text:
Sends a C-CANCEL-REQ message to a peer member of a connection.
public void SendCCancelRequest(
DicomRequest requestInfo,
byte presentationID,
int messageID
Sub SendCCancelRequest( _
ByVal requestInfo As DicomRequest, _
ByVal presentationID As Byte, _
ByVal messageID As Integer _
void SendCCancelRequest(
DicomRequest^ requestInfo,
byte presentationID,
int messageID
The add-in's request information.
The Presentation Context ID. The ID provides information about both the class type of the data and the Transfer Syntax to use when transferring the data.
The Message ID. Each message sent by a member of a connection should have a unique ID. Since a member of a connection may send several messages, this ID allows that member to identify when a specific request has been completed.
Help Collections
Raster .NET | C API | C++ Class Library | HTML5 JavaScript
Document .NET | C API | C++ Class Library | HTML5 JavaScript
Medical .NET | C API | C++ Class Library | HTML5 JavaScript
Medical Web Viewer .NET
Direct Show .NET | C API | Filters
Media Foundation .NET | C API | Transforms
Supported Platforms
.NET, Java, Android, and iOS/macOS Assemblies
Imaging, Medical, and Document
C API/C++ Class Libraries
Imaging, Medical, and Document
HTML5 JavaScript Libraries
Imaging, Medical, and Document
Your email has been sent to support! Someone should be in touch! If your matter is urgent please come back into chat.
Chat Hours:
Monday - Friday, 8:30am to 6pm EST.
Thank you for your feedback!
Please fill out the form again to start a new chat.
All agents are currently offline.
Chat Hours:
Monday - Friday
To contact us please fill out this form and we will contact you via email.


text:
Urania's Well: Astrology for Changing Times
PaganSquare is a community blog space where Pagans can discuss topics relevant to the life and spiritual practice of all Pagans.
Magickal Monday: Your Guide to the Week Ahead - 8/06/12
I had a nice, happy little post planned about the positive ways in which the current Uranus-Pluto square can manifest in individual lives. The charts of Michael Phelps, Gabrielle Douglas and Usain Bolt all have natal planets in close aspect to the transiting pair, and these three stunningly talented athletes have used the power of Pluto and the electrical energy of Uranus to show us not only what the human body is capable of, but the heart and spirit that drive exceptional achievement. I was going to look at their charts in a bit of detail, and it's a post I would have enjoyed writing.
But the shooting in Wisconsin made that post impossible — at least for now. Right now, I think it's important to reflect on the ways that each one of us can utilize the current astrological patterns to help create the changes that are so desperately needed in our world. The terrible events that scream across the headlines do not create the need for change — they only illustrate the underlying decay and ongoing dissolution of both the structures and the resources of our global society and the challenges that we face.
Let's take a closer look at the signs and planets involved. Pluto, which by itself is a significator of big institutions — corporations, government, etc. — is in the sign of Capricorn, which rules a society's structures, both material and governmental. Pluto's mandate is to compel transformation and empowerment. The mandate of Uranus is to emancipate, to awaken, innovate and surprise, to destabilize. Uranus is a significator of technology, sudden changes, discovery, and it is in Aries, the sign of the warrior, the leader, the individual. If you have any familiarity with astrology, you will not be surprised to discover that Pluto was tightly opposed the Midheaven and Uranus oppose the Ascendant in the event chart of the Wisconsin shooting.
So how do we respond personally, magically to events like this? There will be more unexpected violence and over-the-top destruction. There will be ongoing troubles with technology, with availability of resources, with climate change and environmental destruction. One of the first things a magician must do is realistically assess the situation they wish to change, and trying to pretend that we can continue to happily reproduce and consume without severe consequences would mean that both our lives and our magic were based in illusion. Pluto in Capricorn asks for deep, honest, realistic assessments, and Uranus in Aries demands that we find the courage of our convictions.
An essential response for effective magic, then, would be to take a deep look at our lives and at where we see the trajectory of current events taking our society over the next decades, then consciously deciding what changes we believe need to be made. Once we have clearly assessed where we are at and where we need to be heading, then we can make the appropriate changes in our own lives, deciding where to put our focus. For instance, knowing that institutions will change or fail means we can help direct the changes, and build new structures that serve a peaceful, sustainable society.
The Indian blackout on July 30 and 31 — the largest in history — is another event that is illustrative of not only just the kind of thing we can expect under the series of Uranus-Pluto squares on deck over the next two and a half years — sudden events that reveal the underlying weaknesses of government, corporations, and other large institutions — but also of the likely responses over the effective ones.
The outage began on Monday, with the Moon in Sagittarius, opposing Venus, on the Ascendent/Descendent axis on the event chart. Neptune in Pisces was still conjunct the Midheaven — a reminder of our interconnectedness.
The system was almost fully restored, then went down again the next day. The chart of this event shows the Moon in Capricorn, having just squared Uranus and conjuncted Pluto, moving into an exact square with Mars. Mars is frequently a trigger for events related to outer planet transits, as is the Moon. By the time of the Full Moon — which opposed a Rx Mercury and was blessed with some flowing aspects from Uranus and Jupiter — those affected by the outage were back online and putting the pieces back together.
But a piecemeal approach to solving the problem of a failing electrical grid, trying to keep the old system from collapsing, is not going to to do the trick. The long-term solution(s) will be found in the kind of pioneering and populist technological developments that characterize Uranus in Aries — small scale solar, for instance, or an entirely new approach to electrical distribution. The solutions that work will involve the death of the old system, and plenty of people will fight the necessary changes, because change is hard, and scary.
Similarly, calls for better gun control, though a step in the right direction, are not going to solve the problems of violence that plague our society. What is needed is a complete overhaul of our social structure, an overhaul that will happen from the bottom up, not be imposed from the top down. A new, workable social structure for a non — or at least less — violent society, must have its basis in a grassroots insistence that violence is not a viable solution — ever. This means talking — openly and freely — about the problem, and developing a tribal-level social structure that tends caringly to those who are ill, whether their illness is mental or physical. The level of disruption needed for this kind of sweeping social change to occur is vast, and will ask all of us to look carefully, first, at our own lives and deeply within our own hearts.
The disruption will happen — we stand at the brink — and it will require hard work and change on all levels, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Are you ready for change? Do you have a clear vision of the future you want to build? Insisting that you want a peaceful society while spending your Friday evenings watching violent movies or your Saturdays playing violent video games is futile. Gandhi was right — you have to be the change you want to see in the world, which means giving your time and attention to your visions, standing up for your core values, and finding the courage to face your fears.
You want to do something constructive with these transits? Then walk away from the game controller and the TV for a while, and spend some time figuring out what you can do in the real world to help change the place you wake up in every morning — the one right around you. Volunteer for a cause you believe in that helps people in your neighborhood. Interact with others in real time, think about and discuss how you can create a more caring, compassionate and encompassing social structure right where you live, then do the needed work. Empower yourself and others by making change happen, instead of waiting until it happens to you.
The gods are calling for major transformations, and getting with the program involves hard work, flexibility, and a willingness to change. Stepping up to the plate and doing the work puts you in the game. Denial, shaming, finger-pointing and pearl-clutching are the strategies of cowards and disempowered people, and put you in the collapsing bleachers. You have choices to make. Make them wisely, because the gods ain't kidding about this.
Now, a bit about the week ahead.
Today, Monday, just about the time I will post this, the Moon will square Pluto and conjunct Uranus in Aries. Again, a trigger for this long-term transit. By the evening, it will oppose Mars in Libra. The whole day's likely to be itchy and aggravating at best. When you find yourself being triggered emotionally, use these triggers to help you identify emotional issues you need to work on, then take them to your altar later. Letting the Moon opposing Mars help you confront your own anger issues is a great use of this transit.
Tuesday morning sees Venus moving into Cancer, over the sensitive, triggering, Aries Point (zero degrees of Cardinal signs). With the Moon still in Aries, and opposing Saturn later in the afternoon, there is likely to be a bit of drama and a lot of emotion floating around. The instinct to protect what is ours will be powerful — watch out for controlling behavior, both in yourself and others.
Wednesday begins with the Moon moving into Taurus and squaring a stationary Mercury (it turned direct at 1:33 a.m, but is still in the same degree and minute) at 6:30 a.m. (all times EDT). Yes, Mercury is finally direct! But it takes a while — at least a few days — to build up some momentum, and this early-morning square presages a problematic rush hour and a lot of heels-dug-in resistance to change.
Thursday brings the quarter Moon — a Taurus-Leo square, which will likely bring the economy and concepts of effective leadership into focus nationally. Personally, issues of values vs. self-expression will be emphasized.
Friday the Moon moves into Gemini, then sextiles Mercury and squares Neptune later that evening, setting the stage for a sociable, if perhaps over-indulgent, weekend. Saturday afternoon Moon conjuncts Jupiter — be careful of making promises you can't keep. This is an excellent aspect for visionary work in ritual, or to look closely at your core values. Moon trine Mars and Saturn on Sunday makes it a good day to get some work done and plan out the week ahead.
See you next week.
