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Eye-tracking technology is on the rise and creating a lot of buzz in the UX community. But unless you happen to be a robotic or optical engineer who understands the physics and optics of eye-tracking instruments, it can be hard to know which products offer the best value. Manufacturer specifications don't always capture the whole performance picture, so it's best to test drive alternative systems to see which one is really best for your application.
This article explores the fundamental characteristics of today's trackers and provides some tips to help you evaluate which eye tracker is best for you. The issue of pricing isn't addressed here due to the variability of the individual products and solutions presented, but will of course be a factor as you make any decisions surrounding eye-tracking systems.
An eye tracker's capabilities have a lot to do with what's under the hood. First, there has to be good video camera hardware to capture high-quality images of the user's eyes. There is also image-processing software that analyzes the video images. These image-processing algorithms play an especially critical role in interpreting the wide range of eye images the eyetracker will encounter. The algorithms find the eyes in the images, do their best not to get confused by all the other non-eye objects in the images, measure critical eye features such as the pupil center and corneal reflection, calculate the position and orientation of the eyes in space, and finally project the eyes' gaze lines to their "gaze points" within the scene being viewed, typically on a computer screen.
There are several key performance factors for evaluating eye trackers:
- Gaze-point tracking accuracy
- Tolerance to head motion
- Accommodation of typical variations in the human eye
- Ease of calibration
- Tolerance to ambient infrared light
- Sampling speed
- Robustness of gaze path analysis tools
Gaze-Point Tracking Accuracy
In the UX world, the most basic output from an eye tracker is its measurement of the user's gaze point, i.e., the point in the user's viewing scene where he is looking. On a computer monitor, the gaze point is a 2-dimensional coordinate on the screen surface. In 3D environments, the gaze point is a 3-dimensional coordinate within the scene. 3D gazepoint measurement requires tracking both eyes (binocular eyetracking) to compute where the gaze lines of the two eyes converge.
Because the fundamental output from an eye tracker is the location of the user's gaze point, the most important performance metric for a device is the accuracy of its gaze-point measurement. Since the eyes move their gaze by rotating, eye-tracking accuracy is often measured in terms of angular error. Good eye trackers typically have average errors of 0.5 degrees or less. At a viewing distance of about two feet, a 0.5-degree measurement error translates to about 0.21 inches at the scene. And given that tracking errors can be positive or negative, an eye tracker with an 0.5-degree average error can reasonably resolve what a person is looking at if the objects or icons in the scene are a half inch in diameter or larger. In this day and age where crowded screens are common and objects are small, high eye-tracking accuracy is often critical for good results.
There are a couple of good ways to evaluate an eye tracker's accuracy. First, ask the manufacturer for a program that displays the predicted gaze point in real time, and see how well the predicted point matches your real gaze point as you look around the screen. Secondly, run a program that collects the sequence of gaze points of a user looking around an image, and then play the gaze trace back after the run. Again, see how well the measured gaze points match what the user actually looked at.
Unconstrained Head Movement
It is vital that an eye tracker continues to track the user's gaze accurately as she moves naturally. Unfortunately, in eye-tracker design there is often a direct tradeoff between accuracy and freedom of head movement. If you want high accuracy, head motion is limited. If you want more freedom of head motion, you give up accuracy.
To achieve high gaze-point measurement accuracy, the eye-tracker camera has to provide a relatively high-resolution image of the eye—at least ten camera pixels per millimeter at the eye. If the camera sensor is 1000 pixels wide, the total camera field of view is only 100 millimeters, or about four inches. Since people's eyes are about 2 ¼ inches apart, the user cannot move his head over a range of more than an inch and a half before one of the eyes moves out of the camera's field of view.
In modern eye-tracking technology, there are several approaches to providing larger "head boxes" while maintaining good eye-tracking accuracy. One method is to use higher-resolution cameras with increased numbers of pixels in the image sensor. However, with today's camera technology, increased sensor resolution means smaller pixels and less light per pixel, resulting in grainier images that reduce gaze-point tracking accuracy.
Another method for increasing head freedom is to use multiple cameras and to orient the various cameras so their respective fields of view are stacked side by side. Unfortunately, each doubling of the desired head-box volume requires a doubling of the number of cameras, so the number of cameras can increase rapidly if large head volumes are required. Large head box requirements may result in complicated camera configurations.
Finally, it is possible to increase head volume by up to 100 times while maintaining high accuracy by placing the eye tracking cameras on motorized gimbals that keep the camera pointed at and focused on the user's eyes as he moves his head around. The camera uses a telephoto lens to obtain a high-resolution image of the eyes, and just like eyeballs, it rotates and focuses the camera to keep the user's eyes in the small, high-resolution field of view. When the telephoto eye-tracking cameras are not pointed at the eyes, separate, low-resolution, wide-field cameras may be used to detect the user's face and point the eye tracking cameras at the user's eyes. Thus, motorized cameras permit very large freedom of head movement while simultaneously achieving high gaze-point tracking accuracy.
When evaluating alternative eye trackers for your needs, carefully consider the tradeoff between gaze-point tracking accuracy and freedom of head movement. See if the accuracy holds as the users move around freely.
Accommodating Typical Variations in the Human Eye
To produce consistent, accurate, and reliable gaze-point measurements, an eye tracker's image-processing algorithms must accommodate wide variation in the characteristics that naturally occur in different people's eye images. The algorithms must accommodate variables like eye color, pupil dilation, pupil drift, eyelid occlusion of the pupil, contacts/glasses, varying lighting conditions, and varying head position and orientation.
No eye tracker today can track all people's eyes in all circumstances, but some systems handle a wider range than others. When comparing eye trackers for your research, test the systems on a range of different people, and using displays and environments typical for your application. Use the same people, test scenes, and environments when you run tests on the different eye-tracking systems.
Ease of Calibration
To achieve accurate gaze-point tracking, eye trackers must accommodate several physiological features of individual eyes. For eye-tracking purposes, the shape of the cornea and the location of the foveola (central vision point) on the retina vary considerably from one eye to the next. To measure these individual physiological properties, eye trackers generally require that each user perform a calibration procedure where he visually fixates on a series of points that move around the screen.
When comparing eye trackers, it is instructive to see how easy it is for people to perform the calibration procedure quicky, and see what percentage of your test population gets good calibration results. It is also important to see how well the calibration holds—i.e., whether tracking accuracy tends to drift five or ten minutes after the calibration process, or changes if the user leaves his station and comes back later.
Infrared Light
Most eye trackers use infrared light from light emitting diodes (LEDs) to illuminate the eye, and measure the relative locations of the pupil and the LED's reflection off the cornea to calculate the eye's position and orientation. This approach is called the pupil center corneal reflection (PCCR) method. When evaluating an eye tracker, it is wise to consider how much infrared light the system exposes the subject's eyes to. While the majority of trackers stay within safe exposure limits, many eye trackers use high infrared illumination levels to compensate for low-sensitivity cameras. According to the U.S. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, the maximum permissible exposure for the wavelength of infrared light used in eye trackers is 0.7 mW/cm2 as measured at the eye (LaMarre, D. A. (1977).Development of Criteria and Test Methods for Eye and Face Devices., NIOSH).
A new class of eye trackers is emerging that use simple webcams and no infrared light. While these systems are inexpensive and involve no infrared exposure, the low-resolution cameras and lack of a controlled light source severely reduce the system accuracy and will adversely affect results.
Bright vs. Dark Pupil
A critical job of the eye tracker's image processing algorithm is to measure the pupil-center location. Accurate pupil measurements accurately require good contrast between the pupil and the surrounding iris. Given the fascinating structure of the mammal eye, there are two ways to achieve pupil–iris contrast: the bright pupil method and the dark pupil method.
With the dark pupil method, the LEDs are mounted some distance away from the eye-tracking camera lens, causing pupils to appear as dark objects, the same way they appear to our own eyes. With the bright pupil method, the light source is mounted at the center of the camera lens, causing pupils to appear as bright objects.
The manufacturer's choice between bright and dark pupil effect is strongly influenced by the amount of ambient infrared light in the environment relative to the power of the eye tracker's illuminator. If the ambient infrared light is low, the bright pupil effect provides better pupil–iris contrast; irises are dark and pupils are bright. As ambient infrared increases, however, iris images get brighter while bright pupil images stay the same brightness, which reduces contrast. When there are large amounts of ambient infrared (in sunlight, for example), better pupil–iris contrast is achieved by using the dark pupil effect because the dark pupil contrasts well with a relatively bright iris.
Generally, the bright-pupil effect provides better pupil–iris contrast in indoor environments, and the dark pupil effect provides better contrast in sunny outdoor environments.
Sampling Speed
Some modern eye trackers feature increased sampling rates. While traditional sampling rates vary between 30 and 60 Hz (samples per second), some new systems provide up to 1000 Hz. These high sampling rates are particularly valuable for studying the high-speed dynamics of eye rotations (saccades) or experimenting with visual stimuli that respond instantaneously to the eye's activity. If, on the other hand, you want to study what people choose to look at in typical user experiences, a 60 Hz sampling rate is generally quite adequate. Eye-fixations typically vary between 100 and 500 milliseconds. A 60 Hz sampling rate provides between 6 and 30 samples per fixation—ample numbers to measure both fixation points and fixation durations.
Remote vs. Head-Mounted Eye-Trackers
Eye trackers can be divided into two types: remote and head-mounted. Remote eye-trackers are typically mounted under a computer screen or a display scene and view the user's eyes from a remote distance. Head-mounted eye-trackers are typically mounted on eyeglass frames or caps on the user's head and view the eyes from a very close range. Remote eye-trackers are typically more accurate and less intrusive in that nothing is attached to the user's head. The accuracy of head-mounted eye-trackers is highly susceptible to error as the glasses or cap shift around on the user's head. On the other hand, only a head mounted system can track a person's eyes while he walks or runs around freely.
Gaze Path Analysis Tools
The majority of eye trackers are paired with data-collection and analysis software to support UX testing and evaluation. These programs make it possible to configure UX experiments, run experiments while collecting eye-tracking data, and analyze and present the experimental results. Different levels of eye tracking analysis tools allow you to collect data on still images, videos, websites, simulated environments, and real world environments. The analysis and presentation tools typically include real-time gaze overlays, fixation analyses, heat maps, and dynamic areas of interest over websites, videos, and dynamic environments. Analysis tools should be chosen to meet your specific experimental needs.
There is a wide mix of strengths and weaknesses in the eye-tracking devices currently available. If you choose the right system for your application, it will add tremendous insight and value to the results of your research. When you investigate and test different eye-tracking systems carefully, it will be clear which one is best for you.
Eyeball image provided by Shutterstock


