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An anonymous tipster recently leaked a slew of "details" for the upcoming Zelda game for Nintendo's Wii U.
Quote from the site.
"Nintendo of Japan was surprised at how well-received the romance was between Link and Zelda in Skyward Sword and intends to flesh it out further for Zelda U. Because this dynamic was favored more in the West than by Japanese audiences, Nintendo of America is looking to popular American romance stories. Names like Twilight and 50 Shades of Grey have popped up in conversation"
So basically, "we want the Twilight audience." I actually quit playing SS 2hrs and 40min because thats how long it took for the stupid Skyloft introduction/tutorial to be over, then I was too burned out to actually play into the first temple. Well whatever, this isn't the only game out there anyway.
It's a shame because the Skyloft parts were one of the best parts of the game when it came to story-building and setting up the characters, but the tutorial part was just so mind-numbingly dull and repetitive. It didn't help that the game constantly treated the player like a freaking 2 year old. I felt like I was being spoken to like I was an idiot or something. And I know the game is aimed at all ages (kids included), but jeez! kids aren't idiots! They don't need every single thing in a game explained to them in minute detail...MULTIPLE TIMES. I managed to get through Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask fine when I was little and they basically threw you into the game with barely any tutorial at all!
So I'm all for evolving the story and even expanding the romance between Link and Zelda...just as long as it takes place naturally over the course of the story, and isn't pummeled into our head during a 3 hour tutorial section. Something more like Majora's Mask would be pretty cool...with the characters going about their daily lives over the course of the game and then evolving as characters as the story unfolds. I'd love to see that level of detail and care in all the characters for a future Zelda game, but on a much grander scale of course.
I stoped playing it aswell early on
It just seemed like a step back for the franchise, I couldn't believe my eyes when it was getting nearly perfect scores across reviews...thats how much a brand name and hype can get you good scores.
It was easy, small, repetitive, shallow and the motion control only option didn't help.
I'm hoping the next one will be good but after they said they wanted to KEEP SS style over Twlight Princess and then this stuff about romance....I don't know.
How can you do good romance when Link is a mute and theres no voice acting except for text blocks in the game. I don't see why they don't get some talented voice actors and mix in Hyrule with english to keep things interesting. I don't want Link to talk fully but maybe give him the odd line here and there so he dosen't look brain dead most of the time.
SHame, I really enjoyed the fuck out of it. It took a slight bit to understand all the nuances of the gameplay but once you got it. The game became fuking awesome. I guess nintendo had such an extensive tutorial segment because of the sheer depth of those motion controls. First game i ever played where a few tutorial vids on youtube were required to fully get it and enjoy it.
Plus, fully orchestrated music.
From the site: "Before reading any further, it's important to remember that this tipster is anonymous—We cannot trace him nor confirm his validity. In other words, these details are probably completely bogus."
Until Nintendo says something about Zelda U I'm not going to worry about these rumors.
" I actually quit playing SS 2hrs and 40min because thats how long it took for the stupid Skyloft introduction/tutorial "
Nah bro, you're just slow.
I got as far as the spirit vessels (about half way?) when it became clear Nintendo was just wasting my time with some pointless (and difficult) fetch quest... I turned it off out of frustration after repeatedly sliding down that volcano on my butt for what seemed like hours.
I will light my Wii U on fire if they go Twilight with Zelda... it's the reason I bought a Wii U.
SS is one of my favorite Zeldas, Up there with the Original and OoT.
Why do people get insulted by tutorials- you should know that they are going to be in a game rated E?
BUT- I do understand how some people could not like the game- it was not until I fought Ghirahim did I really get Skyward Sword. That fight showed me the difference between it and TP (which I have not finished, even though I am near the end. Things I liked about it things I did not. Midna was a great character).
The romance in SS- I found it charming- it reminded me of a friendlier Anime' show.
I still wish that SS had a direct sequel. A Game were you would have to build a Kingdom from scratch (Hyrule) -part Zelda; part Sim and Strategy- would be fun.
Me too. Getting to the 1st temple took me about 3 hours. Finding the bird took forever. I played up to the 2nd temple, but found the game more of a chore to play, so i stopped.
With that said, SS is my least favorite Zelda game, BUT I did like the innovation with the leveling up items. The mechanics were good in that game, and I hope most are carried over, BUT in SS they were poorly executed. The combat system that was hyped up, left me disappointed. If the baddie was wide open and you struck him/her/it, they would magically block it. I did like the sword Fighting battles with he white haired guy though, and how much tougher it was in overall difficulty. Flying was a HUGE pain in the ass.
Give me something like OoT/MM but with the leveling up of items, tougher difficulty, improved motion controls, and Epona. I bet I would love the game.
I also liked in spirit tracks, that Zelda was your helper. I was a very cool and unique way to bring her in.
Seems the ninty fans say YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE E EEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
"Early concept artwork looks like they're sticking with Skyward Sword's style for now."
I kinda liked the tech demo look but hey the game will most likely still be great!
But also they should make something new..
Everything is enspired by movies now. Look at the last of Us! Inspired by I am legend. So no worries?
Maybe not a good comparison.
holy shit is it really inspired by i am legend?? thats like one if my favorite movies! now im looking forward to TLOU even more than i was before!!
I think the game has already been said to be using an updated version of the HD tech demo GameEngine and has a dark forest area that looks spectacular and its massive even for Zelda.
Twilight and 50 Shades of Grey? If true then R.I.P Zelda
Mentioning Twilight and 50 Shades of Shit doesn't mean that the new Zelda will be like them. I liked the characterization in SS and hope they expand upon it.
Dungeon Crawling will still be present so it won't be like Twilight.
Was that a Darth Vader Noooooooooooo?
Nintendo should be looking at movies like the flowers of War, safety not guaranteed, ruby sparks..etc for inspiration. Great movies that many people don't know about that actually have good love plots... Not twilight Nintendo just no.
Haha, really? 50 shades of grey popped up in conversation? These guys...
They should read S C Ashen instead. His book his a thousand times better. Literally.
Wonder how long Miyamato took to fire whoever brought up 50 shades. He's always been family-centric in his games and beliefs. Twilight is just swill, and not even good romance unless your a teenage girl with unrealistic expectations of what a relationship should be.
So you're saying that most relationships are not with a glittering vampire or a werewolf?
Stupid reality.
I kind of hope he didn't. I mean, as much as I hope that 50 shades and Twillight won't ever influence anything near a Zelda game, I'm sure thinking a little bit outside the box now and then is all right. For some reason, Game Freak keeps firing the guy who shouts "Let's make a 3D open world game!"
Okay, okay. I get it. Those books/movies suck, but the romance part is really all they are speaking of. Twilight sucks because vampires glow and glitter (Among other things) and 50 Shades of Grey is a horrible story and shitty writing. EVen if this rumor becomes true, Nintendo isn't looking at making Zelda into these franchises, just simply reading into them to better understand American romance. That's it. End of story.
"Names like Twilight and 50 Shades of Grey have popped up in conversation"
Nintendo needs it's children taken from them, they need to grow up in a mature environment - Sony Santa Monica??
I disagree. I think there should be at least one good kid's video game developer. Otherwise kids will have nothing left but Angry Birds and 30 (not) Great Games.
The next Zelda will be awesome. We all know link is boning her behind closed doors...
Zelda wiiu will be yet again , one of the greatest games ever made. This time it's going to me more impressive. Because the graphical leap from GC to Wii was small.
Now Nintendo have 25GB/50GB dual layer discs and graphics ahead of the ps3 and 360 to play with.
Zelda wiiu will look Next gen.
Zelda wiiu - 10/10
Well said man. IDK why you got so many dislikes... truth hurts in the butt doesn't it xD
Well it's about time. He's only been rescuing her for the past 25 years. :)
Yeah, Nintendo franchises have an alarming failure rate in the "save the damsel in distress" department.
wasnt twilight a love triangle, between a werewolf, a vampire and a human, wondering what the triangle would be in the zelda u game, zelda, link and gannon?
