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VANCOUVER — The golf industry ought to look at the big picture on this "anchoring" ban by the sport's world governing bodies.
In the short term, of course, it hurts the manufacturers who sunk a lot of R&D money and raw materials into designing and building long putters for terminal yips sufferers, head cases and venal young Tour players bereft of consciences.
And it hurts the retailers and club pros who have stocked their displays with the life-changing implements, and won't be able to give them away now because only the foolhardy would try to learn a method that's going to be illegal in 2016.
Long-term, though, the benefits of a mass return to the shorter, more treacherous, thoroughly unreliable instruments of mental torture are certain to be seen in the worldwide sales of new putters to replace those thrown into the pumpkin patch off the 17th green at Richmond Country Club, dragged behind cars, rusted after being placed in toilet bowls overnight to learn their lesson, broken in a dignified manner over a thigh or otherwise rendered hors de combat.
As long as broomstick and belly putters threatened to take all the mystery out of what happened on the greens, the potential for a single putter to last its contented owner several years — even a lifetime — could have led to a crisis in the golf equipment industry.
But Wednesday, the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A) and the United States Golf Association fixed that, indirectly, by ruling that beginning on Jan. 1, 2016, it will be illegal to anchor the putter on the chest, chin, belly or in a hand held against any of the above. Golfers will be free to continue to use the longer putters, but what they'd do with them is beyond me.
Attempts at humour aside, this one small rebellion against game-changing elements in golf represents a fairly big step for the R&A and USGA, because it signals the possibility that they may yet rise up for the real battle ahead — against golf ball and driver technology that begets ever-longer courses requiring ever more water and land and time to play.
It still seems far-fetched to imagine either body, or both, standing up to Titleist and insisting it make balls that don't go as far, but for now, there is this ruling, and — though the R&A/USGA axis of purity has allowed for three months of public submissions in case there's an angle they haven't thought of — no amount of complaining is apt to change their minds.
Golf, in this case, is nearly unique. Maybe unique, period.
I can think of no other professional sport where the technique by which the ball/puck/object is struck, thrown, kicked or propelled is restricted by the rules, other than in basic definitions of the sports — like soccer must be played with the feet or head or chest but never the hands, or the hockey puck may not be thrown, or the basketball may not be kicked.
The rules don't say you can only kick the soccer ball with the instep, or you can't tuck your elbow against your body while shooting the puck. They don't say a bunt isn't a real swing.
There are, of course, a million rules governing equipment, but the anchoring ban is emphatically not about equipment. It's about what constitutes a golf stroke. The R&A and USGA say that freely swinging the hands — emphasis on freely; i.e. unaided by a fulcrum — is the crux of it.
They say the new rule has nothing to do with the fact that three majors in the space of 12 months period were won by players with anchored putters: Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson and Ernie Els. But the professional level is where the fire started.
The growing number of PGA Tour pros adopting the longer instruments, up to 15 per cent this season, higher than 20 per cent at some Tour stops, was alarming. But not nearly as alarming as the 14-year-old Chinese boy, Guan Tianlang, who won the Asian-Pacific amateur title and an invitation to next year's Masters ... using a belly putter.
It meant the governing bodies could no longer shrug off its use as a fad, but had to take it seriously as a coaching tool, for which they had the testimony of noted guru Butch Harmon in Score Magazine a few months back:
"Belly putting is like stealing," Harmon said. "If I was going to start somebody out who never played before I'd start them with a belly putter, no question about it. It takes the hands right out of the stroke."
And therein lies the argument that always made the most sense, when the anchoring ban was floated: that golf is a game which is meant to be influenced, in part, by nerves. And an attack of nerves, in golf, is most apt to rear its ugly head on or near the putting surface.
If modern instructors are saying that anchoring the club reduces or, with enough practice, virtually eliminates the hands factor in putting, is that not circumventing a body part that ought to be involved in the golf swing?
But to me, as a viewer offended when I see a young professional using one of the long putters, it's a rule meant to be applied to elite players — the high-level amateurs playing golf for serious acclaim, or touring pros whose livelihoods are affected by what the other guy, or guys, are doing.
The aspect of the rule that strikes me as wrong-headed is that there seems no good reason to make the 50-60-70-year-old recreational player go back to suffering the agonies that caused him to abandon the conventional putter in the first place, whether it's back pain or poor eyesight or simply lousy putting.
I play a fair amount of kick-it-around golf with a fellow who has had serious hand and wrist problems, knee problems, back problems, has macular degeneration in his eyes and sees black objects floating in his field of vision ... and uses a long putter.
Occasionally he takes money off me. When he does, I do not begrudge him the $5. I figure it's great that he's still playing and enjoying the game into his 70s, and if being forced to go back to the short putter caused him to give up golf, I would count it as the game's loss.
Maybe cases like his are only one per cent of the golfing population — and most players, at any level of competency, will adjust even though they'll grouse about it first — but golf's economy is not so robust that it can afford to chase anyone away.
So it's okay with me, Larry, if you want to keep using that thing after 2015.
On the other hand, if we ever play for $20, it's loss of a hole in match play, or a two-stroke penalty per swing with that cheating blade. Just so you know.
On Twitter: Twitter.com/rcamcole


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Obama Holds Edge in Ocean State
-- Turning red only twice in the last ten presidential elections, Rhode Island's four electoral votes are almost certain to fall in the Democratic column come November.
The Republican operation on the ground remains hopeful that Sen. John McCain can make some inroads among the state's reliably Democratic bloc given that Sen. Hillary Clinton won Rhode Island by 18 percentage points during its March Democratic primary. Still there has been little evidence that Sen. Barack Obama has had any difficulty gaining ground among state voters since becoming the Democratic nominee.
Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy, D-RI, endorsed Obama in January alongside his father, Sen. Ted Kennedy, and cousin, Caroline Kennedy.
In the latest ABC News assessment, we've got Rhode Island's four electoral votes as solidly Democratic.

subset: commoncrawl


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Talk about over-share. Jesse James, Sandra Bullock's ex-husband and the motorcycle-riding television personality behind "Monster Garage," chopped off the tip of his pinky finger while working in his Austin, Texas, shop on Tuesday.
After the 44-year-old customizer rushed to the hospital, he shared gruesome photos of his injury on Instagram.
"OOOpps, Bad day at the office," James captioned one bloody image.
"Doesn't look like this little dude's gonna make it, Nice know'n you little buddy," he said in another photo showing the bloodless, severed tip of his finger.
While waiting for his surgery to begin, James called into TMZ to explain the accident.
"I was working in the shop and one of my gloves got caught in the machine ... it took my finger off," James explained.
"My wife and I were on the floor looking for the piece of finger so we could haul a** to the hospital," he added.


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CBS NEWS - America certainly isn't a country of savers, with the personal savings rate dwindling to 3.8 percent of personal income from about 10 percent in 1960.
But residents of some U.S. cities should find it easier to save, thanks to higher median income when compared with expenses, an analysis from Interest.com found.
The best city to find such a "savings opportunity" is Baltimore, according to the site's analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's because the metro area's median after-tax income outpaces its typical expenses by more than $2,000 per month, after accounting for both essential and discretionary expenses. Coming close behind was Washington, D.C., with a savings opportunity of $1,664.
"We hear median income has been stagnant, while the cost of living in America's biggest cities has continued to go up," Interest.com Managing Editor Mike Sante said. And that prompted the site to examine the data. "To my surprise," said Sante, "in 16 of the 18 cities, we found that families should have a few thousand left over" to save each year.
Phoenix was the only city where income was lower than median expenses, at a deficit of $95 per month, while Miami had a monthly savings opportunity of just $18, or $212 per year.
The study considered the median cost of living in greater metropolitan areas. So, for New York City, which ranked 10th with a monthly savings opportunity of about $500, that doesn't include only the sky-high cost of living in Manhattan but also included lower-priced areas such as Queens and Suffolk County.
But if families in many of the country's largest cities should have hundreds left over each month, why is the personal savings rate so low? Sante said he believes consumers are increasing their spending to eat up all of their income, partly because what's considered "essential" today is far different from what people wanted in the 1960s.
"Families allow their spending to grow until it consumes every cent that they make," he said.
And because money is relatively cheap -- with mortgage and auto loans hovering at about 4 percent -- some consumers are tempted to trade up for more expensive cars and houses, he said.
The influence of advertising and home-improvement shows might also be influencing consumers to spend more than they should when buying a home, Sante said. Of course, conspicuous consumption is nothing new -- Thorstein Veblen coined the term in the 19th century to describe how an emerging middle class was spending its money.
If consumers are serious about saving, they should take a hard look at the most expensive items in their lives, which typically are their homes and cars, Sante noted. His advice: If you get a raise at work, don't trade up to a more expensive house or car. Instead, sock away that extra money. Skipping your Starbucks latte won't get you as far as being frugal on these big items, he said.
"When you get the mindset, you will take that raise and invest it in yourself," Sante added.
Here are the 18 cities Interest.com studied and their monthly savings opportunities:
1. Baltimore -- $2,021
2. Washington, D.C. -- $1,664
3. Cleveland -- $1,294
4. Chicago -- $876
5. Dallas -- $772
6. Houston -- $767
7. Minneapolis -- $740
8. Atlanta -- $674
9. San Francisco -- $553
10. New York City -- $496
11. Seattle -- $479
12. Los Angeles -- $419
13. Philadelphia -- $419
14. Detroit -- $349
15. San Diego -- $344
16. Boston -- $240
17. Miami -- $18
18. Phoenix -- -$95
The Best U.S. Cities For Saving Money
CBS NEWS - America certainly isn't a country of savers, with the personal savings rate dwindling to 3.8 percent of personal income from about 10 percent in 1960.


