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Anime can be confusing to those who haven't experienced much of it, with its tropes and terminology. If you're interested in anime but, don't know where to start, we at AniTAY have made this Beginner's Guide to Anime, trying to provide a one-stop shop to familiarize yourself with the ins and outs, vocabulary, and genres of anime to try to explain what anime is like.
What is Anime?
Anime — pronounced "ah-knee-may" — is an abbreviation of the word animation. In Japan, the word's used to refer to all animation, but outside of Japan, it's become the catch-all term for animation from Japan, due to the differences Anime has with other shows. From the flashy colors to differences in storytelling, it's rather unique, and that uniqueness draws many people in. Also, Anime consists of mostly TV shows, with a handful of notable films.
What Is Ani-TAY?
For those of you visiting for the first time (or not, like we know) and wondering just what exactly you're looking at right now, here's a document explaining our blog and wonderful community.
Why should I care?
Anime is a vast medium, with all the genres that you're innately familiar with, plus a bunch more unique to Japan. Even a brief dive into it can show you that there's a lot more to see than just cute girls and gallons of blood. Due to japan's unique structure in regards to planning shows and general creativity, anime can be a great watch. Anime is concise, usually consisting of 13-26 episode shows, meaning that they are more focused in comparison to American TV shows, leading to engaging stories. Because anime is not real life they can be much more creative with how things look, pushing the boundaries in motion pictures like any of Satoshi Kon's movies. Anime, due to it's popularity and quality, can be rather influential, so if you wanted to see the inspiration for some great movies like the Matrix, anime is the place to look.
How can I Watch Anime?
In the past, being able to watch anime was an issue due to the media at the time and how niche the medium was as a whole. Thanks to improvements in technology, the rising popularity of anime, and internet streaming coming into mainstream awareness, there are many ways to now conveniently and legally view anime. There are many streaming platforms you can use to easily watch anime for free; here are the most commonly used streaming platforms for anime:
North America: Crunchyroll, Hulu, Funimation, Netflix, Daisuki,
EU: Crunchyroll, Netflix (UK), Daisuki, Viewster (UK)
If you live in a different region, you'll have a much harder time trying to get legal content, as Daisuki is the only major non-region locked player. You can use proxies/VPNs to get content from one of the supported regions, but you're on your own there.
If you want to obtain anime physically, the easiest way would be to go to the publisher's site itself, or at retailers like Amazon and Rightstuf. Finally, there's always some shows and films that never make it over here and/or run out of print, such as the second half of Higurashi or Evangelion, so if you can't find them anywhere legally, don't feel too bad about using "other" sources. There is almost always multiple other ways you can support something if you feel obligated to pay in some fashion for all the hard work that was put into it.
Terms used in Anime Talk
Main Terms:
- Anime - In Japan, it's anything and everything animated, no matter its origin; within the fandom however, it's mostly used to refer to Japanese animation in particular.
- Manga - The Japanese equivalent of Comics and Graphic Novels.
- Light Novel - A style of Japanese Novel that is often serialized in short volumes, and often contain some illustrations. Usually written for the Young Adult audience.
- Visual Novel - A style of literature "played" on computers and video game consoles. They use graphics, text, and sound to tell a story. Outside of dialogue choices, they generally feature minimal to no gameplay. Similar to "Chose your own Adventure" type games.
- OVA - (Original Video Animation) Content that is usually extra material for a show after it's done, or a one off show that isn't released theatrically or on TV.
- ONA - (Original Net Animation) Content that is usually a short-form series; experimentation is seen much more often than in regular length shows
- AMV/MAD - (Anime Music Video/Music Anime Douga) Music Videos showcasing scenes of one or multiple shows with music in the backdrop.
- Sub - The subtitle track of an anime, though watching the show subbed refers to watching it with the original (usually japanese) audio along with (insert language here) subtitles.
- Dub - The audio track of an anime, though watching the show dubbed refers to watching it with alternate (usually English) audio.
- Fansub - A subtitling effort made by an individual or group that is not associated with the company that made the show or their overseas licensing company (if one exists in the first place).
- OP - The opening credits of a show, sometimes referring to the song that is playing during it.
- ED - The ending credits of a show, sometimes referring to the song that is playing during it.
- All Drawn - An anime that uses entirely hand-drawn frames (ex. The Rose of Versailles)
- All CG - An anime that uses entirely computer generated animation (ex. Appleseed)
- Mix- Anime that uses a combination of hand-drawn and CG frames. You'll find this in most shows post-1990s
Time Related Terms:
- Season (time period) - Anime viewing seasons are the generally accepted timeframe when an anime originally airs on TV in Japan. There are 4 seasons and they correspond to the actual seasons (ie. the "winter season" of anime airs from January through March).
- Season (of a show) - The season of a show is the marking of one continuous production cycle of a show, and is, generally speaking, marked by a stop in the airing of a show.
- Cours - A cour is a length of anime equal to that of a viewing season (roughly 11-13 episodes). Therefore a show which runs in both Winter and Spring would be considered to have run for two cours.
- Split Cour - A newer development in anime where shows conceived of as two cour shows are aired with a one cour length gap between the first and second cours.
- Examples: 1) Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood doesn't have any seasons per say, but it is made up of 5 cours; 2) Code Geass is split into two 24 episode seasons, and each season has two cours; 3) Tokyo Ghoul was a split cour show, with the first season airing in summer with the second in the following winter.
Demographic Terms used for Anime/Manga:
- Kodomo - Anime/Manga aimed towards young children
- Shounen - Anime/Manga aimed towards male teens
- Seinen - Anime/Manga aimed towards mature males
- Shoujo - Anime/Manga aimed towards female teens
- Josei - Anime/Manga aimed towards mature females
Commonly used Honorifics and Titles:
- Sensei - Commonly used to refer to teachers, but can also be used for doctors or anyone the speaker considers a deeply respected mentor.
- Hakase - Professor, or someone with a high degree of academic expertise.
- Senpai - Used by a junior student, colleague, or member of a group to address their senior.
- Kōhai - Used by a senior student, colleague, or member of a group to address their junior.
- Onii-san/Nii-san/Ani/Aniki - All words for older brothers or older brother figures. In anime, you hear this a lot when a young character is addressing an older friend, asibling's friend, or young man that is older than the speaker.
- Onee-san/Nee-san/Ane - Words to refer to an older sister or sister figure. Also used for people like nurses.
- Otouto - Younger brother. There is no shortened version so you will usually just hear characters address their little brothers/brother figures as "(name)-kun".
- Imouto - Younger sister; This term gets a lot more mileage than otouto, though it also has no shortened version and younger sisters will often be referred to by "(name)-chan". You will also hear it used to refer to a character type: the adorable younger girl who can easily fit into a sisterly role.
- Otousan/Tou-san/Chichi/Chichioya - Words to refer to a father. The last two are only used to refer to one's own father.
- Okaa-san/Kaa-san/Haha/Gahaoya - Words to refer to a mother. The last two are only used to refer to one's own mother.
- -chan - A diminutive suffix most commonly used with young girls and women, though you sometimes hear characters use it with close male (especially younger) friends.
- -kun - A basic honorific for people of junior status (like a boss to his employee); also used commonly among friends. You're most likely to hear this used on young, male characters.
- -san - Your basic honorific, roughly equivalent to "Mr./Ms." When you don't have a close relationship with someone or they have no formal title, this is the way to go.
- -dono/tono - An honorific meaning roughly "milord/milady." It does not indicate a formal title and is often used in a joking manner or by a character with speech affectations.
- -sama - The most respectful of the basic honorifics, used for people of extremely high status, lords, deities, etc. Sometimes used sarcastically to mock an arrogant person.
Common Character Archetypes:
- Deredere - Someone that is openly loving and caring of others.
- Tsundere - Someone that is usually seen as aggressive, but also has a loving side.
- Kuudere - Someone that is usually seen as emotionless, but also has a loving side.
- Dandere - Someone that is usually seen as shy, but will open up under the right circumstances.
- Yandere - Someone that is so loving that they are willing to resort to violence to keep their beloved from others.
- Waifu/Husbando - A female or male character that an anime fan is emotionally attached to above other characters. It usually implies more of a crush relationship (whether joking or serious) than simply having a favorite character. Just remember: more than one waifu will destroy your laifu.
- Moe - A term you will hear a lot in the anime community. Oftentimes, it's not given a satisfying explanation, but we have a pretty comprehensive one here:
- (n) An emotion or experience of finding something overwhelmingly cute, pathetic, or touching, usually in a way that sparks an intense, protective urge. This commonly refers to cute female characters but can extend to animals, elderly characters, real people, or anything that triggers the emotional response.(adj.) a character, person, thing, or behavior that triggers the moe feeling. Note: many people think moe refers to an art style that is created with the aim to cause said emotional response, but this is a common misconception. While cutely stylized character designs can certainly be moe, moe is not in and of itself an art style.
- Otaku - A Japanese term for someone with an obsessive special interest (e.g.. military otaku), but mostly used to describe anime and manga fans and the subculture associated with them. The current usage can be traced to a 1983 essay by Akio Nakamori. The term used to, and to a degree still is, quite derogatory in Japan, though Western fans embrace the label more positively. Etymologically speaking, otaku (お宅)was originally an honorific term for someone's household. Thus, it's very possible that it was chosen as a word for obsessive people because of the connotation of being "inside," or shut in. Because anime and manga fans would sometimes use this obsolete word, indicating social awkwardness, Nakamori used it to label the subculture of people. Nevertheless, it's a useful and distinctive term for the community of fans like you who are interested in anime, manga, visual novels, and more. One should still be aware that the term has negative stigma attached to it in Japan, and this nuance is hard to translate. To understand the stigma in English terms, think of an amalgamation of "hardcore nerd" and "awkward shut-in."
- Harem - A trope characterized by a protagonist surrounded by three or more members of the opposite sex who are usually love interests. Harem usually refers to a male protagonist with female love interests, while stuff with females with male love interests are referred to as reverse harems. Occurs in manga, VNs, and LNs as well.
- Kawaii - The short version: it's Japanese for "cute". The long version: the word "kawaii" comes from an older Japanese term that meant "pathetic" or "poor thing," so this history distinguished the modern word from our Western idea of "cute". The idea of kawaii is closely related to moe, but it's sort of a square-rectangle situation. Most moe things happen to be kawaii, but not all kawaii things are moe. Kawaii is also more widely applicable and not expressly associated with an emotional reaction.
- Genki - A Japanese word that means healthy, lively, in good spirits, etc. In anime lingo, it usually refers to a character who is hyper and whose main characteristic is over-the-top enthusiasm.
- Baka - A Japanese insult and favorite of temperamental female characters that means idiot, stupid, dolt, etc.
- Chibi/Super-deformed - A stylistic term referring to characters with small but exaggerated proportions - usually with smaller bodies, large heads and eyes, and an overall "mini" look. It can refer to overall character design or just the style of one episode, scene, etc.
- Loli - A preadolescent female character. A "lolicon" (from Lolita Complex) refers to a person or character with an attraction to these preadolescent girls. Also refers to a genre of media depicting young characters with erotic undertones.
- Shota - The male equivalent of Loli.
If there's any that we missed and you want to learn about, Anime News Network's Encyclopedia of Lexicon should have it, or make a comment below and we'll update the article.
Starter Recommendations
Now here we are at the meat of this guide. We have quite a few recommendations broken into genres, so just scroll to the ones you are interested in, or read them all if you're so inclined. We will be giving out one main recommendation per genre, along with some extra recommendations below if you're looking for more.
Shounen - Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood & '03
Plot Summary: Edward and Alphonse Elric were both young boys when their father left without a word one night, and when their mother fell ill and died shortly afterward. Driven by grief, the boys turn to alchemy, a magical art which allows one to create or destroy given that as much energy is put in as is put out. After a few months of training, they attempt to resurrect her, only to end with horrific results. A dark void opens and takes Edward's left leg, and Alphonse whole. Horrified by the loss, Ed quickly sacrifices his right arm for his brother's soul, and binds it to a large suit of armor. Now three years later Ed (now with a mechanical leg and arm) and Al have joined the State Alchemists sect of the army in order to conduct searches for the Philosopher's Stone to restore their bodies.
Why this Rocks: While it's our second largest main recommendation on this guide at 64 episodes and 4 OVA side-stories, FMA:B (as it's shorthanded) is a very engaging nonstop-ride all the way with great music, visuals, and themes. Other than the first episode, which is more of a teaser than anything, there is no filler to be seen here. Even the OVAs, which normally amount to nothing in other shows, do a great job here in fleshing out the characters and should be seen sometime during rather than after the series. As of its relation to FMA '03, Brotherhood follows the source material much closer than '03 as it came out right at the tail end of the manga's release. '03 came out very early during the release of the manga, so it spends more time adapting the initial volumes until it threads its own path around 20 episodes in. It's still worth watching however. It manages to do some interesting and darker things that Brotherhood doesn't, but it trips over itself in the end. The movie finale feeling like a compacted third season doesn't help. All in all, Fullmetal Alchemist, be it '03 or Brotherhood, is an enduring fantasy coming of age tale that can be enjoyed no matter your age or gender.
Also Recommended: Soul Eater, Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, Hunter x Hunter (2011), Fairy Tail, One Punch Man
Seinen - Black Lagoon
Plot Summary: Rokuro Okajima is an average salaryman until he is taken hostage aboard a boat in the South China Sea by the Lagoon Delivery Company for the disk in his possession. Events ensue that involve his own company hiring a mercenary company to kill him, a drinking competition followed immediately by a shootout, being affectionately renamed as "Rock" by his captors, and destroying a helicopter WITH A TORPEDO… All on the first few days in what would become his new career as a "Courier."
Why this Rocks: If you are looking for an action series that holds no punches then you need not look further than Black Lagoon. The story arcs are usually between 2 to 3 episodes, which allows for the plot to stay fresh, but also contain an overarching storyline between the various factions and characters to tell a cohesive narrative. Because the main cast is only a group of 4, each of them to get enough character development throughout its full run, although the majority of this is still placed on Rock and his foil, Revy. The action scenes are dramatic and intense, but when also backed up a great soundtrack, these scenes become the standouts of the series and are always fun to watch. It's not all guns and blood however. Black Lagoon also does a tremendous job in presenting all of the characters (especially the females) as morally ambiguous, but ultimately human deep inside; a feat few shows have pulled off to its level. Just know this show isn't for the weak at heart. For Black Lagoon truly understands what it means to be dark and gritty.
