text:
"""
A Python "serializer". Doesn't do much serializing per se -- just converts to
and from basic Python data types (lists, dicts, strings, etc.). Useful as a basis for
other serializers.
"""

from django.apps import apps
from django.core.serializers import base
from django.db import DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS, models
from django.utils.encoding import is_protected_type

class Serializer(base.Serializer):
    """
    Serialize a QuerySet to basic Python objects.
    """

    internal_use_only = True

    def start_serialization(self):
        self._current = None
        self.objects = []

    def end_serialization(self):
        pass

    def start_object(self, obj):
        self._current = {}

    def end_object(self, obj):
        self.objects.append(self.get_dump_object(obj))
        self._current = None

    def get_dump_object(self, obj):
        data = {'model': str(obj._meta)}
        if not self.use_natural_primary_keys or not hasattr(obj, 'natural_key'):
            data["pk"] = self._value_from_field(obj, obj._meta.pk)
        data['fields'] = self._current
        return data

    def _value_from_field(self, obj, field):
        value = field.value_from_object(obj)
        # Protected types (i.e., primitives like None, numbers, dates,
        # and Decimals) are passed through as is. All other values are
        # converted to string first.
        return value if is_protected_type(value) else field.value_to_string(obj)

    def handle_field(self, obj, field):
        self._current[field.name] = self._value_from_field(obj, field)

    def handle_fk_field(self, obj, field):
        if self.use_natural_foreign_keys and hasattr(field.remote_field.model, 'natural_key'):
            related = getattr(obj, field.name)
            if related:
                value = related.natural_key()
            else:
                value = None
        else:
            value = self._value_from_field(obj, field)
        self._current[field.name] = value

    def handle_m2m_field(self, obj, field):
        if field.remote_field.through._meta.auto_created:
            if self.use_natural_foreign_keys and hasattr(field.remote_field.model, 'natural_key'):
                def m2m_value(value):
                    return value.natural_key()
            else:
                def m2m_value(value):
                    return self._value_from_field(value, value._meta.pk)
            self._current[field.name] = [
                m2m_value(related) for related in getattr(obj, field.name).iterator()
            ]

    def getvalue(self):
        return self.objects

def Deserializer(object_list, *, using=DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS, ignorenonexistent=False, **options):
    """
    Deserialize simple Python objects back into Django ORM instances.

    It's expected that you pass the Python objects themselves (instead of a
    stream or a string) to the constructor
    """
    handle_forward_references = options.pop('handle_forward_references', False)
    field_names_cache = {}  # Model: <list of field_names>

    for d in object_list:
        # Look up the model and starting build a dict of data for it.
        try:
            Model = _get_model(d["model"])
        except base.DeserializationError:
            if ignorenonexistent:
                continue
            else:
                raise
        data = {}
        if 'pk' in d:
            try:
                data[Model._meta.pk.attname] = Model._meta.pk.to_python(d.get('pk'))
            except Exception as e:
                raise base.DeserializationError.WithData(e, d['model'], d.get('pk'), None)
        m2m_data = {}
        deferred_fields = {}

        if Model not in field_names_cache:
            field_names_cache[Model] = {f.name for f in Model._meta.get_fields()}
        field_names = field_names_cache[Model]

        # Handle each field
        for (field_name, field_value) in d["fields"].items():

            if ignorenonexistent and field_name not in field_names:
                # skip fields no longer on model
                continue

            field = Model._meta.get_field(field_name)

            # Handle M2M relations
            if field.remote_field and isinstance(field.remote_field, models.ManyToManyRel):
                try:
                    values = base.deserialize_m2m_values(field, field_value, using, handle_forward_references)
                except base.M2MDeserializationError as e:
                    raise base.DeserializationError.WithData(e.original_exc, d['model'], d.get('pk'), e.pk)
                if values == base.DEFER_FIELD:
                    deferred_fields[field] = field_value
                else:
                    m2m_data[field.name] = values
            # Handle FK fields
            elif field.remote_field and isinstance(field.remote_field, models.ManyToOneRel):
                try:
                    value = base.deserialize_fk_value(field, field_value, using, handle_forward_references)
                except Exception as e:
                    raise base.DeserializationError.WithData(e, d['model'], d.get('pk'), field_value)
                if value == base.DEFER_FIELD:
                    deferred_fields[field] = field_value
                else:
                    data[field.attname] = value
            # Handle all other fields
            else:
                try:
                    data[field.name] = field.to_python(field_value)
                except Exception as e:
                    raise base.DeserializationError.WithData(e, d['model'], d.get('pk'), field_value)

        obj = base.build_instance(Model, data, using)
        yield base.DeserializedObject(obj, m2m_data, deferred_fields)

def _get_model(model_identifier):
    """Look up a model from an "app_label.model_name" string."""
    try:
        return apps.get_model(model_identifier)
    except (LookupError, TypeError):
        raise base.DeserializationError("Invalid model identifier: '%s'" % model_identifier)


The holidays can be a tough time for some older adults.
For caretakers and family, it can help to understand where they're coming from.
To help the older adults in your life beat the holiday blues, check out these tips.


Founded to give combustible cigarette smokers an alternative, Solace Technologies' use of nicotine salts gives the company an edge in the vapor category.
The rapid growth of the vapor industry has been attracting a steady influx of entrepreneurs aiming to capitalize on the potential that a viable alternative to smoking combustible cigarettes represents. While many of these are opportunistic ventures looking to make a quick profit before regulations go into effect, several serious players committed to the long term have entered the fray with promising technology and the managerial firepower to position their companies for the long haul. One of these is Solace Technologies, the brainchild of four young co-founders who set out to develop a more effective and economical nicotine e-liquid.
One vapor company, Pax Labs, had managed to deliver a more comparable solution by harvesting nicotine salt, the natural state of nicotine, from tobacco leaves and using it in e-liquids. Vapers quickly discovered that liquids made with nicotine salt more closely mimic the sensation of smoking, offering a "rush" and "throat hit" similar to that provided by combustible cigarettes. However, Pax Labs' patented e-juice formula was only available inside disposable pods that could only be used with its device, the Juul.
Solace's four partners set out to develop a nicotine salt-based e-liquid in flavors that smokers would enjoy and that could be used in open-system devices (and, ultimately, in closed-system devices that vapers "hack"). The effort was an immediate hit, winning a Best New Product Award at the 2016 Tobacco Products Expo show and gradually gaining a loyal following in the vapor community.
"Early on, education was our biggest challenge," notes Anwar, who says vapers were not familiar with nicotine salts and disconcerted by the nicotine levels in Solace's e-liquids. The nicotine levels in traditional e-liquids tend to range between 3 mg and 8 mg, while nicotine salt-based e-liquids have quantities like 30 mg and 50 mg because the dosages consumed are smaller.
Solace is already a significant player in the market, with a reported $3.7 million in sales, and the company expects to continue its rapid growth trajectory, especially once the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation of the industry goes into effect. Solace, which had products on the market before the agency's predicate date of Aug. 8, 2016, is also closely following the FDA's regulatory proposals and adjusting its practices to stay ahead of any mandates on packaging, promotion and manufacturing that are likely to be enacted.
With regulation, Anwar expects to see a winnowing of the field as companies without the resources to navigate the FDA's premarket tobacco product approval process fold up their tents or sell out to larger tobacco firms. While Solace's founders haven't ruled out the possibility of cashing out, neither is an exit strategy uppermost in their minds, according to Anwar.
– Story Jennifer Gelfand, editor-in-chief of Tobacco Business Magazine. Photos courtesy of Solace Technologies.


