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Simple RP Adventure: Belle's Ballroom
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Subject: Simple RP Adventure: Belle's Ballroom
Wed Aug 03, 2016 8:03 am
Belle's Ballroom
Difficulty: Hard
Recommend Group Size: 3 to 4
You have, as part of a group of adventurers, received an invitation to a ball to act as a chaperone for a minor nobleman's daughter. However, when you stop at a nearby inn to rendezvous with the rest of the members, a haggard-looking man overhears your conversation and interrupts you. He's the nobleman in question, and he has no daughter. Indeed, he was recently chased away from his estate as it was taken over by a group of midara, led by a beautiful ringleader who calls herself Belle, and who is enamoured with the concept of balls and masques. It seems she's luring adventurers to her parties for some purpose, perhaps to act as dates? Still, he offers you a hefty sum of coins if your group can chase the midara out.
The mechanics are simple. Battles operate according to the Simple RP rules. For a refresher see the first post of this thread:
In addition, you can run from battles in this quest. Both parties make a roll: if the party has a higher roll than the midara, they succesfully escape (though you cannot escape from boss encounters).
The adventure progresses step by step, each one having influence on the next.
(1)Outside the Mansion
As the party approaches the mansion of the nobleman, they will notice that a lot of furniture and papers have been thrown out by the midara in order to make room for their own decorations for the ball. Each present member can make a d6 roll to search the pile for useful items, which get added to the common pool of items of the party. The search can yield the following items:
3:Holy Water
4:Scroll of Defense (reduces all Stamina and Willpower damage done to the party by 1/2 for two rounds)
5:Scroll of Purity (dispels and makes the party immune to all Debuffs for two rounds)
6:Scroll of True Aim (the party gains advantage on all attacks for the next two rounds. Adventurers get to roll two dice on an attack and if one is a success, they succeed, even if the other roll fails)
After taking inventory the party enters through the doors...
(2)The Hall
The party now enters the hall, which is lit by a chandelier on the ceiling which covers the area in a warm glow. A double staircase leads to a second floor balcony that runs around the hall, looking down on the area. A melodic voice announces: "Welcome, I take it you all received my invitation? My name is Belle, and you're here not to chaperone me, but to take the lovely ladies of my court on a date to my ball. I have rooms and outfits prepared for you, you'll get to court a beautiful woman, have dinner, take a dancing class, and finally you'll get to enjoy each other's company at my lovely ball. Who knows, maybe you'll even get your fairytale happy ending." She pauses for a moment. "Oh, and don't think of ruining the ball by not playing along. If I have to, I'll turn you into a mindless puppet," she threatens. And then, in a more pleasant tone: "But if you're extra brave and go out of your way to make this night exciting, you might even win a dance with me! Now go up the stairs, you'll find your room easily enough. And don't peek in the ballroom yet, we haven't finished preparing it!"
Over the course of the adventure, adventurers can do things that will make them more likely to have a date with Belle. Adventurers can score points for:
+1 Sneaking into the ballroom early on.
+1 Encountering the Dreamgirl.
+1 Going out of their way to get a Rose for their date's corsage.
+1 Subduing their date with Willpower attacks.
+1 Making it through all the courses at the dinner.
+1 Volunteering for the opening dance with the Bright Ballerina.
+1 Having drinks with Belle at the ball.
+1 Entering the Hedge Maze at the end of the night.
If adventurers are tied for points, Belle will make the fight each other and go on a date with the winner.
(3)The Ballroom (Before Ball)
Any number of adventurers may opt to sneak into the Ballroom early. What they'll encounter is a lavishly furnished marble room with banners hanging on the walls, firefly lights floating around the space and a painted ceiling of cherubs frolicking about in a blue sky. There are also midara maids giving the place a final scrub before the festivities begin. They will spot the adventurers and proceed to shoo them away with their charms. In combat, there will be the same amount of maids as adventurers that entered the room early on.
=Midara Maid=
Stamina: 2 Willpower: 2
A maid that cleans up nicely, so to speak. Often serves under other, more powerful midara, doing everyday housework and keep weaker visitors at bay.
Caution! Wet Floor (passive)
-The Maid has advantage on all rolls avoiding attacks as the adventurers bumble on the slippery floor. They have two roll two dice to make an attack and take the worst result.
Take That To The Cleaners (passive)
-Whenever the Maid makes a succesful Willpower attack, she automatically removes all Buffs from the target, cleaning him of any traces of magic with her passion.
Wet Look (action)
-Costs 1 Willpower. The Maid conjures a bucket of water to give herself or an ally a Wet Look. The Wet Look Buff lasts for 2 rounds and makes any character who attacks the midara make a roll and on a failure suffer 0.5 Willpower damage as the suddenly visible underclothes arouse him.
As a reward, each character can snag an Elixer from the drinks table set to the side of the room, before they proceed to their rooms.
(4)Personal Rooms/Study/Prayer Room/Arms Chamber
Each character has a room on the upper floor with a bed, refreshments and an outfit tailor-made for the ball. Each character makes a roll: on a success, they effortlessly put on their new clothes and have some free time. On a failure, they struggle with their clothes, finishing just in time for when they're called to collect flowers for corsages from the garden. An adventurer who did not check out the ballroom automatically succeeds this roll.
If they have free time, they can:
-go to the Study and find a sketch of where all the decorations are placed in the Ballroom and what they do, giving him advantage on all rolls involving traps during the ball itself (make two rolls, take the better result).
-go to the Prayer Room and ask for protection from on high (grants a Faith Buff during the next battle, reducing Willpower damage by 0.5 for 4 turns).
-go to the Arms Chamber and sharpen their weapon (grants a 0.5 bonus to the first three succesful Stamina attacks during the next battle).
-take a short nap in their bed. Fully recovers Stamina and Willpower, but also puts them at the risk of encountering the Dreamgirl. Make a roll, and on a failure the adventurer proceeds into battle. He can also choose to voluntarily let him into his dreams to fight her.
Stamina: 3 Willpower: 3
Dreamgirls are midara spirits who feed on the dreams of their victims, slowly making them succumb to lust in their sleep. They manifest in place where other midara reside.
Shape Of Dreams To Come (passive)
-The Dreamgirl slowly penetrates into the dreams of her victim, taking the shape the victim likes. During the first two rounds, the Dreamgirl is still vague and does 0.5 Willpower damage. During the third and fourth round, her shape is firmer, and she does normal Willpower damage. From the fifth round onward, she has a shape that her victim fancies, and she does 1.5 Willpower damage from that round onward.
Immaterial (passive)
-The Dreamgirl does not have enough strength to execute Stamina attacks. However, she also can't be harmed by any physical Debuffs (apply GM discretion on what counts as physical).
Just A Dream (passive)
-The adventurer cannot use items during this battle. After all, he doesn't take them with him in his dream.
Lullaby (action)
-Costs 1 Willpower. The Dreamgirl sings a lullaby, giving her victim the Drowsy Debuff for two turns. All Actions cost 0.5 extra Stamina or Willpower to execute for those affected.
After defeating the midara, the adventurer wakes up and finds two doses of Sleeping Powder underneath his cushion (item, gives the target the Drowsy Debuff for two turns. All Actions cost 0.5 extra Stamina or Willpower to execute for those affected). No matter what was done, a maid will then come to fetch them and haul them to the flower garden.
(5)The Flower Garden
All the adventurers, now dressed impeccably, are brought to the flower garden. There, a maid will tell them that they need to collect flowers to make a corsage for their date. Different flowers have different meanings, and the lovelier ones are harder to get, because an Alraune jealously guards the area. The adventurers must make rolls in order to sneak past her. They pick a flower beforehand and must succeed the corresponding number of rolls to succesfully evade the creature's vines.
Orchid (1 roll)-Vine Wrapper (action)-Once per battle, the user may opt to Bind their target in a vine. On a success, the target suffers the Bound Debuff (A Bound character must make a roll to escape at the start of each turn, and if it fails, he stays Bound until the next round (cannot take action, but can dodge attacks)).
Hyacinth (1 roll)-Summon Passion Pollen (passive)-Once per battle, the user may summon a Passion Pollen at the start of their turn. It has 1 Stamina and can only do basic Willpower attacks. It can attack instantly. Debuffs/Buffs have no effect on the creature and it cannot suffer Willpower damage.
Tulip (2 rolls)-Blooming Strength (passive)-From the fifth turns onwards, user's Willpower attacks gain a 0.5 bonus.
Lily (2 rolls)-Second Wind (passive)-If the user of this ability gets reduced to 0 Stamina or Willpower, he or she will recover at the start of next round with 1 Stamina/Willpower. Only works once per battle.
Rose (3 rolls)-Instill Passion (passive)-Whenever the user does a succesful Willpower attack, the target gains the Lustful Debuff for one turn and can only execute Willpower attacks.
If they fail at any time, they get snatched up and must battle the creature. New adventurers drop in as their rolls fail, corresponding to the number they succeed up till then (for example, if two adventurers go for the Rose and one for the Orchid, and the latter fails on the first roll and the former two on the last roll, the latter begins the fight instantly, but the other two only drop in at the start of the third round).
Stamina: 5 Willpower: 5
