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Feminist Frequency: Women vs. Tropes in Video Games (Update)
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Hey you! Reader! Want to be a part of the GREATEST COMIC BOOK AND GEEK COMMUNITY on the web?! Well, they're not accepting new members, but we'll take anyone here, so why not sign up for a free acount? It's fast and it's easy, like your mom! Sign up today! Membership spots are limited!*
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by Keb » Wed Mar 13, 2013 9:59 amThat was the ego boost I needed this morning. Thanks Doomie!
Okay, where to start. I'll go with Ntikrst's assessment. My biggest problem with his criticism is that I think for all that it touches on, it goes overboard. After watching all of the videos in this thread (and some from her Youtube), I don't think she's advocating censorship. She does advocate reform but the manner in which she does so is quite irritating and borders on repugnant in some cases.
The thing that bothers me about her Feminist Frequency v-blogs (v stands for video here) is that they seem to want to "deconstruct" without offering any type of reconstruction in the process. In the instance that she actually does get to offer a solution (the Straw Feminist video), her challenge is for Hollywood writers to "write better feminists". She then provides the audience with a clip that essentially kicks her own argument in the ass by saying "Okay, this is what Feminism isn't, and if you think it's one thing, you don't know what it is." There's no information conveyed that allows me to really compare the straw feminist to what a feminist should be. Why? Probably because there are a number of branches of feminism to which she only subscribes to one.
So in addition to presenting everyone with a problem without a solution, she is also giving her viewers a one-sided argument. If she is being informative, then she's also being neglectful of other elements that belong to her criticisms. This is like making a cheesecake and only serving people the topping without actually serving the cheesey thingy or the crust. The toppings are what entice people to try the dessert, but without the filling (or the entire context) or what lies at the bottom, people are misinformed and therefore not actually equipped to handle debate.
Essentially, she becomes no better than the "misogynist institutions" she is attempting to subvert with her videos. She attempts to convince others that an otherwise many-sided argument only has two sides: the feminist/female point of view and the misogynist dominating point of view.
Like the dude in the video points out, she really only brings up positives to reinforce her negative opinion. "Video games are great for developmental purposes but their content is crap because..." yet she chooses to use these examples as they only seem to reinforce her statement that they are having a profoundly negative effect on people. If you want to change the negative aspect of something, you have to understand how that will affect the positive aspects of it as well. While you may be able to remove the "damsel in distress" element of the story, how does that affect the game play? In my opinion, it completely changes the dynamic and desire for playing the game and affects the male attitude towards achieving a goal.
This is one of my main problems and I think this is where Ntikrst also has a problem: She seems to want to affect change in male-dominated and male-centered industries/institutions but the change she wants to affect only seems to benefit women. It's obvious that Mario is aimed at guys, but it plays on a chivalrous theme that has dominated narrative since Greek myth. What she does seem to neglect are the numerous negative attitudes and stereotypes associated with media marketed to females. She's not talking about Nicki Minaj, Keeping up with the Kardashians, Real Housewives of (insert city) or any of the numerous media outlets that pander to women.
Why is Nicki Minaj a problem? Isn't she supposed to be a strong woman? Well, she's an example of manufactured beauty that never gets old. These empowered pop stars aren't exactly empowered when they teach young women that showing skin and talking about sex is the way to take back women's rights and promote equality. Aren't they equally if not more detrimental to women and female empowerment when they sell sex to promote an agenda? Yet this point is something that Sarkeesian wants to ignore to take on male-dominated institutions.
Affecting positive change on societal values isn't going to come when you force action against institutions of the opposite sex. It will come when you advocate for reform in the institutions that are aimed at your own sex. So jumping up on a soapbox and calling video games and other man-centric cultural institutions "misogynistic" isn't going to get you pats on the back from a lot of men. If you want to affect change against a particularly stubborn institution, you affect change by reaching those who are ingrained in said institution. Jumping on video games for misogyny is only going to cause more outcry and inane activism that doesn't make this world any friendlier or understanding.
If I wanted to children to learn how to be aware of the media they watch and the products they consume, going to the production and media outlets and complaining is only going to perpetuate a negative reaction to what I'm doing. It's just going to end up being a pissing match where those outlets will feign some sort of solution to not be branded as "socially irresponsible". They will continue to peddle and hock their wares to children who will unwittingly consume them because that's what children (and people) do: they consume.
Now, if I really wanted children to be aware of the media and products, wouldn't I be more effective by teaching them what they see? I believe that I would and that is why I've applied to begin teacher's college in September.
Her target audience appears to be women, but she uses male institutions and points out the negatives to enforce her viewpoints. Essentially, what her videos do are present to her audience a floor covered with testicles that she effectively stomps all over. She does absolutely NOTHING to advance the cause of equality and actually perpetuates gender inequality. Essentially she spits in the face of all the work of scientists and academics who have gone the lengths to prove that there is gender equality and progress the idea that men and women function at the same level despite being different. She's really no different from that idiot who came up with that "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" bullshit.
She throws around the term "misogyny" without having any grasp of what it really means to men. For her, "misogyny" is a buzzword that she uses to get what she wants, but what she doesn't seem to understand that by using the word, she creates an aura of oppression and subjugation that portrays men in a very negative light. Essentially, what she creates is an environment run by misandry (the counter of misogyny) and that is as equally damning to mental psyches of men and women who "don't know better". It's one thing to promote gender equality, but another to cut up one sex for doing something that's geared towards them.
At the end of the day, I don't disagree with her deconstructions. I don't disagree with what she's saying. I just disagree with her delivery method. In a world where communication and connection seem to be embracing this whole digital thingy, she really does her best to disavow any type of actual communicating and connecting. In the TEDxWOMEN video, she appears to be distraught by telling the story of the trolling, and I can understand why she would be. However, what she really fails to understand is that she herself is involved in a similar circle to the one she is describing as "toxic".
She takes something that dudes like and "deconstructs it" to a point where she makes it look awful, then posts the video on Youtube and effectively does a dance within her feminist frequency video community. It's the exact same thing that trolls do, but without the direct psychological and emotional damage. In this case, the damage is done indirectly as I've described above. It really does segregate and alienate men from women.
What's even better is that this incident caused her kickstarter page to skyrocket. By becoming a victim of this "bully" behavior, she essentially got a bunch of money and now has the means to produce her one-dimensional viewpoint to a widespread audience. Essentially, the "damsel in distress" angle can also be applied to her KS campaign as people saw that she was being victimized and pledged money to her. Is she really any better than the trope she's trying to defeat? It's a bit of a stretch but then again, so are many of her own arguments.
If she really wants to work with men, she needs to find a new outlet (like say designing games) where she can actually communicate and connect with men. The other night my mom was watching some show on the Oprah Winfrey Network where that yelling lady Iyanla was yelling at women for having these extremely high and idiotic expectations for men. These stupid stereotypes cut both ways, which is something she fails to really mention. I do not have chiseled abs and there are times when I can be emotionally vacant and misunderstanding and there are many (if not all men) like me. There are some pretty idiotic expectations placed on men by women these days perpetuated by the media. It's not like we own and control everything.
Our ability as humans to connect, communicate and solve problems has gotten us through years and years and years of existence. The fact that she wants more of the last one with very limited amounts of the middle one and the exact opposite of the first one. Masculinity and Femininity are meant to work together, which explains the idea that a child needs a mother (figure) and a father (figure). The connection between masculine and feminine allows us to understand our roles in the world as teachers and students. When the teacher causes a disconnect from the students (i.e. you do things this way and that's not right), the there is a rift in the understanding. At the end of the day, understanding is what is going to get us all through the night.
It might be more of my progressive socialism BS or whatever, but I really think she's being counterproductive to any kind of advancement in equality and understanding among humans. She seems to be exploiting a one-sided point of view to advance an agenda that aims to cause confusion and inequality by empowering one group of people with knowledge that isn't wholly accurate or honest.
But hey, she has a masters degree in the use of cutlery, so what do I know?
by guitargod694 » Wed Mar 13, 2013 1:21 pmI agree with a lot of what Keb says here. Especially the part about her putting forth problems and not offering any solutions. At least, none better than "do better, ok?" Also, the critical videos posted in this thread are well constructed and make very valid points.
But still, she also makes some valid points. I do think it's a little sad that she got so much money based more on her being bullied than on actual support for her work... but not as sad as the fact that people felt threatened enough by her work to bully her.
We (male comic readers and gamers) really can't pretend that a lot (not all, of course) of these things we enjoy do have a tendency to portray women as objects and repeat these same tropes (man, I hate that word... I blame herald). That isn't necessarily evidence of systemic misogyny or sexism. Some of it is laziness, some of it is myopia, some of it is pandering, etc... but it is there. And just because there are other, more damaging things in the world, doesn't mean it isn't an issue that merits discussion.
Honestly, in the videos I watched of hers, the one thing that upset me the most was her inclusion of Y:the last man in the "straw feminist" video. She is either being deceitful and just playing the Daughters of the Amazon scenes to fit her agenda, or she hasn't read the book. Either way... ugh!
by eltopo » Wed Mar 13, 2013 1:31 pmTLDR
by habitual » Wed Mar 13, 2013 2:01 pm
Keb missed only one important point: Armenian chicks are crazy in the sack!
by GLX » Wed Mar 13, 2013 3:28 pm
What's York U like?
by GLX » Wed Mar 13, 2013 4:10 pm
From what I've gathered, a straw feminist is a character who either has or claims to have feminist beliefs that is struck down by the hero(es) of whatever artistic piece they're in. She mentions Femme Fatale from the Powerpuff Girls, but she ignores the intent of the cartoon and even the clip she used at the end. Femme Fatale isn't a benevolent feminist, but a villain with schtick that preaches equality while harming men and women alike. When the Powerpuff Girls are swept up in her rhetoric, the other women of Townsville set them straight. They provide a female positive message, while also revealing Femme Fatale for the fraud that she is.
by GLX » Wed Mar 13, 2013 4:11 pm
I haven't read Y: The Last Man, but when she said that, I became highly suspicious of her claim because of the general vibe I get from BKV's work and attitude.
by GLX » Wed Mar 13, 2013 4:20 pm
by guitargod694 » Wed Mar 13, 2013 4:21 pm
Kind of... a "straw feminist" is like a straw man fallacy. They create an exaggerated, stereotypical/hyperbolic feminist character, then show how wrong/silly that position is, thus proving that feminism is bad/dumb/pointless/wrong.
First, you totally should read Y. It's the best.
Second, yeah... BKV is not who you'd start with if you want to look for misogynist creators who use women as plot devices and propagate the "male-centric" comic book boys club. And that specific example, while I suppose could be taken out of context as "staw feminists", is definitely not about proving that feminism is unneeded or pointless.
by Eric Ratcliffe » Wed Mar 13, 2013 4:39 pmYeah, BKV is the wrong guy to try and counter an anti-feminist argument from.
by Eric Ratcliffe » Wed Mar 13, 2013 4:40 pmagainst not from.
by habitual » Wed Mar 13, 2013 4:46 pm
I've done extensive lab work and field experimentation.
by Keb » Wed Mar 13, 2013 4:59 pm
Yah dude. That one REALLY got to me because she really displayed a failure to understand the actual point of the Daughters of the Amazon. In the comic, they are mostly women who are lost and empty, looking for meaning in their life after the men died. Essentially, their matriarch/dictator Victoria, a woman who feels that society has spurned her because SHE FEELS she is superior, manipulates these women to serve her own purposes of survival.
In no way does she every portray any type of feminism nor is she used as an example of feminism. She more represents a cornerstone of a dominating patriarchy clinging to outdated ideals. One of the things about the series that BKV did was avoid the use of feminism and radical feminism but instead created a series where a "feminist reading" would yield some interesting criticisms about the patriarchal society we live in today.
From what you're saying, Femme Fatale sounds a bit like Anita Sarkeesian herself.
Lots of hot girls. It's a very Liberal school and there are a number of professors who are socialist/communist. One of my profs was a York guy and he was radically communist. Like UofToronto is way up here and York U is down there. Academically, it's often considered being a couple notches below some of the top schools in Canada. There's a saying "If you can use a fork, you can go to York." Hence my line about a masters degree in cutlery. To be honest, I've only ever met one person who's started their undergrad there and finished it there as well. Most people I know who went to York have transferred to other schools after one or two years. Still, it's the place to go to find fine women. They also have a pretty awesome student center.
I don't think I've ever actually met an Armenian chick.
by guitargod694 » Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:00 pm
Exactly right.
I watched a few more of her videos because I honestly thought she had some fair points.
But the more I watch them, the less I agree with her.
And it seems that for a lot of the "tropes" she discusses, she uses examples without really understanding the source material. I finally stopped after her video on "mystical pregnancies". Apparently if your sci-fi series has a girl get pregnant in a scary or weird way, you are creating torture porn and limiting that character to only her base biological functions. You know, because this makes it seem like pregnancy is gross and scary and lacks emotional consequence.
I dunno, I agree that pop culture has an impact on people and that not representing women fairly and positively can be damaging. But you can't use Starbuck (Battlestar Galactica) and Olivia (Fringe) as examples of how women are shown as one dimensional and powerless and still expect me to take you seriously.
by HNutz » Wed Mar 13, 2013 7:43 pm
THOSE are her "bad examples"?
Yeah, that's insane.
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Hi everybody, I just made an account so I'm brand new to this site. I have a prologue draft to a manga that my sister and I are writing and I would love some feedback on if this is something people are interested in seeing this concept become reality. There are two main characters, but what I have below is sort of a description of the world that they live in because its in a fantasy/alternate universe.
This world a place where people, due to genetics, and environmental factors, and a hint of chance, can exhibit strange and awesome changes in their physiology that make them an 'other' in society. There are three categories called 'natures' in which certain traits are divided into, depending on those genetic factors. Based on the trophic levels of an ecosystem, there are producers, consumers, and decomposers. Every human fits into one of these three natures, but nearly all people have only an extremely low percentage of phenotypic expression of it and are considered 'normal' and no threat to societal norms.
Each of the three natures can manifest itself in a wide variety of ways but they have some consistencies with regard to the category's core essence. At a low or average percentage, a person's nature will present itself as one or more personality traits. Low level producers, because of their propensity to create and assemble, do well in factory settings, agriculture, child care, education, construction, and engineering.
Low level Consumers excel in fields including business, energy production, demolition, and competitive sports (especially ones that are not team based). Statistically a high percentage of consumers are involved in criminal activity and big business/politics due to their desire to get ahead of others and for power and money.
Low level decomposers are a highly varied bunch and are extremely adaptable. They can range in careers from janitorial duties and waste management to public relations. Decomposers, who can be skilled at manipulating others for their own or someone else's benefit also make exceptional lawyers. Although stereotypes exist, there is overlap in each nature, which is to say there is good and bad in each category and no one nature is to be condemned as bad.
Extreme, or "high percentage" producers, consumers, and decomposers have their nature expressed at a much greater intensity. Along with enhanced naturistic personality traits, physical mutations can also occur that gives a person unique abilities and special skills. All high percentage people, or 'hypers' are reported to be under the jurisdiction of the federal government and great measures are taken to ensure that these people are not able to communicate with each other in order to keep them from using their abilities form an uprising to demand civil liberties. Hypers are forcefully collected and some become subject to inhumane experiments for the pursuit of medical and military technology. Citizens are aware of this and generally support the round-ups of these kinds of people, seeing them not as humans, but they are unaware of the true purpose of such government intervention. They tell the public lies such as they are used for medical studies to cure disease and that these people would cause havoc if left among the people. There are activist groups in favor of better treatment of high percentages but even among those groups the consensus is that these people must still be controlled in government run facilities away from the general public where their actions can be monitored.
Feedback on my Story Concept?
Do you have a story for a manga you'd like to share or talk about? Then this is the place to be.
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Re: Feedback on my Story Concept?
Hi pearlybones,
Welcome to the forum. I must admit we're not that active anymore, but thanks for posting your story anyway.
I really like the story concept. This explains the world the story will place in pretty good. I like it how it different enough to be an alternate universe, but close enough to reality.
So now the world is set. Who are the (anti-)heroes?
Welcome to the forum. I must admit we're not that active anymore, but thanks for posting your story anyway.
I really like the story concept. This explains the world the story will place in pretty good. I like it how it different enough to be an alternate universe, but close enough to reality.
So now the world is set. Who are the (anti-)heroes?
Re: Feedback on my Story Concept?
Hi pearlybones. I was skeptical at first about your story, because it seemed like a thinly-veiled version of real life. But as I read, I started to become excited about your idea. You really fleshed out a good story. I would love to critique the first page of your script if you have it.
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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says the relaunch of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks is a promising step forward. But he adds that the most difficult work is yet to come.
With senior Israeli and Palestinian negotiators en route to Washington, Obama says he hopes both parties will approach negotiations with good faith, determination and sustained focus. He's praising Secretary of State John Kerry for bringing the parties together and former U.S. Ambassador Martin Indyk for agreeing to shepherd the talks.
Obama says he saw the profound desire Palestinians and Israelis both have for peace when he visited the region in March.
Obama and Kerry will meet Monday afternoon before the talks get underway in the evening.
The White House is also welcoming the Israeli Cabinet's decision Sunday to free 104 long-held Palestinian prisoners in four stages, linked to progress in talks. The release was part of an agreement Kerry brokered bring the sides back to the table.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest says the U.S. sees that move as a positive step. He says it shows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's interest in making tough, courageous decision to move the process forward.


