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Team Obama 2012 was no doubt attempting to shore up its constituency of single, young women when it released its ad late last week featuring actress, writer, and director Lena Dunham likening voting for Obama in 2008 to losing her virginity to a great boyfriend.
Yet when one considers the speed with which this ad has been mocked and parodied, one could make the case that the Obama campaign unwittingly summed up the legacy of his presidency, which in a week's time may well be consigned to the ash heap of history.
Four years ago, much of America felt a tingle up its leg as it was seduced by the soaring yet smooth talk of President Obama. But in the four years since, much of America is asking, "Is that all there is?" For not much had changed, at least not for the better. The tingle soon became a pain that soon became infected. Your health insurance should have been able to cover it, but as it turns out just because you like your health insurance doesn't mean you can keep it.
As a result of that Tuesday night four Novembers ago, Obama sired the largest increase in the national deficit in this country's history. Given Obama's insatiable appetite for spending, no amount of federal coverage of contraception could have prevented the deficit from gestating. And it's not like America could turn to Planned Parenthood to fix the problem. Where spending our money is concerned, Obama is no-choice, not pro-choice.
What makes the Obama boyfriend ad so peculiar is that he is perceived in some quarters as the boyfriend who talked a good game but couldn't follow through on his commitment. Back in June, Independent Women's Voices (IWV), a conservative women's group, released a video on this very theme. The ad features two women Mary and Melissa, a mother and daughter, talking about the Melissa's frustration with her boyfriend with Obama's iconic Hope picture hanging over them like the Sword of Damocles. This 30-second spot sums up the past four years under Obama concisely:
Melissa: I was so excited at first.
Mary: I know.
Melissa: He seemed so perfect.
Mary: They always do.
Melissa: And I could listen to him talk for hours.
Mary: Did he ever do more than talk?
Melissa: I wanted to believe him. I trusted him
Mary: Melissa, we all did.
Melissa: I'm tired of waiting for him to get his act together. It's been almost four years.
Mary: You can't change him.
Melissa: He always has an excuse for everything. There's always somebody else to blame.
Mary: You can't live on excuses.
Melissa: Why do I always fall for guys like this?
Mary: You know you deserve better.
Given the response to the Obama boyfriend ad, IWF is quite fittingly re-exploring this fertile ground by putting out two new ads reinforcing Obama as the unreliable boyfriend. The two ads are titled "Feeling Guilty" and "Mr. Dependable," the latter of which contrasts Obama (Mr. Cool) with Mitt Romney (Mr. Dependable).
The question that remains is whether America will fall for Mr. Cool once again or if it is prepared to take a chance with Mr. Dependable. Will America once again be seduced by the same promises Mr. Cool made four years ago knowing they are promises he cannot and/or will not keep? Or will America see through Mr. Cool's words and conclude that talk is cheap but deficits are expensive? Is America tired of Mr. Cool blaming others when things go wrong? Will America take a chance on Mr. Dependable even if he is a bit boring? America clearly doesn't believe what Mr. Cool has had to say about Mr. Dependable being a felon and a murderer of women with cancer. But it remains to be seen if Mr. Dependable has sealed the deal with America.
When we vote with our hearts, we Americans can be a rather fickle bunch. As with politics, a week in matters of the heart can be a lifetime. So while it may appear that America is prepared to make a commitment to Mr. Dependable, there is no guarantee we won't be fooled by Mr. Cool again. If so, America will suffer four more years of another bad one night stand.


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With billions of people using social Media, a facebook post, instagram post, tweet or social media post can go viral in minutes. Keep this in mind when dealing with your customers. A customer may give you a good review online of you do a great job. But in today's world, if a customer has a bad experience, they will let the world know immediately through social media. Gone are the days when businesses can have bad customer service and easily move on.
Let's examine the following Scenerio. A client made an appointment at a hair salon. The client pays a $100 deposit to secure a time slot. The client arrives early to the appointment to find that the salon owner is not there. The salon owner is an hour late to the appointment. The client pays the remaining $150 for the work for a total of $250 for the service. Two days after the appointment, the client sends the text below to the salon owner asking What to do about their hair that is not done correctly. The salon owner does not respond. 12 hours later, the client sends a second text asking for verification that the first text was received.
The Salon Owner responded with the following:
| "
Hello, how are you? When I realized you texted me, it was late and I was still at work, so I was going to respond this morning. Please give me time to respond. I do not handle any business before 9am so I ask that you please respect my time. I'm not sure what type of stylist you've been dealing with, but I'm a professional and I handle business as such. *:) happy
It looks like your closure is sliding. Thursday and Fridays are pretty busy for me as it is the start of the weekend. I only have late afternoon today and tomorrow around 4:30 available. I am not working in the salon on Saturday. If this evening or tomorrow evening work for you, let me know.
I'll talk to you soon.
Renee' Bennett
A photo of the actual email is below:
This email is an example of poor customer service from a business to a client There are several things that the business owner did wrong.
1) The salon owner chastises the client for contacting her saying: "Please respect my time". - Businesses should never be rude to clients. Even though the salon owner was late to the clients appointment, She still expects the client to respect her time and not contact her.
2) The salon owner fails to offer an apology - We all know that sometimes things go wrong in business. The first thing that a business should do is apologize. It does not matter if the business is at fault or not. The business needs to acknowledge and apologe for the problem.
3) The business owner did not make the client a priority. - At the end of the email, the business owner lets the client know when it's convienient for the client to come back. This is not taking in consideration the client's schedule.
Remember that your customers do not have to use your services. There are probably thousaands of other businesses that do what you do and maybe some who do it better. You should look at your clients as an asset and be grateful that they chose you.
How would you respond to this salon?

subset: commoncrawl


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Lombo doesn't seem to be a very good 2B.
He's not Dani Espinosa, but it also can't be easy to be a 2B switch to LF and then switched back to 2b suddenly after months out in left
Let it be known that I actually agree with linty on something. Lombo doesn't charge balls and seems to have slow hands and a weak arm.
Ross has those long legs!
He's skinny too! Wonder if he will get bigger and stronger over his career.
I know Davey's not going to take any lead for granite today. No stinking field goals, touchdowns.
good catch/read by Shark
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Continuing with my discussion about Google+ Communities, specifically with the Dear MYRTLE Genealogy Community.
Google+ Communities and Genealogy (part 1)
These discussions are about the earlier experience with the Google+ Community feature. Dear MYRTLE has moved to this platform as a way, or Genealogy Tool, to share our genealogy experience.
2 weeks into this new feature is talked about here.
Google+ Communities – What we know after 2 weeks (part 4) HOA
The real focus on this 4th of the series was about Private Communities. In our case, this may not apply. However, What IF you wanted to set up a Family Community or a Local Society Community? You may want to consider this feature.
The 5th in these series is talking about how and where to post on Google+
Google+ Communities – What we know after 4 weeks (pt. 5) 2013 a look ahead
This discussion talks about should WE post to Google+ OR only Post into the Community. The panel talked about how they post. The best example should "I" just post to Google+ or not to post to Google+ but only into the Community. What I got out of it, is that the reason the panel uses the Google+ to gain people into their community.
As I have followed DearMYRTLE, I see her on FaceBook and her Blog, and posting to the Community. That is my observation any way. In both the Google+ stream and from FaceBook, it's getting the "word out there" that something is going on in the community.
So, for this 5th video, it is talking about Posting Strategy for a community. They did touch on personal communities or "for business" communities.
It was restated that the Community is Topic Focused. There was a work around, where there was a posting into one community, and sharing that post in the community into another community. I know that I have joined a couple of Genealogy Communities to learn what's going on, but hadn't thought about sharing some of those posts into the DearMYRTLE community. It does continue the thought about collaboration between communities.
On to part 6.
GooTubePlus in Google+ Communities. GooTube stands for Google and YouTube.
The point of this next video is talking about the transition into the Community feature.
Google Plus Communities – What we know after 2 Months (pt. 6)
It gets to the point from Part 5, that is, double posting, in Google+, to my own stream or circles or to the community.
This reminded me to look at what DearMYRTLE has posted into the **Guidelines category. She reminded us:
Let's play nice in the sandbox. We respect your right to your religious and political beliefs, but this is no place for off-topic postings or Hangouts in this genealogy-oriented community. This is not a request.
For organization's sake, first click on the category that matches your subject. Then type your post, and tap the "Share" button. The post will be seen in "All Posts" and in the appropriate category.
This 6th video opens a new topic, for individuals, for placing or bookmarking posts within a personal community, that is private and you can create categories to put those bookmarks. It will be interesting to see how that will work.
Moving through another month, part 7 is at the 3rd month of communities. At this point in time, DearMYRTLE had moved from the Webinar platform to the Hangout On Air platform. So this next video talks about the communities are developing.
Google+ Communities – What we know after 3 Months (part 7)
I may be wrong, but what I have seen is more dialog. That started in the Hangouts On Air, both within the Joiners AND the Viewers. How DearMYRTLE is engaging the community during the Hangouts On Air. Now we are seeing discussions within the community on the topic of Genealogy. From what I have seen, is that the community is growing and sharing of our experience.
This 7th edition talked more about things to consider when setting up a community, starting with the Title, and the About section for the community. How that information helps the Google search engine and the Google+ search engine "ranks" the results. Apparently these are two different sets of results based on where you search from. The activity within the community (Posts, Plus One, Shares) help raise the community for someone searching in Google Plus.
One of the final comments from the Panel, was to create and participate in a private community.
The 8th edition is here, on Permission Only Communities.
Google+ Communities – What we know after 4 Months (part 8)
This video talked about a Public Community, where someone has to be invited into the community. Chef Dennis had a vision for the community and focus for his topic. He controls who joins and even excludes who can join the community. As DearMYRTLE has done, Chef Dennis has clear guidelines as to who can and who can't join the community. What was interesting, to me, is that he looks at the Profile of the person who is requesting to join the community. It's like what I talked about on my blog post.
Technical Tuesday–A thought about your Google+ Tag Line
That talked about how I choose who to add to one of my circles. So, for Chef Dennis, he bases that Tag line and Profile information as to who joins or doesn't join his community.
This should be the end of this series of blog posts on Google+ Communities. It's been a great journey watch DearMYRTLE and working with DearMRYTLE in the establishment of the DearMYRTLE Genealogy Community.


