Reflections on the renowned Austrian composer and how his works inspired the creation of 'Impromptu, After Schubert'.
Richard Mills is one of Australia's most sought after composers and music directors. We talk with Richard about his work, which reflects on the renowned Austrian composer Franz Schubert (1797–1828) and is being performed with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra this September.
It is a meditation in response to two fragments from Schubert songs, 'Ariette' and 'Auf dem Wasser zu singen', the first in G major, the second in A-flat minor. These fragments are the exclusive provenance of an off-stage piano, the quotations call from times past through time. The orchestra both responds to and develops the song fragments, taking some of the classic fingerprints of Schubert: the expressive alternation of major and minor, the lilting rhythms and the harmonic pungency. There are also subliminal references to the Symphony No.8 and Winterreise as the music unfolds.
Time vanishes from me on the rocking waves.
Until, on higher, more radiant wings, I myself vanish from the flux of time.
What are the origins of the piece?
Impromptu, After Schubert was originally a 2014 TSO Commission for a concert including Schubert, conducted by Marko Letonja [TSO Chief Conductor and Artistic Director]. Simon Rogers [TSO Director of Artistic Planning] wanted an opening piece that made some reflection on Schubert. This isn't something I do often but have now composed a piece which reflects on another work on two occasions for the TSO.
You've had a long association with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (TSO), when did you first begin working with the orchestra and why?
I certainly have – in fact 2018 marks 40 years since I first composed for and conducted the TSO (in 1978). I was TSO Principal Percussionist from 1976-1977. The TSO holds a very special place in my heart, during my time working with the orchestra I wrote my first real music, which the TSO then performed.
I'm very proud of the TSO, what it has achieved in quality of performance under Marko Letonja, as well what it has achieved internationally with the Australian Music Program is truly remarkable.
In fact Tasmania is, in many ways, my spiritual home. The quality of light, the sense of place and sense of history, along with the wild beauty of the state, is a great inspiration for me.
You have also been closely involved with the Melbourne Recital Centre, what is about this venue that makes it hold such a unique position in Melbourne's cultural landscape?
I was a very early Board Member of the Melbourne Recital Centre, which is such a special place in Melbourne as it enables music to exist in many forms. Both halls are beautiful spaces, aesthetically and acoustically, and there is such a diverse range of activity throughout the centre. In Melbourne, the Melbourne Recital Centre has provided a tremendous boost for all kinds of music. It is ideal for the upcoming TSO performance, and the next day the TSO will join my other organisation Victorian Opera for a concert performance of Bellini's The Capulets and The Montagues.
The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra performs Richard Mills' 'Impromptu, after Schubert' plus works by Strauss and Schubert in Elisabeth Murdoch Hall on Thursday 13 September.


text:
Sri Lankan protoganists jockey for power
Posted on August 15, 2006 | Defense
Aug 15 (AFP) – The fiercest fighting between Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tiger rebels for four years appears to be an attempt by both sides to gain the upper hand before eventual peace talks, analysts say. The Sri Lankan government ordered the closure of schools fearing rebel reprisals against school children elsewhere in a move analysts said underscored the fear and uncertainty that had gripped the country. A Norwegian-arranged truce is in tatters and both sides accuse each other of plunging the country towards full-scale war, but they also publicly commit to a faltering peace process that has been on hold since April 2003.
While the two sides argue about casualty figures, there is little doubt the fighting between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the army that began on Friday in northern Jaffna peninsula has been the bloodiest in years.
The military says it has lost 150 soldiers and more than 300 have been wounded.
The defence ministry says at least 200 rebels have been killed and over 350 wounded, although the Tigers say they lost only 22 fighters in the first two days of fighting and have given no record of casualties since.
A conservative official estimate places the

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
/*
 * AbortIndication.h
 *
 *  Created on: 31 juil. 2014
 *      Author: FrancisANDRE
 */

#ifndef ALS_SSAP_USER_ABORT_INDICATION_H_
#define ALS_SSAP_USER_ABORT_INDICATION_H_
#include "als/base/user/Indication.h"
using ALS::BASE::USER::Indication;

namespace ALS {
namespace SSAP {
namespace USER {

class AbortIndication : public virtual Indication {
public:
// in WinUser.h #define SC_SIZE         0xF000
#ifdef SC_SIZE
#undef SC_SIZE
#endif
	// initial DATA from peer
	/** maximum initial DATA from peer. */
	static const int	SC_SIZE = 512;

