-=Archer Combo=-

Cards:
Merman (Foot Gear)
Cruiser (Weaponry)
Anolian (Armor)
Alligator (Accessory)
Dragon Tail (Garment)

Effect:
HP Recovery +10%
SP Recovery +10%
Long Range Physical Attack Damage +20%
AGI +6
DEX +3
Flee +10
Seeking Attack +20%
+5% More EXP from Brute monsters
Chance of casting ‘Coma’ when attacking
10% More Damage with Critical Attacks
CRIT +7 on Brute Monsters
Chance of casting Improve Concentration on the user when receiving
Physical damage.
If the user has mastered the skill at level 10, it will cast level
10 Improve Concentration.
Receive 5% less damage from Long Range Physical attacks
+5% More damage with Double Strafe and Arrow Shower Skills

-=Thief Combo-=

Cards:
Shinobi (Accessory)
The Paper (Weaponry)
Wanderer (Garment)
Wild Rose (Foot Gear)
Zhu Po Long/Dancing Dragon (Accessory)

Effect:
+20% more damage with Critical attacks
Attack Speed +5%
Walking Speed +5%
Gain 1 SP with each attack
AGI +8
STR +5
Critical +3
Perfect Dodge +5
Flee +20
Skills do not use Gemstones
Chance of casting level 5 Cloaking when user receives Physical damage

-=Mage Combo=-

Cards:
Bloody Butterfly (Accessory)
Miyabi Doll (Foot Gear)
Parasite (Shield)
Evil Nymph (Head Gear)
Loli Ruri (Armor)
Harpy (Garment)

Effect:
Spell Casting cannot be interrupted
Chance of casting level 3 Heal on user when recieving Physical damage
Max HP +500
Max SP +50
Max SP +10%
DEF +6
MDEF +5
INT +1
+10% more damage with Fire, Cold, and Lightning Bolt skills
Casting time +15%
MATK +3%
+20% Tolerance against Neutral attacks
+5% more damage with Napalm Beat
+5% more damage with Frost Diver
+5% more damage with Fire Wall

-=Swordsman Combo=-

Cards:
Assaulter (Weaponry)
Freezer (Foot Gear)
Heater (Accessory)
Permeter (Head Gear)
Solider (Armor)

Effect:
+10% damage with Critical attacks
Critical +7 on Demi-Human monsters
Critical +3
Perfect Dodge +3
DEF +2
MDEF +2
Chance of casting level 1 Weapon Perfection on user when attacking
HP Recovery +50%
Chance of gaining ‘Red Potion’ each time an enemy is killed
Max HP +20%
Max HP +300
STR +10
Red, Yellow, and White Potions restore 50% more HP
Do 10% more damage with Bash if Shoes are upgraded to +10
+15% Tolerance against Shadow Property attacks
+15% Tolerance against Undead Property attacks

-=Merchant Combo=-

Cards:
Baby Leopard (Armor)
Hylozoist (Accessory)
Myst Case (Head Gear)
Raggler (Foot Gear)
Zipper Bear (Weaponry)

Effect:
Chance of transmogrifying a monster while fighting
Restores 1 SP with each attack
+20% Damage with Mammonite
LUK +13
STR +1
VIT +1
ATK +30
Chance of getting ‘Old Purple Box’ when a monster is killed
Chance of getting ‘Gift Box’ when a monster is killed
20% Chance of reflecting a magic spell back at the caster
Weapon cannot be damaged
Armor cannot be damaged

-=Acolyte Combo=-

Cards:
Cookie (Accessory)
Enchanted Peach Tree (Shield)
Fur Seal (Weaponry)
Geographer (Armor)
Rideword (Head Gear)

Effect:
Chance of casting level 2 Blessing on the user when taking Physical
Damage
Chance of casting level 1 Heal on the user when attacking
If the user has Heal at level 10, then level 10 Heal will be cast
instead
Cast Time -10%
VIT +10
INT +1
LUK +2
MDEF +1
Accuracy +10
Flee +3
-30% damage from Devil and Undead monsters
+5% EXP from Devil and Undead monsters
Critical +9 on Devil and Undead monsters
+10% Damage with coba Holy Light

gwa cari2 eh ketemu ya udah wa masukin sini

ECW on SyFy – December 22, 2009

A little late this week, due to the holiday, but I finally got time to watch the remainder of this week’s shows. I already have Superstars & Smackdown, both were posted up early on Thursday, but this is the first chance I’ve had to watch anything this week. Coming off a mediocre episode of RAW, which was still better then the last few, tonight we have ECW, and the continuation of the number one contender tournament, so let’s get this show going.

