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- 42 acres cleared fully fenced.
- 30 sq. house 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 3 reception areas, 3 toilets.
- 3 sheds including stables, accommodation and office space.
- Separate accom. bedroom, bathroom, toilet and kitchenette fully self contained.
Magpie Ridge is the epitome of character class and country charm on 42 acres located only 17 minutes to the Yarra Valley and only 1.25 hours to Melbourne CBD. The main residence is a 30 sq. character weatherboard home positioned to take advantage of the scenic vista of the surrounding Glenburn Hills and National Parks. Beautifully situated amongst established gardens including a variety of roses and orchard trees, the house plot is a neat, fenced half acre that creates a perfect balance between rural living and ease of maintenance.
The home consists of 4 bedrooms (including Japanese influenced tatami room), 2 bathrooms, formal entryway/library, lounge, kitchen/meals area, living room, and laundry utility room with shower, toilet and vanity. The home presents old world charm with modern convenience and a beautiful balance of living zones and space with light and ambience. Some of the many features of this gorgeous home include: 10 ft. ceilings, high energy rating, fully insulated, R/C A/C, Ultimate wood heater, ceiling fans, panel heating, granite bench tops, 900mm stainless steel oven, en suite and walk in robe to main bedroom, main bathroom with cast iron bath, and built in robes to all bedrooms. Every bedroom has been carefully designed to have its own external access to private decking areas and has been generously proportioned throughout including 3 toilets for larger families and guests. To the side and rear there is a large wrap around entertainment decking which further frames the beautiful character and design.
Externally the property provides a double carport and an excellent array of shedding including the main shed currently fitted as a dojo, office and self contained accommodation perfect for studio or extended family. Measuring 9m x 12m it comes complete with full insulation, concrete base and power, bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette. Other shedding ancillary comprises 3 stables and tack room as well as the original shed utilised from the farm over 70 years ago.
Outside you will find the land of 42 acres is well kept with excellent pasture, full fencing including electric and eletrobraid fencing throughout, split into 12 paddocks (most with troughs) and excellent laneway access throughout the entirety of the property. Equestrian and stock facilities include round yard, horse arena (sand base), and cattle yards with crush and head bail. Ample water storage includes 3 stock dams, main 120,000L concrete tank, backup 25,000L header tank with 3 additional storage tanks. Take a stroll to the top of the hill and you are presented with 360 degree panoramic views of the Great Dividing Range, National Park, State Forest and Highlands as far as the eye can see.
To experience this property for yourself, give us a call and book your private appointment today.


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Support for Javascript
- User Forums
- Offline Explorer Pro
- Support for Javascript
|04/27/2005 09:49 am
|Dear Sir
Does the Offline Explorer Pro supports to download sites with intensive java /Javascripts.
|Oleg Chernavin
|04/27/2005 11:09 am
|Yes, it successfully loads most of such sites. The hard scripts which may still confuse Offline Explorer are - when scripts calculate URLs and parts of the scripting code is in HTML file and part - in .js files. Another case is when a script changes an HTML Form contents and submits it automatically.
We plan to work on the above issues.
Best regards,
Oleg Chernavin
MP Staff

subset: commoncrawl


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In June, I told you how the first TV commercial I wrote, directed, and produced was finally approved by The Florida Bar and had finally made it to the airwaves. Since then, we've shot several more, and the second one was approved.
A cool thing about this one is that it's based on reading. Would you like to see it? If so, please click on the following link:
I added the link rather than embedding the video so that you can click on it and go to our YouTube page… and hopefully, you'll "Like" the video on YouTube so that my boss will keep me around. (Hint, hint, and thank you very much!)
P.S. Once again, my Proud Mama Moment is that my son was the audio engineer for the music and the voiceover.
Time to talk: Did you watch the video? Do you prefer attorney commercials where the lawyer speaks?


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Paisley West Community Sport Hub funding application's been submitted to get the Hub up to £25,000 of funding to help purchase equipment for Sport Hub open days that would be free and cornerstones of a proposed 'Month of Sport'.
It'd be equipment like an inflatable 'Speed Cage' where you can test how fast your shot is with a football/ Tennis ball/ Cricket ball / Rugby ball etc. We're looking at outright buying this and branding it with our logos, as well as hiring Tennis/ Cricket/ Rugby/ Golf / Basketball / Football / Hockey specific equipment. They'd be used for the 'Month of Sport' and then after that, we'd have something that could be used at events like the 10k, any school competitions, sports days or gala days.
However, to get listed as a finalist for the funding, the project needs to get as many votes as possible from a public vote that's running from today, October 21st until November 18th. Each voter gets 10 votes to use.
So, ideally, if we all use our 10 votes for the Sport Hub project, along with all the Hub members across all 6 Hubs, everyone involved within those clubs plus the general public, I reckon we should be able to achieve the numbers we need. Previous winners of the £25k had voting numbers of between 4,000 and 10,000 votes so that's pretty achievable if we all use 10 votes each for the Hub project.
The link is down below so please vote! Or, you can search 'Renfrewshire Community Sport Hub Days' on the main voting page. And please forward this on to anyone else that you think could vote for the project.
Any questions or if you want more information, feel free to ask me.
David Cogan
Community Sport Hub Intern
0141 842 3000
Renfrewshire Leisure
Renfrewshire Leisure
11 Christie Street
Tel: 0300 300 0250


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Pharmacy schools » United Kingdom » Scotland » Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh (Department of Pharmacology)
Expertise in basic and clinical pharmacology is no longer concentrated in discipline-based Departments but is distributed across all four of the Schools and in at least 6 of the Interdisciplinary Research Centres within the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, in the NHS and in the College of Science and Engineering. There are significant groupings of pharmacologists in:
The Centre for Neuroscience Research, The Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Centre for Inflammation Research, The Centre for Reproductive Biology, The Centre for Integrative Physiology, The Cancer Research Centre, The Centre for Translational and Chemical Biology, Molecular Medicine Centre, The Scottish Poisons Information Bureau.
School name:The University of EdinburghDepartment of Pharmacology
Address:South Bridge
Zip & city: EH9 1QH Scotland
Phone:+44 (0) 131 651 1879
Address:South Bridge
Zip & city: EH9 1QH Scotland
Phone:+44 (0) 131 651 1879
( vote)
Department of Pharmacology Pharmacy School Location
Robert Gordon University (School of Pharmacy)
The School of Pharmacy has a long and distinguished history of producing graduate pharmacists of the highest calibre. It is, in fact, the oldest ...
University of Strathclyde (School of Pharmacy)
Pharmacy contributes to the nation's health through the expertise of graduate pharmacists in all aspects of the preparation of medicines, rangin...
Address: 16 Richmond Street


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Security Officer Shift Manager Unarmed ($DOE)
Job Description
- 2020-10147
- Employment Type
- Full-Time
- Subdivision
- Hospitality
Are you interested in…..
- A Fast Track Career with Career Development and Career Advancement Opportunities?
- Flexible Works Schedules and Referral/Attendance Bonuses?
- Paid College Tuition, Free Meals, Discounted Transportation, Health Benefits and More?
Monarch Casino in Black Hawk is building a 23 story resort that will have over 500 rooms, 4 restaurants, and a full service spa/salon which is expected to open in early 2020!
Part Time and Full Time Team Members Will Enjoy:
- Team Member (TM) Referral Program – Not only do we pay our current TM up to $600, we pay your referral up to $1,600
- Education/Tuition Reimbursement up to $6,000 per calendar year
- Career Development and Advancement Opportunities
- Flexible Work Schedules
- Up to $100 in Weekly Cash Prizes
- Paid Trips to Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa
- 1 Free Meal per Shift
- Round Trip Bus Tickets for $4 per Day
- Free Parking
- Additional Premium Pay in Select Positions
Full Time Team Members also enjoy:
- Paid Vacation
- 6 Observed Holidays
- Health Benefit Insurance Package (medical, dental, vision, disability, and more)
- 401k Retirement Plan with Company Match
Don't want to drive to Black Hawk? You don't have to! Check out these casino bus routes at www.casinoshuttle.com or www.aceexpresscoaches.com. As a Team Member of Monarch you can ride the casino bus for only $4 per day!
As Security Shift Manager you will be responsible for managing the specific shift in the Security Department. Including patrolling and inspecting Atlantis' property to protect against fire, theft, vandalism, terrorism, and illegal activity.
Protect Monarch assets, Guests, Team Members, and Vendors. Enforce laws; deter criminal activity, and other problems. Responds promptly to calls for service. Use various forms of telecommunications to call for assistance from police, fire, or emergency medical services. Interview witnesses and victims, prepare detailed security reports, and testify in court. Participate in daily safety and theft prevention audits. Provide exceptional Guest service. Responsible for ensuring that training and updated training is being conducted for all Security personnel on the specific shift. Responsible for assisting the Security Director/Assistant Security Director/Risk & Safety Manager with any other duties as assigned.
- Must have the ability to speak to others in a tactful, clear and concise manner.
- Must have the ability to add, subtract, divide, and multiply numbers.
- Must have the ability to maintain composure and display a positive attitude at all times.
- Must have the ability to work in a fast paced environment and the ability to multi-task.
- Must be computer literate in Microsoft Office applications, specifically Word, Excel, and Access.
- Must have the ability to use the digital camera and the video surveillance/security system.
- Must show good judgment and common sense, follow directions, testify accurately in court, and follow company policy and guidelines.
- Must have keen observation skills and excellent verbal and writing abilities to document incidents, violations, or suspicious activity/behavior.
- Must be physically fit and have quick reflexes because often must detain individuals until local law enforcement officials arrive.
- Must be mentally alert, emotionally stable, and physically fit to cope with emergencies.
Must be able to take charge and direct others as required during an emergency
This position is expected to:
- Ensure that training and update training is being conducted on a on-going basis on shift.
- Review the shift's paperwork for errors/omissions and correct.
- Review and submit all Security reports and other documents in a timely manner.
- Greet and assist all Guests, Team Members, and vendors in a positive manner.
- Adhere to all departmental and company policies and procedures at all times.
- Process all paperwork with extreme accuracy.
- Successfully complete the First Aid/CPR Training Program
- Successfully complete the Defensive Tactics Training Program
An Equal Opportunity Employer: Monarch Casino Black Hawk does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is Monarch's intention that all qualified applicants are given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors.
Application Instructions
Please click on the link below to apply for this position. A new window will open and direct you to apply at our corporate careers page. We look forward to hearing from you!Apply Online
Posted: 1/8/2020
Job Reference #: 10147