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Jake Pearson is a reporter in New York currently covering the city's police department.
He previously conducted campaign finance and national political investigations for ProPublica. Before joining ProPublica, Pearson worked at the Associated Press, where his investigative series into abuse and mismanagement inside New York City's jails was recognized as a finalist for the Livingston Award and won top honors from The New York Press Club, Society of the Silurians and the Deadline Club. He was part of an AP team whose work covering the Trump Administration's migrant family separation policy was a 2019 Pulitzer Prize finalist for national reporting.
Pearson has also worked for the New York Daily News and NBC News. He is a graduate of Tufts University and the Columbia Journalism School.

subset: commoncrawl


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The sport of hunting has been around since the beginning of time and is still practiced today for many reasons. Whether it's to put food on the table or regulate the population of a species for future hunters, hunting will always be around generation through generation. Hunting is mostly a waiting game and requires a great amount of patience, so being in a good spot is the key. The traditional way of finding a good spot is by scouting an area for tracks, scat or asking a buddy, but that can take some time especially when there is none. You pretty much need to be everywhere at once and we know that's not possible except with a device called a game camera. With a game camera you can easily be in multiple places at once, keep track of what is coming and going, and make sure you have the best spot for the hunt.
Game (trail) cameras are made to take pictures or video of the surrounding area without you being there or the device being noticed. It's basically a DVR, Camera, and motions sensor put together in one. There are many kinds of systems these are the basic components of a game camera. The way it works is when an object walks by the unit the motion sensor picks up the movement and takes a snapshot of what it sees. Then it stores that image with all the others for you to review later. It does all that while being quiet and blending in with the surrounding environment. Some unit's give you the option to stamp the time, date, and moon phase onto the image so you can not only figure out when it happened but also how the moon affects the activity of the game. Most units have a 4th element which allows you to see at night; an IR sensor. This sensor sends out a light that is invisible to humans but to cameras it's like a flood light allowing the camera to take a great shot without spooking the hunt. There are two types of IR sensors, one emits a red light while facing the LED's and the other one shows no signs of light. They both work exceptionally well but the unit that emits no signs of light is ideal for hunting as long as it fits your budget.
Game cameras are made to be placed at a specific height to allow for the best picture. When placing a game camera it is best to mount it about 4-8 ft. off the ground to achieve the optimal view of your area. The camera usually comes with mounting brackets to place on a tree or pole of some sort for easy installation. The reason for the specific placement is because during the day you have a better chance of tripping the PIR sensors with the hunt rather than taking a tremendous of pictures of moving branches. At night if something walks by and trips the PIR sensor, the IR illuminating lights can reach the object. The closer you are to the ground or anything to allow the light to bounce off of will give you a better picture. Placement of a game camera can be crucial to how it performs at night and day. There are also different angles at which you should point the unit. When thinking about the suns position it can have a big effect on your picture if you face it to the north so that you have minimal sun glare and proper exposure. Also when you place your camera facing a trail you want to make sure that you face it at a 45 degree angle along the trail so you can increase your action time. Sometimes the PIR sensors take a little time to wake up the camera so if you have the camera facing directly at the path you can lose the shot. Where you place your game camera can have dramatic effect on its performance and quality.
Some units can also send you pictures to your mobile device of what is happening real-time at that location. These units require a 3G cellular service and a good amount of signal for it to work. The way it works is when the unit flashes a picture of an object it packages it up in an email and sends it for you to view. Most units offer a service for the camera so that instead of receiving a vast amount of emails it stores them on a server for your viewing. This becomes useful for when you want to review all of your future and previous photos without having to look through all your emails. If you're on a budget but still want to be able to view your cameras, they have a system when it uses Wi-Fi so you can watch what's happening in your stop with a remote monitor up to 200′ away. This is especially useful when you are hunting close to the camera for quick action towards the hunt. You can also have multiple game cameras set up in multiple locations for best coverage of your hunting area.
With hunting being around since the dawn of time, there are bound to be some advancement on how to track and capture what you're looking for. The advancement like the game camera can help hunter track game to find better spots and get better results. Learning how a game camera works from the inside out can give better understanding on what features you need like IR or 3G cellular service. Having good placement on a tree or pole can give you a better shot during day and night. Lastly facing the camera in the right direction can help you get the entire shot you're looking for. Applying all of these steps can help you make your hunting days' worth hunting for.


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DRUM EXPO 2013: Following a brief explanation of ghost/grace notes by world-renowned drummer Terry Bozzio, Drum Channel founder Don Lombardi discusses three different ghost stroke methods as they were taught to him by legendary drum teacher Freddie Gruber (Jim Keltner, Dave Weckl, Neil Peart). The lesson also features YouTube drumming sensation, Cobus Potgieter, and demonstrates the use of the forearm, wrist and fingers to control the sticks; showing them in exercises separately and then in combination with each other.
About Drum Channel
Created by drummer, teacher and DW Drums founder Don Lombardi, Drum Channel's mission is to provide todays' drummers and drum teachers with the best in interactive drum education; whether it be online, on DVD or via digital download.
Drum Channel's award-winning format features a combination of entertainment, interviews, instruction and performances from many of the top drummers and educators in the world and includes broadcast-quality lessons, lesson plans and live events.
With its drummer-friendly instructors, relevant, original content and worldwide access, Drum Channel gives every player on the planet the opportunity to "Learn From The Best™" and, in doing so, become better drummers and musicians.


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Displaying items by tag: Monsters: The Complete Series
Dead Shadows, Monsters: The Complete Series, Californication: S6 & Ender's Game review
Okay, just a couple quick things for you guys today as I'm fighting off a wicked cold recently visited upon our household by travelers from Iowa. LOL.
Our own Jeff Kleist has turned in a review of Ender's Game on Blu-ray from Summit Entertainment & Lionsgate.
And in announcement news today, Scream Factory has set David Cholewa's "international apocalyptic sci-fi film" Dead Shadows for Blu-ray and DVD release in the States on 4/29. Extras will include a special effects featurette, delete scenes, an interview with the director, and the film's teaser and theatrical trailers.
Entertainment One has set Monsters: The Complete Series for 9-disc DVD release on 3/18. This is the 3-season/72-episode series that ran on the Sci-Fi Channel in the 1990s.
And CBS and Paramount have set Californiacation: The Sixth Season for DVD only release on 3/25.
That's it! Have a great weekend and we'll see you back here on Monday. Peace out...
- Bill Hunt


