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MSI R6850 Cyclone Power Edition Review
Now that the 6000 has become well saturated within the market, companies have begun churning out various customized revisions of the reference designs. Some variations include factory overclocks, some strap on aftermarket heat sinks, still others go to the lengths of attaching waterblocks, giving their cards an additional thermal envelope to play in. While these enhancements are nice, one of the larger benefits of purchasing these higher tag items is the increased quality of the card itself. After chips are manufactured, they are tested for leakage, stability, and efficiency then sorted by quality and sent to various manufacturing lines. The higher the price for the card you're buying, the higher the likelihood of a highly binned card which means higher clock speeds using less power and lower temperatures. All of these perks are meant to differentiate each card from the next, attempting to entice enthusiasts' wallets towards their markups.
With MSI's R6850 Cyclone Power Edition, the company hopes to woo your heart by offering a Military Class II design which features Solid Ferrite Chokes, Hi-C Caps with Tantalum Cores, and Solid CAPs with 10 year lifespans. Working in tandem, these three features offer extreme stability under overclocked conditions with lower leakage and better efficiency. Next up, MSI mounted on a full 6+1 Phase power system which means the GPU receives optimum power conditions at all times under all circumstances allowing for the highest possible overclocks. Finally, this card comes with a custom Cyclone heat sink which was included in a lot of MSI's designs in the past and is complete with a hardware speed switch right on the PCB. Reading through the specs, this card screams overclock so I can't wait to put this impressive white paper to the test!
Closer Look:
Throughout my experience with MSI, I have always been met with products that focus a lot more on the main feature than the package that it comes with. This card seems no different. The box that houses the MSI R6850 Power Edition is larger than most graphics card boxes, but it is very clean and imposing. The Cyclone heatsink is front and center, dominating the cover of the package while "R6850 Cyclone Power Edition" is embossed below in large pearlescent letters and an advertisement for the card's unique 6.1 Power System prominently displayed. A sticker promoting the card's three year warranty in the upper left corner directly underneath the MSI logo and the right corner rounds out the package with the standard technology logos. MSI did add a rather unique feature for a graphics card package here though. The front cover flips up to reveal an entirely separate information panel as well as a window through which the card can be seen. On this insert, MSI describes each of the technologies listed on the front panel in detail and flouts its Cyclone heat sink's previous accolades. Flip to the rear panel and MSI states that this card runs on the HD 6000 series GPU, uses the Unified Video Decoder 3 for smoother Blu-Rays, and HDMI 1.4a support in 30 different languages consuming the entire right half of the panel. On the left side, basic features and system requirements are present for the contemplating consumer to consider.
Removing the display box, the theming ends abruptly. This is not the kind of product to post unboxing videos of. Nevertheless, the R6850 is very well secured in a bland white one-size-fits-all styrofoam casing thanks to a filler insert and the antistatic bag enclosing the card itself. A cardboard flap is accessible along the front edge of the package revealing the accessories compartment.
Most mid-level graphics cards do not have overly excessive accessory bundles and this card is no different. The MSI R6850 Cyclone Power Edition comes with everything needed to run the card right out of the box. MSI ships each card with a DVI to VGA adapter, a Crossfire link, a 6-Pin to dual Molex for buyers with older power supplies, as well as a driver disc that comes preloaded with MSI's own Afterburner utility which will be used to overclock the card later in the review. This is a more than adequate bundle for the price range.
The outer packaging looks great and the accessory bundle does not disappoint. Let's take a look at the card and its Cyclone cooler up close!


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Pie Face recipe
Pie Face recipe
Makes 6 servings
- 2 cups of pumpkin and butternut squash puree (can use canned pumpkin)
- 4 cups of milk
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon of cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
- 1/2 cup of sugar
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees(if using canned pumpkin, warm on stove and omit steps 2 through four)
- While oven is preheating, cut pumpkin and butternut squash in half, removing seeds. Rub with olive oil and a bit of salt.
- When oven has preheated, put pumpkin and butternut squash in the oven, skin side up. Allow them to roast for 30 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let cool.
- Once cool, scrape 'meat' from the skin and puree in blender.
- In a saucepan over low heat, add pumpkin, milk, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and sugar. Whisk together, and stir occasionally until mixture is warm.
- Serve in decorative mug. Top with whipped cream.

subset: commoncrawl


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Soriano stays hot with two-homer effort at Wrigley
CHICAGO -- At his locker following the Cubs' 4-2 win against division-leading Pittsburgh, Alfonso Soriano officially declared himself hot.
"Ah, finally," he said. "Now I just have to keep it going for the rest of the season."View Full Game Coverage
CHICAGO -- At his locker following the Cubs' 4-2 win against division-leading Pittsburgh, Alfonso Soriano officially declared himself hot.
"Ah, finally," he said. "Now I just have to keep it going for the rest of the season."View Full Game Coverage
Soriano went 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs, driving in all four of Chicago's runs in Saturday's win at Wrigley Field. In the eight games since Cubs manager Dale Sveum rested his left fielder for two games in Milwaukee, then inserted him in the lineup as a designated hitter for two games in Seattle and one in Oakland, Soriano has hit five home runs and driven in 13 runs.
Saturday's performance was the best game in what appears to be a signature Soriano hot streak, similar to those he's ridden several times over his career. Sveum called it "the Sori show."
"I'm just working hard, trying to calm down my swing," Soriano said. "Those two days that I took in Milwaukee, and the couple games that I took as DH in Seattle and Oakland helped my legs get refreshed. I think that makes them feel stronger when I play."
Soriano's trunk-sized legs have always been the catalyst to his swing, and with his two home runs on Saturday he's ridden them -- despite not having the biggest of bodies -- to sole possession of the 12th most home runs on the Cubs' all-time list. His fourth-inning home run with Anthony Rizzo on second not only tied the game a 2, but also counted as his 175th homer as a Cub, passing Andre Dawson in the record books.
His fifth-inning shot off Pittsburgh starter Charlie Morton's sinker that caught the middle of the plate was his 176th Cubs home run and gave starter Edwin Jackson a lead to work with.
"We had some great offensive at-bats," Jackson said. "When you get run support, it definitely feels good. Not to mention the great defensive plays made behind me, it definitely helps as well."
Jackson used his signature slider to let the Pirates put the ball in play. His pitch count rose early, but the right-hander turned in one of his finer outings of the season, despite lasting only 5 2/3 innings.
Left fielder Starling Marte led off the game with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. But Jackson buckled down from there, setting down the next three Pittsburgh hitters without allowing Marte to score.
Marte threatened again in the third, when he singled and stole second on a poor throw by Cubs catcher Welington Castillo. But Marte tested Castillo one too many times, as the catcher placed a perfect throw to third to catch the speedster on another attempt during the same at-bat.
Aside from a fourth-inning home run by Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez, Jackson limited the team with the best record in the National League to just three base hits. And a day after Pittsburgh starter Francisco Liriano shut down Chicago's offense, Soriano's hot hitting was all Jackson needed to pick up the win.
"We saw [Jackson] the last time and he was much sharper the last time," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "Today, we were able to get his pitch count up and then every time it came to a push situation, he made a pitch. That's what I attribute it to. He made pitches. You hear that as a cliche, but today, it played out right in front of us. When he needed to make pitches, he did."
Jackson was lifted from the game with runners on first and second, and Alvarez back at the plate with two out in the sixth. Sveum called for left-hander James Russell to get the final out of the inning against the lefty-hitting Alvarez, and the Pirates' slugger went down swinging. It preserved Jackson's line at 5 2/3 innings, one earned run, four hits, two walks and three strikeouts. While Jackson has had a tough start to his first season in Chicago, he improved to 2-2 with a 3.48 ERA against Pittsburgh this year.
"As we all know, this is a crazy game," Jackson said. "It's tough to be consistent. You just have to keep working hard and don't count your eggs before they hatch."
The Cubs had a chance to tack on against Morton in the sixth after Castillo hit a two-out double to right field, but the right-handed Morton struck out pinch-hitter Scott Hairston to end the inning. The Cubs scattered seven hits and drew three walks over six innings against Morton.
Sveum then turned to recently acquired reliever Matt Guerrier to continue what Jackson started, and the right-hander turned in two scoreless innings before closer Kevin Gregg picked up the save. Sveum even admitted it was an unfamiliarly clean end to the game by his bullpen.
"We haven't had too many of those nice, easy seventh and eighth innings lately when we're leading in a game," Sveum said. "It was nice. Guerrier did a heck of a job. He was very efficient too. He threw strikes, breaking ball, really good changeup. It was nice to see Russell come in and get a big out there and hopefully build his confidence. And then obviously Gregg did his job."
After Friday's 6-2 Cubs loss in the series opener, backup catcher Dioner Navarro said his team would need to play mistake-free baseball to beat a team playing as well as the Pirates. He said the Cubs had the personnel to put up a fight against Pittsburgh. Soriano's 32nd career multi-homer game proved that for a day and hung the balance of the Cubs' home series against the Pirates on Sunday's rubber game.
"It's just a game that you have to continue to grind," Jackson said. "You just have to continue to have confidence in yourself and believe that you can do it. Then you can go out there and have fun."
Ethan Asofsky is an associate reporter for MLB.com.


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This article provides information on configuring DHCP failover which is a new feature in Windows Server 2012 that provides redundancy for DHCP
For general information on DHCP failover, including the requirements that must be met before deployment, see Information about DHCP Failover in Windows Server 2012 and Above.
Before failover can be configured, at least one scope must be created on one (and only one) of the two servers that will be participating in the failover relationship. Once that has been accomplished, perform the following steps to create a failover relationship:
8. DHCP failover is now operational. After failover has been enabled for a scope, the scope's properties window will include a Failover tab which displays the properties of the applicable failover relationship:
Article ID: SLN291242
Last Date Modified: 07/14/2015 04:53 PM
Thank you for your feedback.