Alraunes are exotic midara usually found in forests. They sometimes pluck a stray adventurer off the road to satisfy their lust, but they're mostly content with tending to their flower gardens.
Vine Entrance (passive)
-Any adventurer enters the battle Bound (A Bound character must make a roll to escape at the start of each turn, and if it fails, he stays Bound until the next round (cannot take action, but can dodge attacks)).
Passion Sprout (passive)
-For every adventurer that enters the battle after the first, the Alraune automatically conjures a Passion Pollen. It has 1 Stamina and can only do basic Willpower attacks. It can attack instantly. Debuffs/Buffs have no effect on the creature and it cannot suffer Willpower damage.
Nourishing Nectar (passive)
-If the Alraune Defends by closing her flower, she automatically recovers 1 Stamina and 1 Willpower (cannot exceed maximum).
Alraune's Antics (passive)
-If the Alraune executes a succesful basic Willpower attack, she can choose to conjure another Passion Pollen, Bind the victim in Vines, or Poison him for two turns (doing 1 Stamina damage at the start of the turn if the sufferer fails the roll).
Vine Slammer (action)
-Costs 1 Stamina. All Bound character suffer 1 automatic Stamina damage. Can only be used if two or more characters are Bound.
Pollen Bath (action)
-Costs 1 Willpower. Only works if two or more Passion Pollen are on the battlefield. The midara sprays lust-inducing pollen all over the battlefield. All adventurers who fail their dodge roll suffer 1 Willpower damage.
If the party defeats the Alraune, she retreats into her flower and most of the flowers in the garden shrivel up, safe for the ones the adventurers originally intended to fetch. The maid is very displeased at this turn of events, however, which will have consequences during the ball itself. Regardless, she helps them snip the flower into a proper corsage, and they proceed to meet their dates.
Join date
Subject: Re: Simple RP Adventure: Belle's Ballroom
Wed Aug 03, 2016 6:41 pm
(6)Date Meeting
The maid informs the adventurers that their dates are waiting back in their rooms, and that they should go make some small talk before proceeding to dinner. Roll in order to see which date each adventurer gets (in order of participating), and reroll if a date is already taken. The adventurer then proceed to their rooms individually, where they put the corsage on their date's glamorous gown (the date gains the ability corresponding to the corsage), learn each other's names and then the midara will suggest an appetizer, attempting to jump the bones of her date. The midara backs off the moment she is reduced to 1 Stamina or 1 Willpower, and recovers over the course of dinner.
The dating possibilities are:
1: Bookwyrm
2: Candy Fairy
3: Horn Huntress
4: Sylph
5: Ravenzel
6: Centerfold
Stamina: 4 Willpower: 6
A midara with draconic blood flowing through her veins, which manifests itself in assembling a hoard of books. Never goes anywhere without a book full of spells and sex positions.
Draconic Line (passive)
-Debuffs last a turn less on Bookwyrm due to her strong blood. Furthermore, whenever a Debuff is inflicted on her, the attacker suffers 0.5 automatic Willpower damage due to the feedback.
Spell Memorandum (passive)
-If Bookwyrm sees a Scroll item used, she can scribble it down and copy the effect at a later point in the battle. She can only do this once per battle.
Forbidden Tome (passive)
-At the cost of 0.5 Willpower at the start of her turn, Bookwyrm can switch between what spell she has prepared (she start out with Gale). All spells do the same Willpower damage, but create different status effects. She can choose between Gale, Blizzard, Roots and Bio, and the effects are listed below.
Fiery Passion (action)
-Costs 1 Stamina. Attempts to kiss the target with fiery passion. Upon a success, the target takes one Willpower damage and must consume a potion of his choice due to his dry throat. If he can't complete this action right then and there, he takes an additional 0.5 Stamina damage.
Cast Spell (action)
-Costs 1 Willpower. Upon a success, the target takes 1 Willpower damage and suffers from the following Debuff, depending on the spell:
-The winds of Gale make the target Dizzy for two turns, and whenever the sufferer takes an action, it targets a random ally/enemy (doesn't count for actions that target the self).
-The ice of Blizzard makes the target Frozen, making the sufferer unable to act for this turn unless hit by a Stamina attack in the meantime, in which case the target takes 0.5 extra Stamina damage.
-The vines of Roots make the target Bound, which means she must make rolls until she succesfully escapes.
-The toxic sludge of Bio makes the target Poisoned for two turns, doing 1 Stamina damage at the start of the turn if the sufferer fails the roll.
=Candy Fairy=
Stamina: 6 Willpower: 4
The Candy Fairy is a sweetie with sweet tooth, who likes to consume all kinds of drinks and candies for her pleasure. Sex is her favourite activity to work off the calories.
Body Shot (passive)-Whenever an adventurer wants to drink a potion while in combat, the Candy Fairy makes a roll. On a success, she seduces the character into drinking the potion from between her cleavage, doing 1 direct Willpower damage to the victim.
Sticky Kiss (passive)-If Candy Fairy does a Willpower attack after using Bubble Blow on the previous turn, her kiss is sticky. On a success, the target also suffers from the Frenched effect. A Frenched character must make a roll to escape at the start of each turn, and if it fails, he stays Frenched until the next round and suffers 0.5 Willpower damage (cannot take action, but can dodge attacks)).
Sugar Rush (passive)-After Candy Fairy consumes a potion, she can instantly do a Stamina or Willpower attack on the same turn.
Potion Snatch (action)-Costs 1 Stamina. Candy Fairy attempts to steal a potion from the target. Upon a success, the potion is snatched from his inventory and appears in hers. She can consume the potion at any time later, which costs her a turn. If she's defeated without consuming the potion, it returns to the owner.
Bubble Blow (action)-Costs 1 Willpower. Candy Fairy blows a gum bubble at the target. On a success, the target suffers the Gummed Debuff for two turns. Gummed characters have disadvantage on dodge rolls (roll two dice, pick the worse result) and do 0.5 less Stamina damage on attacks because they cannot wind up their attack right.
=Horn Huntress=
Stamina: 6 Willpower: 4
The Horn Huntress is midara from the forest, specialized in tracking down wildlife and sometimes adventurers. She decorates her clothes with antlers, but also prefers another type of 'horn' on occassion.
Sneaky Strike (passive)-Due to Horn Huntress' hunting skills, any first attack on a new foe automatically succeeds.
Stout Strength (passive)-Due to having a body trained for the outdoors, the midara is able to reduce the first Stamina attack she receives during a turn by 1 point.
Trap Setter (passive)-At the start of the battle, the midara can decide whether to set a snare or a poison trap. Depending on choice, an adventurer of her choice must make a roll. On a failure, he is either Bound (a Bound character must make a roll to escape at the start of each turn, and if it fails, he stays Bound until the next round (cannot take action, but can dodge attacks)) or Poisoned for two turns (doing 1 Stamina damage at the start of the turn if the sufferer fails the roll).
Lasso Spin (action)-Costs 1 Stamina. The midara throws a lasso around the target and spins him around. Roll two dice. Depending on the outcome, pick no, one or two effects. The target becomes Bound (a Bound character must make a roll to escape at the start of each turn, and if it fails, he stays Bound until the next round (cannot take action, but can dodge attacks)) and/or Dizzy for two turns (whenever the sufferer takes an action, it targets a random ally/enemy (doesn't count for actions that target the self)).
Blow Dart (action)-Costs 1 Willpower. The midara blows a dart loaded with toxins at her target. Roll two dice. Depending on the outcome, pick no, one or two effects. The target becomest Lustful for two turns (can only execute Willpower attacks) and/or Poisoned for two turns (doing 1 Stamina damage at the start of the turn if the sufferer fails the roll).
Stamina: 5 Willpower: 5
The Sylph is a whimsical wind spirit who floats around on the breeze no matter where it may take her. She ends up in the company of other midara on occassion, eagerly going along with their kidnapping of adventurers.
Whimsical Weather (passive)-Sylph subtly influences the atmosphere around her, making it change every round. The cycle goes from Clear (no effect) to Foggy (all attacks have disadvantage, take the worst of two rolls) to Damp (all midara have Wet Look, any character who attacks a midara makes a roll and on a failure suffer 0.5 Willpower damage as the sticky clothing clearly shows their underclothes and introduces lewd thoughts in the character's head) to Hot (the cost of all Willpower aand Stamina actions increase by 0.5) and back to Clear again.
Swift Speed (passive)-Swift as the wind, Sylph may execute an extra Stamina or Willpower attack every three turns.
Clear the Air (passive)-For 0.5 Willpower, Sylph may move the cycle of Whimsical Weather one phase forward or backward at the start of her turn.
Tornado Kick (action)-Costs 1 Stamina. Sylph executes a spinning kick powered by the wind that does 2 Stamina damage upon a success. Regardless of outcome, Sylph is Dizzy for the next two turns (whenever the sufferer takes an action, it targets a random ally/enemy (doesn't count for actions that target the self)).
Wind Up (action)-Costs 1 Willpower. Sylph uses the power of the wind to whip up all the skirts of the midara on the battlefield. Upon a success, this action does Willpower damage to the target equal to 0.5 times the number of midara on the battlefield.
Stamina: 4 Willpower: 6
Ravenzel is a blackhaired beauty with excellent choice in style and hair care. She enjoys making other midara prim and shining with her magical make-up products.
Beautify (passive)-Ravenzel picks one midara at the start of battle and gives her a 0.5 Buff on Willpower attacks after a make-over (can only use on self if no other midara are in battle). This lasts until the midara in question takes more than 2 Stamina damage in the battle.
Spotlighting (passive)-Instead of attacking by herself, Ravenzel can pick another midara to do a basic Willpower attack on her turn. That midara does not lose a turn.
