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What it's like living on a tropical island with so much history
So this is my first week volunteering at GVI Seychelles and so far it's been a blast. Warm weather, great people, and amazing opportunities to work with turtles and sharks. They asked me to write a blog about the volunteering, anything I like. At home I am an architect so this volunteering is pretty far from my every day job. For the blog I decided to stay close to home and write about the housing situation.
The buildings now used as our campsite were built in 1829. They existed far before GVI set foot on the island and served the purpose of housing people affected by leprosy on the island. The buildings have since been completely refurbished, but until 1900 that was there home. This complex included a doctor house and even a prison. The buildings were abandoned for a while, but from 1935 the buildings were reused again. In 1965 all people affected by leprosy left the island for good. The buildings were left for nature to claim them. Today the buildings are safe for occupation. The latest research suggests that leprosy is contracted when someone whose immune system is compromised, or who is genetically predisposed, comes into regular close contact with someone who is currently affected by this bacterial infection. In addition, leprosy is a bacterial infection, which today can be cured with antibiotics, a medical technology people did not have access to in the past
In 2007 GVI decided to make Curieuse Island there home. And why make new buildings when there are already perfectly fine building on the island. Now a days the camp is using the female dorms of the people affected by leprosy. Two buildings are used as mixed dormitory with 8 beds per dorm. The staff has their own staff house. Then there are 3 more buildings used for the camp, a kitchen, a science room and a supply room. A big roof is connecting the science room building and the kitchen. The space in between is called the bommie which is used for meetings, breakfast, lunch, dinner and other gatherings. All the buildings are facing the sea, which gives it a nice light breeze. The sound of sea is always close.
On some of the walks when you do the beach cleaning you pass along the prisons. It's very interesting to see how small the spaces are, now still half visible. Most of it is broken down and covered by trees. Also on the camps are a few building, almost ruins now covered by trees. I guess all the buildings in the camp were like that when GVI came here and made it their home. I can only image how much work it must have been to make the buildings liveable again. I must say they did a pretty good job at it. They have a fully functioning water system, good toilets and spacious showers. Off course maintaining the camp still needs work every day. But the staff and volunteers are one big family working together to keep everything running. It's a great experience that I can recommend to everyone.
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Property prices in the UK have been in the news quite frequently as pressure on household budgets and a slow economy have caused the average property price to fall month-on-month. Now, new figures from Nationwide show that property prices fell by 0.2% month-on-month in May 2018, representing the third fall in four months. Annual growth also fell from 2.6% in April to 2.4%.
According to Nationwide's figures, the average house price was £213,618 in May 2018 when not seasonally adjusted, compared to £213,000 in April 2018. The figures from Nationwide back up earlier figures from the Office for National Statistics which show that the slowdown in the UK's property market is being driven by very poor market conditions in London. The figures from the Office for National Statistics show that house prices across the UK fell in March, with London recording its weakest performance since 2009.
Experts believe the decline in London is down to stamp duty changes and the Brexit vote, which are causing net migration amongst foreign investors to all, while foreign buyers are rethinking their investment in the capital and instead invest in other cities across the world.
Nationwide's chief economist Robert Gardner has said that there are very few signs of an imminent change in the UK's property market. He added that surveyors are continuing to report subdued levels of buyer inquiries, while the supply of properties for sale on the market continues to be well below levels seen a few years ago. He concluded by saying that the future of the UK's property market will be heavily influenced by how broader economic conditions evolve, especially the labour market and the Bank of England's interest level.
The chief economic adviser at EY Item Club, Howard Archer, also added that the housing market in the UK is clearly struggling to gain any traction and that any upturn in fortunes will remain elusive over the foreseeable months. He also said that the fundamentals for property buyers are likely to continue to be challenging due to the continued serious squeeze on purchasing powers felt by consumers which is only now starting to ease. He concluded that the UK's housing market activity remains hampered by consumers' lack of confidence and unwillingness to partake in any major transactions.
The chief UK economist of Pantheon Macroeconomics added that it is very unlikely that the near-flat trend in property prices will improve soon. He said that the mortgage rate increases in April will continue to increase over the coming months too as the Bank of England only delayed interest rate increases, and didn't scrap them.
Are you looking to buy or sell a property in Cardiff this summer? Here at CPS Homes, we're Cardiff's largest estate and lettings agency and have the experience and knowhow to help you find your dream home or achieve the best possible sale price. For more information about our buying and selling costs, or for some advice regarding home improvements or budgeting, get in touch with our sales team today on 02920 454555, email: firstname.lastname@example.com, or pop into our Cardiff Bay or Roath branches today.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Hero Jump hack has been recently very popular among many game enthusiasts. They tend to hack this video game to obtain unlimited Gems. Nevertheless, there are several Hero Jump hack tool but here is the just one where it does not have any survey and no human verification. You should never wait any longer to hack one of Elite Games game. Please feel free to use our Hero Jump generator.action


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A selection of great reading on climate change politics, policy, innovation and science from Climate Reality Leader Andrew Woodward. @climatecomm and www.climatecommunication.net
Guardian: Nike chairman gives $400m to Stanford program to solve 'global challenges'
New York Times: Scientists Protest Cuts and Commercialization at Australian Climate Centre
New York Times (Paul Krugman): Planet on the Ballot
Nothing this week.
Bloomberg: Here's How Electric Cars Will Cause the Next Oil Crisis
New York Times: Bill Gates's Clean-Energy Moon Shot
Guardian: Half the price in half the time: solar storage innovation harnesses new energy frontier
Mashable: Disney's solar farm looks like Mickey Mouse because of course it does
Renew Economy: "Base load" power: a myth used to defend the fossil fuel industry
New York Times: A Look Behind the Headlines on China's Coal Trends
Time: Why We're Not Prepared for The Coming Decades of Sea Level Rise
Toronto Star: Climate change is wreaking havoc on our mental health, experts say
Politics and policy
Climate Change News: Who's in line to be the next UN climate change chief?
Guardian: Time to examine the fossil fuel industry's relationship with Queensland's government
Huffington Post: New York Sets a New Standard for Clean Energy, Climate Leadership
Reuters: Democratic Party slams GOP candidates on climate change
Marketing, communication and advocacy
Climate Communication: Responsibility Plus Bulletin
Guardian: Top lobbying group in historic green energy U-turn
Nothing this week.
Bureau of Meteorology: Climate and Water Outlook, March–May 2016
The Conversation: Six burning questions for climate science to answer post-Paris
Washington Post: Scientists are floored by what's happening in the Arctic right now
Vox: The decisions we make about climate change today will reverberate for millennia. No pressure
- Responsibility Plus Bulletin: Read or Subscribe
- This Week In Climate Change: Read or Subscribe
- Weekend Reading On Climate Change: Read or Subscribe
- All Publications: Flipboard and Apple News App
- About me: I help marketing, advertising, communications, corporate affairs and sponsorship leaders do business in the age of climate change.
- Follow: @climatecomm
- Email: email@example.com
- Visit: www.climatecommunication.net
- Call: +61411623980


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Property and business owners have a responsibility to ensure safe conditions for pedestrians passing by or customers entering their business. Taking proactive steps in maintaining property, fixing defects and providing warnings is vital. Overlooking their duties to ensure a hazard-free environment can have catastrophic consequences.
Decades Of Experience Combined With A Track Record Of Success
At Dodds, Kidd, Ryan & Rowan, our team of experienced personal injury lawyers has more than 90 years of combined experience representing Arkansas residents in premises liability and slip-and-fall claims resulting from:
- Wet, icy and slippery surfaces
- Weather-related hazards
- Falling merchandise
- Uneven curbs
- Uneven stairway railings and uneven steps
- Uneven and cracked sidewalks
- Potholes
- Torn carpeting
- Negligent security
- Poor lighting
We Will Investigate Your Premises Liability Case
The sooner you contact our firm, the sooner we can start investigating your case. Getting fresh accounts from witnesses and visiting the accident site soon after the fall are vital in building your case. Our focus is on proving that the property owner created dangerous conditions or failed to provide timely repairs of dangerous conditions.
Slip-and-fall claims are not minor personal injury matters. Serious and even fatal injuries could result from a fall on residential or commercial property. Our objective is to build a fact-based claim and pursue maximum compensation that truly reflects the extent of your losses.
Contact Dodds, Kidd, Ryan & Rowan ∙ Free Initial Consultations
Our firm offers a free initial consultation. Contact one of our Little Rock premises liability attorneys today by calling 877-885-8839. You can also fill out our intake form.