	/** Drain for 30 seconds on ABORTs. */
	static const int	AB_TIM = 30;

	/** Drain for 30 seconds on REFUSEs. */
	static const int	RF_TIM = 30;

public:
	/**
	 * S-U-ABORT.INDICATION.
	 *
	 * @param reason the reason of the abort
	 * @param datas the data from the peer
	 * @return the return code
	 */
	virtual ReturnCode SUAbortIndication(int reason, int cc = 0, const void* data = nullptr) = 0;

	/**
	 * S-P-ABORT.INDICATION.
	 *
	 * @param reason the reason of the abort
	 * @param extension TODO
	 * @param message the data for messages from provider
	 * @return the return code
	 */
	virtual ReturnCode SPAbortIndication(int reason, int extension, int cc = 0, const void* data = nullptr) = 0;
};

}
}
}

#endif

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Create Your Own Birthday Card create your own birthday card birthday cards design your own design your own birthday card my printable. create your own birthday card how to create make your own birthday invitations invitations card printable. create your own birthday card create own birthday card create your own birthday card make your own template. Create Your Own Birthday Card create your own birthday card make a printable card create your own printable birthday card create free. create your own birthday card make your own birthday invitations free party invitation card with templates. create your own birthday card create your own birthday card create your own greeting cards create template. Create Your Own Birthday Card create your own birthday card hallmark make your own card beautiful hallmark online birthday card free.
Create Your Own Birthday Card create your own birthday card how to create make your own birthday invitations invitations card printable. create your own birthday card create own birthday card create your own birthday card make your own template. create your own birthday card make a printable card create your own printable birthday card create free. create your own birthday card make your own birthday invitations free party invitation card with templates. create your own birthday card create your own birthday card create your own greeting cards create template.


text:
Study in USA: Wien International Scholarship Program (WISP) at Brandeis University 2022
👤 Eligibility: In Scholarships for Undergraduates (RSS)
🕡 Deadline: Jun 25, 2022 (See all deadlines)
Brandeis University in the United States of America is delighted to offer the Wien International Scholarship Program (WISP) to suitably qualified international students who wish to enroll in a degree program at the University for the commencing academic session.
The Wien International Scholarship Program (WISP) at Brandeis University, established in 1958, is a first-of-its kind program bringing students from every corner of the globe to campus and engaging the entire community to be active global citizens.
Wien International Scholarship Program has brought over 894 scholars from 115 countries to Brandeis, and its graduates continue to be committed to Brandeis University and to improving the world.
SEE ALSO: Study in USA: Tulane University International Student Financial Aid 2022
Eligible applicants for this scholarship are expected to meet the following eligibility criteria;
Applicants must be international student.
All undergraduate courses and subjects in science, the arts, politics, business, and the humanities offered by the university are eligible.
Applicants must meet all the following/given criteria:
The applicants must be active in extracurricular activities and other non-academic activities.
The applicants must be enrolled and accepted into the university.
Interested and eligible applicants for the Wien International Scholarship Program (WISP) to study at Brandeis University in the United States are required to apply using the university application portal.
The applicants can also apply through the Common Application.
Accepted students who fit the eligibility of the award will be considered.
The applicants must submit the following documents:
Financial documentation
Visit the OFFICIAL PAGE for further information. DROP COMMENTS for questions/suggestions.
About the Author: Othuke Veno
Metallurgical & Material Engineer, Content Creator, Federal University of Technology Akure. Join me on Twitter.


text:
Russia vows to continue support for Venezuela, including with aid
Moscow (AFP)
Russia will maintain its support for Venezuela's government, including with aid supplies, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday.
"Russia will continue to assist the Venezuelan authorities in resolving social and economic problems, including through the provision of legitimate humanitarian aid," Lavrov said at a joint press conference with Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez.
At the start of talks with Rodriguez in Moscow, Lavrov expressed Russia's "support and solidarity" for Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in the country's political standoff.
"We are very closely cooperating and coordinating all our steps on the international arena," Lavrov said.
"This has acquired special significance now that Venezuela is facing a frontal attack and unabashed interference in its domestic affairs."
Battered by an economic meltdown, Venezuela descended into political crisis when opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president in January and asserted that Maduro was no longer legitimate.
Maduro and his allies -- including Russia -- have accused Washington of attempting to carry out a coup against his government.
The United States has recognised Guaido and led a diplomatic campaign in support of his leadership.


