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Filmmaker ('Fahrenheit 9/11'), author ('Stupid White Men'), citizen ('United States of America').
"Django Unchained" is one of the best film satires ever. A rare American movie on slavery and the origins of our sick racist history. Wow.
NY Times:Spike Lee's critical comments on "Django Unchained" have in turn drawn a host of critics.
Huffingon Post:Quentin Tarantino has already work with A-list stars like Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio, but he's not stopping there. In an interview with Charlie Rose, the "Django Unchained" director said he...
Entertainment Weekly:You've seen their lists of best and worst movies of the year — now take a look at EW critics Owen Gleiberman and Lisa Schwarzbaum's picks f...
Wall Street Journal:Quentin Tarantino's latest film, "Django Unchained," was the weekend's biggest new release, beating out the musical "Les Miserables," but it failed to dislodge 'The Hobbit: an Unexpected Journey'...
MSNBC:The dwarfs and elves of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" prevailed over the weekend, as its $32.9 million in ticket sales topped both the star-packed musical "Les Miserables" and the western ...
LA Times:The actor, returning as Boyd Crowder on 'Justified,' recently went from cowboy boots in 'Django Unchained' to high heels in a 'Sons of Anarchy' guest spot.
Entertainment Weekly:Despite the arrival of two holiday heavyweights, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey retained the top spot at the box office for the third weekend in a row. Wa...
Huffingon Post:Snowstorms in the northeast may be limiting moviegoing attendance this weekend, but inclement weather won't stop Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf from ringing in the New Year in style.
LA Times:As marine consultant on Ang Lee's film, shipwreck survivor and 'Adrift' author Steven Callahan gave the allegorical tale a real-world foundation.
LA Times:The California chef is host of 'The United States of Bacon,' a traveling TV show that seeks out the many ways the savory meat is consumed nowadays.In the TV food show arena, bacon is the new black.
Chicago Tribune:Whether by traditional or technological methods, violin-makers strive to match work of old mastersFor 500 years, violin-makers have crafted their instruments by hand.
CBS News:The authority on color announced the green hue as the color of 2013
MSNBC:Jennifer Lawrence may be an Oscar-nominated actress, but given the opportunity, she'd rather relax at home than walk a red carpet. Appearing on the January cover of Marie Claire South Africa, the...
MSNBC:A great movie poster should sell the movie and make you inscribe the film's opening date in your mind. Admittedly, some of these posters, even the good ones, fail at that.
MSNBC:So, did Adam Lambert really want to play Jean Valjean or something? The " American Idol" alum was pretty harsh about the "Les Miserables" cast's vocal skills, tweeting Sunday that the music ...
LA Times:Plenty of films waffle toward the exit this season, much to filmgoers' chagrin. Tom Hooper, Ang Lee and Steven Spielberg have their own reasons.The filmgoer was noticeably upset.
Saladin AmbarHuffingon Post Entertainmnet Blog
In Django Unchained there is such an avalanche of horrific violence and gore that I found the movie pulling off what I thought impossible. It made the horror of slavery unremarkable.
Rodney BarnesHuffingon Post Entertainmnet Blog
The film is a well-acted, directed and a cinematic and aural feast, yet Tarantino's Django remains hotly debated among black intellectuals. And when it comes to why this is such a lightning rod, I...
QuoraHuffingon Post Entertainmnet Blog
This question originally appeared on Quora. Answer by Mark Hughes, screenwriter and Forbes blogger I think the films that were the biggest letdowns after the...
Kenya (Robinson)Huffingon Post Blog
Django Unchained is a film that in spite of, or maybe because of the veracity of its violence, imagines black womanhood™ beyond the superhuman stoic into a paradigm of the pretty.
Hollee Actman BeckerHuffingon Post Entertainmnet Blog
You know what word the magazine used to describe Bethenny? Driven. And they said it like it was a bad thing. Here's why I have a problem with this: Because I have a daughter.
Jason ApuzzoHuffingon Post Entertainmnet Blog
As we celebrate 2012 in film, it's fitting that we honor movies that affirm the very liberty that makes our art, our traditions of free speech, and our democratic form of government possible.


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The new NYLO Dallas South Side hotel (1325 S. Lamar St.) offers two dining experiences. The Terrace Bistro and lobby bar, located on the first floor, has a chic loft vibe. The space is adorned with exposed concrete and bright jewel tones. Wooden tables and plush leather seats line the back wall, whe ... More >>
Patrick MichelsI thought I was lucky back in 2009 when The Boston Beer Company sent a sample-sized bottle of the remarkable but ruinously expensive Samuel Adams Utopias. But in drumming up pub for the 2011 release, the company outdid itself and sent a full 24-ounce decanter, along with a fine Rie ... More >>
A few befuddled wine writers, trying to untangle the mystery of why more drinkers don't demand Madeira, have posited the fortified wine's been done in by a storied past. They wonder if tales of Benjamin Franklin knocking back bottles while negotiating the purchase of cannons to fend off Redco ... More >>
Wine experts have pretty much given up the annual tradition of naming the perfect wine for Thanksgiving, acknowledging the array of flavors on the table -- and diverse palates assembled around it -- mean a good case can be made for just about any varietal. But if I was doing the beverage buy ... More >>

