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@@5051441 <h> Step Away from the Remote Control <h> Why It Matters <p> Gesture and gaze-tracking controls are likely to become much more common as cameras are embedded in more of our electronics . <p> Ketan Banjara 's living room is n't cluttered with remote controls . To shush the music , he simply holds a finger up to his lips . And when he gets up from the couch and leaves the room , his TV screen pauses automatically . <p> Banjara is a cofounder of PredictGaze , a startup that combines gaze detection , gesture recognition , and facial-feature recognition to create more natural ways to control everything from your TV to your car . <p> While many people are just getting their hands on their first touch-screen gadget , PredictGaze is one of a slew of companies betting that touch-free controls will be the next big thing . With front-facing cameras being embedded in all sorts of gadgets , it 's not hard to imagine . <p> So far , the company 's software has been integrated into an iOS game to enable users to control a food-guzzling , gap-toothed monster by moving their heads . The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where cameras track a customer 's gender , smile , and time spent in front of a product in hopes that the data can be used to increase sales by offering a hesitant shopper a coupon at the right time or by improving product placement . <p> PredictGaze imagines all kinds of applications for its technology , including preventing your five-year-old from watching adult content on TV and determining that you 're starting to fall asleep behind the wheel of your car . <p> The company 's technology combines machine-learning and computer-vision algorithms in software that can use a standard VGA camera to figure out where you 're looking , what your gender is , if you 're smiling , and more . It can also identify gestures -- all of which can then be translated into actions taken by devices . <p> In order to identify a person 's age , for example , PredictGaze has trained its software with images of people of various ages . This information can then be used to identify how old you are from an image of you when you stand in front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an iPad running its software . <p> Similarly , the company trained its software with thousands of images of shushing and non-shushing actions in order to identify that action . <p> To do gaze tracking , the camera continuously captures your eye movements and uses that data to calculate where you are looking . That can be translated into , say , a character 's movement in a game . <p> " It 's not that we have different technologies that we brought together . That 's a difference . It 's one technology that is able to handle face , gesture , and gaze , " Banjara says . <p> The company says it processes all data on the device running its software , rather than sending it off to remote servers , and none of the images captured by the cameras are saved . The technology works even in changing light , the company says . <p> In Banjara 's sparsely decorated living room in Mountain View , California , the PredictGaze team showed me a deluge of demos on a TV set , laptop , iPad , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Banjara and I sat down in front of a large flat-screen TV connected to an iPad running PredictGaze software . As a Rihanna music video blared on the TV , Banjara stood up and walked away ; nothing happened . I walked away , too , and the video paused as the iPad 's front camera determined that nobody was left to watch . <p> In another demo , a PredictGaze team member holding an iPad browsed a Web page and turned the pages of an e-book with his gaze . <p> In a third demo , two of us sat in front of the iPad and software accurately determined how many people were there , what each person 's gender was , if they were smiling , and more . It could determine my gender even when I wore glasses and covered my hair . <p> Right now , some of PredictGaze 's efforts are sensitive and finicky : if Banjara and I stayed seated on the couch but turned to each other , Rihanna also stopped singing . And when I played the iPhone game that includes PredictGaze @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head motions . But with a bit of tweaking -- and inclusion of wide-angle cameras on TVs and tablets that can capture more action -- I can imagine PredictGaze 's utility . <p> The company wants to sell its software development kit to developers for use within their applications . It also plans to sell its technology to electronics companies , which are increasingly selling gadgets that include front-facing cameras , so that PredictGaze can be built right into devices . Eventually , PredictGaze may build its own hardware , too . <p> But Roel Vertegaal , an associate professor of human-computer interaction at Queen 's University in Kingston , Ontario , and director of the school 's Human Media Lab , is n't that impressed with PredictGaze 's technology , which he says is n't new . He and others have been working on such interfaces for years , he says . <p> Still , he thinks it 's good that such technology is becoming commercially viable . <h> Rachel Metz IT Editor , Web &; Social Media <p> As MIT Technology Review ' s IT editor for Web @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ startups and write gadget reviews out of our San Francisco office . I 'm curious about tech innovation , and I 'm always on the lookout for the next

@@5051541 <h> We recommend <h> From around the web <h> sound off ( 14 Responses ) <p> HOW ABOUT DO THE JOB YOU WERE ELECTED TO DO ! ! ! ! It seems all they spend their time doing when elected is campaigning , we the people have no more money to donate . <p> November 13 , 2012 12:41 pm at 12:41 pm <p> Sniffit <p> " And the fight for the 2014 Senate may end up being the most compelling storyline as the dawn of the midterm campaign approaches . " <p> CNN wants you to incorrectly believe that the fight for the 2014 Senate is the most compelling storyline , so they do n't have to do any investigative journalism and can distract from the facts and numbers about the real issues while weaving their false equivalence narratives . <p> FIFY <p> November 13 , 2012 12:41 pm at 12:41 pm <p> Sniffit <p> Filibuster . Reform . NOW . <p> November 13 , 2012 12:46 pm at 12:46 pm <p> Travis <p> @ Get Real Could n't agree more with you . It 's pretty sad when campaigning takes more precendence over doing the job you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12:50 pm at 12:50 pm <p> B. <p> Time to take up the debate on Term Limits , National Election Process , Dumping Filibuster rule , and Citizens United Ruling ! <p> November 13 , 2012 01:01 pm at 1:01 pm <p> ST <p> Campaigning is the only job they know and do better than anything else . They never ask themselves what have I accomplished and why should people send me back ? <p> November 13 , 2012 01:05 pm at 1:05 pm <p> just sayin <p> not to worry . we wo n't have much a country left to fight over by then . obama and the democrats are hellbent on making us a banana republic with dear leader obama dictating to people what he wants done and when . <p> November 13 , 2012 01:12 pm at 1:12 pm <p> Rudy NYC <p> Travis <p> @ Get Real Could n't agree more with you . It 's pretty sad when campaigning takes more precendence over doing the job you were elected to do . ---------------- " Our number goal is to insure that Barack Obama is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> The right wing media machine is going to be the big winner in this election . They profited immensely with shock rhetoric and lies . Their profits will only soar as they continue to feed their political hamsters more of the same . <p> November 13 , 2012 01:29 pm at 1:29 pm <p> John <p> If I had a job like theirs , where I have the best medical coverage , global travel on someone else 's ticket , oh and all I had to do was keep trying to convince my boss to keep me on , without doing anything job related , I would get bored and be ashamed , but not congress , they do n't do a damned days work , collect exorbitant paychecks and do nothing but whine , cry , pout and scream . Like four year olds . But four year olds eventually grow up , learn to play nice with others , share , and eventually take responsibility for their actions . I have zero faith that congress will even reach the mentality of a four year old , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at their expense , why should we pay them a salary to give them time to lobby for their job . No corporation would do that , so why are we so stupid as to allow it . Congress pay should be a pay for performance , you do n't perform you do n't get paid . Period , I wish we could recall them all . <p> November 13 , 2012 01:30 pm at 1:30 pm <p> just sayin <p> 3.5 years after the recession ended and still no jobs and a shrinking work force and massively growing food stamp line . how is obama and the democrats going to support their massive welfare state with fewer and fewer working taxpayers funding the government ? oh yeah , the evil rich people will pay for everything . problem is taking all of their money wo n't come close to funding their massive welfare society . <p> November 13 , 2012 01:35 pm at 1:35 pm <p> julie <p> @just sayin -- suck it up or take a hike ............... if you 're not part of the solution then you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 01:40 pm at 1:40 pm <p> Travis <p> @ Rudy NYC " " Our number goal is to insure that Barack Obama is a one term president . " Sen. Mitch McConnell , R-KY <p> The right wing media machine is going to be the big winner in this election . They profited immensely with shock rhetoric and lies . Their profits will only soar as they continue to feed their political hamsters more of the same . " **25;148;TOOLONG -- <p> Do you honestly think I care about the right or left wing media machine ? And what does that have to do with people who are more concerned with campaigning than looking out for those that voted for them in the first place ? <p> November 13 , 2012 01:52 pm at 1:52 pm <p> Sniffit <p> " And what does that have to do with people who are more concerned with campaigning than looking out for those that voted for them in the first place ? " <p> Everything . The MSM enables all of it . <p> November 13 , 2012 02:02 pm at 2:02 pm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the thought of a longer single term of office ; maybe 6 years for the President and limiting the number of years that a person can serve in Congress . I know this comment stinks of 7th grade Civics but I

@@5051641 <h> Meek Mill - Used To Be ( Feat . Jordanne ) lyrics <p> I used to be , I used to ( Used to used to used to ) I used to be , I used to ( I used to be , I used to ) I used to grind in the dirt I used to cry ? til it hurt I will make love to the headphones When is my time gon na come ? <p> I used to be , I used to But I never got used to Bein ? what I used to be So I used to be , I used to ( yea ) But I never got used to ( neva ? ) Bein ? what I used to be <p> I was never used to niggas that was used to Bein ? broke so I started sellin ? coke Times got hard with sellin ? soap Skimmin ? just like the preacher I church , you sellin ? hope Now I ? m gettin ? older , heart gettin ? colder Lookin ? at my son wife ? s head laid on my shoulder Thinkin ? in my head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ? ? Or will I catch a bullet from some these niggas throwin ? ? Try and take me out ? In the hood try and make it out Niggas flightin ? on me , cops all stakin ? out Try and get a couple bricks so I could make a house Close friends hatin ? on me , really try and play me out Damn , the niggas couldn ? t deal with me If they had Blackjack my shooters would still hit it No sight of Philly where is real greedy , and dirty at We ? re right we ? re they ? re murdered at <p> I used to be , I used to ( Used to used to used to ) I used to be , I used to ( I used to be , I used to ) I used to grind in the dirt I used to cry ? til it hurt I will make love to the headphones When is my time gon na come ? <p> I used to be , I used to But I never got used to Bein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be , I used to But I never got used to Bein ? what I used to be <p> When I was young I started planning it out My daddy got killed , I was the man of the house By the age of 16 , then them Hamill ? s was out So a nigga ? s tryin ? to hit me , I ? m just handin ? him out Cuz I ain ? t tryna see my mom cryin ? and my sis ? mornin ? So Imma let this little Mackie level rip on ? im Loubrutton sneaks , watch the blood drip on ? em For all the times I bled , the tears I shed Every time I made money , it was here I set And if my niggas ask for it was ? yea ? I said Sellin ? butter just to get the fam bread I swear I got mad to the streets and it was here I went Cuz I was never used to bein ? what I used to Started all walkin ? down the roads , where ? @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every time I shoot through To give a motivation even though I know they hate her <p> I used to be , I used to ( Used to used to used to ) I used to be , I used to ( I used to be , I used to ) I used to grind in the dirt I used to cry ? til it hurt I will make love to the headphones When is my time gon na come ? <p> I used to be , I used to But I never got used to Bein ? what I used to be So I used to be , I used to But I never got used to Bein ? what I used to be <p> The man with the gold makes the rules Anyone who makes the rules , break the rules Some niggas make it alive , some make the news It ? s either family or money , I hate to choose Cuz you need money just to feed the fam And family keep you cool Got nigga on the paper , still I keep the tube @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through I get my hand up on that hammer , what ? s for me to do ? Let these niggas kill me ? Try to line me up so they can reel me ? I ? m just givin ? you the real me Started with a dollar , now I got and I ? m filthy Nigga ! <p> I used to be , I used to ( Used to used to used to ) I used to be , I used to ( I used to be , I used to ) I used to grind in the dirt I used to cry ? til it hurt I will make love to the headphones When is my time gon na come ? <p> I used to be , I used to But I never got used to Bein ? what I used to be So I used to be , I used to But

@@5051741 <h> The Idea of Ancestry <p> Taped to the wall of my cell are 47 pictures : 47 black faces : my father , mother , grandmothers ( 1 dead ) , grand- fathers ( both dead ) , brothers , sisters , uncles , aunts , cousins ( 1st and 2nd ) , nieces , and nephews . They stare across the space at me sprawling on my bunk . I know their dark eyes , they know mine . I know their style , they know mine . I am all of them , they are all of me ; they are farmers , I am a thief , I am me , they are thee . I have at one time or another been in love with my mother , 1 grandmother , 2 sisters , 2 aunts ( 1 went to the asylum ) , and 5 cousins . I am now in love with a 7-yr-old niece ( she sends me letters in large block print , and her picture is the only one that smiles at me ) . I have the same name as 1 grandfather , 3 cousins , 3 nephews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was 15 , just took off and caught a freight ( they say ) . He 's discussed each year when the family has a reunion , he causes uneasiness in the clan , he is an empty space . My father 's mother , who is 93 and who keeps the Family Bible with everbody 's birth dates ( and death dates ) in it , always mentions him . There is no place in her Bible for " whereabouts unknown . " <p> 2 <p> Each fall the graves of my grandfathers call me , the brown hills and red gullies of mississippi send out their electric messages , galvanizing my genes . Last yr/like a salmon quitting the cold ocean-leaping and bucking up his birth stream/I hitchhiked my way from LA with 16 caps in my pocket and a monkey on my back . And I almost kicked it with the kinfolks . I walked barefooted in my grandmother 's backyard/I smelled the old land and the woods/I sipped cornwhiskey from fruit jars with the men/ I flirted with the women/I had a ball till the caps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I looked at my grandmother and split/my guts were screaming for junk/but I was almost contented/I had almost caught up with me . ( The next day in Memphis I cracked a croaker 's crib for a fix . ) This yr there is a gray stone wall damming my stream , and when the falling leaves stir my genes , I pace my cell or flop on my bunk and stare at 47 black faces across the space . I am all of them , they are all of me , I am me , they are thee , and I

@@5051841 <h> Park Tools <h> Frequently Asked Questions <p> General How do I get to the park ? Katmai National Park and Preserve does not have any road access . Instead , flights or boat trips into the park must be chartered . Commercial flights are available from Anchorage to King Salmon via Alaska Airlines or PenAir . Flights or boat trips into the park may be chartered from many locations such as King Salmon , Homer , and Kodiak . <p> When is the park open or closed ? The park never closes . However , if you 're going to Brooks Camp , National Park Service and concession facilities ( including campground ) are only open from June 1 through September 17 . <p> How do I get names of Katmai 's air taxis , bear guides , and other commercial operators ? Click here for a link to Katmai 's commercial services webpage for names and contact information for commercial operators . <p> NPS Photo by Michael Glore . <p> Park ranger standing in front of sign at Brooks Camp . <p> Brooks Camp ( Lodge &; Campground ) &; Valley of 10,000 Smokes How do I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to King Salmon on a commercial airline ( Alaska Airlines or Peninsula Airways ) and then fly seatfare on a floatplane from King Salmon to Brooks Camp ( link to Katmailand ) . Floatplanes can also be chartered out of different areas including King Salmon , Homer , Kodiak , and specific fly-fishing lodges . <p> How much does it cost to get to Brooks Camp from King Salmon ? For Katmailand , the park concessioner , seat fares in 2012 cost $188 roundtrip to get from King Salmon to Brooks Camp . <p> Can you drive to King Salmon or Brooks Camp from Anchorage ? No . There is no road access from Anchorage to King Salmon or Brooks Camp . King Salmon is an Alaska " bush community " because there is no road access from any large city . Only Naknek , a town located around fifteen miles away , has road access to King Salmon . Brooks Camp is inaccessible by road . <p> How do you get to where you see the bears once you 're at Brooks Camp ? In July and September , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the river , or even napping . To see bears , you do not need a vehicle . During July , many bears can be seen at the Brooks Falls which is within walking distance of Brooks Camp . In June and August , fewer bears are in the Brooks Camp area and visitors might not see bears during their visit . <p> Other than bear viewing , what else is there to do at Brooks Camp ? At Brooks Camp , people can fish , hike , canoe/kayak , and go to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes . Fishing for sockeye ( red ) salmon and rainbow trout is popular at Brooks . Dumpling Mountain is a designated 1.5 mile ( one-way ) trail starting from the campground . Daily bus tours to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes are available for a fee ( reservations are recommended ) . Canoeing and kayaking are possible in Brooks Camp ( see information below ) . <p> What lodging options are at Brooks Camp ? You can stay at Brooks Lodge ( see link or call 1-800-544-0551 ) or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These facilities are open from June 1 through September 17 annually . A third option is camping outside of the 1.5 mile radius of Brooks Camp . <p> How do I get a reservation for Brooks Lodge and how much does the Lodge cost per night ? Contact Katmailand or call 1-800-544-0551 . <p> How much do meals cost at Brooks Lodge and do I have to be a Lodge guest ? Meals are buffet-style . Breakfast is around $10-15 , lunch is around $15-20 , and dinner is around $15-30 , depending on the options chosen . You do not have to be a Lodge guest to buy meals . <p> How much does it cost to camp ? It costs $12.00 per person/per night to camp . <p> How do I get a reservation for a campsite ? Campsites must be reserved in advance . Click here to apply for a reservation or call 1-877-444-6777 . Reservations for the 2013 season can be made beginning January 5 , 2013 . <p> If I 'm camping at Brooks Camp , can I buy food there or do I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meals can be bought at Brooks Lodge . ( See above question for meal pricing ) . Camp food should be bought before coming to the park and brought with you . <p> Can you buy fuel for campstoves at Brooks Camp ? Yes , both propane and white gas are available at Brooks Lodge . <p> Can you cook at your campsite ? No , there are 3 common cooking areas in the campground that all campers share . <p> Where do I put my food if I 'm camping ? All food and odorous items must be stored in the food locker provided at the campground . <p> Is there water at the campground ? Potable water is available in the campground . <p> Do you have bathrooms in the campground ? Vault toilets are provided for campers . <p> Do you have showers in the campground ? There are no showers inside the campground , but showers are available nearby at Brooks Lodge for a fee . <p> How can I get to Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes ? The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes is 23 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided by the park concessioner , Katmailand , and is available for a fee . A ranger naturalist provides information and will accompany you on an optional 3-mile hike into the valley . Reservations are recommended for the bus ride and total trip time is 7-8 hours . <p> How much does the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes tour cost ? The roundtrip tour with lunch costs approximately $100 and without lunch is around $90 . A one-way trip costs around $50 . Prices should be checked with Katmailand or call 1-800-544-0551 . <p> Can I get dropped off at the Valley for a few days of backpacking ? Yes . If you want to take the bus , you will have to coordinate with Katmailand or call 1-800-544-0551 . <p> Photo courtesy of Sharon Kim <p> Three cubs at Brooks Camp <p> Bears What 's the best time to see bears ? Although you may encounter a bear at any time , your chances of seeing bears are best when they gather to feed on seasonally concentrated food sources like salmon and sedge grasses . Click on this link @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bears at some of the seasonal bear feeding sites in Katmai . <p> What species of bears do you have in the park and preserve ? In the park and preserve , we have a large number of Ursus arctos . Members of this species that inhabit coastal areas such as Katmai , where salmon is a primary food source , are commonly known as " brown bears " ( the term " grizzly " is used to refer to members of inland populations ) . Black bears are extremely rare in Katmai . <p> Where do you have viewing platforms and is there a time limit for viewing ? In the park , there are three viewing platforms located in Brooks Camp along the south side of Brooks River : ( 1 ) the Falls Platform located immediately adjacent to Brooks Falls , ( 2 ) the Riffles Platform located around 100 meters south of Brooks Falls , and ( 3 ) the Lower River Platform located adjacent to the floating bridge near Brooks Lodge . The Falls and Riffles Platforms are connected to a central covered platform by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Falls and Riffles Platforms at any time , more bears focus their activities near these platforms during the primary salmon migratory period of late June through July . Capacity at the Falls Platform is actively managed for a maximum of 40 people using an on-site waiting list . When the Falls Platform is at maximum capacity and there is a waiting list , visiting time on the Falls Platform is limited to one hour . Visitors waiting to access the Falls Platform are able to wait at the Riffles Platform or the covered platform . <p> Do I need to bring bear spray ? Bear spray is allowed in the park . However , getting it to the park may be challenging due to airline safety concerns . Contact the commercial airlines and the air transport operators for any restrictions . <p> How can I be safe in bear country ? Click here for a brochure on safety in bear country . <p> Photo courtesy of Michael Glore <p> Hiking toward the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes <p> Backcountry Is there a fee for backcountry use or backcountry camping ? @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . No backcountry permits are required . Only camping in Brooks Camp Campground has a fee . If you are planning a long trip , you may consider filing a backcountry plan at either the King Salmon or Brooks Camp Visitor Center , as well as leaving your itinerary with a friend or family member . <p> How do I keep my food safe from bears ? All food , beverages , garbage , and any other odorous items must be attended at all times . They must be stored in a bear-resistant container ( BRC , or " bear barrel " ) . A limited supply of BRCs are available for temporary check-out , free-of-charge at the King Salmon Visitor Center . Do not plan on hanging as a method of storage ; trees can be sparse along many parts of the park and preserve , and may be unsuitable for hanging food . Keep your belongings with you : a pack or clothing left unattended invites curious bears . Not only will your belongings likely be destroyed , but the bear may also learn to associate such items @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> Do I need to use an electric fence while I 'm camping in the backcountry ? Electric fences have been adapted for use in bear country and have been effective at minimizing intrusions into campsites . Typically , park staff in the field choose to use electric fences . Visitors planning to use electric fences must bring their own equipment ; the park does not provide electric fencing material . Click here for more information on electric fences at the State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game website . <p> Fishing and Hunting Do I need a permit to fish or hunt ? An Alaska sport fishing or hunting license is required for the majority of visitors . You may also need a harvest record card and/or king salmon stamp before you fish . For more specific information , visit the State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game License and Permits web site . <p> Canoeing and Kayaking Is there somewhere I can rent a canoe or a kayak ? Yes , rentals are available in Anchorage , King Salmon , and Brooks Lodge . Visitors should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transport before coming to the park . <p> Can I get information about the Savonoski Loop ? Yes . Click here to download a brochure in PDF format . <h> Did You Know ? <p> The sea otter from the northern part of the Katmai coast ( Cape Douglas ) down to the Aleutians is a federally-listed threatened species . It is unknown

@@5051941 <p> Welcome to the home page of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary . <p> Established in 1813 , the House Judiciary Committee is the second oldest standing committee in Congress . Its jurisdiction often places it at the center of American politics , such as when it approved the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act following the terrorist attacks on September 11 , 2001 . Particularly important today is the Committee 's oversight responsibility for the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security . <p> The Committee has been called the guardian of the Constitution and each of its subcommittees has roots in that document . The House Judiciary Committee usually sends the greatest number of substantive bills to the House floor each year . In the last Congress over one thousand bills and resolutions were referred to the Committee on such subjects as terrorism , crime , immigration , bankruptcy , civil liberties , constitutional amendments , patents and copyrights . Please use this Web site as a valuable resource to

@@5052041 <h> Strategy : What It Is And Is Not <p> In a Bloomberg column titled " Want to Be the Next Apple ? Lose the Bafflegab , " Virginia Postrel passes along some business advice that applies just as well to foreign and national security policy . <p> In his new book " Good Strategy , Bad Strategy : The Difference and Why It Matters , " Richard P. Rumelt , a strategy professor at UCLA 's Anderson School of Management , offers another explanation : the ruthless execution of good strategy . <p> Strategy is not what many people think it is . It is not a fill-in-the-blanks mission statement blathering about how XYZ Corp . will ethically serve its stakeholders by implementing best-in-class integrated sustainable practices to grow as a global leader while maximizing shareholder value . Such bafflegab is " Dilbert " -fodder that generates cynicism and contempt . It is , at best , a big waste of time . <p> Neither is strategy a declaration that the ABC Co. will increase sales by 20 percent a year for the next five years , with a profit margin of at least 20 percent . Strategy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- what Kenichi Ohmae of McKinsey criticized in a 1989 Harvard Business Review article as " do more better . " Effort is not strategy . Neither are financial projections . And neither are wishes . <p> A strategy " is a way of dealing with a high-stakes challenge , " Rumelt told me in an interview . " It 's a way around the obstacles or problems in a difficult situation . " <p> Every good strategy , he writes , includes what he calls the kernel : a " diagnosis " of the challenge ( " What 's going on here ? " ) , a " guiding policy " for dealing with that challenge ( the core idea often called a strategy ) , and a set of " coherent actions " to carry out that policy ( the implementation ) . <p> For his friend Stephanie 's corner grocery , Rumelt writes , the diagnosis was competition from a large 24-hour supermarket , the guiding policy was " to serve the busy professional who has little time to cook , " and the coherent actions included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 5:00 p.m . <p> This strategy not only told Stephanie what to do but what she had to stop doing . Selling more prepared meals meant taking space away from the munchies for her many student customers . To focus labor expenses on the peak times for her professional customers , she closed earlier , meaning no sales from late-night study breaks . " Strategy is scarcity 's child and to have a strategy , rather than vague aspirations , is to choose one path and eschew others , " writes Rumelt . <p> A strategy is not a goal like maximizing shareholder value or keeping America safe from terrorism . It 's not even a plan . It is a design -- a coherent approach to defining and solving a particular problem , in which the different elements have to work together . <p> ... <p> " Strategy is not a magic potion for overcoming any obstacle , " says Rumelt . " The part that 's hard to write about , that people reject , that they do n't want to hear me say , is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with . Choose a different obstacle . Play games you can win . " <p> In recent years , the security policy community has been debating the efficacy of counterinsurgency ( COIN ) doctrine , with supporters dubbed COINdinistas and opponents COINtras . Too often , though , the debate treats COIN as if it were a strategy rather than a ruleset for defeating insurgents . The thing COINtras are really opposed to is n't counterinsurgency doctrine but the policy goal of occupying countries of marginal interest to the United States and trying to turn them into Sweden through the application of military force . While I concur in that analysis , that 's a problem with political decisionmakers , not FM 3-24 or JP 3-24 . <h> Related Posts <p> About James Joyner James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council . He 's a former Army officer , Desert Storm vet , and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama . Follow James on Twitter . <h> Comments <p> In recent years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counterinsurgency ( COIN ) doctrine , with supporters dubbed COINdinistas and opponents COINtras . Too often , though , the debate treats COIN as if it were a strategy rather than a ruleset for defeating insurgents . <p> This is n't a recent phenomenon . It can be argued that due to poor understanding of strategy the U.S. has n't won a war since 1945 . This applies both to politicians and generals , and confirms Niebuhr 's classification of Americans as " poltically incompetent " . Politics must always be included in consideration of strategic goals

@@5052141 <h> Photos , Stories and articles on East Asia <h> Main menu <h> Post navigation <h> Why raising the consumption tax is a good idea AND good politics <p> The following is a lightly edited version of my e-mail reply to a friend who asked about the ongoing fight over passing a hike to the consumption tax . As of this writing the bill has passed the lower house but has still not become law . See Japan Real Time for a good breakdown of recent events : <p> The consumption tax was definitely too low for a country with such generous welfare benefits , so raising it only makes all the sense in the world . I almost wish they had put in a delay mechanism in case the economy is still in bad shape in 2 years , but hopefully that wo n't be the case . <p> Fiscally , I think it is a drop in the bucket , and the short term economic impact is definitely not great . That is why there is such a strong knee-jerk negative reaction among the public . They either run or know people who run small businesses that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the few policies that stares average people in the face every day and is easy to understand . Everything you pay for will get more expensive . <p> But at the same time it 's vital to get the house in order so to speak , or else Japan really is in for a hard landing . The social programs that Japan has are great and they need to be maintained . So they need to be funded in a way that 's not too onerous , and this seems like as good a way as any to me . <p> I have basically come to the conclusion that inflation is unlikely in Japan over the long term because there is n't a fundamental basis for it . People are getting older fast and are just going to spend less . And productivity gains are n't going to be fast enough to make up for that ( economics is n't my strong suit ... but is n't it the case that inflation is at least supposed to track economic cycles ? ) Japan is n't going to necessarily have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enjoy a comfortable and proud status as a rich nation . That is , they should be able to if people in their prime now can actually feel some security and expect a reasonable retirement not too different from what their parents had . <p> In terms of the political situation , there are a lot of people saying that Ozawa " won " but I do n't really see it that way . He did n't stop Noda from doing what he wanted to do -- there has effectively been a Grand Coalition in place since Noda came to power ( note how close to unanimous the jail-for-download law was , or the postal reform bill , or take your pick ) and for all the blustering among the parties they are pretty much united on a lot of policy measures because they are a ) consensus among the Serious People muckimucks like the finance ministry and media opinion makers , and b ) the subject of gaiatsu ( I believe the IMF has been dogging Japan to raise the consumption tax ) . <p> And although Ozawa technically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he is too afraid to do it because he knows that his clique is even more exposed to getting voted out than the others because it contains so many first-termers . It seems pretty shrewd for Noda to NOT punish the defectors in that case because it prevents the election from happening and lets the de facto grand coalition continue with him running the show . <p> If there is an election the DPJ will lose , the LDP will win ( though maybe not get an outright lower house majority ) , Komeito will maintain , and Hashimoto 's party might make a serious splash , though Hashimoto himself has said he wo n't run . So in that context I think all the established parties , especially the DPJ , have an incentive to delay an election as long as possible . Once Hashimoto has his foot in the door of national politics life wo n't be the same . Every little thing will be a fight that ca n't be worked out by getting drunk together at a ryotei . <p> Make no mistake , though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential split in the DPJ was months in the making , maybe even years because Kan might have pushed for the tax hike had there been no earthquake ( remember how he for whatever reason ran on that issue in the Upper House elections ? ) . <p> And there is always the need to point out that this agenda of raising the tax was pushed by the finance ministry . Politicians in general are empty shells with voting power , and they need to get pushed in a certain direction by the people who they think will help them keep or increase that power . This time it was the ministry of finance because it is a permanent bureaucracy that has a political agenda that 's informed by its mission as the steward of the Japanese government 's finances . <p> That is n't necessarily a bad thing because if there is one thing that the DPJ coming to power has taught me is that it 's dangerous to allow people with zero expertise being responsible for governing convince themselves that they know what 's best for the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posturing and fundraising . The DPJ made the critical mistake of making enemies of the bureaucrats instead of cultivating them and influencing them in the subtle , glad-handing way the LDP mastered . Or at least they could have brought in people with talent and real ideas . <h> 17 thoughts on " Why raising the consumption tax is a good idea AND good politics " <p> Raising revenue is fine and necessary , but I 've never seen particularly good explanations of why they ca n't try more progressive means such as increasing income taxes or savings taxes -- or even closing all of those crazy loopholes that basically let small businesses write off every single expense . Consumption taxes are just by their nature going to disproportionately hurt lower income people more than higher income people , which is why the JCP was so against it . And I am not sure I ever read anything about consumption tax rebates to the very poor . <p> Income taxes would disproportionately affect the working population , savings taxes would disproportionately affect the retired population , and closing corporate tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Japan . <p> Personally I would like to see some tightening of inheritance/gift tax loopholes , and perhaps a punitive tax on political fundraising . <p> " I almost wish they had put in a delay mechanism in case the economy is still in bad shape in 2 years " <p> Check out the ? ? ? ? ? ? part on this NHK overview of the legislation . Earlier drafts tied the possibility of deferring the tax hike to specific growth targets , but that did n't make it to the version that got voted on . There 's still some wiggle room in there for administrations in 2014 and 2015 , though . <p> Well written , and credit to you for putting in a lot of the important background points that you seldom see in English language coverage and discussion of this . However , I come down completely on the other side of the fence -- but credit you for writing something I can disagree with but still see as balanced and fair . <p> It really comes down to the last two paragraphs . There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which really has been the thinking behind governance for half a century that ; -- Politicians are not competent to actually exercise authority in important areas of policy and their influence should be minimized to supporting professional policy making bureaucrats -- Ministries understand what budgets they need , and spending , like policy making should be left at their discretion to decide , and not put at the mercy of populist electoral politics -- The primary solution to Japan 's increasingly dire revenue intake shortfall is to increase tax take , and the most logical area to raise tax is consumption tax , which has an element of fairness and uniformity , and is generally considered the most efficient ( lowest cost to collect , producing the greatest intake ) of taxes . <p> The point is , if you support the running of Japan Inc as business as usual , the most pressing area for new lawmaking at the moment is increasing the consumption tax . This is something that the LDP - the eternal champion political party of bureacrats recognized and electioned on , and what Kan and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Finance Minister prior to becoming PM . Essentially , the Finance Ministry was able to persuade Kan and Noda both that the only way that they could allocate new budget to helping the DPJ fulfill its policy promises would be if the DPJ increased their revenues first . Like the LDP - play ball . You scratch my back , I 'll scratch yours . <p> If you agree that this is the way government should ideally operate , then you support what Noda did . Although most likely , you would n't vote for the DPJ - you would vote for the LDP . But you would be grateful for Noda doing what the LDP thinks is best . <p> The betrayal here is that the DPJ represented an earth change in popular attitudes towards government in Japan . Whereas through the economic miracle , the bubble , and even the lost years after the bubble , the public continued to trust the LDP to trust the burocrasy to figure things out , people have come to the increasing realization that the ties of interests between vested business interests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interests converged to lock in the political process as a rubber stamp for those interests was not only broken down and not working . In some clear cases of outright corruption and wasteful public spending , it was actually causing and exaccerbating Japan 's decline . The ministries , regulated businesses , media and " controlled " politicians were taking public money and using it in their own interests , ahead of and counter to public interest . <p> The DPJ was the party that would put administrative reform ahead of simply raising taxes and continuing to outsource governance to the bureaucracy . DPJ factions agreed on a manifesto , that implemented the policy program Ozawa has publicly had since the 1990s , of rearranging government to ensure it is led by democratically elected lawmakers who make laws and lead their ministries . Think of the steps taken when the DPJ came in -- bureaucrats were banned from answering questions in Diet Q &A; about laws politicians were sponsoring but did n't understand . People were dragged into gymnasiums and forced item by item to reveal and justify wasteful spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to boost revenue , to allow for the DPJ to implement its programs . It represented an earth change where spending for the first time comes under democratic political control , rather than the discretion of the Finance Ministry . It was an attempt to make Japanese democracy actually democratic . <p> It was also an open war on the ministry of finance , and corrupt interests in the bureaucracy that lived and survived by politicians playing ball . That is why Makiko Tanaka joined the DPJ ( who was practically raped by MoFA bureaucrats and supporting mass media during her term as foreign minister ) . The point is that there was a critical mass of public awareness , and awareness among elected politicians that the bureaucracy in Japan is out of control , and proactively contributing to Japan 's problems . <p> However , starting with Kan , and continuing with Noda , that agenda was undone and replaced with a cooperative engagement agenda with bureaucrats . Give them their extra play money first , and hope they help you with restructuring later . Noda openly said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than make enemies of them . If you want to see what happens if you make enemies of the bureaucracy , check out the drummed up political trial , and surrounding media coverage around Ozawa . <p> The public has ruled on the DPJ ' s change of course in the last upper house election where they destroyed the DPJ under Kan , and they will do so again for Noda 's betrayal of the Japanese public in the next election . Hashimoto 's party will step in to fill the gap left by the LDP -ification of the DPJ as a pro-institutional party , where Hashimoto will advocate a similar war on bureaucrats agenda to Ozawa ( indeed , he has backed Ozawa repeatedly on this battle ) , but with a more right wing nationalist , Ishihara backed slant that I do n't think will be as good for Japan as the kind of change the DPJ was supposed to represent . <p> The consumption tax increase itself has a bunch of issues around it -- the timing is bad , there is no offset of reductions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a postive inflationary effect , etc , etc . But fundamentally , no one says there should be no consumption tax increase . The issue is what the consumption tax increase law represents . It is a capitulation of the DPJ ' s reform agenda , and a blank cheque for the Finance Ministry to keep running Japan the unaccountable way it has for the last 60 years , often counter to the best interests of the Japanese people and the Japanese economy . <p> Marxy -- in most countries where consumption taxes are implemented or increased , they are accompanied by income tax relief for people on lower incomes , which often actually creates a slight inflationary effect where those people end up with more money in their pocket than before -- that is the great thing about consumption tax when implemented properly . It 's simplicity makes it cheap to collect , which allows for reduction of more complicated less efficient taxes that impact the less well off . <p> Of course in this case , there is no tax relief . It is all just more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and put in the ministry of finance coffers to pour more concrete on dodgy public works projects where nobody needs them . So , yeah , it sucks . <p> Hikosaemon makes excellent points : the consumption tax increase has the potential to be a distraction from some ( more ) painful decisions necessary in the coming years . Adamu , you say that Japan 's social programs are great , but from my point of view they seem unsustainable , and unfortunately a rise in the consumption tax will merely stem the tide . I have n't seen much sign of reform of the spending side of the ledger , and demographics are a powerful enemy . <p> There have been many doomsday sayers that suggest that Japan is near a fiscal cliff , and those that have shorted jgbs or JPY trying to take advantage of that have lost big . Does n't mean a collapse is n't eventually going to happen . I was listening to someone speak last week who said that barely half of govt expenditure is covered by tax revenues currently . Raising taxes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current ( unsustainable ) service , then it 's as dangerous as it is helpful . <p> Good discussion here . I 'm curious as to how Japan 's social programs are " great . " The country has limited national health insurance , unemployment benefits , old-age care , etc. but Japan 's welfare state is thin compared to what exists in Western European nations . In fact for decades , Japanese companies providing lifetime employment and other benefits effectively substituted for the government in offering social welfare provisions . Only when compared to the USA does Japan 's welfare state look extensive . <p> Also , while it 's clear now that the DPJ turned quickly into LDP -lite after being swept into office 3 years ago , it 's doubtful that the LDP ' s return to power will be a good thing . Steven Reed of Chuo University has argued that major political parties are unlikely to " learn " and reform themselves unless they lose in at 2 straight general elections . The LDP has yet to do that , and so I suspect its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather than an actual repudiation of LDP -led cronyism , factionalism , corruption , incompetence , and stasis . <p> Japan pays very , very little in the way of interest on its debt ( second lowest rate in the world after Switzerland averaged across the debt ) so this is as close to free money as one can get . Why further depress domestic consumption -- the retail and service industries are the last best chance at dignified jobs for many young people -- when Japan has just seen 4 of the bottom 5 yearly GDP growth rates of the the entire postwar era ? Japan may not be in for the fist-pumping high growth of the 1960s again , but with all of this talk about rising wages in China forcing production back to the US and Japan ( and that will not likely be production of export products , but production to meet domestic demand ) now does not seem like the time to throw a potential wrench into domestic demand . Japan will likely be reduced to a niche electronics exporter and even this is only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products ( still expect industrial tech and precision exports to be strong ) . <p> Also agree with Marxy ( although they are indeed introducing a rebate for low income people ) and will add -- why no exemption for food purchases , books , diapers , children 's clothing , and so on ? Japan has 1,500,000 " millionaires " ( wealth not counting primary residence ) . China is just topping 1,000,000 with 10x Japan 's population . People talk as if half of China 's population is driving BMWs , but the reality is that lots and lots of Japanese are still quite cash rich . The growth potential might not be there , but the dough sure is , enough to last until whatever we see in the next century ( robots do every job and we either get a techno-anarcho-communism or we simply become jobless consumer serfs in mega-corporate fiefs , The Coming Anarchy , two 70 year old Chinese for every child born , or whatever ) . Japan has almost twice the per capita rate of millionaires as Germany ! I like Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of this as long as it goes to the very needy and young families . <p> Japan pays very little interest because current investors demand very little interest . However there is a general expectation among financial people that this can only go on for a few more years before the demand dries up such that the interest rates have to start coming up -- the growing population of retirees will be cashing out their savings over time , while the population of working stiffs will gradually go down and erode the government 's income tax take . <p> The rating agencies are already factoring this risk into Japan 's sovereign rating . In fact Fitch recently hinted that it might have downgraded Japan further if the consumption tax hike did n't happen . Sovereign ratings pass through to businesses in the country , so a downgrade of Japan would also raise the borrowing costs for the biggest Japanese companies , eat away at their profit margins , put stress on the stock market , put stress on the domestic banks , etc . <p> Anyway , Japan had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the tough choice they came up with . <p> Unrelated , but one little known ( or little discussed ) fact about consumption tax is that very small businesses are exempt -- a company or sole proprietor with sales of less than 10 million yen per year is not subject to consumption tax on its sales , and new companies with less than 1 million yen of capital get their first two fiscal years consumption tax-free regardless of how much they sell . So the consumption tax hike will potentially give freelancers and other micro-enterprises a pricing advantage over larger businesses . <p> Related to that little nugget of trivia , businesses that deal with small consumption tax-exempt operators are legally allowed to deduct the transactions from their overall consumption tax bill ( it 's apparently a little more complicated than that but that is the basic idea ) . I do n't know if they 're going to change that but it 's a weird little quirk of the system ( called ? ? ? ? for people who wish to google it ) <p> Actually , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax bill by the amount of consumption tax they spent on incoming goods/materials , regardless of who sold it to them . So if you 're a computer store , and you buy a laptop wholesale for 90,000 yen and sell it for 100,000 yen , you only have to give the government the consumption tax on the 10,000 yen gross profit , since the tax on the other 90,000 yen was already collected when you bought the laptop . <p> The ? ? ? ? arises because you can do this even if you sourced from a small business that does n't pay consumption tax . Say a translation agency bills a client 100,000 yen for a project , and they paid a freelancer 90,000 yen for said project . The client pays consumption tax on 100,000 yen but the government only gets the consumption tax on the 10,000 yen margin , with the difference being pocketed by the freelancer . The rationale is that the agency would n't necessarily know whether or not the freelancer is paying consumption tax out of the total . <p> This is how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be a tax expert ... <p> So raise the consumption tax after that . Demand might not dry up so quickly if Japan were actually growing . Japan has run a budget deficit of 10% of GDP for three years . It was 3-5% during the not so sucky years between 2005 and 2008 ( basically the same that it was between 1975 and 1985 ) . Borrowing ca n't go on forever , but I do n't see how doubling the consumption tax will lead us back to 2005 . <p> A side issue , but important . I have n't paid much attention to this news ( I should ) but is there any plan for exemptions on the consumption tax , such as on food , or maybe medicine ? A hike to 10% would go down a lot

@@5052241 <h> By Jordan Hoffman <h> 100 . Escape From New York ( 1981 ) <p> A cheery blend of anti-government paranoia , haywire sociology , and good old-fashioned grindhouse sleaze , Escape From New York takes the famous New York Daily News headline , " President Ford to City : Drop Dead , " and goes crazy with it . <p> The year is 1997 and crime is so rampant that the island of Manhattan has been declared a federal prison . Recidivism rates are low considering the philosophy is taken straight from the Roach Motel : Prisoners go in but they do n't come out . When a band of terrorists hijack the president 's plane and the president winds up trapped in the walled-off 212 area code , only Kurt Russell 's eye-patched Snake Plissken can save him . <p> Past the initial premise and some cool-for-its-day opening computer graphics , Escape From New York is a film that 's actually better in your memory than in reality ? though nothing can take away from the

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@@5052541 <h> Beauty is in the eye of the beholder <p> ' Beauty , ' the dictionary tells us , ' is a combination of qualities , as shape , proportion , colour , in human face of form , or in other objects , that delights the sight . ' The last four words are important . Beauty does not exist by itself ; it exists only in the consciousness of those who see it . If anything delights the sight of one person , than it is beautiful to him ; if the same things does not delight the sight

@@5052641 <h> entertainment <h> provided by <h> Keira Knightley : I wanted to hide my body <p> Keira Knightley says there was a time when she wanted to ' hide ' her body . <p> The British actress is hailed as one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood , having starred in iconic campaigns for Chanel . <p> However , her slim frame has also drawn some criticism -- which the 27-year-old says is n't always easy to deal with . <p> ' I knew I was n't anorexic , ' she explained to Allure . <p> ' But maybe my body is somehow not right . Or my face is not right . Or the way I speak is not right . When you 're going through a period where you 're really getting a lot of criticism , you go , ' Maybe all this is right ! ' You just kind of want to hide it all . ' <p> These days the Anna Karenina star is a lot more comfortable with her body and has no qualms about stripping off for acting roles . <p> In movies such as The Duchess and The Edge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> But Keira still has strict rules when it comes to exactly what is shown on screen . <p> ' I 'm quite rigorous about what gets exposed , ' she assured . <p> ' No bottom half ! I do n't mind exposing my t*ts because they 're so small -- people really are n't that interested ! I think it 's much easier as you get older . You can say , '

@@5052741 <p> Boot From Flash Media OpenELEC is designed to run from flash media , like a USB key , Compact Flash card or SD card <p> High Definition OpenELEC can support full HD playback to your television and supports video and sound over the HDMI port on your system for easy connectivity <p> Speed OpenELEC includes only the required software , meaning it can boot extremely quickly <p> Easy Install The OpenELEC installer is extremely easy to use and takes less than 10 minutes . OpenELEC is ready to use out-of-the-box <p> Media Format Support OpenELEC supports most audio and video formats including AVI , MKV , MP3 , M4A , FLAC and many , many more <p> Multimedia Hub With OpenELEC you can listen to music , browse through movies and watch TV episodes using just one remote control <p> The thing I like the best about OpenELEC.tv is how it updates <p> - live4ever <h> What is OpenELEC ? <p> Open Embedded Linux Entertainment Center , or OpenELEC for short , is a small Linux distribution built from scratch as a platform to turn your computer into a complete XBMC media center . OpenELEC is designed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ install is so easy that anyone can turn a blank PC into a media machine in less than 15 minutes . <h> Latest Release <h> Why Contribute ? <p> OpenELEC is a true open source project . If you want to get involved we welcome you in any way you feel you can contribute , even if this is just to report bugs , request features or help other users . Our PayPal. donations are

@@5052841 <h> The Most Important Election Since 1932 ? <p> You do n't have to be a Republican to consider Barack Obama a less-than-ideal president . Indeed , disappointment with the president is rife among progressives . Taking office after the worst economic debacle of modern times , Obama faced enormous challenges and a great opportunity : as the Great Depression of the 1930s proved a catalyst for massive change , so too could the Great Recession have been a catalyst for significant change . Yet many who voted for Obama believe that he has aimed too low , effecting far more modest changes than the nation needed . <p> In domestic matters , he chose to fight the wrong war . The true enemy was weak wages and a lack of jobs , yet he essentially accepted the economic analyses laid out by conservatives , fixing his attention on the federal budget deficit and running what was basically an austerity administration . Yes , the $800 billion stimulus adopted at the outset was a significant achievement , and helped avert what could have been an outright depression . But the subsequent economic recovery has been weak . Today we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in poverty , and many who have lost their jobs have also lost their health insurance . <p> Yet instead of focusing on this pain , Obama supported a budget-balancing commission run by a conservative Democrat , Erskine Bowles updated* , and a very conservative Republican , Alan Simpson . The Simpson-Bowles plan called for significant restraints on government size , a dangerous reform of Medicare , Social Security reductions , and so on . Obama 's willingness to embrace this program has led some to wonder whether he is a Democrat at all -- or whether , instead , he truly believes that a constrained government and a significantly shrunken safety net are American priorities . <h> Advertisement <p> Politically , the president 's actions have conveyed a strange fecklessness . He could have fought against conventional misunderstandings of the economic problem , but he did not . He almost never trumpeted the success of his stimulus program and was unable to create -- or , I suspect , even to imagine -- the political environment that might support a badly needed second stimulus . He could have pursued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people 's anger at the big bankers to fuel popular support . But he did not . Similarly , while he supported financial regulation , he did so only tepidly ; indeed , as Americans came to distrust bankers broadly , it seemed that Obama was more interested in assuaging that anger than in using it to confront Wall Street recklessness . <p> Meanwhile , as the linchpin of his domestic social policy , Obama proposed a significant revamping of the nation 's health-care system , mandating that all individuals must buy insurance -- then sat out the congressional debate over the details . He almost never told the American people what the Affordable Care Act was all about . <p> In fact , the new law has many beneficial attributes , stipulating that insurance companies accept all applicants regardless of pre-existing conditions ; that all employers of a certain size provide insurance for their workers ; that states set up health-insurance exchanges to assist people in buying policies ; that subsidies be provided for lower-income Americans ; that children up to twenty-six be allowed to stay on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seniors ' drug reimbursements gradually be closed . There is also a provision requiring insurance companies to use 85 percent of their premiums on medical care ( they now use roughly 70 percent ) . But Americans do n't know much about these useful provisions . Why not ? Maybe because Obama did not talk about them . And his failure to provide the necessary push helped allow Congress to drop the bill 's major cost-control proposal , a publicly run alternative to private health insurance known as the public option . <p> Having said all this , and despite my disappointments , I nonetheless consider it critically important that Obama win reelection in November , because the alternative is far , far worse . A Mitt Romney win would signal a political pivot even sharper than that effected by Ronald Reagan . It would be a turn toward less government and an even more minimal safety net -- a radical attempt to return us to a pre -- New Deal America , one run according to the crueler and more primitive forms of individualism . Indeed , this November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roosevelt 's victory over the Hooverite government minimalists . The election is crucial to the future of this country in many respects . I 'd like to focus on six key areas : <p> 1 ) Deficit alarmism and austerity economics . To some degree we have followed the same policies that have ravaged Europe , and have done so with President Obama 's acquiescence . But things will get far worse without him . On January 1 , 2013 , the Bush tax cuts will expire , as will extended unemployment benefits and the Obama payroll tax cuts , and Congress will be required to cut the budget dramatically because the supercommittee failed to do so . Though the American version of austerity is n't as bad as Europe 's , our economy will be too weak to withstand higher taxes and government cutbacks . A second Obama administration would work to maintain government spending and probably the payroll tax cuts . If Obama is not president , harsh government spending cuts will be likely , even as tax cuts for the well-off remain in place and the military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a high likelihood if Obama loses . And that could well bring on another credit crisis , as debtors fail to pay back what they owe . <p> 2 ) Taxes . Higher taxes are the only way to pay for what the nation badly needs , and yet the Republicans blindly follow a path of reckless tax-cut advocacy . If Obama loses , we will get no tax increases on the wealthy . In fact , Mitt Romney , as of this writing , would cut rates sharply for upper-income Americans -- even though the George W. Bush tax cuts , a boon for the wealthy , resulted in the slowest rates of GDP and job growth during a recovery and expansion of the post -- World War II period . Romney tax cuts will be disguised as tax reform and simplification , but in reality they will represent little more than a boondoggle for the wealthy at the expense of the nation 's economic health . <p> 3 ) Social Security and Medicare . Under a Romney administration the nation 's key social programs will fall into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold on the Senate , the worst can probably be avoided . But remember that many conservative Democrats favor significant cuts in Social Security benefits ; and as for Medicare , even some moderate Democrats favor a private voucher system . If Obama loses , such a system for Medicare becomes a serious possibility . Will vouchers truly get costs down by boosting competition , or will they do it by less salutary means ? Keep in mind that the subsidies would be too meager to allow full health-care benefits -- and their growth , if Republican Congressman Paul Ryan has his way , would be too severely constrained to keep up with rapidly escalating health-care costs . Such stringency all but guarantees that lower and middle-income people will get less health care than wealthier Americans , by an ever-widening margin . It is reform by triage . As for Medicaid , the program for the poor , it could be decimated . <p> 4 ) The future of Obamacare . The Affordable Care Act is far from perfect ; but given the powerful interests lined up against better possibilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best we are going to get . A Republican president and Congress would likely eliminate it in favor of a tax-subsidized choice of private plans -- once again , a sure path to inadequate health care for growing numbers of Americans . Supposedly , the private markets would take care of all of us efficiently . The fact that Medicare payments have grown significantly more slowly than private insurance casts serious doubt on that . <p> 5 ) Financial regulation . Mitt Romney has made it clear that he wants to reverse the Dodd-Frank regulations . Wall Street lobbyists have already whittled away at the original Dodd-Frank proposals ; as of this writing , fewer than two-thirds of the new rules have been encoded and enforced -- even as Jamie Dimon , head of JPMorgan Chase and the most astringent of the antiregulation bankers , has had to admit that his banks lost more than $4 billion through precisely the kind of risky trades that serious regulation would have prevented . Vigorous regulation is the way to limit financial excesses and check the complex of leverage , manipulation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Romney administration would do its best to sweep away all such limits . <p> 6 ) Foreign policy . I am no expert , but any citizen paying attention to the Republican primaries has heard Mitt Romney talk like a trigger-happy Cold War president of the 1960s . Global political hot spots -- whether Israel-Palestine , India-Pakistan , North Korea -- South Korea , the African continent , or China -- require cool thinking and some empathy with other people 's needs . Romney has demonstrated neither . I 've been skeptical of Obama 's reinforcement of the Afghan war , his demands for military tribunals , his use of drones to target the Taliban , and his acceptance of warrantless wiretapping and " email-tapping . " But consider the likely Romney approach . Fighting a war with Iran , for example ? Sending troops to Syria ? And does anyone doubt that domestic surveillance and the infringement of privacy under Romney would be much , much worse ? <p> In sum , it seems clear to me that an Obama defeat will speed our nation 's decline and endanger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . I know that some readers favor the Romney principles of significantly smaller government , reduced taxes for the wealthy , and increased privatization of social programs . Yet the likely Romney focus on deficit control will risk another recession while precluding needed public investment in infrastructure , green technologies , and education . America 's future depends on such public investment much more than on controlling the deficit immediately . An Obama victory is the nation 's best defense against retreat from its future responsibilities , from caring for the poor and protecting middle-class opportunities , from the country 's growing commitment to minority rights and its global responsibility to set values of fairness and good sense -- not just more troops and targeted drones -- as a model for the world . <p> Since last fall , Obama has talked a better game than he did in the first years of his presidency . He has proposed a decent jobs program and is now talking in clearer and more forceful ways about the true purposes of government . A second term could be a more enlightened one , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidents . This will be a historically critical election . <p> *An earlier version of this story misidentified Erskine Bowles as Chester Bowles . <h> about the writer <p> Jeff Madrick , editor of Challenge magazine and a regular contributor to the New York Review of Books , is director of policy research at the New School University 's Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis . <p> The great FDR took 10 years and a war to get out of a financial crisis . I 'm eighty and am willing to give Obama more time . Romney 's no pay income tax means Obama getting 4 more years , DOW doubled since Obama took over and ACA is getting more popular by the week . <p> Did Commonweal 's editors check with their attorneys before posting this article ? I thought Commonweal , which is registered as a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization with the IRS , can not publish anything , in the print edition or on its Web site , officially endorsing or opposing candidates for office . ( Criticizing elected officials and candidates , Democrat or Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states that donations to Commonweal are fully tax-deductible , which makes the magazine a 501 c 3 . <p> Would n't Commonweal 's editors cry foul if First Things ( also a 501 c 3 ) or Catholic New York were to endorse Romney for President ? <p> &lt;&lt; Having said all this , and despite my disappointments , I nonetheless consider it critically important that Obama win reelection in November , because the alternative is far , far worse . &gt;&gt; <p> I do n't know anything about the million and one laws that govern everything in this country from soup to nuts and on out seemingly to infinity , but Dimitri may be right . You 're plumping decidedly for the Democrats here pretty consistently , implying or outright stating that Republicans are pure evil . If that 's not partisan politics , I 'm a popsicle . <p> The federal government exempts 501 c 3 organizations--houses of worship , charities , educational organizations ( which include many secular and liberal activist groups ) --from paying any taxes in exchange for not engaging in any " electioneering " @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As I noted , criticism of elected officials and candidates is different . ( Taking stands on public policy issues is perfectly legal contrary to what some bloggers , journalists , and activists believe . ) <p> Christian Century lost its tax-exemption in 1964 when it endorsed Lyndon Johnson over Barry Goldwater . <p> If Cardinal Dolan were to endorse Mitt Romney from the pulpit of St. Patrick 's Cathedral or with an op-ed in the Catholic New York ( which is published by the NY Archdiocese ) , it would run afoul of IRS guidelines and probably spark a slew of complaints from the secular left and even liberal Catholics who would note that the cardinal should obey the law . ( However , if the cardinal or any Catholic bishop were to endorse Romney by writing an op-ed for a secular newspaper or during an interview in a Fox News/CNN/MSNBC studio , that would be legal . In fact , that 's how Anglican Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire endorsed Obama in 2008--as a private citizen . ) <p> Dimitri ; There is no endorsement by Commonweal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He critiques Obama on a number of policies in the first 6 paragraphs .. Commonweal is an opinion journal that has the 1st amendment right to express and publish opinions . ... so get with the good ole USA Constitution and stop posting this kind of BS . Do n't bother sending a complaint letter to IRS .. they are busy auditing Romney 's back taxes ... if any ... . ( - : <p> Jeff Madrick is appealing to the frightened majority who sense that we are skirting the abyss , and suggests we continue that course by reelecting Barack Obama . What we need instead is real democracy , and the only way to get that is to have an informed , committed and motivated electorate . We 're halfway there . Four disastrous years have smartened up the American public considerably , but the resolve is not stiff enough yet . That will only come when the Republican Dream Machine goes over the edge , dragging the nation along with it . Then , the rebuilding can begin . I 'm scared , too , but we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may lose the planet . <p> I agree with much of what this article says , except the comment about President Obama 's support for the Simpson-Bowles plan . <p> He did NOT support the plan and in my opinion , that was something that could have prevented the extreme gridlock in this country . Our tax laws need to be overhauled ; getting rid of tax credits and deductions is a better plan than increasing taxes on the wealthy . But no one , Democrat or Republican , has the courage to do so . <p> I will vote for him but it will be a vote for the " least worse " not someone I trust to improve this country . <p> I agree with Ms. Ford . Obama did not support Bowles/Simpson ; would that he had . It was a balanced approach to the growing deficit problems , including meaningful revenue enhancements . He could have pushed , perhaps a bit modified , the reforms through Congress , as the Democrats controlled both Houses , and there was significant Republican support ( except for extreme right-wingers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed , we would be well on our way to a growth economy , instead of a stagnant one , today

