text:
Quick Links
Shop All Jewelry
RGP10019 In Stock
You won't be able to take off our Modern Style Mother of Pearl Sterling Silver Ring. The center oval pearl measures 9mm long and is held in place by a sterling silver setting which expands onto the ring's band. The band has 2 rows of four 1mm white cubic zirconias that expand just a quarter of the circle's dimension.
Eve's Addiction.com wants you to be a happy customer. We want you to be completely satisfied with the sterling silver jewelry that you receive from us, as we only sell high quality silver and cubic zirconia cz jewelry. We do understand that you may not like your purchase for some reason.
You may return or exchange your jewelry within 60 days of purchase if you are not satisfied with it. The jewelry must be returned in its original condition for a refund or exchange. Engraved, personalized, photo, monogram, name and initial, chocolate and clearance items are not returnable or exchangeable.


text:
Quick Links
Shop All Jewelry
RG10329 In Stock
Put a modern spin on your traditional wedding band with this men's titanium wedding band with gold inlay! This ring features a gold stripe flanked by standard titanium for a band width of 1/4 inch. This ring is so light weight you may even forget you're wearing it! The trendy new style of titanium is the way to go because its so durable, you won't have to worry about wearing it all the time. Add a titanium bracelet for a look you'll really like.
Eve's Addiction.com wants you to be a happy customer. We want you to be completely satisfied with the sterling silver jewelry that you receive from us, as we only sell high quality silver and cubic zirconia cz jewelry. We do understand that you may not like your purchase for some reason.
You may return or exchange your jewelry within 60 days of purchase if you are not satisfied with it. The jewelry must be returned in its original condition for a refund or exchange. Engraved, personalized, photo, monogram, name and initial, chocolate and clearance items are not returnable or exchangeable.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Thursday, June 26, 2014
With current Moncks Corner Mayor Bill Peagler defeating Dan Davis in the June 24 Republican primary runoff to become the Berkeley County Supervisor-elect, Moncks Corner will have to find a new mayor.
Following an uncontested general election on Nov. 4, Peagler will resign effective Jan. 1, 2015 and be sworn in as Berkeley County Supervisor.
Moncks Corners Mayor Pro Tem Michael Lockliear will move to the center seat and assume the role of Interim Mayor until the Town can hold a special election for mayor to fill the remainder of Peaglers current term of office.
Peagler was first elected mayor in Nov. 2005 to serve out the remainder of then Mayor Pompey Harveys unexpired term beginning Nov. 1, 2005 through Dec. 31, 2007, and was reelected each election year since with no opposition.
Adam Hammons, Director of thethe Berkeley County Board of Elections said the process would involve some deft calendar juggling.
It all depends on when Mayor Peagler resigns as mayor of Moncks Corner, but lets say he resigns January 1, 2015 which would fall on a Thursday, on the third Friday following his resignation, which would be at noon on January 16, filing for candidacy will open for 10 days until noon on January 26.
Also, counting 13 Tuesdays from the day Peagler resigned, if the mayor resigned on Jan. 1, 2015, the date of the special election for the office of Mayor of Moncks Corner would fall on March 31, 2015.
The new mayor could be sworn in immediately after the election results were certified, or at the next regularly scheduled town meeting.
Once the election results are certified we would turn things over to the town in regard to whenever the new mayor would be sworn in, Hammons said.
Lockliear would remain interim mayor until whatever time the new mayor is sworn in.
The new mayor would serve out the remaining two years of Peaglers present term of office which would expire on Dec. 31, 2016.
The Berkeley Independent is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. We do not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not The Berkeley Independent.
If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Read our full terms and conditions.
© 2015 The Berkeley Independent an Evening Post Industries company. All Rights Reserved.
Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Parental Consent Form.


text:
Thursday, August 1, 2013
A sketch of the suspect in an attempted kidnapping in the Plum Creek subdivision, Summerville on July 10 is being circulated by the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office. Anyone who can identify the suspect or who has any information is asked to call Crime Stoppers 1-888-CRIME-SC or the Sheriff's office at 843- 832-0300.
The Journal Scene is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. We do not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not The Journal Scene.
If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Read our full terms and conditions.
© 2015 The Journal Scene an Evening Post Industries company. All Rights Reserved.
Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Parental Consent Form.


text:
Convicted killer says he's changedMay 06,2014Convicted killer
says he's changed
BRATTLEBORO — A man who fatally shot his foster mother to death in 2000 in their West Burke home and served more than a decade in prison says he is now focused on being a contributing member of the community.
Scott Favreau was released from prison in April 2013 and is now living in Brattleboro on furlough from prison.
"What I did was horrible, but I'm not that person anymore. I've done a lot of things to change that," said Favreau, now 31. "I made a mistake. I'll move forward and do the best I can."
Favreau works at a local business and recently moved in with his girlfriend and her 7-year-old son.
Favreau pleaded guilty in 2001 to second-degree murder in the shooting of Vicki Campbell-Beer, a Lyndon teacher. He was 17 at the time and had been taken in by her as a foster child.
He was sentenced to 17-years-to-life in prison. He is out of prison on furlough, which means if he violates the conditions of his release he can be returned to prison with few formalities.
"It's up to him to continue to take responsibility and really attempt to make amends for his actions now that he is in the community," Favreau's probation and parole officer Melissa Barton told the Brattleboro Reformer.
Then-14-year-old Tashia Beer, the teacher's stepdaughter was also charged with persuading Favreau to kill Campbell-Beer. She has served prison time.
Campbell-Beer's family declined to comment to the Reformer when approached through victim services.MORE IN This Just InThe family of a Connecticut man who was killed in a car accident on Route 4 last Friday night is... Full StoryAssociated Press Full StoryIt seems like I just started to warm up from last winter and I see back-to-school displays. Full Story
- Most Popular
- Most Emailed
- RICHARD'S POOR ALMANACK: On this day 1739, 'Richard Palmer' identified in prison at York Castle as the notorious outlaw DICK TURPIN; IN 1836, Battle of the Alamo begins near San Antonio de Bexar, Texas; 1896, the Tootsie Roll invented by LEO HIRSCHFELD.
- RICHARD'S POOR ALMANACK: On this day in 1472, Orkney, Shetland islands put up as collateral by Norway to Scotland in lieu of dowry for MARGARET OF DENMARK on her marriage with JAMES III, king of Scotland; 1962, JOHN GLENN first American to orbit Earth.
- TOMORROW'S HEADLINES TODAY: City mayoral candidates debate campaign issues; Hartford, Conn., woman still missing; Neal Goswami reports attempts to legislate suicide; local woman loses 100 pounds through TOPS program.
- RICHARD'S POOR ALMANACK: On this day in 1878, JOHN TUNSTALL murdered near Lincoln, New Mexico, by the outlaw JESSE EVANS; in 1930, ELM FARM OLLIE first cow to fly in aircraft, first to be milked airborne; 1955, nuke test WASP; '79, snow in Sahara.
- TOMORROW'S HEADLINES TODAY: Rutland Herald News Editor Alan J. Keays and staff writer Gordon Dritschilo discuss stories planned for the February 18, 2015, edition of the newspaper: Winter budgets maxed, legal marijuana, Springfield bank job, USPS slowdown
- RICHARD'S POOR ALMANACK: On this day in 1249 AD, ANDRE of LONGJUMEAU is dispatched by LOUIS IX of France to meet the KHAGAN, ruler of the Mongol Empire; in 1804, during 1st Barbary War, STEPHEN DECATUR scuttles the pirate-held USS Philadelphia in Tripoli.


text:
This program places students from community colleges into paid internships across the country at a DOE National Laboratory. Students work with scientists or engineers on projects related to the laboratories' research programs. The CCI program is open to both U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents during the summer term for 10 weeks for students currently in working toward a STEM related degree at community college and with at least one semester completed.
The application process is now open for CCI Program. Applications are due by 5:00pm EST January 10, 2014.
There are no citizenship requirements, but applicants must be undergrad students at institutions belonging to either the Great Lakes Colleges Association, Inc., or the Associated Colleges of the Midwest. Applications are due by March 1 each year.
This program is open to U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents who are currently enrolled in an A.S. or B.S. degree program with a minimum GPA of 2.5/4.0, including those who have completed a B.S. within the past year. Opportunities are available for 10 to 12 weeks during the summer term; some sabbatical appointments lasting 6 to 12 months, plus some intermittent appointments, also are available.
This program offers full-time or part-time internship opportunities for hands-on training and experience while in school or as a recent graduate. Students must live within working distance of ORNL. Appointments are for up to one year; applications are accepted on a year-round basis. The program is open to both U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents who are enrolled as an undergraduate at either a two-year or a four-year institution with one semester of coursework completed. Recent A.S. and B.S. graduates within one semester of graduation may also apply.
This program is a nationwide undergraduate internship experience that occurs at a National Laboratory. The program is open to undergraduate students that are either U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. Students must have completed the first semester of college. Applications open on May 1 for a fall internship, September 1 for a spring internship, and October 1 for a 10 week summer internship.
The application process is now open for The Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) Program. Applications are due 5:00pm EST January 10, 2014.
The Volkswagen Distinguished Scholars Program is limited to undergraduate and graduate students at 6 schools in the state of Tennessee (UTK, UTC, TN State, TN Tech, Fisk, University of Memphis). The program is limited to students who will be juniors, seniors, or graduate students still in classes.
The application cycle for summer 2014 is open, the deadline is February 12, 2014.
We're always happy to get feedback from our users. Please use the Comments form to send us your comments, questions, and observations.
Follow us on social media:


