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The wide-open 1977 season continued in Sweden where Jacques Laffite won for Ligier - the sixth different winner in the eighth race of the season - with Jochen Mass taking his best result for McLaren in second place.
The preparations for the race weekend were dogged by rows over how many cars would be accepted for qualifying. In the event all 31 were allowed to take part with 24 gaining a place in the grand prix itself. One of those who made it through - going on to finish a creditable ninth - was Jackie Oliver, competing for Shadow in place of the absent Riccardo Patrese after a four-year absence. It was to be his final F1 outing.
John Watson's Brabham led at the start with Mario Andretti (Lotus) second from Jody Scheckter's Wolf. Andretti took the lead on lap two and Watson remained behind him until lap 30 when Scheckter had a real go at grabbing the place and made contact with Watson's car, sending it spinning and from there into the pits, ending his hopes.
James Hunt moved into second but his McLaren was suffering from understeer and a pit stop for fresh tyres put him out of the running.
Laffite was on a mission and had quietly worked his way through the pack to take second place behind Andretti who at the three-quarter mark had a 15 second lead. But with three laps remaining Andretti's Lotus twice cut out and he had to make a dashed pit stop to take on enough fuel to get him to the finish. "Just one miserable gallon was all we needed," he lamented later. It cost him the win and relegated him to sixth as Laffite secured the first win for a French car/driver/team combination in the history of the World Championship.
Lafitte crossed the line unaware he had won, explaining: "I knew Andretti was ahead but was unaware he had gone into the pits." Behind him came Mass and Reutemann with Patrick Depailler (Tyrrell) fourth with Watson fifth from Andretti. The Swedes were disappointed when Gunnar Nilsson retired with wheel-bearing failure and Ronnie Peterson's ignition failed on lap eight.
Andretti's one point was still under threat as Ensign, for whom Clay Regazzoni had finished seventh, lodged a protest that the Lotus had been refuelled illegally and had rejoined the race under a red light. After deliberation, Lotus were fined 1000 Swedish Kronar and Andretti's finish stood.


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ID theft worries? Request your PIN!
I sent my letters to the bureaus over a year ago, of course I didn't get my PIN.
A lot more info on ID theft is at Negligent enablement of identy theft - I want my PIN!
Since ID theft is such a huge problem, I posted a generic request for PIN below. Please post any questions or suggestions for enhancement in Q & A.
Attn: LEGAL DEPARTMENT
Via (verified fax or certified mail)
Re: Notice of liability and request for PIN to secure my credit file
To Whom It May Concern:
According to the FTC and FBI, identity theft is on the rise and I am very concerned about unauthorized access to my credit file.
(Add your specific concern if you have one, such as a mean ex-spouse, trouble in the family, theft or loss of your wallet, your ssn# being public record, previous ID theft, an unauthorized inquiry, whatever applies ....)
Please immediately assign to me a user changeable PIN as used by banks and just about any company handling my confidential data, to ensure that only authorized persons are able to access my credit file.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: (CRA name) is liable for damages suffered due to ID theft and inquiries without a permissible purpose related to my credit file with (CRA name) until I have received my PIN.
(your name)

subset: commoncrawl


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My Burberry Eau de Toilette 90ml
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- Discover the joyful scent that captures the essence of a spring garden with blooming rain-tipped flowers.
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Many of us grew up with The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) definition of the "Basic 4" food groups, consisting of dairy, meat, grains, fruits and vegetables. However, with The Daniel Plan, we often speak in different terms and we want to guide you along with common terms and food groups we discuss throughout the plan.
The Daniel Plan gives an easy guideline to follow for any meal that we like to call The Daniel Plan Perfect Plate:
With that in mind, here are the basic food groups, and examples:
Healthy Protein
High quality protein at every meal is the secret to optimal health. The best sources of protein for your diet are poultry; omega 3 eggs, or free range eggs; fish; shell-fish; and small amounts of lean lamb or beef. Note: when buying meats, choose free-range, organic with no hormone or antibiotics meats. There are also vegetarian sources of protein like quinoa, beans, tofu and nuts.
Healthy Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are not all created equally. Not by a long shot.
When most people think of "carbohydrates" they think of big fluffy loaves of white bread and pasta dinner for four. It's true, these are carbs—highly-processed, highly-refined carbohydrates, and they lead to ill health and weight gain. Simple carbohydrates such as simple sugars found in processed foods, table sugar, fructose, lactose, white potatoes, white flour, honey and fruit juice are not included in the Daniel Plan and should be avoided.
But there is another kind of carb—the good carb.
Did you know that vegetables are carbohydrates? So is fruit. Whole grains and beans are also carbs. These foods along with others like brown rice, lentils, millet, sweet potato or yam, and quinoa are known as complex carbohydrates. And each of these is a critical element in the human diet and has been for millennia.
Without carbohydrates you won't last long. Carbohydrates found in their natural form contain many essential nutrients and specialized chemicals that keep you healthy and turn up your metabolism.
Healthy Fats
On The Daniel Plan you will enjoy many healthy fats. The good fats include coconut oil, olive oil and hemp oil, avocado, chia seeds, hemp seeds, sesame seeds, raw organic butter, ahi, and wild salmon.
Bad fats include canola oil, vegetable oil, trans-fatty acids (trans fats), and any hydrogenated oils. These fats are not in their natural form and the body cannot digest them properly, storing them as fat which is linked to heart disease and many other chronic health problems.
Here are 4 key roles healthy omega-3 fats play in your body and why they are linked to so many different chronic diseases.
If you don't get enough of these healthy fats your body and brain breakdown from the root.
Taking steps to increasing omega-3's in your diet can produce dramatic changes almost overnight for some. For others, increasing your intake of omega-3s and staying away from unhealthy fats will protect health for the long term.
Whichever group you fall into, getting the right fats in the right amounts is essential for long term health.
Healing Spices
Here is a little food for thought, literally. If you want to get thinner, smarter, and happier, then reach for the spice cupboard. Using spices rather than heavy cream sauces or butter cuts calories so you can lose weight. Research shows that they can also boost your brain and your mood.
Turmeric: Found in curry, turmeric contains a chemical that has been shown to decrease the plaques in the brain thought to be responsible for Alzheimer's disease.
Saffron: In three studies, a saffron extract was found to be as effective as antidepressant medication in treating people with mild to moderate depression.
Sage: This fragrant spice has very good scientific evidence that it helps to boost memory.
Thyme: Studies show that thyme increases the amount of DHA in the brain, which protects against age-related degeneration.
Rosemary: A 2006 study reported that rosemary diminishes cognitive decline in people with dementia.
Cinnamon: One of my favorite spices, cinnamon has been shown to help attention.
Other spices that boost or protect brain power include garlic, oregano, and basil.
The best thing you can do for your health is to drink pure clean water. It should be your staple. Other drinks you can enjoy are herbal teas, green tea. Coffee should be kept to a minimum.
Super Foods
Foods that are high in phytonutrients are considered superfoods. These are foods that have the highest quality protein, good fats, vitamins, and minerals. Acai, avocado, beans, broccoli, quinoa, tomatoes, and berries are just a few of the many delicious superfoods that should be on your plate.
Ingredients to Avoid