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By Toni Clarke
WASHINGTON, May 22 (Reuters) - Merck & Co's experimental insomnia drug moved a step closer to U.S. approval on Wednesday after a panel of medical experts said it is effective and safe at lower doses.
The advisory panel was convened to help the U.S. Food and Drug Administration decide whether to approve the drug, suvorexant, which would be the first in a new class of sedatives that block chemicals in the brain called orexins that help keep people awake. The drugs are designed to help people fall asleep and stay asleep.
On Monday, the FDA's internal reviewers published a report expressing concern about suvorexant's potential to cause next-day sleepiness and impaired driving. They asked the committee to consider whether patients should be started at a lower dose than that recommended by Merck.
Merck proposed that elderly patients start by taking 15 milligrams of the drug and increase that to 30 if necessary. The company recommended non-elderly adults start on 20 milligrams and increase to 40 milligrams if needed.
On Wednesday, the FDA reiterated its opinion that there was little evidence in Merck's data to show that the higher dose was more effective than the lower dose, and considerable evidence to show it was less safe.
The FDA's reviewers pointed to an increase in the risk - especially at the higher doses - of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, impaired driving, and severe sleep disturbances.
Speaking for the FDA, Dr. Ronald Farkas noted cases in which patients had reported sleep paralysis and terrifying hallucinations. He also expressed the agency's concern about the drug's impact on driving.
"What we are trying to prevent is criminal prosecution of patients taking their drug as prescribed," he said.
The FDA's views were echoed by those of several patient advocacy groups.
"Like its predecessors, suvorexant's marginal benefit in extending overnight sleep time by a few minutes is achieved at the expense of prolonged, next-day drowsiness, with potentially fatal consequences," said Dr. Sammy Almashat, a researcher with Public Citizen's Health Research Group who noted that suvorexant stays in the body longer than all but one other sleep drug.
Still, the panel voted 13 to 3, with one abstention, that the drug could be used safely at the 15 and 20 milligram doses. It voted 8-7, with two abstentions, that the drug is not safe at 30 and 40 milligrams.
Merck celebrated the vote, saying in a statement that it was "excited about the potential of suvorexant as a new and different approach to treating insomnia."
The FDA is not bound to follow the advice of its advisory panels but typically does so.
The FDA had asked the panel to consider whether patients should start with a 10 milligram dose, saying data from a smaller trial showed that amount might work for some people. Merck disputed that, saying 10 milligrams would not be effective.
The FDA also asked the panel if Merck should conduct an additional trial to further evaluate a 10 milligram dose. The panel voted against that. Some agreed that 10 milligrams would not be effective. Others agreed in principal with a lower starting dose, but most said a new trial would not add meaningfully to the information already in hand.
"When you have something new you don't know everything you would like to know," said Dr. Christian Guilleminault, a professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. However, he added: "I'm not sure that doing another study is going to bring us much more."
The FDA's concerns come amid a broader review of the safety of sleeping pills following hundreds of reports of driving accidents involving people taking zolpidem, the active ingredient in Sanofi SA's Ambien.
About 60 million prescriptions for these drugs were written in the United States in 2011, according to healthcare research firm I.M.S. Of those, roughly 40 million contained zolpidem.
In January, the FDA told drugmakers they should lower the recommended dose of zolpidem in women to 5 milligrams from 10 for immediate-release products including Ambien, Edluar and Zolpimist. The agency said doses for extended-release products should also be cut in half.
Dr. Jason Todd, a panel member and staff neurologist at NorthEast Neurology in Concord, North Carolina, said patients are adjusting to the lower dosing recommendations for Ambien.
"Before the recent changes I almost never saw a patient who would take 5 milligrams and stay with it," he said. "Now that 5 milligrams is recommended people are OK with 5 milligrams."
The panel's ultimate recommendation surprised some analysts who had expected, based on the FDA's review, that the meeting would be more contentious.
"Based on the overall discussion today and the voting of the panel, we believe that the probability of FDA approval for suvorexant has gone up meaningfully," Mark Schoenebaum, an analyst at ISI Group, said in a research note.
Having said that, he said: "We admit that predicting a final FDA decision is difficult."


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Clyde Real Estate - Find Your Perfect Home For Sale!
Clyde Listings Summary
Clyde - Town vs. County Stats
Avg Price in Clyde: $407,800 / County Avg $340,800
Avg Taxes in Clyde: $3,400 / County Avg $3,500
Avg Sq. Ft. in Clyde: 2,973 / County Avg 1,987
Avg Price per/ft2 in Clyde: $137 / County Avg $172
Avg Walkscore in Clyde: 2 / County Avg 23
Avg Year Built in Clyde: 1979 / County Avg 1965
Avg Days on Website in Clyde: 106 / County Avg 83
Clyde Real Estate Market Health
The township is named for the River Clyde in Scotland. In 1825, a Scotsman Robert Smart, with the backing of Detroit interests, built a mill on the Black River. Smart named the place "Clyde Mills", after the river in where he had lived as a boy. Clyde Township was organized in March 1836 and took its name from the settlement. When first organized, Clyde Township encompassed the area of what are now 20 townships. When Kimball Township was set off in 1855, the settlement by which Clyde Township derived its name became part of a different township. The settlement in Kimball Township is now known as Wadhams.
|Areas in Clyde MI
|Clyde Twp
|North Street
|Neighborhoods in Clyde MI
|Beg S 87D 29M E 212.27 From N W Sec Cor Th S 87D
|Old Sawmill Estates Condo


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#A23. AA Medallion Glitter Turquoise w Turq Triangle Bling Crystals (Yrs 1-60)
Regular price $ 21.95
$ 0.00
This gorgeous tricolor enamel medallion features the time-honored Twelve Step program phrase "To Thine Own Self Be True," with the anniversary year and "Unity, Service, Recovery" on one side, and the Serenity prayer on the other. Hand made with Swarovski Crystals!! Gorgeous!
Note: Comes with velvet pouch.
This medallion is copyright protected by Choices ©2009 and Patented. All rights Reserved.


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Article content
Brazil 2014 is already being referred to as the "sexiest World Cup" ever.
It will also be the safest.
The official condoms of this summer's soccer tournament have reportedly been released in conjunction with an online Twitter campaign called #ProtectTheGoal.
The South American country is known for its samba and wild parties that typically have to do with Carnival.
This year's party will centre around the most popular sport in the world.
And in a soccer-mad nation, it seems condom maker Prudence is expecting there to be plenty of lovemaking.
Add in that Brazilian prostitutes are being offered free English lessons and it seems Brazil's national colours could show up in the bedroom more often than the soccer pitch.
Multiple reports have indicated that more than 300 Brazilian women are attending government-funded English programs to learn catchphrases in order to court clients.
The World Cup kicks off June 12 in Sao Paulo with the hosts taking on Croatia in the opening match.
In Brazil, they are selling condoms with the Seleção player's names on them. Cheers for safe sex and patriotism! pic.twitter.com/9asdAWec5B— Fuera de Juego (@fueradejuegoisf) May 21, 2014
tap here to see other videos from our team.


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Defence is estimated to be about nine thousand miles long, thirty miles high, and encompasses de territorial borders of the United States. Defence keeps out immigrants, terrorists, werewolves, Eminem, and all de other undesirables. It was constructed at de behest of many good, decent people, who, frankly, had just had enough. It is dotted with regularly spaced guard towers and automated gun turrets, and includes over fifty thousand metric tonnes of unexploded detterent munitions. No sane man would ever oppose Defence. Defence is doubleplusgood Security.
Defence in other countries[edit]
HAH! That's funny. You made me laugh.
History of Defence[edit]
Defence began as de Brainchild of General Ted Nugent during de Whigger Uprisings of 1863. Besieged by an onslaught of migrant redneck farm workers, it was agreed by all that a giant shield, a Force Field if you will, be constructed that "Fends" away all invading wierdos. And so plans were laid, and de first intercontinental Fence was constructed, primarily by migrant redneck farm workers, and Chinamen.
President Isaac Hayes Praised de accomplishment, and got much booty. But by de summer of 1864, rebellion in de ranks of workers led to a complete shutdown of operations, due to a persistent rumor that Defence was being built to keep de very people who were building it from crossing back and forth across de area blocked off by Defence. This resulted in Defence having many holes in it, through which sabotuers, spies, and homosexuals could infiltrate American society.
De modern Fence[edit]
After de three first World Wars, de good, decent people had once again had enough. Defence was shot full of holes, and frankly, de youth didn't give a damn, despite de constant inundation of foreign ideals and porn. De Cold War Era Fence had bright, Psychedelic slogans of sweet, compliant surrender painted on it, to lull de enemy into a placid calm. So Defence was once again financed, prayed to, and repaired, resulting in Defence we know today.
United States of America[edit]
Form of Defence: Attack
De New Fence Fo De Y2K[edit]
After de events of 9/11, which de world will never forget, Defence, like everything else in de known universe, changed for de better. Defense swelled and surged with a newfound patriotic fervor and spread to isolate Canada and Newfoundland, while simultaneously invading Iraq, Vietnam, West Korea, and McDonaldland to form pockets of Defense amongst de Heathen Infidel foreigners who dwell in such unhospitable climes. Defence is now Autonymous, and operates independently of it's controllers, a fact I wouldn't spread around too much if I were you.