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Mariners salute to Armed Forces Night
SEATTLE -- About a half hour before first pitch Saturday night at Safeco Field, the Mariners teamed with Boeing to honor members of the U.S. military as part of the 13th annual Boeing Salute to Armed Forces Night.
Six branches of the military were represented during a special pre-game ceremony that paid tribute to members of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force Reserve, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard and Washington National Guard. Members from each simultaneously threw out the First Pitch and all on hand were given a standing ovation before the sixth inning. Before the game, high-ranking officers from each branch were awarded commemorative plaques and Ryan Nabors from Disabled American Veterans delivered the lineup card. Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon took time to shake everyone's hand.
As part of the pre-game festivities, Specialist Raymond Deleon of the U.S. Army played Taps and the National Anthem was performed by the I Corps Army Band from Joint Base Lewis-McChord. God Bless America was performed during the seventh inning stretch. Outside of Safeco's gates representatives from V.F.W Post 2995 collected donations to support troops serving overseas. Meanwhile, the first 15,000 fans in attendance received a commemorative coin.


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inedomedia necesitaba un nuevo diseño de botón o icono y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 76 diseños de 11 diseñadores freelance.
Stack Overflow (http://www.stackoverflow.com)
Stack Overflow is the industry's leading programming Q & A visited by half the world's Software Developer/Programmer population. The site is collaboratively built and maintained by its community of programmers. Stack Overflow receives about 30Million monthly page views from more than 6 million absolute unique visitors.
We post many contests on 99 Designs and love the site and quality of work that we get. Please help us create a banner directing our audience to a short user survey.
We're looking to better understand the demographics of our audience to ensure the advertising we put in front of them is relevant and collect their feedback on how to improve the site.
Here's where we need your help. We want a banner that is creative and sharp, and that will encourage people to click and take our short survey.
The target audience includes any Developer/Programmer using Stack Overflow.
We are looking for a 220x250 static banner.
We have a few ideas to get you started. These are suggestions that we brainstormed, but please do not feel restricted to submitting options that align only to these.
Suggestion 1: (Basic) Language including "Your Opinion Matters" with the Stack Overflow logo in a sharp and eye catching design.
Suggestion 2: Language including "I'd Like to Get to Know You Better" with a pretty girl (maybe even wearing a tee shirt that has the Stack Overflow logo on it)
Suggestion 3: Language including "We Need You" with a Developer/Programmer guy w/ glasses pointing (think the famous Uncle Sam image)
Also, somewhere on the banner we want to make it clear we're asking our audience to take the short survey. Can be as basic as "Take Survey Now" or more creative.
Thank you for considering participating in our contest!!