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President Trump and his congressional proxies have once again come up short in their bid to repeal and replace Obamacare.
Well, if the White House is still determined to ditch the Affordable Care Act – which is proving as hard to knock out as Ali in his prime – then I have a surefire alternative. And it comes gratis. No naming rights required.
What I'd like to propose, in my modest way, is a nationwide Healthcare Lottery, modeled on the immensely popular Mega Millions draw, which recently saw a lucky Massachusetts woman net herself a cool quarter of a billion dollars.
Except the payouts under my scheme will be even more valuable.
Using the scratch card scenario for starters, I can see healthcare administrators – and Mr. Trump by association – hitting upon a real PR bonanza with a series of games aimed at those people – many trapped in the economic middle – who are still unable to access or afford critical medical services. For instance, wouldn't you risk a couple of bucks on a scratch ticket if three walking frames guaranteed you a hip replacement, on the spot and at no charge? Or how about three sets of crooked teeth entitling you (or a nominated loved one) to free, instant orthodontic care?
Of course, the PR possibilities – guaranteeing a ratings bump for Mr. Trump – don't end there.
Here in Ireland, TV shows based on scratch card games are extremely popular. Contestants are welcomed into the studio each week, along with a screaming entourage of friends and family, and they proceed to compete for cash and prizes. My plan would use the same approach. Can you imagine the excitement that would be generated if the mother of an autistic child suddenly found that spinning a roulette wheel and landing on a lucky number entitled her son to specialized care? Scratch card sales would rocket, helping fund many vital government programs including healthcare.
What's more, there'd be a corresponding winner at home, so the viewing figures (and resulting ad revenue, split between the government and the show's producers) would go through the roof.
Now, I can already hear the naysayers. "The HMOs will never buy into such a plan," they'll say, or "Won't a Health Lottery simply add another layer of bureaucracy to a system that's been top-heavy for years?"
Well, here's the beauty part. Dedicated healthcare professionals will receive a tax-free top-up to their annual salary for every lottery winner they look after. And as for the curse of paperwork that afflicts every nurse and doctor these days, all cases involving Health Lottery winners will be conducted with a handshake and a pat on the back. No consent forms or waivers of liability signed off in triplicate and then forwarded to the hospital's legal department.
(Some exceptionally fine print on the reverse of all winning tickets will make this abundantly clear.)
I even have a great opening ad campaign in mind. The setting is the cardiac ICU in one of Boston's many fine hospitals. President Trump would be the center of attention, of course, earnest but proud, flanked on one side by a Lottery winner who's just received a free coronary bypass, and on the other by a lucky medical professional who's suddenly found herself with a little extra money in her pocket.
Bottom line: Unlike with Obamacare or any future Trump-inspired replacement, this healthcare system makes everyone a potential winner.Medford native Steve Coronella has lived in Ireland since 1992. He is the author of "Designing Dev," a comic novel about an Irish-American lad from Boston who runs for the Irish presidency. His latest book is "Entering Medford – And Other Destinations."
Here's one opinion. What's yours? Click here to write a letter to the editor of up to 200 words or leave a comment on the story. Read more columns, editorials and letters
Irish Olympics scandal highlights need
for Games reform
DUBLIN – A much anticipated report into alleged ticket touting by Irish resale agents at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio was published this week, revealing among other things that the Olympic Council of Ireland showed "more concern for the commercial interests" of its authorized ticket reseller "than for the interests of the athletes, their friends, relatives and supporters or those of the spectating public."
In fact, not only were tickets intended for athletes' families passed on for resale, but after the Games had concluded, "a total of 223 tickets remained in a safe in the OCI's offices in Brazil," according to Irish Times journalist Sarah Bardon.
The so-called Moran Report, undertaken by a retired High Court judge, was prompted by the arrest of former Irish Olympics boss Pat Hickey last summer in Brazil on charges of ticket touting, forming a criminal association/cartel, and illicit marketing by Brazilian authorities.
In December Hickey posted a $475,000 bond payment. He is currently in Ireland awaiting his return to Brazil for trial.
Though not remotely on the same scale as former FIFA head Sepp Blatter's legal difficulties, the wider sports world should take note of Hickey's troubles. Given that even a country as small as Ireland has an Olympics gravy train, is it time to face up to the rottenness at the heart of the modern Games?
Just as Boston did in 2015, when organizers withdrew the city's bid for the 2024 Summer Games in the absence of a guarantee from Mayor Marty Walsh that Hub taxpayers would cover any cost overruns. After their own initial enthusiasm Budapest, Hamburg, and Rome also backed out, recognizing the folly of staging the quadrennial five-ring circus.
Of course, every few years we hear the pitches from presidents and prime ministers, pop sensations and movie stars, all boasting in their inimitable fashion about the unique advantages of their preferred city. And the world's biggest companies, broadcasters, and sports organizations are happy to play along with the theatrics of the selection process and the overblown spectacle of the Games.
After all, as with soccer's bloated World Cup competition, it's not the matches or races that matter but the marketing possibilities.
So it will take a grassroots revolt among the athletes themselves if the Games are to be overhauled. Otherwise, the thousands of swimmers, runners, gymnasts and figure skaters who adorn the premier Olympic events run the risk of becoming unwitting – and uncompensated – corporate shills.
With Paris now lined up for 2024, preceded by Tokyo in 2020 and followed by Los Angeles in 2028, the Summer Olympics can be transformed into something different, scaled back but still classy, with athletes perhaps providing clinics for disadvantaged kids in the host city.
And who knows: maybe every Irish Olympian will get a handful of tickets for family and friends while their former boss is squinting through his binoculars from the cheap seats.
Medford native Steve Coronella has lived in Ireland since 1992. He is the author of Designing Dev, a comic novel about an Irish-American lad from Boston who runs for the Irish presidency. His latest book is entitled Entering Medford – And Other Destinations.
What's in a name? Plenty, even after 25 years in Ireland
by Steve Coronella
DUBLIN – When I moved to Dublin 25 years ago, my assimilation wasn't as straightforward as you might think. Even though I enjoyed an extensive network of Cork relations thanks to my emigrant grandparents Madge and Bill Reardon, who settled in Cambridge as newlyweds around 1930, this counted for little.
For starters, I had trouble finding work. In the summer of 1992, Ireland's celebrated Celtic Tiger economy had yet to roar, and with unemployment at 14 percent there wasn't much call for an uprooted Boston guy on the wrong side of 30 whose only official certification was an undergrad English degree.
Fair enough. I wasn't about to quibble when thousands of men and women born and educated in Ireland were leaving the country to look for work.
What I didn't bet on when I arrived, however, was that my garden-variety Italian surname would confuse – and indeed amuse – the natives. For instance, I was regularly called Steve "Cornetto" – after a popular ice cream treat – and it was commonly assumed that I knew the likes of Tony Soprano personally. (If only. I would have jumped at the offer of a "no-show" job on a Celtic Tiger construction site.)
But that was then. Or so I'd like to believe. Unfortunately, despite the great strides Ireland has made in embracing different cultures and orientations over the last couple of decades, my name remains a problem for the linguistically-challenged here.
Case in point: during the course of a recent Gaelic football game, my son had to give his name to the match official. He'd received a yellow card for some off-the-ball "argy-bargy" with an opposition player and his transgression had to be duly recorded.
Now admittedly, my son had a gum shield (mouth guard) in his gob, but I've heard him speak with it in and he's easy enough to understand. Anyway, after several failed attempts to take down the spelling of Coronella, the ref gave up. "I'll just get your name from the team sheet," he told my son.
Likewise, back in the spring a college information packet arrived to our house, addressed to my son. It had been generated by an email exchange – not a phone conversation. This detail is important. Despite documentary evidence of my son's correct name being readily available, the envelope bore the name – you guessed it – Brian Connelly.
In fairness, this incident does have an amusing throwback element to it. Years ago a Medford friend's Cork-born grandmother regularly called me Steve Connell. When Lal Connolly discovered my name was in fact Coronella and I had Italian blood running in my veins, she was dumbstruck. "No," she said, as if I'd been operating undercover in her home for years.
Of course, you'd assume that the Irish of all people would be familiar with foreign names. After all, thousands of Emerald Isle natives populate multi-ethnic US cities like New York and Boston, where polysyllabic surnames much harder to pronounce than my melodic Sicilian moniker are commonplace.
Plus, Ireland has an indigenous language – taught on a compulsory basis to every schoolkid up to the age of 18, regardless of interest or aptitude – that even a world-class linguist would find incomprehensible at first glance. For instance, try pronouncing the names of these distinguished members of the Irish language media: Ailbhe O Monachain and Donncha Mac Con Iomaire. Then, for extra credit, have a guess whether they're male or female.
That's what I'm up against.
So all I'm asking, after a quarter century here, is for my Irish paesani to take a breath, look at the name carefully, and then repeat after me: CORONELLA.
Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?