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Contact Us
Dura-Lite™ welcomes your questions, comments, and suggestions.
Please take a look at Dura-Lite's FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions), where many of your questions may already have been answered. The website Search tool can also help you find the information you are looking for.
You can contact us by e-mail, telephone, fax, or mail. Dura-Lite™ will respond as quickly as possible.
Head Office
Mexico Office


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Until a couple of years back, the world hadn't seen a noteworthy tablet. And then, Apple changed the game with the introduction of the iPad, thereby creating a new business segment for tablets.
Since then, the iPad and the tablet market in general, has gone from strength to strength. Earlier this year, Cisco published a report which indicates that smartphones and tablets will outnumber humans by 2016. Gartner predicts that Apple will continue to dominate the tablet market for the next few years, although Android and Microsoft will start to mount a significant challenge.
Earlier this week, research firm NPD published a report which suggests that tablets are expected to overtake notebook PCs by 2016 as consumers shift to newer devices like the Apple iPad. In fact, tablets will be 'the growth driver' for mobile computing devices over the next few years.
NPD says overall mobile PC shipments including tablets will grow from 347 million in 2012 to over 809 million by 2017. While notebooks are expected to increase from 208 million in 2012 to 393 million by 2017, tablets are expected to grow from 121 million to 416 million in the same period. Geographically, North America, Japan and Western Europe will continue to be the largest consumers in the tablet segment.
NPD acknowledges that Apple's dominance in the tablet segment and the Cupertino giant holds 62.8 percent of the tablet market, with Samsung a distant second at 7.5 percent. However, that may change with the launch of Microsoft Surface which blurs the line between a notebook and a tablet by running a full version of Windows 8. The Surface tablet will be able to run a host of laptop applications which are currently not available to other tablet users.
Research giant Gartner says that the explosive growth of tablets has been a blessing in disguise for our environment. Tablets play a key role in reducing the amount of paper that we use in our daily lives with an increasing number of people choosing to read their news, magazines and books on a screen, rather than paper.
While that's encouraging news for all tablet manufacturers, as a consumer, I for one, am not prepared to replace my notebook with an iPad, Microsoft Surface, the Nexus 7 or any other tablet for that matter, at least for now. What about you?
Did you like this post? TheTelecomBlog.com publishes daily news, editorial, thoughts, and controversial opinion – you can subscribe by: RSS (click here), or email (click here).
Written by: Gaurav Kheterpal. www.digitcom.ca. Follow TheTelecomBlog.comby:RSS,Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube.


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FM 2738, Johnson County
This job consists of a hot mix asphalt concrete (HMAC) overlay, flexible pavement structure repair and pavement markings.
IH 635, Tarrant County
This job is being completed from SH 121 to the Dallas/Tarrant County line and consists of pavement and bridge joint repair and a hot mix asphalt concrete (HMAC) overlay.
Fort Worth Street Rehab (HMAC 2015-2)
Within the next couple of months, Peachtree Construction will start paving for a $1.65 million contract awarded by the City of Fort Worth.This job will consist mainly of concrete work and HMAC overlay of Fort Worth Streets.


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Are you getting hitched this Spring? Remember, your flowers can (and should) be as fierce as we know your wedding gown will be. With an eye for styles, you can make it happen on any wedding budget.
Janie Medley, of Janie Medley Flora Design, in Richmond, Virginia, is one of the top Black florists in the business and the creator of the popular wedding eye-candy blog The Bride's Cafe. We asked her to share some seasonal inspiration that's sure to wow wedding guests.
Here are six ways to work a little magic on your wedding flowers this Spring.


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Biomat USA Las Vegas
611 North Las Vegas Boulevard
Las Vegas, NV, 89101
Find Us On:
You can find us near the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Bonanza. We are conveniently located right behind the Las Vegas at Bonanza bus stop.
At Biomat USA Inc. we strive to give you a quick and friendly experience. We know that your donations save lives, and we are thankful that you are choosing to donate plasma with us. Come in, relax on our comfortable reclined chairs and watch a new movie while you help to save lives. During your donation our experienced team members will be happy to assist you with any questions or concerns that you may have. Be sure to ask about our bed bingo or other bonuses and give-aways that are regularly offered to our donors. Thank you for your life-saving donations!
We collect specialty plasma
Please go to the Why Donate Plasma section to learn more about our special plasma collection programs. Check with us to see if you qualify for a special plasma collection program and special compensation rates.
Sunday:05:30 AM - 04:00 PM
Monday:05:30 AM - 07:30 PM
Tuesday:05:30 AM - 07:30 PM
Wednesday:05:30 AM - 07:30 PM
Thursday:05:30 AM - 07:30 PM
Friday:05:30 AM - 07:30 PM
Saturday:05:30 AM - 04:00 PM


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Your shopping cart is empty.
When communicating information either at work or in your personal life, stamps are a great way to get the job done. When looking for a way to write various messages and information that changes, markers are a better choice than stamps. With the use of permanent markers, you can mark a variety of surfaces with inks meant to last for a long time! Markers are a great tool for various lines of work because they allow users the power of a stamp but in a more portable and versatile option. When it comes to leaving a mark they are sure to see, permanent markers are the way to go.
We offer a wide selection of permanent markers from Artline. Artline is the leader in creating permanent markers of exceptional quality boasting long-lasting operation. With a range of options available for markers from this respected brand, you are sure to find the one that is right for your needs. Choose from your choice of markers for paint, poster, laundry, steel, long nib, twin nib, and more. Artline's range of markers is renowned for quality and reliability. When looking for a marker great for marking small, harder to reach spots, check out our selection of nib and twin nib sizes. Nib sizes range from 0.8mm to 30mm making them perfect for any permanent application. We offer markers in both small and large sizes to give you the writing utensils that are best for your application and purposes. Small to medium markers sold by the dozen. Larger markers sold by the half dozen. Many of these markers feature fast drying ink capable of being used on multiple surfaces such as regular, glossy, and recycled paper, newsprint, photos, fabrics, glass metal, and more.
For the last twenty years, Rubber Stamp Champ has been dedicated to being your source for all things stamp related. We focus on providing customers with the best products at the best prices. If you have any questions about our inventory, we would be happy to assist you!


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Bon Appetit is usually known for its food porn covers - juicy roasts, steaming bowls of pasta, a cake that makes you want to eat the paper its printed on. But the June issue has a different kind of "dish" on it - Gwyneth Paltrow.
In the magazine and website, you'll find an interview with the prolific star, as well as six recipes, including grilled chicken, a peach cooler, grilled halibut with mango avocado salsa and strawberry shortcake sliders.
Editor-in-Chief Adam Rapoport states that it all started when he found Paltrow dining with Mario Batali in New York. That may seem like a case of being a "cook by association" (in which case we here at Clean Plate Charlie should all have won James Beard awards by now), but you may recall that Paltrow did just release a cookbook, My Father's Daughter, and has that strange website, Goop, which does have a recipe section.
If you think Bon Appetit has sold out to the celebrity machine, this is just the beginning. EIC Rapoport eludes that this is just the beginning of celebrity-as-foodie features at the mag. Next up - Jimmy Kimmel.
Watch Paltrow cook on Ellen after the jump.
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Engaging with our readers is essential to New Times Broward-Palm Beach's mission. Make a financial contribution or sign up for a newsletter, and help us keep telling South Florida's stories with no paywalls.
Support Our Journalism
Follow Clean Plate Charlie on Facebook and on Twitter: @CleanPlateBPB


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Will My Credits Transfer?
This is probably the most commonly asked question by students who are planning to transfer to a four-year school. It is important to note that transferring a Liberal Arts degree generally ensures a smooth transition to most four-year schools. However, there is no automatic and complete guarantee of the acceptance of credits.
Requirements May Vary: While an AA or AS degree is commonly accepted, it may not complete all of the requirements for a specific program or major. For example, a student entering a four-year engineering program may require higher levels of math and physics than was required for their two-year degree. The four-year school may accept pre-calculus, but may apply that credit toward a general elective requirement, leaving the actual math requirement incomplete for junior status.
Research Your Options: There may be severe limits on how credit is applied, or not applied, toward a specific major. Research is the key to an effective transfer process. Otherwise, students may find themselves needing an extra semester of coursework in order to enter into the major of their choice as a junior or spending an extra semester at the end of senior year at the four-year college.
If You Are Planning To Transfer: Begin early! Use our online transfer resources or contact your Student Success Advisor, located in the Technology Center, Suite 8220. Once you have decided on a school or schools, examine graduation requirements and the general education requirements for those particular schools. Each school has its own set of academic requirements.
Ultimately, it is the students' responsibility to ensure they are taking courses that will transfer. Students should be in contact with the admissions offices of their transfer school choices. Many schools have admissions counselors who work primarily with transfer students. Be sure your transcript is evaluated by admissions personnel who can tell you which classes will transfer to their institution as electives, which classes will transfer into your major and give you some idea of which classes to take here.
Transfer can be a daunting task. If you begin early and prepare carefully, however, you can ensure a smooth transition!


