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Beautiful, soothing game with a crapload of bugs that HAVE to be addressed before it launches.
Posted By Pramath | On 11th, Sep. 2013 Under Article, Previews | Follow This Author @Pramath1605
Morphopolis, at least in its current, alpha state, is a part of that wave of games that eschews excessive hand holding and, like the old, 8 bit NES games of yore, simply throws you into its world and expects you to make your own way from there. It's a beautiful game, one that takes on an unfamiliar concept as its premise and for its storytelling, a game that takes on two familiar genres, a familiar setup, and then blends all of that familiarity and unfamiliarity together in what can only be described as an engaging mix.
Morphopolis is a point and click adventure game with some puzzle elements thrown in. Think Professor Layton, except the divide here is not as explicit as it is in those games. The game is, however, structured like an RPG, or like Zelda, where you have to find specific items to progress through the world (although unlike an RPG, or Zelda, it's not exactly open world). The premise is you as an insect in a garden living through the various stages of your life (so the closest thing in terms of aesthetics and tone would be Pikmin).
It is also a beautiful game. Really, it is. The graphics are lovely to look out, more due to the game's stunning art style than anything else, and there's a certain therapeutic, soothing, almost introspectively meditative quality about them. Really, you can just sit there looking at the screen for a while, just calm, relaxing, soothed.
" The graphics are lovely to look out, more due to the game's stunning art style than anything else, and there's a certain therapeutic, soothing, almost introspectively meditative quality about them."
The actual gameplay, as expected in a game of the genre, involves you clicking on the screen to interact with the game world, be it movement, or engaging something in conversation, or examining something, or picking it up, or dropping it off. It's a simple enough control scheme- obviously- although the plethora of bugs in this version of the game often make it much harder than it should be.
The bugs. Morphopolis is currently in alpha on the PC (at least the version we had was alpha) (I'm told it will also be on iOS and Android, incidentally. And on Windows Phone. And on Blackberry. Seriously, it's going to be on everything. You have no excuses not to get it), and the build we have is riddled with bugs, a lot of them game breaking. Of course, given enough time, you just bypass them, and they will all almost certainly be gone in the final version, but it's a bit sad that they mar what otherwise seems to be such a serene experience.
Another problem with the build that we had was that it had literally no sound. Again, of course, that's an occupational hazard of being at an alpha stage in your build (anyone who has played Game Dev Story knows the sound isn't programmed in till beta anyway… right? RIGHT?), but it was a bit disappointing that we couldn't have a low, soothing melody set against the background of chirping insects to go along with the gorgeous visuals and scenery on our screens. Although this is just an assumption, if the developers pay as much attention to the sound of the game as they did to the graphics, then this will be one gorgeous game by the time it is completed.
"The bugs. Morphopolis is currently in alpha on the PC, and the build we have is riddled with bugs, a lot of them game breaking. "
It's a game I hope to return to when it is finished, so that not only can I enjoy the soundtrack that it so direly lacks, but so that I can enjoy its excellent gameplay and story without being interrupted by bugs again. It is a game I hope to enjoy as it is meant to be enjoyed so that I may be able to recommend it to everyone without any hangups, reservations, or caveats.
In the meantime, I'll just keep trying to play this build and hope to goodness it doesn't break this time.
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Welcome to RealtySoldSolution.com, your source for real estate information on buying and selling real estate property in Albany, Saratoga, Schenetady & Rensselaer Counties.
RealtyUSA is the top real estate agency serving all Counties in the Capital Region. We help our clients find homes in a variety of neighborhoods, including new construction as well as foreclosures and short sales. We shine in aiding our clients in obtaining real estate for investment as well as helping with estates and resales. Our friendly and knowledgable agents also specialize in assisting with clients who are relocating to the area. We know relocation can be very stressful, which is why we make it our mission to ease the stress and find you the home of your dreams.
We offer our clients many years combined of experience and knowledge. We offer our clients step-by-step aid in homeownership issues. We show the finest properties so our clients may be assured they are receiving top-quality representation. We live here and work here, too. We couldn't give back to the area in which we operate if we didn't do everything in our power (and some that isn't) to help homeowners sell their houses or potential buyers find their dream home. It is because we do everything we can to help that we are the top real estate agency in the area. If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact us - we are more than happy to assist with all your real estate needs.

subset: commoncrawl


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We used the adapter to project a few movies from an iPhone and the picture quality was the same as what we experienced projecting content from a laptop. The big difference is an iPhone is much smaller than a laptop and the whole package is quite compact and road friendly. Again, though the picture quality isn't great, kids do seem to love having a movie projected on the wall rather than watching it on an iPhone or iPod Touch's screen (or a laptop screen for that matter).
We've seen a few other pico projectors in action and the image quality, particularly in terms of brightness, is similar for all of them. However, we did have a Wow Wee Cinemin projector, which ships with an Apple adapter, on hand for comparison purposes. Though the Cinemin offers lower resolution (480x320 pixels compared with the MPro120's 640x480 pixels), is only rated at 8 lumens for brightness, and its battery life isn't as good, we found the Cinemin's picture to be slightly better, with slightly deeper blacks (the Cinemin uses DLP technology). The MPro's picture was a tad sharper but we liked the color better on the Cinemin. It's also worth noting that to get the picture to display correctly we had to set our iPhone to display in wide screen for the Cinemin and 4:3 for the MPro120.
Before we get to a conclusion, let's quickly talk sound because it is an issue with these miniature projectors. This model has a couple of half-watt speakers integrated into the unit and that provides enough sound to watch a movie (you have to sit close to the projector), but as you might expect from such tiny speakers, the sound isn't all that loud or good (it is slightly better than what you get from your iPhone's speakers). If you want to augment the sound, you'll have to connect better speakers to your audio source (or use of the one's on your laptop, if they're powerful enough).
Summing up, there's a lot to like about the 3M MPro120. It's very compact, offers significant improvements over the MPro 110, and projects a passable image so long as you don't blow it up too much.
That said, you just can't expect these types of miniature projectors to perform as well as a laptop screen or larger, less portable units that cost more and cast a brighter image. As it is, the MPro120 costs around $300 (without the Apple adapter), which compares favorably with the price of other pico projectors. However, the technology is advancing and we expect that next-generation models will not only improve but come down in price. Case in point: 3M has already announced a successor, the MPro150. That 2010 model will cost $395 and adds 1GB internal memory, a microSD card slot, and a USB input for transferring files from a laptop or Netbook, letting you run entire presentations from the projector itself. Anyone interested in the MPro120 should probably wait for that model--at the very least, it should mean lower prices on the 120.


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Book a place NOW for the
September Parenting Group in Dublin. See details below.
How do you answer your child's questions about his/her heart health?
How do you support your child to deal with classmates' queries about medications, hospital visits and health-related physical challenges?
How do you balance the needs of everyone in the family when you are supporting a child with a cardiac condition?
What tips have other parents when it comes to dealing with such questions?About these meetings
In recent years, Dr. Deirdre O'Neill, Clinical Psychologist, has run a number of small, relaxed parenting groups for members to talk about these matters over tea and scones. Attendees have had preschool or primary school aged children with cardiac conditions.
Details of the next group (if there is enough interest expressed by 22/8)
WHEN: The 4 Tuesdays of September 2017 - 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th.
WHAT TIME: 10.15 am - 11.45 am sharp
WHERE: Carmichael Centre, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7
COST: As Heart Children Ireland funds the group, there is no cost for members.
HOW TO BOOK A PLACE: Contact Deirdre by 22/8. See her details below.
If you know of other members who may be interested in attending but who do not use Facebook, please pass on the invitation to them too. Please note that these groups can be run in any region where there is enough member interest and availability. (The last group was held in Cork before the summer.)
If you are interested in attending, please contact Deirdre directly on 085 2739772 or email@example.com by Tuesday 22nd August


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Hey everyone, I'm Jess from The Crown Wings blog and the
lovely Laura has kindly asked me to do a guest post for her. I thought I'd talk
about some trends I've seen that really don't work for my lifestyle, and
probably the majority of you too!
|Image Source: http://www.theblondesalad.com/
Firstly, focusing on fashion, I'm really not sure of the
practicality of transparent bags. On catwalks and photo shoots, these look amazing,
channelling a minimalist, edgy look. In real-life however, I don't know a
single girl who doesn't carry a million and one things in their bags, just in
case.A week old bus ticket and my 4
different lip options on display to the entire public seems like my worst
nightmare, especially when you factor in the risk of having your valuables on
display.I know you can get mini bags to
go inside the main see-through bag to put your items in, but that just seems a
bit pointless to me. Why not just opt for a bag in that colour instead?!
Image Source: http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/neon-makeup
Secondly, I've noticed a lot more FOTD posts with pretty
expressive makeup looks. I absolutely love these posts and think if you are
incredibly skilled with makeup application then it is your duty to let mere
mortals like myself oohh and ahh, taking inspiration from your creativity.
However, trying to wear these make up looks in real-life situations, where
there are other people around who aren't into the beauty industry as much as
you, can be a little bit more challenging. While I may have experimented with
neon eye pigments in my tweens, if I dared to do that on a night out, it look
more like a drag queen. I think this is one trend that is meant to stay in the
Image Source: http://roomenvy.co.uk/2009/07/23/shabby-chic-bedroom/
Lately I've been trying to get storage inspiration for my
room so have been watching a lot of youtube and reading about make up storage.
Whilst I've seen some rooms that look homely and stylish, some leave me asking,
where do you put your stuff?! They have plenty of delicate and dainty room
decorations, yet no actual clutter. No piles of magazines, no mounds of clothes
or discarded shoes, nada. Even when I clean and tidy my room, it will never
look as pristine as some of the rooms I've seen. I've come to accept that my
organised chaos, or just pure chaos in the morning, is here to stay.
So those are some of the trends I've noticed that would just
not work for me in the real world. Have I missed any out?
Thanks so much for guest posting on my blog Jess! Girls check out Jessica's lovely blog The Crown Wings here, follow her on Bloglovin here, tweet her on Twitter here and give her photos a double tap on Instagram over here.
Click here to enter my HUGE 3rd Blogging Birthday Giveaway!
Where to find me
// Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Bloglovin // Pinterest // Youtube //


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Wednesday, December 13, 2006
1 Comments:
- At 12:44 PM, said...
We hope you get adopted! God Bless you!
I am part of a volunteer group of people dedicated to rescuing animals awaiting death by "gas chamber" methods. These are the animals at one such shelter, the Spalding county animal shelter in Griffin, GA.
We hope you get adopted! God Bless you!


