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These general terms and conditions of sale (hereinafter referred to as "T&Cs" or "General Terms and Conditions") govern the sales methods and conditions of Semicouture brand products ("Products") by Abraham Industries S.r.l. through the website www.semicouture.it ("Site") (hereinafter also referred to as the "Seller" or "Abraham Industries"), with registered offices in Fosse Incrociate no. 284, Santarcangelo di Romagna (RN), Italy, share capital of €50,960.00, Rimini Companies' Register, Italian Tax Code and VAT no. 01729810406, Economic and Administrative Business Register: Rimini, no. 327602, owner of said brand within Italy and other countries of the Eurozone.
The function of these General Terms and Conditions is to define the parties' rights and obligations as regards the online sale of the Products using the Site.
The use of the distance selling process as described in these T&Cs is reserved exclusively for consumers, which for such purpose means the natural persons (hereinafter referred to as "Customer" or "Customers") acting outside the scope of business, trade, craftsman or professional activities, pursuant to art. 3 of Italian Legislative Decree 206/2005 (hereinafter referred to as the "Italian Consumer Protection Code").
The online sales system, which presupposes the Customer's active participation, was created in full compliance with regulations concerning distance selling, as provided for and governed by the Italian Consumer Protection Code.
The Customer must register to access the customer area in order to purchase Products through the Site. Upon registration, he/she will be asked to provide his/her forename, surname and personal information, including his/her email address, as well as to select a password, which will enable him/her access to a personal area and to purchase Products. By registering, the Customer guarantees that the personal data provided are correct and true. The Seller's processing of said data is governed by the Site's Privacy Policy. The Customer commits to promptly update his/her data and to diligently maintain his/her user name and password for accessing the customer area. He/she furthermore states that he/she is aware that the disclosure of such authentication data to third parties and/or the use of such by third parties is not permitted and may result in him/her being held liable for the use of the Site and credentials which violates these T&Cs.
These T&Cs are applicable to all Product sales which occur through the Site, and, therefore, must be carefully reviewed by the Customer before completing the Product sales procedure.
Every time a Product purchase order is sent through the Site, it is presumed that these T&Cs have been read and accepted. The same applies to the terms and conditions of payment set out hereafter. The confirmation of a purchase order implies that these General Terms and Conditions are accepted in their entirety.
By sending a purchase order through the Site, the Customer acknowledges that Abraham Industries is not bound by any general terms and conditions of sale and/or payment, save for these present, unless agreed upon in writing in advance with the Customer.
The T&Cs described here are considered to be applicable and in effect until they are published on the Site. Any changes made to them in the future will be published on the Site and will apply exclusively to orders made on the day following publication.
The Seller and Customer explicitly agree to recognise the valid electronic signature provided upon executing the sales contract, as governed in the relevant clauses laid down in these General Terms and Conditions at the end of the purchase. It is understood that these General Terms and Conditions, published in a section that is visible and accessible from the Site's homepage, also serve as the contract for use of the Site, and are considered accepted by virtue of merely using the Site.
By transmitting the purchase order, the Customer confirms that he/she is familiar with and accepts these General Terms and Conditions.
Abraham Industries, with registered offices in Fosse Incrociate no. 284, Santarcangelo di Romagna (RN), Italy, share capital of € 50,960.00, Rimini Companies' Register, Italian Tax Code and VAT no. 01729810406, Economic and Administrative Business Register: Rimini, no. 327602, owner of the Semicouture brand.
The Site, as well as all of the trademarks and distinguishing marks that Abraham Industries uses on the Site, are protected under the applicable intellectual property and trademark laws; any type of reproduction, disclosure, distribution, publication, alteration or transformation, in any form and for any purpose whatsoever, of the Site's contents, trademarks and distinguishing marks used by Abraham Industries (such as, by way of example, the works, images, pictures, designs, videos, graphics, colours, functionality and design of the Site) is prohibited.
Only products bearing the Semicouture trademark are available for purchase on the Site. Abraham Industries does not sell products which are used, irregular or which are of a substandard quality compared to market standards. The fundamental Product features are presented on the Site in each product description. The images and colours of the products available for purchase on the Site, however, may not correspond to reality, due to their appearance on the Internet browser or monitor used.
All Products are provided with an identification tag. The Customer must not remove said tag from the Product in case he/she intends to invoke his/her right to cancellation, which may be exercised in accordance with art. 52 of the Italian Consumer Protection Code. If he/she does, Abraham Industries has the right to reject the return of Products which do not possess the relative tag and whose fundamental and quality characteristics have been altered or tampered with, or which have been damaged.
A purchase order may be made through the Site by following the steps and instructions set out on the Site. Should this process be performed successfully, Abraham Industries shall immediately communicate that it has received the order, reserving the right to perform a standard check of pre-authorising the Customer's credit card with the purpose of ensuring that it has sufficient funds to complete the transaction. The order shall be fulfilled once Abraham Industries has received confirmation that the payment of purchase was successful. Upon acceptance of the order, the Customer will receive written confirmation of having entered into the contract. It will contain information concerning the Products ordered, the amount paid, the detailed price of each Product, the shipping costs if applicable, as well as the existence of the right to cancellation and information concerning assistance services and compliance guarantees for the Product(s) in accordance with current regulations.
Abraham Industries furthermore reserves the option to communicate whether it is possible to fulfil the order within 10 days from receipt of the purchase order. The order cancellation will follow immediately, and the entire amount reserved for payment, including shipping fees, will be released simultaneously. Such circumstances may occur in the event that merchandise sells out, if the order does not correspond to normal sales needs (by way of example and by no way of limitation, this will be evaluated based on the number of products purchased in a single order if multiple orders for the same product are received, etc.) or due to a case of force majeure.
Any payment that the Customer makes may take place exclusively using the credit cards indicated on the Site, via PayPal, through Bank Transfer or in 3 interest-free instalments with Scalapay.
The conclusion of the procedure of sending the order shall be considered to have effectively taken place following the completion of the payment transactions, once the Customer is redirected to the page of the Site bearing the confirmation of sending the purchase order.
If you buy with Scalapay you receive your order immediately and pay in 3 instalments. You agree that the instalments will be assigned to Incremento SPV S.r.l., related parties and their assignees, and you authorize such assignment.
After confirming your order information, you will be asked to access your Scalapay account to complete the payment. If you do not have one, you can create one from the Scalapay login page before completing your order. Visit Scalapay for more information.
Payment with Scalapay is currently available for purchases from Italy, Germany, Austria, France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Finland.
In case of payment by bank transfer, the order confirmation will be sent as soon as the credit is received.
The price for every single Product present on the Site refers to the relative product and is expressed in euros, including VAT.
Shipping costs are not included in the Product price; instead, they are indicated and calculated before the purchase order is sent and before payment is made. The Customer is liable for such fees.
Any offers or special conditions promoted by the Seller are valid until the date indicated on the Site or as long as supplies last; in each case, they are subject to the Seller's actual availability for each Product.
Deliveries are entrusted, unless otherwise indicated, to the courier TNT / Fedex.
The purchased Product(s) will be delivered by courier to the address specified by the Customer at the time of sending the online purchase order.
The indicative delivery times are shown in the Shipping and Returns section.
In accordance with the provisions of art. 61 of the Consumer Code, the delivery must in any case take place at the latest within 30 days from the conclusion of the contract.
The Products delivered will become the property of the Customer upon receipt, with consequent liability of the same in case of any loss or damage to the Products themselves from that moment on.
Therefore, the Customer is invited to refuse the package or to accept with reserve the delivery by the carrier if this proves to be tampered with or not intact at the time of delivery and to send timely communication to our customer service, by sending an email to [email protected]
If the Product(s) is not delivered to the Customer within 5 working days from the date of shipping, communicated by Abraham Industries to the Customer simultaneously, and it is not possible to trace the item's location through the online system made available to the Customer, the Customer must inform Abraham Industries that delivery has not taken place by means of the Contacts page. Abraham Industries commits to guarantee a new shipment of the missing Product(s) within 2 business days following communication of such. In the event of the unavailability of said Product(s) or of force majeure, an order cancellation will follow immediately and the amount authorised for payment will be returned.
In accordance with current legal provisions, and, in particular, in accordance with art. 52 of the Italian Consumer Protection Code, the Customer has the right to withdraw from the purchase within 14 calendar days from the date the Product(s) is received; he/she will then be reimbursed for the cost of the returned items in question after exercising such right.
Should the Customer decide to use a courier different from the one selected by the Seller and to independently return the Products in case of cancellation, he/she must directly bear the cost of returning the Products to the Seller.
Irrespective of the means of cancellation selected by the Customer, the Product must be returned intact and unused, along with the original packaging and any accessories, in the same condition in which it was received, within and not beyond 14 calendar days from the day the cancellation of purchase was communicated.
In particular, the Customer must ensure that:
- the Product has not been used or been damaged whilst being tried on;
- the Product is not dirty and has not been washed;
- the Product has all movable accents, labels and original finishes;
- the Product has not undergone changes of any type.
If the return does not satisfy the conditions laid out above, or if the Products returned by the Customer are damaged, incomplete, deteriorated and/or dirty, reimbursement will not be provided and they will be returned to the Customer, who shall bear the courier fees for the return.
To exercise the right to cancellation, the Customer may register the return request by accessing his/her Profile. In the case of an order placed as a guest, the Customer may register the return request via the link received in order sent email, or by communicating his/her wish to return to [email protected]
The Customer will be informed through email whether the return was accepted or rejected.
The Customer who intends to avail of such right through the Site must access his/her Profile under the appropriate order section and fill out the return form by accessing his/her order history on the Site.
The Customer must also indicate on this form:
- his/her general information;
- the order details and select one of the indicated reasons;
- his/her choice on how to receive reimbursement, or a credit in the same amount to be put toward a new purchase.
For returns, the Product must be delivered to TNT / Fedex.
The courier or the customer service will send the return documentation within 3 business days from the registration of the return request.
During the holidays, the delivery times for the return documentation may be delayed.
In case of non-receipt of the return documentation within 7 days, the Customer must inform the Seller by email to [email protected] indicating the order or return number.
Specifically, if the Customer intends to avail of the courier engaged by the Seller to return the Products, such Products will be delivered to the courier engaged by the Seller at the location where the Products were delivered by the Seller at the time of sale. The Customer may contact the courier engaged by the Seller directly to agree upon a different location for such delivery, provided that it is located in the same country in which the Seller delivered the Products.
If the Customer wishes to use return methods other than those offered by the Seller or wishes to independently arrange for the delivery of the Products to the Seller, he/she must bear all relative costs and fees directly.
In case the right to termination is exercised according to the methods and terms and in accordance with these General Terms and Conditions, the Customer has the option to either select a reimbursement for the amount paid, or he/she may opt for a credit for the same amount which can be used in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in this article.
If the amount paid is reimbursed, the Seller's agents shall ensure that the Product has not been used or damaged.
The Customer will then receive a confirmation email concerning the return's status; Abraham Industries shall credit the corresponding amount paid for the returned Product(s) by means of the payment method selected at the time of purchase and within 14 calendar days from receipt of the item(s).
If the amount reimbursed is incorrect, the Customer must contact Customer Service to quickly resolve the problem.
If a credit is requested, such credit will be sent via email to the address indicated by the Customer within 14 calendar days from the receipt of the item(s). The credit must be used in one online shopping session within 3 months.
We wish to inform the Customer that the Seller subjects its garments and Product packaging materials to strict quality controls, guaranteeing that they are sold in perfect condition. Furthermore, to provide additional protections to distance shoppers, every single garment shipped by the Seller is checked before shipping.
If the colour or size of the garment received does not match the expected selected upon purchase, the Customer may return it according to the terms of the cancellation period (14 calendar days from Product delivery to communicate the request for cancellation and 14 calendar days following such communication to deliver the return to the courier), following the return procedure. If the Product is damaged or was not ordered by the Customer, it may be returned immediately following the procedures. The costs of return shipping shall be borne entirely by Abraham Industries.
If there is evidence that the package was tampered with or was not intact upon delivery, and that, consequently, the Product was damaged during transport, the Customer must refuse the package or accept it under reserve. Abraham Industries shall provide reimbursement for a Product that was damaged during shipping by the courier, provided that the Customer has communicated such damage in writing to [email protected] within the 48 (forty-eight) hours following the refusal of the package or its acceptance under reserve.
If even one of the conditions set out above is not observed, Abraham Industries shall not credit the amount paid, nor shall it replace the Product, which, in this case, will be immediately made available to the Customer to be picked up, at his/her cost. In this case, Abraham Industries shall communicate such refusal via email and shall indicate the location where it may be picked up.
Lastly, in no case can tailoring requests for purchased garments be honoured.
Similarly, Abraham Industries shall not provide reimbursement for costs borne by the Customer for tailoring adjustments and/or changes to purchased garments, which, therefore, shall be borne exclusively by the Customer.
In cases of defective products, the Customer is always and, in any case, invited to contact Customer Assistance as soon as possible, within the Product's return period, in order to discuss any arrangements.
As regards conformity guarantees for purchased Products, in addition to the provisions of these T&Cs, legal guarantees are also applicable to the sale of Abraham Industries' Products. Reference is made to articles 129, 130 and 132 of the Italian Consumer Protection Code concerning the Customer's rights in relation to Abraham Industries in case of Product non-conformity and how such rights are to be exercised.
For any information or complaint, or for any communication concerning the General Terms and Conditions, orders and/or Semicouture Products, for correspondence the Customer may contact Customer Service via [email protected], in the Customer Service section of the Site.
The Customer may contact Customer Service free of charge via email by completing the appropriate form online.
Should the Customer decide to use a channel or form of communication (by way of example: ordinary post, fax or a reverse charge call to Abraham Industries) other than those described in the foregoing, Abraham Industries shall not be bound in any case to reimburse any relative costs borne by the Customer.
Abraham Industries' execution of the services may only be suspended in a case of unforeseeable circumstances or force majeure, including acts of nature which prevent or delay execution. By way of example and by no way of limitation, war, uprisings, riots, strikes and Abraham Industries' supply problems ascribable to third parties are considered such events. Abraham Industries shall inform the Customer in case of unforeseen circumstances or force majeure within 7 (seven) days from the occurrence of such events. Should the execution of services be suspended for more than 15 days, the Customer shall have the option to cancel his/her purchase and will be reimbursed for any amounts that have already been paid.
These General Terms and Conditions are governed by Italian law. In case of disputes arising from the interpretation, validity and/or execution of these General Terms and Conditions, the compulsory territorial jurisdiction falls to the judge of the Customer's domicile or place of residence.
Abraham Industries uses the personal data supplied by the Customer to sell the Products and services necessary to operate and make use of the Site, as well as to execute the contract between the parties, in accordance with current law concerning the protection of personal data. For any information on the methods Abraham Industries uses to collect and process personal data, the Customer may reference the Site's Privacy Policy.
Abraham Industries provides this Site as-is, when it is available. Abraham Industries makes no explicit or implicit guarantees of the Site's operational status and/or contents, materials, information or products included on the Site. Furthermore, access to the Site may be occasionally suspended or temporarily limited in order to allow for necessary maintenance, repairs or updates with new services and Products. Abraham Industries shall attempt to limit the frequency and duration of such suspension and/or limitations.
Despite periodic checks of the Site, Abraham Industries does not guarantee that this Site, its servers or emails do not contain viruses or other elements that are potentially dangerous for users' and/or Customers' computers. By visiting the Site, the Customer accepts that he/she is using it at his/her own risk. Despite periodic checks of the content contained in the websites linked by the Site or which may be reached through the Site, Abraham Industries does not assume any liability concerning the contents of said sites.
Abraham Industries cannot be held liable for damages of any type arising from the use of this Site.
Abraham Industries grants limited access and personal use of this Site and shall not permit for it to be downloaded or modified, even partially, without its explicit written consent. Such licence does not include any use of the contents of this site for commercial purposes; specifically, it is not possible to use our product catalogues, descriptions or other materials. It is not possible to use the information on this Site for the benefit of other retailers; it is not possible to use data mining systems, robots, or software which permit the downloading and/or extraction of the contents of our pages. It is not possible to include our pages within frames, so that other trademarks may be connected to our own. The contents of this Site are published for the sole purpose of purchasing the Products published therein.
The provisions set out in the General Terms and Conditions are applicable within the limits of national consumer protection law.
Abraham Industries' mere tolerance or failure to challenge any Customer non-compliance with the provisions of the General Terms and Conditions cannot be interpreted as tacit acceptance of such non-compliance, nor as a desire to deviate from the provisions agreed upon between the parties.
Should one or more clauses of these General Terms and Conditions be rendered partially or completely null or void, this shall not imply the nullification of the others, which must be considered fully valid between the parties.
For anything else for which explicit provision is not made in these General Terms and Conditions, reference is made to current laws in effect at the time in which the individual sales contracts are executed, where compatible.