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Nonprofit group supports network for parents of kids who have 'limb differences'
By Catherine Kavanaugh
The Daily Tribune (Royal Oak)
ROYAL OAK, Mich. (AP) — If you see him perform, Tony Memmel's blend of folk, rock and Americana music will probably hold your attention long before you notice he plays guitar without a left forearm.
The 27-year-old from Milwaukee, Wis., has that effect on audiences, especially in small venues like the Oak City Grille, Royal Oak, where he has given concerts sponsored by the Lucky Fin Project.
With a guitar pick taped to his upper left arm, Memmel plays from a personal, passionate set list that has critics predicting great things on the horizon for the singer/songwriter.
"He's magnetic," LFP founder Molly Ryan Stapelman of Royal Oak told The Daily Tribune of Royal Oak. "Then his song ends and he wipes his brow and people do a double take. They just watched him for 15 minutes and didn't notice he's missing a hand. It's kind of fun to catch people."
Memmel and his band recently released a theme song for the LFP — the nonprofit group Stapelman started in July 2010 as a support network for parents of children with "limb differences."
"Tony gave me the best gift ever," Stapelman said. "The chorus is so catchy and oh, I just love the lines: 'When the day is feelin' long and the sky is gettin' dark, you have got to let your light shine.
Know how great you are.' "
He could have gotten away with throwing LFP T-shirts to his crowds but Memmel said he gets so much more than tour sponsorship from LFP. To give back, he is donating half of all download proceeds for "Lucky Fin Song" to the group.
"Every day something cool is posted or I get a sweet drawing from a child with a hand or limb difference," Memmel said. "Being involved with LFP is awesomely positive."
The theme song is the just the latest in a wave of exciting steps forward for the group liked by 4,400 Facebook users. LFP also named a board of directors, sponsors rising stars in sports, and has a growing Internet following that is evolving from a support network into a true community.
Stapelman's daughter, Ryan, 5, was the inspiration for the LFP and its goal to show that people have differences, not disabilities. She has symbrachydactyly — a little understood, congenital anomaly that usually results in one or more fingers failing to develop on one hand.
With a thumb and four nubbins on her right hand, Ryan knows no limits. She climbs tress in princess gowns, plays soccer, and strings together beads for the trademark LFP bracelets. Her can-do attitude led to the LFP motto: "Ten fingers are overrated."
Memmel attests to that. He started teaching himself to play guitar when he was in middle school. It took a lot of determination and eight years to fine tune his method.
"I had a friend who was an accomplished guitarist and I was getting into music and listening to rock," Memmel said in a phone interview. "I wanted to write and play my own music. I convinced my parents to split the cost of a guitar with me. Through trial and error, I came up with a way to play when I was 21."
His breakthrough turned out to be Gorilla Tape — a super sticky adhesive likened to duct tape on steroids.
"With it I could play in live settings under stage lights and not have my pick sweat off," Memmel said.
He is getting ready to tour again in March and he can be sure some of the people in his audiences will also be fans of LFP, who take advantage of meet-up opportunities like concerts and picnics.
Stapelman marvels at the ripple effect that started at her kitchen table 2 1/2 years ago. That's where she started making Lucky Fin bracelets to celebrate how "wonderfully made" children with limb differences are. Each bracelet is centered with an orange and white bead that Ryan likes. It reminds her of the Disney clownfish Nemo, which navigated an ocean of challenges with its lucky fin in the animated film "Finding Nemo."
Almost 4,000 bracelets later, LFP is making a bigger splash by sponsoring not only Memmel but fighter Nick Newell, the Xtreme Fighting Championships lightweight world champion.
The left arm of Newell, 26, ends just after his elbow from congenital amputation, a condition that causes part of the limb to detach in the womb. Regardless, he became the XFC's undefeated belt holder with the LFP logo on his fight shorts and banner. Newell now is fighting to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Stapelman cheers on her ambassadors' careers and what their accomplishments mean to the 2 million Americans with limb differences.
"They are examples that everything is possible," she said. "It's great to show people with newborns, this is what your kid can potentially be doing at 20."
Stapelman herself is an example of tireless advocacy. She has made and shipped 3,900 Lucky Fin bracelets. She uses the money from bracelet donations and sales of LFP bumper stickers and shirts, to sponsor Memmel and Newell, help send children to Camp No Limits, and create brochures about limb differences for hospitals in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and Puerto Rico.
Stapelman also heads up LFP's volunteer board of directors, which includes Memmel's mother, Katie Kolberg Memmel, who wrote a book last year called "Five Fingers, Ten Toes: A Mother's Story of Raising a Child with a Limb Difference."
Stapelman, who has three daughters, also maintains the group's website and Facebook page, which has followers in all 50 states and 20 countries.
At least once a day she posts inspirational stories and quotes, such as "It's not what happens to you that matters most, it's what you do about it."
The website has more than 300 pictures, too, in its Lucky Fin photo album, mostly of smiling children wearing their bracelets adorning partially formed arms and hands.
"I hear about people in waiting rooms going to see a doctor and they take off their Lucky Fin bracelet and pass it on to new parents," Stapelman said. "They tell them they're in a cool exclusive club. That's what I mean about the Lucky Fin family. That's how we're pushing 5,000 Facebook fans. People embrace it with enthusiasm and say it is awesome to be part of it."
Stapelman is particularly pleased when parents-to-be find out about the LFP and turn to the website to get educated and prepared.
"They see this isn't the horrible thing they thought it could be," she said. "They see their child will be fine. They get over it. They get reset for the amazing time it is when you're having a baby."
Other parents learn about their baby's limb difference in the delivery room because it didn't show up on ultrasounds. They usually find out about Stapelman's group when they are referred to specialists and given LFP brochures. The LFP family embraces them.
"I understand their shock," Stapelman said. "I want them to know what they are feeling is normal. They feel it is unfair. They feel guilt and they wonder if it is their fault. They feel angry because they did everything right during their pregnancy."
They also have questions. Should they be looking into occupational therapy? What about tutoring? How about prosthetics?
Stapelman's answer is no, no, and no — not now anyway. She recommends parents focus their attention and energy on the arrival of their newborn rather than worry about events that may or may not be necessary in the years to come.
Then, there are the successes she gets to share and the dreams she helps further. Last week LFP became the first contributor to the Never Say Never Foundation, which is raising $8,000 for Paralympian athlete Regas Woods (aka Legz) to get new running feet and legs.
Stapelman was just as proud to add a picture of a 7-year-old girl named Ruby from Connecticut wearing a LFP bracelet while on the gymnastic bars.
"Her parents told me it would be an honor to be in the photo album and I just cried. It never gets old," Stapelman said.
Such requests are a simple reminder she is achieving the LFP goals to celebrate, educate, support and unite.
What's next?
LFP friends are trying to get Memmel and Stapelman on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." The comedian was the voice of Dory in "Finding Nemo" and there is talk of a Disney sequel.
"Can you imagine if Dory herself gave the Lucky Fin project a shout out?" Stapelman asked.


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Types of Questions:
General Questions:
How Do Drug Tests Work?
Drug tests can find out what drugs are in your body at the time of the test by looking at what's in your blood or urine. After the drug is metabolized (broken down by your body), so is the evidence of its use. Drug tests can detect longer-term drug use by looking at hair samples, because these chemicals are incorporated into hair. The usefulness of hair testing is limited by the time the person last took the drug.
Can You Become Addicted to a Drug if You Just Take It Once?
If you take a drug one time and one time only, then you will not become addicted. The problem is that there is a lot we still don't know about who becomes addicted and why, and how much drug exposure it takes. We do know that each person is different, so it's a little like playing "Russian Roulette" if you choose to use drugs. But, if you do, the earlier you stop, the more likely you will be to avoid addiction and the harmful brain changes that lead to it.
Why Do Drugs Make People Do Odd Things?
The short answer is that drugs alter your perceptions and your judgment. Different drugs do this in different ways. Some drugs make you overconfident, and some drugs decrease your ability to pay attention to the things going on around you, even when those events are critical to your health and safety (like seeing a red light while driving). Other drugs, like LSD, can change your perceptions so much that you can't recognize people and things in your environment at all.
How Do You Avoid Drugs and Still Be Cool at Parties?
When alcohol and drugs are readily available at parties, you may feel peer pressure to use them as a way to fit in. Here are some tips on staying safe when you party:
- Find friends who don't need drugs to party.
- Check out who'll be at a party and what the plans are before you commit to something that may turn out to be an awkward situation for you.
- Know the facts about drugs.
- Stop to think before you make decisions that you might regret.
The cool crowds are the people who appreciate you for who you are, not for what you do or don't do.
What Factors Affect a Person's Likelihood of Becoming Addicted to Drugs?
Although we know what happens to the brain when someone becomes addicted, we can't predict how many times a person must use a drug before that happens. A person's unique genetic makeup and his or her environment both play a role. What we do know is that a person who uses drugs (including alcohol) risks becoming addicted, craving the drug despite its terrible consequences. In the end, if addiction occurs, it is extremely painful and difficult to quit regardless of what drug you take—but it can be done.
How Can I Protect Myself From Being Given Drugs Without Knowing It?
Here are some ways that you can protect yourself from being given drugs without your knowledge:
- Don't accept beverages from other people.
- Open your own bottles and cans.
- Keep your beverage with you at all times, even when you go to the bathroom.
- Don't share beverages.
- Don't drink from punch bowls or other common, open containers.
- If someone offers to get you a refreshment from a bar or at a party, go with the person to order it. Watch it being poured and carry it yourself.
- Don't drink anything that tastes or smells strange. Sometimes, GHB (date rape drug) tastes salty.
- If you realize you left your beverage unattended, pour it out and get a new one.
- If you feel drunk even though you haven't had any alcohol, or you feel strange in any other way, get help immediately.
For more information, see information on Club Drugs
How Can I Avoid Drugs?
You can do some key things to stay off drugs. Three big ones are:
- Avoid situations where there are likely to be drugs, if possible, and instead do activities that are enjoyable and drug free.
- Hang out with people that don't use drugs
- Say 'no thanks' when offered drugs.
How Can I Deal With the Temptation To Use Drugs if I Am Recovering From a Drug Problem?
If you are in recovery, you know all too well that drugs cause many more problems than they solve, and keeping yourself clean can be a day-to-day or minute-to-minute fight. But it is a fight you can win. It is important to remember that just because you have the urge to use drugs, it doesn't mean you need to, and that urges do pass. If you or someone you know are having a hard time staying off drugs, it is very important to get help. Remember—treatment works!
Treatment information can be found online or by calling 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7.
Can My Body Build a Tolerance to Drugs?
Many drugs lose their effectiveness if you keep taking them. A person is becoming tolerant to a drug when they have to take more of it or take the same dose more frequently, to get the same effect as they got at first. For example, if you take a decongestant for a cold over several days, the effective time becomes shorter and shorter. Similarly, if you take opiate medications to control pain, you may need to take more to achieve the same level of pain control. In such a case, developing tolerance does not mean that you are addicted to the drug.
For more information, check out Above the Influence.
What Is "Overdosing" and What Should I Do if I Think Someone Is Overdosing?
An overdose is when someone takes too much of a drug or medication, causing serious, harmful symptoms or even death. If someone takes too much of something on purpose to commit suicide, for example, it is called an intentional or deliberate overdose. If the overdose happens by mistake, it is called an accidental overdose. For example, a teenager might try to get high by taking a parent's prescription opioid painkiller and end up in the emergency room—or worse. More overdose deaths are caused by people abusing prescription opioids than by any other drug, including heroin or cocaine.
If you think you or someone else has overdosed on a drug, you should always call 911 immediately.
If it is not an emergency but you would like information, you can call the National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. It is a free and confidential service. You should call if you have any questions about an overdose, poisoning, or poison prevention. You can call for any reason, 24/7.
How Can I Support a Friend Who's Gone Through Drug/Alcohol Rehabilitation?
If you are asking this question, it shows that you are a caring friend, and that is probably the most important way you can support your friend. There are lots of other ways that you can support him/her too. One is to help your friend avoid situations where there's a possibility that he/she could relapse and go back to using. Go with your friend to places that are drug and alcohol free rather than to parties where there are likely to be drugs.
What Are the Signs of Addiction?
The following questions can help you know whether you are addicted to drugs. Do you:
- Take the drug more often or in larger amounts than intended?
- Try unsuccessfully to quit or have a constant desire or craving for the drug?
- Spend excessive time seeking the drug?
- Give up other things for the drug?
- Continue to use the drug, despite knowing you're harming yourself and others?
- Experience tolerance, or a need to take more and more of the drug to satisfy you?
- Experience withdrawal symptoms (which may be different for different drugs)?
- Take the drug to relieve or avoid withdrawal?
If you answer yes to several of the above, then chances are, you are addicted. We don't really know or understand who becomes addicted and why, or how much drug exposure it takes. Each person is different. But the longer someone takes drugs, the more likely it is that he/she will become addicted and suffer long-term, harmful brain changes.
If You Use Drugs at a Young Age, Does It Mess Up Your Life?
Science has shown that the earlier a person starts using drugs, the more likely he/she is to become addicted and suffer serious social and medical consequences. The reasons are complex. First, drugs affect the brain, and the brain is still maturing when a person is young—until early adulthood in fact. Thus, drugs can alter normal brain development. Second, people who use drugs when they are very young often have other problems that led to their drug use in the first place. For example, they may have difficult family situations or problems with depression or anxiety and use drugs to help them cope. Unfortunately, drug abuse just makes things worse in the long run and does not fix these problems. Third, using drugs can interfere with success in school, in sports, and in relationships with friends and family, creating more problems down the road.
Since early drug use can lead to later drug addiction and other problems, the best advice is not to even experiment with drugs. However, if someone is already using a drug, he/she should know that the earlier he/she stops, the more likely he/she is to avoid addiction and the other bad consequences associated with it. For more information, check out The Science of Addiction.
Does Doing One Drug (Like Cigarettes or Marijuana) Lead to Abuse of Other Drugs?
Whether doing one drug will lead to doing another depends on each individual person. For example, some people who use marijuana do not go on to abuse other illicit drugs, but most people who abuse other drugs have previously used marijuana. Basically, being exposed to peers who use drugs, having greater access to drugs, and having problems in the first place that led to the initial drug use could all make other drug use more likely.
Drug-Specific Questions:
What Does Sniffing Cocaine Do to Your Nose?
Cocaine causes blood vessels to constrict. When the cocaine wears off, the vessels dilate again. With repeated use, people who snort cocaine weaken the small blood vessels (capillaries) in their noses, which can lead to nose bleeds and a decreased ability to smell.
What Are the Effects of Acid?
Hallucinogens, such as LSD or "acid," can cause unpredictable psychological effects, including delusions and visual hallucinations. Physical effects can include dangerously increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. People taking acid can also experience sleeplessness and rapid, intense emotional swings. This experience, as you might expect, can be extremely confusing and frightening to the person taking the drug. LSD is usually created in someone's home laboratory, so it could contain many other ingredients that could even be deadly. Find more information on acid and LSD.
What Are the Effects of "Shrooms" on the Brain and Body?
Hallucinogenic compounds found in some plants and mushrooms (or their extracts) have been used—mostly during religious rituals—for thousands of years. While the exact ways hallucinogens affect the brain remain unclear, research suggests that these drugs work partly by temporarily interfering with chemical messengers in the brain called neurotransmitters.
Mushrooms containing the chemical psilocybin can produce LSD-like experiences, including hallucinations, an altered perception of time, and an inability to tell fantasy from reality. Panic reactions and psychosis also may occur, particularly if a user takes a large dose. There may also be long-term effects like flashbacks, impaired memory, tolerance to the drug, and risk of psychiatric illness. Find more information on LSD and PCP.