Lipstick Coating (passive)-Ravenzel can coat her lips in either Passionate Pink (Lovey-Dovey Debuff for two turns, sufferer cannot take actions that do damage to the user), Ravishing Red (Thirsty Debuff, sufferer must consume a potion of his choice due to his dry throat. If he can't complete this action right then and there, he takes an additional 0.5 Stamina damage) or Blinding Black (Blind Debuff for two rounds, meaning the sufferer has disadvantage on any attack they aim. They must roll two dice and take the worst result of the two). She can freely switch these at the start of her turn. If she lands a critical success on a target, the relevant Debuff occurs.
Remover (action)-Costs 1 Stamina. If succesful, Ravenzel sprays a remover on the target, doing 1 Stamina damage and removing any Buffs.
Catwalk (action)-Costs 1 Willpower. All midara on the battlefield get to do a Willpower attack on the target as they pose on a conjured catwalk.
Stamina: 5 Willpower: 5
(to be updated)
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Subject: Re: Simple RP Adventure: Belle's Ballroom
Fri Aug 05, 2016 11:17 am
sounds great, I'll throw my hat in using Robert Kennedy. Let me know if this is all right
Stamina: 5 Willpower: 5
A roughneck who left his village after beating everyone in the two-horse town in fisticuffs. Midara wasn't what he expected to face, but if they thought they could challenge him, all was even.
Boxing Stance (passive)-If Robert Defended the previous turn, his next Stamina attack has advantage (he gets to roll two dice and if one is a success, he dodges succesfully, even if the other roll fails).
Rough Love (passive)-If Robert does 1 or more Willpower damage to a target, that target gets an additional 0.5 automatic Stamina damage from his rough manner of loving.
Bottle Toss (passive)-If Robert consumes a potion, he can execute a free Stamina attack instantly.
Glower (action)-Costs 1 Willpower. Robert endures attacks and builds up his rage. For each attack that succesfully hits Robert during this round, he gains a 0.5 bonus on his next Stamina attack.
Personal Training(action)-Cost 1 Stamina. Robert "teaches" a Midara a combat techinque in the most lewd way possible! With a successful roll, the Midara loses 2 willpower. however, regardless of success or failure, the Midara learns that move and can use it for the remainder of the adventure. If the move isn't listed, it's considered to cost 1 stamina and deal 1 willpower damage.
Haymaker (action)-Costs 1 Stamina. If this attack succeeds, it does 1.5 Stamina damage, and if the target is brought down to 2 or less Stamina, she instantly forfeits her next turn (does not count as Debuff).
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Secret Lab
Subject: Re: Simple RP Adventure: Belle's Ballroom
Sat Oct 29, 2016 4:20 pm
Wanting to join with Kai Hitsuko!
==Kai Hitsuko==
Stamina: 15
Willpower: 15
-> Hooded cloak/face mask: (+1 resistance to kiss/lipstick effects/scent effects)
-> Leather boots (+1 to reflex)
-> Leather wrist guards (+1 to defense)
-> Black Tunic
-> Black trousers
-> Crescent-shaped daggers (Slashing)
-> Bow w/ 20 arrows (Piercing)
Three Personality Traits:
Focused, Goal-oriented, Cynical
Member of a criminal organization known as "The Hand". Thievery and espionage are the name of the game; and it sounds like the game is afoot!
If you roll a 5 or higher on the dice roll for Reflex, you gain a +1 bonus to your next total Reflex score.
forest Assasin
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i dont want to tell you
Subject: Re: Simple RP Adventure: Belle's Ballroom
Sat Feb 04, 2017 8:27 am
Wanting to join with Glen Alestein
Glen Alestein
Stamina: 10
Willpowr: 15
Black hooded Cloak + Face mask( +1 Resistence to kiss/lipstick effect/ scent effect)
Lightweight canvas boots( +2 Agility +1 attack speed ,Immune to stumbling)
Lightweight pants( " " , " " , Passive status of feather feet)
Black Tunic( Invisibility at night or dark places status/ Shadow Body at day or bright places (When he clings to a wall ) )
Red long daggers (Causes bleeding status and it And it stops in the third turn) (Bleeding status: Increasing stamina damage per turn)
Perforating stones (act like a bullet, Can only be used for "spike dance" and causes perforated status ) (Perforated status: +1 Vulnerability to critical hits)
Lonely and mysterious
Background: A warrior wearing a black hoodie and a mask of equal color with feline eyes in it, most of the time explores the woods and seeks Midaras which to defeat because one of them attacked the clan where he belongs with an army Full of them
Overwhelming darkness (Passive) : If the scene in which fight is nocturnal or dark his speed increases drastically by 2 turns (Activable only once per fight)
Invisible slits: Glen climbs any flat surface at an extreme speed leaving his opponent no chance to counteract or dodge, can be used every 3 turns, inflicts 3 damage and can stun the target for 2 turns
Cross daggers: Glen uses his daggers to pounce on his target by slashing it and pulling away with the target's stomach pushing his legs against this, inflicts 4 damage , can be used every 2 turns
Spike Dance: Glen started to spin in place, his daggers pointed out, creating many spikes which would spread all over the stage causing some to hit the target,then he will say "don't you like my Dance, wow You look a bit prickly" Tauting his oponent, inflicts 3 damage and can posion the target, can be used every 2 turns
Daggers Dance: It's the same as spike dance but this time glen will spread daggers all over the stage, inflict 3 damage and can make the opponent bleed (The bleeding target will suffer 2 damage each turn if untreated )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWSRqWpWPzE -Glen and Prowd Theme-
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Subject: Re: Simple RP Adventure: Belle's Ballroom
Mon Feb 06, 2017 7:44 am
Wanting to Join with Darius Cordan
Darius Cordan
Stamina: 15
Willpower: 20
Hooded Hero's Cloak (+1 Resistance to kiss/lipstick effect/ scent effect)
Leather boots (+2 speed, immune to stumbling)
Cloth pants (no effects)
Grey Tunic (no effects)
Firey Steel Sword (inflicts a burn status on enemies)
Kind and Excitable
A young warrior who left his village to hunt midara
Hero's Training (Passive) (+1 to attack resistance)
Arc Swing (+2 Attack Swings sword and arcs around)
Parry (Blocks attack by giving up his attack turn)
Firey Anger( Takes one turn to build up anger and then attacks with his flaming sword +5 to normal damage)
Clear Thought(Will dodge all attacks directed towards him the next turn)
*unsubtly facepalms in the background*
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The digital world
Subject: Re: Simple RP Adventure: Belle's Ballroom
Fri Sep 01, 2017 4:58 am
I wish I could join. However, I dunno if I have any characters I could bring in...Aside from maybe my OC.
Even then, I've never RPed with this style before.
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Subject: Re: Simple RP Adventure: Belle's Ballroom
Thu Dec 28, 2017 9:34 pm
Wanting to join with Cherry Creme!
Cherry Creme
Stamina: 25
Willpower: 15
Outfit: dark blue short sleeve shirt (No effect)
Brown leather pants (+2 agility)
Black cloak w/ hood (+3 stealth, able to hide in shadows)
Brown combat boots (+2 speed, able to escape easier)
Weapon: dual-wielding lightning katanas (elecrocutes nearby enemies)
Personality: introverted and kind, but also harsh and tough
Background: A rouge teenage girl abandoned at birth, she will do anything to survive.
Ability: Thunderstorm (summons strong bolts of lightning)
Shocking Slash (passive) (+2 attack next turn)
Electric Shield (passive) (gain +4 protection for next turn)
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Subject: Re: Simple RP Adventure: Belle's Ballroom
Simple RP Adventure: Belle's Ballroom
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text:
Last Sunday I was tooling through the Mission when a parking space appeared before my eyes near Pancho Villa at dinner time. Feeling capsicum-deprived for my first meal away from Lotus of Siam, I took advantage of this bit of kismet to try it for the first time since its received many favorable mentions on the board.
While very busy and obviously a popular spot, my first clue that something was amiss was catching a glimpse of the sickly pastel green and plastic-looking guacamole. Could a place that would serve fake-o stuff like that actually deliver the goods? Then I saw the steam table trays with carne asada sitting in a pool of liquid and other meats that looked bland and not the right texture. Ok, best to limit my losses here and go for a taco instead of buying a burrito. The pile of carnitas looked the freshest and the least offensive of the bunch, so that got the nod with black beans for my taco.
My expectations dropped even lower when I saw that they dont even steam the corn tortillas to heat them, let alone griddle them. Worse yet, the carnitas are scooped from the steam table without the benefit of a dry-heating on the griddle to intensify the flavor and add texture. Oh, well, only two bucks at risk here.
The line-up of aguas frescas looked very good and I got the sandía (watermelon) that was indeed a nice rendition. Next I stepped over the salsa bar that folks talk up and found three choices: fire-roasted, green tomatillo, and salsa fresca (pico de gallo).
They say that the proof is in the taste, and Pancho Villa failed miserably here. Besides being not warm, the tortillas had no flavor (or maybe they taste like paper?) nor much tensile strength to hold the package together. This is an abomination because there are good quality machine-made tortillas to be had in this City that they could use. The carnitas were bland and much too wet and stringy. More like stewed pork rather than the browned bits of roast pork they should be. The green tomatillo salsa was fresh but one-dimensional and the salsa fresca was mushy and muted rather than bright in flavor. The highpoint of this meal was the fire-roasted salsa that was quite tasty and the sandía drink.
If some people think this is good, I would love to see them taste the real deal from any number of North Bay taco trucks that deliver five times the flavor. Probably their heads will snap back and do several 360s! The Toyanense truck in the Mission does a way better job than this. Or if youre afraid to eat off the trucks, check out Taquería San José in San Rafael or Lolitas in Petaluma for real deliciousness.
Please dont settle for or promote gringo-ized Mexican food. Buy a Chowhound Passport for your next outing to show you're serious.