1. Savannah introduces Jack Swagger to a chorus of boos, guess we’re opening with an interview, what is this RAW lite? Swagger says finally the show is worth watching again, and recaps the tournament rules and prize. Jack says a lot has changed since he left ECW, and lots of new faces, but lots has stayed the same, like Christian, who Swagger calls a chump, and then calls Dreamer fat. We then get a video of Jack Swagger’s best moments, followed by Swagger calling himself the former and future ECW champion. If Jack wins wouldn’t that be a demotion from the RAW brand, back to ECW?
2. Zack Ryder v. Tommy Dreamer. Zack comes out with the always stunning Rosa Mendes, looking killer hot in her silver dress!! This is supposedly Tommy’s final show with the WWE after 8+ years, not sure how true that rumor is, but after all Tommy’s done in the business he’s earned the right to retire. We start with Zack whipping Tommy in, but then Ryder gets taken down with a shoulderblock and pair of arm drags. Tommy clotheslines Zack to the floor, but gets distracted by Rosa, and Zack on the offense rolling Tommy back in. Zack hits the Rough Rider for a near fall, followed by a face wash, boot to the face in the corner. Ryder caught up top by Dreamer with a superplex as Rosa looks on horrified; both men slow to get up, but Tommy with a nice backdrop then a powerslam for a two count. Zack catches Tommy in the corner, but once again gets caught off the top into a slingshot. Tommy sets Zack for the Tree of Woe followed by the low dropkick and Tommy goes for the DDT but Ryder slides out and hits a hotshot, into the Zack Attack for the win. 3/5 nice TV bout as Dreamer is always solid in the ring and I think Zack is very impressive. He’s much better as a singles wrestler, then as a tag team, but whatever happened to Curt Hawkins?
3. We now go to Tony Atlas welcoming Abraham Washington, who comes out to a lot of boos. Washington plays his character so well, and I agree with him, he is entertaining; at least it’s not Reo Rogers. Abe says he’s too classy to make a Tiger Woods joke, as he calls Tiger a pimp and says Woods is a big fan. Abe says nothing wrong with playing more than 18 holes, which Tony then explodes in laughter. Abe finally gets around to introducing his guests Trent & Caylen, who come out to their much worse new music. Abe asks if their out of their minds for jumping on the couch. Trent & Caylen say they will be the next big tag team as they make fun of Abe having empty cups. Abe says this is ECW not RAW, and he only brings out drinks for the stars. T&C say by next year they’ll be tag champs, as Tony says he was champ once, and gets cut off and told he’s old. Abe defends Atlas and says no one talks to him like that, Tony says he didn’t know Abe cared, Abe says he doesn’t they’re out of time and Tony needs to close the show, which he does. We go backstage to Tiffany and Jack Swagger, Jack asks how she can still be running the place. She responds by saying it’s easier without him around, as Swagger says without him ECW has nothing. Hurricane then flies into the scene and says his superpowers are limitless, and he can do anything, expect fix Jack’s speech impediment. Swagger says whatever and walks off, as Tiffany laughs.
4. Vance Archer v. Goldust. Winner of this match joins Ezekiel Jackson & Kane in the number one contender battle royal. I assume Archer will continue his undefeated streak heading into the battle royal. Vance quickly powers Goldust in the corner, Goldust counters with a slap and then the butt bounce. Goldust whipped hard into the corner and Vance gets a near fall, Archer with a big slam then into a chin lock, which Goldust fights out of, but once again gets overpowered. Vance continues to stomp Goldust down and back to a chin lock, c’mon Vance show some semblance of a move set? Vance misses the clothesline but Goldust doesn’t, Goldust with the low uppercut then the bulldog for a near fall. Goldust sets up Vance for Curtain Call countered into the reverse DDT, which really needs a name, for the win. 1/5 not a good match at all, Vance with two chinlocks in a five minute match, was not needed. Vance’s finisher really needs a name though, anyone have any good ideas?
5. Jack Swagger v. Yoshi Tatsu. Next week is Evan Bourne v. Matt Hardy which should be a great match, I hope. Yoshi Tatsu, the new Funaki, comes out to a nice pop from the crowd. Swagger starts out with some nice amateur moves to keep Yoshi down; Yoshi able to use his quickness to gets the offense. Tatsu with a nice dropkick, and now both men slug it out, Jack powers Yoshi in the corner and hits a series of shoulders to the midsection, followed by the corner clothesline. Swagger locks in a wristlock on Yoshi, as the crowd is solidly behind Yoshi Tatsu, Swagger goes for the gut wrench, but countered as we go to commercial. We come back and Swagger has a submission hold on Yoshi and pounds Yoshi in the back. Jack hits a nice belly to back Suplex for a near fall, and Swagger is getting frustrated as Tatsu keeps kicking out, Swagger hits the urunage on Yoshi then does some pushups. Swagger drops a series of elbows, then the leg drop for another near fall, Swagger back to the wristlock. Jack goes for the belly to back again, but Yoshi slides out, but gets hit hard, Swagger whips Yoshi in and misses the charge. Yoshi now with a series of kicks, and then a bulldog, Yoshi hits the running knee but Jack counters the spin kick into a rollup, counted into a near fall for Tatsu. Tatsu tossed to the apron, but climbs the ropes, and hits a nice spinning wheel kick, and almost wins the match. Jack Swagger hotshots Yoshi into the top rope and rolls him up for a near fall, Swagger hits the reverse lariat and Yoshi kicks out again! Swagger hits an Oklahoma Stampede, shades of Steve Williams, and now goes for the Vader Bomb, and another near fall, Tatsu will not stay down. Swagger picks up Yoshi but eats a buzzsaw kick and then gets pinned, as Yoshi goes to the battle royal! 3.75/5 great match, both guys were on their game and it looked like it was going to go either way. Great way to end the show, as we see the graphic showing Jackson, Kane, Archer & Tatsu in the battle royal and four spots remain.

A mediocre episode of ECW this week, the main event really saved the show, as Archer/Goldust was pretty bad. Zack/Tommy was good and Tatsu/Archer was great.

Match Recap

1. Zack Ryder over Tommy Dreamer 3/5
2. Vance Archer over Goldust 1/5
3. Yoshi Tatsu pinned Jack Swagger 3.75/5

The Brazil City Police Department is experiencing some changes.

Both K-9 Handler/Patrolman Kenny Hill and Patrolman Jeremy Mace are moving on in their law enforcement careers.

According to Brazil Police Chief Dave Archer, Hill recently took a new job with the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

“(Hill) was an excellent officer with the department,” Archer recently told The Brazil Times. “He will be missed. We wish him the best of luck in his new job.”

Per department protocols, K-9 Officer Anya had to have a medical check up with the vet, which Archer confirmed she passed with flying colors. However, Anya still needs a handler.

“I never really thought about being a K-9 handler before,” Mace said about his new assignment. “But working as a partner with Kenny and going on ridealongs with Anya, that changed. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Mace said Hill taught him how to work with Anya before he left the department.

Anya has moved into Mace’s home and quickly became a part of the family.

“We’ve bonded quickly,” he said. “Anya is a great asset to the department.

Both will need to attend training at the academy — which Archer said would be scheduled as soon as possible — before going on active duty. But Mace and Anya are training with the two canine units at the Clay County Sheriff’s Department and riding together while Mace is on patrol.

