News for today's 2018

AUSTRALIA'S DEFENSE PAPER 2013:

6:45 PM Tukiyooo 0

<br /> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1y3YqSeA6BVgK5Z4cKTZCVDStX1YkJ9SAo_aWmchYZXtF8I5dcxnQUTNP-evSpavgLt54jrk0Vr6fTSctkyFIpdTPryfw017NrJvQlSEQpbYE6D7yvrrxjIL1Qo3cSYiqR9hN6aYpMQG/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1y3YqSeA6BVgK5Z4cKTZCVDStX1YkJ9SAo_aWmchYZXtF8I5dcxnQUTNP-evSpavgLt54jrk0Vr6fTSctkyFIpdTPryfw017NrJvQlSEQpbYE6D7yvrrxjIL1Qo3cSYiqR9hN6aYpMQG/s400/images.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">TOWARDS MIDDLE POWER OR STRATEGIC WITHDRAWAL?</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">By Murray Hunter via Geopolitcalmonitor.com </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AUSTRALIA'S 2013 defense white paper is a very paradoxical document. While there were very few surprises in the purchases and future spending outlook, the spirit of the paper appears to signal the country's abandonment of its self-view as a "middle power" into what could be argued as "strategic withdrawal.” This is particularly evident in the fact that defense spending is expected to be as low as 1.5-2.0% of GDP over the coming decade.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A MORE NEUTRAL STANCE TOWARDS CHINESE AND US RIVALRY</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOfcMlZSVpXlGmWkkItMlwR6lXpfRveGGlsVPf4a7FizN1vOfhSdgi7X9pjfw8LVsGi9npWkJFbAskC7ov33TNTauRlN_9k4iTiMKdy4N0cloFz3XaH0Lu91k1eJKi7nkRsLRhNau3dew/s1600/ChinaUSAw_rdax_384x216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOfcMlZSVpXlGmWkkItMlwR6lXpfRveGGlsVPf4a7FizN1vOfhSdgi7X9pjfw8LVsGi9npWkJFbAskC7ov33TNTauRlN_9k4iTiMKdy4N0cloFz3XaH0Lu91k1eJKi7nkRsLRhNau3dew/s320/ChinaUSAw_rdax_384x216.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Notably, the white paper doesn't choose between CHINA and the US. This time around, Canberra has undertaken a much more realistic strategic assessment of CHINA-US rivalry and AUSTRALIA'S position within this nexus. AUSTRALIA has rhetorically dropped sides and stated that it accepts, and encourages CHINA'S rise militarily within the region in line with its growth as an economic power. AUSTRALIA, unlike in the 2009 white paper under former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, has not taken sides, and through hardware acquisition and spending plans it has effectively declared itself as an onlooker in the region. This is indeed a major shift in AUSTRALIAN defense policy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Read related article on</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">AUSTRALIA’S 2009 DEFENSE WHITE PAPER</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">at:</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">AUSTRALIA IS KEEN TO AVOID NON WIN CHOICE BETWEEN CHINA AND US</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/06/australia-and-china.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/06/australia-and-china.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This reiterates AUSTRALIA'S future reliance on security from 'soft power' options. The white paper hopes for a new status quo arising between CHINA and the US, believing that there is substantial cooperation between the two powers in today, one which could give rise to a peaceful co-existence. However this could be seen as being too optimistic where the US is trying to maintain military primacy in the region, and CHINA is trying to assert its emerging status. AUSTRALIA is betting on 'strategic cooperation' between the two, rather than 'strategic competition'.<br /><br />The white paper leaves AUSTRALIA with very little capability in SOUTH-EAST ASIA. It has chosen to do nothing in terms of upgrading regional capabilities, harming its response options in the face of natural disasters and political upheavals that could be a threat to AUSTRALIA. The government is relying on the policy concepts outlined in the "AUSTRALIA in the ASIAN Century" white paper to engage ASIA through 'soft power' options, bilateral, and multilateral initiatives. Though just how effective AUSTRALIA really is at engaging ASIA via 'soft power' remains a big question.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AUSTRALIA’S NORTHERN NEIGHBOR INDONESIA, ASPIRING OF BECOMING THE LEADING MILITARY FORCE OF THE REGION</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5sAElvaB4H4ZNZsv02UDVk5dbaJf737zWfwfv97ktHq_z0dioKGxfo4MsyG6Dg2uLE4u8GWcqtNPp2OX9yyYgG6iZzR5NmHCjNFj-RdMTUb9dFPxI4wR2jj2uTck1jiMINl1kEUjwERr/s1600/An_Indonesian_Air_Force_Sukhoi_SU-27_touches_its_wheels_down_after_an_Exercise_Pitch_Black_2012_mission.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5sAElvaB4H4ZNZsv02UDVk5dbaJf737zWfwfv97ktHq_z0dioKGxfo4MsyG6Dg2uLE4u8GWcqtNPp2OX9yyYgG6iZzR5NmHCjNFj-RdMTUb9dFPxI4wR2jj2uTck1jiMINl1kEUjwERr/s320/An_Indonesian_Air_Force_Sukhoi_SU-27_touches_its_wheels_down_after_an_Exercise_Pitch_Black_2012_mission.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading" lang="id"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span dir="auto">Indonesian Air force Sukhoi SU-27</span></span></span></h1></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This comes at a time when the INDONESIAN President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono just announced INDONESIA'S aspirations of building up military forces to be bigger and more modern than countries like AUSTRALIA, MALAYSIA, and SINGAPORE, potentially filling the regional military vacuum to the near North of AUSTRALIA.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AUSTRALIAN DEFENSE UPGRADING </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AUSTRALIA has opted to purchase 12 new Super Hornet fighter planes with "Growler" technology that can knock out an enemy's communication and electronic capabilities, which will supplement existing fighter capabilities. With the purchase of 72 5th generation joint strike fighters, this makes for a good "budget defense" of the air-sea gap that separates AUSTRALIA from ASIA, along the lines of the old 'Fortress AUSTRALIA Policy' under the Fraser Government back in 1976.<br /><br />The submarine issue has been very contentious within the AUSTRALIAN defense establishment. According to the white paper, what AUSTRALIA wants to do with its submarines is to either upgrade the existing Collins design, or create a completely new design. This is still very vague and suggests that the defense establishment itself doesn't yet have the answers. Another unanswered question is: 'what will the submarines actually do?'</span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDS-loShX8NFsUCCmMDWobFaWfFVk0HcKGymkqe5VVAiCOE5clrXe89yiukJbGFoS3mdwFt4hYC7XCMP5PnvspC5HAM_7iVH7PmZ4KpFukjkt9ojmD_tXQaqgLwgZ901pb6U2ATtzClR32/s1600/ob_ecbd61_australian-defence-force.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDS-loShX8NFsUCCmMDWobFaWfFVk0HcKGymkqe5VVAiCOE5clrXe89yiukJbGFoS3mdwFt4hYC7XCMP5PnvspC5HAM_7iVH7PmZ4KpFukjkt9ojmD_tXQaqgLwgZ901pb6U2ATtzClR32/s200/ob_ecbd61_australian-defence-force.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />This submarine option could have more to do with jobs in SOUTH AUSTRALIA than actually strategic defense considerations. SOUTH AUSTRALIA is in need of employment opportunities and the construction of new submarines would boost the local economy. Even though any real work on these submarines would not occur for some years to come.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CHINA IS IMPORTANT TO AUSTRALIA</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This paper could be seen as trying to achieve many objectives, where none are really adequately covered. Although it defines a new AUSTRALIAN defense-scope as the INDO-PACIFIC region and, through rhetoric, the paper tries to hold onto the image of a 'middle power'; in reality it is signaling to the region, particularly ASEAN, that AUSTRALIA will be no power at all.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">GEOPOLITICAL BALANCING ACTS</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> <br /></span><br />The framers of the 2013 defense white paper probably had two objectives in mind. The first is coming to the recognition that CHINA is important to AUSTRALIA.  This means placating CHINA and making amends for the aggravating rhetoric of the 2009 defense white paper that occurred under the Rudd Government, where CHINA was painted as a threat. This will please CHINA, but will probably disappoint the USA, as the AUSTRALIAN white paper does nothing to support the US "ASIAN PIVOT". AUSTRALIA'S symbolic contribution of 15 specialists in the KOREAN Foal Eagle exercises last month really shows the impotency of AUSTRALIA'S defense capabilities from any regional perspective.<br /><br />The second objective was to avoid any higher financial commitment. The 2013 white paper shows that Treasury rules the roost in Canberra and the objective of fiscal restraint overrides any other policy issues in government.<br /></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzXTtDTJVBXTj5rdH227zuHnpZ5m1QFKKd5HhQ4coWeKoXKKjCmgljZ0xTDcUXNO2AJGdBn4RKpQqcH-tUHPycvuTaOIA6LOXVbNL1R1dQTqNR-KTutR3Q7Bx9Kl-TnwtvH_3kUpXeel0/s1600/Screen-shot-2012-03-12-at-9.28.36-PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzXTtDTJVBXTj5rdH227zuHnpZ5m1QFKKd5HhQ4coWeKoXKKjCmgljZ0xTDcUXNO2AJGdBn4RKpQqcH-tUHPycvuTaOIA6LOXVbNL1R1dQTqNR-KTutR3Q7Bx9Kl-TnwtvH_3kUpXeel0/s320/Screen-shot-2012-03-12-at-9.28.36-PM.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It could be argued that by default, AUSTRALIA is actually taking the "NEW ZEALAND" option of scaling down its defense forces in want of a threat. No frigate purchases, though a few faster patrol boats; updated strike fighters with modern electronic attack measures; a stalled submarine decision- this all looks like a strategic retreat.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The risk in this white paper is that the Gillard Government is signaling to SOUTHEAST ASIA that its interests aren't there anymore. Unfortunately, once again AUSTRALIA has failed to debate the issues facing the nation and opted for a 'band aid' approach, which will severely weaken AUSTRALIA'S defense future defense position, which seems to have become one of the lowest priorities of government today.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">However the 2013 white paper may be very short lived as AUSTRALIAN defense policy. AUSTRALIA faces an election this coming September where opinion polls strongly indicate that the Gillard Government will lose. The Federal opposition led by Tony Abbot has said that it plans to review AUSTRALIA'S defense needs and options once again. This leaves open the possibility that the whole process will be starting up again rather quickly.</span></div>

