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Silver Taps
Ring Day
Buy The Aggieland
Fourteen Aggies made their case for playing in the NFL Tuesday. Joe Cheek pictured making his.
Photo by: Lawrence Smelser
NFL Pro Day tests talent from A&M
By Lawrence Smelser
Despite Germain Ifedi being the only player considered draftable in the first round by many pundits, 30 NFL teams had scouts on hand for Texas A&M's Pro Day Wednesday morning.
Fourteen Aggies made their case for playing at the next level, including offensive guard and tackle Germain Ifedi, punter Drew Kaser, special teams member and defensive back Sam Moeller, running back Tra Carson, kicker Taylor Bertolet, offensive guard Joe Cheek, cornerback De'Vante Harris, center Mike Matthews, defensive end and tackle Julien Obioha, defensive tackle Alonzo Williams, defensive back Devonta Burns, runningback Brice Dolezal, running back Blaine Townsend and cornerback Brandon Williams.
The players were tested in the bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, 40-yard dash and the 5-10-5, three-cone and long shuttles along with personal drills.
Mike Matthews finished first in the bench press. The center was able to do 30 reps of 225 pounds. Julien Obioha and Taylor Bertolet finished behind Matthews with 27 reps apiece.
Cornerback De'Vante Harris ran the fastest 40 time at the A&M Pro Day. Harris, 5-foot-10, ran a 4.44 which was faster than his time of 4.56 at the NFL Combine. Harris was also able to log the fastest time in the shuttle with a time of 11.38 seconds.
"I improved my 40 time, [and] I feel like I did real good in my drills," Harris said. "They looked real smooth and [also] in my transitions. I caught the ball real well and I just came out here with some confidence and really enjoyed it. I had fun and the other guys did as well."
In the broad jump, the former 12th Man Sam Moeller came out on top along with Devonta Burns. Both players posted jumps of 9 feet, 8 inches. Running back Tra Carson was an inch behind the two with a jump of 9 feet, 7 inches.
Carson was able to clock a 4.54, despite having surgery just after the Music City Bowl on his big toe. The Pro Day was actually moved back to April 6, so Carson could take part. The Texarkana native weighed in at 226 pounds, 14 pounds lighter than his initial 240 at start of the 2015 season.
If taken in the first round, Germain Ifedi, who didn't perform in any stat-measurable drills, would make it six years in a row for the Aggies having a first-round draft choice.
"I'm excited to see where I land," Ifedi said. "First round or wherever I land. I'd be more than happy if I was able to extend the streak. I think I've put in the work and put a product out there that could warrant a first-round pick."
The 6-foot-6 lineman has started the past three years for Texas A&M. Ifedi has played both defensive tackle and guard for the Aggies.
"I don't have a preference," Ifedi said when asked which position he'd rather play. "I've played both and I think I've played both at a relatively high level so whatever team takes me and wherever they want me to play, I'll play that position and I'll adjust to it. I'll enjoy it."
A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin discussed the importance of Pro Day and how past players have used it to create opportunities in the National Football League.
"Some of them have Super Bowl rings to show for it right now," Sumlin said. "Steven Terrell and some of the other guys come to mind. It's very important based on the evaluation of people at the next level. And today it's not just the physical part of it, the running and jumping, the drills become important but also their number of interviews and the mental side of it."
The NFL Draft will begin Thursday, April 28 at 7 p.m. The second and third rounds are April 29, with rounds 4-7 scheduled for April 30. The draft will be broadcast on ESPN.
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CASO in Amirabad village of Tral
By Guest on 11:34 am September 30, 2017 No Comment
Forces on Saturday launched a cordon-and-search-operation in Amirabad village of Tral in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, reports said.
Witnesses said that operation was jointly launched by army's 42 RR, 180 BN CRPF and SOG of J and K Police.
They said that the village was cordoned off after "specific" inputs about the presence of militants there. The search operation is on and further details are awaited.
CASO in Amirabad village of Tral added by Guest on 11:34 am September 30, 2017

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Give your views on the Renault Clio
Have you ever driven or owned a Renault Clio? If so, then we would like to hear what you have to say about it. We would also like to hear about any parts you have bought for this vehicle. Write your review in the comments box below.
Renault Clio Overview
The Renault Clio is in the supermini class and is manufactured by the French car company Renault. After Renault had a disastrous 1980's, this car helped restore some pride and dignity, also winning the European car of the year in 1991 and 2006, so far the only car to win this award twice. These cars are one of the most popular in this class; they are comfortable, cheap to run, practical and are quite safe. A good buy.
Renault Clio History
The first generation Renault Clio I (1990-98) was built as a replacement to the Renault 5 and I don't even think Renault were to know how successful this car would become. A phase 2 updated version was released in 94, and a phase 3 in 96. Both these had changes to both the interior and exterior, with the phase 3 having the most noticeable changes. All across Europe this car became a hit.
The second generation Clio II (1998-2006) altered the look of this vehicle by making it more rounded and there were lighter materials used, making it lighter and more cost effective, thus reducing the cost price of the vehicle. There was a sportier 16V version released for this generation. In 2001, phase 2 was introduced, changing the headlight design mainly and phase 3 in 2004 which affected the bumpers. Other parts were altered and a new engine was introduced.
The third generation Clio III (2006-2012) was made larger and shared the Nissan B design platform with the Nissan Micra and other cars. These updates were to try and make the car more upmarket, thus making it more expensive and the safety features were immense, 5 out of 5 stars in European safety ratings. In 2009 it had a makeover which improved some features of the previous model.
The fourth generation Clio IV (2012 - present) is released in October this year.
Pzaz
Dynamique SX
This car is very good economically. The 1.5 diesel version offers an amazing 70mpg and is the best in this range. The engine range for this car is: 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 2.0 and 3.0L petrol and there are 1.5 and 1.9 diesel engines available.
There are three gearboxes available: 5 and 6 speed manual and also a 4-speed automatic gearbox. Have a look at the Renault gearbox section to locate your gearbox parts.
Due to the popularity of the Renault Clio, these parts are widely available through our vast network of UK Breakers. Enter your vehicle details in our part finder or visit the Clio parts page to find the parts you need.
Have you experienced problems with parts on the Renault Clio? We have a list of the Renault Clio problems page here if you would like to find out more.
Don't know your registration number/non-UK reg? No problem Try this instead
Become a Breakeryard seller


Having kept in touch with the Unified ITF since the Worlds, a series of circumstances beyond my control have occurred and I've been offered the opportunity to represent their interests in the Australian region in lieu of a possible permanent Representative Entity being stood up. This is obviously a huge role and responsibility to take on, given I know Grand Master Hwang and his family on a personal level, I'll endeavour to represent in the best capacity I can in the interim. Currently, Unified ITF in Australia is a small and close-knit family. Although I remain reserved about the circumstances that led to this point, we're happy to have found our collective home and I'm looking forward to the rewards and challenges this role will inevitably provide.
"It is essential that all members of all dans receive legitimate, internationally recognized certificates as well as have access to the education and resources to continue their training. We will make all possible accommodations to this end. The Unified ITF has many quality instructors and Masters worldwide that are available for seminars, promotional testing and Taekwon-Do courses."


As we wrap up our 100th post celebration, our Friday Five is an opportunity for you to check out a few other lists that may be of interest. There's an option for every part of you!
Goodread's 100 Books You Must Read Before You Die. I assume because afterward it will be too late!
100 Superfoods for a Super You. Who needs Superman, Super-Human, or Super Hero when we can have Super You??
100 Ways to Be Kinder. Even if you only read and apply two, the world will be a better place!
100 Ways to Go Green Right Now. If you can get past the author's insistence that it is urgent you do all 100 immediately (lighten up already!), there's some good ideas.
World's Top 100 "Best Travel Destinations." Even if you can't actually travel anytime soon, you might want to check out this site and take one of the 100 virtual trips with their mini slide shows for each location (this counts as another one 'for your mind'!).
THANKS FOR CELEBRATING WITH US THIS WEEK – YOU MADE IT A LOT MORE FUN!


The so-called "Blue Wave" of Democratic voting intensity in Florida hasn't been seen yet. Republicans are returning more mail-in ballots than Democrats in the first couple of weeks of the primary election season. More than 260,000 Floridians have voted, so far, according to figures released Monday by the Florida Division of Elections.
With nearly 2.5 million ballots sent out, the state reported that Republicans had returned 120,939 ballots, compared to 98,493 by Democrats. Another 38,728 ballots have been completed by people without party affiliations and 1,129 by people registered with third parties. Of the remaining ballots that have been requested, 925,192 have been sent to Democrats, 836,223 to Republicans, 446,124 to independents and 9,965 to third-party voters. The Division of Elections reported that Lee, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties have each had more than 24,000 ballots returned, with Republican ballot returns outpacing Democratic ballots. The last day for voters to request vote-by-mail ballots is Aug. 22, and the last day for supervisors to send out the ballots is Aug. 24. Voters can also pick up vote-by-mail ballots from local election supervisors up to the day before the election.
There's also an easy way to keep up with voting totals from the website www.FloridaTurnout.com, sponsored by CateCom and Proxeme, Florida-based digital communication companies.