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The LGBTQIA Center serves the unique needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning students by providing a supportive space, resource library, social events and educational programming. We are committed to understanding how homophobia and heterosexism interlink with sexism, racism and classism to perpetuate oppression. The Center also serves as a resource for the entire College community to learn about issues related to sexuality and gender identity.
We are located in Burdick House on the ground floor facing the College Center at Crozier-Williams ("Cro"), and next to Larrabee Green. Look for the rainbow flag!
Study, socialize, relax
The Center is welcoming and comfortable. Students spread their work out on the tables to study, play cards around the green table and watch television. A range of student groups holds meetings at the Center, and special programs take place regularly. There are comfortable couches, a working fireplace, occasional refreshments and great fuzzy blankets.
Resource library
The LGBTQIA Center serves as a resource for the entire College community to learn about issues related to sexuality and gender identity. The Center has an extensive collection of publications dealing with a wide range of aspects of LGBTQIA life and community. Newspapers, magazines and videos are for use in the Center. Books are available for circulation and informational pamphlets are free for the taking. Also, consult our resource guides.
History of the center
The Resource Center was founded in February 2007 by a group of dedicated students under the leadership of Dr. Jen Manion, Assistant Professor of History, and with great support from College President Leo Higdon; the Dean of the College Community, Armando Bengochea; and the then-Dean of Multicultural Affairs, Tracee Reiser. Many students have served as educators and activists on campus over the years regarding issues of homophobia and heterosexism. Those who dedicated many hours of their lives to ensuring the establishment of the Resource Center in the spring of 2007 include Rachel Chase '05, Grant Hogan '07, Gael Johns '10, Aimee Martin '07, Candyce Young-Fields '07, Alice Watson '07 and Rachel Zelinsky '10.


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Nantucket Ceiling Light
Sku FM0401 NICKEL
$112.00 – $143.00
This all-season metal and seeded glass outdoor or indoor light comes with grill and button accents for nautical flair.
- Actual Finish: Brushed Steel
- Actual Size: 9.25"Hx11.25"Wx11.25"D
- Bulb Base: US Medium-E26
- Canopy Size: 6.5" Round
- Finish: Brushed Nickel
- Indoor-Outdoor: Yes
- Material: Aluminum
- Max Bulb Wattage: 100
- Number of Lights: 1
- UL Listing: Damp
- Color: Brushed Steel
Reviews (1)
We ordered the antique copper. It's really cute, a little bigger than I expected but that's good. Just be aware, the color is very copper with a slight pink hue. It looks much darker online. Hello ER, Sounds like you received the wrong finish. If you are not happy with the finish you received, please contact our customer service department and we will arrange for a replacement. -The Shades of Light Team
Shop Collection
Nantucket Outdoor Light - Small
$94.00 – $124.00
$182.00 – $189.00
$172.00 – $237.00
Nantucket Outdoor Light - Large
$179.00 – $226.00


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'Will You Be My Maid of Honour?' Pretty Polka Dot Maid of Honour Card
A gorgeous Polka Dot Maid of Honour Card. Ask your closest friend to join your bridal party with this beautiful 'will you be my maid of honour card'. Featuring a polka dot pattern with pretty pink floral illustrations, this card is a gorgeous keepsake as you start your wedding planning.
The inside of the card is left blank for you to write your personal message.
Dispatched Within
2 working days
Made from beautiful smooth 300gsm card and matching pink envelopes
- Folded dimensions: A6 - 10.5cm x 14.8cm
- Envelope Size : C6


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Hi m8s. I noticed it's been a year since I first started playing Dragonica (YAY gz me ) and I´m on vacation so I thought it would be nice to share the time I spent playing Dragonica with you. I'll write down some sort of diary with the stuff I can remember. I'm apologising already for any grammar error that you may find ;P
Notice that I'll only refer to people who are not among us anymore, people that quit Dragonica or BB (or both ). This will be a big one so I'll try not to make it boring. There is one more thing I want to say be4 we start, my intention is to share my experiences with you guys and hope some in return so let's hope some of you like my story or the idea and that we have some answers with your memories here. Just try to do it, you'll see it can be funny to remember some stuff with old friends so give it a try.
Let's do it
So as I already said, my journey in Dragonica started 1 year ago when I accidentally pressed one of those banner adds at animeshippuuden.com (which I don't use any more).
As I normally do, I studied the game a bit be4, to decide if I should play it or not, and I found it interesting. I watched some gameplay videos at youtube and I studied the classes and their skills, went to read the forums, etc. etc. etc.
Whilst I was downloading it (ofc I couldn't resist playing ) I chose my class, the one I thought was the funniest and the one I heard more ppl talking about in the forums... Warrior.
Now that the download was complete and the registration made, TIME TO PLAY.
I REALLY enjoyed those first lvls of gaming... the game was so different from everything I was used to play, so funny and... you get it right??
The game basics were easy and I got used to it very fast actually. Then I got to lvl 20 which means... JOB CHANGE. I was really excited once more. You know, new skills tree and all. I watched some glads and knights playing then I checked the forums again and decided to follow the brute force way heheh Gladiator (to be honest I think they are pretty cool too with those huge swords of theirs, specially the old Atlas WOW).
I have one single word about that choice... disappointment. For some1 with no knowledge about the game, gladiators can be really boring. Have you ever seen movies of noobs who are now trying to catch the game?? They spam X... no matter the class, and I was like that so when I became a gladiator I thought... the worst class in the game, I guess you can understand why...
Don't blame me, I was a newbie and I cursed myself because I always choose the healing class in every game that I play and when I was choosing the starting class for Dragonica I thought, let's try something else.
Apparently it wasn't a good choice but I kept playing with it for a while until I found this weird guy at Libra with a fancy looking hat and some sort of wedding dress that I late found out it was called Tuxedo . I don't really remember this guy's name but I do remember what was written above his name, CrossOrder.
My first guild. The leader was an lvl40 Priest when I joined, I saw him at Libra once with that lvl40 set (the blue one). I went like SOOO COOOL
That was the final drop for my decision. I created Gugui. And that's it I hope you liked it... naaaah just kidding now comes the good part. I played, lvled, enjoyed it and joined a lot of guilds that have no right to be in my memory lol, I even joined ROalliance (even though I'm Portuguese ). There is only ONE guild I must refer to besides BB and that guild is Inflames.
Some of my happiest moments on Dragonica were spent there with 2 other guys that were the same lvl as I was, more or less. Their names were Effedrin (a female Myrm who played really well) and Mint (a female Pala who got the first lava heart piece I ever saw lol). I also remember Mint was a guy in real life somewhere around 30 years old, he used to say that he was too old to play and that he only had 1 good skill... that broom thingy xD
I could spend days telling you about our adventures. We used to play for hours together or chat... I really enjoyed those guys company (I don't think this is the right word ).
I also remember 2 other guys from Inflames and these ones you may also know. They are Icekid (a priest that is now a Cleric and he is the only ex-Inflames I maintain contact with) and the Almighty-and-Missed-by-all-Who-Know-Him Dangitzme (no need for introduction here). Actually if some1 has his msn or something I would love to add him because I don't talk to him since I started my last break lol (I'll talk about it soon enough).
Now is the time to talk about my first break... I have nothing to say actually because I wasn't playing Dragonica so it would be off-topic xD the only thing I have to say is the reason for my break... school (what else). Also rocker to be honest... lvls 40-47 are the worst part of Dragonica.
When I came back some time later (have no clue relatively to how much time I didn't play) I wasn't in Inflames anymore... got kicked. And guess what?? Effedrin and Mint weren't playing Dragonica anymore... I completely lost track of those 2. I don't really remember what was made of Icekid by that time and Dangy was (why don't you take a guess??)... in Bento.
I was 47 by that time and I joined BentoBox too our beloved noodle-kun was the leader. I met a lot of new players by that time and I will not mention them because as I said I'll only talk about the missed ones the ones I'm still in touch with are matter for another occasion. Ofc there are some guys I knew then that are no longer here but I can't remember all their names so I'll skip the names thing not to offend some1 xD
There I joined my first emporia which, as matter of fact, I didn't like. After a while Udon took a break too and Horus took the lead. When I reached lvl 52 or something I needed to quit again... school once more and I read from the forum that Udon came back just a few days after I left.
So after this long long break I started playing bit by bit, guildless because all inactive bentos were kicked during my break (perdi told me). And yes... I was doom enough to send a megaphone while I was trying to hide my presence from bentos (I was trying to make some sort of surprise with my return heheh).
Finally I was found by rifty's alt I think at SB and he whispered perdi. Then she told me that there was a topic for my birth date here at the forum *tries to hide his tears* and some days later Vlar or Wikke sent me the invitation.
The moment I joined bento again was like a sea of emotions... happiness from being back... sadness from losing some friends. I was happy to found some old friends but I was sad because I noticed Udon wasn't here anymore, Dangy wasn't here anymore, Horus, Aki was in HK and now she left (although we can speak with her anytime *kissing emote*), etc.
I'm lvl 57 atm and my main concern is getting the money for the skill reset and I'm on summer vacations at Lisbon with my grandparents and I think that I'll be able to return to Dragonica again at 18th August... almost there
Ok so this is it. I spent all my afternoon yesterday writing this so I really hope you like it and that you do the same sharing work cheers
few *feels happy to share*


text: I found this little bit of information today on Autoblog Green Tesla Motors and Athlon Car Lease have reached an agreement for the world's first leasing program involving Tesla's Model S battery-electric luxury sedans. Athlon, a division of the Netherlands-based Rabobank, has reserved 150 Model S EVs and plans to lease them to corporations in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. Athlon had a similar agreement for the Tesla Roadster convertible EVs last summer. The Model S, which is set to debut in July, will offer buyers three single-charge mileage options ranging from 160 to 300 miles. In the U.S., the Model S will start at $57,400 before a $7,500 federal tax credit kicks in. The price jumps about $20,000 for the 300-mile version, which Tesla calls the world's longest among production battery-electric vehicles. Tesla's taken more than 8,000 reservations for the sedan. Last month, Tesla, which has never been profitable, said its fourth-quarter loss widened 59 percent from a year earlier, but forecast 2012 sales to be between $550 million and $600 million, which would beat analysts estimates and would be almost triple the company's 2011 revenue of $204.2 million. The company also forecast that it would sell about 5,000 Model S vehicles this year. Tesla has sold more than 2,100 of its $109,000 Roadster convertibles in the past four years. The company discontinued production of that model in the U.S. last year. News Source: Tesla Motors


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Sensory Garden
A sensory garden incorporating raised beds giving patients the opportunity to do gardening themselves was opened in June 2009 by members of the Chance family.
Farmer and former magistrate David Chance donated funds to enable us to create this garden.
Many other kind donations were made, giving us the opportunity to create a beautiful garden for residents, patient's relatives, staff and people from the Daycare Centre to relax in.