subset: commoncrawl


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USW: Tip the World Over on Its Side
Edna Salinas
Edna Salinas is a merchant avatar found at the Dealer's Market. She and Kevin exchanged contact information in case she could find out anything regarding the Otherspaces he has glimpsed.
She called him back on the evening of January 11, indicating she had something but he had to move quickly on it. They agreed to meet at BS Taqueria the following morning at 10 AM.
Image retrieved from http://dearhandmadelife.com/patchwork-santa-ana-spring-2014/ on October 7, 2016.


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10 Green Gifts for the Artist, Crafter, or DIY'er
We certainly love and have a huge amount of respect for people who create with their hands: whether it's a painting, a hand-knitted scarf, or a bookshelf built from scratch, we've got a few items we think our favorite artist, crafter, or DIY'er would appreciate.
Top Row:
1. The Green Guide for Artists: Nontoxic Recipes, Green Art Ideas, & Resources for the Eco-Conscious Artist ($22): this is the one book all green crafters and artists should have. Also right up there are Sewing Green: 25 Projects Made with Repurposed and Organic Materials ($25) and The Best of Instructables: Volume One ($35). These books contain enough ideas, inspirations, and DIY projects to keep your loved one busy for a very long time!
2. Plant-based Colored Pencils from Artemis ($42): Plant-based crayons and colored pencils from Artemis have been colored by natural plant extracts from buckthorn berries, madder root, indigo plant, weld leaves, lac-dye, coreopsis flowers, and catechu acacia – perfect for the budding or the advanced artist in your life.
3. Natural Dyes Seed Collection ($21): Speaking of natural dyes, how about growing your own? The pigments from these flowers can be used to dye wool, silk, and more.
4. Gift Certificate to Mod Green Pod: ($50-$200): Mod Green Pod carries some our favorite sustainable fabrics in rich, playful patterns. All of their fabric is made of 100% certified organic cotton, whitened without bleach and printed in the US with water-based, non-toxic inks that contain no volatile organic compounds. Another option: a gift certificate to Earth Friendly Yarns or Near Sea Naturals for organic and all-natural fabric, yarn, batting, and stuffing.
5. Janome DC2010 Sewing Machine ($499): This was a hot ticket item in our Holiday Giveaway this year, but if you didn't win it, the idea is still a good one. For anyone serious about crafting and DIY'ing, a sewing machine is essential. If $499 is a bit above your budget, then this Brother sewing machine ($160) is a solid, lower-priced alternative.
Bottom Row:
6. Multi-Tip Screwdriver from Lie-Nielsen ($60): a screwdriver is the most basic of tools that every DIY-er should have. The handmade tools from Lie-Nielsen are heirloom-quality and will last you forever, and with an interchangeable phillips, square, and slotted heads, the Multi-Tip is a must-have item.
7. Liquid Nails Home Project Repairs Adhesive ($4): a low-VOC general-purpose adhesive designed for small to medium-sized repairs for a wide range of surfaces, including glass, polystyrene, fabric, rubber, carpeting, painted surfaces, and upholstery. It is GreenGuard-certified, contributes to LEED certification and the NAHB National Green Building Standard certification of the structure. A great glue to add to your crafting or DIY tool box!
8. MAKE magazine subscription ($35): MAKE is the first magazine devoted entirely to DIY technology projects, and those resourceful people who undertake amazing projects in their backyards, basements, and garages. Subscriptions come with a free digital edition.
9. Something from Etsy, Renegade Handmade, or Poppytalk Handmade: I tried to pull one or two items to highlight here, and then just gave up. Chances are your friend is intimately familiar with at least one of these sites, and will love you for supporting other artisans in your gift selection!
10. The Printmasters Press ($480): Made in the USA, this manual printing press has a wood-topped hand crank, and spring-loaded adjustable rollers. It's perfect for relief and intaglio printing, and creates even prints from woodcuts, linoleum and carving blocks.
From Abby: 10 Green Gadget Gifts for the Techie


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It's October, and a lovely autumn day here. I'm sitting in my office at work looking out of the window and there's a lovely sunshine out there right now. The leaves on the walk home are also a fabulous colour which really cheers me up.
Academically I'm in limbo stage, but still a student. As I understand it, here is how things go from here. Bear in mind this is for the MA by Research NOT the PhD.
- Submit hard copy (with all the forms) - DONE
- Hard copies are sent to my internal and external reviewers - probably going to be sent next week, I was told.
- Both reviewers have about 8 weeks to turn around their feedback.
- I receive the feedback and have one of about 5 results
- Pass with no amendments
- Minor amendments (e.g. typos, small changes to specific areas)
- Major amendments (e.g. rewrite sections, add in X element)
- Revise and resubmit (End to end revision and resubmission as a semi-new thesis)
- Fail
- I respond to the result, and act accordingly.
- Pass (unlikely)
- Minor - edit, resubmit within 3 months, sent back to internal examiner to accept
- Major - edit, resubmit within 6 months, sent back to external examiner to accept
- Revise and resubmit - edit, resubmit within 1 year, restart review process
- Fail - no PhD place
- Viva is unlikely but a slim possibility, mostly if an examiner wishes clarification on an area covered OR you are borderline failing (do you know your stuff just can't write for toffee?!).
- I start the PhD (unless FAIL), 1st of the month after the thesis is accepted (HOPEFULLY January 2016).
Right now I've got student status for the year, but no fees to pay until accepted or not. Financially this is nice as it means we can save the money for other important stuff (#1, finish fixing the house!).
Despite this, I cannot just stop dead. Here's my plans for the next few months:
- Make Christmas presents - sloe gin and maybe a flavoured vodka again.
- Rewrite my paper for Borderlines into an article. The paper didn't feel like it 'worked' well, to me, so I really want to go back to it, pull it apart and fix it.
- Create the database I'll need for the PhD research - I can't assume I'll fail miserably, so I'm just going to get on with it.
- Start databasing some of the data for my PhD - it will need doing some time
- Read for fun - novels and non-research nonfiction
- Do some sewing - I have patterns for a dress, top and a skirt I want to make, and now I have the time. (Simplicity 3847, New Look 6808, Simplicity 3673)
- Join an exercise class, or a dance class. Maybe belly dancing! Something to get me fit, but without boring me senseless, like I find I get in a gym.
- Level all my Warcraft characters to 100. What, I never said I wasn't a geek!


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Hadise Açıkgöz (born 22 October 1985), is a Belgian singer of Turkish descent. Hadise's career began in 2004 with the release of her debut single "Sweat", which peaked at 19 on the Flanders chart. Hadise continued to release more successful singles, most notably the single "Milk Chocolate Girl".[2] Hadise's debut album, which was released in 2005 earned Hadise her first TMF award in Belgium and a "Altın Kelebek" Award (En. "Golden Butterfly" Award) in Turkey.
Hadise's follow up album Hadise, was released and promoted in both the artist's native country and Turkey. The album produced two successful singles, "A Good Kiss" and "My Body", this earned Hadise her second TMF Award in the "Best Urban Act" category. It was during this time that Hadise became the presenter of the Belgium version of The X Factor.
In 2009, Hadise represented Turkey at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Düm Tek Tek". The song gained a total of 177 points, which placed Turkey fourth in the final. "Düm Tek Tek" was the first single from Hadise's third album Fast Life, released in May 2009. Hadise's first Turkish studio album, Kahraman (En. Hero), was released in late June 2009 in Turkey.
Hadise was born in the city of Mol, Located near the town Antwerp, in Belgium on 22 October 1985. Her father and her mother, emigrated to Belgium from Sivas, Turkey. Açıkgöz grew up with older sister, Hulya, younger sister Derya and also a younger brother named Murat, her name was chosen by one of her grandparents, having originally being intended for her older sister. When Hadise was 11, her parents separated.
Açıkgöz's passion for music began since her childhood. She grew up studying economics and modern languages, where she is fluent in five languages, Turkish, Dutch, French, German and English. At the age of 17, Hadise entered for the show Idool in 2003, the Flemish version of Pop Idol, which aired in 2003, although she didn't qualify for the finals, her appearance was acknowledged by her soon to be manager Johan Hendrickx, when she received a call from Hendrickx, who explained how impressed he was with her performance on the show and offered her an album contract.
In 2006, Hadise presented Popstar Türkiye (tr), a programme with twenty million viewers a week.
In 2008–2009, she got a job as a presenter for the first time in her birth country, Belgium. She was the presenter of the second season of X Factor (Belgium) at Vtm. Although it was her first television job in Belgium, Hadise garnered much praise. She handled a critical moment when Maurice Engelen, one of the judges, left the contest during a live television cast. Hadise was also praised by the candidats of X Factor for guiding them. From 2011–present, Hadise is working as one of the judges of the Turkish version of singing competition show "The Voice".
Hadise has rejected two offers to star in a film. One of the parts was the leading role in a Turkish movie. Not much is known about this film, apart from the fact that the film supposedly focused on 2 sisters, one of whom was to be played by Hadise. In July 2008 Hadise was again offered a role in a Turkish comedy film.
Hadise is famous globally, she have a huge number of fans in Iran, Azerbaijan Republic, Belgium and other countries of middle east. Iranians created a page for her on Facebook and it is available in Persian and Turkish language.


