This is the conclusion of our interview with Dave Tomar, a former essay mill writer, current anti-cheating activist, and author of The Shadow Scholar. Part 1 may be read here.
TURNITIN: You've said in the past, "I've completed entire semesters, academic years, or courses of study for individual students across periods as long as two and three years." How many of these return customers did you have? And how many essays in total did you write for students?
DAVID TOMAR: My best estimate is that I wrote [in total] about 4,000 papers of widely variant length. [As for return customers]: too many to count. Suffice it to say that, for some students, the first paper is a gateway drug. Once you start submitting papers in somebody else's voice—and with somebody else's writing ability—it can be hard to go back to your own work without triggering a few red flags.
TURNITIN: Have you run across any of your ex-customers in real life? What has been the reaction of educators to your narrative?
TOMAR: Not that I know of. Most of my work was done online, and often across great geographical distances.
As for educators, I've gotten the full mix of reactions from shock, anger, and skepticism to bemusement, curiosity, and, in rare cases, awareness. These days, so many years removed from the job, I find that most educators are appreciative that I'm willing to share what I know. It's pretty rare that anybody calls me a scumbag anymore, at least to my face.
TURNITIN: While writing The Shadow Scholar, did you come across any personal epiphanies?
TOMAR: I approached The Shadow Scholar as both an expose on the state of education and as a personal memoir. Any time you reflect on your own life in that kind of detail—sometimes ugly detail—you are bound to learn a few new things about yourself.
For me, it was the realization that I had an obligation to be something better. I could make a semantic argument about how higher education was a sham, how my college ripped me off, how I didn't really feel a lot of guilt defrauding an unfair system. And as a contract cheater, I'd written a million philosophy and political science science papers, so I had the rhetorical means to make these arguments.
But I couldn't argue that I was doing something good, valuable, or worthy of respect. I couldn't argue that I was making the most of my life, or that I was using my abilities to help people who deserved it. I couldn't argue that I was living up to my potential.
You can make a lot of semantic arguments about large systemic failures. Turns out, it's a lot harder to turn the discussion inward. But The Shadow Scholar allowed me to do that, and it allowed me to move on to a better place.
TURNITIN: Have any of your former clients been caught?
TOMAR: Caught? Not necessarily. Ensnared by services like Turnitin? Most definitely. I'll admit that I might have occasionally recycled a passage of my own work. I mean, I wrote like, 100 papers on King Lear, y'know? Sometimes, you've already said it the way you intend to say it, so you might borrow a few of your own sentences from an old paper. That kind of thing is generally against the rules in contract cheating, but it happens.
When it did happen, a student might come back to us and complain (rightfully so) that the essay was dinged for a bunch of copied passages on Turnitin.
Of course, as you know, this doesn't necessarily amount to being caught. It's just one strand of evidence. Often, students are given the benefit of the doubt that these limited instances of copied material are mere citation errors. They may even get the chance to fix it, which means we, at the essay mill, would also get a chance to fix it. We would do so free of charge.
TURNITIN: What would your response be to someone complaining about their grade?
In such cases, we could also point our customers to a link on our company website outlining these terms in dense and official-sounding legalese. This is the default position for most "legitimate" essay mills.
TURNITIN: For what university students did you often write?
TOMAR: I can't say for certain because this information was not a standard detail for each essay order. It wasn't necessary to tell us what university you attended. Sometimes though, the information was self-evident through course materials, syllabi and, in some instances, because I would literally be provided with a student's username and password so that I could access digital library materials, chat boards, or lesson modules.
TURNITIN: What were the most frequent types of essays?
TOMAR: Impossible to say. They ran the gamut—position papers, research essays, legal briefs, college application essays, weekly class discussion responses, graduate dissertations. Every day was a grab-bag of assignment types. I'd usually do between 2 and 4 papers a day, depending on length and general workload, and they could be in any format, and on any topic.
TURNITIN: Do you have empathy for students who participate in contract cheating?
TOMAR: Sometimes. There were those who clearly lacked the necessarily linguistic skills to write, whether it was because English wasn't their first language or because they simply hadn't been given adequate instruction in high school. And yet, my customers were in college, even grad school.
Without getting into the ethics, I can tell you that many of my customers were simply in way over their heads. You could feel the desperation, even fear. Mostly, you could sense that they really believed they had no other options beyond failing out and losing whatever they'd invested in their education to that point.
TURNITIN: What advice do you have for teachers dealing with contract cheating?
Students to feel disconnected enough from you as an educator to deceive you without remorse.
If you build relationships with your students, you should be able to identify those that are in over their heads, and show them that they have other options. You can identify discrepancies between a student's writing and other dimensions of their performance. You can create a strong personal relationship that makes it a lot harder for a student to look you in the eye and claim credit for somebody else's work.
TURNITIN: What do you think the practice of contract cheating says about the culture of higher education institutions and the value of an education?
TOMAR: Cash Rules Everything Around Me. That was my attitude in college, and it was the attitude that allowed me to work as a contract cheater for a decade.
When I graduated from college and started to repay my loans, I was left with a sense that I'd been hoodwinked; that this big, expensive piece of paper was not necessarily worth what I'd spent; that I was just one more schmo in a big sea of undergraduate degree holders with a lot of debt and entry-level career prospects.
I could also see the stratification of our higher education system more clearly than ever. Higher education costs a fortune, and the more you have to spend, the better your prospects. Once you've piled up the expenses of tuition, housing, books, and logo-bearing merchandise, what's a few hundred, or even a few thousand dollars more for papers from an essay mill?
Contract cheating is a symptom of a pay-to-play system, a higher education landscape so bloated with overpriced degree programs and student debts that paying for papers is just another pragmatic educational expense.
We want to thank Dave Tomar for being so forthcoming about his work as an essay mill writer. We also thank him for using his past knowledge to enforce academic integrity today.
Posted on the Turnitin Blog on 5 February, 2019. To read more great stories visit our blog.


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TIME's Richard Corliss updates our All-TIME 100 list of the greatest films made since 1923 — the beginning of TIME — with 20 new entries
prevnextView All
By Richard Corliss Jan. 13, 2010
Director: Stanley Donen
Cast: Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Walter Matthau, James Coburn
Get This Movie
The great movie-star man, Cary Grant, meets the great movie-star lady, Audrey Hepburn, in a souffle-light thriller-romance-comedy whipped up by Donen, who did blithe American elegance as well as anyone, and writers Marc Behm and Peter Stone. Audrey is a Parisian thief's widow, now in ignorant possession of his loot, and Cary is a mystery man with a protective or pernicious interest in her. Walter Matthau plays an avuncular type over at the U.S. Treasury office, and James Coburn, George Kennedy and Ned Glass are bad guys whose consecutive demises were considered quite violent for the time. If Charade doesn't allow the divine Audrey to reveal the aristocratic ache on sublime display in Sabrina (and, frankly, that film is missing from this list only because it would have meant a third Billy Wilder film), it exhibits the seemingly effortless buoyancy that, by the 60s, Hollywood had almost forgotten how to radiate.
Next Children of Paradise
Behind the List
That Old Feeling: Secrets of the All-Time 100
Aguirre: The Wrath of God
The Apu Trilogy
Bride of Frankenstein
Chungking Express
Closely Watched Trains
The Crime of Monsieur Lange
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
Dodsworth (1936)
Dr. Strangelove: or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Drunken Master II
E.T. The Extra Terrestrial
The 400 Blows
Farewell My Concubine
The Godfather, Parts I and II
A Hard Day's Night
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
It's A Gift
It's a Wonderful Life
Léolo
The Man with a Movie Camera
Mon oncle d'Amérique
N - P
Nayakan
Ninotchka
Olympia, Parts 1 and 2
The Purple Rose of Cairo
Pyaasa
Sherlock, Jr.
Singin' in the Rain
The Singing Detective
Smiles of a Summer Night
Swing Time
Tokyo Story
A Touch of Zen
Ulysses' Gaze
Umberto D
Wings of Desire
Great Performances
Marlon Brando, On the Waterfront
James Cagney, White Heat
Faye Dunaway, Chinatown
Cary Grant, Notorious
Barbara Stanwyck, Double Indemnity
Jean Renoir, The Rules of the Game
Raj Kapoor, Awara
Judy Holliday, Bells Are Ringing
Bill Murray, Groundhog Day
Brigitte Lin, Swordsman II
Gone With the Wind, 1939, Victor Fleming, U.S.
Tenth Avenue Angel, 1949, Roy Rowland, U.S.
Sailor Beware, 1951, Hal Walker, U.S.
Diabolique (Les Diaboliques), 1955, Henri-Georges Clouzot, France
School Girl, 1971, David Reberg, U.S
There's Something About Mary,1998, Bobby and Peter Farrelly, U.S.
Anatomy of a Murder, 1959, Otto Preminger, U.S.
Gun Crazy, 1949, Joseph H. Lewis, U.S.
The Incredible Shrinking Man, 1957, Jack Arnold, U.S.
Joe Versus the Volcano, 1990, John Patrick Shanley, U.S.
10 Best Soundtracks
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers at RKO
The Man With the Golden Arm
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
Your Thoughts About TIME's ALL-TIME 100 Movie List

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


educing waste has become a hot-button topic. Some people embrace the mission, while others don't understand why it is important. Zero waste living is about more than just recycling! It's about finding quick-and-easy ways to lower your impact on the planet by tossing less in the trash.
It's about drawing less on natural resources, producing less carbon emissions, and sending less toxic objects to landfills and oceans around the world. By using these simple iPhone apps, you can throw less away and help make a brighter and healthier future for generations to come.
ple in your area to items that others are looking to give away.
No more leaving things out by the curb hoping someone will see them and pick them up. With this app, you'll have an entire community of people who can benefit from the items you no longer need or want. You never know how those items could impact someone else out there! If you are spring cleaning, decluttering, or just looking to downsize, you can use Freecycle to avoid putting all those items in a landfill.
For any of you trying to monitor your waste, you know how overwhelming junk mail can be.
It's stuff that you have never asked for and yet it somehow becomes your problem to deal with. Recycling is great, but it still consumes energy and produces toxins. If you want to avoid all of that from the very start, PaperKarma is a great choice. This unique app helps you eliminate waste you never intended to create in the first place by unsubscribing you from junk mail.
Just snap a pic of flyers, mailers, and paper products with the app, and PaperKarma will take you off their mailing lists.
read a book it's headed for recycling, donation, or the trash.
So if you only need a book for a short time, never plan to read it again, and don't think you'll pass it on to someone else, just download it via Kindle. You don't even need a Kindle device to use the service. You can download the app to almost any smartphone, tablet, or computer.