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New Website for Activo: www.activo.com
I have good news and bad news to tell you, well it is not really bad news, but just wanted to use that saying…
The bad news is that this website is has just become absolute. Meaning we will no longer publish anything new or introduce any new content on this website. The good news is that we already have a new website and the new website can be found at www.activo.com. Notice that we got the domain name that we always wanted to have for Activo – Yeah!
For those of you who are interested, the new website was launched in late August of 2010. The domain was purchased back in November of 2009. The site currently already have twice the amount of traffic that this website has. The site also reflects a few changes in Activo:
- We moved our offices from Santa Clara to Los Angeles – and we love it down here. In fact LA is a great hub for techies and entrepreneurs, believe it or not.
- We now have a virtual team of developers, designers, and project managers. Yes – it was a decision we had to make back in the days before we moved and it turned out to work great. Our customers love it.
- We have decided to focus on Magento Development and Magento Extensions. I got to say, what a great decision that was!
So, check out the new website and our new blog. I (Ron Peled) will continue to post regularly about our daily grind and share with you as much as possible from what I am doing at any given time. Drop me a line if you have any suggestions or recommendations.
.NET Framework, AJAX, Content Management Systems, eCommerce, Ektron, Joomla, LAMP: Linux Apache MySQL PHP, Magento, Performance Optimization, PHP/MySQL, Project Management, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Web Application Hosting, Web Design, Web Development, Web-based User Interfaces, ZenCart


