We now entered Whiting Bay and caught our first sign of the eponymous village, below the heights of Goatfell.
A large sea wall protects the attractive villas and just before we arrived it had been put to good use. The wake of the Troon to Larne had been crashing into it.
We continued to speed on our way under sail and..
...landed near Kingscross Point at the north end of Whiting Bay for...
..
vanity fair undergarments Takagi Maria Maria+Takagi+01 jpg
vanity fair undergarments Takagi Maria
2004 01 23 Maria Takagi Maria Flash XC 1316 Cover jpg
12345 12345
wall takagi maria09 JPG
Maria 2BTakagi 2B01 Maria BTakagi B jpg
Maria+Takagi+01 jpg
2004 01 23 Maria Takagi Maria Flash XC 1316 Cover jpg
12345 12345
wall takagi maria09 JPG
Maria 2BTakagi 2B01 Maria BTakagi B jpg
Maria+Takagi+01 jpg
beauty female model non for profit fundraising THE SECRETS TO FUNDRAISING SUCCESS : Learn How To Maximize Your Fundraising Efforts
non for profit fundraising THE SECRETS TO FUNDRAISING SUCCESS : Learn How To Maximize Your Fundraising Efforts
Many people who first begin fundraising do not always know what a non-profit is, and many groups assume that it does not matter whether their organization is a non-profit or not.However, how much money you make and how you are able to use that money is determined largely by the way you are classified. A non-profit group is simply a group that is designed for a charitable purpose; no money that the group makes is used for the gain of individuals.Rather, a non-profit uses its earnings to further its goals. Groups such as the United Way, as well as groups such as the Scouts, hospitals, and mo st universities are non-profit groups. There are also many smaller non-profits such as animal shelters, human rights organizations, and women\'s shelters. In most cases, these groups try to make the world a better place in someway.In this book you\'ll learn :Who Gives Money?Figuring Out Who You are Fundraising FromFundraising Ideas: Finding the Best Ones for Your Non-Profit Developing aFundraising Plan Recruiting a Fundraising Team Staying Organized WhileFundraising Communicating with Donors: The Best Way to Raise MoneyFundraising and Technology: Can You Really Fundraise from a Computer?Secrets of Successful Fundraising: How to Raise More Money with Less HassleFundraising Mistakes that Could Get Your Non-Profit into Trouble
Many people who first begin fundraising do not always know what a non-profit is, and many groups assume that it does not matter whether their organization is a non-profit or not.However, how much money you make and how you are able to use that money is determined largely by the way you are classified. A non-profit group is simply a group that is designed for a charitable purpose; no money that the group makes is used for the gain of individuals.Rather, a non-profit uses its earnings to further its goals. Groups such as the United Way, as well as groups such as the Scouts, hospitals, and mo st universities are non-profit groups. There are also many smaller non-profits such as animal shelters, human rights organizations, and women\'s shelters. In most cases, these groups try to make the world a better place in someway.In this book you\'ll learn :Who Gives Money?Figuring Out Who You are Fundraising FromFundraising Ideas: Finding the Best Ones for Your Non-Profit Developing aFundraising Plan Recruiting a Fundraising Team Staying Organized WhileFundraising Communicating with Donors: The Best Way to Raise MoneyFundraising and Technology: Can You Really Fundraise from a Computer?Secrets of Successful Fundraising: How to Raise More Money with Less HassleFundraising Mistakes that Could Get Your Non-Profit into Trouble
maternity t shirts Emma Hughes rhys davies award 05 6001 jpg
maternity t shirts Emma Hughes
hairstyles clairol2 jpg
Ingrid Bergman Sandra Bullock Emma Bunton Charlotte Church Minnie Driver Rosie O Donnel Jada Pinkett Smith Billie Piper Christina Ricci The Best Hair Style for Your Face There are so many hair styles out there which one is best for you Well here are some guidelines to help you determine what styles are best for you Determine your face shape There are
0004F831 215D 1341 B5720C01AC1BF814 jpg
Jun 25 2007 By Emma Cullwick Birmingham Mail ROAD safety campaigners have lashed out after reports that disgraced former West Bromwich Albion soccer star Lee Hughes was let out of jail for a day to resurrect his football career
rhys davies award 05 6001 jpg
Print Bright new stars of Welsh writing Young Newport Writer wins £1 000 Carolyn Smith Des Barry Sian Hughes Emma Marks Vicky Thomas and John Williams The winner of The Rhys Davies Short Story Competition 2005 was announced on Wednesday 30
hairstyles clairol2 jpg
Ingrid Bergman Sandra Bullock Emma Bunton Charlotte Church Minnie Driver Rosie O Donnel Jada Pinkett Smith Billie Piper Christina Ricci The Best Hair Style for Your Face There are so many hair styles out there which one is best for you Well here are some guidelines to help you determine what styles are best for you Determine your face shape There are
0004F831 215D 1341 B5720C01AC1BF814 jpg
Jun 25 2007 By Emma Cullwick Birmingham Mail ROAD safety campaigners have lashed out after reports that disgraced former West Bromwich Albion soccer star Lee Hughes was let out of jail for a day to resurrect his football career
rhys davies award 05 6001 jpg
Print Bright new stars of Welsh writing Young Newport Writer wins £1 000 Carolyn Smith Des Barry Sian Hughes Emma Marks Vicky Thomas and John Williams The winner of The Rhys Davies Short Story Competition 2005 was announced on Wednesday 30
Running before the wind, below the sill.
Leaving Kildonan on the fourth day of our trip round Arran we hoisted our sails then paddled along a wild coastline. The scenery was dominated by an extensive tertiary sill, which extended...
...all the way to Dippen Head where we were...
...dwarfed by the scale of the cliffs.
Once round Dippen Head, we caught our first sight of Holy Island since the first day of our trip. We continued to sail
...all the way to Dippen Head where we were...
...dwarfed by the scale of the cliffs.