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
Hundreds of families and scores of kids visited Artpark on Sunday to partake of the debut "Fairy House Festival." The event was created to reunite video game-playing children with nature through the creation of miniature houses. Buildings, made of sticks, moss, shells and other natural materials, adorned the trees and sat in the fields at the Lewiston performing arts venue.
Author Tracy Kane, whose "Fairy Houses" books inspired the festival, was on hand to sign copies of her work and socialize with her young fans. Children also took pictures with the "Fairy Queen" and watched "Fairy Artists" from Lewiston Dance.

subset: commoncrawl


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By Arthur I. Cyr
That is the headline of an important article by columnist Greg Ip in the Wall Street Journal for Jan. 3.
Traditionally, my column early in the New Year describes positive trends in the world. That can be worthwhile, but can also become routine, a predictable rut of optimism that turns off rather than inspires some readers, and not just pessimists.
In order to counter that risk, this year there is reference to other information sources, including the Brookings Institution and the World Bank. Shared opinions are not necessarily entirely accurate opinions, but there is strength in numbers, and the results of in-depth research bolster the views.
Ip emphasizes the extraordinary recent movement of the vast mass of people in the world out of abject poverty. In the year 1980, approximately one-half of the population on the planet lived in "extreme poverty."
The World Bank defines that condition as below $1.90 per day valued in 2011 dollars, an estimate adjusted to account for drastically different cost and price structures in various countries and regions. Less than that amount means essential conditions of life cannot be met.
That is not news. Through the long sweep of human history, the vast majority of the population lived in destitution, unhealthy misery, and often starvation. Imminent death was a fact of life. That gruesome reality led a lot of people to idealize poverty, celebrate simple rural life, a denial of reality that is also part of the human condition.
That is no longer the case. Under 10 percent of the world's population is now in that terrible state, and this year likely will bring a further reduction. That is news.
As this implies, the poorest parts of the globe are successfully playing economic catch-up, with considerable success. Africa is an especially dramatic example. Although that continent truly is vast and diverse, the demonstrable economic progress is generally evident, not limited to just a few states.
The influential, respected Brookings Institution in Washington D.C. currently is devoting helpful in-depth focus to Africa development. The "Africa growth initiative" is a valuable continuing source of research information.
Reinforcing and directly related to the article by Ip, the World Bank has just issued the "Doing Business 2019" report. The document evaluates trends in starting a new business, securing credit, quality of government regulation, absence of corruption and related matters. Sub-Saharan Africa is rated highest in terms of positive reforms over the past fifteen years.
Related to economic progress and development, democracy is becoming the accepted way of life for the world's population overall, not just the privileged few. As recently as three decades ago, the people of Latin America lived almost uniformly under various degrees of authoritarian regimes.
Likewise, reasonably honest and contested elections are spreading in Africa, Asia, and the former Soviet Union and ― at least locally ― China. In the global context, the dramatic, tumultuous and violent "Arab Spring" while currently stymied has been partly a manifestation of the worldwide drive toward fair representative government.
Japan and South Korea are somewhat overshadowed by negative nuclear news from North Korea. That is unfortunate. Both provide examples to the rest of Asia of functioning political democracies. Both populations have surmounted enormous challenges to do so.
Undeniably, free competitive economies and open competitive elections are interconnected. Adam Smith's classic "The Wealth of Nations" appeared in 1776, the year the American Revolution began.
Arthur I. Cyr is Clausen Distinguished Professor at Carthage College and author of "After the Cold War" (NYU Press and Macmillan/Palgrave). Contact firstname.lastname@example.com