Also Recommended: Fate/Zero, Darker than Black, Jormungand, Hellsing Ultimate, Death Note, Tokyo Ghoul, Baccano!, Monster, Shigurui, Death Parade, Gangsta, Basilisk, Paranoia Agent, Parasyte: The Maxim, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
Shoujo - Revolutionary Girl Utena
Plot Summary: When Utena Tenjou was a little girl, she lost her parents in an accident. In her despair, a beautiful and kind prince appeared to her and told her to never lose her strength and nobility, giving her a ring to remember him by. Utena was so impressed by the prince that she decided to become a prince herself. Now, as a student at the huge and mysterious Ohtori Academy, Utena is a free thinking and brave girl who plays by her own rules. When she notices a fellow student, the demure Anthy Himemiya, in an abusive relationship, Utena decides to make a stand. Her actions thrust her into a strange underground world where she must fight in duels to save Anthy. What does it mean to be a duelist, why do her opponents have the same ring she received as a child, and what secrets lurk behind Anthy's calm demeanor?
Why this Rocks: If that plot summary doesn't give you a clear picture of what Revolutionary Girl Utena is, it's because that's a nigh impossible task. Utena is a masterpiece from an infamously weird anime director, Kunihiko Ikuhara, who earned his shoujo cred working on Sailor Moon. This is a show that offers a bit of everything: romance, character archetype subversion, swordfighting action, and even a surprising amount of comedy. Utena and Anthy are the "main" characters, but the show boasts an entire cast of interesting and flawed people with complex and deeply explored motivations. Utena is one of those shows that, within the anime community, has a huge reputation for being 3deep5me because of its avant-garde nature and heavy symbolism. Like most shows with that raport, though, it's not as hard to understand as it's made out to be. Artistic flair aside, it's primarily a story about coming of age and coming into your own. It's a good show for beginners to Shoujo in part because it really is an anime that's best going into without any preconceived notions.
Also Recommended: Ao Haru Ride, Ore Monogatari, The World is Still Beautiful, Kaichou wa maid-sama!, Kimi ni Todoke, The Rose of Versailles, Ouran Highschool Host Club, Yona of the Dawn, Hakuouki, The Vision of Escaflowne
Josei - Nana
Plot Summary: Two young women, both named Nana, move to Tokyo to follow their dreams, get away from their past, and make a new lives for themselves. Nana "Hachi" Komatsu is an energetic, kind, and sometimes naive girl who needs to sort through her guy problems. Nana Ozaki is a punk singer who wants to make it big, and get out of the shadow of her ex-boyfriend who is now a famous rocker. When coincidence (or fate) keeps bringing both Nana's together, they form a bond that will carry them through jobs, romance, and the ups and downs of life in your early 20's.
Why this Rocks: There are a few truly excellent offerings in Josei anime, but Nana is the crown jewel of what Josei is at its best: an honest and relatable look at the lives of adult women. Through the eyes of the Nana's and their equally lovable friends, the show deals with concerns large and small that many young people have or will find themselves dealing with - the confusion and excitement of finding who you are, break-ups and new crushes, job and financial woes, and more. Other than perhaps Nana O.'s struggles in the music industry, none of the issues faced by the characters are things that couldn't also happen to us. Nana is guaranteed to make you laugh, cry, and everything in between. It's an often bittersweet anime, but ultimately a beautiful story about the unconditional love of a true friendship.
Also Recommended: Princess Jellyfish, Kids on the Slope, Paradise Kiss, Honey and Clover, Hataraki Man
Slice of Life - Silver Spoon
Plot Summary: Having lost his direction in life after failing his High School entrance exams, Yuugo Hachiken enrols at Ooezo Agricultural High School just to get away from home. But as a city boy without a hint of agricultural knowledge, he soon finds himself in a strange new world of farming and food production. Surrounded by new friends who all are purposely pursuing their own dreams, Hachiken must learn what it means to be successful in a world where academics is not the only metric, and must face the real consequences of how the food he loves so much is made.
Why this Rocks: Silver Spoon is one of those shows that is laid back, funny, and poignant all at once. Its ability to make characters you care for and enjoy to watch is only matched by the seriousness it approaches the ethics of meat production, the fairness of life, and how to live your dreams. It's a show which is surprisingly grounded, even amongst other slice of life shows. However, its focus on larger themes and its education of the viewers and Hachiken in rural life and work makes Silver Spoon truly stand out from its brethren.
Also Recommended: Non Non Biyori, Barakamon, Hanasaku Iroha, Working!!, Haibane Renmei
Comedy - Nichijou
Plot Summary: Welcome to class one 1-Q, where odd is normal, and no one seems to realize that. From a mad scientist kindergartener and her human robot, to the trio of regular girls occasionally doing and thinking crazy things, there's hardly a dull moment. Even if you're forced to stand in the hallway because you didn't do your work...
Why this rocks: Nichijou is weird, and that's an understatement. Following the typical slice-of-life set-up where there's little, if any, progression and no overarching plot line; Nichijou takes the notion of screwball comedies and ramps it up to 11. Don't believe us? Just look up gifs of this show and try to make heads or tails of them. Deer wrestling, talking animals, pointless body modifications, and teachers failing to communicate with their students to ridiculous ends; anything and everything that you can and can't think of is in this show and will leave you laughing and with one thought by the time you finish: What the heck did I just watch?
Also Recommended: Working!!, Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun, Full Metal Panic Fumoffu, Tonari no seki-kun, Gintama, D-Frag, Assassination Classroom, Kawai Complex, Seitokai Yakuindomo, Baka & Test, Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt
Romance - My Love Story!
Plot Summary: In any other romance series, protagonist Takeo Gouda would be the high school bully or the dopey best friend of the main character. He's big, strong, and more than a little dense. Fortunately, he has his best friend Sunakawa to help him out as he discovers love with the absurdly kind and sweet Rinko Yamato. Together, Takeo and Rinko experience the highs and lows of high school dating, overcome obstacles that would tear most anime relationships apart, and still have enough time to eat some homemade cake faster than you can say "I love her!"
Why this Rocks: My Love Story! takes a bunch of romantic comedy cliches and then sets them on fire with the flames of love. Remember all those times in romantic comedies where the couple has an awkward standoff and then they don't speak for half the show? Here, characters talk things through and resolve problems in the same episode. Someone tries to make a move on Rinko? Takeo ain't going to take that sitting down. This show is hilarious, clever, energetic, and adorable as you get to see romantic progression occur throughout the series without the weight of tedious melodrama.
Also Recommended: Clannad, Kanon, Toradora, Your Lie in April, Snow White with the Red Hair, Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun, ef: A Tale of Memories, Inari Konkon Koi Iroha, Kimi no Todoke
Drama - Golden Time
Plot Summary: Tada Banri's first day of law school did not unfold the way he was expecting it to. Unfamiliar with Tokyo, Banri struggled to find his way to freshman orientation until he stumbles into fellow student Yanagisawa Mitsuo. Becoming fast friends, the pair soon run across perhaps the most memorable person that Banri will meet, Kaga Kouko. Banri's first days of law school end up introducing him to a cast of characters who will all join him in the drama of college life.
Why this Rocks: Golden Time is one of the best examples of anime drama in that it does not only deliver relationship melodrama, it presents a broad range of dramatic elements to the viewer. From characters dealing with personal psychological or neurological damage, love pentangles, stalking, family conflict, bromance/brotrayal, peer pressure, club activity anxiety, college drinking, possible supernatural interference, cults, and crossdressing nightclubs - Golden Time does not lack for opportunities to create drama. In many respects it is very similar to a daytime soap opera as it will throw everything but the kitchen sink at you. The extended cast is very memorable and really contributes to how entertaining the show is. Beyond the drama and romance, the show is also very funny and could easily be listed under the recommendations for comedy as well as romance. Above all, the show is enjoyable and it puts the audience on a roller coaster episode after episode. If you give Golden Time a shot, you'll probably be surprised at how much you'll want to see what happens next.
Also Recommended: My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, Death Note, Welcome to the N.H.K, Anohana, White Album 2, Kids on the Slope, Nagi no Asukara, Kokoro Connect
Mecha - Code Geass
Plot Summary: In an alternative timeline, the world has fallen mostly under the control of the Holy Empire of Britannia thanks to powerful mechs dubbed "Knightmare Frames". One of the few areas left unconquered, Japan finds itself quickly crushed and redesignated as Area 11; forced to supply Britannia at the loss of the general population.
Some time later, Lelouch, the hiding exiled prince of Britannia, finds himself entangled in a revolutionary plot. By chance and runs upon the mysteriously immortal C.C. who gives him "Geass", the power of the king. With the newfound ability to sway anyone with a simple suggestion, he dons a mask and takes control of the revolutionary movement to take Britannia back from his mad King and Father.
Why this Rocks: With a well thought out alternate timeline, a thrilling way of storytelling, great characters, solid themes, a fabulous main character, amazing mechs with awesome fight scenes, elegant handling of geopolitics, and more, Code Geass is a show that throws the whole kitchen sink at you and never ceases to provide an enjoyable and engaging experience. One that has made it one of the most memorable and loved series in anime. It can be pretty hammy at times, and some of the scenes are just ridiculous, but it does them all well, making a great experience that turns these negatives into a positive, leaving you with a show that is engaging, enjoyable and easy to watch. All in all, it's a great starter show into one of the most beloved and recognizable genres in the anime medium.
Also Recommended: Valvrave the Liberator, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Bokurano, Gundam, Knights of Sidonia, Full Metal Panic, Gurren Lagann, Eureka 7, Martian Successor Nadesico, Macross, Buddy Complex, Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse
Sci-Fi - Steins;Gate
Plot Summary: Okabe spends his days hanging out in a rented apartment above a CRT Television store along with his friends Daru and Mayuri, occasionally attempting to create gadgets of the future. For the most part going nowhere with these inventions, Okabe and Daru one day unknowingly create a microwave controlled by phone that's capable of sending texts back in time and alter the future. However, Okabe soon learns that the smallest of changes can have major consequences, and that sometimes that the only way forward is to move back.
Why this Rocks: There's nothing better than a good Sci-Fi, and there's so much done right with Steins;Gate that it's hard to say no to this show. Steins;Gate is the story about time travel, a work that actually looks at the mechanics of it in a pseudo-intellectual way. Along with the interesting focus and premise, the way that everything is executed is just so great. This is a work that really attaches you to the main character extremely well, using a connection to make you feel a wide gamut of emotions, and once the story picks up, it has a thrilling pace that keeps you engaged throughout. The characters are well fleshed-out, the soundtrack is superb, and the way that this show handles it's Sci-Fi is better than most others. Steins;Gate is one of the best stories we've ever had the chance to experience, and it's definitely worthwhile.
Also Recommended: Shin Sekai Yori, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Serial Experiments Lain, Psycho-Pass, Ergo Proxy, Planetes, Mardock Scramble
Magical Girl - Princess Tutu
Plot Summary: A duck, a prince, and a crow walk into a ballet school. Ahem. This fairy tale inspired magical girl show follows the adventures of Ahiru, a duck (Ahiru is Japanese for duck whaddayaknow) who has been transformed into a human girl by Drosselmeyer, a mysterious storyteller who seems to know everything that goes on in the show's world - a storybook town. Ahiru gets drawn into magic and intrigue when she learns that there is darkness and mystery surrounding her crush, Mytho. Mytho is actually a legendary prince who is missing pieces of his heart! To recover the missing shards of Mytho's heart, Ahiru must become Princess Tutu, an elegant ballerina whose dances can soothe the soul and save others from pain and heartache. Joined by Fakir and Rue, two older students who have their own feelings and secrets regarding Mytho and the heart shards, Ahiru must fight to challenge fate and find a happy ending.
Why this Rocks: Princess Tutu is a treat not only for magical girl fans, but for a wide audience. Its director was heavily involved with Sailor Moon and worked under Utena's Ikuhara. The world is enchanting, the characters are lovable, and the set and sound design stand out wonderfully. Ahiru is one of the cutest anime leads around and she's a great role model for younger viewers, and the rest of the main cast are very compelling and fully fleshed out as well. The story, which may appear to be a sweet fairy tale at first, takes surprising and sometimes dark turns to get to its touching conclusion. Top it all off with a soundtrack that employs some of ballet's most beautiful classical music, and you've got a memorable, lovingly crafted anime.
Also Recommended: Yuki Yuna is a Hero, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Sailor Moon, Cardcaptor Sakura, Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha
Fantasy - Berserk
Plot Summary: " In this world, is the destiny of mankind controlled by some transcendental entity or law? Is it like the hand of God hovering above? At least it is true that man has no control; even over his own will."
Berserk begins with these words and the audience witnesses as the destinies of the young swordsman Guts, and the ambitious commander Griffiths, entwine and unfold. Set against a traditional medieval backdrop, the series follows the mercenary group, the Band of the Hawk, as they look to find their fortunes on the battlefield. As their reputation increases, the band is drawn deeper into political intrigues while supernatural horrors lurk in the periphery.
Why this Rocks: Berserk is not set in a world of conventional high fantasy, but the series does contain many medieval trappings, along with the creator's own unique vision of western knights and armies. Have no doubt though, as the series progresses, it reveals itself to be very much a horrific and mature fantasy setting. The keys to this series' staying power are its memorable characters, Shakespearean drama, and the series' unforgettable conclusion. Even though the original show is 18 years old at this point, the dated animation quickly fades to the background as the series draws the audience in. Berserk is an absolute must watch for any anime viewer who wishes to see a milestone of fantasy anime for adult audiences.
Also Recommended: GARO: The Animation, Rage of Bahamut: Genesis, Chaika the Coffin Princess, Spice and Wolf, Durarara, Little Witch Academia, The Record of Lodoss War, Mushi-shi, Magi
Sports - Haikyu
Plot Summary: Shouyou Hinata and Tobio Kageyama become rivals after their first meeting in their final Jr. High volleyball tournament. With dreams of becoming top tier players, both Hinata and Kageyama wind up enrolling at Karasuno High - whose previous championship successes have been fading into the past - and must now learn to work together if they want to stay on the team. With each of their unique talents, Karasuno may have a shot at becoming a top tier team again, but can these former rivals learn to put aside their differences and learn to fly together?