i hope they dont bring anything twilight, as i suffered enought havig to watch them with my gf
I don't know about the twilight reference but the badly written sex scenes of 50 shades could be entertaining. Maybe not for the intended reasons but :P .....what a terribly written book to use as inspiration
"what a terribly written book to use as inspiration"
bummer, so if these rumours are true, its not looking so good.
no the love triangle will be between link, zelda, and tingle and it is not zelda that tingle wants
haha, now the tri-force has taken on all kinds of strange meanings to me. Also, your avatar has a triangle in it :/
the tri-force clearly has more than 3 triangles in it, so we may be in for a few surprises.
Anybody hoping to see visuals like the E3 2011 tech demo is delusional, Nintendo basically did what Sony did with Killzone 2. All rumors point to SS art style which would make sense because simply the Wii U just isn't powerful enough to pull off what was shown at E3.
Killzone 2 looked noticeably better than the 2005 tech demo. If Nintendo is doing what Sony did then we have something to be very excited for.
and you know this because? seems like you are just talking outta your ass.. nintendo has always been able to push there systems graphics to the limit.. we havent even begone to see the graphical potential of the wii u
Nintendo has almost always topped its tech demoes. That zelda demo they showed for the Wii U years ago was and still is ahead of any console title I;ve seen and if there is one company that can out do that its Nintendo.
Now on topic... my god no. And wouldnt this conversation have taken place in japan... behind closed doors... with nintendo big wigs that probably talk less than link to the general public?
You're crazy. That Zelda tech demo wasn't a video, it was interactive. You could change the lighting and camera angles. And what would the point of a tech demo be if it didn't demo the tech?
Okay everybody who disagrees with my opinion (which seems like quite a lot 17 disagrees and probably growing - ouch), if Nintendo do manage to produce something as beautiful for the next Zelda as what was shown at E3 2011 I will do a Pachter and eat a chocolate hat.
It was a tech demo. Possibly a target vid. You couldn't play it. Nintendo isn't the only company that could add camera angle functionality. The question is why would you if you can't play it?
But the Wii U did it. It's a real-time rendered live tech demo. That's not disputable.
Actually it's more like they don't agree with your prediction regarding the final version of Zelda U. Also rumors don't mean anything. The final product does.
Until I see a trailer, I'm not passing any judgement on the art style, let alone anything else.
now i dont know if theres something wrong with my sensor bar or if the motion thing simply isnt as responsive as people claim it to be but i absolutely hate the motion plus thing on skyward sword. i have such a hard time fighting enemies because link doesnt follow my motion properly or does so too slow. also for future reference, nintendo, you have an analog stick, stop making me move around the wii mote to control a beetle or fly a bird
SS doesn't use the sensor bar at all. The reviewer at gamespot thought the same thing and had trouble with the controls too.
oh good so its not that im doing something wrong then, right? so that means the game isnt as accurate as they claimed it to be. tbh im still stuck on the first boss, its not that hes hard, its that the controls are making it extremely difficult for me.
I don't know what to tell you... some people say the controls work flawlessly and other say terribly. I never had a problem with the controls myself.
I'm not even going to lose sleep over this and worry about Twilightification of the next Zelda game. Why? Because the rumors are from an anonymous tipster, and even the site said it is probably bogus.
Yeah SS was IMO the worst zelda game of all time. Wanted to quit but force myself through the game. Its funny because people were saying after the HD demo that it wasn't that special and ps360 could easily handle it... Now someone says they can't use that style because Wii U isn't capable of those graphics? If nintendo doesn't use the HD artstyle if will forever prove to me they have no clue what their consumer wants. Please nintendo don't F this game up.
i actually liked the water color art in SS. if they can maintain the same art style and boost the graphics up. I think a lot of Zelda fans would be happy. the tech demo art was cool as well, but i care more for art direction.
I'm loving skyward sword at the moment even tho I'm still just swinging the sword like crazy and hoping ( I'm constantly re-lining the control all the time..?) but it's a good game I prefer it to twilight princess.
I would comment on how ridiculous the idea is of Nintendo taking Twilight as inspiration for their Link/Zelda romance, but this came from ZeldaInformer, so we know it's fake.
All ima ask from Nintendo for the next Zelda game is give us ganondorf.
when nintendo take time making a game, especially the zelda series, its never less then a masterpiece, oot still one of the greatest games that i ever played and one of the all time great....so stop hating and being silly, just wait patiently
what a lot off crap and so stupid
i am no falling for this guy being part of nintendo
Don't go Skyward Sword style. Go Wii U Demo style.
Don't make Link speak. I would understand for a Zelda TV show, but not for a Zelda game. Voice acting would be ok, I guess, but it would take away the feel.
YES! BRING BACK NAVI! She's hated so much I can't help but like her. I also don't get why people hate her so much. She says "Hey! Listen!" like every hour of gameplay, not "Hey! Hey! Hey! Listen!" every second. Although some people seem to think it's the second one.
Making Link speak is a tall order.
It would have to be perfect, or it shouldn't be done at all.
I loved the feel of SS too.
I just viewed it as an interactive book. The Character models had great emotional depth that did not require voices to convey the feeling.
I am open to change. I just think that it could go horribly wrong. They might pick an actor that stinks or just rubs you the wrong way- and that happens, cause it is subjective.
Also, I keep thinking about all of the Cutsey characters in Zelda. The talking woodland creatures that had annoying introduction sounds that were done by voice actors- can you imagine someone doing a whole conversation in that voice?
Have you seen He-man's Orko, Snarf in the original ThunderCat's, Jar Jar in SW:PM? Do you long for long Monologues from Pikachu? - Be careful...
Also, I loved Navi and Midna-
I hope to see them again in future Zeldas. It would be neat to see Navi with an actual body hidden in that ball of light.
maybe they should do a half life and make everyone else speak except for Link.
False. And I can say so with certainty because Zelda Informer posts any garbage from their readers-- excuse me, "anonymous tipsters". They don't care about integrity in the slightest or how much they mislead people. A very pathetic excuse of a site. For shame, Zelda Informer.
AHHhh... why such controversy? I think Nintendo knows what they're doing by now. It's always been more about gameplay anyway.
Zelda II is my favorite Zelda, because that's the one I liked. I had no idea that it's the oddball out of the series until recently.
Skyward Sword was the game I wanted when Ocarina came out, but that's just me.
ocarina came out in "96".. Skyward sword wasnt even thought of yet... I too loved Zelda 2.. one of my favorite retro games of all time...
I meant that I felt like Ocarina of Time was still lacking in some ways. It was extremely similar to A Link to the Past. Navi kind of ruined it in a lot of ways. I could keep harping about the little things I didn't like about it, but it was only because I had impossible expectations. Then Skyward Sword just had everything you'd expect and more. I really had no complaints with it. I actually haven't finished it yet because I don't want it to end. I really think this is the crown jewel of all Nintendo games.
I'm not liking the thought of Fifty Shades of Zelda. I don't want to be killing Ganon with bondage chains.
That would be the first clue that the whole article is BS.
If Nintendo knows anything, it is how to preserve it's franchises, the first zelda on WiiU will be fantastic, and people will literally be running to stores to buy a WiiU and the game to play on it, count on it.
As far behind as Nintendo seems to have played the game for the last few years, they know full well that most gamers will clamour to play a hi-def version of EVERY core Nintendo franchise. They have made that decision based on a very calculated assessment, and I highly doubt the majority of fanboy gamers have any idea why or how Nintendo decided to do what they have done.
Nintendo knows that hardcore gamers (like myself) would wait for the WiiU for certain games, and would appreciate the system for what it offered.
Yeah I'll most likely be buying a PS4 or xbox720 or upgrading my PC in the next 18 months, but what i'll get out of my WiiU in the meantime will be awesome, intuitive and loads of fun.
I waited since 2002 for a nintendo console which appealed to me, as a gamer of +20 years.
The WiiU is that.
i use to be a big zelda fan but sadly windwaker was the last good zelda. i still play them hoping nintendo will makw a good one. ss takes to damn long to get started
Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword have their fair share of problems, but they are fantastic games nonetheless.
In fact, Twilight Princess is my favorite Zelda.