text:
Q: pandas groupby column then create two other columns based on third column I am trying to group a dataframe by a column and get the total "Approved" or "Not Approved" values based on this grouping, but with no success.
Example:
PlaceTest | Approved
       21 |        1
       21 |        0
       22 |        1
       22 |        0

My desired output:
PlaceTest | Approved | NotApproved
       21 |        1 |           1
       22 |        1 |           1

Thanks!

A: Given
>>> df
   PlaceTest  Approved
0         21         1
1         21         0
2         22         1
3         22         0

you can issue
>>> df.assign(NotApproved=1 - df['Approved']).groupby('PlaceTest').sum().reset_index()
   PlaceTest  Approved  NotApproved
0         21         1            1
1         22         1            1

A: You can achieve this slightly different way, which is two line process though.
$ df
   Approved  PlaceTest
0         1         21
1         0         21
2         1         22
3         0         22

First groupby and sum with a new column:
$ df['Not Approved'] = df.groupby('PlaceTest')['Approved'].sum()

lastly again groupby with fillna
$ df = df.groupby('PlaceTest')['Approved', 'Not Approved'].sum().fillna("1").reset_index()

$ df
   PlaceTest  Approved Not Approved
0         21         1            1
1         22         1            1

Note : Its working with pandas version 0.21.0.
For version greater than 0.21.0 should use as follows for the above use case:
>>> df.groupby('PlaceTest')['Approved', 'Not Approved'].max().fillna("1").reset_index()
   PlaceTest  Approved Not Approved
0         21         1            1
1         22         1            1