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Mother's Day is May 13 this year. Are you ready? I always looked forward to Mother's Day as a chance to spoil my sweet Mama, giving her things she'd never give herself. One of my favorite things to pamper her with was her favorite cologne – Red Door by Elizabeth Arden. I usually picked up one of those nifty gift sets at Dillard's. When I cleaned out her closet after she passed, I found one of those gift sets, still neatly wrapped in tissue and decorative gift bag. She never got around to using it. OR she was just too sweet to tell me to stop giving her Red Door! Not sure which, but that little bottle of Red Door is on my vanity, and whenever I'm missing her, I spritz some in the air, and walk through it, and it feels like a mom hug. Continue reading "Mother's Day Gift Guide"
Tag: gifts
Five Last Minute Gift Ideas!
Yep. It's pretty much the last minute y'all! Did you blink like me? I am stunned and startled and mind-blown at the rapid speed of December. It's kinda like a train that rolls so quickly we barely see it coming (and going)! Don't panic y'all! I'm here to help! I have a few "last minute" type ideas for you. Go a little above and beyond the simple gift of a gift card and make it special! Quick and easy, yet still thoughtful. Ready? Here ya go! Continue reading "Five Last Minute Gift Ideas!"
Gift Ideas for Couples Who Have Enough Stuff!
Even though our nest has emptied, our lives stay full of blessings and bounty. Work keeps us busy, and our friends and family (and grandkids!) keep us active and involved in life. Life is so busy, and the holiday season is no exception! But as the hubs and I have gotten older, and after 35 years of marriage, we realize that we don't need as much "stuff". There is literally not one single thing I can ask for this Christmas that I don't already have enough of. I have enough clothes in my closet (Lord knows!), and if I want an outfit, I buy the outfit myself! I have plenty of purses and shoes. I absolutely DO NOT need another small appliance or kitchen gadget. I don't want or need any more tchotchkes or figurines or home décor. So the hubs and I talked, and decided that we would gift each other with experiences and memories we could share together. I guess we've become sentimental in our midlife years! If you're on the same page, read on for some clever ideas! Continue reading "Gift Ideas for Couples Who Have Enough Stuff!"


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Building New Bonds for Social Impact in Education by Beth Yu
This post is part of the NORRAG Debates stream on Philanthropy in Education which contributes to the ongoing dialogue to help unpack... Read More
The Growth of Philanthropy in China: From Education to Philanthropy to Philanthropy for Education by Fabrice Jaumont
This post is part of the NORRAG Debates stream on Philanthropy in Education which contributes to the ongoing dialogue to help unpack the... Read More
15 January 2019, Beijing, China: Philanthropy in Childhood Education in China: Trends and perspectives
China Global Philanthropy Institute in collaboration with NORRAG and the 21st Century Education Research Institute organised the conference:"Philanthropy in Childhood Education in... Read More
Education and Climate Change: is blaming 'Western modernity' the answer? by Edward Vickers
This NORRAG Highlights was prepared in response to the blog post by Iveta Silova, Hikaru Komatsu and Jeremy Rappleye: "Facing the Climate... Read More
Transversal Competencies and their Assessment: Perspectives from the Asia-Pacific by Ramya Vivekanandan
By Ramya Vivekanandan, UNESCO Bangkok. In today's world, there is a growing sense that the real purpose of education is not only... Read More
Is the Meister Vocational High School More Cost-Effective in South Korea? By Kye Woo LEE and Dae Hong KIM
By Kye Woo LEE and Dae Hong KIM, Korea Development Institute (KDI), South Korea, and Hay Kyeong LEE, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.... Read More
China and the Global Governance of Education and Training by Xiulan Wan
By Xiulan Wan, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China Some reflections on China's role and positioning: Representatives from developing countries, including China, are... Read More
How Shanghai Does It By Xiaoyan Liang
By Xiaoyan Liang, World Bank. The World Bank's recent publication "How Shanghai Does It: Insights and Lessons from the Highest-Ranking Education System... Read More
China's New Pledges with Africa: 2016-2018 Multi-dimensional Support to Human Resource Development? By Kenneth King
By Kenneth King, Editor NORRAG News. President Xi Jinping's opening speech to the FOCAC Summit of December 2015 in Johannesburg had 'five major pillars', 'three bottleneck... Read More
Global and Asian Perspectives on the Post-2015 Discussion By Shoko Yamada
By Shoko Yamada, Nagoya University, Japan. On January 26th 2015 there was an international symposium entitled "Critical Perspectives on Education and Skills... Read More


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This fire season has change our county forever. Four large fires The Rocky Fire, The Elk Fire, Jerusalem Fire and last (and most destructive) The Valley Fire. The latter destroyed over 1300 homes, leaving so many of our friends and fellow citizens homeless. Fires in Lake County represented 52% of the firefighting in all of California. No doubt recovery will be slow and the focus of our communities energies for years to come.
Thank you to everyone who has inquired about our farm... we are many miles from the Valley fire, and were downwind from the Elk fire, so all is well here at Dancing TreePeople Farm. We are formulating our response to the rebuilding that will take place in the fire areas and helping friends.
My photo taken during the first hours of the Elk Fire (August) was picked up by ABC and the SF Chronicle:
Our thoughts and prayers are with the survivors of the 2015 Lake County fires. Let me be one to declare an intention:
"Something Good Will Come of This"
Crazy experiments and unexpected surprises on the road to a sustainable life together.
Friday, October 30, 2015
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Sitting still
Sitting still helps me to see better.
This was true when I sat in contemplative prayer for the people and needs of the city of Atlanta at Maisha (an urban house that I helped found in 1990). As I sat there in the quiet my eyes were opened to the struggles of the poor among whom I lived and my heart learned compassion from their example of caring for each other in times of desperate need. Something like what has happened in my present home, Lake County, as the recent devastation by wild fires has released an outpouring of generous assistance from so many sources.
And it is true today. Sitting helps me see better. This morning as I sat in meditation I once again was gifted to see better. Deer pranced through the orchard, doves flew from their roost in our neighbor's yard, a spider web glimmered in the sunlight, and the walnut tree leaves danced in the gentle wind. My inner sight saw clearly the rhythm of life that surrounds me and the lesson I am called to remember: Flow and be free. Though planning is important and tasks need to be done, what is essential is a profound trust in the goodness of life that frees one to be here and now at peace. My mantra for this day: Here and now flow and be free.
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|Tataki Eirini
She was born in Ahtens in 1978 and has origin from Andros.
She graduated from the Athens School of Fine Arts and she has taken part at the Erasmus program at Slade School of Fine Arts in London.
She has participated in many group exhibitions in Greece and abroad.
She lives in Athens and Andros.


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Salvador Dali - Portrait of Mrs. Reeves 1954 (Wikimedia)
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A painting recovered by the Internal Security Forces thought to be an original work of Spanish painter Salvador Dali may be less valuable than originally reported. The painting, titled "Portrait of Mrs. James Reeves," was confiscated by the ISF on Oct. 13 following investigations in Beirut's Cola neighborhood and Dohat Aramoun in the Metn. In 1955, the already-renowned Dali was commissioned to paint a portrait of English actor Olivier for a film promotion. The portrait exhibits Dali's signature surrealist motifs.Saphire noted that the portrait of Mrs. Reeves which does not exhibit Dali's signature style would not have a similar value.Separately, Nicolas Descharnes, an internationally recognized Dali expert, corroborated Saphire's view.
Lebanese decry lack of visa reciprocity
Venezuelan community hopes for better days
Where are Burj Hammoud's artisans?


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All the nuclear discussed at the 14th Arab Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy
The Arab Atomic Energy Agency (AAEA) and the Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA) organized the 14th Arab Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy in the paradise of Sharm El-Sheikh, in the South Sinai. The event was sponsored par Rosatom, Atomtex and the Joint Institute of Nuclear Research (JINR). For 5 days, around 190 presentations and papers were shared by the experts from almost all Arabic countries (the UAE did not come, and Saudi Arabia only sent one person from the military side).
Rosatom network is well established. The director for Middle East and Africa, Alexander Voronkov introduced in perfect Arabic the group and then indicated the strategy in the continent. His colleague Anatoly Kovtunov presented the implementation of El Dabaa nuclear project. Atomtex and JINR were present at the conference to sell and attract new clients. That was indeed the place to be to touch all potential clients.
The topics covered Fundamental Nuclear Sciences,Material Sciences, Nuclear knowledge management, Applications of Radioisotopes, Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Therapy, Accelerators& Reactors, Nuclear Security and Environmental Studies.
We were stunned by the presentation in the field of decommissioning in Iraq, radiation protection in medicine from Libya, waste management in Yemen and nuclear education policy in Egypt.
The number of presentations were maybe too much, but when you gather all Arabic speaking countries, and 300 experts come to share their knowledge, it is hard to be let everyone speak, but the organizers succeeded.
From a political point of view, Dr. Mohamed Shaker, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy attended the opening ceremony and you could see how close the government is with Rosatom. We could openly discuss with Prof. A. Abdel Hameed, the chairman of EAEA, and Mr. Mohamed Khaliq, from the IAEA.
The organizers promoted young researchers who showed their graduation projects and achievements. One of them, Mohamed Nabawi, introduced a revolutionary research on heavy weight concrete against radiation shielding and received a price remitted by the AAEA and the EAEA.
In fine, the event covers 360 degrees of the nuclear technology, allowed us to meet many new experts that do not have the opportunity to travel much, but pursue great projects that should be financed, in particular in the nuclear medicine. We were amazed by such modesty, knowledge and achievements with restricted resources, a lesson for westerners.


