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How to Install a Skylight
Contact Skylight Los Angeles service of loosen up skylight to make modifications on your residing seem. A skylight may want to appearance just like the very best option for rooms which might be cramped dingy and dark. | {
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} |
Hi. Barb here. Unfortunately I’m in book jail. Deadline near and far more writing road to travel. Then a proposal and a short story due after that. Like planes stacked up over an airport with a single runway open.
Fortunately, my husband, Bill Carito, has stepped up to fill the void. We’re in Key West until April 1. While I pound the keyboard every afternoon, he roams the town, looking for the right shot.
Bikes are the preferred method for navigating Key West. The island is compact and flat and the parking is terrible. The highest point, laughably called Solares Hill, is 18 feet above sea level. I have walked over it many times, and you don’t even notice an incline.
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About Barbara Ross
Barbara Ross is the author of the Maine Clambake Mysteries and the Jane Darrowfield Mysteries. Her books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and have won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. She lives in Portland, Maine. Readers can visit her website at www.maineclambakemysteries.com
Bill is an astute observer of his surrounding environment. His photos are always inspired. Who would have thought bikes could be so colorful. Rather like a flock of wild parrots streaking down the avenue. Thanks so much for sharing.
What gorgeous colors, Barb and Bill! Accustomed to the drab sepia Maine winter, I felt, looking at these photos, as if my life had suddenly changed from Kansas to the Land of Oz. Thank you for sharing them.
I’m with Sherry! Love the blue-shirted guy in front of the matching house …. kudos to Bill! And sympathy and understanding to you, Barb … along with envy for the bright colors! Look forward to seeing you both in Maine later this spring. | {
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Double Eagle II Airport Access Road Alignment Relocation
This was an emergency project to realign Paseo del Volcan at the entrance to Double Eagle II Airport. At the direction of the Mayor’s office, Molzen Corbin redesigned the intersection on a fast track schedule, which from notice to proceed on the design to construction completion took approximately four months. | {
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This blog is all about Rotherhithe, past and present. The main themes are heritage, wildlife and news items that may be of interest to local residents. If you have any questions or would like to comment or ask me to cover any particular topic you can email me at andie [at] rotherhitheblog.co.uk. I am also on Twitter @AndieByrnes
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Spring life, colours and shapes.
I was woken, for the umpteenth morning in a row, to the sound of coots on the dock. They make the most god-awful din.
I looked out at the bright sunshine and got up with the happy intention of going over the road to see what, if anything, had emerged since the weekend. It wasn't a particularly early start in the end, and I left the house at just gone 11am. But everything seemed to be fast asleep. There were only one or two birds crouching in trees, and I had the park to myself at first. But it soon started to wake up. My first happy sighting was a rusty coloured Wren, immediately followed by a gaggle of Blue Tits where the pigeons usually sit. I was attracted to them by the sheer volume of noise that they produced.
I went to see the Downtown ponds but there was nothing new to see. On Globe Pond there were several pairs of mallard, which was nice to see, and an inevitable bunch of coots, but no frogs or toads are spawning in their usual place.
Walking into the ecological park bird song was so loud that it filled the entire air. The most distinctive voice was that of the Great Tit, with its repetitive call, but I also saw sparrows, finches, robins, starlings and blackbirds as well as the much larger crows, pigeons and magpies.
The shapes and colours of new shoots and flowers continue to fascinate and enchant. Pink blossom has joined white, and the great clouds of gentle colour are lovely. I saw one small clump of primroses and they were super to see, an unexpected pleasure.
There was more insect life than in previous weeks. There were several flies and I saw a number of comma butterflies including one which stayed quite motionless for several minutes in the sun. I also saw a couple of white, but they were too far away for me to identify. Honey bees are taking advantage of the pollen-laden pussy willow which is all over the ecological park and the woodland, and there were a couple of bumble bees in the grass.
There were no foxes to be seen but I saw too very busy squirrels.
I walked back via the Downtown site where metal railings are now in position around the compass. There was no felling taking place. Other work being carried out between the Health Centre carpark and the road appeared to have something to do with large piles of sand or earth.
I crossed the rbidge and had the Thames Path entirely to myself, which was an eerie feeling.
Walking back along Greenland Dock the peace was only broken by the wretched coots, which were tearing the air apart with their screams. As soon as one starts the others all join in and the din is deafening. Apart from the coots the only other birds that saw were a handful of seagulls, three mallards and two swans.
The scene at the Moby was entirely different from that of the previous weekend. When I rounded Tavistock Tower at 1230 there was simply no-one there. All the benches were empty. The contrast betweeen the heaving chaos of Sunday with the over-heated people, the semll of chips and ketchup versus today's peaceful quietness was truly remarkable. Not that I have anything against chips and ketchup but it was all a bit overwhelming in the warmth of the day.
The weather forecast predicted cloud for the afternoon, but I am glad that it was wrong. It has been an idyllic day.
Welcome
Site Menu
A History of South Dock
I have assembled all my posts concerning the history and heritage of South Dock into a website of its own, which seemed to be a requirement following the announcement of the St George's Wharf development that will overshadow the South Dock area. It can be found at:http://southdockse16.wordpress.com
Aberdovey Londoner
In July 2018 I moved to Aberdovey on the mid Welsh coast, and began a blog there. It is a very different place and experiences are all completely novel. If you are interested, you can find it at https://aberdoveylondoner.wordpress.com
Port of London Study Group
If you are interested in the archaeology and history of the Port of London you may be interested in the Port of London Study Group, a self-guided research group that operates out of the Museum of London. Find out more at http://portoflondonstudy.wordpress.com.
British Transport Treasures
This blog is run with considerable assistance from excellent local history publications written by Stuart Rankin. His works are my starting point for all history posts. Stuart has set up a website, called British Transport Treasures, that specializes in out of print publications which can be downloaded as PDFs that can be saved and printed. Out of print publications are a nightmare for anyone attempting local history research unless they have access to a specialist library and archives. British Transport Treasures is expanding fast with an ever-growing catalogue of titles. Each of the publications is described with a magazine-style short review to explain the scope of the content, and provided with a preview of the cover and first page. There is a nominal cost for each, to cover the costs of hosting and running the site, and 5p per item sold is donated to Help For Heroes. I am a massive fan of the site and what it is attempting to do, and as it has a number of publications concerning Rotherhithe I have drawn attention to some of them here. | {
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peterquixote
July 10th, 2009
7:50 pm
and smart dumb Telecom, [lets lynch Teresa Gatting ]
smart off hand Vodofone,
and smart Power Company pay or die
and thanks Roger Douglas for letting us test your idiot country and watch the morons,
sign up to your direct debit here morons,
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Special: IDF lieutenant who was part of messianic camp says Israel faces grave danger
Micha Regev says that
he is an anxious citizen. When the IDF Lieutenant (res.) hears talk of
settlement evacuation, he is overwhelmed by horrific scenarios. For
example: Settlers firing at soldiers and Palestinians. Such scenarios,
he says, are not unthinkable. Some people are already working on
formulating them.
“We are facing a much graver danger than the murder of a prime
minister,” he says. “The radicals may reach the stage of rebellion, and
possibly even mass suicide.” Regev’s words merit extra attention because
once upon a time he was there himself, a religious youngster with fire
in his eyes who joined the IDF in order to turn it into a “religious
messianic army.”
The 54-year-old Regev
was born to a national religious family. When he was 15, he joined his
friends in archeological digs near Gush Etzion. There, he first met
settler leader Hanan Porat and was captivated by the appeal of
salvation.
“Porat, a master of words and brimming with charisma, promised that we are close to the Messiah’s arrival and that the Six-Day War
was a divine miracle en route to complete salvation,” he recalls. “We
admired every word that came out of his mouth. In retrospect I realized
that we, the youths, were the fuel of that revolution.”
After completing his studies at a high school yeshiva, Regev
joined the Mercaz Harav yeshiva in Jerusalem and on his breaks helped
his friends advance the settlement enterprise. “When the group of
salvation believers expanded we learned that with a little determination
and plenty of disregard for the law we can gain land and a housing
solution almost for free in a new settlement. The government’s
helplessness turned this phenomenon into a strategic threat for the rule
of law and State’s pillars,” he writes in his recently published book.
Regev performed his military service at the Golani elite
reconnaissance unit, also viewing it as a messianic mission. “In
preparation sessions ahead of enlistment, representatives of the
salvation movement repeated the idea of sanctifying the military by
turning it into a religious messianic army…the message was that we
should take up key positions,” he says.
Warning to Rabin Yet eventually things started
to change for Regev: “In one of our training sessions I discovered for
the first time kibbutz members celebrating the Shavuot holiday. I was
stunned; I discovered secular people who were no less moral and
impressive than us, the settlement pioneers.”
Regev says that Egyptian President Sadat’s visit to Israel in 1977 and Prime Minister Begin’s
call “no more war, no more bloodshed” were the turning point in his
life. The words that impressed him so deeply sounded disastrous to his
rabbis, and question marks began to crack the faith he grew up with.
Despite this, he continued to serve in the army as a proud religious
commander, sporting a beard and taking part in a series of secret
operations.
Lebanon, which was part of Regev’s life for 20 years, claimed
the lives of his young brother, Daniel, who was killed in 1982 and was
awarded a citation posthumously. “During the Shiva, the realization that
there is no point in sacrificing life for the sake of delusional
notions took shape within me. Risking soldiers for the sake of Joseph’s
Tomb or the Kasbah in Nablus seemed senseless to me. If God wants to
demand sacrifice from us, he should do it with His own voice, as He did
with Abraham,” Regev says.
In 1984, after a Jewish underground that killed Arabs was
uncovered in the West Bank, with two of its members being former close
friends, Regev’s ties to his past were completely undermined. “It was
clear to me that the zealousness of salvation is not a truthful path and
that salvation theory is unfounded,” he says. He removed the kippah
from his head, moved to Mitzpe Abirim in the Galilee to raise cattle,
and today lives there with his wife and three sons.
In November 1993, a few months after the Oslo agreement was
signed, Regev was a cadet in a division commanders’ course. When Prime
Minister Rabin
arrived to address the soldiers, the cadets were asked to prepare
questions. When it was Regev’s turn, he turned to Rabin and said: “I’m a
very close associate of the settlers and fear that your life and the
lives of other officials are in danger.”
“Rabin shook his head, smiled his modest smile and told me that
Israel has excellent security services and that there was no reason for
concern,” Regev recounts. “I realized that my message wasn’t grasped. I
got up again and told him that his response is so wrong that I feel like
crying.”
‘The rabbis sinned’ “The Oslo Accords provoked
immense hatred in the Right. My settler friends made an effort to
explain to me that Rabin, who is about to hand over parts of our
homeland to foreigners, is a traitor, and that in an enlightened state
he would be sentenced to death,” Regev says. Referring to Rabin’s
assassination, he says: “It doesn’t matter who pulled the trigger and it
doesn’t matter that the rabbis said the murderer did not come from
their midst. The sin of this murder hangs over the rabbis, who turned an
elected prime minister into a traitor and criminal.”
Yet the danger has not passed. The opposite is true, as the
voice of the “salvation rabbis” grows louder. Regev decided not to
remain silent, and for some two years wrote his book, The Intoxication
of Salvation.” “I wrote the book as an active partner in the religious
salvation movement based on the doctrine of Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Kook and
his followers, who view our era as a period of messianic salvation, with
those who stand in the way being criminals. For years I was a part of
it, until I sobered up,” he says.
“I can’t forget the boy who was evacuated from his Gush Katif home during the Gaza disengagement
and urged IDF soldiers to kill him. I have no doubt he meant it,
because for months the rabbis told him that evacuation is worse than
death,” Regev says. “I also can’t forget the marches of children with a
yellow Star of David on their clothes, as if IDF soldiers were Nazi
thugs. While this was a minority, it was backed by the ideologists of
salvation messianism. To my regret, in recent years we are seeing
radicalization among national rabbis too, who seemingly accept the
authority of the State and of democracy.
“The fact that Rabbi Dov Lior, for example, viewed Jewish killer
Baruch Goldstein as a saint shocked but didn’t surprise me, because the
rabbi represents all the dangers inherent in the salvation movement,”
Regev says. “The fact that he is an eminent rabbi with immense knowledge
only makes the danger even graver and proves this is not a marginal
group. Its hard core leads a mystical, violent line. Torah laws are more
important for them than the State and than democracy, and in the wake
of a trigger like settlement evacuation they may resort to unprecedented
violence.” | {
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Great Party, Great Bike!
Last week Eddy Merckx Cycles organized a huge birthday party in honor of mister Merckx. It turned out to be great success. Great weather, great crowd,… A perfect opportunity to launch our new top bike:” The EMX-7”.
For pictures and clips of this event you can check out the following links: | {
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Animals In PrintThe On-Line Newsletter10 July 2010 Issue
La Grange P.D. Shoots Scared Dog Twice ... Make Sure They Pay!
WHY IS TAX PAYER MONEY BEING USED TO KILL DEFENSELESS ANIMALS?
The picture only tells a tiny part of the story, but you can clearly see
that this is not a vicious dog!! The dog is running AWAY not ATTACKING. In
all living creatures, the law of FIGHT or FLIGHT exists. This dog has
clearly chosen to flee. If you have the stomach, watch this video ... but be
forewarned, it is very disturbing!
Aspca This Is A Cry For Help: Animal Cruelty By The La Grange Missouri Police Department
Aspca This Is A Cry For Help: Animal Cruelty By The La Grange Missouri Police Department
The dog, a female American pitbull, named Cammie was murdered on March 31st
by Officer Doug Howell. Officer Jason Powell was also on scene. The video's
circulating only show about 10 minutes of the 68 minute incident.
This defenseless dog did not deserve to die such a cruel, horrible death!!!!
The poor baby is scared of the catch pole! I would be too!!
This is what my friend Kitty Novich, a fellow animal lover said about the
video: "There is no sound. Apparently, it looked like the police were there
to confiscate the dog. They took the dog, on it's chain to their truck and
attached it to the truck. The dog lies down with it's tail wagging. Then
they got a catch pole. I have no idea why. This dog was completely docile!!
They chased it around with the catch pole, mind you, IT WAS RESTRAINED TO
THE TRUCK!! Unnecessary!! The dog panicked!! They finally got it around it's
neck, then began to turn in circles with it. Completely untrained to handle
this!! Then the young cop just pulls his gun and shoots it!! The poor dog
just lies on the ground, tail still wagging, looking up at the cop. The cop
then shoots it again, this time in the head, killing it. The cop then walks
to the camera and SLAMS the gate to the truck closed."
It is ironic that the Police Department's own webcam captured this horrific,
senseless killing of a dog that just needed some love. Don't you think that
if you are stupid enough to commit a heinous (outrageously evil is the
dictionary def.) crime such as this, you would be very quick to destroy the
evidence. Maybe being backward had it's advantage after all ... the webcam
doesn't take sides ... it just recorded the evidence.
Please, make the La Grange Police Department pay the price for their
blatant abuse of power!
(COPIED FROM HEARTLANDCONNECTION.COM:)
Case pending in LaGrange dog shooting by Rajah Maples
LPD remains tight-lipped
LAGRANGE, MO. -- There's been a lot of talk about a dog shooting that
happened in LaGrange, Missouri.
In case you haven't heard, this video was captured on the LaGrange Police
Department's dashboard cam. The entire video is more than 30 minutes long,
but only about 10 minutes of it is posted on this YouTube video.
It shows an officer shooting an American bulldog at close range twice.
We would like to caution viewers about the explicit content of this video.
We've heard from several viewers demanding answers about this, so we spent
the day getting as much information about it as possible.
The LaGrange Police Department and City Hall are tight-lipped about the
matter. In fact, both refused to comment because of the upcoming trial of
Marcus Mays.
He's the LaGrange resident who owned the dog.
Mays is due in court this Thursday on a municipal charge of keeping a
vicious animal.
He plans to act as his own attorney.
UP DATE FOLLOWS
New update online June 17th, 2010 regarding the owner who vows to fight for
change:www.hannibal.net/news/x1600620381/LaGrange-dog-owner-vows-to-fight-for-law-changes
An excerpt from that article:
"The officers were responding to a call from LaGrange resident Mary Coleman
that the dog had acted threateningly toward her and her daughter as they
walked to a school bus stop.
"It was growling at my six-year-old, "Coleman testified. "I wanted my kid to
be safe and myself to be safe."
Mays pointed out that the dog could not have been too angry because Coleman
chained it at her home while Howell and Powell went to get special equipment
used in handling animals.
The video shows that at one point, the dog laid down on the street and
remained motionless for a time."
"Powell described the dog as 'aggressive' and 'vicious'."
"Howell said that he felt the only option to protect the safety of neighbors
was to shoot the dog.
Howell fired one shot to the chest, which felled the animal. On the video,
the dog can then be seen wagging its tail. Howell said he fired a shot to
the head "because I didn't want the dog to suffer."
AND THAT'S YOUR DEFENSE DOUG HOWELL???? I CHALLENGE YOU TO SHOW ME AN
"AGGRESSIVE" AND "VICIOUS" ANIMAL, ANY ANIMAL, THAT WAGS THEIR TAIL!!
PATHETIC!
THE WORLD HAS SEEN YOU, THEY KNOW WHO YOU ARE, AND THEY ARE WAITING, BEGGING
FOR JUSTICE FOR MURDER VICTIM, CAMMIE!
SIGN PETITION NOW
NOTE: This petition will be sent to both the LaGrange, MO Chief of Police
and the Mayor of LaGrange, MO. I will also circulate it to the media, both
locally in MO, nationally and internationally. It will also be sent to the
American Humane Society who according to their website: "has been protecting
children and animals from cruelty, abuse and neglect for over 130 years"
ALSO WRITE OR CALL, PROTEST THIS ACT OF BRUTALITY--BE POLITE.
Call and email the La Grange Police Department as well as their City Hall,
their Mayor ... go national ... anyone you can think of! Spread the word.
Here is where you can start (I find it strange that Officer Jason Powell's
number is listed below, but Officer Doug Howell's is not): | {
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} |
Film Review
star4-0
Walker's opening montage takes place during a 19th-century battle scene in Sonora, Mexico, with ragtag soldiers and peasant revolutionaries mowed down in a torrential rain of bullets, flown through the air in cannon blasts, and eating dust as they land in bloody piles. Any sense of glory or horror in this graphic carnage is made absurd and ironic by Joe Strummer's peppy salsa soundtrack, which seems more befitting for a hacienda party. The charismatic antihero, William Walker (Ed Harris), who will go on to stage the first American invasion of Nicaragua, boastfully writes in his journal about his heroic actions (he consistently refers to his glorious self in the third person) and those of his men. As the world erupts in chaotic death all around him, he retains the plucky optimism of the American individualist and the tight-assed prissiness of a puritan saint, and when he steps outside to join the few surviving men-at-arms who swear to fight with him to the last, he orates that their situation isn't good, and because they've run out of food and ammunition, it seems that only an act of God can save them. As if in response, raindrops fall from the sky, a mighty windstorm stirs up great clouds of dust to cover their escape back across the border into America, and before he returns home, Walker blows a kiss to God above. Cut to: a courtroom scene where he defends the "God-given right of the American people to dominate the Western Hemisphere. It is our moral duty to protect our neighbors from oppression and exploitation. That is [our] manifest destiny."
This prologue in many ways sets the tone for the rest of cinematic anarchist Alex Cox's film, which abandons all clichés of the traditional bio-pic in favor of outlandish magical realism. Cox had previously directed the surreal punk classic Repo Man, during which this British director living in Los Angeles playfully satirized American society and L.A. subculture. The freaky-funny car-repossessing heroes lived by their own outlaw rules outside of the mundane, consumer-based mentality that demands conformity. (In that film, one particularly irritating bit player is singled out as being hypnotized by pop culture as he annoyingly sings the "Feelin' 7-Up" song over and over again like some kind of automaton.) The world-weary leader of these merry brigands, played by Harry Dean Stanton, swore he'd rather live on his feet than die on his knees. So too did Cox, whose movie was a rallying cry for the new wave. Walker is the dark, neurotic flipside of Repo Man, where the antiheroic title character is not interested in any form of individual self-expression other than a single-minded pursuit of fame and glory.
It's easy to see why Cox would be drawn to the historical figure of Walker: a swaggering anomaly, who continually makes vast declarations and proclamations about being anti-slavery and pro-democracy, in favor of universal suffrage and bringing American values to South America as a way of raising up the poor and needy. He's the kind of guy who really would have said, in our modern day and age, that to solve global strife he'd buy the world a Coke—and indeed, in this period film, corporate logos make fleeting appearances. A bottle of Coca-Cola and a pack of Marlboros rest next to two prisoners-of-war buried in the dirt up to their necks, and Walker fawns over his heroic visage on the cover of Newsweek. His rhetoric gradually distorts into a mad worship of his own obsessive power and maniacal, micro-managing control over a foreign land. This is the evil, duplicitous neighbor of the heroic Repo Men, where individualism becomes obscenely mindless of anything other than personal gain. Walker continually cloaks his evil (even from himself) in sanctimony, claiming to make the world safe for "God, science, and hygiene."
These are all qualities Cox not only loathes but also aims to cinematically mock in his madcap way. Walker is quite a hilarious movie for much of the time, almost ecstatic in its over-the-top weirdness. An example of how he deflates the rich and powerful: The man funding Walker's trek into the South American struggle, Cornelius Vanderbilt (brilliantly played by Peter Boyle), perhaps the wealthiest man in the United States, is an overgrown child delighted by his own farts, and he throws tantrums during which he dumps the water from a vase over his head and beats his lackeys with the overturned flowers. Scenes play out as desperately manic, on the verge of steamrolling out of control, with bold, comic-bookish camera angles inspired by a slew of eccentric spaghetti westerns. A romantic spat between Walker and his mute American girlfriend (Marlee Matlin) is played out almost entirely in crude sign language ("Go fuck a pig!" is one of the subtitles), yet made somehow endearing by a lush, emotionally pleading violin concerto.
What grounds Walker is that in addition to the director being an incorrigible prankster, he is also dead serious when it comes to moral judgments on power and international politics. The film was shot in the late 1980s, right in the middle of an illegal U.S.-sponsored war against Nicaragua and remains topical today as a scandalous portrait of nightmarish American arrogance in the name of expansion and gobbling up resources. The film is equally cutting in its evisceration of Christian values in the name of mass violence, and of Western self-willed ignorance of other cultures. Walker, when he's finally had it with the Nicaraguans trying to oust him, orders his men to burn the town, starting with the museum and hall of records. The American sense of erasing history is absolute, and when Walker's God complex takes over and he goes so far as to declare himself President of Nicaragua, Vanderbilt decides to crush him as easily as one would swat a fly. "No one will remember Walker," the millionaire seethes, "since no one remembers those who lose." This grim epitaph happens long before the climax, so we're allowed the rise and fall of Walker to take place in slow motion, episodically, and maniacally.
All throughout his Nicaraguan adventure, Walker decimated cities and rolled in his brigand army of Immortals composed of greedy mercenaries and opportunists. Cox takes on battle scenes in the style of Kurosawa, played out in grand scale wide shots and allowing the sound to drop out completely (except for a Joe Strummer piece that unwaveringly, crazily hits the same couple of piano keys in a single-minded, frenetic triple-time rhythm). The troops come marching in and the world is engulfed in flames around them. On at least three occasions, bullets go flying through the air wiping out Walker's unlucky men (and some of them realize too late that following their blond-haired, gray-eyed "man of destiny" is only going to lead them to their graves), but Walker marches straight through the hell, unflinching, excited, and even turned on by this feeling of power. He's the Robert Duvall character in Apocalypse Now who loves the smell of napalm in the morning, but since the movie around him is essentially a moronic philosophy, all of the air gets taken out of that epic grandeur.
We can't forget the actor who plays Walker, a despicable Ahab. It's a career high point for Harris, who was coming off of a string of memorable secondary roles. At the time, one of his best known performances was probably his goofy turn in George Romero's Creepshow, where he has a scene in which he does a robotic white-guy dance and his head starts jerking up and down as if he were a marionette and someone was spastically yanking on his strings. In Walker, he continually goes for offbeat choices, and though the trademark Harris intensity is all present and accounted for (and terrifying), he doesn't try to make himself look like a tough guy all the time. His voice cracks and moves into a higher pitch, and his smirking mug twitches in anxiety right after he blasts us with rage. Imagine if the space station controller in Apollo 13 started gnawing on his fingernails after mightily intoning, "We haven't lost a man in space yet and WE'RE NOT GONNA LOSE ONE ON MY WATCH!" That's the dynamic performance Harris gives here, and it's perhaps even more of a truthful vision of egotistical, death-tripping madness than Klaus Kinski in his unforgettable portrayals in Fitzcarraldo and Aguirre, The Wrath of God because Walker is ultimately, despite his Oliver North good looks and ramrod-straight all-American posture, a pathetic figure born to lose. | {
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2010-06-14
Beyond, one of our devoted readers and Ghibli Freaks, posted the following message on one of the comment threads. I'll reprint it here in its entirety, so you can enjoy the dialog in the new Arrietty trailer. Bon appetit!
-----------
I'm sorry to write many times. This is best clip of the second trailer on Youtube. More clearer and you can see the other voice cast recording. The first clip I recomend you was aired at 6:40 am. This clip was aired at 7:40.
The content of voice recording is different, too. In the firast clip. Sho says to Arrietty "Do you have a name?", and Arrietty says "Of corse, I'm Arrietty."
But in this clip, Sho says: Wait, Please do not go.
Arrietty: Do not pay attention to us anymore. I came to say only it. I want to have a talk with you.
Homily: Arrietty, Did you go outside again? You should clean a little more.
Sadako: My father said he saw a little people in this house. So he had waited all the time.
Spiller: I go. I have this. Eat? Tasty. (He speaks haltingly.)
Pod: My investigation was not enough. I let you feel scary. You must not talk to mother.
Haru: In fact, there is a little people. I saw it.
Because I'm not good at English, please revise and interpret these character's talk by yourself.
According to Arritty bloger Nishioka, when the recording of the last scene was performed, the staff member were filled with tears in a small room behind the voice cast. This last scene seems so wonderful.
By the way, Shinobu Otake (Homily) and Kirin Kiki (Haru) won the best Actress in a Leading Role Award of the Japanese Academy Award, Keiko Takeshita (Sadako) won the Excellent Actress in a Supporting Role Award, Tomokazu Miura (Pod) won the Excellent Actor in a Supporting Role Award.
2010-06-05
Here is the trailer for Ghibli Museum Library's presentation of Anne of Green Gables. It is scheduled for release on the same day as Arrietty, July 17. The first six episodes of the series were edited into a feature-length format by Isao Takahata himself, marking his first official involvement in a Ghibli film project since Winter Days in 2003.
If I didn't know better, I'd say Ghibli was prepping the public for Takahata's long-awaited return to the cinema. It has been over a decade since My Neighbors the Yamadas, after all. At least, I hope this is what it means.
I would love to get my hands on this poster. I think this even may be better than Toei's Japanese poster. Here is Spain's contribution to our poster series.
Tragically, I lost my DVD on my December flight into Bogota, Colombia, and I've been without a copy of Puss in Boots of Animal Treasure Island ever since. Augh! These are two of my all-time favorite animation movies. Obviously, every Miyazaki fan has bought their copy....right?
It would help if Discotek would send more copies to retailers. And it would really help if Toei would finally give their classic animated features the proper respect they deserve. When the heck are we getting these movies on Blu-Ray? A single-layer disc from the year 2000 just doesn't cut it, guys.
This is the official poster for the movie release of Lupin III Series One in 2009 for the Ghibli Museum Library. This isn't a full-length movie, but three episodes of the original 1971-72 television series.
The three episodes shown are from the later Takahata-Miyazaki episodes, when they were brought in by A Productions after its earlier, grittier episodes directed by Osumi Masaki, which were met with low ratings. Ordered to change the tone of the show, and compelled to bring their own stamp on the series, Takahata and Miyazaki introduced tighter scripts, more integrated characters, and more overt slapstick comedy and less (read: no) sex.
After two seasons and 23 episodes, Lupin III was cancelled for lack of ratings, a situation every Star Trek fan can relate to. But don't worry, say the Trekkies. The fans will pass along the tapes and the popularity will grow and grow. And it did. Lupin III is now one of the most popular and iconic characters in anime.
(Oh, btw, Lupin III Series One is now available on Blu-Ray in Japan. Can we bring in the fansub community on this one? We already have subtitles for the DVD version, so it shouldn't be too difficult. Of course, it would be even better if I could just buy this in a store...hint, hint! Fat chance on that happening.)
This is the 2008 movie poster for Panda Kopanda, as part of the Ghibli Museum Library series. This is Ghibli's showcase for international animation that is beloved by the studio, especially the founding directors. In addition to other's works, Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki's earlier films are included. Panda Kopanda was the first, followed by Lupin III: Series One in 2009. Anne of Green Gables is the newest inclusion, and will be released on July 17, 2010.
These films are given a very limited release - a single theatre screen, in fact. DVD and Blu-Ray releases soon follow, except for Lupin III, which is available in Japan on DVD and Blu-Ray.
Panda Kopanda was once available in the US by Pioneer under the title, "Panda Go Panda." The DVD has been out of print for a number of years, and there doesn't seem to be much interest in bringing it back. Not sexy or violent or modern enough for today's anime crowd, I suppose. Sigh. Here is another no-brainer for Disney and Pixar.
I really dig this poster. It's taken from Miyazaki's original layout drawings for the movie, which were, in turn, based heavily on the doomed Pipi Longstockings project.
And we're not talking about spending a ridiculous premium for the 3-D glasses. This is $16 for a regular movie ticket. It's absolutely suicidal from my vantage point, but my hair is turning silver and I still enjoy the unmatched joy of sharing a really great movie with a roomful of strangers.
Maybe the suits have decided that DVD and iPods are easier. And so they price the theater chains out of business, like wealthy gamblers bidding you out of the poker game. But that would be a disastrous move. Just you wait until technology enables us to download hi-res movies at the same speed we now download CDs.
Hollywood, Big Oil, Wall Street, Global Warming...Don't you get the feeling that the Captains of Industry have collectively lost their minds? Very strange. Anyway, that's my short rap.
Behold, the most beloved Miyazaki anime that you will never see. This is Mei and the Kittenbus, created in 2003 exclusively for the Ghibli Museum. I think it's safe to say this is by far the most popular and beloved of all the Museum's short films.
Mei and the Kittenbus runs 15 minutes, and pairs younger sister Mei (voiced by the original actress, Sakamoto Chinatsu) with a pint-sized Kitten Bus, as they run and fly around the house and surrounding woods. Totoro, naturally, appears once again, but this time he is joined by massive crowds of fellow Totoros, and Cat Buses of all sizes and stripes. The biggest surprise is the arrival of a giant, old Catbus, carrying dozens of Totoros. Hayao Miyazaki himself provides the voice.
This film, like all of the other Ghibli Museum short films, is not available outside of Japan. Miyazaki intends these movies solely for the children of the Museum, free from consumer capitalism and commercialism. Fortunately, it is screened regularly, including this summer, so if you are planning a trip to Japan to see Arrietty, be sure to make your pilgrimmage. Fortunately, for the rest of us, Ghibli does sell art books of all their shorts, which means we can enjoy Mei and the Kittenbus from a distance.
2010-06-03
Studio Ghibli finished production of Karigurash no Arrietty (The Borrowers) on May 29, according to the official website. Voice recording is complete, and sound production should be finished by the end of June.
The final Arrietty trailer will be released this month, and the movie will be released in Japanese theatres on July 17. There is currently no word on an American release.
2010-06-01
In 1998, Hayao Miyazaki designed and built a house for his production company, Nibariki. This house is located nearby Studio Ghibli's main building
Of course, you can tell that Miyazaki designed this house. Its architecture is very similar to the Ghibli Museum and the Ghibli studio itself, which he also designed. In addition to these buildings, he also designed Ghibli's new nursery and the NTV Grand Clock. All that hard work as layout artist in the 1970s paid off!
Seriously dedicated Ghibli Freaks will recognize the main area, as this has been used for interviews for television and DVD.
Outside the house, you'll immediately recognize the car, and it's not there by accident. The car in question is a Citroen 2CV - seen in the spectacular car chase from Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro. "Nibariki" - "two horsepower" - is a direct reference to this car, a favorite of Miyazaki's in his younger days. I always enjoy sly tributes such as this.
Another sly insight - the house is called "buta-ya," or Pig House. What else would Miyazaki call this place? These is also some debate whether this was conceived as his "retirement" home, but since it's impossible for the famous workaholic to ever stand still, such an idea seems unlikely. But it's common for the director to feel complete burnout at the end of a production. Miyazaki has been threatening to quit for decades.
One final note about the production company's name. "Nibariki" means "two horsepower," but it can also mean "double-income family." Indeed, the company is managed by Miyazaki and his wife, Akemi Ota - so says the experienced blogger from Whisper From Totoro. Make of that what you will.
Early this year, Ghibli published a comprehensive volume called, plainly, Studio Ghibli Book List. It's a listing of every book published in relation to Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata's long careers. Included are art books, film comics, and manga. This yearly volume includes the vast catalog of works published before Ghibli's founding; it appears that, slowly but surely, the entire works of the old masters are being brought into the fold. It would not be surprising to one day hear the word "Ghibli" as a rough slang for the entire Takahata/Miyazaki canon.
I'm still looking around for a site where I can buy a copy. This is a very small book - 9cm x 7xm x 4cm. If a publisher (such as Viz) ever brought this book to the West, they would definitely have to increase the size. As you can see, the original artwork is included, with a short description. This is a fantastic tool for the diehard fans and collectors. I could see myself going through everything with a highlighter pen, as I track down the final missing elements of the canon.
These photos come from the excellent Japanese blog, Whispers From Totoro. It's my new favorite Ghibli-themed website. And I urge all of you to quickly bookmark and scour through the archives.
I wouldn't be fair if I didn't play the hype game once in a while. Here are the first screenshots from the upcoming Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind Blu-Ray. The menus look fantastic, minimal and stylish. This is a movie that knows it has an audience and never needs to impress. It's an anime masterpiece and arguably the most important film of Hayao Miyazaki's career.
The Blu-Ray package is just fantastic. Notice that it's presented in cardboard, not plastic. I do hope all of Ghibli's future home releases follow this format. A book is included, the Nausicaa Guide Book. That should be an interesting read.
I'm also happy to learn that the terrific audio commentary track from the Nausicaa DVD - the only one on a Studio Ghibli disc to date - will be included on the Blu-Ray. I really wish someone would translate that. Is anyone at Disney reading this blog? Hello? Bueller?? I want this for Christmas!
The Nausicaa BD will be released in Japan on July 14. This is proving to be a very busy summer for the studio.
This is definitely one of the goofier finds from my regular scouring
of the Youtubes. In 2009, Nissan promoted their line of fuel-efficient
cars by spoofing perennial Japanese anime favorite - Heidi, Girl of the
Alps.
Nissan's Heidi spoof is rendered in chunky 3D
graphics, almost something you'd expect to find on a Nintendo 64. The
tv spots are pretty short, while the website features longer "episodes,"
where perky Heidi irritates the hell out of everyone by relentlessly
barking out the same question, "What is fuel efficiency?"
Trust
me on this - Heidi isn't nearly as annoying on the original show as she
is in these ads. Maybe that's just the way she rubbed off to the
hipsters in Japan. Considering that they grew up watching this series,
to say nothing of its immense popularity and influence, it would make
sense for the hipsters to give it the Family Guy treatment. Hmm....come
to think of it, just when is Family Guy going to spoof Heidi? Do I
have to send Seth MacFarlane my DVD box set? 'Cause I will.
Did I show this before? I forget. I can't tell you how much fun I'm going to become once senility kicks in. In any case, enjoy Goro Moyazaki's latest directorial short, with animation by Katsuya Kondo. May Ghibli long champion hand-drawn animation. To hell with all the CGI junk.
This is an item that is currently available for sale on Ebay. It's a lobby card for a theatrical release of 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother, Isao Takahata's 1976 World Masterpiece Theatre production. This was actually a condensed version of the television series - a highlight reel, essentially. Similar theatrical adaptations were used for other anime series, including 1974's Heidi, Girl of the Alps. This lobby card, in particular, was for a release in Mexico - hence the international title, "Marco."
This is of interest to us today, because Studio Ghibli is bringing 1979's Anne of Green Gables in a similar fashion - adapted and assembled by Isao Takahata himself. It's very interesting to note that neither Takahata, nor Hayao Miyazaki or Yoichi Kotabe, the other key creators, were involved in the "movie" versions of Heidi and Marco. And they were openly critical and disdainful of them. Such a short collection of scenes could never substitute for the epic weight and melodrama that required 52 episodes to tell.
Why is this different for Anne in 2010? That's a very good question, and it's left me puzzled for a long time. But I have a couple theories, which I'll have to share at a better time.
As for Marco, I've never found a copy of the "theatre" version, but a full-length movie adaptation was produced in 1999. It was very faithful to Takahata's original masterpiece, but as you would expect, it had to rush through everything as quickly as possible, losing so much of the drama in the process. As a tribute, it was nice. But it was very clearly inferior to the series. Perhaps this is why Anne of Green Gables 2010 will only cover that series' first four episodes?
I will close by stating, once again, that it is my firm conviction that Heidi-Marco-Anne remain Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki's masterpieces. Studio Ghibli movies are like perfectly contained short stories. But these are the epic novels.
This is welcome news for Studio Ghibli fans. Tales From Earthsea (Gedo Senki) will be released on theatres in the US on August 13. Disney will distribute the film under the Touchstone label; make of that what you will. Personally, I'm just happy to see another Japanese anime film, and a Ghibli film not directed by Hayao Miyazaki, at that, shown on American screens.
There has been speculation for a long time that Goro Miyazaki's 2006 directorial debut would be released on the big screen, even if only as a limited release. It's good to see those plans properly followed through. This does suggest that Disney is testing the waters; can the public be persuaded to buy tickets for the Ghibli name, and not the name of Hayao Miyazaki? True, the son is the director, so they will still be able to sell on the family name, but it does suggest a willingness to nurture the relationship between the two companies.
Disney must prepare for a post-Miyazaki world, just as Ghibli must do in Japan. Goro-san's Earthsea movie is that first crucial step. Fortunately, as disappointing the movie proved to fans - Ghibli and Ursula LeGuin alike - I don't think the general public knows about that. They almost certainly know nothing about the Miyazaki family drama, which flared up rather notoriously during the film's production, and whose fingerprints are all over the picture. It also helps that most Americans have no idea how badly Goro shamelessly steals from his father.
It was Goro's open theft - his stealing is a virtual highlight reel of his father's career - as well as his airing the family's dirty laundry in public, that soured him to the Japanese public. It certainly soured him on me, and that's mostly why I don't care for Gedo Senki. Perhaps when I see it at the local indie theatre this August, my mood will be brighter. I will try to be more forgiving and patient.
In any case, I will be attending, and so will all of you. I want to see more Studio Ghibli at the multiplex. I would love to see The Borrowers on our screens next summer, and I would kill to see Isao Takahata create one more movie. I'm sure you'll agree. I haven't changed my opinion that Earthsea is Ghibli's weakest film, but it's so easy to forget that it's a first film. You still have to pay your dues to make it as an artist, even if your father is world famous. Let's be hopeful and wish for the best. | {
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This page will allow you to look up intraday details for the DJIA all the way back until 1928. If you need to know where the DJIA closed on a certain day without too much hassle, then this page is for you.
In addition, you will also receive NASDAQ and S&P 500 data from the same day. | {
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William Lantigua will seek another term as Lawrence mayor
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LAWRENCE — William Lantigua, the controversial mayor of Lawrence who has been buffeted by allegations of political corruption in his administration, announced Friday that he will run for reelection next year.
About 100 people packed a bar and grill Friday night for an event originally billed as a way for Lantigua to find out whether the community supported his candidacy. A woman walked around the dining area with a pad, asking people for names, addresses, and their vote — yes or no — on another Lantigua run, the mayor said.
But the gathering turned into an announcement party when the mayor stepped behind a podium adorned with a blue and white “Democrat Lantigua for Mayor” sign.
“I wasn’t sure until I saw you here and counted the numbers,” Lantigua said, addressing the crowd in Spanish. “We will continue. It will be a difficult campaign, an expensive campaign, a lot of work, but as someone just said, here is also the heart of the campaign.”
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Lantigua has been beset by allegations of political corruption in his administration since he was elected mayor in 2009. Two officials under him, including his former chief of staff, were indicted in September on charges including conspiracy and extortion.
The cries of corruption surrounding the city’s first Latino mayor include allegations that he has used city operations for personal gain, allegations that Lantigua has vigorously rejected. The mayor has not been charged with any crimes.
Leonard Degnan, his former chief of staff, is charged with urging an executive from a disposal company that works with the city of Lawrence to donate a garbage truck to a city in the Dominican Republic, Lantigua’s native country.
Melix Bonilla, the deputy police chief and Lantigua’s 2009 campaign manager, was charged with falsely transferring ownership of 13 motor vehicles from the Police Department to an auto dealer with close ties to Lantigua.
Both Degnan and Bonilla have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
After Lantigua’s announcement, several people said they were happy the mayor will run again and plan to vote for him in 2013.
“I think there’s a lot of work to be done, but I’m very happy with the work that he’s done in the last four years,” said Linette Perez, a resident of Lawrence for 17 years.
“I mean, he found this city with a $30 million deficit and he worked with what he had,” she added.
Belquis Guerrero, speaking in Spanish, said she has lived in the city for 29 years, and she welcomed Lantigua’s decision to seek reelection.
“People always talk, but he is a man with morals and he is the first one to make any changes from what I’ve seen,” said Guerrero. “He made an excellent decision.”
Earlier Friday, one man waved a sign drawn by his 12-year-old daughter that read, “The best does not change.”
“I tell her about him because he’s the best mayor we’ve ever had,’’ Manuel Lara, 42, said in an interview conducted in Spanish.
“I would vote for him 4 million times if necessary,” said Lara, who has lived in Lawrence for nine years.
John Isensee, director of the Lawrence Department of Public Works, said Lantigua’s accomplishments go unheralded. He said Lantigua has done a good job balancing budgets and addressing an inherited municipal deficit.
“A lot of good things have happened during his tenure, and the message doesn’t always get out there,” Isensee said.
Lantigua, too, said he is proudest of his management of city finances. He said the controversy swirling around his first term has been difficult.
“I am tired, I can tell you that,” Lantigua said. “It’s not an easy job. I work hard, and yet you get beat up every single day by the same people.”
The mayor said he supports the two officials indicted in September, calling them good friends and adding that he believes they did nothing wrong. He said he believes the allegations of wrongdoing are groundless, and the turmoil has strengthened him.
“If anything, it gives me motivation to keep working hard and to prove that I’ve done nothing wrong,” he said.
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6 Impressive Features of Brand New watchOS 4 that You Shouldn’t Miss
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6 Impressive Features of Brand New watchOS 4 that You Shouldn’t Miss
This latest version of watchOS 4 was recently introduced at WWDC 2017. In watchOS 4, Apple has focused on introducing a more personalized Apple Watch experience and redefining what folks love most about the Apple Watch, bringing new Activity, Music, and Workout feature.