Once round Dippen Head, we caught our first sight of Holy Island since the first day of our trip. We continued to sail
MOSPORT - RACETOUR MAKES A PIT STOP AT OSHAWA'S FIVE POINTS MALL THIS WEEKEND
(BOWMANVILLE, ON – April 26, 2011) With Mosport’s 2011 season getting underway next month at both the road course and oval track, Mosport’s popular RaceTour will get Durham residents revved-up this weekend (April 29 – May 1) at Five Points Mall in Oshawa. |
Located in the court in front of the Metro grocery store, the display will feature several stock cars that will be on track this year at Canada’s fastest half-mile paved oval, Mosport Speedway. Also featured is the sleek, exotic American Le Mans Series prototype, representing the cars competing at Mosport’s biggest event of the season, the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport, on its new date July 21-24. Cory Adams, a constable with the Durham Regional Police and a motorcycle road racer, will be on hand Saturday with his race bike and an informative display promoting the Racing Against Drugs program. Mosport International Karting will display one of their hottest new race karts and will have info about their Arrive and Drive Series. The highlight of the weekend takes place on Saturday from 11 am until 2 pm. In a special Five Points Mall Kids Club event, Mosport Speedway drivers Kevin Pickford (Pure Stock), Bill Northam (Late Model) and Jim Rossiter (Late Model) will be signing autographs and posing for pictures in front of their race cars, so be sure to bring your camera. The Rock girls from Durham Radio’s own 94.9 The Rock will be on hand as well. Five Points Mall will be giving away six "VIP Prize Packs" that includes Mosport Speedway general admission tickets, a pit tour to meet the Five Points Mall driver Bill Northam, concessions voucher, a pace car ride and the opportunity to drop the green flag in one of the Saturday night heat races. There will also be a draw to win tickets to Mosport Speedway, along with season schedules and other info for pick-up. The green flag drops on Mosport Speedway Saturday Night Stock Car Racing and Mosport International Raceway’s pro road racing schedule on the Victoria Day long weekend, May 20-22. Five Points Mall is conveniently located at the southwest corner of Taunton and Ritson Roads in Oshawa with 50 stores and service including Metro Grocery, National Sports, Staples and Zellers. The Mall is open Monday – Friday from 10 am until 9 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday from noon to 5 pm. - 30 - |
A big cave and big appetites at Kildonan, Arran
From the sadly deserted beach at Cleit Shore we sped past huge boulder beaches until a dramatic change in the landscape announced our arrival at Bennan Head, which marks the southern tip of Arran.
Just offshore lies Pladda which is the second biggest of Arran's three satellite isles: Holy Island, then Pladda, then tiny Hamilton Isle.
We were sailing and paddling at 9-10km per hour and David
Just offshore lies Pladda which is the second biggest of Arran's three satellite isles: Holy Island, then Pladda, then tiny Hamilton Isle.
We were sailing and paddling at 9-10km per hour and David
Optimizing and Fun
Several commenters advance the notion that looking up talent and gear optimizations is not fun.
And there's a lot of truth in that statement. Coming up with your own specs and strategies is a great deal of fun. Personally, if I'm looking at something new, I like to make up what I think the optimal spec will be and then go to Elitist Jerks and see how my spec differs from theirs and why.
But you know what isn't fun? Wiping.
It isn't fun to wipe to bosses you know that you could beat if only that hunter over there went to EJ, looked up a decent spec and rotation and tried it out. It isn't fun to watch your guild die because you stalled out at a boss that you know your team had the skill to beat, and optimal specs, gemming, and rotations would have been enough to push you over the hump.
I've been there and done that. To be honest, I've probably contributed to the problem in past guilds.
I'm in a guild now that takes it for granted that players will use the Internet to help determine optimum specs, rotation, reforging, and gear. That every player will come to raids pretty close to the accepted optimum for all those elements. If you app to us, and you differ from the optimum, you will face extra scrutiny.
And you know what? This is enormously freeing.
It takes so much of the "busywork" off the table. We still struggle with fights, but we're struggling with execution, and mastering the mechanics of the fight, not basic elements of how to play the class.
Talents, gear, and rotation are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to playing. They're the basics. Using community resources like EJ allows you to "shortcut" past those basics and work on more advanced techniques1 and fight-specific mechanics.
Ironically, taking optimization for granted allows you to focus on playing the game, and not playing the spreadsheet. Someone else has made the spreadsheet for you, has done the math. Leverage their efforts, steal their results, and you get to focus on making the right gameplay decisions for the fight at hand.
1. For some examples of more advanced techniques, see Kripparian's video.
And there's a lot of truth in that statement. Coming up with your own specs and strategies is a great deal of fun. Personally, if I'm looking at something new, I like to make up what I think the optimal spec will be and then go to Elitist Jerks and see how my spec differs from theirs and why.
But you know what isn't fun? Wiping.
It isn't fun to wipe to bosses you know that you could beat if only that hunter over there went to EJ, looked up a decent spec and rotation and tried it out. It isn't fun to watch your guild die because you stalled out at a boss that you know your team had the skill to beat, and optimal specs, gemming, and rotations would have been enough to push you over the hump.
I've been there and done that. To be honest, I've probably contributed to the problem in past guilds.
I'm in a guild now that takes it for granted that players will use the Internet to help determine optimum specs, rotation, reforging, and gear. That every player will come to raids pretty close to the accepted optimum for all those elements. If you app to us, and you differ from the optimum, you will face extra scrutiny.
And you know what? This is enormously freeing.
It takes so much of the "busywork" off the table. We still struggle with fights, but we're struggling with execution, and mastering the mechanics of the fight, not basic elements of how to play the class.
Talents, gear, and rotation are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to playing. They're the basics. Using community resources like EJ allows you to "shortcut" past those basics and work on more advanced techniques1 and fight-specific mechanics.
Ironically, taking optimization for granted allows you to focus on playing the game, and not playing the spreadsheet. Someone else has made the spreadsheet for you, has done the math. Leverage their efforts, steal their results, and you get to focus on making the right gameplay decisions for the fight at hand.
1. For some examples of more advanced techniques, see Kripparian's video.
"Alternative" Uses for a Pencil 2
No pictures this time, but today I used a pencil to mark a ballot paper at my local polling station. Today is an election day in much of the United Kingdom, with national government elections in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and local authority elections in England. I voted in none of those; instead I voted in a referendum held concurrently, the first referendum held across England since 1975.
The referendum was to vote on whether or not to introduce a new voting system in Parliamentary elections. I won't go into the details of our electoral system but the choice was between retaining the current First Past the Post system and introducing an Alternative Vote system.