@@5052941 <h> By the Way , Karlie Kloss and Joan Smalls Will Front MTV 's New House of Style <p> Walking the red carpet at last night 's MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles , Karlie Kloss and Joan Smalls confirmed their new gig as co-hosts of MTV 's House of Style reboot . The new show will offer insight into the contemporary modeling industry ( during its initial run covering the supermodel-heavy nineties scene , hosts included Cindy Crawford , Shalom Harlow , and Molly Sims ) , as well as features on music and art ; Karlie 's excited to work with , of all people , Justin Bieber . Of course , Karlie also confirmed the news to us last night in New York during a Fashion 's Night Out party . That 's two events on two different coasts , at the same time . Our minds : blown ! Now sure , Karlie almost certainly pretaped her little VMA promo against the carpet backdrop , but is n't it more exciting to consider she owns her very own Time-Turner ? It 'd probably be a Chanel-branded Time-Turner at that

@@5053041 <h> follow lifehacker <h> How to Tell Someone You Do n't Like Them ( Without Being an Asshole ) <p> It would be fantastic if we could all just get along , but if you 've met a handful of people in your life you know that 's not a very realistic expectation . Sometimes , despite your best efforts , you simply have to tell someone that it 's not working out . Whether you 're breaking up with a lover , letting go of a friend , or just trying to shake someone annoying , here 's how to get the awkward job done . <p> First of all , there 's always more than one way to handle an awkward social situation . No suggestion is going to work every time . You need to survey the atmosphere , consider the person you 're dealing with , and remember your ultimate goal or reason why you 're breaking this bad news . I 've been in this situation far too often and I 'm still a far cry from an expert , so I asked people who are as well as a handful of regular people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <h> Be Sure You 're Making the Right Decision <p> Rejection is unpleasant for everyone involved , and telling someone you do n't like them is probably one of the worst types . For that reason , you do n't want to make the decision lightly . You should be certain you do n't want this person in your life in a certain capacity or at all before you figure out how to tell them . Doctoral Clinical Psychology student and intern therapist Brian Newton suggests you first consider your goals : <p> If say a client asked me , " How do I tell X that I do n't like them ? " my first question would be why they wanted to tell the person that ; what their objective is . There are plenty of people in our lives that we do n't like , but it 's not always effective to tell them that , it does n't further our goals . If someone does n't like their boss and they need their job , telling them that is probably not effective toward what they actually want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more useful question is , " What do I want from this person ? " <p> If you want this person out of your life , you have to consider the situation as well . As Brian notes , telling your boss you do n't like them is n't going to be terribly helpful . When your goal is to remove your boss from your life , it 's probably a lot easier to just find another job . If you have an annoying co-worker , you 'll probably want to consult with your human resources department before taking any action yourself . Personal relationships offer a little more freedom , but you do n't necessarily want to burn a bridge if unnecessary . Be sure to weigh your options and consider possible outcomes . Sometimes it makes more sense to simply put little effort into a personal relationship than to end it . If you feel ending it is in your best interest , however , read on . <h> Do n't Be a Douche Bag <p> I 'd like to think it goes without saying that you should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't like them . After all , the interaction is already unpleasant and even if they feel the same way about you , it 's still something that hurts to hear . That said , I 've known people to be insensitive simply because it 's easier and I 've known myself to be mean unintentionally . Sometimes you just screw it up , but you can at least try to be kind . As marriage and family therapist Roger Gil points out , it 's not only the right thing to do but it 's actually in your best interest in the log run : <p> It 's always important to respect another person 's feelings ( as long as they are n't disrespecting yours or crossing boundaries ) . Besides , being mean to your " rejectee " might get back to someone you do want to date and give you a " douche bag " reputation . <p> I 've probably acquired the " douche bag " label with a few people unintentionally . Sometimes I 've attempted to be nice , but nice can often come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my mistakes , it 's important to find the line between being firm and being respectful . Being firm is often necessary for clarity and can sound harsh , but it 's generally better than providing people with uncertainty . The confusion ultimately hurts more in the long run . <h> Prepare Ahead of Time and Plan for Awkward <p> As humans , we like to try and remove awkwardness and conflict from every situation but it 's often inevitable . It 's better to understand that some situations will be unpleasant , accept that reality , and believe that a little discomfort now will save a lot of discomfort down the road . There will also be times when you 'll be surprised by someone 's interest , so it can help to have a few responses at the ready to avoid creating additional problems . Roger Gil elaborates : <p> In preparing canned responses , it 's important to be honest . " I have a boyfriend/girlfriend " or " I 'm not looking to date anyone right now " are n't good responses if they are n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single-like or sees your online dating profile , you just created the awkward situation you wanted to avoid . I would say something like , " I 'm really flattered . You seem like a nice person but I just do n't see you that way . I admire your assertiveness , though . " The idea is to state the truth while communicating respect for the other person . If they are relatively " normal " , they 'll take this as a cue to walk away with their pride intact . If they become insistent , do n't respect your wishes , or make a scene , then rest assured that it 's their issue and stick up for yourself in an appropriate way . <p> When ending a non-romantic relationship , you wo n't be able to give a response . You 're going to have to bring up the bad news , and this is always uncomfortable . Of course you want to be as kind and gentle as possible , but when you 're telling you do n't want to be friends it 's important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When you 're coming up with a prepared response , avoid statements like this : <p> " I do n't think we can be friends anymore . " <p> The problem words here are " I do n't think . " This leaves room for interpretation and additional questions that will be uncomfortable to answer . The person you 're rejecting may ask why you do n't think so , then try to provide counterarguments . What works better is a statement like this : <p> " I do n't want to be friends anymore . " <p> This sounds harsh to read , and you can certainly preface the statement with a some softer language to make it easier to swallow ( e.g. " I need to tell you something difficult and I apologize for saying it like this because I do n't want to hurt you , but I want to be as clear as possible " ) . Chances are you will be asked to explain why regardless of how you say it , so be prepared to offer an explanation that has more to do with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to fall into " it 's not you it 's me " territory , but you also do n't want to leave room for endless questions and argument . Simply stating that you do n't enjoy spending time with them should be more than enough . This is a harsh thing to say , but the alternative can be much worse . You do n't want to spend the next hour explaining every reason why , and they do n't want to hear it . When a person asks a lot of questions it 's generally because they want to try to change your mind . If you 're sure you do not want this person in your life , it 's better to withhold most of the details . Just because you do n't like one ( or several ) aspects of their personality does n't mean somebody else wo n't , and there 's no sense in making them think who they are is bad . Unless they exhibit universally terrible behavior and telling them would benefit everyone they ever meet , it 's really not your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only judgment you want to make is whether or not they are compatible with you . <h> Understand How People Like to Receive Bad News <p> When I asked Lifehacker readers and other people on the web how they would prefer to receive the bad news themselves , the answers varied quite a bit . For the most part , people fell into two camps : either they preferred to hear the bad news quickly and rip the bandage off , or they simply wanted no confrontation whatsoever and wanted to get the tacit message through a lack of contact . So how do you tell what a specific person prefers ? You ask . <p> As awkward as this may sound , it 's actually easy to do in almost any context . When you 're getting to know a person , you simply bring up a situation where you had to break this bad news to someone in the past . All you have to say is that you were n't sure how to handle it , as that is essentially a request for advice . Whoever you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be told , and should you ever need to tell them you do n't like them you 'll know exactly how to go about it . Knowing wo n't remove the discomfort from the situation , but at least you can rest-assured you 're not approaching the conversation blindly . <p> You can prepare as much as you want , but ultimately you do n't know what 's going to happen . Your best efforts could result in a problem . Sometimes you 'll make mistakes and it will be your fault , and sometimes you 'll find the person you 're dealing with is emotionally volatile . It 's a rough situation and it 's okay to feel badly for a little while . If you do , it means you actually give a crap about other people and that 's a good thing . Just do n't dwell on the bad feelings too long . At some point you 'll probably meet somebody who will have to tell you the same thing . They may make mistakes , too , so be forgiving . Nobody 's pefect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gil , M.A.M.F.T. and Brian Newton , MA , for their contributions to this post . You can follow Roger on Twitter and check out his podcast . If you 're looking for more information on interpersonal skills , Brian recommends reading the Interpersonal Effectiveness section of the book Dialectical Behavior Therapy . You can learn more about it here . <p> If you have any awkward situations you 're not sure how to handle , let us know and maybe it 'll make for a good topic for a future post . <p> You can follow Adam Dachis , the author of this post , on Twitter , Google+ , and Facebook

@@5053141 <p> Welcome to the TFL approved fanlisting for the song Part Of Your World from Disney 's The Little Mermaid . The latest update occurred on November 05th 2012

@@5053241 <h> Cubs , Youkilis may not be a match <p> INDIAN WELLS , Calif. -- The impending free agent market for third baseman Kevin Youkilis will have a Chicago flavor to it . <p> The White Sox are already on record as saying they will try to re-sign the 33 year old infielder who played the majority of the season with them . That leaves the question of whether Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer would like to see Youkilis on the north side of town in 2013 . <p> The Cubs still must decide whether they will tender a contract to Ian Stewart , who missed most of 2012 with an injured wrist . The new date for offering your own players contracts is Nov. 30 . The Cubs hope to have a better handle on Stewart 's health by then . In the meantime , the question is if Youkilis would fit or if he would be interested in signing with a rebuilding team like the Cubs . <p> " It is a position that has limited clear options for , " Hoyer said Thursday of third base . " We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still talking to Ian , but there are not a lot of clear options on the free agent market . We may have to look at some different avenues and options to solve it . " <p> Hoyer and Epstein have a good relationship with the former Red Sox player , whom they helped nurture through the Boston farm system . All that considered , playing next season at age 34 might point Youkilis in a direction to a market that is in position to win right now . Industry sources believe Youkilis will be tendered offers in the two- to three-year area at $8-10 million a season . <p> Epstein has had a tendency to avoid giving no-trade clauses in his previous signings as a baseball executive , a fact that might further detract from the Cubs and Youkilis agreeing on the parameters of a contract . <p> Cubs eye pitching help : The Cubs continue their pursuit of starting pitching with an emphasis on free agents who may be available on short-term deals . ESPN insider Jim Bowden said the team has an offer out to Francisco Liriano @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sox after being traded by the Twins before the July 31 deadline for non-wavier trades . <p> Agents for pitchers Shaun Marcum and Brandon McCarthy have had conversations with the Cubs . " We had a lot of good meetings , " Hoyer said after Thursday 's GM meetings ended . " We have had a lot of conversations , but I would n't say anything is close . We talked to a lot of agents and a lot of teams . " <p> The team has one priority and that is to try and re-sign free agent reliever Shawn Camp . The veteran RHP led the National League in appearances

@@5053341 <p> Virginia Tech , who is one of a number of programs that made big statements toward making the ACC more than a two-team league last year , has landed two sizable international signings this week as the official early signing period closed Wednesday . <p> The first goes to Ned Skinner 's men 's team , who added Jan Switkowski from Poland . He will turn 19 next January , before he comes to Virginia Tech , and is primarily an IM'er and middle-distance freestyler . He ended up with only a single result from last year 's Polish Olympic Trials after being DQ'ed in the 200 IM , but fortunately his best swimming was yet to come that summer . In July , he swam a 2:03.6 in the 200 IM and 4:25.0 in the 400 IM , which is roughly a 1:47 and 3:49 in yards , and rank him among the top 10 in the class in each race . <p> He has also been 3:57 in the 400 long course freestyle , and overall is about as good in short course as he is in long course . So far this fall , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swims ; in short course meters he was a 2:01 in the 200 IM in October and a 2:09 in November . <p> A 51.3 in the long course 100 free makes him probably a good free relay contributor at some point in his career with the Hokies . The IM races were one of this team 's biggest strengths last season , with Greg Mahon taking 3rd at ACC 's in the 200 ; he will be graduating , however , after this season . <p> Skinner also picked up a very good female signing from the continent in Fiona Donnelly . She 's a Scottish junior who represented the UK at the 2010 and 2011 European Junior Championships as well as the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games where she won bronze medals as part of both Scotland 's 800 free relay and individually in the 400 IM . In Euro Junior swimming , she has a silver medal from the 2010 European Juniors as part of the 800 free relay . <p> For her efforts , she was honored as one of the official torchbearers in the 2012 Olympic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . <p> Donnelly has similar specialties as Switkowkski does , and trains alongside Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington at Nova Centurion . She is a 2:03.90 in the 200 free and a 4:16.27 in the 400 ; plus a 2:17.3 in the 200 IM and 4:52.4 in the 400 IM . She 's extremely versatile though , and made the semi-finals of four events at Britain 's Olympic Trials meet in March : the 200 IM , the 400 IM , the 200 back ( 2:17.20 ) and the 200 fly ( 2:15.39 ) . The 200 back is more likely as a third event collegiately . <p> If one were going to break up the UNC/UVA stranglehold on the ACC on the women 's side , the IM 's are a good place to start : those two schools accounted for all 8 A-finalists in the 200 , and the top 6 in the 400 . Donnelly 's converted times put her in position to at least break that up as a freshman . <p> We 're also hearing reports of a third big name that might be joining this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she signed a letter this week or not ; athletes who did n't sign this week

@@5053441 <p> Billie Joe Armstrong , the front man of rock group Green Day , has entered treatment for substance abuse , according to a statement on the band 's website . <p> The announcement came two days after the rocker had a meltdown onstage at the iHeart Radio Music Festival in Las Vegas . <p> Armstrong became angry after the band was flashed a one-minute warning sign to wrap up the set on Friday . The front man stopped singing and delivered a profanity-laced tirade that was captured on a video that quickly went viral . <p> When the one minute ran out , the " American Idiot " singer smashed his guitar on the stage . <p> " Let me show you what one one expletive minute expletive means ! " he said before flipping the middle finger and walking off stage . <p> The band issued a statement apologizing for Armstrong 's outburst at the festival . <p> The band before Armstrong 's breakdown ( Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images ) <p> " We would like everyone to know that our set was not cut short by Clear Channel and to apologize to those we offended at the iHeartRadio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> The band had to cancel some promotional appearances for their new album , " Uno , " which was due to be released Tuesday . <p> Earlier this month , the singer was admitted to the hospital in Italy , forcing the band to cancel a concert in Bologna . <p> His band mates , Tre Cool and Mike Dirnt , released a short video apologizing to their fans . <p> " We apologize profusely , you know , this is really unfortunate , but Billie got rushed to the hospital last night due to illness , and the doctors do n't think it 's a good idea for him to play today , " Dirnt says in the video . <p> " We 're beyond devastated and sad , " Cool adds , " Billie is extremely upset about it , and we 'll see you soon . " <p> Armstrong had reportedly been suffering from " gastric problems . " No further information has been released about his condition . <p> The rocker is set to debut on season 3 of NBC 's " The Voice " @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Another idiot hits the dust ... sad , but then again ... any talent has always been in question . He can always flip burgers , when he gets tired of flipping " birds . " <p> Posted by : Bensky September 23 , 2012 , 6:50 pm 6:50 pm <p> I have listened to Green Day since the early ' 90 ? s . I have enjoyed their music but have watched Billie Joe become more and more of an narcissistic little a-hole . HE is an American idiot . <p> Posted by : Mike September 23 , 2012 , 6:53 pm 6:53 pm <p> C.r.a.p . band anyway ........ <p> Posted by : Svenghooli September 23 , 2012 , 7:07 pm 7:07 pm <p> He was mad because Bieber was being his normal shallow self and used up all the band 's time . Ca n't say I blame him for being irritated . <p> Posted by : Nancy September 23 , 2012 , 7:35 pm 7:35 pm <p> Good grief , since when did anyone really care what crap bands like this do ? It 's pathetic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Posted by : J. Mark Lane September 23 , 2012 , 8:13 pm 8:13 pm <p> Now if he was Alice Cooper -- he could have pulled it off . <p> Posted by : Tip Top September 23 , 2012 , 8:39 pm 8:39 pm <p> by the video on the page .. it says they had to cut their time short , so that Usher could have more time . LOL .. yea , I would be pissed to . If what they said in the video is true , why does Usher suppose to get more time .. he sure as **** not any better . <p> Posted by : dbase1986 September 23 , 2012 , 8:41 pm 8:41 pm <p> " Gastric problems " starting in Italy , no less ? Sounds like how thing started to end for Kurt Cobain . <p> Posted by : Ziff September 23 , 2012 , 8:44 pm 8:44 pm <p> I have read other reports that say ALL acts except Rhianna had 30 minutes and that was the amount of time Green Day had . That reports contradicts the video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were erroneous ) . Do n't know which is right but since this is ABC , I 'm sure they put 4 seconds into research , tops . I agree with Bensky , although I 'm sure Billie Joe was always an egotist . He now has enough exposure so more can see it . ( I have been a fan of GD for quite while , but BJA needs a reality check . ) <p> Posted by : Brent Smith September 23 , 2012 , 9:27 pm 9:27 pm <p> Nancy , being irritated is one thing , doing what he did was embarrassing IMO . Geeze leweeze , it took him five whacks to break his guitar . More frejoles Billie Joe , I 've seen oysters on the half-shell with more spank . <p> Posted by : Michael September 23 , 2012 , 9:43 pm 9:43 pm <p> ABC , you should provide the full picture . BIEBER CONSUMED 20 MINUTES FROM HIS SHOW and he went mad . Australian news .... <p> Posted by : missing info September 23 , 2012 , 9:52 pm 9:52 pm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BIEBER CONSUMED 20 MINUTES FROM HIS SHOW and he went mad . Australian news .... <p> Posted by : missing info -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- <p> I thought this was the All Barrack Channel , not the All Beiber Channel . <p> Posted by : dbase1986 September 23 , 2012 , 10:05 pm 10:05 pm <p> Funny how usually drugs have a positive impact on rock musician 's creativity . For Billie it was the exact opposite . <p> Ca n't wait for Wierd Al Yankovic to parody this moron . Al , when are you going to interview this little narcissistic fart ? <p> Posted by : Jagmanxke September 23 , 2012 , 11:09 pm 11:09 pm <p> A rock musician said " F ... " ? <p> Hold the presses . <p> Posted by : Martin L September 23 , 2012 , 11:12 pm 11:12 pm <p> Hey , at least he is n't Justin Bieber . <p> Posted by : NowayRickyBoy313 September 23 , 2012 , 11:41 pm 11:41 pm <p> Good for him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do . <p> Posted by : Pat September 24 , 2012 , 2:22 am 2:22 am <p> FAKE DRAMA Clear channel am/fm radio garbage trying to make iheart radio hip and cool . Bunch of commercial lame radio toxic waste . <p> Posted by : Giant cock September 24 , 2012 , 3:18 am 3:18 am <p> American Idiot <p> Posted by : Stunt Cyclist September 24 , 2012 , 3:20 am 3:20 am <p> It 's funny to conform to a standard , then pretend to rebel against that standard , then be reminded that it 's not make-believe , then ACTUALLY rebel against your own conformity , but your rebellion is a commodity , and it 's useless if you do n't sell " Never Sell Out " , but everyone sees the whole charade anyway , then notice you 're a rock star who punches a clock . But you still get to smash your guitar . <p> Posted by : RB K-Tel September 24 , 2012 , 4:20 am 4:20 am <p> Good for him . Honestly , cutting a band 's set in half in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else is not cool and I do n't know any rock star around who would stand for that . Seriously , you tell me how a rock star is supposed to handle that . End your second or third song the crowd is loving and just say good night ? God bless him if he 's using and I hope he gets clean . Billy Joel 's tantrum over not being properly lit was pathetic . Kanye West is a joke . But Billie Joe Armstrong ? People live to see someone smash a guitar , and I 'm sure every Green Day fan there was P.O.'ed at the concert promoters , not at the self-respecting rock star showing those promoters for the disorganized and disrespectful clowns that they are . <p> Posted by : Brand September 24 , 2012 , 6:02 am 6:02 am <p> That 's punk rock or just rock and roll for ya . Who care 's if he flipped out alot of other bands have done worse . I say way to go Billie for not putting up with that BS . Remember they started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do you expect ? <p> Posted by : Sluggz September 24 , 2012 , 7:46 am 7:46 am <p> Sorry folks , I think it 's funny as heck . Though , he eventually broke his guitar , he could n't outright . It just looked hilarious . <p> Posted by : LMAO September 24 , 2012 , 10:21 am 10:21 am <p> totoal BS ... Green Day oldest punk band around , grammy winners sold over 50 million ablbums and some jackhole from iheartradio is telling them how long they can play is so stupid , and now this crap about him abusing drugs is ridiculous , he did not have a meltdown he made a totally rational statement basically saying , we 're rockstars and been around over 20 years and your telling us what to do and how long we play ? FU ... to me that is what being a rockstar is about saying standing up to the man in this case iheartradio who blackballed their performance and cut their playing time in half when acts like usher got more time , absolutely ridiculous <p> Posted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12:02 pm <p> Fake punk poser goes to rehab . So ? All that means is he 'll soon foist his album of self-actualization upon the masses . <p> And lose the makeup guys ... you look like trannies . <p> Posted by : Ed September 24 , 2012 , 12:37 pm 12:37 pm <p> i respect him for what he did . he stood up to the disgusting hollywood music scene . then after doing so he suddenly has a " substance abuse " problem ? no. its just them lashing back . he was right for what he did . <p> Posted by : mattmeserole September 24 , 2012 , 12:39 pm 12:39 pm <p> First off , Billie Joe is not " old school " . They are new school and much more mainstream . There are older and much better punk bands out there that do n't have to play the iheartradio festival to make a quick buck . He 's just butthurt . I doubt they cut their set short and even in their video " apology " that it

@@5053541 <h> Language <h> Navigation <h> Search <h> 10 facts on malaria <p> WHO/S . Hollyman <p> April 2012 <p> About 3.3 billion people -- half of the world 's population -- are at risk of malaria . In 2010 , there were about 216 million malaria cases ( with an uncertainty range of 149 million to 274 million ) and an estimated 655 000 malaria deaths ( with an uncertainty range of 537 000 to 907 000 ) . Increased prevention and control measures have led to a reduction in malaria mortality rates by more than 25% globally since 2000 and by 33% in the WHO African Region . <p> People living in the poorest countries are the most vulnerable to malaria . In 2010 , 90% of all malaria deaths occurred in the

@@5053641 <h> Get our top stories <h> follow gizmodo <h> NASA Finds New Life ( Updated ) <p> NASA has discovered a new life form , a bacteria called GFAJ-1 that is unlike anything currently living in planet Earth . It 's capable of using arsenic to build its DNA , RNA , proteins , and cell membranes . This changes everything . Updated . <p> NASA is saying that this is " life as we do not know it " . The reason is that all life on Earth is made of six components : Carbon , hydrogen , nitrogen , oxygen , phosphorus and sulfur . Every being , from the smallest amoeba to the largest whale , share the same life stream . Our DNA blocks are all the same . <p> That was true until today . In a surprising revelation , NASA scientist Felisa Wolfe-Simon and her team have found a bacteria whose DNA is completely alien to what we know today , working differently than the rest of the organisms in the planet . Instead of using phosphorus , the newly discovered microorganism -- called GFAJ-1 and found in Mono Lake , California -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an element poisonous to every other living creature in the planet except for a few specialized microscopic creatures . <p> The new life forms up close , at five micrometers . <p> According to Wolfe-Simon , they knew that " some microbes can breathe arsenic , but what we 've found is a microbe doing something new -- building parts of itself out of arsenic . " The implications of this discovery are enormous to our understanding of life itself and the possibility of finding organisms in other planets that do n't have to be like planet Earth . Like NASA 's Ed Weiler says : " The definition of life has just expanded . " <p> Here 's the organism and a computer simulation on how it substitutes phosphorus for arsenic in its DNA <p> Talking at the NASA conference , Wolfe-Simon said that the important thing in their study is that this breaks our ideas on how life can be created and grow , pointing out that scientists will now be looking for new types of organisms and metabolism that not only uses arsenic , but other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a few possibilities herself . <p> NASA 's geobiologist Pamela Conrad thinks that the discovery is huge and " phenomenal , " comparing it to the Star Trek episode in which the Enterprise crew finds Horta , a silicon-based alien life form that ca n't be detected with tricorders because it was n't carbon-based . It 's like saying that we may be looking for new life in the wrong places with the wrong methods . Indeed , NASA tweeted that this discovery " will change

@@5053741 <p> Boxed In -- The New York Times examines Israeli reaction to the latest International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ) report that sanctions have not slowed Iran 's nuclear program . " With the report that the country has already installed more than 2,100 centrifuges inside a virtually impenetrable underground laboratory , and that it has ramped up production of nuclear fuel , officials and experts here say the conclusions may force Israel to strike Iran or concede it is not prepared to act on its own , " it said . <p> Talking Points -- India 's Firstpost assesses Thursday 's meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Tehran . " It was remarkable as much for what was not discussed as for what was , " it wrote . Pakistan 's Dawn agrees : " It achieved little beyond Pakistan reiterating the desire for close bilateral relations and improved trade and the Indian leader saying little ... " <p> Shifting Allegiances -- The BBC interviews former Taliban fighters in Herat , Western Afghanistan , who are now siding with the government . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrival of U.S.-led troops , as " they offered security at a time of insecurity . " His " alliance with the Taliban was not ideological but practical , " and it is pragmatism that has led him to switch sides , as he feels the government has become the stronger side . With foreign combat troops set to depart in 2014 , he said , " we Afghans have to take the country for ourselves . " <p> Islam and Russia -- Reuters reports on growing signs of insurgency in Russia 's largely Muslim Caucasus mountain lands , with 185 insurgency-related deaths and 168 injuries recorded in the first half of 2012 alone . Meanwhile , the Economist considers whether Tatarstan , another Muslim-majority region in Russia , which has for years been held up as " model of stability and tranquillity , " might be under threat from tensions between traditional Muslims and and the " rising influence " of Salafists , who follow a fundamentalist form of Islam . <p> Search Ended -- Al Jazeera English writes that Australian officials have acknowledged there is no " realistic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missing at sea en route to Australia , when their overcrowded boat sank in choppy seas . Reigniting the long-running debate on asylum in Australia , Richard Marles , the junior Foreign Minister , said " the emergency highlighted the need for Australia to urgently establish detention camps in the Pacific island states of Papua New Guinea and Nauru

@@5053841 <p> So you 're saying that the 5.1 output from the tv " Apps " are the only thing which is surround sound ? And that passthrough is not supported in any way ? I have never tested that . I always just go to the AVR . <p> A lot of the newer 2012 model TV 's , DO output DD5.1 on the optical output when DD5.1 comes in via HDMI - meaning you can connect your A/V receiver to that output . <p> never heard of that . Can you point to me any proof of that these TVs actually accept DD5.1 from hdmi inputs ? <p> I should n't have too but since its Turkey Day , I will Link . I only know in that I have 3 sets in the home right now ( 2 from Panasonic and one from Sony 55EX500 ) that all have this capability . The In-laws just grabbed a newer LG 3D TV and it also supports this . Its becoming fairly routine in newer and even some older sets .. <p> My new Sharp , LC70LE874U , does n't appear to . May be a setting , IDK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it does . <p> This is relevant only because the Echo will have to support both passthrough and PMC 2.0 , vis HDMI I guess . <p> I agree . IMO if DTS conversion at the echo is not supported it will be a major disappointment . I think , what this will mean is that an AVR will be required to watch anything with DTS audio . Just not going to be able to convince the wife to allow another one of those " receiver " things in the bedroom . <p> As a note your TV sounds like its capable of bitstreaming the audio as long as the downstream device can accept it .. <p> From the Manual Audio Setup You can output digital audio to an AV ampli ? er or similar device whose DIGITAL AUDIO INPUT terminal is connected to the DIGITAL AUDIO OUTPUT terminal on the TV . Please select an audio output format compatible with the audio format of the program you are watching and the equipment connected . PCM : Set to " PCM " when connecting to equipment that does not support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or main/sub ) as the audio of the program being viewed is output . 2-channel audio with a sampling rate of 48 kHz or less is output as linear PCM audio . Bitstream : Set to " Bitstream " when connecting to an audio system that supports Dolby Digital . Audio is output through both the main and sub channels . Analog channel audio and video input audio are output in PCM mode even when " Bitstream " is selected . PCM digital input signals are output in PCM mode even when " Bitstream " is selected . <p> I agree . IMO if DTS conversion at the echo is not supported it will be a major disappointment . I think , what this will mean is that an AVR will be required to watch anything with DTS audio . Just not going to be able to convince the wife to allow another one of those " receiver " things in the bedroom . As a note your TV sounds like its capable of bitstreaming the audio as long as the downstream device can accept it .. From the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AV ampli ? er or similar device whose DIGITAL AUDIO INPUT terminal is connected to the DIGITAL AUDIO OUTPUT terminal on the TV . Please select an audio output format compatible with the audio format of the program you are watching and the equipment connected . PCM : Set to " PCM " when connecting to equipment that does not support Dolby Digital . The same audio ( main , sub , or main/sub ) as the audio of the program being viewed is output . 2-channel audio with a sampling rate of 48 kHz or less is output as linear PCM audio . Bitstream : Set to " Bitstream " when connecting to an audio system that supports Dolby Digital . Audio is output through both the main and sub channels . Analog channel audio and video input audio are output in PCM mode even when " Bitstream " is selected . PCM digital input signals are output in PCM mode even when " Bitstream " is selected . <p> I agree . IMO if DTS conversion at the echo is not supported it will be a major disappointment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an AVR will be required to watch anything with DTS audio . Just not going to be able to convince the wife to allow another one of those " receiver " things in the bedroom . As a note your TV sounds like its capable of bitstreaming the audio as long as the downstream device can accept it .. From the Manual Audio Setup You can output digital audio to an AV ampli ? er or similar device whose DIGITAL AUDIO INPUT terminal is connected to the DIGITAL AUDIO OUTPUT terminal on the TV . Please select an audio output format compatible with the audio format of the program you are watching and the equipment connected . PCM : Set to " PCM " when connecting to equipment that does not support Dolby Digital . The same audio ( main , sub , or main/sub ) as the audio of the program being viewed is output . 2-channel audio with a sampling rate of 48 kHz or less is output as linear PCM audio . Bitstream : Set to " Bitstream " when connecting to an audio system that supports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and sub channels . Analog channel audio and video input audio are output in PCM mode even when " Bitstream " is selected . PCM digital input signals are output in PCM mode even when " Bitstream " is selected . <p> Okay , this is all fine and all but it still does n't solve the problem of connecting the Echo to an regular old TV and hearing anything when there is dts content being streamed to it . <p> I 've been able to play DTS ( note - not DTS-HD ) tracks on my Echo on my lower bit-rate movies ... plays in 2ch . Is this what you 're asking for ? I posted this on the beta forums , and got no response ( surprisingly ) . Then again , I could do this on my DMA2100 as well . <p> Okay , this is all fine and all but it still does n't solve the problem of connecting the Echo to an regular old TV and hearing anything when there is dts content being streamed to it . <p> I 've been able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my Echo on my lower bit-rate movies ... plays in 2ch . Is this what you 're asking for ? I posted this on the beta forums , and got no response ( surprisingly ) . Then again , I could do this on my DMA2100 as well . <p> Really . Anytime I play ant DTS content the echo does n't seem to like it . Would be interested in how you have it setup to work . I will look at your posts on ceton same user name ? <p> huh ! i was quoting the manual for the sharp Tv nothing to do with Panasonic . What are you referring to ? Or are you trying to re-affirm the statement about DD 5.1 HDMI in and Out ? edit : Look at page 59 of your TV 's manual . It speaks to IN and Out . Looks like the Viera Link settings need to be set correctly , I think .. <p> Sorry . You mentioned you have two Panasonic that work and hence I tried to find out the details assumed you posted the Panny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have 3 earlier models of Panasonic TVs . I 've downloaded and read the VT50 manual and Panasonic said nothing about the HDMI in limitations . But a search on VT50 owners thread indicates that it wo n't support DD 5.1 if the source is HDCP encrypted and use of ARC is needed to pass that back to an AVR via HDMI . <p> huh ! i was quoting the manual for the sharp Tv nothing to do with Panasonic . What are you referring to ? Or are you trying to re-affirm the statement about DD 5.1 HDMI in and Out ? edit : Look at page 59 of your TV 's manual . It speaks to IN and Out . Looks like the Viera Link settings need to be set correctly , I think .. <p> Sorry . You mentioned you have two Panasonic that work and hence I tried to find out the details assumed you posted the Panny manual . I do n't have 2012 models but do have 3 earlier models of Panasonic TVs . I 've downloaded and read the VT50 manual and Panasonic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ search on VT50 owners thread indicates that it wo n't support DD 5.1 if the source is HDCP encrypted and use of ARC is needed to pass that back to an AVR via HDMI . <p> Ah I see . Figured that was what happened . I think this is a very confusing topic by the way and do n't envy any CE mfg trying to implement it .. <p> IIRC , On my GT I had to change the Default speakers setting from " TV " to " Theater " in the TV setup . I do n't have the pan setup this way anymore as I now have a ARC capable AVR and use HDMI in/out. if I can get behind the TV I can try it out at some point . <p> Really . Anytime I play ant DTS content the echo does n't seem to like it . Would be interested in how you have it setup to work . I will look at your posts on ceton same user name ? <p> " grinchy " on the beta forums . Granted , I have n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it did play the audio when I tried it - I 'll have to try playing more when I get back and can post some of the mkv details on the ones that do work .. The movies where it does stutter/choke have been higher bit-rate so I was making an assumption in those cases it was just the higher bit-rate . <p> Ah I see . Figured that was what happened . I think this is a very confusing topic by the way and do n't envy any CE mfg trying to implement it .. IIRC , On my GT I had to change the Default speakers setting from " TV " to " Theater " in the TV setup . I do n't have the pan setup this way anymore as I now have a ARC capable AVR and use HDMI in/out. if I can get behind the TV I can try it out at some point . <p> Do n't worry about it . It is a futile excercise . If you have a HDMI AVR already , there is no reason to use it ever . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I have n't tested *everything* DTS that I have on it , but it did play the audio when I tried it - I 'll have to try playing more when I get back and can post some of the mkv details on the ones that do work .. The movies where it does stutter/choke have been higher bit-rate so I was making an assumption in those cases it was just the higher bit-rate . <p> If your hosting PC is configured to use codec packs that are capable of decoding DTS , you should be able to play it on Echo . That 's my assumption . <p> Motz- Can you give us some sort of update on the 1080i problem ? It seems like there 's many of us that think 1080i playback is nearly unwatchable , and even those that do n't think its a showstopper still think that it looks pretty bad . Have you noticed this in your testing ? I ca n't seem to find an acknowledgement of the problem on the Ceton forum or tracker , or any indication of whether you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . Will this get fixed before release ? <p> I agree . IMO if DTS conversion at the echo is not supported it will be a major disappointment . I think , what this will mean is that an AVR will be required to watch anything with DTS audio . Just not going to be able to convince the wife to allow another one of those " receiver " things in the bedroom . As a note your TV sounds like its capable of bitstreaming the audio as long as the downstream device can accept it .. From the Manual Audio Setup You can output digital audio to an AV ampli ? er or similar device whose DIGITAL AUDIO INPUT terminal is connected to the DIGITAL AUDIO OUTPUT terminal on the TV . Please select an audio output format compatible with the audio format of the program you are watching and the equipment connected . PCM : Set to " PCM " when connecting to equipment that does not support Dolby Digital . The same audio ( main , sub , or main/sub ) as the audio of the program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate of 48 kHz or less is output as linear PCM audio . Bitstream : Set to " Bitstream " when connecting to an audio system that supports Dolby Digital . Audio is output through both the main and sub channels . Analog channel audio and video input audio are output in PCM mode even when " Bitstream " is selected . PCM digital input signals are output in PCM mode even when " Bitstream " is selected . <p> Thanks , it can . I did n't have it configured correctly . It does work . I had only ran a quick test before . The settings on this set are complex , compared to my other Samsung it 's crazy . <p> I 've been able to play DTS ( note - not DTS-HD ) tracks on my Echo on my lower bit-rate movies ... plays in 2ch . Is this what you 're asking for ? I posted this on the beta forums , and got no response ( surprisingly ) . Then again , I could do this on my DMA2100 as well . <p> Quote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I play ant DTS content the echo does n't seem to like it . Would be interested in how you have it setup to work . I will look at your posts on ceton same user name ? <p> Quote : <p> Originally Posted by tgrinch <p> " grinchy " on the beta forums . Granted , I have n't tested *everything* DTS that I have on it , but it did play the audio when I tried it - I 'll have to try playing more when I get back and can post some of the mkv details on the ones that do work .. The movies where it does stutter/choke have been higher bit-rate so I was making an assumption in those cases it was just the higher bit-rate . <p> Quote : <p> Originally Posted by Foxbat121 <p> If your hosting PC is configured to use codec packs that are capable of decoding DTS , you should be able to play it on Echo . That 's my assumption . <p> Quote : <p> Originally Posted by tgrinch <p> Yep , that 's my assumption as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all and it plays fine on my HTPC . Maybe I should verify the bit rate and check again but I think all my dts stuff is higher bit rate . <p> Motz- Can you give us some sort of update on the 1080i problem ? It seems like there 's many of us that think 1080i playback is nearly unwatchable , and even those that do n't think its a showstopper still think that it looks pretty bad . Have you noticed this in your testing ? I ca n't seem to find an acknowledgement of the problem on the Ceton forum or tracker , or any indication of whether you 're looking for anything from beta testers to troubleshoot it . Will this get fixed before release ? <p> +1 You need sea sick pills to watch ... And with CableCard 1080 is pretty much all you get . <p> I think its kinda obvious that this thing is going to be released to the public on 11-30-2012 with only 720p support and no 1080i or 1080p upon initial public release . I don , t know how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ceton can give us some confirmation or road map otherwise . If this is the case I think they should admit that this is really just a public beta product and not truly ready for prime time use . <p> I think its kinda obvious that this thing is going to be released to the public on 11-30-2012 with only 720p support and no 1080i or 1080p upon initial public release . I don , t know how to look at it any other way unless someone from Ceton can give us some confirmation or road map otherwise . If this is the case I think they should admit that this is really just a public beta product and not truly ready for prime time use . <p> Do you have an actual source to back this up ? " Kinda obvious " sounds like you have some inside information to which the rest of us are not privy . <p> I think its kinda obvious that this thing is going to be released to the public on 11-30-2012 with only 720p support and no 1080i or 1080p upon initial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look at it any other way unless someone from Ceton can give us some confirmation or road map otherwise . If this is the case I think they should admit that this is really just a public beta product and not truly ready for prime time use . <p> The problem with 1080i material is a different issue than the 720p output restriction , although it might be tangentially related . The Echo will only output at 720p0- that 's a known and acknowledged limitation of the current firmware . The problem is that there 's a bug in the playback of 1080i material . I 'm not sure where the problem is , but my guess is probably the deinterlacer . Considering so much HD material is 1080i , I do n't think the Echo is a usable product without Ceton fixing this problem first . We 'll see if they come up with a fix in the next week . But considering this bug has been known for quite a while now I would n't hold my breath ... <p> He probably does not but you ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delaying things . <p> I agree with this - as much as I 'd like the Echo to hit the public on target , I think it needs another few weeks to a month to be ready to release . Just my opinion and not a negative take on the actual product - it 's going to be great once the existing items are resolved . <p> Do you have an actual source to back this up ? " Kinda obvious " sounds like you have some inside information to which the rest of us are not privy . <p> I have no special sources other than the many posts here about the current state of the Ceton Echo and the fact that time is not on there side . Besides I invited someone from Ceton to state something to the contrary in my original post . I want Ceton to succeed , I am also a beta tester like you but am very disappointed to date . i am in the process of converting from Sage TV to MCE &; the Ceton is a big part of my future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . <p> +1 You need sea sick pills to watch ... And with CableCard 1080 is pretty much all you get . <p> I was going to say " which begs the question " .......... instead I will just come out with an irrefutable statement . At this point the Echo is not in the least suitable for its intended purposed .. Or to phrase it more candidly it is a stinking POS . It would be one thing if if was limited to 720P output if it effectively deinterlaced and downrezzed 1080i content . Display output issues of that nature are fundamental to the chipset , this is literally beyond belief considering the projected delivery .

@@5053941 <h> What does the writing on the side of a tire mean ? <p> It 's an odd collection of both English and Metric measurements , which , together , tell you the size and applicabilty of a tire . <p> Here 's an example : <p> P205 60 VR 15 <p> The " P " means passenger car tire . <p> The " 205 " means that the tire 's tread ( the part that touches the road ) is 205 millimeters , or 20.5 centimeters wide . <p> The " 60 " is the aspect ratio of the tire . That means that the sidewall ( the part of the tire that extends from the car 's wheel to the edge of the tread ) is 60% of the width of the tire 's tread . In our example case , then , the sidewall measures 12.3 cm from the wheel to the tread , measured radially . <p> The " VR " is the speed rating . " V " rated tires are " safe " up to ( I believe ) 155 mph . " Z " tires are rated safe in excess of 155 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to around 110 mph . I think . These three ratings comprise about 99% of what you 're likely to see on a car . <p> Finally , the " 15 " means that the tire will fit on a 15-inch wheel . This means that the diameter of the wheel is 15 inches . <p> I do n't know who came up with this strange mix of metric , English and ratio measurements , but it 's been this way for many years . <p> Well , that 's close . Actually , the first number , 205 in the above example , is not the width of the tread that touches the road , nor does it have anything to deal with anything touching the road . The first number is the OVERALL tire

@@5054041 <h> Rich Are Admirable Greedy People Paying Too Few Taxes <p> By Frank Bass - 2012-08-27T18:07:11Z <p> Americans admire the rich . They just do n't like them very much . <p> A Pew Research Center survey shows an overwhelming majority of people have high regard for those they consider wealthy , with almost half saying they 're smarter and harder workers . At the same time , a majority says the wealthy are greedy and pay too little in taxes . One-third say they 're dishonest . <p> More than six in 10 Americans say the Republican Party , which is holding its national convention this week , favors the wealthy , according to the poll released today . <p> The findings underscore the complicated feelings Americans have about wealth , as well as a troubling political issue for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney , who has an estimated wealth of as much as $250 million . More than 70 percent of Americans say Romney 's policies would help the wealthy more than anyone else . <p> " There 's some good news in here " for Romney , Kim Parker , the study 's author and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trends Project , said in a telephone interview . " Americans do admire wealthy people who worked hard . But a potential problem is that people said his policies would benefit wealthy people more than the middle-class or lower-income people . " <p> Republicans and Democrats have different views of the rich , said Jacob S. Hacker , director of the Institution for Social and Policy Studies at Yale University . " There 's a pretty stark partisan divide , " he said . <h> Wealthy Undertaxed <p> Americans say a $150,000 annual salary would be enough to make a four-person family rich , the poll found . People surveyed in the Northeast and suburban communities put the amount at $200,000 , while those questioned in rural areas say a family making more than $125,000 could be considered wealthy . Nationwide , the median household income is $51,914 . <p> Fifty-eight percent of people surveyed by Pew say the wealthy do n't pay enough taxes , including 52 percent of households that identify themselves as upper or upper-middle class . The poll of 2,508 adults , conducted July 16-26 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barack Obama favors increasing tax rates on households making more than $250,000 a year . The Republican- controlled House of Representatives opposes the boost . Republican leaders are threatening to block any deal that would increase taxes , as well as to delay across-the-board federal spending cuts and decrease the amount of time that laid-off workers could collect unemployment insurance . <h> Greedy Rich <p> Fifty-five percent of people polled by Pew say rich people are more likely to be greedy , including 65 percent of Democrats and 42 percent of Republicans . Thirty-four percent say wealthy people are less honest , with only 18 percent of Republicans and 8 percent of Democrats considering the rich to be more honest than other people . <p> " This election is much more focused on the gap between the rich and the rest than any I 've been alive for , " he said . " We 've got a perfect storm of factors leading to a discussion about the middle class and taxes , especially . " <h> Hard Work Admired <p> Even so , Pew said Americans generally admire wealthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people who described themselves as middle-class and 84 percent of lower-income people say they admire rich people , pollsters said . <p> Almost half of all Republicans say wealthy people are smarter than other Americans . Only 38 percent of Democrats say the rich are smarter than middle- or lower-income people . Half of survey respondents say there is n't a relationship between income and intelligence . <p> Opinions also split along partisan lines when it comes to the amount of work required to make a lot of money . Fifty-five percent of Republican-leaning respondents say rich people worked harder than others , while 33 percent of Democrats agree . <p> Wealthy people say they 're much more satisfied with life than do lower- or middle-income households . <p> The survey reports that 62 percent of rich people say they 've become more financially secure during the past decade . Only 44 percent of middle-class families and 29 percent of poor people agree . <h> Stress Free <p> More than 40 percent of higher-income people say they 're happy with their jobs and their lives , compared with about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ households . One-third of the wealthy say they never or seldom experience stress . Only 23 percent of middle-class people and 13 percent of poor families report a lack of stress . <p> " The rich just seem to be experiencing life in a different way from the middle class and lower-income people , " Parker says . " It 's striking , particularly in these times . They just

@@5054141 <h> Related Topics <h> Christ Was Not a Christian <h> ... and Christians can not really be ' Christlike . ' <p> BY : Garry Wills <p> In certain religious circles , the letters WWJD serve as a password or shibboleth . Web sites sell bracelets and T-shirts with the cryptic motto . Some politicians tell us this watchword guides them in making decisions . The letters stand for " What Would Jesus Do ? " We are assured that doing the same thing is the goal of real Christians . <p> But can we really aspire to do what Jesus did ? Would we praise a twelve-year-old who slips away from his parents in a big city and lets them leave town without telling them he is staying behind ? The reaction of any parent would be that of Jesus ' parents : " How could you treat us this way ? " ( Lk 2.48 ) . Or if relatives seek access to a Christian , should he say that he has no relatives but his followers ( Mk 3.33 -- 35 ) ? We might try to change water into wine ; but if we did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for purification purposes , and fill them with over a hundred gallons of wine , more than any party could drink ( Jn 2.6 ) ? If we could cast out devils , would we send them into a herd of pigs , destroying two thousand animals ( Mk 5.13 ) ? Some Christians place a very high value on the rights of property , yet this was a massive invasion of some person 's property and livelihood . <p> He is not just like us ... he has higher rights and powers . <p> Other Christians lay great emphasis on family values -- should they , like Jesus , forbid a man from attending his own father 's funeral ( Mt 8.22 ) or tell others to hate their parents ( Mt 8.22 , Lk 14.26 ) ? Or should they go into a rich new church in some American suburb , a place taking pride in its success , and whip the persons holding out collection plates , crying , " Make not my Father 's house a traders ' mart " ( Jn 2.16 ) or " @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Would it be wise of them to call national religious leaders " whitewashed tombs , pleasant enough to outer appearance , but inside full of dead bones and every rottenness " ( Mt 23.27 ) ? Are they justified in telling others , " I come not imposing peace , I impose not peace but the sword " ( Mt 10.34 ) ? Or " I am come to throw fire on the earth " ( Lk 12.49 ) ? Should they imitate Jesus when he says , " Heaven and earth will pass away , but never will my words pass away " ( Mk 21.333 ) ? Or when he says , " I am the resurrection " ( Jn 11.25 ) or " I am the truth " ( Jn 14.6 ) , or " I have the authority to lay down my life and I have the authority to take it up again " ( Jn 10.18 ) ? None of those who want to imitate Jesus should proclaim that " I am the light of the world " ( Jn 8.12 ) or that " @ @

@@5054241 <p> Turns out that there 's a strong correlation between our executive function skills and our ability to dual task while walking . Prof. Hausdorff went on to describe how deficits in this cognitive function that are experienced by elderly people , and certainly those with dementia and Alzheimer 's disease , can be a significant contributor to falls . Falls are a well known source of further disability issues and general decline with the elderly . <p> Now while I was pondering this new information on the role of focused attention and problem solving in dual tasking , I got a call from a friend and I began to describe this new insight . " Wow " was her response . " That 's really interesting . I can ballroom dance , because when I 'm dancing , I 'm thinking about what my body is doing . But when I 'm walking down the street , I 'm not thinking about walking down the street -- I 'm thinking about what I need to work on , what I 'm going to buy or what I 'm going to make for dinner and OUCH ! what was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a strong hypotheses that brain training to strengthen focused attention and executive function will result in better regular walking abilities and improved ability to dual task , and ultimately contribute to reduced falls in the elderly . This makes logical sense . This research topic could have very practical impact in reducing hospitalization for falls and help to keep health care costs down for elderly citizens . We 'll look forward to more research evidence . In the meantime , the Aging Well Program of Cognitive Training may help senior citizens with challenges in this area . <h> One Comment <p> Geez ... I ca n't believe how many people refer to this phrase , and use it as if it was actually meant to be . The actual phrase is " ... its like trying to TALK and chew gum at the same time ... " , in reference to people who take on too much when multi-tasking . The phrase was misquoted by then-President Gerald Ford as " WALK and chew gum " , and became fodder for several late-night talkshow monologues . But it really took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chase that weekend on Saturady Night Live , in a skit that poked fun by having the Presdident start to chew on a stick of gum , and then suddenly start tripping into things , unable to walk . At the time , Ford had suffered a few mishaps in public , and his inherent clumsiness had become a weekly comedy bit for Chase , who portrayed the hapless prez . <p> Like so many catch phrases , the reference has been lost with time , and replaced by defintions that seem to make sense . I found the following posted online : <p> Walk and chew gum ( at the same time ) -- to be able to do more than one thing at a time . Example : " Officials say they have to plan for all kinds of possibilities , that they

