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Asian Domination of Badminton
I wrote this article in a local publication, "Inquirer Badminton", when I was covering the 2005 MVP Cup (Asia vs Europe) and I thought of sharing it with you guys (enjoy!):
Asian Domination
By Vip Malixi
This coming MVP Cup, there'll be a 'Man bites dog' situation: Asia is actually favored to win over Europe. Despite Europe's tall players, economic muscle and technological advancement, the Asian team composed of Indonesia, China, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines should prove more than a match for their European counterparts from Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, France, and England.
Just get a load of this: since the International Badminton Federation (IBF) was founded in 1934 by nine countries (none of whom were Asian), 70 percent of all IBF tournaments have been won by Indonesia and China! The premiere ladies badminton tournament, the Uber Cup, which was started in 1956 and was first won by the U.S. has never left Asian hands since 1966! The men's version, the Thomas Cup, which held its first tournament in 1949, has never been won by a non-Asian country!
It's gotten to the point that last March, former Men's Singles World No. 1 Peter Gade of Denmark complained that Asian domination of the sport was turning off spectators (maybe he thinks Western audiences were tired of their players getting clobbered). Former Women's Singles World No. 1 Susi Susanti of Indonesia reacted to this (in an interview with Jakarta's Post's Bruce Emond) by saying there was some truth to Gade's remarks: she said that yes, it was more interesting to watch a match where the players come from different countries. But she pointed out that showdowns between players from within Asia such as her rivalry with South Korea's Bang Soo Hyun and China's Ye Zhaoying were also exciting. Supporting her contention, the match between Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat and China's Lin Dan during the Sudirman Cup was indeed a nail-biter (Taufik, who lost, got his revenge by the way by winning over Lin Dan in the just completed Singapore Open). Interestingly, Susanti added that normally, Asian players would be anxious when having to face athletes from Europe and the U.S. who tended to be taller, stronger and better trained, but when it came to badminton, the situation was reversed. She said that she enjoyed playing against the Europeans because, "I knew that many of them were easily frustrated and would give up. When losing or in a pressure situation, they would commit unforced errors, so I didn't get tired playing them."
And maybe because she harbored a twinge of irritation at Gade's original remarks, she added a dig at Camilla Martin (Gade's fiance): "An example was Camilla Martin of Denmark...she was tall, but she was also agile around the court...but I always looked forward to playing her. One reason was because her style of play suited mine. The second was that her mental strength was suspect. If she made a mistake, she would get angry with herself and her consistency would fall apart...I liked her off court, but...I would sometimes smile at her on court, make fun of her a bit, because I knew she would get angry."
Well, Susanti, who was won almost every women's singles tournament there is including the Olympics, certainly has the "K" (the right) to voice her authoritative opinion though it may ruffle some European feathers.
But is that the main factor for Asians' domination over European players: mental toughness? Don't European players have access to the finest sports psychologists? the ones employed by their champion tennis players and golfers?
At badminton discussion sites across the web, most reacted to Gade's remarks by saying Asian players simply worked at badminton harder than their European counterparts. A poster named Neil Nicholls of the UK put it best: "For a country to dominate there's a bit more to it: 1) population size; 2) what percentage of the population play the sport; 3) what structure exists within the country to allow players to progress; 4) quality and availability of coaches; 5) quality and availability of opposition; 6) government support; 7) how many players are willing to put the rest of their life on hold to train hard and become the best."
Looking at Neil's points, one could say Europeans could pass items one through six with flying colors. But how about "7"? Unlike tennis and golf where reaching the top five in the world usually means fame and never-having-to-worry-about-money-ever-again type of fortune, with badminton, by European standards, you don't really get the same rewards for all your hard work and dedication. And when we talk about "dedication," we're talking about great sacrifice: no more dates, no more movies, no more eating out at restaurants or time for TV or studies--no more normal life, in other words. Look at how Jennifer Rosales reacted when she was asked if she had a boyfriend. With a disdainful smirk, she said something like: sure she could get a boyfriend, but she wouldn't be ranked as highly as she was if she had one. Yup. We're talking about serious sacrifice here. This is not about just a couple of hours a day practice, this is about having to point the headlights of your father's car down the driving range so you could keep hitting balls until your hands bled (which is what the golf great Jack Nicklaus did when he was developing his golf skills).
For some Asians, badminton is a way out of poverty. It could be one's ticket out of a life that was destined for menial labor. I don't know about China but there are hundreds of Indonesians, Thai, and Vietnamese out there who are giving the sport their blood, sweat and tears because they see it as the only credible way for a better life. So when you put two players in competition, with one player playing for prestige and honor and the other playing for their very life, who do you think will win?
Case in point is what happened in the first-ever Thomas Cup:
Sir George Alan Thomas, a white-haired wealthy baronet of Yapton with a distinguished-looking mustache, was a leading player of England from 1903 to 1927, even winning the All-England title for four years. After retiring from active competition, Sir Thomas felt that he had to leave something to the game that had given him much pleasure. So he envisaged forming a world badminton tournament similar to soccer's world cup. The IBF liked his idea and set up the officially named "International Badminton Championship Challenge Cup" that came to be known more familiarly by the title of "The Thomas Cup" to be held every three years.
Plans to hold the first ever tournament was put on hold though due to the outbreak of World War II. It was only ten years later, in 1949, that they were finally able to hold the inaugural championship. Ten countries took part, with the finals to be held in England. The United States came through from the Pan American Zone and Denmark from the European Zone. Malaya (Malaysia's old name) was in the finals as the only representative of the Pacific Zone.
The three finalists had never participated in a competition of this nature and were unaware of the relative strength of their opponents. Denmark was captained by the reigning All-England champion Joern Skaarup and the United States was headed by Dave Freeman who had an unbeaten record dating back to 1939. The Malayan team, who had to travel the long and tedious journey to England and face their first winter, were composed of unknowns in the badminton world: Wong Peng Soon, Ooi Teik Hock, Law Teik Hock, Teoh Seng Khoon, Chan Kon Leong, Yeoh Teck Chye, Lim Kee Fong and Ong Poh Lim.
First up for Malaya in the inter-zonal final was the United States and they were not given much of a chance. The US's Freeman was a magician of the game and was at his physical peak. With interest in the first ever championships reaching fevered pitch, thousands of people crowded the tiny Kelvin Hall where the matches were held to watch the US face Malaya. In the first day, as predicted, Freeman won his match and a point for the US. But unexpectedly, the other three matches were won by Malaya! Malaya was up 3-1! The press soon started raving about Malayan player Wong Peng Soon who they said was maybe as good as Freeman! An Asian? How could that be? The second day was the clincher, Malaya won over the US with the final points/matches won of 6 to 3! Next up, was the finals against the Danes!
But tragedy struck Malaya: their star player, Wong Peng Soon was forced out of the tournament due to a shoulder injury. It was up to his replacement, Law Teik Hock to face Danish captain and All-England champion, Joern Skaarup. But Hock played like a man possessed. The Malayan won 15-5, 15-0 over the great Dane (no pun intended)! Malaya ended up winning against Denmark, 8 games to 1! The Malayans, the come from nowhere underdogs, had won the first ever Thomas Cup! How did they do it? How did a sport whose rules were formalized in England and then spread around the world by European colonists end up being mastered by "the natives"? It's just a guess, but we think for the Malayans, they were playing for something other than sport. For the Malayans, who were still under British rule at the time, maybe it was a question of life.
* research for the first Thomas Cup event was based on the Sydney Olympics Official Badminton Page and the Arizona Badminton Club web page.
Unabashed plug: you can get hold of one of the best badminton instructional books at http://instructoons.com/book/
Yup, more money, more people who will devote their life to it professionally. For example, the best golfers are american, because there's huge money to be made. So if there was more money in badminton, you'll certainly see more european and american players who'd like to dedicate their lives.
Money is an incredible motivator.
Many ppl do not realize it, but the USA was once a badminton power. It started with the likes of Dave Freeman in the 1930s and 40s and lasted thru to the late 1960 with players like James Poole and Judy Devlin (Hashman). Judy Devlin was the All-England singles champion a record 10 times! She also won the All-England doubles title 7 times. I don't believe any other badminton player from any country has ever been this dominant in the sport.
Indonesia's Rudy Hartono and Denmark's Morten Frost have probably come closest to achieving this kind of dominance in badminton. Frost was ranked in the top 3 in the world for 12 years!
So what happened to badminton in the US? Money was probably the largest factor. The problem is that tons of money went into other sports in the US in the '60 and '70s. Sports such as basketball, baseball, American football & tennis all became big business sports in this country. Elite athletes and developing athletes in the US were drawn to the money. The big business sports also get TV coverage whereas badminton gets no coverage at all (we finally got some during the 2004 Olympics at odd hours in the middle of the night). AS a result of money, badminton fell by the wayside -- top US athletes go into other sports.
Despite the apparent Asian domination of badminton in recent years, it's the Danish players that really amaze me. Denmark has produced a remarkable number of top players in the past 4 decades. This from a tiny country that currently has a population of a mere ~5.4 million people. That is less than half the population of Tokyo.
To put it into perspective, consider these population comparisons with respect to Denmark: Malaysia is 5x (5 times as many ppl), England & So Korea are about 9x, Phillipines is 15x, Indonesia is 40x, USA is 55x, India is more than 200x and China has a whopping 240 times as many ppl as Denmark.
Consider the dominance that Denmark might achieve if they were a large country with a population rivalling that of India or China.
I agree with your points.
Denmark is undeniably very successful in badminton. Denmark as far as I know has a different system to produce players and I don't know the ratio of the people involved in badminton. China on the other hand, I believe the active badminton population was not that high (don't know now) when compared to other countries.
Originally Posted by SystemicAnomaly
This smacks heavily of double standards. I don't know if Peter Gade's remarks were taken out of context but why is he *complaining* about a sport being dominated by one continent or another? The underlying implication here is that the West has to win at everything in order for spectators to be interested. It is inevitable that certain sports are dominated by certain nations where the sport is extremely popular. Maybe Asia would have more competition if the general population in the West stopped viewing badminton as merely something you play in the back garden with your aged spinster aunt.
personally, i think poland will soon dominate the world at badminton
I am glad that you see Poland as a future power house, but actually this is unlikely.
The world of badminton knows our 3 best MD, LD and MX pair plus one strong MS player (maybe in European standards). But unfortunately the younger players are not to the standard of these 5 and I expect a dramatically slump after they retire.
This is what differ power houses - they are deep of talents and players can be replaced.
But this is not only the Polish problem...
The popularity of the sport itself plays a big role as well.Less ppl in europe or america would take a badminton as their career,or play it seriously.Unlike in asia,ppl plays badminton n they love it.Some of them send their kids to go for a badminton class,since they love this sport.Some of them ended playing seriously,for clubs,or even for their national team.Compare to europe or america,there'll be less parents sending their kids to this badminton sport.Much lesser than to go for soccer team,football team.
2ndly,i think somehow money that is paid by the western countries for their atheletes is much more than the asian player would get.So,i guess one of the reason is also how much they love the sport.No matter how much they pay u,but if u dont like to do it,u wont do it good.But for those countries who got more ppl that love badminton,goverment can try to pay more for the sport,that encourage ppl to be involved in that.Also pay their atheletes more,or giving them some bonus for their achievements will also be a good form of action to encourage the atheletes.
Basically,as an indonesian,i think,from the indo side,there's less ppl or family who sends their kids to play badminton seriously,unlike in the past.
In the past,the payment n treatment is not as bad as these days.The PBSI is also having a great deal of problem.But the reason why they still struggle up to today,is because indo is only good in badminton.They specialize at this sport.They wanna keep it that way.So,it becomes one of the sport which has the best payment.Asian domination of badminton is much less fair in the world of sports since the western countries currently still dominating in the other sports.Besides,there's no such thing as unfair treatment by the umpire or IBF.Dont be sarcastic about it.Just try to improve like denmark,or england team these days.Last edited by Smichz; 05-29-2007 at 11:46 AM.
[quote=vip_m;545425] at Gade's original remarks, she added a dig at Camilla Martin (Gade's fiance): "
Well written and well said...except Camilla Martin is not PG's fiance...PG's wife now, I think, shared the same surname as Camilla but it is not her.
I have been working in europe & other parts of the world.
I guess the only reason why badminton growing in other part of the world is solely because of its lack popularity.
If there are interest from the european country sure the $$$ will go up!
it's important too that badminton to be popular around the world to be one of the world premeir game.
a top 100 tennis player would earn more than LIN DAN or Taufik
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27 days ago3 bedroom glasey court culdasa quiet area near shops and schools large livingroom and bedrooms front and back gardens end houseDunmurry, Belfast Date available: 16/11/13SaveRemove -
home swap ards/bangor/belfast/dundonald/hollywood
28 days agoNewly built (1) year old 2bedroom second floor appartment in town off newtownards beside college overlooking church. Camera entercom system, lifts and stairs, secure gated underground...N/ards, County Down Date available: 15/11/13SaveRemove -
Newly bulit 2 bedroom house newcastle looking 2 bed belfast
29 days agoNewly bulit 2 bedroom house newcastle looking to swap to belfast prefare west but all areas considerd . large back garden front garden up and downstairs bathrooms 2 big rooms just looking...Belfast City Centre Date available: 21/11/13SaveRemove -
Newcastle to belfast
1 month agonewly bulit 2 bedroom house newcastle looking to swap to belfast prefare west but all areas considerd. large back garden front garden up and downstairs bathrooms newly decorated...Newcastle, County Down Date available: 02/02/14SaveRemove
Swap in Antrim Road, Home Swap (89 ads posted)


