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Earlier today Nintendo hosted a Nintendo Direct Mini. It's less than 15 minutes but packed with information about upcoming Switch games and DLC, as well as one major new game…
Pixelkin 2017 Holiday Gift Guide: Nintendo SwitchPosted by Eric Watson | Feature, Switch | No Comments
Make no mistake: the Nintendo Switch is the hottest video game product you can purchase this holiday season. The unique hybrid system offers both traditional home console use as well as complete handheld portability.
After a generally disappointing showing in the Wii U, Nintendo has roared back this year with huge titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Most impressively they've expanded their third-party support with lots of welcome indie titles like Stardew Valley and Shovel Knight. There's also some more mature offerings courtesy of Bethesda with Doom, Wolfenstein, and Skyrim. Simply put, Nintendo has had one of the best console launch years in history, and it should only get better from here.
Younger Kids
Snipperclips – Cut it Out, Together
A launch title for the Nintendo Switch, Snipperclips provides a unique puzzle design for two players. You play as both the paper and the scissors, cutting each other to form shapes in order to solve a series of puzzles. It's simple yet brilliant game design that you can play solo with both controllers, but really shines cooperatively.
Also available on: N/A
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is just 2014's Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U plus all the DLC tracks and drivers and enhanced HD graphics. Mario Kart 8 happens to also be one of the best in the long-running series, featuring the refined controls, a huge assortment of drivers, vehicles, and tracks, and seamlessly integrated online multiplayer.
Also available on: N/A
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is a remake of a 1989 platformer on the Sega Master System. The remake offers new hand-drawn graphics, a female playable character, and the ability to switch between old and new audio and visual settings. It's a solid side-scrolling platformer with classic design and modern features.
Also available on: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC
A motion-controlled fighting game sounds horrendous but Nintendo may have stumbled upon something special. Multiple fighters and arms-styles can be configured to best suit your playstyle as you square off from a near-first-person view to swing your comically large but effective limbs.
Also available on: N/A
Splatoon 2
The first Splatoon was one of the few bright spots on the Wii U, and this Switch sequel provides more of the same great online multiplayer action. Transforming a third person arena shooter into a paintball match is a great way to make it family-friendly. Splatoon goes a step further by offering an intriguingly goofy world of squid vendors and a head-bobbing soundtrack.
Also available on: N/A
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
"It's like XCOM but with Mario" is not a sentence I expected to see in 2017. Yet Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle presents a fantastic tactical strategy game when Ubisoft's Rabbids drop into the Mushroom Kingdom unannounced.
Also available on: N/A
LEGO Worlds
LEGO + Minecraft is an easy sell, but LEGO Worlds ended up being less than the sum of its parts. Still, LEGO gameplay is always kid-friendly and intuitive, and offers split-screen and online multiplayer. LEGO Worlds lets you earn gold bricks through quests and exploration as well as build your world brick-by-brick.
Also available on: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Super Mario Odyssey
The moment we've all been waiting for: a new single player 3D Mario game. Super Mario Odyssey does not disappoint, with a wide array of beautiful worlds to explore, secrets to discover, puzzles to solve, and collectibles to collect. Super Mario Odyssey retains what makes Mario the king of gaming and also adds fun new elements, like turning Mario's trademark cap into a sentient creature who can possess others, adding an entirely new dynamic to every encounter.
Also available on: N/A
Stardew Valley: Collector's Edition
Charming, pixelated farming sim Stardew Valley was my personal Game of the Year last year. The Collector's Edition, which released this year, is mostly an excuse to buy a physical version, which includes a pull-out map, digital soundtrack, and a guide book. Cooperative multiplayer is slated to arrive sometime next year.
Also available on: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2
The LEGO games have consistently remained one of the best go-to family-friendly series over the last decade. If you've played any of them, you've played them all. Marvel's tone and characters mesh particularly well with LEGO's silly storytelling and style. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 tells a tale of time-travel, meshing together multiple realms from the modern MCU, including Asgard, Sakaar, and Wakanda.
Also available on: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC
Older Kids
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Breath of the Wild was one of the most anticipated games of 2017. As a launch title for the Nintendo Switch it became an instant system seller, providing an enormous, detailed open world that let you tackle it however you wanted – including waltzing right up to the final area after the opening. It's a hallmark of interlocking game designs that put as much freedom as possible in the hands of the player.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will go down as one of the all-time best games, Zelda or otherwise, and should absolutely be your first purchase on the Nintendo Switch.
Also available on: Wii U
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
One of the few games on this mega-list that's not actually released quite yet, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is another big RPG coming to Switch, after the Wii's Xenoblade Chronicles and Wii U's Xenoblade Chronicles X. These games mostly stand on their own but feature giant open worlds and real-time combat, not unlike an MMO.
Also available on: N/A
Mature Teens & Parents
The hyper-violent first-person shooter wouldn't seem like a good fit for a Nintendo system, but sometimes you just need to rip and tear your way through some demons. This Switch port of one of last year's most satisfying remakes is mostly intact – minus the Snapmap editor, and you'll need to download the multiplayer separately.
Also available on: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
It's usually not exciting to see a 2011 game ported into a different console, but Skyrim is anything but usual. Being able to play one of the best RPGs of the modern era on the go certainly has its perks.
Also available on: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC
Super Mario Odyssey Launch Party in New York CityPosted by Eric Watson | News, Switch | No Comments
October 27 is one of the biggest release days for gaming this year, with three AAA titles launching today: Assassin's Creed Origins, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, and Super Mario Odyssey. Super Mario Odyssey is launching for the Nintendo Switch as one of the most anticipated games of the year. Nintendo celebrated the big launch with a road trip across the US, ending in a party in New York City.
The cross-country road trip began in Los Angeles, California. The Nintendo tour bus traveled between major cities such as Dallas and Chicago to meet with fans and give them a chance to play Super Mario Odyssey leading up to its release. Pictures of the trip can be found on Nintendo's social media accounts on twitter, instagram, and tumblr.
The final celebration took place last night in Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, New York. The party featured a costumed Mario and a big dance number with music from the game. Fans could purchase the game at midnight at the Nintendo store.
Get a glimpse at the "Jump Up, Super Star!" dance number performed during the #SuperMarioOdyssey launch event! pic.twitter.com/7bAzcsV40E
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) October 27, 2017
"Super Mario Odyssey is the must-have video game for this holiday season, and this event was the perfect way to kick off Mario's latest adventure," said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America President and COO. "Video game fans of all kinds will want to dive into this latest Mario adventure as soon as possible."
Fils-Aime was also on hand to sell the very first copy of Super Mario Odyssey at the Nintendo store.
Super Mario Odyssey is a 3D platformer with a sandbox-style. It's set to be the next evolution of Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy. Mario is joined by a new sentient hat called Cappy. He can throw Cappy at enemies and objects to take control and gain new abilities and solve puzzles.
Super Mario Odyssey is rated E for Everyone. It's available only for the Nintendo Switch. A Super Mario Odyssey Nintendo Switch bundle is available with Mario-themed Joy-Con controllers for $379.99.
On September 13 Nintendo presented a 45-minute Nintendo Direct video. The full Nintendo Direct is only the second one this year, not including specific Directs, like Splatoon 2 Direct. It…
Buy Cereal, Win a Nintendo Switch and Super Mario OdysseyPosted by Eric Watson | News, Switch | No Comments
Nintendo has partnered with Post Consumer Brands to offer a succulent giveaway. Starting today you can find codes in specially marked boxes of Post cereal to win one of 500 Nintendo Switch prize packs. The packs include the console as well as the upcoming Switch exclusive Super Mario Odyssey.
"Post Cereals evoke feelings of fun and nostalgia for people of all ages, and those are emotions Nintendo can identify with," said Doug Bowser, Nintendo Senior VP of Sales and Marketing. "Nintendo Switch and Super Mario Odyssey are must-haves for the holidays, and this promotion gives people 500 chances to win them."
Entry codes can be found among 20 million cereal boxes. Post branded cereal includes Honey Bunches of Oats, Honeycomb, Golden Crisp, and Alpha Bits. Marked boxes with potential codes have a giant Mario and Switch taking up about 1/3 of the front cover.
"Post Consumer Brands continues to prioritize and invest in family and millennial consumers to drive growth across our portfolio of cereal brands," said Roxanne Bernstein, Post CMO. "Partnering with a highly recognized and family-friendly brand like Nintendo allows us to deliver a special experience to consumers."
In addition to entries for the Switch prize, Codes can be redeemed for for Platinum Points. Platinum Points are typically used to redeem discount coupons on digital games. You will need a Nintendo Account to redeem Platinum Points.
The Nintendo Switch launched earlier this March. It features full portability and is gradually gaining the usual stellar first-party Nintendo library, such as Splatoon 2 and Mario + Rabbids. It's also suffered from the typical Nintendo lack of supply versus high demand.
Super Mario Odyssey is the highly anticipated 3D platformer coming October 27. It aims to return to open-world exploration not seen since 2002's Super Mario Sunshine on the Gamecube.
The Post cereal Nintendo Prize Pack giveaway ends March 31.
As expected Nintendo completely focused on new Nintendo Switch games during their E3 2017 Nintendo Spotlight video. We got new trailers for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild…