text:
Last edited by IceCold48; 04-27-2014 at 10:56 PM.
No everyone did not think Shogun got screwed. Go ahead. Look back I'll wait.
Had it been someone with out the following of shogun a rematch wouldn't have happened. It was a close fight. Anyone who claims the fight was in no way close is being biased which kinda leads to my point. It sets a standard that dilutes the meaning of a title fight.
If you would actually read post on here instead of rambling on when you disagree with someone you would realize that I never said oh machida won the fight. I never even said how I scored the fight. What I said was that a challenger should never get an immediate rematch if they lose a close Dec. People talk about how title shots are given to undeserving people all the time yet when one of there favorite fighters loses a close fight by Dec all of the sudden history is revised and it wasn't even a close fight?
Do you really think that giving a challenger 2 fights in a row because the first one was close really doesn't do the same or more damage to the status of the title than giving a title fight to a guy who didn't deserve it?
If GSP didn't retire should have Hendricks been given an immediate rematch? What about Edgar vs Aldo?
My point is really simple. Unless you can prove the judges screwed the fighter (fixed the fight) then tough shit. The rules are simple. If you go to Dec the fight is in the judges hands. My score card and your score card don't mean shit. If someone, in this case Dana can say yes I don't think that's the right Dec let's fight again then why have judges? Why not just say if the fight isn't finished we will call it a tie and you guys fight again. All this crying about how this release or this rank hurts MMA as a legitimate sport yet everyone is all for a guy they like getting an immediate rematch if they like him or don't like the champ. How is that not hurting the sport when 1 man can say nope you got wrong let's do it again?
Now truthfully I probably wouldn't care that shogun got an immediate rematch as much if it wouldn't have set a precedent of close fights getting immediately rematched. I still wouldn't think a challenger should get an immediate rematch but I could accept a 1 off exception not it becoming the norm.
As fat as anyone proving the judges got it wrong....no they didn't. They proved that in there opinion the judges were wrong. Bit anything such as MMA scoring is too subjective to be cut and dry. It is funny that you mention fight metric. Next you will be referring to sherdogs fight finder. Neither tells the whole story.
Oh and one more. What about Lawler? I guess he should have a title fight next too
Yeah I have to say I immediately tune out anyone that says that fight wasn't close. Its unfortunate people try to argue outside of good reason.
Jones looked very dominant once again. He kept doing with Teixeira all he wanted. Let's see how he does against Gustafsson the second time.
Not only brazilians can do this stuff
Machida was one of the most overhyped and overrated fighters in UFC history. What Jones is achieving now is what all the Machida Era people were claiming was going to happen with Machida. He's got some solid wins and cool knock outs but has some bad loses and controversial decisions which are in no way indicative of a dominating fighter. His career has been good but not great. Hopefully, Weidman beats him.
Last edited by IceCold48; 04-28-2014 at 03:49 AM.
When i first watched Machida vs Shogun 1, I thought shogun clearly got robbed, especially with joe rogans commentary. I since rewatched the fight and it seemed incredibly close. Shogun kept landing those leg kicks, but machida landed quite a few knees to the body.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)


text:
Our customers asked for a bra version of the Love Lace-up Halter and so it is, the Love Lace-up Bra. We have shortened the bottom band of the Halter to create a bra that laces up the back. Isn't it great that you can purchase something fun and sexy, while maintaining your commitment to green living?
|92% organic cotton / 8% spandex


text:
Despite the legal wrangling, the eight-year, $22.7 million contract extension appears to be standard for an athletic department of Oregon's conside...
Read more
0 Hikes | FVFn |
The former Oregon quarterback is in a three-man race to start the season in place of the suspended Ben Roethlisberger.
Nate Costa and Darron Thomas each have their moments, including a pretty flea flicker by Thomas.
Ward is one of several rookie defensive backs being asked to fix a poor pass defense
Jeremiah Masoli won't play, but there will be plenty to see.
Alabama tops the list, followed by Ohio State, Boise State, Texas and Virginia Tech.
1 Hikes | FVFn |
Six practices into the spring, the play by the quarterbacks and the rest of the offense is encouraging.
Images replace hand signals, making the plays easier and quicker to read.
The basketball coach search continues on, headlining the day's UO news.
UO president Richard Lariviere seems to have made two good personnel moves.
The Oregon defense is getting more complex, and so far, new rover Eddie Pleasant and new defensive end Dion Jordan are adapting well.
The search for the men's basketball coach tops the day's news.
Does anybody else mold so many walk-ons into such a formidable unit?
Yellow flags wave at the end of plays to help coaches breaking down video know if players go until the whistle blows
Oregon coach Chip Kelly gets his point across about finishing plays.
The news conference in which the school president discusses the athletic department situation dominates headlines.
Oregon athletics moves into a new era with much uncertainty.
Had university general counsel Melinda Grier responded promptly to requests made under state open records law, the entire mess could have been avoi...
Spring football and administrative items keep things busy in UO sports.
Expect a lot of previously unaswered questions to be asked when Lariviere and Bellotti meet the media.


text:
7/21/15 (BB) Schank Earns NECBL Week 7 Award
7/21/15 (BB) Houston Walkoff Wins It for North Fork
6/1/15 (BB) Pat Neshek (Houston Astros) vs. the Chicago White Sox
3/20/15 (WBB) Girls Indiana All-Stars Have Size, Pedigree
3/19/15 (MBB) Gordon Hayward Almost Champions
3/2/15 (Gen) A Good Man Says His Goodbyes to Hinkle Fieldhouse
2/5/15 (WBB) Butler's Changing Culture Means a Change in Winning Percentage
1/25/15 (MBB) Butler's Barlow: From Walk-On To BIG EAST Standout
1/18/15 (WBB) Weekend Wrap: Butler #2 in the Weekend Headlines
1/17/15 (MBB) Even as a Player, Butler's Unlikely Coach Did Things His Own Way
1/15/15 (WBB) Robinson's Blog: Teams and Players Catching Fire
1/13/15 (MSOC) Zach Steinberger helped the Michigan Bucks to a PDL Championship
12/12/14 (MBB) Butler coach Chris Holtmann embraces tough decisions, tough jobs
12/6/14 (MBB) Butler's Top 10 Most Memorable Games
11/25/14 (MBB) Interim coach Chris Holtmann takes over Butler's turnaround mission
11/18/14 (WBB) New Coaches Preach Old Fashioned BIG EAST Basketball
10/22/14 (MBB) Chris Holtmann guides Butler with a steady hand
10/22/14 (MSOC) Eric Dick named to TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Week
10/7/14 (BB) Neshek provides strudy bridge to Rosenthal
10/7/14 (BB) Neshek able to fully appreciate postseason with Cards
10/3/14 (MBB) Butler Opens Practice Heading Into Uncharted Coaching Waters
10/1/14 (CC) Butler's cross country team is featured in Running Times Magazine
9/30/14 (BB) Mozeliak Reviews his Players' Performance
9/21/14 (BB) Five Things that Changed Cardinals' Season
9/17/14 (Gen) ESPN Ranks Butler Blue Nation's Second-Best Mascot
8/22/14 (MBB) Ferry on Mack: "Tough, Unselfish"
8/21/14 (BB) Lackey Gives Neshek Ruth signed ball for #41
8/21/14 (TRK) Former Butler Runner Rob Krar Completes Ultramarathon
8/5/14 (MBB) Battle 4 Atlantis Bracket Released, and It's Loaded
7/14/14 (BB) Pat Neshek Makes All-Star Comeback
7/6/14 (BB) Cardinals All-Stars Announced
7/6/14 (BB) Former Butler Star Pat Neshek Makes MLB All-Star Roster
7/6/14 (BB) Through Tears and Struggles Neshek Makes All-Star Roster
7/5/14 (BB) Two Millers are Class 4A All-State
7/1/14 (MBB) NBA Free Agency: Gordon Hayward among those available
6/19/14 (BB) Giants Draft Pick Leads Noblesville to First Baseball Title Game
6/10/14 (BB) For Pat Neshek, Life Goes On - Sweetly - In St. Louis
6/9/14 (BB) MLB Draft Recap: 10 Players Selected
6/9/14 (BB) Eric Stout Talks Baseball on the Clubhouse Conversation
5/23/14 (BB) Neshek establishing himself as go-to reliever
5/19/14 (Alum) Ed Carpenter Wins Indianapolis 500 Pole for 2nd Straight Year
5/18/14 (Alum) Ed Carpenter wins pole for Indy 500
5/14/14 (WBB) Indiana Basketball Legend Damon Bailey Joins Butler Women's Staff
5/8/14 (TRK) Butler Bulldogs WOW
5/7/14 (BB) Fastball Gives Neshek a Boost in Bigger Bullpen Role
4/7/14 (BB) Johnson Stifles Seton Hall, Earns BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week Nod
4/4/14 (BB) Butler, Xavier Baseball Make BIG EAST Debuts
3/17/14 (BB) Neshek Returns to Cardinals After Birth of Son
3/5/14 (MBB) A coaching link to past success (N.Y. Times)
3/4/14 (MBB) Catching up with Ronald Nored
2/26/14 (MBB) Alex Barlow Grows Into Point Guard Role
2/14/14 (BB) Chance to Win Title Brings Neshek to St. Louis
2/13/14 (WBB) Getting to Know: Coach Couture and Butler
2/11/14 (MBB) Stevens Visits Former Player while he Battles Cancer
2/11/14 (MBB) A bright spot amid losses, Chrabascz deflects praise
2/10/14 (MBB) The Bulldog Mascots of Butler and Georgetown Met
2/10/14 (BB) College Sports Madness Puts Three Bulldogs on Preseason All-BIG EAST team
2/7/14 (MBB) Roosevelt Jones can only watch from the sidelines.
2/5/14 (MBB) Getting to Know: Kellen Dunham
2/4/14 (WBB) Mandy McDivitt Named College Sports Madness Player of the Week
2/4/14 (MBB) Freshman Andrew Chrabascz learned from an unlikely pro-turned-coach
2/3/14 (MBB) Erik Fromm perseveres with lessons from late father.
1/18/14 (MBB) Bob Kravitz: First BIG EAST win provides relief for Butler
1/17/14 (MBB) Alex Barlow draws inspiration from late cousin
1/9/14 (MBB) Brandon Miller adjusts to rigors of his job


text: Until the end of June, SFMOMA has installed in their second-floor galleries a selection of several works by Sherrie Levine. Janet Bishop wrote a couple paragraphs on La Fortune (After Man Ray) (1990) earlier this month. But the works that snagged me were a curious series of collages from 1979 on the south wall.Titled Fashion Collage, each work consists of a single cutout magazine image, just a few inches tall – smaller than the image on your computer screen – isolated in a 24×18 inch white matte. Each depicts one fashion model struttin... More