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Wednesday, February 06, 2013
Green Monster!!!
17 comments:
That's so awesome! I can't wait to make this now, it's SO green!!!ReplyDelete
I know I'm like a broken record, but I just LOVE YOUR POSTS! They always make me smile. I'm glad the Green Monster has his priorities straight - first sandwiches, then human gobbling. I usually shy away from making my own bread, but your hearty approval has me intrigued. Plus, it's great that there's a handful of spinach and loads of garlic in it. It sounds like my kind of bread for sure!ReplyDelete
This bread looks awesome! I love spinach so I know that this would be so tasty!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous12:17 PM
Argh! I have been trying so hard not to buy another cookbook, but you have really sold me now on Vegan Sandwiches. :)ReplyDelete
This looks so amazing!
:) jen e.
wow this bread looks amazing! so does that sandwich! mmm!!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2:53 PM
Yes! I've had this bread on my to-make list since I got the book, I really want to make the Incredible Green Sandwich with it. It turned out such a pretty color.ReplyDelete
Sometimes mine stay greener than other times! I can't figure it out, but I think the shade of yours is the prettiest I've seen!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous11:49 AM
I made the green monster bagels yesterday morning (let the dough rise overnight, soooooo good), they were out of this world! Your Green Monster drawing is a pretty accurate image of what my husband looked like when he snatched the first bagel out of the oven.ReplyDelete


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Patrick Day, a member of the newsboy legion here at Hero Complex, has a great photo gallery on the history of the Joker, tracing the roots of the creepiest clown all the way back to the 1929 film "The Man Who Laughs," which had Conrad Veidt in the title role. Stills from that Victor Hugo adpaptation were used to design the cackling visage of the Joker, which means Veidt's rictus grin inspired the most instantly recognizable villain in the history of American comic books.
Veidt is best known to movie fans for his portrayal of Major Strasser, the stern-eyed Nazi heavy in "Casablanca" but he almost became famous for wearing a cape — Universal Pictures boss Carl Laemmle, a titan of early Hollywood, wanted Vedit to be the star of "Dracula" but eventually the career-shaping role went to a Eastern European fellow by the name of Béla Ferenc Dezsõ Blaskó, better known as Bela Lugosi. Dracula, of course, was one of the key visual inspirations for Batman, especially in his earliest apprances.
Here's another interesting little link-up between "The Man Who Laughs" and "The Dark Knight": The 1929 film and Veidt's protrayal in it figure prominently in the plot of the 2006 Brain De Palma movie "The Black Dahlia" In essence, a central conceit of the De Palma film (as well as the brilliant James Ellroy novel of the same title) is that "The Man Who Laughs" inspired the real-life fiend who carved up Elizabeth Short. Short, whose murder was never solved, was left with gruesome facial wounds not unlike those that mar the face of Heath Ledger's Joker in "The Dark Knight."
More than that, Aaron Eckhart is a star in both "Black Dahlia" and "The Dark Knight." In the first film he portays a lawman in pursuit of a deranged killer that finds himself moving toward his own dark side. In the second he portrays… a lawman who is in pursuit of a deranged killer that finds himsef moving toward his own dark side.
I talked to Aaron Eckhart about both movies for a May article in The Times, you can find it after the jump.
— Geoff Boucher
Movie still of Conrad Vedit from the 1929 film "The Man Who Laughs"
Artwork of the Joker by Brian Bolland from "The Killing Joke," courtesy of DC Comics


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dark energy
Galactic Interactions
Tag archives for dark energy
(I know I'm not doing this any more, but I couldn't resist.) An article in New Scientist reports on musing by two reasonable and respected cosmologists— indeed, ones whom I've met myself— that our discovery of dark energy may have shortened the life of the Universe. To which I can only say "foo". And I…


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Thank you so much! I will definitely try these ideas and hope that they work. Your description of the flaky white on the nipple sounds familiar. I may have started out with a bleb from a plugged duct, but I'm starting to think thrush may be the problem now. "LAME!" is right!
Oh, and do I see my OBGYN if things don't improve? Is that who deals with this sort of issue?


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Carbon Neutral
Free Shipping
By Jean Hofve, DVM
Keeping your dog or cat's teeth and gums healthy will go a long way to preventing
not only bad breath, periodontal disease, and an uncomfortable or even painful mouth,
but also more serious chronic conditions such as kidney disease, liver disease,
heart conditions and joint problems.
The normal adult dog has 42 teeth, while the adult cat has 30. These carnivorous
(meat-eating) teeth are very sharp and highly specialized. In the wild, these teeth
would perform a variety of tasks such as grooming (the 6 small incisors at the front
of each jaw), grasping and killing prey (the 4 long canines, also called "fangs"),
and crushing and shearing the meat off the prey's bones to eat (the pointy molars
and premolars along the sides of the jaws, also called "cheek teeth").
In the wild, the carnivore's diet and eating habits keep the teeth clean and
strong. However, the typical diet of a domestic pet — typically commercial dry or
canned food — does not. Therefore, proper dental care throughout your pet's life
is essential to optimal health.
Dental disease is the #1 most common health problem seen by veterinarians. By
the age of 3, virtually all dogs and cats have some degree of dental disease, ranging
from a mild accumulation of tartar to severe infection and tooth loss. All pets
benefit from an annual dental exam, as well as cleaning if needed, but it is also
important for you to take care of your pet's teeth at home.
Within hours after brushing or cleaning, bacteria start to re-colonize the surface
of the teeth. They secrete substances to attach themselves more firmly, and to protect
themselves from the immune system. The combination of bacteria and their secretions
is called plaque. If plaque is not removed, minerals in the saliva turn it into
calculus, more commonly called tartar, within 48 hours.
Some of the substances secreted by mouth bacteria cause inflammation of the gums
(gingiva), resulting in gingivitis. Untreated, inflammation can progress and even
break down tissues in the mouth, leading to periodontal disease. Eventually, infection
and erosion cause the teeth to decay, abscess or fracture. Decayed, broken, and
abscessed teeth are very painful, and may hinder the animal from taking in enough
nourishment. They also deteriorate the pet's quality of life.
There are other serious health risks associated with tooth decay. Bacteria living
in these "slums" can enter the bloodstream and seed infection in critical organs
like the heart, liver, and kidneys; as well as causing inflammation in joints and
other areas. In my personal experience, many a cranky critter has become happy and
playful again after hidden dental problems were corrected.
While diet plays a role in dental disease, there is also a genetic component.
Some breeds, such as Abyssinian cats and toy-breed dogs, have a tendency to develop
severe gingivitis. Bulldogs, boxers, pugs, and Persian cats often have overcrowded,
cavity-prone teeth due to their "smushed" faces. Some pets may need very little
dental care, while others might require full cleanings under anesthesia once or
even twice a year.
Excellent dental health requires help from your veterinarian as well as a firm
commitment to home care from you. If your pet already has dental disease, the first
step is to have his teeth cleaned under anesthesia by your veterinarian. While no
surgery is risk-free, modern anesthetics, together with appropriate monitoring and
supportive care, make this a very low risk procedure, even for older animals (who
usually need it the most!).
Steps to prevention of dental and periodontal disease:
1. Healthy Diet
A healthy diet is important for dental health, just as it is for overall well-being.
The healthier the animal, the better the immune system, and the less infection will
develop. A meat-based diet is essential as meat helps maintain a healthier mouth
However, one persistent myth that is completely false is the notion that "dry
food cleans the teeth." The best that can be said for dry food is that it may produce
slightly less tartar than canned food. Pets eating only dry food can and do develop
the same dental problems as those that "never touch the stuff." One study showed
that food itself is completely irrelevant; test subjects developed tartar even when
fed by stomach tube, even when no food touched the mouth at all! There are a few
dry foods that do live up to the claim, but they consist of very large, specially-textured
kibbles designed to fracture so that the fragments scrape tartar off the teeth.
However, the major ingredients are poor quality (by-product meal, corn gluten meal,
corn meal or ground yellow corn, cellulose; Friskies even contains glycerin, a form
of sugar – now, how is that good for teeth?!). Plus, these foods suffer from all
the usual problems of dry food (extreme processing, high carbohydrates, low moisture).
Because of the health risks associated with corn-based dry food (such as obesity,
diabetes, allergies, arthritis, FLUTD, and kidney disease), we don't carry them,
or recommend them as a regular diet.
2. Brushing at Home
The best way of removing plaque and preventing dental disease at home is brushing
the teeth. Ideally, you should brush your pet's teeth daily. Brushing removes plaque
on the outside of the crown (above-gum portion) of the tooth, and stimulates the
gums to keep them healthy. However, plaque can still accumulate below the gum line;
so an annual check-up is still an essential part of your pet's dental health. Even
if you don't see any problems, it is best to have your pet's teeth professionally
cleaned prior to beginning a home-care program, to make sure there are no painful
areas in the mouth that might jeopardize your success.
Your veterinarian can show you how to brush your pet's teeth, but it may still
turn into a battle at home, which is the last thing you want! Here are a few tips
to get you going:
It's best to brush every day; then if you miss a day, it's not a crisis. However,
if you plan to brush every other day, and then miss a session, you've lost several
days that cannot be reclaimed, and plaque will have a good head start.
3. Dental Care Products
There are many dental care products marketed for pets. Oral rinses gels, and
water additives will not control plaque by themselves, although they will help with
general dental hygiene. The following are my favorite dental products for pets,
based on experience and recommendations from veterinary dental experts:
Most dog chews, including nylon bones, rawhide bones, hooves, real bones, and
other hard chews, tend not to significantly reduce plaque accumulation, and some
can actually cause a dog's teeth to fracture. Broken teeth are a source of infection
and pain to the dog, and expense to you when they have to be extracted. If a dog
swallows a chunk of any of them, it can cause a life-threatening intestinal blockage.
If you have a "ball dog," don't let it chew on tennis balls; the tough synthetic
"fuzz" rapidly wears teeth down. Thin chews, such as rawhide strips and pig ears,
are fine, and may have some benefit by mechanically abrading off the tartar, but
be aware they add quite a bit of fat to the diet.
Most treats do not do much for dental health, even if they are labeled "Tartar
Control." The exception to the rule is
Feline Greenies, which I can tell you from personal experience can work wonders
in just a few weeks.
4. Regular Check Ups
Regular check ups are vitally important, especially for the older animal. At
least once a month, you can give your pet a general dental wellness check; be sure
to lift the lips enough to see the farthest-back teeth, which are often the source
of trouble. If you smell an unpleasant odor, see any redness in the gums, or find
a lot of tartar buildup on the teeth, then seek the help of a veterinarian. Supplementing
Vitamin C and
CoEnzyme Q10 can help promote the health and healing of gum tissue as well.
Every 6-12 months (depending on your pet's age and history), have your vet do a
complete wellness exam and thorough assessment of the mouth.
5. Dental Procedures
If your veterinarian finds tartar build-up or any periodontal disease, consider
having a full dental cleaning performed under anesthesia. Your companion will definitely
benefit from a healthier and much more comfortable mouth. No matter the age or health
of your pet, if there is significant dental disease, it is much preferable to have
your vet take care of the problem than to let the problem get worse and cause pain
and suffering to your pet.
Great dental care can be the best gift you can give your companion. It requires
a commitment of time and effort on your part, but it goes a long, long way toward
preventing disease and discomfort; it will help keep your pet healthy and undoubtedly
extend her life.
Check out all of our pet dental care products.
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We always offer you the lowest of the sale price, the price with a coupon code discount, or the Auto Delivery price. You can tell which one applies because it will say "Sale Savings:" if the item is on sale and that is the lowest price, "Coupon Savings:" if you have applied a coupon code discount and that is the lowest price, or "Auto Delivery Savings:" if you selected Auto Delivery and that is the lowest price.


