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Secrets of SPC Vision
>> Monday, January 5, 2009
Alien Gate, Steel Machine, The Apprentice, Dimo's Quest, Lucky Luke, Accelerator, all these great CD-i games came from one and the same company: SPC/Vision. Its history started with Alien Gate, which blew away the Philips people, who were used to seeing titles like Compton's Encyclopdia. After this the company has created a major history in the CD-i world, leaving the business with a lot of gems and secrets. In this article we will reveal some of what may be called one of the best software companies CD-i has known.
Note: It has sometimes been suggested that SPC was in some way related to Lost Boys; this is not in fact true and the companies were actually competitors as you will find out below. In the streamers of Alien Gate it says "lost boys development", but this was an internal joke of the developers and did not refer to the Lost Boys company.
Special Operations Squadron
In 1993 SPC demo'd the game 'Special Operations Squadron' which was one of the very first titles using seamless MPEG branching. A similar engine was later used in The Lost Ride. When the first digital video cartridge was available, it was very hard (and very expensive) to code this function. It turned out more than 50% of the processor was 'wasted' by seamless playing of MPEG video's. So little power would be available to actually create a game.
In the evaluation back to Philips, SPC was opting a video-maze as one of the remaining possibilities, but it had to be rendered fully digital to make that happen (Special Operations Squadron was using 'live footage' from stock). As this was too expensive for the budget envisioned at the time, the project was killed. When Philips was shifting this idea over to Lost Boys in 1996 to create 'The Lost Ride', one can imagine the disappointment of the SPC crew!
Standard/Philips Encyclopedia
One of the big projects SPC got their hands on, was to create an encyclopedia for the Dutch market. Using their own experience, this title was the very first market title using seamless MPEG branching (namely the video loop in the main menu). Unfortunately, the video house didn't manage to edit the footage into a completely seamless loop, so now the loops appear to have a little pause between them, even though the underlying MPEG video is actually running seamlessly!
The encyclopedia software was first designed with a fancy "roll" effect for page turning. Philips at first wanted to cut it entirely, but ultimately they agreed to the current "slide" effect. " However, several test codes were added so every version can still be seen! There are also other codes to color-code hyperlinks and control screen dimming and font selection.
All test codes are sequences of digits that must be entered from the main menu screen. Consider the main menu boxes numbered like a telephone keypad as pictured:
To enter a test code digit, press button 2 when the cursor is on the appropriate box (this will also activate/deactivate the control bar). When a test code is complete, you will hear a click sound. Here are some of the available test codes:
5 5 Reset most of the test features
1 9 3 7 1 Use vertical slide effect (default)
1 9 3 7 2 Use cut effect (never actually used)
1 9 3 7 3 Use vertical roll effect (used in v0.7)
1 9 3 7 4 Do not color-code hyperlinks (default)
1 9 3 7 5 Color-code hyperlinks dark blue
1 9 3 7 6 Color-code hyperlinks according to type
1 9 3 7 7 Toggle dim time between 10 min / 5 sec / 1 min
1 9 3 7 8 Toggle between underline / light font / text font
Although Lost Boys developed the consumer cd-i websurfing tools, it was SPC who prototyped the idea. Their first version did not support graphics but half of the Philips Media crew were eagerly using the demo disc on the SPC modem-account. However, when it had to be developed for the commercial market, Lost Boys was again signed to develop it. Another dead end for the mighty SPC crew!
This disc contains a simple text-only WWW browser that connects to the Internet using SLIP over a serial line connected to a modem. Although the disc was set up to use NLnet, there is nothing NLnet-specific on the disc except some configuration information.
The CD-i Internet Demonstration disc can still be used today, as shown by the photographs (see the Links below for more information). Instead of a modem, a direct connection to a PC running RedHat Linux was used. The disc supports the CD-i KeyControl keyboard although it didn't even exist at the time! The demo disc was originally intended to be used with a professional CD-i keyboard, but those were extremely rare even in those days.


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Ed Sheeran Serenades Dying Irish Teen [VIDEO]
While this is truly a sad story, it gives me hope in mankind. I think it speaks volumes of Ed Sheeran's character that he took the time to sing to a 15-year-old Irish teen as she died.
Triona Priestley was an Irish teen who recently lost her battle with Cystic Fibrosis, but that's not all that she was. She was also a huge fan of Ed Sheeran. Her dying wish was to hear him sing, and sing he did. Ed Sheeran sang the song Little Bird down the phone line to her during her final moments.
God bless you Ed Sheeran for your humanity and your kindness. May you always remember that your fans are where everything starts and ends and bless Triona as well. Heaven has another angel.

subset: commoncrawl


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A 'perfect port' of the original
Metal Slug 2 is now available for download on iOS and Android devices for $3.99, SNK Playmore today announced.
SNK touts the release as a "perfect port" of the original Neo-Geo title, though there are new features included, such as Mission Mode, where you can re-play previously cleared levels, a new auto-fire option and the ability to re-position the on-screen buttons. Multiplayer via Bluetooth is also on offer, as well as leaderboard support.
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Tony Burroughs, FUGA, author of Black Roots: A Beginner's Guide to Tracing the African American Family Tree, is presenting Avoid Traps in African American Genealogy as an Online Seminar via Ancestry.com on March 11 at 8pm (EST). Tony Burroughs is an internationally known speaker on genealogy research and methodology, who plans to discuss the pitfalls genealogists should avoid when searching for your ancestors. The webinar is free, but you must register.
You can learn more about Tony Burroughs at his website.