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The whole point of this I have written about prior, but most likely many readers just do not know….The collector version, which was expensive by nature as an art object or an artisan object if you will is gone…I like art and art objects… At the same time I hate to be in any way elitist with my work…so as a payback to the Rio community we are giving away free half of our 5,ooo press run to anyone who is Brazilian or pretends to be and who comes to an event…
We printed in Italy on the same paper brand as the book and selling the other half for 24 bucks in every place outside of Brazil to pay for the first half or at least almost….This is a super quality object at a super low price. Yes, less expensive yet not cheaper.
For sure the large magazine version is a whole different experience, but mostly we wanted to make it super affordable for those who could not afford the collector book…After all these years of working in various communities around the world, I always wanted to do something like this. Feels good, feels right.
(based on a true story) MAGAZINE
David Alan Harvey
publication date
April, 2013
published by
2,500 copies for sale
2,500 for free to the people in Rio de Janeiro
Fedrigoni Splendorgel Extra White:
160 gr & 85 gr
dimensions and contents
380mm x 280mm (15 " x 11 ")
66 full bleed photographs 550mm x 380mm ( 22″ x 15 ")
1 roadmap for original re-assembling
offset printing by
EBS, Verona, Italy
$ 24.00 (excl. shipping)
layout and design: Bryan Harvey
concept and producer: Eva-Maria Kunz
coordinator: Diego Orlando
production: Andrea Barbato, Michael Courvoisier, Candy Pilar Godoy
THE MAGAZINE of (based on a true story) can now be ordered here:
For volume purchases or info please contact Kim: firstname.lastname@example.com
for the "making of" visit: www.theriobook.com


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"Rip Your Brain Out Awesome!" -- Michael May, Robot 6
"Packed to the Gills with Awesomeness!" -- Greg Burgas, CBR
Robot 6 Interview!
December 16th, 2009
A new interview with Tim O'Shea is up at Robot6. I spill all kinds of secrets. Check it out here.
Power. Deceit. Treason!
November 12th, 2009
Venture into the orbit of power politics on Jupiter's moons in the 25th Century. Can newly crowned teen Emperor Zing keep his throne with the help of his friend, Moxy Comet? Will he be able to reform an unjust Imperial system, or will it consume both him and his allies?
And what about his music career?
And the revolt of the equatorial steam swamp mud men?
Find out the answers to these questions and more in the astonishing new series Warlord of Io by James Turner!
Amazon has Warlord of Io for an awesome price here.
Warlord of Io on Comixology
November 9th, 2009
Warlord of Io and Other Stories (issue 0) is available for FREE on the iPhone from Comixology! Get it here.
They've also got issue 1 and 2 for download, for a small fee. How cool is that?
Review of issue three: "A beautiful bit of fun."
October 31st, 2009
Andrea Speed at Comixtreme reviews Warlord of Io issue 3 and gives the thumbs up.
Get her verdict right here.
Warlord of Io issue two (three, sir) available!
October 29th, 2009
Issue two is now up. Well. Issue three if you count the one shot preview as issue one.
Anyway. You can download it here.
Zing, Moxy, Urk and the sapling thing try to avoid destruction at the hands of Grymak's minions, while intrigue and perfidy roil the new establishment. Disaster threatens from every side, dark secrets churn beneath the surface, and treachery strikes repeatedly. Don't wait! Check it out today!
October 20th, 2009
Behold the robo!
I almost forgot I had this up. It's a build your own robot app, which allows you to print out the result of your tinkering. Combine heads, chassis, and locomotors. Check it out here.
Warlord of Io issue two hits the net
October 3rd, 2009
The next issue of Warlord of Io hits the net... soonish. A fabulous 41 pages of material, all in glorious gradients of gray. Get your taste of the pre-present and follow the adventures of the solar system's most musically inclined warlord. In this issue, Zing, Moxy, Urk and the sapling thing try to avoid seemingly imminent destruction, while Grymak and his cohorts plot the conquest of the universe... only to find out it won't be as easy as they thought. Surprises and astronuts abound. Be sure to check it out.
They always seem to be fleeing giant robots in the covers, don't they? Why is that?
James Turner at Fan Expo
August 26th, 2009
James Turner will be attending Fan Expo August 28-30th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. I'll have a limited edition set of 10 printed copies of issue 2 of Warlord of Io, plus the second trade collection of Rex Libris and loads of buttons. Stop by, say hi, and buy, buy, buy!
Tom Spurgeon on Io
August 12th, 2009
Tom Spurgeon wrote a wonderful article over at The Comics Reporter about the distribution problems Warlord of Io has faced. I'm linking to it rather late, as it was written back in May, but it's definitely worth a look. Check it out here.
WOI will be coming out as a graphic novel, hopefully in 2010. I'm committed to finishing it, and I am very grateful for support from critics like Spurgeon, as well as SLG. The market is definitely changing, and I am also lucky WOI was held up as a symbol of that change.
New Interview up at The Fabler
July 8th, 2009
Kevin de Vlaming interviews yours truly over at the fantastic Fabler. Check it out here.
Warlord of Io breaks into the third dimension
July 6th, 2009
Like retro sci-fi? Have we got a comic book for you!
Finally had some time to work more on it. Here's the new 3d version of The Terror. People say my work looks like primitive 3-D anyway, so I thought, why not go all the way, at least with the ships? It's a very simple, almost cute looking craft that's armed to the teeth. Check out those plasma burners!
Newsarama interview with Michael C. Lorah
May 13th, 2009
Check it out at the Newsarama site. Lots of stuff about Warlord of Io and distribution.
Post-TCAF report
May 11th, 2009
Met a slew of wonderful people at The Toronto Comic Arts Festival, including lovely longtime fans and a gaggle of greats in the comics and arts industries, such as Paul Rivoche, Chester Brown, Brandon Dawley, Nara Van Rossum, Emily Ragazzino, Fiona Smyth, Maurice Vellekoop, Dave Sheppard, Andy-B, Salgood Sam, Tyrone McCarthy, Aaron Leighton, Steve Wilson, Clayton Hanmer (Cton), Michele Laframboise, and (a special treat), the brilliant Jason Shiga of Bookhunter fame. It was a fun convention; good conversation and feedback, and a pleasant atmosphere. Kudos to The Beguiling and Christopher and Peter.
As usual I forgot to take my camera and so have no pictures. But some were taken of me, so I lifted one from The Doodlers'. He's got great pictures of just about everyone who was in the convention.
Oh yes... if you're in Canandaigua, NY, check out Pulp Nouveau, the comic shop. They took a chance on Warlord of Io and ordered it, which quite obviously makes it one of the finer comic shops in NY State.
FREE button with every Warlord of Io comic purchase at TCAF all day Sunday
May 10th, 2009
When you mention this post. And two buttons for moms.
Remember... Comics: The perfect gift for Mother's Day. Along with hand wrenches, power drills, and Xboxes.
But you already new that.
Interview with The National Post
May 6th, 2009
There's a brief interview with me by journalist Mark Medley at the National Post which can be seen here.
Everyone who's showing at TCAF gets quizzed. Check out all the interviews with the hip comic book cats, and thanks to Mr. Medley.
Warlord of Io Chapter Two available now
May 6th, 2009
Right now! And only for 99 cents! Amazing! How is this possible? Through the magic of digital downloads! All you have to do is go to the SLG site and hit that big, beautiful 'buy' button! Give it a try. You won't be sorry. It's the future of comics. Everyone says so.
Instant delivery. No dead trees. Just burned coal. Cool!
Click here for Warlord of Io Issue 1: Chapter Two (In Medias Res).
Can Zing stave off Grymak's coup? Can he and Moxy successfully usher in a new and prosperous age of prosperity, or will they be forced to flee for their very lives? Find out in the excruciatingly exciting Chapter Two: In Medias Res, already in progress!
Alternate Distribution Man is my new hero.
Don't forget to check out the videos on Youtube here.
Reviews pouring in!
May 6th, 2009
Check out what the critics have to say. Head on over to the review section. It'll blow your mind!
The Web is the way
May 1st, 2009
Warlord of Io and Other Stories is in stores, but unfortunately the follow up series, Warlord of Io, didn't make the new, higher Diamond Comics order minimums, and as a result they won't be distributing it.
However, there is a silver lining to be had here (along with the press coverage):
Issue 1 (Called Chapter II: In Medias Res) is now up at SLG comics for digital download! Yes! The three month wait that you'd otherwise have for the next issue has been swept away! You can read the next chapter for 0.99 cents, and the one shot for 1.49. Isn't that amazing? That's 48 pages for under 2 dollars, and 32 pages for 99 cents. How can you pass up a deal like that? I know I couldn't, especially since I wrote the thing.
So don't wait. Pop on over there now and take a gander at the roller coaster excitement that is Issue 1: Chapter Two: In Medias Res!
If your local comic retailer actually carried Warlord of Io and Other Stories, thank them for me (Thank you!)! If they didn't, well, mosey on over to the digital download centre and take a gander at what they passed up.
Click here for Warlord of Io and Other Stories (The Disaffected Menace), and click here for Warlord of Io Issue 1: Chapter Two (In Medias Res).
Hope you enjoy the comic!
The videos posted below are also now up on Youtube (yay!) in slightly larger format, and can be seen here and here.
Warlord of Io will be, hopefully, collected and released as a graphic novel.
Another promo video for Warlord of Io
April 29th, 2009
Check it out:
Warlord of Io promo video hits the netwaves
April 27th, 2009
Check out our exciting video promo for the comic.
Warlord of Io and Other Stories in stores now
April 25th, 2009
Warlord of Io and Other Stories is already in stores, available for purchase from fine comic book shops across the nation. Ask for Warlord of Io by name. If it isn't available in your local area, you can order it direct from the friendly folks at SLG. Make sure your comics have superior firepower: make them SLG!
Warlord of Io available at TCAF
April 24th, 2009
Warlord of Io and Other Stories, otherwise known as Issue 0, or the Prequel, will be available at TCAF, provided the Independent Comic Book Gods are willing. We're starting with the prequel because as everyone knows, all worthwhile sci-fi series have prequels. And they're boring because we already know how it will turn out. So we decided to get the prequel out of the way before the series really starts. It nicely evades the usual prequel drawbacks.
So stop on by our booth at TCAF on May 9th and 10th in Toronto!
Check out TCAF here.
Welcome to Warlord of Io!
April 23rd, 2009
Welcome to the new Warlord of Io website. Here you'll find everything you ever wanted to know about Warlord of Io... and lots more! That's right! Lots and lots of things you didn't want to know. The most popular songs of the year 2409? We have the top 100 list! Useless specs on spaceships that do not yet exist? You bet! Trivia you'll never need? In spades! Entirely useless information that you'll never be able to get out of your brain? Guaranteed!
Browse through the various sections and enjoy your journey into the Pre-Past with Warlord of Io!
Website under construction...
April 10th, 2009
Not all the buttons are working yet. It's in progress. Wheels are turning.


