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You don't need a GPS or that disembodied voice coming from your car's dashboard to tell you that geography has taken a sharp turn toward the high tech in recent years. The burgeoning field of digital mapping has moved well beyond the apps on your iPhone and is revolutionizing everything from marketing to law enforcement and from education to the delivery of public services. The U.S. Department of Labor calls "geospatial technologies" an emerging field and estimates that over the next five years, employers will be seeking some 350,000 workers trained in geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing (RS) and other technologies used to visualize information.
"This is not your grandfather's geography," says Rich Schultz, an associate professor in Elmhurst's geography and geosciences department. "This is an industry that helps decision-makers make informed choices by organizing and visualizing data. It's an industry that is going to need more and more expertise in the years ahead."
Schultz is one of 14 partners from 11 institutions in the newly funded National Geospatial Technology Center of Excellence, a coalition of education and professional geospatial experts that aims to promote expertise in the field. Funded by a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation, of which Elmhurst College is a national partnering institution, the center aims to help meet the growing demand for workers in high-tech geographic fields. As an assistant director of the Center, based at Jefferson Community and Technical College in Louisville, Kentucky, Schultz will help build professional networks of faculty in the field as part of an effort to develop a community of practice, develop and disseminate geospatial teaching resources, and establish and promote a "competency model" to codify the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the field.
If your idea of geography still revolves around memorizing state capitals, Schultz would like you to know that the field is in the midst of a dramatic change. Geographers today deploy advanced technologies like GPS and GIS to identify trends, plot logistics, market products, deliver services and even solve crimes. Expertise in such geospatial technologies is highly valued by employers. In government, in telecommunication and transportation, and in the private sector, the job market for workers with geographic and geospatial skills is growing.
In fact, there is currently a worker shortage of qualified professionals with the necessary skill sets. The field is actively seeking individuals with undergraduate certificates and degrees in GIS and geospatial technologies and will continue to need qualified workers well into the future.
To meet the demand for talented workers, the GeoTech Center hopes to expand the number and quality of degree and certificate programs offered at colleges. Its goals include helping colleges develop programs that reach underserved and diverse populations, including military personnel and veterans looking to develop workforce skills. The Center also seeks to recruit more students to the field and promote the various career paths available to them. Later this academic year, the Center plans to host a national geospatial technology competition to attract attention to the field. "One of the most important things the Center will do is open students' eyes to the many possible career routes," Schultz said.
Even as maps have become nearly ubiquitous on our screens, new technologies have made it easier for anyone to create maps. For educators, the growing democratization of mapmaking is at once exciting and somewhat problematic. Maps that are inaccurate or that lack nuance can be the basis for faulty decision making and misguided policy. The standards established and promoted by the Center, Schultz said, should call attention to the qualities that distinguish professional mapping and visualization.
"Anyone can create a map, but it takes someone with geographic skills to create a useful and accurate map that sends the intended message," Schultz remarked.
Elmhurst already offers a full menu of undergraduate and graduate programs to prepare students for success in the field. Undergraduates may choose to major in applied geospatial technologies or pursue a minor in geographic information systems. Every one of 2013's graduating majors had an attractive job offer in hand before graduation, Schultz said. At the graduate level, Elmhurst's online GIS Certificate Program attracts working professionals from around the world. In 2014, the College will introduce a new online graduate program in Applied Geospatial Sciences, directed by Schultz, with classes taught by top geospatial experts from around the U.S.
The GeoTech Center is led by an academic all-star team of professors in geography-related fields at colleges and universities across the U.S., including San Diego State University, Washington State University, and Edgecombe Community College of North Carolina. The project leader and principal investigator is Dr. Vincent A. DiNoto of Jefferson Community and Technical College.
"Our involvement in the new center is a great opportunity for students coming to Elmhurst," Schultz said. "We want to be a leader in the field. That's why we're involved on the national level."
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Star Wars – ARC Trooper Fives (CT-27-5555) Free Papercraft
Posted on Dec 30 2012 at 12:02:50 AM in Artists
This Star Wars papercraft is the ARC trooper Fives (CT-27-5555), was a clone trooper who served in the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars, the paper model was created by Noturno & Sukhoi. The scale of the paper model is in 1:6. Because of his clone designation, he was given the nickname "Fives".
Around 21 BBY, during the course of the war, Fives was assigned to Domino Squad, a unit of clone cadets that trained within the planet Kamino's Tipoca City military complex, under the command of the Siniteen Sergeant Bric. Fives and his squad were required to pass a test in order to become battle-ready clone troopers. After the completion of their training, Fives, along with a number of other rookie clone troopers, was assigned to Rishi Station, a listening post located on the moon of Rishi. Fives was present when the Confederate General Grievous invaded the moon to take control of the Republic listening post. With the arrival of Clone Commander Cody and Clone Captain Rex, the two clone officers helped Fives and the surviving rookie troops retake the outpost.
Fives and trooper Echo, the only rookie survivors of the battle, were rewarded with medals for their service on the Rishi moon and were inducted into the 501st Legion. They later helped defend Kamino after Grievous, along with Dark Acolyte Asajj Ventress, invaded the planet and attacked Tipoca City. Following the Confederate attack on Kamino, Fives and Echo were promoted to ARC troopers for their continuous efforts. As the war continued, both Fives and Echo joined Jedi Generals Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker in the rescue of Jedi Master Even Piell from the Confederate prison known as the Citadel. After they rescued Piell and his officers, the facility's warden, Osi Sobeck, released battle droid forces on Fives and the Republic group. While Echo and Piell perished during the battle, Fives and the surviving members of his team were rescued by Jedi Master Plo Koon.
Unlike the other rookie clone troopers stationed at Rishi Station, who had been there for some time, Fives was sent to the base directly prior to Grievous's invasion. When he learned of his first assignment, he was proud to serve at a listening post that was critical to the defense of Kamino. At Rishi Station, Fives became acquainted with the rookie clone troopers and Sergeant O'Niner. He was able to cooperate with the other clone troopers when commando droids invaded the station. Fives showed eagerness to be on the front lines of battle, and, as the clones attacked the droids inside the Rishi Station, Fives's eagerness caused him to become injured, with a blaster bolt almost hitting his arm.
Fives's dedication and service to the Republic earned him a spot within the Republic's prestigious 501st Legion. Like all rookie clone troopers, Fives's armor was sleek white and had no dust or damage from fighting because of his lack of combat prior to the Rishi moon battle. He had a "5″ tattooed on the top left of his forehead.
About the star wars paper model:
• Format: PDF. PDO.
• Scale: 1:6
• Content Pack zip: Instruction and Model Images
• Difficulty: 123456789 (10)
• Pages: 9
You can download this star wars Star Wars – ARC Trooper Fives (CT-27-5555) Free Papercraft Download

subset: commoncrawl


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|The WVGenWeb Project
Source: Kanawha County Will Book 114, page 128
I, Clement C. Pauley, Sr., of Spring Hill, W. Va. RFD #1, being of sound and disposing mind and memory and desiring to make such disposition of my worldly estates as I deem best, do hereby make, publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking any and all former wills and codicils whatsoever by me made.
First, I direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid out of my estate as soon after my decease as conveniently may be and to that end charge my whole estate, real and personal with the same.
Second: I give, devise and bequeath to my 4 four living children as follows. My farm to my 2 two sons Alfred Earl and Clem C. Jr. Pauley. Clem, Jr. is to have the part with house beginning with the junction of the new and the old county Roads. Old road known as the Dagomore running up the hill including all on that side of the road. Alfred Earl is to have all on the opposite side of road. The boys are to have all tools that I may have. Madelene Davis, my youngest daughter is to have the Pianna. Violet Parsons, my other daughter, is to have $25.00. My interest in my home place known as the Cornelius Pauley farm, if I have not disposed of it which is one eighth 1/8 will go to equally to my children Earl, Clem, Jr., Violet Parsons, Madelene Davis. All stock is to go to the two boys equal. My beloved wife, Ollie Lawrence Pauley had an agreement between us before we were married that the property that each of owned then, hers to her children and mine to my children. So it stands now as it did then. She is to have $25.00 in cash.
In WITNESS WHEREOF I HAVE HEREUNTO SET MY HAND AND SEAL TO THIS MY Last Will and Testament at Spring Hill, W. VA. This 3rd day of Dec. in the year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and 41.
I nominate Alfred Earl Pauley to be executor of my last will and testament without bond.
Clement C. Pauley, Sr. (Seal)
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Clement C. Pauley, Sr. as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us, who in his presence, at his request and in the presence of each other, all present together have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.
A.W. Mooney
S. E. Turley
Leona Turley
At a Regular Session of the County Court of Kanawha County, West Virginia, continued and held for said County at the Court House thereof on Monday, the thereof on Monday the10th day of January, 1955.
A paper writing purporting to be the last Will and Testament and Codicil* thereto of Clement C. Pauley Sr., (12-29-54), deceased, late of said County was this day presented to the court for Probate and A. W. Mooney (not available) and S. E. Turley and Leona Turley the subscribing witnesses thereto (S. E. Turley and Leona Turley two of said witnesses) personally appeared before the County Court of Kanawha County, West Virginia and being first duly sworn, deposed and said that the foregoing paper writing was declared by the testator to be his last Will and Testament, In the presence of A. W. Mooney (not available), S. E. Turley and Leona Turley the witnesses thereto, who, in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other, signed said paper writing as attesting witnesses thereto; S. E. Turley and Leona Turley personally appeared before the County Court of Kanawha County, West Virginia, and being first duly sworn deposed and said that the holographic codicil to the last Will and Testament of Clement C. Pauley, Sr. was declared by them to be written wholly in the handwriting of the said Clement C. Pauley, Sr., and that the same was signed by him. And thereupon the said last Will and Testament, together with the codicil thereto, is admitted to probate, and ordered to be recorded and filed as and for the last Will and Testament, with codicil thereto, of said decedent.
And on motion of Alfred Earl Pauley, Son, and the proper affidavit having been filed Alfred Earl Pauley of Rt. 7, Box 414, South Charleston, West Virginia is by the Court duly confirmed as Executor of said Will, he having been nominated therein as Executor thereof.