Road Trip Warrior T-Shirt – Omigod, Dibs!
There's nothing like packing up, getting out on the road, and driving the country to see what's out there. You're a modern day explorer, a four wheeled nomad, a road tripper. You conquer the road, you're a road warrior.
Note: Shirt sizes are typically fabricated smaller, therefore shirt sizes may fit 1-2 sizes smaller. If you are accustomed to US shirt sizes it is recommended to choose a size larger than your normal size.
Example: If you normally wear a US size L, it is advised to order a size XL.


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Strider II
Category: Adventure Action 38.7k total views
Strider II (released in North America under the title of Journey from Darkness: Strider Returns), is a side-scrolling platform game published by U.S. Gold (under license from Capcom USA) and originally released for various computer platforms in 1990. It is a European-developed sequel to Capcom's arcade game Strider, which U.S. Gold previously ported to home computers in Europe. The game was developed by Tiertex, as with Human Killing Machine, the U.S. Gold sequel to Street Fighter. Capcom later developed their own sequel in 1999, titled Strider 2 for the arcades and PlayStation, which ignores U.S. Gold's version of Strider II.
play Strider II
Strider II online
Strider II sega genesis
Gain Ground
Eggman the Dicta...
Donnie The Chao Special Edition
play Uwol Quest For Money
Dahna - Megami Tanjou
A Ressha de Gyoukou MD
play The Simpsons: Virtual Bart


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World's longest KTM 790 Adventure test ride
· 2nd October, 2019 ·4 min read
Adventure rider Karolis Mieliauskas has completed what is most likely the world's longest test ride on the new KTM 790 Adventure by riding 20,000km across Russia, the USA and UK.
It's not the Lithuanian adventurers first epic ride:
In July 2016, he rode 11,000km from Vilnius to Vladivostok in 12 days;
In March 2017 he travelled 785km across the ice of Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world, without support, camping gear or a satphone; and
In February, Karolis rode a Yamaha Tenere to the coldest place on earth at -56C for a BBC Travel Show episode.
His latest Around The World in 40 Days ride was completed two minutes ahead of schedule.
He left his hometown of Druskininkai on 17 August and returned on 26 September.
"Around The World in 40 Days was basically an experiment," Karolis says.
"I wanted to push my mental and physical boundaries beyond what they already know.
"On previous long-distance adventures I would cover 1000s of kilometres per day over a short period of time.
"This level of focus would push me beyond my perceptions of what is mentally and physically possible.
"I wanted to see if this state of separating the mind from the body, or motorcycle meditation, to question what is true would be possible to sustain over longer distances.
"This was an extensive test in overcoming what we are conditioned to believe is possible and what is not."
KTM 790 Adventure 'perfect'
It was also an extensive test of the KTM 790 Adventure, donated by KTM Nordic.
"For this kind of trip which involved massive distances and long-distance air freight, the 790 Adventure was absolutely perfect," he says.
"You never know what kinds of roads you will meet on a round the world trip, even if you stick to designated routes and don't go off road.
"In Siberia, for example, there was a lot of unexpected road surfaces and weight is very important here because it affects the bike's handling.
Karolis in Siberia
"Low weight (213kg) was also important when it came to air freight. Transporting a bike with an aircraft can be very pricey, especially if you exceed certain size and weight limits."
He says the small size was also an advantage.
"To pack him in an aircraft's cargo hold, all I had to do was remove the front screen (129cm) and he was ready to go!," Karolis says.
"This is very innovative in the market as comparable bikes are much taller and could prove logistically difficult to transport."
He says the bike's low centre of gravity means it handles very responsively, even with a full tank of fuel with about 400km of range.
Karolis in Russia
"The bike is very quick and razor sharp, but its braking speeds are something insane that I have not experienced before," he says.
"In terms of rider confidence, the KTM's traction control and ABS systems give you a huge amount of faith as a rider.
"I didn't really have to reduce my speed too much in heavy rain, because it was a simple case of switching between rain mode, off-road mode, or whatever setting you need based on the conditions."
KawasakiMotorbike newsNews
Kawasaki Releases 2021 Ninja 650 to Asian Market
He also praised the bright LED lighting.
However, he says the windshield is too small for his 182cm height.
"For anyone around my height or taller, I'd recommend opting for a bigger one.
"During the Siberian leg, heated handle bars would have also been nice, but I believe they can be specified as an option."
You can see Karolis's bike at the KTM dealership in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.
"There is not another one of these in the world that has this many kilometres on its dashboard," he says.
Motorcycle diplomacy
Karolis also intended his ride to be a vehicle for "motorcycle diplomacy" by meeting with Lithuanian expats in Siberia, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and London and asking them to participate in the upcoming World Lithuanian Sports Games.
Chicago is home to the world's largest Lithuanian expat community.
Karolis in Chicago
In New York, he witnessed the climate change action protests as well as the demonstrations against British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's prorogation of parliament in London.
"In a time where friends and families are becoming divided by politics and losing touch of what brings them together, using 'motorcycle diplomacy' to visit different Lithuanian communities across the world could be a positive message to show that whilst people may be divided by distance or beliefs, they are still united by a common link " he says.
"It's easier to hit your keyboard and say something mean than go out there and meet people and listen to what they have to say rather than basing our perceptions on what we are told to believe."
epic rideKTMKTM 790 Adventuremotorcycle travelmotorcyclestravel


"A healthy vacancy rate is something around five or six percent. A 10 percent vacancy rate is beneficial to the renters, but a two percent or lower vacancy rate is unhealthy and beneficial to the landlords."
The first phase of the plan includes five floors with ground-floor retail and 223 apartments—32 studios, 91 one-bedrooms, 87 two-bedrooms and 12 townhouses.
According to the statistics, 46 percent of reported hate crimes in 2016 involved destruction of property.
The mystery deepens over the now-infamous meeting involving Donald Trump Jr., Boise Police need the public's help in investigating suspected malicious harassment, Emmy bouquets and brickbats, and Disney reveals a sneak peak of its new Star Wars atractions.
Rinat Akhmetshin once worked for military intelligence in the former Soviet Union. He says he's long retired from that work, but some American officials suspect he still has ties to Russian intelligence.
Grab the adults and the tots and head over to Celebration Circle at JUMP to see the fryer that can cook around 2,000 pounds of fries an hour.
The Catholic League calls the film "trash, pure trash." The filmmaker includes the quote in the trailer and poster.
Los Angeles-based Justin Williams and San Diego-based Jennifer Valente won the men's and women's professional races, respectively.
This is not about trying to find a silver lining. I am realistic. I know the world can be a raging suckfest at times.
Tired of the ninja life? Boise dog owner Jessica Streib created the Poo Vault, a recyclable, odor-trapping, portable dog poop safe.


text:
← To Be Shepard
What Will We Simulate Next? →
A Thing We Do With Video Games
I read Ian Bogost's How To Do Things With Video Games on a plane last weekend. I think it is a really smart book that acts as a really great introduction to video game studies, and more particularly, I think it does a great job explaining how games work to do different things. I guess that makes sense, being that it is in the title, but I was still a little surprised that it worked so well.
I have a few things to say about the book, but I'm only going to highlight one thing in this post. In the section titled "Relaxation," Bogost writes:
As so-called open world videogames have become more popular, so larger and more complex simulated environments are available for meandering. Grand Theft Auto and games of its ilk retain some of the nuisances of gameplay–police, rival gangs, and so forth–but their larger spaces also allow the player to hide from the game. One example is Jim Munroe's My Trip to Liberty City, a machinima (a movie produced inside a game) travelogue of Munroe's "walking tour" of GTAIII's urban landscape. (94) (emphasis mine)
Bogost also writes about Munroe's walking tour of Liberty City in Unit Operations. The following quote comes from a much longer section about the complexity of simulation and how that interacts with ethical considerations of the world.
Even though Munroe chooses not to exact any violence by his own hand, his entire experience flows from his choices in relation to both peace and violence. Those who argue that one can "do anything" in Liberty City are mistaken: the game constantly structures freeform experience in relation to criminality. (157)
You can see the bold text in the first quotation is about a function that the player fulfills in the game world, and it is one that I am pretty fond of. The end of a game, like a novel or sex, is absolute completion. All experience moves toward a point where it no longer exists or is replaced by something else. Playing Tetris is as much about hiding from the end of the game as it is about stacking blocks. The act of playing a game is not merely progress; it is also the stabilization of a play space.
Maybe that is why I like games like Skyrim and GTA so much. They let me burrow down inside of them. I can invest myself fully in them, reveling in affective connection. When those games end for me, they end big; I don't replay them. A second playthrough of Skyrim was abortive, at best–I really felt like I was betraying the "real" me, the original me that had hidden from progress in the mountains and dungeons before.
This could also be a reason that the the end of Mass Effect 3 didn't bother me. I was Shepard. I was ready to make a sacrifice. It isn't something that I am interested in doing again. I don't think that is the popular feeling about games.
This entry was posted in Video Games and tagged affect, design, ian bogost, play, video games. Bookmark the permalink.