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subset: commoncrawl


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Animals are always a favorite toy to play with. Even when kids come to the house to play, the first thing they go for are my collection of rubber jungle animals. But these would be pricey to get as party favors, so why not make these fun and colorful jungle animals from craft foam. it's a really easy craft and if you use these for a party craft, just cut out the shapes before the party, then give each child a baggie with the parts and a marker. They can make their own animals to take home.
You can also make a whole herd of giraffes, elephants and zebras for fun and creative play. Kids can pretend themes like safari, zoo or jungle. And what's even more fun is to make the animals out of all different colors. Let the kids choose.
Make the Elephant toy.
Make the Giraffe toy.
Make the Zebra toy.


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|1 page 380 views
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|03-06-2012 07:11 AM 6 years ago
|Post 1
|Dennis (RIP)
Congressional Black Caucus: House Ethics Investigations Against Our Members Are Racist…A disproportionate share of cases have been brought against Congressional Black Caucus members. African-American lawmakers would like to know why.
(The Atlantic) — Emanuel Cleaver, a Methodist minister and the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, stood up and began searching his desk for a Bible. Cleaver wasn't looking up a particular verse or Psalm. He grabbed the Good Book for emphasis. He wanted to hold it in his hands as he declared, with a firm shake, that the way Congress investigates the ethics of its own lawmakers is horribly broken."I think," Cleaver said, "the facts speak for themselves."The facts say this: African-Americans make up 10 percent of the House, but as of the end of February, five of the sitting six named lawmakers under review by the House Ethics Committee are black. The pattern isn't new. At one point in late 2009, seven lawmakers were known to be involved in formal House ethics inquiries; all were members of the Congressional Black Caucus. An eighth caucus member, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois, had also been under investigation, but his probe was halted temporarily while the Justice Department undertook an inquiry of its own.All told, about one-third of sitting black lawmakers have been named in an ethics probe during their careers, according to a National Journal review.Only two members of Congress have been formally charged with ethics violations in recent years and have faced the specter of public trials — Reps. Charles Rangel of New York (censured) and Maxine Waters of California (investigation ongoing). Both are black. There are no African-Americans in the Senate. Remember the most recent black senator, Roland Burris of Illinois? Reprimanded by the Senate Ethics Committee in 2009.Those are the facts, as Cleaver said. The question is why so many African-Americanmembers have been in the ethics spotlight.In interviews with more than a dozen members of the CBC, an unsettling thread emerges: They feel targeted. There could be no other explanation, many said, for what they see as disproportionate treatment at the hands of ethics investigators. They describe a disquieting reality of being black in Congress today: a feeling that each move they make is unfairly scrutinized. "We all feel threatened," said Rep. Hank Johnson, a Georgia Democrat, as he sat by the fireplace off the House floor. "If the only reason that you would suffer a complaint is because of your skin color, that is a cause for concern."It is a grave accusation: Could the congressional ethics process, ostensibly safeguarded by professional staff members and by a bipartisan structure that allows nothing to move forward unless Democrats and Republicans agree, be singling out African-Americans?Other explanations are possible. Perhaps more ethical issues arise within the black caucus than within the House as a whole. Many of its members occupy safe seats, after all, and have been in Washington for decades. Maybe some of them grew too comfortable or insulated, and they failed to track changing ethics standards.Or maybe they're disproportionately the victims of an investigation process that relies heavily on outside information from watchdog groups with their own agendas, or on big-city media prone to examining politicians in their urban backyards. Or maybe their white counterparts are quicker to retain high-priced counsel to make ethics inquiries disappear before they ever become public or have quickly resigned rather than face a probe.Whatever the reason, the disparity has had a profound effect on African-American legislators on Capitol Hill."People walk around on eggshells," Cleaver said, "doing everything they can to avoid attention without retreating from the work that is front of us."A "POLICE FORCE OUT OF CONTROL"Congressional ethics cases do not develop in a vacuum. In the House, probes can begin in two ways. The secretive House Ethics Committee, run by equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans, can initiate an inquiry. Or the newer Office of Congressional Ethics, an independent prosecutor of sorts created by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., as part of her pledge to "drain the swamp" in Washington, can refer a case to the Ethics Committee.The two panels are supposed to work in tandem. Behind the scenes, however, they have tussled in a bureaucratic turf war over who are the Hill's real corruption cops. Privately, veterans of both panels blame the other for the skewed racial statistics. Ethics Committee loyalists say that nearly all of the cases involving black lawmakers that they have investigated came from OCE referrals. For their part, backers of that office note with suspicion that the Ethics Committee has dropped or quickly resolved many of their cases involving white members, while those against African-Americans have lingered or resulted in penalties.The OCE lacks subpoena power and can mete out no punishment, but it has another tool that has proved in many ways as potent: Its findings are made public. Watchdogs and ethics reformers have hailed the office for lifting the veil of secrecy on what has long been an insular process dominated by lawmakers resistant to policing their own colleagues. But it is in naming names that the OCE has drawn scrutiny. Since its inception, the office has recommended that the Ethics Committee undertake further investigations in 26 cases involving sitting House members. Twelve of those have targeted African-Americans, including Rangel, Waters, and Jackson.http://weaselzippers.us/2012/03/05/...ers-are-racist/My Comments: Seems to me its time we banned race based caucuses to exist in Washington DC at all.Can you imagine what the reaction would be if there were a white caucus?The very idea of a black caucus is racist in itself.
Liberty once lost, is lost forever.
|03-06-2012 01:01 PM 6 years ago
|Post 2
|baby uh1
St. James, Mo.
IF you can't do the time, don't do the crime!Like anyone is suprised when a lawmaker from Chicago or New York is investigated?
I think it's time for all of congress to be investigated!
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about!
|03-06-2012 01:08 PM 6 years ago
|Post 3
| fla heli boy
rrElite Veteran
cape coral, florida
look at Detroit. When was the last time they had a white mayor??? When was the last time their mayor didn't get kicked out of office and go to jail (or barely avoid it)???
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Braille & Talking Book Program | Newsletters | Winter 2012
Volume 6, Issue 3 | Winter 2012
PDF download , MP3 download
Inside this issue:
- History and Fiction Collide
- Kids/Teens News: Summer Reading Program Moves to Local Libraries
- American Printing House for the Blind Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Partnership
From the Assistant State Librarian
Do you remember how you learned about the South Dakota Braille and Talking Book Program? Many of our SDBTB patrons learned about the service through a friend or family member. Word of mouth is a wonderful way to spread the message and to reintroduce others to the joy of reading. I would encourage you to "spread the word" about SDBTB to your friends and acquaintances. It may surprise you that they know someone who could use the service. I think SDBTB and the NLS network is one of the best kept secrets. As you know, it is a great service and your tax dollars at work. Let's not keep the secret to ourselves. Help spread the word!
Player Update
A software update has been made to the digital players. New book titles produced as of December 2011, will include software that automatically updates players. When a cartridge with the new software is inserted into the player, it will announce, "Updating your player's software; please do not power off your player or remove the cartridge from the player." There will be a series of beeps while the machine is updating. When the update is complete, the machine announces, "Software upgrade completed; stand by while your player is restarted."
Please do not remove the cartridge while it is updating the player's software.
BARD users can download the software from the BARD website. Instructions can be found at www.loc.gov/nls/DTBM .
It is not necessary to update your player immediately. If you find you need any help, please call your Reader Advisor.
Overdue Reminders
The goal of the South Dakota Braille and Talking Book Program is to ensure that all patrons have access to all titles in the collection in a timely manner. We are always trying to improve services for all patrons.
Overdue reminders are mailed for items that are not returned on time on a regular basis. Please take note of due dates and loan periods:
- All books on tape & cartridge are loaned for 6 weeks
- VHS movies are loaned for 1 week
- Call the library to renew material or to verify a due date.
If you believe you received a reminder by mistake or have a question, contact a Reader Advisor who will be happy to work with you to avoid an interruption in service.
Free, Lifetime Access Pass to National Parks Available
Persons with disabilities can get a FREE, LIFETIME "Access Pass" to National Parks and Federal Recreational Areas in the United States. Apply in person, with proper documentation, at a Federal recreation site or office. There are several offices in the Black Hills, at Fort Pierre and several surrounding states. You can find a complete listing at store.usgs.gov/pass/ PassIssuanceList.pdf . Persons may also apply by mail. For information on required documentation or other questions visit store.usgs.gov/pass/access.html .
History and Fiction Collide
by Marcia Kaup
I read somewhere that historical fiction is "the least popular of fiction genres". I tend to disagree, but, I am only one person and I wonder how many people would agree with me. History in itself can be boring but by putting history and fiction together a story can be very interesting and exciting! Not only will you learn something about that particular time and place, you will also get to experience that time and place without actually being there!
There are many different subgenres of historical fiction: Biblical, Ancient, Frontier Pioneer, Native American, United States, and Historical Romance. Historical fiction encompasses all of the categories listed.
Biblical historical fiction novels are written about biblical times and people of the bible. Some authors include: Bodie Thoene, Anne Rice and Orson Scott Card.
Ancient historical fiction novels are written about ancient times. The dictionary definition of ancient times is "of or in time long past, especially before the end of the Western Roman Empire a.d. 476." Authors include: Jean M. Auel, Harry Turtledove and David Malouf.
Frontier pioneer historical fiction encompasses the 1700 and 1800's and usually takes place in the United States. The novel may have a "western" background or it might begin in a foreign country with a journey to the United States. Some authors include: William W. Johnstone, Zane Grey and Elmer Kelton.
Native American historical fiction novels are about Native Americans or contain Native Americans. Some novels contain events of early settlers having altercations with the Native Americans when migrating toward the unsettled part of the country. Some authors of this subgenre include: Elmer Kelton, Richard S. Wheeler and Cameron Judd.
United States historical fiction stories take place in the United States during the time the country was being settled. There is a large selection of books in this subgenre. U.S. Historical Fiction covers the time period from 1492-1945. The books will be of many flavors including western, pioneer, slavery, war, inventions, Christian and Amish interest and a very broad array of styles! Some authors in this subgenre include: Lauraine Snelling, Tracie Peterson, Zane Grey, Louis L'Amour and Kathryn Stockett.
Historical romance novels are written in an early time period and can be based in the United States or have a foreign setting. The main ingredient is two people falling in love and the obstacles they face as they try to make the relationship work. Authors of this subgenre include: Lindsey Johanna, Linda Lael Miller, Jodi Thomas, Beverly Lewis and Victoria Alexander.
The books I read in the process of writing this article were of the historical romance, United States historical fiction, and frontier pioneer historical fiction subgenres.
Dawn's Prelude: Song of Alaska, Book 1 by Tracie Peterson. After Lydia Gray's elderly, abusive husband Floyd dies and by a fluke she discovers she is the sole recipient of her husband's fortune, she joins her aunt in Alaska to put behind the memories of a painful marriage. When she gets to Sitka, she discovers two things she didn't expect. She meets an old acquaintance and discovers she is pregnant with her dead husband's child. With her adult stepchildren battling to regain the inheritance for themselves and not knowing to what lengths they will go, it puts her life, that of her child's and that of her budding relationship at risk. She rediscovers her faith, remarries, and gives birth. But Floyd's grown children track her down and plot her death to gain their father's fortune. There was a lot of excitement and suspense in this book and though it is Christian in style, it was not preachy.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett. College grad and fledgling writer Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan searches for a book-worthy project. At the urging of an editor, Skeeter interviews African American maids Aibileen and Minny about their relationships with their employers. Violating integration laws, the three women question their lives. I enjoyed the book, though it was not my favorite. The action was a little slow but some parts were so funny I found myself laughing out loud and I think that is what kept my interest. The story was enlightening.
Buffalo Wagons by Elmer Kelton. The year is 1873 and the plains are almost devoid of buffalo. Only one large herd remains, but it is in Comanche territory. Gage Jameson joins a group of skinners desperate enough to venture into the hostile land and risk their lives. Although Gage realizes he is contributing to the extinction of the buffalo, this is the only life he knows. The book almost made me feel like I was right there. Gage is a take charge type of man. He is a hard worker and he expects the same from his men. However, he has a soft side when it comes to Celia, his one true love. I was surprised when I learned who was loyal and who turned on Gage. This book definitely kept my attention! I love reading books centered around the frontier days and I learned a little more about what it would be like to have lived at that time.
Kids/Teen News
Summer Reading Program Moves to Local Libraries
The South Dakota Braille and Talking Book Program is changing its summer reading program. Karen Duenwald, Educational Materials Coordinator, is working with public librarians to help them offer summer reading programs that are accessible to all children. There are over 100 public libraries in South Dakota that offer a summer reading program. We encourage children to attend their local public library's summer reading program. If you have any questions about the summer reading program closest to you, please contact Karen Duenwald at 1-800-423-6665 or email@example.com.
American Printing House for the Blind Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Partnership
The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) and the Dollywood Foundation are pleased to announce a partnership that expands Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (DPIL) program to provide young blind and visually impaired children with accessible books!
Audio Books
Thanks to the American Printing House for the Blind/Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Partnership and the support of Penguin Group USA APH will offer a growing collection of audio files of DPIL books as free downloads.
Print/Braille Books
Beginning in 2012, the American Printing House for the Blind/Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Partnership will make it possible for APH to produce selected Imagination Library books in a print/braille format. APH will select five titles from the current year's DPIL booklist, those most appropriate for a child with a visual impairment, to translate into braille. Two hundred copies of each title will be made.
Learn more about the APH/DPIL Partnership at www.aph.org/dolly-partons-imagination-library/index.html .
The Prairie Trails Newsletter is our means of communication with all patrons of the Braille and Talking Book Program. The Prairie Trails Newsletter is made available on audio and also in braille, in large print, or on a diskette upon request and is posted on our website.
If you have any questions or comments you would like to address, or wish to request this newsletter in an alternative format, please contact the SD Braille and Talking Book Program.
South Dakota Braille & Talking Book Program
800 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD 57501
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: 1-800-423-6665
The SD Braille & Talking Book Program does not endorse any service or product listed in this newsletter.
Fall 2018 Prairie Trails Newsletter
Volume 13, Issue 4 | Fall 2018
Articles include "Tips for better service", "NLS updates", "Descriptive videos for the holidays", "Winter reading program", "Holiday closing" and more!
Also available in MP3 download
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Downloadable Books and Magazines
Training calendar
More CE Events