And it appearing by the terms of said Will no bond is required of said Executor and he being a resident of this State, no bond is required.
And on motion of said Executor, Paul Painter, Neil Harper and Donald Creech are by the Court appointed appraisers to appraise the estate of said decedent after first being duly sworn according to law and make report according to law.
Thereupon the estate of said decedent is referred to Sam L. MacCorkle, a Commissioner of Accounts.
A true copy from the record,
Teste: Paul E. Wehrle, Clerk
By B. Maher, Deputy
*Note from submitter: Codicil purposely omitted.
Submitted by Ellen Pauley firstname.lastname@example.com


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Cheap Dishwashers
Published on By Elizabeth Sheer
Maytag Jetclean Plus MDB4709PA Review
From $404 Best
A standard dishwasher with solid performance, the Maytag Jetclean Plus sports an unusual tiered top rack that affords greater flexibility in loading, particularly tall items. There are five wash cycles (including china/crystal and heavy duty), a steam sanitizer, hard food disposer, and child lock.
Given the price point, this budget model deserves praise for its cleaning ability, say Maytag Jetclean Plus MDB4709PA reviews. At the company site users write that dishes, glasses, and flatware shine after the cycle is finished regardless how soiled they were at the outset, an assessment confirmed by comments posted elsewhere. Users also commend its quiet operation despite a rated decibel level that's slightly higher than others we researched. Several also rave about the effectiveness of the steam-sanitize option.
On the downside, a few Maytag Jetclean Plus MDB4709PA reviews at sites such as AJ Madison contend that tea and coffee stains and dry or sticky food remains don't get washed away completely. Some users also balk at the long cycle -- upwards of three hours with the sanitize and heated dry options -- and contend that the rack layout isn't particularly efficient. A sample of grievances: stemware doesn't fit in the upper rack, not enough space on the bottom rack for two rows of dinner plates, the silverware basket is a space hog. Still, users favorably compare this model to whatever it replaced.
The Maytag Jetclean Plus MDB4709PA (starting at $404, AJ Madison) is equipped with several appealing features. The top rack is tiered, with the middle section raised, to open up space for taller items in the bottom rack. (Some users point out this setup has the effect of limiting clearance on the top rack.) There are five wash cycles, including china/crystal and heavy-duty; a sanitizing rinse; heat and no-heat dry options; and a hard-food chopper that minimizes the need to prerinse. Delay-start options include 2, 4, and 8 hours. The tall tub holds up to 12 place settings and when running, the decibel level hits 57dBA. This model earns Energy Star certification and comes in white, bisque, black, and stainless steel.
Although a few reviews mention service calls were needed within the first year, users don't seem concerned about durability. They do seem pleased to have chosen a dishwasher whose performance meets expectations.
Where to buy
Whirlpool Gold Top Control WDT710PAY Review
From $445 Best
The Whirlpool Gold WTD710PAY piles on the features, including upper and lower fold-down tines, adjustable upper rack, and controls mounted on the top edge of the door. Consumers appreciate the six cycles and many options, such as the soil sensor and eco-wash cycle, and, more critically, the impressive results.
The combination of strong performance and features often associated with higher-end dishwashers win over consumers, according to Whirlpool Gold Top Control WDT710PAY reviews. At Appliance Connection users express pleasant surprise at its quiet operation, saying you can barely hear it running. Reviews are effusive about the end results, as well. Posts at Home Depot, for example, report thorough cleaning even without prerinsing and no spotting even with hard water. The spacious and flexible interior, with fold-down tines on both racks, an adjustable upper rack, and a silverware basket that fits in any of several locations garner heaps of praise in reviews, with users happily noting they can load in more items than was possible with older models.
Behind all the applause, however, we also detected bit of sniping. Placing the basket in the door or clipping it on the front of the lower rack may open up space for dishware, but doing so has its downsides. Some users assert the basket is hard to load when in the door and silverware doesn't get a complete cleaning. Additionally, some Whirlpool Gold Top Control WDT710PAY reviews at the company site and at Sears say the basket can't accommodate larger utensils, larger flatware patterns don't fit the slots in the basket covers, and small pieces of flatware fall through the bottom holes. We also found a handful of reports about inadequate cleaning (mostly of baked-on food stuffs) and operational breakdowns. As is common with energy-efficient dishwashers in the budget segment, insufficient drying is a frequent but not deal-breaking critique.
The Whirlpool Gold Top Control WDT710PAY (starting at $445, Amazon) is richly appointed. The tall tub can hold up to 15 full place settings, the top rack slides out completely and can be moved up or down and it has an extra minishelf for a second row of mugs. There are six wash cycles, including a sensor cycle that adjusts the settings based on soil level and load size and an energy-efficient overnight cycle for heavily soiled loads, as well as a half (top rack) wash and a sanitizing rinse. Users can choose between a heated or non-heated drying cycle and delay the start for four hours. The electronic controls are mounted along the top edge of the door. This model comes with an Energy Star and noise level is rated at 55 dBA. It's available in white, white ice (with a stainless-steel handle), black, black ice, and stainless steel; prices vary by finish.
Despite a malfunction here and there and low-level grousing about the utensil basket, the array of features and solid performance make the Whirlpool Gold Top Control WDT710PAY a true value buy.
Where to buy
GE GDF520PGD Review
From $359 Good
A real find at the low end of the price range for anyone needing to load the equivalent of up to 16 full place settings, the GE GDF520PGD comes with three spray arms, a steam prewash, and four wash cycles. It does the job well, but grumbles about the silverware basket crop up in user reviews.
GE GDF520PGD reviews are generally upbeat about this inexpensive dishwasher. Users mostly approve of the cleaning action, noting that it quietly and efficiently washes away food residues. The steam prewash, which keeps prerinsing at the sink to a bare minimum, is a particularly welcome feature, according to reviews at Sears. Many like the capacious interior and the option of placing the silverware basket in the door or the lower rack.
That said, the positive commentary is slightly offset by a variety of critiques. Some GE GDF520PGD reviews at Home Depot, for example, grumble about a very long start-to-finish cycle and dishes and glassware that are still wet even after the heated-dry. Some reviewers also say the rack layout is inefficient, making it hard to load bowls and pots. Mounting the silverware basket on the rack interferes with the soap dispenser, the critics continue, and when placed in the door, the silverware isn't exposed to enough water for thorough cleaning.
Unlike other dishwashers in its class, the GE GDF520PGD (starting at $359, AJ Madison) boasts three spray/wash arms (the third is located above the upper rack) and dedicated silverware jets. There are four wash cycles in addition to a steam prewash, sanitize, and temperature-boost options; users can also choose heated or no-heat dry. A sensor monitors the goings-on and adjusts water and temperature levels accordingly. It features a hard-food disposer and a 2/4/8-hour delay start. Maximum capacity in this tall tub dishwasher is 16 place settings. It earns an Energy Star and a noise rating of 54 dBA. Available finishes are white, bisque, black, and stainless steel.
Not awesome, perhaps, but definitely worth the price. The GE GDF520PGD does what it's meant to do.
Where to buy
Bosch Ascenta SHE3AR56UC Review
From $490 Good
Perched right at the edge of the Cheapism range, this model from Bosch stands out for its quiet and efficient operation. The Ascenta features four wash cycles and two options, including a half-load wash, a delay start up to nine hours, and a child lock. Users like its cleaning performance but chafe at the rack layout.
If quiet efficiency is what you seek in a dishwasher, Bosch Ascenta SHE3AR56UC reviews proclaim this is the model for you. Reviews posted at several sites crow about the near silent operation of this budget-priced appliance while marketing materials stress its energy-saving technology. The Ascenta SHE3AR56UC (starting at $490, Amazon) is no slouch when it comes to cleaning performance, either -- most users say it cleans well, even with hard water, but recommend a good prerinsing (there is no hard-food disposer). Predictably, a few find residue to grumble about.
What's notable, however, is that Bosch Ascenta SHE3AR56UC reviews at sites such as Lowe's and Home Depot discuss cleaning and energy efficiency almost as an aside; they're far chattier about the rack layout. Quite a few reviews rail against the slanted tines that they insist accommodate only flat plates -- one suggests this is because Europeans don't eat cereal -- and in a very restricted arrangement, adding that tall stemware doesn't fit in the top rack. A good number of reviewers also grumble that the drying cycle (no-heat is the only option) leaves the contents far too wet and the long cycle time (in the three-hour range) is far too long.
The 50 dBA decibel rating is the Bosch Ascenta's standout feature, but other elements also hold appeal. In addition to the usual wash cycles, this model can run a half load (on the upper rack) and an auto cycle with so-called EcoSense, which measures how soiled the dishes are and uses only as much energy and water as necessary, increasing energy efficiency. There is also a high-temperature sanitize options. Specifications say the tall stainless-steel tub can accommodate up to 14 place settings but some users say it seems less roomy than comparable American-brand dishwashers. One reviewer appreciatively highlights a detergent dispenser that slides rather than the usual latch arrangement and others point to the fold-down tines on the top rack. Users can also move or remove the silverware basket. Start time can be delayed 3, 6, or 9 hours. This model is available in black, white, and stainless steel, but the latter is priced above the Cheapism cutoff.
Quirks aside -- including a price at the very top of the budget range -- the Bosch Ascenta SHE3AR56UC claims a second-tier finish on the strength of near silent and energy-saving performance.
Frigidaire FBD2400K Review
From $233 Think Twice
Cheap, basic, and old school with its mechanical dials, this Frigidaire model offers only two wash cycles (normal and light) and one wash arm plus a collapsible center tower to spray the water. Some users appreciate the simplicity but others say it's noisy, fails to clean adequately, and needs repairs.