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Feature: iPhone 4 and iOS vs. Android on VerizonVerizon Wireless will begin selling Apple's iPhone 4 in the next couple weeks, but the carrier also offers a wide array of Android, RIM BlackBerry, and other smartphones. Here's how they stack up against Apple's latest offering.
A series of articles have looked at how Apple's iPhone 4 stacks up against other smartphones, principally those running Google's Android OS. As the largest Android carrier in the US, Verizon's new ability to sell Apple's iPhone 4 threatens to shake up the smartphone business and dramatically change the options subscribers have available to them.
Verizon's phone comparison website, built in Adobe Flash, doesn't make it very easy to see how its dozens of phones compare in features and price. While the company's offers differ slightly among regions of the country, this general overview shows what options shoppers have among the carrier's offerings.
In 2009, Verizon's smartphones were almost entirely BlackBerry models; reportedly 95%, according to analyst sales data. Starting at the end of 2009 however, Verizon bet big on Android, unleashing a "Droid" branded ad campaign that helped shift its smartphone mix decidedly toward Android, resulting in less than 20% of its smartphone subscribers sticking with BlackBerry devices thoughout 2010, with most of the balance jumping to Android.
Verizon's Android offerings
One of the biggest winners of Verizon's Android push was Motorola, which made the original Droid and now makes the more modern Droid X, Droid Pro, Droid 2, the StarWars branded Droid R2D2, as well as the low end Devour and Citrus smartphones.
Another initial partner in Verizon's Droid push was HTC, a former Windows Mobile licensee that embraced Google's new Android platform from the beginning. Last year, Verizon sold HTC's Droid Eris, which has now been replaced by the HTC Droid Incredible.
A more recent beneficiary of Verizon's Android push is Samsung, which recently introduced the Samsung Fascinate and Continuum (both versions of the Galaxy S), as well as the Galaxy Tab, an oversized "tweener" smartphone-like device lacking mobile phone connectivity apart from 3G data, SMS, and WiFi, which is offered as an alternative to Apple's iPad or iPod touch.
Verizon also sells LG's Android-based Vortex and Ally (although the former is currently out of stock). Android models change so quickly that it can be hard to keep up with what the different names and models mean in terms of features and performance. Unlike the iPhone, which is refreshed every summer with a newer, faster model, Android phones ship from a variety of makers on different schedules, and not all new phones are better and faster.
A variety of new Android models are introduced as low end models with lagging performance and old software, and many are simply not upgradable to the latest version of Android, something that's impossible to find out at the time you buy the device.
Verizon's other smartphones
Most of LG's Verizon smartphone offerings are not Android-based and instead use LG's own embedded OS (including the enV Touch) or use Microsoft's now discontinued Windows Mobile 6.x (such as the LG Fathom).
Verizon currently does not carry any Windows Phone 7 devices, but does still offer the related, dead-end Microsoft Kin. Verizon also offers the low end HTC Ozone, which is also a Windows Mobile 6.x device.
Among BlackBerry phones, Verizon offers the Curve and Bold, both button-oriented devices, and Storm 2, an iPhone-like touch screen model. Verizon also offers HP's Palm webOS-based Pixi Plus, which mixes a touch screen with a small keyboard.
How Verizon compares as a smartphone carrier
Upon closer examination, it's not hard to see why Verizon was willing to make sacrifices to get iPhone 4. Two of its four smartphone platforms are essentially on extended life support (the waning webOS and the outdated Windows Mobile 6.x). The carrier's former star platform, while recently updated to BlackBerry OS 6, simply hasn't kept pace with the iPhone and Android and instead offers features closer to 2008's iPhone OS 2.0. However, despite a strong marketing push behind Android in 2010, Verizon's Android offerings aren't looking very competitive.
Among other things, no Android model Verizon currently carries offers a front facing camera suited to making video calls. That will make iPhone 4 and its FaceTime video calling a key new feature for the carrier to promote. Verizon has not yet made public whether it will support FaceTime calls over 3G however; AT&T does not, restricting video calls to WiFi. Front facing cameras are available on Android devices on other US carriers, including Sprint's HTC EVO Shift 4G and Samsung Epic 4G.
Verizon's Android offerings are also overshadowed by much faster devices on the new Sprint and T-Mobile networks. Sprint's HTC EVO Shift 4G takes advantage of that carrier's fast (but sparsely available) Clearwire WiMAX service offering download speeds of about 3-6Mbps and peaking to 10Mbps, while T-Mobile's new Samsung Vibrant 4G will take advantage of that carrier's fledgling new HSPA+ service to deliver blazing fast downloads at up to 21Mbps, among the fastest wireless networks in the world.
Verizon debuted its own "4G" branded LTE network last month, and introduced a series of new Android smartphones that will take advantage of it in the second half of this year, but for now its fast data network is only available as a WWAN service for notebooks and MiFi personal hotspot devices. Verizon needs a good smartphone now, and all it has to offer is its robust but relatively slow CDMA EVDO network, which delivers closer to 1Mbps downloads.
That's not very fast by any standard, but it is considered to be very reliable, widely available in terms of coverage, and capable of supporting tethering and unlimited data use by users (features AT&T doesn't offer). When trading reliability for fast spots of service, it's only easy to opt for the faster network if you happen to live and work in places where it's available.
AT&T's 3G network is also faster than than Verizon's, but again only if you're lucky enough to be in range of its best service areas. For many iPhone users in rural or dense urban areas, particularly New York and San Francisco, Verizon simply offers better overall service. Users who want faster data downloads than Verizon provides can do what AT&T users already do: simply rely on WiFi for data at work and home.
How Verizon's smartphones stack up
Every smartphone is only as good as its carrier, and vice versa. In fact, how well a smartphone works compared to other models depends upon the sum of a stack of interrelated features, rather than simply a hardware specification comparison.
These factors include the hardware features of the device itself, the features and usability of its core software (including its operating system and web browser), the availability and quality of its third party apps, its usability in terms of media (music, movies, photos and other content), and how well the device works on a given network (a factor that includes issues such as speed caps, bandwidth limits, software updates, installation of junkware, pricing and ability to roam on other networks).
The last time AppleInsider compared smartphone hardware six months ago, we pitted the then-new iPhone 4 against four popular Android models from a variety of US carriers (summary below). This time, we'll focus on Verizon itself, with the largely unchanged iPhone 4 taking on Verizon's existing Android, BlackBerry, Palm and Windows Phone devices.
iPhone/iOS: Until now, it was easy to compare Apple's iPhone because it was only offered by one US carrier, one hardware maker, and in one basic set of features and configurations that changed as Apple updated the iOS or released a new annual model. Now, iPhone users in the US have two carriers to choose from (each with slightly different service plans); other factors still remain nearly identical, making it easy to generalize the experience the iPhone delivers.
As noted earlier, Apple unveils just one new iPhone model once a year, making it easy to qualify its features. For example, AT&T still offers the iPhone 3GS as a low end option, but it's easy to recall that phone delivers the performance of a smartphone from the second half of 2009, with features that are pretty clearly differentiated from the newer iPhone 4.
RIM's BlackBerry is somewhat similar, but is offered in two major form factors, one classic to RIM (the Verizon Curve and Bold) and the other emulating the iPhone (the Verizon Storm 2). RIM releases more model variations however, each with slightly different features that are harder to keep straight. Unlike Apple, RIM updates its phones' software via the carrier, which each carrier distributing a custom build for each model. Verizon adds its own software to these updates, something BlackBerry users just have to accept, as RIM does not restrict the bundled software Verizon seeks to force upon its subscribers.
BlackBerry has improved its browser, but it still lags behind in usability overall, and the quality and scope of third party apps is a far cry from what the iPhone has in Apple's iOS App Store. BlackBerry tends to appeal to people who have always used a RIM device and are simply unaware of how far their platform has fallen behind.
On page 2 of 2: Verizon's mixed bag of Android models.


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I hope that you don't mind if I still refer to you as "My friend" :twisted: :twisted: Riki
....a small clichy weight that everybody else had missed :oops: :oops:
Yep, http://i2.tinypic.com/qow1t5.jpgeveryone was all fast asleep or looking elsewhere. :shock: doesn't happen often enough though :twisted: :twisted:
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Wed, 08.01.2014, 7.00 p.m. / Mumok Cinema
Truth or Dare. In Person Roee Rosen
Screening and artist talk / Roee Rosen and Dietmar Schwärzler (sixpackfilm)
Detailed program: www.mumok.at
In cooperation with sixpackfilm
Thu, 09.01.2014, 7.00 p.m. / Top Kino
The Confessions of Roee Rosen (2008)
Screening in cooperation with Mumok and sixpackfilm
Fri, 10.01.2014, 4.00 p.m. / xhibit
Guided tour with the curators
Georgia Holz, Claudia Slanar
"I am another world" / 10.-11.01.2014
Fr, 10.01.2014, Performances in cooperation with Tanzquartier Wien
7.30 p.m. / Tanzquartier Wien / Studios / free admission
Donelle Woolford, Performer/Performer/Audience/Mirror
8.30 p.m./ Tanzquartier Wien / Halle G / information and tickets: www.tqw.at
Oleg Soulimenko, The Dance I Don't Want To Remember
Sat, 11.01.2014, 3.00-7.00 p.m. / Academy, M 13
Lectures and performances
Participants: Carola Dertnig (artist, Vienna), Janez Janša, Janez Janša (artists, Ljubljana), Carrie Lambert-Beatty (art historian, Harvard University, Boston), Mathilde ter Heijne (artist, Berlin), Donelle Woolford (artist, New York)
Recent events:
Fri, 22.11.2013, 4.00 p.m. / xhibit
Guided tour by the curators
Cancellation: Zoe Crosher
Thu, 05.12.2013, 4.00 p.m. / xhibit
Read-in und / and SUPER VÉRO, COPY ALL RIGHT
Texts from the exhibition and literature brought by the audience will be read collectively.
Performative installation and live performance.
Tue, 10.12.2013, 10.00 a.m. -1.00 p.m. / xhibit
Surprise screening hosted by Judith Fischer
Exhibition "I am another world | Artistic Authorship between Desubjectivization and Recanonization"
Opening: 21.11.2013, 7.00 p.m., xhibit
Duration of the exhibition: 22.11.2013 - 12.01.2014
curated by Georgia Holz and Claudia Slanar


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Home >Knitting & Crochet>All Yarns>Stylecraft Special Aran Burgundy
Stylecraft Special Aran Burgundy
Stylecraft is the market leader in big value economy yarns with its Special range. Now with a new improved quality, cleaner look and even softer handle the appeal is extended still further. The Special range comes in a fabulous range of colours to meet every knitter?Æs needs. The ultimate economy best seller. Stylecraft Special Aran is best used with 5mm pins.
100% Premium Acrylic. 100g. Machine Washable, Cool Iron, May Dry Clean, Cool Tumble Dry, 5mm Needles, 18 stitches, 24 rows to 10cm.
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Further info on delivery times and charges.
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Few films in movie history — and maybe no other film by a first-time writer-director — proved to be the breakthrough moment for as many talents as a made-in-Baltimore comedy-drama called "Diner."
Viewers still respond to all the people in it, not as old friends but as fresh discoveries. That seductive fellow with the voice that flows as fluidly as his pompadour — my God, it's Mickey Rourke. That gal with the asymmetrically alluring mouth and the heartbreaking way with a line — could it be Ellen Barkin? And that eccentric, dangerous charmer who beats Cornell and Bryn Mawr to the answers on "College Bowl" as it plays on his TV — yes, it's Kevin Bacon.