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Why You Should Be Using Metal Cored Wires
August 11, 2015
Making the change to metal cored wire can be extremely advantageous. There are a number of factors that contribute to the success of metal cored wires, including:
- High deposition efficiency
- High deposition rates
- Increased duty cycles
The deposition efficiency of a consumable is the amount of material that converts to weld metal. During the welding process, a portion of the consumable is lost to slag, spatter, and fumes. The lower this percentage of lost consumable is, the higher the deposition efficiency will be. Depending on the transfer used, metal cored wire can exhibit a deposition efficiency range of 92-98%. This high efficiency is due to a decreased volume of slag and spatter that require removal from the weld and parent material. Reduced fume levels are also reflected in the deposition and create a healthier work environment for the welder.
Higher deposition rates are also seen in the implementation of metal cored wire. The deposition rate is the amount of weld metal deposited during a given time. The deposition rate of metal cored wire is about 57% higher per hour than solid MIG wire. This ultimately results in higher achievable welding speeds.
Travel speeds rely on duty cycles. During the welding process, a duty cycle refers to the amount of continuous arc time. Factors such as travel time, equipment, slag removal, and replenishing consumables affect the duty cycle. Shielded metal arc welding using stick electrodes can only produce about 12 minutes of welding every hour, whereas metal cored wire yields a duty cycle of about 30 minutes an hour. While solid MIG and flux cored wire can achieve these high duty cycles as well, only metal cored wire can take the process to a whole new level with faster travel speeds. Metal cored wire can account for increased travel speeds of 35-40%. Fabricators can practice automatic application with high duty cycles and travel speeds without jeopardizing weld integrity and appearance.
Polymet wires are ideal for demanding applications such as metal to metal, metal to earth, high impact, high abrasion, corrosion, and high temperature, or combinations of these wear factors.
For more information please contact us at 1-513-874-2586 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Las Vegas Symposium Feb 28 & 29 2020
The "Don't Miss" Event of the Year
Leonard Renier, founder of Wealth & Wisdom Institute, presents a career changing event for professionals in our industry and a life changing process for your clients.
Learn to communicate and inform your clients about the challenges they are facing, the myths & realities of traditional thinking and the unique solutions that are right in front of them.
Just Some Of The Topics That Will Be Covered with Leonard Renier, Guest Speakers and The Leadership Panel:
- Become The Solution In Your Clients Life
- Separate Yourself From Your Competition
- Establish Yourself As A Leader In The Industry
- Increase The Size Of Each Case as well as The Number Of Sales Per Client
- Learn To Communicate with Words Presentation© The Money Matrix© and more!
Become the solution in your client's life.
Looking forward to seeing you in Las Vegas February 28th & 29th 2020
- 7:30 am Registration/Check In
- 8:30 am Event Start
- 5:00pm Cocktail Hour
- 9:00 am Event Start
- 2:00 pm End
Above Time Frames May Change/ Check Up Dates On Constant Contact Send Outs
Hotel Informationhttps://tuscanylv.webhotel.
Rooms: Book on line or Call Room Reservations
- Click Reservations
- Input Arrival
- Input Departure
- Input Group Code 0220WEAL
- Proceed
Or call 1-877-887-2261
Not a member yet? Click here to learn more
PLEASE NOTE: Event fee does not include any travel, accommodations or any other fees occurred by attending this event.


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e: firstname.lastname@example.com t: 07941 317776
a: 8 Weller Place, Downe, Orpington, Kent. BR6 7JW
Our Services
Infinity Interiors offer a full range of services for interior projects. We are happy to supply free quotations for jobs of any size involving any or all of the following trades
Our Services at Infinity Interiors include renovations and refurbishments
Infinity Interiors carry out painting and decorating property maintenance
in bromley and orpington
infinity interiors services include property maintenance
Infinity Interiors work throughout Bromley and Orpington carrying out services to the highest standards
Painting and decorating and property services and maintenance by Infinity Interiors
Renovations and property maintenance in Orpington and Bromley by Infinity Interiors
Property maintenance In Bromley
Infinity Interiors


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Multiport Valve
Product Description
With the aid of vast industrial knowledge and in-depth market understanding, we manufacture and supply a wide array of Multiport Valve. These valves are manufactured using the finest quality of materials that are well sourced after a keen inspection on the vendors of the market. Our valves are specially used in the pipe fittings. The entire range of Multiport Valve also find their use in transferring and diverting the pipe lines by replacing ball, globe, gates and pinch valves.
- Accurate dimensions
- Rust proof finish
- Robust construction
Contact Us
202, Shanti Mall, Near Sattadhar Cross Road, Memnagar, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380061, India
Phone :91-79-27436154