“It’s a way for her to get used to traveling in my car and to me,” Mace said. “We’re learning to work together. I’m really looking forward to working with her at the academy.”

Archer said the department would eventually like to have a second canine unit, but not right now.

“Progress on getting a second canine unit is on hold because we just don’t have the manpower right now. Our focus right now is to bring Anya and Mace up to speed,” Archer said. “We need to get them the training they need to be a successful team.”

However, since the community supports the canine unit, Archer said those interested may still make donations to fund the project.

“We’re really grateful to the public for all their support with not only our department’s unit, but that of the sheriff’s department as well,” Archer said. “The community really benefits from having the dogs as assets in the departments.”

To support the Brazil City Police Department’s canine unit program, contact the Brazil City Clerk/Treasurer’s Office at 448-8403 for more information, or stop by Riddell National Bank to make a donation.

By Ivy Jacobs

LINK/PIC

New image in the no peeking photography contest

Peeking through the hole next to the entrance door to a medieval castle in Cahir, Ireland. In the old days this opening was used to shoot arrows at un …
Archer’s Hole photography picture

The CW has released an image of Steve Bacic as the “Archer” in the 10th episode of Season 9 of “Smallville”. Titled “Disciple”, this episode is scheduled to air on Friday, January 22, 2010.

This is actually a request from Manjyome for a Rina from Luminous Arc 2 Rainmeter skin. Since I’ve posted a lot of common Rainmeter skin over the past 6 months, I think it’s time for a change. I took the liberty to use a new rainmeter skin and this time I modified a Rainmeter skin from Gordan. I think this will be my new Rainmeter skin design if I have a full body picture. Tell me what you think about this skin design, guys. Thanks.

Skin Name: Rina Rainmeter

File Size: 121 KB

Color Theme: Brown

Download: http://www.mediafire.com/file/mykrk0mx5mw/Rina.rar

Note: Installation and usage of this skin can be observed on the Rainmeter section. Happy downloading!

Archer hood ornament seen at the Fleetwood Country Cruize-in.

This beautiful Art Deco hood ornament was designed by William Schnell circa 1930 for Pierce-Arrow, a car manufacturing company founded in Buffalo and active from  1901  to 1938.

© S. Creighton 2009

Just some updates..

I love this pic. It suits Archer well. You can also see Saber and Shirou on the background.

Gekijouban Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works

23.01.2010

Another thing is this:

Fate/Stay Night TV Reproduction

OVA, 2 episodes

22.01.2010

To coincide with the January theatrical release of the Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works anime motion picture, the 2005 TV series will be condensed into a pair of hour long Fate/stay night TV Reproduction specials released on Japanese DVD and Blu-ray on January 22. Each special will condense half of the 24 episode TV series and reportedly include limited new animation. The “Reproduction I” OVA will also feature a newly recorded version of the series’ original opening theme, set to a new opening animation footage. Both OVAs will feature new, previously unheard ending theme songs.

Source(s):
Anidb – Unlimited Works
Anidb – OVA

WWE Superstars – December 17, 2009

Well, after a disastrous episode of Monday Night RAW, and a mediocre episode of ECW, is it too much to ask for a good episode of Superstars this week? Nothing can possibly be worse than that 3 hour waste of time called the Slammy Awards, which was brutally bad TV, which is really sad coming off a very good PPV. It was pathetic because we have a new champion who barely got any TV time this week, and should have been pushed prominently this week. I even said Sheamus should’ve come out during the six man tag and destroyed everyone in there. Anyways, on to tonight’s show, enough complaining about RAW, nothing ever changes anyway. Tonight on Superstars our main event is Jack Swagger v. MVP, which should be an awesome match.