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Since Mr. Caris and Mr. Shieldes failed to respond to the Constructive Notice of Fraud that I mailed to them on October 24th, I prepared an Affidavit of Default and took it to the Harris County Clerk to be filed. Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for November, 2007
Another IRS Levy
Despite my repeated notices and submission of proof that I have no Federal income tax liability, Roger Caris, IRS Revenue Officer, recently sent another levy to one of my clients. Read the rest of this entry »


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Selling a home can be challenging for many Main Line Real Estate professionals. However, for those real estate agents who have access to the proper tools, they may find that can increase the amount of real estate main line pa sales that they make each year. Choosing the right real estate on the main line tools is one of the essential keys to being successful in this area. This said, here are some great Philadelphia suburbs real estate tools that can be used to make and close a sale.
Deploy a Philadelphia main line real estate Website
Getting people to look at a specific piece of mainline real estate is essential keys to getting a sell. Therefore, people who are in the main line realty business will need to do whatever it takes to make sure that the property that they are responsible for selling can be easily seen and accessed on the Internet. By setting up a main line real estate for sale site that buyers can frequent on a regular basis, real estate agents will have access to hundreds to thousands of potential real estate buyers. Which means, the real estate website is one of the best tools that can be used to expedite a sell.
Create a Positive Web and main line Philadelphia real estate presence
In addition to designing a website and publishing it on the web, it is important for each business owner to make sure that they have a positive web presence. Specifically, when trying to attract a specific target audience to buy a home. Building a good web presence can be challenging, so it is important for each business owner to make sure that they have done a good job of marketing their main line pa real estate property. Some of the keys to increasing the business site's web presence is to write articles for an online press release and managing a blog that can provide great information about how to sell real estate effectively.
Create A Real Estate Blog
While some people may stop at building the website and deploying it, others will go the extra mile by establishing a real estate blog that they can post information to. When the business owner takes the time out to publish quality information that is valuable to their visitors, they can also make themselves an authority on the topic of real estate. Therefore, if they want to sell a specific property as quickly as expeditiously as possible, they may want to ensure that their blog will also have a lot of activity. Thereby, allowing the real estate business to capitalize on the real estate blog as a useful marketing tool.
Though real estate is a challenging career to be in, there are tools of the trade that can be used to increase a real estate agents success. Some of the more commonly known today includes, establishing a successful website that potential buyers can visit, creating a positive web presence and setting up a real estate blog that will allow them to become an expert on the real estate area in mainland Philadelphia.


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Norman Buckley doesn't have any movies playing in theaters.
If you feel like heading out, check out other movies in theaters.
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Sean "Diddy" Combs can now be added to the list of celebs whose eateries have closed their doors for good. The Atlanta hot spot, whose swanky doors opened back in 1999, did manage to stay afloat for nearly 13 years. Amid initial rumors that extensive renovations were taking place, a Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group (BBWEG ) representative announced Justin's will definitely not reopen, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
SEE ALSO: Child Stars Who Became Child Brides
According to the statement released by BBWEG, the company made the decision to close Justin's in order to pursue "other business ventures in music, television, fashion, fragrance, and spirits." The company, however, says it is "actively exploring business opportunities in Atlanta" and promises "to have a strong presence in the region."
The restaurant that was known for a celeb presence fell from its top spot in recent years and could not get its mojo back. The eatery has joined the ranks of Comb's New York City Justin's restaurant, which closed its doors nearly five years ago.
Combs is in the company of other Black entertainers who have opened eateries in "Hotlanta" but whose establishments also fell by the wayside: Usher's The Grape shut its doors in 2009, Ludacris' Straits went belly up last January, and Jermaine Dupris' Cafe Dupris closed in 2008.
A celebrity eatery that is still standing in Atlanta, however, is Gladys Knight and Ron Winan's Chicken and Waffles. The poultry meets breakfast-combo-inspired menu is still being served up to the hungry masses after a successful nearly 16-year run.
NYT Writer Defends White House Leaks
Oregon Woman Arrested For Illegal $2.1 Million Tax Refund


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Ken Maynard's fourth film under his 1929 contract with Universal came complete with a music score and sound effects, but no dialogue scenes. Maynard played the title role, a cowboy who, to save the spread of beleaguered homesteader Colonel Lee (Charles Clary), rides the magnificent horse Tarzan to win the Big Race. Wanting the Lee spread for themselves, Martin Brierson (James Farley) and his outlaw brother (Paul Hurst) injure the Lee horses, and Colonel Lee's final chance to reclaim his property lies in the hands of Lucky Larkin. Maynard's frequent collaborator from his days at First National, screenwriter Marion Jackson, continued to supply the star stories long on furious action and excitement.
Add this movie to your queue to receive more information about
Lucky Larkin and we will let you know when it becomes available.


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Steins;Gate - Review
Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller
Rating: 9.7/10
Steins;Gate is set in the summer of 2010, approximately one year after the events that took place in Chaos;Head, in Akihabara.
Steins;Gate is about a group of friends who have customized their microwave into a device that can send text messages to the past. As they perform different experiments, an organization named SERN, who has been doing their own research on time travel, tracks them down and now the characters have to find a way to avoid being captured by them.
"No one know what the future holds. That's why its potential is infinite" -Okabe Rintarou
Story: 10/10
Animation: 9/10
The animation is also quite good specially on how it used dull colors which fits the series' overall mood, simple to overly dramatic camera angle and effects during calm or dramatic scenes.The animation may be simple but it was creatively utilized and well choreographed.
The OP song "Hacking to the Gate" by Kanako Itou is just so-so but I love how Huke's gritty style was somehow adapted to the animation of the OP. The ED song "Toki Tsukasadoru Juuni no Meiyaku (刻司ル十二ノ盟約)" by Yui Sakakibara really fits the atmosphere of the series and I really like that song. With its shattered sand timer and Mayuri's clock, it got the feel that time is running out. There are some bgms that are quite nice to the ears and it was played during the right moment. Sometimes the show also uses silence that indicates some tension in the atmosphere.
This show also boasts its clever dialogues and couple it with the superb performance of the voice actors it just blew my mind away since it was witty and hilarious at the same time. Thanks to the VAs the scientific jargons in the series was delivered effectively that an average person like me could understand. If it weren't for their talent the emotions thrown in this series would miss the hearts of the viewers.
Enjoyments 10/10
Hell yes I definitely enjoyed this series! This is the only show that I was really looking forward in watching week after week wishing that I have a time machine so that I could watch the next episode. I'm a bit sad that the series already ended since I will going to miss the company of the characters which I have grown to love and sympathize with. Well I'm happy with the ending since despite their hardships Okabe and Kurisu had a happy ending.
I really love how this series makes me think and speculate on what will happen in the next episode. I guarantee you you'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll be surprised by the twist and turns this show pulled off. Even the re-watch value of this series is really high since you'll see some clues here and there that you didn't notice before. I really recommend this to anyone who loves anime. So what the hell? Watch this like right now!
chidori3souske signing off with Okabe's
El. Psy. Congoroo.
Overall: 9.7/10 (Must See)
Labels: anime, review, Steins Gate


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Vratnica attack said done by Krasniqi group, Bit Pazar by a Saudi
BBC Monitoring, July 20, 2005, Wednesday
Text of report by Tomislav Kezarovski entitled "Krasniqi was shooting in Vratnica, Shiti in Bit Pazar" published by Macedonian newspaper Vecer on 20 July.
Agim Krasniqi's group was involved in the terrorist attack in Vratnica, whereas the group of Ramadan Shiti, a convict on the loose, planted the plastic explosive in the Bit Pazar [Flea Market] police station. Vecer has learned these details of the investigation into the attacks on the two police stations. The two groups are still hiding in Kondovo, where, according to intelligence sources, there are between 50 and 70 armed men, mostly young. Most of them are local residents but they also have great support from their Kosovo associates. Therefore, the MVR [Macedonian Interior Ministry] is employing a strategy, it is keeping quiet and choosing the right moment to carry out the operation in Kondovo because the state leadership gave it a free hand last week.
The investigation into the Bit Pazar attack indicates that the explosive was made and planted by a foreigner because few people in the country know how to deal with "plastic". The fact that the attack was actually a message to the government shows that a "professional" was involved. The investigation shows that the assailant followed the security officer in the police station and had only two minutes to plant the explosive, taking into account that there were no unnecessary victims. During the investigation, the name of criminal Ramadan Shiti emerged. Shiti, along with his eight-member group, has so far been operating independently from Krasniqi. The MVR has information that Shiti is related to Islamic terrorists from the Middle East. Operative data say that he was expelled from Saudi Arabia under suspicion of preparing an attack on a prominent person.
Unofficial reports indicate that Shiti's group has "raised the temperature" over the past three days in two or three police stations in Skopje by threatening, in writing, that they will blow them up. The police assess that domestic fundamentalists, who also influence developments in the Islamic Religious Community, support Shiti. Their assessments are identical to those of the US intelligence services. This makes both sides anxious, especially after the threats of new attacks, although they proved to be false.
Agim Krasniqi, for his part, allegedly did not know anything at all about the Bit Pazar incident on Friday [15 July].
SOURCE: Vecer, Skopje, in Macedonian 20 Jul 05 p 6


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The Woodlands Air Duct CleaningWhen you need a good home duct cleaning company look no further than The Woodlands Air Duct Cleaning. Each one of our technicians is skilled at thoroughly cleaning your air ducts.
We are perfect for helping you with your residential air duct cleaning and commercial air duct cleaning needs. Are you looking for more extensive help with your cleaning, we offer the most superior air duct cleaning in all of The Woodlands, TX. You won't find any other air duct cleaning company to take care of you like The Woodlands Air Duct Cleaning.
UV Light Installation The Woodlands TexasMany people don't know that UV light installation can help to reduce mold inside your air ducts. That will help keep your ducts clean and running correctly. The UV lights act to remove air pollutants, odors, smoke, viruses and bacteria contaminating the air. Call one of our customer service specialists today to have one of them scheduled a consultation for you.
Residential & Commercial Air Duct Cleaning - The Woodlands TXWhen we do commercial air duct cleaning we make sure to take care of your whole business. If you have a large office we can tackle it. We specialize in large office building. The best thing about our services is that we are fully capable of cleaning not only your ducts but your carpets and air vents too.
That is why so many of our customers recommend us to other businesses. We stand behind all of our work and we know you will love it too. Call one of our customer service specialists today and we will get you situated.
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These furnace ducts facilitate air flow in your home. Therefore, duct and furnace cleaning to remove the air contaminants in the debris accumulated in there is important.
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Our technicians take pride in their work and will go above and beyond to have your air vents cleaned. We understand the importance of a working and clean air duct system and that is what The Woodlands Air Duct Cleaning will give you. If you have any questions at all you can give us a call and one of our friendly customer service specialists will answer all of your questions.