Tuesday, 07 August 2012
Excellent, as always, my dear Cassandra. :>)· Diotima likes this comment.
Please login first in order for you to submit comments

subset: commoncrawl


text:
This update provides key fixes in PDF export, EPUB export, Liquid Layouts, PDF Forms, IDML and others.
For a full list of resolved issues, please see the Adobe InDesign CS6 8.0.1 Release Notes at http://www.adobe.com/support/documentation/en/indesign_incopy/releasenotes.html.
|File Name
|File Size
|Proceed to Download
Multicore Intel processor
Mac OS X v10.6.8 or v10.7
1GB of RAM (2GB recommended)
2.6GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on a volume that uses a case-sensitive file system or on removable flash storage devices)
1024x768 display (1280x800 recommended) with 16-bit video card
DVD-ROM drive
Adobe Flash Player 10 software required to export SWF files
This software will not operate without activation. Broadband Internet connection and registration are required for software activation, validation of subscriptions, and access to online services.* Phone activation is not available.
Before you install, close all applications currently running on your system including other Adobe applications, Microsoft Office applications, and browser windows. It is also recommended to temporarily turn off virus protection during the installation process.
You must have administrative privileges or be able to validate as an administrator.
Please make sure that the InDesign application is shut down in advance of running the InDesign updater (at least 1 minute recommended).
1. Download the .dmg file and save it to a folder on your computer.
2. Double-click the .dmg file to open it, and double-click the Adobe InDesign CS6 8.0.1 Update icon to launch the update.
3. Click Continue to start the installation.
4. When the installation has completed, click Finish to close the update.
License agreement
By using software of Adobe Systems Incorporated or its subsidiaries ("Adobe"); you agree to the following terms and conditions. If you do not agree with such terms and conditions; do not use the software. The terms of an end user license agreement accompanying a particular software file upon installation or download of the software shall supersede the terms presented below.
The export and re-export of Adobe software products are controlled by the United States Export Administration Regulations and such software may not be exported or re-exported to Cuba; Iran; Iraq; Libya; North Korea; Sudan; or Syria or any country to which the United States embargoes goods. In addition; Adobe software may not be distributed to persons on the Table of Denial Orders; the Entity List; or the List of Specially Designated Nationals.
By downloading or using an Adobe software product you are certifying that you are not a national of Cuba; Iran; Iraq; Libya; North Korea; Sudan; or Syria or any country to which the United States embargoes goods and that you are not a person on the Table of Denial Orders; the Entity List; or the List of Specially Designated Nationals.
If the software is designed for use with an application software product (the "Host Application") published by Adobe; Adobe grants you a non-exclusive license to use such software with the Host Application only; provided you possess a valid license from Adobe for the Host Application. Except as set forth below; such software is licensed to you subject to the terms and conditions of the End User License Agreement from Adobe governing your use of the Host Application.
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES: YOU AGREE THAT ADOBE HAS MADE NO EXPRESS WARRANTIES TO YOU REGARDING THE SOFTWARE AND THAT THE SOFTWARE IS BEING PROVIDED TO YOU "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. ADOBE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THE SOFTWARE; EXPRESS OR IMPLIED; INCLUDING; WITHOUT LIMITATION; ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE; MERCHANTABILITY; MERCHANTABLE QUALITY OR NONINFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS. Some states or jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties; so the above limitations may not apply to you.
LIMIT OF LIABILITY: IN NO EVENT WILL ADOBE BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY LOSS OF USE; INTERRUPTION OF BUSINESS; OR ANY DIRECT; INDIRECT; SPECIAL; INCIDENTAL; OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS) REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION WHETHER IN CONTRACT; TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE); STRICT PRODUCT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE; EVEN IF ADOBE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. Some states or jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages; so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.


text:
New York, USA, 2001.Add to Cart Add to Lightbox Download
.Images of the city of New York, United States of America, taken between 20th-22nd November, 2001..©Michael Schofield.
- Filename
- new-york-madison-square-garden99.JPG
- Copyright
- ©Michael Schofield. All Rights Reserved.
- Image Size
- 1440x2160 / 1.6MB
- All images remain the copyright of Michael Schofield (www.michaelschofieldphotography.com) and are not to be reproduced without permission.
2000's 2000s 2001 21th century afternoon agricultural photography agriculture photography America American holiday American holidays architectural detail architectural details architectural element architectural elements Autumn Autumnal building buildings cityscape cityscapes color image colour image day daylight daytime dusk evening evenings event photography exterior exterior shot exterior shots exteriors eye level eye level shot eye level view Fall holiday holidays image landscape landscapes Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade natural light neutral shot New York nightfall North America outdoor outdoor shot outdoor shots outdoors outside outsides scenic view scenic views skyline skylines straight-on shot structure structures Thanksgiving twilight U.S. U.S.A. United States United States of America US USA vista vistas wide angle wide angle lens wide angle view wide angle views wide angles wide-angle wide-angle lens wide-angle view wide-angle views wide-angles
- Contained in galleries
- New York, November 2001


text:
Twitter Says 'Our Bad' for Posting Fake Tweets by Real Users
Jul 25, 2013 1:26 PM PT
When a tweet goes out on Twitter that a user didn't send, the concern is usually that the account has been hijacked by a malicious user. This week, however, three users on Twitter were surprised to find out that their user names and images had been used as examples in a marketing campaign created by Twitter itself.
Fake tweets attributed to three real Twitter accounts were used in a graphic on the Twitter advertising blog introducing the company's TV ad targeting service. The graphic illustrated the metrics available to advertisers and used advertiser The Barista Bar as an example.
"This @baristabar ad is giving me the coffee shakes. Looks so good!" read one promotional tweet attributed to @subhash_tewari, for example.
"I wish I could make fancy lattes like in the @baristabar commercial" was another, attributed this time to @WilliamMazeo.
Twitter user @Neil_Gottlieb, meanwhile, was credited for a tweet that read, "What is the song in the new @baristabar commercial? I love it!!"
'Never OK to Violate Privacy'
It wasn't long before the three Twitter users represented in the graphic discovered that their accounts had been used without permission, and others on Twitter jumped in to echo their concern.
Twitter then reacted with a tweet of apology: "Hey @Neil_Gottlieb, @WilliamMazeo, @subash_tewari - so sorry about the confusion earlier today. We're fixing the problem now."
The response from @WilliamMazeo, "@TwitterAds -_- don't do this again," was soon joined by a number of other tweets, including a response from @Neil_Gottlieb: "Still nothing but an empty apology from Twitter for violating my privacy. 'Confusion,' they claim? By whom? Never OK to violate privacy."
Twitter replaced the offending image with a new one containing the same sample tweets from three Twitter employees.
"We corrected the design mistake in the blog post's imagery," said Twitter spokesperson Will Stickney. "It's our practice to use mocks for such posts, and we don't have future plans to use actual users in such imagery on the ads blog."
The company also added an update to its original blog post apologizing for its mistake.
"An earlier version of this blog post included an image with mock Tweets from real users of our platform," wrote product manager Michael Fleischman. "This was not OK. Once we became aware of this mistake we took it down immediately. We deeply apologize to the three users included in the earlier images."
Fictitious Advertiser?
Typically, companies use staffers or fictitious users to create such marketing examples. In fact, it is possible that @baristabar is a fictitious advertiser created by Twitter to test and demonstrate advertising on Twitter for the marketing and advertising department.
Most of the tweets for the account, which has tweets dating back to June 2011, are examples of Twitter marketing and advertising, with several tweets containing Twitter Cards.
On Wednesday morning the URL baristabarsf.com was listed under the Twitter account. Later in the afternoon the URL was removed. The website appears to be an empty WordPress page, with Twitter-like graphics including a header that says "twitter addict."
A quick search for Barista Bar and Barista Bar San Francisco returned no results beyond the Twitter handle and baristabarsf.com URL.
'A Situation That Is Not Good'
In any case, what may have simply been a testing program has now left Twitter with egg on its face.
"They're trying to figure out ways to make money, so they're probably experimenting with different things to see what they can get away with," Joseph McElroy, head of marketing firm Corporate Performance Artists and organizer of the New York Inbound Marketing Professionals Meetup, told the E-Commerce Times.
"They've created a situation that is not good," McElroy added.
'Brands Make Mistakes'
Will it have a lasting effect on Twitter?
"Brands of all types make mistakes in marketing judgment from time to time," David Libby, managing director of public relations and social media marketing firm 2pinz, told the E-Commerce Times.
"While Twitter may need to address this issue internally, I don't think it will impact the social giant's brand overall as this momentary gaffe is probably the result of a small team who had miscommunication on the development and potential outcomes of the campaign," Libby added. "I wonder if Twitter has an internal 'social media brand manager'?"
Indeed, "Twitter and social media are part of a practice called inbound marketing," McElroy explained. "One of the key characteristics that make it work well is transparency by the company.
"When you violate transparency, you are violating inbound marketing," he added. "You are asking for trouble."


text:
READ about Piers Morgan's long career in journalism here.
Four days since drafting and pushing a piece of legislature named in honor – or, perhaps, in contempt – of Piers Morgan, on Monday evening Nathan Dahm joined the British television presenter's program to explain his motivation.