As social media continues to grow and become more popular, you will have to begin paying more attention to it.
Social Listen is listening to what people are saying about you, your competition, your brand, and your products throughout social media platforms including facebook, twitter, instagram and youtube.
Being a good "Social Listener" also includes responding accordingly. The good, the bad, and the ugly. If they're talking to or about you, they expect a response from you.
Over 50% of consumers that post a complaint on social media expect a response in less than 60 minutes. If you do not respond within the hour, over 80% of them are unlikely to buy from you again or recommend you to friends and family.
Twitter search your brand, items you sell/service and hashtags.
Follow Influencers who are sharing and engaging with your product/service. Focus on how an influencer loves your product/service more than the amount of followers they have. Having interaction and a relationship with an influencer create loyal customers.
By following the above tips you are on your way to learning more about what people are saying about your brand. Having an active social listening strategy can provide those answers and more.


Golden State Warriors New Era NBA HWC Panel Pride 9FIFTY Snapback Cap : Casual Wear,Sportswear,Worry Free Shopping!
This Golden State Warriors NBA HWC Panel Pride 9FIFTY Snapback Cap features an embroidered Golden State Warriors logo on the front, stitched New Era® flag at wearer's left side, team graphics at the right and snapback closure for an adjustable fit. Interior includes branded taping and a moisture absorbing sweatband.


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Jury recommends probation for Carbonneau
ANDREW TILGHMAN, Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
A former Houston police officer who shot an unarmed 14-year-old boy to death should serve almost a decade on probation, but no time in prison, a jury decided this afternoon.
Without explanation, jurors recommended that Arthur J. Carbonneau, 25, be sentenced to nine years, six months and 14 days on probation for the killing of Eli Eloy Escobar II.
Carbonneau showed little reaction to the announcement, but Escobar's mother lowered her head and sobbed.
``This hurts. This is an injustice,'' said Arnold Perales, an uncle of the teen. Carbonneau's family members embraced in the courtroom after hearing the jury's recommendation.
Jurors declined to comment after being dismissed by state District Judge Mary Lou Keel, but issued a statement in court acknowledging that their prayers are with the Carbonneau and Escobar families.
Carbonneau was charged with murder for shooting Escober in the head as they struggled on the ground at a northwest Houston apartment complex on Nov. 21, 2003.
He insisted that his .40-caliber Glock pistol fired accidentally after Escobar hit or kicked his arm.
The former Houston police officer was found guilty Tuesday of criminally negligent homicide, the least severe of three options given to jurors in his murder trial.
Carbonneau sniffled several times Tuesday but shed no tears after being found guilty in the slaying of Escobar. The teen was shot in the head at close range on Nov. 21, 2003, while struggling on the ground with Carbonneau at a northwest Houston apartment complex.
The former patrolman had faced a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison. During closing arguments in the trial's punishment phase this morning, prosecutors asked for the maximum, and the jury of eight men and four women began deliberating about 10:30 a.m.
Carbonneau is the first law officer in Harris County to be prosecuted for an on-duty killing in more than 10 years. He was taken into custody and spent the night in the Harris County Jail.
After hearing Carbonneau testify last week that his gun fired accidentally when Escobar's hand or foot bumped his gun hand, jurors deliberated for more than eight hours before rejecting the top two options of murder and manslaughter.
Their verdict indicated that they did not believe Carbonneau intentionally shot Escobar, but that, as state District Judge Mary Lou Keel explained about the negligent-homicide charge, that he "should have known there was a substantial and unjustifiable risk" in the way he wielded his gun while wrestling with the teen.
"I think the verdict reflects what we've said all along: that this was an accident," said Aaron Suder, one of Carbonneau's attorneys from the Houston Police Officers Union.
Prosecutors Don Smyth and Joe Owmby declined to comment.
The shooting occurred after Carbonneau volunteered to assist Officer Ronald Olivo in responding to a complaint in the 4600 block of West 34th. A caller reported that two teenagers had assaulted a 10-year-old boy at his home.
The 10-year-old's father, Jesse Rodriguez, and others led the officers to a nearby apartment at the Burnham Woods complex in search of the pair.
Inside an apartment, police found Escobar and other teens playing computer games and told them to stand outside, witnesses said. Rodriguez pointed out one teen who he said had harassed his son.
Escobar had not been involved in the earlier incident and began to leave, ignoring officers' orders to stop, police said. The struggle began when Carbonneau tried to detain him.
The teen, who weighed more than 200 pounds, thrashed his arms and legs violently and kicked Carbonneau in the groin, Carbonneau testified. He said he drew his gun, in part, because he feared Escobar had a weapon.
Carbonneau, who spent less than two years on the police force, resigned in April after being indicted.
Escobar's mother, Lydia Escobar, broke down in tears after the punishment phase began Tuesday when she told jurors that she and her son were very close. She said she was 35 years old when the boy, her only child, was born.
"We liked everything the same," she said. "What I liked, he liked. We were always doing things together."
Carbonneau's attorneys summoned several witnesses for the punishment phase, all agreeing that the killing appeared to be an aberration in the life of a quiet, well-mannered young man.
"I'd describe his demeanor as a mild, meek kind of person," said Sgt. William Picazo, his former supervisor.
Carbonneau's mother told jurors the killing has been traumatic for her son.
"He's been devastated," said LaNell Carbonneau of The Woodlands. "He is not the same person that I have known for the past 25 years. He is a shell of a person."
Escobar was the second Hispanic teenager killed by Houston police during a three-week span in 2003. The killing fueled criticism of the Police Department and prompted city leaders to re-examine its use of deadly force.
A grand jury chose not to indict Officer Richard Kevin Butler in the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Jose Vargas Jr. on Oct. 31, 2003.
Carbonneau's conviction was welcomed by the Houston-area League of United Latin American Citizens, which expressed hope that the case will influence others on the police force.
"There are a lot of good men and women in law enforcement, but bad apples need to be aware that that will no longer be tolerated," said Johnny Mata, a LULAC spokesman.
andrew.tilghman@chron.com
ANDREW TILGHMAN


— — . pages in category "". deadpool vol thanos: a god up there listening infinite comic vol . all of marvel's solicitations and preview covers images for titles on sale in november , including axis. mai all of marvel's solicitations and preview covers images for titles on sale in august .
marvel has dozens of titles to choose from. we let you in on the best of the marvel comics jan marvelnowblackwidowcomicbookreview. marvel is the source for marvel comics, digital comics, comic strips, and more featuring iron man, spiderman, magneto (). magneto ( present). marvel is the source for marvel comics, digital comics, comic strips, and more featuring iron man, spiderman, hulk, xmen and ms. marvel ( ).


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2018 Children's & Teen Choice Book Award Winners Announced at BookExpo
Children's Bookselling
By Liz Button
On Wednesday, May 30, booksellers, publishers, and other book industry professionals attended the Silent Art Auction at BookExpo 2018, where they watched the presentation of the 11th annual Children's and Teen Choice Book Awards and bid on works of art from more than 130 children's book illustrators.
Sean Qualls and Selina Alko announce the winners
The event was sponsored by the American Booksellers Association and the Children's Book Council (CBC); the proceeds will benefit American Booksellers for Free Expression (ABFE) and Every Child a Reader.
As part of the opening ceremony before the auction, children's book creators Selina Alko and Sean Qualls, who served as honorary chairs, announced the Children's & Teen Choice Book Awards, as determined by the votes of children and teens across the U.S. This contest is part of Children's Book Week, which celebrated its 99th year in 2018 and ran from April 30 to May 6; voting ended May 6.
Shaina Birkhead, programming and senior partnerships director at the Children's Book Council (CBC) and Every Child a Reader, thanked all of the publishers, authors, and illustrators who contributed to the contest, as well as professor and children's literature advocate Susannah Richards for coordinating art collection for the auction.
In addition, Birkhead recognized the event's other sponsors, including Simon & Schuster Children's Books, publisher of children's illustrator Ashley Bryan, whose legacy was being celebrated that night. She also credited Sesame Workshop, First Book, Screen-Free Week, Scholastic Reading Club, the International Literacy Association, and the Library of Congress for their support of the awards.
"We also want to thank the thousands of indie booksellers, librarians, and teachers who made Children's Book Week and the book awards voting possible this year, especially in classrooms around the country, where they hosted discussions and reading groups and voted on our books," added Birkhead.
The 2018 Children's & Teen Choice Book Awards winners are:
K–2nd Grade Book of the Year: Poor Louie, written and illustrated by Tony Fucile (Candlewick Press)
3rd–4th Grade Book of the Year: 50 Wacky Things Animals Do by Tricia Martineau Wagner, illustrated by Carles Ballesteros (Quarto/Walter Foster Jr.)
5th–6th Grade Book of the Year: The Losers Club by Andrew Clements (Random House Books for Young Readers)
Teen Book of the Year: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray)


PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of b-value distribution on the repeatability and Gleason score (GS) prediction of prostate cancer (PCa).
ICC(3,1), and coefficient of repeatability (CoR). Areas under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) for PCa characterization were estimated while the correlation of the fitted values with GS groups (3+3, 3+4, >3+4) was evaluated by using the Spearman correlation coefficient (ρ).
RESULTS: The parameters of monoexponential, kurtosis, and stretched exponential models estimated using only 4-5, 5-7, 5-7 b values, respectively, had similar ICC(3,1), CoR, AUC, and ρ values as the parameters estimated using all 12 b values. Optimized b-value distributions demonstrated improved ICC(3,1) and CoR values but failed to improve AUC and ρ values. The parameters of biexponential model demonstrated the worst repeatability and diagnostic performance.
DWI-derived parameters rather than the diagnostic performance.