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whose hope is in the Lord his God:
Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is:
which keepeth truth forever..."
Psalm 146:5,6
When I was just a teenager, Mom, Dad, and I moved from Ohio to the west coast of Florida.
I will never forget the intensity of the blast of July heat when, after the very long drive,
we finally arrived in FL and opened our car doors to step outside.
I was used to Ohio, having been raised there and having lived there most of my life,
so moving to the tropical atmosphere of Florida was like a shock to my system...
both weather and culture-wise.
I had seen pictures and read stories about them and seen them in movies,
but to actually be near one, to feel sand between my bare toes, and to breathe in the salty smells of sea air was completely foreign to me.
I can't say I remember my exact first time going to see the sea,
but what I can remember is the way it made me feel.
The magnitude of its size was completely overwhelming.
I felt so small...so insignificant,
standing there listening to and watching the raging thrust of the incoming and outgoing tide.
During that first visit, I never dreamed how much the sea would come to mean to me,
nor did I realize that the Gulf of Mexico shore would become a place where I would
retreat to pray and get alone with God.
Through the years, I loved going there...alone...in the evenings when I needed to think and reflect and seek God's face.
One of my favorite places to pray back then was while seated on a boulder on the beach at sunset.
I don't know how to describe the peace or the nearness to God I felt there.
Is there anything in the world more beautiful than to sit and quietly observe
the evening sun dropping ever so gently behind the ocean's waters?
That point, when the top part of its arch disappears,
and it looks like it is swallowed up into the deep,
leaving all shades of orange, red, and yellow in its wake, is just breathtaking.
There came a time when God led me to leave the west coast and move to Florida's east coast
where I was introduced to the waters of the Atlantic.
I loved going there with friends and sitting near the shore...
just close enough to the water to splash and cool off,
but not far enough out to feel unsafe.
One of the most precious moments of my life happened near the Atlantic ocean on a Florida beach.
It was there that the love of my life took me one early February, moonlit night,
after a date, and asked me to become his bride.
I will never forget the way the rays of the moon fell over us, as if God were intent upon making His approval and happiness for us known.
When we were newly married, one of our favorite spots was a barrier island sanctuary called
Blowing Rocks Preserve on Jupiter Island in Hobe Sound, FL.
I used to love to go there during high tide and watch the water splash upwards through the "blowholes".
Photo Source
listening to the continual pounding of the surf against yet another shore...
is even bigger than they are.
the tides fluctuate, but the waves never stop.
along with moon that pulls upon them,
are subject to the command and authority of their Almighty Creator, God.
Otherwise, wouldn't this colossal force overflow its banks and flood the earth?
God Himself has set the boundaries.
Oh, the glory, strength, power, and all-encompassing greatness of our God is immeasurable!
Nicole Coleman Mullen captured some of what I am feeling,
while she penned one of my favorite songs called "My Redeemer Lives".
I hope you will take the time to listen and really absorb the words.
If video doesn't load, click here.
As I ponder, as I feel His presence, as I once again am reminded of His awesomeness....
He seems to say,
"Close your eyes.
Listen close.
Do you hear My voice?
Through the waves,
upon the mighty tide.
I am here."
I sit.
I listen.
and share this preciousness, this fellowship, this communion, this visit with Him....
with you here...
for you may need to hear this, too.
I created it.
I maintain it.
I control it."
can I not take care of you?
If I can direct its ebb and flow,
can I not guide your life?
Can I not make your path plain in front of you?
Do you see an end?
You see the wide expanse.
It goes as far as your eyes can behold.
All of this is part of My footstool.
By this, can you see just a small glimpse into how big I really am?
Yet, I care about the smallest, most minute detail of your life.
You are Mine.
I have redeemed you.
Your life has a Divine purpose.
With all of its glory and beauty and magnitude,
I did not send My Son to die for the sea.
I sent Him to die for you.
For your redemption.
I sent Him to lift you up...to raise you to sit in heavenly places while on your pilgrim earth journey,
then to bring you to where I am to reign with Me throughout eternity.
As you look out over the waters in front of you,
can you fathom their depths?
Can you see what lies beneath their surface?"
"So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable,
both small and great beasts."
Psalm 104:25
"Lurking below what you can see are worlds never discovered.
The depths of what are not seen are beyond imagination.
Into such waters, I have cast your sins.
No matter how big your transgressions,
the sea is big enough to contain them."
"He will turn again,
He will have compassion upon us;
He will subdue our iniquities;
and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea."
Micah 7:19
"For as the heaven is high above the earth,
so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far hath He removed our transgressions from us."
Psalm 103:11,12
"No more than you can fathom the expanse of the sea,
can you fathom My love for you.
It is deeper than this.
It is wider.
The sea has bounds.
It can only come so far.
My love for you is without limits.
It surpasses the power of the ocean's force.
See the waves?
Watch them crash.
Some of them are stronger than others.
Some make more noise.
Some gently ease onto the sand, without making much ado.
Others come at it with noisy violence.
Just as I am in control of the waves,
I am sovereign over the ebb and flow of your life.
I control the force and intensity of the trials.
I only let them come so far.
They are held in check by My word and My command.
I know you feel uncertain.
You wonder what I am doing.
You feel the undercurrent, yet you see no path in front of you.
It is covered...like the waters cover the depths of the sea.
I have parted waters like these.
My children had no way across.
The sea in front of them looked as impenetrable, impassable, and impossible to ford as the waters that now lie in front of you.
Yet, I made a way for them...
not around the waters, not above the waters, but through the waters.
"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee;
and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee:
when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned;
neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."
Isaiah 43:2
"Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea,
and a path in the mighty waters..."
Isaiah 43:16
"I moved the waters when they had no where to go.
When the enemy pursued, and was near to overtaking My people,
it was still My will for them to go forward.
So, I parted the waters.
Imagine that, child.
Imagine walking to the edge of this sea and seeing the waters divide.
Picture them forming a heap on both sides of that divide.
Then picture the ground in the middle, a path, being completely and totally dry in front of you.
Imagine that heap of waters on both sides of the path spanning the entire length of the sea in front of you, clear to the other side, past the realm of what you can see.
I made that dry path as far as it needed to stretch in order for every man, woman, boy, and girl that belonged to Me to pass over clear to the other side.
There was no danger of those heaps of water coming down over My people and causing them to drown.
I controlled the elements.
I told them what to do.
If you needed these waters to literally stand in two heaps on both sides of a dry path in front of you, do you believe I could make this happen?
How much more can I part the waters of impossibility in your life?
There is nothing too hard for Me, child."
"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh:
is there anything too hard for Me?"
Jeremiah 32:27
"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them,
With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."
Matthew 19:26
If video doesn't load, click here.
"I own the cattle on a thousand hills and everything else, too.
I speak, and the waters of the sea listen and obey My command.
I speak, and the springs of wealth in this world give up their riches.
I am able to take care of you.
I speak, and none can resist.
My will and purpose will be performed in your circumstances.
What you must do is believe.
Moses had to raise that rod in order for the sea to follow my command.
I use human instruments.
Had he not had the faith to raise the rod, the sea would have remained undivided and unchanged.
When you act in obedience, even when it doesn't make sense,
even when My command defies human wisdom and understanding,
you activate My power.
Do you have faith like this?
Are you that sure of My word?
The door is before you, child.
You must lift your hand to unlock it.
I will show you what to do.
But, you must be obedient, no matter how impossible it sounds.
I am controlling every, single detail of your life.
You are here for a purpose.
Every step you take is ordered by Me.
Nothing that happens in your every day life is happenstance or coincidence.
All of it is Divinely instructed and planned.
Don't doubt Me.
Can you not see the vastness of My power...sitting here...by the sea?
Can you not hear the crashing of the waves?
It continues whether you are here or not.
It will be in operation the next time you come here.
The sea will still be here.
It will still be held in check, at My command.
The waves will still be crashing upon the sands of the shore.
A constant, steady reminder of My faithfulness.
You will see."
"The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters,
yea, than the mighty waves of the sea."
Psalm 93:4
So, how are you, my friend?
Are there problems in your path?
Is your heart heavy, burdened down with worry and stress?
Perhaps, you are awaiting the results of a medical test
or feeling the sting of a love grown cold.
Maybe you are standing at a crossroads, baffled as to which way to go.
Perchance you are battling a long-term illness, and it seems the night will never end.
It could be that you are now in the grip of deep remorse over past mistakes.
Maybe you now walk through the valley of the shadow of a loved one's death.
Perhaps your womb is barren,
your arms are empty,
your heart is broken.
Maybe you would give everything you own for the chance to share your life and the love that overflows your lonely heart.
Sorrow and heartache are common to us all.
But there is a God.
The same God Who holds the mighty sea within His control and grasp
is the God Who watches over you....the God who will never forget you
because He has engraved you upon the palms of His hands. (Isaiah 49:16)
You are His chosen one...dear to His heart...the apple of His eye. (Zechariah 2:8)
"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying,
Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love:
therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee."
Jeremiah 31:3
I don't know your personal circumstances,
but I do know some One Who is bigger than any hurt, obstacle, or trouble you face.
He is that big, yet, He sees every tear you cry,
He hears your most faintly-whispered prayer,
and He cares so much for you that He sent His only Son to die an anguished death for your sins.
He longs for you to come to Him when you are broken,
to turn to Him in your moments of grief,
and to allow Him to heal the deepest wounds of your heart.
A few days have passed since I started this devotional.
We are back home now, and I am missing my old friend, the sea.
But, I know it is there...steadfast, unchangeable, and unmovable,
waiting with open arms to welcome us back again.
In a thousand different ways, the sea reminds me of the One Who made it,
and Who now holds it...and me...and you, my friend...in the palm of His mighty hands.


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Hosting a Clan Tournament
So you want to host a clan tournament? Great! This thread is intended to provide some general guidelines that you may want to consider when formulating your tournament. Various issues such as privileges and medals are also discussed below.
What is a clan tournament?
There are two types of clan engagements that qualify for privileges and medals: wars and tournaments. Wars are fairly negotiated between two clans and must consist of at least 41 games. Tournaments combine more than two clans and must require each clan to play at least 20 "home" games. Tournaments also allow for "forced" match-ups (like brackets) and the ability to have more flexible rules (like all 1v1 games).
What do I do first?
The Clan Directors would recommend that you first look at other successful clan tournaments. These include the Conquerors' Cup, Conquerors' Cup 2, Clan Directors' Random Suicide Tournament, and Newcomers' Cup. Of course, there are many others and most can be found, if they are finished, in the Completed Challenges section of the Clan Forum. Most of these tournaments are still "stickied" and will appear at the top of the first page of the Completed Challenges section. These completed tournaments will give you helpful information regarding what rules, policies, game setups, and other issues you should consider when setting up your tournament.
What do I do once I have an outline for my clan tournament?
The Clan Directors strongly recommend that you come to one of us first to discuss your proposed tournament. For the most part there are not going to be any really strict guidelines to follow for your clan tournament. The reason for this is that we want to encourage unique, new, and fun ideas. A strict tournament policy might stifle creative ideas, a result that no one wants.
Providing your idea along with a rough outline of the proposed policies and rules for your tournament will give the Clan Directors an opportunity to guide you through possible issues that your tournament might pose. It is also advised that you provide this information prior to posting in public. There are quite a few tournaments that were nearly derailed because certain things were promised prior to receiving approval from the Clan Directors. This causes friction and will make it difficult for you to manage your tournament as it proceeds.
What are some things I should consider when preparing the outline for my clan tournament?
There are several considerations. The following is a brief list:
-Number of clans
-Format (round robin, bracketed tournament, league, etc.)
-Number of games per player (tournament wide, per matchup, etc.)
-Settings not permitted (freestyle, speed, etc.)
-Map restrictions
-Scoring system
-Basic rules and policies
-Whether clans can agree to change the rules and policies within their particular matchup
-Specific guidelines on what happens if rules or policies are violated (forfeits are discouraged)
How will I know if my clan tournament will qualify for privileges?
This is why working with a Clan Director will really pay off in the setting up of your clan tournament. Privileges can be issued in a few different ways. Common examples are as follows:
-Tournament Organizer (you) receives privileges, sets up all the games, and invites all the players
-A specific contact from each participating clan receives privileges for the entire event and is required to set up and invite in their respective games
-A specific contact from each participating clan receives privileges for each round of the event and is require to set up and invite in their respective games
-A hybrid where the Tournament Organizer sets up and invites for some games and privileges are held by a contact for each participating clan to set up and invite for other games
The Clan Directors will let you know, based on your outline, what the best method for providing privileges will be. Again, there is no wrong way; there just may be an easier way! It should be noted, that the CDs retain full and absolute discretion to deny privileges should they determine that any event would not be in the best interest of clans as a whole.
How will I know if my clan tournament will qualify for medals?
This is another example of why working with a Clan Director will really help with your clan tournament. Clan Directors can give you guidance on how to make sure that the set up of your clan tournament is eligible for clan medals, suggest changes to make certain formats medal eligible, and help provide the minimum requirements that a player in your tournament will have to meet to receive a medal. At that time, you and the Clan Director can discuss whether a Most Valuable Player medal is available for your tournament.
Where do I do sign ups for my clan tournament?
The Clan Forum has a section for challenge requests. However, this section is intended to be for clan war ladder challenges. The best place to start your sign up thread is in the General Clan Forum. It is recommended that you post as much detail about your clan tournament as possible and describe what types of clans are eligible to sign up (e.g. certain number of premium members, longevity of clan, etc.) Make sure you get a contact person for each clan that will be responsible for their clan throughout the tournament.
How should I rank the clans that enter my tournament?
There are a number of recognized ranking systems. The Clan Directors have a Leap Ladder based solely on clan war performance. FarangDemon's Algorithm of 400 is based on mathematical principles. The Power Rankings are based on perception from year to year. All of these and others are perfectly acceptable. You should decide prior to posting what ranking system, if any, will be used in your tournament.
What does "tied" mean?
A popular topic in early clan tournaments! Basically, a player plays with Clan A in a clan tournament and Clan A is eliminated. The player, not wanting to be done with the tournament, joins Clan B, which is still in the tournament, and plays in future games for Clan B in the same clan tournament. This was seen as a potential opportunity for abuse. Accordingly, most clan tournaments, and the default rule if no rule is made by the Tournament Organizer, is that players are "tied" to the clan they first participate with in any particular tournament. As such, in the above example, since the player first appeared in the clan tournament with Clan A, he cannot later play for Clan B in the same tournament.
Can my tournament have byes?
Yes, although byes are not encouraged. The issue is primarily one of fairness. A clan with a bye will typically play in fewer games in order to win a clan tournament. Is this fair to the other clans in the tournament? Will the winning clan, if they had an early bye, qualify for medals? These things need to be considered when adding byes to your tournament. However, in certain instances, byes are unavoidable. Again, consulting with a Clan Director will help you make this decision and avoid potential pitfalls.
How should I resolve disputes in my clan tournament?
The Clan Directors recommend that you first try to have the clans involved resolve their dispute. If this does not work you may make a ruling as a Tournament Organizer if the dispute is minor in nature or falls within a tournament rule. For all other issues, your ruling should be presented to the Clan Directors prior to issuance. The Clan Directors, through discussions with you, will make sure the ruling is fair and assist you with enforcement, if necessary. Of course, at any point during a dispute you may feel free to involve a Clan Director, in private if necessary, to assist in the determination of a dispute. This is especially important if the dispute potentially affects privileges or medals.
Are there any other considerations?
Running a clan tournament is a huge commitment. If you are not prepared for the amount of work that is required to run a successful clan tournament you should not start one! Abandoning a clan tournament will most likely result in you never getting privileges for any future clan events. If you have questions regarding the effort that goes into a clan tournament feel free to discuss with a Clan Director or one of the many Tournament Organizers that have run successful and fun clan tournaments in the past.
Final thoughts?
The Clan Directors feel that clan tournaments have added fun opportunities for clans to compete against each other. Clan tournaments have created unique match-ups that would not have otherwise occurred and are good for the clan community. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact any Clan Director to assist you. Finally, remember that the Clan Directors issue privileges and preliminary opinions on medal eligibility based on the rules set at the beginning of your tournament. If you change rules, enforce harsh penalties that were not in the original rules, or alter policies without first clearing it with the Clan Directors (like at the start of any clan tournament) you run the risk of losing your privileges or losing the ability to receive medals for your tournament. This is something everyone wants to avoid.
Have Fun!