For most people, the words art and beauty are simply subjective terms that describe that which is pleasing to the aesthetic sense of the beholder. However, these words hold a special meaning for those who are experts in the medical discipline of plastic surgery. Some people draw straight divisions between art and science, medicine and beauty; erroneously believing that they are two distinct realms with nothing in common. Plastic surgeons however are every bit artistic as they are scientific.
Cosmetic surgery, whether elective or reconstructive is a discipline that fuses these two realms into one cohesive experience.
How then, can surgeons consider themselves as artists?
As the prominent art professor Sir Ernst Gombrich once noted, We all like beauty in nature This assertion that nature contains inherent beauty is precisely how plastic surgeons functions as artists. The doctors primary function is to become an architect of beauty in the human form, elevating it to the natural state of beauty.
Of course, most artists possess vision and surgeons are no exception. They must be exacting in their procedures and clear in their direction. By contrast, most artists do not operate under the severe spatial restrictions encountered by doctors. Those who paint have a wall or a canvas or a bit of clay. Plastic surgeons very often operate through miniscule incisions and must visualize obscured anatomical features.
The human body has been the object of artistic beauty for millennium.
From cave paintings to the Sistine Chapel; from stone the sculpture of David to the performance art of Broadway; humans have searched for a unique artistic expression of their singular humanness. Plastic surgery seeks to find this expression. Surgeons constantly mold flesh and bone, skin and structure, organs and systems to achieve the symmetry and functionality inherent within each person. And, because each person is a different canvas, each surgery is a unique process.
For the patient, their expectations can be realized through the vision and precise performance of the surgeons art. For the patient, a new face, a new body, or the correction of a defect can mean a new existence of natural beauty.


It's time to knuckle yer knibbles and join this team here if ye want to live!
If ya are related to a Fap Jack, ye will be thrown overboard!
This is a NA team with decent plans.
We have 4 demo's, a medic, and a soldier.
Sync and Jaja are the subs.


Over the holiday weekend, I went to go see the new Jumanji film. I was a little apprehensive because this film took a different approach to the original fantasy adventure film that was based on a board game.
The original film made its debut in 1995 and was based on the 1981 children's book of the same name. The film featured stars like the late Robin Williams, David Alan Grier, Kirsten Dunst and more.
Fast forward to 2017, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is set in current day. The nerds and popular kids are put together due to detention, but find themselves working together to free themselves from the video game version of Jumanji.
The film was better than I thought it was going to be. Kevin Hart and Jack Black's humor complimented the quirkiness of their counterparts. The Rock did pretty good with playing the avatar of a nerdy teen.
One thing that was interesting to me is that the backstory for Jumanji was completely different from the original film. There was no mention of the other characters or the origin. The writers chose to give it a different starting point with a different character who was stuck in the game for 20 years.
It's definitely worth seeing especially with your family.


A New York Times bestseller! The star of Animal Planet's hit television series My Cat from Hell, Jackson Galaxy, shows cat owners everywhere how to make their homes both cat-friendly and chic.
Cat owners know the struggles of creating living spaces that are both functional and stylish for owner and cat. Don't just go to your local pet shop and adorn your home with unattractive cat towers and kitty beds. In Catification, Jackson Galaxy, the star of Animal Planet's My Cat from Hell, and Kate Benjamin, of the popular cat design website Hauspanther.com, walk readers through a step-by-step process of designing an attractive home that is also an optimal environment for cats.
This gorgeously designed, full-color book includes more than twenty fun DIY projects, from kitty beds and litter boxes to catios (cat patios) that will be sure to make readers—and their cats—purr in approval.
Jackson Galaxy is a cat behaviorist and the host of Animal Planet's hit show My Cat from Hell. He is also the author of Cat Daddy: What the World's Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love, and Coming Clean.
Kate Benjamin is the founder of the popular cat design website Hauspanther.com. She makes frequent guest appearances on My Cat from Hell, helping Jackson Galaxy create stylish cat-friendly environments.
When I started out my life working with animals, around 1993, it was at a shelter in Boulder, Colorado. Within weeks of realizing that the cats had something they wanted to tell me, the other staff members seemed to smell a cat person in their presence. They immediately christened me "Catboy," and put me on the job of decoding everything about cats for everybody. Good thing I was up for the challenge.
Back then, the sense of cats being "other" from humans was clearly prevalent. I mean, if shelter workers were scratching their heads about cat behavior, imagine what the rest of the world was thinking (or not). As a matter of fact, as my knowledge base grew and I refined my techniques, I branched out to other shelters to find the same desperately inquisitive population. You will never find a more compassionate lot than those who dedicate their lives to caring for homeless animals. That said, we were in dire straits. We were labeling as "unadoptable" cats who were acting out from a place that not enough people understood. In the reality of that time, "unadoptable" meant "euthanized." If that didn't give Catboy a sense of urgency, nothing would.
Of course, that sense of aesthetic panic on the part of my clients panicked me. It wasn't just a matter of not wanting a litter box in the living room; it symbolized a lack of true empathy toward, and an investment in, love for cats. We could easily bear the notion of spreading dog blankets, toys, dishes, beds and stinky rawhides around our house. We wouldn't ask to hide our dogs' existence any more than we would try to hide our children. In the meantime, cats, and the smallest perceptible evidence that they actually lived in our homes, rode squarely in the back of the domestic bus.
In the ensuing twenty years, I've been privileged to witness the cat renaissance; those that were considered "other"—alien, aloof, more furniture than family—are enjoying a surge in popularity like no other time in their "domesticated" history. We hungrily devour cat memes, watch cat videos by the tens of millions (even creating celebrities out of those video cats) and, thankfully for those of us in the rescue community, adopt them in record numbers. The animal that for tens of thousands of years enjoyed a great reputation as a working animal—controlling rodents on farms, for instance—has become a bona fide companion.
A truly amazing bonus to being seen as a companion is that under the surface we are asking not only what we can do for cats to make their lives better, but we are acknowledging what they do for us. Cats are now seen by millions as supportive family members, bearers of unconditional love. We better understand that cats don't show love and devotion like dogs do, and so we invest in the time needed to learn a new language.
You may think of Catfication as a design book; it is so much more than that. In the same way that our refusal to add litter boxes symbolized cat shame, what you will see in this book symbolizes cat love. It doesn't illustrate what lengths "those crazy cat people" will go to, but rather the maturation of us as humans. At the very core of my belief system is the knowledge that a meaningful relationship with the animal world completes us as humans. The concept of "dominion," of a natural order of things that has us dominating cats with an iron fist and without regard to their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, is simply an old way of thinking. I jokingly say that successfully living with cats relies on your ability to compromise. Learning the language of cats, and changing up our environment to accommodate them, to me, is a symbol of our evolution, as it demonstrates our willingness, on a deep level, to compromise for the sake of an animal's happiness.
And where does that leave us? In a pretty good place.
I hope you believe that what you hold in your hands is something far beyond a design book. It's a celebration. A home that proudly advertises that you care about your own comfort as well as that of your animal companions is beautiful to some, but for shelter workers, rescuers, foster parents, and others, it's a moment to shed a tear of gratitude. Cats have cleared a significant hurdle in their timeline. And make no mistake, that timeline has been a rough one. Does Catification mean that we're on our way to becoming like the ancient Egyptians, deifying and burying cats alongside our human family members? Maybe not. Elevating cats, however, means we care not only about the ones in our homes, but all of them. We are beginning to care—not just on the lunatic fringe but across the human spectrum—about whether they live or die. And that means more will live. Soon, millions fewer every year will die. And that makes it a good time to be the Catboy.
A friendly greeter at the front door. A fuzzy bed warmer on a cold night. A purring companion curled up on your lap. Living with cats gives us a certain pleasure no other animal companion can provide. Cats are elegant, intelligent, loving creatures that have entered our homes and our hearts. In return for what they give us, we, as responsible cat guardians, must provide them with the things they need to live in a happy, healthy, safe, and stimulating environment.
Keeping cats indoors is the best way to ensure they live long, healthy lives. Yes, cats have natural instincts, such as climbing and hunting, which can be fulfilled when they go outside, but the dangers far outweigh the benefits. Outdoor cats face threats from cars, poisons, being trapped or locked in places they shouldn't be, fights with other outdoor animals, and further unthinkable outcomes. We're here to tell you that you can (and should) keep your beloved feline family members safely indoors, and that you can easily give them all the things they need to thrive. That is what Catification is all about.
The Catification process starts by understanding how your cat sees the world. Consider yourself the designer and your cat, your client. It's your responsibility to understand your client's needs and preferences. We introduce you to the concept of "cat mojo" in this book, giving you all the tools you need so you can think (and more important, feel) like your feline.
In Part 1, we first show you how cats in general are hardwired to see their environment. Then we help you discover your own cat's specific preferences. Armed with this new information, you will be inspired to enhance your cat's environment to accommodate his or her likes and dislikes, encourage positive behaviors, and discourage negative ones.
Part 2 offers a full range of project ideas and inspiration for creating a well-designed and cat-friendly home that provides your cat with the stimulation he or she needs in a way that makes you happy, too. Please don't think you have to cover everything in your house with beige carpet to Catify! That is definitely not the case. You can live with a cat and still have a home you are proud to show off. Catification comes in every style; it just takes a little inspiration and creativity.
Catification doesn't have to be a huge undertaking. It can be as simple as rearranging some furniture. We show you a variety of projects, including many that are easy and inexpensive. We hope you will find something to inspire you at the level where you are comfortable—whatever your skill or budget.
Catification has immediate and obvious benefits for both you and your cat. Many behavior problems can be reduced or even eliminated with the introduction of certain environmental enhancements. Catification is essential, whether you have one cat or several, but in a multi-cat household, it is especially critical. It's the only way to keep the peace among multiple cats living in the same home. Environmental enhancements give everyone the space they need to coexist and live peacefully, even in a very small living space. Catified homes can reduce stress levels for all occupants—human, feline, canine, etc. Lowering stress can reduce health problems and even increase life expectancy, for everybody.
Ultimately, if your cat is happier, you will be happier, too, and the bond between you will deepen.
It is our hope that the information and ideas in this book will inspire more people to bring cat companions into their homes and their lives. We are facing an enormous pet overpopulation problem in the United States, and cats more frequently suffer the consequences than any other animal. We feel Catification is one of the key factors in changing this trend. If cat guardians can understand how their cats see the world and make the necessary changes to accommodate those preferences, more cats will stay in happy forever homes, and fewer will be sent to shelters or, worse, outside to fend for themselves.
Opening your heart and your home to a cat companion (or two!) is one of the most rewarding things you can do.
Cats are hardwired to see the world a certain way. If you take the time to understand your cat's perspective, it will be much easier to Catify your home. Of course, every cat is different, and we get to that in an upcoming chapter, but first, let's put on our cat glasses and take a look at how and why cats see their environment the way they do.
If you strip away all the trappings of the modern domestic housecat—the fancy beds, the cushy lifestyle, the food on demand—what's left is the Raw Cat, essentially a wild animal who is a dedicated, carnivorous hunter, and an animal positioned firmly in the middle of the food chain; in other words, every one of his or her senses is honed as both predator and prey. The Raw Cat always has one eye open—whether hunting, securing resources, defending his or her territory, or even sleeping and eliminating. It's all done with the sharpened senses of kill or be killed. Watch your cat come to life as he spots a moth on the ceiling or a bird outside the window—that's the Raw Cat engaging prey. Observe your cat's eyes, ears, and musculature as she sees another cat enter the room—that's the Raw Cat preparing and executing a friend-or-foe kind of threat assessment of her territory. These are the behaviors responsible for the successful propagation of the species for tens of thousands of years.
"If you have cats, you need this book. Galaxy, star of the television series My Cat from Hell and author of Cat Daddy, along with Benjamin, founder of the cat design website hauspanther.com, show in over 400 color photographs myriad ways to make your home cat-friendly without looking like a crazy cat person. Best Interior Design Book of 2014."
"Catification is user friendly, includes photos and diagrams and some truly inspirational ideas. Whether you share your home with one cat or ten, Catification: Designing a Happy and Stylish Home for Your Cat (and you!), is a must have. There are design ideas for every budget and every skill level. FIVE STARS (out of five)."
"A joy. . . . Sometimes the biggest stories are actually the smallest ones—one man, one cat, and a quiet love that was large enough to save them both."
"This book is no ordinary cat memoir, nor is it an ordinary cat advice book. It is an inspirational tour de force that offers an intimate glimpse of Jackson, the man, and Jackson, the Cat Daddy."
"Mr. Galaxy—shaved head, arms full of tattoos—seems physically at odds with his gentle voice and gentle approach to animals. . . . But though he may be dealing with humans who have been terrorized and even bloodied by their out-of-control pets, he's a model of consistency. The cats, not the people, are his No. 1 priority."
Galaxy, star of the television series My Cat from Hell and author of Cat Daddy, along with Benjamin, founder of the cat design website hauspanther.com, show in over 400 color photographs myriad ways to make your home cat-friendly without looking like a crazy cat person. Galaxy explains feline behavior and how to evaluate your cat's personality. Four examples taken from My Cat from Hell show how Galaxy approached his clients' and their cats' needs. Benjamin emphasizes the ways to accommodate cats, offering fashionable examples of her own designs as well as photos of home interiors submitted to her website by cat guardians from around the world. Included are close to 20 projects, some as simple as wrapping sisal rope around a table leg, but others requiring more do-it-yourself skills. VERDICT If you have cats, you need this book.
Catification: Designing a Happy and Stylish Home for Your Cat (and You!) 5 out of 5 based on 0 ratings. 2 reviews.
So many ways to increase your cat's confidence and range of motion in your home. Wish I were as talented as some of the contributors. If I were my cat I'd move to one of these places!
This book is full of information about making life with your cat the best for both of you. Jackson has insight into how kitty feels, and a lot of research went into presenting information in a fun way. There is so much to learn here, even if you are an experienced pet parent. This one deserves a second read after you make attractive changes in your home. Have fun with the book and your furry friends.