subset: commoncrawl


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The ring was the perfect size for my fianc�e's finger but the diamond on top was not set very well. The diamond fell out within the first month of her owning it.
Was not happy diamond missing, was to big, But it was a beautiful set
Diamond fell out with in the first two weeks was not set good
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Barehanded fishing in frigid waters, wacky sled race competition, and some good ol' fashion ice fishing. What an awesome way to spend a weekend in South Korea as I miss my Canadian winters.
This weekend I decided to go on a group trip to see the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival. It started off early with waking up at 6am on Saturday in order to get to Hongdae University to catch the bus. There were about 25 people in the group, but it was a quiet 2.5 hour ride to get to Hwacheon. It was a great windless winter day with perfectly blue skies. The first activity on the agenda was ice fishing. They stock the river with thousands of Sancheoneo (River Trout) that they truck in, so it's not uncommon to see people with 2-4 fish each. Before you are ushered onto the foreigner only area (VIP treatment or segregation?) they hand you a little plastic "fishing rod" with a basic lure attached. Then you claim your hole out of the hundreds drilled in the ice, and will get some pointers from volunteers on the proper technique for catching the fish. They are really helpful, but also really critical of your form, so make sure you listen carefully! Unfortunately for us, we didn't catch any fish, but I joked to my girlfriend, Jen, that I was just saving my luck for the other events we had lined up for the day.
Click here for the full weekend write up
1 response to Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival – South Korea
Theresa said on February 4, 2014
Hi, Mike.
I watched your youtube video of this festival.
I am a staff of it and I want to know your email address
for foreing bloggers.
My email address is email@example.com.
Thank you and hope sooner reply.^^
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- Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
- Release Date: Apr 17, 2012
- Also On: PC, PlayStation 3
User Score
Generally favorable reviews- based on 680 Ratings
User score distribution:
Positive: 579 out of 680
Mixed: 38 out of 680
Negative: 63 out of 680
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Apr 15, 2013Amazing start but after the prologue the game goes down hill. More accurately it plumets off a cliff. The reason being, EVERY side quest is bugged or broken. A wonderful game just becomes tremendously frustrating. Your left wandering aimlessly for hours because there are no quest markers or the game won't register. Too bad.
Jun 30, 2012Just too choreographed, nothing new, too restrictive you cant walk through a couple of shrubs, map very small, not enough options during dialogue, not enough fighting moves, very basic, very disappointed.
Im giving it 1 out of 10, really its a 4, but we need to be realistic on the average user score here, some guys gave it 10, nothing is a ten they must be on glue!!!!
May 23, 2012This is one of the most disappointing game purchases I've ever made. I read all the positive reviews, and rushed to Best Buy to put down my $60. I wanted to love this game. Unfortunately, after playing for a few hours, I really hate the game. Here is why. First session of playing the game, I start the tutorial. I get to the part that requires throwing a bomb - and the control to throw the bomb DOES NOT WORK. And the tutorial will not advance until you throw the bomb. No way to cancel the tutorial....I google the issue, its a bug. Have to exit the game and loose my progress so far. Restart the game, and have to replay 10 minutes of tutorial to get to the same point. 2nd play through the controls work.
That kind of bug getting through QA - just not acceptable.
Combat is another reason that I don't care for this game. There are too many cases where the combat is just no fun, and the controls seem to work against you. Specifically, if you use the lock-on feature - there is no rhyme or reason as to which enemy you will attack - and using the feature often has you diving into the middle of several enemies and quickly dying. Second, as you walk through the world - you will randomly get dropped into a group of mobs - and have very little chance of surviving the encounter. During these encounters - its not a question of playing well. You simply get overwhelmed by the number of enemies and you die. You then have to wait 1-2 minutes while the game stops, tells you you are dead, and you have to reload your most recent save. A poor design decision that really takes you out of the game. And since dying seems to happen fairly regularly, this process amounts to an unecessary frustration. There are plenty of other RPGs, that have a better design so that dying is a sign of challenge - but doesn't lead to anger and frustration. Next, is the quest and map system. At multiple points in the first chapter - you will be left clueless as to where you have to go to move the quest along. Sometimes the map will show you a general direction - but at others it gives no useful information. So you will spend 30-40 minutes wandering around cursing trying to figure out how to advance the quest and the game. Worse, however, is a quest system that actually breaks a main quest into 2-3 separate quests in your quest log. And, its unclear that you have to finish multiple separate quests before trying to tackle the boss fight at the end of the quest chain. So, in my case - I'm in a boss fight that I cannot win - because i didn't realize I need to finish a separate quest to manufacture a special trap. So....I can basically lose 2-3 hours of gameplay; or, I can stop playing the game.
Finally, I spent way too much time watching cut scenes that are meant to convey the complex story. With brief forays into actually playing the game. Followed by a lot more cut scenes. Followed by a brief amount of game play.
Don't get me wrong - there is an interesting and complex story in this game. But, too many of the developer's design decisions make actually playing the game a frustrating and un-fun proposition. I enjoyed the story - but I never enjoyed playing the game. The combat controls work against you, and the quest design and map/UI are confusing and useless multiple times in the first chapter.
I don't mind a challenge, or dying. I enjoy demon souls | dark souls. I do mind a game that has poor design choices, and pulls you out of the game too frequently. After getting into the boss fight w/no chance of winning without significant back tracking - I'm going to trade the game in.… Expand
May 30, 2012I agree with what many of the negative reviews have said: the game is very linear, you can't walk off a 3-inch ledge and are constantly walled in, the combat is usually awkward and many times consists of rolling around avoiding enemies while your health regenerates (TERRIBLE choice for an RPG IMO), the potion system is annoying, and the lack of loot/equipment/customization is disappointing for a supposedly hardcore RPG.
But all of that *could* be forgiven, because as far as I'm concerned, whether you like W2 will come down to one thing: how much you're invested/interested in the story. I can appreciate that there's a complex story here, but I absolutely don't care about it or any of the characters. Also, for all the comments about how great and mature this game's writing is, I think in many places it's sloppy and juvenile. It has bizarrely anachronistic language for a game that's supposed to be in some alternate universe Middle Ages-type setting. Also, saying "cocksucker" a bunch isn't mature writing, it's how a college freshmen writes when they're trying to come off as older and edgy. Oh, and the sex scenes are laughably bad. So for me, W2 is a big disappointment, and I really tried to like it. In fact, I almost bought a gaming PC just so I could play this when it came out. Obviously it was a good decision not to do that.… Expand
Jan 16, 2013The Witcher 2 was the game I most waited for in 2012 and it has been revelead as the great deception of 2012. This game is hollow, boring combat system, characters with no charism, stupid levelling system (which it doesnt matter how much you fight, you'll only level up with quests). It was a really pain in the ass to finish this game and I got rid of it fast enough.
May 9, 2012Very disappointing game. By and large you play the game on rails, you can wander a bit around the location you're currently in, but thats it. An example would be in a wood, where you can't leave the predefined paths - you may be the mighty witcher, but you cant cross a small bush to a path you can see just the other side of it, you have to wind your way around the predefind paths. Hope you're psychic too, because the potions you need for combat you have to take before you even know a combat encounter is coming. Expect to lose a fight, restart, take your potions then fight all over again. Frustrating and spoils the flow of the game. You'll need some ear plugs too, because there is loads and loads and loads of unecessary swearing. It may give the teens a giggle, but it starts to feel like the spongebob 'spicy language' episode after a while and just gets tedious and faintly ridiculous. Expect lots of americanisms in the broadly british voice acting. Lost of good welsh, scots, irish and english voiceovers, but hearing them say words like "holler'ing" instead of "shouting" just spoils the medieval atmosphere completely. Oh and don't worry, the hero has an american accent. Bottom line, I sold this game just three days (and about 5 hours gaming) after buying it. Maybe I was spoilt by Oblivion and Skyrim, but I found I even preferred Divinity to Witcher2.… Expand
May 24, 2012This game will suck the soul out of anyone who has one.. i didnt even get out of my training path tree because i thought my mind might implode. I cant see how someone would enjoy a game like this.. I certainly wanted to but You dont really play it you just watch it and interact when it says press A button now Tap x Button.. zzzzzzzz zzz zzz zz z God am i alive ? The adult theme is a step in the right direction but at its best its just Another tedious bloated unsatisfying rpg.. If the game world was seamless it could be a success.. unfortunately walking through doors watching loading screens watching cutscene after cutscene is akin to watching paint dry, crack and peel off. This game is just one sigh after another. combat is slightly better than skyrim.. not saying much though. In fact its a disgrace. Skyrims was possibly the worst i have experienced.. This type of game with its cutscene extravaganza is the death, scourge and plague of modern day games.. Dont be fooled by the high scores theres a lot of very very special people out there..… Expand
May 24, 2012A good concept that falls short in execution and game play. The story is interesting and original with some wonderous landscapes. Unfortunetely, the controls and battles are so complicated as to make the game near unplayable. Combat is performed through a series of trigger pulls and adjustments of the camera, all while keeping an eye on all opponents to figure out your counter attack timing, whether you should parry or dodge, as well as random alerts all over the screen. While one or two opponents are managable, a gaggle of foes will turn your experience into a wild slugfest, and the auto-save feature is unforgiving. Expect to die often and replay several stages over again. This game also suffers from being too closely tied into the first one, making you feel left out of conversations between characters, especially when given dialogue options. Overall, great idea that needed more work before finding its way to shelves.… Expand
Jun 14, 2012Absolutely atrocious. Doesn't live up to the hype, not by a long shot. Okay, after seeing the visually stunning and intriguing trailer aired for this game and reading the overwhelmingly positive reviews, I was very excited to pick this game up and dive in. I don't think I could have been more disappointed. First off, the stunning visuals displayed in the trailer were replaced by "pretty good" visuals in the game itself.
When being compared to other games of this generation I give it's visuals a 7 out of 10. Actually, to be entirely honest with you I thought this was the game's strongest point. That was the first thing I noticed. Then came the control mechanics. Which to put it lightly where awkward and confusing with no natural flow and ease of use. The menus were even worse. For every minute spent in-game another three were spent in the terribly difficult and slow to navigate menus. But let us step away from the quickly frustrating controls and menus before I go into a fit of maniacal rage on the subject. (We'll save that for later.)
On now to the choppy, absolutely unnatural, and unimaginative dialog. I mean come on! I've seen more imaginative exchanges in episodes The Telitubbies! And they don't even use complete sentences! To be honest I wish I would have picked up a non-English version. I probably would've gotten more out of it!
After about 3 hours of hoping that the awesomeness that everyone was raving about was going to reveal itself, I couldn't take anymore abuse. I felt that blood pressure had doubled and my IQ had been halved. I'd had enough. It was with the excitement of someone that's found a dead rat in their home that I removed the disk from my console. I'm still sick about the $60 and 3 hours of my life that I'll never get back because of this disappointment. All in all, if Atari would have put half the vision and effort into the game as they did into the trailer they may have had something. And that's all I've got to say about that.… Expand
Very poor game. I can only think there be people paid to write hundreds of good reviews- I don't understand why this game is highly rated.
The combat- lousy. Hack, slash, roll, throw a magic spell- and the notion of 'preparing' for combat by drinking such and such potion when facing such and such foes doesn't work when those foes appear out of nowhere. The quest pointer system doesn't work- of the 23 hours I spent playing this lousy game half of that time was spent running around in circles. No NSEW compass indicator, etc. You cannot jump over things, so to get over that foot high rock means backtracking down the path and hunting for an area where you are allowed to jump or climb. As for the story- I didnt buy the game for a good story, I bought it for a good RPG experience- which it is not.
This game will soon appear in bargain bins, and makes game ratings on the internet highly suspect, if a piece of crap like this can get so many good reviews. BTW- I loved Oblivion, fallout 3, fallout NV, skyrim (i prefer oblivion though) and was very disappointed with the Witcher 2.… Collapse
Oct 5, 2012This game is awful. Really, just awful. Pretty much everything that reviewers inexplicably cite as something good about the game is actually horribly done. For the 360 version, let's get started with the graphics. Of course they weren't going to be as good as the PC version, but this looks worse than games that came out five years ago. It's not an open world game like Skyrim, so it doesn't have the excuse of bigness. And believe me, it's not big. Definitely the most annoying part of the game, if not the worst, is the fact that you will spend a solid majority of your time running back and forth around the same, small areas of generic, small maps. This is largely due to the positively unhelpful overworld map you are given. It just straight up does not give you an accurate picture of what's up. But it's also because the level design is plain banal. The world made by CD Projekt is a pain to be in.
Besides this, the gameplay is crap. It's just not fun. It's like a half-assed version of Assassin's Creed or Dark Souls gameplay. It's overly simplistic, button mashing, and boring. That it's this weak and generic is puzzling considering that 'deep tactical gameplay' was often a praised, even when it's not present.
But the biggest sin performed by The Witcher 2 is it's stupid, stupid story. The writing and characters completely fail to pull you in, and the world they illustrate is too unoriginal to be called generic. The main plot follows Geralt, who is a stand-in for every greasy, pale loser who ever wished he could score, as he follows a trail of murders and political intrigue, somehow unable to convey any depth of either the main character or the events that surround him. It's not even close to "dark" or "mature". Really, nothing about the game is. I guess some people were too distracted by the blood and naked women to notice.… Expand
Jan 15, 2013This game is a shame to programmers ! Yes, it has fantastic graphics, animations and story line. But they forgot the basics : YOU CANNOT RELEASE A GAME SO FULL OF BUGS.
I finished the tutorial, prologue and little bit of the first chapter and already had 2 (!) crashes, 1 killing animation that was out of context (the background has changed, dead people lived etc.) and many small irritating UI bugs (jumping mouse, too insensitive mouse etc).
I loved the first game and hoped the second one will also be so great but had a disappointment. The special effects and graphics cannot cover for the terrible bugs… Expand
Apr 30, 2013One of the worst games I have every played There is nothing really good about this game apart from somewhat interesting characters and some sex scenes. But there is a tone of bad things about this game. The map is terrible and confusing to follow selling items at the shop is you will sell like 50 items and get about 1 or 2 money out of it, the combat is bad rolling and blocking sucks as it takes about 5 secs and buy the time you have done that the enemies have hit you, there is no variety in weapons just two swords no bows,hammers,staffs ect....
The world is crap,no fast travel you have to climb up and down rock and there is no exploring just a one path world. The story is boring and the side quests are and there are a fear few bugs plus the graphics are not that good and bad to look at.
Overall this game is and boring and one of the worst games I have every seen and played.
2/10… Expand
Jan 2, 2014TERRIBLE CONTROLS, REPETITIVE COMBAT...
...Many people are suggesting that the Witcher offers subtle, layered gameplay that's complex, tactical and realistic. In reality the controls are infuriating and unpredictable. You will spend most of your time rolling around in elaborate semi-circles on the ground like some drug-crazed loon with a big sword strapped to your back. If you want a game that simulates epileptic fits then the Witcher may be for you. The lock-on mechanic will get you killed the Witcher cannot strafe, he cannot side-step a foe. He does roll though, and that's about it. Anyone who's used to the fluid, natural sword-play of a Zelda game or even Prince of Persia will be left reeling and yes, I know those games are easier but they play well and that's the point.
There is real ambition in the story-telling and the cut-scenes dramatic talking heads that easily rival Mass Effect but the play is in the controls and they are distinctly rubbish. Save your money, the Witcher 2 is a huge disappointment.… Expand
Aug 7, 2013This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I want to make this clear: I am not writing this review to troll or to be unique or edgy (since this is considered an amazing game). This is truly my opinion, and my opinion is that this is an over-rated game in every regard.
The combat is boring, and it mostly just resorts to button mashing. There are no reasons to use your silver sword, as both your weapons deal pretty much the same damage even to monsters. There are also massive difficulty spikes that are simply unfair and punishing.
I do not understand why the story has gotten so much praise. It pretty much just boils down to trying to find a guy that kills kings, while also trying to save your kidnapped girlfriend. In between, you have sex a lot. Some NPCs are put into the game for the soul purpose of providing a sex scene.
There is one scene in the game where you fall into a tomb with Triss, your girlfriend. You say that she needs a bath, and proceed to have a 5 minute long sex scene. Also, why do you have so much sex with other women when you always proclaim that you love Triss and will stop at nothing to get her back?
Also, why am I supposed to care if King Foltest is assassinated? I've been with that character for 20 minutes for the prologue, and then he dies. He was the motivation for chasing down the kingslayer, but I have absolutely no emotional attachment to him. It's hard to care about a story when you're unattached to what's going on in said story.
There are some moments of greatness in this game in which the game shows that it could actually start ramping up, perhaps becoming exciting. The prologue for instance was one of the best levels in any game I've seen. It's too bad that that level was squandered because the rest of the game is so boring and offers little in the way of rewards.
In conclusion, I believe that this game might be among the most overrated games of our generation. I simply don't get it. I don't understand how this game has garnered critical acclaim, but I respect that people enjoy it. This game is just not for me perhaps.… Expand
Oct 1, 2013Although i started playing this game with a lot of enthusiasm it really didn't deliver the experience i thought it would give.
Lot's of cut-scenes, loads upon loads of dialogue, a good share of technical issues, a horrible in game menu, a frustrating map system, all wrapped up in a very boring and uninteresting story to say the least...
Don't buy this game, it's a waste of both your money and your time.… Expand
Feb 9, 2014This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is a warning to anyone that may be on the fence about buying this game. ITs not as good as the reviewers are making it out to be. The story is very confusing ( I guess playing the first would help, but then I guess they should have released the first one too). The combat is a terrible mess and it will cause you to die a lot. I don't mind dying( I am a big fan of Dark Souls), but this combat system seems broken. The menus are also some of the worst I have ever seen in a game. I didn't know how half of the things worked. And the "mature" content that everyone is talking about seems pretty damn juvenile to me. I mean, is **** and asses on the **** screen what goes for mature story telling nowadays? I would certainly hope not.
I mean, was the constant nudity really necessary? It just seemed like the same **** "shock" techniques that Rockstar uses to make their **** games seem good. Its just a ploy to get low-minded people interested in or sorry game. "Hey look, this game as T&A in it! Its so **** mature, we are really acting like adults by playing this!" It really goes to show how stupid people have really become. A game need only to have a complex story and interesting character to be mature, not bloody T&A!
Oh, and one more thing, the quest layout is broken. I lost all my progress, when I went to a boss fight, and lost because I hadn't got some stupid trap. Why the **** couldn't they just tell me to get the trap first. I mean, Skyrim tells you the order things need top be done in. And I am not talking about holding my hand( like I said, I am a fan of Dark Souls), but don't stab me in the damn back either.
Well, that's all I got to say. I raged quit soon after losing to that boss and haven't played since. If my words haven't detoured you, at least rent first. It will make taking it back a lot easier. =/… Expand
Dec 27, 2013What a waste of money! I've never wanted to throw a game in the garbage before! Luckily I only paid $30. But that is still way too much money for this piece of crap! I gave it a 1 for the sole reason that it actually booted up!
Very poor game. I can only think there be people paid to write hundreds of good reviews- I don't understand why this game is highly rated.
The combat- lousy. Hack, slash, roll, throw a magic spell- and the notion of 'preparing' for combat by drinking such and such potion when facing such and such foes doesn't work when those foes appear out of nowhere. The quest pointer system doesn't work- of the 23 hours I spent playing this lousy game half of that time was spent running around in circles. No NSEW compass indicator, etc. You cannot jump over things, so to get over that foot high rock means backtracking down the path and hunting for an area where you are allowed to jump or climb. As for the story- I didnt buy the game for a good story, I bought it for a good RPG experience- which it is not.
This game will soon appear in bargain bins, and makes game ratings on the internet highly suspect, if a piece of crap like this can get so many good reviews. BTW- I loved Oblivion, fallout 3, fallout NV, skyrim (i prefer oblivion though) and was very disappointed with the Witcher 2.… Collapse
Jul 13, 2012Witcher 2 is a throwback in a lot of ways to old PC games, which certainly appeals to me. The delivery method is modern, no doubt, but the fact there's a lot of poking and prodding (and death) that happens even early on has me anxious for another instalment.
Jun 26, 2012The high bar of visuals is followed by a good score, and descent acting, some of the spell and combat audio has a edge to it that sounds lower quality then the rest of the audio landscape.
Jun 17, 2012The Xbox 360 port is an impressive technical accomplishment that brings a classic PC RPG experience to a new audience. The transition is not flawless, but those who stick with it will be rewarded with an intriguing and entertaining experience.