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The Federal Trade Commission has charged two companies that sold devices that purportedly protect users from electromagnetic radiation emitted by cellular telephones with making false and unsubstantiated claims.
In separate court actions announced Feb. 22, the FTC alleges Stock Value 1 Inc. and Comstar Communications Inc. falsely represented that their products block up to 97 or 99 percent of radiation and other electromagnetic energy emitted by cellular telephones, thereby reducing consumers' exposure to this radiation.
According to the FTC, the defendants lacked a reasonable basis to substantiate their claims. The Commission is seeking permanent injunctions, consumer redress and other equitable relief.
"These companies are using a shield of misrepresentation to block consumers from the facts," said J. Howard Beales III, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "There is no scientific evidence that their products work as they claim."
Stock Value 1 Inc., based in Boca Raton, FL, and also known as SV1, and its president, Deborah Jenkins, marketed and sold two products - SafeTShield and NoDanger. These products consist of metallic fiber patches placed over the earpieces of cellular and cordless telephones.
Comstar, based in West Sacramento, CA, and its president, Randall Carasco, marketed and sold their products under the names WaveShield, WaveShield 1000, and WaveShield 2000.
According to a May 2001 report by the General Accounting Office, "Scientific research to date does not demonstrate that the radio frequency energy emitted from mobile phones has adverse health effects, but the findings of some studies have raised questions indicating the need for further investigation."
The FTC has issued a new consumer alert, titled "Radiation Shields: Do They 'Cell' Consumers Short?" The alert gives suggestions for cell phone users who want to limit their exposure to the electromagnetic emissions from their phone. The complaint against the SV1 defendants was filed in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, in Fort Lauderdale, on Feb. 13. The complaint against the Comstar defendants was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, in Sacramento, on Feb 13.


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Kids, parents and nostalgic 90's kids get ready because Nickelodeon is now an Android TV app! With plenty of content, you or your children will be entertained for hours on end. Now to answer this before we get any further yes you need a provider login to access full episodes. Of course, that's the case as you can see the above screenshot with locks and the below with a setting, and then everyone's favorite an activation code which well still requires me to pull out my phone it's a lot less tedious than logging in with my credentials on a TV.
As for the UI, I like it and how they stuck to the Leanback(ish)UI but branded it so you know it's Nickelodeon right away by their signature orange and font. Now just by looking at the app it seems barebones, but I assure you it's not because unlike more TV Everywhere apps it supports universal search out of the box so when your kids want Spongebob that's what you'll get. As for the Video player, it appears to be custom as opposed to Android TV's default one so a bit of an odd choice there but it's just controls, right? Last I found one key feature missing and most of you can probably guess what that is, yes as of now no Live Channels support even though they control the stream of what would be on there. Hopefully, in the future, they would add this as an option because I see it being useful for super young kids who just want to watch and not navigate every time an episode ends. Thankfully when doing some testing, I saw the videos will autoplay to the next in list which is something, but I'd prefer Live Channels. Click below to download Nickelodeon For Android TV.


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Welcome back! The following are some suggested help sections to review to get setup for a new school year:
Deleting Accounts
Read how to delete students who are no longer at your school/district in the Deleting accounts section.
Advancing Students
Learn how to advance grades by reading the Advancing Student Grade Levels section.
Update Multiple Student Records (bulk)
Learn how to use a CSV file to add new students and update existing ones (e.g. grade, teacher) by reading the Importing Accounts section.
Moving Students and Teachers
Understand how to reassign teachers and schools for students by reading the Moving Students and Teachers section.
Assign Teacher-Student Associations
- Read about how teachers can select any students in a school in the Choosing Students section.
- Read about how administrators can assign teacher student associations with an import in the Importing accounts section.
Letters for Parents, Teachers and Schools
Check out the various letters available in the Manage section.
Free Professional Development
Check out our Professional Development section for new ideas on how to use Big Universe in your classroom.