Tiny Love Gymini® 2-in-1 playmat with adjustable arches for more play modes. A world of wonder awaits! Part of the Tiny Princess Tales™ Collection. Development has never looked so adorable!
Tiny Love® presents Tiny Princess Tales™ - Gymini Deluxe - A world of wonder awaits!


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Home Bitcoin Singaporean crypto exchange enters India amid regulatory uncertainty
Singaporean crypto exchange enters India amid regulatory uncertainty
Despite India's unpredictable stance on cryptocurrency, Singapore-based crypto exchange Coinstore has committed a $20 million fund to open three new offices in the Indian cities of Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai.
Coinstore has announced the launch of its web and app platform in India for spot and futures trading, opening up a new avenue of cryptocurrency investments for Indian investors. The platform requires KYC verification before users can buy and sell more than 50 cryptocurrencies.
Referring to Coinstore's goal of facilitating the adoption and trading of cryptocurrencies, co-founder Jennifer Low said:
"We are really excited to launch our app in India, as more than 20% of our active users are from India, we have decided to start local operations to fully support our Indian users."
In addition to the plan to open offices in India, Coinstore also announced 100 immediate local openings for customer support, marketing and operations. According to Lou:
"The $20 million fund for India expansion will be used primarily for marketing, hiring talent, and developing crypto-related products and services for the Indian market."
On the topic: Cryptocurrency prices drop in India after the announcement of the crypto bill
India's parliament has announced that it will introduce 26 new bills in the winter session, including a crypto bill that aims to ban private cryptocurrencies when creating an official digital currency.
While the bill has yet to clarify the meaning of the word "private," the announcement triggered a temporary phase of panic selling on crypto exchange WazirX. As a result of the massive sale, the price of Bitcoin (BTC) fell by 14.8% on the exchange within two hours.
Previous articleTech transformation: Don Tapscott's 'Platform Revolution' book review
Next articleUK digital services tax targets crypto exchanges
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Bittersweet Game Design -- The 'What' - by Thais Weiller
When fun is not enough.
Bittersweet Game Design - by Thais Weiller
Designing for Humans - by Caleb Compton
When designing a game it can be easy to get distracted and lose sight of what games are all about - the players. This article looks at the relationship between games and people and why one cannot exist without the other.
Leveraging Tech at the Table
The Obvious: Distraction
I know a few (probably more than a few) GMs who don't want or allow technology at their table. That's their call, and I urge players to respect it. This is because devices, especially those with online capability, can lead to distractions in the form of text messages, phone calls, social media, web browsing, and watching funny cat videos. I get it. I really do.
However, there is a place and time for technology at the table. If you, as a player, have a GM that doesn't want technology at the table, build a case for streamlined play, quick rule lookups, online tools/utilities, electronic character builders/sheets, and easy-to-reach references. If they still don't relent, respect their desires and move on.
Having said all that, let's assume technology is allowed at the table and explore its extensive capabilities and uses.
Technology and Limitations
For the purposes of this article, I'm going to use the word "technology" quite a bit. What I'm referring to here are the portable electronic devices most of us carry everyday. This will include laptops, tablets, smart phones, and the like. I'm mainly going to focus on using a tablet, though.
This is because I find smart phones too clunky for smooth use at the table when information is needed on-demand. Character sheets are too small (or require massive pinch-zooming and swipe-scrolling) to effectively make use of. PDFs can be read on smart phones, but when you're reading half a paragraph per screen, it's not that speedy. Also, taking notes on a smart phone just isn't efficient. I have a hard time composing a tweet in any reasonable amount of time on my phone, let alone trying to capture the rapid-fire events of what's going on at the table. Of course, you may be a world-class typist on your phone, so give it a whirl.
On the flip-side, laptops tend to be too large and consume tons of table space, especially if someone lugs out their massive 17-inch gaming laptop. They can't easily be set aside and then pulled back out for quick reference. They're great for note taking because of the keyboard, but doing dynamic notes (like maps) on a laptop is still problematic unless you have a touchscreen variant.
In the middle-ground between smart phones and laptops exist, of course, tablets. They're great. They lie flat on the table, don't take up tons of room on the table, and can be set aside or propped against a chair leg when space is needed. Tablets also have the same advantage of laptops with a larger screen allowing for easy reading of rulebook PDFs, interacting with electronic character sheets, and taking notes in a document, especially if you have a stylus or other writing device that works with your table.
For the remainder of this article, I'm going to dive into details about how I use a tablet and stylus at the table. I currently have a an 11-inch iPad Pro and use an Apple Pencil. The screenshots I'm going to throw your way come from an app called GoodNotes 5. I also use an app called GoodReader for viewing, bookmarking, and annotating PDFs. With these bits of technology and just these two apps, I can do everything I need at the table as a player or GM. I still keep a small notepad and pencil nearby for passing notes when appropriate. Oh. Dice. Yeah. Lots and lots of dice are part of my kit, but that's not the point of this article.
For you Android/Microsoft users, I apologize for focusing on Apple products here. I don't like recommending or pointing people to apps or hardware that I have no experience with in case I lead them astray. I'm certain there are options out there for Android and Microsoft tablets, styluses, and applications that can perform in a similar fashion to what I do here. A search along the lines of "GoodReader for Android table" or "GoodNotes for Microsoft Surface" might lead you in the right direction.
When I can, I buy the PDFs of rulebooks. This is because my days of carrying 150+ pounds (no exaggeration) of books with me to the FLGS are over. I'm tired of doing that, and my back isn't getting any younger. Where I can't find legal PDFs, I suck it up and lug the books, but this article is about electronics, not calisthenics with a bag o' books.
GoodReader is my application of choice for reading and marking up PDFs. It's fast to load even the largest books. In my current campaign, I'm a player in a game of Astonishing Swordsmen and Sorcerers of Hyperborea. The PDF is 68 megabytes in size. Not small, but I've seen bigger. If I don't have the PDF open, it takes about 5 seconds to load. Once loaded, page transitions and scrolling through the document is rapid-fire fast. It can also have multiple PDFs open at once in tabbed layout like in your web browser. That's super handy for leaping between multiple source materials.
There is also a bookmark feature where you can save links to pages that are frequently referenced, and if the bookmark is properly outlined with an electronic table of contents, then the outline feature comes in very handy.
Here are some screenshots with captions about what the various functions do:
GoodReader Toolbar
GoodReader Outline View
GoodReader Bookmark View
GoodReader Search Feature
For my handwritten notes, I use GoodNotes 5. Version 4 was great, but the upgrade to version 5 is a whole new world of note taking! I use it at the table, during classes, at conferences, and anywhere else I need to scribble something down for later review or sharing.
GoodNotes comes with a wide variety of "backgrounds." Of course, I go with the gridded background for all RPG notes even when I'm not mapping. It helps me align the notes and indentations and such as I go. For mapping, the obvious choice is the gridded background. Another fantastic feature is that you can use a PDF as a "background." Just import the PDF and start writing on it. The "eraser" feature won't delete the PDF text/lines because it's the background. This allows me to import the PDF version of a game's character sheet and just use my iPad for the character sheet as well. This importing of a PDF as a background also works great for your GM maps. This allows you to take notes on the maps and highlight areas without worrying about accidentally erasing or messing up the original map.
GoodNotes, like GoodReader, allows multiple files to be open at once in a tabbed interface. In addition to being able to track notes, maps, and character stats on the fly, I can export the files to PDF format and save it on a cloud drive for sharing with the rest of the group between sessions. This is a fantastic feature since I track the campaign notes, treasure gained, maps, and my character in GoodNotes.
The main features I like about GoodNotes is the different line widths and colors available for the pen. I can also highlight in different colors. The eraser tool is handy when my handwriting gets super messy or I misplace a door on the map and need to redraw it. There is also a lasso tool that allows you to select an area and then drag 'n' drop it or cut/copy/paste it to another page or elsewhere on the same page. If you're into type-written notes, but still want the ability to draw lines between text boxes to link things together, you can do that too.
Here are some screenshots of files I've created in GoodNotes, so you can get a flavor of what they look like. I apologize for the horrid handwriting, but I want you to see the different pen colors, highlighter colors, and so on.
GoodNotes Toolbar
GoodNotes Notes
GoodNotes Map
GoodNotes Character Sheet
What Do You Use?
What technology do you use at your in-person games? Let us, and your fellow readers, know what you have in your hands!
Fuzzy Thinking: Summon Hot Tub
We need a hot tub on tax day.
Video Game Deep Cuts: Falcon Scores Weed, Needs Vacation
This week's roundup includes intriguing debuts from Falcon Age and Vacation Simulator, a historical tour of The Division's New York, the trickiness of marketing your weed tycoon game & more. ...
Video Game Deep Cuts: Falcon Scores Weed, Needs Vacation - by Simon Carless
This week's roundup includes intriguing debuts from Falcon Age and Vacation Simulator, a historical tour of The Division's New York, John Romero's finishing of the DOOM saga, the trickiness of marketing your weed tycoon game, & heaps more besides.
Video: Practical advice for saving video game history before it's too late
The current state of commercial video game preservation is in rough shape, but there's something developers can do to help. ...
Xbox exec: Game streaming competitors like Stadia lack content
†œEmerging competitors like Google have a cloud infrastructure, a community with YouTube, but they don†™t have the content,†Â argues Microsoft's Xbox marketing head. ...
In lieu of Store-hosted forums, Epic wants devs to link to external communities
Epic's Tim Sweeney says the company is encouraging developers to link to external communities on a game's Epic Games Store page rather than host entirely new forum on its own store. ...
Motivate player for better engagement and retention - by Daniel Berube
Whether you developing AAA games or mobile games, you know that you need a strong motivation system to engage and retain your users. Retention is a key metric for free to play games and this article will give you hints and trick to successfully achieve it
Das Geisterschiff Postmortem - by Romanus Surt
Official Postmortem for Das Geisterschiff, a survival horror adventure dungeon crawler and the first game by Graverobber Foundation.
Resource Manager and Object Pooling in Unity - by Anton Semchenko
An object pooling and resource managing pattern (no "Resources" folder is involved).
Tough Questions to Improve Your Leadership - by Richard Atlas
"Tough Questions to Improve Your Leadership" is the name of a talk I gave at GDC this year. Along with the talk, there was a handout with questions that the audience could ponder about their leadership. This post is about the talk and those questions!
Kliuless #31: Gamer Motivations Deep Dive - by Kenneth Liu
Dive into the depths of the fog - by Jussi-Petteri Kemppainen
Creating a retro-futuristic silhouetted look for a tactical combat game
Superhero Games and Stories
DC Universe is letting me watch the old Justice League series too…
Recently, I signed up for DC Universe, primarily so I could watch the new season of Young Justice, but I've also taken advantage of all the DC animated movies available on the streaming service. There's also an excitement in the air related to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, what with Captain Marvel having come out last month and Avengers: End Game arriving in just a couple weeks. It's made me think quite a bit about superheroes and gaming.
Anyone who's gamed with me for any length of time knows I love superheroes and their games. In recent years, I developed a reputation for running Masks at cons, and my regular group often asks me to pick up the GM cape once more and run a supers game for them. Heck, the very first campaign I ever ran was a Mutants & Masterminds campaign.
I already have my tickets…
Thing is, superhero stories are not this monolithic, single type of story or game. While it is easy for many to mistakenly make this assumption, when you really dig down into it, superhero stories are more of a framework you hang over other stories. This is one of the secrets to the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They've focused on telling interesting stories with compelling characters that just happen to have special abilities, rather than focusing on only the special abilities. It doesn't matter how cool the costumes are or how awesome the special effects for the abilities are, if the story is boring or the characters just caricatures of people no one is going to care.
(Another open secret to MCU's success is in how they know how to be true to the essence of the characters and then nail the casting for that character. I could wax poetic about these movies for hours, so I'll keep a lid on it.)
Back in the late 80's and 90's, when RPGs all seemed to be obsessed with simulation, superhero games like Champions did everything they could to provide meticulous ways to emulate the powers of all our favorite heroes. Unfortunately, this often pushed the heart of the story and characters into the background, losing the spark that makes us love super heroics. I'm very careful about the superhero games I sign up for at conventions, because too often, that spark is lost and the game just ends up being a simulation for a superhero smash up fight. There's nothing wrong with a fun, bombastic combat, but that's not necessarily the only kind of game I'm looking to play or run.
If you, like me, are considering running a supers game in the near future, here's a few things to consider before bringing the game to the table for your players:
Tone: Once you decide the tone of your game, other things will fall into place easier. Are you looking for a light hearted romp around the cosmos, or a gritty and complicated story of difficult choices? Take a look at the first season of the Justice League animated series from the early 2000's compared to the first season of Daredevil on Netflix. Yeah, they're both superhero stories, but that's about the only thing they have in common. If you don't establish the tone you're looking for from the get-go, you're going to have problems. Your players also have a wild and wide understanding of the superhero genre, and they may be all over the place in the tone they're expecting. Their characters will reflect that and while it's not impossible to make a game work with characters of varying tone, it's difficult to maintain that for the long haul.
Setting: Some superhero stories take place in a single city, or even just a single neighborhood. Others span galaxies, taking the heroes from planet to planet, galaxy to galaxy. As you can imagine, deciding the scope of your game's setting can help determine the types of stories your game is going to be telling and the types of characters that should come into play. Setting a game in an afro-futuristic city like Wakanda guides the themes and characters in very specific ways. Or imagine using a setting like Smallville, telling the stories of some young heroes learning who they are and what they can do.
Don't let them get lost in the minutia of what powers they have and what those powers do, because WHO the character is beneath the costume and abilities is what makes the game truly heroic.Share1Tweet1Reddit1EmailLimits: What are the limits of the characters you want in play? Can your game handle Batman and Superman in the league together? Can you provide a variety of challenges for both Thor and Hawkeye? Or do you want to limit the origin stories for your players and have them all have some common bond like being students at an upstate boarding school for 'special' students? The options for this are almost limitless (ha!), but if you take a look at the best superhero stories, they keep all the characters within a certain framework, at least to start with. We may enjoy the idea of having Captain Marvel and Jessica Jones in the same universe, but you're going to have to sacrifice something to run a game that includes both of them. Put Jessica in the far-flung cosmic encounters Carol is capable of and she's going to be a little lost. And annoyed since there's no alcohol. Put Cap in Hell's Kitchen and she's going to have to limit her capabilities to not just obliterate the neighborhood. It's not that it can't work, it's just that you're going to have to make choices and sacrifices with the stories your game tells.
Character: Last, but absolutely not least. Don't forget that everything you do still boils down to the characters the players bring to the table. What I mean is that while Captain Marvel's powers are cool, she wouldn't be nearly as interesting without her in-your-face determination to do what's right. Batman may have all those wonderful toys, but his best stories are fed by the gravitas of his tragedies. When your players start working on their characters, don't let them get lost in the minutia of what powers they have and what those powers do, because WHO the character is beneath the costume and abilities is what makes the game truly heroic.
Another good example of how to do an ensemble cast right…
There are so many options out there for superhero games. So many. Many games come with tone, setting, and limits established within the design of the game, while others come to your more as a toolset to build your own world. Another consideration is the level of crunch that you're comfortable. I lean more towards the narrative games these days, but I can understand the draw of a crunchier game. Make sure whichever game you pick actually works with the tone, setting and limits you want to try for in your game. The wrong combination can be painful to work through.
After several of my regular group saw Captain Marvel, they cornered me and said, "Ang, you've GOT to run another supers game." Honestly, I can't disagree with them, because I certainly feel that pull as well. Between now and when I start, I've got quite a few things to figure out. What about you and your gaming crew? Any super heroics on your horizon? We'd love to hear about it.
Ubisoft patches art containing homophobic slur out of The Division 2
Ubisoft has issued an apology for the slur, which appeared in a large piece of graffiti along the side of an in-game building. ...
Nepal bans PUBG over addiction concerns in children
The Nepal Telecommunications Authority has ordered a ban on PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds "because it is addictive to children and teenagers." ...
Weedcraft Inc facing advertising hurdles due to subject matter
Weedcraft Inc's very nature has led to some advertising difficulties on platforms like Facebook and YouTube. ...
"Human kind cannot bear very much reality."


