text:
Here's Karl from his article, "Is The Dollar Doomed?"
…Again, for the mathematically-challenged, consider the following story.
Many years ago there lived a monarch in India who ruled that all of the people must store their 90% of their rice harvests with him for safekeeping, so in the event of famine there would be enough rice to eat.
One year a famine hit but he refused to release the stored rice, fearing that he would run out and starve himself.
After a couple of months a clever girl came to the monarch and asked for one grain of rice, and for the next month to double it each day.
The Raja agreed, and shortly discovered the magic of exponents, much to his chagrin.
On the first day, he gave 1 grain of rice.
On the second, two.
On the third, four.
On the fourth, eight.
On the fifth, sixteen.
On the sixth, thirty-two.
On the seventh, sixty-four.
On the eight, 128.
On the ninth, 256.
On the 10th, 512.
On the 11th, 1024.
On the 12th, 2048.
On the 13th, 4096 (it was now taking a while to count!)
On the 14th, 8192
On the 15th, 16,384 (The Raja now knew he was in trouble)
On the 16th, 32,768
On the 17th, 65,536
On the 18th, 131,072
On the 19th, 262,144
On the 20th, 524,288
On the 21st, 1,048,576
On the 22nd, 2,097,152
On the 23rd, 4,194,304
On the 24th, 8,388,608
On the 25th, 16,777,216
On the 26th, 33,554,432
On the 27th, 67,108,864
On the 28th, 134,217,728
On the 29th, 268,435,456
And on the 30th, 536,870,912
Needless to say before the 30th day the village was quite-well fed and the Raja was the one who went hungry.
But I want you to pay special attention to the above table, which is why I reproduced it all - most renditions of this story do not.
Notice that on the 29th day the girl was due more rice than had been paid to her in all of the previous 28 days. This is also true for each day in the series - a fact that you need to think about for however long it takes to sink in.
This is the fundamental truth of all exponential (or "power") functions. It is a mathematical truth, not a theory or possibility.
Now let's add another fact - if you take the growth rate of anything and divide 70 by it, you get the doubling - or halving - time. (Yes, I know this imprecise - but it's close enough to do with a paper and pencil or in your head, which is what counts here.)
So let's take the so-called "average" 3.5% inflation rate over the last couple of decades. If you're saving money, this is a problem. Why? Well, divide 70 by 3.5 and you get 20, which means that money stuffed in your safe loses half its purchasing power in 20 years. In another 20 it loses another half, and is now worth 25% of what it was in terms of what it will buy.
Now let's look at the debt growth percentage from 1990 onward. On an average annualized basis, it is 7.90% (this is from the Fed's Z1 table, by the way - go argue with them if you disagree. As an aside from 1953 to the present debt has grown at an annualized rate of 8.77%, and since 2000 onward at 8.495%, so I'm being nice here by using the 1990 forward numbers.)
This means that the total debt doubles every 8.86 years (or around 8-1/4 years if you use either of the other rates.)
Now go back to the above table again.
Notice that this table shows the unfortunate reality - every 8.86 years there is more NEW debt taken on than has been taken on in the entire history in The United States up to that point.
This cannot continue forever. The politicians do not want to talk about this, nor do the economists and central bankers, but it is a mathematical fact, and if we continue to ignore it we will suffer the loss of our currency and, in all probability, our form of government.
This, by the way, is why credit-led recessions cannot be "printed" or "eased" out of.
Credit-led recessions occur because debt service cannot be met by the population any longer, and as a consequence they begin to go bankrupt, forcing credit contraction instead of expansion. Yet all modern monetary systems are debt-based, and as a consequence as this contraction occurs it begets more contraction.
Lowering the cost of borrowing money (making money/credit more available) is nothing more than an attempt to allow "one more doubling" to take place in avoidance of reality. But as you can see, had the Raja above not made a "forward promise" of allowing thirty doublings, he could have stopped before he was bankrupted.
Everyone in America wants "a pony" - the magical alchemy that will turn lead into gold, or return their stock market portfolio to its previous purchasing power.
It won't happen so long as our government and citizens spend more than they make.
There is one and only one way to make that happen: You must grow output faster than debt. When there is a credit overhang this means you must get rid of the debt at a faster rate than GDP declines.
There is only one way to achieve the necessary outcome - what is called "creative destruction", where those who made bad bets (both as lenders AND borrowers) go bankrupt, clearing the path for new lenders to spring up and take their place. Attempting to prop up GDP with government spending is exactly backward and in fact insanely destructive since to do so you must expand debt issued by the government dollar-for-dollar and due to inefficiency (which is very high in the government!) the debt taken on for each point in GDP created is ridiculous.
In the last quarter, for example, government handouts and spending added about four points to GDP. That works out to about $130 billion dollars (the math is ~$13 trillion X 4% / 4 quarters = $130 billion). But to generate that $130 billion government took on $435 billion in new debt (Source: Treasury Direct "debt to the penny"), or roughly $3.35 for each dollar of GDP boost.
There is no durable recovery that can come so long as debt expands faster than GDP does. The math simply does not permit it.
In 1930 there was a tremendous stock market bounce, and everyone and their brother thought that The Depression had been avoided as a consequence of looser money and recovery of asset values. Indeed, I am hearing echoes of President Hoover and James Davis in my head these days.....May 1, 1930Uh huh. The government tried to shield borrowers and lenders from having to take their medicine in 1930 too.
"While the crash only took place six months ago, I am convinced we have now passed the worst and with continued unity of effort we shall rapidly recover. There is one certainty of the future of a people of the resources, intelligence and character of the people of the United States – that is, prosperity." – President Hoover
June 29, 1930
"The worst is over without a doubt." – James J. Davis, Secretary of Labor.
June 9, 1931
"The depression has ended." – Dr. Julius Klein, Assistant Secretary of Commerce.
The result was a Depression that lasted until we entered WWII in 1941. The Depression was not exited despite more than a decade of attempts from our government as the government never forced those who had gone bust to take their medicine and thus allow creative destruction to run its course - instead they interfered at every turn (even to the point of burning fields and shooting cattle!) and as a consequence until we were faced with a war that killed a large percentage of the workforce and destroyed massive amounts of material, thereby forcing full employment and realignment of industry, our economy languished.
If The Government comes to recognize the sixth-grade math and implements policy that comports with the immutable mathematical facts the dollar would strengthen significantly and, if maintained, such a policy would guarantee the preservation of reserve status.
However, such a set of policy actions would also prohibit the hiding of losses and force their recognition, thereby forcing the oligarchs and thieves out of business on Wall Street who are currently hiding defaulted paper in the hope that devaluation will allow them to abscond with all of their ill-gotten gains.
The choice is quite simply between economic and policy stability and the banksters on Wall Street along with their handmaidens in Congress.
That's the debate folks when it comes to the dollar and indeed the future of our nation, and the sooner we recognize it the sooner we can exit from this mess.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
|Pin It
Part Number:NOTE-ID-1056
Item Size:5" x 7"
3 Square Grad Storm Invitations
Celebrate the graduate with this flat white graduation invitation which features six fun blocks featuring three grey blocks for your text and three storm blue blocks with your graduation year, a diploma and cap over the world design, as well as a central block with a silhouette of graduates tossing their caps. Includes white unlined envelopes.
Ideal For:Boy Graduation Invitations, Class of 2018 Invitations, Graduation Party Invitations
Delivery Time
To determine your delivery time, add the ground shipping time to your location, as shown on the map below, to the listed processing time. To speed up your delivery, you can select rush processing(details below in the form) and/or upgrade shipping to next day or second day air during the checkout process. If you have requested a proof, the processing time listed begins after you have approved your proof.
Processing Time:Approximately 2-3 business days
Ships From:North Carolina
Font Shown:Rockwell and Rockwell Light
Font Color:White
Paper Thickness:130# White Cover
Printing Method:Digital Press
Min. Order Quantity:20


text:
14 of 50
Celery Root Soup
A healthy, hearty autumn soup balancing celery root and potatoes with a hint of apple.
Celery root is delicious when simmered with potatoes and apples and then puréed into a silky soup. Healthy, too: This creamy dish doesn't actually contain cream.... Read More
View Recipe


text:
Big Smoke Saturday Seminars: Counterfeit Cigars
Remember that Cuban Cohiba you bought at the beach that time in Cancún? Or that great box of Cohiba Esplendidos your friend brought you back from Bermuda? You know, the one with that cool glass top?
Well, they were fake. All of them. It's not your fault. You had no way of knowing, which is why we decided to dedicate a Big Smoke seminar to counterfeit cigars. It was hosted by Cigar Aficionado's senior editor David Savona and executive editor Gordon Mott.
"If you're American, part of the problem is that you are unfamiliar with the product," said Savona. "You can't just go to your local shop and examine the packaging."
Mott added "Let's see a show of hands. How many people think that they have purchased a fake cigar before?" A few people in the crowd of 500 raised their hands.
And with those words, the seminar began with a slideshow depicting perfect examples of legitimate Cuban packaging, from full boxes to five-packs.
The images were a text book analysis of all the packaging details associated with Habanos products, from the Habanos D.O.P. seals to the new, updated Republica De Cuba export labels.
Once the genuine articles were examined, counterfeits were shown in great detail for side-by-side comparison.
Some counterfeits were quite egregious: packaging that never existed, the wrong vintage dates with the wrong brands, terribly printed bands and labels.
Others were a bit more subtle, requiring the viewer to look closely at embossments, color consistency and luster.
"The profit margin on counterfeiting cigars is huge," said Mott. "You can make a cigar for a few quarters and sell them for $20, $30 even $40 each."
As both Savona and Mott pointed out, some counterfeiters will actually dress fake cigars in legitimate packaging, making it important to recognize typical Cuban cigar construction versus sloppy, unskilled rolling.
"People will always tell you stories." Savona warned. "Like having a friend or family member who works in the factory."
At one point, the editors called up the image of a Cohiba 40th Anniversary torpedo with a two-toned barber-pole style wrapper. Not only did the label on the cigar not exist, but Habanos has never created a barber-pole cigar. However, the novelty factor of such cigars can be irresistible to the uninformed cigar enthusiast eager to try the forbidden fruit.
After an academic presentation of close-ups, stills, positives and negatives, Mott reprised his initial question.
"Now," he asked, "how many people think they've purchased a fake cigar?"
About four times as many people raised their hands, but Mott offered very sound advice.
"Don't buy cigars on the street. Don't buy them on the beach. Know the details of your cigar, and definitely know the price. A box of Cohibas for $80 just isn't realistic."
Although disillusioned, the crowd was able to take consolation in a few things.
Firstly, they walked away from the seminar with new information. But secondly, and more immediately, they still had very real, authentic Nicaraguan and Dominican cigars that were handed out to them at the beginning of the morning. The cigar makers themselves were there to ensure authenticity.
Big Smoke Saturday Seminars
Top Legal Cigars of the Year
Tobacco Lands
Brand Builders
Big Smoke Weekend Photo Gallery
Coming Friday!
Big Smoke Sunday Seminars
Breakfast with
Charlie Palmer
Roll Your Own with Team La Gloria
Single-Malt Scotch and Cigars