Why this Rocks: Haikyu is a standout of the anime sports genre, an excellent show where every character is important, and is fun to watch. It is also one of the best paced sports series out there, by not only delivering heartstopping great action, but also emotional punches every episode. Haikyu also manages to keep the plot going, and in the span of 25 episodes does as much as some other mainline anime sports series take upwards of 50 to get to. So if you want a fun show that will get you genuinely excited every time it plays, Haikyu is for you.
Also Recommended: Ace of Diamonds, Chihayafuru, Ping Pong, Kuroko no Basket, Hajime no Ippo, Prince of Tennis, Baby Steps, Ping Pong, Yowamushi Pedal, Taisho Baseball Girls, Cross Game
Idol - Wake Up, Girls!
Plot Summary: On the verge of failing, the tiny Green Leaves production company attempts to turn its fortunes around by assembling its own idol group. Can a handful of strangers including a shamed former idol, a fading child star, a musical prodigy, a small time celebrity, an outgoing waitress, and a pair of amateurs of varying enthusiasm make it in the large and competitive landscape of idol groups? There is way more to succeeding than just smiling, singing, and dancing, as this group of hopefuls will find out.
Why this Rocks: More than any other idol show, Wake Up, Girls! is the only series that adequately illustrates the potentially realistic workings of the idol industry in Japan. This makes the show a perfect introduction to the genre, as the viewer can come in without any prior knowledge of idol culture and not be lost. It is very stereotypical in its premise, but does manage to execute good drama and realistic characterization while shining a fairly critical light on the idol industry and culture. Wake Up, Girls! will appeal to fans of sports shows, movies like "Bring it On", or anyone who wants to learn more about the Idol culture who does not wish to be overly pandered to. The 53 minute "Wake Up, Girls! - Seven Idols" movie is the essential starting point before moving on to the rest of the 12 episode series. A second movie is planned for release in December.
Also Recommended: Idolm@ster: Cinderella Girls, Love-Live, AKB0048
Horror - Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
Plot Summary: Summer, 1983. Transfer student Maebara Keiichi moves to the quiet and secluded rural Hinamizawa. He quickly befriends a group of girls at the all-ages, one classroom school. Shortly afterwards he stumbles upon the dark history of Hinamizawa, and his new friends don't seem very inclined about talking about it. In fact, it seems they rather have him forget about it completely. If not willingly, then by fear and paranoia.
Why this Rocks: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, otherwise known as When the Cicadas Cry, is an odd entry into the horror genre. Starting with a boy brutally beating his some girls to death in a bedroom and then immediately jumping back in time to where he's walking to school with those same girls, right off the bat Higurashi tells you that you're in for one heck of a whiplash inducing ride. While most anything horror nowadays relies on physical monstrosities, here, madness is the unspeakable evil. Every arc of this show ends with one or more of the characters slowly going completely insane, and it's never really explained why until the second half of the second season. Instead you're left to question what the hell is going on, all the while red herrings are being thrown at your face relentlessly with an occasional truth mingled in. If you're going into this show, put your tinfoil caps on, dim the lights, and check your food before you eat it. You never know if some's out to brutally maim you...
Also Recommended: Another, Shiki, Hell Girl, Blood +, Corpse Party, School-Live!
Ecchi - The Monogatari Series
Plot Summary: Apparitions: supernatural entities or phenomena that are largely invisible or ignored by humanity, but are inexorably linked to human thought and emotion. High school student Koyomi Araragi's encounter with an apparition caused him to be cursed with, then cured of, vampirism. It is after this encounter that the first series, Bakemonogatari, begins. While the overall story structure of the Monogatari franchise is quite complex, at its roots the show is about Araragi meeting other characters who have also been entangled with an apparition and trying to help resolve the situation. In its own characteristic way, the Monogatari series is as much about how the story is told as it is about the events and characters themselves.
Why this Rocks: The designation of ecchi is analogous to the smutty or racy humor of the Benny Hill Show or National Lampoon movies in western media. Surprisingly, "ecchi" is actually a fairly expansive genre. While the minimum criterion for ecchi is a prevalence of visual content that is sexually humorous or titillating, beyond that, ecchi shows can be quite varied. As the Monogatari franchise really stretches how ecchi content can be incorporated within a show. While typical ecchi elements include accidental groping and wardrobe malfunctions, Monogatari eschews these gags for unconventionally suggestive imagery intercut over a scene of witty repartee. While the ecchi elements of this series are not quite overt, they are not at all subtle either. This series is the very embodiment of studio SHAFT's unique visual style, so you are not likely to watch anything else quite like it. The fascinating visuals help to counterbalance the series unusual pacing and its massive amount of dialog. The show's lengthy conversions are in many ways the shows strongest element. It is this dialog, coupled with the show's use of non-linear storytelling, that make this sort of the anime equivalent to Pulp Fiction. Still, unless one is somewhat knowledgeable in various things Japanese, this series presents a large amount of subtitle reading and Japanese-specific wordplay to surmount. For those that are willing to undertake it, the Monogatari franchise rewards the viewer with its surprising narrative, subversive themes, and a multi-layered plot.
Also Recommended: Shokugeki no Soma/Food Wars, Punchline, Infinite Stratos, Highschool DxD, Maria the Virgin Witch, Golden Boy, Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt
Must-See Classics
Cowboy Bebop
Plot Summary: Being a bounty hunter is no easy living. It's dangerous and hard work, but nothing if not exciting. It's a job ex-hitman Spike Spiegel and his ex-cop partner Jet Black know all too well as new-age cowboys on their spaceship the Bebop. Together with femme fatale gambler Faye Valentine, hacker wizard Ed and their welsh corgi Ein, the crew of the Bebop face a number of wild adventures against crooks, gangs, terrorists, conspiracies, hallucinogenic mushrooms, and their own pasts as they search for their next big break.
Why this Rocks: Cowboy Bebop is one of those defining tentpole anime for 90's anime fans, particularly in the West. It's a genre mashup of everything from comedy to film noir, action movies to detective fiction, and it still holds up great today. It's a thematically poignant show that is able to be both incredibly dark and genuinely lighthearted, made possible by some excellent cell animation and a killer soundtrack that's as fluid as the show's visual stylings. It's a show that has held up excellently since its release in the late 90s. Bebop is also recognised as one of the defining, bar setting anime when it comes to English dubbing thanks to a dub that has even subtitle-only viewers watching it. So if you like cool action, deep characters, western film, or jazzy music, there's no reason you shouldn't giving this classic a shot.
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Plot Summary: Welcome to the future, where brains have been cybernized and many people are cyborgs to varying degrees. As a result, crime has become increasingly complex and dangerous, leading the Japanes government to create Section 9, an independent and highly skilled police task force. Lead by the genius Aramaki and full-body cyborg Mokoto Kusanagi, Section 9 has been for the most part very successful. However, when an unpredictable and powerful hacker only known as "The Laughing Man" steps into the scene, Section 9 finds themselves facing an opponent unlike any history has seen before.
Why this Rocks: Originally released over ten years ago, Stand Alone Complex almost looks as if it hasn't not aged a day (unless you count the weird CGI opening of season 1). The characters of the series are all intriguing, from Chief Aramaki to the sometimes playful, always awesome Batou. However, the best character in the show is hands-down Major Motoko Kusanagi, one of the most developed, badass female characters in all of anime. If you are looking for great action, Stand Alone Complex has it. Great animation? SAC has it too. A sci-fi anime that makes you think without going too preachy? Well, ok, SAC does get a bit preachy at times, but it's still worth a watch all the same. With a soundtrack by the legendary Yoko Kanno to back it, prepare to be dazzled from all fronts as this series is truly a labor of love.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Plot Summary: In the DISTANT POST-APOCALYPTIC FUTURE of 2015 (so far away), 14 year old Shinji Ikari is suddenly called to the metropolis of Tokyo-03 by his estranged father, Gendo Ikari, and his organization, NERV. Shinji soon learns that he is needed to because he's suitable to pilot an Eva, a mysterious and powerful humanoid mech. The Eva units are the only weapons that can fight Angels, entities even more mysterious than the robots. Along with his commander and guardian, Misato, and the other Eva pilots, Rei and Asuka, Shinji must look inside himself to fight the Angels and struggle through the questions of his family, his past, and his own existence.
Why this Rocks: To get it out of the way - the mech and action in Evangelion are cool and the design and movement of the Eva units has influenced many mecha anime that came after. More importantly, the (at the time) game-changing decision to depict heroes of an mecha anime as deeply flawed, damaged, and unflinchingly human characters had a profound impact on not only mecha, but anime in general. Evangelion has become a cross-cultural phenomenon for many reasons, but what holds up to this day is the power these characters and story have to tap into our very real fears, anxieties, and emotions. Anyone looking to get into anime owes it to themselves to give it a try.
Also Recommended: Trigun, Serial Experiments Lain, Great Teacher Onizuka, Sailor Moon, Astro Boy, Gundam, Dragonball Z, Yu Yu Hakusho
Hidden Gems - Now and Then, Here and There
Plot Summary: On the return home from kendo practice, Shu has an encounter with a strange young girl named Lala Ru. During their conversation, two strange machines appear from another world and attack the pair easily brushing off Shu and abducting Lala Ru. During this fight, Shu is also transported to the other world which appears as nothing more than a vast desert planet, with no water and only the worst of humanity that has survived the new harsh reality that appears before him.
Why this Rocks: Now and Then, Here and There is a really well done show, but it's more than that. Throwing a shounen protagonist into a world of destruction with a story inspired by the Rwandan Genocide, Now and Then, Here and There is an anime not enough people have seen. With one of the best developed villains in anime in the form of an insane dictator, this show grabs you, throws you around, and shows you a spectrum of emotions that a truly great show has to offer. It's near perfect in almost every way, handling it's story beautifully in its 13 episode time period. It's well rounded and keeps you engaged throughout, creating a world that is absolutely phenomenal. Too bad not many people haven't heard about it...
Also Recommended: Shin Sekai Yori, Aoi Bungaku, Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo, Humanity has Declined, Moryo no Hako, GOSICK, Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere, Katanagatari, Bokurano, Spice & Wolf, Serial Experiments Lain, Haibane Renmei
Popular Shows - Death Note
Plot Summary: Light Yagami is a brilliant teen. However, come his final days at High School, he finds himself extremely bored from the lack of challenge school life presents him. One day though, a mysterious journal falls out of the sky titled, "Death Note", apparently bearing the ability to kill anyone given you know their name. Light quickly finds out that it's more than a bad prank, and ends up in a wild game of cat and mouse with the equally brilliant "L" after killing one too many criminals with the notebook. How will L possibly be able to capture a seemingly faceless and god-like mass murderer, and how long can Light can keep killing criminals before he slips up and gets himself caught? Not even the gods seem to know...
Why this Rocks: Out of all of all the smash hit anime within the past decade, Death Note is one of the best. Presenting one of the best games of cat and mouse in any medium, it flips the main perspective to the culprit rather than investigator, and makes you question whether Light is justified in his killing spree of criminals. The soundtrack is also extremely well interwoven in the show, giving memorable and fitting tracks to each of the main characters, and goes suitably bombastic during the more high strung scenes. Death Note was extremely popular for a reason, and it shows all throughout its run.
Also Recommended: Attack on Titan, Tokyo Ghoul, Akame ga Kill, Sword Art Online, Kill la Kill, Code Geass
Movies - Akira
Plot Summary: In 1988, a nuclear explosion occurs in Tokyo triggers the onset of World War III. Thirty One years later in the slums of the rebuilt Neo-Tokyo, Kaneda's gang of bikers begin an attack against the Clowns, another biker gang. In the ensuing chase, Tetsuo, Kaneda's second-in-command and best friend, collides with a child who, as a result of his psychic powers, causes Tetsuo's motorcycle to explode. Afterwards Tetsuo is detained by the Special Defence Force and the esper is returned to their custody. In an effort to recover his missing friend, Kaneda begins to discover the truth behind the espers, the terrorist group trying to free them, and will ultimately come to know what really caused World War III and how it relates to the mysterious Akira.
Why this Rocks: Akira at its core is a sci-fi mystery, but it also has themes to do with war and the consequences of a nuclear attack. Combined with the political elements, and themes of substance abuse and violence, Akira hits a lot of themes and tones, but manages to integrate them seamlessly into a single story; leaving something for everyone in this anime. The animation featured is outstanding, and makes the action scenes stand-out all the more against the background of night-time Neo-Tokyo. Akira is simply a classic in not only sci-fi as a genre, but in anime as a whole. And despite being 27 years old at the time of writing, is still an incredible must watch.
Also Recommended: Anything Studio Ghibli, Kara no Kyoukai/Garden of Sinners, Ninja Scroll, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, Wolf Children, Patema Inverted, Perfect Blue, Paprika, Summer Wars, Fist of the North Star, Arcadia of My Youth, Ghost in the Shell
Also check out Kotaku's Ghibli list and Rockmandash's Top 10 non-Ghibli anime movie list!
Shorts - Inferno Cop
Plot Summary: From the depths of Hell, Inferno Cop patrols the crime infested Jack Knife Edge Town to do what normal police officers can't do. Being the only one capable of opposing the criminal organization Southern Cross, he embarks on an insane and emotional(???) adventure to stop them at all costs before they can take over the Earth.
Why this Rocks: Do you like shows with sensible plot-lines, beautiful visuals, and meaningful themes? Then go elsewhere, because none of that exists here. Inferno Cop is a series of 13, 3 minute episode of pure batshit insanity and overdone drama that will make you question why you watch anything else. While most low budget things try to stretch each dollar as much as they possibly can, Studio Trigger seemingly decided to simply make some concept art, give it to the animators, and tell them to do the rest in their own time off hours. And what gloriousness became of that project. Inferno Cop watches like a paper-cut-out puppet show with stock digital effects added in, along with only a few guys voicing all the characters, even the girls with hilarious results. Go watch it now! We guarantee that it will be the best 40 minutes you'll spend today. (It has been put on Youtube for free as well by its publisher Anime Bancho.)
Also Recommended: Tonari no Seki Kun, Miss Monochrome, Yami Shibai, I Can't Understand What My Husband is Saying, Time of Eve, Ninja Slayer
And that's a wrap! Let us know in the comments down below if you have any questions, and remember kids: Anime at your own risk. It's not our fault if we supposedly left something out, or you don't like our opinions... Baka. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ That aside, here's another comprehensive guide to anime if you're so inclined.
A big thanks to Jonuiuc, Shade, Rockmandash, Krakken, Morie, EvenSteven, and WyvernZero for bring this project to life. Also, as always, thanks Unimplied for the awesome header gif.
You're reading AniTAY, the anime-focused portion of Kotaku's community-run blog, Talk Amongst Yourselves. AniTAY is a non-professional blog whose writers love everything anime related. Click here to check us out.