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WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (AP) - The Greenbrier and eight unions representing more than 1,000 workers have agreed to a five-year contract.
The vote Friday was 549-37 in favor of ratification. The resort and union leaders signed the agreement after the vote.
"I don't know if it's the highest percentage in favor of a contract in the history of our unions, but I know it's the highest during my tenure here," Peter Bostic, business manager for Workers United Local 863, told the Register-Herald ( http://bit.ly/V6UBo8) of Beckley.
The new contract goes into effect immediately. The old contract was to end Thursday.
Owner Jim Justice said the agreement is an important milestone for the sprawling, high-end resort.
"It speaks volumes for the resort's longevity and the strong partnership we have established with our more than 1,200 hard-working employees at The Greenbrier," Justice said in a statement.
Justice bought The Greenbrier out of bankruptcy in 2009 for $20.1 million. He also rescued the Wintergreen Resort in Virginia's Nelson County.
Information from: The Register-Herald, http://www.register-herald.com
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


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Buddhey itna kyu khanstey hein?
Tags: buddhey itna, kyu khanstey
Asked by Piaa, 17 Sep '13 04:48 pm
Earn 10 points for answering
Answers (9)
Yeh toh sirf hamari films mein zyada nazar aata hai.Answered by mohanbirsingh ghura, 17 Sep '13 04:59 pm
Yahi ek nishani hai bahut bimar hone ki.
Yahi ek nishani hai bahut bimar hone ki.
Aur kuchh to kar nai patey naaa,Answered by sushil trivedi, 17 Sep '13 04:53 pm
May be to appear to be happyAnswered by rajnikant raiyarela, 17 Sep '13 04:49 pm
Majboori hai , lungs weak hotey hain.Answered by Tiaa, 17 Sep '13 04:48 pm
Buddhey words use karna Indian sanskrati nahi hain ,piaa betiAnswered by Balveersingh Lodha, 18 Sep '13 10:16 am
kya aap apneke pita sahamat hain.
kya aap apneke pita sahamat hain.
Pata nhi abhi to main jawan honAnswered by urfi rizvi, 17 Sep '13 05:57 pm
As the age advances, mucus starts depositing in the air pipes and lungs. That makes it difficult to breathe and by coughing effort is made to clear the air passage. Finally it results in total blockage leading to deathAnswered by Vikram, 17 Sep '13 05:18 pm
Our body systems are designed like this
Our body systems are designed like this
They are carefreeAnswered by anil garg, 17 Sep '13 05:13 pm
Kyonki Ubke Poore Body Ka System Hil Chuka Hota HaiAnswered by Nagendra Ved, 17 Sep '13 04:53 pm
Jawaani Mein Hi :-)
Jawaani Mein Hi :-)