text:
Shop By Collection
Shop By Fragrance Family
Bath and Body
Home Fragrance
Gift Ideas
The Scent of the North
Shop By Experience
This delicately crafted candle brings forth the soft, classic scent of Kimono Rose. Alight your surroundings with the intricate origami of spring's most beloved flowers and create a delicate ambiance in any room. Our non-metal wick provides a clean, pure burn time of a minimum of 60 hours.
Satiny rose. Sensuous peony. Rich jasmine. Effervescent clementine. Voluptuous black currant. Silken vanilla.
View the Kimono Rose Collection.
Exquisite scent AND perfectly masks pet odors!!
Firstly, I have never been a big fan of rose scented products. However, this blend of scents is so unbelievably pleasurable I could not resist purchasing! In no time after lighting, my home smells like an exotic, yet softly scented flower garden. It is not overpowering at all and I am a big fan of the long, clean burn. Generally, I have numerous candles lit, and I am not one who makes a habit of spending this much on just one of them. That said, since taking a chance on the Kimono Rose, it is now the only one burning because it's the only one I need. As a result, I am actually saving money!! So worth every penny!!! THANK YOU THYMES...
Was this review helpful?
yes (7) no (0)
Kimono Rose Candle
I purchased this as a gift. The recipient was so enthralled with the appearance and the wonderful aroma of this candle.
Was this review helpful?
yes (4) no (0)
Kimono Rose delight!
It is a lovely scent. I never tire of it .
The name is great. So feminine.
Was this review helpful?
yes (2) no (0)
Kimono Rose/Fraser Fir
The candles smell so good. Fraser Fir smells like being in a forest.
Such quality!!
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS CANDLE!!!! I got one a few years ago as a gift for my birthday, (these make great gifts) and I burned it down in like 2 weeks!! The scent is just so warm and feminine, I just feel better when it's lit. The only downside to this product is that it burns so fast, I wish it could last me like a month, but then again, I have it lit like all day haha! None the less, it can make an amazing gift for a loved one, like a mother or sister, it lightenes the mood of any room. Thymes is always quality!!!
Was this review helpful?
yes (7) no (2)
We are required by law to collect state sales tax on orders being shipped to
the following states and provinces - AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY, AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NS, NT, NU, ON, PE, QC, SK, and YT.
If you have further questions regarding sales tax, please contact Customer
Service department at 1-800-366-4071.
U.S. shipping is complimentary on orders of $50 or more.
Flat Rate Shipping for Domestic U.S. orders under $50 is $6.95.
Flat Rate Shipping to Canada is $29.95.
For more shipping information, visit our shipping page.


text:
The F1 rookie class of 2013
Posted 03 January 2013 - 14:40
As of right now we have 3 confirmed rookies on the grid.
23 year old Finn, Valtteri Bottas (Williams).
21 year old Mexican, Esteban Gutiérrez (Sauber).
21 year old Englishman, Max Chilton (Marussia).
While there are still technically 3 empty seats on the grid, it is probable that we'll see a maximum of one more rookie being added to the field if Bianchi beats Sutil to partner (the still unconfirmed) Paul di Resta at Force India.
But I digress. Let's concentrate on what we know.
I've done a bit of reading up on these guys and I have to say none of them particularly strike me as having the kind of C.V. that suggests they're going to come in and shake things up - even allowing for the relatively modest equipment they'll probably have at their disposal.
From what I can see, Bottas is probably the pick of the bunch at this stage. 2008 Formula Renault 2.0 Champion, 2009 3rd in F3 Euro and F3 Master champion, 2010 3rd in F3 Euro and F3 Master champion, 2011 GP3 champion and 2012 concentrated solely on testing for Williams. At 23 years of age he seems to have the best combination of results and experience to do well from the off and has at least achieved something in each of the past few years showing that he's at least not a flash in the pan.
Gutiérrez could go either way. His career to date seems very up and down. BMW Europe champion in 2008, GP3 champion in 2010 and 3rd in GP2 in 2012 are the only results of note. 2009 & '11 are best forgotten. He's still young, but that won't matter on the grid. Maybe someone can elaborate on this guy's potential.
Chilton in particular doesn't appear to have done anything of note. Ever. He has won no junior formula or even come top 3 in anything other than T-Cars which was at the start of his junior racing career. Is he the pay-driver that I think he is?
Obviously I hope someone in here will tell me that they're all (or even one is) going to be brilliant and that I've misread the situation. But as of right now I see 3 rookies whose team-mates could wipe the floor with them next season. The minor exception being Bottas who will probably benefit from Maldonado's consistent inconsistency.
Posted 03 January 2013 - 15:41
Max Chilton's career in motorsport has been firmly backed up by daddy's money. That's not to say he's atrocious, far worse drivers have made it to F1. While I don't personally rate him, he should be credited for his two wins in GP2 this season, and he did manage to string together a good chain of point-scoring finishes. I don't think he's much more of a waste of an F1 car than Jerome d'Ambrosio and Charles Pic were at the time they made it.
Posted 03 January 2013 - 17:51
The Guitar will be disappointing and get in lots of oopsies. Sauber was falling back after Monza, and Hulkenberg is fast and consistent.
Chilton will be solid if unspectacular. Think he will turn out like Pic.
Posted 03 January 2013 - 18:10
The Guitar will be disappointing and get in lots of oopsies. Sauber was falling back after Monza, and Hulkenberg is fast and consistent.
Gutierrez hasn't been too oopsy prone in his junior career - only two retirements in twenty-four races last season. I think Hulkenberg will sweep the floor with him, but I think he's able to avoid embarassing himself.
Posted 03 January 2013 - 21:11
Chilton has a tough package. Pic did a very decent job vs Glock as a rookie. That will be his yardstick.
I think Bottas will be very quick from the beginning. He had very good mileage in 2012 (unlike Esteban) and his practice times were mostly on Maldonado's league. Not looking like missing GP2 or WSbR will affect him.
Posted 03 January 2013 - 21:22
Posted 04 January 2013 - 11:40
I agree although the one thing in Gutiérrez's favour versus his team-mate that neither Chilton nor Bottas have is that Nico is new to the car too. You're right in that no-one will expect Gutiérrez to challenge Nico but if the new car levels the playing field then the (perhaps incorrect) perception might be that he's keeping the fight closer than was expected and is better than expected. But only if he manages to come in and do well himself.
Gutiérrez has the curse of having a fast, reliable and somewhat experienced teammate when he is just a rookie, but also the blessing that no one is expecting him to challenge Nico, and if for some reason he manages to keep it somewhat close, it will be great for his career. Time will tell. It would have been great for him to have more mileage as a Sauber test driver, but it is what it is.
Posted 04 January 2013 - 13:00
Gutierrez is a fairly promising driver too and I expect some flashes of talent but he didn't back his hype fully in GP2, and has a tough task in Hulk as team-mate, I expect him to be the inconsistent one in Sauber.
Chilton has developed into a competent driver by now but I don't think the natural ability is there by default. Not-being-hopeless isn't good enough qualifications to shine in F1, given the level of everyone else around you can easily be made to look pretty bad. My analogy is he's the new English Karthikeyan, Karthikeyan was hardly hopelessly slow, never that many tenths below his team-mates and indeed had decent results in his junior career, but still was the worst driver in the grid last year because of how good everyone else was. I expect Chilton to fall into the same position, and be slightly slower than the previous Glock team-mates at Marussia (di Grassi, d'Ambrosio and Pic).
Bianchi if he still makes it into a seat is an interesting one, because the hype has now rightly died due to his failings to win the GP2 and WSR titles for the past 3 seasons, yet it's worth noting despite this he's been thereabouts at the front of the grid every year at every level of his career. He may not have the "new Schumacher" tag slapped on him anymore, but there's a reason Ferrari haven't given up on him yet. If he gets the seat I think he can run di Resta close, apart from the 1 or 2 inevitable crashes (but he must be getting more consistent by now).
So Chilton to be poor, the other 3 (including Bianchi if he makes it) to be mildly promising with perhaps Bottas in the best position to shine.
It's interesting in 2009 Bianchi Bottas and Gutierrez were the 3 of them team-mates in ART in F3 Euroseries. Bianchi was champion, Bottas 3rd, Gutierrez only 9th - but Bianchi had more experience than both of them who were F3 rookies at that point, and Gutierrez bounced back from that year more convincingly than Bottas the next season (Bottas did not improve with another 3rd in the Euroseries, Gutierrez won the GP3 title). So I don't think the debate's settled between them at all.
Posted 04 January 2013 - 19:42
Posted 04 January 2013 - 19:48
Has Britain ever had as obvious a paydriver as Chilton?
Johnny Dumfries (who was admittedly a champion at F3 level)? Plus a lot of wealthy amateurs up until the 1970s.
Posted 04 January 2013 - 21:42
Gutiérrez has a very hard time being placed alongside Hulkenburg but the positive thing for him is that not too many people will be expecting him to beat Nico H. He has to avoid being too slow, race well and not get stuck in Q1 though.
Chilton will have a tough time avoiding the pay-driver tag. Its hard to ignore though. He's not terrible but not exciting either and I'm sure Glock isn't having any nightmares. Indeed it may have been better for Glock if he was going to be tested by a tougher team-mate.
Posted 04 January 2013 - 22:05
Has Britain ever had as obvious a paydriver as Chilton?
Depends on whether or not you count Irish-licenced Ralph Firman or not.
Posted 04 January 2013 - 22:34
Depends on whether or not you count Irish-licenced Ralph Firman or not.
He was very successful in British F3 in 1995 and 1996, against drivers like Montoya, Minassian and Castroneves, along with some talented Brits like Jonny Kane and Oliver Gavin. Plus an asterisked Macau GP win and a Formula Nippon title. Much stronger record than Chilton.
Posted 24 January 2013 - 23:00
What comes to the Gutiérrez, I don't really know what to expect. In my opinion he could turn out either way. Can't really get a grip of that guy.
Chilton will probably just be an other pay driver whose name we won't even remember after a few years. Needless to say I'm not expecting much of him.
Edited by michaelmyers, 24 January 2013 - 23:01.