At the core of Senator Dahm's bill, which he's calling the "Piers Morgan Constitutional Right to Keep and Bear Arms Without Infringement Act", is the notion that firearms should be more easily attainable, an idea that stands in direct contrast to the beliefs of the host.
To illustrate his position, Morgan rolled video of a grieving father, in which a man who lost his son in the Newtown school shooting stated that the right to life supersedes the right to carry a military style assault weapons. Seated squarely on "The Grill," the program's signature interview segment, the politician from Oklahoma was forced the face the following inquiry from the very man he sited when creating legislation:
"He's simply putting the question out there, for other Americans, including you, to determine what is more important," said Morgan, referencing Sandy Hook father David Wheeler from the clip. "He says his son's right to life is more important."
Dahm sought a solution which might satisfy both schools of thought:
"I believe that both of them should and could coexist," he said. "We do have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And we also do have a right to keep and bear arms. And yes, somebody should not take that right and violate somebody else's right, and take a life, and they should be punished accordingly if they do that. But you don't understand what a right is, and that's the problem here."
During the day, the Senator's website featured a promotion of the evening's upcoming segment, in which he positioned the debate as a match, complete with photos of both participants on either side of a "vs."
The host resented the ploy:
"I don't need to be told about guns, or how they're used, or when they are important to be used," said Morgan. "What part of a well regulated militia allows you to put this bill out using my name to get yourself some cheap publicity, and sort of make a mockery of the whole thing, what part allows you to say that Oklahomans should all just be able to be armed to the teeth in the streets, with no licensing or background checks and that constitutes somehow a well regulated militia as laid down by your founding fathers?"
Dahm denied the stunt, but did explain what the militia consists of in Oklahoma:
"First of all, I'm not here to get attention for myself. I'm here to get attention on the issue," he said. "The militia is made up of three parts: the Oklahoma National Guard, the Oklahoma State Guard, and the unorganized militia, which is every able bodied citizen between the age of 18 and 69."
Watch the clip for more of Morgan's interview with Dahm, the man looking to pass legislation "that will strengthen Second Amendment rights," and for the next edition of "Piers Morgan Live," watch CNN every night at 9.
» Follow "Piers Morgan Live" on Twitter
» Follow "Piers Morgan Live" on Instagram
the one thing that was said I hope ever one walks away with. when the senator told Morgan, Morgan didn't understand what a right was. He is from a country where they still have classes, and rights are not what you think were right's. He thinks like most Kings do keep the people from reading and they will never stand up for them self's. we never had a King and so this kind of thinking is up setting to us. But for him to say we need to class our people them that are nuts and them that are not. they have upper class lower class. so this person wishes to come here for he has picked out country to wish to live in. But he is not happy that he doesn't have the King making the rules to keep ever one save like kids. so he wishes to bring that in to our country. are rights are being taken by men like this man. we must see it. don't sign away your bill of rights.
England isn't run by the Queen. Its run by Parliament which is just as untrustworthy as Congress.
I was born in Oklahoma and still live here. I happen to live in the most liberal city in Oklahoma ~ Norman. I do NOT agree with anything Mr. Dahm had to say on your show. I can not imagine majority of Oklahomans would agree with his theory. It is difficult to be a blue girl in a red state 😉 I do always want to convey, that although liberals get out voted in Oklahoma – we do exist! I hate the giant generalization regarding Oklahoma residents... and people like Mr. Dahm who should not speak for the state don't help the situation.
Jane, if you were to get out of the city and explore the rural parts of Ok your would understand what the senator is talking about. I know this bill will pass, just as 90% of all pro gun-related issues do in Oklahoma.
Piers got blasted on this interview. He lost control when he let the senator explain. All men between 18-69 is considered militia. In which means every able man. Piers dobt understand forcing the queens views
Down americans throat doesn't work. Every since they lost control of their slaves wordwide they believe they can get them back mentally. His aggression with the senator got him. The senator was ready
Please see my replay later on – it blasts your comments out of the water.
Nathan, your comments are just plain stupid.
It is not the Queen's view, it is the view of the civilized world.. If after 3 years Americans did not understand Piers' message, they probably never will. I am sorry to see the show closed, you were a voice of reason ...
Amazing interview, Piers stayed calm despite his evident passion on the subject of guns in America. The Senator from Oklahoma was unbelievably prepared for the barrage and delivered a compelling message on exactly why Piers' interpretation/ understanding of our rights is fundamentally incorrect. One right does not usurp another.
Your argument is invalid and your statement illogical. Please see my later post on how the Senator snookered Pier's on the concept of "militia." Dahm as Dahm-nable and Piers was not prepared to call Dahm bluff on that one, so it appears as if Dahm made a good point. He did not because he misstated the definition of "militia."
It's incredible to see such nonsense. The senator is right and in line with logic and the laws of nature, and for those who believe we have God-given rights (I call these natural rights, what we're born with until we forfeit them by committing an act of aggression against another peaceful individual). Morgan argues from many illogical standpoints. He starts off with the usual appeal to emotion. He then displays ignorance and presents a false-dichotomy. Truly absurd that anyone would walk away from listening to Morgan and not feel their intelligence has been seriously insulted by the man.
I Really am a STAUNCH Independant. I do not even know how to spell words right. I am not anti repuplican, I am just pro demacratic,though I know what the demacratic party "use to stand for". And tonight Peirs, some things I had to agree with the Senator. He really made GOOD sence. How do we know WHO is (crazy) or not. What is crazy. If you would of did ALL that you could do, WHAT would have kept that kid in Colorado from doing what he did? The problem is MUCH deeper. You can always contact me and I will give you the answer to LIFE. And also, leave the basketball player alone. He alright. Peace and Grace.
I was very impressed with Senator Dahm. His knowledge of the real issue at hand was exemplary.
Please see my comments later on. I think you will change your mind about Dahm if you are intellectually honest.
On the show tonight there was mention of a man who had lost his son to a shooter, and a question was posed as to whether this mans son had more of a right to his life than a person has to have a gun.
Imagine that my wife is home alone with your children while you are out of town. She has also been battling death for years now, and has dropped to 90 lbs and would surely die in a physical encounter with an assailant breaking into the house...
What right does anyone in this world have to tell your wife that she should not have the right to use a handgun, shotgun, AR-15, baseball bat, kitchen knife, piece of pipe, screwdriver, or anything she can possibly get her hands to defend herself and your children...
Who is anyone, politician or otherwise, to determine whether your wife is perfectly capable of defending herself against an armed assailant in your home rolling through the door with a gun, a baseball bat, a crowbar, a knife, their bare hands, or whatever else they see fit to bring to the table? The answer is that no one has that right.
People who die from shootings, car accidents with drunk drivers, knife attacks, fist fights, etc have just as much a right
to live as do your wife and children. And, people have the right to defend themselves with the means they see necessary. Teach people to value life, teach people to love and care about EVERYONE, teach people to respect others..
My wife Piers, has been battling death for years now. She has lost a great deal of muscle mass, strength, and stamina due to her illness. It makes me sick to knowing that people are out there trying to prevent my wife from having the means to defend herself and family from harm which she chooses, or any other single woman or man for that matter, that are not capable of physically defending themselves from an assailant.
You pose a purely rare hypotheical case. Those types of arguments of all types a can be created an infinitum. They prove nothing. Should every Ameican be allow to own a AK-47, a bazooka, a surface to air missile, a tank, etc. After all, I may be down to 70 pounds and the only thing I have to save myself is my Abrams tank, if I can crawl into it and fire its weapons.
It isn't obvious that if someone values life, cares for everyone, respects others, etc that they would not be using surface to air missiles, tanks, or a bazooka etc to defend themselves against a home intruder? Stating those as you intended to show that if allowed a handgun or an AR, there is no limit to what a person should have is ridiculous given the criteria I specified.
You say the scenario is rarely "hypothtical"? Same or similiar situations can be found in the results of a single page Google search on the internet. Many of which, if not all, did not involve escalations to tanks or bazookas, which 5 minutes additional research would show aren't available for anyone to pickup ammo for without special federal permits.
this man does not represent american gun owners. none of his answers were intelligent or helped gun ownership. But it's not a surprise, because all the people on your show are so far right that it only helps the anti gun agenda. Pierce you keep having dangerous people (and this senator is a danger to Americans and gun owners) on your show. it only shows how far off the path we all are. true Americans are much smarter, have more character, and are more responsible than this. gun ownership is a tremendous responsibility and it is NOT a right that every American has. only the law-abiding have the right and integrity for gun ownership. stop hosting individuals like these. they are destroying what America stands for. of course responsible Americans are for background checks and doing everything possible to keep criminals and the mentally ill from getting any kind of weapon.
Knowing Senator Dahm, I would have to say he is definitely NOT a danger to America! Seriously!! His respect for life and the people of Oklahoma is so great he was voted into office. I have to respectfully say that you have a very uneducated opinion of our Senator!
Dahm is obviously a danger to himself and to others and therefore should be confined to a mental hospital under heave sedation, and prefereably given truth serum on occasion.