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We are shipping online and phone orders as usual. Our physical shop is open by appointment only, see front of site for details.
6 miniatures. Supplied unpainted.
GWC001 - Great War Casualties
GWF001 - French Infantry In Helmets Firing Line
GWF002 - French Infantry In Helmets Attacking
GWF003 - French Hotchkiss Machine Gun

subset: commoncrawl


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by Andrew Pacholyk MS L.Ac. ~
Our immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues and organs, which work together to defend the body against attacks from "foreign" invaders. The body does this in two different ways. First, the body must recognize that it is being invaded, either by pathogenic disease, toxins or some other outside threat. Second, the immune response should then be activated quickly so the pathogen does not destroy many cells.
In autoimmune conditions, the body is unable to distinguish between what is beneficial and what is non-beneficial, losing the ability to differentiate. When an autoimmune condition is diagnosed, unusual antibodies can be found circulating in the blood, targeting its own body tissue.
In cases of immune system over activity, the body attacks and damages its own tissues (autoimmune diseases). Immune deficiency diseases decrease the body's ability to fight invaders, causing vulnerability to infections.
Autoimmune disorders include:
Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus): Lupus develops autoimmune antibodies that can attach to tissues throughout the body. The joints, lungs, blood cells, nerves, and kidneys are commonly affected in lupus.
Multiple sclerosis (MS): The immune system attacks nerve cells, causing symptoms that can include pain, blindness, weakness, poor coordination, and muscle spasms.
Type 1 diabetes mellitus: Immune system antibodies attack and destroy insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
Guillain-Barre syndrome: The immune system attacks the nerves controlling muscles in the legs and sometimes the arms and upper body. Weakness results, which can sometimes be severe.
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: Similar to Guillian-Barre, the immune system also attacks the nerves in CIDP, but symptoms last much longer. About 30% of patients can become confined to a wheelchair if not diagnosed and treated early.
Thyroid disfunction: hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Antibodies produced by the immune system attack the thyroid gland, slowly destroying the cells that produce thyroid hormone. Low levels of thyroid hormone develop (hypothyroidism), usually over months to years. Symptoms include fatigue, constipation, weight gain, depression, dry skin, and sensitivity to cold. Taking a daily oral synthetic thyroid hormone pill restores normal body functions. Graves' disease produces antibodies that stimulate the thyroid gland to release excess amounts of thyroid hormone into the blood (hyperthyroidism). Symptoms of Graves' disease can include bulging eyes as well as weight loss, nervousness, irritability, rapid heart rate, weakness, and brittle hair. Destruction or removal of the thyroid gland, using medicines or surgery, is usually required to treat Graves' disease.
Myasthenia gravis: Antibodies bind to nerves and make them unable to stimulate muscles properly. Weakness that gets worse with activity is the main symptom of myasthenia gravis.
Endometriosis: is an often painful disorder in which tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus or endometrium, grows outside the uterus. Endometriosis most commonly involves the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining the pelvis. With endometriosis, displaced endometrial tissue continues to act as it normally would, thickening, breaking down and bleeding with each menstrual cycle. Because this displaced tissue has no way to leave the body, it becomes trapped. When endometriosis involves the ovaries, cysts (called endometriomas) may form. Surrounding tissue can become irritated, eventually developing scar tissue and adhesions causing pelvic tissues and organs to stick to each other. Endometriosis can cause pain, especially during the period. Fertility problems also may develop.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS): is a hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age. Women with PCOS may have infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods or excess male hormone (androgen) levels. The ovaries may develop numerous small collections of fluid (follicles) and fail to regularly release eggs. The exact cause of PCOS is unknown. Early diagnosis and treatment along with weight loss may reduce the risk of long-term complications such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Premature ovarian failure (POF): is a common cause of infertility in women and is characterized by amenorrhea before the age of 40. Menopause before the age of 40 is considered to be premature and is a non-physiological disorder. POF, also known as premature menopause or premature ovarian insufficiency, is defined by the presence of menopausal-level serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in women younger than 40 years, the mean age of natural menopause depends often on the patients family history. This syndrome is associated with the symptoms and metabolic effects of sex steroid deficiency, as well as the emotional stress experienced by couples who have difficulty in conceiving a pregnancy.
It is known that autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, autoimmune thyroiditis and systemic lupus erythematosis are linked to decreased fertility. Other causes of infertility such as premature ovarian insufficiency, endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome include autoimmune components.
Another element that comes into to play is the regulator of these hormones. The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA axis or HTPA axis) is a complex set of direct influences and feedback interactions among three endocrine glands: the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland (a pea-shaped structure located below the thalamus), and the adrenal (also called "suprarenal") glands (small, conical organs on top of the kidneys).
These organs and their interactions constitute the HPA axis, a major neuroendocrine system that controls reactions to stress and regulates many body processes, including digestion, the immune system, mood and emotions, sexuality, and energy storage and expenditure.
The HPA axis has a central role in regulating many homeostatic systems in the body, including the metabolic system, cardiovascular system, immune system, reproductive system and central nervous system. The HPA axis integrates physical and psychosocial influences in order to allow an organism to adapt effectively to its environment, use resources, and optimize survival.
The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) has been shown to be an important mediator of infertility, involved in the excretion of CRH, ACTH and cortisol, respectively. Data gathered in the literature suggests the involvement of the HPA axis on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadotropic axis (HPG). Specifically, changes in diurnal excretion patterns of cortisol have been shown to accompany mental stress and to mediate the down-regulation of the HPG axis.
This impact could possibly involve inhibitory mechanisms at the pituitary level, by reducing the release of FSH and LH by GnRH. Furthermore, research has shown that the effect of cortisol on the HPG axis is dependent on the endocrine status of the ovary in its different stages within the menstrual cycle. From the studies presented in this review it can be hypothesized that stress can induce altered cortisol-excretion patterns along the menstrual cycle, which ultimately affect the hormonal profile in critical stages of the fertilization process.
Traditional Chinese Medicine looks at a Western diagnosis and approach differently than its Western Medicine counterpart. In TCM, every disease is differentiated into a group of patterns or stages. This is done by using the pulse, tongue and symptoms presented to determine the degree of excess of deficiency, interior or exterior invasion, hot or cold in contrast, and location.
Once these parameters have been determined, a long-term treatment plan to regulate the immune response is used to alter the path of the disease.
What TCM is more interested in, is not whether FSH is high, auto-antibodies are determined or T-cell counts are low, but the need to determine the "root cause" of the disorder. What is it, that caused the body to stop determining between its own cells and disease. Patients have been successfully treating with a combination of acupuncture, herbal therapy, diet and supplementation.
Pattern diagnosis is crucial to determine the root cause of an immune disorder. Followed by proper treatment of acupuncture points and a differential herbal formula. Depending on the autoimmune response, nutrition and dietary restrictions can help to coax the body back into a state of equilibrium.
Clinical Research Studies
Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a common cause of infertility in women and is characterized by amenorrhea before the age of 40. Women with POF have been reported to have diminished general and sexual well-being, are less satisfied with their sexual lives, have increased risk for low bone density, earlier onset osteoporosis.
The TCM etiology of amenorrhea includes insufficient transformation of blood of the spleen and stomach, severe consumption of blood and exhaustion of blood source and blockage or blood stasis in the vessels due to retention of pathogenic factors in the uterus. In this study, local and distal acupoints with functions of reinforcing liver and kidney, regulating Qi and blood, and adjusting mental activity were selected according to the amenorrhea etiology.
The present results indicate that the acupuncture treatment can adjust patients' serums FSH, and LH level, improving patients' SAS score and Kupperman score. The serum FSH level dropped to IU/L from baseline to the end of treatment, the serum level rose, and the serum LH level dropped to (17.01). The changes of hormones produced by acupuncture in the present study were similar to the previous investigation using Electro-stim Acupuncture. Modulation of serums FSH and LH level may partially explain the effects of acupuncture in treating POF, which is also observed in acupuncture improving other gynecological disorders. Four patients regained menstrual cycle after treatment and two during one-month follow-up period of this study. Such result of present study is similar to the gaining of menstruation in a top athlete reported in a Japanese acupuncture study.
Approximately 10% of reproductive age women suffer from endometriosis. Additionally, approximately 50 percent of infertile women have endometriosis. Biomedical approaches to controlling endometriosis include surgery, oral contraceptives and anti-inflammatory drugs. GnRH agonists are also used as a treatment modality. However, GnRH agonists lower estrogen levels and may lead to endometrial atrophy and amenorrhea.
Researchers find that acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are effective for the relief of endometriosis pain. The total effective rate for auricular acupuncture was over 90%. The total effective rate for Chinese herbal medicine was 60%. A closer look revealed that the effective rate for mild to moderate dysmenorrhea due to endometriosis for both auricular acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine was similar. However, auricular acupuncture showed greater efficacy for the relief of severe dysmenorrhea due to endometriosis.
A total of 24 studies were reviewed for this investigation. One of the studies met all of the inclusion criteria and was the basis for the research conclusions. The study reviewed by the researchers meeting all inclusion criteria consisted of 67 patients. Based on the positive clinical outcomes reviewed, the researchers suggest that additional studies are appropriate to investigate the efficaciousness of acupuncture for the treatment of endometriosis related pain.
In related findings, Dr. L.C. Giudice, MD, PhD cited acupuncture as effective for the treatment of endometriosis related pain in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). Dr. Giudice cited another randomized, sham-controlled trial of women suffering from endometriosis pain. The study concluded that acupuncture definitively and significantly reduces endometriosis related pain.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome is the number one reproductive disease in women. This disease disrupts normal ovulatory cycles which can result in heartbreaking infertility for millions of women. Known hormonal changes in PCOS include excess androgens (ie: testosterone), and insulin resistance.
Electroacupuncture has been found to profoundly affect the reproductive organs, through mechanisms in the sympathetic nervous system, endocrine system, and neuroendocrine system. When needles are inserted into certain points and stimulated in a specific manner, this produces a neurological reflex transmitted to the organ correlated with that nerve pathway.
Several studies exist on low frequency electroacupuncture and ovulation induction. In one trial, the effect of a series of 14 electroacupuncture treatments on 24 anovulatory women with pcos was investigated. In 38% of these women, regular ovulation was induced.
Three months after the last treatment, LH/FSH ratios and testosterone levels were significantly decreased, a sign of improvement in PCOS pathology. In another study done on a group of women given human menopausal gonadotrophin (a commonly used drug in the treatment of infertility), acupuncture was compared to hCG injections in order to assess its effect on ovulation. Traditionally hCG is given to stimulate ovulation during medicated cycles at fertility clinics. It was found that a single acupuncture treatment induced ovulation as effectively as the as the hCG injection and reduced the incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, a painful side effect of medicated cycles. Other studies have also indicated enhanced ovarian response when acupuncture is added to medicated cycles.
Determining and Differentiating
In conclusion, autoimmune conditions, the body is unable to distinguish between what is beneficial and what is non-beneficial, losing the ability to differentiate. When an autoimmune condition is diagnosed, unusual antibodies can be found circulating in the blood, targeting its own body tissue.
Traditional Chinese Medicine looks at a Western diagnosis and approach differently than its Western Medicine counterpart. In TCM, every disease is differentiated into a group of patterns or stages. This is done by using the pulse, tongue and symptoms presented to determine the degree of excess of deficiency, interior or exterior invasion, hot or cold in contrast, and location.
Once these parameters have been determined, a long-term treatment plan to regulate the immune response is used to alter the path of the disease.
What TCM is more interested in, is not whether FSH is high, auto-antibodies are determined or T-cell counts are low, but the need to determine the "root cause" of the disorder. What is it, that caused the body to stop diffentiating between its own cells and disease. Patients have been successfully treating with a combination of acupuncture, herbal therapy, diet and supplementation.
Having trouble? Schedule an appointment with Andrew NOW
Bagnasco M, Bossert I, Pesce G. Stress and autoimmune thyroid diseases. Neuroimmunomodulation. 2006;13(5-6):309-17.
Bahn R, Levy E, Wartofsky L. Graves' disease. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007;92(11):2 p following 14A.
Cai, X., 1997. Substitution of acupuncture for HCG in ovulation induction. J. Tradit. Chin. Med. 17, 119–121.
Carmina, E., Ditkoff, E.C., Malizia, G., Vijod, A.G., Janni, A., Lobo, R.A., 1992. Increased circulating levels of immunoreactive beta-endorphin in polycystic ovary syndrome is not caused by increased pituitary secretion. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 167,
Chen, B.Y., Yu, J., 1991. Relationship between blood radioimmunoreactive beta-endorphin and hand skin temperature during the electro-acupuncture induction of ovulation. Acupunct. Electrother.
Dominguez LJ, Bevilacqua M, Dibella G, et al. Diagnosing and managing thyroid disease in the nursing home. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2008;9(1):9-17.
Endometriosis Study: http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1225-acupunctureendometriosispainst25cv6
Feldman: Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 8th ed. 2006. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier Inc.
HPA Stress and Infertility https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18488870
Journal: https://www.journals/ecam/2014/718675/ on POF with acupuncture treatments
Klein I, Danzi S. Thyroid disease and the heart. Circulation. 2007;116(15):1725-35.
Nayak B, Hodak SP. Hyperthyroidism. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2007;36(3):617-56, v. Review.
Nygaard B. Hyperthyroidism. Am Fam Physician. 2007;76(7):1014-6.
Vanderpas J. Nutritional epidemiology and thyroid hormone metabolism. Annu Rev Nutr. 2006;26:293-322.
Van de Ven AC, Erdtsieck RJ. Changes in bone mineral density, quantitative ultrasound parameters and markers of bone turnover during treatment of hypothyroidism. Neth J Med. 2008;66(10):428-32.
Wu P. Thyroid disorders and diabetes. It is common for a person to be affected by both thyroid disease and diabetes. Diabetes Self Manag. 2007;24(5):80-2, 85-7.