1. Cryme Tyme v. Mike Knox & Dolph Ziggler. Knox & Ziggler make a very interesting tag team; I might like that, as for Cryme Tyme, whatever. JTG & Dolph start the match, and do some fast paced counters, leading to JTG hitting the flipping elbow move. Dolph back up and takes over JTG with an arm bar and tags in the Mountain Man. Knox pounds the crap out of JTG and clotheslines him down, followed by a tag back to Dolph. Knox holds JTG wide open and Ziggler with a big kick, Dolph hits that jumping neck snap, I love that move. Dolph with a headlock on JTG as Shad gets the crowd pumping and JTG makes the tag. Shad comes in a house of fire, Shad with a very impressive T-Bone Suplex, shades of Tazz, but Knox makes the blind tag and hits the cross body block. I love that move too, but I like Knox so there. We go to commercial and come back to Shad being held down by Dolph who tags Mike back in, Mike hits a big splash on Shad for a near fall. Mike Knox locks in a bearhug on Shad and throws him in the corner, tagging in Ziggler, who hits a nice knee to the face of Shad. Dolph drops a series of elbows in the chest of JTG and makes the cocky tag to Mike Knox. Mike Knox with a chin lock on Shad, who works his way back to his feet and starts to pound on Knox. Shad comes off the ropes and Knox with an amazing dropkick, wow! Knox makes a tag and Ziggler with a jumping elbow drop for a near fall, and then locks the chin lock on Shad. Shad powers up, a little easier this time, and flips Dolph over his head to the mat. Dolph gets caught by a big clothesline from Shad who makes the tag to JTG as Knox tagged in at the same time. JTG pounds on Knox, and hits a dropkick of his own knocking Knox into the corner. Mugshot from JTG and Dolph makes the save, Ziggler wiped out by Shad, who gets taken out by Knox. Knox misses the big boot and gets hit with the Shoutout for the win. 3.75/5 Very impressive tag team match, would’ve liked to see Knox/Ziggler win, but I’m a Knox fan so I’m biased on that. Still a great match for Cryme Tyme.
2. Vance Archer v. Tommy Dreamer. A rematch from last week’s ECW show, which was a surprisingly good match. Vance starts out quick and powers Dreamer down and stomps on him, but Dreamer with a low drop kick. Dreamer gets caught with a knee lift though and then Vance works over Tommy, locking in a body vice on Tommy. Tommy elbows his way out and goes for the sunset flip, countered into a legdrop for a near fall. Dreamer whipped in and hit with a spinning elbow as Archer continues to pound on the Innovator of Violence. Archer with a bearhug into a belly to belly Suplex for a two count. Tommy able to hit a knee lift and then a series of punches followed by the bulldog on Vance. Dreamer able to hit a quick DDT and goes for the pin, but Vance gets his feet on the ropes. Dreamer goes for the frog splash, but Archer moves and hits the clothesline; Tommy then eats a big boot, as Archer hits the reverse DDT for the win. 2.5/5 Much slower paced match then last weeks, not bad, just sort of there I guess. Drive on through to the next match.
3. Jack Swagger v. MVP. Been looking forward to this match, I like both these guys and I think Swagger could be the next Kurt Angle. Both men lock up to start, and neither really gets an advantage so they restart circling each other. A second lock up and MVP backs Swagger in the corner, Swagger rushes out and eats a fist from MVP as MVP starts to pummel Swagger. MVP takes his eyes of the opponent and gets a big boot, Swagger moves into a headlock to slow down MVP. MVP whips Swagger into the ropes and hits an armdrag and then a slam for a quick pin attempt. MVP picks up Swagger and nails a snap Suplex, sending Swagger to the corner, but MVP gets caught and Swagger throws MVP in the corner and starts to pound him down. MVP whipped in and jumps over Swagger, but Swagger tosses MVP over the top rope, MVP skins the cat and back in but clothesline to the back of the head knocks MVP over the top as we go to commercial. We come back to MVP working over Swagger’s arm and shoulder as MVP tries to fight back up, Jack with a nice rollup taking MVP back down and stomps his opponent. Swagger continues to work over MVP’s arm and shoulder with a nice hammerlock, MVP tossed into the buckle hard, and then slide out of the ring. MVP’s arm bounced off the ring apron by the ultra athletic Jack Swagger, who continues to work over the arm back in the ring. Swagger locks the hammerlock back in and wears MVP back down, Swagger whips MVP in and hits a vile looking clothesline as MVP is being worn down slowly. Swagger goes for a cover and almost wins, as Swagger getting frustrated. Swagger misses a charge and hits the turnbuckle; MVP hits a clothesline on Jack Swagger then a knee to the face. MVP drops the big elbow on Jack, who rolls out of the ring. Swagger pulls the arm down on MVP and goes for the gut wrench powerbomb, countered by MVP hit by a nice clothesline. Swagger jumps to the second and gets caught by MVP, MVP hit by the big kick followed by the playmaker for the win. 4/5 Great match, nice psychology by Jack Swagger working over the arm, which MVP sold the whole match and even after the win.

Match Recap

1. Cryme Tyme beat Dolph Ziggler & Mike Knox 3.75/5
2. Vance Archer over Tommy Dreamer 2.5/5
3. MVP  pinned Jack Swagger 4/5

Another nice episode of Superstars, not great like last week’s but still a solid show. Archer will probably face Goldust next I assume as he climbs the ECW ladder, unless he’s the surprise winner of the #1 contender tournament, but I doubt it. Ziggler & Knox could make a very good team; I really like the two of them. The main event was gold, a great match from two of the best on RAW.

Vagabond

Vagabond

By Bernard Cornwell

HarperCollins Publishers

ISBN: 0-06-621080-1

4 stars

Vagabond is the second book in the Grail series by Cornwell. It picks up after the final battle in The Archer’s Tale.

Thomas, an archer in the English army, is searching for the Holy Grail. He’s not sure if he believes it exists, and his friend and traveling companion, Father Hobbes, keeps reminding him of the promise he made to his dying father which involved another holy relic.

Most of France is under siege by the English and it’s not safe to be traveling for Thomas, Father Hobbes, and Eleanor, Thomas’s soon to be wife. They run into a band of English soldiers who are very interested in the treasure he is seeking. He soon finds himself back in an archer line and, during the battle, both Father Hobbes and Eleanor are killed by another group seeking the Grail. Wrought with grief, he finds new determination. He plans on hunting down the ruthless murderers and exacting revenge for Eleanor’s life.

I liked The Archer’s Tale, the first in the series, but didn’t get into it much. Vagabond moved much faster for me and I began liking Thomas instead of feeling sorry for him. There was still a lot to feel sorry for, but he becomes stronger and more determined which made him much more likable.

It’s a true quest book. Thomas is forever walking somewhere and somehow always seems to find himself in an archer line. He gets closer to the Grail with each fight and deals with an enormous amount a guilt along the way. People around him constantly die and you expect him to give up at any moment.

It’s a violent story. The life of an archer and man-at-arms is not clean, fun, or healthy but it makes for good reading. Cornwell has a way of clearly and very realistically describing battles, sword fights, and the damage an English bow can do. It’s not for the squeamish.

Champion Archer

Champion Archer could not look any more simple. The figure you control, the allies in your army, and the enemies you face off against are all stick figures. You are the sole archer in your army responsibly for protecting your troops from the advancing enemy. What sounds like a simple point and shoot is actually very complex and takes a while to get the technique down. The game reminds me a little bit of the Bowman game.

The graphics though very simple seem appropriate for the game. The music is subtle but sets the feeling perfectly somehow. The sound effects are as understated as the graphics but again are appropriate for the overall feel of the game. The controls are extremely simple, requiring only the mouse, but take much practice to get just right. Pressing and holding the left mouse button starts the process of loosing an arrow, but the power bar controlling the power of the shot will increase and decrease. This means that shooting too early or waiting too long will result in a poor shot. The power of the shot is not the only factor that determines whether you hit your target or not. The angle of your shot is just as important as the power behind it. The angle of your arrows is adjusted by moving the mouse up or down.