text:
Questions & Answers
Do you have questions about this product?
Get answers from real customers and in-house experts with AnswerBox.
Q:I love Karma cream and have been using it for 2 years or so. this is the only product that has healed any skin problems I have had( dry skin, rashes etc) only problem is my wife hates the smell. I love it and it has worked wonders for my skin. which one of the other hand and body lotions is comparable in effectiveness for dry skin but doesnt have the aroma of the Karma cream
thanksAsked on 1/30/2015 by Christopher from United States
2 answers
A:Dream Cream is one of our worldwide bestsellers for soothing the skin. It has a ton of oat milk, olive oil, and cocoa butter to deeply moisturize the skin, as well as lavender and chamomile to reduce balance out any problem areas!Answered on 2/13/2015 by Meg from LUSH Direct
A:I would suggest you get to a lush store and take your wife with you:) celestial is good and similar in texture. That's so funny she doesn't like it, karma is one of my all time favorites!! I use skin drink on my face and its good. Also Kalamazoo which is a beard and face cleanser, really leaves skin moist. Charity pot is really good too, more of a vanilla. I would take her with you though:)
Loving living life:) forever, ErinAnswered on 1/30/2015 by Anonymous
Q:Is there a trial size, or something smaller than this? I am afraid to commit to such a large size and price.Asked on 10/16/2014 by Rebecca from United States
2 answers
A:If you go into a local LUSH store you can definitely ask for a sample of Karma Kream! Or if you're ordering online you can make that request when placing your order in the comment section when you click the order as a gift.Answered on 11/14/2014 by Anonymous
A:You may be able to go to an actual Lush store and request a sample size pot, or the store may have smaller size pots but bigger than sample size.Answered on 10/17/2014 by Anonymous
Q:Can I use this Karma Kream on my face? I love the way it smells and I don't like the way the face creams smells. Will it hurt my face?Asked on 8/6/2014 by Jack
2 answers
A:I would not recommend it. Maybe try Full of Grace? It is not a lotion, but it is meant for your face, and I think it smells pretty good!Answered on 10/24/2014 by Rachel from Minnesota
A:We don't suggest using the Karma Kream on the face simply because it is very rich, and is specially formulated for the less sensitive skin on the body. Feel free to contact customer care if you would like help choosing a facial moisturizer with a different scent that will agree with you more!Answered on 9/25/2014 by Melissa S from LUSH Direct
Q:Can this body lotion be used on the face, or will it cause one to break out in zits?Asked on 6/19/2014 by Kingsley from Los Angeles
1 answer
A:Karma Kream was designed for the body. Because the skin on the face is a lot more sensitive I would not recommend it be used on the face.Answered on 9/12/2014 by Anonymous
Q:does this smell just like the karma soap? im on love with he soap and i only want the lotion of it smells exactly the same.Asked on 4/9/2014 by Sydney
3 answers
A:Yeah it does. All the karma scented products are fannnntastic:) I keep this cream in the refrigerator
Sent from my iPhoneAnswered on 4/13/2014 by Anonymous
A:Yes, this product has the exact same perfume/scent component as the soap with the same name. Sometimes, the scent will translate a bit differently from product to product because the other ingredients are different, but it is the same Karma scent.Answered on 4/11/2014 by Kendra M from LUSH Direct
A:Yes it does! I purchased the soap, cream, the solid perfum (to carry with
me during the day), and the bath bomb/bar (for special occasions, he he). I
use it as a system so that the fragrance lasts...the cream has a long
lasting fagrance and you dont need too much. I usually mix it with my
regular Nivea lotion, so I don't run out too fast. It is hands down my
favorite scent!Answered on 4/9/2014 by Anonymous
Q:I have found out like a lot of people that I "love" the karma scent. I use the Karma Komba solid shampoo and love the scent it leaves in my hair... anywho, I was wondering how or when is the Karma Kream recommended to be used? during shower to be rinsed? or anytime anywhere no rinse is recommended? Thx!Asked on 1/15/2014 by SKarma from Wash DC
2 answers
A:The Karma Kream is a body lotion, so will be best used right out of the shower on skin that has been patted dry with a towel or skin that has been given the time to air dry. This way it will trap the moisture in your skin and leave it extra soft. This lotion can also be used on dry skin whenever it is in need of moisture. You should never have to rinse this lotion off. Karma Kream is quite lightweight, but if you're finding it a bit heavy or that it's not completely absorbing, just use a bit less.Answered on 3/8/2014 by Kendra M from LUSH Direct
A:Not sure if you've already gotten an answer, but I use Karma Kream as a body lotion after the shower.Answered on 2/8/2014 by Mander Pander from Orlando, FL
Q:Hi, are the fragrances in this product essential oils?Asked on 11/13/2013 by Kristin from Chantilly, VA
1 answer
A:Hi fellow LUSHie!
There are a few essential oils in this particular product. The almond oil we use is an essential oil which is also known as natural benzaldehyde because the finished perfume material is made up of around 99% of it. A lot of the ingredients in this product are found naturally in the essential oils we use; such as citral, cinnamal, citronellol, limonene, and linalool. These are all added to make a great fragrance.
I hope this helps! Have a LUSHious day!Answered on 11/14/2013 by Anonymous
Q:Can this product be used after its expiry date? If so, how long after? Is it harmful to use it after its expiry?Asked on 7/20/2013 by rowie from Quezon City, Philippines
1 answer
A:No, we do not consider it safe to use any of our products after their expiry date. They are best fresh!Answered on 8/21/2013 by Megan from LUSH Direct
Q:does this product smell like the tramp bodywash>???Asked on 7/30/2012 by Krissy from GI, NE
1 answer
A:The Karma Kream definitely has some similarities to Tramp, because of the patchouli, but Tramp is quiet a bit woodsier, with a heavier scent. Karma has pine, orange, and lemongrass, making the scent a little bit lighter and brighter. I find that they compliment each other very well, though, even if they are not an exact match!Answered on 7/31/2012 by Laura from LUSH


text:
Walk-In Freezers
Maximize your restaurant or foodservice operation's cold storage with a commercial walk-in freezer. Choose from our selection of quality indoor and outdoor walk-in coolers. Whether you are a large restaurant or on the cusp of significant growth, investing in a walk-in freezer is a smart storage solution that will pay off throughout the years.


text:
Pop Punk band looking to support other bands! (anywhere really)Post reply
Post reply
Note. You must be logged in to reply to and post ads on Join My Band. Click here to login, or if you're not already a member, click here to register a free account.
Latest Featured Ads
- Singer / Guitarist needed badly (Cardiff / South Wales)
- DRUMMER WANTED (Liverpool ity)
- Experienced young drummer available (Grays, Essex)
- Looking For METALCORE band mates (North West Durham)
- Up for a jam (Basildon)
- New thrash/melodeath metal band seeks vocalist (Manchester)
- Most excellent original band seeks rhythm/lead guitarist (Birmingham, or thereabouts)
- KEYBOARD/SYNTH PLAYER REQUIRED FOR ORIGINAL ROCK BAND (Lincoln)
- DRUMMER AND GUITARIST WITH VOCALS WANTED! (London)
- Drummer available, very well experienced, studio and live (Conwy North Wales)


text:
Firewire Interfaces
List Grid
5 Item(s)
Focusrite Saffire Pro 14 - FireWire Interface with Microphone Preamps
Special Price $209.99The Focusrite Saffire Pro 14 gives is an eight-in, six-out FireWire audio interface offering performance and flexibility at a low price. MIDI I/O and two Focusrite preamps round out this half-rack powerhouse. The Saffire series interfaces are all being supported by Focusrite with Thunderbolt compatibility in mind. Get yours at UniqueSquared.com today! Learn More
PreSonus Firestudio Project - FireWire Audio Interface$399.95The PreSonus Firestudio Project - FireWire Audio Interface features 8 XLR inputs with 2 combo instrument and 6 combo line inputs armed with powerful preamps. It also has MIDI I/O, S/PDIF IO and 2 FireWire 400 ports. It also has all of the digital metering you will need for leveling as well as daisy chain capability you can expect from a FireWire interface. Buy yours today from UniqueSquared.com Learn More
PreSonus FireStudio Project with Faderport$499.00The PreSonus FireStudio Project with Faderport is ideal for everyone who wants to improve their home studio experience. The FireStudio offers 8 Class A preamps, 5 XLR cables, and the time saving FaderPort. You can be tracking up to eight instruments and editing quicker than ever. It comes with demystifying tutorial DVD video and more. Learn More
List Grid
5 Item(s)


text:
Mashup: DocuSign Acumen Solutions Integration
Acumen Solutions has partnered with DocuSign to enhance businesses of all sizes and across all industries to decrease contract cycle times, reduce costs, improve visibility and control, and enhance customer satisfaction with DocuSign. DocuSign makes it easy and fast to get your documents signed.
Comments (0)
Followers (0)