text:
My Blog
The Most Frightening Takeaway From The Historic Fed Decision
Today one of the most highly respected fund managers in Singapore spoke with King World News about the most frightening takeaway from yesterday's historic Fed decision. Grant Williams, who is portfolio manager of the Vulpes Precious Metals Fund, also discussed the impact of the Fed's decision on major markets such as gold. Below is what the the acclaimed fund manager had to say in this fascinating interview.
Eric King: "Grant, I wanted to get your thoughts on the Fed's decision not to taper yesterday. I think it shocked a lot of people around the world."
Williams: "Yes it did, Eric. I'm not sure it should have, but it's a question of degree. People were shocked the Fed was not going to taper $10-$15 billion per month, which would still have left them with $70-$75 billion of QE each month, and this is still an awful lot of money to be printing out of thin air.
But the fact that the Fed didn't taper sends all kinds of terrible messages about the state of things, and I suspect it will take the markets a couple of days to digest that reality....
Continue reading the Grant Williams interview below...
To hear which company has one of the highest grade gold deposits
in the entire world, as well as a number of other
extraordinary projects click on the logo:
"So far we have seen a little bit of short covering and muted euphoria in the markets, but I think that once participants realize that the Fed is not tapering, it will cast a terrible pall over what they see as the state of the economy, and I think we could see a fall in the markets.
If that fall in the markets happens I think it's a problem. It's clear the Fed hasn't tapered because they are concerned about a bunch of things, but primarily the possibility of a 3% yield on the 10-Year Treasury. If we have dropped ourselves into some 'twilight world,' where 3% on the 10-Year is a problem, then I think that's the clearest sign of the trouble we are now facing."
Eric King: "Bill Fleckenstein said to KWN yesterday that if there is a perception that the Fed is going to lose control of the bond market, 'All hell could break loose.' You were just talking about a 3% yield, and the U.S. being unable to handle that, but it was almost like the Fed panicked and thought, 'We can't even do any kind of tapering. We just need to keep this rolling.' Michael Pento then told KWN that historically the average on the 10-Year Note has been 7%, and asked: Why can't we handle even 3% without the Fed panicking and walking away entirely from tapering? Your thoughts, Grant?"
Williams: "At some point, by doing what they are doing, the Fed is going to lose control of the bond market. It's pretty clear right now that the Fed has certainly lost control of their monetary policy. The Fed can't taper because rates are going to rise, and any recovery they are seeing is going to get strangled.
So the Fed has really backed itself into a corner and it has put itself into a position where it can't do anything except for more of the same in the future. Bernanke is waffling and changing his stance on what happens. This sort of stuff is unprecedented, particularly with an outgoing Fed chairman who is essentially a lame duck.
Bernanke is now essentially setting policy for the incoming Fed chairman, and these are historic things which have never been tried before. But, ultimately, if you are relying on a policy that rates are going to be at zero percent until 2016 to keep the party going, I don't know how many people are foolish enough out there to believe that promise can't be broken at some point. If we get into 2014 and they need to raise rates, they are going to raise rates. The promise won't mean a thing.
So markets are going to digest this over the next couple of days, and once the short covering has died down, and once people take a good hard look at an economy that really isn't recovering, they are going to look at the position the Fed has backed itself into and the actions it has taken this week and realize that the Fed has now painted itself into a corner it can't get out of. They will realize that if the Fed doesn't buy the government bonds then nobody is going to buy them. Then people will start to really worry."
Eric King: "Grant, where do you see the gold market after this historic Fed decision?"
Williams: "Gold rose almost $60 yesterday. Logic and common sense would tell you that gold will continue to go higher. It's the only real beneficiary of this lack of tapering, which is unequivocally bullish for gold. So gold should go higher, and I certainly don't think yesterday's announcement has any negative connotations for gold whatsoever."
Williams added: "I think this is very, very important what the Fed didn't do yesterday. You brought up Bill Fleckenstein and what he has been saying, and he's been spot on and very consistent with his view for a long time. Sometimes these things take longer than you think to play out, but the Fed is now painted into a terrible corner here, and it's hard to see any way out for them that doesn't intentionally inflict a lot of pain on society.
And I just don't think they have the guts to do that, and I certainly don't think they have the political mandate to do it. So I think we are going to see more of the same, and the harder they push this (QE), and the less effect on the economy they have with it, the more dangerous it's going to be."
IMPORTANT - Powerful entities do not want people to have access to the news that KWN provides. As a result we have had a constant interference with the news feed on our home page. Simply reload the home page until you receive the news feed, or go straight into the KWN blog. You may need to clear your cache in order to see the latest news story. KWN readers can simply google "how to clear cache" if they are unfamiliar with how to do this.
© 2013 by King World News®. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. However, linking directly to the blog page is permitted and encouraged.
The audio interviews with Michael Pento, Eric Sprott, Andrew Maguire, Grant Williams, Stephen Leeb, Bill Fleckenstein, Pierre Lassonde, Dr. Paul Craig Roberts, Art Cashin, Egon von Greyerz and Marc Faber are available now. Also, other outstanding recent KWN interviews include Jim Grant and Felix Zulauf to listen CLICKING HERE.
Eric King
© 2013 by King World News®. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast,
rewritten, or redistributed. However, linking directly to the blog page is permitted and encouraged.
September 19, 2013


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A man, who many said would not walk again after a serious racing accident, made his way back to the Osceola Dragway Sunday on his own two feet.
Step by step, Ryan Gortney made his way to the field at the dragway to thank a med-flight crew for getting him to the hospital just in time on the day of his accident.
The med-flight chopper made a special stop there just to welcome Gortney back.
Back on June 3, Gortney's vehicle had a technical malfunction, which left him with neck and back fractures in 12 different places, a ruptured spleen and severe bruising.
"My wife my kids, all of them believed in me," said Gortney. From the time about 8 days in when I regained consciousness, and I could actually think, I was basically paralyzed from the chest down. They said 'Ryan, you may not walk again'. In my heart, I prayed, and I knew I was going to walk out of the hospital."
Gortney said he plans to return to racing as soon as his doctors sign off on it.


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A very even game.
At least the second team won, not easily but they won. Crediton never made it easy, with a strong pack and a solid lineout getting ball was never going to be easy.
The game was very even and by half time a penalty by each team was a fair reflection of the way the half went. Crediton missed a penalty inside the first thirty seconds, fortunately, then on ten minute they did get one. Matt Anstis put over our penalty on twenty minutes.
The problem was not enough ball to the backs, once again we had so much speed and ability in the backs we could kill most teams but without clean ball they could not do much.
In the scrums they were a little stronger nudging us backwards and stealing one against the head.
I always had the feeling in my water that we would win, their backs did not have much speed.
Twelve minutes into the second half we eventually we got a little snippet of luck, they were passing the ball along their line somewhere around the half way line, a wild pass went a long way in front of their receiving player, Phil Greenside snapped it up and accelerated away through the gap, they gave chase but with no chance of catching him, Phil went over south of the posts and around and touched down between them. Matt converted and we were 10~3 up. For the next eighteen minutes a quiet evenness came over the game again. Then Matt hit the post with a penalty attempt, their player caught it, started to run out under pressure, his mates shouted to touch it down for the twenty two, what they meant was to touch it down behind the try line, he, by this time was on the five meter line, so touch it down he did. "Knock on" went up the cry and we won a scrum, after a few attacks on their line we won another scrum on the other side, Stu Bartlett picked up under pressure and passed it to Matt, who by this time was playing at scrum half in place of Ryan Morris. Matt had the strength to make it to the line, the referee. with three defenders holding on to him, "Ball on the line" said Howard Coffey and he converted his own effort, 17~3. At this point we looked watertight, but Crediton did not give up and came back with a try and conversion. Not to be outdone we counter attacked a number of times, on the final attack the ball went to Shaun Pearson, a safe handler of the ball and dead straight runner with a surprising turn of speed and who always makes the yards. From about ten yards out he burst the defence, stopped short he had the reach to get the ball over the line. Matt added another conversion and we were 24 ~ 10 up with injury time to go. Again Crediton not waving the white flag put in a last attack and touched down in the top corner, the conversion went wide and the whistle went with it. 24 ~ 15.
Matt Anstis took man-of-the-match for a good try and a good day with the boot.
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You can find love through her songs
here welcome to: forums > animals > wild animals > can kangaroos be dangerous??
Wild Animals
Chat about your favorite wild animals and creatures in the Kidzworld Wild Animals forums.
Don't talk ABOUT me when I'm not here, because you weren't worthy of talking TO me when I was.
Don't talk negatively about other people's looks when you're too much of a coward to show your picture for others to do the same.
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A great online version of the famous Candy Crush. This is the best game launched...
Have you ever fancied being a ranger like those fantasy characters you love so m...
Millions of Students will be doing an Hour of Code with Tynker December 8th-14th...
You run across the city in a car chase with the police officers.
The evil master kidnapped all of your friends!


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Oct 3, 2011 9:48 AM by Lauren Wilson & AP
HOUMA, La. (AP) - Seven inmates are accused of starting a riot, which left two injured, at the Terrebonne Parish jail.
The fight, which happened Friday night, allegedly started during a dispute during a card game in the inmates' common area.
According to the Courier, the two injured inmates, 21-year-old Javon Davis and 52-year-old Kevin Jones, were taken to Leonard J. Chabert (shuh-BEHR') Medical Center. Terrebonne sheriff's Capt. Dawn Foret (fohr-AY') says one inmate had several teeth knocked out, while the other's jaw was bruised.
Deputies say a broom, which was left in the area along with other cleaning supplies, was used in the beating.
Davis and Jones have been released from the hospital. They are each booked with felony rioting and face a five-year prison sentence if convicted.
1 hour ago


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Emporia State encourages students to bring a computer to college. Computers are used for coursework, research, and communicating with instructors. The university's data network allows access from residence-hall rooms, and "ESU Wireless Zones."
Look for the ESU Wireless Zone placards in the common areas of most buildings on campus.
For instructions on configuring your computer for the ESU Wireless network, please follow the instructions at http://artemis/networking/wireless/default.aspx
The ESU Wireless Zone is accessible in White Library, Visser Hall, Physical Education building, the Earl Center, the Memorial Union, Roosevelt Hall, Beach Hall, King Hall, Plumb Hall, Science Hall, Cremer Hall and Towers Residence Complex.
Multimedia capable (sound, mic, webcam). (Optional depends on program)
Click her to learn more about browser requirements
The IT Helpdesk is available to assist students with many of their technology and computing needs. Services available to students include user account and password help, computer software and hardware consultation, virus and spyware removal, wireless connectivity issues, and residence hall network connectivity issues. The IT Helpdesk is also a beneficial resource for students who are unsure of where they can gain information regarding other technology and computing concerns. Listed below is the IT Helpdesk contact information and locations.
Please visit http://www.emporia.edu/it/help for our helpdesk hours.