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Initially, cities across the country offered free use of their charging stations, but more are moving toward a pay model to recoup maintenance and electricity costs.
Consumers trading in gas guzzlers for plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles may find fewer places for free juice, as California cities such as Pleasant Hill and Martinez make motorists pay to use public charging stations.
But industry experts don't expect the fees -- a mere fraction of the cost of a gallon of gas -- to put the brakes on the growing demand for electric cars.
Initially, cities across the country offered free use of their charging stations, but more are moving toward a pay model to recoup maintenance and electricity costs, said Munni Krishna, special projects coordinator for 511 Contra Costa, which gives cities grants to buy vehicle charging systems.
"None of our cities are using it as a revenue generation measure," Krishna said. "They're being fair to consumers to charge for electricity and then a little more for overhead costs."
About five years ago, Pleasant Hill installed electric car charging stations at the City Hall parking lot, the parking garage in the downtown shopping center and the city vehicle parking lot. The stations have logged about 5,000 sessions -- nearly half of those in the past year -- and charged 20 megawatts of electricity.
By the end of June, Pleasant Hill plans to replace the charging stations with a model that can charge two vehicles at the same time, and to put an additional station in the parking garage. Once the new equipment is in, the city will charge 20 cents per kilowatt hour and limit charging sessions to three hours. The current average charge of 4.7 kilowatt hours per session would cost 94 cents.
"The city has provided these stations free of charge for the past 4 1/2 years and we do want to recover our costs, but we don't want to impose a burdensome fee on the user," said spokesman Martin Nelis.
"In essence, we want to encourage more plug-in electric vehicles to use these stations, we want to give more access to the charging stations and encourage people to visit our downtown."
In March, Martinez began charging $1 per hour and limited sessions to four hours at its two downtown charging stations. The third charger, at the Amtrak station, was vandalized last year and no longer works.
The new policy has led to greater turnover.
"People would squat in these stations and they'd stay there all day," said Michael Chandler, senior management analyst for Martinez. "Now we're seeing more people have an opportunity to get a charge. They're only staying as long as they need and that was the intent."
Funding for 511 Contra Costa's electric vehicle charging program comes from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and a half-cent sales tax in Contra Costa County. Since 2009, the organization has partially funded a total of 28 charging stations installed in Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, Brentwood, Pittsburg and Contra Costa Centre.
These Contra Costa cities are among the 216 municipalities nationwide on Coulomb Technologies' ChargePoint network, 28 percent of which charge motorists a fee, according to Krishna.
Sales of plug-in electric and hybrid vehicles surged last year and there are nearly 200,000 on the road today, according to the Electric Drive Transportation Association, an industry group. About 40 percent of plug-in vehicles sold nationwide were bought in California, according to the California Center for Sustainable Energy.
Fees may inadvertently boost sales of electric vehicles by reducing demand for charging stations, said Eileen Tutt, executive director of the California Electric Transportation Coalition, which includes utility companies and automakers.
"The bottom line is, when something is free you will use it even if you don't need it, even if it's less convenient," Tutt said. "My sense is, if you really want to make these chargers more available given the limited build-out right now, then charge a small fee -- what it costs -- and you'll find that people will plug in when they need to."
For now, some cities are holding the line on charging people to power up their cars.
The seven electric vehicle charging stations in Walnut Creek remain free, although motorists must pay the 50 cents per hour rate when they use the ones in the city's downtown parking garages.
"The trend is definitely up and we see most of the stations being utilized a good part of the day either by Teslas or Nissan Leafs or Chevy Volts," said Matt Huffaker, assistant to the city manager.
©2014 the Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, Calif.)


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SACRAMENTO (AP) — A former state parks official said he repeatedly told his superiors about more than $53 million hidden in two accounts that could have been used to help California avoid the threat of closing 70 state parks, a newspaper reported Thursday.
Manuel Lopez, former deputy director of administrative services for the Department of Parks and Recreation, said he informed agency Director Ruth Coleman about a $20 million surplus in the Parks and Recreation Fund at least five times over a span of about five years, The Sacramento Bee reported.
A separate off-highway vehicle fund held another $33.5 million more than had been reported to the state Department of Finance.
Coleman resigned Friday over the situation and accepted overall responsibility but said in a telephone interview Thursday that she had been unaware of the surplus.
"I don't recall being briefed orally or in writing regarding unreported surplus funds," she told The Associated Press. "Had I been aware of these resources, I would have sought to deploy them to keep parks open."
Lopez did not return repeated telephone messages left Thursday by The Associated Press. Sacramento attorney Marc A. Caraska, who is representing Lopez in a personal bankruptcy case, also did not return repeated messages.
Nonprofit groups and local governments helped raise money and in some cases assumed responsibility to keep the 70 state parks operating past a July 1 closure deadline.
The attorney general and state finance officials are investigating the scandal. The attorney general's office set up a tip line and email address Thursday for anyone with information that would help the investigation: 916-324-7561, or ParksInvestigation(at)doj.ca.gov.
State lawmakers also are promising oversight hearings and plan to seek an independent audit of the department. The state Finance Department also is reviewing all the state's 560 special funds to make sure the actual fund balances match what has been reported to the administration and the state controller.
State officials previously said the parks department had maintained the unreported money in its accounts for at least 12 years, including the entire time Coleman was director. She served under three governors and said in her resignation letter that she was "personally appalled" to learn of the hidden money.
Coleman said Thursday it was Lopez's responsibility to tell her about the surplus funds, and he did not.
Lopez said he learned of the unreported money from the department's previous budget official when Lopez took over that responsibility in the spring of 2005. The department treated the $20 million in the parks fund as an emergency account that could be tapped if natural disaster caused a number of parks to close, he said.
"That was the rationale that was given to me — by a number of people on the executive staff," Lopez told the newspaper. "There had to be some level of a safety net."
The unreported fund surfaced after reports that Lopez also administered an unauthorized program to buy out unused vacation time for 56 employees, costing taxpayers more than $271,000. He was demoted in October and resigned in May.
Lopez told the Bee he made the decision to buy out unused vacation time, including his own. Records show he received at least $20,600 from the buyout.
"I was not aware that I was violating any law or policy at that point in time," he told the newspaper, though he said he is in the process of hiring an attorney.
Richard Stapler, a spokesman for the Natural Resources Agency that oversees the parks department, declined comment Thursday.
"We can't speculate about these allegations, pending the attorney general's investigation," he told The Associated Press.
Lopez and other parks officials also are being sued by a personnel official he fired last year. The former employee alleges she was a victim of sexual harassment.
Stapler also said he could not comment on the lawsuit because it is pending litigation. Lopez did not comment on the lawsuit in his interview with the Bee.
Last week, Lopez and his wife, a school teacher, filed for personal bankruptcy. Lopez listed himself as unemployed.
Gov. Jerry Brown made light of the parks scandal in his first comments on the matter Wednesday, saying during an unrelated news conference that it was the first time in his experience when government was criticized for saving money


