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"Office of the Attorney General" stated the return address on an official-looking envelope that had just arrived in my mail. I opened it and read: "NJ law requires ... background checks on all health professionals ... schedule appointment ... fingerprints electronically recorded.…"
My colleagues soon informed me that they, too, had received a letter of this kind. We were all to experience, firsthand, the science of dactyloscopy – identification by means of fingerprints. Brand new digital images of our skin patterns would be joining those of about 40 million other people stored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
I arrived at the designated location to find the waiting room jam-packed. There sure are lots of fingers here, I thought. But technology was ready. Instead of old-fashioned messy ink pads, there were neat electronic scanners.
I placed one finger at a time on the glass plate and my prints appeared immediately as well-defined black squiggles on a white computer screen. It was impressive.
"How do you match these?" I asked the technician.
"We look at specific ridge formations," he said. "For example, here," he pointed, "is a bifurcation in this line on your thumb."
Sure enough, one of my squiggles split off into a tiny little branch. All those distinctive designs, I learned, are divided into patterns of three main groups: Arches, loops, and whorls. No two people have the same exact configuration. And whatever pattern you possess is permanently yours. I gazed at the array of squiggles on the screen.
"That's me," I said.
"That's you," the technician said.
Now and then, during my growing-up years, I had wondered who and what exactly is that "me." I would look at my hands and face, legs and toes – seeing similarities to members of my family. Yet when it comes to fingerprints, I learned, each one of us is unique. There are no duplicates. Ever. Not even in identical twins.
That can be a rather monumental thing to think about: I am the only one in the universe to possess this miniature motif on my fingertips. And every other human who has ever lived, or is yet to come, can say the same.
This was nothing new to the people of ancient China and Assyria. There, they used their thumbprints to seal legal documents – as irrefutable a signature as anyone can produce.
Thomas Bewick, an 18th-century British engraver and naturalist, used this anatomical advantage to identify his work.
In the late 19th century, British scientist Sir Francis Galton zeroed in on all those fingerprint arches, loops, and whorls for official identification purposes. He studied and then described them in glorious detail, including their qualities of permanence and individuality. And so, the basis of our current 10-digit classification system was born.
Although most animals don't possess digital definition like their human counterparts, they still leave plenty of impressions by identifying prints – of paws, feet, and hoofs. And their marks provide adequate evidence.
My fellow naturalist sleuths and I have often walked through the woods, eyes toward the ground, searching for the countless tales told in mud or snow of creatures that have passed this way: Split-hoof patterns of white-tailed deer, dainty stitchery made by the feet of mice and voles, "jump dots" of squirrels and rabbits, the large "Y's" of wild turkey feet. (These are perhaps not as individual as human fingerprints, but they are still specific to the species.)
Yet no matter if an autograph is made by man or animal, there still seems to be something important in the leaving of that mark – whether accomplished unintentionally or by deliberate design. Whether the signs consist of carefully placed footprints on new snow, handprints on wet cement, or initials carved into tree trunks, they all proclaim in their own way, "I was here. I exist."
But in spite of everyone's individuality, we humans are connected by significant similarities. Shared life experiences abound. joys and sorrows, hopes and disappointments, victories and vicissitudes: "That's exactly how I feel, too ... the same thing happened to me ... I know just what you mean." There may be variations on this theme, but countless commonalities continue.
We are, it seems, all in the same cosmic boat. Yet each sailor, in the final count, remains unique – as is so clearly confirmed by our fingerprints.


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If you were sad, mad, and bewildered as to why Anna Trebunskaya isn't joining the cast of Dancing With the Stars this season, here's something that may ease your pain: She's pregnant! Trebunskaya is four months along with her first child. She split with her husband of nine years, fellow DWTS castmember Jonathan Roberts, last year; she's yet to reveal who the "very supportive" baby daddy is. But who cares? She's pregnant!
Twenty bucks says Anna's kid comes samba-ing out of her lady parts. With a feather boa and itty-bitty tap shoes! Awww!
Trebunskaya told Us Weekly that the pregnancy came as a complete surprise. "It wasn't planned, but when it happened, I thought, 'This is perfect -- I'm ready to be a mom. This is something really good for me and fulfilling, and it'll give me a whole new meaning in life.' I'm really looking forward to it." She also admitted to being bummed out that she'd miss this season of DWTS, but plans on coming back the following season, along with her new addition. "I'm looking forward to getting back into shape and dancing and bringing the baby on board into the DWTS family!" she said.
Congrats to Anna and whoever this mystery man is! I'm sure she'll make a wonderful mom. And now that all well wishes are out of the way, seriously, who's the dad?
Are you surprised by Anna's pregnancy?
Image via ABC