@@5054341 <h> Age to Play Paintball <p> Answer : How old a person has to be to play paintball varies considerably by where they live . Some countries require players to be adults ( usually age 18 ) while others have no rules whatsoever . For most people the determining age will be the age the insurance company allows players to be at the local field which , for most of the United States is either 10 or 12 . If you want to know the required age , just ask your field and they will be happy to explain their rules . <p> Besides the legal age to play , there is also the issue of the proper maturity level to play . While it completely depends on the individual child , I generally recommend 12-14 as the proper age to begin the sport . Most children at that age are able to understand and abide by the safety rules while still

@@5054441 <p> But Lopez 's enthusiasm dissipated quickly : He now claims to be unattached to the next chapter of the ABC dancing competition show . " I 'm really busy , so I do n't think I 'll be able to do it , " Lopez told TV Guide Magazine . " I do n't watch the show and did n't even watch when I was on it . My mom a safe and supportive place for writers of all ages to contribute . <p> mario lopez should find the time to do the show . he should be thankful to DWTS for actually giving him his career back . what was he doing before he went on that show , anyway ? he had n't acted or done anything since ' saved by the bell . ' <h> Loading comments ... <p> Really do n't care for Mario . Ever since I saw his reality show , it made me realize what a control freak he is . This guy will eventually cheat when he gets older and starts to loose his looks because he needs someone to help boost his ego . <h> Loading comments ... <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gosselin is on the All-Star show . As badly as she danced , it is her attitude that turns me off the most . The only person more horrible than Kate is .... Octomom ! <h> Loading comments ... <p> DWTS getting desparate ? Need an all star season ? Stopped watching several seasons ago when the show changed so many rules that the fan vote meant nothing . And the three stooges judges are still all there . Time

@@5054541 <h> Settlement <p> Map of Belarus <p> The first record of Jews in Belarus is in the 14th century , C.E . At that time , Belarus was a region of Poland-Lithuania , and was referred to as Belorussia . It was also on the path between Poland and Russia , and it was first visited by Jewish merchants . The first record of a Jewish population was in Brest-Litovsk in 1388 . <p> By the end of the 15th century , any Jews that had settled in Belorussia were expelled . Jews were allowed back into the region in 1503 . <h> Synagogue in Nowogrodek <p> While Jews were technically allowed to settle in Belorussia , Christian citizens tried to dissuade them from taking up permanent residence there . They prevented Jews from many employment opportunities , and prohibited them from building synagogues . As a form of more violent opposition , Russian Christians repeatedly attacked Jewish communities in the region . They coerced Jews into conversion , and murdered many of them as well . Even with the rampant anti-Semitism in the area , by 1766 , approximately 62,800 Jews lived in Belorussia . <p> In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the region began to take part in Russian culture . While some Jews found better jobs under Russian control , most Jews were living in poverty . As in many European countries at the time , most Jews in Belorussia participated in mercantilism and trade . <p> In 1791 , Belorussian , Russian , Lithuanian , and Ukrainian Jews were forced to live in the Pale of Settlement . The confinement of Jews was Tsar Cathrine II 's solution to the influence of Jewish mercantilism . Non-Jewish tradesmen were unhappy with the amount of competition from Jewish merchants . By confining Jews in one area , non-Jews gained a monopoly over Russian trade . <p> Jews were forced to live in an area that covered Latvia , Lithuania , Ukraine , and Belorussia . Poverty overtook the area , and many Jews were living in destitution . Even with wide-spread poverty , however , the Jewish population continued to increase . <p> Jewish communities multiplied in the area and , by 1897 , 725,548 Jews were accounted for in Belorussia . The communities were so large , in fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a majority of Jews . Cities such as Minsk , Pinsk , Mogilev , Bobruisk , Vitebsk , and Gomel contained more than 50% Jews . Much of these populations immigrated to southern Russia , Ukraine , and the United States because of the poor economic conditions in Belorussia . <h> Religious and Political Culture <p> Even with emigration from the area , Belorussia became a major cultural center in Europe . Hasidism reigned over the region as the leading Jewish influence . The 19th century saw the spread of Chabad Hasidism with the help of two of its founders , Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk and Shneur Zalman of Lyady . Belorussia also housed many famous Lithuanian yeshivot . <h> Tec family in Baranovichi <p> Hasidism spread widely in cities such as Vitebsk . However , many Jewish communities , particularly those in northwestern Belarus , were opposed to Hasidism . A rationalist group of Orthodox Jews called the Mitnaggedim vehemently opposed the Hasidic ideals . <p> The mid-1800s brought the haskalah to the Jewish communities in the region . The haskalah was an enlightenment for Jews in Europe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a more modern revelation . Secular literature overshadowed original Jewish texts and groups such as the Mitnaggedim rejected the intense religiosity of Hasidism . <p> By the late 1800s , the Jews in Belorussia were swept over simultaneously by the Bund and Zionist movements . The Bund movement strived for social equality for Jews in particular , and for a political revolution in general . Many Jews in the Bund movement joined radical Russian socialist organizations . Artists and academics were the most common joiners of the socialist movement in Belorussia . <p> The Zionist movement also spread as part of the social revolution in Europe . Labor Zionism was founded in Belorussia and , in 1902 , Minsk held the second convention of Russian Zionists . <p> Together , the Bundists and Zionists created small defense armies to combat the multiple pogroms that came through the area . Also , the two groups helped lead Belorussia in the 1905 Russian Revolution . <p> With the 1917 February Revolution , more Jews joined radical political parties . Two Jewish journals , Der Yid and Der Veker displayed Zionist and Bundist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within Belorussia . <p> World War I led to an increased emigration of Jews from Lithuania and Poland . Being on the border between Poland and Russia , the Belorussian Jews were accused of spying both for the Russians and the Poles . The Polish army led attacks on the Jewish communities in the area . Likewise , Russian soldiers led massacres in Jewish Belorussian towns . Both armies used the war as an excuse to act out their anti-Semitic sentiments . <p> In 1921 , the Treaty of Riga divided Belorussia between Poland and the Soviet Union . <h> Belorussia under the Soviet Union <p> At the beginning of Soviet rule in Belorussia , Jews lived in relative harmony within the Russian society . The Belorussian republic contained the largest concentration of Jews in the Soviet Union and , by 1926 , approximately 407,000 Jews lived in Belorussia . <h> Zionist group in Oczmiana <p> The Jews of Belorussia maintained Yiddish as their main language . Interestingly enough , it was the Belorussian government itself that promoted the Yiddish language throughout the republic . The government wished to decrease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> With the advent of Communism , the economic status of Belorussian Jews greatly decreased . The Russian government prohibited private trade and even put limits on individual artists . Because Jews were prominent in trade , many of them were negatively affected by the new prohibition . Because of the economic situation , many Belorussian Jews immigrated to Moscow and Leningrad . By 1939 , only 375,000 Jews were living in Belorussia . <p> The Jewish chapter of the Communist Party was called Yevsektsiya . The organization worked with the Communist Party to close synagogues , yeshivot , and other means of religious practice . Yevsektsiya was especially active in Belorussia as a secularizing force for the Jews . <p> Many Jews , however , still found ways to maintain their traditional practices . Siddurim were sold underground and yeshivot were used in secret . <p> Zionism was another movement that the Communist Party attempted to shut down . Like other private Jewish organizations , Zionist groups were kept alive mainly by Zionist youth movements . Eventually , even these secret organizations were closed by the Jewish Communists . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means of secular Jewish culture . The group created Yiddish newspapers and non-religious Jewish schools . Centers for Yiddish literature , teaching schools , and Jewish culture were established . Non-religious Jewish culture was encouraged throughout Belorussia . <h> Western Belorussia <p> The area of Belorussia was divided in 1921 , and the western part of the country was annexed by Poland . Unlike in Russia , Polish Jewry was not repressed by the Communist Party . Hasidism and Jewish religiosity remained affluent until 1939 . <p> The economic status of Jews in Western Belorussia was significantly lower than under Soviet rule . Observant Jews from Eastern Belorussia risked poverty and fled to Western Belorussia in order to maintain traditional Jewish practices . <p> In 1939 , Soviet Russia annexed Western Belorussia , and the Communist Party immediately shut down religious organizations in the area . Religious schools , originally taught in Hebrew , were transformed into secular Yiddish-speaking schools . The Communist Party attempted to assimilate the Jewish population of Western Belorussia . <p> This mass assimilation , however , was halted by the Nazi invasion of 1941 . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for assimilated Jews . <h> Belorussian Jews in the Holocaust Period <p> As the Nazi army moved into Soviet Russia , many of the Belorussian Jews attempted to flee . Some managed to escape , but most were stopped by approaching troops or Soviet guards who would not permit Jews to cross the border . <p> Belorussian Jews were slaughtered en masse by both SS troops who crusaded through the cities , and by local Belorussian police . Pogroms became common again , and any Jews who were not killed by Nazis or Nazi-supporters were put into ghettos . <h> Underground Revolutionary Force in Minsk Ghetto <p> Like most Jews throughout Nazi-occupied Europe , Jews in the Soviet ghettos were forced to wear yellow stars . The Nazis quickly killed off children and the elderly , as well as the disabled Jews in the communities . Those who were not killed were forced to work in Nazi factories , building weaponry . <p> The Belorussian city of Minsk contained one of the largest ghettos in the region . The Minsk ghetto also remained in existence for much longer than most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party 's prohibition of Jewish organizations , Eastern Belorussian Jews were very quickly wiped out . The Jewish population there lacked solidarity and strength . Western Belorussia , on the other hand , had been annexed only two years before , and the Jewish community had not been entirely assimilated . As a result , the Nazis were unable to quickly destroy the Western Belorussian communities . <p> The western ghettos were livelier with culture than their eastern counterparts . Western ghettos contained underground choirs , Talmudic study , Zionist movements , and theatre . Young Jews were , for the most part , responsible for the creation of Jewish culture within the ghettos . <h> Jewish partisans <p> Ghetto revolts also occurred beginning in 1942 . The Nazis began to destroy the established ghettos , and many underground groups organized the burning of buildings and mass attempts at escaping the Nazis . Some Jews who were able to flee joined the partisans in Russia . The partisans were a non-Jewish organization that vehemently opposed Nazi rule . Approximately 10,000-20,000 Jews joined the movement . <p> Some of the escapees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Soviet army . It has been recorded that approximately 50,000 Jews fought with the Soviet army during World War II . Many of them hid their identities to avoid automatic execution by the Nazis and acts of hate by the Soviets . One hundred and forty-five of the enlisted Jews received the Hero of the Soviet Union award . <p> In 1941 , Nazi occupied Russia contained 4 million Jews . By the end of World War II , 3 million Jews had been murdered . The 1 million Jews who avoided execution were the lucky ones who were able to escape into the forests or enlist in the Soviet army . Of these 3 million victims , 800,000 of them were Belorussian . Ninety percent of the Jews in Belorussia had been murdered . <h> Post-World War II <p> The end of World War II led to a gradual emigration of Jews from Belorussia . By 1979 , 135,400 Jews lived in the region but , a decade later , only 112,000 Jews remained . Belorussian Jews immigrated to both Israel and the United States . <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anti-Semitism and religious persecution were widespread in the region , and Jews were again prevented from traditional practice . <p> On April 25 , 1991 , Belarus reluctantly declared its independence from the Soviet Union . Even after breaking away from the USSR , Belarus maintained diplomatic relations with Russia . The new Democratic Republic of Belarus created its own constitution and was quickly overcome by an almost dictatorial rule . <p> In 1999 , Belarus restructured and formed a parliamentary government . The legislature is made up of a 110-member House of Representatives , and a 65-member Council of the Republic . <h> Contemporary Jewish Life <p> Although Belarus is technically a democracy , the government has been accused of impeding upon its citizens ' essential rights . Freedom of speech and religious freedom have been consistently limited . The Belarusian government maintains almost complete control of the national newspapers , and any opponents of the President have been quickly jailed or exiled . <h> Celebrating Sukkot in Grodno <p> Various non-traditional religions in Belarus have been prohibited from religious practice . Judaism is one of these " non-traditional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law that allows it to censor Jews ' activities . Synagogues and cemeteries have been vandalized or destroyed . Holocaust memorials have also been graffitied . <p> While many individuals have committed anti-Semitic acts , the Belarusian government is also responsible for much of the persecution of the country 's Jews . Protests and speeches , condoned by the government , have voiced hatred towards Jews and other minority groups . President Lukashenko 's followers are openly anti-Semitic in their policies . <p> National newspapers , such as the Slovyanskaya Gazetta , have repeatedly published anti-Semitic articles and editorials . In April 1999 , the newspaper had its license revoked . <p> President Lukashenko , who has been in office since 1994 , has been responsible for much of the violence toward Belarusian Jews . He gave amnesty to individuals convicted of hate crimes , and he attempted to shut down the Institute of Jewish Studies at Belarus State University . Because of international pressure , Lukashenko was forced to keep the department open . <p> In 2002 , the Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations was passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would recognize . While the government officially recognized Judaism , many Jewish Belarusians fear that the law will lead to more discrimination . <p> The 1999 census estimated the official number of Jews in Belarus at 29,000 , however local Jewish organizations estimate there are 50,000 Jews and the Jewish Agency believes there are as many as 70,000 . About half of the Jews in Belarus live in Minsk , the nation 's capital . <p> Even with the government 's policy of anti-Semitism , Jews in Belarus have managed to create national organizations and local cultural groups . The JDC financially supports the Union of Jewish Associations and Communities which has branches in 24 cities and is headed by Leonid Levin . The organization releases a monthly newspaper entitled Aviv . Other Jewish publications in Belarus include Berega ( a monthly published by the Orthodox Union ) , Gesher ( published by the Bobruisk Jewish community ) , Karlin ( published by the Pinsk Jewish community ) , and Mishpokha ( a yearly journal published in Vitebsk ) . The Orthodox Union , Lubavich and Reform movement represent the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aish HaTorah , and the American Joint Distribution Committee ( JDC ) have created cultural and study groups to help maintain Jewish traditions within the communities . <h> Reading the Megillah during Purim <p> There are also a few organizations for war veterans and Holocaust survivors . The Union of Former Ghetto and Concentration Camps Inmates , the Union of World War II Veterans , the Holocaust Foundation in Minsk , Maccabi and a children 's choir are all active organizations in Belarus . The World Association of Belarusian Jewry helps to financially support war veterans in Belarus , though the organization itself is based in the United States . Yama , a Holocaust memorial in Minsk , was first built in 1946 , but was renovated and rededicated in 2000 . In November 2005 a Public Academy for Jewish Culture and Arts was established , however it could not be registered by the Ministry of Justice because only state institutions are allowed to contain the word " academy " in their names . <p> The Union of Jewish Associations and Communities and the Jewish Agency run 13 Jewish Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two other Sunday schools run by the Reform movement as well as a Sunday School for Jewish deaf children . In addition , Jewish classes are taught at Minsk School No. 132 and there is a Jewish national school in Gomel . The Orthodox Union supports Bnei Akiva schools in Minsk , Chabad supports two high schools , and the Karlin-Stolin congregation funds a high school in Pinsk . <p> Other historic Jewish sites have also been renovated . Synagogues and Jewish cemeteries have been returned to Jewish communities , as well as yeshivot and other buildings confiscated by the Communist Party . In 2002 , the Museum of History and Culture of Belarusian Jews opened and has since served as an educational center , teaching and researching the Holocaust as well as the history and culture of the Jewish people . <p> Jewish charitable organizations provide food , homecare , and medical care to needy Jews . Belarus victims of the Holocaust receive compensation from the Swiss Fund for Needy Victims of the Holocaust . While Judaism is classified as a ' traditional confession ' according to the 2002 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been proceeding very slowly . Only a few synagogue buildings have been returned to the Jews of Belarus over the past few years . <h> Relations with Israel <p> Jewish immigration to Israel , when allowed by the Belarusian government , has been constant since World War II . In 2002 , 974 Belarusians made aliyah . In 2003 , immigration to Israel decreased , and between the years 2003 and 2005 , 4,854 Belarusian immigrated there . <p> In April 2000 , Belarus and Israel signed an agreement on trade , science , culture , and education . The two countries also formed a joint committee to improve relations between Israel and Belarus . <p> In July 2004 , Israel reopened

@@5054641 <p> At noon on Monday , local time , ( 10 p.m . Sunday ET ) James Cameron ' s " vertical torpedo " sub broke the surface of the western Pacific , carrying the National Geographic explorer and filmmaker back from the Mariana Trench ' s Challenger Deep -- Earth 's deepest , and perhaps most alien , realm . <p> The first human to reach the 6.8-mile-deep ( 11-kilometer-deep ) undersea valley solo , Cameron arrived at the bottom with the tech to collect scientific data , specimens , and visions unthinkable in 1960 , when the only other manned Challenger Deep dive took place , according to members of the National Geographic expedition . <p> After a faster-than-expected , roughly 70-minute ascent , Cameron 's sub , bobbing in the open ocean , was spotted by helicopter and would soon be plucked from the Pacific by a research ship 's crane . Earlier , the descent to Challenger Deep had taken 2 hours and 36 minutes . <p> Expedition member Kevin Hand called the timing of the DEEPSEA CHALLENGER sub 's ascent " perfect . " <p> Before surfacing about 300 miles ( 500 kilometers ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deep 's desert-like seafloor and gliding along its cliff walls , the whole time collecting samples and video . <p> Among the 2.5-story-tall sub 's tools are a sediment sampler , a robotic claw , a " slurp gun " for sucking up small seacreatures for study at the surface , and temperature , salinity , and pressure gauges . ( See pictures of Cameron 's sub . ) <p> Now " the science team is getting ready for the returned samples , " said NASA 's Hand . <p> Cameron -- best known for creating fictional worlds on film ( Avatar , Titanic , The Abyss ) -- is expected to announce his initial findings later today . After analysis , full results are to be published in a future edition of National Geographic magazine . <p> After breaching the ocean surface , the DEEPSEA CHALLENGER was first spotted by a helicopter owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen , a longtime Cameron friend . Allen was on the scene for the historic dive and posted live updates of the event on Twitter from aboard his yacht , the Octopus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> Science in Three Dimensions <p> Throughout the Mariana Trench dive , 3-D video cameras were kept whirring , and not just for the benefit of future audiences of planned documentaries . <p> " There is scientific value in getting stereo images because ... you can determine the scale and distance of objects from stereo pairs that you ca n't from 2-D images , " Cameron told National Geographic News before the dive . <p> But " it 's not just the video . The sub 's lighting of deepwater scenes -- mainly by an 8-foot ( 2.5-meter ) tower of LEDs -- is " so , so beautiful , " said Doug Bartlett , a marine biologist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego , California . <p> " It 's unlike anything that you 'll have seen from other subs or other remotely operated vehicles , " said Bartlett , chief scientist for the DEEPSEA CHALLENGE project , a partnership with the National Geographic Society and Rolex . ( The Society owns National Geographic News . ) <p> As the 57-year-old explorer emerged from the sub @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a medical team stood at the ready . <p> But if recent test dives -- including one to more than five miles ( eight kilometers meters ) down -- are any indication , Cameron should be physically fine , despite having been unable to extend his arms and legs for hours , expedition physician Joe MacInnis told National Geographic News before the dive . <p> " Jim is going to be a little bit stiff and sore from the cramped position , but he 's in really good shape for his age , so I do n't expect any problems at all , " said MacInnis , a long-time Cameron friend . <p> In addition , the sub 's " pilot sphere " has a handlebar , which Cameron could use to pull himself occasionally up during the dive . " Usually , shifting position is all that 's required to buy yourself another few hours , " he said . <p> Because Cameron had prepared extensively for the dive , he should be in good psychological health , said Walter Sipes , an aeronautics psychologist at NASA 's Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing this , not just in the simulator but also training dives ... and he 's an adventurer , so I really do n't think they 'll have any issues to worry about , " said Sipes , who is not part of the expedition . <p> Still , if Cameron plans to conduct more dives -- which the team has indicated he will -- Sipes recommends he get plenty of rest in between or risk mental fatigue . <p> " When you start to get fatigued , you start making mistakes , " he added . " And since he 's down there solo , he ca n't afford that . He 's a potential single-point failure . " <p> It should be at least a few weeks before any further DEEPSEA CHALLENGE dives , as the director 's next breakneck mission will take him from the middle of the Pacific to London , where he 's due at a premiere of his Titanic 3-D Wednesday . <p> While remotely operated vehicles , or ROVs , are much less expensive than manned subs , " the critical thing is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that environment , " expedition member Patricia Fryer said , " to be able to turn your head and look around to see what the relationships are between organisms in a community and to see how they 're behaving -- to turn off all the lights and just sit there and watch and not frighten the animals , so that they behave normally . <p> " That is almost impossible to do with an ROV , " said Fryer , a marine geologist at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics &; Planetology . <p> Andy Bowen , project manager and principal developer of the Nereus , an ROV that explored Challenger Deep in 2009 , said a manned mission also has the potential to inspire public imagination in a way a robot ca n't . <p> " It 's difficult to anthropomorphize machines in a way that engages everyone 's imagination -- not in the same way that having boots on the ground , so to speak , can do , " said Bowen , who 's not an expedition member . <p> Biological oceanographer Lisa Levin , also at Scripps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generating public interest in deep-ocean science is as important as any new species Cameron might have discovered . <p> " I consider Cameron to be doing for the trenches what Jacques Cousteau did for the ocean many decades ago , " said Levin , who 's part of the team but did not participate in the seagoing expedition . <p> At a time of fast-shrinking funds for undersea research , " what scientists need is the public support to be able to continue exploration and research of the deep ocean , " Levin said . <p> Perhaps referring to his friend 's most recent movie , expedition physician MacInnis called Cameron a real-world " avatar . " <p> " He 's down there on behalf of everybody else on this planet , " he said . " There are seven billion people who ca n't go , and he can . And he 's aware of that . " <p> For his part , Cameron seems sure that the DEEPSEA CHALLENGER will be exploring the depths for a long time to come . In fact , he 's so confident @ @ @ @ @ @

@@5054741 <h> DogPlay Connery <h> The Heart of Dog <h> Sixteen stories , award-winning authors , and help for a sick dog ... <h> Award-winning author Doranna Durgin has over 30 published novels and another 19 short pieces . Now her dog-themed stories are collected in THE HEART OF DOG , along with those by other award-winning authors : <h> About THE HEART OF DOG <h> " Doranna Durgin has an uncanny ability to put into words the thoughts and reactions we can almost see in the behavior of our animal companions . She has a well-trained understanding of animal behavior and her astonishing awareness of changes in attitude and mood gives her insight into their lives . She also has a special talent for translating that understanding into dialogue from their point of view . I follow her blog and newsgroup posts for updates on her animal family , and read everything she writes for those moments her non-human characters speak up . This collection holds a bonanza of those moments . That my purchase also benefits ConneryBeagle adds to the delight of owning these stories . " Kristina Forsyth , Reader at Daily Cheap Reads <h> " I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made me laugh , others made me cry . A very touching read and certainly for a good cause ! " Jill Metcalf , Author of FAMILY REUNION <h> " Nobody writes dogs as well as Doranna . " Adrianne , B &N; Reader <h> " This collection of stories will delight dog lovers and please all readers . I know of no one who can write from a dog 's point of view more convincingly than Doranna Durgin . Buy it to help pay for Connery Beagle 's medical care . Buy it because it 's a collection of terrific stories . Just buy it ! You ca n't go wrong . "

@@5054841 <p> Beyond his reputation as Norway 's " hardest working guitarist " ? an clat supported by , amongst many others , ongoing membership in Nils Petter Molvr ' s trio and assuming the producer 's role for the trumpeter 's Baboon Moon ( Sula , 2011 ) ; collaborating with the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra for Ripples , raptures and disbelief ( a Molde Jazz Festival commission screaming for release ) ; and , with Didymoi Dreams ( Rune Grammofon , 2012 ) , righting a wrong with the first recorded document of his duo with another fearless innovator , singer Sidsel Endresen ? Stian Westerhus has managed to exploit the potential of his chosen instrument beyond all belief ... and recognition . Even more than Galore ? the guitarist 's limited-run solo debut on Rune Grammofon 's vinyl-only The Last Record Company imprint ? Pitch Black Star Spangled ( Rune Grammofon , 2010 ) was , quite simply , the kind of record that nobody with a mere 31 years on the planet had the right to make . <p> Two years later , if even the most intrepid explorer can be taken for granted once familiarity sets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equally mind-blowing The Matriarch And The Wrong Kind Of Flowers . If Pitch Black broke new ground , The Matriarch not only expands Westerhus ' view of that terrain , it also finds ( or forges ) entirely new paths to hitherto unexplored territories . <p> Perhaps the most significant difference is where The Matriarch was recorded . Norwegian sculptor Emanuel Vigeland 's Oslo mausoleum is a room that , quite simply , encourages a musician to think differently . Combining Westerhus ' already expansive sonics ? a mix of electronics , extended techniques , and a mindset that eschews musical orthodoxy ? with a room sporting a natural 20-second reverb makes The Matriarch ' s sound positively massive . Whether it 's the bowed guitar of " The Matriarch , " the processed voices of " Forever Walking Forests " or the jagged electro-centricities of " The Wrong Kind of Flowers " that ultimately resolve into a sparer coda of dark-hued beauty , Westerhus ' music may stem from improvisation , but the end result shares more with contemporary classicism than anything else ? though such comparisons pale once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matriarch and , while it 's hardly a new concept , Westerhus transcends mere gimmickry . The guitarist 's ability to compose on the fly with a broad range of textures , melodic and harmonic ideations ? even unexpected rhythmic twists and turns ? has always revealed an underlying sense of purpose , but with the Vigeland mausoleum almost a musical partner , Westerhus can augment grander schemes with the nuanced results of slighter gestures . <p> Conventional constructs hold little sway in Westerhus ' music . Whether striking the strings with his bow , sawing them vigorously , or somehow creating both a sustaining sonic wash and unexpected melodic motifs in real time , these nine pieces ? without any hat-hanging hooks or predictable form ? manage to be moving and memorable . It 's hard to imagine an artist evolving this rapidly , but taking the frog leaps of Pitch Black Star Spangled over Galore , and now the stunning The Matriarch And The Wrong Kind Of Flowers over Pitch Black

@@5054941 <p> You do not have to register with Grants.gov to find grant opportunities . However , once you are ready to apply for a grant , you will need to Get Registered . This process takes 3-5 business

@@5055041 <p> Note : At 93 K in size , this " short " help file is anything but short , and may take over a minute to load if you have a slow modem . Do n't access anything in the table of contents until the whole thing is loaded . --Jolo <h> Abstract <p> Have you ever wanted to talk with other computer users in other parts of the world ? Well guess what ? You can ! The program is called IRC , ( Internet Relay Chat ) , and it is networked over much of North America , Asia Europe , and Oceania . This program is a substitute for ' talk ' , and many other multiple talk programs you might have read about . When you are talking on IRC , everything you type will instantly be transmitted around the world to other users that might be watching their terminals at the time . They can then type something and respond to your messages , and vice versa . I should warn you that the program can be very addictive once you begin to make friends and contacts on IRC , especially when you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of discussion on IRC are varied , just like the topics of Usenet newsgroups are varied . Technical and political discussions are popular , especially when world events are in progress . IRC is also a way to expand your horizons , as people from many countries and cultures are on 24 hours a day . Most conversations are in English , but there are always channels in German , Japanese , French , Finnish , and occasionally other languages . <p> IRC gained international fame during the late Persian Gulf War , when updates from around the world came across the wire , and most people on IRC gathered on a single channel to hear these reports . <h> 1 . Getting Started <h> 1.1 Clients and Servers <p> IRC ( original code was written by Jarkko Oikarinen ) is a multi-user , multi-channel chatting network . It allows people all over the internet to talk to one another in real-time . It is a functional replacement and improvement to ' talk ' ; ' talk ' is an old , primitive , atrocious , minimalist sort of keyboard/screen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( blah ! ) . IRC does everything ' talk ' does , but with better protocol , allowing more than 2 users to talk at once , with access across the aggregate Internet , and providing a whole raft of other useful features . <p> There are two ways to enter IRC from a Unix system . If you are using the emacs ( editor from Richard Stallman and the Free Software Foundation ) lisp client , you just have to type " M-x irc " , ( if this does n't work you may need to load the client into your emacs session ) . If you are using the C client , ( easier for beginners ) , then you usually type " irc " . Non-Unix boxes have special clients , each of which has to be configured using a special procedure . Check the manual or help screen for more information . <p> If you wish to be known by a nickname which is not your login name , type " irc nickname " instead . Each IRC user , ( " client " ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is either by nickname or by the channel that they or you are on ( more information about channels later on ) . <p> The most important thing to remember about IRC is that you have to be willing to explore and learn to use it . Take your time , try not to get flustered , enjoy yourself , and you will soon be making new friends all over the world ! <p> IRC is based on a client-server model . Clients are programs that connect to a server , a server is a program that transports data , ( messages ) , from a user client to another . There are clients running on many different systems , ( Unix , emacs , VMS , MSDOS , VM ... ) , that allow you to connect to an IRC server . The client which will be spoken of here is the most widespread : ircII , ( originally designed by Michael Sandrof ) . Other clients are similar , and often accept ircII commands . <h> 1.2 How to behave on IRC <p> The most widely understood and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IRC is used in many different countries , English is by no means the only language . If you want to speak some other language than English , ( for example with your friends ) , go to a separate channel and set the topic to indicate that . On the other hand , you should check the topic before you move to a channel to see if there are any restrictions about language . On a non-restricted channel , please speak a language everybody can understand . If you want to do otherwise , change channels and set the topic accordingly . <p> It 's not necessary to greet everybody on a channel personally . Usually one " Hello ! " or equivalent is enough . And do n't expect everybody to greet you back . On a channel with 20 people that would mean one screenful of hellos . It 's sensible not to greet , in order not to be rude to the rest of the channel . If you must say hello to somebody you know , do it with a private message . The same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ client facilities , ( ircII " ON " command , for instance ) , to automatically say hello or goodbye to people is extremely poor etiquette . Nobody wants to receive auto-greets . They are not only obviously automatic , but even if you think you are polite , you are actually sounding insincere and also interfering with the personal environment of the recipient . If somebody wants to be auto-greeted on joining a channel , he will auto-greet himself . <p> Remember , people on IRC form their opinions about you only by your actions , writings and comments , so think before you type . If you use offensive words , you 'll be frowned upon . Do not " dump " to a channel or user , ( send large amounts of unwanted information ) . This is likely to get you kicked off the channel or killed off from IRC . Dumping causes network " burps " , connections going down because servers can not handle the large amount of traffic anymore . Other prohibited actions include : <p> Harassing another user . Harassment is defined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them . <h> 1.3 Privacy on IRC <p> You should always keep in mind that messages you send to someone over IRC are passed along all the servers between you and and the person you are writing to . When you 're sending a letter to someone , any postman on the way could open it and read its contents . <p> Well , it 's the same on the network . Any IRC-Admin could compile their server in " debug " mode and log whatever messages are transmitted through his node , ( it has already been done ) , so a good rule of thumb is not to trust the servers . <p> IRC IS NOT A SECURE WAY OF COMMUNICATION ! <p> How to establish direct communications between clients will be explained later , ( see DCC CHAT in section 2.5 ) . This should be used when you would n't want anybody else on IRC to intercept your private messages . <h> 1.4 First Steps <p> Note : ircII , the client most people are using , has most of this information online . If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To escape from HELP mode , keep pressing until your edit line , ( the line at the bottom of the screen ) , is empty . Most of the information in this file can be found typing these commands : " /HELP INTRO " or " /HELP NEWUSER " . <p> All ircII commands begin with a " /irchelp/ " character . <p> The slash is the default command character . Commands are not case sensitive , and can be abbreviated to their first letters : " /SI " and " /sign " stand for /SIGNOFF and will both end your IRC session , ( more in section 2.1 ) . <p> Anything that does not begin with " /irchelp/ " is assumed to be a message to someone and will be sent to your current channel , or to a person you are QUERYing , ( the QUERY command will be detailed later on , maybe in section 2.2 ) . <p> If you are not sure about the spelling of an ircII command , type the prefix of that command , and press the ESCape key twice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aliases that start with that prefix . Do n't forget the " /irchelp/ " in front of the command though . <h> 1.5 Screen and Keyboard activity <p> IRC is a full-screen utility . It takes over the screen , with the bulk of activity happening in the top ( N-2 ) lines , a status line , ( vaguely emacs-like ) , on the next to last line , and your input being entered on the last line . When typing commands at ircII , you have a minimalist line-editing facility in an emacs style . <p> Table 1 : Editing keys ---------------------- Key Effects P recalls previous command line N recalls next command line F moves forward one character B moves backward one character A moves the cursor to the beginning of the line E moves the cursor to the end of the line D deletes the character under the cursor K kills from the cursor to the end Y reinserts the last stretch of killed text U clears the whole line L redraws the screen <p> The ! command is used to recall previous commands in your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in that when it is used , it leaves the matching history entry in the input line for re-editing . You can specify a history entry either by its number in the history list , or by a match with a given wildcard expression . For instance , " / ! 10 " will put entry 10 in the history list into the input line . " / ! /MSG " will search the history for a line beginning with a /MSG , ( a " * " is implied at the end ) . <p> / ! &lt;history number&gt;&lt;history match&gt; <p> Recalls previous commands for re-editing . <p> /HISTORY &lt;number&gt; <p> Displays the command history on the screen . You can specify the number of history entries you wish to view as well . <p> Almost everything happens in the upper bulk of the screen . This includes both messages from other users , as well as the output of the control commands . Normal messages from other users appear with the originating nickname in &lt;angle brackets&gt; . Private messages arrive with the originating nickname in *asterisks* . Messages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ " whereas messages you send privately to another user appear with " -&gt; *nickname* " . Other output ( invitations from other users to join channels , and so forth ) , appears interspersed with other activity on the screen . <p> Displays the contents of the lastlog . This is a list of the most recent messages that have appeared on the screen , useful if you inadvertantly miss messages . If no arguments are given , the entire lastlog is displayed . If the first argument is a number , it determines how many log entries to show . Otherwise it is searched for in every lastlog entry . The second argument determines how many lines back to start display from . <p> /LASTLOG &gt; Public message I send to all in the channel &lt;some1else&gt; Public message from some1else *some1else* Private message sent to me by some1else -&gt; *some1else* Private message I send to some1else <p> Finally , if your screen gets garbage from a ' talk ' , ' write ' , ' wall ' or any other form of primitive communication ( smirk ) , hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everyone who wants to talk to you sees this name - also , at the moment , nicknames are limited to 9 characters max . Your nickname will be the same as your login name by default . You can also set an environment variable , IRCNICK , the value of which will be used instead . Nickname clashes are not allowed ; this is enforced by the servers . If your intended nickname clashes with someone else 's as you enter IRC , you will not be able to enter until you change it to something else . <p> /NICK Nappy *** Nap is now known as Nappy <p> /QUIT &lt;reason&gt; <p> Exits your IRC session . You can also use BYE , SIGNOFF and EXIT . If a reason is supplied , it is displayed to other people on your channels . <p> /QUIT Lunch Time ! <p> /HELP &lt;command&gt; <p> Shows help on the given command . Note : This is not installed for all clients , which can be kind of annoying . <p> /HELP HELP Usage : HELP command Shows help on the given command @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fashion . That means that certain help topics have sub-topics under them . boring stuff deleted <p> Very often , an unsuccessful call to WHOIS will lead you to try WHOWAS . That 's why ircII allows you to " /SET AUTOWHOWAS ON " ; that way , a " *** &lt;nickname&gt; : No such nickname " message will auto-magically generate a " /WHOWAS &lt;nickname&gt; " . Try typing " /HELP SET AUTOWHOWAS " for more information on this topic . <p> /AWAY &lt;away message&gt; <p> Leave a message explaining that you are not currently paying attention to IRC . Whenever someone sends you a MSG or does a WHOIS on you , they automatically see whatever message you set . Using AWAY with no parameters marks you as no longer being away . <p> /AWAY Gone to get a cup of coffee . *** You have been marked as being away /AWAY *** You are no longer marked as being away <p> You can use the MSG command , ( usually " M " is an alias for it ) , to send someone a message that only that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a private message to specified nickname . <p> /MSG Nap This message is for Nap only . -&gt; *Nap* This message is for Nap only . On my screen will appear : *YourNick* This message is for Nap only . <p> If you want to send a private message to more than one person , you can specify a list of nicknames separated by commas , ( no spaces ) . <p> /MSG Nap , Sorg This message for both Nap and Sorg. -&gt; *Nap* This message for both Nap and Sorg. -&gt; *Sorg* This message for both Nap and Sorg . <p> Two special case nicknames are defined . If the nickname is " , " ( a comma ) , the message is sent to the last person who sent you a MSG . If the nickname is " . " ( a period ) , the message is sent to the last person to whom you sent a message . <p> You can have a private conversation by only using /MSG . However , typing " /MSG &lt;nick&gt; &lt;text&gt; " or " /MSG . &lt;text&gt; " gets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handy . <p> /QUERY **31;6356;TOOLONG <p> Starts a private conversation with &lt;nickname&gt; . <p> All text you type that would normally be sent to your channel now goes to the supplied nickname in the form of MSGs . To cancel a private conversation , use QUERY with no arguments . <p> There is also another command to send messages , called NOTICE . Unlike MSGs , NOTICEs are surrounded by ' - ' when printed , and no automated responses , ( such as generated by IGNORE or an automaton ) , will be sent in reply . Services , ( robots ) , on IRC often use this form of interaction . <p> Eventually , you may wish some day not to see messages from a specific user on your screen . This may happen when someone is dumping large amounts of garbage , or if someone is harassing you . The proper response to such a behavior is to IGNORE that person . IGNORE is a very powerful command , and can be used in many ways . However the basic usage of this tool is the following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the given people from your screen . IGNORE can be set by nickname or by specifying a userid@hostname format . Wildcards may be used in all formats . Output that can be ignored includes MSGs , NOTICEs , PUBLIC messages , INVITEs , ALL or NONE . Preceding a type with a " - " indicates removal of ignoring of that type of message . <h> 2.3 Channels and Public Conversations <p> On IRC , there are a lot of places where you can " hang out " ; those places are called ' channels ' , ( most of the information in this section can also be obtained by issuing " /HELP CHANNEL " ) . You can compare conversations on a channel to a conversation among a group of people : you see/hear everything that is said , and you can reply to anything that 's said . What you type is received by everyone who 's willing to listen - and everyone who is late will not hear what was said before , unless repeated by one of the ones who were there . ( Who said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IRC have names : a " # " sign followed by some kind of text-string , like " #C++ " or " #Asians " or " #EU-Opers " . Usually , the name of the channel will indicate the type of conversation that 's going on in there . Do n't count on it , though . <p> Table 6 : Channel commands **26;6424;TOOLONG Keyword Action LIST lists channels , number of users , topic NAMES shows the nicknames of the users on each channel JOIN sets your current channel , ( same as CHANNEL ) WHO gives a listing of users INVITE sends an invitation to another user LEAVE leaves a channel , ( same as PART ) KICK gets rid of someone on a channel TOPIC changes the topic of the channel ME sends anything about you to a channel or QUERY DESCRIBE sends anything about you to a person or channel <p> Every channel has certain characteristics , called channel modes . These will also be explained below . Remember the NAMES and LIST commands ; they will show you the names of the existing channels . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ channels " , number of users , and topic . The displayed list may be quite long , so you can limit it using flags . " /LIST -MIN n " for instance removes channels with less than ' n ' users of the output . <p> The CHANNEL command has the same effects . Note that if no parameters are given , your current channel is displayed . <p> Upon entering a channel , you are given useful details about it : list of users talking in that channel , topic ... Joining a channel does not cause you to leave your previous channel unless NOVICE is set to ON . See " /HELP SET NOVICE " . <p> Once in a channel , you may wish to get a detailed list of the people IRCing inside . That 's where the WHO command comes in handy : <p> /WHO **27;6452;TOOLONG expression&gt; <p> Gives a listing of users . " /WHO * " for the list of users in your current channel . <p> The first field is the current channel , then nickname , status , real name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witty comment you can set yourself with the environment variable IRCNAME , ( this will be detailed in section 2.8 ) . Status indicates if a user is " H " ere or " G " one , ( see AWAY ) , if IRCop ( " * " ) , and/or a channel operator ( " @ " ) . <p> It is also possible , when you are already on a channel , to ask someone to join your channel . The command is called INVITE . <p> /INVITE &lt;nickname&gt; &lt;channel&gt; <p> Invites another user to a channel . If no channel is specified , your current channel is used . <p> /INVITE Nap *** Inviting Nap to channel #TwilightZone <p> If you receive an INVITE message , you can type " /JOIN -INVITE " to join the channel to which you were last invited , or simply " /JOIN &lt;channel&gt; " . <p> To leave a channel , just issue a LEAVE command , ( PART has the same effects ) : <p> /LEAVE &lt;channel&gt; <p> Leave a channel . <p> /LEAVE #TwilightZone *** Nap has left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a way to invite someone on a channel , there 's also the possibility to KICK someone out of it , for example if this person is behaving like a jerk , annoying people or flooding the channel with unwanted information : <p> /KICK &lt;channel&gt; &lt;nickname&gt; <p> Kicks named user off a given channel . Only ' channel operators ' are privileged to use this command . <p> /KICK #TwilightZone Target *** Target has been kicked off channel #TwilightZone by Nap <p> Channels have topics , that indicate the current topic of conversation . You can change this topic on a channel with the TOPIC command . <p> /TOPIC &lt;channel&gt; &lt;topic for channel&gt; <p> Changes the topic for the channel . <p> /TOPIC The silent channel . *** Nap has changed the topic on channel #EU-Opers to The silent channel . <p> At times , you may want to send a description of what you are doing or how you are feeling or just anything concerning you to the current channel or query . It is absolutely good style not to forget the period at the end of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ channel or query about what you are doing . You can also use your own nickname as command , i.e. you can type the line with a leading slash . <p> /ME opens up the fridge . * Nap opens up the fridge . /Nap reaches out for the orange juice . * Nap reaches out for the orange juice . <p> The same goal can be achieved towards a specific nickname using : /DESCRIBE **31;6481;TOOLONG &lt;action description&gt; <p> Sends anything concerning you to the &lt;nickname&gt; or &lt;channel&gt; you pass as first argument . <p> ( Note : The look of the result depends on each client version , and might not be exactly the same as in the examples shown here . ) <p> These commands make use of CTCP , a client-to-client protocol crafted to perform specific actions , but not understood by all clients , ( more about CTCP in section 2.5 ) . If you get an error message , your description may not have arrived properly . <h> 2.4 Channel and User Modes <p> Channels can have additional constraints , which can be set by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this section can also be obtained by issuing " /HELP MODE " ) . To understand this , recall that the first person to JOIN a channel effectively creates it and is initially " in charge " of the channel , ( " Channel Operator " or " chanop " ) . S/he can subsequently add those constraints , make other people chanops at leisure . <p> Public is the default mode for a channel . When someone is on a public channel , he can be seen by all other users , ( if his own user mode permits this ) . Anyone can notice users on a public channel and join such a conversation . <p> Private means that , although anyone can see members of such a channel , you ca n't tell what channel they are on unless you are already on that channel with them . They just appear as " Prv : * " in LIST or NAMES . Since the number of potential channels is in the billions , this is quite some security - all you give away is the acknowledgement that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secret channel , someone who is not on the same channel ca n't even see that you are there . Your name does not show up in a LIST of active users . The only indication of your presence is that , when entering IRC , all new users are told that there are " NNNNN users on XXX servers " . If someone checks on all users and finds less than NNNNN of them , he knows that other people are hiding on secret channels . But a secret channel user still can not be found except by brute-force checking through all channels , a hopeless proposition in the face of the huge number of possible channel names . Security through obscurity finally means something . <p> /MODE **31;6514;TOOLONG +-&lt;modechars&gt; &lt;parameters&gt; <p> Allows channel operators to change channel mode , or any user to change their personal mode , ( do n't use this co mmand too often , it floods the net with worthless information ) . <p> A + or - sign determines whether the mode should be added or deleted . Try typing " /HELP MODE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( only chanops can talk ) , secret , private , with a limited number of users , anonymous , invite-only , topic-limited , with a list of banned users . <p> The MODE command also allows you to modify your personal parameters , your " user mode " . You can check your usermode with the command " /MODE &lt;YourNick&gt; " or sometimes " /UMODE " . Note that user mode +i may be the default on some servers , in order to protect privacy of users . This should not be seen as a problem , since any user can change his/her personal mode whatever defaults a server may set . <h> 2.5 Client to Client Protocol <p> /CTCP &lt;argument&gt; <p> Allows you to perform certain client specific actions on the network . <p> /CTCP Nap VERSION *** CTCP VERSION reply from Nap : ircII 2.2 *IX : ircII 2.2 , SL0 The one you thought you 'd never see . This can be used to get information about how long a person has been idle : /CTCP Nap FINGER *** CTCP FINGER reply from Nap : PIOCH @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) Idle 0 seconds <p> There are many other CTCP commands , and new ones are introduced all the time . There is a mechanism for you to find out what you can use : CTCP CLIENTINFO . To find out about your own client services , execute a CLIENTINFO on yourself . <p> If you are interested in this powerful CTCP mechanism , have a look in the various ircII help files . " /HELP CTCP " might tell you more . However the client-to-client protocol has a very powerful feature : Allowing two people to exchange files . <p> To send small text files , electronic mail is probably the best solution , ( do n't rely on the user@host given by the WHOIS command to send mail . However , ircII provides you a way to establish Direct Client Connections ( " DCC " ) to perform functions like sending and receiving files . <p> If NickA wants to send a file to NickB , then NickA should type : " /DCC SEND NickB filename " . On NickB 's screen will appear : " *** DCC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If he , ( NickB ) , wants to get the file , he just needs to type : " /DCC GET NickA filename " <p> A few seconds later *** DCC GET connection with NickA established *** DCC GET filename connection to NickA completed will inform both users that data transfer has been successfully completed . <p> Here 's a quick overview of the subject : /DCC &lt;function&gt; &lt;arguments&gt; <p> Handles direct connections to remote clients . The behaviour of DCC is determined by the specified . <p> /DCC SEND &lt;nickname&gt; &lt;filename&gt; <p> Initiates a file transfer by direct client connection . <p> /DCC GET &lt;nickname&gt; &lt;filename&gt; <p> Accepts a file transfer by direct client connection . The sender must first have offered the file with DCC SEND . <p> /DCC CLOSE &lt;type&gt; &lt;nickname&gt; &lt;arguments&gt; <p> Ends an unwanted DCC connection or offer . The , &lt;nickname&gt; and &lt;arguments&gt; must be the same as those shown by " /DCC LIST " . If the arguments are not supplied , the oldest connection of the specified type is closed . <p> /DCC LIST <p> Shows current /DCC connections with their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be found in ircII online help : try " /HELP DCC " for more information . <p> If someone asks you to send him a file , do n't do it unless you exactly know what you are doing . For instance , NEVER send the password file of your system to anybody . This could grant crackers illegal access to your machines , and put you and your system administrator in a lot of trouble . <p> DCC also allows two clients to establish a direct client connection for chat . This is a secure form of communication , since messages are not sent through the IRC network . <p> /DCC CHAT <p> Initiates a direct client connection chat to the given nick , who must repond with DCC CHAT . Once established , messages are sent over with " /MSG =Nickname ... " . <h> 2.6 Network Related Commands <p> If you encounter any problem , contact your local IRC-Administrator or an IRC-Operator . An IRC-Admin is a person who has access to all files concerning ' ircd ' ( the server program ) . An IRC-Operator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given to him by an IRC-Admin and tries to maintain a fast reliable IRC network . Information on how you can find out who s/he is , can be found below . <p> Each time you are prompted for a server name , remember you can supply the nickname of someone being connected on that server instead . This may be useful at times . <p> Shows a list of servers currently connected to the IRC network . If &lt;wildcard expression&gt; is given , /LINKS asks the given &lt;server&gt; for a list of servers matching the given expression , ( this list can get very long ! ) . <p> Occasionally , you can switch servers faster than the IRC network can send out the information that you have left your previous server . So do n't be surprised if you are told your nickname is already in use ... Just wait a moment and set it with /NICK again . <p> /MOTD &lt;server&gt; <p> Gives the Message-Of-The-Day for the named server . If no server is given , your server is used . <h> 2.8 Further into ircII Wizardry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IRC'ers . <p> Because ircII is not a simple client program , but an Operating System , its programming language is just as simple as you could expect ( it 's horrendous ) , but if you want to get into it , here 's a little note for you . <p> There are a few Unix environment variables you can set in your shell configuration file , but you need to find out your shell name before that . " echo $SHELL " should give you a hint . <p> The command character , ( usually " /irchelp/ " ) , is only necessary when you type commands interactively . When you program things it is no longer needed although it used to be . <p> Table 14 : Advanced commands **27;6576;TOOLONG Keyword Action # same as COMMENT except for the lenght @ performs variable expressions ALIAS creates command aliases ASSIGN creates user variables ( expandable with $ ) BIND binds a keystroke sequence to a function CD changes ircII working directory COMMENT does nothing , but very useful . Strange , uh ? ECHO displays all of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pending output from the server IF standard boolean expression checker LOAD loads an ircII command script file ON sets up actions to occur when certain events happen REDIRECT forwards the output from a command SAVE saves all ircII settings into a file SAY same as sending text to a channel SEND same as sending text to a channel SET sets a variable to a given value SLEEP suspends ircII for a few seconds TYPE simulates keystrokes WAIT waits for all server output to finish WHILE another control command to make loops WINDOW lets you manipulate multiple " windows " in ircII XECHO like ECHO , but takes flag arguments <p> If you want to type to the channel from within an ALIAS or on BINDing , you have to use SAY or SEND . <p> The " ; " has a special meaning in ALIASes , BINDings and ONs : it 's treated as command separator , that means you can execute multiple commands in a row separated by semicolons . The semicolons are not considered separators when you use them interactively , ( to be able to type " @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ script file . You can escape the meaning of " ; " in an ALIAS with " ; " . <p> When you use ircII on a ( semi ) regular basis , you will discover that every time you start the program you will issue the same initialization sequence . If that is the case , I have good news for you : you do n't have to do that anymore ! ircII will , at startup , load a file called " . ircrc " , ( full path : $HOME/.ircrc ) . It will treat each line in that file as if you typed it manually . <p> For example , if the content of your . ircrc file is : <p> JOIN #TwilightZone <p> then each time you will start IRC , you will join this channel . <p> Advanced commands may come in handy if you need them . Feel free to browse in ircII online help to find out more about them . A few of them are probably worth learning . <h> 2.10 Writing automatons <p> An automaton , ( also called robot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the IRC network to provide services . Many people try to set that up with a few ircII commands like : <p> on msg " % help " notice $0 This is LameBot 1.0 <p> However , you should know that setting up an automaton using ircII ON facilities is quick and dirty , and should be reserved for robots that rely on ircII specific features such as DCC ( file servers for instance ) . Writing a program in C , perl or any decent programming language should take longer in the beginning , but your efforts will be rewarded . You can download skeletons of such programs on some ftp sites that keep IRC related stuff ( check in the Frequently Asked Questions part ) . <p> Although most robots-writers believe they have created a " smart thing " , 99% of the robots online happen to be a nuisance to the IRC community , because a few simple rules were not respected by their owners . The main idea is that robots should neither be seen nor heard : <p> automatons should be clearly identified as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or " srv " in their nickname . <p> they should use NOTICES to communicate with the rest of the world , and not reply to NOTICES they get . <p> they should be able to always be killed ( craziness is a frequent disease among robots ) . <p> they should be able to be killed remotely by their owner via IRC . <p> they should not give access to their owner 's real files , ( bandits have already been able to crack people 's accounts through their robots ) . <p> they should not send messages to channels ( unless the channel is dedicated to that robot ) . <p> they should not flood channels with MODE changes . Basically , if you have such a command as : <p> And this will get boring very soon , so do n't be surprised if such robots get banned from most channels . A good kludge is to wait until someone asks explicitly the robot to be opped on a channel . This could be : <p> For Unix machines , you either compile the source yourself , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for you . The current " official " ircII release is version 2.2.1 . That means that it is said to be quite bugfree ( Hehe , you never know ... ) In addition to this " official " distribution , you may find preversions of the client to come floating around , for people who like to track down bugs and taste things to come . However , you should be aware of that those clients are being worked on , and may not have all features working properly . <p> You now have to go into ircII2.2.1 and read the files explaining how to achieve a successful installation . Have a look at README and INSTALL , edit config.h to define DEFAULTSERVER , edit Makefile to define INSTALLEXECUTABLE , IRCIILIBRARY and the C compiler you will be using , then type make install and wait . <p> If you ca n't set up a client on any local machine , you can still use any telnet client : <p> This is by no means , a comprehensive list , but merely a start . Connect to the closest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you are in Europe , #EU-Opers . When you are there , immediately ask what you want . Do n't say " I have a question " because then everyone will ignore you until you say it a few times , and then they 'll jump down your throat and rip your lungs out . No one knows if he can answer your question until you ask it . <h> 3.3 What are good channels to try while using IRC ? <p> #Hottub and #riskybus are almost always teeming with people . #Hottub is meant to simulate a hot tub , and #riskybus is a non-stop quiz show similar to Jeopardy . Just join the fun and find out ! ( German users may try channels named after German university towns ... ) <p> Many IRC Operators are in #TwilightZone , while European Operators congregate in #EU-Opers . So if you join an Operator channel and do n't hear much talking , do n't worry ; it 's not because you joined . Operators do n't talk much on such channels anyways ! <h> 3.4 How do I get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you send using control chars : parts of text surrounded by control-b ( B ) will appear in video reverse to most ircII users for instance . However the appearance of such effects relies on the terminal abilities of the user you 're writing to . <p> In some cases keys are already bound to something . For instance , B is normally bound to BACKWARDCHARACTER , so you will need to define a " quote-character " key : just enter " /BIND W QUOTECHARACTER " then " /BIND WB SELFINSERT " and it may work . <h> 3.5 What if someone tells me to type something cryptic ? <p> NEVER type anything anyone tells you to without knowing what it is . There is a problem with typing a certain command with the ircII client that gives anyone immediate control of your client , ( and thus can alter your account environment also ) . Look in the ircII on-line help each time you can . <h> 3.6 I get strange characters on my screen , what are they ? <p> IRC has quite a few people from Scandinavian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supposed to support the ISO Latin-1 8-bit character set , but your client must be able to display them . ) This has been explained on IRC about a thousand and one times , so read the following , do not ask it on IRC : <p> Table 19 : Nordic countries character translations **40;6605;TOOLONG ... Character Description , ' a ' with two dots over it , ' a ' with a small circle above it , ' o ' with two dots over it , or a dash ( " /irchelp/ " ) through it ( " " , " " , and " " = upper case ) <p> In addition to that , Japanese IRC'ers use a special ANSI escape control sequences to transmit their Kanji alphabet . This may also look funny if you get some of it . Here 's a sample : $B$ ? $K$7$B ; $m$K# ( nice , uh ? ) <h> 3.7 What about NickServ ? <p> To quote from NickServ 's help text , NickServ 's purpose is to help avoiding nickname confusions on IRC . There 's no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sends a warning to anyone else who signs on with your nickname . If you do n't use IRC for 10 weeks , your nickname registration expires for reuse . <p> Only a NickServ operator can change your NickServ password . To find out which NickServ operators are on-line , send : <p> /MSG NickServ@Service.de OPERWHO <p> Nicknames with a " * " next to them are online at the time . <p> Note : As of this writing , NickServ is down and it is uncertain when or if it will return . <h> 3.9 How do I get rid of a ghosted IRC session ? <p> Sometimes you may have a " ghosted " IRC session , a process still running on your machine you would like to get rid of , but ca n't control anymore to issue a QUIT command . Going back to a unix shell , try listing your processes : ( " ps -ux " or " ps -f " depending on your system ) <p> Locate the line about your lost IRC session , ( irc should appear in the COMMAND field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process number , second field of the line here ) . In this example the PID is 25634 , as shown here : <p> All you then need to type is " kill -KILL " or " kill -9 " immediatly followed by the PID found above : " kill -kill 25634 " here . <p> You can get more details about the commands involved here in the standard unix manual , ( " man 1 ps " or " man 1 kill " ) . <p> If your machine crashed , and your nick is still in use on the IRC network , you 'll have to wait 4 to 5 minutes for your server to recognize the fact . Getting an Operator to kill the ghost is almost never necessary , just sign on as another nickname and wait for the " Ping timeout " or " Bad link " message , then you can change your nick back . <h> 3.10 About KILL usage <p> KILL is a command restricted to IRC-Operators to deal with protocol errors heavily reducing the IRC network functionality . It 's to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> KILL should never interfere with channel-operator status . <p> If you op someone on a channel , you take the consequences . If someone joins #Whatever , you op them , then they kick everyone and lock the channel with some " Mode change +ib * ! *@* " , then suffer it : it 's your fault , do n't go whining to an IRC-op to fix it . If a channel is locked , you should start a new one . <p> Effective methods to deal with obnoxious people are IGNORE , KICK and various MODEs on channels , such as +i and/or +b . <p> If you have been unjustifiably killed by an IRC-Operator abusing his power to gain illegal channel-operator status for instance , yell ! Mail a log to his server IRC-Administrator , ( see ADMIN ) , join #TwilightZone or #EU-Opers for European-related problems , and explain what happened . <h> 3.11 Where can I find more ? <p> Should your question not be listed above , you may want to check the " Frequently Unasked Questions " , ( FUQ ) list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replies to : <p> &lt;lamer1&gt;&gt; Are there any good FTP sites ? ( 1 ) &lt;lamer2&gt; How do I join a channel ? &lt;lamer3&gt; How do I become an IRCop ? <p> If you have access to Usenet News , ( usually through a program called rn , trn , xrn or nn ) , you may want to join alt.irc debates , flamings and whinings . <p> You can also join various IRC related mailing lists . " Operlist " discusses current ( and past ) server code , routing and protocol . Mail operlist-request@eff.org to join . Another mailing list , ircd-three@eff.org exists to discuss protocol revisions for the 3.0 release of ircd , currently in planning . Mail **26;6647;TOOLONG to be added to that . There is also low-traffic mailing-lists for ircII vmsirc and irchat clients . <h> 4 . ADMINISTRATIVIA <h> 4.1 Revision history <p> This is version 1.1 of this paper . Version 1.0 of the IRCprimer was released in postscript form in June 1992 because I was sick of people asking for an IRC or ircII manual ( and it was a good way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rasmussen did a very nice text conversion of the paper . Due to the support and many remarks I got , a new version is finally completed ( special thanks to Olaf Titz ! ) , along with Owe 's plain ascii conversion . <p> The primer is available in 3 formats : <p> IRCprimer.ps.Z : Postscript version <p> IRCprimer.txt : Plain text version <p> IRCprimer.tex.Z : Source code . <h> 4.2 Release sites for the IRCprimer <p> The latest version of the primer can be found on the following ftp sites , thanks to their admins : <h> 4.3 Copyright ( C ) 1993 Nicolas PIOCH <p> This manual is free ; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation ; either version 2 of the license , or ( at your option ) any later version . <p> This manual is distributed in the hope that it will be useful , but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY ; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE . See the GNU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with