AUSTRALIA'S DEFENSE PAPER 2013:

TOWARDS MIDDLE POWER OR STRATEGIC WITHDRAWAL? By Murray Hunter via Geopolitcalmonitor.com AUSTRALIA'S 2013 defense white paper is a ve...

Waynesboro Circuit Court Clerk will not release concealed weapon permit info to RPV

5:06 PM Tukiyooo 0

<a href="http://blogs.nbc12.com/decisionvirginia/2013/06/before-new-law-rpv-requests-addresses-of-concealed-weapon-permit-holders.html">Last Friday</a> Ryan Nobles at Richmond's <i>NBC TV-12</i> reported that the Republican Party of Virginia had submitted FOIAs to state Circuit Court Clerks for the names and contact information of concealed weapon permit holders.<br /><br />Today he reported that at <a href="http://blogs.nbc12.com/decisionvirginia/2013/06/clerks-will-not-turn-over-permit-records-to-rpv.html">least twelve clerks would not be releasing that info</a> including the local city of Waynesboro.<br /><br /><a href="http://blogs.nbc12.com/decisionvirginia/2013/06/clerks-will-not-turn-over-permit-records-to-rpv.html">Nobles wrote</a>:<br /><blockquote>Last Friday, <a href="http://blogs.nbc12.com/decisionvirginia/2013/06/before-new-law-rpv-requests-addresses-of-concealed-weapon-permit-holders.html">we broke the news</a> that the RPV had requested the personal information of hundreds of thousands of permit holders to communicate their political message to them leading up to the fall elections. The RPV was legally allowed to ask for the material, but in less than a month the release of that information will become illegal.<br /><br />The new law to seal the records of permit holders was passed in the 2o13 Virginia General Assembly session and was sponsored and championed by the Republican nominee for Attorney General, Sen. Mark Obenshain. </blockquote>Clerks who were reported as denying RPV's request represented the localities of Waynesboro, Dinwiddie, Winchester, Hopewell, Colonial Heights, Chesterfield, Southampton, Suffolk, Middlesex,Isle of Wight, Bedford, and Prince George.

Waynesboro Circuit Court Clerk will not release concealed weapon permit info to RPV

Last Friday Ryan Nobles at Richmond's NBC TV-12 reported that the Republican Party of Virginia had submitted FOIAs to state Circuit Co...