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Editorial cartoon maze of President Obama sleeping as a hot cup of coffee marked "Polls" is next to him and a caption that reads, "Wake up and smell the....." Created by Yonatan Frimer.
Click here for a printable, hi-res version of this maze
Click here or on the image for the solution to the maze.
More mazes by Yonatan Frimer and Maze Cartoons for you:
Political Maze Cartoon on Comics Sherpa, by Yonatan Frimer
Editorial Cartoon Mazes on Team Of Monkeys
Maze Art on Ink Blot MazesBuy maze art
This maze topic in the news:Barack Obama Sees Approval Ratings Decline After Pro-Abortion Elena Kagan
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- President Barack Obama has seen has approval ratings decline in the aftermath of his selecting pro-abortion Solicitor general Elena Kagan for the open Supreme Court position. Obama's approval ratings are at one of their lowest points in the last month and heading back down to their health care-dominated levels. The Rasmussen Reports daily shows 45%...(read more)


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Betting guide to the 2012 F1 season
The 2012 F1 season is reaching a thrilling climax with six races remaining.
Sebastian Vettel's win in Singapore last time out kept the pressure on championship leader Fernando Alonso, who is the 4/9 favorite on the Ladbrokes sport page to clinch the title.
Here we take a look at who's vying for glory in drivers' championship and constructors' championship ahead of the next GP in Japan next month.
Drivers' championship
Only two drivers – Vettel and Alonso – can win the F1 title this season, according to Jenson Button, who finished second in Singapore and is sixth overall in the championship standings.
"It's between those two but there's still a lot of people with a long shot," said Button to the BBC.
"That's what we're all going to go for."
Button, for the record, is 66/1 to somehow overhaul Alonso, who is 29 points clear of Vettel.
Kimi Raikkonen, a 25/1 shot to be crowned champion, is next in the standings followed by Lewis Hamilton (9/1) and Mark Webber (66s).
Alonso would be wise not to underestimate Vettel as the two-time champion will not want to give up his title without a fight.
Constructors' championship
Despite Alonso's commanding lead in the drivers' championship, his Ferrari team find themselves third in the constructors' championship, 55 points behind leaders Red Bull.
Red Bull also have a 36-point lead over McLaren-Mercedes and are 4/6 favorites to stay ahead of the chasing pack. McLaren are 5/4 to become constructors' champions.
Posted in: Racing


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A young family of three just bought their first home in the West Island. One of the owner's requests was an alternative colour for the walls and new style windows. Since the roof was a quiet light grey, a hit of colour would be welcomed on the aluminum siding.
I chose a muddy blue green painted with exterior acrylic in a matte finish. As for the brand new windows, they ought to be white with square details on top. Dark grey louvres would help display and optically enlarge them.
The owners didn't care for the vertical tongue and groove panels under each window. Painted in the same colour as the walls, they would practically vanish. As an alternative, the planks could be replaced by a relief pattern as shown.
A made-to-measure flower box will showcase an overflow of cascading white annuals and lime greenery as well as delicate baby's breath hovering over some pink popcorn-like blossoms.
On the top of the house, the electrical tube extrusion should stay light grey like the shingles. Below the roof, the same pipe will mirror the hue of its background thus making it look less obvious. Strong white trellises will be made-to-measure and installed on both sides of this corner. Lemon blooms from two Clematis plants will brighten up the structure as well as the grey fence.
On the house itself, the actual white elements will benefit from a refreshing coat of white matte acrylic paint. To match the lustrous fur of their oversized Labrador puppy, the existing entry door, the side door and their contours will be painted in black thus conjuring contrast and elegance.
Another concern from the owner was that the side of the severely damaged steps and actual walk were hugging the foundation. The closeness looked harsh and didn't allow for a needed space to establish a flower bed that would soften and improve visual interest. The new larger porch and staircase could be made out of casted cement, grey paving stones or wood. In the last option, the floor and the front and sides of the steps, which ought to be closed off, would replicate the colour of the shingles. The dark grey wooden handrails would be placed on thin black iron spindles. The new configuration of the pathway will procure a good use of a space for a gathering of silver border perennials, a soft pink blooming shrub, intriguing lime and pink flowering perennials, a green and yellow persistent bush that blushes in chilly weather.
These will co-exist and parallel the outer bed consisting of an ever flowering ribbon of dainty light yellow Coreopsis Moonbeam. They will frame a trio of Buxus, which have tiny round and shiny evergreen leaves. These will encircle a Caragana arborescens Walker decorative tree. Its foliage is airy and its trunk is a rich olive green. The owner's Mugo pine will stay put as will the bigger evergreen at the extreme corner. This one will need a regular trim in a globular shape.
A hedge of Weigela florida White Knight will anchor the right half of the facade and provide a profusion of light pink buds and white blossoming. This repetition of the same plant has a way of calming the eye.
Three tall dark grey pots, evenly spaced, will contain grey green ornamental grasses, which will turn slightly pink in fall. Just before winter, these can be transplanted in the backyard to be reintroduced again in their vessels in springtime.
The owners will choose a decorative Malus tree that blooms in white. They should plant it nearer to the street and in line with the centre of the two bedroom windows. The address digits, placed sideways, the new light fixtures and the vertical mailbox should be either in the same metal finish as the hardware of the door or simply black.
- Clematis tangutica (climbing, lemon yellow, trellises and fence)
- Calamagrostis acutiflora Overdam (ornamental grasses, silver green, pots)
- Gypsophila elegans (annuals, tiny white, flower box)
- Pelargonium x peltatum (annuals, white, flower box)
- Pelargonium hortorum Pop Corn (cascading annuals, white, flower box)
- Pelargonium petiolare Limelight (cascading lime greenery, flower box)
- Potentilla fruticosa Pink Beauty (shrub, light pink)
- Echinacea purpurea Green Envy (several perennials, jade and pink)
- Euonymus fortunei Emerald 'n Gold (persistent shrub, yellow and green)
- Artemisia stelleriana Silver Brocade (perennial border, silver, cut back in spring)
- Coreopsis verticillata Moonbeam (perennials, light yellow, edge)
- Buxus Green Velvet (three shrubs, lighter green)
- Caragana arborescens Walker (grafted shrub on a trunk, yellow)
- Owner's Mugo pine
- Weigela florida White Knight (shrubs, pink buds, white, hedge)
- Owner's evergreen
This is a column in which designer Suzanne Rowe selects homes that could benefit from a little inexpensive help in increasing their curb appeal. After examining photographs, she then proceeds to sketch out an artist's rendering of what they could look like with a few minor changes. We hope you enjoy the results.
Most homes can use a little bit of help when it comes to warming up their curb appeal. If you would like some inexpensive ideas on how to improve the appearance of your home, send a clear photo of your house with your commentary to: Suzanne Rowe, Designer, email@example.com


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February 4, 2004 - NPCA Strategic Plan: Next Steps
Peace Corps Online
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February 4, 2004: NPCA's Strategic Plan for the Next 8 years
: February 4, 2004 - NPCA Strategic Plan: Next Steps
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NPCA Looks to the Future with Strategic Plan - Next Steps
Read and comment on the Strategic Plan for the NPCA presented at the Board of Directors meeting on January 31 and endorsed by the Board on February 1. The Plan emphasizes improving what NPCA offers its members and strengthening NPCA's relationship with its group affiliates. PCOL will have an interview with NPCA President Kevin Quigley in our next issue that addresses each of the elements of the Strategic Plan in more detail. For now, read the plan and leave your comments below at:
NPCA presents Strategic Plan
This link was active on the date it was posted. PCOL is not responsible for broken links which may have changed.
NPCA presents Strategic Plan
Following the recent Board endorsement, the next steps are:
Communicate to: Members, Group Leaders, DirectorÆs Circle, Advisory Council, etcģ
Implement, focusing on priorities
Track and Report Quarterly
Background on Strategic Planning and on the Strategic Plan for the NPCA
A Strategic plan is document used by an organization to align its organization and budget structure with organizational priorities, missions, and objectives. Astrategic plan should include a mission statement, a description of the agency's long-term goals and objectives, and strategies or means the agency plans to use to achieve these general goals and objectives. The strategic plan may also identify external factors that could affect achievement of long-term goals.
There are a variety of perspectives, models and approaches used in strategic planning. The way that a strategic plan is developed depends on the nature of the organization's leadership, culture of the organization, complexity of the organization's environment, size of the organization, expertise of planners, etc. For example, there are a variety of strategic planning models, including goals-based, issues-based, organic, scenario (some would assert that scenario planning is more a technique than model), etc.
Goals-based planning is probably the most common and starts with focus on the organization's mission (and vision and/or values), goals to work toward the mission, strategies to achieve the goals, and action planning (who will do what and by when).
Issues-based strategic planning often starts by examining issues facing the organization, strategies to address those issues, and action plans.
Organic strategic planning might start by articulating the organization's vision and values and then action plans to achieve the vision while adhering to those values.
In addition, the focus of the planning activities is often different between for-profits and nonprofits. Nonprofits tend to focus more on matters of board development, fundraising and volunteer management. For-profits tend to focus more on activities to maximize profit.
More information on Strategic Planning is available at:
Strategic Planning in nonprofit or for-profit organizations
The NPCA Board has endorsed this Strategic Action Plan for 2004-2011. This plan, which is available in Power Point format
, places particular emphasis on improving what NPCA offers its members and strengthening NPCA's relationship with its group affiliates. The plan is designed in three phases:
Phase I: 2004, a plan for stabilization;
Phase II: 2005-2008, a plan for growth;
Phase III: 2009-2011, a plan for the future (leveraging the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Peace Corps community.
The Strategic Action Plan will be revised and updated as needed, with regular reporting on the progress being made. Individuals wishing to offer comments on the plan are welcome to send them to NPCA President Kevin Quigley at mailto:firstname.lastname@example.com or leave your comments below.
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I noticed during our February blog train that there was a lot of variety in how people did the preview images for their designs. Preview images are VERY important for me, especially now that I am trying to be much more discriminating about what freebies I download.
I hope this is not too blunt a thing to say - I offer it completely in the spirit of support and helping us all to become better designers: There were several parts of the blog train that I would not have downloaded based on their previews. I'm so glad I committed to downloading and looking at every single part, because there were some stunning designs hiding behind those previews! But I wouldn't normally do that, and I'll bet many visitors checking out someone's part in the blog train won't either.
We have a lot of variety in terms of styles of designs, and I am sure there is just as much variety in what people consider a "good" preview. So I thought we could share our ideas here, and any tips or hints we have, and maybe Marisa or Brooke or some of the other more experienced designers could even make a tutorial or guide.
One thing I looked for and could not find during the previous blog train was templates to help make previews. The only one I found was this one for papers: http://pinterest.com/pin/214976582185121186/ and it is only available through a $20 club membership. It's one of those tricky items that is very hard to google for - all the phrases I try lead me to links that are not helpful. Studio Wendy makes some actions (here's one: http://shop.scrapbookgraphics.com/SCRIPT-Preview-Maker-PSCS3.html but $27 is pretty steep when I'm just making freebies to give away.
So here are my questions:
*What do you think makes a good kit/paper/element preview? What takes away from the quality of a preview or turns you off?
*Please share any tips or thoughts you have about how to make previews.
*Do you know of any templates (or actions) that assist in making previews?