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Flying is never A Good Thing™ for me. There's the lines, the TSA, the hit-or-miss food, and the guarantee that I will contract a cold or some other malady on the return flight home (which explains why I've not been posting), so it's easy to see why I'm not particularly enthralled at the thought of having to get on yet another plane. But I always liked flying Southwest because their corporate culture embraces change and people genuinely have fun working there. A couple of years back I was on the airline's short hop from Houston to Dallas, and the flight attendant got everyone's attention by announcing that yes, this was going to be a smoking flight.
She dramatically stretched out both arms to point at the wings and said, "Those are our designated smoking areas. If you can light it, you can smoke it!"
Now the budget carrier has come up with yet another cost-cutting solution that benefits both their bottom line and their passengers' time—wireless check-in.
"With the growing popularity of web-enabled mobile devices, we wanted to offer our Customers the convenience of checking in for their flight wherever they may be," said Kevin Krone, Southwest's Vice President of Marketing. "This is just one more example of how we are striving the make the travel experience even easier for our Customers."
To check in, flyers access http://mobile.southwest.com/, where they enter their confirmation number and the last name of a passenger listed on the registration. Upon arrival at the airport, you bypass ticket counter lines and proceed directly to a Rapid Check-In kiosk. Southwest's system will recognize that you've already checked in for the flight and immediately print out your boarding pass.
The company plans to add additional features to its mobile Web site, but for now this is a hell of a start.


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A.Kunkel, born in 1962, Porto-Alegre (Brazil) began his career with TAP, the national Portuguese flag carrier 1987 as Operations Agent and Deputy station Manager. During his 2 years with TAP, Mr Kunkel assumed positions in three differents cities, Munich, Hamburg and Vienna (Austria).
In 1989, A.Kunkel joined Air-France's German operations as District Sales Manager for Southwest Germany. He then steadily rose through the ranks over the next 9 years, to become Director of Sales,
Central Germany.
In 1999 A.Kunkel is in search of new challenges and joins LuxairGroup as Assistant Vice-President Sales and Marketing for the Airline and Tour operator. Once again, A.Kunkel rises through the echelons at LuxairGroup, becoming in 2008, Executive Vice-President, Tour Operator and Sales & Marketing.


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Lotus Road Cars Warranty
All Lotus road cars benefit from the very latest in design and technology and are hand built to the highest quality levels by our highly skilled work-force who individually take pride in every car produced.
We are proud to back this with our Manufacturers' Warranty that gives you up to 3 years unlimited* mileage cover on the car and up to 8 years cover against perforation on the Lotus DNA designed chassis.
Our Manufacturers' Warranty is subject to terms and conditions which can be explained to you by your dealer, before you buy. The benefit of any unexpired part of the warranty may be transferred to subsequent owners should you decide to sell your vehicle. This peace of mind will allow you to easily make the move into a Lotus and enjoy many years of trouble free motoring.
* New Vehicle Warranty limited to 3 years or 36,000 miles in USA and Canada. Lotus Racing vehicles, most Cup models, and some road going special edition models will have different terms and conditions with up to 2 Years or 20,000 mile Warranty**, so please consult your Dealer or Lotus Cars for more information.
Participation in track day events other than competitive events or timed laps or runs will not invalidate the New Vehicle Warranty, unless the vehicle is hired to participate in such events on a commercial basis.
Lotus reserves the right to modify prices, specifications and options without prior notice. Please consult your local Lotus dealer for more information.
MPG figures are obtained from laboratory testing and may not reflect real driving results. Published MPG figures and performance results are intended for comparisons between vehicles only.
Verification of performance results should not be attempted on public roads.
Lotus recommends that all local speed and safety laws must be obeyed and safety belts worn at all times.
Errors and omissions excepted.


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Oregon woman describes having rare case of worms in eye
ASHLAND, Ore. (KTVL) - Imagine pulling a worm out of your eye. It was the reality for 26-year old Abby Beckley during the Summer of 2015.
"I looked down and on my finger was a worm, and it was squiggling around for five seconds and it died," said Beckley. "Everyone asks me what my reaction was, and I was just shocked."
Beckley was in Alaska commercial fishing when her eye started irritating her. She thought it was just a stubborn eyelash.
"I couldn't find anything and it went on for five days," said Beckley.
She ended up pulling four more worms out of her eye before seeing a doctor in Alaska.
"It went from 'okay, maybe I have just one worm in my eye' to 'oh my gosh, I have worms in my eye,"' said Beckley.
She then went to Oregon Health and Science University, where doctors collected two more worms and sent them off to the centers for disease control and prevention.
According to a study published Monday by the CDC, Beckley had Thelazia Gluosa. It's a worm that's only seen in cattle and is transferred through female flies. Beckley is the first human to have it.
"Just because I live in rural Oregon is what it is ruled down to," said Beckley.
She says there was no medication for it, and she didn't know when all the worms were out. At the end of everything, Beckley had 14 worms removed from her eye.
"I just had to relax myself and say 'okay, I think this is done I haven't pulled out any,'" said Beckley.
Two years later, she's back to her old self.
"Today it's a normal student college life and my eye is fine and I'm totally fine," said Beckley.


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AccuWeather.com is predicting that the Monday commute in New England could be messy with snow and ice a possibility.
AccuWeather.com reports accumulating snow and an icy mix are pushing toward the Northeast to end the weekend.
As Sunday progresses, slippery conditions from snow and ice will continue spreading from Kentucky to Virginia and Pennsylvania.
During Sunday night, travel delays from wintry precipitation are likely from western Virginia to New York–including New York City, northern New Jersey and central and southern New England.
On Monday, the wintry mess will focus over much of New York and interior New England. However, there will still be some freezing rain across central Pennsylvania.
A large amount of snow is not expected in the I-95 corridor with most places receiving a brief period of snow transitioning to rain.
Only a coating to an inch or two of snow and a bit of sleet is likely along the I-95 corridor but it would be the first accumulating snow of the season so far from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia, New York City and Boston. Most of the snow accumulation will be on non-paved surfaces, but slippery roads are possible.
Of the I-95 cities, Washington, D.C. may have the longest duration where temperatures are near to below the freezing mark (32 degrees) and precipitation is falling.
Because Washington, D.C. is located farthest inland of the I-95 cities it may take the area longer to warm up during the storm in this situation.
As the storm moves along Sunday through Monday many locations over the interior will also transition to plain rain. However, there will continue to be a few pockets where an extended period of ice occurs with treacherous driving conditions.
One area of ice is likely to focus in the I-81 corridor from western Virginia to south central Pennsylvania.
Another zone where some ice buildup is possible is over central New England and part of eastern upstate New York.
According to AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski, "Enough ice may accrue on trees and utility lines in both areas to block roads and cause power outages."
Only if more sleet were to fall instead of freezing rain would there be less serious damage and disruption.
People attempting to catch Sunday afternoon and evening flights in or out of the mid-Atlantic are likely to experience delays and could be faced with a few cancellations. These flight disruptions will expand into New England Monday.
The storm will also put down snow and ice west of the Appalachians through much of the Midwest and rain in the South. A wintry mix will lead to slippery travel and potential flight delays from Detroit to Chicago, Minneapolis and Omaha, Neb. Flight delays from rain and low ceilings are possible at Atlanta and Charlotte, N.C.
Road conditions are likely to improve from Washington, D.C., to New York City by Monday morning as rain takes over, but travel may be slow, slushy and slippery around Boston in the early hours. Flight delays due to rain and low ceilings may linger through much of the day Monday in the I-95 Northeast.
The northern and western suburbs of the I-95 cities will stay colder longer and are likely to have more snow, ice and travel woes when compared to the major cities closer to the coast.
By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist for AccuWeather.com