text:
Photos and Review by Oyster.com Investigators
An enormous -- but still cozy-feeling -- 1,310-room beachfront resort that delivers family-friendly fun, plus a little more.
The Marriott Waikiki delivers both what you'd expect from the reliable chain -- comfortable beds, consistent service, clean rooms -- and more than you'd expect -- a great sushi restaurant and lovely spa on-site, and service that goes above and beyond your typical mega resort.
The large, open-air lobby that welcomes guests comes complete with not just the obligatory Outrigger canoe (though that's surely there) but also waterfalls and a miniature volcano that regularly erupts, weather permitting. Throughout the ground floor, from the lobby to the shopping area, the landscaping is lush and inviting. Sure the Marriott has concrete towers, like every hotel in Waikiki proper, but it also has plenty of tropical flora -- nice, for a hotel in this price range.
Families make up the core of the hotel's business -- it was a rare elevator ride I took that didn't involve a small child gleefully pushing the buttons for me -- but there are also large groups (like the 400 preteen choir girls there when I was) and the occasional solo business traveler racking up Marriott points while taking advantage of the beachfront location, 24-hour business center, and conference facilities.
Despite its two towers and 1,310 rooms, the hotel feels smaller and more intimate than the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, a half-dozen blocks away in a busier section of Waikiki, or the huge, typically crowded Hilton Hawaiian Village. While the Marriott boasts a few dozen stores, including its own ABC convenience store and a shop devoted just to banjos, it doesn't have its own full shopping mall, like the Hyatt Regency and the Hilton Hawaiian Village. What it does have is a cozier vibe and a mellow atmosphere. There are Hawaiian craft demonstrations in the lobby each morning, and while guests might have to wait in line at check-in, they shouldn't have trouble finding a free lounge chair around one of the two pools. Overall, this is a solid pick for families looking for reasonably priced good times.
Professional, friendly service; plus a dash of Polynesian charm
The Marriott brand is known for accomodating, unpretentious service, and the Marriott Waikiki doesn't disappoint. Service for the resort's many guests ranges from perfectly adequate to going-the-extra-mile.
In Waikiki, across the street from the beach, on the slightly quieter eastern end
On the quieter, eastern end of Waikiki, the Marriott sits amongst some of the smaller, quieter hotels in the area, like Hotel Renew. Most of Waikiki's shopping malls and its iconic hotels, like the Moana Surfrider and the Royal Hawaiian, are a five- to 10-minute walk west, and there's a feeling, for better or for worse, that the Marriott is just on the border of where the action starts.
The hotel's rear entrance sits on Waikiki's main drag, Kalakaua Avenue, a touristy, milelong stretch of shops, restaurants, and high-rise hotels that runs along Waikiki Beach on Oahu's southeast coast. Kalakaua offers a curious blend of mainland creature comforts and local flavor. On the sidewalks, Japanese tourists intermingle with tanned locals, surfboards under their arms, on their way to the beach to catch a few waves after work. On both sides of the street, high-end retailers -- Tiffany, Cartier, and yes, even an Apple store -- are interspersed with indoor malls and streetside vendors hawking cheap seashell jewelry and T-shirts. Seemingly every mid-market chain restaurant can be found here -- Cheesecake Factory, California Pizza Kitchen, Tony Roma's -- along with more than a handful of Starbucks and fast-food joints. And towering above it all: 40-story, thousand-room hotels like the Grand Hyatt and Princess Kaiulani dotting the landscape like pins in a cushion.
Across the street from Kuhio Beach, the less popular but more kid-friendly section of Waikiki Beach
Loosely speaking, the entire 1.5-mile stretch of sand alongside Kalakaua Avenue is known as Waikiki Beach. In reality, it's more like three separate beaches, the borders of which vary depending on whom you ask. The Marriott is just across the street from the Kuhio section, known to some as "the wall" for its 50-yard concrete pier that juts out from the sand at the corner of Kapahulu Avenue. (The kids who jump off the pier are known affectionately as "wall rats.")
Clean, comfortable, and up-to-date; but the decor and views vary greatly between the two towers
Request a room in the Kealohilani Tower. Completely renovated in 2008, these rooms have a brighter, more attractive look than the rooms in the Paoakalani Tower, which haven't been renovated since 2001. The Kealohilani Tower is also closer to the ocean, making for better views. The two entry level rooms, the City View and the Partial Ocean View, are in both towers; guests can specify a tower when making reservations but it can't be guaranteed. For a more reliably modern room, consider the Hyatt Regency.
Great pools, a nice spa and a 24-hour business center.
With two pools with ocean views, a 24-hour business center, a full-service spa, and numerous shops and activities, there's plenty to do at the Marriott. Sure it doesn't have the five pools and 100 plus shops that the Hilton Hawaiian Village has, but it also doesn't have the Hawaiian Village's crowds and lines. Securing lounge-chair real estate typically isn't a problem.
Great Waikiki pick for families
Two pools, a beachfront location, and family-friendly dining and sleeping arrangements make the Marriott a great pick for families. But it doesn't have daily kids' programs like Hilton Hawaiian Village and Hyatt Regency.
Clean and well maintained throughout
For such a large hotel, the Marriott is quite clean. Common areas are bright and fresh, and I did not witness any lingering spills or trash. My room in the Kealohilani Tower, last renovated in 2008, felt thoroughly clean and the carpets looked as though they'd only seen a few steps. Rooms in the Paoakalani Tower, which haven't been renovated since Marriott took over the property in 2001, don't have that brand-spanking-new feel, but they are still in good condition.
Five on-site restaurants, including the best sushi in Waikiki
"The tuna you're eating was probably swimming today," or so says the sushi chef at Sansei Sushi. It certainly tasted like it.
While the Marriott brand is not typically known for its delicious restaurants, the Marriott Waikiki well surpasses expectations. The two best restaurants in the hotel, Sansei Sushi and d.k. Steak House (both only open for dinner), are both helmed by noted Hawaiian restaurateur and cookbook author Dave Kodama.
A massive, 1,310-room beachside resort that delivers both what you expect from the Marriott -- friendly service, well-kept grounds -- and what you might not -- five restaurants (including Waikiki's best sushi), a top spa on-site, and free snorkel and scuba lessons. For families especially, this is a solid midrange value.
Like Us on Facebook! We Make Your Day Better with Gorgeous Pics


text:
Police: Beer, child in suspect's carApril 25,2014Police say a Bennington woman arrested for drunken driving had an open beer bottle in her car's cup holder and her 6-year-old son in the backseat.
Nichole Shepard, 33, will appear in Bennington criminal court May 12 to face charges of drunken driving, second offense, as well as reckless endangerment of a child, according to Vermont State Police.
Trooper Elliott Justinger said he pulled Shepard's vehicle over on Route 7 at the intersection of Route 313E near the border of Sunderland and East Arlington around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday.
The trooper said he "smelled a strong odor of intoxicants" coming from the vehicle and saw an open beer bottle in the cup holder. Shepard was arrested after field sobriety tests, the trooper added.MORE IN This Just InBy Kathleen Phalen Tomaselli Full StoryBennington College and Middlebury College both top a list for most entrepreneurial colleges in... Full StoryWas the response to an alleged assault at College of St. Full Story
- Most Popular
- Most Emailed
- RICHARD'S POOR ALMANACK: On this day 1739, 'Richard Palmer' identified in prison at York Castle as the notorious outlaw DICK TURPIN; IN 1836, Battle of the Alamo begins near San Antonio de Bexar, Texas; 1896, the Tootsie Roll invented by LEO HIRSCHFELD.
- RICHARD'S POOR ALMANACK: On this day in 1472, Orkney, Shetland islands put up as collateral by Norway to Scotland in lieu of dowry for MARGARET OF DENMARK on her marriage with JAMES III, king of Scotland; 1962, JOHN GLENN first American to orbit Earth.
- TOMORROW'S HEADLINES TODAY: City mayoral candidates debate campaign issues; Hartford, Conn., woman still missing; Neal Goswami reports attempts to legislate suicide; local woman loses 100 pounds through TOPS program.
- RICHARD'S POOR ALMANACK: On this day in 1878, JOHN TUNSTALL murdered near Lincoln, New Mexico, by the outlaw JESSE EVANS; in 1930, ELM FARM OLLIE first cow to fly in aircraft, first to be milked airborne; 1955, nuke test WASP; '79, snow in Sahara.
- TOMORROW'S HEADLINES TODAY: Rutland Herald News Editor Alan J. Keays and staff writer Gordon Dritschilo discuss stories planned for the February 18, 2015, edition of the newspaper: Winter budgets maxed, legal marijuana, Springfield bank job, USPS slowdown
- RICHARD'S POOR ALMANACK: On this day in 1249 AD, ANDRE of LONGJUMEAU is dispatched by LOUIS IX of France to meet the KHAGAN, ruler of the Mongol Empire; in 1804, during 1st Barbary War, STEPHEN DECATUR scuttles the pirate-held USS Philadelphia in Tripoli.


