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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23380 | Personalities punk'd by fake guy-guy dance craze
BY admin
March 27 2004 1:00 AM ET
This time the joke was on the jokesters. According to the New York Post's Page Six, Jay Leno and Ryan Seacrest headed up the horde of "clueless commentators" who chattered on air about "gancing"--the guy-on-guy dancing trend that's supposedly sweeping the clubs. But it turns out that "gancing" was a hoax cooked up by an editor at Stuff magazine. After the monthly ran a two-page spread in its April issue, with pictures of straight guys engaging in choreographed dance moves like "The Lumberjack" and "The Diana Ross," the term "gancing" was picked up by on-air personalities everywhere.
"It's so blatantly false," says Stuff features editor Bill Schulze. "I thought it would be a funny way to kill two pages. But I did about 10 morning zoo radio interviews the week after it came out. Every single one of them bought it." After he was let in on the April Fool's joke, Crobar co-owner Cal Fortis agreed to be quoted in Schulze's story, saying, "People go nuts for it. It adds to the party." Says Schulze: "Aside from the over-all absurdity of the story, we assumed that would be a hint. But I guess not." Funniest of all, for gay pop-culture absurdity aficionados--while Jay Leno only mocked gancing in a recent monologue, Ryan Seacrest confessed to his radio listeners that he had done it. |
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October 17, 2012
In this session, Eileen Loustau, Director, Digital and Social Media Marketign, U.S. iShares, BlackRock and Joseph Adams, Social Media Coordinator, U.S. iShares, BlackRock discussed how they developed and leverage their digital dashboards to manage campaigns and build their business.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23437 | Sakezan Continent
Sakezan Continent is a anime/manga location
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23449 | Quote Originally Posted by clayne View Post
I'm talking about these type of compact rangefinders:
Olympus 35 RC
Olympus 35 SP
Minolta Hi-matic 7sII
Konica C35
Canonet QL17
etc. are all extremely similar in usage, size, and focal length. They almost all offer shutter priority as their "auto" mode but are easily used manually by just not switching to "auto."
The C35 has no manual exposure mode. On the others, like the Hi-Matic and the QL-17, manual exposure mode is un-metered. The biggest problem with all of these is finding a working version where the battery wire was not eaten by corrosion or meter mechanics not gummy from disuse. These bodies also tended to use extensive foam in the back seals which are a PITA to replace. If cleaned, the 35RC viewfinder is amazingly bright. Ricoh had some models that are very similar to the 35RC: the 500G/GX/ME/RF series. These were also sold by Sears as the Sears RF. These are typically quite a bit less expensive than a 35RC but perform similarly. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23450 | if you go to any thrift store you will find a lot of small plastic pt and sht cameras that are one step above disposable cameras, in that they are precisely the same thing only reloadable.
another option for beach use is to go buy your self a nikonos -- they can be had for about $150 or so and are water/sand/salt proof to a depth of 300 feet. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23484 | Interesting Facts about Nathaniel Hawthorne?
There are a few interesting facts about the man Nathaniel Hawthorne. He was friends with a man named Herman Melville. Melville later dedicated Moby Dick to Nathaniel Hawthorne.
1 Additional Answer Answer for: interesting facts about nathaniel hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Born: July 4, 1804
Birthplace: Salem, Massachusetts
Died: May 19, 1864
Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American author whose most well-known work was The Scarlett Letter.
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Hawthorne added the 'w' to his last name out of guilt and
he was the youngest major general. he was Washington's second hand man.
In literature, it is not uncommon for the devil to appear in a form that is familiar to the person he is deceiving. Therefore, Hawthorne having the strange man in the woods look
He is a fascinating author. Important because he and Poe represent the American Romantics - emphasis on nature. His Twice Told Tales is an amazing collection of short stories - that
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The Birth-Mark by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a romantic short story ...
There are many literal devices used in the scarlet letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The common literal device used is symbolism. As a matter of fact, the letter ...
An interesting fact about Poseidon includes the fact that he was considered to be the God of the Sea. He was also considered the God of Horses. ... |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23485 | What Does Husbandry Means?
Husbandry refers to various things namely the act or practice of cultivating crops and breeding and raising livestock which is in agriculture. It can also signify the application of scientific principles to agriculture, especially to animal breeding. Finally, it can refer to the careful management or conservation of resources in the economy.
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Ask.com Answer for: what does husbandry means
the science of raising crops or food animals.
careful or thrifty management; frugality, thrift, or conservation.
the management of domestic affairs or of resources generally.
Source: Dictionary.com
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Animals are allowed to free range and are not contained in any manner.
Husbandry is the practice of cultivating the land or raising stock. It is also know as farming and
husbandry: the practice of cultivating the land or raising stock
husbandry: the practice of cultivating the land or raising stock
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Husbandry is a term that is used in agriculture to mean the production and cultivation of edible crops. It can also refer to the science of raising food animals ...
Agronomy means the science of managing soil. It is a term that is also related to agriculture and husbandry. ...
'In a pickle' is a phrase that means that you are in trouble. The phrase comes from 'Five Hundreth Pointes of Good Husbandrie' by Thomas Tusser in 1573. ... |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23489 | Aging Presidents
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Presidents Aging
The Most Stressful Job: Prematurely Aged Presidents
AskMen Staff
In just eight years as president, George W. Bush went from exuding a lust for life to looking completely weathered by his job. Our current president, Barack Obama, arguably has an even tougher job in front of him, due to the state of the economy. After just two-and-a-half years in office, he already looks like he's taken a beating. Here's how various other men have aged in the presidency.
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Old 10-22-2009 #76
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Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Posts: 13
I guess all the speakers I use are sort of vintage. I still use my DCM Time Windows as surrounds in a 5.1 setup. The mains are Carver AL-IIIs. For bass reinforcement in the family room, I'm using a pair of AR3a speakers powered by a Carver cube. The mids and tweeters went a long time ago by being driven with an underpowered amp for many years, but the woofers survived. In my office I have realistic Minimus 7s powered by another M-400 cube. I also have a 5.1 setup of M&K speakers that are scattered in use around the house (from their previous incarnation, including am MX-125 Mk.II sub). My main sub is a Sunfire True Subwoofer Mk.II.
It should sound like it isn't there
Making life enjoyable though expensive electronics
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23530 | Luke Somerfield accidental drowning: Best friend tried to save him
An inquest has heard how a 14-year-old boy tried to save his best friend from drowning in a disused quarry.
Warren Jachter tried to help Luke Somerfield, also 14, after he got into trouble while swimming in freezing water at Cilyrychen Quarry, Llandybie.
But Luke kept unintentionally dragging his friend under the water so Warren returned to the shore and dialled 999.
Luke, from Llandeilo, became tangled in rope from a lifesaving ring and drowned.
Abigail Neal reports.
Boy tried to save drowning friend
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23537 | Thread: Crabapple wood
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Unread 08-20-2012, 06:59 AM #2
is Blowin Smoke!
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Just did a quick internet search and the few sites I hit on say that it is interchangable with apple wood. That being said, I've never tried it, and the folks here are certainly the experts.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23566 | RICHMOND -- You call a clump of cows a herd, whether they are Jerseys, Herefords or Angus. You call a gathering of fish a school, educated or not, bass or pickerel, perch or whiskered catfish.
It can be quite different with birds. Sure, there's flock. But there's more. Perhaps it's the ability to fly that has gathered them so many unique group names -- a murder of crows, for instance, or a gaggle of geese.
Some of these special names for bird groups date back centuries. Others are more recent, and the practice of such groupings is neatly summarized and expanded in a book called "An Exaltation of Larks" by James Lipton. It was first published in 1968 and has been on our shelves for a long time, a volume of intriguing phrases to delight people who like words.
Lipton, by the way, is not even satisfied with the word herd for a bunch of cows. "A rumination of cows" is one of the inventions in his book, bringing an instant picture of satisfied bovines chewing their cuds after dining.
Birds may have more fun with individual fancy phrases, but Lipton has dug up special designations for all kinds of animals and provides the roots for the names, many of them of French or English origin and corrupted by one country or the other into present day form. And then he has made up new ones and invited others to invent as well.
Birds seem to maintain their place as more specialized than other creatures, however. There's a glister of goldfinches, an exaltation of larks, a swoop of swallows, a chain of bobolinks, a scold of blue jays, a murmuration of starlings, which are at their best when they murmurate by the hundreds across a gray sky.
Lipton's bird list includes "a shimmer of hummingbirds." But we did not see that ruby throat shimmer or glimmer for some days this month. Wet feathers and a dark space between beak and breast has been the most of it -- and the green backs, sometimes brilliant in the sun, have been duller than green olives.
They did not shine, but these perpetual motion machines were eating -- eating in Lipton's terms like "a sounder of swine." The sugar water in the glass feeder outside the kitchen window always turns cloudy before it is gone. It didn't have a chance of spoiling last week.
Perhaps driven a little frantic by the gallons of falling water we have been under for days, our hummingbirds were gulping away two at a time, with two or three more flitting about hoping for a seat at the table. They perched and drank long.
With their tiny bodies trying to move through the constant weight of rain, it's no wonder. And they are supporting a tiny heart that has more than a thousand beats a minute. That kind of statistic makes me wonder who counted the pulse, but Google says it's so.
On the last night of last week's falling water, they were still eating well after dusk, probably because of the light coming out to them from the kitchen. Then they began to circle, fly up and fly down, exceptionally frenetic, five at a time. The feeder had to be empty, and we tried to ignore it.
But well after sunset (we assume the sun set, although we have no evidence of that), I sighed, put on boots, took the spare sugar water out of the fridge and sallied forth, knowing very wet daylilies and ferns were in my way. The feeder was completely empty. Wet to the knees, I filled it, put it back and fled.
Within minutes, they were back and ate until true dark. And in the morning, they shimmered once more.
Ruth Bass, a former Sunday editor of The Eagle, lives in Richmond. Her web site is |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23586 | Numbers 36:1-4 (New International Version)
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Inheritance of Zelophehad's Daughters
36:1-12pp -- Nu 27:1-11
1 The family heads of the clan of Gilead1 son of Makir,2 the son of Manasseh, who were from the clans of the descendants of Joseph,3 came and spoke before Moses and the leaders,4 the heads of the Israelite families. 2 They said, "When the LORD commanded my lord to give the land as an inheritance to the Israelites by lot,5 he ordered you to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad6 to his daughters. 3 Now suppose they marry men from other Israelite tribes; then their inheritance will be taken from our ancestral inheritance and added to that of the tribe they marry into. And so part of the inheritance allotted to us will be taken away. 4 When the Year of Jubilee7 for the Israelites comes, their inheritance will be added to that of the tribe into which they marry, and their property will be taken from the tribal inheritance of our forefathers."
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23587 | Psalm 88:10-18 (New International Version)
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10 Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do those who are dead rise up and praise you?1 "Selah" 11 Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness2 in Destructiona ? 12 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion? 13 But I cry to you for help,3 O LORD; in the morning4 my prayer comes before you.5 14 Why, O LORD, do you reject6 me and hide your face7 from me? 15 From my youth8 I have been afflicted9 and close to death; I have suffered your terrors10 and am in despair.11 16 Your wrath12 has swept over me; your terrors13 have destroyed me. 17 All day long they surround me like a flood;14 they have completely engulfed me. 18 You have taken my companions15 and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend.
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History of Japan Summary
Everything you need to understand or teach History of Japan.
• 1 Encyclopedia Article
Study Pack
The History of Japan Study Pack contains about 21 pages of study material in 1 product, including:
Encyclopedia Articles (1)
6,293 words, approx. 21 pages
Japan: History and the Textbook Controversy The Conflict For around the past thirty years, people inside and outside Japan have protested the content of that country's history textbooks and their auth... Read more
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Dani Shapiro
Dani Shapiro
Dani Shapiro’s most recent books include Family History and Slow Motion. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker; Granta; Elle; O, The Oprah Magazine; and Ploughshares, and has been broadcast on National Public Radio. She is currently a visiting writer at Wesleyan University. She lives with her husband and son in Litchfield County, Connecticut.
Books by Dani Shapiro
by Dani Shapiro - Fiction
An eloquent look at the strange shapes love takes when stretched to the breaking point, Black & White positions its unforgettable characters at the collision point of motherhood and artistic talent, and poses the questions: what can we ask our children to endure? And what can we demand of our parents? |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23653 |
But I knew - in the old days, if a song was a good song, I don't care if it was 'Yellow Submarine' or, you know, or 'The Times They Are a-Changin' or 'Don't Be Cruel', you knew it, you know? You heard that song, and you were talking about it, and you knew it.
Don McLean
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23655 |
When you're a regular on your show, that's your family. When people come in and out, it doesn't mean that you don't embrace them, but they have to leave.
Melinda McGraw
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23719 | Italian Spiderman
A web series on YouTube that’s a parody of Italian action-adventure movies of the 1960s. posted on
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Lindsay Lohan Reportedly Wrote This List Of Famous Men She’s Slept With
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23722 | Although Bear has now passed, he loved hats and would strut his stuff until his sister Rosie would tear them off. posted on
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23755 |
Reference CLC/TS 50131-2-7-3:2009
Title Alarm systems - Intrusion and hold-up systems - Part 2-7-3: Intrusion detectors - Glass break detectors (active)
Project Number 20727
Abstract/Scope This Technical Specification is for active surface mounted glass break detectors installed in buildings and provides for security grades 1 to 4 (see EN 50131 1), specific or non-specific wired or wire-free detectors and uses environmental classes I to IV (see EN 50130 5). This Technical Specification does not include requirements for active surface mounted glass break detectors intended for use outdoors. A detector shall fulfil all the requirements of the specified grade. Functions additional to the mandatory functions specified in this standard may be included in the detector, providing they do not adversely influence the correct operation of the mandatory functions. This Technical Specification does not apply to system interconnections.
Current Stage code 6060
Current Stage code date 2009-03-20
Current Stage code deadline
Deadline date for vote 2008-09-12
Order Voucher
IEC Technical Body
Reference Document
ICS 13.320 - Alarm and warning systems
Keywords Alarm system; Intrusion system; Detector; Active
Note Interim TS before EN status * NWI offered to and rejected by IEC * Superseded by EN 50131-2-7-3:2012
Special National Condition(s)
Categories - Aspects
Product Life Cycle
Deadline Date
6060 2009-03-20 export to doc file EN
5099 2009-03-06 2009-07-06
5060 2009-02-24 2009-03-06 export to doc file EN
5020 2008-11-21 2009-02-20 export to doc file EN
3090 2008-09-19 2008-10-19
2020 2008-05-06 2008-09-12
1099 2006-09-12 2007-03-12
1000 2006-05-24 2006-08-31
Implementation Dates
date of Ratification (DOR) (1) 2009-03-06
date of Availability (DAV) (2) 2009-03-20
date of Announcement (DOA) (3) 2009-09-06
date of Publication (DOP) (4) -
date of Withdrawal (DOW) (5) -
Superseded by EN 50131-2-7-3:2012
Normative reference (6) EN ISO 527-1:1996
EN ISO 527-2:1996
EN ISO 1183-1:2004
EN ISO 2039-2:1999
EN 50130-4:1995
EN 50130-5:1998
EN 50131-1:2006
EN 50131-6:2008
EN 60068-1:1994
EN 60068-2-52:1996
EN 60529:1991
|
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23780 | Newsletter Link
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chris brown cd is soooooooooo good i know song by heart for real mom brought for me because i won the bet we made
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23797 | Live not by bread alone
by Clyne Buxton
Apr 19, 2013 | 288 views | 0 0 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Years ago, a nurse from Toronto attended a seminar in the States on the theme of obesity. Afterward, she became so concerned about the many obese people of Toronto that she took action.
She was so effective that her concern became a citywide project for obese people to lose weight. Before long, Toronto had lost 22 tons of fat!
Humorous things have been written about eating. Walter de la Mare wrote:
It’s a very odd thing—
As odd as can be—
That whatever Miss T eats
Turns into Miss T.
George Bernard Shaw said, “There is no love sincerer than the love of food.” And Mark Twain quipped, “Cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education.”
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that serving sizes are four times as large today as in 1950, and the average adult is 26 pounds heavier now than then. Wanting to do something about our weight, 55 percent of us try to diet.
In September, 1969, James A. Pike, a Christian bishop from California, was found dead in the wilderness near Bethlehem.
His death was freighted with symbolism, for earlier that year he had publically turned his back on Christianity, stating that he was not a Christian. Then he lost the battle for his life in the very wilderness where Christ confronted Satan.
Just as the bishop failed in life to be a driving force for the saving power of Jesus, he also failed during his last hours to be triumphant over his natural surroundings.
He did not fare nearly so well in the wilderness as did Jesus. Quite likely they fought the battle differently.
In that wilderness temptation the Lord made a statement to Satan that served as a pungent rebuke to the tempter.
Though Christ was gaunt and ravished with hunger, having existed 40 days without food, He refused to yield to Satan’s suggestion that He turn stones to bread.
Like ancient Job who stated that he thought God’s Word was more important than food, Jesus told the devil, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).
Christ was teaching the devil, and us, a very consequential lesson that day. Precisely, the Lord was saying that life has a spiritual side and we must not forget it.
Jonathan Goforth a powerful man of God who ministered to the Chinese during the first third of the last century, knew that man should not live by bread only.
He wrote a book based on the scripture, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord” (Zechariah 4:6).
Using the title “By My Spirit,” Goforth points out repeatedly how God worked in his ministry, not by man’s ingenuity but by His own Spirit.
Missionary Goforth learned that prayer, dependence on God’s Word, and trusting himself to the guidance of the Holy Spirit was the only key to successful work among the Chinese.
An experience which he relates is worth repeating here. After faithfully ministering for 19 years on the mission field, he personally had experienced almost no spiritual results.
Then suddenly God began to richly bless. Whereas formerly only a few came to hear him, now the people came by the hundreds, and later by the thousands. Revival swept the area and multitudes were converted.
During a certain worship service, Goforth sat on the rostrum facing a sea of eager faces. Satan whispered to him that he was finally a success.
“All of these people have come just to hear you. You are one of the most important preachers in the world.”
Goforth was agreeing with him, enjoying the feeling of accomplishment; but then the missionary realized that actually Satan was tempting him.
He recoiled from the devil and prayed: “God, I am willing to be as the smallest atom floating through space, if only Your name can be glorified.” The devil ceased his temptation. |
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Build Puzzle 15 - Walkthrough
By , 23 Feb 2012
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In one of my articles I wrote about My First Windows 8 Application – Metro Puzzle there I talked about Windows 8 Metro application and demonstrate how to build app for Win 8, the application I built was Puzzle 15. later I started to get requests to explain the steps for building that game.
So I'm writing the steps for building a Puzzle 15 Game.
Step 1: The Puzzle Base
There are several ways to build the puzzle layer, In my demo I chose a simple way of a Canvas with 16 children's type of StackPanel.
Basically I have a lower canvas with the Board image, on top of it I put another canvas with 16 Stack Panels, each panel spread to 100X100
Now, when I have the main puzzle structure I added an image of size 95x95 to each Stack Panel. (the reason it’s not 100X100 – is to leave a space between each), for each image I set the Tag property with the value of the image – 1.png Tag = 1
I’ve also add a timer for counting the time took to solve this puzzle and another int property to count the moves the user made.
Step 2: Find
One of the most common things we’ll use in our code, is FIND:
• Find Stack Panel by Image Id
• Find the Empty Panel
• Find the Value by position
Find the parent of image with a specific Tag value
StackPanel FindStackPanelByTagId(int tag)
if (tag == 16)
return (from stackPanel in ContentPanel.Children.OfType<StackPanel>()
where stackPanel.Children.Count == 0 select stackPanel).First();
return (from stackPanel in ContentPanel.Children.OfType<StackPanel>()
from img in stackPanel.Children.OfType<Image>()
where Convert.ToInt32(img.Tag) == tag
select stackPanel).First();
Find the position of StackPanel without children
int FindEmptyItemPosition()
int index = 15;
if (((StackPanel)ContentPanel.Children[i]).Children.Count == 0)
return index;
return 0;
Get the Tag value by StackPanel position
int FindItemValueByPosition(int position)
return ((StackPanel)ContentPanel.Children[position]).Children.Count > 0
? Convert.ToInt32(((Image)((StackPanel)ContentPanel.Children
[position]).Children[0]).Tag) : 16;
Step 3: Scrambles
Now we have are puzzle structure and Find method helpers, the first thing is to Scramble or puzzle.
So I wrote a method that runs n times and generate random numbers from 1 to 16, for each number find the current StackPanel that hold him. (FindStackPanelByTagId) .
If First and Second number are smaller then 16 then - swipe the images and tag values.
If One of the values is 16 the swipe - One Stackpanel will be cleared of Items
void Scrambles()
var count = 0;
while (count < 25)
var a = _rnd.Next(1, 17);
var b = _rnd.Next(1, 17);
if (a == b) continue;
var stack1 = FindStackPanelByTagId(a);
var stack2 = FindStackPanelByTagId(b);
if (a == 16)
var image2 = stack2.Children[0];
else if (b == 16)
var image1 = stack1.Children[0];
var image1 = stack1.Children[0];
var image2 = stack2.Children[0];
Step 4: Check Board
Each move the user do, perform a loop and checks values from 1 to 16. if the numbers are not in the correct order than nothing happen.
Else You stop the game timer and display a win message.
void CheckBoard()
var index = 1;
for (var i = 15; i > 0; i--)
if (FindItemValueByPosition(i) != index) return;
WinGrid.Visibility = System.Windows.Visibility.Visible;
Step 5: Move Items
Before we can apply move of items we need to check several things, the first thing is:
Check if the Item Can move, Checking all panels around the specific item with -1 +1 -4 +4, if one of them is empty then he can move.
StackPanel CanMove(UIElement itemToMove)
var count = ContentPanel.Children.Count;
if (!(ContentPanel.Children[i] is StackPanel)) continue;
var stackPanel = (StackPanel)ContentPanel.Children[i];
if (!stackPanel.Children.Contains(itemToMove)) continue;
if (!IsBorderSwich(i, i + 1) && i + 1 <= 15 && ContentPanel.
Children[i + 1] != null &&
((StackPanel)ContentPanel.Children[i + 1]).Children.Count == 0)
return ((StackPanel)ContentPanel.Children[i + 1]);
if (!IsBorderSwich(i, i - 1) && i - 1 > -1 && ContentPanel.
Children[i - 1] != null &&
((StackPanel)ContentPanel.Children[i - 1]).Children.Count == 0)
return ((StackPanel)ContentPanel.Children[i - 1]);
if (i + 4 <= 15 && ContentPanel.Children[i + 4] != null &&
((StackPanel)ContentPanel.Children[i + 4]).Children.Count == 0)
return ((StackPanel)ContentPanel.Children[i + 4]);
if (i - 4 > -1 && ContentPanel.Children[i - 4] != null &&
((StackPanel)ContentPanel.Children[i - 4]).Children.Count == 0)
return ((StackPanel)ContentPanel.Children[i - 4]);
return null;
The Second - if both of the items you want to swipe are in the Board borders do nothing.
private readonly int[] _bordersNums = { 0, 4, 8, 12, 3, 7, 11, 15 };
bool IsBorderSwich(int a, int b)
return _bordersNums.Contains(a) && _bordersNums.Contains(b);
Now after we have those safety methods we can move the items based on user clicks: Just register to ItemManipulationStarted on the entire windows, for each event check if the item isn’t image do nothing,
if it does, call the CanMove method to verify that this item can move around.
private void ItemManipulationStarted(object sender,
ManipulationStartedEventArgs e)
var item = (UIElement)e.OriginalSource;
if (!(item is Image)) return;
var to = CanMove(item);
if (to != null)
txtMoves.Text = _moves.ToString();
MoveItem(item, to);
e.Handled = true;
MoveItem - Move Item From One StackPanel to Another.
void MoveItem(UIElement item, StackPanel targetPanel)
foreach (var stackPanel in
ContentPanel.Children.OfType<StackPanel>().Where(stackPanel =>
stackPanel.Children.Count > 0 && stackPanel.Children.Contains(item)))
Step 6: Check If Puzzle Solvable
This part of very important, because half of the starting positions for the n-puzzle are impossible to resolve.
The Puzzle 15 (n-puzzle) is a classical problem for modeling algorithms involving heuristics. Commonly used heuristics for this problem include counting the number of misplaced tiles and finding the sum of the Manhattan distances between each block and its position in the goal configuration. Note that both are admissible, i.e., they never overestimate the number of moves left, which ensures optimality for certain search algorithms such as A*.
bool CheckIfSolvable()
var n = 0;
for (var i = 1; i <= 16; i++)
var num1 = FindItemValueByPosition(i);
var num2 = FindItemValueByPosition(i - 1);
if (num1 > num2)
var emptyPos = FindEmptyItemPosition();
return n % 2 == (emptyPos + emptyPos / 4) % 2 ? true : false;
Step 7: Setup a New Game
Now, when we defined everything we need, let’s write the New Game method, reset all timer and moves number back to 0, call the Scrambles method, and while the game is unsolvable continue scramble the game, once it’s solvable start the timer.
public void NewGame()
_moves = 0;
txtMoves.Text = "0";
txtTime.Text = Const.DefaultTimeValue;
while (!CheckIfSolvable())
_startTime = DateTime.Now.AddSeconds(1);
GridScrambling.Visibility = System.Windows.Visibility.Collapsed;
About the Author
Shai Raiten
Architect Sela
Israel Israel
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Comments and Discussions
GeneralMy vote of 5 PinmvpMichael Haephrati1-Mar-13 2:28
QuestionQuestion??? Pinmembermr.pakapun16-Jan-13 15:28
AnswerRe: Question??? Pinmembermr.pakapun17-Jan-13 4:31
QuestionWhat about puzzle 8 and 24 ?? Pinmembermr.pakapun16-Jan-13 2:54
AnswerRe: What about puzzle 8 and 24 ?? Pinmembermr.pakapun16-Jan-13 15:20
QuestionAsk! PinmemberPramana Adi Putra10-Jan-13 13:01
AnswerRe: Ask! PinmvpShai Raiten20-Jan-13 1:52
GeneralMy vote of 5 PinmvpKanasz Robert21-Sep-12 1:27
GeneralRe: My vote of 5 PinmvpShai Raiten29-Sep-12 20:38
QuestionA few improvements PinmemberGrimlock10-Aug-12 2:21
I have a few remarks on how you scramble the board when you start a new game. You can do things a lot easier.
First, a small remark on CheckIfSolvable()
Instead of an int, you can use a boolean:
instead of
if (num > num2)
you can do:
if (num > num2)
parity = !parity;
if ((emptyPos / 4) % 2 == 0) parity = !parity;
return parity;
(You don't need to know how many, just whether it's even or odd.)
Second remark:
It is not necessary to keep scrambling if a grid is unsolvable.