Tuesday is Primary Day in Virginia

4:38 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5H-RBXkYO2w18-QV8PLNABY5DgyBsRYjNCS_p5ISh7VhTQCbdOkjcH6e2uyZY0rHIXJ6mujJ15xE1-zeyiOjTJRaHdqisX-YE7DkWDQe9sc8XIxeJ_Q0rPDA0zNCEFPdzwSzW33RGjdI3/s1600/voting+booth+graphic.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5H-RBXkYO2w18-QV8PLNABY5DgyBsRYjNCS_p5ISh7VhTQCbdOkjcH6e2uyZY0rHIXJ6mujJ15xE1-zeyiOjTJRaHdqisX-YE7DkWDQe9sc8XIxeJ_Q0rPDA0zNCEFPdzwSzW33RGjdI3/s1600/voting+booth+graphic.jpeg" /></a></div><br />Tuesday, June 11, 2013, is Primary Day in Virginia. Voting takes place at your regular polling place between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. <a href="http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/votinginperson.html">Identification will be required</a>, just as last year's November General Election. Changes to the law related to photo ID requirements to vote will not be effective until July 2014.<br /><br />For Democrats, Tuesday is the opportunity to vote for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General candidates. The gubernatorial choice is already in place -- <b>Terry McAuliffe </b>-- because no one stepped up to challenge him. <br /><br />That leaves two choices for lieutenant governor: <b>State Senator Ralph Northam</b> (D-6th Senate District) and <b>Aneesh Chopra</b> who is a techie guy out of the Obama administration. <br /><br />Also two choices for attorney general: <b>State Senator Mark Herring</b> (D-33rd Senate District), and former federal prosecutor <b>Justin Fairfax</b>. <br /><br />If you're a Republican, the Top Three candidates were chosen for you at the recent Republican Party of Virginia convention in Richmond: <b>Ken Cuccinelli</b> for Governor, <b>E.W. Jackson</b> for Lieutenant Governor, and <b>Mark Obenshain</b> for Attorney General.<br /><br /><b>Republicans have <a href="http://electionresults.virginia.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=HOD&map=CTY">eight contested House of Delegates races</a>:</b><br />- 15th District: Incumbent Todd Gilbert <i>versus</i> Mark Prince<br />- 16th District - Open Seat: Les Adams <i>versus</i> Ken Bowman<br />- 28th District: Incumbent Speaker of the House Bill Howell <i>versus</i> Craig Ennis<br />- 29th District: Incumbent Beverly Sherwood <i>versus</i> Mark Berg<br />- 33rd District: Incumbent Joe May <i>versus</i> David LaRock<br />- 54th District: Incumbent Bobby Orrock <i>versus</i> Dustin Curtis<br />- 6th District: Jeffrey Campbell <i>versus</i> Jack Weaver<br />- 85th District: Scott Taylor <i>vs</i> Gary Byler <i>vs</i> Jeremy Waters<br /><br /><b>Democrats have <a href="http://electionresults.virginia.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=HOD&map=CTY">three contested House of Delegates races</a>:</b><br />- 63rd District: Evandra Thompson <i>versus</i> Rosalyn Dance<br />- 86th District: Jennifer Boysko <i>versus</i> Herbert Kemp<br />- 90th District: Rick James <i>versus</i> Algie Howell, Jr.<br /><br />For more information, check out the <a href="http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/votinginperson.html">State Board of Elections website</a>.

Attorney General candidates governor Lieutenant Governor Primary Virginia Tuesday is Primary Day in Virginia

Tuesday, June 11, 2013, is Primary Day in Virginia. Voting takes place at your regular polling place between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 7:00...

E3: UbiSoft Press Conference:

4:23 PM Tukiyooo 0

<p><a><img height="668" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixCif6pd5AJ80D15PTN1V-IJdFRlTCBdtmrrAv1tYJas87WCVfd8SnjFjADL8XuCauL4AxBzl2teSLfygczMgYjaESj884UtHlsUtmXC8MEONGlbgIi1QKkvO4rjKc7RvJlwY5hITrUqk/s1600/Ubisoft+PS+Vita.jpg" width="800"></a></p> <p><font size="3">Highlights from the </font><a href="http://www.ubi.com/US/default.aspx"><font size="3">Ubisoft</font></a><font size="3"> press conference:</font></p> <ul> <li><font size="3">Rocksmith 2014 </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">learn to play guitar </font> <li><font size="3">October 2013 release</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Splinter Cell: Blacklist </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">August 20th release day </font> <li><font size="3">Biggest game ever </font> <li><font size="3">single player, co-op, and spies v. mercs game play </font> <li><font size="3">looks like a this gen title unfortunately</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Rayman Legendies </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">September 2013 release </font> <li><font size="3">looks cute</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">Persistent world </font> <li><font size="3">Free to play </font> <li><font size="3">closed beta now open, </font><a href="http://www.themightquestcom"><font size="3">www.themightquestcom</font></a></li></ul> <li><font size="3">South Park: The Stick of Truth </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">this holiday </font> <li><font size="3">current gen console release</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Next Gen Console releases: </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">The Crew </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">Xbox One and PlayStation 4 </font> <li><font size="3">driving game, criminal element trying to take over citizens </font> <li><font size="3">online, persistent world – blurred lines between single player, co-op, and multiplayer </font> <li><font size="3">competition games look better in my opinion </font> <li><font size="3">all types of driving terrain throughout the United States </font> <li><font size="3">player picture tags over cars is highly annoying </font> <li><font size="3">tablet integration with Ipad</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Watchdogs </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">Game takes place in Chicago </font> <li><font size="3">scarily close to reality in light of last weeks revelations </font> <li><font size="3">social engineering at it’s finest?</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Just Dance 2014 </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">all consoles, including Wii U </font> <li><font size="3">October 2013</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Rabbids Invasion </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">television show </font> <li><font size="3">interactive programming </font> <li><font size="3">Xbox One title</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">Pirate game </font> <li><font size="3">looks fabulous </font> <li><font size="3">land and sea adventures </font> <li><font size="3">open world game play</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Trials Fusion and Trials Frontier </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">console and smart phone integration </font> <li><font size="3">Trials: Frontier is exclusive to Xbox One </font> <li><font size="3">Trials: Fusion on all consoles (current and next gen) </font> <li><font size="3">2014 release</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Tom Clancy’s The Division </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">open world, RPG </font> <li><font size="3">Xbox One and PlayStation 4 </font> <li><font size="3">actual game play footage shown </font> <li><font size="3">tablet integration part of the game </font> <li><font size="3">chilling, realistic setting </font> <li><font size="3">looked stunning</font></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul> <p> </p> <div id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:1b5d6845-61ac-42de-89ab-21870a38ace4" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ubisoft" rel="tag">Ubisoft</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/XBox+One" rel="tag">XBox One</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/PlayStation+4" rel="tag">PlayStation 4</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Xbox+360" rel="tag">Xbox 360</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/PlayStation+3" rel="tag">PlayStation 3</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/South+Park" rel="tag">South Park</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/The+Stick+of+Truth" rel="tag">The Stick of Truth</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Assassin's+Creed+4%3a+Black+Flag" rel="tag">Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/The+Division.+Tom+Clancy" rel="tag">The Division. Tom Clancy</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Rabbids" rel="tag">Rabbids</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Watchdog" rel="tag">Watchdog</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Just+Dance+2014" rel="tag">Just Dance 2014</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Trials+Fusion" rel="tag">Trials Fusion</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Trials+Frontier" rel="tag">Trials Frontier</a></div>

PlayStation 4 Ubisoft Xbox Xbox One E3: UbiSoft Press Conference:

Highlights from the Ubisoft press conference: Rocksmith 2014 learn to play guitar October 2013 release Splinter Cell: Blacklist Au...