Readers may be slightly surprised to see that the voting process in Britain is still very simple. I mark the ballot with a pencil according to my preference with an X in the box. And that's it. No machines are used in the count; we still employ teams of people to count the votes at town halls across the land.
So there's your alternative use for a pencil: democracy. Not bad for a cheap HB stub on a bit of string....incidentally I voted for AV.
The referendum was to vote on whether or not to introduce a new voting system in Parliamentary elections. I won't go into the details of our electoral system but the choice was between retaining the current First Past the Post system and introducing an Alternative Vote system.
Readers may be slightly surprised to see that the voting process in Britain is still very simple. I mark the ballot with a pencil according to my preference with an X in the box. And that's it. No machines are used in the count; we still employ teams of people to count the votes at town halls across the land.
So there's your alternative use for a pencil: democracy. Not bad for a cheap HB stub on a bit of string....incidentally I voted for AV.
A distinct lack of nudists at Cleits Shore.
The SW shore of Arran is superficially less dramatic than its neighbours. A boulder beach is backed by a raised beach which in turn is backed by a line of now dry wave cut cliffs. However, a series of basalt dykes run out to sea for distances of up to a kilometre from the shore.
They are particularly prominent in the region of the Cleits Shore, where they extend for a considerable distance,
They are particularly prominent in the region of the Cleits Shore, where they extend for a considerable distance,
More Thoughts on Optimality
Choices and Futures
Several commenters took exception to my statement that "for a decision to be meaningful, there must be a right choice and a wrong choice."
Kring states:
I don't really think we're that far apart. Perhaps I'll rephrase and extend my thoughts.
For a choice to be real, it must lead to different futures. If you vote Conservative or NDP, it's a choice because the future with a Conservative government is different than the future with an NDP government. However, the desirability of each future matters.
When voting, neither future is obviously desirable. Some people would prefer the Conservative government, others the NDP. Thus neither choice is right or wrong.
However, this is not the case with optimizing. In one future, the boss dies. The other future, the boss doesn't die. The future where the boss dies is 100% more desirable. Thus, barring any side-effects, the choices that shift the probabilities towards first future are "right", and the other choices are "wrong".
For another example, take a Civ-like game. Both going for military victory or cultural victory are valid choices. But if you're pursuing a cultural victory, randomly producing tanks for no real reason when you could have made a cathedral instead is the "wrong" choice.
Now if it's a single player game, then no one else other than you pays the price for your wrong decision. But in a team game, wrong decisions hurt your team's chances of victory.
Shintar phrases this in a different manner:
Sure, if that's the semantics you want to use. But it is incumbent on you to pick the best calculation in a team game. And the best calculation is determined by the optimizers.
Good Players and Sub-Optimal Choices
Masterlooter states:
In my view, this is a bit of a strawman. The truth is that this very rarely happens.
High-skill players almost always use the optimal spec or strategy. There are a few exceptions, but they are very rare. The vast majority of the time, someone with a non-optimal spec turns out to be a low-skill player.
Encouraging medium or low skill players to feel that they are a "special snowflake" and don't need to use more optimal builds dooms them and their group to mediocrity and failure. You have enough trouble with lack of skill, why further handicap yourself with a sub-optimal build?
And even the high-skill player with the sub-optimal spec does her group a disservice. If the high-skill player switched to the optimal spec, odds are she would play at an even higher level.
DPS Meters
There's also a lot of antipathy for DPS meters among the non-optimizing crowd. This is probably uncharitable of me, but sometimes it seems like DPS just want the freedom to play badly and not get called out for it.
They'd rather no one be able to tell how terrible they really are. That might mean they have to take the "effort" to improve. Just let the tanks and healers carry the group and do the work, while they sit back and collect the loot.
After all, it's pretty obvious when the tanks and healers are failing. What's so wrong with having an element that makes it just as obvious that the DPS are failing?
Good players don't worry about DPS meters. You know why? Because they post respectable results. They're an asset to the group instead of dead weight.
Several commenters took exception to my statement that "for a decision to be meaningful, there must be a right choice and a wrong choice."
Kring states:
I couldn't disagree more. You only have a real choice if all choices are valid.
It's like democracy. Just because you're allowed to vote doesn't mean you also have a choice. You only have a choice if there are multiple good and relevant parties.
I don't really think we're that far apart. Perhaps I'll rephrase and extend my thoughts.
For a choice to be real, it must lead to different futures. If you vote Conservative or NDP, it's a choice because the future with a Conservative government is different than the future with an NDP government. However, the desirability of each future matters.
When voting, neither future is obviously desirable. Some people would prefer the Conservative government, others the NDP. Thus neither choice is right or wrong.
However, this is not the case with optimizing. In one future, the boss dies. The other future, the boss doesn't die. The future where the boss dies is 100% more desirable. Thus, barring any side-effects, the choices that shift the probabilities towards first future are "right", and the other choices are "wrong".
For another example, take a Civ-like game. Both going for military victory or cultural victory are valid choices. But if you're pursuing a cultural victory, randomly producing tanks for no real reason when you could have made a cathedral instead is the "wrong" choice.
Now if it's a single player game, then no one else other than you pays the price for your wrong decision. But in a team game, wrong decisions hurt your team's chances of victory.
Shintar phrases this in a different manner:
Situations where there is a clearly right and a clearly wrong solution are calculations, not choices.
Sure, if that's the semantics you want to use. But it is incumbent on you to pick the best calculation in a team game. And the best calculation is determined by the optimizers.
Good Players and Sub-Optimal Choices
Masterlooter states:
If you have the "optimal" setup, and I have a "sub-optimal" one, but I do more damage than you (with equal gear), then I am more valuable to the raid. But since my setup is considered to be "inferior", I may not even get an invite to the group in the first place.
In my view, this is a bit of a strawman. The truth is that this very rarely happens.
High-skill players almost always use the optimal spec or strategy. There are a few exceptions, but they are very rare. The vast majority of the time, someone with a non-optimal spec turns out to be a low-skill player.
Encouraging medium or low skill players to feel that they are a "special snowflake" and don't need to use more optimal builds dooms them and their group to mediocrity and failure. You have enough trouble with lack of skill, why further handicap yourself with a sub-optimal build?
And even the high-skill player with the sub-optimal spec does her group a disservice. If the high-skill player switched to the optimal spec, odds are she would play at an even higher level.