subset: commoncrawl


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An actor — I won't say which one — once told me that Joe Adler doesn't write down notes on blocking. This is true. Last Saturday, as the crew at GableStage headed into the final week of preparations for David Mamet's new presidential comedy, November, the actors couldn't quite keep themselves from commenting about the director's lapse, despite the presence of a theater critic with a tape recorder.
"No, no," said Adler to actress Stacy Schwartz, who plays a lesbian speechwriter with a cold, after she crossed the Oval Office to pat the president's back. "You don't cross there."
She smiled — Schwartz has a lovely smile — and muttered, "Oh, today we don't cross here." This happened several times in the next 20 minutes, and each time the smile was a little less convincing.
Joe Adler|November
i>November: Written by David Mamet. Directed by Joe Adler. With David Kwiat, Stacy Schwartz, Wayne LeGette, David Corey, and Kevin Reilly. Through November 16. GableStage, 1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral Gables; 305-445-1119, www.gablestage.org
It's probably just that Adler has too much on his mind. He is the grand old lion of South Florida theater. Nobody donates so much money to the arts, helps out so many fledgling theater companies, or is as vocally committed to ensuring real, serious plays are produced in the tri-county area. And nobody does a preshow announcement like Adler, who can never resist sharing his vast civic rage with an audience.
Adler can't talk enough about politics, which is why he's doing November, a play about a goofy, incompetent prez at the ugly end of his first term. It's timely, topical, and a fabulous opportunity to mock a political scene that, by November 5, will look nothing like it does now.
I dragged Adler outside for a minute to talk about the play. Here is what he said.
Brandon K. Thorp: November got mixed reviews when it premiered in Manhattan this spring. Why is that?
Joe Adler: You know how easy it is to take shots at plays like this, that take shots at what's going on right now — contemporary mores, contemporary politics, contemporary issues. It's not hard to do that.
It's easy to screw up a commentary play.
It is! It's very easy. But you know, I don't think this is a play that pushes any particular agenda. You're never clear whether we're talking here about a Republican president or a Democratic president. This is about the stupidity — the cupidity, if you will — of so many of the things that are going on in our country right now.
Is that what you look for in a good political play? Ambiguity?
I think there's some of that — ambiguity — but I like this because I think it skewers the people who are rooted in certain beliefs, that are passé, over the hill. Do you remember the wonderful days when there were politicians who would be ... the vanguard of helping us move in new directions?
Well, no. I'm 25.
Right! But there was a time when they realized that their responsibility was to move us ahead, to [provide] forward thinking, new thinking, new ideas. Now they're behind the curve. And this is about a politician who is distinctly behind the curve.
Behind-the-curve ideas really bother you, huh?
Oh, absolutely. Well, look at today's paper. Just today, Connecticut just legalized gay marriage. And we've got a vote going on in this state, in this next election in November, to pass an amendment that says gay marriage is illegal. Now what is that about? [And] I am enormously, enormously upset that this country doesn't come up with the money for education, doesn't come up with the money for healthcare, doesn't come up with the money for so many things that are important. It's just not there; we don't have it in the budget. But then — all of a sudden — we need $700 billion to bail out Wall Street, and it's suddenly there. Where does it come from?
It's borrowed.
Well then borrow some fucking money for the schools! Borrow some money for healthcare! That's my point. They borrowed some money for war — we have trillions of dollars for an unnecessary war.... If Al Gore had served as president, and [the current administration had] not started an unnecessary war, we could have taken that surplus, and right now we might have healthcare. We might have better education. This deficit wouldn't exist. All these problems wouldn't have happened.
You always pepper your preshow remarks with timely and topical commentary. Is that entirely safe?
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We are a 501(c)(3), and we're not allowed to endorse any candidacy or take a position for any party. But that doesn't mean we can't take positions that, I think, are directly related to constitutional rights, First Amendment rights. So a lot of times when I'm speaking out, it isn't because I'm necessarily saying right, left, conservative, liberal. I see things happening that, I think, both parties should be opposed to.
Like, for instance, what's going on in the city, in Miami-Dade County, with all the cutbacks in education. I don't think people on one side or the other feel differently about that. I think we all [disapprove of the fact] that our schools' budgets are being cut. And by the way, this affects the arts programs as much as anything else.
We've played to a million students in Miami-Dade County over the years — about 40,000 every year. We bring a Shakespeare play to the schools, and we bring the schools to see one of the plays on our main stage. And there has always been financial support for this coming from the Miami-Dade school board. This year, that was eliminated.
So we're going ahead with this program anyway. As a matter of fact, we're starting the tour of Macbeth in about three weeks. And we're doing without the school board's financing. We're gonna find that money, because we don't believe that's a program we can abandon. We'll get the money. Because if that program is cut, this is going to have a serious impact on all arts groups in the years to come. I mean, this is our audience for the future, and not just theater — museums, opera, concert halls, the ballet. Who's going to go, if these kids don't get into the habit of attending now? So I just have to believe that the money will appear when we need it. It always has before.


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Aiming to turn over a new leaf, Maoist leader, wife surrender
Top Maoist leader Ranjit Pal and his wife Jharna Giri surrendered themselves to the police on Wednesday with an aim to return to the mainstream of life.
Both Ranjit and Jharna handed over their arms to the Director General of Police Surajit Kar Purkayastha in the presence of the Commissioner of the Kolkata Police Rajeev Kumar, ADG (Law and Order) Anuj Sharma and DC of the city police's Special Task Force Murli Dhar.
Both Ranjit and Jharna were involved in Maoist activities for the past 15 years. Ranjit carried out armed revolution in Bankura, Purulia and Jharkhand. He was also given the responsibility to lead the Ayodhya Squad. He was suspended for getting engaged into a relationship with a woman going against the party's rules and regulations. He was later given the responsibility of Bankura district. But there too he had got engaged into a dispute with Maoist leader Bikram.
Ranjit was also involved in mass killing in Jhalda and had killed two policemen. The Maoist leader was also involved in the Lalgarh Movement.
Purkayastha said: "Both of them want to return to the mainstream of life. I would like to urge those who have joined hands with the Maoists by mistake to come back to the mainstream of life."
"In the past two years, 213 Maoists were arrested and 219 surrendered themselves to the police," he said.
Sources said that the police feel that they could get to know about other top Maoist leaders and their activities from Ranjit and Jharna. The information would help them to arrest the Maoists.
It may be mentioned that the Maoist leader Panchanan Mahato, who was known to be close to Ranjit, was arrested recently and in April 2016, top Maoist leader Bikash and his wife Tara had surrendered to the police. Surrender of the two Maoists couple within nine months was a success of the Special Task Force of the Kolkata Police and Criminal Investigation Department.