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Top Video Game Reviews
Tips from other game enthusiests
|Feed favorited by 1 person. Feed Info
October 28, 2008 Published ~ 11 years ago.
Get Paid to Play Video Games - Video Games Testers Job GuideKingsley asked:
Do you have the desire to be Paid to Test Video Games? Do you want to receive free sample of video games to play before they are released. Then you've come to the right place for a guide on these gets paid to test video games. Everyday video games manufacturers create various kinds of games worth millions of dollars and before they release it they normally look for people to test these video games for them to make sure when its released into the market, consumers would love it and purchase them so by knowing your opinions through the videos games they allow you play for free in return for some cash and opinions they will know what to expect from the game consumers whether they would love it or not. So if you would love to get paid to play video games, these is a big opportunity for you to make some money from the comfort of your home testing video games.
When you apply and accepted as a video game test member before they are released, you are paid hourly depending on the no of game you test. These testing of video games before they are released is something many people want to be a part of and many are using it to make like $250 per hour getting paid to play video games part time, many people do not know how these great opportunity that's why few people benefit from it, know that you've known I hope you would love to be a part of the game testers team. You might be wondering what the requirements are to qualify among those would be paid to test video games before they are released, the requirements are just that you must know how to play video games and you must be serious to play these video games and give opinions on them to the manufacturers, you must also have a computer with internet access.
Making money by testing video games online is one of the legitimate offers that are on the internet today, even though you still go to school, you can get test video games before they are released. You must not be a video game pro before you test the video games, you simply submit your opinions on them and wait for your get video game salary. It amazes me when i see stuffs like testing video games for manufacturers. I know you wont leave these exciting offer, visit Get Game Testing Gound
October 20, 2008 Published ~ 11 years ago.
What Contributes To A Popular Video Game?Leon Groom asked:
Video games are a phenomenon that reflects our computer based society. They are played by young and old alike and are now offered by nearly every browser, many websites and many cell phones. No longer does one have to buy specialized equipment for games, such as a Nintendo player or Game boy. Nearly every video game is offered downloadable, and usually free, on the Internet.
Video games had their inception decades ago when parents bought their children video games to keep them quit and because the kids needed for them since all of their friends already had them. Perhaps this didn't quite work out since the games themselves are noisy and the kids' reactions can be ear splitting. Also, games were designed and replaced each other in rapid succession, so no amount of cash invested in an inventory of video games was sufficient to keep abreast of the movement. Parents also purchased video games with a naïve hope that the kids would stick to the game boy and leave the family computer alone. Of course, no self respecting child video game player is immune to the fact that family computer was a bigger better vehicle for playing video games.
The graphics are awesome on a Mac and the sound levels can be truly awe inspiring as well. So not only did this parental ploy result in junior taking over the family computer but demanding his own. Finally parents invited the devilish video games into their kids' lives in an attempt to familiarize their kids with computer use, make them comfortable with this new technology and integrate this tool into their lives. Finally parents almost got it right and kids and computers bonded immediately and formed a bond that has resulted in Nerds becoming as large a population segment as any ethnicity. But Nerdism is not restricted to any ethnicity, sex, or occupation.
Video games have grown in accessibility and popularity so that they and the playing of them represent a true subculture in our modern day world. Not only children and teenagers but also an ever-increasing number of adults partake in playing video games. Video games have become a respectable hobby for collecting as well as for playing. No longer does the hip young executive collect sports cars, James Bond memorabilia or Single Malt Scotch bottles, he showcases his collection of video games and impresses his dates with it. There are, of course, video game clubs where members can meet face to face to discuss the pros and cons or their favorite games and winning techniques.
But more popular that these are the online chat rooms devoted to video games. Here the members can interact with their favorite item, a computer, but share opinions with other humans anyway. There are several magazines and dozens of websites aimed at the consumer of video games that spotlight new games, complete with reviews and commentaries. Focus groups chart the use of video games and try to spot trends for the development of new video games. Game developers often recruit children to test their products and point out defects or areas that need improvement. Video games have become a billion dollar industry, a subculture and a virtual way of life for many.
October 12, 2008 Published ~ 11 years ago.
Professional Gamers Get Rich And Famous Playing Video GamesMichael Connelly asked:
If you think your kids are spending too much time playing video games on their Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, PC or PSP or Playstation Portable consoles then you may have a reason to be concerned, but not worried. Before you tell your child to put down the game remote and pick up a text book you should consider one fact and that is that there is a professional video game circuit out there with professional gamers who earn thousands, even millions of dollars.
South Korea has a genuine passion for playing video games. This is a video game obsessed nation. The electronic gaming events in this country can draw up to 100,000 spectators at a single event. Their cyber athletes make hundreds of thousands of dollars playing in tournaments that are televised nationwide. Some of them are so popular they cannot go out in public without body guards to shield them from adoring fans. They even date movie stars and get their faces on the covers of newspapers and magazines.
Recently there was an electronic gaming tournament held in Seoul, South Korea at Jamsil Indoor Stadium. This event was the equivalent of our Superbowl. The game of choice for this event was StarCraft, which is a web game that is played on PCs. This event was nationally televised and broadcast on the Internet. The audience of 1.78 million who viewed it on television and online were glued to their seats as they watched the daylong event unfold. They came to watch the most popular gamer in their country strut his stuff.
His name is Lim Yo Hwan, he is 27 years old and he is the Mick Jagger of e-sports in South Korea. This young man has made quite a name for himself playing StarCraft, the only game that matters on the video game circuit in this country. His fans wanted to see him put on a show, and he did, winning the event easily with a take home prize of $20,000. Lim Yo Hwan has won many of these events in recent years and this has put his income in the six figure category. Not bad for playing video games.
The United States has some Superstar cyber athletes too who make a very good living on the electronic gaming circuit. The brightest star in this country is a 26 year old man named Johnathan Wendel, otherwise known to his fans as Fatal1ty, which is his screen name. He lives in Kansas City, Missouri but his reputation lives all over the world.
Johnathan became a professional gamer at the age of 19, and in the past seven years he has won 41 major eSports video game tournaments. He has won more electronic gaming competitions than anyone else in America. Johnathan has also done very well financially, winning over $450,000 in prize money.
Johnathan Wendel has traveled all over the world playing in video game tournaments. To date he has played on every continent except Antarctica. These tournaments have been held at some very interesting, unique and famous places including the Great Wall Of China and Red Square in Moscow, so the idea of holding one in Antarctica some day may be not be so far fetched.
Everywhere Johnathan goes he is swarmed by fans who just love the way he plays video games. All of his expenses are paid when he travels and he lives like a rock star. With world championships in five different video games, Johnathan is considered by most in his sport to be the best in the world. No other gamer has even come close to matching his accomplishments.
In November of 2006 Johnathan Wendel defeated his biggest nemesis and won the world championship for his fifth video game, PainKiller, and in doing so he took home a prize check for $150,000. He defeated the reigning world champion for that game, a 20 year old man from Holland that goes by the screen name Vo0.
Johnathan is becoming more and more popular every day as he continues to shine as a Superstar in the world of professional gamers. He is a force to be reckoned with in the Cyberathlete Professional League. He has recently launched a line of Fatal1ty products that include such things as mouse pads, headsets and keyboards that are made specifically for playing video games. He has a marketing Guru named Mark Walden working with him and both expect to make millions of dollars selling these products to gamers worldwide.
The video gaming industry is expected to make $30 billion dollars this year selling video games and consoles for products like Nintendo Wii, Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and PSP. This is an enormous amount of money that is more than twice the yearly grosses of the NBA, NFL and Major League Baseball combined. With this kind of money involved and hundreds of millions of people playing video games all over the world the sport of professional video gaming is starting to attract major advertising sponsors and merchandising companies.
Professional video gamers are no longer just kids who are wasting their time spending endless hours playing video games. Many of them have managed to transform a hobby into a lucrative career. There are hundred of thousands, and even millions of dollars being made these days by gamers who travel the world all expenses paid and live like rock stars.
So the next time you think your child is spending too much time playing Nintendo Wii, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, PC or PSP games you should not worry too much. If they show more than the average amount of interest in the sport of electronic gaming, try not to discourage them from playing video games. It is important for you to realize that they may not just be playing games when they sit down in front of their television or computer, they could also be training to be a world famous cyber athlete millionaire.
September 29, 2008 Published ~ 11 years ago.
Video Games Can Be Educational For ChildrenVictor Epand asked:
There seems to be a constant battle on how video games are affecting the children that are playing them, but the fact is that video games can teach children too. In fact, video games can help to enhance the reading skills of a child, not to mention help build their coordination and visual skills.
In several video games, your child get to become the main character who travels throughout the game purchasing different items needed to complete the video game successfully, while reading special instructions given throughout the video game. Since the child is simply interested in playing the video game they become unaware that they are actually reading and often times the reading is above their regular grade level. You may often hear your child say they do not like to read, but if you will take the time to watch them play particular video games and tell them you can not see the writing that well, then hopefully they will read it to you and you will become fairly surprised.
Video games can even inspire children to new interests as well. In fact, when a child plays a video game that they do not know much about, then you may see your child bringing books home from the school library that are similar to their new video game. When a child is participating in a video game, then children can see history come alive. Each video game that your child plays must be viewed as having a positive side instead of listening to all the hubba of others, because video games can teach your child different skills.
Some video games are designed to teach the skills necessary for making a living as they give the gamer a variety of different choices. Video games also confront gamers with issues such as moral dilemmas, solving challenging problems, and developing social relationships as well. Children who play video games often have the pick up from a cluttered area than those that do not. In fact, studies are now showing that when learning is added into video game playing children begin being faster at the other activities they participate in.
Some where in the future of time teachers may begin incorporating the playing of video games into the assignments of their students. Several government agencies will use computerized video games to assist in stimulating certain types of situations for their employees. In fact, even the military and NASA train with computerized video games, which is due to the changes in computer technology. By looking more at the positive side of video games parents and teacher could really bring themselves closer to children.
Often times children are playing their video games on-line, which makes playing video games much more of a social activity. Children and adults can learn more from each other if they take the time to learn how to play these video games with each other, which will also open up the lines of communication and understanding. Hopefully, more individuals will see video games in a more positive light instead of in a negative way most of the time.
September 24, 2008 Published ~ 11 years ago.
How To Become A Video Game Tester In 4 Easy StepsSean Saunders asked:
Think paid video game testing is a myth? Well, think again. Believe it or not, video game testers get paid extremely well to test the newest and most technologically advanced games. Many of them even get to do so from the comfort of their own home, if you can believe that.
"Do all of these game testers have college degrees from established schools?" Nope. Most of them started game testing right out of high school, and they did so just by getting out there and taking it one step at a time. If you'd like to get started in video gaming testing, read and follow the simple steps below.
Step One: Know That Being a Video Game Tester is A Career, Not A Hobby
If you want to be a professional video game tester, you have to realize that it isn't a weekend hobby that you can do whenever your in the mood. You will be required to work and meet deadlines set by your employer. Although you may be working from home, you are still required to do your job in a professional manner. If you conduct yourself professionally and treat video game testing like an actual job instead of just a fantasy where you get to do what you please, you will be much more successful with your game testing career.
Step Two: If You Want To Be a Game Tester, You Have To Get Yourself Out There
The simple fact in the matter is that game companies do not actively list "video game tester job" openings in the paper. If they did, they would be swamped by would-be testers who don't know the first thing about testing. So, instead of merely glancing at the paper from time to time, actually head to the companies and developers and apply for a testing job.
When you apply for a job, don't be ashamed to brag about your expertise with video games. However, be sure that all bragging is done in a professional manner; otherwise, the interviewer might be turned off. In short, just do whatever you can to convince them that you would be a great addition to their video game tester "roster".
If there is one thing to remember in this industry, it's this; Experience is Everything!
Step Three: Video Game Tester Jobs Must Be Completed As Specified
Any instructions given to you by your employer, in this case a game developer, must be followed to the letter. Make sure you know precisely what information the developers want, as well as any feedback that they require.
Anything you write down or report on must be clearly legible and easily understood. The developers/programmers rely on your reports to find and fix bugs & glitches; so if your writing looks like chicken scratch and your grammar is similar to the grammar of a non-English speaking immigrant, you probably won't last long as a game tester.
Whatever the company asks of you, do it and don't ask too many questions. The more compliant you are and the more you work, the more video game tester jobs they will ultimately hand you. Also, it is imperative that you meet all specified deadlines; so, be sure to send your work in on time, every time.
Step 4: Don't Stop After One Video Game Tester Job, Keep Going!
Once you get and complete your first video game testing job, don't sit around and stare at your check thinking "Wow, I did it". Instead, get right back out there and apply for more testing jobs.
The company you did the job for, if satisfied with your reports, will probably offer you another testing job right after that one. If they don't, well, you could always use them as a reference for your next and future video game testing jobs.
Remember, you have already landed and completed your first game testing job; so, the hard part is pretty much over. Now, all you have to do is rinse and repeat and you will be on your way to a very successful video game tester career.
September 3, 2008 Published ~ 11 years ago.
Zany Video Games From Insomniac GamesVictor Epand asked:
On the market today there is now available some crazy and zany video games that can enhance the video gaming experience for gamers. These incredible video games have the ability to cause the villains within a video game to begin dancing to disco music.
The most bizarre of these newly bizarre video games are produced by Insomniac Games, who also produced the Ratchet And Clank Future - Tools Of Destruction video game. Within this video game was the introduction of the Transformer that had the ability to turn enemies into tiny, little penguins and the Gelanator that could trap its enemies in ice cubes that were made of lime gelatin. Their whimsical look on video games has enabled the majority of their video games to become top titles on the bestseller charts by the gaming industry.
The magical and advanced technology that is used in creating special effects in many movies are the same ones that are used to create the realistic graphics and life like animation within many video games produced by Insomniac Games. Insomniac Games is one of the few independent video game developers that are still battle for their place among the big league names of Activision and Electronic Arts Incorporated. Already two top independent video game developers, Pandemic Studios and BioWare Corporation, have sold out to Electronic Arts Incorporated.
Insomniac Games is a company that has reserved the rights to keep to their roots as a goofy and informal company that can focus on creativity and fun. This company was founded in 1994 and has been going strong ever since they released their very first video game demo entitled, Disruptor. However, it only sold close to two hundred thousand copies, which is not great, but for a first time video game it is not too shabby either.