DPS Meters
There's also a lot of antipathy for DPS meters among the non-optimizing crowd. This is probably uncharitable of me, but sometimes it seems like DPS just want the freedom to play badly and not get called out for it.
They'd rather no one be able to tell how terrible they really are. That might mean they have to take the "effort" to improve. Just let the tanks and healers carry the group and do the work, while they sit back and collect the loot.
After all, it's pretty obvious when the tanks and healers are failing. What's so wrong with having an element that makes it just as obvious that the DPS are failing?
Good players don't worry about DPS meters. You know why? Because they post respectable results. They're an asset to the group instead of dead weight.
hanes panty hose masters degree online education Online Dating Secrets
masters degree online education Online Dating Secrets
Whoever says that they can survive on their own is obviously a liar. That\'s probably how the quote \"no man is an island\" came about. After all, human beings are naturally social creatures and we all need to be loved and care for.But while there are more than 6 billion human beings on this planet yet there are hundreds of millions of singles who should either be married or dating at their age when they are still suffering from a poor social life.It\'s really awkward, in ways more than one, isn\'t it?Probably, you are one of them. And you agree that being lonely is never fun, that\'s why you\'re reading this letter.Perhaps:
Whoever says that they can survive on their own is obviously a liar. That\'s probably how the quote \"no man is an island\" came about. After all, human beings are naturally social creatures and we all need to be loved and care for.But while there are more than 6 billion human beings on this planet yet there are hundreds of millions of singles who should either be married or dating at their age when they are still suffering from a poor social life.It\'s really awkward, in ways more than one, isn\'t it?Probably, you are one of them. And you agree that being lonely is never fun, that\'s why you\'re reading this letter.Perhaps:
Carved in Rubber
Apologies for the light blogging, I've been a bit busy lately. Despite a near-fortnight off work thanks to the fortunate conjunction of public holidays here in England recently, I've been gardening and decorating, and too tired to blog...
Recently I've become interested in another weapon in the stationer's arsenal: the humble rubber stamp. It started off a few years ago when I picked up a cheap self-inking rubber stamp kit from my local branch of Lidl. It is the sort which is a tabula rasa: a blank slate onto which you put your own message. Rather predictably I put my name, address and telephone number on it. I used it a few times, and then put it away in the desk and forgot about it until recently. When I dusted it off the other week, the ink pad had dried out, and my efforts to re-ink it with a bottle from my local unnamed stationers were unsuccessful.
I bought a Colop date stamp from the stationers, but I really wanted an address stamp, so eventually and after much procrastination I ordered one from customstampsonline.com. I used their online stamp designer, and had a traditional rubber stamp made up, the sort which requires a separate ink pad. It's very good indeed and I'm delighted with it. I've already used the new stamp on correspondence and for putting my name and address on various books in my library. I hope you don't mind, but I don't wish to show it here as, even though I don't hide my name on this blog, I don't want my home address plastered all over the internets. Needless to say if I send you a letter or card, you'll see it!
Now that I have my fine new stamp, I was left with a redundant self-inker, albeit one I need to use with the ink pad. What to do? Another recent interest of mine is in mail art and stamping, after stumbling across this website from Fluxus mail artist Ruud Janssen from Breda in the Netherlands, who curates an archive of rubber stamps. With a bit of work in swapping the letters and numbers around, my old stamp could now have a new purpose, and reproduce any slogan I wanted. Again I chose the obvious message, and here it is in all its inky glory:
I suspect I will change it in time, however. One candidate for the space is one of my favourite quotes, from an old Prefab Sprout song, "Couldn't Bear to be Special":
Recently I've become interested in another weapon in the stationer's arsenal: the humble rubber stamp. It started off a few years ago when I picked up a cheap self-inking rubber stamp kit from my local branch of Lidl. It is the sort which is a tabula rasa: a blank slate onto which you put your own message. Rather predictably I put my name, address and telephone number on it. I used it a few times, and then put it away in the desk and forgot about it until recently. When I dusted it off the other week, the ink pad had dried out, and my efforts to re-ink it with a bottle from my local unnamed stationers were unsuccessful.
I bought a Colop date stamp from the stationers, but I really wanted an address stamp, so eventually and after much procrastination I ordered one from customstampsonline.com. I used their online stamp designer, and had a traditional rubber stamp made up, the sort which requires a separate ink pad. It's very good indeed and I'm delighted with it. I've already used the new stamp on correspondence and for putting my name and address on various books in my library. I hope you don't mind, but I don't wish to show it here as, even though I don't hide my name on this blog, I don't want my home address plastered all over the internets. Needless to say if I send you a letter or card, you'll see it!
Now that I have my fine new stamp, I was left with a redundant self-inker, albeit one I need to use with the ink pad. What to do? Another recent interest of mine is in mail art and stamping, after stumbling across this website from Fluxus mail artist Ruud Janssen from Breda in the Netherlands, who curates an archive of rubber stamps. With a bit of work in swapping the letters and numbers around, my old stamp could now have a new purpose, and reproduce any slogan I wanted. Again I chose the obvious message, and here it is in all its inky glory:
I suspect I will change it in time, however. One candidate for the space is one of my favourite quotes, from an old Prefab Sprout song, "Couldn't Bear to be Special":All words are trains for moving past what really has no name
Which fits in nicely with another element of mail art which interests me, that of asemic writing. Whilst writing this post, it struck me that this entire blog post is probably meaningless, a collection of words with no content or message at all. Oh, the futility. But then, I remembered the tabula rasa. So I leave it to you, Dear Reader, to impose your own interpretation on it...
False impressions at Blackwaterfoot.
Back on the water, we set off on the third day of our circumnavigation of Arran. We caught our first glimpse of Ailsa Craig as we rounded Drumadoon Point. Mist was curling off the Craig's summit, giving the impression that it was still an active volcano.
The point was also a turning point as far as our sailing was concerned. We set off for Blackwaterfoot on a beam reach and were to continue
The point was also a turning point as far as our sailing was concerned. We set off for Blackwaterfoot on a beam reach and were to continue
Optimality
Nils and Tobold are talking about inefficiency and the fear of being sub-optimal. Both of them seem to feel that the drive to optimize is negative.
I disagree.
For a decision to be meaningful, there must be a right choice and a wrong choice. Taking the right choice makes it easier to be successful. Taking the wrong choice makes it harder.