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GASTONIA � As a 13-year NBA veteran, Eric �Sleepy� Floyd lived in and traveled to some of the largest cities in the world.
But Floyd was emphatic Monday night at the 29th Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame ceremony about where his heart remained.
�Basketball has allowed me to travel the world,� said Floyd, the final inductee of a ceremony in which Cramerton�s Scott Crawford, Gastonia�s Francis Essic and Stanley�s Buddy Green were also inducted. �I�ve lived in San Francisco, (Washington) D.C., Brazil, Paris� but this place remains dear to me. It�s special.
�I�m blessed and I�m honored to be from Gastonia. So tonight I want to thank Gastonia for looking out for my growth. This city wouldn�t let me fail.�
Floyd, whose family members who live in the area and have played sports are so numerous it�s almost a clich�, joked that his large family was beneficial in so many ways.
But one way drew laughter from the crowd.
�I had so much family around me there was no way I could get in trouble,� Floyd said.
Floyd talked about how he and fellow former NBA star James Worthy were blessed to grow up in Gastonia during a time when so many looked out for their futures � and gave them help along the way.
Still, Floyd discussed the unconventional path he took.
Unlike Worthy, who was a McDonald�s All-American coming out of Ashbrook in 1979, Floyd was a far more unheralded recruit coming out of Huss in 1978. That�s even as Floyd�s Huskies beat Worthy�s Green Wave in the 1977 N.C. 4A title game at Greensboro�s Grimsley High School.
In fact, Floyd�s Hall of Fame Georgetown coach John Thompson signed Floyd to a scholarship despite having never seen him play in high school.
Clarence ��Big House� Gaines from Winston-Salem State called coach Thompson and told him he needed to sign me,� Floyd recalled Monday night. �And he flies from D.C. to Gastonia, comes to watch me play a pick-up game at Erwin Center for about 20 minutes. He said, �I�ve seen enough� and asked me to visit Georgetown and I signed on that visit.�
In addition to Thompson, Floyd talked about the talented coaches who coached him from his days at Huss to college and the pros.
�I�ve always been fortunate to be surrounded by great coaches and great leaders,� Floyd said.
Among the coaches Floyd had were Jerry Green and Green Burge at Huss, Thompson at Georgetown and Larry Brown, Johnny Bach, George Karl, Bill Fitch, Don Chaney, Rudy Tomjanovich, John Lucas and Butch Beard in the NBA.
Green coached NCAA tournament teams at Oregon and Tennessee after leaving Huss. Burge was Huss� 1977 state title coach. Brown, Fitch and Tomjanovich have won NBA titles as head coaches. And Bach, Karl, Chaney, Lucas and Beard all were veteran coaches, with Karl winning the NBA coach of the year award this season for the Denver Nuggets.
Bryant memories
Having Alabama native David Cutcliffe as a guest speaker brought forth lots of memories of one of the event�s most pretigious speakers � legendary Crimson Tide head football coach Paul �Bear� Bryant.
Cutcliffe, the ACC coach of the year last fall after leading Duke to its first bowl game since 1994, was first hired as a student assistant at Alabama in the 1970s by Bryant � or a decade after Bryant spoke in the 1963 Gaston Sports Hall of Fame event at the Gastonia YMCA.
�It�s good to see coach Cutcliffe and his connection to coach Bryant,� said Mike McWhirter, who inducted Crawford into the Hall of Fame. �The first time I went to this event, I went with my father (Joe McWhirter) to see coach Bryant.�
Added Buddy Green: �My uncle (former Stanley mayor and basketball coach James �Poke� Stroupe) took me to see coach Bryant when he came here. I can still remember hearing him speak.�
Long friendship, coaching rivalry
Essic�s ceremony was attended by several friends from his long career associated with sports, but none have longer roots than Sam Moir.
Moir was Essic�s roommate and teammate at Appalachian State, each was the best man at the other�s wedding and they coached against each other for years and years.
Upon leaving Appalachian State, Moir coached at Mount Airy High School and Catawba College while Essic coached at Welcome and North Davidson High Schools and Wingate and Pfeiffer colleges.
Videographer extraordinaire
Not only did Todd Green induct his father Buddy Green into the Hall of Fame on Monday, but he also works for his father and head coach Ken Niumatalolo�s Navy football staff as a videographer.
And in an age where technology plays a huge role in game planning, Buddy Green said his son�s talents are invaluable.
�He�s taken us to another level in football at the Naval Academy,� Buddy Green said of his son Todd�s film work. �He�s simply the best at what he does.�
Todd Green is in his fifth season with the Midshipmen and previously worked at The Citadel with Ellis Johnson, at South Carolina with Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier and at Arkansas with Bobby Petrino.
Local coaching hire
Cutcliffe re-hired former Burns High and Duke standout Scottie Montgomery this summer to become associate head coach and offensive coordinator of the passing game.
Montgomery, a 1996 Burns graduate, returned to Duke after three seasons working with wide receivers for the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers.
�One of the first things coach Bryant told me as a young coach was that you surround yourself with winners,� Cutcliffe said. �And I�ve certainly done that with Scottie Montgomery.�
A member of Burns� 1994 N.C. 3A championship team, Montgomery was a four-year standout for Duke from 1996-99 before spending three seasons in the NFL with the Denver Broncos (2001-02) and Oakland Raiders (2003).
Montgomery began his coaching career as a Duke assistant from 2006 through 2009 before leaving to work for coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers.
Other highlights
With Crawford being inducted by former South Point and Lenoir-Rhyne teammate McWhirter, there was a strong L-R contingent at Monday�s event. Their Bears coach, Jack Huss, was among those in attendance, as well as former L-R basketball player Hal White. White, a member of the Hall of Fame committee, played with current L-R coach John Lentz and current Texas coach Rick Barnes for the Bears before becoming the winningest basketball coach in North Gaston High history�.
Monday�s banquet began with a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner by 8-year-old Levi Summey of Stanley, leading Cutcliffe to proclaim, �Levi, we�ll see you on American Idol someday.��
There were several noted guests at Monday�s ceremony, including state championship-winning wrestlers, golfers and coaches. Also in attendance were new Gardner-Webb football coach Carroll McCray and former N.C. State assistant football coach Dick Portee�.
Former South Point High and Army football standout Andrew Rinehart not only led the crowd in the pledge of allegiance, but he was able to introduce his father Dr. David Rinehart as the David Poole Service Award winner. Rinehart, a 2005 South Point High graduate and 2009 Army graduate, is a captain in the 101st Airborne Division and has spent two years in Afghanistan�.
Rev. Benjamin Hinton said he had to check with his wife before agreeing to induct Floyd into the Hall of Fame. The reason? Hinton and his wife Tangela�s wedding anniversary was Monday night. �So I had to pull some strings to be here,� said Hinton, the pastor at Gastonia�s Tabernacle Baptist Church the past 22 years. �But I�m glad I did.�
Golf tournament results
A record was set for the second straight year in fifth annual Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame golf tournament earlier on Monday.
A team comprised of Kelsey Babos, David Bolding, Linc Pauley and Johnny Still braved rainy and damp conditions at Gaston Country Club to better the previous record by two strokes with a best-ball total of 53.
Finishing second with a 54 was the team of Danny Denton, Ron Reeger, Russ Russell and Curtis Williams, with the third-place team of Benny Bowles, Jerry Haney, Tom Polito and Jeff Shockley finishing with a 55.
Closest to the pin winners were Tommy Belcher (No. 2), Todd Green (No. 5), Russ Russell (No. 8), Nikki Helms (No. 11) and Babos (No. 14), with Belcher taking the longest drive honors on No. 18.
Richard Walker: 704-869-1841; twitter.com/JRWalk22