The first level of Champion Archer starts you off easily, with only a few enemies coming at a time. This is a great opportunity to practice the mechanics of controlling your bow, because from the second level on no mercy is shown.  Champion Archer is simple but highly addictive!

The Fairwater entrance to Birdies Lane

Birdies Lane in Ely, Cardiff has witnessed an array of crimes over the years, crimes ranging from minor criminal damage to near-fatal assaults.

Centuries ago Irish politician Edmund Burke said: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” However, on a small footpath in West Cardiff it seems even with police intervention the actions of these good men may not have been enough to save the lane from breeding evil and violence.

Birdies Lane river-crossing

The small footpath, about 200 metres in length, joins the districts of Ely and Fairwater together, crossing over the River Ely and under a railway line. The lane is regularly used by many people to cross between the two regions.

But at night, as the lane falls into darkness, the walkway transforms in the shadows into a sinister place, a dark breeding ground that attracts suspicious characters, an area that harbours crime night after night.

Birdies Lane walkway

Section Inspector Andy Smith, South Wales Police, explained during Ely’s November PACT meeting (Police And Community Together) that many weapons were constantly being recovered from the area, weapons including baseball bats and pieces of wood with nails in.

The Section Inspector also said gangs, sometimes numbering up to a hundred, gather round the lane looking for trouble. He said: “It is a shame really, the groups usually consist of a core of five or so kids set on causing trouble and they then pressure the rest of the kids, who generally come from good homes, to come with them. Yet when they are all running past you in the street it can be quite frightening.”

Problems in the lane came to a head on March 14 this year when 17-year-old Lewis Jones of Fairwater was stabbed by Elliot Bowley of the same age from Ely. As a result of the attack Jones spent six days in intensive care after being stabbed in the chest, whilst Bowley was jailed indefinitely after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm.

David Elias, the prosecutor in the case against Bowley, said: “It is a situation which has recently been escalating and has resulted in numerous calls to the police about rival groups, mainly young males, arguing and fighting.”

PCSO Will Evans, South Wales Police, backed up the prosecutor’s claims. He said: “We were receiving call-outs to the lane on a daily basis, something had to be done.”

Something was done.

Police closed the lane for a six-month trial period between 7pm to 5am everyday. The police have called the trial closure a huge success and canvassed opinion for a permanent closure at Ely’s November PACT meeting. The meeting raised mixed responses.

One notable opposition to the lane’s permanent closure was one of Ely’s Labour councillors, Susan Goddard. This week she gave an interview about the Lanes’s closure:

Councillor Goddard acknowledges the problems in the lane before the closure. She said: “At night there was a lot of drinking, drugs, dealing and taking.”

She also believes police exaggerated the lane’s problems to ease their own workload by closing the lane rather than trying different policing methods. She said: “The most serious thing that happened, not on the lane, it happened about, well, a good quarter of a mile to half a mile from the lane. In Ely an Ely boy did stab a Fairwater boy and that was used as the catalyst to close the lane.”

Archer Road

Police have used Lewis Jones’s stabbing as the cornerstone of their operation to close the lane.  However, Councillor Goddard rightly points out that Jones was stabbed in Archer Road, not Birdies Lane. The map below shows this:

View Larger Map Birdies Lane

It is fair to say evil actions occurred in the lane before the closure. However, contrary to the police she believes the closure has done nothing to stop crime in the area. She was asked if she had seen any difference in crime since the gates were fitted. She responded: “Personally no, I have seen no difference whatsoever.

“I think what should have happened, instead of closure and I did make the point and so did my colleagues that there should be more lighting, there should be a camera, there is a camera on the Fairwater side of Birdies Lane and there should be one on the Ely side. I think they’ve used closing the lane as a cheap option”

Police say the number of calls to the area have dropped since the closure. Local residents say there has been little change in crime levels and with less police in the area the potential for the more serious crimes to happen is as high as ever. It seems the police may not have killed evil at the roots, instead they have merely trimmed the leaves.

ECW on SyFy: December 8, 2009

After another lackluster episode of RAW I’m looking forward to this week’s ECW.  I don’t even know what the matches are, but ECW never fails to entertain. I just read the match listings for this week’s TNA Impact and wow does it ever look bad. This may not be a good week for TNA Impact, but for now let’s focus on the soon to be extinct ECW.