There are three new watch faces in watchOS 4, consisting a new Siri watch face that provides personalized and dynamic information that varies according to the time of day. It takes into account the apps you use, your daily routine, and when you use them to predict what you will want to see next. Other watch faces consists a photo-based Kaleidoscope face and a new Toy Story face starring Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Jessie.
Here’s an overview of the capabilities and major performance improvements we will see in watchOS 4:
Developers can now make apps that record audio in the background
Location-based user tracking
Apps can access the heart rate sensor in real-time
Apps can access the accelerometer and gyroscope in real-time
Real time route mapping and navigation
Automatic screen rotation
Apart from these above-mentioned capabilities following are the noteworthy features that mobile app development companies should consider while building watchOS 4 compatible applications.
1. Applicationss would be More Faster
In previous versions of Apple Watch, third-party applications were extremely slow. watchOS was received a lot of criticism fixating on slow loading times. But, the real problem is the interaction time as users swipe through multiple screens and opening menus with 3D Touch. All these issues have been solved in watchOS 4. Apple has allowed third party applications to run directly on Apple Watch. But, in watchOS 4, it combines both app code and interface elements together into one single process that loads at run-time.
2. Cellular Connectivity to Improve the User Experience
The Apple Watch can already run some independent apps and make payments through Apple Pay with no data connection. watchOS 4 can use Wi-Fi networks for connectivity when a paired iPhone is not in range. With watchOS 4, Apple is taking a step further by letting the Watch connect directly to nearby Bluetooth devices. For the first time, Apple Watch will support Core Bluetooth. This means it can now bypass the iPhone completely and communicate directly with particular Bluetooth-enabled devices. The latest Bluetooth features of the watch should allow users connect directly to more specialized health and exercise devices, such as EKG monitors, golf-swing monitors, smart surfboards, and tennis trackers. This is an important technical building block that makes Apple Watch even more useful.
3. GymKit for Fitness Enthusiasts
Another major highlight is support for a new technology platform called GymKit. It will let users wirelessly sync fitness data between their Apple Watches and cardio machines at gyms. Ultimately, watchOS 4 has the competence to collect workout data from gym instrument, it could also signify greater smartwatch independence for the next update. It is the first and foremost example of Apple utilizing the Near-field Communication (NFC) chip to interact with objects in the physical world. Apple is already opening up NFC chip access on the iPhone in iOS 11, so it is fair enough to think the watch will follow.
4. Upgraded Navigation to Add More User Friendliness
Apple is also planning some adjustments to improve the navigation issues those were observed in past watchOS. In watchOS 4, users can sort the dock by recently opened and there will be a new list-style way to sort applications rather than the honeycomb grid. A horizontal page layout is a new addition and users should thank Apple for it. This horizontal page layout can launch on any page as Apple is also improving their own apps for developers to follow. For instance, Apple’s Workout app will allow users to start new exercises from within existing ones. By default, those exercises will use a goal the user has set and only require a couple of steps. It is the best example of creating a responsive user experience, where it is not only about updating the data in your UI but also about thinking of what the user might expect to do next in your app based on what you already know.
5. Siri is Drawing Everyone’s Attention
Siri will now display calendar events and important information to its watch face in watchOS 4. Possibly the upcoming version of the watch will enable the most awaited arrival of the traditional Siri. Apple affirms that the watchOS 4 will have the smartest watch face ever with Siri’s intelligence that proactively displays the information users want right when they need it. Users can now ask Siri to send money to friends easily, instantly, and securely with updated Apple Pay. Users can also request and receive money right in Messages on their watch.
6. Apps are Getting Smarter
Apple is allowing developers to do a lot more with their apps. For instance, background privileges will be prolonged for audio recording, enabling apps to catch the sound while the watch screen is off. Also, the open state time for application has been extended from two minutes to eight minutes, and then close once a task is completed. For example, if a user is out shopping, their shopping list will pop up when they raise their arm. This shows that Apple is focusing on minimizing the efforts a user has to put into navigating through the app.
Which is your favorite watchOS 4 feature? Have you made any new discovery? If you have features that we have overlooked, feel free to contact us and let us know. Panacea is a leading mobile app development company delivering it’s 100% results for the businesses who are looking for the massive success in today’s competitive market. | {
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Our dedicated admissions and financial advisors will help you through the application process by writing about admission requirements, financial matters, the application, events and visits, and everything in between.
First-year English requirements
As a UBC student, you’re expected to have excellent reading, writing, and speaking skills in English – regardless of your first language or citizenship. To ensure you develop those skills, all UBC undergraduate students are required to earn between three and six credits of first-year English.
Is this the same thing as the English Language Admission Standard?
No, they’re two different things. The English Language Admission Standard (ELAS) is an admissions requirement that you had to meet before being admitted to UBC. Your faculty’s first-year English requirements are something you need to meet now that you’re a UBC student.
What are my first-year English requirements?
To check how many English credits you must complete and which English courses will fulfill your degree requirements, please refer to the undergraduate degree requirements for your faculty on the Okanagan or Vancouver campus.
What is the first-year English course entry requirement?
To stay enrolled in your first-year English courses, you must meet the first-year English course entry requirement on the Okanagan or Vancouver campus. One way to do this is by writing the Language Proficiency Index (LPI) test, an exam that assists UBC in determining your competency in writing at a university level.
Do I have to write the LPI test?
Review your options for meeting the first-year English course entry requirement on the Okanagan or Vancouver campus. Please note that the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) do not exempt you from the LPI test. If you do need to write the LPI test, you can register online.
Bachelor of Arts students on the Vancouver campus: You do not need to write the LPI test. To review the courses that fulfill your writing requirement, please refer to “Meeting the Faculty of Arts Writing Requirement with English courses” on the For students in the Faculty of Arts page. | {
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It also reduced Celgene Corp (NASDAQ:CELG) stake by 104,718 shares and now owns 368,135 shares. Eqis Capital Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Sealed Air Corporation by 0.3% in the first quarter. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 16th. The stock rose 0.36% or $0.16 reaching $45...
Police officers attend to the scene after a vehicle collided with pedestrians in the Finsbury Park neighbourhood of North London, Britain. "It's a very strong Muslim community in this area and what's happening today is I think the people must be extremely, extremely sad", Al-Sulaman said.
In lifting its benchmark lending rate by a 0.25% to a target range of 1.00 to 1.25% and forecasting 1 more hike this year, the Fed seemed to largely brush off a recent run of mixed economic data. Officials at the US central bank also cut their inflation forecast, one of the final indicators to pick up momentum over the past few years. LONDON,...
Responding to the emergency call, police has cordoned the area and sealed the entry and exit points near Finsbury Park Mosque in Seven Sisters Road. "Eight people injured were taken to three separate hospitals; two people were treated at the scene for minor injuries".
Airbus is presenting a development study for an enhanced A380, to be known as the A380plus. The new winglets measure approximately 4,7 metres in height (an uplet of 3.5m, and a downlet of 1.2m). "The A380 average seat count would move from 497 to 575 in four classes, and generate significantly more revenue for airlines", the company said in a st...
It was his fourth birdie to go along with one bogey. "Not every day you enjoy a round of golf with an eight on the card, but I'm a pretty happy man", Casey said. "If you look at the golf course and you talk to me, Jason or Rory, this course sets up flawless for us". McIlroy expressed fondness for Erin Hills despite heading home early.
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, who has been instrumental in the austerity demanded of Greece in return for money, largely from Berlin, said he was "optimistic" a deal on the disbursement will be clinched but was more guarded when it came to discussing debt relief.
David Davis is keen for a deal that avoids a return to checkpoints along the 310-mile border between the north and the Irish Republic. Survation found that a majority of voters back staying in the Customs Union and holding a second referendum on the final deal May secures with the EU.
More than 1,000 firefighters on Monday battled a giant forest fire that swept through central Portugal at the weekend, killing at least 62 people. Hundreds of firefighters are continuing to tackle the blaze on several fronts. Last August, an outbreak of fires across Portugal killed four people, including three on the island of Madeira, and ...
She also laid down plans to reduce the central bank's balance sheet in the second half of the year. The plan, which would feature halting reinvestment's of ever-larger amounts of maturing securities, did not specify the overall size of the reduction.
Boeing (NYSE:BA) and Airbus (OTCMKT:EADSY) are in the spotlights at the Paris Air Show, but a lot of the really interesting "airships" will be on displayat the upcoming biennial aviation and defense industry gathering. Boeing wants to punch back at Airbus, which is outselling the USA plane maker roughly five to one in sales for the biggest sin...
Superteam? No, we just work extremely well together. LeBron James , whose Cavaliers won the title a year ago and fell to the Warriors on Monday, said during a visit to Obama's White House in November that his team would "have to cross that road" if it triumphed again under Trump.
I heard the sound of the van crashing. "I didn't see the attacker himself, although he seems to have been arrested, but I did see the van". "From the window, I started hearing a lot of yelling and screeching, a lot of chaos outside". Witnesses described seeing police giving emergency medical treatment to victims after the incident at 12.20am on M...
It has now been confirmed that the deal is with the Treasury, who are examining the detail of the fiscal implications of some upfront spending agreed for Northern Ireland as part of the deal. A DUP source told the Guardian: "The DUP is a unionist party and that means it has concerns for the people of the whole of the United Kingdom".
Mr Draghi's continued focus on getting inflation up has so far cooled investors on the single currency, with the 2017 inflation forecast cut on Thursday to 1.5 per cent from the previous 1.7 per cent forecast back in March, and the 2018 forecast cut to 1.3 per cent from 1.6 per cent.
Conservative members of the NC House said that while the economy is priority No. 1, they aren't ignoring the environment, citing House Bill 589, which would ease some of the subsidies and mandates for the renewable energy industry. Mr Castaner also announced that the government of France will launch a website to attract experts in climate chang...
The government's plan for the next parliament will be outlined in the Queen's speech on Wednesday, and will include laws needed to deliver Brexit and new immigration legislation. "We are not turning our backs on Europe", he said in the statement. Britain already appears to have capitulated to the EU's insistence that talks first focus on three ke...
She did speak with emergency services. In her official birthday message, Queen Elizabeth II , who visited the area on Friday, reflected on the "sombre national mood" following tragedies in London and Manchester in recent weeks. Families who have lost their homes must be supported, he said, grieving people must be helped and lessons must be l...
Britain already appears to have capitulated to the EU's insistence that talks first focus on three key divorce issues, before moving onto the future EU-UK relationship and a possible trade deal. Davis and Mr. Barnier will discuss the rights of UK-based European Union citizens and the controversial divorce bill. Up for debate in London now is w... | {
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Watch trailer for BBC film Dustbin Baby
See a trailer for Dustbin Baby, a 90-minute film based on a novel by Jacqueline Wilson and starring Juliet Stevenson and Dakota Blue Richards, who also appeared in The Golden Compass. Dustbin Baby will be screened on BBC1 this Christmas | {
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Halo DS
Halo DS was a Halo game that was planned to be released on the Nintendo DS, but was canceled as deals did not work out. It was playable before it was canceled.[1] In January 2007, Matt Casamassina of IGN claimed he played a version of Halo for the Nintendo DS. On October 2, 2007 he demonstrated on-camera, and in-game footage of an early-development style version of Halo DS. The demonstrated work featured dual-wielding and a version of the Halo 2 map Zanzibar. Bungie employees later explained the Halo DS demo was in fact an unsolicited pitch that was never taken on. | {
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Top Teams Cleveland Cavaliers Should Talk Draft Day Trades with
Top Teams Cleveland Cavaliers Should Talk Draft Day Trades with
Cleveland Cavaliers' general manager Chris Grant is known as one of the most creative minds in all of basketball.
His talents landed the Cavs the first overall pick in 2011, thanks to a trade that only required the Cavs to play Baron Davis 15 games at the end of a miserable season.
Last year, Grant managed to convert a late first-rounder from the Los Angeles Lakers into the 17th overall pick, selecting ACC Player of the Year Tyler Zeller.
This season, Grant could very well be at it again.
Already moving up 11 picks thanks to a clause in last year's trade with the Lakers, the Cavs not only own the first overall pick, but the 19th, 31st and 33rd as well.
With rumors that the Cavs could move the first overall pick as well as potentially trading up in the draft much like they did last season, Grant should be busy leading up to draft day.
Here are the five NBA teams the Cavs should try to swing a deal with leading up to the draft.
Minnesota Timberwolves
1 of 5
The Minnesota Timberwolves are going through front-office changes, which means no player on the roster could be deemed untouchable.
The Cavs and T-Wolves could very much be in trade talks leading up to the draft, according to a report from sheridanhoops.com:
The Cleveland Cavaliers are fielding calls from everywhere, but the team they’d really like to to make a deal with is Minnesota.
And if the Timberwolves are willing to surrender Kevin Love, the No. 1 pick is available to them, sources tell SheridanHoops.com.
Love in Cleveland is certainly worth talking about. The All-Star power forward is one of the best rebounders in the NBA, can score from anywhere on the floor and is still just 24 years old.
While it's unlikely the Wolves would do a straight pick-for-Love swap, it's worth looking into just how much they'd be asking for his services.
Would the Cavs give up their own starting power forward, Tristan Thompson, and the first overall pick for Love?
Grant has to weigh his options here, but any chance at getting a player like Love for just a few draft picks certainly seems worth it.
Dallas Mavericks
2 of 5
Cleveland and Dallas struck a draft-day deal last year when the Cavs traded the 24th, 33rd and 34th overall picks to the Mavericks for the rights to Tyler Zeller at pick No. 17.
Dallas has been more interested in the free-agent market than the draft the past few years, and were happy to avoid the cap hold that the 17th overall pick carried ($1.4 million in Year 1) compared to the 24th overall pick ($0.9 million).
Could history repeat itself in 2013?
Cleveland once again has a late first-round pick and multiple picks in the second round. Dallas owns the 13th overall pick, and is once again rumored to be shopping it to save the cap hit it would carry.
If the Cavs have the opportunity to trade the 19th, 31st and 33rd overall picks to the Mavs for their 13th overall pick, they should do it.
The 2013 NBA draft isn't exactly top heavy, but does carry exceptional value in the 5-to-15 range.
With the 13th pick, the Cavs could possibly draft a player like Shabazz Muhammad or Alex Len who almost certainly wouldn't have lasted six picks longer.
Washington Wizards
3 of 5
Going in a different direction, could the Cavs themselves look to trade back from the first overall pick?
If the Cavs are convinced Otto Porter of Georgetown is their guy but don't want to spend the first overall pick on him, they could try to trade back with one of these teams. The Wizards are the logical choice, as they likely wouldn't pass on a player like Porter with a need at small forward.
However, if management falls in love with a possible John Wall-Nerlens Noel combo, they may want to swap picks with Cleveland to make sure they get their guy.
The Cavs could leverage this trading back into a possible future first-rounder, or ask for a young player (Kevin Seraphin?) in return.
Atlanta Hawks
They took a step back on the court when they traded Joe Johnson away last summer, but remain much more deadly off it with the new cap space they'll have from dumping his contract.
Unrestricted free agent forward Josh Smith could be the next star to leave, however, likely making the Hawks a lottery team if they can't add a significant free agent.
If Atlanta goes into rebuild mode, they could consider moving their highest-paid player in center Al Horford.
Horford is about to turn 27 and had his best season last year with averages of 17.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game.
While Horford to Cleveland is just a pipe dream at this point, he would definitely be worth the first overall pick in a draft such as this. If Danny Ferry decides to call his former employer to make Horford available, the Cavs should definitely listen.
Portland Trail Blazers
5 of 5
Another rumor floating around comes to us courtesy of Yahoo! Sports, which talks about the Cavs interest in another All-Star big man:
Privately, the Cleveland front office has pitched a fantasy of trading young players and picks to Portland for All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge, sources said.
Aldridge, like Horford, is severely underrated in the NBA today. The 27-year-old forward averaged 21.1 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots per game last season.
A versatile and creative offensive threat, Aldridge has scored 17.8 points per game or more in six of his seven NBA seasons. The thought of an Aldridge-Kyrie Irving combo is certainly tempting, especially when you throw players like Dion Waiters and Anderson Varejao in the mix.
To land Aldridge, however, would take work. Honestly, the first overall pick probably wouldn't be enough. Cleveland would likely have to throw in another one of their young post players for the Blazers to sit up and take notice.
Would it be worth it for Cleveland to part with either Tristan Thompson or Tyler Zeller if it meant bringing in a player like Aldridge? | {
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Chinese Actor Shatters Social Media Records After Apologizing For Cheating On Wife
Wednesday
Apr 2, 2014 at 3:01 PM
Aly Weisman
Chinese actor Wen Zhang is as famous for his movies as he is his family-man image.
Zhang, 29, has been married to Chinese actress Yili Ma, 37, since 2008. The couple have a daughter together and Ma is currently pregnant with their second child.
But Zhang's reputation as a faithful husband was shattered Monday as he took to Weibo — essentially the Twitter of China — to admit, and apologize, for having an affair with Chinese actress Yao Di, his co-star on popular Chinese TV show "Naked Marriage."
"I have brought this upon myself. A mistake is a mistake. This has nothing to do with anyone else," Wen wrote, as translated by The Hollywood Reporter. "Today, I am willing to accept all the consequences. I've let down Ma Yili and our children. My mistake does not deserve to be forgiven, and it will be difficult for me to make amends for all the harm I've caused. But I want to do it. I have to do it. This is what I'll do for the rest of my life."
Within 10 hours, the post had attracted over 2.5 million comments and was retweeted more than 1 million times — both new records for Weibo, according to THR.
To put that into perspective, Ellen DeGeneres' star-studded Oscar selfie has currently been "favorited" nearly 2 million times and retweeted nearly 3.5 million times. Obama's "Four More Years" tweet, which held the previous record, has just 296,000 "favorites" and 780,000 retweets.
Zhang's wife replied on Weibo to her husband's viral post by simply stating, "Being in love is easy, being married is not. It is to be cherished."
Her comment has garnered more than 650,000 retweets and nearly a million comments. | {
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Meta
Category: sledding
It’s a common conundrum – what’s a non-skier to do when friends and family are hitting the slopes at Wisp Resort? Deep Creek Lake winter activities offers lots of options that can keep every member of your crew entertained. It’s a great way to enjoy a weekend getaway near Pittsburgh, Baltimore, or Washington, DC.
Here are just a few of our favorite Deep Creek Lake winter activities for the non-skiers staying at a Deep Creek Lake vacation rental:
Hiking at Swallow Falls State Park
Crisp white snow makes this beautiful place even more spectacular, and it’s definitely a must see throughout all four seasons. If you’re up for some serious hiking, explore trails to all three of the waterfalls – Swallow Falls, Muddy Creek Falls, and Tolliver Falls. There is also a handicap accessible trail and view platform at Muddy Creek Falls for those that need an easier route or just want to take a short stroll. Be sure to bring your camera and wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots. Trails can be slippery during the winter months. Get more info.
Simon Pearce Tours
Watch master glassblowers at work, then shop for the beautiful items they make in the retail store. You can also choose from a wide variety of second-quality glass. Located in Mountain Lake Park, it is just a short drive from most Deep Creek Lake vacation rentals. Find out more.
Guided Snowshoe ToursWeather permitting, All Earth Eco Tours offers another great way to experience Swallow Falls State Park. Their snowshoe tours are a “no experience required” way to cruise through the woods and take in the scenery. For those seeking high adventure, ask about their trips to Big Savage Mountain and Lost Lands.
Sleigh Rides
One of the classic Deep Creek Lake winter activities, you can take a ride back in time as you swish through open fields and over hills listening to the sound of muffled hoof beats in the snow. Sleigh rides at Pleasant Valley Dream Rides are an ideal way to enjoy the outdoors no matter what your age.
Sled Riding at Blackwater Falls State ParkWithin one hour of the Deep Creek Lake area, you’ll find the ultimate sledding hill! Head to Blackwater Falls State Park to ride up on a conveyor, sled to the bottom, and repeat! Bring your own sled or rent one on-site.
Sample Award Winning CheesesStop by Firefly Farms in nearby Accident, to try their award winning goat cheese and browse their selection of gourmet foods. For an enhanced experience, you can also make pairing reservations.
Deep Creek Ninja FactoryThis indoor obstacle course is big fun for ages 5 and up! There are 4 different levels of difficulty, so it can be as challenging or as easy as you like.
Museum ToursWhen visiting Oakland, history buffs should stop at the two museums operated by the Garrett County Historical Society. Return to the past as you explore area treasures, learn about early settlers, and check out Model T Fords.
Snow Tubing & Mountain Coaster RidesWisp Resort is well-known for skiing, but they also offer a variety of activities that anyone can enjoy. Reserve a snow tubing session or take a ride on the mountain coaster.
ArcadesEveryone in your group will enjoy playing a wide variety of current and vintage arcade games and snacking on great food at Fun Unlimited.
Deep Creek Lake Discovery CenterFun for kids of all ages, the Discovery Center is a one-of-a-kind environmental center with hands-on exhibits that showcase the natural resources of Western Maryland. Children can enjoy special programs each weekend like pine cone bird feeder making or feeding some of the resident critters.
Apparently someone took that “Think Snow” sign very seriously because it continues to fall. It’s great for those that are visiting our area because ski conditions have been terrific. If you’re not, you should seriously consider it. I tell people that the first few weeks of March are a perfect time to visit. We are past the holidays so there is less people around but still so many options of things to do. Of course, for the skiers, they will love the smaller lines for lifts, rentals, and just around the lodge in general. For those that don’t ski, there are still so many options of things to do. If you haven’t tried snow shoeing, this is a Must! Crede from All Earth Eco Tours (www.allearthecotours.com) does an amazing tour at Swallow Falls State Park. Cross Country Skiing is also a popular sport. Herrington Manor State Park has some terrific trails for this. If you don’t have your own skis, Wisp Resort has a “Nordic Center” where you can rent the necessary equipment. Wisp also offers an ice skating rink and snow tubing park (think of sled riding but without the exhausting hike back up the mountain). Winter adventure not really your forte? Our vacation homes have so many desirable amenities that you will look forward to being “snowed in”. The kids can spend the day outside building a snowman or making snow angels while you sit inside in front of the crackling fireplace reading a good book and sipping a glass of your favorite wine. In the evenings, soothe your tensions away with a soak in the bubbling outdoor hot tub. Foosball or pool, anyone? Many of the homes have game tables, another great way to have fun with family and friends. Sounds inviting, doesn’t it?
Snowy Fun!
Right now, many of our homes are offering 3 nights for the price of 2, an awesome deal and one that should be taken advantage of! Call us here at Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations (1-866-351-1119 or online www.deepcreekvacations.com) and we will happily help you find that perfect home for you and your guests. I say the best way to beat the winter blahs is to embrace winter. Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and come play in the snowy mountains. We can’t wait to see you at the lake! | {
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Greatest Indian Cricket Players of All Time
Since 1xBet offers the widest betting offer on cricket it’s only natural that we’re interested in the history and achievements of this great sport. And what better way to celebrate cricket as a sport than taking a closer look at some of its most emblematic players of all time that India offered to the world? It’s already well-known that India doesn’t consider cricket as a sport, it’s a national love affair and everyone will have a say in how the list of top cricket players should look like. Check out this list and you are free to share your feedback in the comments section.
Sachin Tendulkar
Often referred to as the god of cricket, there’s
no other player that deserves the first position more than Sachin Tendulkar. He
is recognised as the best player of all time and not just in India, but all
other countries where cricket is popular. He’s the first player to get 100
international centuries and also the first one to get a double hundred. He
helped his teams win countless matches and one memorable match is the 2011
Cricket World Cup final. Holding records for most runs in Tests and ODI
matches, the little master started playing high-level cricket since he was 16.
Though he retired in 2013 when he also received India’s highest civil award, he
still remains very close to the sport.
Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil has his place in the history of cricket as
well. He is often viewed as the best opening batsman in the sport and he
dominated the cricket world for the best part of the 80s and 70s. Recognized by
the greatest legends of the sport as a phenomenon, Sunil managed to get 774
runs on his debut. And if you’re not sure what that means, it’s enough to know
that most batsmen need up to 10 matches to get such a score. He did it in one
single match, his first one!
Kapil Dev
When talking about bowlers, Indians have certain
players they automatically think about. Kapil Dev is definitely one of them as
he’s one of the few bowlers that could ever hope for a place in the cricket best players list. He captained the
Indian team that brought the first World Cup title back in 1983 and that alone
reserved him a place in history. His record has figures like over 5,000 runs
and 400 wickets and that’s no wonder considering his ability to perfectly mix
ferociousness and class for excellent cricket matches.
M.S Dhoni
After the first World Cup title went towards
India, there was a drought of trophies and resounding successes. It all ended
when Captain Cool stepped on the field and helped India to win not one but two
World Cup trophies. Captain of the team that won the T20 World Cup in 2007 and
then again in 2011 when he won the man of the match award in the final of the
tournament, Dhoni is without any doubt one of the best contemporary cricket
players. And, just like any other superstar players, he has his signature
“Helicopter Shot” that the fans won’t forget anytime soon.
Virat Kohli
When Dhoni stepped down from his captain role,
the option that made the most sense was Vira Kohli. With an awesome start of a
career, Virat was selected to represent India in all three formats of the
sport. Ever since, he is breaking record after record and there are a lot of
voices that already started to compare him with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
Considering that he still has a lot of kick in him, Kohli might just be the
next god in Indian cricket and he’s extremely loved by all Indians.
You can always count on 1xBet to deliver the
widest selection of cricket matches with high odds and various betting
possibilities to choose from. If you’re into cricket, you will always have a
good partner in 1xBet.
MyBestBuddie is a web magazine that provides information around creativity, creation, creative people and creative world. It has focus on simplicity, beautification, practicing easy and straight-forward learning. | {
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Orangutan Moms Are The Primate Champs Of Breast-Feeding
An orangutan mother and her 11-month old infant in Borneo. Orangutans breast-feed offspring off and on for up to eight years.
Tim Laman/Science Advances
Listen
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Originally published on May 18, 2017 8:36 am
When it comes to breast-feeding, orangutans are the champs.
Past studies of orangutans in the wild have found that mothers nurse their offspring for up to seven years, longer than any other primate.
But a new study of orangutan teeth suggests even that estimate is low, a team reports Wednesday in the journal Science Advances.
The study found evidence that during periods when fruit and other food became scarce, young orangutans would supplement their diet with breast milk. "And this pattern could last up until 8 or 9 years of age, which is very long," says Christine Austin, an author of the paper and a researcher in the department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai.
This late weaning is probably a survival strategy, says Tanya Smith, the study's lead author, who works at the Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution at Griffith University. "Having a long period of nursing may be a way for juveniles to learn the ins and outs of living in a challenging environment with limited and unpredictable food resources," she says.
Researchers have been uncertain about nursing behavior among wild orangutans because the animals are notoriously hard to study. They live solitary lives in the treetops of rainforests in Borneo and Sumatra.
So Austin and a team of researchers wondered whether they could obtain more detailed information by analyzing teeth from orangutans that had died.
Teeth have growth rings like a tree, which provide a timeline of an animal's life. And the researchers had shown that levels of barium in each ring indicate when an orangutan was consuming milk.
The team was able to obtain teeth from four orangutans that were shot decades ago. The teeth came from museums.
Barium levels showed that for the first 12 to 18 months, the young orangutans consumed only breast milk. Then they started adding other foods, primarily fruit.
But the animals appeared to resume nursing when other foods weren't plentiful. And that cyclical nursing pattern continued until the orangutans were approaching puberty.
Eight-plus years of nursing are much more than other primates get. Chimp mothers wean their young at about age 5. Gorilla moms stop nursing when their offspring are about 4.
And human babies rarely breast-feed after age 3, says Shara Bailey, a paleoanthropologist at New York University. "That's what makes humans weird," she says. "And it's certainly one of the reasons why our population is so successful as a species."
Switching babies to other food early in life allowed early human females to produce more offspring than other species, Bailey says.
But it's not clear when early weaning became common. It could have been nearly a million years ago, when humans are thought to have learned to control fire. Or it could have been just 10,000 years ago, when farming came along.
Scientists are hoping that by analyzing teeth, it may be possible to find out how long our human ancestors nursed.
"The potential is there to look now at Neanderthals, Homo erectus, Homo habilis, [and] Australopithicenes," Bailey says. And maybe, she says, "we can actually get an idea of when this very weird thing that characterizes humans occurred."
There's a catch, though.
In order to analyze a tooth, researchers need to slice it up. And museums are reluctant to damage some of their most prized fossils.
Copyright 2018 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.
DAVID GREENE, HOST:
Scientists have identified a group of mothers who breast feed their offspring for eight years or more. These moms are wild orangutans. As NPR's Jon Hamilton reports, their willingness to nurse for so long might be a survival strategy.
JON HAMILTON, BYLINE: Researchers already knew that orangutans in the wild nurse for many years but it's been hard to know just how long. Christine Austin is a researcher at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.
CHRISTINE AUSTIN: They're very difficult to study because, you know, they live in the trees.
HAMILTON: Orangutans lead reclusive lives in remote places like Borneo and Sumatra. Austin is part of a team that hoped to learn more about orangutan nursing without spending years in the field. Austin says their idea was to study the animal's teeth.
HAMILTON: Austin says teeth have growth rings like a tree, and levels of barium in each ring indicate when an orangutan was consuming milk. So Austin and the team examined teeth from four wild orangutans who died decades ago. And in the journal Science Advances, they report a clear pattern.
AUSTIN: For the first 12 to 18 months, the orangutans are exclusively nursing.
HAMILTON: Then they started eating other things, mostly fruit, but Austin says the animals didn't stop nursing entirely.
AUSTIN: During periods where there was low fruit availability, the offspring would rely more heavily on their mother's milk to get the nutrition they need for growth and that this pattern could last up until 8 to 9 years of age, which is very long.
HAMILTON: So long that the orangutans were nursing almost until puberty. That's much longer than our own species. Shara Bailey of New York University says around the world, human babies rarely breastfeed beyond age 3.
SHARA BAILEY: That's what makes humans weird. And it's certainly one of the reasons why our population is so successful as a species.
HAMILTON: Bailey says switching babies to other foods allowed human females to have more offspring than other primates. The question now is, when did our human ancestors first start weaning babies early? Bailey says the answer may come from the teeth of our extinct relatives.
BAILEY: The potential is there to look now at Neanderthals, Homo erectus, Homo habilis, Australopithecines, you know, and we can actually get an idea of when this very weird thing that characterizes humans occurred.
HAMILTON: There's a catch, though. In order to be analyzed, a tooth has to be sliced up, and museums are reluctant to damage their prized fossils. Jon Hamilton, NPR News. | {
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Hungry for real leader
Your “Letter to the Editor” section in the July 18 edition headlined a letter “Children need McMorris Rodgers.”
Children need Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers like they need a hole in the head!
Rodgers and her Republican sidekicks eliminated the Food Stamp program from the Farm Bill to appease the Republicans who had defeated it originally.
Rodgers gets a big fat salary and great benefits thanks to taxpayers, so she doesn’t have to worry about where her kids’ next meal is coming from. People in poverty aren’t that lucky. But she’s got hers, so …
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Hungry for real leader
Your “Letter to the Editor” section in the July 18 edition headlined a letter “Children need McMorris Rodgers.”
Children need Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers like they need a hole in the head!
Rodgers and her Republican sidekicks eliminated the Food Stamp program from the Farm Bill to appease the Republicans who had defeated it originally.
Rodgers gets a big fat salary and great benefits thanks to taxpayers, so she doesn’t have to worry about where her kids’ next meal is coming from. People in poverty aren’t that lucky. But she’s got hers, so why worry? Why worry if a kid goes to bed hungry?
From Tom Foley to Cathy McMorris Rodgers – what a comedown. The voters wanted change, so they voted out a problem-solving, consensus-building workhorse like Foley for rubber-stampers.
Go figure.
Sally Jackson
Spokane
Process of elimination
I am a registered voter in Stevens County, part of the 7th Legislative District. I am a Democrat, and I vote. Because there is not a candidate from the Democratic Party running for state senator in the district, I decided to research the three candidates who are currently running for the position of Washington State senator and will ultimately represent my district.
This position has the responsibility to keep our state fiscally sound; therefore I feel the candidate I vote for needs to be honest and fiscally responsible. My findings are as follows:
Neither Mike Brunson nor Brian Dansel has ever been sued by the Washington Department of Revenue, the Department of Labor and Industries, Employment Security or had a judgment against them.
Neither Brian Dansel nor Mike Brunson has ever been delinquent in their real estate property taxes, let alone delinquent for three years. They also have never walked out on a failed business and left employees to wonder what happened.
And finally, neither Mike Brunson nor Brian Dansel has never been connected to the white supremacists. My vote will go to someone who is fiscally responsible and honest in their own life.
Lela Taylor
Springdale
Starved for support
I believe that Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, mother that she is and having her third child while in office, should be charged with child neglect and abuse for our Washington state children.
These children will be going hungry because of her great support of the passed Farm Bill, which stripped 23 million children of food stamps.
Will her children go hungry? I think not!
Will she help feed our children? I think not!
Does she care? Her vote to strip 23 million children of food stamps is a behavior that sends the message that she does not care for the Washington state children.
Let us keep voting her into office. The Republicans seem to really love her. The question is do the poor and hungry love her? The answer is, I think not! | {
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Product Description
▼▲
No Stones offers practical help for women who are battling sexual addiction and those who want to stand with women as they seek help. Important for pastors and church leaders, this book offers a much sought-after resource for Christian counselors and therapists. Paperback.
Product Information
▼▲
Format: DRM Free ePubVendor: InterVarsity PressPublication Date: 2013
ISBN: 9780830895816ISBN-13: 9780830895816
Publisher's Description
▼▲
In this book Marnie C. Ferree offers a unique resource for women struggling with sexual addiction. Taking her book's title from the parable where Jesus extends grace to the woman caught in adultery, Ferree bravely shares her own story of sexual addiction, recalling her years of shame from living a double life and the moment when she ultimately had to tell the truth. But more than just offering her story as a hopeful example of God's transforming power, Ferree distills her clinical expertise on female sexual addiction accessibly and gently, providing a much-needed resource for women struggling with any degree of relational or sexual addiction. Ferree details the roots of addiction in family trauma and offers clear-eyed advice as both a counselor and a "grateful recovering sex addict" on how to achieve sobriety and healing. Written by a counselor who understands the condition from the inside out, No Stones offers practical help for those battling sexual addiction. It also includes a specific chapter for anyone in close relationship with an addict, whether a spouse, family member, or friend, who wants to come alongside women as they seek help. Important for pastors and church leaders, this book will also be a much sought-after resource for Christian counselors and therapists counseling women who grapple with this type of addiction.
Author Bio
▼▲
Marnie C. Ferree (M.A., Trevecca Nazarene University), is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She is director of Bethesda Workshops in Nashville, a clinical intensive treatment program for sex addicts, co-addicts and couples. Ferree formally worked as a marriage and family therapist at Woodmont Hills Counseling Center in Nashville.
Editorial Reviews
▼▲
"A must-have resource for pastoral counselors, pastors to women, directors of women's ministry and anyone who seeks to know more about sexual addiction, particularly as it manifests in women."
"The historical absence of books written about female sexual addiction adds to the myth that sexual addiction is exclusively a 'men's issue.' No Stones attacks that myth while also filling the void in the literature by presenting an honest, comprehensive and compassionate examination of how women (and those who love and live with them) can move toward growth and healing from sexual addiction. To her great credit, Ferree does not oversimplify or offer quick fixes, but instead utilizes her own story, as well as those of the women she has counseled, to guide the way toward hope and recovery."
"In the first major Christian-published book on the topic, Marnie Ferree blows to bits easy assumptions about who gets addicted and why. Blessedly pratical and deeply biblical, No Stones gives women--and their husbands and counselors--tools to break the cycle and the hope of finding real intimacy."
"Marnie Ferree masterfully and sensitively tackles what is often considered a taboo subject: female sexual addiction. In doing so, she also brings a depth and wealth of understanding of female sexuality and feminine identity in general. Her discussions are timely and will be of great value to women struggling in hiddenness and shame. This book is also a must for clergy and counselors who want to effectively support women seeking greater healing and wholeness in the realm of sexuality and relationships."
"This brave and highly original book challenges readers to question their long-held religious views about women's sexuality. Marnie's courage in describing her own difficult sexual and family history powerfully illustrates the shame and pain felt by women who are sexually addicted. No Stones will make it easier for troubled Christian women to seek the help they need."
"There has been a vacuum of information available for female sex addicts. This courageous book integrates sound mental health principles with biblical and spiritual truths. I will certainly recommend No Stones."
" No Stones is destined to be a resource of immense value in helping female sex addicts (and those who care about them). Marnie writes passionately and vulnerably. She offers help without being condescending. She stresses personal accountability without being judgmental. I thank her for exploring such an important subject in such a candid, skillful and tender way."
"Finally, there is a book written for women strugglers. I found hope and healing in these pages. No Stones is written with great sensitivity, empathy, vulnerability and wisdom by someone who understands the struggle firsthand. Now I know Im not alone."
"We have long needed a practical guide for women and sex addiction. Well written by a woman who has been there."
"Marnie Ferree is a pioneer in the field of womens sexual addiction recovery, and this is a pioneering work destined to become a standard."
I believe God has more to do with recovery than this book implies. It seem to imply that councillors, therapists, friends etc are more important than God to your recovery. I found that not to be so in my own. So I would not recommend this book to others as a first step or a first read on the subject. | {
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We have some exciting news!
As most of you know, we are a startup digital agency based in Horwich, and we are only 10 months old. Our speciality is paid marketing working very closely with Google on bringing in new business to the Adwords platform but like to see ourselves as the complete Digital Solution. If you have been following our social networks you have most likely heard about out Google Partners Game On Competition, quarterly we work with our Google account to manage and help grow businesses that may be new to online marketing through the Partners GameOn competition.
Google #GameOn
We entered this in Q1 just to see how we could compete against the big agencies based in Manchester and London, we came 70th out of 800 agencies which we thought wasn’t too bad, with this result in mind we really put a lot of focus on Q2 which we came in 8th position finishing in the top 1% in the whole of the UK!!
For a small town agency like us with big ambition this has set us in the right direction and given us the motivation to go after a top 3 position in Q3, with the support we now get from Google after being spotted on their radar we feel we have a good chance in competing with big agencies.
Time to Celebrate!
We were amazed at this result and even had Google calling us up congratulating us and offering us additional support to help group our business and support our current clients to help performance. They then rewarded us with a Google Mini-Bar (stocked with beer) and a Google Football which we will have in the office next week, keep an eye on our
social
!
As a company, we are all about having fun and creating a relaxed working atmosphere. We have created an environment where people love coming to work and enjoy working with the clients, so get in contact if you want to find out more about our services & how we can help improve your business call us: 01204 896026 or email us direct at: | {
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Yes, 20 years later, Anita Hill would do it all again. Hill, who became a household name quite suddenly in 1991 when she testified that then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas had sexually harassed her when they worked together at the U.S. Department of Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, says she has no regrets. “A lot of positive things have happened – in the workplace, in terms of people being empowered to pursue a claim, in court cases,” Hill told us. “Would they have happened without my testimony? I don’t know.” A professor at Brandeis since 1998, Hill was honored this week by the Victim Rights Law Center, receiving the group’s 2012 Shining Star Leadership Award. (Last year’s recipient Congresswoman Niki Tsongas made the presentation.) Hill said she was happy to speak at the event at the Park Plaza, but typically keeps a low profile. “I am what I am. I want to be able to use my voice in a way that’s authentic,” she said. “I’m not trying to be anyone else.” | {
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Maplewood Nature Center events
Submitted by admin on Mon, 11/19/2018 - 10:25am
Here is a list of upcoming events at Maplewood Nature Center.
• Winter Wisdom: Maplewood Nature Center hosts Winter Wisdom Saturday, Dec. 1 starting at 1 p.m. The meeting is for new Minnesotans looking to learn how to enjoy winter outdoors. Learn how to avoid frostbite, hypothermia and sunburn. Test insulating properties of different materials, learn how to calculate wind-chill, make a winter emergency kit for your car and a solar bead zipper pull for your jacket. Weíll try snowshoeing if we have snow, then warm up with hot apple cider. Enter our drawing for a winter-wise prize. Free, registration required by Thursday, Nov. 29 at www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com or call 651-249-2170.
• December Brrd-count: Brrrd-count: is Saturday, Dec. 15 starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Maplewood Nature Center. Its for ages 14 and older. Drop in to watch and record winter birds on trails or at feeders. Enter your sightings into eBird or hand-write a list for the naturalist. Double the fun by renting a pair of snowshoes for $5/pair if there is six inches of snow on the ground. It is a free drop-in program.
• Holiday Pollinator Felting Craft: Maplewood Nature Center hosts Holiday Pollinator Felting Craft Tuesday, Dec, 18 starting at 3 p.m. The event is for adults and for children ages 10 and over who are with an adult. Learn about three native bees, then use cookie cutters and wool to make a simple bee or butterfly. It’s great for homeschoolers. Attendance costs $5 per person and registration is required by Friday, De.c 14. Register at maplewoodnaturecenter.com or call 651-249-2170.
• Nature Hangout: This drop-off program for only youth ages 7-11, Nature Hangout will be held Saturday, Dec. 22 starting at 1 p.m. Parents can get some holiday preparation work done while we go outdoors all together for a treasure hunt, then back inside to meet live animals, and a craft. Dress for the weather. There will be snowshoeing if there is snow. Registration is required by Thursday, December 20th and costs $25 per youth. Register at www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com, or call 651-249-2170.
• S’more Nature Fun: will be held Saturday, Dec. 29 starting at 1:30 p.m. It is fun to be outside in the wintertime. Take a hike or snowshoe down to the pond for a fun exploration then make S’mores. It is $5 a person. Register by Thursday, Dec 28 at www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com or call 651-249-2170.
Maplewood Nature Center is located at 2659 E. Seventh St. in Maplewood. For information call 651-249-2170. | {
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Sorry, It’s a BAD HIRE!!
Dear Recruiter’s, how many times have you heard this famous line!!! Well, most of the recruiters might have heard it at least a few times, if not more. So what does this mean!! Who is responsible!! What are the impacts!! Loads of questions right!!! Well, through this post just thought to highlight this statement and the hidden meaning behind it. PS: Not here to point fingers, but just to understand the real reason behind this famous statement. You are at your work station, and suddenly a Delivery Manager comes and shouts “Who hired XYX, he is a bad hire”. So what will be your reaction!! Well, it depends on how you manage it. At times you can just say with a smile, we both have hired him. Jokes apart, we need to find out the real reason behind this statement.
So what do you think can be the reasons!! Let’s take a look at it.
– Employee joins your organization, and the very next day he is working on a project / client place. So in such cases employee is not briefed, no formal detailed induction, no breathing space etc. Hence it is bound to happen that they will have a tough time to adjust to a new environment. Will you term this employee as Bad Hire!!!
– Many a times it is noticed that once the employee joins, the manager hardly meet them. We understand that everyone is busy and working under tight deadlines, but this very person or employees is the reason that the project will run. The organization will earn revenue (Dollars). Is it not worth spending some quality time with them!!! Food for thought.