Players optimize because there is a chance of failure, and no one wants to be the guy who is deliberately handicapping the rest of the team. The game is already hard enough. Why make it harder on the rest of your group?
Trying to stop optimization is futile. Removing the ability to inspect or dps meters just means that you don't get any feedback and can't see what's going wrong.
You can remove the decisions entirely. Remove talent points and different stats on armor. No more optimization. But that makes the game less interesting.
You can make the game easier. If there's no chance of failure, there's no point in optimizing.
You could make content less predictable. But this is no guarantee of optimizing. PvP still has optimal builds and, more egregiously, optimal group compositions. It just changes the focus on optimizing to be the most damage for the most situations.
And I don't think that PvE players like unpredictable content as you think they would. Faction Champs in ToC and Prince Malchezzar in Karazhan had unpredictable elements, and there was a lot of grumbling about those.
As well, unpredictable content can still be optimized. Think of Blackjack or Poker. It's unpredictable. Yet there are still strategies and optimizations for those games. Only now you have to take probability into account, which makes the optimizations far harder to execute.
You could rotate content such that the "optimal" build in Fight 1 becomes sub-optimal in Fight 2. Which is promptly followed by the playerbase replacing the players from Fight 1 with different players for Fight 2.
In reality, I think that most people who are against optimizing aren't really against optimizing per se. Rather, they are against other people optimizing for them. If they were the ones to come up with the "optimal" build and reveal it to the world, then they would be happy.
But it just doesn't work that way. My rule of thumb is to assume that there are people who are ten times better at this game than I am. And there are people who are ten times worse. The better people are going to come up with optimizations faster than I will. The worse people will not see what I see, and just perform at a much lower level, making grouping with them destined to failure.
For any meaningful decision in a game, someone will determine the "right" answer sooner or later. The good players in the game will figure it out pretty quickly. The bad players will never figure it out.
The best an MMO company can do is make sure that each "playstyle" is close enough to the optimal so that it is viable. But otherwise, it is impossible to have meaningful decisions in group play, and yet not have optimizations.
I disagree.
For a decision to be meaningful, there must be a right choice and a wrong choice. Taking the right choice makes it easier to be successful. Taking the wrong choice makes it harder.
Players optimize because there is a chance of failure, and no one wants to be the guy who is deliberately handicapping the rest of the team. The game is already hard enough. Why make it harder on the rest of your group?
Trying to stop optimization is futile. Removing the ability to inspect or dps meters just means that you don't get any feedback and can't see what's going wrong.
You can remove the decisions entirely. Remove talent points and different stats on armor. No more optimization. But that makes the game less interesting.
You can make the game easier. If there's no chance of failure, there's no point in optimizing.
You could make content less predictable. But this is no guarantee of optimizing. PvP still has optimal builds and, more egregiously, optimal group compositions. It just changes the focus on optimizing to be the most damage for the most situations.
And I don't think that PvE players like unpredictable content as you think they would. Faction Champs in ToC and Prince Malchezzar in Karazhan had unpredictable elements, and there was a lot of grumbling about those.
As well, unpredictable content can still be optimized. Think of Blackjack or Poker. It's unpredictable. Yet there are still strategies and optimizations for those games. Only now you have to take probability into account, which makes the optimizations far harder to execute.
You could rotate content such that the "optimal" build in Fight 1 becomes sub-optimal in Fight 2. Which is promptly followed by the playerbase replacing the players from Fight 1 with different players for Fight 2.
In reality, I think that most people who are against optimizing aren't really against optimizing per se. Rather, they are against other people optimizing for them. If they were the ones to come up with the "optimal" build and reveal it to the world, then they would be happy.
But it just doesn't work that way. My rule of thumb is to assume that there are people who are ten times better at this game than I am. And there are people who are ten times worse. The better people are going to come up with optimizations faster than I will. The worse people will not see what I see, and just perform at a much lower level, making grouping with them destined to failure.
For any meaningful decision in a game, someone will determine the "right" answer sooner or later. The good players in the game will figure it out pretty quickly. The bad players will never figure it out.
The best an MMO company can do is make sure that each "playstyle" is close enough to the optimal so that it is viable. But otherwise, it is impossible to have meaningful decisions in group play, and yet not have optimizations.
Up and doon the Doon, before breakfast!
The third day of our round Arran trip dawned grey but dry. We had camped beneath a dramatic tertiary sill called the Doon.
Over a cup of fresh brewed coffee...
...David suggested trying to get to the top. The volcanic sill had been used as an Iron Age fort more than 2,000 years ago. Today its only inhabitants were fulmars, which were nesting high on its inaccessible ledges.
We cut across
Over a cup of fresh brewed coffee...
...David suggested trying to get to the top. The volcanic sill had been used as an Iron Age fort more than 2,000 years ago. Today its only inhabitants were fulmars, which were nesting high on its inaccessible ledges.
We cut across
Tues. May 3rd 2011 - RACE TIME RADIO Presented By Shell ROTELLA on Tuesday Nights 8pm. ET Broadcast On: theScore... SIRIUS
Les Entreprises M.P. Roy Inc.
Email : mproy@lesentreprisesmproyinc.com
Montréal : 514.907.1773
Québec : 418.210.3986
Cell : 514.942.6843
From: "Race Time Radio" <racetimeradio@rogers.com>
Date: Tue, 3 May 2011 14:52:52 -0400
To: Joe Race Time Radio<joe@racetimeradio.com>
Subject: Tonight Tues. May 3rd 2011 - RACE TIME RADIO Presented By Shell ROTELLA on Tuesday Nights 8pm. ET Broadcast On: theScore... SIRIUS
RACE TIME RADIO Presented by: Shell ROTELLA
Broadcast Tuesday Nights On theScore... SIRIUS ... Home of the Hardcore Race Fan
Your Weekly Racing Broadcast
Race Time Radio
RR # 2 Shallow Lake, ON Canada N0H 2K0
Tel: 519-371-3462
Toll Free: 1-888-5-RACETIME (72-2384)
Email: joe@racetimeradio.com --- sue@racetimeradio.com --- news@racetimeradio.com -- info@racetimeradio.com
To Listen To Monday Nights RTR's Provincial Broadcast from May 2nd 2011 - Listen Now
Paladin Tier 12
Blizzard recently unveiled the Paladin Tier 12 armor:
I think it looks rather decent. A lot of people deride the "dress" surcoat/cassock, but I rather like them. It makes paladin armor recognizably different than warrior or deathknight armor. It also plays up the "cleric" aspect of the paladin.