text:
|Veterans Headline News
The federal government has agreed to settle a lawsuit accusing the Department of Veterans Affairs of misusing its sprawling West Los Angeles health campus while veterans with brain injuries and mental impairment slept in the streets, people familiar with the agreement said Tuesday.
Under the settlement, the VA will develop a master land-use plan for the campus that identifies sites for housing homeless veterans. Further details were not available.
Veterans Affairs officials did not respond to requests for comment. VA Secretary Robert A. McDonald has scheduled an announcement at the West Los Angeles Medical Center on Wednesday afternoon.
"I believe the settlement is a game changer," said Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), who succeeded Henry Waxman this month representing the Westside district that includes the property.
In its 2011 suit, the ACLU of Southern California argued that the VA should develop housing for veterans on the 387-acre campus. The suit accused the agency of illegally leasing land to UCLA for its baseball stadium, a television studio for set storage, a hotel laundry and a parking service. It also made a land deal with the private Brentwood School for tennis and basketball courts.
A federal judge in 2013 struck down the leases, saying they were "totally divorced from the provision of healthcare." More recently, U.S. District Judge S. James Otero halted construction of an amphitheater on the property.
The settlement comes as officials conduct Los Angeles County's biennial homeless count. Los Angeles County has more than 4,200 homeless veterans, the most in the nation.
Mayor Eric Garcetti has promised to house every homeless veteran in the city by the end of the year, part of a national effort led by the Obama administration to get those who served off the streets.
(Washington, DC) March 24, 2015 - House Floor, H.R. 216, introduced by House Veterans Affairs Committee Ranking Member, Corrine Brown, a bill to Improve the Department of Veterans Affairs Budget Planning, passed the House of Representatives.
Key Elements HR 216, the Future-Years Veterans Program
Beginning in FY 2020, VA would be required to annually submit a five-year budget plan matched to the VA's current and projected needs and aligned with a carefully considered plan of action.
Quadrennial Veterans Review
· To assist with the Future-Years Veterans Program, VA would undertake a Quadrennial Veterans Review every four years, beginning in FY 2019.
This Quadrennial Veterans Review would be a comprehensive strategic examination of the opportunities, challenges, policies and strategies of the nation as they relate to veterans and would include veterans and experts to ensure that VA is working to solve problems before they happen.
Policy Guidance
· H.R. 216 requires the VA Secretary to provide annual policy guidance to ensure VA's near-term budgets are aligned with VA's longer-term strategic budgets.
Veterans Choice Card and Program
Congressional Information Packet
On Wednesday, November 5, 2014, Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald released a message to the Nation's Veterans outlining the staged rollout process of the Choice Program, the new temporary health benefit program required by the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 ("VACAA") signed into law on August 7, 2014.
VA anticipates that many Veterans will contact their Members of Congress with questions regarding this new health benefit program. This packet is designed to help answer many of those questions and includes:
• Open letter from Secretary McDonald to Veterans
• Choice Program Fact Sheet
• VACAA Progress Report
Eligibility Information for Veterans regarding Choice Program
Under the law, to qualify for the new health program, a Veteran must have been enrolled in VA health care on or before August 1, 2014, or be eligible to enroll as a recently discharged combat Veteran within 5 years of separation. All eligible Veterans must generally also meet either a timeliness or a distance criteria. Those criteria fall into the following four categories:
• The Veteran is told by his/her local VA medical facility that he/she will need to wait more than 30 days from his/her preferred date or the date medically determined by his/her physician.
• The Veteran's current residence is more than 40 miles from the closest VA health care facility.
• The Veteran resides in a location other than Guam, American Samoa, or the Republic of the Philippines and needs to travel by plane or boat to the VA medical facility closest to his/her home.
• The Veteran faces a geographic challenge, such as extensive distances around water or other geologic formations, such as mountains, that presents a significant travel hardship.
Timeline for Choice Card Rollout
• The first group of Choice Cards along with a letter explaining eligibility for this program will be sent by November 5, 2014 to Veterans who may live more than 40 miles from a VA facility.
• The second group of Choice Cards and letters will be sent shortly thereafter to those Veterans who are currently waiting for an appointment longer than 30 days from his/her preferred date or the date medically determined by your physician.
• The final group of Choice Cards will be sent between December and January to the remainder of enrolled Veterans who may be eligible for the Choice Program in the future.
Determining Eligibility and Receiving Care through the Veterans Choice Program
• A call center will be available to verify eligibility and approve non-VA care on November 5.
• Veterans must call to verify eligibility and receive approval before receiving non-VA care.
• Veterans should call 866-606-8198 to verify their eligibility.
For Congressional casework inquiries related to the Choice Program, please call VA's Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs' Congressional Liaison Service at 202-225-2280 between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM EST, Monday through Friday, or email email@example.com.
For more information about VACAA, visit www.va.gov/opa/choiceact.
On a cold night each January, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) takes a count of the number of people who live on the street and in shelters. On the chosen night this year, 49,993 veterans were homeless. It's a 33% drop since 2010.
But that's not the whole story. The HUD's statistic for several years did not include Bobby, a former paratrooper who joined the army out of high school in 2001 and retired on honorable discharge in 2006, after serving three tours and making, he says, numerous jumps in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Bobby doesn't like to be pressed for details about the war. His voice turns gruff, and his speech slows down as he explains: "I don't like to talk about that part. I'm done. I've been over there. I won't go back. I won't wish that on my worst enemy."
After leaving the army, Bobby was homeless but slept on friends' couches in Houston, Texas. He overstayed his welcome. Having suffered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), severe back injuries as well as traumatic brain injury from his time in the war drove him to substance abuse.
"When you're experimenting on drugs it'll feel like la-la land," says Bobby over the phone borrowed from a worker belonging to the National Veterans Foundation (NVF), a Los Angeles–based nonprofit. "You asked me to remember my age," repeats Bobby, who will not share his last name. "I got a little TBI [traumatic brain injury] too. I remember some parts. I have blackouts sometimes. My speech is not that well."
Bobby is one of the many who are chronically undercounted by the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) renewed efforts to end veteran homelessness.
Shad Meshad, a retired army medical officer, is also the founder of the National Veterans Foundation. Meshad says that the VA's estimate of homeless veterans may be a mere fraction of the actual numbers – he speculates that veteran homelessness may be five times the problem that the VA acknowledges.
Meshad's teams go out scouting for homeless veterans in the Los Angeles area twice a week. "Being in this work for 43 years, I have a pretty good idea of where they would go." He adds quietly: "… where I would go."
Veteran homelessness should end by 2015, according to a 2009 plan from the Obama administration. The fallout from VA's recent healthcare scandals – culminating in the resignation of former secretary Eric Shinseki – was followed by the administration pumping in an additional $270m in October to anti-homelessness efforts.
On Monday, the new VA chief, Robert McDonald, a veteran himself, announced that he will soon fire 40 high-ranking employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs. He promised that the number may climb to 1,000. This retribution for "the people who violated our values" is the VA's biggest overhaul yet.
When the scandal broke in May this year, severe shortages were unearthed at VA hospitals, with many veterans dying while on the wait list.
As part of McDonald's reconfiguration, plans are afoot to hire 28,000 new medical professionals, including 2,500 mental health experts to make up for the severe paucity of manpower in VA hospitals.
McDonald has been in the news ever since he took office, travelling around the country, dramatically offering his cellphone number to the public at a congressional hearing, offering high salaries and loan waivers to students at top medical schools to come help at the VA.
But these changes will take time, if they happen at all.
'He said he became invisible'
"I would say yes, it is a lofty goal," agrees Jason Hansman about the VA's target of ending homelessness by 2015.
Hansman is the director of external program relations at the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, or IAVA. The VA has started new programs like cash assistance for housing to veterans under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program. Hansman and IAVA are innovative and have gotten the VA finally thinking out of the box. But it may not be enough to solve the problem as soon as the VA hopes, given its scale, he says.
Hansman explains that there are thousands of resources offered by the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, but these are complicated and exist in silos, and vets are expected to navigate them on their own.
The bloated VA functions like a large fortress, Meshad says, and it can't expect homeless veterans to come knocking on its doors. If the VA really wants to fix itself, it will have to aggressively go out and bring the homeless veterans in, says Meshad, pointing to his street teams.
Even before the overhaul was announced, Meshad demanded far more radical changes to the system than McDonald has planned. "It doesn't work and it hasn't worked for 50 or 60 years," he says of the VA, agreeing with commentators who say the US's second-largest bureaucracy needs to be scrapped. "They keep dumping hundreds of billions of dollars into it," he says.
'You're ill-fed, ill-clothed, you smell like a dead bear'
Even if McDonald has claimed that the long waits at VA hospitals have reduced, they are still beyond the tolerance of most veterans.
Meshad says benefit applications take several months and are often denied, slowly cutting off any aid veterans can get, pushing them out of their homes and families to the perimeters of cities.
Bobby never gets through when he calls the VA. "In some places, they give you a recorded message. You tell them you want to commit suicide, they call 911" – this, despite the staggering statistic that 22 veterans take their own lives each day.
Instead Bobby prefers to call the NVF helpline. "I'm glad it's toll-free. [You] call VA, [you] get through: recorded message. No one calls you back," he says. Bobby is still waiting for the VA's help, even after the NVF's veterans service officer has connected him with for his benefits.
"They don't care," he says. "How long does it take to sign a piece of paper?"
Meshad likes to illustrate the problem of veteran homelessness with the story of a destitute soldier he worked with. "Every time he was begging or hustling for money, people ignored him and walked by," Meshad says. "He said he became invisible."
"You're ill-fed, ill-clothed, you smell like a dead bear. You look raggedy, nobody wants to be around you," the very system that should be helping vets return to their lives pushing them away. "You get more and more distanced from the society that you want to integrate back into."
'I need a cigarette, they buy me a cigarette'
Each war creates a different generation of difficulties for some veterans. The backlash against the Vietnam war had people confusing "the war with the warrior". Iraq and Afghanistan vets came back to a terrible economy and the housing crisis, eventually losing their homes and families.
After being rejected from his friends' couches, Bobby decamped to sunny California. "That's how I ended up in Long Beach." Bobby lived under a bridge in the Lincoln Park section of the sunny town, with a community of veterans. They received regular visits from men in white National Veterans Foundation vans who came by.
They offered food, socks and warm clothing, as well as small indulgences to make a hard life more bearable. "I need a cigarette, they buy me a cigarette," Bobby recalls.
Life was tough, he explains. Long Beach brought in trucks to drive the settlement of homeless veterans off the streets and into shelters, Bobby says, but NVF's workers kept returning looking to help.
"These guys were persistent, they kept coming around and giving everyone pamphlets. And I finally called them up. They helped me get my benefits from the VA." The foundation also gives him therapy for his PTSD, he says.
Several veterans battle chronic pain as a consequence of their time at war.
"My back hurts. They gave me some pain medication. Just to kind of cope with it, till I get my benefits," Bobby says.
The only other succor for his pain is marijuana. He says it calms him down and he eats more. "I would do that any day," he says, imploring a reporter to try weed.
For now, Bobby makes a living from recycling plastic and fixing old computers. "When I work on my computer, that kind of helps me," he says. "Repair work, I see things get done. That's kind of like therapy too."
Bobby refuses to regret working in the military. "I wanted to serve my country and do my part. I want to say I'm proud for what I did," he says, only wishing for better circumstances: "I need a little bit more stability."
Editor's Note: we have asked Bobby for comment on the number of jumps he recalls in Iraq and Afghanistan, which some readers have contested.
VA officials will add a new customer service branch and a national network of veteran advisory councils