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Last week's trip to the late dictator's hometown left a bad taste in my mouth. For almost three years now, I have been engaged in work that touches upon certain points of his legacy. Since then, nostalgia for the strongman's period of reign has spread among the populace. It may be due to this extended and continued exposure to materials related to him that the recent turn of events have a personal, and somewhat emotional, effect. I was extremely surprised to see how public sentiment turned to his family's favor and reached a fever pitch in this year's national elections. The historical mass amnesia and revisionism do not show signs of subsiding in the near future. My reactions of late have mainly been denial, disbelief, and repulsion. In some instances, paralyzing numbness. The visit, however, awakened darker and nihilistic emotions.
While waiting for our bus to leave, I was able to re-read John Berger's "The White Bird" (available online here). The essay provided a bright spot in what was generally an exhausting trip, due in part by the solitude provided by the act of reading and also by the contents of the essay itself. Berger starts thus,
From time to time I have been invited by institutions – mostly American – to speak about aesthetics. On one occasion I considered accepting and I thought of taking with me a bird made of white wood. But I didn't go. The problem is that you can't talk about aesthetics without talking about the principle of hope and the existence of evil.
I first encountered (and reported on) the essay during a class about Folk Art. At that time, I had only read it in the context of traditional and indigenous art-making. The white bird, after all, was a simple wooden construction created traditionally by peasants in Russia and certain parts of Europe. Yet I had overlooked the point Berger made about the aesthetic emotion, which the wooden bird evokes in people who view it for the first time.
One is looking at a piece of wood that has become a bird. One is looking at a bird that is somehow more than a bird. One is looking at something that has been worked with a mysterious skill and a kind of love.
This recognition of sentimentality was startling. It had been ages since I had read a work by an art critic that explicitly used the word "love", it was more likely that one would come across repeated exhortations for, or against, the "Void". Berger continues to expound on what can be considered as his theory on the aesthetic emotion and its relation to nature, and by extension, to the world.
Before a mountain, a desert just after the sun has gone down, or a fruit tree, one can also experience aesthetic emotion. Consequently we are forced to begin again – not this time with a man-made object but with the nature into which we are born.
Berger clarifies that nature is not serene and picturesque as we often imagine it to be. Our current technological and industrial progress have allowed many to "enjoy" the beauty of nature without worrying about its destructive capacity. This view, however, is mostly mistaken and we are reminded of this during times of natural calamities. In the midst of turmoil and violence, the perception of beauty becomes all the more acute.
It is within this bleak natural context that beauty is encountered, and the encounter is by its nature sudden and unpredictable. The gale blows itself out, the sea changes from the colour of grey shit to aquamarine. Under the fallen boulder of an avalanche a flower grows. Over the shanty town the moon rises. I offer dramatic examples so as to insist upon the bleakness of the context. Reflect upon more everyday examples. However it is encountered, beauty is always an exception, always in despite of. This is why it moves us.
Other more everyday examples of beauty in nature, perhaps an interesting texture of the mud or the dripping of rainwater, by the very nature of their ephemerality and simplicity adhere closely to the Japanese aesthetic emotion of wabi-sabi. While most Western artworks are more refined, more divorced in form from the natural qualities of the materials from which they were made, works made with the wabi-sabi aesthetic exhibit qualities closer to that found in nature.
While beauty is found "in despite of," art was humanity's attempt to capture this emotion. For Berger, art orders itself around the aesthetic emotion; beauty is not incidental anymore, it becomes "the basis for an order". In this regard, I find Berger's conception of beauty in art ossifying. Again, it might be interesting to look into the more complex notion of wabi-sabi as a worthy partner to Berger's notion of beauty in nature. With the former, beauty is not captured for the purpose of fashioning form, but rather, emanates from the object through its texture and unrefined quality. The aesthetic emotion is not permanent (and the objects themselves were not designed to be permanent) and is contained in the object only for a certain period. As Leonard Koren stated, "[a]n object contains the state of wabi-sabi only for the moment it is appreciated as such." After that, the objects (often used in the context of a tea ceremony) revert to their everyday existence. In the same way that the beauty one finds in the perception of a flower growing from an avalanche is contained within a singular glimpse, the state of wabi-sabi is in the moment and not inherent in the objects.
All of these presuppose a subject that will recognize (perceive, affirm, or perhaps, mediate) that which causes the aesthetic emotion.
One is obliged to acknowledge a coincidence or perhaps a congruence. The evolution of natural forms and the evolution of human perception have coincided to produce the phenomenon of a potential recognition: what is and what we can see (and by seeing also feel) sometimes meet at a point of affirmation. This point, this coincidence, is two-faced: what has been seen is recognized and affirmed and, at the same time, the seer is affirmed by what he sees. For a brief moment one finds oneself – without the pretensions of a creator – in the position of God in the first chapter of Genesis…. And he saw that it was good. The aesthetic emotion before nature derives, I believe, from this double affirmation.
This perception and affirmation of the object by the subject has roots in Marxist tradition. Andrew Feenberg, in an essay, talks of the aesthetic emotion in the works of Marx and Marcuse:
Marx claims that the senses have a history determined by social and economic development. The real content of experience is gradually revealed as civilization advances. There is a hierarchy of sensation, going from a minimal, crude encounter with the object through the full realization of its complexity and beauty. A dog may hear a symphony but it will not hear what its master hears. The human being at home in the world under socialism will find more in nature than the impoverished and alienated worker under capitalism.
The aesthetic in both senses of the term is invoked here. Like the practice of art-making, the "practice" of sensation involves on the one hand objects rich in meaning and on the other subjects capable of receiving that meaning. This reception is not passive but involves granting form to the given. Marx corrects in this way the over-emphasis on the object in empiricism and the subject in Kantian idealism. His theory corresponds to what Adorno refers to as a "mediation" theory of sensation in which both object and subject contribute to the shaping of experience.
Marcuse's interpretation of Marx results to a theory of aesthetics that is somewhat congruent with Berger's conception. Both uphold the creative act as a response by man, one that not only resists violence (in nature or in capitalist society), but also affirms the aesthetic emotion that we, as conscious beings, are capable of feeling; and from this very same emotion, dare to imagine a different world. Berger writes the following:
Art does not imitate nature, it imitates a creation, sometimes to propose an alternative world, sometimes simply to amplify, to confirm, to make social the brief hope offered by nature. Art is an organized response to what nature allows us to glimpse occasionally. Art sets out to transform the potential recognition into an unceasing one. It proclaims man in the hope of receiving a surer reply… the transcendental face of art is always a form of prayer.
Similarly, the aesthetic emotion and man's creative impulse is a response that errs on the side of life, in despite of the numbing effects of modern society. As Feenberg writes:
[Marcuse] argues that the erotic impulse is directed toward the preservation and furtherance of life. It is not merely an instinct or drive but operates in the sensuous encounter with the world that reveals it in its beauty, the objective correlate of the erotic. But this impulse is repressed by society, partially sublimated, partially confined to sexuality. The loss of immediate sensory access to the beautiful gives rise to art as a specialized enclave in which we perceive the trace of erotic life affirmation.
… aesthetic form is a kind of simplification and idealization that reveals sensuously the true essences of things, things as they would be redeemed in a better world. [emphasis mine]
In the days following our trip, amongst the deluge of pessimism that threatened to overpower my reason, I turned to Berger's essay for solace. I am reminded that in the midst of madness, there can be resistance and beauty. And there can be hope.
Berger, John. "The White Bird," in The Sense of Sight, 5-9. New York: Vintage International, 1985.
Feenberg, Andrew. "Marcuse on Art and Technology," in Heathwood Institute and Press. Accessed 18 September 2016. http://www.heathwoodpress.com/marcuse-on-art-and-technology-andrew-feenberg/.
Koren, Leonard. Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers. California: Imperfect Publishing, 1994 and 2008.


