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So there I was...
It was July of 2011 and Triangle Pest Control was doing more work than we had ever done as a company. I had technicians working 12-hour shifts, our bed bug and termite teams were putting in long hours and the office staff were completely stressed out.
One of our new technicians was really struggling with his major numbers (utilization and customer service), but we thought that maybe he was having problems keeping pace with the operations during the summer. That's when it happened. One of our customers submitted the following survey for the new technician:
"The technician didn't bother to ask if I had any problems. I thought he was going to start outside and work his way inside the house; however once he finished outside he left. He did not spray the inside of my house which is the area that I really care about. Aside from removing a few cobwebs I'm not sure he did anything. He left without collecting my check (payment). He did however manage to leave me his card (from) [his personal company].
Wow! Well that explained a lot. As it turned out, the technician was struggling but not for the reasons I had thought. He was having problems working as a technician in our business and working as an owner of his business.
While he may have struggled in doing the work according to our standards, he had no problem in taking the liberty to market his company to our customers (a violation of company policy and of our non-compete agreement). While the review from our current customer was harsh, I was grateful to have gotten it. Why?
- I knew that there was something going on with the technician, but I could not figure out what. She validated that hunch and provided the answer that I was looking for. With her review, I knew what was happening in the field and on his route.
- Our customer feedback system worked! We sent the customer a request for feedback immediately after the service and that allowed direct communication with us. This gave us an opportunity to make things right before she cancelled and resulted in us keeping a great recurring customer.
- It showed me that our technicians were following service standards in the field. This particular customer had been a customer for over three years. If our service had been inconsistent, she would not have known that what he was doing was non-standard. Previous technicians that had serviced her home, followed our procedures and trained the customer on what to expect from our service. In this case, she recognized that our service protocol was not being followed.
In the end, we contacted the customer, apologized and scheduled a re-treatment. We also gave the technician an opportunity to develop his new business opportunity FULL TIME — good riddance.
Right Now. This story, while entertaining, does bring up a couple of critical questions:
- How well are you monitoring customer perceptions?
- Do you have effective customer feedback systems in place?
The answers to these questions are critical to grow and secure the long-term stability of your organization.
At Triangle Pest Control, we have worked hard to implement an effective customer feedback system that allows customers to communicate their perceptions of our company and our service. I am not going to tell you that every survey we get is "fair" or "wonderful," but I will tell you that the feedback system has enabled a transformation in our company to be truly "customer focused." With our customer feedback system, we have been able to:
- Strengthen customer relationships. When we send surveys we are able to communicate to the customer that we really do care about their level of satisfaction with the services that we provide. Even if they don't participate, they know we care enough to at least ask.
- Address the cold hard facts. Like all companies, we are not perfect. In fact, I will say that we are far from it. We have problems and things that can be done better. The issue is priority. What we think is a priority and what our customers think should be a priority do not always match up. A good, raw and unfiltered slap in the face by a customer survey usually highlights the cold hard facts. From those reviews we are able to re-prioritize and hone our efforts to align with what is important to our customers.
- Avoid "Review Bombs." You've seen them. You go online to buy a new product and just as you get ready to buy, you see a ton of negative reviews. Whether the review is for the product or the company, you decide not to buy because it appears others' experiences are bad. Your customers are no different.
With our customer feedback system, we systematically collect feedback before the customer drops a "review bomb," potentially costing us lost revenue in opportunity costs. The reality is that no one can please all customers but in those cases you can protect yourself by getting the feedback early and directly (instead of on a website where potential customers are looking for service).
Implementing a System. So what are some elements of an effective customer feedback system? While I am sure that there is no perfect answer that fits every company in every situation, the system should have the following basic components:
- It should be automated. In North Carolina, the pest pressure slows during the winter months and we are not nearly as busy as we are during the summer. Over the years I have noticed a trend in myself to invent, create and implement great ideas only to forget about them when we get busy. The only systems that survive the busy season are those that are automated. Automating your customer feedback system ensures that you will get consistent feedback both in the slow times and in the busy times. Over the past couple of years, we have found the information we collect in the busy season to be a reliable indicator of operational effectiveness.
- It should offer incentive for participation. You have received emailed survey requests. You know, the one-sided kind that asks you to participate in a survey but offers nothing in return for your time. If you are like most people, that email is either ignored or deleted. One of the things we did at our company was offer a very small discount on the next service in exchange for feedback. When we did this, our customer participation went up more than 100 percent from the previous year.
- It should be simple. With our system, we ask only five questions. No one wants to sit around and write a dissertation about your company and you should not try to get them to. All you are really trying to do is make sure that the customer's needs are being met and that there are no problems that need to be addressed.
- Act fast on the information. As obvious as this may sound, it is not as easy as you think. When we first put our customer perception system in place, I noticed that the office would just leave the "bad" surveys in the company inbox and do nothing with it. Bad surveys are like stinking fish. The longer they sit around, the worse the situation just stinks! We had built the system but forgot to assign customer follow-up responsibilities. Be sure that someone is responsible for contacting the customer immediately to address the situation. When you act with speed the customer is usually much more forgiving and you are more likely to avoid a cancellation.
Feedback as a Weapon? Customer feedback is useful only if you communicate to everyone the results of the surveys and then use the data to make improvements in your organization. To solve a problem, you must first recognize that one exists.
With customer feedback you will get to see both the gems and the warts of your company. Believe me, our company has both. The problems and the warts never go away, but your organization will not be static. You will be ever improving, creating a stronger and more stable organization. So just how can you use customer feedback as a strategic weapon for your company?
Use feedback to focus your staff on the value of customer service. Each week in our branch, we have what we call our "Customer Service" meeting. This meeting is a mandatory meeting that everyone must attend and is focused on two things: sales and customer service. Typically, we will conduct some sort of customer service training, but the highlight of the meeting is the review of customer surveys submitted over the previous week.
We will literally review every customer survey for each team member in that branch over the course of the meeting. Doing so has a few critical advantages:
- We can recognize team members who are really taking care of our customers. I absolutely love it when we get to recognize team members who go the extra mile with our customers. Doing so provides a positive environment in which everyone sees that customer satisfaction is important.
- We are able identify and solve problems as a group. Providing customer service survey information to our front-line team members provides them with real-time feedback on how customers view them. The surveys also highlight what is really important to our customers. I'm not going to tell you all of these meetings are great, and that we don't have "heated" discussions, but we are identifying the areas in which we are doing well and in which we can improve. Reviewing the surveys as a team allows the company to brainstorm ways to improve.
- We are building a culture that really is customer focused. When our team members see others being recognized for doing a great job it motivates them to want to do the same. We are establishing a culture where our team members understand that our customers' perceptions are critical. This type of culture ensures that our team members will know how to respond to customer issues without having to be told.
Tie Performace to Pay. If there is one thing that I have learned over and over again as a business owner it is that if you really want something to happen, you must reward it with pay. When we looked at what we rewarded with pay, it boiled down to just two things: production and sales. The cold hard fact was that while we said that customer service was important, we rewarded only the amount of production or sales our team members produced.
So, we changed it. Now at our company, everyone from myself down to the front line team member has a portion of their pay from customer feedback scores. This one change accomplished the following:
- It communicated to our team members that customer perception was extremely important to the company (and their pay).
- It focused our team on what is really important to our company — creating long-term customer relationships.
- It created a culture of putting customers first, thereby ensuring the long-term stability of our company.
Ramp up the intensity. How many times have you heard this line from a salesman: "I know that we are behind this week, but we can make it up next week." Then the next week comes and then the mantra goes, "I know that we are behind this week but we can make it up next week," and so on and so on until next week becomes next month which becomes next year.
I personally like a short cycle, which means that we are focused on what is happening this week. Not what happened last week, or what may happen next week. We are all about today. An effective customer feedback system collects data each week and rewards each week. That way, there is a direct relationship between what team members do each and every week to their rewards.
In the end, having an effective customer feedback system is nothing more than good business. Intense focus on what the customer thinks of your team will not only ensure that your company will survive over the long term, but will also ensure that the ride will be one that you and your customers enjoy.
The author is owner and president of Triangle Pest Control, Raleigh, N.C. To contact the author, write email@example.com.
Visit Triangle Pest Control's website at www.trianglepest.com.