The helm is clearly inspired by T2, Judgement armor. In fact, where T2 was Paladin as Dark Inquistor, this set is Paladin as Fiery Inquisitor. Which is a pretty neat interpretation.
What's most interesting to me is that Blizzard did not show off any recolors of the set. And because the T12 theme is fiery armor, I don't see how they can actually do recolors this time around without wrecking the theme. So it will be interesting to see how, or even if, they differentiate the heroic version from the normal version.
My final verdict is that T12 is not in the absolute top Paladin sets (reserved for T2 and T6), but it is certainly above average.
I think it looks rather decent. A lot of people deride the "dress" surcoat/cassock, but I rather like them. It makes paladin armor recognizably different than warrior or deathknight armor. It also plays up the "cleric" aspect of the paladin.
The helm is clearly inspired by T2, Judgement armor. In fact, where T2 was Paladin as Dark Inquistor, this set is Paladin as Fiery Inquisitor. Which is a pretty neat interpretation.
What's most interesting to me is that Blizzard did not show off any recolors of the set. And because the T12 theme is fiery armor, I don't see how they can actually do recolors this time around without wrecking the theme. So it will be interesting to see how, or even if, they differentiate the heroic version from the normal version.
My final verdict is that T12 is not in the absolute top Paladin sets (reserved for T2 and T6), but it is certainly above average.
top model swimsuit hot Amami Yuki 8 jpg
top model swimsuit hot Amami Yuki
16 jpg
ä¸ç®¡å¾žå"ªå€‹æ–¹å'看 都好看ne~~~
18 jpg
æ¤å¤– 應該ä¸æ˜¯åªæœ‰æˆ'一個人看è'—這一幕 心裡想è'— 快斃了他 èœèœç¾Ž å§~應該大部份的觀眾都å'Œæˆ'有åŒæ¨£çš„想法æ‰å° XD æ¯é›†ç‰‡å°¾éƒ½å'Œç"·å‹å…©äººä¸€èµ·å‡ºç¾çš„繪ç†å 自從上一集身份被æ穿後 大概就æ²'å†çœ‹éŽé‚£å€‹ç"·äººäº†å§ 本集片尾的她試è'—æ'¥æ‰"ç"·å‹çš„手機 å»è½‰æŽ¥åˆ°
8 jpg
é•·å¾—å足å¡é€šæ¨£çš„強盗來了 本來ä¸æ‡‰è©²é–‹é–€çš„ æ²'想到門太脆弱強盗ä¸å°å¿ƒç¢°åˆ°å°±é–‹äº† å°æœ‹å‹é‚„大方的說 請進 什麼啊 XD 這樣真的å¯ä»¥å—Ž å¯æ†çš„野立 還得一直應付æ—邊嚇傻了的大人 硬是掰出一些怪怪的ç†ç"±ä¾†å°‡è¢«æ¼"的亂七八糟的劇情åˆç†åŒ– å› ç‚ºæ˜¯FBI嘛 是這樣å"¦ 所以FBI都æž
16 jpg
ä¸ç®¡å¾žå"ªå€‹æ–¹å'看 都好看ne~~~
18 jpg
æ¤å¤– 應該ä¸æ˜¯åªæœ‰æˆ'一個人看è'—這一幕 心裡想è'— 快斃了他 èœèœç¾Ž å§~應該大部份的觀眾都å'Œæˆ'有åŒæ¨£çš„想法æ‰å° XD æ¯é›†ç‰‡å°¾éƒ½å'Œç"·å‹å…©äººä¸€èµ·å‡ºç¾çš„繪ç†å 自從上一集身份被æ穿後 大概就æ²'å†çœ‹éŽé‚£å€‹ç"·äººäº†å§ 本集片尾的她試è'—æ'¥æ‰"ç"·å‹çš„手機 å»è½‰æŽ¥åˆ°
8 jpg
é•·å¾—å足å¡é€šæ¨£çš„強盗來了 本來ä¸æ‡‰è©²é–‹é–€çš„ æ²'想到門太脆弱強盗ä¸å°å¿ƒç¢°åˆ°å°±é–‹äº† å°æœ‹å‹é‚„大方的說 請進 什麼啊 XD 這樣真的å¯ä»¥å—Ž å¯æ†çš„野立 還得一直應付æ—邊嚇傻了的大人 硬是掰出一些怪怪的ç†ç"±ä¾†å°‡è¢«æ¼"的亂七八糟的劇情åˆç†åŒ– å› ç‚ºæ˜¯FBI嘛 是這樣å"¦ 所以FBI都æž
If it was good enough for a Royal to kip down, it'll be good enough for us!
By the time we arrived at Dougarie estate boathouse, it was 18:25 and pouring with rain.
We continued south and thankfully the rain stopped an hour later.
We now set across the broad expanse of Machrie Bay. We were bound for the headland below Torr Righ Mor, still some 6km distant.
As we approached the headland, the setting sun lit it in a last blaze of sunshine.
From the rocks below Torr
We continued south and thankfully the rain stopped an hour later.
We now set across the broad expanse of Machrie Bay. We were bound for the headland below Torr Righ Mor, still some 6km distant.
As we approached the headland, the setting sun lit it in a last blaze of sunshine.