You can make it solvable by swapping any 2 blocks.
if (!CheckIfSolvable()) // if, not while!
// Swap position of block x with position of block y
And then scrambling itself.
This is how you randomize an array in one go:
int[] array = Enumerable.Range(0, 16).ToArray();
for (int i = 15; i > 0; i--)
int r = _rnd.Next(0, i);
int temp = array[r];
array[r] = array[i];
array[i] = temp;
You can then assign these positions to the blocks.
otherwise, nice work
SuggestionCool! WPF version of this game PinmemberMember 471378513-Jun-12 2:32
GeneralMy vote of 5 PinmemberAnurag Gandhi12-Mar-12 9:50
AnswerGreat game PinmemberMarsh Joseph19-Feb-12 22:49
GeneralRe: Great game PinmvpShai Raiten19-Feb-12 23:05
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23814 | Bee Patrol Bee Movie Coloring Pages
Every culture needs police. These are the 'bee cops'. Bee Movie is part of a group of free printables that are movie characters. This group of characters are a part of a more modern story about having a goal to return honey to the bee community. These can be colored in a variety colors. What stories can Barry B Benson tell us? Why did he leave the hive? Perhaps you can ask your students or homeschoolers make a comic book or movie story board with their decorated pages. Download these free printable coloring pages for your children or students today.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23819 | No recent wiki edits to this page.
Sgt Connie Rodd started as the co-star of PS: The Preventive Maintenance Monthly, eventually she would take over the comics section.
While her co-star Pvt. Joe Dope was an example of everything a solider in the Army’s motor pool should not be, Connie was a shining example of what you should do, and she did it all while almost never making it into a regulation army uniform.
Seemingly a fem fatale straight out of one of her creator Will Eisner’s Spirit stories Connie not only kept the Army’s wheels rolling, she did all the paperwork as well, she did seem to do a lot of lecturing however.
Eventually she also took over PS’s center double page full color pinup called Joe’s Dope Sheet.
No one however missed Joe after she replaced him there.
Her 20 years of steady appearances in PS make Connie the longest running female military characters in comics.
This edit will also create new pages on Comic Vine for:
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23831 | Couchbase This file is an XML representation of an issue en-us 5.2.4 845 26-12-2012 [CCBC-168] Query on multiset and multiget libcouchbase Couchbase C client library libcouchbase As per a query from the customer on multiset and multiget regarding libcouchbase 2.0.1 client <br/> <br/> "When you calculate number of operation, do you consider the set of keys in Multiset ? Or is it just one operation? <br/> I am trying to calculate the writes per second. The client would send 15k writes per second, each of them is a multiset with 20 keys. So is this 15k writes per second ? <br/> Or 15*20= 300k writes per second ? " <br/> <br/> Please help answer this. CCBC-168 Query on multiset and multiget libcouchbase Task Major Closed Won't Fix Public Sergey Avseyev Muthu Kumar Fri, 11 Jan 2013 07:37:03 -0600 Wed, 6 Feb 2013 13:48:20 -0600 Fri, 11 Jan 2013 07:50:12 -0600 2.0.1 library 0 0 There no such operation multi-set or multi-get in memcached protocol. Libcouchbase doesn't count operations at all. If you are talking about stats in the Admin UI, then the answer probably will be 1 operation = 1 key, in this case 15k*20 = 300k. I recommend to move this ticket to another tracker. Rank 10235 Time In Status |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23887 | Union bosses love taxpayers' wallets
Those fat pensions don't grow on trees, ya know
• Pin It
Not ask but demand.
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View/Submit Comments for this story
Or the way a butcher sizes up some hanging beef before going to work on it. Except, you're the beef.
And after you give up the money, the guy smiles to himself and slides into a nice black Escalade. He doesn't thank you. But he sure thanks the politicians who made it happen. He helps re-elect them, so they or their families make fortunes.
But you? You don't get thanks. He'd no more thank you than he'd thank a dog.
Now, do you have a problem with that?
Pardon me? I didn't hear you. So let me ask you again.
Then you must be in Illinois.
That's the state where Chicago machine politicians and their union muscle boys slap taxpayers in the mouth, year after year after year, and all voters do is repeat that line from "Animal House," "Thank you, sir, may I have another?"
It's revealed in some fascinating (and infuriating) Tribune stories by investigative reporter Jason Grotto, who in collaboration with WGN-TV uncovered some amazing city pension scams.
What's really infuriating is that it all might just be quite legal. But is it right?
The Tribune reported that in 1991, state law was quietly changed to allow Chicago union bosses to cash in and base their city taxpayer-funded pensions not on their wages from their city jobs but on their salaries as union bosses.
That neat little trick inflated the pensions dramatically. And who pays? When you're at a card game and you can't spot the sucker, guess what? You're the sucker.
So now, for example, Cement Workers Union boss Liberato "Al" Naimoli is receiving $157,752 in pension from a $15,264-per-year city job.
Chicago Federation of Labor retired President Dennis Gannon is receiving $158,258 for a $55,474 city job.
And Jim McNally, an officer with Operating Engineers Local 150, gets a $114,935-a-year pension for a $57,200 city job.
• Pin It |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23892 | Burning Eye (4e Power)
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Burning Eye Liege Utility 6
A great flaming eye appears in midair above and behind you, revealing to you what is hidden.
Daily Star.gif Arcane, Conjuration
Standard Action Personal
Effect: You can see invisible creatures and do not take penalties for attacking concealed enemies. Stealth checks take a -5 penalty while this power is active. This power lasts for the encounter, but may be dispelled as a minor action.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23910 | User's migration from one server to other
From: Fedor (
Date: 06/26/02
From: "Fedor" <>
Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 00:26:12 -0700
I have two servers. First one work under Win2000 Sever OS
and has several users. Second one work under WinXP OS and
have only Admnistrator user.
1. Is the way to migrate all users from first server to
second (with all their passwords )?
2. Is the way to migrate all users if first server not
using NTFS?
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23911 |
Wed, 2008-03-19 12:51Bill Miller
Bill Miller's picture
The basis for the current Fraser Institute booklet, ironically, is the same 1,600-page IPCC report it sought to trash a year ago. Not surprisingly, Fraser is pitching the identical message in its current diatribe -- that climate change may not be happening or, if it is happening, it may be “a good or bad thing.”
Fern Mackenzie
Perhaps they're adopting the "stash copies of the booklet in random places" strategy.
Frank Bi, fact-addict and anti-lie bigot
I'm also concerned at how much speculative hyperbole that passes as 'climate science' from IPCC computer models is in the public domain. Extreme weather, sea level rises, ice caps melting, droughts are all computer game assumptions that have no observational reality today.
It's hard enough for adults to disseminate the extremist propoganda spoken by climate gurus let alone the children having to swallow this crud. Leave the kids out of it ok... or else!
Wanna keep kids from being scared? Don't let them watch TV! Movies are bad enough, but sensationalized news shows focussing on random acts of violence should also be stoking your fire. What "or else" messages have you sent the networks? As for the Fraser Institute's "neutral message" and lack of observational reality: ...FI says IPCC is alarmist -- where's the observational reality of that stance?
Kids can handle far off threats better than most. We don't hide them from the fact that their grandparents die. We shouldn't hide our best understanding of the future from them; the future is where they'll spend the rest of their lives.
Johnnyb, tell me something. I've always wondered if you people with your heads in the sand, do you close your eyes too, or keep them open. Inquiring minds want to know.
Ian Forrester
Ian Forrester, if anybodies got closed minds it's the "debate is over" and "there's a consensus" crowd. The debate isn't over, it hasn't closed yet, and in fact the real reason for global warming and cooling is coming to the fore - and it ain't CO2.
As for the consensus, the IPCC total 2,500 scientists and researchers. 19,000 scientists have signed a petition against CO2 being a driver, that the Earth isn't warming at an alarming rate and that we can't do anything about climate - we're puny compared to the main drivers such as the sun and water vapour.
Johnnyb, the rubbish you are spouting isn't even new rubbish it's all been disproved a long time ago.
Ian Forrester
Ian Forester, climate science has still to be understood. I'm aware of that - are you? Nobody has explained yet precisely what drives climate but the 'possibles' are many and varied. The IPCC in 16yrs have only ever had computer models with CO2 hypothesis factored in to show CO2 as a climate driver. There is no actual proof. Fact.
The other candidates seem highly more probable.
The amount of warming (forcing) by CO2 is well understood so stop saying that there is no proof, that just shows how much of a denier you are. Most of the deniers have moved on from "CO2 has no effect". The rubbish you are posting just shows how little of the actual science you know and understand.
Ian Forrester, is that it? "..numerous lab experiments" is all you've got. CO2 when put in a test tube may well move temperture a touch but out there in the big wide world its concentrations are 0.0038% of Earths atmosphere (380 parts per million) and such a 'micro level' of Earths blanket cannot and does not drive tamperature. Methane and especially water vapour are in far higher concentrations are are far more likely to have a blanket effect.
Please point me (and the IPCC who need it) toward CO2 being a temperature driver in Earths past because you appear to be the only person who's found it!!!
"Methane [...] in far higher concentrations."
Concentration of methane: 1,745 ppb.
Concentration of CO2: 365 ppm = 365,000 ppb.
Frank Bi, fact-addict and anti-lie bigot
There is more than a century of solid research and study on the issue of CO2 as a driver, and don't pretend you don't know it. The undercurrent of concern has been growing steading within the scientific community, even right through the so-called "predictions" of cooling in the 1970s. Even then then were more papers published in peer-reviewed journals about warming than any half-cocked op-eds about cooling. Back then, though, the general public didn't have easy access to the information as we do now. The scientists were aware, but we hadn't clued in yet.
You can't negate the physics, JohnnyB. CO2 will react in a predictable way in combination with other elements under given circumstances. The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is irrelevant unless you know how much it takes to cause damage. If 338ppm is safe and 339ppm is not, then you'd better be careful. It only takes one virus cell to kill an elephant, if it's the right virus.
Fern Mackenzie
Femack, regarding your "the scientists might actually know what they are doing" yes I agree. 19,000 scientists seem to know nothings going on, climate is natural and varies through cyclical changes overhwelmingly driven by the suns cycles.
Regarding CO2 being a driver or there being a 'tipping point' there's no hard evidence of either, even in the highly doctored IPCC resports. What happens in a lab or computer game simulation are merely scenarios. What happens in Earths atmosphere, which no computer simulation can simulate, is anybodies guess.
As for the IPCC reports you claim are "highly doctored," there are a few skeptical scientists, like Oerlemans and Christy, who have contributed to this effort and have agreed on the final wording of their respective chapters. If they had not agreed with this wording, their chapters would not be the way they are.
So, JohnnyB, if you wish to refute the role of CO2 on atmospheric temperature, you ought to try and refute the role of the force of gravity on the planet Earth. You'll look equally foolish doing both.
You are an insufferable bore, JohnnyB. Everytime one of you feeble-minded trolls trots out that laughable list of "19,000 leading scientists" I want to run from the room screaming. Lord knows, I try to be civil responding to these absurd claims -- but it's difficult and I feel a whole vocabulary of appropriate epithets struggling to get out!!!!!
One more time: Have a look at who is REALLY on these lists when all of the made-up names, names of people with only a passing expertise in the sciences, and the names of real scientists who didn't know they had been "signed on" are removed. Take a good, hard look at them. Then have a look at the names and qualifications of the signatories to this document: It's a warning published more than 15 years ago that pretty accurately predicts the kind of trouble we are getting ourselves into.
It's quality, not quantity, you twit. Oops. Sorry -- that just slipped out.
Fern Mackenzie
"Johnnyb, the rubbish you are spouting isn't even new rubbish it's all been disproved a long time ago"
rob, a few questions about your "subtle distinction":
Who are the 19,000 "signers" of the petition, and why can't I find a way to check their credentials? Why's there absolutely nothing to suggest that the list of 19,000 "names" wasn't simply generated by a computer program?
Why's the Global Warming Petition project so obsessed with Al Gore?
Why's the Fraser Institute using scare tactics by predicting doom and gloom for the green economy?
Is Naomi Oreskes fat?
Frank Bi, fact-addict and anti-lie bigot
"Who are the 19,000 "signers" of the petition"
Complete list available here:
"and why can't I find a way to check their credentials?"
I don't know. Why can't you?
Because most people aren't obtuse idiots like you?
"Why's the Global Warming Petition project so obsessed with Al Gore?"
You tell me.
"Why's the Fraser Institute using scare tactics by predicting doom and gloom for the green economy?"
What "green economy"?
"Is Naomi Oreskes fat?"
Do you suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome?
500 Scientists with Documented Doubts of Man-Made Global Warming
Senate Report Debunks "Consensus"
First they said there were 19,000 scientists.
Then it became 400 scientists.
Then 100.
Frank Bi,
Darn right, Frank! Also, if you trimmed down the list of 19,000 to include only the number of climate scientists, I'd peg your factor of 1,000 as being true.
Given that the 19,000 "signers" are mostly imaginary, we'll need to postulate imaginary climatology credentials for most of them. :)
Frank Bi,
Stephen Berg,
I don't know how many of the Oregon Petitions scientists are climatologists but 19,000 down to 1,000 could be a cruddy prediction, bit like IPCC computer models! How many of the IPCC's 2,500 scientists are Degree or PHD's in climatology do you know?
To conclude a speculation by someone else as you have done as 'true' like the IPCC does, is not good science. I've seen you haven't asked any questions about Franks maths or thoroughly peer reviewed his work. Along with your ignorant over-confidence in an undecided science you demonstrate all the credentials for being an IPCC lead author and misleading people to flawed conclusions. Integrity undermined. Well done Stephen.
19,000 scientists on the Oregon Petition against Kyoto aren't 400 scientists in the Senate Report and then 100 scientists in an Open Letter to the UN Secretary General. You appear to have left school without any maths whatsoever dim wit!
And the NY Heartland conference didn't have 19 scientists, it was 200. I think the 19 you plucked from your light head was your latest IQ reading!
Like you Mr. Martin has trouble with his maths because 200 scientists, or 19,000, don't fit in a phone box. Just a bit worrying he's so stupid and managed to be Executive Director - is this a case of jobs-for-the-boys amoung the AGW corruption crew?
The UN's Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has just come back from an Antartica 'fact-finding-mission' claiming "we must do something to protect our beautiful planet."
Strange that the UN Sec-Gen hasn't read the report his own organisation, the IPCC, have placed under his nose that states there's been no changes in Antartic temperatures, it's not melting away, in fact it's been going through normal cycles for the past 50 years.
How is it Ban Ki-Moon goes on a 'fact finding mission' and misses the facts so badly? Are his advisors mis-advising him? Were the IPCC not on hand to inform him Antartica is doing just fine? If this idiot can't find the facts when they're there in black and white at a cost of £millions in drafting and supporting science, what hope is there the UN will ever rule the planet with anything other than blind ignorance!
Precisely where am I a 'lying troll' with any fact I've said? I've warned you about making accustions you can't back up at least twice before.
You say "Antarctica is not warming up as fast as the Arctic". Please get your facts totaslly straight. Antarctica isn't warming at all (and nor has the Earth for 10 year, since 1998). Antarctica's temperature chart has been as interesting as watching paint dry for 50 years. It hasn't moved one iota since Earth peeked in 1940.
In an open Letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon, 100 scientists from 100 countries advised "the UN climate conference taking the World in entirely the wrong direction."
JohnnyB said:"The debate isn't over, it hasn't closed yet"
Like the tobacco industry, climate change deniers devote great time and energy to keeping the "debate" alive hoping that the general public will believe that the science is unsettled, thereby minimising public support for taking action to address greenhouse gas emissions.
Never mind that the "debate" is entirely manufactured by the deniers themselves. Never mind that they will grasp at any argument, no matter how tenuous or patently ridiculous to keep the "debate" alive. Never mind that for them cherry picking and distorting real data and real science, making things up out of whole cloth, and telling bald faced lies are legitimate "debating" tactics. Never mind how many times their arguments are rebutted, debunked, destroyed and utterly shredded, they will continue to use the same arguments again and again and again hoping no one notices.
"Debating" them is, like playing whack-a-mole in a memory hole, an exercise in futility.
Ignorance is not bliss, it's just....ignorance.
The recent Kolker and Hameed study in 2007 states there's many variabilities to how sea levels rise and fall, from air pressure to changes in tide, storms, volcanically induced ocean heat content variations, and in the Pacific Ocean, the El Nino Southern Oscillation. Namely it's not a simple case of warmer temperature. Their research yields a global sea level rise near 1.1 mm per year which is well below IPCC and other estimates.
Namely no polar region is melting away. Fact. Who's ignorant Exusian?
Are you referring to this paper, johnnyb?
Frank Bi, fact-addict and anti-lie bigot
Frank Bi, re-read your 'research' as it says zilch! I suggest you read the IPCC Report. It mangles the stark conclusion in their usually obtuse language that there's been no temperature change at the Antartic - which confirms other scientists research which shows no temperature change in the Antartic in 50 years.
I realise your head may be mangled from all the ice crashing images from the news and media stations but at some point you've got to face up to the facts the scientists are seeing no temperature changes in 50yrs and ice crashes into the sea every year, and has been for milleniums. Welcome to the Earths normal ebb and flow.
You mention an unnamed paper by Monaghan et al., and when I provide a link to a paper which is by Monaghan et al. -- and I show that it doesn't conclude what you claim it concludes -- you try to change the topic by telling me to read the "IPCC Report" and throwing out a pile of bullcrap about "news and media stations".
But that's what denialism's about, isn't it? Blowing smoke all day, that's the denialist way.
Frank Bi, fact-addict and anti-lie bigot
Frank Bi, are you reading the same report I am?
Yes, I'm reading the same paper, and the abstract -- which I quoted above -- shows that the paper does not conclude cooling.
In fact, it concludes there is a "subtle shift toward warming during the past 15 years".
So you can go shove your denialist "facts" up your orifice, thank you very much.
Of course you probably already know that your "facts" about Monaghan et al.'s conclusions are totally bogus, which is why you tried to dodge the topic by talking about something else... before I called you onto it.
Frank Bi, fact-addict and anti-lie bigot
Frank Bi, maybe if you weren't so aggressively dumb you might cotton onto the fact that all the geological surveys in Antartica are pointing the same way on temperature.. the opposite way to which you are pointing.
Not only all the scientists but also the IPCC Reports even admit there's no changes, except the seasonal fall and rise in Antartic temperature.
I know the truth is hard to get your head round when it's buried so far up your backside! Welcome to the truth.. as you don't like to hear it.
Fill your head with some facts rather than fiction and propoganda!
... call me petty, but you're not helping your credibility here.
Sort of like when people say "nucular", or confuse "climactic" with "climatic"
Fern Mackenzie
I did.
Haven't checked the Arctic links yet, but your Antarctic references don't help your 'cause' very much. Mainly hurt it in fact.
Concerning melting South American glaciers, from "I think it is caused by the El Nino phenomenon, which is caused by underwater volcanism, which is increasing due to the ice-age cycle."
Also from a quote from Dr Nils-Axel Morner from "Claim That Sea Level Is Rising Is a Total Fraud": "In about 1970, the sea level fell about 20 cm, for reasons involving probably evaporation or something."
That's 8 inches. You would think someone else would noticed....
Of course Dr Morner is listed as an "Allied Scientist" at the NRSP which is chaired by Dr Timothy F. Ball.
There's a blank signed cheque if I ever saw one....
The Fraser Institute preaches Economic Gloom and Doom for alternative energies...
...yet we are the extremists.
Frank Bi, fact-addict and anti-lie bigot
Frank, if anyone's full of doom and gloom it's you moaning minnies! Carbon based fuels are the most effective, efficient way of fueling the Earth and have been for nearly 100yrs. None of the alternatives have proved otherwise to date (except Nuclear - which you eco-boys are pushing us into if you haven't worked it out yet!) and until they demonstrate an ability to move 6Billion people around then I suggest you stop whinging about carbon fuels and just get on with life.
Frank Bi, fact-addict and anti-lie bigot
Google 'Olduvai Cliff'. Read about it on Wikipedia, then come back for a chat, please.
So, JohnnyB, you advocate lying to children in schools? That's really low. Sounds like those who wish to "teach" children Intelligent Design instead of Evolution.
Just how bad is natural gas for the climate?
read more |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/23938 | New puppy!! =)
Barked: Wed Feb 13, '13 8:15am PST
He is at 37 pounds as of today! =)
He is soo smart! Not a single accident in the house...although he tries...but he gives me a warning by spinning around in circles with his nose to the floor... BOL
Rocky *CGC*- With the- angels.
Gone but never,- ever forgotten- xxx
Barked: Wed Feb 13, '13 10:14am PST
He's adorable!!!
Congratulations happy dance
He sure looks like he's going to be a big boy!!!
Barked: Wed Feb 13, '13 10:35am PST
Hes adorable! congrats!cheer
blue/brown eyed- girl!
Barked: Wed Feb 13, '13 11:23am PST
Congratulations!! He is a cutie.....and a big boy to! snoopy
Rosey Belle- Stewart
Mommy, let\'s- Snuggle!
Barked: Thu Feb 14, '13 8:39pm PST
Congratulations on the new baby
Barked: Thu Feb 14, '13 9:07pm PST
partypartyflowers Congrats! He's a cutie!
Akita Pals- Always.
Barked: Fri Feb 15, '13 5:08am PST
welcomeand Congratulations on your new family member. He's adorable!!!! Sending Ruger a pup-pal request. We look forward to watching him grow and getting to know him.
When the night- closes in I will- be there
Barked: Fri Feb 15, '13 7:56am PST
welcome He's cute. I hope you did your research, Danes are an interesting journey laugh out loud
Spoiled Little- Girl
Barked: Fri Feb 15, '13 11:28am PST
So cute I love Great Danes, my grandma has owned quite a few of them puppy |
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Thread: Sanity Check on 5.9.901
1. Master Droid
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Smile Sanity Check on 5.9.901
I think I'll be OK to install this new update, assuming it is verified to be legit from Verizon. But it's unexpected so I wanted to make sure.
My wife got the 5.5.893 update pushed to her Bionic, but I got tired of waiting so I downloaded the OTA file that someone had copied off their phone. After installing it manually, I compared the version numbers of all the components to my wife's and they all matched, so pretty sure I got the exact same 5.5.893 update as if it had been pushed. I was not rooted at that time.
After updating I rooted using the one-click root for PC that can be found on the forums. I installed the Bionic Recovery Bootstrap app and used the Recovery to make a nandroid backup. Then I froze about 35 bloatware apps using Titanium Backup, installed a new default font (roboto) with Font Installer, and changed the boot animation with Root Explorer. Haven't installed any ROMs or anything like that.
When I heard about this new 5.9.901 update, I applied the Forever Root that involves editing the mount_ext3.sh file in the system/bin folder with Root Explorer.
Now I'm thinking I should be able to install this new 5.9.901 update manually, assuming it turns out to be official, after defrosting all the bloatware first. Hopefully I will keep root due to the Forever Root exploit and then be able to re-freeze the bloatware. Does that sound right or am I missing anything? Can't afford to brick this thing.
Oh almost forgot -- how do I get into the default recovery now, instead of the ClockworkMod recovery that Bionic Recovery Bootstrap installed? Assuming I'd want to install the 5.9.901 update using the default recovery, that is. Or does it matter if I install it using ClockworkMod recovery instead? They basically do the same thing, right?
Last edited by unbesorgt; 12-20-2011 at 09:02 PM.
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3. Master Droid
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As long as you defrost all the frozen apps you should be good. I uninstalled one of the bloat apps and even though i reinstalled it, the update wouldn't install for me. Now i'm getting a replacement. To get to the factory recovery, power down the device. Then hold the volume rocker in, both up and down, then press the power button for a few secs. it'll put you into the fastboot menu, then select recovery. When the triangle appears, press the volume rocker again.
Rooted OG D1 running Liquid Gingerbread 2.6, Project Elite v6.5, Droid Concepts 12 and many more!
Chevy No.1 Low V 1.1 Ghz Kernal
A Droid Bionic evolved into a Rezound which then evolved into a Nexus! Running whatever Rom I'm feeling for the day.
Questions about rooting: http://bit.ly/droot
Sent from my Nexus in a Galaxy far, far away...
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reply to vaxvms
Re: [WIN8] Why such poor task manager?
said by vaxvms:
Stop torturing yourself with the God awful Microsoft Operating Systems and switch to Ubuntu, a real OS. Lots of good tools available.
I think it's actually could be a good idea, to use OS, that was developed without a profit idea in mind Putting all eggs in proprietary, made for profit OS, certainly is bad idea though. And we see why it is now. Tomorrow company may decide to move on to another market and abandon the product (and your trust in the process). Could you blame them for that? I guess not...
There are many examples on how m$ discarded good products, people relied on. For example, I still use MS Money since 1995. It's because I entered a lot of important financial data into its database. I can't simply abandon it now, but m$ did it without any hesitation, because they made it for profit...
Windows OS for desktop environment could be yet another such example of this strategy.
said by Shootist:
Simple fact is MS has Dumbed down many parts of Windows 8. Why I have no hard evidence but it is my opinion they did it to lock out the Enthusiast PC user.
If they did not do it (abandon product) now, with Windows 8, they may do it later on with Windows 9 or 10. Actually you always can expect the market condition change and, as a result, they will drop that product too at any time... Do you want to repeat the mistake that I made with MS Money years ago? I guess, not.
Think about moving on and use OS, designed and made with non-profit ideas in mind. You'll not lose your computer environment if market is suddenly changed and moved into other direction and some for-profit company decided to move on and cease any development/support it promised...
Keep it simple, it'll become complex by itself...
Naperville, IL
·Dish Network
Makes a lot of sense, since the majority of businesses use MS. Seriously? Have you ever worked in a business environment for a real company? If the day comes when MS abandons ship, I'll switch to the next big corporation supported OS. Not some dinky horse manure enthusiast POS.
After reading postings from the self so-called experts on the MS and Apple forums, I just have to shake my head sadly. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24006 | Diane Kruger
It's all black and white for her, in a Chanel tuxedo jumpsuit
There was nothing shady about the smart Chanel onesie Diane Kruger wore to the Ray-Ban Remasters event to celebrate the rerelease of its Clubmasters line: Joined by boyfriend Joshua Jackson, the actress made sure the bash was a black-tie affair. In fact, the National Treasure star's future is so bright, she might need her own pair—the actress is currently shooting the upcoming Quentin Tarantino film Inglourious Basterds with Brad Pitt.
This Is A Developing Story
Don't Miss |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24014 | Seems like Helsinki's always got something interesting to show in its Nokia Research Center (NRC). Today's conceptual adventure involves radar, or RADAR (RAdio Detection And Ranging) if you prefer. Without going into too much technical detail, Nokia demonstrates a handset that uses electromagnetic waves to measure the speed of an impressively stoic Finn as he walks towards and away from a prototype handset that can identify the direction of movement. It also works through fabric to help turn typically mundane tasks such as volume adjustment into an aerobic art form. No really, see for yourselves in the video after the break.