Very well put. I agree.
Gee thanks Nathan, great reply
"Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not" Thomas Jefferson, Third President of the United States.
Thoughts on the failure of enacting rational firearms dissemination control.
Pier's. There is a reason no meaningful progress has been made on the passage of firearms legislation in the United States, despite the polling data indication of public acceptance of such matters. The defining question has not been proffered.
This question will require editorial research as to the relation of every victim of a school and or mass shooting from a selected date to the most recent incidence. The question: Have any of the victims of lethal firearms occurrences been the relatives of any persons associated with persons holding upper management levels in the firearms/related components industry? Also have any victims been relatives of any "rabid pro- Second Amendment" members of Congress?
This question will finally reveal the depth of the emotional empathetic separation as demonstrated by some extreme ( per your definition Pier's) pro-gun guest on your show.
Yours in anticipation
Apollon Theodoros
Boston, Mass.
I don't think attacking Piers because of his British ancestry is an especially good argument. Britian today is one of America's staunchest allies and has been for at least 100 years. By relying on his background and attacking him personally shows the lack of any real defense on the part of his detractors. Pier's questions were good ones and were never answered to any real degree. Is it not more important that we prevent children from being murdered in their classrooms than everyone having the ability to be armed to the teeth is the real issue. Background
checks in the age of high capacity, readily available firearms seem's like a small price to pay for our children to be safe.
It doesn't boil down to a question of which is more important; both are non-negotiable. But arming citizens only serves to help protect our children. The one idea supports and enhances and facilitates the other. That's the entire reason so many of us are so passionate about it.
"only serves to help protect our children" you have got to be kidding? our children are being killed everyday in this country and that is with the present amount of guns. Do you honestly believe that more guns equals less children killed? I believe you are passionate, but you have got your priorities all backwards. I would just once like to see the clear eyed gun defender speak with an equal amount of passion about our children, safe from the senseless violence caused by guns. "Armed citizens" are the one's who have been pulling the triggers or have you overlooked that small but important point? Gun's don't need defending, they are inanimate objects, children need defending and I hope you can see the difference.
I want to refrain from saying anything distasteful about Mr. Morgan here, and in fact, he seems to have been uncharacteristically civil if this clip is indicative of the whole exchange. What I will say is that Senator Dahm thoroughly outclassed him in this debate by calmly expressing the logical and legal foundation of the bill. He answered Morgan's challenges with honesty and poise and refused to engage him on the false premise that the individual right to gun ownership conflicts with the individual right to life.
Piers keeps harking back to countries like Britain, that has imposed strict gun ban laws as the example to follow. While gun murders are low in Britain, what Piers doesn't point out is that Britain's overall homicide rate is higher than many of its large European neighbors. Switzerland, Germany and France are for example some of the largest gun owning nations on the planet, but yet they have overall homicide rates that are 30% lower than gun free Britain. If guns are the problem then these countries should have significantly higher homicide rates than Britain, but they don't. I think we have to look at the state of our society to find the root cause of violence, addressing the huge and growing inequality gap that exists in this nation, which is not found to the same extremes in the European countries mentioned, would go a long way to solving this problem.
Ironically everyone is exercising the free speech amendment on the interview and this forum, yet if we changed what you were permitted to say and restricted it by the government permits and background checks everyone would go crazy. People are so self serving, I don't care if you're blue, red or from the uk, no one ever wants to look at the issue. Banning stuff won't do it, gotta change the hearts of people to change the behavior. Restricting an angry person doesn't remove the anger, banning an obnoxious bully doesn't make them less of a bully, deporting an arrogant brit won't make him less arrogant. All symptoms of the heart.
Piers Morgan makes me sick– has done so ever since, within 24 hours of the Sandy Hook massacre, he chose to make two dozen dead children (not to mention the liberty and safety of MILLIONS of Americans living perfectly functional lives with Asperger's) pawns to his personal agenda.
I have been a Democrat since I turned 18 (in 1996). I've been a liberal for six or ten years more than that. I thought I always would be.
Piers Morgan and his shameless manipulation and demonization changed all that.
SHAME ON CNN for letting a piece of British paparazzi trash promote himself as a serious journalist.
I will never be able to take CNN seriously again.
How Many Armed American Citizens does it take to be defined as "The Militia" ? answer ONE
See The Minuteman Statue ..< – 100% proof of what the 2nd amendment really means.
Senator Duhm (oops Dahm) should consider moving to Florida. Stand your ground and backyard gun ranges are the norm! Kill and be killed should be our new state motto. C'mon FL legislators...do any of you have the balls to take on the NRA? Anybody know where I can buy some body armour? GRRR
This post is really a fastidious one it helps new the web people, who
are wishing for blogging.
Feel free to visit my webpage: Flowers & Florists
As a Newbie, I am permanently browsing online for articles that can help me. Thank you


text:
Before he leaped into a lifeboat in the middle of the night on April 20, Christopher Pleasant tried to trigger a deep-sea safety device to squelch the oil-well blowout and fire raging aboard the Deepwater Horizon drill rig.
In those last frantic minutes in the rig's central control room, Mr. Pleasant – a subsea superviser for Transocean, the rig's owner – pressed two buttons simultaneously to activate a 450-ton blowout preventer sitting 5,300 feet below the sea surface. If its massive "shear ram" valve closed, it would slice through the drill pipe and stop the torrent of burning gas.
For one fleeting moment, the control panel lights offered a ray of hope – showing the shear ram and other BOP valves apparently closing. Valve indicator lights flicked from green (open) to red (closed), he told federal investigators in May in New Orleans.
Yet something wasn't right. Another set of gauges just above the BOP control panel showed no hydraulic pressure at all – "no flow," he testified. Also, the fire was still burning. So, despite BOP control system lights showing the shear-ram closed, it was not.
"I knew it was time to leave," Pleasant testified.
No one knows yet just why the rig's BOP did not work – or why the device's hydraulic-electric control system gave Pleasant the wrong readings. That mystery won't be solved unless the BOP is pulled off the sea floor months from now. But when the Obama administration on Monday issued a revised offshore drilling moratorium in the Gulf, it cited fresh concerns about the reliability of BOP control systems as one reason for its action.
Indeed, more than a year before Pleasant's frantic efforts to stop an inferno, a large study of BOP reliability in the Gulf of Mexico had warned industry experts and federal safety officials that balky control systems were by far the most common cause of BOP failure – and apparently getting worse.
Altogether, 63 percent of blowout preventer test failures cited in that 2009 study, a joint effort by the industry and the regulatory US Minerals Management Service (MMS), involved control systems. By contrast, a similar study a decade earlier had found control systems were responsible for 51 percent of BOP failures.
Control systems are vulnerable to leaks
Blowout preventer control systems are hydraulic and electrical units housed in two waterproof pods – the electronic brains of the school-bus-size BOP stacks. The pods – one blue, one yellow – are identical systems, each a backup for the other. Hydraulic and electrical conduits run from the rig deck above the ocean's surface to the pods on the sea floor.
But these control systems, many of them newer-generation units activated by microprocessors, are vulnerable to leaks and failures that can render a BOP useless, according to the closely held study, first reported by the Monitor.
Those microprocessor-based, or "multiplex," control systems enable BOPs to respond in an instant to an electrical signal from the rig – a rate much faster in deep water than that of older, hydraulic-only systems. But there is a downside, too.
"These systems are newer within the industry and thus efforts to improve reliability have not been as extensive," the 2009 study found. They "are much more complex, with more subsea components."
Because the newer systems "have electrical and electronic components in the water; leaks are more likely to have significant consequences in these systems," the report warned. After noting that hydraulic fluid may leak to the sea in some circumstances, the report states: "Leaks in electrical systems can be expected to render them inoperative."
It was not the first such warning. A smaller 1999 study of BOP reliability in the Gulf had warned that "a single leakage can jeopardize complete BOP control."
But the big new 2009 study, funded by the industry and the MMS, was focused on finding ways to cut the cost of BOP safety testing – with potential savings of about $193 million annually, the study's prospectus estimated.
In fact, the study authors – West Engineering Services, a Texas consulting firm specializing in BOP technology – did recommend that the MMS relax its standards concerning how often to test several subsea BOP components. The study, for instance, recommended a reduced schedule for pressure testing of some BOP valves, from at least once every 14 days to once every 35 days. It recommended testing the shear ram valve just once in 77 days instead of once in 30 days. (See related story.)
Emphasis on testing control systems
But because control systems were found to be the part of the BOP most susceptible to failure, the report recommended no change to rules for testing control systems: at least once a week.
"It is important to understand and focus on the fact that control system failures are the most likely category of failures on subsea BOP equipment," the authors wrote. "Even though control systems seem to have the larger margin of failures, due to redundancy there were not any cases where a control system failure would have compromised the well control abilities."
While the control system failure rates may be accurate, the study's conclusions are questionable, some industry veterans say.
Leaks of hydraulic fluid in deep water are the bane of BOP control systems and need more, not less, oversight, says Robert Bea, an engineer at the University of California at Berkeley who was a chief engineer for Shell Oil for 18 years and an expert reviewer for President Obama's recent 30-day safety study on offshore drilling.