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I have lots of green paint chips, so I let her punch away to her heart's content.
Then she informed me that they needed ribbon... I had no idea what she was talking about, so we went back and forth for ten minutes, until she made me understand that she wanted to hang her snowflakes.
And that is how we got our mini garland.


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- This event has passed.
$10,000 Aaron Lewis Encore Giveaway
May 20, 2017 @ 11:00 pm - May 21, 2017 @ 12:00 am
Midnight Grand Prizes $1,000 cash!
You could win at 11pm and Midnight! Activate your entries up to one hour prior to each drawing by inserting your Marquee Rewards card into your favorite slot machine, opening a new table rating or swiping at the kiosk.
Earn entries May 12–20. Must be present to win. You can win only if you are a Marquee Rewards member. Marquee Rewards membership is free. Visit the cage to sign up.By:


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Full of infectious songs and loveable characters, a trip to see Aladdin is the perfect half-term treat
PUBLISHED: 12:28 30 May 2019 | UPDATED: 12:44 30 May 2019
Will Smith steals the show as the Genie of the Lamp in this empowering modern musical update on the classic love story of Aladdin.
A thrilling and vibrant live-action adaptation of Disney's animated classic, the tale of the charming 'street rat' is brought to colourful life as he tries to win the heart of the courageous and self-determined Princess Jasmine (played brilliantly by Power Rangers' Naomi Scott, who also delivers some show-stopping vocal performances).
Though the pair's disallowed romance is at the heart of the tale, there's also a feminist edge, with Jasmine gradually finding her voice to stand up against power - a timely representation of female empowerment in 2019.
Directed by Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.), there are plenty of fast-paced action-fuelled set pieces across the Arabic city of Agrabah. An early scene sees Aladdin (Mena Massoud, who starred in Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan) race across town to flee capture is a delight to watch, as he's helped - and often hindered - by his only *and extremely adorable* friend, Boo the Monkey.
Marwan Kenzari (Murder on the Orient Express) is a perfect fit for the role of evil power-hungry villain Jafar, who will stop at nothing to get what he wants - no matter who is standing in his way...
But as I said earlier, it's Will Smith who lights up the screen - coming to life as the Genie of the Lamp. Delivering some infectious musical numbers and dozens of witty one-liners, he lives up to Robin Williams' world-renowned performance in the original.
Full of infectious songs and loveable characters, a trip to the cinema to see Aladdin is the perfect treat this half-term.
Aladdin is now showing at The Light Cinema in Wisbech. For screening dates, times and tickets visit www.wisbech.lightcinemas.co.uk/aladdin
If you value what this story gives you, please consider supporting the Wisbech Standard. Click the link in the orange box above for details.


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Some cities have rat problems and some suburban areas have raccoon problems, but as we all know, the entire state of Florida seems to have an alligator problem, and this week, an alligator decided to intrude on a couple having a lovely picnic in Gainesville, Florida -- and basically ate all their food, including an entire bowl of guacamole.
How rude!
The couple told WGFL that they were just enjoying a splendid day, having a picnic alongside Lake Alice, when the alligator appeared alongside the lake and decided to join the couple before their picnic was all gone.
"He swims up to the bank and just looks us dead in the eyes and then he immediately just sprints up onto the beach," said Trevor Walter, who was there with his fiancé.
The truly insane part is what the alligator did once it got to the spread that the couple had set up for themselves.
The alligator first "annihilated an entire block of cheese" (OK, but who hasn't done that before?) "before moving on to the salami, half a watermelon and a full pound of grapes. The worst part is, we had a big bowl of guac made," Walters said. "He put the whole bowl in his mouth."
Did this alligator just get dumped or lose his job, because it sounds like he's just emotionally eating his feelings, and honestly, same.
Also, one would think the "worst part" of this experience would be a hungry alligator charging at you like you're his next lunch, but with the increasing price of avocados and limes, we would be a little upset that the picnic's priciest item was gobbled up just like that.
Luckily, the alligator did not harm the couple (Walters said the alligator retreated back to the water), but maybe think twice about your location for a lovely daytime picnic.
If it's not a hungry alligator, it could be a hungry raccoon or seagull that has its eye on your homemade guac.


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The Election & Transparency Watch Organization of Afghanistan (ETWA) analyzed the current Presidential order due to the Electoral Law, the electoral concepts and the expectations of civil society and political parties highlighting the following points:
The technique to selecting a brand-new member of the Election Commission in the Presidential order is specifically opposing Articles (14) and (16) of the Electoral Law.
Under post 14(2) of the Election Law, the work of the choice committee as an interim organ ends after sending the list of (21) candidates for the commission subscription to the President.
According to Article 16(3) of the Election Law, the President will select brand-new member (s) from among the staying candidates stated in provision (2) of the Article (14) of this law; with a due factor to consider to the ethnic and gender structure.
Focus on executing techniques contrary to the laws to designate the brand-new members of the Election Commission might seriously hurt the reliability of the procedure for political parties, civil society, and the public.
ETWA thinks if the Presidential Office discovers no person eligible in the pre-prepared list; it is recommended that:
The Election Law will be modified in assessment with political parties and civil society to eliminate spaces and defects in the law about the structure of the choice committee, the terms for the commission members and how they are changed.
We highly state that the current President method to selecting a brand-new member of the Election Commission disputes the relevant laws. The existence of the agent of civil society in this procedure (as a member of the Selection Committee) will be contrary to civil and democratic values.


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Do you shop?
When I read the books ( Confessions of a Shopaholic is based on a series of books by Sophie Kinsella), the one thing that I didn't get was shopping because I'm not a big shopper. But you know, all men think they aren't big shoppers because a lot of us don't spend money on clothes, or shoes or makeup – we just don't. But what we will spend money on – at least me – is gadgets, books, DVDs. For some reason, I don't consider that shopping. I don't know why. But once with my wife, we worked out what we spend in a month and our tally revealed that I had spent more on gadgets and books than she had spent on clothes.
It's interesting that you say that because there are parts in the film where it feels like you could sub in any destructive habit – alcoholism, or gambling addiction – there's a universality to it.
I identified with Rebecca Bloomwood because in the past, I've gotten in trouble with credit cards. Particularly when I was young, I got into a big fix with credit cards. Everybody has something that they do to cheer themselves up. For some people, it's buying something that they can't afford. It just makes them feel good. For other people, it's eating. A late night, great big bar of chocolate. For other people, it's a drink. If you can't stop and you find yourself doing it every day, you might want to take note.
Like Muriel's Wedding (Hogan's 1994 film, which starred Toni Collette), this film is about a woman who's so pathologically obsessed with one thing, it starts to pull down the other aspects of her life. As a comedy director, how do you balance comedy with misery?
The best comedy, in my opinion, has its roots in pain. It makes the comedy more real. That's what drew me to this, I thought, 'Rebecca Bloomwood has a real problem, but I'm laughing out loud.' To me, that's life. Like everybody, I've had some really tough moments, but those tough moments have also been some of the funniest moments. Sometimes things are so bad, what else can you do but laugh?
From when the book was written, to production, to post-production, to releasing the film, the economic climate has changed so much – what is your strategy for dealing with that?
The film has become more relevant – not less – because it was never really about shopping. It was about other things, and those things have become extremely pertinent.
I think the genius of Sophie Kinsella's books is that she was tapping into something in the zeitgeist that was always there – that pathological consumerism. We realize now that we've been a nation of shopaholics. We now all look like the character in the poster: a deer in the headlights with shopping bags in our hands wondering, 'How the heck did this happen?' Sadly, it's all too relevant now.
There's that line where John Goodman says---
'Your mother and I think that if America can be a billion dollars in debt and still survive, then so can you.' That's straight from the book and it was a very important line to me because I've been in credit card debt and I think my father said something very similar. He said, 'You can get out of this. It's not the end of the world, and just remember that the country you live in is in debt.' The only thing that's changed is that instead of billions, we probably should have said trillions.
CLICK HERE to listen to our entire interview with P.J. Hogan
Confessions of a Shopaholic
opens nationwide on February 13.