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"And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." (Matthew 24:2)
The first time I visited Jerualem's Temple Mount (known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif), I noticed something that I believe to be relatively uncommon.
Of course, the Dome of the Rock dominates the 35-acre site, holy to three faiths. The Al-Aksa mosque also occupies ground there, as do two underground mosques. There are a few trees and a couple smaller buildings; the whole area, especially when one is a solitary visitor, has the feel of a serene garden.
The site is also where the two Jewish temples stood in antiquity. The first, Solomon's Temple, was destroyed by the Babylonians in the sixth century B.C., and Herod's Temple was obliterated by the 10th Roman Legion in A.D. 70.
And that is what I noticed in this park-like setting, those many years ago when my faith was cemented by a trip to the Holy Land.
The glistening golden dome of the shrine to Muhammad and Allah is known the world over. The Al-Aksa is known as much for its political firepower as anything else (beginning with King Abdullah I and his 1951 assassination in front of the mosque). The adjoining Western Wall is a place of awe for the Jews (although an often-overlooked truth in this region—nay, globally—is that the Temple Mount itself is the holiest site for the Jewish people).
Yet it is with the mind's-eye that one can truly appreciate a remarkable prophecy, fulfilled later in such exact detail, I wonder how so many miss it. I wonder too how the Bible's critics can claim it is myth, and do it with a straight face.
In their frenzy to stamp-out any connections the land had to the Jews (a fatal spiritual virus that unfortunately affects certain groups in our world today), the Romans demolished Herod's Temple. They slaughtered scores of Jews. The searing observations of Josephus are particularly illuminating for us today.
So that you'll fully get my point today, let me say this:
The Roman legionnaires scraped the Temple Mount clean as a table top.
Do you get it?
Jesus told His disciples 40 years prior that that day would come. He said not one stone would be left upon another.
Today, if you were to visit this site, this international flashpoint of controversy, and you used your mind's-eye, you would be transported back to that awful day in A.D. 70. Fires raging, screams, rivers and trenches of blood.
At the end of the day you would see a barren, desolate place. The Romans dumped foundation stones from the Temple over the side—you can see them today in an archaeological park there in the Old City.
So, if you get the chance to visit this hallowed ground, imagine just for a moment the scene before the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aksa mosque were there. There was nothing. Only a plaza, from which one could look out over the hills of a cursed land.
Jesus said it would be so.
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Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Gay Pride 2016
Posted by Jo Caulfield at 10:43 am No comments:
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Can I Stop You There?
22 – 28 August, 23:15, Billiard Room, Gilded Balloon Teviot
Stop! In the name of laughs…
They say that the compere should never interrupt the acts – award-winning comedians Jo Caulfield and Stu Murphy say 'screw that' as they interrupt, and interrogate some of the biggest names on the Fringe, right in the middle of their sets.
Can I Stop You There? is a new kind of comedy show – where anything that catches the imagination of the hosts is immediately up for discussion, debate or debunking. The only thing that Caulfield and Murphy won't be stopping will be the laughs as they challenge acts to explain themselves mid-set.
Then again, they may just stop them to ask about their shoes, the weather or whether they prefer tonic or cranberry juice with their vodka – the only thing that the acts and audience should expect is that pretty much anything can happen. And probably will.
Can I Stop You There? makes its Fringe premiere for a strictly limited 7 night run at the Gilded Balloon Teviot.
Guests include: Tom Stade, Stephen K. Amos, Phil Nichol, Barbara Nice, Lou Saunders, Carl Donnelly, Abi Roberts, Marcel Lucont, Gordon Southern, Sean McLoughlin, and Suzi Ruffell
For more information contact Neil Masters at email@example.com
- Jo Caulfield is a regular guest on many TV and radio panel shows including Mock The Week, The News Quiz, Fighting Talk and The Football's On. She has been nominated as "the best female Stand Up in the country" (Chortle.co.uk), "one of the Top 100 Comedians" (Channel 4).
- Stu Murphy is an award winning comedian and stalwart of the Scottish improv scene.
Posted by Jo Caulfield at 9:10 am No comments:
Friday, August 05, 2016
Spot The Difference
Filled in a questionnaire for some Fringe magazine. I went for FUNNY and INFORMATIVE answers. My answers got a bit butchered and edited shorter when it went to print, probably due to space restrictions...? Anyway, I've put up both versions here. Which one do you prefer?
Do you remember your first impressions of Edinburgh when you came the very first time?
I'll never forget coming out of Waverley Station in 2001 and seeing a man in full Highland dress; the kilt, the sporran, the little dagger in his socks … I was SO excited to see my first real American Tourist.
I also remember the 1st flat I stayed in. A classic Edinburgh tenement. Being a Londoner I couldn't believe the high ceilings and huge windows. But all the flats had the same odd room arrangements; a huge kitchen (a kitchen you could slaughter a cow in) and a tiny, tiny bathroom. I put it down to some sort of Calvinistic modesty. A decent Scotsman or woman shouldn't be spending time in a bathroom: get in, wash your sinful bits and then get out again quick!
Walking over North Bridge late at night and looking up to the Castle, I thought I'd never seem anything so beautiful; it was like being drunk in Fairyland.
Is there anywhere that has disappeared that you miss?
Bodos Bar, opposite The Stand Comedy Club, a perfect post-show hang out. Shona, the bar manager, played great music, and even though it was probably the biggest dive bar in the whole of beautiful Edinburgh, everyone, including the visiting comics, loved it with a passion, and I still miss it terribly.
What is your Guilty Edinburgh Pleasure?
Comic's guilty pleasure in Edinburgh are usually doing something healthy. The Victorian Swimming baths at Warrender Park Road or the Commonwealth Pool are just two of the many swimming baths I feel guilty for never having been in.
Paying extortionate prices for cocktails with a great view is more my style. I recommend The Tower on Chambers Street. Or Harvey Nichols bar, on the top floor. The ladies toilets are beside the exit lift, perfect for doing a runner before the waitress brings the check.
Ever done the staying up all night and having a pint at Penny Black's at 6am thing?
I went for dinner at my friend, comic JoJo Sutherland's house, and was still there drinking when her husband went to work at 8am the next morning.
I also met JoJo for a quick drink after my show, which turned into seeing the dawn breaking from the Loft Bar at The Gilded Balloon.
I've just realised, JoJo Sutherland is my guilty pleasure.
What do you really look forward to doing when you come up?
That view, looking down from the city to the sea and across the Forth to mountains. And it's exactly how I like my countryside, seen from the comfort of John Lewis.
For all the newbies this year ... what would you warn them about?
Avoid the Royal Mile. It's full of young drama students handing out their leaflets. They're all so positive and excited and full of hope. They obviously haven't realised yet that all that awaits them in death is cold, dark emptiness forever. They have no idea we are all alone in the Universe and God doesn't exist. Bless 'em.
Don't read read reviews of you or your friends. They will get into your head. Just concentrate on being really 'present' when you do your show.
Things will go wrong. Posters will get lost, leaflets will have the wrong time or venue on them, your room will have sound bleed, your techie will fall asleep, shows will over run so your audience have to leave half way though to get to their next show, your flat mate will get nominated. But just remember, enjoy it. You are taking part in one of the most wonderful Arts Festival in the World. You are a comic doing comedy, and to me, that's the dream.
The size of the poster does not reflect the size of audience you can expect. It just reflects how much more more money you have spent.
If you are a newbie audience member - word of mouth, talk to people in the bars and queues, ask what they have enjoyed. See a big queue and join it, especially if it's free fringe. Go and see at least one type of performance you've never seen before. Burlesque, magic, mime, dance, sketches, opera, drama anything….
I love eavesdropping on audiences as they leave the venues …. "£12 to sit in a damp, stuffy room with no air-conditioning? And £5.10 a pint? What a f**king ripoff!"
If you ever need a break from all the wonderful comedy and theatre and dance, I like to head up to Hunter Square and indulge in a bit of people watching. It's fantastic. Tourists, students, buskers, fire-eaters, jugglers, pickpockets, and plain-clothed policemen, all packed into one little area. It's like a live version of Crimewatch UK.
Or go watch the crowds of pensioners leaving the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and all trying to board their coaches at the same time. It's like an extra-long episode of Walking With Dinosaurs.
What would be in your Edinburgh Survival Kit?
Thick skin, a liver transplant and Vitamin C tablets.
Remember, it's summer but not as we know it. Last August I saw two young women walking across The Meadows. One was wearing boots, leggings and a raincoat; the other was wearing shorts, a t-shirt and sandals. I just thought, "At some point in the day, you will both be wearing the right clothing."
Pack a raincoat and suntan lotion.
And where is in your Edinburgh Little Black Book?
Leith. All of it.
Explore Leith Walk, Bernard Street, Constitution Street and The Shore.
Great bars for food, atmosphere or history: The Lioness of Leith, Nobles, The Port 'o' Leith, The Central, and The Carriers Quarters.
And you must visit The Leith Dockers Club on Academy Street!!
In June I went to see a play in The Dockers Club.
The play was exceptionally good but my highlight was the pre-show announcement...
"In event of a fire, please quickly finish your drinks, take your empty glasses back to the bar, use the side exit and assemble across the road, outside the boxing club."
You don't get that at the poncy Traverse Theatre!! Dockers Club, I salute you.
I also recommend The Kenilworth on Rose Street. The last time I was there it was only after ordering my food I realised I was sat directly opposite the door to the gents toilets. Every couple of minutes another man would enter or exit giving me a clear view into the gents. Not a pretty sight when you're trying to eat. It put me straight off my plate of chipolatas.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
OK that's what I wrote. If you can be bothered reading any further, this is what was published. Why not play Spot The Difference...?
I'll never forget coming out of Waverley Station in 2001 on my first visit to Edinburgh and seeing a man in full Highland dress – the kilt, the sporran, the little dagger in his sock… I was so excited to see my first real American tourist.
I also remember the first flat I stayed in – a classic Edinburgh tenement. Being a Londoner, I couldn't believe the high ceilings and huge windows. But that flat, and all the others I later stayed in, all had the same odd combination of huge kitchen and tiny bathroom. I put it down to some sort of Calvinistic modesty: a decent Scot shouldn't be spending time in a bathroom – get in, wash your sinful bits and then get out again quick!
Most of all, I remember crossing the North Bridge late at night and looking up at the castle. I thought I'd never seen anything so beautiful – it was like being drunk in Fairyland.
My Edinburgh guilty pleasure is paying extortionate prices for cocktails with a great view. I recommend The Tower on Chambers Street or the bar on the top floor of Harvey Nichols.
Edinburgh lends itself to late nights. I think my latest was when I went for dinner at the house of my friend, the comic JoJo Sutherland, and I was still there drinking when her husband went to work at eight the next morning. I also went to meet JoJo once for a quick drink after my show, which turned into seeing the dawn breaking in the Loft Bar at the Gilded Balloon. I've just realised – JoJo Sutherland is my guilty pleasure.
A few words of advice for anyone who's performing at the Fringe for the first time. Avoid the Royal Mile – it's full of drama students handing out their flyers. They're all so positive and excited and full of hope, bless 'em. Don't read reviews of you or your friends. Accept that things will go wrong – posters will get lost, leaflets will have the wrong time or venue on them, your room will have sound-bleed, your techie will fall asleep, shows will over-run so your audience have to leave halfway through to get to their next show, your flatmate will get nominated for an award. Just enjoy it. You're a comic doing comedy in one of the most wonderful arts festivals in the world. That, to me, is the dream.
If you're a newbie audience member, my advice is to use word of mouth – talk to people in bars and queues and ask what they have enjoyed. If you see a big queue, join it, especially if it's Free Fringe. Go and see at least one type of performance you've never seen before – burlesque, magic, mime, dance, sketches, opera, drama, anything….
To survive Edinburgh, remember – it's summer but not as we know it. Last August I saw two young women walking across the Meadows. One was wearing boots, leggings and a raincoat; the other had on shorts, a T-shirt and sandals. I thought, "At some point today, you'll both be wearing the right clothes." So pack a raincoat and suntan lotion.
I always tell people to explore Leith. Wander down Leith Walk, Bernard Street, Constitution Street and The Shore. There are great bars for food, atmosphere and history – Lioness of Leith, Nobles, the Port o' Leith and the Carriers Quarters. And you must visit the Leith Dockers Club on Academy Street. I saw a great play there, but my highlight was the pre-show announcement: "In the event of a fire, please quickly finish your drinks, take your empty glasses back to the bar, use the side exit and assemble across the road." You don't get that at the poncy Traverse Theatre! Dockers Club, I salute you.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Bit different, isn't it? Bit twee. Interesting how:
"Avoid the Royal Mile. It's full of young drama students handing out their leaflets. They're all so positive and excited and full of hope. They obviously haven't realised yet that all that awaits them in death is cold, dark emptiness forever. They have no idea we are all alone in the Universe and God doesn't exist. Bless 'em."
...was changed into:
"Avoid the Royal Mile – it's full of drama students handing out their flyers. They're all so positive and excited and full of hope, bless 'em."
Where's the death? Where's the cold, dark emptiness? Where's the non-existence of God? Personally, I thought that was the best bit.
Posted by Jo Caulfield at 10:55 am No comments:
Jo Caulfield: "Pretending To Care" - PRESS RELEASE
Fringe time already? Well that certainly came around quickly, didn't it?
Thing is, while everyone else was panicking about their PR and publicity, I was actually busy writing my show, but apparently people want to know stuff about it – even though all the information is in the main Fringe brochure (page 109) and online (http://www.outstandingtickets.com/whats-on/78/jo_caulfield_pretending_to_care) but for some reason that's not good enough for a bunch of lazy journalists (1), they want an actual press release. So, here's pretty much what I'd have asked for if I'd paid someone thousands of pounds to do my PR. Read it and make a note of the stuff at the bottom – I'm off to spend the money I've saved on wine (2)…
"Pretending to Care"
Award-winning comedian Jo Caulfield returns to the Fringe with "Pretending To Care" – a brand new show for 2016. (The Stand, York Place, 19:50, 5 – 28 August)
Another year, another list of grievances…
In a world were everyone seems to want your sympathy or support it can be hard to actually give a damn, as award-winning comedian Jo Caulfield has discovered…
From falling out with friends and fighting with strangers, to arguing with relatives and being mistaken for an exotic dancer, it's been an eventful year and Jo Caulfield is still struggling to give a damn.
Audiences can expect razor-sharp observations and scandalous one-liners as Jo also admits to not giving a toss about pretty much anything, including the things that other people seem to think she should…
If you've ever wished you could tell the person who's telling you their problems to fuck off, this is the show for you; Jo can empathise with your plight, even if she doesn't really care about it.
This is the important bit!
"Pretending to Care" is on at Stand 6 (Venue 319), The Place, 34-36 York Place, from 5 – 28 August (not 15th or 22nd) at 19:50. Tickets £10 (£8 concessions).
(1) Journalists? Don't make me laugh! They're not exactly Kate Adie, are they? Kate went to dangerous War Zones and risked her life in Bosnia. The tossers at the Festival, swanning around with their plastic lanyards and free drinks tokens, don't deserve to be called 'Journalists'. And don't get me started on the ones who call themselves Comedy Reviewers! Fucksake. You know what? I have NEVER met a Comedy Reviewer who's made me laugh in conversation. Seriously! Never! And I've met them all. Every single one of them.
(2) Or beer. I'm not really fussy. A glass of wine with a meal, or an hour before bedtime, is fine. But if I'm out for the evening I tend to go for lager. Do you know The Central Bar at the bottom of Leith Walk? No? Oh you should give it a visit. Last time I was in there I was mistaken for a prostitute. Anyway, that's a good bar. The beer is always perfectly chilled.
Posted by Jo Caulfield at 10:01 am No comments:
Monday, July 04, 2016
Happy 4th Of July, Mr Springsteen
Over the last 7 days I've noticed several people sharing videos of Bruce Springsteen gigs where he either a) sings directly to a little kid in the audience or b) gets a little kid on stage to join him in a duet.
I have two problems with this….
1) Who takes a kid to a gig? It's a f**king gig, for christsake. When I go to see a band the last thing I'm thinking is, "I hope there's a 5 year old child in the audience".
A live music gig should be about subversion and hedonism and nihilism and getting wasted and getting fucked up and raw casual sex and big loud f**k off drums.
A live gig should be Jimi Hendrix setting fire to his guitar - not singing a lullaby.
A live gig should be jumping up and down to The Ramones - not babysitting.
A live gig should be sucking off a member of the road-crew for a free t-shirt - not changing dippers.
It's not a crèche. Don't be so selfish. Take your spoiled little brat to IKEA, like any normal parent would. Just because your child ruined your life doesn't mean you should let it ruin everyone else's.
Also, give the audience their money back. They paid to hear Bruce Springsteen, not your kid.2) Bruce Springsteen is shite. He hasn't released a decent record since 1975. Bland Americana dross. Bruce is the Rock 'n' Roll equivalent of a Mills and Boon novel. Some of you will disagree but in this case you are completely wrong because you have no musical taste.
Born In The USA? Bollocks.
Dancing In The Dark? Worst dance record ever. Have you never heard Chic?
The Rising? Vomit rising in my throat.
The only decent thing 'The Boss' ever did was give 'Because The Night' to Patti Smith.
Go and watch the video! Just look at it.
Bruce Springsteen inviting the child onstage looks like a bad version of BBC1's "Summertime Special".
He should have punched that child. Or set it on fire.
When all is said and done, the fact remains - Bruce Springsteen is no Sigue Sigue Sputnik.
And f**k off Coldplay. Bland mock-sentimental soulless shite.
Why are we elevating cosiness?
Posted by Jo Caulfield at 2:34 pm 1 comment:
Monday, May 30, 2016
"Jo Caulfield is at the top of her game. There is an acerbic intelligence underlying Caulfield's best material that accounts for her popularity with audiences. She is one of the most consummate stand-ups in the business, and one of the most consistently funny"
Evening Standard * * * * *
Nominated as 'Funniest Woman' (LAFTA Awards), Jo Caulfield is regularly appears on Have I Got News For You, Mock The Week, Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow, The John Bishop Show and Fighting Talk.
Saturday 24 … CRIEFF, Strathearn Artspace … Box Office: 01764 655556
Friday 30 … DIDCOT, Cornerstone Arts Centre … Box Office: 01235 515144
Saturday 1 … BURY ST EDMUNDS, Theatre Royal … Box Office: 01284 769505
Sunday 2 … BRISTOL, The Lantern … Box Office: 0844 8871500
Thursday 6 … COLCHESTER, Colchester Arts Centre … Box Office: 01206 500900
Friday 7 … WEST TOTTON, Hanger Farm Arts … Box Office: 02380 667683
Saturday 8 … NEWTON ABBOT, Kingskerswell Parish Church … Box Office: 01803 875527
Sunday 9 … SWINDON, Swindon Arts Centre … Box Office: 01793 524481
Thursday 13 … HARROGATE, Harrogate Theatre Studio … Box Office: 01423 502116
Friday 14 … BARTON UPON HUMBER, The Ropewalk … Box Office: 01652 660380
Saturday 15 … GOOLE, Goole Junction … Box Office: 01405 763652
Sunday 16 … SOUTHPORT, Southport Comedy Festival … see jocaulfield.com for details
Friday 21 … LEICESTER, Y Theatre … Box Office: 01662 557066
Saturday 22 … NOTTINGHAM, Lakeside Arts … Box Office: 0115 8467777
Thursday 27 … SOLIHULL, The Core … Box Office: 0121 7046962
Friday 28 … HARPENDEN, Harpenden Public Hall … Box Office: 01582 767525
Sunday 30 … STURMINSTER, Sturminster Exchange … Box Office:
Saturday 12 … SUTTON COLDFIELD, The Comedy Junction … see jocaulfield.com for details
Friday 18 … BRIDGWATER, Bridgwater Arts Centre … Box Office: 01278 422700
Saturday 19 … FROME, Merlin Theatre … Box Office: 01373 465949
Sunday 20 … DORCHESTER, Dorchester Corn Exchange … Box Office: 01305 266926
Friday 25 … SALE, Waterside Arts Centre … Box Office: 0161 9125616
Saturday 26 … PENRITH, Old Fire Station … Box Office: 01768 889444
Sunday 27 … SELBY, Selby Town Hall … Box Office: 01757 708449
Friday 2 … CANTERBURY, Marlowe Theatre … Box Office: 01227 787787
Saturday 3 … DEAL, Astor Theatre … Box Office: 01304 370220
Friday 9 … TEDDINGTON, Landmark Arts Centre … Box Office: 0208 9777558
Posted by Jo Caulfield at 10:06 am No comments:
Monday, April 04, 2016
Jo Caulfield CD Recording
TUESDAY 12th APRIL
"Award-winning Stand-Up Comedian Jo Caulfield is a total class act, and a must see for anyone who loves their comedy fresh, fierce and brilliantly crafted"
- The Times
DOORS OPEN: 7.00pm
SHOW STARTS: 8.00pm
Tickets: £5.00
The Radio Scotland Comedy Game Show
Two teams battle it out over 5 rounds.
Stupid questions = Funny answers.
KEIR McALLISTER...
...and GARETH WAUGH.
...and RICHARD MELVIN.
HOSTED by JO CAULFIELD.
Book Now! Sit in the front row, fold your arms, and stare.
Book Now! Sit in the front row, fold your arms, and stare.
Posted by Jo Caulfield at 4:08 pm No comments:
Sunday, February 07, 2016
CD Recording - Wednesday 10th February
WEDNESDAY 10th FEBRUARY
DOORS OPEN: 7.00pm
SHOW STARTS: 8.00pm
Tickets: £5.00
The Radio Scotland Comedy Game Show
Two teams battle it out over 5 rounds.
Stupid questions = Funny answers.
...and JOJO SUTHERLAND.
...and KEIRON NICHOLSON.
HOSTED by JO CAULFIELD
Yes! TWO great shows for only £5.00!!
JO CAULFIELD on TWITTER
...now go home to your villages and prepare for war.
Posted by Jo Caulfield at 6:00 pm No comments:
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text:
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text:
Here is my issue:
- using SyncDocs Portable
- has an option to change the root sync folder, eg from one location to another
- option has some warnings, but works eventually
- everything works great, until SyncDocs restart
- when I restart SyncDocs it undoes my change of folder and defaults to the old folder
Is there any way to make SyncDocs portable change the location of the GDrive folder and keep that persistent across restarts?
I guess I can run the SyncDocs non-portable.. and it will keep that setting, but now it will not store config in the SyncDocs folder.
So what I'm asking is this:
- keep all settings in SyncDocs folder
- but allow me to change the location of the root sync folder
Thanks anyone!