text:
Search results
How the agricultural community perceives and assesses soil health
Soil Health Nexus, a university-led team dedicated to increasing access to research-based soil ... researchers to better understand how the agricultural community perceives and assesses soil health. The blog ... post "How do we collectively conceptualize "soil health" and how do we use that to guide meaningful ...
Advanced Principles in Environmental Science
social science frameworks required to manage critical air, soil, and water resources. Graduate 3.0 ... environmental challenges. A major focus of the course will be to understand different global nutrient cycles and ...
Alumni Career Spotlight: Tiffany Atkinson
improve the capability of the federal government to research and understand our oceans, weather, and ... Policy, and upcoming deadlines that need to be met. I also help manage daily operations at NOAA Research ... an Honors Research Student and assisted on multiple research projects. She then went on to earn ...
Seminar for the Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in Sustainability and Ecological Engineering
of the challenges to the sustainable management of our natural resources in urban and rural areas. ... opportunities for such in her courses and research program. She believes that remote instruction can promote ...
Doug Anderson
Doug Anderson Program Manager, Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) 614-562-7601 ...
Alumni Career Spotlight: Lyndsi Hersch
Lyndsi Hersch Bachelor of Science, Natural Resource Management '15 Environmental Education ... SENR in 2015 after majoring in Natural Resource Management. During her undergraduate years, she was ... Development In college I majored in Natural Resource Management. As an undergraduate, I participated in ...
Alumni Career Spotlight: Sophie Manaster
program spending, support our research project management efforts, and summarize technical support ... is in the process from start to finish. Our research is focused on improving the nations' ability to ... on our weekly research highlights and program accomplishments, help monitor and track our budget and ...
Research Design for the Environmental Social Sciences
ENR 6510 Introduction to designing research for building and testing theory in environmental ... social science disciplines. Bridges qualitative and quantitative research approaches. Prereq: 6000, or ...
Study finds health trade-offs for wildlife as urbanization expands
tells us about how we can manage and conserve ecosystems and wildlife in this context. "Our task, ... wildlife as urbanization expands Research on tree swallows suggests city living may offer advantages, but ... Researchers found that city-dwelling birds bred more nestlings because of warmer local temperatures. But they ...
Soil and Water team publishes numerous manuscripts, applies for more grant funds
By Dr. Mohammad (Arif) Rahman SWBR Scientist Soil, Water, and Bioenergy team members at The Ohio ... State University South Centers published 10, and submitted several other research manuscripts to ... internationally reputed, peer-reviewed journals through our national and international collaborations. Moreover, ...


text:
This Guy Is Ready For Diablo III
No matter how prepared you are for Diablo III, you won't be as prepared as this guy.
Blizzard forum member scrambles posted several photos of his computer desk showing off his love for the game. Candles, jars, custom-made scrolls and other items decorate his shrine. Think you can do better?
Check out some shots below and head over to the thread to see more. Diablo III is out May 15.
[Source: Blizzard Forums via NeoGAF]


text:
Dartmoor Tors
The Original Online Resource for Dartmoor Tors and Hills, since 2007
I've set myself the
challenge of visiting every tor or hill on Dartmoor, and nabbing a photo or two
at the top. Below is a summary of my progress. The start
date is the day I created this page: 15th November, 2007.
As of November 2010, at least two other people have created websites based on this list, and are trying to get round them all too.
Tim Jenkinson's excellent flickr photostream, in particular his Lesser Known Tors of Dartmoor set has proved to be invaluable, if a little demoralising!
|Animated map showing the tors in the order I have visited them:
Download coordinates of the tors and hills in a variety of GPS formats.
View all the tors on a Google Map
If you click on any tor name in the left hand column below, you see a list of all tors within walking distance (1Km).
|Tors marked with an asterisk (*) are not (in theory) open to the public and probably won't be visited. At present there are 19 tors that cannot be visited.
There are more than a few sites out there that are using this list of tors without crediting me. For the avoidance of all doubt, this list of tors is my own work and represents a significant expenditure of time and effort on my part. If you use it for any purpose, please credit me and link back to this site.
|Reset List
|Tor or hill |
|Grid Reference
|Elevation |
|Have I been here yet?
|Gladstone Rock
|214m (702ft)
|Not yet!
|Show on OS Map
|Bullaton Rock*
|265m (869ft)
|Not yet!
|Show on OS Map
Copyright © 2006-2020, Dave Bellamy | Visit Kingsteignton Weather.co.uk


text:
By ODU Athletics
April 27, 2010
NORFOLK, VA- Men's Basketball standout Gerald Lee (Uusikaupunki, Finland), men's soccer All-American Nane Joseph (Yaounde, Cameroon) and nationally ranked women's tennis player Nadine Fahoum (Haifa, Israel) were named Athletes of the Year by the Old Dominion University Alumni Association, while senior Steffen Rabben (Valdres, Norway) of men's soccer and Elizaveta Moiseeva (Moscow, Russia) of the women's swimming and diving team were named 2010 recipients of the Jack Wilkins/James Howard Scholar Athletes of the Year at the annual Old Dominion University Athletic honors banquet at the Ted Constant Convocation Center Tuesday night.
Gerald Lee earned first team All-CAA, All-District and All-State honors as he helped lead the Monarchs to a 27-9 record. The Monarchs captured the CAA regular season and tournament titles, then advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 51-50 win over Notre Dame. Lee completed his career with 1,624 career points which ranked him 11th all-time at ODU. He also played in a new school record 137 career games. Lee competed in the NABC Coaches East West All-Star game and the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. He was named Lou Henson Mid Major All-American for the second straight year. Last week, Lee was named the Norfolk Sports Club Tom Scott award winner as ODU's top senior.
Nane Joseph earned second team All-American honors by the NSCAA and first team All-CAA honors. He led ODU in scoring with 15 points on six goals and three assists. Joseph led ODU and the CAA with four game-winning goals and was a perfect four-for-four on penalty kicks. Drafted in the fourth round of the MLS Super drafty by Toronto FC, Nane has already earned a starting spot for that club.
Nadine Fahoum became the highest ranked player in the program since 2004, coming in as high as 15th nationally. She was named the CAA's Co-Player of the Year after compiling a 37-5 singles mark and 22-2 doubles record. The junior posted six wins against nationally ranked opponents, including two in the top 20. She became just the second Lady Monarch tennis player to win an ITA Regional title.
The Jack Wilkins/James Howard Scholar Athletes of the Year are presented to the male and female senior athletes with the highest cumulative grade point average. Both Howard and Wilkins were instrumental in the formation of the ODU Intercollegiate Foundation.
The female recipient is Elizaveta Moiseeva of the women's swimming and diving team. One of the Lady Monarchs top freestyle competitors,she registered ODU's second best time this season in the 1,000 free of 10:46.93, and fourth best times in the 100 free of 53.56 and 200 free at 1:55.45. Moiseeva will graduate with a 3.93 grade point average in International Studies.
The male recipient is men's soccer standout Steffen Rabben. Rabben scored five goals with two assists and had two game winning goals for the Monarchs this season. He is also a former CAA Rookie of the Year and second team All-CAA selection. Rabben will graduate with a 3.66 grade point average in economics.
BASEBALL: TBA (After the completion of season)
Men's Basketball: Gerald Lee (Uusikaupunki, Finland)
Women's Basketball: Jasmine Parker (Norfolk, VA.)
Field Hockey: Kelly Driscoll (West Chester, PA.)
Men's Golf: Eric Onesi (Bear, DE.)
Women's Golf: Laura Holmes (Ballina, CO. Mayo, Ireland)
Football: Jonathan Plisco (Newport News, VA.)
W. Lacrosse: Ashley Kellogg (Downingtown, PA.)
Women's Rowing: Elizabeth Hess (Ontario, Canada)
Coed Sailing: Mike Komar (Edison, NJ.)
Women's Sailing: Stephanie Roble(E.Troy, WI.)
Men's Swimming: Arni Arnason (Mosfellsbaer, Iceland)
Women's Swimming: Erla Harldsdottir (Njardvik, Iceland)
Men's Soccer: Nane Joseph (Yaounde, Cameroon)
Women's Soccer: Brittney Kortz (Yorktown, VA.)
Men's Tennis: Tobias Fanselow (Essen, Germany)
Women's Tennis: Nadine Fahoum (Haifa, Israel)
Wrestling: Chris Brown (Chesapeake, Va.)