E3: Electronic Art Press Event: Highlights, Games, and Hype

2:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<p> </p> <p></p> <p><a><img src="http://www.insidesocialgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/ea-logo.png"></a></p> <p><font size="3">Highlights from the Electronic Arts Press Conference:</font></p> <ul> <li><font size="3">Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">3rd person action title </font> <li><font size="3">XboxOne first and then XBox 360 </font> <li><font size="3">Co=op included </font> <li><font size="3">Sunflower is the healer class </font> <li><font size="3">Cactus is ranged </font> <li><font size="3">Live demo of the game on stage and it looks FUN </font> <li><font size="3">Definite must play!</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Peggle 2 coming this year </font> <li><font size="3">Titanfall </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">Spring 2014 </font> <li><font size="3">Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC </font> <li><font size="3">Multiplayer game with a single player feel </font> <li><font size="3">Living, breathing, world</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Two New Engines </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">Ignite and Frostbite 3</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3"><strong>Star Wars: Battlefront</strong> </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">uses Frostbite 3 Engine</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Need for Speed: Rivals </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">uses Frostbite 3 </font> <li><font size="3">Cops v. Racers </font> <li><font size="3">All Drive: destroys the line between single player, co-op, and multiplayer – One world for all experiences </font> <li><font size="3">races can start as single player and end in multiplayer </font> <li><font size="3">tablet integration included </font> <li><font size="3">Can play as cop or racer </font> <li><font size="3">Game play footage looks seamless and engaging between single player and multiplayer</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3"><strong>Dragon Age III: Inquisition</strong> </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">OPEN world </font> <li><font size="3">Fall 2014 launch </font> <li><font size="3">Looks jaw dropping </font> <li><font size="3">Actual game play footage</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">NBA Live 14 </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">Xbox One and PlayStation 4 </font> <li><font size="3">Dribbling is the number priority – uses a new technology called Bounce Tech </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">ball is being released to physics </font> <li><font size="3">ball is separated from the hand in <em>every</em> dribbling animation</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Live World with player stats: exclusive push within an hour after the NBA themselves receive the data push</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Madden NFL 25 </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">Xbox One and PlayStation 4 </font> <li><font size="3">Actual game play footage </font> <li><font size="3">True step locomotion system – precise footwork </font> <li><font size="3">Lineman is the heart of game play </font> <li><font size="3">Ignite engine </font> <li><font size="3">Adrian Peterson revealed as the cover athlete </font> <li><font size="3">Launches Fall 2013</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">FIFA 14 </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">Looks great </font> <li><font size="3">Uses Ignite Engine </font> <li><font size="3">4 times more calculations per second </font> <li><font size="3">Fall 2013 </font> <li><font size="3">Xbox One and PlayStation 4</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">UFC </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">Ignite Engine </font> <li><font size="3">MMAI System: fighters can organically alter fighter strategies during the fight </font> <li><font size="3">Full body deformation: shows what it is like when hit </font> <li><font size="3">Launches Spring 2014 on Xbox One and PlayStation 4</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Battlefield 4 </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">Frostbite 3 Engine </font> <li><font size="3">Air, land and sea battles </font> <li><font size="3">Commander mode: birds eye that impacts action on the ground </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">Console or tablet use</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Battlelog: connect anytime, anywhere on multiple devices </font> <li><font size="3">live stream of battles all week during E3 </font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Mirrors Edge 2 </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">actual game play footage </font> <li><font size="3">Frostbite 3 Engine </font> <li><font size="3">No release or console information</font></li></ul></li></ul> <p> </p> <div id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:35e78b27-c076-4e87-97f9-93c1e21c206c" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/E3" rel="tag">E3</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Electronic+Arts" rel="tag">Electronic Arts</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EA" rel="tag">EA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Star+Wars%3a+Battleground" rel="tag">Star Wars: Battleground</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Battlefield+4" rel="tag">Battlefield 4</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Need+for+Speed%3a+Rivals" rel="tag">Need for Speed: Rivals</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EA+Sports" rel="tag">EA Sports</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/NBA+LIve+14" rel="tag">NBA LIve 14</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/MAdden+25" rel="tag">MAdden 25</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/FIFA+14" rel="tag">FIFA 14</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Dragon+Age+III%3a+Inquisition" rel="tag">Dragon Age III: Inquisition</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Mirror's+Edge+2" rel="tag">Mirror's Edge 2</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Titanfall" rel="tag">Titanfall</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/UFC" rel="tag">UFC</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/PLants+v.+Zombies%3a+Garden+Warfare" rel="tag">PLants v. Zombies: Garden Warfare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Peggle+2" rel="tag">Peggle 2</a></div>

E3 EA Electronic Arts E3: Electronic Art Press Event: Highlights, Games, and Hype

Highlights from the Electronic Arts Press Conference: Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 3rd person action title XboxOne first and...

From my yard: thunderstorms rolling (again) into Augusta County

1:14 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38s9yzCo_xwagei7yC4rdZDEtXB1ZCfXxNZGVb5RZLU_y1RQ2rAykCJN5BHLHFz7m0D9cJFS3T50p5BoyzIUhZvGrGEjBiOpwp1Ep_U5Uw6itCBjYp6fCW-qHDSA3sFSPomaOilbRUsp0/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38s9yzCo_xwagei7yC4rdZDEtXB1ZCfXxNZGVb5RZLU_y1RQ2rAykCJN5BHLHFz7m0D9cJFS3T50p5BoyzIUhZvGrGEjBiOpwp1Ep_U5Uw6itCBjYp6fCW-qHDSA3sFSPomaOilbRUsp0/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The sky west of us was black as the latest round of thunderstorms approached around 3:45 this afternoon. This is looking northwest from our yard.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlaADpyXIi-e6ECf8Cd-42aJUbHd4xc8Lg5g35dEdmXLZyu7FR97HEr0QifEQ794YtG0ZSCA6lrUwDyMTe7PWZDShMxTT-HMRpqNb8LOnzvBNx6DCjVHpv9UCt8JR-NYIFXgb9-xBhuNa/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlaADpyXIi-e6ECf8Cd-42aJUbHd4xc8Lg5g35dEdmXLZyu7FR97HEr0QifEQ794YtG0ZSCA6lrUwDyMTe7PWZDShMxTT-HMRpqNb8LOnzvBNx6DCjVHpv9UCt8JR-NYIFXgb9-xBhuNa/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The is looking southwest.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcXDyY9ekIJAJYa-teM-Yw9cgGr4hajT3KVtLKhqyD1ErorpBXZ-b4yQ15j4w5mcxPQSN6yFnA5_bwcYCP10iColhdqK5RdCGv8oZn1y9djFKFtFWlOKN155vlN90CcqAaUumuB3TWueN/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcXDyY9ekIJAJYa-teM-Yw9cgGr4hajT3KVtLKhqyD1ErorpBXZ-b4yQ15j4w5mcxPQSN6yFnA5_bwcYCP10iColhdqK5RdCGv8oZn1y9djFKFtFWlOKN155vlN90CcqAaUumuB3TWueN/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is looking south.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nLDdMTJOAAaY9otVUoCIaq68FEbTRI5j2fyiR4l0DqMJunr7aLp6u7S9gPmVlJwd1JBewKeHU_W-_P7n37iWANDEgv1_2ti5sxMbqAul74IPCFspmVF6_kKcv1hx3CvVoVGGlW9xMgzH/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nLDdMTJOAAaY9otVUoCIaq68FEbTRI5j2fyiR4l0DqMJunr7aLp6u7S9gPmVlJwd1JBewKeHU_W-_P7n37iWANDEgv1_2ti5sxMbqAul74IPCFspmVF6_kKcv1hx3CvVoVGGlW9xMgzH/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Northwest ...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUO-s90_1Ru3Jy0r5uPWX3SEsFrjVO7yM5RcIImMXja8CiHCyoiOpvnbPXej5Zblp7nxlCWXJD7KeBdSoYVw3f3WdZJIlQUDUHnCzzhgjUXlsfBgdmVv5LtI1tsp_nJLR_7AhPa6FCZJjN/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUO-s90_1Ru3Jy0r5uPWX3SEsFrjVO7yM5RcIImMXja8CiHCyoiOpvnbPXej5Zblp7nxlCWXJD7KeBdSoYVw3f3WdZJIlQUDUHnCzzhgjUXlsfBgdmVv5LtI1tsp_nJLR_7AhPa6FCZJjN/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">... and north-northeast.</div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />June 10, 2013