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How the NSA Got So Smart, So Fast
Five years ago it would have been unimaginable for a government agency such as the National Security Agency to efficiently parse millions of phone, text and online conversations for keywords that could have warned of an impending terrorist attack. Today, it's much easier. Michael Hickins joins the News Hub. Photo: AP
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the the ... good morning ... welcome to the New Saab I'm Ralf Winkler hell is it possible for the National Security Agency to parse the onthe imaginable number of e mails ... phone calls ... and other digital files to attract terrorists in real time ... a few years ago it would have been possible but new technologies make it possible now the same technologies that help Google ... give you search results so quickly Michael Hickins the editor of CIO Journal joins me now and why is it fair for me to say that he's the same technologies the really help ... absolutely okay so what are we when we're ... first op were talking about a new kind of database now before it ... reaches of tedious ... boring database ... I'm it's actually kind a remarkable when one is K what is possible ... for its three different kind of technologies that are being the player to personalize the Danish find it is really important because ... traditional database is gonna have to have everything appears to be members to disagree and ... the innocence Ritchie ... kind of wrote my columns resort in Tesla stock with ... it and put in long strings of sentences kept putting ... it in this Fusion porn video pictures on word documents all conferences need categorizing it that when you can catch nutrition way so and and this is the use of the fasting thing because a country like Goebel ... sheets give you search results needs to parse all that stuff eleven give you results like that ... they figured out a way ... what is that when the specialty and seized in ways that that that what was a combination of these new ... citizens ... that do allow you to put in all kinds of different data ... on course to the ability to ... distribute the ... search costs ... to all you brave computer so you divide the cost of imported only ... one computer work I have to sit there and go through ... and the computers distribute protests among themselves the very inexpensive computers and then again the reassembled results happens to sell ... or spin a picture this one spiked on and actually still happens with traditional databases ... or you have to ... basically asking questions ... and it will take the database may be a day to return to your question ... and ... the deal later you get your results lower and then you don't know well the sequester Ronson then I've got a sucker ... for Yuri queried again I would imagine having to do cool search ... and the continuous results those of the room from so you can search union figures offered a bright new cancer she community possible ... this is really ... is this is what people ... have ... had to do so for years ... ok and what images and phrases that along with the database is the isthe is new queries his new algorithms ... on that ... question has gotten a lot smaller ... so for instance if you want to know who is hosting the morning hopped on that it was most rewarding top and foreign guests who come back we'll work with ... and and and if you want to say well who said it was right to say ... who was sitting next to a host of the morning of ... it and come back ... to a ... doctor to his doctor says well why was it was was right and understands the concepts ... was right and and and I guess to a little bit you talking to Surrey about about machine learning ... what that insiders are computers get smart ... they can actually start to make predictions on Iran ... to tell me about that ... with the consumer is the can understand the context of the words ... sold ... out for instance if you say if you're looking forward ... to all you can tell the difference between Palm like it's a Broadway play that didn't do really well ... on ... markets the terrorists they can find those emails I thought they weren't suppose to be reading my emails that this post be reunited or talk about technology journal exactly with the US is doing ... fair enough now ... okay last question can ... I miss my cherished if if if were looking for the word bomb ... in it why don't I just kind of create a very simple code so that I mean if we're trying to solve the steps across so much data can be too hard ... to bury the new little differently in case that well and that's actually ... what used to coat is going really good doing is understanding ... on the signals inside stories this week so I mean that the real world or basis and on the NSA tenner hunting world ... of their compliance officers right now we're trying to figure out whether ... there traders are saying he'll meet you with lunch or let's talk about this offline ... and ... in the past we have to look for specific keywords ... um what are you dump the stock will warm up today the can do it that the contacts that have been one to look right now with the US ... can do bookings as the aisle with a ... book intense behind the words ... if you are more honest you gotta start looking at things like what we think at the terms the Badgers milk sequel database since it will add to ... these these was the things people that I looked up last ... June made in machine learning likely kids thank you so much for joining us


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WASHINGTON — White House Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske warned people Tuesday against taking the newest synthetic drugs, often marketed as "bath salts" and being sold legally on the Internet and in drug paraphernalia stores.
The powdered drugs are sold under such brand names as "Ivory Wave" or "Purple Wave." Kerlikowske said synthetic stimulants in them have made hundreds of users across the country sick already this year. A Mississippi sheriff's office has said the drugs are suspected in an apparent overdose death there.
"They pose a serious threat to the health and well-being of young people and anyone who uses them," Kerlikowske said in a written statement. The American Association of Poison Control Centers has received 251 calls related to "bath salts" so far this year, compared to 236 such calls to poison centers during all of 2010.
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Kerlikowske said these stimulants can cause chest pains, increased blood pressure and heart rate, agitation, hallucinations, extreme paranoia and delusions.
Rafael Lemaitre, a spokesman for Kerlikowske's office, said the drugs mimic the effects of cocaine, ecstasy, and LSD.
Kerlikowske's office convened a meeting of federal drug and health officials at the White House Tuesday to discuss their growing popularity. He was later briefed on that discussion, Lemaitre said.
The "bath salts" drugs, also sometimes labeled as plant food, contain the synthetic stimulants MDPV, or 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone, and mephedrone. Those chemicals are neither controlled by the Drug Enforcement Administration nor approved for human consumption by the Food and Drug Administration.
No plans for federal regulation plans were announced Tuesday. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., has drafted a bill that would add the chemicals to the list of federally controlled substances.
Story: Drugs disguised as bath salts send users to ERs
Hawaii, Michigan, Louisiana, Kentucky, and North Dakota are considering legislation to ban the products. Several counties, cities, and local municipalities have also taken action to ban these products.
DEA spokesman Rusty Payne said users "are playing Russian roulette when you are dealing with this stuff."
Payne said the DEA is working with health officials to study abuse data and other information about the synthetic stimulants used in the "bath salts." For now, he said people should simply stay away from the drugs.
"Just because something is not illegal does not mean it's safe," Payne said.
The "bath salts" are the latest synthetic drugs to be targeted by federal authorities. In November, the DEA announced its intention to use emergency authority to ban five chemicals used to make synthetic marijuana products that were also sold in drug paraphernalia shops and on the Internet.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Against the Conference of the Secretary of the Interior 2014
Nationwide demonstration against repression and isolation
Saturday 12/06/14 13h
Friesenplatz/ Ring Köln
The periodically scheduled conference of the Home Secretaries of the federal states and the Federal Ministry of the Interior ("Innenministerkonferenz " or short "IMK") sets the political priorities of German domestic policy. In many cases one can conclude the direction in which German domestic and legal policy is going to develop from the decisions made at the IMK. In particular German asylum policy is going to be on the agenda at the conference in Cologne, beside other topics such as "organized (burglary) crime"and "violence of hooligans & ultras".Outward Isolation …
Every day we are confronted with European countries dealing violently and cynically with victims of global poverty, so-called "humanitarian" interventions or civil wars; especially at the external borders of the EU. The European Union agency for external border security "Frontex" specifically prevents refugees from crossing the border and entering the EU; often by exerting the "push back"method, leaving refugees abandoned to their fate on open sea.
The borders of "Fortress Europe" are controlled by aircraft and drones, and fortified with walls and barbed wire fences. German foreign and asylum policy is a key factor in enforcing ostracizing and pauperizing practices on a world-wide scale. The means of German domestic policy are isolation, forced migration and deportation. Within national borders, nationalist and racist propaganda are used to mobilize against refugees, criminalized undocumented people and against those seeking protection; all who further have to face persecution by government authorities. Prosecuting agencies and authorities reacted dramatically in particular on self-organized protest of victims, during demonstrations against deportations, against residential obligation and inhumane living conditions in so-called. Asylum centers. The recent resistance of refugees in Hamburg and in Berlin (Oranienplatz, Ohlauer Straße), which is highly symbolic, discommodes public authorities.
The item "organized crime" on the agenda of the upcoming IMK comprises first of all discrimination against people of East Central European origin due to poverty migration.
A special focus of the German Home Secretaries of the federal states and their prosecuting agencies is on Romani people, who have fled their home countries from pauperization, but principally because of antiziganistic persecution. This form of security policy means more "racial profiling", more police harassment and more leverage exerted by authorities on victims of institutional racism. In Cologne the aggravation of domestic policy is revealed by the expansion of "Gefahrengebieten" ("areas of danger"). In these areas public authorities are entitled to enforce identity checks without suspicion among other things.
Most of the refugees, who currently seek shelter from persecution, flee regions in Iraq and Syria. While many people from both war-torn countries see the only alternative for themselves and their families in abandoning their homeland, the North of Syria (more precisely in Rojava) offers a flicker of hope. In this region, the Kurdish population has freed itself from the fetters of the illiberal Baath regime and has started to establish an alternative model of society, the democratic confederalism. This is a progressive and grassroots democratic model, which strengthens the rights of women and religious minorities. Democratic confederalism is characterized by local and regional self-government implemented by council democracy, women's councils and democratically organized security forces. Beside that it provides a democratic administration of the economy, which is an alternative to the exploitative postcolonial economy. Both as a progressive force, as well as members of religious and ethnic minorities, people in the region of Rojava are exposed to the constant threat of the reactionary jihadists of the so-called. Islamic State (IS).
While the Turkish government, largely never criticized by the German government, de facto cooperates with the reactionary martinets of the IS, organizations such as the PKK, which defends the progressive societal model in Rojava and call for a direct democratic representation for the Kurds, remain criminalized in Germany since years. This ban on the PKK is not only wrong because of the current developments in the Middle East, but also because it has curtailed basic rights of Kurdish activists in innumerable cases since its enactment in November 1993. Furthermore it has led to the criminalization of the entire Kurdish community in Germany. The stigmatization as terrorist organization impedes the capability of the PKK (or of single members) to play an important and official role as a mediator in the peace process. It also obstructs the possibility that such negotiations between the Turkish government and the PKK can be conducted within the EU.
On December 6 we will show, that we:
For latest information about further actions planned during the conference on December 11/12 NOIMK.ORG