What some users like about this very inexpensive dishwasher, according to Frigidaire FBD2400K reviews, are the simplicity and decent performance. What they don't like is the noise and unreliability and the crummy cleaning job. Reviews at AJ Madison reflect this divide: one of the four reviews says the price is right, as is the end result; three posts bemoan the finished product, saying dishes don't get clean unless they're washed beforehand, and a couple report problems with build quality. Similar appraisals show up in reviews posted elsewhere, including Abt. Again, some users express satisfaction with the dishwasher's abilities and design, saying the no-frills features are just what's needed, dishes et al emerge clean, and the machine is easy to load. Others retort that it's loud, awkward to load, rinses rather than washes, vibrates, and breaks down.
Unlike other budget dishwashers we researched, the Frigidaire FBD2400K (starting at $233, Amazon) is truly bare bones. It has mechanical dial controls instead of electronic touchpads or buttons and only two wash cycles, regular and light, compared with the minimum four on the others. There are two temperature settings, a heat/no heat dry, a hard food disposer, and room for up to 12 place settings. It lacks a sanitize option, high-temperature wash, and an Energy Star. Rather than wash arms, the Frigidaire FBD2400K features a lower wash arm and a collapsible tower that rises up through the center of the bottom rack for the wash cycles. The noise rating is 62dBA, several notches above our top picks. This model is available in white and black.
The Frigidaire FBD2400K is about as basic a dishwasher as you'll find these days, and the price is certainly eye-catching. But if you can stretch the budget by a few dollars more than half this model's going price, you can get an appliance with more and better functionality.
Buying Guide
Shoppers on a budget looking for a cheap dishwasher that leaves dishes clean and shiny without making much noise or running up the utility bill will find several good options for less than $500. The key players in the low-priced segment of the market are household names: Whirlpool, GE, Frigidaire, Maytag, Kenmore, and Amana. (Bosch, Samsung, and KitchenAid make a limited appearance but mostly show up outside the Cheapism zone.) These manufacturers all offer an array of cheap dishwasher models, some distinguished by a specific bundle of features and some only by their finish: white, black, bisque, or stainless steel. (As with most appliances, stainless steel commands a markup of about $100.)
Cheap Dishwashers Buying Guide
We identified four models that that don't skimp on features or performance, thus qualifying as best cheap dishwashers. The Whirlpool Gold Top Control WDT710PAY (starting at $445) is a hit with consumers for its array of wash cycles and settings, flexible design, and high-level performance. Also sitting on the top rung is the Maytag Jetclean Plus MDB4709PA (starting at $404), with fewer frills but similar commendations for clean results. The second-best cheap dishwashers include the GE GDF520PGD (starting at $359), which boasts three spray arms and a steam prewash and generally satisfies users, and the Bosch Ascenta SHE3AR56UC (starting at $490), which comes with some griping about the rack layout but acclaim for very quiet and energy-efficient operation. One budget model that fails to impress is the super-cheap, basic Frigidaire FBD2400K (starting at $233), a non-starter that gets zapped for poor build quality and noisy operation.
The standard built-in dishwasher is a front-loader that measures 24 inches across. (Anyone strapped for space will need to hunt around for alternatives -- there are only a handful of 18-inch models out there.) The best of the cheap dishwashers feature four or more wash cycles that each suit different soil levels, often boast a sanitize option and hard-food disposer (goodbye prerinse), are designed with a tall tub and racks that maximize interior space, include a delay-start, and sport an Energy Star label. Ultra high-end dishwashers bearing brand names such as Miele and Thermador can hit stratospheric price points -- $2,000 is no exaggeration -- and come loaded with even more features -- 19 wash cycles (including cheese/starch and plastics), for example, or a beam of light projected onto the floor that indicates how far the cycle has progressed.
But frugal shoppers needn't fret about missing out. As the marketing information experts at J.D. Power & Associates explain, anyone who uses the same basic settings all the time (and that's most of us) won't derive any benefit from the snazzy stuff, so there's no sense paying for it.
Perhaps more importantly, the best cheap dishwashers perform just fine. Although complaints about food residue on dishes, spots on flatware, and milky film on glasses crop up in reviews of nearly every budget model, the vast majority of purchasers are thoroughly pleased with the best of the current crop. They rave about the sparkle and shine, the convenience, and the relative quiet.
Two issues, however, irk even those who give a thumbs-up to the appliance's cleaning prowess: The very long cycle, nearly three hours from start to finish when using a "normal" or "heavy" setting along with sanitizing and dry options (this is about double the cycle time required by older models) and the likelihood that the tub's contents remain wet even after going through a heated dry. (Manufacturers recommend using a rinse aid to facilitate drying and spot-free results but consumers report this tactic often falls short.) Reports of both performance weaknesses pervade the cheap dishwasher category and are largely attributable to the resource-conserving goals and requirements of the Energy Star program.
A couple of other matters are worth keeping in mind. Unless you plan to install the dishwasher yourself, note that the cost of professional installation can add several hundred dollars to the price of a dishwasher, depending where you buy it and where you live. Also, dishwashers don't automatically come with the fittings necessary for installation, so be sure to check whether this is part of the package or requires a separate purchase.
Features Comparison Buying Guide continues below table
Whirlpool Gold Top Control WDT710PAY Review
(from $445)
# Cycles 6
Noise Level 55 dBA
# Place Settings 15
Rack Flexibility Upper and lower fold-down tines/ adjustable top rack/AnyWare basket
Soil Sensor Yes
|55 dBA
|Upper and lower fold-down tines/ adjustable top rack/AnyWare basket
Maytag Jetclean Plus MDB4709PA Review
(from $404)
# Cycles 5
Noise Level 57 dBA
# Place Settings 12
Rack Flexibility Tiered upper rack
Soil Sensor No
|57 dBA
|Tiered upper rack
GE GDF520PGD Review
(from $359)
# Cycles 4
Noise Level 54 dBA
# Place Settings 16
Rack Flexibility Basket in door or rack
Soil Sensor Yes
|54 dBA
|Basket in door or rack
Bosch Ascenta SHE3AR56UC Review
(from $490)
# Cycles 4
Noise Level 50 dBA
# Place Settings 14
Rack Flexibility Removable basket
Soil Sensor Yes
|50 dBA
|Removable basket
Dishwasher Reviews
The unsurprising revelation in dishwasher reviews is that washing/cleaning excellence is consumers' top priority. Many are thrilled that prerinsing is usually no longer necessary (scrape off the scraps before loading, though), which saves time and water. Performance expectations also include quiet, trouble-free operation. Our research found that the best budget models deliver, for the most part, on all three counts.
Dishwasher Cleaning Performance.The four top picks earn mostly commendations in dishwasher reviews for cleaning ability. A small number of dissenting comments are littered throughout, expressing disappointment with leftover tea and coffee stains, oily residues, crusty remnants, and otherwise uneven results. A relatively larger proportion of negative assessments attaches to the very entry-level Frigidaire FBD2400K (starting at $233).
Sparkling clean dishes, glasses, and cutlery is the consensus opinion of the Whirlpool Gold Top Control WDT710PAY (starting at $445). Although a handful of dishwasher reviewers demur, claiming the appliance fails the thoroughness test, the vast majority of posts at Sears proclaim the Whirlpool Gold cleans anything you throw at it, including notoriously sticky eggs and cheese. Similar appraisals of the Maytag Jetclean Plus MDB4709PA (starting at $404) show up at AJ Madison, where reviews attest to its cleaning chops even as a few note the occasional failure to clean off every last baked-on crumb.
Two other models in the budget category also pass muster with users. Dishwasher reviews at sites such as Abt generally laud the cleaning action -- even with dried-on food -- of the GE GDF520PGD (starting at $359) which is helped along by the unusual inclusion (among low-price offerings) of a third spray arm. Users grouse, however, that utensils don't get fully clean when the cutlery basket sits on the door and caution that the soap dispenser may not open properly when, in an alternative location, it sits on the front of the lower rack. Experience with the Bosch Ascenta SHE3AR56UC (starting at $490) is positive overall. We found strong support for cleaning performance in most dishwasher reviews, but some at Amazon stress the need to scrape carefully and prerinse thoroughly to ensure acceptable results.
Failure to follow those practices prior to loading the Frigidaire FBD2400K guarantees disappointing results, according to comments posted at AJ Madison and Abt. One user writes that unless dishes are washed first they come out the same way they went in -- an observation seconded by some others -- although a few report clean results. This is the only model we researched with a tower wash system (rises up through the center of the tub during the wash cycle) rather than a second spray arm mounted under the top rack (and occasionally a third that would sit at the very top of the machine).
Dishwashers Noise.Next on the list of user concerns is the noise level. Reviews indicate that users assign high priority to quiet operation, hardly a surprise given the open floor plan in many homes or the kitchen's location close by dens, living rooms, and sometimes even bedrooms. Noise level partly depends on the quality of the insulation packed around the machine when it's installed, but also on its engineering. Fortunately, many manufacturers have been adding features such as sound-absorbing washtubs, vibration absorbers, and low-noise pumps to minimize the din. Their efforts are paying off: Dishwasher reviews indicate that many people who have recently replaced older models are surprised by the quietness of the new appliances.
Indeed, our top four picks win kudos on this score. Although a few dishwasher reviews grouse that the model of choice proved to be louder than expected, most describe them as extremely quiet; some users even tell of putting ear to door to make sure it's actually running. Bosch dishwashers, in particular, are known for an almost complete absence of noise, and this is the performance attribute that garners the most glowing commentary in reviews of the Ascenta SHE3AR56UC.
Decibel levels for the best budget models range from a very low 50dBA on the Bosch Ascenta up to 57dBA on the Maytag Jetclean Plus MDB4709PA. The Frigidaire FBD2400K, on the other hand, is roundly dinged in several dishwasher reviews for its 62dBA roar. One post at H.H. Gregg tells of recycling the insulation blanket from the previous dishwasher to help dampen the racket.
Dishwasher Cycles and Warranty
Dishwasher Cycles and Settings.Budget models boast enough dishwasher cycles to suit most needs, although "normal" (or "auto" on some brands) works for most households most of the time. The best of the cheapest models feature at least four dishwasher cycles, usually some combination of rinse only, quick/short, light, normal, heavy/pots & pans. Occasionally a low-priced dishwasher sports a cycle or two that has filtered down from the higher-end segment: china/crystal, energy saver, or top rack only, to name but a few. To that the GE adds a steam prewash, the Whirlpool features an overnight setting, and the Maytag offers rinse-and-hold. By contrast, the most basic and cheapest model we researched, the Frigidaire FBD2400K, offers only normal and light dishwasher cycles.