– Employees who are placed at client location often face some challenges, hence one needs to ensure that you hear to their issues. Again not all issues can be solved, but you can at least hear them out.
– Often have heard and seen clashes between Line Managers and HR teams. In case of Bad Hire the blame game starts. If you agree that it takes a team effort to make any company successful, then you need to also agree that the onus of a so called bad hire lies with both the parties.
– Somehow I feel it’s a Fashion statement to use the term “Bad Hire”. Don’t forget that the person who you have hired, was working in some organization, and was being paid for it. He might find it tough to adjust or work as per your style or needs. But this does not mean that employee is a Bad Hire.
– Top Management will surely argue the cost of a Bad Hire. Well, I completely agree, but in that case also many stake holders are involved to take a hiring decision. Right from Delivery Managers, VP’s, Head of Functions etc. So who is responsible!!
– Some of you might say that let’s change the word from Bad Hire to Wrong Hire, well, that will not help. We need to change the way we look and treat such resources.
– Often it is said that an HR needs to wear a Business Hat!! How about a Line Manager / Delivery Manager wearing a hat of an HR!!! What say!!!
So have you come across this situation!! How did you tackle it!! Do you agree with the term Bad Hire!!! Looking forward to your views, suggestions and feedback regarding this post. | {
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It's a fun game but if you're looking for a more serious tennis WII game, this isn't it. A lot of the features that appear when your characters are playing become too distracting.
I was expecting game much more like Sports - Tennis version but more intense.
Lots of Fun
on 3/31/2009
It's a fun game but if you're looking for a more serious tennis WII game, this isn't it. A lot of the features that appear when your characters are playing become too distracting.
I was expecting game much more like Sports - Tennis version but more intense.
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gamecube
by ZTMASTER on 6/7/2012
This game was orginally a gamecube game that was ported to the wii. It added new conrolls though, motion controlls. The game was good to start and this remakes it, like a new game. It is fun and if you didnt own it one the gamecube pick it up on the wii, if you have it on the gamecube no need to get this
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Fun And Fresh
on 5/28/2013
This is a really fun way to play video tennis game. A wide variety of characters to choose from, each with their own personality and tennis ability. The graphics are fantastic and look great on a wide screen HD TV. The "play control" takes a little getting use to, but if you use full motions for each of the strokes you want to use it's much easier than trying abbreviated movements. The "power shot" is a bit much, & I prefer playing the game with it turned off.
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Product Overview
The wild multiplayer action of the Nintendo GameCube hit, Mario Power Tennis, returns with Wii controls and widescreen presentation!
Mario Power Tennis brings the heroes and villains of the Mushroom Kingdom together on the court! Use each player's powerful shots and new power-ups to make for the craziest matches ever. Build up more and more skill points as you play to use stronger shots with all kinds of spin. Prove you're the best and walk away with the Mushroom Kingdom championship!
Specifications
Features
Product Type
Software
ESRB Rating
E (Everyone)
Software Main Type
Game
Brand Name
Nintendo
Features
With Wii controls, players simply swing the Wii Remote controller to hit forehands and backhands and to apply spin. The motion controls open this classic game to new gamers and offers experienced gamers the option to attach a Nunchuk controller for additional precision.Players can play as familiar characters from the Mario universe. Every character has a defensive and offensive Power Shot that can send opponents reeling or return out-of-reach balls.Players can be as crazy as they like. Play traditional tournaments, or hit the Gimmick Courts for wild matches not possible in the real world.This game was originally released for the Nintendo GameCube system. The ability to use Wii controllers has been added to this version.Game storyline:The stars of the Mushroom Kingdom are gathering for a tennis tournament, and the competition is going to be fierce. Using New Play Control!, players actually become their Mushroom Kingdom heroes on the tennis courts. Every lob and smash a player makes is translated into motions by their characters on the court.How to progress through the game:Play multiplayer games with friends or progress through tougher and tougher tournaments in singles and doubles play. As players win tournaments, clear minigames or challenge Gimmick Courts, they unlock new characters, courts and challenges.Characters:Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Donkey Kong, Bowser, Bowser Jr., Peach, Daisy, Yoshi, Shy Guy, Koopa Troopa and other Mushroom Kingdom characters.Special powers/weapons/moves/features:With simple swing movements, players can hit topspin, backspin and smashes, and by charging up, they can hit with varying degrees of power or perform other character-specific moves that make even crazier things happen on the court.
Compatibility
Wii Remote controller
Manufacturer
Nintendo Co., Ltd
Product Name
Mario Power Tennis
Software Name
Mario Power Tennis
Software Sub Type
Sports Game
Manufacturer Part Number
RVLPRMAE
Platform Supported
Wii
Tech Specs
Product Type
Software
Manufacturer Part Number
RVLPRMAE
Manufacturer Website Address
www.nintendo.com
Manufacturer
Nintendo Co., Ltd
Product Name
Mario Power Tennis
Brand Name
Nintendo
Additional Information
Rating Descriptors: Mild Cartoon Violence
Compatibility
Wii Remote controller
Platform Support
Wii
Features
With Wii controls, players simply swing the Wii Remote controller to hit forehands and backhands and to apply spin. The motion controls open this classic game to new gamers and offers experienced gamers the option to attach a Nunchuk controller for additional precision. Players can play as familiar characters from the Mario universe. Every character has a defensive and offensive Power Shot that can send opponents reeling or return out-of-reach balls. Players can be as crazy as they like. Play traditional tournaments, or hit the Gimmick Courts for wild matches not possible in the real world. This game was originally released for the Nintendo GameCube system. The ability to use Wii controllers has been added to this version. Game storyline: The stars of the Mushroom Kingdom are gathering for a tennis tournament, and the competition is going to be fierce. Using New Play Control!, players actually become their Mushroom Kingdom heroes on the tennis courts. Every lob and smash a player makes is translated into motions by their characters on the court. How to progress through the game: Play multiplayer games with friends or progress through tougher and tougher tournaments in singles and doubles play. As players win tournaments, clear minigames or challenge Gimmick Courts, they unlock new characters, courts and challenges. Characters: Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Donkey Kong, Bowser, Bowser Jr., Peach, Daisy, Yoshi, Shy Guy, Koopa Troopa and other Mushroom Kingdom characters. Special powers/weapons/moves/features: With simple swing movements, players can hit topspin, backspin and smashes, and by charging up, they can hit with varying degrees of power or perform other character-specific moves that make even crazier things happen on the court. | {
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What’s With All The Spitting?
So I was driving to work and I go by a bus stop for high school kids and as I stopped at the stop sign there was this kid leaning with his back against the sign post and spitting. I don’t know what he was spitting but if you’re not a llama I just have to wonder what’s with all the spitting? – Don’t Get Me Started!
When I was going to high school (in the early eighties in Arizona) there was a cowboy clique. You know there was the druggie clique, the jock clique, the theatre clique (guess which one I was in) and so on. Well, the “cowboys” were actually guys who rode horses and chewed tobacco so they would walk around the campus with their jaws extended from chew (almost as much as their Wrangler jean fronts from the tightness of them). So it was not uncommon to see them spitting. Now most of these guys used cups which most of the time were the size of Big Gulps. I don’t know exactly which is grosser, the spitting or saving all the spit in a plastic cup all day long. You decide. But the thing was that even though I have never had tobacco chew in my mouth I can only assume that I would want to spit (and a lot) to try and get the taste out of my mouth (shut up, we’ve all been there – having something in our mouth that we wanted to spit out due to the taste…draw your own obscene conclusions).
But this kid at the bus stop did not seem to be chewing tobacco, I think he was just spitting for spit sake. And I’ve seen grown people spitting too. Lest you think it’s only men, it is not. I’m here to tell you that I have seen women spit as well. (True, they were white trash but they had vaginas so that makes them a woman, kids) The thing is that I just don’t get it. Does anyone think it’s an appropriate thing to do? (Obviously some do or they wouldn’t be spitting all over God’s creation marking their territory I suppose like an unneutered cat). But can we agree that somewhere in this world we should have some sort of a “manners code” to live by that includes not spitting?
I remember one time I was going into a grocery store and the person entering right in front of me was this huge guy and right before entering I heard that familiar “wind up” and then the pitch – you know the sound, “Chuuuushhhpooo!” So how could I not look down? There it was…something so green and disgusting that it looked like an Oompah Loompah wig that had come off its owner’s head after he had been dancing at a club for hours. A gelatinous globby slug-like creature that seemed to be crawling across the sidewalk all on its own having gained birth from the mucous hitting the oxygen or something. (So much for the lime Jell-O that had been on my list)
Those of us who don’t have children can’t help ourselves in thinking that we know what parents should and shouldn’t be teaching their children but this is one thing that I’m going to strongly suggest to parents. Please teach your children that it’s bad manners to spit in public, on the public at large or even the sidewalk. There’s something called a tissue and if they keep one in their pocket (I know, they’ll never remember to remove it and you’ll end up picking little pieces of tissue off of everything that it went into the washer with that load of laundry but these sacrifices must be made as parents) the tissue should be used to spit into (if absolutely necessary) and then the tissue should be put into a garbage can once it has served its purpose (if only you could dispose of certain people in your life that way, right?).
Look, I don’t expect everyone to know which fork to use but come on people can’t we all agree that the spitting thing is best left for baseball players (who chew tobacco) while making millions of dollars (and should also know better) and not us civilized folk? Or for those sixteen real cowboys who are left in the world who also chew tobacco, spitting the juices out on “the range” so who really cares anyway? Other than those two categories I can’t think of anyone who should be allowed to spit so what’s with all the spitting? – Don’t Get Me Started! | {
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Mini Hotel Central
Stars:
Room Numbers:
183
MTR:
Central - Exit D1
Location: HK Island :
: Central
Address:
38 Ice House Street
This 3-star hotel is ideally located in the heart of Central. Lan Kwai Fong, IFC, Statue Square, the Landmark and other tourist spots are a few steps away. The Mini Hotel Central is only 2-minute walk from the Central MTR station, which allows guests easily reach any part of Hong Kong. The hotel is also close to the famous Hong Kong Trams. There are 183 rooms to choose from; each room is equipped with modern amenities to make guests' stay a comfortable and memorable one.
Being a popular choice among travelers to Hong Kong, the Mini Hotel Central is an excellent base for your vacation.
The Hotel LKF by Rhombus is known for its highly personalized attention to details as well as five star comfort. It is situated within a short walk of plenty of cozy restaurants, nightlife and international boutiques. The convenient location helps guests to use all options of public transport in the city.
Knight on Wyndham Serviced Apartment is conveniently located in Central. There are a lot of bars, fine restaurants and other entertainment venues nearby as it is at the doorstep of the popular Hong Kong's entertainment area, Lan Kwai Fong.
This serviced apartment is situated in Central, in close proximity to Lan Kwai Fong and SOHO as well as to the business areas of Central. The location is very convenient for both business or leisure travelers to Hong Kong. Also, the convenient location helps guests to use all options of Hong Kong's public transport.
The Shalom Serviced Apartments is located in the heart of Central and provides easy access to major business areas of the city. The location is ideal for leisure travelers, as they can easily reach many local points of interest, such as Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum, Lan Kwai Fong, Man Mo Temple, Hollywood Road and Victoria Harbour. | {
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What's Hot: Recycling old books, conceals and protects the iPad and cool looking.
What's Not: Adds a lot of weight to the tablet.
Reviewed by Tong Zhang
There are a lot of people making cases for the iPad models, but the folks at ReAuthored had a better idea. They take old hardcover books that have been discarded and hollow the pages out and put faux leather into the vacant slot and turn it into a tablet holder. When you close the case, it looks exactly like a book since it's made from an actual book. It protects the tablet during transport and it completely conceals the idea that it's a tablet case. Since these books are hand selected, each case is different and there are many themes and book titles available.
Design
The design of the ReAuthored case for the new iPad is deceptively simple yet ingeniously fitting. We've all gotten rid of our old books before, but ReAuthored tracks these books down and hand selects the books that are in the right size, interesting topic and good condition and turn them into a tablet case. ReAuthored doesn't pull books from circulation and only picks books with strong covers. What's even more interesting is that the ReAuthored case often leaves some pages from the original book still there as a part of the illusion that this is a book instead of a tablet case. The tablet holder is form fitting and has two elastic traps to keep the new iPad inside securely. The holder is made with faux leather in generic black and brown colors, or in floral print in both colors as well as black crocodile print. The faux leather looks sturdy and the surface is soft. There's also a tab on the upper right hand corner to help you easily take the tablet out of the holder.
Since the ReAuthored case for the iPad models usual comes from a used book, you might not get a brand new book cover. But the exterior covers are always in very good condition for structural support as a tablet carrier. The worn corners add some charm as the illusion of a book. There's also an elastic strap strong enough to hold the cover to the case. The ReAuthored iPad 3 case is larger than the tablet it's holding and it adds more weight than most cases. The iPad 3 case with the tablet inside weighs 3.1 lbs.
Features
As the ReAuthored case is meant for carrying your new iPad with you in a backpack or bag, it doesn't offer any cutouts or other features a regular case offers. You can use the tablet while it's in the ReAuthored as long as you don't have to use the buttons or ports on the tablet. You do have access to the front camera and the Home button along with the touch screen.
One unique feature the ReAuthored case offers is that you can not only choose the theme of the bookcover you prefer, but also offer a book that you absolutely love to use as a case for your device. Just contact the case maker and make sure your book is in good enough a condition to make into a case. ReAuthoered offers cases for many devices and in many sizes including all iPad models, Kindle models, Nook as well as many popular Android tablets. And for some models, you can choose specific book category as the title of your bookish case.
Conclusion
The ReAuthored iPad 3 Case is certainly a unique take on recycling your old books and gives paper books a second life. The case is very protective as it's sitting deep inside of a hardcover book, and it hides the identity of your gadget better than any other cases we've seen. The large collection of books gives you plenty of choices and the interior pattern and color selections are also good. If you don't like anything you see, you can even provide your favorite book for the case maker to turn it into a case. This is just something you don't see everyday! Down side of using a hardcover book is that it adds considerable amount of weight and you need to take the tablet out to use if you need access to buttons and ports. | {
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Popular
June 10, 2008
Hollywood Adds Support to Global Tiger Initiative
by Sam Savage
The World Bank is getting a boost from Hollywood for its new global initiative to save the world's tigers from extinction. Celebrities, including long-time environmental activist Harrison Ford, Robert Duvall and Bo Derek, have all thrown their support behind the new campaign, which brings together scientists, wildlife experts and governments to stop the illegal trading of tiger skins, meat and body parts used in traditional Asian medicines.
Although the agency's main mission is to fight poverty in developing countries, the World Bank has seldom become involved in wildlife conservation efforts of endangered species.
Ford said efforts to protect tigers would only succeed if local communities were involved.
"By committing to help wild tigers, the World Bank is sounding its intention to be a global leader in biodiversity conservation," he said during an event at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington.
World Bank President Robert Zoellick said the decline from 100,000 tigers a century ago to less than 4,000 today was "shocking".
The clearing of large areas of forest land for urban development in Central Asia, the Indonesian islands of Java and Bali, and most of China has contributed to the tiger's decline and in some cases their disappearance.
"If current trends persist, tigers are likely to be the first species of large predator to vanish in historic times," warned a World Bank report.
"Just as with many other challenges of sustainability, such as climate change, pandemic disease, or poverty, the crisis facing tigers overwhelms local capabilities and it is one that transcends local borders," Zoellick told Reuters.
"This is a problem that cannot be handled by individual nations alone, it requires an alliance of strong local commitment backed by deep international support," he said.
The World Bank chief said the agency would begin a series of discussions with countries, the private sector and conservationists to generate funding for tiger conservation programs and research on how to better protect the animals.
Zoellick warned that saving the world's tiger population would not be an easy task, but said tigers had been saved from extinction in certain areas in the past, such as in Russia and Nepal.
"All those concerned may not agree but this does not mean we should stand on the sidelines and do nothing," he said.
The biggest immediate threat to the tigers is poaching and trafficking in tiger parts and meat, something occurring at an all-time high according to John Seidensticker, chief scientist at the Smithsonian National Zoo's Conservation Ecology Center.
"For wild tigers to live they must have much better security on their home ground," he said, urging countries to enforce current laws that protect tigers.
It's something that will require strong political will, Seidensticker said, adding that as a global institution the World Bank was well positioned to coordinate efforts.
"We're at a tipping point and we're going to lose wild tigers but with the World Bank initiative wild tigers now have a chance," he said. | {
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DOT May Invoke Bank Guarantees Given By Airtel
New Delhi: The Department of Telecom intends to invoke bank guarantees given by service provider Bharti Airtel and has written to banks in this regard as the company has not paid 350 crore penalty imposed on it for providing 3G services outside permitted areas in violation of rules.
"The communication was made by the finance wing of Department of Telecom (DoT) to various banks where they (Bharti Airtel) have provided bank guarantees," a DoT official told PTI.
The official said the letter was sent to banks on Friday, but he did not share bank names.
Bharti Airtel in statement said it has always maintained the highest standards of compliance. "We believe the 3G ICR arrangements are in compliance with all applicable laws and licensing conditions. These arrangements are also hugely beneficial to customers and discontinuing these will cause grave inconvenience to them," the statement added.
The fine was imposed on March 15 for providing 3G services in areas where Airtel did not have 3G spectrum by entering into a pact with other service providers.
Airtel, one of the largest telecom operators in the country, was directed to deposit the penalty amount within 15 days.
The DoT had slapped 350 crore penalty for violation of UAS license conditions in Haryana, Maharashtra, UP (East), Kolkata, Gujarat, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh service areas where company is providing 3G services to customers without having 3G spectrum and license amendment for right to use 3G spectrum for provisioning of 3G services.
The Delhi High Court on last Thursday set aside a single judge order which allowed Airtel to continue providing 3G intra-circle roaming facilities with other service providers.
The Airtel statement said that the company has filed an SLP against the order of the division bench of the Delhi High Court. "Our SLP (special leave petition) is listed before the Supreme Court on Monday," it added.
DoT last Friday asked Airtel to end its 3G roaming pact with Idea Cellular and Vodafone under which the three firms on quid pro quo basis have been selling 3G services in telecom circles where they hold spectrum for the same.
The Department had also slapped 550 crore penalty on Vodafone and 300 crore on Idea Cellular for violating 3G service roaming norms and had asked them to end the pact by April 8.
Airtel, it is learnt, has been asked to stop providing 3G services by Saturday. This, however, could not be independently verified.
In 2010, of the 22 service areas, Airtel acquired 3G spectrum in 13, Vodafone in 9 and Idea Cellular in 11 circles. | {
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Connecting the dots
Spinning its delicate web, this golden orb-weaver will soon wind up in the hands of Michael Ellison’s students, who will milk it for silk. A flexible material with herculean strength for its weight, spider silk has yet to yield the secrets of its remarkable structure.
That may be changing, and the results could yield new materials with broad applications. For more, see the web of science.
Image by Craig Mahaffey.
The last word you might expect to find on the cover of a research magazine is creativity. Somewhere along the line, creativity came to seem fuzzy and soft—a topic for the humanities, perhaps, but not for the clear-eyed realm of science and technology. For several decades now, a chasm has yawned between these two cultures and their two ways of understanding the world. At Clemson, we are bridging the chasm. Glimpse is a magazine of research and creative discovery because creativity matters, in every corner of our society.
These days, we hear a lot of talk about lagging test scores in science and math, and how they might presage a decline in American competitiveness. Yes, we must find ways to equip our students with the technical skills they need for success in the new economy, and at Clemson we are doing just that. But when you ask business leaders what they value most, they are likely to say, “creative thinkers and problem solvers.”
Here is one quote from David Attis, writing for the Council on Competiveness: “Companies say that the skills they find most valuable—collaboration, communication, creative problem solving—are not typically found in science and engineering graduates.” Here is another from the late Steve Jobs, cofounder of Apple, as quoted in Wired magazine: “Creativity is just connecting things,” he said. “…A lot of people in our industry haven’t had very diverse experiences. So they don’t have enough dots to connect, and they end up with very linear solutions without a broad perspective on the problem. The broader one’s understanding of the human experience, the better design we will have.”
None of this is easy. Any time we venture off the beaten path, we put ourselves at risk. As David Brooks has written, in the New York Times, “Creative people don’t follow the crowds; they seek out the blank spots on the map… Instead of being fastest around the tracks everybody knows, creative people move adaptively through wildernesses nobody knows.”
Creativity, as we see it, is not soft and squishy. It is as edgy, unpredictable, and prismatic as shattered glass. Sometimes, there is no breakthrough without actually breaking something. But destruction is never the goal. It is only a first step toward making something new. | {
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Preview — Evil Games
by Angela Marsons
Evil Games
When a rapist is found mutilated in a brutal attack, Detective Kim Stone and her team are called in to bring a swift resolution. But, as more vengeful killings come to light, it soon becomes clear that there is someone far more sinister at work. With the investigation quickly gathering momentum, Kim finds herself exposed to great danger and in the sights of a lethal indiviWhen a rapist is found mutilated in a brutal attack, Detective Kim Stone and her team are called in to bring a swift resolution. But, as more vengeful killings come to light, it soon becomes clear that there is someone far more sinister at work. With the investigation quickly gathering momentum, Kim finds herself exposed to great danger and in the sights of a lethal individual undertaking their own twisted experiment. Up against a sociopath who seems to know her every weakness, each move she makes could be deadly. As the body count starts to mount, Kim will have to dig deep to stop the killing. And this time—it's personal....more
Angela MarsonsHi Becky, the storyline of Evil Games is a standalone book but like Princess commented, Silent Scream serves to set up the main characters for the…moreHi Becky, the storyline of Evil Games is a standalone book but like Princess commented, Silent Scream serves to set up the main characters for the whole of the series. People have read Evil Games first and then read Silent Scream.(less)
She did it, she absolutely did it! Angela Marsons followed up her first D.I. Kim Stone book with something that is even better, I honestly did not think that was possible. This book makes for fantastic reading and officially Angela is up there with my top crime writers world wide without a doubt. Stunning work! I didn't think she could top the first book but she has.
Where do I start with this one? Let me lay the foundations for you first:
When a rapist is found mutilated in a brutal attack, DeteShe did it, she absolutely did it! Angela Marsons followed up her first D.I. Kim Stone book with something that is even better, I honestly did not think that was possible. This book makes for fantastic reading and officially Angela is up there with my top crime writers world wide without a doubt. Stunning work! I didn't think she could top the first book but she has.
Where do I start with this one? Let me lay the foundations for you first:
When a rapist is found mutilated in a brutal attack, Detective Kim Stone and her team are called in to bring a swift resolution. But, as more vengeful killings come to light, it soon becomes clear that there is someone far more sinister at work.
With the investigation quickly gathering momentum, Kim soon finds herself exposed to great danger and in the sights of a lethal individual undertaking their own twisted experiment.
Up against a sociopath who seems to know her every weakness, for Detective Stone, each move she makes could be deadly. As the body count starts to mount, Kim will have to dig deeper than ever before to stop the killing. And this time - it’s personal.
The plot in this book was breathtakingly clever, it had me on the edge of me seat, nerves jangling at times, waiting for what comes next. This is what you call a true page turner, no doubt about it. For me the book is crime fiction but has a mix of psychological thriller mixed in, totally perfect combination. Brilliant, just brilliant writing, taut, intelligent, readable, suburb.
I love, love, love D.I. Kim Stone even more, she is so bloody flawed herself which makes her role so interesting. She is not a cardboard cutout cop like many crime books have, she is different, she has her own demons and they don't always stay away on the job. In this book more of her is revealed as she goes head to head with a sociopath that is relentless. She is one exceptionally written character that is growing as the series progresses. I loved her even more in this book than the first.
This book outlines (scarily) the manipulation and evil that a true Sociopath is, what a character you are going to love to hate. I am not even going to tell you who the character is, just that again, terribly well developed and interesting. Angela Marsons has a knack for making her characters really "pop" out of the book.
The plot is fantastic, it's intriguing and different from the start, can't recall a crime book like it in recent years, I loved turning the pages to find it was taking me around yet another corner. With the right amount of red herrings thrown in to make you think you have bits of it worked out, you will be hanging on to your hat by the last few chapters.
The book has some disturbing scenes, some emotional scenes, some horrific scenes (nothing to really freak out about), but it gives the book a tense darkness that I absolutely loved. No light and fluffy stuff here, we are getting into the psyche of the human mind and shining a torch in every single corner. Absolutely brilliant reading, could not fault it. Some scenes had me holding my breath.
A winner yet again for talented author Angela Marsons, who was just BORN to write these books, why did she take so long? I cannot wait for book three, I am a huge fan. Five huge paw prints from Booklover Catlady. You cannot go wrong with this one. Just read it. Trust me. Meow!
Oh my goodness this was even better than the first book, SILENT SCREAMS!!!
EVIL GAMES (DI KIM STONE #2) by ANGELA MARSONS is an action-packed, dark, chilling, interesting, and suspenseful psychological thriller that had us all flipping those pages as fast as we could. What an extremely fitting and wonderful title for this book…..it was perfect!!
DI Kim Stone is back here in a thrilling cat and mouse game with one of the best, cunning, uniqTraveling Sisters Review by NORMA, BRENDA and KACEEY!!
Oh my goodness this was even better than the first book, SILENT SCREAMS!!!
EVIL GAMES (DI KIM STONE #2) by ANGELA MARSONS is an action-packed, dark, chilling, interesting, and suspenseful psychological thriller that had us all flipping those pages as fast as we could. What an extremely fitting and wonderful title for this book…..it was perfect!!
DI Kim Stone is back here in a thrilling cat and mouse game with one of the best, cunning, unique, and interesting sociopaths we have ever read. At first we thought Kim has met her match but soon learned our sociopath has met hers. We were on the edge of our seats rooting for our favourite detective. That's not the only case Kim was working on as upon opening the book we were quickly introduced to Kim and her team capturing a despicable and disgusting child molester. A case that appears to be solved but of course there is more here than meets the eye!
ANGELA MARSONS delivers another complex and layered story here and has created a scary mind-blowing sociopath who is such a good character that we disliked so much but on the other-hand loved. What an awesome and complex villain she made.
DI Kim Stone continues to fascinate us and has us laughing out loud with her wicked sense of humor. We enjoyed getting to know her a little more and were heartbroken as we learned more about her dark sad past. We loved how Marsons gave us a glimpse of Kim’s soft side and vulnerable side as we could see her reactions and feelings as she related to and cared for the victims in her cases.
After being off our game for Silent Scream, we all had our game on going into Evil Games and we were all ready for the twists and turns. We all started out strong with Brenda picking up on Alex’s evil games first and Norma and Kaceey right behind piecing things together. Kaceey figuring out the big reveal early on with Norma right behind her picking up on one of the major clues while Brenda was twirling around in left field by herself. With some confusion on all the sisters parts we were able to piece together who done it (not twirling Brenda) and our sociopaths's games making us all feeling quite proud of our gameplay. Sure made for some interesting and fun discussions.
We are definitely keeping our game on and are looking forward to the action-packed race against time as DI Stone tackles her next case in book three.
I want to thank Net Galley, Bookouture, and Ms. Angela Marsons for providing me with an ARC of Evil Games in exchange for an unbiased review.
Who is this Angela Marsons and where did she come from? The year is not even half over and we have not one, but two brilliant books from this incredible new thriller writer. I was hoping Evil Games would be close in excellence to Silent Scream. Darned if it isn’t better.
Evil Games grabbed me right from the first sentence (not kidding) and held me tight untiI want to thank Net Galley, Bookouture, and Ms. Angela Marsons for providing me with an ARC of Evil Games in exchange for an unbiased review.
Who is this Angela Marsons and where did she come from? The year is not even half over and we have not one, but two brilliant books from this incredible new thriller writer. I was hoping Evil Games would be close in excellence to Silent Scream. Darned if it isn’t better.
Evil Games grabbed me right from the first sentence (not kidding) and held me tight until the end. First of all, what a perfect title you have given this novel, Ms. Marsons. The bad people in this book are truly despicable; the “games” they play are beyond contempt. I hated these people (this is good). In contrast, I was so happy to revisit the ultra complex Detective Inspector Kim Stone and her partner Bryant. We are also treated to a deeper look into Kim’s past; she is a hard nut to crack and can come off as not at all likeable, though she is highly respected by her colleagues. Despite her lack of social skills, I love her as well as the nonromantic relationship she has with Bryant. It was also affirming to see the touching relationships Kim was able to develop with a couple of minor characters.
The premise of the book is unique and very cerebral; I was simply fascinated. I developed goosies when it became apparent that Ms. Marsons was setting up a battle between two very strong, highly intelligent women. And what a battle it is! The author must have researched extensively to get it right. Major props for that, Ms. Marsons. Major props.
The prose is not complex, which is generally what I like in a thriller. This along with the short chapters propels the story along at a rapid pace, befitting the high-caliber thriller it is. I do not want to delve any further into the storyline as it is best to go into this book cold.
So who is this Angela Marsons? Angela Marsons is a British author who is now a heavy hitter in the crime fiction/thriller genre. If you have not yet read Silent Scream, read it. Read it now. Then read Evil Games. You will not be sorry. I cannot wait for the next book in this exceptional series.
We all enjoyed the first book so much we couldn't wait to dive into book two. I couldn't have imagined this book surpassing number one... But it did in leaps and bounds! Our reading goals for the day kept changing because none of us had the willpower to put it down. (Just try and stop us!) We constantly made plans to just chat about our progress in the evening, but found ourselves chirping bacYet another wonderful traveling sister read with with my 2 favorite Canadian sisters - Norma and Brenda!
We all enjoyed the first book so much we couldn't wait to dive into book two. I couldn't have imagined this book surpassing number one... But it did in leaps and bounds! Our reading goals for the day kept changing because none of us had the willpower to put it down. (Just try and stop us!) We constantly made plans to just chat about our progress in the evening, but found ourselves chirping back and forth all day long with every twist the book took. Such fun!
I am so glad that I decided to listen to GR friends and try this series out again. I read the first novel for this series and wasn't very impressed at all BUT this one definitely has made me a huge fan of Angela Marsons! And a new series has been added to my fan list ;).
What a perfect title I have to say for this one! Wow.. Evil games did Ruth play! But, you can't help but love this villain in this ever -so -dark and brilliant read!
I definitely grew to love Kim and her team. Kim is strong and aI am so glad that I decided to listen to GR friends and try this series out again. I read the first novel for this series and wasn't very impressed at all BUT this one definitely has made me a huge fan of Angela Marsons! And a new series has been added to my fan list ;).
What a perfect title I have to say for this one! Wow.. Evil games did Ruth play! But, you can't help but love this villain in this ever -so -dark and brilliant read!
I definitely grew to love Kim and her team. Kim is strong and amazing detective stopping at nothing to solve her cases and get closure for her victims. I am SUPER obsessively excited to move forward with this series and to book 3!
Thank you to my wonderful friends on here who urged me to try this series again ;). 5 beautiful star dance for this one. :)...more
Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture, and author Angela Marsons, a British author, for an ARC of this book, “EVIL GAMES”, in exchange for an honest review. This is the second instalment in the Detective Kim Stone Series, and even better than her debut novel, “SILENT SCREAM.” WOW what an amazing gifted writer! This is a mystery crime/psychological thriller, that will have you flipping the pages, to see what will happen next.
In Evil Games, we continue the journey of DI Kim Stone and her squad of detThank you to Netgalley, Bookouture, and author Angela Marsons, a British author, for an ARC of this book, “EVIL GAMES”, in exchange for an honest review. This is the second instalment in the Detective Kim Stone Series, and even better than her debut novel, “SILENT SCREAM.” WOW what an amazing gifted writer! This is a mystery crime/psychological thriller, that will have you flipping the pages, to see what will happen next.
In Evil Games, we continue the journey of DI Kim Stone and her squad of detectives, the interaction of her team, while they are solving crimes. Kim and her team worked on a variety of cases from assault to sexual crimes to murder. The title of the book is so appropriate for this novel.
This book is a Game of playing Cat and Mouse! DI Kim Stone takes on this game against Dr. Alexandra Thorne, two very intelligent woman, toying each other.
“When a rapist is found mutilated in a brutal attack, Detective Kim Stone and her team are called in to bring a swift resolution. But, as more vengeful killings come to light, it soon becomes clear that there is someone far more sinister at work.
With the investigation quickly gathering momentum, Kim finds herself exposed to great danger and in the sights of a lethal individual undertaking their own twisted experiment.
Up against a sociopath who seems to know her every weakness, for Detective Stone, each move she makes could be deadly. As the body count starts to mount, Kim will have to dig deeper than ever before to stop the killing. And this time - it’s personal. “
In this novel we know the Who, When, How but need to establish the Why?
This sociopath is a very dangerous person, who will stop at nothing to get the end result. This person has No conscience. They are unable to feel concern or love for any other living person. They are masters of manipulation, and able to seduce people.
It is very apparent the amount of research that went into writing this novel. It shows! I love the character in Kim, and like that she is human with human faults and emotions. While we get to see a glimpse of her troubled past, we can accept it and her. I will continue to root for her in the coming series.
All I can say is I LOVED IT! One is one of the best crime thrillers I've read in a long time. Like I said after reading her first novel, “I will read anything by this author…she is that good!” So get cracking and read both books. ...more
Another excellent Kim Stone novel! I believe this one was even better than the first. What makes this series so completely disturbing and horrifying to me is how realistic it is. Sure, as a work of fiction there are some artistic licenses. Overall, I think this series has me looking over my shoulder wondering who I can trust.
Kim Stone joins us again after capturing a disgusting child abuser that should be cut and dry, but a few of the facts just aren't adding up. Simultaneously, a rapist is murAnother excellent Kim Stone novel! I believe this one was even better than the first. What makes this series so completely disturbing and horrifying to me is how realistic it is. Sure, as a work of fiction there are some artistic licenses. Overall, I think this series has me looking over my shoulder wondering who I can trust.
Kim Stone joins us again after capturing a disgusting child abuser that should be cut and dry, but a few of the facts just aren't adding up. Simultaneously, a rapist is murdered and Stone's team make an arrest that also seems cut and dry. However, the deeper Kim digs, the more she realizes she is up against something far more disturbing and dangerous. As connections are made, Kim will risk her life to put a sociopath behind bars while dealing with her own issues that she has fought so hard to keep buried.
This one was interesting because we find out early on in both storylines who the "culprit" is, if you will. I was concerned this would take away from the suspense and mystery of the novel but it did not. There were still many twists and turns I did not see coming which always adds to a reading experience IMO. Overall, another disturbing and well crafted thriller from Angela; I'm eagerly anticipating starting #3 later this week! ...more
My house turned into complete darkness with only the light from my ipad leading me through the final chapters of this one. I lost all sense of the day......
Evil Games is the second book in the DI Kim Stone Series by Angela Marsons. As the series unfolds, book by book, we are given more and more insight into the backstory of Kim. Although a stellar investigating detective, Kim bears the deep scars of her childhood. There is much to observe in this serious, no-nonsense, black clad individWoWzers!!
My house turned into complete darkness with only the light from my ipad leading me through the final chapters of this one. I lost all sense of the day......
Evil Games is the second book in the DI Kim Stone Series by Angela Marsons. As the series unfolds, book by book, we are given more and more insight into the backstory of Kim. Although a stellar investigating detective, Kim bears the deep scars of her childhood. There is much to observe in this serious, no-nonsense, black clad individual. She has an uncanny sixth sense and her acute analytical nature sees what others fail to see.
There's been a horrendous murder in the city and Kim and her sharply-tuned team are called in. Who would set their sights on this dog walker? But the trail leads to someone with a stake in the game. And like over-reaching tentacles, more crimes are left on the doorstep. Evil is in the title and evil is in the veins of a heartless sociopath who relishes this interplay with no apparent consequences. We are given a front row seat into the mind of this crazed individual and the creep factor is blaring from the loud speakers in our heads. Goosebumps, a la carte.
Marsons develops her storyline in such a way that blood and gore are not necessary. Your mind and your imagination are all you need to set the stage for the crimes and the atrocities that face Kim and her team. What Marsons leads with is pure intelligence and plausibility. She does her research and it is evident on each page. A smart, smart read.
DI Kim Stone shows us that what may be determined as a weakness by others, can possibly be our greatest strength. I'm hanging my hat on the hook of this series and am looking forward to more from the brilliance of Angela Marsons. Bravo!
Evil Games pits our talented D.I. Kim Stone against the equally talented but totally immoral Doctor Alexandra Thorne. In the course of the action we find out lots more about Kim's unfortunate childhood and her present day steely courage. She reminds me a bit of Eve Dallas.
I enjoyed the many characters in this book and the entertaining conversation that often takes place between members of the team. Kim is an exceptionally good character wiBook two in the series and every bit as good as book one.
Evil Games pits our talented D.I. Kim Stone against the equally talented but totally immoral Doctor Alexandra Thorne. In the course of the action we find out lots more about Kim's unfortunate childhood and her present day steely courage. She reminds me a bit of Eve Dallas.
I enjoyed the many characters in this book and the entertaining conversation that often takes place between members of the team. Kim is an exceptionally good character with many flaws but also great strength. I also liked the police work that eventually solves all the cases and the dramatic action which keeps the story alive and very readable.
I see that I have found myself yet another really good series and I will be reading book three as soon as possible:) ...more
Enjoying myself as I make my way through the first few Kim Stone novels after reading books five and six. I love this DI. Being called to a murder scene and overhearing a constable calling her a cold bitch, her only concern is for the dog that witnessed the murder and making sure he's looked after. How could I not love her? In fact, all the scenes with Barney are heartwarming.
Kim is working on two different cases and both are equally engaging. Dr. Alex Thorne is a true psychopath and is enthralEnjoying myself as I make my way through the first few Kim Stone novels after reading books five and six. I love this DI. Being called to a murder scene and overhearing a constable calling her a cold bitch, her only concern is for the dog that witnessed the murder and making sure he's looked after. How could I not love her? In fact, all the scenes with Barney are heartwarming.
Kim is working on two different cases and both are equally engaging. Dr. Alex Thorne is a true psychopath and is enthralled by Kim, whom she sees as a worthy rival. This book just grabbed me. I kept putting off everything I should have been doing - making dinner, going to sleep - in order to finish it. Book one was good, but this was much more engrossing. Highly recommend! A full five stars.
Evil Games is the second book in the D.I. Kim Stone series and it's another excellent addition to the series!!
D.I. Stone and crew are working on two cases in this book. Both cases are well thought out and do not take away from the other case.
One involves a revolting child abuser that’s arrested in the beginning of the book. After Kim and her crew try to finish up the case, evidence comes to light that's things are not as they appear to be.The detectives must go into the world of se5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Evil Games is the second book in the D.I. Kim Stone series and it's another excellent addition to the series!!
D.I. Stone and crew are working on two cases in this book. Both cases are well thought out and do not take away from the other case.
One involves a revolting child abuser that’s arrested in the beginning of the book. After Kim and her crew try to finish up the case, evidence comes to light that's things are not as they appear to be.The detectives must go into the world of sexual predators and figure out what’s missing.Yep, it’s not for the faint at heart but damn it, I loved when this case was solved!!!!
The second case involves the murder of a convicted rapist and the circumstances involved with the suspect. This introduces us to a twisted individual that causes me to equally hate them and stay far, far away. Like a restraining order far away!!This case also introduces us to Barney and this ends up being one of the best things of the series so far!
Seriously, if you have not had a chance to read this series, get to it. One of the best crime detective series that I’ve read in years. The cases are so real, the characterization is fantastic and the suspense is gripping!...more
Evil Games is the second book in the Kim Stone series by Angela Marsons. Admittedly the first in the series was not my favourite book. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy it - I read it before I started blogging my reviews so I actually can't remember what it was about it that didn't totally grab me. It seemed to grab the majority of my reading buddies who rated it extremely highly. I wasn't against reading the sequel, but it wasn't on my list of priorities. However when I kept seeing phenomenal revEvil Games is the second book in the Kim Stone series by Angela Marsons. Admittedly the first in the series was not my favourite book. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy it - I read it before I started blogging my reviews so I actually can't remember what it was about it that didn't totally grab me. It seemed to grab the majority of my reading buddies who rated it extremely highly. I wasn't against reading the sequel, but it wasn't on my list of priorities. However when I kept seeing phenomenal reviews for this and the third instalment "Lost Girls", it sparked my interest again. When a few trusted book friends suggested that I give Kim Stone another shot, they convinced me. And I'm extremely glad they did!
Detective Inspector Kim Stone is back in this fabulous psychological thriller. Stone investigates the murder of a convicted rapist. Something doesn't quite add up when they find the perpetrator, and trusting her instincts, Kim investigates deeper and gets more than she bargained for when she is faced with an extremely intelligent and difficult adversary, who is manipulating mentally vulnerable people to do their bidding.
I am really enjoying the depth of Kim's character. Gradually we are learning more and more about why she is the way she is. Her childhood is explained in a lot of detail in this book and we begin to understand the horrors of her past. I'm extremely glad I read the second book before the third one, even though I have heard it is great as a stand alone. I also enjoy her interactions with other characters. I remember one of the things I didn't like about the first book was the lack of... I was going to say "romance" but that's not the word I am looking for, I guess tension or chemistry with Kim. There was a female teacher in the first one and someone else if I remember correctly, and in this one there was a glimmer of attraction with David, but I just felt it wasn't enough. I understand why though. Her character is MAJORLY damaged... Sorting out her life comes before a roll in the hay - I understand that, but still I am hoping that the third book will focus a bit on her attempting a not so platonic relationship with another human being. I always enjoy a bit of chemistry/tension in thrillers, even if it doesn't end well.
I really enjoyed the psychological aspect of this book. What a character Alex was! Loved to loathe her! It was refreshing and original to read of events from her perspective... Her skewed view of the world. And I really enjoyed the mind games and the extent that she would go to, to get her way. I have read characters like hers before, in other books by other authors, but I didn't enjoy them half as much as I enjoyed Alex.
There is some subject matter that is disturbing, but there are no overly graphic scenes. So this book will appeal to any thriller fans, even the ones who don't like too much violence and just enjoy a good story!
As like the first one, Marsons writing is impeccable. Easy and so much fun to read. There are not too many characters, but there are just enough to make it difficult to guess who the bad guy is at the end. I was glued to this book from beginning to end and I am really looking forward to the next one! I have Lost Girls on my kindle ready to go! :)
The second D I Kim Stone read had me gripped and was one I really didn’t want to put down at all. Kim is caught up in two investigations, the tail end of a child abuse case and that of a man stabbed to death in the street. During the course of things she crosses swords with an adversary who has the power to get right inside her head and to draw out all those secrets Kim doesn’t want anyone to know about. Whilst I liked Kim, I have to say that I absolutely adored psychiatrist Dr Alexandra Thorne,The second D I Kim Stone read had me gripped and was one I really didn’t want to put down at all. Kim is caught up in two investigations, the tail end of a child abuse case and that of a man stabbed to death in the street. During the course of things she crosses swords with an adversary who has the power to get right inside her head and to draw out all those secrets Kim doesn’t want anyone to know about. Whilst I liked Kim, I have to say that I absolutely adored psychiatrist Dr Alexandra Thorne, the adversary she has to pit her wits against. She is a cold, evil, calculating, remorseless sociopath who is intent on playing a very deadly game with her clients and when she meets Kim, she sees the chance to take her game one step further. I do enjoy characters like that, who are larger than life and who you can really start to hate with a passion.
