150mb)
In addition, Mortal Kombat introduces a number of new game-play features including tag team and the deepest story mode of any fighting game. Players can choose from an extensive lineup of the game's iconic warriors and challenge their friends in traditional 1 vs. 1 matches, or take on several new game modes.
Mortal Kombat introduces a number of new game modes as well as the most extensive online experience ever seen in a fighting game. Up to 4 players can battle "tag-team"- 2 players can team up in the new "Co-op Arcade Mode" or compete against another team online.
More articles about Mortal Kombat


text:
Explaining that Romulus and Remus decided not to fight but to submit the decision as to how the city should be named to the Gods.
Quoniam gemini erant nec aetatis discrimen inter eos fieri [discrimen facere = discernere] poterat, necesse fuit deos consulere.
Because they were twins and (at that time? - aetatis?) discord could not arise between them it was necessary to consult the Gods.
I'm perplexed by aetatis - does it simply mean 'at that time? - or at their age, i.e. that they were so young?


text:
MADAWSKA, Maine (AP) - A 49-year-old Maine woman has given birth to her grandson after her daughter was precluded from becoming pregnant because of a heart condition.
The Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/PHUHyu) reports that Linda Sirois of Madawska gave birth to 7-pound, 14-ounce Madden Hebert on Aug. 13 for her daughter, Angel. Twenty-five-year-old Angel Hebert says her baby is "eating like a champ and he doesn't fuss too much."
Sirois said she's offered for years to become a gestational surrogate for Angel if a doctor said she shouldn't become pregnant. Hebert, of Presque Isle, says she and husband Brian Hebert got that word last summer.
Sirois has four children, including twins, and her youngest kids are in college. She says she thinks the pregnancy with Madden might have been her easiest.
Information from: Portland Press Herald, http://www.pressherald.com
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
Listed below are services frequently requested by parents and guardians.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects students' academic records from disclosure without their consent. Listed below are instructions that enable your student to grant you access to his/her academic records.
Last updated: 11 July 2014
The Catalog of Indiana State University is the document of authority for all students. The requirements given in the Catalog supersede information issued by any academic department, program, college, or school. The University reserves the right to change the requirements at any time. The right to correct errors is also reserved.


text:
"We are just starting the process," Palanker said. "We don't have any preconceived notions. We have ideas that are on the table, and what we do as master developer is work with our partners in the county, work with the Town of Hempstead and the community at large to determine what's the right project that's going to be sustainable and really be a catalyst for additional economic development on Long Island."
Renaissance Downtowns, which is based in Plainview, is also working on redeveloping the Village of Hempstead, which is just a mile from the 77-acre Hub site. Because of this, Palanker explained, there is less pressure to add residential units at the Hub.
"We are looking to provide a transit link between the Long Island Rail Road station and the bus terminal in the Village of Hempstead with the Nassau Hub," he said. "That's one of the keys to getting cars off the road. It's an opportunity for people to perhaps live downtown in the village [and] to work at a high-paying job.
"Now we're not adding to traffic, we're not adding to pollution," Palanker added, "but we are adding to our tax revenues and our economic development."
In October, New York Islanders owner Charles Wang signed a 25-year lease with the newly built Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where the Islanders will play their home games beginning in 2015. In 2011, Nassau County voters defeated a referendum that would have publicly financed a new arena. In the months after the referendum, Wang made it clear that he would explore all options when it came to the future of the Islanders, and ultimately partnered with Ratner, his good friend, who was also the developer and is the majority owner of the Barclays Center.
Despite the Islanders' move, those who are involved in the effort to redevelop the Hub are confident in the project's success. Palanker said the project is a tremendous opportunity for all of Long Island despite the fact that the Coliseum will no longer have the Islanders as its anchor tenant.
"Our goal isn't just to do something that works for us," he said, "but something that is really going to be a shining star for Long Island."
The goal of the development team, Palanker said, is to break ground on the Hub project by the end this year.