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Athos wrote:Is this available online too?
warpug wrote:Signed up for the Toys R Us rewards program in December and got my first set of Rewards R Us $5 coupons. Does anyone know if they stack? I have 3 and it would be nice to apply $15 off their inflated prices for the new Star Wars sets.
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Latest travel developments and new attractions in Mexico
Two things were abundantly clear from the day one of Mexico's Tianguis Turistico, the largest travel trade show and conference in Latin America, held in Puebla last week. First, the shift in emphasis from the sun-and-sand destinations that have lured the bulk of visitors to the country to the often overlooked interior repositories of history and culture continues apace under the new administration of Enrique Peña Nieto and his secretary of tourism, Claudia Ruiz Massieu.
Second, Mexico isn't sitting around waiting for U.S. tourists to overcome their fears that stepping foot in Mexico means instant death. The well-publicized drug cartel violence has declined in the past year but is still very much present in areas where trafficking corridors are in contention, and the new administration has already begun reforms aimed at combating the cartel violence. But the tourism department has moved on from damage control to elevating the country's tourist industry into the ranks of the world's top destinations. As its next-door neighbor, the United States is still very important, but Mexico has worked hard (and very successfully) to entice travelers from other countries. Thailand, Turkey, Slovenia and Lithuania were among the nations attending Tianguis for the first time this year.
Buying and selling tourism products is Tianguis' reason for existence, it's also where journalists learn of new developments throughout the country that will affect travelers' lives. News from some of the destinations most familiar to U.S. tourists follows. In coming months Mexico Mix (and Get Lost, SFGate's new travel blog) will take a look at what's going on in destinations that have been lower on the international tourist radar but are poised for a higher profile under the new administration.
Mazatlan: After a three-year slump following several incidents of crime in the port area that prompted several cruise lines to scratch the once-popular Pacific resort destination from their itineraries, "We can tell you that Mazatlan is back," said Sinaloa state Secretary of Tourism Frank Cordoba.
After instituting such safety measures as improved lighting and numerous cameras, Mazatlan's crime rate has plunged 85 percent in the past two years, which Cordoba said have not seen a single incident of crime against tourism. Holland America's Veendam, the Norwegian Star and the Azmara Quest are returning to Mazatlan, starting in October, for the 2013-14 cruise season, and Princess Cruises plans to resume calls in Mazatlan next year. Major airlines that already fly to Mazatlan are increasing their service.
The town of El Rosario, about 40 miles south of Mazatlan, became one of Mexico's Magic Pueblos last year. Once one of Mexico's richest mining towns, El Rosario is known for its baroque church with a magnificent gold altar. It was the home of famous ranchero singer Lola Beltran, who is buried in a tomb at the church.
Cordoba also said a new superhighway between Mazatlan and Durango that is about to open — which includes the highest bridge in the Western Hemisphere and the second-highest in the world — is "going to change the southern part of Sinaloa."
Mexico City: The nation's capital has reversed its fortunes in recent decades; once considered a crime-ridden, polluted and congested city that tourists loved to miss, it has become one of the country's safer and more tourist-friendly destinations. Reporting a 9 percent increase in North American tourists in 2012, Mexico City officials said increasing the number of visitors from the United States is a high priority.
Years of restoring public spaces and landmark buildings, creating pedestrianized streets, improving transportation options, and hosting public concerts and other events has paid off handsomely, both for the city and for tourists. It doesn't hurt that Mexico City has championed the environment and human rights—it was the first Latin American city to legalize gay marriage, in 2009—and boasts more than 170 museums and 100 galleries, second in the world only to Paris.
As the heart of Mexico's business and industry, the capital's hotels are nearly full Monday through Thursday, but occupation drops 50 percent on weekends. This year, the city is encouraging more weekend visits with a "Disfruta Ciudad de Mexico" (Enjoy Mexico City) promotion that offers flights, hotels and tour packages to weekend and holiday visitors. More than 60 packages take in some of the cities most popular sights. Example: a Historic Center package that includes two nights at the Holiday Inn, including airport transportation, breakfast, and guided trips to Xochilimilco, Coyoacán, the Frida Kahlo House museum, the National Anthropology Museum, and the pyramids of Teotihuacan, costing $525 for two people. Promotion in the United States is scheduled to begin next month, but the packages are already available at the Mexico City Tourism website.
And the capital's hugely popular Ecobici bike-sharing program, launched in 2010 for commuters who paid a nominal yearly fee, is being opened to the public, so tourists can now to take advantage of free short-term bicycle use. They will need to go to one of the five customer service centers and present a passport and a credit card to get an Ecobici card.
Baja California Wine Country: Eight valleys, stretching from Tecate in the north to Valle Llano Colorado in the south, account for 90 percent of the wine produced in Mexico. Building on the popularity of the new, modern, Museo del Vino, which opened last August on the wine route between the Valle San Antonio and Valle de Guadalupe, the wine industry is beginning a "Sabores, Musica y Viñedos" (Flavors, Music and Vineyards) program.
The heart of "Sabores, Musica y Viñedos" is a jam-packed lineup of concerts, fiestas and other events to take place at the museum and among the more than 60 wineries along the Ruta del Vino, beginning in April. Among them are the Fiestas del Mar food festival April 20, the Festival del Caballo, Arte y Vino (Horse, Art and Wine Festival) June 9, Mariachi Vargas at L.A. Cetto June 22 and the Fiestas de la Vendimia harvest festival Aug. 2.
Former Chronicle travel editor Christine Delsol is the author of "Pauline Frommer's Cancún & the Yucatán" and a regular contributor to "Frommer's Mexico" and "Frommer's Cancún & the Yucatán."