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Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Shazam! From the Boss to the King to John & Paul (But Not George or Ringo), Not to Mention Jessica & Nick
Like everyone else out there, we've been hearing Christmas songs since the day our local radio station switched to holiday music sometime around, oh, July 4th, it feels like.
And while it may just be a symptom of our own aging, the 24/7 holiday music programming appears to have stretched the song quality pool from what once seemed Olympic pool-deep to, nowadays, more of the ankle-deep, wading pool variety.
What we recall in our youth to be a handful of mostly good, listenable songs—Nat King Cole's incomparable cover of "The Christmas Song" (written by an insufferable bore: more on that later), Bing's mellow, smoky, "White Christmas," and even Brenda Lee's country-ish "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" (recorded when she was 13: try to get your mind around that)—played over and over a few days a year, has evolved into a thousand mediocre-at-best covers played non-stop for months on end.
Anybody else out there wonder why Elvis bothered mumbling his way through "Here Comes Santa Claus"? It actually sounds like Elvis doing a parody of Elvis—as if he can't wait to get the thing over with.
And, fortunately, get it over with he does, in just 1 minute, 54 seconds.
Along with that and other mediocre-at-best covers, of course, there are the occasional odd original Christmas songs—the oddest of all surely being Dan Fogelburg's "Same Old Lang Syne." You've heard it: the singer meets his old lover in a grocery store, she drops her purse, they laugh, they cry, they get drunk and realize their lives have been a waste, and, oh, the snow turns to rain (we make none of that up).
So how, exactly, did that become a Christmas song?
Then there's ex-Beatle Paul McCartney's "Happy Christmastime," which combines an annoyingly catchy beat and dreadful lyrics, something McCartney often did when John Lennon wasn't around (Lennon, for example, replaced McCartney's original "I Saw Her Standing There" teeny-boppish opening line, "She was just seventeen/A real beauty queen," with the more suggestive "She was just seventeen/You know what I mean"), to create a song you try to drive out of your mind by humming something more tolerable, like, oh, Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey's duet, "Baby it's Cold Outside" (more on this gem, later).
McCartney actually recorded his new Christmas standard nearly thirty years ago, and it rightfully lay dormant until the advent of All-Christmas-All-The-Time programming a couple of years ago.
Fortunately, by way of offset, Lennon's own sour, downbeat, but catchy "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" is played about as much as "Happy Christmastime." Who else would start a Christmas song: "And so this is Christmas/And what have you done..." but John Lennon?
(Of course, who but Paul McCartney would start his Christmas song, "The moon is right/The spirit's up?" If anything explains the Beatles' breakup better than these two songs, we haven't heard it.)
Now, we don't normally pay much attention to Christmas songs. If it isn't one of the aforementioned, or an old standard sung by Bing, Tony, Frank, Ella, Nat, Bruce and a few others, we'd be clueless.
But thanks to a remarkable new technology, we here at NotMakingThisUp suddenly found ourselves able to, for example, distinguish which blandly indistinguishable female voice sings which blandly indistinguishable version of "O Holy Night"—Kelly Clarkson, Celine Dion, or Mariah Carey—without any effort at all.
The technology is Shazam—an iPhone application that might possibly have received the greatest amount of buzz for the least amount of apparent usefulness since cameras on cell phones first came out.
For readers who haven't seen the ads or heard about Shazam's wonders from a breathless sub-25 year old, Shazam software that lets you hold your iPhone towards any source of recorded music, like a car radio, the speaker in a Starbucks, or even the jukebox in a bar, and figure out what song is playing.
Shazam does this by recording a selection of the music, analyzing what it receives, and displaying the name of the song, the artist, the album, as well as lyrics, a band biography and other doodads.
What possible good could there be for identifying a song playing in a bar?
Unless you're a music critic or a song-obsessed sub-25 year old, we're still not sure. But we can say that Shazam is pretty cool.
In the course of testing it on a batch of Christmas songs—playing on a standard, nothing-special, low-fi kitchen radio—heard from across the room, without making the least effort to point the iPhone at the source of the music, Shazam figured out all but one (a nondescript version of a nondescript song that it never could get) without a hitch.
And, as a result, we can now report the following: 1) it is astounding how many Christmas songs are out there nowadays, most of them not worth identifying, Shazam or no Shazam; 2) all Christmas covers recorded in the last 10 years sound pretty much alike, as if they all use the same backing track, and thus require something like Shazam to distinguish one from the other; 3) nobody has yet done a cover version of Dan Fogelburg's "Same Old Lang Syne," fortunately; 4) none of this matters because Mariah Carey screwed up the entire holiday song thing, anyway.
Now, why pick on Mariah Carey in these virtual pages, as opposed to, say, someone who can't actually sing?
Well, her "O Holy Night" happened to be the first song in our mini-marathon, and it really does seem to have turned Christmas song interpretation into a kind of vocal competitive gymnastics by demonstrating as much of her five-octave vocal range as possible not merely within this one particular song, but within each measure of the song.
Her voice jumps around so much it sounds like somebody's trying to tickle her while she's singing.
More sedate than Mariah, and possibly less harmful to the general category, The Carpenters' version of "(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays" comes on next, and it makes you think you're listening to an Amtrak commercial or something ("From Atlantic to Pacific/Gee, the traffic is terrific!"), so innocuous and manufactured it sounds.
Johnny Mathis is similarly harmless, although his oddly eunuch-like voice can give you the creeps, if you really think about it. Mercifully, his version of "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" is short enough (2:16) that you don't think about it for long.
Now, without Shazam we never would have known the precise time duration of that song. On the flip side, we would we never have been able to identify the perpetrators of what may be the single greatest travesty of the holiday season—Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, singing "Baby it's Cold Outside."
"Singing" is actually too strong a phrase here. Simpson's voice barely rises above a whisper, and you cringe when she reaches for a note, although she does manage to hit the last, sustained "outside," no doubt thanks to the magic of electronics. Lachey's vocals are like what people do in the shower—they think they're singing, but they're not, really.
Thus the major downside of Shazam might be this: having correctly identified who was responsible for this blight on holiday radio music, if we ever ran across the two in our car, we wouldn't stop to identify the bodies.
Fortunately, the bad taste left by their so-called duet is erased when Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song" comes on next.
Thanks to Shazam, we learn that this is actually the fourth version Nat recorded. The man worked at his craft, and it shows here. Unfortunately, the song's actual writer, Mel Tormé, had the personality of a man perpetually seething for not getting proper recognition for having written one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time. (We did not learn this from Shazam: we once saw Tormé perform at a small lounge, where he chewed out a less-than-attentive audience member during the middle of a song, completely destroying the mood for the rest of the set.)
The pleasant sensation left behind by Cole's "Christmas Song" is quickly erased by a male singer performing "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow." He sounds somewhat like Harry Connick, Jr. doing a second-rate version of Sinatra.
Who is this guy, we wonder?
Shazam tells us it's Michael Bublé. We are pondering how such a vocal lightweight became such a sensation in recent years when John Lennon's "Happy Xmas" comes on. The only downer, of course, is when Yoko comes in on the chorus, like a banshee.
The other songs in our Shazam song-identification session are too many to relate. Sinatra, of course; Kelly Clarkson, an American Idol winner who essentially does a pale Mariah Carey impersonation; Andy What's-His-Name, with the bland stuff—Williams; and Tony Bennett, one of the best.
Then there's Willie Nelson, who has a terrific, understated way of doing any song he wants—but sounds completely out of place singing about Frosty the Snowman. One wonders exactly what kind of white powder Willie was thinking about while he sang this, if you get our drift.
Oh, and there's Coldplay's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," which pairs the sweetest piano with the worst voice in any single Christmas song we heard; Amy Grant, a kind of female Andy Williams; the Ronettes, who are genuinely terrific—a great beat, no nonsense, and Ronnie singing her heart out with that New York accent; and Mariah doing "Silent Night" with the same roller-coaster vocal gargling.
Gene Autry's classic "Here Comes Santa Claus" would be bearable except that he pronounces it "Santee Closs," and this is unfortunate in a song in which that word appears like 274 times. 'N Sync is likewise unbearable doing an a cappella "O Holy Night," with incessantly cute harmonies and Mariah-type warbling to boot. Hall & Oates's "Jingle Bell Rock" has absolutely nothing to distinguish it from any other "Jingle Bell Rock," while Martina McBride manages to sound eerily like Barbra Streisand immitating Linda Ronstadt singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."
Almost winding things up is Dan Fogelburg's aforementioned "Same Old Lang Syne." Something about the way he sings "liquor store"—he pronounces it "leeker store"—never fails to provoke powerful radio-smashing adrenalin surges that need to be suppressed.
Fortunately, we suppress those urges, because the Shazam experiment winds up with one of the best Christmas songs ever recorded. Better than Bing, maybe even better than Nat, depending on your mood.
It's Bruce Springsteen, The Boss, doing "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town," and even though it was recorded live more than 25 years ago, it still jumps out of the radio and grabs you.
Now, as Shazam informs us, this recording was actually the B-side of a single release called "My Hometown." [Back in the day, kids, "singles" came with two songs, one on each side of a record: the "A" side was intended to be the hit song; the "B" side was, until the Beatles came along, for throwaway stuff.]
Fortunately nobody threw this one away.
The Boss begins the familiar song with some audience patter and actual jingle bells, then he starts to sing as the band comes to life. Things move along smoothly through the verse and chorus...until ace drummer Max Weinberg kicks it into high gear and the band roars into a fast shuffle-beat that takes the thing into a different realm altogether.
Feeding off the audience, Bruce sings so hard his voice slightly breaks at times. Then he quiets down before roaring back again into a tear-the-roof-off chorus, sometimes dropping words and laughing as he goes.
This is real music—recorded live (in 1975 at the C.W. Post College)—with no retakes, no producer, and no electronic vocal repairs, either.
Try doing that some time, Jessica and Nick.
Actually, come to think of it, please don't.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a Good New Year to all.
Jeff Matthews
I Am Not Making This Up
© 2008 NotMakingThisUp, LLC
The content contained in this blog represents the opinions of Mr. Matthews.
Mr. Matthews also acts as an advisor and clients advised by Mr. Matthews may hold either long or short positions in securities of various companies discussed in the blog based upon Mr. Matthews' recommendations. This commentary in no way constitutes investment advice. It should never be relied on in making an investment decision, ever. Nor are these comments meant to be a solicitation of business in any way: such inquiries will not be responded to. This content is intended solely for the entertainment of the reader, and the author.
14 comments:
- PT said...
This is where I post a personal blessing on satellite radio, when the christmas tunes started showing up I just push a button and they go away. My annual fee is well spent just for the past month.
- Mark said...
Other than your Beatles commentary at the beginning and your Springsteen commentary at the end, this column was something that's actually quite rare for you: incredibly boring. But then, perhaps that's the whole point!
P.S. The Kinks' "Father Christmas" is a great tune.
- Randy said...
I thought the Beatles broke up because Paul was tired of finishing that lazy bum John's songs for him?
And to rip Paul for the brilliant lyrical beginning to that song, well, what did you want?
"The snow is high, and so am I"?
"It's cold outside, but my cidar warms my inside!"
Give him credit for at least trying to avoid the typical xmas banalities...
- Jeff Matthews said...
Mark, "Father Christmas" is indeed one of the good ones that gets no airplay any more. And Barenaked Ladies' "God Rest Yee Merry Gentlemen" is nice too.
- The Log said...
Bing and Bowie, Little Drummer Boy, one of your few misses this year. Thanks for the great work.
- Anonymous said...
I'm glad you didn't Scrooge (a verb here) one of my favorites, Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy, as done by Bowie and the Bing. That duet done in a Crosby xmas special has an interesting story behind it.
- PhillipCharles said...
A Major Holiday BooYah to you and yours!!!
I enjoyed your thoughts in this post, made all the more relevant by the fact that I have a been feeling a paplpable sense of relief all day due to not being exposed to these same songs on a 24/7 basis everyday since Halloween. Christmas 'music' and the Christmas season itself could and would be much more appreciated if it were limited to a few days around mid-late December (think less suburban America and more Scandinavia).
I appreciate your ability and diligence in opining on each song the way that you have, and probably speaking in detail for many, especially to a degree that I would have never considered. A bit of therapy that was very welcomed...
- Heraclitus said...
Jeff - for your consideration, a duet by Stephen Colbert and Willie Nelson about bringing dope to the Baby Jesus:
An instant classic, in my opinion
- Anonymous said...
One comment and one quick story Jeff:
A) You can find the Shazaam technology on Verizon's VCast service as well. I used it to identify a tune a heard on the radio by Mavis Staples of all people...the technology is really quite extraordinary!
B) At the store where I work part time, the retailer began playing Christmas songs approximately two weeks before Thanksgiving. Some customers were so incensed at the thought of hearing Christmas music prior to the holidays that they threated to boycott the store if they didn't turn it off. And turn the music off they did, for two beautiful weeks...loved the quiet!
- Anonymous said...
I found this Christmas CD several
years ago--Christmas Gumbo--and it
is excellent and different.
- Anonymous said...
Before starting a family office and managing money, I was a recording engineer and worked for 6months on Mariah's Christmas record. We started in the spring and worked straight through a hot summer with a small, fake Christmas tree in the control room.
In retrospect I have mixed feelings about the record. I concur about the vocal gymnastics but the CD has become a holiday favorite for many. Ultimately that is what matters most.
- Jeff Matthews said...
A former recording engineer who worked on Mariah Carey's Christmas album responds to our blog about that album.
Isn't the Internet a staggering, wonderful thing?
- Anonymous said...
Fairytale of New York by The pogues
- Ken said...
The mix sounds like you were listening to "The Light" or a similar syndicated channel. I agree completely - they switch over way too early, and then run a relatively limited playlist into the ground. Plus, it's all pretty generic lite-pop stuff.
If you want something different, do what I did this year - drive to visit family on Christmas day. Nearly every station had switched over to all Christmas music. Most also seemed to be keeping to their format, as best they could. There was country & western, rap, jazz and blues, instrumental rock, and others. Some great stuff, and some straight from the bottom of the barrel. I won't get into the horrors of the novelty records...