March 8, Shanghai is sunny finally, as if celebrate to "her" festival.
In Shanghai Zenith, female employees of firmness and flexibility, has already become a beautiful landscape, as well as the backbone of Zenith in the steady development. To thank them for their hard work, Zenith has done a lot to prepare for the Women's Day party and holiday gifts.
In addition, at the evening of March 7, male colleagues have prepared flowers and greeting cards on the table of every female colleague secretly, to give a surprise to female colleagues early in the next morning. In addition to the female employees of the office area, the cleaning aunts also received thoughtful holiday gifts; they were "flattered" and thanked the staff again and again.
In this privilege day of women, the Zenith men are not lonely. A series of selection of the "best wife", "best husband", "ideal girlfriend"," ideal boyfriend ",and so on, make opportunities to the men and women colleagues who are busying with work in weekdays to pour out their hearts, the selected site is also immediately become a large gathering party.
In the end, Shanghai Zenith brings all staff to wish the women all over the world live happy and wonderful!


text:
Baguio signs pact with partners in fight against breast cancer
Mayor Benjamin Magalong and City Health Officer Rowena Galpo entered into a memorandum of agreement with Roche Philippines, Inc. represented by its General Manager, Dr. Diana Edralin and Dr. Gay Buliyat of the Outreach Committee Baguio Chapter on Project Extension for Commission Health Outcomes (ECHO).
The agreement affirms the commitment of the city government for private-public partnerships to improve Baguio's health outcomes including continued collaboration partnerships between the local government and the city's patient groups.
The Project ECHO launching and MOA signing was held, Dec. 21. Magalong and Drs. Edralin and Galpo emphasized the importance of partnership, cooperation, and courage in fighting the scourge of breast cancer where the Philippines has the highest diagnoses incidence in Asia.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of death for women aged 35 to 54 years in the country where mortality rate is at 61 percent as compared to 53 percent globally due to lack of awareness and lack of adequate diagnosis and treatment facilities, Edralin said.
She said Project ECHO aims to help build the public healthcare system using a global initiative telementoring program designed to create virtual communities of learners and a knowledge network.
"It is using virtual technology towards improving survival and quality of life through early diagnosis," Edralin added.
She commended the city government, through the mayor's leadership, for being a trailblazer in this endeavor with its ongoing Smart city initiatives and making healthcare accessibility one of its core focus.
The mayor said the local government will continue to equip its Health Services Office and empower its barangays in the prevention and early diagnosis of breast cancer incidents with the ultimate goal of saving lives.
"We will explore all partnerships with the private sector to make sure that we can expand this to other cancerous diseases creating supportive partnerships to address these types of diseases. Now that we have our Smart city system and platform, hopefully we will be able to acquire the right digital healthcare system to be integrated into the platform," he said.
Rosanna Gutierrez in her testimony emphasized the importance of early detection of the cancer that ultimately saved her life.
Dr. Anand Sunit of the Project ECHO Institute, Project Executive Director, India, provided a background of Project ECHO while Philippine Society of Medical Oncologists President, Dr. Arnold John Uson and Outreach Chair, Dr. Arthur Jason Go delivered their messages of commitment to the project. – Gaby B. Keith
DILG urges CAR LGUs to boost SIM registration info drive
Offices trained on enhanced local climate change plans
DEPENDABLE BLOOD DONORS
Edict mandating full vaccine shots for preschoolers OK'd

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Home of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference
EST. 1908 | Omaha, Nebraska
2017-2018 x Regular Season Exhibition
Seasons Regular Season Exhibition Regular Season Exhibition Regular Season Exhibition Regular Season Exhibition Regular Season Exhibition Regular Season Exhibition Regular Season Exhibition
Alex Blankenburg
Joel Messner
Lukas Buchta
Colin Grannary
Lawson McDonald
Riley Alferd
Tyler Vesel
Mason Morelli
David Pope
Jake Randolph
Teemu Pulkkinen
Jalen Schulz
Martin Sundberg
Luke Nogard
Dean Stewart
Tristan Keck
Ryan Galt
Jordan Klehr
Grant Gallo
Cole Pickup
Steven Spinner
Zach Jordan
Fredrik Olofsson
Kris Oldham
Evan Weninger
Dean Blais
Mike Gabinet
Leigh Mendelson
Kirk Thompson
Tristan Keck #19·F Omaha · 2017-2018
Omaha · 2019-2020 · Statistics
Morris, Manitoba
Winkler (MJHL)
Season 2019-2020 2018-2019 2017-2018 2016-2017
Timeline G A PTS SOG PPG PPA SH SHA PIM FOW FOL BS + / - GW for 2017-2018 Regular Season Exhibition
10/13/2017 W 4-2 at Massachusetts Lowell 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10/14/2017 L 2-5 at Massachusetts Lowell 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
10/20/2017 W 5-1 Arizona State 1 1 1 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
10/21/2017 T 4-4 Arizona State 1 1 0 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 -1 0
10/26/2017 W 6-4 at Notre Dame 1 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0
10/27/2017 L 4-5 at Notre Dame 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
11/10/2017 W 5-3 at Colorado College 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
11/11/2017 L 0-4 at Colorado College 1 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 -1 0
11/17/2017 L 1-4 at Western Michigan 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11/18/2017 L 2-5 at Western Michigan 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -3 0
11/24/2017 W 4-3 Northern Michigan 1 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 -1 0
11/25/2017 W 4-1 Northern Michigan 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0
12/01/2017 L 4-7 St. Cloud State 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 -1 0
12/02/2017 L 0-5 St. Cloud State 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
12/08/2017 W 7-5 Minnesota Duluth 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
12/09/2017 L 2-6 Minnesota Duluth 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -2 0
12/29/2017 W 5-1 Union College 1 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
01/05/2018 W 4-1 at North Dakota 1 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0
01/06/2018 L 0-7 at North Dakota 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -1 0
01/12/2018 W 11-7 Miami 1 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 2 0
01/13/2018 W 4-3 Miami 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
01/19/2018 L 0-5 at Denver 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
01/26/2018 W 6-2 Western Michigan 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
02/02/2018 L 3-5 at St. Cloud State 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -2 0
02/16/2018 W 6-3 North Dakota 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 -1 0
02/17/2018 L 0-3 North Dakota 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 -1 0
02/23/2018 W 4-2 Colorado College 1 1 2 3 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 0
02/24/2018 T 2-2 Colorado College 1 1 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0
03/02/2018 W 4-1 at Minnesota Duluth 1 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 0
03/03/2018 L 1-4 at Minnesota Duluth 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0
Regular Season Totals 36 10 12 22 51 2 1 1 0 10 6 7 13 -2 0
10/06/2017 W 5-2 Nipissing 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0
Exhibition Totals 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0
2017-2018 Totals 37 10 12 22 52 2 1 1 0 10 6 9 14 -2 0
©2020 SportsEngine, Inc. This website is powered by the SportsEngine platform, but is owned by and subject to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference privacy policy.