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To: Binyamin Netanyahu,
Prime Minister
Dear Mr Prime Minister,
This is the third time we are writing to you. This letter is written in the hope that you will not ignore us in the way we were ignored the two earlier times.
Our first letter, a private one, was handed to you some months before you decided to release 1,027 prisoners, most of them convicted terrorists and murderers, in the Gilad Shalit transaction. The list included Ahlam Tamimi who is the murderer of our daughter Malki. We reminded you of the atrocities committed by Tamimi - the fifteen men, women and children she massacred and the pleasure she expressed on camera about her crimes. She had been sentenced to 16 life terms and the court had recommended that no consideration be given in the future to her being included in any prisoner swap deals. We urged you, before it was too late, to make the decision never to allow her to be released.
Our second letter was written very shortly after we learned of your government's decision to surrender to virtually the full list of demands made by Hamas in the Shalit deal. We begged you to remove just one name – Ahlam Tamimi's – from the list of prisoners to be set free. That letter appeared in both the Hebrew and English editions of the Haaretz newspaper. It got considerable attention, but neither you nor any of your aides ever responded to us then or later.
Ahlam Tamimi walked out of the Israeli prison with a straight back, without uttering a single word of regret for her barbarous actions. On crossing to the other side of our country's borders, she promptly embarked once again on a campaign of activity calculated to advance the terrorists' agenda. Currently, she is the star performer in a weekly television program broadcast globally throughout the Arabic-speaking world, and whose essence is the encouragement of acts of terror.
On Wednesday afternoon, we received notification from your office that your government has made another decision for the benefit of this monstrous murderer. Her husband Nizar al-Tamimi was convicted in 1993 of the cold-blooded killing of a Jewish resident of the community of Beth El, Chaim Mizrachi, and the burning of his body, and was sentenced to life imprisonment. He too was released in last October's Shalit deal. His release was conditioned on the requirement that he remain at all times within the areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority.
Now, we have learned to our horror, this condition has been removed. Your government has decided to permit Nizar al-Tamimi to cross the border in order to unite with his convicted murderer wife.
Once he joins her, there can be little doubt that we will be witness to an upgrading of the media celebration around the woman. The presence of the terrorist husband at her side will be a powerful enhancement to the global pro-terror platform she has established. It will be the impetus for additional acts of terror against Israeli citizens, and will make a mockery of Israeli law and deterrent policies. As well, Ahlam Tamimi, self-confessed, convicted, unrepentant and proud murderer, will now be free to enjoy a life of marital and family happiness.
Who can forget how this woman smiled joyously into the video camera on learning that the number of children whose deaths she caused in the Sbarro massacre of August 2001 was eight, and not three as she had presumed?
Since her return to her family and her homeland, Jordan, she has repeatedly assured television interviewers that she has no regrets. She says she would commit the same atrocity again if the opportunity were to arise. You argued in a televised speech to the nation last October that Gilad Shalit had to be returned even if the price of his freedom is terribly high. You maintained that ultimately, even if it does not seem this way, the Shalit deal was in our best interests.
We ask you now, Mr. Netanyahu:
- Whose interests are served by this decision-reversal that permits Nizar al-Tamimi to leave the PA zone and cross over to Jordan?
- Which missing soldier are you returning by making this decision to allow Nizar Al-Tamimi to unite with the wife he has never met?
- Where is the sensitivity to the impact that the Tamimi terrorist couple's newly achieved happiness is going to have on fundamental principles of law and justice? Where is the sensitivity to the feelings of victims?
Your actions convey to us, the bereaved victims of the unjustly freed murderers as well as the Israeli civilians endangered by terrorism, that our welfare and security are not high enough on your list of priorities.
Before it is too late, take back this decision. Recall what you yourself wrote:
"A government that seeks the defeat of the terrorists must refuse to release convicted terrorists from prisons… Releasing imprisoned terrorists emboldens them and their colleagues… By nurturing the belief that their demands are likely to be met in the future, you encourage terrorist blackmail of the very kind that you want to stop. Only the most unrelenting refusal to ever give in to such blackmail can prevent this." ["Fighting Terrorism: How Democracies Can Defeat Domestic and International Terrorists" – Binyamin Netanyahu, Farrar Straus Giroux, New York 1995 at Page 144]
Honor the principles of justice and decency on which our nation is based and remember the innocent victims whose loved ones are – yet again – experiencing unfathomable pain as a result of your choices.
Frimet and Arnold Roth
(Parents of Malki z"l)