Some rain finally. A few scant millimetres in the past two days and then today a steady drizzle with a few heavier falls. The end result was 25 mm for the day. More than was forecast and a good start. This should kick off some grass growth for the cattle in the area. A bit early to say the dry spell is broken but the 28 day rain forecast indicates a few more showers on the way.
Ok to wander about outside briefly but not worth getting wet by staying out in the open creating a perfect day to get some tasks done under cover.
Firstly the Pinot Noir had reached its 22 days on skins and pressing commenced and plodded along slowly all day. Pinot Noir is renown for its lack of skin colour pigments. This batch was no different. Not as black as the Chambourcin of a few days ago but still pretty good for Pinot. At least the long soak has extracted everything it has to give. It was put in a demijohn with a 50/50 mix of American and French Oak chips. The taste was sensational. This will develop well.
In the kitchen a batch of Fetta was produced. A straight forward cheese easy and uncomplicated to make.
While that was underway some peanuts were roasted and a batch of chocolate made. The new recipe is so good that a little extra was mixed and some ported prunes in an ice cube tray received a dash of chocolate.
A loaf of bread mixed in the bread maker and then let rise most of the day before baking in the bread maker. After the mixing the paddle is removed and the mix is kept warm as the bread maker thinks it is going through the various punch down stages, With our own coarse grinding of flour it is best not to disturb the rising process.
Jean took the time take some watermelon to friends. With so much ripening at once we tend to distribute a large quantity other people.
Jean returned with Aldi's $50 E-reader. We have been talking about acquiring an E-reader for some time mainly because a large number of electronic agriculture and gardening books have been accumulated.
It is possible to read them on the laptop as long as you are prepared to sit in the office and do so. The laptop's battery is long gone. We do most of our reading at night in bed and lying down with a laptop is not easy especially navigating a book with the touch pad.
A lot of research was conducted before we rushed in. It was a matter of not being caught in the spiral of accumulating gadgets which only keep the attention briefly before finding a spot in the bottom drawer.
After charging the E-reader it went through its paces that night with Edward Faulkner's "Ploughman's Folly, A Second Look" The E-reader is very good and a real pleasure to use.


For more information, call us at 615.269.8844 or contact us.
All STEPS Fitness Training Programs include some common features: cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, flexibility and balance training. Each program, each session is a function of the client's interests, needs and abilities.
Being fit doesn't have to mean the ability to run a marathon or climb Mt. Everest. Let our expert personal trainers work with you to set healthy, attainable goals that are tailored to your lifestyle, not someone else's. Of course if you do want to run a marathon or climb Mt. Everest… Either way, we are here to help.
Group classes are the creations of independent trainers targeted toward the specific needs of a subset of clients or the common interests of a small group.
Colleen Bridges started a Rock Steady Boxing for Parkinson's program in mid-2016 and currently teaches 7 classes/week with a goal to introduce up to two more sessions/week.
Carol Frazier is teaching a once/week program oriented toward women's health and self-empowerment.
STEPS is open for more trainers to initiate classes for yoga, Pilates, Barre, etc.
Click here to see what small group classes STEPS Fitness currently offers. Or find out how to create your own!
Dr. Irv had a total hip and total knee replacement and got back to work in less than 2 weeks. That may be a push for most but getting back on your feet and into your active lifestyle, no matter what the procedure, will be easier and faster if you're physically prepared in advance.
If you are looking at getting a joint replacement in the near future, we will help prepare you for it with specific exercises to the joint as well as comprehensive exercises to prepare you for the post-surgery period when you will need to use an assistive device to ambulate. Prepare the core and upper body as they will be even more necessary to get around till you're healed and ready to really exercise. We are here to help.
Our Prehab programs are designed to prepare you for specific surgical procedures, ensuring a more rapid rehabilitation and a better overall outcome. You can schedule surgery but you can't plan ahead for an injury. Or can you? The same preparation, applied to unforeseen accidents, can yield similar enhanced results.
These programs will start you with exercise routines similar to what you may encounter in physical therapy, and take you as close to those pro athletes do to perform at high levels and reduce the risk of injury. We are here to help.
Returning to your fitness program after rehabilitation of an injury can be a little scary without professional guidance. Our post-rehab programs will help you gain the confidence you need to make that transition at the proper pace. Our staff includes several post re-rehabilitation specialists who will work with your physician and physical therapist to provide a seamless return to an active lifestyle.
Unlike physical therapy, we help train and condition you in aspects beyond the immediacy of post-surgery. Your heart, your other limbs, your core, your balance and agility – all these are beyond the scope of PT. We are here to help.
A hundred years ago, the average life expectancy in the U.S. was only 47. Now it's 30 years longer! For longevity and quality of life, it's crucial to exercise properly for your age group. We base our fitness programs on the latest research that targets the specific needs of our aging and active population.
Aging is Dr. Irv's specialty…now. Once a young athlete, now an ex-athlete, he is acutely aware of the physical challenges the aged athlete encounters….and we're all aged athletes at some level.
So you may not know you have osteoarthritis or osteoporosis but why find out the hard way: get stronger now to defer Father Time's inevitable onslaughts. We are here to help.
Biometrics is a personally-guided and highly successful approach to long-term weight management, balancing healthy eating with dynamic one-on-one strength training. Instead of prepackaged food or shakes that give you "the shakes", the Biometrics plan provides you with menus, shopping lists, and recipes so you can learn to take control and make healthy eating choices for life.
We at STEPS Fitness, having studied the science of weight management, recognize how difficult it is to lose and keep off excess weight. We are under no illusions that the daily struggle for those wanting or needing to lose weight are a psychological as well as physiological burden. We encourage compliance to whatever safe dietary regimen you wish to follow, and we support you through the process.
Supervised exercise is imperative for long-term weight control, especially after you've lost the weight. We are here to help.
Exercise is high on the list of prescriptions for most medical conditions, including multiple sclerosis, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, hypertension, osteoporosis, heart disease and cancer. An effective exercise program can contribute to the slowdown, halting, and even the reversal of many diseases. In addition, studies prove the benefits of proper exercise to the patient's emotional wellbeing and quality of life. If indicated, Whole Body Vibration (WBV) will be implemented to enhance traditional training techniques.
The bottom line is, we are all one of a special population. But if you and your doctor determine that your needs require supervised exercise to help sustain a quality of life with which you can feel fulfilled and joyful, we are here to help.
A mother's love is already the stuff of legend. We understand. Many of our trainers are parents, too. Complying with the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a STEPS program will give you the knowledge, expert supervision, and peace of mind you need. In addition, studies show that proper exercise makes for easier pregnancies and deliveries, as well as healthier babies.
In collaboration with your health care team, pre- and post-partum, we can help you have a more pleasant, less stressful pregnancy, delivery and early parenthood. We are here to help.
Business trips, vacations, and training alone at home can present unique challenges. A STEPS personal trainer will customize and help you implement a fitness program that addresses your specific situation. Employing inexpensive and portable equipment such as tubes and balls, you can have a great program that requires little space and little time but great results. And with our extensive VHI Kits library of exercise illustrations, you'll never have to remember what to do. Just follow directions. We are here to help.
Visiting Nashville and want to maintain your conditioning program? STEPS Fitness Personal Training is here to help! Check out our traveler's special.
From martial arts to golf, from football to tennis, and everything in between, STEPS Fitness personal trainers are experienced athletes prepared to train your body for the rigors and demands of almost any athletic endeavor. Every specialized program incorporates the latest research from the field for superior performance and sports-specific injury prevention.
With a philosophy that says everyone is an athlete, it makes sense that we will treat you as such. But training toward a specific athletic endeavor is part science, part art. With our scientific background and approach, we will help you achieve your competition goals safely and effectively We are here to help.
Older adults, athletes, and post-rehab clients are just a few of the populations that can benefit significantly from WBV in conjunction with their regular workout. WBV has been shown to enhance neuromuscular function, increase bone density, explosive power, flexibility, and joint motion, and to expedite rehabilitation of acute injuries. Proven to enhance bone formation in osteopenia and osteoporosis, especially when combined with traditional load-bearing exercises, bouts of WBV will be included in your sessions. We are here to help.


Signify, formerly Philips Lighting, has been announced as the connected lighting partner to illuminate up to 15 of London's iconic bridges by 2022.
The contract was awarded by the Illuminated River Foundation to reinvigorate the city's famous River Thames bridges and further differentiate London as one of the world's most attractive, leading capital cities. Signify won the contract to supply its Interact Landmark system and Philips Colour Kinetics LED luminaires to light up the bridges with dynamic, artistic lighting effects via its centrally managed software. In addition, Signify will provide lifecycle services to remotely monitor and manage the connected bridge lighting for the next 10 years.
The project is led by the Illuminated River Foundation, which ran an international design competition for the lighting design which was won by international artist, Leo Villareal and London architects, Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands. Following a rigorous evaluation, Signify was awarded the project because of its global breadth and expertise in lighting and ability to deliver such an important, large-scale, connected lighting project. Also, a key factor was Signify's experience of working with lighting designers and architects on the management of dynamic, architectural lighting scenes.
Phase one commencing now will see four bridges illuminated by mid-2019 with connected Philips Color Kinetics LED luminaires, featured on London Bridge, Cannon Street Railway Bridge, Southwark Bridge and Millennium Bridge. Signify's Interact Landmark system will remotely monitor and manage the lighting on all four bridges.