Kim herself is a very complex character who has built up walls around herself over the years and doesn’t let anyone get too close, for reasons that will come out in the book. But, you just cannot help liking her.
It is a really fast read, mainly because it is one that you just can’t help finding excuses to read when you should be doing something else. There are several threads to the story which all come together at the end, although I wasn’t too keen on the “lightbulb” moment that tied up one of them. All in all though, if you like crime procedures then this book is well worth a try. Many thanks to the publisher for the review copy....more
I absolutely love this series Angela Marsons you are an absolute genius of this genre sometimes there was so much going on I couldn't keep up but to cram in so much of the hidden agendas of each character was superb, loved the way the characters developed more in the plot kept me wondering WHAT NEXT!!
I hated Doctor Alex Thorne she was a total whacko who was using her job to get into her patients minds & making them do terrible things they wouldn't normally do she made the whole plot believabI absolutely love this series Angela Marsons you are an absolute genius of this genre sometimes there was so much going on I couldn't keep up but to cram in so much of the hidden agendas of each character was superb, loved the way the characters developed more in the plot kept me wondering WHAT NEXT!!
I hated Doctor Alex Thorne she was a total whacko who was using her job to get into her patients minds & making them do terrible things they wouldn't normally do she made the whole plot believable, felt sorry for her sister she seemed to be paranoid about her every move, as for Leonard Dunn Child abusers should pay the price.
I loved the sarcasm between Stacy & Bryant the crack me up but when its time to do what they are supposed to do it works right down to the letter.
Detective Kim Stone leads her team once again her character development is A+ she never gives up on the case & backs her team 100% there is so much more I could say about this book but wont spoil it for others who haven't read it all I can say certain characters get right into your own psyche I felt myself willing Alex an untimely demise but will she get into Kim's mind & send her insane or will Kim get the better of Alex??
I have bought The lost Girls the 3rd in the series for a later date this series is a 10 out of 10 ...more
When a man recently released from prison after being convicted of rape is found dead in an ally, DCI Kim Stone is on the case. The investigation is solved quickly as all evidence leads them to Ruth Willis, the women he brutally raped years ago. Ruth is arrested and is a sure conviction following her confession of the crime. Case closed. But DCI Kim Stone isn't certain that Ruth Willis is solely to blame. She has concerns that Ruth was manipulated by her psychiatrist, Alex Thorne. But Kim has noWhen a man recently released from prison after being convicted of rape is found dead in an ally, DCI Kim Stone is on the case. The investigation is solved quickly as all evidence leads them to Ruth Willis, the women he brutally raped years ago. Ruth is arrested and is a sure conviction following her confession of the crime. Case closed. But DCI Kim Stone isn't certain that Ruth Willis is solely to blame. She has concerns that Ruth was manipulated by her psychiatrist, Alex Thorne. But Kim has no evidence and no one is taking her seriously. As the body count starts to mount the only thing the cases have in common is that they were all patients of Alexandra Thorne but the psychiatrist is a distinguished doctor in the community and Kim will have to dig deeper if she is to stop further killings.
"Okay, first question, what is a psychopath?""It's a person without a conscience."
"These people are often charismatic, sexy, entertaining, and have a superficial charm that allows them to seduce people."
Now Kim finds herself in the midst of the lethal psychopath's twisted experiments who will fight back using every weakness in Kim's past against her. Each move Kim makes could prove deadly.
"Her own façade had been carefully and diligently constructed, course by course, over many years, but she'd never met anyone like Alexandra Thorne."
"Ultimately it came down to a single question. Was she prepared to enter this arena and risk her own fragile psyche to uncover the truth?"
Alongside Kim's search for the truth against Alex Thorne, another case is under investigation. DCI Stone and her team have worked for months putting together a case with enough evidence to put a man who has been abusing his two young daughters in the basement of his home. His wife insists she had no idea of the abuse happening right under her nose, literally. This seems unlikely as the girl's teacher had enough concerns to notify the police. Now, that case is in jeopardy and her team is having to review the case all over again.
Evil Games by Angela Marsons is a devious game of cat and mouse. One is a monstrous psychopathic psychiatrist who prays on fragile psyches. Another is a determined DCI with a past that has left her with her own emotional damage. Which one is the cat and which one is the mouse? That is the question! The storyline is not only believable but is crafty, cunning, and original. It's an unsettling, fast paced thriller that's difficult to put down. I'm looking forward to reading the third DCI Kim Stone series as I really enjoyed the first two.
I found the first book, Silent Scream, OK, but the story in Evil Games is so much better. And, Kim Stone that sometimes annoyed me in the first book didn't annoy me at all this time, on the contrary, I came to like her.
A rapist is killed by his victim, but this open and shut case feel wrong for Detective Kim Stone. Before the woman killed her rapist did she have a session with her psychologist. could it be that the psychologist planted the thought about the killing? And, if so, why would she doI found the first book, Silent Scream, OK, but the story in Evil Games is so much better. And, Kim Stone that sometimes annoyed me in the first book didn't annoy me at all this time, on the contrary, I came to like her.
A rapist is killed by his victim, but this open and shut case feel wrong for Detective Kim Stone. Before the woman killed her rapist did she have a session with her psychologist. could it be that the psychologist planted the thought about the killing? And, if so, why would she do that? Kim Stone and her team must also put a child molester behind bars, but it seems that the man in question wasn't alone...
It was easy to get into this book and I think that you don't need to read the first book to be able to enjoy and keep up with what's going on. What I liked about this book was that I found the story interesting from the beginning not like with Silent Scream where it took me around half the book to get into the story. There are some very tragic and intense moments in this book. Kim Stone is still a very special character, she doesn't let people into her life, but there are moments in this book when she lets down her guard a bit.
I didn't expect the ending in the child molesting case, I felt totally left in the dark until it was revealed. I didn't for a moment suspect that it would turn out as it did.
It's a dark book, with some really nasty scenes and some really nasty people. Thankfully it also had some bright moments and it good to see that Kim starts to open up to Bryant.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!...more
Sociopath.....a person with a psychopathic personality whose behavior is antisocial, often criminal, and who lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience.
Hold onto your hats!!!
DI Kim Stone is back..... along side her partner DS Bryant she is called out to arrest a very unsavoury character Leonard Dunn and bring him to justice for his terrible crime.
But Kim Stone is not leaving it there, oh no she still thinks others must of been involved so she wi5 +++ Plus Thrilling Stars
Sociopath.....a person with a psychopathic personality whose behavior is antisocial, often criminal, and who lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience.
Hold onto your hats!!!
DI Kim Stone is back..... along side her partner DS Bryant she is called out to arrest a very unsavoury character Leonard Dunn and bring him to justice for his terrible crime.
But Kim Stone is not leaving it there, oh no she still thinks others must of been involved so she will not rest until everyone is caught.
When a cold blooded murder of an convicted rapist is seen as an open and shut case, Kim once again feels there is more to this than meets the eye.Then other incidents and murders start to come to light... it starts to become apparent that a respectable local Doctor in Psychiatry may be involved somewhere down the line....
As these two cases come to a chilling climax you can be sure that it's a roller coaster ride all the way...
My thoughts.......Another 1st Class thriller by Angela MarsonsAfter reading her classy debut novel Silent Scream I couldn't wait to read her follow up Evil Games and it was everything I knew it would be.. The plot is very different this time round and the story as it unfolds showed me what an unique writer this author is.It was exciting and at times uncomfortable reading but at the same time compelling as the plot unwinds into a fast paced edge of the seat thriller.There are twists that I didn't see coming so I'm trying not to give much away..
Dr Alex Thorne has to be one of the most terrifying characters I have come across lately, manipulative and cold......
Her obsession with Kim Stone is first seen as a challenge but she soon realises that she will need to up her game to come out on top.
DI Kim Stone is without a doubt one of my favorite characters. The author has made her a very isolated troubled police officer but one that will stop at nothing to get her criminals behind bars.I'm hoping there is lots more DI Kim Stone still to come in the future...
I can't think of a book with a more appropriate title than this one. After every chapter where Alex was the lead character, I felt the need for a shower. Ever see a picture of black mold? If not, Google it to find one. I feel the same gross-out when I think of Alex. She was so despicable!
Kim is a wonderfully complex character. I really want to know more about her, and this book offered additional info to what we learned in Silent Scream, the first Kim Stone book. There's still more toFantastic!
I can't think of a book with a more appropriate title than this one. After every chapter where Alex was the lead character, I felt the need for a shower. Ever see a picture of black mold? If not, Google it to find one. I feel the same gross-out when I think of Alex. She was so despicable!
Kim is a wonderfully complex character. I really want to know more about her, and this book offered additional info to what we learned in Silent Scream, the first Kim Stone book. There's still more to come, I hope. Bryant is so very understanding of her, and his wife must be a saint!
Ms. Marsons mentions some other cases in this book. One I know to be true is that of Susan Smith who drove her car into a lake with her two small children secured inside. I remember seeing her plea for help on TV and I immediately knew she was lying and faking it. I'll never forget that feeling of disgust.
So, I am prepared to read everything Angela Marsons writes. Silent Scream was the hook, Evil Games is the line, and I eagerly await the sinker....more
Something sly and malicious is afoot here and it isn't long before it segues into a deadly game of cat and mouse. The mind games of a sociopath take center stage and test the very sanity of D.I. Kim Stone.
I am lodging a major complaint here. These books go too quickly! Of the multitude of crime thriller series out there, this is the series with which I would continue if I could only have one. They are that good. All of them.
After reading Angela Marsons first book Silent Screams and being blown away by it, I have been watching this author from afar until her next book.
As with all follow on books, once an author writes a brilliant outstanding first book, you fear that the next one may not live up to all you need it to be [as a reader]
FEAR NOT!!! This is just as good. If not better in some ways [cannot believe I am saying that!]Because as we follow on with cased of crimes with Kim Stone the DI, we get more of an insi
After reading Angela Marsons first book Silent Screams and being blown away by it, I have been watching this author from afar until her next book.
As with all follow on books, once an author writes a brilliant outstanding first book, you fear that the next one may not live up to all you need it to be [as a reader]
FEAR NOT!!! This is just as good. If not better in some ways [cannot believe I am saying that!]Because as we follow on with cased of crimes with Kim Stone the DI, we get more of an insight to her, personally, but there is still lots to come me thinks!! Kim stone is a hard woman on the outside, but inside, I feel she is marshmallow but doesn't allow that to surface, at least, we get glimpses of it, but it doesn't stay for long.
She likes to get right to the core of a crime, she ties up all loose ends, and ends you never knew there were! Even putting herself out there......Even knowing this could emotionally wreck her
We have many instances in this book, related crimes that you see being tied up with one woman. One manipulating woman. This woman has the power to crush the DI Kim Stone, but does she?
Kim has never faced her past.
I see one step taken in this book and that's when she gets a dog. I see the tenderness that Kim has deep down and buried for people.
I've had the chance of looking into a sociopath and all that stands for. This book is so finely tuned, its so well researched.
We have the girl who was raped.We have the same girl who murdered her rapist.
We have the Mother of the rapist.We have the Mother of the reformed rapist.
We have a girl who thinks that this world is so bad she should kill her baby for safety.
We have other events too. [not saying much more]
I was gobsmacked, amazed and dazed with the sociapath's manipulating of it all. It really made me think how plays on words can influence someone else, especially when in a vulnerable state.
Excellent.
I just can't wait for Angela's next move. I am so glad I am in contact with her. I'm her quiet stalker!!!
I want to thank Bookouture for my copy and the author for so much great entertainment in the last few hours whilst reading this super book<>...more
Di Stone is an awesome detective. She hunts down killers and this one is a great psychological thriller! There are some twists, and turns out to be a cat and mouse game. Evil but good.
It is a big mind game! I didn't really care for the subject, but it turned out good anyway. It had me up late at night, there is a lot of suspense, that makes it a page turner. DI Kim Stone has a past and it is brought up.. I really enjoyed this book and was surprised due to the subject matter. This is the secondDi Stone is an awesome detective. She hunts down killers and this one is a great psychological thriller! There are some twists, and turns out to be a cat and mouse game. Evil but good.
It is a big mind game! I didn't really care for the subject, but it turned out good anyway. It had me up late at night, there is a lot of suspense, that makes it a page turner. DI Kim Stone has a past and it is brought up.. I really enjoyed this book and was surprised due to the subject matter. This is the second book in the DI Kim Stone series. There are a total of three and the next one is called Lost Girls.
The suspense was everywhere in the book. I do not like gooks whereby he suspense is just at the ending. The ending though was brilliant and the cat and mouse game finally ended. I loved the twists and think that this book is good stuff. I already have the third hook downloaded in my kindle and will finish it soon....more
I'm hooked!!!Just finished book 2 in the DI Kim Stone series and I want more!!
I enjoyed this book even more than the first in the series. Chapter one draws you in from the first paragraph and doesn't let up until the very last page.This time the reader is treated to 2 story lines. One involving child abuse and another that introduces us to the formidable Dr. Alex Thorne. The author has brilliantly created an antagonist worthy of mental combat with the detective. While she truly is a monster, I hI'm hooked!!!Just finished book 2 in the DI Kim Stone series and I want more!!
I enjoyed this book even more than the first in the series. Chapter one draws you in from the first paragraph and doesn't let up until the very last page.This time the reader is treated to 2 story lines. One involving child abuse and another that introduces us to the formidable Dr. Alex Thorne. The author has brilliantly created an antagonist worthy of mental combat with the detective. While she truly is a monster, I hope that we haven't heard the last from Dr. Thorne as the dynamics between the two really worked and created a lot of tension and suspense.Book 3 can't get here fast enough! :)...more
My tardiness in getting round to reading the second novel in the D.I. Kim Stone series reflects my antipathy to utilising my Kindle, and is in no way a response to my reaction to Silent Scream, which impressed me immensely. In introducing D.I. Kim Stone and her team, Angela Marsons proved herself an assured new voice in the world of crime fiction, adept in juggling suspense, drawing a distinctive cast of characters and managing an involving plot. Silent Scream introduced the dogmatic, motorbikeMy tardiness in getting round to reading the second novel in the D.I. Kim Stone series reflects my antipathy to utilising my Kindle, and is in no way a response to my reaction to Silent Scream, which impressed me immensely. In introducing D.I. Kim Stone and her team, Angela Marsons proved herself an assured new voice in the world of crime fiction, adept in juggling suspense, drawing a distinctive cast of characters and managing an involving plot. Silent Scream introduced the dogmatic, motorbike riding and self-acknowledged socially inept loner, D.I. Kim Stone and what a huge impression she made on the crime fiction landscape and the Black Country! Driven and capable of clinical detachment, her distance from others is the result of an unenviable childhood, specifically the loss of a twin brother at a young age and then being passed between numerous sets of fosters parents. Exceptionally skilled in her job as D.I. she has a gift for reading people and her emotional detachment is essential for such clear-sighted logic. It owes much to Marsons skilful portrayal that Kim doesn't feel like just another of the damaged, dysfunctional detective brigade, but a fully developed, all singing and dancing character.
Evil Games launches straight into the action and opens with a dawn raid on the home of a father suspected of sexually abusing his daughters. It has taken months of painstaking work to get to this stage and build a watertight case, and no one is more emotionally invested in the outcome than the woman at the helm. The gut-wrenching sickness that accompanies the discovery of a padlocked cellar/playroom where eight-year-old Daisy Dunn and her sister Louisa were exposed to depravities that will never be forgotten is their lifetime is a real incentive for all the team to nail the case. As the team is cuffing the abusive forty stone abusive father, Leonard Dunn, mother Wendy steadfastly denies all knowledge of her husbands predilections. The subsequent failure by the CPS to prove her involvement sticks in the craw of Kim, especially when she knows that there was a second adult present at events. When obsessive visits to the location and video evidence corroborates Kim's belief that someone else was present she must tread gently amongst the memories of the abused girls to extricate an identification and secure a conviction.
Alongside this the team are handling the serious crimes in the rest of the Black Country and pretty soon the discovery that a convicted rapist, since released, has been found murdered just two-hundred yards from his home is the big news. Swiftly apprehending the perpetrator and the man's original victim, twenty-four year old Ruth Willis, seems a 'gimme', but nothing is ever that simple in crime fiction! Hiding behind a wall full of diplomas and qualifications is a ruthlessly unscrupulous psychiatrist pulling the strings and treating Ruth. DS Bryant is fooled by the glamorous and overly earnest Dr Alexandra Thorne who in Ruth spots a candidate ripe for experimentation and a vulnerable victim susceptible to subtle manipulation. For there is no doubt that Dr Thorne's unethical interventions are intentional as she selects those most vulnerable and mercilessly dangles the lure of revenge before their eyes. As Dr Thorne explains her methodology and what is in theory a retraining of the pattern of responses to destructive thoughts, D.I. Stone is not for one minute fooled by her outward demeanour and soon Ruth is not her only client to turn killer...
The focus on the novel is weighted heavily towards Kim's instinctive feelings about Dr Thorne and the focus on the Dunn abuse case takes second place but I would have appreciated a more even spread. Some insight into the painstaking teamwork undertaken to obtain the warrant to enter the home of the Dunn's and the build up to the dawn raid would have added to the story, however it feels more like more like a filler and an opportunity to raise issues sensitive to Kim and her own life in the care system. The focus of Evil Games is an opportunity to become acquainted with the true nature of a sociopath and Marsons proves herself a thorough and perceptive voice who is adept at making this accessible to her readers, through empirical evidence and actual events, to real life occurrences. However, at times this becomes a little heavy-going and more a battle of wits between Kim and Dr Alexandra than diligent teamwork and constructing a convincing case. Although the procedural details involved in Evil Games are minimal, I was again impressed by the depth of Marsons knowledge in real world policing, reinforcing the belief that she is readily versatile with the specifics and not simply content with resting on her laurels. Angela Marsons has a gift for writing dialogue, in particular she voices her two leading characters of D.I. Kim Stone and DS Bryant excellently. Being friends whilst maintaining their standings in the team, they talk off the record, expressing opinions freely and also display the camaraderie that makes a partnership tick. Despite Kim having risen through the ranks significantly faster than Bryant and having twelve-years on her, there is no animosity. Likewise, the pairing of DC Stacey Wood and DS Kev Dawson is getting into its stride and starting to pay dividends.
I found that in the second half of Evil Games the pace abated somewhat, but I suspect this was by virtue of the two cases under scrutiny, with one essentially being a reworking of a previous case and the other an off the record qualm concerning the ethical adherence of a psychiatrist. Some general background on how a psychiatrist would have been investigated in such a situation would also have been welcomed as surely this is the role for the body whose qualification she holds and not something that the police would want to get too involved in. It is hard to find fault with the pulse-pounding exhilarating fifty-page finale and the prospect of seeing the ensuing collateral damage sustained by D.I. Kim Stone in follow-up novel, The Lost Girls, is certainly a draw. There is no doubt indeed that this case has left an indelible imprint on D.I Kim Stone's psyche and I shall be interested to see how she evolves in book three. An enjoyable novel, but the subject matter didn't generate the suspense and thrilling pace of Silent Scream. I hope to see more of Kim and her team at the forefront of serious crime and building cases and less of Kim's mysterious sixth-sense dictating the events under scrutiny....more
There are already many great reviews written by my friends on this book, so not going to even try to repeat. Just hitting the high points for me.
This series has become a must buy for me. Kim is such a great character, flaws and all. Love learning more about her fellow officers and the area of England she lives in. The most amazing part of this book was the evil, sociopath psychologist, Alex. Every time her character appeared, I would get shivers up anOMG!!! The title is so perfect for this book!
There are already many great reviews written by my friends on this book, so not going to even try to repeat. Just hitting the high points for me.
This series has become a must buy for me. Kim is such a great character, flaws and all. Love learning more about her fellow officers and the area of England she lives in. The most amazing part of this book was the evil, sociopath psychologist, Alex. Every time her character appeared, I would get shivers up and down my spine. I will remember her for a long, long time.
If you haven't tried this series yet, you are missing out on some pretty amazing characters and great writing. I couldn't recommend this series more!...more
5 Shiny stars with an exclamation point after each star! My new favorite author, Angela Marsons, has done it again. Grabbed by the first page, I was either reading this book or thinking about what I had been reading in this book until I smiled, sighed and wished I had packed her next book on my business trip!
This book read like a chess match...a chess match with sharp weapons. Our favorite DI Kim Stone fights a cat and mouse game with a sociopath who pretends she isn't. I've never read anything5 Shiny stars with an exclamation point after each star! My new favorite author, Angela Marsons, has done it again. Grabbed by the first page, I was either reading this book or thinking about what I had been reading in this book until I smiled, sighed and wished I had packed her next book on my business trip!
This book read like a chess match...a chess match with sharp weapons. Our favorite DI Kim Stone fights a cat and mouse game with a sociopath who pretends she isn't. I've never read anything quite like this story. I found myself covering my mouth and holding my breath with a racing heart at certain twists and turns. Better than any movie!
When Detective Inspector Kim Stone and her team were finally in place after months of investigation and preparation, they were gratified to be able to arrest the evil and sick perpetrator who had been doing despicable things. Sifting through the home and getting every piece of evidence, they were horrified at what they found. But worse was to come…
With another case suddenly in Kim’s hands, she discovered the rapist who had been out of prison for eighteen months and living quietly at home with hiWhen Detective Inspector Kim Stone and her team were finally in place after months of investigation and preparation, they were gratified to be able to arrest the evil and sick perpetrator who had been doing despicable things. Sifting through the home and getting every piece of evidence, they were horrified at what they found. But worse was to come…
With another case suddenly in Kim’s hands, she discovered the rapist who had been out of prison for eighteen months and living quietly at home with his mother and dog Barney had been brutally murdered. It seemed to her to be a simple act of revenge; but was it as simple as it seemed? When residents of a nearby Wayside home were acting in violent and unexpected ways, Kim’s feelings of unease wouldn’t leave her. But it seemed that no-one would believe her – and of course without evidence she only had her gut feelings to go on. So working solo (as she wouldn’t let it go) was her only answer. And when someone managed to dig into Kim’s own past, she knew she was in immense danger.
Kim knew her adversary was intelligent; the sociopathic tendencies of the evil that was occurring meant the games were much more dangerous than anyone had imagined. Was Kim strong enough to overcome her demons, and beat the evil doer at their own game? Or would this break her once and for all?
Evil Games by Angela Marsons is book 2 in the DI Kim Stone series and boy! What a gripping and intense psychological thriller it was! The pace was full on, the evil was gruesome (but not in your face!) and it was a heart stopping ride! I have no hesitation in highly recommending Evil Games, and will definitely be picking up book 3 when it comes out!
With thanks the NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review....more
Milton's Paradise Lost :- 'The mind is it's own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.'
And when someone else is playing with your mind, a mind already searching for justification, for approval, then the stakes become much higher, the game deadlier, the outcomes pure evil.
I had been hanging out to read Evil Games ever since I finished "Silent Scream", and Angela Marsons has not disappointed me. Evil Games flows with a breathless momentum that had me glued to the pages.
DMilton's Paradise Lost :- 'The mind is it's own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.'
And when someone else is playing with your mind, a mind already searching for justification, for approval, then the stakes become much higher, the game deadlier, the outcomes pure evil.
I had been hanging out to read Evil Games ever since I finished "Silent Scream", and Angela Marsons has not disappointed me. Evil Games flows with a breathless momentum that had me glued to the pages.
Detective Kim Stone returns in this, the second of the series, just as damaged, just as much a 'loner', as ever. She is sickened to discover a father abusing his young daughters, then stunned to find there was another person in the room. Who was it? His wife? His brother-in-law? Or some other as yet unknown person?
At the same time, a recently released rapist is stabbed to death in an alleyway - the same alleyway where the rape took place. And this is only the first of the vengeful killings. Is it possible that someone is reaching out to the original victims then manipulating them into taking a "just" revenge?
And as for psychiatrist Alex Thorne - is she as perfect, as altruistic as everyone says she is, or does she have a hidden agenda?
Having really enjoyed Silent Scream, I’ve been looking forward to reading Evil Games. I’m happy to report that it did not disappoint. In fact, I liked this even more than the first.
I thought the plot was excellent and very well researched. Absolutely loved the storyline from start to finish. This book felt more psychological and personal than the first, and that is probably why I loved it so much. I love getting into the minds of others, regardless of whether they are good or bad.
It was great seHaving really enjoyed Silent Scream, I’ve been looking forward to reading Evil Games. I’m happy to report that it did not disappoint. In fact, I liked this even more than the first.
I thought the plot was excellent and very well researched. Absolutely loved the storyline from start to finish. This book felt more psychological and personal than the first, and that is probably why I loved it so much. I love getting into the minds of others, regardless of whether they are good or bad.
It was great seeing D.I. Kim stone facing yet another difficult challenge, and seeing how she dealt with it. Although I can’t imagine her making a particularly fun best friend, I can’t help but like her. I do find her to be a very real seeming character, and enjoy seeing that hard shell crack from time to time.
In this book we encounter the character of sociopath and therapist, Dr. Alexandra Thorne, who is a nasty piece of work. I couldn’t help but get drawn into enjoying her shocking behaviour, eager to see who she would manipulate next, while also standing back in horror at some of the outcomes. I found her frightening yet truly fascinating.
This book covers very dark and emotive topics, so not for the faint hearted. If you are likely to get too upset reading about a brutal rape or child abuse, this may not be the best book for you. However, these topics are covered in a sensitive manner, not glorified in any way, and descriptions of the acts are only brief.
There were also a few ‘gasps’, and a handful of “Oh no!” moments thrown in there too.
On a lighter note, the following really did make me giggle:
“I can see it in your face. You look like someone stole your Barbie doll and boiled it.”
“I never had a Barbie doll, and if I had I would’ve dismembered it myself.”
I loved the ending, and can’t wait to read the next book. Although this is part of a series, I think this can be enjoyed as a standalone book too.
Angela Marsons seems to have come out of nowhere this year! Bringing us two excellent crime novels, with even more to come. Very exciting! I wish her the best of luck and very well deserved success with Evil Games and whatever is to follow.
I would like to thank the publisher, Bookouture for allowing me a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review....more
Angela is the author of the Kim Stone Crime series. She discovered a love of writing at Primary School when a short piece on the rocks and the sea gained her the only merit point she ever got.Angela wrote the stories that burned inside and then stored them safely in a desk drawer.After much urging from her partner she began to enter short story competitions in Writer's News resulting in a win andAngela is the author of the Kim Stone Crime series. She discovered a love of writing at Primary School when a short piece on the rocks and the sea gained her the only merit point she ever got.Angela wrote the stories that burned inside and then stored them safely in a desk drawer.After much urging from her partner she began to enter short story competitions in Writer's News resulting in a win and three short listed entries.She used the Amazon KDP program to publish two of her earlier works before concentrating on her true passion - Crime.Angela is now signed to write a total of 16 Kim Stone books for http://bookouture.com and has secured a print deal with Bonnier Zaffre Publishing....more
Other books in the series
“The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.”
—
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“Every single profession is fraught with inconsistencies. It is the exception that often proves the rule. I believe passionately in what I do, but do I accept that not everyone will behave the way I’d like them to? Of course I do, because that is human nature.”
—
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SPANISH SOUNDTRACK WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES. At the height of the Peruvian gold rush, Nelida, an Andean woman able to communicate with water spirits, uses her powers to prevent a mining corporation from destroying the body of water she considers her mother. A gold deposit valued at billions of dollars lies just beneath Nelida’s lakes and leads farmers and Latin America’s biggest gold producer into conflict. Learn more at Hija de la Lajuna.
We invite you to stay for a dynamic and inspiring post-film Q&A with David Bender, Community Organizer, American Indian Center of Chicago; Rubén Panchas, Founder and Performer of Peruvian Folk Dance Company; Tulsa, Fair Trade small business; Amara, International Indigenous Youth Council, Chicago; and Jessica Fujan, Midwest Director, Food+Water Watch.
Learn about the high impact work being done by these organizations and GET INVOLVED to MAKE A DIFFERENCE. We will be presenting a special short performance and a symbolic water ceremony by the founders of Peruvian Folk Dance Company.
Refreshments will be served.
Note: Some images showing in the film may be strong for sensitive viewers. | {
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Totally Pagoda Store Locator
Overview
Piercing Pagoda has been a mall kiosk leader for over 40 years. Piercing Pagoda specializes in ear piercing and carries a wide array of quality gold and silver jewelry for men, women and kids.
ShopSleuth’s Totally Pagoda Store Locator found 31 store locations in malls and outlets in 10 states. Below is the count of all of these Totally Pagoda locations broken down by state. View Totally Pagoda Outlet Locations, or view Totally Pagoda stores in Top Cities.
Totally Pagoda is ranked #16 out of 102 Women's Accessories stores in the U.S., based on the number of locations. | {
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Garifuna community radio stations along the Caribbean coast of Honduras are facing harassment from National Telecommunications Commission officials. Garifuna organizers fear the radio stations may face closure.
With the Canjel Dam already under construction, one must wonder, why the threats against Berta Caceres and COPINH? The reality is that much more is at stake than just the small Canjel Dam. In fact, there are so many dam projects planned for the area it seems as if every river the Lenca people have carefully stewarded for generations will soon be dammed.
While the Honduran government continues its promotion of mining investment, communities around the country are voting against mining in open town hall assemblies. At least 10 municipalities in Honduras have now been declared territories free of mining.
The Canadian government has been on a roll promoting the interests of Canadian extractive industry corporations in Honduras in the five years since democratically elected president Manuel Zelaya was ousted in a June 2009 coup d’état. Development aid, embassy resources and foreign affairs programming have all helped set the stage for new legislation conducive to Canadian corporate interests, and a new bilateral free trade agreement provides protection for their investments.
Rudolf Virchow, a German doctor and one of the founders of social medicine, once stated, “Medicine is politics writ large.”In telling the story of the first Garifuna hospital, Revolutionary Medicine renders this wisdom both tangible and feasible. It should be required viewing for all medical students around the world. And for the rest of us, amongst the increasingly marginalized 99 percent, Revolutionary Medicine should rekindle the oft-forlorn hope of a better, fairer world, in the purest vision of Marx.
Six children from the community of Puerto Castilla, Trujillo, suffered severe respiratory damage resulting from an attack carried out on May 23, 2014 by the Honduran National Police, Military Police, and in conjunction with the Operation Xatruch III military unit. Hundreds of tear gas canisters were fired into the community in a haphazard manner as a means of dispersing a peaceful protest. After inundating the town with tear gas, the roughly 500 security force members entered the community, dousing anyone within reach with pepper spray.
Cries for justice rang out in the streets of the Honduran capital on June 2 as several dozen women of all ages, some with young children in tow, had gathered in a nearby park that morning in preparation for the march. Some donned masks, with multi-colored feathers waving in the air. All wore t-shirts with a message written clearly on the back in pink lettering: We demand the recognition of sex work.
Every day and night for four consecutive months, the Lenca people of San Francisco Opalaca have been maintaining a 24-hour blockade and vigil at the entrance to their Mayor’s office, thus preventing the ruling party-imposed candidate from taking office. The Honduran government claims National Party candidate Socorro Sanchez won the Mayoral race in Opalaca during last November’s elections. However, the people of Opalaca know otherwise. | {
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Other sites
When SAP HANA met R – Bring home your graphics
[This article was first published on Blag's bag of rants, and kindly contributed to R-bloggers]. (You can report issue about the content on this page here)
Want to share your content on R-bloggers? click here if you have a blog, or here if you don't.
A couple of days ago, I started to think about SAP HANA and R on Amazon Web Services…as far as I know, graphics can’t get generated using this kind of integration because the graphic will get generated on the server and could not make the trip back into HANA Studio…so I kept thinking as said to myself…”Wouldn’t it be a good idea to use a Linux command to send my email the graphics generated in the R server?”…I had a deal for sure…
I spend a couple of days trying to install X11 on my SUSE box…until I discovered…that it’s a headless server and doesn’t provide any support for X11…that really bring me down as I tried to hard…anyway…as nothing can stop my ideas from becoming some real…I thought of using PDF generation as it doesn’t need X11 at all…but…today…after doing some more research…I discovered that the Cairo library supports image creation without the need of X11… | {
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At a Glimpse: Cannabis in Israel (component 1)
At a Glimpse: Cannabis in Israel (component 1)
Israel is gaining reputation as a big player within the medical cannabis industry. In reality, its presently considered a leader that is global it comes downto cannabis that are medical and innovation. However before we get into why and exactly how Israel surely got to this point, let’s find out more about the united states’s cannabis legislation generally speaking.
Cannabis is unlawful in Israel, however it is permitted for many specified medical purposes. People that are caught utilising the medication in general public can’t be arrested but could face fines. Following the 4th offense, nevertheless, they are able to face incarceration. When it comes to first, 2nd, and third offenses, fines really get towards rehabilitation and training programs. These offenses also how do you make hemp oil don’t get reflected as police records.
Reputation for cannabis in Israel
Cannabis has been utilized in center Eastern and Mediterranean nations for many thousands of years. Also prior to the borders that are modern set, Israel is at the crossroads of ancient trade paths. Irrespective of spices, perfumes, and several other services and products, hashish was additionally transported along these channels.
Ancient literature, also archaeological stays, shows that cannabis ended up being utilized for medicinal purposes.
Worldwide CBD Exchange
Cannabis legislation in Israel
Cannabis is unlawful in Israel, however it is allowed for several specified medical purposes. Folks who are caught using the medication in general public can’t be arrested but could face fines. Following the 4th offense, but, they could face incarceration. For the very first, second, and 3rd offenses, fines really get towards rehabilitation and education programs. These offenses additionally don’t get mirrored as criminal history records.
Nonetheless, the 3rd offense additionally calls for the offender to take part in a mandatory rehabilitation system.
To phrase it differently, the enforcement of cannabis legislation appears to be lax unless the medication is consumed in public areas and high-visibility places.
It absolutely was reported in April 2017 that the Israeli federal government had been mulling further liberalization of leisure cannabis legislation. As well as in 2017 november, the Israeli Ministry of wellness ended up being reported become withdrawing that is considering its objection to making the CBD (cannabidiol) element of cannabis appropriate.
Legalization of medical cannabis
In 1999, the government that is israeli the usage cannabis for medical purposes for all patients who will be struggling with certain medical conditions, such as for example AIDS and intractable cancer pain. When it comes to first few year, but, really patients that are few advantageous asset of medical cannabis and usage of it remained hard.
In 2007, the Ministry of wellness started an official medical cannabis policy. Under this policy, clients might get cannabis that are free licensed non-profit facilities. Medical ministry additionally issued the very first permit when it comes to cultivation of medical cannabis up to a cannabis business called Tikun Olam. Tikun Olam has grown to become among the world’s many prominent medical cannabis companies today.
Medical ministry established a new set of recommendations last year, which directions increased the amount of licensed medical cannabis organizations. This, in turn, increased the range clients availing associated with the medication. There had been about 1,800 subscribed patients that 12 months, and also this number happens to be steadily growing ever since then.
In reality, in 2013, it had been stated that the true wide range of licensed medical cannabis clients expanded to 14,000, as well as in 2015, it rose to over 22,000. It is predicted that this the number will reach 40,000 year.
To make the cannabis industry sustainable, Israeli cannabis businesses are actually running on a basis that is for-profit. This means clients can no further avail of medical cannabis free of charge. Rather, a $100 rate that is flat is charged, regardless of amount you avail of. Nonetheless, Israel continues to have the least expensive medical cannabis products in the field.
The typical allowable level of cannabis that a patient can purchase has additionally reduced from 100 grams per thirty days per patient to only about 28 grms.
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Cousin, and chef, Aki Tzanakakis, and owner Yanni Stefanopoulos in the kitchen at Pyro Gyro located in Poughkeepsie on the corner of N. Clover St.
Written by
KayLyn Boccia
| For the Poughkeepsie Journal
The owners of Pyro Gyro, open for a little more than a month, pride themselves on their specialized menu.
"What happens when you grow your menu too much is you lose sight of what exactly it is you are doing," owner Yanni Stefanopoulos said. "This isn't a challenge, but rather a focus on quality over quantity."
The City of Poughkeepsie restaurant's workers also pride themselves on using locally raised, antibiotic- and hormone-free meat and poultry. ... | {
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Product description...
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After earning a degree in Theology/Philosophy, I followed what appeared to be a foreordained path to study architecture. I received a Master’s Degree in Architecture and harnessed a thirty- year profession in the field of real estate development. My position in prominent New York architectural firms and with international real estate developers resulted in the successful design, development and construction of over 25 million square feet worldwide. I continue to passionately pursue a multi-layered life that includes philanthropy, sport, and academics: as the head of the venerable Village Temple Soup Kitchen in New York City since 1999, an ardent fly fisher for trout, a certified United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) teaching pro and high school tennis coach, and an author who continues a quest for knowledge and an elevated understanding of human existence. My life in New York City, with my wife of 36 years and adult daughter, continues to be filled with great majesty. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Tuesday, May 08, 2018
Alarmists less eco-friendly than skeptics: a study
Al Gore is a rule, not exception
Conservatives and especially climate skeptics love the former U.S. vice-president Al Gore because he is a great example proving the point that leftists and especially the climate alarmists are hypocritical jerks with evil eyes who can't be trusted.
Al Gore's houses in California and Tennessee as well as his private jet are legendary for their carbon footprints that surpass those of the average U.S. household by an order of magnitude. And this aßhole has had the arrogance to demand that other people reduce their carbon footprint.
Gore is such a popular example because even 84% of Democrats would love to throw him to a cesspool. And the climate skeptics may say: Have a look. All of you, alarmists, are as hypocritical evil jerks and liars as Al Gore. For years, this generalization could have looked like a demagogic one. However, The Washington Post has just informed us about a new study:
The authors have followed the behavior of some 600 Americans and it turned out that the climate skeptics could report more environmentally-friendly behavior than the climate fearmongers. Skeptics were more likely to use the public transportation, recycle, and do other things.
It's obvious what is the most important commentary. This topic isn't really about climatology, it's about politics, and fearmongers are those who favor a big government. Skeptics tend to support the individual freedom, the private sector, and the individual responsibility. So the fearmongers want the government to grow and save the world; while the skeptics are the people who actually try to make the world – well, more precisely, their environment – a better place by their own acts, not by calls for the government to suppress the lives of others.
Just to be sure, I know that there are exceptions – classes of hippies who really talk the talk and walk the walk and whose carbon footprint could be lower than mine which would be a really nontrivial achievement, indeed.
But in a majority of cases, this negative correlation holds. The negative correlation is a shocking testimony to our epoch's being a post-truth era. We're drowning in hypocrisy and people's words and virtue signaling have very little to do with their actual behavior. The loudest critics of carbon dioxide are among this useful gas' most intensive emitters; those who criticize racism most often belong among the most vitriolic racists; those who talk about the independence, freedom, and creativity of the kids are those who are ordering all kids to obey and do exactly the same prescribed stupid things at school at all times; and so on, and so on.
All these negative correlations between the talk and the walk can survive because a huge fraction of the people – and maybe a majority – has been attracted to this despicable game.
One extra comment about the climate change and weather. On May 8th, 1945, the war ended by the surrender of Germany. On the following day, the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia still resisted. And on May 9th, 1945, the Soviet army came to Prague. "They [the Red Army troops] were smelling of petrol and grass," a popular propagandist poem used to teach us.
On top of that, lilacs were everywhere – the early May was a delicious invitation to the era of peace. The U.S. soldiers have probably used some lilacs to decorate their tanks as well – lilacs became a symbol of liberation for the decades.
Now, it's 2018 and lilacs started to blossom days ago. The weather and seasonal cycles seem to be indistinguishable from those in 1945. On the liberation day in 1945, the low and high temperatures were 8.6 and 21.5 °C in Prague-Klementinum, Czechia's warmest weather station. You may check that the temperatures in this week are about the same in average.
We've had a dry beginning of 2018, with the exception of one month. It's not clear whether it will continue. But at least in Pilsen, everything is green and in full blossom. CO2 may be credited with some of these good news. It's higher by some 30% than it was in 1945. Plants need fewer pores which reduces the evaporation of water from the leaves, and they are therefore more immune towards drought.
At any rate, those who remember the persistent communist propaganda about the war must know very intimately that the weather conditions are about the same in the modern era as they were in 1945. If the drought continued, we could match the legendary drought of 1947 – when the Soviet Union heroically saved us from starvation, another piece of propaganda reminded us. But so far we don't know whether 1947 will be matched – so far, that bad year hasn't been surpassed. | {
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Deeper Learning in Trump's Cross Hairs: How Rescinding Obama's Policies Could Make Schools Less Safe
This post is by Sean Darling-Hammond, an attorney and PhD candidate at the University ofCalifornia, Berkeley.
UPDATED: CHART ADDED
How does a Department of Education program designed to reduce school violence get targeted by the President as the cause of a school shooting?
Late on Sunday, March 11th, in the wake of the tragic school shooting in Parkland, Florida, the White House announced that it would create a new School Safety Commission, led by Secretary of Education Betsy Devos, that would consider repealing an Obama's "Rethink School Discipline" policies.
Obama's policies, introduced in 2014, detailed shocking disparities in how black and white students were being disciplined in public schools. They stated that schools that disparately disciplined black students would be investigated and might be sued. And they provided a suite of resources to help schools to implement Restorative Justice (RJ) and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programs to reduce discipline disparities and make schools safer. These deeper learning approaches can help teachers, staff members, and students expand their social and emotional faculties so students, especially emotionally troubled students, can process deep pains rather than reacting to them through violent acts. Rescinding these policies threatens to make our schools less safe.
Endemic Exclusion, and a Brave Solution
Rescission also threatens to make our schools more unfair. In 2014, the Department of Education and Department of Justice's Dear Colleague letter and subsequent data snapshot showed that, compared to white students, black students were more than two times more likely to be suspended, referred to law enforcement, or subjected to school-related arrests; more than three times more likely to be expelled; and more than four times more likely to be suspended multiple times. Perhaps most troubling, black preschoolers were more than four times more likely to be suspended multiple times.
Data adapted from the Department of Education, Civil Rights Division's March 2014 Data Snapshot on School Discipline. Chart created by author.
Given evidence that black students do not commit more in-school offenses than white students, this data suggested that black students are being suspended, expelled, referred to law enforcement, and arrested at unjustifiably disparate rates. Faced with shocking proof of disparate impact, the Departments of Education and Justice clarified school districts' obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, unequivocally stating that "[f]ederal law prohibits public school districts from discriminating in the administration of student discipline." They also warned that they would not hesitate to investigate discrimination and repossess federal funds if necessary. Finally, they provided guidance to help school districts avoid engaging in the kinds of discrimination that would lead to investigation, litigation, and repossession of substantial federal funds.
But the departments did not stop at threats. They also provided opportunities for deeper learning aimed at improving school climates, granting over $70 million and publishing a suite of supports to help districts expand Restorative Justice and Social and Emotional Learning programs. Many schools seized this opportunity, not simply to alleviate discipline disparities impacting students of color, but to also increase all of their staff and students' social and emotional skills so students could process deep pains and become stable, safe, valued, and connected members of their school communities. Those districts that successfully took this deeper learning approach are reporting huge reductions in school violence, related reductions in discipline disparities, improvements in school climate, and gains in learning.
