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Interning at Troofal Interactive: A step into the corporate world
About the Author: Prerit Jain is a student of Bhagwan Parshuram Institute of Technology. He shares his experience of an internship which familiarized him with a corporate environment.
Amid the hustle and bustle of my final examinations, I was applying for internships. Internshala had been my companion in the process. I got shortlisted for few companies and analyzed which one would give a boost to my career.
A day before my exam, I went for an interview at Troofal Interactive. It was the first time I was seated in front of an interviewing panel and boy, I was nervous. The first question, the one I had come prepared for, was popped – "Tell us something about yourself". I was blank, the room had a night's silence for a few seconds but then I began with my answer. Having answered the question, a sense of confidence got instilled in me. I answered all their questions and showed them the projects I had worked on. The next step was a technical interview. It was a written test with 3 questions. I recapitulated my concepts and answered two of them. The third question seemed to have an error, which was later confirmed by the interviewer, but I gave the best possible solution I could.
As the next step, I was given an assignment which was to develop a web page and deliver a presentation on marketing strategies the next day. Owing to my examination next day, I hardly found any time to work on the assignment. However, I completed the task and sent them. After I delivered the presentation, I was told that I had been selected for the internship. I was to join after my examinations.
Although I had fallen ill, I went to the office on my first day. I felt dizzy all day and my colleagues noticed it. I was granted leaves till I was healthy enough to work. It was my very first day and I felt like I was a part of their family then. I joined the office and met the other interns.
The atmosphere was friendly and people were welcoming. The projects I worked on there helped me learn lots of new things. With a constant support from my colleagues, I performed exceptionally well during my tenure. Many interns joined and left in a day or two but I never got overwhelmed with the work. With my will to learn as much as possible, the internship turned into a fun activity. I enjoyed every moment of it. I was learning new concepts, working on newer technologies, receiving guidance from my mentors. The internship was a great experience for me. I learned to do things that I had considered too difficult.
Are you also inspired by Prerit's journey? Check out these latest programming internships.
Editor's note – If you also have an interesting story to share, you can now participate in Your Internship Story Contest 2017 and win cash prizes and goodies worth INR 1 Lac!


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Sport Trac Serpentine System
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subset: commoncrawl


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- Handcrafted in Italy
- Printed on Hahnemühle FineArt paper
- Limited and Open Editions
- Every print is signed
- Custom print sizes available
Sunset Boulevard
from €90,00
What you will get
I love printing, which is why every print you order from this website will be the result of a unique and unrepeatable process.
There are no ready-made prints: everything is made to order, and for this reason, you can be sure that the care of every detail will be maximum.
Open Editions have no limit of print, while Limited Editions, designed for collectors, have a limit of 100 copies, and a Certificate of Authenticity complete with numbered and registered hologram is supplied with the print.
All images are printed on the best FineArt Hahnemühle papers accurately selected to maximize every detail, and customized ICC profiles are created and used in my personal Color Management workflow to guarantee absolutely faithful color results.
A protective spray layer is applied to each print, which provides UV protection and thus prevents the paper from yellowing and color intensity loss over time.
Unless otherwise requested, the print is made leaving a natural white passe-partout so that it can be easily framed.
Each print is personally signed.
It is of course possible to request prints in different formats and media. In this case please write to me and I will be more than happy to satisfy your requests!
Which Paper?
As it may results not so easy to pick the best paper option for you among the ones I offer, here a brief description of each of them.
Hahnemühle Photo Rag Ultra Smooth
It's a matt paper that features a really smooth surface texture with a pure white point. This paper is very versatile and produces impressive results in terms of the reproduction of colors and details. The weight is 305 gsm and is made by 100% cotton. This is my personal favorite paper, so if after reading the various options you're still in doubt, go for it!
Hahnemühle Photo Rag Bright White
It's another matt paper that features a smooth but more intense surface texture. It's made by 100% cotton and the weight is 310 gsm. The bright white point combined with the texture effect creates incredible depth and three-dimensional appearance. It's particularly indicated for high contrast images.
Hahnemühle FineArt Pearl
If you're a lover of glossy paper, this is the perfect choice for you. With his weight of 285 gsm, this 100% α-cellulose impresses with outstanding reproduction of color and detail, deep blacks and striking contrasts. This bright white paper has a delicately textured surface and a smooth, silky feel.
Hahnemühle Hemp
Hahnemühle Hemp uses one of the oldest and most diverse natural fibers in the world as it is made of 60% hemp fiber. The lightly textured surface gives the paper a pleasant, silky feel. You will fall in love with its bright white natural tone and the level of detail that is capable to reproduce!


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The Vietnam War ended more than 40 years ago, and for many it is a distant memory. But the legacy of chemical warfare lives on in the form of birth defects and debilitating health in a great many Vietnamese. Tobias Nicolai's series, The Inheritance From The Vietnam War, examines why this dark period of modern times can never be considered "just another chapter in a history book".
The Vietnamese call it the 'American War' – the period between 1965–1973, when the US's involvement in trying to stem the upsurge of communist guerilla fighters in the South-East Asia nation went disastrously wrong.
In an attempt to make it difficult for communist sympathisers to hide out in mangrove jungles in Vietnam, the US Government carried out a campaign of 'deforestation' using Agent Orange – a pesticide that, when sprayed on the foliage from military aircraft flying overhead, would quickly strip trees of their leaves, revealing anything below the canopy.
But Agent Orange also stripped humans of their skin and resulted in agonising side effects, the deaths of many, as well as some of the most horrifying birth defects known to man. "Wars do not end when the leaders agree on a truce, or when the bombs stop falling from the skies," says photographer Tobias Nicolai. "Societies feel the devastating effects of war for many years to come."
Vietnam still bears the scars of man's struggles for prowess, and four decades later it is still plagued by the effects of war. The American deforestation campaign is now known to have caused land contamination, environmental damage, life-limiting birth defects and degenerative health in villagers still exposed to the toxic remnants in soil. It's estimated that 100,000 of the affected are children.
"By highlighting how the Vietnamese still suffer from the warfare of decades ago I can show, in a physical embodiment, that the civilians in a war-stricken society are affected for many years to come," says Nicolai of his series, The Inheritance From The Vietnam War.
The war was long and protracted – and devastating. "The lasting consequences of the Vietnam War are proof that in war, civilians will almost always pay the highest price. I wanted to show the horrible damage that chemical warfare has done to children born even 40 years after the war ended. I really wanted to show that many of the victims are kids." And though they laugh and play just like children the world over, they embody the legacy of that war – a reminder of the devastation inflicted upon humanity by those that came before them, explains Nicolai.
Becoming a photojournalist was a gradual process for 28-year-old Nicolai. Raised in Als, a small island in the southernmost part of Denmark, he spent much of his childhood on a skateboard and amassing a collection of objects of interest – postcards, Michael Jackson paraphernalia, fossils.
"I don't know if there was a particular moment when the stars aligned and I sat up in bed and said to myself, 'I want to be a photojournalist.' I think it's more like one long process that doesn't end – but a process where I get more and more confident that this is what I want to spend my life doing."
Nicolai is currently studying photojournalism at the Danish School of Media and Journalism (DMJX). As a part of the four-year BA degree programme, he interns at the Danish daily newspaper, JyllandsPosten, where he is gaining invaluable experience in bringing the stories of other to light.
"I was interested in doing the story on Vietnam because, even though the effects linger on for so many, the subject seems to have faded from a lot of people's memories. The world is at war right now, and societies will be affected for many years to come. The Vietnam War is not just another chapter in a history book on the curriculum – it's a history we must never forget."
To see more of Tobias Nicolai's work, visit his website.


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2 Squadron, Royal Egyptian Air Force, Egypt 1948
I was inspired to get this model after reading an article on the 1/72 version of this aircraft in Scale Aviation Modeller International. Hasegawa's C.205 Veltro is a fantastic kit! The detail is excellent; the fit very good. The boxing I had came with Aeromaster decals for a couple of Egyptian Veltros from the immediate post-war period, and beautiful they were. I know that there is controversy regarding the colours of the REAF Macchis and the exact shape of the camouflage pattern; what you see is my best-guess and may not be right. The finish is Humbrol enamel followed by Klear, oil wash, decals and Matt Cote.
Year bought: 2000 (A model shop in Cherry Hinton, Cambridge)
Year built: 2001 (Maid's Causeway, Cambridge)