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White Sox get even with Brewers
Paul Konerko and Gordon Beckham drove in two runs apiece as the Chicago White Sox defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 7-1 Saturday afternoon to even the three-game series at Miller Park.
The White Sox won the game as +125 underdogs, but the eight runs went UNDER the day's posted over/under (9.5).
Ramon Castro belted a solo home run for the White Sox. Jose Contreras tossed eight scoreless innings, allowing just two hits to earn his second victory of the season.
Casey McGehee drove in the lone run for the Brewers. Manny Parra gave up six runs in just 1 2-3 innings on the mound in the loss.

subset: commoncrawl


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Despite physical limitations, most anyone can do most any exercise, perfectly.
I lost over 150 pounds in my 20s. Then I started exercising for the first time in my life (I liked strength training because it made me feel like a super hero). Some time later I became a personal trainer. Because it was still so new and unfamiliar for me to do anything "healthy," after I got my training certification I had a hard time feeling like I was a real personal trainer. 1
One day, I heard what sounded like a chance to prove myself:
"Coffey, you've gotta try Bikram yoga. It's hardcore – 90 minutes in a hot room, 26 postures held for up to a minute – it's nuts. And it'd up your endurance."
I wanted so badly to feel like the real thing, and scoffed at most endurance exercise, 2 so I decided to check it out.
I went to the studio and handed the gal at the counter – a tall, flawless specimen of yogic femininity – $15 for the class.
Then, armed with a mat, a towel, and some water, I walked straight into hell.
The studio was 105 degrees, and it was moister than a drunk first kiss.
I was wondering WTF I'd gotten myself into when the instructor floated in on a thin cloud of white spandex. Moments later, in the very first posture, the beast – the self-hating voice in my head – started screaming…
You've GOT to be kidding. You shouldn't be here.
You're broken. A joke.
Everyone is staring at you.
…because I was in a yoga class that involved a ton of back-bending, but, I suddenly remembered, my back does not bend.
Everyone has some level of scoliosis, but few people have it like I had it. Instead of one gentle curve, as I entered adolescence my spine had three sharp curves (Pacific Coast highway curves, but without the scenery).
At 11 years old, my spine was getting worse by the day.
I was well on my way to deformity, chronic pain, and nerve damage by the time I was 12.
Normally, a kid with my condition was fitted with a mini iron maiden, a tight, torso-length brace made of hard plastic. Worn over a year or more, the brace would straighten the vertebrate much the same way braces straighten teeth.
But I'd been obese since Pre-K, and by 11 I was far too fat for a torso brace to have any effect – my twisted spine was buried too deep. Surgery was the only option.
I hadn't ever been active, but I told myself that, if I survived the surgery, then I'd start exercising.
And then I'd really be able to lose weight.
And then my life would really begin.
Most people don't have "Once I do/have/master X, then I'll lose weight!" fantasies until high school.
Clearly I was ahead of my time.
Bone was harvested from my hip and used to fuse two long rods to both sides of my spine in one massive, 10-hour-long surgery.
I spent two weeks at a hospital in the Bronx, tripping on morphine and getting stuck with needles. Nurses flipped me several times a day to prevent bedsores. The pain was unspeakable, and as is often the case with extreme physical trauma, I can remember only bits and pieces.
I spent the next school year recovering in our tiny Queens apartment while my mother worked. I spent a couple hours a day with a city-provided tutor who smelled like raw hamburger meat.
It was a strange year.
By the time my back was healed, I was less interested in being active than I had ever been.
My thoughts were of comfort – quick comfort – like with food. Despite 3 countless efforts to lose weight, I got up past 300 pounds by the time I was 18.
In 2003, I lost over 150 pounds.
In 2007, I became a personal trainer. And I felt like a fraud.
Which brings us BACK 4 to 2009. There I stood, a newly-minted personal trainer with a back that could not bend, surrounded by human flexi-straws in a yoga studio that was hotter than Hades in July.
And what did I do? I did what any woman with a PhD in shame and self-loathing would do: I judged and compared.
To my left, a skinny little blonde was effortlessly shape-shifting into a pretzel. She was good at this, which meant I was a joke.
To my right, a sizable woman with a pregnant belly moved elegantly through postures I could only get into if I made a deal with the devil. She was beautiful and strong, which meant I was awkward and pathetic.
At the front, the teacher looked amazing wearing but the mere suggestion of clothes. Obviously she was a real fitness professional, which meant I was a fraud.
And behind her, more awful than anything or anyone else in the room, was my own reflection. 5
Mine didn't look like the body of a typical personal trainer, 6 which meant I was a piece of [Lengthy string of expletives deleted].
I could have run screaming, but I had something to prove. And, regardless of what was happening in my head, my body felt…better…after a class.
So I dragged my ass back into hell once or twice a week.
And while my body practiced yoga, my brain practiced hate.
The beast spun everything that happened in class into fuel for self-judgement.
Convinced I should be able to move like everyone else, I went to war against my own body to try to do things my post-surgical spine simply could not do. And the beast was right there the whole time, mocking me.
You don't belong here.
You can't do this. You're making a fool of yourself.
You're pathetic.
I hated my bones for literally not bending to my will.
My frustration and resentment grew.
I stared at my reflection, scrutinizing every flaw.
It was torture.
The beast never stopped chattering, and because I assumed its voice was my voice, I never did anything to stop it.
They're all staring at you, wondering why you're not getting any better.
They think you're lazy and weak.
Eventually, I decided that going to yoga was hurting me more than it was helping me. I quit, and went back to lifting weights exclusively. 7
That was 7 years ago.
Early this year, after months of being more sedentary than usual (ah, the price of writing), I was feeling achy and tight and a tad disconnected from my body.
I decided to give yoga another chance.
Now, why the hell would I do that?
I'd spent years intensely researching self-sabotage (both personally and professionally). I learned a lot, and began teaching folks how to wipe it out once and for all. I gave women practical tools to make drastic, healthy change, and to stay on track under any conditions whatsoever.
Most importantly, I'd uncovered how to enjoy keeping healthy commitments enough to actually keep them. 8
Click HERE to see the schedule for Coffey's ALL NEW, FREE online workshop,
'Why We Sabotage Ourselves (with Food) (and What We Can Do About It)'
It was time to put my tools to the hot yoga test.
The old studio had closed, but another was close by. I went in and was greeted by a large-and-in-charge, heavily tattooed trans woman. She was the instructor. 9
Things were already off to a good start.
I bought a week-long trial.
I grabbed my things, braced for the heat, and walked into the studio.
I set up my mat and towel, took a deep breath, and faced myself in the mirror.
I scanned my body. My face looked older. My tummy had two babies' worth of new stretch marks. There was still the same loose skin under my arms. My thighs still had the same textured surface you would expect after extreme weight loss.
No judgement. Just observations.
(Well, almost no judgement. I also noted that my shoulders were jacked and my eyebrows were on point. Progress, my friend. Progress.)
This was going well.
Because it was the same style of yoga, it was the same routine that had left me in self-loathing ruin years before: Twenty-six postures, most done twice, and most demanding a level of flexibility I do not, and cannot ever, have.
And you know what? I did every posture perfectly.
For me. 10
I pushed myself and I reached and I stretched to the best of my ability.
When in mid-posture the teacher said "Your forehead MUST touch your knee," instead of straining to bend parts of me that cannot bend, I laughed, because being told to do something you simply cannot do is FUNNY if you're coming from a healthy, care-based place.
It was a hard class. I struggled to do my best, and I did exactly that.
No shame. 11 No blame. 12 No self-sabotaging BS. 13
Just me in the moment doing the best I could with the body I have.
I stayed 'til the end. I rocked it. And afterward I lay in Savasana feeling like a Badassana.
My tools had passed the hot yoga test.
Those tools gave me control of my thoughts. When I am in control – not the beast – I can focus on the moment, on doing my best, and on how cool it is that I am alive and can move at all. I can choose care over criticism.
And when I operate from that place, exercise rules.
Now, before you lump me in with all those saccharine, Pollyanna fitness peeps who make it sound like you just have to decide to shift your thinking and POOF – you're fixed! – DON'T. The shift cannot and does not happen overnight. It takes practice and time – months and years, not days and weeks. And the practice has little to do with positive affirmations, and much to do with concrete actions, like getting solid sleep, and taking the time to adjust the water temperature so you don't burn/freeze. Only then can you begin to internalize that you're worth the time, effort, energy, and care it takes to make big, healthy changes, and to live well for life.
If you're anything like I used to be, you've blown hundreds of thousands of chances to practice coming from a place of self-care and not from a place of self-hate. Don't worry about it. Every minute can be a chance to practice, and you get stronger every chance you take.
Every day we can choose to operate from a kinder place.
Even when yesterday and today seem identical in every way, we can choose to approach it differently, to see ourselves differently. To act with care.
A few weeks passed. I'm in class and I look to my left and there's this skinny blonde – a different one than Pretzel Lady 2009 – and she's bending and contorting seven ways to Sunday. I hear the beast start in with the comparisons and the judgments. But this time, I don't let myself go there.
Instead, I focus on me. My body. My practice.
I do the best I can. Perfectly.
We're leaving the studio the beast whispers "Leave, quick! Don't make eye contact!" Instead, I introduce myself, because I know I'm more likely to treat myself well when I feel connected.
I'm not alone. We all need to feel connected to be able to stand up to the beast.
The bendy blonde's name is Maggie. The beast wants me to think she lives a charmed life and feels great about herself all the time. But I've actually gotten to know Maggie (Coffey 1, Beast 0), and It turns out she's had struggles, too. Like me, she's wrestled with eating disorders and shame. She even cried after her first yoga class because she was mortified by how "badly" she'd done.
Boy howdy, can I relate!
I see Maggie working it in class and I know her practice is perfect. For her.
Another day, I look to my right and there's a super-flexible pregnant chick (again, not the same one as in 2009). The beast wants me to harp on the fact that this a pregnant woman can do this whole yoga thing 1000x better than me. It wants me to feel embarrassed and self-conscious and stupid for trying. Instead, I look over to admire her strength and flexibility.
I introduce myself to her next. Her name is Sarah, and we have a lot in common. Like me, Sarah's got clinical depression. And like me, she's found that regular, daily exercise is a more consistently effective depression treatment than drugs and talk therapy.
I feel a happy jolt every time this gorgeous mama modifies a posture to accommodate her baby bump.
Day after day I see Sarah practicing, and I know her practice is perfect. For her.
Yup, I appreciate my classmates. All different ages, all different bodies, all different abilities. But most of the time, I focus on myself. On my practice.
And my practice is perfect.
What makes it perfect is that I keep showing up and doing the best I can do with the body that I have.
No matter what physical limitations you have, you can have a perfect yoga practice, too. Or a perfect strength training routine. You can do Zumba perfectly. Or Crossfit. You can swim perfectly. Dance. Pilates. Walk. Hell, you can jump like a kangaroo – perfectly. Here's how:
Show up. 14
And keep showing up. 15
And do the best you can with the body you have. 16
Like this? Share it on Facebook (your friends'll thank you for taking a break from the political posts.)
Thanks to my friends Maggie D and Sarah H. and for being perfect, to Four Wings Photography (fourwingsphotography.com) for the beautiful photos, to Valley Hot Yoga (valleyhotyoga.com) for the awesome yoga, and to Smith College (smith.edu) for the awesome backdrop.
- Let's never mind feeling like I was a real thin person, but that's another post for another time. ↩
- Me? Run? Only if I'm being chased. ↩
- …well, you know, thanks to… ↩
- See what I did there?! Ha! ↩
- A giant, studio-length mirror was there to help us "focus on our 'practice.'" ↩
- …because I wasn't a typical personal trainer – I'd been over 300 pounds! I've since embraced my history and my body, but at this particular moment in my life, I was still working toward that. ↩
- Clients – You've heard me tell versions of this story. Most of the time the story ends here. The rest of this piece shows how the Pleasure Principles are continuing to work in my life. Keep practicing, and like me you'll arrive at deeper and deeper levels of truth, all the while becoming more equipped to care for yourself in ways that bring you deeper pleasure. Go, Baby, go. ↩
- What it this magic?! Come to my free workshop and I'll tell you all about it. ↩
- Yoga studio owners: as a woman who, like many, has struggled with self-consciousness, shame, and compulsive self-judgment, I've gotta tell you that I'm much more inclined to frequent a studio whose instructors don't all look like Malibu Barbie (not that there's anything wrong with that). Bring on a teacher who looks more like the clientele you're trying to reach, and see if that doesn't positively impact student enrollment. ↩
- You didn't think this was an essay about me becoming a competitive yogi or anything, did you? No sir. This is about me doing what I can do as well as I can do it, and practicing every day so that what I can do continues to change and I continue to grow, to get stronger, to get more brave, and more confident. That, for me, is perfect. ↩
- Who the hell am I kidding? ↩
- Life is unfair and everything sucks get me outta here. ↩
- Eff this nonsense. Next stop – McDonald's! ↩
- This is the hardest part for so many of us. Showing up can mean a million different things. Showing up can mean arriving at a studio or a gym. It can mean strapping on comfortable shoes and walking out the front door. It can mean finding a roomy spot in your house, blasting your favorite CD, and hopping around like a bunny. If circumstances have it that you can't move, showing up can mean simply breathing with intention. Whatever activity makes sense in the context of your real life. ↩
- Every day will be different. Some days, it'll feel really hard. On those days, the best you can do will be a little less than others, and that's OK. Some days you'll have more oomph, and on those days, you'll explore the limits of your capabilities – safely – and that's OK. Some days, you'll be distracted and you'll just go through the motions. Some days you'll feel like a big, fat fraud. Some days, you'll wonder why you ever waited to make exercise a regular part of your life. Some days you'll be trapped in unkind thoughts. Some days, you'll be horny as a toad from the minute you start moving. Some days, you'll sense that you're getting stronger and you'll feel proud and accomplished. Some days, your body will ask you to back off, and you will. Some days, the idea of doing activity A will make your skin crawl, and so you'll do activity B, C, D, or Z instead. All of this and more will happen once you've committed to exercise every day, and all of it is OK. Keep showing up, and it's not just OK, it's perfect. ↩
- To do so safely, first get your doctor's blessing, and then avail yourself of any resources at your disposal; ideally, certified and insured personal trainers. Barring that, you'd be amazed out of what you can learn from a good book. ↩
- And it will continue to be perfect until and unless you become a competitive athlete, at which point you should probably start reading someone else's blog. ↩
- Just kidding. You should still read my blog. ↩