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Outreach and Training Fellow, Sarah, shares some of her reflections about the DPOC project as it draws to a close. Note: she wrote this post on a sunny day in September, before she left for maternity leave. She wants everyone to know things may have changed a bit by now.
It's a sunny, cool autumn day in September. It is my last day before maternity leave. The project will continue on for another three months, but for me this feels like the end. By the time this is posted, it will be a cold winter day in December and the future of DPOC might have changed. I hope the next few months will bring more announcements, more ideas and more changes.
It seems like just yesterday we were picking a name for the project. Suddenly I am depositing datasets and publications as we begin a massive self-archiving component of the project. Things are starting to wrap up and it feels a little strange. So, I am going to take some time to reflect on what I have learned during the project not just from Oxford, but the wider digital preservation community.
People are constantly being undervalued in favour of technological solutions
It is so easy to just run to technology to solve a digital preservation problem. After all, our collections are digital so the solution must therefore be digital. This means that people are constantly being undervalued, overlooked and not given the opportunity to learn in a field that is always advancing. Technology has a place of course; they are our tools. But that's just it, they are tools. Tools do not use themselves to their own ends. We need people to use them, to check them and to maintain them. Even in digital preservation, people have a place and we need to accept that. I'm not saying that to ensure we all have a job in the future, I'm saying that because people are the ones that make the decisions, run the quality checking processes and write the documentation. Whatever digital preservation may look like in the future, it needs to have people in it. Technology alone won't save us.
Research and time to learn isn't encouraged enough
Because of the previous point, it often means that existing staff are stretched to capacity. Not even with digital preservation work necessarily, but any digital work in general. It means there's no time to advance skills or answer complex questions. Things have to get done and that means that something has to get dropped. Unfortunately, that's always learning and research. In a field that is always changing, our knowledge and skills have to change to. We expect paper conservators to stay up to date with the current treatments, tools and chemicals. We also expect them to rigorously test and experiment before treating any work on paper. We should expect a similar level of research and care for our digital collections. They can be damaged, altered and lost. Just because they can also be copied easily doesn't mean they are safe from all of that. A look back into your personal digital life is likely proof enough of that. IT departments are not immune to permanent loss; many of them have yet to adopt good digital preservation practices and so are often at risk.
Community and collaboration are everything
In the face of resource constraints, it is always the knowledge of the community that gets things done. It's the open, collaborative nature of a small group of people that means tools and idea are shared. Work is undertaken collectively and people are generous with their time and expertise. I'm not sure how digital preservation would advance any other way. As it is, it's a real struggle to get decent investment in it. Even this project was built on collaboration, which underpins that it's hard to do this in isolation. It's sad to see that project collaboration coming to a close now; there are so many possibilities for working together in the future. And this is what draws me to digital preservation—knowing there are a lot of smarter, generous people to always learn from.
Do something, no matter how small
Decisions around digital preservation might be hard to make, but make them. Sometimes there's so much to do that conversations can jump from one thing to the next with little or no focus. Pick something and do it. There will always be more to consider—more collections, more processes, more tools, more people. The problem is that sometimes all we see are all of the problems and every one of them feels incredibly urgent. But looking to tackle all of the problems at once will likely bury you. I will point back again to the resource constraints, but also to the practicality that we cannot start off doing everything. If we could, the DPOC project and projects like it would never exist. The point is: we can't. So be strategic. Look for the most important, the quick wins, the practicable: start there. Just don't try to do it all; you may end up doing nothing.
So what is next?
Now that the project is concluding, the question is: has digital preservation become business as usual at Bodleian Libraries? The answer is: we're not quite there yet, but we're still fighting for it. At the time of writing this post, there were are a number of technical projects starting to improve workflows. There will be more collaborative digital preservation work with the GLAM institutions.
But all of it is project work. However, the fact that there are projects still happening at all gives me hope that we can keep advocating for a longer-term, sustainable programme. This message underpins every project and every report we deliver. That is a good place to start.


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Find answers to all of your
questions here
What is this?
This is the future! Well a vision of the future. All our experiences use a range of head mounted displays (HMD). We normally use the HTC Vive Pro or Original headsets for most experiences. But we also have Windows Mixed Reality, Oculus Rift, Oculus Go & PlayStation VR. You will either be standing in a small room and able to explore the virtual environment by walking physical around and moving using the wand style controlelrs. For racing experiences you will be seated in a car style racing seat with a physical Steering Wheel, Pedals and Gear Shifter, while earing the VR Headset. Some experiences are standing only, which means you stay on the same spot but can still move 1-2 steps in each directions and duck, swing and fight! We also have some experiences played completly seated suitable for everyone included wheelchair users.
If I'm late, can I still play?
This will depend on the other parties and bookings we have. Although we always try to accomodate our customers, we do suggest you arrive at least 10 minutes before any booking. This is especially true during peak-times such as school holidays, weekends or rainy days! For large group bookings we may require a non-refundable deposit.
I need to reschedule my reservation!
We can normally reschedule all bookings with at least 24-hours notice. However large or private bookings may mean forefitting the deposit payment – especially if we've closed the venue for your party.
How many people can play at once?
This depends on the game or experience. Some games are just for 1-player but your friends and family can take it in turns and will find it enjoyable to watch the player – especially when they jump and scream on some of the scary games. However we do have multiplayer games which allow upto 4 players to either compete or co-operate together at the same time – this will require more headsets to be booked out.
Do I need a reservation?
We recommend you book if you wish to come outside our core hours or at busy times. Large groups should always book. However during our core opening hours there is always someone on hand that if a headset is available will be happy to get you playing.
How much does it cost?
This depends on the headset and experience. A room scale experience (where you move around the room) is more expensive than a standing only or seated experience. If you wish to play at the same time as a friend then you will need to book a pod each. Prices start at as little as £5 for a 10 minute standing or seated experience. A private 1-hour room scale pod featuring HTC Vive Pro is normally £30.
Is this a haunted house?
Virtual Reality is anything the experiences allow. We certainly have haunted house style games and they are really scary! But this is Virtual Reality so the experience range from walking on Mars, being under the ocean or fighting hordes of killer Zombies.
How long do I have to complete the game?
This depends on how long you've booked for. Some games we recommend a minimum of 60 minutes before you start. Some games allow you to continue your progress over multiple visits!
Are there any age restrictions for participants?
We recommend players are at least 8 years old – however some experiences can be played by younger children. However certain games are age rating and these restrictions will apply and we reserve the right to refuse access to certain experiences depending on the age of the player.
Do I have to arrive in advance?
I recommend you arrive 10-15 minutes before the booked time slot. We have an on-site licensed cafe/bar and toilet facilities.
What, if anything, should I bring to the game?
Just yourself and perhaps money for extra time, drinks snacks etc!
Is it scary?
Some people find wearing the headset a bit scary so we start them off in a very gentle experience. If you are unsure we have some experiences which only last 2-3 minutes which we will happily let you try for free during normal opening hours before you book. However we do have some experiences which are fast paced and can be quite scary especially for sensitive or younger players. Our horror games are only suitable for the age rating on the game and some players with fear of heights shouldn't take part in some of the experiences. However we do have something for everyone including just painting and playing with cute animals in VR.