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Music for your Grade Exam
Board: ABRSM
Syllabus: Horn from 2013
Grade: 2
Important information:
Please note that the information listed below does not contain complete syllabus details. Therefore, when planning an exam entry, it is important to refer to the current syllabus and the Exam Information & Regulations.
Audio downloads:
Purchase audio recordings of pieces from this syllabus.


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Parent Directory | Revision Log
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#379883 - Removing link attribute from guide element as it is not used anymore. Next step will be to remove it from DTD
Fixed links
Coding Style + Doublespace fixes.
Coding Style
dmesh patch from Chris White aka PUNK ;)
Initial Version of the debugging-guide, originally part of the bugzilla-howto.
This form allows you to request diffs between any two revisions of this file. For each of the two "sides" of the diff, select a symbolic revision name using the selection box, or choose 'Use Text Field' and enter a numeric revision.
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Style # 205939
With a luxe fresh drape and scattered sequin detail, this bebe tunic is a glam way to up the cool factor on new season style. Try it with a pair of leatherette pants and oversized hoop earrings.
- 100% polyester
- Center back to hem: 29" (74 cm).
- Sleeve length: 18" (46 cm)
- Dry clean
- Imported
- Model 5'9" and is wearing a US size S
Sequin Hi-Lo Tunic is rated out of 5 by 10.
Rated 4 out of 5 by Richlilly from Bright blue The top is very nice, however it is hard to find a matching camisole to go under it...I actually thought that it came with one, so that was a little disheartening. However after finding something to wear under it..This sweater is beautiful, its bright and catches everyone's eyes. Have had a lot of compliments. One down side of this sweater is that it is extremely delicate, if something ever touches it slightly the treads get pulled, I learned that the hard way! Over all a good product just needs to be maintained with EXTRA EXTRA care.
Date published: 2013-02-28
Rated 5 out of 5 by BKgirl from Festive and Nice Fit This is a nice festive top, needs to be worn over a cami or bra-top (depending on how tight your abs are:)). I found a blue cami to go under it. The top fits well, and is true to size. The back is just a little longer than the front. This is flattering. The top is sexy, but not in a screaming overt kind of way. It is best for wearing at night, but could go to dinner, not just for clubs, also could be worn during the day for a party, or when it gets old, a fun gym cover top.
Date published: 2013-02-25
Rated 5 out of 5 by Spoiledro10 from Love it! Great tunic.... Goes great with jeans or leggings. The gold color is really pretty and can dress up any outfit.
Date published: 2013-02-01
Rated 3 out of 5 by SweetKisses43 from Great color; tons of compliments! I recently purchased the blue tunic in XS, and it fits great! Even though it's an XS it's not tight since it's a loose fit. Love the bright blue and sequins make it stand out. Got lots of compliments on it right away. Cozy, although one its flaws is the material is a bit scratchy. If you get easily irritated by such sweaters this may bug you, but I got used to it. Also, it easily snatches, you have to be careful not to have any jewelry or even broken nails that can pull on it because that's not easily fixable :/ Otherwise it's a great style, goes great with black pants and leather boots!
Date published: 2013-01-30
Rated 5 out of 5 by Lailalane from Looked even better in person! The color is absolutely gorgeous, not too many sequins and not too sheer. It has such a great fit and is very flattering. The only complaint I have is how rough the material is. I just wear a cute long sleeve under it.
Date published: 2013-01-26
Rated 5 out of 5 by Mgisabell from Simply beautiful I just love this sweater. It's classy and goes great with jeans or a pair of black pants.
Date published: 2013-01-08
Rated 5 out of 5 by KUCHICK from Gorgeous This is the first day I've worn it, and everyone I've seen has complimented me on how beautiful it is. It can snag easily, but it is a great sweater!
Date published: 2012-12-06
Rated 1 out of 5 by NursedRN from cheaply made CHeaply made first and only time i wore it fell apart sequins coming off and got a hole.
Date published: 2012-12-05