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Italian Sausage Subs
Sue Hoyt of Portland, Oregon shares this traditional favorite that dresses up Italian sausage with onion, sweet red pepper and pizza sauce. It's sure to fill you up!
Total TimePrep/Total Time: 30 min.
Makes2 servings
- 2 Italian turkey sausage links (4 ounces each)
- 1/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 1/3 cup thinly sliced onion
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/3 cup julienned sweet red pepper
- Dash pepper
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 Italian rolls or submarine buns, split
- 1/4 cup pizza sauce
- 1 slice provolone cheese, halved (3/4 ounce)
- In a small nonstick skillet, brown sausages on all sides over medium heat. Add broth; cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove sausages and keep warm; discard broth.
- In the same pan, saute onion in oil until crisp-tender. Add red pepper and pepper; cook until red pepper is crisp-tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in vinegar and sausages; heat through.
- Spread rolls with pizza sauce; top with the sausage, cheese and onion mixture. Broil 4-6 in. from the heat for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted.


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Jasia, of Creative Gene is once again hosting the Carnival of Genealogy, the 115th such carnival! WOW that is a lot of parties, err, carnivals. She has challenged us, and, I do mean really challenged us this month. The challenge is to write your family history in 300 words or less. Really, 300? I hear you all laughing, verbose Carol, less than 300 words?? I gulped, I laughed, I stewed and brewed, and then I did it! And, it was FUN! 300, ON the button! See:
My approach was to see if I could write an introduction to a compilation of the Lashbrook clan that someday I hope to make available to other Lashbrook researchers. I have been trying to finish this work for too many years. I thought, well, maybe if I have the introduction, I can jump start my procrastinating self. We shall see, but, I did manage to finish the challenge. And, it became that, a challenge, I had 325 words at one point, dropped back to around 280 words, and with many tweaks finally finished right at the magic number of 300.
Now, I will let out this little secret, I had to contact Jasia to ask her how to count the words. She said she uses word processors on and off line, and there is a magic little counter with most of them. Word Perfect in fact does have one. Word processors count each and every word, even "a", "is", "the". When I learned to count words way back in the dark ages in high school, we did not count those types of words, only words with 4 letters or more. Whew, I am not sure if the way words are counted by the word processor works for us or against us. Now, truthfully, isn't that all just a tad bit interesting??
Jasia also told me she will not become the word count police, so, I was not real worried about it and find it quite amusing that I hit 300 on the button. Oh, by the way, none of what I have written up to this point counts! But, from here on out, let the counting begin.
married in the fall of 1814 in Thornbury, Devon, England. Between 1815 and 1830 they became the parents of ten children, all of whom survived to adulthood.
Sometime between 1830 and 1832 Richard and Ann and their ten children boarded a ship, crossing the Atlantic for a new life in the Americas. According to family tradition they migrated to Canada. About a year later, the family moved over the border to Clinton County New York.
While living in New York, two, possibly four additional children were born. Two of these children lived to adulthood, two have not been located anywhere, we do have their reported names.
Records are hard to come by during the 1830's and early 1840's in New York, but there are indications that the four eldest Lashbrook children were married there.
By 1843 the entire Lashbrook clan started moving to McHenry County Illinois, part of their trip was via the Erie Canal, part by wagons. Before 1850 the move from New York was complete, no Lashbrooks lived there.
Six of the Lashbrook children married in McHenry County. Over the next 10 years most of the Lashbrook children and their families started moving away from McHenry County, heading west. Two sisters (one a widow) and five brothers lived for many years in several northeastern Iowa counties. Over the years migration continued, with Lashbrooks ending up in many western states.
Richard and Ann died in McHenry County Illinois by 1883, they are buried in the Jerome Cemetery, near Harvard. A number of their descendants are also buried in McHenry.
The Lashbrook family history is fairly typical, filled with farmers, teachers, professionals, and a few "interesting" souls to color the story.
Come join us as we discover the story of the Lashbrook clan.
* Photos, from the top:
1.) The Altar at St Peter's Church Thornbury Devon England, where Richard Lashbrook and Ann Newcomb were married.
2.) The Erie Canal, today. Photo courtesy of Pam Martin.
3.) Lashbrook headstones, Jerome Cemetery, McHenry County, Illinois. In the foreground: Richard and Ann Lashbrook. To the rear: John and Lydia Lashbrook, son and daughter-in-law.
** Thanks Jasia, it was fun, honestly!


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- User Name: InuyashaluvsKagome
- Member Since: Monday, August 23, 2004, 7:56 PM
- Name: Jen
- Studio: LuvzAnime
- Location: New Port Richey, Florida, United States
- Last Login: 2014-01-20 18:04:55
- Forum Info: Profile Posts (0)
- Worthy Banners: 2 worthy banners
- Profile: About Me:
I won't give you my full name or anything, because I find that a little bit personal, so you can just call me ArchAnime, or Jen.
I enjoy writing. It's a talent and a hobby of mine. I also love creating websites. Some of my fan fictions are not edited spelling wise, but that's only because I type faster than I think.
I try to update all of my fan fictions as often as possible, but sometime it can be difficult with school and all. I am very devoted to my work. I have been writing fictions for over a year and I have been watching Inuyasha for almost 6 years. I have used a lot of my time and energy reading and writing.
I write poetry as well. I have been writing poetry ever since I was a young girl. If you would like to read some of my poetry you can always just email me. Once in a while I put a poem in my fan fictions. All of my fictions improve over time and all of them are Inuyasha and Kagome fan fictions. I once in a while add a little Miroku/Sango or some other couple into it, but that's rare for me, since my only true interest is Inuyasha and Kagome.
Though, some of my writing may seem a bit mature, I'm not that old. For privacy reasons, I won't give that information out either. I am a teenager.
Birthday: February 25th
Location: Florida
Siblings: Three brothers (Tony - younger) (Joe - older) (Jim - oldest)
Hobbies: Writing; Sports; Acting; Singing; Hanging out with friends; Watching Anime's; Drawing; Painting; Playing with my ferrets; Swimming
All of the following anime's are recommended who anyone who enjoys romance and action all in one. The graphics for each of the anime's below are good. I would not be able to watch them if it weren't.
Anime's I've watched, or am currently in the process of watching
+Ayashi No Ceres
+Black Cat
+Busou Renkin
+Chrno Crusade
+Cowboy Bebop
+D.N. Angel
+Diamond Dust Drops
+Dragon Ball (Z) (GT)
+Elfen Lied
+Erementar Gerad
+Final Approach
+Fruits Basket
+Full Metal Alchemist
+Full Metal Panic
+Full Metal Panic: FUMOFFU
+Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid
+Full Moon Wo Sagashite
+Fushigi Yuugi
+Ghost Hunt
+Gift ~Eternal Rainbow~
+Giniro No Olynssis
+Gundam Seed
+Gundam Seed Destiny
+Gundam Wing
+Hani Hani: Operation Sanctuary
+Honey X Honey Drops
+Kaleido Star
+Kamichama Karin
+Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne
+Ichigo 100
+Last Exile
+Love Hina
+Lovely Idol
+Mermaid Melody Pitch Pitch Pitch
+Mermaid Pichi Pichi Pitch Pure
+New Wings
+Oh My Goddess
+Ouran High Host Club
+Princess Monoke
+Rurouni Kenshin
+Sailor Moon
+Samurai Deeper Kyo
+Samurai X
+Shakugan No Shana
+Shining Tears & Wind
+The Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya
+Tokyo Mew Mew
+Touka Gettan
+Tsubasa Chronicle
+Yoake Mae Yori Ruri Iro Na - Crescent Love
+Yu Yu Hakusho
+Yucie, Petite Princess
+Zero No Tsukaima
+Zero No Tsukaima: Futatsuki No Kishi
+Zombie Loan


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Many individuals have the need to downsize, particularly when moving to retirement communities. These too are conducted exactly like estate sales, and are even called estate sales, even though "moving sales" may be what they really are.
JLA Treasures will conduct moving sales with the exact same level of care and professionalism as all of our services. Sometimes when we do a moving sale, we use our crew and our moving van to even move our client (we are the only estate sale company in Dallas that we know of with our own moving van). A large percentage of our business is comprised of moving sales, and we welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular needs with you.