in what is being touted as the largest restructuring of the department in its history.
Veterans Affairs Department officials will add a new customer service branch and a national network of veteran advisory councils in what is being touted as the largest restructuring of the department in its history.
The moves come after months of scandal within the department and promises from VA Secretary Bob McDonald of a new "veteran-centered" culture throughout the bureaucracy.
The former Proctor & Gamble CEO dubbed the reorganization his "MyVA" plan, another phase of ongoing efforts to add a personal touch to VA operations.
The moves announced Monday do not include any employee dismissals, although McDonald repeatedly has promised such actions in public appearances. In a "60 Minutes" interview that aired Sunday, he said at least 35 employees face firing in coming days and more than 1,000 others could face other discipline.
But lawmakers have criticized his actions as too slow and cautious, and openly mocked his promises of more department accountability when only one senior department executive has been fired despite dozens of ongoing administrative and criminal investigations.
VA's new customer service branch, led by a chief customer service officer who reports directly to McDonald, is designed to "drive VA culture and practices to understand and respond to the expectations of our veteran customers."
The moves come after a three-month listening tour by McDonald, in which the new secretary collected criticism and ideas for improvement from patients and department employees. To keep those ideas coming, VA also will set up an online suggestion box.
The veterans advisory councils will include state and local advocates as well as VA employees, to offer additional improvements to local and national operations.
On CNN, McDonald described the changes as "embracing veterans, giving them a warm hug and the care they need."
VA officials also promised a single regional framework for operations that will "simplify internal coordination" and "allow veterans to more easily navigate VA without having to understand our inner structure."
No details were immediately available on what those changes would mean for staffing, benefits processing or availability of medical care appointments.
McDonald also has promised to update internal business processes to cut costs, increase productivity and better serve veterans. That includes "options used in the private sector to enhance our rapid delivery of services."
The department has also stood up a new digital services team to increase VA's technical offerings. Officials said the team will include "some of the nation's top technologists," but no formal hires have been announced.
News of the restructuring came just hours before Veterans Day, with lawmakers and veterans groups given little advance notice of the massive changes. Members of Congress have been critical of similar unexpected announcements in recent weeks, noting that the department's lack of transparency was at the root of recent care delay and mismanagement scandals.
But VA officials insist they are working to overcome that image, sharing more data on patient wait times and personnel actions in recent months.
On Friday, during a National Press Club event in Washington, D.C., McDonald struck back at critics who said the department isn't changing fast enough, saying he is still heartbroken over its past mistakes.
He also labeled some of the questions over employee dismissals and ongoing investigations as "shenanigans going on for political purposes" rather than constructive criticism.
"Any veteran outcome that's adverse in our facilities, I take personally," he said. "That's all you need to know."
Governor Signs 19 Veteran-Related Bills
Sacramento – Veterans, active duty service members, and their families received needed legislative support thanks to several bills signed by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.
"By signing these important bills into law, the Governor once again demonstrates his unwavering commitment to our California Veterans, service members, and their families," said Peter J. Gravett, Secretary, California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet).
The package of 19 bills includes legislation allowing Veterans to receive special designation on their driver's licenses (AB 935); provides spouses of military personnel who are licensed in another state to receive a 12-month temporary license to practice their profession in California (AB 186); directs CalVet to develop a California-specific transition assistance program for Veterans leaving the military (AB1509); provides greater oversight of private for-profit colleges and universities (AB 2099); and exempts a Veteran from any state from paying out-of-state tuition at California community colleges, California State Universities or University of California Campuses (AB13).
The Governor signed the following bills into law:
• AB 935 by Assemblymember Jim L. Frazier Jr. (D-Oakley): Allows Veterans to apply for a driver's license or identification card that includes a special "Veteran" designation.
• AB 186 by Assemblymember Brian Maienschein (R-San Diego): Requires Department of Consumer Affairs licensing entities to provide military spouses and domestic partners licensed in another state with a 12-month temporary license to practice their profession in California if they meet certain conditions.
• AB 1509 by Assemblymember Steve Fox (D-Palmdale): Requires CalVet to develop a transition assistance program for Veterans who have been discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces or the National Guard of any state.
• AB 2099 by Assemblymember Jim L. Frazier Jr. (D-Oakley) – Provides the California State Approving Agency for Veteran Education (CSAAVE) with greater authority over for-profit colleges and schools that serve Veterans using their GI Bill education benefits.
• AB 13 by Assemblymember Connie Conway (R-Tulare): Requires the California Community Colleges and the California State University to update in-state tuition rate policies for eligible Veterans to ensure compliance with the Federal Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 and it requests the Board of Regents for the University of California to do the same thing.
Other Veteran-related bills the Governor signed include:
• AB 585 by Assemblymember Steve Fox (D-Palmdale): Requires the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) to develop a prioritized list of uses for unused or underutilized nonresidential real property it owns.
• AB 614 by Assemblymember Rocky Chávez (R-Oceanside): Ensures that a Veteran with 70 percent or more service-connected disability receiving intermediate care or skilled nursing care in a Veterans home shall have their account deemed paid in full by the amounts paid on their behalf by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
• AB 919 by Assemblymember Das G. Williams (D-Santa Barbara): Permits Veterans who are itinerant vendors to receive a refund of sales taxes paid to the Board of Equalization between April 1, 2002 and April 1, 2010.
• AB 1397 by the Committee on Veterans Affairs: Requires the California Department of Human Resources to collect and report on data regarding the Veterans preference system in state hiring.
• AB 1453 by Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton): Requires CalVet to cooperate with local government bodies in Orange County to design, construct and equip a state-owned and operated Southern California Veterans Cemetery in the City of Irvine and establishes eligibility for interment.
• AB 1589 by Assemblymember Jim L. Frazier Jr. (D-Oakley): Requires an elections official to arrange electronic delivery of a ballot to a military or overseas voter who makes a standing request for all elections, eliminating the requirement that the individuals renew their email address every two years.
• AB 1821 by Assemblymember Richard S. Gordon (D-Menlo Park): Establishes the Medical Foster Home Pilot Program and authorizes U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facilities to create a medical foster home not subject to licensure or regulation as a residential care facility for the elderly.
• AB 2215 by Assemblymember Brian Maienschein (R-San Diego): Allows a Veteran's family or legal representatives to file a copy of a Veteran's military discharge document with a county recorder without the consent of the Veteran.
• AB 2263 by Assemblymember Steven Bradford (D-Gardena): Authorizes a Veterans service organization to volunteer as a Veterans service advocate at California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation facilities.
• SB 842 by Senator Stephen T. Knight (R-Palmdale): Requires the California Department of Transportation to construct directional signs on state highways for each Veterans home in the state.
• SB 1110 by Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara): Requires the court to inform active duty or Veteran status defendants of restorative relief rights available to them and requires the Judicial Council to include information about the provisions in its military service form.
• SB 1113 by Senator Stephen T. Knight (R-Palmdale): Extends the statute of limitations for a Veteran with a 100 percent service-connected disability to claim a disabled Veteran property tax exemption refund from four to eight years.
• SB 1226 by Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana): Expedites the Department of Consumer Affairs boards' and bureaus' initial licensure process for Veteran applicants who were active duty and stationed in California and authorizes prospective proprietary private security officers to submit verification of military training in lieu of a course in security officer skills.
• SB 1227 by Senator Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley): Authorizes a court to create a diversion program for active duty military personnel or Veterans who commit misdemeanors and who are suffering from service-related trauma or substance abuse.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Veterans' Affairs Committee held a hearing last night examining the VA's shortcomings in appropriately responding to information provided by whistleblowers, and into claims that whistleblowers within the VA face negative repercussions for stepping forward. The hearing comes shortly after the Office of Special Counsel raised new concerns over the VA's response to whistleblower allegations relating to patient care and safety. Congressman Mike Michaud (D-ME), Ranking Member on the Committee, issued the following statement:
"I'm glad we have had the opportunity to hear directly from whistleblowers – dedicated professionals who stood up and spoke out when they saw something wrong happening around them. The VA for far too long has condoned a culture of retaliation and intimidation regarding whistleblowers. I applaud Acting Secretary Gibson's promise to change the VA's culture. But, changing the culture of the second-largest federal agency will not be easy.
"This will not be accomplished by words alone. Talk is cheap and real solutions are hard to find. I am hopeful that last night's hearing is a step toward finding these solutions to ensure that after the spotlight is turned off, VA is fully living up to its commitment to care for our veterans. This is a process that will require the hard work of every single VA employee to ensure that VA instills a true culture of accountability and that there is zero tolerance for any act of retaliation or intimidation."
Dan Rafter | Communications Director
Congressman Mike Michaud (ME-02)
House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Democrats
1724 Longworth HOB, Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6306 (office) | firstname.lastname@example.com (email)
House/Senate Conferees Meet on VA Bill: House and Senate Conferees recently met to begin working out the differences between their proposals to address the VA health care crisis. It has been more than 15 years since a conference was called to discuss any VA-related legislation. All conferees spoke about their commitment to fix the VA so that all generations of veterans could receive the quality and accessible healthcare they have earned. One of the sticking points among members is how to pay for the bill. Last week, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated the proposals could cost roughly $50 billion per year. Senate VA Ranking Member Richard M. Burr (R-NC) called the numbers "grotesquely" out of line.
House VA Committee Chairman, Jeff Miller (R-FL) said CBO needs to issue a new estimate, but added that the conferees will keep working to settle their differences while they wait for updated numbers. Despite differences of opinion over funding and the overall quality of care at the VA, lawmakers were hopeful they can come to a resolution.
Take Action Now!
Background: S. 2450, The Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014 will begin to address the unacceptably long appointment wait times found within many VA medical facilities. Built on a compromise between VA Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Senator John McCain (R-AZ), the bill will provide quicker access to health care for veterans and critical accountability within VA.
It begins tackling some of the tough issues facing VA by making improvements to their appointment scheduling system and allowing veterans to seek care outside the system if they are unable to access VA within a reasonable time or live more than 40 miles away from a facility. It also authorizes an expedited hiring authority for VA to employ more doctors, nurses and other medical providers, along with the authority to fire top executives who are not doing their jobs - something the VFW believes is essential to providing timely access to care for all veterans.
If passed, the bill would also improve access to counseling and treatment for victims of sexual trauma; authorize 26 major medical facilities leases and provide in-state tuition for eligible veterans using the Post 9/11 and Montgomery GI Bills.
Action Needed: Call or email your Senators today and insist they immediately pass S. 2450, The Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014. Tell them that this legislation will provide vital solutions needed for veterans and begin to restore confidence in VA as a health care provider.
Senate VA Bill Moves Forward: Senate VA Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) laid out a bipartisan bill that broadly outline solutions to VA healthcare scheduling and access deficiencies. The VFW is pleased that the Senate has reached a compromise that will begin to improve access to care and rebuild veterans' confidence in VA. We urge both the Senate and the House to move quickly on this and other measures to provide timely and quality care for veterans. As this bill moves through the process, we will keep you informed.