1. We open the show with Josh Matthews in the ring talking about the Christian and Shelton ladder match in 5 days. Suddenly Vladimir Kozlov’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring. Kozlov grabs the mic and calls out Ezekiel Jackson, and Jackson comes down the aisle. Both men start slugging it out and Regal comes out to break it up. Regal struggling to keep his team together as he is on his knees begging them to not fight it out, when suddenly Shelton’s music hits. Shelton asks Regal what he’s doing, and starts a chant of “Let Them Fight”, William Regal responds by saying this has nothing to do with Shelton and there are three of them and one of him, which brings out Captain Charisma and Yoshi Tatsu. I smell a six man tag tonight, good thing this happened or we wouldn’t have a main event tonight. Kozlov says something in Russian and Christian responds with “That’s what she said”. Shelton throws out the challenge for the six man tag and Regal says none of you have any authority, which of course brings out Tiffany who says she has authority. She offers a choice; either a six man tag or Kozlov & Jackson can fight each other. Regal responds that tonight will be a six man tag; Jackson grabs the mic and says he wants Kozlov tonight, which leaves Kozlov who decides he wants the six man match. Thus giving us the six man tag main event tonight, should be a good match.
2. Vance Archer v. Tommy Dreamer. We’re finally going to see Lance Hoyt in a real match tonight, let’s hope he does better then Braden Walker, he’s been here longer! Tommy with a go behind, Archer with an elbow, followed by the shoulder block. Vance misses and elbow but backs Tommy in the corner.  Tommy able to counter a backdrop but gets caught in a full nelson bomb, Archer with a near fall. Vance chokes Tommy in the corner by placing a knee in the back of the head of Tommy, impressive looking. Vance whips Tommy in the corner and then stands on Dreamer’s head. Dreamer tries for a back slide and gets hit with a short arm clothesline; Archer then hits a nice vertical Suplex. Tommy tries to fight back and gets a nice elbow and a flying clothesline, followed up with a neck breaker and a cross body for a two count. Tommy on the ropes and Archer runs at him and misses, tumbling to the floor, Tommy follows up with a baseball slide and the running somersault off the apron. Archer rolled back in and Dreamer to the top rope, but gets caught by Vance who goes for a superplex, but Archer knocked down and Tommy hits a frog splash for a near fall. Dreamer readies for the DDT, but Archer counters with the big boot. Archer then hits the reverse DDT for the win. 3/5 Impressive actually, Tommy helped pull a good match out of Archer. Very good opening match and I have to admit, I’m slowly being impressed by Vance. We get a recap of the masked Burchill attacking Hurricane last week. Paul and Katie backstage in masks with Tiffany. Burchill says he is the Ripper and never lost to the Hurricane. Gregory Helms comes in and Tiffany says great, the Justice League is here. Tiffany says Ripper can earn his contract by beating Hurricane. Now over to Rosa & Ryder who are arguing who’s sweeter. Zack introduces Dreamer as a dinosaur, he says he used to be a fan of Dreamer and his time is over. Zack says he wants to be the guy who ends Dreamer’s career and then walks away.
3. Trent Barreta & Caylen Croft v. Mark Franks & Danny Vaughn. No recap needed as this is obviously a squash match for the two newcomers. 2.5/5 quick and easy victory for the team of Barreta & Croft.
4. Christian, Yoshi Tatsu & Shelton Benjamin v. The Ruthless Roundtable. This should be a good match, four talents and two powerhouses. We start with Christian and Jackson, Christian with a go behind and Jackson powers Christian to the corner. Christian uses his quickness to avoid the big man, but Jackson catches him and slams Christian down twice and then makes the tag to Regal who comes in and gets backslide. Christian tags in Yoshi who then tags in Shelton. Quick series of tag with Christian’s team as they hold Regal in the corner.  Regal finally gets some offense and tags in the big Russian, Christian then brings in Tatsu. Yoshi with a series of kicks on Kozlov and then tags in Benjamin. Benjamin gets lifted on the shoulder of Kozlov, but slides down and hits the spin kick. Kozlov powers Shelton to the corner and throws Benjamin over the top as we go to commercial. We come back and Regal has Benjamin in the Stretch, Shelton fights out but gets taken down as Jackson tagged in. Jackson with a big clothesline in the corner for a near fall, Jackson continues to pound Shelton down and tags in Regal. Regal drops the knee on Shelton, and brings in the Moscow Mauler who kicks Shelton in the ribs. Kozlov with the head butts followed by the belly to belly Suplex. Kozlov with a reverse bear hug as Benjamin fighting his way out, but gets powered into the corner. Shelton gets the knee up on the charging Kozlov, but Kozlov continues to pound on Benjamin. Shelton tries to crawl his way to his corner while Kozlov still squeezing Benjamin, Kozlov goes to a chin lock as Shelton fights his way up. Benjamin with a nice forearm from the top rope, but Vladimir able to get a hold of Benjamin again and tags in Regal who continues the pounding on Shelton. Shelton makes the tag, but the ref did not see it and Shelton back in the Roundtable’s corner. Jackson continues to make Benjamin play the Ricky Morton role in this match, as Shelton really needs a tag. Regal goes for a clothesline but Shelton counters and tags in Tatsu as Regal tags in Jackson. Yoshi with the buzzsaw kicks on Ezekiel but goes after Kozlov and gets clotheslined. Jackson goes for the tag and Kozlov drops down and walks away. Jackson goes after his and knocks Kozlov down. Regal tries to slow down Jackson and Jackson counted out. 4/5 excellent main event, great match between six excellent athletes.  Shelton flies over the top rope on Regal and Jackson after the bell. Christian & Yoshi grab a ladder and Christian sets it up in the ring. Christian climbs the ladder and Benjamin springboards off the top rope to the ladder and both men at the top of the ladder as the show fades out. That is going to be a great match.

Match recap

1. Vance Archer over Tommy Dreamer 3/5
2. Trent Barreta & Caylen Croft beat Mark Franks & Danny Vaughn 2.5/5
3. Shelton Benjamin, Yoshi Tatsu & Christian beat Ruthless Roundtable 4/5

Yet another great show from ECW, three good matches on tonight’s show. Nothing else to say, but very enjoyable episode.

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Introduction :

WORLD OF WARCRAFT DESKTOP WALLPAPERS | WORLD OF WARCRAFT STOCK PHOTOS

Mengatasi problematika hubungan antara agen dan struktur dalam ilmu sosial adalah proyek yang sangat ambisius, sekaligus mungkin prestisius. Dalam skala yang berbeda mungkin bisa disamakan dengan upaya ilmu biologi dalam memetakan struktur genetik manusia, atau upaya ilmu fisika dalam menentukan struktur dasar pembentuk semua materi di dunia ini.

Agen secara sederhana bisa kita pahami sebagai individu maupun kelompok terorganisir, organisasi, dan bangsa (Burns, 1986). Sementara struktur merujuk ke tingkat makro, yaitu sistem sosial berskala besar.

Masalah agen dan struktur sebenarnya tidak terlalu dipermasalahkan pada masa klasik. Terbukti upaya mengatasi ’keributan kecil’ ini muncul pada abad modern. Keributan mulai membesar tatkala jarak antara agen dan struktur bukan hanya menjauh, tapi sudah menegasikan satu sama lain. Tapi beda bila kita tanya pada pemerhati masalah ini. Hubungan antara agen dan struktur merupakan tema utama dalam ilmu-ilmu sosial. Margaret Archer menegaskan bahwa masalah agen dan struktur adalah masalah fundamental dalam sosiologi modern.