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GLITCH (portrait) SESSION
everybody needs a great photograph of themselves - why not have something interesting.
update your profile(s) with a whole new look - Marta Timmer (Blicharz) will be on-site DaDe ART & DESIGN LAB taking (glitch) portraits
[#1] saturday february 22, 2014 between 11:00 am & 2:00 pm
[#2] sunday march 02, 2014 between 12:00 pm & 3:00 pm
100.00 (digital file) or 180.00 for the metallic print (12 x 18 inch size).
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403 454 0243
Marta Blicharz is a Polish-Canadian, traditionally trained visual artist, currently exploring computer graphics and photography in the context of the digital glitch and its postmodern identity. Growing up in the small town Sulecin, Poland, Marta participated in many local art contests and international artist visits which were hosted by the town's Centre for Culture, Sport and Recreation. (SOKSiR).
In the summer of 2000, Marta moved to Lethbridge, AB, Canada with her family, where she completed the International Baccalaureate Art courses and obtained her high school diploma in 2002. She then went on to pursue an arts degree at the University of Calgary and in 2006 she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Photography) and a Minor in Psychology. In the meantime Marta engaged in some freelance photography work and had her photos published in several magazines. Two years later, Marta enrolled in the Multimedia Production Diploma Program at Lethbridge College and graduated in 2010 with honours.
Marta exhibited at the Pixel gallery in Toronto, as well as at the Computational Aesthetics in Vancouver in 2011. Her work has been shown both in a group and solo context. She has also presented at the 2011 Glitch Festival in Chicago. In August 2012, Marta completed her Master of Fine Arts in New Media degree at the University of Lethbridge, Alberta. Her aspirations for the future involve becoming a writer, a film director and maintaining her digital art practice while teaching art and design at established educational institutions in Canada.


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Dillon Bunk Bed - White & Woodgrain
The Dillon Bunk Bed with its white and natural woodgrain durable finish accommodates a standard single size mattress at the top and a 3/4 mattress below.
Storage space is always at a premium and this bed offers enough solutions to enhance your child's bedroom storage offering. The Dillon Bunk Bed features shelving against the foot end for display and books as well as sliding door cubby space above for access from the top bed. The additional option of the Underbed can be used for storage with its three drawer divisions or be used for sleepovers by adding a mattress.
- Solid, high-quality construction
- Eco-friendly materials (steel ladder)
- Ample storage space
- Height: 168.2cm
- Length: 195cm
- Width: 132cm
STAIRCASE DIMENSIONS: (White only)
- Height: 136cm to top step, 172cm to top of rail
- Length: 120cm
- Width: 50cm
- E2 MDF (medium density fibreboard) with melamine wrap: resistant to corrosion, water and high temperature
- Steel ladder
- Do not use a mattress higher than 15cm on the top bunk
- This product ships flat pack and requires assembly
- The top bed on a bunk bed is not suitable for use by children under the age of 6
- Mattresses
- Bedding and decor
- Underbed which can be used for sleepovers as an underbed with mattress (available separately) or as 3 division storage (divider is removable)
- Storage staircase with 2 drawers, 2 open shelves and a wardrobe (white only)


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Parent & Family
In the day nursery much attention is given to the realm of relationship.
We endeavour to come to know the family, to begin a relationship. It is through this relationship that the well being of the child is greatly enhanced. This begins with the first meeting and continues during the visiting 'phase' which can take as long as the parent wishes, sometimes months until the parent feels secure and ready to leave their little one, to pass their child to the caregiver who in turn becomes known to the parent, in essence, a relationship is established.
As human beings we have the biological gift to form relationships, we create in the other what we are feeling, for example, the feeling of warmth that we direct to the parent is reciprocated, a relationship begins that immediately is experienced by the child.
We can both effect change and influence the internal physiology of the other in our empathetic responses. Today human to human contact is becoming less and less, and the consequences of this needs to be understood. In the day nursery much time is given to our verbal communications with parents. This will vary from parent to parent depending on their circumstances and needs. What is important, is that the parent 'knows' that we are there for them when needed.


text: Valued as the leading manufacturer and exporter, we are introducing in front of our respected customers a large variety of Diamond Necklace Pendants. Our stylish pendants are gold plated and decorated with highly lustrous diamonds that are sourced from reliable market vendors. The provided pendants are mostly worn by ladies and girls on special occasions like wedding, family functions and other celebrations. Before final dispatch, our Diamond Necklace Pendants is packed in attractive boxes for gifting purpose.