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Authors » Sean O'Brien
Sean O'Brien
Sean O'Brien is a poet, critic, playwright, broadcaster, anthologist and editor, who lives and works in the United Kingdom. He has published many collections of poetry and has won awards such as the E M Forster Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Books available from Fremantle Press
- Rivers 2002
From the Catalogue
Light Horse Boy at Bologna
Fremantle Press illustrators are again set to shine at the Bologna Children's Book Fair in March 2014. Drawings from Light Horse Boy will feature in the Australian Publishers Association exhibition Hello! from Australia while The Last Viking and Dreamers will feature in the exhibition's book showcase.


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So PS3 Has launched today over in the US, Who here has got one and How is it? Your opinions please
Mine works just fine. I still havent played a game as Im trying to familiarize myself with the setup.
What games u got for ur PS3 Wonding?? and what tv setup do u have?
"God never close a door without open a window"
"Computers are getting smartter, but Humans are getting more clever"
I only have 1 ps2 game and I dont think FF is online. Im sorry man.
As a quick user viewpoint. I like the build of the machine, it is quiet. Although it does put out some heat I strongly suggest keeping it off of the carpet and away from a closed area. The dashboard is very functional, somewhat drab but does the job well. The browser is a little awkward to be honest but a great feature none the less. There is so much to do with the console and Im only scratching the surface. Im going to be going to the online story later searching for the MoSt demo (looking forward to that one).
Still dont much care for the analog positioning on the controller but from what little I have played it is definetely a step up from the DS2, so fans of the controller will be happy. Sony packaged the usb charge cable, and it is very short this is ridiculous IMO, but a simple usb extension took care of the issue. Setting up the console was painless auto detection works well and I havent had any issues with it what so ever.
All in all it is a very well built machine, Im looking for a patch to increase the ease of some of the functionality but its not something to fret over. (it is important to note that Im not very familiar with tthe PSP).
I only played a little Resistance!
But Leedog I will definetly look into it for you...
$1000 It was worth it..Thats like a weeks work..
I have watery eyes...
its marvolus...
tonight the whole family coming over to watch Talidaga nights
We the people...
thanks to the guy who posted about the gamestop preorders
Mine's fine.
No ps1 game dl for psp kinda bump me out.
Anyway, where is the warranty? I couldn't find it.
And how come the PS3 button(on the controller) doesn''t light up at all?
You seem to be an honest fella who loves his X360 so how does PS3's online 'feel' compared to Live?
Obviously it might be too early to judge but what is your take on it?
I am asking him to compare it to Live because apparently it's the best thing ever (i haven't experienced it myself).
Its entirely too early to tell masterand any opinion I offer isnt going to do either structure justice. If anything I would say that it doesnt feel as refined or integrated, but Im happy with my experience with it so far (I only have the one PS3 title). I like the PS store setup, but I would have rather seen it implemented in another way (but that is the only standout half ass complaint that I can think of,)
IMO Live will have the upper hand on the PS3 network for the first year, but Sony will close the gap.
My PS3 is now downloading its update as I kill time here waiting for sed update to finish. I am very impressed with the weight, it feels like a very well built piece of equipment. It's looks really slick IMO, like it's worth a few more bucks.
My DLP HDTV has a fan in it that I can deal with but the PS3 purr's softly.
Sony definitely left out 1080i, and I wonder if that is on purpose? I have a 1080i capable set and only allowed me to set it at 720p.
Download is taking longer then I would have hoped...
ps3 online browser feels alot like the dreamcast.
Very slick...Hope the online network, at the very least, compares to the live service. At least it does or will do everything we expect it to.
I can't help it, feeling a little bit jealous at the very moment at you guys
And at the same time happy to know I'll (hopefully) join the ranks on first half of 2007.
But it's good to hear first hand experience info via these forums.
So many games so little time..
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Women Sharing a Chemical Moment in Time
Practice No. 1273
Last modified: 21/06/2011 11:39:21
Institution: University of Strathclyde
Official pre-launch of the International Year of Chemistry 2011. An event held in Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow on January 18th brought together women chemists from 37 countries using modern communication tools; each country/region will arrange its own event(s) and individual breakfasts will be linked together by SKYPE/video, and by using Twitter. In addition to networking, the aim is to celebrate the pivotal role of Marie Curie in chemistry, and to reflect on the current landscape for women chemists.
Faculty Researcher Development Champions Initiative
Practice No. 1259
Last modified: 17/06/2011 14:03:53
Institution: University of Strathclyde
This initiative, which seeks to develop potential future research leaders by allowing individuals to gain experience supporting the development of others, is considered an effective way of achieving long term impact and sustainability from investment in researcher development. Derived from existing good practice and responding to feedback from the researcher community, it involves early career researchers being seconded to work in multidisciplinary liaison across the researcher community to develop appropriate training and ensure that the Researcher Development Programme meets the needs of individual researchers.
Practice No. 1256
Last modified: 17/06/2011 10:47:12
Institution: University of Strathclyde
GRADnews is a monthly e-newsletter aimed at postgraduate research students within the university and features information on a wealth of internal and external career-development related opportunities available to the community.
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Campus Confidential
Moving from the Big City to a cloistered suburban community, Violet Jacobs (Christy Carlson Romano) suffers the shock of being a fish out of water in her new high school, where the popular kids (cheerleaders, football jocks et. al.) are given all the breaks and the unpopular ones are treated like lepers--even by the teachers. The social hierarchy is so lopsided that those student on "the outside" don't even get to walk on the same side of the hallway as the "in crowd". Her sense of justice and fair play aroused, Violet teams up with another social outcast named Cordelia (Keri Lynn Pratt) and establishes "The Tattler", a school newspaper dedicated to exposing the awful truth about the "in" kids. Not surprisingly, this action sparks a number of crises, notably when Principal Glavin (Wiliam Ragsdale) declares his intention to close down the newspaper and build a health spa (!) in its place. . .and especially when one of Violet's spicy news items all but ruins the reputation of Brandon (Teddy Dunn), the boy she loves. Designed as a vehicle for Even Stevens costar Christy Carlson Romano (who also pulled double duty as the voice of animated teen heroine Kim Possible), the made-for-cable Campus Confidential debuted August 21, 2005 on the ABC Family channel. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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Torn Apart
Tia Carrere stars in this made-for-cable melodrama as Dr. Vicki Westin, whose brilliance as a surgeon does not quite compensate for her coldness as a human being. Dr. Westin is forced to think outside of herself for the first time in her life when her husband (Richard Burgi) and daughter (Zoe Gaber) are kidnapped. Their abductor is Jeff Bender (Dale Midkiff), a grieving father who child had been one of Vicki's patients, and who had died on the operating table. The grimly vengeful Bender offers Dr. Westin a choice: She can save either her husband or her daughter, but not both--and she has only 48 hours to make her decision! Filmed on location in New Orleans, Torn Apart originally aired over the Lifetime Channel on September 30, 2004. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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Pop Rocks
Gary Cole stars in this delightfully improbable TV movie as Jerry Harden, a conservative husband, father, and bank loan officer. Harden's well-ordered existence is turned upside down when a scruffy-looking guitarist named Izzy (David Jensen) shows up at the bank, hoping to get a loan in order to re-organize the legendary KISS-like heavy metal band Rock Toxin. When Jerry sees Izzy, his heart sinks: It looks as though his "cover" will be blown, and that the whole world (including his children) will discover that, 20 years earlier, Jerry had been "Dagger", Rock Toxin's lead singer! At first turning down Izzy's loan request, Jerry is forced to reconsider when he finds that he hasn't enough money to send his 17-year-old daughter to college. Thus, Jerry not only bankrolls the revived Rock Toxin, but he also embarks upon a hectic double life: Nerdish pillar of society by day, heavily-made-up rock singer by night. Further complicating matters is the fact that Jerry's wife Allison (Sherilyn Fenn), is the campaign manager for Helen Hunter (Shannon Eubanks), the politician wife of Jerry's boss Carl (Joe Inscoe)--and the cornerstone of Helen's campaign is her crusade against heavy-metal music! Pop Rocks debuted over the ABC Family Channel on September 10, 2004. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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The television series that shot Johnny Depp to stardom makes the leap to the big screen in this reboot starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Tatum) have the kind of faces that could let them pass for teenagers. Eager to prove themselves as effective policemen, the pair join the Jump Street program and go undercover to investigate a high-school drug ring. Now, the only thing more daunting than the prospect of taking on violent adolescent dope slingers is the possibility of experiencing the torture of their teenage years all over again. Ice Cube, Brie Larson, and Rob Riggle co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
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Her faith shaken by a family tragedy from which she was never quite able to fully recover, a professor of theology from Louisiana State University moonlighting as a debunker of unexplained religious phenomena finds herself faced with an apocalyptic series of events that seem to reflect the ten plagues of Exodus in director Stephen Hopkins' Southern gothic chiller. The terrified citizens of Haven, LA, have been beset by swarms of locusts and watched as rivers turned to blood. As if that wasn't enough to put the fear of God into any Bible-reading Christian, ominous rumors of a local swamp cult have left many of the small-town citizens turning to prayer for fear that the end is finally nigh. Enter Katherine Winter (Hilary Swank), a skeptical myth-buster and renowned theology scholar with a special knack for spotting religious trickery. Though at first exceedingly confident that she will uncover a human component behind the otherworldly occurrences, Katherine quickly learns that just because one doesn't believe in the supernatural doesn't necessarily mean that it doesn't exist. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
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Scalp: Log Analyzer Finds Web Attacks
Romain Gaucher, a specialist in web security, offers his Scalp tool in version 0.4. The log analyzer searches for attacks on Apache web applications.
Scalp's Python script uses regular expressions of the PHP Intrusion Detection System (PHPIDS) project that monitors attacks on PHP applications. Methods used include cross-site scripting (XSS), cross-site request forgery (CSRF) and SQL injection. Because the Apache web server in its standard form does not employ POST request variables, it can detect only GET request attacks.
The tool outputs its results as a report in text, XML or HTML format (here an example).
In its standard form, the script can handle Apache logs of more than 100 megabytes without a problem, according to Gaucher. Limiting the analysis to a timeframe and a particular type of attack can further reduce the search time for large data sets. The program also allows spot checks in large log files.
The tool consists of a single Python script. Users will also need to download a default filter file. Both are available on the project home page.
Romain Gaucher is currently working on a C++ version of his program.
Issue 158/2014
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New Mint Minted
Version 16 of the popular Linux desktop reveals new tools, edge-snapping, and performance improvements.
New Worm Attacks Linux Devices
Symantec says Linux-Darlioz burrows in through PHP.
Project Sputnik Gets a Boost
Dell renews its quest for the ultimate developer machine.
Sneaky New Linux Attack Discovered in the Wild
Innovative back door looks like normal SSH traffic.
CeBIT Call for Papers
One of CeBITs most successful forums opens the new year with a new name. The popular Open Source Forum continues in 2014 under the name Special Conference: Open Source. This year, the forum will be bigger and offer a wider range of possibilities for sponsors.
Linus Announces Linux Kernel 3.12
New release offers better graphics drivers and expands filesystem support.
Dark Alliance Reinvents Email Security
New mail protocol will shut out the NSA and prevent snooping on metadata.
DDos Attack Map Charts Denial of Service
A new web application helps users visualize distributed denial-of-service attacks.
Saucy Salamander Gets Legs
Ubuntu 13.10 takes a step toward convergence, with lots of mobility, but Mir only partly here.
Intel and Arduino Create Pi-Like System
Galileo board is targeted to embedded developers and educational institutions.