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A number of British forces have been captured by the Syrian army during military operations in Eastern Ghouta, according to reports by local media.
According to a report by Al-Mayadeen news channel cited by Fars News, a number of British troops have been captured during the Syrian Arab Army's operations in Eastern Ghouta.
They are believed to be a part of international military forces deployed in the region to launch a ground assault in Damascus in cooperation with the US. According to the report, the US and other NATO countries, Jordan and Israel planned to launch attacks from several fronts, but the plot failed as Syrian armed forces made a series of rapid advances in Eastern Ghouta in March. The plot allegedly involved massive airstrikes by US and Israeli planes that were supposed to pave the way for ground forces.
"After the plot was disclosed, the Syrian-Russian military commanders started operations in Eastern Ghouta to repel it," the sources cited by Al-Mayadeen and Fars said.
Since the plot failed due to rapid advances by the Syrian army, the US cancelled all operations planned for these foreign forces and ordered an immediate withdrawal from Eastern Ghouta through the eastern suburbs of Damascus, including Douma.
https://sputniknews.com/military/201804 ... ia-ghouta/


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As my first cover video went pretty well (according to feedback) I decided to do a new one with one of my favorite songs ever from one of my favorite bands "What You Give" by Tesla .
I know there are some mitakes , such as time and a line I didn't meant to skip in lyrics , but the feeling's there .
Rock on .
Rock on .


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What is GIFBoom?
GIFBoom is an application on the Iphone & Andriod devices that creates a short animated clip from up to 30 still pictures. The user decides how many of the 30 still pictures to include in the animated clip and edits the photo by selecting the appropriate filter and frame, adding text, cropping, and/or rotating the clip before publishing it to his gallery. The user also has the choice to designate a GIF to an appropriate channel to display on the front page. The channels are currently as follows LOL, PhotoBooth, Paranormal, Celebs, Artistic and Sport with the expectation that the creators will expand the channels in a future edition. This functionality allows the user to share GIFs with other users and to filter the GIFs to watch a clip that is categorized to the user's interest.
Is GIF the new Instagram?
The social capabilities, as well as the editing capabilities listed above, resemble those of the similar picture sharing site, Instagram. The user's followers can view, like, and comment on posted GIFs, which are temporarily posted to the follower's feed and stored in the user's gallery, which allows the user to save older GIFs overtime. The most popular GIFs are even featured on the front page so that all GIF subscribers can view the cream of the crop. The user can also choose to upload a GIF to other social media channels such as Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr or to send via email or text message to share GIFs across multiple social platforms and gain followers. While GIF social capabilities and User Interface design mirror those of Instagram, the question remains if GIF will compete with or complement Instagram. Pictures are still the most popular method to capture significant moments and memorable experiences, but with the internet age, the increasing popularity of YouTube, and the decreasing cost of shooting videos due to smart phones, short animated clips and videos could replace photos in the future. We do not see the world as a still image. Instead, our eyes act more like a video camera, recording every movement.
Not quite there yet…
The newest version of the application released fixed a couple issues, such as the inability to open the app and to view past messages, but the app is not bug free quite yet. According to some users, the application continues to shutdown when attempting to message other users and/or stops working randomly. While the application may need a couple more iterations of versions before it operates error-free, the users still awarded 4.5 stars to the current version through 164 reviews, urging other potential users to sign up and start shooting clips.
Buy Rating?
Even though it's true that the developers need to fix some bugs that exist in the current version of the application, this application deserves a demo at the very least. Why not? It is free.


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OBETZ, Ohio – Federico Higuaín made an immediate impact when he played the second half in his Columbus Crew debut Sunday at Houston. On Wednesday night, he may get a chance to show what he can do in a longer stint.
Columbus head coach Robert Warzycha hinted his Designated Player, who arrived from Argentina only seven days ago, could start against Toronto FC at Crew Stadium for the midweek clash (7:30 pm; MLS Live).
"His legs are little bit heavy, but he did well in his first 45 minutes," Warzycha told MLSsoccer.com on Tuesday. "We're trying to keep him on the field as long as we can."
Higuaín's pinpoint pass set up Eddie Gaven for the go-ahead goal before a late equalizer by Adam Moffat left the Crew (8-8-6) with a 2-2 draw. Higuaín combined well with forward Jairo Arrieta and also barely missed with a curling, 25-yard free kick as full time neared.
"This guy came on and within five minutes had a shot on goal, a good change of the point of attack," goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum said. "You can tell he's a great player."
Defender Carlos Mendes said Higuaín will help the Crew on both sides of the ball.
"He can hold the ball for us," he said. "Sometimes we need to control the game a little bit more and possess the ball better. That's the best defense you have because it's tough to defend for 90 minutes."
A Higuaín start would likely send Justin Meram to the bench. Under that scenario, Higuaín would play an attacking center midfield with Gaven and Dilly Duka on the wings.
However, with the Toronto match the Crew's third game in eight days followed by four more over the next two weeks, Warzycha will probably juggle the lineup.
"That would be the smartest thing to do," he said. "The other thing, though, is the guys had a good game [Sunday] so they don't want to be disappointed sitting on the bench."
Another possible move is the return of Milovan Mirosevic after missing the Houston match because of an ankle sprain. He usually sets up behind Arrieta but for the D.C. match on Aug. 4 he teamed with Chris Birchall as the defensive midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
"Absolutely, it's not the best position for him," Warzycha said of Mirosevic's holding role. "He needs to be higher but it's natural for him to go forward so I think he'll be okay."
Going with Mirosevic could mean sending Cole Grossman to the bench after he notched his first career goal against Houston.
Wednesday's match was originally scheduled for Aug. 11, but was postponed so the Crew could attend the funeral that day of rookie midfielder Kirk Urso, who passed away unexpectedly on Aug. 5.
While Columbus and Toronto play for the Trillium Cup and matches get testy at times, Gruenebaum said he and his teammates appreciate the efforts made by the Reds to move the match.
"Their players and coaches and fans were very respectful," he said. "It's a heated rival, but at the end of the day, we're all playing a game and there's obviously more to life."