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Chip & PIN technology uses an embedded microchip to encrypt your information, making it difficult for unauthorized users to copy or access your data. Transactions can only be completed when your Card is inserted into a chip-enabled terminal and you enter your unique PIN – a number that identifies you as the rightful holder of your Card and replaces your signature.
Your PIN should have already been selected during the application or the activation process for your Card. If you didn't select a PIN, we may have randomly generated a PIN for you.
To view your PIN, log into Online Services
Instead of swiping your Card to make a purchase, follow these simple steps:
1. Insert your Chip Card into the terminal; it will stay there for the duration of the transaction.
2. Follow the prompts and key in your unique four-digit PIN to authorize the transaction. Your PIN replaces your signature.
3. Receive a confirmation receipt upon successful completion of your transaction.
We've made PIN management easy through your Online Services account. Log in to your account for information on managing your account, and the simple steps to unlock or change your PIN.
Have a question? See our frequently asked questions and answers below. If you still can't find what you're looking for, please call the number located on the back of your Card.
A Chip Card contains a small embedded microchip, which encrypts your account information, making it difficult to duplicate, copy or access. Simply put, this technology is more advanced than magnetic stripe technology, and it will make an already safe payment system even more secure.
You can use your American Express Card at any merchant that has a chip enabled terminal. For a list of some of the merchants that accept American Express, go here.
If your American Express Chip Card is stolen, it will be very difficult for someone to use it without your personal PIN. In the case that your Card is lost or stolen, you should always call American Express immediately.
Yes. The existing PIN on your Card will work for both purchases and cash access. To view your PIN, please log into Online Services.
You may have entered the incorrect PIN. To view your PIN, please log into Online Services. If you are still experiencing problems, please call the number located on the back of your card.
For your first transaction post PIN change, remember to use your old PIN one more time to complete the transaction. Following that, you can use your new PIN for all transactions.
There are no limitations on the combination of the 4 numeric digits you can select across your Cards. We encourage you to select a PIN that you can easily remember, but difficult for someone to guess.
• Never reveal your PIN to anyone, including friends, family members, merchants or American Express customer service representatives; you will never be asked to provide your PIN by an American Express agent.
• Do not write your PIN down anywhere including your American Express Card.
• Do not keep your Card and PIN in the same place, such as in your wallet or purse.
• Do shield the keypad with your hand or body when you are entering your PIN at an ABM or at a store.