text:
New York, 24 AUG: The proposed mosque near Ground Zero has got embroiled into a fresh controversy with the appearance of an interview of the Imam spearheading the project in which he said the: "US has more Muslim blood on its hands than Al Qaida has on its hands of innocent non-Muslims."
"We tend to forget, in the West, that the United States has more Muslim blood on its hands than Al Qaida has on its hands of innocent non-Muslims," Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf said in a question-and-answer session at Australia's Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre in 2005.
The interview was circulated by Investigative Project on Terrorism, which describes itself as a non-profit research group with the world's most comprehensive data centre on radical Islamic terrorist groups.
Imam Rauf pointed out that US-led sanctions against Iraq had led to the death of over half a million Iraqi children, which had been documented by the United Nations.
"When Madeleine Albright, who has become a friend of mine over the last couple of years, when she was Secretary of State and was asked whether this was worth it, she said it was worth it," the Imam told the audience.
"Collateral damage is a nice thing to put on a paper, but when the collateral damage is your own uncle or cousin, what passions do these arouse?" he said.
"How do you negotiate? How do you tell people whose homes have been destroyed, whose lives have been destroyed, that this does not justify your actions of terrorism? It's hard." Rauf also slammed the US government for supporting authoritarian regimes to further its foreign policy, which in turn had led to groups resorting to terrorism.
"Yes, it is true that it does not justify the acts of bombing innocent civilians, that does not solve the problem, but after 50 years of, in many cases, oppression, of US support of authoritarian regimes that have violated human rights in the most heinous of ways, how else do people get attention?," he said.
On Sunday, The New York Times pointed out a passage in Rauf's 2004 book, What's Right With Islam, which said that killing innocent civilians was not justified for any cause.
"The truth is that killing innocent people is always wrong ~ and no argument or excuse, no matter how deeply believed, can ever make it right. Islamic law is clearly against terrorism, against any kind of deliberate killing of civilians or similar 'collateral damage'," the Imam wrote.
Kuwait-born American citizen Rauf has asserted that Muslim community centre, which will include the mosque, is "a centre for all New Yorkers and its purpose is to interweave America's Muslim population into the mainstream society."
Abdul-Kareem said:
If you add together the civilian casualties from the first and second gulf wars, Afghanistan, Palestine, Pakistan and Yemen which were caused directly by the Americans or indirectly through sanctions or through their puppet rulers then you get a figure closer to 2 million Muslims killed.
America and its allies are therefore the real source of civilian casualties in the world not Muslims and this is why the Khilafah must be re-established so we can fight jihad and protect our ummah from this aggression.
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The Caine Mutiny (1954)
directed by
Edward Dmytryk
featuring Humphrey Bogart, José Ferrer, Van Johnson, Fred MacMurray, Robert Francis, May Wynn
Robert Francis is at the center of the story as Willis Keith, a newly-minted ensign assigned to the destroyer/minesweeper U.S.S. Caine during World ... Show synopsis Robert Francis is at the center of the story as Willis Keith, a newly-minted ensign assigned to the destroyer/minesweeper U.S.S. Caine during World War II. Soon after his arrival, the ship gets a new captain, Lt. Comdr. Philip Francis Queeg Humphrey Bogart, a tough, no-nonsense veteran officer who tries to turns the crew into proper sailors and the Caine into a tight ship, engendering resentment from some of the men and several of his officers. A veteran of difficult years of service for too long, Queeg has insecurities about himself, his command, and his career that begin to manifest themselves as spells of temper over small details that cause him to make mistakes. Lt.Keefer (Fred MacMurray), the glib-tongued communications officer, begins making suggestions to the ship's sincere but overburdened first officer, Lt. Steve Maryk (Van Johnson), that Queeg may have mental problems. Maryk initially rejects these suggestions, and tries to support the captain, but conditions deteriorate to the point where Maryk is forced to relieve Queeg of command, and is charged -- along with Keith, who supported him -- with mutiny. Enter Lt. Barney Greenwald (Jose Ferrer), a lawyer in civilian life, who reluctantly agrees to help them, mostly out of sympathy for the impossible predicament in which Maryk has found himself trapped. Bruce Eder, Rovi
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text:
After hacking at an American alligator with a machete, Corey Hardie posed for a picture with the dead reptile, state wildlife regulators said.
The 19-year-old's next mistake was texting the photo to his dad, Tim Hardie, 48, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The elder Hardie apparently didn't like what he saw and, on Sept. 17, he emailed the picture to officers at the commission. They began to investigate, ultimately ruling that the gator had been killed illegally.


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Cayman Net News was founded by veteran publisher and editor, Desmond Seales and began publishing in 1999 as a pioneering online news provider. Its phenomenal growth and early recognition as a leading authority on news from the Cayman Islands community, soon led to the establishment of a weekly print edition in tabloid format in March 2000. Six months later, it became a twice-weekly publication.
In 2001, Cayman Net News began publishing three times per week and went daily in 2003, publishing a wide variety of special features and supplements, including the weekly TV Guide, Lifestyle section and a weekly section on Cayman Brac.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, which devastated the Cayman Islands with its Category 4 winds and massive storm surge on September 12, 2004, Cayman Net News' website really came into its own. For a while, it was the sole, uninterrupted source for authoritative and reliable news from the Cayman Islands. This was accomplished only by the dedication of Mr. Seales and his staff in getting the news out for as long as communications lasted, without regard for personal safety and comfort. The importance of this is reflected in the over half-million page views the site received in a single day.
In addition, during the turbulent days and weeks after the hurricane, Mr. Seales provided hourly live reports to Sky TV in the United Kingdom by telephone until communications failed.
Cayman Net News' online edition became one of the top five most frequently accessed web sites for the Cayman Islands. Its online sister publication, Caribbean Net News, drew over one million visitors per month to its website.
In December 2005, the newspaper converted to broadsheet format and by 2007, with the acquisition of a local printing outfit, Cayman Net News began printing some sections of the paper at home in the Cayman Islands, rather than in Miami, Florida.
In 2008, Cayman Net News returned to a tabloid format, as the company began accelerating plans to print all its publications at home. The death of Mr. Seales, the newspaper's founder and publisher, dealt a severe blow to the newspaper's operations and with retrenchment at its operations, Cayman Net News continued publication, but as a weekly tabloid.
Today, the company is re-establishing itself and reclaiming its proud heritage as a hard-hitting, quality publication that provides readers in the Cayman Islands and beyond with comprehensive local and international coverage, insightful and analytical commentary and a wide range of sports, entertainment and lifestyle features.
Desmond Seales, MBE (November 3, 1938 – July 3, 2010
Founder and late editor and publisher of Cayman Net News
Desmond Seales was born in Trinidad and took up permanent residence in the Cayman Islands in 1968, following six years of residence in the Bahamas and five in Miami, Florida. He acquired Caymanian Status (citizenship) as of right in 1975.
He was the CEO, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Cayman Net News and also Chairman of MCM Consultants, a media communications management firm specialising in advising clients in public relations, marketing and advertising strategies. Mr. Seales operated other business enterprises including MCM Real Estate Consultants and The Printing Centre.
Alongside his business activities, he became involved in community outreach and was a founding member of the Jaycees and Lions Clubs of Grand Cayman. As Public Relations Officer for the Jaycees, Mr. Seales was instrumental in changing the then annual Farm Queen contest to the internationally accepted Miss Cayman Islands event.
Perhaps his most important contribution for the Jaycees was his work, along with other members, in advocating that the people of the Cayman Islands should have a Public Beach on the Seven Mile stretch along West Bay Road. This resulted in the Governor granting this magnificent asset to the people of the Cayman Islands.
Through his untiring efforts and determination as a publisher, Mr. Seales was responsible for putting the Cayman Islands on the map and in the libraries of the world, through his publishing efforts, particularly the venerable Nor'wester magazine, the first publication which chronicled the modern development of the Cayman Islands' society, infrastructure and its people. For his efforts, he was awarded the MBE by Her Majesty the Queen, in 1982.
Mr. Seales was a pioneer in developing and launching several other publications, including The Cayman Islands Handbook and Businessman's Guide; The Cayman Shopper and Pictorial; Cayman's first Holiday Guide; The Bracker and Little Caymanian magazine; Looking? – a tourism guide; Buccaneer, the national flag carrier's first in-flight magazine; The Pilot, a weekly tabloid newspaper; and a tribute to the Queen's 1983 visit to the Cayman Islands with a coffee table book entitled "Portraits of Majesty".
For many years, he also designed and produced the Government's Cayman Islands Gazette. Among other publications produced lately was the Quincentennial Celebrations of the Cayman Islands coffee table book, a number of cookbooks and other specially commissioned hardcover books.
From 1979 to 1981, Mr. Seales also published a magazine for the Caribbean region entitled, Caribbean Life and Times. The Caribbean was also served through his powerful daily on-line newspaper, Caribbean Net News.
A man of extraordinary publishing, public relations, marketing and communications skills, Mr. Seales was associated with many "firsts" in the Cayman Islands, including the introduction of broadcast television, CITV.
Through his vision and inimitable creativity, Mr. Seales was a tireless promoter and historian for "all things Caymanian".