For example, Oakland Unified School District used over $300,000 in School Climate Transformation Grant funding to build on its success in expanding Restorative Justice (RJ), Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), and Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS), three models that have improved many schools' climates while reducing discipline disparities. Using the funding, OUSD grew the number of schools using RJ to 35 of its 86 schools, and grew the number of schools using PBIS to 66. The district also launched a district wide initiative to provide school personnel, security personnel, and police officers with training in RJ and trauma-informed de-escalation practices. Suspensions dropped by 57 percent district-wide, and black suspensions dropped by 53 percent. And prior research showed that OUSD schools implementing whole school RJ programs were more likely to see drops in suspensions, chronic absenteeism, and high school dropouts; and increases in reading levels and graduation rates, suggesting that the district wide improvements OUSD experienced were partially driven by the increases in funding under the School Climate Transformation Grant program that allowed OUSD to expand RJ to 35 schools (up from 24 in 2014).
The Threat of Rescission
It goes without saying that rescinding a policy that has helped school districts around the country reduce rates of suspension and expulsion, and reduce disparities in exclusionary discipline, could encourage disparities to creep back up. However, what may be less obvious is that rescinding the policies may actually discourage districts from teaching students the social and emotional skills that ensure fewer--and hopefully, one day, none--of them become the school shooters of tomorrow.
After Adam Lanza killed 28 people and injured 2 at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy put together an impressive commission to provide recommendations that could help avoid the next school shooting. The commission's thorough, 277 page report did not mince words, arguing that "[o]ur educational system has prioritized children's cognitive development at the expense of their social and emotional development" even as "[r]esearch clearly demonstrates . . . that social and emotional learning (SEL) curricula have a positive impact on children's development and actually enhance their academic progress" and "can help children identify and name feelings, including feelings such as frustration, anger, and loneliness that potentially contribute to disruptive and self-destructive behaviors. It can also teach children how to employ social problem-solving skills to manage difficult emotions and potentially conflictual situations, avoid and prevent risky behaviors, and establish and nurture positive social relationships." In short, the commission argued that to avoid another Sandy Hook, "[s]ocial-emotional learning should form an integral part of the curriculum from preschool through high school" as a "pervasive component of the school environment that informs the culture of the school and the behavior of adult educators."
Obama's policies have helped many school districts make quantum leaps in enhancing the social and emotional capacities of their staff and students. It is possible that these programs are helping students process and overcome painful experiences, troubling influences, and violent urges; and allowing them to become safe members of their school communities. In addition to robbing students of opportunities for deeper learning, rescinding these policies could have the perverse effect of stopping one of the federal policies helping to make our schools safer for all students.
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Despite the wet weather on Friday evening, approximately 140 Prince William County public school educators gathered on all four corners of the intersection of Prince William Parkway and Minnieville Road in Woodbridge, huddling under umbrellas and holding signs calling for fair funding for educators in the county. | {
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EFF in the News
EFF in the News
EFF in the News
According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), these videos are being removed because of YouTube's automated Content I.D. system, which allows copyright owners to disable any videos that contain its content--regardless of whether the videos may be legitimate because they contain other elements. Many of the parodies are still up, as YouTube's Content I.D. system is not perfect--but it's probably only a matter of time before the filtering system hunts them down and removes them.
For example, its attempt to force Twitter to turn over "customer or subscriber account information for each account registered to or associated with Wikileaks" prompted the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation to challenge the government's rights without a search warrant.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation argued that jailbreaking one's iPhone should be allowed, even though it required one to bypass some DRM and then to reuse a small bit of Apple's copyright firmware code. Apple showed up at the hearings to say, in numerous ways, that the idea was terrible, ridiculous, and illegal. In large part, that was because the limit on jailbreaking was needed to preserve Apple's controlled ecosystem, which the company said was of great value to consumers.
"We actually don't really know who their clients are," said Peter Eckersley, Technologist of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, "So, they may be selling this technology to banks, they may be selling it to on-line advertising companies, and that's the bigger concern." | {
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06Jan16
Airfield in South China Sea better serves public good
China's testing of a newly-built airfield on Wednesday on Yongshu Jiao, a reef
in the South China Sea, is nothing more than an effort by the country to better
serve the needs of the great many vessels and seafarers using one of the
world's busiest shipping lanes.
The test, with the airport itself signifying a breakthrough in ocean exploration
for humankind, calls for a break from the mindset of geographical competition.
The airfield would provide benefits due to its convenient location on a reef in
the middle of a vast sea, and would also help facilitate maritime research and
conservation.
To begin with, China does not even have a need to reaffirm its sovereignty
over the island in the way some have claimed since its sovereignty over the
Nansha Islands and the adjacent waters has been indisputable and
self-evident.
It will by no means undermine the regional peace and stability, either. Instead,
it will greatly enhance the safety of the vessels on the vast South China Sea
by facilitating search and rescue, disaster prevention and reduction, and
research and conservation from a Chinese land base.
Some 100,000 vessels from various countries and regions sail on the South
China Sea each year, accounting for about 50 percent of the world's
commercial shipping. Safety and security are a concern for those navigating
this area, which is known for its rough waters and often aggressive pirates.
When the MH370 flight carrying 239 people went missing in March 2014, it
took the rescue vessels and aircraft quite some time to arrive at the places
initially believed to be where the flight went missing in the vast sea. A land
base like Yongshu Jiao could have significantly reduced the time it took the
rescuers to arrive there, experts say.
The first few hours are often critical for maritime search and rescue operations
and there are obvious advantages to a land base nearby.
Moreover, records show China has traditionally been charged with providing
public services on the Nansha Islands such as radio stations, observatories
and lighthouses. Yongshu Jiao, which literally means the reef of eternal
summer, saw the establishment of an ocean observatory by China in 1988 as
part of an international effort led by the UNESCO.
Over the past 27 years, China has used the observatory, part of the Global
Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS), to provide oceanographic and
meteorological data to the World Meteorological Organization. Its emergency
alert service has made a significant difference, too.
With the airfield on Yongshu Jiao, China can provide what the ships and
seafarers need urgently — another lifeline. The Chinese government has made
it clear that there would be a runway conforming to civil aviation standards and
other upgraded facilities aimed at facilitating search and rescue, disaster
prevention and reduction, and navigation safety.
In a break from the mindset of geographical competition, such a land base in
the middle of a vast sea would also serve public good by enabling research
and conservation efforts that would otherwise be impossible.
China has always upheld and practiced a policy of peace and development.
The airfield shouldn't be a cause for concern for anybody. There has never
been, and will not be, any problem concerning the freedom of navigation and
over-flight in the South China Sea that all countries are entitled to under
international law, after all.
[Source: Xinhua, Beijing, 06Jan16]
This document has been published on 07Jan16 by the Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights. In accordance with
Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a
prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational
purposes. | {
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This New Spoof Chevron Video Is Funny Because, Sadly, It's All Too True
posted by
[caption id="attachment_10568" align="alignright" width="240" caption="Click this image to go to FunnyOrDie.com and keep the video's "funny" rating at 100%."][/caption]
The hits just keep on coming! This new spoof Chevron TV ad is absolutely hilarious.
It's too bad our contest is over, because this new video, created by Trouble and Maker in association with Smart Bubble Society, would have been a strong contender.
Unfortunately, much of the humor falls in the "it's funny because it's true" category.
http://player.ordienetworks.com/flash/fodplayer.swf
CHEVRON is lame - watch more funny videos
Chevron loves to tout its investments in renewable energies, but conveniently leaves out the fact that those investments are seriously small potatoes compared to the $26 BILLION the company plans to invest in its oil business next year. Nor does the company mention other inconvenient facts about its renewable energy projects, like the fact that the energy produced by its Project Brightfield solar plant is used to power its Kern River Heavy Oil Extraction Facility — in other words, Chevron is using solar energy to power one of the most expensive, polluting, and energy-intensive types of oil extraction around.
Just as the fake Chevron PR hack says in the video, Chevron is leading the deepwater drilling charge in our post-BP oil spill world. It was recently announced that Chevron will spend $7.5 billion on one of the largest deepwater drilling projects in U.S. history. The Houston Chronicle described the project as "a massive floating city" of drilling rigs, all located about 280 miles southwest of New Orleans in the Gulf of Mexico. This is especially troubling because we're talking about Chevron, a company that was recently responsible for three oil spills in the space of one week.
All of which points out just why this new video — so aptly titled "Chevron is lame" — is such brilliant satire. It's up on FunnyOrDie.com right now, and has a 100% funny rating so far. Why not click on over and help keep it that way?
Rainforest Action Network uses people power to challenge business as usual. | {
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Uncomfortable Truths: War Crimes in the Balkans
Across the Balkans many survivors of the bloody conflicts of the 1990s still don’t know what happened to their missing loved ones. In Kosovo, even discussing the suffering of other ethnic communities is strictly taboo. What hope for lasting peace and reconciliation?
Elira Çanga
Priština, Tirana, Zagreb, Berlin and Braunschweig
Nesrete Kumnova’s set up the Mothers’ Cries association after her son disappeared during the Kosovo war (Photo: Elira Çanga)
“If the bones of my son were to be found, then at least I would have a place to mourn him,” says 58-year-old Nesrete Kumnova, whose 21-year-old son Albion was abducted by Serb forces from the majority ethnic Albanian town of Gjakova/Djakovica during the Kosovo war.
Until she knows for sure what happened to her son - however painful the truth may be, Kumnova cannot even contemplate living peacefully with Serbs, let alone forgiving.
“Co-existence? No way. Reconciliation is not possible unless our wounds are healed. I cannot even tolerate seeing Serbian officials in the Kosovo government or hearing the Serbian language. It is immoral and unethical before the fate of our sons is clear,” she declares.
Kumnova is convinced Serb forces killed her son after he was rounded up on 31 March 1999, along with most of the adult male ethnic Albanians in Gjakova/Djakovica, a town 80 km west of the capital Pristina.
Her son is just one of the 1,904 Kosovans of all ethnicities listed by the International Committee of the Red Cross as still missing. She is far from alone in being unable to either forgive or come to terms with her loss.
At least 750,000 Kosovo Albanians were forced to leave Kosovo in the period between the end of March and beginning of June 1999, according to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague, when the Serb military began its Potkovica (Horse Shoe) offensive.
By the end of the NATO campaign in July 1999, the ICTY estimates up to 13,500 Kosovans died – including as many as 10,356 ethnic Albanians.
While the scale of violence visited on the ethnic Albanian population far exceeded that experienced by others, all ethnic groups – including Serbs, Albanians who were considered loyal to Serbia, Roma and Egyptians – suffered during and after the conflict. Many still do not know what happened to their missing loved ones.
Yet the challenge of achieving lasting peace and reconciliation after a brutal war is not unique to Kosovo.
The Balkan wars started in Croatia in 1991 and the conflict spilled over into Bosnia in 1992. There were human rights abuses on all sides, but Serbian security forces and Serbian irregulars took the lead in horrific massacres, ethnic cleansing, torture, rapes and the use of concentration camps.
The death toll in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) alone was 100,000, according to the Research and Documentation Center in Sarajevo. Of those, 65 per cent were Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims), 25 per cent ethnic Serbs and eight per cent ethnic Croats.
In traumatised societies emerging from war, many regard convicted war criminals as national heroes - defenders rather than perpetrators of war crimes.
Unlike in Germany, governments in the Balkans are yet to sponsor high-profile programmes and campaigns to educate citizens about the past. The German state continues to prosecute suspected war criminals, compensate victims and maintain documentation centres more than 60 years after the end of World War II.
Burying, not Facing the Past
Serbia is seen by its neighbours BiH, Croatia and Kosovo as the perpetrator of the worst war crimes committed on their territories. According to the Humanitarian Law Center in Belgrade, Serbia has handed over 47 suspects to be prosecuted by the ICTY, and processed 383 people in local courts, of whom 143 were indicted and 68 sentenced. Still, few Serbs understand the scale of the crimes committed in their name under the rule of Slobodan Milošević.
Reconciliation in the Region
Nataša Kandić is head of the Humanitarian Law Center in Belgrade and has set up RECOM, a regional commission aimed at fostering reconciliation through documenting the experiences of the victims and survivors of the wars across the Balkans.
Kandić believes that war crimes trials will only achieve a certain amount, her organisation is lobbying for a series of public hearings across the region to give people the chance to talk about what happened to them.
“To name victims, testify in public, listen to the voices of survivors; this will help to build a culture of understanding between societies. We always point to the number, but it is important to have the names and the stories,” she says.
“Cooperation with the ICTY is still regarded as a distressing obligation, the necessary price for joining the European Union,” says Nataša Kandić, director of Humanitarian Law Center.
Serbia dragged its heels when it came to handing over key war crimes suspects, including Radovan Karadžić and Ratko Mladić. Both remained in hiding, Mladić for 15 years, despite being named by the ICTY as the key perpetrator of the 1995 massacre of around 8,000 Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica in eastern Bosnia.
He was finally handed over to the ICTY in May this year, once it became clear that Serbia’s bid to join the EU was dependent on surrendering nationals wanted in connection with war crimes.
Dejan Anastasijević is a Serbian journalist who has spent many years investigating the war crimes of ‘90s. In his BIRN blog, he writes: “The majority of Serbs are not convinced that Mladić is guilty of any war crimes, but still don’t mind his arrest so long as it leads to membership of the EU, which they see as promised land where money grows on trees.
“This is a perfect illustration of Serbia’s struggle to bury its past without actually facing it. Even when faced with irrefutable evidence, people tend to shrug, say ‘bad things happen in wartime’ and then change the subject.”
Tanja Matić, a journalist covering war crimes trials at the ICTY for the SENSE news agency is highly critical of Serbia’s leadership.
“For Serbia to face the past, its politicians must clearly condemn the country’s own war crimes, not make statements which put the war crimes of everybody on the same level, thus justifying the crimes,” she says.
Defenders, Not Perpetrators
While most Albanians in Kosovo are aware that Serbia has failed to prosecute many war criminals suspected of committing atrocities against the ethnic Albanian population, most Serbs in Kosovo believe that Kosovo’s Albanian-majority government has failed to prosecute or punish ethnic Albanians responsible for committing war crimes during and after the 1999 NATO air strikes that led to the eventual withdrawal of Serb forces from Kosovo.
The Balkan wars that blighted this south-eastern part of Europe for several years during the 1990s left more than 121,588 people dead or missing.
In Kosovo alone, between March 24 and June 22, 1999, an estimated 10,356 ethnic Albanian Kosovans were killed. At least 750,000 Kosovo Albanians were forced to leave Kosovo in the short period of time between the end of March and beginning of June 1999, according to International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague.
According to the Humanitarian Law Center based in Belgrade, some 2,000 to 2,500 Serbs, Roma, Bosnians and ‘disloyal’ Albanians are also believed to have been killed in Kosovo, and a further 1,300 remain missing, according to estimates released in December 2000.
Witnesses interviewed by the Humanitarian Law Center mention more than 200 incidents involving 3,112 victims. Most of these victims were killed or disappeared between 24 March and 15 June 1999 while the Serbian police and army were present in Kosovo.
Some Albanian refugees who returned home blamed the Serb population for the actions of Slobodan Milošević’s forces. As a result, Serbs were directly attacked, forcibly driven from their homes or abandoned their houses in fear of revenge attacks.
Nebojša Perić’s father was killed in the aftermath of the war in Kosovo (Photo: Elira Çanga)
Nebojša Perić, 40, lives in the Serb-majority town of Gračanica, 10 km from the capital Prishtina/ Priština. He is determined to stay in Kosovo, despite his ongoing suspicion that local Albanians might be responsible for the abduction and murder of his father in late 1999.
While Nebojša wants his two children, aged five and three, to grow up in Kosovo he says reconciliation will only be possible once the truth is finally established.
“I want my children to have a future here, but I also want the truth for my father. I think all Serbs living here want the same thing,” he says.
“I personally know that many Serbs were killed especially after the war in Kosovo… we need is an international investigation because Serbs here cannot believe an Albanian investigation would report on these issues,” says Jelena, a 33-year-old ethnic Serb housewife living in Gračanica.
The Kosovan government set up the Institute of War Crimes in June this year, charged with impartially investigating and documenting atrocities committed during the war.
However, with such high levels of distrust and animosity on all sides, it will be a very long time before any organisation will gain the trust of all ethnic groups.
International prosecutors and judges have handled most war crimes trials in Kosovo – 58 cases to date, according to the Humanitarian Law Centre. Yet the trials have not helped ethnic Albanians to accept that their own people carried out any violent attacks on Serbs at all, despite findings of ICTY investigations and prosecutions.
“It’s all invented, no Albanian could have done something like that. Serbs killed and tortured us and now we (Kosovo Albanians) are accused of abducting, torturing and killing Serbs. I cannot believe these lies,” says Armend, a 30-year-old Prishtina/ Priština taxi driver.
Jehona, a 35-year-old Albanian office worker, says: “We should be careful to distinguish those individual crimes that were committed for revenge from those organised crimes against a community or population.”
Aside from setting up the Institute of War Crimes, the government has largely left truth and reconciliation to the efforts of a handful of NGOs and campaign groups, like the Humanitarian Law Fund in Kosovo.
Bekim Blakaj, head of the Humanitarian Law Fund in Kosovo, browses the online pages of the Kosovo Memory Book (Photo: Elira Çanga)
Bekim Blakaj, head of the Humanitarian Law Fund in Kosovo, has set up the Book of Memory; a central register of all dead and missing Kosovans. Relatives and friends can add information and find details about where their loved ones were last seen.
He says that it remains “taboo to speak about the victims of other communities” in Kosovo and it will stay that way until war crimes suspects on all sides are prosecuted and held to account for their actions.
Matti Raatikainen is chief investigator of the war crimes unit at EULEX, the European Union’s rule of law mission in Kosovo.
War Crimes on Albanian Soil?
The Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) ran guerrilla attacks from bases they set up across the border in Albania during the war.
While most Albanians, including politicians, accept these KLA bases existed in Albanian territory, claims they were the scenes of horrific war crimes are fiercely rejected.
Allegations that the KLA detained ethnic Serbs and other Kosovo Albanians deemed disloyal in these camps first surfaced when Carla Del Ponte, a former ICTY prosecutor, published her memoir Madame Prosecutor in 2008.
These claims were repeated in the Dick Marty report published in late 2010, along with allegations that KLA leaders coordinated the removal of internal organs, such as kidneys, from detainees and then profited from selling them on the black market.
EULEX has appointed a seven-member team led by US prosecutor John Clint Williamson to investigate.
Yet public opinion in Albania remains dead set against the possibility these crimes could have ever taken place on their soil.
In his report, the Swiss senator and Council of Europe representative Dick Marty, claims the KLA brought prisoners of war to an unspecified warehouse near the town of Fushe Kruje, 19 km northwest of the capital Tirana. He says some had their organs removed against their will.
The villagers in this region are reluctant to talk to journalists, but when pushed it becomes clear all of them are furious about the Marty report and feel unfairly tarnished by the organ trafficking allegations.
Rexhep is in his late 60s and has lived in Derven village near Fushe Kruje all his life. He is adamant that allegations about torture and organ trafficking are completely untrue.
“It is all invented. If something like that would have happened here, we would have known from the beginning - everyone here knows everything. But we only heard about this crazy story some months ago, when all the television channels and newspapers reported the allegations. I wonder who would believe something like this,” he says.
Llesh, who is in his mid-forties, dismisses the idea that Serbs were even detained here.
“During the war in Kosovo, many Kosovars [ethnic Albanian Kosovans] came here. We gave them a home and we helped them, but I never heard that Serbs were brought here and killed by the KLA,” he says.
Such disbelief is not limited to the villagers; the Albanian media is united in its condemnation of Marty and any allegations of organ trafficking, torture and killing.
Around 60,000 Albanians signed a petition in January 2011 recording their outrage at the publication of the report. One of the signatories was the former prime minister, Pandeli Majko, demonstrating the strength of feeling from all sections of Albanian society.
While stressing there are currently 70 active cases, he says witnesses are reluctant to come forward and that many ethnic Albanians are against the prosecution of well-known Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, fighters whom they regard as freedom fighters and national heroes.
After years of oppression throughout the 90s, ethnic Albanians began to demand greater freedom from Belgrade and the KLA was born. By 1997, the KLA began to attack Serb police and military targets which in turn led to a brutal crackdown by Milošević’s forces.
“We have had difficulties in cases where KLA fighters are involved, we have found evidence but it's difficult to convince witnesses to take the stand openly. At the same time, there are always protests when we press charges against ex-members of the KLA,” Raatikainen explains.
Attitudes Change Slowly in Croatia
In Croatia, many object to their fighters being prosecuted for war crimes, as they regard themselves as victims of Serb aggression who were forced to fight back in order to defend their country’s borders.
This year there was public outrage and a sharp decline in support for the ICTY after it handed down a 24-year jail term to Croatian General Ante Gotovina.
Gotovina led the Croatian forces during the military offensive – Operation Storm - to take control of the Serb-controlled Krajina region in 1995, during which at least 150 Serbs were killed according to the ICTY. Around 200,000 Serbs fled to neighbouring Serbia and most never returned.
Given this offensive secured Croatia’s independence and is credited with ending four years of bloody combat, Gotovina is widely regarded as a national hero.
The events of 1991 remain fresh in the memories of Croats. It was at this time when Croatian Serbs - with the help of the Serb-majority Yugoslav army and Belgrade - declared around one-third of Croatia’s territory to be the independent Republic of the Srpska Krajina.
The town of Vukovar was reduced to rubble in the first months of the war. Ljiljana Alvir, a Croat from Vukovar, lost both her fiancé and her brother during the conquest of the city.
Alvir was only 21 when she was captured by Serb forces. She was returned home after three days as part of an exchange of prisoners, her fiancé and brother were never heard of again.
“Even today I don't have peace of mind, nor does my family. We don't know if our brother is dead or alive. We're afraid to light a candle because don't want to consider him perished, but also fear not to light one, because everybody has a candle except him,” she says.
Marica Seatović, a Serb from Nova Subočka, a village in Croatia, is also calling for the culprits to be punished. She lost her husband in 1991 during the conflict and says his killers have never been brought to book.
“I went to the neighbouring village for three days and when got back I found my husband killed, together with two other male neighbours. During the years, I found out who the killers were - six Croatian soldiers…I buried my husband 20 years ago and still I have to live with this,” she says.
Vesna Teršelić, is head of Documenta, a centre set up to encourage all levels of Croatian society to accept that war crimes happened on both the Serb and Croat sides.
“We have seen a change in people’s attitudes during all these years, but it is still not enough. The media in Croatia is not interested in writing stories on war crimes trials. These would not only inform the public about what’s happening in the court [ICTY] but also educate and persuade people to condemn these kinds of crimes,” she says.
To illustrate the gap between the theory of prosecuting war criminals and the reality when the accused is one of your own, she quotes a national poll the centre carried out in 2006 which suggested 61 per cent of Croats believed all war crimes should be investigated and punished. This dropped sharply when respondents were asked if they supported the prosecution of Gotovina.
Damir Grubiša, a professor in Zagreb University, explains: “Cases like this [Gotovina] mix up war crimes and nationalism, which is not good.”
The Croatian government has recently proposed the adoption of new laws that would dismiss war crimes charges issued by Belgrade.
The move has drawn sharp criticism. Following the publication of a report by Amnesty International in October the EU criticised Zagreb, claiming politicians are courting voters who are strongly opposed to war crimes prosecutions ahead of the December parliamentary election.
Germany, Facing the Past
While events in Germany during World War II cannot be directly compared to the Balkan wars, the way German society continues to confront its past may serve as an instructive example.
Germany has not forgotten the victims of World War Two, including the six millions Jews killed during the Holocaust.
At the Jewish Museum in Berlin, factual evidence and accounts of the lives and fates of Jewish people are preserved, along with personal items and a replica gas chamber.
Tanja Petersen, director of programmes at the museum, stresses it is important for Germans to understand the history of relations between the Jewish community and other sections of society before, during and after the war.
That said, she underlines it took Germany decades to reach this point, evidenced by the fact the museum was only opened in 2001, more than 50 years after World War Two came to an end.
Today in Germany there are many centres dealing with the documentation of Nazi-era crimes.
The Remembrance, Responsibility, Future foundation (Erinnerugn, Verantwortung, Zukunft) compensates victims’ families and survivors and is funded jointly by the German government and the private sector.
Ralf Possekel, director of programmes, says: “Education is the best way to understand the past and to this end, history books remain the key to learning about the truth”.
History Books Revised
Georg Stoeber says German schoolbooks did not cover Nazi war crimes in the past (Photo: Elira Çanga)
Georg Stöber, a 63-year-old researcher at the Georg Eckert Institute for International Research on Textbooks says, “When I went to school in the early 60s, we didn't discuss World War Two and the German role much.”
His 32-year-old colleague, Almut Stoletzki, had a totally different experience.
“During my school years, in the period 1980 to 1990, not only was the Holocaust and the extermination of the Jews spoken about but, in many cases we were tasked with going and visiting memorial places or victims’ families,” she recalls.
Hannes Grandits, chief of the South-East Europe department at the Humboldt University in Berlin, says that the German experience might offer useful lessons for the Balkans.
“The discovery of truth and understanding is a long process, but people in the Balkans need to talk and listen to each other. This, unfortunately, doesn't happen very often,” he says.
Back in Kosovo the prospect of ethnic Serbs and Albanians understanding and accepting each other’s pain is a distant one.
For Kosovans like Kumnova and Perić, knowing what happened to their loved ones is just the first step toward understanding and maybe forgiveness.
Without closure for victims, while even mentioning the suffering of ‘the other’ remains taboo, ethnic Serbs and Albanians will remain divided for many years to come.
Premium Selection
After leading rebel fighters in Croatia and starring in his own TV show in Serbia, Dragan Vasiljkovic eventually lost his bitter struggle against extradition from his adopted homeland Australia and was convicted of war crimes. | {
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High-grade Mizuno Wave Sayonara 2 - Womens Running Shoes
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The G3 performance outsole gives you excellent traction for pounding on the pavement and the flex grooves let you run freely. | {
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New Research Shows Healthy PC Sales
Despite the downturn in the U.S. economy, iSuppli research finds that PC shipments, led by Hewlett-Packard and Dell, were robust in the first quarter of 2008.
A new research report shows that despite the uncertainties of the U.S. economy, PC shipments were robust in the first quarter of 2008 with Hewlett-Packard and Dell leading the way.
The June 27 report from iSuppli found that worldwide PC shipments increased 12.1 percent in the first quarter of 2008 for a total of 69.9 million. In the first quarter of 2007, shipments topped 62 million.
In the past five years, PC shipments have increased by 12 percent in the first quarter of each year, which puts the first quarter of 2008 on par with that traditional growth. While some companies, especially those businesses in financial services and banking, are struggling, iSuppli found that sales of notebooks continue to help feed the PC market.
"The first quarter of 2008 was better than hoped for, due to continued strong demand growth for mobile PCs," Matthew Wilkins, an analyst for the firm, wrote in a summary. "However, the financial markets are still adjusting to the effects of the sub-prime mortgage crisis in the United States, as are the consumers and businesses who have had their financial positions impacted."
HP, once again, is leading the charge and saw its PC shipments increase 23 percent in the first quarter for a total of 13.2 million. HP controls nearly 19 percent of the global market thanks to the company shifting much of sales to overseas markets and a heavy investment in notebooks.
Acer ranked third in the iSuppli support. The company had shipments of 6.8 million, an increase of 10.5 percent. While the company has found a large consumer market for its brand of inexpensive notebooks, Acer increased its shipments through acquiring Gateway in the United States and Packard-Bell in Europe, and the iSuppli numbers reflect the combined numbers.
Lenovo, with shipments of 4.8 million, and Toshiba, with PC shipments topping 3 million in the first quarter, round out the top five, according to the report. | {
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Resource Information
The item Louise Bourgeois : an unfolding portrait : prints, books, and the creative process, Deborah Wye ; foreword by Glenn D. Lowry represents a specific, individual, material embodiment of a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in University of San Diego Libraries.
"'Louise Bourgeois : An Unfolding Portrait' explores this celebrated artist's prints and books, a little known but highly significant part of Bourgeois's larger practice. Her copious production in these mediums - addressing themes that perennially occupied her, including memory, trauma, and the body - is examined here within the context of related sculptures, drawings, and paintings. This investigation sheds light on Bourgeois's creative process, which is uniquely and vividly apparent through the evolving states and variants of her prints; seeing these sequences unfold is akin to looking over the artist's shoulder as she worked. Published in conjunction with an exhibition at The Museum of Modern Art, this catalogue features an insightful essay by curator (and longtime friend of the artist) Deborah Wye, examining Bourgeois's involvement with these mediums alongside the developments of her long life and career. Interviews with three of the artist's close collaborators further illuminate her artistic practice and output, some three hundred examples of which are presented in this volume."
"'Louise Bourgeois : An Unfolding Portrait' explores this celebrated artist's prints and books, a little known but highly significant part of Bourgeois's larger practice. Her copious production in these mediums - addressing themes that perennially occupied her, including memory, trauma, and the body - is examined here within the context of related sculptures, drawings, and paintings. This investigation sheds light on Bourgeois's creative process, which is uniquely and vividly apparent through the evolving states and variants of her prints; seeing these sequences unfold is akin to looking over the artist's shoulder as she worked. Published in conjunction with an exhibition at The Museum of Modern Art, this catalogue features an insightful essay by curator (and longtime friend of the artist) Deborah Wye, examining Bourgeois's involvement with these mediums alongside the developments of her long life and career. Interviews with three of the artist's close collaborators further illuminate her artistic practice and output, some three hundred examples of which are presented in this volume." | {
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Should You Be Worried about Malware on Your Android Phone?
Reports started flowing in just the other day that the first real Trojan that targeted the Android platform had been found. Kaspersky Labs found and reported the malicious program, which had already infected mobile devices. The idea that the open nature of Android could allow malware to propagate is not a new one, but this is the first instance of a Trojan being created specifically to take advantage of Android. Some users already have various mobile antivirus programs, but does this event mean we should all run out and install such security suites?
A Trojan in a media player's clothing
The file appears to be a normal 13KB APK file like all Android app packages. When the Trojan is installed, it begins running in the background and sending SMS messages, without the user's consent, to premium rate phone numbers. The individuals that designed the malware own the numbers and collect the fees from users resulting in a nice payday.
This outbreak is currently confined to Russia, and is likely to stay there. The distribution mechanism is slow, and only Russian users can lose money to the SMS charges. Although, the app could be installed on anyone's phone.
The good news
The list of permissions for this Trojan would include a heading titled "Services that cost you money". Under that, the function Send SMS would be displayed. Users have to ignore this, and tap to allow the app to install. We're certainly under no illusions that users look at all the permissions when installing apps, but when using a non-Market source, it is very important to do so. If a media player tells you it needs to send SMS messages, something is afoot. But at least some individuals ignored this and went ahead with the installation.
Even with this Trojan installed, hope is not lost. We need to leave the Windows malware mindset behind to understand why. On a real computer, you have access to the entire system. Therefore, viruses have that same access. A virus can change registry keys, attach itself to core system files, and evade uninstaller programs. Android apps are run "sandboxed". This means they do not have access to other applications, the core OS, or the hardware except through the tightly controlled channels laid out in the SDK.
This Trojan operates in the same sandbox that other apps do. It cannot write copies of itself to the phone's internal storage, change system files, or remove itself from the app management interface. The only way an app can hide itself is to neglect to put an icon in the launcher. This in and of itself may be suspicious though. If a user wishes to remove malware upon discovery, they need only find it in the list of apps, and uninstall it. There is no worry that pieces of it are still living on in secret like with a PC virus. When it comes down to it, this SMS Trojan is just an app, a malicious app that does unscrupulous things, but still just an app.
Do you need Android antivirus?
DroidSecurity's Antivirus app purports to scan app packages, settings, content, and media for malware. All we have ever seen it do is warn us to turn off the unknown sources toggle. At this time, there is no reason to recommend Android users start running Antivirus apps; especially considering the system resources needed for real-time scanning. Many of these apps use upwards of 20MB of RAM and a fair amount of CPU time.
Let's say that malware on Android does start to become more common. Is there a way for antivirus apps to work? These malicious apps will probably always need user interaction to infiltrate the phone. There shouldn't be any danger (baring some flaw in the Android OS) of remote attacks, or "drive-by downloads". As such, real-time scanning is probably not needed. Users could simply use an antivirus app of some sort to check any APK files they download before installing them.
We carry our entire lives around with us in our smart phones. This treasure-trove of data is of great interest to certain dodgy elements of society. It's not just the data, but the ability to make a quick buck, like we've seen in this case, that will drive people to exploit smart phones. Android's open ecosystem is more conducive to malware. However, the robust manner in which Android warns users of app permissions, along with its basic sandboxing security will make spreading of malware harder. The malware makers may always need a bit of social engineering to get their software on people's phones.
For now, you shouldn't worry too much. There is no way for your phone to just pick up a virus. It would take significant action on your part to install malware. There may come a day when some exploit is found that changes this equation, but Android is safe for now. Do you run Android antivirus software? Has it ever warned you of anything important? | {
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Speak up for Road Safety - Qld Road Safety Week
The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) and the Queensland Police Service (QPS) Road Policing Command have joined together for the third year to run Queensland Road Safety Week (QRSW) which runs from 21-25 August 2017.
The Week is a chance for all Queenslanders to be involved in making our roads safer.
‘Speaking up for road safety’ continues to be the QRSW theme and TMR/QPS seek your company's support in 2017.
During Queensland Road Safety Week, each day will focus on a different road user behaviour: | {
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Asset Inventory Management Software
ServiceDesk Plus has an integrated Asset Management solution along with the basic help desk functions. With the integrated Asset Management, ServiceDesk provides you with an accurate inventory of all the hardware, software assets in your organization. It automatically scans and updates every asset/nodes with an IP address within your network. | {
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Twitter Rolling Out Curation Tool and Interactive Features For Publishers
Twitter is growing up; in an effort to tidy up the Twitter experience, add more features and functionality, and generally bring more maturity to the microblogging platform, the company will be rolling out some changes soon.
More to the point, Twitter is declaring itself as a neutral platform for users to create and share content as opposed to a media company. That may seem like semantics, but it’s a hugely important distinction. Even though Twitter is boxing out third-party apps and restricting access just to Twitter, the the company is trying to portray the move as more like a streamlining of the platform instead of increasingly restrictive controls--a sore spot for many users indeed.
"It's not about being a destination," said Twitter CEO Dick Costolo. "I'm a huge believer in syndication. Platform companies always outflank and outlast point solutions and individual products."
Twitter CEO Dick Costolo
According to a Reuters report, Twitter will be unveiling a tool for users (especially journalists) to curate their tweets during breaking events to provide a more cohesive story. Other new features will include “tweet boxes” that will include content from or about a given event that will augment the stream of posts--Costolo gave the example of interactive live polls for an NBA All-Star game--as well as the long-awaited ability to for users to download and keep archives of their own tweets.
Said Costolo: "We want to migrate to a world in which the 140 characters can serve as a caption for additional functionality. We'd like that to include things like real-time data, even an application functionality."
It sounds like the Twitter of old will become a thing of the past, and it’s all purportedly coming by the end of the year. | {
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The Sram X.7 3x10 10 Speed Front Derailleur is part of Sram's 10 speed mountain group. The first of it's kind, this front derailleur offers a full range of usable gears, less weight, and easier and smoother shifting in all terrains.
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Special Presentations
There will be a number of special presentations to fill in the time
between training and competing. Presentations open to the public
include a Scientific Panel of three researchers
into diving medicine, a talk by Kim McCoy of Ocean Sensors,
and a special screening of The Freediver.
Three distinguished researchers in diving medicine will be presenting talks
at the 4th AIDA World Freediving Championships. These will be held
on Friday, August 6th from 7:15 to 10:00pm at the Isabel MacInnes
room at Gage Towers, UBC.
Admission is $10.00 Cnd for the general public and free for athletes,
coaches and volunteers. A panel discussion will be held after
talk the talks. Tickets available at the door.
This talk will discuss the dynamic responses of the cardiovascular system
during a breath-hold. These will include a discussion of blood volume
shifts and circulatory adjustments associated with increasing hypoxia
and hypocapnia. A live demonstration of some of these interactions will
be presented through non-invasive measurements of arterial oxygen
saturation, heart rate, blood pressure and cerebral blood flow. There
will be time for hands on activities.
The physiological changes that occur during breath-hold diving are
largely consequences of apnea, immersion, and compression. Responses are
complex, and include circulatory adjustments, blood shifts, lung
compression, cardiac arrhythmias, spleen contraction, altered gas exchange,
hypoxia, and nitrogen effects. Since many of these phenomena are linked
together, yet difficult to study invasively, we have developed a new
computer model to simulate deep breath-hold diving. The model will be
demonstrated, and responses and predictions will be discussed in light of
recent scientific controversies.
Michael Lepawsky, BA, MD, CCFP(C), FPFC, DMO
University of British Columbia Medical School
Vancouver, British Columbia
Paumotan pearl divers are internationally known to
under water scientists, merchants or any who may have been impressed by
the empirically derived breath hold diving techniques proven by trial and
error since time pre dating recorded history. A nutritional necessity in
archeo pelagic times, breath hold diving became gainful employment in
economically challenged, emerging shoaled nations. In pursuing the oyster
that is their prey, breath hold Tuamotu Archipelago pearl divers cannot
break free of their evolutionary physiology and have been found to develop
signs and symptoms of the most serious types of decompression illness (DCI).
A universal Polynesian Island name for the most dreaded of the forms of
the breath hold diving diseases is called by all the peoples of that realm
"taravana". This talk will describe classical breath hold diving habits,
equipment, techniques and outcomes of those who pursue the precious gem
that can be as exquisite an object of beauty as well as a brutal and
vicious assassin.
Kim McCoy is a physical oceanographer with extensive experience in scientific research,
data acquisition, autonomous instrument system design, development.
He is experienced in coastal, deepwater and Polar field operations.
This talk will be in the Isabel MacInnes room at Gage Towers, UBC,
Saturday, August 7, 9:30 to 10:30pm. Admission to this event is
$10.00, payable at the door or
online via PayPal. | {
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With three tumblers on the table, a measuring cup filled with water, paper towels, and food dye, I told my sons we were going to fill a cup with water without pouring a single drop in it. "HOW?!?" they said. "Let me show you!"
This experiment is simple. It did require patience, though. We prepared our cups in the afternoon and then watched throughout the evening and overnight. How We Did It Fill two identical drinking cups 2/3rds full of water. Put an empty cup of the same size between them. Squirt 8-10 drops of food coloring in the water-filled cups. We used yellow in one and blue in the other. Now take a paper towel - we used a half sheet since we have the select-a-size rolls - and fold it the long way so the paper towel is about an inch wide. Do the same to another paper towel so you have two long flattened 1-inch wide rolls of paper towel. Fold them in the middle and put one end in the food dye, and the other in the empty cup. Now observe what happens.
What Happens The paper towel absorbs the water and in doing so, the colored water is transferred from one cup to another. When the two primary colors, yellow and blue combine, they make green. Even more fascinating is how the water level ends up perfectly even among all three cups. The water has been evenly distributed! It took about 36 hours for our water to "walk" from each of the end cups to the middle and even distribute between the three cups. Have patience! This great experiment came from Coffee Cups and Crayons. Stop there to see other color combinations! | {
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Gold/Silver and Mining Stock Review
Gold and the mining stocks have taken a severe beating of late as supply-related pressures weigh heavily against the precious metals markets. In the weeks ahead gold and silver and mining stocks will have to work their way through the heavy overhead supply that has built up in recent weeks as too many "weak-handed" gold bulls have jumped into the market to allow for a sustainable upward trend. Once these weaker players have been sufficiently shaken out of the market, the market will be cleared for an upward trend resumption, probably not until later in the summer (around the time when the broad market will be falling under the weight of the crashing cycles). Investors must smell fear before they really commit to the gold and silver markets and there really isn't much fear out there yet. The fear, however, will come as the summer wears on.
In our May 24 issue of Bear Market Report we advised exiting the gold/gold stock market in advance of the correction. We wrote, "Those traders who haven't already done so should take profits (or partial profits in the case of long-pull traders) on all mining share profits as the odds favor an across-the-board pullback." The "pullback" turned out to be a bit steeper than we anticipated, nonetheless, it is very much in keeping with the natural forces of supply and demand which regulate the market and is a necessary "cleaning out" process before gold can resume its upward trend.
The story across the board in mining shares is the story of the Fibonacci 50% and 62% retracement levels. An astounding number of these stocks have either hit or are approaching 50-62% retracements of their 6-month upward trends this week. The XAU gold and silver mining index tested the 75-76 area referenced in Friday's newsletter, failing the test. If 75 does not hold on Tuesday, a drop down to 68-70 appears likely since this area represents the absolute low point of the 6-month upward trend from around 50 to this month's highs near 90. The 70 area also approximates to the 50% retracement level of the XAU's 6-month up-swing. Therefore, we must watch it closely.
August Gold futures are hovering near the $320 area and will almost certain test the 38% retracement area near $310-$312. This area also represents a chart support from a previous breakout and is intersected by a rising trend line off the March lows. Should $310 fail to hold, the next likely test would be at $310 in coming weeks and possibly even $305. The $305 level approximates to the 50% retracement level and also coincides with a rising trend channel bottom extending back into December 2001. At its absolute worst this gold market correction should not exceed $300, which represents the super floor of gold's 2002 bull market. It is an area where heavy insider buying took place and as such represents a powerful chart support should gold drop this low. When all technical factors are considered, gold has a good chance of staying above $310 and an excellent chance of being supported above $300-$305.
July Silver should hold above $4.80 in order to remain technically strong heading into the summer season. Should $4.80 fail a powerful chart support exists above $4.60. Interestingly, silver's predicted angle of ascent based on the December/January highs, shows a greater upside potential in percentage terms compared to gold later this summer when the cycles bottom and precious metals take off again.
Pan American Silver (PAAS) should decline no lower than $7 on a closing basis this week in order for its uptrend to remain intact. This level represents not only the 50% retracement area but also the extreme lower boundary of a 6-month rising trend channel.
Silver Standard Resources (SSRI) should ideally remain above $5 to remain on a solid foundation in coming months. The potentially bullish aspect of Silver Standard's chart is that the late January/early February highs in the daily bars project an extreme upside target of $11-$12 by the end of the year based on the technical discipline known as Predicted Trend Line Theory.
In typical Wall Street fashion, the financial press is doing its job of "warning" investors of coming danger by giving out the warning signal too late. First, the financial press advises investors to get long gold and gold stocks at an interim peak, then switches gears and tells them to avoid being long stocks when the broad market has already fallen significantly. A story appearing over the weekend on the Reuters news wire with the headline "Beware of Falling Stocks" cautioned investors that "widespread mistrust of corporate management, fears of more violence in the Middle East and sluggish corporate profit growth could conspire to drive stocks down in the week ahead." Notice how the press, including Reuters, were promoting stocks and leading the bullish camp's cheerleading squad all through the decline from the March highs near 10,700 down to the present lows near 9500. Only now after the market has fallen some 1,200 points do they tell people to "be careful." Undoubtedly, the press will be vocally bearish once the 40-week cycle bottoms and it's time to buy stocks again ahead of the summer rally.