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Celebrating 35 Years - changing lives by design!
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Informing and detailed, but only in text and a bit outdated.
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HIBS boss Alan Stubbs was stopped in his tracks by a supporter telling him he was "talkin' s***e" as he gave a live half time summary on rivals Rangers' win at Morton last night.
BT Sport issued a swift apology to viewers after the fan was clearly heard above Stubbs telling him what he thought of his opinion.
Hibs are Rangers main challengers for the Championship title and Stubbs was involved in an epic war of words with Gers boss Mark Warburton ahead of their side's meeting last month.
And with just two points between their sides before last night's match Stubbs had more than a passing interest in the Cappielow clash as he lined up alongside Kris Boyd as a match analyst for BT Sport.
The Hibs boss was explaining why he expected Morton, trailing 1-0, to take the game to Rangers in the second half when the fan piped up in the background and yelled: "Yer talkin s***e".
Stubbs, looking a little shocked, managed a smile as did Boyd before presenter Darrell Currie said: "Apologies if you heard any bad language around our cameras. Some of the fans are very close by to us."


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It's been almost 10 years since I first watched this film. I didn't know what to make of it then, and I don't know what to make of it now.
Four films were made about St. Trinian's Girls School from 1954 to 1966. After a long pause a fifth film was made in 1980. The first five films followed a logical continuity. Now, in 2007, the St. Trinian's franchise has been rebooted. The spirit of the early films has been revived. It's all about naughty girls. The older girls (16 to 18) are sexually provocative, the younger girls (11 to 13) are mischievous, and there's a grey zone in between.
The school is shown through the eyes of Annabelle Fritton, a new girl who arrives in the school at the start of the term. She's the niece of the school's headmistress, but that doesn't give her any advantages. She's shocked by the chaos and lack of discipline in the school, but as she settles in she gives up and becomes like the other girls.
The main plot of the film is that the school is facing bankruptcy. St. Trinian's is £500,000 in debt. Not even the money from the sale of the illegal vodka that the girls make in the cellar is enough to save the school. There's only one solution. They decide to steal a painting from the National Gallery in London and sell it to an art dealer. Bad girls!
I would have expected Kelly Jones, the head girl, to be the sexiest girl in school, since she's played by Gemma Arterton. Somehow she looks too plain, too goth and too pale. She doesn't even wear a short skirt.
This is the most we get to see of her. No, it isn't a short skirt, it's just the way she's sitting.
What sort of girls school lets a man pose naked for the art class? I couldn't do it. I'd be too afraid that I might have an embarrassing "problem".
Here are a few girls, from the youngest to the oldest. Do you see what I mean about Gemma Arterton's skirt being too long?
So why don't I like the film? For me it's too much of a contrast. I like the idea of sexy schoolgirls, but the presence of too many very young girls is a turn off. If it were just about older schoolgirls it would be an erotic fantasy, if it were just about younger schoolgirls I could treat it as a comedy, but mixing the two side by side in the same scenes is disturbing.
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In an age of overconsumption and overexposure, it's fair to say that giving money to charity generates some pretty good karma. However, at a time where the cost of living is higher than ever, it can be difficult to find room for altruistic endeavours in an already overextended budget.
What would it be like if everyone could donate to charity without dipping in to an often limited pool of resources – time, talents, and finances – while simultaneously making purchases that we've already budgeted to make? Enter Folo; a revolutionary platform that automatically generates free donations when users shop online – wait for it – paid for by the retailer.
Founded by The Pure Foundation, a Sydney-based innovative philanthropic trust established to drive social change, Folo now has a staggering 700 retailers on board, including some impressive names that yield an extremely high volume of online transactions – Expedia, Nike, Sephora, The Iconic and Dan Murphy's, to name only a fraction.
The platform is a simple yet brilliant concept, considering Australia's collective online spend reached a staggering $19.3 billion last year, a figure that's tipped to double in the next three years. Having only just launched in Australia, Folo already have their sights set on infiltrating the US, whose online shopping industry is sitting at a whopping $262 billion dollars, and growing rapidly.
The catch? The concept is almost too simple. Jaimee Abict, a member of Folo's founding team, stated that the platform's ease of use might actually be its biggest obstacle, as individuals who hear about the site initially assume it's too good to be true.
"Folo is almost a grand social experiment – we're basically asking people: 'if we gave you free money to give to a charity of your choice and all you had to do was download this browser extension, would you do it?'. The potential Folo has to generate free money for charities everywhere is staggering. All we need is people's participation."
Think about it: 20-45 years old are the highest spending demographic for online shopping, which won't be changing any time soon. If just 50,000 individuals downloaded Folo, that would generate $3.2 million for charities every year. That's $3.2 million that has come from the pockets of retailers. From transactions that will inevitably happen.
Folo has solved another huge roadblock that charity givers can encounter – holding no particular affinity for a charity that they're asked to give to. We've all experienced the guilt of denying a doorknocker a donation because the charity they're advocating for doesn't make an emotional connection to our ideals. Folo has something for everyone as it has hundreds of charities users can allocate funds to – from animal cruelty, to domestic violence, to sex trafficking, to climate change – making the donation more personal and more meaningful.
For the extremely indecisive, the platform also offers the choice of a whole cause area to support, rather than a single charity. To assuage any online payment scepticism, all of the non-profit organisations listed on the platform have gone through stringent charity verification processes, holding either DGR1 or DGR2 status.
There is simply no good argument for not participating in an initiative such as Folo. It is unequivocally making the world a better place, and is steadily revolutionising the charity sector.
Besides, any organise whose name is shorthand for 'For Love', is undoubtedly doing great things.


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Ad - Free version!Schnuffel is the cutest bunny out there and now lets you check and monitor your phones power:Schnuffel's flower shows you how much battery life you have left on your phone.
When the battery is full, the flower is in full bloom, pretty Schnuffel Bunny is smiling and his friend Brummi the bumblebee is buzzing around satisfied.
As your battery starts to empty, the flower starts wilting and drooping and Schnuffel Bunny becomes sad! Start charging your phone, and watch the flower come back to life! This app simply works a cute power monitor for your phone.
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Please mind that not all Android devices support Live Wallpapers. Please check compatibility before purchase!


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Guwahati, Apr 11: An estimated 65 per cent of voters in Assam today exercised their franchise in the second and last phase of assembly polls in 64 assembly constituencies today amid sporadic incidents of violence. The polling percentage was expected to go up as voters who already entered the booths were allowed to exercise their franchise even after the end of polling at 3 pm, election commission sources said.
The total number of voters in this phase was 96,77,113 and polling was held in 14 central and lower Assam districts.
Polling was disrupted for a brief period at a booth (55) in Katirihara under Jaleswar constituency with police firing in the air to disperse a group of people who resorted to violence when the presiding officer asked them to produce identity cards, the sources said.
EVM malfunctioning was reported from a booth at Nalbari under Goalpara (West)assembly constituencies.
Polling was cancelled in four polling stations under Rangiya assembly constituency in Kamrup (Rural) district after police fired two rounds in the air to disperse agitated voters protesting against alleged high-handedness of security forces.
Incidents of violence, including clashes between rival political parties, were reported from Mazbat, Jagiroad, Sipajhar and Samaguri.
Fourteen NDFB (pro-talk) cadres from a designated camp in Baksa district cast their votes through postal ballots.
Among the prominent candidates in the fray were former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, Revenue Minister Bhumidhar Barman, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarmah, Forest and Tourism Minister Rockybul Hussain, Transport Minister Chandan Brahma, Agriculture Minister Pramila Rani Brahma and AGP president Chandramohan Patowary.
Polling was held in the districts of Dhubri, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Goalpara, Barpeta, Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural), Nalbari, Baksa, Chirang, Udalguri, Darrang, Morigaon and Nagaon. Peaceful polling for 62 assembly seats was held in the first phase on April 4 which recorded a high voter turnout of nearly 74 per cent. PTI


