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Dragon Of Legends Interview: A Bunch Of Friends Make The MMORPG They Always Wanted
By Chris Priestman June 12, 2015
Dragon of Legends is currently on the Square Enix Collective where its concept is to be judged by the public. In short, it's an action-based MMORPG for PC and mobile that takes from "the mythic cycle of Gaelic Ireland and Norse mythology."
That's not really enough to distinguish it from the many other MMORPGs out there, so Siliconera decided to investigate it further, bringing lead designer Nathan Dworzak along for the ride. Speaking to Dworzak, Siliconera finds out that Dragon of Legends is the MMORPG that he and his friends have wanted to play for years, since they discovered the genre some 20 years ago.
More than that, it's an MMORPG that's meant to play similar to Square's classic RPGs Secret of Mana and Secret of Evermore. It turns out that Dragon of Legends will also provide players with an interesting dilemma related to racial politics: can they forget their conflicts with other races when faced with a bigger threat or not?
First off, why did you want to create an MMORPG and why one with, as you put it, an "old school feel"? What does "old school" mean in this context?
Nathan Dworzak, designer: Video games have always been a part of my life, and since I was a child I was mystified and totally engrossed with the ability to be able to manipulate and control the images I saw on screen. I was able to go on countless adventures and explore so many different worlds by myself, but I always felt like something was lacking in that experience. A big part of going on an epic adventure is to share that experience with others, and reflect on the hardships you have overcome with your friends.
To me, playing with others is the pinnacle of a gaming experience, and I find the MMO setting makes that multiplayer component even better. When I was growing up the internet was just in its infancy, and games were just starting to experiment with using an online multiplayer component to them. One of the first games I experienced with multiplayer support was The Realm Online, which came on a demo disc packaged with The Incredible Machine. This was the first time where I was able to experience actual real player interaction within the game world and it brought entirely different dimension to what I thought possible in the game world.
No longer was I fighting alone against an endless amount of computer controlled enemies, I was fighting against other real people. Based on my interactions with them I could form alliances in the game to conquer even harder trails, or turn on them effectively becoming "the bad guy". This freedom of choice in the online setting opened up my imagination as I dreamed of what would come next in gaming's evolution, but the game my friends and I continuously hoped for never came – so now we are taking it upon ourselves to create the experience we have always wanted.
The "old school feel" we are tapping into primarily relates to the aesthetic choices we are making, as well as the gameplay mechanics. Many older games focus on action based combat, almost arcade-like in a sense. The control systems that these older games used were flawless, and made the gamer feel like they were in total control of every single action the character was making – and with Dragon of Legends we are striving to recapture that kind of gameplay, but adding a lot of new modern mechanics and technological improvements. Essentially, Dragon of Legends is our own contemporary look back at the past.
What mythological and historical sources are you pulling from to create Dragon of Legend's fantasy world and how have they shaped it?
The two biggest cultural influences in Dragon of Legends are of the Norse and Celtic peoples. During the game's initial conception, I was lucky enough to travel to Europe where I spent an extensive amount of time in Ireland and Scandinavia. While there, I travelled the countryside and got a first hand look at the environment and obtained a sense of where these peoples originally came from.
I did a lot of research into the historical writings of these cultures, as well as spent countless hours wandering their museums absorbing all of their traditional heritage as I could. I also had the opportunity to see their armor, weaponry, and cultural artifacts in person. These experiences I had abroad drastically helped the forging of Dragon of Legends's universe, and are strengthened because of them.
It seems that you're pushing a character's race as a big identifying factor for players in the game. Is that correct and, if so, why? Are you looking to experiment with how people interact with different races and their own in the game?
At the beginning of the game a character's race will play a big impact, as factions are pitted against each other, each fighting for their own survival. There will be a lot of hostility between the races at the beginning, but over time an even greater destructive force will be put in front of them to overcome. At this point, it will be up to the players to decide whether or not they will set aside their differences and work together in unison, or continue on their path to wipe out the opposing force. That being said, players who are on the same faction are not entirely safe even from their own people, and could potentially be backstabbed by their own countrymen. There are races and there is conflict, yes, but it is going to be interesting to see how far those lines of loyalty and betrayal become blurred in the game world.
You say that players are given character-specific story lines to pursue. How specific are we talking here? Will every player get a unique story and, if so, how does this work?
In addition to the overall narrative arch of the story, players will be given class storylines to follow which provide a more in-depth look into their role in the world. There will be a direct path to follow which will unfold almost the same for everyone, but the unique story aspects unfold during the time spent in the game world itself. Each player will have their own unique journal, which functions as a life-log, which will record all of their actions and be publically viewable. With the vast amount of activities, side adventures, and user created quests available, it's highly unlikely that players will meet another with the exact same journal.
Could you explain how the combat in Dragon of Legends will work, and especially how it'll work in co-op, with multiple people?
The combat in Dragon of Legends is influenced heavily from Square's earlier games Secret of Mana / Secret of Evermore, so if you've played those that is what you can expect in our game. Actions will unfold in real time, and players will have to maneuver accordingly on the battlefield based on the situation. And don't worry, the magic system we have isn't like it is in those games at all – they are cast in real-time without the need of going through several screens.
Every player will be able to progress through their own class-specific story without the need of a party, but the hardest and best content in Dragon of Legends will need a complimentary team of classes. Each class has a specific role on the battlefield and they are all integral in their own way. For example, the Norse Bondsman is heavily armoured and will be able to tank and soak up a lot of damage, while the Norse Ranger is only lightly armoured – but provides the much needed damage output to bring down the hardest foes. There is a natural synergy between all the classes, and more details will be revealed about what those synergies are in time.
Will it be possible for people to play through all of Dragon of Legends without ever using the co-operative multiplayer feature? Is that something you want to enable?
There will be sections of the game that players will be able to complete without the co-operative feature for sure, but we are striving to bring back that sense of camaraderie and social interaction that comes with encountering other players in the game world. I've played far too many MMORPGs that feel like a single player game that has other people running around. In these types of games there is little or no incentive to party, let alone talk with another player. We are trying to change that. By making every class important in their own way joining up in a group and exploring the game with allies will not only speed up the questing process, but will grant several bonuses for doing so.
With a cross-platform MMORPG are there limitations that you're making on the PC and console versions to ensure they play the same as the mobile version?
We want Dragon of Legends to run on essentially anything, so yes there are a lot of things to consider during the development phases. Effective memory management for example is a big issue. On the PC, computers have no problem running and rendering complex programs, but when mobile is brought into the picture this becomes a constant concern. The coding must be done in an intelligent way to accommodate all of these different system specifications and we are going to great lengths to ensure Dragon of Legends functions correctly on all devices without giving a fair advantage to one device over the other.
You're hoping to have players make their own user-generated content. What kind of content will this be and how will it be created and shared by players?
We will be providing the community with a set of custom built tools that will streamline the creation process, meaning that even the non-artist will have a simple time creating graphic content. This kind of content includes armor, weaponry, and various other cosmetic apparel right now, but eventually players will be able to build and share their own housing and dungeons. In addition to these, a wide variety of content will be accepted including lore, philosophies, histories, poetry, and music. This content will be submitted to our community forums and based on a voting process – the best pieces will be included in the main game. Players will be rewarded in-game for their efforts, and will be recognized in the community as a content contributor.
How are you handling the free-to-play model here – what are you charging for and will you be looking to offer deals or promotions?
Our model follows the "ethical F2P" model, meaning that there will be no items up for sale that grant an unfair advantage over other players, and that the entirety of the experience will be given at no cost to the player. This model is currently being used in League of Legends and Path of Exile, and we are aiming to follow their lead by providing players with purely optional cosmetic upgrades. More details as to what those actual items are will be revealed as the game gets closer to launch.
Dragon of Legends
Chris Priestman