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Everybody on Board
End Users, Process Control Engineers, Integrators and Suppliers Are All Getting On the Sustainability Bandwagon With All Kinds of Green Applications. Here's How They Do It
"There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come," says Victor Hugo, the 19th-century French writer and author of Les Miserables. Fine, but it's also important not to get run over by the bandwagon you're trying to jump onto.
So while sustainability and green manufacturing are wonderfully positive forces, the question for many process engineers is how to do it in their own applications and facilities? Sure, users can make gains by finally installing more efficient motors and drives. But then what? How much of your application will have to be redesigned to use more sustainable raw materials and produce products that are greener to use?
Well, so many thousands of different users, process engineers, system integrators and suppliers are getting into the green manufacturing and sustainability act that there are bound to be many useful ideas that you can use to do it too.
For instance, Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical Co. recently implemented Honeywell Process Solutions' Advanced Energy Solutions software to improve controls and electricity generation, while reducing coal consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and costs at its Shanghai power plant. The plant improved the efficiency of its circulating fluidized bed (CFB) combustion process, which uses crushed coal mixed with limestone that's heated up to 900 °C, to generate low-cost electricity with low emissions. Honeywell's tools helped increase process efficiency by developing a closed-loop, advanced control strategy to optimize combustion performance for the CFB boilers while following environmental regulations.
"Our control issues at the Sinopec power plant couldn't be solved by traditional PID control loops, so we looked for a new way to improve boiler efficiency and cut emissions at the same time," says Zhao Weijie, Sinopec's chief engineer. "As the first company in the world to apply advanced control application technology to CFB units, Sinopec enhanced the effectiveness and control performance of the DCS at the CFB boiler level and for the entire plant. Even more impressive, all improvements were achieved by implementing software rather than executing a major hardware refurbishment. We also saved an estimated $1 million on the supply of energy to our refinery."
Sinopec also reports that using Honeywell's software enabled its Shanghai power plant to increase boiler efficiency by 0.48% and operating steam temperature by 2.8 °C; improve stability of combustion process variables; reduce air pollutant emissions from fuel and limestone consumption to comply with environmental standards; optimize production capacity use and transient states control; extend production asset life; reduce maintenance; and reduce expected consumption of coal by more than 500 tons and coke by 1700 tons annually.
Steering to Sustainability
Not surprisingly, upgrading core process controls can improve meat-and-potatoes efficiency. However, they can also help redirect procurement, resource use, operations, products and maintenance to further reduce carbon emissions, shrink environmental footprints and provide a good example for suppliers, staff, customers and the overall community.
For example, Tata Steel's plant in Port Talbot, Wales, U.K., recently upgraded the controls on its largest steam boiler with energy-management technologies and services from Emerson Process Management. However, unlike most boiler upgrades, these new controls are enabling Tata to increase its energy efficiency, maximize use of waste fuels, cut emissions and reduce its former reliance on purchased fuels.
The Port Talbot facility is Britain's largest integrated steel mill. It produces more than 4.5 million tons per year of high-quality sheet steel for the automotive, construction and household appliance markets. It includes two blast furnaces and a basic oxygen furnace, as well as continuous casters and a strip rolling mill. So far, Emerson has upgraded controls on three of the site's seven steam boilers (Figure 1).
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Roanoke-based East Mental Health Services inflated its bills to become the state's second-highest-paid provider of life-skills training for the severely mentally ill, according to allegations in newly unsealed federal court papers.
In applications for federal search warrants, investigators said the Virginia Medicaid program unknowingly paid millions for care that was billed as one-on-one training but didn't qualify because it took place at group social events, such as bowling outings, supervised by East Mental Health clinicians. The billing clinicians in some cases spent as little as a few minutes face-to-face with clients, an investigator alleged.
Company principal Christopher Dean East was drawn to the higher compensation rate of $91 for a one-on-one care encounter lasting up to three hours, versus the $24 rate when clients attended a group event, according to a filing by special agent Jeffrey Overbeck with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Inspector General.
Overbeck told a judge that East Mental Health employees upset by what they witnessed at work contacted police in December 2013, and that he joined the investigation the following fall. The investigative paperwork, dated in 2015, alleged that the private company inflated billings and submitted false records in a multiyear conspiracy to defraud the federal government and also engaged in Social Security fraud.
No one has been charged.
East and his company deny the allegations, said Justin Lugar, a Roanoke attorney who said he represents them.
"Neither Dean East nor East Mental Health have committed health care fraud. They have lots of checks and balances in the company to ensure there is no discrepancy in billings or anything else," Lugar said.
Before closing its offices in October following a loss of government funding, East Mental Health provided publicly funded training designed to enable hundreds of people with mentally illness to live independently.
But investigators allege the company cheated taxpayers by substituting large social and recreational outings for face-to-face training focused on such life skills as eating nutritious food, getting exercise, following medical advice, traveling safely and accessing community resources. The program is open to people with a clinical need for help because of a severe mental, behavioral or emotional illness that impairs their everyday functioning.
In a staff email filed with the court, a manager announced a 2013 activity calendar with encouragement to attend. "Clinicians," it said, "clear your schedules for Thursdays, fill your car with clients and come enjoy the opportunity to meet all our clients and your coworkers." After group events, managers typically circulated an email linking each client who attended to a clinician or clinician supervisor for billing purposes, investigators said.
According to a 2009 email filed with the court, an employee responded with concern to the designation of her assigned client, saying, "I think I know who [name redacted] is however I only spoke with her for approx. 2 minutes at the party. I do not feel comfortable stating I did one on one with her for three hours."
Overbeck called the practice of billing for individual time during a group event "stacking." He said he found evidence that employees who didn't engage in or support stacking received less pay. Those who stacked could earn $4,000 every two weeks, while those who didn't received $1,200 to $1,600, he said. And yet, the company circulated policy statements strictly warning against violating the one-on-one mandate, according to the filings.
While bowling was a common group event at the lanes near the company's offices on Brandon Avenue, clinicians also met clients for putt-putt golf, outings to parks and in-house gatherings. One event at the main office, a soap-making activity, drew a crowd of clients. Virginia Medicaid records show that East Mental Health received $24,153 for one-on-one training with 149 clients that day, court papers said.
East Mental Health operated in Roanoke for nearly 11 years before the limited liability company announced Oct. 10 it had "permanently closed."
Its client load had reached 300 people at times with an estimated 100 employees, court papers said. It drew clients exclusively from the greater Roanoke region, Overbeck said. East Mental Health also had a Rocky Mount office, which was searched like the Roanoke office by investigators in early 2015.
To justify the searches and the collection of employee email, investigators filed affidavits that were unsealed last week, the first significant batch of case records made public about the investigation. An employee lawsuit had made public the overbilling allegations; that suit is on hold while four former East Mental Health employees who filed it as a whistleblower action work to replace their lawyer, who withdrew from the case after East Mental Health closed.
When the agency closed nearly two months ago, following the loss of its Medicaid funding, it offered clients guidance on how to receive care from similar businesses in the area. Thomas Spurlock, a Roanoke Valley advocate for the mentally ill, said he personally regretted the disruption caused by East Mental Health's closing. He didn't know how many of the former East Mental Health clients have new caregivers, he said.
Medicaid has suspended funding to East for mental health support services and psychosocial rehabilitation, but Medicaid officials did not respond to questions about why.
Virginia Medicaid paid East Mental Health a total of $29.7 million from July 2007 to Oct. 21, 2014, during which time it was the second-highest-paid provider of mental health support services in Virginia. The period of alleged wrongdoing is shorter, at slightly more than six years, and ran until early 2015. The amount of the alleged fraud wasn't given in the 2015 records.
The highest-paid provider during the same time frame was a company with a similar-sounding name, East Health Services, operated by Carrie East, Dean East's wife. It received $55.4 million, court papers said.
East Health Services is a separate company with no past or present affiliation with East Mental Health Services, said Thomas Cullen, an attorney for East Health Services. Cullen added that to his knowledge, East Health Services, which sometimes goes by the name EHS Support Services, is not under federal investigation.
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Recipe File: Dirty Rice
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Joined: 10 May 2005
Posts: 16776765
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 3:28 am
Post subject: Recipe File: Dirty Rice
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Recipe File: Dirty Rice
Article Digest:
In the Southern states of the U.S., there is a popular (and tasty) dish that makes use of some ingredients that may have fallen out of favor in other parts of the country. Like most recipes from the south, everyone's got a different way to prepare dirty rice, including a few recipes that don't even call for chicken livers and gizzards. Here's a simply, yet full-flavored, version of dirty rice that even those in the South will approve of.
Dirty rice is named "dirty" because of the inclusion of chicken livers which gives the rice a fine-grained brown coating - making it look like it's dirty. In my book, if the dirty rice doesn't have livers and gizzards, then it isn't dirty rice. Be sure to purchase your livers and gizzards the same day you prepare this dish for the best flavor. Livers and gizzards tend to go bad much faster than the rest of the chicken, so it's best to get them as fresh as possible. A quick survey of my local supermarkets revealed that about half of them carried livers fresh in plastic containers in the refrigerated meats section, but none carried fresh gizzards. All the supermarkets sold gizzards and hearts together in a plastic wrapped tray in the frozen meats area. These work just fine for this recipe.
Start by laying out your ingredients (clockwise from top left): 4 cups
chicken stock
, one medium onion, one celery rib, one red bell pepper, 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, 1/2 pound chicken livers (about 5 livers), 1/4 pound chicken gizzards (about 6 gizzards), 3 cloves garlic, and 2 cups rice.
Finely chop of the onion, celery, and bell pepper. Mince the garlic. Chop up the livers and gizzards into small pieces (to about 1/4-in. or 5-mm cubes).
Heat a medium saucepan with a tablespoon of vegetable oil, butter, or bacon drippings until the fat just shimmers. Brown the gizzards over medium heat for about 5 minutes, turning occasionally to evenly brown. Add the chopped liver (the ingredient, not your sous chef), to the mixture and cook until the liver is just browned. Some moisture will probably seep out of the livers as they cook, so they won't brown up as nice as the gizzards, but that's okay. As soon as the livers aren't red or pink anymore, move to the next step.
Add the onions to the liver and gizzards. Cook, while stirring, for another couple minutes until the onion just starts to turn translucent and tender.
Mix in the bell peppers and garlic and cook for another three minutes while stirring occassionally.
Pour the rice into the pan and stir to mix.
Once the rice has been completely mixed, pour in the chicken stock and season with the ground black pepper and cayenne pepper. Add salt to your taste. If this is a dish to accompany others, you may want to use only a couple pinches of salt, but if this is your main entree, then go ahead and use a teaspoon of table salt (assuming your stock was unsalted). Bring the stock to a boil. (If your pan doesn't distribute heat effectively, hot spots may cause the rice and food at the bottom to cook onto your pan. If you suspect that may happen, then stir while brining the stock to a boil.)
Once the mixture is boiling, cover and reduce the heat to low - just enough to keep the mixture simmering. I check this by listening for the steady sound of small bubbles popping (or use a glass lid). Allow the rice to simmer for twenty minutes, then remove from the heat. Fluff the rice and cover again for ten more minutes. Serve.
Dirty Rice
(serves 8)
1 tablespoon (15 mL) vegetable oil
cook until not pink
cook until tender
cook 3 min.
season to taste
bring to boil
simmer 20 min.
fluff and rest 10 min.
1/4 pound (110 g) chicken gizzards (about 6)
1/2 pound (225 g) chicken livers (about 5)
1 medium (110 g) onion
finely chop
1 celery rib (25 g)
finely chop
1 medium red bell pepper (120 g)
chop fine
3 cloves (10 g) garlic
2 cups (390 g) rice
4 cups (945 mL) chicken stock
1/2 tsp. (1.0 g) ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. (0.45 g) cayenne pepper
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Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 4:58 pm
Post subject: other meats are good, too
This is similar to my dirty rice recipe. I don't care for organ meats and find that almost any other meat makes a tasty dish - chopped steak, hamburger, chicken thighs, even vegetarian meat substitutes are good.
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Joined: 24 Sep 2005
Posts: 13
Location: Iowa/Chicago
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 9:14 pm
Post subject:
I also do not find liver to be edible, good idea to use meat in its place, perhaps I'll try that sometime.
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Joined: 08 Aug 2005
Posts: 16
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 10:55 pm
Post subject: Great Dirty Rice!
This is a great recipe! Just like my mom used to fix for me. I would jazz up the spices a bit, using red, white and black pepper but not too much pepper in total. Also I would add sage. It should be spicey but not hot.
There is a kind of sausage here in Lousiana called boudin which has rice and pork (including the pork liver) in a casing. It is similar to dirty rice.
Also jambalaya is another form of "dirty rice" but with ham and sausage.
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Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 1:57 am
Post subject: fluff
Sorry, but what does "fluff" mean? I love chiken liver.
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Michael Chu
Joined: 10 May 2005
Posts: 1654
Location: Austin, TX (USA)
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 2:04 am
Post subject: Re: fluff
Antonio wrote:
Sorry, but what does "fluff" mean? I love chiken liver.
Use a fork to pry up the rice and kind of flip the pieces over and around to loosen up the grains of rice after cooking. When coking rice, the rice just sits there and as it expands and takes on moisture, the individual rice grains cram together. By fluffing it, we loosen the grains and introduce some hot air into the rice so it doesn't become one large clump.
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Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 10:38 pm
Post subject: when you can't find gizzards or livers...
Once, in an emergency, I used fried chicken gizzards from a local fried chicken chain. I didn't even scrape off the breading. I cut back on the seasonings in the resulting dish a bit, but the resulting dirty rice was pretty good.
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Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:20 am
Post subject:
Decided to make this the other day, made a few changes though, instead of the liver I used hot pork sausage, but let the gizzards in and changed out the salt for cajan seasoning and added some ground habanero. Turned out very well, and have lots of left overs.
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Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 11:58 pm
Post subject:
I assume the rice is uncooked when you add it.
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Michael Chu
Joined: 10 May 2005
Posts: 1654
Location: Austin, TX (USA)
Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 2:52 am
Post subject:
Ragnvaeig wrote:
I assume the rice is uncooked when you add it.
Yes, use uncooked rice.
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Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 3:45 pm
Post subject: rice cooker
i'm horrible when it comes to cooking rice on the stovetop. can i use the rice cooker instead?
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Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 1:56 am
Post subject:
rice cooker won't work since the rice cooks with everything else. you could try to cook everything but the rice and then add it all with the rice to the rice cooker, but then again it could stain the rice cookers bowl, and the inside cover, and well i'm not daring enough to try it. If you were wanting to try that I would go buy a new cheap rice cooker first.
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Joined: 02 Oct 2006
Posts: 49
Location: Southern CA
Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 1:50 am
Post subject:
rice cooker won't work since the rice cooks with everything else. you could try to cook everything but the rice and then add it all with the rice to the rice cooker, but then again it could stain the rice cookers bowl, and the inside cover, and well i'm not daring enough to try it. If you were wanting to try that I would go buy a new cheap rice cooker first.
I cook in my rice cooker with ingredients and broths all the time. Always add raw meet and vegetables. It's my favorite tool in my kitchen.
This recipe sounds great. I'll be trying it out this week to make sure I have the details worked out before our Cajun Thanksgiving.
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Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 11:06 pm
Post subject: Dirty Rice
This is an awsome recipe, I cut back on livers and gizzards a bit and added 8 oz whole hog sausage, yum.
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:04 pm
Post subject: Puree Liver
I haven't used this recipe, but it's close to mine. I'll use ground pork in addition to liver and gizzards. I can't recall if this recipe calls for cumin, but you should try that. Just a teaspoon or it will taste like chili! I puree the liver in a food processor, so there aren't chunks of it in the dish. I also use instant rice. When the vegetables are soft, stir in the liver, as it cooks quickly, and you don't want to overcook. Once liver is cooked, pour in the rice, stir, and cover till rice is done.
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Lesson Plan
Song Quest Discussion Guide
Quick links to lesson materials:
Discussion Guide
The Echorium Sequence
Song Quest
Crystal Mask
Dark Quetzel
by Katherine Roberts
About the Books
The Echorium Sequence is classic fantasy at its best. Katherine Roberts welcomes us to a totally realized world, and, over the course of three decades, we experience adventure, meet memorable characters, consider issues, ideas and philosophies, and become involved in a series of quests that pit good against evil, truth against lies. The fascinating setting, complicated characters, and rich themes offer much for book discussion groups.
Song Quest
In Song Quest, we are introduced to the world of the Echorium — its geography, structure, people, and challenges. The story focuses on two young novices - Rialle and Kerron — who journey separately from the Isle of Echoes, but whose paths cross, so that together they help to bring peace and harmony to the land.
When we first meet the characters from the Echorium Society, it seems they are part of a cult. They all dress alike, dye their hair blue, and have ritualistic chants. Undesirables are weeded out, and children are raised without contact with their parents. In addition they live on an isolated hard-to-reach island, are mistrustful of mainlanders, and follow their leaders without question. If one tries to leave, they seek him out to remove him as a threat and to preserve the secrets. How does contemporary society look upon cult groups? How do you feel about them? Compare the Echorium Society to other cult societies in literature or in real life.
- Who do you think is the main character of Song Quest — Rialle or Kerron? Why?
- Talk about Rialle and Kerron. Whom among the people you know do they remind you of? Which one would you rather hang out with? Explain.