Multiple renovations on a fabric production, packing and distribution industry including: 80,000 sq.ft. renovation in 1989; 20,000 sq.ft. expansion on two floors in 1992; new 10,000 sq.ft. mezzanine in the production space in 1994; 9,000 sq.ft. storage enlargement in 1999; office renovation and complete replanification of the assembly line in 1999; office extension in 2002.


text:
Q: Stringtemplate low performance in comparison to Velocity and Mvel I am trying to do some evaluation of template frameworks.
For a simple performance test I'm using these templates
private static String mvelTemplate = "Hello, my name is @{name},"
                                     + " @foreach{user : group.users} - @{user.id} - @{user.name} "
                                     + " @end{}";
private static String velocityTemplate = "Hello, my name is ${name},"
                                         + "#foreach($user in $group.users) - ${user.id} - ${user.name}  #end " ;

private static String stringTemplate = "Hello, my name is <name>,"
                                       + "<group.users:{x| - <x.id> - <x.name>}> ";
// the group has 20 users
// 'Java' uses plain StringBuffer

The part of Stringtemplate is
        ST st = new ST(stringTemplate);
        for (Map.Entry<String, Object> entry : vars.entrySet()) {
            st.add(entry.getKey(),entry.getValue());
        }

        start = System.currentTimeMillis();
        for (int n = 0; n < 10000; n ++) {
            st.render();
        }
        end = System.currentTimeMillis();

And the results are
Mvel.Compiled elapsed:68ms. ~147K per second
Velocity Cache elapsed:183ms. ~54K per second
StringTemplate elapsed:234ms. ~42K per second
Java elapsed:21ms. ~476K per second

Since I have no idea of string template, here is my question:
Is StringTemplate really that slow or is there an other (faster) way to render a template with it.
Update:
vars looks like this:
    Map<String,Object> vars = new HashMap<String,Object>();
    Group g = new Group("group1");
    for (int i = 0; i < 20; i++) {
        g.addUser(new User(i, "user" + i));
    }

    vars.put("group", g);
    vars.put("name", "john");

now with 1.000.000 iterations per template and looped the whole benchmark 10 times
Mvel.Compiled elapsed:7056ms. ~141K per second
Velocity Cache elapsed:18239ms. ~54K per second
StringTemplate elapsed:22926ms. ~43K per second
Java elapsed:2182ms. ~458K per second

A: part of what you are observing is likely a compiler warm-up issue. When I run the test I enclose below 10000, it takes 350ms on my computer. when I increased to 100,000 it takes 1225ms, which is only 3.5x more time not 10x more time. when I run it 1,000,000 I get 8397ms which is only about 7x the cost and time when it should be 10x. Clearly the compiler is doing something interesting here with optimization. For a long-running program, I would expect ST to do better in your tests.  The garbage collector could also be doing something here. Try your examples with bigger loop lengths.
Anyway, speed was not my first priority with ST v4, but thank you for pointing this out. I will probably look into optimizing at some point. I don't think I've even run a profiler on it.
    import org.stringtemplate.v4.*;
import java.util.*;

public class T {
    public static class User {
    public int id;
    public String name;
    public User(int id, String name) {
        this.id= id;
        this.name = name;
    }
    }
    private static String stringTemplate = "Hello, my name is <name>,"
    + "<users:{x| - <x.id> - <x.name>}> ";
    public static void main(String[] args) {
    ST st = new ST(stringTemplate);
    List<User> users = new ArrayList<User>();
        for (int i=1; i<=5; i++) {
        users.add(new User(i, "bob"+i));
        }
    st.add("users", users);
    st.add("name", "tjp");

        long start = System.currentTimeMillis();
        for (int n = 0; n < 1000000; n ++) {
            st.render();
        }
        long end = System.currentTimeMillis();
    System.out.printf("%d ms\n", end-start);
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
package winrm

import (
	"crypto/tls"
	"fmt"
	"io/ioutil"
	"net"
	"net/http"
	"net/url"
	"strings"
	"time"

	"github.com/masterzen/winrm/soap"
)

var soapXML = "application/soap+xml"

// body func reads the response body and return it as a string
func body(response *http.Response) (string, error) {