Nokia's mobile radar handset responds to movement, not emotion (video) |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24029 | Strongbad's Cool Game for Atrractive People - Trailer
Some of you might be familiar with Homestar Runner, if you're not, take a shufty now. Are we back? If you're not yet humming the Trogdor theme tune under your breath then you're either dead inside or simply unable to hum.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24115 | Public Utilities Reports
PUR Guide 2012 Fully Updated Version
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PUR Guide
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Capturing Ocean Heat
Ocean thermal energy conversion offers a timely renewable alternative.
Fortnightly Magazine - October 2009
According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1 60 million square kilometers (23 million square miles) of tropical oceans daily absorb solar radiation equal in heat content to about 250 billion barrels of oil ( e.g., 1,450 Quads). This is an order of magnitude greater than the expected total U.S. energy consumption through 2030, and twice the projected global energy demand. Even using present maximum estimates for steady-state sustainable energy harvesting 2 ( e.g., 3 to 5 TW, or 90 to 150 Quads), this resource still provides enough clean and non-GHG emitting energy to supply 15 to 20 percent of the global energy demand in 2030.
Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) technologies convert the solar radiation that heats the surface of the ocean into electrical power by exploiting the thermal gradient temperature differences between the surface and the depths. This temperature gradient in the Tropics ( see Figure 1 ) can be 20 degrees C (36 degrees F) or more between the warm surface water and the cold deep seawater, which is sufficient to produce usable power, albeit not very thermodynamically efficiently ( i.e., 3 to 5 percent). It should be noted that lying within the Tropical zone——the area most favorable for OTEC—are some 29 territories and 66 developing nations, as well as portions of Australia and Hawaii, all of which are natural markets for OTEC-generated energy and other side-products.
This enormous resource merits a closer look as policy makers consider alternative technologies for serving future energy demands. Achieving viability, however, will require more supportive and stable regulatory policies as well as funding for research and development.
Ocean Power’s History
The science behind OTEC was first described in 1881, when a French physicist, Jacques Arsene d’Arsonval, proposed using what came to be known as a closed-cycle plant to tap the thermal energy of the ocean; 3 however, it took almost 50 years for the concept to be applied. In 1930, Georges Claude, a student of d’Arsonval, built the first open-cycle OTEC plant in Matanzas Bay, Cuba, which produced 22 kilowatts (kW) of electricity before being destroy-ed by inclement weather and waves. Undeterred, Claude constructed another open-cycle plant aboard a 10,000-ton cargo vessel moored off the coast of Brazil in 1935; however, it too was destroyed by weather and waves before he could produce net power. 4 Twenty-one years |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24143 | User avatar #7242 - iderpthenherp (11/14/2012) [-]
im at college and i want to lose 50 lbs in a year, i think 1 lbs a week is a good goal, how would i go about doing that? inb4 working out, im well aware that working out loses wait, i dont think we have a pool but my school has alot of excersice equipment, if you need any more info just ask
User avatar #7249 to #7242 - lopaa (11/14/2012) [-]
3500 calories = 1 pound
So basically that works out you need to consume 500 less calories a day or do 500 calories worth of exercise a day on top of you daily routine of moving around.
User avatar #7250 to #7249 - iderpthenherp (11/14/2012) [-]
i only eat once per a day, im not to sure if thats healthy ik i should start eating more fruits and veggies what type of protein should i drink? also i should life right even if its only a little amount of weight
User avatar #7266 to #7250 - hybridboxll (11/15/2012) [-]
Ignore loopa's metabolism mumbo-jumbo.
It doesn't slow down (significantly) and you don't go into "starvation mode" for not eating 24 hours. Humans are not THAT frail.
Eating 1'000,000 meals per day has no (significant) effect on your metabolism either. But yes, 2 meals are better than one since it will be easier for you to keep track of what you eat. As far as the diet goes, just be smart about it and don't eat crap. Eat lean meats, fruits and vegetables and drink enough water. And #1: Don't over-eat. Simple advice that goes a long way.
You also asked about the workout. I'm not a big fan of 1-hour of boring ass cardio so when I'm losing weight I just go for a quick 30 minute weightlifting routine and then move on to 15 minutes of HIIT* with 5 minutes of warmup and 5 minutes of cooldown.
*High Intensity Interval Training has been proven to reduce cholesterol in your blood and increase your VO2MAX (maximum oxygen processing capacity) much faster than normal cardio.
If you want me to go into more depth with anything I mentioned feel free to ask.
User avatar #7268 to #7266 - iderpthenherp (11/15/2012) [-]
more depth please, i have a meal plan that only lets me eat once a day so until i can get to the store to buy some snaks i can only eat once a day, but yes please more detail would be great what do you feel when u over eat?
User avatar #7269 to #7268 - hybridboxll (11/15/2012) [-]
I think you would greatly benefit from having a general knowledge of how many calories are in things; check the food you eat in this site:
You need to login to view this link
IMPORTANT: You don't have to count every single calorie, you just need to get good at estimating and making guesses at how many calories are in something.
I would aim at a 1800-2100 calorie diet, this will help you get a rough estimate You need to login to view this link
PS. The more specific you make your questions the better I'll be able to help you out.
User avatar #7270 to #7269 - iderpthenherp (11/15/2012) [-]
what would be the best work out to help me lose wait? i dont really care how long it takes but the max id put in is like 2 hours a day
User avatar #7274 to #7270 - hybridboxll (11/15/2012) [-]
I just realized I posted the other comments as a reply to my own. Just letting you know I wrote some more.
User avatar #7271 to #7270 - hybridboxll (11/15/2012) [-]
You said your school had a lot of exercise equipment, try this routine I happened to have laying around:
*NOTE*: EVERY exercise should be done with 8-12 reps, and rest somewhere from 30-45 seconds in between sets. MIND YOUR FORM; Do the exercises in a slow, controlled manner; don't throw the weights around.
MONDAY: [Chest and triceps] + [HIIT]
TUESDAY: [Back and biceps] + [HIIT]
WEDNESDAY: [30 minutes of regular, normal-paced cardio] + [HIIT]
THURSDAY: [Shoulders and traps] + [HIIT]
FRIDAY: [Legs] + [HIIT]
SATURDAY: REST (optional cardio)
SUNDAY: REST (optional cardio)
MONDAY: Chest and triceps
- 3 sets of bench press
- 3 sets of pec deck machine
- 3 sets of triceps pushdown
- 3 sets of seated overhead triceps extension
- 3 sets of calf raises (25-30 reps)
TUESDAY: Back and biceps
- 3 sets of lat pulldowns (wide grip, palms facing forward)
- 3 sets of machine rows
- 3 sets of barbell curls (1 with close grip, 2 with wide grip)
- 3 sets of one-arm cable curls
- 3 sets of crunches (25-30 reps)
User avatar #7288 to #7271 - theunknowable (11/15/2012) [-]
fuck your comment
User avatar #7272 to #7271 - hybridboxll (11/15/2012) [-]
THURSDAY: Shoulders and traps. Be extra-careful with your form with shoulder exercises, there are very small muscles in the shoulders that can get hurt if you do them wrong.
- 3 sets of lateral raises (dumbbell or cable)
- 3 sets of rear delt flies
- 3 sets of upright rows (barbell or cable)
- 3 sets of shrugs (dumbbell, barbell or machine, whatever is more comfortable)
- 3 sets of seated calf raises (25-30 reps)
- 3 sets of barbell squats
- 3 sets of one legged-leg press
- 3 sets of deadlifts
- 3 sets of one legged-lying leg curls
- 3 sets of crunches (25-30 reps)
User avatar #7273 to #7272 - hybridboxll (11/15/2012) [-]
It consists of doing 30 seconds of all-out (literally) exercise and then doing 30 seconds of intermediate exercise (around 60-70% of your maximum). Repeat.
Aim for 15-20 minutes, but this is a very taxing exercise so if you start feeling ill or nauseous stop and try to go a bit further every day/week. Don't hurt yourself.
You can do this ANYWHERE; stationary bike, swimming, running, rowing machine, etc:
- 5 minutes of warmup
- 2 Minutes of cool-down
User avatar #7275 to #7273 - iderpthenherp (11/15/2012) [-]
could i run for HIIT? or lifting is good to?
User avatar #7276 to #7275 - hybridboxll (11/15/2012) [-]
HIIT should definitely be done with the usual cardio methods and exercises, it would be hard to do it while lifting. Running is a good option.
User avatar #7277 to #7276 - iderpthenherp (11/15/2012) [-]
okay so i got the work out, and eating, now wut
User avatar #7284 to #7277 - hybridboxll (11/15/2012) [-]
Well, now just do it and stick to it :)
User avatar #7294 to #7284 - iderpthenherp (11/16/2012) [-]
also what are some good sholder excersices?
User avatar #7298 to #7294 - hybridboxll (11/16/2012) [-]
I wrote some in comment #7272...
Today I'll work shoulders; this is my routine:
- Dumbbell shoulder press 12-16 reps, 4 sets, add weight on each one, 30-60 seconds of rest, drop set on the last set.
- Lateral Raise 10-12 reps, 3 sets, 30-60 seconds rest, add weight, triple drop set in the last one
- Reverse peck-Deck 10-14 reps, 5 sets, add weight, 30 seconds rest
- Superset of Front raises and Upright rows, 10-14 reps, add weight, 60 seconds between superset, repeat 2 times (for a total of 3 supersets)
After that I do traps and calves.
User avatar #7293 to #7284 - iderpthenherp (11/16/2012) [-]
is saturday and sunday a rest day?
User avatar #7251 to #7250 - lopaa (11/14/2012) [-]
eating 1 meal a day is very bad for you indeed. Your body will go into starvation if you only eat one meal a day so as soon as you eat it will store it as fat because it does not know when its next meal is coming. You are better of eating 4-6 small meals a day in regular intervals. This keeps your metabolism stimulated meaning your body will naturally burn more calories.
User avatar #7252 to #7251 - iderpthenherp (11/14/2012) [-]
im in college with meal plans so i cant really eat 4-6 times a day the max i can do is 2 but i could grab some fruit and eat that every few hours
User avatar #7254 to #7252 - lopaa (11/14/2012) [-]
Well you can have breakfast, then a yoghurt a few hours after breakfast, lunch then some fruit a few hours after lunch, then dinner and some some nuts a few hours after dinner. there's your six meals
User avatar #7257 to #7254 - iderpthenherp (11/14/2012) [-]
i think i can do that, now what type of work out should i do? this is where im really lost all i do now is run for 30 minutes to a hour a day
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24144 | User avatar #25 - daentraya (11/17/2012) [-]
Shouganai = It cant be helped, **** happens, quit complaining. Japanese expression
#26 to #25 - gengetsu (11/17/2012) [-]
I'm really hoping the retards on the internet won't ever abuse that expression. It'd ruin half of the joy in watching anime for me.
User avatar #27 to #26 - daentraya (11/17/2012) [-]
Why? I heard about it, and i loved it. Like Hakuna Matata. Its a great meaning compressed into a single nice word. Like Carpe Diem.
User avatar #28 to #27 - gengetsu (11/17/2012) [-]
It's great indeed, and that's exactly why I'd rather not see people who use YOLO and swag above anything else in every damn possible situation use that. So if they did that, I'd just be reminded of them every time I'd hear shouganai, or even shikata nai wa ne.
User avatar #29 to #28 - daentraya (11/17/2012) [-]
Meh.. What does Shikata nai wa ne mean?
User avatar #30 to #29 - gengetsu (11/17/2012) [-]
Pretty much the same thing as far as I know.
User avatar #31 to #30 - daentraya (11/17/2012) [-]
Well, Shouganai is more fit to become a thing, since its a single nice word
#32 to #31 - gengetsu (11/17/2012) [-]
That is true, but I'd still prefer not to see everyone use it in a few months from now.
User avatar #33 to #32 - daentraya (11/17/2012) [-]
Aw, dont want to share an expression? If anything, it could make people stop bitching about everything
User avatar #34 to #33 - gengetsu (11/17/2012) [-]
By everyone, I mean the people who like to abuse everything on the internet. The le-ing people, the people who always complain about reposts, you know. I hate to sound like a bitching person, so I try not to be one but I guess you can't change people's interpretations if there's no voice or tone around.
User avatar #35 to #34 - daentraya (11/17/2012) [-]
I dont know how much they'd be able to **** this such an expression, but i wouldnt want to know either. I'll just use it as a motto, along with Hakuna Matata
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24148 | Welcome to Gaia! ::
I like this spaceship we are in.
GO 7! X3
i know who se7en is he is a korean singer well thats wat i think he is
this is the zurg pass words if you want to see for your self send this to all your freinds
• urmothership
2nd Page:
• foo
• bar
• baz
• quux
3rd Page:
•Lotus Elise
((NOTE:Make sure you don't paste the bullet (•)at the beginning of the link.
Make sure you erase the spaces at the end of the link.
Make sure the next four passwords are put in EXACTLY as you see them on page one, except without the bullets(•) of course.
If this still doesn't work, you're doing something wrong. Plenty of us have gotten into the zurg's 4th page with these passwords, including myself.))
4th Page:
• there is no cow level
• zurg1234
• delta
+--That's posted almost everywhere. -.-'' Find the translated blueprints and then you'll be a hero. ^_^--+
Creedflakes's avatar
Fuzzy Wolf
+-- It's true. ^_^--+
Go 07! woot! woot!
*throws hands up in air* I give up. No one cares about grammar or useful topics anymore.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24154 | Jump to content
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Dialogs and stuff
Posted by O-san, in Medieval Story, Nimrord Editor, Programming 07 July 2011 · 262 views
I've just completed the dialog system of Medieval story. I'm sure it will need some refinements and bug fixing later on but as a whole it's pretty much feature complete. The system works kind of like the index of a magazine:
• First you got a greeting page with a couple of categories that the user can select.
• Each category can have a number of sub-pages and each page can have a different number of answers/choices. Right now I have limited the answer space to three options (this might be expanded later on).
• Each answer the user selects can lead to:
• Another topic - it doesn't have to lead to the first page of that topic.. it can lead to any sub-page.
• Execute a script.
• Exit the dialog.
Initially I wasn't going to allow for execution of scripts from within dialogs, but I changed my mind. I found it would be neat to for example change the behaviour of the NPC you are talking to through scripting. Make him angry for example.
I've also implemented a way of grouping and hiding objects that are in the way of the player. This feature is common in many RPG's; the roof disappears when the player walk below it. I will only use this for smaller buildings. When entering larger areas I will load it as a different map.
Video showing the dialog box and roof hiding.
Posted Image
Better quality link
Thanks for reading!
Looks nice, but I would deactivate the scrolling, if the text is short enough.
What the heck? You killed Otto. After he was so nice to you and everything. :(
Umm, anyway. Pretty cool.
Thanks! :)
Speculi, good idea. I will look into it.
When I saw the "prepare to die" option I was hoping you would click it, was quite suspenseful as you hovered over the continue button but it ended up being great haha, game looks pretty cool!
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24165 | Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel Is Fleeting Fun
You can just tell when a series has run its course, when a developer runs out of certain ideas and decides to just let loose with whatever action they can get away with. That's the situation with Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel, the third chapter in the partner-based military action series that tries to keep up where the last sequel, The 40th Day, left off – even though it's under the direction of a different development team.
At least give the producers some credit – they're not just following the usual course in set-up. This time around, you're knee deep in trouble in Mexico, using new T.W.O. agents Alpha and Bravo to clean up members of a cartel, all while trying to figure out who's running the show. A fiery heroine named Fiona joins your cause, and Rios and Salem from the original games show up as well, though not in playable form. No matter – you can still do plenty of damage.
And that's one of Devil's Cartel's biggest aspect – it utilizes Frostbite 2 technology and lets you trash the environment in a number of ways. Watching bits and pieces of walls and other debris shatter with your bullets is an exciting factor to the game, and causing some major damage with a helicopter turret even more so. That doesn't stop the team aspects of the game from shining through, however, as you'll still work closely with your partner to draw heat in some situations, like with a shielded enemy, only to have the other guy come around to finish him off.
The game can be played solo, and the behavior of your AI partner in that situation isn't half bad. However, this game was built for two, so it should seem proper that you bring along a friend in co-op, either locally via split-screen or across Xbox Live/PlayStation Network. This makes the game more thoroughly enjoyable, especially with the unpredictability of a partner in tow.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24213 | The BCI Software wiki last edited by Ravenhoe on 05/19/13 04:55AM View full history
BCI Software published & ported the cult classic Montezuma's Revenge for the Apple II and PC Booter respectively
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24214 | Get this guide started!
Think you're an expert in Disney/Pixar Cars: Rev It up in Radiator Springs? Why not start up this guide to help duders just getting into this Game.
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Posted by big_jon
Bad marketing. That is simply gross.
Posted by Nonentity
I wonder what the requirements for shipping meat in the mail are. Do they have to check or grade the meat?
Posted by kishan6
SOOO much mailbaglately
Posted by teekomeeko
Hey Bulletstorm, thanks for reminding me that you are a game I will avoid like the plague.
'Preciate it.
Posted by borgmaster
@Icil said:
" Dude, if I got ground meat that had dog tags with my fuckin name on it, I'd call that a threat to my life. "
Edited by FireSketch
I love that the video is 12:26 minutes long and the box says " 226" all over it :3
Posted by Jambones
Poor Jeff :-(
Posted by lesenfantterrible
never seen a video where Jeff says fuck so much!! deck Cliffy B when you see him at E3 Jeff!!
Posted by I_smell
People Can Fly, I love you
Posted by Greenlight13
Someone is going to look in that dumpster, see meat and bullets and call the police haha
Posted by stephengotlost
Hey while they're at it, why not throw in some maggots and larvae, ugh.
Posted by jakob187
Jeff droppin' a ton of F bombs!!!
Posted by Dpower94
That sure is a nice knife Jeff, but is it a COP KNIFE?
Posted by glitznglam_style
"I don't want to fucking open this." - Jeff
Awesome, lol.
Posted by Diamond
No mailbags forever then suddenly MAILBAGS!
I like it.
Posted by SatelliteOfLove
Michael Jai White == Sold
Posted by Lambert
Instead of wasting money on these stupid publicity stunts like this, maybe publishers can lower the price of their overpriced games.
Posted by EasyPeasey
these videos are awesome. hearing the GB crew spit game on MK for 10 minutes reminds me of the good ol' days.
Posted by Blitzer
@Greenlight13 said:
" Someone is going to look in that dumpster, see meat and bullets and call the police haha "
I was thinking the same thing. Someone is going to be like WTF!?!?!
Posted by lokilaufey
I love how much Jeff swears when presented with raw meat. I can only imagine what he'd be like in a meat department.
Posted by CashBailey
Some marketing goon probably got a promotion and a raise for coming up wiith that.
Posted by btman
@Vito_Raliffe said:
" Really liking all of these mailbags lately! "
I concur.
Posted by Zatoichi_Sanjuro
Jesus Christ, Jeff, cut away from your body. Towards Ryan's body.
Posted by ch3burashka
The "fuck" density of this video is second only to the Rogue Warrior Quick Look.
Posted by Undeadpool
Jeff does not seem thrilled...
Posted by The_Hiro_Abides
Bulletstorm: remember the meat!
Posted by UberExplodey
Brad certainly seemed eager to grill that shit.
Posted by bigcess
Nice. Already MK Johnny Cage as his desktop.
Posted by aihuman
Razor blade is a good tool to open a box.
Posted by bucky
What about the possibility of a game/movie in the vein of Street Fighter game/movie combo?
Posted by cwdawg1224
One of my favorite parts of these mailbag videos is getting to see all the crap on everyone's desk.
Posted by Yzzerdd
CSI:Giant Bomb
Posted by TomA
@cwdawg1224 said:
" One of my favorite parts of these mailbag videos is getting to see all the crap on everyone's desk. "
Same, it just makes me wanna work in New Media Journalism that much more. All the tech lying around, computers everywhere, all the funny nostalgia stuff, that's my type of office:)
Posted by RobotHamster
More mailbags!
Posted by Computerplayer1
Jeff tears the box up, son.
Posted by Leadcat
I would hate to get something like that in the mail. >_>
Loved the MK discussion at the end!
Edited by InFamous91
lmao awesome vid. Also great discussion, can't wait for bombcast.
Posted by SinGulaR
Is it just my imagination or does Jeff really seem more calm and balanced than usual? If so... keep up what you're doing Jeff, it suits you well :)
Edited by MooseyMcMan
This is the greatest way to market a game I've ever seen. Seriously.
Edit: I was talking about the BulletStorm meat. I commented half way through the video.
Posted by milhous
"Thanks, Bulletstorm, for...some bad meat."
(softly) "Fuck."
I kept from laughing all the way up until that final, resigned Jeff-bomb.
Posted by YukoAsho
OK seriously, that shit was NASTY. Absolutely horrible. Seriously, sending meat in a promotional product like that? Ugh.... Nas-tay.
Posted by mystakin
Do any other mediums send out promo packages like this? Seems like a weird quark of the gaming industry that doesn't really appear to be all that... iono... useful.
Edited by slyspider
jeff was fuckin saying 'fuck' all the time
Posted by Crushed
Apparently the meat also has a (fake) tooth in it, but they never found it.
That'll make the inevitable hobo discovery even more horrifying, when they find ground up rancid meat, bullet casings, and a human tooth embedded in it.
Posted by okuzy
id love for it to be a movie
Posted by Hyuzen
jeffs swearing up a storm today
Posted by eccentrix
Jeff's so angry about the awesome custom dogtags.
Posted by UncleBenny
I enjoy how Jeff is spraying crazy meat into that evaporator.
Posted by TheLawnWrangler
@andrewng30 said:
" cannot be a trailer for a movie, they would not show a decapitated body in a trailer "
red bands, son. red bands.
Posted by TomA
How fucking stupid are those devs? Who the fuck wants raw meat in the fucking mail! |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24217 | Make your own Capcom Versus game!
About a few weeks ago, producer Yoshinori Ono of Capcom fame was thinking out loud and said that he'd love to make a Nintendo vs. Capcom game... and that somehow translated to "They're making a Nintendo vs. Capcom game." Sadly, there is no such game and there probably never will be one. But a community can dream of a day where two of the most respected companies in the industry join forces to create a crazy fighting game with a superstar lineup of characters.
So fucking start dreaming you dreamers! Give me your ideal vs. Capcom crossover... and even some shitty ones. Family vs. Capcom anyone?
Capitalism, bitches!
The tale of how I got my hands on Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale is a short one. Chaser324 had this idea to give away a copy of Recettear during an era where everybody was feeling extremely generous. The way to win a copy was to guess how much change was in his jar of money, not an easy task and not something I have any luck with until about two weeks ago when Chaser said I won a copy of the game. To be honest, I completely forgot how I won, but gave my thanks and went on my merry way. So Chaser, if you're reading this, thanks again for the game and can you tell me how the fuck I was only a penny away from the actual amount? Because (Giant Bomb meme spoiler) I'm not a wizard, but that looks fucked up.
And thanks to Chaser, I can fulfill my dream of becoming a young anime girl who runs an item shop with her fairy partner.
A tycoon game with a Japanese twist!
Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale is a tycoon game at its core. You buy swords, shields, armor, food, and various equipment from various wholesale vendors that might be useful on an adventure to slay beasts, slimes, and other creatures of the woods and then sell them to the general public for a profit... because if you don't you're out on your ass living in a cardboard box and resorting to prostitution just to support your meth addiction. The meat of the game is the art of haggling, something you're familiar with if you watch Pawn Stars regularly. You have to maintain a good price balance without driving away the customer, something that can be tricky if you don't know your clientele.
Running a shop isn't all about negotiating and serving customers. It's also about fighting monsters.
I feel like I've only scratched the surface of the game, but there's a lot to like. Eventually you can pimp your store with new floors, walls, and stuff, but the most ambitious need to hire some help in order to find treasure out in the wilderness... and that's when Recettear turns into a 2D Zelda game. Recettear does sneak in some actual sword-swinging action to balance out the occasional monotony of running an item shop. It's pretty simplistic, but surprisingly fun.
And that's the tale (blog) of a tiny, indie game from Japan that warmed my heart thanks to a dude with enough money to give away free stuff... get!
Start the Conversation
Get your Super Bowl predictions here!
Big games means big predictions and in the world of football and everything from gambling addicts to zoo animals try to predict the outcome of the biggest sports event in the world. You might disagree, Europe, but it's true. Anyway, the fine people at EA did their annual prediction and the black and yellow will prevail according to Madden NFL 11, but it will be a nail biter. So if Madden can make predictions, why not I?
So in the spirit of the game we in the states call football, here are some predictions.
• For the pregame interview, President Obama and Bill O'Reilly will end in a tie with 9 interruptions each.
• The Puppy Bowl will be adorable.
• Doritos will defeat Anheuser-Busch in the number of unique ads 6-4.
• Troy Polamalu's hair and Clay Matthews' hair will become entangled during the coin toss. There will be delay the game 45 minutes until the situation is resolved.
• The Black Eyed Peas will suck during the halftime show until's nipple slips out.
• It will snow in Dallas. Again.
• I will consume at least a half a bag of Tostitos, an entire jar of queso, 5 slices of pizza, a dozen wings, a 6-pack of Magic Hat #9, and about 8 shots of SoCo. John Madden will consume that x4.
• And the big prediction, Pittsburgh and Green Bay will each score several points.
Have a safe and wreckless Super Bowl weekend, everyone!
Start the Conversation
Iwata should get a Formspring account.
It's no secret that I like Nintendo. I did once pledge my allegiance to some force that defends the Wii, but it's not just the games that make Nintendo great. See, there's this dude in a suit named Satoru Iwata. He's kind of a big deal at Nintendo and he often makes the credits of their video games. He also loves to talk about Nintendo and its games after their release. He even has his own little spot on Nintendo's website called Iwata Asks
Some of you may know about it already.
Iwata Asks, for those who don't know, is a series of interesting discussions about the inner workings of the company and its developers. There's often a lot of (laughs) and some interesting tidbits about how certain game elements were considered, what parts of the game did or didn't make the final product, and the early moments of game development. It's pretty cool to see somebody as high up in the ranks as Iwata go more in-depth into the whole process and brainstorming that goes on behind the scenes.
For example, Kirby's Epic Yarn didn't start out as a Kirby game, but Fluff was actually the star of the game. However, at some point during the process, there was a suggestion to make it a Kirby game and the rest is history. Of course Fluff kinda looked Kirby-like. (laughs)
So if you ever wanted to know how Wii Music came to be or their opinions on Snake and Sonic's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, ask Iwata.