The BOP hydraulic lines of the Deepwater Horizon were leaking, according to the drill logs, he says.
"It's like the brakes on your car. Those brakes get mushy when there's a leak," Dr. Bea says. "At some point they just won't work. With a BOP, you don't need much of a leak for that control system's hydraulics to fail."
The complexity of newer BOP control systems makes them vulnerable, says another BOP engineer who asked not to be named because he is still active in the industry. "The biggest problem with a BOP is the control system," he says. "If a BOP has maybe 50 parts, then its control system has 500 parts. Many of them are vulnerable to water leaks."
As part of the Deepwater Horizon's last line of defense, a "dead man's switch" in the BOP unit was supposed to trigger the shear ram, if both electrical and hydraulic communications with the rig were lost. But this system failed, too.
"We already know one of the battery pods [providing power to the BOP control system] was dead," Bea says. "The other one was functional. But you have this system designed for redundancy, and because of neglected maintenance it is no longer redundant. It's like going parachuting, but without a backup chute. We were relying on this BOP like a parachute – and when it came time, the backup didn't work."
'The problem child'
The study shows that industry representatives reviewing the findings wrestled with their meaning and sought clarification about the vulnerability of control systems on BOPs. In an appendix to the 2009 study, unidentified industry officials commented on control system failures and asked the consultant about it.
"What's being said [in the report] is that the control system is the problem child in the system, but redundancy is the savior?" the industry officials commented.
"Yes, control systems are the problem and redundancy is the savior," the authors responded.
Officials at West Engineering did not return Monitor e-mails or phone calls. MMS officials, along with the Department of Interior, responded to e-mailed questions but refused requests for an interview.
Asked if the MMS had changed, or considered changing, its testing frequency for control systems, MMS said: "No, MMS has always required operators to function test annular and ram BOPs every 7 days between pressure tests."
The MMS added that the 2009 study "is not an MMS study" and therefore the high frequency of control system failures was "proprietary" information that never became part of the agency's safety research program data.
But key people at MMS did know of the control system problem. The agency provided funding for the study, several industry experts told the Monitor. Moreover, a prospectus for the study and the study itself both refer to a close partnership between BP, at least eight other oil companies, and the MMS.
Three senior MMS officials are listed in the study as involved and raising questions about it: Lars Herbst, regional director of the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region; William Hauser, chief of the Regulations and Standards Branch, and Kirk Malstrom, an agency petroleum engineer. The Interior Department, which is coordinating media requests for the MMS during its reorganization, did not grant requests to interview those MMS officials. In review comments on the report, MMS officials asked questions about rig performance, failure detection, and a few other issues. None questioned the report's central finding: the high rate of control system failures.
"This sort of touch-and-feel evolutionary approach to loosening testing standards is not good engineering," says Bea, who has read the study. "I would never want to fly on an aircraft whose safety margins are regulated this way."
Paul Helfer, a former senior engineer with BOP-maker Cameron International, who now does consulting work in the industry, says control system standards need reexamination and a new set of testing requirements.
"It's a pretty good chore to ensure a control system works and stays working," he says. "That has to include some serious testing."


text:
Mallard Duck Vintage Sign Flask
Mallard Duck Vintage Sign Flask from the Bar accessories collection by American Expedition. Our Stainless Steel Hip Flasks are a great men's gift. Each flask measures 3 3/4" x 4 1/2" and has a capacity of six ounces. They are packaged in a formed felt insert and placed in an attractive sturdy gift box along with a small funnel, used for filling. 8 ounce capacity. Stainless steel construction. Secure screw-on lid. Steel funnel for easy filling of the flask. Hand-wash only... Do not microwave. American Expedition products make great home or lodge decorating gifts for the outdoor wildlife sportsman.
- Item #: STFL-419
- Brand: American Expedition
- Category: Flasks
- Color: Multicolor
- Size: 8 oz
- Pattern: Mallard Duck; Duck
- Material: Steel; Metal
Mallard Duck Vintage Sign Flask


text:
Here you will find a compilation of videos that showcase various local businesses.
City of Manassas Stronger Together Video Series
What Others Have to Say
Benten Technologies chose the City of Manassas as its corporate HQ because of the affordability, location, and ability to engage on a personal level with elected officials and staff. The City actively recruited our small business and remains engaged with our company and we have had a wonderful experience!
Tony Ma President, Benten Technologies
During our site selection and buildout phases, the City of Manassas provided us with exceptionally responsive and positive support. We dealt with a handful of people as opposed to dozens who we would have worked with from a county or large municipality. The support didn't stop there. Recently, Manassas and the Commonwealth of Virginia provided us with Governor's Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund grant for $50,000 to help us with our plant expansion. Those funds will help us triple our manufacturing capability, add jobs, and grow our startup venture. We will tell anyone who asks -- Manassas is a great place to do business!
The City of Manassas has been home to the Micron Technology Virginia Fab for the past 15 years and, through good times and bad, the city has been an excellent partner. We've had great support as we've expanded the business over the years and on community outreach programs. We look forward to continuing the relationship for years to come.
Carson Henry F6 Fab Director, Micron Technologies
The Prince William Chamber of Commerce represents over 1,200 businesses in the City of Manassas, Manassas Park and Prince William County. We are proud to call the City of Manassas a partner in success. They have very clearly made it a priority to cultivate a pro-business climate, and that energy has radiated out of City Hall, down Center Street and out to the City's borders. The proof is in the numerous ribbon cuttings held for new and expanding businesses in Manassas over the last two years. Speaking for the local business community, we would say that the City of Manassas is a great place to do business.
Debbie Jones President & CEO, Prince William Chamber
We, at Shining Sol Candle Company, didn't have to think twice when the opportunity presented itself to launch our first retail location in the City of Manassas. There's a sense of community in the City that a lot of the hustle-bustle areas of Northern Virginia lack. The City of Manassas could not have been more accommodating and we have nothing but kudos for everything they have done for us, and continue to do, and we look forward to what the future holds for us both.
Deron Blevins Shining Sol Candle Company


text:
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
News for the Last Week of 2010
In the order I discovered them:
TV Guide's interview with Misha. Nothing really new, but he's as funny and adorable as ever.
I'm not sure if we mentioned this before, but Richard Speight Jr. is on Twitter as @dicksp8jr. He calls us "Twicksters." How adorable is that? :) He provided a link toPepsi Max behind the scenes and Snoop Dogg's Christmas story, featuring Richard.
I think this is the same promo we saw at the end of the last episode, but just in case you didn't see it...
Check out Spoiler TV's2010 awards. Supernatural won best returning show! Jensen Ackles won best lead actor in a drama, and Misha Collins came in 3rd for best guest star.
For some info (read: spoilers) on the show's return, and a clip from episode 6.12, check outTV Overmind.
The BIG NEWS (or rumor): Dawn Ostroff is reportedly leaving The CW when her contract is up in June. First article I saw was this one from The New York Post. Official word is expected next month. What will this mean for Supernatural, reportedly an Ostroff favorite?
When I prepared this, Supernatural was LOSING to Community over at the E! Online poll. WTF?! Voting continues through tomorrow 11:00 PST.
Posted by Natalie J. Damschroder at 12:01 AM 2 comments
Labels: CW, Dawn Ostroff, jensen ackles, Misha Collins, Richard Speight Jr., Spoiler
Thursday, December 23, 2010
We Can Beat Community!!!
Supernatural is up against Community in EW's Best Show of the Year. Vote!
Posted by MJFredrick at 6:48 PM 1 comments
Posted by MJFredrick at 6:56 AM 2 comments
Monday, December 20, 2010
Slow News Day
But I found this one, that as a San Antonio native, I thought was fun.
Posted by MJFredrick at 12:20 AM 2 comments
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Surviving the Hellatus
It used to be—or at least it seemed to me—that the hellatus mainly applied to Supernatural. I could get through it because, as long and lonely as the six to eight weeks off in midseason are, that wasn't universal. The other TV shows I watch used to be all staggered. Some started late in the season, so they went longer. Early cancellations mean shows finish out their run, maybe when they normally would have gone into repeats, and new shows premiere early.
1. Spend time with out-of-town family!
My brother, sister-in-law, and three-year-old nephew are coming to town for a few days next week. That will fill a few evenings! :)
2. Finally catch up on The Event.
I like Sean. (I think that's his name.) I want to see why he's such a target. Otherwise, there isn't another character on the show I really care about. That's the main thing missing. On FlashForward, I cared about almost everyone, even when they were bad. Anyway, I'm six or seven episodes behind at this point, so I'll have time to catch up.
For the first time, I'll be watching a Doctor Who Christmas special live, or close to it. He's smack in the middle of the Supernatural hellatus, and will be a welcome diversion.
4. Catch up on other shows
I'm mostly caught up, but Undercovers piled up a little, and there are a few shows I watch with my husband that we haven't been coordinated for.