@@5055141 <p> Recently this YouTube clip about some British guys going to Tunisia to fix up Luke Skywalker 's house made the Internet rounds , which raised the question -- what the heck was Luke Skywalker 's house doing still standing ? Did n't they take down all the Star Wars sets they built in Tunisia after they were done filming ? The answer is no . Basically all the Tatooine sets were just built out in the middle of the desert , so hey , what the f--k , once they were done filming they just left them . <p> Not only are most of the sets still standing , but people have moved into many of them . The set for Mos Espa , Anakin Skywalker 's hometown from Episode I now has several residents , and the " underground " portion of Luke Skywalker 's house from Episode IV is now a hotel . <p> Hit the jump to check out a couple videos of a guy wandering these now-inhabited Star Wars sets ... <h> UPROXX Best of The Web <p> My dad worked with the owner of land in Borrego Springs where they built the Air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ " . The agreement was the landowner would tear down the sets , so I got to visit the set before he did it . I remember being astonished that it was n't a concrete hanger but just wood with textured paint . Anywho , makes wonder if a lot of sets are left for landowners to tear down . " Damnation Alley " was supposed to be the big SF movie for Fox instead of " Star Wars " in ' 77 ... so , yeah . Okay , grandpa is done telling pointless stories for the day and will go back to monitoring his yard to

@@5055241 <h> Bookmark <h> High Energy Physics - Theory <h> Title : Comments on black holes I : The possibility of complementarity <p> Abstract : We comment on a recent paper of Almheiri , Marolf , Polchinski and Sully who argue against black hole complementarity based on the claim that an infalling observer burns ' as he approaches the horizon . We show that in fact measurements made by an infalling observer outside the horizon are statistically identical for the cases of vacuum at the horizon and radiation emerging from a stretched horizon . This forces us to follow the dynamics all the way to the horizon , where we need to know the details of Planck scale physics . We note that in string theory the fuzzball structure of microstates does not give any place to continue through ' this Planck regime . AMPS argue that interactions near the horizon preclude traditional complementarity . But the conjecture of fuzzball complementarity ' works in the opposite way : the infalling quantum is absorbed by the fuzzball surface , and it is the

@@5055341 <h> Commodores Girl I Think The World About You Lyrics The World About You Lyrics <p> total views : 2 times this week . You can i think the world about you for easy viewing , send it to your friends or rate the song song become popular . If you have any corrections for these lyrics or any ideas about the meaning to girl i think the world about you , please feel free to submit them . <p> Girl , I Think The World About You The Commodores Composiao : Indisponvel <p> Sweet little woman ca n't you see that you 're the only one for me you make me feel good , so good inside stay by me woman for the rest of my life and as I think of you more every day There 's only one thing I can say and that 's : <p> thinkin ' of you Girl , I think the world about you I 'm always thinkin ' of you <p> So many wonders in your world it seems , you 're the picture of a woman - a little girl 's dream , From : http : **35;456;TOOLONG ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you make a man like me finally to belong , no words can say how much I need you so , but oh my love I want the world to know <p> thinkin ' of you Girl , I think the world about you I 'm always thinkin ' of you <p> There 's no words to say how much I need you so , but oh sweet girl I want the world to know <p> thinkin ' of you Girl , I think

@@5055441 <p> COLUMBIA , Mo . -- Texas Gov . Rick Perry touted his support for Missouri Republican attorney general candidate Ed Martin during a meeting with supporters in Columbia . <p> Perry , a former presidential hopeful who once led the Republican Governors Association , said Missouri is an " important state " for those fighting national conservative battles , and urged Republicans to support candidates like Martin . <p> During a brief interview , Perry said his endorsement came from meeting with Martin and getting to know he and his family . <p> " This is the kind of person that you want to see in public office that gets it , " Perry said , noting Martin 's opposition to the federal health care law and promise to challenge federal rules . " Having an attorney general in Missouri that can be a friend of Greg Abbott -- the attorney general of the state of Texas that pushed back on Washington , D.C. , and create that synergy of multiple states pushing back on bad policy . " <p> Perry was critical of Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster 's slowness to act in opposition to the individual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . <p> Martin said " it 's never been more important than it is now to win these races , " and urged supporters to fight through the end of this election season . <p> Perry was another in a series of high profile Republicans who have flown in to Missouri to support Martin 's candidacy . Last week , Florida Sen. Marco Rubio visited St. Louis in support of Martin 's candidacy . The fundraising event drew support from August and Steven Busch , Norm Stewart , Fran Fraschilla , and Tim Drury . <p> Part of that may be due to Martin 's role for the party this year . Martin is leading the party 's ' Victory ' effort , a coordinated effort with the Romney campaign , Republican National Committee , and Missouri Republican Party to get Republicans elected up and down the ballot . <p> Another part is the strategic importance for the party of beating Koster , likely one of the strongest

@@5055541 <p> " You tell me where we 'll start , where we 're going , where we 're going afterwards . I give you five minutes when we get there . Anything happens in that five minutes and I 'm yours no matter what . Anything a minute either side of that , you 're on your own . I do n't sit in while you 're running it down ;

@@5055641 <h> Review from Jay W. <p> These people ripped off a family member on a couple of consignment pieces . Same deal as the other consignor/reviewer . They got a few pieces in the store and when no word came after a few weeks , they disavowed any knowledge ( played stupid ) when phone inquiries were made as to status . IMO they intentionally try to frustrate sellers hoping they will eventually just become disheartened and give up . Anyway another family member went in to look for the pieces after several weeks of runaround . One was MISSING , the other was marked SOLD . They claimed the missing one had been given away to charity even though the contract floor time had n't expired ! <h> Review from martin c . <p> Brutal experience . This started out ok and went south fast . Bob or Rob I forgot his name came by one day to see what I was hoping to get rid of &; I told him what I had hoped on getting or at least asking and we agreed on some # 's . I told him that if he had a ny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call . Well I had nt heard from them in about 6 weeks and did nt get either of my calls returned and it turns out that they decided to sell my things for whatever they felt like without consulting me the customer.They were also told to consult me prior to lowering any prices which they did not . The worst was they sold a cherry top table that was refinished a year ago and beautiful they aledgedly sold for $39.00 opposed to the $250 asking price we had discussed . Fot that price $19 that i got I would have broke it up and put it in my fire pit . They paid me 6 weeks after the last piece sold and kept reitterating that nobody every has had any complaints , i find that hard to beleive . They Suck ! ! ! <h> Review from Liz C. <p> I loved this place . You can tell when people love what they do . I bought multiple pieces from them . Their merchandise is well cared for and from smoke free homes . I was very happy with @ @ @ @ @ @ @

@@5055741 <p> " Hypnotic layered melodies , haunting songs , rich metaphors -- you could describe a lot of indie rock bands with these words , including San Francisco 's Grass Widow , but what really matters is if the band uses these characteristics to create songs that are actually good . Where Grass Widow stands out is in their tendency to strip back . A tambourine , some snare drum , a few double tracked guitars and the heavily harmonized vocals of all three members , Hannah Lew , Raven Mahon , and Lillian Maring , are all that Grass Widow need to transmit their post-punk infused personal narratives . The band released a self titled record in 2009 , followed by a few EPs and 2010 's Past Time . This week the trio released their latest record , Internal Logic ( you can stream it for free at Stereogum.com ) , which uses minimalism as a foundation for psychedelic , guitar based surf rock tunes perfect for a day by the pool baking in the sun . " - cory perla <p> Grass Widow performed with opening band All of Them Witches last night ( May 31 @ @ @ @

@@5055841 <p> Although I appreciate your sharing this webpage with your friends , family , and co-workers via social networks , I would appreciate it even more if you shared this webpage with my ex girlfriend who broke up with me because she thought I was a

@@5055941 <h> Some Aurora theater shooting victims left out of distribution of donation fund money <p> Twenty-two victims of the Aurora theater shooting will be left out of the settlement involving millions of dollars in donations which rolled in from around the world . <p> " I had many friends and family that sent me money to help with my medical issues , " said Marcus Weaver who was hit by two bullets during a rampage authorities say James Holmes was responsible for . " I did n't stay overnight in a hospital , so the administrator of the 7/20 fund says I do n't qualify for any of the funds , even though I told people to donate not to me , but to the fund so all the victims could share in the compensation . " <p> Weaver spent about eight hours in Parker Adventist Hospital the night he was shot ... the night his girlfriend was shot and killed . He decided since his wounds would wait for treatment , and because some were in worse shape , he went home and went back for treatment when things calmed down . <p> His act of kindness may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group of 22 who were shot and/or wounded but will not get any of the donation funds , simply because they did n't stay overnight in the hospital . <p> " There is a website on change.org which is asking the Governor and Administrator to reevaluate the payoff for victims , " said Weaver . <p> " I have been in and out of hospitals for weeks , my arm may never be right but I am not eligible for any of the funds , even those which were donated to help with all my medical bills . " <p> The operations manager at Bud 's Home Improvement says he feels like his faith in God will get him by , but having money to help with medical bills would really help . <p> Tim Smith gathered money from vendors he works with at his construction company . He is upset Weaver wo n't be included in the donation pay-out . <p> " I just think it 's a shame what they are doing to Marcus and 21 others , " Smith said . " They should rethink what 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to tell people in favor of seeking an injunction to stop the checks from being sent out , that they should instead petition the Governor to " have a heart at the holidays "

@@5056041 <p> All That Can Be Shaken by Essie Collins ( a pseudonym ) is a moving true story of a family 's struggle with a tragedy that shakes their lives and their faith . Essie 's idyllic life is torn apart when her once joyful and exuberant husband , Stephen , is stricken with a deep depression . His suicidal tendencies force Essie to seek professional help . After shock treatment and a barrage of medications , Stephen becomes severely mentally ill , diagnosed as bi-polar and schizophrenic . Essie 's story will take you through the horrors her family endures as they become prey to a society that is largely unsympathetic and unequipped to help . <p> Theme song for this audio book is " Silver Shine " by Dan-O . Cover image photography by Sarah G. <p> I also am not a Christian , but I did enjoy this book . Yes , sometimes the religous comparisons got a bit heavy handed , but if you can see accept that this is a par of the book , you 'll see that Essie has a valuable story to tell . Essie , thank you for ... <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the story would be told from the perspective of my faith . Since my faith obviously bothers you , I wonder why you would continue listening to my story in the first place . I am also interested in how you determined from " very ... <p> Dottie , Thank you for your words of encouragement . The book has been published but regrettfully , the publisher has horribly overpriced it . We still retain the audio rights , so Podiobooks gives me the opportunity to share the story to as many as who want to read it , without cost . For that , ... <p> I really tried to give this book a good shot and listen to several episodes . In the end though I had to give up and delete the entire thing . I could n't bear to listen to the author continue to repeatedly and consistently make poor decisions . It was clear from very ... <p> I am a retired nurse and reading this book . Even though I have only just finished episode 6 , I want to let you all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writing also to ask that the author consider making this book available , for sale or free , authors ... <p> CHAPTER 2 : Plunging Even Deeper . " By late October and early November of 1995 , Stephen 's depression was completely overtaking him ... " CHAPTER 3 : The Realm of Professional Help . " Stephen arrived home euphoric . With wild energy , he bustled around trying to ' get things in order ' ... " <p> CHAPTER 3 ( continued ) : The Realm of Professional Help . " Most of all , I wanted to prove to Stephen that I loved him in the way God intended us to love our spouses , unconditionally ... " CHAPTER 4 : Pressing into the Almighty . " By May , I could see this separation would be more long-term than I dreamed ... " <p> CHAPTER 4 ( continued ) : Pressing into the Almighty . " The Jensons were wonderfully gracious about sharing their home , but as a mother and an adult woman , I was longing for a home of my own so Daniel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again ... " <p> CHAPTER 6 : Gathering the Pieces . " On Christmas eve , I called Stephen to tell him my mother said they still loved him and that he was welcome to join us at her house on Christmas Day ... " CHAPTER 7 : Aggression , Injustice , and Terror . " We prayed that the four-wheeling gang on their ATV 's , had gotten tired of the path that encircled us ... " <p> CHAPTER 7 ( continued ) : Aggression , Injustice and Terror . " Another time , Stephen and I had gone to bed late , on a Sunday night . It was 1:30 AM and I had to get up for work at 6:00 . Suddenly our rest was disrupted ... " <p> CHAPTER 7 ( continued ) : Aggression , Injustice and Terror . " In former times , we had worked hard to get along with our neighbors . Sam especially ... " CHAPTER 8 : The Toll of Strife . " The turmoil with the neighbors and the injustice of the court and judge were taking a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued ) : The Toll of Strife . " One evening I entered the house , alarmed to hear a war going on between Stephen and Daniel ... " CHAPTER 9 : Weeping and Mourning . " I called Stephen from my break room at work , on September 11 , 2001 to tell him of the toppling of the World Trade Towers ... " <p> CHAPTER 10 : Walking Through the Vale of Tears : " I gazed sorrowfully at the organ that so troubled his life , yet was so vital to Stephen 's existence , and longed for a way to put him back together ... " CHAPTER 11 : Friends in the Night . " As winter progressed , the lonely evenings were unbearable ... " <p> CHAPTER 11 ( continued ) : Friends in the Night . " When I opened his page , I was overwhelmed , not so much by the sweet-smiling face of the man , as I was by the adorable little Asian girl , with her tiny arm placed lovingly around his neck ... " <p> This is Vic Zarley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ books I have either produced , narrated or written . I want you to hear them all ! Go to the Podiobooks.com home page and key my name into the search field in the upper

@@5056141 <p> What it is : A peel concentrate for the under eye area that offers a natural , gentle antidote to dark circles and fine lines . <p> What it is formulated to do : Created by Ole Henriksen ( skin guru to the stars ) to address the specific needs of the eye region ? specifically signs of fatigue and age ? this exfoliating formula will revolutionize skincare for the under eye region . Because the tissue around the eye is so fragile , it is often recommended NOT to exfoliate that area . This groundbreaking blend represents a new realm of possibility for more youthful skin around the eyes . <p> What it is : A peel concentrate for the under eye area that offers a natural , gentle antidote to dark circles and fine lines . <p> What it is formulated to do : Created by Ole Henriksen ( skin guru to the stars ) to address the specific needs of the eye region ? specifically signs of fatigue and age ? this exfoliating formula will revolutionize skincare for the under eye region . Because the tissue around the eye is so fragile , it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blend represents a new realm of possibility for more youthful skin around the eyes . <p> Suggested Usage : -Apply daily/nightly in a thin layer around the orbital bone , avoiding the lid . -Follow with Total Truth ? Eye Crme SPF 15. -Must use SPF on top for day . <p> Precautions : -This product should always be used in conjunction with a protective eye cream . -It is not recommended to use this product when you plan to be exposed to direct sunlight for a long period of time . -Product should be used every other day during the first week for optimum results . <p> Certain items considered Hazardous Materials ( HAZMAT ) including aerosols and alcohol-based products ( e.g. , pressurized spray cans , hairspray , nail polish remover , nail polish etc. ) are required by the U.S. Department of Transportation to be shipped by Ground-only transport , due to air transport restrictions and regulations . For these shipments , you will need to choose UPS Ground , or USPS Ground in Checkout , for shipments in the continental United States . For P.O. Box @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . Regrettably , these items can not be shipped to either Alaska or Hawaii . <h> Shipping Costs &; Delivery Returns <p> Sephora.com offers FREE STANDARD 3 DAY SHIPPING on all U.S. merchandise orders $50 and over ( excluding taxes ) . For shipments totaling less than $50 , there is a delivery charge of $5.95 for Standard 3 Day shipping or $5.95 for UPS Ground . Our standard shipping option is Standard 3 Day shipping . Orders over $50 always ship for free -- no promotion code needed . <h> Business Days <p> Monday -- Sunday , excluding federal holidays within the United States . Standard 3 Day shipping UPS 2nd Day Air and UPS Next Day Air Saver : Orders must be placed by 12pm Eastern Standard Time ( EST ) to be processed on the same business day . <h> Processing Time <p> Orders will process in one day including Saturday and Sunday . All expedited priority orders must be placed by 12 noon Eastern Standard Time ( EST ) to be processed on the same business day . If placed after this , your order will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alaska <p> For shipments to Hawaii and Alaska , we offer USPS Priority and UPS 2nd Day Air and Next Day Air services . <h> Canada <p> For shipments to Canada , we offer UPS WorldShip for $9.95 . We do not ship to Canadian P.O. Boxes . <h> APO/FPO/DPO Military Addresses <p> All shipments to APO , FPO , and DPO addresses are sent via USPS Priority . Due to military handling time , delivery to some destinations may take up to 21 days . <h> P.O. Boxes <p> If you are shipping to a U.S. P.O. Box , we offer USPS Priority and USPS Ground ( Parcel Post ) Services . If your shipment contains hazardous materials , you must use USPS Ground ( Parcel Post ) . We do not ship to Canadian P.O. Boxes . <h> Multiple Shipping Addresses <p> At this time , you can only ship to one address per order . To ship to multiple addresses , call Customer Service for assistance at 1-877-SEPHORA ( 1-877-737-4672 ) . <h> Shipping Outside the United States <p> Sephora.com ships to all 50 U.S. states and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( such as Guam ) is unavailable at this time . <h> Shipping &; Billing Addresses <p> For U.S. orders and shipping , you must have both a shipping address and credit card billing address within the United States or Puerto Rico , or an APO/FPO/DPO address . For Canadian orders and shipping , you must have both a shipping address and credit card billing address in Canada . <h> Tracking Orders <p> When your order is ready to be shipped , you will receive a shipment confirmation e-mail . The majority of our orders are shipped within 1-2 business days after the order has been placed . The e-mail will contain shipment details , your tracking number , and a link to the selected carrier site . You can click on the tracking number located near the bottom of the e-mail to track your order . To track an order on Sephora.com , visit the My Account area . You will need to sign in to access your account information . You may also call Sephora 's Customer Service at to track your order . <h> Hazardous Materials <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and alcohol-based products ( e.g. , pressurized spray cans , hairspray , nail polish remover , nail polish , etc. ) and are required by the U.S. Department of Transportation to be shipped by Ground-only transport due to air transport restrictions and regulations . For these shipments , we offer UPS Ground at $5.95 and USPS Ground ( Parcel Post ) at $5.95 . Our P.O. Box customers should select USPS Ground ( Parcel Post ) at $5.95 . We are unable to ship HAZMAT

@@5056241 <h> Elizabeth Smart Reveals The Horror Of Being Raped By Captor <h> 10 years after she was raped and kidnapped for nine months , Elizabeth Smart reveals she felt ' dirty and filthy ' after being captured in Utah . Her story is chilling . <p> Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped out of her Utah home , raped and held hostage for nine months when she was only 14-years-old in 2002 . Now , 10 years later , the 24-year-old survivor is married and speaks out as a victims ' advocate . <p> During a Law Day Luncheon sponsored by the Palm Beach County Bar Association in Florida May 4 , Elizabeth ( joined by her husband ) revealed what it felt like to go through her trying ordeal . <p> " I said , ' If you are just going to rape and murder me , would you please do it here so my family can find my remains ? ' because I wanted them to know that I did n't run away , " she said of being captured . " He turned to me and said , ' I 'm not going to do that to you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ " I had about a million and one things going through my head , but something inside me said , ' Elizabeth , if you ever want to escape , you need to listen to what he 's saying . ' I did n't think there was anything more that could shock me , but the words that I heard next , I could n't believe . He said , ' I hereby seal you to me as my wife before God and his angels as my witnesses . ' My only reaction was to scream out , ' No . ' He said , ' If you ever scream out like that , I will kill you . ' ... Then he forced me down and raped me . " <p> Elizabeth said , " I 'll never forget how dirty and filthy , and how I lost all my self-worth in seconds . It would be better if he killed me now , so I do n't have to live with this . ... I ended up falling asleep with those thoughts . " <p> Against all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nine months . She said her mom gave her words of advice that helped her reintegrate into society . <p> " The morning after I came home , my mother said , ' This man has taken nine months of your life . Do n't give him another minute . The best punishment for him is for you to be happy and follow your dreams , ' " she remembered . <p> " I 'm not going to let it define who I am . People may know me as Elizabeth Smart , the girl who was kidnapped and survived . But once they talk to me , I hope they realize I 'm more than that . I have a great life . I 've got a great family . I 've got a great husband . I love music . I love horses . I love helping other people realize they do n't have to let their life be ruined by what 's happened to them . " <p> To educate and help prevent crimes against kids , Elizabeth started The Elizabeth Smart Foundation . We applaud her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Comment <p> John Granschmidt <p> Posted at 1:55 AM on October 30 , 2012 <p> What I 'm wondering is how she was able to get married after being raped by that guy . How was she able to find a man willing to marry a girl , who had been repeatedly raped by a big hairy mormon wookie ? I would

@@5056341 <h> Get Me to the Living Room on Time ( 29 Jan. 1989 ) <p> Steven struggles for an idea for his next documentary . When Andy has his new friends visit , the Keatons find out the friends are from the retirement home . Steven sees this as his idea . When Joseph proposes to Eva , his son protests . <h> Storyline <p> Steven struggles for an idea for his next documentary . When Andy has his new friends visit , the Keatons find out the friends are from the retirement home . Steven sees this as his idea . When Joseph proposes to Eva , his son protests . <h> Details <h> <h> Company Credits <h> Technical Specs <h> Aspect Ratio : <h> Did You Know ? <h> Trivia <p> The title comes from the song Get Me To The Church On Time from the Lerner and Loewe musical/movie My Fair Lady which was adapted from he G.B. Shaw play Pygmalion . The original Broadway production opened at the Mark Hellinger Theater in New York on March 15 , 1956 , and ran for 2717 performances , which was , at the time , the longest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ production is still the **26;14969;TOOLONG production in Broadway history . The show won the 1957 Tony Award

@@5056441 <p> They may not have won it all , but a ninth-place finish out of 114 teams from 30 states is n't half bad . <p> The Northwest Blaze 's experience in the ASA 14U National Softball Championships last week confirmed the team 's status as one of the best in the nation . <p> " It 's not bad at all , " Blaze head coach Chris Kelly said . " I 'm really proud of them . They worked hard all winter . " <p> Kelly said the players were able to shake off a disappointing third-place finish in the Oregon ASA State Tournament July 13-15 to turn in a solid showing at nationals . <p> " It shows their character , " Kelly said . " I think they were really disappointed in their performance that day . They reevaluate their goals after every tournament , and they really responded . " <p> The Blaze , a summer all-star team made up of 12 players from eight Portland-area high schools , including Glencoe , Liberty , Banks and Westview , finished the eight-day tournament in Sioux Falls , S.D. with a 5-3 record and the top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three loses were to the teams that finished second , third and seventh in the tournament . <p> To quantify the depth of competition in the tournament , Kelly said the team from Houston , Texas , called Sudden Impact , draws from the 200-plus high schools in the megacity . <p> " Some of the bigger states , it was a little bit intimidating , " Banks freshman-to-be MaKenna Partain said . " They have a lot of players to choose from . You knew they were going to be good when they were from Texas . " <p> The tournament started with pool play , with the Blaze drawing their opening game July 30 against Impact Gold of Texas . Despite Mariah Mulcahy , sophomore-to-be at St. Helens , allowing just two hits and striking out eight , Impact Gold , which ultimately finished third overall , won 3-0 . <p> The Blaze won their next pool play game , 7-2 , against Wellington Wild of Florida on July 31 to advance to the winner 's bracket . In that game , Partain hit a grand slam to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Macy Besuyen was also 3 for 4 with a run batted in as the Blaze banged out nine hits in the game . <p> In a first-round game in the winner 's bracket on Aug. 1 , the Blaze pounded out 16 hits in an 18-0 rout of Brandon Rage of South Dakota . Banks sophomore Madison Soper had four RBIs , while Mulcahy and Westview freshman Abby Greer combined in the circle for the shutout . <p> In the second round later in the day Aug. 1 , the Blaze beat Sizzle Blue , the Nebraska state champion , 7-3 . Soper and Liberty sophomore Kelly Meeuwsen each went 2 for 3 , while Partain led off the scoring with a bases loaded triple in the first inning . <p> The Blaze continued to advance in the winner 's bracket with a 7-2 victory Aug. 3 over the Katy Cruisers of Texas . Meeuwsen and Partain each went 3 for 4 at the plate in the victory . <p> The Blaze got their fourth winner 's bracket victory the next day with another rout , 9-0 against Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11-hit outburst with a two-run home run . <p> " I thought we would do pretty well , " said Partain , who noted that a number of players were battling nagging injuries . " We knew as we went on it would get tougher and tougher . I was pretty happy . I think we could have done a lot better , but it was a really good start for our first nationals . " <p> The victory over Texas Fusion matched the Blaze against Team Arizona in the next round on Aug. 4 , which ended in a 12-1 defeat to drop the Blaze into the loser 's bracket . Team Arizona finished as the tournament 's runner up . <p> The Blaze 's tournament run ended later that day in a 7-1 loss to Texas Sudden Impact . <p> But it was n't all business for the Blaze . <p> Players were able to do some sightseeing , which included a trip the Great Plains Zoo , go shopping and meet players from other teams . <p> " It was pretty cool , " Partain said . @ @ @ @ @ @ @

@@5056541 <h> Storyline <p> Tom encounters Cynthia Kurland of the Female Freedom Foundation , a women 's liberation organization . An extremist , Cynthia is bold , forthright , direct , pushy , and also very beautiful . Compliments and pampering she sees as condescension . Cynthia wants Tom to do a story on women 's lib for the magazine , which he considers . Mutually attracted to each other , they decide to mix business and pleasure , with Cynthia taking on the traditionally male role of paying for checks , pulling out seats , opening doors and sending gifts . Tom does n't mind the role reversal , but admittedly he does feel slightly nervous around Cynthia as he does n't quite enjoy the role reversal concerning the sexual aggression . Ultimately , Tom gets turned off by Cynthia 's game playing , as he does n't know what is real is what is a game . He convinces her that perhaps she takes the games too far and that men and women are not equal in every sense : they

@@5056641 <h> What Is Yom Kippur ? <h> The Jewish High Holiday of Yom Kippur <p> Yom Kippur ( the Day of Atonement ) is one of two Jewish High Holy Days . The first High Holy Day is Rosh Hashanah ( the Jewish New Year ) . Yom Kippur falls ten days after Rosh Hashanah on the 10th of Tishrei , which is a Hebrew month that correlates with September-October on the secular calendar . The purpose of Yom Kippur is to bring about reconciliation between people and between individuals and God . According to Jewish tradition , it is also the day when God decides the fate of each human being . <p> Although Yom Kippur is an intense holiday it is nevertheless viewed as a happy day . Why ? Because if one has observed the holiday properly by the end of Yom Kippur they will have made peace with others and with God . <h> Teshuvah ( Repentance ) <p> Yom Kippur is a day of reconciliation , when Jews strive to make amends with people and to draw closer to God through prayer and fasting . The ten days leading up to Yom Kippur are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period Jews are encouraged to seek out anyone they may have offended and to sincerely request forgiveness so that the New Year can begin with a clean slate . If the first request for forgiveness is rebuffed , one should ask for forgiveness at least two more times , at which point the person whose forgiveness is being sought should grant the request . The rabbis thought it was cruel for anyone to withhold their forgiveness for offenses that had not caused irrevocable damage . Learn more about teshuvah . <p> This process of repentance is called teshuvah and it is a crucial part of Yom Kippur . Although many people think that transgressions from the previous year are forgiven through prayer , fasting and participation in Yom Kippur services , Jewish tradition teaches that only offenses committed against God can be forgiven on Yom Kippur . Hence it is important that people make an effort to reconcile with others before participating in Yom Kippur services . <h> Prayer <p> Yom Kippur is the longest synagogue service in the Jewish year . It begins on the evening before Yom Kippur @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vows ) . The words of this melody ask God to forgive any vows people have made to God and not kept . <p> The service on the day of Yom Kippur lasts from morning until nightfall . Many prayers are said but one is repeated at intervals throughout the service . This prayer is called Al Khet and asks for forgiveness for a variety of sins that may have been committed during the year . The Jewish concept of sin is not like the Christian concept of original sin . Rather , it 's the kind of everyday offenses like hurting those we love , lying to ourselves or using foul language that Judaism views as sinful . You can clearly see examples of these infractions in the Yom Kippur liturgy , for instance in this excerpt from Al Khet : <p> For the sin that we have committed under stress or through choice ; For the sin that we have committed in stubbornness or in error ; For the sin that we have committed in the evil meditations of the heart ; For the sin that we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have committed through abuse of power ; For the sin that we have committed by exploitation of neighbors ; For all these sins , O God of forgiveness , bear with us , pardon us , forgive us ! <p> When Al Khet is recited people gently beat their fists against their chests as each sin is mentioned . Sins are mentioned in plural form because even if someone has n't committed a particular sin , Jewish tradition teaches that every Jew bears a measure of responsibility for the actions of other Jews . <p> During the afternoon portion of the Yom Kippur service the Book of Jonah is read to remind people of God 's willingness to forgive those who are sincerely sorry . The last part of the service is called Ne'ilah ( Shutting ) . The name comes from the imagery of Ne'ilah prayers , which talk about gates being shut against us . People pray intensely during this time , hoping to be admitted to God 's presence before the gates have been shut . <h> Fasting <p> Yom Kippur is also marked by 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Jewish calendar , but this is the only one the Torah specifically commands us to observe . Leviticus 23:27 describes it as " afflicting your souls " and during this time no food or liquid may be consumed . <p> The fast starts an hour before Yom Kippur begins and ends after nightfall on the day of Yom Kippur . In addition to food , Jews are also forbidden from engaging in sexual relations , bathing or wearing leather shoes . The prohibition against wearing leather comes from a reluctance to wear the skin of a slaughtered animal while asking God for mercy . <p> Who Fasts on Yom Kippur Children under the age of nine are not allowed to fast , while children older than nine are encouraged to eat less . Girls who are 12 years or older and boys who are 13 years or older are required to participate in the full 25-hour fast along with adults . However , pregnant women , women who have recently given birth and anyone suffering from a life-threatening illness are not required to observe the fast . These people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @

@@5056741 <h> Hot topics <h> Umeng , The Flurry of China , Says iOS Jailbreaking , distribution and monetization of mobile applications and venture ... ? Learn More <p> Here 's some good news for mobile app makers looking to enter the Chinese market . Not only are there a whopping 200 million Android and iOS devices in circulation in China , jailbreaking is down from last year . <p> Umeng , the biggest Chinese mobile app analytics company , says it is detecting that only 42.4 percent of mainland iOS devices are jailbroken , down from 51 percent in the second quarter of 2011 . Yes , that figure still sounds like an unbelievable share , but this is China . Umeng says jailbreaking is down because Apple started allowing consumers to use local bank cards over the last year in the app store . <p> In other good news for developers , app sessions are up 223 percent from the second quarter of 2012 . The number of Android and iOS smartphones in active use in China has also nearly doubled in a mere six months to 200 million from 87 million in March . <p> Umeng , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lee 's incubator Innovation Works , has its analytics in 65,000 apps across iOS , Android and Windows . The company has raised more than $10 million from Innovation Works and Matrix Partners . <p> The largest mobile app analytics and developer services platform in China . Umeng , a Beijing-based startup , is the leading and largest provider of mobile app analytics and developer services in China . Umeng offers enterprise-class analytics to thousands of mobile app developers in over 40,000 apps across iOS , Android , and Windows Phone 7 platforms . Umeng services reache more than 100 millions smartphone in China , 350 million sessions per day . Founded in April , Umeng has since

@@5056841 <p> Could the end be near for America Online ? The online service that was once synonymous with " online " may have finally shot itself in the foot one to many times . <p> Even after a decade of lousy customer service , poor treatment of employees , lackluster technology , and shortsighted management , it may be a single , incredibly stupid decision that brings the house down . <p> During the week of August 6 , some people in AOL 's research division decided to release to the public a little database they had . It contained a list of about 658,000 users and the Web searches each made from March to May . If you were one of those lucky , randomly selected souls , every search term you entered was opened to the world . <p> AOL did n't tell its users it could do this , nor that it was going to , and it did n't offer anyone the opportunity to opt out . It did take a small step back from the abyss by substituting a number for the users ' screen names . <p> " So what ? " you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was me searching for " dwarf prostitutes in south dakota " what difference does it make ? " <p> The problem is that searches are n't anonymous , even if the screen names were withheld to protect the innocent . The New York Times proved this when it tracked down user 4417749 , one Thelma Arnold of Lilburn , Ga. , from her searches . <p> And you do n't need the resources of the Times . Even a part-time technology columnist of average intelligence can glean plenty from the database . <p> The tool of choice : AOL Search Database , created by University of Pennsylvania student Danny Zhao and his friend Teren Sapp at Michigan Tech . Zhao and Sapp knew an opportunity the moment it popped up . <p> " As soon as I read that AOL has publicly released these search logs , " Zhao told me , " I realized immediately that the majority of people on the Web would n't really care for downloading and going through two gigabytes of search data themselves . " <p> So in a matter of a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ created a search tool for it , and put up a website that 's incredibly easy to use . In less than a week , they had about 100,000 unique visitors . <p> " I imagine most of these are technophiles , " he said , " since it 's hard to imagine a layman having a lot of interest in something like this . " <p> Laymen ? How about law enforcement ? <p> You are what you seek <p> Looking at someone 's searches can tell you a lot , as The New York Times proved . It showcased a friendly , benign person who did n't mind being tracked down . But others are n't quite so clean . <p> Take user 5450953 . He apparently has a taste for kiddie porn , based on his searches for " lolita nudes , " " underground kiddy porn pictures , " " russianpreteennudes , " and , most disturbingly , " see girls and animals having sex . " <p> Who is he ? Let 's narrow it down . He appears to own a 2004 Corvette ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ " ) and lives near Baltimore ( " see telephone number of old wheel world in Baltimore " ) . He 's also planning a trip to Vegas ( " see the weather in las vegas " and " see showtime tours in las vegas " ) . <p> That might be enough information for people who know him -- " Hey , does n't Steve own a ' Vette , and did n't he just come back from Vegas ? " For a cop , that might be enough to start tracking him down . There ca n't be that many 2004 Corvettes in the Baltimore area , and it 's probably easy to cross-check the list with the Transportation Security Administration 's database of flyers . <p> And remember , because AOL made those searches public , the cops do n't even need a court order to get it . <p> I might prefer to spend my time on user 3187193 , though . In a three-month period , he made more than 1380 searches , almost all on terms such as : " young kids prelolitas nude @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard drive that 's just waiting to become a local TV news story . <p> If you 're a landlord in Bangor , Maine , you might want to watch out for user 577528 , who is apparently apartment hunting there . But in between searches for a home in the Pine Tree state , our Mr. 577528 was interested in " how to make home made bombs , " " how to make a meth lab , " and " www.morbiddeaths.com . " Stephen King , are you reading this ? <p> And if you 're Arizona artist Barbara Bayla Cohen , you might want to lay low . Besides searching on Cohen 's name and " barbara bayla cohen personal website , " user 1029483 had almost a dozen searches on things like " torture " and " torture methods . " He 's also planning a trip to Sedona , judging by searches on " arizona golf courses " and " sedona weather forecast . " <p> The Olsen twins should watch out , too . User 4967938 , who may hail from Drexel Hill , Pa. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ashley " , " mary-kate and ashley.com , " and " how to make a bomb . " <p> User 23269287 , probably from Monte Vista Colorado , is evidently having troubles with the local fauna . His searches include " how to make a cat trap , " " how to make a racoon trap " sic , and " how to make traps to keep people out . " <p> Finally , you have to feel for user 11989240 , who apparently lives near Abilene , Texas . Over three months , he searched on " how to take the sting out of a sunburn , " " home remedies for gout , " and " home remedy for ingrown hair . " Oh , and " how to grow pot . " <p> This is why , when the Department of Justice wanted Google to release its searches , Google fought back -- and users raised an uproar . People realize that you do n't need a name to know who someone is ; search terms are often more than enough . <p> I guess the folks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kantor is a technology writer , pundit , and know-it-all who covers technology for the Roanoke Times . He 's also a former editor for PC Magazine and Internet World . Read more of his work

@@5056941 <p> By the way Every little thing about her face Fills him up The image so pleasing it could never be erased Here to stay Embedded in his mind He wishes they could be together all the time By the way She says things , the tone , just to hear her voice He ca n't explain The sound so exciting to him a perfect choice Here to stay Embedded in his mind He wishes they could be together all the time <p> A crazy independent Spanish speaking Arty flirty red wine drinking Sexy tomboy with a natural way of Thinking carefree And innocent she 's slightly sneaky Confidently proud from another country Has her way , lives for today By the way she 's far away <p> By the way Holding her , hugging her can feel so warm Just think about it Two bodies embracing , creating love in this form Here to stay Embedded