Increasingly shoppers are finding other practical settings on comparatively cheap models. For example, a sanitize setting that raises the water temperature to 160 degrees to rinse away bacteria shows up on the Whirlpool Gold WDT710PAY, GE GDF520PGD, Maytag Jetclean Plus MDB4709PA, and Bosch Ascenta SHE3AR56UC. Additionally, the Whirlpool, Bosch, and GE models are equipped with sensors that calibrate the appropriate water and temperature levels based on soil level, with the aim of conserving resources when possible. All the models we researched, but for the mechanical-dial Frigidaire, provide a delay-start up to several hours.
The best budget dishwashers have at least two spray/wash arms, one below the bottom rack and one below the top rack. The GE GDF520PGD boasts a third arm that sits at the very top of the tub. As noted above, the Frigidaire forgoes the double/triple spray-arm design in favor of a collapsible center-mounted wash tower and one arm under the lower rack.
Many low-cost dishwashers come with heated dry and/or air dry settings. The former relies on an electric element at the bottom of the unit to heat the air, while the latter uses hot air left from the wash cycle. A heated-dry option is available on the Whirlpool, GE, and Maytag models. Note, however, that reviewers are mostly down on the ability of modern dishwashers to yield up a dry load regardless which dry setting you chose and how much rinse aid is used. A word to the wise budget shopper: Don't toss away that dishtowel just yet.
Dishwasher Warranty and Durability.The usual warranty for dishwashers in the budget range is one year; according to the National Association of Homebuilders, the expected lifespan is nine years. We read quite a number of reviews written by consumers who were finally replacing a dishwasher that had lasted far longer. Whether any of the dishwashers on our list will reach comparable lifespans is impossible to predict; most reviews are written within six months of purchase.
Still, we came across a few minor trouble spots. Several reviews of all the models we researched tell of requiring service calls for one reason or another even before the warranty had expired. A small minority of reports posted at Best Buy about the Bosch Ascenta mention malfunctions such as leaks, bad circuit boards, and cycles that simply stopped working. At Amazon several owners of the Whirlpool Gold WDT710PAY refer to little dots of rust on the stainless steel version and a heating element that burned through the bottom of the tub.
The Maytag Jetclean Plus is cited at Home Depot for a leaky seal around the door and electronic and other components that give out prematurely. Heat is directed at the GE GDF520PGD in reviews at Sears for deficiencies like control board failure and a soap dispenser that fails to open.
Comparatively more problems cluster around the Frigidaire FBD2400K. Reviews at Abt and Sears note mishaps such as a clogged soap dispenser (after using powdered detergent), a pump that gave out, and leaks that ruined the floor under the appliance.
Dishwasher Design and Capacity
Dishwasher Layout.Everyone has a preferred way to load the dishwasher, and the design of its interior has a lot to do with user satisfaction. The critical parameter, of course, is sufficient rack space for dishes, platters, and bowls; cups and glasses (including those with stems); silverware and cooking utensils; and, for some users, pots and pans. What that really means is the functionality of the space. And that, in turn, largely depends on the dishwasher design: the arrangement of tines, the position of the upper rack, and the location of the cutlery basket.
All the models we researched feature tall tubs, which have capacity for more, and ostensibly larger and/or oddly shaped, items. Specifications for the tall tub dishwasher design vary by model. The GE GDF520PGD can hold up to 16 place settings, the Whirlpool Gold WDT710PAY can accommodate up to 15, and the Bosch Ascenta SHE3AR56UC claims up to 14. Both the Maytag Jetclean Plus MDB4709PA and Frigidaire FBD2400K can each take up to 12 full place settings.
Specifications are one thing, however, and kitchen reality another. In reviews at Lowe's consumers grumble about the racks on the Bosch Ascenta, saying the slanted tines and overall layout requires lots of forethought when loading and is not amenable to nonstandard dishware; the bottom rack, huffs one reviewer, is suitable only for plates. The rack design on the GE GDF520PGD likewise draws the ire of some users whose posts at Sears say the unusual tine arrangement means pots and pans don't fit. A tiered top rack on the Maytag Jetclean Plus may ensure space for tall items on the bottom but some users complain there's no headroom for taller stemware.
The Whirlpool Gold skirts many complaints about dishwasher design with what might be considered upmarket features. The top rack is removable (ditto on the GE) and can be raised or lowered, as well; additionally, the top rack sports fold-down tines (which also appear in the lower rack) and a minishelf for stacking two rows of mugs. We came across a few comments in user reviews about getting used to the layout but barely a whisper about inefficient dishwasher design. A mid-tier dishwasher we glanced at, the KitchenAid KUDS30IXWH (starting at $674) also comes with an upper rack that can be raised or lowered to accommodate the contents.
Flatware baskets come in various shapes and sizes and sometimes can be moved from place to place. Users are fussy about these baskets, commenting in reviews about the size of the holes at the bottom, the basket's placement in the machine, and on some models, basket covers that are meant to separate the utensils for better cleaning. Marketing for the Whirlpool Gold touts the flexible and space-saving virtues of the "AnyWare" basket -- it sits in the door or bottom rack or on the front of the rack. Some users clearly welcome this dishwasher design feature, but others assert that placing the basket anywhere but in the rack makes loading the utensils awkward and keeps them from getting really clean. And despite dedicated silverware jets on the GE GDF520PGD, similar complaints are lodged against the basket, which also sits either in the door or lower rack.
Energy-Efficient Dishwashers, Filters, and Safety
Energy-Efficient Dishwashers.If you ever needed a justification for turning on a dishwasher, here's one: An energy-efficient dishwasher uses less human energy and less water than hand washing. (Just be sure the appliance is fully loaded before starting it up.) The latter is far easier to calculate than the former, but never mind.
All the dishwashers on our list except for the Frigidaire FBD2400K carry the Energy Star label. Energy Star-qualified dishwashers meet or exceed standards for water and electricity consumption set by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy. The Energy Star web site notes that energy-efficient models save consumers an average of $40 on utility bills compared with dishwashers built before 1994. The type of soil sensors found on the Whirlpool Gold WDT710PAY, GE GEF520PGD, and Bosch Ascenta SHE3AR56UC add to the savings. Ditto for other eco-related features, such as the overnight and eco-wash cycles on the Whirlpool Gold and the air-dry option on our top picks. The Bosch Ascenta SHE3AR56UC claims to exceed Energy Star requirements for water usage by 69 percent and other proprietary technology aims to cut energy usage by up to 20 percent.
Dishwasher Filters.Scraping and rinsing dishes before loading them into the dishwasher is supposed to be a thing of the past. If you plan on skipping this chore (but for big chunks of food), make sure the dishwasher comes equipped with a stainless steel food disposer to keep food from cycling back onto the dishes or clogging the pipes. The GE GDF520PGD and Maytag Jetclean Plus MDB4709PA satisfy this requirement.
A self-cleaning filter frees users from having to check and clean it, while a manual filter requires periodic cleaning. Perhaps counter-intuitively, many expensive European brands come with manual filters because they help reduce noise. Most cheap dishwashers, including those on our list, have self-cleaning filters.


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Orakpo Surprises School With VisitPosted by on May 11, 2012 – 3:01 pm
A day after helping unveil the Redskins' newest 80th Anniversary Uniforms, linebacker Brian Orakpo wasn't quite done with the surprises.
Orakpo on Friday made a surprise visit to Kenilworth Elementary School in Bowie, Md., to congratulate students by becoming a "Touchdown School," according to a news release.
Schools that completed all six steps of the Fuel Up to Play 60 program were eligible to win the appearance by the all-pro linebacker.
Orakpo also tweeted a photo from the event Friday afternoon:
Fuel Up To Play 60 encourages students to make changes at school that helps them get active and play for at least 60 minutes a day. The program also encourages a student to maintain a low-fat, healthy diet consisting of dairy food, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein.
It's these kinds of visits from childhood heroes that are often never forgotten for many youngsters.
Tags: Brian Orakpo, Fuel Up and Play 60, Kenilworth Elementary School, washington redskins
Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
3 Responses
to "Orakpo Surprises School With Visit"
By ImproperRedskin on May 11, 2012 | Reply
Hey! it's another unassuming but extremely talented Washington Redskin.
By cathy smith on May 13, 2012 | Reply
Brian thanks for coming out to Kenilworth Elementary congratulating the students. FUTP 60 program advisor, c.smith
By Angelle Lopez- KES PTA 2nd VP on May 14, 2012 | Reply
Thank you so much Brian for taking the time to come out to our school. The students at Kenilworth were thrilled to have you visit. It makes us very proud to have achieved this reward :).


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Max Load Questions
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November 23, 2011, 12:34 PM
Brian Pfleuger
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: June 25, 2008
Location: Western Colorado, finally.
Posts: 19,107
I completely agree with you, Nick. As I said, competition shooting is one thing. What the rest of us do is quite another. Naturally, there are times for reduced loads. New shooters, case forming and what-not.
On the other hand, I've never met a hunter that shoots his 22-250 at 3000 fps instead of 3500 or 3800 because he can get an extra .1 MOA.
It makes sense to me, under hunting conditions, to give up a few fractions of an MOA to get near top FPS. Would I give up a 1/2 MOA to get 50 fps? No, not even 1/4! But I might give up 1/4 MOA to get 200 fps... the bullet will fly flatter, drift less and I'm only giving up 1" and 400 yards.
In other words, I want accuracy AND darn near full power, or I'll look elsewhere for something that works better. So far, I haven't had to. 1/2-3/4 does anything I'll ever need.
Still happily answering to the call-sign Peetza.
The problem, as you so eloquently put it, is choice.
-The Architect
He is no fool who gives what he can not keep to gain what he can not lose.