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I had band fitted April 2006 as I weighed nearly 22 stones and was an English Size 24 at 5ft 4inches I was morbidly obese! I was in hospital for 1 night and then back to hotel for 1 night then fly home. After surgery was in lot of pain, more than I thought, Dr said this was due to strong muscle under the fat! Was given pain killers for pain, but not really strong enough.
I lost oinly 6 stone in first 2 years after having 7 restrictions put into band. (saline is added through an injection into a "Port" attached to cather which is attached to inflatable band. Last restriction was done under barium xray and found faulty band, was leaking at port site!
I went back to Belgium and had this repaired under "local" anesthetic! horrendous experience as needed to ask for more anesthetic, as felt cutting and heat from laser! burning smell was awful! 6ml was put into empty band and this lasted till July 2010. I has suffered with reflux problems, acid indigestion, vomiting back food, sometimes even water! no 2 days alike, and what you could eat 1 day, not neccassarily eat on another! I have lost nearly 14 stone in weight and gone down to English size 8/10. It has been a long hard journey as I sorted out surgeon myself, and my fills through seperate agents, as didnt know about "package" deals at the time.
We live and learn! fills can cost between £100 - £200 a time and everyone needs different amounts, also dietry advice is available, at a price! I have learnt myself as time has past how to cope day to day, but there are good weight loss sites now, just look them up.
I recently went for a restriction or "fill" as they are called, due to being able to eat more! only to be told that my band was too tight, and food had collected above band in easophegus and formed a "pouch"! so had 2 ml took out, (Dr suggested whole band emptied, but too scared in case get fat! so a compromise reached) and back on liquid for 3 days, compared to 2-3 weeks at fitting of band originally! then week of mushy foods, then small portions of normal food, (though normal food is different for every bandster! I cant do bread, red meats or pasta as bulky and dont digest enough for me to get through band. All food to be thoroughly chewed to inable it through band! a process that you are always learning about) a lot of will power needed for 3-4 months then back for barium xray to see if pouch has gone, and wether I need a restriction putting back! I am getting married June 4th 2011, so need to fit in my already bought gown!
The reason I had band was because I was so fed up with being fat and pretending to be happy when I wasnt. I dont regret having it done, but think people need to be given ALL the details, pros and cons for this procedure, because I wasnt, and other friends that have had it done by other surgeons abroad and in England were not given all the relevant info.


text: Charleston native recruits best and brightest to Navy By Elizabeth Gaucher February 4, 2013 Story Share CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- An F-14 Tomcat fighter jet falls into the Pacific Ocean. You have to go get it.Most people would be relieved to hear that challenge directed to someone else, but Navy Counselor First Class Brian Fields grabbed it with gusto.Petty Officer Fields, a Charleston native, handpicks the best and the brightest for the U.S. Navy. He's very selective because the people he brings in harness nuclear energy to power military vessels like submarines and aircraft carriers.Fields knows what it is like to shoulder heavy responsibility. He applied for and was selected to serve a tour in San Diego as the lead electrician for a Super Scorpio ROV (remotely operated vehicle). Many people will recognize the Super Scorpio ROV as the same submersible technology featured in the opening scene of the 1997 film "Titanic."In 2004, when he was 25 years old and working with the Deep Submersible Unit, he was responsible for retrieving an F-14 fighter jet that had fallen into the Pacific Ocean off Point Loma. The jet was worth $62 million and a priority for the U.S. military; the Navy needed to investigate what caused the crash as well as to retrieve any classified information. At the time, it was one of the Deep Submersible Unit's biggest jobs in the past eight to 10 years.Fields grew up in North Charleston, attended Stonewall Jackson Junior High School and graduated from Capital High School. "When I was in high school I thought I'd be the last person to join the military," he says.Despite that early reluctance, he found a calling in the Navy. Something inside him woke up when he started to see how a career as a sailor could change his life.By 18 he realized how driven he was to, in his words, "see things and explore life." A recruiter convinced him that the future he wanted was in the Navy and Fields began his career nearly 15 years ago as part of the sonar division. He qualified to the level of Master Sonar Technician and served on the submarines USS Rhode Island and USS West Virginia. The Navy celebrates its best recruiters once a year in 16 categories, and Fields received the top award early this year for the Nuclear Power Officer Candidate Program; very few individuals recruit for the Nuclear Power program, and they are trained to screen potential candidates heavily.Many ideal candidates have bachelor's degrees or even master's degrees in physics or another advanced science. Fields attends events such as engineering fairs to put himself in the midst of the right kind of people.Physical fitness and mental capability are two key hurdles a recruit must clear to be considered for service in the Navy, Fields says."A very small number of potential candidates are physically qualified to be recruited," he says. The second requirement is that all recruits score well on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test. "The ASVAB tells me about a potential recruit's ability to learn. I also evaluate high school and college transcripts."Identifying an intangible quality in another person is what helps make a good recruiter great. Fields says, "The Navy is looking for people who want to be leaders, who want to be part of a team."Fields lives in Colorado with his wife, Heidi, and daughter, Brooke. His recruiting district serves portions of six states surrounding Denver, and he is pursuing an online bachelor's degree from American Military University, based in Charles Town, with the Navy paying his tuition.He says offering a qualified recruit the career opportunity and sense of direction the Navy provides is always a highlight of what he does. "Joining the Navy is the best decision I ever made. I've been able to have a career like no other. I love being able to share that with others." Reach Elizabeth Gaucher at firstname.lastname@example.com or 304-348-1249. Story Share Story Share Trending Now 1 Congressional opioid investigation targets drug wholesaler Miami-Luken 2 Facebook founder visits Cabin Creek Health Systems 3 WVU hopes to get injured defenders back for TCU 4 Safety shutoff disabled prior to June coal-mining death, report says 5 Rhode Island bank claims Justice companies owe $4.2M on helicopter loan On the Town: Auto show charity gala Previous Story Food Notes: Feb. 6, 2013 Next Story