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Camp Shelby honors fallen First Army Division East Soldier | People
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The following is a press release from Camp Shelby:
A First Army Division East Soldier killed in Afghanistan will be honored during a military memorial service on Sept. 7 at 2 p.m. at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center.
Master Sgt. Coater Debose, a Mississippi Army Reserve Soldier died Aug. 19 in Spin Boldak, Afghanistan of injuries suffered from small arms fire while conducting security force assistance operations. The incident is under investigation.
Master Sgt. Debose was a communications specialist assigned to 2-351st Infantry Regiment, 158th Infantry Brigade, First Army Division East. He deployed in April 2012 to assist and train Afghan uniformed police in and around Kandahar.
Promoted posthumously, Master Sgt. Debose joined the Alabama Army National Guard in May 1983. He transferred to the Army Reserves in 2008. He was also a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2004-2005. He was laid to rest with full military honors on Tuesday, Sept. 4 at the National Cemetery in Biloxi, Miss.
He is survived by his wife, Juanita and son Latravis of Moss Point, Miss., his daughter Caronica Jackson, of Hattiesburg, Miss., son, Christopher Debose, of Parris Island, S.C., daughter Nekeshia Raybon, of Wright Patterson Air Force Base Dayton Ohio, and son Broderick Debose, of Petal.


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Rolex Rankings No. 4
Rolex Rankings No. 36
See who will make it to the LPGA in 2014.
Congratulations to 2013 winner, Shanshan Feng!
This week is all about...Cristie Kerr
Brianna Do answers 18 fun questions.
Stanford shot a 6 under 66 on Saturday, bringing her into contention on Sunday.