-Jim Eliott, paraphrasing Philip Henry.
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Tomic can't rely on talent - Agassi
FORMER world No. 1 Andre Agassi believes the recent performances of the out-of-favour Bernard Tomic don't reflect the talent the 20-year-old possesses.
Tomic, who was dumped on Thursday by Davis Cup coach Pat Rafter for Australia's opening tie next year, has struggled to live up to the expectation that came with his meteoric rise to the top level.
Agassi, who will return to the Australian Open next month for the first time since winning the tournament a decade ago to promote the second part of his Jacob's Creek Open Film, told Fairfax Media that Tomic still needed to learn there is more to tennis than being able to play.
''If you gave me his game, I'd be disappointed with the results up to now,'' Agassi said. ''That's a compliment to his talent, but it is a learning curve and unfortunately it is a lot longer learning curve for some. I think he's an incredibly talented player who, like many his age, has so much to learn about what his strengths and weaknesses are.
''There's also the mental component to it and the leadership around you. Are you going to make all those right decisions that give you the best chance and do you have the perspective that allows you to embrace the challenges and push you even further than you think you can go?''
Sam Stosur also echoed Agassi's sentiments on Thursday, questioning Tomic's dedication to the sport.
''That's probably the most disappointing thing for a lot of people on the outside - that he's got this unbelievable tennis ability and he's not really using it at the moment,'' Stosur said. ''So I think everyone would like to see him knuckle down and do his best and see where that gets him. If you are, then give it 100 per cent because you only get one crack at it.''
Tomic's breakthrough performance at Wimbledon last year, where he bowed out in four sets in the quarter-final against eventual winner Novak Djokovic, was meant to be the trigger that catapulted him towards the top 10. But it hasn't panned out that way, with the Queenslander finding himself in the headlines for his off-court antics rather than his on-court efforts.
Tomic, who climbed to a career-high ranking of 27 in June, has now dropped out of the top 50 after a disappointing finish to the year. He played in just one semi-final on the ATP Tour, which was in the first tournament of the year at the Brisbane International in January. He's only reached the quarter-finals of an ATP tournament on three occasions.
The expectation of leading Australia into the future hasn't sat well with Tomic, but Agassi believes success might be the catalyst that inspires him to change the way he approaches the game.
''I lived with the expectation myself and it was a burden of sorts for a long period of time,'' he said. ''When I wasn't getting over the finish line or delivering on what one thought my potential was, it could build up a lot of negativity. I could get very negative on myself and it had me questioning and doubting my own potential.
''Once you break through that, and I think we saw that last year with Andy Murray, it becomes a real tool in your tool chest. That same thing that works against you really can work for you. It all depends on how your spirit embraces it and the perspective you have in it.''
The recent criticism of the former junior Australian and US Open champion has been labelled as ''fair'' by Agassi, given what Tomic has produced on the court in patches.
''Results are easy to hope for and easy to want,'' he said. ''Seeing someone who can play at such a high level does beg the question, why don't we see it more often? I think it's a fair enquiry in regards to his status and development.
''There's so much that goes into taking ownership of your career so when one component has broken down or effected, it could be a domino effect if you tend to be an emotional player. I know it because I spent many years being an emotional player. I don't know what you can do except call it the way it is. He's a very high-end player with very high-end potential, but I'm too experienced to think that's all it takes.''
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Farleigh Hungerford Castle
|Farleigh Hungerford Castle
|Somerset, England
Eastern gatehouse of Farleigh Hungerford Castle
|Grid reference
|grid reference ST80225763
|Site information
|English Heritage
|Open to
the public
|Site history
|English Civil War
Farleigh Hungerford Castle, sometimes called Farleigh Castle or Farley Castle, is a medieval castle in Farleigh Hungerford, Somerset, England. The castle was built in two phases: the inner court was constructed between 1377 and 1383 by Sir Thomas Hungerford, who made his fortune working as a steward to John of Gaunt. The castle was built to a quadrangular design, already slightly old-fashioned, on the site of an existing manor house overlooking the River Frome. A park was attached to the castle, requiring the destruction of a local village. His son, Sir Walter Hungerford, a successful knight and courtier to Henry V, became rich during the Hundred Years War with France and extended the castle with an additional, outer court, enclosing the parish church in the process. By Walter's death in 1449, the substantial castle was richly appointed and its chapel decorated with murals.
The castle largely remained in the hands of the Hungerford family over the next two centuries, despite periods during the War of the Roses in which it was held by the Crown following the attainder and execution of members of the family. At the outbreak of the English Civil War in 1642, the castle, modernized to the latest Tudor and Stuart fashions, was held by Sir Edward Hungerford. Edward declared his support for Parliament, becoming a leader of the Roundheads in Wiltshire. Farleigh Hungerford was seized by Royalist forces in 1643, but recaptured by Parliament without a fight near the end of the conflict in 1645. As a result, it escaped slighting following the war, unlike many other castles in the south-west of England.
The last member of the Hungerford family to hold the castle, Sir Edward Hungerford, inherited it in 1657, but his gambling and expensive living forced him to sell the property in 1686. By the 18th century the castle was no longer lived in by its owners and fell into disrepair; in 1730 it was bought by the Houlton family, when much of it was broken up for salvage. Antiquarian and tourist interest in the now ruined castle increased through the 18th and 19th centuries. The castle chapel was repaired in 1779 and became a museum of curiosities, complete with the murals rediscovered on its walls in 1844 and a number of rare lead anthropomorphic coffins from the mid-17th century. In the 1915 Farleigh Hungerford Castle was sold to the Office of Works and a controversial restoration programme began. It is now owned by English Heritage, who operate it as a tourist attraction, and the castle is a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
11th - 14th centuries[edit]
After the Norman Conquest of England, the manor of Ferlege in Somerset was granted by William the Conqueror to Roger de Courcelles.[1] Ferlege evolved from the Anglo-Saxon name faern-laega, meaning "the ferny pasture", and itself later evolved into Farleigh.[2] William Rufus gave the manor to Hugh de Montfort, who renamed it Farleigh Montfort.[3] The manor passed from the Montfort family to Bartholomew de Bunghersh in the early years of the reign of Edward III.[4]
Sir Thomas Hungerford bought the property from the Bunghersh family in 1369 for £733.[4][nb 1] By 1385 the manor was known as Farley Hungerford, after its new owner.[2] Sir Thomas Hungerford was a knight and courtier, who became rich as the Chief Steward to the powerful John of Gaunt and then the first recorded Speaker of the House of Commons.[2] Thomas decided to make Farleigh Hungerford his principal home and, between 1377 and 1383, built a castle on the site; unfortunately he did not acquire the appropriate licence to crenellate from the king before commencing building, and Thomas had to acquire a royal pardon in 1383.[6]
Thomas's new castle adapted the existing manor complex overlooking the head of the River Frome.[7] Although the castle sat on a low spur it was overlooked by higher ground from the west and the north and was not ideally placed from a purely defensive perspective.[8] Contemporary castle designs included the construction of huge, palatial tower keeps and apartments for the most powerful nobles, such as Kenilworth, expanded by Thomas's patron, John of Gaunt; or the construction of smaller, French influenced castles such as that seen at nearby Nunney Castle, built by one of Thomas's fellow nouveau riche landowners.[9] By contrast, Farleigh Hungerford drew on the tradition of quadrangular castles that had begun in France during the early 13th century, in which the traditional buildings of an unfortified manor were enclosed by a four-sided outer wall and protected with corner towers.[10] The style was well established by the late 14th century, even slightly old fashioned.[9]
The castle was formed around a court, later called the inner court, enclosed by a curtain wall with a circular tower on each corner and a gatehouse at the front; the north-east tower was larger than the others, perhaps to provide additional defences.[11] Over time the towers acquired their own names: the north-west tower was called the Hazelwell Tower; the north-east the Redcap Tower and the south-west the Lady Tower.[12][nb 2] The ground fell away sharply on most sides of the castle, but its south and west sides were protected with a wet moat, using a dam fed from a nearby spring using a pipe.[14] The gatehouse had twin towers and a drawbridge.[15]
Opposite the entrance, and running across the middle of the court, was the great hall of the castle, with a grand porch and steps leading up to the first floor, where prestigious guests would have been entertained amongst carved wall-panels and murals.[15] The design of the hall may have emulated Gaunt's hall at Kenilworth; at the very least, it was a powerful symbol of Thomas's authority and status.[16] The west side of the inner court included the castle kitchen, bakery, well and other service facilities; on the east side was the lord's great chamber and a range of other accommodation for other guests.[17] Behind the great hall was a smaller courtyard or garden.[18] Thomas appears to have built up his new castle in stages, with the curtain wall being built first, with the corner towers added afterwards.[2]
A park was established next to the castle; a park was highly prestigious and it enabled Thomas to engage in hunting, provided the castle with a supply of venison as well as generating income.[19] Most of the village of Wittenham had to be destroyed to make way for the park and the site eventually became a deserted village.[20] A new parish church, St Leonard's Chapel, was built by Thomas just outside the castle, after he had demolished the earlier, simpler 12th-century church during the construction of the inner court.[21] Thomas died in 1397 and was buried in the newly built St Anne's Chapel, forming the north transept of St Leonard's Chapel.[22]