text:
Archives & Manuscripts Index
- Capital City Federated Business and Professional Women's Club
- Austin Women's Center (1) Apply Austin Women's Center filter
- Austin Women's Political Caucus (1) Apply Austin Women's Political Caucus filter
- Center for Battered Women (Austin, Tex.) (1) Apply Center for Battered Women (Austin, Tex.) filter
- Insurance Women of Austin (1) Apply Insurance Women of Austin filter
- Mothers, Inc. (1) Apply Mothers, Inc. filter
- Women and Their Work (Organization) (1) Apply Women and Their Work (Organization) filter
- Women's Organic Farm (1) Apply Women's Organic Farm filter
- Zonta Club of Austin (Tex.) (1) Apply Zonta Club of Austin (Tex.) filter
- Women--suffrage
- Women--Societies and clubs
- Equality--Government policy (1) Apply Equality--Government policy filter
- Women--Societies and Clubs (1) Apply Women--Societies and Clubs filter
- Women--Texas--Austin (1) Apply Women--Texas--Austin filter
- Women--Texas--Social conditions (1) Apply Women--Texas--Social conditions filter
- Women's rights--Texas--Austin (1) Apply Women's rights--Texas--Austin filter
Browse and search an inventory of the Austin History Center's archival collections. Where appropriate, click on the collection title to view the collection finding aid (a detailed description of the collection) hosted by Texas Archival Resources Online. These links will open the description in a new browser window.
To access the collections you must visit the Austin History Center.
If a finding aid is not available online, you are unable to find what you are searching for or access is listed "Advanced notice required" or "Some portions may require advance notice" contact AHC staff for more information. Contact Us by mail or by phone: 512-974-7480.Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 results for your query
Dates: 1973 - 1979
Creator: Richards, Ann, 1933-2006
- Richards, Ann
- Carpenter, Liz
- Turner, Dorothy
- Vackar, Barbara
- Austin Women's Center
- Austin Women's Political Caucus
- Capital City Federated Business and Professional Women's Club
- Center for Battered Women (Austin, Tex.)
- Insurance Women of Austin
- Mothers, Inc.
- Women and Their Work (Organization)
- Women's Organic Farm
- Zonta Club of Austin (Tex.)
- Austin (Tex.)--Politics and government
- Equality--Government policy
- Women--Societies and Clubs
- Women--suffrage
- Women's rights--Texas--Austin
- Women--Texas--Social conditions
- Women--Texas--Austin
- Artifacts
- Text materials
- Clippings
- Correspondence
- Posters
- Programs/fliers
- Membership records
Access: Available on-site


text:
She did such a good job of explaining where the market was… and gave us a very accurate picture of what we could expect.
~ Chris ~ see more
You can search properties in this Community or Zip Code by selecting any price range of interest.
If you have any questions, or would like to see any of these properties in person, just call or email.
By the way, if you register to use our Search Tool, please know it will only take seconds, you will have unlimited use, and we will completely respect you privacy.
Let us know how we can help. We are here for you!
All Listings
$250,000 – $500,000
$750,000 – $1,000,000
$250,000 and Under
$500,000 – $750,000
$1,000,000 and Above
[idx-listings linkid="407016″ count="5″ showlargerphot


text:
Street Address:
« Back | Forward »
The price of oil rose Friday on concerns that tensions could rise in the Russia-Ukraine situation with this weekend's referendum on Crimean secession.
But oil still finished the week down more than 3 percent, largely because traders are concerned about the strength of demand from China.
Benchmark U.S. crude for April delivery rose 69 cents to close at $98.89 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. For the week, oil lost $3.69 a barrel, or 3.6 percent.
Brent crude, used to set prices for international varieties of crude, rose $1.18 to $108.57 on the ICE Futures exchange in London.
China is one of the top consumers of energy, so an economic slowdown there could dial back demand for oil.
"The energy complex has morphed into a trade where Chinese economic releases will be a strong determinant of near term oil price direction," wrote Jim Ritterbusch, president of energy consultancy Jim Ritterbusch and Associates, in a note to clients.
At the same time, Russia is one of the top producers of oil worldwide, meaning that any Western sanctions against Moscow for its military incursion into the Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula could affect global supplies.
The West braced Friday for a vote by the Crimean Peninsula to secede from Ukraine — and likely be annexed by Russia — as the last attempt for diplomacy broke down despite threats of costly international sanctions and other imminent penalties against Moscow for forcibly challenging a pro-European government in Kiev.
In the U.S., the average price for a gallon of gasoline rose 1 cent to $3.51 a gallon. Gasoline prices are at their highest level since September. The average price is 19 cents higher than a month ago, but still 19 cents below where they were at this time last year.
In other energy futures trading on Nymex:
— Wholesale gasoline rose 3 cents to $2.96 a gallon.
— Heating oil rose 2 cents to $2.94 a gallon.
— Natural gas added 4 cents to $4.43 per 1,000 cubic feet.
Help | Customer Service
Copyright 1995 -
by The Nashville Ledger - All Rights Reserved - Privacy Policy - About


text:
Trump family gives back to agency that helps developmental disabled
Donald Trump's nephew to host golf tournament to support programming and jobs for the disabled
In some ways, William Trump is a typical teenager. He likes to swim, snack on peanut butter sandwiches and roughhouse with his older brother. He has wide, blue eyes, an untamed smile and a love for reggae music inspired by a Jamaican caretaker. Ice cream is one of his favorite things.
But unlike most of his classmates at Central Middle School, William, who uses a wheelchair, cannot walk, talk or care for himself. He has cerebral palsy, a physical disability diagnosed 13 years ago, shortly after his birth.
It started with seizures, recalled Fred Trump, William's father. Trump, a nephew of Donald Trump, and his wife, Lisa, spent the first six weeks of William's life at hospitals, looking on as their infant's body would tremble in the throes of a seizure.
"Our lives had been rocked," Trump said. "We had two kids already. This was devastating to us. We didn't know what it meant."
There was an hour twice a week after the couple brought their baby home when a specialist would come for an occupational therapy visit. As she stretched and toned William's limp muscles, the Trumps enjoyed a rare pause. They used it to decompress.
"When that young woman would come to the house, we were like, `Wow. This is great,'" Fred Trump said. "For the next hour she is going to care for our child.' "
William's in-home therapy visits were provided by Abilis, a Greenwich nonprofit that services clients with developmental disabilities. The organization matches clients with home therapists, extracurricular programming and jobs caring for animals at pet stores or setting tables at Sundown Saloon on Greenwich Avenue. It also manages group housing for about 100 adults.
On Monday, Trump will host his second Golf for Abilis fundraiser, a sold-out event that has drawn 112 golfers for 18 holes at Trump National in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.
The outing drew 74 golfers last year. The money they raised helped fund 9,000 home therapy visits, weekly toddler play groups and a gift shop that provides adults with retail skill training. With the proceeds from this year's event, Abilis plans to open an online gift shop and a new group residence for three local youths who spent their childhoods in facilities outside the state.
"This is my opportunity to give back to Abilis, which has helped us so much," Trump said.
Just as they undermine mental and muscle maturation, developmental disabilities can also bankrupt families.
A 2004 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined the average lifetime cost of having cerebral palsy just shy of a million dollars. This figure accounts not only for medical care but also lost income.
William, who receives a range of private care including music and aquatic therapy, comes from a family of means. Trump knows his son might not be functioning at the level he is today if he didn't have the opportunity to receive high caliber services from agencies such as Abilis.
"For those who aren't fortunate enough to have the resources, Abilis can help," Trump said. "I'll just say it: I'm sure the therapy they are offering at some state institutions are not quality like you'll get here."
Golfing slots for Monday's event are no longer available, but there are sponsorships and tickets available for the awards dinner, which includes a cocktail hour and live and silent auctions. Auction items include an all-inclusive vacation for four to Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic, an eight-person golf trip to Old Chatham Golf Club in North Carolina and a weekend getaway to the Kimberly Hotel in New York City.
"My ego would like to say that a lot of people are coming out because I asked them to," Trump said. "But they're coming because they believe in and want to help this organization."
The cocktail reception begins at 5 p.m. Tickets to the awards dinner are available for $150 at at www.abilis.us/golf or by calling 203-531-1880 ext. 138.


text:
Learn to research conditions, select gear, plan meals, make maps, and more.
I offer learning-intensive and adventure-rich guided backpacking trips in California, Alaska, West Virginia, southern Utah, and the Rocky Mountains.
Thru-hikes and high routes, plus related guides, gear lists, and how-to information.
My writings on backpacking gear, supplies, and skills, and sometimes about running, hunting, and life events.
High route guides, a free food e-book, and signed copies of The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide.
You can follow the discussion on Wind River Range High Route Guide without having to leave a comment. Cool, huh? Just enter your email address in the form here below and you're all set.


text:
The PistenBully 300 GreenTech is the perfect vehicle for harvesting silage. Because of its amazing mobility, its unparalleled thrust and its precision the PistenBully 300 GreenTech operates much more efficiently than wheeled vehicles. An investment that really pays off over the long term! And a PistenBully 300 GreenTech has all these advantages too: Its wide X-track chains ensure it has no problems moving forwards, allow it to build higher and steeper silo superstructures and to compact the silage material using the weight of the vehicle and the chain design – much better than a wheeled vehicle could manage. By repeatedly driving over an area with track`s running wheels, a shudder effect is created which compacts the silage material even more, helping to prepare this perfectly for storage. Another advantage: The PistenBully 300 GreenTech low centre of gravity allows it to drive along at an angle, preventing it from sliding off or toppling over.
Other exceptional features of the PistenBully 300 GreenTech include:
PistenBully 300 GreenTech are ideally suited for the harvesting of silage in biogas plants or for service supply agencies. Thanks to the front-mounted body swap system, which comes as standard, it is possible to attach various different mowing and mulching units. There is also an option to have the PistenBully 300 GreenTech fitted with a front or rear 3-point suspension bracket. This, coupled with a power take-off shaft drive, allow additional attachment units to be employed for both agricultural and co-operative purposes.
You normally see PistenBully hard at work on the slopes. However, PistenBully are also at home away from the snow. They are well-equipped for a diverse range of jobs throughout the whole year. Whenever wheeled vehicles have reached their limits it is time for a PistenBully. Thanks to their special features like extreme gradability, enormous thrust, low fuel consumption and reliability, PistenBully are also ideal for jobs away from the snow. The tracks distribute pressure evenly on the ground, which means they can work on marshland and other soft terrain without sinking.
The PistenBully 300 GreenTech are especially well suited to special uses: they can be fitted for any special requirement. PistenBully are unbeatable with silage compared to wheeled vehicles in terms of fuel consumption and compaction performance.
Please see below for answers to some frequently asked questions (FAQs).