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League of Legends' Limited Edition Skins to Become Available Again
If you missed out on your chance to grab some limited edition skins in the past, then you might want to read up on League of Legends' plan to bring them back.
Riot Games has posted on the official League of Legends site, revealing its plan to reintroduce some vintage Limited Edition skins. The developer cites the fact very few of those classic skins released during events from December 2009 through October 2011 are ever seen in games, and players who do see them want to know how to obtain them.
To that end, they'll be releasing these skins again for a limited time. Here is the solution at which Riot arrived:
- The 34 Limited Edition skins will become available for purchase or gifting for a limited time during the following months:
- Harrowing 2010 & 2011 skins during October 2013
- Snowdown Showdown 2009 & 2010 skins during December 2013
- Winter Games 2010 skins during February 2014
- World Cup 2010 skins during June 2014
Players who already have these skins might be worried that the exclusivity of their skins are in jeopardy. In order to compensate for this, Riot Games will be giving them Riot Points equal to the price they paid for the skin, a vintage loading screen and an exclusive summoner icon. These 34 skins will be considered Legacy skins and might possibly become available again in the future.
Skins that are unaffected by these changes include the following:
- Limited Edition skins that were once in the store but are not part of these events (Rusty Blitzcrank, Urf Warwick, Championship Riven, Riot Singed). If these skins are ever brought back, they will be treated similarly.
- Earned Limited Edition skins that were rewarded for events or achievements and never appeared in the store (PAX Twisted Fate, King Rammus, Victorious Jarvan, UFO Corki, etc.).We have no plans to make these skins available.
- Other Legacy skins (Riot K9 Nasus, Zombie Brand, Nottingham Ezreal, etc.), which may still come back into the store from time to time without compensation.
To aid, here's an in-depth schedule of the vintage Limited Edition skins and when they'll become available in the store for a limited time:
October 2013
- Mundo Mundo
- Pumpkinhead Fiddlesticks
- Kitty Cat Katarina
- Lollipoppy
- Zombie Ryze
- Nosferatu Vladimir
- FrankenTibbers Annie
- Definitely Not Blitzcrank
- Bewitching Nidalee
- Haunting Nocturne
December 2013
- Snow Bunny Nidalee
- Workshop Nunu
- Happy Elf Teemo
- Earnest Elf Tristana
- Old Saint Zilean
- Re-Gifted Amumu
- Santa Gragas
- Reindeer Kog'Maw
- Candy Cane Miss Fortune
- Ragdoll Poppy
- Nutcracko
- Silent Night Sona
February 2014
- Vancouver Amumu
- Team Spirit Anivia
- Ice Toboggan Corki
- Union Jack Fiddlesticks
- The Mighty Jax
- Festival Kassadin
- Whistler Village Twitch
- Curling Veigar
June 2014
- All-Star Akali
- Goalkeeper Blitzcrank
- Striker Ezreal
- Red Card Katarina