From my yard: thunderstorms rolling (again) into Augusta County

Augusta County flash flood watch severe weather thunderstorms in Virginia tornado watch western Virginia From my yard: thunderstorms rolling (again) into Augusta County

The sky west of us was black as the latest round of thunderstorms approached around 3:45 this afternoon. This is looking northwest from our...

Severe weather warnings over most of Virginia

12:22 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-qtUtjJkCaOIrlJRNBq5ooQwBQwr6-CAsMrhbrwOt1ZVjnv2PQx78I3wI314Vrs98Oo6sWT-dX5tXBBGv3ctdZzJXxQrIA_Of8-LTZaT6wOqfRElNLUs9rkxsoacNWLbQHCQi2d1Poxl/s1600/Weather+map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-qtUtjJkCaOIrlJRNBq5ooQwBQwr6-CAsMrhbrwOt1ZVjnv2PQx78I3wI314Vrs98Oo6sWT-dX5tXBBGv3ctdZzJXxQrIA_Of8-LTZaT6wOqfRElNLUs9rkxsoacNWLbQHCQi2d1Poxl/s400/Weather+map.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />This weather map is from Richmond-based <a href="http://www.wtvr.com/weather">WTVR CBS-6</a> with a note from meteorologist Zach Daniel that he cannot remember ever seeing a single tornado watch cover this much of Virginias (areas in red). In the Shenandoah Valley, those areas include Augusta, Highland, Rockingham, Page, and Shenandoah until 10:00 p.m. A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for thunderstorms to possibly become capable of producing tornadoes.<br /><br /><b>Here is the latest information</b> passed along by the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SVFC14?fref=ts">Swoope Volunteer Fire Department</a> located in Augusta County west of Staunton:<br /><br /><b>TORNADO WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE FOR WT 293</b><br />NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK<br />200 PM EDT MON JUN 10 2013<br />TORNADO WATCH 293 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT FOR OUR AREA  953 AM EDT MON JUN 10 2013  <b> </b><br /><br /><b>...FLASH FLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR ...</b><br /><br />* PORTIONS OF VIRGINIA AND NORTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS...INV IRGINIA...ALBEMARLE...AUGUSTA... CULPEPER...EASTERN HIGHLAND...GREENE...MADISON...NELSON... NORTHERN FAUQUIER ... ORANGE... PAGE ...RAPPAHANNOCK... ROCKINGHAM... SHENANDOAH... SOUTHERN FAUQUIER...  WARREN AND WESTERN HIGHLAND. IN NORTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA ... EASTERN PENDLETON AND WESTERN PENDLETON.<br /><br />* UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING<br /><br />* AFTER A SOAKING RAIN THIS MORNING...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED. WITH THE GROUND ALREADY SATURATED FROM PREVIOUS RAINFALL ... IT WILL NOT TAKE MUCH RAIN TO PRODUCE FLASH FLOODING OF STREAMS AND LOW LYING AREAS.<br /><br />PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...<br /><br />A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

flash flood watch severe weather Swoope Fire Department tornado watch Virginia Severe weather warnings over most of Virginia

This weather map is from Richmond-based WTVR CBS-6 with a note from meteorologist Zach Daniel that he cannot remember ever seeing a single ...

Monday, Monday

12:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.archidose.org/wp/">A Weekly Dose of Architecture</a> Updates:</span><br /><br />This week's dose features the <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2013/06/10/water-treatment-plant/">Water Treatment Plant</a> in Évry, France, by AWP:<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2013/06/10/water-treatment-plant/"><img alt="this week's dose" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Jun13-10.jpg" title="This week's dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br />The featured past dose is the <a href="http://www.archidose.org/Aug06/081406.html">Concrete and Water Building</a> in Cerro Blanco, Chile by Philippe Blanc C.:<br /><a href="http://www.archidose.org/Aug06/081406.html"><img alt="this       week's  dose" src="http://www.archidose.org/Aug06/polpaico2.jpg" title="featured past dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br />This week's book review is <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2013/06/10/instigations/"><i>Instigations: Engaging Architecture, Landscape, and the City</i></a> edited by Mohsen Mostafavi and Peter Christensen (L):<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2013/06/10/instigations/"><img alt="this week's book review" height="300" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/instigations.jpg" title="This week's book review" /></a> <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2011/01/17/the-liberal-monument/"><img alt="this week's book review" height="300" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/dhooghe.jpg" title="This week's book review" /></a><br />(R): The featured past book review is <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2011/01/17/the-liberal-monument/"><i>The Liberal Monument: Urban Design and the Late Modern Project</i></a> by Alexander D'Hooghe.<br /><br />: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">American-Architects <a href="http://www.american-architects.com/en/pages/50x50">Building of the Week</a>:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.american-architects.com/en/projects/project-review-detail/41621_hall_house">Hall House</a> in Duluth, Minnesota, by Salmela Architect:<br /><a href="http://www.american-architects.com/en/projects/project-review-detail/41621_hall_house"><img alt="this week's Building of the Week" src="http://c214210.r10.cf3.rackcdn.com/files/projects/41621/images/900:w/HallHouse5.jpg" title="Current Building of the Week on american-architects.com" width="640" /></a>

Monday, Monday

A Weekly Dose of Architecture Updates: This week's dose features the Water Treatment Plant in Évry, France, by AWP: The featured past...