	// if we recived the content we expected
	if strings.Contains(response.Header.Get("Content-Type"), "application/soap+xml") {
		body, err := ioutil.ReadAll(response.Body)
		defer func() {
			// defer can modify the returned value before
			// it is actually passed to the calling statement
			if errClose := response.Body.Close(); errClose != nil && err == nil {
				err = errClose
			}
		}()
		if err != nil {
			return "", fmt.Errorf("error while reading request body %s", err)
		}

		return string(body), nil
	}

	return "", fmt.Errorf("invalid content type")
}

type clientRequest struct {
	transport http.RoundTripper
	dial      func(network, addr string) (net.Conn, error)
	proxyfunc func(req *http.Request) (*url.URL, error)
}

func (c *clientRequest) Transport(endpoint *Endpoint) error {

	dial := (&net.Dialer{
		Timeout:   30 * time.Second,
		KeepAlive: 30 * time.Second,
	}).Dial

	if c.dial != nil {
		dial = c.dial
	}

	proxyfunc := http.ProxyFromEnvironment
	if c.proxyfunc != nil {
		proxyfunc = c.proxyfunc
	}

	transport := &http.Transport{
		Proxy: proxyfunc,
		TLSClientConfig: &tls.Config{
			InsecureSkipVerify: endpoint.Insecure,
			ServerName:         endpoint.TLSServerName,
		},
		Dial:                  dial,
		ResponseHeaderTimeout: endpoint.Timeout,
	}

	if endpoint.CACert != nil && len(endpoint.CACert) > 0 {
		certPool, err := readCACerts(endpoint.CACert)
		if err != nil {
			return err
		}

		transport.TLSClientConfig.RootCAs = certPool
	}

	c.transport = transport

	return nil
}

// Post make post to the winrm soap service
func (c clientRequest) Post(client *Client, request *soap.SoapMessage) (string, error) {
	httpClient := &http.Client{Transport: c.transport}

	req, err := http.NewRequest("POST", client.url, strings.NewReader(request.String()))
	if err != nil {
		return "", fmt.Errorf("impossible to create http request %s", err)
	}
	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", soapXML+";charset=UTF-8")
	req.SetBasicAuth(client.username, client.password)
	resp, err := httpClient.Do(req)
	if err != nil {
		return "", fmt.Errorf("unknown error %s", err)
	}

	body, err := body(resp)
	if err != nil {
		return "", fmt.Errorf("http response error: %d - %s", resp.StatusCode, err.Error())
	}

	// if we have different 200 http status code
	// we must replace the error
	defer func() {
		if resp.StatusCode != 200 {
			body, err = "", fmt.Errorf("http error %d: %s", resp.StatusCode, body)
		}
	}()

	return body, err
}

//NewClientWithDial NewClientWithDial
func NewClientWithDial(dial func(network, addr string) (net.Conn, error)) *clientRequest {
	return &clientRequest{
		dial: dial,
	}
}

//NewClientWithProxyFunc NewClientWithProxyFunc
func NewClientWithProxyFunc(proxyfunc func(req *http.Request) (*url.URL, error)) *clientRequest {
	return &clientRequest{
		proxyfunc: proxyfunc,
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Accounts Officer Category-I in A.P. Municipal Accounts Subordinate Service.
Junior Accounts Officer Category-II in A.P. Municipal Accounts Subordinate Service.
Senior Accountants Category-III in A.P. Municipal Accounts Subordinate Service.
Qualifications: Must possess a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce of a University in Indian established or incorporated by or under Central Act, Provincial Act or a State Act or an institution recognized by the University Grants Commission or an equivalent qualification.
Apply Online from 07/06/2012 to 07/07/2012 (Note: 05/07/2012 is the last date for payment of fee).


EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Sept. 24, 2008 – NDOORS is giving gamers the opportunity to win cash, gaming hardware and in game items while they try out the strategic, turn-based MMORPG Atlantica Online. Open beta testers will have multiple chances to win through participation in the game's PvP arena called the Free Leagues.
Individual prizes range from cash to game systems such as the Nintendo Wii and electronics like the iPod Nano. The value of the prizes will scale up as the total number of participants in the Free Leagues increases, up to a $10,000 cash prize if 30,000 players participate. Players who reach Level 20 and fight in the Free Leagues will be eligible for random drawings during the course of the beta. Free League participants can also compete for cash and prizes in single-elimination PvP tournaments. The random drawings and tournaments will be held when each of the milestones for players in the Free Leagues — 5,000; 10,000; 20,000 and 30,000 players — are reached.
Atlantica Online is set in a parallel universe that takes players on an exciting journey to unravel the hidden secrets of Atlantis. With its heavy emphasis on strategy, Atlantica was designed to stand out amongst the 'cookie-cutter' MMOs.
The strategic game play incorporated into the turn-based combat, mercenary and nation management systems will appeal to strategy and RPG players. The turn-based combat system offers players the chance to strategically plan every move of the nine characters in their group. The mercenary system gives players the chance to manage multiple characters' development simultaneously. The town/nation management system adds a layer of strategic play where guilds establish control of cities or even countries and go to war with each other.


The first snow of winter just dusted the mountains out my window with beautiful powdered sugar like snow. The winter months bring me so much joy and happiness. The holiday season seems to bring out the best in those all around, and even those who do not celebrate Christmas, exude the Christmas spirit wherever they go. Although I will happily make myself a cup of chocolate milk anytime of the year, something about the winter makes hot chocolate a tad bit more enjoyable, if that is even possible. Isn't it just the most wonderful time driving out to the country to chop down the perfect Christmas tree, tying it to the roof of the car, and blasting Christmas music while decorating the Christmas tree with hot chocolate in hand?
Step 1: Melt your chocolate chips in the microwave, or over a double boiler. For chocolates, you will use a 2:1 ratio, two parts chocolate to one part cream. For added flavor, you can replace the cream with coffee creamer. There are tons of holiday flavors out that will taste amazing in hot chocolate.
Step 2: Pour the melted chocolate into your molds of choice. Let the chocolate set up for around 5 minutes (depending on the temperature) before adding the popsicle sticks. Once you've inserted the popsicle sticks, let your chocolate pops set up in the refrigerator for a few hours until completely set. Step 3: Once your chocolate pops have completely hardened, melt about a 1/4 cup of chocolate chips and add to a small container. Dip the chocolate pops into the melted chocolate, and then dip them in your desired topping. I tried a few out with marshmallows, mini chocolate chips, and I also melted caramels to drizzle on top.
Step 4: Stir your chocolate pops into hot milk or water and watch as they melt into delicious hot chocolate delights!