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Entrepreneur Nick Hanauer is a super-rich guy who, in his own words, is a "proud and unapologetic capitalist." He owns multiple houses, a yacht and his own private jet.
And he's got a message for his fellow "zillionaires": the pitchforks are coming for us. The reason? Growing inequality.
Hanauer provides a road map to tackle obscene levels of economic inequality and stop a revolution in his new Ted Talk, recorded this month at TedSalon in New York City.
Watch a snippet:
Photo: GollyGforce. Used under a Creative Commons BY-SA-2.0 licence.
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Matthew Dellavedova always looks as if someone has rousted him from bed at 3 a.m. He arrived for a recent Saint Mary's College practice with his face unshaven, his clothes rumpled, his hairstyle fashioned by wind and gravity.
"He is definitely not one to sit around and watch 'Project Runway,'" joked David Flint, a former coach.
Don't let the pajama vibe fool you: Dellavedova is the reason tiny juggernaut Saint Mary's College is no longer a sleeper.
In the tradition of Patty Mills and Omar Samhan, the native Australian is the heart and soul — and brains — of a team preparing for its return to the national stage. The seventh-seeded Gaels (27-5) face 10th-seeded Purdue (21-12) in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday in Omaha, Neb.
While Dellavedova is well known in the West Coast Conference (he was the player of the year) and a rock star on the outskirts of Melbourne (recent hometown headline: "DELL-LIGHTED"), the bulk of the March Madness audience will be getting its first look at the 6-foot-4 junior point guard.
A quick introduction: Dellavedova averaged 15.6 points, 6.4 assists, 3.3 rebounds and led the WCC with 37 minutes per game.
A quick explanation: Trying to understand Dellavedova's game through statistics is like trying to hear music by studying the CD case.
Dellavedova is something to be experienced. He is a wild-haired Aussie who plays with a ferocious intensity and yet manages to retain the cerebral approach suggested by his 3.61 grade-point average in psychology.
"It feels like you're in a chess match with him," Gonzaga guard David Stockton said after Dellavedova had 22 points, including the winning free throws in overtime, in the WCC title game. "You don't know what he's going to do with it. He's just a maestro."
When teammates talk about the player known as "Delly," however, they don't do so in terms of points, assists or rebounds.
They talk about his saves.
Team leader
Just a few weeks ago, Saint Mary's hopes of reaching the NCAA tournament were in jeopardy.
They were embarrassed twice on national television in a short span: a 73-59 loss to Gonzaga on Feb. 9 (ESPN2) and a 65-51 loss at Murray State on Feb. 18 (ESPN).
Delly had been in this pickle before. As a teenager in a national tournament in Australia, his Country Victoria team lost a round-robin game by 30 points, sending his coaches scrambling to get everyone together to clear the air.
Don't worry about it, Dellavedova told them. And then he organized a team meeting himself.
"To this day the coaches have no idea what he said to the rest of the players," Flint recalled in an email.
Country Victoria went on to win the gold medal for the first time in years. Dellavedova was the tournament MVP.
Two days after Saint Mary's lopsided loss to Murray State, Dellavedova again played team counselor. The Australian invited everyone over to his place for Spaghetti Bolognese.
Dellavedova ran the meeting but, ever the point guard, got everyone involved in the flow.
"Everyone was having their input," he said last week. "It just showed how much everyone cared about it and wanted to have a good season.
"We just needed to turn things around."
The Gaels haven't lost since. They finished the regular season with victories over Portland and USF to capture their first regular-season crown in 27 years. Then they swept through the WCC tournament, making this the first time in school history that Saint Mary's has won the conference title and the conference tournament in the same season.
Analytical mind
Maryborough, Victoria, sits about 100 miles north of Melbourne, a country town that saw its heyday during the Australian Gold Rush of the 1850s.
Now with a population of about 8,000 residents, this is where Dellavedova grew up. Matt Johnston, who played alongside him as early as 10, said "there really wasn't much here to do growing up except play sport, with Australian Rules football being by far the biggest."
Dellavedova chose basketball, like his dad, who was a regular in Friday night community games. Mark Dellavedova studied the sport as if it were a science project, whether he was playing himself or watching his son.
"Mark used to analyze every single play of every single game when we were growing up," Johnston said of the elder Dellavedova. "I think that has rubbed off onto Matt. Now he analyzes everything."
Flint saw Dellavedova for the first time when the kid was whirling all over the court for the under-12 Bendigo Braves. Young Delly would get a defensive rebound or a steal, weave down the court at full speed and nail a pull-up jumper from the free-throw line. Then he'd do it again.
When Flint began coaching Dellavedova at age 12, the focus was on making the most of his natural court sense. "We talked a lot about becoming a complete player, about not being one-dimensional," he said.
Dellavedova kept pushing himself when, at 16, he left Maryborough to attend the Australian Institute for Sport in Canberra. Over the years, he kept adding brawn to go with his basketball brains.
"Now he can physically handle any guard in the country," Flint said.
'High basketball IQ'
Dellavedova's all-around skill makes him the ideal candidate to direct traffic on Saint Mary's bread-and-butter play, the high pick and roll. The Gaels exploited Gonzaga time and again in the WCC tournament title game, even as the Zags dispatched 7-foot center Robert Sacre to defend Dellavedova in the high post.
Dellavedova handled the assignment like an experienced quarterback, reading the coverage and finding the open man. "It's really important for Delly to have the vision and the confidence to know where his players are going to be," forward Rob Jones said. "It takes a really high basketball IQ to do what he does off those screens."
Now, his role as the unquestioned leader makes him the one to watch as the Gaels gear up for Purdue and, perhaps, a second-round matchup with Kansas.
The rest of America is about to say hello to the new face of Saint Mary's basketball — scruffy though it may be.
Contact Daniel Brown at email@example.com