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(Reuters) - AT&T Inc will boost capital spending by about 16 percent to $22 billion a year for the next three years to upgrade its wireless and wireline networks, the company said on Wednesday.
Its shares fell more than 3 percent after the news.
Rival Verizon Communications Inc is ahead in high-speed mobile services, and AT&T also must improve rural phone lines, comprised of outdated copper technology.
The company said it hopes the investments will boost revenue growth by allowing it to chase new opportunities such as adding wireless connections to cars and home security.
AT&T said upgrading its wireline network was more attractive than carving off the business or divesting parts of the network. Previously, it said it was considering selling some rural phone lines.
"This gives us the opportunity to improve our top-line growth and change our cost structure," Chief Executive Randall Stephenson told analysts at an AT&T event in New York.
Investors worried about the spending hike from AT&T's 2012 capital budget for $19 billion to $20 billion, although the company vowed to come in at the low end of the range this year.
"It's a big number and it's not just for one year," Hudson Square Research analyst Todd Rethemeier said.
Verizon Communications has sold off many hard-to-reach rural phone lines. AT&T was forced into the upgrade option because it could not find a buyer, Rethemeier said.
"They're doing it because they really have to do it," said New Street Research analyst Jonathan Chaplin, adding that "the pay-off is unclear."
AT&T said the investment would lead to revenue growth 100 basis points above the U.S. gross domestic product, supporting earnings per share growth in the mid-single-digit percentage range for the next three years.
But Chaplin was unimpressed with the growth targets.
"It looks like a giant boost of spending for the results we thought (they'd produce) all along," he said.
AT&T shares were down $1.18 or 3 percent at $33.62 on the New York Stock Exchange after the news. The S&P 500 stock index was down 2 percent.
The three-year spending plan includes a budget of $8 billion for expanding the wireless network and $6 billion for upgrading the wireline network, the company said.
It said this will boost capital expenses to the high end of its target for spending in the mid-teen percentage range of revenue for the next two years, with spending returning to normal levels in 2015.
Executives said AT&T's business customers are nervous about spending due to the weak economy and the looming U.S. "fiscal cliff" under which the White House and lawmakers have two months to agree on a plan to shrink the federal budget.
Failure to meet the self-imposed deadline will trigger $600 billion in spending cuts and higher taxes beginning in January.
A day after President Barack Obama was re-elected, AT&T CEO Stephenson said he hopes the government will focus on resolving the fiscal cliff. He told analysts the uncertainty is creating "a real throttle on this country's growth now."
Stephenson told Reuters he hoped Obama's re-election "will be a positive and get us going forward on this fiscal cliff."
AT&T plans to tap debt markets to take advantage of historically low interest rates. It expects its ratio of net debt to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization to rise to about 1.8 over the next two years from 1.42 at the end of the third quarter.
Chaplin said he expects AT&T will partially offset steeper spending by using additional financing to buy back shares.
The company also said it would raise its quarterly dividend to 45 cents per share from 44 cents.
AT&T said it would upgrade its wireline network with fiber to reach another 1 million business customers and provide high-speed Internet service to 75 percent of wireline customer locations. It will expand its U-verse services, which include high-speed Internet and television, by a third to cover 43 percent of its network by the end of 2015.
The wireline upgrade plans should benefit AT&T's main equipment vendor Alcatel-Lucent, and to a lesser extent Juniper Networks Inc, Cisco Systems Inc, Adtran Inc and Ciena Corp, Morgan Stanley analyst Ehud Gelblum said in a research note.
AT&T also plans to expand its high-speed wireless network based on the Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard to cover 300 million people, or most of the country, by the end of 2014. Its previously planned coverage of 250 million people by the end of 2013.
Bigger rival Verizon Wireless, a venture of Verizon and Vodafone Group Plc, says it will have upgraded its entire network with LTE by the end of 2013.
Ralph de la Vega, the head of AT&T's wireless business, said the company's upgrade plan calls for much deeper coverage than its bigger rival. "We might be more conservative in what we call ready than the other guy," he told Reuters. "If we can do it sooner we will but we're not going to compromise coverage."
The wireless upgrade should benefit Ericsson and Alcatel Lucent, according to Gelblum.
Chipmakers selling components used in telecom infrastructure, including Xilinx, Altera, Texas Instruments, Analog Devices, Freescale, Broadcom and Cavium, also stand to gain from AT&T's increased spending, analysts said.
AT&T plans to expand beyond cellphones by offering a wireless home security services next year. It also has deals with automakers for its connected-car initiative, according to de la Vega who declined to provide details.
De la Vega said AT&T aims for these businesses to become $1 billion annual revenue opportunities in two to five years.
Stephenson said AT&T could make small "tuck-in" acquisitions in these new market segments.
Reporting by Sinead Carew in New York. Additional reporting by Noel Randewich in San Francisco. Editing by Gerald E. McCormick, James Dalgleish and Matthew Lewis


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- Captain Robert Patton was born in 1748 in Pennsylvania.
- Major George Wilfong died in 1818 in Catawba County, North Carolina (my 6th great-grandfather).
- Sarah Jane (Unknown) Tucker died in 1930.
- William Fletcher Mathis died in 1948.
Family History and Genealogy
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Hi, I am Tonia Kendrick. Genealogy is my hobby, my passion (those who say obsession would not be accused of crazy-talk). While I had helped my mom with genealogy as a teenager, I first caught the bug myself when computers came into the picture.
Now we are well into the 21st-century and every day brings a new genealogy adventure, whether it is a new record group to explore online or a visit to a cemetery, courthouse, or other repository. It all comes together here. Read more about Tonia's Roots or contact Tonia. Read More…