The second video game that they released was Spyro the Dragon, which featured a friendly purple dragon and it was a runaway hit. This video game was so incredible that between 1998 and 2000 there were three more video games created that were based on the Dragon Spyro. The sales of these video games reached close to twelve million copies actually being sold.
Then in 2002, they created Ratchet And Clank, which was about a furry yellow creature and his robot sidekick. This video game was such a huge hit that it sold more than twelve million copies. The major video game they released was a more mature type of video game known as, Resistance - Fall Of Man. This video game became one of the best selling video games for Sony and its Playstation 3 video game system.
Insomniac Games develops video games for only Sony, and since the Playstation 3 video gaming system has fallen way behind the sales of the Wii and Xbox-360 they have truly been affected. However, they are not considering selling out to the larger video game developing companies. In fact, they will consider developing video games for other video game system manufactures first.
They have created such fabulous video games as Spyro the Dragon in 1998, Spyro 2 - Ripto's Rage in 1999, Spryo - Year of the Dragon in 2000, Ratchet & Clank in 2002, Ratchet & Clank - Going Commando in 2003, Ratchet & Clank - Up Your Arsenal in 2004, Ratchet Deadlocked in 2005, Ratchet & Clank Future - Tools of Destruction in 2006, and Resistance - Fall of Man in 2007.
August 22, 2008 Published ~ 11 years ago.
Becoming a Succesful Video Game TesterMike Brown asked:
If you're willing to put in some trial to contact some video game companies, being a video game tester is likely in your future. However, some people simply rely on their skills and don't realize you'll need to do a little research to become a video game tester. A video game tester job requires that you at least have video game playing skills. Believe it or not some people just cannot play video games, while others are amazing at them. Some people lack the motivation and many lack the proper hand eye coordination to play well.
People choosing a career in the video game field most likely start out as video game testers. The video game testers are giving new games that are almost completed and need testing to identify flaws in the different versions of the games that will be available for sale. Not only do video game testers play the games they also have to record what they find. For example, a video game tester may find a bug on a certain level of the game, to describe the bug may take more than just a few words. A video game tester must examine in full all the issue any certain game may have. Since so many gaming companies and consoles exist there are numerous game tester jobs open. Video game testers may be required to play the same game over and over, including certain sequences in the game just to get to a certain spot. This can help fix flaws in a video game. All of this testing is important in being able to position yourself to learn all you can to move forward in the video game industry.
The higher you climb the ladder as a tester the better chances of getting deeper into the gaming industry there are. Starting out as a video game tester will allow you to position yourself with experience and position yourself to learn from the best in the industry. As a video game tester there are many possibilities for you those that have had at least 3 years experience earn over $25,000 per year for those with over 6 years experience they can earn over $43,000 per year. When you include your video game testing experience with the right college degree, you can position yourself in testing management which has unlimited potential.
Of course depending on your goals you can position yourself for other major professions in the video game industry including programming, developing, designing, art, and producing. Learning to become a video game tester will greatly help you career in the future. Starting on your way to success may be just as easy as having your skills in playing video games and a little patience when you position yourself as a video game tester in the video game industry. Without patience you may become frustrated and feel that your career will never open up. However, simply waiting and continuing to play and practice may help open the door for you.
August 19, 2008 Published ~ 11 years ago.
Rent Video Games- Save Yourself Time and MoneyJohn Hinkle asked:
The ability to rent video games from home without leaving the house has always been a true dream of mine. Not only does renting video games online keep you busy, but it can be very satisfying knowing you can rent as many titles as you want at anytime and generally receive them within a day or two.
Here are some Video Game Rental Statistics you might find interesting: •"U.S. consumers spent $633.6 million renting video games in 2001, and a record-breaking $6 billion buying video game software (including PC software)."
But why are people renting video games instead of buying? I guess I can't say gamers are not buying video games. "The U.S. computer and video game software sales grew four percent in 2004 to $7.3 billion — a more than doubling of industry software."
But why rent games? I would estimate that people rent for 4 primary reasons. 1.The convenience 2.Its cheaper 3.Able to test games 4.Time sensitive
Convenience is truly a luxury worth having these days. People are looking for ways to save time and effort. Everything these days has to be fast and easy. Online video game rental companies provide that and much more. First of all and most important they deliver the game right to your front door. No more wasting your gas going to your favorite rental store, only to find out that the game you wanted is no longer available and won't be available until you make that drive again. Gas is too expensive these day, who wants to spend all that money driving to a video store when you can easily accomplish the same task on your home computer?
Second of all it's simple alot cheaper. The average video store charges from $4.00 to $6.00 dollars per video game rental. That could get expensive, specially if you're renting numerous titles per week. Most of the well known game rental clubs like GameFly, Gottaplay, Intelliflix and RentZero only charge $12.95 to $19.95 per month for unlimited video game rental. So let's say you rent 2 titles per week at the local video store. That equal around $30.00 dollars per month compared to $12 to $13 dollars per month with the online alternative. This is a large savings at the end of the month.
Now here is the greatest part. Have you ever purchased a video game and just hated it. You can't just return the game, you're stuck or you have to exchange it in for store credit. So you just have to **** it up and move on to the next game, which might not live up to your standards. Renting video games online gives you the chance to test the game first before you purchase. The companies will even allow you to purchase the games at discount rates and just keep the game if you enjoy it that much.
You can keep the games as long at you like just pay the monthly fee. If you want to play 6 to 7 games a month or more you can just pay the one time monthly fee and be done with it. You don't even have to pay for postage. That's a deal that I can get use to.
August 18, 2008 Published ~ 11 years ago.
Start A Career In Video Game DesignAndy West asked:
If you are thinking of what to do for a career and you have an interest in animation, then you should consider video game design. This is an industry that is booming at an incredible rate and shows no signs of slowing down. In the past twenty years, there have been incredible advances in the video game design industry and you could be a part of it.
In only a few decades, there have been barriers broken that could never have been dreamed of in the past. Video games are so realistic now that you feel as though you are actually in the game. You can play a racing game and feel as though you are in the Indy 500 or play a war game and get a good glimpse into what World War Two was really like. The possibilities are endless but people are needed to come up with these ideas and innovations.
There are a few things that are needed in order to have a successful career in video game design. First of all, you need to have an interest in video games. You will be able to use all of the knowledge you have gained from years of gaming to your advantage. It is quite difficult to find a video game that is one hundred percent original. Most games borrow tricks and tips from other games and incorporate them into their own.
Therefore, if you have an extensive knowledge of video games, you will be able to use these tricks in your favor. Another important factor is an interest in computers, specifically animation. Video games are all produced on computers, so you will need to have a firm understanding of programming and animation. So if you have an interest in video games and a basic knowledge of animation, then you are set to begin the path of becoming a video game designer.
The next step would be to capitalize on your pre-existent skills. This can be accomplished by enrolling in a course that deals with video game design. These courses will be able to take the skills that you currently have and turn them into talents. Talents that prospective employers will be pleased to see.
You will be able to learn about every aspect of video game design. This includes all of the animation, development and concept of video games. You will not only be given the skills to create a video game but also how to plan it out and make it interesting to the gamer. Since this market is so gigantic, you need to have a good idea if you want your game to sell. With a course in video game design, you will have the ability to create a game that will fly off the shelves.
A lot of people think that making a video game is strictly done on computers. However, this is only part true. A large portion of the development of the game is done in the mind. You need to have the ability to visualize the finished product in your head before even beginning to program it. These types of courses will be able to train your mind to work ahead of your body to achieve the best results.
Another advantage of video game design is that it is a market that is guaranteed to stay strong. People of all ages are interested in video games today and the numbers continue to grow. So if you have an interest in video games and some computer knowledge, take the steps towards making video game design your rewarding career.
August 16, 2008 Published ~ 11 years ago.
Video Game Design Careers: 6 Benefits To Working In The IndustryAndy West asked:
Most want to earn a living doing something they know and love. Video game design is a career choice that appeals to many avid video game players. Designing video game graphics isn't all fun and games, though. Video game design is a real career with real benefits, such as the six listed below.
1: Challenge your creativity. Most of those in the industry will agree that one of the best parts of video game design is the opportunity to challenge your creativity. Like any other form of art, designing video games keeps your creative mind active. Whether you are planning the game's story line, graphics, characters, or all of the above.
2: Enjoy a casual work environment. When people are asked what they value in a job, a casual work environment often ranks quite high on the list. People don't want to feel stressed by a conservative workplace while they are trying to work, especially if the job generates plenty of stress of its own accord.
Luckily, careers in video game design typically boast casual work environments. Video game people are relaxed and fun loving, rather than uptight and traditional. This is definitely a good thing, for both employee and boss: Not only do people tend to be more productive and successful when they can relax and let their creative juices flow, they also find that their entire quality of life improves.
3: Get paid for your work. Don't listen to all of those party-poopers who insist that you need to decide on a real job while you pursue video game design as your hobby. Video game designers actually get paid rather well. For instance, the average entry-level designer earns a yearly salary of about 43,000, while more experienced designers average about 70,000 a year. Also, full-time designers enjoy the usual benefits, such as health insurance, 401K, and other employer-sponsored programs.
Alternatively, video game design is one of those careers where self-employment or freelancing is possible. Freelance and contract designers typically command even higher per-hour rates than full-time employees; although this is in part to make up for the loss of benefits and the need to spend time marketing oneself, there is also a greater potential to work more hours and, therefore, earn an even higher salary than your full-time counterparts can boast.
4: Know your job is secure. Like any industry, video game design has its ups and downs. However, game designers have a certain amount of added job security, due to the immense and growing popularity of the video game industry. For example, consider Xbox's smash hit Halo 3, which made more than 300 million in the first week after its release.
The video game industry has come a long way from its early days of the Atari and Nintendo. New and more powerful systems are constantly being developed, and increasingly more individual games are released every year. As a result the video game companies are always on the lookout for the bright new talents in the field.
5: Brag to your friends. We'd be lying if we didn't admit that this is a major benefit of designing video games. There is nothing cooler than being able to point to game on the shelf at the store and say that you worked on that game. You'll never worry again about the question regarding what you do for a living.
6: Getting paid to do what you love. No matter what the other benefits, almost nothing compares to the soul-deep pleasure of getting paid well to do what you love every day.
Working in video game design obviously has its benefits. The pay is good, the work environment and the likeability factor of the job even better. If you love to play video games and have a creative personality, then a career in video game design would be a great choice.
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Thursday, October 21, 2010
So yesterday was my grandmother's funeral. Sam slept later than normal and then came downstairs complaining that his belly hurt when he walked, and he was visibly uncomfortable. I pressed on his stomach which greatly increased his pain. To say at that moment that I was terrified would be the understatement of the year. As a nurse my first thought was appendicitis, and then of course my brain flew threw thoughts of bleeding issues is he needed it removed, it rupturing and him having a septic infection which he wouldn't be able to fight off, etc etc... It was horrible.
I quickly made the round of calls to his doctors. And waited extremely anxiously for them to call me back. Thankfully our primary called back and I was able to speak with her on the phone. She was wonderful as usual. We ran through all of his symptoms, and my fears. She reassured me multiple times that she thought he would be ok as we went to the funeral. She also researched where I should go (in relation to the funeral) if something happened while there. She made sure I had all of her numbers to get her immediately if needed...
We then went to the funeral and she said we could come immediately after regardless of time to see her. And that is what we did. Essentially once we saw her was that it was his colon that was inflammed/irritated. After speaking with her we decided that it was ok to be at home, and again was given a bunch of things to look for and to call her if there were any issues.
Today seemed to be a better day today. He isn't eating much at all, but there have been no explosive stools, and no fever. He has pretty low energy and I feel like he is kind of pale but all in all he is doing better. And Dr V being the wonderful doctor that she is called tonight to check on him, and again said that if I needed her to give her a call.
Posted by Mommato4miracles at 7:33 PM
Labels: bleeding, doctors, Irritable bowel syndrome, Sam and Sophia, Sammy, sick
1 comment:
- tiff(threeringcircus) said...
Poor little man and poor you! I would have been terrified too.
I'm so glad that you have a good doctor who youmcan rely on. It has to be good to have that.
I hope your gorgeous little man improves soon and you can relax a little after such a traumatic time, with the funeral and sickness and your back.
- October 23, 2010 at 11:27 PM
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The holiday season is a great time for giving back to the community and helping people that are less fortunate. Some people struggle every day to put food on the table for themselves and their family. It is hard for them to afford the day to day essentials, even food. The economic recession forced millions of Americans into poverty, with nearly 15 percent of the population – or roughly 46.7 million people – living below the poverty line in 2014. Not to mention, the unfathomable amount of food that is being wasted. In fact, according to a Guardian report, roughly 50 percent of all produce in the United States is thrown away—some 60 million tons (or $160 billion) worth of produce annually, an amount constituting "one-third of all foodstuffs." It is time to donate all those old cans of food just sitting around in your pantry and help provide for those in need. Many of the large food and drink industry giants will even donate their excess stock to help give back to the neighborhood. Grocery stores and wholesalers have thousands of pounds of food to give away, food that otherwise would get thrown away. When large quantities of food and drinks are being collected, space is inherently going to be an issue. Shipping containers will ensure that that goods are stored efficiently and will remain safe for consumption.
At Container Alliance, we have modified shipping containers, refrigerated containers, and insulated containers. Shipping containers can be used as remote food bank facilities for storage and refrigeration purposes. They can be converted into facilities to distribute items to the community. We also have office containers available for rent, if office space gets cramped. We have containers in various sizes and conditions available for purchase, as well as long-term and short-term rental options. Let us help you find the right solution for your storage needs.
A major issue in urban communities is the lack of access to fresh produce. Not having enough fresh fruits and vegetables means nutritional deficiencies for an already less fortunate community. Rainier Valley Food Bank in Seattle is using a shipping container as an experiment to grow greens hydroponically and even plans to open a kitchen for cooking classes and communal meals. Shelving can be added to your container to keep your supplies organized and accessible. We have various modification options available from electrical packages and insulation to windows and doors. Container Alliance can also custom paint your container to give it a more vibrant and eye-catching look. Shipping containers are flexible and can easily be relocated to a new location, if necessary. Take the time to give back this holiday season and donate to your nearest food bank. A good meal is like a smile, it brings happiness to the heart.
Photo: Agritecture
Do you want to plan a food drive for the holiday season? Let Container Alliance help you make a difference in your community. To discuss your options further, give Container Alliance a call today at (800) 386-2345 or fill out a quick quote form now.