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What's Up, Doc?
Whether it's the first time or just the annual physical, seeing the doctor isn't what it used to be. Dr. Ronda Rockett from Newton-Wellesley Hospital shares insights and tips when seeing your primary care physician.
- Artist: The Frugal Yankee
- Title: What's Up, Doc?
- Album: The Frugal Yankees
- Genre: Frugal Yankee
- Length: 9:29 minutes (10.91 MB)
- Format: MP3 Stereo 44kHz 160Kbps (CBR)
- Login to post comments
- Download audio file


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1/1 Photo of Pretzel Crusted Chicken Breast With Cheddar Cheesy Mustard Sauce
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This is NOT a Jessica Simpson recipe (she merely put it togehter... thanks houseblend for the advice...), but I love Jessica Simpson and trust her taste! It's gotta be easy if she can do it! She showed Rachael Ray (who owns the copyright to the recipe) how to put this dish together on Rachael's new show. Haven't tried it yet, but I'm sure I will in the next couple of weeks or so, then I will revise this description. Enjoy:
Serves: 4
chicken ...
Units: US | Metric
Serving Size: 1 (428 g)
Servings Per Recipe: 4
The following items or measurements are not included:
sour dill pickles
Make this season merry, bright and manageable with our easy ideas.


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How do you improve an impeccably tailored, perfectly fitting, unstructured Italian-made blazer? Knock a big ol' chunk off its price. E-tailer Liftluxe has two two-button cotton-linen blazers from L.B.M. 1911. Both feature notched lapels, patch pockets, side vents and functional button cuffs. And both are now 40% off. All sizes are still available.
For price and purchase info, visit Liftluxe.