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Black Ops 2: Xbox 360 update live now, fixes listed
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 has received a new title update on Xbox 360 today. The patch addresses a few common score streak issues and a bug found in theatre mode. Check out fixes below.
Treyarch has now released the full patch notes.
- Made infrastructure and performance improvements to Live Streaming.
- Made streaming performance improvements to video playback in CODTV.
- Addressed an issue where flight range parameters for airborne vehicles could be deleted in the middle of a match due to a network interruption. This fix resolves the following symptoms reported by the community: Escort drone flying under the map; Inability to call in the Dragonfire.
- FHJ-18 weapon level is now increased by destroying Scorestreak vehicles and aircraft.
- Care Package/AGR canister exploit has been addressed.
- Patched a small map exploit in Aftermath.
- Addressed a rare situation that would cause the Emblem Editor menu to overlap other menus.
- Balance pass on spawn influencers to improve cases causing non-optimal spawning under certain conditions.
- Improved performance for emblem uploads to prevent an occasional hang. If there is an error connecting to servers during an upload, you will now be able to re-try your save.
- Emblems and Clan tags will now appear correctly on the Assault Shield when stowed on the back.
- Addressed all reported UI error code messages.
- Elite Clan Friends list no longer actively sorts players when their status is updated. The player list will refresh after closing and re-opening the tab.
- Improved a number of emblem icons in the Emblem Editor.
- Junkyard IV reward added to Calling Cards.
Original story:
We're still waiting on a comprehensive patch note list, but the update does fix the "UI error 226117″ bug found in theatre mode, stops the Escort Drone from attacking players while underneath the map, removes a glitch that stopped players from deploying the Dragonfire, and remedies problems with the FHJ-18 AA ranking up.
We've asked Treyarch for a full list of patch notes, but so far we've heard nothing. We'll update if and when we can.
Thanks MP1st.


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This American-designed and -manufactured planetary mixer has a "counter current" mixing action that provides a fast, intensive homogeneous mix with no dead spots. Four planetary mixer models with capacities from 1/2 to 4 cubic yards are available with or without skip hoist, and optional automatic washout system. Convenient service access is provided, and every wear component is designed for longevity and easy replacement.
Mixer Systems Inc., Pewaukee, WI 800-756-4937 www.mixersystems.com
For related news, equipment reviews, and articles, visit our Mixers & Blenders Equipment Zone


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Maximize You Filing Space with Mobile Filing Equipment
Converting from drawer-based filing cabinets to a shelf filing system can double the amount of records you can store in your filing area. But to truly squeeze the maximum number of records into the smallest space, you need mobile filing equipment. Whether you choose a Slide-By System for a small office or clinic, or a Compacting System that stores hundreds of thousands of files, mobile filing equipment delivers the highest possible ratio of files per square inch of any filing system available.
Just Let It Slide
A Slide-By shelf filing system is an excellent alternative for growing departmental filing systems that have to fit into an extremely limited floor space. By placing open shelf filing units on tracks, one row of files can be placed directly in front of another row. The row in front easily slides back and forth to expose the files behind it, making the entire system accessible.
Compared to traditional four-drawer lateral filing cabinets, a slide-by shelf system can fit more than three times as many records into the same amount of office space.
Folders on the Move for Better Efficiency
Very large filing systems do not have to take up very large spaces. Static shelf filing systems create twice the space of traditional drawer-based filing systems by eliminating the aisle space needed for opening file drawers. Compacting mobile shelving systems take the concept even further by eliminating the aisles between the shelf units.
Open shelf files are mounted to a carriage track system that allows them to easily be moved by either manually pushing them, or by using a mechanical-assist crank system. Only one aisle space is needed to access the entire filing system. By repositioning the shelf units, the aisle gets "moved" to whichever location is needed to reach the desired files. This allows more than twice the filing space as static shelving, and more than four times the filing space of a system using lateral filing cabinets.