text:
Curtis Widem
Curtis Widem is an artist/teacher who has just received his Master's Degree in Art Education from Adelphi University, along with the Dean's Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement in Art Education. He received his BFA from the University of Hartford Art School, with a Major in Experimental Studio and a Minor in English, Cum Laude. He's been a Teaching Artist for over six years, as well as a Special Education Teaching Assistant and Substitute Teacher. He's taught at Brooklyn College's Summer Program, the Boys and Girls Club, and various schools and non-profits in Connecticut and New York. His Thing Machine (Thing Machine), an info- comedy skit in a vending machine, has performed at the Guggenheim Museum, the NY Fringe Festival, the Wadsworth Atheneum, and dozens of other arts organizations and non-profits all over NYC, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
The artwork you're seeing is the culmination of eight years of photography, three years of drawing, and two years of printmaking and collage. Curtis has just begun to exhibit his art work, and is thrilled to present it on this website.
My journey in art is about exploring its principals and elements; specifically line; its depth, form, weight and substance. My goal is to investigate the Principles & Elements of Design... Continue reading
© 2013-2020 Curtis Widem. All Rights Reserved


All donations to the Stockbridge Library Capital Campaign will be recognized and are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
Donate here by credit card (click the yellow button below).
Send gifts by mail to Stockbridge Library Association (memo: Capital Campaign), PO Box 119, Stockbridge, MA 01262.
Call Library Director Katherine O'Neil at 413-298-5501 for more information on giving, current naming opportunities, and gifts of securities.
Funding for the renovation of the Stockbridge Library, Museum & Archives has been provided by the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund, a program of the state of Massachusetts, administered through a collaborative arrangement between MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.


$2.7 Million Smackers from selling W-H-A-T?
Have you seen this FREE 36 page report called the Ultimate Money Getting Shortcut yet?
If you did...I apologize. Please forgive me.
But wouldn't a single or double make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?
Why is the author is revealing 'the goods'?
"Some people want to learn to fish...some people just want the DARN fish."
The 36 page report & video will teach you to fish...NO CHARGE.
What he's banking on though, is there will be enough people that just want the DARN fish...that he'll do okay for himself too!
What Can You Do With an Autoresponder?
You've no doubt seen name and email capture forms on websites like the one in the illustration above at least a thousand times, right?
When a person enters their name and email address, it stores the information in an autoresponder.
The autoresponder automatically responds (that's why they call it an 'autoresponder') by sending some pre-programmed message to the email address entered into the form.
Autoresponders are sometimes used to notify those who send them emails that the owner is away on holiday, or an "out of the office" reply is sent back (not always a good idea as it can alert thieves to your absence).
Autoresponders are typically used by online businesses to build customer/prospect opt-in mailing lists and to send web site visitors follow-up information about their products or services.
Autoresponder features generally have the ability to be pre-programmed with an unlimited number of already written follow-up responses which can be sent at predetermined times. For instance, the first message is sent when someone subscribes to your e-zine, the second message is sent two days later and the third message is sent three or four days after the second message…etc. This is called, an 'autoresponder series'.
Autoresponder users may also send out broadcast messages to all of their subscribers or just a select group anytime they want. So, once you have built a large enough mailing list, this can be like printing money within hours whenever you send out a hot offer.
In the last few years, autoresponder services have added a feed feature to the email component that allows website owners to automatically send posts from their blog feeds (RSS) directly to their list subscribers.
I prefer to use Aweber.com although there are several other autoresponder services available, I only recommend Aweber – I've used them without any problem since starting my online business. Aweber is without a doubt, the world's number one autoresponder service in terms of product features and superior customer service.
No one knows your audience like you do. Suggest a variety of product uses just for them, and give examples. This is the time for details - make this section long and rich.
You've come so far - you've laid out exactly what the product is and how it will help your unique audience. Now, seal the deal - tell your readers to purchase the product! Include your affiliate link in this section.
Say: "Click here to order an account today."
If you don't feel ready to write long copy yourself, ask your affiliate program manager for help! Many companies release well-written articles by respected authors that you can reprint on your site free of charge.
The novelty of the Web is starting to wear off. People online now are busy. Surfers won't make a purchase unless you make a great case for what they'll get out of it. And you're not going to do that with just a simple banner ad...you have to tell them "Why."
Affiliate marketing has become one of the most effective ways to sell products online. It is also one of the easiest ways for anyone with a website to make a profit online. Affiliate Marketing is an agreement between a product owner/seller and a website owner. The website owner, or the affiliate, allows the use of their site for the promotion of the merchant's products by linking to the merchant's website. In exchange, the merchant pays a commission to the affiliate on all sales generated by the affiliate. Every time someone clicks the link on the affiliate website and proceeds to make a purchase, the affiliate makes money. The merchant pays the affiliate only when a customer clicks on the product link and makes a purchase.
Affiliate marketing programs are usually a win-win situation for both the merchant and the affiliate because of the pay-for-performance scheme. Both the merchant and the affiliate each enjoy several benefits for participating in affiliate marketing. There is a primary benefit on the merchant's side, such as a wider market in which to sell a product or service. Affiliate marketing gives the product or service the maximum exposure that it may not get with other traditional advertising techniques. The more affiliate sites a merchant has, the higher the traffic, which can convert into more sales. Affiliate marketing is the equivalent of having an army of sales people who will do the advertising and will only get a commission if a customer purchases.
Meanwhile, since an affiliate marketing relationship is a win-win situation, the affiliate also enjoys many benefits. Foremost is that affiliate marketing is the easier way to make a profit online. The affiliate can earn by simply having an ad or link to the merchant's website, which prospective customers will click and hopefully proceed to make a purchase. As soon as the customer clicks on the ad at the affiliate's site, he is redirected to the merchant's website and goes on to buy a particular product, and alakazam...the affiliate makes money. The more referrals there are from the affiliate the more profit he/she makes.
Affiliate marketing is an excellent way to earn money from home. There are virtually no large set-up costs. The product is already developed and proven as a good seller by the merchant, and all you have to do is to attract as many prospects as you can to your website.
Affiliate programs are usually free to join, so you don't have to worry about large start-up costs. There are thousands of products and services you can choose from. You can find an affiliate programs for almost every product under the sun. Surely, there is a product or service out there that is relevant to your website.
In addition, there is absolutely no sales experience necessary. Most affiliate programs offer excellent support when it comes to providing marketing materials. The simplicity of affiliate marketing allows you to be an affiliate marketer with the least cost and the most comfort. In affiliate marketing, your responsibility is simply to find prospects for the merchant; you do not have to worry about inventory, order processing, product shipping or support. These are the duties of the selling merchant.
Because of the global reach of the internet, you can easily find thousands of prospects for any product. You can intensify your advertising campaign by exploiting more aggressive strategies such as viral marketing. By attracting more prospects, you also maximize your potential to earn. Another benefit for an affiliate marketer is the minimal risk involved. If the product you are advertising is not making money then you can dump it and choose another. There are no long-term binding contracts tying you to products that are not making enough money.
Each of us has his own special interest or a hobby. Some love all kinds of books, music, and movies while others are into sports and traveling. There are also people who love to grow flowers and raise pets. These things help us to relax, forget our everyday problems as we focus on doing what we love. But unfortunately, not everyone has a hobby that makes money for him/her except if you love your job as a hobby.
A money-making hobby could give you the extra cash to let you treat your family to a nice vacation or you could even quit your current job that you almost certainly hate, right? That's why many people go online to start a business; the reasons are either to supplement their income or to gradually replace their offline income from their 9-5 job. Affiliate marketing is a great way to start making money online.
Affiliate marketing is a revenue sharing partnership between a web seller and one or more affiliates. The affiliate is paid a commission for referring clicks that turn into sales for the merchant. An affiliate's advantage is that he can make money in a business where he doesn't have the upfront costs of creating his own product, and he doesn't have to worry about e-commerce, bookkeeping or even customer support the seller takes care of all that.
Now, you probably want to be an affiliate marketer with all that benefits that you've heard an affiliate gets. But, do you really have what it takes to be an affiliate marketer? Before you begin your venture into affiliate marketing, you need to decide first which area interests you. What products do you know best and which products do you like well enough to sell? Once you discover your specialty, perseverance, patience, determination to be successful comes next. These are the qualities you should possess to be a top affiliate marketer.
Too many online business wannabees lose out because they become impatient. You also have to know what your strengths are, the things in which you are good and your capabilities related to your chosen niche market. And the most important thing is you need to have a strong desire to succeed with affiliate marketing.
To be an affiliate is not as easy as many gurus want you to believe. It's also not as hard as you may now believe. You simply have to learn the techniques of marketing your product or service. In the meantime, you shouldn't be looking at every gimmicky opportunity because other people's marketing is all about attracting you to look at this or that particular opportunity.
As an affiliate marketer, you should learn how to market your site effectively so you can get thousands of visitors which will convert into more sales. This means that the faster you set up a website and start marketing, the greater your chances are of making money online faster. You should avoid the same mistakes some affiliates make, they are only building a short-term project where they just make a few piddling sales. Make sure you do understand that you will be building a long-term affiliate business and not just something that makes you a few dollars on one sale.
It is also good to learn how to upsell your visitors into more expensive "backend" products. This will eventually make you into a recognized expert in your field and allow you to make money easier. Some people think that just by having a few affiliate links on their website or blog and doing nothing else will bring them big profits. This can have some truth to it, but most successful affiliates know that using planned marketing campaigns is the only way to go. In any case, the most successful affiliate marketers get that way when they attract prospects and turn them into friends. Make a commitment to establish relationships with your customers and especially with first time visitors to your site. People buy easily from sellers who they know, like and trust.
You will also have to be creative in your marketing. The real key to being successful with affiliate marketing is to develop a good content based website and weave your affiliate links into all your content. You have to provide your prospects with always fresh, quality content to keep them coming back to your site. So, with that, do you think you have what it takes to be an affiliate marketer?
Copyright 2010, David Van Hulst & Van Hulst Media Group, LLC.
Grey Press by Dan S, inspired by PressRow.