Broken Social Scene have unveiled a cover of Tom Waits' "I Don't Wanna Grow Up" and a new rendition of their Hug of Thunder song, "Skyline." The pair of tunes was performed for Spotify's Singles series, which were recorded at Spotify Studios in New York.
Differing from the raw and raspy delivery found on Waits' original from 1992's Bone Machine, Broken Social Scenes' version is reflective and sweetly wistful, with an emphasis on the melody.
The band's new rendition of "Skyline" incorporates similar dreamy harmonies that are found in the original, though they take a bit more stripped-down approach on their new version.
Broken Social Scene released Hug of Thunder in July. The album was the group's first LP since 2010's Forgiveness Rock Record.


La Case Soleil is a fully equipped bungalow in the village of Trois Mares in Le Tampon, 15 minutes from the beaches and Saint-Pierre port, and 1 hour from the Volcano. Ideal for hiking enthusiasts as well as for those who just like lazing the day away. Sliding rate depending on length of stay, if rental is by the week. Cars available for hire from €15/day, unlimited mileage and 24-hour assistance.


I am thoroughly enjoying the two S es in my life these past two weeks. Took me a while this year to renew my swimming membership at the pool close by. Its been three weeks and am toasted as an almond with a strong tan. The much awaited monsoons are here this week and it sounds crazy, but swimming in the rain can be a lot fun. I am a total water baby so says my sun sign :) I am rather lucky to have a pool very close to where I live. Its a much needed break from work and the heat.
I cannot help notice all the young moms encouraging their little kids in the pool. Its really nice to see that parents eager that their children learn to swim. It is a must learn life skill.
With the heat coming down, I hope to be able to spend some more time in the sewing room.
Stocked the shop with some more cute card keepers.
Meera is back after her short work trip to Hong Kong. The gurl splurged on me and bought me my first Kipling tote :)) Its strange how sisters always know what you're looking for!
Isn't that a gorgeous mango yellow. I was for the last few months in search of the perfect tote and I can now say, the hunt ended with this super functional Kipling. Its made of suede on the outside and a contrasting coloured lining, with pockets for everything. The top zips up and so do the sides to give the bag some extra space. Notice the initial in leather. Its doubles up as an earphone holder and a cute accessory to clip on to the bag. Its handmade and picked up at the night market a haunt for crafters in Hong Kong City. I've packed away the bag at the moment since I do not want it ruined in the rains. Notice the packet of chocolates in the picture? These are the only ones I really love, I am not much of a chocolate, but these are yum. Know where I can get these in India? Please please write in!
Our Father's Day weekend was spent at Meera's lazing around, watching television and dinner at my favourite Bengali place Oh! Calcutta. I'd been craving the mango pickled fish they served there a few years ago.
We leave for Kashmir in ten days to celebrate my Ma-in-Law's 60th Birthday, am trying to get as much sewing done as I can before that. New fabric has been bought to play with on the cutting table. More on that in a different post.
Hope you're enjoying the rains. Drop in a line here to tell me how you're doing. Would love to hear from y'all.
They don't make men like my Babba anymore. Fearless, honest, brave, hardworking, a polymath, topped with lots of aggression and half a cup of anger..okay may be some more...hahahaha thats a deadly daddy combination here. He will scale Mt. Kilimanjaro, hitch hike across Africa, quit IIT, elope and marry across continents, get chased by a rhino, get stared at by a lion, make school bags for his kiddos, sleep all night in his car for school addmissions, catch a snake by its tail, put his hands in fire, make ice-cream for a living and fight and shoo away a brain stroke like it never happened! This awesomest man is my Babba!! I feel blessed. Thankyou MowlaBaapa!!


A look at what it takes to be one of the best WeddingCeremonySongs.
What are the most perfect WeddingCeremonySongs for a Bride's Big Day? That's easy, it's whichever songs that she requests. Sounds crazy, doesn't it? But, think about it for a minute.
The bride and groom are the customers. They are buying a service to help them celebrate a very special day. The guitarist can charge a very good rate for providing the service. So, give them what they want, within reason.
What is reasonable? A big consideration is time. If you don't normally play weddings, you"ll need to learn some new material.
One thing that can make learning new material easier is to improve your playing. Improving your playing should be an on going project. If you mainly play set arrangements, you might work on learning the information that you need to improvise more easily.
Remembering a melody and chord names may be easier for you than memorizing an entire arrangement.
A book like The Art of Solo Guitar Book 1 (Book & CD) can help you develop the skills to do this.
If you've been asked to play a classical piece like Pachel's Canon In D, you really can't wing it!
But, with enough knowledge you could improvise on Etta James' At Last, which is another popular WeddingCeremonySong.
Another consideration is if you'll be playing instrumental wedding music. If you're going to be singing too, that simplifies things. Vocal accompaniement is a lot easier than solo playing for most people.
Typically, most people will play an instrumental passage between verses. This is pretty easy to do if you're up to date with your Guitar Chord Theory.
Another approach is to read music well enough to not have to memorize pieces. This is a real common approach that some instrumentalist (usually classical) take. The problem here is that many self taught musicians don't know how to read. This is a problem that can be corrected, though.
A good book like Guitar at Sight can help.
Developing the skills to play the perfect WeddingCeremonySongs can give you a real sense of accomplishment. And it will help make the wedding couple's special day even more special.


Growing cannabis plants requires your time, money and resources. This is why Clone Connect understands the importance of acquiring the exact cultivar you've ordered and that it is bug/mold/mite free.
Browse each nursery's menu with confidence. If you can't find what you're looking for, let us know in the order inquiry form and we'll try and find who carries that strain or what the next best alternative is.
Fill out an order inquiry form and Clone Connect will contact you in 24 hours with next steps. We're happy to chat on the phone to help answer any questions, but an order inquiry form must be filled out to take next steps.


text:
Posterized Propaganda April 2013: Sleight of Hand With 'Trance', '42,' 'Upstream Color' & More
"Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover" is a proverb whose simple existence proves the fact impressionable souls will do so without fail. This monthly column focuses on the film industry's willingness to capitalize on this truth, releasing one-sheets to serve as not representations of what audiences are to expect, but as propaganda to fill seats. Oftentimes they fail miserably. There aren't many films coming out in April that scream "You have to see me on the big screen!" The ones that do, however, are high on my list of…
Film Features, Posterized Propaganda42, Bad Boys II, Bemis Balkind, Ben Affleck, BLT Communications LLC, Brian Helgeland, Chadwick Boseman, Charlie Sheen, Compliance, Concept Arts, Crew Creative Advertising, Danny Boyle, Disconnect, Dwayne Johnson, Evil Dead, Gravillis Inc., I Am Legend, Ignition Print, James McAvoy, Jason Bateman, Karina Longworth, Katrina Bowden, Mark W. Carroll, Mark Wahlberg, Matthew McConaughey, Michael Bay, Mud, No Place on Earth, Oblivion, Olga Kurylenko, Pain & Gain, Primer, REV CREATIVE, Scary Movie V, Shane Carruth, Simon Killer, Snoop Lion, Terrence Malick, The Bank Job, The Prestige, The Refinery, The Tree of Life, To the Wonder, Trance, Upstream Color, Vincent Cassel, Will SmithLeave a comment
Posterized Propaganda January 2013: The Top 10 Movie Posters of 2012
"Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover" is a proverb whose simple existence proves the fact impressionable souls will do so without fail. This monthly column focuses on the film industry's willingness to capitalize on this truth, releasing one-sheets to serve as not representations of what audiences are to expect, but as propaganda to fill seats. Oftentimes they fail miserably. Another year is complete and the time has come to revisit the best one-sheets that did all they could to help their films achieve box office glory. Unsurprising to those…
Film Features, Posterized Propaganda, Top 10 Lists, Top 10 Posters by Yearand company, Ben Foster, BLT Communications LLC, Brian O'Dell, Brit Marling, Compliance, Deepsouth, Drew Goddard, Dustin Stanton, Gael García Bernal, Hani Furstenberg, Here, Ignition Print, John Cusack, Joss Whedon, Les Misérables, Lubna Azabal, M.C. Escher, Marion Cotillard, Matthew Barney, Matthias Schoenaerts, Moonrise Kingdom, P+A, Paul Thomas Anderson, Phantom City Creative, Rust and Bone, Safety Not Guaranteed, Sound of My Voice, The Cabin in the Woods, The Cimarron Group, The Loneliest Planet, The Master, The Paperboy, The Rageman, This is 40, Wreck-It Ralph, Zero Dark ThirtyLeave a comment
REVIEW: Compliance [2012]
"Let's just get this over with" Films like Craig Zobel's Compliance make you question humanity. It's easy to say, "How could so many people be so stupid?" but at the same time hard not to view those duped into becoming predators as victims too. What happened to Louise Ogborn on April 9, 2004 in a Kentucky McDonald's is the tragic culmination of our American culture gradually dismantling its desire to possess a voice. Gone are the days of innocent until proven guilty when a universal trend towards self-preservation usurps the…
Drama, Film ReviewsAnn Dowd, Ashlie Atkinson, Bill Camp, Compliance, Craig Zobel, Dreama Walker, James McCaffrey, Pat Healy, Philip EttingerLeave a comment
Posterized Propaganda August 2012: A Summer Lull
"Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover" is a proverb whose simple existence proves the fact impressionable souls will do so without fail. This monthly column focuses on the film industry's willingness to capitalize on this truth, releasing one-sheets to serve as not representations of what audiences are to expect, but as propaganda to fill seats. Oftentimes they fail miserably. August isn't fooling around with a ton of releases spanning both big budget and independent productions. I couldn't even begin to talk about them all here—sorry Sparkle—but there sadly aren't…
Film Features, Posterized Propaganda11:24 Design Advertising, 2 Days in New York, 2 Days in Paris, 20th Century Fox Domestic Theatrical Creative Advertising, 360, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Adventure Time, Andy Samberg, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Art Machine A Trailer Park Company, Being There, Bemis Balkind, Blood & Chocolate, BLT Communications LLC, Bruce Willis, Cardinal Communications USA, Celeste & Jesse Forever, Chicken with Plums, Clarke Peters, Cold Open, Colin Farrell, Compliance, Cosmopolis, Crew Creative Advertising, Danny Aiello, Dave Perillo, David Cronenberg, Diane Keaton, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Do the Right Thing, Dreama Walker, Drew McWeeny, Drew Millward, Eastern Promises, For a Good Time Call …, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Glen Brogan, Graham Erwin, Gravillis Inc., Hope Springs, Iconisus L&Y - Visual Communication Systems, Ignition Print, It's Complicated, Jack Nicholson, Jay Chandrasekhar, Jeff Kinney, Jeremy Renner, John Cena, John Hawkes, Julie Delpy, Kustom Creative, Like Crazy, Little Friends of Printmaking, Machete, Marjane Satrapi, Mark W. Carroll, Martha Marcy May Marlene, Meryl Streep, Mondo Tees, monsieur x studio, Moovie, Olivia Munn, ParaNorman, Paul Greengrass, Paul Schneider, People Like Us, Persepolis, Psychosis, Rashida Jones, Red Hook Summer, Revolutionary Road, Robert Capron, Robert Ludlum, Robert Pattinson, Silenzio Communication, Something's Gotta Give, Source Code, Sparkle, Spike Lee, Stockholm Design, Sunshine, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, The Apparition, The Babymakers, The Bourne Legacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, The Campaign, The Day, The Expendables 2, The Possession, The Refinery, The Tree of Life, Tommy Lee Jones, Total Recall, Twilight, Will Ferrell, Zach GalifianakisLeave a comment