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As a lawyer, as a private citizen, you see a lot of injustice. You see a lot of people who should have been punished and are not, and people who were punished wrongfully are not vindicated. Fiction is sort of a way to set the record straight, and let people at least believe that justice can be achieved and the right outcomes can occur.
– David Baldacci
Winston Smith
In the last post in this series, we concluded the overview of the Reid Technique. Remember, the Reid Technique is the most widely used interview and interrogation method used in the United States. Many of the readers of this blog may be live in the United States. While the Reid Technique may, at least to some, seem reasonable at face value, it is not. The Reid Technique is a bear trap, a psychological torture device. This method is highly likely to elicit a false confession, resulting in a wrongful conviction, from those who undergo it.
There has been much research done to explore the possible connection between the Reid Technique and false confessions. When asked to describe the Reid method, Saul Kassin, an expert on false confessions, has stated that:
The Reid Technique is inherently coercive. The interrogator's refusal to listen to a suspect's denials creates feelings of hopelessness, which are compounded by the fake file and by lies about the evidence. At this point, short-term thinking takes over. Confession opens something of an escape hatch, so it is only natural that some people choose it. (Starr, 2013)
This sentiment is widespread throughout the academic community (Gallini 2009; Moore & Fitzsimmons 2011; Kassin 2005; Kassin 2009). It is believed that "[i]n the guilt-presumptive Reid environment, eliciting truth and eliciting a confession amount to the same thing (Hirsch 2104, 815)." This is so incredibly important to understanding why the Reid Technique is rotten to the core. When the search for the truth is directly linked to eliciting a confession how can it not be obvious that this method is corrupted? How can we trust this method to be correct?
Within the Reid Technique, there are three identifiable factors that lead to false confessions: isolation, confrontation, and minimization (Kassin 2005, 221).
Isolation occurs primarily in the interrogation room and has the effect of increasing the anxiety and the incentive to escape for the subject (ibid). These situations create an environment for the subject wherein he or she is "stressed, anxious, scared, confused, without social support, and presented with falsely constrained alternatives (Moore & Fitzsimmons 2011, 513)." Studies have consistently shown that fatigue and sleep deprivation, which come hand in hand with isolation, "can heighten susceptibility to influence and impair complex decision-making abilities (Kassin 2005, 221)." When analyzing proven false confessions, it has been found that the interrogations that lasted 6-12 hours had a 34% false confession rate which increased to 39% to when the confessions lasted 12-24 hours (ibid).
Confrontation is when the subject is "accused of the crime, presented with evidence, real or manufactured, and blocked from denial (ibid)." It has been demonstrated through numerous studies that individuals will yield to police interrogators when they are made to believe that the police have "strong evidence against them (ibid)." What is important to note is that it may not "occur to an innocent suspect that he is in an adversarial situation (and is being lied to) until it is too late (Moore & Fitzsimmons 2011, 515)." Additional studies have also demonstrated the link between false evidence and a higher risk of innocent individuals to falsely confess and internalize blame for the outcome of the crime that they did not do (ibid). A study conducted by Kassin and Kiechel in 1996 found that the presentation of false information to innocent subjects increased their false confession rates from 48% to 94% (ibid). Another study found that "doctored video evidence can induce people to provide false eyewitness testimony against another person" and can compel a person to falsely confess and believe that they had committed the crime in question (Moore & Fitzsimmons 2011, 516).
Minimization is a strategy used by the interrogator when the interrogator presents the suspected crime in such a way that it seems "morally justified" which is then used to lead the subject "to see confession as a possible means of 'escape' (ibid)." A study conducted by Russano et al in 2005 empirically demonstrated minimization's effect on producing false confessions. Innocent subjects were accused of a crime and the experimenter would then engage in minimization behavior such as promising leniency if the subject confessed, making minimization remarks, and using both or neither of the two tactics (Kassin 2005, 222). The rate of confessions was higher in the group where leniency was given than when it was not, and higher in groups where minimization tactics were used versus a group where they were not used (ibid). When minimization and leniency were given there was a "seven-fold increase in false confessions (Moore & Fitzsimmons 2011, 519)."
What is important to note is that in its fifth edition, Reid and Associates make a note to their inductees that "explicitly telling suspects that they face certain punishment unless they confess and promising leniency if they do confess can indeed break down the innocent" and that this type of tactic is to be avoided at all costs (Hirsch 2014, 821). While this is a promising step with Reid, when analyzing what they tell their interrogators to do instead is still very worrying. In their explanation of the confrontation step, Reid guides their users to not threaten "'I will not only charge you with this offense but also with obstruction of justice, which involves a mandatory prison sentence'" as Reid states that this would make it appealing for the suspect to confess (ibid). What is key is that this "risk extends only to a direct threat of inevitable consequences; '[m]erely discussing real consequences' is unproblematic (ibid)." When updating their use of minimization, the authors of Reid do not allow statements such as, "'if this is the first time you did something like this, I'll talk to the judge and make sure that he gives you probation,'" as this also makes it much more appealing for the suspect to confess (ibid). Instead, Reid allows statements such as "'if this is something that happened on the spur of the moment, that would be important to include in my report' (ibid)." Reid states that this type of statement only provides incentives for guilty suspects to confess (Hirsch 2014, 821-822).
What has been proven is that Reid interrogators are able to break down their suspect to a point where it seems futile to continue to maintain innocence (Hirsch 2014, 822). This instills the feeling that leniency is only a confession away "without [the interrogators] making explicit threats and promises" while, in contrast, the authors of Reid believe that this method is effective if the interrogators "do not cross the line into definitive threats and punishments (ibid)." To resolve this split, Hirsch looks at a section of the Reid manual wherein it effectively states that there is a "possibility that implied threats and promises can lead people to draw conclusions about their prospective treatment" but that the conclusions would not affect an innocent person's decision making (ibid). Hirsch responds to this aside stating:
It seems odd that the authors only "acknowledge the possibility" that suspects may be led by minimization themes to consider themselves better off confessing. The tendency of such tactics, in conjunction with confrontation, to produce that conclusion by a suspect is essential to the Reid Technique. Suddenly, 350 pages in, the authors seem uncertain about the effectiveness of their own methods. (Hirsch 2014, 823)
While maintaining their own technique's effectiveness, Reid continues to operate under an assumption that an innocent person would not act against their own self-interest (ibid). What the authors fail to understand is that "they themselves carefully cultivated conditions that create desperation to escape and thus compromise the rationality of the innocent suspect's calculations (ibid)." Remarking on Reid's attempt to modernize and reform their practices, Eric Shepherd, a psychologist who assisted in the development of the PEACE method, states "What you see now is a rear-guard action to defend the indefensible (Douglas 2013)."
As a result of the analysis of the underlying assumption that an innocent person would not act against their own self-interest, there has also been a revised analysis of the nine steps of the Reid interrogation. The authors of Reid have responded to criticism from Dr. Richard Leo who has described the first step of the Reid interrogation process as an exercise in making the subject believe that their situation is "helpless (Hirsch 2014, 824)." The authors of Reid counter this notion by stating in their text that it is "improper to tell the suspect that he is facing inevitable consequences (ibid)." Crucial to Dr. Leo's point is that he does not state that they explicitly do, but it is a "predictable" result of the Reid technique as the text of Reid instructs interrogators to "communicate 'absolutely certainty' of the suspect's guilt (ibid)." Adding to the first step, the steps dealing with "'handling denials' and 'overcoming objections'" help contribute to the subject's feeling of futility (ibid).
The seventh step of the Reid Interrogation, in which the interrogator asks the subject an alternative question that provides the option of the suspect to pick to confess to an "acceptable" and "unacceptable" portion of the crime, has come under heavy criticism (Inbau et al 1986, 80; ibid). What is still at issue with Hirsch is why any individual, regardless of guilt, would confess to any part of the crime in question if not as a direct result of their sense of futility (ibid). Hirsch concludes that while the text of Reid "eschews" this characterization, "[p]roducing a feeling of helplessness via relentless confrontation is central to the Reid Technique…(ibid)."
Hirsch provides a warning to those who read his work, writing:
Even if one is not satisfied that the causal connection between the Reid Technique and false confessions has been sufficiently established, should not the criminal justice system err in the direction of resisting a method widely believed (by those who have studied it) to contribute to false confessions? While we await more definitive proof, numerous innocent people are at risk. (Hirsch 2014, 825)
Simply put, the Reid Interview and Interrogation technique is "a guilt-presumptive, accusatory, manipulative process–and it packs a powerful psychological punch (Crane et al. 2016, 12)." Now with all this in mind, remember some of Reid's most prominent users are the CIA, DEA, DoD, FBI, and private government police. These are organizations that we depend on to get it right, to get the bad guy, to keep us safe, to protect us.
Want to help make a change? Consider supporting groups such as the Innocence Project. Get educated about police reform and get involved in your local, state, and national elections. We all must fight to eradicate ineffective, biased police tactics that harm all of us.
Photo Credit: Flickr/Drewdlecam


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I've recently fielded a few questions about where to start in Muv-Luv just recently. Considering how expansive the franchise is, I decided to break it down for everyone using my knowledge of the franchise.
The Muv-Luv franchise is broken down into two parts: there's the main saga and the side stories.
The Main Saga (Sometimes Main Trilogy):
The main saga is inclusive of both the two-part Muv-Luv visual novel and the single-part sequel Muv-Luv Alternative. Both of these games were fully fan translated by Amaterasu Translations into English. Don't know what a visual novel is? Our resident visual novel writer on TAY has you covered.
The two-part Muv-Luv is a borderline parody romantic comedy dating-sim that I reviewed here. An extremely important thing to note here is the "two-part" description. This visual novel contains both Muv-Luv Extra and Muv-Luv Unlimited. Extra is available from the first installation of the game. Unlimited only becomes available after you complete both main routes of Extra (which are Sumika and Meiya's endings). Seeing Unlimited is crucial to understanding the story.
Speaking of, Muv-Luv Alternative (spoilers are present in the linked review) is generally regarded by Eastern and Western audiences alike to be one of the (if not the) greatest visual novels in existence. I already talked about how I think it's the greatest story I've ever experienced right over here, but there are rather major spoilers in it for the first game. There's no tricks to Alternative, it's a one-route visual novel that literally ties all three parts together.
The Side Stories:
The side stories are a collection of visual novels, light novels, and manga series that take place in the world of Unlimited and Alternative, although some take place in the world of Extr. Naturally they are basically walking spoilers since their very existence spoils the setting.
Among these side stories is Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse, a light novel series that has since been adapted into a manga, an anime, and a visual novel by the original developer of the main saga, âge. The anime version has its moments, but it has its problems as well. My old review was done before I played the visual novels (I wouldn't recommend this, but that's how I discovered the VNs). Fellow Ani-TAYvian Rockmandash has you covered there.
Other than Total Eclipse, there's also a whole slew of side stories that âge released since their goose laid the golden egg with the surprise hit that was Muv-Luv Alternative. Among these side stories are the Muv-Luv Alternative Chronicles series, which are collections of stories in the Unlimited/Alternative universe. Each Chronicles batch contains a few short stories alongside an episode of a larger story called Muv-Luv Unlimited: The Day After. This particular story shows us the result of the end of Muv-Luv Unlimited.
Both the main saga games also have Fandiscs that expand on the content of both games in different ways. Muv-Luv has the Muv-Luv Supplement disc while Muv-Luv Alternative has the Muv-Luv Altered Fable disc (it is conjectured by fans that Altered Fable is, in a way, a stealth-sequel to Alternative).
At this point though, I must point out that only Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse (the anime version) has been translated out of all of these side stories. Fan translations are occurring on some of them, but they are slow going and are not guaranteed to succeed in the near future.
(Update 7/12/2014): This list has since expanded to include a partial translation of Muv-Luv Altered Fable, a full translation of Muv-Luv Alternative Chronicles 01, and a partial on Muv-Luv Alternative Chronicles 02.
(Update 3/10/2016): This list has further expanded due to the success of the Muv-Luv Kickstarter, which will give us translated versions of the main trilogy as well as translations for Photonmelodies and Photonflowers. These are compilations of the following side stories:
- Aspiration (Side story featured in Chronicles)
- Resurrection (Side story featured in Chronicles)
- Before the Shimmering Time Ends (the main story of Altered Fable)
- Before the Sakura Trees Bloom (the main story of Muv-Luv Supplement)
- Muv-Luv Heroine Short Story Collection (I honestly have no idea)
- Chicken Divers (Side story featured in Chronicles)
- Atonement (Side story featured in Chronicles)
- Inheritance (Side story featured in Chronicles)
- Rain Dancers (Side story featured in Chronicles)
- Confessions (Side story featured in Chronicles)
In addition to that, Teito Moyu, the visual novel equivalent to the first two episodes of the Total Eclipse anime featuring the defense of Kyoto will be released, along with the demo for the visual novel adaptation of the currently-airing Schwarzesmarken.
Quick aside, there âge also has produced games called Kimi ga Nozomu Eien (which did have an anime adaptation, but avoid the dub like the plague) and Akane Maniax which had characters that were a part of the Muv-Luv universe, making them unofficially members of the franchise.
So, Where Do I Start?
The universal answer is (and should be) with the two main saga visual novels. You should not be allowed to skip the first game, despite any reviews you may see about it. This saga only works if you play all three parts in succession.
I've heard it said that you should also watch the Kimi ga Nozomu Eien anime before you play Muv-Luv because it expands on the backgrounds of characters you'll meet in the visual novel saga. The Akane Maniax anime OVA might be a good idea for the same reason.
I have not tested this advice, but I won't argue with the idea that more character development would make Muv-Luv's impact even more excellent.
(Update 7/12/2014): As part of an ongoing marathon by myself to replay the "âge-verse" from the beginning, I've watched both anime adaptations. They are clever in that they very intricately tie into Muv-Luv on many levels. It's not going to help you understand the saga any better, but it offers more insight into the world, which is very good.
After you finish the main saga, you can try out Total Eclipse if you want, but I wouldn't say it's required or even recommended by any means. If you can speak Japanese and understand Kanji, then I'd suggest checking out the first part of the Muv-Luv Alternative Chronicles. I've heard good things about it from those that have.
That's about all I have for you. If anyone has anything to add, I invite you to do so in the comments. With any luck this will be the last time I write an article about Muv-Luv because I feel like I bring it up every week.
You can find all my articles on Dex's Corner.