It's Iwata!
Hmm... never noticed the red eyes. Oh shit, he's sentient!
Start the Conversation
When a dialogue tree has too many leaves.
Shepherd. Wait... did that wrong.
Dialogue? Yeah, spell check. Dialogue.
After weeks and months of stalling and procrastination, I finally got the courage to play Mass Effect. Perhaps you've never heard of it. Mass Effect is a small video game made by Bioware, a tiny, independent group of ragtag nerds with a love for speaking and the occasional action. It's about aliens and spaceships and going pew pew pew with your fancy space gun. But it's not your ordinary space shooter, it's a game with a grossly expansive universe with lots of attention to the tiniest details. For example, did you know the Salarians live relatively short lives due to their metabolism? Did you also know the average Krogan can bench press 600 pounds? And that the SSV Normandy was not named for the World War II battle, but after Normandy Mining, a former mining company based in Australia? Well when you talk to people like I do in Mass Effect, you can find all sorts of useless information on various alien species, class hierarchy, eating habits, hygiene, favorite color, and more. I've played through several hours of the game and I feel I've barely scratched the surface not just because I take my fucking time sightseeing like I always do in games of this scope, but because I have to talk to everything that moves. It's an unfortunate side affect of my completionist syndrome. Of course the game doesn't help since conversations can last a really long time. I'm expected at one point in the game to run into one of the maintenance workers at the Citadel and ask him in detail about his race, job, favorite football team, and last sexual encounter because I would not be surprised.
Mass Effect: the book?
But I do exaggerate just a smidge... or I'm playing it wrong. Mass Effect is a very talkative game with the inability to shut up when I'm in control. I guess if you're trying to build a universe from scratch, one way is to have it in your face all the time, and people totally dig that. From my point of view, as long as the dialogue is good and in no way hokey, go ahead and talk my ear off because getting to know the various groups, races, and their history will undoubtedly help understanding the entire story when it's time to blow up the Death Star or whatever happens at the end. There's an entire universe to explore filled with some odd creatures that all speak English. Star Trek, much?
Where's the "Get back in the kitchen, woman!" option?
What I'm trying to say is that while the choices aren't detrimental to the game, maybe games should consider cutting some unnecessary branches on some of those dialogue trees or even streamlining some of the options. Too often I go to a crew member or complete stranger and we chat for a second... and then Shepard gets all inquisitive. And so 6 different questions show up. Sometimes I wish there was an "all of the above" choice where the morality portion is not involved just to save my mouse a few clicks. The alternative would be to avoid everyone at all costs and just stick to the essentials, but I fear there's something I'll be missing if I say nothing at all so will continue to speak to the most trivial members of society gaining as much knowledge as I can.
So that's my Mass Effect experience in a nutshell so far, but you might be wondering if I have some vendetta against dialogue trees. Well, not really. The whole point of a dialogue tree is not just to inform or decide between a good and bad outcome, but also to increase the replay value of a game. In the case of Mass Effect, Bioware's goal was for the player (that's me... and probably you) to try out every possible scenario and choose Shepard's past, present, and future. It's like reading a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book over and over reading every possible outcome. Right now I'm attempting to create a good Shepard because that's how I always roll, but a part of me wants to create asshole Shepard for the hell of it.
Now with that out of the way, I was trying to find out what the last game I played at length that had dialogue in tree form. The Sam & Max games come to mind, but that's typical of that genre. Before that, I believe it was Persona 4... and I remember their dialogue trees making a huge difference in how Charlie Tunoku's year would turn out with all the intimacy, popularity, and Social Links. Unfortunately that also means 98% of normal gamers will never get a unique experience due to the 60-100 hours of actual game... that's a lot of JRPG to swallow. That means parts of the game will forever be unknown to me because I doubt I'll touch Persona 4 again.
I think I'm finally out of things to say so I guess this is the part of the blog where I ask a question about what you think about dialogue trees.
1. What's your opinion on dialogue trees?
2. Is there a game out there with the perfect dialogue tree construct?
3. Do you love having dialogue trees as a means to make decisions?
4. Are you indifferent towards them?
5. Do you hate them with a passion because you think it's a poor way to tell a story or because you think predetermining your own fate is stupid?
6. Goodbye.
Choose wisely!?
Something about bullet points.
• So OMG the NGP PSP! Looks neat, but if Nintendo can't convince me to go portable, how will you Sony?
• Another Kirby game? Looks like a GameCube game... probably because it was? Big Final Fantasy sword confirmed so meh.
• There's this new Wii game announced called Pandora's Tower. Have fun with that, Japan. Because you know nobody else will.
• People need to stop bitching about the snow. It's winter for Christ's sake! I fucking love the snow! You should too.
• Tested mugs? Call me when the Tested fondue pots are announced.
• Egypt is one crazy place. They have pointy buildings.
• There's something about bullet points that just works. Keeps things simple.
Start the Conversation
Scared moms and creepy Miis.
Well this is a marketing tactic I haven't seen in a while. I can remember the days where I'd browse through my latest Nintendo Power and see some advertisement boasting a game's cutting-edge graphics or its extreme attitude. One of the more interesting marketing tactics was to portray said game as too extreme or too gross for parents. And now, Dead Space 2 brings back that ad trick.
Your mom hates Dead Space 2? Maybe this worked back when the majority of gamers were teens and young adults, but what is the Dead Space 2 demographic? People who are old enough to buy video games on their own. This ad is clearly aimed at people who aren't old enough to walk into a Gamestop on their own and buy Dead Space 2. Unless you're 15 or younger, that tagline is downright stupid. And I think the young teens on this site might find it just as dumb. And does that mean your mom might like the upcoming Gears of War 3? Bulletstorm? Actually in the case of Bulletstorm, that might be dumb enough to work.
I just don't see this advertising gimmick working in an industry where violence and scary shit is fairly commonplace. Now if this marketing ploy makes it to the cable news networks, maybe I will eat a little crow since everybody knows news coverage is free advertising, but EA fucked up this time, in my opinion.
Yet the worst advertising I've seen this week goes to Mario Sports Mix and its creepy Mii mascots. YOUTUBE CLIP GO!
I guess it's great to see Nintendo actually recognizing that Miis still exist, but they couldn't have picked a creepier way to use giant life-size Miis. The whole SportsCenter vibe is pretty corny as it should be. It is just a Mario sports game after all. Yet they had to use Miis here? I think they could've went with a fake Stuart Scott/Scott Van Pelt combo yet they go with a stoned Mii with a pedophile mustache. And at the 0:08 mark, I think the lady Mii is flipping the bird.
So Dead Space 2 ad... seriously? Is this the best they can do?
And Mario Sports Mix ad... really? Big Mii head mode? Thoughts?
So apparently I get G4 now.
And I wonder if Comcast can make a trade. I'll give up G4 for something else. Like IFC or Boomerang... anything. I don't care. I don't need another channel that shows COPS in syndication.
Maybe I'm ranting to the wrong crowd. Perhaps a stern letter to Comcast would be more effective.
Also, I started playing video games again. Mass Effect... so far so good.
Start the Conversation
You guys want my opinion of the 3DS?
Well don't expect to get an expert opinion on the subject of handheld games.
I'm probably in the small minority of people here who has never owned a handheld. Ever. Hell, I don't even like the idea of playing on a mobile phone. So that's why I rarely ever talk about anything related to the DS or PSP because I just don't play those games. So as a biased observer, I can honestly say that the 3DS looks pretty cool. Wait, what?
Yeah... I think the lineup looks pretty awesome, but a piece of advice for Nintendo. Please stop with the Nintendo 64 remakes. They're completely unnecessary.
Weekend. Enjoy yours.
Start the Conversation |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24218 | No recent wiki edits to this page.
The Stone of Agony is an item seen only in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. It is Link's reward from the cursed family for killing twenty Gold Skulltulas. This mysterious rock will shake from within in the presence of secrets, such as the hidden grotto entrances scattered around Hyrule Field. In gameplay terms, this means that if the player had a Rumble Pak or a Tremor Pak inserted into their controller, it will vibrate when Link is near a hidden secret, with the vibration growing stronger the closer he gets. The player will receive the Stone regardless of whether or not they actually have a Rumble Pak.
The following game, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, has the Rumble Pak vibrate in the presence of secrets by default, though no mention is made in-universe of whether or not this was because Link still possesses the Stone of Agony. Later remakes of Ocarina of Time, such as the Master Quest version, rely on whether or not the player had enabled the vibration feature on their controller to determine the Stone's usefulness. The Stone of Agony is still collectable the game's Virtual Console re-release on the Nintendo Wii, but the Classic Controller has no Rumble feature.
Because the 3DS does not have rumble functionality, the 3DS remake of Ocarina of Time does not support the Stone of Agony in its original form. It has been replaced with a new item called the Shard of Agony. The Shard of Agony serves the same purpose, but instead uses audio-visual cues to alert the player to secrets.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24233 | GM Truck Club
Results 1 to 4 of 4
1. #1
Default 2000 silverado 4.3 check engine light.
I have a 2000 silverado 4.3L automatic. I have been having trouble with the service engine soon light. If I drive the truck at a "normal" pace it never comes on. (Hasn't in months) Today however, I got on it a little and it started flashing, then came on steady. If you get on it again, it will start flashing again, then go steady again. I have had it on a computer before and it said "random cylinder misfire" I changed the distributor cap / button because I know this model truck is bad about ruining the cap/button. The engine does not seem to be missing anywhere in the rpm range. It runs good, but I can't figure this light thing out. Can anybody help me out?
BTW, this is my first post here.
2. #2
Could be bad wires/plugs.
3. #3
Quote Originally Posted by CoolBlueSS View Post
Could be bad wires/plugs.
DOH! I forgot to mention I have allready changed the plugs and wires. I need to double check the connections on the plugwires/cap. I had the code read just now and it was missfire on cyl 2 this time.
4. #4
Master Mechanic
Join Date
Oct 2008
Brandon, FLA
Blog Entries
Yep, make sure when you connect they have that "Click" sound or feel, one off and the CEL will detect the slighest on the "Misfire" code.
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Phoenix in the Ashes by HPFF United
Chapter 3 : Werewolf
Rating: 15+Chapter Reviews: 16
Background: Font color:
Remus Lupin stretched back against the large tree by the Black Lake. The sunshine was glorious, for once, and Remus was sure that a mix of sunshine and a rare moment of silence was helping him feel much better. For a few minutes, his potion book went unnoticed on the ground. Just as he was beginning to fall asleep for the first time in a few days, he was woken by the sound of someone breathing. As he opened his eyes, he realised that he was face to face with a set of hazel eyes behind a pair of round glasses. Remus jumped, slightly startled.
The owner of the hazel eyes moved back, laughing. It was now clear that he was accompanied by two other boys. "You were in another world then, weren't you?" He said, sitting down next to him. Remus smiled.
"Yeah. I can't believe it's sunny, for once."
James smiled and sat down next to Remus. The two others- Sirius and Peter- also sat down. Remus suddenly felt exceedingly nervous, as if he should say something hilarious. The only problem was, anytime Remus attempted a joke, it went massively wrong.
He surreptitiously looked over at Sirius to see what he was doing. In fact, it was nothing interesting. He was staring across the Black Lake, and absentmindedly pulling at the grass around him. As time passed, and nobody said anything, Remus felt increasingly awkward. He coughed slightly to break the silence. Sirius must have been waiting for something to break the silence.
"So, you're revising potions?" he said, nodding towards the textbook. Remus nodded.
"But, you're the best in the class! It's not as if you won't get into second year!" Peter said, suddenly.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Well, maybe he likes to learn" He replied to Peter. Peter shrugged.
"So you're leaving again tonight, aren't you?" James asked in an almost business like tone.
Remus felt his cheeks going pink. "My mum is very ill" Remus was completely fed up with saying this every month. It was almost becoming his catchphrase.
"What kind of ill?" James asked.
Suddenly, he felt as if he was sat in front of the Wizengamot, having to justify his own life. He stood up, picking up his potions book, which was now in Sirius' hand. "I…er… need to go. It was nice to see you."
A week and 2 days had passed since that afternoon. The weather now was extremely stormy. It was almost a humid temperature, and the common room was bustling with people who were avoiding the outside at all costs. Remus had managed to find himself a corner of the common room and settled down to enjoy the atmosphere of the room.
Suddenly, he saw Peter Pettigrew crawl through the portrait hole, he was damp and his wet hair was flopping over his face. He scanned the room and saw that the only chair available was next to Remus. He walked over, smiling at him.
"Can I sit here?" He asked. Remus nodded.
"Do you know you're soaked?" Remus asked, bluntly.
Peter grinned. "I've been helping James and Sirius practice for Quidditch." Remus smiled. Peter seemed like the kind of person that would help his friends do anything. "They're trying out tomorrow for the team, and they needed some help…" He said, drying his hair with his wand.
"What does Sirius play?" Remus asked intrigued. He stood up, pulling his own wand out to help Peter dry.
"Keeper… I've been chucking things at him all day" Remus laughed, sitting down. A newly dry Peter, with extremely fluffy hair sat down also.
Suddenly, a very wet James and Sirius came in, laughing raucously.
"We managed to get Snivellus wet!" Peter laughed and immediately stood up to help dry the other two. Remus stayed sat down. As they were dried, Sirius and James sat on the floor in front of the arm chairs. Both friends were looking at Remus seriously.
"We've worked it out," James said calmly.
"W… worked out what?"
"Why you leave once a month and return a few days later covered in scars" James said.
Remus was feeling increasingly sick. "I… I don't understand" he said.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "You don't have to pretend. James isn't as stupid as he looks. He worked it out in the end".
Remus gasped, finding it hard to breathe. He suddenly realised what this meant. He would have to leave Hogwarts and become an outcast. He would never get his education. He already knew employment opportunities were weak, but without education, they were worse. He felt his pulse quicken.
"O…Okay, I'm a-" He lowered his face. "A werewolf" The last two words were whispered, so that nobody else could hear what he said. Remus kept his head lowered. He concentrated on breathing to prevent tears, and gave the others the chance to leave.
As he looked up, all three were still sat there. Sirius was grinning. "You never would have guessed" he said, "In fact, it's kind of cool. Watch out Snivellus, or I'll set Remus on you." Sirius mused. The other two boys laughed appreciatively.
Remus was shocked. "But, aren't you going to… run away or something?"
James shrugged. "You seem nice…"
"We want to know you better." Sirius said.
Remus was still shocked. These people had worked out his secret, and were actually amused at it. They weren't running away in fear, and they didn't pity him. They were accepting him.
"So… is there any chance you could give me a hand with the Defence Against The Dark Arts essay?" James asked, smirking "I don't have a clue what I need to do…"
Remus grinned. These really were the strangest people I've ever met… Remus thought amusedly.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24281 | [Haskell-cafe] Use unsafePerformIO to catch Exception?
Jonathan Cast jonathanccast at fastmail.fm
Wed Mar 25 02:49:32 EDT 2009
On Tue, 2009-03-24 at 23:13 -0700, Donn Cave wrote:
> Quoth Duncan Coutts <duncan.coutts at worc.ox.ac.uk>:
> > You must not do this. It breaks the semantics of the language.
> >
> > Other people have given practical reasons why you should not but a
> > theoretical reason is that you've defined a non-continuous function.
> > That is impossible in the normal semantics of pure functional languages.
> > So you're breaking a promise which we rely on.
> Could you elaborate a little, in what sense are we (?) relying on it?
> I actually can't find any responses that make a case against it on a
> really practical level - I mean, it seems to be taken for granted that
> it will work as intended,
It shouldn't be.
loop = loop
blam = error "blam"
notReallyTry = unsafePerformIO . try . evaluate
Now, normally, we have, for all x, y,
x `seq` y `seq` x
= y `seq` x
But we clearly do *not* have this for x = blam, y = loop, since the
equality isn't preserved by notReallyTry:
notReallyTry $ blam `seq` loop `seq` blam = Left (ErrorCall "blam")
notReallyTry $ loop `seq` blam = loop
Now, say a compiler sees the definition
foo x y = x `seq` y `seq` x
in one module, and then in a later one
expectToBeTotal = notReallyTry $ foo blam loop
? What happens if the compiler, while compiling foo, notices that x is
going to be evaluated eventually anyway, and decides against forcing it
before y?
What if foo was written as
foo (!x) (!y) = x
? Which order are the evaluations performed in? In a purely functional
language, it doesn't matter; but all of a sudden with impure operations
like notReallyTry popping up, it does.
More information about the Haskell-Cafe mailing list |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24282 | [Haskell-cafe] Purely logical programming language
Lauri Alanko la at iki.fi
Tue May 26 15:24:41 EDT 2009
On Tue, May 26, 2009 at 09:10:10PM +0200, Matthias Görgens wrote:
> The model in Prolog, however, looks more like the model used in most
> strict functional languages. It uses impure predicates to affect the
> outside world. Do you know of any attempt to do for logic programming
> what Monads did for functional programming?
Traditionally Prolog programmers have used chained state variables:
foo(X,S0,SOut) :- bar(X,S0,S1), baz(X,Y,S1,S2), quux(X,Y,S2,SOut).
This is kind of like using a state monad on top of Prolog's built-in
nondeterminism monad. There's even syntactic sugar for this, just like
Haskell programmers have the do-syntax:
foo(X) --> bar(X), baz(X,Y), quux(X,Y).
Although Prolog isn't pure, Mercury, its derivative, is (mostly). In
Mercury, the "IO state" (kind of like RealWorld) is threaded through
state variables and Mercury's mode checking makes sure that there will
always be only one result from IO predicates.
Mercury also has type classes and other Haskellisms, so if you're
have a look at it.
More information about the Haskell-Cafe mailing list |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24283 | Faster timeout but is it correct?
Bas van Dijk v.dijk.bas at
Wed Feb 16 20:26:04 CET 2011
I realized that the previous timeout had problems when called in a
masked thread. What happens is that the call to killThread will block
because it can't throw the KillThread exception to the timeout thread
because that thread is masked. I have to use unsafeUnmask to always
unmask the timeout thread. Note that, for some reason, using
forkIOUnmasked ... is much slower than using unsafeUnmask $ forkIO
.... Any idea why?
import GHC.IO (unsafeUnmask)
imeout :: Int -> IO a -> IO (Maybe a)
timeout n f
| n < 0 = fmap Just f
| n == 0 = return Nothing
| otherwise = do
myTid <- myThreadId
timeoutEx <- fmap Timeout newUnique
uninterruptibleMask $ \restore -> do
tid <- unsafeUnmask $ forkIO $
threadDelay n >> throwTo myTid timeoutEx
(restore (fmap Just f) >>= \mb -> killThread tid >> return mb)
`catch` \e ->
case fromException e of
Just timeoutEx' | timeoutEx' == timeoutEx -> return Nothing
_ -> killThread tid >> throwIO e
For some reason this is slightly slower than the previous version
which used restore instead of unsafeUnmask. However it's still 13
times faster than the original.
The patch and benchmarks attached to the ticket are updated. Hopefully
this is the last change I had to make so I can stop spamming.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24291 | Jump to Navigation
Viola. Violet.
Botanical name:
Synonyms.—Sweet Violet; English Violet.
Violet leaves and petals from Viola odorata, Linn. (N.O. Violaceae), indigenous to Europe and Northern Asia. The plant has an oblique rhizome, and produces long filiform runners. The leaves are reniform or heart-shaped, obtuse and crenate. The flowers are dark blue, and have a sweet agreeable odour; the odour is destroyed by desiccation, and the degree to which they retain their colour depends on the method of collecting and drying them. They should be gathered before full blown, deprived of the calyx, rapidly dried either in a heated room or in a current of very dry air, and kept in air-tight containers.
Constituents.—Violet flowers yield their odour and slightly bitter taste to boiling water. The plant, especially the rhizome, contains the alkaloid violine, which is combined with malic acid and may be isolated by removing the chlorophyll and fat from the alcoholic extract by ether, boiling the residue with diluted sulphuric acid, adding to the filtrate lead oxide, evaporating, and exhausting the residue with strong alcohol. It occurs as a yellowish, bitter, fusible powder, soluble in water, less so in alcohol, insoluble in ether. The blue colouring matter, which may be extracted from the petals by infusion with water, turns green and afterwards yellow with alkalies, and red with acids. A glucoside, viola-quercitrin, is also a constituent; it may be isolated by exhausting the fresh plant with warm alcohol, removing the alcohol by distillation, and treating the residue with warm distilled water from which it crystallises in fine yellow needles. On boiling with diluted mineral acids the glucoside is split up into quercetin and a fermentable sugar. The activity of the plant is probably due to this glucoside, its products of decomposition, or a ferment associated with it. Salicylic acid has also been obtained from the plant.
Action and Uses.—Preparations of violet have been used, internally and externally, in the treatment of cancer; for this purpose an infusion of the leaves in boiling water (1 in 5) has been administered in doses of 30 to 60 mils (1 to 2 fluid ounces). A syrup of the petals (see Syrupus Violae) and a liquid extract of the fresh leaves (2 in 1) are also used; the latter may be taken in teaspoonful doses or rubbed in locally. The fresh leaves are also prepared as a compress for local application. There is no trustworthy evidence that the preparations have any effect. The root acts as an emetic and cathartic in doses of 30 to 60 grains (2 to 4 grammes).
(Violet Powder is made from Orris root, not Violet. -Henriette)
Syrupus Violae, B.P.C.—SYRUP OF VIOLET. 23 in 100.
Used as a colouring agent in neutral or acid mixtures; it is also mixed with m equal volume of almond oil to form a demulcent mixture for children. Dose.—1 to 4 mils (1/2 to 1 fluid drachm).
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Old 16th April 2007, 01:43
gavro gavro is offline
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I am having the same problem here... PLUS: I also have the same problem when a user replies to you reply once again. No email is sent.
When the admin replies to a support ticket, I get the following line in maillog:
Apr 16 00:32:56 production sendmail[22437]: l3FMWuEM022437: from=admispconfig, size=250, class=0, nrcpts=0, msgid=<[email protected]>, relay=admispconfig@localhost
When replying as user the a reply from admin I get the following line in maillog:
Apr 16 00:34:19 production sendmail[22590]: l3FMYJdf022590: from=admispconfig, size=286, class=0, nrcpts=0, msgid=<[email protected]>, relay=admispconfig@localhost
(which is actually the same...)
In other logs nothing in particular is written.
I'm wondering: is this a bug, or a 'feature'?
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24352 | 10.3886/ICPSR03719.v2 Nelson, Edward E. Sociology of Religion: Exercises Using General Social Surveys, 2000-2002 [Instructional Materials] Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research 2003 Bible Christianity church attendance instructional materials instructional modules pornography prayer religion religious attitudes religious behavior religious beliefs religious fundamentalism social issues sociology 2003-11-21 2005-01-07 2000 2002 survey data 3719 2 These instructional materials were developed from GENERAL SOCIAL SURVEYS, 1972-2002: [CUMULATIVE FILE], compiled by James A. Davis, Tom W. Smith, and Peter V. Marsden. The data file (an SPSS portable file) and accompanying documentation are provided to assist educators in instructing students about religion and social issues in the United States in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. An instructor's handout has also been included. This handout contains the following sections, among others: (1) an exercise using General Social Surveys data to create and validate a measure of religiosity, and then to relate the measure to other social variables, (2) an exercise using General Social Surveys data to explore the relationship between religiosity and other social variables using crosstabulation (focusing on two- and three-variable relationships) and to explore the concepts of explanation, spuriousness, and replication, and (3) an exercise using General Social Surveys data to create a measure of religious fundamentalism and to explore the relationship between this measure and various forms of religious behavior and opinions on social issues. The data contain information on the attitudes of a national probability sample of adults 18 years of age and older on a range of social and political issues. For this instructional subset, some variables were recoded and some new variables were created to facilitate analysis. Variables in the dataset include responses to questions on family and gender roles, abortion, sex and sexual materials, personal morals and social mores, social control, general political attitudes, and socioeconomic status. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24355 | John V. Atanasoff
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Antanasoff-Berry Computer
Antanasoff-Berry Computer
Born: October 4, 1903
Died: June 15, 1995
In 1940, Atanasoff proposed an electronic device that could solve systems of linear equations by executing a sequence of operations that followed the familiar principle of Gaussian elimination. Assisted by his graduate student, Clifford E. Berry, he built a modest but nearly-functional prototype that he demonstrated by 1941. It lacked general-purpose programmability, but it was arguably the first machine built in the United States to compute at electronic speeds. With the U.S. entry into the war, he had to abandon the project before it could be made fully operational.
There are several contenders for the title of "first computer," and advocates for each of them have often fought among each other, in meetings, in journals, and even in the courtroom, for what they feel is the rightful place for that particular machine in history. The Atanasoff machine has perhaps been the subject of the most controversy, primarily because among those who visited him in Ames, Iowa in June 1941 was John Mauchly---creator of the ENIAC machine which is often given primacy in the popular press. In any event, Atanasoff's contribution to the history of computing is not disputed, and he received many honors.
In 1970 he was invited to Bulgaria by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and the Bulgarian Government conferred to him the Cyrille and Methodius Order of Merit First Class. This was his first public recognition, and it was awarded to him well before similar honors were conferred to him in the United States. The credit for this timely recognition of Atanasoff's achievement should be given to the Bulgarian academicians, Blaghovest Sendov, Ph.D. and Kyrille Boyannov, Ph.D., among others.
In 1972, the Smithsonian Insitution conducted an oral history interview with Atanasoff, naming him acomputer pioneer. Then, in 1990, his machine was named an IEEE Milestone in Electrical Engineering and Computing. In that same year, he was awarded one of the highest technical recognitions in the world, the U. S. National Medal of Science and Technology. John Atanasoff died in 1995.
Larson Collection Interview
Recorded March 19, 1985 |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24361 | March 17, 2013 by
"Gameboy advance and copy of Pokemon Gold"
There it is :)
Hey there( if you are looking for some sort of secret Pokemon game look elsewhere this is more about with my experience with Pokemon),
I havent posted anything in a while, busy on my first coop term and still taking a course has been eating through my time like crazy. However my commute take about an hour and now that mid terms are over I have had more time to play some games on the go. One of my favorites from my childhood is still Pokemon. Not only do I get a great nostalgia kick out of it but the games still have a solid RPG design even if it is starting to get a little creaky. As I was playing I found myself thrown back to my childhood and I decided that I would like to share some of this with you guys( I don't even know if anyone reads these.... anyways).