text:
CORONAVIRUS: Latest updates here. Our 100% buyer guarantee applies to future purchases too!
CORONAVIRUS: Latest updates here. Our 100% buyer guarantee applies to future purchases too!
New York's most famous speakeasy, just a short distance from Helen Hayes Theater on West 52nd St, has created a special pre-theatre dinner menu from just $48.
Reserve your table to be seated between 5pm and 6:30pm and enjoy a 3 course dinner before the short trip to the Helen Hayes Theater in time for curtain up.
Sound good to you? Share this page on social media and let your friends know about it.
I want email news and updates for events in my area! Read how we protect your data.
Please note: The term Helen Hayes Theater as well as all associated graphics, logos, and/or other trademarks, tradenames or copyrights are the property of the Helen Hayes Theater and are used herein for factual descriptive purposes only. We are in no way associated with or authorized by the Helen Hayes Theater and neither that entity nor any of its affiliates have licensed or endorsed us to sell tickets, goods and or services in conjunction with their events.


text: For a few reasons -- all of them superficial -- Keri Noble has been compared to Norah Jones at times. Both of them are romantic, piano-playing singer/songwriters who were in their twenties in the early 2000s, and both of them have ties to veteran producer Arif Mardin; he produced Jones' smash Come Away With Me album, and Mardin is one of the executive producers on Noble's debut album, Fearless. But stylistically, Noble and Jones are very different artists -- and truth be told, Noble has much more in common with Sarah McLachlan, Paula Cole, or former October Project singer Mary Fahl. Jones brings a definite jazz influence to the table; she isn't a jazz singer per se, but is a pop singer who has been affected by jazz, cabaret, Tin Pan Alley, and torch singing. Noble, however, is coming from more of an adult alternative perspective; where Fearless is concerned, McLachlan's Fumbling Towards Ecstasy is a much better comparison than Come Away With Me. And while Jones tends to be romantically comforting, Noble's introspective, vulnerable lyrics can be dark at times -- lyrically and melodically, Fearless is not a terribly happy or cheerful album. Although Fearless has a secular orientation, Noble grew up listening to mostly Christian music. Born in Ft. Worth, TX, in 1977 and raised in Detroit, Noble is the daughter of a Protestant minister. Noble's father was born and raised in Peru before immigrating to the United States; while the vast majority of Latinos are Catholic, Noble's dad was the pastor of a Spanish-speaking Baptist church in the southwestern part of the Motor City. Meanwhile, Noble's mother also had a Christian outlook and taught Spanish at one of Detroit's Protestant high schools. Noble attended a Protestant high school herself, but despite her Christian upbringing, she didn't pursue a career in either gospel or modern Christian pop. Eventually, secular music became her main focus, and one person who can take a lot of credit for that is Joni Mitchell. When Noble was in her late teens, someone gave her a copy of Mitchell's Blue -- that 1971 classic (which was recorded six years before Noble was born) was her first exposure to Mitchell, and after falling in love with Blue, Noble got more and more into songwriting and became quite serious about pursuing a career as a secular singer/songwriter. Noble began performing her own material at small coffeehouses in and around Detroit, where she usually accompanied herself on electric keyboards. Detroit was where Noble met musician Billy McLaughlin, who felt that she had serious potential and offered her work in Minneapolis. Noble ended up moving to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, which she felt was a better environment for singer/songwriters than the Motor City. McLaughlin introduced Noble to producer Jeff Arundel, who helped her shop a demo -- and in 2003, she signed with Manhattan/EMI Records. Arundel was hired to produce and arrange Noble's debut album, Fearless; Manhattan/EMI executives Arif Mardin and Ian Ralfini became the album's executive producers. Fearless was given a March 2004 release date. ~ Alex Henderson


text:
(Cross-posted at Concurring Opinions)
You mention male privilege in a blog post, and it's inevitable: Someone else (usually male) will start asking about female privilege. If men have privilege, don't women have privilege too? And does that undercut the idea of male privilege as a type of gender subordination which is built into society? (Because, the implication goes, we all have privilege — and so feminists should stop complaining about male privilege.)
And, so, predictably, some critics of feminism, "men's rights" blogs, and the like have assembled lengthy lists of female privilege. (Women get their dates paid for — it isn't fair!) And it's true that there are areas where, taken on a stand-alone basis, male and female treatment appears to favor women. As we'll see, I don't think these areas really provide an analogue to male privilege.
We'll start with the obvious, descriptive matter: Some areas exist in which women have some advantages. For one obvious example, some bars offer free drinks to women on some evenings. (Ladies night.) Looked at in isolation, these could be viewed as areas of female privilege. However, in context, it seems evident that this apparent female privilege fills one of two roles.
First, in many cases, the alleged privilege is actually a thinly disguised direct benefit to men. Why do women get free drinks on Thursday nights? Because many men see women as sexual objects. And so the apparent female privilege there is actually a smoke screen, to conceal the fact that women are being objectified and held out as bait to attract men to the bar, a script which is built on assumptions about male earning power, and norms of sexual interaction which cast men as subjects and women as objects. Tracy Clark-Flory at Salon notes how this plays out:
The women of New York get to continue to enjoy "Ladies Night" specials, thanks to a judge who earlier this week struck down a lawsuit alleging that attempts to attract chicks with discounted drinks are unconstitutional. It's a decision plenty will no doubt be toasting tonight — but I fail to see this as a victory for femalekind.
In the past, judges have ruled in similar cases across the country that "Ladies Nights" are A-OK. The legal argument is one thing — and a very complicated thing at that — but just how okay is it politically and philosophically?
Clubs promote drink discounts to attract more women — because that means more men will show up. I believe the technical term for this is: Sex sells.
Commenter allgoodtees makes a similar point in an excellent comment:
Just about anything that can be put forth as so-called female privilege has roots in misogyny.
Commonly Cited Female Privilege: When custody arrangements are made during a divorce, rarely does a woman have to fight for the right to be with her children.
Misogynist Roots: Women have always been considered the primary caretakers of children, and are pressured from every side to do so to the point where men who are observed publicly tending to their own children are often asked if they're "babysitting" them until their wife gets home. If men and women were equally considered to be caretakers, custody arrangements would more than likely be equally considered.
Commonly Cited Female Privilege: Women can be around large groups of young children and not be suspected of being a sexual predator.
Misogynist Roots: See above; if men and women were equally assumed to be caretakers of children, a man wanting to be involved with childrens' activities (as anything other than "coach") more than likely wouldn't be viewed with suspicion.
This hurts men too, in very detrimental ways.
Commonly Cited Male Issue: Men are far more likely to commit suicide than women.
Misogynist Roots: "Big boys don't cry", "Man up" – Expressing emotions is something routinely coded as female (less than), so men are more likely to bottle them up and less likely to seek therapeutic help if bottling them up fails to work. If being emotional were a human thing instead of a woman thing, I'm willing to be those statistics would level out in time.
Commonly Cited Male Issue: Men are sexually assaulted, but there is far less attention paid because they are even less likely to report it than women.
Misogynist Roots: Because sexual assault is overwhelmingly a crime that happens to women at the hands of men, men who are raped have been "made the woman" (less than). Because of this, not only are they less likely to report it, but because of this attitude, they are less likely to be taken seriously by the police.
If men were truly concerned with raising awareness of this issue, the best way to do it would be to form their own organizations and fight for the recognition of this crime. They would seek out funding to form shelters for men who have been victims of sexual assault or domestic violence instead of routinely coming into discussions of the victimization of women and, politely or otherwise, ask that they be given equal consideration.
I think that covers a few of the bases.
It's a point that has been made before on feminist blogs, and I agree entirely. It's often the case that alleged female privilege merely repackages male privilege; the alleged benefits to women are extremely limited and subject to caveats, and don't really help women very much.
I'll go further, though, because I don't think that all instances of female privilege are so directly linked to patriarchy. I think it's possible that some instances of female privilege actually do award some benefits to women, without a direct and immediate tie to male privilege. That is, I think that in some cases, we could say that female privilege is "real." But, as I'll explain, I think those cases are probably even more pernicious.
Let's take an asserted case of female privilege — for instance, draft immunity — and assume arguendo that it is a real instance of privilege. (I realize there are arguments that this is not a real privilege, but let's assume it is for the moment.) Why would a real female privilege exist in society, and what might it mean?
First, an instance of female privilege would have significant potential masking effects on male privilege. There are hundreds of examples of minor societal norms — men paying for the date, men taking the combat roles in the military — which potentially give a small tangible benefit to women. These little trifles may create a perception that privilege is available to everyone: "Men get some privileges, and women get others. Hey, I guess it's all just a wash!"
So the first negative consequence of a "real" female privilege would be to muddy or blunt arguments about male privilege. (And we've seen it happen, on the recent male privilege post.) This would be an incredibly misleading perception, because male privilege is the real prize, and any female privilege (such as it is) is a ragtag collection of shitty consolation prizes. Women don't get to be CEO or President or Senator or general — but hey, they get their dinner paid for on that date. Go, female privilege! And yet the existence of any potential privilege can be a distraction from the reality that every important real privilege is reserved for men.
So in fact, a "real" female privilege could be even more pernicious than an obvious false female privilege (like Ladies Night), because it could have this masking effect.
It doesn't stop there, though. I think there's an even worse effect, which is the real dark side of female privilege: Female privilege (or the perception of it) is the primary reason used to convince women to buy in to and support the patriarchal system.
If women as a group truly felt like they got nothing from the patriarchy, there would be revolution in the streets. Women would not stand for a system that was stacked 100 to 0. But when it's stacked 90 to 10, suddenly there's the possibility that women will start to feel _ownership_ of their small plot of land. (Commenter PrometheeFeu compared it to a caste system, and that's a great comparison. If society can convince the subordinated group that they're lucky and blessed to have the special caste privileges of the lower caste, they're much less likely to fight the system.)
Does it work? Frighteningly well. Because it turns out that many women don't support feminism or gender equality. In fact, they're often the most active voices against equality. Who opposed the ERA? Phyllis Schlafly, that's who — a woman, and tens of thousands of other women who she mobilized. Fast forward thirty years, and the same struggle plays out, as a surprisingly large number of women today decide that they would rather not be feminists.
Why do women fight against gender equality? There are a variety of reasons; but if you spend any time reading Phyllis Schlafly or Helen Andelin or their blog successors today, it seems clear that many women believe that feminism or gender equality will undermine their special role as women. That is, they are attached to the benefits that their patriarchy-provided role provides — a type of cultural validation for some women who accept existing gender norms — and they don't want feminists to take that away.
This desperate attempt to retain the perceived benefits of female privilege drives much of the (shockingly common) anti-feminist women's writing. (And given the overall power structure, it's easy to understand the desperation that drives that kind of writing. Members of subordinated groups may be understandably desperate to hang on to the few benefits that they do have — the things that they see as privilege.)
I have to think it would be different if we were selecting rights from behind a Rawlsian veil of ignorance. Door number one is membership in a group with a 90%+ chance of being on the Supreme Court, a 100% chance of being President, a 90% chance of being CEO or major business leader, an overwhelming majority in generals and scientists and the wealthy and powerful. Door number two is membership in a group that gets free drinks on Thursday, draft immunity, occasional compliments about being pretty, and affirmation and validation about the importance of the feminine role. No one in their right mind would choose Door Number Two.
But that's not how it goes. Instead, women are given a bundle of disadvantage at birth, with a few shiny trinkets thrown in, and then patriarchal institutions tell those women, "your feminine role as women is so special." And many women — especially women who don't work or go to school, and so may lack some other common avenues of validation — buy into that idea. And like the prisoners in Plato's cave, they will then fight to the death against their own liberation.
Female privilege, if it exists, is a ragtag combination of consolation prizes to keep the women quiet and content in a system which subordinates them. Real power remains in the patriarchal power structure. The existence of possible female privilege in areas like the draft doesn't disprove this; the pitifulness of female privilege simply reinforces the original point.
Meanwhile, female "privilege" is employed as a tool to keep women from challenging their own subordination. And it's frighteningly effective.