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For two hours every Tuesday night of the test four years I've been participating in a novel public speaking class. It's called a "speaking circle," and it may one day revolutionize the way all of us learn to become at ease in front of an audience.
I've seen an endless parade of people come through the class during my four years. Almost without exception, everyone started out afraid to be judged, unwilling to look bad, afraid of relating personally with the audience, uncomfortable with pauses, frightened of being themselves--in short, people were generally a nervous wreck when they first stood up to speak.
But after a relatively few weeks, a startling transformation took hold. People started developing confidence to be themselves. They learned to trust their mind to give them what they needed. They started making personal contact with the audience. They began to feel grounded.
Speaking circles have just been introduced to the Orange County and Pittsburgh chapters of the NSP. If they catch on, they can become a valuable addition to every chapter. I'd like to speculate on what promise speaking circles hold for all of us.
A speaking circle is not really a circle at all, but a unique environment that melds both a feeling of risk and a secure and supportive environment. The concept was developed by Lee Glickstein, a public speaking coach in San Francisco; himself, a person who grew up petrified of being in front of others.
Four to ten people are typically involved in the meeting. People speak twice a night, the first time for three minutes, the second time for five. Your talk can be something prepared, though most people opt to speak off the cuff.
After each talk, the person is encouraged to share his or her experience of speaking. After the five minute talk the floor is also opened to positive (and only positive) feedback. And each talk is videotaped.
You heard right. Every week, each person brings his own tape which is used to record his talk, and then he (or she) takes the tape back to watch at home.
There are several reasons why speaking circles have such a strong impact:
Speaking circles are extraordinarily powerful, because they address not only who you are as a speaker, but who you are as a person. They help transform your emotions, perceptions, and beliefs. They build self-esteem. They can even become a great place to work through current life issues.
Making it happen.
On March 23rd and 24th we conducted a full day-and-a-half speaking circle for 10 people in Orange County, CA to launch the program. Here's what some of the participants had to say:
Robin Deschamps: Seeing the tape showed that I'm starting to accept my stutter, which I am now. I also think I'll take more risks in the future, after attending this workshop. This was the most fun I've had in quite some time.
Richard Macias: "I learned that I've got to stop being so serious. I learned that I need to be able to laugh at myself, and that it's okay?"'
Bob Spmdley: "I saw a person I haven't seen before. I saw room for improvement, but I saw how far this person has come"
Shannon Skupien: "When I first got up to speak, I felt a lot of anxiety. But in viewing the tape, I didn't come across that way. I looked okay."
Donna Leonard: Hearing all that positive feedback really pointed out to me how we don't validate people. Look at how great we made each other feel! I think what I got from watching my tape was more confidence in myself. I've never thought that I've had that confidence, but after seeing the tape, I see that I actually do"
Angus Croll: "On the way home I was thinking-if you got ten fluent people off the street and brought them here, I doubt whether their speaking would be as good as ours."
The workshop was so rewarding that the Orange County chapter is now running a speaking circle twice a month, on alternate weeks to the regular chapter meeting.
What's so compelling about speaking circles is that you don't need to have a trained facilitator. It's the format itself that does the magic. If you want to start a speaking circle in your chapter, the national office can send you printed material and a video, so you can see a real speaking circle in action. Then all you need are some willing people and someone with a camcorder.
Total acceptance...total freedom...total support...a chance to take a risk...an opportunity to discover the real you...in a space that's totally yours. Where else in the world can you create that kind of experience?
Speaking coach Lee Glickstein is writing a book on speaking circles that's due out some time this year. This is hot stuff. And it could help to transform your life.
John C. Harrison is Program Director and a board member of the NSP.


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An opc file extension is related to the Omron OPC client data used by Omron CX-Server OPC.
There are 2 other file types using
the OPC file extension!
.opc - Microsoft Office 97 upgrade control data
.opc - Orbit point cloud
Software that open opc file
OPC file extension - Omron OPC client data
What is opc file? How to open opc files?
File type specification:
The opc file extension is associated with Omron CX-Server OPC that provides a connection between the industry standard OPC interface specification and Omron's network architecture and controllers.
The opc file stores data about Omron OPC client.
The default software associated to open opc file:
Company or developer:
Omron Corporation
CX-Server OPC provides a connection between the industry standard OPC interface specification and Omron's network architecture and controllers.
List of recommended software applications associated to the .opc file extension
Recommended software programs are sorted by OS platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android etc.)
and possible program actions that can be done with the file: like open opc file, edit opc file, convert opc file, view opc file, play opc file etc. (if exist software for corresponding action in File-Extensions.org's database).
Unspecified and all other actions for computer programs working with opc file - Omron OPC client data
Click on the software link for more information about CX-Server OPC. CX-Server OPC uses opc file type for its internal purposes and/or also by different way than common edit or open file actions (eg. to install/execute/support an application itself, to store application or user data, configure program etc.).


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The machines have made their move in the previous episode. To sum it up, they are more accurate, work faster, harder, for a longer period of time, for less money, with no complaints and no quitting. Sounds just about perfect doesn't it?
But wait! It is time for the humans to fight back, to show why in certain aspects their manual testing is way better than any testing automation can be. Let's see what they got going for them that the silicon based life forms cannot beat.
Human Testing Pros
- Self maintenance. Humans are (usually) capable of taking care of themselves. If there is some sort of system malfunction like an illness, hunger, sadness, or whatever, humans can at least attempt to solve it by themselves. The automation cannot do so. It needs someone to maintain it. If some sort of malfunction happens, human intervention must take place. Be it a network cable gone loose, a fallen web service, an air-con malfunction, the machine cannot go about taking care of itself.
- Adaptivity. Testing automation lacks any kind of intelligence. If, for example, a connection failed to open, it won't go about investigating what happened. A whole series of tests could fail because a network cable went loose, thus rendering hours of testing automation useless. A human on the other hand can use her wits to investigate what happened, find that loose cable, and go on with the proper testing. Also, if some change in the AUT was made the automation will probably fail. The human on the other hand will easily determine if the change is acceptable and act accordingly.
- Creativity. Whereas the computer follows the scripted scenario religiously, people look in between the scripted lines and outside of the test altogether. They will find bugs even in things they weren't supposed to test and be able to come up with new tests for the future. Of course, let's remember it was the humans who programmed the testing automation to begin with, it isn't able to design tests on its own.
- Object recognition. Even a five year old could easily beat any computer running any algorithm when it comes to recognizing objects. Thus, and despite so many efforts made, testing automation has problems testing GUIs. A human on the other hand doesn't really care how a UI was implemented. She can easily recognize buttons, windows, scrollbars, or anything else and get testing with it. She can see if the colors are OK, if images are displayed properly, videos are streamed in good quality, etc., things that the testing automation has big trouble doing.
- Natural language skills. Humans may give and receive abstract instructions in natural language and act. A human tester receiving an instruction such as "test the site also works with IE7" can easily go about doing so. The testing automation must be programmed with exact instructions in a programming language. It takes much more time to give instructions to machines and involves testing and debugging, once again by humans, to make sure the automation "understands" the instructions properly. Not to mention that automation cannot test something like a help file, that it contains good help with correct grammar. It just doesn't understand the human talk, not out loud, and not even if we hand it in a text file.
- Learning. Humans can learn new features, new technologies, different ways of doing things, and append new knowledge to their hard disks. Testing automation cannot do so. It needs the programmer to step in and give it exact instructions what to do. Otherwise it will never expand its knowledge base and just keep doing the same things that it knows forever, not doing anything new at all.
Once again, feel free to respond if there is something missing in the human onslaught against the testing automation. Do join me once again for a summary of the fight between human and automated QA!


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Allan Jury
Allan Jury is a retired U.S. Foreign Service Officer, with a long career in the U.S. State Department and United Nations focused on international humanitarian affairs and East Asian regional issues.
His most recent positons have been with the non-governmental organization World Food Program USA. He was Vice President of Public Policy and, since May 2016, has been a consulting Senior Advisor at WFP USA. Mr. Jury previously served twelve years (2001-2013) with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). He was the Director of WFP's Washington DC Office from September 2008 to March 2013, where he managed the organization's relations with its major partners in the US government and the World Bank headquarters. He also held senior positions at World Food Program headquarters in Rome, Italy as Director of External Relations (2004-2008) and Chief of the Policy Service (2001-2004).
Mr. Jury came to WFP following a twenty-five year career with the U.S. Department of State. He has worked on international humanitarian and refugee affairs since 1987, with leadership positions in Washington, Geneva, and Bangkok. Earlier diplomatic assignments included postings at US Embassies in the Philippines, the Netherlands, and the Indonesia desk in the State Department.
Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Jury is a 1975 graduate of Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota with a B.A. in political science and Asian studies. He is married and currently living in West Bradenton, Florida.


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Remembers, Canada's meals information, illnesses, immunization, and health dangers whereas travelling. I can see nothing that suggests he has any direct expertise or experience in actual health care, public health or biomedical science. The California Lawyer Normal's Office launched 27 variations of a cell phone radiation safety reality sheet ready by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) initially in 2009 and revised multiple occasions by January, 2015. Of their native habitat of Indonesian islands, Komodo dragons are extremely active. They journey as much as 10 kilometers a day, run up to 13 miles per hour, swim a number of kilometers from island to island, then dig or climb as they hunt. As soon as they capture their prey, they will eat as a lot as 80 {f81e414ed1fe8bbdcb5b65a31346c114c9d0bcaba38d214dabce08da3f0d3d33} of their physique weight in a single meal. That vitality they may serve to retailer for often days or even weeks.
Individuals are likely to suppose putting the pet exterior will resolve the flea drawback, however that usually makes the fleas flip to human hosts instead. There are a number of forms of fleas, but the commonest is the cat flea, which also feeds on dogs and people. Fleas are interested in body heat, movement, and exhaled carbon dioxide. The perfect time to start out a flea management program is within the late spring, previous to an infestation, since adult fleas comprise only 5{f81e414ed1fe8bbdcb5b65a31346c114c9d0bcaba38d214dabce08da3f0d3d33} of the full flea population. To comprise an active flea infestation, fleas have to be controlled at every stage.
Udemy is predicated on an online platform and meaning that it isn't restricted to a brick and mortar constructing. All you will have to entry Udemy anytime from anywhere is to have a powerful web connection. Internet connections are widely out there as of late and that's why Udemy has been in a position to present a fortune of learning to everybody. As you buy a course you are able to avail it for a lifetime which implies you possibly can come back to it whenever you really feel like or even research it at your personal tempo.
London Arts in Health Forum is collaborating with Mersey Care NHS Foundation Belief to explore the role the humanities can play for people instantly after a prognosis of dementia. The aim is to commission a visible artist to create a new software (utilizing anything from drawing to digital functions) which can help individuals to map the optimistic features of their lives and to report, utilizing visual means, the constructive features of their lives. At the similar time, we are researching what arts activities are already being employed for people within the period instantly following a dementia prognosis.
The University of Minnesota is courting William McGuire, the health insurance coverage government who lost his job in a inventory choices scandal, as "executive in residence" at its business faculty. The ballot additionally found eighty p.c support for elevating the tax on other tobacco products if the cigarette tax is raised. Amongst less well-liked taxes, 9 {f81e414ed1fe8bbdcb5b65a31346c114c9d0bcaba38d214dabce08da3f0d3d33} supported elevating taxes on services, akin to dry cleansing and automobile restore, and four percent supported applying the sales tax on groceries; 16 percent said they were not positive what taxes to raise.