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ALBANY, N.Y., Feb. 26, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- One in six couples struggles to get pregnant, yet a new study released by Fertility & Sterility shows that infertility is widely misunderstood among modern women. One-fifth of respondents were unaware of the effects of aging on fertility. One-third of women did not know that a history of sexually transmitted infections can adversely affect fertility, and 25% did not understand the implications of obesity.
Dr. Steven Bayer of Albany IVF stresses that couples must understand their fertility potential in order to improve and speed up their chances of success. "It's important to know the facts of fertility," says Dr. Bayer, "Understanding the details on how to conceive as well as when you may need assistance can help couples achieve their goal of parenthood more quickly."
Dr. Bayer shares seven common misconceptions he has come across during his medical practice:
It's not a problem for women to get pregnant in their 40s.
Statistics overwhelmingly show that more women are putting off having children until later in life. While women today may look and feel younger, for all women the female reproductive system begins to shut down as women age. A study in Fertility and Sterility reported that 40-year-old women treated for infertility had a 25 percent chance of achieving pregnancy using their own eggs. By age 43 that number dropped to 10 percent, and by 44 it became 1.6 percent. The good news is that older women often find pregnancy success using donor eggs.
Lifestyle doesn't affect fertility.
Lifestyle can affect the ability to have a child. Women who are overweight tend to have a more difficult time conceiving as extra weight may cause ovulatory disorders. Men who are overweight have an increased risk of low sperm count or the absence of sperm. Smoking by either partner also affects fertility. Studies have shown that the average time to successfully conceive naturally increases with the number of cigarettes smoked per day, and smoking has been shown to decrease sperm count. Controlling weight and discontinuing smoking are two easy ways to improve a couple's chance of success.
Infertility is a woman's problem.
Infertility diagnoses are split evenly between men and women, with the remaining 10 percent of diagnoses being unexplained infertility. It's important that both partners be evaluated if infertility is suspected.
If you've had one baby, it won't be hard to conceive again.
Secondary infertility (the inability to conceive a child after previous pregnancy) is slightly more common than primary infertility. According to the National Survey of Family Growth, more than one million couples suffer from secondary infertility. Couples struggling with secondary infertility can often find success through fertility treatment.
It's okay to wait to seek help.
Common advice is that couples try for at least a year to conceive before seeing medical help. While that is reasonable for younger women, those over age 35 should not wait to see a fertility specialist if pregnancy is not achieved within six months. Many fertility problems can be treated easily with medical assistance, but time is an irreversible critical factor of fertility treatment success.
STDs don't affect fertility
Sexually transmitted infections can affect the ability to have children. If STDs go untreated in women, it can lead to an episode of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which is a leading cause of infertility. Sexually transmitted disease may also cause infertility in men, as an STD can lead to scarring and blockage of the male reproductive structures.
There's only one day a month that a woman can get pregnant.
While it is true that a human egg is only viable for 12 to 24 hours, a woman can get pregnant anytime from five days prior to ovulation until two days after, for a total of seven days.
Infertility treatment isn't affordable.
Many states mandate insurance carriers that provide pregnancy-related benefits to cover comprehensive infertility diagnosis and treatment, including IVF (in-vitro fertilization). For non-covered services, most clinics offer flexible payment plans.
Albany IVF
Through its affiliation with Boston IVF, Albany IVF offers access to some of the nation's top fertility experts, as well as a world-class laboratory and state-of-the-art fertility technologies. Boston IVF's groundbreaking research has led to landmark advancements in fertility treatment, including the first IVF/ICSI baby in New England, the first donor egg pregnancy, and the first birth in Massachusetts to result from a frozen egg. Since 1986, more than 50,000 babies have been born under the expertise of Boston IVF and its affiliates. AlbanyIVF.com
CONTACT: Janna Miller email@example.com 720.381.4159
Source: Albany IVF


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|This is a rare creature/object. It may only be scanned in one or few encounters.
The Kralee is a beetle-like species of predatory insectoid. It can open transdimensional portals with the red-colored crystal on its back. However, it is stated that the creature has no control over this ability, despite this trait having apparently evolved for defensive purposes. Thus Kralees spend much of their time in a state of dimensional flux.
The creature is encountered in Mining Station B, Agon Wastes. It can be seen easily using the Dark Visor.
Their relatives are the Green Kralee, which are simply a mutant variety of Kralee.
Logbook entryEdit
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Morphology: Kralee
Dimensional-warping bioform.
Able to phase out of local timespace. Target creature before it warps to damage it.
The Kralee phases between dimensions as a defense mechanism. A crystal in its carapace gathers energy to fuel the creation of a warp portal. The process is uncontrollable, keeping the Kralee in constant dimensional flux.
- The name Kralee may be based on the word "crawly".
- If a Kralee phases out of Samus' dimension, it can still be targeted with the Dark Visor and subsequently killed with her weapons.
| Alimbic • Boost Guardian • Chozo (Ghost) • Craftsmen • Dark Pirate Commando • Darkling • Darkling Tentacle • Gorea • Ing (Hunter, Emperor, Warrior)
Ingsphere Cache • Kralee • Leviathan • Luminoth • Metroid Prime (Core essence) • Phantoon • Warp Hound • Phazon Metroid
|Alimbic Cannon • Artifact Temple • Interdimensional void • Portal • Stronghold Portal • Wormhole
|Alternate Dimensions
|Dark Aether • Infinity Void • The Locker • Oubliette • Stronghold Void
|Black fog • Dark Visor • Darkburst • Multidimensional Stealth Warship • Transdimensional energy • Transdimensional flux


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Bag: Prada, Cardholder: Chanel, Cosmetic case: Charlotte olympia, Rebel MAC lipstick, Vendetta Chanel nailpolish, Chanel Correction Perfection Concealer, Valentina perfume.
Tag Archives: cosmetic bag
What's in My Bag
It's finally the "What's in my bag" blogpost that you guys wanted to see. The reason I did not do one earlier is because I'm the kind of person that would go out with an empty bag. I'm not even exaggerating, I'd literately just go out with a bag that contains absolutely nothing. Not even my phone *because it's always out of charge*. Nevertheless, there would be those rare moments where I would actually carry tangible items in my bag and today was one of those moments so I thought to myself I should finally do the post!
What's in my bag: Wallet, International Mangement book, Paperchase notebook, Calculator, pencilcase, Planner, Dior sunnies, My iphone coverd by Pooh, Cosmetic bag.
What's in my cosmetic bag: Laura Mercier silk creme foundation, MAC 130 brush, Inglot lipstick palette, Giorgio Armani eyes to kill mascara, Maybelline dream lumi touch concealer, Hand Maid by Soap and Glory, A super old Hello kitty mirror that is not even mine *I stole it from my sister* hehe. I had few nail polishes because I have a two hour long break and I thought I'd color my nails. I couldn't pick what color I wanted at home so I just packed them all: Tomford in Smoke Red. Essie in Hot Coco. Topshop Nails in Big Smoke.
Let me know if you would like to see "What's in my bag" regularly xo.


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What is the real spring scent, yes, it's florals. This time we want to share with you a real spring fantasy, which is all about floral dresses. Here are presented modern take on florals, which underline woman's femininity and make her look sweeter, statement-making and flawless, no matter if they appear in a dark or bright palette. We want to show you a great compilation of light, retro, structured and tailored dresses which can be found in the latest resort collections from various brands and designers. You will find here sporty vibes, fit-and-flare basics, cocktail looks, two-piece updates, swingy 1960's silhouettes and pretty stunning alternatives. We think everyone loves flowers, no matter if it's a gorgeous bouquet in a vase or in the garden, no matter what, but it evokes femininity and makes you look youthful. We really hope these images will inspire you to update your spring wardrobe looks.
This rich rose print dress in athletic silhouette features a zip at the waist, so you can divide it into statement separates.
T-shirt fit-and-flare ensemble cinched at the waist with a belt.
This pale blue design is worth wearing at special occasions, like prom days, wedding and cocktail parties.
If you want something sophisticated, more dark and classic, then try on this jacquard floral print creation.
How about 3-d monochrome effect for special nights.
Asymmetric cut 1960's inspired update.
V-neck short ensemble looks sweet, fresh and summery.
Two piece update looks timelessly formal and modern.
Retro inspired shift design will update your working days at the office.
Here we see a nice evening occasion style.


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The Book Bridge The Book Bridge
Here's a sample of our volunteer opportunities:VIEW AS
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Mission Statement
Our mission is to support, motivate and inspire children in crisis situations to read through individualized access to books and other materials geared toward increasing literacy skills while also providing them with a healthy emotional outlet to stress.
The Book Bridge, founded in 2012, gives books to Lake County youth who are in serious physical, economical, emotional, or mental health crisis situations. Many of these children live in homeless shelters, safe houses, or residential treatment facilities.
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February is Facebook month here at the William H. Hannon Library!
Starting February 1, everyone who "likes" us on Facebook will see a weekly question. When you participate by answering the weekly question on our wall, you will be eligible for that week's prize of a $25 Jazzman's (library café) gift certificate plus your very own literary/historical action figure (you know you want one)! When you participate in a weekly question, you will also be entered into the grand prize drawing at the end of February.
Curious about the grand prize? Click here for more details.
"The Politics of Trafficking is a timely contribution to the global debate surrounding the complex origins of both trafficking and anti-trafficking politics. Stephanie Limoncelli's book is a must-read for understanding the historical nexus of states, immigration, and the control over sexual labor."
-David Kyle, University of California, Davis
This event is free, and open to all. Pub snacks and refreshments will be served.