Opportunities to Improve Community Mobility through Community Health Needs Assessments. As a part of the Affordable Care Act, tax-exempt hospitals are required to perform community health needs assessments (CHNAs) every three years to identify the obstacles to improving community health, and then to create an action plan to address those obstacles. Many of these CHNAs have subsequently focused on mobility issues, which include access to transportation, safe biking and pedestrian facilities, and the ability to reach essential amenities, among other factors that inhibit or enable people to achieve better health outcomes.
This report explains CHNAs, what steps certain communities, guided by their CHNAs, have taken to address mobility challenges, and what, if any, impact such strategies have had. The report also identifies opportunities and strategies for mobility professionals to play a greater role in the CHNA process and engage local healthcare entities in community mobility issues.
Considerations for TNC Partnerships: Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities. The National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM) and the Shared-use Mobility Center (SUMC) have partnered to produce an informational brief that focuses on Considerations for TNC Partnerships: Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities. This resource includes a checklist-type format to facilitate its use as agencies and others enter into agreements with non-traditional types of organizations to support mobility innovation.
Autonomous Vehicles: Considerations for People with Disabilities and Older Adults. The age of autonomous vehicles is upon us. It's important to begin planning now to ensure this new mobility revolution includes people with disabilities and older adults from the very start. NCMM provides context and considerations for mobility managers to positively contribute to this shift.