- Kerron thinks: The others were pathetic. Follow meekly where Graia led, getting all excited over a few moldy old timbers and broken lanterns, when it was perfectly obvious the best treasure would be found where there weren't any people. And when he found it, even old misery-guts Eliya would have to recognize he was no longer a child and let him sing. These feelings cause Kerron to rebel and run away. Have you ever felt the same way Kerron feels? How did the feelings manifest in your actions?
- It's clear from the start of the novel that, of all the novices, Rialle is the most promising student. In the course of the novel, we learn of her other qualities: she is compassionate, trusting, brave, curious, and a loyal friend. How do these qualities come into play as she tackles the challenges of her mission?
- When she is imprisoned, Rialle challenges the Khizpriest: I'm not going to sing, however long you keep me in here, so you might as well kill me and be done with it. Rialle would rather die than betray the Singers. Could you make the same decision? Why?
The Story
- First Singer says to Rialle: " Healing the people who are brought here is just a small part of it. Sometimes we have to send Singers to the Mainland to persuade people to change their ways, people who would never come to the Isle voluntarily…" What is the nature of the persuasion? Do the Singers act purely on selfless motives or do they have another agenda? How much of what the Singers do is known to the Singer novices?
- What is the role of the orderlies in the Echorium? How are they looked upon by the novices? What are the circumstances that caused Frenn to be sent to orderly training? How does this change his relationship with Rialle?
- Both Frenn and Kerron run away. Frenn leaves the Echorium and stows away on the Wavesong. Kerron seeks adventure on the Mainland. How are Frenn's actions treated differently from Kerron's? Why?
- Why are the Singers so intent on bringing Kerron back? How do you suppose they will handle him?
- Singer Toharo brings gifts of jewelry made from bluestones only found on the Isle of Echoes to Mainlanders. What is the purpose of the gifts?
- Starting with his first encounter with the merlee, there is a series of events that bring about a change in Kerron. What are some of them? At the beginning of the novel, he is angry and defiant of the Singers, and in the end he leads the mission to prevent their destruction. What was the defining moment for Kerron that brought about this change?
- Why does Eliya welcome Kerron back to the Echorium? What did Kerron have to admit to her? To himself?
- At the end of Song Quest, peace and harmony are restored, the half-creatures are again protected by treaty, and the Khizpriest is destroyed. Good has conquered evil. Are you satisfied with the ending? Do you feel certain that all is right with the world? Knowing that this is part of a trilogy, can you anticipate what will happen in the next novel?
- The Singers on the Isle of Echoes have mastered five Songs of Power which are used to keep the peace in the world and to cure the sick: Challa calms you down, Kashe makes you laugh, Shi makes you cry, Aushan instills fear, and Yehn makes you die. The Singers can control people without their knowing it.
- In the novel, the Khizpriest seeks to control these powers. What would happen if he succeeded?
- Imagine that you had the powers of these songs. How would you use them? What would happen if these powers fell into the wrong hands today?
2. The Singers also practice truth-listening — they can tell if they are being lied to. How good are you at discerning the truth? What do you look and listen for? How good are your parents and teachers at truth-listening? Have you ever put one over on them?
3. If all these powers are seen as metaphors for manipulation, then who in our society wields them? How?
4. Second Singer Toharo tells Rialle: "I've had a lot of experience with these Mainlanders. Mostly, they lie whenever they can, and tell the truth only when there's no alternative. The trick is working out if what they think is a lie is actually false, or if it is really true." Clearly the difference between the truth and a lie is not always black and white. Discuss.
Crystal Mask
A girl raised by Half Creatures, a novice Singer, and a Horselord prince join together to fight the resurrected Khizpriest who is intent on destroying the world they know, in the second novel of The Echorium Sequence.
The action of Song Quest takes place in the snowy mountain home of the Karsh and at sea. In Crystal Mask, the action moves south to the Purple Plains and the Mountains of Midnight. Describe these new environments and how they affect the plot.
- Who do you think is the main character of Crystal Mask -- Renn or Shaiala? Why?
- Isle history was not the Eighth Year's favorite lesson. Out of twenty-three novices, Renn was the only one listening to Singer Ollaron. At least he was trying to listen. Not easy when everyone else seemed more interested in what the orderlies would serve up for lunch . Does this seem familiar? Talk about this and other descriptions of the Eighth Year history class. How is it similar to classes you have?
- How does Renn react when Rialle tells him that she is his mother? Does it surprise you he isn't more curious about her? What about his father? How does this differ from the way Erihan talks about his father? How does this differ from the way you think about your parents?
- When Shaiala is first brought to the Echorium she is described as a filthy, tangle-haired creature - a wild girl. How does she change in the course of the novel?
- Renn goes from moments of being just a little boy where he snivels and cries that he wants to go home to times of being an adult with acts of independence and bravery. There are times when he is included in important discussions and times when he is shunted aside and told to be quiet. Talk about the changes you and your friends are going through as you move from childhood to adulthood. How seriously do the adults in your life take you?
- As far as Erihan was concerned, centaurs existed only in the stories told around the campfire. How does he react when he sees that they are real? Is it easy to change what you believe?
- What is the relationship between Renn and his classmates? Do Geran and Alaira remind you of anyone you know?
The Story
- When the Harai captured the centaurs, they could have left Shaiala alone or killed her. But instead she was taken prisoner and eventually sent to the Echorium. Why?
- Renn's role on the mission to the Mainland was to be Shaiala's translator. But there must have been other reasons to take a novice along given the dangerous nature of the mission. What were they?
- Both Yashra and Frazhin possess masks made of feathers and black crystal. What is the importance of these masks?
- The Horselords and the Singers mistrust each other, yet they form a coalition. Why? How is this similar to or different from the way modern countries deal with each other?
- Lord Nahar, the Horselord leader, is in search of his son, and he will not stop until he is found. Singer Kerron, on the other hand, decides to end his search for Shaiala. What was so important that he abandons the search? How does Renn react to Kerron's decision?
- When the Khizalace is destroyed, Frazhin attempts to escape, leaving Yashra behind. Why did he desert her?
- Kerron shows compassion with his treatment of Yashra. What does he do? Is Yashra's punishment just or is it too harsh? If Yashra committed her crimes today, what would her punishment be?
- Centaur names reflect their defining characteristics. For example: Kamara Silvermane has a long silvery mane, Rafiz Longshadow is very large and casts a big shadow, and Marell Storm Temper gets angry quickly. What is your defining characteristic? Give yourself a centaur name. Give centaur names to your friends.
- The kicks that centaurs use are named after the animals they are familiar with. For example: hares, snakes, and dragonflies. What expressions do you used that are named from animals you know?
- The description of the opening dream sequence in Crystal Mask is filled with images of color: purple mud, dusty black robes, blue centaur blood, green stones, and flashes of black lightning. Does the use of color make this scene feel more like a dream or like reality? How? Do you dream in color?
- One of the themes of Crystal Mask is trust/mistrust. The Singers dispense trust-gifts to Mainlanders, because they mistrust them; Shaiala feels betrayed by Renn; Marell Storm Temper feels Shaiala betrayed the centaurs. Is trust a gift, or does it have to be earned? How do you know when to trust someone?
- The kidnapped children make a decision to eat Yashra's food even though they know it is drugged. " We either sleep or starve . At least sleeping makes the journey pass quickly." What does this say about the will to survive?
- After the centaurs are rescued, Erihan tells them, " Centaurs aren't the only slaves in the Sunless Valley. Yashra has built her Singing Palace out of the crystal you've been mining for her, and she's imprisoned the Two Hoof children there. We don't know what she is doing to them. But it is not Two Hoofs against centaurs. It's grown-ups against children." Adults and children and teens are often in conflict. Is the source of the conflict the fact that adults often want to be in control of children both in fiction and in reality?
Dark Quetzal
Characters return, new characters are introduced, and the adventures continue when the harmony between Half Creatures and Man is once again disrupted by evil forces. In the third adventure of The Echorium Sequence all the pieces come into play as the different powers and enchantments clash in a rousing finale.
- Much of the action in Dark Quetzal takes place in the Quetzal Forest. Describe the forest. How is it like real forests you know or the forests of fairy tales? Is it threatening or welcoming?
- When Night Plume is brought to the Starmaker's Temple, we, as readers, also get our first look at it. What are the details in the description that let us know this is, indeed, a totally evil place? What about it reminds you of other malevolent environments that you have read about or seen?
- Who do you think is the main character of Dark Quetzal -- Night Plume or Kyarra. Why?
- When Kyarra is told that she cannot go with the others to the beach to look for Rialle, Lianne remarks: " Good, perhaps now we won't have to baby-sit her all afternoon!" Why does Lianne feel this way about Kyarra?
- Caell risks so much to help his friend Kyarra. In turn, she spends much of the novel anxious about him - fearing that he has been killed. Describe Caell's actions and personality. What qualities does he have that makes him such a good friend? Do you share any of these qualities? Do you have friends like him?
- Jilian is feisty and brave and a braggart. She adores her father and wishes to live up to his expectations. Despite the fact that she is a pirate, she has a strong moral and ethical center. Talk about the choices Jilian makes throughout the novel and the aspects of her character that lead her to make these choices.
- Frazhin/Starmaker is very tender with his daughter as he tells her about his own past and reveals details of his plans for the future. Do his warm feelings for her change Kyarra's response to him? Does it affect the way you feel about him?
The Story
- Both Song Quest and Dark Quetzal begin when the Singers are sent down from the Echorium to the beach for a hunt. How are these hunts the same? How do they differ?
- In the chapter called "Coupling," the pirates manacle Kyarra and her mother together for the journey to the Starmaker's Temple. Discuss the handcuffs both as ways to control the prisoners and as symbols.
- There are many kinds of prisoners in this novel. Obviously, Rialle and Kyarra become prisoners of the Starmaker. But Yashra and the corrupted Half Creatures are also prisoners. Is there a difference between being held in chains or in a cage and being controlled in other ways? Does escape and freedom mean the same thing to all these prisoners?
- Dark Quetzal is action-packed with many battles. Discuss the various battle stages. Some of the characters that take part in the battles employ more traditional weapons — throwing rocks, using knives and brute strength — while others have magical powers at their disposal. It makes for an amazing mix of confrontations. Map out a strategic plan for the battle as if you were the general of the alliance. Whom would you put in charge? What weapons would you use? How would you cope with the hostile physical environment?
- At the end of Dark Quetzal the Starmaker is killed. But he has defied death twice before. Do you believe he can escape death again? Can you imagine any other way that his evil could survive?
- The relationship — or lack of one — between children and their parents is one of the themes of Dark Quetzal. Caell, like all the Singers, does not know who his parents are; Jilian is devoted to her father and wants to please him; Kyarra is determined to find out who her mother and father are and to get to know them; and the Quetzals are devoted parents.
- Talk about the differences in these parent-child relationships and how they affect both the characters and action in the novel.
- All of us fit somewhere on this spectrum of family relationships at some time in our lives. How do these characters' relationships with their parents illuminate your own?
- Starmaker declares: "History is only what everyone remembers…"
Do you think this is accurate or is the record of our past greater than our capacity to remember it? Do you believe history is absolute or relative?
- It is Starmaker's plan to rule the world by erasing and then creating a new Quetzal Memoryplace. Is this so different from the efforts of the media, politicians and governments to control thinking and perception today in our own country and in the world?
The World of The Echorium Sequence
Each of Katherine Roberts' three novels tells an involving, action-packed story with multi-dimensional characters and thought-provoking themes. When the three novels come together as The Echorium Sequence, the result is far greater than the sum of its parts. Storylines intersect, characters find full realization, settings come alive, and powerful themes emerge with clarity.
- In fantasies, the world that the author creates is as critical an element as are characters and plot for us to understand and appreciate the books. Take the world of The Echorium Sequence apart and describe its inhabitants, its rules, its ethics, and its unique reality. Compare it to other fantasy worlds you've read about or seen in movies, as well as to the world in which you live:
- Their classroom was on the west side of the Echorium with a good view of the harbor when the weather allowed. For once, the clouds had broken at exactly the right time…Sailors were slowly making their way up the Five Thousand steps… The Echorium is truly in the clouds, and it is quite an ordeal to reach it. How is the Echorium both real and a metaphor?
- Take a good look at the maps at the start of each novel. The Singers journey far from the Isle of Echoes to places dramatically different from their home.
- Discuss the environments of The Echorium Sequence. Some places seem almost ordinary; others are fantastical. Which setting would you like to explore? Which one would suit you as a home? Why?
- There are some places on the maps that are not settings in the novels. Can you imagine them? Why do you think Katherine Roberts included them on the maps?
- Who is the main character of the whole of the Echorium Sequence? Why?
- In the Echorium Sequence we meet a variety of Half Creatures: half animal and half human. The Starmaker summarizes their individual powers: "Merlee can control the wind and waves. Naga control the rivers and the deep places. Centaurs control the earth and the light. Quetzal had to have some power over their environment. [It is] the quetzal Memoryplace, where the history of the whole world is kept, past, present and future." Which of these do you think is the most powerful, the most potent to impact the world?
- Of all of the Half Creatures, which one possesses the most human qualities? Explain.
- Many of the characters play roles in all three of the novels. Each member of your book discussion group should take the part of one of these characters and talk about how he/she has changed as a result of the events in the novels. The characters might also speculate on things they would have done sooner or differently to change the course events in the entire Echorium Sequence .
The Story
- For all the good The Echorium does, it is not a perfect society. What are its weaknesses?
- In Song Quest, Kerron is seeking his independence and to prove that he is no longer a child. In Crystal Mask, Shaiala is searching for the herd - her family. And in Dark Quetzal, Kyarra wants to find her roots and personal history. All three are also involved in the struggle for good against evil. Often personal quests and larger missions converge; sometimes they conflict. How do these personal quests affect the larger one? Do they contribute to success or hamper it? Do you think any of these characters would become involved in the larger struggle without these personal motivations?
- At the end of the third novel, it seems absolutely certain that the new harmony that is established will prevail. Evil has been defeated through the death of the Starmaker. Are you satisfied that this new peace will last? Imagine a fourth book in the sequence. Which characters from the three novels would you include? Invent a new Half Creature for your novel. Talk about its title, plot, characters, setting, and theme.
- From the Singers' bluestones to the green light of the centaurs to the yellow flowers and the black crystal used by the Starmaker, color plays a big part in the magic of the Echorium Sequence. Because we all have our own connections to colors and their significance, do you think this use of color adds special meanings to the powers?
- Katherine Roberts also uses colors to create strong images for the places in her novels, to individualize her large cast of characters, and to set mood. For example, the blue hair of the Singers, the mane of Kamara Silvermane and the gold and flame colors of the Quetzal. Talk about how Katherine Roberts uses color to help make the novel both more real and more fantastic.
- Katherine Roberts relies on our sense of hearing throughout the novels. As readers, we begin to be as sensitive as the Singers are to undertones, hums, and distant voices. We can imagine the sounds of the power songs. Did you find yourself almost "listening" to the novels as you were reading them? Can you imagine the musical background for the Sequence if it were made into a movie? Suggest specific songs, bands, music that would work.
- Numbers have always played significant roles in storytelling. What is the significant number in The Echorium Sequence? When is it used and how? As the novels build, does the power of the number increase as well?
- There are elements of classic literature, folk tales, legends, and other fantasies woven together in The Echorium Sequence. In your book discussion, explore some of the sources that may have inspired the author.
- The power of song and music is a major element in the novel. Throughout history, music has been seen as a way to calm people or to stir their emotions, even heal them. Music and songs have always been used to rally people to causes and to increase feelings of patriotism. Music in movies lets us know the nature of what we are watching and what is coming next. And music has been feared: in the 1950s and 1960s organized groups tried to prevent young people from listening to rock and roll because they worried that it would control and corrupt their minds. How does music affect you? How do you and your friends view the music you listen to? What do your parents think about the music you listen to?
- Friendship and loyalty are themes in each of the novels in The Echorium Sequence. All the friendships in the books — and in our lives — are not alike. Discuss the friendships of Rialle and Frenn, Kherron and Lazim, Shaiala and Erihan, Kyarra and Caell, Night Plume and Sky Swooper, and Yashra and Frazhin. How are they alike? How are they different? Can males and females have the same kind of friendship as same-sex friends? Are friendships only true when they are tested by circumstance?
- The Echorium Sequence explores the theme of trust.
- Singers give "trust-gifts" to Mainlanders who agree to be peaceful. But what is the true nature of the gifts?
- Even though it means that they will become her prisoners, Laphie, Imara and many of the other captive children trust the Lady Yashra because they are desperate and at their breaking points. How many times have you been misled by someone who said, "trust me?"
- Night Plume trusts that his friendship with Sun Glimmer will keep him safe when they encounter each other on the battlefield. But Sun Glimmer follows the Starmaker's orders, shoots the arrow that wounds and disables Night Plume and betrays that trust. Should Night Plume hold Sun Glimmer responsible for this? Why or why not?
- When you talk about trust between you and your friends, is the trust one sided or is it mutual?
- As in many fantasies, an important theme of The Echorium Sequence is the struggle between good and evil.
- Which force do you think is stronger, both in the novel and in the world?
- Is destroying evil and killing the people who perpetuate it the only way for good to prevail?
- Can there be a world without evil?
About the Author
Katherine Roberts is a talented fantasy writer who burst onto the publishing scene in 2000 when she won the Branford Boase Award in England for the best first children's novel, for her book Song Quest . Scholastic first became her United States publisher in Fall 2001 with the publication of Spellfall, followed by the release of her three Echorium Sequence novels.
While some students find writing a chore, this was not the case for Katherine Roberts. "At primary school, I used to fill whole exercise books every time we were asked to write a story." Perhaps that's why she she enjoys writing for younger readers. "They're the most open-minded and enthusiastic readers!" she declares.
Katherine Roberts lives near Ross-on-Wye, England, where she helps with the annual creative writing awards for local schools. For more information about Katherine Roberts, visit http://www.herebedragons.co.uk/roberts.
Other Books by Katherine Roberts
This guide was prepared by Clifford Wohl, Educational Consultant.