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(Final Part of Year 2 in Review)
Before I continue, I need to make a correction and I apologize that this slipped my mind. I forgot to mention an important personnel change during the EC restructuring in the last era. FilteredRiddle unfortunately had to step down as 3IC due to health reasons. After a long process of deciding who would fill the spot, Knalei became our new Lord Commander, 3IC. The Master History in the guild forums now properly reflects this info. Now we can continue.
The "Reinvention" era actually started in stages before it truly began. The first stage was weeding out the inactive members. I issued an "Active" policy stating that as long as you showed "ONLINE" in game within a 4 month period, your spot was safe. I realize real life happens so if anyone wanted their spot saved, I would save it for them. As a perk for being a "Retired Officer", they were exempt to the policy. Eventually I had to lower to a 3 month period because the inactive number was still too high and more new members wanted to join.
With that in place the next phase was getting members active. After many failed attempts, Punisher and the officers worked on creating an event schedule. Hosted by our officers; these daily events would cater to our casual core of members. The only exception at that time was Motif Mondays hosted by GrimNoirKnight, who wasn't an officer. Already an established event; it was highly popular with our crafters in getting all the motifs available in the game. Also the Order of Obsidian Trials vet team was created, led by SavageFire. This team offered harder content for our more seasoned members looking to complete the vet trials. With two days set with events, all we needed were more casual guild events. Thanks to One Tamriel, grouping together from different alliances made this very easy. From Skyshard, Lore Book, overland World Boss hunting to Fishing, clearing Public Dungeons and Delves; there was an event for everyone.
With members now more active, the harder part of our "Reinvention" began. Punisher's idea was sound; let's rebrand the OG and make it even more appealing to both old and new members. Lemon spearheaded the design of our logo, Ryu spearheaded the design of the new tabard, Knalei reworded our recruitment post on the ESO forums; all with input from our officers. This all took a couple of hard weeks but the end result was amazing. The final touch was the renaming of the ranks with creative descriptions, courtesy of Lemon. The rebranding was complete, the "Reinvention" of the OG was over and it was time to move forward fresh and renewed. So early in February, the "Reinvention" era came to an end and we entered the "Current" era, again.
As I've stated before; we are always in the "Current" era. Until a pivotal moment comes along warranting me to break off a chunk of the history, rename it and add it to the Master History. That moment could be days, weeks, or months from now. Our "Current" era so far has been really good but it has had its moments.
Not long after the "Reinvention" era ended, an issue with GrimNoirKnight arose. Now I know there has been speculation and rumors surrounding this issue and I am not going into any of those details. What did happen was a very tumultuous and stressful week with him leaving the OG. This resulted with the guild having to sever ties with his guild; The Boss Hunters. This was a huge loss to the OG; that guild was the home to most of our dedicated crafters and fear of backlash and chaos weighed heavy on my mind. However, in a stunning move, Grim handed TBH over to Ariel and left the game. A few days later, Ariel graciously brought TBH back as a sister crafting guild to the OG. That had to be one of the most stressful weeks I've ever had with this guild.
Fortunately 2 new distractions were on the horizon that got everyone excited. First off, Homesteads. Finally you could own houses in ESO; as long as you either had the achievement and gold or the crowns to do it. This started the question; are we getting a guild house? Originally discussed by the HC; initially it was a no, not until more info had come out. As more information arose, the more it looked like a no. The main sticking point was the 24 member cap the high end houses had. Plus the 3 manors had major pros and cons that just didn't seem viable for a guild house. It seemed like the dream was dead until an unexpected donation.
Wyt3rabbit; an original member and one of the cornerstones of the OG, sent me a donation to use towards a guild house. The dream was back alive; the EC were brought into the discussion and the real search for a house began. By this time Earthtear Cavern became available in Craglorn and it became the frontrunner. But the elusive Island was coming out for a limited time and we waited to see what that looked like. When the preview of Grand Topal began it became obvious this was the place. Thanks to Wyt3rabbit; the Island Guild House has become our home, furnished by many of our members. It has become the meeting place for most events. It also boasts training dummies and all the standard crafting stations.