subset: commoncrawl


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Grant writing is a necessary skill for arts organizers, but how do diverse goals and outcomes impact the grant writing process? How do you write a solid grant proposal that addresses the unique qualities of your organization and your approach to diverse programming? This webinar explores how to take the shift in your approach to diversity and the aims of inclusive programming and incorporate them into grant proposals that maximize successful outcomes.
Additional Materials:
- Ontario Tourism Trends - Marketing Plan
- Risk Management Plan - Imagine Canada
- Solitaires Segmentation
- Youthful Socializers
Facilitator: Jael Richardson
Jael Richardson is the author of The Stone Thrower: A Daughter's Lesson, a Father's Life, a memoir based on her relationship with her father, CFL quarterback Chuck Ealey. The memoir received a CBC Bookie Award and earned Richardson an Acclaim Award and a My People Award as an Emerging Artist and was recently adapted into the children's book The Stone Thrower. Her essay "Conception" is part of Room Magazine's first Women of Colour edition, and excerpts from her first play, my upside down black face, are published in the anthology T-Dot Griots: An Anthology of Toronto's Black Storytellers. Richardson is a two-time Write-In-Residence with the Toronto District School Board. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Guelph, and she lives in Brampton, Ontario where she founded and serves as the Artistic Director for the Festival of Literary Diversity — Canada's first festival for diverse books.