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Get ready for a thrilling ride, whether you play solo or multiplayer it's going to be a blast! You'll find yourself wreaking havoc on the streets, buildings, cruise ships, and you may even run into an ice cream truck.
Spell Pop is a fully customizable educational game designed to help your students or children practice their spelling words!
Spell Pop Lists is a simple way to import pre-built spelling lists into Spell Pop. Choose from 9 languages!
You're a mischievous gopher on a mission for lawn mowers, flowers, and tasty mushrooms!
Olive is completely lost, and needs your help! Are you skilled enough to help Olive? If you are, you will find yourself choosing between bones or time, in a challenge where all that matters is points.
You have 60 seconds and 3 lives.
How many points can you score?


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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/18 July) — It's a truism in a democracy that the people deserve the government they get. It means that in our case, if we don't like our government, it's just too bad—because it's what we deserve!
After all, we are the ones who established it in 2010 with our votes. We elected PNoy and his team. Well, maybe not us, but his team won most of the votes. Even if we voted for another team, they won, so we're stuck with them till 2016.
Because they won, we delegated to them the power and authority to recruit and appoint the functionaries that take charge of the bureaucracy. So if we don't like the way they run things, it's too bad again, because that's the way democracy works.
As for congress, we also elected the people who became our congressmen and senators. And we pay the law enforcers with our taxes.
Thus, if we're unhappy with them, it means we made the wrong choices. Or we didn't have enough sense to vote for or campaign harder for better people. So we end up with officials who make us unhappy.
We ought to learn a lesson from this. One is to select candidates more acceptable to us—and not rely on traditional politicians, trapos, to do the selection for us. Doing so creates a situation where big trapos with bigger ambitions get selected, then commit grand corruption.
Meanwhile, unhappy though we are, we have no cause to complain. We chose them, or we let others do the choosing, so we deserve them!
It's sad to realize that other Filipinos cause our society to get stuck with undeserving politicians. We deserve better. We don't deserve trapos who wallow in the morass of corruption and impunity, dragging our society down.
We should confront this problem. We should learn to keep away dishonest, hypocritical, or mediocre people who mislead instead of guide us onto the path of righteousness and good governance. We can do better. We just have to learn our lessons.
If we choose well, we would have an honorable, efficient, and reliable set of government officials. Unless and until we do, we deserve to be badly governed.
The idea about holding elections is to affirm the principle enshrined in our Constitution that "sovereignty (political power) resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them." Article II, Section 1.
But it seems this principle is misunderstood or ignored. It has not seeped into our society's consciousness. It is ignored, substituted with stupid ideas like letting the money of trapos decide the outcome of elections.
Take the senators who won during the 2010 elections. They spent fifty or more million pesos to win the votes they needed. It was money that made them senators, not ideas, programs, or statesmanship.
Those who voted for them should now be asking about the value of their services to our society. Are they living up to the honor and the privileges bestowed on them by our nation? Is there any statesman among them?
Next time, be choosy. Be sure the candidates you choose are a cut above the norms we usually apply to good men and women.
To be a good man or woman is not enough; this applies to everyone. To be honest and well-behaved is the minimum expectation in a human being.
But to choose a lawmaker, and certainly a president, what to seek is exemplary character, vision, ideals. And there must be uncommon dedication to the common good—committed to good government, to social justice, with a strong sense of integrity. In other words, a leader and role model for everyone, not just to some, or to his barkada.
At the least, there must an uncommon commitment to serve, a strong conviction to uphold the rule of law, and dedication to duty. In other words, morally decent and fastidious as well as intelligent and responsible.
It is wrong to resign one's self to the corrupt political culture spawned by the trapos; they are people with dubious attitudes and eroded values.
Be clear about what's proper for our society, what's good or bad governance, and what's honorable public service. Then seek suitable personalities who meet the criteria and work for their candidacy.
It does no good to encourage self-styled politicians who think of freedom as taking liberties with whatever they can get away with. As long as they think that way, so long will corruption persist. And as long as we vote such people to office, so long will the corrupt culture endure. Learn to be discriminating! Be choosy! Because you get the government you deserve!
Manny is former UNESCO regional director for Asia-Pacific; secretary-general, Southeast Asian Publishers Association; director, development academy of Philippines; vice chair, Local Government Academy;member, Cory Government's Peace Panel, and PPI-UNICEF awardee for outstanding columnist. [email protected]


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General English Dublin
In our General English course, students will learn about the four main language skills of English - reading, writing, listening and speaking. Students can choose General English 15, 20 or 30 hours per week. It's a great option if you want to improve your general knowledge of English.View General English Dublin Details


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Press samples ahead!
It's almost Friday, y'all. We made it. Mostly. I'm sitting here, waiting for my pizza to cool and listening to the nerds click and type their way through video games and relaxing. Probably going to be a tub journey night. Yup. Mark's parents just left to go back home but stopped by to hang out for a little. Was super nice, they're an absolute pleasure to be around! I don't have anything super interesting to share up here, so let's get into the polish, yeah?
Connie from Seventy Seven Nail Lacquer is back with the awesome Life's a Beach trio that is absolutely perfect for summer, and she even opened up the preorder a bit early for y'all!
Ugh, I want to be there right now. I'm missing the Southern beaches right about now! But, these polishes totally help with that.
Summer Daze; A coral crelly that leans red. Hokay. So with it being a crelly, I needed three coats with my VNL. HOWEVER. I'm pretty positive that it'll be a two-coater on everyone else, really. It's pretty darn opaque, but my VNL is so so dark that it didn't fully cover. But this formula is buttery smooth, my goodness. I love how easy crellies are to work with, and how forgiving they are. And this color? YAAAAS. Do like.
Hot Summer Nights; a teal crelly that has blue microflakies and blue sparks. OH MY GOD YES. This one is so friggen pretty, and absolutely perfect for the summer. Like. Sunset teal, YEEEEEES. I needed three coats for this one as well because VNL, but I'm confident that it's another two-coat wonder. The little flakies and sparks are super cute. They're not overdone or too sparse and add just an extra pop of shimmer.
And last but not least is the cutest glitter topper, Summer Storm which is a clear base with fine holo silver glitter, black lightning bolts and silver holographic lightning bolts. I'm kinda super excited, I didn't have to fish for the lightning bolts at all with this! My swatches show just one coat over the two crellies and top coat. Such a cute addition to the colors!
And now! and now and now and now for the part that I'm most excited for. THESE WATERMARBLE. I told Connie as soon as I opened up the package that I thought they'd marble and YEP. THEY DO. My photos show them marbled over just one coat of Bluebird Lacquer's Light Matter. They spread easily in the water and were super easy to work with!
UGH SO COOL! I would also like to let it be known that I did NOT get nail polish everywhere during this arting attempt. Just sayin'. No, I apparently saved that for stamping, which y'all will see tomorrow. Ooops.
Anywho. These are available now for preorder. They're only going to be sold as a trio, but you can snag them here for $25.00. They should start shipping out by July 7th!
So, whatcha think? I'm for sure loving these three!
And I am outtie! Time for pizza and then a bubble bath. Thanks for stopping by, y'all!
***The nail polishes mentioned in this post were sent to me in exchange for an honest review and photos, which can be found above!***


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To understand the de-identification concept, please read the following chapters:
De-identification in Workgroup works as follows:
Load XML Documents
- On the menu bar, go to FILE, Open, Messages…
- In the open dialog, select XML documents that you want de-identified.
- Click the "Browse My Computer" link to select XML documents from your computer's file system.
The selected XML documents will be loaded in the Message Example tab. The Original pane displays the XML documents you loaded while the De-identified pane displays the de-identified XML documents. The split screens scroll synchronously so that the data displayed is mirrored in the original and de-identified panes.
The fields set for de-identification are highlighted in red for easy visibility.
Add & Edit De-identification Rules
On the left side of the screen are the de-identification rules listed under the Fields tab.
Fields Tab
- Checkbox: The checkmark indicates an active rule. Uncheck to deactivate a rule.
- X-PATH: Enter the X-Path of the element/attribute's value to be de-identified.
- ID: Sets the primary key. Check it for any field uniquely identifying the patient.
- If no primary key is set, a new patient identity will be created for each document.
Value Generator Tab
- Sets the data source for de-identified values. Learn about Generator Type settings.
Add or Remove Rules
To add a new de-identification rule
- Click the plus sign at the bottom of the list of rules. A new line will appear.
- Navigate through your XML Document in the Original pane and right-click the element/attribute's value that you want to de-identify. Next, click the De-identify field action.
To remove a rule, click the trashcan at the end of the line.
Open & Save De-identification Rules
To re-use existing de-identification rules
- On the menu bar, go to FILE, Open, De-id Rules…
- In the open dialog, select the XML De-identification Rules File (.cxdx) to be loaded.
- In the de-identification rules list, right-click and click the Open De-identification Rules… action.
To save your de-identification rules
- On the menu bar, go to FILE, Save, De-id Rules…
- In the open dialog, select the destination folder and file name of your new XML De-identification Rules File.
- In the de-identification rules list, right-click and click the Save De-identification Rules… action.
View Example and De-identify XML Documents
Once you have created and configured all the rules applicable to the XML documents to be de-identified, click View Example at the bottom of the left hand pane. A preview of the de-identified documents will appear. Scroll through the documents in the viewing pane to verify the potential results of the de-identification process.
Once reviewed and after applying any changes:
- Click De-identify at the bottom of the left hand screen to the right of View Example to process and save the de-identified XML documents.
- A Select Folder dialog box will appear.
- Select the destination folder for your de-identified XML documents.
- Click OK.
- A window will open, tracking the progress of the process.


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Army Cammo Christmas Ornament
$15.00 $10.00
Cammo/Army Christmas Ornaments are great Gifts!
This great ornament is 3" diameter aluminum and will feature the same image on both sides. The design is "melted" onto the coated aluminum, so it is permanent and will not peel off.
Please Specify the initials in the comment section for boys it is FML. You can also specify a name instead of a monogram.
A matching ribbon is tied on for easy hanging.
Ships USPS with tracking.