ARE THEY STILL FIGHTING? -- HOW CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES MAKE US WORSE

11:46 AM Tukiyooo 0

<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A new priest at one of our small town churches goes to a local gathering place. He tells the people he is the new priest at St. Swithens. The locals ask, “Are they still fighting?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A layperson at another small town church tells a friend where she worships. The friend says, “I’ve been to several events there. Every time, your church members are gossiping about people here in town. I wouldn’t want them to know much about me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Most of the church people I know are pretty good folks. Members of faith communities are statistically healthier, happier, and more likely to do civic good where they live. There is plenty of objective evidence that we are doing something right. So here’s what I wonder about:  Why is there also so much unhealthy behavior in congregations: selfishness, power grabbing, cultural insensitivity, undermining, manipulation, stinginess, and a whole list of moral failings? People who have been practicing Christian spirituality their whole long lives, people who love the Lord and receive the sacraments behave in ways no self-respecting garden club would tolerate in its members. Truth be told, it shakes my faith – not in Christ, but in Christianity. The only proof of any religion is that it makes people better. I’m not sure we are doing that as well as we might. People outside our walls are outside our walls because they don’t like what they see going on inside our walls. They are not entirely wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Epistles (and the New Testament in general) teach that Christianity is a group project. Our Bible is a guide to how we are to behave toward each other so that we can be the ongoing incarnation, the Body of Christ in the world, the human channels of God’s love and mercy. “They’ll know we are Christians by our love,” the song says. That’s what I don’t always see us doing very well. Again, most church folks do quite well and churches do plenty of good. But the good we do is eclipsed in the eyes of outsiders by all the petty badness – emphasis on <b>petty </b>because we misbehave in big ways over embarrassingly small issues. So what’s up with these good people doing bad things?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My hypothesis: a big part of the problem is good intentions badly implemented. Meaning well actually gets us in moral trouble. “The path to hell is paved with good intentions.” We start with this right principle: The Church should accept, befriend, and embrace people the rest of the world does not. Some churches understandably don’t do that. But most of us do accept the outcasts. The problem is: what then do we do with them? This is where the trouble starts. To make them feel welcome, we put them in charge – not always formally, but <i>de facto</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dennis Maynard’s book, <i>When Sheep Attack</i>, is about how small minority groups in congregations can destroy a pastor’s ministry and run him or her right out of town. That isn’t all they do. Vocal minorities do all manner of mischief in faith communities. Maynard characterizes the small minorities as pathological. But the problem isn’t the pathological minorities. It’s that the congregation as a whole defers to them. The least healthy people in a congregation often seek to control it and are able to do so precisely because all the nice church folks want to appease them. Love means doing whatever it takes to make the crazy folks happy. The result: a nutocracy. Maynard prescribes pretty aggressive responses, a sort of surgical removal of the malignant cells. I don’t’ think that is either right or effective. But his analysis of church dynamics is on the mark.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The implicit cultural norm of churches is to not only tolerate but to appease unhealthy behavior. Some clergy undertake to police those behaviors, but those clergy don’t usually survive long. The policy of appeasement always wins if the ordained leader is the only person trying to change the system. The worst part of it is that by cow towing to bad behavior in our midst, we encourage our weakest members to act worse. And people who might behave well in the rest of life learn that church is the place they can act out their worst selves because church is where they can get away with it. The normative behavior of a congregation does not look like the Kingdom of God and the people do not function together as the Body of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So how might we turn this around? The first generation Christians understood their fellowship as a crucible of moral and spiritual transformation, a place where we are changed. My pastoral consultant once said to me, “Programs don’t change people. People change people.” True enough, but how can we organize our relationships in way that allows us to make each other better instead of worse?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I have three basic suggestions for starters:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">    </span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Behavioral Covenants.  A tennis court needs boundary lines. We all need to know where they are. It doesn’t work nearly as well for an authority figure (the pastor for example) to draw the boundary lines. Then the pastor becomes the enforcer and will soon be driven out by a congregation that never owned the boundaries. We need boundary lines drawn by the community itself. A clergy leader can facilitate a process of setting behavioral norms, but cannot be the lawmaker. Gilbert Rendle has written a helpful little book, Behavioral Covenants In Congregations, available from Alban Institute. It is a guide to how a congregation can establish its own healthy boundaries. Of course, people are imperfect. We will hit the ball out of bounds from time to time. Any of us will do that. But the community that has drawn the boundaries will recognize when the ball is out of bounds and can remind the out-of-bounds person of the norms for discourse in the community. Examples: What kind of communications can be done by e-mail? What communications need to be face to face? What is it appropriate to say about someone who is not in the room? What kind of communication is appropriate for confidentiality? Which are unhealthy secrets? Having answers to those questions in advance can make a huge difference. I know of one congregation that went from crippling civil strife to vibrant health and growth thanks to such a behavioral covenant. I know another that weathered a short failed rectorate without falling into blaming each other, again because of a sound behavioral covenant.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">    </span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Circles Practice. Attentive listening, intentional speaking, and mindful relationship do not come naturally, especially when we are enculturated to act contentiously. These practices require skill and discipline. We can teach people these skills in church. These are basic skills for virtuous participation in the human community. Christians ought to be good at that; so the Church ought to be in the business of training us. There are a variety of approaches to these practices. I started with Industrial Areas Foundation broad-based community organizing where I learned one-on-one and small group relational meeting skills. I moved from there to Parker Palmer’s Circles of Trust work. The main book is Palmer’s A Hidden Wholeness. Training is offered through the Center For Courage & Renewal. <a href="http://www.couragerenewal.org/">http://www.couragerenewal.org</a>. The clearest, most usual friendly book on how to do such a process may be The Circle Way by Baldwin and Linnea. The World Café is another approach to this kind of respectful discourse. <a href="http://www.theworldcafe.com/">http://www.theworldcafe.com</a>. We can intentionally create safe place situations for honest conversation. We can cultivate healthy, wise habits like speaking from curiosity instead of judgment. These are processes we can use to deepen and improve relationships, build character, and strengthen our communities to become what we were meant to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">    </span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Alternative Models Of Decision-Making. We could combine behavioral covenants and circle practice to change our ways of making decisions. That would profoundly transform the power dynamics in congregational life. Today, most congregations have two decision-making processes – the formal visible one and the informal invisible one. Formal visible decision-making is done in public meetings with Roberts Rules. Motions are made and voted up or down. It is a contest with winners and losers. But we rarely actually make decisions that way. When we do, conflict has become hotter than the system can bear for long. Usually, those formal public meetings just document the decisions that have been made informally. The informal invisible process is consensus achieved by finding the lowest common denominator. The person in the room who is hardest to pacify wins by getting his or her way. A third option is to pull the informal process into public view and talk things through in a healthy way using a circles practice like World Cafe. We can find an authentic consensus of those operating inside the boundaries.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">These are just three starter suggestions for how a church might shift its culture. We can become the kind of community that people want to join because we are a safe place to be ourselves and explore new truths, a place that challenges us to change without coercing us with guilt. We can become clearer channels for grace. But it won’t happen without an intentional decision to undertake a process of deep change in how we go about being Church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>

ARE THEY STILL FIGHTING? -- HOW CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES MAKE US WORSE

A new priest at one of our small town churches goes to a local gathering place. He tells the people he is the new priest at St....