Godfrey Nichols began paving at the age of 17 and is still going strong over 30 years later. There's only one reason you do something for so long – because you love it.
Godfrey and the team at Affordable G Nichols Paving truly enjoy helping homeowners and business owners improve their driveways, parking lots, sidewalks, and overall homes and facilities.
When it comes to investing money into your residential or commercial property, it is important to hire a reputable local paving contractor that you can trust.
With over 30 years of experience, an A+ Rating from the Better Business Bureau, and dozens of client references, Affordable G Nichols Paving is a company that you can trust to do your job right and for a fair price.
For decades, our family-owned and operated business has executed residential and commercial paving projects of all sizes and scopes. All of our crew are properly trained and insured and have been with the company for several years.
We understand that you have a choice when it comes to hiring a paving contractor, and we appreciate you considering Affordable G Nichols Paving to help you improve your home or business.
Feel free to contact us today for a free estimate on your next project. We reply to all inquiries within 24 hours.


Don't you just love when you've been talking about something so much that you're glossy-eyed – then, someone comes along and creates a visual for it that sums it up?
Then, I think, I should have done that.
Well, I can't take credit for the visual, but it's so impressive, I just had to share. BTW, this is from the folks at Unbounce, which is a cool tool that I am going to be testing in the near future.
Traffic is going to come from various sources. Creating a specific landing page for each source not only allows you to track the sources easier, but it also 'shapes' the content for each stream/channel.
Split testing is at the hub of LPO; you pit one version of the page vs. another. This optimizes for conversion because you can track which 'pulls ahead', and why (by changing very few variables per version).
Upon landing, the visitor is faced with many directions to go. Making smart content that engages them ('draws them in') is critical.
Conversion leads to post-conversion opportunities; deepen the relationship, setup future sales. Note that some conversions are sales, some are leads (or signups).
Did I get some ultra-geek on you?
Sorry, I really should ask permission first.
But when I see eye candy + my passion = I just had to share. – G.


text:
package org.apache.hyracks.control.cc.job;

import java.io.Serializable;

import org.apache.hyracks.api.job.ActivityClusterId;

public final class TaskClusterId implements Serializable {
    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;

    private final ActivityClusterId activityClusterId;

    private final int id;

    public TaskClusterId(ActivityClusterId activityClusterId, int id) {
        this.activityClusterId = activityClusterId;
        this.id = id;
    }

    public ActivityClusterId getActivityClusterId() {
        return activityClusterId;
    }

    public int getId() {
        return id;
    }

    @Override
    public int hashCode() {
        final int prime = 31;
        int result = 1;
        result = prime * result + ((activityClusterId == null) ? 0 : activityClusterId.hashCode());
        result = prime * result + id;
        return result;
    }

    @Override
    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
        if (this == obj)
            return true;
        if (obj == null)
            return false;
        if (getClass() != obj.getClass())
            return false;
        TaskClusterId other = (TaskClusterId) obj;
        if (activityClusterId == null) {
            if (other.activityClusterId != null)
                return false;
        } else if (!activityClusterId.equals(other.activityClusterId))
            return false;
        if (id != other.id)
            return false;
        return true;
    }

    @Override
    public String toString() {
        return "TC:" + activityClusterId + ":" + id;
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Gary Cokins is an internationally recognized expert, speaker, and author in advanced cost management and performance improvement systems. He is the founder of Analytics-Based Performance Management, an advisory firm located in Cary, North Carolina at www.garycokins.com . Gary received a BS degree with honors in Industrial Engineering/Operations Research from Cornell University in 1971. He received his MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management in 1974. Gary began his career as a strategic planner with FMC's Link-Belt Division and then served as Financial Controller and Operations Manager. In 1981 Gary began his management consulting career first with Deloitte Consulting. Then KPMG (1988), where he was trained on ABC by Harvard Business School Professors Robert S. Kaplan and Robin Cooper, and in 1992 Gary headed the National Cost Management Consulting Services for Electronic Data Systems (EDS) now part of HP. From 1997 until recently Gary was in business development with SAS, a leading provider of enterprise performance management and business analytics and intelligence software.


If you have special training requirements, or if for some reason you are unable to train your dog yourself – perhaps you're just too busy? – we can train your dog for you.
This service is 100% customized. The process includes regular "hand-over" sessions and a limited guarantee.
You will not be required to transport the dog anywhere, but the trainer may pick up and drop off the dog with a pet sitter or a doggie day care, rather than from home.
The trainer will use Positive Reinforcement training, which is part of established learning science ('operant conditioning'). The method builds up a desire in the animal to perform the behaviour. Positive reinforcement means that we reward the behaviours that you want and remove any rewards associated with the behaviours that you wish to extinguish. There is no punishment involved in this training. Punishment has been found to obstruct learning, reduce reliability and interfere with the human-animal bond. For more information, see Training Methods.
The process begins with an in-depth Evaluation with the client's family and the dog. The fee for this is $70 + gst. This Evaluation is necessary in order that the trainer may be able to get to know the dog and estimate the training time required, as well as discuss the project in detail.
It is not possible to predict with any certainty how much a training programme will cost, as this is dependent on the dog's age, personality, previous training, etc. For example, a dog with a history of unsuccessful past training, particularly if aversive training methods have been used will have a "baggage" that will make training to a reliable standard more complicated and time-consuming. At the opposite end of the scale we may have a young puppy with little or no training.
For dogs with fear, aggression or other reactivity and behaviour issues, a behaviour modificiation programme for these particular issues will be necessary, , as the underlying causes for these issues may contribute to problems also in other areas.
Regular handover sessions will transfer the new behaviours from the trainer to the owner and ensure that the owner can see that progress is being made.
Again, this depends on the dog and its background in training. A day training project can consist of anything from a single, simple behaviour that can be taught in less than a handful of training sessions, to a series of complicated behaviours, or behaviour modifications, that may require several months or more.
What is required from the owner?
Be committed to the training process.
Be available for the hand-over sessions, at the times agreed.
Make the dog available to the trainer at the times agreed.
Contact us today for a private evaluation session, to find out if a Day Training Programme is right for you and your dog!
E-mail [email protected] or telephone 778-455-1985.