The text of the bill is not yet available, but the provisions discussed would:
* Authorize a two-year program that allows veterans to seek medical care outside the VA if they cannot get an appointment within a reasonable time (based on a VA wait time metric), or who reside 40 miles or more away from a VA hospital or clinic.
* Authorize 26 new major medical facilities leases in 18 states.
* Provide an expedited hiring authority for VA to employ more doctors, nurses and other medical providers.
* Permit the VA Secretary to fire employees immediately without pay, but allow employees to appeal to the Merit System Protection Board within one week of dismissals.
* Create independent commissions on capitol planning and scheduling.
* Improves access and care for victims of Military Sexual Trauma.
* And provide in-state tuitions for veterans at public colleges and universities, which is VFW-supported legislation that has already cleared the House.
5. House passes VA accountability bill. The House on Wednesday approved a bill with bipartisan support in a 390-33 vote, granting VA Secretary Eric Shinseki the authority to fire career public employees in efforts to aggressively hold officials accountable... President Obama said he would not tolerate a scandal and that if the allegations were proven true, he would not hesitate to punish those involved... The stern warning was meant for VA Secretary Eric Shinseki too.
"More lip service? Or will enough heads roll to get us on the right track. To hear these politicians and their rooster crows, one must ask, how many of these birds fought in the jungles, deserts and trenches to know what combat veterans are and what they deserve? Veterans Network knows the truth, which is that our Senate and House currently have the smallest percentage of veteran members since the end of WWII.
To be continued."
WASHINGTON, DC – This evening, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4486, a bill that provides funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs for the coming fiscal year that begins on October 1, and provides advance funding for VA medical care programs for the following year. H.R. 4486 provides nearly $160 billion for veterans' benefits and services.
Representative Mike Michaud (D-ME), Ranking Member on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, released the following statement after passage:
"This appropriations bill ensures the VA can provide our nation's veterans with the highest quality of healt care and provides funding requested by the Administration to reduce the claims backlog, a goal the VA set to accomplish next year. The bill also includes important provisions that will assist us in our oversight efforts to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and veterans are receiving the benefits they have earned. This bill highlights the importance of veterans' issues, and is a great example of what we can do when we put party differences aside and work together to achieve real pragmatic goals."
H.R. 4486 also provides advance funding for VA medical care programs for FY 2016. "Providing advance funding is vitally important" added Michaud, "as we saw last year during the government shut-down. This bill ensures that the VA medical care budget is already in place and ready to help veterans not matter what the future holds."
Staff Sgt. Jen Lee of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program is backup goalie for the USA sled hockey team that beat Italy, 5-1, and South Korea, 3-0, over the weekend and faces Russia today.
Army veterans on Team USA include:
-- Retired Staff Sgt. Rico Roman, of Portland, Ore., who also is on the USA sled hockey team;
-- Retired Staff Sgt. Heath Calhoun of Clarksville, Tenn., who is competing in alpine skiing;
-- Former Spc. Joel Hunt, of Kokomo, Ind., scheduled to compete in the men's standing giant slalom March 15;
-- Retired Staff Sgt. Bryan Price of Belton, Mo., competing in Nordic or cross-country skiing;
-- Former Spc. Andy Soule of San Antonio, competing in biathlon and cross-country skiing;
-- Former Sgt. Jeremy Wagner of Nanakuli, Hawaii, who is competing in biathlon events;
-- Former Pfc. Patrick McDonald of Madison, Wis., who is competing in wheelchair curling, in which Team USA lost 6-4 to Slovakia and 9-5 to South Korea on March 8. On March 9, they beat Norway, 8-5. Yesterday, Team USA lost 7-2 to Canada and 6-5 to Russia.
Calhoun finished fourth in the Super-G-sitting skiing event March 9 with a time of 1 minute, 24.65 seconds, behind Japan's Akira Kano, who took gold with a time of 1:19.51. Japanese teammate Taiki Morii took silver with a time of 1:21.60, and Canada's Caleb Brousseau took bronze with 1:22.05. Calhoun will compete in the combined Super-G today.
Soule finished fourth March 8 in the 7.5-km sitting biathlon competition with a time of 21:48.5. Russia's Roman Petushkov took the gold with a time of 21:03.7. Ukraine's Maksym Yarovy took the silver, and Japan's Kozo Kubo won the bronze. Soule and the other top three finishers never missed a target, finishing with a perfect shooting score.
Soule finished fifth in the 15-km cross-country skiing event March 9 with a time of 42:53.8. Russia's Petushkov took the gold with a time of 40:51.6. Russia's Irek Zaripov won the silver, and Russia's Aleksandr Davidovich took the bronze.
Soule is scheduled to compete in the men's 12.5-km biathlon event today, as is Wagner, who finished 18th in the 7.5-km sitting biathlon competition March 8 with a time of 26:16.1.
On March 9, Price finished 19th in the men's 15-km sitting cross-country event with a time of 53:56.6. He is scheduled to ski the 1-km sprint tomorrow, the 4x2.5-km open relay March 15, and the men's 10-km on March 16.
The U.S. Army Warrior Transition Command congratulated all members of the 2014 U.S. Paralympic team last week and offered special encouragement to the eight Army athletes.
"The Warrior Transition Command encourages every wounded, ill and injured soldier to have a sport to call their own," said Army Lt. Col. Keith L. Williams, head of the Warrior Transition Command's adaptive reconditioning program. "When soldiers face injury or illness, they can still participate in sports and other physical activities. These activities significantly enhance their physical and emotional recovery … . The soldiers and Army veterans on this year's Paralympic team represent the enduring strength and resilience of the Army."
In January of 2014, CNN reported that at least 19 veterans had died because of delays in diagnosis and treatment at VA hospitals. In January of 2013 I posted a blog here about the VA's backlog of claims and the fact that, according to The Bay Citizen, retroactive benefits had been paid to nearly 19,500 veterans who died waiting. Small comfort for their loved ones, those retroactive benefits.
While these stories are not identical, who's in a position to argue that point to a veteran who's depending on the VA for medical care? Seems to me it doesn't matter whether that vet is just back from deployment in Afghanistan or a veteran of WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Bosnia or Iraq. In fact, any veteran who served here or abroad. Read the entire story here: http://tinyurl.com/ptepjsg
Washington State University
Study Title: Native American Veterans' Perceptions, Knowledge, and Attitudes toward Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Available Treatment
You are being asked to take part in a research study, conducted by Greg Urquhart, Sarah Sevedge,Matthew Hale, Nasreen Shah and ,Dr. Phyllis Erdman. The research team includes Native American veterans and individuals experienced in working with veterans and Native American veterans. This form explains the research study and your part in it, if you decide to participate. Please read the form carefully, taking as much time as you need. If you participate in the study, you can change your mind later or quit at any time. There will be no penalty or loss of services or benefits if you decide not to participate or quit the survey. This study has been reviewed for human subject participation by the Washington State University Institutional Review Board.
What is the study about? This study is being conducted to explore the perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes among active and former Native American service-members of the United States armed services regarding Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). You are being asked to participate because we value your opinion, experience, and perceptions as a service-member. You do not need to have experienced any symptoms of PTSD in order to participate. The survey will take about 10-15 minutes. If you choose to participate, you will be asked to answer questions regarding your perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes of PTSD and similar combat stress disorders and their treatment.
For More Info and to Participate Click Here: http://tinyurl.com/q67p9qp
#VeteransNetwork #VeteransNation #Veterans
In January of 2014, CNN reported that at least 19 veterans had died because of delays in diagnosis and treatment at VA hospitals. In January of 2013 I posted a blog here about the VA's backlog of claims and the fact that, according to The Bay Citizen, retroactive benefits had been paid to nearly 19,500 veterans who died waiting. Small comfort for their loved ones, those retroactive benefits.
Th Vietnam Wall
For those who lost friends or family in the Vietnam War, you can now find them on the Vietnam Wal in Washington DC, thanks to this amazing website. Search by State,City,Name.
In my last post I talked about the effect of the fall of Fallujah on veterans. Veterans of all eras. Not just the ones who served in Anbar province or in other parts of Iraq in 2004 when both Battles of Fallujah took place. You read that right: both. The battles in April and December of that year were among the fiercest, the bloodiest.
The Second Battle of Fallujah with its urban conflict has been compared to the Battle for Huế in Vietnam in 1968. Just as it's likely that you didn't remember there were two battles for Fallujah, I'd guess that if you remember the Tet Offensive in 1968, your memory is that the Viet Cong was eventually beaten back during that campaign. But that wasn't the end of the story, was it?
Forty-five years later we are still dealing with veterans of the Tet Offensive and their colleagues, all of whom are at risk of having their PTSD symptoms reactivate at the news of the fall of Fallujah. Oh, and their families. Don't forget them. Read the entire story here: http://tinyurl.com/oa92aen
Young veterans just out of the service and receiving health care from the government committed suicide at nearly three times the rate of active-duty troops in recent years, according to data released Thursday by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
"The rates ... are honestly alarming. This group of young veterans appears to be in some trouble," says Janet Kemp, head of the department's suicide prevention program.
The Army has struggled with suicide among active-duty troops more than other service branches during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the risk persists after soldiers return to civilian life.
Veterans ages 18-24 enrolled in the VA's health program killed themselves at a rate of 46 per 100,000 in 2009 and nearly 80 per 100,000 in 2011, the latest year of data available, according to the figures.
Non-veterans of the same age had a suicide rate during 2009 and 2010, the most recent data available, of about 20 per 100,000, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Thirty-six young veterans receiving some form of VA health care committed suicide in 2009 and 65 died by their own hand two years later. Among those in the broader age group 18-29, the suicide numbers rose from 88 in 2009 to 152 in 2011.
The overall suicide rate for active-duty personnel in the Army hovered at 22 per 100,000 during 2009-11, according to military figures.
The number of soldier suicides peaked at 185 in 2012 and a record rate for the Army that year of 30 per 100,000. Numbers for 2013 are not yet available.
Kemp says a preliminary analysis shows that most of them were not receiving mental health therapy but had been treated for other health issues by the VA.
"They're young. They've just gotten out of the service," she says. "They're more concentrated on going home, getting jobs, for the most part. They're not coming in for mental health care."
VA epidemiologist Robert Bossarte says a similar pattern was found among veterans in the past.
"There were were several studies after Vietnam that showed increases in suicide and other forms of injury/mortality for about the first five years following return from service," Bossarte says. "Those rates (eventually) came down to be about the same as the rest of the population."
A positive sign in the new data, Kemp says, is that suicide rates for male veterans of all ages who are diagnosed and treated for mental health problems by the VA have fallen steadily from 2001-2011, in contrast to suicide patterns among non-veteran males.
The same is not true for female veterans, whose suicide rates have not improved and remain higher than women who are not veterans, according to the VA data.
Kemp says recent success in reaching veterans through social media offers hope that more young people can be brought into therapy.
Online chat connections with veterans through the VA's suicide prevention office (hotline number is 1-800-273-8255) have increased from several hundred in 2009 to nearly 55,000 last year, VA data show.
"If we can get them engaged in (mental health) services, we can make a huge difference, and that's encouraging," she says.
When the news hit about an al-Qaeda-affiliated force taking control of Fallujah, I knew I'd be hearing from vets. Especially the Marine vets in Florida I'd known since 2008 when a buddy of theirs whom I'd treated for PTSD here in Los Angeles, asked me if I'd work with them and then handed me a plane ticket to Florida.
Originally a group of nine, one was now in prison, two were suicides, and one had been killed in a shoot-out. The five surviving vets called my personal cell; news of Fallujah's takeover had completely reactivated their PTSD symptoms. All they'd fought for was now in danger of being lost, which gave rise to questions about what it had all been for, the blood, the sacrifice, the loss of comrades. I knew they were filled with anger, frustration and a sense of meaninglessness. Was our sacrifice for nothing? Was there no meaning to the losses? Read the entire story here: http://tinyurl.com/pxcf6fj