but the thing is, they aren't updated in byond. and each time i try to actually host there a game which requires 512 version, its says that "tiny shell isn't updated." basicly, what am i suppose to do? i was wondering if byond could update it?
"Error: server is out of date (world compiled for at least version 512). You are running version 511. Please download the new version from http://www.byond.com/download/.
BYOND Error: world file from newer version is incompatible with this server"
You'd have to contact the host to update, BYOND doesn't manage that service itself.
As such, I've moved this to BYOND Help, as it's not a bug.
I don't think he is active.
Not really much that can be done then, only the server owner is able to update BYOND in those cases.


text:
package com.appunite.ffmpeg;

public interface FFmpegListener {
	void onFFDataSourceLoaded(FFmpegError err, FFmpegStreamInfo[] streams);

	void onFFResume(NotPlayingException result);

	void onFFPause(NotPlayingException err);

	void onFFStop();

	void onFFUpdateTime(long mCurrentTimeUs, long mVideoDurationUs, boolean isFinished);

	void onFFSeeked(NotPlayingException result);

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Randolph, Field and Ortner, all veterans, were among the participants at American Legion Kirby Stewart Post 24's ceremony Monday commemorating the 68th anniversary of that historic date — Dec. 7, 1941.
It was solemn occasion, with speeches and moving renditions of the national anthem and "God Bless America," punctuated by taps and a 21-gun salute.
The ceremony resonated with those in attendance.
Now 84, Randolph recalled being at his older half-brother's birthday, but the party spirit dissipated after the announcement about Pearl Harbor.
Randolph was drafted in 1943 and spent World War II with the ground crew of the Eighth Air Force in England, maintaining B-17s.
"I was lucky and happy to be part of it," he said.
The stunning news about Pearl Harbor found Field at his potato farming family's home.
The chicken dinners his mother fixed, a Sunday tradition, were always a big deal, Post 24's commander said.
His war would come in Korea as an Army infantryman, but he fears the Pearl Harbor anniversary will lose its significance in time, especially when compared to 9/11.
Like Field, she was in the Army during the Korean War, but as a stateside member of the Women's Army Corps.
Ortner, 73, recalled how the Pearl Harbor news shocked everyone, but it was the president's famous Dec. 8 speech she remembers most.


text:
Carpobrotus rossii is a succulent coastal groundcover plant native to southern Australia.  It is known by various common names, including karkalla, pig face, sea fig and beach bananas.

C.rossii can be confused with rounded noon-flower Disphyma crassifolium subsp. clavellatum, which has also been erroneously called "karkalla" and "beach bananas" in the Australian native food trade.

Description
Karkalla leaves are succulent,  long and  wide, and curved or rarely straight. The flowers are light purple in colour, and  wide. The globular purplish red fruit is about  long and  wide.

Distribution
The species occurs in the states of Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.
It can be found year-round in large patches covering sand dunes close to the ocean, due to its hardy nature and salt resistance.

Uses
Aboriginal people eat the fruit traditionally, fresh and dried. The salty leaves were also reported to have been eaten with meat. The salty edible leaves should not be confused with rounded noon-flower, which also has edible leaves and is marketed as "karkalla".

Extracts of the plant have significant in vitro antioxidant, antiplatelet, and anti-inflammatory activity.

References

rossii
Bushfood
Caryophyllales of Australia
Flora of South Australia
Flora of Victoria (Australia)
Flora of Tasmania
Eudicots of Western Australia
Groundcovers

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Public, Corps of Engineers to discuss Charles River NVSA master plan for project operations at April 19 public meeting in Millis
CONCORD, Mass. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 in Millis, Mass., to discuss the draft Master Plan for project operations and federal land management of the Charles River Natural Valley Storage Area (NVSA) flood risk
Prohibition on the Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) on Federal Lands under the Jurisdiction of the New England District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
CONCORD, Mass. – The use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), such as drones, are prohibited on or above federal lands and waters managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District. This prohibition applies regardless of the location of the operator. Federal Aviation Administration
Corps supports canoeists, rafters on Millers River with Birch Hill Dam, Tully Lake white water releases in Royalston
CONCORD, Mass. – Controlled releases of water are planned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, from Birch Hill Dam and Tully Lake Dam, both in Royalston, Mass., on Saturday and Sunday, April 8-9, 2017 to provide adequate river flows for recreational canoeing, kayaking and
Corps in New England accepts funding agreement with National Grid to expedite permit processing
CONCORD, Mass. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District announces the agreement to accept and expend funds from National Grid to expedite processing of their Department of Army permit applications in New England subject to certain limitations. New England Power Company, Massachusetts
Hingham Shipyard Marinas, LLC seeks Corps of Engineers permit to dredge an existing boat basin in Hingham
CONCORD, Mass. – The Hingham Shipyard Marinas, LLC is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to conduct work in waters of the U.S. to dredge an existing boat basin located in the Weymouth Back River at 24 Shipyard Drive in Hingham, Mass. The proposed work
Army Corps of Engineers Resumes Remedial Action Recovery of WWII Munitions in the Waters of Cape Poge Bay and Upland Land Areas and Will Begin Remedial Action Recovery of WWII Munitions at Tisbury Great Pond
CONCORD, Mass. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District with assistance from the U. S. Army Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville (USAESCH), and their contractor GSI, conducted a Remedial Action to remove munitions both on land, in marsh areas, and in the waters/sediments of
Corps awards contract to dredge portion of Housatonic River federal navigation channel in Stratford, Milford; Dredging to start in October 2017
CONCORD, Mass. – Maintenance dredging of the lower portion of the Housatonic River Federal Navigation Channel in Stratford and Milford, Conn., will be completed under the terms of a $9,319,000.00 contract recently awarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District. Work will be
Corps, public to discuss Charles River Natural Valley Storage Area master plan, project operations, land management; Public meeting set for April 19 in Millis
CONCORD, Mass. – A public meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 in Millis, Mass., to discuss the draft Master Plan for project operations and federal land management of the Charles River Natural Valley Storage Area flood risk reduction project, according to officials from the U.S. Army
Massachusetts Port Authority seeks Corps permit to construct wharf, establish two berths in South Boston
CONCORD, Mass. – The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to conduct work in waters of the U.S. to construct a new wharf and to establish two deep water berths at the Conley Container Terminal in South Boson, Mass.
Corps seeks public comment on Maine DMR's proposal of prospectus for In-Lieu Fee Program
CONCORD, Mass. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District is seeking public comments on a proposed prospectus for an In-Lieu Fee Program from the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) covering the portion of Maine encompassing three Distinct Population Segments of Atlantic salmon


text:
IBL money still pending for Pune Pistons stars
– December 10, 2013Posted in: news
According to a column that appeared this week in The Indian Express, InIndianExpress.com, some foreign players signed with the Pune Pistons, an Indian Badminton League (IBL) franchise, haven't received the entirety of their salary, almost three and a half months after the completion of the tournament.
The article says the wage payments were divided into four quarters, the last 25% having to be transferred 15 days (at last) after the end of the competition. The team's co-owner has stated that no payment had been delayed. However, an anonymous non-Indian player of the franchise told the Indian paper that by the 6th of December he was still waiting for the last quarter of his salary to be paid, despite email reminders sent to the franchise owners. The source indicated that other foreign players from the Pune squad were also waiting for their last 25%.
According to one of the IBL's commercial partners, the pending salaries have been slowed by legal paperwork and the levy of Indian taxes charged on foreign payments.
The Pune Pistons had recruited four foreign players (Juliane Schenk, Tan Wee Kiong, Joachim Fischer-Nielsen and Nyugen Tien Minh) for the total amount of $184,000.
Click here to read the full story from The Indian Express
Tags: IBL, prize-winnings


text:
Tennessee State Picked To Finish Second In OVC
Eddie George talks how he's building Tennessee State, HBCU outlook with Shannon Sharpe
'We made Black history:' Tennessee State marching band wins Grammy for best gospel album
Former HBCU quarterback Geremy Hickbottom signs with German football team
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee State football team was pegged to finish second in the inaugural OVC Preseason Football Media Poll. The Tigers garnered 105 points and four first-place votes.
In total 13 voters around the league cast a ballot on who they thought would be the 2014 football favorites and preseason players of the year.
The OVC will release its official preseason poll and All-OVC voted, as voted on by league head coaches and sports information directors, on Monday during the league's annual Media Day which is being held in Nashville.
The media panel picked the Jacksonville State Gamecocks as the preseason favorite, picking up 9 of 13 first-place votes and 111 total points. Tennessee State picked up the other four first-place votes and 105 total points in being picked second. Two-time defending champion Eastern Illinois was picked third (89 points) and followed by Eastern Kentucky (73), UT Martin (72), Murray State (52), Tennessee Tech (42), Southeast Missouri State (26) and Austin Peay (15).
In addition the pollsters tabbed Jacksonville State senior running back DaMarcus James as the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Tennessee State senior defensive end Anthony Bass as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Courtesy: Tennessee State Sports Information
Tags: Tennessee State
SIAC Announces 2014 Preseason Football Team, Order Of Finish


is it clear what's going on in this picture?
some playtesting has made it evident that while i have lots of systems in this game which are interesting to me, i need to start focusing on systems that other people can understand. so... i'm working on it, haha.