@@5057041 <p> I have hated Tim Ferriss for a long time . I have hated him since we both had editors at Crown Publishing who sat next to each other and I heard how difficult he is . <p> I did n't blog about it because first of all , I 'm sure the buzz about me is that I 'm difficult , too . And also , his book , The 4-Hour Workweek , was a bestseller and mine was n't . So I figured people would say that I 'm jealous . And really , what author is not jealous sometimes ? I mean , every author wants to write a bestseller . <p> But at this point , two years later , my hatred goes way beyond jealousy . My hatred is more selfless than that . And while I do understand that Tim is great at accelerated learning , the time management tips I have learned from him stem from the energy I have spent hating him : <p> 1 . Do n't hang out with people who do n't respect your time This all started at SXSW conference in 2007 , right before Tim 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of it to bloggers . Of course , this was not a bad idea , and to be fair , Tim was brilliant to start this book marketing trend . But that is beside the point . He approached me after my panel and said , " Can I get you coffee ? I 'd love to talk with you . " <p> I said , " Uh . No . I have plans . " <p> And he asked who with . <p> I was n't really sure . I knew there were cool people to hang out with after my panel , though , and I knew he was n't one of them . I gave a vague answer . <p> He said he was also meeting three people , and he name-dropped them . I ca n't remember who they were . But they were fun , interesting , and I wanted to have coffee with them . So I said okay . <p> Then Tim could n't find them and I had coffee with only Tim . <p> Then I realized this was his strategy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pissy . I told myself bait-and-switch is the oldest sales tool in the world , and it 's my fault for falling for it . <p> 2 . Cut to the chase : Tell people who are full of sh*t that they 're full of sh*t When his book came out , there were vacuous , annoying comments all over my blog directing people to his book . Like , " The topic of priorities is an interesting one . I like how Tim Ferris handles that in his new book , blah blah " and then there 's a link to the book . <p> At this point I knew Tim , sort of . And I called him on his phone and told him to tell his employees to stop spamming my blog . <p> First he implied it was his fan base and he had little control . <p> I said that I thought he was full of sh*t . <p> He said he 'd make sure there were no more comments like that on my blog . <p> 3 . Self-centered people are more likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spamming my site , I did n't call him first . First , I emailed him . And I got some sort of crazy response about how he is only checking email twice a day and then instructions on what to do . <p> I emailed him back to tell him that I do not want automatic emails from him every time I try to contact him . <p> So I called him to tell him that he is generating spam back to me to tell me about his email checking and I do n't care . If he wants to check twice a day , fine , but do n't clog my in box with emails about it . <p> He said he 'd take me off his list . <p> I am STILL getting this sort of spam from him . But the scope has widened . For example , now , he has commented on my blog and he forgot to say that he does n't want to be alerted to new comments . So every time there 's a comment , he spams everyone in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his email . <p> It 's insane . I can not believe how many automated announcements I receive saying that Tim does not have a Blackberry . ( Yes , the email really says that . ) What if we all sent automated emails like that ? Email would be totally nonfunctional . What if Tim just shut up about his email and if he thinks its fine to answer twice a day , then he should do that ? And not spam everyone about it . <p> 4 . Productivity is about meeting your goals , not getting out of doing work The week that Tim actually works a four-hour work week will be a cold week in hell . Tim got to where he is by being an insanely hard worker . I do n't know anyone who worked harder at promoting a book than he did . But the thing is , he did n't call it work . Somehow , sliming me into having coffee with him to talk about his book is not work . <p> Fine . But then his four-hour work week is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what the rest of us would call work , and he calls it not-work . For example , tango . If you want to be world-record holder , it 's work . It 's your job to be special at dancing the tango . That 's your big goal that you 're working toward . How you earn money is probably just a day job . So most weeks Tim probably has a 100-hour workweek . It 's just that he 's doing things he likes , so he lies to you and says he only works four hours . He defines work only as doing what you do n't like . <p> It 's childish . It 's a childish , semantic game . And it reminds me of him winning the Chinese National Kickboxing Championships by leveraging a little-known rule that people are disqualified if they stop outside the box . So he pushed each of his opponents outside the box to win . <p> He is winning the I-work-less-than-you game with a similarly questionable method : semantics . <p> 5 . Time management is about making time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matters in relation to how important the stuff is that 's competing for your time . The stuff that makes time management the most difficult is relationships . Which Tim does not excel in . <p> Fine . Not everyone has to be good at making real connections . <p> But Tim runs around telling people who have lots of relationships competing for theirtime how to think about work/not work , forgetting that in the real world , where people are not assholes , time management is not an equation or a semantic game because relationships really matter . And figuring out how to judge time in terms of competing values is the hardest thing of all . <p> Tim is all about time management for achievement and winning . But there are not trophies or measurements for relationships . There is only that feeling that someone is kind . And good . And truly connected . <h> Comments ( 1,091 ) <p> I have to agree with David on this , they were some awesome tips . I have always struggled with managing my time and over the years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ articles online , but this one trumps them all ! I love how you lay down the law , you just picked up another reader . <p> When I see or hear someone going on about positivity and negativity , I pay attention only long enough to confirm my suspicion that they thereby avoid any discussion of the content of whatever they 're judging to be positive or negative . <p> Yes , good tips , and you capture my feelings well . Tim Ferriss makes me tired . While he occasionally will point to something interesting , and he initially grabbed my attention , in the end he is all sizzle and no steak . <p> While surfing the web over the past few years , I 've left half a dozen mildly-critical , non-fanboy comments at his site . Not one comment was published . No notice , just disappeared without a trace . Try it . <p> This is true . And it demonstrates what is blatantly obvious : that Ferriss ' highest value is tightly controlling his brand , and he orients all his activities to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First , do you think Tim will take credit for the time management skills you developed through your dislike of him ? Second , I might beg to differ about not having measures for relationships ... having relationships ( unless you 're using the term loosely ) is the measure . Sure you can fake it , but in the end if you do n't make meaningful connections with people , you wo n't have any relationships . <p> FINALLY ! Someone who just comes out and says it ! I facilitate a roundtable of CEOs and as soon as they read the part about the kickboxing -- they said " trash it " .. that 's no way to do business for the long term . <p> Had a lawyer tell me that it was " ingenious " on how to work around the rules .... go figure ! <p> Thank you for your comment . And , I truly LOVE Penelope 's post ... finally , someone has said it out loud and said it very well ! <p> Actually , this just shows he had a better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his opponents were so great , then they should be able to stop some amateur from pushing them around . Not being able to do so only speaks to their lack of skill . A champion fighter would not make excuses , but would instead figure out a way to beat Tim 's pushing tactic . <p> Remember when Indiana Jones shot the guy with the swords ? Same deal -- Indy was just plain smarter . <p> I understand there is another opinion to Tim 's work . I really think it is a worthwhile read , my suggestion is to read it and make up your own opinion , seperate the wheat from the chaff and find whats good for you .. there is some good stuff in there and I found it opened my eyes to other posibilities that Id never even considered . I felt ' freer ' after reading the book and saw life from a different perspective <p> Tim 's opponents in this case happened to be Chinese men that he outweighed by at least 20 pounds , due to his hacking the weight-class @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fighters , when faced with a guy who is clearly above their weight class by one or two divisions , who should n't even be in the ring with them , are not going to be able to come up with a " strategy " to avoid getting pushed out of the ring . Oh , maybe they should have just pulled guns and shot him . ( And I speak as someone who has fought in Muai Thai matches . ) <p> He was n't the first nor last to use those Ring Out techniques . He does n't really seem to claim that he invented/created them , just that he saw the tide turning to using Ring Out . <p> This has gone on for years now . If they had an issue with the technique , they would have banned it . The simple fact is that most fighters can not throw someone out of the ring , which is why it was effective . <p> I agree . You can never take anyone and emulate their entire life or model to a ' T. ' That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ read , everyone you interact with , every person that inspires you and take what resonates with you and leave the rest behind . I do n't have to like a particular author or person to respect their progress and want to emulate areas I want to grow in where they have found success . That 's just smart . For time to call his avocations " fun " instead of " work " is just him removing mental hurdles . Every human being wants to escape pain and find pleasure . Tim has just programmed his mind to respond to things that are work with a student 's attitude , which is pleasurable for him . Even Anthony Robbins talks about that concept . <p> " There is no honor in capitalizing pushiness . There is honor in talent and hard work . " <p> I used to think that . I slaved away for my company for 9 years , sacrificing my personal life because they could n't meet deadlines or plan ahead , and in exchange , I got no real reward . <p> At the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and benefits than honor . I should 've been pushy and I should 've screwed people over , like the beta males posing as alphas who are " running " the company now . Maybe then , I could afford to retire someday . You ca n't cash honor . <p> If you think the answer to " the boss is an idiot and is screwing me over " is " screw someone else over in turn " , then no , you do n't have any honor and deserve to get fired . <p> The better answer , the honorable answer , is to grow some balls and stand up to the " beta male posing as an alpha " boss , make an end run around him to his boss and assert yourself that way , or move to a new company where they do n't screw people over . ( Yes , they exist . I work at one . ) <p> To not read the book because of someone else 's smearing is to do yourself a disservice . Like it or not , at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two legs . <p> Personally , that book energized me in a way no book has before . I admire Tim 's approach to a lot of different things ( some stuff I do n't agree with , he has a sort of amoral penchant at times ) . I found his theory on simplification of one 's life ideal and completely do-able . <p> I do n't think he 's tried to pass himself off as a GREAT guy , ( he lambasted himself over outsourcing his dating life ) but this article does n't do him justice . <p> Lots of things are good in moderation . Most things are less beneficial in excess . Applying Tim 's principles in moderation where they are most effective in your life can really make a huge difference . You do n't have to go whole-hog like he does . Besides , he 's pretty up-front that the idea is not to stop doing stuff , just to shift focus to doing things you like . Indeed , painting does n't seem like work to me , even though I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I love finding ways to streamline life to allow me to do more biking , painting , singing and cooking , and Tim opened my eyes to some new possibilities . <p> To not read his book because this blogger does n't like the author is to do yourself a disservice . I recommend the audio version if you spend time in the car . <p> There are many smart individuals in this world and I am sure you , like Tim , are one of them . But to stumble upon a professional who I am supposed to trust , personally and public ally slating another only highlights the reasons why I would n't work with you or trust your professional judgement . This is a huge mistake on your behalf . This post is n't even comparable to a professional disagreement that has gotten out of hand and it appears that this is a post thrown out there as a result of your own insecurity and upset . I do not know why you dislike Tim ( you say hate but I am sure that is out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blog , is not the place to broadcast it . <p> There is nothing brave nor admirable about this negativity . <p> I hope you feel better soon and learn to turn your anger into a more neutral , less hormonal teenage like state , for your sake . <p> What Tim does is sell books , and he does it very well . But he also sells hope in a different future which we can control a whole lot more than we already do . His methods are different than just about anyone else 's and his ethics surrounding those methods may be different than yours , but does that mean that what he is worthless ? Even if he was a " do as I say , not as I do " type of person , does that mean we should n't listen and tease out what works for us ? If he was telling people to leave their spouses or abandon their children , I could understand the furor . <p> Even though I do n't live my life or agree with some of the choices Penelope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't have something to learn by reading her work ? She puts her own ideals into practice as best she can and shares it with all of us . While we would hope that someone who writes work that helps people does so selflessly and has other very positive attributes , why ca n't we just take the work at face value and let the guy be who he is . If he 's slimy , fine . Do things differently than he does . We have to walk our own path , after all . <p> I 'm highly suspicious of all highly successful people . There is one good way to get there and a million awful , cheap , dirty , lazy , and evil ways of doing it . It actually surprising to see how many go the good route . ( I 'm not saying Tim did , because it does n't sound like he did . ) <p> About relationships : They are uber-taxing on time and energy ... but mostly energy ... which equates to time . Some people are really good at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ i.e. Hitler ) . No one will argue that such individuals ' influence is not far-reaching ; the question is whether it 's worthy . <p> The other disturbing thing is that some people are so happy even when they 're being so bad . It gives being good a bad flavor . I really hate people like that . <p> Hitler had an entire country licking their wounds from WWI desparately seeking someone , anyone to bring them back to glory . He played the weakness Germans felt and promised a better life . His relationship was with their wishes . <p> It 's an attitude like this that kept me in low paying hard labor jobs for far too many years . Int his case , my parents were dead wrong . <p> Hard work does not necessarily equal success . <p> Smart work does . And not paying attention to the naysayers . <p> It has taken me all 50 years of my life so far to finally realize that all the people who would tell me things like -- you ca n't do that , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full of crap and interested in only one thing ; keeping me down to make their lack of satisfaction with their own life more bearable . <p> I do n't know Tim or read his blog . However I am looking forward to seeing a comment from him on this post -- if he decides to do so . Qualities that you possess Penelope that I love and shine through in your writing are transparency and the ability to be genuine and honest with your feelings . Evidently Tim does not possess those qualities . I have a feeling this post may easily exceed 150 comments . <p> WOW ... " Love her for this " ... you are finding inspiration in this low ball writing , that does not speak well for you my friend . This is the most worthless piece of writing that I have ever seen . For it to be totally premised around Tim and the authors feelings about him .... I can actually see why your book did not work out . Do nt mean to be mean about it , but then you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are . This is b**t , and I can assure you that I am not a Tim supporter or a Tim stooge or whatever Tim you are so scared . Let us see if you approve this and live by what you said above . <p> Hey remember that time you started a startup that was n't really a startup but just another embarrassing way for you to compensate how massively insecure you are about yourself ? You know , much in the same way you have to graphically discuss your sex and personal life because you feel like nobody will listen if you 're just " you " ? <p> My thoughts exactly . This guy comes across as an arrogant scam artist whose more concerned with self-promotion . <p> And really , people , you were " slaving away " at jobs for 12-14 hours a day ? I think Ferris is full of crap , I work eight hours a day , but I do n't work more than that . The choice is n't to work 12 to 14 hours a day or work four hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who got something out of Tim 's book , I 'm really not bothered what kind of a guy he is personally . Most books these days have ideas that work and others that either do n't , or not for oneself , including Tim 's book and your book . His ideas have been pretty thoroughly argued against by people who disagreed with them already , but his personality is not really relevant to that process . Priests need good personalities for their brands , career advisors much less so . <p> Having said that , cult-ish leaders who inspire naively slavish followers generally do have personality flaws . They also tend to be supersuccessful at selling their stuff . And I like your time management tips <p> Good comment Alice ! Probably Tim Ferriss might have some good handful ideas that work for him but the fact that he sells it as easy work is an exploitation of a human tendency of getting easy money , says everything about the kind of followers he is looking for , people who lacks critical reasoning and a decent level of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followers of him only speaks about the quality of american education and values . I 've read better ideas on books that were made non for profit or that were way less successful . What people does not see is that only a handful of de population has the focus and tenacity to implement the book ideas . Good post as well ! <p> Tim Ferris has said and done a lot of things , but one thing he has NEVER claimed is that following the techniques in his book are " easy work " . He repeatedly points out that it may be difficult and uncomfortable at first , but beneficial in freeing up your time to do activities you actually enjoy in the near future . Your comment makes it fairly obvious that you 've never read the book highlights your presumptuousness in making a generalized statement about the people who read and support the book , and who 've been successful in doing that . You really are doing yourself a disservice , perhaps you should read it first ? do n't just base your opinion on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to her personal hate that stemmed from admitted jealousy ... but that 's just my opinion as well and I suppose we 're all entitled to ours . <p> Beautifully said ! ! I 've read the 4HWW , and although in principle it sounds great , you 're right -- its worthless if you want to have a life filled with real connections , which is what we , as humans need to achieve authentic happiness . <p> Plus , Tim is ultra-focus man . That sort of lifestyle is great for ultra-focus people , but seriously , who wants to do nothing but tango for 6 weeks straight ? BORING ! ! <p> I 'm amazed at the amount of groupies this utopia has inspired and the funny thing is , I double ANY of them have achieved a 4HWW . Its bullshit . Thank you for calling him on it ! <p> Just because a woman has a problem with a man , does n't make it sexist . <p> I think she covers her hatred of Tim Ferriss pretty evenly and addresses only personality and basic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . Granted , i 've never read the book , so I have no other side of the argument . But I tend to be suspicious of anyone who claims he or she can be successful in only 4 hours a week . <p> That said , the point about work/fun and semantics created an interesting discussion for my husband and I. I 'm of the opinion that you can love your work but that does n't make it not-work . And once you 're a hugely famous best-selling author , anything you do in relation to the book or the advice you give in has to be considered work . It 's just happens to also be a passion or to be enjoyable for you . <p> This post had a lot of heart in it and is a great example of why I subscribe to your blog . You deliver career advice while calling Tim Ferris out for being a self-centered , conniving , ethically challenged , cheating , fraud . <p> No , I think she actually said what a lot of people have been thinking , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his blog . I bought his book . ANd then I sold his book because it was n't what I thought it was going to be . <p> You are right in that time works incredibly hard . Yes , most of it is things that most people would n't consider work . But he is not sitting on a tropical island drinking mai-tais 36 hours of the week the rest of us would be working . <p> He is fiendishly successful , driven , and seems enormously happy . I wish him well . But his approach is not for me . <p> This is actually , I think , a core piece of the idea of a 4-hour work week . What is work ? I think it might be a totally old-fashioned idea that work is something you do n't like . Why does it have to be that ? <p> I think a lot of this blog is about how generation Y is changing that for everyone . Work is about learning and friends and growing and teamwork . All stuff that is intrinsically good . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your own career and you have located the intersection of your own talent and what the market will pay for , you can quit any given job any time and do something else that might be more enjoyable . <p> Finally , I really believe that having work is core to having a life . What we do with our time is our work . It 's a very Montessori outlook , I know , but it 's worth thinking about . <p> Please do n't tell me you 've succumbed to the Protestant work ethic . Generations X &; Y are the force changing this antiquated mentality . You are their voice and their guide in the job market . Please feed us more than " You ca n't be Important without doing Important work " . <p> You 're right on Penelope -- " work " in today 's world should not equal " stuff you do n't like to do but have to " . <p> But for LOTS of people it is still the case . <p> When Tim calls it the " 4 Hour Work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the amount of time you spend on stuff you do n't like doing but HAVE to . Like firing his annoying customers that did n't contribute much sales anyways . He 's showing us how to set up a low maintenance / passive income source , which frees up time to go do whatever you enjoy doing , and possibly make even more money . <p> I respect and follow both you and Tim . I 'm sure Tim does come across as sly/manipulative at times , but that 's not the part that I respect him for . It 's for the " accelerated learning , and challenging limiting assumptions " bit that I respect him . <p> I daresay , you " challenge limiting assumptions " too , and that 's one of the reasons I respect you ! <p> I think there is a fundamental miss with the term ' work ' and instead we should shift it to job and avocation . I like Tim 's book as it was a refreshing change from what was out there and he gave concrete enactable ideas . I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they think . Where the book fails , in my opinion , is in this ... I do n't have a job where I perform a menial task in exchange for money . I really like what I do and wake up excited to do it and it -- an avocation . I do n't want to avoid doing it . <p> On the other side , as soon as a friend showed me this post , I gleefully reposted it on my Skype group to the same people I tell to read Tim 's book . I 'm sorry he caused you angst , but I am grateful for what came out of it . <p> But if he tangos for 6 weeks straight and then writes about it ( or whatever experiment he 's doing ) in a book or blog which generates money beacause of its stories or experiments ... I 'm sorry but that ca n't be described as nothing but WORK . <p> I 'd love to be a free ride skier and live off my sponsors but it would still qualify as my job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skin enough that he got another large plug for his book on a top blog , even it is construed with negative connotations . Knowing Timmy , I 'm sure he 'll credit his genius time management skills and email spam-backs to somehow entice you to post about it in a fury . <p> I like when you tell the truth about how people can suck . Even if when it 's about yourself . <p> @ Susan , I actually do n't see many people judging him based on Penelope 's opinion . I certainly did n't . I have a lot of books I want to read and my time is precious . I 'd rather start with one that has n't gotten as much valid criticism , and if I get around to it , I 'll read Tim 's . I simply commended Penelope for speaking her mind . It sounds like you 've quickly formed your own opinion about us too . <p> Well , interesting . I 'm amused by how many commenters , not knowing Tim , nor having read his book , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No wonder the herd mentality is alive and well . Read the book , form your own opinion . To restate , an opinion is totally subjective -- is says volumes about the " opinion giver , " and nothing about the subject . There is Tim , and there is your opinion of Tim . There is " The Farmer , " and there is your opinion of The Farmer . People who confuse the two often end up buying swampland . Oh , Penelope . I enjoyed reading your opinion about what you judge to be the motivations of someone you had coffee with , despite the fact that you confess to hating him before you met him . When in doubt , borrow an opinion wherever one is available . Yikes . <p> I read the book , read his website , and he sounds like a major douchebag . He even looks like a douchebag . If you call a spade a spade , is it herd mentality ? Or someone finally challenging said herd mentality that 's been running around fawning over Ferris and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits " thing with GIWS , who actually ended up becoming one of my best friends after our relationship ended , but that got messy fast and I decided for the sake of our friendship that needed to be an " emergencies only " kind of thing . New Year 's Eve rolls around . And I pick up a guy in a bar . And take him home . I have n't done it since like , college . " <p> Penelope , Tim 's whole " Four-Hour Work Week " shtick is a gimmick . A big fat gimmick . And unfortunately , that 's what sells books , a gimmicky title . Just look at the book , The Flat Belly Diet . It 's the same thing as the four-hour work week . Every woman wants a flat tummy like Giselle Bundchen or Marisa Miller , and they 're going go out and buy The Flat Belly Diet in search of the Holy Grail of diets , and maybe they 'll lose a few pounds , but they 're not going to have abs like Giselle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book , and while all the women in the photos look beautiful , their tummies are not wash-board flat , and they 're all shot at an angle to give the illusion of a flatter tummy . There . Now I 've vented and I feel better . Thanks for uncovering the B.S. on this one . Meridith <p> Things Ferriss does that really annoy me , both on his blog and his book are : 1 . redefine whatever the objective measurement is so that he 's successful at it 2. lie when redefinitions do n't work . 3. trumpet any small success or achievement as a big one , and leave out the pesky details <p> For instance with ( 1 ) , he took someone else 's advice about not being negative in speech and redefined what the metric was . So he could chew someone out as giving feedback without counting towards his negativity . Um , hello ? That 's part of the whole challenge if you 're a boss or a parent . He writes himself a get out of negativity card . <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to offer for sale a good that 's really only an idea , and then use the responses as a beta test for the marketing . With two examples , the boy and the girl , the girl did n't want to market a yoga DVD because she was too honest to do so . She made it first . He obliquely referenced this as her having an ethical issue rather than " I do n't want to lie " which is what his advice was . <p> For ( 3 ) , he talks about being a tango champion . And he often writes about this in the context of other things , along the lines of tango is about style and grace and strength while comparing it to another activity . But he leaves out that he did n't win on anything we consider essentially tango . He won a Guinness Book record for the most number of turns . Which , coincidentally , he shares with his female dance instructor , because , you know , it takes TWO to tango . <p> He does have some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the book " Never Be Lied to Again " which has some excellent tips but then proceeds to tell you how to lie and trick and trap someone into telling you the truth . <p> What surprises me about this comment is the negativity towards the three things you described about Tim Ferriss . <p> First , I think in moderation points 1 , 2 , and 3 are what most people who are good career managers do . Number 2 where you use " lied " I would say that 's just a restatement of number 1 , where truth is redefined . <p> The second thing about this comment is you chastise Tim Ferriss for these things , yet read Penelope 's blog where many of these concepts are at the root of her advice . How often does advise to redefine the situation so you are successful , or tout small achievements as big ones and gloss over failures ? <p> That 's not a criticism to her , I think those things are great advice for managing a career . Maybe Tim Ferriss has more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I think , was more about " lifestyle design " ( a term he coined ) than working only four hours a week . Tim has said on my occations that the title of his book was hyperbole . It worked too -- he 's a bestseller . <p> And really , Tim 's book is probably the BEST book out there in terms of a " how-to " on negotiating what you want out of life . Tim obviously a successful guy -- which makes him an authority on the topic . <p> I 'm sure someone has also brought up the point that everything should be taken with a grain of salt . Tim has some great points , but also some terrible ones ( i.e. auto-responder ) . <p> I normally would not get all preachy , but I would urge you to rethink using the term " hate " . One , it should be beneath you , and two , do you truly hate him ? That is a powerful word , that should not be bandied about to catch peoples attention . <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or those who dislike you and appreciate them for the lessons they teach you . <p> Really AcutelyObtuse ? Ok , name them then ? And , um , you do understand how Twitter works , right ? If he 's NOT following anyone , that means he 's NOT seeing anyone 's status updates , and therefore it 's NOT possible for him to " reply " to anyone . <p> And do you REALLY think that the great , time-managing genius Tim Ferriss is actually the one responding to people on his own blog lol ? Or the one actually writing the blog posts at all ? Did n't you read his book ? Someone living in a hovel in " 3rd world country " is doing it for him for $4/hr lol <p> Wow -- I thought the conclusion to this post would be something positive about him -- like ' you hate him so much you ca n't forget him ' or something . But no , it really is just a diatribe about a guy who wrote a book . Which I will now read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel like I should chime in here with something as I am actually a big supporter of Tim and what he has accomplished and also of P , whom I have had great personal conversations with . While Tim no doubt has some qualities about him that are off center , isnt that what it takes to get ahead in the entrepreneurial world . Maybe not cubicle nation , but to get ahead of your competition and grab the balls of your industry , you need to be a little out of whack . <p> For anyone who does n't know the gist of the title , that is pure marketing . No one works 4 hours , whether you perceive what you do with your time as work or voluntary exercises ( tango , kickboxing , video games ) . What he did was bring the ideas of lifestyle design into the forefront of mainstream culture , sold a few books and became someone with a voice . <p> By sending him email or joining in correspondence , you are opting into his voice . If you do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , everything we do is opt-in , from the tv shows we watch to the books we read to showing up to work , we have the choice to say no . The consequences of those choices are not always favorable , but it is an opt-in choice . <p> I like how you are stirring the pot this week P ! Its a great marketing move , if nothing else . <p> Thanks for being consistently willing to say what the rest of us sometimes think but are afraid to articulate out loud . Brava . <p> P.S I saw him in NY this summer and heard him speak ; 10 minutes in and every gut feeling I had about his depth was confirmed . A bit like a naked Emporer , complete with room full of adoring fans too impressed with sales numbers to state the obvious . <p> I think a better title for Tim 's book would be " how to make loads of money and only do 4 hours a week of work you hate . " But that would n't sell many books would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are usually a few tasks that you hate doing . I hate the phone , but particularly voice mail . What I took away form 4HWW was to think differently what we consider typical work . I 've since changed my voice mail message to request people send me an e-mail for a more prompt response . The reality is that I never check voice mail . <p> Auto-responses to e-mail are beyond annoying , but some people will still feel compelled to use them . Strangely , some people still expect immediate responses to all e-mails , despite the fact that a ) it 's impossible and b ) trying to do so would prevent me from ever doing the part of my job that I enjoy . <p> I do n't know this TIm Ferris guy but what a pompous P.I.G . I 'm especially endeared by his automated email responses about how he only checks email twice a day . You are absolutely correct : NA . When he goes to the bathroom , does he include that in his automated email response ? " This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day . Also , when I am not checking email , I might be in the bathroom . Other than that , my day is too important to check emails and to wipe my ass . <p> It 's unfortunate that buffons like Tim Ferris exist but you were smart to find the value add : you learned five time management techniques from this fool . Bravo to you Penelope ! <p> I was such a sucker I bought his book before reading the bad reviews on Amazon . ( Well , at least I got it with a gift certificate . ) Unless you want to sell phony " brain quicken " supplements to college students do n't expect to have a four hour work week . I did get a good laugh out of it though . Maybe not $20 work of laughs but it 's a book that is definitely worthwhile to read on the toilet or while you 're in line at the DMV . Just check it out of the library . <p> I have both your books sitting side by side on my bookshelf @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the far better writer . Of course I subscribe to your blog but not to his . You write with sincerity and humility . When reading Tim 's work , it always feels like he 's bragging . <p> This post particularly caught my eye as this blog and F 's blog are the only two " personal " blogs to which I subscribe . I 've always considered the two blogs as very different : your blog is for professional and more career related advice , whereas Tim 's is for more lifestyle and personal life advice . I stumbled onto your blog as I was looking for resume tips and I stumbled onto his blog as I was looking for a way to more efficiently pack for a backpacking trip . <p> You 're right , I 've never bought into Tim 's 4HWW because it 'd never work in a corporate system and he uses technicalities and what he refers to as " life hacks " to accomplish so much in such a short span of time . I also realize that he 's a complete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show , " Trial by Fire " , it pretty much reaffirmed that for me . I do n't think the man has one genuine relationship and most of his contacts are people he 'd name drop and network with , but never develop something real . <p> Yes , he does take it to the extreme , but he has a clear goal -- to lifehack everything and anything and accomplish much more than anyone before he dies . Doing that makes him extraordinary and requires him to push things aside , like relationships . <p> It 's not for everyone and it 's not all for me , but I can pick and choose his advice for quickly obtaining new skill sets for my personal life and I 'll stick with you for my career advice to obtain that balance that 's perfect for me . <p> Keep up the good work and I loved this post because it gives me an idea of what the guy is like from someone who has actually met him face to face and did n't fall in love with the guy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amazon . Superb . <p> Thank you for your honesty and courage to " keeping it real " . What a refreshing change . There are too many people out there in the world who say one thing to your face , and stab you in the back when your not looking . Keep it up ! <p> Your point about relationships is spot on in my opinion . The thing is though , I think , some people like Tim can not understand the pure value of supporting a relationship with so much time and energy -- they are about having others outside acknowledge their successes and being financially compensated for their work . Quite a few people experience relationhips in the periphery of their lives since they are unable to see the inherent value of mutual support amongst people . It 's too abstract for them . <p> I do think the majority of people do feel though that success is n't real success unless you have people in your life to share it with . <p> However , people like Tim , truly can not understand why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their minds " waste " their efforts ) . <p> I was initially turned off by Tim 's strategy to win in kickboxing ; however , I then found the similarity of his strategy to a billionaire I admire . Roger Penske . Roger took the rules , found a loop hole , and blew the competition away . He converted a wrecked Formula 1 car into a 2 seat sports car , known as the Zerex Special . This was controversial , but look at the fame and wins behind this small tweak . <p> Mr. Penske differs from Tim in regards to relationships . He is humble and values his **25;248;TOOLONG , so I 'm not saying the two are similar in character at all . <p> Roger Penske created a real product that people wanted Tim Ferris won the right to kiss his own ass and screwed real champions out of a competion for which they undoubtedly trained very hard and in which they all looked forward to competing . so Penske created something/Ferris nothing.Penske has the entrepreneurial spirit/Ferris has dick headedness <p> Well , after giving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop " hating " Tim -- two years is too long . His approach has obviously solidified your core beliefs regarding teamwork , relationships , being self-centered , semantics , etc . Maybe you should thank him for becoming a benchmark -- an antithesis -- at least in some respects as you have outlined above . <p> This is an excellent post and I 'm glad it appeared on Metafilter . I suspected at first that it might just be a vitriolic jealousy rant , but much of what you say rings true to

@@5057141 <h> Over The Years songs Product Information <h> Over The Years album Product Description <p> Over The Years album by Abbey Lincoln was released Oct 24 , 2000 on the Verve label . Principally recorded at Right Track Studios , New York , New York between February 18 &; 21 , 2000 . Over The Years CD music contains a single disc with 10 songs . <p> Recorded mostly in New York , Over the Years is aimed at summing up Abbey Lincoln 's long career . Over The Years songs Joining her are excellent , but not so well-known performers , plus the giant sax player Joe Lovano . But it is Lincoln 's special interpretative powers that carry the day , as one would expect . The play list is rather unusual even for an iconoclast like Lincoln . There are tunes from the 1940s , traditional material , some romantic standards , and her own compositions . " Lucky to Be Me , " from the musical On the Town , features some ear-catching work by the rhythm section of Brandon McCune , John Ormond , and Jaz Sawyer . Another fine track is the traditional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own lyrics . She is ably supported on this cut by guest tenor player Joe Lovano and guest guitarist Kendra Shank , who is also a singer of note . The album 's coda is appropriate as Lincoln sings " Tender As a Rose " a cappella , letting her vocal chords stand on their own without benefit of instrumental accompaniment as she ends it with " as that 's the way the story goes . " Dave Nathan <p> Over The Years CD music Whether you 're expecting , holding your new arrival(s) , or spending time with your children , " Little Lamb Lullabies " will find its home with you ! Babies and children alike want to hear your voice . So we 've included the lyrics for you to sing along to these timeless favorites ! One of the many benefits of " Little Lamb Lullabies " are the soothing and

@@5057241 <p> Would n't it be wonderful if people could simply renounce their bad habits and decide to respond to conflict in a gracious and constructive way ? But it is not that easy . In order to break free from the pattern they have fallen into , they need to understand why they react to conflict the way they do . <p> Jesus provides us with clear guidance on this issue . During His earthly ministry , a young man approached the Lord and asked Him to settle an inheritance dispute with his brother . " Jesus replied , ' Man , who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you ? ' Then he said to them , ' Watch out ! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed ; a man 's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions ' " ( Luke 12:13-15 ) . <p> This passage reveals a common human pattern . When faced with conflict , we tend to focus passionately on what our opponent has done wrong or should do to make things right . In contrast , God always calls us to focus on what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at odds with others . Why ? Because our heart is the wellspring of all our thoughts , words , and actions , and therefore the source of our conflicts . " For out of the heart come evil thoughts , murder , adultery , sexual immorality , theft , false testimony , slander " ( Matthew 15:19 ) . <p> The heart 's central role in conflict is vividly described in James 4:1-3 . If you understand this passage , you will have found a key to preventing and resolving conflict . <p> " What causes fights and quarrels among you ? Do n't they come from your desires that battle within you ? You want something but do n't get it . You kill and covet , but you can not have what you want . You quarrel and fight . You do not have , because you do not ask God . When you ask , you do not receive , because you ask with wrong motives , that you may spend what you get on your pleasures . " <p> This passage describes the root cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our hearts . When we feel we can not be satisfied unless we have something we want or think we need , the desire turns into a demand . If someone fails to meet that desire , we condemn him in our heart and quarrel and fight to get our way . In short , conflict arises when desires grow into demands and we judge and punish those who get in our way . Let us look at this progression one step at a time . <h> I Desire <p> Conflict always begins with some kind of desire . Some desires are inherently wrong , such as vengeance , lust , or greed . But many desires are not wrong in and of themselves . For example , there is nothing innately wrong about desiring things like peace and quiet , a clean home , a new computer , professional success , an intimate relationship with your spouse , or respectful children . <p> If a good desire , such as wanting an intimate relationship with your spouse , is not being met , it is perfectly legitimate to talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you may discover ways that both of you can help to fulfill each other in mutually beneficial ways . If not , it may be appropriate to seek help from your pastor or a Christian counselor who can assist you in understanding your differences and strengthening your marriage . <p> But what if your spouse persistently fails to meet a particular desire and is unwilling to discuss it further with you or anyone else ? This is where you stand at a crossroad . On the one hand , you can trust God and seek your fulfillment in Him ( Psalm 73:25 ) . You can ask Him to help you to continue to grow and mature no matter what your spouse does ( James 1:2-4 ) . And you can continue to love your spouse and pray for God 's sanctifying work in his or her life ( 1 John 4:19-21 ; Luke 6:27-28 ) . If you follow this course , God promises to bless you and use your difficult situation to conform you to the likeness of Christ ( Romans 8:28-29 ) . <p> On the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it to control your life . At the very least , this will result in self-pity and bitterness toward your spouse . At worst , it can destroy your marriage . Let us look at how this downward spiral evolves . <p> The Progression of an Idol <p> ... Desire ... Demand ... Judge ... Punish <h> I Demand <p> Unmet desires have the potential of working themselves deeper and deeper into our hearts . This is especially true when we come to see a desire as something we need or deserve , and therefore must have in order to be happy or fulfilled . There are many ways to justify or legitimize a desire . <p> " I work hard all week . Do n't I deserve a little peace and quiet when I come home ? " <p> " I worked two jobs to put you through school ; I deserve your respect and appreciation . " <p> " I spend hours managing the family budget ; I really need a new computer . " <p> " The Bible says we should save up to cover unexpected problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put more into savings . " <p> " God has given me a gift for developing new businesses , and He calls me to work hard to support our family . I deserve to have more of your support . " <p> " Scripture says a husband and wife should be completely united in love . I need to have more intimacy with you . " <p> " I only want what God commands : children who have learned to respect their parents and use their God-given gifts to the fullest . " <p> There is an element of validity in each of these statements . The trouble is that if our desire is not met , these attitudes can lead to a vicious cycle . The more we want something , the more we think of it as something we need and deserve . And the more we think we are entitled to it , the more convinced we are that we can not be happy and secure without it . <p> When we see our object of desire as being essential to our fulfillment and well-being , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I wish I could have this " evolves into " I must have this ! " This is where trouble sets in . Even if the initial desire was not inherently wrong , it has grown so strong that it begins to control our thoughts and behavior . In biblical terms , it has become an " idol . " <p> Most of us think of an idol as a statue of wood , stone , or metal worshiped by pagan people . But the concept is much broader and far more personal than that . An idol is anything apart from God that we depend on to be happy , fulfilled , or secure . In biblical terms it is something other than God that we set our heart on ( Luke 12:29 ) , that motivates us ( 1 Corinthians 4:5 ) , that masters and rules us ( Psalm 119:133 ; Ephesians 5:5 ) , or that we trust , fear , or serve ( Isaiah 42:17 ; Matthew 6:24 ; Luke 12:4-5 ) . In short , it is something we love and pursue in place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its controlling effect on our lives , an idol can also be referred to as a " false god " or a " functional god . " As Martin Luther wrote , " To whatever we look for any good thing and for refuge in every need , that is what is meant by ' god . ' To have a god is nothing else than to trust and believe in him from the heart .... To whatever you give your heart and entrust your being , that , I say , is really your god . " 2 <p> Even sincere Christians struggle with idolatry . We may believe in God and say we want to serve Him only , but at times we allow other influences to rule us . In this sense we are no different from the ancient Israelites : " Even while these people were worshiping the LORD , they were serving their idols . To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did " ( 2 Kings 17:41 ) . <p> It is important to emphasize the fact that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ desires . It is often not what we want that is the problem , but that we want it too much . For example , it is not unreasonable for a man to want a passionate sexual relationship with his wife , or for a wife to want open and honest communication with her husband , or for either of them to want a steadily growing savings account . These are good desires , but if they turn into demands that must be met in order for either spouse to be satisfied and fulfilled , they result in bitterness , resentment , or self-pity that can destroy a marriage . <p> How can you discern when a good desire might be turning into a sinful demand ? You can begin by prayerfully asking yourself " X-ray " questions that reveal the true condition of your heart . <p> What am I preoccupied with ? What is the first thing on my mind in the morning and the last thing on my mind at night ? <p> How would I complete this statement : " If only , then I would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What do I want to preserve or avoid ? <p> Where do I put my trust ? <p> What do I fear ? <p> When a certain desire is not met , do I feel frustration , anxiety , resentment , bitterness , anger , or depression ? <p> Is there something I desire so much that I am willing to disappoint or hurt others in order to have it ? <p> As you search your heart for idols , you will often encounter multiple layers of concealment , disguise , and justification . As mentioned earlier , one of the most subtle cloaking devices is to argue that we want only what God Himself commands . <p> For example , a mother may desire that her children be respectful and obedient to her , kind to one another , and diligent in developing their gifts and talents . And she can back up each goal with a specific scripture that shows that God Himself desires such behavior . <p> When they do not fulfill these goals , even after her repeated encouragement or correction , she may feel frustrated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , " Why am I feeling this way ? Is it a righteous anger that they are not living up to God 's standards ? Or is it a selfish anger that they are not giving me the smooth , comfortable , and convenient day I want ? " <p> In most cases , it will be a mixture of both . Part of her truly wants to see her children love and obey God in every way , both for His glory and for their good . But another part of her is motivated by a desire for her own comfort and convenience . Which desire is really controlling her heart and reactions ? <p> If the God-centered desire is dominating the mother 's heart , her response to disobedient children should be characterized by God 's discipline toward her . " The LORD is compassionate and gracious , slow to anger , abounding in love " ( Psalm 103:8 ) . As she imitates God , her response will line up with corrective guidelines found in Galatians 6:1 : " If someone is caught in a sin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watch yourself , or you also may be tempted . " In other words , although her discipline may be direct and firm , it will be wrapped in gentleness and love , and leave no residue of resentment or unforgiveness . <p> On the other hand , if her desire for comfort and convenience has become an idol , her reaction to her children will be much different . It will be characterized by smoldering anger as well as harsh and unnecessarily hurtful words or discipline . She may feel bitterness or resentment that her desires have been frustrated . And even after disciplining her children , she may maintain a lingering coolness toward them that extends their punishment and warns them not to cross her again . If this latter group of attitudes and actions frequently characterizes her response , it is a sign that her desire for godly children has probably evolved into an idolatrous demand . <h> I Judge <p> Peacemaking Women With personal stories and advice firmly rooted in Scripture , this book offers hope for peace with God , peaceful relationships with others , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idolatry is the inclination to judge other people . When they fail to satisfy our desires and live up to our expectations , we criticize and condemn in our hearts if not with our words . As Dave Powlison writes : <p> We judge others -- criticize , nit-pick , nag , attack , condemn -- because we literally play God . This is heinous . The Bible says " There is only one Lawgiver and Judge , the one who is able to save and to destroy ; but who are you to judge your neighbor ? " Who are you when you judge ? None other than a God wannabe . In this , we become like the Devil himself ( no surprise that the Devil is mentioned in James 3:15 and 4:7 ) . We act exactly like the adversary who seeks to usurp God 's throne and who acts as the accuser of the brethren . When you and I fight , our minds become filled with accusations : your wrongs and my rights preoccupy me . We play the self-righteous judge in the mini-kingdoms we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our boots ! When we judge others and condemn them in our hearts for not meeting our desires , we are imitating the Devil ( see James 3:15 ; 4:7 ) . We have doubled our idolatry problem : Not only have we let an idolatrous desire rule our hearts , but we have also set ourselves up as judging minigods . This is a formula for excruciating conflict . <p> This is not to say that it is inherently wrong to evaluate or even judge others within certain limits . Scripture teaches that we should observe and evaluate others ' behavior so that we can respond and minister to them in appropriate ways , which may even involve loving confrontation ( see Matthew 7:1-5 ; 18:15 ; Galatians 6:1 ) . <p> We cross the line , however , when we begin to sinfully judge others , which is characterized by a feeling of superiority , indignation , condemnation , bitterness , or resentment . Sinful judging often involves speculating on others ' motives . Most of all , it reveals the absence of a genuine love and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our judging has crossed the line and we are playing God . <p> The closer we are to others , the more we expect of them and the more likely we are to judge them when they fail to meet our expectations . For example , we may look at our spouse and think , " If you really love me , you above all people will help meet this need . " We think of our children and say , " After all I 've done for you , you owe this to me . " <p> We can place similar expectations on relatives , close friends , or members of our church . Expectations are not inherently bad . It is good to hope for the best in others and reasonable to anticipate receiving understanding and support from those who are closest to us . <p> But if we are not careful , these expectations can become conditions and standards that we use to judge others . Instead of giving people room for independence , disagreement , or failure , we rigidly impose our expectations on them . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our idols . When they refuse to do so , we condemn them in our hearts and with our words , and our conflicts with them take on a heightened intensity . <h> I Punish <p> Idols always demand sacrifices . When others fail to satisfy our demands and expectations , our idols demand that they should suffer . Whether deliberately or unconsciously , we will find ways to hurt or punish people so they will give in to our desires . <p> This punishment can take many forms . Sometimes we react in overt anger , lashing out with hurtful words to inflict pain on those who fail to meet our expectations . When we do so , we are essentially placing others on the altar of our idol and sacrificing them , not with a pagan knife , but with the sharp edge of our tongue . Only when they give in to our desire and give us what we want will we stop inflicting pain upon them . <p> But we punish those who do n't bow to our idols in numerous other ways as well . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looks to hurt us for not meeting their desires . Adults and children alike may impose guilt or shame on others by walking around with pained or crushed looks on their faces . Some people even resort to physical violence or sexual abuse to punish and control others . <p> As we grow in faith and awareness of our sin , most of us recognize and reject overt and obviously sinful means of punishing others . But our idols do not give up their influence easily , and they often lead us to develop more subtle means of punishing those who do not serve them . <p> Withdrawal from a relationship is a common way to hurt others . This may include a subtle coolness toward the other person , withholding affection or physical contact , being sad or gloomy , refusing to look someone in the eye , or even abandoning the relationship altogether . <p> Sending subtle , unpleasant cues over a long period of time is an age-old method of inflicting punishment . For example , a friend of mine mentioned to me that his wife was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much time to a particular ministry . He closed by saying , " And as we all know , when momma ai n't happy , ai n't nobody happy ! " He laughed as he said it , but his comment made me think of the proverb , " A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day " ( Proverbs 27:15 ) . A woman has a unique ability to set the tone in a home . If she is not careful , she can pervert that gift and use it to create an unpleasant or uncomfortable atmosphere that tells her family , " Either get in line with what I want , or you will suffer . " Such behavior is an act of unbelief : Instead of relying on God 's means of grace to sanctify her family , she depends on her own tools of punishment to manipulate them into change . Of course , a man can do the same thing ; by being perpetually critical and unhappy , he too can make everyone in the family miserable until they give in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a superficial , splintered family . <p> Inflicting pain on others is one of the surest signs that an idol is ruling our hearts ( see James 4:1-3 ) . When we catch ourselves punishing others in any way , whether deliberately and overtly or unconsciously and subtly , it is a warning that something other than God is ruling our hearts . <h> The Cure for an Idolatrous Heart <p> An idol , as we have seen , is any desire that has grown into a consuming demand that rules our heart ; it is something we think we must have to be happy , fulfilled , or secure . To put it another way , it is something we love , fear , or trust . <p> Love , fear , trust -- these are words of worship ! Jesus commands us to love God , fear God , and trust God and God alone ( Matthew 22:37 ; Luke 12:4-5 ; John 14:1 ) . Any time we long for something apart from God , fear something more than God , or trust in something other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secure , we are engaging in the worship of false gods . As a result , we deserve the judgment and wrath of the true God . <h> Deliverance from Judgment <p> There is only one way out of this bondage and judgment : It is to look to God Himself , who loves to deliver people from their idols . " I am the LORD your God , who brought you out of Egypt , out of the land of slavery . You shall have no other gods before me " ( Exodus 20:2-3 ) . <p> God has provided the cure for our idolatry by sending His Son to experience the punishment that we deserve because of our sin . Through Jesus Christ we can become righteous in God 's sight and find sin and idolatry . " Therefore , there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus , because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death " ( Romans 8:1-2 ) . <p> To receive this forgiveness and freedom , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and put our trust in Jesus Christ ( see Acts 3:19 ; Psalm 32:5 ) . When we do , we are no longer under God 's judgment . Instead , He brings us into His family , makes us His children and heirs , and enables us to live a godly life ( Galatians 4:4-7 ) . This is the good news of the gospel -- forgiveness and eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ ! <h> Deliverance from Specific Idols <p> Yet there is more good news . God wants to deliver us not only from our general problem with sin and idolatry , but also from the specific , day-to-day idols that consume us , control us , and cause conflict with those around us . <p> This deliverance is not done in blanket fashion , with all our idols being swept away in one great spiritual experience . Instead , God calls us to identify and confess our idols one by one , and then to cooperate with Him as He steadily removes them bit by bit from our hearts . <p> God conveys His grace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three vehicles : His Bible , His Spirit , and His church . The Bible is " living and active . Sharper than any double-edged sword , it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit , joints and marrow ; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart " ( Hebrews 4:12 ) . As you diligently study and meditate on the Bible and sit under regular , sound preaching , God will use His Word like a spotlight and a scalpel in your heart . It will reveal your idolatrous desires and show you how to love and worship God with all your heart , mind , soul , and strength . <p> The Holy Spirit aids our deliverance from idols by helping us to understand the Bible , to identify our sin , and to pursue a godly life ( 1 Corinthians 2:10-15 ; Philippians 2:13 ) . Therefore , we should pray on a daily basis for the Spirit to guide , convict , and strengthen us in our walk with Christ . <p> Finally , God has surrounded us with brothers and sisters in Christ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idols , and provide encouragement and guidance in our spiritual growth ( Galatians 6:1 ; Romans 15:14 ) . This requires that we commit ourselves to consistent involvement in a solid , biblical church and seek regular fellowship and accountability from spiritually mature believers . <p> Through these three vehicles of grace , God will help you examine your life and progressively expose and deliver you from the idols that rule your heart . This process involves several key steps . <p> Prayerfully ask yourself the " X-ray " questions listed previously , which will help you discern the desires that have come to rule your heart . <p> Keep track of your discoveries in a journal so that you can identify patterns and steadily go after specific idols . <p> Pray daily that God would rob your idols of their influence in your life by making you miserable whenever you give in to them . <p> Describe your idols to your spouse and an accountability partner , and ask them to pray for you and lovingly confront you when they see signs that the idol is still controlling you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disguise . As soon as you gain a victory over a particular sinful desire , your idol is likely to reappear in a related form , with a redirected desire and more subtle means of attracting your attention . <p> If you are dealing with an idol that is difficult to identify or conquer , go to your pastor or some other spiritually mature advisor , and seek his or her counsel and support . <p> Most of all , ask God to replace your idols with a growing love for Him and a consuming desire to worship Him and Him alone ( more on this below ) . <p> If someone told you that you had a deadly cancer that would take your life if you did not get treatment , you would probably spare no effort or expense in pursuing the most rigorous treatment available . Well , you do have cancer , a cancer of the soul . It is called sin and idolatry . But there is a cure . It is called the gospel of Jesus Christ , and it is administered through the Word @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rigorously you avail yourself of these means of grace , the greater effect they will have in delivering you from the idols that plague your soul . <h> Replace Idol Worship with Worship of the True God <p> In his excellent book Future Grace , John Piper teaches that " sin is what you do when you are not fully satisfied in God . " 4 The same may be said about idolatry : It is what we do when we are not fully satisfied in God . In other words , if we are not fulfilled and secure in God , we will inevitably seek other sources of happiness and security . <p> Therefore , if you want to squeeze the idols out of your heart and leave no room for them to return , make it your top priority to aggressively pursue an all-consuming worship for the living God . Ask Him to teach you how to love , fear , and trust Him more than anything in this world . Replacing idol worship with worship of the true God involves several steps : <p> Resolving Everyday Conflict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the church or workplace . Ideal for Sunday school classes , membership classes , mission teams , or neighborhood Bible studies -- any group that wants to learn , discuss , and apply the principles of biblical peacemaking together . Church Price : $169.00 <p> Repent before God . When we repent and confess our sins and idols , believing in our forgiveness through Christ , we also confess our faith in Christ . Repentance and confession of our faith in the true God is true worship ( 1 John 1:8-10 ) . " The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit ; a broken and contrite heart , O God , you will not despise " ( Psalm 51:17 ; see also Isaiah 66:2b ) . <p> Fear God . Stand in awe of the true God when you are tempted to fear others or are afraid of losing something precious . " The fear of the LORD is the beginning of all . " Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but can not kill the soul . Rather , be afraid of the One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Matthew 10:28 ) . " If you , O LORD , kept a record of sins , O Lord , who could stand ? But with you there is forgiveness ; therefore you are feared " ( Psalm 130:3-4 ) . <p> Love God . Desire the One who forgives us and provides everything we need instead of looking to other things that Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind ' " ( Matthew 22:37 ) . " Those who seek the LORD lack no good Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness , and all these things will be given to you as well " ( Matthew 6:33 ) . " Whom have I in heaven but you ? And earth has nothing I desire besides you . My flesh and my heart may fail , but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever " ( Psalm 73:25-26 ) . <p> Trust God . Rely on the One who sacrificed His Son for you and has proven Himself to be absolutely dependable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refuge in the LORD than to trust in man " ( 118:8 ) . " Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding " ( Proverbs 3:5 ) . " His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness . Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises , so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires " ( 2 Peter 1:3-4 ) . <p> Delight in God . Find your greatest joy in thinking about God , meditating on His works , talking to others about Him , praising Him , and giving Him thanks . " Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart " ( Psalm 37:4 ) . " My mouth is filled with your praise , declaring your splendor all day long " ( Psalm 71:8 ) . " Rejoice in the Lord always . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Philippians 4:4 ) . " Be joyful always ; continually ; give thanks in all circumstances , for this is God 's will for you in Christ Jesus " ( 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ) . <p> As these passages indicate , God has designed a wonderful cycle for those who want to worship Him above all things . As you love , praise , give thanks , and delight yourself in God , He will fulfill your desires with the best thing in the world : more of Himself ! And as you learn to delight more and more in Him , you will feel less need to find happiness , fulfillment , and security in the things of this world . By God 's grace , the influence of idolatry and conflict in your family can be steadily diminished , and you and your family can enjoy the intimacy and security that come from worshiping the one true God . <p> 1 I owe Paul Tripp , David Powlison , and Ed Welch of the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation ( www.CCEF.org ) a great debt for the many @ @ @ @

@@5057341 <p> Even as Quinn and Santana slowly made their way downstairs , they heard raised voices and could see from the stairwell Brittany sitting in the lounge chair with Rachel sitting sideways in her lap with her legs hanging over one armrest . Their arms were wrapped around each other and they were nodding excitedly . They were so caught up in their conversation that they clearly had no idea that they were being overheard and Quinn and Santana stopped to listen . <p> " I know right ? Just the thing . I 'll hold the periscope 's ... wheelhouse steady while you use the calibradon . " <p> " Hold it tight . " <p> " Obviously . This operation needs precision . " <p> " I 'm all over it . " <p> The girls on the stairs watched as the other girls paused and tightened their grip on each other . <p> " Do you think it 's working , Brittany ? " <p> " I 'm adjusting it ... just another few turns and I think ... yes . The angular perpendicularity was 13 degrees off between the primary mirror and the secondary prism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pause , because those were real words and optical concepts . <p> " You fixed it ! " <p> Brittany shrugged , " De nada . With your help . " <p> " No . You 're the better sub mechanic . " <p> " Well , you were better with the air conditioning thing . " <p> " We all have our different talents . " <p> " Totally ! Right ? " <p> They grinned at each other winningly even as Santana threw her hands in the air and Quinn said through gritted teeth , " Can anyone come aboard ? " <p> Rachel smiled up at the girls descending the stairs , " Brittany just had a flash of mechanical brilliance regarding our periscope ! " <p> " Fantastic , " Quinn said , although her voice was strained . <p> Santana cut to the chase , " And you 're mauling my baby , Frodo . " <p> " I respectfully disagree , Santana . Brittany and I were working in the close confines of a submarine and we were merely giving a bit of verisimilitude @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on her hips , " So you 're actually saying if you were fixing a sub you 'd be in each other 's laps ? " <p> " It 's method acting . " <p> " There 's going to be a method to my acting out in just a few seconds . " <p> Quinn bit off the words , " Rachel , you need to get out of Brittany 's lap , " and even as she heard the words , Rachel could n't decide whether Quinn had spoken for Santana 's benefit or her own . <p> " Rach is totally cuddly , San , Q , and we were having fun so do n't be mean . " <p> " I know baby but -- " <p> " No buts , San . It 's not sexy hugging -- it makes us happy so I do n't see why you guys are making a big deal out of it . You ca n't say I ca n't hug Rach , San , just because you 're my girlfriend and it makes you jelly for no reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ super jelly right now but you 're trying not to be mean even though I can see you really want to be . " <p> Question answered , Rachel thought as she hugged Brittany tightly and kissed her on the cheek , " Great save with our periscope and more later , okay ? " <p> " Totally . " <p> She got up and stood before Santana and looked from the girl to Quinn , " There . Are you okay now ? Are your petty jealousies assuaged by the fact Brittany and I are n't in physical proximity ? Or do you not understand I 've never had a real playmate in my life , completely and entirely because of the two of you ? Forgive me if you find it difficult to believe that Brittany and I like to play and are affectionate by nature and can regulate and relegate our affections based upon our other relationships . I assume I 'm your ride home , Santana , Brittany ? I 'll be upstairs . " <p> " But before we leave , Quinn ? We need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room . " <p> As the girl charged up the stairs , Brittany 's face fell and Santana winced . <p> As Quinn entered her bedroom , she saw Rachel pacing back and forth but as she closed the door behind her , Rachel stopped and pointed at her . " What are you thinking , Quinn ? " <p> Quinn did n't answer . <p> " Tell me you 're actually thinking that Brittany and I are having some clandestine affair . " <p> " Of course not ! " <p> Rachel glared at Quinn , " So you do know that my relationship with Brittany is friendly and affectionate and yet you 're still angrily jealous ? May I repeat ? Me and BRITTANY ? Who would n't hurt you for the world , although apparently you imagine I would ? " <p> Quinn felt like her head would explode at this but she lowered her voice and whispered hoarsely , " Hello , princess ? You just brought me back from a therapy session to address a lot of stuff including exactly the issue of my possessive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's too hard for you after ten years , I 'm sure I 'll continue to fuck up so often you wo n't need to schedule reminders or you 'll quickly get so tired of me we wo n't need to schedule anything at all . " <p> Rachel looked into Quinn 's eyes and although she was angry , she was n't so angry that she could n't understand that the whole Brittany thing was , yet again , a knee-jerk reaction on Quinn 's part or that the girl felt honest anguish for that reaction . Nor angry enough to change her mind about what she 'd been considering from the moment that she 'd kissed Quinn so passionately . This was all clearly going to be complex between them until it was n't . " Your explanation is noted and appreciated . Change of subject ? " <p> " Gladly . " <p> Quinn was expecting something somewhat dire but Rachel surprised her . " I was thinking that if I 'm going to be kissing you so often and giving you hickeys and fondling your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make a more formal declaration of my intentions toward you . " <p> Most of the tension left Quinn 's body as she half-smiled , " What do you mean ? " <p> " This is probably such a bad idea and way too soon but I need for you to feel secure and I think if we 're going to be ... like this ... I should ask you whether you 'd consider being my girlfriend . " <p> Quinn literally felt her heart flop around in her chest . " I 've been your girlfriend from the moment you threw up on me , Rachel . I think the question is whether you 'd consider being mine . " <p> " I 'm going to ignore your lovely memories of my regurgitation . But yes . Both to the consideration and the question . " <p> " And you 're not just asking because I 'm an insecure basket-case and you feel guilty because you felt me up ? " Although this was phrased as if it were a joke , Rachel understood it was a sincere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your girlfriend . " <p> Quinn smiled , " So we 're dating ? " <p> " When you finally gin up the courage to ask me on a date and I inevitably accept , then yes . " <p> " So I 'm the boy in this scenario ? " <p> Rachel shrugged , " Well , you are taller and more aggressive . " <p> " I think we could debate the more aggressive part . I 've seen you in Glee . " <p> Only the fact that Quinn 's eyes were serious and suddenly filled with anxiety as she nodded kept Rachel from laughing in astonishment at this surreal twist in the conversation . As she flashed through what she imagined of the girl 's religious upbringing , she reached out and ran a thumb gently over her cheek . <p> " Jesus is n't bothering me , Quinn . I love and revere Him as someone I personally consider one of history 's greatest moral teachers , a fellow Jew and the one my daddy considers his saviour . As a Jew , I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my daddy do but every thought I have of Him is positive . I know that 's not the case for you but I 've read the New Testament many times and you need n't fear Him . He loves you . " <p> She tapped the girl gently on the nose . <p> " And beside that ? The King James version of the Bible is , as you should know , a greater influence on the Western literary canon than even Shakespeare . You ca n't help but know a lot of it even if you have n't read it , and I have read it . I promise you Jesus is n't hounding me because we 're in love . " <p> " Hounding . Funny you should use that word . My father made me feel like Jesus was a pitbull in the sky . " <p> " If Jesus is who you Christians purport him to be ? Again ? You need n't fear Him . He 's the good shepherd and you 're a beloved member of His flock . Your father was wrong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spiritual concerns will never be dumb to me , baby . And if you want to talk about them , I 'll always listen . " She rested her hand on Quinn 's right shoulder . " Are you sure that you do n't believe your homosexuality is a sin ? That our relationship is a sin ? " <p> Quinn adjusted herself slightly on her crutches as she considered this . " I 'm completely convinced it 's not a sin . But when you said that about quoting Jesus ? That caught me off-guard and I totally thought , oh my God , Jesus is watching my girlfriend . I guess that 's just one more habitual anxiety reaction I can deal with in therapy . " <p> Rachel gently shook Quinn 's shoulder . " Again ? If Jesus is who you believe Him to be ? I know he 's watching me . And I promise you He loves me . He might want to smite me occasionally for my ego but , even in my faith , His father created me and I 've been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smiled down into warm brown eyes . " I think I am , too . And on that whole girlfriend note ? Does that mean I get to kiss you ? " <p> Rachel immediately moved toward her but Quinn pulled back . " No , Rachel . Actually ? I get to kiss you . As you said , I 'm the boy . " <p> " You 're the goy . " <p> " That too . " <p> The kiss Quinn gave Rachel was passionate but it was also incredibly gentle and tender and completely unlike what they 'd shared before . <p> When Quinn ended it , Rachel blinked . " Uh . Okay . Wow ? " She shook her head . " You 're exceptionally good at that but I 'm big enough to immediately admit that I now know you 're the girlier girl in this relationship . " <p> " Yes . I already knew that . But I admire your willingness to concede you were wrong . " <p> " I did n't say I was wrong . I merely -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love . I want you to feel it . " <p> Rachel sighed dreamily , " I feel it , like , all over . And I just said like , which is unlike me . " <p> " I broke you . " <p> " If we did n't have other people to tend to , you could break me again . " <p> Quinn kissed her on the forehead . " You 're my girlfriend . " <p> " And you 're mine . That 's completely bizarre . " <p> " I 'll say . But we 're figuring out what that means and we 're not ready to tell the world . Does that go without saying ? " <p> " You said it . " <p> Rachel hugged Quinn tightly , " You owe Brittany an apology . " <p> " I know . " <p> " And fair warning ? I will be as appropriately affectionate as I want to with Brittany . Get used to it . Got it ? " <p> " Got it -- let 's get to it . " @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waiting for them in the foyer . <p> Quinn led the way , " Brit Brit ? I 'm sorry about the whole jelly thing . I 'm going to a doctor to get better about being so mean , okay ? " <p> Brittany grinned , " That 's super good , Q , because you 're only mean because you 're sad all the time and that has to hurt more than your foot even , right ? " <p> Rachel looked up gratefully at the girl forcing an abrupt conversational detour , staring down at Santana to accept it even as she said , " Yes , Brittany , on our way home , we can stop for ice cream . " <p> Santana looked into Brittany 's eyes , then glared at Rachel and pointed at Quinn , " You 'd better fucking note the fact I took the T out of the word bitch in addressing our hobbit just now and that was just for you , Q. And you do n't eat ice cream , Frodo . " <p> " I do n't but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dear God , Quinn thought . It was sweet of Rachel to say but she dropped her head even as Santana 's glare turned into a leer . When she looked up , Santana said , " She opened the door , Q. So , for reals ? She deserves for me to walk right through . You already had a little something sweet today , Rachel ? What 's that ? " <p> Rachel looked from Quinn to Santana and back to Quinn . And stamped her foot . " You told her ! " <p> Quinn raised both hands as best she could over her crutches . " I changed into a turtleneck , Rachel . She noticed and asked . I told . She 's my best friend . " <p> Brittany responded , " It 's so not like I 'm not used to this but I know I 'm missing something . " <p> Quinn did n't even bother to move as Santana stepped forward and pulled her turtleneck down . Brittany stared at the damage and nodded . " That 's totally sweet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San are women of color . Q and I are really pale Caucasians and even for Caucasians we both bruise super easy since forever , okay ? " <p> Rachel nodded in complete mortification . <p> Brittany lowered her voice , " You know I 'm like in my cheer costume all the time so I ca n't be bruised all over , right ? So the best thing to do is just lick Q really hard . It still feels really nice . I mean , it 's not exactly as fun but it does n't leave marks . That 's what San does until the off-season . " <p> The three girls surrounding Brittany were blushing ferociously and begging internally for Brittany to end their misery in their minds . Which she did . " I think Q needs to get off her foot , S. " <p> " Does this mean you and Rach are girlfriends or are you just friends with sexy times ? " <p> Quinn thought ' leave it to Brittany to just ask the big question even she and Rachel had n't handled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexy times , for the time being . I need to go to the doctor more and get better before all that . " <p> " Because , like San said , you 're going to a sad doctor to help make you happy ? " <p> " Yes . " <p> " Good . I 'm glad . " <p> " Me too , B. You guys get going . Rach ? Call me later ? " <p> Rachel grabbed her bag from the floor of the foyer , " I certainly will . And since the cat 's out of the bag ? " <p> She pulled Quinn into a quick , gentle kiss . " I love you -- get off that leg and tell your mother goodbye for us . " <p> " Will do . And love you back . And I love you , S , even though you 're a bish right back and I super love you B. " <p> Where Brittany came up with half the stuff she said , which was often wildly accurate , was a mystery to all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was a disturbingly long line for Ohio in the winter . Go figure , Santana thought as she gave Brittany a ten-dollar bill and said , " You know what I want , ice cream-wise , baby . And I wants to have a quick talk with our hobbit . " <p> Brittany nodded and said , " I 'll order it but you have to be nice , San or -- " <p> " I know ! You already told me . Three scoops for you . " <p> Santana sat across from a booth with Rachel but leaned forward , motioning for Rachel to do the same . As Rachel leaned forward , Santana spoke quietly , " Here 's the deal , hobby . There are many definitions of the word ese , which sort of , kind of can be translated from something like , " Wassup , ese , " to " What 's up , dude ? " It has other connotations , however , and the most common usage is derived from male Mexican-American gang culture . As such ? It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Latina woman who 's not Mexican . I totally get you thought you know a cool Spanish reference but it hit me wrong , okay ? I promise I 'm not hatin ' on Mexicans but I 'm mixed-breed Lesbian enough . I do n't need to be called what I 'm not . " <p> " I apologize . I did n't mean any offense . " <p> " Some taken initially -- but taken totally back . I understand you did n't know . Apology accepted . And listen . About the whole Britts thing ? I 'm not used to anyone loving her like our parents or me and Q do ... so it 's like ... " <p> " I understand . " <p> " I do n't think you do . " <p> Rachel looked into eyes as dark as her own . " Santana ? I understand . You suddenly have someone else who only wants the best for her . Who loves her . I know that must be weird for you and maybe you think I ca n't cut it ? @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the girl across from her , " I 'm tougher than both you and Quinn put together . Nothing either of you have ever done to me over ten years has diminished me in any way . You can hurt me all you want to , and you so have , but I will always win because I 'm stronger than both of you in every way except the physical . And now Brittany has me completely on her side . " <p> Rachel pulled a paper napkin from its dispenser and began to clean the tabletop . <p> " Remember that extends to you and Quinn . I 'd bet you think I 'm the winner here , right ? Because I 've gained high school bullshit-protection from you ? Think twice , Santana . I appreciate you but I 've had my Kevlar on since the day you walked into my life . You 're the winners in this equation . Because now you have my affection and trust and protection . I sincerely apologize again for my ham-handed cultural reference but you need to step back if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing about me . " <p> She stopped cleaning and looked Santana in the eyes . " It never would . I 'm Rachel Berry . Bottom line ? I will always stand in front of whatever life throws at Quinn or Brittany . You have someone standing with you between life and them . And I will always win , even if sometimes you three might lose . I promise you that 's true . " <p> " Rocky Road , San ! " Brittany announced as she slid into the booth next to the girl and handed her the cone . <p> " What a perfect choice for Santana , " Rachel said as she looked at Brittany 's cone . " What 's that , Brittany ? " <p> " Mint chocolate chip . It 's my favorite . I could have gotten three scoops like San said but it makes me crazy anxious when I do because it melts so fast so two 's enough . With two scoops , you just eat the top and jam the rest in the cone with your tongue . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like melting and licking , right ? And that