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Chase Slate® Credit Card: A Top-Tier Balance Transfer Card
Chase Slate® Credit Card: A Top-Tier Balance Transfer Card
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It may not have been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through a credit card issuer partnership.
Citi is an advertising partner.
The Chase Slate® is our pick for one of the best balance transfer credit cards. This card comes with a 0% Introductory APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a 14.99% - 23.74% Variable APR applies – this means you pay no interest on your balance during that time. The Chase Slate® credit card also does not charge balance transfer fees for the first 60 days after opening an account. This feature is what makes the Chase Slate® stand out from other similar products on the market. Having no transfer fees can be a huge money saver, especially when transferring large sums of money.
- Review
- Benefits and Features
- How Does the Chase Slate® Compare to Other Credit Cards?
Review: Is the Chase Slate® a Good Credit Card for Balance Transfers?
We recommend the Chase Slate® for individuals looking to transfer large balances - there is no better card when it comes to moving sizable sums. That's because while other leading balance transfer cards, such as the Citi Simplicity® Card - No Late Fees Ever or Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card offer longer introductory APR periods, these cards also charge cardholders fees for moving their balance over to them. By eliminating transfer fees for the first 60 days, Chase Slate® offers its customers huge short-term savings.
|Good For…
|Bad For…
|No balance transfer fee on balances transferred within first the 60 days
|Intro APR period not as long as the top competing cards
|Purchase and price protection - extra perks for consumers looking to save money
Of course, there are tradeoffs. While you are not paying for transfers in the first two months with the Chase Slate®, you will not have as much time to enjoy a 0% intro APR. The Citi Simplicity® Card - No Late Fees Ever, for example, has a 0% intro APR on purchases for 18 months from date of account opening and 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months from date of first transfer, then a 14.74% - 24.74% (Variable) APR applies. If you cannot pay off your balance in full within the balance transfer period, we'd recommend you consider applying for a card like the Citi Simplicity® Card - No Late Fees Ever. In that case, consumers should weigh the benefit of the extra months of 0% intro APR (presumably on a lower ending balance) against a waived fee (on a higher starting balance).
One of the other things we really like about the Chase Slate® is that it also offers users something beyond balance transfers. One of the major pitfalls of worse balance transfer cards is that their usefulness ends with the expiration of their 0% intro APR period. Through their purchase protection benefits, Chase Slate® customers have a reason to keep using their card long after that introductory period ends. To that end, the card has benefits and perks like its Blueprint suite of services, and various price and purchase protections (more detailed breakdown of these benefits below. The important takeaway from them is this: they provide security and more control so that consumers can be more confident in their spending and payments.
Chase Slate® Benefits and Features
The Chase Slate® sports a 0% Introductory APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers on purchases (then a 14.99% - 23.74% Variable APR). This is by far the defining characteristic of this credit card. Cardholders can slowly pay off any debts without accumulating fees over that time. Let's look at how transferring a balance using the Chase Slate® credit card might work through an example with the Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard®, one of our better travel rewards credit cards.
How Transferring Balances to the Chase Slate® Can Save Money
Imagine you have a balance of $9,000 with the Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® that you're unable to pay off in full. Assuming you can make minimum monthly payments of $1,000 at the end of each month and don't add further amounts, it will take a little more than 10 months to pay off that balance completely - that's because each month also accrues interest charges that get added to your balance. How much interest will you pay in those months? Well, APR is an annual and nominal percentage rate. In order to get an estimate of how much interest you will accumulate over that period, we need to calculate the actual interest rate based on that nominal APR figure.
What if you transferred your balance over to the Chase Slate® instead? That $600 would stay in your pocket. Assuming you transferred the balance within the first 2 months of opening your Chase Slate® account, you pay no interest and no transfer fees, saving you a considerable amount.
Chase Blueprint
If you need extra help managing your payments and credit card finances, Chase has you covered with their Blueprint service, which is available to Chase Slate® cardmembers. Blueprint offers a range of tools which can help you plan out how to pay off your balance, and analyze your spending habits. The full list of Blueprint services is as follows:
- Full Pay allows you to choose which spending categories to pay off in full each month. With this, if you know that your spending is greatest in particular categories, you can avoid paying interest on those items by targeting them and making sure those purchases are paid off each month.
- Chase Slate® users can select Split to pay off particular purchases in a set number of payments, or by selecting how much of your payment you want to commit to an item each month.
- With Finish It, by selecting how much you are willing to pay each month, you can calculate and track how long it will take to finish off a balance. Finish It allows you to track and see interest payments too, which aids in seeing the long-term costs of choosing a particular minimum payment.
- Track It helps analyze past spending habits, and understand where you are spending the most. It aims to help Chase Slate® users monitor their budget more closely, by creating visualizations which are grouped by spending category.
The advantage of Chase Slate®'s Blueprint service comes as a direct result of how interest is calculated on your card. Interest is compounded daily, which means once interest kicks in, it is calculated on daily balances. If your finances are tight, it might save you money to target down which purchases on your bill you pay off. To save the most money, you will want to pay off as much of your earlier purchases as possible, as they have been accumulating interest the longest. While the savings won't be huge, it can make a difference to individuals on a tight budget.
Chase Slate® Price, Purchase, and Warranty Protection
On top of helping you pay off old balances, the Chase Slate® credit card also protects the purchases you make using it. Keep in mind that all of these benefits apply exclusively to purchases made using the Chase Slate® credit card.
One of the worst experiences when shopping, is to buy an item only to see it go on sale the next day or week. Chase Slate® cardholders can rest easy with Price Protection. Chase will cover the price difference up to $500, if a lower price is advertised within 90 days of a purchase, at a maximum of $2,500 per year. Purchase Protection helps with unexpected accidents and misfortunes that may befall your newly charged merchandise. If an item you bought is damaged or stolen within 120 days of the purchase, Chase will reimburse the damages for up to $500 per claim, and up to $50,000 per account. Finally, Chase Slate® cardholders are also given an extension on their warranties for purchases made with their card. Chase adds one extra year to the manufacturer's warranties – provided the warranty is no longer than 3 years.
How Does the Chase Slate® Compare to Other Credit Cards?
To make the best value-based decision, it is instrumental to do some comparison shopping. While the Chase Slate® stands on its own, it's best to consider it in the context of its peers and other alternatives to determine if it is the best card for you to apply for. Below we profiled how the Chase Slate® credit card compares to other popular credit cards in the market today. Consider the options below to see which card is a better fit for your needs.
Chase Slate® vs Citi Simplicity® Card - No Late Fees Ever
One of our top picks for best balance transfer cards is the Citi Simplicity® Card - No Late Fees Ever. It has one of the longest lasting introductory APR periods for balance transfers of any major credit card - 0% intro APR on purchases for 18 months from date of account opening and 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months from date of first transfer, then a 14.74% - 24.74% (Variable) APR applies. If a consumer is looking for extra time to pay off their previous statement balances, then the extra months of breathing room provided by the Citi Simplicity® Card - No Late Fees Ever can make a world of difference.
One downside of the Citi Simplicity® Card - No Late Fees Ever, over the Chase Slate® card, is its transfer fee of 5% of each balance transfer or $5, whichever is greater. While a standard rate and by no means a big negative, anybody who wants to transfer their balance without having to pay any extra fees should pick the Chase Slate®.
Chase Slate® vs. Discover it® Balance Transfer
We suggest the Discover it® Balance Transfer as another alternative to the Chase Slate® for consumers to consider - it's a hybrid balance transfer card with rewards. Through the Discover it® Balance Transfer, consumers earn 5% cash back on purchases in select, rotating categories. The 5% applies only on the first $1,500 in total spending in those categories, each quarter when you activate. For 2020, the categories include grocery stores, Walgreens and CVS (January-March), gas stations, Uber, Lyft and wholesale clubs (April-June), restaurants and PayPal (July-September), Amazon.com, Target and Walmart.com (October-December). This feature has no equivalent in the Chase Slate®, which offers no rewards outside of the purchase protection benefits.
Chase Slate® vs. Chase Freedom®
The comparison between the Chase Freedom® and Chase Slate® credit cards operates much in the same way as the Discover it® Balance Transfer comparison above. The Chase Freedom® is a cashback rewards credit card with a 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months (then a 14.99% to 23.74% Variable APR) and a 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months (then a 17.24% - 25.24% Variable APR) – the same as Chase Slate®'s offering. There is a 3% balance transfer fee when you transfer during the first 60 days of account opening, $5 minimum, for Chase Freedom® users. After that it is, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. Once again, Chase Slate®'s advantage here is its 'no balance transfer fee' introductory offer.
For long term saving, the Chase Freedom® offers more value through its cash back structure – 5% returns on rotating categories, and 1% back on everything else. There is also a sign-up bonus ($200 Bonus after spending $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening), though we think anybody who needs the card for its balance transfer aspect should steer clear of excessive spending in the first few months of opening the account. As with the Discover it® Balance Transfer before, users can apply for both cards and use each to the different strengths they possess. There is no arguing that the Chase Slate® is the better balance transfer card. However, the Chase Freedom® can eventually provide users with net spending rewards in the future.
Chase Slate® vs Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, one of Chase's most popular credit cards, is marketed at a completely different audience than the Chase Slate®. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a travel rewards card, with a high annual fee and no 0% intro APR offers to speak of. It is strictly for individuals with high spending habits who have no trouble paying off their balance each month. If one does not meet both these qualifications, there is no value to be found in having this card.
The APR on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a little worse than that of the Chase Slate®. Before deciding on a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, it is important to know if one is able to take care of a credit card bill on a month to month basis. If not, then a credit card like the Chase Slate® is the superior financial choice.
Compare The Chase Slate® To Other Balance Transfer Credit Cards Based On Your Situation
We built a comparison tool that allows consumers to compare balance transfer credit cards based on their existing financial situation. Use this to figure out whether the transfer-fee-savings of the Chase Slate® will outweigh the longer 0% periods of other cards, like the Citi Simplicity® Card - No Late Fees Ever.
Bottom Line: Is the Chase Slate® Worth It?
If you are looking to get a credit balance under control, and know that you can pay it off within the interest free balance transfer period, there is no better card than the Chase Slate® for that job. With no transfer fee for the first 60 days with its introductory offer, plus the long introductory APR period, cardholders are free to take their time and slowly pay off a balance that would otherwise be accumulating interest. For consumers who need a bit more time than the Chase Slate® gives, the Citi Simplicity® Card - No Late Fees Ever and Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card cards are good alternatives.
Chase Slate® Resources
We address below a few frequently asked questions that our consumers typically have when it comes to the Chase Slate® credit card.
What is the balance transfer fee 60 days after opening a Chase Slate® credit card account?
In the case of the Chase Slate® card, the fee is 5% or $5, whichever is greater.
What is the APR on Chase Slate® after the introductory period?
The Chase Slate® has a variable 14.99% - 23.74% Variable APR 15 months after your account is opened.
The information related to the Chase Slate® and Chase Freedom® has been collected by ValuePenguin and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.
These responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Advertiser Disclosure: The products that appear on this site may be from companies from which ValuePenguin receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). ValuePenguin does not include all financial institutions or all products offered available in the marketplace.
How We Calculate Rewards: ValuePenguin calculates the value of rewards by estimating the dollar value of any points, miles or bonuses earned using the card less any associated annual fees. These estimates here are ValuePenguin's alone, not those of the card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer.
Example of how we calculate the rewards rates: When redeemed for travel through Ultimate Rewards, Chase Sapphire Preferred points are worth $0.0125 each. The card awards 2 points on travel and dining and 1 point on everything else. Therefore, we say the card has a 2.5% rewards rate on dining and travel (2 x $0.0125) and a 1.25% rewards rate on everything else (1 x $0.0125).


