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ESA ISS Science & System - Operations Status Report # 131 Increment 33: 20 October – 2 November
This is ISS status report #131 from the European Space Agency outlining ESA's science-related activities that have taken place on the ISS during the past two weeks for different European experiments and experiment facilities.
ISS Utilisation Programme
The principal focus of the European utilisation of the ISS is the Columbus laboratory, which was launched and permanently attached to the ISS in February 2008. In addition to the science taking place using the internal and external experiment facilities of the Columbus laboratory, ESA also has some further on-going research taking place inside the Russian Segment of the ISS and in the US Destiny laboratory within international scientific collaboration agreements.
The current status of the European science package on the ISS is as follows:
Human Research
Thermolab Experiment
ISS Commander Sunita Williams undertook her fourth and final session of ESA's Thermolab and EKE experiments in conjunction with NASA's Maximum Volume Oxygen (VO2 Max) experiment on 24 October. Data was downlinked to ground after the session. The joint experiments use the ESA-developed Portable Pulmonary Function System to record a variety of pulmonary measurements during varying degrees of exercise on the CEVIS Cycle Ergometer. If the post-flight baseline data collection sessions prove successful this will bring on-orbit activities for the experiment to a successful conclusion with the required amount of human test subjects.
Thermolab is investigating thermoregulatory and cardiovascular adaptations during rest and exercise in the course of long-term exposure to weightlessness. The EKE experiment has specific goals to develop a diagnostic tool for the assessment of endurance capacity from oxygen uptake and heart rate in response to changes in exercise intensity and the development of a physiological model to explore the transport of oxygen from the lungs to muscle cells. The Maximum Volume Oxygen (VO2 Max) protocol is aimed at measuring oxygen uptake and cardiac output in particular, during various degrees of exercise. The Portable Pulmonary Function System is an autonomous multi-user facility supporting a broad range of human physiological research experiments under weightless conditions in the areas of respiratory, cardiovascular and metabolic physiology.
Circadian Rhythms Experiment
Science data for the fourth session of ESA's new Circadian Rhythms experiment, (undertaken by ISS Flight Engineer Akihiko Hoshide from 16 – 18 October) was downlinked along with the Thermolab data on conclusion of the Thermolab session on 24 October.
The main objective of the Circadian Rhythms experiment is to get a better basic understanding of any alterations in circadian rhythms in humans during long-duration spaceflight. This will provide insights into the adaptation of the human autonomic nervous system in space over time, and will help to improve physical exercise, rest and work shifts, as well as fostering adequate workplace illumination in the sense of occupational healthcare in future space missions.
Energy Experiment
Water and urine samples for the Energy experiment for ESA astronaut André Kuipers (as the first test subject) and for NASA astronaut Don Pettit (as the control subject) were returned to earth on the SpaceX-1 Dragon spacecraft, which splashed down in the Pacific on 28 October. The samples arrived in Europe on 31 October.
The Energy experiment aims at determining the energy requirements of astronauts during long-term spaceflight. This is undertaken through analysis of samples and data gathered on-orbit in order to determine Total Energy Expenditure which will in turn allow for the calculation of the Activity Energy Expenditure to help derive an equation for energy requirements.
Reversible Figures Experiment
ISS Commander Sunita Williams carried out her fourth and final session of ESA's new Reversible Figures experiment in the Columbus laboratory on 29 October. Williams connected the hardware to a multipurpose laptop in the Columbus module, donned the dedicated visor and conducted the experiment protocol in a free-floating position. Hereafter ISS Flight Engineer Kevin Ford also undertook his first session of the experiment.
The experiment is investigating the adaptive nature of the human neuro-vestibular system in the processing of gravitational information related to 3D visual perception. It involves the comparisons of pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight perceptions with regards to ambiguous perspective-reversible figures to assess the influence of weightlessness. During the science run, a series of ambiguous figures are displayed for about 60-120 seconds and the crew is prompted to specify, by pressing pushbuttons on a mouse, which percept is visualized first and then every subsequent change in perception.
Space Headaches Experiment
ISS Flight Engineer Kevin Ford started filling in daily questionnaires as a subject for the Space Headaches experiment following his launch on Soyuz 32S on 23 October. Ford completed filling in the daily questionnaires for the experiment on 29 October. The first two questionnaires, which were filled in on paper during Soyuz transfer to the ISS were photographed and downlinked. On the ISS the questionnaires were filled in in electronic form and also downlinked. Following completion of the daily questionnaires, Kevin Ford started filling in weekly questionnaires for the experiment on 2 November.
In addition to the European human research activities, Akihiko Hoshide conducted his fourth and final session of NASA's Sprint/VO2Max protocol. During the session, he used ESA's Portable Pulmonary Function System (PPFS) and additional sensors to undertake oxygen uptake measurements. This will help to evaluate changes during long-duration missions and to allow more accurate estimation of the crewmembers' aerobic capacity during and after space flight.
The protocol evaluates the use of high intensity, low volume exercise training to minimize loss of muscle, bone, and cardiovascular function in ISS crewmembers during long-duration missions. It includes a special exercise regime which diverts from the regular exercise regime and uses an abbreviated VO2Max protocol.
Radiation Research
DOSIS-3D experiment
Data acquisition has been on-going for the Dose Distribution inside the ISS 3D (DOSIS-3D) experiment using the two active DOSTEL detectors located inside the European Physiology Modules facility to undertake time-dependent cosmic radiation measurements. In addition a second set of passive detectors (delivered on Soyuz 32S) were installed in different locations around Columbus by Sunita Williams on 26 October. This followed up from the first set of passive detectors which gathered data in the Columbus laboratory from May to September before being returned to earth for analysis. The passive detectors are used in order to undertake 'area dosimetry' i.e. to measure the spatial radiation gradients inside the Columbus module.
The aim of the DOSIS-3D experiment is to determine the nature and distribution of the radiation field inside the ISS and follows on from the DOSIS experiment previously undertaken in the Columbus laboratory. Comparison of the dose rates for the DOSIS-3D and the DOSIS experiments shows a difference in dose level which can be explained due to the different altitude of the Station during the measurements. The DOSIS-3D experiment will build on the data gathered from the DOSIS experiment by combing data gathered in Columbus with ISS International Partner data gathered in other modules of the ISS.
ALTEA-Shield Experiments
Data acquisition has been on-going for the ALTEA (Anomalous Long Term Effects in Astronauts)-Shield experiment in the so-called "shielding" configuration since its relocation to EXPRESS Rack 3 in Columbus on 8 June. The experiment set up consists of three silicon radiation detectors: a reference detector without any shielding materials attached (used for comparative purposes) and two additional detectors covered with two shielding tiles made currently of Kevlar with a different thickness of tile on each detector. Up until 2 November 83 cumulative days of science acquisition had been taken with the Kevlar tiles and the science team has formally confirmed the validity of the data. This surpasses the minimum requirement of 40 days and preferred target of 60 days, and follows on from a session including 54 cumulative days of science acquisition using polyethylene tiles. It is planned to continue the current measurement period until the ALTEA-Shield hardware is temporarily put into ISS storage and in support of statistical analyses.