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Newcastle City Library
The City Library building is named the Charles Avison Building after the 18th century Newcastle composer. Our new state of the art City Library opened its doors for the first time on Sunday 7 June 2009 at 11am. The main entrance is through a dramatic blue glass box on New Bridge Street West with a second entrance on Princess Square.
The library holds a stunning range of new non-fiction titles as well as an integrated reference library. We have a superb new café, express email facilities, meeting rooms and the Bewick Hall – a performance space that can seat up to 185 people. There are also superb display and exhibition facilities.
Level 3 includes a wonderful new children's library, adult fiction and community languages. It also has a music and audio visual section for music scores, DVDs and CDs. Level 4 is the main floor for free public computer use. Over 30 computers can be booked free of charge for up to 2 hours. There are over 100 computers throughout the building, including the facility to scan documents.
Level 6 provides a stunning local studies and family history service, with unique local collections, generous research and study space and the latest standard of protection (BS 5454) for Newcastle's unique printed resources. Here you will see the Newcastle Collection – an exhibition of the very special rare books that the City Library owns.
Throughout the building are features such as limestone flooring, specially commissioned furniture, the latest self-service facilities, and specialist book exhibition areas. We hope you visit the library and that you find it a building to 'delight and inspire'.
Venue Type:
Library, Archive
Monday to Thursday 8.30am - 8pm
Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday 9.30am - 5.30pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm
Newcastle City Library
Charles Avison Building
33 New Bridge Street West
Newcastle & Gateshead
Tyne and Wear
- About
- | Collections
- | Map


text:
Join Foundation board member and WHPS alumni Mike Schramm along with amazing West Hartford educators in the West Hartford Community Interactive news program, The Foundation Presents...
The Foundation Presents..
is a way for the Foundation to share in partnership with educators the unique grants they are implementing at their schools.
Click on the links below to view past episodes.
August 2020 - Facebook Live Event
November 2019
July 2019
May 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
March 2018
January 2018
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017


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Fandom: The Faculty
Character: Casey & Zeke
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1460
Disclaimer: of course, I don't own The Faculty nor the characters - just borrowing them for some fun
written for fffc - challenge 15.29 = Vacation goes wrong
"Please, wait a moment."
The young nurse looked slightly uncomfortable while she tried to stop Mr. Conner.
"I will call the doctor."
"I don't need to talk with a doctor, I want to see my son this minute."
"Frank," Mrs. Conner tried to calm her husband down.
"Maybe you should ..."
"Don't worry, Meredith."
He shook her hand off and turned back to the green door with a note on it. Casey Connor, Herrington.
"I'm aware of all my rights, Casey is our son, no one can deny us to see him."
Mrs. Connor sight inwardly. He was angry and stressed, of course he wanted answers. She wanted some, too. But first off all she needed to find out that Casey was okay. The call from the hospital in Wyoming some hours ago had been like a shock. First she had been sure that it was just a mistake, Casey was on his way to Idaho to a summer camp of his chess-club, he was not in Wyoming together with a friend. So he couldn't be involved in the accident, it was not him who ended up in the hospital with a complicated fracture of his leg, who had to undergo surgery.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Connor," the doctor had told her.
"We got your number from his friend, Ezekiel Tyler. He was the driver of the car, though the accident was not his fault. Unfortunately the involved van crashed right into the passenger's side and Casey was hit with full force. He's still in the OR."
Her blood had run cold, Ezekiel Tyler, Zeke, like Casey used to call him. Last year, after this strange incident at school, he had started to hang around with him. He was a wild boy with a bad rep, but for the first time Casey stood up against his parents and met him secretly even though his father had forbidden it. She had always known about it and never tried to stop him, Casey was so much more happy than ever before.
With shaking hands she had called her husband, feeling guilty, maybe all this was her fault.
"What's going on here?"
The harsh voice of Mr. Connor droned through the room when he noticed Zeke sitting on Casey's bedside. He barely had a look for his son who was lying in a hospitals bed, one leg put into a cast, stabilized with two extra splints.
"I want you to leave this room without delay. Wait outside, we will have to talk about this later. But first of all ..."
Casey looked pale but his eyes were clear when he carefully turned his head to look at his father.
"He's not going anywhere," he said and grabbed for Zeke's hand.
"It's not his fault what is happened."
And Mrs. Connor felt some kind of relief when she noticed the mix of defiance and determination in his voice.
"So, and who's fault is it? You think it is okay to lie to us? You know I would never have given you permission to this trip. See where it did end? Now you will probably miss your start at College in three weeks. And this is inexcusable."
Casey looked apologizing at his mom, then he shrugged.
"I wouldn't go anyway," he murmured.
"You... what?"
Mr. Connor huffed annoyed.
"I guess I need to talk with your doctor. What kind of meds did they give you?"
"He just did wake up about an hour ago," a calm voice answered from the door.
"He's clear but still tired. I need to ask you not to overstrain him."
The doctor, a tall, middle-aged man with glasses stepped into the room and stretched out his hand to Mrs. Connor.
"Doctor Robertson, I did the surgery on Casey. It was complicated, he did hurt his ankle and broke his knuckle joint, for sure it will take some time until he will be able to walk on his own again. But don't worry, I don't see any complications, he will heal completely again."
"Thank you, doctor!"
Mrs. Connor smiled slightly while her husband still looked annoyed.
"Can we transport him to Ohio? I want a transfer to the Belford Hospital in Columbus, there he will get all the treatment he needs," he said.
Doctor Robertson hesitated.
"Well, I guess it would be better to give him at least some days to rest but if you insists on it I could arrange a helicopter flight for him."
"No," Casey protested before his father could answer.
"I don't go back to Ohio."
"Don't be stupid, you are not in the state for a discussion like this. Please Doctor, will you ..."
"You can't force me. I'm eighteen, remember, since last week. I can make me own decisions."
Casey searched for eye contact with his mother now, smiling weakly.
"Sorry, Mom. I … I wanted to call you … this evening … when we were far enough away … Zeke and me … we … New York … maybe … art … school ..."
His voice became blurred, Doctor Robertson quickly stepped closer to feel his pulse.
"Nothing serious," he reassured Mrs. Connor who was looking alarmed.
"But he needs to rest now. I ask you to leave. Of course you can come back tomorrow … if he wants you to come."
Mr. Connor stood thunderstruck, he was as pale as Casey, his voice was trembling.
"You better … don't tell me … that I'm not allowed to visit my son," he said.
"I'm working for a well-known lawyer office in Columbus, I'm aware of my rights."
Doctor Robertson looked unimpressed.
"And I'm Casey's doctor," he told him.
"I will do whatever is necessary to guarantee the best prospects of healing. Casey is legal so all what counts for me are his wishes. I'm sorry."
"This is an outright scandal," Mr. Connor spat, now openly shaking with anger.
"You will hear from us."
He stormed out of the room without caring about his wife. Mrs. Connor tried to suppress her slightly sobbing in vain. This was the moment she had always waited for, the moment where the perfect family of the Connor's broke apart. Unsure she stepped closer to the bed, where Zeke was still sitting at Casey's side. He wanted to stand up to give her more room, but Casey refused to let his hand go and she shook her head.
"Don't. It seems as if he needs you more than us in the moment."
Then she noticed a band aid on his temple.
"Are you okay," she asked.
Zeke looked up and shrugged.
"It's nothing big."
He hesitated for a short moment before continuing.
"I wish it would be different, I would lie in this bed and Casey would be okay. But there was no chance, it happened within a split of a second …"
Mrs. Connor nodded and put her hand onto his shoulder.
"Don't blame yourself. I know you would never hurt him deliberately."
"You know?"
Zeke blinked, feeling somehow confused.
"What did Casey tell you?"
"He didn't need to tell me anything. I'm his mother, I can read him like a book. Since he started to hang around with you I knew that one day he would leave us because you can give him what he was always looking for."
Zeke kept quiet for a moment, finally he pulled the face.
"Don't think that it was easy for him to leave you in this way. He loves you … both of you!"
To his surprise she suddenly smiled and he thought that her smile did remind him a lot of Casey's.
"Casey is a good son," she said.
"He always was special, a preemie, the first three month of his life he has spend in an incubator. When we finally could take him home he was still so small, almost fragile. Frank has barely dared to touch him, he was so afraid that he would hurt him.
All the time he has tried to keep Casey safe, to make him strong enough for life. And Casey followed his rules without complaining. Until this incident at school. He's never told us what exactly is happened but it has changed him. He finally started to go his own ways ... ways Frank can't control any longer.
He loves Casey more than anything else on this world. I should better go and look after him."
She glanced at her son again, then looked back at Zeke and sighed slightly.
"I guess Casey is so much stronger than he ever was."