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Crude oil futures prices ended higher on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The near-month contract for the benchmark grade rose $1.12 — closing at $52.61 a barrel.
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<preset name="Panorama 1">
12 pics @ 0°
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Viatorus wrote:Hey Community,
I have got a merlin panorama head, an USB interface controller and a hand controller. Now I like to setup a simple 360° panorama.
If I load this preset into papywizard it works well. Now I want to use this preset without usb/bluetooth connection to the merlin panorama head (wilderness without pc). Is it possible - how?
Thank you in advance.
Viatorus wrote:Hey mediavets,
ATDCUMi USB Interface
http://www.teleskop-austria.at/shop/ind ... atd-kac-hu
Actually I run papywizard over laptop -> usb interface -> merlin.
Is a laptop / device always needed?
mediavets wrote:
. . .
3. Use the T&C Touch Controller:
Viatorus wrote:Well, bad news, thank you anyway.
Is it possible to use the Laptop->ATDCUMi USB Interface->Merlin over command line? Or is there only the papywizard gui out there.
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Trunk/Frunk tie downs needed?
Trunk/Frunk tie downs needed?
Use a suitably sized laundry basket.
The tire repair kit is small so you can tuck it anywhere. The charging calbe and adptors come in its own pouch, not big either. The frunk, the top view is roughly a circle with a rectangle extension. The rectangle is plenty big enough for all sorts of things.
Tire repair kit and mobile charger cable/adapters (3) bag both fit in the slot in the left rear of the trunk. The frunk net just keeps things inside the little tunnel area of the frunk. Only problem with using the frunk is it is manual close, so you have to lower it down until the first latch, then shove it down until it closes. Tesla (or aftermarket) needs to come up with a frunk auto pull down solution.
Go by office max or similar and get a plastic tube orginizer. The one pictured in my head has an orginizer in it and would fit on the opening in the back of the frunk.
You might also consider a plastic toolbox from Home Depot. You could keep everything seperated depending on the one you get. It might also fit in the compartment in the back of the frunk.
tube = tub
If you don't plan on getting the rear facing child seats, you can use the area beneath the trunk floor for storing all types of miscellaneous "stuff". My car came with a cover for this area that fits nicely over the opening and allows the trunk floor to be farily flat and also covers anything that I choose to place beneath the cover (such as a laptop or anything I dont' want prying eyes to see (especially since I haven't received my parcel shelf yet). I have an old air compressor, NEMA 14-50 extension cord, Emergency kit, towels (to wipe dirty feet or the charging cable) and there's still space for other "junk". It's quite a large space for these types of small items.
I rarely keep anything in the frunk since my garage is so short I cannot access the frunk when the car is parked in the garage. I only use the frunk on long trips or if I have take home food that I don't want odors to get into the cabin. In this case, I place the takehome food in the frunk well where it can be held by the netting. If the food container is too small, I'd just use a towel to wedge it in place so it doesn't slide around.
The recessed area beneath the trunk floor comes with its own cover and handle as mentioned above. Mine does not sit flush with the trunk floor, which often results in items catching when I'm sliding them out of the trunk. Was curious if this has been the observation of others, or if there might be a seating problem with mine?
@Robert22 | JANUARY 29, 2013: Mine does not sit flush with the trunk floor, which often results in items catching when I'm sliding them out of the trunk.
Yes, I've observed this too on my car. I think they didn't take the carpet thickness into account when they made the lip on the trunk floor.
I agree that the MS needs cargo tie-downs. My work around for the dog crate is to wedge it in place with low open boxes like Harry and David fruit boxes and clean cardboard plant nursery trays. it keeps the crate from moving and still allows segregated storage for groceries etc.
I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the storage options in the car. Except that occasionally I have wished there were, indeed, rings to tie things to, I have been increasingly impressed.
As others have said, all the charging stuff fits neatly in its bag in the well in the back left corner of the car. It appears made for it. Without having the car in hand yet, it may not be fully clear what the person before me said about using the place meant for the feet of the rear-facing seats, but this is where I keep all the stuff I have to constantly tote around with me. I love it. It feels like a secret compartment, because once my things are stowed away in there and the lid is replaced, it appears my car is completely empty, clean and neat. This is the first car I have had which has no clutter and nothing to tempt a thief. Because the secret compartment is a smallish space (1/3 the size of the trunk??) or maybe just because it is far from the driver and has the cover, I never notice any sounds from these items shifting even without the nice idea of baskets another person suggested. (They wouldn't show once the cover is on, so if you bridled at the idea of laundry baskets in your gem of a car, don't worry.)
But the reason I am bothering to add a comment is to praise the storage under the hood. This is again a place which feels so secure and secret, it is a rare thief who will have the brains to check there for your valuables. But what I use it for the most is groceries. I have two dogs who accompany me most of the time, having this separate storage space ensures that anything which needs to be kept safe from these noses-on-toes can be. And I love the looks on people's faces when I put stuff in there!!
Don't spend another second worrying about storage. It is great.
(I did not get the cargo cover.)
Several people have described the "well" in the back left corner of the car as if it were a separate compartment. In my car, it opens at the bottom to the space where the rear-facing seats would go. In other words, anything I put in that well ends up in the larger area meant for the rear facing seats. Does anyone have a car where that well is closed off from the seat compartment?
There is no divider there in my car either. If I put something in the "well" it may roll into what we call "the basement". I like storing stuff in the basement.
Does the car come with an initial tire repair kit? Or do we need to purchase the first one? I was thinking that we would expect the first one included or am I wrong?
You have to purchase it.
Seems to depend on your state; check with your rep. Some states require it.
My left rear well is also opened to the "basement". But it holds the cable bag perfectly since the cable bag is large enough not to slide down into the basement.
I agree with Pamela. The Frunk is very handy to hide valuables. On my over 1K mile trip between Nor Cal and SoCal, we kept the luggage, garment bags and coats/jackets in the rear open area and put all valuables (laptops, iPads, etc.) in the Frunk. My kids kept their laptops with them in the back seat while on the road, but when we stopped, I had them put their backpacks with the laptops into the Frunk - perfectly hidden. In fact, I made sure I left space for their backpacks in the Frunk when packing the car for this very reason.
@Robert22 and Alex K
"Mine does not sit flush with the trunk floor, which often results in items catching when I'm sliding them out of the trunk."
I had this issue and I found that the trunk cargo cover with the handle was installed backwards and it still fit ok but just a little odd. After about a week I realized this and flipped it around. It fits perfectly now. Try it.
I think there will always be a "lip" on the basement cover where things can catch on. There certainly is a small crevice. But I do find that the main cover area is approximately the same height as the rest of the trunk. The only area that is not is along the edge.
I put a milk crate (the larger rectangular one, not the square one) in the Frunk, it fits nicely in the recess, filling the width perfectly, but sliding in half under, and half sticking out...Which I like, because it makes it easy for me to reach in and pull it out.
@sandman | JANUARY 29, 2013: I had this issue and I found that the trunk cargo cover with the handle was installed backwards and it still fit ok but just a little odd. After about a week I realized this and flipped it around. It fits perfectly now. Try it.
Which way do you have the handle? I have it towards the back of the car, which appears to be the only logical position. The cover still doesn't sit flush with the trunk floor.
@dahtye: I've had a window broken by a thief who stole the jacket off of the back seat. I'd also recommend that anything you want to hide is hidden *before* you park.
Yep, I hear you Mark. Sometimes that's not practical, so I make sure I look around a bit before bring out valuables and putting them into the frunk. There's no guarantee, but we need to also change our behavior based on the environment - if I'm in a rough area with thugs hanging around, I'd just not stop. Most of the places I've stopped have been places that seem relatively safe.
I should also mention about my post regarding the basement cover - I misspoke on that post. The cover stays at the same level as the rest of the trunk only if I slide the cover back toward the rear to a point where the 1/4 rear portion of the cover is slightly angled up (i.e. it doesn't really fit well in this position) - yes, the cover is slightly hinged (or bendable) in this area. If I place it flat, the top of the cover surface is about 1/3 to 1/2 inch above the top surface of the trunk floor.
@Alex K,
"Which way do you have the handle? I have it towards the back of the car, which appears to be the only logical position. The cover still doesn't sit flush with the trunk floor."
Same here and mine fits pretty well. Maybe 1-2mm relief from trunk to lid.
My rear storage compartment hatch cover fits well enough but the edge binding needs another row of stitching closer to the binding edge. There is excess edge binding kind of flopping around and it give a cheap impression.
I have the tire repair kit, charging adapters/bag, and an LED flashlight in the left back corner well of the rear. I bought a cheap cargo organizer on Amazon and pop that open when I have a few shopping bag or other loose items to haul. It can also fit into the rear recess area if you'd like.
I wish there was a net that layed flat against the floor in the trunk area and so that you could put stuff underneath it and it would be held down by the tension of the net.
@olanmills | FEBRUARY 3, 2013: I wish there was a net that layed flat against the floor in the trunk area and so that you could put stuff underneath it and it would be held down by the tension of the net.
I think you are looking for something similar to this. You can get them aftermarket in various sizes:
Sorry for the bad image - Just follow the link
"Mounting hardware included". 4 nails? ;)
Thanks Alex. Yeah I'm curious about how you mount it.
@olanmills | FEBRUARY 4, 2013: Yeah I'm curious about how you mount it.
Instructions are found at http://kfytg.methn.servertrust.com/v/vspfiles/instruction_sheets/22-1-33...
Manufacturer Web site is http://www.bellautomotive.com/Cargo-Net-p/22-1-33653-8.htm
Looks like they only talk about folding the net in half and adhering by screws or adhesive pads (both types being included).