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Published 09/11/12
The latest challenge for Iooss, who is known globally for his iconic shots of stars such as Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali and Tiger Woods and for five decades of work with Sports Illustrated magazine, was to take studio still shots of some of the biggest names in world football. The results were remarkable, as Iooss used a Hasselblad H4D 60 and Hasselblad lenses to sublimely capture the intensity, determination, and raw power of players including Wayne Rooney England, Shinji Kagawa Japan, David De Gea Spain and Javier Hernandez Mexico.
''With our rich heritage in photo printing we were very excited by this opportunity to collaborate with Walter Iooss, one of the world's greatest photographers,'' said Ian Cameron, general manager responsible for global communications at Epson. ''And as the Official Office Equipment Partner of Manchester United we saw synergies among parties who are truly at the top of their game. Our state-of-the-art photo printers more than do justice to these fantastic works of art, which I am sure will excite and inspire our customers worldwide.''
Beginning this autumn the images will be rolled out to Epson Group companies worldwide for use in print samples and other promotional materials.
The Societies of Photographers Convention and Trade Show at The Novotel London West, Hammersmith ...
You have 137 days until The Societies of Photographers Convention starting on Wednesday 17th March 2021


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Helpful Hints - Be part of the Solution!
a bag on Beach or Neighborhood walks to pick up litter.
Buy in bulk and look for the least amount of packaging
Clean car leaks with kitty litter and then put in trash.
use polystyrene foam single-use serving containers.
Scoop your dog's
poop and put it in the trash.
Shred your documents and use the shredded material for
packing boxes.
be a butt-head! Use an ashtray!
pour grease or oil down your sink.
Take your paints, thinners, motor oils to the household
Hazardous Waste Facility
Recycle and buy recycled products
Take e-waste (computers, televisions,
cell phones) to the Household Hazardous Waste Center
* Open 9-1, Tue.-Sat. on non-rainy day


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Growing instability in west likely to affect developing economies' recovery this year
Growth across the world's major economies is expected to be downgraded by the International Monetary Fund at its annual conference this week following a dramatic collapse in consumer and business confidence that has stalled investment and hit government finances.
The IMF will say in its World Economic Outlook that instability in Europe and the US has undermined the prospects for a strong recovery in the west and is expected to hit China, Japan and developing nations over the next six months, according to analysts.
While multinational companies retain healthy balance sheets and banks have steadily rebuilt their finances, a lack of confidence has held back investment and hurt the prospects for growth, the Washington-based thinktank and lender will argue.
Christine Lagarde, the new IMF head, is expected to repeat warnings she made last week that European leaders and the US Congress must act to prevent a further deterioration in growth prospects next year.
Lagarde, the former French finance minister, has said in a thinly veiled warning to UK chancellor George Osborne and Tea Party representatives in the US that it is dangerous to cut spending too quickly because it risked countries falling back into recession and suffering higher unemployment. She also warned that policies favouring the richest elements in society could trigger social unrest and undermine recovery efforts.
Osborne and Bank of England governor Sir Mervyn King will be among the delegates attending the conference in Washington, which runs until next weekend. King was recently at the centre of efforts to prop up ailing European banks with extra liquidity. The Bank of England, US Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan and European Central Bank have agreed to lend billions of dollars to banks unable to access the world's reserve currency on international money markets.
At the IMF's spring conference, its former boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn said the strong growth in 2010 had begun to peter out and politicians needed to show strong leadership to rebuild battered economies and create jobs.
However, US and European policymakers have backed austerity measures that many economists argue have undermined confidence. Tensions between delegates who want to promote growth and those who back austerity are expected to run high at the conference.
Labour spokesman Ed Balls said the IMF conference should act as a wake up call for the UK government.
He said in an article for Tribune: "The new head of the IMF, Christine Lagarde, has echoed Labour's warnings that cutting too quickly will hurt the recovery and jobs and that there is scope for reducing deficits more steadily to support growth… While diplomatically saying in public that the government's policy remains 'appropriate' for now, she warned ministers will need to act if slow growth and high unemployment continues.
"The chancellor's insistence that there is no alternative to his austerity is sounding less credible by the day. He is politically boxing himself in to an economic plan which is simply not working. The sooner he listens to advice – not just from Labour, but his friends at the likes of the IMF and the OECD – the better."


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People advertise extreme sport events and programs prefer it's something secure and funky you want to do. Ha! The Olympic village was residence to 10,500 aggressive programme included 39 sport events: archery, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, bodybuilding, bowling, kayak, chess, cycling, diving, equestrian, fencing, soccer, golf, gymnastics, handball, field hockey, judo, kabaddi, karate, rowing, rugby, sailing, sepaktakraw, shooting, softball, squash, swimming, synchronized swimming, desk tennis, triathlon, tennis, volleyball, beach volleyball, water polo, weightlifting, wushu and wrestling.
The second level of violence is borderline violence, which incorporates practices that violate the foundations of the sport however are accepted by most gamers as a result of they're part of competitive strategies; this is also referred to as "thoughts-taking part in video games." Examples of this could possibly be the comb back in baseball, the fist battle in hockey, and the little elbow or nudge while enjoying soccer to get the opponent scared, to instill that stage of fear in them.
Though a recreation played primarily with the ft, soccer players and never afraid to swing an elbow or grab a handful of shirt as a way to seize the ball. Featuring superstars resembling Messi, Suarez and Bale, DWELL coverage is on beIN SPORTS. It is straightforward to say that the opposite teammates who could have larger batting averages, or in any other case had been better capable of play a spot were cheated as a result of the coach's son got to play it.
In the event you play tennis, badminton or squash, you will organize games with others. Mentioned Asaad is one of the best weightlifters in Qatari sports history. The success of the Asian Games was result of the mixed efforts of the Qatari authorities and the organizing committee (Doha Asian Video games Organizing Committee).
In baseball, you may even see the daddy ball coach's son batting ahead of players with increased batting averages, taking part in shortstop or pitching frequently and not getting the job completed. The excessive costs tend to restrict massive recreation hunting to these individuals having an period of time and wealth, although many peculiar people will hunt smaller game like deer, which are extra plentiful and have extra permits.


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Gold Coast Surf Forecasts
Satellite images provided Courtesy of the Bureau of Meteorology Australia. bom.gov.au
North Bondi
3 - 4 ft - N winds @ 0 knots Late shower or two. 13.9°C, water 18°C
3 - 4 ft - N winds @ 0 knots Late shower or two. 13.9°C, water 18°C
Manly - Fairy Bower
2 - 4 ft - WSW winds @ 3 knots Late shower or two. °C, water 18°C
Forecaster Blog: Climate Models Tipping Towards a Stronger La Niña
The 2020 La Niña continues to gather momentum: What will the surf be like this November and December?
Forecaster Blog: La Niña conditions are here, what does it mean for Surf?
La Nina conditions continue to develop. Will the surf pump?
Forecaster Blog: Tasman Low Hammers the East Coast All Week
A deep low is dropping anchor over the central Tasman Sea..
Forecaster Blog: Deep East Coast Low Wreaks Havoc Next Week
An impending East Coast Low looms large for the NSW coast next week.
Forecaster Blog Updated: Tropical Cyclone Gretel Develops This Weekend
Tropical cyclone Gretel is about to form over the Coral Sea this weekend.


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Cuddly Potato Acrylic Charm
Hi hi hi I'm a cuddly potato and I like to snuggle!
Double Sided! Happy on the front, and cuddly on the back, as shown.
This Cuddly Potato pairs well with the Cuddly Carrot Acrylic Charm, shown in the last two pictures ~
This cuddly acrylic charm is a high koality friend, sure to stand up to everyday use. It's double-sided, sturdy, and scratch-resistant with a lovely gloss coating on top. Made with certified organic hugs.
Approx. Dimensions: 1.2" x 1"


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Since 1999, Erez Back of Sarasota Secret Gardens has provided premier landscaping designs for homes and businesses throughout Sarasota, Florida and the Gulf Coast in Sarasota, Manatee and Venice Counties.
The artist behind the designs – Erez Back, has been designing unique gardens, ponds, fountains and general landscaping for over 17 years. The passion for each individual project is energizing and rare. Great pride is shown in all work, as each project is like a new canvas. Serving only the most discriminating imagination in paradise.
Custom Landscape Design
Landscape Maintenance and Irrigation
Hardscape Design and Installation
Outdoor Lighting Installations
Tropical Landscaping
Palm Tree Installation
Water Features
Exotics and Rare
Every garden deserves a special accent. Whether a specimen plant, an antique gate, an ornamental pot, or a weathered bench tucked in a hidden corner. These features can create a feeling of space, time and mood. These focal points are often added after the garden has been completed, after the central theme has been established.
Please visit examples of Erez Back's work on Flicker and YouTube. – Thank you.