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I've just gotten a new laptop (a Thinkpad T480) and thought it would be a good idea to lightly document the process of setting it up.
I took this opportunity to finally start syncing my dotfiles to a git repository. The idea would then be to symlink to the places on my system those files are actually used. The advantage being I have version control over these configuration files, and can hence easily rollback, and I have them all in one place and will never have to track them down again.
I use arch, but every time I've installed it I've "cheated" and used the Antergos installer. It's basically arch linux but with a lovely gui installer and a ton of options for what to set up.
This time I saw that it could install i3, and since that's been my window manager of choice for the last couple years I thought I'd give it a shot. Sadly, the i3 that Antergos set up, while lovely and undoubtedly nice for a first time user, was a little too configured for my tastes, and so I started the process again and instead set up antergos with just the "base" install. This'll set up all the drivers and system level things neccessary to get you started. It just works and I've never had any trouble with it :).
Once that's in place I could set up X and i3, which also were super straightforward. One thing I forgot was how to set up X to start automatically on tty1, but that was a quick google away.
(Note: I used this tutorial which I've had to reference the last three times I did this as well.)
All was not smooth sailing. I got blocked very early in the process when I couldn't boot the laptop off a USB. Turned out that I needed to go into the BIOS settings and turn off SecureBoot. Once that was done I ran into another problem with the live USB, where for some reason I had to select live "CD" to in it's boot menu. After that it was all smooth sailing until the system itself was up and running.
The only thing that really got me past that point was getting the trackpad to work like I was used to. The only thing missing was tap-to-click and my old configuration files were not working. I think this is because they were assuming I was using the synaptics drivers, when I was not. (This may be a notch against antergos as you're never quite sure what drivers you're using until you check).
Once I'd figured that out though all I had to do was set up a new simpler config file for it and it worked out of the box :)
Section "InputClass"
Identifier "libinput touchpad catchall"
MatchIsTouchpad "on"
MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
Option "Tapping" "True"
Option "TappingDrag" "True"
Driver "libinput"
In the process of writing this I've actually discovered one more problem.
There's a slight lag when using GUI emacs that I'd never noticed before. It
disappears when using
emacs -nw and doesn't exist on my old system. This'll
drive me crazy. My suspicion is that it's something to do with the display
(ed: 10 minutes later and I figured out it's a problem with
which has been successfully disabled and replaced with
ed2: had some graphics problems with other programs until I installed glew)
Overall this went pretty smoothly. Took only a couple hours to get everything the way I like it and it already feels basically the same as my last laptop (albiet in a bigger body and with a way better keyboard).
Next time, I probably want to branch out of my comfort zone a little bit more. NixOS has been something that I've wanted to try for ages now and setting it up on a new system from scratch seems like the best way to get into it. It would also help get more of my configuration files to be reproducable.