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|| MARGIN || e x p l o r i n g m o d e r n m a g i c a l r e a l i s m || www.magical-realism.com ||
|| T R I B U T E ||
WISDOM ||
|| Celebrating National Women's History Month ||
s p o t l i g h t
SONGS OF CONNECTIVITY
n a t i v e a m e r i c a ' s m a g i c a l r e a l i s t w o m e n
NATIVE AMERICAN women hold a special place in the literature of the extraordinary. Unlike contemporary American culture, which still maintains a strong connection to Northern European identity (despite what might be thought of as an increasing "Americanization" of the US through the growing populations and cultural acceptance of Latin Americans), Native American culture differs in one distinct way: its roots are matrilinear. In that world, women mattered.
By and large, Native American women through previous centuries served as primary property owners and caretakers as well as tribal caregivers and leaders. Native American scholar Laura Tohe, of Navajo lineage, explains: "In the Navajo language, we don't have a word for feminism… The Navajo people believe in the influence, the knowledge, and the wisdom that women have. As a result, Navajo women did not have to fight for their place in society. They have always been respected as leaders of their families and community. It surrounded them constantly."
With the White usurpation of the matrilinear social structure that came with the colonization of North America came a major flipflop in power: the patriarchal order established its enduring foothold. It meant not only the displacement, silencing and disempowerment of millions of indigenous people, but the neutering of Native America's feminine wisdom as well.
Non-native Americans know the drill. We came, we conquered, it was wrong, but what to do? To many, Native America as an authentic presence seems to have vanished from the North American landscape.
Or has it? Native America will tell you otherwise. The drive to capture and preserve their culture in the face of extinction means tribes across the American landscape have been slowly, but surely, taking back what they can. And the chief way they've accomplished this is through the umbilicus of story.
Language, as history tells us, was one of the first aspects of indigenous culture to be subverted in order for White colonists to wrest control over entire populations of native people. With language playing a critical role in chronicling memory and defining culture, its forced loss meant a significant amount of tribal identity, especially during the early years of imposed reservation life, would become either invisible, inaccessible or even ineffectual to the thousands of Native Americans who managed to survive the first strikes of White expansionism.
Fortunately, human history overflows with stories of exceptional individuals who've worked, sometimes rawly in the face of oppression, to maintain or reclaim cultural and community identity through oral tradition. As long as people have the capacity to remember and to speak, certain aspects of their "lost" identity can, and are, preserved for future generations. Native Americans pose no exception to this rule. Like so many other colonized and oppressed people throughout the world, their collective identity—indeed, their collective memory—seemed destined to "be disappeared," and yet, today, Native American cultural history is generally admired in the contemporary US thanks to a steadfast and well-received oral tradition brimming with color, power and inspiration.
Literary magical realism has become one particular way to contemporize and distribute Native American culture across the landscape. Men (think Joseph Bruchac, Sherman Alexie, N. Scott Momaday) and women alike have discovered the slippery advantage of using magical realism to retell old myths in ways that render them more broadly appreciated, while sneaking in bits and pieces of the truths their ancestors had been forbidden from sharing all these years.
When Latin American writers like Carpentier and García Márquez developed the magical realist mode, it was to achieve a break from Western thinking about realism, to redefine realism on their own terms. For this reason, some influential Native American writers and storytellers also find the mode advantageous.
Native American women claim an additional stake in all this. Not only were they, as a race of people, nearly obliterated from the terrain, but they were also, as a gender, stripped of their social status and power with the installation of a seemingly inconquerable male dominion. Telling their stories now not only preserves their racial identity, it cultivates a sisterhood intent upon reclaiming the power they'd always enjoyed in pre-Columbus times.
Themes specific to the Native American female identity correspond nicely with the goals of literary magical realism. The cyclical regeneration of life may be a common trope in women's literature worldwide, but Native American women express a particular connectivity to the universe through a variety of landscapes: the physical body and its miraculous reproductive cosmology; the temporal plane with its circular past-equals-present-equals-future motif; membership into a sisterhood intent upon recognizing and giving expression to all that had been previously buried; and the terrain of music (song and drum and dance), which might be described as the Native American voice of identity. Magical realism's truthtelling techniques offer Native American women the opportunity to give shape to their twin identities as people of color and as women. A cadre of leading female voices in Native American literature exists as the extraordinary result, their stories inspirational not only for their contemporaries, but for women and people of color in general.
The following list (however incomplete) of female magical realists highlights the broad spectrum of established and emerging Native American voices. It's our belief that there will only be more and varied contributors as time passes, as traditional expressions return and evolve within contemporary media, and as these women continue to take back what had been theirs all along: power, to create, to nurture and to lead.
Paula Gunn Allen
Tribal affiliation: Lakota and Laguna
Hanksville Home Page
Representative work: The Woman Who Owned The Shadows
"I have noticed that as soon as you have soldiers the story is called history. Before their arrival it is called myth, folktale, legend, fairy tale, oral poetry, ethnography. After the soldiers arrive, it is called history."
Tribal affiliation: Ojibwe
Harper Collins Home Page
Representative work: The Beet Queen
"In our own beginnings, we are formed out of the body's interior landscape. For a short while, our mothers' bodies are the boundaries and personal geography which are all that we know of the world."
Edna Escamill
Tribal affiliation: Yaqui
Voices from the Gaps Feature Page
Representative work: Daughter of the Mountain, Un Cuento
Also published under the name "Kleya Forte-Escamilla," Escamill is also an accomplished artist
Tribal affiliation: Creek (Muskogee)
Representative work: The Woman Who Fell From the Sky
"It's important as a writer to do my art well and do it in a way that is powerful and beautiful and meaningful, so that my work regenerates the people, certainly Indian people, and the earth and the sun. And in that way we all continue forever."
Tribal affiliation: Chickasaw
Representative work: Solar Storms: A Novel
"There is a way that nature speaks, that land speaks. Most of the time we are simply not patient enough, quiet enough, to pay attention to the story."
Evelina Zuni Lucero
Tribal affiliation: Isleta/San Juan Pueblo
Representative work: Night Sky, Morning Star
"The Southwest is mystical, charming, enchanting. It is infused with spirituality, with a mysterious ambiance and varying landscapes, a combination of harsh deserts, plains, mountains, valleys, mesas and plateaus, a combination of allure, like a complex woman whose beauty goes beyond physical appearance."
Susan Power
Tribal affiliation: Standing Rock Sioux
Internet Public Library Home Page
Representative work: The Grass Dancer
From Booklist.com: "Power follows her own chronology, moving back and forth across time and generations, layering the voices of the old and young, the living and the dead."
Tribal affiliation: Laguna Pueblo
Literati Home Page
Representative work: Ceremony
"I will tell you something about stories, (he said)
They aren't just entertainment.
Don't be fooled.
They are all we have, you see,
All we have to fight off
illness and death."
Anna Lee Walters
Tribal affiliation: Otoe/Pawnee
Representative work: Ghost Singer: A Novel
"I remember asking (in my head) what was life for, why did anyone (or anything) live, and why did I live. At that point death to me was a word that represented very little fear. I had seen things die, animals and such, and I heard of people dying and saw evidence of it. I remember thinking that from what I could tell or see, there were only two things that were real, and the wonder of both: life and death."
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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June E-Postal: Twelve O'Clock High!
I think I'll start off this month's e-postal with a bit of humor.
An English pastor once had the tradition of saying a special prayer on the Sunday before Remembrance Day each year, and after the prayer he would ask if there were any former servicemen in the congregation and invite them to speak for a few minutes. A World War II fighter pilot stood up and reminisced about his war experiences.
"In 1942," he says, "the situation was really tough. The Germans had a very strong air force. I remember," he continues, "one day I was protecting the bombers and suddenly, out of the clouds, these fokkers appeared." There are a few gasps from the parishioners, and several of the children begin to giggle. "I looked up, and realized that two of the fokkers were directly above me. I aimed at the first one and shot him down. By then, though, the other fokker was right on my tail."
At this point, several of the elderly ladies of the church are practically swooning, the girls are all giggling and the boys are laughing out loud. The pastor finally stands up and says,
"I think I should point out that 'Fokker' was the name of a German-Dutch aircraft company, one which made many of the fighter planes used by the Axis powers during the war."
"Yes, that's true," says the old pilot, "but these fokkers were flying Messerschmitts."
Why am I bringing this up? Because I'm giving this month's contest an aerial combat theme.
The target has five outlines of the Messerschmitt BF-109 fighter aircraft each larger than the next. German fighter pilots learned early on that attacking a formation from behind exposed them a hailstorm of machine gun fire, but by attacking head on they minimized the time they had to spend in the sights of the gunners.
You are in the nose of a B17 and you spot a BF 109 headed your way. He has a wingspan of about 34 feet and is traveling about 380 mph towards you. You are cruising at 200 mph so your combined closing rate is a whopping 580 mph. That means that it only takes about 6 seconds to go from a mile apart to impact! Now this target has silhouettes ranging from about 3" to 8" wingspan (I'm approximating, don't bother measuring) meaning that if you are a distance of 11 yards from this target, the little fokker...er I mean Messerschmitt is only 5 seconds away, and the big one is less than 2 seconds away! Think you can hit all of them in 3 seconds?
Targets are to be shot standing unsupported with the firearm of your choice.
Distance to target should be 11 yards (33 ft) or as close to this as practical at your range.
Each target is to be shot in two strings of five for a total of 10 shots. Begin each string at the top and fire one shot at each aircraft proceeding downward. There is no time limit, but remember he's closing fast!
Scoring a hit on the small aircraft is worth 50 points. A hit on the largest aircraft is worth 10 points. The scores for the other aircraft are proportional, with a maximum of two hits allowable on each aircraft. This should give a total possible score of 300 points. I think you'll find however that it's challenging enough that scores shouldn't be terribly high and even a few hits are worth sending in. (If you get no hits at all, you'll still have the option of folding the target into an airplane, lighting it on fire and watch it spiral downwards.
There are five different classes
1. Rimfire firearms with iron sights
2. Rimfire firearms with optics
3. Centerfire calibers with Iron sights
4. Centerfire calibers with optics
5. Flying Circus Class
Flying what?
Here's where I'd like you to have a little extra fun with things. If you want to do something different (i.e. break the rules) just mark it class 5 and tell me what you did. Scoring will be the same except there will be a bonus (positive or negative) that is entirely at my discretion and probably unfair. If it amuses me I'll post it and probably give you points for instance:
Shooting the target from an airplane: +300 points.
The airplane is on the ground: -50 points.
It's not a real airplane: -50points
It's a kiddie ride in front of Walmart: -100 points
You didn't have any quarters: -100 points
You convinced the store manager to put in a shooting gallery: +100 points
On a more serious note, I would like to encourage anyone with a timer to challenge themselves by timing their strings (starting on target) and seeing if they can hit anything in the brief window a nose gunner would have had. It'll give you a new respect for what went on in the skies over Europe.
Remember to print your target at 100% scale (not 'fit to page' ) and submit it any time between now and June 30. I should have results ready by the time the fireworks start going off.
Now, test your guns and call 'em out as you see 'em.
posted by Mr. Engineering Johnson @ 9:58 PM 5 comments
At 7:22 AM, Brigid said...
My bad joke lives on. Thanks!
Love the pictures from the museum, that would be a fun place to visit.
Good luck on the match, though I know you won't need luck.
At 7:48 AM, MSgt B said...
That's too cool for school.
Saving this post.
If I ever find a range down here, I've got to try that one out.
At 11:23 AM, Billll said...
Extra points for realism! With 5 rounds, load your bump-firing Ruger 10/22 and while standing on the rope-supported unstable platform from Top Shot, fire your string from top to bottom, then reload with another 5 rounds and try again.
And don't forget to include a link to the you-tube video.
And driving directions to your place so I can try it.
At 6:51 PM, Old NFO said...
At 14 rounds a second, NOT many chances... and reality was it was usually the "Golden BB" (e.g. a SINGLE round) that actually knocked one down in a head on pass...
Five years ago
Notes from the workbench
It's a Trapdoor!
And I approved this message.
Bang up time
Big news...small caliber
Load and Make Ready!
Just 7 Weeks!