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17.14.040 Terms and Conditions of Deferred Payment and Installment Payment Agreements.
(Amended by Ordinance Nos. 183447, 185326 and 189506, effective June 21, 2019.)
A. Deferred Payments.
1. The City shall authorize the deferred payment of system development charges for periods not to exceed 6 months for projects valued less than or equal to $750,000, 9 months for projects valued greater than $750,000 and less than or equal to $7 million, and 12 months for projects that are valued greater than $7 million.
2. For purposes of this Section, the City shall rely on the value assigned to projects by the City when calculating building permit fees.
3. The City shall charge simple interest during the deferral period at the interim interest rate established by ordinance pursuant to Chapter 17.12 of this Code.
4. The City shall collect fees and charges for the processing and administration of deferred payment agreements as set by general ordinance.
B. Installment Payment Agreements. Payment of principal and interest shall be made in installments as set forth in the signed installment payment contract.


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The following questionnaire was sent to all New Westminster candidates for mayor and council a little over a week ago. A separate questionnaire was sent to trustees (their responses are also being published this week). Questions were selected based primarily on comments from readers of Tenth to the Fraser collected via Twitter and Facebook, with a few of my own questions added in. Responses are published in the order they were received. Spelling/grammar are not corrected and candidates' responses are published unedited.
1. First, let's hear a little about you:
- What's your name? – James Crosty
- How long have you lived in New Westminster? – 22 years
- What do you love most about our city? – The People
- What do you think most needs improvement? – Affordability of our city for all its citizens
- What is the civic issue that is the most personally meaningful to you? – That there is a disconnect between residents and our elected officials.
2. What are the top three initiatives you believe would improve economic development?
- Cutting red tape for businesses at City Hall to streamline processes to obtain permits, inspections, etc.
- Please visit my website Crosty.ca for additional information
3. How would you like to see city council improve engagement with younger citizens?
The Crosty campaign recognized this issue early on in the process. By initiated the Adopt a Voter program for young people we encourage participation in the civic election. We could take council to our high school or Douglas College as an example of engaging younger citizens. Douglas College student union should be considered a Residents Association and be included in the process just to name a few.
4. What should New Westminster do to improve access to recreational programming and indoor public spaces in neighbourhoods that lack amenities like rec centres and libraries such as the West End, Connaught Heights and Sapperton?
This area needs to be further examined within the context of resident associations to discover what the residents want. A bottom up approach rather than a top down direction.
5. Which approach best describes your philosophy towards City budgeting and spending?
Please see my website Crosty.ca for additional information. The options provide here are not what the people have suggested as a solution.
6. Which of the following most closely reflects your views on taxation?
Please see my website Crosty.ca for additional information. The options provide here are not what the people have suggested as a solution.
7. Beyond voting, serving on City committees and appearing at council meetings, what do you think citizens can do to become more involved in civic life?
Participate in your local Parent Teachers Advisory Committee and your local Resident Association.
8. What should be done about truck traffic through our city?
This is complicated and needs a full consultation process with the community and our neighbours with or without Translink at the table. If Translink is not able to solve this issue we need to provide them with our solutions and not the other way around.
9. What should be done to improve our recreation facilities? Specifically, what would you like to see done with Canada Games Pool, which is in need of repair/upgrades?
Prior to making any decision on this significant amenity a comprehensive consultation process has been done with the community. Once completed consultation with the Justice Institute, Federal Gov't and the Province should take place to determine funding sources and potential expansion of the whole block into a BC training plaza.
10. Let's conclude with some 'blue sky' thinking. What is one big-idea project or improvement that you would propose for New Westminster if cost was no object?
Please visit my website at Crosty.ca or google James Crosty for letters to the editor to see the many suggestions that have been offered in this area.


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The new Gears of War 3 trailer is short. Vryshrt. It's just a tease of another trailer that will debut on May 28 during the Champions League Final Match (soccer, right?) and during Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals in the U.S.
The Gears people say that the full trailer will provide "a riveting look at the epic-scale campaign in the Gears of War. They estimate the trailer will run at 9:45 pm GMT (5:45 pm Eastern, 2:45 Pacific)
While the recently-concluded Gears of War 3 beta gave gamers lots of exposure to the September 20 game's multiplayer, we've seen and heard very little of the game's single-player mode. Previously, all we had was this 2010 trailer:
It's all about Adam Fenix, Marcus' dad, it seems. That's no surprise given that the first Gears had us searching for Adam Fenix's mapping data which could help turn the tide in the series' war; and then the second game established that the missing father was still alive. The third game? Well, it'll be sold in special editions that include Adam Fenix's will as well as a code that lets gamers play as dad in multiplayer. Clearly, pops matters.
Let's hope, my fellow Americans, that those NBA playoffs go six games. The best-of-seven series in question, the Chicago Bulls vs. the Miami Heat is currently tied 1-1 and is guaranteed to go at least five.
World Premiere "Gears of War 3" Campaign Trailer on May 28 [Epic Games]