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Nedbank Tour de Tuli, Day 3 – talking to donkeys and photobombing
Have you wondered how the cyclists find their way around without getting lost in the bush until they die from lack of a tea stop? The participants are divided up into teams. Some teams consist of corporate or club groups and some are a mix of groups and individuals. Team 15 was made up of 9 members from Worldwide Sport and 5 individual entrants. In addition to the members, each team has two guides. They form the engine and caboose of each cycling train and are equipped with a gps device and two-way radios. GPS is the only way to get around in terrain where some of the time you are bundu bashing on two wheels with no trail to follow. After all, it is essential that the riders get fed and watered on time, right? We are mentioning the team now, because they feature in today's nutty pictures. We also want to prepare you for the prank they played on Jeremy on the final day. (more on that tomorrow)
- For the first time since day one, the cyclist rode through a communal area and encountered what amounts to a lot of traffic in the area: a donkey cart. Team member, Patrick Miller stopped for a brief, entertaining, chinwag with the pair.
- The next stop was a local school to deliver backpacks to the children. Cyclists were greeted with much enthusiastic singing and dancing, a hallmark of African schools and one we love. This is one of the many schools in the area that is supported by Children in the Wilderness. To find out more about their amazing work, click here.
- After a bit more riding, cyclists took a moment to stop at the Royal Flame Bottle Store and TM General Dealer to have a drink of their choice. Jeremy went for a coke and team member, Tony Payne, went for a little competitive quenching with a thirsty person he met at the store.
- Peter Kirk caught this shot of Jeremy negotiating a tricky bit of bush. The organizers describe this as "dancing through the bush"
- After a bit more bush riding, the cyclist arrived at their destination, Fly Camp. Situated on the Nottingham Estates. The elephants came to visit and feed off the orange pulp left over from the oranges processed on the farm.
- Team members pose for a shot and get upstaged by Tony Payne's expert photobomb.
Thanks to Jacques Marais (elephant photo) and Peter Kirk (donkeys, thirst quenching and bush dancing) for the photographs to illustrate the journey. Their photos of the tour are spectacular and can be viewed on the Children in the Wilderness facebook page. Visit Jacques website here.
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Boudoir ~ Beauty ~ Fashion
Boudoir is more than a photo shoot to wear sexy lingerie and have makeup and hair done. This is a photo shoot that will forever showcase your inner beauty, confidence and sexuality. Boudoir is about letting yourself go. To be vulnerable and allow your elegance and confidence to show in an atmosphere with style you will admire. Share with someone special in a way that will be held close to their heart. Or keep to yourself as a moment in your life that you stepped outside your comfort zone to show the most confidence in yourself.
Beauty portraits can be in studio or on location. Even included inside a boudoir session. From have stunning portraits in elegant wear, styled wardrobe or beauty headshots. With beautiful lighting and elegant angles your photos will showcase you in a fashion no matter where your comfort level is in front of the camera. From Top Model to your first time in a professional setting. We can assure you that you will walk away with a great experience together and pictures that will be amazing.
To learn more we encourage you to reach out to us and set your perfect session up today.
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Calvary Chapel of Hilo
885 Kilauea Ave. Hilo
Aloha church family.
Due to Governor Ige's directive, we will not be having face-to-face Sunday services throughout April 30th. We will be live streaming via Facebook; Sunday mornings 9:00am HST.
Pastor Ron will be doing weekly Facebook and email updates.
(Romans 13:1-7)
There will be NO WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, OR SUNDAY SERVICES until further notice
Our Sunday Morning Service will be streamed live on Facebook


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Elite First Class Mykonos provides personalized services according to your personal needs, through our partnership with specially trained and qualified professionals including nutritionists and physicians to look after your health, professional yoga instructors and Personal and Pilates trainers to take care of your fitness and wellness needs.
We are also honored to have Greek Olympic trainer Pigi Dervetzi on hand with her wealth of knowledge and experience. Elite First Class Spa and Wellness awaits to pamper you, ensuring you look exquisitely groomed throughout your stay on one of the world's most glamorous islands. We have highly trained and talented professional hair stylists, make-up artists manicurist and pedicurists on hand to keep you looking your best and masseurs and physiotherapists to make sure you feel as relaxed and toned as you are beautiful.
Our highly trained personnel is available for you and your guests 24/7.
Copyright © 2018 | Elite First Class Mykonos - All Rights Reserved
Developed & Designed by © HappyOnline.gr


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Download Black Episode 8 Subtitle Indonesia, Nonton Black Episode 8 Subtitle Indonesia, don't forget to click on the like and share button. Series Black (2017) always updated at DramaNim.Com. Don't forget to watch other series updates.
+ 240p/360p = Hardsub Indo (Sub Nempel)
+ 540p/720p = Softsub/RAW (Sub Terpisah)
+ Download Subtitle: Https://indexsubtitle.com


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Begin with the word of God. This will teach the priority of the word of God. This will demonstrate the need to continue to read the word.
Hebrews 5:12-14 is a passage that challenges us from both sides of the issue.
- Milk is for babes
- Meat is for maturity
Milk was once meat digested by the mature and given to the immature. Meat is only for the skillful in the word and can cut a line between good and evil.
Just like physical babies who must be served spiritual babies need much care. Mature believers entertain and mentor the immature with a goal of seeing them grow. It is a joy to have babies and watch them grow up. When they age but do not grow up something is wrong.
After starting with the word of God give illustrations and examples and conclude with a challenge for life change.
You can leave a comment by clicking here.


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Join Prosperon on Thursday, 15th February for a webinar to discover how you can increase your SolarWinds® Sales and customer loyalty with professional services provided by Prosperon Networks.
This webinar examines how to sell more SolarWinds licences by adding more value to your customers through professional services. You will learn how professional services can increase customer satisfaction, improve the efficiency of your customers' SolarWinds platforms, and generate new sales opportunities for you.
What you will learn in this webinar:
- Increase Sales Margins & Improve Competitiveness: Learn how professional services can help you sell more SolarWinds licenses, and increase your profit margins whilst increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Identify New Cross-Selling & Up-Selling Opportunities: Learn how professional services can generate opportunities for you to cross-sell and up-sell additional SolarWinds modules to your existing customers.
- Qualify Opportunities to Sell Professional Services: Learn how to identify professional services opportunities when discussing new license sales, and even when discussing renewals with existing SolarWinds customers.
Places are limited, so register early to avoid disappointment.