text:
Jobs Ads In Nawaiwaqt Newspaper Thursday 13th October 2016
Jobs Ads In Nawaiwaqt Newspaper Thursday 13th October 2016
Department: Newspaper of Pakistan
Dated: Thursday 13th October 2016
Published By : Nawaiwaqt
About Newspaper
Nawaiwaqt is an Urdu daily newspaper in Pakistan.
Nawa e Waqt started its publishing on March 23, 1940 under the leadership of Hameed Nizami.
The tradition is continued by his brother Majid Nizami.
Read epaper of Daily Nawaiwaqt news with Nawaiwaqt news epaper, Nawaiwaqt e-paper online Nawa i Waqt is one of the largest circulating newspapers in the country.
The newspaper frequently publishes controversial articles and has been notable in openly supporting nationalism.
It had a special position in Pakistan's media, as the most respected publication in URDU, with firm and constructive views, and excellent news coverage.
Read Daily Nawaiwaqt e-paper newspaper online, Nawaiwaqt epaper and Nawaiwaqt urdu epaper on Nawaiwaqt free online.
Jobs Published In Nawaiwaqt Newspaper
Jobs, Tenders ,Admissions Published In Nawaiwaqt Newspaper 13 October 2016
Read All Edition Nawaiwaqt Newspaper
All Famous Companies Like To advertise With Nawaiwaqt Group Of Companies because it is one of the most reading newspaper. Here Include A section For Read Newspaper Online. To Read Online epaper For Each City Click On A link given Below.
Read online daily Nawaiwaqt Urdu Newspaper 13th October 2016,
All The Info is taken from Nawaiwaqt Newspaper and copyrighted to them and share here just for Readers.


text:
Matchmaker.com provides great new features for contact single Camden men. Use our icebreaker feature to let Camden guys know you are interested in getting to know them a little better. There are thousands of Camden men in your area so create a free profile today.
CamdenJoin Now Free!
Camden | Camden Girls | Camden Gay | Camden Lesbians
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
More Camden Links:
Senior Dating | Catholic Dating | Christian Dating | Muslim Dating
Black Singles | Asian Singles | Latin Dating
While Camden men and women in Camden might find dating to be more annoying than nice, it'simportant to get past this by breaking the ice. Write an introductory email that's worthy of a response, you probably find that it's easier than delivering a tired line in a darkened bar. After taking a good look at a number of local Camden guys, you'll know that the person you are attempting to get to know will have plenty in common with you.


text:
Keep your iPhone protected, dry, and charged with the SW-MOTECH Hardcase iPhone case. The weather resistant Biologic case snaps quickly on and off of the motorcycle and has a touch-sensitive screen that won't slow you down. Includes 2 silicone liners that provide a secure fit and protection to your iPhone 3G, 3Gs, 4, and 4s.
- Waterproof case protects your iPhone from the elements. Tested to European water protection standard of IPX-4 (splashing water at all angles).
- Touchscreen is usable through the clear touch-sensitive screen membrane.
- Wake/sleep and home buttons can be used with the phone inside the case; volume buttons and ringer switch cannot be accessed inside the case.
- Membrane-protected openings for the rear and front camera lenses let you take video or pictures while you ride.
- Sealed case allows weather-protected access to the stereo jack and dock connector for listening and charging on the go.
- The rotating base allows you to rotate the case into 24 different positions for easy vertical or horizontal viewing.
- The quick-release adapter has an AMPS hole pattern for easy attachment to all RAM, SW-MOTECH, or Techmount gadget mounts.
Systems to attach your Biologic iPhone case to your bike:
RAM:Purchase one each of the components listed below (sold separately).
RAM Mounts
- Choose a RAM BASE
- Choose an RAM ARM
- Purchase a RAM-B-238 RAM Ball
- Choose from Their mount collection
|Manufacturer #


text:
Hello,This is a personal shot I did working with a great retoucher and all round nice guy called Dan Coroian-Vlad.http://www.retouching.co.nz/https://www.facebook.com/pages/D2-creative-retouching/166300943405238The car was shot with a Nikon D800E, Nikon 70-200mm F2.8G @F16.0.Lighting was Dedos my new home made strip light and some light painting.I have another shot of the Aston Martin DBS coming soon.CheersSimon
From a collaboration with a local artist.
First time posting here, I'm kind of nervous...
Awesome. Great feel.
Thank you. Shot on film during an art intervention.
I like the idea of an Art Intervention. Do tell!
Hello,This is the second shot I did of the Aston Martin DBS.The brief I gave to Dan the retoucher was I wanted a Tim Burton, Bat Man, Sleepy Hollow look to the image.I think he nailed it perfectly.Stats:Nikon D800E cameraNikon 45mm F2.8 PC-E lens @F16.0Dedo LightsCheersSimon
Absolutely stunning shot.P.S. Hold on, no driver? I hate this new world.
Hello,The driver is actually me so the least of me the better.CheersSimon