Growing up in Russia meant that a lot of your games and stuff came from Asia or some part of eastern Europe. You were lucky if it was something authentic because most of the time it wasn't the good stuff that you get in Canada, it was the cheap fakes you would find floating around the grey market in China or the flea markets in Russia. Specifically games and movies and stuff like that, which is where the title for the blog comes from. This probably arose from the need to translate all the media coming in from the west so that it could be watched or played with dubs so illegal dubs were made, sold and bought. Also pirated stuff was sold for way cheaper than the real stuff so there's also that. Nintendo didn't really care about Russia( nes didn't exist for us, we had dendy) so Nintendo gaming equipment was hard to come by (especially link cables for the gameboy and you could also forget about Pokemon events). This problem wasn't Nintendo exclusive, my PlayStation was from Japan, my games were all pirated with Russian dubs and the bootleg memory card never did work :( sigh.On top of that most of the stuff that came from the States through relatives that was authentic was in English and you couldn't understand it/read it. These facts changed how we played games in Russia but it didn't affect how much fun we had it was just different.
Anyways I was lucky enough to have an uncle who lived in the states and sometime around new years came to visit( fun fact: in Russia present are given on New Year's, Christmas isn't really celebrated) On that fateful evening visit I got a real gameboy advance, the see through one no less. I also remember tearing though the packaging only to come upon a shiny gold box. Not being able to read English didn't stop me any here. The word Pokemon stood out, I think just about every boy in my grade 2 class knew those unmistakable blue and yellow letters and font, we all watched the anime and some even had the games. Pokemon Gold was the translation I got from my Aunt, she also blabbed about how gold was better than silver or something but I wasn't really listening you didn't have to convince me about anything, the word Pokemon was enough. I opened everything quick as I could and plunged that sparkling golden cartridge straight into the gameboy( I think I took the batteries from the TV remote, sorry Grandma). At this point you might be asking me how I got through the game with no English knowledge. Others in my class had gotten the first Pokemon games which I never got around to playing so I was at least familiar with choosing a starter. I should also mention that I was the biggest fanatic of the anime and watched it all the time after school. It was dubbed in Russian so I was well versed in the Pokemon lore and Ash's adventures. When I got to picking a starter I was a little confused because none of the Pokemon I saw were from the anime. At that point the Russian dubs were only in the early episodes of the first season, still well before any of the Pokemon in gold and silver would make an appearance. I was a little bummed that none of the Pokemon I knew were available but I would proceed forward none the less. Chikorita would be my starter of choice, grass all the way. Playing through the rest of the game would prove tough, my friends would help each other out because they had already played through the game so we talked at recess and on the phone about where to go and which guy to talk to so you could proceed in the game. This didn't help with battles as most of us didn't have any knowledge on type advantage except that of the anime. See we all knew that charmander was strong against grass types and other fire types would be the same but since many of the Pokemon in the game were not yet on the anime I had a great deal of trouble there. This is where I think the difference lies between how the games were played in states and in Russia. Link cables weren't something that we could get our hands on but we strengthen our friendship by going through the story together battling not only Pokemon but a language and information barrier that at the age of 7-8 seemed at times, insurmountable . Its also funny, because type advantage wasn't something too consider we sent out whatever Pokemon we wanted trying to be like Ash in the anime and battling against the odds. In that respect I think we probably had a lot in common with the kids in the States, we all tried to be Ash and go on our own Pokemon adventures and the anime was one of the main reasons for playing the game. To that respect the Pokemon franchise owes a lot of its success to the Saturday cartoon or weekday afternoons as it was in Russia. In any case I eventually got to the cave where you had to use waterfall but never found the TM so I was forever stuck. I continued to watch the anime and though that someday I would eventually conquer the game with all of my friends. As for the title of this post,remember how in the beginning I said that bootleg games were the norm well I found that one of my friends had Pokemon Grey with a Grey cartridge and an aerodactyl on the front( inside was just a bootleg copy of crystal I think).I eventually got good enough at the game to help others, I remeber helping one of my friends reach Ho-Oh(through what was at the time one of the most confusing parts of the game ever, but one I knew inside out) on his original gameboy which to me was amazing because it was so large, the screen was pea green and it used way more batteries than my advance.
In a years worth time things had changed. I managed to watch the Pokemon series up to about halfway through the Orange Islands, my memory is murky but one of the last battles I saw was between Ash and the second Gym leader. I then moved to Canada and lost all my friends back home along with my passion for the Pokemon anime. The anime here( Canada) was way ahead of where I stopped and getting adjusted to a new country was stressful and confusing enough that Pokemon sort of drifted away as I was forced to grow up. I didn't really discover where I could get my Pokemon fix and eventually other anime took its place. Somehow when I moved something changed and with loosing my friends I lost my touch with Pokemon as well. I think it is because our experience in Russia was defined so much by enjoying the anime and games with friends and the two were so inseparably linked. I still managed to play the games and even found new friends that helped me discover the link cable and get past that pesky waterfall. I now own a game from every generation and plan to keep collecting them, its a link to my childhood and to the friends that I lost, that I will remember forever fondly. After all I think that as funny as this sounds Pokemon defined who I am and helped me grow a love for animals and nature in general, about standing up for friends and all of that other stuff that Ash and his friends dealt with. My current Major in University is Biology so I like to think Pokemon has had a bit of an impact on me. Anyways I think that I am just riding on a nostalgia high as this whole post was brought about my discovery of the Pokemon tv app for ipad, android. Not that I couldn't torrent the episodes before but the rotation of the episodes in the app made it more appealing to actually try and watch them before they are gone. I watched through the Indigo league and the beginning of the orange islands as well as the newest season. Pokemon is still teaching what I think are valuable lessons to kids from what I've seen in just a few episodes. I hope it defines their childhoods as much as it did mine and inspires them in the future. Today I still play the new Pokemon games but the passion isn't the same, I play for the nostalgia, and the strategy aspects rather than trying to live through the world presented in the anime with my friends,as I type this it almost makes me miss the old times when an anime, a game, and my friends were all we needed to have the greatest adventures. I have to give big thanks to my aunt and uncle who got me started on the Pokemon games. The creator of the Pokemon franchise, Satoshi Tajiri and of course all my friends for the good times we had.
I hope I provided a good look into my childhood and what it was like to play Pokemon in Russia.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24375 | $20,000 loan for SharePoint Development Education
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kaka in Bellevue, Washington
35 months ago
Hello Guys,
I am about to take $20,000 loan to pay for .Net programming, SQL and SharePoint Development Training. Do you think I will be doing ok after the 9-months training? Living in WA. Thanks.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24384 | Infrastructure // Storage
04:01 PM
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Amazon Bolsters Its Cloud With Content Delivery
With its relatively simple interface and services, CloudFront is aiming to meet content delivery needs of startups and Amazon Web Services customers.
By announcing a new content delivery service called CloudFront on Tuesday, may eventually take aim for Akamai and Limelight, but for now is pushing to assuage concerns prospective startups and business customers might have about the latency and data-transfer speeds of Amazon's cloud computing platform.
With CloudFront, Amazon caches Web content in 14 locations in the United States, Europe, and Asia via its Simple Storage Service and network of data centers. Akamai, by comparison, has servers in 70 countries to monitor and optimize traffic routes. CloudFront is a simple service, whereas Akamai and Limelight have several tiers and product variations often aimed at much larger customers. So, for now, Amazon may be looking to offer content delivery services more for startups and Amazon Web Services customers.
When a user loads a Web page that has content stored in CloudFront, the browser will be directed to whatever is the nearest cached location to the user's IP address. That means visitors to Web sites that use CloudFront will see decreased latency if they are far away from the original site of the content, since CloudFront pulls the content from a cached version closest to the user.
Amazon anticipates CloudFront will be used for "frequently accessed Web site components": multimedia and download files. Several sites, including task management Web app Smartsheet, e-commerce site Woot, and social games site Playfish already use CloudFront to distribute content.
The interface is relatively simple. Customers sign up, upload content into Amazon S3, use a standard Web services call to create a CloudFront distribution, generate URLs for content, and point their Web sites in that direction.
One downside is that CloudFront users have to store their data in Amazon's S3 storage service. It's a positive for companies and developers already using S3 who have been demanding a content delivery network, but not an option for the many companies and developers who don't want to use S3. CloudFront's pricing also is separate and in some ways additive to S3 pricing, in that S3 accounts get charged for requests and bandwidth usage when CloudFront first caches the S3 data.
Just like other Amazon Web Services (and unlike some other content delivery services that have up-front costs), CloudFront is entirely pay as you go. Cost varies by location, with prices cheaper in the United States than elsewhere. Pricing is also more expensive if less data is transferred. In the United States, CloudFront is priced at 17 cents per gigabyte up to 10 TB, but 9 cents per gigabyte after the first 150 TB of bandwidth has been used. The most expensive location to cache data is Japan, which starts at 22 cents per gigabyte for up to 10 TB of data transfer. Amazon's prices also don't include other taxes or fees.
Amazon's prices won't compete at the highest volumes, where independent analyst Daniel Rayburn estimates some companies are charging 2.5 cents per gigabyte if they transmit more than 1 PB of information.
Among CloudFront's other limitations are that, at least according to cloud management company RightScale, CloudFront's usage reporting isn't as detailed as that of other content delivery networks, and its offering is one-dimensional. Akamai, for one, has several content delivery services and tiers. CloudFront also only supports HTTP, not more secure HTTPS.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24388 |
Dogs: Female Chinese Shar-pei mix, 6 months; female terrier mix, 2 years; male Chihuahua mix, 1 ½ years; female mastiff mix, 7 months; male Labrador retriever-pit bull mix, 10 months; neutered male terrier mix, 1 year; male terrier mix, 7 months; female pit bull mix, 4 months; spayed female dachshund mix, 4 years.
Cats: Neutered male Siamese mix, 2 years; male orange tabby, 2 years; female brown tiger, 1 year; female white, 6 months; female black and white, 3 years; male black and white, 5 months; male brown tiger, 1 year.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24445 | Avatar image for ConcernedCitizen10
( ConcernedCitizen10 )
Comments made by ConcernedCitizen10
Mosque Planned For Temecula Sparks Protest
It is sad to think that in a country founded on principals of religious freedom, liberty, and escape from tyranny that we have been so quick to suppress the ideas, freedom and thoughts of others. It is hard to believe that those who are protesting could really consider themselves true Americans when their values and views seem to be opposite to everything this country was built on.
My question to those who protest something like this is: What would be our response if we heard about another country that was banning the formation of a Church or Jewish Temple? I think we would be rather dismayed!
August 2, 2010 at 12:38 p.m. ( | suggest removal ) |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24471 | 47 U.S. Code § 616 - Internet protocol-based relay services
Within one year after October 8, 2010, each interconnected VoIP service provider and each provider of non-interconnected VoIP service shall participate in and contribute to the Telecommunications Relay Services Fund established in section 64.604(c)(5)(iii) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on October 8, 2010, in a manner prescribed by the Commission by regulation to provide for obligations of such providers that are consistent with and comparable to the obligations of other contributors to such Fund.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title VII, § 715, as added Pub. L. 111–260, title I, § 103(b),Oct. 8, 2010, 124 Stat. 2755.)
47 USCDescription of ChangeSession YearPublic LawStatutes at Large
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24484 | We're Number One!
Share This
Gary Jason
Reading some of the responses to my piece--which are similar to the reactions to my earlier piece on corporate taxes in January, called "At Least Some People Get It"--I guess I need to express my views on corporate taxes once again, slowly, for those who have a tendency to read in things that I never said.
Let's begin with an elementary logical distinction. A sufficient condition for a phenomenon is factor which by itself alone produces that phenomenon. A necessary condition for a phenomenon is a factor in whose absence the phenomenon won't occur. So, for example, water is certainly necessary for life, but hardly sufficient--you need more things than water to live (food, air, etc.).
As regards a prosperous economy, I have never argued that a low corporate tax is by itself a sufficient condition for prosperity, or even that a favorable business environment is. Much less have I ever, in the HUNDREDS of articles I have published in this journal, favored "corporate welfare." A favorable business climate is necessary for prosperity, however, and a low corporate tax is part of such an environment.
How low? Readers of these pages know my position well, since I have stated it repeatedly in past issues. I favor a flat 15% business AND personal income tax, with no deductions, exemptions, subsidies, tax credits, offsets, or anything else. Period, flat. I am sure that this would give government all the money it needs for its legitimate purposes. If it didn't, I would advocate consumption taxes to make up any shortfall. To provide stability, I would seek to make that income tax system a constitutional amendment.
As to whether business would support it, well, some would, some wouldn't. Let's have the fight and see what happens.
Finally, would such a low, flat tax by itself guarantee a favorable business climate? Hardly. No, we need to lighten regulation, repeal Obamacare, repeal Sarbanes-Oxley, repeal Dodd-Frank, enact more free trade laws, remove environmentalist barriers to responsible development of our natural resources, stop demonizing business, and do some other things as well. I have written articles on all of these topics. Together, those reforms would provide a good, reliable, and stable business climate.
But even that would not be sufficient (though it would help tremendously). We also need to reform government in a myriad of ways, not least by privatizing our public school system through vouchers to insure that all kids have a fair shot at a good education. Again, I have written a myriad articles on these matters.
But among all these other things, lowering the corporate income tax is certainly important. Sorry if mentioning that irks you, but then, that is your problem, not mine.
A Liberal in Lakeview
39.2%? Interesting number, but of course, there's at least one problem when citing such a number authoritatively.
Is that a weighted average or a straight one?
Furthermore, what counts is effective tax rate, not just the marginal rate, assuming that the marginal rate ever applies at all once exemptions are applied. Anyone who's ever prepared a tax return and, once finished, calculated his effective tax rate should be able to understand this.
So what's the real average marginal rate? What's the effective corporate tax rate? Is it 30%? 20%? Less than 20%? Does this rate account for subsidies, which would reduce the effective rate even further? I doubt it very much.
And what's the effective tax rate paid by foreign corporations? Does the story change radically in appearance when we evaluate the facts in this way? And how about economic rent? Can that, too, be legitimately factored in?
There's a lot of pissing and moaning about the corporate tax rate, but when was the last time that you heard the usual crowd of complaining shills united against welfare for businesspeople?
Well, never. Not. On. One. Single. Day.
As for the suggestion that the high nominal tax rate would be the culprit if unemployment remains high: Sorry, not convinced. That's correlation, only speculative thus far, which doesn't prove causation. And other possible causes are neglected.
But, as I argued earlier, the tax should be abolished altogether. So also the subsidization. So also incorporation itself.
Of course, the businesspeople don't want to give up the welfare, the looters don't want to stop double taxing the businesspeople, and even free market economists, often wrongly so called, habitually turn a blind eye to incorporation, which is interventionist.
Maybe what's needed to cut the knot is a contrarian approach. I have a solution.
Let's make the tax rate of 39.2% a tax on revenue. No deductions whatsoever. Every dollar of revenue will be taxed 39.2% The children will have an opportunity to pay back their welfare, and when the accountants are figuring gross margin, they won't have to worry about having enough money left after other expenses like interest expense.
Just think about the useless overhead in the tax dept. and outside counsel that could be shed. That savings could be used to pay for productive labor, too. The tax code will be simplified dramatically. Government will still be playing favorites, but at least some of the abuses will be elimited. In fact, businesspeople with corporate protections will get the simplifed tax code that they now only pretend to want.
In fact, wouldn't the relevant section of the tax code be just one line?
Section (1). The tax rate applicable to all revenues of incorporated businessness is 39.2% plus subsidies and less the tax rate of taxes paid to the States.
I predict that, like Hank Rearden, the American businessman will suddenly discover that he has an implacable hatred of crony capitalism.
Yeah, right. And John Galt wasn't in a big hurry to return to the world to scoop up distribution networks from bankrupt power companies and their creditors.
Gary Jason and others claim that the tax rate is 39.2%. Fine. Let's bring reality into line with fantasy. Afterward, if problems persist, we will have a factual basis for discussing the 39.2% tax rate, and in the meantime a tax code that is greatly slimmed down.
Erwin Haas
When corporate taxes are increased, businesses see this as an increaed cost of one of their raw materials and raise their prices, which all their consumers pay. If all of their competitors face the same cost structure then businesses have no reason to worry about taxes or the costs of other inputs, and customers be damned.
It's when costs are asymmetrical that problems for companies emerge. It's then that they have to either find someplace else to do business, or cease operations.
And so places as diverse as Delaware, the Cayman Isles and Ireland have had a booms because they offered lower taxes and regulations to companies.
And why the USA can expect a reverse boom.
Jon Harrison
According to this morning's New York Times, the corporate share of the nation's tax receipts has fallen from 30 per cent in the 1950s to 6.6 per cent today. This, according to the Times, can be attributed to the many loopholes that have been written into the code, plus creative accounting practices. Is the Times correct, or is it manipulating the facts to further its liberal agenda?
I believe the corporate tax rate was higher than 35% back in the Fifties. Yet US companies somehow survived and prospered. Suppose we reduced the corporate tax rate to 15%, while eliminating all corporate welfare and special breaks. Would U.S. corporations support such reform? Somehow I doubt it. Paying nothing (which some corporations apparently do, even when they are profitable) despite an on-paper rate of 35% is surely better than paying 15% in real dollars.
Don't mistake me, I support lowering the corporate rate to 25% or even lower, but I also support eliminating all corporate welfare and special tax breaks. The fact is that nobody is paying 39.2%. Corporate America has almost $2 trillion in cash on hand. If it's paying a 39% tax rate and still has all that money left over, then consumers must be getting ripped off big time by companies overcharging for their products and services.
A Liberal in Lakeview
Jon, why not just reduce the rate to zero?
Of course, there'd be an enourmous hue and cry, and not only from the leftists. Just think of all the tax attorneys who have heads full of knowledge about the relevant parts of the tax code. They'd have to look for new work. There'd be complaints that foreign owners are being subsidized, and there are plenty of people besides leftists who like the idea of digging their hands into business owners' pockets, which becomes easier to do when government sponsors businesses that grow larger as a result of the interventionism.
However, an advantage of eliminating taxation of corporations, improbable though such outcome may be, is that the road would be cleared for the abolition of incorporation altogether. Of course, that must be done province by province, and, of course, the redistributionists must be disabused of their love for taxing corporations.
Inevitably there'd be a quarrel about the rationalizations given for incorporation. But would a free market have this practice? Well, no. In a free market, or at least one less rigged and without government proclaiming the existence of corporations, businesspeople would solve organizational problems of their own choosing as best they can without the sponsorship of government. Whether they'd do so by sole proprietorships or partnerships would be for them to decide. In fact, why not just repeal the laws concerning those forms, too? Let the law be neutral about whether property is used for commerce or not.
But I suppose that the Wall Street crowd, too, wouldn't like that much. Lack of limited liability might make it difficult to entice buyers, impede transaction volume, and hurt commissions. Imperialists would howl about national defense being weakened and would demand exceptions for armaments makers. And so on and so forth.
Still, we need to choose:
(1) Interventionism and crony capitalism.
(2) No interventionism or crony capitalism.
When liberals, in the proper sense of the term, choose (1), they abandon liberalism itself. And if they defend incorporation, then they choose (1).
Cash on hand is money already taxed. What that tells you is that the holders of that money are so uncertain of returns that they'd rather hold it than invest it.
Some 2,000 pages of Obamacare remain of uncertain effect on business healthcare costs; a *major* issue. EPA's attempt to regulate CO2 ditto. Tax changes to support the unions' health and pension costs ditto.
Holding cash isn't a bad strategy right now.
Jon Harrison
"Cash on hand is money already taxed." Right, I know that. That was the point. If they have that much left over after paying 39%, then they must be overcharging us. In fact, of course, they aren't paying 39%, which was my real point. I agree, by the way, that business has actly shrewdly by holding on to cash.
"How about zero?" Interesting point. But in my view we require a government and some public services, so taxes there must be -- let's just keep 'em low, and with a budget in balance. Now, I'm familiar with the argument that says taxes are a cost that is simply passed on to consumers, and of course that argument is 100% right. But that touches me only if I purchase something from Company X. If I don't use X's product or service, I don't lose out. And if I have to pay taxes, then as far as I'm concerned Company X should too. A minimum amount of government and public services are required to maintain a civilized society, in my view. Any company that is in business and making money should contribute to the cost. Just my opinion.
© Copyright 2013 Liberty Foundation. All rights reserved.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24515 | Robert Massie en Award-winning author Robert Massie brings the story of Catherine the Great to life at the Library [Books] <div class="field field-type-text field-field-teaser"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> Because there are other royals worth watching besides the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. </div> </div> </div> <!--paging_filter--><p align="left">Even in this modern age, the allure of royalty still manages to hold some mystique. While much of our fawning and fandom now falls to the celebrities of stage and screen (and their incredibly sordid lives), the fascination with the ancient human institution of monarchy continues to find favor amongst our thoughts. Recent years have given much limelight to the British sovereigns in particular, but history is full of intriguing figureheads – many of whom lived lives of a juicy caliber to make even the naughtiest monarch melodramas seem like child’s play (I mean, really, when’s the last time anybody lost a head up in here?). Ditch hunting for those latest paparazzi pics of the Princess and dial the focus back a few hundred: join author Robert Massie this upcoming Thursday, September 27<sup>th</sup>, at 7pm as he presents his new book, <em>Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman</em>, at the Louisville Free Public Library’s Main branch.</p><p align="left">The most renowned and longest-ruling female leader in Russian history, Catherine the Great ushered in the Golden Age of the Russian Empire during the 18<sup>th</sup> century. A woman of both power and wit, Catherine swelled the borders of Russian rule while also encouraging the principles of the Enlightenment into widespread favor. Considered an Enlightened Despot, the details of Catherine’s life story – from coup d’etat to her love of Voltaire – make for intriguing fodder as award-winning author Robert Massie depicts the Empress in the book, <em>Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman</em>. </p><p align="left">Adding to his repertoire of Russian royalty, Catherine the Great joins Massie’s other explorations into the history of the Russian monarchy, including the titles <em>Peter the Great</em>, <em>Nicholas and Alexandra</em> and <em>The Romanovs</em> (Anastasia conspiracies, anyone?). A Pulitzer Prize winner himself, Massie studied both American and European history at Yale and Oxford, going on to write for both <em>Newsweek</em> and the <em>Saturday Evening Post</em>. A former President of the Author’s Guild, Massie is also known for his famous call to boycott any store refusing to carry Salman Rushdie’s <em>The Satanic Verses</em> (which every single last one of you should start reading. Like, right now.) </p><p align="left">Prince Harry’s Vegas hoopla not hot enough to turn your head? Turn it back a bit further on the timeline and join this great historian for some truly captivating royal shenanigans. Check out Robert Massie this upcoming week at the Library for a look at Catherine the Great – and don’t forget to look up Rushdie while you wait. </p><p align="left">The Louisville Free Public Library’s Main branch is located on 301 York Street. </p><p align="left"><em>Image: Courtesy of the Louisville Free Public Library’s website <a href=""></a></em></p><p align="left"> </p><script src="" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script> Louisville - Downtown Books Classes and Seminars 'Catherine the Great' Book Readings books Local Authors Louisville Free Public Library Robert Massie Fri, 21 Sep 2012 15:07:40 +0000 Erin Day 29674 at |
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Old 03-16-2006, 11:05 AM #10
ScorLibran's Avatar
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Coruscant
Posts: 118
Originally Posted by wedge2211
Now that's funny! You use exactly the opposite strategy I use. I guess there's more than one way to skin a cat, as they say!
It also takes a lack of conscience - easy when playing the side of the Empire.
Commander of disabled ship: "Sir, if you leave us here, they'll destroy us."
Fleet Commander: "OK. Thank you for serving the Empire. Have a nice day!
Also, I tried out my Broadside Cruiser strategy, but alas, the ion cannon can reach all corners of the map around the planet. So poo on that strategy. Bring firepower instead.
What may be the best strategy is to just tough it out. Yeah, the recycle time of the thing seems very short, but the stupid enemy AI generally keeps hitting the same ship over and over.
My standard tech 3 compliment with the Empire is four Victorys and four Tartans, and since the effects of an ion blast last several minutes in the game, if the enemy AI was smart it'd hit a different Victory each time and leave me with 4 Tartans to try to destroy their capital ships and space station (not happening).
But instead, since they tend to hit the same ship over and over - with occasional exceptions - I end up left with at least half of my frigates and all my corvettes operational. It takes me longer to kill all the enemy's non-garrisoned ships and then his space station, but it really just comes down to a matter of patience. And accepting that I'm just going to have more losses when there's an ion cannon present.
If the enemy AI were to hit all my big ships with the ion cannon in the first few minutes of the battle, then I'd have been screwed. All I could think of is to use plan A and run my Tartans around to the other side of my immobilized Victorys (away from the enemy ships) and try to get the enemy to destroy them.
Which makes me think of this: Why doesn't the Empire have any sort of special forces that can go down to the planet and destroy the ion cannon? They use bounty hunters to kill enemy heroes. If they hire assassins, why not hire sabateurs as well? After all, the Rebellion has it's Infiltrators. You'd think an empire that has conquered most of the galaxy would have some sort of special forces unit, right?
@AFH: What difficulty are you playing on? I've only faced ion cannons on "medium" so far. I wonder if the game jacks up the AI on "hard" and really tries to ion all your biggest ships, instead of the same one 10 times.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24536 | New! Read & write annotations
Who the hell are you to tell me
What to do, why to do, why bother
Leech in a mask of virtue
Such waste, to ever think of you again
Hey Judas, your Christess was our lord
Hit and run, your will be done
Never sorry, never wrong
More more more more more
Master passion greed
"Hello. How are you?
Let me explain one thing.
All for her and more for me
Why is it so hard to see?
I see no sense in doing this
Not enough for me
I fuck up everything but let me explain."
Some day you shall flee,
Panting and weak
Master passion greed
All within me gone but pain and hope
Hoping that the pain would fade away
Greed, your master passion
I Feed the mouth that bites me
Mammon, opiate of the masses
The reek of your lies draws flies
Seek her
Seduce her
Tame her
Blame her
Have her
Kill her
Seek her
Seduce her
Tame her
Blame her
Feast on it all
With awakening the tears will begin
To my everlasting shame silence took me
Lyrics taken from
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SuperbunnyJun 15, 2008 at 10:42 pm
This song is about Tarja, the former vocalist's husband Marcello. He is the Master Passion Greed, known to Nghtwish as a greedy businessman who made Tarja greedy.
Good guess anyways Diedara. (Nightwish said the meaning of Master Passion Greed)
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24555 | Documentation Center
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Specify LMI System at the Command Line
The following tutorial example is used to illustrate the specification of LMI systems with the LMI Lab tools.
Specifying LMI System
Consider a stable transfer function
with four inputs, four outputs, and six states, and consider the set of input/output scaling matrices D with block-diagonal structure
The following problem arises in the robust stability analysis of systems with time-varying uncertainty [4]:
Find, if any, a scaling D of structure (Equation 4-5) such that the largest gain across frequency of D G(s) D–1 is less than one.