Prior to 3 p.m. (CT), deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
Beginning at 11 a.m. (CT) on March 11, clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2018 player contracts. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 3 p.m. (CT) on March 13.
Prior to 3 p.m. (CT), clubs must exercise options for 2019 on all players who have option clauses in their 2018 contracts.
Prior to 3 p.m. (CT), clubs must submit qualifying offers to their Restricted Free Agents with expiring contracts to retain a Right of First Refusal/Compensation.
Prior to 3 p.m. (CT), clubs must submit a minimum salary tender to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2018 contracts who have fewer than three accrued seasons of free agency credit.
Top 51 begins. All clubs must be under the 2019 salary cap prior to 3 p.m. (CT).
All 2018 player contracts will expire at 3 p.m. (CT).
The 2019 league year and free agency period begin at 3 p.m. (CT).
The first day of the 2019 league year will end at 10:59:59 p.m. (CT) on March 13. Clubs will receive a personnel notice that will include all transactions submitted to the league office during the period between 3 p.m. and 10:59:59 p.m. (CT) on March 13.
Trading period for 2019 begins at 3 p.m. (CT) after expiration of all 2018 contracts.
Teams with new head coaches can begin offseason workout programs.
Clubs can hold three-day rookie minicamp.
Deadline for clubs to send "May 7 Tender" to unsigned UFAs.
Spring League Meeting, Key Biscayne, Florida.
For any player removed from a club's roster or whose contract is assigned via waivers or trade on or after June 2, any unamortized signing bonus amounts for future years will be included fully in team salary at the start of the 2020 league year.
Deadline for prior clubs to send "June 1 tender" to their unsigned RFAs who received a qualifying offer for a right of first refusal only in order for such player to be subject to the CBA's "June 15 Tender" provision.
Deadline for clubs to withdraw qualifying offer to RFAs and still retain exclusive negotiating rights by substituting "June 15 Tender" of one-year contract at 110 percent of the player's prior-year Paragraph 5 Salary (with all other terms of his prior-year contract carried forward unchanged).
Rookie Transition Program to be held at individual clubs. Attendance is mandatory for all rookies.
At 3 p.m. (CT), deadline for any clubs that designated a Franchise Player to sign such player to a multiyear contract or extension. After this date, the player may sign only a one- year contract with his prior club for the 2019 season, and such contract cannot be extended until after the club's last regular-season game.
Clubs are permitted to open preseason training camp for rookies and first-year players beginning seven days prior to the club's earliest permissible mandatory reporting date for Veteran players. Veteran players (defined as a player with at least one pension-credited season) other than quarterbacks or "injured players" (as defined in CBA Article 21, Section 6) may report to a club's preseason training camp no earlier than 15 days prior to the club's first scheduled preseason game or July 15, whichever is later. Veteran quarterbacks and injured players may be required to report to the club's preseason training camp no earlier than five days immediately prior to the mandatory reporting date for all other veteran players, provided the club has already opened (or simultaneously opens) its official preseason training camp for all rookies and first-year players. A three-day acclimation period will apply to players who are on a club's roster up to and including the mandatory veteran reporting date. Players who rejoin the roster after that date may practice (including wearing pads) and play immediately after passing a physical.
-signing period ends for UFAs to whom a "May 7 Tender" was made by prior club. After this date and until 3 p.m. (CT) on the Tuesday following the 10th weekend of the regular season, prior club has exclusive negotiating rights.
-or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later.
Signing period ends for Transition Players with outstanding tenders. After this date and until 3 p.m. (CT) on the Tuesday following the 10th weekend of the regular season, prior club has exclusive negotiating rights.
Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Ohio.
Deadline for players under contract to report to their clubs to earn an accrued season for free agency. If a drafted rookie has not signed with his club by this date, he cannot be traded to any other club in 2019 and may sign a player contract only with the drafting club until the day of the draft in the 2020 league year.
Prior to 3 p.m. (CT), clubs must reduce rosters to a maximum of 53 players.
Claiming period for players placed on waivers at the final roster reduction will expire at 11 a.m. (CT).
Clubs may establish a practice squad of 10 players.
Konačno počinje najzanimljiviji deo godine za navijače 31 tima.
Ne znam... Jeste da Packersi tradicionalno zaobilaze ovaj deo sezone ali je vrlo moguće da se i oni uključe u trku za nekim igračima.
Baš si vickast . Dobro znaš da sam mislio na Ramse.