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Clean Air - What Can I do to help?
I found this wonderful article at Clean Air Kids
I found this wonderful article at Clean Air Kids
What can you do:
There are many things we can do to help reduce air pollution and global warming.
Use buses and trains instead of cars, as they can carry a lot more people in one journey. This cuts down the amount of pollution produced.
Walking or cycling whenever you can will be even better, as it does not create any pollution. It will also be good for your body, as regular exercise will keep you fit and healthy.
If your parents must use the car, ask them to avoid using it for very short journeys if possible, as this creates unnecessary pollution. Try to encourage them to share their journeys with other people, for example when they go to work or go shopping. Also encourage them to drive more slowly as this produces less pollution and less carbon dioxide.
Energy is produced to generate electricity and to keep us warm. Most energy is produced by the burning of fossil fuels, like coal, oil and gas, which release carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. Fuel burnt in our cars also releases carbon dioxide. As an individual, you do not have a lot of control on how your energy is produced. However, you can control the way in which you use that energy. Using less energy means less of it needs to be produced. So less carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.
We can also help prevent pollution from our own homes which may contribute to acid rain and poor air quality, and increases emissions of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Turning off lights when they are not needed and not wasting electricity will reduce the demand for energy. Less electricity will need to be produced and so less coal, oil and gas will have to be burnt in power stations, which means less air pollution and less carbon dioxide!
Pollution formed indoors can be reduced by ensuring that all gas appliances are working correctly. Good ventilation will improve indoor air quality by dispersing biological pollutants like dust mite, and other pollutants such as cigarette smoke.
Most of the rubbish we throw away can be recycled, such as glass bottles and jars, steel and aluminium cans, plastic bottles and waste paper.
Recycling used materials uses less energy than making new ones.
Composting fruit and vegetable waste reduces the amount of rubbish buried at rubbish dumps.
What are the Governments doing?
Governments throughout the world have already taken action for these different environmental problems (i.e. Acid Rain, Air Quality, Ozone Hole, Global Warming). In their plans they hope to reduce the amount of emissions of greenhouse gases produced by man.
About half of the greenhouse effect is caused by our use of energy, especially from fossil fuels. Other sources of energy could be used which do not emit carbon dioxide, e.g. wind power, solar (sun power) and wave power. In the home and at school, we must learn to use energy efficiently and not waste it.
Go to the recycling waste and how to make recycled paper exercises.......
There are also lots more games and puzzles to play on this site to help you learn about being kind to out planet's air....
From Clean Air Kids; http://www.clean-air-kids.org.uk/doingyourbit.html


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Faith Matters: Texas Christian Private School Sports League Denies Muslim High School Entry After Questioning Religious Morals!
What would Jesus and Allah do??
The New York Times took a look at the story of the Beren Academy, a Jewish school that was initially going to have to forfeit its playoff run because the schedule conflicted with the Sabbath.
The organization making that decision was the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools, which oversees competitions for 200 private schools in the state.
The Times uncovered a striking letter TAPPS wrote to Houston's Iman Academy SW when the Islamic school inquired about joining the league.
The school was asked to answer the following questions:
— "Historically, there is nothing in the Koran that fully embraces Christianity or Judaism in the way a Christian and/or a Jew understands his religion. Why, then, are you interested in joining an association whose basic beliefs your religion condemns?"
— "It is our understanding that the Koran tells you not to mix with (and even eliminate) the infidels. Christians and Jews fall into that category. Why do you wish to join an organization whose membership is in disagreement with your religious beliefs?"
— "How does your school address certain Christian concepts? (i.e. celebrating Christmas)"
…TAPPS won't answer questions on the subject. The Iman Academy was denied membership in the organization and did not appeal the decision.
"We didn't want to bring any negative attention to the school," a school official told the Times. "We know our kids are just as American as their kids. We just wanted to play ball."
Is this out-of-pocket or do you think the school has a right to ask these questions of schools with practice an opposing faith?
Image via HoustonPress
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Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS), which is now the first of the country's banks to receive some form of state aid, unveiled an aggressive set of plans to shore up capital from state-backed instruments while also severely cutting costs.
In a statement, MPS said it will start procedures for obtaining issuance by the end of current year of €3.4bn worth of new government-sponsored capitalisation instruments for capital requirement purposes, under European Union legislation, of which €1.9bn for repayment of currently outstanding Tremonti Bonds.
It adds that it is also looking to repayment approximately €3bn in bonds within the "Plan" by 2015.
The lender also said it is seeking to raise a further €1bn from private investors, while also offering to swap subordinated for senior debt securities maturing in 2015 to bolster its capital base.
Within the plan, MPS also delivered a tough set of measures to cut costs.
The lender said it expects revenue to remain flat for the next 3 years, despite planning to sell a number of assets and cut jobs.
MPS will raise up to €223m by selling its majority stake in its northern Italian unit Biverbanca, as well as closing 400 branches and eliminating 4,600 jobs to boost profit.
Shoring Up Capital
The European Banking Authority (EBA) published its formal Recommendation in December last year, and the final figures, related to banks' recapitalisation needs, which revealed that European banks must raise €114.7bn of additional capital buffers by June this year, which is 8 percent more than its initial estimate of €106bn.
The EBA also revealed that a number of Italian banks had a significant shortfall on their balance sheets with MPS needing €3.267bn by the end of June this year.
Top management at the bank suggested it could issue contingency capital bonds to fill the remaining capital hole, after the EBA findings were released.
MPS shares have risen for the first time this week, by €0.63 as of 1109 GMT at €0.19, after MPS marked out a clear plan to cut costs and shore up capital.


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Sports Illustrated has an infatuation with the Carolina Panthers that rivals bodybuilders' obsession with protein shakes.
In 2005, the mag picked the Panthers to beat the Colts 31-27 in the Super Bowl. A year later, SI again went with the Panthers, this time choosing them to beat the Dolphins in the Super Bowl.
And now in 2007, whom is SI picking to win the Super Bowl? Well, the Saints over the Chargers, but who do they have New Orleans beating in the Divisional Round of the playoffs? That's right, the – in their estimation – 11-5 Carolina Panthers, of course.
Regardless of what you think about the Panthers – personally I think they'll be lucky to win nine games this year – it's flabbergasting that three years in a row SI has dropped to their knees in absolute worship of this team. The Panthers aren't on the same level as the Patriots or Colts for SI to be predicting them year in and year out to make the playoffs. Seriously, two of the past three years they've picked the Panthers to win the Super Bowl and this year, which is probably the most flawed the Panthers have looked in years, they're predicting them to go 11-5. Is Don Banks and knucklehead "Dr. Z" on Jerry Richardson's payroll?
Follow the Scores Report editors on Twitter @clevelandteams and @bullzeyedotcom.
Posted in: NFL


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Use of the smokeless tobacco product snus may be associated with an increased risk of death among men with prostate cancer comparable to that associated with smoking, according to findings from a large cohort study.
Compared with Swedish men who did not use any tobacco products, men who smoked cigarettes or used snus had a 15% and 24% respective higher risk for death from prostate cancer, wrote Kathryn Wilson, MD, of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and colleagues online in the International Journal of Cancer.
The powdered tobacco product snus is widely used in Sweden and other parts of Scandinavia but is also available in the U.S. It is most often packaged in individual pouches that are placed under the top lip.
Because snus delivers high levels of nicotine with lower concentrations of other chemicals than cigarettes and some other smokeless tobacco products do, it is widely promoted as a safer alternative to smoking, Wilson told MedPage Today.
"In Sweden, snus is among the most widely used tobacco products. It is convenient because you just put it in your mouth, and it delivers nicotine when you can't smoke."
Wilson said she believes the study is the first to link a smokeless tobacco product to prostate cancer progression and death. As a result of earlier studies, the Surgeon General in 2014 declared cigarette smoking to be associated with an increased risk for prostate cancer progression and death, but not overall incidence.
The nested, cohort study compared outcomes among 9,582 men with incident prostate cancer within a prospective cohort of 336,381 Swedish construction workers. Information on tobacco use was collected at study entry between 1971 and 1992, and, for the purposes of this analysis, the men were categorized into never smokers, exclusive smokers (cigarette, cigar, or pipe), exclusive snus users, or ever users of both snus and combustible tobacco products.
The comprehensive national Swedish Cancer Register was used to identify incidence cases of prostate cancer, and information about tumor characteristics among men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer was collected from the National Prostate Cancer Register of Sweden.
Prostate cancer-specific and total mortality hazard ratios for smoking and snus use were determined using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age, calendar period at diagnosis, and body mass index at baseline.
During 36 years of follow-up, 4,758 patients died, including 2,489 due to prostate cancer. The analysis revealed that:
- Compared with tobacco never-users, exclusive smokers had an increased risk of prostate cancer mortality (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.05–1.27) and total mortality (HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.09–1.26);
- Exclusive snus users also had increased risks of death due to prostate cancer (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.03–1.49) and death from all causes (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.04–1.37); and
- Among men diagnosed with nonmetastatic disease, the HR for prostate cancer death among exclusive snus users was 3.17 (95% CI 1.66–6.06).
The reliance on a single assessment of tobacco use prior to prostate cancer diagnosis -- recorded, on average, 2 decades before diagnosis -- was cited by the researchers as a study limitation. The analysis was also limited by a lack of covariate data on lifestyle factors potentially influencing risk, such as leisure-time physical activity.
Wilson told MedPage Today that while the findings cannot be extrapolated to other smokeless tobacco products delivering nicotine, such as e-cigarettes, they do suggest a possible role for nicotine in the promotion of prostate cancer.
The findings also suggest that the mechanism driving tobacco-related prostate cancer progression is not related to inhalation of combustible cigarettes: "This is consistent with the fact that we do not see an increased risk for incident prostate cancer associated with smoking," she said. "It appears that whatever is going on is different from the standard smoking risk."
Wilson said that given the increased popularity of smokeless nicotine-delivery products like e-cigarettes and the promotion of these products as safer alternatives to smoking, research is needed to determine the role of nicotine, if any, on cancer progression.
"It is generally agreed that these products are safer than smoking, but it is also true that we know much less about their longterm risks," she said.
Funding for this research was provided by the Prostate Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Awards and the National Cancer Institute.
The researchers reported having no relevant relationships with industry.
- Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco and Dorothy Caputo, MA, BSN, RN, Nurse Planner
- This activity is part of our Clinical Context curriculum in Prostate Cancer
last updated
Primary Source
International Journal of CancerSource Reference: Wilson KM, et al "Snus use, smoking and survival among prostate cancer patients" Int J Cancer 2016; DOI: 10.1002/ijc.30411.