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Bringing in $8k/mo With a Project That Solves a Real Problem
What is TestingBot?
TestingBot is SaaS that provides both automated and manual browser and device testing for websites and apps. I've been working on it since 2013.
How did you get started?
I was 28 and had been working for a social networking company for 4 years. After I read the Steve Jobs Walter Isaacson book, I decided I wanted to start a company myself. As I was interested in automation software, and wanted to learn, I stumbled across Selenium. Selenium at that time provided basic browser testing.
While I was setting up Selenium, I realized it was a lot of work to set everything up correctly and maintain it. So I decided to turn this into a SaaS project, offering people a ready-to-use browser grid to do browser testing. It was pretty easy to fire up some VMs with Amazon's AWS. I was able to quickly create a custom Selenium grid with quite a few different browser versions.
Once I got a proof of concept running, I had to add all the extras: integrate user authentication (bill users for their usage of the grid), record the tests (screen capturing), create a VPN tunnel so that people can test websites not publicly available, etc.
While I was working on this, another company was already providing this service. Trying to be as good as that company was my primary motivation... learning from their product, thinking about ways to improve their product, making it faster and easier to use.
Where did you find the time and funding to work?
I never raised any money — everything was funded from my own funds. During the day I worked at my day job, and in the evenings and at night I worked on improving the service. On average, I worked about 25 hours per week on TestingBot.
Unfortunately, I didn't have anyone to help me, so when I stumbled across a difficult problem, I would end up spending a lot of time solving it alone.
How did you grow? What did you do for marketing?
As it turned out, marketing was the most difficult thing to get right. I preferred improving the product, so at times I neglected marketing. I tried Google AdWords, buying links, blog posts, and Twitter.
How did you monetize? What was your revenue?
The service charges a monthly subscription fee to use the browser grid. Customers are charged for the time they use the grid. Most of the money was re-invested in more hardware and in marketing campaigns like AdWords.
Overall, the revenue has been increasing since the start. Nowadays there's more competition, and it's difficult.
What do you feel has helped you, and what advice do you have for hackers setting out to be their own boss?
My main motivation was becoming as good as the main competitor. It still is a big motivation.
My advice is to work hard and spend a lot of time making your product fast and easy for people to use. Take special care in providing support, even for people who haven't paid anything yet. Good support is essential.
Also, try to automate as much as possible. Make sure you can do fast deploys. Have a continuous integration system for fast feedback. And use microservices — it makes it a lot easier to maintain complex systems.
What was your tech stack?
Java, Node.js, and Ruby.
Where can readers learn more about you and/or your company?
Visit the site at https://testingbot.com, or leave a comment below.
— Jochen
Want to build your own business like TestingBot?
You should join the Indie Hackers community! 🤗
We're a few thousand founders helping each other build profitable businesses and side projects. Come share what you're working on and get feedback from your peers.
Not ready to get started on your product yet? No problem. The community is a great place to meet people, learn, and get your feet wet. Feel free to just browse!
— Courtland Allen , Indie Hackers founder


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In today's business world, millions of corporate leaders and small business owners find themselves in need of a hybrid coupler. Yet if you've never made this type of business purchase before, you may need guidance and advice regarding how to select the ideal purchase provider. Read on to learn about several of the attributes you should seek out in a company that sells hybrid couplers:
1. Industry Experience.
One of the first things you should seek out once you start looking for the right hybrid coupler company is industry experience. Ideally, you want to select a company whose professionals have been successfully operating for five years or longer. This step is advantageous because the more time the company's professionals have spent in the industry, the more likely they are to know what steps to take to connect you with the ideal product. Typically, you can determine how long the coupler company has been successfully operating by reviewing their website.
2. Excellent Customer Service.
Another attribute that you should seek out in a hybrid coupler company is excellent customer service. Obtaining stellar customer service is imperative for multiple reasons. First, it ensures that you're working with individuals who have extensive product knowledge, thereby ensuring that they are linking you with the ideal product. Additionally, working with a company whose professionals offer excellent customer service ensures that you are treated with respect throughout the shopping process.
3. A Satisfaction Guarantee.
Another attribute that you should seek out in a coupler company is a satisfaction guarantee. Business owners maintain satisfaction guarantees to assure their customers that they believe in the quality of the products and services that they are offering. Generally, the satisfaction guarantee will inform you that you can attain a full refund or exchange if there is something wrong with your product or service.
Business owners who are serious about finding the right coupler company should know that the process does not have to be harrowing or hounding. To make the search process as simple as possible, try utilizing the strategies outlined in this article!


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Airoldi Fine Wines
PO Box 128
Black Rock VIC 3193
Phone: 0407 856 334 or 0403 189 982
Have a particular wine you'd like us to source? A question about tasting? Get in touch below and we'll do our best to accommodate you.
Need a Trade Login password? Please select Trade Password Request below and include the name of your venue in the Your Message box.


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Connect with Tokyo, Create in Tokyo
The "Open Residence" of 3331 Arts Chiyoda is a program for artists and creative practitioners from all over the globe. With a full range of facilities including accommodation, studio and gallery, creative practitioners have the exceptional opportunity to extend their artistic engagement in the heart of Tokyo. With the energy of the electronics and anime haven of Akihabara right at one's doorstep and the traditional cultures of downtown but a stone's throw away artists will be able to experience all aspects of this kaleidoscopic city from this convenient base.The unique feature of this residence is that it provides a space for artists to stay in the heart of Tokyo, research their creative projects, develop this into new work and then to finally present it while connecting to the extensive network of Tokyo's art scene through the hub that is 3331.
An Environment Ripe for Stimulation of the Imagination
Akihabara, the icon of electronics, manga and anime, with Kanda Myoujin, the site of one of Japan's most renowned festival's "Kanda Matsuri", close by, as well as the downtown area of Ueno and Asakusa within close reach, 3331 is set in an environment filled with atmosphere and human warmth.
Not to mention the highly convenient public transport access which allows residents at 3331 to reach Shibuya, popular with many young people, and Shinjuku, the renowned enternainment district, by just one train line. With such a variety of different train and metro lines within walking distance, 3331 is the perfect base from which to explore Tokyo.
Upon the Movement of Artist
Artist in residencies (AIR) are "mechanisms for the movement of artists". At 3331, with expectations that artists will become magnets linking to networks on a community level, an AIR program has been run with art production and stay for artists at its base.
In bringing artists and organizations whose activities are pivoted within localities to the Kanda area of Chiyoda Ward for a temporary period, ways of seeing new things, and new forms of expression caused by new thought processes are found through the artists, and introduced to the community. This has created opportunities for the community to encounter fresh perspectives and approaches to new things that had hereto never existed, or had yet to be undertaken.
How will 3331 continue to embrace the myriad of "objects" and "actions" attracted by artists who act as powerful magnets within this program? In stimulating the spirit of those involved, the activities of 3331 become flexible and stronger.
Upon returning to their own community at the end of their residence, and upon being released from their magnetic force, the "objects" and "actions" which clung to the artists and were carried back with them will fall softly on their soil. In this way, the "objects" and "actions" of a place will, through the movement of artists, no longer be "objects" or "actions" limited to one location. I believe it is the repetition of these multiple processes occurring in synchronization that will create a broad new world.
(Mami Odai, Director of Move Arts Japan)
Before Applying
3331 welcomes individual and group applications from artistic creators, curators, and those with specific research goals. Past participants have come from around the world with different experiences, outlooks, and plans. There are no restrictions on the method of expression (visual art, design, dance, music, architecture, etc.). Your application helps us determine how we can work together to achieve your project. Although we are very flexible, we do ask the following:
• Applicants (individuals or organizations) must cover the costs of facilities, travel and living expenses, as well as production costs. 3331 does not provide grants or scholarships.
• Japanese is not a requirement. However, a conversational level of English will help.
• Artists with a keen interest in connecting with 3331 and networking with the local community (Tokyo's Chiyoda City in particular) are preferred. We also seek applicants with clear project goals capable of working independently in new environments.
Application Timeline
Residence Period: 2015.6.1 – 2016.5.31 (1-3 months)
Application Deadline: 2014.12.28
December 28, 2014
Application deadline
January 2015
Detail confirmation (period, residence arrangement, project goals, etc.)
February 1, 2015
Official invitation & Agreement contract
March 1, 2015 (flexible – please inquire)
50% of fees due (bank transfer or PayPal)
30 days prior to start date (flexible – please inquire)
Remaining 50% of fees due (bank transfer or PayPal)
Prepare to move in!
Detailed event / exhibition planning with 3331 staff
How to Apply
Please download the application form here and send it by email to firstname.lastname@example.com with other required materials by the application deadline.
< Required Materials >
・Application Form (PDF/Word)
・Artist Profile
・Media – images, video, audio, essay, web links (as relevant)
* Please do not send emails larger than 2MB.
email@example.com Tel:03-6803-2441 FAX: 03-6803-2442
101-0021 Tokyo Chiyodaku Sotokanda 6-11-14 3331 Arts Chiyoda