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Skip to 0 minutes and 11 seconds Hello. My name is Sarah Barber. I'm a senior lecturer at Lancaster University, and for the last 30 years, I've been a specialist in the 17th century. I began my career looking at the English Civil War and particularly, those radical ideas which emerged in the mid-17th century. And I've now extended that out to look at the 17th century across Europe and across to the Americas and particularly, the Caribbean where groups like the Sectaries and particularly the Quakers, were very active. Everyone knows the stories of the English Civil War. Even those people who know very little about 17th century history, will know of the characters that it produced.
Skip to 0 minutes and 54 seconds Will have heard of Charles I, and will know of his stammer and his speech on the scaffold at his execution in 1649. Even more, will have heard of Oliver Cromwell, even if they know nothing about his Protectorate and the reign of Oliver Cromwell during the 1650s. It was during the reign of Oliver Cromwell in 1650s that the Quakers first started to emerge. The English Civil War is the stuff of romantic stories. We all know 1066 and all that in which the Cavaliers are wrong, but romantic, and the Roundheads are right, but revolting. And thus, the Civil War is presented as two elite sides engaged in a dog fight for the control of English politics and particularly of religion.
Skip to 1 minute and 45 seconds We know much less about the ordinary people in the 17th century– the sort of people who would become Quakers during the course of the 1650s. But for the Civil War period and beyond, we do know more because George Thomason collected one copy, at least, of all of the pamphlets and broadsides that were circulating on the streets of London during the 1640s and 1650s. And we have thousands of words written about Quakers and by Quakers, telling of their experience during the 1650s. Historians disagree about the causes of the English Civil War. Some will go right back to the Reformation in the early 16th century.
Skip to 2 minutes and 30 seconds Some will say that the war was not even inevitable by August 1642, when fighting had started happening. But most agree that religion was an underlying cause and a grievance that many had– both amongst the elite and the ordinary people. A pamphlet of 1641 shows three ministers of the established church– those who governed the church structure. A fight between, on the one hand, the Catholic, considered to be of the devil, with, on the other hand, the righteous man of God, the Puritan minister. And in between the man-made religion of the Church of England. And in 1641-1642, it was a struggle for the soul of the Church of England that people were more concerned about.
Skip to 3 minutes and 28 seconds During the course of the 1640s, the Civil War managed to loosen a number of the ties that people felt bound their lives. The first of these was the relaxation of censorship.
Skip to 3 minutes and 42 seconds Because it was not possible to exercise censorship over the presses anymore in the 1640s because of the contingencies of war, the streets were flooded with the opinions of all manner of people who could get access to a printing press relatively cheaply and could start to churn out all manner of both satirical and deeply personal thoughts pieces. The second way in which the war loosened ties was the nature of the war itself. The romantic stories view of the Roundheads versus the Cavaliers, disguises the brutality of the reality. In the course of the 1640s, a higher proportion of English people were killed in the English Civil War than died in the First World War– nearly 4% of the English population.
Skip to 4 minutes and 36 seconds And the war itself was not only bloody and brutal in its battles and skirmishes and its sieges, but also affected ordinary people and their everyday livelihoods. People had soldiers billeted on them. People were attacked. People were caught up in riots. Soldiers would steal livestock– cattle and sheep. And people would lose their lands. And the third way in which people felt that their ties were being loosened, was that without an elite to control their thoughts, they were now able to put out their own version of their religion, their relationship with their god.
Skip to 5 minutes and 17 seconds And so they started to develop a more personal relationship with their notions of morality, the way in which they lived their lives, their relationships with their neighbours, and their relationship with their god and their religion.
Skip to 5 minutes and 37 seconds Amongst the sectarian groups, were many who sought to find the Holy Spirit within, who would fast and pray, sometimes for hours and days on end, who would go without sleep, searching inside to try to find what they called the "still small voice" that would instruct them how to live a godly life. But there were also others who not only wanted to seek inside themselves for the still small voice, but who wanted to bear witness to that voice and many gained a following amongst others who saw in them, a godly person who was genuinely in touch with the Holy Spirit - groups like the Seekers, like the Muggletonians, some would say, the Ranters.
Skip to 6 minutes and 35 seconds But most of those groups were seen as social threats in the 1640s and the 1650s. The Quakers emerged from out of that same milieu. These were people who sought to make sense of a rather brutal world in which they were living. A world in which it seems that maybe God had abandoned them or had certainly abandoned their neighbours. And sought to find that still, small voice within. They would meet together in groups, mainly in rural communities, and often sit for hours in silence until one felt the need to bear witness to their individual experience.
Skip to 7 minutes and 24 seconds There are two key differences between the Quakers and the other sectaries who had similar views and similar approaches. One is the sense of individualism, that although they bore witness and often bore witness in front of their neighbours, they were only explaining their individual view. They weren't offering it as a prophetic vision for others to follow. And the second reason that the Quakers would survive was because they chose to adapt their approach.
Skip to 7 minutes and 59 seconds They became, after the Civil War period had ended, what is called Quietist– that they no longer disturbed church meanings, lived within their own communities, and kept a tight knit community of believers, meeting in the meeting house and refusing to take part in the politics and the social disruption that continued in the 1660s.
The civil war context
Watch this short video in which Dr Sarah Barbers talks about the rise of Quakerism in the context of the times.
© Lancaster University


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DJ Texsta
DJ Texsta has been in the music arena for over 30 years. He has a wide range of musical influences, including, funk, soul, reggae, D&B, hardcore and garage.. but his main passion is house music!
For over 25 years, DJ Texsta has graced the airwaves with his shows, and is currently on Visionradiouk.com with his Project House Show on Mondays, 12-2pm (GMT).
Producing music is another passion of his, starting some 25 years ago, and has some monster garage club classics under his belt.
We're very happy to have DJ Texsta as our Get Lifted Guest Mix this month, where he has delivered a solid afro house mix for us!
Get Lifted with Lady Duracell and Guests are currently broadcasting all over the world, sharing our love of the music.
We have teamed up with our friends over at Jack Fresh, and created the Get Lifted x Jack Fresh range of apparel, including snapbacks, sweatshirts and tees.
Have a look!


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Benefits with fixed bridge on implants:In this case, when replacing three teeth in the far back of the mouth, a fixed bridge anchored to dental implants is the only fixed alternative. Traditional dentures can't offer the same stability or function.
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>> View Treatment Procedure
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The Abysmal Rollout of Obamacare going According to Plan to bring us to National Health Care?
Week in Review
The roll out of the Affordable Care Act (i.e., Obamacare) has given us a plethora of unintended consequences. From freezing new hiring. To pushing full-time workers into part-time. To people losing the health insurance and doctor they liked and wanted to keep. To higher insurance premiums. To higher deductibles. To higher co-pays. Taking a health care system that the vast majority of people were satisfied with and making it worse. To accommodate a small percentage of the population who were uninsured. If that wasn't bad enough it doesn't even look like some of the people who signed up for Obamacare are paying their insurance premiums (see Next problem for Obamacare: deadbeat enrollees by Rick Newman posted 2/14/2014 on Yahoo! Finance).
The New York Times has discovered that only about 80% of people purchasing health insurance through the federal online marketplace or a similar state-run exchange paid their first month's premium. There's no single source of such data, but the Times canvassed insurers participating in the program, such as Aetna (AET), Wellpoint (WLP), Humana (HUM) and Blue Shield of California. All said that the first-month payment rate ranged from 75% to 80% or so, far lower than for typical plans. If enrollees don't pay the first month's premium, their insurance never goes into effect.
That doesn't mean, however, that one-fifth of the people signing up for Obamacare are blatantly refusing to pay. Technical problems with some of the exchange websites may have left people enrolled in an insurance plan without knowing it. Some may never have received a bill or confirmation of their enrollment. Others may have unwittingly signed up for two different policies, while paying for only one.
To make the Affordable Care Act work required a huge health care cost transfer from the old and sick to the young and healthy. The young and healthy, incidentally, made up a sizeable portion of the uninsured. Because they were young and healthy and felt invincible. And invincible people don't need to buy insurance. So Obamacare needed the individual mandate to force these people to buy insurance against their will so they could pay for the old and sick.
Of course when they raised the price of health insurance to cover pre-existing conditions it wasn't the young and healthy that ran to the Obamacare exchanges. It was the old and sick. Adding too many old and sick to the insurance pool. And not enough of the young and healthy. Those who would pay without consuming any benefits. Because they are young and healthy. Causing the insurers to pay more out in benefits than they receive in premiums. Forcing them to raise their premiums. Which will, of course, kick off the death spiral as people drop out because they can't afford those higher rates. Which will, in turn, force the insurers to raise their rates again. Hence the death spiral. And as bad as all of that was now it looks like about 20-25% of those who 'signed up' either didn't or are simply choosing not to pay. Making the financial predicament of the insurers far worse.
Of course if your plan was to force single-payer (i.e., national health care) onto the people against their will then everything is going according to plan to destroy the private insurance market. Leaving only the government to step in and provide single-payer (i.e., national health care). Which should fill everyone with confidence after seeing how well they rolled out the Affordable Care Act. And no doubt will impress us even more with the rollout of single-payer (i.e., national health care).
Tags: Affordable Care Act, death spiral, exchanges, health insurance, insurance premiums, National health care, Obamacare, old and sick, premiums, Single payer, young and healthy