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Faith Hill, 'American Heart' Video – Behind-the-Scenes
Faith Hill's first new music video in nearly five years is about to hit the web. The clip for "American Heart," the country superstar's latest single, will premiere Nov. 8 at 9:00 PM ET at FaithHill.com and Facebook.com/FaithHill. To tide you over 'til then, Faith and director Trey Fanjoy are sharing a behind-the-scenes look at the video. (Watch it below.)
"When I first heard this song I was brought to tears," Faith says of "American Heart," which was written by Jonathan Singleton and Jim Beavers. "I not only knew I had to record it, but I almost immediately saw it visually. It's awesome and so appropriate to be able to share it with my fans first, because they've been so supportive of me throughout the years."
The "American Heart" video was filmed in Nashville last month and includes choreography like we've never seen before from Faith. Joining her on the dancefloor is 10-year-old T.J. Jones, who could certainly give Usher a run for his money with his fancy footwork.
Faith's patriotic anthem will appear on her upcoming album, and will likely be a highlight of her Las Vegas Soul2Soul shows with hubby Tim McGraw next month. The power couple head to Sin City to perform a series of intimate concerts at the Venetian Hotel and Casino, starting Dec. 7 and running through April 27, 2013. Tickets are available now and can be purchased here.
Go Behind-the-Scenes of Faith Hill's 'American Heart' Video
Watch The Boot's Interview With Faith & Tim in Las Vegas


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5' 3 x 7' 2 Kerman Design Rug
This Turkish Kerman Design rug is made of Polypropylene. This rug is easy-to-clean, stain resistant, and does not shed.
Colors found in this rug include: Brown, Cream, Green, Peach, Red, Blue. The primary color is Brown.
This rug is 1/2" thick.
The measurements for this rug are: 5 feet 3 inches wide by 7 feet 2 inches long.
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it's an internet thing!
it's an internet thing!
"The precise point at which a tax deduction becomes a 'loophole' or a tax incentive becomes a 'subsidy for special interests' is one of the great mysteries of politics."
"Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future."John Sununu on John F. Kennedy
"Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress but I repeat myself."John Sununu on Mark Twain
"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors."John Sununu on Plato
"If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in 5 years there'd be a shortage of sand."John Sununu on Milton Friedman
"It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything."John Sununu on Joseph Stalin
"Politicians also have a love affair with the 'small business exemption.' Too much paperwork? Too heavy a burden? Not enough time? Just exempt small businesses from the rule. It sounds so pro-growth. Instead it's an admission that the costs of a regulation just can't be justified."
"The American formula for creating business is not to have the government create business."
"Not since the steam engine has any invention disrupted business models like the Internet. Whole industries including music distribution, yellow-pages directories, landline telephones, and fax machines have been radically reordered by the digital revolution."
"The Internet creates as well as destroys. Social networks, search advertising, and cloud computing are multibillion dollar industries that didn't exist 10 years ago. They are products of the same force that has rendered the Postal Service's core business obsolete."
"Energy and environmental regulation, transportation, and broadband policy all benefit when legislators have a basic grounding in the technical concepts behind business models, products, and innovation."


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The Color Dash - Farmington, MN
Sun 08/25/2013
This Color Dash 5k will benefit: Odaio We are taking care of two children, by putting them in a boarding school which provides basic care and an education for the children. David, our social worker in India frequently visits the children to check up on them. In Mandla, Madhya Pradesh, India we have started building a home for children on a small patch of land. Here we will care for up to 20 children once fully operational. The land will also provide food for the children helping odaio keep operational costs down. We look forward to the completion of this project as it will greatly effect many children for the rest of their lives.Event schedule and timesFarmington, MN Sunday August 25th Location: TBA Packet pick up 1 Dash starts 2 pm
- Address:TBA
Farmington, MN 55024


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Turnstone Builders LLC of Rehoboth Beach has been awarded Best of Houzz by Houzz, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The award-winning custom home builder, celebrating its 10th year in business in 2014, was chosen by the more than 16 million monthly users that comprise the Houzz community.
The Best of Houzz award is given in two categories: Customer Satisfaction and Design. Customer Satisfaction honors are determined by a variety of factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2013. Design award winners' work was the most popular among the more than 16 million monthly users on Houzz, known as Houzzers, who saved more than 230 million professional images of home interiors and exteriors to their personal ideabooks via the Houzz site, iPad/iPhone app and Android app.
Winners will receive a Best of Houzz 2014 badge on their profiles, showing the Houzz community their commitment to excellence. These badges help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals in every metro area on Houzz.
"Over the last couple of years, Houzz has become an invaluable tool to our company," said Kelly Kalb, project coordinator for Turnstone. "We noticed that a majority of our customers were familiar with Houzz, so we began using it as a way to not only share ideas with current customers but showcase our homes to potential new clients. It is an indispensable resource for generating and organizing ideas for home construction and renovation. The feedback so far has been fantastic."
With Houzz, homeowners can identify not only the top-rated professionals like Turnstone but also those whose work matches their own aspirations for their home. Homeowners can also evaluate professionals by contacting them directly on the Houzz platform, asking questions about their work and reviewing their responses to questions from others in the Houzz community.
Turnstone Builders is a local builder specializing in providing custom design/build services in coastal Delaware, from Broadkill Beach to Fenwick Island, primarily for homes in the $400,000 to $1,000,000-plus price range. Find out more about Turnstone at www.turnstonebuilders.net or by searching Turnstone Builders on www.houzz.com.
Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish - online or from a mobile device. For more information, go to www.houzz.com
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On Thu, Feb 23, 2006 at 01:15:32PM -0500, Tom Lane wrote: > "Jim C. Nasby" <jnasby(at)pervasive(dot)com> writes: > > On Wed, Feb 22, 2006 at 10:18:48PM -0500, Tom Lane wrote: > >> The Datum is just a pointer into the original tuple in that case. > > > That would still result in a speedup since you don't have to figure out > > where the field begins though, right? I'm curious as to how much this > > patch would help with sorting text... > > Right. It would help just as much as in the integer case as far as > eliminating the time spent in heap_getattr is concerned. That would be > a smaller percentage of the whole, because bttextcmp is (a lot) slower > than btint4cmp, but that's no fault of the patch. Certainly, thanks for the explanation. Of course this does raise the question of if it would be worthwhile to cache the first X bytes of a varlena, but that's a different fish to fry. -- Jim C. Nasby, Sr. Engineering Consultant jnasby(at)pervasive(dot)com Pervasive Software http://pervasive.com work: 512-231-6117 vcard: http://jim.nasby.net/pervasive.vcf cell: 512-569-9461
Next: From: Peter Eisentraut Date: 2006-02-24 13:26:34 Subject: Re: win codepages 1253, 1254, 1255, 1257 and cleanup Previous: From: Tom Lane Date: 2006-02-23 18:15:32 Subject: Re: WIP: further sorting speedup