@@5057441 <h> Formats <h> Book Description <p> Release Date : December 6 , 1993 <p> In this wonderfully innovative yet practical guide to skiing , acclaimed instructor Tejada-Flores explains how to break the bad habits of an intermediate skier and learn to ski even the steepest , bumpiest slopes with the grace and speed of an expert . Illustrations . <p> In this wonderfully innovative yet practical guide to skiing , acclaimed instructor Tejada-Flores explains how to break the bad habits of an intermediate skier and learn to ski even the steepest , bumpiest slopes with the grace and speed of an expert . Illustrations . <h> Editorial Reviews <h> Amazon.com Review <p> Afraid to ski under the lift ? Skip the black diamonds ? Learn how to ski the steep and deep with this original , readable guide designed especially for the intermediate skier . Breakthrough on Skis , with its point-by-point emphasis on technique , will help you tackle all sorts of conditions and terrain . Carve better turns , enjoy the bumps , or even venture into the backcountry . <h> From Publishers Weekly <p> Wilson 's account of the U.S. downhill ski team 's progress to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reader than to fans of professional skiing . Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information , Inc . <p> I started to ski five years ago at the age of 46 when my wife , an avid accomplished skier , insisted . After numerous group and private lessons , I was probably a 5 on the standard 10 scale . It was discouraging . Then , I discovered Lito 's books , tapes and lessons . Now , I 'm a 9 on a 10 scale able to easily ski on all but difficult black diamond bumps . Everything else is a breeze and fun . Better skiing is not harder , it 's just different . Lito 's book takes you step by step , stage by stage , one phase at a time . It 's so simple it 's remarkable that no other book has come close . For example , since skiing generally requires all your weight on one foot at a time , which foot is it ? Most people , even accomplished skiers , answer either the uphill or downhill ski . This answer is both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outside ski which could be uphill at one point and downhill at another point . Next , he explains how and why shifting weight to the other ski must be completed early and dynamically . This is actually simple somewhat like a dance step . The book continues on with secret after secret until the cumulative result is advanced skiing . After five or six days following his advice , it really came together . I 'll never forget that time down a black diamond slope using his techniques naturally and easily . At the bottom , I looked back at the formerly imposing slope and realized that it had been a breeze . Looking to the ski , I said thank you God and Lito . Since then , fear and trepidation ( except for those black diamond bumps ) have forever been excised from my skiing . If you 're tired of stopping at the top of a tough slope trying to build up your courage , you 've apparently never read Lito 's book , seen his tapes and/or implemented his advice . After reading and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easy opportunity to enjoy this incredible sport . Once again , thank you Lito . <p> Yeah , I know -- skiing books do n't teach you to ski . But this book , a slope , and a week WILL teach an intermediate skier to ski like an expert . <p> His main point is crucial : expert skiing is a different set of skills . Many of us ( me especially ) reach intermediate level quickly , but we stay there forever . Refining those skills wo n't make an expert skier . <p> Lito Tejada-Flores breaks the skills of skiing down into simple , straightforward technical steps . He teaches you to ski with your feet , not your head . <p> Skiing only one week a year , I went from NASTAR bronze to NASTAR gold . My wife and I own over two dozen ski books . This one alone did more for us than all the rest . We will both read it again before and during this year 's ski trip . It 's a winner . <p> Go to DVD &; VIDEO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He has made three videotapes which are as superb as the book . I talked a good deal there in a customer review ( for Tape #3 ) to the effect that the first two tapes are indispensable . <p> We all learn differently but for me , book and tapes are necessary companions . Bear in mind that the tapes are 29 bucks , full length , and you wind up watching them over and over . An hour of ski instruction on the slope is about 75 dollars--and let 's be honest , when was

@@5057541 <h> Better Than I Know Myself Lyrics <h> Adam Lambert <p> Cold as ice And more bitter than a December Winter night That 's how I treated you And I know that I I sometimes tend to loose my temper And I cross the line Yeah that 's the truth I know it gets hard sometimes But I could never Leave your side No matter what I say ' Cause if I wanted to go I woulda gone by now but I really need you near me To keep my mind off the edge If I wanted to leave I would 've left by now But you 're the only one that knows me Better than I know myself All along I tried to pretend it did n't matter If I was alone Deep down I know If you were gone For even a day I would n't know which way to turn ' Cause I 'm lost without you I know it gets hard sometimes But I could never Leave your side No matter what I say From : http : **35;6813;TOOLONG ... ' Cause if I wanted to go I would 've gone by now But I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the edge If I wanted to leave I would 've left by now But you 're the only one that knows me Better than I know myself I get kind of dark Let it go too far I can be obnoxious at times But try and see my heart ' Cause I need you now So do n't let me down You 're the only thing in this world I would die without ' Cause if I wanted to go I would 've gone by now but I really need you near me To keep my mind off the edge If I wanted to leave I would 've left by now But you 're the only one that knows me Better than I know myself ' Cause if I wanted to go I would 've gone by now but I really need you near me To keep my mind off the edge If I wanted to leave I would 've left by now But you 're the only one

@@5057641 <h> Older Women and Everyday Talk about the Ageing Body <h> Abstract <p> This discourse analytic study shows how 10 older women , who exercise regularly or attend the University of the Third Age , adjust to the ageing body in their everyday talk ' through taking a dualist position . The part of the body which is discursively constructed as ageing becomes objectified through appealing to a wider cultural discourse of ageing as biological decline . This dualist position is embedded within a wider cultural discourse of personal agency . The individual 's control of the ageing body is emphasized , the ability to monitor and manage ageing body parts ' through exerting the active mind ' and the busy body '

@@5057741 <p> You can put this solution on YOUR website ! cos 33pi4. ------------- 32pi/4 = 8pi which is 4 revolutions . Subtract that . --&gt; cos(pi/4) = sqrt(2)/2 I did n't use a calculator , I know that one . It 's 1/8 of a revolution , or 45 . If you plot it on a unit circle , x and y are equal ,

@@5057841 <h> Asia Leaders to Discuss Cooperation , Rights , and Disputes With China <p> Cambodian government security forces walk in front of the Council of Ministers building as they patrol along a street ahead of the 21st ASEAN Summit and other related summits in Phnom Penh , November 13 , 2012 . <p> BANGKOK -- Leaders in Asia will be gathering in Cambodia later this month ( Nov 18-20 ) for a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations . Territorial tensions between ASEAN members and China marred a summit in July , adding pressure to the meeting as President Obama is set to make a historic visit . <p> The last regional meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations was considered a disappointment after the group failed , for the first time , to issue a joint statement . <p> Many blamed China , saying it influenced Phnom Penh to block a statement that included concerns by Vietnam and the Philippines over South China Sea territorial disputes . <p> With President Obama expected at the ASEAN East Asia Summit , Ernie Bower , at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington , says the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ balanced foreign policy . <p> " This balance does n't mean balancing the United States and China , " said Bower . " But it means working with all players and a recognition that ASEAN is very important . I do n't think that recognition came thru in July . So Cambodia has an opportunity - Cambodian leader Hun Sen has an opportunity - in November to make that point . " <p> China has stepped-up aggressive claims to island territory in the South China Sea , raising international concerns including from the United States . <p> ASEAN has been trying to negotiate a code of conduct with China to prevent conflicts . <p> But Beijing prefers to deal with ASEAN members one-on-one rather than as a group . <p> " The setback in July is a serious one because this means that there is more pressure now in November at the East Asia Summit and the sideline meetings to have a code of conduct , " said Thitinan Pongsudhirak is Director of Bangkok 's Institute of Security and International Studies . " So , some drama is in store @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that China has some domestic concerns now , they 're going through a leadership transition . It 's not a good time for the Chinese leadership to appear weak . " <p> President Obama is being urged to push ASEAN on human rights concerns . <p> But the bloc is only expected to adopt a watered-down regional declaration of human rights at the summit . <p> Phil Robertson , Deputy Asia Director for Human Rights Watch , says the declaration is a far cry from international standards . <p> " The general principles set out a series of exemptions or loopholes based on local context , based on balancing of rights with responsibilities , based on national security or internal stability , that would limit rights in a way that the international standards do not limit rights , " he said . <p> Robertson says President Obama should also raise Cambodia 's deteriorating human rights

@@5057941 <p> Something tells me somethings going to happen tonight Ive read in the papers that gemini people will make it tonight Stars will be shining my sign is alining with love So come on and make it lets take everything that weve bin dreaming of <p> Oh baby some thing tells me somethings going to happen to you The smile on my face is the smile you were wearing a moment or two So get it together you see it 's gon na be alright Something tells me somethings gon na happen tonight <p> Oh i woke up this morning with sunshine through my window Everything thts happened so far has turned out right And i got every reason to feel it 's goin better Its getting better every minute wait till we meet tonight <p> Oh baby some thing tells me somethings going to happen to you The smile on my face is the smile you were wearing a moment or two So get it together you see it 's gon na be alright Something tells me somethings gon na happen tonight <p> Oh i woke up this morning with sunshine through my window Everything thts happened so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to feel it 's goin better Its getting better every minute wait till we meet tonight <p> Oh baby some thing tells me somethings going to happen to you The smile on my face is the smile you were wearing a moment or two So get it together you see it 's gon na be alright Something tells me somethings gon na happen tonight <p> Oh baby some thing tells me somethings going to happen to you The smile on my face is the smile you were wearing a moment or two So get it together you see it 's gon na

@@5058041 <h> " The Things They Carried " and " Love " <p> The first story in the collection introduces the cast of characters that reappear throughout the book . The cast is made up of the soldiers of the Alpha Company , led by First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross . The platoon is deployed to fight in the Vietnam War . The narrator , O'Brien , is one of the soldiers , and he distinguishes one soldier from another in this first story by the items that they carry . <p> O'Brien lists the things the soldiers carry -- both physical and emotional . All carry basic military goods and personal items : provisions , ammunition , and special ponchos that they may be wrapped in if they die . Army slang for carrying goods is " humping " them . Aside from the basic goods , explains O'Brien , all of the men " hump " slightly different things . One wears his girlfriend 's stockings around his neck , another carries a bible , another carries a slingshot , another comic books , another condoms . <p> Cross carries letters from a gray-eyed English literature student named Martha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is obsessed with whether or not she is a virgin . He remembers taking her out on a date , trying to put a hand on her knee , and being rebuffed . He wishes he had carried her up to her room , and " kept his hand on her knee all night . " After she sends him a pebble he keeps it in his mouth and imagines it is her tongue . As lieutenant , O'Brien points out , Cross " carries " responsibility for the lives of all of his men . Cross considers this a heavy burden . <p> The first casualty for the company is Ted Lavender , a soldier who is shot dead outside Than Khe . O'Brien recounts that he hits the ground solidly , fast , weighed down by all the things he was carrying . He was more afraid of the enemy than most soldiers , so he was carrying more ammunition than was required . He had gone to relieve himself while his comrades were blowing up a tunnel . Kiowa , a part native-American soldier in the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boom-down , " is how he describes the sound of the death to anyone who will listen . " Dead weight " puns O'Brien . <p> Kiowa is horrified by his comrade 's death . But it does serve to make him better enjoy being alive . As he settles down to sleep that night with his Bible as a pillow , he enjoys the smell of the glue and paper and the feeling of his own living body . <p> Lavender is one of the only soldiers who dies in combat . The soldiers rarely see enemy fire -- mostly they sit around and play checkers . All of the men walk around in a state of constant boredom and constant tension . They are aware that they might die at any moment , which drives them crazy . But O'Brien describes how they try to cover their fear with tough talk about the " pussies " who shoot off their own fingers and toes to be discharged from the army . They all secretly long to do the same , explains the narrator , but are too embarrassed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Lavender 's death is Cross , who essentially blames himself . He feels he may have a hard time focusing on the war because he is so wrapped up in thoughts of Martha , and may have not taken the proper precautions , thereby letting Lavender 's death happen . The morning after Lavender is killed , Cross burns the letters he has received from Martha . Then he burns his photographs of her . But still he feels responsible . Setting the photographs on fire strikes him as a futile gesture . <p> But even as he beats himself up over Lavender 's death , Cross ca n't help returning to his obsessive thoughts about Martha . He convinces himself that he no longer loves her or cares whether she is a virgin . He feels both love and hate for her . He resolves to think less about Martha and more about his men , resolves to pull his raggedy crew together and make them abandon the equipment they do n't need so that they will be able to travel lighter , decides he should be less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Analysis <p> The author uses a familiar and ancient trope in this first short story , which provides the title for the collection . Authors as far back as Homer described soldiers going into battle by naming the things that they carried : goatskins filled with water , spears , locks of hair from their beloved ones . O'Brien updates this literary strategy . His characters carry the modern implements of war . But the feeling evoked is similar : static lists make the characters seem already dead , prematurely mourned . The lists are like wills . <p> The first story is told in third person , with some insight into the mind of Jimmy Cross . This movement between perspectives is called free indirect discourse , and serves to distance the reader from the soldiers . The reader sees them as if they were in a movie , moving slowly across an unfamiliar landscape , carrying their various burdens . The ancient movement of men going to war is juxtaposed with the rough , modern language of the soldiers themselves . They use slang , swear at each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and helplessness by describing death as being " zapped " or " torn up . " <p> Often dramatic narratives are driven by conflict -- frequently two characters butting heads . A war narrative needs none of these traditional sources of pressure because the war itself provides the conflict . O'Brien describes the atmosphere as tense at all times . The men know they might die at any moment . When the inevitable happens and a soldier is killed , extra tension stems from the fact that Cross knows he is responsible . Guilt becomes the most pervasive emotion of all . <p> Summary of " Love " <p> Years after the war , Jimmy Cross goes to visit the narrator , Tim O'Brien , at O'Brien 's home in Massachusetts . They look at pictures , reminisce , drink coffee , and smoke cigarettes . Cross says he has never forgiven himself for Lavender 's death . He worries about how O'Brien might portray him if he ever writes a story about Cross . His former leader asks O'Brien to describe him as a brave and handsome man if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into writing . <p> Cross shows O'Brien the photo of Martha playing volleyball . The image is the exact same one that he burned after Lavender 's death ( see " The Things They Carried " ) . O'Brien is surprised to see it , so Cross explains how he came to have another copy . He had run into Martha after the war . She had never married , had trained as a nurse , and gone on Lutheran missions to the Third World . She was unreceptive when Cross confessed that he had always loved her . When the conversation took a slightly sexual turn , she shut her eyes and rocked back and forth , seeming very disturbed . She gave him another copy of the photo of her playing volleyball and told him " not to burn this one . " <p> Analysis <p> The shift from the first story to " Love " is one of the most jarring in the book for the reader who expects a traditional novel or a collection of short stories . In a novel , it is unlikely that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Massachusetts ) , time ( many years ) and narrator ( third person omniscient to first person ) all at once . In a collection of short stories , on the other hand , two stories would not normally share the same characters , themes and events . " The Things They Carried " jars by doing all of these things . <p> " Love " serves to tie up the narrative strings of " The Things They Carried , " but also to call into question the whole process of storytelling . The Things They Carried is as much about why one would tell stories at all as it is about war . This preoccupation of fiction with its own role is often called " meta-fiction . " Meta-fiction consciously points to its own status as fiction and anxiously asks what purpose fiction might serve . In " Love , " when Cross asks that he be portrayed as a hero , there is an emotional content in the request : the reader feels Cross ' hurt and sorrow that he has not acted as a hero . But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acceded to his character/friend 's demand ? Or is

@@5058141 <h> Main menu <h> Update : Port Authority Says There Was No Fire at 1 World Trade Center <p> We got reports earlier of a fire on the 88th floor of 1 World Trade Center in lower Manhattan . Port Authority officials are now telling Fox News Channel that there was no fire

@@5058241 <p> In his keynote speech Cory addresses the issue of computer regulation in general and , more specifically , asks : What happens when we take the failed regulatory model from the copy-right realm and try to import it into other realms too ? What are the consequences ? <p> Here are some key points from Doctorow 's speech : <p> " Designing general purpose computers that sneak around their owners ' backs is a terrible idea . We 've already seen what happens when you add just a little bit of control to networks and computers -- most recently we saw Iran 's and Egypt 's secret police mining Facebook to figure out whom to arrest . Virus writers and identity thieves have already figured out that when there is a technology , that is supposed to prevent copying , running on a computer , that prevents certain programs from being seen or modified by users , that those are the programs you 'd want to infect with your viruses because they also can not be seen by the user of the computer . <p> ... <p> Once we create the facility to lawfully intercept terrorist communications , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ software , or to remotely prevent bad radios from running , we create the tools by which tyrants , crooks , snoops and jerks will spy on and control us , even if for the best of reasons . <p> ... <p> Building a general purpose PC that is just a little bit locked down is like finding a woman who is just a little bit pregnant . Once the facility can be used for a legitimate purpose , it can also be used for illegitimate purpose ... " <p> So , what is Cory 's proposed way of addressing some of the more clear-cut current and potential future problems surrounding the usage of general purpose computers , such as creating DIY super-bugs , illicit criminal or terrorist communications and child-pornography ? <p> Well , you 'll have to hear his keynote speech in full to find out . <p> P.S. Special thanks to Mike , Joseph and the rest of the TVO crew who so generously provided a line-in for my audio recorder in order to capture the best possible audio quality for this singularity podcast . <p> Update @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the

@@5058341 <p> If the Giants were not in this position he would not be here . What is this , because of the motto ? Only thing they did for the Bay is act like they down drake mentioning Mac

@@5058441 <h> You Can Work and Get Social Security at the Same Time <p> You can work while you receive Social Security retirement ( or survivors ) benefits . If you are under full retirement age for the entire year , we deduct $1 from your benefit for each $2 you earn above the annual limit . In the year you reach full retirement age , we deduct $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn above a different limit , but we only count earnings before the month you reach full retirement age . Starting with the month you reach full retirement age , you can get your benefits with no limit on your earnings . Visit

@@5058541 <h> Summer Soundtrack <p> These songs take me back ! My brothers and I spent our summers listening to music . Swimming all day . Riding our Huffy Motocross bikes around the neighborhood with wads of Hubba Bubba in our cheeks . Kicking off our shoes to Don McLean and air guitar jamming to Kansas up on the fireplace hearth in our groovy living room . Cruising in our red Volkswagon with no seatbelts . Dancing to my older sister 's K-Tel records . If I remember anything about these lazy days , it 's that the records were always spinning , and we found so much joy and laughter

@@5058641 <p> The Federal Government provides employees with nine paid holidays , including Thanksgiving . Thanksgiving is observed on the fourth Thursday of November , so the legal holiday this year will Thursday , November 22 . <p> Private sector employers may provide holidays off or holiday pay for working on Thanksgiving , but they are not required to pay you extra for time worked on a holiday or to give you the day off from work . <p> Are you interested in a job in retail ? Retailers are hiring , both for holiday seasonal jobs and for long-term positions . <p> In fact , even a short-term seasonal job can turn into a permanent position . Companies often use seasonal hiring as a way to evaluate employees and at least some of the workers hired for the holidays may have the opportunity to stay on . <p> Do you have Thanksgiving travel plans ? When you 're traveling while you 're in the midst of a job search , it 's important to be able to not miss out on emails or phone calls from prospective employers . Hiring does n't stop , just because of the holidays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other candidates who do n't check messages until they get home from a trip . <p> You wo n't want to miss out on a job opportunity or a conversation with a connection who can help your job search , because you 're not at home or out of touch . As long as you have the right job search travel tools with you , you wo n't have any problems accessing voicemail , email , or the Internet . <p> For me , my IPhone , besides being one of the best toys I 've ever had , quickly became an essential tool I ca n't do without . If you have one , or another smartphone , get your phone set before you go . Download job search iPhone apps that search for jobs by keyword and location , apply for jobs , email job listings , keep track of your contacts , and even create a resume . <p> You do n't need to spend all your time job searching , but if you spend a little while keeping your job search going , you 'll be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you get home . <p> UPDATED : 11/16/12 : Federal extended unemployment benefits are in effect for for the remainder of 2012 . However , there are currently no extended benefits in place for 2013 . Workers who are laid-off starting in July 2012 are only eligible for a maximum of 26 weeks of state benefits , depending on location , unless Congress passes new legislation to extend unemployment . To date , there has been no reports of Congress working on legislation to extend benefits . <p> Important : Check your State Unemployment Office website for details on who qualifies for extended benefits and when and how benefits will be paid . Check the " Extended Benefits " section for information . <p> Avoid Scams : The only way you can file for extended benefits is through your state unemployment office . You can not apply for benefits on third party websites , even if they say they will file for

@@5058741 <h> Related News <h> Analysis &; Opinion <h> Related Topics <p> 1 of 3 . Mayor of Florence Matteo Renzi speaks during a news conference on the search of the lost Leonardo da Vinci fresco ' ' Battle of Anghiari ' ' in Florence March 12 , 2012 . <p> Credit : Reuters/Max Rossi <p> By Philip Pullella <p> FLORENCE Mon Mar 12 , 2012 3:59pm EDT <p> FLORENCE ( Reuters ) - Art researchers and scientists said on Monday that a high-tech project using tiny video probes has uncovered evidence that a fresco by Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci lost for five centuries may still exist behind a wall of Florence 's city hall . <p> " Together with art historians and scientists combining historical evidence and technology , this research team has unlocked a mystery that has been with us for more than 500 years , " said Terry Garcia , an executive vice president of the U.S. National Geographic Society , which sponsored the research . <p> The project to find what has come to be known as the " Lost Leonardo " has been controversial , in part because researchers had to drill several holes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Leonardo fresco is still there . <p> At the start of the 16th century , Florence 's leaders commissioned Leonardo , then at the height of his career , to paint a massive fresco celebrating the Florentine Republic 's victory over the Milanese in a battle on the plains of Anghiari that took place on June 29 , 1440 . <p> Leonardo , who loathed war as " a most beastly madness , " depicted a group of horses and riders furiously fighting . <p> He abandoned the project a year after he started , probably because a new experimental technique for frescoes failed . But some of his preparatory studies remain , as well as other artists ' copies of the original fresco . <p> All traces of the original were lost more than 50 years later when Giorgio Vasari renovated the great Sala dei Cinquecento in Florence 's Palazzo Vecchio and was ordered to paint a new fresco , " The Battle of Marciano , " to accommodate the higher walls . <p> Some believe that Vasari was loath to destroy Leonardo 's work , so he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centimeters in front of the Leonardo in order to preserve what was left . <p> MEDICAL-STYLE PROBE <p> Researchers used tiny , medical-style endoscopic probes and other high-tech tools inserted through existing cracks in the outer wall holding the Vasari fresco and took samples of substances . <p> " We found traces of pigments that appear to be those known to have been used exclusively by Leonardo , " said Maurizio Seracini , an engineer and expert in art diagnostics who has been on the trail of the " Lost Leonardo " for three decades . <p> " These data are very encouraging , " he said , adding that one black pigment found was believed to be of the same type used by Leonardo on the Mona Lisa . <p> The research work was carried out by the U.S. National Geographic Society , the Center of Interdisciplinary Science for Art , Architecture and Archaeology at the University of California at San Diego and Italian art officials . <p> " I am quite convinced that something has been found and I think this is a historic day , " Garcia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the results . <p> " There is overwhelming historic documentation that indicates that the Leonardo was painted , that it was behind the wall and that it was in existence at the time that Vasari painted his fresco , " he said . <p> " Then through a series of scientific analyses using state-of-the-art imaging technology we were able to determine that there was a wall in front of the original wall and we confirmed it visually with the endoscope that showed that there is a gap ... and the sample from the wall clearly indicates that there are pigments behind this , " he said . <p> NEXT STEPS UNCERTAIN <p> He said it was now up to Italy 's culture ministry to decide the next steps and whether to explore other parts of the wall . <p> " We ca n't tell you today the condition of the Leonardo . That is for subsequent research and exploration , " Garcia said . " Whatever remains of the Leonardo is behind that wall . " <p> But some art historians are skeptical , saying the fresco of the Battle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new fresco . <p> Some art historians working on the project withdrew their support and Italia Nostra , Italy 's leading nature and arts conservation group , asked Florentine authorities to halt it because they said it risked harming the Vasari fresco and because they believed it was unlikely that the original Leonardo was there . <p> Garcia dismissed the criticism . " I think we have demonstrated that those who said the Leonardo was not behind the wall are wrong , " he said . <p> " All of the holes that were put into the mural were either in areas that had been previously restored or in fissures , so the original Vasari was not touched , " he said . <p> But even some of the participants at the presentation urged caution . <p> " We need further certainties and maximum protection for the Vasari fresco , " said Cristina Acidini , arts superintendent for Florence , in response to a question about what the next step would be . <p> " There are pros and cons about every art project , " said Marco Chatti , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most prestigious arts restoration laboratory . <p> Florence mayor Matteo Renzi said more work needed to be done on the project to reveal the condition of the Leonardo , which he believes is behind the wall . <p> " I ask the government to authorize us to find out how much ( of the Leonardo ) is left , in what condition it is in , and to evaluate if we can bring this work of Leonardo back into the light for the whole world , " Renzi said . <p> The mayor said he believed that modern technology should allow

@@5058841 <h> How to Hit Out of a Divot Hole <p> Having to hit out of a divot is one of the more frustrating things that can happen to a golfer who is in the fairway . After all , you just knocked the ball right where you 're supposed to hit it - in the fairway . But , curse the luck , the ball rolled into an unrepaired divot hole . <p> Now what ? <p> First things first : Calm down . Yes , it 's a terrible break to hit a nice drive only to then be hitting out of a divot . But bad breaks happen all the time in golf . Now that one has happened to you , your chances of dealing with it successfully will be enhanced if you keep your cool . <p> So , how do you hit out of a divot hole ? <p> The Basics Hit down at the back of the ball and dig it out . Sounds easy when it 's put like that ! <p> What we want to do is make a descending blow on the ball . That 's the goal with most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hitting out of a divot . It 's very important not to try to scoop or lift the ball out of the divot , but rather to strike down on the ball , making contact with the ball first and then the turf . <p> The Technique 1 . Set up with the ball positioned farther back in your stance than normal , center of stance or back of center depending on what your normal setup is . Take one club more than you would typically use from this distance ( e.g. , take 6-iron if you 'd normally use a 7-iron ) , but choke down a little . <p> 2 . Put a little more weight on your front foot and keep your hands ahead of the ball . Use a forward press ( shaft leaning slightly forward , ahead of the ball ) if that helps you get your hands in front of the ball . <p> 3 . Now make your swing , and this setup position should help you hit down on the ball with a steep angle of attack . ( If you have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your wrists early in the backswing . ) Stay down through the ball - no peeking ! - and take a full follow-through . The ball will

@@5058941 <h> Just When You Thought It Was Over ( Intro ) Lyrics <p> And just when you thought it was over Gravediggaz gravediggaz *gravediggaz* GRAVEDIGGAZ ! ! ! *man chokes and coughs* Now

@@5059041 <p> A couple of stories are floating around the Net having to do with the upcoming remake of Carrie . One involves the actress MGM is zeroing in on to play Carrie 's religious fanatic mother , and the other implies that we could be looking at , at least partially , a found footage film . <p> First up , Deadline reports that MGM has formally offered Julianne Moore the role of Margaret White in the Kimberly Peirce-directed remake . They 've apparently sent her the script and a pay or play offer . We approve wholeheartedly ! <p> CEO of MGM , Roger Birnbaum , came and spoke at my university today . Just letting you all in on what was said about the Carrie and Poltergeist remakes , which MGM is producing . <p> Carrie , as you all likely know , is being made and has already cast Chloe Moretz ( Let Me In ) as Carrie . Its intention is to go back and make it more similar to Stephen King 's novel . Also , this was n't entirely clear , but Birnbaum made it sound like it 's going to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to have interviews with the survivors of the prom incident , and focus on that take . <p> As someone else posted in the comments section ( and we agree ) : If they could come up with the correct mix of " found footage " and " regular movie " , it could be really good . Pretty much the whole

@@5059141 <h> ( http : **33;5179;TOOLONG ... <h> site . <p> Windows Server includes W32Time , the Time Service tool that is required by the Kerberos authentication protocol . The Windows Time service makes sure that all computers in an organization that are running the Microsoft Windows 2000 Server operating system or later versions use a common time . <p> To guarantee appropriate common time usage , the Windows Time service uses a hierarchical relationship that controls authority , and the Windows Time service does not allow for loops . By default , Windows-based computers use the following hierarchy : <p> All client desktop computers nominate the authenticating domain controller as their in-bound time partner . <p> All member servers follow the same process that client desktop computers follow . <p> All domain controllers in a domain nominate the primary domain controller ( PDC ) operations master as their in-bound time partner . <p> All PDC operations masters follow the hierarchy of domains in the selection of their in-bound time partner . <p> In this hierarchy , the PDC operations master at the root of the forest becomes authoritative for the organization . We highly recommend that you configure the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ source . When you configure the authoritative time server to sync with an Internet time source , there is no authentication . We also recommend that you reduce your time correction settings for your servers and stand-alone clients . These recommendations provide more accuracy and security to your domain . <h> Configuring the Windows Time service to use an internal hardware clock <p> To have us configure the Windows Time service to use an internal hardware clock for you , go to the " Fix it for me " section . If you prefer to fix this problem yourself , go to the " Let me fix it myself " section . <h> Fix it for me <p> To fix this problem automatically , click the Fix it button or link . Click Run in the File Download dialog box , and follow the steps in the Fix it wizard . <h> Let me fix it myself <p> Important This section , method , or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry . However , serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . For added protection , back up the registry before you modify it . Then , you can restore the registry if a problem occurs . For more information the registry , click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base : <p> To configure the PDC master without using an external time source , change the announce flag on the PDC master . The PDC master is the server that holds the forest root PDC master role for the domain . This configuration forces the PDC master to announce itself as a reliable time source and uses the built-in complementary metal oxide semiconductor ( CMOS ) clock . To configure the PDC master by using an internal hardware clock , follow these steps : <p> In the right-pane , right-click AnnounceFlags , and then click Modify . <p> In Edit DWORD Value , type A in the Value data box , and then click OK . <p> Close Registry Editor . <p> At the command prompt , type the following command to restart the Windows Time service , and then press Enter : <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this image Expand this image <p> Note The PDC master must not be configured to synchronize with itself . For more information about why the PDC master must not be configured to synchronize with itself , see Request For Comment ( RFC ) 1305 . If the PDC master is configured to synchronize with itself , the following events are logged in the System log : <p> Event Type : Warning Event Source : W32Time Event Category : None Event ID : 47 Computer : ComputerName Description : Time Provider NtpClient : No valid response has been received from manually configured peer NTPserverIPAddress after 8 attempts to contact it . This peer will be discarded as a time source and NtpClient will attempt to discover a new peer with this DNS name . For more information , see Help and Support Center at http : //support.microsoft.com . <p> Event Type : Error Event Source : W32Time Event Category : None Event ID : 29 Computer : ComputerName Description : The time provider NtpClient is configured to acquire time from one or more time sources , however none of the sources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be made for 15 minutes . NtpClient has no source of accurate time . For more information , see Help and Support Center at http : //support.microsoft.com . <p> When the PDC master runs without using an external time source , the following event is logged in the Application log : <p> Event Type : Error Event Source : W32Time Event Category : None Event ID : 12 Description : Time Provider NtpClient : This machine is configured to use the domain hierarchy to determine its time source , but it is the PDC emulator for the domain at the root of the forest , so there is no machine above it in the domain hierarchy to use as a time source . It is recommended that you either configure a reliable time service in the root domain , or manually configure the PDC to synchronize with an external time source . Otherwise , this machine will function as the authoritative time source in the domain hierarchy . If an external time source is not configured or used for this computer , you may choose to disable the NtpClient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ external time source , and it can be ignored . <h> Configuring the Windows Time service to use an external time source <p> To have us help you configure an internal time server to synchronize with an external time source , go to the " Fix it for me " section . If you prefer to fix this problem yourself , go to the " Let me fix it myself " section . <h> Fix it for me <p> To fix this problem automatically , click the Fix it button or link . Click Run in the File Download dialog box , and follow the steps in the Fix it wizard . <p> If an authoritative time server that is configured to use an AnnounceFlag value of 0x5 does not synchronize with an upstream time server , a client server may not correctly synchronize with the authoritative time server when the time synchronization between the authoritative time server and the upstream time server resumes . Therefore , if you have a poor network connection or other concerns that may cause time synchronization failure of the authoritative server to an upstream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 0x5 . <p> If an authoritative time server that is configured to use an AnnounceFlag value of 0x5 and to synchronize with an upstream time server at a fixed interval that is specified in SpecialPollInterval , a client server may not correctly synchronize with the authoritative time server after the authoritative time server restarts . Therefore , if you configure your authoritative time server to synchronize with an upstream NTP server at a fixed interval that is specified in SpecialPollInterval , set the AnnounceFlag value to 0xA instead of 0x5 . <p> In the pane on the right , right-click NtpServer , and then click Modify . <p> In Edit Value , type Peers in the Value data box , and then click OK . <p> Collapse this image Expand this image <p> Note Peers is a placeholder for a space-delimited list of peers from which your computer obtains time stamps . Each DNS name that is listed must be unique . You must append , 0x1 to the end of each DNS name . If you do not append , 0x1 to the end of each DNS name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not take effect . <p> Note TimeInSeconds is a placeholder for a reasonable value , such as 1 hour ( 3600 ) or 30 minutes ( 1800 ) . The value that you select will depend on the poll interval , network condition , and external time source . <p> Note TimeInSeconds is a placeholder for a reasonable value , such as 1 hour ( 3600 ) or 30 minutes ( 1800 ) . The value that you select will depend on the poll interval , network condition , and external time source . <p> Close Registry Editor . <p> At the command prompt , type the following command to restart the Windows Time service , and then press Enter : <h> Troubleshooting <p> For the Windows Time service to function correctly , the networking infrastructure must function correctly . The most common problems that affect the Windows Time service include the following : <p> There is a problem with TCP/IP connectivity , such as a dead gateway . <p> The Name Resolution service is not working correctly . <p> The network is experiencing high volume delays , especially when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ links . <p> The Windows Time service is trying to synchronize with inaccurate time sources . <p> We recommend that you use the Netdiag.exe utility to troubleshoot network-related issues . Netdiag.exe is part of the Windows Server 2003 Support Tools package . See Tools Help for a complete list of command-line parameters that you can use with Netdiag.exe . If your problem is still not solved , you can turn on the Windows Time service debug log . Because the debug log can contain very detailed information , we recommend that you contact Microsoft Customer Support Services when you turn on the Windows Time service debug log . <p> For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs , go to the Contact Microsoft website . <p> Collapse this image Expand this image <p> Note In special cases , charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem . The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is configured to be a reliable time source is identified as the root of the Windows Time service . The root of the Windows Time service is the authoritative server for the domain . Typically , it is configured to retrieve time from an external NTP server or hardware device . A time server can be configured as a reliable time source to optimize how time is transferred throughout the domain hierarchy . If a domain controller is configured to be a reliable time source , the Net Logon service announces that domain controller as a reliable time source when it logs on to the network . When other domain controllers look for a time source to synchronize with , they select a reliable source first , if one is available . <h> Manually-specified synchronization <p> With manually-specified synchronization , you can designate a single peer or list of peers that a computer obtains time from . If the computer is not a member of a domain , it must be manually configured to synchronize with a specified time source . By default , a computer that is a member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hierarchy . Manually-specified synchronization is most useful for the forest root of the domain or for computers that are not joined to a domain . When you manually specify an external NTP server to synchronize with the authoritative computer for your domain , you provide reliable time . However , to provide high accuracy and security to your domain , we recommend that you configure the authoritative computer for your domain to synchronize with a hardware clock . <p> Without a hardware time source , W32time is configured as an NTP type . You must reconfigure the MaxPosPhaseCorrection and MaxNegPhaseCorrection registry entries . The recommended value should be 15 minutes or even less , depending on time source , network condition , and security requirement . This requirement also applies to any reliable time source that is configured as the forest root time source in the time sync subnet . For more information about these registry entries , see the " Windows Time service registry entries " section in this article . <p> Collapse this image Expand this image <p> Note Manually-specified time sources are not authenticated unless a specific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time sources are vulnerable to attacks . Also , if a computer synchronizes with a manually-specified source instead of its authenticating domain controller , the two computers might be out of synchronization . This scenario causes Kerberos authentication to fail and could also cause other actions that require network authentication to fail , such as printing or file sharing . If only the forest root is configured to synchronize with an external source , all other computers within the forest remain synchronized with one another . This configuration makes replay attacks difficult . <h> All available synchronization mechanisms <p> The " all available synchronization mechanisms " option is the most valuable synchronization method for users on a network . This method enables synchronization with the domain hierarchy and may also provide an alternative time source if the domain hierarchy becomes unavailable , depending on the configuration . If the client can not synchronize time with the domain hierarchy , the time source automatically falls back to the time source that is specified by the NtpServer setting . This method of synchronization is most likely to provide accurate time to clients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ registry entries are located under <p> **36;5214;TOOLONG ... <p> : <p> Collapse this table Expand this table <p> Registry Entry <p> MaxPosPhaseCorrection <p> Path <p> **36;5252;TOOLONG ... <p> Notes <p> This entry specifies the largest positive time correction in seconds that the service makes . If the service determines that a change that is larger than this is required , the service logs an event . ( 0xFFFFFFFF is a special case that means always make a time correction . ) The default value for domain members is 0xFFFFFFFF . The default value for stand-alone clients and servers is 54,000 or 15 hours . <p> Collapse this table Expand this table <p> Registry Entry <p> MaxNegPhaseCorrection <p> Path <p> **36;5290;TOOLONG ... <p> Notes <p> This entry specifies the largest negative time correction in seconds that the service makes . If the service determines that a change that is larger than this is required , the service logs an event instead . ( -1 is a special case that means always make a time correction . ) The default value for domain members is 0xFFFFFFFF . The default value for stand-alone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Collapse this table Expand this table <p> Registry Entry <p> MaxPollInterval <p> Path <p> **36;5328;TOOLONG ... <p> Note <p> This entry specifies the largest interval , in log seconds , that is allowed for the system polling interval . Although a system must poll according to the scheduled interval , a provider can refuse to produce samples when they are requested . The default value for domain members is 10 . The default value for stand-alone clients and servers is 15 . <p> This entry specifies the special poll interval in seconds for manual peers . When the SpecialInterval 0x1 flag is enabled , W32Time uses this poll interval instead of a poll interval that is determined by the operating system . The default value on domain members is 3,600 . The default value on stand-alone clients and servers is 604,800 . <p> Collapse this table Expand this table <p> Registry Entry <p> MaxAllowedPhaseOffset <p> Path <p> **36;5366;TOOLONG ... <p> Note <p> This entry specifies the maximum offset , in seconds , for which W32Time tries to adjust the computer clock by using the clock rate . When the offset @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clock directly . The default value for domain members is 300 .

@@5059241 <h> Get our top stories <h> follow gizmodo <h> The Possibility of Alien Life Is Now ( Almost ) Impossible to Deny <p> An international team of astronomers have reached the most definitive conclusion , one with profound implications : our galaxy contains a minimum of 100 billion planets . Of those , most are small planets like ours . Statistically , every star would have at least one planet . <p> This means that the chances of life and habitable planets in our galaxy alone is overwhelmingly high . So high that it 's impossible to deny that it 's out there . The only question is how much of that is little dumb critters* and how much is civilized . <p> According to Stephen Kane -- at NASA 's Exoplanet Science Institute at CalTech in Pasadena and one of the authors of the study -- " not only are planets common in the galaxy , but there are more small planets than large ones . This is encouraging news for investigations into habitable planets . " <p> Kane is being too conservative when he says that this is " encouraging news " . This is amazingly great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than Jupiter-sized giants . The rough estimate is that there are at least 10 billion terrestrial planets across our galaxy alone . <p> There 's no doubt that , statistically , there 's life out there ( and let 's not even talk about the other 500 billion galaxies in the Universe ) . <h> Intelligent civilizations <p> Of course , how much of this life is smart enough to build computers , communication dishes or Imperial Star Destroyers is another matter altogether . As far as we know , all those habitable worlds may be full of killer snails and dozy fish <p> But the fact remains that , until now , we could only guess much of this stuff . Now we know . That makes a big difference . <p> The fact that there are at least 100 billion planets in our Milky Way alone has profound implications for our understanding of the Universe . These discoveries , made using Hubble and Kepler , are finally putting some real numbers in the Drake Equation . <p> The equation -- created by Frank Drake , Emeritus Professor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cruz -- is used to estimate the number of extraterrestrial civilizations in the Milky Way galaxy . <p> Now we are starting to replace the guesses with solid information and things could n't look better . Soon it will not be " we want to believe " but " we know . " Hubble <p> * Some may argue that advanced alien civilizations would see

@@5059341 <h> AI vs . AI : Two chatbots talking to each other <h> How it works <p> The system depicted was created by combining three components : a chatbot , a text-to-speech synthesizer , and an avatar renderer . <p> Chatbots are machines designed to emulate the conversational abilities of humans , conversing with a human user and generally attempting to convince the user into thinking that the machine is human . In such a scenario , if a sufficiently adept human on one end is fooled into thinking the machine is another human , the machine would be credited as passing the famous Turing Test for intelligence . Over 60 years after its proposal by Alan Turing , there are arguably still no machines capable of passing this test . The chatbot we initially used was Eliza , a prominent early milestone from AI 's infancy in the 1960 's . This tended to produce fairly boring conversations , so we switched to a much smarter , constantly learning chatbot : Cleverbot . Publicly available on Cleverbot.com , this state of the art chat engine was created by AI researcher Rollo Carpenter , who can be contacted via @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Existor are soon to add new capabilities aiming at a Turing Test pass sooner than you might expect . <p> The second piece of the system is the text-to-speech synthesizer , which takes the text generated by the chatbot and creates a spoken , audio version . There are many services able to accomplish this ; we chose Acapela because it was easy to use and sounded decent . <p> The final piece is the avatar renderer , which synthesizes an animated character whose gestures and lips are synced to the sound stream . For this we used Living Actor Presenter . <p> We tied these three components together in Python , producing a single machine ( one of the two screens ) that can converse with a user . We then plugged the output of one machine into the input of a second , and the output of the second

@@5059441 , " Pre-order all three items " <h> Editorial Reviews <h> Review <p> " McNiff is able to expand the reader 's view of what it means to truly live with the labyrinthine path of the creative spirit , conveying an unlimited sense of the ways of the lived imagination . " -- Common Boundary <p> " The instructions and insights in this ' artist 's guide to letting go ' can lead you to creative heights and depths no matter what your medium . " -- Yoga Journal <h> About the Author <p> Shaun McNiff is internationally recognized as a founder and leading figure in the arts and healing field . University Professor at Lesley University in Cambridge , Massachusetts , he is past president of the American Art Therapy Association and the author of several other books including Art As Medicine , Trust the Process , and Creating with Others . <p> This book helps and inspires me ( a visual artist ) in a way that Julia Cameron 's popular ( and wonderful ) work has not . For those of us who have a kneejerk negative reaction to following rules and doing " exercises " @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a refreshing alternative to her more structured approach . McNiff emphasizes that the sense of despair we feel when the " flow " is n't flowing is itself an integral part of the process of making art , which I found particularly encouraging and true to my experience . He also encourages the reader to get going by creating multiple small , " disposable " works , which can contain the roots of larger pieces ... Read this book ! <p> I have done visual art and writing for nearly 20 years.Several years ago I hit what first appeared to be a " dry spell " . To my dismay that " spell " become a year , then two , then three and so on . I found myself profoundly blocked on all levels and the creative energy seemed to have left me altogether . I fell into a state of depression , due in part to this loss of creative energy which felt much like a loss of that which is most core to me . No what what I tried , the door remained tightly closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key to reopen this door I looked at nearly every book on creativity and things on the market . Many of them lacked the substance and understanding that I needed . Some were aimed at people that had never been creative and therefore the exercises never worked for me . Others used almost a Twelve Step approach which , while effective for some , did n't work for me personally . Like another reviewer said I , too , found many of the " Step 1 , Step 2 , Step 3 ... " approaches to be more frustrating and limiting , only further closing this door of creative expression . <p> ... I had never read the book , but decided to buy it based on some good reviews and a large dose of desperation . I was skeptical and figured I would likely be disappointed by yet another run of the mill " how to be creative " work . <p> I could n't have been more wrong . When I finally began reading the book it felt different - totally different . I found things that were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ artist that has lost the inspiration and creative flow . It felt like a tangible guide that had the potential of reopening that locked door . <p> The book has helped me move into a place that I had previously thought to be gone forever . While I am not back to creative art at the same frequency I was before , the door has been opened a crack and that is enough to keep me working , to keep me moving forward and working to break the door free from its hinges . <p> I bought this book partially because of the positive reviews . That is why I felt that it was my responsibility to write a review as well . Perhaps it may encourage someone else in my situation to consider this book . It is n't a magical cure because the author is far too practical to attempt to provide one to the reader . Rather it is a sequence of little steps that snowball and produce a result that is often surprising and significant . <p> If I had to recommend a single book on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of whatever form , I would recommend this one . <p> To the author , I remain grateful for the keys to a door that leads me to the most important place in my life - the expression and of life through creativity . Thank you , thank you , thank you . <p> This is simply one of the best books on the subject of personal creativity &; art . Author McNiff does n't get preachy and didactic , and always gets to the point . He also does n't engage the reader with " new age " solutions and descriptions . Clear and balanced . <p> If you have a curiosity about your creativity , or bringing about artistic expression in your life , or you 're an artist on the " path "