The shielding part of the ALTEA-Shield experiment is testing the two different types of shielding materials (and different thicknesses of each material) against cosmic rays. This follows the ALTEA-Survey part of the ALTEA-Shield experiment series which finished in December 2011 with 112 cumulative days of science acquisition in its most recent location. The Survey part of the experiment had been undertaking a 3-dimensional survey of the radiation environment in the US laboratory.
TriTel Experiment
The active cosmic radiation detector for the TriTel (Tri-Axis Telescope) experiment was transported to the ISS on progress 49P which launched and docked to the Station on 31 October. This active detector is able to provide a 3-dimensional mapping of radiation entering Columbus i.e determining the level of radiation and direction with which it travels into/through Columbus. Once the active detector is successfully checked out, an accompanying set of passive detectors will also be launched to the ISS.
Fluids Research
Fluid Science Laboratory Upgrade
A ground-commanded software upgrade of the Fluid Science Laboratory's Optical Diagnostic Module was performed on 30 October. Software checkout activities will continue in the near future. Current testing and upgrade activities are being undertaken in advance of the FASES experiment which is due for upload on ATV-4 in April 2013.
Solar Research
SOLAR Facility
The latest Sun Visibility Window (the 58th) for the Solar facility to acquire data closed on 25 October. This latest window had been open since 15 October. Sun visibility windows for SOLAR, located on the external surface of Columbus, are open for the facility to acquire scientific data when the ISS is in the correct orbital profile with relation to the Sun. During the reporting period testing of command sequences were also undertaken in connection with the upcoming Sun visibility window bridging event currently scheduled to take place between 30 November and 13 December. As the Sun visibility windows last for around 12 days there has not been the chance to undertake solar measurements during a full Sun rotation cycle which lasts around 27 days. The bridging event will remedy this by taking measurements outside of the standard Sun visibility windows (hence joining two windows together) through a slight rotation of the ISS in this period to put the Solar facility in the correct profile in relation to the Sun. The SolACES instrument from SOLAR was in a warm-up configuration (as a work-around to protect the instrument's optics from degradation) from 24 October in connection with Soyuz 32S and Soyuz 49P docking and a debris avoidance manoeuvre (due to thruster firings)
The SOLAR payload facility has been studying the Sun's irradiation with unprecedented accuracy across most of its spectral range currently for more than four years on-orbit. This has so far produced excellent scientific data during a series of Sun observation cycles. An extension to the payload's time in orbit could see its research activities extend up to early 2017 to monitor the whole solar cycle with unprecedented accuracy.
Technology Research
Vessel Identification System (Vessel ID)
Successful data acquisition is on-going for the Vessel Identification System (commonly known as the Automatic Identification System, AIS), using its Norwegian receiver, and telemetry is still being successfully received by the Norwegian User Support and Operation Centre (N-USOC) in Trondheim via ESA's Columbus Control Centre in Germany. The Vessel Identification System has acquired an extensive amount of data for more than two years since its installation in Columbus.
The Vessel Identification System is testing the means to track global maritime traffic from space by picking up signals from standard AIS transponders carried by all international ships over 300 tonnes, cargo vessels over 500 tonnes and all types of passenger carriers. Meanwhile various service entities have been asking to get access to the Vessel ID data which is continuously acquired on Columbus.
ISS general system information and activities *
Columbus laboratory and Columbus Control Centre
In addition to the Columbus experiment facilities mentioned above, the Columbus systems have been working well. Some regular maintenance activities have been executed by the crew and the Flight Control Team on top of the regular conferences of the ISS Crew with the Columbus Control Centre in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. Highlights of the two weeks until 2 November include:
Surface/Atmospheric Sampling
On 22 October ISS Commander and NASA astronaut Sunita Williams took air samples in Columbus (as well as the Russian Service Module and US Laboratory). On 24 October Williams carried out visual microbial analysis and data recording on surface and air samples she had collected with ISS Flight Engineer and JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide in Columbus (as well as in the US and Japanese laboratories, the Russian Zarya Module and the three Station Nodes) on 19 October.
Columbus Lighting Units
A couple of failures occurred in lighting units in Columbus in the two-week reporting period. Sunita Williams started repair procedures on 30 October.
Columbus Vacuum Dumping Device
Annual cycling of the Columbus Vacuum Dumping Device was performed on 27 October.
Vehicle Proximity Operations
Standard steps were taken in connection to docking of Soyuz 32S and Progress 49P, and unberthing of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. This included inhibition of vacuum and venting from Columbus, and Station-wide power down procedures which had minimal impact on Columbus systems.
EVA Video Footage
Almost two hours of video was recorded from Columbus during the US-based EVA on 1 November during the KU band loss of signal. The video was downlinked after the spacewalk.
Activities in the European-built Node 3
Exercise Equipment
Sunita Williams and Akihiko Hoshide have been using the T2/COLBERT treadmill and Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) to conduct NASA's Sprint protocol which diverts from the regular exercise regime. This was in addition to the regular use, inspection and servicing of ARED and the T2/COLBERT treadmill. During the 1 November spacewalk (see below) ISS Flight Engineer and NASA astronaut Kevin Ford swapped the Pacebook of the T2/COLBERT treadmill with a Station Support Computer. This was due to a Pacebook malfunction.
Regenerative ECLSS and Additional Environmental Control Racks
The two Water Recovery System racks, together with the Oxygen Generation System rack, form the Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) which is necessary in support of a six-person ISS crew to help reduce upload mass. Other environmental control racks in Node 3 include an Atmosphere Revitalisation Rack and a Waste and Hygiene Compartment. Highlights of the two weeks until 2 November include:
Water Recovery System racks: Sampling activities
Sunita Williams and Akihhiko Hoshide used the Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) to sample water from the Water Recovery System racks on 22 and 30 October respectively.
Water Recovery System racks: Processing
Sunita Williams successfully replaced the full Recycle Filter Tank Assembly in Water Recovery System rack 2 on 2 November with a new unit. Hereafter she drained the brine from the full unit into a container for disposal.
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly
On 23 October Sunita Williams disconnected, lubricated and reconnected the leaking Hydraflow Air Selector Valve of the Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly in Node 3
- Water Recovery System racks: Sampling activities
SpaceX Dragon Unberthing and Landing
Cargo Transfers
In the days preceding unberthing, cargo was transferred to the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft by ISS Commander Sunita Williams and ISS Flight Engineer Akihiko Hoshide for return to earth. This included a GLACIER (General Laboratory Active Cryogenic ISS Experiment Refrigerator) freezer, filled with samples. In addition, samples for ESA's Energy experiment, Portable Pulmonary Function System maintenance items, and the Biolab Life Support Module 3 were on the itinerary of items returned to earth with Dragon.