38 weeks & 2 days Pregnant

11:11 AM Tukiyooo 0

Two milestones were reached this past weekend!<br /><br />First, I made it to the 38 week mark in my pregnancy - that is great news!  I know she's still growing because by the day it seems as though my stomach is getting tighter and tighter.  More aches and pains keep occurring in the lady parts.  Sleep is getting harder and harder by the day.  For example, last night I started in a laying down position.  At around 1 AM, I transferred to a sitting up position.  By 3:15 AM, I moved to the couch.  The couch may be my permanent bed from here on out.  I need something to grab onto to help lift myself up and roll over.  I haven't had much exhaustion during this final trimester, but I credit that in large part to working at home.  I'm sure if I was getting up everyday at 4:30 to head downtown, it'd be a much different story.   The exhaustion I've been facing recently is no doubt due to the restless sleep I've been getting.  Nearly everyday I've been taking a nap to help make up for it. <br /><br />This afternoon I have a doctor's appointment, so I hope it fairs good news for us!  I should be learning more about whether or not I'll have another rate-of-growth ultrasound.  If they do decide to do another, then I should also learn after that how quickly I'll have her.  Part of me wants her to arrive on her own time (preferably before the 40 week mark), but part of me hopes they say - "let's schedule you for a c-section" - and that way I may not have to endure the pain of labor.  Right now, I just really want her out!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-U5W5fEewWOHPSD8BuG8ti97dj8GFxoyokQclarkKpS0hOJ_FY6zLehhvw1uR0MMF8NMsTt_I-IYuM6BP9eAl-jyPP0DKvKyutxtsk2FT5NfudXlQzEL1pbwwtYzboTBi2h4GAsKWn8Y/s1600/38+weeks+pregnant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-U5W5fEewWOHPSD8BuG8ti97dj8GFxoyokQclarkKpS0hOJ_FY6zLehhvw1uR0MMF8NMsTt_I-IYuM6BP9eAl-jyPP0DKvKyutxtsk2FT5NfudXlQzEL1pbwwtYzboTBi2h4GAsKWn8Y/s400/38+weeks+pregnant.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><br />Also on the milestone marker this weekend was the celebration of our one year wedding anniversary.  It is so hard to believe that it was <i>just </i>one year ago, on June 9, that we were married in Montego Bay, Jamaica.  A lot sure has changed in just 1 year!<br /><br />From wedding dresses...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgex5hG8Xr4a5rctYxEvCafCvA42lsH53hysLekSE6YHUmwPivTIXYncaQWwp9mgYRbr2RldLoVDNJVL6S4_y0SGJZc1o-FyYh0xhpjMLZBiAp1fYwNS7s9_typ0NYAdN3YnwZ-pICpKM/s1600/palm+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgex5hG8Xr4a5rctYxEvCafCvA42lsH53hysLekSE6YHUmwPivTIXYncaQWwp9mgYRbr2RldLoVDNJVL6S4_y0SGJZc1o-FyYh0xhpjMLZBiAp1fYwNS7s9_typ0NYAdN3YnwZ-pICpKM/s400/palm+tree.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROIdxaOlQ3SKvSOyWiEt6J23mAo6L3qJvnU4yv6ZfPYKUPeIu1saURANsvJC7zeLPNVd4nz049UTZMAhMHvB9tRmAd_2tsUKsLC9hVRhVvBqwPaG3uwWvAmf3YZNRVH7n_ctBYyM8yf4/s1600/051_51+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROIdxaOlQ3SKvSOyWiEt6J23mAo6L3qJvnU4yv6ZfPYKUPeIu1saURANsvJC7zeLPNVd4nz049UTZMAhMHvB9tRmAd_2tsUKsLC9hVRhVvBqwPaG3uwWvAmf3YZNRVH7n_ctBYyM8yf4/s400/051_51+(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">......to maternity dresses!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUuzQ2IEdG_o8HdXpRb9EZJsvPRjC7GXmqf1eMmYdBhsS6_uDm1VFTUNahUi6GUBgKvrzLik3b1x2Nw4ozY2-y2_hLpfZXtsBXE6yBSdfHOKCCstC_1cNMbtJi10N798h7WbQYTyWVHyo/s1600/38+weeks+pregnant+anniversary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUuzQ2IEdG_o8HdXpRb9EZJsvPRjC7GXmqf1eMmYdBhsS6_uDm1VFTUNahUi6GUBgKvrzLik3b1x2Nw4ozY2-y2_hLpfZXtsBXE6yBSdfHOKCCstC_1cNMbtJi10N798h7WbQYTyWVHyo/s400/38+weeks+pregnant+anniversary.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>For our anniversary meal, we dined at the <a href="http://nationalharbor.com/" target="_blank">National Harbor</a> at <a href="http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/" target="_blank">McCormick & Schmick's</a>.  We chose that restaurant because they offered red snapper, which was part of our main dish for our wedding dinner. It was so incredibly tasty - especially with the added lemon garlic butter crab on top.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrrZMCfpc_QwVHXURtGSdOHS69g4xdFibAJwm94YeGpEXRaV7352yDHZVYKC5sLbziGi7zsgDa0p5zVNgmALeynCBoS5BcB7zEDJGkmFIOZEGcZfDJ3vVJcv-LXbmU5DgBkyRCgqBXk4/s1600/red+snapper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrrZMCfpc_QwVHXURtGSdOHS69g4xdFibAJwm94YeGpEXRaV7352yDHZVYKC5sLbziGi7zsgDa0p5zVNgmALeynCBoS5BcB7zEDJGkmFIOZEGcZfDJ3vVJcv-LXbmU5DgBkyRCgqBXk4/s320/red+snapper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Afterward, we came home and had a very tiny piece of our wedding cake.  It actually tasted just fine, but rest assured the remainder will be going into the trash.  That is far too much cake for either of us to consume!  The flavor was a Jamaican spice cake, which we chose for obvious reasons.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcVbIcQW5VoQPLu8w9XQtEJOGTU58sxguC4_anbbT6HAMCSytrx3yHHECe7tuqtq0NPq7ybmZNd1ylk6abGW0WK8x2DrkWmaae-lTurOI5sH-Ci9rUNRJvVgH8EYVTWB0TgkJtu4_LWo/s1600/wedding+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcVbIcQW5VoQPLu8w9XQtEJOGTU58sxguC4_anbbT6HAMCSytrx3yHHECe7tuqtq0NPq7ybmZNd1ylk6abGW0WK8x2DrkWmaae-lTurOI5sH-Ci9rUNRJvVgH8EYVTWB0TgkJtu4_LWo/s400/wedding+cake.jpg" width="326" /></a></div><br /><br />If you would have asked me a year ago how I thought we would be celebrating our first anniversary, I would have said via a cruise back to the Caribbean.  But as they say, "If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans."  Honestly, our little dinner out at the National Harbor was perfect.<br /><br />The month of June has been fabulous to us so far, and it's only going to get better with the impending arrival of our little lady!