text:
Joined by head men's basketball coach Pat Chambers and field hockey coach Charlene Morett, O'Brien received an enthusiastic welcome from about 250 alumni, former players and supporters who attended the luncheon at the Doubletree Hotel
"I know it's a very special place," O'Brien said. "What I try to do every single day is go in there with our staff and our players, and work extremely hard to make sure that we carry on the tradition of winning football games and graduating players."
It's quite a task. After all, O'Brien replaced Joe Paterno, who died in January at age 85. And he was hired two months after the child sexual abuse scandal that erupted following the arrest of Jerry Sandusky. A retired defensive coordinator, Sandusky has proclaimed his innocence while awaiting trial scheduled to start in June.
But O'Brien is ready to move the Nittany Lions forward in this ultra-competitive landscape that is college football, while at the same time, embrace Penn State's age-old tradition. It's a difficult recipe to master, but he's intent on trying.
"I want them to know," O'Brien said, "that I'm in charge of a football program that is part of a great athletic program that is a part of a very special university."
Those on hand certainly agreed Monday. And they were more than appreciative when hearing O'Brien, the former offensive coordinator with the New England Patriots, speak of the school's long-standing staples, including the simple uniforms and traveling on blue buses.
"That's what makes Penn State special," said Joseph Lally, a former defensive end. "Riding in the blue bus as a player is so exciting and motivational. Wearing those uniforms made us feel pretty special, and they are the same, year in and year out.
"These are important traditions."
After introductory remarks by the coaches, O'Brien fielded the majority of the questions from the generation-spanning fan base.
O'Brien has kept a busy schedule over the past few months as he has ingratiated himself in the community, despite his New England roots. He has made numerous campus appearances and talked with students.
Now, it's his time to talk with former players and alumni who may or may not support the program as much as in years past. So, he's hit the road to meet and greet. Former player Adam Taliaferro, whose recovery from a paralyzing spinal cord injury gained national media attention, thought the event represented a good chance for the fans to have some quality face time with the new leader.
"I've had the opportunity to speak to Coach O'Brien a couple times," Taliaferro said. "He's a great guy, and I think he's going to be a great asset to Penn State University. It was great that everyone got to see him, got to know him as a person."
Taliaferro added that the Penn State community shouldn't be upset that O'Brien didn't graduate from the school.
"When they first hired Coach O'Brien, I told him that all of us become Penn Staters at one point in our lives," Taliaferro said. "None of us were born Penn Staters. I'm of the mindset that he's our coach now. Let's give him all the support we can."
While many of the stops are in regions with strong Penn State ties, many are also in important recruiting areas. Some sites are both. On Tuesday, in fact, the caravan is scheduled to arrive in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. There will be a stop in Richmond, Va., on Wednesday.
Near the end of the trip - being run as season-ticket sales continue in State College - O'Brien will visit Hartford, Conn., the state that produced top tailback Silas Redd and linebacker Khairi Fortt. After that, O'Brien will visit Youngstown, Ohio, the hometown of former star quarterback Daryll Clark.
While other coaches will join O'Brien during the tour, only the football coach will be at each location. Clearly, he has the stage to show those "Penn Staters" just who he is, and what his program will eventually be.
"It's a beautiful place here," O'Brien said. "I was in the office the other day and (new offensive line coach) Mac McWhorter came in and said that he climbed Mt. Nittany on Saturday. When you get to the top - which I haven't been able to do yet, eventually I will - he talked about the views and the people he met along the trail. It's a great community here.
"It's named Happy Valley for a reason."


text:
Barry White's Candlelit Rendezvous
By: Linnea Crowther
6 years ago
Barry White, who would have turned 68 today, passed away nearly a decade ago and we still can't get enough. When White died in 2003, we learned that neither could his fans.
At the time of White's death, Legacy.com was just a few years old and had been providing Guest Books with obituaries for a relatively short time. We reviewed each and every entry submitted to make sure it was appropriate for the Guest Book, and we thought we had seen it all. And then with White's death, a new conundrum: how to handle the many messages from people who wanted to reminisce about, um, what they were doing and which/how many of their children were conceived while listening to White's, er, deeply romantic songs.
These Guest Book entries initially threw us for a loop. Is it OK in a condolence message to share the story of how your child was conceived? In the end, we decided that for Barry White's Guest Book, this kind of memory was totally appropriate to post (as long as it didn't describe that "special moment" too graphically). After all, back in the '70s, White's songs were the gold standard for setting a romantic mood. We can't help but think of a candlelit, soft-focus rendezvous when we hear a song like this one…
But White did more than help along countless relationships. He also ushered in the disco era with his innovative blend of R&B and classical music, set to a driving and danceable beat. At the helm of The Love Unlimited Orchestra, he became one of the first disco chart-toppers.
White kept the hits coming throughout the '70s – like "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe," which dominated both the R&B and pop charts.