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Roxy Ostrem, chair of the board of directors at Ventura County Credit Union, will never forget a pivotal moment during childhood that launched her lifetime connection with the credit union industry.
"I was in need of glasses, but my parents had divorced and my mother could not afford them," recalled Ostrem, who joined the board at the $654 million cooperative in Ventura, Calif. in 2000.
"My mother worked for the County of Ventura and she tried to get a bank loan, but because she was a single mom and did not make much, they turned her down," she explained. "Fortunately, someone told her about the newly-founded Ventura County Credit Union and suggested she go there."
Not only did her mother get the loan, she also regained her dignity, Ostrem added.
"The folks at the credit union made her feel like a human, a woman who now can help her daughter get what was needed," she said.
Ostrem's mother, the late Patti Shobe, served on VCCU's board for over 30 years, including two terms as chair.
One big difference between VCCU and most Fortune 500 boards is that the credit union has a high level of gender diversity, Ostrem added.
"Women have always made up at least half of our board," she explained.
That's a rarity, according to recent studies. Last year at Fortune 500 companies, women held only 16.9% of board seats, and 10% of companies had no women serving on boards, according to the 2013 Catalyst Census.
"Shareholders beware: a company with no women at the top is missing one of the biggest opportunities in the marketplace today," Ilene Lang, CEO/president of Catalyst, a New York-based nonprofit founded in 1962 to expand opportunities for women and business, stated in a press release announcing the census results.
Recent studies have indicated that companies with female board members and/or senior managers typically experience greater return on sales, equity and invested capital.
Plus, experts say, women provide a different perspective in the boardroom, which can provide a more balanced approach to strategic planning, governance and risk management.
"Diverse business leadership and governance are correlated with stronger business performance, employee engagement and innovation," Lang said.
Since women in the U.S. are responsible for 80% of decisions related to consumer purchases, female board members can help drive development of new products and services, according to 2020 Women on Boards, a national campaign to increase the percentage of women on U.S. company boards to 20% or more within the next six years.
Read more: Credit union groups press for more board diversity …
Within the credit union industry, efforts are underway to increase board diversity.
"Boards are most effective when attuned to the needs and goals of all their members and when they reflect the full range of experiences and perspectives of those members," said NCUA Chairman Debbie Matz.
"I strongly encourage greater diversity—including women, minorities, and other under-represented groups," Matz continued. "Increasing diversity will promote smarter business practices, expand the pool of future leaders, build a more effective workplace, and inspire greater confidence among members."
At Ventura County CU, having a diverse board has provided many benefits, Ostrem said.
"If a board can be made up of both men and women, you get a good balance of emotion, different perspectives and practicality," she added.
Female board members can serve as a catalyst to advance the credit union philosophy and create positive social change, experts say.
"I passionately believe the difference women make as leaders and in the boardroom will change society, poverty levels for women and for children in the U.S., which makes this a critical mandate," said Susan Mitchell, CEO of Mitchell, Stankovic and Associates of Boulder City, Nev.
Mitchell, who was named as one of Credit Union Times' Women to Watch 2012 Industry Supporters, serves as chair of the World Council of Credit Unions' Global Women's Leadership Network, which has launched a strategic initiative to encourage gender diversity.
"Leadership within the credit union industry is transitioning and women now represent a significant influence as board members and CEOs of credit unions, CUSOs, leagues and other organizations," Mitchell explained. "However, as the transition of retirements continue, will there be enough women in the pool of candidates? Will traditional networking efforts be enough?"
Mitchell contends it is vital for credit unions and affiliated groups to entice more women to serve as volunteers in leadership roles.
"This serious issue must be addressed to improve credit union success and build for the future of the industry," she said. "Having an initiative to recruit women to the board will create a more dynamic volunteer group within the credit union and within the industry."
Providing women with forums for networking and brainstorming are two ways the credit union industry is spearheading change, she said.
Through collaboration, many female board members are learning innovative ways to serve existing members and reach new ones. For example, Ostrem encouraged VCCU to pilot a mobile banking outreach program that utilizes handheld technology to bring credit union services to agricultural laborers working in the fields at Boskovich Farms, a large California food producer.
Ostrem, who is the food safety compliance manager at Boskovich Farms, suggested implementing the program after attending an engagement program for members of WOCCU's Global Women's Leadership Network, where she heard about the success of a similar program in Mexico.
Read more: Financial institution boards lag in diversity …
Despite increased diversity on many boards, some financial institutions have a long way to go, according to Mitchell and other advocates of gender diversity.
"Women have an insignificant presence at the executive level in corporations in all industries, but this phenomenon is more pronounced in financial institutions," said Teresa Freeborn, president/CEO of the $810 million Xceed Financial Credit Union in El Segundo, Calif.
Freeborn is chair of the California Credit Union League's board of directors, immediate past board chair of CUES and an inaugural member of WOCCU's Global Women's Leadership Network.
At Xceed, the board includes five women and four men, while the executive staff includes four women and one man, said Freeborn, who was named one of Credit Union Times' Women to Watch in 2011.
Many factors contribute to the lack of gender diversity among credit union boards, Freeborn said, including:
- Lack of requisite corporate experience for many women.
- Low number of successful female role models.
- Inadequate mentoring and networking opportunities.
- Discrimination (or unconscious bias) against women.
- Stereotype and pre-conceptions regarding women's roles and positions.
- Gender behavior traits, whereby women tend to undervalue their own skills, experience, and achievements.
- Corporation selection criteria.
- Failure of senior leadership to assume accountability for women advancement and board diversity (understanding the business and morale rationale for gender diversity as it relates to corporate performance and moral significance within the broader society.)
- Lack of flexible work practices to assist with the juggling of work and personal life, particularly child rearing (time of meetings, travel requirements, etc.)
Fortunately, there are many possible solutions for enhancing gender diversity in the boardroom. Freeborn offers these suggestions:
- Improve recruitment and promotion processes and criteria to increase the number of women firstly at the executive level – and then encouraging credit unions to proffer individuals from their own managerial ranks to industry boards.
- Enhance mentoring and networking opportunities.
- Make room for women directors by expanding the size of the board and/or establishing mechanisms to increase director turnover (terms limits and performance assessments.)
- Involve diverse directors in the board search process, expand the criteria to ascertain qualified board members, and establish a desired composition of a slate of nominees for consideration.
- Raise awareness and education around the subject of unconscious bias and its detrimental effects.
- Promoting flexible work practices (remote attendance at committee and board meetings, reducing the number of days for annual planning conferences, avoiding weekend meetings.)
"Our industry is comprised of many amazingly competent women just waiting to be called into action," Freeborn concluded. "Most of the time, boards are just not aware of the issue. Once the education takes place (especially the part about why it makes such good business and moral sense to reflect gender balance at the board table), the willingness to 'fix' the inequality is enthusiastic."


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Fry, Leela and Bender are off on another starry-eyed adventure, when they make a delivery to New New New England, a planet very much like Victorian England where they find themselves in the midst of a mystery that needs solving and a serial deleter, Jak the Ripper, who is erasing the memories of unsuspecting robots. Also, feeling a little left out Amy, Hermes, and Zoidberg go on an earthbound adventure of their own with less than stellar results.
by Boothby, Kazaleh, Pepoy


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Charla thinks the car is going to run her down. "I don't want to die"
mswood you aren't watching live with us??--I am SO sorry--that sucks!Sprint music==kiss of death!
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text: REV 3.0 - New H61 B3 RevisionGet better graphics performance with iGPU Boost on the H61 platform GPU Boost – Instant IGPU Level Up! Extra USB 3.0 Connector - Double USB Access, Double Convenience True SATA 6Gb/s Support - fully unleash performance UEFI BIOS - EZ Mode - Flexible & Easy BIOS Interface AI Suite II - One-stop Access to Innovative ASUS Features MemOK! - Any Memory is A-OK! Learn more about the new B3 revision and previous version Shop Modal header LGA1155 socket for Intel® Second Generation Core™ i7/ Core™ i5/ Core™ i3 Processors This motherboard supports the Intel® second generation Core™ i7 / Core™ i5 / Core™ i3 processors in LGA1155 package with memory and PCI Express controllers integrated to support 2-channel (4 DIMMs) DDR3 memory and 16 PCI Express 2.0 lanes. This provides great graphics performance. Intel® second generation Core™ i7 / Core™ i5 / Core™ i3 processors are among the most powerful and energy efficient CPUs in the world. Intel® H61(B3) Express Chipset The Intel® H61(B3) Express Chipset is the latest single-chipset design to support the new 1155 socket Intel® Core™ i7 / Core™ i5 / Core™ i3 second generation processors. It uses serial point-to-point links, which allows increased bandwidth and stability, and provides an improved performance. EPU System Level Energy SavingThe ASUS EPU (Energy Processing Unit) provides total system power management by detecting current PC loadings and intelligently moderating power usage for critical PC components in real-time–helping save power and money! AI Suite II With its fast user-friendly interface, ASUS AI Suite II consolidates all the exclusive ASUS features into one simple to use software package. It allows you to supervise overclocking, energy management, fan speed control, voltage and sensor readings. This all-in-one software offers diverse and ease to use functions, with no need to switch back and forth between different utilities. ASUS UEFI BIOS (EZ Mode) Exclusive to ASUS motherboards, its UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) is the first ever mouse-controlled graphical BIOS interface designed with dual selectable modes. It delivers a user-friendly interface that goes beyond traditional keyboard-only BIOS controls to enable more flexible and convenient input with quick scrolling. Users can easily navigate the UEFI BIOS with the smoothness of their operating system. Quick and simple overclocking and setup sharing is facilitated by the F12 hotkey BIOS snapshot feature. The exclusive EZ Mode displays frequently-accessed setup info, while the Advanced Mode is for experienced performance enthusiasts that demand far more intricate system control, including detailed DRAM information. Supports Hard Drives over 2.2TBASUS UEFI BIOS natively supports hard drives larger than 2.2TB in 64-bit, with full storage space utilization helping deliver far more exciting computing than traditional BIOS versions. Exclusive ASUS Interface • EZ Mode - gives easy access to selectable, optimized system modes, clear system info display and drag and drop boot prioritizing• Advanced Mode - for experienced performance enthusiasts that demand intricate system settings TurboV Easy, Real-Time O.C. TuningsFeel the adrenaline rush of real-time OC-now a reality with the ASUS TurboV. This easy OC tool allows you to overclock without exiting or rebooting the OS; and its user-friendly interface makes overclock with just a few clicks away. Moreover, the ASUS OC profiles in TurboV provides the best O.C. settings in different scenarios. MemOK! Any Memory is A-OK!MemOK! quickly ensures memory boot compatibility. This remarkable memory rescue tool requires a mere push of the button to patch memory issues. MemOK! determines failsafe settings and dramatically improves your system boot success. Get your system up and running in no time. GPU Boost Instant iGPU Level Up!GPU Boost overclocks the integrated GPU in real time for the best graphics performance. User-friendly UI facilitates flexible frequency and voltage adjustments. Its ability to deliver multiple overclocking profiles also provides rapid and stable system-level upgrades. Extra USB 3.0 Connector Double USB Access, Double ConvenienceASUS facilitates strategic USB 3.0 accessibility for both the Onboard and Back panel – 4 x USB 3.0 ports in total. Experience the latest plug & play connectivity at speeds up to 10 times faster than USB 2.0. The P8H61-M EVO affords greater convenience to high speed connectivity. SATA 6Gb/s ASUS provides extra SATA 6.0Gb/s ports with enhanced scalability, faster data retrieval, and double the bandwidth of current bus systems. Anti-Surge Protection Protect Your Device Anti-Surge Protection Design detects overvoltage conditions and prevents voltage surges from spreading in real time. It also actively cuts off the overvoltage supply to protect the system.1. Real-time over voltage detection.2. Active protection against potential damage to your motherboards and systems. 100% All High-quality Conductive Polymer Capacitors This motherboard uses all high-quality conductive polymer capacitors onboard for durability, improved lifespan, and enhanced thermal capacity. Fan Xpert ASUS Fan Xpert intelligently allows you to adjust the CPU and chassis fan speeds according to different ambient temperatures caused by different climate conditions in different geographic regions and your PC's loading. The built-in variety of useful profiles offer flexible controls of fan speed to achieve a quiet and cool environment. C.P.R. The BIOS C.P.R. feature automatically restores the CPU default settings when the system hangs due to overclocking failure. C.P.R. eliminates the need to open the system chassis and clear the RTC data. Simply shut down and reboot the system, and the BIOS automatically restores the CPU parameters to their default settings. GreenASUS The motherboard and its packaging comply with the European Union´s Restriction on the use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS). This is in line with the ASUS vision of creating environment-friendly and recyclable products and packaging to safeguard consumers´ health while minimizing the impact on the environment.