text:
As historian Desmond Morton reminds us, "Wars are made by masses of people, and masses are made up of individuals, with their own motives and experiences, joys, terrors and tragedies." But how does one really measure the impact of war on society? By the number of men and women who volunteer for military service? By the mounting strain on both personal and public economy? By the harsh political decisions that often flow from military necessity? When war was declared on August 4th, 1914, few New Brunswickers conceived of how these and other concerns would come to dominate almost every facet of their lives. On the contrary, with the enlistment from the province of 1,134 men to the first contingent, enthusiasm for war remained strong throughout the province. Whether driven by a sense of adventure, the need to combat injustice, love of Empire, or a budding sense of nationality, as many as 26,000 New Brunswick-born men and women would eventually wear the uniform of one of the Maritimes' many distinctive military units. Approximately one in ten did not return. As casualties mounted, New Brunswickers found ways to deal with the increasing cost of war: charities were formed to help support soldiers' families; agricultural societies banded together to find new ways to increase production; and, as volunteerism began to wane, recruiting associations gave way to conscription as a means of winning the war. Some New Brunswickers openly doubted the province's ability to give more; but even in the darkest days of 1917 and 1918, most residents remained resolute in their desire to secure victory and to bring their loved ones home.
The New Brunswick Great War Project (NBGWP) is an ongoing program to preserve and illustrate a collection of sources relating to this province's commitment to the Great War (1914-1919). Its principal aim is to provide both researcher and genealogist alike the foundation for a better understanding of the relationship between war and society. The project is not a comprehensive study of all people and all sources. It is an attempt to lend context to what is arguably a very complex subject. While great effort has been made to balance local with provincial topics, the project is heavily biased towards those sources dealing with military personnel, their families, and the wartime activities they engaged in.
The project is divided into two separate but equally important parts: the first provides the names and vital statistics of approximately 32,000 soldiers and nurses of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) who are linked to New Brunswick's military effort. The majority were born in the province. Some emigrated to the Maritimes before the war. Others resided in Nova Scotia, Quebec, or New England, but found themselves enlisting in one of a number of provincial units such as the 26th Battalion. The list is imperfect. Not all of the men and women who are connected to New Brunswick's wartime record have been identified. Furthermore, personal data such as date and place of birth have been extracted from several different sources and has not yet been verified. Efforts are currently underway to correct these deficiencies and to expand upon the basic military information that is currently available, but this is a very time consuming process.
The second part of the project provides users with 106,000 articles drawn from eight provincial newspapers, namely the Kings County Record, the St. John Standard, Fredericton's Daily Gleaner, the Campbellton Graphic, the Daily Telegraph and the Sun(Saint John), the Daily Times(Moncton), the North Shore Leader(Newcastle), and the Tribune(Campbellton). Articles, ranging in date from 1914 to 1920, cover a number of important wartime issues. The largest category of clippings details the extent of New Brunswick's military contribution to the Great War, from recruiting to the publication of personal letters and the twice-daily casualty list. Other categories include charitable fundraising, politics, economic expansion, the role of women and children, and the influence of religion. Eventually, this project will be expanded to include a total of ten provincial newspapers – five of New Brunswick's largest dailies and five regional weekly newspapers – and upwards of 150,000 articles in both official languages. Indexes have been provided to narrow potential searches by location, by topic, by title keyword, and by date. Users are warned, however, that scanned images are only as good as their source. While substantial effort has been made to clean-up images and present them in as legible a form as possible, some images may be difficult to read.
The NBGWP was created through the collective efforts of historian Curtis Mainville, the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, and the University of New Brunswick' Gregg Center for the Study of War and Society. Additional thanks are extended to the Harriet Irving Library and Library and Archives Canada. Images are copyright-free. Reproduction is subject to the credit of The New Brunswick Great War Project.
- Curtis Mainville


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For Immediate Release
Patricia Kiernan Johnson;
Building Opera Audiences Grants Encourage Experimental,
Innovative and Creative Audience Building Activities
New York, NY—
OPERA America
, the national nonprofit service organization for opera, is pleased to announce that it has awarded $300,000 in grants to 13 opera companies through the first year of its
Building Opera Audiences
grant program, generously funded by the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation. This new grant program seeks to support the efforts of North American opera companies to build informed, enthusiastic audiences for opera through innovative marketing projects. A record-setting 67 applications totaling nearly $2 million in requests were submitted to OPERA America, demonstrating how vital audience development programs are to opera organizations today.
The 13 organizations receiving Building Opera Audiences grants are:
American Opera Projects
(Brooklyn, NY),
Arizona Opera
(Phoenix and Tuscon, AZ),
Florentine Opera Company
(Milwaukee, WI),
Los Angeles Opera
Madison Opera
Opera on the James
(Lynchburg, VA),
Opera Memphis
Opera Theater of Pittsburgh
San Francisco Opera
Sarasota Opera
Seattle Opera
Syracuse Opera
Vancouver Opera
"As cultural and entertainment options continue to grow, opera companies face increased competition for audiences," stated Marc A. Scorca, president/CEO of OPERA America. "The Building Opera Audiences grant program provides funding to support innovative projects that have the potential to engage new and retain current audiences, helping to provide viable models for companies of all sizes across the country.
The first round of the Building Opera Audiences project shows a diverse range of initiatives that seek to increase first-time attendance and improve retention rates among current audiences. These projects harness technology and social media, increase two-way conversations with audiences about perceived barriers, and offer special events and performances in theaters and other community venues. They are designed to reach young professionals and families, as well as general audiences, and employ solid research, incentives and collaborations.
Each funded project will be documented and evaluated throughout its lifespan. The results will be shared with the opera field, so that other organizations can learn from and replicate projects in their communities.
Recipients of Building Opera Audiences grants were selected by a panel of industry leaders, including
Jim Atkinson
of the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation,
Colleen Flanigan
of Roosevelt University Auditorium Theatre,
Claire Hopkinson
of the Toronto Arts Council,
Laura Johnson
of New York City Ballet and
Jenifer Thomas
, formerly of The Pricing Institute.
OPERA America's Building Opera Audiences grant program is made possible through the generosity of the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation.
Building Opera Audiences: Descriptions of Funded Projects
American Opera Projects (Brooklyn, NY): $12,600
American Opera Projects (AOP) will create a mobile application called
Have A Voice
to engage and expand opera audiences. By utilizing technology to foster feedback and discourse, the new platform will attract a technologically savvy audience to the art form, while providing useful feedback to creative artists. This cross-platform app will allow audiences to share their feedback with a network of performing arts organizations while simultaneously sharing content on partner website and popular social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. An achievement system will encourage users to remain active in the system in order to attain electronic or physical rewards, such as badges, discounts and tickets.
Arizona Opera (Phoenix and Tuscon, AZ): $30,000
In partnership with Univision Arizona, Arizona Opera's
¡Viva Opera!
project will build upon the opera company's foundation of outreach and education in the Hispanic community that has included in-school programming and Spanish-language marketing. Arizona Opera seeks to lead the state's cultural and artistic institutions in cultivating a welcoming, inclusive and broad-based relationship with Arizona's Spanish-speaking Hispanic community. Specific activities funded by the grant include: short Spanish-language TV and radio spots for the Phoenix and Tucson markets, events for young Hispanic professionals and Hispanic-owned businesses, free family events for Hispanic audiences and tourism incentives for northern Mexico communities.
Florentine Opera Company (Milwaukee, WI): $30,000
Florentine Opera Company will launch a new Young Professionals Group, the
Bohème Society
, to identify, engage, foster and involve the next generation of opera aficionados in the life of the opera company. Using information gained through focus group sessions with young community leaders, and in consultation with the Bohème Society Advisory Board, Florentine Opera will create a series of value-added experiences and events for young audiences, such as scene showcases, film screenings combined with performances, backstage tours and receptions. Florentine Opera will also design a mobile app providing information about the opera company, its productions and artists; social media content; Bohème Society event news and audio pieces. To maximize visibility for this project, Florentine Opera will work with a range of strategic media partners to run a media campaign that will include digital marketing, radio spots, print, guerrilla marketing and more.
Los Angeles Opera: $30,000
In an effort to introduce new audiences to opera, Los Angeles Opera's
Newcomer Project
is designed to demystify opera and bring it back to its roots as a popular and ubiquitous art form that is an integral part of the Los Angeles community. Creating a safe and approachable environment for people to experiment with a new art form, the project shepherds newcomers through every step of the opera experience, from discounted ticket pages and preparatory resources to informational programs and social events. The major effort is to cultivate a community of culturally-curious newcomers who together can share in the process of a new experience, learn collectively and, most importantly, have a fun and engaging encounter with opera.
Madison Opera: $25,000
This summer, Madison Opera will open its new home, the Madison Opera Center, which includes a rehearsal hall that can be used for expanded community programming. In order to understand how to best use this asset, Madison Opera will work with the University of Wisconsin Survey Center to conduct an extensive survey of the audience at the 12th annual Opera in the Park in July. Over 14,000 people attend Opera in the Park, but as it is a free and unticketed event, it is difficult to capture information about who is attending. The Survey Center will use its staff to gather data to determine what activities will engage those audiences in the life of the Opera Center and increase attendance at all opera performances and events, encouraging this large summer audience to become year-round attendees.
Opera on the James (Lynchburg, VA): $7,500
With its
project, Opera on the James seeks to create an innovative model for changing attitudes of urban youth concerning opera and its value as a uniquely powerful form of musical story telling. A short mixed-genre opera, GET REAL will meld updated portions of the plots from operas that are part of its mainstage season in new orchestrations with hip hop rhythms, percussion and brass, hip hop dance and spoken word. Videography will create fresh, urban visuals that are vibrant and easily portable. GET REAL will feature two duet scenes, each with an emerging opera professional and a regional actor/dancer.
Opera Memphis: $30,000
In September, Opera Memphis will present
30 Days of Opera
— a month-long program aimed at breaking down the perceived barriers that prevent many people from experiencing the power of opera. Over the course of 30 consecutive days, the company will offer over 50 free performances at more than 40 different locations, all across the Memphis region. These events will introduce opera into the daily routines of local residents — at farmers markets, restaurants, schools and street corners. In the process, they will create a trail of breadcrumbs that leads to the opera house. In this second year of the program, Opera Memphis will expand its roster of singers, which will significantly increase the number of free performances it can deliver.
Opera Theater of Pittsburgh: $22,500
Through their new
My First Time
initiative, Opera Theater of Pittsburgh plans to break down opera stereotypes to make the opera experience feel more approachable and relevant. My First Time will target young professionals and opera newcomers in an attempt to attract and engage those who might not initially consider themselves opera fans. This new campaign will experiment with creative engagement solutions including blog and vlog entries created by opera newcomers, using social media tools to let users capture and share short looping videos on Twitter, generous discounts and welcome bags with fun treats for new ticket buyers, red carpet-style photo ops as first timers arrive at performances, video booths during performance intermissions to capture feedback and post-performance focus groups.
San Francisco Opera: $25,000
San Francisco Opera will present its second
Community Open House
event this fall, designed to reach and engage those who are new to the organization, especially families with children and people ages 21-40. Virtually every square inch of the historic War Memorial Opera House will be transformed into event space. Free to all, the day-long event will feature included technical and musical demonstrations, a self-guided tour, an Opera in an Hour movie, workshops with young resident artists, arts and crafts and an opportunity to meet the general director. Following the conclusion of the Community Open House, San Francisco Opera will continue to engage attendees with its full range of year-round activities through tailored packages, special ticket offers, newsletters, workshops and more.
Sarasota Opera: $18,000
Sarasota Opera, with a performance season occurring in the fall and winter, will expand its offerings to include a
Summer Screening Series
of European opera productions broadcast to the Sarasota Opera House. Tickets for the broadcast series will be bundled into subscription packages that will include Sarasota Opera's live performances, providing an incentive to existing subscribers who live in Sarasota year-round. Sarasota Opera will enrich the broadcast experience by providing pre- and post-performance activities, such as performances by local artists, Q&A with artistic staff, behind-the-scenes opportunities and casual receptions with artists and staff. By launching this broadcast, Sarasota Opera is able to expand its programming into the summer season while also encouraging attendance to its mainstage season by bundling the tickets into a subscription package.
Seattle Opera: $30,000
Through two initiatives, the
Preferred Subscriber Program
Select Your Own Seat
web module, Seattle Opera will enhance patron experiences, inspire earlier purchase and encourage more frequent attendance. The Preferred Subscriber Program will enhance the patron experience at McCaw Hall with a dedicated concierge service that allows subscribers to exchange or purchase additional tickets, pre-order intermission food and drinks, pick up program books and pose for commemorative photos. Subscribers will also be invited to a new Subscriber Appreciation Day at Seattle Opera's rehearsal studios and costume shop to learn about each production's preparations. Improvements to the Select Your Own Seat module include the ability to purchase tickets on mobile devices and incentivize add-on purchases within the same transaction, which will increase Seattle Opera's ticket sales from online users.
Syracuse Opera: $13,500
Syracuse Opera will broaden its audience by participating in the
IDEAS Collaborative
, a new community-wide database comprising of ticket buyers from 43 arts, cultural and heritage organizations. With geographic and demographic analysis conducted by a specialized consultant, Syracuse Opera will identify a list of 4,500 households new to the organization who have the highest likelihood of purchasing opera tickets. Four direct mail pieces featuring Buy One Get One Free offers will be sent to these targeted households to encourage them to purchase tickets to Syracuse Opera productions.
Vancouver Opera: $25,000
Vancouver Opera's
Transporting Opera Audiences
project will engage prospective patrons in outlying municipalities that are home to diverse cultural enclaves which currently encounter attendance barriers, including distance, price and unfamiliarity with opera. Vancouver Opera will engage these communities in two phases: first, by producing affordable sampler concerts that will introduce opera to audiences in their communities; and second, by partnering with British Columbia's transit authorities to transport these audiences downtown to a mainstage performance. Designated "Opera Trains" will take passengers to the opera house, entertaining them along the way with programming about the performance they are about to experience. Participants will travel for free and will receive a discount on their mainstage ticket that is equivalent to the cost of their initial concert ticket.
To learn more about OPERA America and its services,
OPERA America leads and serves the entire opera community, supporting the creation, presentation and enjoyment of opera.
Artistic services help opera companies and creative and performing artists to improve the quality of productions and increase the creation and presentation of North American works.
Information, technical, and administrative services to opera companies reflect the need for strengthened leadership among staff, trustees and volunteers.
Education, audience development and community services are designed to enhance all forms of opera appreciation.
Founded in 1970, OPERA America's worldwide membership network includes nearly 200 Company Members, 300 Associate and Business Members, 2,000 Individual Members and more than 16,000 subscribers to the association's electronic news service. In 2005, OPERA America relocated from Washington, D.C. to New York as the first step in creating the first-ever National Opera Center. With a wide range of artistic and administrative services in a purpose-built facility, the Opera Center is dedicated to increasing the level of excellence, creativity and effectiveness across the field.
OPERA America's long tradition of supporting and nurturing the creation and development of new works led to the formation of
The Opera Fund
, a growing endowment which allows OPERA America to make a direct impact on the ongoing creation and presentation of new opera and music-theater works. Since its inception, OPERA America has made grants of nearly $11 million to assist companies with the expenses associated with the creation and development of new works.