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Amy Goodman will be at Access Sacramento on November 21st, 2009
Join us to hear Amy speak.
Coloma Community Center
4623 T Street
Sacramento, Ca. 95819
2 tiers of tickets are available for this Access Sacramento fundraiser
1. Join us to hear Amy speak
3:00 to 4:30pm in the
Coloma Community Center Auditorium
Ticket Price: $15 in advance or $20 at the door
David Swanson will discuss and sign his new book "Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union".
Please join us as we welcome this tireless activist.
November 21, 2009
5:00 p.m. dinner and speaking with Peace Pyramid
6009 Kifisia Way
Fair Oaks, CA 95628
CONTACT THE ORGANIZER: Tom King firstname.lastname@example.com
From Dave Tamayo...
Please take the time to come this Tuesday morning, and to spread the word for others to come. This massive giveaway will hurt all of our communities. This is the first public hearing about putting the arena scam sales tax on the November ballot.
Let the Board that our community has higher priorities.
Maloof's Arena Sales Tax Hearing
Board of Supervisors
Tuesday July 25, 2006, 11:15 am
700 H Street downtown Sacramento
Oppose the half-billion dollar giveaway for the Maloofs private arena!
Don't miss two timely short documentaries about the crucial importance of protecting women's health choices.
Dr. Glennah Trochet
(fmr. Sac Co. Public Health Officer)
Ana Sandoval Planned Parenthood
Christi H. Ketchum Our Rightful Place, LLC
Sun April 22nd 7PM
"Movies On A Big Screen" at
The Guild Theatre
2828 35th St (between 3rd & 4th Ave)
Admission Free • Donations Appreciated
Access Sacramento is the 21ST Century
Access Sacramento Open House
Saturday April 21, 2012 1pm to 4pm
Coloma Community Center - 4623 T Street Sacramento
Access Sacramento welcomes community members, artists and musicians, media organizations and nonprofit groups.
Featured in the Coloma Auditorium will be regional media contributors - The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento Press, KCRA Channel 3, KXTV News 10 and others. Learn how city, county and state agencies promote exchange of information. And how organizations are encouraging new "community reporting" from you and your neighbors.
March 31, 2012
Begins 10:00 AM
Southside Park
6th & T St, Sacramento
Speakers, Live Music, Food
All Ages - FREE - All Day Saturday
Wellstone Progressive Democrats of Sacramento
Thursday March 22, 2012 Regular Meeting
Colonial Heights Library
4799 Stockton Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95820
1) Introductions
2) Update on Spaghetti Feed
3) Bylaws Amendments
4) June Endorsements:
A book talk with Jeff Paterson of Courage to Resist
Tuesday, March 27, 7 P.M.
Time Tested Books, 1114- 21st Street, Sac.
From raw recruits to war resisters.
How ideas about justifying war change.
Intimate looks at personal transformations.
The courage to stand up and say a resounding NO.
A book about GI resistance from the Vietnam War to Bradley Manning and WikiLeaks - including interviews with Noam Chomsky and Daniel Ellsberg.
OCCUPY THE CAPITOL!Monday, March 5, 2012
10 AM: Mass March * Southside Park (6th & T Sts)
11 AM: Rally at the Capitol Building
12:30 PM: Lunch at the Capitol Building
3:30 PM: General Assembly and Nonviolent Direct Action Training to Occupy the Capitol!
5:30 PM: RALLY NORTH STEPS in Solidarity with Occupy the Capitol
Thousands of students, parents, teachers, and workers will flood into Sacramento on Monday, March 5th. How long we stay will be up to you.
Join us to demand that Wall St. and the 1% pay to refund education, jobs, essential services, and a better future!
For more information on the day of action, please visit www.occupyeducationca.org/march5.
SMUD Auditorium - 6201 S Street, Sacramento, CA
Monday, March 19, 2012
Suzanne Phinney, D.Env.
LWVSC, Aspen Environmental Group
Trish Johnson
CA Air Resources Board, Climate Change Policy Section
Obadiah Bartholomy
SMUD, Climate Change Program
Erik de Kok
City of Sacramento, Climate Action Program
Questions & Answers
Progressive brothers and sisters,
This Thursday, February 23rd, is the monthly Wellstone meeting! We've got a relatively light agenda. We'll be getting an update on what happened at this year's Democratic convention and specifically at the Progressive Caucus. And we will be considering a four endorsement requests. I look forward to seeing you all there!
Wellstone Progressive Democrats of Sacramento
Thursday February 23, 2012 Regular Meeting
Colonial Heights Library
4799 Stockton Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95820
2) Convention/Progressive Caucus Report
3) Bylaws Update Discussion
4) Timeline for General Endorsement Meeting
5) Consideration of Endorsement Requests:
March 16- 17, 2012 - Sabeel Sacramento Conference, A Time for Justice: Supporting Human Rights in Palestine–Israel.
Conference location: First United Methodist Church, 2100 J St, Sacramento.
An opportunity to hear from and meet with Christian, Muslim, Jewish and secular leaders, scholars, and activists about the situation in Palestine-Israel including its historical context, efforts to end human rights abuses, visions for the future and why a just resolution is important for Americans.
Featuring international, national and regional presenters, the conference runs from noon on Friday to 6pm on Saturday. The Friday evening keynote with Sabeel Founder, Rev. Naim Ateek and Palestinian Freedom Rider, Huwaida Arraf, is open to the public.
"A Child's View," the exhibit of Gaza Children's art work will be on display.
More information and registration options at: FOSNA.org (Sacramento Conference), or email@example.com or phone 916-451-1512.
NOTE: Early registration $50 for entire 2 day Conference, including Friday dinner, Saturday lunch and Friday Keynote. After March 1st, 2012, registration $60. One day, students and group rates available. Scholarships available on request. Friday Keynote open to public - $5-$10 sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds (free to registered Conference attendees). Wheelchair accessible.
Please join the Progressive Surge as we gather for our Wellstone Progressive Democrats of Sacramento monthly meeting.Thursday January 26, 2012 Regular Meeting
2) Strong Mayor Initiative 3.0
3) CDP Pre-Endorsement Conference Report
4) Endorsements Update
What: A silent protest against the Rhee-form of the public education system.
When: Wednesday January 25th 2012 at 5pm.
Where: 828 I Street inside the Sacramento County Main Library's Tsakopolous Library Galleria.
"We need to say it's wrong, and if that doesn't work, engage in direct action, it's time to organize, demonstrate, and agitate…" ~ Diane Ravitch, in Sacramento 1/20/12
Inspired by our friends at Occupy Wall Street, and Dr. Cornel West, Move To Amend is planning bold action to mark the second anniversary of the infamous Citizens United v. FEC decision!
Join Democracy For America!
HEADLINES plus
Anti-Occupation sites


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Angie's List Answers is the trusted spot to ask home improvement and health questions and get answers from service companies, health providers and consumers. For ratings and reviews on companies in your area, search Angie's List.
*Updates every 4 hours
patching holes in drywall and painting walls
Handymen is the Search the List category you are looking for - accessible to all classes of both paid and free AL memberships.
Answered 3 years ago
by LCD
Report It
Hi, This is James in Member Care. Thanks for your interest in Angie's List! We'll be happy to help find top rated handyman services, but it doesn't look like you have a subscription to the List yet. You can join by visiting www.angieslist.com or by giving us a call. Our call center is available 8:00 am-9:00 pm weekdays and 8:00-5:00 pm ET on Saturdays.
Thanks for your question and we look forward to assisting you!
Answered 3 years ago
by Member Services


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Mon., Aug. 18, 2014
Colville Forest designates roads open to disabled hunters
HUNTING -- Portions of five roads in the Colville National Forest have been designated as routes that will be open to disabled hunters during the upcoming hunting seasons.
The program allows motorized access into a gated road where other hunters must walk in, said Franklin Pemberton, Forest Service spokesman.
The 2014 disabled hunter access routes include:
- Betty Creek in Ferry County (12.4 miles),
- Boundary Mountain in Ferry County (7.8 miles),
- Brewer Mountain in Stevens County (2.4 miles),
- Mitchell in Stevens County (7.8 miles),
- Renshaw in Pend Oreille County (2.8 miles).
The program does not provide special motorized access to all areas on the CNF, just to specially designed roads otherwise closed to motor vehicles.
"Disabled Hunter Access hunters and one of their two permitted assistants can harvest any game in season for which they have purchased licenses," Pemberton said.
Permitted hunters can use the weapons allowed for the particular season by state hunting regulations. Participating hunters with disabilities must have a state issued disabled hunter permit and must register and sign-in at any one of the six Colville National Forest offices prior to hunting.
- Colville National Forest Supervisor's office, 765 S. Main St., Colville. Phone (509) 684-7000. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Three Rivers Ranger District office, 255 W. 11th St., Kettle Falls. Phone (509) 738-7700. Office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Republic Ranger District office, 650 E. Delaware, Republic. Phone (509) 775-7400. Office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Newport office: 315 North Warren, Newport. Phone (509) 447-7300. Office hours are 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Sullivan Lake office: 12641 Sullivan Lake Road, Metaline Falls. Phone (509) 446-7500. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Colville National Forest partners in the project with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council.


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I need a website developer
Budget $30-250 USD
> Social Blogging/Events website
> Events
- Posting Meetings/conference (midsize 100-200 Guests)
- RSVP function for people who are registered for a
particular event.
- Registration of new users and storing login credentials..
- Notifications/confirmations to registered users.
- Blogs (based on entrepreneurs etc)
How many Pages?
Initially can start with 5 Pages - Main, About us, Blog, Events, Resources (Media)
Do we need a Facebook/Instagram equivalent? YES
Mobile version YES
Possibility of sending email notifications/whatsapp notifications - YES
What is ready as of now?
Concept, Name, Domain is already taken, Hosting is available
Expected date of launch? 1-NOV-2019
63 freelancers are bidding on average $210 for this job
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Related Articles
- COMPARING THE SOUTHERN BORDER TO THE NORTHERN BORDER AND THE ISSUES TO BE DEALT WITH AT EACH. Gantz, David A. // Canada-United States Law Journal;2003, Vol. 29, p363
Compares the Southern Border and the Northern Border. Impact of the aftermath of September 11 on cross border trade; Free Trade Agreement; Non-commercial traffic; Illegal immigration; Illegal drugs or drug trafficking; Improvement in technology; Economic impact.
- México-Estados Unidos: Frontera eficiente, pero no abierta. // Frontera Norte;ene-jun2003, Vol. 15 Issue 29, p7
In March 2002, Mexico and the united States, through the Smart Border Plan, agreed to work to make the border more efficient. While responding to the shared bilateral objective of accelerating legal flows of people and goods across the border, this initiative is closer to U. S. Demands for...
- MOVING PEOPLE ACROSS THE CANADA-UNITED STATES BORDER: LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS IN IMMIGRATION, THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE TRAVEL INITIATIVE, AND ENHANCED DRIVERS' LICENSE PROGRAMS. Pawluch, Catherine A. // Canada-United States Law Journal;2008, Vol. 34 Issue 1, p185
Information on the conference entitled "The Post - 9/11 Safe and Secure Canada-United States Border in the Era of Global Supply Chains: Gateway or Checkpoint? The World's Longest Undefended Border" that was held in 2008 is presented. Topics include the movement of people across Canada-U.S....
- Balancing our ideals with national security. King, Peter // Hill;2/13/2008, Vol. 15 Issue 17, p39
The author reflects on immigration policies and homeland security, particularly in state boundaries in the U.S. He explores the September 11, 2001 event, where the 19 terrorists entered the country illegally and points out that the country can no longer afford to be naive. He believes that...
- Terrorist attacks spark immigration debate. Benjamin, Mark // Bay Area Reporter;10/4/2001, Vol. 31 Issue 40, p15
Reports on the immigration issues sparked by the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the U.S. Legislative proposals to address weaknesses in the visa process; Monitoring of the status of student visas; Impact of a travel decline on the domestic economy.
- DIRECTOR'S NOTE. Mckinney-Browning, Mabel // Insights on Law & Society;Spring 2014, Vol. 14 Issue 3, p3
An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various articles within the issue on topics including role of law in international migration, changes in travel since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack in the U.S and issues of human rights faced by environmental migrants.
- Immigration focus shifts from economics to security. Francis, David R. // Christian Science Monitor;10/22/2001, Vol. 93 Issue 229, p21
Looks at how the terrorist attacks on the United States have transformed the national debate on immigration.
- Preserving and Expanding Our Important NAFTA Trading Relationships in Light of September 11. Shuman, John R. // Business Credit;Sep2002, Vol. 104 Issue 8, p53
Examines the effect that the terrorist attacks on the U.S. on September 11, 2001 has on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) trading relationships, and the steps taken by NAFTA partners to preserve and expand trade. Factors that have led to lost manufacturing and retail business;...
- SHARED BORDERS, SHARED CONCERNS. Ruiz, Edgar // State News (Council of State Governments);Apr2007, Vol. 50 Issue 4, p12
The article stresses that the U.S. and Mexico will need to address the contentious issue of immigration, promote a shared vision for economic competitiveness and give government the tools to manage binational concerns along their shared border effectively. It reveals the benefit of the North...