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Mia Farrow and Rebecca Hall
Mia Farrow
A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy (1982), Zelig (1983), Broadway Danny Rose (1984), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), Radio Days (1987), September (1987), Another Woman (1988), Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989), New York Stories (1989),Alice (1990), Shadows and Fog (1991) and Husbands and Wives (1992)
Mia Farrow was a celebrity sensation long before Woody Allen came along. Her father was a film director and screenwriter (John Farrow won the Oscar for Best Screenplay in 1956 for Around the World in Eighty Days), and mom was Irish actress Maureen O'Sullivan (best know as "Jane" in Tarzan). Her godmother was the alternately celebrated and feared gossip columnist Louella Parsons. Farrow herself, by age 18, was seasoned actress thanks to a two-year stint on the popular television series Peyton Place (1966 – 1968). In the aftermath of teenage stardom, the actress would go on to work with Roman Polanski (delivering an iconic performance in 1968's Rosemary's Baby), Peter Yates (John and Mary, 1969), and Robert Altman (A Wedding, 1978). Farrow was even married to Frank Sinatra for a brief, scandal-filled time. But in inspiring Allen for over a decade to write what are arguably some of his best female roles, Farrow was catapulted into a whole new celebrity status during the '80s: legend.
Over the ensuing years, Farrow has been the focus of much intense media scrutiny, both for her public and her private lives as an actress, a committed activist and humanitarian, a mother, a wife and a woman. In this decades-long conversation shamefully little attention is usually paid to the fact that Farrow's longevity in the business is most certainly due to the fact that she is an actress of capable skill, depth and instinct. All of these qualities were greatly enhanced by her partnership with Allen, which began with A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy (1982) and continued through her one of her most assured, bare performance in their final collaboration, Husbands and Wives (1992). As Judy, a brittle but ultimately at peace woman who is full of contradictions and conflicting desires, many critics speculated that the character was an abrasive send off by Allen, given the timing of the film's release, though it could be argued that the role actually provided Farrow with one of her meatiest parts to date, perfectly balancing her talent for switching from bright comedy to searing drama sometimes within the same frame, as well as reflecting her maturity and experience as a performer.
Two years earlier, her sublime work in Alice explored and enhanced the tertiary colors and textures Farrow had extensively, artistically experimented with throughout her career in a way that perhaps no other role she has played has. Farrow's performance in the film is constantly engaging, she's in almost every scene, and she must anchor Alice with her charm and effervescence; remaining whimsical and magical without ever being precious. Displaying formidable range, Farrow's sweet, nostalgic ingenue Cecilia in The Purple Rose of Cairo contrasts beautifully with her other memorable characterizations from this period in underrated Allen constructions Zelig (Dr. Eudora Fletcher, a psychologist working on a legendary case) and Broadway Danny Rose (Tina Vitale, a blonde-bouffanted gangster's moll in tight capri pants). Each of these women marks a new adventure for the actress, who gamely puts it all out there, every time, without hesitation, vanity or unnecessary braggadocio. It is a crime that an actress of Farrow's stature has never been nominated for the Oscar despite a career of unique female characters both in and outside of the Allen ouevre.
While it's undeniable that the union of Allen and Farrow has lead to something much more complicated than their filmic collaborations (and much more personal and private), their names will likely forever be linked because of the unforgettable cinema they created together, and what their artistic union yielded is truly remarkable. As Allen's hero Ingmar Bergman showcased the work of Liv Ullmann, Farrow became a similar compatriot during their time together; a determined, nurturing, reflective presence that elevated the women she played – who at times were perhaps unfairly or more slightly drawn than others – into a pantheon of unforgettable pairings of director and muse. When you think of John Cassavetes, you immediately associate his work with Gena Rowlands. When you think of Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro comes to mind. It is the same with Allen and Farrow.
Though it is very difficult to separate the public and the private, their once friendly, romantic, goofy on- and off- screen love is a force to be reckoned with, and their legends were not always marred by scandal and tragedy as we now remember them. From the beginning to the end, this relationship that ended in pain, in a very public forum that poured down judgment on both Allen and Farrow, is forever immortalized in celluloid, laid out for the spectator to either embrace or reject . I choose to embrace their cinematic partnership and follow the example of Molly Haskell, who addressed the major conundrum of being a feminist film critic in her book From Reverence to Rape, by declaring the "critic" came first, the "feminist" second. The film critic side of me cannot deny their legendary achievements, the synergy and symmetry born of their coupling, and I can truly enjoy these fruitful collaborations, particularly the under-appreciated work of Farrow as an actress, something most people and most critics have shamefully overlooked in all of the gossipy hullabaloo. In a 2008 interview with the Guardian, a peaceful Farrow puts the Allen years quite succinctly into perspective as "all just part of a strange history."
Matt Mazur
Rebecca Hall
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
Hall was a relative newcomer to the world of feature film when she was cast as one of the title character's in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Prior to the 2008 release, she had only been in two films: Christopher Nolan's The Prestige and the English Starter for Ten. It was Vicky Cristina Barcelona that really got her noticed.
Despite not having the name recognition of Penelope Cruz, Scarlett Johansson, or Javier Bardem, it was Hall's character that was the central focus of the film. Hall was Cristina, one half of the globe-trotting pair of American college students out to discover European culture. While Scarlett Johansson's Vicky was out for romantic flings and dark men, Vicky's intentions were a little more academic: she was studying Catalan culture for her master's degree.
Hall's performance as the neurotic and self-aware intellectual is a major part of the movie, but it's her dichotomy from Cristina that is the major thrust of the film. You almost wonder how the two are best friends at all. Their ideas about life and love are so very different. Vicky knows exactly what she wants, and she has it: she is engaged to Doug, a smart, good-looking, and successful man. Cristina on the other hand, doesn't know what she wants, but she knows exactly what she doesn't want: Doug. But they both shove off to Vicky's relatives' house in Barcelona. The one thing they do both have in common is their chase for romanticized ideals, Cristina's of love and Vicky's of European's high culture.
The first scene where Vicky's identity and persona become self-apparent is the scene where the two women first make contact with Javier Bardem's Juan Antonio. Not one to mince words, Juan Antonio propositions the two of them. "Look, señior, maybe in a different life," Hall quips back. When Juan pushes further, Vicky suggests that his desires come from the pain he feels from his former failed marriage. Cristina, on the other hand, agrees to go to his room.
Although Hall's performance exhibits characteristics of a Woody Allen surrogate performance (particularly in delivering her lines), there is something that feels very different. She's just as smart and neurotic, but she seems more practical and has undercurrents of inner-doubt, features that most of these type performances do not have.
Vicky scoffs at Cristina's willingness to accept the stranger's invitation, but as the trip goes on, she begins to fall for Juan Antonio herself. Here, Hall allows that inner-doubt to take over. As she questions what she wants out of a partner and out of life, she begins to question herself. "I was always someone who thought I knew exactly what I wanted," she tells a classmate. The feelings she is experiencing now are new to her. She is experiencing the ephemeral romance that Cristina set out to find, not Vicky. "I just married the guy I wanted," she continued with her classmate. "I thought so."
In the beginning of the film, Vicky know what she wants and has it, while Cristina doesn't know what she wants. In the film's bittersweet ending, they both go back to where there started off, yet Vicky is no longer sure that she wants it. It's the status quo for Cristina, but there's a bitterness where Vicky ends up. There is a hefty amount of tragedy in Hall's performance.
Joshua Jezioro
Jean Caffeine "Winter of Hate" (video) (premiere) // Music
The Skullers 'Meet the Skullers' (album stream) (premiere) // Music
Lone Kodiak "Smile" (audio) (premiere) // Music
TIFF 2017: 'The Shape of Water'
// Notes from the Road
"The Shape of Water comes off as uninformed political correctness, which is more detrimental to its cause than it is progressive.READ the article


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Mick the Boston Terrier Learns to Walk
Mick, Boston Terrier With 'Swimmer Puppy Syndrome,' Learns to Walk
Though everyone thought he would never walk, Mick beat the odds in this touching tale from our partner Yahoo Shine.
When Mick, a puppy born with swimmer syndrome, a condition that causes dogs' legs to be splayed so they can't walk, arrived at Sue Rogers's home in Upstate New York earlier this month, she says she wanted to cry.
Also on Shine: Obamas Welcome New Puppy to the White House
Although she started theMia Foundation to rehabilitate dogs and cats born with birth defects — animals who would otherwise be euthanized — Mick seemed like an especially tough challenge. "I couldn't fathom how I was going to help him." The 6-week-old Boston Terrier could only lie flat on his chest and watch the other puppies, unable to stand up even to relieve himself. Now, a mere two weeks later, Mick is romping in the grass, and Rogers describes him as "the leader of the pack."
Read on to learn more about this touching story.
She began posting daily progress reports on the foundation's Facebook page and a video on YouTube titled "Amazing Mick-Must see to believe!" that has now been viewed nearly 200,000 times. The video charts the little guy's progress through therapy and shows him in a special harness to help him stand, working on strengthening his limbs by swimming in the bathtub, and finally, taking his first tentative but eager steps (in a clip set to the "Rocky" theme song, no less). He's the little puppy who could.
"In late June, I received an email from a breeder in Oklahoma asking me if I could help him try to figure out what was wrong with one of his two puppies. He wasn't acting like his sibling," Rogers recounted. After a bit of research, she concluded that the dog suffered from pectus excavatum, a deformity of the ribs and sternum, which usually leads to lung and heart damage as well as the inability to walk. She told the breeder that he needed to started working with the puppy immediately and without intervention, these dogs can die within a matter of months or even weeks. "Four weeks later he emailed and said he couldn't do this."
As soon as Mick arrived on July 16, Rogers swaddled him up like a newborn baby to help his limbs align correctly. She and her veterinarian mapped out a treatment plan that would include six hours of therapy a day. It may sound like a lot, but Rogers is used to the time commitment. She feeds her rescue puppies with cleft palates every two hours around the clock.
Rogers is often asked why she devotes so much time to puppies like Mick, and it's not a hard question for her to answer. "If people, and breeders, and vets would only give these little dogs a chance. They give back so much more than they take. Just look at how many people have smiled watching this video."
— Sarah B. Weir
Also on Shine:
Stress-Free Ways to Trim Cat's Nails
12 Flamingos Hatch in San Diego
Dog Survives After Eating 16 Rocks


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He swiftly found himself in battles with libel lawyers and powerful figures in public life who feared disclosure. Thousands of pounds later, with a new publisher, "The Truth about Westminster" finally rolled off the presses.
One former Minister said:
"In a dictatorship I would have been bumped off - I knew too much. Instead I was sacked"
"MPs confessed things to me that made my hair stand on end, The rot is deep and a change of government won't be enough to root it all out."
"Few MPs are corrupt but the system itself is corrupting, and encourages secrecy together with abuse of power. Most people regard politicians with contempt. Unless Westminster thoroughly reforms itself the place will die, losing powers toon the one hand and to Scottish and other regional assemblies on the other."
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100 Years Ago June 17, 1911 Campden Parish Council had two very important matters before it on Tuesday. They first discussed the desirability of petitioning the county council to do away with the system at present in vogue by which Campden is divided into three wards for the purpose of electing a parish council. It seems to us absurd that a place as small as Campden should be so divided and we are in agreement with the majority of the council in attempting to put an end to a system which is cumbersome and unnecessary. The second matter was public lighting which for a very long time failed to give complete satisfaction to the council or the ratepayers, Mr Ashbee has been to considerable trouble in collecting information as to the cost of laying down a petrol gas light plant. In a scheme of such magnitude the council acted wisely in referring the whole question to a committee.
75 years Ago June 113, 1936 IN his annual report to members of the North Cotswold Rural District Council, the chief sanitary inspector (Mr J E Busfield) said on the formation of the new district a consulting engineer was engaged to prepare a comprehensive scheme for a large part of the area. A considerable amount of investigation work was carried out and many sources considered, including the possibility of the use of river water. Eventually an option was obtained for a spring in Blockley yielding about 1,000,000 gallons per day. From this source it was intended to pump water to a service reservoir situated off the Five Mile Drive above Blockley, whence the supply would be taken to Stow, Bledington, Bourton-on-the-Hill, Bourton, Condicote and Donnington, and a main taken through Campden to Mickleton. From this latter main it would be possible to link up Aston Subedge, Weston Subedge, Saintbury and Willersey.
40 Years Ago June 17, 1971 Gloucestershire County Council is to have another go at trying to provide a pedestrian crossing in High Street, Moreton. Its last attempt, over a year ago, foundered because of complications over siting and loss of parking spaces on either side of the street. A petition signed by several hundred residents has been sent to the Department of the Environment drawing attention to "the complete lack of adequate crossing facilities". The flow of traffic on the Fosse Way, the petition says, is considerable and increasing and constitutes a direct danger to pedestrians. Replying to a letter from Moreton Parish Council, the county surveyor, Mr R A Downes, says the proposed crossing is extremely difficult to resolve because of the use of the car parking areas by the Showmen's Guild for the twice yearly fairs which in turn created problems of road safety.