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I would like to welcome guest blogger Patrick St. John. Patrick is an organizer and graphic designer based in Boston, where he works for the Schott Foundation for Public Education. He regularly blogs at ForStudentPower.org, and is currently writing a book on student activism and organizing. The struggle over education reform is happening across the globe, and as Patrick suggests below, we can learn much from the failures and successes of our international counterparts. -- Greg
Hundreds of thousands of students march in Montréal on May 22. Photo courtesy fatseth via Flickr.
Striking university students in Québec are well into their 15th week of continuous protests. Their strike, which began primarily in opposition to student debt and the proposed 75% tuition hike, has since expanded to encompass wider critiques of both the university system itself and larger issues of austerity and neoliberal economic reform.
Québec's hardline conservative premier, Jean Charest, several days ago pushed through a series of draconian anti-free-speech laws aimed at breaking the strike. Penalties run in the tens of thousands of dollars and up to 10 years in jail for those participating in or even promoting unpermitted protest actions; and even for protest marches that have been approved by the police, the sponsoring organization will be held liable for any and all illegal actions taken at or near the march.
In a surprise to absolutely no one but Charest, these laws have not only rekindled student participation in the strike, but sparked an even greater outrage among the general population. This past Tuesday -- the hundredth day of the strike -- an astounding number of students and allies marched in Montreal. Estimates range from 300,000 to 500,000 participants, a historic number even for Québec's activist past. Opinion polls similarly showed a huge 18 point increase in support for students and opposition to the government.
Coop média de Montréal has an excellent run-down of Ten Points Everyone Should Know About the Quebec Student Movement, which gives the best primer I've yet seen on what exactly is happening -- and why. You really need to go read that now. I'll wait.
...Done? Great! Point #3, "The student strike was organized through democratic means and with democratic aims," is something I'd like to develop a bit further here because it's a crucial lesson our neighbors to the north have to teach us.
Student unions exist in almost every industrialized nation in the world (except for the United States, whose students are stuck with poor imitations usually called "student governments"), and they are charged with defending and advancing student interests, both on- and off-campus. Most of Québec's student unions are very different from student unions in the rest of Anglophone Canada: they're directly democratic, in a way anyone familiar with Occupy Wall Street will immediately recognize:
Among the Francophone schools in Quebec, the leaders are not only elected by the students, but decisions are made through general assemblies, debate and discussion, and through the votes of the actual constituents, the members of the student associations, not just the leaders.
This use of direct, deliberative democracy is a key reason why Québécois student strikes are without exception larger, last longer, and are more successful than those elsewhere in Canada. Because strike resolutions (which happen on every university campus, and in individual academic departments as well for larger schools) can only be passed when a majority of students approve:
- Strikes rarely happen without considerable student support;
- Students feel more personally invested in the success of the strike; and
- Strikes hold more legitimacy in the eyes of the officials and the greater public than protests organized by a small group.
But separate from that, and possibly more important, is the transformative and prefigurative nature of the democratic process. Genuine, grassroots, participatory democracy is uniquely potent in wiping away the patina of legitimacy that coats elected politicians and the injunctions they decree. Student assemblies are held every week, and on some campuses every night, to determine local activities and often to decide whether to continue the strike. Many have moved even further than the official demands of the strike and are calling for a more democratically-run university (a truly dangerous demand for those in power).
There are relatively few Anglophone universities in Québec, and for the most part students have more culturally and socially in common with their counterparts in other provinces than the schools down the street from them. However, for the first time in history, the Anglophone student associations at Concordia and McGill have joined the strike, an act arriving on the heels of their recent adoption of democratic decision-making structures (instead of solely elected representatives).
The strike has also spread past what we in the U.S. would think of as the university. Québec's education system has a third institution between high school and university -- the CEGEP, which is a two-year school combining our senior year of high school and our college freshman year. Most CEGEPs and high schools also have student unions, and many of the strike's most dedicated and energetic organizers come from their ranks. Student organizing in Québec offers lessons for American students in every grade.
In the face of increasingly brutal and authoritarian suppression on the part of the government -- to the point of one leading official explicitly endorsing fascist tactics from the 1920s and '30s to harm his fellow citizens -- this Québécois model of student unionism is more important than ever. These hundreds of tiny bastions of direct democracy, like so many seeds strewn on a field, may just yet blossom into a freer, more just, and more democratic Canada. And no matter the outcome of this particular strike, I hope this example inspires us to pick up our own watering cans and start growing democracy here in the United States -- a land not unfamiliar with that particular crop.


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"If giving water to someone dying of thirst is illegal, what humanity is left in the law of this country?" —No More Deaths volunteer Catherine Gaffney
Last month, four volunteers from the humanitarian organization No More Deaths were convicted for leaving jugs of water and cans of food in the Arizona desert for migrants. As reported by The Washington Post and other major news outlets, the aid volunteers were charged with entering a national wildlife refuge without a permit, operating a vehicle in a wilderness area and abandonment of property and face up to six months in prison and a $500 fine.
Under normal circumstances, I'd be glad to see laws against littering and destruction of a protected area being enforced. When Greenpeace, in a self-promotional stunt, trampled all over the ancient Nazca Lines in Peru and gave a 'sorry, not sorry'-style apology, I took note of where the organization's priorities lie. The damage is irreversible. I will forever be angry at those who took advantage of the government shutdown to camp illegally and chop down endangered trees at Joshua Tree National Park. It may take 300 years for the park to recover, and it is infuriating how little value has been placed on preserving our national parks by this administration long before the shutdown occurred.
However, these are not normal circumstances. Human lives are at stake. Possibly 155 migrants have died in this particular area of Arizona desert while trying to flee from the violence that drove them from their homes. We'll never actually know how many people have died while attempting to reach the U.S. border because bodies decompose astonishingly quickly in desert conditions.
What makes this humanitarian crisis worse though is knowing that some Border Patrol agents have deliberately poured out the jugs of water to hasten the deaths of migrants. If I had any say, I'd charge the border agents who were filmed dumping water out onto the ground with attempted murder. The intent to kill is there. If the law doesn't see it that way, I'd want their wives and children see these videos so they know exactly what type of person they are living with—even if, no, especially if, their excuse is "I was just following orders."
Sometimes laws are immoral. Sometimes laws are good, but applied immorally. The latter is happening here. I hope that No More Deaths (nomoredeaths.org) receives support from people outraged by the thought of denying water to those dying of thirst in the desert. The organization has legal fees to pay and will need new volunteers who are willing to face arrest for attempting to save a human life.
Demonized though they may be, migrants traveling through Central America to the United States are human beings and no human being should die of thirst.
—Kimberly Dijkstra
Agree? Disagree? We'd love to hear from you! Send a letter to the editor to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Source: http://hicksvillenews.com/2019/02/06/editorial-hung-out-to-dry/


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Opening Up! Tickets Now on Sale for the National Tour of Sara Bareilles' Waitress—The Musical in Boston
Let's see the next amazing thing baking does now! Tickets are now on sale for the national tour of Waitress in Boston. The blockbuster Broadway musical, featuring a score by Grammy and Tony Award nominee Sara Bareilles ("Love Song," "Brave"), will play the Boston Opera House from February 20 through March 4, 2018.
Inspired by Adrienne Shelly's beloved film, Waitress—The Musical tells the story of Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker who dreams of a way out of her small town and loveless marriage. A baking contest in a nearby county and the town's new doctor may offer her a chance at a fresh start, while her fellow waitresses offer their own recipes for happiness. But Jenna must summon the strength and courage to rebuild her own life.
The cast of Waitress includes Desi Oakley as Jenna, Bryan Fenkart as Dr. Pomatter, Charity Angél Dawson as Becky, Lenne Klingaman as Dawn, Jeremy Morse as Ogie, Nick Bailey as Earl, Ryan G. Dunkin as Cal and Larry Marshall as Old Joe.
Brought to life by a groundbreaking all-female creative team, this hit musical features direction by Tony winner Diane Paulus, original music and lyrics by Bareilles, a book by Jessie Nelson and choreography by Lorin Latarro.
It only takes a taste when you know it's good, so get your tickets to Waitress—The Musical today!