Anniversary Baby Busbee Pregnancy wedding 38 weeks & 2 days Pregnant

Two milestones were reached this past weekend! First, I made it to the 38 week mark in my pregnancy - that is great news! I know she's ...

E3 2013: Microsoft Press Conference Highlights, Reveals, & Hype

11:06 AM Tukiyooo 0

<p><a><img src="http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/design/2013/5/xbox_one.jpg"></a></p> <p></p> <ul> <li><font size="3">Opening scene is beautiful, Metal Gear Solid 5 set in Afghanistan and it is gorgeous </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">Open world game game </font> <li><font size="3">Military shooters aren’t my thing but it looks intriguing </font> <li><font size="3"></font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">13 exclusive titles to Xbox One </font> <li><font size="3">Xbox 360 Upcoming titles </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">new console design coming </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">available starting today, it’s smaller</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Gold Membership </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">New Program begins July1 thru XboxOne release: two new game downloads for free -- </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">Assassin’s Creed 2 and Halo 3 given as examples</font></li></ul></li></ul> <li><font size="3">GTA 5 </font> <li><font size="3">World of Tanks exclusive to Xbox360 </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">15 v 15 team based tank warfare </font> <li><font size="3">Adapted and tailored to the 360, integrated with Live </font> <li><font size="3">Free download and free to play</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Max the Curse of Brotherhood from Press Play </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">looks fun and entertaining </font> <li><font size="3">bright, colorful, puzzle platformer</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Dark Souls II </font> <li><font size="3">Crimson Dragon </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">looks like a dragon based shooter</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Dead Rising 3 </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">Open world zombie game </font> <li><font size="3">Zombies are much scarier looking </font> <li><font size="3">no load times </font> <li><font size="3">massive world </font> <li><font size="3">ok I’m very interested and I don’t generally like zombie games </font> <li><font size="3">hundreds of weapons to discover and customize </font> <li><font size="3">driving critical part of exploration (CRAP on a stick lol) but zombies are still a threat </font> <li><font size="3">smart glass compatible (shown using a windows phone!) </font> <li><font size="3">Available this holiday</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">What Lie Below </font> <li><font size="3">Black Tusk Studio Game </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">more coming </font> <li><font size="3">game play footage shown </font> <li><font size="3">Franchise builder game</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">HALO </font> <ul> <li><font size="3"><strong>EPIC </strong>scene featuring Master Chief </font> <li><font size="3">60 frames per second on the console </font> <li><font size="3">2014 game</font></li></ul></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Non Exclusive Games </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">Witcher 3: Wild Hunt  from CD Projekt Red </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">combat rebuilt from ground up </font> <li><font size="3">free roaming, open world </font> <li><font size="3">non-linear questing </font> <li><font size="3">optional voice commands</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Battlefield 4 </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">game play footage shown, 60 frames per second </font> <li><font size="3">Second Assault (map pack) releases first to the Xbox One</font></li></ul></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Xbox One </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">more titles in development now than ever before in Xbox history </font> <li><font size="3">New Franchises: </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">Ryse: Son of Rome </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">first impression, I’m ALL over this! </font> <li><font size="3">graphic violent images, not recommended for children (personal opinion) </font> <li><font size="3">Roman General Marius Titus is the lead character you play as </font> <li><font size="3">Exclusive and available at launch</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">KIller Instinct </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">Exclusive to One</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">INsominac Games: Sunset Overdrive </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">Exclusive to One </font> <li><font size="3">Stylized shooter </font> <li><font size="3">Open world, living game </font> <li><font size="3">looks like fun </font> <li><font size="3">Weapon that fires records!!  Looks crazy fun</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Forza Motorsport 5 </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">Pimping MacLauren racing </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">MacLauren P1 is on stage!</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">footage showing on screen looks like real life footage, not like previous versions of Forza </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">God Rays are truly impressive</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Drive-atar </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">opponents drive like people not AI </font> <li><font size="3">Learns and adapt based on how you drive </font> <li><font size="3">Races against the world while you are offline, away from the game and you get credit for those races </font> <li><font size="3">World Premiere trailer with all in-game footage </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">beautiful, detailed and again the god rays are stunning</font></li></ul></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Launch title</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">  Titanfall </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">shooter, mech fighting – definitely mech fighting </font> <li><font size="3">Spring 2014 release</font></li></ul></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Indie Titles published under Microsoft Studios </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">Minecraft, exclusive </font> <li><font size="3">Quantum Break, exclusive </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">works with the television show </font> <li><font size="3">actual gameplay footage shown </font> <li><font size="3">Looks fascinating, again a me type of game</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">D4 </font> <li><font size="3">Project Spark </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">Making a game, is the game </font> <li><font size="3">OMG </font> <li><font size="3">uses smart glass </font> <li><font size="3">ALL over this!!!!!!! </font> <li><font size="3">Game you can create, can be shared with the community</font></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Xbox Live </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">Smart glass, smart match, Upload Studio </font> <li><font size="3">Smart Glass with Rye, Son of Rome </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">if you can do it on the console, you can do it from the smart glass device --- exception of course for actual game play</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Smart match </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">can play one game while waiting for another match in a different game </font> <li><font size="3">Upload Studio </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">records, uploads, and shares game play </font> <li><font size="3">commentary, personalization available</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Twitch partnership announced </font> <ul> <li><font size="3">built into One </font> <li><font size="3">Live streaming</font></li></ul> <li><font size="3">Friends list no longer limited to 100 </font> <li><font size="3">No more points, real money in your local currency </font> <li><font size="3">Household no benefits from gold membership</font></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul> <p><strong><u><font size="3">Launches November 2013 for $499 in the US and can be reserved starting today</font></u></strong></p> <p><strong><u></u></strong> </p> <div id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:240afa74-3074-458a-a67e-c359846b9f3e" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Xbox+ONe" rel="tag">Xbox ONe</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Xbox+360" rel="tag">Xbox 360</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/E3" rel="tag">E3</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Microsoft" rel="tag">Microsoft</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Halo" rel="tag">Halo</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Master+Chief" rel="tag">Master Chief</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Witcher" rel="tag">Witcher</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Titanfall" rel="tag">Titanfall</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ryse" rel="tag">Ryse</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Forza+5" rel="tag">Forza 5</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Dead+RIsing+3" rel="tag">Dead RIsing 3</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Twitch" rel="tag">Twitch</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Upload+Studio" rel="tag">Upload Studio</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Smart+Glass" rel="tag">Smart Glass</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Sunset+Overdrive" rel="tag">Sunset Overdrive</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Project+Spark" rel="tag">Project Spark</a></div>

fps graphics Microsoft open world Smart Glass video games Xbox XBox 360 Xbox One E3 2013: Microsoft Press Conference Highlights, Reveals, & Hype

Opening scene is beautiful, Metal Gear Solid 5 set in Afghanistan and it is gorgeous Open world game game Military shooters aren’t my ...