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Photo + Video + Film
You have rights as an American citizen and you may REFUSE to comply with Immigration Checkpoints, as this video shows
Photo: millsmost
C.S. Hunter
Follow Matador on Vimeo Follow Matador on YouTube
IF YOU LIVE OR HAVE DONE ANY AMOUNT of driving through the southern or southwestern portions of the United States, then you most likely have come across a U.S. Border Patrol Checkpoint. The experience goes a little like this: you're driving down a monotonous stretch of road, most likely leaving a city like Tuscon, El Paso, or even Big Bend National Park. Some signs will tell you to slow your vehicle down to 35 mph, there's a checkpoint up ahead. You'll slow down, go through some cones, over some speed bumps, and through a cluster of about 15 different cameras. Then an officer in a green uniform will duck into your window and ask: 'Are you a United States citizen?' There may be multiple officers present and they may each be holding onto a German Shepard, either way, you don't need to say anything.
That's because you're not trying to cross a border, you're just driving through the United States, where the United States Constitution still applies. And that's the beauty of constitutional rights — no matter who we are, what we look like, or even what our citizenship status is, we don't always have to comply with immigration or police officers.
Federal regulations have given U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) the ability to operate within 100 miles of any U.S. 'external boundary.' However, its authority within this 100-mile zone isn't limitless like it is at an actual border crossing. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, Border Patrol officers cannot pull you over without reasonable suspicion (which has to be much more than just a 'hunch') and they cannot search your vehicle without a warrant or probable cause.
The video below shows just how easy, and often necessary, it is to exercise your rights at these checkpoints. If we don't know our rights as U.S. citizens, then we can easily be taken advantage of by officers who have an incorrect scope of their authority.
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Q: MATLAB: ode15s, end if integration tolerance not met I have a process that uses ode15s thousands of times to solve a system of differential equations with various initial conditions, however, occasionally I get an error such as the following: "Warning: Failure at t=5.054301e+02.  Unable to meet integration tolerances without reducing the step size below the smallest
value allowed (9.094947e-13) at time t.". This unfortunately brings the program to a halt, and as such, I was wondering if there is a way to catch such an error and force ode15s to end its processing so that the program can continue on. Does such a function exist?