text:
Q: how to insert the meijerG function in Mathematica? I want to insert the maijerG function in mathematica but i'm facing a problem..
this is the function that i want it in the meigerG function formula:
Exp[-s*x]

where x is the variable.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
By Rob Meachem | December 13, 2022
BTS K-pop boy band member Jin begins military service
(SEOUL, South Korea) — Jin, the eldest member of K-pop sensation BTS, was dispatched Tuesday to a front-line military training division north of Seoul.
Jin, 30, is heading to the military after delaying conscription two years beyond the maximum age limit. This was possible due to a change of law designed to buy time for pop artists to carry on with their careers.
Since Jin himself and his entertainment agency had asked fans not to come to see him off at the training division for safety concerns, only a handful of BTS fans were present at the scene. Instead, an ad balloon from fans flew in the air, wishing Jin safe military training.
All seven BTS members will take part in the military, and the billboard-ranking K-pop boy band will be out of the public sphere at least until 2025, according to BTS' management BigHit Entertainment.
Mandatory conscription has always been a challenge for male Korean national K-pop stars, as the responsibility usually falls upon them at the height of their sometimes sweeping careers. Widely famous K-pop groups like EXO and SuperM already had to send some of their members to the military, which ended up in an inevitable halt to those groups' performances.
South Korea is one of the few countries in the world — along with Israel and Taiwan — that conscripts men in the military. It is mandatory for all South Korean able-bodied men between the ages 18 to 28 to serve in the military for at least a year-and-a-half.
While conscription duty remains unavoidable, entertainment companies have looked for creative ways to maintain the popularity despite the absence of key members in a group.
"We are proud of completing military service, but it was tough because we couldn't be there for our fans as one, wholesome team," Super Junior's Siwon Choi, who has became a leading actor starring in shows like Netflix's Revolutionary Love and dozens of other hit shows, told ABC News. "We tried different ways to interact with our fans, like performing in units and solos."
A second-generation K-pop boy band, Super Junior made a rare successful comeback as a whole team, and is now on a world tour. It took nearly 10 years for all members to finish military duties because of the members' age differences. In the meantime, the members nurtured talent in MC, solo performance and acting to stay in touch with the public.
"Before serving the military, members from the Super Junior might have worried that they might lose their popularity," Lee Gyu-Tag, a culture professor in Seoul at George Mason University, told ABC News. "But fans are also growing old, which means that they may need something different, more mature from their favorite bands."
There are exceptions to mandatory military service in South Korea, as distinguished fine arts performers and athletes are pardoned from serving full time in the military. Those who won the grand prize in the major international contests, or athletes who earned medals in Olympics or other prestigious international competitions, are given an opportunity to replace their service with just five weeks of essential military training. This is to secure them time to raise the prestige of the nation by spending key years of high performance in their own field.
There has been a widely divided public debate whether pop artists like BTS should also be given the same military exception.
"To be fair, I believe pop artists should also be considered to be given an exemption from the military considering their social influence," Lawmaker Kim Young bae, told ABC News.
Kim, as a lawmaker from the liberal party, proposed a bill last September that will allow top boy band members to avoid mandatory military service.
"I believe this bill will create new paths for young men of Korea to tremendously contribute in advancing the global cultural industry. This is an opportunity for Korea as a nation and a new chance for our youth's future," Kim said.
Conservative lawmaker Han Kiho expressed his opinion that military exemption rules should be scrapped altogether, with no exceptions.
"South Korea is already short of soldiers to defend this country While North Korea is constantly threatening with missiles, nuclear tests, and artillery," Han told ABC News.
In addition to safety, arguments also center around the ideas of fairness and justice among the public.
"People feel like it's not fair for one to have this great loss and trauma in my life if others don't go through it," Sean Lim, who runs Seoulite TV on YouTube, a channel that features reactions from K-pop fans, told ABC News. "But I don't think that's how you should build a military."
Members of the public have expressed mixed feelings, but many seemed to agree on the importance of reaching a consensus about mandatory service.
"As long as there is a straightforward standard that everyone could accept when giving military exceptions, I think people will agree with pop artists being given a military exception," Park Ji-hye, a college student who has long been a K-pop fan, told ABC News.
Both the minister of culture and the minister of defense have stated that the issue of exemptions is under review, and public opinion surveys will be taken into consideration. One of the ideas is to allow flexible dates of service so that all members could finish their duties around the same time.
"Rather than giving a certain group of people the chance to skip military service, I believe it is better to give pop artists special day-offs to perform in groups when it comes to an important performance while fulfilling military duty," Han said.
The final policy decision is due by the end of the year.