text:
The charter of demands against job destruction18-11-2008
Outsourcing, casualisation and job destruction are among the most urgent issues that unions at Coca-Cola across the globe face.
The Coca-Cola Workers Global Alliance stands for a joint set of demands in order to stop the abuse of casual employment in the Coca-Cola system.
You can download the Charter of demands in pdf format here:
IUF manual on casualisation and outsourcing - downloads05-08-2008
You can download the IUF manual on outsourcing and casualisation in the food and beverage industry in different languages by clicking on the respective link (All documents are in pdf format. The text is the same, different file sizes come from layouted and pure text variants for easier download):


text: The North Yorkshire Moors Railway abbreviated NYMR is a popular tourist railway located in North Yorkshire of United Kingdom. The steam train takes the tourists on an 18 mile (29 km) journey from a small market town of Pickering to the village of Grosmont. The scenic ride is through the North York Moors National Park, it features diverse scenery everything from beautiful lakes to forest covered valleys and even some moorland. Along the way there are also numerous beautiful villages in the countryside. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is one oldest historic train lines in Northern United Kingdom, it was completed in 1836 by the orders of George Stephenson. Today it's one of the most sought after travel destinations in England, the ride across the country is truly unforgettable, more than 330 thousands tourists from around the world visit this destination each year. The train operates daily from about April to October, the departures are hourly. It's not only a great scenic ride, but is also a great way to and from local attractions such as Oakwood Theme Park. The railway was also used in numerous movies, including the Harry Potter movies, Heartbeat, Possession, and in the Sherlock Holmes television series just to name a few.


text:
A lot of juggling is necessary to adapt the ordinary amateur moving picture camera and telescope to the needs of those precious seconds of totality.
RASC Hamilton Centre—1932 Eclipse
Scanned by Colin Haig
These slides are from the August 31st, 1932 solar eclipse expedition in Acton Vale, Quebec. There was an 8mm film that somebody (no idea who) transferred key frames to 35mm slides. I am not sure when actually that transfer was done or when the slides were developed. I scanned these (2006-02-11 through 2006-04-06) using a NIKON Coolscan V ED at highest resolution.


text:
Your interview will be arranged via the APOWEB digital service.
You should have your student number.
If you are already a student at the Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, your number will be the same as last year. If you have just registered on the site, you will be given a number upon completing registration.
I am arranging an interview on the APOWEB digital service


text:
Starbucks Under Fire For 'Unhealthy' Coffee Drink
Posted by TheShot on 20 Jun 2006 | Tagged as: Add Milk, Coffee Health, Consumer Trends, Starbucks
As a follow up to a previous post from February, Upscale coffee drinks almost as caloric as Big Mac, SF's CBS 5 news aired a story today noting that Starbucks' Banana Mocha Frappuccino (who has time to pronounce all that?!) is even more caloric than a Big Mac: cbs5.com – Starbucks Under Fire For 'Unhealthy' Coffee Drink.
And yet people are often obsessing over the possible health risks of coffee — the coffee is least of their worries. (If Clara Peller were alive, she'd be yelling, "Where's the coffee?!") Starbucks says it is actively researching alternatives to high fat products, but it's clearly the consumer, not Starbucks, that's the problem here.
Mom was right: never eat or drink anything bigger than your head.
3 Comments »
3 Responses to "Starbucks Under Fire For 'Unhealthy' Coffee Drink"
[…] The idea that good coffee must equate with a 17-adjective concoction of frothed milk, hazelnut syrup, whipped cream, chopped nuts, and a cherry on top that is oh, about, 2% espresso, […]
[…] But when you check all the references, you quickly come to the realization that much of the cult of Starbucks and its 'Buckniks has little to do with their coffee. More often, it's about brand coziness with a clean, approachable, predictable, and convenient location and their variety of high-calorie milkshakes (with coffee added for flavoring). When you come down to it, the great irony is that a lot of people really don't like the taste of coffee. Yet Starbucks thrives under a coffee identity by making the otherwise unpallatable pallatable for millions of consumers, serving it under various disguises. […]
[…] after all the criticism over it's calorie bombs, Starbucks is trying to do its part for the war on obesity. But curiously enough, earlier this […]


text:
Apple-Samsung Jurors Will Have to Hash Through a Daunting List of Complex Questions
As the Apple-Samsung patent trial wound down in San Jose on Monday, the companies each submitted a proposed juror verdict form, an exhaustive set of questions members of the jury must answer as they determine the validity of the multiple patents in question in the case.
Their ultimate fate: Trudging through a document dump of the worst kind — one for a patent trial.
There are, of course, two lawsuits in question — Apple's suit against Samsung and Samsung's countersuit against Apple — so the jury will have to review both companies' claims for merit. That means sorting through the 20-odd Samsung-manufactured cellphones and tablets and checking off whether each violates one of the handful of patents in question. It also means deliberating on damages award amounts, should either side score a victory.
Each side has their own version of what document the jury should receive, and they're spending most of Monday afternoon arguing the finer points of the document that will be give to the jury before it starts deliberations later this week. Judge Lucy Koh will make the final decision on the content and on Monday afternoon filed another version of the verdict form for both sides to take a look at. Aside from the form, jurors will also get upward of 100 more pages of instruction documents.
Such is the case for gnarly technology-based patent lawsuits, especially those that cover multiple devices and potential violations. Plainly speaking, it's complicated.
Remember, for either party to be found in violation of a specific patent, the jurors are required to rule unanimously. And with so many options to sift through, it's not a sure bet on whether the jury can agree on any potential violation in full.
Here's the tentative verdict form. Below it are the proposed forms submitted by Apple and Samsung.