5. Return of Leverage
Leverage only has three episodes, but that's an evening and a half covered! :)
I wasn't too excited about this when I first read the synopsis back in May. But Summer Glau has a regular role, as does someone else I read that I now can't remember or find. Huh. Anyway, loving an actor doesn't make a show worth watching (Ref. No Ordinary Family), but it makes it worth trying. :)
8. Rewatch Season 5
I usually start at the beginning and rewatch all the seasons during the summer, but I started late this year, and ran out of time before this season began. I'm through season 4. Season 5 will keep me from going into withdrawal. :) Rewatching every episode so many times might seem excessive, but I love seeing little things—lines, actions, symbols—that feed into what goes on down the line, whether they were intentional at the time or not. Like Dean talking about the hole inside him after hell, and how that connects to Sam's decision not to seek his soul's return.
9. Put Netflix to its intended use
I had the DVD for Love and Basketball for more than three months before I watched it. I've been a little better with Entourage. After that, I really don't know what's in my queue. I'll try to burn through a lot of disks and Wii streaming during the break. Boost my stats for 2010 and get a good start to 2011.
10. Reading
I never stop, but during hiatus, I'll spend more evenings just reading, a cup of hot cocoa at my side and a kitty on my lap.
11. Okay, okay, I'll probably write, too.
After four years of working at home, I had my day structured nicely, and evenings were always for relaxing. Now that I have an outside day job plus freelance work into the early evening, my brain decides I'm done around dinner time. Writing late is problematic. But if I have no TV enticing me to just lie down on the couch and chill, maybe I'll increase the word count on my works in progress.
How about you? What will you fill this hellatus with?
Posted by Natalie J. Damschroder at 12:01 AM 2 comments
Labels: Doctor Who, Hiatus, Netflix
Monday, December 13, 2010
No news?
I scoured through some Google Alerts (and, dude, a few of them were flat messed up) but found precious little news to report--maybe because of the hiatus and approaching holidays. Have you guys heard anything new you'd like to share with fellow fans?
In personal news, my younger sister just had a baby boy. But she totally rejected my suggestions to name him Dean, Sam or Cass. (Sheesh, I was just trying to be helpful!)
Posted by Anonymous at 7:43 AM 5 comments
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Appointment in Samarra
The episode opens with the Impala pulling in front of a Chinese food market. Inside, Dean is directed to a back hallway where Freddy Kruger greets him by name! Okay, he's actually Dr. Robert and he's stitched up Dean's daddy more times than he can count. Money changes hands and Dean is noticeably nervous. If something goes wrong he wants a letter mailed to Benjamin Braeden, not Sam. Okay, just what the heck is Dean there for? He looks perfectly fine. The doc's assistant, Eva, who looks like someone out of Kat Von D's tatt shop, unceremoniously shoves an IV into Dean's arm. Biatch! Doc then administers an injection and tells Dean he's got 3 minutes.______ Flatline_____. The doc freakin' killed Dean! After peering at his lifeless body, Dean's spirit walks down to the shop and calls out for Tessa, our favorite reaper. Dean wants to talk to her boss. Death promptly shows up. Hmm, he showed up awfully quick and willingly. Dean asks the creepy old dude to get both of his bros outta Hell. Death tells him to pick one. Naturally, Dean picks Sam. Death warns him Sammy's soul will be "Flayed to the raw nerve." Dean wants to know if Death can hack the hell part out. Back in Kruger's clinic, paddles shock Dean's heart. Death tells Dean he can't erase Sam's hell, but he can put it behind a wall in his memory. Tessa warns it's not permanent. In exchange for retrieving Sam's soul Death wants Dean to put his ring on and be him for one day. Take the ring off before the 24 hours is up and Dean won't get back Sam's soul. Why does Death want Dean to do take over for a spell? Because…GASP…Dean comes back to life and we don't get the answer.
Dean tells Sam and Bobby his brilliant plan. Predictably, Sam isn't happy and Bobby wants to know what the catch is. Sam says he doesn't want to take the deal because it's not a permanent solution and he could still end up as pudding. He takes off in a huff, presumably to wrap his head around things. Instead he goes looking for Death's ring. Sneaky Sam. Dean catches him and swears he won't let anything bad happen to him. Sam says fine, he'll trust Dean. Big bro doesn't buy it—neither do I— and tells Bobby to keep an eye on him.
Dean slips the ring on. Tessa pops in and lays out the rules for his new job. She's got a list. Dean will touch those meant to die. She'll reap them. Easy peasy. Don't go getting any other ideas. Riiiight. This is Dean we're talking about.
Elsewhere, Sam's calling on Balthazar. Uh oh. This can't be good. Sam wants to know what he can do to keep his soul out forever. Really, I can't say I blame him. Who wants to cope with that kind of damage? But at the same time we all want our Sammy back. Balthazar says he'll help Sam for free, just to screw with Dean and put Sam in his debt. To stay soulless Sam needs to scar his vessel by committing patricide. Since his dad is gone a father figure will do. Eep!
A punk robs a convenience store, threatening to kill the owner's little boy. The father draws a gun from under the cash register and shoots the robber. Dean is all too happy to see the punk off to hell, even allowing for a little extra suffering. Next comes an overweight man chowing down on pizza. Heartattack hits. When he asks Dean "what it all means?" Dean responds with an unsatisfactory, but hilarious "everything is dust in the wind." Next Dean faces down a 12-year-old girl with a heart condition. She's in the hospital with her single father. Dean says there's no way he's killing her. Tessa argues with him, but he says he's Death so it's his choice. The girl's heart then miraculously heals. How's that going to backfire?
Meanwhile, Sam returns to Bobby's. They play a poker game, but there's some very tense subtext going on as they watch each other warily over the cards. Bobby offers Sam a beer and when he reaches into the fridge to get the bottle Sam grabs something out of a toolbox and tries to clobber Bobby who in turns grabs a pipe out of the fridge and clubs Sam. Ha! You gotta love that Bobby keeps a weapon in the fridge. Sam hits the floor. Bobby goes to get some rope and when he turns back Sam is gone. That's not good. Shotgun loaded, Bobby searches for Sam, saying, "let's not do anything hasty." Then—WTH?—he locks himself in a closet. Sam starts to axe through the door like Jack Nicholson and—ROTFL—Bobby says, "Don't say 'here's Johnny.'" Sam tells Bobby he's got to do this and he shouldn't have cornered himself. Bobby says he didn't and pulls a trap door trigger that sends Sam dropping to the basement. Ah, that makes more sense. The surrogate father and his soulless son talk through a "reinforced steel core, titanium kick plates" door that Sam can't break down no matter how hard he tries. Sam finally explains that he doesn't want his thrashed soul back in him and a spell cast with Bobby's blood will ensure that doesn't happen. He believes Dean just wants his little brother Sammy back at all costs and he'll kill "Sam" to get that other guy back. Bobby tries to reason with him, but it suddenly gets very quiet. Bobby bravely goes down to the basement to find that Sam's escaped through a grate in the panic room. Why would there be an escape route like that?
Back at the hospital the butterfly effect kicks in. Because Dean let the young girl live her nurse was sent home early. She in turn got into a car accident being somewhere she wouldn't have otherwise been and she needs the heart surgeon that's no longer there. Dean takes the nurse so he won't start another chain reaction, but she was meant to live for many more decades and have children and grandchildren. Tess then tells Dean he has to restore the natural order of things and also take the girl he spared, the girl who is now happily planning a vacation with her father. As Dean watches out a window he sees the dead nurse's husband leaving a pub drunk and climbing behind the wheel.
Bobby goes searching for Sam in the junkyard. Geesh, psycho Sammy is making me jumpy. And thwack, the idjit knocks Bobby's out.
Dean has hopped into the car with the grieving husband. The guy is clearly on a suicide mission, speeding up and trying to plow into a bus. Dean tries to shout warnings, but the guy can't hear. Dean yanks off the ring and steers the guy clear of death, saving the guy's life and costing Sam his chance at having a soul. Now Dean better hurry and help Bobby. But wait, he feels like he has to clear up unfinished business. He returns to the hospital with Tessa and kills the young girl. He figures no one really skates by and now agrees there's a natural order to things, even if that is stupid.
Sam's got Bobby bound to a chair in the basement. And even though Bobby pleads for his life, Sam is getting ready to stab him to death when Dean shows up and punches his lights out. Let me go on record now as saying that I officially hate soulless Sam.
An unconscious Sam's now handcuffed to a cot in the panic room. As Dean looks at him through the peep hole he tells Bobby he can't keep doing this anymore. What's he going to do keep tying Sam up everytime he tries to kill someone? Poor guy doesn't know what to do anymore. And neither does Bobby. So sad. Sam opens his eyes and I find myself hoping Death gave him back his soul because Dean went back and killed that young girl when he didn't have to.
Nope. Dean goes back upstairs and Death's waiting for him at the dining table. Guy really seems to like food. Dean confesses that he sucked at being Death. Death says Dean got a rare look behind the curtain. "The human soul is not irreparable. It's vulnerable, impermanent, but stronger than you know. And more valuable than you can imagine." Hmm, where are we going with this? Whoa! Death is going to retrieve Sam's soul because, although he and Dean keep coming back and disrupting the natural order of things on a global scale, they're on to something with their investigations…something having to do with souls. Dean asks him Death last question. Will the wall really work? About 75%, he answers.