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Select Your Currency Australian Dollar - AUD Bermudan Dollar - BMD British Pound - GBP Euro - EUR New Zealand Dollar - NZD South African Rand - ZAR US Dollar - USD
Welcome to the Xtra Dog Shop
Xtra Dog Shop
Alcott Collars and Leads
All Collars
Spiffy Dog Collars
A Tail We Could Wag Collars & Leads
Up Country Collars & Leads
Xtra Dog Leads
Fleece Collars by Adanac
Collar Lights
Dog Walking accessories
Poo Bags & Holders
Custom Fit Harnesses
Flyball Harnesses
Multi-Sport Harnesses
Walking Harnesses
Fleece Harnesses
TTouch Harnesses
Water Repelling Harnesses
XBack Sledding
Dog Scooters
Walking Belts
Snow Mates Toys
All For Paws Ball Throwers
GoDog Plush
goDog RhinoPlay
goDog Retrieval
Food Toys
Raised Pet Feeders
Slow Feeders
Road Refresher Non-Spill Bowls
HIK9 Raised Beds
HiK9 Dog Bed Accessories
Training / Anxiety Coats
Calm Coat
Training Leads
2 Hound Designs
3M Ace
Adanac
APDT
Buckledown Collars and Leads
Canine Friendly
Dexas Popware
Doggie Walk Bags
DOOG
Go Dog
Hi-K9
Karen Prior Training
KarmaWrap
Nose-It
Pawtrekker
Pet Top
Positive Dog Company
Prestige Pet Products
PupLight
Spiffy Dog
SureSwivvel
Tellington TTouch
Twigo
Xtra Dog
Dogucation Zone
TTouch
Our TTouch Website
Fear of fireworks and other noises
TTouch Groundwork
TTouch Bodywork
Stop Your Dog Pulling on the Lead
Using Wraps and Calming Coats
Six Reasons for using a dog harness
Dogs Suffering from Noise Sensitivity
Puppy Advice
Stop Dogs Pulling on the Lead
Do Harnesses Make Dogs Pull?
Gun Dog Training with Shelley Heading
House Training
Controlling Dog Barking
Choosing a Trainer
Training Advice
Reward based Training
Scentwork
Dog Nutrition & Health
Natural Dog Feeding
Effects of Dog Fleas
Guide to feeding dogs
Sled Dog Zone
History of the Alaskan Husky
History of the Siberian Husky
Interview with Jack Beckstrom
What Does This Policy Cover?
What Data Do We Collect?
How Do We Use Your Data?
How and Where Do We Store Your Data?
Do We Share Your Data?
What Happens If Our Business Changes Hands?
How Can You Control Your Data?
Your Right to Withhold Information
How Can You Access Your Data?
XD Retail LLP understands that your privacy is important to you and that you care about how your personal data is used and shared online. We respect and value the privacy of everyone who visits this website, www.xtra.dog ("Our Site") and will only collect and use personal data in ways that are described here, and in a manner that is consistent with Our obligations and your rights under the law.
Please read this Privacy Policy carefully and ensure that you understand it. Your acceptance of Our Privacy Policy is deemed to occur upon your first use of Our Site. If you do not accept and agree with this Privacy Policy, you must stop using Our Site immediately.
means an account required to access and/or use certain areas and features of Our Site;
means a small text file placed on your computer or device by Our Site when you visit certain parts of Our Site and/or when you use certain features of Our Site. Details of the Cookies used by Our Site are set out in section 13, below;
means the relevant parts of the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003;
means any and all data that relates to an identifiable person who can be directly or indirectly identified from that data. In this case, it means personal data that you give to Us via Our Site. This definition shall, where applicable, incorporate the definitions provided in the EU Regulation 2016/679 – the General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR"); and
"We/Us/Our"
means XD Retail LLP, a limited liability partnership registered in England under company number OC387520, whose registered address is Kings Offices, 2 Millers Lane, Costock, LE12 6XJ, United Kingdom.
2.1 Our Site is owned and operated by XD Retail LLP, a limited liability partnership registered in England under company number OC387520, whose registered address is Kings Offices, 2 Millers Lane, Costock, LE12 6XJ, United Kingdom.
2.2 Our VAT number is GB170624228.
2.3 Our Data Protection Officer can be contacted by email at info@xtra.dog, or by post at Kings Offices, 2 Millers Lane, Costock, LE12 6XJ.
This Privacy Policy applies only to your use of Our Site. Our Site may contain links to other websites. Please note that We have no control over how your data is collected, stored, or used by other websites and We advise you to check the privacy policies of any such websites before providing any data to them.
4.1 As a data subject, you have the following rights under the GDPR, which this Policy and Our use of personal data have been designed to uphold:
4.1.1 The right to be informed about Our collection and use of personal data;
4.1.2 The right of access to the personal data We hold about you (see section 12);
4.1.3 The right to rectification if any personal data We hold about you is inaccurate or incomplete (please contact Us using the details in section 14);
4.1.4 The right to be forgotten – i.e. the right to ask Us to delete any personal data We hold about you (We only hold your personal data for a limited time, as explained in section 6 but if you would like Us to delete it sooner, please contact Us using the details in section 14);
4.1.5 The right to restrict (i.e. prevent) the processing of your personal data;
4.1.6 The right to data portability (obtaining a copy of your personal data to re-use with another service or organisation);
4.1.7 The right to object to Us using your personal data for particular purposes; and
4.1.8 Rights with respect to automated decision making and profiling.
4.2 If you have any cause for complaint about Our use of your personal data, please contact Us using the details provided in section 14 and We will do Our best to solve the problem for you. If We are unable to help, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK's supervisory authority, the Information Commissioner's Office.
4.3 For further information about your rights, please contact the Information Commissioner's Office or your local Citizens Advice Bureau.
Depending upon your use of Our Site, We may collect some or all of the following personal and non-personal data (please also see section 13 on Our use of Cookies and similar technologies):
5.1 name;
5.2 date of birth;
5.3 business/company name
5.4 job title;
5.5 profession;
5.6 contact information such as email addresses and telephone numbers;
5.7 demographic information such as post code, preferences, and interests;