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Following in the footsteps of the Magi, the Galax Y's Men's Club brings the gifts of the holiday season to those who are less fortunate.
While most people at Christmas are concerned that their loved ones get what they want from their Christmas list, some people right here in the Twin Counties are struggling just to put food on the table.
That's where the Community Christmas Chest and the Galax Y's Men come in, said Gene Cox of Galax, chairman of the program for the past 29 years.
The Y's Men is a group of Christian businessmen and women who undertake civic projects.
The program serves 550 of the neediest families in Galax, Grayson County and part of Carroll County at Christmas, providing nearly $60 worth of food to each family right before the holidays.
The baskets contain a three-pound ham; Christmas treats like nuts and oranges; and staples like cornmeal, flour and dried beans.
Cox said the Christmas Chest is unique among local charitable efforts because it depends primarily on the contributions of individuals.
"This is a community effort for the community" he said.
Last year, 52 percent of the contributions to the Christmas chest fund came from individual donors, which Cox said reflects well on the Twin Counties and the local sense of compassion for neighbors.
Last year the Y's Men delivered 300 baskets in Galax, 125 in Grayson and 125 in Carroll.
Cox said the Y's Men get calls and letters from recipients "telling us how much they appreciate it and how much of a need there is."
The Y's Men's Club took over the program from the Galax Jaycees 30 years ago.
In 1982, members packed 65 baskets. "Now we're up to 550 and still not meeting the entire need," Cox said. "We're limited by funds."
The need is tremendous, Cox said, and it's not easy to raise $30,000 in the short span of time before Christmas.
Churches make up 29 percent of the donations. Cox said churches and pastors provide some of the program's best support.
He praises the efforts of local radio stations WBRF-98.1 FM and WBOB-1360 AM, which hold a live broadcast each year from Magic Mart to raise funds for the project. This year's broadcast will be held Dec. 9 from 2-4 p.m.
Some large items have been donated to be auctioned during the radiothon, but the Y's Men rely on community donations for the majority of the funding.
"The person that gives $10, $20, $30 or more — we want him to feel a part of it — and he wants to be a part of it," Cox said. "I want people to understand that it's an effort from all people that make this thing successful."
In addition to the donors, another partner that makes the Community Christmas Chest successful each year is the local departments of social services.
The departments determine who will receive the baskets, screening some 700 applications from local families. "They determine who's most needy and give [the names] to us," Cox said.
Social workers try to focus on families that have experienced some catastrophic problem like illness or job loss in the past year, according to Susan Clark, director of the Galax Department of Social Services.
Screening the applications "is a very difficult task," Clark said, because so many people are needy. Those who receive the baskets may not necessarily be the same people who qualify for social service programs.
"We try to look at everything — the whole ball of wax," she said.
Typically, recipients are low- or fixed-income families who have had some financial catastrophe or unforeseen medical expense. "We attempt to be as fair as we possibly can be in looking at those extenuating circumstances," Clark said.
After money is raised and food is purchased, volunteers gather to pack boxes for delivery.
This year, boxes will be assembled Dec. 21 at the U.S. Army Reserve Armory on Armory Road in Galax, starting at 7 p.m.
On the morning of Dec. 23, pickup trucks and vans will line up outside the armory to load and deliver boxes. Each volunteer driver gets about 10 applications, grouped geographically.
"We can get those 550 baskets out the door by 9 on Sunday morning." Cox said.
Anyone who would like to help deliver the baskets can show up at the armory at around 7 a.m. on Dec. 23.
Clark applauds the club's efforts. "They've been absolutely marvelous in providing the service. It's the only Christmas that some folks have."
• Donations may be mailed to The Community Christmas Chest, P.O. Box 738, Galax, VA 24333.
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Speedway country music festival talks pushed back to NovemberBy MELISSA PROULX
Sunday News Correspondent
October 21. 2017 11:47PM
LOUDON - Plans for a country music festival at New Hampshire Motor Speedway are at a standstill after town planners decided Thursday to delay discussions until November on a site plan and change-of-use application from NHMS.
"I think that would be the proper thing to do," said Tom Dow, planning board chairman.
At issue is a 1989 settlement between the speedway and neighbors that states that concerts will not be allowed on the property.
Track representatives, however, contend the agreement only applies to the land NHMS owned at the time, not land it has acquired since.
But because plans include using some track amenities during concert events, the planning board said it would consult with selectmen to determine if the proposed use is a violation of the 1989 agreement.
"Until I know that, I'm not sure I'm ready to make that judgment one way or another," said Stanley Prescott, planning board vice chairman. "I want to do what's right by the agreement."
The proposed three-day country music festival would be held sometime between June 1 and Sept. 1 of whatever year it's held. Concerts would be held Friday and Saturday, starting at 2 p.m. and ending by 10:30 p.m.
Attendees would be able to camp at the track in RV's, campers or tents during the festival.
A special exception and variance were also required to allow the event and both were unanimously approved by the zoning board last month.
The zoning approval only allows one festival a year.
Selectmen have informed the track's representatives they will require planning board approval.
Residents from Loudon and Canterbury have vocally opposed concerts. Concerns include bright lighting, increased traffic and noise - annoyances neighbors say they already contend with during other events at the track, particularly NASCAR races.
"I could not sleep with my windows shut," said Canterbury resident Hillary Nelson of the noise from the September NASCAR race weekend. "It was unbelievable."
The discussion will continue at the Nov. 16 planning board meeting at Loudon Elementary School.


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In his interview with me for his column today on the larger-than-expected impact of the first presidential debate, New York Times' media columnist David Carr wondered why the debate mattered so much, particularly given the fragmented nature of viewing audiences in the social media era. "How," Carr asks, "is it that a ritual as old as Lincoln-Douglas — or Socrates versus Gorgias if you want to go all the way back to the Greeks — was able to move the needle at a time when audiences are so fragmented?" In my answer to him, I made a couple of points. First, debates still offer the only opportunity for voters to see both candidates on the stage together with each of them able to convey their views directly, rather than as portrayed through the other side's negative advertising. Second, this was a widely-watched debate – the most widely viewed since the second presidential debate in 1992. (That was the one in which George H.W. Bush was panned for looking at this watch, suggesting he was bored with the whole affair. It also included third-party candidate Ross Perot.) Among first debates, it was the most widely viewed since 1980, when 70 million watched President Jimmy Carter square off against Ronald "There you go again" Reagan. Moreover, this audience number does not include those who tuned in via computers, phones or tablets, or who watched it outside the home. That means roughly half the number of expected voters in this election tuned in to watch the show, and for many it was the first time they seriously thought about who they wanted to vote for, as opposed to who they thought was getting the best of the media coverage.
Interestingly, a bit less than half that audience – about 31 million – came from the 55 and older set, compared to only 12 million in the 18-34 age bracket. Romney has generally been doing better among this older age group. Among media outlets, Fox News dominated the cable stations, with their total viewership during the debate almost matching that of the regular broadcast stations at CBS, NBC and ABC. All this suggests that Romney was able to capitalize on having an audience that was a least partly predisposed to want him to do well. And he didn't disappoint.
Of course, as I've noted before, it is not unprecedented for the incumbent president to see a slight polling dip after the first debate; although the First Bush received a miniscule polling bump coming off his first debate in 1992, Clinton lost 1.5% in 1996 and Bush The Younger saw his numbers drop 2.3% in 2004. (Clinton, however, headed into that first debate in 1996 with a polling number near 60%, so his drop may have had little to do with his debate performance per se.) A glance at the RCP composite poll suggests that Obama lost more than 2% in his polling support after the Oct. 3 debate – that's actually in the range experienced by both Clinton in 1996 and Bush in 2004. However, Obama was starting from a lower polling point than was Clinton or even Bush. Combined with Romney's gain, Obama's loss meant that we saw about a 4-point polling swing, which was enough to turn this race into a virtual dead heat.
It also raises expectations for tomorrow night's second presidential debate which may attract a bigger audience than the already large audience that saw the first debate. That was the case in 2008, when the viewing numbers went up for the second debate, but not in 2004.
So, what should we expect? To begin, tomorrow's event utilizes a town hall format, with Candy Crowley of CNN serving as moderator. One of the interesting aspects of Carr's column was the degree of attention paid by the media experts he interviewed to Romney's and Obama's body language during the first debate, including their facial expressions which were caught on split screen. They seemed to think it made a big difference regarding perceptions of who "won" the debate. I don't doubt that the media-driven narrative which determines who really "won" the debate is heavily influenced by perceptions of "body language." But when it comes to determining how viewers vote, I tend to put far less stock in body language or facial expressions. It is true that the town hall format gives candidates more opportunity to interact with an audience, and with each other, which potentially allows more latitude for body language to come into play. For example, in their town hall-style meeting in 2000, Al Gore sauntered into Bush's space while the latter was giving an answer, prompting some audience laughter when Bush gave him a bemused nod of greeting.
I mentioned above about Bush the Elder glancing at his watch. Maybe that mattered; in contrast to the first debate, he lost about 2% in polling support after the second one. In 2008, the second debate was also a town hall format, and it featured John McCain's celebrated case of stage roaming, which was parodied in an unforgettable Saturday Night Live Skit. McCain was also perceived to have lost that debate.
Despite these memorable moments, however, I tend to think what the candidates say, as opposed to how they say it, will have a far greater impact on how audience members vote. In 1992, if Bush's performance in the second debate contributed to his losing the election, it did so not because he looked at his watch, but because he gave a somewhat rambling, and defensive answer on a question that cut to the heart of the campaign: was he doing enough to dig the country out of an economic recession? In contrast, as you can see here, Bill Clinton's response suggested he had answers to that question – or at least understood the reason for the question.
This is why town hall-style debates can prove troublesome – it's not the physical interaction so much as the often more direct audience questions that can throw candidates. To be sure, these questions are vetted beforehand, but that still leaves room for audience spontaneity. Tomorrow night, the audience will consist of some 80 or so presumably "undecided" voters whose questions will be screened by Crowley, who also has the authority to ask a follow up question of her own. (Or at least she is asserting that authority!) Presumably, Crowley will pick questions that pertain to the central issues at the heart of this campaign: taxes, the budget deficit, and health care. Neither Romney nor Obama has shown Clinton's ability to show empathy with a questioner – the Big Dog has the capacity to make questioners feel like they are alone in the room with him. In contrast, Obama conveys more of a professorial, somewhat dispassionate persona, while Romney can come across as uncomfortable or worse. But I don't think that will matter nearly as much as what they say in response to these questions. If the President is not more effective at communicating the differences between his policies and Romney's, and doesn't do a better job putting Romney on the defensive, particularly regarding his proposed tax and Medicare policies, he's going to lose this debate regardless of body language. That's because when it comes to debates, the overriding maxim is "Hear what I say – not what I do."