This problem has a simple LMI formulation: there exists an adequate scaling D if the following feasibility problem has solutions:
Find two symmetric matrices XR6×6 and S = DT DR4×4 such that
The LMI system (Equation 4-6, Equation 4-7, and Equation 4-8) can be described with the LMI Editor as outlined below. Alternatively, its internal description can be generated with lmivar and lmiterm commands as follows:
X=lmivar(1,[6 1])
S=lmivar(1,[2 0;2 1])
% 1st LMI
lmiterm([1 1 1 X],1,A,'s')
lmiterm([1 1 1 S],C',C)
lmiterm([1 1 2 X],1,B)
lmiterm([1 2 2 S],-1,1)
% 2nd LMI
lmiterm([-2 1 1 X],1,1)
% 3rd LMI
lmiterm([-3 1 1 S],1,1)
lmiterm([3 1 1 0],1)
LMISYS = getlmis
Here the lmivar commands define the two matrix variables X and S while the lmiterm commands describe the various terms in each LMI. Upon completion, getlmis returns the internal representation LMISYS of this LMI system. The following subsections give more details on the syntax and usage of these various commands:
More information on how the internal representation is updated by lmivar/lmiterm can also be found in How lmivar and lmiterm Manage LMI Representation.
Initializing the LMI System
The description of an LMI system should begin with setlmis and end with getlmis. The function setlmis initializes the LMI system description. When specifying a new system, type
To add on to an existing LMI system with internal representation LMIS0, type
Specifying the LMI Variables
The matrix variables are declared one at a time with lmivar and are characterized by their structure. To facilitate the specification of this structure, the LMI Lab offers two predefined structure types along with the means to describe more general structures:
Type 1
Symmetric block diagonal structure. This corresponds to matrix variables of the form
where each diagonal block Dj is square and is either zero, a full symmetric matrix, or a scalar matrix
Dj= d × IdR
This type encompasses ordinary symmetric matrices (single block) and scalar variables (one block of size one).
Type 2
Rectangular structure. This corresponds to arbitrary rectangular matrices without any particular structure.
Type 3
General structures. This third type is used to describe more sophisticated structures and/or correlations between the matrix variables. The principle is as follows: each entry of X is specified independently as either 0, xn, or –xn where xn denotes the n-th decision variable in the problem. For details on how to use Type 3, see Structured Matrix Variables as well as the lmivar entry in the reference pages.
In Specifying LMI System, the matrix variables X and S are of Type 1. Indeed, both are symmetric and S inherits the block-diagonal structure from Equation 4-5 of D. Specifically, S is of the form
After initializing the description with the command setlmis([]), these two matrix variables are declared by
lmivar(1,[6 1]) % X
lmivar(1,[2 0;2 1]) % S
In both commands, the first input specifies the structure type and the second input contains additional information about the structure of the variable:
• For a matrix variable X of Type 1, this second input is a matrix with two columns and as many rows as diagonal blocks in X. The first column lists the sizes of the diagonal blocks and the second column specifies their nature with the following convention:
1: full symmetric block
0: scalar block
–1: zero block
In the second command, for instance,[2 0;2 1] means that S has two diagonal blocks, the first one being a 2-by-2 scalar block and the second one a 2-by-2 full block.
• For matrix variables of Type 2, the second input of lmivar is a two-entry vector listing the row and column dimensions of the variable. For instance, a 3-by-5 rectangular matrix variable would be defined by
lmivar(2,[3 5])
For convenience, lmivar also returns a "tag" that identifies the matrix variable for subsequent reference. For instance, X and S in Specifying LMI System could be defined by
X = lmivar(1,[6 1])
S = lmivar(1,[2 0;2 1])
The identifiers X and S are integers corresponding to the ranking of X and S in the list of matrix variables (in the order of declaration). Here their values would be X=1 and S=2. Note that these identifiers still point to X and S after deletion or instantiation of some of the matrix variables. Finally, lmivar can also return the total number of decision variables allocated so far as well as the entry-wise dependence of the matrix variable on these decision variables (see the lmivar entry in the reference pages for more details).
Specifying Individual LMIs
After declaring the matrix variables with lmivar, we are left with specifying the term content of each LMI. Recall that LMI terms fall into three categories:
• The constant terms, i.e., fixed matrices like I in the left side of the LMI S > I
• The variable terms, i.e., terms involving a matrix variable. For instance, ATX and CTSC in Equation 4-6. Variable terms are of the form PXQ where X is a variable and P, Q are given matrices called the left and right coefficients, respectively.
• The outer factors
The following rule should be kept in mind when describing the term content of an LMI:
Note: Specify only the terms in the blocks on or above the diagonal. The inner factors being symmetric, this is sufficient to specify the entire LMI. Specifying all blocks results in the duplication of off-diagonal terms, hence in the creation of a different LMI. Alternatively, you can describe the blocks on or below the diagonal.
LMI terms are specified one at a time with lmiterm. For instance, the LMI
is described by
lmiterm([1 1 1 1],1,A,'s')
lmiterm([1 1 1 2],C',C)
lmiterm([1 1 2 1],1,B)
lmiterm([1 2 2 2],-1,1)
These commands successively declare the terms ATX + XA, CTSC, XB, and –S. In each command, the first argument is a four-entry vector listing the term characteristics as follows:
• The first entry indicates to which LMI the term belongs. The value m means "left side of the m-th LMI," and −m means "right side of the m-th LMI."
• The second and third entries identify the block to which the term belongs. For instance, the vector [1 1 2 1] indicates that the term is attached to the (1, 2) block.
• The last entry indicates which matrix variable is involved in the term. This entry is 0 for constant terms, k for terms involving the k-th matrix variable Xk, and −k for terms involving (here X and S are first and second variables in the order of declaration).
Finally, the second and third arguments of lmiterm contain the numerical data (values of the constant term, outer factor, or matrix coefficients P and Q for variable terms PXQ or PXTQ). These arguments must refer to existing MATLAB® variables and be real-valued. See Complex-Valued LMIs for the specification of LMIs with complex-valued coefficients.
Some shorthand is provided to simplify term specification. First, blocks are zero by default. Second, in diagonal blocks the extra argument 's' allows you to specify the conjugated expression AXB + BTXTAT with a single lmiterm command. For instance, the first command specifies ATX + XA as the "symmetrization" of XA. Finally, scalar values are allowed as shorthand for scalar matrices, i.e., matrices of the form αI with α scalar. Thus, a constant term of the form αI can be specified as the "scalar" α. This also applies to the coefficients P and Q of variable terms. The dimensions of scalar matrices are inferred from the context and set to 1 by default. For instance, the third LMI S > I in Example: Specifying Matrix Variable Structures is described by
lmiterm([-3 1 1 2],1,1) % 1*S*1 = S
lmiterm([3 1 1 0],1) % 1*I = I
Recall that by convention S is considered as the right side of the inequality, which justifies the –3 in the first command.
Finally, to improve readability it is often convenient to attach an identifier (tag) to each LMI and matrix variable. The variable identifiers are returned by lmivar and the LMI identifiers are set by the function newlmi. These identifiers can be used in lmiterm commands to refer to a given LMI or matrix variable. For the LMI system of Specifying LMI System, this would look like:
X = lmivar(1,[6 1])
S = lmivar(1,[2 0;2 1])
BRL = newlmi
lmiterm([BRL 1 1 X],1,A,'s')
lmiterm([BRL 1 1 S],C',C)
lmiterm([BRL 1 2 X],1,B)
lmiterm([BRL 2 2 S],-1,1)
Xpos = newlmi
lmiterm([-Xpos 1 1 X],1,1)
Slmi = newlmi
lmiterm([-Slmi 1 1 S],1,1)
lmiterm([Slmi 1 1 0],1)
When the LMI system is completely specified, type
LMISYS = getlmis
This returns the internal representation LMISYS of this LMI system. This MATLAB description of the problem can be forwarded to other LMI-Lab functions for subsequent processing. The command getlmis must be used only once and after declaring all matrix variables and LMI terms.
Here the identifiers X and S point to the variables X and S while the tags BRL, Xpos, and Slmi point to the first, second, and third LMI, respectively. Note that –Xpos refers to the right-hand side of the second LMI. Similarly, –X would indicate transposition of the variable X.
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Laser Tracking
This example shows how to track a moving laser dot.
Using the Image Acquisition Toolbox™, image data streams from a camera are acquired directly into MATLAB®. These images are used to track objects in the camera's view. For this example, the object being tracked is the dot produced by a laser pointer.
The monitor of a computer running MATLAB is placed in the camera's view while a laser pointer shines a red dot on a MATLAB figure window. The camera is used to acquire images of the MATLAB figure window while the laser pointer moves around. By tracking the movement of the laser dot, the laser pointer can be used as a pointer device similar to a mouse.
The first task involves calibrating the data to establish a relationship between the acquired image pixels and the MATLAB figure axes. Once this relationship is established, the laser dot can be tracked as it moves around within the MATLAB figure window.
This example uses a set of utility functions that aid in the processing of images. These utility functions require the Image Processing Toolbox™ and can be found in the following directory:
• MATLABROOT\toolbox\imaq\imaqdemos\html\laserTracking
Physical Setup
Focus a camera onto the screen of a computer that MATLAB is running on.
It is best to have the ambient light in the room minimized. This example has been successfully run in auditoriums using a projector.
Configure the Acquisition
An image acquisition device will be used to acquire image data to perform the calibration and laser tracking. The device used will be a generic Windows® video WebCam.
% Add the directory containing the utility functions to the MATLAB path.
utilpath = fullfile(matlabroot, 'toolbox', 'imaq', 'imaqdemos', ...
'html', 'applications', 'laserTracking');
% Access and configure a device.
vid = videoinput('winvideo', 1, 'RGB24_320x240');
set(vid, 'FramesPerTrigger', 1);
set(vid, 'TriggerRepeat', Inf);
Create the Calibration Screen
The calibration screen created is purposely set to black to get the best contrast for the laser pointer. Some systems work better when the window's colors are set dark for the title bars.
Since a red laser will be used, the red plane of the image is the only color plane of interest. The calibration square is made blue in order to make it appear "invisible" in the red plane.
% Create the laser figure window.
laserFig = figure;
hBox = plot([0 0 1 1 0], [0 1 1 0 0], 'b-');
hold on
% Set up calibration screen. Modify the cursor so it does not
% interfere with the calibration.
hTarget = plot(0, 0, 'yo');
set(gca, 'Color', [0, 0, 0]);
set(laserFig, 'Color', [0, 0, 0], 'Menubar', 'none', ...
'DoubleBuffer', 'on', 'Pointer', 'custom', ...
'PointerShapeCData', repmat(NaN, 16, 16));
Position the Camera
Position the camera such that only the blue square is visible.
% Display positioning information.
posText = sprintf('%s\n%s', ...
'Position the camera and ensure the blue box', ...
'is the only thing in the camera''s view.');
infoText = text(0, -0.2, posText, 'Color', [1 1 1]);
axis([-0.2 1.2 -0.2 1.2])
% Using the preview window, request that the camera be positioned such
% that the view is of the blue box and little else.
smallFigPos = get(laserFig, 'Position');
set(laserFig, 'Position', get(0, 'ScreenSize'));
disp('Waiting for camera to be any key to continue.')
Waiting for camera to be any key to continue.
Perform Image Calibration
Now that the camera is focused on the right area, a target is drawn at each of the four corners of the box. The calibration is performed by aiming the laser on each corner of the blue square, allowing a relationship to be established between the camera pixel coordinates (the image) and MATLAB axis coordinates (the square). For each target displayed:
• output a sound indicating the laser should be aimed
• output a sound indicating a frame is about to be acquired
• trigger the acquisition device
• access the acquired image frame and determine the laser position in pixel coordinates
The laser position is determined by thresholding the red plane and looking for high intensity values. Some additional processing is performed to make sure the laser is not obscured by ghost images caused by poor optics in some WebCams. It is also verified that a laser dot was actually present on the screen.
% Provide calibration instructions.
calibText = sprintf('%s\n%s', ...
'Aim the laser pointer on each target as it appears.', ...
'Hold the laser on the target until the target moves.');
set(infoText, 'string', calibText);
% Start the acquisition and create a new figure to display
% calibration results in a MATLAB SPY plot.
spyFig = figure;
% Target 1...
set(hTarget, 'Xdata', 0, 'Ydata', 0);
sound(1), pause(2)
sound(1), trigger(vid);
acqResults{1} = getdata(vid, 1);
[xCalib(1), yCalib(1), laserSights] = util_findlaser(acqResults{1});
title('Target 1: Suspected Laser Sighting')
% Target 2...
set(hTarget, 'Xdata', 0, 'Ydata', 1);
sound(1), pause(2)
sound(1), trigger(vid);
acqResults{2} = getdata(vid, 1);
[xCalib(2), yCalib(2), laserSights] = util_findlaser(acqResults{2});
title('Target 2: Suspected Laser Sighting')
% Target 3...
set(hTarget, 'Xdata', 1, 'Ydata', 1);
sound(1), pause(2)
sound(1), trigger(vid);
acqResults{3} = getdata(vid, 1);
[xCalib(3), yCalib(3), laserSights] = util_findlaser(acqResults{3});
title('Target 3: Suspected Laser Sighting')
% Target 4...
set(hTarget, 'Xdata', 1, 'Ydata', 0);
sound(1), pause(2)
sound(1), trigger(vid);
acqResults{4} = getdata(vid, 1);
[xCalib(4), yCalib(4), laserSights] = util_findlaser(acqResults{4});
title('Target 4: Suspected Laser Sighting')
% Close the SPY plot and stop the acquisition.
Calibration Results
Plot the acquired image and the calculated laser pointer coordinates for each target. Since the yellow crosshairs are positioned at the proper location in each image, the processing results are validated.
% Target 1 results...
calibFig = figure;
util_plotpos(acqResults{1}, xCalib(1), yCalib(1));
% Target 2 results...
util_plotpos(acqResults{2}, xCalib(2), yCalib(2));
% Target 3 results...
util_plotpos(acqResults{3}, xCalib(3), yCalib(3));
% Target 4 results...
util_plotpos(acqResults{4}, xCalib(4), yCalib(4));
% Close the figure illustrating calibration results.
Laser Tracking
Start the acquisition and process the acquired data a set number of times. The processing consists of locating the laser in the acquired image and determining the laser positions in pixel and MATLAB axis coordinates.
In order to make things interesting, using the laser pointer, attempt to "draw" the letter 'M' (for MATLAB) within the blue box.
% Update instructions on laser screen.
set(infoText, 'string', 'Move the laser pointer within the blue box.');
% Start the acquisition. For each iteration:
% * output a sound to indicate a frame is about to be acquired
% * trigger the device
% * process the acquired image and locate the laser
% * convert pixel coordinates to MATLAB axis coordinates
laser.x = [];
laser.y = [];
for i = 1:100,
% Acquire an image frame and determine the
% camera pixel coordinates.
sound(1), trigger(vid);
frame = getdata(vid, 1);
[x, y] = util_findlaser(frame);
if ~isnan(x) && ~isnan(y),
% If coordinates were valid, ensure the camera pixel coordinate
% was in the calibration range.
x = max([x min(xCalib([1 2]))]);
x = min([x max(xCalib([3 4]))]);
y = min([y max(yCalib([1 4]))]);
y = max([y min(yCalib([2 3]))]);
% Determine spatial transformation from the unit square calibration points.
tform = cp2tform([xCalib(:) yCalib(:)], [0 0; 0 1; 1 1; 1 0], 'projective');
xyScreen = tformfwd([x, y], tform);
xScreen = xyScreen(1);
yScreen = xyScreen(2);
% Ensure the new coordinates remain within the unit square.
xScreen = min([xScreen 1]);
xScreen = max([xScreen 0]);
yScreen = min([yScreen 1]);
yScreen = max([yScreen 0]);
% Store the new MATLAB axis coordinates.
laser.x = [laser.x(:); xScreen];
laser.y = [laser.y(:); yScreen];
% Plot the tracked laser positions.
set(laserFig, 'Position', smallFigPos);
plot(laser.x, laser.y, 'r*');
% Close the laser figure.
% Stop the acquisition, remove the object from memory,
% and clear the variable.
clear vid
% Remove the directory containing the utility functions from the MATLAB path.
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java.opts Files
If you use a java.opts file to set startup options, you can put the file in one of the following folders:
• MATLAB® startup folder
• matlabroot/bin/arch folder. A java.opts file in this location applies to all users, but individual users might not have permissions to modify files there.
If there is a java.opts file in both locations with settings that conflict, the setting in the file in the MATLAB startup folder takes precedence. Check both locations for existing java.opts files and then decide which one to modify.
Do not use a java.opts file in the following situations:
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24567 | Main menu
War Stories: Crashing An Iraqi Wedding
Read this soldier's account of what it's like to catch a terrorist on his wedding day...
Photo by Jack Murphy
If you want to catch a terrorist you have to locate him first, and the one place you know for a fact that he will be, is at is his own wedding. By 2009, insurgents and terrorists in Iraq had gotten fairly wily. For years, the U.S. Special Operations Task Force had been churning through the enemy. I played a small part in that endeavor in 2005, as a Corporal in 3rd Ranger Battalion. We rolled outside the wire and into Mosul almost every night, often times conducting multiple direct action raids during a single period of darkness, before refitting and preparing to do it all over again.
I decided to make the jump to Special Forces, and by 2009 I was the Senior Weapons Sergeant in an ODA in 5th Special Forces Group, and back in my old stomping grounds in Mosul. The problem was that the enemy had learned from their engagements with U.S. Special Operations Forces, and took increasingly sophisticated measures to try to trip us up and avoid our raids. So, when we found out that a big name terrorist was getting married, and where the marriage would be held, a lot of uncertainty was taken out of the equation. This clown-shoes-wearing moron had to be at his own damn wedding.
We rolled into Mosul that afternoon in our Humvees, heading towards the target house. One difference between my time with the Ranger Regiment and my new job was that, as a Special Forces team, we were always partnered with our Iraqi counter-parts, in this case a SWAT team from nearby Tal Afar. With a platoon-sized element of Iraqis, our ODA snaked our vehicles through the flooded back alleys of Mosul. The city had taken a beating since I was last there four years ago. Somehow Mosul had managed to get even worse, and looked like Beirut back in the 80s due to the number of collapsed buildings and structures that were covered with bullet pockmarks. Mosul had always been one of the most violent cities in Iraq, and now the enemy was building IED’s bigger and bigger in order to defeat the armor packages that Coalition Forces had put on their vehicles to protect us from the previous, smaller IED’s. Like I said, the enemy was learning and adapting.
After navigating the labyrinth-like streets, we pulled up in front of the objective and unassed the vehicles. I was an Assault Team leader, taking four Iraqi SWAT troops through the front door. It was all over in a flash, fairly anti-climatic, which is the way it should be. If the enemy has time to react to your raid then you’ve lost the element of surprise, and with it, the advantage. Special Forces soldiers like to engage the enemy at a place and time of their choosing, rather than let the enemy dictate the terms of the fight.
The terrorist we were after was in the courtyard with the other men. He was put on the ground, and a Glock 19 pistol was found tucked into the waistband of his suit. The wedding had been completed and now the men would begin drinking, the dowry (a lethargic goat that sat panting in the courtyard for the duration of our stay) would be killed, and a meal cooked. In the backroom, the women were holding court separately. The bride broke out in tears as we secured the home, and the Iraqi women began screaming at us. As we soon found out, the bride was only sixteen years old.
But it gets better: We crashed this wedding at the 11th hour. Had we delayed any longer, had we gotten lost down one of the side streets, the terrorist would have consummated the marriage. That’s right. We crashed the wedding just in time to save a teenage girl’s virginity from this terrorist asshole. No big deal or anything. This was how our ODA got the name “The Wedding Crashers.”
|
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24586 | Australian developer Dan Nolan was playing around with his dashboard in Google Play and was surprised to learn that he had access to a number of personal details about his customers.
“If you bought the app on Google Play (even if you cancelled the order) I have your email address, your suburb, and in many instances your full name,” he explained in a blog post. “Each Google Play order is treated as a Google wallet transaction and as such software developers get all of the information (sans exact address) for an order of an app that they would get from the order of something physical.”
The shocking thing about this discovery, according to Nolan, is that Google does not disclose that it is sharing this information with developers to the customers making these purchases. “Let me make this crystal clear, every App purchase you make on Google Play gives the developer your name, suburb and email address with no indication that this information is actually being transferred,” continues Nolan on his blog.
Read more |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24605 | Railroad Tycoon II: Gold Edition Image
Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critics What's this?
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Universal acclaim- based on 9 Ratings
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• Summary: Railroad Tycoon II, based on the award-winning original for PC, steamrolls onto Sega Dreamcast with a boxcar load of new enhancements. Control 40 plus cargo types using over 60 different train engines from around the world and establish transportation empires while outmaneuvering fellow robber barons. Play the Stock Market, manage your resources and watch as your empire grows throughout history. Expand
Score distribution:
1. Positive: 10 out of 11
2. Negative: 0 out of 11
1. If you are a sim fan you MUST have this game.
2. Despite the unwieldy user interface, this will have Dreamcast strategy fans drooling. Definitely not just for trainspotters.
3. So incredibly detailed it'll blow you away.
4. All aboard! This game will appeal to sim fans and model-train collectors alike.
5. 82
Big and complex with Grand Canyon-esque depth and a boatload of possibilities, this is one sleeping giant you may not want to pass up.
6. Solid gameplay, numerous options, and attention to detail make Railroad Tycoon II an excellent simulation.
7. The game is packed with over 70 scenarios including everything from the original Railroad Tycoon II and their Second Century expansion pack, plus all new scenarios designed exclusively for the Dreamcast.
See all 11 Critic Reviews
Score distribution:
1. Positive: 3 out of 3
2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
3. Negative: 0 out of 3
1. MarceloG.
Sep 6, 2003
This game is fantastic, but i just don't find new maps in the intenet for it. I accept suggestions.
2. MarD.
Oct 19, 2001
Wow this game rocks!!
3. Dec 2, 2013
I spent a lot of time on RT2 and despite old graphics, it's better that RT3.
That's because RT2 is more challenging than RT3.
But still
could me more demanding :D Collapse |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24606 | Racing King Image
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• Summary: Are you ready for the ultimate racing experience for iOS? Racing King is a MUST-HAVE for any Race enthusiasts! Join the revolution and start Racing TODAY! Racing King is a heart-pounding, visually astounding 3D racer that puts the control directly in your hands.Racing King combines stunning, high-fidelity graphics with addictive gameplay and head-to-head competition to create a new type of racing experience.In Racing King, being daring and passing Avoid traffic, to help you through your chase and your score. Be careful with your maneuvering though, crashing hurts! Battle head to head to test your riding skills - weave through traffic against opponents. Change your own rider to give them a personal touch! And when you’re ready, it’s time to challenge the players that rule the game. Key features: - Console quality 3D graphics - Play Offline.- Real 3D environment and cars!- Real physics.- Fast paced, intense gameplay. Expand
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24613 | User Score
Universal acclaim- based on 26 Ratings
User score distribution:
1. Positive: 24 out of 26
2. Negative: 1 out of 26
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1. Jun 22, 2013
2. Sep 5, 2012
3. Feb 9, 2012
4. ButteredPopcorn
May 12, 2007
5. Javier
Mar 15, 2007
A very clever plot that unfolds at the very last moment.
6. Ivan
Jan 25, 2007
Great movie. Funny but also dramatic. Has you wondering at every turn.
7. MelR.
Dec 27, 2006
8. PatC.
Jun 30, 2006
9. T-Dogg
Mar 19, 2005
personally i thought there was to many queens 8 would be fine but 9 is pushing it.
10. ScottW.
Aug 22, 2003
Most of the reviewers here talk about the plot and suspense, but the acting is superb in any language and perhaps the real star of the movie is buenos aires itself. seeing this film made me want to visit there, if not for fear of the street crime the movie depicts.
11. PepperW.
Oct 3, 2002
This movie was a surprise from the beginning to end. When you think that you have figured out what's going on in the plot, twist and turns immediately takes over, leaving one breathless as you try to stay ahead of the director's next move. Don't bother! Just enjoy the ride as the director takes you to further heights. Alfred Hitchcock would have been proud of Fabian Bielinsky's directorial debut. Expand
12. ChadS.
Jun 13, 2002
If you liked "House of Games" and "The Spanish Prisoner", don't miss "Nine Queens", which isn't merely a David Mamet knockoff. We know to expect the unexpected and yet the surprises still pay off. It'd be a shame to automatically dismiss this movie because of its South American origins. "Nine Queens" plays more like a gritty American independent than some French flick with loads of existential angst. See it! Expand
13. Wryguy
May 18, 2002
Or an should hook you into its world of duplicity & distrust and set up your loyalties just so...and then you think it ends on an ironic, quasipolitical note (think Enron as a bank)...and then the real climax is quite pleasantly, surprisingly disarming. Really a brilliant script, well-acted...and, like "The Sting", you don't want to examine the story too rigorously.
14. [Anonymous]
Apr 19, 2002
"Heist" with subtitles: twist after twist after twist, all without any emotional core.
Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critics
Critic score distribution:
1. Positive: 29 out of 30
2. Negative: 0 out of 30
1. Reviewed by: Claudia Puig
If you want a brain puzzler that will ensure a lively conversation on the way home, Nine Queens is the real deal.
2. 75
A con within a con within a con. There comes a time when we think we've gotten to the bottom, and then the floor gets pulled out again and we fall another level. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24614 | User Score
Universal acclaim- based on 1146 Ratings
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1. Sep 23, 2011
2. RandyM.
Apr 22, 2007
3. ChristopherE
May 7, 2009
One of the more over-rated films of the 21st century that owes it's success more to nostalgia than to taste.
4. May 26, 2012
5. MikeF.
Jul 25, 2006
Quite possibly the worst movie I have ever seen. I mean this. Even bad movies are better, because at least the directors of those know thy're not making art. What sent this picture plummeting off the scale, earning a complete zero, was the impression I had that Jackson thought he was creating a work of art. What a joke. In fact, I wish it were a joke -- a bunch of one-dimensional characters speaking a sort of bad-Shakespeare dialect. Good lord. Expand
6. Aug 9, 2011
7. Apr 1, 2012
8. Dilmano
Jul 8, 2002
I'm a bit confused with some of the criticism of this movie..."the same scene over and over again..." That line is repeated in several reviews. Huh? Which scene was that? It appears that this is just the same movie review, over and over again. And our old friend "character development" gets trotted out as another example of the shortcomings of this film. Folks, give it a chance. As someone earlier mentioned, it's a trilogy. I could already see changes at work in several characters in just the first film. And sometimes, even in the most respected films, characters DON'T develop or change. They just are what they are, and here's their story. Don't mistake plot development for character development. I had no desire to see this film when it came out. I'd tried to read the books way back when I was in college, but just couldn't get into them (I've never been much of a Fantasy fan). My husband, however, is a major LOTR fan, and convinced me to go. I've seen it 4 times since then, and can't wait for the DVD and the new installment in December. Now, I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I'm not a child, nor do I have the intellect of one, and yet I found the film exciting, funny, moving, thought-provoking, and just plain FUN. (And so did my husband, the big LOTR fan.) I cared about the characters and found them compelling. And I had no problem with the ending. Of course, different strokes for different folks! Expand
9. JasonV.
Jul 28, 2002
Best.. Movie... Ever! The people who "hate" it are just backlashing against the overwhelmingly positive response to this work of art! Much better than A Beautiful Mind, and MUCH MUCH better than Moulin Rouge!