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Old, white, wrinkled and angry, they are slipping from polite society in alarming numbers. We're losing much of a generation. They often sport hats or other clothing, some marking their status as veterans, Tea Partyers or "patriots" of some kind or another. They have yellow flags, bumper stickers and an unquenchable rage. They used to be the brave men and women who took on America's challenges, tackling the '60s, the Cold War and the Reagan years -- but now many are terrified by the idea of slightly more affordable healthcare and a very moderate Democrat in the White House.
We're losing people like my father to the despair of Fox News, and it's all by design.
My dad is 67 years old, a full year younger than the average Fox viewer, who is 68, according to an analysis in New York magazine by columnist Frank Rich. I've read accounts of people my age — 40 or so — losing parents to cancer or Alzheimer's, but just as big a tragedy are the crops of grandmothers and grandfathers debilitated by Fox News-induced hysteria.
I enjoyed Fox News for many years, as a libertarian and frequent Republican voter. I used to share many, though not all, of my father's values, but something happened over the past few years. As I drifted left, the white, Republican right veered into incalculable levels of conservative rage, arriving at their inevitable destination with the creation of the Tea Party movement.
When I finally pulled the handle for Obama in 2012, my father could not believe how far I'd fallen. I have avoided talking politics with him as much as possible ever since. Last week, I invited him to my house for dinner with the express purpose of talking about politics and most especially his Fox News addiction. Since he retired, he only watches Fox. As we started chatting up politics, I repeated one mantra over and over: "Please, please, consume another source of information." I repeated my plea a dozen times. He defended with stridency his choices, citing his favorites, like Stuart Varney, "The Five" and the great Charles Krauthammer. When it came to any other source of information he was emphatic.
"I don't care to see any more of that liberal bullshit," he said in one form or another all night.
We rehashed some issues, starting with his absolute skepticism about global warming and evolution. "Science and religion are the same thing," he said. And, "We didn't come from a fucking monkey," he added like he always does.
In real life Archie Bunker isn't that cute. If he's Archie, that makes me either Meat Head or Sallie Struthers (the very definition of lose-lose).
I'm overeducated in the humanities, so I'm an imperfect ambassador for science. I respect scholarship, peer review and the scientific method. When I tell my dad he should believe the experts in climate science, he gets really mad.
"Global warming is your religion," he says. Because I'm an atheist, calling me religious is the worst insult he can summon, so he uses it often.
My father sincerely believes that science is a political plot, Christians are America's most persecuted minority and Barack Obama is a full-blown communist. He supports the use of force without question, as long as it's aimed at foreigners. He thinks liberals are all stupid, ignorant fucks who hate America.
I don't recall my father being so hostile when I was growing up. He was conservative, to be sure, but conventionally and thoughtfully so. He is a kind and generous man and a good father, but over the past five or 10 years, he's become so conservative that I can't even find a label for it.
What has changed? He consumes a daily diet of nothing except Fox News. He has for a decade or more. He has no email account and doesn't watch sports. He refuses to so much as touch a keyboard and has never been on the Internet, ever. He thinks higher education destroys people, not only because of Fox News, but also because I drifted left during and after graduate school.
I do not blame or condemn my father for his opinions. If you consumed a daily diet of right-wing fury, erroneously labeled "news," you could very likely end up in the same place. Again, this is all by design. Let's call it the Fox News effect. Take sweet, kindly senior citizens and feed them a steady stream of demagoguery and repetition, all wrapped in the laughable slogan of "fair and balanced." Even watching the commercials on Fox, one is treated to sales pitches for gold and emergency food rations, the product cornerstones of the paranoid. To some people the idea of retirees yelling at the television all day may seem funny, but this isn't a joke. We're losing the nation's grandparents, and it's an American tragedy.
People talk about the imminent "death" of Fox News itself, because of an ever-aging demographic. Again, Frank Rich makes this case, but I think his argument is dubious. Certainly the audience is graying to oblivion, but it's a cold comfort to those of us who watch our parents or grandparents drown in an incessant downpour of outrage. We will only see the "End of Fox News" when my father and his contemporaries die. I do not want to watch my father and his entire generation spend their remaining years enraged at utter nonsense.
My cohort, Generation X, is stuck between two generations of suffering Americans. The millennial generation is losing job opportunities and income as the nation stagnates. They put off marriage and buying homes. While white, Fox News-addicted baby boomers have lost their sense of hope. They've been passed over by shifting attitudes about gay marriage, the role of government and a host of issues. They still think of themselves as the "silent majority," when in reality they are a wounded and thrashing legacy of white hegemony. My parents' generation is becoming fragile antiques, relics by choice, reassured by Fox News that they are still the only voice that matters.
I, and people like me, have managed to break the cycle of conservative red-and race-baiting. I've noticed similar attitude shifts among some of my close friends, who have likewise drifted from the televised rage of our fathers. I only wish I could do something to ease the anxiety of those I love, an emotion that is a cash cow for exploitative right-wing commentators. But I have no real solution, other than to turn off the television. Sadly, for some of the nation's elderly, they seem to have no desire whatsoever to rethink the politics of fear and Fox News. It's a criminal waste of retirement.


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Marge Simpson and First Lady Barbara Bush Exchanged Letters in 1990
Marge Simpson thought it was unfair when Barbara Bush labeled 'The Simpsons' "the dumbest thing I had ever seen" during an interview the then-First Lady did in 1990.
So Marge wrote Barbara a letter in which she explained that she was "deeply hurt" by the criticism, and that she wasn't sure why Bush hadn't given her family "the benefit of the doubt."
Marge's letter ended up convincing Mrs. Bush to reconsider her stance, and she wrote Marge back asking her forgiveness for her loose tongue. The Washington Post got hold of the transcripts of both letters — read the unlikely pen pals' correspondence below:
Marge's letter:
September 28, 1990
Mrs. Barbara Bush
The First Lady
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C.Dear First Lady:
I recently read your criticism of my family. I was deeply hurt. Heaven knows we're far from perfect and, if truth be known, maybe just a wee bit short of normal; but as Dr. Seuss says, "a person is a person".
I try to teach my children Bart, Lisa, and even little Maggie, always to give somebody the benefit of the doubt and not talk badly about them, even if they're rich. It's hard to get them to understand this advice when the very First Lady in the country calls us not only dumb, but "the dumbest thing" she ever saw. Ma'am, if we're the dumbest thing you ever saw, Washington must be a good deal different than what they teach me at the current events group at the church.
I always believed in my heart that we had a great deal in common. Each of us living our lives to serve an exceptional man. I hope there is some way out of this controversy. I thought, perhaps, it would be a good start to just speak my mind.
With great respect,
Marge Simpson
Barbara Bush's response:
Dear Marge,
How kind of you to write. I'm glad you spoke your mind; I foolishly didn't know you had one.
I am looking at a picture of you, depicted on a plastic cup, with your blue hair filled with pink birds peeking out all over. Evidently, you and your charming family — Lisa, Homer, Bart and Maggie — are camping out. It is a nice family scene. Clearly you are setting a good example for the rest of the country.
Please forgive a loose tongue.
Barbara Bush
P.S. Homer looks like a handsome fella!


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Disruptions to U.S. exports of maize (corn) could pose food security risks for many U.S. trade partners due to the lack of trade among other producing and importing nations, says a Michigan State University study.
The study, featured in the journal Risk Analysis, didn't primarily focus on plant disease, population growth, climate change or the diversion of corn to nonfood uses such as ethanol. It suggests, however, that significant stresses in these areas could jeopardize food security.
This is particularly true in nations like Mexico, Japan and South Korea that have yet to diversify their sources, said Felicia Wu, MSU Hannah Distinguished Professor of Food Science and Human Nutrition, and the study's lead author.
"Disruptions in any one major exporter's supplies could lead to price shocks," she said. "The significance of maize means that it would become a critical food security risk if major exporters experience disruptions due to nonfood diversions, plant diseases and climate impacts."
Maize is at the center of global food security as growing demands for meat, fuel uses and cereal crop demands increase the grain's pivotal importance in diets worldwide. Wu and her co-investigator, Hasan Guclu with the University of Pittsburgh, developed network models, essentially food trade maps, to track maize trade.
Statistics on maize trade between 217 nations showed that the U.S. is by far the largest exporter, shipping four times as much maize as Argentina, the next largest exporter. The study revealed segregation among clusters of nations, with three prominent groups representing Europe, Brazil and Argentina, and the U.S.
Clustering patterns also revealed that nations generally don't trade broadly worldwide. Those countries that import maize primarily from only one other nation may be vulnerable to any changes in their exporters' ability to produce and ship maize.
"These statistics show that the vast majority of nations are exporting to or importing from only one or a small number of nations," Wu said.
Japan is the largest importer by far, while other nations such as Taiwan and Egypt have more broadly diversified their sources of maize, thereby reducing their vulnerability to export disruptions, she added.
The study suggests that the largest maize producers may be wise to consider potential solutions to combat impacts of climate change on maize production for the purpose of maintaining supplies. Other cereal grains or legumes could fill gaps, softening the impacts of maize production and trade disruptions if the maize supply were to change.
The research was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health.