A: Consider to use try/catch statement like
try
     % put your ode15s process here
catch
     % put statement to handle errors like
     fprintf('Error found.')
     % or skip the error one, then run the next process
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Well Done "Hobbies And Interests" Essay
by jie
The sun is still asleep while the empty city streets await the morning rush hour. As in a ritual, my teammates and I assemble into the dank, dimly-lit locker room at the Rinconada Park Pool. One by one, we slip into our moist drag suits and then make a mad run from the locker room through the brisk morning air to the pool, stopping only to grab a pull-buoy and a kick-board. Coastal California cools down overnight to the high forties. The pool is artificially warmed to seventy-nine degrees, and the clash in temperatures creates a plethora of steam on the water's surface, casting a scene more appropriate for a werewolf movie. Now the worst part: diving head-first into the glacial pond. I think of friends still tucked in their warm beds as I conclude the first warm-up laps. Meanwhile, our coach emerges through the fog. He offers no friendly accolades, just a stream of instructions and exhortations.
Thus begins another workout. 4,500 yards to go, then a quick shower and five-minute drive to school. Another 5,500 yards are on our afternoon training schedule. Tomorrow, the cycle starts all over again. The objective is to cut our times by another 1/10th of second. The end goal is to have that tiny difference at the end of a race that separates success from failure, greatness from mediocrity. Somehow we accept the pitch—otherwise, we'd still be fast asleep beneath our blankets. Yet sleep is lost time, and in this sport time is the antagonist. Coaches spend hours in specialized clinics, analyzing the latest research on training techniques and experimenting with workout schedules in an attempt to unravel the secrets of defeating time.
My first swimming race was when I was ten years old and an avid hockey player. My parents, fearing that I would get injured, redirected my athletic direction toward swimming. Three weeks into my new swimming endeavor, I somehow persuaded my coach to let me enter the annual age group meet. To his surprise and mine, I pulled out an "A" time. National "Top 16" awards through the various age groups, club records, and finally being named a National First Team All-American in the 100 Butterfly and Second Team All-American in the 200-Medley Relay cemented an achievement in the sport. Reaching the Senior Championship meet series means the competition includes world-class swimmers. Making finals will not be easy from here: these 'successes' were only separated from failure by tenths of a second. And the fine line between total commitment and tolerance continues to produce friction. Each new level requires more weight training, longer weekend training sessions, and more travel. Time that would normally be spent with friends is increasingly spent in pursuit of the next swimming objective.
In the solitude of the laps, my thoughts wander to events of greater significance. This year, my grandmother was hit with a recurrence of cancer, this time in her lungs. A person driven by good spirits and independence now faces a definite timeline. On the other side of the Pacific Ocean, my grandfather in Japan also contracted the disease. His situation has been corrected with surgery—for now, anyway. In the quest to extend their lives, they have both exhibited a strength that surpasses the struggles I confront both in sports and in life. Our different goals cannot be compared, yet my swimming achievements somehow provide a vicarious sense of victory to them. When I share my latest award or partake with them a story of a triumph, they smile with pride as if they themselves had stood on the award stand. I have the impression that my medals mean more to them than I will ever understand.
Life's successes appear to come in small increments, sometimes mere tenths of a second. A newly learned skill, a little extra effort put on top of fanatical training routine, a good race day, or just showing up to a workout when your body and psyche say "no" may separate a great result from a failure. What lies in between is compromise, the willpower to overcome the natural disposition to remain the same. I know that my commitment to swimming carries on to other aspects of life, and I feel that these will give me the strength to deal with very different types of challenges.
This student employs precise and vivid details in his introduction, including an opening statement that befits the way he himself feels on his way to swim practice: "The sun is still asleep while the empty city streets await the morning rush hour." However, he merely hints at what his passion is, using language such as "teammates," "moist drag suits," "and pool." Though it is clear how much he loves his sport, as well as how successful he has been, he offers a genuine point in, "I think of friends still tucked in their warm beds as I conclude the first warm-up laps."
The success of the essay lies in the great insight admissions officers can gain from the way the applicant discusses his activity. Statement such as "The objective is to cut our times by another 1/10th of second," "The end goal is to have that tiny difference at the end of a race that separates success from failure, greatness from mediocrity," and "Three weeks into my new swimming endeavor, I somehow persuaded my coach to let me enter the annual age group meet," show that this student is committed, hard-working, passionate, detail-oriented, and proactive—all qualities admissions officers seek in future college students. He states his accomplishments with humility, not haughtiness.
The writer even goes on to explain how his swimming has meant even more to his grandmother and grandfather, who have been afflicted with cancer: "I have the impression that my medals mean more to them than I will ever understand." The final statement ("I know that my commitment to swimming carries on to other aspects of life, and I feel that these will give me the strength to deal with very different types of challenges.") sums up the essay's main point nicely. Had the applicant included this language prematurely, the statement would have been much less powerful.
You may also like Poorly Done "Hobbies And Interests" Sample Essay