text:
President Tom Meagher
Senior Vice-President Gordon Ballantyne
Junior Vice-President Patrick O'Meara
Hon. Secretary Michael Cleary
Assistant Secretary
Hon. Treasurer Claire Wyper
Assistant Treasurer
Media Officer Michael Silke
Chairperson of Football Billy McMickan
Youth Secretary Eamonn Collins
Minis Secretary Wesley Hudson
Facilities Chairperson Patrick Hynes
Membership Registrar
Commercial & Marketing Chairperson
Senior Representative to Connacht Branch IRFU Ray Fagan
Immediate Past President Eddie Walsh
Executive Chairperson Diarmuid Morrissey
Fixtures Secretary Patrick Whelan
Junior Representative to Connacht Branch IRFU Patrick Whelan
Youth Representative to Connacht Branch IRFU Eamonn Collins
Womens Representative to Connacht Branch IRFU Mele Kiripati
Senior Coach Darin Claasen
Assistant Coach Mike McCarthy
Senior Manager Thomas Conlon
Senior Assistant Manager Patrick Hynes
Senior Logistics Martin Webster
Senior Captain Shane Layden
Physiotherapist Michael Donohoe
Assistant Physio Jack Mannion
Video Analyst Cian O'Brien
U-20 Coach (Backs) Johnny Murray
U-20 Coach (Forwards) Ian Bloomer
U-20 Manager Eamonn Collins
U-20 Assistant Managers Thomas Farrelly & Keith Rowe
U-20 Captain Brian Collins
Seconds Team Coach Alex Hayman
Seconds Team Asst. Coach Sean McKeon
Seconds Team Manager Joseph McEntegart
Seconds Team Captain Sean Flynn
Womens Coach Gerard Fallon
Womens Assistant Coach
Womens Manager Sandra Feary
Womens Captain Lorna Stuart-Trainor
Womens Asst. Captain Sabina Egan
Results Co-Ordinator Patrick Whelan
U-18 Management Team John Doyle, Benny Gilligan, Tony Ennis & Shay Rohan
U-17 Management Team David Connolly, Paul Fogarty Senior & Tony Dolan
U-16 Management Team Niall Daly, Damien Shine & Kolo Kiripati
U-15 Management Team BLACKS:- Keith Farnan, Derek Ryan & Tom Colgan
YELLOWS:- Paddy Kenny & Paul Fogarty, Junior
U-14 Management Team BLACKS:- Frank McKiernan, Clem Higginbotham & Daniel O'Meara
YELLOWS:- Adam Daly & Gary O'Loughlin
U-13 Management Team BLACKS:- Shay Rohan, Martin Joyce & Paul Sheehan
YELLOWS:- Brian Tallon, Mark Petrie & Seamus Lyons
U-12 Management Team Graham Heaslip, Eugene Forde, Shane Naughton, John O'Carroll & Declan Dolan
U-11 Management Team Wesley Hudson, Paul Byrne, Karl Henson & Pete Mahon
U-10 Management Team Alfie Hunt, Darragh Stewart, Donie Brehony & Trevor Walshe
U-9 Management Team David Flynn, Paata Rikadze, John Murray & David Lowe
U-8 Management Team Paul Fleming, Brendan Wilkins & Michael Mulvihill
U-7 Management Team Michael Dolan, Ian Marais & Nigel So
Youth & Mini Coaching Co-Ordinator Charlie Couper
Schools Representative Donal Scannell
Youths/Minis P.R.O.
Girls Minis Co-Ordinator Mele Kiripati
A.I.T. Representative Charlie Couper
Referees' Affairs & Communications Officer David Connolly
Safe-guarding Officer Jacqui Leech
Disciplinary Officer
Health & Safety Officer Raymond Fagan
Club Medical Officers Dr. Anthony Lowry, Dr. Patrick O'Meara & Dr. Tom Meagher
Trustees Ted Carty, David Egan, Anthony Lowry, Michael Silke & Patrick Whelan
Administrator Geraldine Kenny
Email email@example.com
Website www.buccaneersrfc.com
Telephone 086-1732711
Office Hours Monday/Friday 9.30 am to 3 pm
The Bounty Telephone 090-6477566
Email email@example.com