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On 14 March 2011, the European Commission "Commission" announced that it has launched infringement proceedings against Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta and Slovenia in relation to their bilateral air service agreements with Russia
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This is an original manufacturer replacement bean hopper for the venerable Mazzer Mini coffee grinder. If you've found a way to lose it, break it, or you t want a second bean hopper for decaf or another favorite roasted coffee, this is the hopper for you. Comes complete with gate, and shipping is included.
The Lid for the Mazzer Mini bean hopper is sold separately.
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Mass Effect 3
Assassin's Creed III
Halo 4
Max Payne 3
CoD: Black Ops 2
Sleeping Dogs
Borderlands 2
Diablo III
Games released this year that I played, in no particular order:
Full title console releases:
Mass Effect 3 - Even with its original ending, the actual journey to that ending was one of the best I'd had in a long while, so I'm willing to forgive it. Incredibly epic, with a lot of pretty awesome personal payoffs for my Shepard, none more so than managing to resolve the Quarian/Geth dispute. I was really annoyed when I couldn't point that out in the ending.
Assassin's Creed III - Lots of love and hate in this game, nothing more annoying than trying to 100% the main storyline. Still, despite its many flaws, naval combat was brilliant and roaming through the trees felt fresher than I thought.
Sleeping Dogs - Badass. Mrs. Chu is one of my favorite characters as of late, and not just because we share a last name. The martial arts felt even more brutal than even the Batman games, and contextual takedowns are the bee's knees.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown - As ridiculously awesome and frustrating as I remember the original being.
Rocksmith (PAL release w/Bass expansion) - I've had it a while, but I only got the direct optical hookup working last week. Liking it so far but will wait on passing verdict until later.
Halo 4 - While not complete yet, the fighting and co-op in this game are well implemented, and it's been gorgeous so far.
Borderlands 2 - Only got through a little bit of it thus far, not enough to really state.
Forza Horizon - Managed some racing; feels like a more streamlined version of Burnout Paradise. I approve.
Arcade releases:
Skullgirls - Fights well. Don't have anyone to fight against locally though.
Rock Band Blitz - Addictive, but not quite as addictive as RB3. Maybe I'll feel differently if I get a fighting stick.
Kinect Party - Like DFHAT before it, an awesome demonstration of Kinect's features.
Xbox Karaoke - Wider selection than RB3 for singing, unnecessary metagame, nice SmartGlass integration. Still prefer RB3 even for singing, though.
Fez - MIND-BLOWING. Played to 20X.X% completion, with ten A5 pages (most of which I used both sides) devoted to decoding puzzles in the game. This was my kind of game.
Mark of the Ninja - Well-done stealth action; adding field-of-view to a platformer is pretty ingenious. I took the time to 100% the game, so I must've enjoyed it.
iOS apps:
Spaceteam - A fantastic party game for those who love to yell technobabble.
The Act - A fun little cinematic arcade game with European-style charm. For $3, an entertaining experience on your iOS device of choice.
Super Hexagon - I think this ate most of my free time when away from my console. Damn, was it incredible.
Super Crate Box - Also ridiculous, also awesome, maybe I should buy this for the computer so I don't have to deal with stupid virtual controls.
Bastion - Easier on iOS thanks to its new control scheme, but still lush and fun to play.
Letterpress - After some vicious gaming between me and my brother (okay, towards the end it was me toying with him; it was pretty clear I was going to win), I have to say this is probably one of the more fun competitive word games I've had in a while.
Spellwood - Battle Scrabble, and a lot of fun. Kind of wish there weren't the $1 "DLC" option available at the start, but rather a $3 purchase for the full thing.
Crazy Taxi - Five words: YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH!
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective - As fantastic as it was when I played it on the DS.
Chaos Rings II - The first one I've bought at full price, and worth the money. Ridiculously, awesomely over-the-top and extremely involving. A solid PS2-era JRPG game for your iOS device, basically.
Frog Fractions - Utterly insane and a lot of fun; not so much a game as an experience.
Overall GotYs:
Sleeping Dogs (also full console title)
Super Hexagon (also iOS)
Frog Fractions
Last edited by LoopyChew; 01-07-2013 at 04:50 AM. Reason: Bolding titles. Also, finished Mark of the Ninja.
DLC on DLCQuickPlay.com. Gamertag is the same as my Forum name. Hit me up if you wanna play!
Witt Witt Witt
Read Dead is a bad video game
SillyStou: What will happen to this place when Rock Band ceases to exist?
RockBandRocker: We will all migrate to the Dance Central forums. It will be like Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt.
Munnchy: Only Flashier, with impeccable dance moves.
RockBandRocker: With more glitter and glam. We will survive
Man, I should have had Spelunky on my list. So good.
"My name is Giovanni Giorgio but everybody calls me...Giorgio.
Gonna have to go with The Walking Dead on this one, not that I played a ton of 2013 games (Halo 4 and Mass Effect 3 are pretty much it. Halo 4 is awesome, but it's one of those things where there are just too many little things that bug me about it, particularly about the multiplayer. ME3 had some significant problems like the ending and the sidequests being lackluster).
Noticed people talking about how they didn't like The Walking Dead ultimately having a linear storyline, and I gotta say, that's what I love about the game, at least in terms of games that give you choices that affect the plot. Whereas other games actually let you affect how major plot points turn out, The Walking Dead instead does not do that and instead makes the choices about character interaction and how you, as a person, would react in those situations. And I think that's brilliant because it means that there isn't a "wrong" choice. You're never punished for making a choice. You know the consequences of your choices before you make them. Even when the plot steps in and makes choices for you, such as (spoiler for Episode 2) when Larry gets killed in the meat locker at the end of the episode, I don't fault the game. If the plot didn't step in and actually let you choose what happens, then you run into a thing where there actually is a "wrong" choice. Again, spoilers for episode 2, if you could actually save Larry, even if Kenny's argument makes complete sense, it still punishes players for helping kill him, unless you just really hate Larry and want him dead. In that sense, the choice as it is in the game isn't about saving Larry or preventing him from reanimating, it's about how you would react in that situation. By allowing you to save Larry, the choice would lose its purpose.
Contrast this with Mass Effect where (spoilers for Mass Effect series) At the end of Mordin's loyalty mission, you choose to either destroy the data or save it. Now, originally, I chose to destroy it because morally, I couldn't justify holding onto data that was obtained in such a fashion, even if I agreed with its purpose. Fast forward to Mass Effect 3, because I destroyed the data, Eve dies. And it's like, I didn't want that. I didn't sign up for that when I chose to destroy the data. I mean, when you destroy the data, you understand that it might cause problems down the road, but, the game shouldn't just outright punish you like that for making a choice. I just feel like the game's laughing at me and going "Haha, got you, I bet you feel like crap now". So from now on, no matter how much I want to destroy the data, no matter how out of character saving the data would be for my Shepard, I have to hold onto it because I have to save Eve.
Basically, The Walking Dead has a really good choice system IMO because it is set up in a way that doesn't punish the player for making the choices they make, yet the choices are still significant and weighty because I still feel like my choices mattered (in terms of character interaction and just in terms of who Lee is as a person). It never makes me feel like wanting to hit the power button on my 360 to do things over or to consult a guide to make sure I make the "right" choice (I've done both with games like Mass Effect and Fallout 3).