@@5059541 <h> Main menu <h> Post navigation <p> I do tend to lean toward Republican when forced to make a choice . However I do consider myself open minded , and will vote for who I feel the best candidate is , regardless of party affiliation . <p> I did watch all the debates , have read many of the comments and speeches during this campaign . For me several things have been a major annoyance , including the following : <p> Campaigning started a full year and a half ago . <p> Imagine what could have been with all the money that was instead spent on campaigning . USA Today reports that total campaign spending could approach $4 BILLION . <p> Vice President Biden , " if they would get out of the way , and let us do our job " . <p> Above all the other dumb comments that were thrown out there , the vice president 's comments were the clincher for me . When there is known gridlock , it takes a true leader to work through the gridlock to achieve a solution , not a get-out-of-the-way approach . When everyone is supposed to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be heard , and everyone should be working toward the conclusion . <p> I will not say who I voted for , but I think it is safe to say who I did not . <p> To the man at the liquor store buying a big bottle of Jack Daniels the other day complaining that he can not afford food because of the high prices ... REALLY ? To the multiple drivers that have cut through parking lots to turn right because they do not want to wait at the traffic light , including the older man that had what looked like his young grandkids in the back seat ... REALLY ? And to all of those who think it is acceptable to just take as many papers as you want just because they are there ... REALLY ? As we crossed the six-month mark in our time living in Clovis , we have learned a few things about the area . During our time , we have learned : Do not go to the grocery store on the 1st or 15th of the month . What a madhouse . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like his jeans are about to split while he is performing . While many towns have cats running in the streets loose , here it is dogs , most often Chihuahuas . Many of our military personnel at Cannon Air Force Base are **31;3228;TOOLONG kids . It does not rain much here during the day . Despite the ground being thirsty for water , it does not take it in very quickly . Rolling right turns at stop lights are happenstance . There are many naturally occurring speed bumps . We had a joke about the difference between people in North Dakota and people in Montana ( we were in a border town last ) . You ask someone from North Dakota how they were doing , they would say " fine . " You ask someone from Montana how they were doing , they said " fine , how are you ? " The joke was that North Dakota people only cared about themselves , and did not care to chat with you , while people from Montana at least were willing to make small talk , and were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not been North Dakota . And for that reason alone , we have enjoyed our time in Clovis . <p> There is not much that fazes me . It takes quite a bit to shock me , to make the heart skip a beat anymore . <p> The tragedy of Sept. 11 , 2001 , surprised me . It stunned me , and it shocked me to see it played out live on television . <p> For a time there I had no idea what was going on in the world around me . It did not help that everyone in my household became violently ill within 24 hours , which in the end turned out to be more of a coincidence than anything else . <p> If there is still something that is fresh on my mind it is 9/11 . <p> Today on ABC , there was the annual moment of silence at Ground Zero . After this , " Good Morning America " was back on with an interview . Less than five minutes into this interview , there is a cut in with a " @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there may be attacks on 9/11 by terrorists , seeing the screen post a " breaking news update " less than five minutes after the moment of silence , a moment where I am remembering what happened that day in 2001 ... my heart started racing . <p> What was happening , on the same day as this tragic moment 11 years later ? Were we under attack again ? Did terrorists strike somewhere else ? ABC had cut away from Ground Zero just five minutes ago ; did something happen in New York again ? <p> No , the breaking news was that the president was honoring 9/11 . <p> It is breaking news that the president was honoring 9/11 ? Really ? You had to make me and many others in this country nervous about a tragic moment in time that was just rekindled in our minds to let us know that the president was honoring 9/11 ? <p> It would be breaking news that the president was not honoring 9/11 . <p> ABC : classless , tasteless , and an extremely poor choice to panic people with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honoring 9/11 . <p> ABC , you should have had your reporter announce in the middle of his Hollywood actor interview that you were going live to Washington where the president was honoring 9/11 . <p> ... there would be traffic lights at Seventh and Sycamore and 14th and Sycamore . Besides the fact that these are busy intersections , they are also high foot-traffic intersections between the school , softball , the zoo , and the other businesses on Sycamore near Seventh . The park has traffic lights to the east ; maybe it is now time to have traffic lights to the west . I say this because the first time on Monday I watched westbound traffic on Seventh stopped halfway to Norris . <p> If I had clout ... <p> ... a " Fine for littering " sign would be present somewhere in town . To the casual observer , what is the fine ? ( Or is there a fine ? ) If there is a sign in town , please let me know where it is . It would be the first one I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeds , weeds , weeds would not be allowed . Not weeds on city streets , weeds on sidewalks and medians , weeds in yards of condemned houses and buildings , weeds IN condemned buildings , not even weeds in yards of houses for sale or rent . Not exactly a selling point I would think , but maybe I am mistaken on that . Maybe there is spirituality , or a worshipping of the weed that I am not aware of . <p> I am sitting behind a car at a traffic light on Prince Street in Clovis . Its license plate expired in 2004 . I guess if you are not going to renew your plates , you might as well go in style . <p> Why bring this up ? Because , for me , different things in life trigger different thoughts and ideas . <p> So as I am sitting at this traffic light , and realizing how hot it is , and the need for water , not just here , but in over half the country , it got me thinking . <p> Desalinization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ? <p> Throw out the usual excuses : cost , and the fact that our politicians can not agree on anything . I realize everything in government now is a game of chicken to the wire to see who will bend first . But if the government wants to print money for a project , they will print the money to get it done , including government subsidies for water projects . <p> Need a project to put people to work ? How about a waterways project ? Think about it . Glaciers are melting , breaking off , and falling into the ocean . This in turn is causing two things -- oceans rising , and desalinizing , or becoming fresher . <p> If the water is becoming fresher , does it not make it easier to desalinate for drinking purposes ? <p> To me personally , there is nothing dumber than being surrounded by water , and saying there is no water to be had . Why not put the rising oceans to work for us ? <p> Remember , throw out the usual reasons . Is there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the ocean as the way to send water back . <p> I could see water coming from the Gulf of Mexico , following the Rio Grande back . Desalinization plants along the way , after all they do not need to be right at the Gulf . It could be transported , and then processed . <p> Illogical ? Maybe . Going to happen ? Never . Dumb ? Personally I do not think dumb at all . <p> But that is what happens to me when I sit behind a car whose plates expired eight years ago on a hot day . <p> Why would anyone think it is acceptable to just grab a bunch of newspapers and only pay for one ? <p> The sign on the newspaper rack does not say 75 cents for all the papers that can be grabbed . It is cool to take them ? Does anyone really need them that bad ? Has someone been mistreated so much in life that at least this way they can get back at someone by taking as many newspapers as they want ? <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as many papers as they want at one time ? <p> News flash : It is not OK . By taking more , it is stealing . <p> I find it hard to believe there are so many thieves in Clovis who steal the number of papers they do . <p> And they are not stealing because they want the coupons . They steal on other days as well . Is this a cry for help that they want to get caught ? <p> Every day I am here , we are tightening the controls , and the processes . We are narrowing down the times , and the locations of when papers are stolen . Steal from here today , steal from there tomorrow . We are watching the trends of where , and when . <p> We are watching . <p> So attention thieves . Every time a newspaper rack is opened , look around . One of our employees may be watching with a camera , ready to take that picture . <p> We are closing in , and the thieves will be caught . Is it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new contest called the ABCs of Portales and the ABCs of Clovis . <p> It should be a fun contest , a great way to see who in the community knows what businesses are in town . <p> I would encourage everyone to check it out for the next month in the newspaper . <p> I am curious to know how many people can figure out what the business is in their town based on a single letter in the alphabet from a sign around town . <p> Saturday we drove around Portales looking for the signs for this contest . For the most part this process was not that difficult . <p> Some letters are just difficult to find no matter where you go . Not that many businesses start with an X or a Z. <p> I know in the past , some businesses wanted to have their name start with something from the beginning of the alphabet , because it was a way to get noticed first in places like the phone book . <p> The theory was that people have shorter attention spans , and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book as opposed to choosing options through the entire book . <p> I do not believe that is so much the case anymore , but if it is an established business that has been around many years , the name of the business is probably not going to start with a letter from the end of the alphabet , such as with a Z. <p> I understand if the name of the business is the last name of the person . That is not what I am getting at . I am just referring to a business name in general . <p> On a side note I would like to give kudos to several of the businesses in Portales . There were some distinctive signs that still stick in my mind from their design . To me that was effective promotion of the business . I will not release their names of course , because they are part of the contest . But to those of you that stick in my mind : nicely done . <p> I have never been big on tattoos . The reason is simple . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ " A rose today becomes a dozen over the years , " or anything like that . Simply what you might like one moment you might not like down the road . And if you do not like it down the road , it is going to cost you . And to make matters worse , if you had it done after a drinking binge or some other spur of the moment whim , and then you wake up regretting what you have done , then what ? I ran into a guy yesterday , a very nice guy . What struck me was that many of his tattoos were of topless women . He wore a tank top , and clearly visible were his tattoos of topless women . I typically do not pay too much attention to the detail of tattoos on people , especially those with multiple tattoos on their bodies . To me they tend to blend together and to my eye you tend to lose what the message , or the impression is meant to be . But in this case it was rather obvious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question is , and I do not know the answer to this , but should there be a limit of what a person can show skin wise in public ? Should tattoos of topless women be allowed to be publicly displayed ? Or is this is the equivalent of taking a pornographic magazine , and opening it up for anyone of all ages to see . Personally , I am still surprised that someone would have tattoos of topless women on their body . I used to think the reason for tattoos was to project a message . And yes , maybe the message was that he just loves topless women . If I see this guy again , I am going to have to ask . <p> I grew up in Texas , so I know what the passion for football can be like . I was in college during the time of the SMU scandal that shut the program down , went to a college that could not afford football anymore , and saw the outrage with that . <p> My last few stops have been different . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ football powerhouses at any level . Sure , they turn prospects out from time to time , but football factories they are not . <p> So for the last dozen years or so , I have not been firsthand witness to the passion that a community holds for its football program . <p> Football is coming up in eastern New Mexico , and I am curious as to what is coming up . Is this town passionate like Texas for its football teams ? Does the town get painted the school colors on game days ? <p> I see painted murals in businesses , signs around town , apparel at a local grocery store ... I have a feeling of what it might be like . <p> But is it as passionate as what I saw growing up , or is it to a lesser extent ? <p> I have a feeling it is not quite like the hockey towns that I have lived in previously , where football was more of a last rights of fall more than anything else . <p> If it is what I think it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am looking forward to it . <p> I just spent my lunch hour at a local grocery store buying the groceries for the next week . In a word : agonizing . Try buying a box of cereal , or a bag of dog food , or chips , or today it seemed like a multitude of products . I have known that for a couple of years now that in order to control prices to a degree , you are getting less product for that price . For example , you used to buy the 25-pound bag of dog food for say $19.99 . Then it became the 20-pound bag . Now it is the 18-pound bag . Today at the store it seemed like everywhere you turned , there was less product for a similar price . Maybe this is a way someone thinks they can help reduce obesity in this country . The second trick I see is to make the sale price just a bit lower than the retail price was the week before . Today I saw it with chips and cereal ( neither @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I saw the price of a particular brand of cereal be " $2 off the retail price of $4.99 " when the week before the retail price for that same size box was $3.49 . A bag of chips that you would find in the snack machine was " on sale " for $1.99 . And do not even get me started on the fact that the box or bag now is closer to 50 percent air . It is one thing to have something happen to you , and you not know it . It is another to see it happening , feel like everyone is doing it to you , and realizing that you can not do anything about it other than not

@@5059641 <p> Summary : written for wankingstyles , and Liel , I apologise profusely for the ridiculous amount of time it 's taken me to write this . The prompt being : Louis is afraid of what people think when he and Harry interact in public , because he 's afraid of coming out . Harry understands , of course he does , until fear gets the better of Louis , and they stop interacting altogether . <p> A/N : This sucks . This sucks . It 's 10,000 words of suckiness . But thoughts would be brilliant . <p> The morning light filtered in through the Venetian blinds : the sun 's gaze blared inside , and bathed everything within its vicinity in a gentle , canary hued light . It was an uncharacteristically warm February morning ; the firmament was a glaze of lapis , veined with white , as it smiled down upon the city of London . <p> Louis sat up in bed , slumped against the headboard , with the covers pooled around his pelvis , as a fond smile etched itself across his chapped lips . His eyes blazed with the inexplicable flame of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this , Hazza ? " <p> Harry stopped dead in the doorway : he was already dressed , having donned a pair of black jeans and a blue t-shirt that just did n't quite conceal the damage Louis ' teeth had done to his collarbones . In his hands , he carried a white tray , which , even from a distance , Louis could tell had a stack of pancakes and a mug atop it . <p> " Er , " the younger boy began , as a grin threatened to split across his face . Striding across the wooden floors with an almost feral grace that only he could seem to embody , Harry easily placed the tray of breakfast on the side table , and plunged in to press a lazy kiss upon Louis ' lips , " Morning , love . " <p> " Morning to you , too , " Louis answered , carding a hand through his boyfriend 's curls -- who , in turn , melted into the touch -- and straightened up to steal another kiss , " But really , what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ? You 're gorgeous , babe , but you look much better with them off . " <p> A soft blush spread over Harry 's face : his cheeks were tinged pink as he emanated a low chuckle , " This , Tomlinson , " he captured Louis ' lips within his : their mouths connecting for a brief moment as he hummed in contentment , " is your breakfast , because last night was fucking amazing . " <p> Louis worried his bottom lip between his teeth ; his eyes were glazed over and he unconsciously rubbed the nape of Harry 's neck . Turning , he cast his attention onto the tray the younger boy had brought , and quickly speared a bit of pancake onto his fork , and popped the bite into his mouth , " Was it ? Was it better than -- God , Hazza , these are delicious . " <p> Harry leaned downwards and licked a bit of syrup off of Louis ' lips , toying with the bedcovers simultaneously . His hands ghosted over the gold-tinged flesh that stretched tight over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that rippled under the encasement of smooth , unblemished skin . <p> Pressing an open mouthed kiss to Louis ' jaw , he commented , " Mmh , not as much as you are , and , yes , it was better than anything we 've ever done . " <p> " You 're just saying that because - " <p> " I love you ? " <p> " Well , I was going to say it 's because you liked botto - " <p> " Because I 'm your boyfriend and it 's my job ? " <p> " Fine , we 'll go with that , " Louis rolled his eyes , but could n't help but mirror Harry 's smile , " But why are you not naked and why am I not eating these pancakes off of you ? " <p> Harry cocked an eyebrow , and swatted Louis on the arm -- unconsciously massaging the spot he had hit afterwards , like he did n't even know he was doing it . Bending , he pecked at the Doncaster boy 's lips a few times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over to Li 's for a bit , and you ruined my favourite sheets the last time you decided to eat breakfast off of me . " <p> " You 're just going to flit off in the morning , Styles ? " <p> " I 'll stay right here if you ask me to , babe . " <p> " No , go , abandon me , " Louis answered ; petulance highlighting his voice , even as he allowed a smile to skim across his lips , " But only - " he deftly folded up the sleeves of Harry 's t-shirt so his biceps came into focus , " -- because I love you . " <p> " Love you , too , Lou , " Harry kissed him on his forehead , and passed him a fleeting glance , before exiting the room . <p> A lonely morning , Louis thought , not quite sure what to do with himself , because they had n't had a day off in a while . Well , it would n't be terrible , even if he was n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sigh . The things he did for love . <p> Clambering to his feet and donning a pair of boxers , the Doncaster native loped across the bedroom , procured his laptop , and slithered back into the comfort of his bed . He turned the device on , smothering the sigh that was begging to escape his lips as his desktop loaded and his wallpaper came into focus ( a picture of a wet Harry with a sleepy Louis clinging to him like the future of the world depended on it , which , let 's be honest , it did ) and quickly logged onto his Twitter . <p> His mentions were never that interesting . Mostly , they were always a plethora of messages asking him for follow-backs , or asking him how She was ( Harry had forbidden the use of her name under his roof , promising that he would withhold all sexual favours , including provision of food , because , seriously , if you 've tasted Harry 's cooking , then you know that it 's enough to have you on your knees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couple . <p> Really , Louis was sadistic enough to contemplate showing those messages to Harry , because jealous sex was the best sex there was . And with Harry , it was almost the only type of sex there was . <p> Anyway . <p> Then there were the Larry Stylinson fans , who devoted their lives and free time to Harry and Louis . And who would probably have a field day if they were to ever find out about what they did between the sheets . And on dining tables . And in public bathrooms . And there 'd been that one time when they 'd tried doing it on the tour bus , but Zayn had begged them to stop . <p> Well , Harry had pulled the curtain of the bunk shut , and had muffled Louis ' groans with his lips , but they had stopped in essence . <p> So , yeah , the fans would be in shock . <p> Scrolling down his mentions , Louis let out a yawn before halting at one that happened to be sent about half a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as : because @LouisTomlinson and @HarryStyles are totally dating . #stylinsonforever , with a link that followed . Shrugging , he clicked it , because , seriously , he 'd gone through fanfiction , expertly Photoshopped pictures , and even dimly lit videos , so , how bad could it get ? <p> The url led him to a blog , and Louis ' brow furrowed as he read through the post . It was detailed -- it was detailed beyond imagination -- and , for a split second , Louis thought he was going to pass out . It was a lengthy analysis of every single moment he and Harry had shared over the past year . Every touch , every smile , every goddamn flinch -- all of it . And it was fucking chronicled in a post that had over twenty thousand notes . <p> Something akin to panic settled deep in the pit of Louis ' stomach as continued to scroll through : there was an animated GIF of him running his thumb over Harry 's ; of him stealing a glance at the younger boy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his arm close to his boyfriend 's as they strived to get through another question about Louis ' relationship with her . <p> It was all there in black and white , and something that was definitely panic bubbled within him , and threatened to sear his insides . If this one person could so wholeheartedly believe in this , and if twenty thousand other people could see what was so obviously there , then how was it even possible for people to believe his faux-relationship with Eleanor was real ? <p> When you contrasted the pictures of him and Harry , and their conspicuous connection , to the nonexistent connection -- well , it was based on many planned coffee runs and shopping trips -- he had with Eleanor , you could tell which one was real . <p> It was n't a joke anymore ; it was n't child 's play , or foolery . <p> It was n't a bromance anymore . <p> People could tell . <p> People knew , even if they did n't have confirmation . <p> No , they had confirmation . It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they looked close enough , and , evidently , they had . <p> All because he and Harry had been idiots enough to think they could get away with it . <p> When Harry came home , he did n't notice how Louis was quieter than usual , or how he had n't bothered getting out of bed . He did n't notice how Louis stiffened when he leaned in for a kiss , or how he seemed almost reluctant to go to dinner together . <p> No , Harry did n't ask why Louis a metre ahead of him when they stepped outside , or why he dragged Niall along . Harry did n't ask why there were no intimate glances shared , or why he did n't reciprocate when Harry had placed a supportive hand on his knee under the table . He did n't even ask why Louis had merely shrugged when he 'd fixated him with a worried gaze . <p> No , Harry figured there was a reason for it all . <p> And Louis was grateful . <p> xxxxx <p> " Lou , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bloody flight ! " <p> Harry paced around their sitting room : his visage was a mask of irritation , as impatience dominated his demeanour . They were late . Again . It did n't matter that they 'd set the alarm for five hours earlier , or the fact that Liam had left countless ( well , the mobile did all the counting and rounded them as 35 ) missed calls , because they were still late . <p> It did n't even make sense , because Louis was delaying things on purpose , and it was driving Harry crazy -- absolutely mental . He did n't like yelling , but he was very close to doing it . <p> " Seriously , Curly , shut up , " Louis interjected ; smiling slightly as he descended the staircase . He was dressed almost ... well , normally : having donned a pair of blue jeans , a navy sweater . " You should have gone already . " <p> " Was waiting for you , idiot , " Harry retorted , his lips contorted into a scowl as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Haz , I 'm going with El , remember ? " <p> No . <p> Harry halted midway in his attempt to drag his boyfriend 's luggage ; his eyes blowing wide open as the flickered with the undeniable viridian blaze of rage . When he spoke , venom underlined his words , and his voice was a hoarse ululation -- as if he could n't believe what he had heard , " I thought you were trying to rile me up when you said that . " <p> A strained chuckle escaped Louis ' lips , as he strode across the room and snaked his arms around Harry 's slender waist ; his hands stationed at the small of the younger 's back , trying to calm him , " I 'm glad you take me so seriously , babe . " <p> Scrunching his nose , and standing on his toes , the Doncaster boy tried to coax a kiss out of Harry , but the latter merely wrenched from his grip and fixated him with a glare that almost begged him to knock it off . <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it was Eleanor : Eleanor in all her **40;4802;TOOLONG ... glory , and her unnecessary need to cling to Louis as if she 'd die if she did n't . <p> Well , to be honest , if she did n't cling to Louis for backup , Harry would probably have skinned her alive for standing that close to his boyfriend , but that was n't the point . <p> The point was simple . <p> " Lou , you know I do n't like her , and you know I do n't want her there today , " Harry carefully enunciated ; every word stroked as the crack of whip as he warily glanced at the elder , " You know that , and you still - " <p> The Cheshire native furrowed his brow and took a seat on one of the sofas : his face buried in his hands as he willed his anger to keep at bay . Raking his hands through his hair , and tugging his silken tendrils out of frustration , he quickly drew himself up and conceded , " Fine , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his nature -- to succumb : to wave the white flag when Louis constituted of the opposition . It was ingrained within him , it was his lifeline . He could pretend to be in control , he could act dominative , and he could try his level hardest to overrule Louis . But it was all folly , because , at some point , he would succumb , and he would gladly do whatever it was that Louis asked of him . That was all that mattered , in the end . Louis was all that mattered . <p> Swinging his bag over his shoulder , Harry continued , " Do I get a kiss before I go off alone , and you go pick up your girlfriend ? " <p> Louis pouted , jutting his bottom lip out , and scrutinising Harry all the while . His eyes were blue -- so fucking blue -- and Harry could n't help but smile as the older boy bit out a tiny , " ' Course , Hazza . " <p> Dropping his satchel , the younger boy crossed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bent down to capture Louis ' lips in a fervent kiss : their lips melded against each other , as he secure his arms around Louis ' neck ; his fingertips dancing against the sheathed surface of the elder 's shoulder blades . <p> Harry was seething . Liam had noticed it in an instant , but he 'd opted to pretend otherwise until Niall had come up and blurted out a carefree , " What 's got your curls in a bunch , Haz ? " <p> His curls were not in a bunch , thank you very much . <p> But his blood was boiling ; his tolerance had been sloughed away , and his pupils had been reduced to pinpricks . It was one thing to have her there , but it was an entirely different sort of cataclysmic event to have her there , and to have her kissing you . <p> Louis was going to die . <p> And I 'm going to kill him myself , Harry silently concluded , as his gaze roved over to where Louis was nuzzling Eleanor 's nose and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planet . <p> No wonder the world thinks they 're in bloody love . <p> " Do n't frown , you 'll get wrinkles , " Zayn mused , wrenching the younger boy out of his reverie , as he held up an adorable Lux Atkin in his arms , " Your boyfriend wo n't love you when you look like an old woman . " <p> " My boyfriend wo n't have a boyfriend if he keeps this up , " Harry shot back , wiggling his eyebrows at the infant , and gesturing nonchalantly over to where Louis was planting fucking kisses onto her cheek , " And then he 's got the audacity to put those lips on me , too . " <p> Zayn threw Lux into the air , and revelled in her laughter as he secured her in his arms once more . Glancing at Harry sympathetically , he commented , " He does love you , you know that . " <p> " I know that , and you know that , but I wonder if he does . " <p> " He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - " Harry began , only to be cut off . <p> " I know , " Zayn agreed , looking past the Cheshire lad and taking in the image of Louis and Eleanor holding hands as they checked in , " but just have a little faith in him . " <p> A smile played across Harry 's lip , " I already do . " <p> " And , just think , you can spend the entire flight to New York cuddling , and making him pay for the show he 's got going on right now . " <p> " Really ? " <p> " ' Course , mate . " <p> For his own sake , Harry prayed Zayn was right . <p> xxxxx <p> Zayn had not been right . <p> And Harry was torn between being heartbroken and just being plain furious . <p> Much to his chagrin , Louis had bounded onto the plane and had loudly declared that he wanted to sit next to Liam . This , incidentally , had pissed Zayn off , too . The older boy had completely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when Harry had deigned to ask him why he was n't sitting next to him , Louis had shrugged and insisted that he just wanted to talk to Liam . <p> Louis , Harry had learnt over the past two years , was an acquired taste . He could be sulk and he could hole himself up for ninety-nine days , but , on the hundredth day , he 'd be Louis again . He was insecure , despite the wall he had erected around himself , and it had taken Harry mere minutes to break through that external barrier to release the guarded persona within . But Louis was something else : Louis was something so entirely different , and so entirely perfect , that Harry could forgive him almost anything . <p> Somewhere along the line -- somewhere between the smiles , and the kisses , and the sheer need to just be with each other -- Harry had anchored himself in Louis ; as if he was his lifeline ; his salvation . <p> That 's why it always hurt a little bit more than it should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little too deep . Because every time Louis distanced himself , or kissed Eleanor , or held her hand , Harry could feel the foundations upon which he was staying afloat slipping for a mere second , as if to remind him that what he and Louis had was tangible . <p> And anything tangible could be broken . <p> Sighing and muttering a quick excuse to Zayn , Harry clambered to his feet and vaulted across the aisle , stopping where Louis and Liam were already asleep . The oldest member of the band had his head pillowed against the wall of the cabin , while Liam had his settled on Louis ' shoulder . Crouching , and glancing around to ensure that nobody saw him , Harry pressed a series of quick kisses onto Louis ' lips and roused him from slumber . <p> " Lou , " he whispered , shaking Louis gently , as a fond smile found its way to his lips . " Babe , wake up . " <p> It took a few more kisses , and Harry savoured the sheer warmth that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and something so utterly Louis , but the Doncaster boy eventually stared at him through bleary eyes and a veil of confusion . <p> " I love you , Lou , " Harry bit out : his visage was impassive , devoid of emotion , but there was a slight stutter in his voice ; a slight hitch , that gave way to the fact that he was up a creek without a paddle , and he needed Louis to save him . <p> " I love you , too , Hazza , " came the reply , and it was enough to quench the doubt that had started to bubble within him . <p> Plunging back in , Harry tried to recapture Louis ' mouth in a kiss , but Louis raised a finger to obstruct his path . Unperturbed , Harry 's lips danced over the pad of the older boy 's digit , as he pecked at the soft flesh . <p> " Harry , not here , " Louis chastised sternly , pulling away . <p> The younger boy blinked a few times ; his eyebrows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him . Nodding , he drew back up , taut as a bowstring , and padded back to his own seat . <p> For the first time , in a long time , Harry felt like his lifeline might just be his death . <p> xxxxxx <p> Taking another generous gulp of orange juice , Louis sank back into his chair ; his cerulean eyes glimmering as the morning light fell upon them . They were at a radio interview this morning , and it was going better than he 'd hoped . <p> Except that Harry was sulking , and , as adorable as it was , it was slightly disconcerting . <p> The younger boy had barely spoken to him ever since they 'd deplaned in New York a day ago , and he had n't taken it particularly well when Louis had suggested they all have individual rooms . Management had loved the idea , realising it was a prime opportunity to crush the rumours that circulated Larry Stylinson , but Harry had taken it as a slight . He 'd shot Louis a singularly poisonous glare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . <p> Louis had n't seen him again until this morning . <p> And now they were at a round table , and Harry was seated right next to him . Louis wanted to reach out and run a hand through the younger boy 's lush curls ; to fling an arm around his lithe shoulders , to glance at him and smile as if the rest of the world had blurred into obscurity , and only the two of them existed . <p> But he could n't . <p> He wanted to kiss the younger boy and not care about what anyone else thought . He wanted to hold Harry 's hand , and he wanted to admit that he was completely in love with him . <p> But he just could n't . <p> The only thing his little stunt with Eleanor at Heathrow airport had accomplished was that the Larry Stylinson shippers had noticed the cracks in the facade . They 'd easily pointed out how unbelievably uncomfortable he 'd looked while pulling in for a kiss ( there was n't even a fucking height different , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and how he had n't even bothered putting his guitar case down while hugging the supposed love of his life . <p> Louis had panicked all over again at that . <p> And Harry was paying the price . <p> " So , Liam , Louis , " the interviewer interrupted Louis ' mental soliloquy , and continued in her absurdly cheery voice , " You both have girlfriends , am I right ? " <p> Ah , here we go again . <p> " Yeah , we do , " Liam answered for both of them ; and Louis could n't help but envy how easy it was for him -- how natural it was . <p> The interviewer , however , had her eyes trained upon Louis : a calculating look smothered across her tanned visage as she pressed on , " It must be very hard to be away from them for so long a time , yes ? " <p> There was a pause for a split second , and Louis felt Harry tense ; he felt the younger boy bristle at the question as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything else , knowing that he was so in tune to the slightest of changes in Harry 's demeanour : how his breath had hitched , even if Louis did n't hear it doing so ; how his pupils had constricted and his viridian irises had transcended to a shade darker and laced with fear , even if Louis could n't see them ; how Harry was on the edge of a metaphorical precipice , ready to fall if he thought he was losing his boyfriend , even if he would never be able to tell Louis so . <p> " Yes , of course , " Louis began cautiously , knowing full well that Harry 's searing gaze was directed towards him , " But we get to fly them out , so it 's not all that terrible . " <p> " So Danielle and Eleanor will be visiting you on this leg of the tour ? " <p> " Definitely . " <p> The interviewer prattled on about the consequences of having a relationship in regards to crazy fangirls , but Louis had zoned out by then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was perched on his leg : Harry 's palm was stretched over the expanse of his thigh ; the digits curled over the curve of his knee , as fingertips dug desperately into the soft fabric of his jeans . <p> It was the antithesis of what would usually happen . <p> Usually , it would be Louis who 'd stealthily squeeze Harry 's knee under the refuge of a table ; it would be Louis who would lend his silent support ; who would , in one minuscule gesture , let Harry know that everything was going to be okay . <p> But now it was Harry , and Louis did n't know what to do . Was the younger boy trying to reap support which he knew he was n't going to get ? Louis ' eyes flitted over to where a video camera was poised onto them , recording every second of the interview , and forcing even the briefest moments of broken restraint on tape . There was a camera behind them as well . <p> Forgive me , Hazza . <p> Louis ran his hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . Gently tugging , he released the younger boy 's grip on his limb , and pushed the hand back -- a warning underling his actions ; a warning asking Harry to stop . <p> The reaction was instant . One moment , Harry was revelling under a sense of self-induced calm ; slouched and relaxed . The next , however , gave way to that side of Harry that frightened Louis : that unspoken dimension of his personality that nobody would ever discuss , but it was there , and it was painfully real . Harry had gone rigid ; his lips were mashed into a thin line as he stopped moving altogether . His breathing was laboured ; wracking his body as he inhaled . <p> But it was his eyes -- it was always his eyes -- that gave him away ; that spoke for him ; that screamed when he never would . The jade irises blazed with silent fury : a fire was alight within them that was wrought of pain , and fear , and need , and yet satiety was alien to it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so open about those eyes , and , as Louis glanced at Harry , he realised why . <p> Harry would never be able to verbally reprimand him for anything he did ; he 'd never ask him why he was trying to distance himself , or why there was a newfound divide between them . <p> Louis knew that he needed to tell Harry why -- for both their sakes . <p> And he needed to tell him soon . <p> xxxxx <p> Night followed day , as death follows life , and the atmosphere was suffocating as the tension mounted beneath . Clouds gathered above ; forming a canopy of grey against the sable canvas of the firmament -- threatening to unleash a storm , and , yet , the true storm already raged below . <p> Harry shifted around in his bed : the covers haphazardly tangled around his lithe body , as he stared up at the ceiling ; insomnia coursing through his veins . His mussed curls were splayed over a crme-coloured pillow ; the emerald flame that once ravaged his eyes was nothing but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But more than that , he was lonely . <p> Up until that night , he 'd handed Louis the benefit of the doubt on a silver platter . He 'd put up with how the elder had begun to distance himself when they were in public ; he 'd tried understanding why the elder had stopped maintaining eye-contact when they were outside ; he 'd even stopped coercing stealthy touches from his fucking boyfriend when they were in the midst of company . <p> He could n't take it anymore . <p> Tonight had been , for lack of a better word that encapsulated the situation , a fucking disaster . They 'd been performing in Chicago , that being the last concert of their American tour , and yet Louis had done everything within his power to just stay away from him . He 'd just stayed away , just like that , and Harry could n't imagine why . <p> People would notice , of course they would . People would talk about how strained their friendship was of late -- they 'd already started -- and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reciprocated his smiles anymore . <p> And that hurt . <p> It was hard enough having to hide their relationship because Louis was n't ready to come out , but that was the equivalent of a knife being shoved down his throat , except more painful . Harry had never , ever , asked Louis for anything . He 'd never asked Louis to come out to the world as his boyfriend . He 'd never objected to Louis spending time with Eleanor and constantly getting photographed with the woman . He 'd never asked for anything -- anything -- that he thought would trouble Louis . <p> All he 'd asked for was to be loved . <p> That was all , and , yet , Louis could n't even do that . <p> Realising that there was almost no way in hell that he was getting sleep -- not that he 'd been getting any lately -- Harry got out of bed and strode through the door , uncaring that he was dressed in only his boxers . It was the middle of the fucking night , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was their own fault if they encountered an eighteen year old popstar in his underwear . <p> Exiting his suite , the Cheshire lad vaulted across the dimly lit hallway . He needed to talk to Louis . For once in his life , he needed assurance -- he needed his boyfriend to fucking be his boyfriend , instead of shutting him out . Coming up in front of Louis ' suite , Harry rang the doorbell a few times in succession , before freezing on the spot . <p> I am not about to do this . <p> Oh , God . <p> No . <p> Maybe there was still time to -- <p> The door swung open to reveal a dishevelled Louis : the older boy was rubbing his eyes as he glanced warily at the visitor , " Haz , what are you doing ? " <p> It 's now or never , mate . <p> " I need to talk to you , " Harry answered back ; his voice hoarse and lined with defeat , as he followed his boyfriend into the hotel room . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in response ; an understanding smile playing across his lips , even as he stumbled slightly closer . Smoothing the back of his hand over Harry 's cheek , he murmured , " I know . " <p> " Lou , we - " <p> " Can we do this in the bedroom ? I ca n't stand right now . " <p> Harry 's gaze raked over bloodshot eyes , and sallow skin that had once been tanned to perfection . The Doncaster boy had donned a frayed orange sweater that actually belonged to Harry , and a pair of black sweatpants . But even the baggy attire could n't mask what Harry had noticed a long while ago : Louis was losing weight , just as he was , himself . <p> Instinctively wrapping an arm around Louis ' slender waist , Harry buried his face into the elder 's feathery locks , and pressed a series of kisses to his forehead , " ' Course , love . " <p> Louis nodded in thanks , and trudged over the carpeted floor and into bedroom : flopping down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harry noted how it did n't look like he 'd been asleep : the sheets stretched tight over the bed , as if they had n't been moved , except for one rumpled spot where Louis , had , no doubt been seated . Harry could imagine Louis sitting with his legs pulled up and his laptop perched precariously upon his knees -- he could imagine the way the older boy would have worried his bottom lip between his teeth , while pulling the sleeves of the sweater down so they covered his hands . <p> Lying down onto the bed , Harry cupped Louis ' jaw , and stroked his thumb over the soft skin that stretched taut over his cheekbones , " Lou ? " <p> " Mmh ? " The Doncaster boy 's reply was muffled ; but his eyes bore with clarity ; the clear cut blue twinkling with flecks of grey within ; shining as if they knew what was coming . <p> " Lou , " Harry started ; shifting so his body was lined against Louis ' : eyes to eyes , lips @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entwined , " Why are you doing this ? " <p> " Doing what , Hazza ? " Louis whispered ; his words breathed against Harry 's lips ; the warmth of his exhalation sending a shiver down the younger boy 's spine . <p> " You know what . " <p> " You 'll have to enlighten me , babe . " <p> A flash of something akin to rage dawned across Harry 's visage ; and his voice was leaden , as he shot back , " Fine , Louis . Why are you treating your fucking boyfriend like some sort of dirty little secret that you 'd rather just ended up leaving you alone ? " <p> " Harry , I - " Louis began , only to be cut off . <p> " Or , here 's a better one , why are you completely ignoring your boyfriend , and pretending as if he just does n't exist ? " <p> " I never - " <p> " But here 's my favourite , why have n't you properly kissed your boyfriend in over a month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ca n't sleep alone ? " <p> " Harry . " <p> " You 've bloody ignored me this entire time , and I just want to know why . " <p> His voice had quavered , he knew that . He knew he probably looked , for all he was worth , a wreck , and an idiot , but he needed to know that he was n't putting his everything into something that would destroy him in the end . <p> But Louis looked exactly the same , if not worse , and Harry was n't sure whether he should feel outraged or guilty . <p> Levering himself up on one elbow , Louis conceded , " Fine , I 'll show you why , just let me grab my - " <p> " No , " Harry interjected , sitting up , and securing his hands around Louis ' waist to keep him in place , " You 're going to tell me why , Lou , I do n't want to see anything -- I just need you to tell me why . " <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older boy stammered , before rising to press his lips to the shell of Harry 's ear , " it 's because of the fans . " <p> " We are in a genuine relationship , " Harry pointed out ; running a hand through his curls , and surveying his boyfriend with ill-disguised panic , " It does n't matter what anyone else thinks because we 're in an actual relationship , and that 's all that bloody matters . " <p> Louis was quiet for a moment : his lips were parted ; his brow was furrowed . And when he spoke , his voice was small , " But do n't you get where I 'm coming from , Haz ? " <p> The younger boy allowed a sigh to escape his lips , as he bent forward and pressed his face into Louis ' chest : the rapid beating of his boyfriend 's heart thumping against his forehead , as his muffled response came , " You 're scared of coming out ? " <p> " You know I am , " Louis insisted , rubbing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tensing as he felt tremor run through the Cheshire boy . <p> Harry nodded , and straightened up . Maybe it was n't the explanation he 'd wanted to hear ; maybe he did n't need to fight his boyfriend , because , if Louis was scared , then all he needed to do was make sure he could be strong enough for both of them . <p> " I love you , Lou , " Harry whispered around the lump in his throat . <p> " I love you , too . " <p> xxxxxx <p> When they were back in London , away from -- well , for the better part -- the screaming fans , and the persistent paparazzi , things were better . Harry was happy . Things were n't perfect , and he 'd never expected them to be , but within the refuge of their shared apartment , everything was just a little bit easier to endure , and the air was just a little bit easier to breathe in . <p> Oh , and he had his Louis all to himself , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for all of about twenty-four hours , in that period , they 'd done nothing but camp on the couch and shovel ice-cream down their throats while watching reruns of The Only Way Is Essex . It was domestic , it was boring , and Harry loved every moment of it . <p> And Louis seemed calm again ; normal , even . He was slightly jumpy , slightly uncomfortable , but he was Louis again . And that was all Harry needed . <p> They were sprawled over the sofa now : Louis was lounging against the arm ; a satisfied smirk skimming over his full lips , as he carded a lazy hand through Harry 's hair . Harry , in turn sighed into the touch ; his head was pillowed on his boyfriend 's chest , and his body was situated between Louis ' legs , and stretched over the length of the sofa . <p> " Hey , Lou , " the younger boy murmured ; sighing as Louis 's fingers tangled within his hair , " D' you know what would be fun ? " @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hoarse ululation of his voice accentuated by the tiny purr he 'd emanated the minute Harry had kissed his free hand . <p> Harry straightened up and straddled the elder 's lap ; completely mistaking the hitch in the latter 's breath as anticipation . Snaking his arms around Louis ' neck , he pressed his hands into the collar of Louis ' shirt , and allowed his fingertips to skim over the gold-tinged skin that stretched tight over layers of pure muscle and sinew . Diving in , he ghosted his mouth over Louis ' cheekbones ; his jaw line ; before pressing his lips gently onto the one spot on the older boy 's neck where the flesh lay thinnest : where the quickening of Louis ' pulse was most palpable . <p> " This , " Harry said ; the answer barely audible as he pressed he kissed a trail across his boyfriend 's jaw and nibbled at Louis ' ear : biting the lobe flat between his teeth . <p> Louis groaned ; and it had Harry smiling . But when he felt a pair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shove him off , his smile evaporated , only to be replaced with a scowl . He wrenched away and fixated his eyes upon Louis ; outrage amalgamated with pain bubbled in the pit of his stomach , and yet minuscule part of him was n't surprised at all . <p> Harry ignored him , choosing instead to suck at the base of Louis ' neck : to suck ; and bite ; and lave his tongue over the bruised spot , before starting all over again . Louis ' protests had blurred into a litany in the background ; until he was pushed back so hard , that his back collided painfully against the arm of the sofa . <p> Harry bristled ; his voice eerily calm , even as the pounding of his heartbeat threatened to overwhelm him , " What the fuck , Louis ? " <p> Louis flinched as Harry tried to claw at the waistband of his trousers ; a suppressed scream downing within his throat , and yet reverberating within the confines of the younger boy 's mind . <p> " No , just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rose to his feet , trembling slightly as he tried to absorb what Louis was trying to say , " It 's been a -- what the fuck do you mean by that ? " <p> " I ca n't , Harry , " The reply came ; a quiver running deep as Louis spoke , " You said you understood how - " <p> " I understood that you did n't want to be close to me in public , but - " Harry began , only to swallow his own words . This could n't be happening . It could n't . " You did n't say you 'd stop - " <p> " Harry , I ca n't . I do n't want - " <p> " What about what I want ? ! " <p> " But I - " <p> " No , Louis , " The younger boy sliced through ; shaking his head in disbelief as he surveyed his boyfriend through a veil of tears , " It 's always about what you want , it 's always about you . I just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted you to , I do n't know , love me , and be mine , because that 's all that I 've ever nee - " <p> " I do love you , Haz . " Louis interrupted ; looking up with blue eyes that screamed that they wanted to believe what he was saying , and yet -- yet Harry could see a hint of doubt stirring behind that cerulean gaze . <p> Harry scoffed ; hanging his head as he trained his eyes upon the floor -- as if every answer he wanted was inscribed upon it . <p> " You know , Lou , sometimes I wonder whether you actually mean that , or if it 's just convenient to say it . " <p> Scrubbing a hand over his visage , he stormed out of their apartment . He did n't know where he was running , even if he knew he wanted to run back . But when he did eventually go back , he was met with an empty flat ; with cold air suffused with the stale scent of Louis -- and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . And I do love you , Harry . I love you more than anything , and you should know that by now . Lou . x <p> Xxxxx <p> Louis did n't see Harry again until they met up at Heathrow a week after their spat . So , fine , he was craven . Fine , he was just was n't ready . But anything -- anything at all -- was better than having Harry question whether or not he loved him . <p> He did love Harry -- he 'd always love Harry . But he was scared . He was scared beyond anything else , and he could n't help but flinch every time the younger boy approached him ; he could n't handle how fans all over the internet were predicting their every move ; how they knew he was Harry 's . <p> They did n't know , and yet they did . <p> Louis did n't know if that was dedication , or mere belief , but it hit home . <p> So he 'd run away to his childhood home to escape @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heartbroken , even if he had no right to be . His sisters never asked why he was comatose ; why his brain registered only the fact that he was hurting Harry by saving himself : how he was sacrificing Harry to keep himself afloat . <p> Guilt had eroded his very being , and when he 'd seen Harry lope through Heathrow , Louis had felt his breath catch within his throat . The younger boy had halted the minute he 'd spied Louis : his expression had been so innocent ; so open , and yet Louis ' thoughts had been trained single-mindedly on the fact that he was the reason Harry had cracked . Harry never cracked . Harry never broke . Harry was the foundations upon which he still managed to stand , and yet Harry had crumbled right in front of him , when Louis , himself , was still standing . <p> The younger boy had donned an old pair of jeans and a white Henley , and he looked so young ; so angelic , and yet it was clear that demons haunted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harry 's skin milky white skin had curdled ; his eyes were red rimmed and clouded ; his stance was of defeat . <p> Louis wanted to hug him ; to beg for forgiveness ; to pull him down into a fervent kiss and murmur sweet nothings ; to promise that they were going to be okay . <p> But he could n't do it . <p> Not when camera flashes went off around them ; not when fans screamed and wailed . He was still a coward . He was still unworthy of Harry . <p> The tedious flight to Brisbane had been uneventful . Louis had tried sneaking glances at Harry , but it was of no consequence : Harry was ignoring him ; Harry had receded back into his shell . <p> So it was a surprise that , when they were on their way to their hotel , Harry decided to speak up . A single , sable-polished minivan raced down the streets of Brisbane , with the night shining down upon it . Louis was sitting next to Zayn , opposite the other three boys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , but when Harry had spoken , the air in the car had suddenly become viscous ; and Louis felt his throat clenching around words he would never find the ability to say . <p> " What are we , Louis ? " Harry mumbled ; gazing out of the window ; his forehead plastered against the cool glass , " What are we now ? " <p> Liam had tensed at that first ; his eyes growing wide as he whipped around to glance at Louis . Niall had merely twisted his lips into a frown , and had turned to Harry ; fixating him with a curious gaze . Zayn 's jaw had dropped open , but he did n't look surprised to hear the words ; he seemed aghast over the fact that Harry had actually said them . <p> " What d' you mean , Hazza ? " Louis had tried to sound nonchalant , but he knew he was fooling no one . Gently stretching his leg , he bumped his foot against Harry 's shin . <p> Look at me , damn it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however . A spiteful grin played across the younger boy 's mouth ; anger rippling across his jade irises , as he retorted , " Are we even a couple ? " <p> Oh , God , no . <p> Louis gulped ; his pulse an erratic thump in his ears ; in the crooks of his elbows , as the venom flavouring Harry 's words coursed through him , " Of course we are , Hazza . " <p> Harry physically responded at that . He turned to glare at Louis ; rage sparking over his face , " We 're a couple . You wo n't even let me touch you , but we 're a couple . " <p> " Harry , look , it was - " <p> " No , Louis , we 're not a couple . I was your little fuck-toy , and now I 'm not , because I 'm not going to let you string me along . " <p> " Harry , I - " <p> " I did everything for you , but you 're so scared of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shut me away . " <p> As the car came to a halt outside their hotel , Harry wrenched the door open and stalked across the tarmac , and , as Louis watched the younger boy 's retreating figure , he could only think of one thing . <p> What have I done ? <p> Xxxxxx <p> One day bled into two , and then into three , until Harry had lost count . They were at another radio interview , and all he wanted to do was go home , crawl into bed , and pretend as if the world did n't exist . But no , the grating voice of the interviewer was scratching at his nerves , and a deep-rooted headache had settled into the back of his neck ; his temples throbbing every time he deigned to partake in the conversation . <p> The truth was , he did n't know what to say anymore . He did n't have anything to say at all . <p> He could scream , but his screams would n't be wrought of words . They 'd be incoherent ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what he was : he was the victim of his own need to love , and be loved , and yet that was a crime . <p> But Louis was fine , was n't he ? He was smiling ; he was glowing ; he was n't drowning himself every night . Because Louis was ... Louis was Louis . And Louis could move on . <p> " So , Louis , let 's talk about your lovely girlfriend , " the interviewer , wrenching Harry out of his reverie . The younger boy turned around quick enough to cause whiplash , but as he fixated the woman with a steely glare , she continued obliviously , " We 've heard you two are getting very serious . " <p> Louis chuckled ; a dulcet laugh that came so easy to him , and answered , " Yes , yes , we are . It 's been close to a year since we 've been dating . " <p> " We 've also heard a rumour that the two of you are moving in together -- is that true ? @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He lives with me , you bint , he 'd never move out . He would n't . <p> Harry 's eyes roved over to where Louis was sitting between Niall and Zayn ; a smile was splayed over the older boy 's full lips , but Harry could n't tell if it was euphoric , or apologetic . His gaze was focussed on the interviewer , never shifting to see Harry . <p> No , Louis , you -- you would n't ... you 'd never . <p> " That 's true , actually , " the Tyke answered ; nodding for emphasis , as his smile grew wider . Harry felt inexplicably numb ; unable to differentiate whether the scene was a nightmare , or reality . <p> The interviewer , however , went on ; congratulating Louis , " That 's amazing to hear ! But are n't you the messiest ? She 'll have a lot to deal with . " <p> " She will , but she can handle it . " Louis extolled , shrugging , but smiling as Zayn shoved him playfully . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and he could n't contain his shock ; his disbelief . The woman -- Anna , her name was , or maybe Marie , or something -- noticed his reaction and opined , " But Louis , it must definitely mean less of a mess , right ? Now that you 'll be living with a girl , instead of Harry . " <p> At that , Louis ' eyes met his : the cerulean orbs were laced with regret ; desolation , and something Harry could n't quite place . When he spoke , the younger boy felt the words sing through him : <p> " No , I 'm the mess , and I always have been . Harry 's perfect . " <p> Xxxxxx <p> Slamming the door of the suite open , Harry stalked inside -- their shared suite making life difficult as hell -- as he silently pondered over the fresh scrap of information that was sinking deep within him . <p> Louis was leaving . <p> Had their relationship deteriorated to the point where they had to be sliced apart ? Where causing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to strangle every bit of his resolve out of him ? <p> Loving was like poison , Harry knew . It was a slow poison ; it was deadlier than the quick stroke of a knife , and yet you died all the same . He 'd been infected from head to toe , and was paying the price . <p> Taking a seat on the first sofa that obstructed his path , Harry rested his elbows atop his knees , and buried his face into his hands : trying his hardest to keep calm ; to keep his cool . But it was of no use ; trying was of no use , when he knew he was cracking ; he knew his wound had been ripped open , and blood was going to flow through , whether he wanted it to or not . <p> When the door reopened , Louis walked in : his hair was slightly dishevelled , as if he 'd been tugging at it , and his visage had lost its pallor . Spying Harry , he stopped and stared . And Harry could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and his body was refusing to stay still as another suppressed sob wracked his body , but he maintained the eye-lock as if it was everything in the world to him . <p> " Harry ? " <p> " You 're going to leave me , Lou ? " <p> He hated how petulant he sounded , but he had every reason to . Harry 's eyebrows knitted together as he shook his head , unable to grasp the basis of how , and why , and when , because this was n't Louis . This could n't be his Louis . His Louis would never leave him , no matter what . <p> " No , Haz , look , " Louis began ; his breathing was uneven , and Harry revelled in it , " It 's just for a while -- just to help us cool down whatever it is that 's been going down between us . " <p> " Whatever it is that 's been going down between us ? ! " Harry spat back incredulously , hysteria highlighting his words , " You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and now you 're just going to leave me ? ! " <p> Louis groaned , the noise emanated from his throat as he ran an impatient hand through his feathery hair , " It 's not permanent , Harry , it 's just - " <p> Clambering to his feet and scoffing in disbelief , Harry stepped closer to Louis ; his eyes narrowing in anger , even as tear-tracks stroked his cheeks , " That 's not it ? That 's not it , Louis ? ! That is it . You 're too much of a coward to - " <p> " It 's not easy ! " <p> Harry 's jaw dropped open ; tears journeying down his visage , and he shivered , searching the man in front of him for some trace of the man he was in love with . <p> " It 's not meant to be easy , " he answered , the strength to scream having fled him , " It 's never been easy to be with you , but I did everything I could . I never complained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was -- I am in love with you . No , it 's not easy , but it 's not supposed to be this fucking hard . " <p> Louis stared at him , and Harry cracked harder under that gaze : his resolve was sloughed away into nonexistence , and he could n't help as he cried . The older boy sighed , " I love you , too , Harry , and you have to know that . " <p> " Do I ? " Harry shot back ; his voice barely audible , and yet echoing within the room , " Do you know what love is , Louis ? Love is that feeling when a person 's mere existence makes everything better . Everything 's bearable , and nothing 's impossible , because you know that one person 's going to be there to catch you when you fall . " <p> Harry paused , not trusting himself to go on without sobs punctuating every syllable . <p> " But , Lou , I fell . And you just let me . " <p> Standing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand to the other 's face . But Louis flinched -- he goddamn flinched -- and stumbled backwards . As if Harry was poison . As if Harry was n't his . <p> Nodding , Harry made to leave , before the Doncaster boy spoke up ; his words quiet and strained , " Haz , please do n't go . " <p> He did n't listen . He walked a few more steps , before the words came again . <p> " Harry , please . Please , please , just stay . " <p> " Make me stay , Louis , " Harry whispered ; sniffling , but not turning back to lock gazes . He would n't last if he did . He 'd succumb . <p> Glancing back , Harry took in the picture of Louis Tomlinson : his everything , and yet his doom . His life , and yet his death . <p> " You 're not going to make me stay , are you ? " <p> He did n't wait for a response , he did n't wait for something he knew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tiny foyer , Harry exited the suite , and slammed the door behind him . <p> Louis Tomlinson did n't move , until he collapsed on the sofa . Louis Tomlinson cried , when he could have reclaimed what would always be his . Louis Tomlinson was still a coward . And if he 'd run after his boyfriend ; if he 'd bothered to do anything , he would have found a crumpled Harry Styles curled up on the floor outside the suite : sobbing , and shaking , with his eyes bloodshot , and his breathing erratic . <p> Because while Louis Tomlinson had given up all hope , Harry Styles had still been waiting for someone to catch him . <p> xxxxx <p> It had been three weeks , and as Louis watched the sunlight filter in through the window , he could n't help but spitefully muse over the fact that even sunlight had lost its lustre ; its warmth . It was hilarious how nothing in the world made sense anymore , and yet nothing had changed . <p> Pulling the purple hoodie closer around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within his bedcovers once more ; clenching his eyes shut when he remembered what he had done . It had been three weeks since he 'd flown home from Australia and proceeded to hole himself up in his mother 's house , and yet the memory of Harry realising that Louis was n't everything he 'd expected him to be was shattering ; it was frightening . <p> And he did n't know how much longer he could handle it . <p> The bedroom creaked open to reveal his mother standing there with a pitying expression splayed across her visage and a steaming mug clutched in one hand . <p> " Could we talk , Lou ? " Jay began , padding over to her son 's bed , and slumping down against the headboard . Nimbly , she handed him the mug . <p> " Sure , Ma , " Louis mumbled , half-heartedly smiling in thanks as he sipped at the tea , savouring the warmth that spread through him for the first time in three weeks , " What 's up ? " <p> Jay critically analysed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she sighed , " Why are you doing this , Lou ? " <p> " Doing what ? " <p> " I know you love Harry . You know you love Harry . Why are you doing this ? " <p> Because I 'm scared ? Because I 'm stupid ? Because you did n't raise a son who fights for what he wants . <p> " Mum , I - " Louis trailed off with a shrug , staring into the depths of the mug instead of meeting his mother 's interrogatory gaze , " I 'm just scared of what ... the fans , and all . " <p> " Louis , look at me . " Jay demanded ; her voice soft , and yet the stern undertone of authority was unmistakeable . Louis ' eyes flitted to find hers immediately . " The fans , you say ? Did distancing yourself from Harry do any good ? Did they think you are n't a couple ? " <p> No , they 're too dedicated for that . Louis shook his head . <p> " Then were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing yourself from Harry ? " <p> Never . He shook his head again . <p> " Then what are you still doing here ? " <p> Louis ' eye widened ; his mouth was slack , as he queried , " Huh ? " <p> " I was talking to Anne , " His mother extolled , " And we reckon that if you distancing yourself from Harry 's doing absolutely nothing to stop the rumours of Larry Stylinson being real , and whatnot , then what brand of idiot have I given birth to that ca n't realise that he 's unnecessarily hurting himself and the boy he loves . " <p> There was a pause , and then -- <p> " Shit , Mum , I have to go ! " <p> " That 's my boy . " <p> xxxxx <p> It was raining in Holmes Chapel . Or , as Harry had declared , he was crying so much , that God had decided to recycle his tears and shower them down upon his native town . Rain fell down in sheets : tapping against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ village as the wind howled through it ; as lightning sliced within . <p> Harry was huddled up on the couch : a blanket was wrapped tight around him , as he shovelled another forkful of leftover lasagne into his mouth ; and his eyes barely registered the morning show they were glued to . <p> He did n't like to think . Everything was better when he did n't think about it . Because everything was a painful reminder of Louis . <p> From the vase in his mother 's kitchen , to the sweater he was wearing . Because Louis had picked out that vase for Anne 's birthday , and it was Louis ' sweater . Everything was Louis , because Louis was his everything . <p> Even now . <p> Swallowing his bite , Harry was in the process of forcing more down his throat , when the doorbell rang . <p> Let them die out there in the rain . <p> It was probably a fan -- most of them thought it was cute to convene in phalanxes around his childhood home . It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ door without being mobbed by screaming girls . <p> Not that he wanted to leave the house , anyway . <p> The doorbell rang again . <p> Shifting slightly , the curly haired boy glanced at the front door -- the white painted mahogany separating him and the outside world . Stuffing his mouth with a huge bite of lasagne , he rose and shuffled towards the gate . <p> And then the doorbell rang again . <p> Allowing an irritated sigh to pass his lips , Harry wrenched the door open . Only to be greeted with the shivering figure of Louis Tomlinson : the older boy was standing on the porch ; his hands gripped at the sleeves of his soaked , navy sweater , and his hair was plastered to his head , as he swayed on the spot . <p> " Harry , I - " <p> Without a second thought , Harry slammed the door shut in Louis ' face . <p> This is not happening . This is not happening . This is not happening . I 've progressed to having full-on hallucinations . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . <p> The doorbell rang once more . <p> Jumping , Harry opened the door again . Louis was still there . <p> " Haz , I - " Louis began , only to trail off with a sneeze , " Haz , I love you . " <p> I 'm dreaming . That makes sense . <p> Harry opened his mouth , but the words dried up at the back of his throat . So he merely stared . <p> Louis smiled : a radiant grin that knifed through the encasement of dread around Harry , as he muttered , " I love you so much , Harry . I was a dick -- I was a huge dick , and I 'm sorry . " <p> Harry stayed quiet ; opting to stare through wide , green eyes . <p> " Haz , are you - " <p> " Come here , " Harry interrupted and grabbed a fistful of Louis ' shirt and pulled him close ; wasting no time in attaching their mouths in a fervent lip-lock . It was carnal , and yet sourced from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; forming a single orifice as they strived to feel more . <p> It was Louis who moved away first -- his eyebrows shooting up under the refuge of his damp fringe , as he opined , " Seriously ? You 're going to forgive me that easily ? " <p> Laughing , Harry pulled the smaller boy closer ; snaking one arm around his waist and stationing a hand at the small of his back : his fingertips digging slightly to hold him in place . Raking his free hand through Louis ' tendrils , and smoothing his palm over the elder 's cheek , Harry