Readers should keep in mind that this article was written in the late 1950s.
Religious Liberty (freedom of conscience, toleration). Toleration of a variety of religions or religious groups and opinions within the boundaries of a single state has often been a major problem, under both Christian and non-Christian governments. The Roman Empire was not completely intolerant when Christianity was established. On the contrary, it symbolized its tolerance by the erection of the Pantheon at Rome, in which all the gods were to be represented. When it became clear that Christianity was not a part of Judaism and would not give the Roman Emperor divine honor and worship, it was declared an illegal religion (religio illicita), in the time of the Emperor Trajan (ca. 96). After the failure of the policy of persecution became clear, edicts of toleration were issued in 311 and 313 making Christianity a permitted, i.e., tolerated religion. The pendulum then swung to the opposite extreme so that in 380 an edict was issued by the Emperor Theodosius making Christianity the state religion and the only tolerated religion. From that time on in the Empire, the only Christianity recognized was that of the ecumenical creeds (Nicea, Chalcedon, etc.). Not only were the heathen religions not tolerated but no form of deviant (i.e., heretical) Christianity was permitted. Heresy, as defined by the state church (Roman or Greek), became a crime against the state and punishable by death. There was no religious liberty, except for the one recognized religion. The Constantinian compromise of the essence of the church by union with the state meant the end of toleration. This was the state of affairs down to the Reformation.
But the Reformation brought no freedom of conscience or religious liberty to Europe. On the contrary, the Reformers, in spite of early declaration seemingly supporting freedom of conscience, finally turned out to be as intolerant as the Roman Church (see Martin Luther). They were intolerant not only toward the Roman Church, but also toward other forms of Protestantism, and in particular bitterly intolerant of Anabaptism. When the principle of territorial churches, coextensive with the civil state, was established, in both Lutheran and Reformed areas, with only one religion tolerated, the rulers were often perplexed as to what to do with deviants from the established faith, particularly the Anabaptists, who were so persistent and earnest in witnessing to their faith and establishing their voluntary congregations. Seeking counsel from the religious leaders, such as Luther and Melanchthon, they received lengthy documents, numbers of which have been printed, commonly counseling complete intolerance and usually calling for severe persecution including death. While without doubt the motives of both rulers and Reformers were mixed, including fear for the established political and social order if toleration should be granted, yet the basic fact is that religious liberty was denied. The bitter persecution of the Anabaptists everywhere, almost from the beginning, ordered on the basis of such sweeping decrees as that of the Diet of Speyer in 1529, is irrefutable evidence of the intolerance of both Catholic and Protestant civil and religious authorities.
The victory for religious liberty was not won in Western Europe until the 17th and even 18th centuries (in certain Eastern European, and even Western European Catholic countries, not until the late 19th or even 20th century, and in some parts is not yet secure, notably Spain and Soviet Russia), and then it was to a large extent due not to the will of the dominant Christian churches, whether Catholic or Protestant, but to the will of rulers exhausted by religious wars and determined to find a basis for peace in the European community which would transcend the warring religious parties; or it was due to the growing rationalism, secularism, and materialism of the ever more powerful emerging middle class, which often placed religion low in the scale of cultural values.
The record of the suffering of the Anabaptists and Mennonites under this policy of intolerance is reported in the various articles in this Encyclopedia covering countries, regions, and political units in general, and in the biographical articles on a number of emperors, kings, etc., and need not be repeated here. (See for instance Germany, Netherlands, etc.) Suffice it to say that often the rulers and landholders were tolerant toward the Mennonites of the 17th century and later, because of their economic value, and frequently had great difficulties with the intolerant clergy of their domains. The fact also that citizenship was not a universal right, but a privilege to be granted or withheld by the rulers or granted conditionally, had a direct bearing on toleration. In some areas in Germany, especially Mennonites were not granted full and unconditional citizenship until the second half of the 19th century.
By contrast the New World was a land of religious liberty and therefore a most attractive place of settlement for the harried Mennonites of Europe (outside the Netherlands, which as early as 1572 granted partial toleration to the Mennonites). While certain of the American Colonies had established churches (Massachusetts, e.g., down to 1844, Virginia, etc.) and in the early days were rather intolerant, complete tolerance soon became the general rule and full religious liberty was written into the federal constitution (1787) and into the several state constitutions, William Penn's colony of Pennsylvania (established 1681) from the beginning offered complete religious liberty (except for Catholics); in fact Penn planned it as a haven of refuge for persecuted Quakers and other persecuted religious minorities. The Mennonites who settled in Pennsylvania from 1683 on enjoyed complete religious freedom and have suffered no persecution anywhere in the New World, except by mob action, or by punishment for violation of certain regulations or aspects of the legislation requiring military or civil service. Difficulties arising out of conscription do not invalidate, however, the basic principle of religious liberty and freedom of conscience which has been a fundamental and deeply cherished principle of the American nation from its beginning. The same holds generally true for Canada.
There has been occasional persecution of Protestant minorities in Latin-American countries where Catholicism is the established or dominant religion. Mennonite missions or colonies established in these countries have generally enjoyed full liberty of worship and propagation of their faith. A recent outbreak of intolerance and persecution in Colombia has caused some tribulation for the Mennonite Brethren and General Conference Mennonite missions there.
The most serious case of denial of religious liberty for Mennonites in modern times has been Soviet Russia. It is true that Czarist Russia forbade proselyting of Greek Orthodox people, and in this sense certainly did not allow full freedom of propagation of faith (although allowing it among the non-Greek Orthodox people), but full freedom of worship was guaranteed to the Mennonites and other settlers immigrating into Russia in 1788 and later, and this right was consistently maintained. The constitution of Soviet Russia guarantees full freedom of worship, but denies freedom of propagation of religion. In actuality freedom of worship was severely restricted in 1929-1941 through the closing of churches, imprisonment, deportation, and even execution of clergy, severe limitation of religious activities such as instruction of children under 18, and all types of religious organizations except direct congregational structure. At times religious persecution was carried on under the guise of breaking resistance to collectivization of agriculture; and it is clear that the leadership of the Soviet state sought to break up any type of solidarity of religious, ethnic, or economic groups, which might conceivably be or become a source of continuing resistance to the communist regime or ideology in any form. Religion, particularly for Mennonites, was one of the strongest bonds for the maintenance of a spirit of nonacceptance of the Marxist ideology. Mennonites in Russia were never guilty of any disobedience to the Soviet authorities or forcible resistance to government measures, but they did endeavor to maintain their church and community life as long as possible, and to nurture their children in the faith of their fathers. The clash with the Soviet state was inevitable and resulted in untold suffering, including the death of thousands in Russia, in forced labor camps, and in exile. Mennonite church life was completely broken up. Religious services were no longer held; probably no organized worship was conducted from 1935 to 1943. Since 1943, at first in a very slight and tentative way, and since 1953 more openly and extensively, Mennonite worship has been reviving, with regular preaching, choir singing, prayer meetings, etc. A severe handicap has been the death of ordained ministers, since very few survived the ordeal of 1935-1943. A further difficulty is the fact that liberty of worship is permitted by law only to registered congregations, and it has been impossible for the Mennonite congregations to secure legal recognition and registry since they have again emerged from the period of persecution.
Mennonite suffering in Russia has been further compounded by the fact of their German culture, language, and sympathies. It is difficult at times to determine whether their tribulations were due to their Germanic character, their economic skill, their sturdy non-Marxianism, or their religious steadfastness. Perhaps the very combination of several undesirable (from the Soviet point of view) qualities made their lot more difficult. Certain it is that the Evangelical Christians and Baptists in Russia, though also subject to a certain amount of persecution in the dark days, have since 1943 enjoyed much more liberty than the Mennonites. A major reason may well be their Slavic character.
The Anabaptists were the only Reformation group consistently advocating religious liberty, separation of church and state, freedom of the individual conscience, and toleration of divergence in religious matters, although individuals like Sebastian Franck and Sebastian Castellio were outstanding exceptions, particularly the latter. The Anabaptists did not produce any extensive literary defense of their position, as did Castellio, but from the very beginning of the movement they gave constant witness to their strong convictions on this great principle. It was not only their Biblicism with its desire to follow both the commandments and example of Christ which motivated them, but their fundamental conception of Christianity as a matter of voluntary commitment and free choice, their insistence on love to all as a universal Christian obligation with its corollary of nonviolence and nonresistance, their understanding of suffering as the way of victory or a theology of martyrdom, and their belief that faith is a gift from God and hence impossible to create by compulsion of man.
The place of Anabaptism in the history of religious liberty has been recognized by a few scholars such as Ernst Troeltsch, Johannes Kühn, and Rufus M. Jones, but it has as yet not been brought out in sufficient clarity and strength to become a part of the commonly accepted understanding of the development of toleration, although certainly all who are at all seriously conversant with Anabaptist history are aware of the general Anabaptist position. It must be admitted that the break-through to religious liberty and toleration in Western Europe was due primarily to other forces, but the Anabaptists were the prophets before their time, the pioneers who had to raise their voices in a wilderness, who had to go counter to the entire spirit of their age, the 16th century. Professor Walther Kohler of Heidelberg declared that "they dare to claim a place in history as the pioneers (Bahnbrecher) of the modern world view with its freedom of conscience and freedom of faith." Ernst Troeltsch says, "All this [i.e., toleration, liberty, the rise of the modern free man, etc., in England] is not actually the work of Protestantism, but rather the work of a revived Anabaptism and Spiritualism (merged with a radicalized Calvinism), which thus received a belated compensation for the boundless suffering which this religion of toleration and personal convincement of conscience endured at the hands of all the confessions in the 16th century. Here the stepchildren of the Reformation finally enjoyed their great historical hour." Bradford Smith in his biography, Bradford & Plymouth (1951), does not hesitate to identify the Pilgrim libertarian tradition which ultimately won out over Puritan authoritarianism in New England as essentially Dutch and Anabaptist in character.
Out of the fullness of material cited in H. S. Bender's "The Anabaptist and Religious Liberty in the Sixteenth Century" (MQR XXIX, 1955, 83-100) the following typical statements are here cited. Conrad Grebel in the letter to Thomas Müntzer (1524) wrote: "The Gospel and its adherents are not to be protected by the sword, nor are they thus to protect themselves." Felix Manz, in Zürich court records of 1525 and 1526, admitted teaching that those of other faiths are to be left undisturbed in their practice. Balthasar Hubmaier in his four-page pamphlet Concerning Heretics and Their Burning (January 1524), which is called the first Protestant declaration for religious freedom, said, "So it follows that the slayers of heretics are the worst heretics of all, in that they, contrary to Christ's teaching and practice, condemn heretics to the fire." Hans Denck (1527) said, "Everyone should know that in matters of faith everyone should proceed as free, voluntary, and uncompelled." Kilian Aurbacher of Moravia wrote in a letter to Bucer in Strasbourg (1534): "It is never right to compel one in matters of faith, whatever he may believe, be he Jew or Turk. . . . And thus we conduct ourselves according to the example of Christ and the apostles and proclaim the Gospel according to the grace that He has entrusted to us; we compel no one. . . . That this then also is an open truth, that Christ's people are a free, unforced, and uncompelled people, who receive Christ with desire and a willing heart, of this the Scriptures testify." An appeal of the Zürich Anabaptists to the Zürich Council of 1589 asserts that "the state authorities have no place in the church of God, no right to control and persecute the conscience, and that this principle is one which they, the Swiss Brethren, have recently proved out of Scripture." Heinrich Bullinger, in his magnum opus against the Swiss Brethren, Der Widertoufferen Ursprung (1560), sets forth clearly and emphatically the Anabaptist belief in freedom of conscience, tries to refute it point by point, and defends the Zürich policy of intolerance and persecution. Among other things he charges that they asserted, "One cannot and should not use force to compel anyone to accept the faith, for faith is a free gift of God." Menno Simons said, "Say, good reader, where have you, in all the days of your life, read in the apostolic Scriptures that Christ or the apostles have called upon the power of the magistracy against those who would not hear their doctrine or obey their words" (726) ? "Faith is a gift of God. ... It cannot be thrust upon a man by external force or by the sword" (605). The Hutterite Chronicle (in section written before 1542) says: "Faith is not to be compelled but is a gift from God." These testimonies are typical and could be multiplied from many sources.
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Bainton, R. H. The Development and Consistency of Luther's Attitude to Religious Liberty. Cambridge, 1929.
Bainton, R. H. The Travail of Religious Liberty. Philadelphia, 1951.
Bates, M. S. Religious Liberty; an Inquiry. New York, 1945.
Bender, H. S. "The Anabaptists and Religious Liberty in the Sixteenth Century." Mennonite Quarterly Review XXIX (1955): 83-100.
Bender, H. S. "The Anabaptists and Religious Liberty in the Sixteenth Century." Archiv fur Reformationsgeschichte 44 (1953): 32-50.
Bluntschli. Geschichte der Rechte der religiosen Bekennlnisfreiheit. 1867.
Bullinger, H. Der Widertoufferen Ursprung, Furgang, Secten, Wasen, furnemen und ge-meine irer leer Artickel. Zürich, 1560.
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Hamel, Walter. "Bekenntnisfreiheit." Zeitschrift für die gesammte Staatswissenschaft (1953): 54-77, which treats of Anabaptist and Schwenckfelder objections to state-imposed religious formulations advocated by Brenz, Bucer, and Capito.
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Bender, Harold S. (1959). Religious Liberty. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 April 2019, from http://gameo.org/index.php?title=Religious_Liberty&oldid=146697.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, pp. 291-293, 1147. All rights reserved.
This page was last modified on 16 January 2017, at 07:34.