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After all of the excitement that came from Halloween, Roxy Palace Casino is still going strong. To keep providing their players with more excitement, they have just released three brand new video slot games. Whether you've never played at Roxy Palace before or have been enjoying their games for years, you can give these three Microgaming Casinos games a try. For the best experience, we recommend taking the time to read about each one, then giving them a test drive in free play to see which one is your favourite.
Keeping with the Egyptian theme at Roxy Palace is Crocodopolis. Unlike Throne of Egypt, Crocodopolis focuses on a wilder rendition of Egypt. Instead of enjoying the luxury of palaces, you're surrounded by a hot, dangerous desert. Thankfully the famous Nile River is nearby, the home of the game's valuable crocodiles. Crocodopolis uses a 5-reel, 25-payline structure with plenty of twists to make it interesting.
The primary feature of Crocodopolis comes in its Slide a Wild capability. This option allows you to set the game to pay out the way you want it to. Choose whether you want a x2 wild in reel 1, a x3 wild in reel 2, an expanded wild in reel 3, an expanded wild with a x3 multiplier in reel 4, or stacked x3 wilds in reel 5. With a simple but valuable free spins feature triggerable with 3 scattered Pyramids, Crocodopolis is one hot slot.
Doctor Love
If you're feeling a little lovesick, Doctor Love has the antidote. This new game at Roxy Palace Casino shows off the romantic side of online gaming in a quirky medical theme. Whether you need emergency transport to Heartbreak Hospital or just need flowers and candy, Doctor Love delivers the goods. This colourful video slot relies upon the conventional 5-reel, 20-payline layout.
Of the three latest games Roxy Palace Casino has released, Doctor Love is the least unique in terms of how it plays. However, the game is good for players looking for a good balance between big standard wins and feature hits. It only has one free spins feature that is activated by getting three or more scattered Love Meters. Although it's not particularly complex, there's no doubt Doctor Love has plenty of big wins up his sleeve.
Throne of Egypt
Whether it's because of its rich cultural history or the over-the-top luxury of its royalty, ancient Egypt is one of the most popular video slot themes around. Roxy Palace Casino has continued with this trend with one of their newest games, Throne of Egypt. Although the game has a familiar look, as well as a basic 5-reel, 25-payline layout, it has enough unique elements to make it stand out.
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Morocco is a country that is famous throughout the world for it's exquisite, artisan handicrafts. Made using traditional methods that have been passed down from generation to generation, master craftsmen and women spend time creating unique, bespoke pieces of furniture and crafts that will give any home a taste of the exotic casbahs of Marrakech.
Marrakech is one of the main centers of these handicrafts (along with Fez) and you can walk through the souks (markets) and watch them being made in front of your eyes, to be taken home to create your Moroccan home design.
Some of the most popular Moroccan handicrafts are:
Moroccan tile table:
There are 3 kinds of table that are popular in Morocco. A low wooden frame table with an engraved metal tray that rests on top – these are for serving meals and are found in almost every Moroccan home.
Hand painted tables are also popular – especially for side tables. These are painted in old Amazigh designs, in bright, strong colours. Screens and tables are also available.
But perhaps the most popular is the Moroccan tile table. A cast iron frame supports a Moroccan tile table top, which is often made from many small tiles to create a mosaic pattern design. These are hand made, using a technique called zellige, and originate from Fez, in the north east of Morocco.
Of course, a heavy, cast iron tabletop is not something that you are going to be able to simply bring back home on the airplane. The weight of the item would prove prohibitive. This is the reason that picking them up outside Morocco is so difficult (and expensive!) If you visit Morocco, you could consider having one shipped back (many stores in Morocco will do this for you, for a fee), or you could buy from a local artisan store in your own country (try your nearest Middle Eastern neighborhood) or from an online retailer such as my 'Everything Moroccan' store. Alternatively, you could consider making your own mosaic tabletop and adding this to a base of your choice. A typical Moroccan tile table design would be made from small, neutral squares, with a strong color, such as red, green or blue edging the outside, or forming a small pattern in the center.
You can also buy embossed and engraved metal tables, and wooden tables that are inlaid with mother of pearl. These are more common for bedroom use.
Moorish tile:
Moroccan tiles are frequently used to make the most amazing mosaics and patterns. The designs used come from traditional Islamic art, using strong colors and designs that tell their own stories. In Islam, depictions of living creatures are forbidden, and so the designs are often based on strong geometric patterns.
Moorish tile is best bought in Morocco and shipped home.
Moroccan bedroom furniture:
A typical Moroccan bedroom involves lots of heavily carved wood, polished plaster walls and beautiful, richly coloured soft furnishings. A relatively new trend in Moroccan bedroom furniture is for inlaid mother of pearl, in delicate designs, set against a strong colour – pink, blue and black are popular.
These are still difficult to find in the USA, however, a very similar design is made by some Indian companies, so you could try hunting down Indian furniture sellers to find these and replicate a Moroccan bedroom furniture look.
Heavy wooden screens are hand carved, meaning no two are the same, making them a unique investment if you are considering a Moroccan home design interior. Matching small tables and chairs complete the look.
Moroccan Table Lanterns:
Moroccan table lanterns are often made from goat or camel skin, which is stretched and dyed in vivid reds, pinks and purples. These are known as 'henna lamps'.
The other common styles are glass or cut metal, designed to hold tea lights or small candles. A small group of 3 or 5 of these look amazing, in the right setting.
Other Moroccan Lighting:
Large, elaborate glass lanterns are a beautiful and uniquely Moroccan creation. These are often panelled with single, or multi-color glass, and are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. These are designed for electric lights.
Wall sconces, or goatskin wall lights or cut metal lights are also common, and can add dramatic effect to a Moroccan style interior.
Large versions of the cut metal or glass Moroccan table lanterns are popular for use outdoors, and look amazing with a large pillar candle – particularly around doorwarys or poolside.
Other articles on Morocco you may find interesting:
- About Moroccan Tagine
- 5 Things to See In Marrakech
- Can You Buy Alcohol In Morocco?
- Essaouira, Morocco
- Facts About Morocco
- Marrakech, Morocco
- Moroccan Cakes
- Moroccan Chicken Recipe
- Moroccan Culture
- Moroccan Decor
- Moroccan Family
- Moroccan Mint Tea
- Moroccan Riads
- Moroccan Spices - Ras al Hanout
- Morocco Language - What Language Do Moroccans Speak?
- Walking Holiday Morocco - Find the Best Moroccan Walking Vacation
- Weather In Morocco


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Wednesday to Sunday!
31 Jan – 4 Feb 2018
For those involved in the global toy industry, the Spielwarenmesse is the place where they can go to make contacts they hope will develop into new business partnerships – because Nuremberg is where around 2,800 exhibitors meet up with more than 70,000 trade visitors with the aim of doing mutually beneficial business. In order to make sure that the right partners come together to exploit the immense sales potential offered by the fair, Spielwarenmesse eG is introducing a new service: matchmaking.
Even in the run-up to the exhibition held from 27 January to 01 February 2016, exhibitors and trade visitors are showing what they offer and what they are interested in. They are using their Matchmaking Account to make appointments and receive contact suggestions that are individually tailored to their profile. Exhibition participants can thus not only maintain and manage existing business relationships, but also find new business partners. Ernst Kick, CEO of Spielwarenmesse eG, calls on everyone to join in: "With our new matchmaking service, each participant can get more for themselves out of the Spielwarenmesse. Because everyone who indicates what he has or is looking for increases his chance of enjoying a complete success with his new contacts. That's our goal. We're constantly working on efficiently bringing together the market partners."
All exhibitors receive a free basic account. They can activate it via Spielwarenmesse's online service centre and then personalize their profile. With an upgrade, exhibitors can then contact buyers, resellers and distributors direct and make appointments. Every visitor can create a free premium account after buying his tickets. From now on users can log in via Spielwarenmesse's web site.
The matchmaking service www.spielwarenmesse.de/en/matchmaking links scheduling with the online catalogue and organiser together with watchlist options making it a helpful trade-fair planning tool. In short, it's the key to new contacts.
24 Nov 2015 – kn
Spielwarenmesse, the leading international fair for toys, hobbies and leisure, is organized by the fair and marketing services provider Spielwarenmesse eG. The trade fair creates a comprehensive communication and ordering platform for 2,800 national and international manufacturers. The presentation of new products and the extensive industry overview provide a valuable pool of information for annual market orientation for 70,000 buyers and toy traders from over 120 nations.
Fair date: Spielwarenmesse®, Wednesday to Monday, 27 Jan- 1 Feb 2016


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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Friday he had decided to offer asylum to former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, who has petitioned several countries to avoid capture by Washington.
"In the name of America's dignity … I have decided to offer humanitarian asylum to Edward Snowden," Maduro told a televised military parade marking Venezuela's independence day.
The 30-year-old former National Security Agency contractor is believed to be holed up in the transit area of Moscow's Sheremetyevo international airport.
WikiLeaks said on Friday that Snowden had applied to six more nations for asylum, bringing to about 20 the number of countries he has asked for protection from U.S. espionage charges.
Maduro said Venezuela was ready to offer him sanctuary, and that the details Snowden had revealed of a U.S. spy program had exposed the nefarious schemes of the U.S. "empire."
"He has told the truth, in the spirit of rebellion, about the U.S. spying on the whole world," Maduro said.
"Who is the guilty one? A young man … who denounces war plans, or the U.S. government which launches bombs and arms the terrorist Syrian opposition against the people and legitimate President Bashar al-Assad?"
"Who is the terrorist? Who is the global delinquent?"
Russia has shown signs of growing impatience over Snowden's stay in Moscow. Its deputy foreign minister said on Thursday that Snowden had not sought asylum in that country and needed to choose a place to go.
Moscow has made clear that the longer he stays, the greater the risk of the diplomatic standoff over his fate causing lasting damage to relations with Washington.


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Teeth whitening doesn't always work on every tooth, so it's important to talk to your dentist about all the different teeth whitening options out there. There are several to choose from, including special whitening toothpastes and rinses, gels, strips and trays. There is also an in-office bleaching option that works brilliantly, but is a more expensive option. Let your dentist help you choose which option is best for you.


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My Nonprofit Reviews
Aeon F.
Review for World Wildlife Fund, Inc., Washington, DC, USA
Although I totally support the cause of helping wildlife and animals in general, unfortunately my experience with WWF was a very bad one. When I called to donate I was told that I would receive a "save the tigers" t-shirt. When I called weeks later and inquired why I never received it the employees were very arrogant and rude to me. They gave me the brush off and talked to me in a very unprofessional and insulting manner and even hung up on me. This left a very bad impression on me and I will never donate to them again. They really need to address the lack of common sense and professionalism of these employees who take the money over the phone.
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