text:
Board index » ModelWarships.com general forum » Calling all Ship Fans » CASF » Destroyers and Frigates
Calling all USS Benson/Gleaves class (DD) fans
migoat
Post subject: Calling all USS Benson/Gleaves class (DD) fans
Location: Dover, DE
Lets talk about the Benson/Gleaves class DDs and the Ellyson class DMS conversions here.
1/350th Kits
Dragon:
* USS Buchanan DD-484 1942 (Gleaves Class)
* USS Laffey DD-459 1942 (Benson Class)
* USS Livermore DD-429 1942 (Livermore/Gleaves)
Yankee ModelWorks
USS Aaron Ward DD-483 1942 (Gleaves)
Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:51 am
On the SN site, Sully asked:
"I am confused. Are there any kits of this DD
: out there and are these classes in fact all
: the same in appearance?
: Internet searches have left me confused and
: tired.
: Would like to collect that represents
: 'Satterlee'. "
The "class" is divided a number of ways. The primary difference has been mentioned - the funnels. That was the main external difference between the ships built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding yards and the rest, which were built to the Gibbs and Cox variation on the design. The Bethlehem ships are the Benson's, and the others are Gleaves/Livermore's. (DD's 425-428 are Benson's - built in Navy yards to the Bethlehem plans - long story. That long story includes why the other variant is sometimes called "Gleaves" class, and sometimes called "Livermore's".) Hull numbers 444 and lower were part of the original batch, and these are the ones with the canvas-topped "half shield" or open mounts on the guns in the original #3 and #4 positions. Hull numbers 453 and higher had only 4 guns with full shields on all four. Also, the last 20 Gleaves variants had "square" bridges, and lowered MK-37 directors, similar to the changes made to the Fletcher bridges, but without the "walk-around" on the front. These 20 included the last 10 from Federal Shipbuilding and all 10 from Seattle-Tacoma. Satterlee was a square-bridge unit. Unfortunately, nobody has a kit of that variant, although it is possible DML might include that option in their new 1/350 scale kits. (Could be just dreaming on that one, though.)
Last edited by Dick J on Sat Dec 08, 2007 10:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Rick E Davis wrote:
The first photo is of the Swanson at PSNY in June 1945 getting her Anti-Kamikaze upgrade. I'm not use to seeing in yard photos at PSNY very often. I think the Maryland is in the background.
The second photo is of the Bristol's bridge in Jan 1942 at the NYNY ...
The third photo is of the Ellyson also at NYNY in Feb 1942 ... notice the difference in the bridge fronts (both ships were built at Federal) and that the Ellyson has 20mm and the Bristol has 50cal MG's.
I forgot to mention that the Bristol's AA armament at this time was in-line with the earlier ships in this class ... only 50cal MG's. She got the pair of twin 40mm guns about a year later. I don't think that she ever did get a Quad 1.1" ... maybe some or all of the 50cal MG's were replaced by 20mm before the Jan 43 upgrade ... but I have found no photos.
The Ellyson got a Quad 1.1" at the same time of this photo. I was really surprised that the Bridge front was modified at this time ... I guess for the benefit of giving the 20mm guns more room?
When I went to the National Archives I was only going to pursue Fletcher class photos/data on my first trip there. Charles Haberline at NHC suggested that I go through the BurShips photos files first for me to get the most "Bang for the Buck/Hour of Looking-n-Scanning". This file has mostly delivery and yard photos of mods (unfortunately NOT a complete history of ALL work done to a given ship) Since these files are by Hull Numbers and come in boxes, I got some overlap with the Benson/Gleaves class. The very first photo I pulled out was the Swanson ... one I had not seen and I was over joyed that it was a PSNY photo. That is since PSNY photos are harder to come by out here in the wild. I did stop by the Bristol and Ellyson because I had suspected that they were the Break point between the as completed for service (as opposed to as delivered) w/o and with the Quad 1.1" install because of other photos I had seen at USNI. It appears to be the case. I picked the close-up of the 50cal MG's because of the detail and the general install scheme in that area. Then when I saw the Ellyson with a shot of the same area and noticed the bridge difference, I was really surprised. Both ships came from Federal one right after the other. Also, the photos are only one month apart and the big difference in AA Armament was amazing. I have not gone to looking to see if this bridge front change was a design change for the class at that time and the Ellyson was a first to be changed (during construction or afterwards?). I have a couple more onboard shots of these two ships showing the midship AA guns (6-50cal MG for Bristol and the "standard double tub design to be used for two twin 40mm guns when available, but temp installed with a Quad 1.1" and a 20mm single) and will be sending all five of the Gleaves/Bristol class photos I have to Navsource.org when I get the time.
While at NARA this last week, I found these photos of the Mayo (DD-422) dated 30 April 1943 as she was being refueled by the brand new USS Independence (CVL-22). What is of interest is the fact that she has a quad 1.1" gun mounted where the former #53 mount was located. No one has ever mentioned that any of the early Benson/Gleaves class destroyers carried the quad 1.1" gun. A couple of years ago DickJ spotted the quad 1.1" on the Plunkett in an August 1942 photo that has been published several times, but unlike the Mayo her installation lacked any splinter shields. It would be interesting to find out if any others of the early Benson/Gleaves class were so modified?
Photos 1 and 2 below are NARA 80-G-54434, with two just a closer crop of the area where the quad 1.1" is located.
Photo 3 is NARA 80-G-54441, a view of the Mayo's starboard quarter from the Independence.
You know out of the photos of NOW two early Benson/Gleaves (DD421-444) and about two dozen post DD453 units with the quad 1.1" I have seen photos of ... about 9 out of ten had the gun covered with canvas and in many photos were hard to see the gun because it had a "boxy" appearance. Many times 40mm guns were covered with canvas, but not as often as the 1.1" in photos anyway, and the 40mm mounts had much longer barrels that are easier to notice.
As for the class with the MOST variations in configuration ... I'll have to think about that. It will depend on now you want to define what counts as a variation? Basic armament, stack/machinery, bridge configurations is one thing. The Benson/Gleaves class do have a large number of variations in that category ... some we may not even know about ... yet. Smile They had the pre-war 5-5", 10TT and a few MG's, early-war with so many options ... 4 and 5 5", 5 and 10TT, 0.50 cal MG's or 20mm ... holy cow, with quad 1.1" (at least four different configurations counting the two stack differences), with two twin 40mm (several layout variations and with 5 or 10 TT with two types of stacks and bridges), and the Anti-Kamikaze upgrade with either four twin 40mm or two quad 40mm and two twin 40mm. Don't forget the DMS conversions. But, the Fletcher's also had a large number of armament variations ... in some cases with two different bridge structures ... quad 1.1", one twin 40mm (three configuration versions at least, one with a catapult), two twin 40mm (two configurations of that, one in two different bridges), three twin 40mm (two different configurations, again one with two different bridges), four twin 40mm (three ships?), five twin 40mm (two bridges), SIX twin 40mm (one ship?), and the Anti-Kamikaze two quad 40mm and three twin 40mm (again two bridges). That is just in WWII and I didn't factor in the variations in numbers of 20mm carried, if we go post WWII, there are more. If all the quirks in the construction styles between yards count, then the Fletcher's would likely come out on top with 175 units built by 12 yards, compared to the 96 Benson/Gleaves built at, I think, 12 yards also. That is an interesting question.
Location: Perth Western Australia
After reading Steve Wiper Benson - Gleaves Class Destroyers ( by far the best of the series) One thing that has always interested me with this class is why at the end of war did the USN appear to put back the second set tubes on the Atlantic fleet boats ? was it for training in torpedo tactics ? some sort of "secret heavy weight ASW weapon launcher" or they redid their topweight sums and figured they could do it Certainly the threat read in the Atlantic couldn't justify 10 TT
Any ideas
Graham Murdoch
The Skywave Benson is a great little kit I hope the Dragon do M4 sherman job on it and issue 57 differnt subtypes
graham wrote:
Actually, this had more to do with the way the class was originally divided. The first 24 (DD-421 to 444) were treated differently than the later 72. The USN maintained a list of "authorized" weapons fits for each class (or group within a class) of ships. This was called the "ultimate battery". The ultimate battery for the first 24 ships was set at 4 5" guns, 10 TT, 4 40MM, and 4 20MM. The ultimate battery for the later 72 was set at 4 5", 5 TT, 4 40MM and 7 20MM. As weight compensation for the second set of TT, the first 24 had the half-shield (or no shield) on 5" mount #3, 3 fewer 20MM (obvious from the ultimate battery list), and fewer depth charges. This battery could be "temporarily" modified for specific threats, such as the additional AA added for the invasions of Normandy and Southern France, or the more radical anti-kamikaze mods, but these were all expected to revert back to the "ultimate battery" carried on the books. Since all but 4 of the first 24 remained in the Atlantic until the European part of the war had ended, I can understand why you would believe that all of the Atlantic ships seemed to add the second set of tubes. Of the 4 "early batch" ships transferred to the Pacific in '42, only two survived to see 1943, and only one made it to 1944, but it was still treated like its Atlantic sisters.
DrDull
Location: Chicago, Illinois
I'm finding this discussion fascinating, but I'm still confused. I'm interested in USS Ellyson (DD-454) which would fall into the 'second 72' of the class, with an ultimate battery of 5 torpedo tubes. Pictures before her conversion to DMS-19 show 10. All the 5" mounts have full shields and these great pictures show 20mm instead of .50 cal AA. Have I misunderstood the posts?
Also, I'd like some advice about which of the several YMW Benson class kits would be the closest match for DD-454. I'm afraid if I wait until the Dragon Benson kit is released, my Ellyson veteran friend won't be able to appreciate the gift.
DrDull wrote:
I'm interested in USS Ellyson (DD-454) which would fall into the 'second 72' of the class, with an ultimate battery of 5 torpedo tubes. Pictures before her conversion to DMS-19 show 10. All the 5" mounts have full shields and these great pictures show 20mm instead of .50 cal AA. Have I misunderstood the posts?
A lot depends on when the photos were taken. DD's 453 and 454 were delivered from the builder essentially fitted as the earlier ships, except the original mount #3 was missing. The intended fit for the "repeat" ships was still in flux. Eventually, the 4 gun 5 tube config was made standard for them and Bristol and Ellyson ultimately entered service in that config. The reason for the difference in tubes was that the original batch were intended to work with the "battlefleet", while the later ships were geared more as escorts. In actual practice, they were used interchangeably. In true bureaucratic fashion, though, the difference remained on the books through the end of the war. If you have a photo of Ellyson with 10 tubes and 20MM guns at the same time, I am definitely interrested in it. A number of unique "non-standard" outfits, like the Mayo photo with the 1.1" guns, have been discovered lately.
One oddity that I find interresting on Ellyson is the bridge face. The "as delivered" photos seem to indicate she had the same rounded lower bridge as Bristol. In fact, later units, also built by Federal, still had the rounded lower bridge. Somehow, Ellyson switched from the original rounded bridge to the later flat-plate version. Perhaps she was redone as a prototype.
Rick E Davis