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Damascus Declaration in English
A number of readers have asked for a copy of the Damascus Declaration issued by the united opposition in English. Here it is.
The Damascus Declaration for Democratic National Change
Signatories to the Declaration
Parties and Organizations:
Democratic National Grouping in Syria
Kurdish Democratic Alliance in Syria
Committees for the Revival of Civil Society
Kurdish Democratic Front in Syria
Future Party (Shaykh Nawwaf al-Bashir)
National Figures:
Riyad Sayf
Jawdat Sa'id
Dr Abd-al-Razzaq Id
Samir al-Nashar
Dr Fida Akram al-Hurani
Dr Adil Zakkar
Abd-al-Karim al-Dahhak
Haytham al-Malih
Nayif Qaysiyah
Syria today is being subjected to pressure it had not experienced before, as a result of the policies pursued by the regime, policies that have brought the country to a situation that calls for concern for its national safety and the fate of its people. Today Syria stands at a crossroad and needs to engage in self-appraisal and benefit from its historical experience more than any time in the past.
The authorities' monopoly of everything for more than 30 years has established an authoritarian, totalitarian, and cliquish [fi'awi] regime that has led to a lack of [interest in] politics in society, with people losing interest in public affairs. That has brought upon the country such destruction as that represented by the rending of the national social fabric of the Syrian people, an economic collapse that poses a threat to the country, and exacerbating crises of every kind, in addition to the stifling isolation which the regime has brought upon the country as a result of its destructive, adventurous, and short-sighted policies on the Arab and regional levels, and especially in Lebanon. Those policies were founded on discretionary bases and were not guided by the higher national interests.
All that -- and many other matters -- calls for mobilizing all the energies of Syria, the homeland and the people, in a rescue task of change that lifts the country out of the mold of the security state and takes it to the mold of the political state, so that it will be able to enhance its independence and unity, and so that its people will be able to hold the reins of their country and participate freely in running its affairs. The transformations needed affect the various aspects of life, and include the State, the authorities, and society, and lead to changing Syrian policies at home and abroad.
In view of the signatories' feeling that the present moment calls for a courageous and responsible national stand, that takes the country out of its condition of weakness and waiting that is poisoning the present political life, and spares it the dangers that loom in the horizon, and in view of their belief that a clear and cohesive line on which society's various forces agree, a line that projects the goals of democratic change at this stage, acquires special importance in the achievement of such change by the Syrian people and in accordance with their will and interests, and helps to avoid opportunism and extremism in public action, they have reached an accord on the following bases:
Establishment of a democratic national regime is the basic approach to the plan for change and political reform. It must be peaceful, gradual, founded on accord, and based on dialogue and recognition of the other.
Shunning totalitarian thought and severing all plans for exclusion, custodianship, and extirpation under any pretext, be it historical or realistic; shunning violence in exercising political action; and seeking to prevent and avoid violence in any form and by any side.
Islam -- which is the religion and ideology of the majority, with its lofty intentions, higher values, and tolerant canon law -- is the more prominent cultural component in the life of the nation and the people. Our Arab civilization has been formed within the framework of its ideas, values, and ethics and in interaction with the other national historic cultures in our society, through moderation, tolerance, and mutual interaction, free of fanaticism, violence, and exclusion, while having great concern for the respect of the beliefs, culture, and special characteristics of others, whatever their religious, confessional, and intellectual affiliations, and openness to new and contemporary cultures.
No party or trend has the right to claim an exceptional role. No one has the right to shun the other, persecute him, and usurp his right to existence, free expression, and participation in the homeland.
Adoption of democracy as a modern system that has universal values and bases, based on the principles of liberty, sovereignty of the people, a State of institutions, and the transfer of power through free and periodic elections that enable the people to hold those in power accountable and change them.
Build a modern State, whose political system is based on a new social contract, which leads to a modern democratic Constitution that makes citizenship the criterion of affiliation, and adopts pluralism, the peaceful transfer of power, and the rule of law in a State all of whose citizens enjoy the same rights and have the same duties, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, sect, or clan, and prevents the return of tyranny in new forms.
Turn to all the components of the Syrian people, all their intellectual trends and social classes, political parties, and cultural, economic, and social activities, and give them the opportunity to express their views, interests, and aspirations, and enable them to participate freely in the process of change.
Guarantee the freedom of individuals, groups, and national minorities to express themselves, and safeguard their role and cultural and linguistic rights, with the State respecting and caring for those rights, within the framework of the Constitution and under the law.
Find a just democratic solution to the Kurdish issue in Syria, in a manner that guarantees the complete equality of Syrian Kurdish citizens with the other citizens, with regard to nationality rights, culture, learning the national language, and the other constitutional, political, social, and legal rights on the basis of the unity of the Syrian land and people. Nationality and citizenship rights must be restored to those who have been deprived of them, and the file must be completely settled.
Commitment to the safety, security, and unity of the Syrian national [? union] and addressing its problems through dialogue, and safeguard the unity of the homeland and the people in all circumstances, commitment to the liberation of the occupied territories and regaining the Golan Heights for the homeland, and enabling Syria to carry out an effective and positive Arab and regional role.
Abolish all forms of exclusion in public life, by suspending the emergency law; and abolish martial law and extraordinary courts, and all relevant laws, including Law 49 for the year 1980; release all political prisoners; [allow] the safe and honorable return of all those wanted and those who have been voluntarily or involuntarily exiled with legal guarantees; and ending all forms of political persecution, by settling grievances and turning a new leaf in the history of the country.
Strengthen the national army and maintain its professional spirit, and keep it outside the framework of political conflict and the democratic game, and confine its task to protecting the country's independence, safeguarding the constitutional system, and defending the homeland and the people.
Liberate popular organizations, federations, trade unions, and chambers of commerce, industry, and agriculture from the custodianship of the State and from party and security hegemony. Provide them with the conditions of free action as civil society organizations.
Launch public freedoms, organize political life through a modern party law, and organize the media and elections in accordance with modern laws that ensure liberty, justice, and equal opportunities for everyone.
Guarantee the right of political work to all components of the Syrian people in their various religious, national, and social affiliations.
Emphasize Syria's affiliation to the Arab Order, establish the widest relations of cooperation with the Arab Order, and strengthen strategic, political, and economic ties that lead the [Arab] nation to the path of unity. Correct the relationship with Lebanon, so that it will be based on liberty, equality, sovereignty, and the common interests of the two peoples and countries.
Observe all international treaties and conventions and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, and seek within the framework of the United Nations and in cooperation with the international community to build a more just World Order, based on the principles of peace and mutual interest, warding off aggression, and the right of nations to resist occupation, and to oppose all forms of terrorism and violence directed against civilians.
The signatories to this declaration believe the process of change has begun, in view of its being a necessity that brooks no postponement because the country needs it. It is not directed against anyone, but requires everyone's efforts. Here we call on the Ba'thist citizens of our homeland and citizens from various political, cultural, religious, and confessional groups to participate with us and not to hesitate or be apprehensive, because the desired change is in everyone's interest and is feared only by those involved in crimes and corruption. The process of change can be organized as follows:
1. Opening the channels for a comprehensive and equitable national dialogue among all the components and social, political, and economic groups of the Syrian people in all areas and on the following premises:
The need for radical change in the country, and the rejection of all forms of cosmetic, partial, or circumspection reform.
Seek to stop the deterioration and the potential collapse and anarchy which could be brought upon the country by a mentality of fanaticism, revenge, extremism, and objection to democratic change.
Rejection of the change that is brought from abroad, while we are fully aware of the fact and the objectivity of the link between the internal and the external in the various political developments that are taking place in our contemporary world, without pushing the country toward isolation, adventure, and irresponsible stands, and anxiousness to safeguard the country's independence and territorial integrity.
2. Encourage initiatives for the return of society to politics, restore to the people their interest in public affairs, and activate civil society.
3. Form various committees, salons, forums, and bodies locally and throughout the country to organize the general cultural, social, political, and economic activity and to help it in playing an important role in advancing the national consciousness, giving vent to frustrations, and uniting the people behind the goals of change.
4. A comprehensive national accord on a common and independent program of the opposition forces, which charts the steps of the stage of transformation and the features of the democratic Syria of the future.
5. Pave the way for convening a national conference in which all the forces that aspire to change may participate, including those who accept that from among the regime, to establish a democratic national regime based on the accords mentioned in this declaration, and on the basis of a broad and democratic national coalition.
6. Call for the election of a Constituent Assembly that draws up a new Constitution for the country that foils adventurers and extremists, and that guarantees the separation of powers, safeguards the independence of the judiciary, and achieves national integration by consolidating the principle of citizenship.
7. Hold free and honest parliamentary elections that produce a fully legitimate national regime that governs the country in accordance with the Constitution and the laws that are in force, and on the basis of the view of the political majority and its program.
These are broad steps for the plan for democratic change, as we see it, which Syria needs, and to which its people aspire. It is open to the participation of all the national forces: political parties, civilian and civil bodies, and political, cultural, and professional figures. The plan accepts their commitments and contribution, and is open to review through the increase in the collectivity of political work and its effective societal forces.
We pledge to work to end the stage of despotism. We declare our readiness to offer the necessary sacrifices for that purpose, and to do all what is necessary to enable the process of democratic change to take off, and to build a modern Syria, a free homeland for all of its citizens, safeguard the freedom of its people, and protect national independence.
Damascus, 16 October 2005.


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Evangelical Catholicism: George Weigel's Vision of Catholic Reform
By Dr. Jeff Mirus ( bio - articles - email ) | Mar 20, 2013 | In Reviews
George Weigel, whose biography of Pope John Paul II was brilliant, and whose analysis of Catholic affairs is always incisive, has a theory about the modern Church. Most of us would point to the Second Vatican Council as the starting point of a vast and difficult Catholic renewal, but Weigel argues that a significant "reform of the Catholic Church has been underway since the pontificate of Pope Leo XIII", which began in 1878. This thesis is developed in his new book, Evangelical Catholicism: Deep Reform in the 21st-Century Church, from Basic Books.
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There is certainly merit in this analysis, as it was Pope Leo who broke with the defensive strategy which Pope Pius IX and his immediate predecessors adopted against modern culture and politics. Leo began to reposition the Church, which, until his pontificate tended to be an instinctive champion of an old and rapidly disappearing order. Most readers are familiar with this shift at least in the realm of Catholic social teaching, through which Leo emerged as the champion not of the aristocracy but of the working man in his landmark encyclical Rerum Novarum.
This is not really a review of Weigel's book, though I think it very much worth reading. Rather, I want describe what Weigel means by his term "evangelical Catholicism". He outlined this concept under ten basic headings in an article by the same name in the March 2013 issue of First Things. The number ten, of course, is almost inevitably contrived. Someone as deeply aware of Catholic history as Weigel might have just as well come up with twelve headings—as in the twelve apostles and the twelve tribes of Israel.
We may gather something of his meaning from the two words themselves. Weigel envisions a reformed Church as a Church which is once again fundamentally oriented to the task of drawing everyone into a deep and unifying friendship with Jesus Christ. "Catholicism" denotes for Weigel the fullness of all that the Church is as the body of Christ extended in the world through time. "Evangelical" denotes the generous fidelity with which Catholics must present Christ, through this Divinely-established fullness, to the world. Because we tend to associate "evangelical" with a sort of Protestant impoverishment of the Christian experience—an emphasis on preaching with little or no incarnational dimension—it is necessary to invest this adjective with a sense of the richness of the Church if we are to understand what "evangelical Catholicism" really ought to mean.
With this in mind, let me enumerate Weigel's ten points, taken from the ten headings of his First Things article:
- Evangelical Catholicism is friendship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Evangelical Catholicism affirms divine revelation and embraces its authority, which continues through history in the teaching authority of the Church.
- Evangelical Catholicism celebrates the seven sacraments as divinely given means of sanctifying life.
- Evangelical Catholicism is a call to constant conversion of life, which involves both the rejection of evil and active participation in the works of service and charity.
- Evangelical Catholicism is a liturgically centered form of Catholic life that embraces both the ancient traditions of Catholic worship and the authentic renewal of the liturgy according to the teaching of the Second Vatican Council.
- Evangelical Catholicism is a biblically centered form of Catholic life that reads the Bible as the Word of God for the salvation of souls.
- Evangelical Catholicism is a hierarchically ordered Catholicism in which a variety of vocations are respected.
- Evangelical Catholicism is both culture-forming and countercultural.
- Evangelical Catholicism enters the public square with the voice of reason, grounded in gospel conviction.
- Evangelical Catholicism awaits with eager anticipation the coming of the Lord Jesus in glory, and until that time, Evangelical Catholicism is ordered to mission—to the proclamation of the Gospel for the world's salvation.
I think every Catholic who reads this list will have his own favorite characteristics in those points which resonate strongly as too long neglected and vitally necessary for renewal. In my own case, for example, the clause "Evangelical Catholicism is ordered to mission" strikes a particularly powerful chord. Weigel begins his explanation of this point as follows:
The Church does not have a mission, as if "mission" were one among a dozen things the Church does. The Church is a mission, and everything the Church does is ordered to that mission, which is the proclamation of the Gospel for the conversion of the world to Christ. Thus mission and mission-effectiveness measure everything and everyone in the Church.
He goes on to say that "those things that need to be changed in the Church, and that can be changed, must be changed for the sake of mission" and "those things in the Church that cannot be changed, because they are of the divinely ordered constitution of the Church, must be reformed when necessary so that they contribute as they ought to the mission."
All of Weigel's points describe what he views as the proper tendency of an authentic Catholic renewal already 135 years in the making. In framing the preceding sentence, I have deliberately substituted the word "authentic" for "evangelical" because, while the Church, like the individual soul, is always in need of renewal, it is dangerous to add adjectives to the Catholic title. Any adjective, whether "traditional", "progressive" or "evangelical" will inevitably be used by some to constrict the fullness of the Church into a particular shape which serves a particular kind of personality. This is not Weigel's intention and, for my part, I object to the sustained use of all such Catholic modifiers on principle.
Nonetheless, I believe George Weigel's list of characteristics merits thought, prayer, and discussion. We might well ask ourselves whether Weigel's portrayal resembles Catholic life as we have come to know it—or have come to take it for granted. If nothing else, these are points for a kind of Catholic examination of conscience, as all of us seek to make the Church more herself, and ourselves more the Church.
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Posted by: John J Plick -
Mar. 21, 2013 4:53 PM ET USA
I attempted to correlate in my mind the social changes which occurred in the western world at the time of the transition from Pius to Leo and the answer is fairly plain. The monarchies were dissolved or dissolving and reconfiguring into pluralistic republics, greatly reducing the social authority of the Holy See. In spite of the fact that Vatican II was hardly a "twinkle in any theologian's eye" these changes arose from the laity, not the clergy.