text:
Make it Kendrys Morales
On further review, make it Kendrys Morales.
Known as Kendry Morales since signing with the Angels as a Cuban exile in 2004, Morales has let it be known that his given name is actually Kendrys. That is how it appears in the Angels' press guide, and that's what he prefers to be called.
His full name is Kendrys Morales Rodriguez.
Morales, fifth in the 2009 American League Most Valuable Player balloting, is rebounding from surgery on his lower left leg and hopes to be ready by Opening Day on March 31 in Kansas City. He has been hitting regularly and taking fielding practice but has not yet run full speed.
He fractured the leg on May 29 leaping on home plate after a game-winning grand slam against the Mariners at Angel Stadium. – Lyle Spencer
3 Comments
The more Kendrys the better.
Hello,,, I just want to throw this thought out to you, would it at all be possible for the Angels to trade for David Wright?? The Mets are in bad shape(from what I've read) and David Wright is only, what, 28 yrs old and a very solid 3rd baseman with not only a good OBP but a RBI guy with power and thats power in Citi Field….. Am I only dreaming? Or could my Dream come True? Thank You and have a great day….
Keep Kendry? Nah… trade him for some middle relief, looks like we have the closer role nailed down with Waldon, but some set up guys would be great and Kendry would be a good piece of bait to toss out there for those kind of arms , perhaps the Padres Healt Bell would be the answer for setting the stage for Waldon.Mark Trumbo is sealed his position at first, his rookie numbers are excellent and with more at bats he will only get better and for what we are paying Kendry keeping Trumbo would be the best way to free up some much needed $$$$ after the millions we paid for Wells who's numbers this year are sub-par


text:
Factory Boss Held Hostage in China
On the outskirts of Beijing, an executive of U.S.-based Specialty Medical Supplies has been held captive in his office by his employees for days. The WSJ's Laurie Burkitt tells Wei Gu why labor disputes between workers and managers are on the rise in China.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the ... and that you actually don't ask us to come back Fiji in his own off is it and I now ... so he's happy that he and needs his beauty of Colin and in his office ... yes he's complaining that no one has unlocked will have a lot to me ... only giving him chicken everyday ... Johnny me now to discuss Ms Goodall store a ... isn't law ramp up its ... triple its head in the one taking care of lawsuits and I'll ... IRA E had visited him and he did talk to him what he described his situation ... I actually Indiana tear away its critics you weren't solely because of the circumstances ... and they say executive is actually being held by his employer he is ... an assist on the outskirts of teaching him his factory and he's able to communicate from their windows that looks ... like he's just sort of high-end artists and ... anti into the novena against the window for subtlety to talk to him that way Addy from Credit distance were shouting ... at to one another back and forth and say it's out has been neck assets that ID is now ... yesterday that can do ... this for days and so he added sting during know what it pretty well with the good spirits and enhancing its unsecured how to approach and some pretty repeats the app ... to run a ... one to know what to say I need to talk to them he seems to be talking to everyone ... I know what to what has long Island a bit ... so it's un clear really why they're letting me speak to hand the other hand I do you can access StreetSight are not blocking the window from which he speaking ... of that they are blocking access to the factory seeking inside of it ... now and that they also aren't willing to talk so unfortunately I don't have the ... bear side of the story which makes it a little biased here and that the only half of its executives such extensive ... information so what does this tell me tell ... you that and he was going to close one portion of the factory and that that particular ... part of the factory to Mumbai said those operations with the breed located ... by ... some workers got wind of aunts and thought that the entire factory at this point the closed ... end and this was really concerning to them ... this is that I didn't and when many people are feeling a little uneasy about ... economic circumstances and are concerned that ... the economy might be slowing and that might mean the would be out of the job ... so some of these people can see ... according to the executive ... I think that's the might be getting paid ... that they would be kidding severance packages and Tabitha factories closing ... cry continuing passion of people outside China about tiny sweatpants ... is what they were in no way a very difficult situation and to ... get their media said its response to that like the dude Foxconn factories I'm just one day Holl Kah Mun ... it does seems to be quite different from what people think about the Chinese workers how come none of these incidents about locking ... manager has off ... an all out attacking that you the local government officials have an inch and a ... sure so here it seems like a completely new wild West kind of story but ... oddly enough it does happen in China and there is a history ... of executives being held hostage before so I saw the actually last year there was one example ... of the time one executive who works for a ... company called North Pole ... and apps that was held ... in China for about five months by his employees to confiscated his passport ... and I he was unable to leave and ... I and and you know that's a very strong negotiating tactic if you can and don't let your costly ... also earlier this year I signed example of ... some Japanese ... executives being held within their company in Shanghai ... and saying the reason behind now is ... that workers were disturbed by company rules they learned that more flexible after it breaks ... so it really does happen and also outside of China ... and a couple years ago in France which I think is into thousandnine ... we signed up and ... we know Sony Corporation ... fried and how to color I mean these are big companies that also face similar problems ... I still find none felt like all fully long time when the local government officials staying ... on the wire and a fountain that damaging tennis and in it's as good for you ... and I did that a recipient of foreign investment ... and how money us comes to what it is too busy with the spell accounting student ... and ... well so far it looks like local officials are trying to you ... how to play and mediators have a role that they're taking you wanna make sure that these ... workers are happy and sad the seem to be giving their side of the story to the Chinese media ... but at the same time they are definitely providing theory that it's just to get me to I T in the executive is being howled ... and so it appeared to retreat eight to facilitate negotiations but ... meanwhile they're not actually taking effect in and out of the states ... in which he's and so ... I'm you know it it's going to the status quo ... for awhile now aspect and the sea actually the second ... has been in touch with ... are really on the evil eye and secure address the situation was saying that it's a civil dispute at this point in time ... some like there isn't related to sightedness of tiny scrape a ... fascinating story thank you very