The second was the return to Morrowind. The excitement of returning to Vvardenfell was overwhelming; for many this was our first taste of Elder Scrolls. All any of us could hope for was that ZOS wouldn't screw this up. As the months went by; reading the info about the upcoming release was mixed. It wasn't so much the Morrowind part that bothered members; it was the Update that was practically changing the entire game. Dread and hatred filled a few with the threat of leaving the game because of the future changes. I said this then and I say it now; change is good, especially with this kind of game. Otherwise it would get boring and we would all move on and as a Guild Master, I don't want to lose anyone.
ESO also held a couple of events; Hew Banes anniversary with double the drops and the Jester Event with new recipes and housing items. There was a real life adventure in late April/early May when shotofespresso traveled to New Zealand and visited funnylady. In June Morrowind released along with the feared Update and for the most part, everything went fine. As the guild year was coming to an end, ESO prepared us for another event; Midyear Mayhem. But that's for next year's review.
We had a lot of new members join our ranks throughout the past year and I honestly don't know which era they joined. So amongst the many that joined include; PlagueFGC, MRoz78, Liquescence, Spidah Handz406, Dite Hart, XxCaDoRxX, MuscledInk90, Artemis Hades, Ozirisno1, AzOutback, Paper Target, strained mind, JackieMeeking, phatklown1, FatherXombie, OleanderPoison, C3G Jester, Adhamhnon, Dasher68, Aggonee, Beautifuleyes69, Zenmaster Jeff, Pynchin, ClayborneMarten, James Almy, JDawgSmooth, and MugzyBaby.
So here we are, as current as this "Current" era can be. When will this era end, be named and filed away? One never knows. But this is a great guild and thanks to all of you, it continues to be great.
What does the future hold? Who knows? ZOS continues to push the envelope with this game; always trying to improve while hoping not to destroy it. There is multiple DLC coming and probably more events. After Morrowind I wonder which great area they'll unlock next. Skyrim; with a huge Companions quest line? Elsweyr; with quests involving Razum-Dar? Maybe another return to Solstheim? We'll just have to wait and see what next year brings.
Will the OG survive yet another year? With what we've done and with your help, we will. Remember; this is YOUR guild. You have a say, please voice it. Just reach out to me or any officers. Your opinion matters in helping our continued growth as a guild. I want to see as many of you as possible for our 3 year anniversary. Thanks again to all our members; you're the best a guild could have. Stay strong OG; have fun, and good hunting.
The officers of the guild have been hard at work behind the scenes coming up with a new guild event schedule. We are striving to create more meaningful content within the guild events that anyone and everyone is welcome to join in. These are all CASUAL events! Each officer in the guild will be hosting their own event, once every 2 weeks.
The schedule will be set in 2 week blocks. Social PvP and Trial runs will have a set rotating schedule. Check #og-eso-trials for social Trial signups. Sundays are reserved for the Trials team (Order of Obsidian). Check #og-guild-events for a daily post for the day's event.
There is a forum on the website, 'Recent Guild Events' where officers will post a quick recap of each event and who attended. Below is the link to the calendar of events. It is set for the next 2 weeks. In the future, the calendar will automatically update as events are sign uped for, so check back often. All times are EST. http://tinyurl.com/OGEventsCalendarIt may seem right now the events are geared more towards Morrowind. This is because it is the newest content and a demand for doing events there are higher. But for those who haven't gotten it yet or may never; don't worry, we will still be doing events in the rest of Tamriel.
First off; I want to thank all of you for making this one of the best guilds around. I have no idea what our rep is in the ESO community but I know we've got the best members around. We are all willing to help each other when we can in any aspect of the game. You are the reason why I created this guild and I am grateful you found your way here. So everyone; a big round of applause, you deserve it and I thank you.To all our officers; thank you for all your hard work. You have dedicated many hours to this guild; running events, crafting items, helping anywhere you can. Without you this guild does not function and I appreciate all you've done. Thank you.
One more round of thanks go out to our unsung heroes; the founders and cornerstones to this guild. Today we enjoy the hard work they endured getting this guild moving in the right direction. I appreciate their hard work and thank them for helping create the guild we are today. Thank you all.
Happy 2nd Anniversary! That's correct; the OG has been around for 2 years this July. Unlike last year's anniversary, we will not be doing all these events to celebrate. Primarily because we already do daily events that would effectively be the same type of events.
So instead; we're doing a massive Lottery with 100,000 gold up for grabs. However, 3 lucky winners will get awarded 100k to each of them. That's right; 3 seperate winners, 100k each! Simply deposit 503 gold into the guild bank, as many times as you wishes to enter. Any combined amount will work also (1006, 1509, 2012...etc.). Lottery will end July 31st at 11:00 PM EST. Good luck and thank you for sticking with us for 2 years.