text:
See more of Bjorn's work at borkurart.
Keywords: concept spaceship art from by lead artist illustrator at ccp whitewolf iceland Bjorn Borkur Eriksson
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
Google+ Pilots
Popular Posts
Scott has been crazy busy on his book BLAST which will drop around March of 2012. It will feature art from Scott as well as Danny Gardner ...
STAR WARS The Last Jedi incredible cross sections by our super good friend Kemp Remillard. Incredible. Keywords: star wars a-wing ...
Awesome art drop on CGSociety by our really good friend Sergio Botero. Keywords: Wells-class interplanetary...
Spaceship art by Shane Molina. Keywords: modified airplane plane p-51 mustang rear facing gunner cockpit addition concept digital technic...
Spaceship art by Antoine Giampaolo for the game Beyond Dark. Keywords: beyond dark syntis digital technical concept spaceship art illust...
George Hull. Keywords: spinner flying automobile vehicle digital concept illustration design for the movie blade runner 2049 by g...
Concept art from Last Days on Mars directed by our friend Ruairi Robinson. Keywords: spaceship mars lander concept art f...
New concept painting by our super good friend Rodrigo Galdino. Keywords: star wars kylo ren spaceship landing art illustration design by ...
Destroyer spaceship model and render by Drew Pace. Keywords: concept spaceship space destroyer model render sci-fi science fiction a...
USS ENTERPRISE concept design for STAR TREK BEYOND (2016) by our friend Sean Hargreaves. Keywords: star trek beyond uss enter...
Blog Archive
- ► 2018 (64)
- ► 2017 (106)
- ► 2016 (73)
- ► 2015 (172)
- ► 2014 (167)
- ► 2013 (186)
- ► 2012 (194)
- ► 2011 (136)
- ► 2010 (157)
- ► 2009 (156)
- James Paick concept spaceship art
- Ville Ericcson concept ship
- A selection of works from conceptships.org
- Concept ships by Bjorn Borkur Eriksson
- Concept ships by Velocity Kendall
- Concept ship models by Bearfoot films
- Concept spaceship art from Mass effect by Derek Wa...
- Maciej Kuciara concept spaceship art
- Leo Delauncey concept ship art
- Concept ships on Wired!
- Conceptual spaceship art by Spyros Verykios
- Concept ship by graphmac
- Battlestar Galactica concept ships by Richard Livi...
- 3D concept ship model by Tim Cameron
- Project Cosmos concept ships by Nate Temple
- Dan Blomberg on concept ships
- Concept ships by Andrew Melnychuk-Oseen
- Keith Thompson concept ships
- Concept characters in ship by Edouard Caplain
- Concept ships designed by Aurelien Francois
- Concept ship designs by Eric Lutes
- ▼ September (21)