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About Us
Tepsco Printers Sdn. Bhd. was established in 1999 as a small factory operated in Bukit Minyak, Penang, Malaysia. The company is a manufacturer of offset colour boxes and paper printed products. Owing to our commitment to excellent service we have grown steadily over the years. Today, the company is occupying more than an acre production area to support the packaging needs of our customers.
More than 10 years of manufacturing experience has given us the confidence to guarantee the quality of all our products.
The company has built a dedictaed and experienced team to serve the packaging needs of our customers. The company system and the management are organized accordingly to ISO 9001:2008 QMS.
We focus on the delivering of our quality products and services to our customers needs.


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President's Message
Welcome to Ideon Packaging's website!
When I started Ideon Packaging at the end of 2001 I promised myself and the people around me that we would create a culture where all team members would love to come to work every day! I wanted a company that would have a clear purpose and everyday live by very strong values. I was convinced that a business in a competitive market could thrive by engaging the hearts and minds of all its team members. As you might imagine, our people are an integral part of our Company's culture and share in our vision and our ideals. We believe in leveraging the abilities of our team members and investing in them, so that they can be the best that they can be.
At Ideon we talk about the wow experience! Everything we do must be a WOW! We do that by having an incredibly wowed culture that strives to do whatever it takes to create a WOW experience for the Customer. Although Ideon has always been a provider of corrugated products, it is defined by a desire to deliver more than just an everyday product.
Our sales, customer service and design teams are expected to deliver ideas, provide knowledge as well as services, and our production personnel understand the need to manufacture the best product they possibly can.
Thanks for visiting our website. I hope you will gain a better insight into our products, get a better sense of who we are, and feel our eagerness to constantly Wow! I look forward to hearing your comments.
Rick Van Poele
Our Purpose Statement
Exceed Expectations
We provide a level of service and support that consistently exceeds customer expectations.
We listen to our customer's requirements and provide creative solutions.
We seek fair and responsible profit, enough to keep the company financially healthy for the long term and to fairly compensate team members, investors and owners.
We understand that all team members add value and are the core to our success.
We value conflict, with resolution!
We are committed to developing all of our team members to help them grow and find fulfillment in an open culture.
Integrity & Honesty
We live by high values of integrity and honesty.
The Ideon Story
Boxes. Yep, corrugated boxes. Doesn't really conjure up images of excitement or grandeur does it? But let's face it, lots of good things come in boxes… don't they? And Ideon loves boxes. We love providing solutions to your packaging needs. Corrugated containers, stock boxes, protective packaging, single-face lamination, POP, folding cartons? Yes, we do all that. Need advice on automating your packaging line? We do that as well. It all comes down to one thing, WOWing the Customer! That is the Ideon way!
It started over 10 years ago; Rick and Dave sat down and had a conversation about boxes. Over many cups of coffee the vision started to unfold. How do we differentiate ourselves? Could a box company design, manufacture and deliver boxes in 5 days, consistently? Could a WOW culture exist that all team members believe in? Could a company prosper, while giving back to the community and being environmentally responsible? 4theKids
Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.William James


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It was an enlightening day today. That doesn't mean it was a good day, or that I reached new heights in my yoga practice. It means I learned something about my four-year-old daughter and me, and how she views that precious mother and daughter relationship we share. What she said did not give comfort.
Ally called me her "maid."
I'll give some background. I'd asked Ally to remove her boots once inside. As any caregiver of young tots knows, this can be a back-breaking task that involves awkward tugging, whining (both by child and adult) and spaghetti stretched tights. No wonder Ally hates the job. However, I had become convinced that getting on and off her own footwear was a good skill to learn before college. She disagreed.
"Maid?" I said shocked. Who has a maid? We don't, even if Ally thinks we do in the form of me. I'm a single mother. Hasn't Ally read the income statistics?
I was indignant. "I'm not your maid. I'm your mother."
When the words left my mouth, I realized how pathetic I sounded. "Mother" and "maid," in Ally's mind, are the same. After I thought about it, I had to admit she wasn't far off the mark.
I cook for her; I clean up after her (after the regulation squawk about her doing it herself); I even bathe and dry her. There are those multiple cycles of laundry. Her dentist explained Ally doesn't have the dexterity to brush her teeth at four, so I do that too. I do more for her than any maid would. I am a combination personal attendant, housekeeper and emotional coach. But my daughter has fixated on the maid part. How did Ally catch onto this?
How could I have raised, in four short years, such an entitled, aristocratic kid, with so little tact? I wanted to know where I'd got lost on the parenting path. I was eager to blame someone other than myself for my child's repellent social attitudes. I didn't want to sound bitter and blame my ex. In an effort to pass the buck, I explained Ally's unfortunate attitudes about her mother and the work ethic generally on Disney and the ubiquitous Disney Princess cabal. There seems to be no harm in blaming cartoons. Okay, so Snow White swept and cooked for the Seven Dwarfs, and Cinderella cleaned for those dreadful stepsisters. But these skivvy roles were temporary and necessary for the plot, but only until Prince Charming arrived to whisk said princess from all that laundry. Sleeping Beauty and the Little Mermaid never had to clean for anyone before her prince arrived. Being kind and pretty were good enough. That's part of being a princess: You get a maid, a palace and a handsome prince, the last apparently with limited emotional depth or intellectual rigor, judging from the Disney versions. I hope Kate Middleton does better on that front.
I grew up on both the Disney and non-Disney versions of the fairy tales, but unlike my daughter, I didn't wear their images on my T-shirts, lunchbox, umbrellas and every second piece of apparel I owned. The World of Disney was not as encompassing in my childhood as it is in Ally's. I never called my mother a maid.
To counter her aristocratic leanings, I considered introducing some Marx (Karl, not Groucho), including commentary on class struggle and the dictatorship of the proletariat into Ally's bedtime reading. The idea was to counter all those fairy tales. When I looked up Karl Marx online to see what he could say to children about inequality and the working class, I learned he had seven children, and his first an illegitimate son whose mother was his wife's "maidservant." I concluded that Marx is not the solution to my daughter's champagne tastes or lofty sense of entitlement.
It's no surprise that Ally loved the reaction she provoked with her maid reference. What kid doesn't like to unhinge a parent? I'm told by experienced adults that my daughter's comment is a precursor to what I'll get in spades when Ally hits 14, if not before. I believe that before has arrived, and I've got a whole decade to deal with the fall out.
As of today, there is a new rule in this house, posted by management: Everyone removes her own boots and cleans up after herself.