text:
Question – Artur
Hi Josh!
First of all, I want to say that you're my favourite guitar player/singer and a big influence for me. I have two music questions for you and I hope you'll answer it.
1. I know that when you drop out of school at age of 15 you took your time to practise music. But did you have any band at that time as a teenager? If so, how do you remember it and if not, when did you join your first band?
2. As an aspiring musician myself I have a hard time finishing my compositions. One day I come up with nice riff or chord progression and the next day when my excitement is gone I find it boring. But my main problem is coming up with vocal melodies to finished instrumental track. Do you have any tips on how to do that? Or maybe it just comes naturally in your case?
Lots of love nad keep bringing happiness with your music,
Artur from Poland
I had a few bands as a kid, what you could accurately describe as garage bands, but they never much progressed past that. I was the drummer. I had a best friend growing up who was an excellent bass player and we played together with different guitar players, two different "bands," but as I say, apart from the Battle Of The Bands at Granada Hills High School, we were fairly confined to the garage. The first time I played guitar, and I guess what you could consider my first band, was The Bicycle Thief, but that wasn't really a band as it was mostly Bob and I. Dot Hacker was the first time I felt like I had an actual band, that's why I couldn't end it when I started playing with the RHCP. It's been nice having two bands. I had none for 30 years, now I have two, I guess.
As for the second part of your question. I'm not the right person to ask. I have terrible work habits and haven't finished songs that were begun years ago. Granted, I'm doing other things, but my only advise would be to just work. Work work work. Record, improvise, write simple things, write difficult things. Write simple melodies, write strange and difficult melodies. Write melodies in the style of other people, and I guess, most importantly, don't be too harsh and critical toward yourself. Allow yourself to explore and have fun. Sometimes a song, chords and melody come to me in as long as it takes the song to play, meaning the whole thing just comes out, there it is, done. Sometimes I'm still tweaking ideas that were born ten years ago. Every song is different. I think Harry Nilsson once said, "get to know your song." I like that. Know your song. Know what you're writing and why. I don't know.


text:
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Auto Truck Salvage allows its customers to purchase parts either through its website or by calling its main office. Customers using the site can search for parts based on keywords as well as view galleries of different parts for various vehicles, ranging from tucks and SUVs to vans and general auto parts. Users can also view images of the cars brought into the lot before they are dismantled directly from the site.
Websites such as Junk Yard Dogs allow uses to locate local salvage yards based on state. Listings include contact information for the site, which allows users to find out hours of operation and any special requirements, such as payment methods accepted.


text: While staying on theoretical ground, this is a very practical guide to the basic forms and shapes in architectural planning and design. The book is foremost a visual guide. The author presents sixty different basic architectural forms with both a schematic illustration and images of the forms applied in buildings.


text:
What you lose in free food sample stations, you may save in gas and that giant cheese wheel impulse buy with Costco's new grocery delivery.
Costco Wholesale Corp. has begun offering two new home grocery delivery options: same-day and two-day delivery.
The first offers same-day delivery of about 1,700 fresh foods in 376 stores nationwide through Instacart.com to Costco members. If your neighborhood Costco isn't yet delivering, it might be soon. SupermarketNews.com said the number of stores offering the service is expected to grow through 2018.
The price of convenience
For fresh-food deliveries, orders under $35 require a delivery fee. Same-day delivery may arrive to your home in as little as two hours.
What's not to love?
Well, the low-cost items of the giant warehouse will be marked up 15 to 17 percent, compared to store prices, the company said.
CostcoGrocery also is offering a two-day delivery option of about 500 dry goods. You need to spend at least $75 to avoid a delivery fee, which should be a breeze once you order something like a 36-can sockeye salmon pack (about $140).
The warehouse club company said the price of dry goods delivery foods also will be higher, but did not say how much higher.


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On the grounds of an hisoric site. Flat terrain, dirt and/or grass. Kid friendly.
Hidden by JJMLibrary
Coordinates in Other Systems
Location: United States > New York
Cache Type: Traditional
Size: Normal
Status: Ready for Search
Date Hidden: 04 June 2015
Date Created: 04 June 2015
Last Modified: 19 September 2017
Waypoint: OU0837
4 x Found
0 x Did Not Find
0 Comments
0 Notes
0 Watchers
3060 Visitors
0 x Rated
Rated as: N/A
GeoKrety History
Cache Attributes
Description EN
Annie Cooper Boyd was an impressionist painter and writer who documented much of the Sag Harbor landscape in the early 20th Century. The cache is on the grounds of her historic home.
Her cottage is on Captain's Row, where whaling captains built their stately homes in Sag Harbor. Many of her paintings and historic memorabilia are housed there. Access to the cache is over level ground, and no bushwhacking is required to find it. Find her home -- now a museum -- and explore the grounds.
This is one of six caches placed as part of the John Jermain Memorial Library's Sag Harbor Culture and History Geocache Hunt. Each cache is located near a site of cultural or historic significance to Sag Harbor. Inside each cache is a rubber stamp and stamp pad (or self-inking stamp). Pick up a log sheet at the John Jermain Memorial library (201 Main Street, across from the Whaling Museum), and use the stamp to record your find. (There's also a traditional logbook in the cache for your use.) Be sure to return the stamp and pad to the cache when you're done. When you've logged all six library geocaches, bring your completely stamped log sheet to the library and receive a certificate of completion.
Additional Hints
Obng Fubc
Log Entries 4x 0x 0x New Log Entry
14 August 2018 Mtrem1027 Found it
18 September 2017 venom Found it
28 November 2015 mgarabedian60 Found it
27 November 2015 Dkrentz Found it


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Welcome to gradplus.com
<< back to previous page
Thursday, 10 April 2008
Life after graduation
New research has found that a high proportion of CV's belonging to UK jobseekers contain a fundamental error.Data from recruitment firm Jobsincredit indicated that four out of ten CVs received by an employer contain some form of basic error.Spelling mistakes, poor punctuation and bad design top the list of CV crimes, according to the study.The survey looked at 100 HR professionals with some of the UK's leading organisations and asked them to gauge the proportion of CVs they received containing mistakes that led them to dismiss the application.Brett Marlow, director of Jobsincredit.com said it was "amazing" to see that so many CVs contained errors that would direct the application straight to the bin."With spelling and grammar checkers built into word processors, there's simply no excuse for a CV to contain typos. As for design, the principle offenders are the use of outlandish fonts and poor layout. A great CV needs to be easy to read," he remarked.