text:
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Boasting a total thickness of 2.5mm including a 1mm thick wear layer, this Signature floor features a BREEAM rating of A+. It is highly durable and very, very affordable at the same time. Whether you are looking to install this flooring in your commercial space or your home, it can comfortably handle heavy foot traffic.
The highly translucent wear layer of the Amtico Signature Stone Jura Yellow AR0SJA75 ensures a very realistic and authentic look. With this floor installed in your home, you won't be able to differentiate it from real stone. That's how convincing the stone effect design is.
The Amtico Signature Stone Jura Yellow AR0SJA75 is perfectly suited for every space in your home including bathroom, kitchen, living rooms, study as well as your bedroom. When you want to make a style statement and want a floor that will thrall your visitors, the Amtico Signature Stone Jura Yellow AR0SJA75 will do the trick with panache.
This floor is resistant to scratches, dents, stains, scuffs and moisture and assures you of lasting performance for years to come. With a professional installer, installing the Amtico Signature Stone Jura Yellow AR0SJA75 is easy, simple and hassle-free.
No one understands flooring like we do at Lifestyle Flooring UK. We aim to make the experience simple, straightforward and a breeze for all our customers. Why venture out of your home when you can sample and order Amtico Signature Stone Jura Yellow AR0SJA75 from the comfort of your home?
Amtico Signature Stone Jura Yellow AR0SJA75 Maintenance
Amtico Signature Stone Jura Yellow AR0SJA75 Vinyl floors are extremely durable, resistant to scratches and stains, and are available in a variety of colours and designs to suit any interior décor. Vinyl floors can handle high levels of foot traffic efficiently.
Vinyl floors are soft to walk on, and are noise-absorbent. these features make them particularly attractive to commercial property owners, and home owners with pets and kids. They are affordable and can be installed easily and quickly.
To keep reaping the benefits of your Amtico Signature Stone Jura Yellow AR0SJA75 for a long time, you need to maintain them well. Maintaining vinyl floors is easy compared to other flooring types. Here are a few maintenance tips for long-lasting vinyl floors:
- Once the Amtico Signature Stone Jura Yellow AR0SJA75 is installed, avoid washing your floor for a minimum period of 24 hours
- Mop the floor as regularly as once a week. Follow your manufacturer's floor-cleaning manual to use appropriate methods and cleaning solutions for mopping.
- Clean your floor regularly. Use a vacuum for the purpose. You could also use a soft brush to sweep off loosely-attached dirt.
- Use entrance mats for doors that allow people in from outside. These mats stop sharp or other damage-causing items at the door itself, keeping your floor safe from scratches and gouges.
- Remove the finishing layer from floors and re-apply regularly if you have installed dressed floors. Stripping method and frequency must be in accordance to manufacturer guidelines.
- Use floormats in water-prone areas to minimise floor's contact with excess water.
- Clean liquid spills at the earliest, to avoid unsightly stains in the long run.
- Use felt pads beneath furniture body and legs so that they do not cause damage such as scratches or cracks upon dragging.
- Use slow, even and careful movements, when moving appliances. Abrupt and careless movements can cause deep scratches on the floor. Use equal care when moving an any wheel-based appliance as these too, are equally damaging.
- Keep your pet's nails in check, regularly, to avoid scratches on your vinyl floor.
The Amtico Signature Stone Jura Yellow AR0SJA75 requires a glue down installation method. Glue down luxury vinyl tile installation is easy to do by yourself. While professional installation will guarantee the best-quality finish, you can still achieve aesthetically pleasing results via the DIY method.
Each luxury vinyl floor has its own installation instructions provided by the manufacturer. However, there are some general guidelines you can follow. Here, you'll discover the basics of glue down LVT installation.
Choosing the right adhesive
It's important to ensure you're using the right adhesive when gluing down luxury vinyl tiles. This will ensure a strong, long-lasting bond. You will find information regarding the type of adhesive you'll need in the Amtico Signature Stone Jura Yellow AR0SJA75 manufacturer guidelines.
There are a number of factors to consider when choosing LVT adhesive. The room you'll be installing the floor into plays a role in the type of adhesive you might need. For example, if you'll be installing it in the bathroom, the adhesive is going to need to be moisture resistant. If you'll be installing it in a room that tends to get quite hot, you'll need a high-temperature adhesive.
If in doubt, refer to the manufacturer guidelines, or contact our friendly team who will be able to advise you of the best adhesive to suit your installation.
Preparing for installation
You will need to carry out a number of preparation steps before you install the floor. Firstly, you'll want to acclimatise the luxury vinyl tiles for a period of around 48 hours. Ideally this should be done in a room with a similar temperature to the one you're installing it in.
While you're waiting for the floor to be acclimatised, you can start preparing the subfloor. You'll need to make sure it's clean and level. Vinyl can be installed on most subfloor materials, but it does need to be flat and clean beforehand. If you're working with a concrete floor, it should be totally cured and dry for at least six weeks prior to the installation.
It is also a good idea to check the moisture levels of the subfloor. If it has a high-moisture content, you can use a drying screed, along with a moisture resistant adhesive to protect the LVT.
Installation method
Once you're ready to install your new floor, you can follow the general steps below:
Step 1: Begin in the centre of the room
With glue down LVT installation, it's best to start installing the floor in the centre of the room. Use a chalk line to mark the subfloor where the first line will begin. You can lay out the tiles first to check whether you'll need to cut them near the walls and around any pipework in the room.
Once you have prepared for where the tiles will go and cut them to size if required, you can begin adding the adhesive.
Step 2: Apply the adhesive
It's really important to follow the instructions on your chosen adhesive. Apply it where the first and second rows will be fitted and ensure you lay the tiles down before it sets. Never apply more adhesive than you can use in the space it takes to dry.
Be sure to spread the adhesive evenly with a trowel over the designated area. Then, place the tiles for the first and second rows down securely.
Step 3: Use a hand roller to secure the floor
After you've laid the first tiles, use a hand roller to securely bond them to the adhesive. This will ensure they are adequately bonded, and they won't pop up during the rest of the installation.
Step 4: Use a damp cloth to wipe away excess glue
As you're laying the planks, you may find some of the adhesive gets onto the tiles. If it does ooze out onto them, use a damp cloth to simply wipe it away. Don't allow the adhesive to set on top of the tiles.
Step 5: Use a floor roller to ensure a great bond
Once the first and second lines have been completed, use a floor roller to further bond the tiles to the adhesive. Ideally, the roller should weigh between 50kg to 65kg. Be sure to roll in different directions for best results.
Once the first and second lines have been installed, you can install the rest of the floor repeating the steps above.
Glue down installation does take a little longer than click installation. However, it also leaves you with a strong, stable floor.
Important: We highly recommend contacting the manufacturer of the floor to receive an official installation guide. Failure to follow manufacturer guidelines could void the warranty.
Why pay retail shop prices?
Amtico work closely with selected retailers to ensure they and the shops make extortionate profits which is not beneficial to the consumer. We buy the exact same products from wholesalers meaning we are not bound by Amtico's retailer price fixing and can offer the consumer the same product at much more discounted prices! We sell over 100,000 square meters of Amtico flooring a year in the UK and we never have any issues.
With regards to the warranty and quality of the product, we offer a 28 day return policy and will replace any faulty goods free of charge within the Amtico's manufacturer warranty period.
If you have any questions then please do give us a call, we would love to explain in more detail.
Our Frequently Asked Questions
- Unfortunately not unless you have just ordered some flooring and decide to add an additional box / number of boxes to your order to be sent out with your existing order. If this is the case, please quote your existing order ID in a message and send it via email or the contact form on the "Contact Us" page.
- No.
- We provide stripping and adhesive in the accessories section.
- Sorry but no.
- Installing solid floors in water-prone areas causes them to swell. Consider pre-finished solid wood floors, which come with a waterproof surface.
- No.
- Lifestyle Flooring UK offer solid wood floors reinforced with multiple layers of protective coating. Therefore, our floors are extremely resistant to scratches and chipping.
- Squeaks are caused due to a wobbly sub-floor. Solid wood flooring must be installed on an even and intact subfloor to prevent squeaks.
- Yes, leave a gap of 10mm at the minimum, to accommodate expansions. A decorative bead board or skirting board can serve as a good cover for the gap.
- Lifestyle Flooring UK recommends an acclimation period of 5 days. This ensures that the solid wood is in a perfect condition for installation.
- A solid wood floor can be sanded and refinished several times, which makes the floor look new. The floor doesn't need sanding for the initial 10 to 15 years though.
- Standard engineered wood floors are not recommended for bathrooms as too much contact with water causes them to swell. Pre-finished types are preferable as they feature a water-resistant surface.
- Yes.
- Floors from Lifestyle Flooring UK come with multiple protective coatings, which makes them highly scratchproof.
- Squeaks occur when a floor is installed on an uneven subfloor. Correct installation will not produce squeaks.
- Yes, a gap of a minimum 10mm is required.
- Allow the floor to stay for a minimum of 36hrs in the room of installation for acclimation.
- Engineered floors can be sanded multiple times to retain their new look. They will not, however need sanding for 10 to 15 years immediately after installation.
- Yes. But, laminate floors are water resistant only to a certain extent. So, remove excess water at the earliest.
- Yes.
- Install the floors on even subfloors to prevent such noises.
- Laminate floors are not made of natural products however we recommended a minimum expansion gap of 1/4 inch.
- Yes.


text:
What sets the limits on a galaxy's size? It might be the supermassive black hole sitting in its core. Many observations indicate the mass of the central black hole in a galaxy is correlated with the mass of the central region of the galaxy itself.
A widely accepted model states that galaxies and the supermassive black hole share an evolutionary relationship. During the early days, when a galaxy is young, the raw ingredients for both star formation and black hole growth are common. However, as the black hole becomes active through consuming gas, the matter it's drawing in blasts the star-forming medium away through powerful winds, slowing the birth rates of new stars.
While this model is clear, direct evidence for it has been lacking: the black holes drive processes that shine very brightly, dominating the light coming from star formation in most wavelengths. Nevertheless, researchers used the Chandra Deep Field North (CDF-N) X-ray survey and the submillimeter instrument on the Herschel Space Observatory to measure both the star formation rate and black hole activity. As M. J. Page et al. report in Nature, they found rates of star birth in galaxies slowed down once the central black hole became active. This result provides strong support for the shared evolution of galaxies and the black holes at their hearts.
The researchers targeted 176 galaxies with active galactic nuclei (AGN)—supermassive black holes surrounded by matter that pumps out huge amounts of energy in the form of light—from the CDF-N survey. Within that sample, they looked specifically at the 65 galaxies that formed 2 to 6 billion years after the Big Bang, when star formation and black hole growth were strongest.
During active periods, the supermassive black hole in the nucleus of a galaxy is extremely luminous. These AGN shine in a wide range of wavelengths—including X-rays—as they gorge themselves on a diet of gas. Some of the gas falls in or orbits the black hole in the form of accretion discs, emitting light during the high acceleration; other gas is blasted out in jets. AGN ramp up their intensity gradually, based on the available fuel.
To assess star formation, the researchers examined the galaxies using 250 micron light (0.25 millimeters), which is a wavelength not associated with AGN activity—but is produced strongly by newborn stars. In addition, 250 micron light punches through the dusty environment in which stars form, so it's ideal for studying such systems. On the other hand, submillimeter observing must be done from orbit, since these wavelengths don't penetrate Earth's atmosphere. This obstacle has prevented the test of the coevolution model until now; that's why the Herschel observations were needed.
Within the sample of 65 galaxies formed early in the Universe's history, Page et al. divided the AGN into two categories based on the brightness of their X-ray emission, which should relate to the black hole's activity. In the lower-luminosity category, they found 44 AGN, with 11 having strong 250 micron emissions, indicating star-formation. In the higher-luminosity category, they found no galaxies with star formation signatures out of 21 AGN. Based on this data and a statistical model, they estimate 25 percent of all lower-luminosity AGN should be undergoing star formation, while less than 5 percent of higher-luminosity AGN do. The errors on both of these estimates are fairly large, partly due to the relatively small sample size.
Using 350 and 500 micron light along with the 250 micron observations, the researchers estimated the star formation rate in each galaxy. Plotting this against the X-ray luminosity for the AGN, they found a suggestive relationship: for lower luminosities, more activity in the black hole was associated with increased star formation. But, when the AGN reached a critical level, star formation decreased steeply with AGN luminosity. This suggests that the black hole winds may be depleting the galaxy of usable material for star birth. Furthermore, in the sample that includes galaxies closer to the Milky Way, Page et al. found decreased star formation for all ranges of AGN, indicating that the available fuel both for star formation and for driving black hole activity had diminished.
Since star formation peaks before AGN luminosity, that's a strong indicator that black hole activity suppresses star formation, as Page et al. point out. This data indicates that the black hole/galaxy coevolution model is correct, and additional observations should settle the issue by reducing the statistical uncertainties.
Nature, 2012. DOI: 10.1038/nature11096 (About DOIs).