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EgoJet is a fresh approach on automotive user interface design.
Its overall dark and flat style minimizes the distraction of the driver and supports his information intake.
The central radial element is a combination of speed and RPM gauge. While the needle visualizes the speed, the current transmission is projected on the outside.
Thus the driver only has to look at one spot to gather all important information.
There is enough space on the left side to handle the most common in-car tasks like searching for music or entering a destination adress for navigation.
In order to support a more complex view like a 360° car browser the user can switch the gauge to linear mode. In this mode the content can occupy two thirds of the screen.
Automotive Design, Training and Recruitment News
Here you will find our latest news and information regarding automotive design and development plus Autodesk training and automotive recruitment.
You can read more about Technicon Design on our corporate website www.technicondesign.com
27 July 2015
EgoJet X01 - UI_Concept video
Posted by Technicon Design at Monday, July 27, 2015
Labels: 5D Mark II, After Effects, automotive, Car, City, concept, Drive, Future, HMI, Interaction, Interior, IxD, Motion Design, Munich, Night, technicon design, Transportation, UI, User Interface
20 July 2015
Autodesk Alias Tutorial 13 - From the Technicon Academy
To support you as you are improving your skills, we have developed a little tutorial.
This tutorial explains how to insert image into axis system using basic pivot driven functions.
If you like the idea of our tutorial, have a look at our Academy page. We are offering certified trainings for a whole range of software.
For general questions regarding our courses which we are also offering in various countries, see our Academy Contacts page or directly contact our Academy Consultant Anne Struck.
This tutorial explains how to insert image into axis system using basic pivot driven functions.
If you like the idea of our tutorial, have a look at our Academy page. We are offering certified trainings for a whole range of software.
For general questions regarding our courses which we are also offering in various countries, see our Academy Contacts page or directly contact our Academy Consultant Anne Struck.
Posted by Technicon Design at Monday, July 20, 2015
05 May 2015
VREDDY - An Autodesk® VRED® remote
Are you tired of presenting your exciting new design model in a boring way?
Do you want to hand over the control to somebody who is not an Autodesk® VRED® expert?
Lay aside keyboard and mouse and start controlling your scene in a natural way with VREDDY, our all new Autodesk® VRED® remote for iPhone and iPad.
Here is a short introduction of the main features
Convinced? Read more about our app at http://www.technicondesign.com/
Do you want to hand over the control to somebody who is not an Autodesk® VRED® expert?
Lay aside keyboard and mouse and start controlling your scene in a natural way with VREDDY, our all new Autodesk® VRED® remote for iPhone and iPad.
Here is a short introduction of the main features
Convinced? Read more about our app at http://www.technicondesign.com/
Posted by Technicon Design at Tuesday, May 05, 2015
09 April 2015
Koenigsegg Automotive AB Regera Animation for 2015 Geneva Car Show
Technicon Design Shanghai were challenged by Koenigsegg Automotive AB to create a dynamic and visually attractive video animation to showcase their all new Regera for the 2015 Geneva car show launch. Within the animation we were required to demonstrate the closure activation, roof stowage and engine bay layout of their luxury Megacar.
This project was completed in a very short time frame by utilising our high capacity rendering computers and the absolute dedication and diligence of the animators and designers who were involved in the project.
View the video below:
Read more about our Shanghai studio by visiting http://www.technicondesign.com/china
This project was completed in a very short time frame by utilising our high capacity rendering computers and the absolute dedication and diligence of the animators and designers who were involved in the project.
View the video below:
Read more about our Shanghai studio by visiting http://www.technicondesign.com/china
Posted by Technicon Design at Thursday, April 09, 2015
Labels: 2015, car show, Geneva, Koenigsegg, Regera, shanghai, technicon design, video
20 March 2015
Technicon Design visualisation project for the new Koenigsegg Regera
Shown at the Geneva Motor Show March 2015Technicon Design recently created stunning high definition visuals for two new models from Swedish Megacar manufacturer Koenigsegg.
Koenigsegg released the models Regera and Agera RS at this year's Geneva motor show.
Technicon's studios in Shanghai and Paris collaborated on the project and as well as the hyper realistic renderings of the interiors and exteriors, created an animation which played on Koenigsegg's stand during the show.
More images are available on the Technicon Design France Studio Page
Posted by Technicon Design at Friday, March 20, 2015
Labels: Agera, Geneva, Koenigsegg, Motor show, Paris, Regera, shanghai, studio, Swedish
04 March 2015
The Making of Project fREN : Immersive Mixed Reality in Design
Come, Experience, Decide: The Making of Project fREN
Immersive Mixed Reality in DesignWerner Ulrich Strathaus, Designer and Operations Director @Technicon Design
Using digital technologies in design has been one of Technicon's core competencies for over 35 years.
Project fREN includes all the services that Technicon currently offers to OEMs in all parts of the world. However, due to its holistic approach, fREN delivers a lot more than just the sum of the individual expert disciplines involved in the project.
fREN is a tool that not only facilitates decision-making processes in product development, but also helps to make design-related decisions at an earlier stage and in a more targeted and resource-saving way. Virtual evaluation tools such as fREN will increasingly replace the time-consuming and costly development of physical models as decision-making aids. Using virtual tools saves both money and time.
The system is extremely flexible and can be used in an almost location-independent way.
For years, the design studios of many OEMs have used both cave and power wall projections as virtual tools to verify design and engineering decisions. Conventional 3D projections and shutter glasses are used to provide a three-dimensional experience of a vehicle's interior and exterior design. So far, however, this approach has only been moderately successful.
That's why making design decisions in automotive development has been impossible without the aid of physical models. This approach goes back to Harley Earl, who, in the 1930s, introduced design and model-making as a process, thus revolutionising automotive development at GM.
|View through the headset.
Output of the two display ports for stereoscopic
display, using the Oculus Rift head-mounted display.
fREN is the phonetic transcription of the Ancient Greek term phren meaning diaphragm, which was seen as the seat of the soul.
|What would he have said? The great Harley Earl in front of a
full-scale model of the Buick Le Sabre (1951).
The augmentation (fREN) aspect is based on a sensory experience sequence in which the user simultaneously experiences both the real feeling of sitting in a car and a stereoscopic projection.
The gap is closing
With the Oculus Rift head-mounted display (HMD) it is now possible to project real, high-quality stereoscopic 3D representations directly onto the user's field of view. Using infrared tracking and gyroscopic calculations, the HMD's position is measured and simultaneously transferred to the camera position in Autodesk's VRED render system. Hence, each head movement affects the Oculus image and users get a real-time 360° view of the virtual space, enabling them to look around and move through the space. The system generates a highly realistic representation of the vehicle, which is additionally supported by real objects that the user can feel, in particular the seat and the steering wheel.
|First test set-up at the studio in Cologne
A great deal of expertise and experience is needed to create and process the data for representing scenes with VRED: in addition to the highly detailed and high-quality surface geometry data created by the design team in Cologne using Autodesk Alias Automotive 2015 in class-A quality, the project also requires excellent skills in using and applying various visualisation techniques. These skills range from data processing and scene lighting, the creation of HDRI environments and shader processing to adjusting camera views with the user's viewing direction in the model.
|As long as the user stays inside the tracking area,
it is also possible to generate stereoscopic views of the exterior.
That's why we work with a multi-disciplinary team of photographers, CGI specialists, transportation designers and surface designers who know how to use the hardware and software to achieve results that are as close to reality as is achievable.
Colour and trim design plays a very special role in Project fREN.
C&T concepts are still developed in a rather abstract way using material collages. Now, however, we can digitally reproduce the selected materials using a complex scanning technique, followed by shader processing. We use real material samples to implement the C&T designs created at the Technicon studio in Munich.
|Design Team Munich
fREN unites the real and the virtual in one sensory environment
The textures resulting from this process are used to create material shaders. In VRED, these material shaders are then directly applied to the geometry data. Thus, all colour and material information can be reproduced in a realistic way. While the different geometries for the VR models and the seat demonstrator are created in the Cologne-based studio, the C&T design is developed at the studio in Munich. The studio in Rüsselsheim is responsible for making the physical model and carries out all model-making work for Project fREN in-house. The model is predominantly made from ureol, a special model-making material based on PU foam. A large portal-milling machine is used for contouring the rectangular raw blocks. Details such as switches, steering wheel and inserts are produced as rapid prototyping parts using SLA or SLS techniques, depending on the parts' durability requirements. The experienced team, comprising CAD/CAM specialists, milling experts and model makers, puts the different parts together, thus creating the project's unique value: the tactile experience of Project fREN.
|Model engineering at the Cologne studio. The block volumes are created with
Alias and passed on as solids to the CAD/CAM specialists.
Controlling presentations easily with an iPad:
No expert knowledge or CGI skills are needed to run a fREN presentation: everybody familiar with using an iPad or tablet is able to control the presentation using the clearly laid-out and intuitive user interface. fREN is the first tool that enables designers, managers, engineers or sales representatives to run such complex presentations without the help of a software operator.
|Final adjustments of the VR scene to correlate with the
assembled model at the Rüsselsheim studio.
The VRED visualisation software provides an open port for controlling different aspects such as lighting, geometry and different colour and material designs. Both component and illumination animations can also be activated in this way. An iPad with a specially designed user interface is used to control the port.
The Technicon HMI team in the Munich-based studio is responsible for the user interface design and programming for fREN. The HMI designers working with team leader Chris Falkenhagen are also able to customise the user interface to reflect a client's corporate design and to accommodate special requirements.
|iPad user interface for project fREN presentation
Posted by Technicon Design at Wednesday, March 04, 2015
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The stone Victorian Minneapolis-based mansion featured in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" is for sale.
The exterior façade of the 9,500 square foot home that was built in 1900 was regularly featured on the hit show and is currently listed for $1.695 million.
Topped with a classical turret, the fictional home had bay windows and leaded glass transom accents. There are seven bedrooms and nine baths.
After a remodel, a chef's kitchen was built with four ovens and an L-shaped, granite island.
The master suite features a fireplace, sitting and dressing rooms, and a spa-like bathroom. The home also offers a sauna and a rooftop deck with a hammock and five gas fireplaces. In the show, Mary's actual apartment was a Hollywood set.
The three-story house last sold in 2007 for $2.8 million and was first put on the market in 2012, at $2.9 million.
The listing agents on the home are Barry Berg and Chad Larsen of Coldwell Banker Burnet.


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Asus has yet again started rolling out a new software update for its Transformer Prime tablet. The new update is a pretty minor one, and aims at fixing a few bugs along with adding the Face Unlock feature.
Below is the full change-l0g of the update -:
- GPS dongle fix & local notification
- Ethernet UI support to set Ethernet connect policy when screen off
- Add system bar lock settings for showing/hiding system info
- Enable Face Unlock feature
- Support Bluetooth HDP
- Third party app upgrade
- Other bug fixes
The update is being rolled out in the form of a phased OTA update in certain regions of the world, so please be patient if you have not already received the update.
Ever since Asus launched the Transformer Prime late last year, the company has been working on supporting the tablet and releasing timely software update for it. In fact, the Asus Transformer Prime has now got more software updates than Motorola XOOM, which was Google's base platform to release Android 3.0 Honeycomb, ever did. No wonder Google has teamed up with Asus to release its $199 Nexus tablet.


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Izaya JR teams up with 1Der and Andre to collaborate on his latest song titled 'Byanshobera'.
"Byanshobera" is off producer Izaya's 'Now You Hear ME' project.
Izaya has worked with several artistes including Ruyonga, Benezeri among others
'Byanshobera' is being presented as the first of its kind 'Kidanstep'; a genre born of Kidandali and Dubstep.
Meanwhile 1Der JR is currently working on a vlog series with his mum titled 'Vessels of Truth', aimed at telling stories that inspire people.