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Mads Rieper Jensen (born July 20, 1973) is a Danish former professional football defender. He is the younger brother of the retired Danish international defender Marc Rieper.

On May 9, 2007, Rieper scored his first Superliga goal for AC Horsens with a stoppage time equaliser against Silkeborg IF. He retired on June 30, 2009.

Honours
Danish Cup:
Winner: 1996–97 (with AGF)
Danish 1st Division:
Runner-up: 2004–05 (with Horsens)

References

External links
 Career statistics at Danmarks Radio

1973 births
Living people
Danish men's footballers
Aarhus Gymnastikforening players
AC Horsens players
Danish Superliga players
Footballers from Aarhus

Association football defenders

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Scottish Premier
Page last updated at 14:58 GMT, Monday, 22 June 2009 15:58 UK
SPL seeks new television contract
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.
Gold explains the events that led to the end of the Setanta deal
The Scottish Premier League is seeking a new television broadcasting deal after Setanta failed to meet a deadline to pay £3m as part of its contract.
Setanta last year agreed to pay £125m over four seasons to extend its deal with the SPL beyond 2010.
But SPL chairman Lex Gold said the Irish firm missed an extended deadline.
"We are now actively engaging in the process of selling our domestic broadcasting rights for next season and beyond," he said.
At the beginning of the month, the SPL paid £3m to 12 member clubs from its own funds to tide them over in lieu of money owed by Setanta.
And the broadcaster lost the rights to televise English Premier League games last week after failing to pay the latest chunk of the £30m it still owed the league.
We are now in the market for selling those broadcasting rights for next season and beyond
SPL chairman Lex Gold
Gold said: "Setanta has been unable to meet our extended deadline for the outstanding £3m payment to the SPL and, in terms of the notice previously issued, our British broadcasting rights for season 2009/10 and beyond revert to us.
"We set three deadlines and we wanted to work with Setanta who have been a great partner of ours.
"They have spent £60m in supporting Scottish football and our board were determined to give them every possible chance to work through the problems that they had."
The SPL chairman added: "That process has been lengthy and intensive but the deadline today was the final deadline so our rights reverted to us as of 3pm today.
"So we are now in the market for selling those broadcasting rights for next season and beyond."
The SPL acted after Setanta failed to meet its payment deadline
Gold said he did not believe that any new deal would mean having to accept a lower fee.
"We have a product that is valuable in the marketplace and we will be seeking to see that value covered," he added.
"The clubs have been kept up to date on a regular basis so they are able to make prudent decisions."
Hearts managing director Campbell Ogilvie said the news was "disappointing" but stressed that the Edinburgh club was in good financial shape for the future.
"We now have an opportunity to create a new and rewarding broadcast partnership for the future of the Scottish Premier League," he said.
"The league is an excellent product and I am confident that there are significant tangible benefits for our future broadcast partners.
"Our wider prudence and an ongoing focus on increasing operational efficiencies and improving revenue streams is ensuring that Hearts is well prepared to weather this particular situation."
MY SPORT: DEBATE
Give your reaction to this story
A potential rescue deal, led by a US investor who had proposed buying 51% of Setanta, fell through last week.
The future of the Irish broadcasting firm is now in grave doubt, while BBC Scotland has not contacted the SPL over the possibility of broadcasting live games next season.
Setanta first won the rights to broadcast live SPL matches in competition with previous rights holder BBC Scotland in 2004.
However, it is unlikely that a free-to-air terrestrial broadcaster could now come close to matching the kind of money offered by Setanta for live coverage of Scotland's top-flight.
BBC Scotland has been broadcasting SPL match highlights on television and the internet while looking to buy up rights to live matches involving Scottish clubs in European competitions.
Setanta live games up for grabs
22 Jun 09 | Business
Inverness cuts 'warning to SPL'
21 Jun 09 | Inverness CT
Setanta loses Premier TV rights
Setanta payment deadline looming
Why Setanta Sports is in trouble
SPL faces D-Day for Setanta cash
04 Jun 09 | Scottish Premier
BBC Sport - Scottish Football Leagues


You need to be outstanding in your field.
Yesterday, I bought a Powerball lottery ticket. The drawing tomorrow evening will be for $111 million, or $62.4 million cash payout. That's a lot of money.
The odds against winning are astronomical: less than one chance in 120 million. Yet, if you want to get hit by lightning, the odds are better if you step outside. If you want to win Powerball, the odds are slightly better if you buy a ticket.
Previous Previous post: How many is 180,000 dead?