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Dallon, J. C. and Othmer, H. G. and Van Oss, C. and Panfilov, A. and Hogeweg, P. and Hofer, T. and Maini, P. K. (1997) Models of Dictyostelium discoideum aggregation. In: Dynamics of Cell and Tissue Motion. n/a (n/a). Birkhauser Verlag, Basel, pp. 193-202.
This list was generated on Tue Dec 18 15:13:02 2018 GMT.


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Test Report: LG 47LE8500 LCD HDTV
These days, LED-backlit LCD TVs get a lot of attention, thanks in part to their super-thin form factor. This is especially true for edge-lit LED models. But the real promise of LED backlighting has always been picture-quality improvements via local dimming, in which a full array of LEDs behind the panel allows the backlight to be dimmed or turned off in specific areas according to the demands of the image. Properly executed, this allows for near-perfect deep blacks - a critical element for getting great contrast, bright colors, and a superior overall picture. The 47-inch 47LE8500 from LG Electronics is an example of this breed. The 8500 Series, also available at the 55-inch size, doesn't offer 3D capability. But it's fully featured in virtually every other regard.
And it's a beauty. The TV is a svelte 1.25 inches deep without the base, and the entire facade is a single sheet of smooth glass with a stylish, translucent edge. The LCD panel itself is surrounded by a black frame under the glass highlighted by an LG logo at bottom center that doubles as a power indicator; it can be turned off if desired. Powering the set up causes a string of backlit icons on the lower right to fire up in succession; these are actually touch-sensitive controls for power, volume, channel, menu, and source input. The supplied swiveling base is a solid piece of thick glass with a black undercoat and clear edging that mimics the panel's design. The whole thing together is quite stunning.
The set's robust selection of rear connections notably includes three HDMI jacks, an RGB PC input, an RS-232C control port, and a LAN jack for an Internet link. A slim left-side-facing jack pack includes a fourth HDMI connection, component- and composite-video inputs accessible via 3.5-millimeter minijacks (a pair of RCA adapters are provided), and two USB connectors for playing movie, photo, and music files via an onscreen menu, or by attaching LG's wireless Wi-Fi adapter (not supplied).
I really liked the LE8500's remote, which is similar to the one that came with the LG BD590 Blu-ray player I reviewed a while back. It's sized and weighted perfectly, and it has a deep finger notch on its underside to keep it properly seated. The volume and channel rockers sit on a clever hump that makes it impossible to confuse the + and - sides in the dark, even without the included backlight on, and the mute and aspect ratio buttons rest right between the rockers for easy access. (With high-def content, the aspect options include a 16:9 setting with modest overscan, a Just Scan pixel-for-pixel mode, and a "Set by Program" option.) Calling up the TV's NetCast menu reveals a colorful but somewhat spartan menu of services by today's competitive standards: Netflix, Vudu, YouTube, Picasa, and Yahoo! Widgets. But the graphics for Yahoo! Widgets look stellar and provide options to set "snippets" that pop up on the screen and allow navigation while viewing.