5.8 financial information such as credit / debit card numbers;
5.9 IP address;
5.10 web browser type and version;
5.11 operating system;
5.12 a list of URLs starting with a referring site, your activity on Our Site, and the site you exit to.
6.1 All personal data is processed and stored securely, for no longer than is necessary in light of the reason(s) for which it was first collected. We will comply with Our obligations and safeguard your rights under the GDPR at all times. For more details on security see section 7, below.
6.2 Our use of your personal data will always have a lawful basis, either because it is necessary for Our performance of a contract with you, because you have consented to Our use of your personal data (e.g. by subscribing to emails), or because it is in Our legitimate interests. Specifically, We may use your data for the following purposes:
6.2.1 Providing and managing your Account;
6.2.2 Providing and managing your access to Our Site;
6.2.3 Personalising and tailoring your experience on Our Site;
6.2.4 Supplying Our products and services to you (please note that We require your personal data in order to enter into a contract with you);
6.2.5 Personalising and tailoring Our products and services for you;
6.2.6 Replying to emails from you;
6.2.7 Supplying you with emails that you have opted into (you may unsubscribe or opt-out at any time by following the instructions in section…..;
6.2.8 Market research;
6.2.9 Analysing your use of Our Site and gathering feedback to enable Us to continually improve Our Site and your user experience;
6.2.10 Our online chat feature.
6.3 With your permission and/or where permitted by law, We may also use your data for marketing purposes which may include contacting you by email, telephone, or post with information, news and offers on Our products and services. We will not, however, send you any unsolicited marketing or spam and will take all reasonable steps to ensure that We fully protect your rights and comply with Our obligations under the GDPR and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003.
6.4 Third parties (including Facebook, Twitter, 123FormBuilder, Hotjar, Mailchimp and Helpscout) whose content appears on Our Site may use third party Cookies, as detailed below in section 13. Please refer to section 13 for more information on controlling Cookies. Please note that We do not control the activities of such third parties, nor the data they collect and use and advise you to check the privacy policies of any such third parties.
6.5 You have the right to withdraw your consent to Us using your personal data at any time, and to request that We delete it.
6.6 We do not keep your personal data for any longer than is necessary in light of the reason(s) for which it was first collected. Data will therefore be retained for the following periods (or its retention will be determined on the following bases):
6.6.1 If you open an account and/or place an order with us, we will keep the account available for your use until you tell us otherwise. This will include information related to any previous orders, contact details, what was ordered, method of payment and contact details;
6.6.2 Any sensitive payment data is stored securely by our payment processor and only so long as you have an account with us.
6.6.3 Any information that you give us along with consent for marketing is stored for as long as you continue to consent to receive marketing information from us. If you tell us that you no longer wish to receive marketing communication from us, we will keep this request along with your details to ensure that we don't contact you against your wishes.
7.1 We only keep your personal data for as long as We need to in order to use it as described above in section 6, and/or for as long as We have your permission to keep it.
7.2 Some or all of your data may be stored outside of the European Economic Area ("the EEA") (The EEA consists of all EU member states, plus Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein). You are deemed to accept and agree to this by using Our Site and submitting information to Us. If We do store data outside the EEA, We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that your data is treated as safely and securely as it would be within the UK and under the GDPR.
7.3 Data security is very important to Us, and to protect your data We have taken suitable measures to safeguard and secure data collected through Our Site.
7.4 Steps We take to secure and protect your data include:
7.4.1 Using appropriate technical and organisational steps to ensure that your data is kept safe.
7.5 Notwithstanding the security measures that We take, it is important to remember that the transmission of data via the internet may not be completely secure and you are advised to take suitable precautions when transmitting data to Us via the internet.
8.1 Subject to section 8.2, We will not share any of your data with any third parties for any purposes.
8.2 In certain circumstances, We may be legally required to share certain data held by Us, which may include your personal data, for example, where We are involved in legal proceedings, where We are complying with legal obligations, a court order, or a governmental authority.
8.3 We may sometimes contract with third parties to supply products and services to you on Our behalf. These may include payment processing, delivery of goods, search engine facilities, advertising, and marketing. In some cases, the third parties may require access to some or all of your data. Where any of your data is required for such a purpose, We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that your data will be handled safely, securely, and in accordance with your rights, Our obligations, and the obligations of the third party under the law.
8.4 We may compile statistics about the use of Our Site including data on traffic, usage patterns, user numbers, sales, and other information. All such data will be anonymised and will not include any personally identifying data, or any anonymised data that can be combined with other data and used to identify you. We may from time to time share such data with third parties such as prospective investors, affiliates, partners, and advertisers. Data will only be shared and used within the bounds of the law.