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We have a big Thank You for a generous couple from the Bozeman area. Lincoln and Sara (Owners of Rooks Comics & Games) have been VERY generous by donating some sweet equipment last weekend.
Lincoln had asked me to come over on Saturday the 3rd of July with a trailer to pick up some junk. I knew I couldn't pass up an offer like that. Not really knowing what to expect I showed up around 9:30am and was very excited to see what they wanted donate to the Bozeman Makerspace. Below you will find some photos of the items that have been donated. Other items may be donated in the near future (once we get our 501 3(c) non-profit status.
List of items donated to the Bozeman Makerspace!
- A Robotic Lawnmower
- Woodmaster Multitool (with extra parts, equipment not shown)
- Auto jacks, handheld sander
- Table saw
- Tons of shelving
5 comments
WOW! When Lincoln told me about the robotic lawnmower, I wasn't sure what to expect. This is fantastic!
What can be done with it? Mowing grass is too plebeian a pursuit for such a thing as this.
Industrial-grade intelligent shop vac?
What sort of system do you have to inventory?
We're just inventorying with Libre Write
If you want to buy anything that can fit in a car trunk from the Helena Craiglist, let me know. We have a member that drives to Bozeman EVERY week.
I'm falling in love with your site btw.


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With activities for children in preschool through age 5
This publication was originally written by Nancy Paulu and Margery Martin. Revisions for the current edition were completed by Fran Lehr. Illustrations were done by Adjoa Burrowes and Joe Matos.
This booklet has been made possible with the help of many people within the Department of Education and multiple external organizations, including, most notably, Juliana Texley and Cindy Workosky of the National Science Teachers Association and Daniel Berch of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, who reviewed drafts, provided materials and suggestions, and generously contributed from their own experience. In addition, a special thanks to Todd May and Kathy Perkinson in the Office of Communications and Outreach for their help in the design, development, editing, production and distribution of this booklet.


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|Medical news of Remedium.ru portal is the most update information on pharmaceutical and medical equipment market
The periodical about the pharmaceutical and medical equipment markets
ROSSIYSKIE APTEKI(Russian pharmacies) - specialized periodical edition for pgarmacy professionals
MEDITSINSKY SOVETMedical Council - Scientific Journal for Physicians
Home / News
Russia fund in consortium to back U.S. pharma firmsRussian state technology firm Rusnano, alongside a group of investors, is investing $93 million in three U.S.-based pharmaceutical firms to develop drugs to treat illnesses such as epilepsy, the investors said on Wednesday.
Rusnano is making the investment with U.S. venture capital fund Domain Associates and other investors. Rusnano partnered with Domain in March with plans to invest around $760 million in U.S. healthcare and pharmaceutical firms to bring new drugs to the Russian market.
The three companies receiving investments - Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Lithera and Regado Biosciences - are portfolio companies of Domain and the investments will be used to register medications and undertake further clinical trials in the U.S. and Russia, the companies said.
Marinus is developing a drug for the treatment of epilepsy, Lithera works on products for aesthetic medicine and ophthalmology and Regado is developing antithrombotic products.
Source: www.reuters.com


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With the most magnificent shade of green symbolizing beauty and eternal love, it's no surprise why emeralds make for amazing engagement rings. And if it was good enough for Jackie O (JFK proposed with an emerald stunner), it's definitely good enough for us. Take a peek at some of the green beauties, and let us know, would you rock an emerald engagement ring?
More Engagement Rings to Lust After
The Most Gorgeous Rings Money Can Buy | Rose Gold Engagement Rings | Colored Gemstone Engagement Rings


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Dave White Profile
Dave White
Your Movies.com Man at the Multiplex
Dave White's first movie review was of the animated feature Snoopy Come Home. He was seven years old...Read full profile
Your Movies.com Man at the Multiplex
Dave White's first movie review was of the animated feature Snoopy Come Home. He was seven years old...Read full profile
IDGAF Read full review
Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.
out of 100
Metascore®Generally unfavorable reviewsbased on a weighted average of allcritic review scores.
The pic falls well short of its efforts to combine the raucous vulgarity of the "Hangover" movies with Cameron Crowe-ish depth of feeling.
Read Full Review
It's nice to see a movie in love with New York City, but That Awkward Moment sets such a low bar for Jason's redemption it becomes a drag.
Even when Gormican's material tries too hard to be wackily crude, and not hard enough to make dramatic sense, the actors suggest layers of experience that help to fill in the gaps.
While it has the requisite amounts of comedy and romance, it's actually more of a buddy movie. Think "Sex in the City," bro-style.
It's the Judd Apatow syndrome and there are times when the blend of romance and raunchiness threatens to curdle. In the end, however, the "love conquers all" mentality wins out.
See all That Awkward Moment reviews at Metacritic.com
Pause for kids 16 & under
Underwhelming sex-themed comedy; lots of strong language.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that the comedy That Awkward Moment follows three twenty-something best friends who vow to just hook up and not get involved with anyone in order to stay single together. Although stars Zac Efron, Miles Teller, and Michael B. Jordan are known for previously starring in teen-friendly fare, this is a mature post-college sex comedy that while not graphic in its depiction of sex, is still incredibly risque. There's near-constant strong language ("f--k," "s--t," "a--hole," "pussy," "cock," "dick," etc.), and several sex scenes that show sides of breasts, butts, and bare shoulders, and women in bras and panties. The movie's message is that relationships require work, acknowledgement, and commitment.
Messages: The movie's main message is that relationships mean being there for someone else when they're going through tough times, not just happy times.
Role models: Ellie teaches Jason about the nature of relationships and convinces him that some people are worth the emotional risk of falling in love. The guys all realize that being in a relationship doesn't mean they can't be close friends.
Violence: Mike punches Jason. A secondary character dies.
Sex: Lots of discussion of casual sex and a "hook-up roster" of women the guys will have sex with but not date seriously. Several sex scenes that show the sides of butts and breasts, or women in their bras and panties. A married woman commits adultery, a man walks in on his friend having sex.
Language: Uses of "f--k," "s--t," "a--hole," in every scene. Other insults include "emotionally retarded," "what the hell," "f--king idiot," "stalker," "dick," "sick cock," and more.
Consumerism: Viagra, iPhone, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, Dell computer, Lacoste, The Bridget Jones' Diary, Simon & Schuster, Grey's Anatomy, and The Wire.
Drinking, drugs and smoking: The three guys drink a lot -- at home, at parties, and during their bar outings.
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology.
© Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.
Movies.com, the ultimate source for everything movies, is your destination for new movie trailers, reviews, photos, times, tickets + more! Stay in the know with the latest movie news and cast interviews at Movies.com.
Copyright © 2018 FANDANGO MOVIES.