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Yes – it's been a long time since I've posted about Princess S. She has been moving right along with RTR. She has transitioned well to this program, for the most part. She is able to do most of the activities on her own. I wish I had time to do the Storytime box with her, but it just isn't to be.
Over the last few weeks she has learned about the Crusades, the Hundred Years' War, the ending of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Exploration Age. She has made some great history projects – which I neglected to get any photos of, mostly because I was working with her sisters while she was working on them.
In Math, she has just passed the lesson 10 test. She could be a little bit further along at this point, but she keeps forgetting that she doesn't need to do the B and C worksheets if she gets the A worksheet all correct. So in almost every lesson she has done some unnecessary work. Not that it's all bad, but I do want her to pick up the pace a little bit.
She is making very good progress on her Latin studies, however. She is working on lesson 20 right now. She is on pace to begin Level B before the end of the year, which I had hoped she would be able to do. She does Latin completely on her own, as she refuses to ask for help. I don't worry about her pronunciation as she will not be speaking this anywhere.
She has been taking writing classes through a co-op close to us. They are working on IEW B. Most of the information is a repeat of A, but I'm very grateful for the break from having to teach writing this year. They love their teacher too, so that is a plus. At the same co-op, she is taking an art class. She is a very talented artist, who is stuck with a mom who cannot draw a stick figure to save her soul. Thankfully, Jesus saved my soul, so I don't have to worry about that! We are looking forward to a two week break for the holidays.


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by Lucy 9 Comments
Laura from Top This Top That says
Happy new year lucy! My best to you in the new year.
Feral Turtle says
Hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas and all the best to you in 2013! Cheers.
Barb Brookbank says
So fun! thank you for featuring my pear tart! and for hosting such a fun party!
Anne says
Great picks! Off to visit them!
I am LOVD says
Lu, Happy New year and wishing you and your family all the best in 2013! LOVD tidings, Lilly
Glamorous Mommy says
Thrilled for the feature! Thank you, thank you Have a wonderful New Year!
So happy to be featured! Thank you and Happy New Year to you!
Kristel says
Thank you so much for the feature! So many great ones too, I can't wait to check them out. Have a happy new year!
Anestazia says
Thanks so much for featuring me!! I hope you have a happy new year!
Anestazia @ Eccentric Delirium


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Production problems, softer global demand for crude oil and foreign currency swings in the third quarter helped drive down Chevron's earnings by a third, missing analysts' expectations.
The energy giant reported earnings of $5.3 billion, or $2.69 per diluted share, compared to $7.8 billion, or $3.92 per diluted share, from the comparable year-ago period. Revenues during the quarter fell to $56 billion, compared to $61 billion a year ago.
Those figures fell short of analysts' expectations of $2.83 a share on $63.9 billion in revenue, according to a consensus estimate from Thomson Reuters.
The company cited problems associated with Hurricane Isaac in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as operational issues that affected production.
"This quarter's earnings were solid, but off from their near record level of a year ago," said Chairman and CEO John Watson, in a statement.
"Crude oil prices were down and we had a heavy period of planned oil field maintenance which temporarily reduced oil and gas production in several locations. Foreign currency movements also hurt our results this quarter, while they benefited the year-ago period."
After the earnings announcement, the company's shares tumbled by more than one percent in early New York Stock Exchange trading.


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Mumbai: Iconic Indian television cartoon characters Chhota Bheem and Mighty Raju spell big bucks for its creators, Green Gold Animation Pvt Ltd.
"With a viewership of over 40 million children, Chhota Bheem is the biggest `Toon Icon` in India. First time, we also have a `desi` animation character that can be merchandised," said Green Gold Stores chief Sudeesh Varma.
The first Indian company to launch toon merchandise store chains, it now plans to aggressively expand its exclusive licensing and merchandising division Green Gold Store across India, an official said here Monday.
Accordingly, it will set up 23 new Green Gold Stores, totalling to 50 (including 27 existing) this year to cater to the growing demands from the children who are the biggest fans of Chhota Bheem.
Besides Chhota Bheem and Mighty Raju, the company also owns other hit toon brands like `Krishna Balram`, `Luv Kush` and `Chorr Police`, which are popular on the merchandise front with its first store launched in Hyderabad in 2011, he said.
Starting with just two outlets and a 10-strong merchandise product line of only 10, it is now a 27 stores all India company with over 200 products in barely two years, and marching onto 50 by March 2014, Varma added.
Next year, it has another big offering up its sleeve -- the May 2014 release of `Mighty Raju Rio Calling` for which it will introduce jazzy new merchandise, said Samir Jain, executive director, Green Gold Stores assured.
While the toy and merchandise industry in India dominated by the unorganized sector, the trend is shifting with many players entering the fray.
"Industry estimates put the Licensing & Merchandising is a $225 to $300 million industry in India and growing at the rate of 20 percent to 25 percent annually. We are optimistic about expanding the overall product range and building on it," says Madhav Prabhala, Vice President Sourcing & Licensing, Green Gold Stores.


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About Wikinvest
We're regular, everyday investors who are sick of the level of innovation at the major finance portals. We've steadily been building the investing website that we wanted -- we hope you'll find it useful as well.
In broad brushstrokes, here are some of things that we think set us apart from other sites:
Setting up a portfolio on other finance sites is a pain. You have to manually enter in all of your transactions, cost basis, and other information, and this information is out of date the minute you make your next trade.
We allow you to seamlessly import your data from your brokerage and other investment accounts. Because you can import your data into your Wikinvest portfolio acount,
Traditional finance sites tend to throw a lot of data at users without the tools to make sense of it all.
We think investors could use more context, and a richer set of tools to make sense of it all. That's why our data:
Our wiki articles about companies are the best, one-stop-shop out there for a concise overview of a company - its business model, key risks and opportunities, market share, and anything else you should know before you decide to buy or sell a stock.
And, because we divide our articles into "neutral", "bulls", and "bears" sections, you can see the arguments for and against buying - as well as read "just the facts" when you're trying to brush up.
Most investing websites force people to think in the language of ticker symbols. Wikinvest lets you start with concepts, which can be things like themes, ideas, trends, products, and industries. At Wikinvest, investors can type a company name, but they can also start with an idea like the rising price of oil, the crisis in subprime lending, the impact of internet advertising, the success of the iPhone, and the rise of ecommerce – not XOM, C, GOOG, AAPL, and AMZN. And so Wikinvest has created an intuitive way to browse investing content by concept articles, which then explain which companies are impacted and why. For example:
We have ads on the site, which helps keep Wikinvest free and independent. And, we license our content and technology to other companies. We power all the stock charts on Forbes.com, all the finance content on NPR.org, finance content on USAToday.com, research / analytics for several brokerages, and other content and tools for hundreds of other sites. If you're interested in working with us, see our licensing page for more information.


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Halo 4 multiplayer: watch VG247 play a few rounds here
Halo 4 multiplayer is big. As in so big you may well be playing it this time next year – especially once all the inevitable Spartan Ops and PvP DLC launches. Watch VG247's Sam Clay play a few games in our live stream below. No pressure Sam, give 'em hell! We believe in you!
VG247 appraised Halo 4's multiplayer in our very own opinion piece here, and found it to be a safe step for 343 Industries. While it doesn't necessarily evolve the franchise or innovate, it was still a solid proof of concept from the team, and shows that it has the development chops to handle this new trilogy well.
After watching Sam play it above, what do you think? Let us know below.


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2007-10-04 / Obituaries
Edward R. Comerford, 64
Edward (Ted) Comerford, 64, of 12 Green Lane, died Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007 at
Women's Hospital, Boston.
Born in Boston, Mass., he was the son of Gertrude and Edward Comerford. He is survived by his wife Jeanne (Elson) Comerford, son Teddy, daughter Michelle Grenier, and granddaughter Alicia Grenier. He was not a fixture anywhere but was known by many for his love of good music, good food, good drink, and most of all, good conversation. He will not be forgotten. Memorial services were private.


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Fishing With Friends Kayak Tournament
Format is very simple: Entry fee is $10 with the largest legal fish taking all. No sharks, rays, skate's, etc. Very simple format: no sponsors, no raffles, no prizes, no points, NO HASSLE. Start time
7a.m. with weigh in 2p.m. Weigh in and post tournament pot luck at Dana Point Jet Ski. Parking will be available for those early launchers. Gate to launch will open at 6:30a.m., and will close at 7:30a.m., but will re-open at 9:00a.m. You can launch any other place you choose, just make sure you check in and kicked in your ante. Sign up for what you will be bringing to the pot luck.
This is a great fishing opportunity for beginning and seasoned kayak fishermen who are not looking for the high stress competitive fishing scenes, but just want to fish and learn from other kayak fisherman.


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Reviewed by Micah C. (age 8)
My favorite part of the story is when Amy picks out the mouse, because, it is exciting to get your own pet. My favorite character is Squeakers, because she is cute and playful. She makes Amy happy. This book helped me learn how to chose a pet and take care of it.
This story does have pictures. The pictures help tell the story and show what the characters look like. I think you should read the story, because it is a happy story. It also can help you learn to take care of your pet.


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context: Cicero wants to examine the main philosophical doctrines dealing with the nature of the gods.
"Sed iam, ut omni me invidia liberem, ponam in medio sententias philosophorum de natura deorum."
my translation: in order to free myself from captious criticism, I place before the public the doctrines of the the philsophers concerning the nature of the gods.
My trouble starts here:
"Quo quidem loco convocandi omnes videntur qui quae sit earum vera iudicent...."
In English we might say, "With the opinions laid before them, readers may judge which one of the doctrines may be the true one....." But my problem is how to crank the meaning out of the Latin sentence.
I cannot satisfactorily parse "Quo quidem loco convocandi omnes videntur. . . ."
This part I think I get: "qui quae sit earum vera iudicent"
Who may judge which of them may be true. The antecendent of "qui" is Cicero's audience for this book.