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MacGregor DNA Project blog update 2018
This year's blog will be slightly different from those done previously in that I want to spend a portion of it explaining how genetic genealogy helps us understand intra-clan relationships but in order to continue I need to say exactly what a Scottish clan is, as there are some particular misconceptions concerning the exact nature of clan in the 21st century. At the end, I go on to discuss how SNPs are helping to build up a better picture of family groupings within the main line MacGregor family tree after the mid 14th century.
What is a clan in Scottish usage?
Six hundred years ago this question was quite simple to answer. You were associated with a clan if you had been born with the name – in the MacGregors' case that might be expressed as Gregor, Grigor, MacGregor, McGrigor, McGregor and a whole range of alternative spellings such as, for example, McGreagor (an attempt to render the Gaelic phonetically into English?). At that time too spelling had not been standardised - so one might find Mckgregor, M'gregor and so on. You were also a member of the clan if your name was an accepted variant, such as Grierson, or Grier, Greig/Grieg/Grig etc. These were considered to be shortened or anglised versions of the main clan name. So, Grier-son equals Gregor-son and Grier is the same name without the 'son' on the end.
Whether or not these accepted names were genetically related to the main line was not the point, as a clan was a collection of related surnames. Members of the clan recognised as Chief the head of the main line (the Chief of the MacGregors for example), and often, especially in the early days relied on him for protection, or rather, on his ability to pull a 'federation' of individuals together to ensure, usually armed, protection, or, as a means of seeking retribution on another group for some offence.
There were others associated with individual clans. People who belonged to individual septs. Sometimes the same name would appear in two or more lists of accepted septs of different clans – such is the case with surname King, among others. Again, some descriptive words used as surnames were understood to have been borne by people associated with the clan, and these surnames are found in many clan lists: Bain (or Ban) or its anglicised equivalent White; Roy meaning Red; Dhu or Dow meaning dark or black, are some examples.
Finally, there were people who answered none of these 'qualification' but who lived on the land which was under the Chief's influence as 'part-takers'. Grant and Menzies rental documents of the 18th century reveal instances where individuals adopted the name of the local chief where formerly they were called only by their patronymics. A patronymic shows the genealogy of an individual back two generations – so my patronymic would be Richard McEwan VicPeter: there McEwan is not a surname but shows that my father was Ewan (not THAT Ewan). On a rental document you might find John McGregor VicPatrick which means that John's father was Gregor and his grandfather Patrick: if John were a very poor inhabitant – a cottar – it might be that he had lost the knowledge that he was a genetic MacGregor and so ended up taking the surname Grant. It's unusual to find this situation among MacGregors because of their turbulent history but it happens in other clans. Paradoxically because the MacGregor name was proscribed [forbidden] for so long [1603-60 and 1693 to 1774] it seems many families held on to the knowledge that they were MacGregors despite having been forced to take other surnames. Some families never changed back to MacGregor when it was finally possible to do so – which is why in the DNA project we see individuals called Drummond, Stirling, Campbell etc who are genetically MacGregors - their ancestors never readopted the name when it was safe to do so.
What is clan in the 21st century?
To some the concept of clan in the present century is an irrelevance. We no longer need the Chief to protect us and we no longer live in defined communities of inter-related individuals offering support to each other in the same way. In the 21st century a clan is made up of people who value the bonds of kinship often promoted by Clan Societies, and they value the, sometimes surprising, connections that clan association brings. At its gathering in 2014 the Clan Gregor Society of Scotland had 11 nationalities represented, some of whom like the Philippine and South African contingents actually shared a recent common ancestor. Members of a clan still recognise the Chief as head of the clan, but, as I have explained, it is likely that relatively few share a common ancestor with him (or her). Most Clan Societies recognise that finding paper evidence of relationships becomes increasingly difficult before 1750 and therefore accept both female line connection (e.g. 'great grandmother was a MacGregor', or a King, or a Bain etc), or, that there is a tradition within a family of MacGregor clan connection.
What does genetic genealogy tell us?
1) That people called by a certain surname are not necessarily descended from a common ancestor, although as we have found in the DNA project approximately 50% within a surname subgroup do share a common ancestor. (I will explain my subgrouping in a moment)
2) That there are different groups of individuals called, say MacGregor, who share a common ancestor in the fairly recent past but the connection of one group of these MacGregors to each other is likely to lie thousands of years in the past and pre-surnames
3) That there are multiple origins for surname groups
4) That clan sept names have varied genetic origins and not just one single origin within the period of the existence of surnames (surnames become more common after the mid 14th century, particularly in England following the Black Death as there was more movement of labour to replace those lost to the plague)
The MacGregor DNA project at this date has 1427 members. In order to make the results easier to navigate I have divided them up into subgroups. The advantage to this is that within a subgroup it is easier to see individuals who are potentially related, in the more recent past, to each other, because they appear in the surname grid near to each other. It also shows up where there are multiple origins for surnames, and is particularly useful where some members of the subgroup are able to indicate an earliest known ancestor. In a good number of cases that ancestor will be shared with other members of the subgroup and some of the group may not have the genealogical information that others have and so find their link to the past. It can also suggest geographical location for the ancestor. The disadvantage is that members of different subgroups in the results grid cannot quickly compare their results with members of other subgroups, but in a Y chromosome study that is less of a problem. In any case everyone has access to a 'Matches' tab on their DNA results page and also everyone can use Ysearch and Mitosearch.org.
To further illustrate what can be done I will demonstrate with one subgroup. Regular readers of this blog know that I have offered to make any comparisons between individuals that are wanted. It would be helpful if this could normally be limited to 10-12 results for comparison. Also, please remember that I have to be able to compare like for like – so I cannot compare a 37 result with a 67 – I can only use the first 37 of the latter for the comparison.
Example 1: Greig/Grieg/Gregg etc surname 37 marker result grid
The first example shows all the 37 marker results for this subgroup. No colours are present in this grid to show mutations because we are not trying to compare individuals to one 'master' result or even to an 'average' or modal result. It can be hard without colours to see how one individual is related to another but in general if results are closer together on the grid they would tend to be more closely related genetically (but just being close on the grid does not necessarily pick up results that are more related than others). That is why we use a graphics program to make comparing results more visual in what is known as a phylogenetic tree. Also the program used picks up similarities across results that might not be immediately obvious to the eye.
Example 2: Greig/Grieg/Gregg etc surname 37 marker phylogenetic tree
The second example therefore shows the chart in graphic form, generated by Splitstree (acknowledgement is given at the bottom of this blog). I have labelled them as the chart is labelled so perhaps the easiest way to make comparisons is to print off both examples and cross-refer between them. In this graphic representation some relationships become more obvious but there also are some surprises. The first, and most important, point to make is that we are seeing at least 11 distinct family groups who each shared a common ancestor many thousands of years ago long before surnames became common. So we see at least 11 different genetic origins for people called Greig, Grigg, Gragg and Gregor. In general, if results are closely clustered together on the graphic then they probably share a recent common ancestor (and by recent I mean since the acquisition of surnames).
1) There are 7 individuals (kit 20673 is one) who share a common ancestor who could be the William Gregg born in 1616 or his immediate forebears - an early emigrant to the New World. This family have no spelling variations – always Gregg – so may have been literate from the earliest emigrant
2) There is a group of 3 (kit 214992 is one), who are related and may have a connection to Tipperary in Ireland: these families are Gregg or Gragg
3) There is another group of 3 (kit 239449 is one) - these connect to a common ancestor but there is no indication of who this might be in the genealogies submitted – these used spellings Grieg, Greig and Gregg
4) Another group of 4 (kit 158127 is one) who seem to connect to Antrim in Ireland (using Gragg and Gregg)
5) There is a group of 3 (45360 is one) who connect to Edinburgh and Pathhead (a nearby village)(surnames are Greig and Gregg)
6) There is a group of individuals who are genetically related and with geographical links to North East Scotland with very different versions of the name: Griggs, Greig and Grigor (9690 is one of these)
7) A group of 2 (kit 6979 is one) using Gregg (no locations available)
All other individuals appear to belong to separate unrelated families although the distant possible connection between Gregor(y) 476609 and Charles Greig 585177 would be worth further investigation. Robert Gregor 239031 belongs to a completely different genetic haplogroup.
Example 3: Greig/Grieg/Gregg etc surname 67 marker grid
This example [Examples 3 and 4] shows the smaller group of individuals who have tested 67 markers (they are all in the 37 group discussed above). What we are interested in is whether the greater number of markers gives any further information on genetic connections. Since 50% of the sample shown in Example 1 and 2 is now not present, the graphic representation is much sparser.
Example 4: Greig/Grieg/Gregg etc surname 67 marker phylogenetic tree
The problem that is immediately apparent [in Example 4] is that without a larger number of individuals testing to 67 (or more markers) family groups do not break down significantly further. In Example 4 the only possible confirmation seen is that Kits 7489 Gregg, 214992 Gragg and 9690 Greig may share a common ancestor in the relatively distant past but it is possible that all three share a geographical origin – North East Scotland as suggested in point 6 above.
By way of comparison I have used the same processes on the Gregory group who also have diverse origins, but what is particularly interesting with this group - given that membership of a DNA surname testing project is essentially based on random participation - is to see just how many individuals descend from the same ancestor: almost certainly, given that there are forebears in common (for example Gideon Gregory – kits 58711 and 179683) then this group probably had a common emigrant ancestor in the United States.
Example 5: – Gregory surname 37 marker phylogenetic treeApart from that group of related individuals there are only 4 other, much smaller groups, whose individual ancestry lies close to each other – their 'earliest known ancestor' as given by each participant, suggesting a range of possible genetic origins (see the grid on Example 6)
Example 6: Gregory surname 37 marker grid
Dean McGee's DNA Utility allows an estimate of time to most recent common ancestor.
Example 7: Gregory surname 37 marker Time to Most Recent Common Ancestor grid (partial)
This is only an estimate and the number of years suggested always depends on the confidence level chosen for the program – choosing 100% confidence would give a different result from choosing 10% confidence. In this example from the Gregory charts we see an estimate of the possible time to the shared ancestor for the each individuals in the group with each other person. In order to see a good number of results I have had to remove the labels from the top grid but they can simply be put in by hand - going from left to right on the grid top line in the same order as reading top to bottom. Notice, for example, that comparing the first two individuals 'Peter R. Gregory' 275887 and Gregory 37140 suggests that they share a common ancestor 5220 years ago.
All of these analyses benefit greatly – and benefit other genealogists – if testers indicate the name of their earliest known male ancestor with the surname – no matter how recent that might be.
If we now look at the phylogenetic tree created when we use only those kits that have tested to 67 marker level the only real difference is that some of the genetic distances seems to be clearer.
Example 8 Gregory DNA 67 marker grid
However, this particular program only separates by mutation – so if we look at the Gideon Gregory results again it looks like they come from different lines of the same family, rather than from the common ancestor Gideon. This is a limitation not of the program but of an ability to input into the program that two results come from the same ancestor. We have to remember that programs such as this were not designed primarily for family history but for comparing genetic markers in species and not just the human species. After all, it would be next to impossible to say whether two turtles shared the same great great grandfather …
The development of SNP analysis
For several years now there has been an increasing focus on the testing and analysis of SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms). The difference between these and the more commonly tested STRs was given in my 2014 blog (opening paragraphs). To put it simply, SNPs are markers in time: as far as is known if these mutate they stay mutated in subsequent generations. What that means is that once enough SNPs are identified an element of dating can be applied to when the mutation happened. For family historians this fact is becoming hugely important. Dating SNPs to the time before surnames is of limited use to family historians but to have dates, even approximate, from the time after the adoption of surnames means that family surname groups can be split down into smaller and more recent family subgroups. On the Greig and Gregor grids I show the SNP information which is assigned to each individual in the leftmost column. In most cases this is simply M269, a SNP that happened thousands of years ago. Some individuals have had some SNP testing done but very few people have had the 'Big Y' test done which takes results forward in time towards the present day, and identifies SNPs which may have happened between 500 and 800 years ago.
Greig SNPs
In the Greig grid confirmed SNPs are in green. M269 is too early in date to be considered so the only other SNPs to be taken into account are kit 476609 R-L066; 363402 R-FGC10125; 259416 R-U152; 585177 R-Z253; 195430 R-U106; 295321 R-FGC5494; 404866 R-FGC37100; 110496 R-L21; B196295 R-ZP77; and 239031 T-M70
Of these U152, R-Z253, R-U106, R-L21 are well known early SNPs which happened before surnames, sometimes by thousands of years and most have further testing options available to bring the results further forward in time. FGC in the results indicates that the SNP was identified by the Full Genome Corp (as indeed the other letters identify the source lab or individual who identified the SNP in question in the first place). Of the other SNPs:
L1066 is more recent but still before surnames.
FGC10125 [see https://www.geni.com/projects/R-FGC10125-Y-DNA/36784]
is the next SNP in the sequence for some individuals after L1065 [not the same as L1066] which is said to identify the Scots modal group
[see http://www.ytree.net/DisplayTree.php?blockID=160] Since L1065 roughly dates to 1750 years before the present, FGC10125 may have happened before surnames.
FGC5494 is European in origin but again is somewhat earlier than surnames, and has SNPs which descend from it towards the present time
FGC37100 is a descendant, or technically, 'downstream' of L151 – that SNP is again an much earlier one and found in England as well as other places.
ZP77 is the same as FGC6562 and is found in concentrations in Ireland and to a lesser degree in Scotland: it also has numerous downstream markers
Finally T-M70 is an very early SNP with a distribution over southern Europe, the Middle East and East Africa. It is comparatively rare among tested individuals [see www.yfull.com/branch-info/T-M70/ which dates it to 16,000 years before the present].
Similar discussion on identified SNPs could be done for all the subgroups in the MacGregor DNA project. The Gregory group, for example, has the following identified SNPs (see example 6):
MacGregor DNA – current SNP analysis
The work which Neil McGregor in Australia has been doing in analysing MacGregor SNPs is not concerned with the earlier SNPs. We already knew from Jim Wilson's work that most MacGregors in the main line group carried the SNPs S690+ and S697+, both probably dating from after 1200AD (though no absolute dating is yet available). In his analyses Neil has begun to break down the test results of MacGregor participants into individual family groups – which the clan has known about for generations and which are referred to in older documents as the 'houses' or 'sleik' [of] Clan Gregor, the main 'houses' being Glenstrae, Roro, Gregor McIan (or Brackley) Dugall Keir and more recently 'of Glencarnock' the Chief's line (Glencarnock is the area they held from the mid 18th century).
Neil's current identification of family groups is given in Example 9:
Example 9: current predictions of SNPs associated with MacGregor family groups.
Neil's email to me allowing this to be included in the blog suggests that MacGregors from the main line should seriously now consider doing the BigY DNA test (rather than FGC – Full Genome Corps – with whom we have also undertaken testing). He says:
"The best recommendation is that people get BigY as everybody seems to have between 3 and 8 separate SNPs which will allow them to be separated from everybody [else], other than from their own immediate family or first cousins. Some of them [those who have tested under BigY] appear to have a cluster of SNPs which appear to have mutated together and may represent one mutation. A mutation seems to be as low as once per generation through to once every 4-5 generations – seems related to the number of STR [the marker scores than participants start with] mutations as well.
The clan seems to be divided into two major clusters and this would appear to be early on. The section I am in has at least 3-5 sub-branches as does the other major group. The dividing SNP appears to be BY28714".
Just to repeat that I can do comparisons of STR results for individuals – comparing with up to 10 to 12 others. I would repeat Neil's encouragement to do BigY if you can – please ask me for further information if needed [richardmcgregor1ATyahoo.co.uk substituting @ for AT]
I have just had a comment from EMC which is worth repeating here in case folks miss it:
It is important to note that the results Neil has recently shown are also due to FTDNA reprocessing BigY kits under a new genome reference called HG38. Prior, under HG19, many of the SNP's used now were heretofore unknown. This SNP refinement is important.
It is important to note that the results Neil has recently shown are also due to FTDNA reprocessing BigY kits under a new genome reference called HG38. Prior, under HG19, many of the SNP's used now were heretofore unknown. This SNP refinement is important.
Charts were constructed using Dee McGee's Utility at http://www.mymcgee.com/tools/yutility.html?mode=ftdna_mode, using a 75% level of confidence, on Doug MacDonald's mutation rate, an average of 30 years per generation and with no modal results assigned. The graphic representations of phylogenetic trees are made by Splitstree:
D. H. Huson and D. Bryant, Application of Phylogenetic Networks in Evolutionary Studies, Mol. Biol. Evol., 23(2):254-267, 2006