8.5 We may sometimes use third party data processors that are located outside of the European Economic Area ("the EEA") (The EEA consists of all EU member states, plus Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein). Where We transfer any personal data outside the EEA, We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that your data is treated as safely and securely as it would be within the UK and under the GDPR.
8.6 In certain circumstances, We may be legally required to share certain data held by Us, which may include your personal data, for example, where We are involved in legal proceedings, where We are complying with legal requirements, a court order, or a governmental authority.
9.1 We may, from time to time, expand or reduce Our business and this may involve the sale and/or the transfer of control of all or part of Our business. Any personal data that you have provided will, where it is relevant to any part of Our business that is being transferred, be transferred along with that part and the new owner or newly controlling party will, under the terms of this Privacy Policy, be permitted to use that data only for the same purposes for which it was originally collected by Us.
9.2 In the event that any of your data is to be transferred in such a manner, you will not be contacted in advance and informed of the changes.
10.1 When you submit personal data via Our Site, you may be given options to restrict Our use of your data. In particular, We aim to give you strong controls on Our use of your data for direct marketing purposes (including the ability to opt-out of receiving emails from Us which you may do by unsubscribing using the links provided in Our emails and at the point of providing your details and via the links provided on our website).
10.2 You may also wish to sign up to one or more of the preference services operating in the UK: The Telephone Preference Service ("the TPS"), the Corporate Telephone Preference Service ("the CTPS"), and the Mailing Preference Service ("the MPS"). These may help to prevent you receiving unsolicited marketing. Please note, however, that these services will not prevent you from receiving marketing communications that you have consented to receiving.
11.1 You may access certain areas of Our Site without providing any data at all. However, to use all features and functions available on Our Site you may be required to submit or allow for the collection of certain data.
11.2 You may restrict Our use of Cookies. For more information, see section 13.
You have the right to ask for a copy of any of your personal data held by Us (where such data is held). Under the GDPR, no fee is payable and We will provide any and all information in response to your request free of charge. Please contact Us for more details via our contact form at
13. Our Use of Cookies
13.1 Our Site may place and access certain first party Cookies on your computer or device. First party Cookies are those placed directly by Us and are used only by Us. We use Cookies to facilitate and improve your experience of Our Site and to provide and improve Our products and services. We have carefully chosen these Cookies and have taken steps to ensure that your privacy and personal data is protected and respected at all times.
13.2 By using Our Site you may also receive certain third party Cookies on your computer or device. Third party Cookies are those placed by websites, services, and/or parties other than Us. Third party Cookies are used on Our Site for advertising services, error tracking, livechat and usability checks. For more details, please refer to section 6, above, and to section 13.6 below. These Cookies are not integral to the functioning of Our Site and your use and experience of Our Site will not be impaired by refusing consent to them.
13.3 All Cookies used by and on Our Site are used in accordance with current Cookie Law.
13.4 Before Cookies are placed on your computer or device, you will be shown a pop-up requesting your consent to set those Cookies. By giving your consent to the placing of Cookies you are enabling Us to provide the best possible experience and service to you. You may, if you wish, deny consent to the placing of Cookies; however certain features of Our Site may not function fully or as intended.
13.5 Certain features of Our Site depend on Cookies to function. Cookie Law deems these Cookies to be "strictly necessary". These Cookies are shown below in section 13.6. Your consent will not be sought to place these Cookies, but it is still important that you are aware of them. You may still block these Cookies by changing your internet browser's settings as detailed below in section 13.10, but please be aware that Our Site may not work properly if you do so. We have taken great care to ensure that your privacy is not at risk by allowing them.
13.6 Our Site may place and access certain first party Cookies on your computer or device. First party Cookies are those placed directly by Us and are used only by Us. We use Cookies to facilitate and improve your experience of Our Site and to provide and improve Our products and services. By using Our Site you may also receive certain third party Cookies on your computer or device. Third party Cookies are those placed by websites, services, and/or parties other than Us. Third party Cookies are used on Our Site for advertising services, error tracking, live chat and usability tracking. In addition, Our Site uses analytics services which also use Cookies. Website analytics refers to a set of tools used to collect and analyse usage statistics, enabling Us to better understand how people use Our Site.
If you have any questions about Our Site or this Privacy Policy, please contact Us by completing our contact form, or by post at Kings Offices, 2 Millers Lane, Costock, LE12 6XJ. Please ensure that your query is clear, particularly if it is a request for information about the data We hold about you (as under section 12, above).
XD Retail LLP is a Limited Liability Partnership registered in England & Wales with the registered number: OC387520
XD Retail LLP is registered for Data Protection as a Data Controller with reference: ZA034558
Kings Offices, 2 Millers Lane, Costock, LE12 6XJ, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom
Phone: (+44) 0330 088 3647
Email: info@xtra.dog
At Xtra Dog, we are devoted to the comfort and welfare of all dogs, everywhere. We pride ourselves on offering a range of ethical products for dogs, their training and wellbeing.
© 2009- XD Retail LLP (A Putting Dogs First Company). All Rights Reserved. Copying prohibited without prior written permission.