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"It has been celebrated for 2,000-plus years in China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam and Laos," said Barnard's principal, Edward Park. "There's a huge amount of folks practicing, and people get to see the ways that different communities celebrate — whether it's the type of food you eat, the type of outfits you wear, the cultural component of respecting the elders or the bowing ceremony."
Barnard's fifth annual event, which is free and open to the public, will feature traditional lion dances, martial arts demonstrations, classical Chinese music performances and other live entertainment by cultural partners throughout San Diego and the talented students at Barnard Elementary.
"We reached out to the Chinese-American community in San Diego and all the Asian communities that celebrated the Lunar New Year, and they all came along to perform for our school," said Park. "It started small, but gradually the word spread."
Now, the diverse festival boasts a number of strong community partners — like Balboa Park's House of China, the San Diego chapter of the Korean-American Coalition, Panda Express and San Diego State University's Confucius Institute — and draws hundreds of San Diegans from across the county who take part in the festivities, with upward of 800 guests and participants, including political and business dignitaries, enjoying the food, culture and entertainment entrenched in the Saturday afternoon celebration.
"The feedback is wonderful. We have potential parents wanting to see if they can enroll their kids. We have groups from the outside — politicians, community members, business folks — who want to see how they can participate and bridge their organization to one of the largest public school districts in the nation," said Park. "It's a win-win for many groups, including our school."
Barnard's unique and cutting edge education model, which includes immersion in the Chinese language and culture, was recently honored at the Confucius Institute Conference in Beijing as the International Confucius Classroom of the Year.
"It's a gigantic recognition internationally where many presidents of universities around the world have gathered to look on our district as having the best," said Park. "Barnard just happens to be leading the charge, and we hope to create more schools like it."
Park said the celebrated school programs are often unnoticed by the immediate community.
"The second largest minority group in San Diego is Asian and Pacific Islanders. There wasn't a cultural bridging component before, and now there's a strong one. And we're just beginning," said Park. "We've got a gem in the Peninsula area, but the folks that are participating and coming to see our amazing program are people outside of the area, so we want to see more of the Peninsula realize and embrace and foster this event by attending and checking it out."
Barnard's Chinese New Year celebration will take place at the school, located at 2930 Barnard Street in Point Loma, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 23.
For more information, visit www.barnardelementary.com or call (619) 224-3306.


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Snow is 2K Games' latest ticket to M+ rated hell, and we've got the first info & images:
The user takes on the persona of Johnny Morrell, an out of work actor who has given up his dreams of stardom to acquire wealth through drug smuggling. He's managed to line up a pot supplier in Mexico and somehow convinced an old friend of his to distribute the goods for him in Los Angeles. He's also charmed a stewardess he met at a party who wants to earn some extra cash on the side and so he gives her the orders to do the inaugural pot smuggling mission for him. His team is in place but does he have what it takes to turn this small time operation into something big?
In Snow, you become a drug kingpin who earns fame and fortune selling illegal goods across the United States. As an up and coming drug lord you can order various characters to procure, smuggle and ultimately distribute "the goods" for you. You build structures like corrupt law firms and money-laundering nightclubs to compete for greater market share against your rivals. You also will need to "take out" certain key enemies in order to protect your interests and further expand your growing drug empire.
The game plays out across most of the western hemisphere during the glory days of illegal drug smuggling from Mexico and Colombia. You start with a few pounds of pot in 1975, and by the time the game ends in 1985, you will have built a vast cocaine trading empire that spans the entire U.S.
- Build infrastructure in US drug markets, at border entry points, and in Colombia and Mexico to increase the efficiency of your operations.
- Character based organization development challenges the player to put together the right team to go from small time operation to full fledged drug cartel.
- Frequent rewards: new characters and new equipment reward the player throughout the game.
- Non-linear interactive story unfolds as you progress through the game.
- Game story told through the use of innovative cell-shaded graphic novel style motion graphics.
- Snow is the first story-driven empire building game ever created specifically for the Xbox.
- Snow merges edgy subject matter with business strategy.
- Developed by Frog City Software
- Available early 2006 for PC and Xbox.
I always like it when snow comes my way.


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The first home Dynamo playoff game was a 2-0 win over Chivas USA on October 29, 2006. It certainly set the tone.
Thursday's 3-0 victory over the Montreal Impact was the franchise's tenth postseason match in Houston. The record? Won nine, lost one. Goals scored, 26; goals conceded, six. And half of those six came in the lone defeat, a surprise 3-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls in November, 2008.
Especially since all those fixtures came against the league's best teams and the cooler fall weather wipes out one traditional Dynamo advantage, a .900 winning percentage is an extraordinary testament to the performances and atmosphere at first Robertson Stadium, and now BBVA Compass Stadium, which the Red Bulls visit on Sunday for the first leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals (2:30 p.m. CT; TICKETS).
Received wisdom says that it's better to be at home in the second match of a two-legged contest, but the Dynamo—who had never previously held a first-leg match at home—turned that on its head in 2012. Dominic Kinnear's side reached MLS Cup by securing two-goal leads against Sporting Kansas City and D.C. United at BBVA Compass Stadium then producing stubborn road displays to progress.
Houston's home prowess stood out last year, when out of 15 total playoff games in MLS the home club won only seven times. This in a league where home advantage is viewed as pronounced because of long travel distances, few away fans, varying field surfaces and contrasting climates.
No smart side would pile pressure on itself by describing itself as the favorite ahead of a vital contest, but given the statistics it's easy to believe the Red Bulls when they say they are wary of the Dynamo despite recent 4-1 and 3-0 wins at BBVA Compass Stadium in the regular season.
"I'm sure people are going to talk about how we beat them the two times we went to their place, but this is a playoff game. It's going to be totally different," striker Thierry Henry told reporters this week, according to MLSsoccer.com. "I've got a lot of respect for them because they know how to do it in the playoffs. We still don't know how to do it in the playoffs."
The dismissal of Montreal—who beat the Dynamo twice in the regular season—adds ballast to the argument that when the postseason starts, Houston powers up. The Dynamo's tendency to be extra-focused and cut out sloppy mistakes in the elimination rounds should also make this match a far tighter affair than the previous two fixtures.
In September, the score was 1-1 at halftime, but the visitors ruthlessly capitalized on their chances and found the net three times after the break. Yet an under-strength Dynamo had 57% of possession and 15 attempts on goal to New York's 10.
Then last month, Red Bulls midfielder Tim Cahill scored after just eight seconds: the fastest goal in MLS history. Following that stunning setback, the Dynamo were better than the margin of victory would imply. They mustered 61% possession and 20 attempts on goal to New York's five.
"We know they're going to come in here confident, they've beaten us multiple times," said left back Corey Ashe. His fellow defender, Bobby Boswell, is determined to ensure that Mike Petke's men do not claim a hat-trick. "They're a good team and we respect the hell out of them but I'd like to think that no team's going to come in here and beat us three times in a single season," said Boswell.
Under Petke's predecessor as head coach, Hans Backe, New York were ousted by D.C. in the 2012 semifinals in a tie complicated by Hurricane Sandy. But this year's version looks stronger. Not least because of Cahill's offensive threat, they have scored in each of their past nine matches.
"Obviously they're a tougher opponent [than Montreal]—Supporters' Shield champs, they're flying high as well," said Ashe. "They banged in five against Chicago [last Sunday], they banged in three against us the week before. It's going to be tough, it's not going to be a cakewalk but I think we have to remember that it's not one game, it's two games."
For Ashe, the key is to replicate the positives from the Impact game. To confirm Henry's thesis from the first kick and add to the data proving that the playoffs here really are different.
"It's just come out with the mindset like we did [versus Montreal], which is to set the tempo. I thought we did well scoring first and scoring often, letting them know this is our field and it's going to be a physical match," he said.
"So I think that's what we have to do with New York. Obviously they have a lot of great players, not just Henry, obviously with Cahill, all over the field they have great players. So it's accountability, it's keeping possession of the ball, being smart on the ball, knowing where Henry is at all times and knowing where Cahill is, and finishing our opportunities, I think that's the big thing. I think if we can score early, score first, we should be fine."
Given the numbers, the Dynamo would be more than happy if playoff history repeats itself on Sunday.
Tom Dart is a contributing writer to HoustonDynamo.com. Former editor and reporter for The Times of London, Dart currently freelances for The Guardian and SI.com.