15th century[edit]
Sir Walter Hungerford inherited Farleigh Hungerford castle upon the death of his mother, Joan, in 1412.[23] Walter's first political patron was John of Gaunt's son, Henry IV, and later he became a close companion of Henry's own son, Henry V; Henry V made Walter, like his father before him, the Speaker of the Commons in 1414.[24] Walter prospered: he became known as an expert jouster, in 1415 fought at the battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Years War, was made Steward of the Royal Household and was a major figure in government during the 1420s, serving as the Treasurer of England and as one of the legal guardians of the young Henry VI.[25] Despite having to pay a ransom of £3,000 to the French after his son was captured in 1429, Walter, by now created Baron Hungerford, amassed considerable wealth from his various sources of income, which included the right to one hundred marks (£66) per year from the town of Marlborough, the wool taxes from Wells, and the ransoms gained from the taking of French prisoners.[26][nb 3][nb 4] As a result, he was able to buy more land, acquiring around 110 new manors and estates over the course of his life.[29]
Between 1430 and 1445 Walter expanded the castle considerably.[24] An outer court was built to the south side of the original castle, with its own towers and an additional gatehouse which formed the new entrance to the castle. These new defences were less strong than those of the original inner court, and indeed the eastern gatehouse was not crenellated at the time.[30] A barbican was built, extending the older gatehouse to the inner court.[31] The new court enclosed the parish church, which became the castle chapel, with a replacement church being built by Walter in the village.[32] Walter had the chapel decorated with a number of murals, depicting scenes from the story of Saint George and the Dragon; Saint George was a favoured saint of Henry V, and associated with the prestigious Order of the Garter, of which Walter was a proud member.[33] A house was built next to the chapel for the use of the chantry priest.[34] Walter also legally combined the two parishes of Farleigh in Somerset and Wittenham in Wiltshire, which formed part of his castle's park, altering the county boundaries of Somerset and Wiltshire in the process. As a village, Wittenham disappeared completely.[35]
Walter left the castle to his son, Robert Hungerford.[36] Records of the castle at the time show considerable luxuries, including valuable tapestries up to 60 feet (18.3 m) long, silk bedclothes, rich furs and silver bowls and utensils.[37] Unfortunately, Robert's eldest son, the later Lord Moleyns, was captured by the French at the battle of Castillon, which was fought at the end of the Hundred Years War in 1453.[36] The huge ransom of over £10,000 required to ensure his release financially crippled the family, and Lord Moleyns did not return to England until 1459.[36][nb 5] By this time England had entered the period of civil conflict between the Houses of York and Lancaster known as the Wars of the Roses. Moleyns was a Lancastrian supporter and fought against the Yorkists in 1460 and 1461, leading to first his exile and then his attainder, under which Farleigh Hungerford Castle was seized by the Crown.[36] Moleyns was captured and executed in 1464, and his eldest son, Thomas, met the same fate in 1469.[36]
The Yorkist Edward IV gave Farleigh Hungerford Castle to his brother Richard, then Duke of Gloucester, in 1462.[36] Edward and Richard's brother George Plantagenet may have taken up residence at the castle; his daughter Margaret was certainly born there.[38] Richard became king in 1483 and gave the castle to John Howard, the Duke of Norfolk.[36] Meanwhile, the late Robert's youngest son, Sir Walter, had become a close supporter of Edward IV; nonetheless, he joined the failed revolt of 1483 against Richard and ended up detained in the Tower of London.[39] When Henry Tudor invaded England in 1485, Walter escaped custody and joined the invading Lancastrian army, fighting alongside Henry at the Battle of Bosworth.[40] Victorious, the newly crowned Henry VII returned Farleigh Hungerford to Walter in 1486.[40]
16th century[edit]
Sir Walter Hungerford died in 1516, leaving Farleigh Hungerford Castle to his son, Sir Edward.[40] Edward was a successful member of Henry VIII's court and died in 1522, leaving the castle to his second wife, Agnes.[40] After Edward's death, however, it emerged that Agnes had been responsible for the murder of her former, first husband, John Cotell: two of her servants had strangled him at Farleigh Hungerford Castle, before burning his body in the castle oven to destroy any evidence.[40] Agnes appears to have been motivated by a desire for the wealth that would follow her second marriage to Sir Edward, but in 1523 Agnes and the two servants were hung for murder in London.[40]
Due to this execution, Edward's son, another Walter, inherited the castle instead of Agnes.[40] Walter became a political client of Thomas Cromwell, the powerful chief minister of Henry VIII, and operated on his behalf in the local region.[40] Walter became dissatisfied with his third wife, Elizabeth, after her father became a political liability to him, and Walter detained her in one of the castle towers for several years.[41] Elizabeth complained that while she was imprisoned she was starved in an attempt to kill her, and subjected to several poisoning attempts.[42] She was probably kept in the north-west tower, although the south-west "Lady Tower" is named after her.[42] When Cromwell fell from power in 1540, so did Walter, who was executed for treason, witchcraft and homosexuality: Elizabeth was allowed to remarry, but the castle reverted to the Crown.[42]
Walter's son, also called Walter, bought back the castle from the Crown in 1554 for £5,000.[43][nb 6] Farleigh Hungerford Castle and the surrounding park remained in good condition — indeed, unusually for the time, the visiting antiquarian John Leland was able to praise its "praty" (pretty) and "stately" condition — but Walter continued to update the property, including adding more fashionable, Elizabethan style windows and improving the east range of the inner court, which became the main living area for the family.[45] Walter's second wife, Jane, was a Roman Catholic and during the turbulent religious politics of the later Tudor period, their marriage collapsed, with Jane going into exile.[43] Walter and Jane's only son died young and, after the Walter's death in 1596, the castle passed to his brother, Sir Edward.[46]
17th century[edit]
Sir Edward Hungerford died in 1607, leaving Farleigh Hungerford to his great-nephew, another Sir Edward Hungerford.[46] Edward continued to develop the castle, installing new windows in the medieval buildings of the inner court.[46] In 1642, however, the Civil War broke out in England between the supporters of King Charles and those of Parliament. As a reformist Member of Parliament and a Puritan, Edward was an active supporter of Parliament and volunteered himself as the leader of its forces in the neighbouring county of Wiltshire; unfortunately this put him at odds with Sir Edward Bayntun, a Wiltshire gentleman with similar ambitions.[47] The resulting feud between the two men turned violent before Parliament finally settled the issue by appointing Hungerford as its commander in Wiltshire at the start of 1643.[48] His military record during the conflict was unexceptional: he abandoned several towns to advancing Royalist armies and fought on the losing side at the battle of Roundway Down, although he did successfully seize Wardour Castle in 1643.[46]
Farleigh Hungerford Castle was captured by a Royalist unit in 1643, following a successful campaign by the King's forces across the south-west.[49] The castle was taken without a fight by Colonel John Hungerford, a half-brother of Edward, who installed a garrison that then supported itself by pillaging the surrounding countryside.[50] Several Parliamentary raids against Farleigh Hungerford were undertaken during 1644, but they failed to take back the castle.[50] By 1645, however, the Royalist cause was close to military collapse; Parliamentary forces began to mop up the remaining Royalist garrisons in the south-west, and on 15 September they reached the castle.[50] Colonel Hungerford immediately surrendered on good terms, and Sir Edward Hungerford peacefully reinstalled himself in the undamaged castle.[50] As a result of this process, the castle escaped being slighted, or deliberately destroyed, by Parliament, unlike many other castles in the region, such as Nunney.[51]
On Edward's death in 1648, Anthony Hungerford, his half-brother, inherited the castle. The north chapel was extensively renovated during this period by Edward's widow, Margaret Hungerford, who covered the walls with pictures of saints, cherubs, clouds, ribbons, crowns and heraldry, as part of an elaborate tomb for her and Edward which cost £1,100 (£136,000 in 2009 terms).[52] The renovation effectively blocked most of the access into the north chapel, making the new tomb the focus of attention for any visitor or religious activity.[53] A number of lead, anthropomorphic coffins, some with moulded faces or death masks, were laid down in the crypt in the mid- to late-17th century.[34] Four men, two women and two children were embalmed in the castle in this way, probably including Edward and Margaret, as well as the final Sir Edward Hungerford, his wife, son and daughter-in-law.[34] Such lead coffins were extremely expensive during the period and reserved for the wealthiest in society.[54] Originally the lead coffins would have been encased in wood, but this outer casing has since been lost.[54]
Anthony passed on both the castle and a considerable fortune to his son, yet another Sir Edward Hungerford, in 1657.[50] After his marriage, Edward enjoyed an income of around £8,000 (£1,110,000) a year, making him a very wealthy man.[55] Edward lived a lavish lifestyle, however, including giving a huge gift of money to the exiled Charles II shortly before his restoration to the throne, and later entertaining the royal court at Farleigh Hungerford Castle in 1673.[56] Edward later fell out with the king over the proposal that the Roman Catholic James II should succeed to the throne on Charles's death, and after the discovery of the Rye House Plot in 1683 the castle was searched by royal officials looking for stocks of weapons that might be used in a possible revolt.[56]
Meanwhile, Edward had been living a truly extravagant lifestyle, including extensive gambling, resulting in his running up debts of some £40,000, which in 1683 forced him to sell many of his estates in Wiltshire.[55] Over the next two years, Edward incurred further debts of around £38,000 (£5,270,000) and in 1686 was finally forced to sell his remaining lands in the south-west, including Farleigh Hungerford Castle, to Sir Henry Bayntun, who purchased them for £56,000 (£7,750,000).[57] Bayntun lived in the castle for a few years, until his death in 1691.[57]