Bila kita absen siapa saja yang berorientasi agen atau individu, maka muncullah nama teori interaksionisme simbolik. Sedangkan yang memuja peran struktur adalah pendekatan fungsionalisme struktural, Marxisme, dan teori ’berbau’ sistem yang cukup banyak variannya.

Ada beberapa tokoh yang harus kita beri apresiasi di sini dengan dedikasi mereka mengatasi dikotomi agen-struktur. Berdasarkan buku “Teori Sosiologi Modern” dari George Ritzer dan Douglas Goodman, mereka diantaranya adalah Anthony Giddens, Margareth Archer, dan Pierre Bourdieu. Kita akan membahas pemikiran mereka satu-persatu.

Anthony Giddens, sang pangeran modernisme, mungkin paling terkenal dalam ambisinya untuk mengintegrasikan agen-struktur dalam kerangka besar teori strukturasi (structuration theory). Bangunan mewah yang dibangunnya, teori strukturasi, memerlukan imajinasi dan fantasi lebih untuk memahaminya. Dengan meramu berbagai masukan teoritis, Giddens mencoba merubah kontradiksi menjadi suatu resonansi yang tak terpisahkan antara agen dan struktur.

Kata kunci untuk memahami teori strukturasi adalah ’praktik sosial yang berulang dalam konteks ruang dan waktu’. Inilah landasan utama untuk mengatasi pertentangan agen vs struktur. Praktik atau yang lebih konkrit disebut sebagai aktivitas manusia dalam konteks ruang dan waktu tertentu inilah yang memunculkan struktur itu sendiri. Lalu dimana posisi struktur sosial yang seharusnya mengatur tindakan agen tersebut? Praktik sosial yang diciptakan berulang-ulang itulah yang memunculkan struktur sosial. Jadi posisi struktur di sini bukan suatu hal yang mendeterminasi tindakan individu, tapi merupakan hasil dari tindakan individu tersebut secara berulang-ulang.

Keagenan (agency) dalam konsepsi Giddens merupakan peran sosial individu tersebut, bukan tujuan yang harus dilakukan sebagai akibat struktur (teori sistem!). Jadi jelas sistem bukan penguasa atas tindakan individu. Struktur sosial tidak akan terjadi apabila agen juga tidak melakukan praktik sosialnya. Karena itu sistem sosial didefinisikan Giddens sebagai praktik sosial atau hubungan yang direproduksi antara aktor dan kolektivitas yang diorganisir. Premis Giddens ini yang sering dirujuk para penempuh jalan tengah globalisasi, yang tumbuh benih imannya tatkala membaca literatur Giddens bahwa agen punya peran dalam arus globalisasi ini.

Pemikiran Margareth Archer mengenai agen-struktur bisa dikatakan merupakan salah satu kritik terhadap Teori Strukturasi Giddens. Archer (1988) memperkenalkan konsep yang mungkin asing bagi kita, konsep ”morphogenesis”. Secara konseptual, morphogenis menyiratkan perubahan, sedangkan lawannya, morphostatis menyiratkan suatu keadaan statis.

Archer secara gamblang menyatakan ketidaksukaannya terhadap dualitas Giddens yang menyebabkan kaburnya peluang mengamati secara komprehensif bagaimana agen dan struktur saling mempengaruhi. Seakan-akan ada unsur yang hilang dari analisis konvensional mengenai agen-struktur. Dan bagian yang hilang itulah yang kemudian dimunculkan dalam konsep hubungan agen dan kultur untuk lebih memperlihatkan aspek kontekstualitasnya walaupun akhirnya juga tak luput dari berbagai kritik.

Kultur menjadi kata kunci bagi hubungan agen-kultur a la Archer. Inilah konsep yang dinamis dan secara implisit menyebutkan bahwa ini adalah faktor inheren dari relasi agen-struktur. Interaksi dan tindakan agen memunculkan struktur yang juga bereaksi dan berubah seiring tindakan dan interaksi para agennya. Dan perubahan itu senantiasa akan menciptakan perluasan struktural.

Pierre-Felix Bourdieu (meninggal pada 23 Januari 2002) merupakan ilmuwan sosial yang cukup komplit labelnya. Mulai sosiolog, antropolog, post-strukturalis, sampai post-modernisme. Cukup beralasan jika Bourdieu menggeluti masalah agen-struktur ini mengingat kegandrungannya pada masalah masyarakat dengan setiap dinamika interaksi dan struktur obyektif-subyektifnya. Realitas sosial inilah yang memaksa Bourdieu untuk melangkahi pertentangan agen-struktur karena sudah tidak memadai lagi digunakan sebagai alat analisis masyarakat.

Kata kunci dalam memutus ketidaklinearan agen dan struktur bagi Bourdieu adalah konsep ”habitus” dan ”ranah” (field). Dua konsep inilah yang nantinya menggantikan konsep ’agen’ dan ’struktur’ yang sudah usang karena sangat kompleksnya realitas sosial. Habitus merupakan semacam struktur ketidaksadaran dari individu-individu dan menciptakan suatu norma atau tatanan tingkah laku dalam konteks kelas-kelas dalam masyarakat. Kelas? Iya, kelas sosial memang masih populer dalam khazanah filsafat Prancis, terutama bagi Bourdieu. Dan habitus inilah yang berfungsi sebagai pembeda karena melalui habitus tercipta suatu skema yang membentuk praktik sosial tertentu yang mencerminkan kelasnya. Karena itulah Bourdieu juga mendefiniskan habitus sebagai rasa tentang kedudukan seseorang sebagai konsekuansi proses diferensiasi sosial.

Field (diterjemahkan juga sebagai ranah atau medan atau lingkungan) punya konotasi yang agak seram dalam pemikiran Bourdieu. Ranah tidak hanya merujuk kepada suatu keterangan tempat, tapi tempat dimana proses habitus terjadi. Ranah adalah lingkungan perjuangan. Di ranah inilah berbagai modalitas utama yang dikemukakan Bourdieu, ekonomi, kultur, sosial, simbolik; saling berkompetisi. Dan sejauh mana agen berperan akan ditentukan oleh kuantitas serta kualitas modalitas yang mereka punyai.