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Migrants Forum
International labour migration is a phenomenon that has steadily been increasing over the last few decades. Intensified by globalization more and more people, especially from developing countries, are forced to look outside their countries of origin to search for employment and better opportunities. Migration has become a major means to alleviate poverty and improve one's living conditions.
Together with CARAM ASIA, the 9th ICAAP is hosting a pre congress forum for Migrant on 8 August 2009 at Inna Grand Bali Beach Hotel in Sanur, Bali. The Migrant Forum is one of the eight pre-congress community forums hosted during the congress.
The forum expects to mobilize 200 delegates from Asia Pacific region and beyond. Participation in the Migrant Forum is free for registered congress delegates. Selected number non-congress delegates may attend the forum by invitations only. Please confirm your participation here!
For inquiry about Migrant Forum, you may email to: firstname.lastname@example.com
Time Table
Travel & Accommodation
Except those who receive scholarship awards from the 9th ICAAP, you are free to arrange your own accommodation while in Bali. Sanur is a half hour away from the congress venue, Bali International Convention Center in Nusa Dua. There are many budget-accommodations around the Sanur area in the proximity of Inna Grand Bali Beach Hotel, the location of the Migrant Forum.
Please check the web section on Accommodation for more information. Should you choose to stay in other parts of Bali, please check the web section on Transportation to see if your preferred area is covered by the congress shuttle service.
For pre congress shuttle schedule from 7-8 August 2009, download here!
For the congress shuttle schedule from 9 - 13 August 2009, download here!
For map of pick-up and drop-off zones, download here!


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Over the last three decades, Rob Enderle has worked as an inside (ROLM/Siemens/IBM) or outside (Dataquest, Forrester, Enderle Group) technology analyst. He thought it would be interesting to share the 16 immutable rules that most people actually running tech companies don't seem to know.
These rules define the differences between a company that is doing well, like Apple, and a company that is failing, like RIM. They anticipate the mistakes and suggest fixes to major financial, operational and PR problems the firms experience and provide a primer for anyone wanting to be successful in this segment. Many are not segment-oriented and could apply to any business at any level, but some are specific to technology.
What Motivates Consumers to 'Like' Content and Brands on Facebook Ninety-three percent of Facebook users click the "Like" button at least monthly, but the meaning behind "Like" varies considerably by age and context.
Top 10 Reads for IT Executives The top reads at Books24x7 are indicative of current business and IT trends.
Five Core Tenets of the Social IntranetThe new intranet will be a heterogeneous environment of systems across the whole company.
Related Topics : Technology Markets, Contact Center Solutions, Innovation, Startups, Unified Communications
Before achieving success with a UC platform, companies must know what platform is best and how to bring the system into the culture of their company. ... More >>
As companies broaden their global reach, an important consideration is staying connected with partners and customers. Here are seven key tips to consider when choosing a new service for your organization. ... More >>
With the appropriate planning and right solution, a communications system can deliver powerful, customer-centric functionality with the flexibility needed to keep up with change. ... More >>


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Cpl Kendall wrote:Your Dad was in Northern Ireland?
Sionnach Glic wrote:Aye, pretty much half the British Army ended up doing a tour up there at one point or another during the Troubles.
colmquinn wrote:I heard the british army liked to cycle guys through NI to give as many men as possible the experience of being in that style of "hostile" environment. They learned how to handle the population and worked out tactics etc. - not sure how much it would help in Afghanistan though, those guys seem a whole different kettle of fish.
He was in the Navy. By all accounts, I don't even know why he was sent really. What good could a writer by trade, a filing clerk of sorts, do in NI? Yet, there he was.
Wasn't much use to him, after NI he was stationed aboard Frigates. First a Leander, then very short stint on a minesweeper, and finally a Type-22.
colmquinn wrote:I think GK might like Charlene because a young Kylie Minogue was Charlene Robinson in Oz tv show Neighbours back in the 80's
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A limited-edition capsule collection created in collaboration with Kris Wu, inspired by his own personal style and the lyrics of his latest song.
Kris was photographed wearing the collection on a journey around London during one day and one night in September 2017. Here he explores the city...
'When you're working and doing something that you love, it's not really work anymore.'
Old Compton Street, LondonSun 17 Sep 2017, 21:14–22:03
The Rucksack: our signature bag, reinterpreted by Kris Wu with embroidered lyrics from his track 'B.M.'
The collaboration features Kris Wu's inimitable designs across iconic and everyday pieces – from a tattooed trench to The Rucksack – fusing Burberry house codes with some of Wu's favourite streetwear pieces.
The limited-edition collection is available at Burberry.com and in selected stores.
London, Bond Street Vancouver, Shangri-La Hong Kong, Canton Road Macau, One Central Taipei, 101 Singapore, ION Sydney, George Street Beijing, SKP Menswear Shanghai, Kerry Centre Chengdu, IFS Changchun, Charter Guangzhou, Taikoo Hui


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Allure Bridal 9051
- Brand: Allure Bridals
- Style #: 9051 - Quick Delivery*
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A gorgeous mermaid shaped gown. The fitted bodice has a sweetheart neckline that is embellished with Swarovski crystals. The entire design is adorned with delicate lace applique on English net.
Fabric: Lace Applique and English Net
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*A style on our web site listed as in-stock can usually be shipped today or next day for immediate delivery or quick delivery. An item listed as "Ships Today" can be sent the same business day as long as the order is placed before the cutoff time.


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|A little bird nest that I found last year
while trimming the bamboo.
A simple, thoughtful way to send health and happiness to a friend is by conveying your well wishes by making and giving a wonderful little bird nest for their Christmas tree. My sister told me about this legend a few years back. I was charmed by the thought and I wanted to make a few of these little precious ornamental nests for a few friends on my list.
The following tutorial explains how to make your own nest, but of course you can buy a pre-made nest at your local crafting store, or perhaps you have a real one left behind in your yard. Now that would be neat too!
I first made a little make shift basket with the base wire. I did this by first making a loop the circumference of the nest. I then used three additional pieces of wire to create a basket bottom, twisting the ends of the wire around the top loop.
I then grabbed a handful of moss and rolled it in my hands, tangling the material. Then I gently shaped the nest, digging into the middle with my thumbs to create the bowl-like shape.
I put a big glop of hot glue on the outside bottom of the nest and pressed it into the wire frame working it around to create the basic nest.
I then turned the nest upside down and hot glued a clothes pin to the bottom of the nest. Allow the hot glue to set up on the clothes pin.
Turn the nest back over and prop it up. Next you will place the bird, the accents you have chosen and a little bow on the top of the nest.
First start with the bird. A few of my birds came on clips, some on sticks, one on nothing. The one that had nothing, I jammed and hot glued a skewer into the bottom of that bird, cut off the excess skewer and used hot glue to place him in the nest. The extra reinforcement matters for stabilizing the bird to the nest.
Form the small bow and run a floral wire through the back of the knot.
Fold the wire in half and twist together.
Put hot glue on the wire and work it into the front of the nest to secure.
I little white birdie with artificial holiday greens and a thin, red satin bow.
The sky is the limit with this project. You can alter what type bird you want to use, the accents and the bows according to your recipient. Just remember to include a little note with your nest, explaining the legend. It makes it all the more special and conveys your wishes. I hope you enjoyed this little project. Would love to know which one was your favorite! Here's mine...
Day 17


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Moët Impérial
Moët Impérial is the House's iconic champagne. Created in 1869, it embodies Moët & Chandon's unique style, a style distinguished by its bright fruitiness, its seductive palate and its elegant maturity.
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Moët Impérial is the House's iconic champagne. Created in 1869, it embodies Moët & Chandon's unique style, a style distinguished by its bright fruitiness, its seductive palate and its elegant maturity.
Presents of glamour and generosity for a special someone, a special occasion or just for you.
Tastings by Moët & Chandon Chef de cave, renown wine experts, and entertaining proposals to enjoy this champagne.
Serving Moët & Chandon is as much of a pleasure as drinking it. Here's how:
Place the bottle in a champagne bucket, fill with ice cubes and add water. Leave for at least 15 minutes before serving.
Take out the bottle, wipe it carefully, then gently pull away the black tab.
Unfasten the wire cage without removing it completely while keeping the cork in place with the thumb.
Grasp the base of the bottle and twist it gently away from the cork (rather than twisting the cork away from the bottle). Gently remove the cork.
Fill each glass two-thirds full. Ladies first, of course... and enjoy your guests enjoying the magic of Moët!
Introducing The Now
Created from more than 100 different wines, of which 20% to 30% are reserve wines specially selected to enhance its maturity, complexity and constancy, the assemblage reflects the diversity and complementarity of the three grapes varietals :
The body of Pinot Noir:
30 to 40%
The suppleness of Pinot Meunier:
30 to 40%
The finesse of Chardonnay:
20 to 30%
Dosage: 9 g/litre
- sushi
- scallops
- oysters
- white fish
- white meats (such as roasted free range chicken au jus with fines herbes)
- white fruits (such as a white peach tart served with a light, white chocolate cream)