18th - 20th centuries[edit]
From the 18th century onwards, Farleigh Hungerford Castle slipped into decline.[57] In 1702, the castle was sold on to Hector Cooper, who lived in Trowbridge; in 1730 it was passed in turn to the Houlton family, who had purchased the estates surrounding the castle.[58] The Houlton family broke up castle's stone walls and the internal contents for salvage.[57] Some of the parts, such as the marble floors, were reused at Longleat or in the Houlton's new house, Farleigh House, built nearby in the 1730s; other elements were reused by local villagers.[57] By the end of the 1730s the castle was ruinous and, although the castle chapel was repaired and brought back into use in 1779, the north-west and north-east towers had both collapsed by the end of 1797.[59] The outer court became a farm yard, with the priest's house becoming the farm house.[59] The castle's park was reassigned to serve Farleigh House instead.[57][nb 7]
Antiquarian curiosity in the castle had begun as early as 1700, when Peter Le Neve visited and recorded some of the architectural details, but interest increased in the 19th century.[60] This was partially due to the work of the local curate, the Reverend J. Jackson, who undertook the first archaeological excavations at the site during the 1840s, uncovering many of the foundations of the inner court.[61] 17th and 18th century stained glass windows from the continent were installed in the chapel, where the 15th century wall paintings were rediscovered in 1844.[62] The then owner, Colonel John Houlton, turned the chapel into a museum of curiosities, where for a small fee visitors could see sets of armour, what was said to be a pair of Oliver Cromwell's boots and other English Civil War artefacts, including letters from Cromwell written to the Hungerfords.[63]
The foundations that Jackson discovered during the excavations were left exposed for the benefit of visitors and larger numbers of tourists began to come to the castle to see the ruins, including Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte in 1846.[64] The lead coffins in the chapel crypt were popular with tourists, although the coffins were extensively damaged by those visitors keen to see the contents inside.[34] The south-west tower, completely covered by thick ivy, collapsed in 1842, after local children accidentally set fire to the vegetation that was, by then, holding the tower together.[60] Battlements were added to the east gatehouse during this period, transforming the appearance of its original gabled roof.[65]
In 1891, most of Farleigh Hungerford Castle was sold by the Houlton family to Lord Donington, whose heir in turn sold it onto Lord Cairns in 1907.[66] Cairns passed the castle to the Office of Works in 1915, by which time it was almost all heavily overgrown with ivy.[67] The Office of Works began a process of controversial restoration work, removing the ivy and repairing the stone work; the result was critiqued by H. Avray Tipping at the time as "giving the whole castle the effect of a new concrete building".[64] Further excavations took place in 1924 as part of the project, which retained the castle as a tourist attraction.[64] The last inhabitants of the farmhouse left in 1959, when the last parts of the outer court were sold to the government and restored.[67] Attempts were made to preserve the wall paintings in the chapel during 1931 and 1955, but the treatments, which involved the use of red wax, stained the paintings and caused considerable damage: the wax was removed in the 1970s.[22] Further excavations followed around the chapel and the priest's house in 1962 and 1968.[68] English Heritage took over responsibility for running the castle in 1983.[64]
21st century[edit]
Today, most of Farleigh Hungerford Castle is ruined. In the inner court only the exposed foundations remain of most of the castle buildings, along with the shells of the south-west and south-east towers.[69] Unusually for English castles, the outer court has survived better than the inner.[69] The restored eastern gatehouse is carved with the badge of the Hungerfords and the initials of the first Sir Edward Hungerford, who had them carved there between 1516 and 1522.[65] The priest's house remains intact, measuring 39 feet (11.9 m) by 22 feet (6.7 m) with two rooms on the ground floor and four rooms above.[70]
In Saint Leonard's Chapel, the outlines of many of the medieval murals can still be made out, with the painting of Saint George and Dragon still in particularly good condition — historian Simon Roffey describes this work, one of only four such surviving works in England, as "remarkable".[71] The late 17th century tombs of the Hungerfords remain intact in the north transept chapel dedicated to Saint Anne. The surviving lead anthropomorphic coffins in the crypt are archaeologically significant: although numerous in the late 16th and 17th centuries, few lead coffins survive today and Farleigh Hungerford Castle has what historian Charles Kightly considers "the best collection" in the country.[34]
The castle site is run by English Heritage as a tourist attraction. It is a Scheduled Monument and a Grade I listed building.[72]
See also[edit]
- Castles in Great Britain and Ireland
- List of castles in England
- List of castles in Somerset
- Grade I listed buildings in Mendip
- ^ It is impossible to accurately compare 14th century and modern prices or incomes. For comparison, £733 represents rather more than the yearly income of a typical nobleman such as Richard le Scrope, whose lands brought in around £600 a year.[5]
- ^ The Hazelwell Tower's name results from a nearby spring of water; the Redcap from rumours of an evil spirit or possibly from the colour of its original roof; the "Lady" from the mistaken belief that Elizabeth Hungerford was kept there in the 1530s.[13]
- ^ Occasionally Sir Walter Hungerford is credited with constructing the outer court on the proceeds of taking Charles, Duke of Orléans, prisoner; both Canon Jackson and Charles Kightly dispute this, Jackson noting that it was Sir Richard Waller who took Charles prisoner at the battle.[27]
- ^ It is impossible to accurately compare 15th century and modern prices or incomes. For comparison, £3,000 represents around four times the typical average annual income for an early 15th-century baron; £66 a little less than a tenth.[28]
- ^ It is impossible to accurately compare 14th century and modern prices or incomes. For comparison, £10,000 is almost as much as the £12,000 cost of building the major fortification of Bolton Castle during this period, although the latter was spread out over a twenty-year period.[5]
- ^ It is difficult to accurately compare 16th century and modern prices or incomes. Depending on the measure used, £5,000 in 1554 could equate to either £1,180,000 (using the retail price index) or £18,900,000 (using the average earnings index). For comparison, £5,000 was around two and a half times the annual income of a wealthy knight like William Darrell who owned 25 manors.[44]
- ^ Kightly suggests that the castle was sold to the Houlton family in 1705, rather than 1730; Jackson disagrees.[58]
- ^ Mackenzie, p.57.
- ^ a b c d Kightly, p.17.
- ^ Mackenzie, p.57; Kightly, p.17.
- ^ a b Dunning, pp.57-8.
- ^ a b Given-Wilson, p.157.
- ^ Kightly, p.18; Miles and Saunder, p.165; Licence to crenellate Farleigh Hungerford Castle granted 1383 Nov 26, The Gatehouse, accessed 2 August 2011.
- ^ Emery, p.553.
- ^ Miles and Saunders, p.165.
- ^ a b Emery, p.533.
- ^ Gondoin, p.167; Johnson, p.167.
- ^ Kightly, pp.5, 9.
- ^ Kightly, pp.8-10.
- ^ Kightly, pp.8-10, 24.
- ^ Kightly, pp.11, 33.
- ^ a b Kightly, p.7.
- ^ Johnson, p.169.
- ^ Kightly, pp.7, 10.
- ^ Kightly, p.33.
- ^ Creighton, pp.190-1; Creighton and Higham, p.57.
- ^ Bettey, p.59.
- ^ Kightly, pp.11, 18; Creighton, p.124; Miles and Saunders, p.167; Wilcox, p.87.
- ^ a b Kightly, p.13.
- ^ Kightly, p.18; Mackenzie, p.58.
- ^ a b Kightly, p.18.
- ^ Kightly, p.19.
- ^ Kightly, p.20; Mackenzie, p.58.
- ^ Jackson, p.116; Kightly, p.20.
- ^ Pounds, p.148.
- ^ Kightly, p.20.
- ^ Kightly, p.11; Pounds, p.266.
- ^ Kightly, p.5.
- ^ Kightly, p.12; Creighton, p.125.
- ^ Kightly, pp.11, 21.
- ^ a b c d e Kightly, p.15.
- ^ Creighton, p.191.
- ^ a b c d e f g Kightly, p.22.
- ^ Kightly, p.6.
- ^ Murphy, p.5; Kightly, p.22.
- ^ Kightly, p.22-3.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Kightly, p.23.
- ^ Marital Strife and Anthropoid Coffins at Farleigh Hungerford, English Heritage, accessed 14 February 2016.
- ^ a b c Kightly, p.24.
- ^ a b Kightly, p.25.
- ^ Financial comparison based on average earnings; using the Measuring Worth website, accessed 1 August 2011; Hall, p.10.
- ^ Kightly, pp.9, 25; Jackson, pp.115-6.
- ^ a b c d Kightly, p.26.
- ^ Kightly, p.26; Bull, pp.147-150.
- ^ Bull, p.149.
- ^ Kightly, p.43.
- ^ a b c d e Kightly, p.27.
- ^ Mackenzie, p.62.
- ^ Kightly, pp.14-5.
- ^ Roffey, pp.135-6.
- ^ a b Tarlow, p.33.
- ^ a b Hayton and Lancaster, p.437.
- ^ a b Kightly, p.28.
- ^ a b c d e f Kightly, p.29.
- ^ a b Jackson, pp.123-4.
- ^ a b Kightly, p.30.
- ^ a b Jackson, p.117.
- ^ Kightly, p.30; Jackson, p.117.
- ^ Jackson, p.120; Kightly, pp.12-3.
- ^ Kightly, p.30; Wade and Wade, p.134; Jackson, p.119.
- ^ a b c d Kightly, p.31.
- ^ a b Kightly, p.11.
- ^ Kightly, p.11; The Clifton Family, amounderness.co.uk, accessed 20 February 2015.
- ^ a b Kightly, p.31; Miles and Saunders, p.167.
- ^ Miles and Saunders, p.167.
- ^ a b Pettifer, p.221.
- ^ Priest's house, Farleigh Castle, Farleigh Hungerford, Somerset Historic Environment Record, Somerset County Council, accessed 2 August 2011.
- ^ Roffey, p.73; Farleigh Castle Hungerford, National Monuments Record, English Heritage, accessed 2 August 2011.
- ^ Licence to crenellate Farleigh Hungerford Castle granted 1383 Nov 26, The Gatehouse, accessed 2 August 2011.
- Aston, M. (ed) (1998) Aspects of the Mediaeval Landscape of Somerset and Contributions to the Landscape History of the County. Taunton, UK: Somerset County Council. ISBN 978-0-86183-129-6.
- Bettey, Joseph. (1998) "From the Norman Conquest to the Reformation", in Aston (ed) (1998).
- Bull, Henry. (1859) A History, Military and Municipal, of the Ancient Borough of Devizes. London: Longman. OCLC 23280770.
- Creighton, Oliver Hamilton. (2005) Castles and Landscapes: Power, Community and Fortification in Medieval England. London: Equinox. ISBN 978-1-904768-67-8.
- Creighton, Oliver Hamilton and Robert Higham. (2003) Medieval Castles. Princes Risborough, UK: Shire Publications. ISBN 978-0-7478-0546-5.
- Cruickshanks, Eveline and Stuart Handley (eds) (2002) The House of Commons: 1690-1715. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-77221-1.
- Emery, Anthony. (2006) Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales, 1300–1500: Southern England. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-58132-5.
- Given-Wilson, Chris. (1996) The English Nobility in the Late Middle Ages. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-203-44126-8.