Among the key issues to consider are children, the size of your estate, and privacy issues.
You may have been wondering if the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 will have any impact on your long-term financial planning and the need for asset protection. New changes to the tax code may impact your strategies for deductions, education funding, and small-business income. When it comes to estate planning, there's only one change: The estate tax exemption has doubled through 2026. If you're like most Americans, you may not be hit with a federal estate tax, but this just might be the year for you to develop an estate plan.
Estate planning can be a neglected part of financial planning. It's easy to delay answering uncomfortable questions such as "What happens to my assets and my loved ones when I die?" So it's no surprise that roughly half of Americans don't have a will, and even fewer have an estate plan.
How many of us could benefit from an estate plan? For that matter, what is an estate plan, and how does it differ from a will?
A will is a relatively simple legal document that sets forth your wishes regarding the distribution of property; it may also include instructions regarding the care of minor children. An estate plan goes much further than a will. Not only does it deal with the distribution of assets and legacy wishes, but it may help you and your heirs pay substantially less in taxes, fees, and court costs.
How large is the estate, and which state is it in?
If you have any type of retirement account, such as a 401(k), 403(b), IRA, or Roth IRA, can its distribution to the beneficiaries be "stretched"?
Would you like some money to go to charities?
If you own a business, have you thought about succession planning?
What life stage are you in? Is estate planning becoming more important?
Are there special circumstances to consider (like blended families or disabilities)?
Let's go through these 8 considerations, under current law, one by one.
A number of major life events help shape the need for and scope of an estate plan. Especially significant is the birth of a child. Consider a young married couple having their first child. How would the child be provided for if either or both parents were to die?
"Drafting a will provides the opportunity for a parent to name a guardian to take care of a child if something were to happen to the parent," says Louis Marchi, estate planning specialist at Fidelity Investments. "But, while naming a guardian is important, it's just one step." In addition to a guardian, who assumes responsibility for the care and custody of the minor child, a conservator (or "guardian of the estate") may also be necessary to manage any assets the minor child may inherit. The age of majority in a given state is set by state laws; generally, the age is 18 or 21.
Some assets can be distributed by the institution, such as a bank or brokerage firm, that holds them, so long as the owner has provided the proper instructions to the financial institution and has named the beneficiaries who will receive those assets. If the owner also has a will, the directions in the will should be consistent with the directives provided to the financial institutions. For example, if a beneficiary is named in a transfer on death (TOD) account at a brokerage firm, or payable on death (POD) account at a bank or credit union, the account can usually pass directly to the beneficiary without going through probate, and thus will bypass a will. In some states, a similar beneficiary designation can be added to real estate, allowing that asset to also bypass the probate process. For assets that do not have a beneficiary designation, the will is the instrument through which to designate who will receive such assets, and it can detail any related special instructions.
Although a will is a cornerstone of estate planning, some people may need something more extensive, and, if so, a trust can be beneficial. "Trusts can make sense for most assets, including financial assets, retirement assets, real estate, and life insurance," Marchi says. "These assets could be handled within a trust for the benefit of the minor, and a professionally managed trust could theoretically produce better results than an account entrusted to a nonexpert guardian who might mean well but might lack the experience or knowledge to properly invest and protect assets." Read Viewpoints on Fidelity.com: Do you need a trust?
Another important factor is the size of the estate. Does the value of the estate exceed the estate tax exclusion? In 2018, for a legally married couple, generally each spouse would have the $11.2 million federal estate tax exclusion. At the death of the first spouse, their exclusion could be taken on by the surviving spouse, allowing the survivor to exclude $22.4 million (or more, because the surviving spouse's exclusion will be indexed for inflation) from federal estate taxes. A thorough estate plan would also include provisions addressing what would happen in the event of a simultaneous death.
"For the states that have estate taxes, it's easy to cross the threshold of estate tax liability," Marchi acknowledges, "just by adding the value of a person's real estate, retirement assets, and life insurance policies."
Also consider other issues around how best to manage the intergenerational transfer of assets. For example, if children aren't old enough or mature enough to handle a large inheritance, an estate plan can address this by making provisions through a trust.
3. The value of "stretching"
When reviewing assets, it's not just the sum total that matters in designing an effective estate plan. Review where your retirement investments are located—in other words, what type of account they're held in and what the beneficiary options are for each account type. For instance, distributions from IRAs and Roth IRAs can be "stretched" so that they may last for the entire lifetime of the beneficiary, provided the recipient qualifies for that option and elects to receive it. If you're leaving money to a child or grandchild who is significantly younger than you, this benefit could be substantial, allowing tax-deferred or tax-free growth to continue for many years—even decades.
Let's say the owner of the IRA is age 70 and his daughter, Sue, is 35. If the owner of the IRA were to die in 2018 and designated Sue as the beneficiary, Sue would inherit the IRA at age 36. Based on the Internal Revenue Code table, Sue's life expectancy would be an additional 47.5 years. By stretching distributions over her entire life expectancy, and by taking her first distribution by December 31, 2019, Sue would receive a portion of the account balance (the entire account balance divided by 47.5) in the first year. For each subsequent year, she would subtract one year from her previous year's life expectancy and divide that new life-expectancy factor into her previous year-end account balance. The account could potentially last more than 40 years.
Loss of privacy: Anyone can access information from the probate court. For example, relatives and creditors could get your probate records to challenge your will.
Expense: Probate fees can be quite substantial, even for the most basic case not involving any conflict. Attorney's fees and court costs could take up to 5% of an estate's value.
Delays: The average uncontested probate can take longer than a year. With proper planning, these delays and costs, and the loss of privacy, can often be avoided.
If an estate consists of sizable assets and the owner has a desire to give to charity, there are a number of ways to incorporate those philanthropic goals into an estate plan. Charities can be named as beneficiaries in a will.
If you own a business, have you considered how best to plan for the business once you have passed away? If you plan to keep it in the family, consider creating a structure that makes it easier to transfer the business's assets to other family members, such as a family limited partnership or a family limited liability company.
Engaging in estate planning can be an important activity at various points throughout your lifetime; there is no ideal age at which to begin the process. Certainly, new parents will want to consider their child's welfare, and plan appropriately. As children grow, your financial life becomes more complex, and as your assets and needs grow and change, your existing estate plan should be reviewed to make sure it still meets your current needs, and that any future needs are anticipated.
Two of the most common special circumstances that may affect estate planning decisions are blended families and concerns about disabilities. Of course, there may be other needs that affect a particular situation.
Blended families can make estate planning more complicated. For example, a parent may want to leave a different inheritance to biological children than to stepchildren, or the parent may want to protect their biological family's inheritance in the event that a spouse remarries. A solid estate plan can help prepare for these and other scenarios. Consult an attorney to discuss your particular circumstances.
The tax and estate planning information contained herein is general in nature, is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal or tax advice. Fidelity does not provide legal or tax advice. Fidelity cannot guarantee that such information is accurate, complete, or timely. Laws of a particular state or laws that may be applicable to a particular situation may have an impact on the applicability, accuracy, or completeness of such information. Federal and state laws and regulations are complex and are subject to change. Changes in such laws and regulations may have a material impact on pre- and/or after-tax investment results. Fidelity does not assume any obligation to inform you of any subsequent changes in the tax law or other factors that could affect the information contained herein. Fidelity makes no warranties with regard to such information or results obtained by its use. Fidelity disclaims any liability arising out of your use of, or any tax position taken in reliance on, such information. Always consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific legal or tax situation.