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We've had a terrific response to this past weekend's article (read it ) in the Palm Beach Daily News, and one thing that intrigued us is how many people wanted to know more about our design space. So we're happy to take ourselves out of the picture — quite literally, see above top — and look at our desk.
Let it be said that sitting at your desk generally gets a bad rap. Anais Nin proudly declared, "My ideas usually come not at my desk writing but in the midst of living", while John LeCarré warned, "A desk is a dangerous place from which to watch the world."
Which is all well and good if you can gallivant around 30's Paris, or need to stalk the Cold War stage, but if like the rest of us you have to earn a living, you tend to be hunkered down at a desk. So we counter Ms Nin and Mr LeCarré with our favorite French proverb: Appetite comes with eating.
Day after day we sit ourselves down and design, and it's only then that the ideas start to flow. Fortunately, our desk is a place we love to be. It at once reminds us of where we are, and where we've been.
Our desk itself, with its raffia and bamboo effect, anchors us here in Palm Beach's golden light. The cane chair and lamp also speak to the good luck of our tropical locale. In front of us we often range a collection of mementos. Here we have our white porcelain dachshund, a small Fornasetti dish and a brass puppy — each one sourced from a different trip, these memories keep us happy company.
Perhaps this is our guide to a good work space. If you need to be at your desk anyway, populate it with fine things that you truly love — why not dump that old plastic pencil pot for a silver beaker? — and maybe you won't always feel the need to escape it.


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Possible to import camera tracking data?
Is it possible to import camera tracking data (point cloud) into DAZ 3D?
Thanks in advance
You'd presumably have to write a script to read the points and assign them to keyframes. What format is your camera point cloud in?
Hi redave. thanks for the reply. sorry about my very delayed response. I did not seem to get an email telling me that someone had responded to my question. stumbled across this thread again today. I am not technical at all. I have no idea how to write a script. I am not a programmer and do not want to be. I use another 3d program which allows me to in a very non technical way import camera tracking data and attach a camera to it without any scripting at all. is daz 3d not able to do this as a standard point and click feature?
There are people who are interested in doing scripts for free (and for-pay as well), so that might be a surmountable problem eventually. What is important is to have enough information on the file format. Can you tell us what is the extension of those files, and what program you use?
ok. my workflow is i create the motion tracking data in a 3d camera tracking program called voocat and it is able to export the camera tracking data in the following formats:
Maya, XSI, 3D Studio Max, LightWave, Blender, Cinema 4D via Lightwave, Collada, Houdini CameraClip, Houdini Script, Softimage 3D XSI und text file
i want to be able to import the camera tracking data into daz so that the virtual camera in daz mimics the tracked footage done in voocat.
I already know how to do this in vue infinite except that i do not want to use vue infinite to render anything.i want to use daz.
wancow Posts: 2,708
You might be able to do it via the FBX export... but that means you'd have to set up your camera track in DS then take it to whatever you're using... and that assumes it's possible. I render in DS, that's where the people live, so that's where I render.
Are you using a particular render engine, like Reality/LuxRender or Octane or something like that? You're best option, IMHO will be to have your render engine be consistent, that way your final product will be consistent.Post edited by wancow on
niccipb Posts: 483
Casual wrote a script that will import camera tracking information from both VooDoo and VooCat into DS 1,2,3 & 4, though I don't know if it works in 4.5...
You can find it on his site here -> https://sites.google.com/site/mcasualsdazscripts/mcjvoodoodaz-for-ds1-2-3-4
He posts freebies regularly in the General Freepository...
Hope this helps... :)
Go, Casual!!!!!
c_parad_4533bf4ef1 Posts: 1
I did. But FBX import only the initial position camera whitout animation. I would import matchmoving camera data from Boujou or PF track or Syntheyes...Post edited by c_parad_4533bf4ef1 on


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I just got a new theme and am trying to regenerate thumbnails. I'm having trouble though. I tried using the AJAX Thumbnail Rebuilder but for 5 hours it just said reading attachments. Then I tried the normal rebuilder but the vast majority of images came back as undefined.
Any ideas?


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Effiective (5/15/2020) Stetson, Resistol & Charlie 1 Horse have re-opened with only a skeleton crew. They have been closed since Mid-March so they have a huge back log of orders to go through. All orders are being processed now but there is a extended time line on hats.
Hello to everyone, we have important news that will be changing on a almost daily bases. (May 5th) We are open on shorten hours, we are Mon - Sat : 12pm-5pm.
You can use the "contact us" for email or email@example.com; also look to our Facebook page for updates
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Beast Mode wrote:Dez missing that game double fucked me. 1 by not getting me any points, 2 by causing all balls to be thrown to Austin (on 8th's team).
the silver lining here is that Austin got injured so now when Bryant returns he'll get all the targets. Also, LGB got going ... 0-2 isn't hard to turn around.
You gotta check your lineups just b4 kickoff bro.
a Wise fantasy owner has a west coast replacement ready to replace Dez Bryant.


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LONDON, July 31 (UPI) -- A British researcher whose team cloned Dolly the sheep, the world's first cloned mammal, says the technology could clone an extinct woolly mammoth.
While a mammoth is unlikely to be cloned in exactly the same way as the sheep, Ian Wilmut said, modern technology could convert tissue cells from frozen mammoth carcasses into stem cells.
"While unlikely at present, the development of some form of mammoth creature or hybrid might be possible in the longer term, the research of which could lead to major biological discoveries and advances," he said on The Conversation, an academic website.
Mammoths lived in the late Pleistocene, tens of thousands of years ago, before going extinct due to hunting and environmental change.
Cells harvested from frozen woolly mammoth carcasses might one day help resurrect the ancient animals, Wilmut said.
"I've always been very skeptical about the whole idea, but it dawned on me that if you could clear the first hurdle of getting viable cells from mammoths, you might be able to do something useful and interesting," he told The Guardian newspaper.
"I think it should be done as long as we can provide great care for the animal.
"If there are reasonable prospects of them being healthy, we should do it. We can learn a lot about them," he said.


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Angelina Jolie isn't the only actor who's got the U.N. wrapped around her finger -- her "Gone in Sixty Seconds" co-star Nicolas Cage is joining the party, too.
Cage was honored Friday night by the United Nations for his humanitarian efforts and donations, the Associated Press reported, earning an award from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the title of Goodwill Ambassador.
Cage won the U.N. Correspondents Association's Global Citizen of the Year award for his charity work, particularly for his work with Amnesty International and a $2 million fund he established to help former child soldiers that was tied to his film "Lord of War."
U.S. & World
The actor said the role as Goodwill Ambassador for the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime will help him "shine a spotlight on the need for global justice."
Despite his benevolence, Cage is currently facing bankruptcy and has lost two homes to foreclosure due to what sources have called "epic spending" sprees on "costly vacations" and luxuries.