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BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo finally made his mark at the World Cup — but it came too late to spare Portugal an early exit from Brazil.
The world player of the year broke his scoring drought at the tournament with an 80th-minute winner against Ghana.
That result left the Portuguese level on four points with United States in Group G but with an inferior goal difference to the second-place Americans, who lost 1-0 to Germany in Recife. Ghana also was eliminated, finishing bottom of the group.
"We knew we had to score three goals and were depending on the result of the Germany game and we couldn't do that," Ronaldo said.
Ronaldo barely celebrated after slamming home his goal, giving Portugal its first win after a 4-0 loss to Germany and 2-2 draw with the U.S.
Ghana captain Asamaoh Gyan's 57th-minute header canceled out an own goal scored by teammate John Boye in the 31st, and at that stage it was the African side that was closer to qualifying.
Algeria 1, Russia 1
CURITIBA, Brazil (AP) — Algeria qualified for the World Cup knockout stages for the first time, with Islam Slimani's heading in an equalizer in the 60th minute to give his team enough competition points to reach the second round.
Algeria placed second in Group H behind Belgium with four points, meaning it will meet Germany in the Round of 16.
The victory prompted mass celebrations on the pitch among the players, and had coach Vahid Halilhodzic shaking his head with disbelief.
Russia, needing a win to advance, went on the attack from the start and dominated the first half with its intricate and swift passing movements through midfield. The Russians took the lead as early as the 6th minute when Alexander Kokorin powerfully headed in a left-foot cross from Dmitry Kombarov.
Slimani's equalizer came after Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev failed to catch a swinging left-foot free kick from Yacine Brahimi. That was the second costly error that Akinfeev has made in the tournament for Russia.
However, there were indications on the TV broadcast that a green laser was being shone toward the goalkeeper just before the free kick was taken.
Russia coach Fabio Capello later said his goalkeeper was "blinded by the laser beam."
Before Algeria's equalizer, Russia had chances to double its lead, notably in the 26th minute when Oleg Shatov weaved through the Algeria midfield but his right-foot shot drifted wide of the Algeria post.
Algeria came closest to qualifying for the second stage at the World Cup in 1982, but West Germany and Austria played out a result that suited both of those teams. The European teams, meeting a day after Algeria had won its last group game, knew that a 1-0 win for West Germany would put both through to the second round at Algeria's expense.
Belgium 1,
South Korea 0
SAO PAULO (AP) — Reduced to 10 men for more than half the match, Belgium still edged South Korea to finish on top of Group H and eliminate the last Asian team from the World Cup.
With a late goal yet again, Belgium made the difference in the 78th minute when defender Jan Vertonghen followed up a shot from teenage striker Divock Origi and tapped in the rebound.
"We knew all games were going to be tough," said Belgium coach Marc Wilmots. "But even with 10 men, we still pushed forward. These guys are really hungry."
After three narrow victories and precious little beautiful play, Belgium will now play the United States in Salvador on Tuesday.
Portugal is eliminated despite win over Ghana


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1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup dark or regular cocoa powder
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 cup dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted (I used Hershey's Dark)
1 1/3 cups whole milk
1/4 cup unsalted butter
2/3 cup heavy cream
2 cups dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups finely chopped pecans, toasted, plus additional whole pecans for decorating
1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips (optional)
Caramel sauce
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour 2 (9-inch) cake pans.
In a medium sized mixing bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.
In a large mixing bowl, using a mixer on medium speed, beat 3/4 cup butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla, until creamy, about 2 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until well combined. Beat in 1 cup melted chocolate chips until combined. Reduce mixer speed to low and beat in flour mixture, alternating with milk, until well combined, about 2-3 minutes.
Evenly scrape batter into prepared cake pans and smooth the surface with a spatula. Bake at 350 degrees F, for 35-40 minutes, or until cake edges pull away from the pan, and a toothpick inserted into cake comes out with moist crumbs attached. Cool for 12 minutes before running a knife around edges and inverting onto wire racks to cool completely.
To make the ganache, melt 1/4 cup butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in heavy cream and bring to a boil; turn heat off and stir in 2 cups chocolate chips until melted and smooth.
Spread ganache evenly onto first layer of cake and top with about 1/3 of the pecans. Place second cake layer on top. Spread the rest of the ganache over cake top and sides. Sprinkle and top with remaining pecans. Decorate the top with whole pecans. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips over the top, and drizzle caramel everywhere.
Makes 8-10 servings


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by Shakti Gawain: Here are some techniques that can be very effective for healing ourselves and others.Healing Ourselves
This meditation can help us discover an underlying cause for an ailment and/or begin to release and heal it.
Sit or lie down, breathe, and relax deeply. Starting with your toes, feet, legs, pelvis, and so on, put your attention on each part of your body in turn and tell it to relax and let go of any tension. Feel all tension dissolving and draining away.
If you wish to, do the meditation on opening the energy centers in order to get your energy really flowing.
Now imagine golden, healing light energy all around your body. . . feel it. . . sense it. . . enjoy it.
If there is a particular part of your body that has been ill or is in pain, ask that part of you whether it has a message for you. Ask whether there is something you need to understand or to do, right at this moment or in your life in general. Remain quiet for a few minutes and notice if any words, images, or feelings come to you in response to these questions.
If you get an answer, do your best to understand and follow it. If you don't get an answer, just continue with the process. The answer may come to you later, perhaps in a different form than you expect.
Now send special loving, healing energy to that part of you, and any part of you that needs it, and see or feel it being healed. You may want to have your guide, or any master or healer, there to help you do the healing.
Picture the problem dissolving and flowing energy away, or whatever image works for you.
Now imagine yourself in natural, perfect health. Think of yourself in different situations feeling well, active, and healthy. Imagine nurturing and caring for yourself so you stay healthy.
I am loving and healing myself on all levels-spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical.
I can get my needs met without getting sick.
I am learning to take good care of myself.
I love and accept my body completely.
I am good to my body, and my body is good to me.
I deserve to be healthy and feel good.
I have now released all patterns of illness. I'm free and healthy!
My body is balanced, in perfect harmony with the earth and the universe.
I am energetic and full of vitality.
I give thanks for ever-increasing health, beauty, and vitality.
It's natural to feel good.
From now on, each time you do this meditation, picture yourself in perfect health, with golden healing light around you.
Healing Meditations
This meditation is to be done alone, not in the other person's presence, unless that person has requested this type of healing from you. You may or may not wish to tell the other person that you are doing healing meditations for them, depending on how well the person would accept that idea on a personality level.
Relax deeply and do whatever type of preparation you wish in order to enter a deep, quiet state of mind.
Think of yourself as a clear channel through which the healing energy of the universe is pouring. This energy does not come from you personally, it comes from a higher source, and you serve to focus and direct it.
Now picture or think of the person as clearly as you can. Ask him if there is anything in particular he would like you to do for him in your meditation. If so, do it to the best of your ability, if it feels right to you.