Down in the panic room Death gets ready to reinstall Sam's soul. He says he's going to put a wall up and it'll itch, but Sam shouldn't scratch at it because he won't like what happens if he does. As Dean and Bobby watch on, Sam begs not to have his soul replaced. It's sad to watch, but the way he ignored Bobby's pleas makes me less sympathetic. The episode ends with him screaming as we—fingers crossed—get our Sammy back.
Whew! I'm glad we're going into the hellatus (Show returns Jan. 28) on a hopeful note. I thought this was a great episode, but missed the sharp one-liners. Weren't too many of those. However, I won't miss Soulless Sam. The moment he tried to kill Bobby he crossed an unforgiveable line. Are you glad to see Soulless Sam go and how long do you think it'll be before Sammy scratches that itch?
Posted by Anonymous at 9:24 PM 3 comments
Labels: appointment in samarra, Episode Review, Supernatural
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Castiel and What the Heck's Going on in Heaven?
My husband started talking about Castiel over breakfast the other morning. My husband has become a fan over the last two seasons, even watching without me :)
Posted by MJFredrick at 6:16 AM 2 comments
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
This Just In!
Remember all that voting everyone did for the TV Guide cover? Well, guess what? Supernatural won!
I'm not sure how I feel about the cover. I mean, how often do we see a sky that blue on the show? But there's a fun video of the photo shoot, with interviews with the guys.
And our show gets its profile raised at a pretty critical time. You know, when it goes on hellatus. *sigh*
So what do you think?
Posted by Natalie J. Damschroder at 6:09 AM 5 comments
Labels: Supernatural, TV Guide
Monday, December 6, 2010
Supernatural News
Oh, don't those Winchesters ever learn? One of them is making a deal on the mid-season finale this Friday, in the episode titled "Appointment in Samarra." Check out the details here.
A few tidbits of Jared talking about Sam's missing soul.
Ever wonder what some of the former writers for Supernatural are up to? Find out here.
Posted by Trish Milburn at 12:01 AM 0 comments
Labels: Supernatural, Supernatural News
Friday, December 3, 2010
"Caged Heat" Recap and Impressions
Good evening, and welcome to Machiavelli's Supernatural.
First off, let me confess. I'm coming off three nights in a row averaging 4.5 hours of sleep. My work schedule this week was enough to leave me in tears. Tonight, my husband's company Christmas party meant I'm closing in on midnight. Put it all together, and it leaves me with a pretty sluggish brain. I just finished watching "Caged Heat." My intention was to watch it a second time, recapping and commenting. I mean, there were so many great lines in this episode! But I don't know if I can make it through another hour. So I'm going to stick with random impressions of the biggest stuff. I encourage (read: beg) you all to load the comments with all the stuff I miss!
Funniest Bits
"We're not supposed to talk about it."
Okay, maybe in the midst of a war he's losing, being pressured to help Sam and Dean with some pretty serious stuff, it's a bit of a stretch that Cas would be distracted by porn. But then again, he's kind of in a human body, he was almost completely human for a while, and even soldiers in real wars take breaks. So that whole scene killed me. I was really glad I wasn't watching with my daughter, though, when the boner line came up. (Ha!)
Extend that to the kiss with Meg. Poor, naive Castiel, thinking with his downstairs brain and letting a demon take his angel knife. Looks like his return kiss was pretty potent, though.
The Ends Justify the Means
I think Machiavelli might have been a little tame compared to these guys. Sam and Dean work with demon Meg, who works with angel Castiel, to try to take down Crowley. Sam bites into his own vein to bleed ink and make a devil's trap. Dean once again uses the "owe me" card to get Cas to help them, uncaring of what's going on in heaven. And Samuel...Samuel sells out his grandchildren, something Dean just can't fathom.
What else falls into this category?
That's a lot of ugly means.
Relative Complexity
Sera Gamble et al have proven to be as unreliable (or deliberately misleading) as Eric Kripke when it comes to describing the show. We were told it was back to monster of the week, but that has been weak at best, the monsters serving only to feed the main storyline. They talked about exploring the Campbell side of the family, learning about hunting generationally, getting to know Grandpa. That was disingenuous at best.
But I'm not complaining. I'm kind of loving how this has developed. Dean never really trusted Samuel. Sam seemed to put all his trust in him, just because he's family. In retrospect, we can say maybe it was that simple, but in a logical, rather than emotional way. I was annoyed that Dean was so oblivious to Samuel's motivations. I thought it was obvious Crowley either had Deanna or Mary, though Samuel actually succumbed to promise rather than threat. Crowley wasn't saying he'd harm Mary, just promised to bring her back. I can understand Samuel wanting that, but being willing to serve a demon indefinitely, for such an ephemeral promise?
I know to Samuel, Mary is 17 (or however old she was), a child, rather than the adult she really was when she was killed. So he's operating from a different perspective than Dean has. To Dean, Mary has always been a powerful figure, despite the way she was taken, and despite the things he later learned. And Samuel saying Dean's a stranger, being willing to sacrifice Mary's sons to bring her back, even knowing there's no way she'd welcome that kind of outcome...well, it says a lot about what kind of man he's become.
NOOOOOOOOO! Not Crowley!
Okay, Crowley had become detestable. Not just an "oooh, I love to hate him!" character, but an antagonist with too much power, too much threat, doing too much damage to our boys. But I was still unprepared for what happened. At first, when Meg stepped into the devil's trap, I was all, "It's time for Crowley to die. But he can't die. They won't kill such a delicious character." (Ha! What show have *I* been watching for five and a half years?!) I was pretty sure they'd find a way for him to wiggle out of this. And sure enough, he got the best of Meg pretty quickly. And then along comes smoty Cas, with dem bones, and with a flick of the wrist (or a snap of the finger?), Crowley's toast. Or maybe roast.
RIP, Crowley. And thank you, Mark Sheppard.
Random question: Did anyone else think that demon looked like Kurt Evans, the actor who played Henricksen's partner, Carl Reidy? I'm talking about the demon who took the rugaru from Sam and Dean in the beginning.
The Sam Problem
Way to up the stakes, Supernatural writer's room! It was bad enough that Sam was wrong. Horrible that he has no soul, and completely gone is the compassionate, sensitive, puppy-dog Sammy who I was completely convinced was not capable of going dark side. This is 100% Dark Side Sammy, and it was hard seeing him thinking he didn't want his soul back, didn't want the conscience getting in the way, and suffering all the...suffering that Dean said was what life was all about.
Can it get any worse than this? Dark Side Sammy is unendurable. Unacceptable, given the preview (more on that later). But, yeah, it can get worse. How about a tortured, mutilated soul that Sam-the-meatsuit might not be able to tolerate or survive?
"When angels and demons agree? Call me crazy, but I'm inclined to listen."
This twist is solid and logical and fully motivates Sam's choice to walk away from the goal. The part of me missing Puppy-Dog!Sammy hates it. The writer in me, and the fan fascinated by a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, thinks it's genius.
A quick glimpse at next week...
Death's back! Awesome!
Robert Englund! Fantastic!
Death wants Dean to take over? Freakin' fabulous!
Sam wants to kill Bobby! WHAT?!
Is it next week yet?
Posted by Natalie J. Damschroder at 11:38 PM 9 comments
Labels: Episode Review


text:
I do love a glut. But then, too many plums, or tomatoes or whatever, loaded into bowls on the kitchen table makes most cooks positively gleeful. After all, that's the best of seasonal eating – gorging oneself when it's plentiful, then doing without till next year.
Of course, it's the gardeners and allotment growers who get the best of it. Living in the inner city, I've no garden to speak of and I'm too feckless to manage an allotment, so when I'm offered bags of home-grown goodies I snatch them up with indecent greed. Even when there's none forthcoming, the local greengrocer will often have rock-bottom prices for whatever is most bountiful.
My horticultural hero is my mother-in-law, who, at well over 80, still nips nimbly over the wall to her Sheffield allotment (there's no gate) to spend her day digging and planting among the borage flowers and rampant rocket while the River Porter roars by.
I am entrusted with a little light weeding, but not the gathering – I will choose the wrong size or fail to collect the raspberries in the approved manner. Who am I to argue? Especially when I get to cook and eat the bounty, which the other weekend was a bumper harvest of two reliably prolific croppers — slender runner beans and shiny tight-skinned courgettes.
The trick with colossal quantity is to find recipes that use lots. Experiment – after all, if not now, when? Play on different textures, raw and cooked – although beware of eating too many raw runner beans, as they are mildly toxic.
Buy the smallest you can find – or pick them as small as you can bear. As long and as slender as a pencil is great for runner beans; courgettes the size of your thumb will be spectacular, no longer than your hand will still be good. There is no honour in huge pods and giant marrows, however tempting it may be to let them swell and lengthen. Save the foot-long items for the village show.
And if the glut brings out the glutton, so what? Since early man gorged on summer berries, part of our success as a species has been to binge in times of plenty. Sometimes too much is just enough.