From the rocks below Torr
ACT Result - Nick Sweet Takes Second Merchants Bank 150 in a Row
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ACT – 050111 Barre, VT – Barre, VT’s Nick Sweet claimed his second straight Merchants Bank 150 win at Thunder Road International Speedbowl on Sunday, May 1. The defending track champion came from his 8th starting position to take the lead from Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. on lap 91. Sweet would work his way through lap traffic with ease and never relinquished the lead for the remainder of the event. |
Graniteville’s John Donahue led from the outside pole for the first four laps before Polewarczyk took over from the fourth place starting spot. Polewarczyk survived the only restart of the event after a lap 9 caution for a spin. He then took control of the event and lapped the majority of the field before Sweet reeled him in and took the lead. Polewarczyk held on for second, Donahue claimed third, St-Denis, QC’s Patrick Laperle and seven-time ACT Tour Champion Brian Hoar completed the top five. London, Ontario’s Jonathan Urlin came all the way from the 21st starting position to take sixth, Groveton, NH’s Randy Potter rebounded from an early spin to take seventh, Ben Ashline, Quinny Welch, and Mark Lamberton rounded out the top ten. The event only saw one caution on lap 9 and completed the race on a 141 lap green flag run. It was completed in just 39 minutes and 24 seconds. Sweet becomes the second qualifier for the 3rd Annual ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He finished second in the inaugural event in 2009. The Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen saw Bradford’s Derrick O’Donnell claim his fourth career Tiger feature win. He held off second year driver Jason Allen of Barre and Pete Ainsworth of Middlesex. Craftsbury’s Mike Martin and Joey Roberts of Georgia completed the top five. Washinton’s Paul Giacherio took his first career feature win in the Allen Lumber Street Stock division. He beat out former Street Stock Champion Gary Mullen of Tunbridge and Martin Ingram of Essex. Joe Fecteau of Hardwick and Thomas Placey of Bradford completed the top five. Kevin Wheatley of Williamstown took his second career win in the Junkyard Warriors. Williamstown’s Brock Parrott and Waterbury’s Jason Woodard completed the top three. Car show winners were Fayston’s Brooks Clark in the Late Models, Bradford’s Derrick O’Donnell in the Tiger Sportsmen, Williamstown’s Sid Sweet, Jr. in the Allen Lumber Street Stocks and Waterbury’s Jason Woodard claimed the Junkyard Warrior. The ACT Late Model Tour has next weekend off before they Oxford Plains Speedway for a 150 lap event on Sunday, May 15. Thunder Road International Speedbowl’s next event is the Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic on Sunday, May 29. 13th Annual Merchants Bank 150 ACT Late Model Tour Sunday, May 1, 2011 Unofficial Results 1. (8) Nick Sweet, Barre, VT, 150 Laps 2. (4) Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., Hudson, NH, 150 Laps 3. (2) John Donahue, Graniteville, VT, 150 Laps 4. (10) Patrick Laperle, St-Denis-sur-Richelieu, QC, 150 Laps 5. (1) Brian Hoar, Williston, VT, 150 Laps 6. (21) Jonathan Urlin, London, ON, 149 Laps 7. (11) Randy Potter, Groveton, NH, 149 Laps 8. (13) #Ben Ashline, Pittston, ME, 149 Laps 9. (19) Quinten Welch, Lancaster, NH, 149 Laps 10. (17) Mark Lamberton, Mooers Forks, NY, 149 Laps 11. (9) Eric Chase, Milton, VT, 149 Laps 12. (3) Glen Luce, Turner, ME, 149 Laps 13. (23) Dave Pembroke, Middlesex, VT, 149 Laps 14. (14) Matt White, Northfield, VT, 149 Laps 15. (6) Brent Dragon, Milton, VT, 149 Laps 16. (5) Phil Scott, Berlin, VT, 149 Laps 17. (16) Wayne Helliwell, Jr., Dover, NH, 148 Laps 18. (7) Scott Payea, Milton, VT, 148 Laps 19. (15) #Pete Yetman, Peru, MA, 148 Laps 20. (26) Chip Grenier, Graniteville, VT, 148 Laps 21. (25) Dave Whitcomb, Essex Jct., VT, 148 Laps 22. (18) Cody Blake, Barre, VT, 148 Laps 23. (12) Scott Luce, Strong, ME, 148 Laps 24. (20) Tom Carey, Jr., New Salem, MA, 148 Laps 25. (22) Jamie Aube, Bow, NH, 147 Laps 26. (27) Joey Becker, Jeffersonville, VT, 146 Laps 27. (29) Jean-Paul Cyr, Milton, VT, 146 Laps 28. (28) Brett Wheeler, Waterbury, VT, 146 Laps 29. (24) #Jimmy Hebert, Williamstown, VT, 146 Laps 30. (30) #Dave Farrington, Jr., Jay, ME, 146 Laps Time of Race: 39:24 Margin of Victory: 3.649 sec Cautions: 1 (laps 9) Leaders: John Donahue, 1-4; Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., 5-91; Nick Sweet, 92-150 Heat Winners: Pete Yetman, Patrick Laperle, John Donahue, Wayne Helliwell, Jr. Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen Unofficial Top Ten Sunday, May 1, 2011 1. Derrick O’Donnell 68 Bradford, VT 2. Jason Allen 29 Barre, VT 3. Pete Ainsworth, Jr. 80 Middlesex, VT 4. Mike Martin 01 Craftsbury Common, VT 5. Joey Roberts 50 Georgia, VT 6. Shawn Fleury 31 Middlesex, VT 7. Jason Corliss 61 Danville, VT 8. Scott Coburn 1 S. Barre, VT 9. Bobby Therrien 4 Hinesburg, VT 10. George May 16 Barre, VT Allen Lumber Street Stocks Unofficial Top Ten Sunday, May 1, 2011 1. Paul Giacherio, Jr. 70ss Washington, VT 2. Gary Mullen 29ss Tunbridge, VT 3. Martin Ingram 02ss Essex Jct., VT 4. Joe Fecteau 75ss Hardwick, VT 5. Thomas Placey 33ss Bradford, VT 6. Troy Kingsbury 39ss Waitsfield, VT 7. Nick Pilotte 11ss Jefferson, VT 8. Garry Bashaw 92ss Lincoln, VT 9. Greg Adams, Jr. 38ss Hardwick, VT 10. Jennifer Getty 25ss Cambridge, VT Junkyard Warriors Unofficial Top Three Sunday, May 1, 2011 1. Kevin Wheatley 31jyw Williamstown, VT 2. Brock Parrott 23jyw Williamstown, VT 3. Jason Woodard 68jyw Waterbury, VT -30- |
PASS PR - Johnny Clark claims PASS North opening day thriller at Beech Ridge
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Media, contact Norm Desjardins @ (603) 387-5598 Johnny Clark claims PASS North opening day thriller at Beech Ridge Andy Shaw and Shane Tatro PASS Mod, Sportsman winners Scarborough ME (4/30) Johnny Clark reclaimed the lead on lap 120 of Saturday's Pro All Stars Series (PASS) North season opener at Scarborough Maine's Beech Ridge Motor Speedway and the defending super late model champ survived several late race cautions to nab the 150 lap feature over a charging Donnie Whitten. Ben Rowe, Lonnie Sommerville and Shawn Turple rounded out the top five. |