To add to Dick's posting. The Bristol after commissioning was delivered to the New York Navy Yard for completion. The NYNY completed the Bristol (~10 January 1942) close to the configuration that many of the earlier units of this dual class had been modified to ... four 5-in. guns, 12 0.50 cal MG's, and one bank of Torpedo Tubes. The only real difference being that all the 5-in. gun mounts were enclosed. She was assigned to DesRon 13 with early Gleaves units and fit right in.
The Ellyson followed the Bristol into NYNY for completion (~26 Feb 42), BUT was the FIRST Benson/Gleaves to have the bulwarks for the new authorized two twin 40-mm mounts and four 20-mm guns. But since the twin 40-mm guns and most important the directors were NOT available, the temporary installation of a quad 1.1-in. mount on the starboard side w/o a director and a single 20-mm on the port side, were placed where the two twin 40-mm mounts would go. About 24 Benson/Gleaves units had this temporary quad 1.1-in. mount installation. Not counting the Mayo's and Plunkett's non-standard quad 1.1-in. mount installation.
Dick, I have been going through photos of the Benson/Gleaves class and discovered that Federal did something strange with the bridges on the ships they built. The Bristol and all of the earlier built Benson/Gleaves (DD421-444) units had the rounded lower part of the bridge superstructure below the navigation bridge. Starting with the Ellyson (DD-454) all of the closed bridge ships completed by the various builders had the same squared off lower bridge seen in the Ellyson photo. EXPECT, for some of the Federal built units. DD454-456 were either completed by Federal SB or NYNY modified them to the new squared off lower bridge. However, for the next eight destroyers, DD483-490, built by Federal SB were completed with the original rounded lower bridge. The only reason I can see for this is that Federal was not instructed to change their design to save time or because they had already fabricated these components. Maybe DD454-456 were modified by the NYNY to the new bridge configuration along with the temp quad 1.1-in. in the two twin 40-mm bulwarks. The follow-on ships, DD483-490, were completed as far as I can tell by the photographic evidence, except for maybe DD483-484, by Federal SB to this new configuration and it didn't warrant NYNY changing the bridge.
DrDull,
I forgot to answer your question about which YMW kit is the closest to the Ellyson. None are exact copies to the Ellyson. The Ellyson is a Gleaves unit with a Squared off flat lower bridge and none of the kits YMW fits this configuration exactly. The Farenholt kit is a Benson, the Aaron Ward and Gwin were Gleaves units with the round bridge. The Tillman has the right bridge configuration, but may need some work with some modifications to the other parts of the ship to match the Ellyson. The Tillman was built by the Charleston NY and had a Mk 49 director and a Mk 51 director ... for another oddball configuration.
Rick: I wonder if part of the idea was to create more space for the 20MM battery, like the 40MM mod on the square-bridge Fletcher's. But then, with only single 20MM, it may have proven unnecessary. The flat bridge face may then have been retained on production grounds, and limited to later construction. BTW, do you have a good overall view of Bristol with all those .50's?
Barry: Contact YMW. They have, I believe, been talked into doing a mix-match of parts before, as long as all the parts are still in production. Maybe you could work something out and save yourself the frustration of trying to modify your "expensive hunk of resin".
Sorry I don't have a photo or scan of the Bristol "overall" showing the 12 0.50 cal MG's, other than the two onboard photos I posted at Navsource.org. I did get verification from someone who has a overhead shot (photo taken by the British) of the Bristol in his collection that she had 12 MG's in May 1942. The two before the bridge, two on the bridge, two amidships one on either side of the second stack, and six on the aft shelter-deck. I'll recheck her photo files and see if there are some more photos available at NARA. One of the questions I have is did the Bristol get six 20-mm guns replacing the 0.50 cal MG's before the two twin 40-mm guns were installed in December 42/January 1943. Many of the early units of this dual class did exchange the MG's for 20-mm guns in the summer of 1942. But I have not found any photos of her in that configuration.
As for the cut out - flat face to the lower bridge, I had thought that the likely reason was to make more room for the 20-mm guns and ready service ammo. Also, it may have simplified the construction some. I hope records will shed some light on that. But that doesn't explain why the eight Federal-built ships following the DD454-456 retained the rounded face and they had 20-mm guns in that location and had the elevated centerline platform with a 20-mm as well. No good answers right now.
I think the easy answer is that someone made a decision that it was not cost effective to modify already completed ships to the flat-faced config. In view of the fact that the 20MM were being moved a bit more outboard, making more room for the raised centerline mount (and making more room for the shelterdeck mounts at the same time), the pressure to modify would have been greatly diminished. Whether the easy answer is the right answer . . .
(Would also be nice to see what version of the MS-12 mod camo Bristol carried with the 12 .50's.)
Post subject: Re: Calling all Benson/Gleaves class DD fans!
When I was at NARA last month I scanned photos of a large number of the Benson-Gleaves class. This sequence of photos of the USS Laub (DD-613) at Boston Navy Yard on 20 November 1944, shows her being repainted to a dazzle camo scheme. Nothing special here, I just found the process interesting. Note the over-spray at the waterline towards the stern. I assumed that this will be cleaned up before they are done (in a drydock?).
By the way, the new web "process" here takes some getting use to as regards to posting photos ... it was real easy and straight forward before. The "SYSTEM" ... Max Headroom? ... required me to resize the photos I had in photobucket and that took me awhile to figure out and then it took several tries to get it to work. I posted these same photos over at Steelnavy and didn't want to "change" the sizing on the "originals" I had posted there ... so I made copies, renamed them, posted the renamed images on photobucket, and resized on photobucket ... after all that, my copy and pasting was all messed up between Photobucket, my computer, and Modelwarships new Forum. Finally, I closed everything down and got back into Photobucket and Modelwarships Forum and was able to copy and paste. After all that and because I'm under the weather ...I'm going to go take a nap now.
What we would really be interested in seeing would be a photo of one of those of the class that were fitted with single 40mm.
Actually, I found no photos of any Benson-Gleaves with single 40-mm in any of the BuShips photos for the units that were suppose to have been equipped with them. There are several photos of some of these ships with the platform in the location where the aft Torpedo Tubes bank was for four additional 20-mm guns. These modifications were largely done in the March-April 1944 time period prior to the invasions of France. Many of the other ships listed as scheduled to get this mod ... didn't have it from available photos. I didn't have time to dig through 80-G photos to check on photos taken during the Invasion period. I have not given up that the single 40-mm mod was never done on these ships, but I'm pretty sure it could not have been applied to ALL of the proposed units. I don't know what documentation Friedman and Reilly based this on, but my guess is an authorization for a "temporary approved armament" was issued for these ships and if it did happen was only applied to a few of the ships. I believe that the temp install of the additional four 20-mm guns was the alternative.
Several of the early Benson-Gleaves were not updated to the two twin 40-mm mounts until late in 1943 to early 1944 and that alone may have made the single 40-mm install unnecessary on these ships. The authorized armament for the surviving early Benson-Gleaves (DD421-444) units was four 5-in., two twin 40-mm mounts, four 20-mm and ten (2x5) Torpedo Tubes. In early 1945, the USN had standardized this armament for all of the surviving ships until the anti-kamikaze upgrades in the May 1945 period.
Actually the most interesting information I found is that the Mayo and Plunkett were the only units of the early Benson-Gleaves class (DD421-444) directed to have a quad 1.1-in mount replace the #3 5-in. gun mount in February 1942. The Mayo was modified in February 1942 at Boston Navy Yard and the Plunkett was modified sometime prior to May 1942. The Mayo retained this non-standard "temporary approved armament" into early 1944 when she was torpedoed off Italy.
I believe that the ships fitted with the single 40mms were done in the UK, probably at Portsmouth and/or Plymouth.
Spmewhere in the 80g boxes.
Maybe under a heading such as "D Day". "Normandy invasion". THat sort of thing.
Friedman got his data from the armament returns, NOT proposed fits. Which means that this was actually done.
Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 10:19 pm
Note the over-spray at the waterline towards the stern. I assumed that this will be cleaned up before they are done (in a drydock?).
Not uncommon to see that and it's on top of a semi-gloss black plastic compound to which it won't stick very well. Most likely they just left it alone and hydrodynamic action cleaned it off fairly quick.
How do I get the pen to write here? Now my screen's all smeared with ink.........
Mr Raven,
If the source for the two single 40-mm guns on Benson-Gleaves class ships are the Armament Returns (Weekly Armament Summary Updates?), some caution is in order. I have found many errors in these. Some ships would be "updated" in one report and it's entry needed to be corrected at another date. I have been able to get through the 1942 through to about June 1943 Armament Summary/weekly updates and the late war (Nov 44 and Dec 45) and early post-war. As an example, the Fletchers listed as having had the 14-40mm Anti-Kamikaze mod, are only about 90% accurate in those summaries. Some ships are not listed that did get the mod and some listed didn't get the mod. Mostly this is because ships still having repairs done as the war ended, had some work cancelled. But, a few ships ended up being modified in overhauls in 1946 and 1947 ... making this a confusing subject.
The Weekly Updates did provide "policy" style information (dispatches from the CNO or VCNO) about the armament for ships. The Temporary "Approved" Armament was just that ... it was to be temporary and it was only authorized to do it, but didn't mean that it was actually done.
The photos of ships modified at New York Navy Yard are pretty clear that they had four extra 20-mm guns (for a total of eight) added in the Spring of 1944. Ships modified at Boston Navy Yard are a problem in that dockside photos showing work done seem to be rare. Many ships worked on at Boston Navy Yard had broadside as completed photos taken and sometimes aerial photos taken. If work was done at an UK yard, then that may explain why there are no US yard photos. The problem with assuming that ALL of these ships had this mod, is that a good number (if not most) of the DesDiv's involved went direct to the MED for Italy and Southern France operations in late Spring 1944 and never were involved with the Normandy operations.
Since I live and work in Ohio, it may be awhile before I get back to the Archives and/or the NHC to search for additional photos.
Your points are well made.
Keep looking, as my instinct tells me that some ships were so fitted.
Michael Riddell
Post subject: Unknown pic of Monssen DD-436?
I was having a browse through some of the sites in my favourites and I think I've found a previously unknown pic of DD-436 in her wartime configeration.
http://users.bigpond.net.au/elliget/ausran/wecosh/cindex.html
Has this pic:
http://users.bigpond.net.au/elliget/ausran/wecosh/photos/wec00326.jpg
labelled as the Meredith. On closer examination, the ship looks to be the Monssen - you can make out 436 on her counter. What I find interesting, apart from the fact it gives a better view of the Ms12 scheme, is the fact that she appears to have a gun tub for a 20mm abreast her fore funnel.
What do the experts think?
I'm not sure if this is the right part of the board for this, so any of the mods wish to move it a more appropriate area, feel free to do so.