Perfect buttered runner beans
Destring if necessary. Here's a question for the seasoned bean growers among you – do you find that the stringy varieties taste less good? (You can comment beneath this article online at telegraph.co.uk/food). There is often a play-off between flavour and convenience, but my mother-in-law's stringless runners are better than any stringy ones I've had. Hers, incidentally, are Lady Di variety and can be bought from gardenshop.telegraph.co.uk.
Slice into short lengths – tiny beans can be cooked whole.
Bring a small pan of water to the boil, adding enough salt to make it as salty as seawater. It will season the beans – they won't need extra salting, but they won't be over-salted either. They will just taste better.
Cook them until they are as soft as suits you – I like them tender rather than crisp, but not soggy or khaki coloured.
Toss in butter and serve hot, or leave to cool for a salad – in which case, use olive oil rather than butter.
Four ways with runner beans
Runner beans take well to assertive flavours and spices, so be generous.
With chorizo Cook a chopped onion, a crushed clove of garlic, a handful of chopped chorizo (ideally the raw cooking kind, but any will work) in a little olive oil until golden. Add a tin of chopped tomatoes, a fat pinch of salt and 450g/1lb sliced runner beans. Simmer, covered, for half an hour or so until tender. Sprinkle with chopped coriander and serve with yogurt and flat bread.
In a mustard dressing Whisk up a gutsy dressing of 1 tsp English mustard, 1 tsp chopped tarragon, 2 tsp wine vinegar (red for preference) and a fat pinch of salt. Whisk in 3-4 tbsp olive oil – depending how strong the vinegar is. Season with pepper and toss the boiled beans in the mix. Leave to cool then add leaves from a round lettuce and perhaps a few fat anchovies, cut in half lengthways.
With pangrattato Make crunchy, headily flavoured crumbs by frying half a teacupful of fresh breadcrumbs with a small crushed clove of garlic in a splosh of olive oil. When golden stir in the grated zest of half a lemon, a handful of chopped parsley and salt and pepper. Toss boiled runner beans in olive oil and scatter with the crumbs, squeezing over a few drops of the lemon juice too.
With poppyseed and orange Cook as above and toss in butter. Grate in the zest of a quarter of an orange and sprinkle with poppy seeds.
Four ways with courgettes
Courgettes are delicate beasts, too watery to roast successfully. Chargrill or fry them instead, or eat them raw in a salad.
Polenta and chilli Mix half a cup of polenta with a pinch of salt, 3 tbsp grated Parmesan and a finely chopped chilli (how hot is up to you). Slice 2-3 courgettes at a deep angle then dip in beaten egg and coat in polenta. Heat olive oil about as deep as a pound coin in a pan and fry the slices on both sides until golden. Eat while still almost too hot too hold, with a glass of fino sherry.
Carpaccio with mint Shave courgettes lengthways with a vegetable peeler, and spread the curling, paper-thin slices on a plate. Sprinkle with sea salt crystals (Maldon, Cornish or Halen Mon are the ones to look for) and dot with broad-bean-sized dollops of Greek yogurt. Trickle over your best olive oil.
Chargrilled with edamame Slice 2 courgettes lengthways as thick as a pound coin. Brush with olive or sesame oil and chargrill (or grill) until patched with dark brown on both sides. Cut diagonally into 1in/3cm slices and mix with a handful of defrosted edamame peas (find them in the freezer cabinet of large supermarkets) and a double handful of rocket. Dress with 3 tbsp olive oil mixed with 1 tbsp soy sauce and a dash of rice or cider vinegar, and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.
With butter and dill Grate 2lb/900g courgettes coarsely and mix with 1 tsp of fine salt. Leave to drain in a sieve for an hour, then squeeze dry in a tea towel, twisting to make a tightly packed ball of courgette. Heat 2 tbsp butter in large pan until foaming, add the courgettes, breaking them up. Cook until well hot through. Chop a small bunch of dill and mix in. Serve hot with, for example, grilled lamb.


text:
What's the magic combination in Regen to create portable directories for Saves, SRAM, Cheats, etc.?
Because by default, Regen links the directory locations to where you ran it for the first time, i.e. "C:\S3K\Saves", and none of the portable combinations I've tried so far have worked.
I've tried:
.\ (Which worked in Gens)
Does anyone know the right one? And if there isn't portable directory support at all, can AamirM please add it?
I discovered the problem. "\" works, but you need to have the Main Regen Folder in the line, like this: "\S3K\Saves". It's still portable though, so I'm happy.
Portable Directories
AamirM's Regen forum
Moderator: AamirM
Post Reply
1 post • Page 1 of 1
- Newbie
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sun Feb 01, 2009 5:47 pm
Post Reply
1 post • Page 1 of 1


text:
11 Words That Don't Mean What They Sound Like
1. Bodkin must mean "little body." Didn't Hamlet say something about a "bare bodkin"? He did. But he was talking about taking the "not to be" option, ending his suffering with a bodkin, or dagger. (Origin unknown.)
2. Crapulous sounds cruddy. After all if Bart Simpson uses craptastic to mean the opposite of fantastic, crapulous must be the opposite of fabulous; right? Wrong. It means "characterized by gross excess in drinking or eating" or "hung over." (From Latin crapula, "inebriation," and Greek kraipalē, "drunken headache.")
3. Crepuscular refers not to an oozing skin ailment but to twilight or to creatures active at twilight, like bats, mosquitoes, and vampires. (Mid 17th cent.: from Latin crepusculum, meaning "twilight.")
4. Formication may sound sexy, but it means "an abnormal sensation as of ants creeping over the skin." (From Latin formīcāre, meaning "to crawl like ants.")
5. Funambulist sounds like it should be the driver of an ambulance decorated with happy faces, but it's actually a tightrope walker. (From Latin fūnambul-us—fūn-is, "rope," plus ambul-āre, "to walk'" plus the -ist suffix, "designating a person who practices some art or method.")
6. Fungible sounds like it describes a squishy, spongy fungus, but it's a legal term describing goods or money that can replace or be replaced by equivalent items. (From medieval Latin fungibilis; from fungi, meaning "perform, enjoy," with the same sense as fungi vice, "serve in place of." It's not related to fungus, which is related to sponge.)
7. Noisome doesn't mean noisy, but stinky or otherwise disagreeable or offensive. (From the obsolete late Middle English word noy, a shortened form of annoy, plus -some, an adjective-forming suffix.)
8. Nugatory sounds creamy and delicious but it means unimportant, of no value or useless; futile. (From Latin nugatorius; from nugari "to trifle"; from nugae, or "jests.")
9. Pulchritude sounds like the ineptness exhibited by a lurching klutz, but it's a highfalutin word for "beauty." (From Latin pulchritūdō, "beauty" by way of Middle French.)
10. Plethora may sound like an ancient Greek musical instrument, but it means an excess of something. When it entered English in the mid 16th century, it was a medical term for an excess of a bodily fluid, particularly blood. Although modern medicos have given up leech therapy, plethora is still used to mean an excessive volume of blood. (Via late Latin from Greek plēthōrē, and from plēthein, meaning "be full.")
11. Callipygian sounds like a bird with a suntan and a laid-back attitude, but it means "having shapely buttocks." (From Greek kallipūgos, which was used to describe a famous statue of Venus, and from kallos, or "beauty," and pūgē, or "buttocks," plus -ian.)
Sources: Oxford English Dictionary Online, New Oxford American Dictionary (Second Ed.), The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (Fifth ed.)


text:
| 6.7°C Belfast
Criminals who kill police or prison officers in the course of duty are to face whole-life jail sentences.
Changes to the law by the Ministry of Justice will mean judges will start by considering a whole-life tariff when deciding the sentence for killing either a police or prison officer in the course of their duty, up from the current starting point of a 30-year minimum term
Judges would retain the discretion to determine the appropriate sentence in each case - a whole life term will not be mandatory.
There have been 13 direct killings of police officers in the course of duty since 2000 - including the murder of Pcs Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes by one-eyed Dale Cregan in Greater Manchester, who was handed a whole-life tariff.
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said: " Police officers play a vital role in keeping communities safe. As has been tragically demonstrated in recent years, this role is a dangerous one which can lead to officers paying the ultimate price while serving their community.
"On a daily basis, prison officers are also asked to protect the public by dealing with violent offenders and standing in the way of criminals in order to keep the peace.
"It is essential that police and prison officers feel the full weight of the state is behind them as they fulfil their crucial duties. Changing the starting point for this offence sends a clear message that the Government supports the work that these vital public servants play."
The measure is being introduced by an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill, which is currently going through Parliament.
Most recently, PC Andrew Duncan, 47, was hit by a car in Sutton, south London, while checking vehicle speeds in September.
Gary Cody admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed for eight and a half years.
Other measures in the Bill include making criminals contribute towards costs of running the courts by imposing a new charge at point of conviction.
The Bill will also int roduce a new offence with a punishment of up to two years in prison for criminals who go on the run while serving the non-custodial element of their sentence.
Other changes will bring an end to the automatic half-way point release for criminals convicted of rape or attempted rape of a child, or serious terrorism offences.