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Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County (the town of Raymond is the other). The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census. The 2010 census ascribed a population of 539,005 to the five-county Jackson metropolitan area.
The current slogan for the city is Jackson, Mississippi: City with Soul. Jackson is ranked 3rd out of America's 100 largest metro areas for the best "Bang For Your Buck" city according to Forbes magazine. The study measured overall affordability, housing rates, and more. The city is named after Andrew Jackson, who was still a general at the time of the naming but later became president. The city is the anchor of the Metro area.
"As you know Jackson, Mississippi can produce some pretty nasty traffic on the freeways. While traveling to work one day, I got rear ended by a young girl talking on her cell phone. I was so upset as I just purchased a brand new 2012 Audi A6 and now it's been in an accident. After I had it towed to the dealership; I found out there was almost $12,000 in damages. So a few weeks went by and my Audi was finally repaired. I was talking to a buddy of mine and he said I should file a diminished value claim. I contacted the at fault insurance company and advised them that I was going to file this claim. The rep said there is no diminished value as it was repaired back to new condition. We all know that if there is an accident on the carfax report, we are going to lose money. So after talking back and forth with the insurance company, I decided to hire an appraiser.
I first contacted Pinnacle Auto Appraisers and they were more than willing to go over all the steps of performing a diminished value appraisal. After speaking with them, I decided to shop around. I hired Pinnacle Auto Appraisers because they were the only company that really went the extra mile to explain things and the amount of knowledge they knew about diminished value exceeded all the other appraisal companies I called. Once the report was completed, I submitted the appraisal to the insurance company. They then hired another appraiser to get a second opinion. Because of how thorough and professional the diminished value appraisal was, the insurance company ended up paying me the appraisal amount. I ended getting around $6,000, which was exactly what my dealership said I would lose if I traded in. I definitely will be referring them to all my coworkers as their customer service is outstanding." Christopher C. - Jackson, Mississippi
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Why is there Death & Suffering? booklet: Raises questions but provides framework for answers
14 January 2002
When a Christian tries to convince a non-believer of the truth of Christianity, as commanded by Christ (Matthew 28:19–20), what are the most common objections? We find that, overwhelmingly, they are 'Why is there so much pain in a world created by a God of love' and 'Science has proven evolution and thus disproved the Bible'. In fact, we would suggest that a Christian who has never been asked either question hasn't been witnessing! The second question is addressed on our site at length, and this is the most common target for 'scientific' sceptics because we undermine a key pseudo-intellectual argument for their materialistic faith.
But we don't stop at 'science', because the correct Biblical understanding of origins is also vital to answering the first question. That is, the Bible says that evil is real, not an illusion as New Agers teach, but that it was not a created entity. Rather, God created the universe in six ordinary days and it was 'very good' (Genesis 1:31). Even at the end of Days Three to Five, 'God saw that it was good', so Genesis 1 teaches that there was no principle of evil of any kind in creation.
But this world with all the death and suffering doesn't seem very good, so what happened? Genesis 3 explains that Adam, the delegated head of mankind and all of creation (Genesis 1:28) disobeyed the one prohibition that God had given him. Because Adam chose to turn his back on God, God gave him what he deserved — He withdrew fellowship and some of His sustaining power from the world. And because God is perfectly just, He must punish sin, so he sentenced Adam to physical death (Genesis 3:19). This sentence affected not only his descendants (Romans 5:12–19), but the entire creation as well because Adam was its head (Romans 8:20–22).
Therefore we should not regard death and suffering as something created by God in the beginning, but a result of man's sin. But if the world had really existed for billions of years, as day-age creationists (e.g. Hugh Ross) and theistic evolutionists believe, the fossil record would predate Adam. The fossils are obviously a record of death, but also they record infections, fractures, arthritis, wounds, carnivory and cancer. But if the fossil record existed when God declared the world "very good", then all these conditions must logically be regarded that way. But if, say, cancer, is 'very good', then why should we try to cure diseases like cancer? And if animals have been killing each other for millions of years, then what's wrong with terrorists killing about 3000 people on September 11?
Most people realised instinctively that something was greatly wrong with the world on that day, and asked serious questions. But sadly, even many church leaders said they couldn't explain it, and invariably they are the ones who have compromised with billions of years. However, we saw the need for teaching the Biblical answers to a hurting public. This was also an opportunity to proclaim the hope we have in the Creator Jesus Christ, who will return and spell the end of the Curse, death and tears for all those who believe in Him (Revelation 21:4). It was also our sad duty to warn that physical death is not the worst thing that can happen to those who reject the Creator Jesus — rather, the worst is an eternity separated from God, the source of everything good.
Therefore Ken Ham and I wrote a same-day article on the terrorist attack from a Biblical perspective, then followed with the witnessing booklet Why is there Death & Suffering? (above right). This booklet covers the above points in much more detail, and we are pleased that it has proved helpful to many people.
But it's impossible to cover everything in a booklet, so it shouldn't be surprising that a few people have raised sincere questions. Below is a letter from a Mr BW asking a few questions, and my answers interspersed, based on the Biblical 'big picture'. BW's questions are indented and in dark red.
Dear Mr BW
Dear Brothers,I think what you wrote was very well done and answered a lot of questions about death and suffering. I have been a supporter of [your ministry] for some time now.
Thank you.
However, this booklet brought up or caused to surface other questions which have placed me on a dead end street. Perhaps you could at least address some of these questions as I am sure there must have been others puzzled by the same aforementioned booklet.
Maybe, but we'll address them when they come.
I can understand how it is difficult to reconcile this world system filled with death, disease and suffering against a alleged loving God of the Bible.
It is difficult mainly if people don't understand (or don't believe) His revelation about these things.
Your position is that all of this was a result of Adam's rebellion, disobedience, insolence and defiance.
This is correct, because it is the only logical deduction from Scripture [see above].
Before that, everything was very good; but was it? How do you address the fact that God put the tree of the knowledge of good and EVIL in the garden before Adam disobeyed.
There is no problem, because there is no actual evil, as opposed to a mere name. As it turned out, it was a highly appropriate name because it described the effects, and of course God foreknew this would happen.
Also, Satan was around to tempt Adam and Eve. Apparently things were not so good in the universe if evil and Satan existed before Adam had his opportunity to bring death and spiritual separation down on our heads as the human race!
They weren't, but the Biblical timing is different from what you think, as shown several paragraphs down.
Now, I realize that I inherited a corrupt, evil sin nature genetically from Adam because I sin even now.
I doubt there is a physical sin gene as such. Man has both a material aspect, which is now subject to physical death; and a non-material aspect, which survives physical death (Matthew 10:28). It is likely that the sin nature is transmitted via this non-physical aspect.
I have no problem with that. What I do have a problem with is where did Satan and evil come from in the first place before God said, 'It was very good'?
You may have read something into the text that wasn't there. Who says that evil existed before then, or that Satan had fallen by then? Starting from God's Word, everything was 'very good' at the end of Day 6, therefore we can know that Satan didn't fall before then. He must have fallen on Day 8 or later. We can logically deduce from Scripture that it couldn't have been too long after, because Adam and Eve were commanded to 'fill the Earth', they would have obeyed in their unfallen state, and their physically perfect bodies would have been capable of conceiving, yet the first child they conceived (Cain) was indisputably sinful.
The Bible makes it clear that the wickedness was 'found' in Satan (Ezekiel 28:15).
And to make matters worse, God said man has become like ONE OF US knowing good and EVIL? So evil existed before Adam sinned then why should Adam or mankind be totally responsible for the evil in the world?
That statement did not mean that God had committed evil, but as an omniscient being, God knew what evil was. This was not meant to be the case for Adam and Eve, who came to know evil through their own actions. Adam was responsible because He was designated the federal head of humanity and God's delegated ruler of all creation (Genesis 1:28).
You referred to the case of Job. This appears to be a chess game between God and Satan about the evil allowed to come upon Job.
As a chessmaster, I suggest that this may be a poor analogy. Two chessplayers have the same rights and are both subject to the rules of the game. But Satan was subject to God and His rules, and could do only what God permitted him to.
How in the world do you explain this and keep a loving God in mind?
Because God is also sovereign, as explained in the book, He has the right to do as He pleases with His creation (Romans 9). He allowed Satan to test Job to prove to Satan and all of us that Job did not love God just because he had been blessed, as well as to provide an example for us in this cursed world. God's love cannot be divorced from His sovereignty or His justice for that matter.
Even Job never got a straight answer.
But he accepted that God was under no obligation to give him one, and if he accepted it I fail to see why we should not. This is a lesson to us that we may not be able to figure out why a particular evil happened, even though God has a reason.
Another thing that bothers me is why didn't God stop all the bloodshed, death and violence immediately with Adam's rebellion rather than let it go on for thousands of years tormenting millions of humans? It doesn't make any sense.
As we said, for God to get rid of all sin, he'd have to get rid of all of us. If he'd done as you suggest, neither of us would be here (Romans 3:23), and the skeptics wouldn't be around to ask those questions! It's also important to realise that we don't know everything, therefore just because we can't think of an answer doesn't mean there is none.
You mention that all Adam's descendants inherited an evil, sin nature from conception. Also, we are condemned and separated from God or spiritually dead. How does a dead person make any move toward God and be saved?
God is the one who draws His people to Him (John 6:44), and regenerates them by giving them a new heart (Ezekiel 11:19).
Well, again I appreciate all the fine work you all are doing …
Glad to hear that.
… but these questions are bothering me no end as a result of studying your booklet. I really do not want to be in the camp with Darwin, Turner, Templeton and blame God for all this mess we are in.
I hope not too.
I would like to believe that God is loving and is not responsible for sin, death and suffering.
He is not in the sense that He should be blamed for it, but the Bible is clear that God actively cursed the creation because of Adam's sin (Genesis 3:19, Romans 8:20-22), as He had the right to do, and was an expression of His justice.
We also pointed out that humans are not in a position to judge God as evil, because such a judgment presupposes a standard of right and wrong, and where can such a thing come from if not from God?
However, I am really in a mental battle over these questions. I hope you can shed some light on these issues and help me out of my confusion and near depression.
I'm sorry to hear that you feel like that. But I doubt that you have suffered as much as Job, who ultimately trusted that God did what is right, as did Abraham.
In conclusion, it's important for all Christians to be equipped to answer questions such as the above. We hope that the answers show that understanding the 'big picture' is helpful for following the Apostle Peter's command in 1 Peter 3:15 (see Q&A: Apologetics). Conversely, without this big picture, would-be Christian apologists are left floundering. But they should also be ready to show that only a Christian world view makes any sense of both the physical world and moral questions, while a non-Christian should be challenged to justify his questions under his own framework. Some of the responses under Negative Feedback should show what I mean.