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Apple season is officially here! The taste of crisp, juicy apples is the definition of fall, at least to me -- along with the feel of soft sweaters and the sound of leaves crunching under my feet. Autumn means going on hayrides and picking apples to bring home and bake up warm, delicious desserts that make the entire house smell absolutely divine.
Which is why I'm a huge fan of apple crisp. It's the same idea as apple pie, but so much better. Not only is it a million times easier to make because there's no rolling of dough involved, it's a million times more flavorful -- especially this Autumn Apple Crisp from DashRecipes.com, thanks to the addition of crunchy pecans, tangy dried cranberries, and maple syrup. Mmmm.
Autumn Apple Crisp
3/4 cup plus 1/2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1 tsp cinnamon
1 stick cold butter, in chunks
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
2 1/2 lbs. apples, peeled
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup maple syrup
1. For the topping, put 3/4 cup flour, sugar, oats, cinnamon, and butter in a food processor and pulse to form moist clusters. Mix in pecans.
2. Cut the apples into 1/2-inch chunks and put them in a buttered 9 1/2-inch, 2-quart pie pan. Add cranberries, maple syrup, and 1/2 Tbsp flour; mix. Scatter on topping. Place pan on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
3. Bake at 375ºF for 40 to 50 minutes. Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled.
Image via DashRecipes.com


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General technical information
Designing sealing and guide systems in hydraulic cylinders requires careful attention to the interaction between all cylinder components and the operating conditions as well as the application requirements. Sealing systems are important because they keep the fluid media and the system operating pressure in and contaminants out of the cylinder. Guide rings provide effective guidance of components that are in relative motion to each other and accommodate radial loads acting on the cylinder assembly. The selection of the right seal and guide for a given application requires consideration of many factors. Therefore, SKF manufactures and sells hydraulic seals and guides in many different profiles, materials and in a wide range of series and sizes, which make them appropriate for a wide variety of operating conditions and applications. Each of these designs and material combinations has specific properties, making them suitable for a particular application.
This section and its sub-sections provide the necessary basic information. It starts with an overview over hydraulic cylinder types and classification, and an introduction to seal and guides with their functions. Furthermore, technical information such as seal counter-surface finish properties, materials, fluid media and gap extrusion are discussed in detail. Product storage and installation is included as well. The seal type sections provide type and profile specific information and characteristics are discussed in detail too.
Obviously, it is impossible to include all the information needed to cover every conceivable application. If application requirements are not served by the common profiles or sizes in these sections, contact SKF for additional information and for providing a specific offer. For any application factors outside of the ordinary, or to specify sealing systems in new hydraulic cylinder designs, a certain amount of expertise, beyond the content of this section, may be required. The hydraulic seal experts at SKF can assist in selecting the right sealing system for new cylinder designs.


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2004 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum Edition - Driving Impression
Livin' Large In A Phat Ride
Livin' the opulent, high-profile life of an affluent musician or professional athlete isn't normally part of our world. This is partly due to our shocking absence of wealth. It may also have something to do with the fact that we blow chunks at most sports and we can't sing worth a crap. Nevertheless, we recently got to experience what it's like on the other side of the bottle of Cristal when our peeps in the 313 hooked us up with a dope '04 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum Edition. As you can tell, it went straight to our empty heads.
Dissing the all-wheel-drive Escalade has historically been one of our favorite ways to pass time. We've always considered this whip to be wack, due to its lack of off-road skills. After shackin' with the 'Slade for a couple of weeks though, it's clear we've been bojanglin' because this ride is bumpin'.
There are three Escalade models. The Escalade ESV is Suburban-based. The Escalade EXT is Avalanche-based, and the Escalade is Tahoe-based. No matter which one you throw down a wad of dead presidents for, however, each comes with a tight collection of luxury standard equipment. Without a doubt, though, the ESV Platinum Edition is the pimp daddy of them all. When this new-for-'04 model rolls off the end of the Silao, Mexico, assembly line, it's dressed to impress with every conceivable toy a playa needs, and even a few things a playa don't. The Platinum package effectively sets the exterior of the 'Slade apart from a standard ESV with a lower ride height, chrome dubs, P275/55R20 tires, chrome grille, and class envy-provoking Platinum lettering on the liftgate. Like the standard ESV, the interior of the Platinum Edition offers a fly collection of lavish perks, including a nine-speaker Bose premium audio system, XM satellite radio, DVD-based navigation system, dual 7-inch video screens and two pair of wireless headphones. The Platinum Edition bumps the interior luxury level up a notch over the standard ESV with a righteous bunch of walnut burlwood accents; a kickin' ebony and shale dash; and for your ba-donka-donk, there's totally bumpin' shale leather seating surfaces.
We fired up the 345hp 'Slade and bounced out of the 815 to the 920, an artsy-fartsy area in Wisconsin that's home to some loco Malibu-like real estate prices. During the summer, the quaint peninsula is crawling with playas driving luxury nameplates like Lexus, Range Rover, and Infiniti. When we slid into the areous of our resort, we caught the attention of a well-to-do type unloading perfectly matched leather luggage from his Lincoln Navigator. He freaked us out when he struck up a conversation with us. We're used to the fine wine crowd just looking at us like we're buggin' when we show up in our locked, lifted, winch-laden, dirty F-150 on 35s. At first we thought he was a playa hata, but he seemed truly interested in the massive Cadillac with its huge jeweled wreath and crest emblem prominently adhesived onto the 'Slades liftgate. Since we obviously had his attention with our totally bumpin' ride-as well as our groovy dollar-sign necklace and faux gold #1 pendant-we schooled him on what makes the Platinum 'Slade da bomb. We left him speechless by offering up the lowdown on the 'Slades 730 specs-including the off-the-hook heated and cooled cupholders and the righteous heated and cooled leather seats.
Shizzle, at the end of our two-week vacation from reality, we had to give the Escalade back to the boyz at Cadillac. We came away from our experience with a Cristal clear observation: If you're a playa who has 700 Benjamins to spend on a set of wheels, you can't go wrong with the Escalade ESV Platinum Edition. This eight-passenger, attitude-oozing, super-luxo ride is arguably the hippest way to say to all the other wanna-be playas that you've "made it." This vehicle will help you represent without looking like an uptight executive.
Vehicle model: '04 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum Edition
Base price: $69,305
Price as tested: $70,155 ($850 destination charge)
Options as tested: None
Type: OHV V-8
Displacement (liter/ci): 6.0/364
Bore x stroke (in.): 4.00 x 3.62
Valve actuation: Pushrod
Compression ratio: 10.0:1
Intake: Sequential CPFI
Mfg's power rating @ rpm (hp): 345 @ 5,200
Mfg's torque rating @ rpm (lb-ft): 380 @ 4,000
Mfg's suggested fuel type: Premium unleaded
Transmission: 4L65-E automatic
Ratios (:1)
First 3.06
Second 1.63
Third 1.00
Fourth 0.70
Reverse 2.29
Axle ratio: 3.73
Transfer case: Single-speed open differential
Low-range ratio: N/A
Crawl ratio: 11.41
Frame : Welded, fully boxed ladder type with hydroformed front and rear sections
Body: Steel
Front: Independent SLA with torsion bars, Road Sensing Suspension, 32mm stabilizer bar, monotube shocks
Rear: Five-link with coil springs, automatic air-leveling system, RSS, 30mm stabilizer bar, monotube shocks
Type: Power recirculating ball
Turns (lock-to-lock): 3
Ratio: 14:1
Front: Disc, 12.01-inch rotors, dual-piston calipers
Rear: Disc, 13-inch rotors, dual-piston calipers
Wheels (in.): 20
Tires: P275/55R20
EPA city/highway: 12/16
Actual combined, city/highway/trail: 15.5
Weight (lb.): 5,820
Wheelbase (in.): 130
Overall length (in.): 221.4
Overall width (in.): 78.9
Height (in.): 75.7
Track f/r (in.): 65/66
Minimum ground clearance (in.): N/A
Turning diameter, curb-to-curb (ft.): 43.08
Approach/departure angles (deg.): N/A
GVWR (lb.): 7,200
Payload (lb.): 1,380
Maximum towing capacity (lb.): 7,700
Seating: 8
Fuel capacity (gal.): 31
Claimed interior volume (sq.-ft.): 131.6
313-Detroit telephone area code
815-Four Wheeler Midwest Bureau telephone area code
920-Door County, Wisconsin telephone area code
Ba-donka-donk-Nice looking butt
Benjamins-$100 bills
Bounced-To leave
Buggin'-Acting in a manner which is not socially acceptable
Bumpin'-To ones liking
Cristal-Roerderer Cristal champagne
Dead presidents-Cash
Dissing-Showing disrespect
Dubs-20-inch-diameter wheels
Off the hook-Unbelievable, outrageous, and so on
Playa-Someone who's really in
Shackin'-Living with
Wack-Not to one's liking
Hip-hop slang is saturating the English language. As a matter of fact, there are entire books written on the topic. Heck, a few companies even offer flash cards! Hip-hop slang can be single words that relate to everything from brand names to specific physical actions. They can also contain alternative pronunciation and spelling of normal words as well as phrases. Further, there are different genres of hip-hop including East Coast, West Coast, South, Old School, and Gangsta. Hip-hop terminology is constantly evolving, so if you want to get your verbal game on, visit a Web site like www.urbandictionary.com or www.wordiq.com.