text:
SPOILERS AHEAD, if you haven't yet watched the final season.
Now that we've all had a few days to chew on the Mad Men finale, and digest it via our kvetching, sighing, easter egg hunting, raising fists in victory or anger at it, tweeting about Joyce Carol Oates tweeting about it, harumphing about its product placement for both kinds of coke (and I don't mean regular and diet), and mounting our campaigns for or against Matt Weiner and his track record as the most mercurial kind of show-ender, I'm going have a Tom Collins. And consider the ways in which this short final season, and its goodbye episode, comprised the best/worst ending for one of the great one-hour dramas television has produced (even if its success has inspired a lot of awful shows about advertising — for the love of McCann, Happy-ish, put it back in your pants).
Worst: the long and winding yawn
Let's start at the end. I wasn't all that surprised to see Dick Whitman/Don Draper meditating cliffside in the show's final moments; where else had he been driving but toward enlightenment or death? His emotional phone call to Peggy as the story wound to conclusion, and the climactic breakdown that followed, was the transformative moment, surely. But the journey that led him there could have wrapped up sooner, maybe even an episode earlier, to allow this finale some breathing room.
The entire series unspooled around the successful, focused, cocksure Don Draper that emerged from his devastating start in life and the fateful opportunity that allowed him to assume a new identity, each series of events a set of hollow building blocks for a true self. The powerful persona he created, his secrets, his maddening interiority and misogyny, and his existential wandering of all varieties, has indeed been the essence the show, so this final confirmation of everything we've already come to realize about Dick/Don was for me less satisfying, or needed, to tie the series up.
For instance, starting with the irritating "gloomy waitress" storyline (as it has come to be known) and ending with his final conversations with Betty, Peggy, Stephanie (Anna Draper's niece, who he considered family, though she did not), and even that charmless hippie girl who went through his wallet, those interactions seemed poised to reveal that the conditional love, carnal attractions, and fickle rejections Don/Dick doled out through the years ultimately reflected his dependence on women, not his confidence in the next skirt always being around the corner. Or the next wife (or office wife) telling him who he was, even as he refused to be known.
In that spontaneous road trip, where he confessed his sins, paid his past forward, and fully embraced his own alcoholism and soullessness, he realized a dream to be free but not much else that one can hang a life on, especially in his creeping middle age, and even with the money to fund a forever-lost-weekend existence. The full arc of the trip ate up too much time and space, especially in the finale; his catharsis and rebirth was probably less important to me in the end than the constellation of messed-up, longing, and striving characters he dragged with him though the story over the course of the series. That said…
Best: the all-too-real thing
Certain moments and scenarios from the road trip were essential, like the tension that built around the way in which Don/Dick might respond to that boozy roundtable at the podunk VFW gathering. When he revealed that he killed his CO in Korea, his brothers in arms accepted this deed without judgment, a reaction as surprising as the revelation itself. Then instant karma kicked in, as did his punishment, in a different form than we expected. Back at the motel, while sleeping soundly on the fact that he'd just released himself from the core truth that had haunted his entire adult life, he was branded a grifter of the more common sort and by mistake; suddenly it was time to take a phonebook to the face, courtesy of Detective Wojo from Barney Miller, with an assist by Roy from The Office. Priceless.
But what I really love is that Don/Dick's transformative quest begins and ends with a speech about a refrigerator, the first a sweepstakes prize filled with beer, the last a dream filled with longing and emptiness, and a lonely man as a well-liked but forgotten condiment in a landscape where love and abundance seem so accessible to others. The latter speech, delivered so earnestly and by the most minor of characters, was easily the best moment of the finale for me. Mad Men has been full of great ancillary and one-off characters that loom larger in the story than their screen time might indicate, and modest Leonard, in his sensible sweater at the touchy-feely retreat, is now enshrined in that hall of fame.
Worst: characters in limbo
Like many fans, I really wanted to know whether the 1970's find Megan living in a beach house in Malibu or a flophouse in Echo Park. Certainly she had the money from the divorce to keep her warm initially, but did she ever make it as an actress, really, or did her career become a series of disgusting nod-nod-wink-wink-meetings of the kind she had with Harry back in New York, always on the verge of breaking but never really happening? I fear in later years she became the west coast version of the gloomy waitress, once her looks faded and she spent all her money on acting lessons and high living, but of course that's more than one could have hoped to know.
Also, what became of Henry, who didn't appear in the finale? Betty's promise that Sally's young life wouldn't mirror her own, watching her mother die, certainly didn't materialize, and as we see the bedroom of the grand manse looking disheveled and Sally doing the dishes while Betty smokes her cancer stick, one could get the impression that Henry left or was sent away. Or, that Betty turned the dial on her emotional thermostat back over to cold and left the AC running permanently.
It's not the norm to see what happens to supporting characters once they leave the agency orbit, or it leaves them, but I was kind of hoping against hope to see Sal Romano, Joyce Ramsay, Michael Ginsberg, Beth Dawes and Margaret Sterling (aka Marigold) one more time in the final season. My totally unrealistic fantasy is that the five of them get a beach house in Jersey with Sally, Meagan, Dawn, and Shirley somewhere around 1977, or maybe that they all move into the same sitcom apartment building in San Diego. One can dream.
Best: No more Harry
I miss the childish, egotistical dork that Harry Crane was before he became head of the one-person television division and got that 12% raise a few seasons back, because from that point on he grew into a maniacal jerk, at times darkly comic but in the end unbearable. Thankfully he appeared in the finale just once, in all his douchey glory. Which leads me to…
Best of the Worst: Let's not sugar coat it, baby.
Weiner and company get credit for their efforts to present the era in some of the complicated ways it existed rather than how we may now idealize it, often refusing the viewer the arm's-length courtesy of being able to say "it's amazing how awful and ridiculous people were to each other in the 60s." There's always been a subtext to Mad Men that conspired to tell it not just as it was, but as it is.
In the beginning, it was entertaining enough just to watch the animals of advertising play out the trials-of-life scenarios of their era with spite, candor, smoke, and liquor. As it continued, the thrill and nostalgia built in satisfying ways, engaging with ad campaigns and products that went on to define American consumerism during the decades to come, and revisiting the historical milestones that changed American attitudes or consciousness. And of course there were glossy, satisfying layers of the show as a time capsule, often borne out in its comedic and aesthetic instincts (oh the fabulous mid-century furniture, the monstrous room-sized research computer, the boat-sized luxury cars, and the parade of fashions, hairstyles, and beards through the years).
However, one thing that has particularly moved and angered and struck me about the series all along really came home to roost in the closing episodes this spring. It's in Betty's doctor having an adult conversation with her husband about the fact she's dying of lung cancer, off to the side and not addressing her, as she sat in the same room hearing it; after two marriages and three children she's still treated as a child herself, who cannot understand the workings of her own body. It's in Peggy and Joan's early meeting with their male McCann counterparts who behaved as if they were hiring a stripper to pop out of a birthday cake instead of conferencing with professional colleagues, and also in the reactions of each woman in the elevator afterwards (Joan's anger and Peggy's practical acceptance). And it's definitely in that heated exchange between Joan and the Great and Powerful McCann in his office, over her insistence that she knew best how to repair the relationship their jerkish male account executive ruined with her former SCP client.
After a few rounds of polite-but-firm declarations from each side, when McCann's ego could stand no more, he not only advised Joan she could have nothing she wanted, he told her she was nothing, her brain, her instincts, her work, and even her status as a partner at SCP earning her no more than the right to shut up and go back to her desk, or bail out at pennies on the significant dollars she was owed in her contract.
Her defiant response is the most direct invocation of feminism in the show that I can remember, the stakes made all the more tangible by the traces of both anger and fear flickering in her eyes as the confrontations escalated (Peggy, Megan and other female characters have also exercised their options and fought for their power in various ways, but Joan's speech finally indicates the existence of a women's movement, and the emerging political/financial capital in the burgeoning conversation about equality that it will go on to address). I loved this aspect of the series and how it played out because this is one of the most fundamental ways in which the show isn't just about looking back. The same scenarios and conversations are readily available for us to watch happening in real time today, in the same unfortunate language and with the same rhetorical spin about women and the value of their work in creative fields.
I only wish that some of the depictions of racial and class discrimination in the series had been more present in this same manner, and not relegated to my-god-did-he-just-say-that moments that went largely unanswered, or limited to the ways in which they intersected with the agency and its business, or Madison Avenue's priorities (thereby leaving the deeper veins of these conversations, and the populations they addressed, mostly unexplored).
Worst of the best: love lies bleeding
Peggy, Peggy, Peggy. She's supposedly married to her work, so it follows that the only man she could ever truly love would be at the office, right? UGH. Bastard baby boy Campbell? Closed adoption, with some lip service regret years later. Pete Campbell? Stepped into a dream job, and it's off to Wichita in the Lear Jet with still-available Trudy and his other kid, Tammy. Ace reporter Abe Drexler? Actually seemed to appreciate and love her in a tangible way, so yeah, that wasn't going to happen. Ted Chaough? So obsessed with her that he had to put the bulk of the United States between them, then by the time he's finally divorced and they're working together again, he turns into swinging mod-hair Ken and they've both moved on (and he didn't even crash his plane, the form some of us were thinking his exit might take).
What about that blind date that almost ended up in Paris? Nah, too possible. Ginsberg's parting nipple in-a-box gift was a fantastic curveball, but you know, out of sight out of mind. So the least probable candidate for Peggy's soulmate, who did not have a plane or great hair, or a wife, or the name Don Draper, appeared to be Stan. Beardy, snarky, earthy, cranky Stan. What the hell? I didn't find this cute at all. But then again, Peggy is all about proximity. She'd never have to leave the bubble of the office, and he could well be the only man at McCann (besides the assumedly reinstated Don) that knows her name isn't baby or honey or sugar tits.
The missed opportunity for a better final scene for the love-hate relationship of Joan and Peggy was disappointing too. How quickly all that fuzzy, smiling, warmth between them turned awkward when they met up. So them! The crime was not showing us the rest of that I-was-glad-to-see-you-but-now-we're-both-totally-uncomfortable-and-still-have-to-eat-this-lunch scene. Letting Joan's wealthy beau Richard just get out of bed one morning and walk out of her life, based on a single conversation about the fact she was starting a business, was an equally flawed calculation. We never did find out what those leisure suits and neckerchiefs were all about, for starters, and besides, we already knew Joan didn't need his money to have the life she wanted for herself.
In the end: same song, next verse
For all of its pitching that mythical "place we ache to go again," the idea that home is ultimately with the people to whom one truly belongs, and the places where they are, is not so earthshattering. But the conclusion of Mad Men also seems to argue that persona can manifest its own destiny, and that Don's improved shell self will be back at McCann teaching the world to sing the virtues of Coke and global harmony, producing one of the iconic campaigns in advertising history. Cynicism, enlightenment, and commerce forge the key that fits the lock on a new era of understanding — about how to sell people things and ideas — and an industry that likely hasn't looked over its shoulder since. To paraphrase a familiar refrain from the 70's where the series leaves us, wherever we go, here we are.