Unberthing Preparations
The Station's principal robotic arm (Canadarm 2) was moved into position by ground controllers on 24 October in preparation of grappling the Dragon spacecraft. On 27 October Williams configured the Robotic Workstations in the European-built Cupola Observation Module and the US laboratory to support robotics operations. Hoshide and Williams hereafter closed the Dragon hatch and removed Atmosphere Revitalization System and data cables from the vestibule between Dragon and Node 2. The following day the remaining cabling was removed from the vestibule, the Node 2 hatch was closed and vestibule depressurization was carried out followed by a leak check.
Unberthing and Landing
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft was unberthed from the ISS on 28 October at 12:19 (CET) with Sunita Williams and Akihiko Hoshide as robotic arm operators. Dragon was manoeuvred into release position and released from the robotic arm at 14:28 (CET). After undertaking a series of departure burns the spacecraft eventually was in the correct profile to undertake its deorbit burn (at 19:28 CET). Following atmospheric re-entry and parachute deployment the Dragon spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean around 20:20 CET (12:20 local time) a few hundred km west of the California coastline. With the mission complete all related equipment on the ISS has either been reconfigured or removed and stowed. Dragon returned almost a tonne of samples and cargo from orbit. Following the first demo flight in May, this was the first commercial SpaceX Dragon spacecraft mission. Dragon is a commercial unmanned spacecraft under NASA contract.
Minus-Eighty degree Laboratory Freezer for the ISS (MELFI)
There are three European-built MELFI freezers on the ISS: MELFI-1 and MELFI-2 in the Japanese laboratory and MELFI-3 in the US laboratory. In the two-week reporting period samples were placed in the MELFI units for JAXA's Resist Tubule experiment (Arabidopsis plant), JAXA's MICROBE-3 experiment (Microbial Detection Sheets and agar tube), for JAXA's Medaka Osteoclast payload (water quality strips, Medaka fish) and a waste water sample from the humidifier of JAXA's Cell Biology Experiment Facility. On 25 October samples were relocated to MELFI-3 from the EXPRESS Rack 6 GLACIER freezer for NASA's Plant Signalling experiment (seed cassettes) and samples were relocated from MELFI-3 to the EXPRESS Rack 6 GLACIER freezer for NASA's Human Research Programme (blood mesh bags) for return on SpaceX Dragon (see above). In addition the MELFI-2 freezer was activated in the Kibo laboratory to provide redundancy for cold stowage of science samples and to protect for a possible delay in the return of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft; and the crew removed the failed Electronics Unit from the spare slot in MELFI-1, for return on Dragon. On 30 October and 2 November Hoshide and Williams respectively inserted 16 ice bricks each (half of which were +4 deg C ice bricks, the other half -32 deg C ice bricks) into the MELFI-1 freezer for future storage requirements.
Orbital Debris/ISS Reboost
At the beginning of the reporting period a cloud of orbital debris from a US Thorad Agena launcher was being monitored for the possibility of it coming in close proximity to the ISS. The time of closest approach was calculated to occur on 24 October. However it was subsequently determined that it posed no threat of a collision with the ISS so no further action was required. Further debris from the Iridium 33 communications satellite was being monitored with a total of six close approaches calculated on 1 November (CET). A debris avoidance manoeuvre of the ISS was therefore undertaken using the Progress 48P engines on the night of 31 October to 1 November just after midnight.. The manoeuvre lasted 10 mins , and increased the ISS altitude by 0.6 km placing it at a mean altitude of 413.3 km.
US Spacewalk
- EVA Preparations
Numerous preparatory activities were carried out in the US Airlock by ISS Commander Sunita Williams and ISS Flight Engineer Akihiko Hoshide on 31 October, the day before the spacewalk. This included installing batteries and metal oxide carbon dioxide removal canisters inside the US EVA suits, and configuring and preparing EVA tools, tethers and systems. The following day prior to the spacewalk the EVA astronauts (Sunita Williams and Akihiko Hoshide) carried out standard pre-EVA procedures to remove nitrogen from their bodies prior to a spacewalk.
The EVA started at 13:29 (CET) on 1 November from the US Airlock and lasted 6 hours 37 min. The EVA astronauts installed a bypass to isolate the 2B Photovoltaic Thermal Control System radiator, which is suspected to leak ammonia. Subsequently, the ground commanded the successful deployment of the Trailing Thermal Control Radiator, which had been retracted during the relocation of the P6 truss section during the STS-120 mission in 2007. The EVA astronauts also inspected the port-side Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (one of the major joints which rotate the principal ISS solar arrays.
- Post EVA procedures
Standard procedures were undertaken after the EVA including reconfiguring communications equipment and downlinking EVA camera imagery. The day after the spacewalk these procedures continued with removal of the carbon dioxide absorption canisters and batteries from the EVA suits, dumping and filling EVA suit feedwater tanks, and scrubbing the EVA suit/system water lines for particulate matter.
Soyuz TMA-06M/32S, Expedition 33 Crew: Launch and Docking
Soyuz TMA-06M Launch and Docking
The remaining three members of the ISS Expedition 33 Crew were successfully launched in the Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft on flight 32S to the ISS on 23 October at 12:51 CEST (16:51 local time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Soyuz crew consisted of Soyuz Commander and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy and Roscosmos cosmonaut Evgeny Tarelkin both of whom will be Flight Engineers for ISS Expeditions 33 and 34 and NASA astronaut Kevin Ford who will be a Flight Engineer for ISS Expedition 33 and Commander of ISS Expedition 34. Following orbital insertion, Soyuz TMA antennas and solar arrays were deployed and various orbital burns were carried out over the following two days to bring the Soyuz in the vicinity of the ISS to begin docking procedures. Prior to Soyuz TMA-06M docking the ISS crew configured relevant communications and video equipment. The Soyuz spacecraft docked successfully with the Russian Poisk Module on 25 October at 13:29 (CET) bringing the crew of the ISS once again up to a total of six.
Soyuz TMA-06M/32S Post-docking Activities
ISS attitude control was handed back from Russian to US systems after docking. The standard leak check between the Soyuz and the ISS was carried out followed by hatch opening and the usual crew greeting. Quick disconnect clamps were installed by Novitskiy and Yuri Malenchenko at the interface between the Soyuz and the ISS to further stabilise the connection and the standard crew safety briefing followed. High-priority payloads were transferred from the Soyuz spacecraft to the ISS and systems were reconfigured to post-docking configuration. Novitskiy and Tarelkin set up the three Sokol spacesuits (worn in Soyuz) and their gloves for drying out, and the Soyuz spacecraft was deactivated. The new crew members then settled into their crew quarters on the ISS. Cargo transfers from Soyuz 32S started hereafter and continued over the next days along with general ISS orientation and handover activities for the new crew members. On 26 October Novitskiy installed local temperature sensor equipment in the newly arrived Soyuz spacecraft and removed television cameras from the Soyuz three days later (for reuse).