text:
SWGEmu End of the Year Update 2017
January 2018
SWGEmu Team
SWGEmu End of the Year Update 2017
Table of Contents
SWGEmu Project Updates
- Project Update
- Staff Updates
- Quick Stats
- Staff Round-Table
- Closing
Major Additions/Changes
- 08/09/2017 - Publish 9: Secrets of the Force, Redux
- 12/05/2017 - Infrastructure overhaul
- 12/18/2017 - A New Test Server: TC-Prime
Staff Updates
SWGEmu is Recruiting!
SWGEmu is an ever-changing and growing organization where new talent is always being sought out. We especially would like to mention the need for more developers, please see this thread for more information.
SWGEmu is also in need of other positions filled. For anyone interested in spending some of there free time toward this project, please consider to join in on our SWGEmu Internship Program . Its once more possible to apply for an event coordinator position.
Quick Stats
Developer Code Commits/Changes:
Registration Statistics:
- Commits2017:1,043
- File Changes: 5,213
- Changed files with 208,367 additions and 658,804 deletions
User Activity Statistics (Users online in one day):
- Daily:
- October 17, 2017 - 11 accounts registered
- November 28, 2017 - 140 accounts registered
- Monthly:
- January 2017 - 2,486 accounts registered
- November 2017 - 1,055 accounts registered
- Yearly:
- 2017 - 16,619 accounts registered; average 1,385 per month
New thread statistics (Posted threads):
- Most users online: August 09, 2017 - 1,597 users
Most users online: 1,657 (05-11-2011 06:22 PM)
- December 2017 - 1,503 new threads
- February 2017 - 1035 new threads
Most viewed thread: SWGEmu Timeline
Most replied thread: What are you listening to right now?
Most popular forum: Basilisk Trade Forum
Top poster: Same Idiot (31,924 posts)
Staff Round-Table
Oru - Founder/Dev
Lordkator - DevOps EngineerAnother great SWGEmu year behind us. Much was accomplished, there is much to be proud of. I want to thank our Developers, Quality Assurance, CSR's, EC's, Mod's, Support Interns, Community Testers, Code Contributors, past and present, for their time, effort and their unwavering dedication to this project. And of course our community. Thank you for supporting us, and playing with us all these years.
Happy holidays.
Scurby - Quality Assurance LeadIt's been a great year, I've enjoyed digging in even deeper with the team as I worked to move all our systems to a new cleaner and scalable environment. I learned a lot about our systems and I got to clean a lot of stuff up which is one of my biggest motivators. We have more alerting, solid backups and we're setup in a way that allows us great flexibility for the future.
My single favorite thing about last year: We moved, and nobody really knew it. That was my goal, I'm always the guy who works in the shadows to make everything "just work". It was very quiet, and as things moved they only got better for the community, our developers and our staff. The overhaul was one of my favorite projects of the last couple of years and it re-ignited my passion for infrastructure and systems management.
I'm excited about TC-Prime, it was hard to setup but now it's 100% automated, every week it just magically clones the entire Basilisk beast to our backup server and makes it available to everyone. This is a major milestone for the project, we can now push publish changes there and test new ideas from infrastructure changes (it runs in a container!) to managing Basilisk and other servers like it in the future.
Plans for the future?
Well now that the overhaul is over I am going to be doing a lot more house cleaning on our systems, I also want to get back to committing code to Core3. I have some cool ideas both on the game side and on the infrastructure side.
I want to do more with thePit, my original dream was to have an always-on PVP server but I've been so busy with everything else I've not had time to really hone that environment. Id like to structure the mechanics to be a bit more fun while embracing the dog-eat-dog world of a PvP server.
Farelli - Quality AssuranceIt's been an amazing year for SWGEmu. JEDI!! What else is there to say?
The infrastructure overhaul is quite a major leap for us also. State of the art hardware capable of handling our needs for the future. Included in that was automated backups of our databases, a new test server (thePit), streamlined and updated core3 dependencies, additional logging of server/system functions, automated outage notifications, rolling log files, among other performance and stability changes.
Discord showed up this year.. It's taken the gaming community by storm. The community SWGEmu discord currently has 1433 members. Average of 300+ online, currently 403. I'll take this opportunity to remind everyone that it is not an official form of communication for SWGEmu.
Plans for the future?
TC-Prime - A copy of Bas that is auto-refreshed weekly. A full copy of everything on Bas.. all your toons, weapons, housing, resources, even the location you were in when we make the copy to TC-Prime. (TC-Prime is active now.)
It will also be used to stage large changes (publishes) and hotfixes for testing. The advantage of testing on Bas database first is obvious.
Finish Ground game - This milestone is within sight.
JTL - We have started..
Risenangel - Quality AssuranceBig year. Return of the Jedi and all that. Infrastructure changes are a simply amazing effort by the devs. Great job, folks.
New servers TC-Prime and thePit:
TC-Prime is a regularly backed up copy of Basilisk where players can test using their actual in-game items without fear of losing them on their play characters.
thePit is an always-PvP copy of Unstable (think Nova) with code added that is not ready for Unstable. There typically aren't a lot of people there, but you might get lucky and find a QA there you can gank.
I'll echo what the OP and RisenAngel said above: we can always use more help in QA. We've done some things lately that will ease the learning curve. If you're interested, please get in touch with one of us in-game or on forums, IRC, or Discord.
Now I've got stuff to test. On to another great year.
Niffer1976 - CSR/EC/Support (Niffer, The Machine)When I started as a CT almost four years ago now, I would often times get asked how the game was coming along, and how close we were to being near 'finished'. My answer at the time was unabashedly blunt: It was easier to tell people what was in the game than what was left to work on. At the time, we were working on CH stuff and droids. Now though, if you ask me the same thing, its easier to list off what is left to work on. That is pretty crazy to me. Additionally, when I started, one of the two kinds of content I was told I wasn't allowed to touch is now in the game and being tested quite thoroughly by everyone on Basilisk alongside other servers that run on Core3. What I'm getting at is this: The light at the end of the tunnel is getting pretty bright. And yeah, as the OP says QA and the other teams are always recruiting. Right now is an excellent time to join up if you've been considering it given QA has been crushing bugs like its Starship Troopers.
I look forward to what 2018 brings. I just want to say in closing, thank you to everyone that has supported us through thick and thin. Everyone that has been active on Mantis and helped with bug reports and testing. We see you and appreciate you. You guys catch the stuff that slips past us and it helps immensely. Everyone on the QA team has a different perspective and we all catch different things, but our players have their own perspectives and see things we don't. Usually, in very creative and sometimes unintended ways.
Thanks to everyone that has helped us get this far, too. We could not do it without you. That might seem cliché, but its the honest truth.
Bigevil - Community RelationsWe have lost many staff in these areas this year due to health and work. I wish them all well in the future. Anyone wanting to apply should follow this link: https://www.swgemu.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93399
Many changes have been made in game since our latest publishes. Everyone is doing great to adapt to those changes. A big thank you to QA, Devs, Scurby and Vlada for helping with problems that occur. Lots of accounts old and new are coming back and it is great to see new and old faces in game.
Events have not been happening and I am sorry about that. We currently have only 1 CSR/EC and I will try to get at least 1 event a month scheduled. If you want a player event please be sure to fill out the event application and send it in. https://www.swgemu.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121061 Developers have been great making us a event tool that can be used at certain types of events.
Many tickets come in daily so be patient if you do not hear from us right away. Many issues must be tested to see if it can be reproduced or discussed between Devs, QA and Support to see what the issue may be. No one is being ignored it just takes time to answer some tickets over others. Please do not spam the ticket system with multiple tickets and remember to create an account before submitting a ticket. Support system is different from forums and does require a separate log in. This way you can view and respond the ticket you already have open.
Thank you community for all the support you have given ALL of staff. *Cheers* to what is to come!!
Vlada - Lead Moderator*BigE had a big nice picture here telling everyone that he have been looking at us from afar for far to long and that he is happy to be back with the community. We are all glad to have him back with us* (Sorry BigE, our forum isn't the best and that picture is lost, Lolin)
Lolindir - ModeratorNot this **** again.
Wow, 2017 done already? The year have gone so fast. The project have gone steadily forward and we have finally seen both the corvette and Jedi implemented in the latest patch. Didn't take long for them to pop up here and there. Going forward from this is exciting for me. Most things have been implemented and now it feels like beta is around the corner (don't quote me on that! You know.... SoonTM). Looking forward to 2018 and where our project will go. Happy New Year!
The project have come a long way the last couple of years. Scurby even gave us a hint in this very thread about how far we really have come. Not only have the server seen all classes finally implemented, but the corvette have finally landed (well, landed... Its up there)! The light in the tunnel have become that much brighter (Suncrusher 2009). There have also been another very big change to the project. Our server and server solution have drastically changed, as can be read by Lordkator.
We have unfortunately lost some staff this year. Niffer is now basically alone in support and as an CSR/EC. We really need help in that department, so if anyone feel they can spare a few hours to the project, please apply for an internship. We are a good bunch of people in staff and you get a rare chance to see the project from another angle and help your fellow community members, so join the fun.
We on staff would also use this opportunity to thank each and everyone in our community for their continued support, donations and time spent on our project. This would not be possible to do without the combined effort of everyone! So thank you from all of us on staff and we all look forward to 2018 and what this year will bring project!
Happy New Year SWGEmu!
~The SWGEmu Team