text:
|155 posts found
Hard Core Member
Joined: 11/20/05
"Don''t touch that squirrel''s nuts!" - Willy Wonka
This thread seems a bit daft, tbh. OP, You realize, of course, that any MMO you've ever played that had multiple servers are like instances when compared to a Mega-server, right? Lets compare:
Traditional MMO: Multiple gameplay servers where the player Has to pick one to join, permenantly. Players can only play with people on the same server. Moving to another server is usually a premium service, costing real cash. Server merges usually resulting in player merges and forced name changes for some.
TESO Mega-Server concept: Probably multiple servers as far as hardware goes, but to the player one single server that everyone joins. Players can play with anyone who is playing the game, though i expect some communication is required between the parties to arrive in the same shard. Moving between the servers is now possible at-will, and appear to the player as selectable shards, and costs no real world cash to effect the change. A reduction to the requisite servers should be transparent to the player, with no forced name changes.
I don't see what all the fuss is about. This really is not that different that an MMO with multiple servers, except now you are not separated from those players by a 20 buck character transfer fee.
Now, if the auto-shard assignment cannot be overridden, then it's daft. Auto should auto-sort guild members to the same shards, etc.
Frank 'Spankybus' Mignone
Login or Register to never see this panel
Originally posted by spankybus
While your post is 100% true, your missing the main beef with it. The individual 'instances' can only hold a very low amount of people. If you played AoC when it had a decent population, which had a simmilar setup but no 'megaserver' you would know its a huge pain is the ass swapping back and forth between instances, not to mention the RP kids really dont like things that break immersion. This apparenty being a TES game, the RP crowd is agruably the majority or at least a very large percentage of the potential playerbase.
Advanced Member
Joined: 11/01/11
"Mega Servers" ... lol somehow this remind me of the mcdonalds ads with "Big MAC" = funny enough a LITLE pile of crap...
Apprentice Member
Joined: 10/15/12
Originally posted by karmath
but we don't know how big each megaserver "pocket" will be. could be each holds the same as a traditional server.
I think the prostitute mod corrupted your game files man. -elhefen
Originally posted by muffins89
The article link has slipped my mind but its been confirmed its only a hundred or two.
Hard Core Member
Joined: 1/02/08
"Always borrow money from a pessimist. They won't expect it back."
It seems like TESO will be a heavily phased game and that makes me have 0 interest in it. :(
What happens when you log off your characters????.....
Novice Member
Joined: 7/25/12
These conversations about how they "destroy community" strike me as so wrong. It seems more that these players want the game by design to force them to build a community than to be social human beings and seek out interaction. I just bought GW2 since Im bored waiting to head back to America and once a tittle over 30 someone invited me to do AC explore with them even though I wasn't quite high enough. Everyone in the group got along, friended each other adn we still group to this day. Well I'll be damned the solo centric GW2 game helped me make friends because someone took the time to reach out.
To the guy that mentioned sitting around a rabbit. Why do you think thats the better way to do it? Do you think everyone will politely wait their turn to tag the rabbit and get the credit? It would have to be first hit, because everyone getting credit and moving on wouldn't build community.
More often than not the statments I see seem to imply that because the system doesn't force you into interaction then you won't have any. And you aren't going to know all 2000 people on your server anyways. Its doubtful your "community" is larger than 150 and that implies a strong, cohesive community.
All games have a system to form a community. A simple chat option gives you the ability to form a community. You just don't want to be the one to reach out and make a friend. If you're shy and you have trouble reaching out, then that is a reason that I can respect for wanting that kind of population clustering and forced interaction. But to say that a game with instancing doesn't give you the chance to form communities is just a blatant falsehood.
Hard Core Member
Joined: 7/09/04
If you can't kill it, don't make it mad.
Originally posted by nate1980
Two reasons come to mind. One, if it doesn't look amazing, you've lost one of your main hooks into the typical main stream market. In todays competitive market thats a BIG deal.
Second, beyond a certain point, you aren't going to have personal interactions with more than a relative handful (30-50) people on a regular basis any way. Even the most social people aren't going to go much above 100 (if that).
Those who go on (and on and on...) about this abstract known as "community" seldom if ever take that into account. What makes a "community" memerable, isn't its numbers, but its *individuals* and your interactions with them. Honestly, when you start thinking about it, how many *individuals* do you remember from a given game?
Originally posted by RandomDown
In theory you are correct. In practise you are incredibly wrong. The majority of people in MMO's will seek the path of least resistance.
ie. If a person can quickly find a group with a dungeon/raid finder tool get teleported there instantly and acheive their goals without uttering a word they will never go through the hassle of actually interacting with others, making friends, forming a group, going to a desination on foot/mount and then acheiving their goals.
Those that would prefer the longer and harder way do try, but quickly get fed up of being behind the 8 ball and generally go allong with the easy route players.
This behaviour has been displayed very prominently in every single last clone.
Elite Member
Joined: 8/14/03
I'm a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar.
they only reason why planetside can pull this off is the complete absence of pve.
as soon you introduce questing, you actually need to limit the area.
"I'll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up! Not me!"
Originally posted by Thane
Traditional static clone questing that everyone on the planet is sick of, yes.
Hard Core Member
Joined: 7/09/04
If you can't kill it, don't make it mad.
Originally posted by karmath
Its more reality than lies. I played EVE for almost six years. CCP has pushed damn near to the limits of whats possible (and in many cases beyond...) with currently existing technology. But even with their fanatical dedication to their goal of having everyone in one universe, they have had SERIOUS problems.
They have *created* entire software and hardware infrastructures to deal with the problems involved, and its still not enough when battles go above a certain number. Their data center has frequently been on the top five hundred super computer list, and its still not been nearly enough.
There really is a limit to how many interactions can be achieved (in real time) at any given tech level. Couple that with having to deal with a distributed communications system, and its literally amazing that they've managed to push it even as far as they have. Lord knows, I'm no fan of Zenimax, but lets not let that blind us to the various realities that exist.
Elite Member
Joined: 8/14/03
I'm a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar.
Originally posted by karmath
name any pve game with a server that supports about 2k players in the same zone.
hello you too ^^
"I'll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up! Not me!"
Hard Core Member
Joined: 11/20/05
"Don''t touch that squirrel''s nuts!" - Willy Wonka
Originally posted by karmath
UGG! Ok that would suck. Can someone find a source to co firm this number. 200 to 300 players per shard?
Frank 'Spankybus' Mignone
Novice Member
Joined: 12/31/05
well, to OP:
unfortunately we now have this:
too many mmos
+ new generation of players acustomed to fast paced gratification, no commitment, no seriousness
(pro tip: role-playing is now the exception, not the rule... see many RP servers if any? in games called mmoRPGs!, and no, RP is not having a skill tree)
+ no need what so ever to socialize in an mmo since there are other networking media (playing while on facebook anyone?)
+ influx of console-minded gamers since mmos are now mainstream -> different view of gaming
+ which leads to angry birds or eve? meh both nice games (ok, i am being harsh)
+ companies think WOWesque success is within reach
+ companies think WOWesque success is NOT within reach, but will instead milk the cow
+ retards like us, who rush and praise, believe the hype, play, over-play, get burned and then discredit all the lastest releases.
We are hard-core players trying to get into now main-stream games. adapt, or find a niche game and really enjoy ourselves.
Advanced Member
Joined: 3/10/11
Originally posted by EtherougeI wish this was true. If things usually change for the better then why have all the MMOs that have come out in the past 5 years been crap failures? They try to change things a bit....more like devs are just taking the WoW formula and tweaking it a bit and calling that a "change". But even if the tweaking made it a little different than WoW it is still WoW at the core. And look at all the changes to WoW in the past 5+years...most of the changes have been for the worse with more phasing and dumbing down of the game. Things usually change for the better? Not so sure.
Elite Member
Joined: 5/14/09
Originally posted by mackdawg19
I completely agree with this. I am a Microsoft SQL DBA and I can tell you, yes you have have millions of transactions goes on in a database. However only so many transactions can go on before network, Disk, Memory or CPU utilization will be maxed. Yes in the next 10 to 20 years Mega servers will be possible because where computing power is going. Yes Eldar Scrools can go this route with phasing and instancing out of the world. The problem with that is you get closed zones like SWTOR has and not wide open zones like WOW, Rift or many other MMOs have.
Novice Member
Joined: 7/25/12
Originally posted by karmath
I understand it is human nature to take the easiest route however there are opportunities to develop community in the games that people will not take advantage of, or outside of them to facilitate building a community in that game. Perhaps the people on this site that complain about that but are still intent on trying out a game form a guild so that they have that community before they even log in. With this kind of server that is entirely possible since you don't even have to worry about launch day coordination on learning server names and making sure everyone picks the correct server.
The issue I take is that people don't take advantage of it. I personally haven't had trouble making friends from groups I find through LFD in Rift when I played it for example. Maybe because I seek out the connection its easier to get. The fact of the matter is avenues exist and if you don't take advantage of them, even if they are hard that still isn't the developers fault that you won't do it. The path exists, and you have that choice.
I will admit that in the sense that people want to be forced into grouping and interaction since that would be the simplest and easiest way from their perspective instead of reaching out, I think its unfair to blame the game or developers for not pandering, but that is a business discussion and this is more about building a community and not the economic viability of this or that process.
Apprentice Member
Joined: 10/15/12
Originally posted by spankybus
i've read and or watched every bit of info and have not seen or heard that referenced anywhere. if that guy can provide a source i'd be happy to back that number up though. but as far as i know that has not been confirmed. (or denied).
I think the prostitute mod corrupted your game files man. -elhefen
Elite Member
Joined: 5/14/09
Originally posted by kostantis
Very well said Kostanits.
I too agree that we have too many MMOS and the community is watered down to the point of instance gratification. Do I think we need more than 2 or 3 MMOS Yes, do I feel we need what 100+? No Look on MMORPG's list of games there are well over 500 MMO games there some are more web based MMOs however still MMOS all together. Because of the amount of games out there the current games all try to become like WOW and bid for every subscription or sale in a shop they can. This waters down MMOS from what MMOS started as. Very little advertising use to be done in MMOs, friends would bring friends in game who would bring friends and so on. Thats how the population increased.