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True. Some websites that I use daily on different browsers render differently in each of them. And I, an experienced user of the Web, don't notice the difference in most of them, because, as a user, I'm focusing on the task at hand.
It depresses me knowing that so many man-hours are put into creating a pixel-perfect website for IE6 when they could be used for making websites move a bit further instead.


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Yes, but only if empty.
Show All Answers
Glass materials are likely to break during the automated collection process, resulting in contamination to other materials and making it more difficult to process materials at the sorting facility. Glass can be taken to the Montrose Recycle Center at 1901 64.50 Road.
There is no need to sort the recyclable materials. Place recyclables loose in can. Do NOT "nest" items or place items in bags or boxes.
Collection will be delayed until Friday of the same week. If your recycling cart is filled to capacity prior to the next collection day, a special pick-up can be scheduled by calling 240-1480. Unscheduled collection services will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. City-observed holidays are: New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples' Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
The effectiveness of the single-stream recycling program increases with the number of households that participate. However, if you do not wish to participate, please call 240-1480 and the city will arrange to pick up your recycling container.
Yes. Bags can be stapled or taped shut.
Yes. Please remove lids and labels.


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MANHATTAN, Kan. – Bryce Petty threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns, Ahmad Dixon made a critical interception late in the fourth quarter and No. 15 Baylor held on to beat Kansas State 35-25 on Saturday.
Tevin Reese had five catches for 184 yards and two scores, and Antwan Goodley had five catches for 139 yards and another touchdown for the Bears (5-0, 2-0 Big 12), who ran their winning streak to nine games dating to their win over Kansas State last season.
The Wildcats (2-4, 0-3), behind 199 yards and three rushing TDs by quarterback Daniel Sams, took a 25-21 lead in the third quarter. But they missed a tying field-goal attempt in the fourth quarter and then Sams threw an interception on their ensuing possession that allowed the Bears to escape.


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SRD:Two-Weapon Defense
From D&D Wiki
This material is published under the OGL 1.0a. |
Two-Weapon Defense [General]
Dex 15, Two-Weapon Fighting.
When wielding a double weapon or two weapons (not including natural weapons or unarmed strikes), you gain a +1 shield bonus to your AC.
When you are fighting defensively or using the total defense action, this shield bonus increases to +2.
A fighter may select Two-Weapon Defense as one of his fighter bonus feats.
Back to Main Page → 3.5e Open Game Content → System Reference Document→ Feats