When a game makes you feel like you made the wrong choice, it's doing a poor job of presenting choices in my opinion. Choices in games should be as 50/50 as possible (and, actually, Telltale specifically went into designing their choices trying to make them as 50/50 as possible. They never wanted to see stuff like a 90/10 split or something). If you're designing a part of a game where the player has to make a choice, and you make it so that there clearly is a preferable choice, you're doing something wrong. You want to make it where the choices you can choose are equally justifiable, have consequences that are equally bad, and don't result in one choice having better positives than the other. You want it so that the players can come onto message boards and have a debate over what they chose and why they chose it. You never want to see 95% of people agree on a choice. And that's the beauty of The Walking Dead's choice system. There is never a right answer to the choices. If you have a game that lets you make massive plot changing choices, you're eventually going to run into situations where there are obviously right choices, and I don't just don't like that as much. Yeah, it's nice to be able to have a massive effect (pun totally intended) on the universe, but I don't always feel like I make the choices anyways when one choice gives me all this awesome stuff and the other cuts off my legs, you know?
ANYWAYS, enough of my rambling about that, time to actually talk about why The Walking Dead is my game of the year (aside from my praises of its choice system).
The characters are amazing. Not a single character in the game I felt was unlikeable. Yeah, Duck is annoying, Larry is a royal jerk, Ben is a coward, but I still liked them. I loved how I can even sympathize somewhat with the completely irredeemable bad guys. Episode 4 spoilers, Yeah, the people in Crawford were awful by throwing out the young, old, and ill. I would never do that. BUT, their actions can be justified. Clementine is the best child character I've ever seen in a video game. Never before has a game been able to manipulate my choices by simply having a character be in sighting distance of me. Lee is amazing as well. Both characters just felt real.
Furthermore, the plot is amazing. A lot of games fall into the trap of being all depressing all the time in an attempt to be "deep", and while The Walking Dead is definitely extremely depressing, there's always that little bright spot peeking out of the clouds no matter what. Yeah, sometimes things are extremely predictable (Episode 2 in particular), but it never detracted from the game IMO. The themes of the game are accomplished wonderfully. It's just all around fantastic and honestly one of the best, if not the best, narratives in a video game.
Everything else is great too (aside from some technical problems). Art style is amazing and expressive. Voice acting is stellar. I just don't really have anything bad to say about the game. Everything is top notch. Can't wait for Season 2.
You sound just like a friend of mine. He's the type that, if he played a game where your choices affect the game plot in a major way (which he rarely does because of this), he has to search the net and make sure he's making the "right" choice; and this game is definitely perfect for you because of that.
I'm the exact opposite. I like being surprised and knowing that my choices will permanently affect the game's story line. I don't see it as choosing a "right" path, and maybe that's where I'm ok by it. I like the mystery of not knowing the consequences of my choices; and I'd gladly play a second time through to see how new choices would affect the game.
As it stands, I enjoyed the game enough that I want to play it again. However, I can't bring myself to doing a second playthrough because I know my choices don't mean anything in the end. The plot will still go the same way and the ending will be the same, which is a bummer to me.
Still, I'm buying Season 2 Episode 1 on day 1. Can't wait.
5+ years, 4,000+ songs, 1 awesome developer. Thank you!
For the record, I consider the Mass Effect series my favorite "game" of all time.
So it's not like I dislike games that let you have a huge impact on the universe. I like the idea of it in theory. It's just in practice it doesn't come out as smoothly as I'd hoped it would sometimes.
Interestingly, I feel games like Mass Effect aren't very good in second playthroughs in the way that most people would think they are because of the inherent problems massive, earth shattering choices sometimes result in. If I know that one choice is obviously better than the other (either up front, or in retrospect. I'm guilty of metagaming, sue me. ), I'm always going to make that choice on subsequent playthroughs because I feel it's stupid not to.
Honestly, I don't think making drastically different choices in future playthroughs is all that appealing for games like these. I can't bring myself to be a complete jerk because it just feels like Shepard isn't "me" anymore. It's not because I necessarily oppose being a jerk (in fact, there are games where you play as the bad guy that I enjoy a lot), it's just that's not really who I am. Given the choice, I'm going 95% paragon every time.
When I go into second and third playthroughs in Mass Effect, I find it more fun to play exactly as I did before (basically, making choices as if I were actually in that situation) and note how the game changes slightly since the last time I played. The changes might be very subtle, like a conversation here or there, but it's cool to look at it and go "Huh... I really agree with that line of thinking now? Last playthrough I opposed it". And that's where I run into problems when the game sometimes frames choices in terms of wrong or right. That sometimes I have to make certain choices that would be completely out of character for my Shepard for the sake of a few more war assets in ME3 or for the sake of certain plot points later on in the game/games.
I mean, The Walking Dead isn't totally free from metagaming, for example (Spoilers for episode 2), I will never kill the dude in the barn ever again on future playthroughs because I don't want Clem to witness it, but even that choice didn't feel "wrong" at the time. I wasn't scrambling for the power button on my 360 to undo what I did. But I think that's where The Walking Dead excels with it's choice system. Telltale were able to carefully and expertly frame the choices where even when there technically were "right" and "wrong" choices, it doesn't necessarily feel like there is a "wrong" choice.
And maybe that's a part of the problem that other games have. It might not be a result of how big the choices are and simply be a problem with framing the choices improperly and how they make those choices play out. I dunno. Maybe a game with huge, universe-changing decisions can completely avoid those problems.
I just know that I think The Walking Dead is the first game to really perfect a choice system (at least that I've played), even if the choices aren't as earth-shattering as they potentially could be. The choices don't punish a player while it still feels like your choices "mattered". Maybe not in a huge, plot changing way, but at least in terms of how some characters developed throughout the game and how you affected other characters and even yourself as the player.
I honestly hope developers, from here on out, really sit down and dissect how The Walking Dead frames the choices it gives players and try to really one up The Walking Dead in that department, maybe even give the players massive plot changing choices that are framed and play out in ways that don't punish the player. The Walking Dead truly is a landmark in terms of how choices are framed and presented, and that's honestly why I give it GotY.
Last edited by ULS_980; 01-14-2013 at 02:52 PM.
X-COM. It was the first game in quite awhile that was able to pull me away from RB3 for any significant amount of time.
There are still a number of games I haven't tried yet. I get overwhelmed by the idea of taking hours to pick up a new control scheme, and instead I wind up playing Angry Birds.
PSN ID: SilverSpg
XBox GT: FieryNewt5
Total Song Library = 1,010 songs, including ALL games and track packs that can be exported into RB3
Walking Dead is tops for me, but admittedly I did not play many different games this year.
I Am King Tony - "Stereo Stereo" available on RBN!
IAmKingTony @ Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter


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"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." -- G.K. Chesterton On December 7, Mars moves into the airy-fairy sign of Libra for quite an extended stint. Between now and next July, we are all being called to work on our relationships and the ever-elusive balance between self and the other. Mars shows where we feel called to action, aggression and discipline. Libra is the sign of balance, partnerships and the good old I'm-okay-if you're-okay dilemma. The energy of Mars has a challenging time in the sign of Libra as it runs counter to the natural tendencies of the planet (in astrospeak we call this Mars in his... read more
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"You think you've flown before, but you... read more
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Your Venus sign most clearly expresses what attracts you to others. Enter your birth date to find out what you look for in love.


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Wednesday, December 11, 2013
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More than 1.5 million fewer homes are owning pets. That's according to a five year survey from the American Veterinarian Medical Association. Our Andrew Sorensen tells us why some industry professionals are relying the economy to turn that trend around.
ROME, N.Y.-- It's no secret pet lovers can be picky about their animals. But a new survey from the American Veterinarian Medical Association says they're getting pickier. "It used to be animals would kind of fly out the door and we didn't have to put a lot of effort into getting adoptions. We're working twice as hard, we're everywhere," Humane Society of Rome Volunteer Coordinator Emily Doucet said.
Over the last five years, pet ownership has dropped 2.4 percent across the nation and it's showing up in hard hit shelters like the Humane Society of Rome.
"We're getting calls from Syracuse, we're getting calls from Utica, Boonville, Old Forge, everywhere, begging us to take their animals. So I think that shelters everywhere in the area are full," Doucet said.
Industry professionals like Dr. Tom Rothwell of the Paris Hill Cat Hospital say the trend is partly because pets are becoming more expensive. "Everything that we have here, everything that we need here and use here to care for your cat comes via a UPS truck," he said.
Dr. Rothwell says rising fuel and health care costs are exacerbating the billion dollar rise in the cost of pet products expected by the American Pet Products Association.
"These items are priced up so we obviously have to charge more to the client for them," he explained.
But the decrease in purchases isn't hitting all pets equally. The AMVA said most consumers are like Jesse Larson, who is dog shopping, and looking for dogs more than cats. He said he's looking specifically for a dog, "Because they're happier to see you when they come home and they show their love more than a cat does." One of the types of cats shelters say they have the hardest problem getting people to adopt is black cats like this little kitten, Benny.
"Some people are still superstitious and some people think, well I don't want black fur all over my clothing and my furniture, but you know, a white cat or an orange cat sheds too," Doucet said.
The problem is so bad, some shelters, including Humane Society of Rome, have recently tried out "Black Cat Appreciation Days" to spur adoption. But they say the only solutions to their problems will be an economic upturn and for people to spay and neuter their pets.
You can adopt some of these cats at either the Humane Society of Rome or Paris Hill Cat Hospital.