text:
Finishing School
The case for getting rid of tenure.
Imagine you ran a restaurant. A very prestigious, exclusive restaurant. To attract top talent, you guarantee all cooks and waiters job security for life. Not only that, because you value honesty and candor, you allow them to say anything they want about you and your cuisine, publicly and without fear of retribution. The only catch is that all cooks or waiters would have to start out as dishwashers or busboys, for at least 10 years, when none of these protections would apply.
It sounds absurd in the context of the food-service industry—for both you and your staff. But this system has governed academia for decades. Tenure—the ability to teach and conduct research without fear of being fired—is still the holy grail of higher education, to which all junior professors aspire. Yet fewer and fewer professors are attaining it. The proportion of full-time college professors with tenure has fallen from 57 percent in 1975 to 31 percent in 2007. The numbers for 2009, soon to be released by the Department of Education, are expected to dip even lower.
To which some educators are saying: good riddance. Tenure is a bad deal not just for universities, which are saddled with its costs, but also for professors, who are constrained by its conventions. Cathy Trower, a researcher at Harvard University who has studied tenure for the last decade, says the current system may actually be scaring talented young people away from academia. "This one-size-fits-all, rigid six-year up-and-out tenure system isn't working well," she says.
The case against tenure has been around as long as tenure itself. (The American Association of University Professors first declared the principles of academic freedom and tenure in 1915 and then revised them in 1940.)But the argument becomes only stronger over time. As tuition climbs and universities struggle to pay their bills, tenure is starting to look unaffordable. Keeping a professor around indefinitely—tenure means they can't be forced to retire—simply costs a lot. Mark C. Taylor, chair of the Columbia University department of religion and author of the forthcoming Crisis on Campus: A Bold Plan for Reforming Our Colleges and Universities, calculates that someone who serves as an associate professor with tenure for five years and then becomes a full professor for 30 years costs a private university $12.2 million. * Public universities pay $10 million over the same period. And because most universities pay tenured professors out of their endowments, each professor freezes up tens of millions in otherwise-liquid endowment money for a generation. University debt jumped 54 percent last year, with an average debt of $168 million. If the average university tenured about 15 fewer professors, they'd be in the black.
Then there's the effect of tenure on students. "Publish or perish" is the maxim of tenure-track professors. The corollary, of course, would be "teach and perish." Tenure committees claim to weigh publishing and teaching equally, but in practice publishing counts most. Taylor recalls a colleague winning a teaching award early in his career. Mentors urged him not to put it on his résumé. When the best young teachers focus their energies on writing rather than teaching, students pay the price.
The most common pro-tenure argument is that it protects academic freedom. Once a professor gains tenure, the thinking goes, he or she can say anything without fear of being fired. Academia thrives on the circulation of dangerous ideas. The problem is, for every tenured professor who's liberated at age 40 to speak his mind, there are dozens of junior professors terrified to say anything the least bit controversial, lest they lose their one shot at job security for life. Academia relies on young scholars to shake things up. Yet tenure incentivizes them not to. Instead, it rewards students who follow in the footsteps of the elders whose favor they will require when the day of judgment arrives.
Besides, says Taylor, the idea that a tenured professor can finally "speak out" is absurd. "If you don't have the guts to speak out before, you're not gonna have it after." Even tenured professors still have all kinds of incentives to keep their heads down. There's still research to fund, administrators to placate, time off to negotiate.
Just as tenure creates economic inflexibility, it also creates intellectual inflexibility. By hiring someone for life, a school gambles that his or her ideas are going to be just as relevant in 35 years. Tenure can also discourage interdisciplinary studies, since professors are rewarded for plumbing deep into an established subject area rather than connecting two different ones.
Critics say that tenure hurts students by making professors lazy. Course loads vary widely from school to school: At some public universities, professors teach nine or 10 courses. At smaller schools, they teach as few as one or two, totaling as few as 140 classroom hours a year. If you can't be fired, what's to stop you from refusing to teach an extra course? "I honestly don't know what a lot of academics do a lot of the time," says Taylor.
But the clincher for the anti-tenure argument may come from the very people it is supposed to benefit: academics. Specifically, young academics. Consider the career path of an aspiring full-time tenured professor: Four years of college, six years getting a doctorate, four to six years as a post-doc, and then six years on the tenure track. By the time you come up for tenure, you're 40. For men, the timeline is inconvenient. But for women who want to have children, it's just about unworkable.
That's one reason the number of full-time tenured professors has dropped so much in the past few decades: Women have joined the academic work force, but some have opted to take a part-time role. It's also why Princeton President Shirley Tilghman once called the tenure system "no friend to women" and suggested abolishing it entirely, although her views have softened since.
Defenders say that tenure helps attract the best and brightest. Universities can't match the salary offered by a pharmaceutical company or an investment bank, the thinking goes, but they can offer job security. Yet the appeal of job security may be overrated. Tenure may be an added incentive, but it's almost never a deal maker. "All sorts of brilliant people want to be members of academe," says Trower. "I don't think it's because of tenure. It's because of the work." The life of the mind is its own reward.
So what's the alternative model? Renewable contracts. Some suggest seven years. Others say 10. The goal would be to give professors enough security to make them comfortable but not enough to breed complacency and lock the university into a deal that no longer makes sense.
Don't abolish tenure altogether, says Trower. Just rework it. Create a tenure track that explicitly rewards teaching. Give interdisciplinary centers the authority to produce tenured professors. Allow for breaks in the tenure track if a professor needs to take time off. Offer the option of part-time tenure, a lower-cost alternative for professors who want to hold other jobs. In other words, make tenure flexible rather than a monolithic, in-or-out club.
Some universities have already made the leap. Evergreen State College in Washington implemented renewable contracts back in 1971. Florida Gulf Coast University scrapped tenure when it was established in 1991. Boston University now offers salary premiums to professors who decide not to take tenure. Market forces will drive other universities to follow suit, whether they want to or not. But it wouldn't hurt to get a head start.
Correction, Aug. 12, 2010: This article incorrectly suggested that associate professors do not have tenure. In most cases, they do. (Return to the corrected sentence.)