text:
You buy a car from a WALKAWAY dealer.
You get one year of complimentary WALKAWAY coverage. Within 30 days of purchasing your car you can choose to extend your coverage for the full term with more benefits.Upgrade your plan
Something unexpected happens.
You get sick, have an accident, become unemployed or experience another life-changing event and can no longer make your loan or lease payments on your car.
You return your car without penalty.Depending on your coverage†, you can:
- Return your car without penalty or damaging your credit rating.
- Keep your car while WALKAWAY covers your payments.
How It Works
Why you need it.
Unless you have a substantial down payment or equivalent valued trade-in, your car loan or lease is always greater than the value of your vehicle throughout most of your term. This can leave you vulnerable should you hit an unexpected rough patch and no longer be able to make your payments.
WALKAWAY covers the difference between your car's value and what you owe the financial institution – up to $25,000. It lets you 'walk away' without any impact to your savings or credit rating.
What you get with WALKAWAY.
Help through the unexpected.
While most plans provide coverage for only one or two life events, WALKAWAY covers many, including loss of employment.
- Involuntary unemployment
- Physical disability
- Loss of driver's licence (age & medical)
- International job transfer
- Accidental death
- Self-employed bankruptcy
- Critical illness requiring hospitalization
- Death due to critical illness
- Temporary unemployment
- Mental disability
Coverage no matter what your situation.Everyone qualifies regardless of age, health condition or employment record.
- No pre-existing health exclusions
- No health questions or good health statements
- Less restrictions and shorter waiting periods
- No employment questions
- No age limitations on complimentary coverage and less than 80 years of age on all upgrade plans
- Quicker claims settlement
- More claims paid
Protection and peace of mind.
WALKAWAY protects your finances, credit rating and your car.
Let's say you hit an unforeseen rough patch and can no longer make payments on your car. WALKAWAY products cover the difference between the value of your car and what you owe the financial institution, up to $25,000, and let's you return it.
Credit rating
Your credit rating is unaffected by WALKAWAY because it's considered an early buy-out by your financial institution.
Some WALKAWAY products include payment relief options. Payments can be made on your behalf for up to twelve months. When your payments are exhausted, you can still return your car if your condition persists. Your dealer may also suggest an alternate vehicle option to you.
Complimentary first year + extended coverage.
Your first year is already covered – compliments of your dealership. You can choose extended coverage within 10 days of purchasing your car.View our extended protection plans.
Quick and easy claims.
We'll do everything it takes to help you when you need it most. Most claims are settled within 30 days.Make a claim now
WALKAWAY gives you options.
|Elite w/ 12 Payments
Our highest level of coverage. Up to 12 months of payment relief, to keep you in your vehicle, and even more unexpected circumstances are covered
|Estate Advantage
It's worry-free for the retiree! No employment coverage, but a bigger benefit to cover your vehicle
|Standard PLUS w/ 6 Payments
Our Standard protection PLUS the added benefit of 6 months of payment relief, so you can stay in your vehicle through difficult times
|Standard PLUS w/ 4 Payments
Our Standard protection PLUS the added benefit of 4 months of payment relief, so you can stay in your vehicle through difficult times
Our Standard protection includes coverage in case you become critically ill
Our Basic protection makes your lease or loan worry-free for its entire term
It's Complimentary and worry-free for your first year, but you'll need to upgrade to stay protected for your entire loan or lease
|Maximum Benefit
|Vehicle Return Coverage
|Involuntary Unemployment
|Physical Disability
|Driving Restrictive Medical Condition 1
|International Job Transfer 4
|Accidental Death 5
|Self-Employed Bankruptcy 6
|Critical Illness Requiring Hospitalization
|Death due to Critical Illness
|Temporary Unemployment
|Mental Disability
|Payment Relief Coverage
|Involuntary Unemployment
|12 Payments
|6 Payments
|4 Payments
|Physical Disability
|12 Payments
|6 Payments
|4 Payments
|Critical Illness Requiring Hospitalization
|12 Payments
|6 Payments
|4 Payments
|Temporary Unemployment
|12 Payments
|6 Payments
|4 Payments
|Family or Medical Leave of Absence
|12 Payments
|6 Payments
|4 Payments
|Self-Employed Disability
|12 Payments2
|6 Payments3
|4 Payments3
|Mental Disability
|12 Payments