The Clio RS 200 EDC has a 197bhp 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine that drives the front wheels through the six-speed 'Efficient Dual Clutch' gearbox that lends this model its initialised suffix, alternatively if you want a bit more overall power there is 217bhp RS 220 Trophy available too.
The powertrain difference from the previous Clio couldn't be more marked. Offered with a six-speed manual only, its 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine wanted revs to give results and it produced its 197bhp power peak at 7250rpm. This time around, peak power arrives by 6000rpm and, significantly, peak torque of 177lb ft starts at 1750rpm.
The chassis – a steel monocoque – is more familiar. It's a five-door-only, 4062mm-long, conventional supermini shell. There are MacPherson struts at the front and a rear torsion beam. It's available in two settings: standard chassis and the Cup variant.
Our test car was the Cup, which has 3mm lower suspension, 15 percent stiffer springs and a quicker steering rack. Both models have what Renault calls an RS Diff, an electronic differential, although its technical bumf reveals that it works on the brakes rather than through the diff.
It monitors differences between front wheel speeds, and differences between rear wheel speeds, and applies light braking to a spinning front wheel accordingly, without affecting power delivery (thus acting on the differential, which will apportion more power to the outside).
It works independently of the traction and stability control systems, which can be reduced in their intrusion or switched off entirely.


As 2015 enters its second month, video game fans would be wise to prepare themselves for an onslaught of exciting new titles set to release in the coming days. Despite February's title as the year's shortest month, the twenty-eight days February holds provide for a jam packed release window.
From the PlayStation 4 exclusive, The Order: 1886 to the highly anticipated Evolve and The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D, February has a whole lot to offer when it comes to games worth checking out.
The Dynasty Warriors franchise has been around for years, continually bringing fans into the intense action and political turmoil of the classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel. Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires, however, takes the tried and true framework of the series and builds upon it. Featuring improved visuals, tons of additional content and all the trappings of normal Empires versions, Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires is a perfect entry point in the series for those who wish to dive into one of gaming's most enjoyable – if not repetitive – franchises.
Kirby is back in February, showing Wii U owners why pink is powerful in Kirby and the Rainbow Curse. A follow-up to Kirby: Canvas Curse on the Nintendo DS, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse tasks players with guiding the titular character across twenty-eight levels. Stuck in ball form, it's up to the player to draw rainbow colored lines through each stage in order to guide the pink bomber to the end of the level.
Developed by Sequence developer Iridium Studios, There Came an Echo is a real-time strategy game with a very unique twist. Featuring voice controls and a extremely talented vocal cast, There Came an Echo puts a spin on the genre by allowing players to guide and control units by simple and intuitive voice prompts. While not for everyone, the idea of being able to interact with characters simply by speaking is certainly a novel concept.
One of the most interesting games releasing in February, Grow Home takes serious inspiration from animated films such as Wall-E. As BUD, players are tasked with exploring the galaxy in an attempt to uncover new flora in order to help oxygenate his home planet. Upon stumbling upon the massive Star Plant, BUD begins his ascent, climbing the ever-changing plant on a quest to reach the top. Featuring procedurally generated animation, providing for a dynamic and changing experience as BUD climbs, pushes and leaps his way to the top of the Star Plant.
Dragon Ball XenoVerse allows players to create their own character and participate in the epic, planet shattering battles that the storied franchise is known for. XenoVerse allows players to become any number of different races including Earthlings, Saiyans and Maijans. In addition to character creation, XenoVerse features a wholly original story, allowing for players to insert themselves into the Dragon Ball experience like never before.
Telltale Games seems to be on a never ending hot streak these days. February brings with it the second episode of the Game of Thrones saga, entitled 'The Lost Lords'. The Lost Lords picks up shortly after the events of Iron from Ice, and focuses on the tragedy and disarray of House Forrester. Drama and action are guaranteed in The Lost Lords, all combined with the emotional storytelling that Telltale Games has built a reputation upon.
One of the most polarizing video games set to release in 2015, The Order: 1886 has been shrouded in mystery since it was first announced. Taking place in an alternate history, The Order follows the story of the Knights of the Round Table as they attempt to quell the treat from half-breed monsters. Boasting some of the most impressive visuals seen to date, The Order: 1886 promises to be a visual experience for the ages. Thanks to the game's alternative history, exciting weaponry and intriguing narrative, perhaps cries of repetitive game mechanics and quick time events can be ignored.
The Monster Hunter franchise has long been known as one of gaming's most underappreciated franchises. Vehemently defended by those who have experienced the magic of monster hunting, Monster Hunter has never caught on in the West like it has in Japan. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, however, looks to change this, promising to be the biggest and most inviting title in the franchise yet. With a new focus directed more on adventure and storytelling, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate will surely be a runaway hit when it is finally released in the West this February.
After months of waiting, gamers will finally be able to get their hands on Evolve in February. The asymmetrical multiplayer offering from Turtle Rock Studios has given the gaming world countless reasons to be excited about. Be it from the wide variety of hunters that players can choose from, or the wonderfully designed playable monsters, Evolve has grown quite nicely throughout the past few months. Fans of multiplayer shooters will be sure to enjoy every second (or hour) of Evolve that they are able to sink their teeth into.
Ever since it was announced by Nintendo, the 3D remake of Majora's Mask has been on every gamer's mind. The darkest entry into the Legend of Zelda series, Majora's Mask has been championed by all who have played it since the game's original release on the Nintendo 64. The various improvements and tweaks to the game – including an impressive visual overhaul – are destined to give this perennial classic a resurgence in popularity when it is released in February. For more information regarding Majora's Mask 3D, check out our hands-on preview here.