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Grundtvig IST Sustainable Living
Sustainable Living (Grundtivig In Service Training, GR-2014-294-002)
- Session 1: 08/03/2014-15/03/2014 (Deadline for application at your national agency 17/09/2013)
- Session 2: 26/04/2014-03/05/2014 (Deadline for application at your national agency 17/09/2013)
Eumelia Organic Agrotourism Farm & Guesthouse (Homeodynamic Development S.A.), which focuses on pilot educational activities, has developed an innovative methodology for the training of trainers (ToT) in sustainable living.
The main goal of the seminar is to promote awareness on sustainable living, as well as provide basic knowledge of the tools and methods to achieve this.
This course aims to provide an insight into the basic principles of sustainable water management, bioclimatic architecture, resource management and creation of self-sufficient personal or community spaces in both urban and rural environments.
The participants will learn about the hydrologic cycle and the urban water cycle, water saving and environmental practices and techniques, including water efficiency, rainwater harvesting, reused water, greywater recycling, decentralized wastewater treatment, etc. The course will also provide an understanding of the importance of sustainable agricultural water management practices, as well as the basic permaculture principles related to water management. Particular focus will be given to small scale developments and communities, as well as decentralised water management practices and systems; the case of "green islands" will provide a demonstration of such an approach.
Participants will be introduced in the bioclimatic architecture, providing an insight on the efficient and sustainable use of natural resources when designing the built environment and considering the living space. In this section we will present basic designing and planning principles with a sustainable approach such as orientation, solar gain, natural ventilation, natural shading, ecological materials, etc.
The seminar will also present an overview of how development and residential communities are putting pressure on our energy systems. We will present different "Systems thinking" for environmental issues on energy and resource management. Finally, we will introduce challenges and examples of best practices and experiences around the world for management of resources and energy policies giving tools for designing and living off grid.
Participants should pre-register for the course by contacting Eumelia Organic Agrotourism Farm & Guesthouse (Homeodynamic Development S.A) at email@example.com. The organization will send the participant confirmation of their pre-registration and a pre-course questionnaire.
The pre-course questionnaire will cover the following items:
- Present training position
- Age of trainees and their reasons for learning
- Previous relevant experience
- English language level
- Educational needs
The aim of this questionnaire is to help us organize the course in order best to meet their needs both in terms of the methodological input sessions and the language development lessons. The questionnaire will give participants the opportunity to highlight their expectations, targets and experience and enhance the exchange of ideas and mutual learning processes.
When the participant confirms their attendance on the course they will receive an Info Kit containing:
- The course outline
- Suggested reading material
- A local map and details of their accommodation
- Inclusive and optional social activity programmes
The understanding of participants is going to be further enhanced by hands-on examples/ small participatory exercises of basic calculations and design, small-scale field work in Eumelia farm and related field trips.
The Eumelia ToT methodology is anchored on the following key principle:
- A trainee-centered curriculum tailored on the basis of a survey of training needs beforehand.
- A participatory approach, i.e. an interactive trainer-trainee relationship, so that the beneficiaries develop a strong sense of ownership through the examination/adoption of their ideas.
The methods used in this ToT are:
- Short historical reference using examples of rural traditional architecture in Greece
- Description of the basic designing and planning principles with a sustainable approach.
- Presentation of Eumelia's approach on building efficiency and sustainability
- Case studies / examples designed by "aka lab" architects
- Simulation and Role playing games on resources management and "Systems Thinking"
- Design of realistic projects based on conditions examined on the ground in the framework of the Eumelia ToT courses.
- Hands-on team workshops: Construction of a solar cooker made of cob - construction of a sitting bench made of cob and mud bricks for future projects
- A thorough evaluation of the training course by all the participants, so that their feedback helps us capture possible weaknesses and retain what they have found useful.
- Not least of all, a relaxed natural setting that helps optimize team-work and maximize the performance of the beneficiaries.
Follow-up of the course will be achieved:
- By sharing a contact list of all the participants and trainers information.
- Through self-evaluation of lessons taught after the training event
- Through peer networking with the preparation of future projects.
- Eumelia is ready to develop a database tracking the performance of: (i) participants in the ToT courses and (ii) youth organisations benefiting from follow-up training.
After the course, teachers and trainers will have:
- a toolkit of user-friendly training resources that will be easy to adapt to specific audiences and their needs;
- a bibliography for each session, including relevant website addresses a network of contacts which will facilitate the exchange of training modules and innovative techniques.
Daily Schedule
- Arrival in Athens
- Travel to Eumelia
- Welcome Dinner
- Get to know session
- Orientation
- Extensive tour of Eumelia Organic Agrotourism Farm & Guesthouse, an example of a sustainable rural ecotourism & agrotourism development project
- Team building activities
- Goals and structure of the seminar
- Welcome dinner
- Basic concept of hydrology and water management
- Water sensitive cities, water efficient devices and practices (rainwater harvesting, grey water recycling, reclaimed reused water)
- Rural environments (sustainable agricultural practices, basic principles of permaculture water management)
- Field work and exercises:
- Case study Eumelia farm natural black and grey water recycling system, rainwater harvesting design calculations.
- Reedbeds / natural wetland design calculation
- Visit to Castory:
- Local architecture,
- Water mills,
- Natural resource managment
- Sustainable village communities
- Hiking and traditional lunch
- Short historical reference using examples of rural traditional architecture in Greece. Comparison of building techniques from the Greek islands and the region of Mani.
- Description of the basic designing and planning principles with a sustainable approach: Orientation, solar gain, natural ventilation, natural shading, ecological materials, etc.
- Presentation of Eumelia's approach on building efficiency and sustainability
- Case studies / examples designed by aka lab architects
- Introduction to earth as a building material
- Hands-on team workshops: Construction of a solar cooker made of cob
- Day 6 Resource management and "Systems Thinking" for environmental issues
- Introduce trainees to the concept and practice of "Systems Thinking" for environmental issues
- Living off grid – the challenges and examples of best practice and experience around the world.
- Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audits
- Simulation and role playing game: Resource managment
- Open discussion, future networks and cooperation.
- Evaluation, feedback and recommendations
- Farewell dinner
- Departure from Eumelia for Athens
- Departure from Athens
Application Procedure
The participants must apply to their national agency for funding and approval for participation, the In-Service Training is funded by the European Union program Grundtvig and all participants must be accepted by their national agencies, please find in the following link your National Agency and apply through them. For more information on the Grundtvig In-Service Training please visit the following link Grundtvig IST.
For pre-registration fill in the form below in the files section of this page and send it to email@example.com


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NOTE: See the Oak documentation for up to date information. This site and its sub-sites are mainly of historical interest.
Project Oak (formerly Jackrabbit 3) is an effort for a new implementation of the JCR specification. In contrast to Jackrabbit 2 the goal is not to implement all optional features of the specification but rather to distil out the most important ones and trade the rest for a more lightweight and performant implementation. Currently this page is merely a collections of links. It should however evolve into a more elaborate source of information once the project progresses.
Issue tracker: https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/OAK
Git mirror: git://git.apache.org/jackrabbit-oak.git. On GitHub: https://github.com/apache/jackrabbit-oak
Continuous integration: ASF Buildbot, Travis
Mailing list: mailto:email@example.com . Subscribe by sending a message to mailto:firstname.lastname@example.com
Some early information is available from the RoadMap (mostly out of date). Here is a more up to date release road map.
Jackrabbit 3 will be based on a small Microkernel on top of which most of the JCR functionality will be implemented.
The Microkernel uses a flavour of the Jsop protocol for its API.
Transactional model of the Microkernel based Jackrabbit prototype
- Recent technical discussions on the dev list:
Support usage of JAAS based authentication with Repository in OSGi


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Posted 6 years ago
(23 items)
Three more programs from the old All America Football Conference (AAFC). The Chicago Rockets commissioned Bay Area artist, William Kay to do their covers. Kay also did the artwork on all the 49er program covers. You can see that the LA Don is a bit more bold with the Rocket than he is with 49er mascot, "Sourdough Sam". In the third program, Sam is breaking the Buffalo Bison. 1946 was the only year the Buffalo Bisons were in existence. After that, they became the Buffalo Bills. The Bills of the AAFC folded after the '49 season. They actually played well enough to be considered to merge into the NFL but politics among NFL owners kept them out. In 1960, the Bills came back under a new franchise and became a charter member of the old American Football League. Today, the Bills and 49ers are members of the National Football League while the Bisons, Dons and Rockets faded into obscurity and are known mainly to hard core football historians.