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I want you to get MAD!
1. Slappy head
2. Habeas What?
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4. Plane Stupid
5. The Faint
6. More P.E. Please
7. Brother Ali
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a view into the deranged mind of subMedia founder Franklin Lopez


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Do you remember a day when everything you thought about a person changed? When you saw a person in a completely different way? When what you thought you knew about the person only skimmed the surface? This happened to the character, Emily, in Pages in the Wind. Her brother was virtually unknown to her — they didn't share the same childhood. I suppose you could say that he (excuse the cliche) was the prodigal son. This all changed one day, sitting with him on the porch on a lazy summer day.
Robert flashed a "goodbye-for-now" smile as he stood up and started walking toward the science fair. I watched him walk, keeping my eyes fixed on the perfect boy with the shiny black shoes and red bow tie. He looked different — smaller and more vulnerable — almost lonely. Something made me see him differently. It certainly wasn't his perfectly combed hair, or his over starched shirt — that was always Robert.
As I thought about the look in his blue eyes, and the way he handed me the brown paper bag…I realized what was different about him. He was different because father wasn't with him. Father wasn't there to bolster him up on a pedestal, and direct his every move like the grand ringmaster. Without father, Robert was my brother.
And I loved him…I loved the sweet, lonely boy in the shiny shoes and red bow tie.
Robert will become an important character in Emily's life - now that she realizes he is so much more than a nerdy brother living in a different universe.


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Looking to add a little culture to your life? You're in luck! Today through February 29, you can check out art exhibits, independent films, ballet performances, and so much more, and you can do it for the low low price of FREE! It's time again for ArtsFest 2012!
Though some events require tickets, there are also plenty things to see and do that don't require any ticket at all! Head on over to ArtsFestFL.com for a full list of events, or call 407-628-0333 for more information!


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Guitar » Guitar solo » ch240
Classical Guitar Magazine (Fall 2017)... The presentation here is excellent, with very clear printing on high-quality paper, and the fingering (by Fabio Rizza) is sensible and not too intrusive. Fantaisie is perhaps not in the same league as some of the aforementioned composers' works, but it is a solid and satisfying composition for the advanced player to consider for the concert platform as a choice for an "unknown" work from this period. (Steve Marsh)


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- 3 beds
- 2 baths
- $296,990 price
- 1070721 mls id
- Square Feet: 2,154 sqft
- Neighborhood: Woodbridge
Listing Description
The Austin floor plan offers approximately 2,154 square feet of living space across three to five bedrooms, two to three baths and a two-car garage.. Well-designed for daily living and entertaining, The Austin features an open, airy feel with excellent flow. The study, located off the foyer, can become a living room or fourth bedroom. A gallery with angled walls leads from the dining room to the large island kitchen. Both the family room and the adjoining breakfast nook benefit from a large covered patio. The master suite, which features a pop-up ceiling and angled window wall, is separated from the secondary bedrooms.
- New Construction Yes
Subdivision: Woodbridge
- Price Range $296.9K - $375.7K
- Sqft Range 2,154 - 2,878
- Subdivision StatusActive
Subdivision Description
Located in Sacshe, a small, green city only a few minutes away from Lake Ray Hubbard, Woodbridge offers an 18-hole golf course with rolling greens and open fairways, while shaded trails give homeowners ample opportunity to explore parks and ponds. The President George Bush Turnpike and Hwy 78 are close by, providing links to Richardson, Garland, and Plano, where you'll find premium shopping, dining, and entertainment. Sachse offers more than a dozen parks, with grills, picnic areas, playgrounds, ponds, pavilions, trails, and even an amphitheater. To discover Woodbridge, stop by the model home and Sales Center, 7618 Clear Meadow Lane.
1103 Cadbury Lane Forney, TX


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This relay panel provides fail-safe emergency lighting, according to the company. The emergency relay panel option is UL924-listed for use on emergency circuits and is available as an option with the company's 24 or 48 relay size Lighting Integrator (LI) low-voltage lighting control panels. A dedicated normal power sense connection monitors the presence of normal power and allows the HDR relays to control the emergency lighting circuits based on ordinary control schedules and devices. When normal power is lost, all HDR relays controlling emergency circuits are individually bypassed automatically by a set of normally closed contacts. Because the HDR relays do not change state during a power outage, lighting is restored when normal power resumes.
Watt Stopper/Legrand
For more information, visit www.wattstopper.com.


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Treeline, Inc. is your premier talent partner when it comes to recruiting and hiring top sales performers across the United States. Since 2001 Treeline, Inc.'s sole focus has been helping companies accelerate growth, by building best-in-class, high-output sales organizations.
Salespeople are the engine that power your revenue growth. Our award-winning sales recruiting solutions identify top salespeople quickly and give you the support and insight you need to know you are making the right hire.
We have developed our own sales hiring technology and best recruiting practices to ensure our clients' success. We offer sales recruiting solutions that no other firm can, and our success is built upon our ability to help our clients drive revenue.