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This is my message to the children watching this video. Please subscribe to my channel and learn about the world that you are growing up in. You are under attack in this society and you need to begin to understand the circumstances you are in in order to properly survive, and of course, find true happiness and peace. No one will clean up your mess for you, you will have to learn to be the master of your own destiny.
Home Other Video Clips Alex Ansary's Message to the Children (2010)


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Streetlights Shattering on Essex Street
Short Fantasy Thriller
The streetlights flickered out one by one, starting with the one furthest from Jade. She stopped dead in her tracks as the one directly above her shattered, immersing the whole street in darkness. An eerie, cold chill descended onto Essex Street, making it much colder than it had any right to be, even for late autumn. A pile of leaves, collected at the foot of a tree, rustled and began to whirl around like a tornado. Jade's head began to spin; she clung on to the nearest streetlight pole to steady herself. She didn't want to fall to the ground. She knew what was coming, she had experienced it before. She couldn't let herself be found slumped on the ground in front of him.
Suddenly, the leaves picked up speed and all turned crimson. Dust joined in in the swirl and a draft began to blow. The elements bundled into an eddy of blood red and orange, then exploded, the leaves and dirt flying around in all directions. A man now stood next to the tree. He wore a well-ironed matt red tuxedo and a black shirt underneath. A white tie added an extra splash of colour to his attire. In his right hand he carried a cane that bore a skull for a handle. It was sleek black, save for one scarlet line running down its length that matched the colour of his tux. He rapped it on the ground as he proceeded towards Jade, but didn't seem to be using it for support.
"Hello, Jade," he said heartily, raising a gloved hand. Jade, however, didn't shake it. She kept to herself, not wanting anything to do with this fiend.
"Whatever it is, I don't want any of it."
"Ever so cold, Jade. A little niceness won't kill you, you know."
"No, but you might." Then, shaking her head, "What do you want, Samael?"
"A favour."
"Nope. No more deals with the devil. No more bullshit that I'll surely lose out on."
"That's why I'm giving you your soul back — so you won't lose." Jade had sold her soul to Samael years ago in exchange for his help in fighting tuberculosis of her lymph nodes. She learnt that she should have just taken her chances on her own the hard way.
"Why, so you can just take it again? I'll pass, thanks. Besides, I'm doing just fine without it."
"Are you, Jade? Are you really?" Samael waved his hand through the air, causing yet another cold draft. Jade's body shivered and doubled over itself, but somehow, she avoided falling to the ground. Slowly, her skin peeled back to reveal a fleshless skeleton, with mere sockets for eyes and no nose.
"I wouldn't really call this doing just fine," he mocked. "You're scheduled to die, you know. Reaper's been notified and everything. Samael feigned pity and worry. "I could delay that though. Give you a few more years."
"Again, pass." Samael clenched his fist in fury. Jade began to choke, even though he hadn't made any physical contact. "Go ahead, kill me," she managed through forced breaths.
"You never were too bright, Jade," he sneered. "You've been dead for a long while. Your sister, Catherine, though. Well she's quite the other, isn't she? I could visit her with the snap of my fingers." Samael raised his hand and pushed his middle finger and thumb together.
"What do I need to do?" She'd fallen for the devil's snare once more. Suddenly, Jade could breathe freely again.
"Knew you'd come around!" With that happy remark, Samael set the street right, and gave Jade her human appearance back too. "But telling you is much too hard. Let me show you instead." Samael conjured a ball of red smoke and sent it hurtling towards Jade's chest. When it reached her, no physical damage took place, but her mind had become permanently unhinged.
A powerful lust for a strange woman flowed through her, making her feel a passion like no other. She had thick locks and mesmerising green eyes. Her body swayed perfectly in time with the wind, as her chocolate brown hair swept across her face, the sunlight creating a glistening interplay of glowing wisps. Around her neck, she wore a tiny, rusted key that had some words engraved on them. Jade couldn't quite make out what exactly they were. Her whole world was centred around this person she couldn't even remember seeing, let alone actually meeting. But then it all came crashing down. Love turned to angst. Passion, to hatred. Jade screamed in pain, but her body stayed still. There was no relief after the pain. Torture, worse than before came bearing down on her. When it was done, all it left was a gaping hole, leaving her with nothing but a feeling of hopelessness and despair. Just before it ended though, the key appeared again — this time, ablaze.
At that moment, Samael called the smoke ball back to him, and touched it to his head, the ball disappearing once again. Jade gasped for fresh air, bending over and grasping the pole for support. It felt as if her guts had been ripped out, poked holes in, then stuffed back in — all within a second.
"What the fuck was that?"
"My memories. A few of them; just the ones I needed you to see for you to understand."
"That woman, she meant something to you, didn't she?"
"Yes. I suppose you could say that."
"But then she left you?"
"She left me, yes. She left me and took everything from me. Even my ability to grieve for my losses." Silence ensued, both unsure of what to say next. But then Jade remembered,
"And the key? I saw it repeatedly. What does that mean?"
"Good job, Jade! Good job! You cracked the case." Suddenly, he was all jumpy. "The key is what you have to get. Go to Sammirah and get back my key." Jade assumed Sammirah was the woman she had seen.
"Why can't you get it yourself?"
"Let's just say it's a little bit out of my reach."
"That's not enough. If you want my help, you're going to have to tell me everything."
Evidently aware that he had no other option, Samael began with a grudging, "Fine."
"After our dispute, Sammirah took a few of my magical artefacts, the key included, and ran away. When I found out, I went to confront her about it and to take back my things. However, she used their power against me, and came very close to killing me. I barely managed to get out of there alive, but still demanded my property back. Her response was to set up powerful magical barriers all around herself that prevent me from coming within fifty meters of her."
Jade laughed, "So you got your ass handed to you and then got a restraining order. Real smooth."
"Shut it."
"What's so special about this key, anyway?"
"I need it to keep up my end of a deal. If I don't deliver it, I could be in a lot of trouble."
"I'll never understand how your world works. All this fuss over a small, rusted key?"
"Not your world, our world. We inhabit two sides of the same world, Jade. Whatever happens in one heavily influences the other."
"Yeah, yeah whatever.
How do I get to this Sammirah?"
"Finding her is the easy part. Getting the key from her is the hard bit. You'll have to be sharp, cunning, agile, and smart to get past that girl."
"You're still in love with her, aren't you?"
"No, Jade. I am not.
Now, if memory serves, which it does, you obtained certain magic powers when you traded your soul, did you not?"
"One or two, yeah."
"Good. You haven't neglected them entirely have you?"
"No. They've helped from time to time. But mostly I've kept them suppressed."
"Well it's time for you to show them the light of day once more. You can't face Sammirah without magic — that would be suicide." Samael began to walk in the opposite direction to which Jade was going, leaving her no choice but to follow. All this trouble over little Katie. That girl had always been a pain in the ass.
"Now, unlike a lot of us inherently magical beings, Sammirah likes to dwell in this side of the realm, posing as a normal human. She owns a liquor store down the street — "
"The Whisky Garden?"
"You know it?"
Jade nodded. "I've been there once or twice. But that was a long time ago. A bottle hasn't touched these lips in years."
They walked in silence until they rounded the corner to the store.
"Ah, here it is. I'll leave you to it, then." With that, Samael vanished in a puff of red smoke, leaving Jade standing in front of the store, the neon sign flickering on and off. Some letters were gone entirely. The place seemed shut.
"That's weird." It was open just minutes ago when Jade crossed it, before Samael arrived. "Hello? Anyone?" The door creaked open noisily, and a short, waddling figure came out.
"What can I get ya?" She wasn't anything like the woman in the memories. No slim body, no wonderful curves. Her eyes and hair were the wrong colour too. The key was there, though. Hanging around her neck, on top of her white work shirt. Maybe she used some sort of magic to change her form. A bell ringing snapped Jade out of her thoughts, bringing her back to the present. A present where Katie would get killed if she didn't complete this job.
"I'll take a Bunnahabhain 35-year-old whisky." "…uh, please," she added on hastily. Best try and put her in a good mood for what's to come. The woman disappeared into the store and Jade followed her in, waiting at the counter. A little while and a lot of noise later, she returned with a bottle in her hand.
"Here you go," she said, reaching over the counter.
"Yep, this will do brilliantly."
"It's a very fine bottle of malt scotch whisky. Quite expensive too — that'll be eight hundred." Jade forked over the money, making a mental note to get at least a thousand from Samael.
"Speaking of fine…that's a really nice necklace you've got there." The woman raised her hand to it in response, covering it almost protectively.
"Yes, my uncle gave it to me when I was ten. Told me it was a very valuable family heirloom and that I should look after it." What a lying little bitch.
"Hmm, can you tell me anything about it's history? These kinds of things are sort of a hobby of mine."
"It's supposedly an ancient mystic totem, passed down from generation to generation through my family. Some say the oldest to possess it was part of the Devil's inner circle."
"You know, that's funny. I know this guy — Samael. Some even call him the Devil. He said that that necklace, specifically the key, is actually his. Sent me in here to get it." Suddenly, the door swung shut and the blinds were pulled across. No one did anything though. Neither of them seemed too stunned either.
"What's he got on you? Why're you doing his bidding?"
"That matters to you how, exactly?" As she said that, Jade thrust her arm forward, sending a pulse of pure energy that she had been accumulating since entering the store towards Sammirah, knocking her backwards, giving Jade a few seconds on her.
She vaulted over the counter, and was about to deliver a second burst, but her luck ended there. Sammirah sent her flying back, crashing through the window and out onto the street. Sammirah emerged through the rubble, floating dauntingly in the air in front of Jade. The body of the shop owner had been shed, with the one from Samael's memories taking its place.
"You know-" began Jade, before she had to roll to the side to dodge a blast of fire. The ground where she had been moments ago now bore scorch marks.
"-that whole floating in mid-air thing? Doesn't intimidate me." She managed to complete her sentence amidst two more blasts. Finally, Jade found an opening, and unleashed all the energy she had been building up in one, concentrated stream of the elements. Sammirah went crashing back, causing part of the liquor store to cave in due to the sheer level of brute force of the blast. This time Jade wasn't about to stop.
No longer needing to concentrate for a long time to build up her power, Jade took this opportunity and hurled ball after flaming ball of fire at Sammirah, striding confidently towards her fallen body.
"Shame, I thought you would be stronger," she chided, now standing directly in front of Sammirah.
"Oh, I'm just getting started." A smile snaked across Sammirah's face as she smashed her palms together, unleashing a multitude of sound pulses towards Jade, sending her flying back onto the street outside. Then, the pulses paused, and retreated with an even greater force, overlapping and flowing back inside Sammirah. Sammirah shot a taunting look at Jade, who got up and made a mad dash towards her, leaping most of the way. When she was upon Sammirah again, ready to burn her face off, Sammirah spoke, "Shame, I thought you'd be smarter."
With that, she released the sound pulses with a force that made the initial blast look like a cheap knock-off, not only flinging Jade back harder than before, but also demolishing the shop. Sammirah rose out of the rubble, floating above it for a minute before proceeding towards Jade, now crippled and lying on the ground in immense pain.
"Did you really think you could beat me?" Sammirah dropped to the ground. "Did you really think someone as puny, as worthless, as weak as you, could beat me, a seasoned warrior and hunter?" Jade smirked in response. Sammirah kicked her in the stomach.
"And how, pray tell, do you find this funny? You know I'm about to kill you right?"
"Because…I…did…beat you," Jade croaked in between feeble gasps for air. She opened her fist to reveal they key, lying comfortably in the palm of her hand. Sammirah's face filled with fear, confusion, and horror, all flashing by one after the other. She raised her hand to put an end to her, but Jade's form began to quiver and pulsate.
"See you around, bitch." Jade looked to the sky and gave it a little nod. She then vaporised into thin air. The only proof of her ever having been there was the destruction their fight had caused.
Jade reappeared, coughing out blood in her living room, where Samael stood in greeting. He waved his hand and Jade's pain vanished, her injuries beginning to heal. That allowed her to stand upright.
"Nice little trick you got there."
"Which one — pulling you out of the way of practically assured death, or healing you instantly?"
"Either. Both." Samael gave a little chuckle. "Well?"
"Well what?"
"Where's the key?" Jade raised her fist to his outstretched hand and opened it, dropping the key.
"Well done, Jade.
Now, like I said, here's your soul back." Samael pushed his hand through the air, and a tiny, smoky sphere materialised in front of him. It floated slowly and deliberately towards Jade. She wanted to run into it, to reclaim what was hers, but she didn't. She didn't know what could happen to her if she messed with the process.
Finally, after what seemed like eons, the ball of smoke came to her, and flew straight into her chest. Jade inhaled sharply and fell to the ground due to the pain searing through her body. Years of lost connection was being made up for as her soul latched onto every part of her body.
When it was done, the pain subsided instantly, and Jade could stand upright again.
"Get back to living, Jade. The world needs you."
Jade breathed a sigh of relief.
"I had almost forgotten how good having a soul felt.
Also, you owe me a thousand bucks."
"For what?"
"For the money I had to give your deranged ex for a bottle of brilliant whisky I didn't even get to drink." Samael sighed.
"Fine." He nodded, then told her to check her pockets. Sure enough, there was a ten hundred-dollar notes in there. "The two hundred extra was the least he could do," thought Jade.
"Until next time, Jade." With that, he vanished into a puff of red smoke.
"There better not be a next time…"
Because of my geographical location, I cannot earn from the Medium Partner Program, but rather fancy the idea of earning through my writing. However, I don't want to restrict access to content and so would greatly appreciate any and all support you could give me via my Ko-fi page. Thank you!