The temerity (some would say criminality) of the Wall Street-controlled financial press has reached epidemic proportions. One recent banner advertisement on a prominent investment web site offers readers the chance to buy a book about "How America Made a Fortune and Lost its Shirt." For $21.95 you can discover how millions of gullible Americans were led to invest in the stock market during the boom years of the '90s, only to lose a fortune in the tech crash of 2000-2002. This "valuable" info comes to us, of course, well after the fact and is of no practical value at this point. The same people who told America to "buy, buy, buy" and who never told them when to sell (let alone sell short) now have the gall to sell them a book telling them exactly where they went wrong! As one of our colleagues recently said, the Wall Street press has turned into one giant "media bucket shop."
What this latest precious metals correction represents is the necessary "shaking out" of the newcomers, general public, and weak-handed traders by the insiders. The financial press and investment advisories were laying it on too heavy with the bullish talk on gold; consequently, the investing public loaded themselves up with gold and gold stocks too quickly and were not sufficiently strong to carry their holdings through a market downturn. This is all part of the sorting process of the market and it is very typical of the early stages of a long-term bull market. The insiders will be busy snapping up the supply dumped onto the market by the public in coming weeks, thus we can probably expect a trading range along the June lows into the August timeframe when the cycles are due to perk up again and gold/silver should see one a blast-off into the fall. We predict the next phase of the gold bull market later this summer will be the most dynamic one to date in terms of percentage gain and rate of ascent.
A colleague recently shared these thoughts with us, "It is so funny to talk to people about gold and gold miners. They don't have a clue and this latest TANK (vicious if not a trader) will keep them away for another 3 years. One of my clients called me and said "he couldn't take it". He dumped his gold mining stocks this A.M. [Tuesday] on the gap down. Have to remember, he was talking 'long term' and he bought last week!!! Try GIVING someone a one oz. Maple leaf or American Eagle. They won't take it. Now that is really funny. They'd have $300.00 in their hot littlehands and nooopppe, 'gold is useless!'" All too true, yet all too typical. And yet very much in keeping with the market forces which influence this behavior.
Clif Droke is the editor of the three times weekly Momentum Strategies Report newsletter, published since 1997, which covers U.S. equity markets and various stock sectors, natural resources, money supply and bank credit trends, the dollar and the U.S. economy. The forecasts are made using a unique proprietary blend of analytical methods involving cycles, internal momentum and moving average systems, as well as investor sentiment. He is also the author of numerous books, including most recently “Kress Cycles.” For more information visit www.clifdroke.com | {
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May 25 - Bloomberg: "China's central bank weakened its currency fixing to
the lowest since March 2011 as the dollar strengthened. The reference rate
was set 0.3% weaker at 6.5693 per dollar. A gauge of the greenback's strength
rose to a two-month high Tuesday... A resurgent greenback is shaking up a strategy
that the People's Bank of China pursued over the past three months -- a steady
rate against the dollar, combined with depreciation against other major currencies."
The U.S. dollar index increased 0.4% this week to 95.7 (down 3.0% y-t-d).
For the week on the upside, the British pound increased 0.8% and the Canadian
dollar gained 0.7%. For the week on the downside, the Brazilian real declined
2.6%, the euro 1.0%, the New Zealand dollar 0.9%, the Mexican dollar 0.7%,
the Australian dollar 0.6%, the South African rand 0.6%, Swiss franc 0.4%,
the Swedish krona 0.4%, the Norwegian krone 0.1% and the Japanese yen 0.1%.
The Chinese yuan declined 0.3% versus the dollar.
May 23 - Bloomberg (Tracy Alloway): "Bond investors appear to have placed
their faith in commodities exceptionalism, with many positing that the recent
pick-up in U.S. default rates will defy historical trends and remain confined
to that industry. New research from Deutsche Bank AG pours cold water on that
idea, arguing that there are already signs of contagion in junk-rated debt
outside of the commodities space. A look at previous peaks in default rates
shows the potential for more pervasive corporate stress. While default rates
were higher amongst particular sectors--such as telecoms in the early 2000s
or financials during the 2008 crisis--the rate for junk bonds excluding these
specialized industries also increased significantly."
May 24 - Financial Times (Eric Platt): "The triple A rated company is nearly
extinct. Just a handful of companies in the world retain the coveted rating
from Standard & Poor's after ExxonMobil was downgraded last month. In the
US, the number has fallen to two -- Johnson & Johnson and Microsoft. In
1992, there were 98 US companies that held the highest credit rating from S&P.
The demise of triple A-rated companies reflects a dramatic rise in the use
of debt to help bolster shareholder returns and fund takeover activity."
May 26 - Reuters (Suzanne Barlyn): "New York state's financial regulator,
which recently launched a probe into LendingClub Corp, is preparing to look
into the activities at other online lenders and whether they should be licensed
in New York... Last week, NYDFS subpoenaed San-Francisco based LendingClub,
a so-called peer-to-peer lender..."
May 25 - Bloomberg (Matt Scully): "Some of Wall Street's biggest banks are
making contingency plans to cut their exposure to online consumer loans if
the market deteriorates further after the recent crisis at LendingClub Corp.,
people with knowledge of the reviews said. While firms including Credit Suisse
Group AG and Deutsche Bank AG haven't scaled back exposure, they're concerned
about financing they provide to institutional investors that buy loans from
companies like LendingClub and Prosper Marketplace Inc., the people said."
May 25 - Associated Press (Stan Choe): "CEOs at the biggest companies got
a 4.5% pay raise last year. That's almost double the typical American worker's,
and a lot more than investors earned from owning their stocks -- a big fat
zero. The typical chief executive in the Standard & Poor's 500 index made
$10.8 million... That's up from the median of $10.3 million the same group
of CEOs made a year earlier. The raise alone for median CEO pay last year,
$468,449, is more than 10 times what the typical U.S. worker makes in a year.
The median full-time worker earned $809 weekly in 2015, up from $791 in 2014."
May 22 - Wall Street Journal (Sam Goldfarb): "The esoteric securities market
underpinning demand for the riskiest corporate loans is perking up, raising
hopes that it could become easier for banks to sell a range of loans, including
those that they failed to syndicate last year. More corporate loans are being
bundled this spring into collateralized loan obligations, which buy loans from
junk-rated companies and repackage them into securities that pay varying levels
of interest based on which get paid off first if the underlying loans go bad."
May 25 - Bloomberg (Elizabeth Campbell): "Illinois lawmakers have been busy
in the last week of the regular legislative session. They moved to establish
a youth-only turkey hunting season, set standards on where podiatrists can
perform amputations and allowed for the adoption of retired police dogs. Yet,
the Land of Lincoln remains the only state in the nation without a budget,
mired in the longest such standoff in its history... If no deal is struck,
the consequences will become more dire: Prisons may run out of food, schools
may not open on time, and the state's credit rating -- already the lowest in
the U.S. -- is at risk of falling even further as the government's deficit
continues to grow."
Global Bubble Watch:
May 26 - Financial Times (Robin Harding): "The global economic outlook is
as grim as it was after the Lehman Brothers crisis in 2008, Shinzo Abe claimed
on Thursday, as the Group of 7 revealed its stark divisions on economic policy.
Seeking to rally support for a global fiscal stimulus at the G7 summit, the
Japanese prime minister showed his fellow world leaders a series of alarming
graphs comparing today's economic conditions with those of 2008. But, according
to people close to the discussions, Mr Abe struggled to win over opponents
such as Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel or UK Prime Minister David Cameron."
May 26 - Reuters (Chris Gallagher and William Mallard): "Japanese Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe warned his Group of Seven counterparts of a crisis on the scale
of Lehman Brothers, Nikkei reported, offering a potential justification to
again delay an increase in the national sales tax. Abe presented data at a
Thursday session of the G7 summit he is hosting, showing that commodities prices
have fallen 55% since 2014, the same margin they fell during the global financial
crisis, the newspaper said, interpreting this as 'warning of the re-emergence
of a Lehman-scale crisis'."
May 26 - Bloomberg (Claire Boston and Sally Bakewell): "A borrowing binge
by companies globally is poised to make May one of the the busiest months ever,
thanks to investors who continue to devour the relatively juicy yields on corporate
debt in a negative-rate world. Global issuance of non-financial company debt
will be in excess of $236 billion by month-end... In Europe, companies sold
48.5 billion euros ($54.2 billion) making it the busiest May on record."
May 23 - Reuters (Anjuli Davies): "Revenue at the world's 12 largest investment
banks fell 25% in the first quarter from a year ago as economic uncertainty
and investor caution led to the slowest start since the financial crisis, a
survey showed... Investment banks have been hit by a steep decline in oil prices,
near-zero interest rates and worries about China's economy, which triggered
a wave of volatility in financial markets at the start of the year, normally
the most lucrative period when investors put their money to work. Trading in
fixed income, currencies and commodities (FICC) divisions... declined 28% year-on-year
to $17.8 billion, data from... Coalition shows."
May 26 - Financial Times (Joe Rennison): "Global equity markets experienced
further strong outflows this week, despite soothing economic data and rising
stock prices. Equity funds suffered their seventh consecutive week of outflows,
shedding another $9.2bn for the week ending May 25, taking their total outflows
for the year above $100bn, according to data from EPFR."
U.S. Bubble Watch:
May 23 - CNBC (Jeff Cox): "That American companies have been wadding up huge
amounts of cash is no secret. What may be less well-known is that they're also
accumulating debt at a much faster pace. Total debt among more than 2,000 nonfinancial
companies swelled to $6.6 trillion in 2015, dwarfing the $1.84 trillion in
cash on their balance sheets, according to a study... by S&P Global Ratings.
The ratio of cash to debt is the lowest it's been in about 10 years, or just
before the global financial crisis. As financial markets came to grips with
the prospect of higher rates ahead, corporate America went on a debt bonanza.
Debt grew 50 times that of cash, with companies rolling up $850 billion of
new IOUs compared to just $17 billion, or 1%, cash growth."
May 26 - MarketWatch (Ciara Linnane): "First-quarter earnings season is close
to over, and the numbers it's produced are as gloomy as they have been since
the Great Recession. Overall profit for S&P 500 companies was the weakest
in 6 1/2 years. The financial sector showed a double-digit percentage decline,
while even stodgy utilities saw earnings fall into the red as unusual weather
weighed. After selling assets, cutting capital expenditures and buying back
their own shares at a record pace in recent years, companies are now clearly
struggling to produce any kind of growth... A full 98.4% of S&P 500 companies
have now reported through early Thursday, and profit measured by earnings per
share is down 7% from a year ago, according to FactSet. On the heels of a 3.2%
decline in the fourth quarter, that marks the fourth straight quarter of year-over-year
earnings declines, and it was the biggest drop since the third quarter of 2009."
May 25 - Bloomberg (Jeanna Smialek): "A substantial share of Americans lacked
retirement savings and fewer households were confident in the outlook for their
income at the end of last year. That's according to a Federal Reserve report
on the economic well-being of U.S. households in 2015... The findings show
that while respondents increasingly reported that they are 'doing OK' or 'living
comfortably,' a smaller share said they expected income growth than in the
prior year's survey. Thirty-one percent of non-retired Americans said they
had no retirement savings at all, unchanged from 2014."
May 26 - Wall Street Journal (Jesse Newman): "Banks are tightening credit
for U.S. farmers amid a rise in delinquencies, forcing some growers to turn
to alternative sources of loans. When U.S. agriculture was booming this decade,
banks doled out ample credit to strong performers and weaker growers alike,
said Michael Swanson, an agricultural economist at Wells Fargo & Co. But
with the farm slump moving into its third year, banks have become pickier,
requiring some growers to cough up more collateral and denying financing outright
to some customers who need it to pay for seeds, crop chemicals and rent."
May 27 - Bloomberg (Romy Varghese): "California's three-year boom run is showing
signs of fatigue. Shaking off recession-era comparisons to Greece, the most-populous
U.S. state rebounded with surpluses and an economy fueled by the fast-growing
technology industry, which garnered it eight bond-rating upgrades. Governor
Jerry Brown is now forecasting that revenue growth is slowing along with the
economy after April's income-tax collections lagged expectations, in part because
of the sputtering stock market. Even if voters in November decide to keep a
temporary income-tax increase from ending -- a measure that Brown hasn't endorsed
-- the budget would 'barely be balanced, his administration said..."
May 27 - Bloomberg (Prashant Gopal): "Miami's crop of new condo towers, built
with big deposits from Latin American buyers and lots of marketing glitz, are
opening with many owners heading for the exits. A third of the units in some
newly built high-rises are back on the market, though most are listed for more
than their owners paid in the pre-construction phase. At the current sales
pace, it would take 29 months to sell the 3,397 condominiums available in the
downtown area, according to South Florida development tracker CraneSpotters.com.
With the U.S. dollar strong, South American investors who piled into the downtown
Miami market after the real estate crash are now trying to unload their recently
built condos, adding inventory to an area where 8,000 units are under construction
and nine towers were completed since the end of 2013."
May 24 - Bloomberg (Michelle Jamrisko): "Purchases of new homes in the U.S.
surged in April to the highest level since the start of 2008, pointing to a
robust spring selling season for builders... (Sales) Rose 16.6% to 619,000
annualized rate (forecast was 523,000). Monthly increase was biggest since
1992, while pace was strongest since January 2008. Median selling price jumped
9.7% to a record $321,100."
May 25 - Bloomberg (Prashant Gopal): "U.S. home prices rose 5.7% in the first
quarter from a year earlier as buyers competed for a limited supply of listings.
Prices climbed 1.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis from the previous three
months, the 19th consecutive quarterly gain... There were 1.98 million houses
for sale at the end of March, down 1.5% from the same month last year... While
the U.S. has a whole had robust gains, prices fell from the previous quarter
in 12 states and the District of Columbia, the FHFA said."
May 25 - Wall Street Journal (Louise Radnofsky): "Big health plans stung by
losses in the first few years of the U.S. health law's implementation are seeking
hefty premium increases for individual plans sold through insurance exchanges
in more than a dozen states. The insurers' proposed rates for individual coverage
in states that have made their 2017 requests public largely bear out health
plans' grim predictions about their challenges under the health-care overhaul.
According to the insurers' filings with regulators, large plans in states including
New York, Pennsylvania and Georgia are seeking to raise rates by 20% or more."
China Bubble Watch:
May 24 - Bloomberg (Paul Panckhurst): "Charlene Chu, a banking analyst who
made her name warning of the risks from China's credit binge, said a bailout
in the trillions of dollars is needed to tackle the bad-debt burden dragging
down the nation's economy. Speaking eight days after a Communist Party newspaper
highlighted dangers from the build-up of debt, Chu... said she was yet to be
convinced the government is serious about deleveraging and eliminating industry
overcapacity. She also argued that lenders' off-balance-sheet portfolios of
wealth-management products are the biggest immediate threat to the nation's
financial system, with similarities to Western bank exposures in 2008 that
helped to trigger a global meltdown."
May 26 - Bloomberg: "China's government still has room to borrow more to finance
the investment and construction needed to shore up economic growth, the Ministry
of Finance said. Overall risks associated with government debt, which amounted
to 26.66 trillion yuan ($4.1 trillion) at the end of last year, are under control,
the ministry said in a statement late on Thursday. The government can add leverage
gradually because its debt ratio is still below international warning levels,
it said."
May 25 - Bloomberg (Lisa Pham): "In the creative world of Chinese lending,
there's a new trade in town: the cow leaseback. China Huishan Dairy Holdings
Co., which operates the largest number of dairy farms in the country, is selling
about a quarter of its herd -- some 50,000 animals -- to Guangdong Yuexin Finance
Lease Co. for 1 billion yuan ($152 million) and then renting them back. With
an estimated $1.3 trillion of risky loans in the country, Chinese banks are
becoming more cautious about lending, forcing some companies to look for new
ways to borrow. Finance leasing has been growing in popularity, especially
for purchases of equipment. But cows?"
May 24 - Bloomberg (Zhe Huang and Justina Lee): "The People's Bank of China
scrapped its market-based mechanism for managing the yuan on Jan. 4 and returned
to setting the exchange rate based on what suits authorities the best, the
Wall Street Journal reported, citing unidentified people close to the central
bank. An unidentified official from the PBOC in March told economists and bankers
that 'the primary task is to maintain stability' when they asked the central
bank to stop fighting markets and let the yuan's value fall at a closed door
meeting, citing previously undisclosed minutes of the gathering.
May 26 - Reuters (Elias Glenn): "Profit growth at China's industrial firms
slowed in April, in line with other data for the month which suggested the
economy may be losing steam again after picking up earlier in the year. China's
industrial firms made 502 billion yuan ($76.59 billion) in profits last month,
up 4.2% from the same period last year and compared with growth of 11.1% in
March..."
EM Bubble Watch:
May 26 - Bloomberg (Matthew Martin, Archana Narayanan and Deema Almashabi): "Banks
in Saudi Arabia are coming under fresh pressure over products that allow speculators
to bet against the kingdom's currency peg, according to people with knowledge
of the matter. The Saudi Arabia Monetary Agency has asked lenders to explain
why they are offering dollar-riyal forward structured products to customers
less than four months after the regulator banned options contracts that let
speculators place wagers on a currency devaluation, the people said. The authority,
known as SAMA, didn't reply to requests for comment. Hedge funds... have made
bets that the country's peg to the dollar will be broken as oil revenue plunges..."
May 24 - Bloomberg (Onur Ant): "Turkey's central bank cut its overnight lending
rate for a third month on Tuesday, calling the reduction a 'measured' step
toward simplifying its monetary policy. The bank lowered the rate by 50 basis
points to 9.5%..."
May 22 - Bloomberg (Kartik Goyal): "Massive, game-changing and overwhelming
were among the descriptions investors used for Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Modi's election victory in May 2014. Two years on, the slow pace of implementing
policy threatens to sap interest. The rupee is the worst performer among currencies
of the four biggest emerging markets this year. Indian sovereign bonds have
lagged peers in Brazil and Russia this quarter, after delivering the best returns
among the BRIC nations since the election win."
Japan Watch:
May 22 - Reuters (Stanley White): "Japanese manufacturing activity contracted
at the fastest pace in more than three years in May as new orders slumped...
putting fresh pressure on the government and central bank to offer additional
economic stimulus. The Markit/Nikkei Flash Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers
Index (PMI) fell to 47.6 in May..."
May 22 - Reuters (Tetsushi Kajimoto and Leika Kihara): "Japan's exports fell
sharply in April and manufacturing activity suffered the fastest contraction
since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe swept to power in late 2012, providing further
evidence that the premier's Abenomics stimulus policy is struggling for traction.
The bleak readings on the health of the world's third-largest economy follow
Japan's failure last week to win support from its global counterparts to weaken
the strong yen, which Tokyo fears could do further damage to the sputtering
economy... Data on Monday showed Japan's exports fell 10.1% in April from a
year earlier..."
ECB Watch:
May 24 - Bloomberg (Alessandro Speciale): "The European Central Bank warned
that risks of financial-market turmoil have increased amid slower growth in
emerging economies, weak bank profitability and the rise of populist movements
across the 19-nation euro region. 'A sharper-than-expected fall in Chinese
growth could well lead to a synchronized downturn across other emerging-market
economies, particularly commodity-exporting economies,' the ECB wrote in its
twice-yearly Financial Stability Review... 'Under such a scenario, the financial
systems of advanced economies may be challenged by a reduction in consumer
and business confidence, and renewed financial-market volatility potentially
intensified by sudden stops in or reversals of cross-border capital flows.'"
Europe Watch:
May 24 - Bloomberg (Laura J Keller, Stephen Morris and Macarena Munoz Montijano): "Deutsche
Bank AG Chief Executive Officer John Cryan said his bank has never had more
capital and could easily repay its debt many times over, responding to a credit-rating
cut by Moody's... The ratings company on Monday said the German lender faces
mounting challenges in carrying out its turnaround, and cut the bank's senior
unsecured debt metric one level to Baa2, two grades above junk. The firm's
long-term deposit rating fell to A3 from A2."
May 25 - Bloomberg (Thomas Penny, Patrick Donahue and Ian Wishart): "When
Germany hosted last year's Group of Seven summit, European leaders assured
President Barack Obama they were up to dealing with the crises on their doorstep.
Twelve months on, Europe's challenges have multiplied to an extent that questions
the wisdom of making the 6,000-mile trip to Japan for the G-7. From Brexit
to migration, home-grown terrorism to the destabilizing impact of surging populism,
Europe has seldom looked in more need of political leadership at home. Global
summits usually provide an opportunity for heads of government to play the
role of international dealmakers. But right now Prime Ministers David Cameron
and Matteo Renzi, Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Francois Hollande
are faced with coalescing crises -- and restive electorates -- that demand
attention in their own countries"
Brazil Watch:
May 23 - Bloomberg (Carla Simoes, Arnaldo Galvao and Mario Sergio Lima): "Brazil's
newly-appointed Budget Minister Romero Juca said he will take a leave of absence
after allegations surfaced that he wanted to obstruct the sweeping corruption
probe known as Carwash. Juca, the leader of Acting President Michel Temer's
political party, will return to his former job as senator and make room for
Dyogo Oliveira to take the helm of the Budget Ministry... The surprise announcement
on Monday afternoon capped a day of speculation about Juca's future in the
cabinet after he initially refused to step down. The dramatic departure highlights
the challenges facing Temer..."
Leveraged Speculation Watch:
May 25 - Bloomberg (Scott Deveau and Devin Banerjee): "The $2.9 trillion hedge-fund
industry may lose about a quarter of its assets in the next year as performance
slumps, said Tony James, Blackstone Group LP's billionaire president. 'It's
kind of a day of reckoning that we face here,' James said... 'There will be
a shrinkage in the industry and it will be painful. That's going to be pretty
painful for an awful lot of places.' The hedge-fund industry is having its
worst start to a year in performance and investor withdrawals since global
markets reeled after the financial crisis."
May 24 - Financial Times (John Authers and Mary Childs): "It was the shot
heard around the hedge fund world. After the New York City Employees' Retirement
System decided to cash all its investments inhedge funds, Letitia James, the
city's public advocate, delivered a message to the industry straight out of
Occupy Wall Street: 'Let them sell their summer homes and jets and return those
fees to their investors.' Hedge funds, she said last month, 'believe they can
do no wrong, even as they are losing money'... 'Let's face it: if you go back
to the 1990s, hedge funds delivered something very special: high returns or
very differentiated returns that you could not get elsewhere, and that is what
hedge fund investors have been looking for,' said Neil Chriss, founder of Hutchin
Hill Capital... 'The problem is, since the crisis, a lot of hedge funds have
not been delivering. Returns have been mediocre," he told the Milken Global
Conference..."
Geopolitical Watch:
May 27 - Reuters (David Lawder): "Corrosion-resistant steel from China will
face final U.S. anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties of up to 450 percent under
the U.S. Commerce Department's latest clampdown on a glut of steel imports,
the agency said... The department also issued anti-dumping duties of 3% to
92% on producers of corrosion-resistant steel in Italy, India, South Korea
and Taiwan... China's Commerce Ministry said it was extremely dissatisfied
at what it called the 'irrational' move by the United States, which it said
would harm cooperation between the two countries."
May 26 - Reuters (Thomas Wilson and Kiyoshi Takenaka): "Group of Seven (G7)
leaders agree... on the need to send a strong message on maritime claims in
the western Pacific, where an increasingly assertive China is locked in territorial
disputes with Japan and several Southeast Asian nations. The agreement prompted
a sharp rejoinder from China, which is not in the G7 club but whose rise as
a power has put it at the heart of some discussions at the advanced nations'
summit in Ise-Shima, central Japan."
May 22 - Associated Press (Suzan Fraser and Geir Moulson): "German Chancellor
Angela Merkel told Turkey's president on Monday that Ankara must fulfill all
the European Union's conditions to secure visa-free travel for its citizens,
but Turkey responded that it would suspend agreements with the EU if the bloc
does not keep its promises. The EU says Turkey must narrow its definition of
'terrorist' and 'terrorist act.' The bloc is concerned that journalists and
political dissenters could be targeted. But Turkish president Recep Tayyip
Erdogan has said that is out of the question."
May 26 - MarketWatch (Nicole Perlroth and Michael Corkery): "Security researchers
have tied the recent spate of digital breaches on Asian banks to North Korea,
in what they say appears to be the first known case of a nation using digital
attacks for financial gain. In three recent attacks on banks, researchers working
for the digital security firm Symantec said, the thieves deployed a rare piece
of code that had been seen in only two previous cases: the hacking attack at
Sony Pictures in December 2014 and attacks on banks and media companies in
South Korea in 2013. Government officials in the United States and South Korea
have blamed those attacks on North Korea..."
I just wrapped up 25 years (persevering) as a "professional bear." My lucky
break came in late-1989, when I was hired by Gordon Ringoen to be the trader
for his short-biased hedge fund in San Francisco. Working as a short-side
trader, analyst and portfolio manager during the great nineties bull market
- for one of the most brilliant individuals I've met - was an exciting, demanding
and, in the end, a grueling and absolutely invaluable learning experience.
Later in the nineties, I had stints at Fleckenstein Capital and East Shore
Partners. In January 1999, I began my 16 year run with PrudentBear, working
as strategist and portfolio manager with David Tice in Dallas until the bear
funds were sold in December 2008.
In the early-nineties, I became an impassioned reader of The Richebacher Letter.
The great Dr. Richebacher opened my eyes to Austrian economics and solidified
my lifetime passion for economics and macro analysis. I had the good fortune
to assist Dr. Richebacher with his publication from 1996 through 2001.
Prior to my work in investments, I worked as a treasury analyst at Toyota's
U.S. headquarters. It was working at Toyota during the Japanese Bubble period
and the 1987 stock market crash where I first recognized my love for macro
analysis. Fresh out of college I worked as a Price Waterhouse CPA. I graduated
summa cum laude from the University of Oregon (Accounting and Finance majors,
1984) and later received an MBA from Indiana University (1989).
By late in the nineties, I was convinced that momentous developments were
unfolding in finance, the markets and policymaking that were going unrecognized
by conventional analysis and the media. I was inspired to start my blog,
which became the Credit Bubble Bulletin, by the desire to shed light on these
developments. I believe there is great value in contemporaneous analysis,
and I'll point to Benjamin Anderson's brilliant writings in the "Chase Economic
Bulletin" during the Roaring Twenties and Great Depression era. Ben Bernanke
has referred to understanding the forces leading up to the Great Depression
as the "Holy Grail of Economics." I believe "The Grail" will instead be
discovered through knowledge and understanding of the current extraordinary
global Bubble period.
Disclaimer: Doug Noland is not a financial advisor nor is he providing investment
services. This blog does not provide investment advice and Doug Noland's comments
are an expression of opinion only and should not be construed in any manner
whatsoever as recommendations to buy or sell a stock, option, future, bond,
commodity or any other financial instrument at any time. The Credit Bubble
Bulletins are copyrighted. Doug's writings can be reproduced and retransmitted
so long as a link to his blog is provided. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Great Indian invasion of Australia?
India's wealthy, from old money to nouveaux riches IT entrepreneurs, are quietly snapping up hotels and mines Down Under just as Australia embarks on an immigration campaign to attract long-term investment.
The Jindal family, ranked among the world's top 80 richest by Forbes, in May bought two minor stakes, worth a total of A$26 million (US$26.99 million), in Australian iron ore and coal mines through Jindal Steel & Power.
That followed a US$2 billion purchase by Indian self-made billionaire and college-dropout Gautam Adani of a coal mine in the state of Queensland last year.
Image: Naveen Jindal, Chairman and Managing Director of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
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When we arrive, our professionally certified technician will be in a fully stocked truck with parts and supplies for all brands of garage door springs. We are available 24 hours per day for emergency service and all of our work is backed up by our 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you need garage door spring repair or any other repair or service on your commercial or residential garage door; call us right now. | {
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Parama Group began its journey and legacy in architecture and construction industry back in 1982 under PT. Parama Dharma. With a strong vision, aspiration and strong wotk ethic, we managed to be one of the most prestigious leading construction development company in Indonesia.
With more than 30 years of experience and success, we grow ourselves into a multi-division business which supported our main framework in architecture and construction industry. Now we are striving to be the best at we do, as we take part in building Indonesia. | {
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Poké Ball
From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.
Revision as of 14:00, 14 February 2013 by Playerking95(talk | contribs)(Yes, it's Dragonite, but theres no picture on the page of Psyduck so there doesn't need to be any specific Pokemon name as the image name to me and I think my image was fine. It is the Poké Ball's inside.)
A Poké Ball (Japanese: モンスターボールMonster Ball) is a type of item that is critical to a Trainer's quest, used for catching and storing Pokémon. Both a general term used to describe the various kinds as well as a specific term to refer to the most basic among these variations, Poké Balls are ubiquitous in the modern Pokémon world. Up to six Pokémon can be carried with a Trainer in Poké Balls, while any number of other Poké Balls can be held in the Bag for later use. These six Pokémon in the Poké Balls can be attached to the user's belt for carrying them around. Some Pokémon do not like to be carried around in Poké Balls, such as Ash's Pikachu.
The strength of a Poké Ball is determined by how much it raises a wild Pokémon's catch rate, and may in fact vary depending on the conditions of the battle. Poké Balls limit the power of Pokémon contained inside, taming them, though they do not cause the Pokémon inside to always obey the Trainer.
The invention of Poké Balls apparently occurred in the Johto region, where Apricorns grow; these fruit were cut apart and carved out, then fitted with a special device, and used to catch wild Pokémon prior to the mass production of the Balls that occurs in modern times under Silph Co. and the Devon Corporation. Some Trainers still use Poké Balls made from Apricorns, while Kurt, a resident of Azalea Town, still constructs them. Drayden claims that Poké Balls did not exist during his childhood.
Prior to the invention of Poké Balls, Pokémon were referred to as "magical creatures" (Japanese: 魔獣majū), indicating that the name Pokémon, short for Pocket Monster, did not come into common parlance as a term until these devices allowed the various Pokémon to be stored easily. This also shows that in these times they were believed to be supernatural creatures, not natural ones.
Stylized Poké Balls are used in many places to symbolize Pokémon in general: the logos of both Battle Frontiers feature a Poké Ball in their design, while several Poké Balls can be seen in every Pokémon Center. The headgear of the protagonists of Kanto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Unova-based games feature Poké Ball designs, as do the Bags of the protagonists of Johto-based games. Ethan's headgear is also similar to the top half of an Ultra Ball, and Lucas's Bag prominently features a Poké Ball.
Mechanics and design
A schematic displaying Poké Ball size, storage and mechanics
Though the technology behind a Poké Ball remains unknown and has evolved through the centuries to accommodate the diverse requirements of their creators, the basic mechanics are simple enough to understand and tend to remain constant: in a Pokémon battle, once an opposing wild Pokémon has been weakened, the Pokémon Trainer can throw a Poké Ball at it. When a Poké Ball hits the Pokémon, as long as it is not deflected, the Poké Ball will open, convert the Pokémon to a form of energy, pull it into its center, and close. A Pokémon in this state is given a chance to struggle to attempt to break free from the ball and escape, being instantly re-converted from energy into matter. Should a Pokémon escape a Poké Ball, the device will either be destroyed (in the games and some manga) or will return to the Trainer (anime), who can attempt once again to capture the Pokémon. A Pokémon who does not escape the ball will be caught.
Interior of a Poké Ball from the anime
Poké Balls are specifically constructed for Pokémon capture, transport and training. As well as being physically difficult to escape from (as they seal tightly shut as soon as a Pokémon is taken into them) the environment of a Poké Ball is designed to be attractive to Pokémon also; according to Lucian of the SinnohElite Four, weakened Pokémon instinctively curl up tight in an attempt to heal themselves, an action that the environment of the Poké Ball encourages. Furthermore, while it is not known how a captured Pokémon perceives their time inside their Ball, the device is said to replicate a "Pokémon-friendly" environment that is "designed for comfort". All of these factors strongly discourage Pokémon from escaping their Balls. In the manga, Bugsy refers to his "capture net" as being the net that is supposedly inside a Poké Ball, but visible and already deployed. According to Kurt, this invisible net captures and physically stores a Pokémon.
Poké Balls are not always at full size. Pressing the button on the front will convert it between its full size, about the size of a baseball, to a smaller size, about that of a ping-pong ball, and back again. The larger size makes throwing the ball easier, while the smaller one makes for easier storage on a belt clip, in pockets, and in Bags.
As mentioned, the generic Poké Ball design is not constant and has been remodelled and altered innumerable times in order to create new Poké Balls that are adapted for specific conditions. For example, it is seen in several anime episodes such as Gulpin it Down! and Claydol Big and Tall that normal Poké Balls have difficulty catching Pokémon which are extremely large or extremely heavy. In the latter episode, it is revealed that ancient civilizations overcame this issue by constructing immense Poké Balls many times the size of the standard model known today, and made from stone instead. Other civilizations such as Pokémopolis also discovered new technologies that more closely resembled modern Poké Ball technology, such as the Dark Device and the Unearthly Urn, which were also adapted for the capture and storage of massive Pokémon but in small containers. However, devices like these became lost to the ages and their roles were subsequently supplanted by Heavy Balls in the modern world.
When a Pokémon is released from a Poké Ball, it will be accompanied by a bright light as it returns from its energy form, and materialize nearby, often on the ground. This bright light has been shown to vary depending on the type of Ball that the Pokémon is contained in in the games, while it has always been shown to be white in the anime. Pokémon are recalled to their Poké Ball by holding up the Poké Ball with its button pointed at the Pokémon. A beam of red light will shoot from the button, converting the Pokémon back into energy and returning it to the Ball. The beam, however, has a limited range, and can be dodged by the Pokémon. If the beam hits a person, they will be stunned for a moment, but aside from that no ill effects will make themselves apparent. Releasing Pokémon from a Trainer's ownership, unlike normally sending the Pokémon out, will bathe the Pokémon in a blue glow, and the Poké Ball will no longer mark it, making it able to be caught by another Trainer's Poké Ball.
A Poké Ball can also be broken, which will release it from ownership, and if a Trainer has done so accidentally, it must somehow be fixed before the Pokémon can be recalled. In the manga, if a Poké Ball is broken before a Pokémon is sent out, then that particular Pokémon can't be used until their Poké Ball has been repaired. This happened several times in the Pokémon Adventures manga, such as during Red's battle against Giovanni, where the opening mechanism for the Poké Balls of Red's Venusaur and Gyarados were damaged, preventing either of them from being used in the match.
Pokémon appear to be conscious while inside Poké Balls. Several Pokémon have shown the ability to leave and return to their Poké Balls at will, most notably among them Jessie's Wobbuffet, Misty's Psyduck, Ash's Oshawott, and Brock's Croagunk, which tend to do so in every episode they appear in. In Dig Those Diglett!, many Pokémon belonging to Gary Oak, as well as other Trainers, including Ash Ketchum, demonstrated the ability to prevent themselves from being sent from their Poké Balls, as they refused to fight against the Diglett, though this has not been demonstrated since. Pokémon have also shown to be able to hear orders given by their Trainer right before they are sent out.
Poké Balls are able to communicate with a Trainer's Pokédex, as the system updates itself with information on newly-caught Pokémon, and keeps track of how many Pokémon the Trainer has with them. If a Trainer catches a new Pokémon with the full six already with them, the Pokédex will automatically send the newly-caught Pokémon in its Poké Ball to the Pokémon Storage System that the Trainer is using. As shown in Two Degrees of Separation, a Pokémon caught by a Poké Ball is "marked" by it, and thus most Poké Balls thrown at it will have no effect aside from temporarily stunning it. In the games, as well as in Bad to the Bone, however, the Trainer of the Pokémon will block a Poké Ball thrown by another, though it is possible that this is more out of courtesy to their Pokémon than to prevent capture outright.
Other wireless capabilities of Poké Balls are shown in Destiny Deoxys, as when the electricity of the city is down, Audrey could not release her Masquerain from the Poké Ball, claiming that the "Poké Ball Management System" was no longer working without power. There has been no mention of any such system since.
Poké Balls are able to be decorated to no ill effect, with several Poké Balls that have been painted with special colors being seen in the anime. In the games, a Ball Capsule and seals can release special effects when the Pokémon is sent out.
Poké Ball accuracy
Except for the Master Ball, all Poké Balls have a chance of breaking and not capturing the Pokémon in question, however, in several cases, it is possible for the Poké Ball to miss the wild Pokémon completely.
In Generation I games, it was possible for a ball to miss the Pokémon when the likelihood of catching the Pokémon in question was particularly low—rather than the ball throwing animation playing and the ball wiggling zero times, a message would come up stating "You missed the Pokémon!".
A Poké Ball cannot be thrown during a wild Double Battle, unless one of the two wild Pokémon is defeated, with the game claiming "It's no good! It's impossible to aim when there are two Pokémon!". A player can however snag Pokémon in Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness even if there are two on the opposing side of the field; presumably the Snag Machine assists in aiming.
Pokémon Black and White introduces wild Double Battles that are encountered alone instead of with a partner like in Diamond, Pearl and Platinum. In addition to the prior requirements, a command cannot be issued to a Pokémon during the same turn a Poké Ball is thrown; however, if the second Pokémon is using a two part move like Dig or Dive, a Poké Ball can still be thrown and Dig or Dive will continue if the ball fails.
Capture chances
Types of Poké Ball
In the Pokémon games so far, there have been 26 different varieties of Poké Ball, all differing from each other in some effect, whether it be an increased ability to catch a Pokémon from the wild or an effect which occurs only after the Pokémon has been caught. From Generation III onward, each variety of Poké Ball has a unique animation when they open to draw in a Pokémon and when a Pokémon is sent out, and the type of Poké Ball used to catch the Pokémon is preserved on its status screen.
Introduced in Generation I
The following Poké Balls were introduced in Pokémon Red and Green, and have appeared and been available in all games since then, with the exception of the Safari Ball, which is not present in Generation II. They were developed by Silph Co., with the development of the Master Ball factoring into the plot of the Generation I games and their remakes heavily.
When a Pokémon in one of these Balls is used in a link battle in Generation IV, it will appear as an ordinary Poké Ball, regardless of if the link is made with a Johto or Sinnoh-based game. Using a Pokémon in one of these Balls in one of the Battle Frontier facilities will show it as it should appear during the battle, but as an ordinary Poké Ball if the battle is saved to the Vs. Recorder and played back. Trading a Pokémon in one of these Poké Ball variations into Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum or registering it in Pokémon Battle Revolution will cause it to display as a normal Poké Ball, though if the Pokémon is traded back into a Johto-based game or transferred forward into Generation V, it will regain its variant Ball.
In Pokémon data, information for these Poké Balls on the status screen and in battle is stored in a separate location from the variants introduced in other generations, so that the Pokémon can be traded back to Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum from HeartGold and SoulSilver and display an ordinary Poké Ball there (the data space for these balls being ignored in the earlier games).
Level BallレベルボールLevel Ball
POKÉ BALLSpocket
INTRODUCED IN
GEN II
Cannot be bought
Sell for:150
Effect:
Allows the player to catch wild Pokémon; works better on Pokémon of levels lower than the Pokémon currently in battle.
Catch rate:
1× if the player's Pokémon is the same level as or a lower level than the wild Pokémon2× if the player's Pokémon is at a higher level than the wild Pokémon but less than double it4× if the player's Pokémon is more than double but less than four times the level of the wild Pokémon8× if the player's Pokémon is of a level four times or more than that of the wild Pokémon
-20 if used on Pokémon weighing less than 220.6lbsGSC/451.5 lbsHGSSNo modifier if used on Pokémon weight between 220.6lbs and 441.0 lbsGSC+20 if used on Pokémon weighing between 451.5 lbs and 677.3 lbs+30 if used on Pokémon weighing more than 661.5 lbsGSC+30 if used on Pokémon weighing between 677.3 lbs and 903.0 lbsHGSS+40 if used on Pokémon weighing more than 903.0 lbsHGSS
Introduced in Generation III
The following Poké Balls were introduced in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. While the main four Poké Balls and the Safari Ball returned to central usage, these specialty Balls were only available at certain Poké Marts in the Hoenn region, and the Luxury Ball only available via completion of certain quests in the games. Generally, they can be seen to be counterparts to Generation II's Apricorn Balls, which were not available in the Generation III games, with the Nest Ball and Level Ball, Net Ball and Lure Ball, and Luxury Ball and Friend Ball being very similar in effect to each other.
The Premier Ball is functionally identical to the standard Poké Ball; it is simply a premium (hence the name) given with the purchase of ten Poké Balls. Only one is given with each purchase of ten or more, so buying 20 or more Poké Balls still only yields one gift Premier Ball. To obtain multiple Premier Balls, the Poké Balls must be purchased in separate transactions of 10 at a time.
These Ball variants continued to be available in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, though most must be traded in from a Hoenn-based game, with only the Timer Ball and Repeat Ball available to be bought, and even then, only in Two Island. The Dive Ball's effect was altered, with it now having greater chance to catch Pokémon encountered on water rather than under it, as Hoenn-based games are the only ones where wild Pokémon can be encountered while using Dive. In Generation IV, all but the Dive Ball are readily available to be bought, though the Dive Ball can still be obtained through use of Pal Park and other special events. The Johto-based HeartGold and SoulSilver make the Timer, Repeat, and Luxury Balls hard to find once more, though the returning Apricorn Balls help to take their place. All of these Poké Balls can be purchased in Generation V. Additionally, the Timer Ball's effectiveness now increases much more quickly as the battle goes on.
Unlike the Poké Balls introduced in Generation I, these Poké Balls were developed by the Devon Corporation.
Introduced in Generation IV
The following Poké Balls were introduced in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. The set of seven introduced in Generation III, as well as the original set of five, are preserved in this generation, and are available either for purchase or by trade in all Generation IV games. The Generation II Poké Balls also make a return in this generation, but only in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
Note: Pokémon recaught with this ball in Pal Park will retain the ball in which they were originally caught in Generation III. Not to be confused with Sport Balls, which were known as Park Balls in Generation II.
Introduced in Generation V
Only one new Poké Ball was introduced in Pokémon Black and White, though all Poké Balls of previous generations are programmed into the game, both as items and on the status screen. If they are hacked into the game, however, the Apricorn Balls, Sport Ball, and Park Ball cannot be used to catch wild Pokémon, though the Safari Ball and Cherish Ball can. If a Pokémon is transferred to Generation V from an earlier generation with the Poké Transfer, it will appear to have the same ball it was originally caught with.
The Dream Ball can only be used in the Entree Forest, where it never fails. Pokémon transferred from Pokémon Dream Radar are obtained in Dream Balls.
In the anime
In the anime, the basic Poké Ball is the most commonly used of all varieties, with other varieties appearing either very few times or not at all. A vast majority of Pokémon are shown to be stored in regular Poké Balls, to the point that large collections of Poké Balls can be seen with no variation among them. Even Ash's Pikachu, the most prominent Pokémon in the anime which spends all its time outside with Ash, has a plain Poké Ball that differs from others only by the small yellow lightning bolt symbol on it, as seen in Pokémon - I Choose You!.