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When you're trying to increase your fitness level, lose weight or just keep a log of your physical activity, finding the right tool to help can be a challenge with all the activity trackers currently on the market. The Jawbone UP originally came on the scene back in 2011 to not so great reviews. Jawbone acknowledged that there were hardware problems and ended up refunding people's money. A year later they are back to try again. The folks at Verizon Wireless sent me one to review, so let's see if the UP is a useful gadget that will help get you up and moving.
Note: Images can be clicked to view a larger size.
I want to start out by saying that this is my first experience with the UP band. I didn't have the opportunity to try the first version. That said, I'm familiar with this genre of fitness gadgets, so I know the types of features to look for in a great fitness tracker.
What's in the box
UP band
Quick start guide
USB charging cable
What is it?
The Jawbone UP is a band made of medical-grade, hypoallergenic TPU rubber, which is latex-free. It's designed to be worn on your wrist like a bracelet 24/7. That's right, you're meant to put it on and not even remove it when you take a shower. Don't worry, it's water resistant.
It is available in Small, Medium, and Large and in a nice selection of colors including: Onyx, Mint Green, Light Grey, Blue, Navy Blue, Red, Orange & Hunter Green.
The band is designed to track your movement and sleeping patterns using a built in accelerometer and motion sensor and then turn the data into useful info like steps, distance, calories burned, hours slept, time it took you to get to sleep, how many times you woke up during the night, etc. It uses special MotionX technology to accurately track your activity/steps. You can also use the built-in calibration feature to dial in the accuracy even more. You can also set the band to vibrate when you've been inactive for a certain length of time.
In addition to steps and sleep, eating and workouts can also be tracked, but that requires manual data entry.
Physical design
I was sent the Medium sized Blue version of the UP band. I've been wearing it for the past week and have found it to be relatively comfortable to wear on my Left wrist, which is my dominate hand. Once in awhile it would get in the way while typing, putting on/taking off long sleeved shirts or jackets, and at night while sleeping. But for the most part, I didn't really notice I was wearing it.
The band is somewhat flexible, easy to put on and remove. People probably won't even notice it unless they see the button or cap on the ends. Otherwise, they might mistake it from all the other colorful bands people were for their charities and organizations.
The UP band features a function button on one end and a 3.5mm phono style jack on the other end. The phono jack is protected with a snap-on cap and is used for charging and syncing with your iOS or Android smartphone.
Using the Jawbone UP to track your activity
The UP can be used for up to 10 days per charge. Charging the built in Lithium-ion polymer battery is done by plugging the band's 3.5mm plug into the USB adapter that is included with the band. Charging is fast and only takes around 80 minutes for a full charge.
In the image above you can just make out the LED status indicator on the band. It looks like a little throbbing flower icon while charging. When it is in sleep mode, it looks like a half moon icon. Other than the status LED, which only lights up when it's charging or you press the function button, there are no other indicators on the band. I find that to be a little disappointing… I wish there was some kind of display to let you know how many steps you've taken, battery level or even the time of day.
To see your progress, you have to remove the UP band from your wrist and plug it into your iOS or Android device. This is a real pain in the butt if you ask me. I can't believe that a company like Jawbone who is well known for their Bluetooth headsets and speakers did not add Bluetooth syncing capability to the UP band. I find it really annoying to have to take it off my wrist and manually sync it so that I can view my steps and sleeping info.
The only times you press the function button on the band is when you go to bed at night and want to switch to sleep tracking, in the morning when you wake up or when you want to do a manual calibration.
Using the Jawbone app
Unlike most activity trackers which put the data interface on the web and offer an optional smartphone app for mobile viewing, you must have an iOS or Android device to use the Jawbone UP. There isn't a web client. Everyday or twice a day as recommended, you need to remove the band from your wrist and plug it into your device to sync with the app.
The free app offers a colorful friendly interface that shows your steps, sleep and calorie info.
Step data includes # of steps taken for the day, distance walked, active minutes, calories burned, idle minutes and more.
Sleep data shows the number of hours/minutes you were in light and deep sleep each time, along with how many times you woke up during the night and how long it took you to get to sleep. You can also use the band to wake you up in the morning by setting an alarm and having it vibrate when you're in your light sleep cycle. I was disappointed that this feature worked inconsistently. I set my wake up time to 6am and the band only vibrated 2 times in the 7 days I was testing it. I had the same inconstancies with the inactivity timer. I had the band set to vibrate after 30 mins of inactivity and noticed weird behavior where the band vibrated after I had just gotten up from my desk and walked 20 or so feet into the restroom. But then it wouldn't vibrate every 30 minutes while I was sitting on the couch watching a 2hr movie. Maybe it didn't vibrate because I moved my arm every so often to grab my drink from my end table.
I find the step and sleep data to be my favorite aspects of this activity tracker. Seeing activity and sleep trends is really useful and I like that you can also customize your sleep (hours) and movement (steps) goals. The defaults are 8 hours of sleep and 10,000 steps.
BTW: you have to remember to put the band in sleep mode every night before you to go bed, or it won't track your sleep. That's annoying…
My least favorite feature of the Jawbone UP is adding food to the food log. It takes time to enter what you've eaten, and other than seeing trends in your eating habits, the food log doesn't offer much info. Food can be entered by picking things from the built in database, scanning barcodes with your device's camera or by entering nutritional info manually. I'll admit that I didn't use this feature much… mainly because I don't eat pre-packaged food very often anymore. I make my meals from scratch, so adding them to the database would be a pain in the rear…
Other features
In this day and age, it seems like every gadget has a social aspect. The Jawbone UP doesn't tweet when you've walked your 10,000 steps each day and doesn't post to Facebook if you succeeded in getting 8hrs of sleep. It does allow you to create your own team from your Facebook friends and see their progress and leave comments to cheer them on.
In addition to using the UP band to wake you up in the morning, you can also use it for power naps. A double press of the button will let you take a 27-45 min nap and then wake you when you're in your lightest sleep cycle, so you'll wake up refreshed instead of groggy.
Should you buy the Jawbone UP?
If you don't mind wearing a bracelet on your wrist 24/7, don't mind taking it off to plug it into your phone at least once a day to sync and see your progress, the Jawbone UP is a decent activity tracker as long as your idea of activity is walking. If you plan to track other types of workouts, the Jawbone isn't all that useful because you have to enter those workouts manually, so what's the point?
It tries to be great, but the Jawbone UP could be so much better if it just had 2 extra features… I think it really needs an indicator on the band to show you how you're progressing with your daily activity and it also needs wireless syncing. As it is, I won't be buying one… I'll just stick with my ultra cheapo Cummins issued pedometer with a built in LCD which I can easily look at to see how close I am to my goal of 10,000 steps per day.
Product Information
Price: | $129.99 |
Manufacturer: | Jawbone |
Retailer: | Verizon Wireless |
Requirements: |
Pros: |
Cons: |


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The Lord of the Rings - LCG
"Yet it is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule."
-Gandalf, The Return of the King
An ancient evil stirs in the black lands of Mordor, and the people of Middle-earth speak of a terrible doom approaching from the east. The Dark Lord Sauron is gathering his forces, and should he acquire the power he seeks, he will cast the world into eternal shadow. The only hope lies in a heroic few who must work together to stem the tide of evil...
The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game is a cooperative card game that puts 1-2 players (or up to four with two Core Sets!) in control of the most powerful characters and artifacts of Middle-earth. Players will select heroes, gather allies, acquire artifacts, and coordinate their efforts to face Middle-earth's most dangerous fiends. By cooperating to overcome the obstacles drawn from the encounter deck, you will complete the quest before you and claim victory!
In The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game, players take on the roles of heroes attempting to complete dangerous quests. Instead of directly retelling the classic stories that have previously been narrated, this game provides players with a variety of elements—characters, settings, enemies, events, items, artifacts, scenarios—that allow them to embark upon new adventures and share new experiences with these beloved characters during this ominous period of Middle-earth history.
Unlike most card games in which the players compete against each other, The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game is a cooperative game in which the players work together, competing against a scenario that is run automatically by the game. In each game the players attempt to overcome the particular encounters, enemies, and challenges of the scenario, against which they either win or lose together.
The Core Set includes 226 cards that can be used to assemble a wide variety of decks right out of the box. Included are three perilous quests that, along with countless combinations of settings and enemies, offer near-limitless replayability. Additionally, players can build a party from a set of 12 hero cards, and focus their decks on any combination of four distinct spheres of influence: Leadership, Lore, Spirit, and Tactics. Each sphere offer unique benefits to the party, so choose wisely!
Each of these four spheres of influence has its own distinct flavor and play style, and they present a host of deckbuilding options. Most player cards fall under one of these spheres, represented with a unique icon, as well as with a unique color on its card border, and each hero has an emphasis in one of these four spheres.
A hero's sphere dictates the types of cards that hero brings to a player's disposal.
The sphere of Leadership emphasizes the charismatic and inspirational influence of a hero, and that hero's potential to lead, inspire, and command both allies and other heroes alike.
The sphere of Lore emphasizes the potential of a hero's mind. Intellect, wisdom, experience, and specialized knowledge are all under the domain of this sphere.
The sphere of Spirit emphasizes the strength of a hero's will. Determination, courage, loyalty, and heart are all aspects of this sphere, which also reaches into the more supernatural aspects of Middle-earth.
The sphere of Tactics emphasizes a hero's martial prowess, particularly as it relates to combat and to overcoming other tactical challenges that might confront the party during a quest.
While the Core Set contains everything you need to build your deck, gather your friends, and save Middle-earth, you can expand your experience further! As a Living Card Game (LCG), The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game offers a wealth of customization. Monthly 60-card expansions called Adventure Packs will feature brand new quests for the players to experience together. Additionally, these Adventure Packs bring new heroes, allies, attachments, events, and encounters to the table, ensuring unique challenges every time.What's more, a Living Card Game (LCG) offers an innovative fixed distribution method that breaks away from the traditional Collectible Card Game model. While LCGs still offer the same dynamic, expanding, and constantly evolving game play that makes CCG's so much fun, they do away with the deterrent of the blind-buy purchase model that has burned out so many players. The end result is an innovative mix that gives you the best of both worlds! Check out the LCG website to get all the details of this exciting concept in gaming.
Gather your heroes and face the coming darkness!