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Anyone who knows me is aware that I absolutely hate rollercoasters. I never figured out why anyone would enjoy being strapped down into a seat, whisked away at an ungodly speed and looped upside down, or seemingly plunged toward the ground, and please don't get me started on those tunnels…oh, those tunnels…
I can recall times I stood in line to ride a rollercoaster. I would look at the size of the coaster, watch the reactions of the people who just rode the coaster, and I would try to muster up the courage to take the ride. Thank God I discovered something awesome standing in line for the rollercoaster ride. I discovered the chicken exit. At some point in the line, if you change your mind, there is a break in the barriers that allow you to exit. If you are too chicken, to afraid, too intelligent, in my opinion, to take that ride, you can exit before the ride. If you bypass the chicken exit, then you are committed to that ride from beginning to end.
I have concluded that temptation is like that rollercoaster. It presents a ride to you that you do not have to take. That is why it's called temptation. It is something you can have but probably shouldn't. You have opportunity to take a look at the ride before you. Is it worth it, really? Do you understand what could happen if you take that ride? You even have time to see how others have dealt with that same ride before. Others may have done the same thing, and it seems like they are okay, but how do you know if YOU can handle it? Thank God that when it comes to temptation, God always gives us a chicken exit. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 it is written, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
What great news! That means if you are ever tempted, God will always make sure you have an opportunity to get out. A divine chicken exit. Remember that moment when you could have gone home instead of taking that last drink? Chicken exit. Remember when you were being told by family they didn't like the guy you were about to marry? Chicken exit. Remember how heated it got on the couch and you are close to crossing the line? Chicken exit, my friend! It is an opportunity God gives you to come to your senses and get out of that line. Otherwise, you have to go along for the entire ride, and trust me, that ride is not fun.
James in the Bible describes the ride in this way "…but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed (standing in line, past the chicken exit). Then, after desire has conceived (the ride begins), it gives birth to sin (the loops); and sin, when it is full-grown (the tunnels), gives birth to death (the end of the ride). " That means you may lose more than just your lunch.
God has blessed us with the strength that comes from the Holy Spirit to resist temptation. We don't have to take that ride, even if everyone else in line is preparing to get on. And, you will soon discover that taking that "chicken" exit, resisting the urge to take part in something unnecessary, is one of the bravest things you can do.


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Paul Auster
The Wise Man of Brooklyn
Paul Auster
Paul Auster will be 70 years old this month; the author and film director's new novel 4321 has just been published. We meet him in New York, talk about Donald Trump, fear, happiness and the power of coincidence.
Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York. This is where New York's well-to-do middle class live, where Paul Auster lives with his wife Siri Hustvedt, likewise a prize-winning author and internationally successful. The brownstone house where they live on four floors is attractive but not pretentious. A plain golden bell button on the door, no name. Even authors may sometimes find fans suddenly on their front doorstep, wanting to chat about their latest book. That they've had their share of "visitors" is confirmed by our host when he opens the door. Dressed all in black, he's in a cheerful mood. Auster has just recently finished his novel 4321, over 1,000 pages long, on which he worked for three years. It tells the story of Archibald Ferguson, the son of Jewish immigrants, who grows up in the metropolitan area of New York. But Auster doesn't tell the story in a purely linear way, rather he tells it four times, each time following a different fictional path. Auster groans as he sits down on a narrow leather armchair, his face contorted with pain. He's got backache. Is the general political situation to blame? As a student at Columbia University, he protested against the Vietnam War and since then, has always taken a clear political position, usually on the left. And now Donald Trump is President, an election result that has still not been fully digested in the Auster/Hustvedt household.
Mr. Auster, you don't seem to be so keen on the new US President …
I am angry, confused, horrified by what we have done. There are difficult years ahead, not just for America, but for the whole world. I can only hope that he will very soon do something so dreadful that he will be removed from office.
There's a slim hope in Europe that he might in future behave more like a president …
Trump? No way. He is unscrupulous and ruthless. I remember this one little incident that says a lot about his character: As patron of a golf tournament, this loudmouth once promised a million dollars to the first player who managed to hit the ball into the hole at his first attempt. And someone actually succeeded in doing just that. There were big celebrations for Trump and the man, but a few days later the winner received a letter from Trump's lawyer, stating that the money could unfortunately not be paid because the ball had not been far enough away from the hole. That's Trump, disgusting.
Are you likely to be more militant in future? Will your topics change?
I don't know yet. But I'm certain that this will change my life. The whole social climate of this country will change. Trump really scares me personally. I don't exactly know what I will do, but I do know that I'll have to do something. I'm still in a kind of state of shock, I need more time. We don't know what will happen, but let me put it this way: I'm prepared for the worst.
The photographer is ready and interrupts us. Auster sighs, but complies. He has told us that 15 minutes ought to be enough. He sits down in the corner in front of some shelves. The photographer wants him to stand, but Auster refuses with a friendly shake of the head. Too tired. His back. With an ironic smile he comments on the photographer's attempts to get him to take up different positions. He just continues to sit there with a mysterious expression and a slightly melancholy air. The photographs take some time while he willingly shows us the rest of the house. In one room there are piles of books and DVDs, while a large pile with various annual editions of "Who's Who in Baseball" has a place of honor on the sideboard. Photos of him, his wife and his daughter Sophie hang on the few available spaces on the walls. Before we can take shots of the dark, windowless den that is his study, situated in the basement, Siri Hustvedt gives us a friendly welcome. She is a tall, willowy blonde with a pale complexion. She exchanges a quick look with her husband, questioning and slightly amused, as if to say: "Will this take much longer, you poor dear?" Sophie Auster, a successful musician, recently said that she admires her parents for having been able to keep their thirty-year marriage alive and loving, and that she is a little fearful of never finding such a lifelong love herself.
In your new novel you describe the existential consequences that coincidence and supposedly minor decisions can have on a person's life …
I simply developed the question of "What would happen, if" further. That's the question that every novelist is interested in. It's at the center of his dramatic output. In my book I describe four parallel paths that this person could have taken if he had made certain decisions. That was fascinating.
An ambitious project. Were you aware of that from the beginning?
True, the book is an elephant. Hopefully, a sprinting elephant … However, I did restrain myself. Otherwise it would have ended up 3,000 pages.
I never feel good about a book I've just finished
One would hardly write a book like that without thinking about the important turning points in one's own life. What would your life have been like if you had, for example, become a baseball player, or if you had decided not to go to that fateful reading …
… at which I met my wife, the love of my life. That's a scary thought! It demonstrates how arbitrary everything is. I go to this reading not expecting anything, and there I meet the woman with whom I have now been living for over 30 years. That's quite amazing. Of course my experiences have influenced the book in one way or another. I remember that at summer camp a friend of mine was struck by lightning and died. He was standing very close to me. Naturally, it makes you think that you could have been struck too. That was one of the most important experiences of my life.
Experimental crime stories focusing on Auster's central themes: identity and fallacy, texts and illusion.
The struggles of the writer, miracles, corpses and questions of identity: Auster's bittersweet hymn to the American Dream.
Four variations on one life: a virtuoso mind game about risks and the side effects of missed opportunities.
You have stated that you agree with Samuel Beckett's view that writing means failing. An author will always fail, he can only try to fail better next time …
True. I never feel good about a book I've just finished. I'm never satisfied. Not with 4321 either. But I did my best.
Do you read reviews?
Over the years I have learnt that it is better to take no notice of them. When I was younger, I read them all, every scrap. What I discovered was that when I was praised I felt good for one or two minutes, but it didn't mean anything to me. But when someone tore me to shreds, it really upset me. I have been praised far more often than criticized, but the few nasty reviews were especially hurtful.
Ten years ago you directed your last film, The Inner Life of Martin Frost. Any chance of your next project being a film rather than a book?
If I were younger and if the film industry were not so dreadful, then I would consider it. I really loved making films. Everything about the work interests me, truly everything. Writing scripts, working with the actors, even cutting. But all the other stuff associated with the movie industry is horrible. I can do without all of that.
Do you still go to the movies to watch new films?
Films rarely, TV series occasionally – but, to be quite honest, I don't usually have the energy to keep up with those series. You know what? Siri and I like old detective films and that BBC series "Foyle's War." That was really good. Every episode was as long as a movie, the story was set in the Second World War in Great Britain – powerful stuff. I watch baseball on TV. I've been fanatical about baseball ever since I was a little kid. I watch it as often as possible.
Do you ever watch it live in the stadium?
Twice, maybe three times a year. My team is the New York Mets, traditionally a terrible and unsuccessful team, but in the last two years they've improved. Baseball is very complex; you have to know a lot about the game in order to appreciate it. But what's the use of telling you that? I have so often tried to explain the magic of the game to Europeans, but it's hopeless. You don't understand it.
What if the situation were reversed? Do you understand anything about football?
Soccer? Deadly boring!
This story first appeared in Lufthansa Exclusive, the frequent traveller magazine.
For more information about Lufthansa Miles & More offers, please click here.
Harald Braun
Harald Braun was in bondage to various publishing houses for nearly 20 years, most recently as deputy editor of Allegra and copy editor of Park Avenue. Today, he is a freelance contributer to magazines and newspapers, and writes fiction and non-fiction. Harald lives in Horst, northern Germany for most of the year except when he escapes to Sydney for a few months in the winters.