text:
FT217: "If you want to know what it was like living under an absolute monarchy just think of the IRS." —Old Pithy
Fundamental Truth
Thomas Jefferson wanted to keep the New Federal Government and Money Apart
Thomas Jefferson did not trust government. And he didn't trust moneyed men. Because when the two come together they cause nothing but trouble. That's why he hated and distrusted Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton wanted a strong central government. A central bank. And an economic system favoring merchants and bankers. With big city moneyed men financing the government in return for special favors.
This is why the nation's capital isn't in New York City. It once was. But one of the first deals the Hamilton and Jefferson camps made was the relocation of the nation's capital to a mosquito-infested swamp on the Potomac River. A long, long way from the moneyed men in New York City. To try to keep the new federal government and money apart. To restrict the influence of the moneyed men on the government. And to prevent the government from having easy access to big money.
Why did Jefferson want to do this? Well, they fought for their independence from Great Britain. Which was a constitutional monarchy. Where some in Parliament were no friends of British America. And got the king to agree with them rather than the pro-British America faction in Parliament. Ironically, the Americans got help in their War of Independence from France. Which had an absolute monarchy. Whose king ruled with no check on his power. Both governments were in the big cities. London. And Paris. Where the moneyed men were. In the big cities. Allowing these monarchies to do a whole lot of mischief all around the world. And a fair amount of mischief inside their own countries. Because the money and the government were in the same city.
Government + Money = Corruption
Great Britain and France were forever at war with each other. And with other countries. Requiring a lot of money. Which they got from the moneyed men. In return for special privileges that allowed them to get ever richer. Of course the mischief grew greater as they fought a world war or two. Requiring ever more money. Which they got from, of course, taxing the rest of the people. Even those who could little afford it. And once this starts, once the government starts accumulating debt, that taxation will only get greater.
This is what Jefferson was worried about. And why he so distrusted Hamilton. The Founding Fathers were all gentlemen of the Enlightenment. Disinterested public servants. Honorable men who would never take advantage of their position in government for personal gain. Because for these men honor was everything. Some even fought duels to protect their honor. As Hamilton did. And died. Washington, Adams, Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison, Jay and Franklin were men of exceptional integrity. Men who could be trusted. But here is where Hamilton and Jefferson differed. Hamilton believed only men like them would ever enter government. While Jefferson believed that government service would one day attract mostly scoundrels and knaves.
Of course, Jefferson was right. For as the nation grew so did the size of government. And the need for great big piles of money. Which the moneyed men provided. In exchange for special privileges. Patronage. Lucrative government contracts. Etc. Big piles of money flowed into Washington. And favors flowed out from Washington. With many a politician getting rich in the process of getting rich moneyed men richer. Politicians who used their position in government for personal gain. Corrupted politicians. As government + money = corruption. Which is why politicians always leave office richer than when they entered office.
Power + Corruption = Tyranny
This is how it started. As the size of government grew corruption grew. Just as Jefferson feared. All that money flowing into Washington corrupted ever more politicians. Who were not gentlemen of the Enlightenment. But the scoundrels and knaves Jefferson knew would come. Who used their position in government for personal gain. Whose corruption grew so great it exploded federal spending. So great that taxes from the moneyed men AND the middle class were unable to fund it. So the taxation grew more aggressive.
The government created by the Founding Fathers had no income taxes. They funded the few things the new national government did with tariffs for the most part. People lived from day to day without any fear of the taxman. The United States even did away with debtors' prison. Prison where people were sent who could not pay their debts. A relic of the 19th century. Sort of. For there is one debt people can still go to prison for not paying. Past-due taxes. For the IRS can take everything you have and imprison you if you don't pay your taxes. And those taxes have grown great as of late. As the tax code has grown convoluted. Requiring businesses to hire armies of accountants and lawyers to comply with. So the government can help the moneyed men who help the government. In return for special privileges, of course. Leaving the masses dreading April 15. As they dread opening any letter from the IRS.
If you want to know what it was like living under an absolute monarchy just think of the IRS. People fear the IRS. Just as people feared the arbitrary power of an absolute monarchy. A king could take your property and lock you away. Just like the IRS. And if you spoke out against the monarchy the king could make your life really unpleasant. Just like the IRS. During the 2012 election the IRS targeted conservative political groups to stifle their free speech. Delayed their tax-exempt status approval. And harassed them with costly tax audits. And now their tyranny has extended to people in the middle class. Who unbeknownst to them had a family member owe the federal government. Years earlier. Even a generation earlier. And the IRS is arbitrarily seizing the tax refunds from these debtors' distant relatives to pay these debts. Even though they are in no way responsible for these debts. And the government has no documentation for this debt. Doesn't matter. Because they have the power to do this. And these people are powerless to stop them. Just like people living under an absolute monarchy were powerless to stop their king from doing anything to them. And this is what Jefferson feared. For after corruption comes tyranny. For power + corruption = tyranny. (Just look at every tin-pot dictator that has oppressed his people). Which is why people fear the IRS. And the federal government the IRS is beholden to. Because they have become everything Jefferson feared they would.
Tags: absolute monarchy, Alexander Hamilton, British America, central government, corruption, debt, Enlightenment, favors, federal government, Founding Fathers, France, gentlemen, Great Britain, Hamilton, honor, IRS, Jefferson, king, knaves, middle class, monarchy, money, moneyed men, Parliament, personal gain, politician, power, privileges, scoundrels, special favors, special privileges, tax refund, taxation, taxes, Thomas Jefferson, tyranny, Washington


text:
In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen!
I am holding in my hand a doctoral project that was approved by the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. It is titled "Witnessing to People of Eastern Orthodox Background: Turning Barriers of Belief into Bridges to Personal Faith." It is 75 pages long and the first 14 pages are an introduction to Eastern Orthodoxy. The next 36 pages are a detailed examination of the so-called barriers and strategies for helping an Orthodox Christian come to a personal faith in Jesus Christ.
Why am sharing this with you? Because it shows that some people are willing to learn our Orthodox Teachings, perhaps better than we know it ourselves, in order to advance their own agenda, in this case to evangelize us, the Orthodox. More importantly, for our purposes today, it demonstrates how some people see Orthodox Christians from the outside and how we are presenting our Faith to the world around us.
The author, Matt Spann, identifies eight different Orthodox beliefs that he interprets as barriers to personal faith in Christ. Obviously, he is looking through the distorted lens of Protestant Evangelical Baptist Christianity that places primacy on personal faith over the more communal consensus of faith. What he labels as barriers, need not be when viewed from the official teachings of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Nevertheless, his thesis is based on case studies of actual Orthodox people who we may resemble to some degree.
We do not have time for a detailed review of the thesis. However, I would like to share its main points in a way that will cause us to examine our own faith relationship with Christ in the life of the Orthodox Church. I do so from the perspective that Orthodoxy does encourage and teach the importance of a personal relationship with Christ. As I present each point, we will see the two extremes that distort the true Faith, the Protestant Evangelical perspective on one hand and the Orthodox Christian on the other hand and how we may have fallen into either extreme. Hopefully, at the end, we will have gained theoria and praxis, an understanding of the Faith in Christ and how to live it each day.
The first belief is Authority and Tradition. In Orthodoxy Holy Tradition has several components including Scripture, Councils, Creeds, Fathers, Liturgics, Canon Law and Iconography. The Protestant teaching is Sola Scriptura, that only the Scripture is authoritative for teaching. The author correctly observes that some Orthodox, believing the Church has the Truth and, since they are members of the Church, they do not need to seek or learn the Truth. Therefore, daily reading of Scripture and the Fathers or attending Bible Study is not really necessary or important.
Second, the Orthodox believe that God is transcendent, mysterious, unexplainable and unknowable. The author says that this belief causes people to see God as someone far away and impersonal. No doubt, the mystical character of our worship emphasizes the mystery of God and worshipping in a language that no one understands nor speaks, certainly contributes to this problem. However, this is only half the story. Our God, while being wholly other in His essence, has come to live among us and in us through His energies. We can know Him personally in His Son Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit because He has revealed Himself to us.
Third, regarding Grace and Salvation, we teach that the Sacraments of our Church are the visible means by which the invisible grace of God comes to us. The author rightly observes that many Orthodox approach the sacraments as a direct tap to Gods grace that automatically or magically saves us. Is that so surprising when we still have people who disappear from the life of the Church after their marriage or baptism or their babys baptism? The truth is that Gods grace cannot penetrate an unrepentant heart that is darkened by sin. Holy Communion cannot save us, especially if we have not confessed our sins in the Sacrament of Penance. I would include icons in the sacramental life of the Church. Similarly, if we bow before and kiss the icons thinking that these gestures erase or balance out sin in our life, then, we are sadly mistaken.
Fourth, we pray to the Virgin Mary and the Saints and ask them to pray to God to help us in our struggles. We know this is helpful because the faith of the Saints is great and powerful. Many of us have experienced Gods grace through the miraculous intercession of Saints, sometimes after coming in contact with their relics. However, as the author notices, if we only pray to the Saints without directing our own prayers to Christ our Lord, then we have made idols of Mary and St. George and others saints.
The fifth point is what the author calls Religious Nationalism. This attitude says, To be Russian is to be Orthodox or To be Greek is to be Orthodox. In other words, I am of Greek descent; I am automatically an Orthodox Christian and perhaps a better Christian than those who are not Greek or not Orthodox. Thankfully, this attitude is on a fast decline in our churches. Orthodoxy has officially condemned philetism as heresy and we must be careful not to treat those of different backgrounds with prejudice or contempt. St. Paul said, There is neither Greek nor Jew, there is neither male nor female, but we are all one in Christ."
In todays Gospel reading, the 8th Sunday of Luke 10:25-37, Jesus affirms the lawyers statement of how to inherit eternal life. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself (v.27). This implies a deep, personal, affection relationship with God. However, if we are only love God with part of ourselves, less than 100 percent, then, distortion and perversion will creep in to our life. We will easily begin making idols out of the very gifts and tools the Church offers to us to build our relationship with Christ and others. The Holy Tradition, the Sacraments, the Saints, the Icons and our culture will become our gods instead of the One, True God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We hear repeatedly during the worship services, Remembering our most-Holy Lady Theotokos and ever-Virgin Mary, and all the Saints: let us commit ourselves and our whole life and one another to Christ our God. Our life in the Body of the Christ, the Church is an excellent barometer, of how well we are remembering our saintly examples and imitating them. Can we say weve committed our whole life to Christ if we rarely attend worship services, or come late, if we do not help the ministries regularly with our time and talents, if we do not give generously and sacrificially with our stewardship offering of our monetary treasures? Can we say weve committed others to Christ when we dont invite them, including non-Orthodox to worship with us, or worse, when we gossip about and slander those who are in the church? Have we contacted and encouraged those who have drifted away from the Church?
The lawyer also questioned Jesus saying, Who is my neighbor (v.29). Jesus goes on to tell the Parable of the Good Samaritan and then asks the lawyer who the neighbor was. The lawyer answered, He who showed mercy on him and Jesus said to him, Go and do likewise (v.37). If we want to be a good neighbor, we must look for an notice those who are hurting and suffering, we must inconvenience ourselves, go out of our way, give our money and help them. As we all know, recent deaths in our community have brought hurt and suffering to many families. The reality is that everyone is hurting and suffering in some form or another. If we are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, then we must love our neighbor to the same degree. We must help each other commit ourselves and our whole life to Christ our God.
Southern Baptist document: Witnessing to People of Eastern Orthodox Background: Turning Barriers of Belief into Bridges to Personal Faith
Fr. Richard Demetrius Andrews is the pastor of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Fr. Andrews is the past president of Minnesota Eastern Orthodox Christian Clergy Association (MEOCCA), and a volunteer chaplain with the St. Paul Police Department.