10. AndrewJ.F.
Jan 11, 2002
Go read a book, Will. Once in your life. Please?
11. ClaireE.
Jan 12, 2002
How can people even begin to call this film boring? Obviously Will's idea of fun is deciding which shade of grey to wear that particular day. This film is amazing, great story, great adaptation, great performances, music and scenery! OK so it has some faults, but being boring is certainly not one of them.
12. TedB.
Jan 2, 2002
This was more faithful to the book than I had hoped. My fear was that-- as often happens-- little would remain of the original story. This was a superb retelling of a great story. This is a truly great film.
13. LaraQ.
Oct 28, 2002
The people who gave this movie a 6 or lower, well, I pity him/her. One person complained there was no character development. HELLO! It happened little by little. Only, sadly, some people didn't put any thought into it to see it. I mean, I can see where a person would say this about Aragorn, but when you think about him HARD you'll see his character. He of course, is an extremely skilled warrior, but he also uses his brain, and his heart. But for the most part, you could definitely see character development. The hobbits are another thing as well. Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin in paticular. Frodo is someone we can emphasize with. When he is responsible for the ring, you can tell he's very nervous and scared about this, we'd be the same. Sam, is very loyal, and is easily frightened. Merry and Pippin are both very alike. Both of them a have to take a minute to see what's going on. Someone complained the movie would've been better if it had nudity and sex. I pity that person. That is what makes a movie BAD. And if it had that, that practiacally be betraying the beauty of the book. And the most popular, was that someone said it was a childish plot. PLEASE. Do you think a child could write a story this thorough? Definetly not. Unless the child had an I.Q. of 199. That's another story. And whoever said this was for nerdy people only well, that person must have poor interests, because many non-nerds have loved this movie. I can't believe that proffessor hated it. Either that was someone pretending to be a proffessor, or it was one of the most unlikable proffessors of all time. This movie was quite moving too, especially at the end (someone please hand me a box of kleenex!) See this one! Expand
14. RobertoL.
Mar 16, 2002
What is the hoopla about this movie? To even mention it as the Best Picture of the Year is blasphemy. Same scene is repeated over and over and there isn't one shred of character development. Simply terrible overrated hyped movie.
15. KatieG.
May 4, 2002
I must say this is the best movie in the entire history of movies, next December is way to long to wait for the next one and in two decembers is definitely too long to wait for the last one. I love this movie!!!!
16. GregB.
Jun 23, 2002
Quit looking so much into the movie and just sit back and enjoy it. This was a great movie to enjoy with plenty of great scenes. Quit raping the movie and just watch it for once.
17. JessicaP.
Jul 9, 2002
Great film! I watched it over and over again when it came out at theaters! Orlando Bloom who portrays Legolas the elf is so HOTT! The action was suspensful and thrilling. The effects were really something. but something is wrong. A beautiful Mind shouldn't have beaten Lord of the Rings at the Awards Ceremony!!!! THATS JUST TOTAL WRONG!
18. MeghanK.
Sep 29, 2002
It was awesome. The actors did a great job in making each of their characters interesting and I really felt as if the Shire and the Hobbits and the whole land of Middle Earth was a real place. I love this movie, I also was happy to see that the movie did not totaly destroy the point of the book.
19. RyanW
Oct 20, 2004
20. JonH.
Dec 19, 2001
Finally, a film that makes good on its promises. Nearly perfect in every way. Thank you, thank you, Mr. Jackson.
21. Andrew
Dec 19, 2001
I cannot even begin to say enough about how fantastic this movie was. Jackson has finally, FINALLY, lent a TON of credibility to this intensely creative genre of film. There are movies that you watch, and there are movies that you EXPERIENCE, and this is truly one that immerses you in the world it delivers and allows you an experience...and these are the best movies of all time.
22. PaulM.
Nov 22, 2002
Deserves ever score of 10 and nothing less. On September 11th, 2001, the world changed forever. No longer did I feel the comfort of a safe country, a safe home. Nothing mattered any more except for the strength, support, and love of friends. And that is what the Lord of the Rings is about. It is a story of the human spirit told through the struggle to ward off a foe unseen. It has very deep values and morals throughout, with very powerful messages. The message that even using a dark power with good intentions, that power can and will corrupt. This is also the story of friendship, faithfulness, and forgiveness. In the bonds between the characters, and the struggles of the characters, they ask each others forgiveness, and apologize to one another when they fail. This film spoke volumes to me with many underlying themes such as those. Beyond that, the experience of the film was such that I have never seen before. What I saw wasn't perfect, but the flaws are forgiveable. The length isn't a problem, because they were able to capture more of the book and I'm thankful for that. For a long time I wondered how audiences felt seeing the original Star Wars and changing the world of film, as I was born the year that the Empire Struck Back, and I believe that I have just witnessed just such an event, and felt those emotions. This picture had an effect on me and I loved the whole thing. Expand
23. DonO.
Jan 23, 2002
Editor, I loved "Stars Wars," but I loved Fellowship of the Ring even more. I haven't read the Rings books in 30 years, but this film was so filled with such operatic beauty, such exquisite characters and such courage in the face of outrageous peril that it's now my number-one movie of all time. Star Wars was great ? humorous, slap-dash and filled with amazing special effects, but it was, to be honest, only the world's best Saturday afternoon matinee. As serious film, it doesn't even come close to the Fellowship of the Ring. Expand
24. IanW.
Dec 4, 2002
They have somehow managed the seemingly impossible, they have improved upon the book!! (removed scenes that would not work on film and added extra "continuity"). WONDERFUL!!!
25. KarlD.
Jan 4, 2002
I have to give a 10+++ (as I watched it already 3 times) for the movie I was expecting for months. I truly remained without breath fot the whole 3 hours and enjoyed every second of it. The myth of the great mind of J.R.R. Tolkien finally came to life with this truly remarkable masterpiece of filmaking. I have never seen such good visuals in my life, and after I have read the books of the Lord of the Rings, I realised how well the whole book was recreated superbly on screen. The scenery is truly spectecular and breathtaking, compliments to Peter Jackson's New Zealand and his great talent. The soundtrack is also marvellous. I hope this film will be rewarded for its greatness. It is a great epic of fantasy and adventure, and without any doubt, one of the or the best film of the year. I do not mind people critsicing harshly the film because I do believe they don't know a damn about the books of Tolkien. Please don't try to compare it to Star Wars, maybe it was written 40 years later!! The Fellowship of the Ring is a dream come true thanks to Tolkien's genius and Peter Jackson's talent. Flawless! Can't wait a year and two to see the other movies, then I guess I have to put myself on dvds! Expand
26. KaraL.
Apr 7, 2002
The scenery was beautiful, the acting was mostly wonderful, and it leaves you wanting more.
27. KeshiaB.
May 15, 2002
What can I say it was absolutely amazine! I can't wait 2 C the next 2.
28. JamesF.
Aug 8, 2002
Don't mean to be a bandwagon jumper, but his movie is excellent. I, for one, love fantasy films, and this has got to be the greatest of that genre ever made. However, the great thing is youi don't have to eb a fantasy film lover to ike this movie. It's like star wars only fantasy (except I didn't really care for star wars), its a film that anybody of any age can enjoy so long as they have imagination and don't mind a long, epic movie. Expand
29. ElizabethF.
Sep 28, 2002
The beauty of this film is that it appeals to those who have read The Lord of the Rings as well as those who haven't. Newcomers (most of them) are intrigued by portrayal of the characters and storyline, whereas the old are captured once again by Tolkien's epic. The acting cannot be faulted; it was convincing. And Peter Jackson did well in choosing the parts of the story to cut out. Of course, no movie is complete without a good accompanying score, and Howard Shore was truly magical. It was not about character development. In fact, in the books, there was very little until later, much later in the story. It should be more that enough that the characters were stunningly portrayed and cunningly acted out. Take, for instance, Frodo Baggins. At bag end, he is happy. And why shouldn't he be? His life is perfect. He is rich and well-liked in the community. When his beloved uncle disappears, he is sad - but not overly so, because he respects Bilbo. But Elijah Wood conveys his misery perfectly when the truth of the ring is revealed, and his acceptance of his task. His desperate flee from the Ringwraiths, his fear, and the doom that he brings upon him at the council - all clearly seen through the smallest of actions and speech. Then the journey through the mines, "a pity Bilbo didn't kill [Gollum] when he had the chance," the revelations in Lórien, "I cannot do this alone," and the exceptional courage in Amon Hen, "can you protect me from yourself?" serve to make Frodo Baggins a formidable character in the movie of the year. But I am surprised at some of the comments posted here. One person complains that it was too violent for children. I don't mean to sound insulting, but this person has obviously never read the books. A child would never grasp the concepts in The Lord of the Rings. Of course, if the original reviewer was a child prodigy with an I.Q. of 180 and attended Oxford for literature at age 15, forgive me. For the comment about the two "annoying short guys," those short guys are HOBBITS, and they are the main characters in the story. To the person who called it "a nerdy movie for nerdy people... that [run] around outside pretending to cast spells on each other," I am sorry that some of us have a desire for good literature. As for the comments about length... try reading it. And the one review to cap them all: "Sean R. gave it a 5: This is one of those movies where you need to expect an 500 page story crammed not action. The action weren't that good and the demon characters looked really cheesy. The plot also really didn't make a whole lot of sense either. The thing I will never get over though are the names Frodo, Bilbo. Did Mike Tyson name these guys?" It is pitiable. Especially the last two sentences. Kudos to you, Peter Jackson and co. The Fellowship of the Ring is truly a magnificent movie, and certainly does the book justice. Expand
30. SamanthaH.
Apr 13, 2003
All the peps worry cool and frodo wasthe coolest.
31. raVen
Jul 19, 2003
Beautifully done--Tolkien was not betrayed. Abridged, yes, but never betrayed. Beyond the endless eyecandy, what I loved most was that it wasn't made specifically for the large segment of our population that would rather watch a movie than read the great book it was based on. "Fellowship" has action and swordplay, but doesn't depend on them. The characters are fantastical, but not unreal. It's a special effects gem that isn't dumb. And this one's only the beginning... Expand
32. a.smith
Nov 18, 2004
33. JaneA.
Aug 8, 2004
34. JustinM.
Dec 19, 2001
So far, this is the only movie I can honestly say has overstepped the bounds of it's hype. What fantasy film could be better than the very series that started it all? Recipe: Take four hobbits, a wizard, elf, king of men, and dwarf. Cast well. Act to golden perfection and add props and special effects to taste. Jackson did all that and more, and cooked up nothing short of a timeless masterpiece! Long-live such moviemaking! Expand
35. StephanieB.
Nov 12, 2002
This movie was awsome!!!! It may have been differnt from the book but it was Grrrreeeaatttt!!!!! The way they made the movie and the effects and features, i fell in love with it!!!!
36. AbbyM.
Feb 24, 2002
It was the best movie I have ever seen.
37. M.
Apr 22, 2002
OK. I want to give it 11 outta 10 really!!! OMG how good and amazing was this film anyone who gives it lower than 10.... grrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!! Basically 3 words... Elijah Jordan Wood! aaaahhhh.
38. K-dog
Jun 18, 2002
This movie was one of the best movies i have ever seen. Not only is it true to the book, but the visuals and interpretation of it were beautiful. Anyone who dares give this movie anything below an 8 has their head up their ass. No Character development? Its a #*@*ing trilogy! you cant expect all the development in the first movie! Overall, all i have to say is, when this movie comes on dvd, i'm gonna buy it and watch it over and over again. Expand
39. JJ
Jun 19, 2002
An Exellent, well acted movie altogether. Very beautiful and breath taking. See It!
40. Matt
Aug 12, 2002
Intoxicating in it's imagery and imagination, "Rings" is the most visceral moviegoing experience since "2001." An incredible monument to J.R.R. Tolkien, it's one of the best completely fantastic films you're apt to see for some time.
41. DanW.
Sep 24, 2002
Wow, I'm suprised at the lack of intelligence in some of the people who made comments about how bad the movie was. You're saying it had the same scene repeated over and over again yet I saw about 8 different people in a row say that there was no character development. Sounds like repetition to me. For those who say they didn't like the movie because it was too long I say one thing. Thank your lucky stars. Obviously you haven't read any of the books. The first book on which the movie is based is well over 500 pages long, and many scenes in the book that might "develop the characters better" were but out to make it shorter so people like you wouldn't complain. People who say that this movie lacked intelligence or is built for a child, try reading the books. I guarantee you no child under the age of 12 will be able to grasp the words that make up the storie. To the person who said this was a movie for nerdy people who ran around casting spells at each other. I'm sorry, I guess being labelled a nerd is the price you pay for having an imagination. This movie is about fantasy, it's about believing in the unbelievable and about good triumphing over evil. In this day and age, thats something everyone can look to for support, imagination or not. Props to you Tolkien, I'm sure you would be turning in your grave if you read the series of slander written about a work of art such as yours. Expand
42. ChadG.
Dec 10, 2003
A masterpiece. The second best film of the trilogy after the miracle that is ROTK.
43. Chickenmouth
Dec 15, 2003
I realize this isn't a forum, but seriously... "Worse, everything here is a rudimentary sword/sorcery cliche" Tolkien was one of the first fantasy writers and they weren't cliches when he wrote them... but Peter Jackson's done a great job adapting and this is one of the best movies ever made, I think.
44. SamG.
Dec 12, 2004
45. BenjaminA.
Jun 17, 2004
One of the greatest movies of all time.
46. LAW
Dec 19, 2001
The best sound, art direction, visual effects, casting and over-all direction in a movie I have ever seen. No other director has put so much thought into a fantasy movie that satisfies so completely. It attacks & woos you at the same time. Jackson's talent, patience and creative genuis has set the bar to the highest it's ever been. It's about time. Hollywood hacks, be envious. Almost 3 hours and people around me sighed at the end because it was over, and then aplauded. An experience I will not soon forget. Expand
47. AllyT.
Nov 11, 2002
Some airhead said this movie had a childish plot. Read the book you loser, can a child 10 years and under possibly understand all that, let alone write it? I thought this movie should've deserved the amount of Academy Awards it was nominated for. But NO. Even if they're nominated, and practically everyone fell in love with them, a fantasy film never gets an award for Best Picture, they just get nominated for it. I can't believe A Beautiful Mind won... This movie rocks! So does the book! And the acting was... fabulous... I can't believe Ian Mckellen didn't win the Academy Award practically everyone thought he deserved. Thank God Peter Jackson didn't make his orcs goblins, and Ringraiths a.ka. Black Riders all digitilized like George Lucas might've. No, he had some actors wear the costumes of them, and they ended up to be A LOT scarier than if they were computerized. Thank you sooo much, Mr. Jackson! Expand
48. PoseurCritick
Nov 18, 2002
If I were to cop out and write a one-liner review (ought to be a crime) it would read: It's not long enough. More to the point: sticks and stones may make it more difficult for Tolkien appreciators to grab the DVD when piled high around the displays, but polysyllables will never stop us from enjoying it.
49. FrodoFan
Dec 19, 2002
When the movie came to theaters i didn't see it. I didn't really care that much. Then I rented it and when "Directed by Peter Jackson" came up on the scream after the 3 hour action packed fantasy movie ended, I let out a cry, turned to my sister and said "That was REALLY good!" It is my absolute favorite movie. And out of a 10 I would give it a 100. Whoever said the special effects were "laughable" needs help. I am desperate to see the Two Towers and whoever saids Peter Jackson chose a tasteless name needs help too. Frodo is such a relatable character. I liked Harry Potter the first time I saw the movie. But the second time I saw it I was thinking "Will this never end???" But with LOTR, I watched it every day for a week. I love it. I laugh and I cry. The special effects are awesome, it is never boring despite it's length, the characters are relatable, and it is an overall masterpiece! I can't wait to see the Two Towers and Return of the King!!! Expand
50. Corey
Nov 28, 2003
If there ever was a movie that i would marry this would be it. I love this movie. The greatest movie ever made. Overwhelming!! Awe inspiring!!! mocostrulating!!! hapervestulating!!! I'm making up words because there are none that exist that can describe this movie.
51. ElendilA.
Dec 12, 2003
52. JonasM.
Dec 15, 2003
A true masterpiece!
53. MartinG.
Dec 18, 2003
54. Aug 14, 2010
55. May 27, 2011
56. Aug 9, 2011
57. Jul 21, 2011
58. Mar 26, 2012
59. Mar 17, 2013
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring review
60. KeithE.
Sep 20, 2003
The first installment of the classic series the Lord Of The Rings was cinematically beautiful and awe inspiring. The battle scenes were very enjoyable. The creatures of Tolkien's world were well portrayed and believable. I would have chosen someone other than Elijah Wood to portray Froto, but Wood played his part well. Fabulous movie and left most viewers awaiting more.
61. MattL.
Jan 28, 2005
62. Anonymous
Jun 8, 2005
63. VictorG
May 4, 2010
64. JoeyV.
Jan 10, 2002
I started reading the book like 3 years ago, it seemed boring and extremely discriptive for my taste, any way, I thought I was only about magicians and elves and dwarfs, nothing big...I was sooo wrong. I saw the movie and it really involved me into's about honor and pride and friendship and human values that are vanishing right now. Great effects, excellent acting roles, brilliant music...I couln't have asked more. Expand
65. RobM.
Jan 3, 2002
Much, too much helicopter shots...too much close ups of the ring! Music reminded me of scooby-doo never stopped! Moved waaay too slow for 3 hour movie! ...what the hell is the movie about? Am I the only one that didn't get it!???
66. RichardG.
Oct 4, 2002
Very GOOD!!, this movie depicts everything which one would expect in this type of genre. The acting is splended, the lighting is great, the fights and of course the plot is fantastic. Definitely one to see, and it leaves you wanting more & more & more.....
67. D.T.
Mar 17, 2002
Ick! They should atl east give the ending a little bit of 'ending'. It's extremely long-winded. But I do have to give it credit for its amazing effects (and that's the only best bit about the movie).
68. JaredH.
Apr 1, 2002
There was such a diverse opinion in either you loved or hated it, that I decided to see it for myself. Without question a terribly overrated flick that only children would like.
69. *~SuGa_BaBi~*
Apr 15, 2002
Original, exciting, riveting and entertaining...brings the book to life...all tha actors, music, special effects, and scenery were brilliant! Truly, a totally mad movie. Couldn't be betta!
70. BarbaraD.
Jun 1, 2002
Absolutely terrible film with no character development at all. Probably will score big with pre-teens but insults the intelligence of adults. Same scene repeated over and over. Childrens story and childish film.
71. EmilyH.
Jun 6, 2002
This is one of my favorite movies I don't see how anyone could not like it! Who would be so crazy as to give it a 1 or 0?
72. JoshuaW.
Aug 2, 2002
Yes, I believe this movie to be excellant. It certainly will go down in the history books as one of the greatest films of all time. It is a different kind of film than "Citizen Kane", but no less important to cinema. That is why there are so many types of film genres. Those out there who have given this movie a rating of 1 or 0 are really just being spoiled sports. O.K., so you didn't like the story or the acting, fine. That's a matter of taste, but this is a film, which means that the story and acting are just a part of it's entirety. Set design, musical score, cinematography, etc.. are also important factors that must be acknowledged when reviewing a film. This movie was and is an excellantly crafted piece of cinema. In my opinion it seemlessly merged the technical aspects with the creative ones. I loved the story, directing, cinematography, acting, special effects, etc.. If you don't agree about the acting or story, well as much as I may dissagree with you that's fine, however it is unjust to give this film such a low rating when it obviously was so well made from a production stand point. It is only fair to acknowledge it's achievements where they are undeniable, regardless of personal preferences. Expand
73. J.Q.
Aug 30, 2002
Yes, the movie did seem to drag at points and the charachters may have been underdeveloped, however, it is made from a FIVE HUNDRED PAGE book. It is excellent for what it is, a brilliant recreation of a classic novel. I also feel sorry for you stupid idiots who have to go and repeat word for word what other people say. You piss us all of so please stop.
74. Kim
Sep 2, 2002
Let me just put it this way...I walked into the movie half an hour late and it was STILL too long!
75. SimonM.
Sep 5, 2002
It was the best movie i have ever seen. i have bought all of the lord of the rings movies gear and i cant wait untill the lord of the rings the two towers comes out, but i know how it ends now because i just finished the books yesterday.
76. PederD.
May 2, 2003
Best movie ever!!!
77. LlsE.
Jun 18, 2005
The best film I have ever seen.
78. RobbyZ.
Apr 8, 2010
Extraordinary. Wondrous to behold.
79. X
Oct 1, 2002
When I saw this movie I didn't get all I expected... I got more than I expected. This movie clearly earned the academy awards it won, if not it should have won more. I love the fight scenes and most of the characters. The visual effects were stunning, I liked the work on the Balrog the most. As for the costumes: excellent. As for the soundtrack, a definite must buy for music-lovers. As for those who have given it less than satisfactory ratings you clearly have poor taste in movies, the patience of kindergarteners, and a lack of appreciation of good movies. Yes the movie is long, big whoop, the book was even longer. All we got was half the book put into three hours, plus the beginning of "The Two Towers" but more was intended but didn't make the final cut. The ending. Ever hear of a "cliffhanger"? no, wait, you don't know what a cliffhanger is cause you're too busy whining over the fact you can't appreciate good movies because of your poor taste. Endings like that are left open to make the audience come back for more. As for character development, who cares? This is THE FIRST PART of the trilogy. All they did was introduce the basic 8 to 9 characters of the story. Jackson has indicated that there will be development in the next one as each character is going on their own adventures, especially where Aragorn is concerned. To those who missed out, I, like the majority of the reviewers, recommend this film. Expand
80. Ned
Nov 7, 2002
Like a round of torture at the hands of a narcoleptic Torquemada, this movie not only broke my will to live, but did so at far greater length than was necessary. The cinematography was good (hence the 1) and the acting was mediocre. The plot, however, equal parts immature fantasy and mawkish tripe, was terrible. The story was like something a six-year-old would tell his babysitter. The characters were dull, leaving me at best utterly uninterested in what would happen to them, or more often hoping that they would get killed off just to momentarily alleviate my boredom. The battle scenes were both ridiculous and tedious. I haven't read the book, and now realize that I'm a better, more cultured man for it. This Tolkien rubbish is prime evidence of the dumbing-down of Western culture. The movie is an abomination and an abortion! If you want solid, deliberate character development, watch a Werner Herzog film. If you're a masochist, watch this cinematic atrocity. Expand
81. P.V.
Jan 18, 2002
As I was watching the movie, StarWars were on my mind almost all the time. There is battle of good against evil, there are three parts (well, I mean Episodes 4, 5 and 6) many strange creatures, magic etc. And, here is what I think. All three episodes of StarWars have ends and are independent wholes. First part of LOTR definitely does not have one and this is my main complaint. Maybe they wanted to force us to buy and read the book? I won?t buy the book!!! StarWars are faster, and much more interesting. And music, music in StarWars is much much better. In LOTR it is boring and unrecognizable. Expand
82. MichelleP.
Oct 21, 2002
Man, was this movie great. It seemed to have everything I liked in it. And, even though it wasn't as faithful, it seemed to capture the spirit and magic of the book better than "Harry Potter" could. I just don't get the people who gave it bad reviews. One person said the movie was too violent. Geez! What were they expecting? A happy little fairy tale? No. The thing about "Lord of the Rings" is that it takes fantasy elements seriously. One said it was too scary and violent for children. Eh, HELLO! Did you, or did you not notice the PG-13 rating?! And that's a parental guidance opinion for crying out loud... One of my favorite things about this movie was Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin. They were just so...well, cute! Another thing I savored about this movie (and book) was the dark story.... so suspenseful, breathtaking, I LOVE it! Expand
83. H.S.
Jan 2, 2002
This is a great movie! Some say that the actors aren't convincing (e.g. Mr. Steven Rea of the Philadelphia Inquirer calling Wood's Frodo a wuss), but that may be because they had read the trilogy, and have a certain expectation as to how the characters are. I haven't read the books, so to me, it makes sense that Wood's Frodo, who is supposed to be a friendly Hobbit, acts like a wuss. I guess ignorance is bliss. I must say Viggo Mortensen is way cool and perfect for the role, much like Hugh Jackman in X-Men (Aussie Aussie Aussie! Oy Oy Oy!) Expand
84. Realone
Dec 4, 2002
It's a very special movie. The movie is very good.
85. BrianF.
Jan 7, 2002
By far the most imaginative film I have seen on the big screen since Star Wars was rereleased in 97. I was kind of interested in Hary Potter, seeing as the books were entertaining. But after that dissappointment of that film, I was a little afraid to get excited about Lord of the Rings. They were not my favorite books. But Jackson completely laid to rest any of my fears, showing that he is more than capable of bringing a book to the screen. Expand
86. T.B.
Feb 12, 2002
This was the greatest movie I ever saw. I can hardly wait until it is on VHS.
87. Nicenin
Feb 14, 2002
Looks fantastic but sorely lacking in magic and narrative coherence.
88. LucasC.
Feb 26, 2002
I really loved this movie. It was a beautifully recreated movie of the epic novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. The only disappointment (which didn't affect my vote much) was [Ed: potential spoiler omitted]. There were a few other instances in the movie where it did not follow the book, but that did not stop me from seeing nine times(which will probably be ten quite soon). As I have said before I really loved this movie and it was created exactly like most people imagined it thanks to Peter Jackson (all us Tolkien buffs appreciated your lovely work. Thanks again)! Expand
89. MarianC.
Feb 6, 2002
This is the greatest film ever made in the English language -- which means the greatest film ever made. It is a thing of beauty and will be a joy forever.
90. HaroonA.
Feb 8, 2002
As perfect an adaption as you will get. Rings fascinates, intrigues and creates middle earth.
91. ShubachiC.
Mar 1, 2002
Awesome! I read the book as well previously though the movie lacks some of the imaginative material in your imagination, its got cool effects!
92. JustinR.
Mar 19, 2002
What people don't realize is that this movie is a PART of a TRILOGY. It isn't supposed to have an Finite ending. It 's supposed to leave you wanting more. And it did just that.
93. FrancisJosephC.
Mar 26, 2002
Best movie of last year... the true Best Picture winner in any cinephile's heart. This is the true movie experience. Great script, cinematography, score, acting, directing... just perfect!