Progress 48P Activities
In addition to cargo transfer activities, ISS Flight Engineers and Roscosmos cosmonauts Yuri Malenchenko and Oleg Novitskiy carried out a vehicle-to-vehicle test of the Russian TORU manual docking system on the ISS between the Russian Service Module and Progress 48P on 26 October. The TORU system allows ISS crew control of the Progress spacecraft from the Russian Service Module should the automatic KURS systems on Progress fail.
Progress M-17M/49P Launch
Docking Preparations
Yuri Malenchenko and Oleg Novitskiy undertook a refresher training on the Russian TORU manual docking system on 30 October in preparation for Progress 49P docking. The TORU system acts as a manually controlled backup to the automatic Kurs docking system. The session included, rendezvous, fly-around, final approach, docking and off-nominal situations such as video or communications loss. The following day Evgeny Tarelkin set up three incubators/refrigerators in the Russian Service Module, Pirs Docking Module and Rassvet Module for receiving biotechnology experiments delivered on 49P.
Launch and Docking
The Russian Progress M-17M spacecraft on logistics flight 49P to the ISS was launched successfully from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on a Soyuz-U rocket on 31 October at 08:41 CET (13:35 local time,) with cargo consisting of 930 kg propellants, 50 kg oxygen and air, 420 kg water and 1240 kg dry cargo. The Russian Progress 49P spacecraft docked with the Station at the aft port of the Russian Service at 14:33 (CET) under automatic Kurs system control. This was the second time that a four-orbits-to-docking manoeuvre had been undertaken following launch, with the journey lasting only around six hours rather than the usual two days (or 34 orbits). The exercise is designed to test a shortened transit plan to the station for possible use on future Soyuz missions to the complex, possibly as early as the Soyuz 34S in March 2013. After docking ISS attitude control was returned first to Russian systems and then to US systems.
Post-Docking Activities
The standard leak check on the interhatch area and the fuel/oxidizer transfer line interface between Progress 49P and the Russian Service Module was performed on 1 November followed by hatch opening. Hereafter the quick disconnect clamps were installed to stabilise the connection between Progress and the Station, Progress 49P was deactivated and ventilation ducting was installed. The Progress docking mechanism was dismantled and air sampling was carried out in the new logistics spacecraft. Hereafter high priority payloads were transferred to the ISS. The day after docking temperature sensor equipment was installed in Progress 49P and cargo unloading activities continued.
On 31 October Yuri Malenchenko set up, tested and configured experiment hardware for the Russian/German KTP-21 Plasma Crystal-3 Plus (PK-3+) experiment in the Russian "Poisk" Mini Research Module 2. This included leak checking the hardware's electronics box vacuum chamber and testing the video downlink capabilities. On 2 November Malenchenko continued activities in advance of starting research runs. This included loading new software and undertaking a vacuum leak check on the plasma chamber of the PK-3+ hardware. The main objective of this experiment is to obtain a homogeneous plasma dust cloud at various pressures and particle quantities with or without superimposition of a low frequency harmonic electrical field. The PK-3+ experiment was also undertaken during the Astrolab mission with ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter.
Other Activities
Other activities that have taken place on the ISS in the two-week period until 2 November include: a fit check of Kazbek couches in Soyuz TMA-05M by Malenchenko, Hoshide and Williams; functional closure tests on vacuum valves of the Vozdukh carbon dioxide removal system; different forms of environmental monitoring (formaldehyde, air quality, carbon monoxide, ammonia etc); and swapping manifold bottles on the Combustion Integrated Rack.
(*)These activities are highlights of the past two weeks and do not include the majority of standard periodic operational/maintenance activities on the ISS or additional research activities not mentioned previously. Information compiled with the assistance of NASA sources.
Martin Zell
ESA Head of ISS Utilisation Department
Rosita Suenson
ESA Human Spaceflight Programme Communication Officer
Weekly reports compiled by ESA's ISS Utilisation Department.
Fill in your name and email address below to receive a notification when the latest status report is made available online.


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Sunday, 5 May 2013
Bad Cop
I can't remember the exact reason why I bought these mirrored sunglasses. I was looking at the Rayban aviator style and thought they looked pretty cool.
I tried on the Oakley (Plaintiff) version and found a pair on Yahoo Auctions. They set me back 13,500 yen, but they were much cheaper than new ones.
I wasn't expecting the delivery on a Sunday so when I failed to answer the door I found the undeliverable slip. While the Sagawa courier still do deliveries, their branches are actually closed. I ended up chasing down a delivery truck to get them to redeliver it. Hard to do when the guy didn't speak English.
He did manage to say "Star Wars" when he heard my R2-D2 sms ring though.
I'm quite liking these sunnies but I did find out a few days later that the screw on one of the arms had been overtightened and I couldn't adjust the arm's looseness.
Another teacher often wore his dark sunglasses even at night. (Now that's a classic song) I thought it was silly but sometimes lately I've been wearing these on the train, and I can see how some people feel uncomfortable, but I can see why the other guy does it.
It's nice having my own privacy even on a train, and for once I'm not the one feeling uncomfortable for being watched.
Posted by Jimmy In Japan at 1:59 am 0 comments
Saturday, 4 May 2013
Shinjuku Park
Shinjuku gyoen is a park MUCH closer to my house. You're probably wondering why I don't do my debauched drinking, and playing guitar there instead of Yoyogi Park?
I came here on this (Greenery) day, and since it was free today, I may as well see what I wasn't missing. Sure the Taiwanese pavilion is kind of nice. The greenhouse is kind of cool to all the geeky camera nerds with macro lenses. Oh, and you can't forget that rose garden. Unforgettable.
Their website amusingly states:
1. To bring items listed below.
2. To do the activities below.
3. Disrupting natural habitat such as:
4. Activities which may disrupt other visitors.
5. Impairing scenery.
6. Activities which disrupts the garden administration.
What they really mean is that all the fun things to do in a park are actually prohibited. On top of that the usual entry is 200 yen. No thanks. I'll do my getting drunk and making other visitors feel uncomfortable for free!
Ueno Zoo was also free today too so we did a two in one. SO many people. No chance to see the pandas again. Dang.
Posted by Jimmy In Japan at 11:59 pm 0 comments
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In contrast to Sony's unwieldy XT-100HD, the JVC KT-HDP1 is an elegant solution for bringing HD radio into the car. And with a sleek, ergonomic design, a bright (albeit monochrome) display, and straightforward control cluster, it has the added benefit of being compatible with any in-car stereo that has FM playback capabilities. The buttons on the JVC KT-HDP1 are clearly laid out and easy to operate while driving along. A row of hard buttons above the dot-matrix display give drivers the ability to select between three display configuration, change the current frequency band, adjust volume, and get one-touch access to the menu. A corresponding row of buttons of under the display gives drivers a means of toggling between six preset stations.