- Gondoin, Stéphane W. (2005) Châteaux-Forts: Assiéger et Fortifier au Moyen Âge. Paris: Cheminements. ISBN 978-2-84478-395-0. (in French)
- Hall, Hubert. (2003) Society in the Elizabethan Age. Whitefish, US: Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7661-3974-9.
- Hayton, D. W. and Henry Lancaster. (2002) "Sir Edward Hungerford", in Cruickshanks and Handley (eds) (2002).
- Jackson, J. E. (1851) "Farleigh Hungerford Castle, Somerset", Proceedings of Somerset Archaeology 1-3 pp. 114–124.
- Kightly, Charles. (2006) Farleigh Hungerford Castle. London: English Heritage. ISBN 1-85074-997-3.
- Mackenzie, James D. (1896) The Castles of England: Their Story and Structure, Vol II. New York: Macmillan. OCLC 504892038.
- Miles, T. J and A. D. Saunders. (1975) "The Chantry House at Farleigh Hungerford Castle", Medieval Archaeology 19, pp. 165–94.
- Murphy, Ignatius Ingoldsby. (1891) Life of Colonel Daniel E. Hungerford. Hartford, US: Case, Lockwood and Brainard. OCLC 10269342.
- Pettifer, Adrian. (2002) English Castles: a Guide by Counties. Woodbridge, UK: Boydell Press. ISBN 978-0-85115-782-5.
- Pounds, Norman John Greville. (1994) The Medieval Castle in England and Wales: a Social and Political History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-45828-3.
- Roffey, Simon. (2007) The Medieval Chantry Chapel: an Archaeology. Woodbridge, UK: Boydell Press. ISBN 978-1-84383-334-5.
- Tarlow, Sarah. (2011) Ritual, Belief and the Dead in Early Modern Britain and Ireland. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-76154-3.
- Wade, G. W. and J. H. Wade. (1929) Somerset. London: Methuen. OCLC 601718264.
- Wilcox, Ronald. (1981). "Excavations at Farleigh Hungerford Castle, Somerset, 1973-6", Proceedings of Somerset Archaeology 124, pp. 87–109.
External links[edit]
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Farleigh Hungerford Castle.
- Buildings and structures completed in 1383
- Grade I listed buildings in Mendip
- Buildings and structures in Mendip
- Castles in Somerset
- English Heritage sites in Somerset
- Scheduled Ancient Monuments in Mendip
- Historic house museums in Somerset
- Grade I listed castles
- Ruined castles in England
- Grade I listed ruins


text:
(AP) — A Kansas woman who scammed a Sioux Falls man out of $161,000 has been sentenced to 1 ½ years in prison.
Holly Foster told federal Judge Karen Schreier that her actions took place in a "cloud of addiction," but the judge and Foster's victim rejected that reasoning.
Authorities say the 34-year-old Foster, of Derby, Kan., scammed the father of her then-boyfriend in 2011 and 2012 with a bogus story that she had stomach cancer and could repay his financial help out of a pending $5.3 million inheritance.
The victim cashed in his retirement account, borrowed money from friends, and took out title loans on two vehicles and a second mortgage on his home to support Foster. Schreier ordered Foster to pay back the money.


text:
Maksim Chmerkovskiy drops Kirstie Alley on Dancing with the Stars
Spare us the inevitable weight jokes, please.
A close look at the video clips from Monday's Dancing with the Stars reveals dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy seemed to get a cramp at the worst moment during his routine with star Kirstie Alley, dropping the actress and hampering their routine.
It's the first time I've seen a pro lose it so obviously on the show, and it punctuated a night where previously troubled contestants such as Sugar Ray Leonard reached new highs, and favorites, like Karate Kid alum Ralph Macchio, struggled.
That Alley would earn a score of 21 after such an obvious mistake, however, continues to feed my suspicion that the judges are going easy on her because she's the biggest star in a cast seriously lacking in celebrity power.
She's also someone they've tried to get on the show for a long time; I wouldn't be surprised if they're giving her the kid gloves treatment for a reason.
Alley seemed to take it all in stride, both onstage and on her Twitter feed, where she posted: "Sort of a beauty in Live TV... Because it's live... Anything can happen... gotta love it!!!!"
Still, the surprise upsets are ultimately great news for a show which hasn't lost much ratings steam.
Keeping the audience engaged and guessing is Job One here, and few things galvanize an audience more than a dramatic, unexpected mishap.


text:
The scene does begin with our Princess Twilight,
Using her new wings to practice her flight.
Her friends do their best to keep up her cheer,
But the Sun Celebration is soon drawing near.
She knows that she'll preform now that she's been crowned,
So she takes back to the air... before eating the ground.
We then cut to a scene with the six and stained glass,
As Rarity reminds what has now come to pass.
Her friends have to leave but they say they still care,
Promising with a hug and a Pinkie Pie swear.
The group takes the train from the high society,
Leaving Twilight with Spike and her own anxiety.
She's soon seized with panic 'til Celestia arrives,
Before she's then told a tale about divergent lives.
Her princess had been hurting year after year,
As her sister was banished, made an object of fear.
But Luna was reformed and scorned no longer,
As the bonds between princesses grow ever stronger.
Celestia leaves the pair to trot back to her room,
When a black tentacle seems to spell out her doom.
We then cut to Twilight waking up from her dreams,
As the sun and the moon fight each others regimes.
The two other rulers went missing in the night,
So Twi now is in charge due to divine right.
They ask for her orders with unwavering loyalty,
So she does send them off to look for the two royalty.
There are soon other problems with some Everfree roots,
As throughout the land the forest now pollutes.
Twilight takes to the air to reunite the team,
While we're treated with yet another classic Wilhelm Scream.
They get to the library with a well timed teleport,
As Spike lets his thoughts be known on Twilight's transport.
The six grab their jewelry to stem the spiky horde,
When Twilight summons her suspect, the reformed Discord.
Singing Winter-Wrap up and being awesome as always,
He sticks to his innocence under Pinkie's judging gaze.
He taunts the mane cast with not an ounce of fear,
When I rolled into town, deciding to appear.
I inform them of my potion that now needs a spell,
Causing Twilight to cast with a black/green pastel.
She then drinks the mixture, eyes going white,
Coming to in the past with the princess of the night.
She transforms to Nightmare Moon before Twi's very eyes,
Before Celestia comes and attempts to chastise.
But Luna's been corrupted and words can't break through,
As her sister attacks and attempts to pursue.
Celestia is struck down before rising once more,
Bringing out the elements from a sliding floor.
She banishes her sister, tears flowing without control,
As she had to protect her world from this foal.
Twilight comes to before taking another sip,
This whole episode becoming one giant trip.
This time she's sent back to Discord's first reign,
As it ends with a statue of the one quite insane.
But then we are taken to the tree of harmony,
Where the elements were harvested for all eternity.
After this to reality Twi dutifully returns,
Ready to face the forest and malevolent ferns.
They head into the forest, for there's work to be done,
When they find a crocodile rock (a cheeky stealth pun).
They wrangle the beast and AJ makes a great point,
If Twilight were to die, who would then run the joint?
Twilight heads back dejected with poor Spike in tow,
When Discord gives her an earful of how the others will grow.
Twilight buys his goading and into the forest she goes,
While rest find the tree from the way a cave glows.
They then find the tree has been covered in vines,
Though they're unable to break them in the cavernous confines.
They go to find Twilight passed out from some gas,
So they wrangle the plant life and do save the lass.
Twilight checks the tree and comes up with a crazy plan,
Give the elements back to where they once began.
The elements are put back into their proper place,
No longer of any use when dangers they'd come to face.
The vines then disappear and the rulers are revealed,
Everything is now fine and the land is now healed.
But as they all talk out pops a mystery box,
Hexagonal in nature, with six shiny locks.
They head out of the forest, Discord welcoming them back,
As we find out his seeds lead to this attack.
Twilight is upset, but the lesson has been learned,
And this meeting of friends is quickly adjourned.
The celebration commences, three royals in all,
As Season 4 does commence in its quest to enthrall.


text:
I have a feeling the 3DS may never quite match up to the DS, but delivering the following six things will get it as close as it possibly can…
Adventure Games
One of the most unexpected and pleasantly surprising things the DS delivered was a mini-resurgence of the point and click adventure genre. In particular, for the first time pretty much ever, DS owners saw a number of Japanese adventure games localized for the Western market, and they were some of the best titles on the system. The Ace Attorney games, Hotel Dusk, 999 and Ghost Trick were among my favorite DS titles.
So far the 3DS hasn't had much to offer adventure fans. Cing, the company behind the great Hotel Dusk, has sadly gone out of business, but what about a new Ace Attorney game? A sequel to the excellent 999 called Extreme Escape Adventure: Good People Die is about to arrive in Japan, but nobody seems to be stepping up to localize it. Come on guys, I want to poke at pixels and combine objects in 3D!
Extreme Escape Adventure — somebody localize this game! It's got a crazy rabbit thing! Uh, and boobs! Boobs!
The 3DS Lite
Nintendo's being unusually coy about whether or not a redesign of the 3DS is on the way, and that's understandable — after a tumultuous 2011, they don't want to rock the boat now that things are on track. That said, Nintendo handheld consoles rarely become truly great until the first revision. Yeah, it kind of sucks for early adopters, but hey, we all knew what we were getting into.
The 3DS has far fewer flaws than the DS or GBA had at first, but it's hardly perfect. At the very least I'm hoping for one with better battery life and a screen with a greater range of possible viewing angles. Also make it out of something that's a bit less fingerprint friendly so I can give my OCD addled mind a bit of a rest.
The original DS was all about the RPG, but so far the 3DS has been pretty barren for fans of the grind. Sure, there are a few games from Square-Enix on the way in 2012, but I want a return of the DS scene where there was a new weird and wacky RPG out every damn week.
Thankfully, unlike the situation with adventure games, I know the RPGs will probably arrive eventually. Once Pokemon and Monster Hunter arrive the floodgates will open, but until then the 3DS is missing an important piece of the puzzle.
This plus Pokemon = The system all the Japanese RPGs are going to that generation.