text:
Museum of American Architecture
and Decorative Arts
Visitors to The Museum of American Architecture and Decorative Arts take a step back in time as they learn about the social history and material culture of people settling in Texas between 1830 and 1930. The Museum provides a warm, intimate and friendly setting for the household furnishings and decorative arts which help the visitor appreciate the changes that occurred as Houston grew from a frontier settlement to a town.
Several room settings depict a lively view of Texas history. Old cast iron pots and a 1790 rifle enhance the 1840's dog trot cabin. An old wooden churn and a spinning wheel complete the decor. The pioneer bedroom inside the cabin contains a maple bed overlaid by a hand loomed jacquard spread with the date of 1846 worked into a design of the Capitol in Washington, D.C.A. Victorian bedroom of the elegant 80s is furnished with a massive bed from New Orleans and a ladies needlepoint chair with delicate cabriole legs. This room is representative of a 1870's-1880's home in Houston with electricity, decorative wood, and imported wall paper. This room also includes some children's playthings to indicate additional free time held by the Victorians.
Sure to enchant the museum's visitors, both young and old, are the Theo Redwood Blank Doll Collection and the Schissler Miniature Furniture Collection. The doll collection, one of the finest in the country, shows the evolution of play dolls, from a rare Georgian period carved wooden doll, to 19th century paper mache dolls with molded hair, china and bisque dolls with leather bodies, wax over composition, fabric and many examples of 20th century dolls. The collection also contains doll-like figures from Egyptian, pre-Columbian, African and Chinese cultures.
The Schissler Miniature Furniture collection consists of 23 pieces of antique miniature furniture dating back to the 1800s.Each year in December visitors to the museum may experience Christmas around the world. Drawing from its collections of Nativities, dolls and toys, Santas and other gift bringing figures, the museum seeks to enlighten its visitors about our own holiday customs as well as those in many other countries.


text:
Explained: Do I need a Third Party Firewall?
Continuing on with last week's article, David L. writes:
" Thanks for your help in identifying the culprit that was causing random Blue Screens of Death (BAD_POOL_CALLER) on both mine and my wife's system. Question: I have been using ZoneAlarm for many years and it has been good to me. If I decide to stick with the Windows Firewall per your recommendation - what happens if hackers find an exploit in the Windows Firewall that allows them into my system? Yes, ZoneAlarm has caused my Blue Screens of Death (BSOD) and it costs money upfront (versus the Windows Firewall which is free) - but why do you suggest using the Windows Firewall over ZoneAlarm? "
My response:
Aside from causing your systems to crash (for reasons explained here), I see no point in using or paying for a third party firewall because the Windows Firewall works just fine.
Before I explain why I feel that way, let's take a trip down memory lane to see how the market for third party firewalls developed in the first place.
How and Why Third Party Firewall, Antivirus Exist
When Windows XP was introduced way back in 2001, it was plagued with many security problems: there was no antivirus, no firewall, and no mechanism to deny programs administrative access and taking over (and infecting) the entire system. In other words, every program downloaded from the Internet ran with full administrative rights - which meant that the entire system was at risk.
This was a huge problem, and many software developers responded by introducing their own security packages, including firewalls. Because security was so lax with Windows XP, many of these firewall applications included extra security "addons" that weren't at all related to firewalling. At this time, ZoneAlarm was by far the best firewall program on the market.
Windows Security Dramatically Improves
In 2004, Microsoft released Windows XP Service Pack 2, which finally included the Windows Firewall. This helped block malicious programs from getting into the system and also from communicating with the outside world. In 2006, Windows Vista brought UAC (User Account Control), which permitted the user to allow or deny program installations, which helped block malicious programs from installing with administrative rights. In 2009, Microsoft introduced Security Essentials which included free antivirus.
Flash forward to 2012 with Windows 8 (and Windows 10 released in 2015), Microsoft now includes a free firewall, antivirus, UAC - plus many, many other security improvements by default.
So as you can see: if you are running a modern operating system such as Windows 7, 8 or 10, you likely have plenty of protection as it is. As such, there really isn't any need to pay for "extra protection" - which simply adds processing overhead and slows your computer down to a crawl.
The Purpose of a Firewall: in General
As for the firewall in general, let's discuss that:
The purpose of a firewall is to block or allow communication ports on the LAN (local area network) or WAN (wide area network - known as the Internet). That is it - nothing else, nothing more. By default, the majority of communication ports on the firewall are turned off, unless a particular Windows service requires it to be open, or you change it. Even so, to change a Windows Firewall setting, you require administrative authorization.
With that aside, most programs that infect your system would likely use port 80 or 443 to communicate to the outside world - that's because those ports are always open by default for web browsers, as those ports are reserved for HTTP and HTTPS respectively. Without those ports being open, you would not be able to browse the Internet. So: thinking that you are going to have "extra" protection by locking down "more" (or the same) ports - when they are normally blocked anyway - using a third party firewall program just doesn't make any sense to me. Why pay when you don't need to? Windows Firewall works just fine.
As for your other question: I have not seen or heard of any Windows Firewall exploits to date in the last 13 years - perhaps because it is a very basic service and does not require much updating. The fact is: most security issues are related to the Windows GUI (graphical user interface). Even so, if there was a Windows Firewall exploit, the same could be said about ZoneAlarm suffering from the same fate.
I hope that helps.
Windows 10 Security
If windows 10 has anti-virus and a good firewall, why did my new computer come out of the box loaded with the MacAfee anti-virus program. This prompted me into thinking perhaps windows 10 security was lacking. Considering this post, would it be safe to delete all third party security software from my computer, providing I keep up to speed with Microsoft updates.
I personally wouldn't -
I personally wouldn't - Windows Defender hasn't a great reputation compared to some third party suites and McAfee is in my experience quite good and the firewall will be two-way compared to windows firewall which only blocks incoming
Mcafee - in my opinion - is one of the absolute worst antivirus suites available because it is a MASSIVE resource hog, right next to Norton. The reason you have Mcafee pre-installed is because it was bundled with your computer. As someone already mentioned, they probably paid to have it done because they usually have a trial of some kind and then coax you into paying for a subscription.
all about $$$
Because McAfee paid MS to preinstall it.
One Way Only Firewall in Windows ?
Hi - are you discounting the fact that the Windows Firewall is still only On-Way Blocking ?
One-way is sufficient
Yes, the Windows Firewall is a one-way firewall. Unless you need to "be informed" (or are otherwise paranoid) of every computer process communicating with the outside world every second of the day, a one-way firewall is more than sufficient.
Two way firewalls are overkill - especially for the majority of home computer users that simply don't know any better. For example, habitually "Denying" a process will likely break program functionality because most programs these days rely on some sort of Internet connection / cloud environment.
Windows Server - which controls networks of a few PCs to a few thousand PCs in a corporate environment uses a very similar one-way Windows Firewall as standard Windows PCs. Also, Linux systems use "iptables," which are also a one-way firewall. Both these systems are considered to be the most secure systems on the planet - so that should tell you something about the usefulness of two-way firewalls.
From an administrative perspective, one-way firewalls make much more sense and are far easier to manage; if you need to block certain IP addresses they can be rerouted to 'localhost' using the Windows hosts file. Also, one-way firewalls simply won't respond to suspicious packet requests if the port is already closed.
Router Firewall
If my wireless router's firewall is enabled, do I still need Windows Firewall or a 3rd party firewall?
Router firewall + Software firewall
A router firewall will block most outside communication from getting through your network using network address translation (NAT), but you still need a software firewall to fine-tune programs and to set policies running on your computer. This cannot be done with the router alone, hence you need a software firewall.
I agree with you I don't like Mcafee or Norton, and windows is not suitable. Which one would you recommend?
Windows Firewall + Avast! free with "minimal" protection
This is off topic and will be the last answer I give that is off topic - however, I use the Windows Firewall with Avast! free antivirus with minimal protection. The Avast! free antivirus provides real-time file scanning, plus I have "silent gaming" mode turned on and sounds disabled. This keeps Avast! out of your face unless it's necessary. Real-time scanning is the only thing you need - any time a malicious program is read from the disk, it will be scanned and you will be alerted. Any other "extra protection" is CPU overhead that will slow your PC down to a crawl.
I agree with Dennis.
I agree with Dennis.
Although I use Linux for most of my computing requirements, I still use Windows 8 and 10 on 2 other laptop units, just to keep up to date with Microsofts' on goings in order to assist others that encounter issues and require my services to get them out of a bind from time to time.
Like Dennis, who mentions using Avast, I use the "free" version of Bitdefender and it has served me well. Works silently in the background on a minimal basis and notifies me when or if there appears to be a threat.
Once or twice a year, I may encounter an online "threat" and will then run ADWCleaner or Malwarebytes just to run a scan and clean out any nasty undesirable threats that may have found their way into my system from a regular online surfing session before they get out of hand and becoming buried deep into your system.
The one other important feature that I would like to point out to anyone surfing the net, is to enable a feature such as AdGuard or AdBlocker on your browser as this will reduce the majority of suspicious pop-ups that most people encounter while simply checking sites through their browser of choice. This includes safely being able to visit sites such as PutLocker should you be interested in viewing tv shows and movies.
Great info Dennis! Keep up the great service that you provide to us.
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My name is Dennis Faas and I am a senior systems administrator and IT technical analyst specializing in cyber crimes (sextortion / blackmail / tech support scams) with over 20 years experience; I also run this website! If you need technical assistance , I can help. Click here to email me now; optionally, you can review my resume here. You can also read how I can fix your computer over the Internet (also includes user reviews).
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