The JVC KT-HDP1's display can be set to show readouts in either a black-on-white or white-on-black color scheme. While listening to FM radio stations, the display can be set to show the frequency of the station in large numbers or a graphic showing real-time EQ levels. When the system is locked onto an HD Radio signal, the display shows information for station name, artist name, track name, and whatever other text information the individual station bundles with its digital signal. Pressing the display button can make the artist/song title appear in oversize letters that take up the entire screen. While this makes it easy to read song tags at a glance, the letters are so big that only five can fit on the screen at once, making it difficult to see what's playing without waiting the requisite 10 seconds for the big letters to starts scrolling across the screen.
Another minor gripe we have with the design of the JVC KT-HDP1 is the arrangement of its volume buttons, which live rather inconveniently in between the Menu and Band buttons, making them difficult to locate on the fly. Also, to turn the volume up or down using the device itself, drivers have to either hold down the "Vol +" or "Vol -" button for a long time (a feat that requires not a little dexterity, as the buttons are so small and inconspicuous) or push the required button up or down repeatedly. In our test of the JVC KT-HDP1, we found it far easier to use the volume dial on our Sony CDX-520 car stereo than to fiddle about with the hard buttons on the HD receiver.
In contrast to the kludgy interface for adjusting volume, the JVC KT-HDP1 does have a very useful four-way button cluster for HD and standard FM radio stations. For those who want to listen only to HD stations, the buttons at the top and bottom of the cluster set the tuner to search only for stations transmitting an HD signal. Those to the left and right search for any available FM/AM/HD signal radio station. In practice, we found this to be an ingeniously simple means of differentiating between HD and non-HD output. The button cluster is also used to navigate through the JVC KT-HDP1's menus for display options and audio tweaking.


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Thought I'd start a new thread with a "simplified as possible" list of tendencies. I've realized that without showing the whole game plan, it's hard to communicate the whole idea. Any tendency on its own doesn't have the power to "Always" be true, another tendency could be stronger etc. This is what has made finding a "by the ear" and a "unified" music theory elusive, and what makes labels inconsistent.
This is pretty deep stuff that has taken many years for me to click to. I've changed this list many times and it may still need changing. Please, if the aim of your response is respond with normal theory ideas don't bother. If that would've worked for me I wouldn't have spent all this time on a new theory. If however you've tested out some tendencies and want to give negative or positive feedback or have creative ideas towards things please respond.
The ear has a "Tendency" to want the labels on the right(in bold) to be the reference point, the "1".
Conditions - Thin Thick
- High Low
- Soft Loud
- Silence Sound
Connections - Disconnected Connected
- Random Repetition
- Far Close(in register or in time)
- Complex Simple(divisible)
Viewpoint or Tonality - How Conditions and Connections combine
- Weak Strong - is there a huge advantage one way or the other?
- Conflict Agreement - are the tendencies pointing towards the same note or place in time?
- Risky(Strong and Conflicted) Safe(Weak and Agreeing) - Hard to tell, I still haven't figured out its tendency, maybe it doesn't have one.
- Ambiguous(Weak and Conflicted) Obvious(Strong and Agreeing)
- Symmetric Bright
- Ambiguous Risky (Both Conflicted, but Risky is Strong)
- Symmetric Dark
- Safe Obvious ( Both Agreeing, but Obvious is Strong)
- Extended Key
- Risky Obvious (Both Strong , but Obvious is Agreeing)
- Dark Bright
Lets use an analogy of we're in a small boat trying to get to land.
Close means that the land is close
Simple means that the path is clear
Strong means that we can paddle fast.
Agreement means that the current is headed in the direction I want.
Risky means that the current is going against us, but we are strong enough to make it.
Safe means that we're too weak to fight the current, but it's at least going to land somewhere.
Ambiguous means that either I'm fighting the current but not getting anywhere, or there's no current to fight but I'm so weak I can't paddle.
Obvious means that I'm in luck, I'm can paddle fast and the current is headed in the direction I want.
Examples with intervals and numbers:
- Close - Half Step, Whole Step
- Simple -Octaves, The low note in a P5, The high note in a P4
- Ambiguous(intervals only) - TT, +, P4, min6, m2
- Safe(intervals only) - min3rd, whole step
- Risky(numbers) - b6, 4, b2
- Obvious (numbers) - 3, 5 ,7
Examples with Rhythms:
- Close - Grace note, two 16th notes (as opposed to whole notes), The & of 4 in 4/4
- Simple - 2/4, 4/4
- Ambiguous - Free time
- Safe - Quick constant time
- Risky - Duplets in 3/4
- Obvious - 1 (2)& 4 1 for 4/4
Strategies, like "Balanced" are great to know, but the tendencies actually give a reason "why" balancing happens. Like if everything is Obvious then nothing is Obvious(example stacked 5ths).
As soon as we think we've found the answer for everything, the goal changes.
Notice that we're not trying to describe how to make "good" sounding music. All we're trying to do is match the way we think what the "1" is, to how the ear really chooses a "1".


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HOUSTON – The disciplinary fallout from Friday's 2-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders continued Friday when Adam Moffat was handed a one-game suspension by the MLS Disciplinary Committee two days after Colin Clark received a three-game suspension from the same match.
A review of Moffat's challenge on Sounders midfielder Osvaldo Alonso in the 35th minute prompted the committee to take action. The Scottish-born midfielder slid in, and while he got ball, cleeted Alonso in the shin.
WATCH: Moffat's challenge on Alonso
The play drew a yellow from match referee Baldomero Toledo, but the league's disciplinary committee ruled the challenge deserved a stiffer penalty that will rule Moffat out for Houston's next match against the Chicago Fire on April 15.
"I've looked at it again and it looks bad and it looks way worse than I thought it did," Moffat told the media about the tackle that he protested vehemently when it happened. "At the time, I was a bit surprised it was a free kick to be honest. Seeing the replay, it was unfortunate my foot went over the ball … and they looked at it and gave me a suspension for that."
Moffat's suspension is an example of the stance MLS has taken regarding dangerous play and tackles the committee deems to be reckless.
It is something Bobby Boswell noted the league will be doing more of in 2012.
"[The Players' Union] had talks in preseason and they said they were going to look at plays and adjust accordingly, and it looks like they've done that in Adam's case," said Boswell, who is the club's union representative. "I'm not sure what the ruling on the Fernandez thing is … But as a player, there's not much you can do and you just try and play the game, play it the right way."
The loss of Moffat, combined with the loss of Clark, means the Dynamo's midfield will be very thin heading into their next match in two weeks. With the disappointment of being without two starters comes opportunity for others to take up the cause, according to head coach Dominic Kinnear.
"They talked about it before the season that they were going to take these actions and while I don't necessarily agree with the decision, there's nothing we can do about it," Kinnear said. "Nathan Sturgis has played in midfield and Alex Dixon has looked good and we have Je-Vaughn [Watson]. Luiz [Camargo] is coming back and we have Brian Ownby so those are names that pop to mind."