Despite this, the various other types of Poké Ball have been seen in the anime, usually to illustrate a special property about that particular ball. The lack of the different types is unsurprising, however, due to the fact that, when the anime was first created, the games themselves did not even keep track of the Poké Ball that a Pokémon was caught in, and thus, it made no difference in sending a Pokémon out.
The first time that a Poké Ball aside from the normal variation was seen was in EP035, where Ash was given 30 Safari Balls in order to compete in the Safari Game. With these 30 Safari Balls, Ash attempted to catch various rare Pokémon; however, he only managed to capture an entire herd of Tauros. They appeared in Safari Balls in Showdown at the Po-Ké Corral; afterward; however, whenever Ash uses one of his Tauros in a battle, it is sent out from a standard Poké Ball.
The GS Ball was the second of the variant Poké Balls to appear in the anime, this time with a special purpose. This mysterious ball was unable to be opened by Professor Ivy, and served as the reason for Ash's journeys to the Orange Archipelago (to pick it up) and Johto (to deliver it to Kurt), so that what was contained within it could be discovered. Celebi was long rumored to be related to the ball, something which the Pokémon Adventures and game canons verify, while a director of the anime confirmed that, had it not been insisted that Celebi appear in a central role in the fourth movie, the GS Ball arc would have concluded with Celebi being released from the ball and traveling with Ash and his friends.
A Poké Ball after catching a Pokémon in the anime
Also related to Kurt, as in the games, the first non-standard Poké Ball variants, the Apricorn balls, made an appearance in the anime, and several were given to the members of the main cast. All three members of the main cast received Fast Balls in Going Apricorn!, with Brock using his to catch a Pineco shortly after receiving it. In the next episode, Brock received a Heavy Ball, while Ash and Misty received Lure Balls. While Brock's Heavy Ball and Ash and Misty's Fast Balls would remain unused (and have not been mentioned since), both Ash and Misty would use their Lure Balls to capture a Totodile and Corsola, respectively. Another Heavy Ball appeared in Gulpin It Down, where it was used to capture a giant Gulpin, though this was not the one belonging to Brock.
The Master Ball itself has only appeared once as an actual Poké Ball, in Whiscash and Ash, where it was used by Sullivan in a last resort attempt to catch a wild Whiscash called "Nero". Despite the fact that a Master Ball cannot be escaped from, the Whiscash swallowed the Master Ball, thus preventing capture, and disappeared back into the water. While not a Poké Ball itself, Misty owns a beach ball that is designed like the Master Ball, which can be seen in Beauty and the Beach and A Hot Water Battle.
Ash calling out a Pokémon
The Generation III specialty balls have only been seen in cameos, with only the Repeat Ball and Luxury Ball appearing, in the opening of Jirachi: Wish Maker. These balls contained Brendan's Shiftry and Aggron, respectively.
The debut of most of the specialty balls, both from Generation III and IV, came in the ending Which One ~ Is It?, which contained the first appearance of the Great Ball and Ultra Ball, as well as the first anime appearance of the Premier, Heal, Net, Dusk, Nest, Quick, Timer, and Dive Balls.
Many other Poké Balls have been shown in the anime; however, most of these are cosmetic alterations alone, such as Poké Balls with gold plating, diamond studded Poké Balls, and Poké Balls with special designs on them, usually to denote an organization.
Most notably, a broken Poké Ball, snapped in half at its rusted hinges, is kept by both Ash and Gary, symbolizing their rivalry.
In Mystery at the Lighthouse, it was shown that if a Trainer catches a Pokémon while they already have six on hand, it is automatically sent to the regional professor. This was again demonstrated in Sparks Fly for Magnemite. Sewaddle and Burgh in Pinwheel Forest shows a major difference in what happens after a Pokémon is captured. Instead of being automatically sent to the regional Professor, the Poké Ball is sealed and the button becomes red. The Pokémon is kept inactive until it is switched out by another actively in the Trainer's party.
In the manga
In the various Pokémon manga, Poké Balls have been shown to appear differently, as an attempt to explain how a Trainer knows which Pokémon is in which ball, as most Pokémon manga series were, like the anime, developed at a time when the games could not keep track of the ball a Pokémon was contained in.
In the Electric Tale of Pikachu manga
In the manga The Electric Tale of Pikachu, the rules are more similar to the anime; however, Poké Balls are numbered on the outside, on the button, so that a Trainer knows which member of their team they are sending into battle.
It is also possible for a Pokémon to be placed inside a Poké Ball without it being owned by a Trainer. In Days of Gloom and Glory, Meowzie steals a Poké Ball from a shop and puts her kitten in it so that it will not be hurt by a flood affecting the city.
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
In the Pokémon Adventures manga, the tops of Poké Balls are semitransparent, allowing the Pokémon inside, which is miniaturized, to be seen through the ball, while the Pokémon can likewise see out of the ball it is contained in. In this manga, unlike in the anime, Pokémon already captured can be recaught in another Poké Ball, as is seen when Red recatches Misty's Gyarados (though Blue states that catching a Pokémon that belongs to another is not possible in Lapras Lazily). Like in the anime and games, specialty balls do exist, and Gold and Silver received a Friend Ball and Heavy Ball, respectively. It has also been shown that unlike the games, Pokémon placed in their balls recover from status conditions; however, like in the games, they do not recover health points. Additionally, the three original types of Poké Ball are used to identify the Trainer's rank; most Trainers keep their Pokémon in Poké Balls, Gym Leaders use Great Balls, and Elite Four members and Frontier Brains use Ultra Balls.
In the TCG
Ultra Ball
Several variants of Poké Ball have been released in card form in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, ranging from the standard variants found in the games and other media to variants specific to the TCG.
The standard Poké Ball card, which was the first released, debuted in the Jungle expansion and has since been featured in many others. It features a TCG-centric mechanic, requiring a coin flip to search the deck for a Pokémon to be put in the hand. Most of the Poké Ball variants, both adapted from the games and exclusive to the TCG, are similar to this, with several requiring coin flips to use their effect.
The Ultra Ball can be seen in the artwork of Rocket's Sneak Attack, from the Team Rocket expansion. The Ultra Ball would make its actual first appearance, with its effect requiring the player to discard 2 cards from the player's hand to search the player's deck for a Pokémon. The 'H' on this Ultra Ball is derived from its Japanese name, Hyper Ball.
The Great Ball, which first appeared in the TCG expansion coinciding with the remakes of the Generation I games, is somewhat of an upgrade to the Poké Ball, and does not require the coin flip that the Poké Ball does, instead restricting the search of Pokémon to Basic Pokémon. Later, in Emerging Powers, Great Ball's effect was changed to have you instead search the top 7 cards of your deck for any 1 Pokémon card & put it in your hand.
The Master Ball, first appearing in the Gym Challenge expansion, and in the games the most powerful of the Poké Balls, provides a vastly different effect than the standard. Rather than searching the entire deck, only the top seven cards may be searched. One Pokémon found in these seven can be put into the hand, while the rest must be shuffled back into the deck.
Debuting in the Skyridge expansion, the Lure Ball is different from the basic Poké Balls in that it draws from the discard pile rather than the deck. For each heads flipped, with a maximum of three, an Evolution card can be returned from the discard pile and put into the hand. It has not appeared since.
Also debuting in Skyridge, the Friend Ball, another Apricorn Ball, has a unique effect entirely, allowing the user to search their deck for a Pokémon of the same type as one of the opponent's Pokémon, making it effective in decks that typically match up well against their own type. It also has not appeared since.
The Fast Ball allows the player to go through their deck, turning over cards one at a time until they find the first evolution card, and then taking that into their hand, shuffling afterward. Like the other two Apricorn Balls, it debuted in Skyridge and has not appeared since.
The Premier Ball, debuting in the Great Encounters expansion, is special, much as in the games, and allows the player to search either the deck or the discard pile for a Pokémon LV.X to put into their hand.
The Luxury Ball, first found in the Stormfront expansion, is among the rarest of the Poké Ball varieties in the games, though its catch rate is the same as that of a normal Poké Ball. Likewise it is so with the TCG, allowing a non-LV.X Pokémon to be searched from the deck, but only if another Luxury Ball card is not in the discard pile.
The Quick Ball released in the Mysterious Treasures expansion has a similar effect to the Fast Ball released in Skyridge, allowing the player to uncover cards from their deck until they find a Pokémon. An expansion of the Fast Ball's use, any Pokémon can be found, though this may prove an issue if the player is looking for an Evolution card specifically and finds a Basic Pokémon first.
The Dusk Ball, also first found in Mysterious Treasures, features an effect somewhat opposite from the Master Ball's: Instead of the top seven cards being searched, only the bottom seven cards may be, and a Pokémon found there may be put into the player's hand.
The Heavy Ball, first found in Next Destinies, allows the player to search through their deck for a Pokémon who has a retreat cost of 3 or more and put it in their hand, whereas the Level Ball, also found in Next Destinies, allows them to do the same with a Pokémon that has 90 HP or less.
In the Super Smash Bros. series
The Pokémon series is represented in the Super Smash Bros. series by a Poké Ball icon. The first two games show the Poké Ball with both halves and the center filled in, while the third goes with Generation IV's redesigned icon with only the top half filled in.
These balls are used to catch and contain wild Pokémon. Most Pokémon must be weakened in some way before they can be caught, but once they're inside a Poké Ball, they enjoy their new home, since Poké Balls contain an environment specially designed for Pokémon comfort. Master Balls are the strongest type.
"An item used for capturing Pokémon and calling them out into battle. Pokémon live in these items which despite appearances, actually contain a wide, comfortable Pokémon-friendly world inside them. In Super Smash Bros., Pokémon give temporary support to who calls them out. You never know which you will get, but some are devastatingly powerful."
Other variants
The following Poké Ball variants are found outside of the standard games. They are often very unusual compared to the 26 types found in the games, and it is sometimes questionable whether or not they even qualify as Poké Balls. Many have separate articles, where their unique properties are described in greater detail.
In the games
Pester Balls: These objects, which appear similar to Poké Balls at a glance, are not used to catch Pokémon, and instead will release a Pokémon repellent on contact. They are only found in Pokémon Snap.
A Snag Ball is a Poké Ball variant that has been "unlocked" by the Snag Machine, allowing it to snag an already caught Pokémon during a battle. While it is able to be used on any Pokémon, Rui will only allow Wes to use it on Shadow Pokémon, while Michael's Aura Reader will render the Snag Machine inoperable when a Pokémon other than a Shadow Pokémon is targeted.
When transferring Pokémon via Poké Transfer, a blue-colored Poké Ball is used to catch the Pokémon in the mingame. They are shot using a bow.
Typing Balls are used in Learn with Pokémon: Typing Adventure. They are thrown after one successfully types a Pokémon's name. It has the overall design like that of a normal Poké Ball, only having an additional vertical line at the bottom, resembling the letter "T".
Several objects were used to contain and control Pokémon before Poké Balls themselves were developed. Large monumental objects have been shown several times in episodes to be containers for large ancient Pokémon, as seen most notably in The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis. Smaller objects have also been used, such as the staff belonging to Sir Aaron, which contained his partner, Lucario, until Ash released it in the current era. Special armor developed by Marcus was used to control Pokémon in ancient Michina Town, though it did not directly contain the Pokémon; unlike other methods of using Pokémon, these Pokémon were enslaved, instead of befriended, and they turned against him the moment the armor was broken.
Mewtwo had a collection of strange Poké Balls in Mewtwo Strikes Back, which incorporated an eye into their design, and were used primarily as a means of capture of Pokémon to be cloned. These balls had no trouble catching Pokémon which were already captured—even if they were already inside of Poké Balls. They have been called by several names by fans, such as "Mewtwo Balls" and "Clone Balls".
Molly Hale, whose imagination caused the power of the Unown to change the world around them, was able to use strange, crystalline Poké Balls when she challenged Brock and Misty in Spell of the Unown. The Pokémon sent from these appeared normally, but dissolved into crystal, rather than being recalled. These crystal Poké Balls only appeared when used by her imagined older selves, and do not appear to actually exist.
A special variant of Poké Ball, the Lake Ball, was used during the Seaking Catching Competition in Hook, Line, and Stinker; this is viewed by many to be similar to the Sport Ball used in the Bug-Catching Contest. They appear as blue and white Poké Balls, with a fish pattern around the edge, and a yellow arrow on the top and bottom of the ball. They don't shake after capture, implying an automatic catch.
Older Poké Balls have also appeared in the anime, specifically the one carried by Sammy in Celebi: Voice of the Forest, which was colored differently, and it had a knob that needed to be twisted before the Pokémon inside could be sent out. While it is unknown how these types were manufactured, it is likely that they were made by hand using Apricorns, prior to the standardization and mass production of modern-day Poké Balls.
The Iron-Masked Marauder, an agent of Team Rocket, used special Dark Balls that corrupted Pokémon caught inside them and made them into mindless servants of the Trainer, as well as raising their power significantly. Multiple Pokémon were caught in these Poké Balls, including the legendary Celebi and a powerful Tyranitar. They seem capable of catching any Pokémon without fail.
As in the games, the GS Ball appeared in the anime, and was the primary motivation for Ash's trip to the Orange Archipelago, where he would compete in his second Pokémon League. It also served as the catalyst for his journey to Johto, as he needed to deliver the ball to Kurt. Former director Masamitsu Hidaka revealed that a shelved storyline, that would have concluded the GS Ball's arc, involved a Celebi that would have traveled with Ash and his friends through at least part of Johto. The storyline was viewed as redundant after the decision was made to introduce Celebi in the fourth movie instead.
In Claydol, Big and Tall, the "Stone Ball", a huge Poké Ball made of stone used to keep an evil, giant Claydol that levied destruction everywhere. This Poké Ball is about the size of a 2-story house.
In A Fishing Connoisseur in a Fishy Competition!, a specially marked Poké Ball, called the "Fishing Poké Ball", was used in the fake fishing contest set up by Team Rocket. This Poké Ball highly resembled the regular red and white Poké Ball, except that it had a dark fish mark on its red part.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
In addition to various Poké Balls introduced in the games, Pokémon Adventures also has several Trainers modifying their Poké Balls to suit their fighting styles
Bruno has modified his Poké Balls so that they are fitted onto the ends of his nunchucks. By swinging them quickly and throwing the nunchuck forward, Bruno can have his Pokémon quickly attack his opponent, giving him the advantage.
Koga and his daughter Janine modified their Poké Balls into shuriken to fit their ninja theme. In addition to being used as weapons, they can also be used to have their Pokémon pop up from different locations to surprise the opponent or to hold items to help an ally.
Bugsy had Kurt modify his Butterfly net into something he calls a Capture Net. His net has a Poké Ball nested into the middle of it. The bag of the net is made of the same material of the inside of a Poké Ball. Once a Pokémon is covered in the bag, they will automatically be sucked into the Poké Ball.
Falkner has modified his Poké Balls into boomerangs using the feathers of his Skarmory. Because of Skarmory's feathers being transparent, they have the tendency to turn invisible, confusing enemies when Falkner throws them in random directions only for them to turn around and go straight for them.
Bruno's nunchuck with Poké Balls on them
Koga's Shuriken Poké Ball
Bugsy's Capture net
Falkner's boomerang Poké Balls
In the TCG
The Dual Ball is merely two Poké Balls together, and has a similar effect to using two plain Poké Ball cards, requiring two coin flips to search for up to two Pokémon, depending on how many heads appear.
The Team Magma Ball is Team Magma's Poké Ball variant, found only in the EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua expansion. It works similarly to a Poké Ball, however, it only can be used to find Team Magma's Pokémon, and will still allow a player to find a Pokémon, though only a Basic one, if the coin flip results in tails.
Item balls
In both the anime and games, it has been shown that items can be contained in Poké Balls, apparently able to be captured in much the same way as a Pokémon. The anime has used this as a gag on several occasions, most notably in Primeape Goes Bananas, where Ash accidentally catches a rice ball when he throws a Poké Ball in an attempt to catch a wild Mankey.
Items contained in Poké Balls have been present from the very first games, with many items that are found on the field being found in Poké Balls in conspicuous locations. These items are sometimes important, and usually will be among the required items for pickup along the way. Sometimes, even Poké Ball variants can be found in item balls, though it may be that the item ball itself is supposed to represent the ball that is found. Many other items, however, are hidden, and are not in item balls, instead being directly on the field, and can be found more easily using an Itemfinder or Dowsing Machine.
In battle
Generation I and II
Generation III
Sprites are the same for both summary and battle.
Poké Ball
Great Ball
Ultra Ball
Master Ball
Safari Ball
Premier Ball
Repeat Ball
Timer Ball
Nest Ball
Net Ball
Dive Ball
Luxury Ball
Generation IV
This section is incomplete.Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: In-battle for Park Ball, if there's any (as there is no for summary since Pokémon retain the original Poké Ball).
Poké Ball
Great Ball
Ultra Ball
Master Ball
Safari Ball
Level Ball
Lure Ball
Moon Ball
Friend Ball
Love Ball
Heavy Ball
Fast Ball
Sport Ball
Premier Ball
Repeat Ball
Timer Ball
Nest Ball
Net Ball
Dive Ball
Luxury Ball
Heal Ball
Quick Ball
Dusk Ball
Cherish Ball
Generation V
This section is incomplete.Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: All images.
Generation II Poké Balls, while programmed into the game, cannot be used to catch Pokémon and can be seen only when sending out a Pokémon. Sprites seen below are at full size as they are seen as they are when player's Pokémon is sent out after a switch.
Pokémon Stadium
Outside of the battles, Generation I Poké Balls (except the Safari Ball) are all seen in the minigame Furret's Frolic in Pokémon Stadium 2. Poké Ball is worth 1 point, Great Ball 2, Ultra Ball 3 and Master Ball 5.
Furret's Frolic
Poké Ball
Great Ball
Ultra Ball
Master Ball
Poké Ball on instructions screen
Great Ball on instructions screen
Ultra Ball on instructions screen
Master Ball on instructions screen
Trivia
While any Pokémon species can be caught by any Poké Ball, due to Pokémon distribution, no Pokémon species can legitimately be in all of the 26 in-game Poké Ball variants. The Pokémon that come the closest are the Paras and Venonat families, as they are found in the wild in all five generations, and can be obtained in the Pokémon Dream World; the only Ball they cannot be legitimately contained in is the Cherish Ball, as they have not not been given out as an event Pokémon during Generation IV or V.
In Pokémon Pinball, the Poké Balls serve as the balls in the machine; they can be used to capture Pokémon and are upgraded depending on the multiplier bonus at the time.
Many of the types of Poké Balls introduced in Generation III function similarly to those introduced in Generation II: the Nest Ball, like the Level Ball, is better if used on Pokémon of lower levels, the Net and Dive Balls are both useful against Pokémon found while in the water, much like the Lure Ball, and the Luxury Ball raises a Pokémon's friendship quickly, similarly to a Friend Ball. Excluding the Sport Ball, which many see as a parallel to the Safari Ball which made its return in Generation III, the specialty Balls made by the Devon Corporation in Hoenn number seven, the same amount as the Apricorn Balls made by Kurt.
In Generation II, the Park Ball's name is written as one word on the menu, rather than as two, as the rest of the Poké Balls are. This is due to the size limitation placed on the text by the Game Boy Color's small screen. The Generation IV Park Ball does not have this issue, as Nintendo DS screens are wider and the font used is thinner.
In some early artwork for Pokémon Red and Green, Poké Balls are shown on the ground in two pieces while the Pokémon are in battle, rather than in the more familiar hinged form they take now. This may be a carryover from when Pokémon was known as Capsule Monsters, as the Poké Ball sprites in Generation I also do not show the button on the ball. In Generation II, Poké Balls split in half when capturing a Pokémon as part of their animation, while the anime had been using the hinge style since the very first episode.
Poké Balls are inspired by the capsules for gashapon machines, which contain small, handheld toys.
In HeartGold and SoulSilver and the TCG, Lure Balls are shown to have a green outer coloring; however, in official artwork and the anime, they are shown to have a blue outer coloring.
However, in Generation V, the Lure Ball has both its Bag sprite, status screen sprite, and battle animation altered to the official blue color.
Similarly, the Fast Ball is shown to be red in official art; however, it is orange in its Bag and status screen sprites, and only appears red in battle in Generation V.
While most Poké Balls cannot capture Pokémon that have already been caught, there are some types that can easily catch a Pokémon that already is owned. These are usually rare or use-restricted balls.
The Park Ball, which is used to capture Pokémon migrated from a Generation III game to a Generation IV game, is one of these. It reverts to the original ball used to catch the migrated Pokémon in the Summary screen.
In the anime, Mewtwo's "Mewtwo Balls", seen only in Mewtwo Strikes Back, can catch any Pokémon despite being owned. These Balls have been shown to even catch owned Pokémon even when inside of their Poké Balls. After the Pokémon's DNA is extracted through Mewtwo's cloning device, "Mewtwo Balls" automatically release the caught Pokémon.
While the Apricorn Balls and the Sport Ball exist in the coding of the Generation V games, they are completely unobtainable. If they are hacked into the Bag, they cannot be held by a Pokémon, much as in HeartGold and SoulSilver, and will not be recognized by the game as Poké Balls for in-battle use. Despite this, a Pokémon caught in one of these Poké Balls in HeartGold and SoulSilver will retain the Ball in Generation V.
The sprite color of the Lure Ball was altered in Pokémon Black and White, changing its base color to a light blue color as opposed to the green it had in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
The Moon Ball, while it returns in HeartGold and SoulSilver and appears in the coding of Generation V, cannot legitimately contain Pokémon in the Skitty and Munna families, even though both evolve with the Moon Stone. This is due to their unavailability in the wild in HeartGold and SoulSilver.
The Premier Ball is the only variety of Poké Ball so far whose name approaches the character limit for item names.
In Generation II, after catching a Pokémon, the Poké Ball's color palette changes to that of the Pokémon that was just caught. It then changes back to normal thereafter.
Generation V introduced fewer types of Poké Balls than any other generation, only introducing one.
The Safari Ball has a catching animation programmed into Black and White despite not being legitimately able to be used, as there is no Safari Zone.
Both the Safari Ball and Sport Ball appeared in the anime prior to sprites being introduced for items in the games, in EP035 and EP161, respectively. In these appearances, their designs were vastly different from their later-introduced in-game sprites. | {
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Theater Review: "The Taming Of The Shrew"
An updated classic comes to Diversionary Black Box Theatre
Let’s face it, the forced submission of Kate “the Cursed” to bounty-hunter husband Petruchio in Shakespeare’s “The Taming Of The Shrew” is enough to bring on hives in the modern woman, and even more so when she does that last bit about placing your foot beneath your husband’s hand as a sign of obedience.
But if you can get past that sticky plot point, “Shrew” offers giggles on the order of those to be had in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” fun enough for a summer’s eve.
Remember the old dictum “follow the money?” Our protagonist Petruchio (Steve Froehlich) lives by it, and has come to “wive it wealthily in Padua.”
So when he finds out that the very rich Baptista (Joel Castellaw) has decreed that his charming younger daughter Bianca (Jamie Channell Guzman) – who has no dearth of suitors – cannot marry until shrewish elder daughter Katherina (Kym Pappas) gets hitched (and whoever marries Kate will be well off), Petruchio volunteers for the shrew-taming job sight unseen.
He gets a bit more than he bargained for – Kate has an extremely sharp tongue and is not about to be buffaloed by this gold-digging turkey – but of course starvation and sleep deprivation can work wonders in the behavior department and it will all work out the way Petruchio wants it to.
Director Carla Nell updates the story with an opening-scene video portraying a bit of women’s history (credit Margo Flitcraft) including suffrage, Rosie the riveter and female athletes along with the traditional family scenes, played while Kate gets dressed.
Costume designer Alanna Serrano contributes some spiffy clothes of the 20th century variety. They look great, but setting this utterly unlikely plot in modern times gave me a bit of cognitive dissonance.
Highlights of the show: Froehlich and Pappas, who make fine adversaries as Petruchio and Kate, and even pretty fine allies.
Jamie Channell Guzman’s Bianca is absolute charmer, and her array of suitors (Kevin Six (Hortensio), Alex Guzman (Lucentio) and a gender-bending Kira Vine as Gremio) are an amusing lot.
Bravo to Nell for managing to put this rather oversized work in the tiny Diversionary Black Box at all, and for succeeding rather nicely despite little help from either Shakespeare or the space. This “Shrew” isn’t perfect, but neither is the source material, and it does offer enough giggles to keep you in your seat (but take a pillow). | {
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General Sharif’s visit also offered me the opportunity to express once again our condolences following the appalling recent terrorist attack on the Army school in Peshawar.
The re-opening of the school this week underlines the admirable resolve of the Pakistani people.
We will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Pakistan in the fight against terrorism and extremism.
As an indication of our support, I am pleased to announce that I have agreed to provide Pakistan’s armed forces with a range of specialist bomb disposal equipment to help it counter the threat from terrorist groups and save Pakistani lives.
| {
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Trekking in the province of Parma
For the trek and excursions lovers the territory of Parma is rich with itineraries either for short easy walks and tracks for more expert hikers, to reach the summits of the Appennino Tosco Emiliano's crests.
In the Ceno valley around Bardi, where ther's also the beautiful castle, there are many possibilities to enjoy the nearby woods and mountains, among which the Carameto and Barigazzo.
In the Taro valley, the area around the villages of Borgo Val di Taro, Bedonia and Albareto offers many different paths, as the ones at the valley floor and the ones among the chestnut woods and rivers up on mountains like the amazing Penna.
All these walks can also be made accompanied by the guides of the Associazione Guide Ambientali Escursionistiche Valtaro e Valceno: www.trekkingtaroceno.it
In the national park of the Appennino Tosco-Emiliano as well, there are countless paths on the mountains, in the woods and to the lakes of the Parco dei Cento laghi, among these we point out the ones to the Santo or Ballano lakes, the Monte Marmagna, Monte Orsaro, Monte Sillara or Monte Caio.
In the winter it is possible to ski on the resorts around Parma as Schia and Prato Spilla according to the snow situation.
In the Baganza valley, in the Municipality of Calestano, there's the chance to make a very peculiar experience, under stone towers and grey walls that come out of the woods, near the Scaletta and Cassio mountains: they are the famous Salti del diavolo, formed by polygenic conglomerations on the ocean bottom.
Otherwise in the low land, in the area of Fidenza, there are walks in nature along the Siccomonte valley, crossing the hills line located South of Fidenza in direction Tabiano, on tarmac roads, occasionally cross country and stoney paths. For details and maps, check the website www.valsiccomonte.it
If you wish to know our territory in a natural and slow way but never forgetting our gastronomy, you may contact one of the guides Parma City of Gastronomy. | {
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Lemon Bar
Lemon Bar
3.50
Based on my Grandmother's traditional lemon bar this sweet and sour treat has an amazing lemon flavor that is rich and tart. A sweet lemon filling sits on a Gluten-Free shortbread style crust. Also available on a dairy-free crust! | {
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Gold Dust Lounge closing, but hoping to move
San Francisco's Gold Dust Lounge, the Union Square drinking establishment that is being evicted from its current Powell Street home, is closing Wednesday night.
But not forever, according to Lee Houskeeper, a publicist for the bar.
The bar's owners, James and Tasios Bovis, plan to recreate the Gold Dust Lounge piece by piece in a larger space in Fisherman's Wharf, he said.
Houskeeper said he cannot yet disclose the exact location, for which a lease is still in the works.
He said "we don't expect a problem," but said he could not say exactly where it will be until the ink on the lease dries, which he hopes will happen before an afternoon news conference scheduled for Wednesday, he said.
"There's a lot of moving parts," Houskeeper said.
Work to be done includes stripping the existing space of its furnishings and decorations and reinstalling the items in the new space.
The process, which will get under way Thursday, is expected to take about four months, according to Houskeeper.
"I think people are grateful that the place is going to exist ... and that the Bovises are going to spend all this time to recreate the thing that they love," Houskeeper said of the bar's loyal patrons.
Fans of the establishment created a grassroots movement in support of the bar that ultimately failed to keep it in its current location.
In the meantime, Houskeeper said, the Bovis family will set up a temporary Gold Dust Lounge in a back room at Lefty O'Doul's, which it also owns. | {
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Report: Carson Wentz (back) not expected to play vs. Rams
Anticipation was high for the second meeting between Jared Goff and Carson Wentz on Sunday when the Eagles visit the Rams, but it looks like Los Angeles will be facing a Super Bowl MVP instead. According to Ian Rapoport, Wentz is not expected to play this weekend against the Rams due to a back injury.
It’ll be Nick Foles at quarterback.
#Eagles QB Carson Wentz, dealing with a back issue, is not expected to play this week, sources say. Depending on the result, given the time of year, Wentz may not play again in 2018. The team is still gathering info on his health.
Wentz has been limited in practice with a back injury before, dating all the way back to October. This has seemingly been a lingering issue, and with the Eagles nearly falling out of the playoff hunt, the team is playing it safe with its franchise quarterback.
In last year’s meeting with the Rams, Wentz suffered a torn ACL, which ended his season and gave the keys to Foles, who led Philadelphia to a Super Bowl title.
This is a huge break for the Rams, who were 9.5-point favorites over the Eagles prior to this announcement.
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Were not complaining. After all, this is something you'd expect in Kennebunk, the coastal Maine playground for the really rich and not-necessarily-famous. (Power is not measured in Twitter followers, dahling.) New Englanders heading up for a summer retreat at The White Barn Inn will now be able to book the bespoke experience of a customized Crustacean Crawl with the Relais & Chateau propertys esteemed chef Jonathan Cartwright. (Hes also the toque behind the fine dining Muse restaurants at two other tony Grace Hotels properties, Newports Vanderbilt Grace and Connecticut's Mayflower Grace.) ]]>
Scott Kearnan2014-06-13T13:41:50-05:00Find a Tax Deduction at a Maine Innhttp://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/2/10/225456/156
<![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/Inn_entrance.jpg" class="imgborder"><p>"Nature hates calculators," Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, likely around tax time. If slaving away at 2007's taxes have shown you that you need to create more opportunities for deductions this year, might we suggest planning a weekend getaway to the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Waldo+Emerson+Inn/local/1106"><b>Waldo Emerson Inn</b></a>, a bed and breakfast believed to be one of the oldest houses in Kennebunk, Maine?<p> Book a stay in May, when the inn--and other members of the Maine Innkeepers Association--cut room rates in half to support "Hospitality for Habitat," a program that raises funds for Habitat for Humanity projects in Maine. In exchange for the discount, guests who stay between May 1-23 will be asked to write a $35 check to Habitat forjennm2008-02-12T12:05:01-05:0043.381850 -70.519585Search HotelChatterSearch HotelChatterstringhttp://www.hotelchatter.com/search/ | {
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Parag Tyagi to be the next ‘bad man’ in Zee TV’s Maharakshak Aryan
Zee TV’s Maharakshak Aryan (Esselvision Productions) will get its next main villain in actor Parag Tyagi.
Parag, who got hooked to the ‘Kaanta Laga’ girl Shefali Zariwala, got his name and fame playing the character of Vinod Karanjkar, brother to Ankita Lokhande in Pavitra Rishta. The guy has also played the role of Sharifuddin Hussain in Jodha Akbar. With Shefali, Parag had participated in the dance reality show Nach Baliye 5.
After Mishal Raheja and Reshmi Ghosh, the maker has now roped in their next villain to plot and plan against Aryan (Aarakshan Singh).
As per a source, “Parag will essay the mighty character of ‘lohpurush’. And as suggested by his name, this iron man will pose to be a tough challenge for Aryan.”
When contacted, Parag confirmed the news stating, “Yes, I will be starting shoot for Maharakshak Aryan in a day or two. I will play a villain in the show, and Aryan will have to fight and win over me.”
Get ready for this new battle between good and evil in the Zee TV show. | {
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Pelican Bottles
Pelican’s latest line of drinkware is a go anywhere, do anything, must have addition to your way of life. Ruggedly engineered with 18/8 pro grade stainless steel, featuring a sweat-proof, powder coated finish that ensures your hands won’t slip from condensation, plus a non-Slip rubber base for increased durability.
We’ve also made sure that our new Pelican™ Bottles are effortless to transport, as each spill-proof lid is also an easy-carry handle. Just loop this through your fingers or attach it to your favorite backpack – the contents will be stowed safely inside until you’re ready for your next sip or pour. Able to hold hot or cold beverages, Pelican Bottles come in your choice of black or white, with size capacities of 18 oz., 32 oz., and 64 oz. | {
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One Of Many Planned Hotel and Resort Floating Bed Placements In Coming Months
Floating Bed Featured in recent issue of ‘Plenty Magazine’
LOS ANGELES, April 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Orbit Brands Corporation (“Orbit”) announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Floating Bed International (fka BBKO Corporation) has received another new media placement after its unique bed was installed in Pollywogg Holler, a Mountain Resort/Retreat located in Upstate New York.
William Castle had good feelings when he installed the Floating Bed in his Resort. “The Floating Bed room is our guests’ favorite room,” says William. “When calling for reservations, the #1 question they ask is whether the Floating Bed is available.” After his guests experience it, “They say it is the closest thing they have ever experienced to sleeping on a cloud.” It has received more media attention too. Mr. Castle’s resort, complete with a photo of the Floating Bed, was featured in a recent issue of Plenty Magazine (http://www.plentymag.com/). Floating Bed CEO, John Huff, added, “This is one of many planned Floating Bed hotel and resort placements you will see in the coming months. The Floating Bed is a very desirable product for hotels. If your business is about sleep, it makes sense to have the best bed in the world. Users often comment that they have never slept better than in the Floating Bed. Hotels are a great way to introduce individuals to it; then it sells itself. With 6 billion potential customers worldwide using this product 8 hours a day, our company is poised for dramatic growth. Who wouldn’t want the best bed available?”
About Orbit Brands Corp.
Orbit is a publicly traded Delaware corporation listed on the OTC Pink Sheets. The primary focus of the company is growth via the acquisition and development of early-stage, high-growth companies in the technology, health and fitness, and consumer goods industries. Orbit is positioned to identify, acquire, fund and develop these companies for the purpose of creating business and shareholder value.
About Floating Bed International
Floating Bed International is a specialty bed manufacturer. It designs and manufactures beds that are uniquely advantageous for the human mind and body by focusing on improving blood circulation. With its true pendulum motion, the “Floating Bed” actually balances the hemispheres of the brain, thereby inducing a relaxed, meditative state to facilitate faster and deeper sleep. For further information, please visit the company’s website at http://www.floatingbed.com/.
Hilton Completes its Portfolio in Beijing with Two New Hotel BrandsChina’s First Conrad, the Luxury Name of Hilton, and Scandic by Hilton, The Group’s Mid Market Offering, to Open in 2008 SINGAPORE, June 7 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ — Hilton International (HI) has signed two new management contracts for Beijing, including the first Conrad hotel in China and...
Cruise Ships to Serve as Floating Hotels for Super Bowl XXXIXCLIA Members Providing 3,819 Rooms to Meet Hotel Demand JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Jan. 31 /PRNewswire/ — Superlative service, outstanding cuisine, limitless activities and great value are but a few of the reasons why cruise vacations have soared in popularity. In fact, it is because cruise ships...
Hotel Resort Fees Are Back and Bigger Than EverHotel resort fees are perhaps one of the most annoying (and expensive) things in travel these days. Many large hotels, resorts and corporations insist on upsetting their own guests for profit. Kingman, AZ (PRWEB) August 15, 2006 — Hotel resort fees are perhaps one of... | {
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JPR Foundation hires executive director for Jefferson Live!
Randy Bobst-McKay is vice president for marketing and finance at Symphony Silicon Valley in San Jose
The JPR Foundation announced late Thursday that it has hired Randy Bobst-McKay, of San Jose, Calif., as the new executive director of Jefferson Live!
Comment
DailyTidings.com
Writer
Posted Feb. 1, 2013 at 2:00 AM
Posted Feb. 1, 2013 at 2:00 AM
» Social News
The JPR Foundation announced late Thursday that it has hired Randy Bobst-McKay, of San Jose, Calif., as the new executive director of Jefferson Live!
Bobst-McKay will lead the effort to restore Medford's historic Holly Theatre and manage the Cascade Theatre in Redding, Calif. He begins his new job on March 18.
"Randy has a combination of experience and expertise that meshes perfectly with managing the Cascade Theatre's ongoing successful operation with spearheading the work necessary to restore the Holly Theatre in Medford," JPR Foundation President Steve Nelson said in a press release.
"We are excited to get the Holly Theatre project back on track."
Bobst-McKay was hired after a three-month national search overseen by a committee comprising representatives of the JPR Foundation, the Holly Theatre Restoration Committee and the Cascade Theatre Advisory Committee.
Bobst-McKay is currently vice president for marketing and finance at Symphony Silicon Valley in San Jose. Formerly he was general manager and executive director of the Empress Theatre in Vallejo, Calif., where he oversaw a fundraising campaign to restore the 1911 building. He managed all restoration/construction activities and established operating systems and programming following the theater's restoration.
Bobst-McKay holds a Bachelor of Arts in Drama degree with an emphasis in technical theater and management from San Francisco State University. He has lived in several Pacific Northwest cities and has numerous family members who live in the Klamath Basin.
Bobst-McKay was selected from a national/local field of 26 candidates, many of whom had extensive experience managing historic theatre restoration projects.
Paul Westhelle, who has been acting as interim executive director of both the JPR Foundation and Jefferson Public Radio after his predecessor, Ron Kramer, was fired from the university in June, will continue as director of the radio stations. | {
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News Item: Homepage
Harper JH Open Monday- No Threat to Campus Found
Dear DJUSD Parent/Guardian,
Harper Junior High School will be open on Monday, March 5, 2018.
Today Davis Police officers, working with the Davis Joint Unified School District, were able to identify the source of the threat made against Harper Jr. High on Friday, a male student in his early teens. Further investigation revealed the threat was a prank. Any legal or school disciplinary measures related to this matter are being handled by the appropriate entity.
Harper Junior High School will be in session for a regular school day on Monday, March 5. We are thankful for the assistance of the Davis Police Department for their thorough investigation and dedication the safety of Davis students. In light of the recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida and other recent tragedies effective partnerships with the Davis Police Department are more important than ever.
At this point in time, all DJUSD schools are open on Monday, March 5, 2018. There are no known threats to any campuses.
We understand that events like this can cause fear and stress. If you have questions or need support for your student, please contact your child’s principal or counselor. | {
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Eat grapes to protect your teeth from decay
Eating grapes can protect your teeth from decaying as a recent study suggests a natural compound found in grapes can strengthen teeth and boost the strength of fillings.Scientists from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry say this discovery could stop people from losing teeth as the grape seed extract - a byproduct of the wine making industry which can be purchased from health food shops - has long been linked to health benefits such as improved heart function and better circulation.
Now the substance could reduce tooth extractions by increasing the longevity of composite-resin fillings - or tooth-coloured fillings - which typically last only five to seven years.
The results suggested that the extract has been found to toughen dentin, the tissue that makes up the bulk of the tooth, which lies beneath the hard external enamel, reports the Mail Online.
This means that when teeth are damaged, the remaining structure can be made stronger to bond with materials used in fillings.
It could spell good news for patients who opt for resin fillings because they are more aesthetically pleasing, even though they are not as tough amalgam fillings, which last 10 to 15 years or more.
A researcher Dr Ana Bedran-Russo said that when fillings fail, decay forms around it and the seal is lost. The team wants to reinforce the interface, which will make the resin bond better to the dentin.
Tooth decay can occur when acid is produced from plaque, which builds up on your teeth.
If the plaque is allowed to build up, the acid can begin to break down the surface of your tooth, causing holes known as cavities.
The cavity begins to eat away at the second level of tooth material that lies beneath the enamel: the dentin.
Interlocking the resin and collagen-rich dentin provides better adhesion and does not rely on moisture, the researchers stated. | {
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Pages
Mama Mia! World's Best Spaghetti and Meatballs
Buon giorno! I have a real taste treat that you're going to flip for. You'll throw away all your other spaghetti sauce and meatball recipes once you try this. I did. My daughter turned me onto a similar recipe a few years ago. I've made a couple changes and added the best yummy meatballs to make it even more special. Both are wonderfully spiced as written in the recipe so don't hold back. A dear true Italian friend, Lu taught me years ago to always "fry" your tomato paste a few minutes before adding the other wet ingredients. She said true Italians never use "raw" tomato paste in their cooking. It adds a depth to your sauce. Lu, if you're reading this from heaven, ciao!
For browning the meats, have you seen this Mix 'n Choptool from Pampered Chef? It makes light work of breaking up meat for cooking. Even the men in the family freak out if they can't find their "meat tool". I ordered mine on a recommendation and love it! Great gift idea for 10 bucks. Speaking of breaking up the meat, in general I'm kinda' of a "if less if good, then more would be better" girl. Don't do it. I've done it and it makes things mushy. You gotta' know when to stop.
Also, you know to never cook with a wine that you wouldn't drink, right? My parents weren't wine drinkers so I didn't grow up cooking with wine. But lo and behold, there isn't hardly anything that a good wine doesn't make better. And now I cook with it too. :) Any decent red wine will do. I've used cabernet and merlot and like both those. Use your favorite robust red.
For the herbs for both recipes, fresh is great when you have it in the summer but I don't go to the extra expense in the winter. I always like the Muir Glen brand tomatoes. You can find them on sale (4/$5) to make them comparable to other brands.
This recipe is special enough to serve to company, just make sure you make copies of the recipe. I always double both recipes and put several containers in the freezer. It is my husband's favorite go-to dinner. I wish I had smell-a-vision for you - the house smells delicious! Without further ado, here is Mama's Famous Spaghetti and Meatballs.
Brown the meats, breaking up into small bite size bits. Add onions and cook until soft. Add garlic and cook for a minute. Stir in tomato paste and "fry" for 2-3 minutes until just beginning to brown.
Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and water. Add mushrooms, basil, parsley, brown sugar, salt, crushed red pepper flakes, black pepper and wine. Stir well and bring to a simmer. When the meatballs are done baking, add them to the sauce. Stir carefully from now on to not break up the meatballs. Simmer low and slow 2-3 hours.
I serve with garlic bread and an Italian salad (greens, garbanzo beans, sliced olives, pepperoni, croutons) and don't forget the rest of that bottle of wine you opened. Mangia!
yes, cook the meatballs but I leave them a little undercooked because they will finish cooking in the sauce. I have seen some recipes that put uncooked meatballs in sauce to cook but personally, can't bring myself to put raw meat into sauce. Thanks for your question!
Follow the Nest!
Hello!
Please come in and make yourself comfortable. Take your shoes off, I'll put the coffee on and I've got that creamer you like. Let's talk house & home!
I love to see what other people are up to in their houses, don't you? Who doesn't love a good walk at dusk when people have their inside lights on and drapes open? Please tell me you do that too. :) I love to see how you're decorating, where you found this or that and even what you made for dinner.
I hope that you'll come back here often. No need to call ahead. And I'll leave the lights on and drapes open just in case!