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Motor Fuel Tax
Amounts Distributed to Cities and to All Local Governments,
by County, Calendar Year 1991
All motor fuel taxes are collected by the state and
distributed among state and local governmental units by
statutory formula. These amounts are required by the Ohio
Constitution to be used for highway purposes.
In calendar year 1991, distributions to local governments
from the motor fuel tax amounted to $252,428,964. Of this
amount, $108,082,036 went to municipalities (cities received
$93,841,533), $50,502,995 to townships, and $93,843,933 to
county governments. An additional $51,789,303 was transferred
to the Local Transportation Improvement Program Fund. That
amount is for allocation on a per capita basis to district
public works integrating committees to fund grants to local
subdivisions for projects approved by the district committees
and the Ohio Public Works Commission. Including the Local
Transportation Improvement Program Fund amount, local
governments received approximately 28.2 percent of total
motor fuel tax receipts; the remainder is used for statewide
highway purposes.
The statutory distribution formula for the motor fuel tax is
as follows:
2 cents per gallon levy from the Gasoline Excise Tax
14 cents per gallon levy from the State and Local
Government Highway Distribution Fund:
The other 3 cents-per-gallon tax is used for state
highway purposes.
The table mv2 shows the amounts distributed to Ohio's
municipalities while table mv3 is a compilation of the
amounts distributed to all Ohio's local governments, by
These figures have been compiled from records of the Ohio
Department of Taxation.