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Mesh Gradients
This page documents Inkscape's experimental implementation of SVG 2 mesh gradients. Please don't hesitate to improve this page (or even the mesh code!).
WARNING: Mesh SVG syntax is subject to change.
- Use a development build compiled with CPPFLAGS="-DWITH_MESH"
- Enable by adding Alt-M shortcut to inkscape/keys/default.xml (Preferences->Interface->Keyboard Shortcuts, search for 'mesh', add, save, replace old file with saved file).
To create a mesh:
- Change to Mesh tool.
- Select mesh type (normal, conical).
- Select where the mesh should go (fill/stroke).
- Select beginning number of rows and columns.
- Select object to add mesh.
- Click-drag inside object.
- Node Types
- Diamond: Corner
- Circle: Bezier handles
- Square: Tensor handles (see below on how to enable/disable).
- Double click on path to divide row/column by two at that point (there is no reverse operation yet).
- Undo not fully implemented.
Corner Operations
- Ctrl-A
- Select all corner nodes.
- Alt-B
- Toggle selected patch sides between linear and curve. (Select both corner nodes of side to select side.)
- Alt-C
- Attempt to convert selected sides into elliptical arcs by changing the length of the Bezier handles.
- Alt-G
- Toggle on/off tensor points for selected patches. (Select all four corner nodes of a patch to select patch.)
- Alt-J
- Attempt to smooth color transition around a corner by changing length of Bezier handles. This needs lots of work to make it truly useful.
- Alt-K
- Sample colors underneath mesh at corner nodes. For nodes at edge of mesh, move sample point inside mesh. (Useful for vectorizing a photo.)
Coons Mesh Patches use bilinear interpolation for the color profile. This leads to abrupt changes in the derivatives of the colors at patch boundaries which the human eye is very sensitive (see Mach Banding).
Experimental smoothing is included in trunk. Smoothing is not part of the SVG 2 standard (yet). Two different types of smoothing are implemented:
Cubic Hermite splines does the interpolation in one direction at a time. Bicubic interpolation does the interpolation in both directions at the same time adding in cross-derivative terms.
Smoothing is implemented by splitting each 'normal' patch into an eight by eight array of patches where the corner nodes of each sub-patch are set using interpolation and then rendering the sub-patches with normal mesh patches. There is some evidence that this is how smoothing is implemented in Illustrator.
Smoothing type:
- None
- Default: Same as Smooth7.
- Cubic Hermite Splines
- Smooth1: Derivatives zero at patch boundaries.
- Smooth2: Catmul-Rom calculation of derivatives. Along edge double first/last point.
- Smooth3: Catmul-Rom calculation of derivatives. Along edge reflect around first/last point.
- Smooth4: Catmul-Rom calculation of derivatives. Parabolic profile for edge patches.
- Smooth5: Same as Smooth4 but attempt to ensure local minima/maxima remain on patch boundaries.
- Bicubic interpolation
- Smooth6: Catmul-Rom calculation of derivatives. Along edge reflect around first/last point.
- Smooth7: Catmul-Rom calculation of derivatives. Parabolic profile for edge patches. Attemtp to ensure local minima/maxima remain on patch boundaries.
Next step is to replace Catmul-Rom derivative calculations by finite difference methods.


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Responsibility is a three-letter word: F-U-N
Before I had kids, the word "responsibility" had me running for the hills. I dodged it like Keanu Reeves' bullets in The Matrix. Then we got pregnant …
I fretted for months about the kind of dad I would be. I didn't know anything about taking care of a baby, but I was skilled at taking care of and thinking about myself.
It all changed when my newborn son looked into my eyes for the very first time. Instantly, my concerns melted away, and instead of running from responsibility, I embraced it.
A few months later I witnessed my boy's first laugh. From that moment, I made it my mission to make his upbringing as fun as possible. I renewed this commitment when his sister was born two years later.
I've always been a kid at heart and being a parent enables me to indulge in my playfulness. I love seeing my little minions explore the world and discover new concepts every day. We have a lot of fun, but I also believe it's made them stronger and more confident. But of course, there are still responsibilities ...
Responsibility 1: Get them dressed
This is something we love to have fun with. Pirate Day anyone? My kids have taught me not to be self-conscious about what we wear. If I say we can't go to the supermarket dressed as pirates, my little one simply pulls me by the hand toward the car nodding his head saying, "yeah, we can." Who am I to argue with that logic?
Responsibility 2: Teach them they can do anything
No matter what my kids come up against in life, I want them to have the courage to never give up and feel like they can do anything they set their mind to.
At this age, I do this by playing superheroes. I heard my boy once say to his Grandma that "my daddy can lift a car." I don't actually remember doing that, but it did teach me that in my son's eyes, I'm Superman. It's a fun expectation to live up to and one I'll happily take on for as long as my back can take it.
Responsibility 3: Teach thriftiness
If there's one thing my son has taught me, it is how to think creatively. It's an expensive undertaking to keep up with all the latest toys, but many of the things he spends hours playing with are the things we make — that don't cost a cent.
Until I had kids, I had no use for a toilet roll other than keeping the loo paper together on the spool. Now I know they can also be binoculars, matchbox car garages and even a pretty dandy Santa Sleigh.
Responsibility 4: Keep magic in their eyes
Ever since my kids were babies, I've made coins, toys and noses appear and disappear; I've made them fly and look like giants using Photoshop. And when it comes to Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny and The Tooth Fairy, I pull out all the stops.
We all have to grow up sometime and face the real world, but the longer I can keep a sense of wonder and amazement alive in our kids, the better.
The excitement, surprise and joy in their reactions every day has taught me how rewarding it is to bring a little magic to the mundane, and show them that the impossible can be possible. Who says responsibility has to be boring?


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KYLOWEIGH I Beam structured Truck scales are mostly used for heavy-duty long trailers or overtake lorries up to 100t or 150t.
Technical Specifications:
1) Size: 3*18m, 10ft*60ft, 12ft*80ft;
2) Top chequer plate 12mm thick;
3) Cross beams: 100mm high by 2.95m(9'8'')long;
4) Main I beams: 600mm high;
5) Bottom I beam crossby: 6 pcs with dia25mm holes to join with Main I beams;
6) Column Load cells: 8 units.
7) Seft weight: 13.5t;
8) 2 units to load into 40GP.
9) Delivery time: 12 calendar days upon prepayment arrival.


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Arminius wrote:James S Saint wrote:What "structure" did you want it to have that wasn't there?
I did not want a syntactical structure because a syntactical structure is given anyway, unless it is invalid, false.
Please tell me what the exact definitions of "harmony" and "anentropy" are according to RM:AO.
Harmony == motion with a limitation on the degree of disruptive conflict.
Anentropy == the balance between entropy and anti-entropy, zero (or near zero) disruptive conflict.
Anentropy does not require internal harmony. But eternal internal harmony requires anentropy.