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A local couple spent the first week of their marriage free, but could spend the next nine years in separate prison cells as they serve time for cocaine distribution.
A local couple spent the first week of their marriage free, but could spend the next nine years in separate prison cells as they serve time for cocaine distribution.
Tanna Hawkins, 30, and Tara Robinson Hawkins, 28, were married the first week of January, something they did knowing their individual guilty pleas would result in the prison sentences.
The convictions on unrelated charges would have also prevented them from cohabiting after their release because convicted felons on probation, as they will be after they've served their time, can't live together unless they're married.
The couple returned to court last week for their respective sentencing hearings, which were held in District Judge Bruce Simpson's courtroom, Tanna Hawkins' mother said.
At one point during the sentencing, a deputy gave Tara Hawkins a field sobriety test because her eyes were red. She was not intoxicated; her eyes were red because she'd been crying, said John Thomas, the attorney who represented them.
Tanna Hawkins choked up a bit, as well, as he thanked Simpson and Assistant District Attorney Rene Gautreaux, an unusual statement coming from a convict, Thomas said.
" 'You won't see me no more because I'm getting my life straight,' " his mother, Alice Hawkins Celestine, recalls him saying in court. " 'This is my last time. I'm going the right way. I learned my lesson, I'm going to turn my life around.' "
The couple decided to marry after Thomas told Tanna Hawkins that the two wouldn't able to live together — as they sporadically did in Larose — after their release.
The Hawkins are currently being housed in the Lafourche Parish jail, but they will likely be transferred to different prisons, Thomas said.
"They had a short honeymoon, and they'll have a long period of contemplation," Thomas said.
Celestine thinks the couple will keep their promises, both to be faithful and stay out of trouble.
"Both of their minds are set on doing right. That's behind them," Celestine said. "They're talking about having a family once they get out and getting their lives together."
The day before the sentencing, the Hawkins and Robinsons had a big dinner in Raceland to say good-bye, Celestine said.
Tanna and Tara's crimes were unrelated and each had prior drug offenses, Thomas said.
As far as she knows, neither one introduced the other to cocaine, Celestine said.
Simpson recommended each for a drug-treatment program, which could help them get out of prison early, Thomas said.
Simpson also strongly suggested that the couple, both high-school dropouts, earn their GEDs in prison, Celestine said.
Staff Writer Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at 448-7617 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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For Teachers
Featured Activity: Waste-Less Lunch
Lead your students in learning about natural resources used in common packaging materials. Challenge your students to conserve natural resources through their lunch choices.
Check out this and other Garbology lessons for the classroom »
For Students
Featured Activity: Conduct a Waste Assessment
Do you know how much waste your school puts in landfills each week? How much your school recycles or composts? Find out with a waste assessment and help your school create less waste.
Learn how and check out other Garbology activities »
For Families
Featured Activity: Composting With the FBI
The FBI turn waste into healthy soil. Learn about how fungus, bacteria, and invertebrates break down organic matter. Help them out by composting in your home to keep food and yard waste out of landfills.


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Back when Russia was turning off the spigots to pipelines running through Ukraine, Official Washington was in a panic. Just a few years after the Orange Revolution was supposed to have heralded a new era of freedom and democracy in Ukraine, Russia was using its economic muscle to stifle the growth of that freedom because of the threat it felt a democratic Ukraine posed to the Putin regime's grip on power. It was a lot like the "democratic dominoes" argument the neoconservatives deployed in promoting the Iraq war.
As Washington Post editorialist Jackson Diehl stated the case in 2007,
Putin sees the fragile new democracy in Ukraine, and an allied government in the tiny Black Sea nation of Georgia, as dire threats. If Western-style freedom consolidates and spreads in the former Soviet republics of Eastern Europe, his own undemocratic regime will be isolated and undermined. What's more, Ukraine and its neighbors are likely to integrate with Europe rather than remaining economic and political vassals of Russia.
Secretary of State Rice warned that Russia's behavior on energy constituted "politically motivated efforts to constrain energy supply to Ukraine" as punishment for the former Soviet republic's pro-Western orientation. In short, the argument was that Ukrainian democracy → threat to the Russian regime → Russian gas cutoffs.
Others argued that Russia's increasingly nasty behavior was less about the internal political contours of its neighbors and more about power politics and making sure the neighbors would be compliant with Russian interests, much like the United States has sought in the Western Hemisphere since at least the Monroe Doctrine.
So if fear of democracy and liberalism were driving Russia's behavior back then, then what is causing the current cutoff dispute with non-democratic and unfriendly-to-Washington Belarus? It's radio silence from most of Washington, with a notable exception: the exquisitely Russophobic Washington Post op-ed page. Fred Hiatt and the Gang are sticking to their story, offering the ridiculous argument earlier this week that in fact Moscow was acting to suppress Belarusian dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko's incipient liberalism, which was evinced by Lukashenko's having "released a few political prisoners" and "refusing to recognize the two puppet states that Moscow is backing in Georgia."
A less ornate explanation would be that perhaps Russia is more fixated on material factors and less on ideology.


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The law against incest was given to Moses. Before that, there was no law against it.
When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
Seth and Cain must have married their own sisters because there was no other choice.
My personal point of view is to make the case for monogamy and virginity til marriage, both to those in the Church and those outside. But realize, as George has pointed out that most of those outside the Church and many within will cast their vote with "nature." So, protection should be a part of their educated choice in the matter.
That would be like a basketball coach saying "Okay, guys, we know that using performance enhancing drugs is bad. But since we know that some of you are going to use them anyway, then we'll have a box of steroids in the locker room". Is that giving students an educated choice in the matter?
It sounds like you dont want sex education classes, you want abstinence classes, essentially propaganda classes to prevent people from having sex. Well, as others were pointing out, this moral crusade isn't the responsibility of the education system. At some point during a sex education class you could say, 'needless to say, if you don't have sex, the risk of getting an STD, pregnant, AIDS (to a lesser extent), etc. is nominal.' That pretty much covers abstinence education. The rest of such a course would cover the biology of reproduction, perhaps the biology of disease, current medical options for those who have STD's, probability of getting said disease using various different types of birth control (and you can even say, as an aside that if you dont have sex the statistics dont apply...go figure), options if one becomes pregnant (yeah, yeah, I know, if they even mention that abortion is an option and how to go about getting one, which should be an element of any sex ed course, causes the overreaction of the fundies...the education system should provide knowledge and education, not morals), etc. In short, objective scientific knowledge be it from the fields of biology, medicine, or psychology should be presented. You would turn it into a propaganda course to impose your personal moral code on the next generation. Give them the scientific facts, let them make up their own minds.And, for what it's worth, I actually strongly support monogamy, but not for moral or medical reasons: monogamy has proven benificial from a sociological and evolutionary perspective. It reduces sexual dimorphism and deemphasizes aggressiveness allowing more significant and benificial traits, such as intelligence, to progress evolutionarily. However, the fact that it's benificial on the evolutionary timeline does not mean that it is always benificial in every specific instance.
I have to agree with that, actually. If you don't want your kids to be in the class, all you have to do is sign a waiver...but they WILL hear about it all anyway, so I think it better to get the facts straight rather than the twelve year old's embellished and fanciful version, ya know? It's our responsibility as parents to instill the moral attitudes we want our kids to carry with them through life.
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stochastic-lies wrote:ImToast wrote:I don't see the point in Social engineering in my opinion.
Social engineering is an exceptionally dangerous "tool" when one can use it correctly. Think how stupid some people are. The biggest vulnerability in security is generally the human. Why not exploit a system from its weakest link, rather than spending twice as long using a much longer method to get whatever you want?
Stochastic-lies, is pretty dead on about this. Why spend hours trying to find a vunerability in a system when you can coax someone unfamilar on company protocal to give it to you.
I personally own the book and my personal opinion is as follows:
The Art of Deception is an good introductory book into Social Engineering. It gives you many examples in context and theory that get the reader interested and illustrates principles behind the practice. However it lacks in actual instruction on how to practice those skills. It is like a math book with theories and proofs without practice problems. You can state the quadratic equation or what a derative is and give examples on how they are used countless times in a book or on a blackboard. However until the student themself applies them they will not truly have an understanding of the concepts.