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Saturday, 14 June 2014 10:01 AM
Boaters heading to the crystal-clear waters of Lake George this summer must make one last stop before launching — at inspection stations where vessels are checked for invasive species and decontaminated if any hitchhikers are found.
The popular Adirondack tourist destination is the first lake in the East to require inspections of every boat and trailer. It's modeled on a similar program that began five years ago at Lake Tahoe in Nevada and California and has since spread to numerous other lakes in the West.
"This is history in the making," said Eric Siy, executive director of the Fund for Lake George. "Stopping invasives requires serious commitment. Lake George can serve as a model from which to learn and act."
Boats are the most common carrier of aquatic invasive species, which include Eurasian watermilfoil, water chestnut and hydrilla that form thick mats of vegetation that choke out native species. Invasive animals that can hitch rides on boats include zebra mussels and Asian clams.
Lake Tahoe launched a mandatory boat inspection program in 2009 to combat invasive quagga mussels. Like zebra mussels, quagga mussels thickly coat docks and water intakes, boat engines and hulls. Other Western lakes have also launched mandatory inspection programs, which have been effective at keeping the mussels from becoming as widespread as they are in the East.
Lake George, which is protected by the state-run Lake George Park Commission, already has five invasive species, including Asian clam, zebra mussels and Eurasian watermilfoil, all of them introduced by boats from other waters. In the past two years alone, the state and local governments have spent more than $1.5 million to eradicate the Asian clam. Millions more have been spent on watermilfoil control since 1988.
The nonprofit Lake George Association has had voluntary boat inspections by lake stewards since 2008. There are also voluntary inspections run by nonprofit groups at numerous other Adirondack lakes, with the goal of educating boaters to clean, drain and dry their vessels to avoid transporting invasive species.
This month, the state Department of Environmental Conservation adopted new regulations requiring boaters to remove all visible plant and animal material from boats and trailers and to drain boats before launching at state-run boat launches.
The Lake George program goes a step further with the mandatory inspections, which started in May. It requires all trailered boats to stop at one of six inspection stations set up around the 32-mile-long lake before they can be launched at any of the 86 public and private launch sites.
Inspectors check a boat's trailer, motor, bilge and other areas inside and out for signs of invasive plants or animals. Boats that don't pass muster are directed to a nearby washing station for decontamination with high-pressure hot water.
Doug Frost, 50, of Lake George has been boating there since he was a child and says heading off more invasive species is important.
"It makes sense. It's an added safety net," Frost said. "And it didn't take very long."
Unlike Lake Tahoe, where boaters pay up to $120 a year for unlimited inspections and $35 for decontamination, the Lake George program is free for boaters, with the state and nonprofit groups paying the annual cost estimated at about $800,000.
"Everyone who's been here has been 100 percent behind it," said Mike Archambault, an inspector stationed at Norowal Marina in Bolton Landing. "They love the lake and want to protect it."
People unfamiliar with the program may balk, at least until the purpose is explained to them.
"We had some people from out of state a few weeks ago who thought it was some kind of trap by state police to give people tickets," said Rick Gage, owner of Performance Marine in Bolton Landing. "Once it was explained, they were fine with it."
Dave Wick, executive director of the Lake George Park Commission, said that even with about 10,000 to 15,000 launchings a year, the goal is to have no more than five minutes of wait time.
At an inspection station, attendants affix a numbered tag to a cable tie connecting the boat and trailer to verify the vessel is clean. Once that cable and tag are in place, the boater is free to head to a launch site. People who launch without getting inspected can be fined upward of $500.
"Our goal is not to hammer people with fines, though," Wick said. "Our first goal is education."
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Wow, 6 figures in the head?!? That's awesome. maybe even dare I say TOO big. I'd have been happy with it being big enough for 4.Not that I like going there, but RS is reporting that the AT-AT is nearly 3ft tall.
If this ends up being all it sounds like it could be it should be awesome and maybe even "worth" $200, but I can't see how I could ever justify that much for one item anymore.
I'd pay $200 for large killer playsets.
I think I asked this about the BMF - but provided everything pans out and this thing is an awesome beast...are you guys planning on getting rid of your old vintage/potf2/tsc versions? I'd like to at least hold on to one for old times sakes especially since I never owned any version of that old school mold until 2002.
At one time I had four of the POFT2 version, ended up parting with a couple of them a while back just because I realized I didn't need that many. With this new one coming out, I'm planning on getting two of the new one, then with the old ones I'll give one to my son to do with what he wishes, and the other one I'll most likely take it apart for custom fodder, which I am really excited about.
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Philadelphia—June 7, 2010—Governor Edward G. Rendell and Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter joined leaders from the city's cultural and philanthropic communities today to announce the start of work on three major projects to dramatically enhance the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for residents and visitors: streetscape improvements for the 2100 and 2200 blocks, restoration of the Rodin Museum grounds and courtyard garden, and the creation of an entirely new Sister Cities Park.
These projects are part of a package of Parkway improvements first announced in July 2008 and supported by the city, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and private funders. Total costs for the work—which will also include improvements to the 1600-1800 blocks and Shakespeare Park in a subsequent phase—are estimated at $19.1 million. Fairmount Park, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Center City District are directing the respective projects.
"The improvements to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will help restore it as a tree-lined boulevard that is an appropriate home for some of Philadelphia's most famous landmarks and cultural institutions," Governor Rendell said. "In addition to making it a more attractive area for residents and visitors alike, the work will stand as an urban renewal legacy for future generations to enjoy."
"I would like to thank all the project's funders and partners who have worked together to make these significant improvements to the public realm of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, supporting our great institutions, welcoming the Barnes to the Parkway and providing the highest level of amenities to our visitors and guests," noted Mayor Michael Nutter.
Breaking ground today, under the leadership of Fairmount Park, will be the streetscape work. The city will narrow the outer lanes of the 2100 and 2200 blocks, reducing the line of traffic down to one lane, and will add a parking and bicycle lane. The inner lanes will be shifted to allow widening of the center islands at each intersection. Taken together, these changes will dramatically improve the Parkway for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists alike. The major structural improvements will be completed by this fall, and the remainder of the work—including new trees and plantings—should be finished by next year.
Parks and Recreation Commissioner Michael DiBerardinis commented, "We are thrilled to begin construction. This work will significantly enhance the Parkway's streetscape and is another milestone in the City's work, with our many partners, over the past several years to upgrade our grand boulevard of the arts."
The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Fairmount Park and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) will oversee the work at the Rodin Museum, which includes a complete redevelopment of the exterior landscaping and the internal garden. In addition, the museum's roof and façade will be cleaned and restored. Work on the building will likely begin this month, with the landscaping starting in July. Work is scheduled for completion by spring 2011. These improvements come on the heels of the restoration of the museum's entryway, the Meudon Gate, which was completed earlier this year.
"PHS has a long history as green guardian of sites along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, including Logan Circle and the grounds of the Philadelphia Museum of Art," said Drew Becher, the new president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. "The Parkway is more than a grand boulevard – it is Philadelphia's front yard, its cultural and civic showcase. We are proud to be working with the Museum of Art, Fairmount Park, and OLIN, the consulting landscape architect, on a new landscape for the Parkway's jewel, the Rodin Museum, thanks to an extraordinary partnership of government and private foundations."
"The Philadelphia Museum of Art is proud to celebrate these milestones that are benefitting the Parkway and the entire city," said Timothy Rub, Director and CEO of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. "Our deepest gratitude goes to The Pew Charitable Trusts, the William Penn Foundation, the Knight Foundation, the City of Philadelphia, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which have shown extraordinary support for the improvement and continued growth of the cultural institutions along the Parkway. The project to rejuvenate the landscape in which one of this city's artistic jewels, the Rodin Museum, is set and to make this beautiful space accessible to all is now poised to begin. In tandem with the improvements being made to the adjacent blocks of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and the development of a new Sister Cities Park, this work represents a significant step forward for our city."
Major changes will take place at Sister Cities Park, where—under the direction of the Center City District (CCD)—an entirely new plaza will be built. A new fountain will be installed on the plaza's south side and will include a globe on which Philadelphia's 10 sister cities will be marked, with jets of water emitting from each "city" in proportion to its size. On the north end of the park, there will be a children's "discovery garden," featuring a pond and rock-climbing. Work will be completed next year.
"The Benjamin Franklin Parkway is the setting for some of the nation's premier cultural and educational institutions," said Paul R. Levy, President and CEO of the Center City District. "For over a decade, the Center City District has been working to animate the Parkway's public areas with new pedestrian lighting and signs, lighting the façade of all the civic buildings and more than one dozen public sculptures, improvements to Aviator Park and the construction of Café Cret on 16th Street. All this has been achieved through the generous support of local foundations, city and state government. We are delighted to be part of the next step of improvements with the creation of an exciting new children's destination in Sister Cities Park."
The Parkway project is supported by the City of Philadelphia, which is contributing $6.4 million, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which is providing $6.45 million to the city for the project. The Pew Charitable Trusts is contributing $2 million and managing the private contributions of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation ($1.25 million) and the William Penn Foundation ($1 million). The Philadelphia Museum of Art has devoted $2 million to renovate the interior garden of the Rodin Museum.
"Work will soon be underway, from JFK Plaza to Eakins Oval, to remake the Benjamin Franklin Parkway as a great urban thoroughfare worthy of the cultural treasures that sit along it," said Donald Kimelman, managing director of Pew's Philadelphia Program. "The exciting designs for the Rodin Museum and Sister Cities Park, as well as the parkway streetscape itself, are a testament to the creativity, hard work and cooperation of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Center City District, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and the state and city governments. Those of us in the philanthropic community applaud their efforts and eagerly await a transformed parkway."
PHS, CCD and Fairmount Park have jointly developed a long-term maintenance plan to continue the Parkway's high standard of landscaping after the work is completed.
See the Fact Sheet, "Enhancing the Benjamin Franklin Parkway" for more details on each project.