94. CarolinaO.
Mar 29, 2002
I love this movie! It's exactly how a "fairytail" movie should be, and the actors are great!
95. SeanB.
Apr 20, 2002
Yeah, it was fun to watch at times, but this movie was totally devoid of any sort of excitement or parity. Every "bad guy" that the group encountered on the way was essentially the same, and after a while, I really stopped caring about what was going on. Waaaaaaaaay overrated.
96. K.M.
Apr 7, 2002
Only kids would like it eh Jared? Oh yeah, that's why it's PG-13. Doomas. And that's why it was nominated for Best Picture, the Academy is made up of adults. Again, doomas.
97. SteveM.
May 11, 2002
After seeing this film and reveling in its magnificent vision and nobility, one pauses to think what idiocy overtook the Academies to give A Beautiful Mind the best picture. I can only conclude 1) Mythic epic is unacceptable; 2) Envy at the tremendous success; 3) expectation of giving it an award next year or its third; 4) JUST PLAIN STUPIDITY. I think 1 2 and 4 apply. The Lord of the Rings will never win best picture and not for worthy reasons. Expand
98. RegisA.
May 18, 2002
EEEEEEE!!!!!!! I can't believe it!!!! BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL film!!!! Seriously, the best FANTASY film I have ever seen (coming from someone who doesn't give a sh*t about this type of film or whatever, or even those Lord of the Rings novels or books, but that was before, I've f.....g CONVERTED!!!). Can't wait for the next two films!!!! Why isn't it December YET!?!?!?! Expand
99. FrodoB.
May 20, 2002
This should have gotten Best Picture. The photography is absolutly beautiful, the special effects are the best I've ever seen, the plot is totally faithful to the books, and the characters are memorable. Unquestionably one of the best movies of all time. I can't wait for the DVD and the 2nd part!
Universal acclaim - based on 34 Critics
Critic score distribution:
1. Positive: 33 out of 34
2. Negative: 0 out of 34
1. 100
3. 70 |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24615 | Coastal Grooves - Blood Orange
Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critics
Critic score distribution:
1. Positive: 12 out of 18
2. Negative: 0 out of 18
1. Aug 10, 2011
Hynes's voice is refined into an emotive croon. Inventive pop from a bright indie talent.
2. Aug 10, 2011
With a humble ten songs, Hynes banishes our woes and turns a shoulder to the glut of all too mundane music released this year, reminding us that someone can still make a perfectly influenced yet original collection of songs. This is how a record should be made.
User Score
Generally favorable reviews- based on 6 Ratings
User score distribution:
1. Positive: 0 out of 1
2. Negative: 0 out of 1
1. Oct 11, 2011
That image on the cover might be confusing but this is not an album by Antony and the Johnsons. Blood Orange is Dev Hynes, a Texas-born British singer-songwriter. Coastal Grooves is mostly funk and while the opening three songs are totally joyous and, well, funky (especially Sutphin Boulevard and Iâ Full Review » |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24618 | Stone Love - Angie Stone
Stone Love Image
Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critics What's this?
User Score
Generally favorable reviews- based on 4 Ratings
Your Score
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• Summary: The soul singer's latest release marks her 25th year as a recording artist (she made her debut in 1979 as a member of the first female rap group ever, Sequence). Guests here include Missy Elliott, Floetry and Snoop Dogg.
Score distribution:
1. Positive: 8 out of 13
2. Negative: 0 out of 13
1. By sticking to a single subject, "Stone Love" lacks the range and ambition of her splendid "Mahogany Soul" album in 2001, but it is still a joy. [11 Jul 2004]
2. She's the perfect '70s soul-funk mama, and lucky for us, she's stuck in 2004.
3. 80
Not as immediate as the previous two albums, this one takes time before its effortless flow, interweaving harmonies and low-key chords really sink in. [Aug 2004, p.102]
4. Everything is balmy, modestly funky--and strangely devoid of outright passion. [9 Jul 2004, p.85]
5. A collection of rootsy yet sophisticated, summery soul grooves, with the usual nods to past masters like Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack and Glady Knight, "Stone Love" is equally at home alongside the sultry, sassy R&B of contemporaries like Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys and Erykah Badu.
6. Languorous to a fault. [5 Aug 2004, p.113]
7. Sounds derivative and over-produced. [Sep 2004, p.123]
See all 13 Critic Reviews
Score distribution:
1. Positive: 3 out of 4
2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
3. Negative: 1 out of 4
1. NseE
Jul 25, 2004
Fantastic cd, strong contender for album of the year. Standouts include 'My man' which features Floetry, 'Come home (live with me)' and the Missy Elliott penned and produced 'U haul'. Classy soul with excellent, passioned vocals. Expand
2. BR
Aug 6, 2004
Not as good as Mahogany Soul, but I love it.
3. LMetoyer
Oct 7, 2004
Throughly enjoyed it. Consistantly reminds me of what real "soulful" music sounds like. Not a whole lot of unneccessary oohs and aahs as is present in many female artist today. Sexy but not explicit (big plus for me). Title tracts "Remy Red" and "Cinderella" are supa hot!! Well done, Angie!!! Expand
4. JulietaD
Aug 3, 2004
This album it´s the same crap as any Rn'b album. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24619 | Ta-Dah - Scissor Sisters
Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critics
Critic score distribution:
1. Positive: 19 out of 30
2. Negative: 1 out of 30
1. Even some of the kickiest stuff has an unexpected emotional punch.
2. And while at first it feels like an unholy, unhummable mess, the same solid gold charm which powered lead single "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'" to Number One, lurks at the heart of every track, and by listen five it's refocused "Ta-Dah" into a strangely enticing nether world, where it's forever 1974 and a cheap thrill or soaring pop high lurks round every corner.
3. 90
The second brilliant Scissor Sisters longplayer and the greatest album John/Taupin never made. [Oct 2006, p.96]
4. Ta-Dah isn't an unimpeachable triumph from front to back, but it's a hell of a good showing.
5. 88
A glorious, towering achievement. [#22, p.98]
6. 80
They sound joyous even when they're miserable. [Oct 2006, p.96]
7. Similarities to their debut are much easier to find than differences, although the songs aren't quite as memorable (except the single "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'") and Ta-Dah is slightly samey in comparison.
8. They haven't just picked up where they left off last time; they've recreated the sound of their debut wholesale, then tossed on a couple of extra layers of flamboyance for good measure. [Sep 2006, p.104]
9. 80
These new songs gleam with nouveau riche sparkle. [Oct 2006, p.96]
10. For all its highlights, however, Ta-Dah is haunted by the thought that the Scissors Sisters can't keep this up much longer.
11. There's a darker lyrical side to the album at once incongruous and ingenius when placed in such celebratory music.
12. Despite embracing the styles of decades past (specifically, the piano-driven pop of [Elton] John and the Bee Gees' disco-riffic ditties), the Sisters still manage to sound unique.
13. The bass lines bounce, the strings swirl and Jake Shears wields a killer falsetto.... But Shears has a dark side.
14. Unfortunately, Scissor Sisters share another trait with the acts they idolize: They only produce a handful of great songs per album.
15. Even more streamlined, pop-minded, and high-spirited than their 2004 self-titled debut, it's as if they're single-mindedly attempting to depose the world's problems with a rigorous dance and good times regimen.
16. 70
The music follows in the ruby-slippered footsteps of the first album. [Oct 2006, p.134]
17. So what if Scissor Sisters aren't challenging the conventions of pop music?... [Ta-Dah is] great and will please their fans.
19. Ta-Dah is easy to like but hard to love.
20. Scissor Sisters sound under so much pressure to follow up a monster hit that they're not actually having any fun.
21. With Ta-Dah, the band have decided to forego all the possible musical paths suggested in their debut and instead take the path of least resistance for most of the new record. Namely, making a safe, upbeat record that functions as little more than a feel-good, party album.
22. 60
[A] time warp of an album, which takes us back to a future where grunge never happened, glam is god, disco balls sit atop the world and glitter falls from the sky. [Sep 2006, p.129]
23. Every song is rooted in some long-gone Seventies AM-radio hit... doing for disco what the New Pornographers do for rock & roll.
24. Unfortunately songs that aren't immediately danceable... tend to dull the excitement. [Dec 2006, p.94]
25. Whether the songs are merely half-developed or the sugar-sheen production simply washes them of any potential grit, it seems apparent that the dreaded second album curse hath struck again.
26. Arch and ostentatious, their music both falls victim to and exalts in Warhol's 15-minutes-of-fame declaration. Like a screenprint of a soup can, it's at once timeless and pointless.
27. It’s neat but slight, and a good deal less freakish than its predecessor.
28. Despite its title, Ta-Dah offers few surprises.
29. Somehow, Ta-Dah feels like the Sisters covering themselves, and the glitter and gloss have worn off.
30. A very slickly produced record that's practically unlistenable.
User Score
Universal acclaim- based on 46 Ratings
User score distribution:
1. Positive: 24 out of 29
2. Negative: 2 out of 29
1. OrlandoC
Mar 28, 2007
Ok its definitely not as good as the first album but its still pretty good.
2. joeg
Jan 16, 2007
Significantly better than their first album.
3. PRay
Jan 3, 2007
I refuse to believe that I am the only person who thinks, I dont feel like dancing, is the most irritating, cheapest, awful song of 2006! I dont get it, because I liked their debut, this sounds like a karoke version of the band, its horrible!!!!! Full Review » |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24620 | TheFutureEmbrace - Billy Corgan
Mixed or average reviews - based on 24 Critics
Critic score distribution:
1. Positive: 9 out of 24
2. Negative: 3 out of 24
1. The tragedy here is not that this is a mid-nineties retread, though, as much as Corgan’s songwriting is Machina level unmemorable.
2. Corgan does his level best to make the whole affair as joyless as possible.
3. It's not that any of the songs are horrible; it's just that they are so shamelessly middle-of-the-road that you become sickened by the ambivalence that they instill.
User Score
Generally favorable reviews- based on 77 Ratings
User score distribution:
1. Positive: 44 out of 59
2. Negative: 10 out of 59
1. Nov 4, 2011
Not Billy Corgans finest hour by a long stretch but this record isn't nearly as bad as people would have you believe. Half the songs on this are quite dull but the half that work are very good and sound like nothing he did with the Smashing Pumpkins. SP fans might hate this because it really bears no resemblance to their sound but this is what makes parts of theord interesting. I have major problems with the production on this, a lot of the time great ideas/songs get ruined by electronic toys/bad machine drumming but as I said, overall it's better than people say it is. Full Review »
2. LeandroR
Feb 1, 2007
muito bom!
3. FernandoR
Jul 5, 2006
Just beatiful |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24664 | 1. #1
Mass dispel macro help
I just reached 72 and learned mass dispel im keeping this toon in the lvl 70 brackets for a while but i was wondering if there is a macro to cast mass dispel and then cast silence right after or like a half a second after in situations where pally pops bubble starts casting heal and i wanna counter with mass dispel his bubble and silence him before he can get the heal off. Ive tried a few different macros but i haven't had to much success, any help or shedding of light would be appreciated
~Jexson 72 Spriest
2. #2
I would think a cast sequence macro would be your best bet. But it wouldn't be foolproof in that it is not able take into account if mass dispel failed. The most beneficial way to do it would be to just cast Mass Dispel with one keybind then Silence with another, but this macro might work for you if you don't like the most efficient/reliable method:
#showtooltip Silence
/castsequence !Mass Dispel, Silence
"Sociopaths are very good at figuring out ways to fuck people over without actually breaking any rules. One might even argue that it's the only thing they're really any good at. They certainly aren't very good at being people."
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Cloud Imperium Games Corporation | Official Site
Star Citizen News - E3 2013: Chatting Star Citizen with Chris Roberts
Posted by Michael Bitton on Jun 27, 2013 | 14 comments in our forums
We caught up with Cloud Imperium Games' Chris Roberts to discuss Star Citizen at this year's E3 event in Los Angeles. Read on to find out what we learned!
Chris Roberts has a pretty interesting development plan for Star Citizen. Most of us are used to waiting with bated breath for our favorite games for an often overly extensive period of time. Some publishers or developers have mercy on us from time to time and don’t even announce their games until around six months out, but this isn’t often the case. Instead of waiting around with nothing to show for your backing until the game fully releases, Cloud Imperium Games will be releasing Star Citizen bit-by-bit in the form of modules.
Read more of Michael Bitton's Star Citizen: E3 2013: Chatting Star Citizen with Chris Roberts.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24668 | Edward Glamkowski
E-Mail Address:spammers suck
Contribution Rating:108 (tied for 1270th; 2 in last year)
Homepage: http://www.angelfire.com/nj/eglamkowski
Member SinceFeb 11, 2003
# Messages Posted:none
About myself:Worked as a programmer with Holistic Design 1998-2002. Published titles include "Merchant Prince II", "Mall Tycoon" and "Fading Suns: Noble Armada". Play Fading Suns in all its forms (the RPG, the computer games (EFS, FSNA), Passion Play, etc.). Is good.
Edward Glamkowski (108) is also listed as a game developer. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24696 | Skip to main content
Plot & Details
One of heavy metal's most enduring madmen, Ozzy Osbourne devastates the crowd in this video program filmed during two sold-out concert tours in 1992, in which he performs his solo hits and a few favorites from his days in Black Sabbath.
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Snake Eyes
Rated R for some violence.
R 105min.
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Rick Santoro
Kevin Dunne
Gilbert Powell
Julia Costello
Lincoln Tyler
Lou Logan
Jimmy George
Charles Kirkland
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Wit Licht
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Dutch pop idol Marco Borsato (Onderweg) makes his feature acting debut in this outing from director Jean van de Velde, an adventure with a central conceit that recalls John Boorman's 1985 The Emerald Forest. Read More
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24712 |
Boss making me uncomftorable about my eating habits
(26 Posts)
negmatthews Wed 08-May-13 20:54:17
Hi MN,
My boss keeps making snipey comments about my eating and it's making me feel really humiliated and uncomfortable. I've always struggled with food since I was little, and I fear I am probably being over-sensitive but it's really getting me down. I don't know if I just need a slap and accept that it's banter?
For example, occasionally someone in the team will get some chocolates or something to share (I do this occasionally, so it's not like I'm just nicking everyone's treats!), she will always make a comment to me when I go for one, like "tut tut!", or "step away from the food" or "OMG you ate all the sweets! Look colleagues, negmatthews ate all the chocolates!"
I am a bit overweight and I absolutely hate myself for it, I have always been like this and struggle with it. I have a healthier attitude than I used to and try to be moderate. BUT, it has fuck all to do with my work. I am a good worker, a hard worker, and having a couple of sweets while I am on the job makes fuck all difference. I just want to tell her to fuck off to be honest. It's embarrassing to have someone pick on me when I'm at my desk, even if it's in jest.
Anyone have any advice/a slap round the face?
KatherineLacey Wed 22-May-13 22:54:24
Don't bother with witty comebacks. I think writing an email explaining how you feel is perfectly alright. Also, that way you have it on record so if she keeps on you can take the matter to HR or further and prove that she is in fact bullying you, as she knows what she's doing.
I suspect she'll stop as soon as you send an email like that, but if she doesn't HR will lay the smack down as they probably don't want to be on the sharp end of a constructive dismissal claim.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24725 |
Updated: 4/13/2007 3:36 pm
Insubordination occurs when an employee deliberately refuses to obey or carry out a reasonable order from a superior. This type of misconduct in the workplace can obviously damage an employer and employee relationship. Generally, companies don't need a policy to discipline or fire an employee on the spot for such behavior, but most will enforce a general written policy on insubordination to protect their actions in court. A typical insubordination policy will clearly state that any refusal to fulfill a specific job requirement can lead to discipline up to and including termination. Companies may also list the varying degrees or different types of insubordination they consider unacceptable and subject to disciplinary action. For instance, some companies include the use of abusive language towards supervisors as insubordination in their policy. Others may consider any refusal to obey an order, whether verbal or silent, as insubordination. Keep in mind, however, that employees who merely protest a duty shouldn't be reprimanded for insubordination. It's not insubordination if the employee completes the job, even if it's done with constant complaining or delays. Supervisors should also be aware that an employee who refuses to perform a task because he or she believes it's illegal, unethical, or immoral, or that it may place him or her in immediate danger of death or serious injury may have his or her rights protected in a court of law. When handling an insubordinate worker, it may be helpful to take into consideration the severity of the offense as well as the employee's past conduct record before choosing an appropriate disciplinary action.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24738 | Back to main
A Contractually Obligated Dividend
6/20/2013 10:03:00 AM
By: Wyatt Investment Research
Referenced Stocks:JPS;PFF
Editor's Note: Today I invited my colleague and contributing editor Steve Mauzy to share once of his favorite investment ideas in this issue of Income & Prosperity. For those of you unfamiliar with Steve's work, he's a top income investing expert and analyst at my High Yield Wealth investment newsletter.
If you're willing to venture a little out of your traditional income investor "comfort zone," you can achieve something that sounds impossible.
You can lower your risk, diversify your income, AND still collect healthy yields of over 7% a year.
If that sounds good to you, consider preferred stocks - hybrid securities that have characteristics of both stocks and bonds.
You might have heard of these investments before, and perhaps thought you need a fortune to invest in them - or that they're too complicated.
But neither of these concerns is true.
Preferred stocks are like common stocks in that they pay dividends, and their shares trade on the major stock exchanges.
Preferred stocks are like bonds in that they are issued with a dividend-coupon based on par value. What's more, dividends are contractual, just like interest on a bond, so you know your cash flow ahead of time.
And like bonds, most preferred stocks are followed by rating agencies like Moody's and Standard & Poor's.
In short, preferred stocks are safer than common stocks because they have a higher claim on the company's assets. And in some instances, they are nearly as safe as bonds.
Best of all, there are quality preferred stocks that yield 7% and above. Good luck finding a quality bond or CD with a similar yield.
I mentioned that preferred stocks pay dividends, which imparts a tax advantage compared to interest on bonds (except some municipal bonds). Qualified preferred-stock dividends are taxed at a maximum rate of 15%, while interest is taxed at your marginal income tax rate.
To be sure, preferred stocks aren't perfect. Individual selection can be an issue for some investors, because preferred stocks have a few more moving parts compared to common stocks.
For instance, the vast majority of preferred stocks have a call date, where the issuing company can redeem the preferred stock. A call date doesn't mean an issue will be called, it means it can be called. But if a preferred stock is trading above par value, normally $25 a share, you can suffer a capital loss if you pick an issue that's called.
For this reason, I think preferred-stock funds are the safest bet. Funds are diversified, which assures there's no income disruption should any one issue be called; diversification also reduces portfolio risk.
One year ago, I added Nuveen Quality Preferred Income Fund II ( JPS ) , a closed-end preferred-stock fund, to the High Yield Wealth portfolio. This fund has performed exactly as expected - providing high-yield income with low price volatility. In addition to the nice yield, this fund has also risen in price.
Therefore, Nuveen serves a vital function. It's a proper fixed-income investment before the Federal Reserve wrung income out of most traditional fixed-income sources.
To be sure, there are many preferred-fund options. I could have chosen a preferred-stock ETF, but as a closed-end fund, Nuveen offers a few advantages.
For one, Nuveen is activity managed, which means it's able to generate a reliable monthly dividend in equal increments, at $0.055 a month. This is an important consideration if you depend on your investments to cover living expenses.
Most ETFs , in contrast, pay a variable dividend, so investors aren't sure what they'll get each month. Keep in mind that my preferred investment is a fixed-income surrogate, so I need to be reasonably assured of a reliable income stream.
Yield is another advantage. The Nuveen fund yields 7.5% as I write, which is 170 basis points higher than the 5.8% yield provided by the popular ETF iShares S&P U.S. Preferred Stock Index Fund ( PFF ) .
Here again, active management instills an advantage. Because Nuveen is actively managed, it can employ leverage where an ETF can't.
Nuveen's uses a reasonable amount of leverage to boost income. By exploiting today's low interest rates, the manager is able to consistently generate a yield higher than the vast majority of ETFs and quality individual issues. Applying the same strategy to an individual preferred stock would be risky for most investors.
So if you to need to fill a fixed-income void left by the Fed's unconscionable monetary policies, Nuveen Quality Preferred Income Fund II is an investment that can fill that void. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24751 | Phi Beta Cons
The Right take on higher education.
National Women’s Studies Association Annual Conference
Last week, the National Women’s Studies Association (NWSA) held their Annual Conference. What was fascinating to me in reading the schedule was how open these women are about their radical feminist agenda.
The panels and roundtables focused on teaching these professors how to be better activists, rather than how to be better teachers. The Conference included panels with such loaded discussion topics as, “Feminist Activism from the Inside Out: Connecting Campus to Community,” “‘You Say You Want a Revolution?’: Paving New Paths in Feminist Mentorship,” and last, but not at all least, “Drive a Mind Wild: How Feminist Pedagogy can Teach Resistance.” I just had a chance to write on this topic. My analysis on the rest of the Conference is available here.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24762 | @techreport{NBERw10241, title = "Bureaucrats or Politicians?", author = "Alberto Alesina and Guido Tabellini", institution = "National Bureau of Economic Research", type = "Working Paper", series = "Working Paper Series", number = "10241", year = "2004", month = "January", URL = "http://www.nber.org/papers/w10241", abstract = {Policies are typically chosen by politicians and bureaucrats. This paper investigates the e fficiency criteria for allocating policy tasks to elected policymakers (politicians) or non elected bureaucrats. Politicians are more efficient for tasks that do not involve too much specific technical ability relative to effort; there is uncertainty about ex post preferences of the public and flexibility is valuable; time inconsistency is not an issue; small but powerful vested interests do not have large stakes in the policy outcome; effective decisions over policies require taking into account policy complementarities and compensating the losers. We then compare this benchmark with the case in which politicians choose when to delegate and we show that the two generally differ.}, } |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24770 | Firefox 5 to overhaul add-on management
Early concept designs for Firefox 5 suggest Mozilla will move to simplify add-on management and updates.
Earlier today, Neowin reported that early designs for Firefox 5, which could ship as early as mid-year, had been found on, a site known to be used by the Firefox UI team.
Further Neowin investigations into the site have turned up a number of other concept images that suggest Mozilla may introduce automatic updating for add-ons, along with a vastly simplified process for checking the compatibility of add-ons with a new Firefox version.
The concepts, titled ''Potential Selection Screen Interface'', feature two shots of a redesigned add-on manager, with one titled ''Automatic Add-on Update Are [sic] Enabled''. The other is titled ''The User Has Disabled Automatic Add-on Updates'', clearly suggesting that Firefox 5 users will be able to enable such a feature. At the moment, Firefox will prompt the user when an add-on update is available, but will not install an update without user interaction.
A text addendum to the screen shots suggests any add-ons installed without user permission will be disabled until the user chooses to have them enabled. It is possible Mozilla will introduce such a feature to proactively prevent add-ons disturbing the user's browsing experience, as happened last month prior to Mozilla's blocking of the Skype add-on for Firefox.
The add-on compatibility wizard, largely unchanged between several versions of Firefox, may also be in for an overhaul. The concept designs suggest the number of screens shown to the user could be cut to three, with each screen redesigned with simplicity in mind.
Of course, which of these features, if any, makes Firefox 5 remains to be seen. The Firefox 2011 Roadmap, hosted on the Mozilla wiki, suggests the company is moving to match Google's frenetic Chrome release schedule, with Mozilla apparently aiming to have Firefox 4,5,6 and 7 out the door in the 2011 calendar year. That kind of schedule will likely require some serious organisational changes, given that the company has taken more than a year just to get Firefox 4 close to the release candidate stage.
Image Credit: areweprettyyet
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24783 | This is a preview of the full article
Home |Life | News
Self-starter: Life got going all on its own
Pictures of spreads from New Scientist magazine
The finding comes from recent discoveries about the behaviour of chemicals thought to have been present on the primordial Earth, relating to two key stages in the evolution of life. Ida was the first molecule that was able to self-replicate. Once it was around, busy making copies of itself, it somehow evolved the ability to store information in the form of the genetic code. That led to the life form from which we all descended: Luca.
Luca probably popped up about 4 billion years ago - some 500 million years after a spinning galactic cloud coalesced into planet ...
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24896 | Home » Other » Test » forms
icon5.gif forms [message #585961] Fri, 31 May 2013 08:27 Go to next message
Messages: 2
Registered: May 2013
Location: chennai
Junior Member
How to create a form with colorful appearance....Do any one can suggest me in making such a form???????????
Re: forms [message #585976 is a reply to message #585961] Fri, 31 May 2013 11:40 Go to previous message
Messages: 18681
Registered: June 2005
Location: Croatia, Europe
Senior Member
Account Moderator
Is this a real question? Because, you posted it in our Test forum which is intended to ... well, perform various tests. Don't expect answers to questions posted here.
If you want, it can be moved (and answered) into our Forms forum; just reply to this message or report it to a moderator.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24904 |
Permalink for comment 468414
Member since:
Uh, no...
The term rootkit originated in Unix systems, and Linux is not immune, the source of most rootkits in Unix\Linux is crackers who gain root access through normal means, mainly security holes in other software running on the system. The cracker then installs the rootkit himself, if the exploit he used allows him to gain root access. This allows him access even if the original exploit is fixed.
Now on the other hand, they are much easier to detect in Linux\Unix, so I think a lot of the cracker types are falling back on the old standbys of replacing standard commands like login with trojans, which is easier to do, and if you do that to a bunch of commands, you can cover more bases.
Reply Parent Score: 6 |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24905 |
Permalink for comment 485424
RE: Linux is killing
by Lennie on Wed 17th Aug 2011 00:25 UTC in reply to "Linux is killing"
Member since:
I'm actually surprised no vendor in the server space has started an integrated hardware/software/drivers/tooling effort similar to the older Unix systems.
Reply Parent Score: 2 |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24907 | Linked by Thom Holwerda on Sun 18th Jun 2006 14:26 UTC
Thread beginning with comment 134918
RE: KDE must be doing a good thing
by Ponto on Sun 18th Jun 2006 22:08 UTC
Member since:
You say one have to make sure that it handles the fan properly. What do you mean by that?
I have the impression that my fan is running longer than neccessary. Do you have any references on how to solve the problem?
Reply Score: 1 |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/24908 |
Thread beginning with comment 24
To view parent comment, click here.
RE: A Comment
by Brad on Wed 6th Jul 2005 05:27 UTC in reply to "A Comment"
Member since:
Interesting, maybe this means my effort to get away from computers more is working, since I totally missed it. ;)
So far it seams pretty good. Way to go guys/gals
Also I want to commend you on not going to something like a slashdot system, that system is awful. I like this, clean, simple, and doesn't have tons of pointless features.
Reply Parent Score: 1 |
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