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for Windows and Linux
for macOS
A scope is a set of files to which various operations apply. Using this dialog, you can define scopes for the various IntelliJ IDEA actions, for example, Find Usages, or Code Inspections.
In this section:
Main toolbar
Item | Tooltip | Description |
Add scope Insert | Click this button to add a new local or shared scope. | |
Delete Delete | Click this button to delete the selected scope from the list. | |
Copy configuration Ctrl+D | Click this button to create a copy of the selected scope. | |
Save as | Click this button to have the selected local scope saved as shared or a selected shared scope as local. | |
Move Up/Move Down | Use these buttons to move the scopes up and down in the list. If some file is included into several scopes, the order of the scopes becomes important: IntelliJ IDEA uses the color of the uppermost scope (shown in the Scopes settings page) to highlight such file. Of course, you can change the order of the scopes, and thus the resulted highlighting. . |
Scope configuration controls
Item | Description |
Name | In this text box, specify the scope name. |
Pattern | In this text box, specify the pattern that defines the current scope. The following elements and structures can be used:
For more information, see Scope Language Syntax Reference. Do one of the following:
Include | Click this button to have the selected element included in the scope. The corresponding expression is automatically generated and added to the expression in the Pattern text box. |
Include Recursively | Click this button to have the selected folder included in the scope, together with the nested subfolders. The corresponding expression is automatically generated and added to the expression in the Pattern text box. |
Exclude | Click this button to have the selected element excluded from the scope. The corresponding expression is automatically added to the Pattern. If the current element is a folder, the nested subfolders are ignored. |
Exclude Recursively | Click this button to have the selected folder excluded from the scope, together with the nested subfolders. The corresponding expression is automatically added to the Pattern field. |
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The so-called Gap Theory proposed early in the 1800's, but which became popular around the turn of the century, has very few scholarly advocates these days. However, many Christians do still hold to it, mostly by tradition, having never examined it closely. There have always been many scientific and theological problems with the idea of a long gap of time between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2, but perhaps the "death" of the Gap Theory came with the 1978 publication of Dr. Weston W. Fields' fine book, Unformed and Unfilled. In it, Fields specified the many Biblical problems inherent in the concept, and with only a few exceptions, Bible scholars have now abandoned it. Some of his main arguments are briefly summarized below.
Gap advocates hold that only the surface of the earth was "created" during the six-day series of events detailed in Genesis 1:2 through 2:25. This creation followed a global holocaust brought on by the fall of Satan, which destroyed a supposed pre-Adamic world. But the all-summary statements of Genesis 2:1-3 and Exodus 20:11, and elsewhere, argue otherwise; "the heavens and the earth . . . all the host of them . . . all that is in them . . . all His work which God created and made," seem better to refer to all of creation, not just the earth's surface.
Some have claimed that in Exodus 20:11 the verb "to make" is used instead of "to create," and, that, therefore, the summation is referring only to the earth's surface, leaving the rock strata and the earth's interior untouched. But in reality, while there is an important distinction between the words in Genesis 1, both are used in Genesis 2:2,3 and Nehemiah 9:6 to refer to all of creation; and are even used in synonymous parallelism in Genesis 2:4, Exodus 34:10, Isaiah 41:20, and Isaiah 43:7.
Another often-repeated claim is that Genesis 1:2 should read, "the earth became without form and void," as opposed to the traditional understanding that when God first created the earth in verse 3, it "was without form (i.e., not yet in completed form) and void (i.e., not yet inhabited)." The verb's normal meaning, however, is simply "was," and while it may be translated "become," the context does not warrant it, and all accepted versions of the Bible use "was."
Each verse in Genesis 1, except verse 1, begins with the conjunction "and," thereby connecting each verse sequentially to those before and after. There is no hint of the passing of millions or billions of years of time between verses 1 and 2.
Gap advocates frequently turn to other portions of Scripture for support, particularly those which use the words "without form" and "void" (Jeremiah 4:23, Isaiah 24:1, and 45:18 are most important). In each case, the prophet refers to a wasted state due to the judgment of sin, thereby implying that Genesis 1:2 likewise implies a condition brought about by judgment. But in each case, the context regards the land of Israel not the original earth. There is no justification for postulating long ages present in a supposed gap in Genesis.
The Gap Theory, as with all efforts to harmonize Genesis with the geologic ages, faces insurmountable problems on several fronts. How much better to take God at His Word and simply believe what He says.
* Dr. John Morris is the President of the Institute for Creation Research.
Cite this article: Morris, J. 1990. Does Scripture Allow a Gap? Acts & Facts. 19 (2).


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'Anchorman: The Legend Continues' is Due Out in One Year
Though they're still working on script, and should start filming shortly - even after releasing a teaser this summer - we only have a small inkling of what's in store for us when 'Anchorman: The Legend Continues' hits theaters next year. But now the picture has a release date, and it means only one thing: Will Ferrell is gunning for an Oscar.
'Anchorman: The Legend Continues' is now set to open on December 20, which means it's opening in the Oscar sweet spot as it will have a qualifying run for the 2014 ceremonies. Sure, this year's same week is seeing pictures like 'The Guilt Trip' and 'Jack Reacher' hit screens, but this weekend is also launching 'This is 40,' 'Amour,' 'Zero Dark Thirty' and 'The Impossible,' all of which either are gunning for awards, or at one time had hopes of getting them (looking at you, 'This is 40').
What we do know is that the film will likely co-star Oscar nominee Kristen Wiig alongside the returning cast, and that there will be musical numbers of some kind or another -- just like this year's like Oscar hopeful 'Les Miserables.' Though the Academy has never given an out and out comedy the best picture trophy, perhaps 'Anchorman: The Legend Continues' will change their minds. Or maybe it's just a good release date for a comedy. Either or.


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Alex Rodriguez has been suspended for the entire 2014 season by arbitrator Fredric Horowitz, who reduced the New York Yankees third baseman's ban from 211 games to 162 for his involvement in Major League Baseball's Biogenesis scandal.
The suspension also includes all potential playoff games in 2014.
As expected, Rodriguez said he will contest Saturday's ruling in federal court.
The decision will relieve the Yankees of about $24 million in luxury-tax savings based on A-Rod's 2014 salary; the team still owes him about $61 million for 2015-17.
Horowitz's ruling upholds a good portion of the original 211-game suspension levied by MLB, which banned Rodriguez in August after concluding its investigation. Rodriguez continued playing after appealing.
Twelve other players were suspended as a result of the investigation, although none for longer than the 65 games given to Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun. The other players were suspended 50 games, the punishment for first-time drug offenders stipulated by baseball's collective bargaining agreement.
According to spokesman Ron Berkowitz, A-Rod plans on attending spring training, and will be allowed to participate due to a loophole in the suspension. Rodriguez's side argues that if he is able to receive an injunction to stop the suspension, he will able to play and thus should prepare for the season.
The Yankees could tell him not to come to Tampa, Fla. Last spring training, Rodriguez was not with his teammates at all as he rehabbed from hip surgery.
While the decision is a reduction of the punishment baseball sought, it still could mean the end of Rodriguez's playing career.
He will turn 39 in July and, coming off two hip surgeries and a 2013 season in which he played just 44 games, may not be able to return after sitting out an entire season.
Rodriguez will go off the Yankees' 40-man roster and onto a restricted list. The team will be able to fill the roster spot.
The Yankees will get a season's worth of salary relief against the luxury tax -- or, based on the 162-game, 183-day season, about $24.1 million.
Rodriguez is set to make salaries of $21 million, $20 million and $20 million over the three remaining seasons. For luxury-tax purposes, teams are charged prorated portions of the deal annually -- so Rodriguez's luxury-tax figure was one-tenth of $275 million, or $27.5 million. But the suspension is for 162 games, not the full 183 days, so the Yankees will be charged the prorated portion of $27.5 million.
The suspension is the culmination of a nearly yearlong process dating to a story in the Miami New Times last January that revealed the names of Rodriguez and others in the records of Biogenesis, a now-shuttered Coral Gables anti-aging clinic suspected of being a source of performance-enhancing drugs for MLB players and other athletes.
The testimony of Anthony Bosch, the clinic's proprietor, was a key element in baseball's case against Rodriguez, as were copies of the records, which baseball paid in excess of $125,000 to obtain.
Bosch is to appear Sunday on the "60 Minutes'' television program along with MLB chief operating officer Rob Manfred. In an interview with "CBS Evening News" on Saturday, Scott Pelley of "60 Minutes'' said Bosch told him he administered six banned substances to Rodriguez, including "testosterone, insulin growth factor 1, human growth hormone and some different forms of peptides."
Bosch also said during the interview that "Alex is scared of needles so at times he would ask me to inject [him personally]."
Rodriguez's spokesman issued a statement before the decision was officially announced, calling the suspension "inconsistent" and based on "false and wholly unreliable testimony."
"The number of games sadly comes as no surprise, as the deck has been stacked against me from day one," Rodriguez said in the statement. "This is one man's decision, that was not put before a fair and impartial jury, does not involve me having failed a single drug test, is at odds with the facts and is inconsistent with the terms of the Joint Drug Agreement and the Basic Agreement, and relies on testimony and documents that would never have been allowed in any court in the United States because they are false and wholly unreliable.
"This injustice is MLB's first step toward abolishing guaranteed contracts in the 2016 bargaining round, instituting lifetime bans for single violations of drug policy, and further insulating its corrupt investigative program from any variety defense by accused players, or any variety of objective review."
MLB defended the length of the original suspension in a news release.
"For more than five decades, the arbitration process under the Basic Agreement has been a fair and effective mechanism for resolving disputes and protecting player rights," MLB said in the statement. "While we believe the original 211-game suspension was appropriate, we respect the decision rendered by the Panel and will focus on our continuing efforts on eliminating performance-enhancing substances from our game."
In a separate statement, the Yankees said they "respect Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, the arbitration process, as well as the decision released today by the arbitration panel."
A spokeswoman for Bosch said he thought the suspension was deserved.
"Tony Bosch doesn't take joy in seeing Alex Rodriguez suspended from baseball, but he believes the arbitrator's decision was appropriate," Joyce Fitzpatrick said in a statement. "He is glad to have the arbitration behind him and believes he can play a valuable role in the future by educating athletes about the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs."
Rodriguez reiterated his claim that he has not taken any PEDs in his time with the Yankees. The three-time American League MVP was the biggest name linked last year to Biogenesis.
"I have been clear that I did not use performance enhancing substances as alleged in the notice of discipline, or violate the Basic Agreement or the Joint Drug Agreement in any manner, and in order to prove it I will take this fight to federal court," Rodriguez said in his statement. "I am confident that when a Federal Judge reviews the entirety of the record, the hearsay testimony of a criminal whose own records demonstrate that he dealt drugs to minors, and the lack of credible evidence put forth by MLB, that the judge will find that the panel blatantly disregarded the law and facts, and will overturn the suspension.
"No player should have to go through what I have been dealing with, and I am exhausting all options to ensure not only that I get justice, but that players' contracts and rights are protected through the next round of bargaining, and that the MLB investigation and arbitration process cannot be used against others in the future the way it is currently being used to unjustly punish me.
"I will continue to work hard to get back on the field and help the Yankees achieve the ultimate goal of winning another championship. I want to sincerely thank my family, all of my friends, and of course the fans and many of my fellow MLB players for the incredible support I received throughout this entire ordeal."
Information from ESPNNewYork.com's Andrew Marchand, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney and The Associated Press was used in this report.