text:
Showing 1-20 of 31
By: A Pastor's Wife
Price: $30.00
Publisher: Boston, U.S.A., Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, by John P. Jewett & Co., In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massechusetts: 1854
Edition: Thirty-sixth Thousand
Seller ID: 19095
Condition: Fair
Inscribed inside front cover: Augustine Kimball, now owned by his daughter M. Darlie Kimball Hight. 4.75" x 7.25". 348 very old and discolored pages. Binding is loose, ties are loose, all pages are present except the very last page. Owner has written in "THE END" at the bottom of page 348. The Paragraph ends logically, it seems to be the correct end of the book. End papers are present. Brown cloth boards, embossed on front and back covers. Title in gold leaf on the spine. Much wear. Much read, much loved copy. Some newspaper clippings enclosed. Wear to top and bottom of spine and to the corner... View more info
By: Adams, Joseph H.
Price: $20.00
Publisher: United States, Harper & Brothers Publishers: May, 1907
Edition: 1st
Seller ID: 6065
Condition: Good
8" x 5.75", 381 pages. Soil from much use, no marks in text and binding sound, cracked at endpaper hinges. Wear to edges and corners, but not as much as one might expect in 110 years. As they say in Texas, this book looks like it was 'rode hard and put away wet'. An infinitely useful guide to outdoor living - apparent from the many many reprints. This copy of this edition was published in May of 1907. Scores from a game written in on one of the blank pages up front. Guide to camping and outdoor activities, 1907. Shelters, Weathervanes and windmills, Flying toys, Snow equipment, Fishing, Water-... View more info
By: Auerbach, Felix, Translated by Booth, H.C.
Price: $20.00
Publisher: Methuse & Co., Ltd., 36 Essex Street W.C., London: 1925
Edition: 1st Edition
Seller ID: 49027
Condition: Fair
Book cover is ripped down the front hinge of the spine from about half an inch from the botom to about an inch and an half from the top. There is some shelf wear at the top of the spine and the bottom. The front and back covers are in very good condition. The pages are tight. Text is clean. This was from the research library of Humble Oil and Refining Company, Houston Texas. Most recently in the private collection of a retired research engineer. First Publication of this translation.AUerbach's Prefce was written in 1921, this translation by H.C. Booth was published in 1925. Magnetism presented... View more info
Price: $8.00
Publisher: U.S.A., Lothrop publishing Company, Boston: 1901
Edition: 1st
Seller ID: 19144
Condition: Good
5.25" x 7 3/4". Previous owner's name inside front cover in pencil. Wear to top and bottom of cloth on spine. Corners worn. Gold leaf and image on front cover in excellent condition. Pages worn, some fingerprints, spine secure. Text clean. Adventures of pioneers around Lake Champlain and Ontario. Woven from fireside stories of the men who settled the area (or so the author claims.) Our book number 19144. View more info
By: Bailey, Harry Turner, Editor
Price: $45.00
Publisher: United States, Geo. L. Shuman & Co.: 1926
Edition: Third Edition 1926
Seller ID: 13022
Condition: Very Good
10.25" x 7.75", 405 pages. Clean, solid 1926 edition. Spine sound, text clean. Wonderful full colour illustrations and dozens of diagrams and drawings explaining every manner of craft and skill from children cooking to a two-tube radio schematic. Toy-Making, Paper Craft, Needlework, Weaving, Woodworking, Metal work, Leather-work, Clay, Decorative Design, Photography, Cooking, Radio schematics, even the schematic of a telephone. Our book number 13022. View more info
Price: $12.00
Publisher: U.S.A., New York, Peter Fenelon Collier & Son, MCM: 1900
Edition: 1st Edition
Seller ID: 14108
Condition: Good
5.75" x 8". Ex-Library, Volume Five. shelf wear, some spots and scrapes on front and back covers. "Honore' de Balzac in Twenty Five Volumes, The First Complete Translation into English, Ursule Mirouet, Eugenie Grandet, VOLUME FIVE, With Illustrations From Drawings on the Wood by Famous French Artists." Contains two Books: Ursule Mirouet, and Eugenie Grandet, both with prefaces. Very good condition. 480 pages. Ancient notes paper-clipped into back endpapers. Our book number 14108. View more info
By: BOCCACCIO, Giovanni : translated by Kelly, Walter Keating
Price: $100.00
Publisher: London, Henry G. Bohn, 1855. xii, 545p., frontis. (port.). (Bohn's Extra Volume): 1855
Edition: 1st Edition
Seller ID: 739
Condition: Good
This book does not have a printed publication date, but if you google the translator and publisher, here is what you find: "BOCCACCIO, Giovanni (1313-1375) The Decameron, or, Ten days' entertainment of Boccaccio. A revised translation, by W[alter].K[eating]. Kelly. London, Henry G. Bohn, 1855. xii, 545p., frontis. (port.). (Bohn's Extra Volume) Extra Volume: 5. Cordasco: 213. " This volume has been covered in clear contact paper, the original box that came with the book has also been covered with contact paper and reinforced at the corners with red electrical tape. The front cover of the b... View more info
Price: $30.00
Publisher: Dublin, Ireland, James Duffy & Sons, 15 Wellington Quay and 1 Paternoster Row, London: 1910
Edition: 1st
Seller ID: 19341
Condition: Good
6" x 4", 256 pages. Green cloth on boards, Gold title and embossed harp on front cover, pocket size volume. Clean text, Some wear to edges and corners. Inscription between friends on front facing endpaper, May of 1913. Six stories: Tubber Derg, Party Fight and Funeral, Dandy Kehoe's Christening, Talbot and Gaynor- The Irish Pipers, Frank FInnegan- The foster Brother, The Three Wishes. Our book number 19341. View more info
By: Connor, Ralph
Price: $150.00
Publisher: Fleming H. Revell Company, New York, Chicago, Toronto, London, Edinborough (Most likely Chicago, as my Grandfather was from Nebraska): 1906
Edition: 1st Edition
Inscription: Signed by Author(s)
Seller ID: 19302
Condition: Fair
Worn and faded, Man on horseback and a cloud embossed and inked on the front cover, spine relaxed, all pages present and secure. 1906, first edition. My grandfather's name and the date, "12-25-06 from E.P.A." inscribed. A Christmas present. Sacrificed for the education of the next generation, (and namesake.) View more info
By: Conrad, Joseph
Price: $1,200.00
Publisher: U.S.A., Doubleday, Page & Company, Garden City, New York: 1925
Edition: 3rd Edition
Seller ID: 19400
Condition: Very Good
26 Volumes, Not numbered. 1925 edition (previously published in 1899 and 1903). Brown Cloth boards to look like leather with gold enhancements. Embossed Schooner on the front cover with a rope border around title on spine and on front cover. Books may have been read one time by my Father when he was a child. Some pages must be split open with a letter opener. Private collection of my Great-Aunt. Titles are as follows: Almayer's Folly, The Arrow of Gold, Chance, The Inheritors, Lord Jim, The Mirror of the Sea, The Nigger of Narcissus, Nostromo, Notes on Life and Letters, Outcast of the Islands,... View more info
Price: $10.00
Publisher: P.F. Collier, Publishers, New York: 1891
Seller ID: 19314
Condition: Poor
Moth eaten, pages yellowed, endpapers cracked, spine loose. "Illustrated with wood engravings." Woodcut illustrations good. Text clean. Volume Eight includes: Oak Openings, Satanstoe, Mercedes of Castile. cover worn at edges, spine worn top and bottom.Green cloth cover with gold lettering on the spine and front, and an embossed decoration on the back cover. View more info
Price: $10.00
Publisher: P.F. Collier, Publishers, New York: 1891
Seller ID: 19313
Condition: Poor
Moth eaten, pages yellowed, endpapers cracked, spine loose. Woodcut illistrations good. Text clean. Volume Nine includes: The Ways of The Hour, Wing And Wing, Wept of the Wish-Ton-Wish, Precaution. Illustration is entitles 'THE THEFT. -The Ways of the Hour'. cover worn at edges, spine worn top and bottom.Green cloth cover with gold lettering on the spine and front, and an embossed decoration on the back cover. View more info
By: Dickens, Charles
Price: $85.00
Publisher: Harper's Weekly, New York, Saturday July 23, 1870: 1870
Seller ID: 19509
Condition: Fair
Included with BOOK: The Works of Chrles Dickens Unabridged Edition, Volime 1. One full Sheet of Newspaper, four pages of Edwin Drood, Chapter XIII. Water spots, Folded corners, Wear to edges. Paper not broken at creases. Apparently has been tucked into the front of the 1870 book since 1870. Text begins"Miss Twinkleton's establishment." and ends with "And that I devote myself to his destruction." on page four. IF YOU BUY THIS PAPER THE BOOK IS INCLUDED AS PART OF THE PRICE. View more info
By: Dickens, Charles
Price: $85.00
Publisher: P.F. Collier, Publisher: 1870
Seller ID: 19510
Condition: Good
Shelf wear to corners and edges. Yellowing of paper. Binding secure, some cracking of hinges of endpapers. Pages slightly soiled, small tears. none missing, all present. Includes One 4-page Harper's Dickens Suppliment of Edwin Drood from 1870 as well. if you buy this book the paper is part of the price. FOR A FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE PAPER SEE LISTING OF BOOK NUMBER 19509. View more info
By: Dumas, Alexandre
Price: $100.00
Publisher: M. A. Donohue & Company, Chicago: 1906
Seller ID: 19514
Condition: Good
Full color Lithograph on the front cover of a lovely young lady, copyrighted 1906 by The Forbes Litho. MFG Co. No other dates given in the book. The Corsican Brothers, 148 pages. Also included are two other titles: The Artist's Love, 102 pages; and Florry's Lesson, 14 pages. Front endpaper missing before my grandfather bought the book, because he has written his name on the top of the title page, and he always writes it on the facing endpaper. Clothbound, dark green with full color litho on the front cover, white lettering worn from spine. Wear to the edges, cprners, and hinges. As with all of... View more info
Price: $10.00
Publisher: United States, E.P.Dutton and Company: 1881
Edition: 1st
Seller ID: 6066
Condition: Fragile
9" x 7.5", 30 unpaginated pages with black and white prints on each page. Very fragile. A children's book designed to encourage story telling as the pictures are seen. (The adult tells stories or asks the child to describe the action in each picture). Heavier paper on the colored wraps, front cover has come loose, book has been hand stitched together at some point. No credits are listed for the illustrators, but many of the drawings are signed. Our book number 6066. View more info
By: Englehardt, Fred, and Haertter, Leonard D.
Price: $20.00
Publisher: The John C. Winston Company: 1929
Edition: 1st Edition
Seller ID: 34010
Condition: Good
Hardcover, navy blue with embossed art deco titles. First Edition, "Algebra-Second, Printed in the U.S.A., P-7-33." Book in good condition. One Owner. Spine tight, Some white scrapes on the front cover, a dent in the spine where thumb and fingers may have grasped it while wet. Red stamped mark on the back endpaper has a man leaning against a stone, and says "Patented Sept. 22, 1925." Name of owner pencilled inside front cover. A few small marks noting which problems to do for class. Text very clean. View more info
Price: $30.00
Publisher: New York, Dodd Mead & Company: 1902
Edition: First Edition October 1902
Seller ID: 19914
Condition: Good
8 3/4" x 6", 110 pages, Good Condition. Slight crack of front free endpaper, slight wear to top and bottom of spine and corners slightly rubbed. Gift inscription, ""Some little token etc" As Tweedlefraunch says. December 25,1902. C.F.W." A Christmas Story. Beautiful art nouveau borders on every page, Protected Illustrations as well. Gloriously beautiful novel for young people. Our book number 19914. View more info
By: Fraser, Chelsea
Price: $30.00
Publisher: New York, Thomas Y. Crowell Company: 1927
Edition: 1st
Seller ID: 6063
Condition: Good
471 Pages, 8" x 6" x 1.5". Good condition. First edition of 1927 book with every manner of project appropriate for young people. From Sharpening your tools, knowing how to use them, things to make, decorating, gifts for the family, radio, metal, leather, paper, concrete and woodworking. Our book number 6063. View more info
By: Grames, Sarah Katherine, Ph.B.
Price: $20.00
Publisher: USA, F.A. Owen Publishing Company, Dansville, N.Y.: 1921
Edition: 1st Edition
Seller ID: 762
Condition: Good
This is a 1921 version of Cliff notes. Ms. Grames has "adapted" Les Miserables into a 32 page summary of the story of Jean Valjean. The Book has a blue cloth binding with black lettering, and is held together by three staples. The condition is remarkable for a book this age, as the only loosening of the staples is in the center four pages, one sheet has begun to come loose. This book is withdrawn from the library, so it has glue residue around the base of the spine. A beautiful little antique book, especially for students of Classical Literature. There is an handwritten note in the front cover... View more info