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- Appartement
Santa Caterina studio 1Wijk: Ciutat VellaCapacity: 2 personen
1 badkamer
1 dubbel sofabed
0 opiniones0Voorzieningen
- DVD speler
- Radio CD speler
- Air-conditioning
- Verwarming
- Wasmachine
- Droger
- Vaatwasser
- Koelkast met diepvriesvak
- Keramieke kookplaat
- Microgolf/Magnetron
- Spaanse koffiezetter
- Waterkoker
- Fruitpers
- Broodrooster
- Balkon
- Salon
- Douche
- Haardroger
- Interfoon
- Strijkijzer / -tafel
Set in the Born neighbourhood, this welcoming studio has been recently refurbished in order to offer the necessary comfort and equipment. Mixed with authentic details, the modern decoration creates a convivial atmosphere.
Set on the first floor of a typical Born building, this studio is composed of a large living area with much natural light, a totally equipped American kitchen with a practical bar and a sleeping area composed a double sofa bed. You will enjoy a balcony that opens onto a very nice street. The bathroom has a shower.
Prijzen en andere voorwaarden van het appartement Santa Caterina studio 1
Minimum verblijf: 90 nachtenPrijzen (BTW inbegrepen) vanaf:Prijs 3-6 maanden800 €/maandMeer dan 6 maanden:750 €/maandAndere kostenCheck-in / Check-out:15 € / 10 €Check-in op zondag:30 €Check-in after 20h:30 €
Waarborg: 1.800 €
Andere voorwaardenDe prijs omvat geen honorarium (10% van het bedrag van het contract + 21% BTW, minimum één maand huur), noch water, telefoon/internet noch BTW indien van toepassing. De eigenaar mag een bijkomende garantie vragen bovenop de waarborg -
- Wijk
Surrounding of apartment Santa Caterina studio 1 in Ciutat Vella neighborhood
The Born neighbourhood is an area where many artists and chefs have decided to settle and open their restaurants or galleries. It is a friendly area, filled with people from around the globe that gather and create a convivial atmosphere. If you wander around its narrow streets you will always discover something new and refreshing. The excellent market of Santa Caterina is open from Monday to Saturday, the Passeig del Born with its live music and fashionistas as well as the Picasso Museum are just around the corner.
Type serviceName & AddressBeschrijvingRatingRestaurant
Fresh Catalan cuisine in a pleasant atmosphere at reasonable prices (30-40€)Ice-cream parlour
Fresh cuisine specialised in seafood. Interesting prices.Car & bike rentals
Car & bike rentals
Bike rentals and city bike tours. Bike shop and repairs.Health services
Health services
Professional odontologic service, always using the latest technical improvements, specialised in implantology. Relaxed atmosphere.Hairdresser´s shop
Hairdresser´s shop
A modern hairdresser´s where besides getting a new haircut you can enjoy cocktails and good music on nights of full moon.Gourmet shop
Gourmet shop
Veritas is an organic supermarket chain with over 4000 natural products for a healthy dietNightclub
One of the hottest spots in Barcelona´s nightlife. Razzmatazz offers three concert rooms and two discos.Bar
A monument not to be missed to have the best chocolate milk in town with some pastry. They also sell their own fresh dairy products.Bookshop
More than 100.000 books including rare and curious works on all themes and of all disciplines.Spa
Hot, cold and cool water baths, massages, aromatherapy and many other ancient techniques, from the traditional Arab baths.Restaurant
To enjoy and taste good japanese food while walking in Barcelona Old town.
Car & bike rentals
Car & bike rentals
You will explore Barcelona in a unique way, you will see by bike the best highlights of the city. Tours are available in English, Dutch and German. Baja Bikes offers bike tours and walking tours.Restaurant
Though externally it looks like a humble beach bar, Kaiku offers some of the most delicious dishes in Barcelona. It is highly recommended to sit down in the terrace with sea sight and to order the "Chef ´s smoked rice".Music Store
Music Store
In Santa Rita you will find vinyl records, books and very stylish retro objects. This store, located in the center of the Raval, will delight every design lover.Gifts
A Handmade soaps factory, every one of them with a different scent, a different shape and a different colour, located in the Barrio Gotico. They have a collection of designs inspired in the city of Barcelona that would make a great gift.Bakery
Restaurant which offers catalan and international cuisine in a pleasant environment, next to the famous Cathedral in Barcelona.
Restaurant located in a medieval palace (XIIth century), which offers Mediterranean and International cuisineBar
Good bar to go while visiting Barcelona old town and taste economic and good lunch menu from 6€. Or go at night and try one of the cocktails while listening good music and within a modern and nice environment.
Open Monday to Friday from 1pm to 5 pm and from 8pm to 2am. Saturday and Sunday from 8 pm to 2am. Friday and Saturday nights open til 3am.
Intimate space to enjoy a musical night it also turns into a nightclub from 00:00 every night.
Entry prize from 10€.
Typical catalan place, the building itself has over 500 years, located in Born area. It offers a wide range of meals, from Mediterranean to catalan cuisine. Good price-quality
Founded in 1969, Can Paixano still keeps the atmosphere of a traditional sailor's tavern. It is a place to enjoy a wide range of sandwiches and tapas as an excuse to drink the tasty rose cava (sparkling wine).
This is one of the most well known bars in Barcelona for its cocktails, especially mojitos, in a nice environment that matches the atmosphere in this very popular neighborhood, especially amongst the youth.Restaurant
Typical argentinian restaurant in a very nice and bohemian atmosphere located in the area of Born and especialized in argentinian cuisine.Bakery
One of the finest bakeries in Barcelona, especialized in cakes with a german touch and tradition.Ice-cream parlour
Ice-cream parlour
What makes this ice cream parlour so special and different from others? the wide range of flavours, which are made 100%with natural ingredients, without chemicals or additives. - Testimonials(0)
Santa Caterina studio 1
Valoraciones sobre 0 opiniones0Situation0Atmosphere0Confort0Schoonmaak0
* Adults & children > 2 years old


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As the name suggests, this is a classically-designed cot that will fit perfectly in any nursery, big or small, modern or traditional. Made from 100% pine and complete with 4 fixed sides, you won't have to worry about your little one.
Recommended mattress size: 117 x 54cm (sold separately)
Our very own Kiddicare brand is all about nursery essentials at amazingly low prices. Thoughtfully designed with reassuringly high quality, our award-winning range includes all the essentials from car seats to pushchairs to nursery furniture packages. And it's loved by parents and parenting press alike!
Excellent cot and great value for money. Purchased a smaller cot as it was for our bedroom and its size is perfect, not overpowering in the room yet big enough for my baby. Delivery service was excellent too. Will definitely be buying from Kiddicare again.
Good value but the cot needs 2 people to put it together to hold the screws in place. The instructions could be easier but it's a good size and great value.
Simple, classic, sturdy, little cot. Very pleased, it would suit any nursery scheme. it is quite narrow compared to a cot bed, but overall my son, looks comfy.
I bought this cot for when my little one stays at his grandparents. My mom put the cot together with ease and it fits perfectly into her box room. Very compact and ideal for newborns. I have yet to see how much wear we can get out of it, but so far it's great for it's purpose.
These are exclusive customer reviews unless otherwise stated. Specifications of goods are subject to change.
Click for audio and text help.
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This product is available as a pre-order. This means that we do not currently have the item in stock but we are expecting it shortly. You can place an order for this product now your expected shipping date will be 14-08-2013
A place where people come together to discuss our products and services, ask questions and seek advice.
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©Kiddicare 2013


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I personal would be funny about it " do you mind researching food banks and homeless shelters?...cause that is about to be our reality. You need to file for unemployment. I'm not your mom I shouldn't have to nag about this. You're going to stave too"


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Cancun, St. Lucia, Nicaragua. Needless to say, there's no shortage of summery escapes available on SniqueAway right now. And since "Spring Break" is in the air, we thought it only fitting to live vicariously through tropical pictures and warm-weather music. So whether you're looking for some tunes to blast during your beach vacation, or just looking to bring a little bit of the tropics to that decidedly non-vibrant cubicle, we've got you covered. Check out these beachy song staples both modern and classic.
"Kokomo" by The Beach Boys
"Tequila" by The Surfaris
"Island in the Sun" by Weezer
"I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash


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TROUBLED actor Matthew Newton has left a US clinic and is drug free, his lawyer, Chris Murphy, has told a Sydney court. Newton, 35, is charged with assaulting a taxi driver in December last year.
Mr Murphy said his client had spent 84 days in a psychiatric clinic where doctors had taken him off all medication and he had been drug free since leaving on July 24.
He said the actor was now mixing in a ''community of people who are assisting him'' in Los Angeles.
Newton will appear in a US court on September 18 charged with trespassing and resisting arrest after an incident on April 6. Two weeks later, he was charged with battery and resisting arrest without violence.
Mr Murphy said his client had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, social phobia, generalised disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and ''a personal illness I don't want to disclose to the court that affects him badly''.
He said Newton had been hounded by the media.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Jane Mottley suggested Newton appear via video link on September 26.