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com and can be reached for comment at email@example.com.


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Reiki is an alternative healing art focusing on balancing human energy fields. The word Reiki comes from the Japanese words Rei (Meaning spirit) and Ki (Meaning energy) There are several forms of Reiki, however the most common are Usui and Kundalini. Of these, Usui Reiki is the oldest school of thought.
A uniting factor is that practitioners are able to run energy and therefore practice Reiki immediately after being attuned by a Reiki Master. Attunements consist of a ceremony in which the main energy line is reopened by the use of several symbols. Due to fear of misuse of energy by others, Reiki Masters tend to keep the exact method of attuning secret.
Usui Reiki
In this form there are three levels of practitioners. The highest is the Reiki Master who traditionally attunes others, gives the most powerful treatments and has received all of the known Reiki symbols. Below Master there is Reiki II, who has some of the symbols and is capable of treating others from a distance. The lowest level is Reiki I. Unlike the higher levels, Reiki I practitioners have to physically touch someone in order to run energy.
Usui Reiki is believed to have been founded by Mikao Usui, a Buddhist monk from Japan sometime in the mid 1800s. Due to a lack of records, this is the only certain fact about the history of Reiki. Much has been shrouded in mystery by early Reiki Masters.
Ever since the death of the self-proclaimed Grand Master, leadership has been a source of controversy with several people claiming power.
See also
- Qi and Tai Chi
- Herbert Benson
- Yoga


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The UFC can promote Alistair Overeem and Nick Diaz for bouts next year "as long as Zuffa makes quite clear that there's an added piece to that puzzle," NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
In Overeem's case, that means getting a license to fight in Nevada. For Diaz, it's scheduling him after his suspension ends.
The star fighters have been benched for much of 2012 as they wait out respective administrative actions handed down by the NSAC.
UFC President Dana White on Saturday told reporters that the NSAC approved booking Overeem for a bout with Antonio Silva at UFC 156, which takes place Feb. 2 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
"But he's still got to go before the commission, and it still doesn't mean the outcome could be good," White said. "But I think that Alistair has been doing the right thing, as far as the commission is concerned, and doing all the things that he needs to do to get back in their good graces. It's looking positive and optimistic."
The executive said the picture with Diaz isn't as rosy. Asked whether the UFC could promote a bout with Diaz, he said, "Nope."
Kizer, however, said that the commission doesn't have an issue with booking Diaz as long as the fight isn't within the term of his suspension.
"As long as the fight was after the suspension ended, there wouldn't be a problem with that," he said. "But obviously a fighter fighting while on suspension somewhere else, I wouldn't approve the fight."
Overeem's case is slightly different. Kizer noted that an unlicensed fighter usually can be granted one administratively, as is expected to be the case for a UFC 156 bout between featherweight champ Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar. Fighters competing in 2013 can apply for a license beginning on Dec. 1. But since the heavyweight was recently the subject of administrative action, he must appear before the commission before being granted another.
Hence, the added piece to the puzzle.
In April, the NSAC denied Overeem a license to compete in Nevada, citing a pre-fight drug screen that revealed an illegal testosterone-to-epitestosterone (T/E) of 14-to-1. The ruling precluded him from re-applying in Nevada until Dec. 27 and required him to appear before the commission before being granted a license. He was scheduled to fight champ Junior Dos Santos for the heavyweight title at UFC 146 in May.
Overeem told the commission his elevated levels of testosterone were caused by a doctor-administered injection that unknowingly contained the hormone. He later announced he would undergo voluntary drug testing to prove himself a clean fighter.
The NSAC fined and suspended Diaz one year for a second marijuana offense. Diaz failed a post-fight screen following a loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143. Five years earlier, he tested positive for marijuana following a win over Takanori Gomi at PRIDE 33, which took place in Las Vegas.
An attempt to drop pending administrative action against Diaz failed. Diaz's camp is currently seeking to overturn the second suspension, arguing that the marijuana metabolites he was flagged for aren't illegal.
For more on UFC 156, as well as the rest of the UFC's upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.
(Pictured: Alistair Overeem)


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Skip to 0 minutes and 5 seconds Frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, is one of the causes of dementia. So people often equate dementia with Alzheimer's disease, but in fact, there are many, many different causes, some of which are neurodegenerative, where brain cells die for a number of reasons, genetic or otherwise, that often we don't know the cause of. Alzheimer's disease is the most common, accounting for the vast proportion, more than 50%, 60% of people in the over 65 age bracket. In the under 65, a number of less common causes are relatively more important, in numerical terms. And frontotemporal dementia is probably the second most common cause of dementia in the under 65s. Pick's disease is a term that is often used for frontotemporal dementia.
Skip to 1 minute and 0 seconds Pick described frontotemporal dementia in the 1900s, and so it acquired his name. But over the years, it's become known more as frontotemporal dementia. So we tend to use those terms interchangeably. So Pick's disease equals frontotemporal dementia. But nowadays, we've gone on to start using the term frontotemporal dementia. It's called frontotemporal dementia because of the frontal and temporal lobes. They're the two lobes of the brain right at the front, and they control some specific functions. So they control behaviour and also language. So those are the two main problems that we see in people with FTD, so either presenting with a change in their behaviour, a change in their personality, or on the other hand, a change in their language.
Skip to 1 minute and 47 seconds BVFTD, or behavioural variant FTD, got a number of different names, sometimes called the frontal variant of FTD, because it's thought to affect right at the very front part of the brain. So in that particular condition, there tends to be a very slowly progressive change in personality or the development of behavioural symptoms.
What is behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia?
Prof. Nick Fox gives an overview of frontotemporal dementia and Dr Jon Rohrer explains where the name for the syndrome came from, before introducing the behavioural variant.
Frontotemporal dementia includes a number of overlapping syndromes:
Behavioural variant FTD affects the very front part of the brain and involves a change in personality or the development of behavioural symptoms.
Primary progressive aphasias are forms of FTD in which the temporal lobes and language are most affected. A number of different types of language impairment are recognised as different forms of primary progressive aphasia:
- Semantic dementia
- Progressive non-fluent aphasia
- Logopenic aphasia
Most of this week focuses on the behavioural variant of FTD, but we also look at some of the language changes later on in the week.