text:
Q: Javascript logging sensitive data I am setting up logging that contains passwords received from the user and posting this object to the backend, the password is a key in a JSON object.
e.g,
{
    "username": my_username,
    "password": my_password
}

I want to capture this object before POSTing but do not want to log the password value. Is there a way to exclude the password value from being logged?
I am creating a JSON skeleton in constants.js like this following
constants.js
const userDataObj = Object.freeze({
    "username": null,
    "occupation": null,
    "password": null
})

module.exports = userDataObj;

then in my routes.js POSTing it to the backend.
firemanRoutes.js:
import userDataObj from '../../config/constants';
...
//initialize stuff in the constructor and set constants
constructor(socketProvider) {
    super(socketProvider);

    this.userDataObj = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(userDataObj));
    this.userDataObj.occupation = 'fireman';
  }

// get the passphrase and post object
validate(res, user, passphrase) {
this.userDataObj.passphrase = passphrase;

// want to log object here **without** password
winston.info('Posting object: ' + this.userDataObj);

validateUser.post(user, this.userDataObj).then(() => {
  if (!validateUser.getSuccess()) {
    return super.handleErrors(res);
  }
  ...

A: You can strip the password property from the object before saving:
const safeObject = {
    ...this.userDataObj,
    password: undefined // Or whatever value you want to use, eg "hidden", "removed", etc.
};
winston.info('Posting object: ' + safeObject);

This creates a shallow copy and then overwrites the password property.

This is a "blacklist" approach to deciding what properties are safe to log - IE if you add a new property that shouldn't be logged, you would need to explicitly overwrite it.

An alternative would be a "whitelist" approach - ie explicitly saying which properties are safe to log:
const safeObject = {
    this.userDataObj.username,
    this.userDataObj.occupation,
    this.userDataObj.passphrase
};
winston.info('Posting object: ' + safeObject);

The benefit here is that if you add a new property it will not be logged unless you explicitly say so. I mention this because the passphrase property is currently being logged, but I'm not sure if that is intentional or accidental. If it is accidental, then this approach would have prevented this bug.

If the spread operator (...) is not available, you can get the same behavior with Object.assign:
const safeObject = Object.assign({}, this.userDataObj);
safeObject.password = undefined;