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Once the only game in town, BlackBerry appears to be headed out of the market entirely. Five government CIOs share which mobile devices have their attention today.
BlackBerry published an open letter to its customers and partners in 30 newspapers around the globe earlier this month, proclaiming their stability. "You've no doubt seen the headlines about BlackBerry," the advertisement reads. "You're probably wondering what they mean for you as one of the tens of millions of users who count on BlackBerry every single day. We have one important message for you: You can continue to count on BlackBerry."
The letter then went on to detail the phone's social networking capabilities, security, and enterprise mobility management. The ad got at least one thing right – BlackBerry does still have tens of millions of users, but with Samsung and Apple dominating the consumer mobile market, it's not a given that BlackBerry will be around forever.
Many users in online forums like Reddit have already written the company off. Perhaps more telling is the fact that the news of BlackBerry's open letter only reached a score of about 125 on Reddit, while popular stories regularly reach scores of 1,500 or 2,500. Not only does BlackBerry appear to be flailing in deep water, but no one on the beach seems to care that much – they're too busy tweeting on their iPhone 5s and Samsung Galaxy S4s.
BlackBerry made a run at the consumer market in early 2013, tying Alicia Keys into their marketing campaign, but the campaign never really got off the ground, IT analyst Rob Enderle said. "The consumer market just has too much money pointed at it and they couldn't fund to the level of the competitors," he said.
They didn't really fail, he said, so much as they got shut out before they could even take a fair shot at the market. "You've got Apple, who typically outspends everybody else, and you had Samsung outspending Apple by a factor of three, and then Microsoft was stepping up to the table with not quite as much as Samsung but more than Apple, and that's a very rich market to try to drive back through. They were simply under-resourced and overmatched."
Now, Enderle said, BlackBerry is stepping back into their roots, which is business, and they're far from dead. In fact, he said, BlackBerry is much better off than most other mobile hardware manufacturers right now, aside from Apple and Samsung. HTC is probably not going to survive, he said, and Sony doesn't seem to be doing very well in the mobile market either. But BlackBerry has an advantage in business, Enderle said.
"BYOD isn't universal yet," he said. "It's a massive trend, but it takes years for a trend like that to make it to the market and there will be entire industry segments that never adopt it because they have security requirements or people in that region just can't afford phones, which is why BlackBerry is much stronger in South America, because companies buy phones for people in South America." If BlackBerry can focus on the market segments where they're still strong, they will survive, Enderle said.
Bring-your-own-device may not be universal yet, but BlackBerry is not the phone of choice for most in government. Government Technology asked five government CIOs what happened to their BlackBerrys, what phone they use today, and why.
Louis Carr, CIO of Clark County, Nev.
For its simplicity and ease-of-use, Carr said he has two iPhones – one for business and one for personal use. He has continued using Apple devices because he has grown accustomed to them, he said. It doesn't necessarily do anything a Samsung or BlackBerry phone can't do, but he said he likes the easy integration with iTunes and other apps.
Clark County still uses BlackBerrys, he said, but the county has begun transitioning to other mobile devices through the use of mobile device management software, so the security advantage offered by BlackBerry is beginning to fade. The county is now piloting the use of iPads and iPhones for business apps, VPN apps, and accessing network resources, he said.
When the county considers which devices to use, Carr said, they look at everything, including the new Windows 8 phones. "I'd look at the consumer market to some degree, because I want to select hardware that I think has longevity," he said. "Unfortunately, the Windows 8 just hasn't quite caught on, so as we talk about apps and things of that nature, that becomes a challenge. It's the apps that drive the hardware." The first thing the county does, Carr said, is identify what functionality they want, and then find which software platforms meet those needs – then they look for a device that can run the software they need.
Jonathan Reichental, CIO of Palo Alto, Calif.
In its day, BlackBerry was known for its fervent followers. For years, BlackBerry made devices that were unmatched in the marketplace, offering functionality and hardware not found elsewhere. Reichental owned six BlackBerry devices over a 10-year period, and he was a big fan of the company, he said. It wasn't until joining Palo Alto in December 2011 that Reichental switched to an iPhone. He now uses an iPhone 5, with plans to soon upgrade to an iPhone 5s.
"There is no comparison between the BlackBerry I had and the iPhone experience," he said, placing the iPhone ahead of every other smartphone on the market. "Like worlds apart."
It was soon after the switch that he recognized the immense value of the Mac App Store, he said. On BlackBerry, some of the apps were very good, while others were not, but having access to such a large pool of developers who can make any app imaginable is one of Apple devices' biggest draws, he said, in addition to better hardware performance and overall user experience than that found in Android-based devices.
The difference between Apple and Samsung devices is marginal today, Reichental said, and though it would be easy to switch to an Android device tomorrow, he won't because he's familiar with Apple and doesn't want to bother learning a new interface for what would essentially be the same functionality.
And BlackBerry isn't even a consideration at this point, he said. This may have been BlackBerry's biggest problem when it made its foray into the consumer market. Reichental, a self-professed BlackBerry fan and previous owner of six BlackBerry devices, isn't the least bit interested in going back to its smartphone. So, what would it take for him to give up his iPhone for something new?
"It would have to be the introduction of a significant new feature that could in some way impact my work or my personal life," he said. "I don't know what that is right now, but it would have to be something that is not available on the iPhone for a long period of time and I would feel like that would be useful in my life and I should change. I think short of pulling off a miracle, BlackBerry is over."
Reichental suggested that if BlackBerry wants to continue competing in the future, it should give up its operating system, adopt Android, and become a hardware maker.
Lea Deesing, Chief Innovation Officer of Riverside, Calif.
Responding from an iPad, Deesing said she uses an iPhone 4s, with plans to soon upgrade to an iPhone 5s. The old phone will go to her husband, she added.
"I need my phone to work reliably and consistently," she said. "I have found, for the most part, that Apple products do this. I also appreciate how Apple is very cautious about what applications they allow in their app store. While this sometimes frustrates my developers working to deploy a new city application to the app store, it's a protection to us all in the long term. The last thing I need is a rogue app. I also like the beautiful interfaces Apple products offer. The interface is clean and elegant."
Jack Belcher, CIO of Arlington, Va.
BlackBerry had the best keyboard going, Belcher said, and he still doesn't like Apple's touchscreen keyboards, but that wasn't enough to keep him from adopting an iPhone. It was the iPhone's interface and apps that attracted him, he said, and he regularly uses basic functionality like scheduling, mail and note taking. Using an iPhone is a comfortable experience, he said.
The city of Arlington just signed an enterprise agreement with Microsoft, he explained, and Microsoft is really pushing the cloud integration capabilities with Windows 8 phones. At this point, Belcher has adopted a wait-and-see approach.
Bill Greeves, CIO of Wake County, N.C.
Still using a first-generation iPad and an iPhone 4s, Greeves said he is not a big gadget guy, but if he's going to use a device, it needs to be great. "I used to use a BlackBerry, and once the iPhone came out, I found it to be much more usable for my personal needs, and it was definitely a mixture of business and personal use in terms of availability of apps and features."
The BlackBerry is now out of the picture for Greeves. "If you call the iPhone a smartphone, I would not call the BlackBerry a smartphone," he said of the BlackBerry Z10. "It was a good try. It was definitely an improvement. I don't know -- I can't say I gave it a full, fair-shake. By that time I was fully invested in my iPhone. I just found it to be somewhat clunky, very much a business tool instead of a personal productivity tool. And that's what I look at my iPhone as."
Apple has adopted a winning image, he said, which is that of the artisan, while BlackBerry is stuck with a corporate image and that of a device that has limited functionality, and that has plagued it. It's not enough to almost catch up in the marketplace, he said – BlackBerry needed to provide a compelling reason for people to switch off their winning phones for something different, and BlackBerry simply didn't do that.
For those keeping score – all five CIOs interviewed for this article said they use and love their iPhones. This wasn't planned, and it's unclear whether this is a trend among government CIOs, or just a coincidence. But the results were only surprising because while the absence of BlackBerry was expected, an Android-based phone wasn't mentioned. Some CIOs mentioned the new Windows 8 phones, some mentioned Android as an alternative to Apple, and none seemed to consider BlackBerry a serious consideration for a new technology purchase.