@@5059741 <p> Addicted to the coolest Gags of nowdays ? Then GAGBAY is the Heaven for You ! We collect all the Quality Gags ( funs , jokes , lolz , memes , rage comics , and all the awesomeness ) can be found on the web from various top sites . Till now You wo n't miss any of those popular trends which everyone talks about ! <h> First thought as soon as I 'm alone in my house . <p> Disclosure : we can not take any kind of responsibility for any image shown on any of these pages , since they are derived from various fun , joke , comic , etc. sites . However , we verify the images regularly to ( try to ) avoid explicitly adult or offensive materials . To request removal ( for any reason ) just send a mail to webmaster@gagbay.com ! <p> Suggest a site ! Want to browse Your favourite images at one place , here on GagBay ? Then send us a message with those sites

@@5059841 <h> Clean a Living Room in No Time at All <p> If you have guests arriving at your home in a half hour , you 'll appreciate this simple how-to about cleaning a living room in a hurry . Follow these step-by-step instructions and your living room will be neat in less than 15 minutes ! <p> Difficulty : Easy <p> Time Required : 15 Minutes <h> Here 's How : <p> Start with a large , empty box and a waste basket placed in the center of the room . <p> First , collect any dishes and glasses around the room and take them to the kitchen . Put them away or into the dishwasher , out of sight . <p> Next , collect all trash and garbage ( newspapers , wrappers , old magazines , etc. ) and throw them into the wastebasket . <p> Then , collect anything that does n't belong in the living room ( clothing , toys , mail , project equipment ) and throw them into the box . <p> Take both the wastebasket and the box to the garage , basement , closet or other out-of-the-way spot . Do n't put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just get them out of sight ! <p> Grab 2 washcloths -- one damp ( but wrung out very dry ) , and the other completely dry . Quickly wipe off picture frames and mirrors , first with the damp , then the dry rag . <p> Next , wipe all objects and tabletops with the damp rag , and remove moisture with the dry cloth . <p> Neatly stack magazines or books on the coffee table . Rearrange decorative objects to an attractive position . <p> If you have some around , bring in a fresh flower arrangement or fresh plants and place them around the room . <p> Spritz a light air freshener into the room . <p> If you have any time left , quickly vacuum the major traffic areas . <p> If you have yet more time , do a quick wipe-down of the powder room . Put out fresh hand towels . <p> Turn on some soft music , comb your hair , and sit down ! Take a breather and graciously welcome your guests . <h> Tips : <p> Move quickly ! Stash unneeded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Delegate kitchen and bathroom cleaning to others , if possible . <p> Be a gracious host --

@@5059941 : Compelling world news stories from NBC News journalists . Follow us on Twitter and Facebook . <h> ' Building Tomorrow ' - one school at a time in Uganda <p> / <p> Chelsea Clinton visits with school children at the Building Tomorrow Academy of Gita , about an hour outside of Uganda 's capital of Kampala . <p> By Chelsea Clinton , NBC News <p> KAMPALA , Uganda -- The Building Tomorrow Academy of Gita , about an hour outside of Uganda 's capital city of Kampala , is an amazing example of what can be accomplished when local communities and international organizations work together toward innovative solutions to educational challenges . <p> While in Uganda last week , I met the dynamic tag team of George Srour , the American founder and " chief dreamer , " and Joseph Kalisa , the Ugandan country director , behind the school in Gita , as well as seven other Building Tomorrow " academies " in Uganda . <p> Building Tomorrow 's mission in Uganda is to do more than just build one-room cookie-cutter school houses . So far they have built eight " academies " -- each with seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . <p> And the best part is that schools like the one in Gita are built with robust local involvement : the school 's surrounding communities help build them and the government promises to pay teacher salaries and ongoing operational costs after construction is complete . <p> The result is a real public- civil society partnership that is showing real results -- and clearly making a difference . <p> School project turns into dream Srour started BT in 2005 , the same year he graduated from the College of William &; Mary in Virginia . <p> The inspiration for BT grew out of a visit to Uganda and then a holiday fundraising campaign Srour spearheaded during his senior year at William and Mary called " Christmas in Kampala . " The campaign raised more than $45,000 for the construction of a new school in the capital city . <p> As Srour told me , he realized in his final months of college that raising money was necessary , but not sufficient to fundamentally change education in Uganda , a country with about 50 percent of the population under 15 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed to do more . <p> It is a place in which Srour has no family ties , but a clear calling . <p> When I asked Kalisa , a Ugandan , if he could imagine doing anything else ? He said , " Only when we 're done . " Srour had the same answer . <p> Chelsea Clinton visits with school children at the Building Tomorrow Academy of Gita , about an hour outside of Uganda 's capital of Kampala . <p> Gita school The school in Gita opened in 2010 , the result of BT 's first -- though not last -- multidisciplinary collaboration with an American university partner . <p> In the 2007-2008 school year , undergraduate architecture and engineering students at the University of Virginia 's Architecture Studio reCOVER and its Engineering in Context Capstone Design Program designed Gita 's seven classrooms , its library , its latrines , its office space and its outdoor play and learning space ( including a sports field and garden ) . <p> Other students from the University of Virginia raised money to help the architecture and engineering students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ride ' across Uganda , ' in which students rode more than 7,500 miles to help raise the necessary $60,000 to build and supply a BT Academy . <p> Srour and Kalisa clearly still could n't believe -- even years later -- so many people rode so many miles so far away to help kids in Gita , in rural Uganda . <p> Although the design and funding came from the University of Virginia , the local community around Gita built the school . Through more than 20,000 hours of donated labor , prospective parents and grandparents made the BT Academy in Gita a reality . It was the best-looking , most inviting school we saw on our drive down the dirt road , and yes , still one made of mud and bricks and stone and with outdoor , though hygienic and private , latrines . <p> The kids were curious , the teachers engaged , the parents proud -- and all treated their school space with dignity and respect . <p> Sustainable model Ultimately , BT academies , including Gita , are public government schools . Once the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreement with the Ugandan government and with Kalisa 's supervision , selects high quality teachers who will make the most of the open , welcoming environment BT academies offer . <p> In a video diary , former President Bill Clinton talks about working with the charity City Year to help open a school library and vegetable garden for South African youth , and celebrating Nelson Mandela 's 94th birthday . <p> The Ugandan government then pays for the ongoing operating costs of the schools and the teachers ' and supervisors ' salaries . This arrangement -- versus many other efforts in the U.S. to raise money to build a school somewhere far away with no plans for what happens after the doors open -- has a clear plan for sustainable impact : it creates clarity around what is the local community 's responsibility , what is the Ugandan government 's responsibility and what is BT 's responsibility . <p> That longer-term focus and clarity make BT distinctive -- and more likely to have better results for its students , their parents -- and their university partners back in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Uganda , with another six close to completion . More than 25 college and university campuses in the U.S. have contributed funds , designs and time to help more than 1,800 Ugandan kids get a better education -- and future . <p> One new area of focus for Srour and Kalisa is building teacher capacity -- they are clearly concerned there are soon not going to be enough high caliber teachers for the schools they are building already and dreaming about . <p> Srour and Kalisa 's answer ? Build a teacher training academy . <p> Chelsea Clinton is an NBC News Special Correspondent . She was recently traveling with her father , former President Bill Clinton , to visit Clinton Foundation , Clinton Health Access Initiative and Clinton Global Initiative projects in a number of sub-Saharan African countries , including Uganda . In 2011 , Building Tomorrow made a commitment at the Clinton Global Initiative to have built

@@5060041 <p> which means Microsoft Office Access has tried its best but still can not repair the file . <p> This is a trappable Microsoft Jet and DAO error and the error code is 2239 . <h> Precise Explanation : <p> This error means Access Jet engine can recognize the basic structures and important definitions of the MDB database successfully , but find some corruption in the table definitions or table data . <p> Microsoft Access will try to repair the corruption . If the table definitions vital to whole database can not be repaired , it will display the "

@@5060141 <p> what changes do I have to make for it to appear normal on ios6 simulator <p> Thanks <p> found an answer : - <p> if ( UIDevice **27;3791;TOOLONG floatValue &lt; 6.0 ) // how the view was configured before IOS6 self.window addSubview : **25;3820;TOOLONG ; self.window makeKeyAndVisible ; else // this is the code that will start the interface to rotate once again self.window setRootViewController : **25;3847;TOOLONG ; <p> if ( UIDevice **27;3874;TOOLONG floatValue &lt; 6.0 ) // how the view was configured before IOS6 self.window addSubview : **25;3903;TOOLONG ; self.window makeKeyAndVisible ; else // this is the code that will start the

@@5060241 <h> New United Nations <p> The role of the United Nations is so very important to the future global community . With problems in the Untied Nations and around the world becoming so more complex . As major changes have to happen around the world so they must at the United Nations . Example ; United Nations Security Council Veto Vote Resolution 1385 on Saturday December 29 , 2001 . One nation or one person should not have so much power to be able to stop such a resolution in secret . With only one being out of sync with the others an amendment to the resolution would have been in order . The UN Security Council being the high Council of the UN with the one vote veto you are creating a dictatorial buricaticy on a global level . Giving any one of the Permanent Nations absolute power in being able to stop any resolution they desire . <p> The UN Security Council should be change to change with it changing role . Keeping the basic format with some changes such as ; Increase the number of members to 11 with 2 being rotatening members . One would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be pediment member . With one nay vote the resolution passes . With two nay votes the resolution must be amended so there is only one nay vote or less to pass . Three nay votes and the resolution is veto . It is though practices and action like this that tarnish the role of the United Nations and the United States in their leading role with the global community . One vote should not be able to stop what others see to be good for the situation in a global way . We would not tolerate that practice anywhere else why at the UN Security Council . <p> Opening the UN Security Council to the democratic ways we want nations to move towards . This council must act in a global way for what is in the best interest of the global community and not one nation . With the current policy of a one vote veto in the Security Council stifles the work of all of the other groups invold . No nation should have absolute control over the international policy of the global community . A balance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important as the balance between national , regional and global . Nation re-construction should be a done on a state and national level with the regional neighbor nations and the United Nations leading the way . States should be created following the ethnic and tribal boundaries to make up the national government and leaders . <p> Only by building a stronger international global platform of organizations will the answers to peace and security be properly addressed . For this to happen there will be many needed changes that will have to come about to make this possible . As long as the United States government is spending over forty times the annual budget on military spending than all of the United Nations Agencies put together . We will continue to have more wars and less peace in the world . <p> With the United States spending over 420 billion dollars on military spending which is 43% of the world 's total military expenditure . And all of the budgets to the United Nations Agencies total about ten billon dollars . We will not have enough financial resources to make the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . The United States Government fiscal policies are draining the international monetary system from the needed capital for the developing nations . <p> Only by creating an independent global platform financed by an International Crude Oil Export Tax ( OET ) http : //globalcrier.b ... rt-tax-oet.html will we create a stable and large enough platform to make the needed changes . For some of the nations that are global super powers this will mean relinquishing some of their international powers . For the smaller and less powerful nations this will mean they will have to contribute more to the international originations platform . The taxpayers of any one-nation can not be paying for it all without creating a global military empire as we have today . There should be three of the United Nation City State ( UNCS ) created around the world , one in Africa , Asia and in South America . The proposed host countries will summit their offer to the United Nations for consideration . The three UNCS will function as part of the United Nations being the home bases for the International Peacekeeping Forces and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , warehouses , and training facilities and housing for United Nations operations . <p> The approximate area of each of the UNCS will be 25 square miles . With the following factors in consideration , the proximity to other nations and international waterways , and the mother nation support in the future operations . The creation of the UNCS will be a trophy for the mother nations . Creating many new jobs and opportunities putting it on the international map . <p> The main purpose of the three UNCS will be support the international work of the United Nations . UNCS will be the home base for the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces as well as the training centers for United Nations operations . Governments from around the world could send their police and military personal for United Nations Certification as Reserved International Peacekeeping Personnel . The United Nations would maintain the fulltime United Nations Peacekeeper Forces . <p> All of the UNCS would have training programs in freshwater and sewer management , medical , policing , farming practices and government operation training programs with support training and operations being offered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home bases for some of the international non-profit NGO 's . The three UNCS would be run and operated under the United Nations Headquarters . All land in the UNCS will remain under the ownership and control of the United Nations with lease deals to operations and entities that are working in partnership or support in United Nations operations . <p> The United States Peace Core should be the model for the International Peace Core . It could be based in the United Nations City Nation as a separate institution from the United Nations . It could work hand in hand with the United Nations International Peacekeeping Forces on mission around the world . Only by directing more international resources to mission of peace rather than war will we have a different out come to the problems we face as people of the world . The United Nations annual budget is less than most states or nations it is more comparable to a large University or corporation . <p> Given the magnitude of responsibilities the United Nations has in the world . The United Nations does not have the resources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expanding the United Nations role in international hot spots the United States can down size its international military presents . With the United Nations tooled up for preventative actions then maybe fewer global hot spots will break into full-scale war . With the United Nations stronger in international global affairs it will help make the world a safer and better place for everyone to live . <p> The United Nations will not intervene in any nations internal affairs unless it is called on to do so by that nation or a mandate by a United Nations Security Council . There is no question that there are a number of super power nations in the world that can win a military war with any number of smaller nations . There is the question if they can win the peace . It is much more economical , practical and socially responsible to rebuild a nation before it is destroyed by war and chaos . The International Peace Core will take on more humanitarian projects as a preventative measure cutting down on the numbers of global military conflicts . By working together with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions improve for more people around the world . Then and only

@@5060341 <h> Case of the Missing Coins <p> We have all the walkthroughs and guides for all of the PSA secret-agent missions on Club Penguin . If you want do see the other Club Penguin mission cheats , go to our Secret Agent Mission Guides here on Club Penguin Insiders . <p> Did you join Club Penguin after the end of the PSA program ( the beginning of the EPF program ) ? If so , you can still do all of the missions ! Just go to EPF HQ and head into the transporter at the top of your screen ! <p> Here are step-by-step instructions for completing Mission 3 : Case of the Missing Coins . <h> Mission 3 : Case of the Missing Coins <p> 1 . Talk to the new secret agent . <p> The agent tells you what happened . He then closes the vault door . 2 . Go in the door to the Gift Shop manager 's office . <p> 3 . Look around the room till you see the couch . <p> 4 . Click under the couch . <p> 5 . Put the paper clip and BOOT computer disk in your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> 7 . Click the computer . 8 . Turn the computer on . 9 . Take the computer disk from your inventory , and put it in the computer . <p> 10 . On the screen , click My Files . 11 . Click CombinationNumber . <p> 12 . Write down the letters and the numbers next to the letters . The numbers change each time you do the mission , so you need to write them down . ( If you want , you can also play the IceBricks game on the computer ! ) 13 . Go back downstairs . <p> 14 . Click the vault door . 15 . Click the vault handle to enter the combination numbers you wrote down . <p> The number next to N goes on top , the number next to E goes on the right , the number next to S goes on the bottom , and the number next to W goes on the left . 16 . Click the red CONFIRM button . The vault door opens . 17 . Go in the vault . 18 . Talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rings . 19 . Click your spy phone in your inventory . <p> G tells you to meet him in HQ. 20 . Click the Visit HQ button on your spy phone to go to see G. 21 . Talk to G , who tells you about what he 's found . 22 . Click the screen G is pointing at to see the video . <p> 23 . After you watch the video , talk to G again . 24 . Say " OK . Do you have any suggestions ? " G tells you to look on the roof . 25 . Click " Ok thanks G. Is there anything else I need to know ? " 26 . He tells you to take the key marked rooftop from a drawer . 27 . Click the drawer . 28 . Put the key in the top-left corner in your inventory . <p> The key says roof top in secret-agent code . ( The other keys say lounge , ski shop , office , boiler room , and coffee , but you do n't need to use any of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Gift Shop , and go up to the manager 's office again . 30 . Take the key from your inventory , and open the door to the roof . <p> 31 . Put the key back in your inventory , and go out to the roof . A giant magnet ! <p> 32 . Take your spy phone from your inventory , and click the flashing red button near the top . 33 . Click the wrench that comes out . 34 . Click the wrench on the front of the Powa Box . <p> It unbolts the front of the Powa Box . 35 . Put the wrench back in spy phone . 36 . Take the paper clip from your inventory , and put it in the Powa Box . It shorts out the Powa Box and deactivates the magnet . 37 . Put the tuft of white fur stuck in the vent on the left in your inventory . <p> 38 . Go downstairs to the vault . The coins have fallen to the ground . You can go in the vault and click the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . Go back to HQ , and talk with G. 40 . When G asks if you found anything else , tell him you found white fibers . 41 . From your inventory , give G the white fur . G then asks you if you are interested in another small mission . 42 . Say " Sure , what is it you need me to do ? " He tells you to go to the Boiler Room and reset the fuses to turn back on the power . 43 . Do n't leave HQ yet ! 44 . Move to the right till you see the map of Club Penguin . <p> 45 Put the flashlight on the table in your inventory . 46 . Use your spy phone or the map in the top-left corner to teleport to Town . 47 . Talk to the brown penguin . <p> 48 . Go in the Night Club . It is dark . <p> 49 . Click the flashlight in your inventory to turn it on . <p> If you are a member , you can click your night-vision goggles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right till you see the speaker with the secret entrance to the Boiler Room . <p> 51 . Click the speaker to go to the Boiler Room . 52 . Look around till you see the Fuse Box . <p> 53 . Click the fuse box . 54 . If you are using your goggles , turn them off . The flashlight turns off automatically . <p> 55 . Click the fuses till they all turn green . This can take a while . Be patient , and keep clicking . I 've sometimes got it in 5 tries , and sometimes it seems like it took 5 minutes . Do n't give up ! ( If you absolutely ca n't turn all the fuses green , you can go back to HQ and ask G to do it for you . But you wo n't get the thank you card at the end. ) 56 . After you turn on the lights , go back up to the Dance Club and talk with the brown penguin again . 57 . Now go back to HQ and talk to @ @ @ @ @ @

@@5060441 <h> How to Get The Most Out of Google Drive <p> In the recent year you have been showered with free cloud storage anyone can use to store files online , any types of files so you can easily access them anywhere on any devices . These are great so you can practically put aside your worries of not being able to complete your projects or tasks in case you are away from your device . But since many of you are using Gmail and utilizing Google Docs at most , now Google also ready to serve your needs with its cloud storage ' Drive ' . <p> Previously Google Docs , Google Drive is another cloud storage you can use to store your files on the cloud and access anywhere across devices . If you are familiar with Google Docs , you will be able to start using Google Drive , and you get to conveniently edit 30 different types of files without having to install software on our own devices . <p> Google is giving away 5GB of free storage on Google Drive , and you can increase the size starting at only $2.49 a month for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you through with guides to use your Google Drive so you can start using it today . <h> Register &; Access Anywhere <p> To get started , go to Google Drive official page and get access to your free 5 GB storage . <h> Install Google Drive on your devices <p> Once registered , go to the download page to install Google Drive client on your Mac , PC and Android devices . iOS users will have to wait until the app is ready . <p> Google Drive on your Android will allow you to view documents and share them with anyone . You can also create new Google formatted files including Documents and Spreadsheet . <p> Google Drive for your Mac has similar features to Dropbox , with relevant options when you click on the icon . <p> And the folder view too . <h> Google Drive on the web <p> If you are familiar with Google Docs , then it will be easier to get around with your Google Drive since all sharing , drag-drop and comment features are also available for your Google Drive . To share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , right-click and select ' Share ' . <p> Main menu is always at the left-hand side , and the view is similar to your Google Docs . <p> But with the new Google Drive , you can change the view to ' grid ' from the top menu . <h> Google Drive and Search with Goggles <p> Google Drive on the web has search bar at the top of the page that also integrated with Google Goggles , and with this search , you can easily find your files by defining the type of files , or search based on text contains in a document or even photos and PDF files . Simply type any keyword and Google will list all relevant result based on your files on Google Drive . <h> Edit files on Google Drive <p> Now with Google Drive , you can edit many types of files among others including AutoCAD , on the go from your Chrome browser without having to install specific software on your computer . To be able to edit various file types , Google has prepared Google Drive ' Chrome extension @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the page and install required extensions to your Chrome browser . <p> Not having to install specific software on your computer also means that you can only edit files on your Chrome browser , and connected to the Internet . <h> Create new files , different types <p> Google Drive now allows you not only to edit many different types of files , but also to create new ones right from the cloud . To create new file , click on the red ' Create ' button on the left menu and select the file types you want to create . Select ' More ' if you want to create file other than Google formatted document , and you will have more selection once you installed more extension for your Chrome . <h> Access and Edit files offline <p> To be able to access your files from Google Drive when you are offline , make sure you download Google Drive client for your Mac , PC or Android . There are however some limitations when you are using Google Drive , knowing Google has its own formatted file types known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drawings . <p> You can open non-Google Docs files , view and edit them offline , provided you have the specific software installed on your computer following file types . <p> You can view , but editing is disabled for Google documents and spreadsheet . <p> Click the gear dropdown at the top right corner of the page and select Set up Docs offline . <p> In the dialog window that appears , select Allow offline docs . <p> Click Install from Chrome web store . <p> Click Add to chrome to install from Chrome extension page to your browser . <p> Now when you click open Google documents or spreadsheet while offline , it will be open in a new tab on your Chrome browser . You can access the file but you will not be able to edit . <h> Conclusion <p> Although the arrival of Google Drive is late , it is still beneficial for many , considering the usage of Google Docs , which previously you can only access on the web , now you can access them locally on your computer . Also , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be much easier for you to work anywhere on any devices since you can now edit 30 different file types from your Chrome browser . Knowing Google Drive is the cheapest in the market in comparison with many other players , perhaps there 's some catch , what do you think ? <h> Our Partners <p> Disclaimer : The editor(s) reserve the right to edit any comments that are found to be abusive , offensive , contain profanity , serves as spam , is largely self-promotional

@@5060541 <h> What do you think of your provider ? <p> As far as providers go , I 'm talking about the 4 main providers , Verizon , AT &T,; T-Mobile , Metro PCS , and Sprint . Tell me what you think about yours- is it great , sh*tty , too expensive , etc . I have Verizon . I can really only vouch for cell phone coverage since I have Charter for interwebz , home phone , and cable , but as far as cell phone coverage goes , Verizon is great . the coverage is great , and it 's not too costly ( although I do n't have a smartphone to pay for ) . Customer care is pretty easy to deal with too . Overall , they 're a great provider . Now tell me what you think . Also , can someone add Sprint to the poll ? I left that one out the first time . <h> Re : What do you think of your provider ? <p> Home cable , phone and internet are provided by Virgin Media . We get a maximum speed of 20Mbps . Even though it is n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we still always get around 19.8Mbps . My mobile phone is on O2 , good pricing and tariff features . <h> Re : What do you think of your provider ? <p> I have AT &T; on my phone , but both of my parents have Verizon . Basically , where we are moving to does n't have any cell towers that provide Verizon . I love AT &T.; Excellent service I must say . As far as internet goes we have Windtream iwht a 3Mbps speed . When we move into our new house it will get upgraded to a 6 . <h> Re : What do you think of your provider ? <p> AT &T,; we currenlty have normal dsl , and we only get 6 max mbps on the biggest plan avalible , and as for my samsung captivate , the speed is as fast as my home internet , and no i do nt have 4g on my phone , only 3g , but my phone does have at &t's; enhanced 3g service <h> Re : What do you think of your provider ? <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my phone , but both of my parents have Verizon . Basically , where we are moving to does n't have any cell towers that provide Verizon . I love AT &T.; Excellent service I must say . As far as internet goes we have Windtream iwht a 3Mbps speed . When we move into our new house it will get upgraded to a 6 . <p> I tend to make fun of AT &T; since I have Verizon and I 've heard people say AT &T's; shit , but this kinda prooves the point that it really matters where you are . <h> Re : What do you think of your provider ? <p> Where I live , Verizon has coverage everywhere , AT &T; has good coverage , but its not too good a company , Sprint has horrible coverage , and a TMobile phone here

@@5060641 will automatically upgrade to a full year for $79 . <h> Book Description <p> Release Date : September 9 , 2003 <p> In 1999 , John McCain wrote one of the most acclaimed and bestselling memoirs of the decade , Faith of My Fathers . That book ended in 1972 , with McCain 's release from imprisonment in Vietnam . This is the rest of his story , about his great American journey from the U.S. Navy to his electrifying run for the presidency , interwoven with heartfelt portraits of the mavericks who have inspired him through the years -- Ted Williams , Theodore Roosevelt , visionary aviation proponent Billy Mitchell , Marlon Brando in Viva Zapata ! , and , most indelibly , Robert Jordan . It was Jordan , Hemingway 's protagonist in For Whom the Bell Tolls , who showed McCain the ideals of heroism and sacrifice , stoicism and redemption , and why certain causes , despite the costs , are . . . <p> Worth the Fighting For <p> After five and a half years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam , naval aviator John McCain returned home a changed man . Regaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ career , commanding carrier pilots and serving as the navy 's liaison to what is sometimes ironically called the world 's most exclusive club , the United States Senate . Accompanying Senators John Tower and Henry " Scoop " Jackson on international trips , McCain began his political education in the company of two masters , leaders whose standards he would strive to maintain upon his election to the U.S. Congress . There , he learned valuable lessons in cooperation from a good-humored congressman from the other party , Morris Udall . In 1986 , McCain was elected to the U.S. Senate , inheriting the seat of another role model , Barry Goldwater . During his time in public office , McCain has seen acts of principle and acts of craven self-interest . He describes both ex-tremes in these pages , with his characteristic straight talk and humor . He writes honestly of the lowest point in his career , the Keating Five savings and loan debacle , as well as his triumphant moments -- his return to Vietnam and his efforts to normalize relations between the U.S. and Vietnamese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his galvanizing bid for the presidency in 2000 . Writes McCain : " A rebel without a cause is just a punk . Whatever you 're called -- rebel , unorthodox , nonconformist , radical -- it 's all self-indulgence without a good cause to give your life meaning . " This is the story of McCain 's causes , the people who made him do it , and the meaning he found . Worth the Fighting For reminds us of what 's best in America , and in ourselves . <p> In 1999 , John McCain wrote one of the most acclaimed and bestselling memoirs of the decade , Faith of My Fathers . That book ended in 1972 , with McCain 's release from imprisonment in Vietnam . This is the rest of his story , about his great American journey from the U.S. Navy to his electrifying run for the presidency , interwoven with heartfelt portraits of the mavericks who have inspired him through the years -- Ted Williams , Theodore Roosevelt , visionary aviation proponent Billy Mitchell , Marlon Brando in Viva Zapata ! , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Hemingway 's protagonist in For Whom the Bell Tolls , who showed McCain the ideals of heroism and sacrifice , stoicism and redemption , and why certain causes , despite the costs , are . . . <p> Worth the Fighting For <p> After five and a half years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam , naval aviator John McCain returned home a changed man . Regaining his health and flight-eligibility status , he resumed his military career , commanding carrier pilots and serving as the navy 's liaison to what is sometimes ironically called the world 's most exclusive club , the United States Senate . Accompanying Senators John Tower and Henry " Scoop " Jackson on international trips , McCain began his political education in the company of two masters , leaders whose standards he would strive to maintain upon his election to the U.S. Congress . There , he learned valuable lessons in cooperation from a good-humored congressman from the other party , Morris Udall . In 1986 , McCain was elected to the U.S. Senate , inheriting the seat of another role model , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCain has seen acts of principle and acts of craven self-interest . He describes both ex-tremes in these pages , with his characteristic straight talk and humor . He writes honestly of the lowest point in his career , the Keating Five savings and loan debacle , as well as his triumphant moments -- his return to Vietnam and his efforts to normalize relations between the U.S. and Vietnamese governments ; his fight for campaign finance reform ; and his galvanizing bid for the presidency in 2000 . Writes McCain : " A rebel without a cause is just a punk . Whatever you 're called -- rebel , unorthodox , nonconformist , radical -- it 's all self-indulgence without a good cause to give your life meaning . " This is the story of McCain 's causes , the people who made him do it , and the meaning he found . Worth the Fighting For reminds us of what 's best in America , Pre-order both items " , " Pre-order all three items " <h> Editorial Reviews <h> From Publishers Weekly <p> McCain , with help from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Faith of My Fathers left off , after his release from a North Vietnamese POW prison . After two decades in Congress , he has plenty of stories to tell , beginning with his first experiences on Capitol Hill as a navy liaison to the Senate , where he became friends with men like Henry " Scoop " Jackson and John Tower . ( The latter friendship plays a crucial role in McCain 's account of the battle over Tower 's 1989 nomination for defense secretary . ) He revisits the " Keating Five " affair that nearly wrecked his career in the early ' 90s , pointedly observing how the investigating Senate committee left him dangling for political reasons long after he 'd been cleared of wrongdoing . There 's much less on his 2000 presidential campaign than one might expect ; a single chapter lingers on a self-lacerating analysis of how he lost the South Carolina primary . ( He admits , " I doubt I shall have reason or opportunity to try again " for the White House , and may even consider retiring from the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senator berates himself for speaking recklessly or letting his temper get the best of him . He nevertheless takes pride in his status as a maverick and pays tribute to inspirational figures like Theodore Roosevelt , Ted Williams and Robert Jordan , the fictional protagonist of Hemingway 's For Whom the Bell Tolls . Luckily for McCain , he 's such an engaging storyteller most readers will readily accept these remarkable history . Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information , Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition . <p> Senator John McCain 's second volume of autobiography covers his career after his return from captivity in North Vietnam through his unfortunately failed bid for the Presidency in the 2000 elections . As he talks about his life and career , he also discusses those who have inspired and taught him , from history ( TR , Billy Mitchell ) , literature ( the Robert Jordan character from " For Whom the Bell Tolls " and Brando 's portrayal of Zapata in " Viva Zapata " ) , sports ( Ted Williams - a great baseball player and a fine Marine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own life ( late Senators Scoop Jackson , Morris Udall , and John Tower - two of them Democrats , interestingly - among others ) . These essays mostly stand on their own and are worth the price of admission alone . <p> McCain is honest , sometimes brutally so , about his own failings and errors ; his description of the Keating Five affair is thorough and unsparing , as are his admissions of occasional prevarication and displays of temper . He is no less straightforward about his political experiences . While a dedicated conservative and a believer , his contempt for the near-fascist " Christian " wing of the Republican party is evident , as is his disgust with the treatment former Senator John Tower received when nominated by President George H.W. Bush for the post of Secretary of Defense , a nomination shot down more by far right wingers than by the Democrats . One thing I did miss was his honest appraisal of the current President , but from patriotic motivations McCain may be saving that for later . <p> McCain seems to be suggesting at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly over , that his Presidential ambitions are finished . All I can say is that I sincerely hope not . I am a Democrat who would support a McCain run for the Presidency unreservedly . I do not always agree with his views , but I admire his dedication to campaign finance reform , his strength , his candor , his willingness to work with the other side and see them as the loyal opposition rather than as traitors , his courage , and his service to our country . And if McCain never runs for the Presidency , what better final service could he render his country than to lead an effort to return the GOP back to its true core values and rescue it from the clutches of the far right . <p> While there are many politicians who profess to be uncontrollable mavericks who vote strictly based upon their conscience , there are few who do so in actuality . John McCain is one of these few rare creatures that are slowly growing extinct in a political climate that readily denounces instead of encouraging political reform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noble McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform is pondered by the Supreme Court for its supposed unconstitutionality and concurrently eviscerated by machine politicians such as Mitch McConnell , John McCain continues his admirably idealistic and iconoclastic approach to political reform : It 's worth the fighting for . <p> As the vast multitude of Senators surreptitiously sneak in pork barrel earmarks that waste taxpayers billions of dollars per year , McCain espouses a line item veto - where the President can eliminate such wasteful expenditures while still signing the bill into law . McCain is loath to the inherent corruption and undue influence that soft money has effected upon the election process under the auspices of ostensibly independent ads on the eve of elections . Corruption , pork barrel politics , dishonesty , apathy , and anti-Americanism are all anathema to the most distinguished and honorable Senator in our great country - John McCain . I highly recommend this memoir . Just as McCain does so commendably with his politics , he has put his heart into it as only he can . <p> After reading his other memoir " Faith of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fighting For " as a gift . And what a gift it turned out to be ! Senator John McCain proves that he is truly one of the great All-American heroes of our time . <p> This memoir is honest , entertaining , and enlightening . By including the biographies of individuals McCain admired , we gain even better insight into the way John McCain 's mind works . We begin to understand his motivations , his aspirations , and above all , his values . I am almost startled by how TRUTHFUL he is in approaching the challenges and obstacles in his life ( running the gamut from his first bid for congress , the Keating Five Scandal , the run for President , and his Campaign Finance Reform movement . ) What a life he 's led ! <p> I could not have come up with a better title for his work ( " Worth the Fighting For " ) . Senator McCain very clearly demonstrates what he believes are the most important values integral to being a public servant and an American . I read this memoir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many moving and inspirational passages in his work . <p> Although I do n't share the same political views as McCain , I ca n't help but feel an awesome sense of admiration for this man and his accomplishments . His memoir moves past political debates and dialogue ... to examining and understanding our deeper core beliefs . <p> My absolute favorite chapters were the ones describing his bid for the Presidency and his efforts in Campaign Finance reform . However , all his biographical sketches were informative and fascinating . Another perk of reading his work , is getting a more personal opinion of the many " famous " elected officials running our nation--it

@@5060741 <p> Polaris and UMass Medical School will build a remote brief intervention and referral to treatment system to improve the detection of and service delivery for alcohol misuse among medical patients .. Read more in autism road to recovery ... + <p> National Foundation for Autism Research has awarded CARD a Community Project Grant to conduct a study to teach social skills in a playgroup setting to San Diego children with autism . Read more in autism road to recovery ... + <p> **25;11709;TOOLONG offers detailed information on Autism testing , therapies and protocols to help parents make educated decisions regarding treatment for children on the Autism Spectrum .. Read more in autism road to recovery ... + <p> There are many heartbreaking disorders such as Autism , Asperger 's Syndrome , and Pervasive Disorder which affect children , and the biggest question facing parents is how the disorders will be

@@5060841 <h> Browse Articles &; Videos <h> What Training Do You Need to Be a Webmaster ? <p> The main duties of a webmaster are to ensure a website is easy to navigate and can be accessed by people using different operating systems and Web browsers . A webmaster must stay abreast with technology as it advances . He or she must have skills in areas such as HTML , cascading style sheets and XML . Aspiring webmasters learn their skills on their own or through formal education . <p> View 29 Popular Schools <h> Training Needed to Become a Webmaster <p> Many webmasters are self-taught . They learn the skills they need through self-study websites that teach about programming and Web design . Formal education is earned through certificate and degree programs . Larger companies seeking candidates for a webmaster position may require a webmaster to have a degree in computer science . <p> Aspiring webmasters can earn a certificate through a 2-year college that teaches the basic skills of web authoring , script languages and hypertext-based Web content . Students learn about navigation and design principles that make a website more user-friendly . <h> Formal Education <p> Although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interested in being webmasters can get their training through certificate and degree programs . These programs include courses in Web design , programming and Web authoring software . <h> Webmaster Certificate <p> A webmaster certificate program introduces the student to Web authoring , teaching skills in Extensible Hypertext Markup Language ( XHTML ) , Web design , accessibility and cascading style sheets ( CSS ) . Coursework includes an introduction to Web authoring tools , such as Dreamweaver or Front Page . Students are introduced to programming languages , such as PHP Hypertext Preprocessor ( PHP ) , application service provider ( ASP ) and common gateway interface ( CGI ) . <p> Webmasters wishing to develop greater skills can earn an associate 's degree in Web development . Students are introduced to e-commerce , Visual Basic , databases and Web development . Local area networks , systems development and Web database integration are studied . <h> Continuing Education <p> Webmasters should take continuing education courses to stay abreast of new technology . Certificate programs in Web security , systems administration and Web-based database systems are available . Employers often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , CSS and

@@5060941 <p> If you 've got a question about link building , content , social media , SEO or other Internet marketing topics , just post it on the Vertical Measures Facebook page , or tweet it to us with the hashtag #VMQA . <h> Transcription <p> Hi , I 'm Ben . I 'm an Account Manager here at Vertical Measures , and today I 'm going to answer a question we get a lot . " Should I consider using video in blogs , in addition to written content next year ? " So many people ask , " Why should I use video ? " Well , it 's taking over . A Cisco study said that by 2016 , over half of the Internet 's traffic will be video content . <p> It also allows you to show instead of tell your topic . You can go out and set up examples . You can use hand gestures , you can point to different areas , and it also allows you to have your personality come out better than reading words . Your sarcasm or your humor can be hard to convey through text , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humble opinion , every single picture on your website should be a video . It 's the exact same thing as a picture , except when you click on it , it turns into a message that you can convey to the user . Video is now cheaper and easier to use than ever . You can use your phone , your iPad , or even a handheld camera to take very high quality , HD video and place it on your site . <p> Different users want different types of content . Some people may like to read . Other people want to ingest it through their eyes and ears . Instead of reading , they can watch and listen to it , and get the content in the same way that they prefer . It 's also much better on mobile . There 's a much higher retention rate of content when you 're viewing it on your mobile phone through video as opposed to reading text on the small screens . <p> So , you 've made the decision to implement video on your website , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quite easy . There are lots of video hosts out there like YouTube , Vimeo , and blip.tv that allow you to place your content on their site , and then it 's searchable on that site . Then you can embed it onto your site using a simple embed code . <p> These services also provide you with analytics so you can see who 's watching your video , when they 're watching it , and when they stop watching your video so you can better optimize your videos . Then , when you 're done with your video , you can transcribe it and place it below so all of your content is then searchable from the crawlers on the search engines . <p> They 're going to go through , and they 'll be able to track every word you say on your video because it 's transcribed below . You also want to place your video all over your social networks . Facebook has a specific section just for video , and you can link to your videos on Twitter and other social platforms to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your message go from different parts of the internet to all instead of being stationary on your own website . You can also get a video site map and submit it to Google so your videos are indexed and show up during Google video searches . <p> So , in summary , should you use video content in your blog in the upcoming year ? Yes , definitely . It 's becoming more and more popular . If you do n't use it , you 're going to be left behind . Many companies have been doing it since 2008 or 2007 . It gives your users different ways of digesting your content . They can read it , they can listen to it , and they can see it . <p> It helps build your persona , your personality . People get to see your face , hear you talk , as opposed to reading your words , and it can optimize your social content and spread out viraly through the internet . I 'm Ben Holland with Vertical Measures , have a great day . <p> Ben Holland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , SEO and Management . At Vertical Measures , he maintains campaigns with the strong belief that quality is better than quantity . He is also responsible for providing a report of a client 's web presence including an on-site analysis , social media research and their position in the top search engines for targeted keywords . Outside the world of internet marketing Ben enjoys playing basketball , softball and most sport related activities . <h> One Response to " Should I Consider Video Blogs In Addition to Written Content Next Year ? VIDEO " <p> Videos should be a part of your overall marketing plan . As it is , YouTube is the number 2 search engine next to Google . By continually creating video content and posting on YouTube helps build your reputation as a

@@5061141 <h> Navigation <h> User login <h> I would have gotten away with it , too , if it had n't been for you meddling kids ! <p> February 1 , 2012 - 2:01am -- Bibliofuture <p> ( Note : books in picture were not purchased at Amazon.com ) <p> Amazon.com 's plans for world domination hit a slight bump on Tuesday . <p> For years , the retailer has been telling Wall Street to ignore how little money it was making and focus instead on the fact that it was bringing in more and more customers and keeping them so happy they never went anywhere else for anything . <p> In Amazon 's fourth-quarter results , however , investors finally glimpsed off in the distance that growth beginning to flatten . Its revenue rose to $17.43 billion , up 35 percent . Most retailers would die happy with such a jump . But for the e-commerce leader , sales were nearly

@@5061241 <h> Wall Street Examiner Support and Contact Info <h> Iran : Down to the Wire <p> The showdown between Iran and Israel over Iran 's production of enriched uranium is coming to a crescendo . <p> Reports indicate that Iran is in the process of producing weapons-grade uranium . Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rightly been urging the U.S. and United Nations to give Iran a red line not to cross in its uranium enrichment -- that line being someplace between medium enrichment and high enrichment , or HEU , needed for weapons . That red line and the timeline have become a key issues . <p> During Netanyahu 's visit to the UN in late September , he said : " By next spring , or at most next summer at the current enrichment rate , they ( Iran ) will have finished the medium enrichment ( 20 percent ) and move on to the final stage . From there it is only a few months , and possibly a few weeks to the first bomb . " <p> Over the weekend , France 's foreign minister offered his assessment of the situation . Paris AP reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ track to reach the ability to produce a nuclear weapon by the first half of next year . Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told Europe-1 radio Sunday that unspecified experts ' have established in an absolutely indisputable way ' that Iran has compiled a full array of centrifuges that ' apparently will allow the ability to go toward possession of the nuclear weapon by the first half of next year , the end of the first half . ' " <p> Vice President Joe Biden during the VP debate pushed the red line out much further than Israel . He revealed that attitude of the administration , which is in effect gambling that once Iran has sufficient HEU , they wo n't have a weapon to use with it . Then , Biden ( between smirks and chuckles ) said they are counting on superior intelligence gathering to know when Iran is " starting the process of building the weapon . " Waiting for the weapon would be a shockingly late response in this writer 's view . <p> Vice President Biden : " What Bibi held up there was when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough to put into a weapon , they do n't have a weapon to put it into . " <p> For additional analysis on this topic and related trades , subscribers go to Russ Winter 's Actionable . The subscription fee is $69 per quarter and helps support Russ 's work on your behalf . Click here for more information or to subscribe . <p> Wisconsin Project : Not quite . During his speech before the U.N . General Assembly , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu argued that producing enriched uranium fuel for a nuclear weapon -- not the weapons package itself -- is Iran 's main challenge . <p> Iran already has access to an implosion bomb design and there is strong evidence , presented by the International Atomic Energy agency , that Iran has undertaken activities " relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device . " Activities described by the Agency include high explosives testing simulating a nuclear explosion , studies and experiments with an initiation system used in nuclear detonation , the development of specialized detonators used in nuclear weapons , and work on making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missile delivery capabilities , and a shot could easily be delivered at close range from Gaza or Lebanon . <p> Vice President Biden : " Both the Israelis and we know we 'll know if they the Iranians start the process of building a weapon . " <p> That might not be as easy as it sounds . Almost all weaponization work is laboratory scale , which is not easy to detect . An example is the Iraqi site of Al Atheer , a key nuclear weapon laboratory under Saddam Hussein 's regime . This site was unknown to U.S. intelligence and so was not bombed by the United States during the first Gulf War in the early 1990s . Following the war , international inspectors discovered it to be Iraq 's major facility for developing nuclear weapon components . <p> AEI chart on weapons : <p> So what we are now witnessing is a high stakes chess game , if Iran 's ultimate goal is a nuclear weapon . The real and in fact appropriate red-line trigger would be as soon as Iran starts processing medium enriched uranium ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uranium . Then you can no longer claim you are merely working on building nuclear power plants in your country . The nations who would participate in a strike on an Iranian nuke site may be waiting for this timing -- for irrefutable evidence -- so that they can maintain a moral high ground . <p> Right now , Iran is supposedly running a UF6 to MEU operation . So then the questions become : How much HEU is needed for a bomb ? Given Iran 's increased centrifuge capacity allowing them to speed up the enrichment process , how long will it really take to go from MEU to HEU , triggering the red line ? Can this shift be detected in a timely manner ? <p> Even if Iran sticks with building only its MEU inventory , the red line would have been moved up because Iran only needs 141 kg of MEU to enrich to HEU to make a traditional weapon . In reality a series of smaller 15 kg bombs would pack a huge punch . <p> AEI ran a time table ( see first chart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Iran had an estimated 91.4 kg MEU on hand in August , verified during the last IAEA inspection . Natanz has been producing 4.5 kg a month . Fordow has been producing 9.9 kg a month using 696 first-generation IR-1 centrifuges . Thus , in November , Iran would have more than 140 kg of MEU on hand from this output . Other sources also give their projections on chart 2 . All these sources predict Iran will have 16 to 25 kg of HEU by December and January . <p> However , Iran is also installing additional centrifuges in November at Fordow designed to quad-triple overall production rates ( IAEA report August 30 , 2012 ) . That means not only will Iran have enough MEU for a smaller-implosion bomb by November , it could enrich the 140 kg MEU to HEU in 1.6 months . <p> Even if one were to use 200 kg as a higher necessary threshold to produce a bomb that would only add less than another a few weeks to the red line . Thus , the red line is much closer than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to produce a bomb . The IAEA team is arriving in Iran today and will be conducting inspections through Nov. 11 . After Iran stonewalls them and with the US elections past , you can expect this current " calm before the storm " to pass . <p> AEI : <p> Given the down-to-the-wire nature of dealing with this , and given the American people bad experience with the pretense for war in Iraq , it will be necessary to rapidly generate public support for action against Iran . A manufactured " crisis " is an effective tool , such as the sinking of the Maine in Havana Harbor leading to the Spanish-American War of 1898 . Such a false-flag operation today might look something like this . Or perhaps bad economic conditions within Iran will drive that country to instigate something like a Pearl Harbor redux in the Persian Gulf . Months of U.S. " financial recovery " propaganda would have to be undone rapidly in order to quickly garner public support for " crisis measures . " My guess is that given Iran 's soon possession of weapons @ @ @ @ @ @

@@5061341 <h> MapQuest Discover : 101 <p> Why do I need to sign up for MapQuest Discover ? <p> You do n't have to sign up to see places and collections , but you do need to sign up via Facebook Twitter or a MapQuest login to create a collection and other actions because we ca n't save your information without your setting up an account . <p> What are Places &; Collections ? <p> MapQuest Discover is all about places and collections . Places are locations such as states , cities , businesses , attractions and maybe even someone 's house . Collections are groupings of places based on some theme that 's important to the creator of the collection . The themes can vary from a recent vacation , favorite places such as restaurants , someone 's bucket list , or any number of themes . <p> How to make a Collection <p> There are lots of ways to make a collection . <p> Click on the " Make a Collection " button on the MapQuest Discover news feed home page . <p> Click on the plus sign when you mouse over any place photo at the top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new or existing collection . <p> Make it easy on yourself by clicking on any existing collections you 'd like to make yours . Then , select duplicate at the top of that existing collection page to make a copy of the collection for yourself . You can rename it , select your favorite photo and edit out any places in that collection that you do n't really like . <p> How to find a Place <p> If you have a specific place in mind , the easiest way to find it is use the search box at the top right of each page . Another option is to just explore the MapQuest Discover newsfeed page until you find places that you like . <p> How to add a Photo <p> Photos can be added to each place . You can upload a new photo for places by clicking on the camera icon and upload it from your computer or phone <p> How to add a Place to a Collection <p> Once you 're created a collection , you 'll want to add places to it . One way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ search box at the top right of your page . Once you 've found the place , click on the plus button at the top right of the photo to add it to a new collection or an existing collection . <p> How to duplicate a Collection <p> Make it easy on yourself by clicking on existing collections you 'd like to make yours . Then , select duplicate at the top of that existing collection page to make a copy of that collection for yourself . You can rename it , select your favorite photo and edit out any places in that collection that you do n't really like . <p> What does been there do ? <p> Been there ads that place to a grouping of other places that you 've been to . You can then see all of the places you 've been to by clicking on the My Passport link at the top . You can even see how many places your friends have been and they can see how many places you 've been to . It 's a fun way to show off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ View of your Collection <p> Each collection can be viewed in three different modes : slideshow of photos , tiles of places and a map view with each place located on the map . The map view icon is located at the top right of each collection tile or photo . <p> How to get more information about a Place <p> Each place has a photo view and also an information rich page that provides more details about a place . Click on the Information button at the top right of each place . <p> How to Follow Friends <p> Once you have logged in to MapQuest Discover with Facebook or Twitter , you will see your profile icon at the top right of MapQuest Discover . When you click on that , the first option you see is Find &; Invite Friends . There you will find your friends and users we recommended you follow because we think they are pretty interesting and hope you do too . <p> How to Share with Friends &; Family <p> Sharing is easy and fun to do . Every time you " @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you are sharing with your social network unless you go to your settings and modify your actions . <p> How to Search for Places <p> At the top of each page in MapQuest Discover is a search bar , type in a city , state , or place . If you ca n't find what you 're searching for , you can add the place by clicking on the " Have n't found what you 're looking for ? Add Place " button on the right side of the search results page . <p> How to change your User Name aka Display Name <p> Once you have logged in to MapQuest Discover with Facebook or Twitter , you will see your profile icon at the top right corner of MapQuest Discover . When you click on that , select " Passport " and enter your " Display Name aka User Name " . <p> How to change your bio <p> Once you have logged in to MapQuest Discover with Facebook or Twitter , you will see your profile icon in the top right of MapQuest Discover . When you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your " Bio " . <p> How to change your profile picture <p> Once you have logged in to MapQuest Discover with Facebook or Twitter , you will see your profile icon at the top right of MapQuest Discover . When you click on that , select " Passport " and Upload your thumbnail image under " Basic Information " . <p> How to change your email preferences <p> Once you have logged in to MapQuest Discover with Facebook or Twitter , you will see your profile icon at the top right of MapQuest Discover . When you click on that , select " Email Notifications " and check the settings you prefer and then click " Save Changes " . <p> Forget your password ? <p> If you logged in using Facebook , your password is the same as your Facebook password . To change your password , please go to Facebook . <p> If you logged in using Twitter , your password is the same as your Twitter password . To change your password , please go to Twitter . <p> If you have other questions or would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complete our Contact

@@5061441 <p> For many , earning that " piece of paper " can make a significant difference in your professional or personal life . Whatever your reason for going back , there ? s a good chance a Kentucky school will have the program you need . <p> The more you involve family in the planning process , the more you are able to succeed . It is important to have realistic expectations when you are scheduling classes ... learn more <p> Step 3 - Find financial aid <p> Understand your options regarding financial aid to pay for college . Aid is available to help finance your education and many folks want to help you make the right choice for your situation ... learn more <p> Step 4 - Get enrolled <p> Now that you KnowHow2GO , the only thing left to do is GO . The path may not be easy but you are already one step closer ... learn more <p> Thousands of you left a Kentucky college with 90+ credits , but without a diploma . Kentucky colleges want you back and have special programs to fast-track

@@5061541 <h> McCain accuses Pentagon of being unprepared to respond to Libya attack <p> Sen. John McCain , one of the leading critics of the Obama administration 's handling of last month 's terrorist attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi , Libya , accused the Pentagon on Friday of not having enough military reinforcements in place to respond to such an attack . <p> " After three weeks of investigation we have concluded that there was no way that the military could have intervened because they were not ready , " McCain , the Arizona Republican , told Fox News . " They were not prepared and there was no alert of any kind that would have enabled them to reach a state of readiness that they could not have intervened . " <p> McCain 's comments come as sources tell Fox News that CIA operatives twice asked for permission to help Ambassador Chris Stevens and his staff and were told to ' stand down ' -- while a later request for military backup was denied . Stevens and three other Americans died in the attack on Sept. 11 . <p> A senior defense official at the Pentagon immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ " would just be wrong . " <p> The Pentagon says assets were ready but " there were never any requests to deploy assets from outside the country , " another senior defense official told Fox News . <p> The officials , echoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta 's comments Thursday , said that even if military reinforcements could have gotten there in time , there was not a clear enough intelligence picture to do that . <p> But McCain 's office defended the senator 's statements . <p> " Based on documents provided to Senator McCain 's staff by the Joint Chiefs that provide a detailed lay down and readiness status of U.S. forces ... as well as follow-up conversations with senior DOD and military officials , it is clear that there were no forces in the region on a high-enough alert status that could have arrived in Benghazi before the fight ended , " a statement from the office said . <p> McCain has asked that these documents , and video taken from a drone flying over the diplomatic compound , be declassified . There have been no responses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ astounding , " McCain told Fox News . " I find it a lack of leadership , a