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The following is a guest post by Briolante, one of Conquest's main tanks, also sometimes known as Mr. Sydera. Brio is normally a man (ahem, night elf) of few words, but here he waxes poetic on what it means to be leet. We've all wondered this, right, as we struggle to define what makes a good player both for ourselves and for our guilds. Enjoy!
Montaigne's meditation on glory states: "there is the name and the thing." The same could be said about leetness, which is what passes for glory in the World of Warcraft. We all know the name. We all sometimes sprinkle the word in our conversations and boasting. We may even think we know what the thing is that our words refer to. However, we're usually wrong. After a ridiculous night of stupid trash mishaps in Naxx, I heard that word thrown about in a context that puzzled me, and I began to wonder what it really means to be an elite player.
Leet or sloppy?
Any raiding team has had off nights, nights where the focus, drive, and attention to detail just aren't there. Sometimes we even intentionally (gasp) horse around to have a little fun when the content is as stale as the current raid content has become for many of us. The other night in Naxx, we had all manner of bedlam happening around us. Tanks weren't paying attention to patrols and pulling extra mobs, DPS was opening up AOE before the tanks had even arrived at the scene, and on and on. And guess which green-haired night elf was up there helping cause the problems? Yeah, that was me. Who was left to sort out this mess? The healers, of course, who were usually able to keep enough of us up to get through the pull. It was after pulls like this that some of us bandied about the world leet. But, is this really leet? No, it's sloppy, it's lol-1337. But sometimes players fall into the trap of thinking they're so good that being able to survive the biggest SNAFU confirms the group's collective leetness.
Early in the Wrath leveling process, I pugged a Nexus run with a group made up of four other players from a guild whose name I have since forgotten. When the priest and druid couldn't figure out who was going to heal, I started to worry. When two of them decided they were going to jump off the platforms and die below for shits and giggles, I knew it was going to be a long evening. Over the course of our 2.5 hours together (yes I stayed), each one of them committed suicide at least 4 separate times. When we were actually fighting mobs, they died constantly because they weren't paying attention. Most of the boss kills were lol-kills with one or no players left alive at the end. Any of my guildies who were on that night will remember how pissed off I was in guild chat. I'm usually pretty Zen in my virtual life, but those two just made me lose it. But do you know what? The members of this other guild I was playing with were proud that they could always pull it out, no matter how sloppy. They even described this as their guild ethos. This style of play, in their mind, confirmed their leetness. I could not disagree more.
Leetness is a state of mind
What might the thing called leetness be then? In my mind, the best example of leetness would be the old ZA bear run. Depending on your gear level, earning a bear required near perfect execution and play. Each player had to know every pull and what his/her role in those pulls was. Of course, as we got better, people could make mistakes and we could adjust. But in the early days, it really required minimal mishaps. Is that leetness? I can say that for me, nothing was more pleasurable from a raid leading perspective than those bear runs. When everyone comes together, experiences the synergy, and executes an encounter well, it feels good and everyone knows it.
I might say then that leetness is a state of mind and a precision of execution. In raiding anyway, this is not something that just one person can have, because the whole team has to be there mentally. Conquest's recent three-drake kill is proof that we have the potential for that state of mind and that precision of execution. But have we suddenly become "leet"?
The importance of execution
One of my biggest disappointments in my former guild from a raid management and leadership perspective was that we only managed to get Illidan down once before the pre-Wrath nerf. The intial kill wasn't the prettiest thing in the world, but he was definitely defeated. In the few weeks after that kill, we were never able to get it down again. We got close, but never quite hit that same focus and precision again. It was as if we had accomplished something once and that was enough. People just didn't care anymore. I asked myself, had we really proved our leetness once and for all by defeating Illidan?
The answer to both of those questions, I would argue, is no. Execution is important at every stage of the game, on progression and farm content alike. Leetness is not something that can be earned definitively. It's not something that can be possessed, like the many titles that now commodify it for all to see. Leetness is something that we demonstrate, each time we raid. It's a state of mind and play that we arrive at together, maybe not all the time, but most of the time. It's our intention, our goal.
Leetness and teamwork
So Brio, you might ask, I top the dps/healing/threat charts. My dps is world ranked! Am I not leet? My answer would be no. From a raiding perspective, leetness is not something that just one person can earn. Raiding is about team play, period. While worrying about topping the meters or beating someone else in your class can sometimes force you to improve yourself, taken to extremes it becomes a hollow form of narcissism. Yes, you topped the meter, but did you get out of the fire? Or, on the contrary, did you overtax the healers who needed to be focusing on the tank? Yes, you topped the healing meter, but did you do your job and do it to the best of your ability? Did you try to "cover" for other people in order to eke out more effective heals? Yes, you did 3000 tps, but did you properly manage your buffs/debuffs in order to make yourself as easy to heal as possible?
As I see it, excellence in raiding difficult content cannot be about egos and winning personal performance meters. You have to do your job first and foremost. On three-drake Sarth, some players didn't get the message until we obsessively repeated that a player's first priority is to get out of the void zones. The second priority is to not get hit by the fire walls. The third priority is to dps/heal/etc. As one of the officers in my former guild liked to say, the dead don't dps.
Raiding is about synergy and teamwork. Difficult content demands it. Difficult content cannot be completed without it. When the desire is there, when the focus is there, when the precise execution is there, when everyone does his/her job, the kill is, quite simply, beautiful. A well-executed kill is breathtaking to watch and experience. This is why sometimes the leet kill isn't necessarily the first one, but rather the one where the kill looks effortless, like simplicity itself. We've all felt this, whether in 5-man dungeons or in 25-man hard mode raids. When Conquest finally downed Sarth 3D after many wipes, we found this state of mind and executed the fight almost flawlessly. Does that mean we're now leet?
No. Leetness is not something you earn once and for all. It's something that you work for, every raid, week in, and week out. It starts with desire and then requires the trust that the rest of your team is there to do the same thing.
Can we be leet in the current content?
Naxx is ridiculously easy. You don't need to mark, you don't need to CC, and yes, you can slop your way through there, survive, and still get it all done in under three hours. But that's not leet, that's lol-1337. Running in with an immediate seed, blade flurry, arcane explosion, hurricane, whirlwind, or whatever and pulling everything on yourself and the healers is not leet, it's lol-1337. Pulling 18 mobs at once, allowing 10 players to die, and still managing to kill them all is not leet, it's lol-1337 (and yes, that one was my fault–sorry).
Playing sloppy can be fun, loose, relaxed. Sometimes it's just what the doctor ordered after some really hard work on a difficult encounter. Even I can't help myself from laughing when a hunter misdirects the next pull onto the resto shammy. But make no mistake, that's not leet, that's Leroy Jenkins.
Leetness is focus, precision, synergy, teamwork, execution, and above all else, control. It's an individual and collective intention, something that we arrive at together with varying degrees of frequency. Due to the easiness of the current content, we've forgotten what some of those things are. Let me ask a scandalous question – do our dps players even have their crowd control abilities on the main bars anymore? This is symptomatic of the problem. But if all blue indications hold true, Ulduar will be a different story. Thank heavens, because I was getting frustrated with just how forgiving many of these encounters are, including the trash. I raid for the challenge and for the beauty that results when a team of players meets that challenge with precision. Does that turn the beautiful, effortless kill into a work of art? Maybe, but perhaps that should be the subject for another post.
To return to the matter at hand, dear readers, after this long rant, do you still think you're so leet? Then show your guild mates how truly leet you are by executing every fight like you mean it.


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Bangladesh and Conflict
- Posts
Bangladesh has been in conflict since about September 2012. I don't know what Bangladesh is trying to make out of it. While the richer and wealthier people don't care and go out and call strikes or as the locals call it "hartals" while all the poor people who don't have homes are on the street being killed from demonstrations and riots when they are innocent.
Bangladesh needs other developed countries who have bee through this sort of stuff and are still together. For example the United States of America. They have been through a civil war and they are still together. Bangladesh needs our help. If we don't help them many families in poverty will be killed because of a civil war in Bangladesh. None of us want another civil war. We want to be united.


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This issue is a variant of Batman (DC, 1940 series) #1 [Cover Number with Period].
The on-sale date is the publication date reported in the U. S. Copyright Office filing found at the Catalog of Copyright Entries, Part 2, Periodicals, New Series, Volume 35, 1940, Number 2. Second class permit. Copyright number 455005. On-sale on April 25th per house ad in Detective Comics #39.
Indicia: Batman No. 1 * Spring 1940 Issue
Published quarterly by DETECTIVE COMICS, INC. 480 Lexington Avenue, New York, N. Y.
The background inker credit was verified by Robinson. Logo design credit from Robinson via Todd Klein. According to Klein, Robinson was also probably responsible for the revisions to the logo over the next several issues.
The background inker and letterer credits were verified by Moldoff.
First line: "Once again a master criminal stalks the city streets -- a criminal weaving a web of death about him..."
There is an earlier chronological appearance (and origin) of the Joker in Detective Comics #168.
Robinson verified with Gary Watson in July 2009 that he did some penciling (including the Joker's card on the splash page specifically), in addition to the background inks and lettering he already confirmed.
Letterer credit added by Craig Delich. All Paul Gustavson credits verified by Terry Gustafson, son of Paul Gustavson.
First line: "While an innocent metropolis sleeps little does it realize that huge, terrifying man-monsters shall soon stalk the streets..."
This story was originally prepared for Detective Comics #38, but with the introduction of Robin in that issue, the story (sans Robin) was published here.
Oddity: Machine guns are mounted on the Batplane, which are used to kill.
The closing scenes of Batman battling one of the monsters looks as if it were taken directly from 1933's film, "King Kong."
The background inker and letterer credits were verified by Robinson.
First line: "Readers, meet Bob Kane, creator of THE BATMAN!"
Biography of Batman creator, Bob Kane.
First line: "Among the guests walks a young steward..."
The Cat was later renamed Cat-Woman or Catwoman in next issue. An earlier chronological appearance was in issue #52 and in Brave and the Bold #197.
The background inker and letterer credits were verified by Robinson.
First line: "Once again that harlequin of hate..the Joker..brings grinning death to a terrified people..."
As recounted in various sources, the Joker was supposed to die of his stab wound at the end of the story, but the editors decided this villain was too good to kill off, so the last panels were re-drawn to show him surviving.
The last panel of the story, titled "Golden Rules for Robin's Regulars", introduces readers to "Robin's Code" of conduct. The code (ROBIN): Readiness, Obedience, Brotherhood, Industriousness, Nationalism.
The background inker and letterer credits were verified by Robinson.
Pin-up of Batman and Robin, found on the back cover, made to cut out and frame.


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50% OFF! - Giving Thanks 12x12 Album 5
By Caroline B
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Product Information
- Type: Album Template
- Designer: Caroline B
- Software Category: Holidays – Thanksgiving
- Download Size: 110.6 MB (approximate)
Design Elements
- Digital Papers: 4
- Page Elements: 15
Designer Notes
A 4 page Album made with my "Giving Thanks" series. NOTE : With album/project templates, you have not only perfect templates created by designers, but also the papers and embellishments used in it, put in separate folders, that you could re-use separately in another projects.