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According to mythology, this is the island of Artemis (Diana), the goddess of forests and hunting. It is ideal for peaceful vacation, while you will be amazed by its impressive architecture, clean coasts and the imposing castle of Panaghia, on Apitiki hill. The picture is completed with the hidden bays, hills, pine-trees forests, olive groves, and the law plain areas full of water springs. The history of the island is dating from Neolithic times. During antiquity, it was part of the ionic area, while during Palaeochristian period (5th – 7th cent.) several settlements were built on the island's coast. From 1309 until 1522 the island passed under the Knights' -and subsequently- the Turkish rule. The period of Italian occupation began in 1912. The Italians exploited the strategic location of the island along with its natural harbor. Leros was finally united with Greece in 1948, while during Civil War and dictatorship (1967-1974) it was used as an exile destination. The island extends over a surface of 54 km2, its coastline is 71 km long and it has 8,500 inhabitants. It can be reached by ferry from Piraeus Port, the islands of northern and eastern Aegean and several Dodecanese islands or by airplane from the Athens International Airport, «Eleftherios Venizelos».
Visitgreece.gr is the official tourism web site for Greece, run by the Greek National Tourism Organisation, where you'll find information on the main tourist destinations, such as cities, beaches, as well as activities, events and much more!
All content included on this site consists intellectual property of GNTO and you are not allowed to reproduce the whole or part of this work in any way.
For information please contact: firstname.lastname@example.com. All Rights Reserved. GNTO © 2020.


text:
Striving to meet our neighbours needs...
We invite you to The Dunbar Public House...
Slip into this friendly neighbourhood restaurant and enjoy watching a televised game as you sip on the freshest beer selections on tap, indulge in high quality, fresh lunch and dinner fare or enjoy a weekend brunch on our patio.
Out daily specials can be found here or peruse our daily menus here.
Call us today to make a reservation or book your next private event.
Open Daily 11:00am to 1:30am (except Sun. till midnight)
4497 Dunbar Street
Vancouver, BC
"I love going to hang out at the best place in Dunbar."


text:
TSA screening is never fun for anyone, but one 84-year-old grandmother claims she had an especially bad experience. Lenore Zimmerman, of Long Island, was flying to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, when she says she was strip searched by TSA agents at JFK Airport.
It all started when Zimmerman asked not to be put through the imaging equipment because she was worried it would interfere with her heart. (She has a defibrillator.) So she was instead taken into a private screening room, where according to Zimmerman, an agent "pulled my pants down and then pulled down my underwear." She also says she was injured when she hit her shin and started bleeding "like a pig." There is security camera footage of Zimmerman being taken into a private screening room, but no recording was made of the search itself.
Even though Zimmerman doesn't seem like much of a threat, it's perfectly reasonable for agents to take her aside and search her—though strip searching obviously seems like a very extreme and inappropriate step. Despite Zimmerman's furious accusations, the TSA has denied her version of the events, issuing this statement:
While we regret that the passenger feels she had an unpleasant screening experience, TSA does not include strip searches as part of our security protocols and one was not conducted in this case.
Zimmerman, who is now resting comfortably in her winter home in Florida, isn't buying that claim for one second: "They're lying to protect their a— because they're afraid of being sued—and they will be sued." Meanwhile, she doesn't have plans to travel again until she returns to New York in April, and that's a relief to her: "Thank goodness. It will give me some time to brace myself for the return flight."
84-Year-Old Grandmother Says She Was Strip Searched At JFK [USA Today]
Lenore Zimmerman Outraged As TSA Denies It Strip-Searched The 85-Year-Old Long Island Grandmother [NY Daily News]


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The Dark Tower may have cast its gunslinging star. One of sci-fi's most promising young directors could take over on The Wolverine. Plus even more tantalizing Doctor Who hints, Andy Serkis explains his expanded role for The Hobbit, and more!
Spoilers ahead!
Top image from Captain America.
The Dark Tower
Javier Bardem is reportedly in the very final stages of negotiations to play gunslinger Roland Deschain in Ron Howard's adaptation of the Stephen King saga. His contract is reportedly one of the most complex in Hollywood history, as it calls for him to appear in all three of the movies plus the prequel TV miniseries. As always, we suggest remaining reasonably skeptical until we hear something official. [Deadline]
William Fitchner, who has made a career out of playing unnerving badasses in everything from Prison Break to Drive Angry to The Dark Knight, is reportedly in final talks for a role in District 9 director Neill Blomkamp's next movie. The already awesome cast includes Jodie Foster, Matt Damon, Sharlto Copley, and Wagner Moura, star of the Brazilian blockbuster series Elite Squad. [Variety]
Captain America
The film is reportedly doing some reshoots in Los Angeles - which may or may not include the filming of Stan Lee's cameo. [On Location Vacations]
The Wolverine
Fox reportedly has two main contenders to take over for Darren Aronofsky. The first is reportedly 30 Days of Night and Twilight: Eclipse director David Slade, which shouldn't really come as a surprise — he was reportedly the runner-up last time around, and Fox just named him as director of its Daredevil reboot. The second is rather more intriguing: Moon and Source Code director Duncan Jones. As consolation prizes for Darren Aronofsky go, you could do an awful lot worse. Of course, consider this all rumor and speculation until we hear something official. [Deadline]
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
The James Franco starring prequel, once just called Rise of the Apes, has received a new, slightly wordier title that brings in line with all the previous titles in the series. [/Comic Book Movie]
The Hobbit
Andy Serkis has revealed that, in addition to his Gollum duties, he will be working as a second unit director on the film:
"I think I understand Peter's sensibility and we have a common history of understanding Middle Earth. A lot of the crew from The Lord of the Rings was returning to work on The Hobbit. There is really a sense of Peter wanting people around him who totally understand the material and the work ethic. [It] encompasses a lot of directing aspects of filmmaking and story. Yes, there is some performance capture, but I will be very much on the live action sets and locations helping Peter to tell the story."
Serkis also says that 3D will be used "dramatically, to give a point of view." [Heat Vision]
Producer Mark Canton provided this overview of Tarsem Singh's latest:
The story is basically about Theseus. The Gods recognize that there's a bow that is very powerful that was embedded in stone and hidden for years. The rules are such that the Gods can not interfere with man's free will and journey. They can mentor, but they can't do their work for them. Basically, what happens, Mickey [Rourke] and his Hyperion army go after the bow. Mickey is a descendant of the Titans, who have been trapped underground for eons. The Gods recognize that, if Mickey gets this bow, all Hell is going to break loose. Theseus has the stuff to rise up, but he doesn't have the faith. The story is one about finding your free will and your faith. About finding that the greater good matters as opposed to not rising up to the occasion. It's basically the story of him becoming a hero and badass warrior in the battle between good and evil. I'm not going to give you the ending, but it's very cool.