Terry
Ps. I appreciate the time you took visiting today. I'd be grateful if you'd become a follower, comment along the way and let me know what you think. | {
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Speculation that Google would be introducing alternative operating systems for its Pixelbook has been around for quite some time, with references to Windows Hardware Certification Kit (WHCK) seemingly confirming the shift back in June. It looks like this might be getting closer to becoming a reality, as a new code …
Just as the rumours predicted, this week Apple quietly introduced a new range of MacBook Pros, complete with new Intel 8th Gen processors. It also comes with a few other features, like True Tone display support, a T2 subprocessor for improved security and a redesigned keyboard. Apple came under fire …
Last year Apple refreshed its MacBook Pro line with 7th Gen Kaby Lake processors from Intel. This all occurred shortly before the rollout of Coffee Lake for laptops. Since then, Intel has rolled out its 8th Gen U-series, so as you would expect, a new slate of MacBook Pros are …
The Microsoft Surface Pro is a great little piece of kit, but it has several glaring omissions. The chief of which is the lack of USB Type-C or Thunderbolt 3 support. Back in 2017, Microsoft said it would be shipping a dongle out to add compatibility, but nothing materialised until …
The Pixelbook is undoubtedly a lovely piece of kit. It features a 12.3-inch QHD screen encased in a premium looking chassis. The biggest hang-up about the hardware is the support for only ChromeOS. Google is looking to change that by adding support for Windows 10 to the Pixelbook. Over the …
ASUS has professionals in its sights, presenting its brand new ZenBook Pro range for the productivity focused. The ZenBook Pro 15 is the first in ASUS’ new hybrid line-up, offering users a built-in secondary display in the form of a 5.5-inch touchscreen panel in place of a traditional trackpad. Its …
Gigabyte has unveiled a whole host of laptops during Computex, under both its own banner and its gaming arm, Aorus. The highlight, however is the Gigabyte Sabre series, which is the world’s first laptop to pack Intel’s brand new i7+ platform. Gigabyte Sabre Series Taking on board feedback from gamers, …
At the start of May, Google announced at their I/O 2018 keynote that ChromeOS would be getting support for Linux apps. Until now, only the Pixelbook had this functionality but today Google added Linux app support to the Samsung Chromebook Plus. The lack of support for Linux apps is due …
Today at Computex 2018, MSI has launched its latest round of gaming laptops, focussed on trimming the fat and making its laptops thinner and lighter than ever before. The GF63 and PS42 laptops kick off this new initiative, switching to near edge-to-edge displays and a thinner form factor while retaining …
Wrapping up the ROG event at Computex yesterday was the launch of two new Strix laptops, the Scar 2 and Hero 2. The former targets FPS gamers while the latter targets MOBA enthusiasts. The Strix Scar 2 comes with highlighted keys for WASD keys while the Hero 2 comes with …
After eleven months of floating around in the ether, AMD’s Radeon Vega 56 has finally found its way into a laptop- specifically, the new Acer Predator Helios 500. There’s even the option to go all AMD by switching out the default Intel CPU with a 2nd Gen Ryzen 7 processor, …
PC Specialist is bolstering its gaming laptop line-up today with the official launch of the RECOIL II. This new 15.6-inch gaming laptop slims things down with a new brushed aluminium chassis, while offering plenty of gaming power with new Intel 8th Gen processors and Nvidia GTX 10-series graphics. This is …
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070? Check. Six-core Intel Core i7 running at more than 4GHz? Check. 16GB RAM? Check. Half terabyte SSD and whole terabyte hard disk? Check. This sounds like the perfect specification for a monster gaming tower. But it isn’t. These are the main details of the MSI GE73 …
Dell took a strange turn at the unveiling of its 8th generation gaming laptops in China last week, as the company placed a rather large focus on how the laptops allowed players to cheat more easily than other products by allowing for more plug-ins to be running simultaneously. Dell Australia …
Since 2015, Google has been continuously supporting its lineup of Pixelbook laptops, all sporting Chrome OS. In October, we finally got a hardware revision, with beefier processors and better battery life, but it looks like the next upgrade could be just around the corner. Reports this week claim that Google …
MSI has released its brand new range of laptops, introducing a few firsts along the way, from the GS65 Stealth Thin’s incredible high refresh rate IPS display to the high-powered processor in the GT75 Titan. Of course, the company hasn’t eschewed the RGB trend, introducing its GE63 & GE73 Raider …
Intel has officially launched its first six-core Coffee Lake processors for laptops. The new Coffee Lake-H series brings Core i9, Core i7 and Xeon chips to laptops, featuring six cores for the first time on an Intel mobile platform. Intel has been sticking with quad-core chips for high-end laptops since …
MSI has launched its new GS65 laptop to take full advantage of Intel’s new 6-core mobile 8th Gen. Coffee lake CPU. Quad core mobile CPUs have ruled the laptop roost since the launch of Intel Clarksfield in 2009 (yes, we had to look that up) so the leap forward to 6-cores was big news when the desktop Coffee Lakes launched in October 2017. The big question was when we would see these six-core CPUs in mobile form and the answer, finally, is ‘now’.
Xiaomi, the fifth largest smartphone maker in the world, is now venturing into the world of gaming. Xiaomi has branched out into mainstream laptops in the past, but this time around, Xiaomi is targeting gamers in China with the Mi Gaming Laptop, which packs a 15.6-inch display, a 7th-Gen Core i7 … | {
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Like most websites we uses cookies. In order to deliver a personalised, responsive service and to improve the site, we remember and store information about how you use it. This is done using simple text files called cookies which sit on your computer. These cookies are completely safe and secure and will never contain any sensitive information. They are used only by us. The information you provide will be used solely for dealing with you for your activities at Queen Mary Sailing Club. The club has a data privacy policy which can be found at https://queenmary.bookinglive.com/the-club/club-documents your data will be stored and used in accordance with this policy'.
London Youth Games
Welcome to the London Youth Games
The 2019 London Youth Games for sailing is taking place at Queen Mary Sailing Club over the weekend of 15/16 June 2019.
The London Youth Games have been inspiring young Londoners since 1977, when they were launched to mark the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Since then, borough teams have competed on an annual basis for the prestigious Jubilee Trophy.
Primary and seconday schools right across London come together every year at the School Games. They face off in four kinds of competition: intra-school, local inter-school, county finals and the School Games National Finals. Sailing is just one of the many sports that make up the games.
This web page is to provide information on the Queen Mary, including Boat Hire (scroll to the bottom of this page to book now), club opening times etc.
If you're interested in entering the Sailing Regatta, then you will need to follow these simple steps:
1. Click on this linkhere and scroll down to the 'Contact Your Borough' Section.
2. Type in the Borough you would like to represent. You must live and / or go to school in a Borough to represent them.
3. Once you have typed in your Borough, contact details will appear. Please contact your Borough Team Co-ordinator expressing your interest in competing at the Sailing Competition. You will need to provide your name, DoB, School, Home Postcode and the Sailing event you would like to take part in, in order to be entered into the competition.
Should follow the instructions of marshals at all times (most will be wearing high-visibility jackets).
Due to limited space, cars on upper level may not be left unattended at any time, nor may cars be parked there, except for those using our Disabled Parking Bays.
Unload your boat and move it to the boat park as directed.
After unloading your boat please immediately take your car to the car park on the lower level.
It is a competitor's responsibility to clean the underside of their boat before leaving the site, using the wash stations in either the boat park or the lower car park.
All visitors and competitors
To enter and exit the main gates, press the intercom button on the lower keypad, await instructions and enter / exit on the green traffic light - on NO account 'tailgate'.
Please follow the marshals' instructions for parking.
No dogs are allowed on site except working Assistance Dogs.
Registration in the Marquee will begin at 8.00 am on each day of racing.
Briefing for competitors will be held at 09.30 on each day of racing, on the ground floor.
Morning racing is scheduled to start at 10.30 and afternoon racing scheduled to start at 14.00 on each day of racing.
Changing rooms and toilets are located on the ground floor of the Clubhouse; including Disabled access facilities.
All competitors and support staff must wear correctly fastened buoyancy aids while on the water.
All spectators and competitors not launching or landing their boats shall not go onto the sloping banks or pontoons of the reservoir.
Bar and catering is available on the upper deck throughout the day- cash only, no facility for cards.
Boat Drop Off & Pick Up
If you are bringing your own dinghy, access to the club is during opening hours only (see below for the specific opening hours around the event). Please call the office prior to arriving to get confirmation of where your kit can be left. There will be limited boat storage options on the upper level in the boat park, with most boats being stored on the lower level before and/or after the event.
Outside of club opening times, access is not available to the club and grounds secured.
Opening Times
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday : 0900-1700
Wednesday: 0900-2100
Saturday and Sunday : 0700-1900
Boat Hire
We have 12 Picos, 4 Fevas and 6 Toppers available for hire, at a cost of £30 per day. Boat hire is per day and is bookable through our website - see the links below. If you require the use of a boat for the full weekend you must book it out for each day. Payment is needed at time of booking and we are unable to invoice for boat hire.
Should you be interested in hiring a Hansa 303, please call the Office on 01784 248881 to discuss your requirements, as these boats are not bookable online.
Boat insurance is provided by QM (damage waiver up to £400 for damage sustained through negligence)
The Terms & Conditions for LYG boat hire are available below
The Hire Agreement Form will be emailed out at time of booking so can be downloaded and completed prior to arriving on the day
Any enquiries regarding the hiring of boats for this event please call the office on 01784 248881.
TERMS & CONDITIONS FOR LYG BOAT HIRE
Ability
Hirers are responsible for communicating to Queen Mary Sailing Club their ability relative to the weather conditions and choice of craft. The Duty Officer on the day will decide on eligibility for hire in the conditions.
MASTHEAD FLOATS MUST BE USED ON ALL DOUBLEHANDED DINGHIES and are provided
Hirers must keep within the designated sailing areas and must not sail within the exclusion zones around dredgers, as indicated by the surrounding buoys.
Directions of the Duty Officer and Safety Boat Drivers must be followed at all times.
Clothing
All equipment hire includes use of wetsuits. Wetsuits or drysuits must be worn from November 1 to March 31 by all water users.
All equipment hire includes buoyancy aids which should be correctly worn at all times whilst on the water, pontoon or banks.
Payments
Hire rate is as agreed by QM
Should damage be sustained to the dinghy or a claim be made against the hirer, the damage waiver is a maximum of £400
Credit/debit card details will be kept securely by the QM office should a successful claim be brought against the hirer post event. QM will make every effort to contact via the details above before a charge is made, however should no communication be possible, QM reserve the right to charge a fair price to the card details provided.
Other
All equipment damage must be reported at reception as soon as practicable and must be paid for unless the damage is deemed to be due to reasonable wear and tear.
A responsible adult must remain on site to supervise under-18’s hiring
Queen Mary Sailing Club reserve the right to refuse or curtail hire at any time for reasons of safety or if the weather conditions become unsuitable or for any other reason. | {
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Advertising
'FlatOut 2' - v1.1 Euro Beta Patch Available NOW
Featuring an enhanced version of the originals lauded physics engine with even faster driving track designs, FlatOut 2 also boasts numerous improvements, enhancements and additions to make the title the definitive FlatOut experience. Twice as many vehicles, a more sophisticated career mode, additional race environments, double the number of tracks, twice as many mini-games along with brand new and much requested online multiplayer modes are just some of the exhaustive features that are included in FlatOut 2.
WARNING: This patch is BETA code, it is NOT officially supported by Bugbear Entertainment or Empire Interactive. The patch ONLY works with the European version and German version of FlatOut 2. It DOES NOT WORK with the North American version.
You may experience issues and bugs with this patch. Please report any issues you experience with this patch at http://forum.empireinteractive.com under FlatOut 2 Forum / FlatOut 2 PC PC gamers. Specify that you are running the BETA patch.
An official patch will be released soon when we have received feedback on the beta patch.
[1] INSTALLATION
Unzip all the files into the root of the installed folder (by default this is C:Program FilesEmpire InteractiveFlatOut2) and run the game as normal.
WARNING: If you experience any issues with the BETA patch, uninstall the full game then browse your installed folder (by default this is C:Program FilesEmpire InteractiveFlatOut2) and manually delete the following two files: patch & patch1.bfs
[2] NEW FEATURES
Voice chat added
Text chat added for the European version
Bandwidth detection, and adjustments to the network send bandwidth
Players are not disconnected if a race starts when they are not ready, instead they can wait in the lobby until the next race
Improved prediction of remote cars in multiplayer games
Simple cheat detection added for modified data and known hacks
The list of multiplayer games extended to show 100 games instead of 25
Only one kick vote can be initiated per race for the same player
Return to the list of multiplayer games when you exit the lobby and have previously been searching for a game
The draw distance for dynamic objects increased
Aspect ratio option added, widescreen support
Manual gearbox option added
Userdata added to network objects that can be used when making game modifications
New command line options added (see below, in COMMAND LINE OPTIONS)
[3] BUG FIXES
Fix for joining behind NAT devices
Fix for crash when refreshing the list of games
Fix for joining games that are just about to start
Fix for derby hang, when all other players disconnect before the derby starts
Fix for a hang when exiting the session at the same time as someone else is joining
Fix for the sorting of the list of multiplayer games. Now it sorts games in the lobby, with the games with least amount of players first
Fix for packet relaying between machines that cannot connect directly, now it uses bandwidth and latency for that
Fix for disconnects or crashes in stunt modes with low bandwidth
Fix for crash at the game start, just after the race has loaded
Fix for crash in races or derbies when more than one player gets disconnected at almost the same time
Fix for crash when searching for multiplayer games, and there's too many games in the list
Fix for a cheat where you are able to wreck the same player multiple times in derbies
Fix for time synchronization bug, when the PC clocks are running at different speed, caused the "No other players in the game" message to appear at the start of races
Longer timeout for joining, it was failing before due to timeouts in certain cases
Fix for the last character not appearing in the text chat for the North American version
Fix for text chat when the player names contains number for the North American version
Fixed a crash in the loading screen
Force feedback improved a bit
Fix for disappearing car in the desert town track
Fix for tournaments skipping races
Player details cannot be selected for players that are not fully connected
Fix for kicked players being able to join the same game again
Hardcoded 10% deadzone removed for steering wheels
[4] OUTSTANDING PROBLEMS
Black/White screen at the start of races. It's unsure if this is fixed or not, as an effect of some of the other fixes.
Sound issues with Creative sound cards. Use the WaveOut option in the game configuration to work around this problem.
Joins a game, either matching the matchname or the ip:port combination. If the game is a Gamespy game then the ip:port should be the public ports as registered on the Gamespy master server. If the game is a LAN game, then the ip:port combination could be any combination that would reach the host, preferably the private address on the same subnet. Matchname only works for Gamespy games.
-host
Creates a game on either the Gamespy master or on LAN, depending on whether the -lan parameter is specified. If a matchname is specified, the game will be joinable by a matching -join=matchname. Otherwise an ip:port combination has to be specified when joining. Matchname only works for Gamespy games.
-num_players
An optional parameter for -host=matchname. Normally when a game is created with that option it will not be publicly visible and joinable until one minute has expired. The only way to join it before that timeout is to specify -join=matchname. -num_players can make the timeout expire faster. If you specify this option, then the game will be publicly visible as soon as number_of_initial_players has joined
the game.
-lan
Specifies that you will join or create a LAN game instead of a Gamespy one.
-password
If this is specified, then only games that are created by a matching password will be visible and joinable. Games created when this option is set will be created with the password. The password option can be specified both when joining and creating from command line or when creating and joining the game normally.
-profilenr
Automatically selects a profile at game start. If the profile doesn't exist or is invalid, then the user has to choose the profile manually.
-public_addr
Can be used if you know your public address and port. Normally it shouldn't be necessary to specify this explicitly, but it can be used when joining LAN games, and port forward is enabled on the router, so that you know your public address. This option should be specified on LAN games, if the host is on the same subnet as a joiner and someone outside wants to join. Without this parameter the joiner inside the LAN and the joiner outside the LAN might not be able to communicate directly. Another case where this might be needed is if you have more than three IP addresses on the machine. This option is most useful for LAN games, as Gamespy games most likely will be able to connect anyway, however it might speed up the joining.
-private_addr
Forces the game to report this private address to other players. The game will automatically detect up to four IP addresses, but if you have more than that, then you might not be able to communicate with players on a subnet of an IP that isn't detected. Specifying -private_addr will force the game to put that IP first in the list. This option is most useful for LAN games, as Gamespy games most likely
will be able to connect anyway, however it might speed up the joining.
-join_timeout
Specifies the amount of time to try to join a game from command line. After this time expires, the user is given the option to retry or quit. The default is 30 seconds.
-join_retry
Specifies how often a new search will be done when joining a Gamespy game from the command line. The default is to do a search every 5 seconds. Dont set this option too small or it might overload the Gamespy servers.
-exportstats
Writes the game results of every multiplayer game into an xml file in the savegame folder. | {
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Robber disguised with prosthetics
A London 16-year-old who wore prosthetics to disguise himself as an elderly man while committing armed robberies was sentenced to five years in prison.
ADVERTISEMENT
Miles Alura, 16, was sentenced to prison Friday in Kingston Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to robbery, conspiracy to rob and possession of an imitation firearm.
Police said Alura and two teenaged accomplices -- a 16-year-old old sentenced to 3 years in prison and a 15-year-old subjected to a 12 month detention and training order -- committed a robbery July 3 at a jewelry store in Longfield, England. Investigators said Alura donned facial prosthetics, make-up and a hair piece to pose as an elderly man during the crime.
The suspects were arrested near the scene and police tied them to a June 7 robbery at a London jewelry shop. | {
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The white-morph gyrfalcon was just perched on the roof of building 1351-C. This is the West End Business Park at 1351 Kelly Lake Road, which roughly adjoins Southview Road and borders the river which flows into Kelly Lake.
A local birder, Grant Ens, just pulled up and also saw the bird with me just now. It just flushed to another building roof.
As per David Scott's Ontbirds post from last week regarding Kelly Lake gyrfalcons, sightings are by no means guaranteed; I have been in Sudbury visiting family for 5 days, have looked for the falcons each day, and today was the first time I have seen it.
Kelly Lake Road can be accessed by driving north on Southview Road, then turning left at the stop sign. Southview Road has a direct exit from Hwy 17.
David Pryor
Sent from my iPhone
> On Jan 1, 2014, at 3:39 PM, David Pryor <stg1 at sympatico.ca> wrote:
>> The white morph gyrfalcon is currently present on the roof of the West End Business Park on Kelly Lake Road, Details to follow.
>> David Pryor
>> Sent from my iPhone
> _______________________________________________
> ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization.
> Send bird reports to birdalert at ontbirds.ca> For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup>> | {
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Entry-level solutions for Southern African market
The number of single occupancy households in South Africa is on the rise, and it’s that social shift that is driving the change in the way that food, including snacks and confectionery, is consumed. In fact, the most recent data shows that out of all households in the country, single occupancy homes have increased from 16 percent overall in 1996 to 18 percent in 2007 (this means an increase of 290.000 households) – this rate is predicted to increase well into the future – this rate is predicted to increase well into the future.
With fluctuating wage levels and the rising number of single households, consumers’ attitudes are changing and they are seeking a more convenient, cost-effective way of purchasing their food, snacks and pharmaceutical products – in the form of smaller, single-serve packs. With less mouths to feed and less free income to spend, the need to buy bulk products to feed a family of four, for example, is quickly becoming redundant, which means less and smaller packaging is required – indeed, less is now more.
To address these trends, Bosch will launch its SVI 2600 vertical bagger into the South African market. The machine is specifically designed to serve a wide range of packaging applications, including confectionery, snacks, grains and other food and non-food products, ideal for the local market. The BVK 2000A will complete the line-up, designed to deliver increased efficiency to your flow wrapping operation, able to wrap one or several candies in a single pack with speeds up to 2,000 pieces per minute, ideal for producers in the quickly evolving markets of candies and chewing gum.
To learn more about the full range of technologies, and to see a number of machines first hand, visit Bosch at Propak Africa in the Expo Centre, Nasrec, Johannesburg, South Africa, from March 15 to 18 in hall 6, booth 6F6. | {
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Wednesday, a few of us appeared on the 550KRC morning show with Brian Thomas to talk about our recent successes with citizens taking back the political parties through central committee. On hand were Ohio Precinct Project co-founder, Rick Herron; newly elected “tea party” Warren County Republican Party Chairman, Ray Warrick; and Libertas Project Board Member, John Stevenot. […] | {
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Since our launch in 2010, we have grown from a small start-up with 12 employees to an award winning international business with 15 offices and 400 employees globally.
Spencer Ogden’s 10,000th placement was made by Singapore-based Mark Thompson, one of our Senior Consultants in our Oil & Gas division, for AMEC Foster Wheeler Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. Mark received a weekend in Ibiza for reaching this impressive milestone.
CEO, David Spencer-Percival says, “Whilst we have seen a dip in our Oil & Gas sector due to the collapse in the price of oil, current trading within the group is strong across our other energy sectors, and it is great to reach this milestone right now. We have seen a dramatic rise in our contract runners with a 200% increase from December 2014, and we are now fast approaching 1,000 contractors."
Spencer Ogden is the only recruiter to provide end-to-end solutions to our clients across every sector within the energy industry, and these milestones demonstrate the strength of our offerings across the entire energy landscape.
Spencer-Percival continues, “Our diversified energy strategy is working and with a third of the year already behind us, we are comfortably on target to reach £100 million turnover and an increase in net fees and profit for 2015.” | {
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You are here
We Buy Books
Selling secondhand books to us
We buy good condition secondhand books over a range of subjects. It should be noted that our speciality is military history so our buying dollar is more likely to be spent in that area. We are also, however, keen on looking at books relating to fishing, Aboriginal history/studies/art, Australian local histories, bushranging, trains and railways, Australian history, and a wide range of other topics.
Ultimately, what we are after at any given time—and what we can purchase—depends on what gaps we have on our shelves and in storage! If what you wish to sell does not meet our needs, we will try to point you to appropriate outlets.
If you live locally, and only have a few books to sell (say, up to two boxes), you may bring them to the shop anytime during our opening hours of Wednesday to Saturday 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
If you wish to bring in more than two boxes please ring to make an appointment.
Our shop is quite small, so if you have more than five boxes of books, we would prefer to arrange a home visit to appraise and quote.
When phoning to make an appointment to appraise your books at your home, it helps us if you can tell us how many books you have. If there are too many to count, an estimate of the linear metres will give us a good idea.
If your library consists of books on different subjects, please tell us what those subjects are.
If you don’t live in Canberra, we may ask you for a list of your books with specific details. We do visit interstate if the collection is of interest to us.
If you are only selling a portion of your collection, please separate these from those you don’t want to sell. It can be a disappointing experience for both of us if you have not, and can result in delays to the appraisal process.
Usually, our price offered is a total one, which takes into account all the books offered. If you want us to price something separately, please let us know beforehand.
Whether you bring books to the shop or we visit you, please note that we do not buy books in poor condition i.e. anything not attached to covers, that has heavy marking throughout, is water damaged or with any evidence of mould, that has torn or missing pages or plates. We only occasionally purchase ex library books.
A good usual test to determine if we would be interested in purchasing a less than pristine book is to ask yourself, would you yourself purchase that book from a secondhand bookseller? If, objectively you can’t see yourself buying a book in poor condition, chances are we would not want to purchase it either.
Please feel free to phone us first on 02 6290 0140 to discuss the books you wish to sell.
Selling new books to us
As well as secondhand books, we stock a range of carefully selected new military titles.
If you are about to publish or have just released a book relating to Australian military history, please email your release sheet, ordering terms and retail/wholesale price details to us at [email protected]
Please note: we only purchase new Australian titles from Australian publishers/authors. We prefer aviation and unit history titles, but will also consider other subject matter including Australian trout fishing and Canberra local histories. We no longer stock new naval titles, POW accounts, books relating to 19th century wars or the post-Second World War conflicts. | {
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What’s a multi SIM card?
A multi SIM card is a three in one card which can be used in every type of smartphone or tablet. Cutting into your SIM card or pasting parts together - it won’t be necessary anymore! A multi SIM card is composed of three parts (from big to small): standard SIM card, micro SIM card and nano SIM card. You just have to push the smaller card out of it’s bigger holder.
Are you using a SIM card which has became too small for your new phone? You can just switch to a bigger SIM card with the help of a SIM card adapter. You can find such an adapter in almost every electronics store. Just insert your micro or nano SIM card into the adapter and you can go along. | {
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Yaaaayyy Ugly Christmas sweater season! Who doesn't like a good mashup of two classics? Here's one mashing up two of my favorites. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and Silence of the Lambs. Hannibal Lecter looks like he made quite the trip to find Clarice!
Snoopy looking up at the Christmas tree.
My products can be found here
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You can follow me here.
https://m.facebook.com/Katastrasartworks/
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Put your humor mode on with this awesome tee shirt graphic that reads "Oy To The World" in big English text with beautiful Jewish symbol scattered like snowflakes! If you freaking love funny Christmas quotes, sayings, hanuka, hebrew, Israel, religious or the fun happy holidays, this tshirt is for you! Comfortable & stylish to wear to parties, events, celebrations, work & back to school!
This will be the best Christmas gift or birthday present idea for your friends or family who are looking for something casual, trendy, hilarious, fashionable, stunning or novelty shirts to wear this xmas holiday season. You'll get so many compliments and happy smiles that this will be the perfect ice breaker at parties, events & family gatherings! Grab this now and add this to your winter wardrobe collection of awesomeness!
Nakatomi Corporation Christmas Party T-Shirt, 1988. The Nakatomi Corp are a Japanese Company located at the Nakatomi Towers Plaza, Century City, Los Angeles. Show your support for the Nakatomi Corporation Christmas Party with this Nakatomi TShirt!
Celebrate the holiday with this super adorable The X-Files sweater! Featuring Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, The Lone Gunmen, John Doggett, Monica Reyes, CSM, Walter Skinner, Flukeman, and of course William & Daggoo! We want to believe that Santa is out there! And we will find him using Skinner's unofficial channels! | {
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Displaying news tagged: metal matrix composite
Setting another new milestone in metallurgy, scientists from HRL Laboratories have used their breakthrough process to 3D print metal matrix composite (MMC) parts utilizing a new nanofunctionalization process. | {
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how do call graphs resolve function pointers?
I am implementing a call graph program for a C using perl script. I wonder how to resolve call graphs for function pointers using output of 'objdump'?
How different call graph applications resolve function pointers?
Are function pointers resolved at run time or they can be done statically?
EDIT
How do call graphs resolve cycles in static evaluation of program?
Answers
It is easy to build a call graph of A-calls-B when the call statement explicitly mentions B. It is much harder to handle indirect calls, as you've noticed.
Good static analysis tools form estimates of the contents of pointer variables by propagating pointer assignments/copies/arithmetic across program data flows (inter and intra-procedural ["global"]) using a variety of schemes, often conservative ("you get too much").
Without such an estimate, you cannot have any idea what a pointer contains and therefore simply cannot make a useful prediction (well, you can use the ultimate conservative estimate that it will go anywhere, but I think you've already rejected that solution). | {
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A young guy in the Indianapolis metro area reviews food and gives his opinion on damn near everything in the food world.
Eat Random
The idea for this blog is to blog about everything I think about food and food culture. I'll tell you what I like to eat, where I like to eat it and if I thought it was good or if I thought it was crap. My thoughts about food could go anywhere. Hey if you don't like it go blog at methodicaldudereallythinksalotaboutthefoodhesgoingtoeat.blogspot.com
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Product Review: Dr. Pepper Ten
Pretty much since the very invention of diet soda beverage companies have been trying everything they can possibly frickin think of to make that very thing they invented taste more like the stuff they were already selling. Frankly, I don't get it. When I drink pop I prefer diet. Not really so much for it's "diet" properties, but I like it simply because I prefer the less sweet taste that accompanies it. Call me crazy, but it's what my parents drank when I was growing up and it's what I'm used to. However, typically for me this usually just applies to Coke vs Diet Coke. Diet Coke has it's own distinct flavor and isn't trying to be something it isn't. Unfortunately, the same can't really be said for other "diet" beverages like Coke Zero, Diet Mt Dew and Diet Dr. Pepper.
Oh Dr. Pepper, you are the most curious of beverages. It has a flavor you can't quite place, but most people either love it or hate it. Personally, I'm in the former camp having converted from the latter within the last year or so. It's even the one kind of pop that the manufacturer proudly claims that it "tastes more like regular Dr. Pepper". Or at least they used to anyway. Maybe one of the wizards at Dr. Pepper Snapple decided like I did that maybe their diet version doesn't have so much appeal after all. Hence the creation of Dr. Pepper Ten.
Dr. Pepper Ten was so new that when I bought it at the gas station it wasn't even entered as a product into the cash register yet, but the premise behind the drink is an old one. People like regular Dr. Pepper. People are trying to cut calories. People don't like Diet Dr. Pepper. Compromise and give them a Dr. Pepper with some but not zero calories. In this case the caloric count is 10 per serving or 20 per bottle. I had my hopes up for something a little less cloyingly sweet than regular, but a little less unappealing aftertaste than diet. After drinking the whole bottle I honestly have to say the results are a little inconclusive. I will say definitively that it really doesn't taste like regular Dr. Pepper, but more importantly I couldn't really discern what makes it different than the diet version already on the market. It tasted no sweeter and hand no different or stronger flavors. A swing and a miss here. Chalk it up as just another marketing ploy to sell more of what is basically their already existing Diet Dr. Pepper formula. Try it out yourself and let me know if you agree or disagree.
No I haven't retired. I've just been lazy I guess. I've been working extra hours, and it's been hard to get myself to sit down and blog when I come home. I'm going to try to sit down this weekend and do several posts and time them out. I should include several restaurant reviews so stay tuned.
About Me
I'm a 27 year old man living in the Indianapolis area and I love food. I like to eat well, but affordable and without pretense. If you have any restaurant suggestions feel free to email me at [email protected] | {
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Wednesday, June 22, 2005
There was a thread over on NDN a few weeks ago debating the hiring record of Monk vs. Father Ted as it relates to the football program.
I thought I'd take the discussion a bit further, look at all the ND presidents throughout history and compare the records of the football teams based on who was in charge when the hire was made. (For entertainment purposes only, of course.)
Here's what we've got (sorted by winning percentage):
President
Years / Coaches
Games
Wins
Losses
Ties
Pct.
John W. Cavanaugh
1908-1930 (Place thru Rockne)
200
171
19
10
.880
John J. Cavanaugh
1946-1953 (Leahy, postwar)
77
63
8
6
.857
John O'Hara
1941-1943 (Leahy, first time)
30
24
3
3
.850
Hugh O'Donnell
1944-1945 (McKeever, Devore)
20
15
4
1
.775
Andrew Morrissey
1894-1907 (Morison thru Barry)
107
74
25
8
.729
Charles O'Donnell
1931-1940 (Anderson, Layden)
90
63
22
5
.728
Ted Hesburgh
1954-1996 (Brennan thru Holtz)
474
329
137
8
.703
Edward Malloy
1997-2004 (Davie, Willingham)
97
56
41
0
.577
(It's embarrassing that a Morrissey is ranked lower than not one, but two Cavanaughs...but I digress.)
Despite Hesburgh's relatively low overall percentage (if you can call 70% low), Father Ted owns the all-time record for wins, and unless we see another 40-year tenure for a president at ND, this one's gonna stand up for time immemorial.
Also...check out that dropoff for you-know-who. Cough.
By the way, here's the record for wins according to the AD in charge at the time. Note that before Moose, Notre Dame didn't really have independent athletic directors; Rockne, Leahy, etc, all served as their own ADs.
Athletic Director
Games
Wins
Losses
Ties
Pct.
Krause
285
199
81
5
.707
Corrigan
189
130
56
3
.696
Wadsworth
60
35
25
0
.583
White
37
21
16
0
.568
Where's Dick Rosenthal, you ask? Well, he came in after Holtz was hired, and left before Davie, so technically he's never hired a coach at ND. That's not to minimize the great job Rosenthal did as AD; it's just that he doesn't qualify for this (narrow) study.
Finally, here's the backup data for all of this, just for the hell of it.
Coach
First
Last
Years
Games
Win
Loss
Tie
Pct.
Prez
AD
James L. Morison
1894
1894
1
5
3
1
1
.600
Andrew Morrissey
H.G. Hadden
1895
1895
1
4
3
1
0
.750
Andrew Morrissey
Frank E. Hering
1896
1898
3
19
12
6
1
.632
Andrew Morrissey
James McWeeney
1899
1899
1
10
6
3
1
.600
Andrew Morrissey
Pat O'Dea
1900
1901
2
20
14
4
2
.700
Andrew Morrissey
James F. Faragher
1902
1903
2
18
14
2
2
.778
Andrew Morrissey
Red Salmon
1904
1904
1
8
5
3
0
.625
Andrew Morrissey
Henry J. McGlew
1905
1905
1
9
5
4
0
.556
Andrew Morrissey
Thomas A. Barry
1906
1907
2
14
12
1
1
.857
Andrew Morrissey
Victor M. Place
1908
1908
1
9
8
1
0
.889
John W Cavanaugh
Shorty Longman
1909
1910
2
14
11
1
2
.786
John W Cavanaugh
Jack Marks
1911
1912
2
15
13
0
2
.867
John W Cavanaugh
Jesse C. Harper
1913
1917
5
40
34
5
1
.850
John W Cavanaugh
Knute Rockne
1918
1930
13
122
105
12
5
.861
John W Cavanaugh
Hunk Anderson
1931
1933
3
27
16
9
2
.593
Charles O'Donnell
Elmer F. Layden
1934
1940
7
63
47
13
3
.746
Charles O'Donnell
Frank W. Leahy
1941
1943
11
30
24
3
3
.800
John O'Hara
Ed McKeever
1944
1944
1
10
8
2
0
.800
Hugh O'Donnell
Hugh J. Devore
1945
1945
1
10
7
2
1
.700
Hugh O'Donnell
Frank W. Leahy
1946
1953
1
77
63
8
6
.818
John J Cavanaugh
Terry Brennan
1954
1958
5
50
32
18
0
.640
Ted Hesburgh
Krause
Joe Kuharich
1959
1962
4
40
17
23
0
.425
Ted Hesburgh
Krause
Hugh J. Devore
1963
1963
1
9
2
7
0
.222
Ted Hesburgh
Krause
Ara Parseghian
1964
1974
11
116
95
17
4
.819
Ted Hesburgh
Krause
Dan Devine
1975
1980
6
70
53
16
1
.757
Ted Hesburgh
Krause
Gerry Faust
1981
1985
5
57
30
26
1
.526
Ted Hesburgh
Corrigan
Lou Holtz
1986
1996
11
132
100
30
2
.758
Ted Hesburgh
Corrigan
Bob Davie
1997
2001
5
60
35
25
0
.583
Edward Malloy
Wadsworth
Tyrone Willingham
2002
2004
3
36
21
15
0
.583
Edward Malloy
White
Kent Baer
2004
2004
1
1
0
1
0
.000
Edward Malloy
White
So here's a good question: should Monk get credit for Charlie Weis? Or does Charlie represent the first Jenkins coach? Technically, Monk presided over the Weis hire, but given his opinion on the transition, it just wouldn't seem right. Give Charlie to Father Jenkins. | {
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Autism test could unlock much earlier diagnosis
A test for autism could allow far earlier diagnosis in children, British researchers claim, having discovered what appear to be chemical indicators in blood and urine samples. Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is believed to impact approximately 1 in 100 people, but with its broad range of symptoms can be difficult to correctly identify thus delaying possible treatment.
Indeed, while autism is often referred to as a singular condition, in reality it’s an umbrella term that encompasses a wide array of disorders. According to the DSM-5, the latest iteration of the diagnostic tool used by the American Psychiatric Association, ASD covers everything from Asperger syndrome through lesser-known conditions like childhood disintegrative disorder. Each has different combinations of presentation, which can include problems in social interaction, struggling with communication, and repetitive behaviors.
Symptoms generally begin to display – or at least be identified – by the time the child is 1-2 years old. Nonetheless, settling on a diagnosis can take considerably longer. Researchers led by a team at the University of Warwick, however, have identified the basis for what they describe as a test that flags the “fingerprints” of ASD much earlier than traditional methods.
Their discovery was of a link between ASD and proteins in blood plasma which had been damaged by oxidation and glycation. In children with ASD, proteins in their blood plasma were found to have higher levels of the oxidation marker dityrosine (DT), along with certain sugar-modified compounds called “advanced glycation endproducts,” or AGEs. In addition, they tested – and confirmed – previous suggestions that amino acid transporter mutations are a genetic variant associated with ASD.
The system included using artificial intelligence to create an algorithm that can distinguish between ASD and non-ASD samples. It also opens the door to much greater understanding of the disorder. Indeed, the researchers suggest that while a combination of genetic causes, environmental factors, and rare genetic variants are known to be causes of autism, the tests could reveal other causes we currently don’t know about.
“Our discovery could lead to earlier diagnosis and intervention,” project lead Dr Naila Rabbani of the University of Warwick said of the research. “We hope the tests will also reveal new causative factors. With further testing we may reveal specific plasma and urinary profiles or “fingerprints” of compounds with damaging modifications. This may help us improve the diagnosis of ASD and point the way to new causes of ASD.”
Actually treating the disorder has proved controversial. While there is no known cure for autism, behavioral-based therapies and special education have been shown to give those on the ASD spectrum better skills at managing in daily life. The efficacy of such has been shown to improve the earlier such therapies are begun, something which could clearly benefit from earlier diagnosis.
The research findings have been published in a paper today, “Advanced glycation endproducts, dityrosine, and arginine transporter dysfunction in autism—a source of biomarkers for clinical diagnosis,” in the journal Molecular Autism. Nonetheless, we’re still some way from an actual test that could be applied to children.
Autism test could unlock much earlier diagnosis
You are reading an article on the Autism test could unlock much earlier diagnosis. All materials on the site Gadgets F, а также и статья Autism test could unlock much earlier diagnosis - written for the purpose of information enrichment and we are happy if you like our magazine. | {
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The shiny oasis in the desert, you have quenched my thirst.You are the place where we immerse.The sacred city, the city of trees and fruit.You fill the heart with love for thee and the chance to salute.To be near the beloved, your Salam is my prize.It is surely a dazzle for the eyes.Your house is my house, your friends are my friends.You all have led the way for us today.This city is my city, the true place of peace.Our love for you I wish will always increase.I long to never leave and return I shall.Truly a lift to our future morale.
The ultimate meeting place, amazing to see.A place he left she without any trees.It is but my honor that you choose to invite.To take us out of the darkness, I am truly grateful for your light.My host is the best host.Your house is my house.Your friend is my friend, how honorable is he.For our beloved is from his tree.The many are there all for your sake.Seeking your pleasure, all our cry's you take.We do as they do, it is a great task.Again it is but my honor that you allow us to ask.So many doing as one all from here and there.We come together under your loving care.Our eyes are affixed and our heart is there.A place where you teach and you forgive and you give.As we walk around and around, it is but sacred holy ground.Seven times in the direction you deem.I can always see it now, just like a dream.
As we stand that day on the mountain, it is like no other.A day we truly become brothers.We then sleep together as one, under the sky.Ready to move on, ready to fly.From the rocks, the water flows and flows.For millions to savor as we ask and we ask for your favors.Its powers are great, never ending and pure.So many partake for this only you can insure.We are all there, as commanded by thee.From you alone we seek the sacred keys.For the chance to fix all that went wrong.From you alone do we ask.For you are the glorious.You are the strong.
Medina and Mecca
Replies: Posted By: semar
Date Posted: 20 January 2012 at 9:33am
Masha Allah, it's very beautiful.
-------------Salam/Peace,
Semar
The Prophet said: "Do not eat before you are hungry, and stop eating before you are full"
"1/3 of your stomach for food 1/3 for water, 1/3 for air" | {
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Cannabinoids
What’s the difference between THC and CBD?
THC and CBD are cannabinoids, which are chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant that bind to receptors in the brain and central nervous system, creating different types of effects. The cannabis plant contains roughly 400 other chemical compounds, but THC and CBD are the two cannabinoids that we know the most about.
THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the intoxicating compound in cannabis that causes euphoric or relaxed feelings, or the “high”. The amount of THC determines the strength of a cannabis product. Dried cannabis ranges from less than 1% THC to about 25%. Products containing 20% THC and up will produce very strong effects, especially for people new to cannabis. It’s best to start with less than 10% total THC.
CBD, or cannabidiol, doesn’t cause intoxication. It can decrease the intoxicating effects of THC, so for those who use cannabis, it’s a good idea to choose products with at least some CBD. While CBD is being studied extensively for possible medical effects, retail store employees can’t offer medical advice to customers. If you’re looking for medical advice about cannabis, speak to your doctor or other healthcare professional.
What’s the difference between THC and total THC?
A chemical reaction happens when cannabis is heated. During this reaction, the amount of THC in a product can actually increase based on the strength of the plant.
THC and total THC are both listed on the packaging of every product. Look at the total THC to know the maximum amount of THC you may ingest when you use cannabis. This higher THC percentage will give you the best idea of how cannabis will affect you.
Ways to Use Cannabis
What are cannabis oils?
Cannabis oils are extractions of THC and/or CBD from the cannabis plant that are in carrier oils like olive, grapeseed or coconut oils. Cannabis oils will be available for sale in licensed cannabis stores. Cannabis oils can be used by placing droplets under the tongue or by infusing into edibles.
Unlike dried cannabis, the THC and CBD contents of cannabis oils are listed in mg/ml instead of a percentage. You’ll see ranges of less than 1 mg/ml up to 30 mg/ml. Like dried cannabis, it’s always best to start with a lower level of THC and an equal or higher level of CBD.
If you’re using cannabis oils, check to make sure you’re not allergic to the ingredients, as they may contain peanuts, soy or other allergens.
What are edibles?
Cannabis edibles are products infused with THC, the intoxicating compound from the cannabis plant. Edibles could also be infused with CBD. THC and CBD can be added into edible products like brownies, muffins, candies, juice, etc. Edibles will not be available for retail sale on October 17, 2018, but legal users can make their own.
Consuming edibles is safer for your lungs than smoking or vaping cannabis, but it can take much longer (up to 2 hours) before you feel the effects, which increases the risk of overdose. If you’re making edibles, estimate the amount of THC in milligrams and portion out serving sizes of less than 3 mg to 5 mg, especially if you’re new to cannabis. Start with one serving and wait at least 90 minutes before you consume more, so that your body can metabolize the edible and you feel the effects.
Buying Cannabis
Where can I buy legal cannabis?
In Manitoba, you can only buy legal cannabis from a cannabis retailer licensed by the Liquor, Gaming & Cannabis Authority of Manitoba (LGCA). Visit the LGCA’s website for a list of licensed retail stores or to learn more about cannabis regulation in Manitoba.
Health and Safety
What’s wrong with mixing cannabis and alcohol?
It’s never a good idea to mix alcohol and cannabis because they make intoxication more intense and unpredictable. Consuming alcohol and cannabis together puts you at a greater risk of negative health, psychological, social and safety consequences.
Can you overdose on cannabis?
Yes. A cannabis overdose may result in nausea, vomiting, psychosis, seizures and/or loss of consciousness. To lower your risks, follow Canada’s Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines and the strategies highlighted in this campaign. | {
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