text: Giovanni, I must respectfully disagree with your assessment. The discussion might be a waste of your time given your view of the marketplace was only what you personally consider useful at the present moment. Wireless technologies other than cellular networks and devices will affect your life and communications, hopefully for the better. It is interesting to me that at least 2 Europeans in this group feel that Bluetooth has a rosy future. That fact makes me want to look into the European point of view with more depth. Here's a different analyst's view of how the public WLAN market will evolve. Notice bullet number 2 and 3. From InStat - MDR The study also found that: a.. While it might be easy to summarily discount industries such as manufacturing in favor of the more aggressive adopters such as transportation, In-Stat/MDR believes vendors must not make this mistake. The sheer size of companies in vertical markets such as manufacturing means that, although overall penetration within the industry is lower compared to others, the actual number of wireless WAN data subscribers is still actually higher than other vertical market segments. b.. Most current wireless data implementations rely on the cellular network, and often on private company networks, with lesser use of messaging and other technologies. The study also showed high implementation of wireless LANs in these companies, and it seems likely that these companies also will be excellent prospects for public wireless LAN services in the future. c.. While the research shows high usage of cellular phones as the wireless access devices of choice today, end user companies are focusing more attention on notebooks with wireless modems in the future. If you'd like to read more of this article here's the link. http://www.instat.com/press.asp?ID=670&sku=IN0301123WB Of course, there could be differences in how wireless technologies are deployed in the US versus Europe versus Asia. Not an unimportant consideration, btw. ...Debi ----- Original Message ----- From: "Giovanni Bertani" <email@example.com> To: <email@example.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2003 5:23 PM Subject: (keitai-l) Re: Forrester: WI-FI is going to crash > > Benedict > I agree with your view. > > Coverage, Qos, battery life, weigh are all more important > factors in keitai than greater speed. > If we compare WI-FI versus 3G in terms of speed we are > completely out... I really consider this comparison a waste > of time. > > Most of the wider coverage WI-FI versions are not compatible > with a real world handset form factor and usage. Most of them > are still experimental and not standardized (Like 4G) and they > are really more vapourware than a solution. > > For the market I can agree with Forrester. WI-FI will remain > a business oriented niche product while bluetooth will be > widespread. Anyway 3G, Bluetooth, WI-Fi are wireless > technologies that have been designed for different purposes > and not to compete. > > For my experience: > > I personally use WI-FI (Apple Airport) in the office to move around > with my laptop, i sync my calendar and contacts with bluetooth > (Apple iSync and Nokia 3650) and I use 3G (3) data connection > to make phone voice calls (Videocalls are more or less useless > today), access the mobile portals and check the e-mail on the move. > > So really I am using 3g, WI-FI and bluetooth and a way that gives > me value but they are not competing at all. > > Giovanni > > > Marted=EC, 24 giu 2003, alle 20:21 Europe/Paris, Benedict Evans ha=20 > scritto: > > > > > > > My view on public WLAN, really, is that: > > *it is compelling for laptop connectivity in fairly confined areas, > > where there is a significant market, but which mobile operators really > > don't care about. > > *It cannot compete with cellular connecting anything smaller than a > > laptop on a wide area basis. > > > > Consider, for a moment - how many applications that can take advantage > > of the greater speed offered by WLAN will fit on a screen that fits in > > your pocket? Streaming video looks just fine at 200K. What does the > > 17-year-old use 1Mbit for? Why will they pay an additional=20 > > subscription? > > > > > > I ran through these issues in some depth in a report I wrote just=20 > > before > > getting shut down :-( > > > > http://www.ben-evans.com/cv_1/wlanflash.pdf > > > > > >> This is just what they said about PHS, which in terms of take-up for > > data access is currently kicking 3G's butt > >> in Tokyo. > > > > And what's the return on the original investment in PHS? Have any of > > the operators come even close to making their money back? Aren't they > > just milking a written-down asset base? > > > > -Benedict Evans > > > > > > > > This mail was sent to address email@example.com > > Need archives? How to unsubscribe? http://www.appelsiini.net/keitai-l/ > > > > > This mail was sent to address firstname.lastname@example.com > Need archives? How to unsubscribe? http://www.appelsiini.net/keitai-l/ >Received on Wed Jun 25 10:38:28 2003


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46 CFR 90.05-1(a) creates a wierd situation where US flagged seagoing motor vessels over 300 gross tons (even recreational vessels not engaged in trade) could be required to hold a USCG issued Certificate of Inspection (COI). But it also states in 90.05-10 that this requirement does not apply to yachts on an international voyage...unless of course the vessel is carrying passengers for hire (that's a different class of vessel).
Our laws and regulations (USCG and CRF's) are applicable to any foreign vessel operating in US waters. So, the requirements of 46 CFR 90.05-1(a) would apply to a foreign flagged vessel of more than 300 gross tons and carrying 12 or fewer "passengers"...unless that foreign vessel is flagged by a nation that is signatory to SOLAS and has onboard a current and valid Safety Equipment Certificate. "Passenger" is further defined in 90.10-29...and should not be confused with passenger for hire. Anyway, SOLAS I/A Reg 3 exempts all pleasure yachts not engaged in trade, as well as Cargo ships of less than 500 gross tons. Cargo Ships are permitted to carry 12 or less "passengers", and a Passenger Ship is specifically defined as a ship which carries more than 12 passengers - SOLAS I/A Reg 2. Cargo Ship of over 500 gross tons would be required to have a Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate, and a Passenger Ship (of any gross tonnage) would be required to have a Passenger Ship Safety Equipment Certificate.
For enforcemtent of US Laws/Regs and SOLAS on the waters of the United States there exists a loop-hole in the rules whereby a foreign flagged recreational yacht between 300 and 500 gross tons, which operates on international voyages, and carries 12 or less passengers is required (by US regulation) to have a certificate that doesn't exist (the Safety Equipment Certificate). Working with other flag administrations (like Bermuda) we have found that they do not issue SOLAS certificates to vessels that are not required to be provided under SOLAS. It's a wierd one...and between you and me...CG HQ doesn't want to clarify the regulations on this "minor" issue. So it really goes unenforced (probably because there is no way to enforce the regulation, and there is no way for a foreign flagged vessel of this type to seek an appropriate remedy in the way of obtaining the non-existent certificate).
What some foreign flagged yacht owners have done is registered themselves with their flag administration as a Cargo Vessel. That way they receive the appropriate SOLAS documents/certificates, and as a Cargo Vessel they are authorized to carry 12 or less passengers.
Mark Drewelow


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|Page (1) of 1 - 05/17/13
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Affordable Michael Buble Tickets: Ticketability.com Announces Public Onsale For Singer's Upcoming Concert Tour
NEW YORK, May 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- The upcoming tour is taking the artist to a number of locations, including North American concerts that begin on September 7 in Chicago and wrap up in Oakland on November 30. Concertgoers are anxious to find Michael Buble tickets at the most affordable prices they can, and Ticketability.com has a large selection at low costs.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130517/CG15342)
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To date, the singer/songwriter has released eight albums. His latest one came out in the United States at the end of last month. Future shows will contain material from the singer's career spanning the time from 1996 up to the present. The entertainer has a musical repertoire consisting of jazz, big band and traditional pop. Fans have been enjoying his vocal talents through his recordings and live presentations, and now the opportunity is coming up to again experience the thrill of attending one of his exciting live concerts.
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Media Contact:
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Related Keywords:Pro AV, Presentors, Business Issues, Presentation, Events, USA, Other,