There's more at the link. [ComingSoon.net]
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Lars and the Real Girl director Craig Gillepsie is reportedly about to sign on to direct the troubled project, which has already seen the departures of previous directors David O. Russell and Mike White. [Deadline]
Doctor Who
Time for another round-up of all the masses of Doctor Who information. First up, we now have the titles for all of the first seven episodes. Steve Thompson's pirates episode is called "The Curse of the Black Spot", while the second part of Matthew Graham's two-parter, previously thought to be "Gangers", now has the official title "The Almost People." So then, the first half of the season is now locked in as "The Impossible Astronaut" and "The Day of the Moon" by Steven Moffat, "The Curse of the Black Spot" by Steve Thompson, "The Doctor's Wife" by Neil Gaiman, "The Rebel Flesh" and "The Almost People" by Matthew Graham, and "A Good Man Goes To War" by Steven Moffat. [Doctor Who News Page]
Metro offers "six spoilers that aren't really spoilers", although they are quite helpful in clarifying what isn't happening in the opening two-parter. First, whatever is in those spacesuits, it's not the Apollo astronauts, as there are no possessed astronauts in the episode at all. The strange markings on River and Amy's arms were actually the characters' own doing, and the reasons why are disturbing. Also, Matt Smith is naked in the first scene, Richard Nixon is portrayed quite positively, fish fingers and custard get referenced at a crucial moment, and there's a moment involving the TARDIS swimming pool that "might just be the greatest visual gag in the entire history of the show." Which, considering what happened the last time we saw the TARDIS swimming pool in "The Invasion of Time", sounds entirely possible. [Metro]
Not to be outdone, SFX magazine offers thirty teasers for the opening two-parter. We couldn't possibly include them all, but here are a few of the most interesting ones:
* The monsters (whose mere name would be a spoiler) are brilliant, with a truly chilling MO. They should rate up there with the Weeping Angels as one of the new series' greatest creations. They look great, but it's the idea behind them that is truly chilling
* The Doctor dances… with some unexpected film stars
* It's very, very dark and spooky at times. Wait till you see the scene in the Whitehouse toilets…
* There is the startling return of a familiar special effect… twice
* There is the curious return of a familiar prop
* There's lots of timey whimey stuff, and not just in terms of the science fiction – more so, we're referring to some of the storytelling techniques involved, with lots of flashbacks, sudden jumps and montages
* You may suffer from revelation fatigue by the end of it. And a lot of things – perhaps a couple too many – are not wrapped up in the story itself, but are ongoing mysteries to be sorted out later.
* The final, final, final scene, though, will ensure you'll carry on tuning in to find out what happens next… or maybe in the story after next. Or maybe next season…
Check out the link for the full list. [SFX]
Neil Gaiman talked some more about "The Doctor's Wife", confirming that Michael Sheen is indeed playing "a mysterious baddie called The House." He mentioned that the first cut was 56 minutes long and a ton had to be cut out to get it to 43 minutes. This particularly affected two characters:
"Uncle and Auntie played Adrian Schiller and Elizabethe Berrington, they were wonderful, they were so funny, they were so brilliant, they had all this great stuff and it's not really there anymore. There's a flavor of it and you can get to see it but their scenes wound up going because other stuff was more important. But there's no sense that you're going to walk away from the episode going, 'Ah, I wish with had more Uncle and Auntie stuff,' you walk away going, I hope, 'What a great episode!'"
He also mentioned that this will quite possibly be his only time writing for Doctor Who because his schedule is so busy, so he decided to make the most of the opportunity:
"I was very determined that if I was going to write an episode of Doctor Who, it was going to have everything in it. So it's funny and it's scary and it's exciting and it's heartbreaking and it has running down corridors and there are places where I kind of hope that it may add to the giant Doctor Who mythos because you always want to leave something nice behind you. But really what it is is just, you know, somebody who's just always wanted to write an episode of Doctor Who, just writing an episode of Doctor Who and being indulged by the BBC in this folly."
There's more at the link. [Newsarama]
Torchwood: Miracle Day
Here's an interview promoting the series with stars John Barrowman and Bill Pullman. [Doctor Who News Page]
The Walking Dead
Robert Kirkman says nothing is official yet, but he hopes to write more than one episode next season. He also says he and showrunner Frank Darabont have discussed longterm plans for the show:
"There are different ideas that Frank had for different episodes from the beginning of the first season. He has ideas for the third season. We talk about the third and fourth season a lot in the writers' room, which haven't been picked up by AMC, but we have high hopes. So there is a lot of longterm planning. Anything that we couldn't quite fit into the first season will just kind of happen in the [second] season."
He also discussed how they plan to push the boundaries of what's acceptable on TV this season:
"I worry that we are getting a little too like, 'Oh, yeah. They [AMC] will let us do anything,' just because they have been so accommodating. It's really kind of shocking, but I think it's a testament to how successful the show has been that they have been willing go to that extra mile. They are allowing a zombie show to be a zombie show. They are not pulling punches at all, and I think that is a big part of its success. People who like zombie movies can sit down and watch this, and not feel like they are getting a light version of a zombie movie. We plan to stretch those boundaries to the test on the second season."
Game of Thrones
Episodes nine and ten are reportedly called "Baelor" and "Fire and Blood." [SpoilerTV]
Here are some promo photos for episode 18, "Frontierland." [SpoilerTV]
And here's a description for episode 19, "Mommie Dearest":
AM AND DEAN MEET EVE —- Sam (Jared Padalecki), Dean (Jensen Ackles), Bobby (Jim Beaver) and Castiel (Misha Collins) track Eve (guest star Julia Maxwell) to a small town in Oregon. The guys discover the townspeople have been converted to demons, but surprisingly, they all appear to be dying. When they finally do meet Eve, she decides to torture the brothers by bringing back their mother, Mary Winchester (guest star Samantha Smith), as a demon.
Stargate Universe
Here's a sneak peek at next week's episode, "The Hunt", courtesy of Syfy.
Allison Mack dropped some very cryptic clues about what will happen to Chloe in the two-part finale:
It was really amazing, it was emotional and loving and sweet and nostalgic. It's ending in a way that I think is very honorable given that we've been around for 10 years. So it was really sweet...I don't want to give anything away, but I think she ends in a very healthy and levelheaded way. I think that the writers have respected my character for such a long time, and she goes out with the same affection she came in with. I'm really proud of it.
[TV Guide]
Here's a description for episode 21, "Dominion", featuring the return of Zod:
Tess (Cassidy Freeman) learns that General Slade was found unconscious on a street corner, proof that someone has gained access to the Phantom Zone's escape portal and sent him back. Clark (Tom Welling) decides to return to the exiled land to make sure other phantoms are not fleeing and is furious when Oliver (Justin Hartley) tricks Clark into taking him along. With Clark's powers gone, the two are immediately captured by the Zoners who take them to their new leader, Zod (Callum Blue), who is thirsting for revenge on Clark for banishing him to this Kryptonian jail.. Meanwhile, Lois (Erica Durance) learns Clark trusted Tess with a secret, but didn't tell Lois.
Additional reporting by Gordon Jackson and Charlie Jane Anders.


text:
Getting more selling into the close… the DOW did break that orange triangle bottom, but the SPX is coming up on the same formation at about 875ish…
If that doesn't hold, then I get more bearish...
October 24 COVID-19 Test Results
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Focused on Real & Knowable facts that filter through the "experts" fluff and media hyperbole. Where we've been, what the future may hold and developing a better way forward.