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Photos of the 2009 Amarnath Yatra - Pilgrimage to Amarnath Cave - Himalaya mountains - Kashmir.
The Amarnath cave (Hindi: अमरनाथ गुफा, Urdu: امرناتھ گُپھا) is one of the most famous shrine in Hinduism, dedicated to the god Shiva, and located in Indian-administered Kashmir. The shrine is claimed to be over 5,000 years old and forms an important part of ancient Hindu mythology.
Every year, about 10 lakh devotees (that means 100,000 people) visit the Amarnath cave shrine. In 2020 the pilgrimage was cancelled due to the Coronavirus epidemics. This is the second year in a row that the pilgrimage would not be carried out. In 2019, the holy expedition was cancelled on account of security concerns and in light of intelligence inputs stating terror threats targeted at the Amarnath Yatra pilgrims.
Inside the Amarnath cave lies an ice stalagmite resembling a Shiva Linga, which waxes during May to August and gradually wanes thereafter. This lingam is said to grow and shrink with the phases of the moon, reaching its height during the summer festival.
Reaching the Amarnath cave is not an easy trek due to the (possibly) difficult weather conditions and the steep climb up along the Himalayas. Porters, Ponies and Dholis / Dandis (Chairs carried by 4 porters) are available along the route.
There are several routes to reach the cave, starting from different villages. The trail from Baltal is about 12 Km (that's the one i took), and the more traditional trail from Pahalgam is about 42 Km long and takes several days each way.
With the Baltal trail, the elevation gain is about 1,200 m (4,000 ft). the trail climbs from 3,000 m (10,000 ft) to about 4,200 m (14,000 ft) in only 5 Km (3 miles), which is a pretty steep climb.
Note that the Baltal trailhead closes at 8am every morning, and soldiers are unlikely to let you go up after that time. That's because Indian pilgrims often take the entire day to reach the cave, and the military do not want people stranded on the trail at night.
I went up one day (5-hour strenuous hike from Baltal), spent one night in a local tent near the cave, and went down back to Baltal the next day. It is possible to go up and down in one day (10-hour stenuous walk), but i would not recommend it. The trail is very dusty up to the midway camp, because it is shared by ponies, so many people wear face mask to breath a bit less dust.
At one point the Baltal trail has a fork (after the midway camp). People traveling by foot usually take the left fork, which is much shorter (but narrower, steeper and more slippery) and does not have ponies (no dust!).
A sleeping space in a shared tent near the cave is 100 roupies (in 2009), and includes a warm comforter, but even with that, is it very cold at night, with sub-freezing temperatures.
Drinking water is available from several streams on the trail, so no need to carry more than a 1-litter bottle. Langar (community kitchen) manned by Sikh people offer free vegetarian food and free Chai (tea) to all pilgrims.
The line to visit the cave and see the ice blob (Shiva Linga) can be several hours long, and the cave closes at sunset.
Security at the cave is now very high (multiple body searches and metal detectors), and they do not allow any camera or cellphone in the cave, so it is currently impossible to take photos of the holy ice stalagmite (Shiva lingam). But you can see many older photos of the Amarnath Shiva Lingam on the web.
Because I had expensive camera equipment that I did not want to leave behind, I had to negotiate with the military commander, and they finally allowed me to keep the camera in the cave after I left them the batteries.
For more information about this place, visit the websites:


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Lakers owner Jerry Buss dies at 80
Jerry Buss, the longtime owner of the Lakers whose penchant for showmanship helped turn the game of basketball into "Showtime" and who led the team to 10 NBA championships, died Monday. He was 80.
A self-made millionaire who built his fortune in real estate, Buss bought the Lakers in 1979. He charted his successful course with marquee players Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, Hall of Fame coaches Pat Riley and Phil Jackson, celebrities sitting courtside and Laker Girls dancing during timeouts.
"I really tried to create a Laker image, a distinct identity," Buss said. "I mean, the Lakers are pretty damn Hollywood."
PHOTOS: Jerry Buss through the years
It was a remarkable winning streak for a man who dug his way out of a hardscrabble youth.
A Depression-era baby, Jerry Hatten Buss was born Jan. 27, 1933, in Salt Lake City. His parents divorced when he was an infant.
His mother struggled to make ends meet as a waitress in tiny Evanston, Wyo., and Buss remembered standing in food lines in the bitter cold.
Later, Buss earned a science scholarship to the University of Wyoming. At 19 he married a coed named JoAnn Mueller, and they would eventually have four children: John, Jim, Jeanie and Janie.
By the mid-1950s, the couple had moved to Southern California, where Buss earned a doctorate in chemistry at USC. He worked briefly in the aerospace industry, and in the late 1950s, he and a colleague, Frank Mariani, tried their hand at real estate.
They scraped together a few thousand dollars to buy a 14-unit apartment house in West Los Angeles and, to save money, did all the repairs themselves. Their real estate company kept growing as they invested in residential properties, hotels and office buildings.
In 1979, Buss and his partners bought the Lakers (along with the Forum in Inglewood), the NHL's Kings and a 13,000-acre ranch in Kern County for $67 million from Jack Kent Cooke.
At the time, the NBA had fallen by the wayside and several teams stood on the brink of bankruptcy.
But to Buss, the Lakers looked like a gem in the coal bin. They had a dominant center in Abdul-Jabbar, and the team picked the effervescent Johnson out of Michigan State in the 1979 NBA draft.
Success came quickly. With former Lakers star Jerry West maturing into one of the most gifted general managers in the league, the team won an NBA championship in Buss' first season. Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Cooper guided the Lakers to five titles.
The Lakers' next title era came with O'Neal; the precocious Bryant, whom they traded for after he was drafted out of high school; and Jackson as coach. The Lakers won three consecutive championships from 2000 through 2002.
The team then flamed out in the 2004 NBA Finals against the Detroit Pistons and traded O'Neal to the Miami Heat. At the same time, Jackson walked away.
After a few more disappointing seasons, Bryant demanded a trade, but Buss stood firm.
The Lakers, with Jackson back as coach and with Pau Gasol added to the team, defeated Orlando for the 2008-09 title. The following season, they beat Boston for another championship. It was their 10th and final title under Buss.
"Jerry Buss helped set the league on the course it is on today," NBA Commissioner David Stern said. "Remember, he showed us it was about 'Showtime,' the notion that an arena can become the focal point for not just basketball, but entertainment. He made it the place to see and be seen."
Former Times staff writer Mark Heisler contributed to this report.
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Odds & Ends: Lauren Yee's Cambodian Rock Band to Tour & More
Here's a quick roundup of stories you might have missed recently.
Lauren Yee's Cambodian Rock Band to Tour
Cambodian Rock Band, Lauren Yee's musical that extended twice at off-Broadway's Signature Theatre, has announced a national touring production. The North American tour will be presented by Broadway & Beyond Theatricals during the 2021-2022 season, and will play Berkeley Repertory Theatre and other stops to be announced. Featuring songs by L.A. band Dengue Fever with direction by Chay Yew, Cambodian Rock Band will announce casting at a later date.
John J. Caswell Jr. Receives Paula Vogel Playwriting Award
John J. Caswell Jr. has been named the recipient of the 2020–2021 Paula Vogel Playwriting Award, which is given annually to an emerging writer of exceptional promise and comes with a cash prize and artistic development support. He will be presented at The Vineyard's re-imagined Emerging Artists Virtual Salon October 21 at 5 PM ET via Zoom. Caswell Jr. is the 13th recipient of Vineyard Theatre's award, named in honor of playwright and teacher Vogel, whose plays Indecent, the Pulitzer Prize-winning How I Learned to Drive and The Long Christmas Ride Home premiered at the off-Broadway company. Following the award presentation, 2019 Paula Vogel Award recipient Charly Evon Simpson will sit down with Caswell Jr. for a virtual Q&A. Tickets to the event are available here.
New Victory Theater Building to Remain Closed Through Spring of 2021
Russell Granet, President & CEO of New 42nd Street, has announced that the New Victory Theater building will remain closed through the spring of 2021. While the building itself is closed, it has announced two virtual programs; New Victory Dance and New Victory Arts Break. Learn more about how to get involved here.


text: On a visit to Professor Oak's house, Ash runs into Gary where they talk about the upcoming Pokémon League. Professor Oak explains that instead of being so competitive with each other they should try and learn from each other. When Team Rocket busts into the lab and tries to steal all the Pokémon everyone learns a lesson about teamwork.


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In damning transcript, ex-CIA official says Cheney likely ordered letter linking Hussein to 9/11 attacks
A forged letter linking Saddam Hussein to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks was ordered on White House stationery and probably came from the office of Vice President Dick Cheney, according to a new transcript of a conversation with the Central Intelligence Agency's former Deputy Chief of Clandestine Operations Robert Richer.
On Tuesday, the White House released a statement on Richer's behalf. In it, Richer declared, "I never received direction from George Tenet or anyone else in my chain of command to fabricate a document ... as outlined in Mr. Suskind's book."
The denial, however, directly contradicts Richer's own remarks in the transcript.
"Now this is from the Vice President's Office is how you remembered it--not from the president?" Suskind asked.
"No, no, no," Richer replied, according to the transcript. "What I remember is George [Tenet] saying, 'we got this from'--basically, from what George said was 'downtown.'"
"Which is the White House?" Suskind asked.
"Yes," Richer said. "But he did not--in my memory--never said president, vice president, or NSC. Okay? But now--he may have hinted--just by the way he said it, it would have--cause almost all that stuff came from one place only: Scooter Libby and the shop around the vice president."
"But he didn't say that specifically," Richer added. "I would naturally--I would probably stand on my, basically, my reputation and say it came from the vice president."