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Hormone Therapy and Docetaxel or Hormone Therapy Alone in Treating Patients With Metastatic Prostate Cancer
Recruitment status was: Active, not recruiting
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
RATIONALE: Androgens can cause the growth of prostate cancer cells. Drugs, such as goserelin, may stop the adrenal glands from making androgens. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as docetaxel, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving hormone therapy together with docetaxel may be an effective treatment for prostate cancer. It is not yet known whether giving hormone therapy together with docetaxel is more effective than hormone therapy alone in treating prostate cancer.
PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying hormone therapy and docetaxel to see how well they work compared to hormone therapy alone in treating patients with metastatic prostate cancer.
|Prostate Cancer
|Drug: antiandrogen therapy Drug: docetaxel Drug: goserelin acetate Procedure: orchiectomy
|Phase 3
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|Randomized Phase III Trial Comparing an Association of Hormonal Treatment and Docetaxel Versus the Hormonal Treatment Alone in Metastatic Prostate Cancers
- Overall survival at 36 months
- Progression-free survival (biological progression and/or clinical progression) at 24 months
- Quality of life
- Treatment costs
- Toxicity and tolerance
- Tumor profiles of gene expression as measured by biochips with DNA and tissue microarrays
|Estimated Enrollment:
|Study Start Date:
|October 2004
- Compare 36-month overall survival of patients with metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma treated with hormonal therapy and docetaxel vs hormonal therapy alone.
- Compare 24-month progression-free survival (biological progression and/or clinical progression) in patients treated with these regimens.
- Compare the quality of life of patients treated with these regimens.
- Compare costs of these regimens for these patients.
- Compare the tolerability of these regimens in these patients.
- Compare the toxicity profile of these regimens in these patients.
OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.
- Arm I: Patients receive hormonal therapy comprising 1 of the following: goserelin alone OR goserelin and antiandrogen therapy OR surgical castration. Hormonal therapy continues until the development of hormone resistance. Within 2 months after initiation of hormonal therapy, patients receive docetaxel IV every 3 weeks for up to 9 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
- Arm II: Patients receive hormonal therapy as in arm I. Quality of life is assessed.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 378 patients will be accrued for this study.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Histologically confirmed prostate adenocarcinoma
- Metastatic disease
- Measurable or evaluable disease
- No brain metastases
- 18 and over
Performance status
Life expectancy
- At least 3 months
- WBC ≥ 2,000/mm^3
- Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,000/mm^3
- Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
- Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (2.5 times normal if hepatic metastases are present)
- AST and ALT ≤ 1.5 times ULN (2.5 times normal if hepatic metastases are present)
- Creatinine ≤ 150 μmol/L
- No symptomatic coronary disease
- No congenital cardiac insufficiency
- No New York Heart Association class III or IV cardiovascular disease
- No other severe cardiovascular disease
- No severe peripheral neuropathy
- No active infection
- No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell skin cancer
- No familial, social, geographical, or psychological situation that would preclude study compliance and follow-up
- No other serious disease that would preclude study participation
Biologic therapy
- Not specified
- No prior chemotherapy for metastatic prostate cancer
Prior chemotherapy allowed provided all of the following are true:
- Chemotherapy was completed > 1 year ago
- Prostate-specific antigen level has remained stable
- No development of metastases within 1 year after completion of chemotherapy
Endocrine therapy
- Prior hormonal therapy within the past 2 months allowed for metastatic prostate cancer
- More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy to metastatic sites
- No prior surgical castration
- No other concurrent investigational drugs
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00104715
|Centre Paul Papin
|Angers, France, 49100
|Centre Hospitalier de la Cote Basque
|Bayonne, France, 64100
|Hopital Avicenne
|Bobigny, France, 93009
|Hopital Saint Andre
|Bordeaux, France, 33075
|Institut Bergonie
|Bordeaux, France, 33076
|Centre Regional Francois Baclesse
|Caen, France, 14076
|Polyclinique du Parc
|Cholet, France, 49300
|Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Henri Mondor
|Creteil, France, 94000
|Centre de Lutte Contre le Cancer Georges-Francois Leclerc
|Dijon, France, 21079
|Clinique Sainte-Marguerite
|Hyeres, France, 83400
|Centre Hospitalier Departemental
|La Roche Sur Yon, France, 85025
|Centre Hospitalier General
|Le Mans, France, 72037
|Centre Hospital Regional Universitaire de Limoges
|Limoges, France, 87042
|Polyclinique des Quatre Pavillons
|Lormont, France, 33310
|Centre Leon Berard
|Lyon, France, 69008
|Marseille Institute of Cancer - Institut J. Paoli and I. Calmettes
|Marseille, France, 13273
|CHU de la Timone
|Marseille, France, 13385
|Hopital Notre-Dame de Bon Secours
|Metz, France, 57038
|Centre Hospitalier General de Mont de Marsan
|Mont-de-Marsan, France, 40000
|Centre Regional de Lutte Contre le Cancer - Centre Val d'Aurelle
|Montpellier, France, 34298
|Clinique D'Occitanie
|Muret, France, 31600
|CRLCC Nantes - Atlantique
|Nantes-Saint Herblain, France, 44805
|Centre Catherine de Sienne
|Nantes, France, 02
|Centre Antoine Lacassagne
|Nice, France, 06189
|C.H.U. de Nimes - Groupe Hospitals-Universitaire Caremeau
|Nimes, France, 30029
|Hopital Europeen Georges Pompidou
|Paris, France, 75015
|Institut Curie Hopital
|Paris, France, 75248
|Hopital Saint-Louis
|Paris, France, 75475
|Hopital Saint Joseph
|Paris, France, 75674
|Hopital Tenon
|Paris, France, 75970
|Institut Jean Godinot
|Reims, France, 51056
|Centre Eugene Marquis
|Rennes, France, 35042
|Centre Rene Huguenin
|Saint Cloud, France, 92211
|Hopital Foch
|Suresnes, France, 92151
|Institut Claudius Regaud
|Toulouse, France, 31052
|Centre Hospitalier Regional de Purpan
|Toulouse, France, 31059
|Clinique Du Parc
|Toulouse, France, 31078
|Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Bretonneau de Tours
|Tours, France, 37044
|Centre Alexis Vautrin
|Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France, 54511
|Centre Hospitalier Regionale de Vichy
|Vichy, France, 03201
|Institut Gustave Roussy
|Villejuif, France, F-94805
|Study Chair:
|Gwenaelle Gravis, MD
|Institut Paoli-Calmettes
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00104715 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|March 3, 2005
|Last Updated:
|November 6, 2010
Keywords provided by National Cancer Institute (NCI):
adenocarcinoma of the prostate
recurrent prostate cancer
stage IV prostate cancer
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Prostatic Neoplasms
Genital Neoplasms, Male
Urogenital Neoplasms
Neoplasms by Site
Genital Diseases, Male
Prostatic Diseases
Androgen Antagonists
Antineoplastic Agents
Tubulin Modulators
Antimitotic Agents
Mitosis Modulators
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
Hormone Antagonists
Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists
Physiological Effects of Drugs
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


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Priority Inversion and Deadlock Protection
In many systems, there are peripherals or data elements that must only be accessed by a single task at a time. The obvious way to enforce exclusive access to such resources is through a mutual exclusion semaphore ("mutex"). However, this may lead to a scenario termed priority inversion, whereby a higher priority task is indirectly blocked by a lower priority one. This paper examines the problem and details the available remedies, and introduces novel approaches for dynamic priority tracking, optimal priority demotion, adaptive priority ceiling, orphan mutex protection, and automatic deadlock detection.


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When will advertisers learn not to use the broadcast emergency alert signal in an ad? And when will networks realize the Federal Communications Commission is dead serious about the integrity of the EAS system?
A promotional ad for the film Olympus Has Fallen has earned Viacom, ESPN and NBCU the largest aggregate penalty ever imposed by the FCC. Seven Viacom networks, three ESPN networks and seven NBCU networks were fined a combined $1.9 million. Each of the companies admitted running the ad multiple times on multiple networks. Viacom was the biggest offender, airing the ad 108 times times over five days, resulting in a $1.12 million fine.
Blatantly flaunting the signal, the ad even puts up on the screen in white letters on a black background, "This is not a test," furthering potential consumer confusion.
Last November, the FCC slapped TBS with a $25,000 fine for using EAS sounds to promote Conan O'Brien's show.


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Cheers Fotix for his post in Back Page News!
SunnComm Technologies, Inc. announced yesterday morning it would sue first-year graduate student John Halderman over his recent critique of the company's new CD copy-protection method, but by the end of the day SunnComm president and CEO Peter Jacobs said he changed his mind.
Jacobs said in an interview late last night that a successful lawsuit would do little to reverse the damage done by the paper Halderman published Monday about his research, and any suit would likely hurt the research community by making computer scientists think twice about researching copy-protection technology.
"I don't want to be the guy that creates any kind of chilling effect on research," Jacobs said.
SunnComm plans to make that announcement this morning.
Halderman's paper hit SunnComm hard. Since Monday its stock value has dropped $10 million — one-third of the company's total worth.
"I just thought about it and decided it was more important not to be one of those people. The harm's been done . . . if I can't accomplish anything with a lawsuit I don't want to leave a wake," he said.
News source: Daily Princetonian


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Your Daily Dispatch of Celebrity Shenanigans!
Gosselin Goes Green: Former reality octo-dad Jon Gosselin has a new gig – and he's helping the environment! It appears that Jon's days of partying on yachts with his girlfriend du jour are over with. Jon has returned to the world of the working man and was spotted installing solar panels on the roof of a storage building. Green Pointe Energy, a renewable energy company based in Pennsylvania, reportedly has Jon on the payroll. Check out Jon's new 9 to 5, HERE!
Denise Eyes "Real Housewives" Job: Is there room on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" for Denise Richards? Us Weekly asked Charlie Sheen's ex-wife about appearing on the Bravo reality show. "Heck yeah I would! It's one of my favorite shows!" she told the mag. And she already knows which "Housewives" she'd like to get chummy with. "I love Lisa [Vanderpump] and Kyle [Richards]," she added.
LiLo Goes Clubbing!: We never know what Lindsay Lohan will do next, but it usually involves hitting a nightclub at some point. The actress took a night off from worrying about her theft charges and partied with ex-girlfriend Samantha Ronson at Teddy's at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. The duo arrived separately to the Hollywood hotspot, but were spotted leaving together. See the former couple's night out, HERE! On Friday morning, Sam Tweeted, "watching grey's anatomy-my fav show- @lindsaylohan sleeping next 2 me- should i wake her up to let her know her mom is going on GMA? #why ?"
Reality Claws Drawn?: Is Whitney Port blaming Lauren Conrad for "The City" being cancelled? According to an Us Weekly source, the former reality BFFs are all TTYN with each other now. "Whitney is upset because she thinks that 'The City' was canceled to make room for Lauren's new reality show…Whitney feels like she got the shaft," the source said. Where's Kelly Cutrone's acerbic padded shoulder when Whit needs it?