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In a memo given to GameStop stores this morning, Sony has given the go ahead to take an unlimited amount of preorders for the PlayStation 4.
Release the Kraken.
Damnit now I just want to see some good ole Ray Harryhausen movies.
Am I the only person that caught this?
Now they are being successful by using the term:"offline game".
Did you catch that, if you install a "OFFLINE game" then you will not have restrictions, that is the condition.
What defines a "OFFLINE game" What if only one game has the label of offline game on it? Most likey candidate would be a turned based rpg.
Heck what percent of games don't have a component of online on 360 games right now? Microsoft almost required it with few exceptions.
If there is a term "OFFLINE game" as a condition. for you to not have to get online.
Microsoft qoute:An internet connection will not be required to play OFFLINE Xbox One games....If they where not trying to fool you it would
read:An internet connection will not be required to play Xbox One games. see the difference? I don't care if it drops to 199 It is still taking away my used games rights!!! plus as I pointed out the DRM issue is conniving explained to fool us? This is what Microsoft meant by they will make this CLEAR. (MORE TRICKY) This could just be a feature on the back of the box. So if they dont make a offline box like they have a 'online multi player' capable box on the back of the disc it is okay to still drm you to there hearts are content!!!
Man I wish they gave us a launchdate to look forward to.
@indysurfn Why are all your posts about the same? Me think you're spamming.
The Oracle gave us a prophecy. Come 2013, PS4 will be "The One".
I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft is fooling everyone. They know once you make the mistake of purchasing their hitlerbox you wont be likely to return it.
Anyone know how much the pre-order is? I really wanted to order this on newegg instead of Gamestop... but looks like Gamestop it is.
GameStop is $100 down, Bestbuy is $25 there are no limited spot for preorder of PS4, but there is limited spot for Xbox one.
Seriously dude give it up already. That's like the 3rd thread where you have posted the same dribble. It has nothing to do with this topic. We all get your but hurt about the Xbox One reversing there DRM. Get the f#$k over it. If your not gonna buy one fine. Mine and thousands of others a still pre ordered and I couldn't care less what you think. Shut up and go get your PS4 on launch day
indy, give it up. It says "offline game" because PS+ is required to play a game online, so they can't say you can play an online game with no restrictions considering that requirement. If they did just say "game" instead of "offline game", it would be false advertisement. Your argument is dead. Go find a new one.
PS4 pre orders are going fast... At my gamestop it is at 78.
Unlimited doesn't mean jack squat. How the hell are they supposed to hold as many pre orders for a console in those tiny stores????? Even a semi truck can barely hold a few hundred thousand of them.....
( oh come on that was funny!)
@ indysurfn
No one really cares about what Microsoft's evil plan is because it hasn't been widespread yet. In due time people will realize what the hell is going on. But for now let it simmer
@Xwow Man curse you because when I read that comment all contents in my mouth like my coffee had to be cleaned off my monitor and workstation...thank you! :)
They just better make sure I get my launch day edition before they go to crazy.... I got the email from Amazon, but would have a serious problem if orders being allocated to gamestop messed it up.
Kraken died in God of War 2.
Kraken also dies in
Methinks this Kraken thing is stronger than we first anticipated.
Kraken doesnt die in Tactics Ogre: Let's Cling Together because it becomes one of your soldiers.
Armageddon died at the hands of Bruce Willis
WTF, no one mentioned Pirates of Carribean :(
Pffft. Kraken is a pussy. Release Cthulhu!
SONY is a HW manufacturer as well which positions them with a unique advantage over MSFT, they have better relations in that area at lower costs as a result of long time partnerships.
That's why they can deliver quality HW, higher specs at lower costs even when there might be a loss it's not as big as if it was MSFT delivering that HW... no power brick and still a slim console says everything about design and component used by SONY, X1 has probably no lock for the disc...by the way, has X1 still a disc tray besidesgigantic powerbrick?
^this. Now they are considering selling off some of there entertainment holdings to strengthen their electronic division. Just goes to show where they want to go in the future. which is great to hear. I hope the shareholders approve it.
Slazer i read some big investors suggested spinning off their entertainment properties into a separate company and sell off things like the insurance and the medical device co. Pepsi spunoff their kfc,taco bell, pizza hut restaurants plus frito lay into yum brands and that has worked well for them.
@slazer and nun
I think they were only considering that because some bigshot investor was threatning some type of take over where Sony wasnt pleased about hearing. They want to divide their assets to protect them w/o losing too much control on them.
those line used to produce the PS2 is not going to do nothing now, is it?
Sony is selling off quite a bit. They sold off their award winning world headquarters in Japan and the hq in the U.S. for 4 billion so they could post about a 1 billion profit this year. Had they not, they would have lost over 3 billion.
There is a reason Sony did not design the PS4 hardware and instead went to AMD like Microsoft. The higher specs at lower costs is not accurate, both systems use an AMD Jaguar CPU and an AMD 7000 series derived GPU. They both have a Blu-ray drive and 8 gigs of RAM. The performance difference is due to the different RAM used by each. Sony went with GDDR5 which is GPU RAM and Microsoft went with DDR3 CPU ram and added a buffer to increase speed. The "raw" power of the PS4 looks better on paper since GPU ram is faster, but there are latency issues that prevent GDDR5 from being used for CPU's. For a CPU, DDR3 is much more efficient. Neither console has better ram since neither is ideal for a combined CPU/GPU configuration.
Slim is nice, but airflow is nicer. We will have to wait and see if the compact PS4 is better than the more spacious XboxOne. Both are PC based and the best PC's are not slim in any way. If the PS4 runs hot, the pen and paper power everyone is using to determine it's specs will need to be scaled back in order to run cool enough. Only time will tell.
These two consoles are all but identical right now. Both have the same specs and hardware. Both have paid online. Neither has the dreaded DRM that would have made gaming better or worse depending on your perspective. The only thing seperating them is the games. If you are not making your decision based on games, you are deciding for the wrong reason.
As far as lower cost, what are you comparing? As we get closer to launch, both are going to be priced pretty close to another. The $399 launch PS4 is all but "sold out" and being replaced by forced bundles. Being to buy a game or controller you don't want isn't much different than buying a camera you don't want.
I think you overlooked that the ps4 has the better gpu 1.8 tf vs x1 at 1.2. The other thing people freaking forget all the time is that the x1 runs 3 separate operating systems at once. This puts a strain on their already slower ram. They've allocated 3 gigs of ram for this where as sony is only using 1.
I think it's a given that Sony can manufacture more consoles than MS considering the yield problems but I don't think it's just because of that Sony are doing this. I think what Sony are doing is channelling more consoles through Gamestop, making them the primary source. There will probably be less stock going through none gaming sources such as Walmart or ASDA.
I just believe the more consoles that are pre-ordered the more stock Sony can prepare for during launch and I believe Sony wants to meet total demand. They are probably revving up the production like crazy atm. Its just good business sense to ship as many as possible and capitalize on the lead they have in terms of hype and demand.
Thats not really true. Companies are very careful about the amount of product they have out there. In a perfect world they would have the exact amount they need to sell. Every unit that isnt sold has a cost attached to it. Game Stop knows this as well. Its a complex guessing game
Yes good point but having pre-order helps eliminate that guessing of what the demand is. I know that not everyone who pre-orders will follow through but its the ultimate measurement test that Sony can get and will ever get when it comes to demand. After launch they wont be able to gauge what the demand will be so they dont want to under shoot the demand potentially giving the competition sales due to lack of availability. When it comes to consoles they will be selling lot hotcakes throughout the first 3 months nov-january so its very hard to over shoot supply in Sony case.
By Kraken I assume you mean Mark Cerny's beautiful beast - wait that may have sounded wrong :)
With everyone distracted by GameStop having so much in stock hopefully I can walk in on launch day and get mine from Walmart. Walmart isn't currently accepting Site-to-store pre-orders, only pre-orders that deliver it to your house, and I don't want it sitting on my damn doorstep lol.
I'm adamant about walmart because I get a 10% discount there making my total cost $392.36, that's with tax included.
Looks like Sony nailed production.
They seem to have nailed everything so far!
I see what they did here. Smart move.
Now that XB1 is a better option than it previously was Sony is thinking maybe some of the people might go with XB1 because they couldn't pre-order PS4..
This way....if the only reason they were getting an XB1 is because PS4 pre-orders were full....this cancels that out.
They want to take advantage of the hype going on right now before it settles a bit.
the gamestop in my area is getting 65 ps4's and 8 xbox one's
as of 4 days ago 61 ps4 were pre ordered
lol they don't really want me to unleash the dragon
I'm sorry, but yeah. That's common sense. The only way you can play an online game is with an internet connection. I hate to sound like a Microsoft apologist, but the thing here is that they're not, to my knowledge, requiring an internet connection for ALL games. As in, you won't have to be online to authenticate the game before you play it.
XBOXONE pre orders are open now as well, awesome!
yay the 7 MS have ready to be made will sell like hot cakes
Got em' by the strings.
the kraken one of my favorite drinks.
if you mean that newish rum i would have to say no , i had a whole bottle of that stuff and it did nothing to me considering the price i was pissed off and will stick to wild turkey from now on.
Maybe there were some truth to those 16m shipment DigiTimes reported after all?
This is rather interesting because it seems like there is an unlimited supply, which is great news for gamers obviously.
Global launch and domination inbound?
The stars certainly are aligned for the PS4.
What I think this means is that yields are good enough that they can fulfill any pre-orders. And pre-orders are good enough that they are willing to ramp up production.
wow looks like quantity won't be an issue for Sony this holiday saeson
Good news, it means scalpers on Ebay can suck it lol.
Man that reminds me of the outrageous prices on the current gen consoles during the holidays and the Ebay scalpers.
Hey...people will pay what people will pay for...
I simply offer the product at a price...I make the delivery and receive payment.
With this news though...it's certainly sad to hear for my wallet.
I do it with every single console release. I personally preordered 6 PS4's. Only 3 at first but demand went up so I did so with my preorders. I also have 4 X1's. If they dont sell worse case i return with full refund. Its free money.
lol keep it up geniuses, soon you will be getting hit with a summons by your local cockroaches for doing business as a reseller without paying them off first.
just hope i get mine on time no delays
Stop feeding the troll below me. I whoever actually replies to him is stupider than pisquounet, himself.
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Damn it. And I ordered an extra PS4 to sell when the supply got low. I guess, I'll just keep it incase.
LOL I bought two as well thinking I'd do the same thing... Ohh well one for the living room and one for the bedroom I guess lol
Oooo gonna preorder another one.


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