text:
JPRI Critique Vol. XIX No. 7 (October 2013)
Vietnam's Napoleon
by Patrick Lloyd Hatcher
On October 4, 2013, General Vo Nguyen Giap died in Hanoi. He was 102, the last of his revolutionary generation. Giap served Ho Chi Minh as his military strategist in Vietnam's two mid-century wars of independence: the first against France, the second against the United States. These struggles comprised another Thirty Years War (1945-1975), this one in Asia instead of Europe.
They were an odd team; Giap called his leader "Uncle" and in his turn the leader called him "beautiful as a girl." They had been at school together and met up later in exile in southern China. By then Giap, the son of a scholar, had earned a law degree, wrote poetry, spoke impeccable French, and, like his father, had taught school. Diminutive in stature and a dapper dresser, he continued to wear a white linen suit with club tie when reviewing troops. As a history teacher he had no military training but harbored a deep hatred of the French colonial regime, which he believed had tortured his father and first wife to death. The French called him "a volcano under snow." This volcano had infinite patience combined with ruthless determination.
At the conclusion of World War II in Southeast Asia, a defeated Japan withdrew and European powers returned, the Dutch to Indonesia, the British to Malaya, and the French to Indochina. All three colonial powers encountered fierce fighting from nationalists; within ten years all three departed. Nowhere was this departure more brutal and bloody than in Indochina, made up of a trio of states—Cambodia, Laos, and the richest, Vietnam. The latter state had three Pacific-Rim regions: in the south Cochin, in the middle Annam, and in the north Tonkin, which was the heartland of the Vietnamese people. In 1945 it served as the epicenter of modern Vietnamese nationalism in the person of Ho Chi Minh. Here he organized a government before the French returned, tried and failed to negotiate with the returning French military, traveled to Paris (leaving Giap to watch over Hanoi) to negotiate with French politicians, and failed again.
Having lost at the military and political levels, and receiving no meaningful international help, Ho had no choice but to fade into the countryside with his political and peasant apparatchiks. Yes, the core were communists, had been from the beginning. But they rode the tiger of nationalism, all the way to victory. And Giap served as the tiger's trainer. He drilled his miniscule musket-and-flint-lock guerrilla band-of-brothers so they could live off the land. And live and grow they did.
A French film starring Catherine Deneuve, Indochine, captures those postwar days for the colonial elite who had made Saigon the Paris of the Pacific. One tony district, Gia Dinh with its tree-lined boulevards and swank hotels such as the Continental where one could dine on crab and corn soup and where Graham Green wrote The Quiet American, looked like the 6th arrondissement in Paris, and a river, the Song Saigon, ran close by. But a deluge was coming, and not from the nearby rice-rich Mekong Delta but far to the north near the Red River route close to the mountainous border with Laos. Its name was Dien Bien Phu.
Inasmuch a historical happenstance, this location garnered little attention when General Henri Navarre, commanding the French Corps Expeditionnaire, sent troops there to guard the nearby road into Laos. This he did on orders from Paris where Gallic doves and hawks debated France's colonial wars. While the United States paid in dollars for France to keep this "domino" from falling, France paid in blood, a price too high for some such as Pierre Mendes-France. Laos had agreed to support France, join the French Union upon independence, and let Paris lead. Thus the conventional wisdom held that Laos must not be lost.
Initially Giap thought the French operation on the Laotian border represented one of many French short-range operations to pacify and move on to the next target, too little time for Giap to strike, a typical counter-insurgency tactic to keep Giap's Viet Minh forces off-balance. But once Navarre ordered this exposed base fortified, Giap struck with Napoleonic audace. At his Lycée in Hue he had found his hero in Bonaparte; as a teenager he would sketch Napoleon's battle plans in chalk, as a general he would modify them to fit his golden Austerlitz. The Hue Lycée also educated both Ho and his mandarin rival, Ngo Dinh Diem, who later served as President of South Vietnam before his murder near a Saigon church in a coup blessed by President Kennedy, a murder calling out for a Vietnamese T.S. Elliot.
The French high command knew that no army could climb, cross, and circle the foggy, forested, and forbidding mountains above their valley base. They were wrong. Giap quoted the Corsican revolutionary: "If a goat can get through, so can a man. If a man can get through, so can a battalion." Did not the young Napoleon lead the French army across the Alps into Italy in a snowstorm only to fall upon a surprised Austrian army twice the size of his and defeat it? With speed and stealth Giap ordered 55,000 soldiers supported by 260,000 peasants with baskets, 20,000 bicycles, and 12,000 bamboo rafts to redeem their native land. Redeem they did. Critical for success, the heavy artillery had to be obtained and carried up in sections, a tale of international derring-do.
The short version: In June 1950 war broke out on the Korean peninsula. A U.S. led force pushed its way to the Chinese border along the Yalu River. The Chinese army (PLA) then struck and routed the U.S. force, sending it in headlong retreat back toward the old North-South Korean partition line and leaving behind a treasure in weapons and ammunition, which the PLA took back to China. Four years later Beijing reluctantly decided to increase its aid to Hanoi rebels, a historic Chinese foe dating back almost two thousand years to the Han dynasty. But ever flexible, Beijing now wanted a quid pro quo for Washington's aid to Paris. By this juncture, Giap, always a student, had learned Chinese.
The jewel in this martial gift: twenty-four U.S. made 105 howitzers, with ammunition. Napoleon was an artilleryman; Giap became one as he pulverized the French force from on-high in a fifty-five-day siege. He had massed his artillery and won. Then, on May 7, 1954, all fell quiet on this western front, two days before negotiations were to start in Geneva, an agreement Paris had made earlier before France imagined the unimaginable, defeat by peasants. The best description of this agony comes from a French journalist, Bernard Fall, in Hell Is a Very Small Place. (Fall later covered the agonizing American defeat, dying himself in the process.) For negotiating purposes Paris had needed a victory at Dien Bien Phu. Without it French Asia was gone. But a Vietnamese schoolteacher had used Napoleon to defeat them with American canons, the fickle finger of fate.
At Geneva fate's fickle finger now turned against Ho and Giap. The powers rewarded them with half a victory; even their erstwhile communist allies, Stalin and Mao, betrayed them, proof positive that Marxist-Leninist totalitarians, once in power, were typical tyrants, this time in proletarian garb, not messianic militants for universal communism. In the West that global view of monolithic communism existed mainly in the nightmares of paranoid politicians in right-wing circles and in the dreams of left-wing academics.
After Geneva the world faced two Vietnams, one in the north, one in the south, divided by the 17th parallel. How similar to the two postwar 1945 Koreas with their division at the 38th parallel. Like the Koreas, both Vietnams claimed to be democracies, all four were in fact dictatorships. American Cold Warriors felt obliged to support South Vietnam, the half domino they hoped to bolster into a barrier. In the last weeks of the Dien Bien Phu siege Washington insiders spoke of the use of atomic bombs. The aging warrior in the White House negated that nuclear option; instead Eisenhower agreed to furnish military aid to the new Saigon regime. Meanwhile Ho and Giap had to reconfigure and strengthen a guerrilla apparatus in the south, the Viet Cong. Both sides took the rest of the 1950s to prepare.
In the early 1960s the U.S. roster changed: Eisenhower was retired, Kennedy was assassinated, Johnson was commander-in-chief. Ike had given Saigon military aid, JFK raised the ante with military advisers, LBJ committed U.S. troops. Ho and Giap adjusted to each escalation of violence, matching their patience to LBJ's impatience, the volatile Texan calling the Vietnam struggle "a piss-ant war." But these ants were pissed and persistent.
Not everyone in the Hanoi politburo preached patience. By 1967 the militant young turks led by General Thanh and First Secretary Le Duan, ideologically disposed to a decisive battle, faced off against General Giap and the moderate segment that favored continuing the guerrilla strategy—talking while fighting. Giap lost, the militants won, the Tet Offensive came at the end of January 1968 while Giap was seeking medical treatment in Hungary. Under cover of darkness, Viet Cong troops raced down to attack over fifty urban areas near to the coast, in the process exposing their key Viet Cong infrastructure (VCI) within the local peasantry. When the predicted and critical general uprising of civilian support failed to occur, the Viet Cong and their VCI were exposed to slaughter, as they tried to make a daylight dash back to their inland and border bases. Disaster on a national scale. (For a taste of that disaster read Don Oberdorfer's account Tet!
Clearly the Tet Offensive failed militarily in the streets of Vietnam's villages and towns. Just as clearly, but surprisingly to all at the time, the Tet Offensive succeeded politically in the streets of America's towns and cities. Giap is not responsible for either outcome.
The Viet Cong never recovered, LBJ gave up hope of reelection, the long-drawn-out Paris Peace talks began, America's civil society almost imploded, Nixon won the presidency, and in 1969 Ho died. Nixon bombed his way to "peace with honor," and in 1975, in an old fashion invasion, the Army of North Vietnam occupied their South as Americans watched the televised debacle of their occupiers fleeing in helicopters to their off-shore aircraft carriers. Disaster on a national scale.
Giap watched from Hanoi, now a discarded general. Hanoi militants did not seek his advice when, as their first big foreign move after reunification, they started a border war with China, instituted ruthless reeducation camps in the south for anyone who had worked for or with the former Saigon regime, dismissed their Viet Cong brothers from any role in ruling the south, and, by their draconian decisions drove their best and brightest to seek asylum as boat people. (Many boat people made new homes in southern California and coastal Texas. See Andrew X. Pham in Catfish and Mandala.) This Giap also witnessed.
Unlike Napoleon his enemies gave him no offshore island for his long exile. Instead Giap waited at home. But he outlived his homegrown critics. If living longest is the best revenge, he won. And he will always have his victory at Dien Bien Phu.
Dr. Patrick Lloyd Hatcher fought in Vietnam in 1968-69. After his U.S. Army service he earned his Ph.D. in American history at UC Berkeley. In 1990 Stanford University published his CAL dissertation as The Suicide of an Elite: American Internationalists in Vietnam. He led a California Alumni group in 2007 to a new Vietnam with a mixed economy of American and European five-star resort hotels and golf courses along the coast in addition to big capitalists investments in manufacturing such as the billion-dollar INTEL chip facility near old Saigon. He wonders what Giap would make of this revolution!