Clark led the most laps from his pole position start but the win was by no means easy. There were plenty of challengers up front. Travis Benjamin dogged the leader early on until mechanical issues sent him to the pit area. Benjamin returned to finish ninth. Derek Ramstrom was on fire too, taking the lead away from the defending series champ on lap 113.But problems sidelined Ramstrom too, possibly the result of contact with Clark on one of several tooth and nail restarts as the pair battled for the top spot. Ramstrom's troubles gave Trevor Sanborn a shot at the lead and he took advantage, taking over the point for several laps before Clark powered by on a lap 120 restart. Donnie Whitten was the man on the move, racing up from shot gun on the field into the top ten by lap 40. Whitten spun under green on lap 101 and had to scramble back through the field without the aid of a caution. When the checkers dropped Whitten was two car lengths and one position shy of his goal but his performance kept the packed grandstand on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Rowe, Sanborn, Sommerville, Ramstrom Shawn Turple and Bill Rodgers were all at or near the front all day. Quebec's Alex Gingras earned his best PASS finish to date with a sixth place run. It was a good day at the races for our friends from the North, with New Brunswick's Sommerville fourth, Nova Scotian Shawn Turple fifth and Gingras just outside the top five. Plenty of new faces dotted the results including. Jonathon Hicken, Kyle DeSouza, Matt Matheson and Bryan Kruscek Larry Gelinas returned to PASS North competition for the first time in several years in the McKeage 40 but the multi time PASS North winner was sidelined early..Defending race winner Mike Rowe was behind the wheel of a new ride but the team had a tough day finishing eighteenth, two laps down. Clark, Benjamin and Sanborn each claimed a heat race win and Kirk Thibeau won the consolation round. Sixteen cars finished on the lead lap. Clark's margin of victory was .336 seconds. Both the PASS Mod and Sportsman divisions got their touring seasons underway at Beech Ridge and defending PASS Mod Champion Andy Shaw scored a dominant win from the pole, leading all 40 laps. Alan Wilson, Mod newcomer Travis Buzzell, Dana Reed and Scott McDaniel raced home second through fifth. Shaw and Wilson both scored a heat race win. Shane Tatro and Carey Martin dueled early on in the PASS Sportsman's 75 lap feature but it was Tatro claiming the lead for good just past the half way mark to take down the opening day win. Clyde Hennessey snuck by Martin for second and Martin had to settle for third. Craig Smith and Kevin Douglas rounded out the top five. Martin and Tatro won their qualifiers. The PASS North super late models take a week off before they head to Star Speedway in Epping New Hampshire on Saturday May 14th. Feature racing goes green at 6:06 PM. For more information click on the Star Speedway link on the PASS Master schedule at www.proallstarsseries.com . Unofficial finish PASS North Super Late Model 150 – Beech Ridge Motor Speedway-Scarborough ME 4/30 1 54 Johnny Clark 2 7 Donnie Whitten 3 4 Ben Rowe 4 48 Lonnie Sommerville 5 0T Shawn Turple 6 27 QC Alex Gingras 7 29 Trevor Sanborn 8 53 Bill Rodgers 9 17 Travis Benjamin 10 77 Scott Chubbuck 11 33 Richie Dearborn 12 14M Matt Frahm 13 22 Aaron Ricker 14 5 John Hicken 15 84 Scott Mulkern 16 47 Kelly Moore 17 17T Chris Thorne 18 24 Mike Rowe 19 28 Kirk Thibeau 20 17A Scott Alexander 21 73 Doiron 22 88 Kyle DeSouza 23 2 Matt Matheson 24 10 Scott Dragon 25 0 Bill Penfold 26 35 Derek Ramstrom 27 40 Larry Gelinas 28 60 DJ Shaw 29 21 David Oliver 30 00 Bryan Kruscek 31 20 Mike Landry PASS Sportsman 75 lap feature - Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Scarborough ME - 4/30 1 7 Shane Tatro 2 8 Clyde Hennessey 3 18 Carey Martin 4 15 Craig Smith 5 16 Kevin Douglas 6 38 Dan McKeage 7 51 RJ Austin 8 22 Steve Bennett Jr. 9 58 Lyman McKeage 10 75 Doug Wolfe 11 10 Donnie Morse 12 35 Bobby Nadeau 13 34 Spencer Morse 14 01 Rob Drew 15 777 Mike St. Germain 16 1 Ken Marier 17 42 Corey Bubar PASS Mod 40 lap feature - Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Scarborough ME – 4/30 1 66 Andy Shaw 2 83W Alan Wilson 3 3 Travis Buzzell 4 60 Dana Reed 5 14 Scott McDaniel 6 33 Bill Dixon 7 53 Leo Oliveira 8 56X Rich Ferreira 9 85 Mitch Miller 10 28 Mark Lundblad Jr. 11 50 Sumner Sessions 12 61 Shawn Austin 13 21 Charlie Small |
Star Wars: The Old Republic Preview
Ouch. These guys probably aren't going to get any more previews or material from EA. Oddly courageous for the gaming media:
I don't know how absolutely accurate this will turn out to be, but I admire Bitgamer for being so willing to bite the hand that feeds them.
Our opinion of The Old Republic, formed over two solid days of playing, is that it’s one of the most boring titles we’ve ever had to endure. It’s plain and staid and deathly dull.
I don't know how absolutely accurate this will turn out to be, but I admire Bitgamer for being so willing to bite the hand that feeds them.
Raised beaches and a raised graveyard on Arran's west coast.
Once we had left Catacol, our view to the south was obscured by Rhuba Airigh Bheirig.
Past the headland, the view of the Kilbrannan Sound opened up and the Mull of Kintyre...
...stretched away to the south. The coastline near Leninmore is very rocky but low tide revealed some lovely sand.
Behind every possible landing beach on this stretch of coast, you will find a cluster of cottages built on
Past the headland, the view of the Kilbrannan Sound opened up and the Mull of Kintyre...
...stretched away to the south. The coastline near Leninmore is very rocky but low tide revealed some lovely sand.
Behind every possible landing beach on this stretch of coast, you will find a cluster of cottages built on