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OGDCL discovers gas at Khamiso-1 prospect in Guddu block in Pakistan
Pakistan's oil output drops 8% with gradual fall in reserves
Pakistan, Iran agree to amend gas deal
Kazakhstan's crude oil output declined in the first half of 2016; Gasoline production increased
Turkish Stream project remains on current Russia-Turkey agenda - Dvorkovich
PPL finds hydrocarbons at Hadi X-1A well in Pakistan's Gambat South block
PPL announces gas discovery in Sanghar
The Ministry of Oil and Gas abolished in Turkmenistan
Pakistan working on Gwadar-China oil pipeline
MOL makes oil, gas discoveries in Pakistan
MOL Pakistan Oil and Gas Company B.V and joint venture partner Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) have made two new onshore discoveries in Pakistan's Tal Block.
The Talonj West-1 exploration well, which reached a total depth of 16,210 feet on April 24, flowed 13.1 million cubic feet per day of gas through a 32/64" choke during testing of the Lumshiwal Formation. Testing operations are still in progress at the well to ascertain the true potential of the discovery.
The Makori Deep-1 exploration well reached a total depth of 16,624 feet on April 17 and logged an output rate of 2,020 barrels of oil per day and 5.4 million cubic feet of gas per day during testing of the Lockhart-1 formation. This discovery will help to mitigate the energy crisis in Pakistan, according to a company statement.
Tal Block is operated by MOL Pakistan Oil and Gas Company B.V. OGDCL, Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), Pakistan Oilfield Limited (POL), and Government Holdings Private Limited (GHPL) are joint venture partners in the block.


Animatch is a tile matching game based on Zoo keeper for the DS (Zooo on GBA). The aim of the game is to create a row of 3 or more animals either horizontally or vertically by swapping tiles.
Full joystick and touchscreen support.
This is a Puzzle-Action-RPG game.
Plays like popular jewel games, but is played head to head against a never-ending sequence of enemies. Experience points are gained towards levelling up, and gear may be purchased, and skills and spells may be learned.
A very simple game of Blackjack. Try to beat the dealer!
Blix2x is a remake of Nick Kouvaris's flash game Blix. The goal is to form columns of same-coloured tiles by scrolling the three rows. Each scroll costs 2 moves, and each cleared column wins you 1 move. The game ends when you run out of moves.
A puzzle game by PAMERCO.
Bubble Train is a puzzle game in which you must eliminate all the bubbles on the track before you can proceed to the next round.
his game was inspired by the old game PipeMania, although it changed a lot during development.
Your task is to cool down the ball coming from the start field.
100 levels, increasing difficulty, pipes in 4 colors, special tiles, multiple balls.
adjusted screen so everything can be seen. music has been removed to keep frame rate stable.
A fun logic puzzle game involving alien ducks, cannons blocks and a board that can turn 360degrees. This is a remake of the Japan only GBA game by Compile.
Port of a puzzle game by Tom Beaumont.
Updated to map undo button to Y.


Use technology for educational purposes.
Understand and obey laws for accessing and publishing materials, including copyright.
Only log into your district account and access your personal files and accounts.
Pictures and videos are allowed only as part of a class assignment.
Keep yourself and others from danger.
Keep images and videos of others offline.
Protect yourself and others from cyberbullying.
Engage in respectful dialogue (use appropriate language, content and images).
Cite material and information gathered online.
Only use images licensed for reuse and/or modification.
Report mistaken access to inappropriate info, images or any misuse of the network.
Protect personal information from anybody online.
Understand and follow the laws regarding online behavior.
This is not the actual Acceptable Use Policy. This a summary of the document.
Created with input from Capistrano Unified School District.


Portable Internet devices like the Lifebook U810 from Fujitsu feature a keyboard that slides out from the screen.
Problems with portable Internet devices may convince you that another option, like a smartphone or a laptop, works better for your needs. Or you may choose one portable Internet device over another based on reviews. Issues to consider include: software company compatibility, power limitations, duplication of existing technology, speed and cost.
UMPCs are not a new concept, just one that never succeeded before. Early portable devices were expensive for the limited functions they offered and had the added disadvantage of short battery life. The arrival of broadband brought speed to the portable Web device, increasing its usefulness and appealing to consumers looking for a fast, easy way to access information or communicate away from home or the office [source: CBC News].
But some problems remain, software compatibility among them. Portable devices of all sorts run simplified versions of software because of their size and screen limitations. As you go from the office to the road, how compatible is the software you use every day on your PC with the version on your portable Internet device? And if your portable device uses software from another company, how compatible is that with your PC?
Power limitations also may still be a deterrent to getting a portable Internet device. With most devices offering three or fewer hours of battery power, a portable device may not have the juice to keep pace with you during a full-day meeting or cross-country trip.
Duplication of existing technology comes into play in comparing portable Internet devices to smartphones or laptops. If you can use your phone for IMing, e-mails, file transfers and Web surfing, for example, do you need a portable Internet device to duplicate those functions?
Even with broadband connections, portable Internet devices may lack the speed of a PC or laptop in downloading large documents or performing other Web functions. Speed remains an issue with these portable devices.
Deciding whether to buy a portable Internet device may simply come down to whether you want to carry around another device. If you're carrying a BlackBerry or iPhone, and a laptop, that may be enough. But if portable Internet devices can provide the same functions as these other devices at a reasonable cost and with adequate power, maybe portable Web devices will become replacements, not extra baggage.
For lots more information about portable Internet devices and related topics, check out the links below.