Secara umum, ketiga pemikiran ini berusaha merekonstruksi hubungan agen-struktur yang telah mati suri. Metode-metode yang dipergunakan menekankan karakteristik menghindari kontradiksi maupun dikotomi antara agen melawan struktur. Strategi Giddens dalam merekonstruksi pengertian agen dan struktur mencapai keseimbangannya dalam teori strukturasi dan menghasilkan konsep baru yang menekankan pada praktik sosial. Praktik sosial tampaknya juga menjadi salah satu kata kunci dari Bourdieu. Dengan cukup radikal, Bourdieu berani mengartikulasikan ketidakpercayaannya terhadap konsep lama ‘agen’ dan ’struktur’ dan diganti konsep habitus dan ranah dengan aspek diskursif yang cukup dominan. Sedangkan Archer membangkitkan kembali aspek kultural dan menyelipkannya dalam pertentangan agen dan struktur.

Selalu muncul dukungan sekaligus kritik terhadap proyek keilmuan ini. Kritik yang paling sering diungkapkan adalah mengenai proyek pendamaian struktur-agen yang dipandang insignifikansinya dalam pengembangan ilmu sosial itu sendiri. Ilmu sosial lebih membutuhkan teori yang bersifat antitesis daripada suatu sintesis (Craib, 1992). Inilah dinamika sekaligus pertarungan yang secara tidak langsung mengkatalisator perkembangan ilmu sosial.

Mungkin benar apa yang diungkapkan Sztompka (1991) bahwa analisis terhadap relasi agen-struktur lebih berkaitan erat dengan analisis historis-dinamis, dan karena itu semoga para pendebat ini tidak terjebak dalam kepompong waktu, karena perdebatan utama bukanlah siapa yang kalah-menang, tapi bagaimana merumuskan suatu konseptual yang dinamis dalam mengoptimasi baik struktur maupun agen. Optimasi struktur bagi agen adalah bagaimana membuka transparansi struktur yang menjamin partisipasi agen dalam tingkatan tertentu. Sehingga struktur bukanlah suatu tembok penjara bagi seorang narapidana. Sedangkan optimasi agen bagi struktur mensyaratkan rasionalisasi pemikiran agen sedemikian rupa sehingga tercipta suatu rasionalitas sistem yang tidak akan melampaui batas rasionalisasi pemikiran agen tersebut. Di sini jelas agensi bukanlah suatu konsep totalitarianisme, tapi rasionalitas kolektif untuk menciptakan suatu sistem yang lebih humanis.

Like: H&FJ, type designers extraordinaire

Jonathan Hoefler and Tobias Frere-Jones are lecturing at Cooper Union next Tuesday night. If only I lived in New York…

H&FJ are among the country’s best and most influential living type designers. Years ago, I parlayed my art skills into illustration and graphic design; in the past year or two, I’ve focused my attention on typography — thanks to books by Robert Bringhurst and Ellen Lupton. I think you can see the effect on both my design and art work.

I admire H&FJ for the consistency of the excellence of their output, which is always considered and gimmick-free. Their type families are remarkably thorough and usable; they manage to both timeless and modern. I know my praises sound like platitudes, but you can see their skill with the ubiquity of the typeface Gotham. More recently, Archer has been catching my eye with more regularity. It’s cute, fresh and a little cheeky.

LIKE: Conceptualism and Identity Art, neither compromised

I DON’T WANT TO BRAND something called “Black Conceptual Art.” It’s less a question about who produced the work than of the object’s material history. If you can get to that history, and if that can take you to a very specific place, culturally and racially, then that’s where you locate the blackness. It becomes a secondary discovery rather than a necessary attribute of the work itself.

“30 Seconds Off an Inch” does not look at the conceptualisms that followed Minimalism. Instead, it investigates the kind of art that asks the viewer to think about something beyond the sheer materiality of the object, beyond formalism and formal practice. The works ask you to wonder where the trash originated, for instance, and about the history of a specific cloth and clothing, or whether the work is appropriated. There is a history and a lineage to all the works in the show that lend themselves to conceptual thought beyond the objects.

The viewer should have a sense of recognition when walking through the exhibition. There is not a lot of tape around the objects—I want visitors to be able to put their noses up to the works. The objects in the show are not to be seen as metaphors, but very literally, and you don’t need an advanced degree in art history to read them.

—Naomi Beckwith, “500 Words,” Artforum, 11/25/2009

Beckwith is the assistant curator at the Studio Museum in Harlem, where she organized “the exhibition ‘30 Seconds Off an Inch,’ which explores the intersection of identity politics and dominant tendencies of the 1960s, from conceptual practices to Arte Povera.”

Wowee. I like this. It’s plain language on how to look at conceptual art, and how material can have content relating to identity. It challenges the ideas that conceptual art is too élite to be easily appreciated or too hermetic to have meaningful content, and that art relates to identity has to be populist/symbolist/representational. Well done.

LIKE: studio

This morning, in my dream, I found myself in a bare room: white walls, unpainted wood floors. I was sitting at cheap melamine dinette table. To my left was a the kind of kitchen you’d find in economy apartments — cream colored, with a small fridge and low fluorescent tubes. A cutout in the wall from which a cook might engage guests while attending the electric stovetop. But ahead of me was an expansive room, maybe 75 feet long. One side was all old industrial windows. The space was empty, unlit and dusty. It was my studio, and the sense of potential surged in me. It was so much space that I could work on a project, walk away from it, start a new project, and so on, for a long time before running out of space. I wouldn’t have to re-organize whenever I changed projects. To the side of the kitchen, I found a walk-in closet: my painting and flat work storage. The place was a bit drafty and quiet, but I was overjoyed. I was in New York. My job was to make art. The studio was mine.