text:
With its past recruiting class LSU began fortifying the future of their tight end position.
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THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME Returns to the West End, Now Through Feb 14, 2015
The National Theatre's multi-award winning production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time has returned to the West End with a new company at the Gielgud Theatre. Press night is on 8 July, with the production currently booking at its new West End home to 14 February 2015.
Simon Stephens' adaption of Mark Haddon's novel is directed for the stage by Marianne Elliott.
The cast comprises Graham Butler as Christopher, he is joined by Vivienne Acheampong (No. 40/Punk Girl), Daniel Casey (Roger Shears), Emily Joyce (Judy), Abram Rooney (Alternate Christopher), Gay Soper (Mrs Alexander), Paul Stocker (Mr Thompson), Nicolas Tennant (Ed), Tony Turner (Reverend Peters), Victoria Willing (Mrs Shears), Sarah Woodward (Siobhan) and Sam Bond, Penelope McGhie, Roxanne Palmer and Mark Rawlings.
Christopher, fifteen years old, stands besides Mrs Shears' dead dog. It has been speared with a garden fork, it is seven minutes after midnight and Christopher is under suspicion. He records each fact in a book he is writing to solve the mystery of who murdered Wellington. He has an extraordinary brain, and is exceptional at maths while ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched and distrusts strangers. But his detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a frightening journey that upturns his world.
The production is designed by Bunny Christie, with lighting by Paule Constable, video design by Finn Ross, movement by Scott Graham and Steven Hoggett for Frantic Assembly, music by Adrian Sutton and sound by Ian Dickinson for Autograph.
Listings information
Address: Gielgud Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 6AR
Dates: Booking to 14 February 2015
Press Night 8 July at 7pm
Performances: Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm, Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm
Ticket prices: £15 - £57.50 (100 seats at £15 for every performance)
An allocation of £15 Day Seats are available for every performance from the Gielgud Theatre box office from 10am.
Box Office: National Theatre Box Office No booking fee
Telephone 020 7452 3000
Online at www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
Gielgud Theatre Box Office No booking fee
Telephone 0844 482 5130
Online from www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk
Website: curiousonstage.com
Photo Credit: Brinkhoff Mögenburg


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I'll never forget the first time I set foot in Anor Londo.
Up until this point, my adventures had primarily sent me to crumbled ruins, shadowy forests, and slimy sewers. As I gazed upon the sites of this new location, I was shocked. I had become so accustomed to the dark, dirty locales I previously explored, that the gorgeous view of the sunset across this abandoned city skyline caught me off guard. This was the most beauty I had seen in the game, and I almost thought I had popped in another disc on accident. However, as I proceeded down the path to explore this newfound area (still admiring the sun peaking through the spires of the city), I came face to face with a giant suit of armor who bashed me over the head with a spear, hit me and sent me rolling back, and then ran its weapon through me with its killing blow. This was how I knew I was playing Dark Souls.
Everything you've heard about the difficulty of this game is true, and I died more times than I can count. Tricky enemy placing, traps, and sheer dumb luck continuously got the best of me. However, despite seeing "You Died" displayed on the screen with increased frequency as the game progressed, I loved (almost) every second of my time with Dark Souls. This game challenged me in so many ways, which is why I need to get all of my thoughts out there. There's something special about this game, and I'm convinced it's one of the best interactive experiences ever made.
At the core of Dark Souls, is its combat system. If you try to play it like any other video game, you'll quickly find yourself bleeding on the ground. This game is way more methodical in its approach to combat, which results in a tense, challenging, fun, and rewarding experience. Each enemy encounter plays out like a puzzle. Sure, you're hacking at undead with swords, axes, and other weapons, but it's how you do it that's so special. Dark Souls demands that you learn your enemies, be it their weaknesses, weapon range, or move set. Whenever you encounter an enemy for the first time, it's best to slowly get in their range and try to force them to attack you. Learning how an enemy moves and attacks is crucial to your survival in Dark Souls. With hundreds of different weapons and spells to play with, Dark Souls has an incredibly deep combat system that rewards players who take the time to master it. Each fight becomes memorable, doubly so for boss fights, which are some of the best parts of the game.
If you're playing with internet functions on, you can even be invaded by other players, which makes the combat even more tense. Learning how to fight the different creatures in the game is one thing, but taking those skills and applying and adapting them to fight other players is exhilarating. However, what I really appreciated about this is the surprisingly polite experiences I had with other players. Nine times out of ten, my invaders would do a courteous bow before engaging in combat, which I was kind enough to return. There's obviously still a few bad eggs in the community, but the majority of people I ran into seemed nice and occasionally good humored. I encountered one player early on who had some really strong end-game equipment, but decided not to use it. That's right, they stripped their character down and attacked me with their fists. I'm not proud to admit it, but that was the day I killed a naked man.
Another aspect of the multiplayer is that you're able to summon the help of other players for tougher areas. In Anor Londo (the area I wrote about at the beginning of this piece), I was struggling really bad with a large room containing two enemies. I called on the help of another player, and (even though we almost died) we made it through together. The fact that it combines competitive and cooperative play so seamlessly is impressive, and I would love to see more games do it like this.
I also greatly appreciated the environments and atmosphere. Dark Souls can be a very spooky game, and that's largely due to the way From Software created its world. Everything is in shambles, the population of the kingdom has completely dwindled, and all that remains are monsters. However, what's really amazing, is how Dark Souls uses environmental storytelling. The lore of Dark Souls is surprisingly deep, but the game never flat out tells you anything. Instead, you have to look for clues in the environment to figure out what happened. You can also find out bits of the story through item descriptions, giving you more incentive to explore every nook and cranny you can find. For example, when I reached the area known as New Londo Ruins, I was greeted by a submerged city and several non-aggressive enemies. A couple hours later, I uncovered that the city was flooded to keep a group of dark wraiths entombed. The flood also claimed the lives of the cities civilians, and the few enemies I found on the overlook when I first entered were the survivors who found higher ground. They became trapped and lost their minds and became hollows (essentially zombies) and they're still there, hundreds of years after the flooding, in agony of their lost homes and loved ones.
There's a lot of things that are open to interpretation, but mixing the lore from the item descriptions with the things you can see and uncover in the environments gives the game a mystery aspect. I've become obsessed with learning everything that lead to the downfall of this once great kingdom, and it's been very interesting to go online and read other peoples theories and explanations of events. Dark Souls has a very unique way of giving out its story, which is one of things I most enjoyed about it.
Last, but not least, Dark Souls plays on your emotions. In one session of the game, you can go from feeling frustrated at a certain boss or group of enemies, incredibly happy and proud over a victory, or oddly saddened due to a horrible action you might have to commit to advance the story. There's also a fiercely strong sense of growth. More than any other game I've played, you can feel yourself becoming better at Dark Souls. The more you learn, the more you achieve, and since the game drops you into its world and then goes hands off, you feel like you've earned everything you've accomplished. There's no goal markers, no quest log, no real sense of direction. The game just gives you some starting gear, a brief tutorial, and then tasks you with going out into the world and solving everything on your own. It's up to you to figure out the story, discover where to go, and figure out how to clear the obstacles in your path.
I admit, this might not be the most eloquently worded thing I've written, but I needed to get some of these thoughts and feelings out as soon as possible. Dark Souls is one of the most unique and rewarding games I've ever played, and even though I've already spent 50+ hours with it, I'm ready to jump into New Game+ and face stronger versions of everything I challenged.
I hope this helped you to understand my view of the game, and I also hope it encourages you to check it out for yourself.
P.S. Praise the Sun!
– Zack Burrows


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text:
WA voters think Shorten can fix GSTWA couples ditch priests and pastors for big dayEx-top cop's fury over Pilbara grogBig burden to meet greenhouse gas target'They won't be around much longer': TrumpShane Warne accused of hitting 'porn star'Perth women say they were targeted in formula fight
Top Stories
Celebrants preferredWA couples ditch priests and pastors for big day
Man arrestedCopycat fears after train surfing stunt
Local brewThe craft ales you'll be drinking at the new stadium
Out of favourRoyal poll bad news for Charles
Deja vuPeel Thunder back-to-back WAFL premiers
Peel v SubiWho impressed in WAFL grand final
Caught on camera'Train surfer' charged over Joondalup line 'stunt'
Pet store theftFamous 3.6m giraffe statue found in Perth backyard
Wild weatherThunderstorm threat cancels Beer and Beef Festival
Held backTourism in WA just needs to lift its game
The state's natural attractions are a drawcard. But only a few see them.
Party implosionHome truths and big lessons needed for WA Libs
A lot needs to be learned by the party if it's to stand a chance at next election.
Unfair policyBooze floor price will hurt those doing right thing
History shows price rises are ineffective in altering abusers' drinking behaviour.


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Non-insulated solderless connectors for clean custom connections. 100 per package. See 28-6087 for vinyl sleeves.
by LocustThunder
on 11/22/2012
Nice made product can't beat the price
21-3000 - 14-24 Gauge Molex Crimp Tool
Molex crimp tool used to crimp 14~24 gauge wire terminals.
28-6071 - .250 Doubler Disconnect Adaptors
Disconnect adapters.
100 per package.
28-6072 - .250 Doubler Disconnect Adaptors
28-955 - Double Sided Foam Tape
Thousands of uses Fasten accessories to car dash, etc. 3/4" x 61/2' roll
22-24120 - 22" Black Tactical Weatherproof Equipment Case
Durable equipment case provides maximum shock protection for contents making it useful for instruments, audio/video equipment, tactical gear, photographic equipment and test equipment. Pre-cut cubed foam insert (top layer only) is easily customizable to fit nearly...
We are small group of performing musicians on a tight budget. MCM products have worked very well for us. Always looking for more live sound deals.