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Hot, busty and slutty – filthy fuck tart Carmen McCarthy is just the way we like 'em! She shows off the back of her gstring to stud Will Powers, who immediately can't take his eyes off her whale tail, giving her a wedgie and pulling the string of her underpants right up her ass. Slutty Carmen peels off her knickers and then gets down on her knees, giving her man a damn good cocksucking before she spreads her legs and begs for the dick. Will is only too happy to give it to the horny bitch, drilling her in doggy and missionary, and even holding her upside down in the piledriver position so that he can really slam her in a dominating manner.
Monthly Archives: September 2011
Aurora Snow, Johnny Thrust
Aurora Snow has just recently broken up with her boyfriend Johnny Thrust. He wanted to have sex with her, but she didn't think that she was ready so while trying to study for finals she starts to wonder if she was wrong in letting her boyfriend get away. So she lays back and starts to dream about what could have happened between them. Turns out that she would have enjoyed sucking his thick prick and letting him slowly enter her tight coed pussy because as she dreams, she starts to touch her own twat. She ends with a soaking wet cunt and a hunger for sex.
Aurora Snow, May Bright
May Bright goes in to see Aurora Snow for a job interview. At first she's not sure what exactly is involved in the job, so Aurora shows her exactly what she must do. They have to make their panties wet, and what better way to do that than masturbating? When May walks into the room Aurora is already getting started, so she starts to rub her own pussy too. They get really horny and their solo sessions soon turn into a steamy lesbian fuck fest. They start to sixty-nine each other and then begin to rub their juicy pussies against each other until they're both ready to cum.
Chantay, Herschel Savage
A bored and frustrated businessman works hard in his office, and he's swamped with work. He calls his babysitter to stay at the night at his house with his rascals. He arrives home and finds the sitter, Chantay, on bed on his couch in a skimpy outfit. He stirs her up and talks her out of her initial surprise and reluctance, and she's soon sucking his hard cock. She gets on her hands and knees to get fucked doggy style, and she rides him reverse cowgirl. She lays back to take it missionary, and he finally gives her a messy facial.
Reiko, Brandon Iron
An entrepreneur meets with his accountant to talk about opening a lingerie shop. They make arrangements to set up a photo shoot with a model, and exotic Asian Reiko arrives to pose in skimpy lingerie. She shows off her sexy body as she slips in and out of the unmentionables, and she's soon grinding on the accountant's lap. She kneels to suck his hard cock, and she climbs on top to ride him reverse cowgirl. He lays her back to fuck her missionary, and she takes it doggy style before he gives her a huge facial.
Gayle Monique, Jade Marcela
A bored rich fellow calls a high class escort service, and the girls soon arrive at his place. The sexy Asians, Gayle Monique and Jade Marcela, are paid and they put on the lingerie he gives them to wear. He watches intensely as the girls change into the skimpy underwear, and they're soon running their hands all over each other's toned bodies. Gayle lays back in a chair so Jade can eat out her wet pussy, and Jade spreads her legs wide so Gayle can tongue her erect clit. The girls sit beside each other and fuck their pussies with vibrators, making themselves cum for his viewing pleasure.
Kurious, J.J. Michael
Somebody is keeping a close eye on hot and horny brunette Kurious. J.J. Michael is following her home and watching while she parades around in her panties, she has a sexy slender figure and a big busty set of tits with dark brown nipples. She catches on to her voyeur and wastes no time in going straight for his thick hard cock, and sucking it like whore. She works his big dick and then sits back and watches as he licks her pussy and swollen clit before fucking her tight hot clam. He pumps her wet pussy hard and leaves his mark on her face in the form of a hot load of jizz.
Melanie Stone, Windy Night
Gorgeous blond Windy Night is lying on the bed, stark naked and masturbating with a huge dick. She's desperate for satisfaction! In walks busty brunette Melanie Stone, who sneaks up on the masturbating hottie and starts licking her pussy. Windy is initially surprised, but welcomes the feeling of Melanie's hot, wet tongue expertly caressing her pussy and clit. Melanie brings Windy off, and then naughty Windy put on a strap on and tells Melanie to bend over. She eases the strap on up inside Melanie's hot cunt, thrusting in and out faster and faster as if she was fucking her with a real cock. Soon Melanie is squealing as she orgasms.
Jayne, Rod Fontana
after one failed attempt, Rod approaches Jayne for a photo shoot. She agrees to model for him and they set up an appointment by phone. Once she arrives for the shoot, she has her picture taken and slowly has them taken with less and less clothing on. Soon he gets her i the hottub and starts licking her cunt. When she leans over and starts giving him a good dick suck, the works his pecker up and down her throat like a master. He can't resist getting her on all fours and fucking her doggystyle. She loves how deep his dick goes and he is overcome with his pleasure and flips her onto her back. He keeps on banging her till he jizzes right inside