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Queen Victoria Bedspread
The Queen Victoria Bedspread in Midweight, All-Cotton Matelassé
Queen Victoria Bedspread
The Queen Victoria Bedspread in Midweight, All-Cotton Matelassé
$139.95 - $229.95
We received numerous requests for the Queen Elizabeth bedspread, which is no longer being made. But this heavyweight, 100% cotton matelassé spread called the Queen Victoria could pass for its twin. Crafted from yarn predyed for consistency, it features a center medallion, floral design, and single hand-knotted fringe. Machine wash and dry. USA.
- Heavyweight, 100% cotton matelassé bedspread
- Woven from pre-dyed yarn
- Regal medallion and floral design
- Accented with single hand-knotted fringe
We pride ourselves on carrying the best selection of classic bedding, like this 100% cotton matelassé bedspread, carefully woven here in the United States.
Queen Victoria Bedspread
Just like the good old days!
This Queen Victoria bedspread is all I wanted and more. It is of a moderately heavy weight, is long enough, wide enough and almost hits the floor all the way around. It washes like a dream. Since the weather was warm, I hung it outside to dry, so it dried nice and flat in a short time. I know I will have this spread for a long time and it may even go to my granddaughter! Keep up the good work!
May 22, 2013
Lovely Spread
This is my second spread of this type. The first one lasted almost ten years and held up to lots of cats sleeping on it. This one is every bit as good as my last one was. I highly recommend it.
December 3, 2013
Just what I wanted.
This bedspread is exactly the right size, very white, has fringe that is not too long. It looks great on the bed. Another bonus is that it was made in the USA.
November 26, 2013
Beautiful bedspread
Checked many websites for white matelasse bedspreads, and kept returning to the Queen Victoria. I have a full-size bed, and the bedspread is just a bit too long, but is much better than short! Lovely design, nice heavy weight, and well made.
November 13, 2013
Old Fashion Comfort and Style Fit for a King
Having a king-sized bed makes finding the right size bedspread a challenge, but not today! I love the country feel of the bedspread and the heaviness of it; you know it's quality made and not a flimsy lightweight knock-off. Best of all it fits!
December 17, 2012
Substantial, soft, good-looking
This bedspread has the right combination of weight and softness. It stays in place, unlike quilted coverlets that slide off. It is soft and feels good, and we love the simple traditional look.
December 9, 2012
Comfort and style
Very attractive and decorative. Washes well, all in all a great value.
November 6, 2012
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Bill Kirby
STONEY POINT - Fire!
Wake up!
"Most people do not realize the power of fire," says Freddy Johnson, 60, who presides as chief over Stoney Point Fire Department Stations 13 and 19 in west Fayetteville. "And a byproduct of combustion is ... deadly smoke."
It's a visual and often all-engulfing killer - and a silent assassin, too.
Every home and business and dwelling, Johnson says, should be equipped with a smoke detector, and you don't just hear the plea in his voice, you see it in the fire chief's eyes.
"It is," Johnson says about smoke inhalation, "theleading cause" of fire deaths.
It's the gases of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen cyanide, phosgene, and, singularly or collectively, the components of a killer.
"It's the smoke," says Ben Major, 51, the city fire chief, "that a person will succumb to just about every time."
Randy Beeman, 56, the county fire marshal, offers a reminder that where you find smoke, you'll find fire.
"A smoke alarm is designed to give you that critical early warning in the event of fire," Johnson says. "A working smoke alarm may allow you and your family sufficient or just enough time to reach safety and get out" of a burning home.
Beeman echoes Johnson.
"He is right," Beeman says. "It is a tool designed to do what it says ... to alert and preserve life."
You can find smoke detectors, battery operated or electrically installed, in an array of price ranges.
Most are moderately priced, and the truth be told, many fire stations will provide smoke detectors for those in legitimate need.
"Basically," Beeman says of available county smoke detectors funded through grants, "they are available at county fire departments, if you don't have the means."
But a smoke detector, any firefighter will tell you, serves no purpose if you are not vigilant in monitoring its performance, such as replacing batteries.
"We ask that citizens test their smoke alarms monthly and change the batteries twice a year," Major says. "Or at least when you reset your clocks for daylight saving (time)."
And a smoke sensor, any firefighter will tell you, can save your life.
"That is the key to survival," Major says. "It just takes a trace of smoke to activate a smoke detector."
It's an alert to fire.
It's a wake-up call in the middle of the night and in the slumber of snooze or the depth of sleep.
"I preach and preach, and people don't listen," says Johnson, who would far rather tell you about the importance of smoke detectors than the awards on his office wall.
"We had 78 fire fatality deaths in North Carolina in 2012, and a working home fire alarm would of made a difference in many of those lives lost," Johnson says. "Every family should have and practice home fire safety."
Freddy Johnson has fought hundreds upon hundreds of fires in his 36-year career with the Stoney Point Volunteer Fire Department, and this he knows for sure.
Fire is powerful.
Smoke is deadly.
"And," Johnson says, "you will not survive black smoke."
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CHASE supports families with life-limited children and teenagers throughout South West London, Surrey and Sussex Learn more about CHASE hospice care for children...
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23 Decorating Tricks for Your Bedroom
A gallery of simple ideas to make your slumber zone dreamy.
Pile on the Pillows
Pile on the pillows, and don't shy away from mixing patterns. Combine large prints with small ones, florals with geometrics.
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AMEET inspires children's imagination
Ameet was established in 1991 as a publishing house orientated to creating activity books for children at preschool and early school age.
Since the very beginning we have been working hard to expand our publishing offer, which today includes: a wide range of activity books, educational books, the "Paint with Water" books, the Disney MAGIC ENGLISH series supporting English language learning, the "Read and Listen" book series with CDs, young children literature and books for older children.
We create for children, inspired by children
Children are the most appreciative and at the same time the most demanding customers. Their development is extremely important to us. It is our primary objective to create books filled with captivating activities and new amazing ideas especially for them to learn, play and develop their imagination.
Quality matters most
We always do our best to make our books meet the requirements of our Customers - the young ones and their parents, as well. Therefore we put the utmost attention to maintain the high quality of our products. This is the reason why our Customers are so willing and happy to buy books with Ameet's logo.
For us, there can be no better recommendation.
Enjoy the many happy moments with our books!


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11195 Chalet Rd (North Saanich/Deep Cove), Victoria, British Columbia, V8L 5M1
As a member of the BC Wine Institute, we are held to a high standard. The BC VQA designation is your assurance that the wine you're purchasing is 100% from BC and has met quality regulations.
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- Is refractive surgery an option if I have keratoconus? Is refractive surgery an option if I have keratoconus? Keratoconus is a condition that is progressive condition and leads to irregular corneal shape due to thinning of the cornea typically on the inferior cornea. There is usually a history of eye rubbing since early childhood, but the exact onset and mechanism ... Read more
- Why Is The Curve Of The Cornea Important For Lasik Surgery Why Is The Curve Of The Cornea Important For Lasik Surgery Corneal curvature, the curve of the clear window of the eye, is important in determining a good Lasik surgery candidate. When correcting myopia, nearsighted eyes, it is not recommended to flatten the cornea past a certain degree. In ... Read more
- Preservative Free Artificial Tears After Lasik Surgery Preservative Free Artificial Tears After Lasik Surgery In general, preservative free artificial tears are recommended for the first six to eight weeks following Lasik surgery. The reasoning for no preservatives during the initial healing period is that a large percentage of the population can get ocular irritation with preserved artificial tears. ... Read more
- Free Sunglasses? Free Sunglasses? Yep, Book a Free Lasik, Get Your Free $50 Sunglasses Gift Card! We're giving away sunglasses so whether you like you a classic look or need something functional while you golf, sail or riding your bike we carry all styles, from sporty-to-classic to very high end. Check out some of our ... Read more
- When Is LASIK Surgery Not Recommended? When Is Lasik Surgery Not Recommended? Lasik surgery is generally not recommended for patients presenting with non correctable vision problems. Non correctable vision problems may include any condition where the vision cannot be corrected to a useful degree with either glasses, contacts, or refractive surgery (Lasik/PRK). Lasik is usually ... Read more


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Charlotte Swimming Pool Hotels + Boutique Hotels + SHERATON HOTELS
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