All of the card images came from MagicCards.info; if you know of a 1-mana black creature that ought to be on this list and isn't, let me know (nicely) in the comments!
Play it first turn and activate it second turn for an early-game life-drain jumpstart.
Good way to both fill up your graveyard and put your opponent at a disadvantage–even first turn!
Great for multi-color decks to balance out your mana.
When you just REALLY NEED that 1 extra mana. Or you need a cheap blocker.
Keep an opponent's creature down for a turn with this one.
For 1 mana you have a creature whose power and toughness can snowball over several turns. Who cares that it can't block?
Great for re-balancing life totals, or for gaining an advantage.
If your deck already deals with a lot of "Sack this creature" effects, this would be a great little addition.
A quick and cheap way to make your opponent ditch a card.
Exalted is rare enough to find in Black, let alone Exalted and Regenerate. Great for boosting up another creature and sticking around!
Though its tap ability are pretty expensive, making an opponent ditch two cards is pretty fun. And late-game, you can Channel this little guy to make them ditch four instead!
Equal-opportunity disadvantage–great for a group game, and just fine for a one-on-one game.
Level this guy up, and you get a pretty powerful creature removal tool!
Like Drainpipe Vermin, but this says "ditch at random"–a small but possibly more dangerous change for your opponent!
Exiling cards when tapped, and being able to untap when a black spell is played…how is this guy just 1 mana again?
1/1 flying, which Black usually needs!
Because Black can always use a touch of Lifelink, given all the "pay X life to do something awesome" types of spells.
1/1 fear is pretty strong for Black–great for getting through hordes of creatures (unless they're artifact or black).
This is better than it sounds–drain a life from EVERY opponent, AND potentially do some combat damage, too? Woot!
Give it flying for a few turns and you should have threshold for extra fun!
It's as good as Plague Beetle if you don't multi-kick it, and if you do multi-kick it, it's a HUGE upgrade. Yay for options!
You can either pump up this Shade and use it as a killing blocker, or you can ditch all the cards out of your hand and start swinging with it. Either way, it's GOOD.
This is like a walking Throne of Bone, but for life loss instead of gain. Neat!
Mess with your opponent's upcoming cards…good ability on a 1-mana creature!
The Extort is a nice touch, and the tap ability can either bring something of yours into play quicker, or keep your opponent's counter-centric combos from going off too soon.
Play this guy, and then start targeting him with any kind of spells…FUNNY for a group game especially.
1/1 unblockable for 1! WOW!
Being able to scry is usually a Blue ability, so it's nice to see it pop up in Black.
0/1 flying that can regenerate! A classic.
Festering Goblin, a 1/1 that can kill 2 1/1 or a 2/2, great early game stall. Clears or stalls all sorts of pesky little creatures!
I've also found that Pharika's Chosen, which is the exact same as typhoid rats, is fun because of the limit of only 4 of the same card.
Both 2/2 for 1 black. Take a point during upkeep. Easy to win that race.
Awesome! I haven't kept up with new M:TG developments in a couple of years–thank you for the heads-up!
Vicious Conquistador is a better version of Pulse Tracker, which probably warrants an inclusion. I personally like Skittering Heartstopper, which is kind of a tougher Typhoid Rats. Blight Keeper is alright, much better when you get that mana for the ability. Finally, Bloodsoaked Champion, Gravecrawler, Dread Wanderer, Viscera Seer, Ruthless Ripper, and Night Market Lookout are some other good ones. Disregard Ghoul can be a nice P/T creature, once untapped, Kederekt Parasite is good in a R/B deck, and Cryptbreaker is good with zombie tribal. Mardu Shadowspear can also be nice, and Gnarled Scarhide and Rakdos Cackler can be good. Last thing: Fume Spitter and Festering Mummy are somewhat like Festering Goblin, with Mummy being almost strictly better than the goblin because of the counter instead of the EoT -1/-1.
Hope all of those suggestions help, and I apologize if some of those are already in the list which I missed.
Sorry, Diregraf instead of disregard in the 7th line. Also, Death's Shadow is a pretty great black one drop, although it is probably better used later game when you have less life.


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