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Do you want to know the latest Passport Fees details? Here, you can see all types of Passports along with the fee structure. Know the Passport fee details and payment methods before applying for a passport. To know the more information passport fee structure and payment methods, read the complete article.
Brief Details of Passport
Passport is an identity of a person issued by their government or naturalisation. It is under the Act of 1967. It is a travel document which is issued by the particular country's government. Some countries will not allow the person without a passport. The persons who want to do international businesses must have a passport. So, every citizen should have a passport for entering into other countries or states. Therefore, the interested candidates who want to study in other countries should apply for a passport. Before applying for a Passport, one should know the fee structure and payment details.
Knowing the fee details is very important while applying for a Passport. You can apply for a passport in 2 ways. They are the online process and the offline process. While applying for a passport, you have to attach some documents along with the application. The Documents For Passport are also given in the bottom of the links. So, check the links to know the information about the Passport required documents. Hence, follow the below sections to know all types of passports Fee structure and payment methods.
Regular Applicants Passport Fees
|Passport Type
|36 pages booklet
|60 pages Booklet
|Fresh or new Passport (10 years validity)
|Renewal of Passport (10 years validity)
|Adding a booklet when the pages in the existing passport are finished (10years validity)
|15 to 18 years Minors – fresh/new/reissue/renewal of the passport(10 years validity)
|Minors Passport – new/renewal/fresh/reissue of the passport(5 years validity)
|Apply for Duplicate or replacement of passport when lost/damaged/misplaced/stolen off the current passport.
|Replacement or Duplicate Passport -For updating or modification of some details or removal of ECR status or changing some personal details(10 years validity)
|Minors – Replacement or Duplicate Passport for updating or modifying some personal details or removals of ECR status (5 years)
Tatkal Passport Fees List
|Tatkal Passport Fee
|Type of Passport
|Passport with 36 pages Booklet
|60 pages Booklet Passport
|New or Fresh passport (10 years validity)
|Renewal or Reissue of the Passport (10 years validity)
|Adding a booklet when the pages in the passport are finished (10 years validity)
|Minors – 15 to 18 years to apply for fresh/new/renewal/reissue of passport for 10 years validity
|Minors to apply for renewal/new/fresh/reissue of the passport for 5 years validity or until attaining majority
|Duplicate or Replacement of Passport if damaged/lost/stolen/misplaced of the existing passport
|Replacement or Duplicate passport for modifying some details or removal of ECR status or changing personal details for 10 years validity
|Minors – Duplicate or Replacement passport to update or modifying some personal details via removal of ECR status for 5 years validity or until the majority
Also, know about Tatkal Passport
The applicants who are searching for the Passport Fees can see the above tables. We had clearly given the different types of Passport fee structures in the above tabular columns. So, the interested candidates can check the above tables to know those details. To know more details about Passport fee structure follow the below sections.
- If you want the Passport urgently, you will be charged Rs. 2000 additional to the normal fee which is mentioned in the above tables.
- Furthermore, the Police Clearance Certificate fee is Rs. 500.
- There is no cost or no application fee for Diplomatic or Official Passports.
How to Pay Passport Fee
Many People don't know the process of paying the passport Fee. The individuals who want to apply for a passport can pay the application fee in 2 ways. They are one is the online process and the another one is the offline process. In the offline process, you have to take the application form in passport office and pay the money directly at the counter. But in the online process, you have to download the application form from the official website. After submitting the application, the applicants have to pay the passport fee through online. Therefore, we are providing those details in the following sections. So, read the below sections to know the payment details.
Passport Fee Online Payment
The applicants can pay the passport fee as per the below requirements. So, follow the below sections to know the online payment methods.
- You can pay through Credit Card or Debit card.
- Internet Banking through SBI and Associate banks.
- For appointment Booking at PSKs, the online payments are mandatory.
- You should pay the money only for the applications under the Tatkal scheme through online payment but the remaining fee under the normal scheme should be in cash only.
- Banks charges 1.5% + service tax on Credit Cards and Debit Cards payments.
- For State Bank of India and Associate banks, the service tax and charges are not applicable.
- If you pay the application fee through online once, it is valid for one year from the date of the payment.
- After the expiry of the validity, you need to pay the application fee again through online.
- The payment can be made by debit card or credit card at citizen service centres.
Indian Passport Fees Cash Payments
- You can pay the application fee at any of the Passport Seva Kendra.
- In a case of Tatkal application, the applicants can pay the normal application fee and Tatkal fee at a time. You can also pay the Tatkal fee through online.
- When paying the cash at PSK, the public should behave carefully with the officers. You should not tout and argue with the PSK officers.
Pay Passport Fee by Demand Draft
- The payment should be only in Demand draft ar District Passport Cells.
- The Demand Draft has to be made out to "PAO – MEA" to satisfy the RPO.
- In Speed Post Centers (SPCs) the payment should be in Demand Draft only. It must be in the favour of "PAO – MEA" and it is payable only at RPO locations.
- On the backside of the demand draft, the users should right the applicant's name, Date of Birth of the applicant and date of submission of the application.
- The collection centres accept the fresh passport applications only.
- All the penalties should be paid in cash only.
Passport Fee Calculator
The Passport Fee Calculator is also available now. Therefore, the individuals who want to know the Passport fee can check in the Passport Fee Calculator. It is available in the Passport Official website. We are providing some usage steps of Passport Fee Calculator in the below sections. Therefore, the interested candidates who want to know about the Fee Calculator can follow the below sections. Hence, follow the below steps to calculate your Passport Fees.
- First of all, go to the official website – www.passportindia.gov.in.
- Search for the Passport Fee Calculator in the search box.
- Click on the Passport Fee Calculator Link.
- A page with Passport Fee Calculator appears on the screen.
- Select the Application type, Service type, Age, Validity, Scheme, etc., as shown in the corresponding blocks.
- Lick on the Calculate Fee Button.
- Finally, you Passport application fee amount appears on the screen.
We had provided the Passport Fees from the official website. You can also refer the official website to know the more details about Passport Fees, Payment methods, and Passport Fee Calculator.
FAQs for Passport Fees
1. What is the total amount that I have to pay for PCC (Police Clearance Certificate)?
Ans: You have to pay a total amount of Rs. 500 for getting the Police Clearance Certificate.
2. If the appointment is not booked, then the amount I have paid is Refundable or not?
Ans: If you pay the money once it does not refund to you.
3. What are the accepted payment methods for paying the application Fee?
Ans: You can pay the application fee either in the offline process or the online process. You can use Debit Card, Credit Card, SBI Bank Challan, Internet Banking for Online payments. For offline payments, you can pay at Passport Seva Kendra.
4. Which banks accept the Challan Payments?
Ans: All the branches of State Bank of India accepts the Challan Payments.
5. If I don't have an Account in State Bank of India, then what can I do?
Ans: If you do not have an account in the State Bank of India, then you can make your payments by using Credit cards or Debit cards of other banks. You can also pay the application fee in the form of State Bank of India challan.
6. Is there any validity for Fee?
Ans: Yes, the payment has a validity of one year from the day of the payment.
7. I booked an appointment for verification, but I didn't attend it. Is there any validity for the appointment or I have to again book the appointment?
Ans: There is no need to book the appointment again. The appointment is valid for a period of one year from the day of the appointment date.
8. Is there any chance to transfer the paid amount from one Application Reference Number (ARN) to another ARN?
Ans: No. Once if you pay the fee it cannot be transferred from one Application Reference Number to another Application Reference Number.
9. Are there any chances to change the Appointment Scheduled date?
Ans: Yes. After the confirmation of the appointment of passport verification by the Passport Seva Kendra, you can reschedule twice from the date of the appointment before one year.
10. Is there any time period for depositing the fee at State Bank of India?
Ans: After a period of 85 days the challan expires. So, the payments will be rejected after the expiry date.