For whatever else may pose a threat to your vehicle's road performance, our knowledgeable auto specialists provide a number of other miscellaneous auto services. And because our work is guaranteed, you can rest assured that you're receiving the best workmanship possible. Let us know how we can help you! Contact us at 414-378-4072 to set up an appointment for additional quality auto services.
Sometimes auto repair needs arise long after most auto repair shops have closed (most auto repair shops close at 6 pm). With after-hours drop off services, you leave your car at the mechanics shop for repair even if the shop has closed. You simply fill out an envelope, put in your keys, and drop it in a drop box. The auto shop will only contact you when your car is ready or when they need additional information. At Redline Garage, we value your convenience and that is why we offer after-hours drop off services. A completed Drop-Off Form will help the mechanic diagnose any problems. Even if we have closed, you just drop-off your vehicle at our shop and our mechanics will work on it and contact you when it is ready.
As a fleet owner, you have to do all it takes to keep the fleet on the road. When any vehicle is out of service, both revenue and your reputation as a reliable business are at risk. To make sure your fleet of trucks/vehicles is always on the road, partner with a professional auto shop. At Redline Garage, we can manage your fleet repairs and maintenance. We make sure servicing is up to date and up to standards. We handle all aspects of fleet repairs and maintenance.
In certain circumstances, auto shops offer pickup and delivery services. This is whereby the auto shop picks up the vehicle at your work place or home, works on it, and delivers it after it is fully repaired and serviced. This saves you time and money. The p/u and delivery service can be either free or paid for. At Redline Garage, we offer free local pickup and delivery whereby we routinely pick up your car from your home or workplace. We want to make the task of having that car repaired/serviced as stress free as possible. This service is subject to appointment.
Welding is the fabrication and sculptural process that joins metal parts. At Redline Garage, we offer various welding services. Simply give us a call at 414-378-4072 or visit our shop in Waukesha, WI.
Do you have a passion for speed and performance? Performance modifications on your car let you attain high levels of speed and performance. This type of modification involves changing or completely replacing some of your vehicle's parts with high performance ones to boost its performance and speed. Mechanics at Redline Garage have a passion for performance too. The mechanics will make all the necessary performance modifications to ensure you get the best performance from your drive. For all your performance modification needs, contact us at 414-378-4072 or visit Redline Garage today.
Are you planning to buy a new car? Don't take chances. Be confident about the car you are buying. Have pre-purchase inspections performed on the vehicle. Pre-purchase inspections involve examining the car's condition to ensure it is worth buying. At Redline Garage, we have pre-purchase inspection experts - mechanics who will scrutinize any car, make, and model and allow you to make an informed decision. Pre-purchase inspections will definitely give you peace of mind when you buy your next used car.
A pre-trip check up can make the difference between a safe trip and one that ends in a tragedy. The inspection aims at looking for possible defects and potential mechanical problems that could cause disaster. Before embarking on a trip you should make sure your car is fully inspected for safety. You can rely on the experts at Redline Garage. We have pre-trip inspection experts who are able to conduct safety inspections on any car, make, and model. Our experts are dedicated to ensuring you have a safe trip. Simply drop by or give us a call at 414-378-4072.
Although a trailer does not have an engine of its own, it does require some maintenance. The trailer needs wires to move current to the brake lights and other lights at the back. Redline Garage has qualified and experienced electricians who will handle your trailer maintenance. Call us at 414-378-4072 to schedule an appointment.


Morghot wrote: Back in those days I tought zaft was unbeatable. They lost only becouse Cella and Redstar left kaw.
Respect to zaft specially when they were really in power, but whole zaft alliance had trouble beating judgment, even with Voodoo,AAH,DTH, and other clans helping them.
Osw just isn't the same now, even pot burning isn't real anymore.
Wow I can't believe this is still a topic is this history class..
gutterbomb wrote: Why would anyone need a cf from warlor ?
Wouldn't you first need inc.
Well I figured I was missing something but I kinda thought maybe it was inc.


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Write a fragment shader which colors fragments depending on their relative orientation to the view direction. If they are facing away from the camera, color them with `backColor`, or if they are facing towards the camera color them with `frontColor`.  To get started, a template file `fragment.glsl` has been created for you.

***

### `gl_FrontFacing`

Triangle primitives in GLSL get a special property called called `gl_FrontFacing` which tests if they are oriented towards the camera or not.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The expense of shopping at a camping supply store — not to mention the sheer amount of items required to set yourself up for the great outdoors — is enough to turn any budget conscious parent off the notion of a fresh-air family holiday.
Thankfully you don't have to spend a fortune on cutting-edge tents and equipment from speciality stores — in fact, you can get almost everything you need from big name department stores and hardware chains for a fraction of the cost, according to bargains expert and Big W camping ambassador Chelsea Thomas.
9Honey Travel caught up with the founder of I Heart Bargains, and with her shrewd advice we were able to create our own camping starter kit for just over $300 (who knew it was possible?).
The mum of two is a keen camper herself, and says that far from the lavish pocket-draining theme park holiday, her children delight in the 'simple' things while camping.
"I'm planning on making some old fashioned damper with mountains of butter and jam. My four-year-old daughter is excited about cooking marshmallows on the fire, so we'll keep it pretty simple," Thomas said, speaking on her upcoming camping trip.
Of course if you're new to this whole tented holiday thing, there's a few things you should know before diving in, including the best time to book your camping site.
"Make sure you book your site months in advance," Thomas warns, adding "particularly if it is around a peak season like school holidays or Easter."
"Another thing worth noting is that a lot of the popular campsites require you to enter into a ballot prior to even being able to book."
As for setting up a superb home base, Thomas has a few family-friendly hints.
"My favourite camping locations are the Howqua River and Sheepyard Flat in Victoria. They are top spots for families who want to trial camping and don't want to be too far from a town.
"There's plenty of lovely spots near the river and trees for shade. Even better if you have a 4WD to get up into the high country for a look-see."
In terms of camping essentials, we've based our starter kit on a family of two adults and two children. Without further ado, here's what you'll need and where you can get it for less.