text:
Week 2 NFL Schedule: Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys Face Big Road Tests
The NFC East's two favorites both face tough road tests in Week 2 of the NFL season.
By Mike Prada Sep 18, 2011, 12:33pm EDT
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The Week 2 NFL schedule includes some major road tests for NFC East teams. The two preseason favorites in the NFC East -- the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles -- have difficult road games on the schedule this week. Here is a list of the key NFC East games on the schedule.
Dallas Cowboys (0-1) at San Francisco 49ers (1-0): After melting down in Week 1 against the New York Jets, Tony Romo and the Cowboys must now make a road trip to face a 49ers team that won in Week 1. Sure, San Francisco isn't a great team, but they're at home and it's never easy to win on the road. Could Dallas really go 0-2? (FOX, 4:05 p.m., with Thom Brennaman and Brian Billick as the announcers). For more on the Cowboys, visit Blogging the Boys and SB Nation Dallas. For more on the 49ers, visit Niners Nation and SB Nation Bay Area.
Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) at Atlanta Falcons (0-1): Michael Vick returns to Atlanta. That pretty much says it all. (NBC, 8:20 p.m., with Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth on the call). For more on the Eagles, visit Bleeding Green Nation and SB Nation Philly. For more on the Falcons, visit The Falcoholic and SB Nation Atlanta.
St. Louis Rams (0-1) at New York Giants (0-1): It's the Injury Bowl! (ESPN, Monday Night Football, 8:30 p.m.). For more on the Rams, visit Turf Show Times and SB Nation St. Louis. For more on the Giants, visit Big Blue View and SB Nation New York.
For more on NFL Week 2, visit SBNation.com.
Week 2 NFL Results: Michael Vick, Felix Jones Among Key NFC East Injuries
Tony Romo, Felix Jones, Miles Austin All Injured In Dallas Cowboys' Win Over 49ers


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