text:
Linebach Funkhouser, Inc. (LFI) completed its annual 8-hour
refresher course of OSHA Standard 1910.120 on November 7, 2014. In
addition to current and previous LFI staff, attendees included
professionals from industry, government, and contractors. A total
of 34 persons attended the day long training session, which LFI has
offered annually since 2002.
The purpose of the training was to provide the required
continuing education for health and safety protocols for persons
who may have to perform work with hazardous materials. In addition
to standard topics such as site characterization, chemical hazards,
physical hazards, and personal protective equipment, two guest
speakers provided additional insight and information:
Doug Linebach of LFI thanked Sargent Robert Kaelin of the
Louisville Bomb Squad for their presentation and demonstration.
For additional information regarding health and safety training
services please contact Doug Linebach at (502) 895-5009.
The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce's upcoming
12th Annual
Kentucky Environmental
Conference on Feb. 20-21 in Lexington, KY will
include two presentations by Linebach Funkhouser, Inc. (LFI)
personnel. On February
21st, Bill
Johnston, Principal Geologist, will speak on
Soil and Groundwater Remediation
Issues and Case Studies. Also on
the 21st,
Roy Funkhouser, Principal,
is teamed with Shawn Cecil of the Kentucky Department for
Environmental Protection and Kelly Bartley of Bingham Greenebaum
Doll to give a Keynote Presentation on
Liability Protection Under Kentucky's
Brownfield Redevelopment
By Mary Jo Harrod
In 1962, the city of Middlesboro granted a household garbage
franchise to Roy Shoffner and Sam Mars to operate a landfill in
Happy Hollow, a narrow valley of 14 acres. Though the city made
garbage pickup mandatory, illegal burning and dumping were constant
problems at Happy Hollow.
Bulldozers covered garbage and burned materials, but vegetation
grew until trees were 20 feet tall. By 1974, the two business
partners decided to sell the franchise and garbage trucks back to
the city and close the landfill.
Though it was closed and posed no immediate threat to human
health and the environment, Happy Hollow was still on the state's
list of uncontrolled landfills and considered to be a brownfield.
In 2007, Shoffner & Mars, LLC voluntarily began the appropriate
regulatory landfill closure process.
"There was never a threat to the water supply and no methane was
ever detected," says Sammy Mars, son of one of the original owners
of Happy Hollow. "We contacted Linebach Funkhouser Inc. for
assistance in proceeding with the remediation of the landfill and
bringing the site into compliance for closing. We wanted to protect
the environment and later chose to develop the site."
Phase I consisted of adding 20 more feet of soil cap,
implementing a passive vapor barrier and constructing a landfill
cap. A monitoring well extends to the bedrock in the hollow and is
checked every six months, though it has been problem-free. Phase II
entailed removing 150,000 yards of dirt from a hillside to raise
the property level and create flat areas for business. A communal
asphalt parking lot for the hotels sits on a portion of the
Being a privately held company, Shoffner and Mars, LLC is
ineligible for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency brownfield
cleanup grants. However, the company recognized the potential and
spent its own money for the project. The earth-moving cost alone
for Phases I and II was $1.2 million.
The property had a 60-room Holiday Inn-Express that stayed at
capacity and could not be expanded. But at the project's end in
2010, a second hotel, a 50-room Sleep Inn, opened on the site. The
property is located on the border of Middlesboro's central business
district at the town's main stoplight. Between the two hotels, they
now generate 60 percent of tourist tax revenue for the area.
Middlesboro is in a flood-prone area. Before the project, the
hilly land was valued at $10,000 per acre. After moving dirt to
create level areas higher than the flood zone, the land's value is
$200,000 per acre.
"There were project challenges, such as with the leachate
collection system, which had to be re-engineered," says Charles
Leachman, senior geologist from Linebach Funkhouser. "The state
wanted us to use a specific type of stone, which was difficult to
find, to set around lines to improve drainage. Also, we encountered
waste further down the hill than we anticipated and had to be
careful to keep it from rolling down the hill."
In redevelopment cases such as this, Leachman recommends
bringing a good conceptual project plan to the regulatory agency
and asking for advice in case something has been overlooked.
Working proactively in this manner makes a project go more smoothly
and often prevents delays in the redevelopment process.
Middlesboro is an economic hub for the Tri-State region of
northeast Tennessee, southwestern Virginia and eastern Kentucky.
The new hotel and parking lot fill a need for the area, which is
near the Cumberland Gap Tunnel. With a shortage of hotel rooms
before the Sleep Inn was built, the community's response has been
"For Middlesboro, this project has the Wow! Factor," says Mars.
"The landfill is gone, and a new hotel is on-site. The community
has pride in the results of the project, which is a prime example
of the state working with private industry."
Though no chemicals or hazardous wastes were ever known to have
been accepted at the property, Shoffner & Mars went beyond what
was required by law to protect the environment. The community has
benefited from the revitalization of the area and creation of
Mary Jo Harrod is Public
Information Officer, Energy and Environment Cabinet, Division of
Compliance Assistance, Frankfort, KY.
By Bill Johnston, PG
Linebach Funkhouser, Inc. (LFI) personnel performed permanent
closure, assessment and corrective action activities on (UST)
systems at a former retail petroleum facility located in
Louisville, KY. Three gasoline/diesel USTs were removed from the
subject site in 1997. During the removal of the USTs, a large
amount separate phase product was observed leaching into the common
tank pit area. Product recovery procedures were immediately
initiated to mitigate the contamination concurrent with notifying
the appropriate agencies including the Kentucky Department for
Environmental Protection (KDEP), Division of Waste Management,
Emergency Response Section and the State Fire Marshal's
Office. Following the completion of the removal and initial
abatement procedures, several documents including Initial
Abatement, Product Recovery and UST Permanent Closure reports were
filed with the KDEP, DWM, and Underground Storage Tank Branch
(USTB) on our client's behalf. Several assessments were completed
to define the horizontal and vertical extent of the separate phase
and dissolved petroleum contaminant plumes identified in the
shallow groundwater. LFI personnel enrolled our client in the
USTB Petroleum Storage Tank Environmental Assurance Fund (PSTEAF)
in an effort to recover eligible costs for assessment and
A corrective action plan (CAP) was written for the site with the
assistance of AST Environmental (AST) of Midway, Kentucky that
proposed utilizing a "cutting edge" in-situ remediation technology.
The technology developed by Remediation Products, Inc. (RPI) of
Golden, Colorado known as BOS 200® is a Trap & Treat® Bacteria
Concentrate applied with a high velocity/high pressure delivery
system designed and implemented by AST. This combined
product-delivery remediation technology was outlined in the CAP
that was submitted and approved by the USTB.
Prior to implementation of the CAP, subsurface impacts consisted
of petroleum hydrocarbons in soils, accumulation of light
non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPL) in three monitoring wells and
aqueous phase (dissolved) benzene in groundwater as high as 11
milligrams per liter (mg/L). The impacted area immediately
surrounding the former tank pit, occupied approximately 7,000
square feet of the approximately 3-acre site.
LFI and AST teamed to develop a remedial approach to address the
LNAPL and dissolved phase petroleum hydrocarbon impacts at the
site. Specifically, an injection design was prepared and
implemented to address LNAPL and dissolved phase petroleum
hydrocarbons. The goal was to inject BOS 200® to remediate the site
for removal all the LNAPL and reduce benzene concentration to below
0.005 mg/L in the on-site monitoring wells.
On Friday, August 19, 2011, 20,400 lbs of BOS 200® was delivered
to the subject site. On the morning of August 22, 2011,
AST mobilized personnel and equipment to the site and setup for the
injection effort to begin that day. The injections were
completed in 8 workdays with AST injecting the 20,400 pounds (lbs)
in 150 injection points to approximately 14' below grade surface.
AST prepared BOS 200® slurries and injected it into the subsurface
through probe rods. The slurry is pumped through the probe rods
using a positive displacement diaphragm pump capable of delivering
1,200 pounds per square inch (psi) at 35 gallon per minute (gpm).
The injection pressure varied from 200 to 600 psi. The
pressure injection scheme created extensive "fracturing or soil
lifting" of the soil to create preferential pathways within the
fine grain clay which are filled with BOS 200®. The injection
effort was completed on 8/31/2011.
The post injection monitoring reports from July and October 2012
reveal that the full list of analytes and all constituents of
concern (COCs) were well below the CAP and EPA defined clean-up
goals. Based on these results KY-USTB issued a No Further Action
for the site on December 20, 2012
By Brendan Merk, Senior Hydrogeologist
In February of 2013, as part of LFI's ongoing professional
training and development program, the LFI staff was provided a
technical presentation by Mr. Joseph Ray, a certified Professional
Geologist and published author of many papers dealing with dye
tracing and subsurface flow. A renowned karst specialist, Mr. Ray
provided information on the flow of groundwater below actively
running rivers - water features typically considered natural
barriers to subsurface flow.
Kentucky features one of the most famous karst areas in the
world, and much of the State's manufacturing base overlies it.
Karst environments are well known for topographic features such as
sinking streams, caves, and springs. In areas of well-developed
karst, such as the Mammoth Cave area, subsurface flow is considered
the norm and surface water streams and rivers are rare.
Geologists and engineers are routinely taught that water will
flow downhill to join a river or stream at the surface, even when
that water flows underground. Conventional wisdom is that the river
will act as a natural barrier - the stopping point where
groundwater flow becomes surface water flow. The only rule with
karst though, is that normal rules just don't apply. Failure to
understand and property interpret subsurface flow can lead to
significant errors in determining where contamination may be going,
and how much it's going to cost to clean it up.
Mr. Ray presented compelling evidence that the flow of
groundwater through fractured rock beneath overlying rivers and
streams is more commonplace than has been historically believed.
Pathways of preferential flow make it possible for water to
disappear underground for a distance, only to appear again later as
a spring. These subsurface pathways are not connected to flow at
the surface however, making it possible for the water sink and the
spring to be on opposite sides of the river.
Karst environments with fractured rock flow occur in varying
degress in all the states surrounding Kentucky. Mr. Ray emphasized
that geologic knowledge of such features is important, as is the
ability to apply that information to a given situation. He provided
an example of a city in Kentucky where a municipal water supply at
a spring turned out to be originating from a water sink just
downhill from the city's sewage treatment plant.
Following his presentation, Mr. Ray entertained several
questions from LFI staff. Mr. Ray's presentation is one of several
technical lectures and training sessions in which LFI staff will
participate in 2013. Training and continuing education are a part
of life at LFI, and a cornerstone in producing exceptional work for
our clients.
Linebach Funkhouser, Inc. (LFI) was recently awarded two
subcontract agreements with Walsh Construction Co. and Jacobs
Engineering Group, Inc. to manage environmentally affected
materials that may be encountered during upgrades to Spaghetti
Junction and the new Downtown Crossing over the Ohio River in
Louisville, Kentucky. LFI will serve as the Contaminated Materials
Manager under the subcontracts. Affected soils and other materials
resulting from historical operations of various industrial and
commercial properties within the footprint of the construction must
be properly characterized and managed in accordance with regulatory
LFI will provide project-wide management of affected
materials including development of Site Management Plans, Materials
Management Plans, Corrective Action Plans, Construction Monitoring
Plans, and Environmental Health and Safety Training, as needed, for
site workers.
By: Russell H. Brooks, P.G.
Senior Engineer
The federally-mandated, national
"Call Before You Dig" number, 811, was created to help prevent
unintentionally hitting underground utility lines while working on
excavation, drilling, or similar subsurface projects. People often
make risky assumptions regarding marking utility lines due to
concerns about project delays, costs, and experience (or luck) with
other projects in which utilities were not marked. These
assumptions can be life-threatening.
Every excavation/drilling job
requires a call - even small projects like planting trees or
shrubs. Hitting an underground utility line while digging can
seriously harm you or those around you, disrupt service to an
entire neighborhood or industrial park, and potentially result in
significant fines and repair costs.
The 811 system will notify member
utilities; however, in many cases small local municipalities are
not members of the 811 system. Therefore, it is your
responsibility to identify and contact non-member utility
Typical environmental jobs often
include subsurface activities, such as drilling soil boring and
groundwater monitoring wells, and excavating to remove impacted
soils, waste materials and underground storage tanks (USTs).
The 811 call should be made 48 to 72 hours prior to commencing work
on all subsurface operations. Depending on individual state
laws, you must account for holidays and weekends, so do not call on
Friday and expect the utilities to be located on Monday.
An 811 utility locate request will
only mark utilities up to the service meter for the property. It is
the responsibility of the contractor to ensure that all utilities
beyond the meter are properly located and marked prior to the start
of work.
In cases of large coverage areas,
the utility clearance company has the right to request work area
demarcation prior to marking the utilities. Identifying work
areas on large sites helps to minimize the locator's time on-site,
and also confirms that utilities in work areas have been
Site utilities will be marked with
paint and flags. The following universal color system
indicates what is buried below the surface:
Once the utilities are marked it is
the excavator's/driller's responsibility to avoid damaging the
utilities. Although no specific "hand-dig" zone is outlined
in the Call Before You Dig law; the American Public Workers
Association and several industry-accepted Best Practices recommend
hand-digging 18″ on either side of the utility markings to a depth
of 24". It is recommended that shovel excavation or a similarly
gentle method of excavation take place in the hand-digging zone to
uncover utilities prior to proceeding with more powerful
For more information about the
national 811 system, visit http://www.call811.com
Linebach Funkhouser, Inc. has been awarded two contracts with
the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet-Division of Environmental
Analysis. One is a two year contract for Statewide
Underground Storage Tank/Hazardous Materials Services
(UST/HazMat). This is a work order-based contract with a
value of $2,000,000. Services for this contract include
investigating and remediating UST/HazMat sites on highway
right-of-ways prior to highway construction. Linebach
Funkhouser has been providing these services as a pre-qualified
consultant since 2003.
The second is a two year contract for Statewide Environmental
Investigations and Remediation Services for Kentucky Transportation
Cabinet-owned facilities. This is also a work order-based
contract with a value of $2,000,000. Services for this
contract include Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CECRLA) and Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) based site assessments,
evaluations, remedial plans and compliance reviews in accordance
with RCRA, CERCLA, the Clean Water Act and related US EPA
regulations, and Kentucky UST regulations. This contract
covers facilities located in Highway Districts 1-6. Linebach
Funkhouser has been providing these services as a pre-qualified
consultant since 2006.
Linebach Funkhouser is a pre-qualified consultant with the
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in the following areas:
Mr. Russell Brooks, manager of these contracts, has worked with
Linebach Funkhouser, Inc. for nearly 10 years. In his current
role, Mr. Brooks leads the government services group assisting
various local, state and federal clients with soil, water, and
waste issues. Mr. Brooks can be reached by calling
By: Russell
H. Brooks, P.G.
Funkhouser had a successful year in 2011 remediating petroleum and
mixed chlorinated/petroleum contaminated groundwater plumes at
several sites across Kentucky. Through the efforts of 4 project
managers, LFI has received, or is soon to receive, "No Further
Action" letters from the Kentucky Department for Environmental
Protection, Underground Storage Tank Branch and the Superfund
Branch on a total of eight sites. Six of the sites were the result
of petroleum contamination due to historical operations and one
site had a release of a combination of chlorinated solvents and
petroleum compounds. At six sites, LFI utilized
BOS200® and Trap & Treat® a
product sold by Remediation Products, Inc. (RPI), which is a
specially-formulated blend of activated carbon, sulfate reduction
media, micronutrients, and facultative microbes. The seventh and
eighth site involving chlorinated solvents was remediated using
FMC, Inc's. Klozur®CR, which is a single, formulated
product consisting of high pH - activated Klozure Persulfate and
PermeOx® Plus engineered calcium peroxide. The addition
of the remedial products was through the use of
Geoprobe® borings and high pressure injection as well as
open-hole soil mixing. Based on groundwater sampling activities,
LFI found that BOS200®rapidly
reduced or eliminated the identified BTEX contamination to below
MCLs at 5 of the 6 sites, with the 6th site being
reduced to below its site-specific screening limits based on
sampling approximately 3 to 4 months following injection. Long term
monitoring (1 year after injection) at the sites did not indicate
contamination rebound. LFI conducted long term monitoring (two
years of quarterly sampling)of the Klozur®CR site and it
also did not indicate contaminant rebound. Below is a chart showing
a summary of the sites, area of impact, and material used to
successfully obtain closure.
Summary of
Sites and Material Applied
Site Location
Area in square feet
Constituents of Concern
Material Applied
La Center
Chlorinated Solvents/BTEX
Klozur® CR
Chlorinated Solvents
Separate Phase Product Present
BY: Bradley L. Coyle, CHMM
President Barrack Obama may have actually inadvertently saved
jobs recently when he asked EPA's administrator, Lisa Jackson, to
withdraw the agency's draft for more stringent ozone National
Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). By some estimates, the
new ozone standard may have cost as much as $700 billion in
negative economic impact as well as potentially costing as many as
7 million jobs by the year 2020(1).
It's obvious that no one wants to breathe dirty air but, the
reality is that the ozone standards are already pretty tight.
I'm neither a health nut nor a toxicologist but, it's likely
getting to the point that the cost to bring the NAAQ down is not
likely to have a significant positive effect on human
health. In short, the costs of tightening the standard
would likely outweigh the benefit. This particular NAAQ falls
in to the law of 'Diminishing Returns'.
I've read where the numbers of asthmatics has increased by 70%+
over the past 15 years(2). Odd, isn't it?
We've made HUGE strides to better the air quality through the
addition of various pieces of legislation and stringent permitting
programs over the past 40 years yet these types of air
quality-driven illnesses rise? Sure…some of it is diagnosis
and understanding of the ailments but, will driving an ozone NAAQ
further towards the floor be actually advantageous from a health
standpoint, or will it simply continue to slow economic growth and
reduce the United State's overall economic well-being?
The tip of the iceberg was revealed by allowing the proposed
ozone NAAQ to be shelved. This, in my opinion, was a very
good thing in today's economic times and offered a level of
recognition that many of the regulations in the pipeline or coming
out are BAD for the overall good of Americans.
What has failed to be recognized is the cost of many other
burdensome pieces of air regulation that are still 'in the wild'
and will be law (or may have already become law); these will cost
Americans more in nearly every aspect of their lives. The
boiler MACT, the utility MACT, transport rule… the list goes on and
on in to what has even been called the regulatory 'Train
Again, we all want great air(4). We all want
to be healthy. We all want to live long and prosper (yes, I'm
giving the Vulcan Salute while typing)… but, where's the line and
is there a line? So far, this administration's focus has been
at the edge of overly burdensome, in my opinion. Further
though, it is my opinion that President Obama should be recognized
for shelving this legislation while in the heart of an economic
downturn. Overall though - the bulk of the iceberg is still
below water and poses a SIGNIFICANT threat to how we operate as
(1) http://www.mapi.net/Filepost/ER-707.pdf
Mr. Coyle has worked with Linebach Funkhouser, Inc. for nearly
10 years. In his current role, Mr. Coyle leads the
environmental compliance group assisting various nationwide
clientele with air, water, and waste issues. Mr. Coyle can be
reached by calling 502.895.5009.
Copyright � 2010 Linebach Funkhouser, Inc. | 114 Fairfax Avenue Louisville, KY 40207
Web Design by Blackstone Media | admin