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Why we need a mindful pause & how to do it
The podcast is now at ActivePause.com
Being mindful is the opposite of being mindless. That is, the opposite of being disconnected, absent-minded, mechanical. So, to be mindful is to be engaged in what we are doing.
Mindfulness, as defined this way, is a natural ability that we all have. It was honed by evolution.
Our remote ancestors survived because they were actively engaged with their environment. They were alert to both potential opportunities and potential dangers. They were alert without being hypervigilant, because that kind of engagement was a normal part of every day life. The key point is: They were mindful because they needed to be mindful.
Contrast this with the way we might take a walk in the woods today, following a blazed trail in a State Park. We are not engaged because we do not absolutely need to be. There is no major threat, so we can afford to not be very engaged.
So it is not a contradiction to say that:
(1) We have a natural ability to be mindful, and
(2) Our default mode is to be mindless.
For efficient functioning, a feature that's not needed is not activated. For us, as for our remote ancestors, mindfulness comes in only when it's needed. It's just that we need it less often. So we need to "game the system"... and this is why I am talking about "proactive minsdulness" as opposed to the natural mindfulness of our ancestors.
Gaming the system: the mindful pause
This phrase probably sounds very abstract, so a very simple example will help bring it to life. Let's say you're walking in a State Park. Your attention is not very engaged, because there is no real need for it to be. There are a lot of trees, and all trees kind of look the same, so it's fairly boring. Maybe very pleasantly boring, but fairly boring anyway, in the sense that there is no direct invitation for you to be engaged with where you are. Chances are you let your mind wander, and you're lost in your thoughts. There's more action inside your mind than between you and the outside world!
Let's say that, at some point, you realize you've been mostly in your head, and you want to try to be more mindful. Trying to force yourself to be more mindful will not work for more than a few moments, because there is nothing to keep your attention engaged. It is different if you actively engage your curiosity. For instance, you start to pay attention to the similarities and differences between the trees.
"Attention" is not a thing, it is a process. There is no such thing as a pile of "attention" the way there is, say, a pile of sand. A process means there is an action: You pay attention to something. For instance, you pay attention to the trees. To do so, it helps to have a specific quest, such as noticing similarities and differences between trees.
Such a quest is a way to enter into relationship with your environment. Then you are actively involved with it, and you are naturally mindful. This relationship will be sustainable if the quest is meaningful. Otherwise, it will default to boring. You may then need to figure out a different way to enter into a meaningful relationship with your environment, if you want to be mindful as opposed to mindless. It starts with a mindful pause.
|© Pausefully books


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BlackBerry OS upgrade can be done in 2 ways, online and offline upgrades. The easiest way is to use for beginner is online upgrade. To do this you need: Computer (laptop, nettop….. no problem) A stable internet connection (if any….. … Continue reading
June 10, 2011
by vmancer
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Print from the website of the AMF
Instruction DOC-2008-04
Applicable from January 10, 2014 to October 22, 2018
This instruction presents the business conduct rules applicable to marketing in France by French asset management companies, management companies established in another European Union Member State or managers established in third countries, of units or shares in UCITS or AIFs, with a view to their subscription or redemption by investors.
Legal information
Head of publications: The Executive Director of AMF Communication Directorate.
Contact: Communication Directorate – Autorité des marches financiers 17 place de la Bourse – 75082 Paris cedex 02


text: Day 1 Bangkok to Hua Hin in pouring rain. There's no stopping us. Hotel: Sofitel Centara Grand Day 2 Day off. Easily stopped. Rained again this evening so that the centre of Hua Hin flooded. It was fun coming back, wading and sheltering as best we could but it doesn't bode well for tomorrow and that's another set of clothes soaked. Day 3 Chumphon, 284km according to Google maps. Started day with fantastic children's breakfast of cold pizza. The sun is out and our stuff is all mostly dry after another night on the balcony. I adjusted the suspension a bit yesterday so let's see if it makes any difference and, more importantly, whether Helen notices. Hotel: Novatel Ride was easy and pretty fast, so fast I'm thinking I need to check my speedo; there's probably an app I can download to do that. Roads were in pretty good condition and traffic was as light as I've seen it in Thailand; probably because of the election. Suspension was a big improvement. It was tending to bob up a bit after bumps but more rebound damping has sorted it. The bike is sputtering a little when going from closed to open throttle. I should have checked the spark plugs before I left. No chance of that now. I might fill up with 91 instead of 95 gasohol to see if a change of fuel helps. Android phone keeps shutting down when on the ram mount. Not sure if it is the vibration or battery killing gps. Will get a charger sorted asap and see if that helps. Day 4 Chumphon to Krabi Great fast riding. Got to hold the bike wide open in top long enough to ascertain that the fully-loaded top speed is in fact 230km/h and not "230km/h with plenty still left to go" as my inner seventeen-year-old has always maintained. Fully loaded means Helen, backbox, flappy soft panniers, tankbag and a virtually bolt upright 6'4" me on the front. 230km/h is indicated by a generous to the point of sycophancy speedo that is only labeled to 180km/h. Day 5 Krabi, another day off. This is like being on holiday. Had a look at the air filter and found it disappointingly clean. This would have been an easy fix for the spluttering. {} Checked spark plugs 1&4 (the easy ones). Electrodes are fine but lots of corrosion on outside so bad the crush washer has disappeared from no 4. May get them changed in Malaysia if I get the chance. {} Day 6 Malaysia! This is the big day! We motorbike to a new country for the first time in six years! I'm told this is the 22nd country I have ridden to. We made good time on the Thai side. I was slightly sobered to see road signs for all the places that appear in the Thai news because of bombings and other religious violence. What a waste and what nonsense. Both sides of the border were easy. We made a point of finding the insurance place on the Malay side and paid RM72 (THB720) for one month's insurance. The insurance lady then directed me to the government vehicle tax place where they took a while to look at the bike (an excuse for a fag) then issue me a certificate without charge (I think they might have forgotten to charge me). We then rode on and on for hours on boring motorway to get to the island of Penang. Well worth it! Even tired after a long day and searching for the hotel (usually a good time for frayed nerves) Georgetown looked great. We got an Indian (third night in a row) and a Tiger beer then had an early night. Day 7Still Penang Ate at the Maharaj, at the top of Chulia. Can't recommend this place enough. Staff are friendly, food great and he place looks like a grotto, inside and out. It may be best not to park immediately outside, though, as there is a Bollywood cinema next door, you can see it in the photo, and patrons appear to have a habit of lounging on parked bikes while they are waiting to go in. Unless you're really cool with this sort of thing, best to park on Chulia then cross the road on foot, over the traffic island. {} Day 8 Still Penang Day 9 Cameron Highlands Hotel De La Ferns, between Tanah Rata and Berinchang. You can probably do better! Staff couldn't find booking, tried to overcharge and were generally unhelpful. From Penang to Cameron Highlands you have to do some motorway at first. We tried to follow an alternative A road, not least to make use of the new satnav, but the road surface was appalling. At Ipoh we left the motorway and met appalling traffic which petered to nothing as we left the town. On the left there was a very welcome Starbucks at a busy mall. The attendants understandably wouldn't let us park in front of Starbucks because a million other bikes would then follow suit. After a while, though, they relented and let us park in a chained-off area just long enough for us to grab a coffee. Straight after Ipoh, the fun road begins. Much wider and more swoopy than I expected (I pictured something like Khao Yai in Thailand) the road was fast and well-surfaced. Roads like this are why I always choose touring bikes with at least a little bit of sporting pretension. Recently tweaked suspension was superb and my choice of tyres meant I could concentrate on my line, and on the traffic, without having to worry one little bit about traction. I use the same tyres on my Fireblade at Bira circuit. In fact, the same tyres often get squared-off by the Suzuki before being transferred to the Honda to get their edges frazzed. We were travelling on a Saturday which was not ideal as there was lots of weekend traffic. We had plenty of spells with nothing around where we could have some fun but we would inevitably catch a convoy every now and then, headed by a slowcoach (literal or euphemistic). This leads to plenty of uphill overtaking and requires a bike with a bit of performance in it. Although the GSX1400 makes only a modest 106bhp, this is irrelevant as it has a whopping 125Nm of torque (for comparison, a VFR800 makes 80Nm). Overtakes were a breeze and I think we found the GSX1400s natural habitat. Day 10 Cameron Highlands day off Day 11 Belam rainforest resort, near Gerik. Came down from the highlands using the older, more northern road. It's nicely bendy but the condition is poor and I'd advise anyone on a sportsbike to use the more southerly road that goes to Ipoh instead. We blasted up the north south highway, I gave up on the speed limit ages ago and will just pay the fines when necessary. We then turned onto the 76 expecting another nice road. What we got was an endless A road that was too fast for its own junctions. We saw two accidents. In Gerik we managed to find some vegan food without having to stoop to fries at the KFC. Found veggie fried rice at friendly cafe. Photo shows GSX1400 grazing with local bikes. Attached files {}


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'And Then I Vanish' is a surreal motion poem, which has started as a simple spare time project months ago.
Since then it grew, it changed quite a lot – and now it's finally done.
I tried to restrict myself by some rules, e.G. only going for portraits & close-ups and maintaining the same light direction.
Made with Cinema4D & Octane Render.
created by Cornel Swoboda,
sound design by Oliver Salkic,
voice/vocals by Victoria Ward,
poem by Cornel Swoboda & Ron Weaver.
more heads on Behance: behance.net/gallery/26278191/And-Then-I-Vanish


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Review Details
Feel Good Nutrigenomics (Book)
- Product Review (submitted on March 20, 2014):
- Loved the book!!!! You made something very scientifically complex so easy to understand. This book is a must for baby showers. If people only knew what illnesses they could prevent in their children with bypassing mutations from a young age. If I had only known this information when my son was a baby. Dr. Amy, the combination of compassion and altruism is the essence of your spirit. Thank you for sharing your gift of knowledge.