text:
I've been so consumed with finishing projects to meet deadlines lately (the Spanish Market Bag, the Autumn Leaves II Market Bag, starting the prayer shawls as promised) that I have almost forgotten about the meditative side of knitting.
About a month ago, I had a brief but intense e-mail exchange with the friend who I broke contact with in June, the one I knitted the "letting go" shawl about. I initiated the contact because I felt inspired to do so, but it ended so badly that felt completely turned off by anything I associated with him. And unfortunately, that included meditation.
So in the last week, I've been quietly looking at that and gently leading myself back to a more meditative state. And frankly, I needed to take these gentle steps with myself as a preparation for starting my prayer shawls.
Last week, I bought Fiona Ellis's two books, "Inspired Fair Isle Knits" and "Inspired Cable Knits." As I mentioned several weeks ago, I was interested in her work because she practices "mindful" knitting, which means some sort of meditation in conjunction with knitting. To be honest, the Fair Isle book didn't particularly inspire me, but the cable book includes more of her meditative process, and I've been enjoying it so far.
Of course, one of the first sweaters has been about friendships. It has straight cables like reliable friendships and other cables that zigzag, the way other relationships do. At the top, they recombine to form a yoke at the "heart" of the sweater, and Ellis changes the background behind the cables from reverse stockinette, which contrasts perfectly, to stockinette, which almost blends with the cables. It reflects the deeper spiritual oneness we all share, I think. I'm not sure if I will make the sweater, but just thinking about it has brought some healing into my life.
My brother recently shared the story of a healing he had that took 3 years. He said that during those 3 years, whenever the physical problem came to his thought, he would just look at it "without judgement." It's taken me a while to understand what this means to him, but I think what it means is that he sticks to the facts without making value judgements about them. And then he gets very quiet because he says that just clearing your thought of all the brain-chatter opens a portal for the divine.
After three years, he went back to the dentist who made such awful predictions about his problem, and the dentist pronounced him completely and beautifully healed. My brother said he hadn't planned on not visiting the dentist for 3 years, nor was he conscious during the time that he would wait for a certain thing to happen in order for him to go back to the dentist. Rather, he just kept looking at the problem without judgement, and one day he felt impelled to go, and everything was good.
I am not recommending this course of action for everybody. Like me, my brother is a Christian Scientist who has been relying on spiritual healing all his life. If that's not your thing, do what best meets your need. But I was impressed by the patience and the consistency with which he approached the problem. And I think there is a lesson for me in this with my problem with my friend — and my spiritual life.
In the last week or 3o, I've been gradually getting back to regular meditation/prayer. It feels good. One Sunday morning, I stayed home from church, mediated deeply and then knitted for a while. It was a lovely experience, and I felt a deep closeness to God and the oneness of the universe. (Those two ideas are really 2 ways of approaching the same thing, I think.) I'm looking forward to more moments like that in the weeks ahead.


text:
Rachel Boden
Rachel Boden can't stand arrogance—especially when it comes to cash. "Bragging about how much money a man has is the biggest turn-off possible," she says. What would she rather hear from a bloke? "It's simple but effective: 'You're the most beautiful girl in the room.'" Follow that up with some good booze, kinky underwear and role play, and you're golden!


text:
Antitrust Case Filings
Antitrust Case Filings
To filter the list of cases, select desired options from the left navigation pane.
View the list of NAICS and SIC industry codes used by the Division. To view all industry codes, visit Census.gov.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1
|Case Open Date
|Incident Date
|Case Type
|Federal Court
|Industry Code
|U.S. v. Reynolds Metals Company
|July 14, 1971
|Civil Non-Merger
|Virginia, Eastern District
|Primary Aluminum, Primary Aluminum Production


text:
He is former President, BT Americas, one of BT Global Services' four regions. Boustridge joined BT Global Services in April 2007, assuming responsibility for all aspects of BT's operations and performance in the United States and Canada. He also manages BT Professional Services and BT Global Financial Services globally and has a coordinating role within BT's Asia Pacific region.
Michael has extensive global experience in the IT services sector, which ideally qualifies him to execute on BT's vision of growth within the region.
Prior to this appointment, Boustridge was Vice President, Sales and Marketing, at EDS, where he was instrumental in achieving the company's highest total contract value for new business signings in five years.
A native New Zealander, Boustridge joined EDS in 1996 from Hitachi Data Systems, and worked at IBM earlier in his career. He's an avid rugby fan and enjoys motorcycle riding in his spare time.


text:
Wing Commandeered: Chris Roberts' Star Citizen
We sent Richard Cobbett to find out what the man who made Wing Commander is now working on. Turns out it's a PC-only space game. And it looks incredible.
I'm sitting in a room, definitely not watching Wing Commander creator Chris Roberts playing a new Wing Commander game. No, it's the brand new, totally original Star Citizen [the single player aspect of which is called Squadron 42, for some reason – Ed], and as I watch him fly a fighter with no resemblance whatsoever to the Raptor with a Broadsword turret out of a carrier's launchbay and into the never before seen Vega Sector, I don't for a second pause to notice how he totally isn't flying past one of the Kilrathi's asymmetric Dralthi fighters. Or anything else that might require an expensive license or getting into bed with EA.
In short, Star Citizen is absolutely not Wing Commander 6, Privateer 3 or Freelancer 2. It is however all of their children in a blender. In a good way, of course.
But first, watch this:
Everything in the Star Citizen demo is very obviously there as a nostalgic hook to Roberts' longtime fans, to the extent that the logo for the space combat portion of Star Citizen currently uses the Wing Commander font. I'd be stunned if the final game follows suit though (not least because I can't imagine EA letting it go unchallenged), and the actual universe underneath it is very different to any of Roberts' past space games.
Here's the hook. Instead of an intergalactic war, Star Citizen focuses on what's essentially the fall of Rome on an intergalactic scale – in real terms, a dynamic online galaxy with barbarians at the gates, and you and your fellow players trying to hold off the collapse.
The game's name comes from the fact that in this universe, citizenship has to be earned. How you go about it though is completely up to you. If you want that Wing Commander flavour, sign up for a tour of duty in the military and you can focus on combat in a solo/co-op part of the universe. For more freedom, grab a ship and just do your own thing, Privateer/Freelancer style, only within a living economy and ever-expanding universe of mystery and intrigue, only with players instead of just NPCs and no one jerk getting to hog the Steltek gun.
As you'd expect, it's not a safe galaxy. Police will deter, though not prevent PvP in safer areas, but there's nothing to stop you taking a pop at anyone you don't like whenever you think you can get away with it. Combat is set to be entirely skill driven, with no MMO style levels. You'll be able to buy and strap better gear onto your ship, but it'll usually come with a flip-side. A big gun may soak up power for instance, so you only get one shot, or a heavy shield generator may lower your speed and manoeuvrability and leave you vulnerable to a more nimble attacker.
And that's just the start. If Roberts manages to implement all the features he wants, Star Citizen will be one of the greatest space games ever. You'll be able to host your own universes for instance, as in Freelancer, mod or add your own spaceships and submit them to the main game for other people to buy. You're never going to be able to sell the Starship Enterprise as a carrier in the main game, but in your own universe? Just don't tell Paramount.
Back in the global world, things won't just be a glorified economy, but a place to explore. Like Wing Commander, systems are linked by jump points. Not all of them will start out explored though. Find a new one and you get to chart it, riding the jump to program the galaxy's autopilots, and naming it. Within reason, of course. Somehow I doubt there'll be much interstellar exploration of Penis, Thrrrp and Panties, unless the moderators get bored.
I'm reluctant to keep on listing features though, because all this stuff is very much future tense. Star Citizen is still a couple of years away – at least – and as much as I'd love to see everything promised come to fruition and be amazing, I wouldn't bet against more than a few bits being put on the backburner or falling through the Molyneux Gap during development. The single-player campaign in particular (which in keeping with Star Citizen's slightly shaky grasp on what makes for a cool sounding name is called "Squadron 42") seems like a great addition for Wing Commander fans, but distinctly snippable if pressed for time.
Roberts does however have working code, showing the space engine, and the parts I got to see were stunning – easily the best looking space sim in raw technical terms, and built to an insane amount of detail. Missile pods lowering before firing. Individual rockets tilting to provide thrust for the physics engine to convert into movement. Flying past the carrier, reminding me of how exciting it was to be able to fly through them for the first time in the later Wing Commander Games, showed it rendered in enough detail to be able to fly up and peer through the bridge windows at the command crew and their funky holographic ball-map thing.
By far the most impressive bit though was the cockpit. I always liked the classic Wing Commander ones, complete with joystick waggling pilot. Now, that cockpit is fully interactive. Not only does he (and I'm assuming there'll be an option for a 'she' in the actual game, but not being a games journalist, Roberts had opted for a guy in the demo) presses buttons, pushes pedals and actually uses the systems around him. It's modelled to the level that if his hand is away from the main controls to press a button, you're temporarily unable to do anything else that hand is responsible for. That's awesome detail. Cockpit views are the best views.
Star Citizen is also firmly a PC game, with a capital PC. No console version is planned, allowing for all the 2-million poly cockpits and shiny details like hoses bouncing away under wings that the art team could possibly want. It's also due to support the Occulus Rift for full immersion, and features out of the cockpit action too. Like Roberts' previous games, there won't be full planetary exploration, but you will get to wander a seriously high-polygon avatar around parts of carriers and hopefully representational slices of various far-flung destinations. In this tech demo, that was just a carrier dock – deserted, though due to be filled with ambient action later on. I'd love to see that expanded to proper social hubs themed around world types.
Roberts has funded the game thus far via private investors, though as suspected, there's a crowd-funding element to Star Citizen as well. It's not going to be through Kickstarter though, instead going for a more fictionalised form of funding – with real money of course – themed around the idea of pre-ordering your spaceship. Factoring in future inflation then, expect to have to stump up roughly $74,050,300 for early alpha access. Or, quite possibly, not.
At the time of writing there was no indication of how much Roberts and his new company Roberts Space Industries hope to raise, but a cheapie retro revival this is not. Star Citizen may be Roberts returning to his personal gaming roots after several years working in film, but it's with a project that wants to take a firm step forward for a long stagnant genre. That's reason enough to be optimistic and eager to see just how Star Citizen evolves from here, even if we will be waiting a couple of years to see it make its big shot for both the stars and stardom.