text:
Clint Schemmer writes about history, heritage preservation and the American Civil War. On Facebook: Past is Prologue On Twitter: @prologuepast Contact: Email Clint or call 540/374-5424.
Kenmore's great room newly aglow with color
The big room in Fielding Lewis' plantation home hasn't looked this fine since Lord Cornwallis surrendered in the Battle of Yorktown. Thanks to an Ohio carpet expert's nimble fingers and …more
September 11th, 2014
Chatham project closing Fredericksburg-area River Road
During a contractor's work to rehabilitate historic views in front of Chatham Manor in southern Stafford County, River Road will be closed from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday …more
September 9th, 2014
NPS historian Mike Gorman to reveal newly discovered Richmond-Petersburg photos
RICHMOND, Va.–On Saturday, September 13, Richmond National Battlefield Park will partner with Henrico County Recreation & Parks to offer an overview of the Richmond-Petersburg campaign using historic photographs taken in …more
September 7th, 2014
'Prescribed burn' set for Spotsylvania battlefield this week
The National Park Service plans a "prescribed burn" this week on the Spotsylvania Court House battlefield. No fewer than 12 certified firefighters will be on hand to ensure the fire …more
September 4th, 2014
Park to raze postwar house atop Fredericksburg battlefield's Willis Hill
In the coming days and weeks, a contractor for the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park will be mobilizing to remove the last buildings associated with Montfort Academy. These structures, …more
September 2nd, 2014
Civil War 150: Honoring the Confederate Dead at Petersburg
On Saturday, Sept. 13, Martha Atkinson, site manager of Historic Blandford Church and Cemetery in Petersburg, will speak on the role of the Ladies Memorial Association of Petersburg in the …more
August 25th, 2014
UMW students at Stratford Hall go 'the extra mile'
The Town & County section of Tuesday's print edition of The Free Lance-Star should have my story on the long labors of the University of Mary Washington's archaeological field school …more
August 9th, 2014
Civil War Trust Begins Restoration of Brandy Station's Fleetwood Hill
A moment long hoped for by history-lovers is at hand. Today, the Civil War Trust began restoring the most important scene of America's largest cavalry battle, Fleetwood Hill near the …more
July 29th, 2014
VIDEO: More on July 1864′s Battle of the Crater
Confession time: Today's print article in The Free Lance-Star about the Battle of the Crater barely scratches the surface of this fascinating subject. Ah, the vagaries of trying to put …more
July 26th, 2014
Binns Track key to Chancellorsville's Jackson Flank Attack area
The Silver Cos.' proposed development near State Route 3 in Spotsylvania County, dubbed Legends of Chancellorsville, has many interesting features to it–as shown in considerable detail on the project's website, with …more


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FIRST, winemakers poured their vintages into bottles and corked them. Then they lost the corks and added screw tops. Then they lost the bottles and sold wine in boxes, next to beer and pretzels at supermarkets. And now, winemakers seeking some pop are canningwine.
In June, Infinite Monkey Theorem, a hip winery in Denver, began selling its black muscat, a slightly effervescent wine with a subtle taste of litchi, in a small black can emblazoned with its monkey logo. Continue reading


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More Information About Dera Ghazi Khan Travel
KAYAK searches hundreds of sites to find the cheapest flights to Dera Ghazi Khan (Pakistan). Get the best price for your airline ticket to Dera Ghazi Khan! Here's how it works. Search KAYAK for a flight to Dera Ghazi Khan. Sort, filter, and compare results on one web page. Then book your flight ticket direct on the airline or travel agent site of your choice!


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As from 31st October 2010, Emirates will launch to its passengers flights from Dubai to Medinah. Emirates flights will depart from Dubai at 0115hrs and will land in Medinah at 0315hrs. The return flights will then leave from Medinah at 0445hrs and will reach Dubai at 0815hrs. Emirates will offer three flights on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to Medinah from Dubai besides the four weekly flights currently operated. Therefore together with these flights Emirates will fly from Dubai to Medinah on a daily basis as from 31st October 2010. Emirates flights to Medinah from Dubai will be ensured by an Airbus A330-200. Furthermore, with the Airbus A330-200 seat configuration, passengers will be offered with a three class configuration with 12 seats in First class, 42 seats in Business class and 183 seats in Economy class. At last, with Emirates seat availability, passengers would have the possibility to have more seats pitch onboard the aircraft
More information on Emirates seat availability
To respond to this article, please visit Airline News Flash


text:
Friday, 24 January 2014 00:00
Details about the Target security breach fiasco are slowly dripping out, and the news gets worse and worse. Nieman Marcus has also announced a similar hacking of consumer card data, and more incidents may be announced. Stolen card data has appeared for sale on the cybercrime black market, and it's from this point on that we'll have an idea of what kind of damage may have been done to Long Island consumers and small businesses.
And already, the whole thing has devolved into a gigantic misdirection of attention away from those most responsible. Target is hardly blameless, but the large banks and other credit card issuers could have been issuing Americans the significantly safer cards that are standard around the world and have slashed data theft in other countries. The card issuers don't want to pay several dollars per card to do it.
Consumers and merchants eat the bulk of credit card fraud costs. Banks mostly see fraudulent purchases as just a "negative externality," an unexpected cost to those down the line from a transaction. Not really their department. Credit card issuers do pay the cost of replacing the card (up to $10 including time, postage and plastic). For years, the financial services mega-lobby in Washington has tried to shift that cost to others, and the Target fiasco is giving them the leverage to finally pull it off. The Banking Committee in the U.S. Senate has already announced hearings to consider just that.
The entire payments infrastructure in this country is decades out of date.
The simple magnetic strips on almost all American credit and debit cards can be read and captured by anyone with a simple and cheap handheld digital reader. Outside of the U.S., most consumers are issued cards with integrated circuits that use "two-factor authentication," often called "chip-and-PIN."
These "smart cards" are hardened against easy information theft in two ways. The microchip makes the card extremely hard to copy or counterfeit. The consumer must enter a Personal Identification Number to use, just like they do now with a debit card. The card digitally encrypts and matches up the information. No match, no transaction.
The public doesn't know yet exactly where the breach was in the Target system, but chip-and-PIN certainly makes stolen data harder to use, reducing incentives for criminals from the start. These cards can't stop all types of theft, particularly some types of online payment fraud, but one study estimates that they've eliminated 80 percent of card-related payment theft in France. The French have had them since 1992.
In Asia, Africa, South America, everywhere, most credit cards use this technology. American card issuers are slowly rolling out the technology over the next several years.
There are over one billion credit and debit cards in circulation that need to be replaced with the better technology. Over eight million merchants in the U.S. accept credit cards and they need to upgrade. It costs thousands of dollars for even a small retail operation to upgrade its card swipe equipment, but card issuers aren't even offering a fee discount to those that do. Instead, card issuers already have retailers on defense in Congress, and media coverage is heavily one-sided.
It's hard to be moved to tears for the Target executives who are now under heavy fire. The $20.6 million compensation package for CEO Gregg Steinhafe, about 1,144 times greater than the $18,000 typically earned by full-time Target cashiers and salespeople, has been criticized by analysts and by stockholders (47.9 percent voted against the pay package at last June's meeting).
However, focusing on only the retail end of the problem misleads everyone into thinking this was just a "Target thing." No worries.
This is a big problem and we need to see the bigger picture.
Michael Miller is a freelance writer, designer and strategic consultant who has worked in state and local government. Email: email@example.com


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Beltaine: "The Fire Tends to All"
When the topic for this blog-hop round was announced, the Ace of Wands from the Druid Craft Tarot immediately sprang to mind.
"Here, the wand is offered to us from the heart of the sun – the source of creative fire, initiative and energy." (pg. 44)
Balefire's were often lit from a fire created especially for the Beltaine celebrations. They were called a "need-fire". What better source of a "need-fire" than the life-giving, earth warming, burning sun?
"The Fire Tends to All"
Sparks turn to flame
Flickering with life
Aglow they reach for the sky.
Warmth and light
Spreading outward and up
Dancing embers racing on high.
Moths to the flame
The revelers come
The Blessings of summer bestowed.
Drums beat the spring tempo
Jump, twirl, grind, and spin
Rejoice all the night
'Fore a new day begins.
The fire we'll take
Home to the hearth
The promise of life renewed.
The continuing gifts
Of a season reborn
Yet again, The Fire Tends All.
Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to check out all the great posts in the Beltaine Tarot Blog Hop.
For the next Blog Hop, please 'Click' and continue reading!