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Saint John (Virgin Islands)
The main community on the island is Cruz Bay, located on the western side of the island.
First settled by Arawak natives and then by Carib natives who drove the Arawaks from the island in 1300. Discovered by Columbus on his second voyage to the "new world" and claimed for Spain. Later owned by the Danish who sold it to the United States in 1917.
Get in[edit]
Ferries are available everyday from St. Thomas, departing from both Charlotte-Amalie and Redhook. The schedule for Red Hook ferries run every hour from 6am until 11pm, while Charlotte-Amalie only has 3 trips a day at 10am, 1pm, and 5:30pm.
Both ferries arrive at the main ferry terminal in Cruz Bay. A taxi line is located next to the terminal, and the Vitran Bus also stops at the terminal.
It is customary to look all natives in the eyes and greet them with a "Good Morning" in the morning, "Good Afternoon" in the afternoon, and "Good Evening" after 5 pm. It is considered to be respectful. However, it seems that many locals are not as friendly as one might expect.
By plane[edit]
Fly into Saint Thomas' Cyril E King Airport [10] (IATA: STT), and take a taxi to the nearest ferry service (see below). If you want to skip the shared taxi ride with multiple stops and want a private express service to Red Hook or Charlotte Amalie, you can book that before you arrive.
By boat[edit]
Hourly ferry service from Red Hook, Saint Thomas (a 20-minute ride) is available to Cruz Bay, St. John and operates from 6:30AM, then hourly from 7AM - midnight. Ferry service from St. John to St. Thomas runs on the hour from 6AM-11PM. Less frequent ferries travel between Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas and Cruz Bay, St. John (a 45-minute ride). Ferries also run to and from Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, and Anegada (in the British Virgin Islands). If you want a private boat ride, hire a water taxi for a higher price but worth it if you want to go in style.
Get around[edit]
Renting a car is the best way to see all the beaches and other sites. However, be aware that the terrain is very hilly. Watch out for those awful switch-backs where you must drive at a very high angle one way then another, and oncoming cars may not see you until they are right on you. St. John is extremely hilly and you have to drive on the left (British style). If you rent a car, it's a good idea to request a Jeep or other four-wheel-drive vehicle. Cab service is affordable and plentiful, especially to the north shore beaches.
The Vitran bus service runs from Cruz Bay over Coral Bay to Salt Pond and back every hour and is a great and affordable (1$ per person) way to cross the island, or to get to any of the numerous hiking trails that start around Centerline Road.
See[edit][add listing]
Do[edit][add listing]
The surrounding woods and brush areas are often populated with wildlife. The park has 140 species of birds, 302 species of fish, 7 species of amphibians, 22 species of mammals and 740 species of plants. The only mammal native to St. John is the bat, and the six species are important pollinators of native plants. The island also has many other species of animals that are not native, including deer, goats, sheep, donkeys, cats, dogs, mongoose and pigs.
Buy[edit][add listing]
Currency, its access, and customs considerations are basically the same as for Saint Thomas. Cruz Bay has a few merchants offering jewelry, liquor and souvenirs, but somewhat more genteel than in most cruise ports. For items that benefit from duty-free importation, prices generally rival those in Saint Thomas. (See this topic for Saint Thomas; most advice applies, though St John is seldom overrun by cruise passengers shopping.)
Island shopping ranges from walk-up drink and food shacks to a stylish, tiered, open-air galleria/mall. Most are in or within easy walking distance of the harbor, e.g., the gallery of shops at Mongoose Junction.
Eat[edit][add listing]
St. John has more than 35 places to dine, ranging from chic and expensive restaurants to funky beachside food stands. After dark the island comes alive with hotel and villa guests seeking out one of the island's cozy and romantic restaurants.
The best cheeseburger in this paradise can be found at Skinny Legs in Coral Bay. Great food, excellent harborside venue, and an excellent place for a cold beer after a busy day of snorkeling. An absolute must even if only visiting the island for a day (or even part of a day).
Drink[edit][add listing]
Sleep[edit][add listing]
Cinnamon Bay Campground is a budget-friendly spot with cabins and tent sites. The cabins are concrete with concrete floors and screen walls. There is no air conditioning. There is electricity and a small stove along with basic beds. Bathrooms are in a central facility but there is no hot water. Showers are not exactly cold but not hot either. Tent sites are very basic clearings. The cafeteria is lovely with really tasty local food and reasonable prices. It is right next to the rain forest so you may catch a glimpse of a beautiful hummingbird while you dine. Of course, the beach is the reason to come to St. John and this beach is fabulous. White sugar sand and clear turquoise water. Snorkeling is just offshore. If you stand on the beach and look out ahead you will see a small island. You can swim there if you are a good swimmer and enjoy the views. To your left near the cliff is Peter Bay community with very expensive villas. Perched right on the cliff is Presidio Del Mar, a very posh home that rents for about $20,000 per week.
Stay safe[edit]
Crime is not a major problem in St. John. You will find residential villas and locals are very friendly. The usual common-sense precautions are advised, such as locking your doors, not displaying large amounts of cash, jewelry, or cameras (especially at Waterlemon Cay on the North Side of the island) Never use your car as a safe place for your wallet while at the beach. Otherwise, your stay on St. John should be worry-free.
Get out[edit]
Take a day sail to the British Virgin Islands - Virgin Gorda, Tortola, Jost Van Dyke - with snorkeling stops along the way. Be sure you have appropriate travel documents to enter the British islands and to return to the United States.


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The other day, while at the supermarket, I was reminded of how easy it is to make assumptions about people. It happened while I was going through the checkout counter. Behind me, were a mother and her little boy, who looked to be about three years old. Together, they had two carry baskets brimming with grocery items.
Realizing she had forgotten something, Mom left the queue to go and get it, suggesting to her son that he begin to put the items they had already collected on the counter. He was very small. In fact so small his ability to comply with this suggestion was in some doubt, at least in my mind. But, soon he was grabbing each item and chucking it as high as he could over his head so that it landed, rather unceremoniously, on the counter above him. He was doing fine until he came to a can of soup. After heaving this in the direction of the other items, it landed on its side. Being fearful that it might roll off the counter and hit him on the head, I took the can up and set it aright, thinking I was doing him a service.
The little boy gave me a filthy look. He looked at the can. Then he looked at me and scowled. And, when his mother returned from her quest, he said, "Something's not right"
Mom, not really understanding what her son was on about, asked him what was not right, at which point, I said,
"I think he's referring to me". I righted the can of soup so it wouldn't roll off the counter. I was trying to help"
To this, the little boy raised himself up to his full height of maybe three feet and loudly proclaimed, "I didn't want any help!"
While a little stunned by the vehemence of his words, I quickly apologized to him, received some words of thanks from Mom and then decided it might be best if I minded my own business.
Thinking about this story, The Ladder of Inference comes to mind. It was developed by Chris Argyris and made known in Peter Senge's book The Fifth Discipline. It works something like this:
At the bottom of the ladder is information that is clear and observable. In this case, I saw a little boy helping his mother with the grocery shopping. I saw too, that there were a lot of groceries and that the little boy was really small.
I climbed to the second rung from the bottom where I narrowed my focus and selected only the data that interested me. In this case, I concentrated on two things, the little boy and his attempts to hurl grocery items onto the counter above him.
I climbed to the third rung of the ladder and began to make assumptions. First, I assumed that because he was small, he was not really capable of fulfilling his assigned task. And then, I assumed he needed help.
I climbed to the fourth rung of the ladder and concluded, based on these assumptions, that he would be glad of my help. From there, I proceeded to the fifth rung where I connected this conclusion to my belief that helping each other is an important and natural part of the human experience.
When I got all the way to the top of the ladder and acted in accordance with my assumptions and beliefs, I was met with hostility rather than the appreciation, or at least neutrality, I was expecting.
The point is that it is easy for us to run up the ladder and get things wrong even when we have the best of intentions. Had I simply asked the little boy if he would like help in unloading his groceries (or in his case UPloading his groceries), I would have had the answer I needed, respected his wishes and stayed out of trouble. But I didn't. So I didn't.
All of which brings me to this…Good leadership can falter quite easily too, if we fail to check out and validate assumptions before we act. For instance, before every meeting you hold do you assume that everyone knows why you are meeting? Do you assume that everyone will have everything they need to fully participate in the meeting?
What other assumptions might you be making when you interact with those who follow your lead? How accurate are they? What steps might you take to prevent a trip up the Ladder of Inference? What questions might you ask?
Have you other thoughts you can share?
In the meantime and on the lighter side, this is what Oscar Wilde thought about assumptions, courtesy of Benny Hill.


text:
Worff wrote:===================================================================
Ok back on track... 0 bids are a waste of time and they are annoying to the loot officer and raid leader too... selling it for 0 means it still has to be recorded as a sale, while FFA it does not... thus saving some time there from having to write it down or dig it out of the log later. FFA also absolves us from any responsibility on making sure a certain person gets that loot. Loot officer can release the corpse and move on to next objective. We don't care who gets the loot if it's FFA... it can be a guest even if its called in /rs rather than only in /gu. So, if you're really truly interested in an item, bid 1 and that 1 will secure it for you if no one else bids. If it's not worth 1 DKP to YOU .. it's not worth the trouble to process that sale to US... that's the bottom line.
As far as the idea of minimum incremental bids go... I'll never agree to that, DKP pools aren't big enough and people like to have the freedom to bid exactly what they want to bid... and I think that's fair.
Time limit on bidding per item: this I might agree with, at first glance it seems like a little too much pressure for some folks, but as long as it is a reasonable amount of time though I think it could work and remain fair.
How is minimum bids of 1 not a waste of time? Its the same idea, only thing i see is that you're too lazy to record something into dkp so you think that if something goes ffa it might save you a whole 15 seconds of entering it into the system later. Do we seriously have issues with ninja looting on our raids that we need the loot officer to lock a corpse? Just take bids, write down who wins and move on. I'm sorry for being cold about this but I've done dkp in the past and its really not that complicated, hell when I did dkp it was entered into the system after every fight so that dkp was always current for every bid. Not saying we should be doing that. That was a bit over the top for us but the fact you don't have to do anything but take an hourly raid dump and write down who won a loot into a notebook, not gonna get sympathy saying that its so time consuming you can't pay attention to /rsay.


text:
- Furious Gladiator's Thunderfist
- [Furious Gladiator's Mail Armor]
[Furious Gladiator's Mail Gauntlets]
[Furious Gladiator's Mail Helm]
[Furious Gladiator's Mail Leggings]
[Furious Gladiator's Mail Spaulders]
- (2) Set: +50 Resilience Rating.
(4) Set: Reduces the cooldown of your Grounding Totem ability by 1.5 sec.
This set is sold by the following vendors for 241,500 :
- Ecton Brasstumbler <Apprentice Arena Vendor> in Gadgetzan
- Zom Bocom <Apprentice Arena Vendor> in Dalaran
- Leeni "Smiley" Smalls <Apprentice Arena Vendor> in Area 52
- Blood Guard Zar'shi <Northrend Armor Quartermaster> in Orgrimmar
- Knight-Lieutenant Moonstrike <Northrend Armor Quartermaster> in Stormwind City
The set is also sold by the following vendors for 325 :
- Arcanist Asarina <Emblem of Triumph Quartermaster> in Icecrown
- Arcanist Miluria <Emblem of Triumph Quartermaster> in Dalaran
- Magistrix Iruvia <Emblem of Triumph Quartermaster> in Icecrown
- Magistrix Vesara <Emblem of Triumph Quartermaster> in Dalaran
The legs and hands armor also drops from Emalon the Storm Watcher in the 25-man version and Koralon the Flame Watcher in the 10-man version of Vault of Archavon.
External links
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- Wowhead
- Thottbot
- DB MMO-Champion
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