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First, I haven't seen Slumdog Millionaire, though I want to. That said..
I woke up this morning unsettled by last night's Academy Awards ceremony. It's always bothered me that a storytelling medium gives lip service to the people who actually write the stories, and that it spends vast fortunes to tell these stories. It calls itself entertainment but it is an industry, it employs a vast number of people and produces a product that occasionally fleeting and ephemeral. It is an industry that talks openly about its magic, and like a magician performs slight-of-hand to prevent the audience from thinking about the larger issues.
Here's what's bothering me this morning after: If Slumdog Millionaire had been produced and directed by an Indian national, if it had been funded primarily outside of Hollywood, would we be seeing newspaper headlines about its awards today?
The Indian film industry has been producing movies for quite some time, and not just Bollywood product but Oscar-quality films at least since the 1950's with the work of Satyajit Ray. I'm not going to pretend to know more than I do, but I have seen my share of foreign cinema co-opted by Hollywood that, in turn, pats itself on the back for its forward-thinking inclusion of other cultures. It doesn't often do so in the Best Picture category though because films have to be primarily produced through an American studio to be nominated, so often this self-congratulatory affair takes place in the Best Foreign Film category where every other country in the world gets to put forth a single film to represent them that year, and from that mush pot the Academy chooses five films to duke it out for attention. At last count there were somewhere in the neighborhood of 190 countries in the world besides the United States, some with film industries of their own.
So I guess with odds like that I shouldn't really be bothered that a film set in India, with a British director and another Brit adapting the screenplay from a book by an Indian author, should win hat is typically considered an American award. The Academy Awards go out of their way to honor the "best" in film, and yet like the World Series of baseball, their definition of "best" rarely extends beyond its continental boundaries.
Are we really to believe that this is the best film of its kind, about India? Is this truly the best film produced in the previous year over all others? Or is this the best film about India that is commercial enough for an American filmgoing audience to accept? Is this about the uniqueness of the foreign, about a moviegoing nation full of people who can't remember the last film they saw set in India (if ever) that didn't feature known British actors in key roles? Is this award not really about people patting themselves on the back for being so inclusive of other cultures that they are blind to everything else that culture may have to offer cinematically?
Years ago when I was a film reviewer I saw a film at a festival set in Iran, a simple love story about a local boy and girl who quietly fall in love while on the set of a movie where their characters are allowed to speak for them in ways they cannot. It was a great film, a simple story well (and cleverly) told, and I was happy to see an American company (Miramax) was it's distributor. But it was never released. The story I heard later was that the film rights were purchased to be refilmed as an American romantic comedy. And thus, Through the Olive Trees languishes in obscurity, and our knowledge of Iran is limited only to those news reports we get from the BBC and NPR and, when it serves their purposes, American News media. The film isn't even available on DVD. And then there's Gabbeh, another Iranian love story, set in the mountains among goat herds and carpet makers. This film got some limited release but still isn't available on DVD as well. Can it really be that there's no interest in Iranian films, or is it there's no interest in Iranian films that don't fit an agenda or our preconceived notion of Iran? Is it harder for Hollywood to sell a love story from Iran because there aren't any terrorists or nuclear arms or weapons of any kind to be found?
Likewise, is it easier to sell a film about the Dickensian love story from the slums of Mumbai because that is what an American audience will expect? Is Slumdog Millionaire the best film to come out of India this past year or just the only one American audiences would tolerate because it as marketed to their expectations after some good reviews following a few film festivals? Was it really the Best Picture made in 2008?
I used to have a mantra in my film reviewer days: see everything and judge for yourself. Basically, never trust a critic or a reviewers word, but more importantly, see it all and go beyond the emotional first impression. I'm still planning to see Slumdog Millionaire, but it's going to have to compete in my mind with all the Indian, India-based, and Indian-directed films I've ever seen. We'll see if it holds up as award-worthy and hoopla-deserving then.


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The Broken Alliance will be released on console in just two days, but we've got other great news for Battlestar Galactica Deadlock today: we are announcing a new online tournament!
Starting today you can now sign up for the upcoming tournament. Click here if you want to sign up or get more information about the format. It'll be a 32 slots tournament, so don't wait! Sign up while you still can. The winner of the tournament will win a copy of the upcoming Battlestar Galactica boardgame made by Ares Games!
The tournament will begin on June 25th! Don't miss this.


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Deep Tissue
People of the North: Deep Tissue
Started by Kid Millions and Bobby Matador of Oneida, People of the North is an ongoing but sporadic outgrowth of that restlessly experimental Brooklyn assemblage. Since the first tour in early 2003, POTn has served as another language emanating from the screaming mouth of the O. It has always included Kid and Bobby, and usually other members of Oneida as well. While there are no clearly defined boundaries separating POTn from Oneida, it might be fair to say that the music tends to be more staunchly devoted to minimalism, repetition, improvisation, and sternness than the wide-ranging efforts of the big brother band. There is no specific or overt "influence" that particularly defines the music on Deep Tissue, but there's kind of a 70's Germany/80's Chicago/90's Japan/00's Iran thing with People of the North, so maybe that's there?