text:
Crime script analysis: an ally against cyber-crime
On a regular basis, we share a guest columnist article from our archives about a topic which is still as relevant today as it was when it was first written. This piece is by Gianluca Riglietti, who at the time of publication was research and insight associate at the Business Continuity Institute. The article originally appeared in Issue 65 of The Risk Universe in May 2017.
In our latest From the Archives piece, Gianluca Riglietti looks at how risk managers can utilise crime script analysis – a technique used in law enforcement to dissect in detail the events leading up to a crime – to better understand and mitigate against cybercrime.
Cyber-attacks often catch companies off guard due to their complexity and unpredictability. It seems as though criminals are always one or two steps ahead of the game, finding ways into an organisation through increasingly sophisticated techniques. These can range from distributed denial of service attacks (DDoS) to spear phishing, or the actions of a disgruntled employee. The motivations for cyber-crime are also quite varied, as they can include financial purposes, activism or government operations. Due to this mix of methods and motives, it is becoming increasingly hard to understand how and why perpetrators operate. Sometimes it might take months or years before a cyber-attack is uncovered and even then, the chances of clearly understanding how it happened can be scarce. This is why those in charge of preventing risks and mitigating their impacts would benefit from tools that help them visualise the various stages of cyber incidents, making them clearer and possibly less intimidating. Crime script analysis (CSA), a technique used in law enforcement and academia, appears to be fit for purpose in this regard. It consists of recreating the way in which a certain crime occurred, in order to gain insights on how to counter it. This has been applied to several types of offences, such as financial fraud and cybercrime, allowing in each case the researchers to map-out the incident in great detail.
As correctly pointed out by a study from Leclerc in 2014, CSA comes from the field of environmental criminology, a discipline that focuses on the factors that create the necessary conditions for an offence to take place. Based on this principle, CSA consists of the observation of criminal activity and the creation of a multi-step map, or script, of the different phases of a crime. According to the UCL Department of Security and Crime Science, scripts prove useful in organising a sequence of events in order to understand the offenders' behaviour. The ultimate goal is to recreate their modus operandi, focusing on information retrieved from a variety of qualitative sources (such as case studies, court cases, interviews) and less on quantitative ones. An effective CSA can thus be divided into four main steps, namely breaking the script into acts, writing the script, interpreting the analysis and identifying the response. Further, scripts can help make the best use of the available evidence, with new information that may be integrated at a later stage, making it a dynamic technique that allows the observer to track the development of criminal behaviour over time. While it might seem at first that this particular technique relates more to a police environment than an organisational one, professionals from different disciplines, such as risk management and business continuity, might find scripts a useful tool when dealing with cyber security problems. Indeed, looking at the best practices used by professionals, CSA could not only fit well but enrich the analytical capacity of those in charge of preventing threats, or managing their consequences.
Common goals
According to the Institute of Risk Management, root cause analysis (RCA) is an increasingly popular technique in risk management. This is used to understand the causes and the effects of a certain event, in order to prevent it (if negative) or replicate it (if positive). CSA takes this a step further, providing a very visible breakdown of a specific event. When applied to cyber-crime, having scripts makes even more sense, as they are an agile tool that can be used with partial information, as is often the case when looking at a cyber-attack. As criminology, security and risk management expert Dr Harald Haelterman points out his study on risk management practices and crime scripts, risk identification is a central activity to risk management, which "involves finding, recognising and describing the risks that could affect the achievement of an organisation's objectives". With these goals in mind, risk professionals can use scripts to better visualise the cyber threat with a mix of information retrieved from both internal investigations and external sources, such as public reports on previous attacks.
While it might be hard sometimes to distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources, CSA might still be one of the most viable options to understand and possibly prevent attacks. Furthermore, having a detailed account of a threat seems perfectly in line with other best practices of risk management. According to the widely-used risk management standard ISO 31000, the five steps of the risk management process share the principles of a CSA, as they include establishing context, identifying, analysing, evaluating and treating risks. Therefore, risk professionals should consider scripts as an in-depth tool to complete tasks that are already part of their main goals.
Risk managers have an important role to play in handling threats to an organisation; however, they are not the only individuals who could benefit from adopting CSA against cybercrime. Business continuity (BC) professionals can also play a significant role in containing the losses derived from online attacks. It is often said that when it comes to cyber, it is not a matter of "if" but of "when" one will suffer a breach. This is why there is always need for a good recovery strategy, which business continuity professionals can deliver. Yet in order to do so, they should be involved in the monitoring of the threat landscape.
According to the ISO 22301 standard for business continuity, one of the core functions of BC management is to perform a business impact analysis (BIA), which means knowing what kind of disruptions the business might suffer and for how long systems would not be operative. RCA is also recommended by the standard, as it emphasises the need to be more proactive in evaluating a threat and its response. In addition, research from the Business Continuity Institute shows that more than two-thirds of BC professionals are either aware of the outputs of a trend analysis or they help develop the analysis itself. Further, BC professionals are often involved in horizon scanning exercises, meaning the evaluation of the risk landscape in the short, medium, and long term. CSA fits well within this framework, as it is a tool that focuses on clarity, deep understanding of a threat and the building of knowledge to formulate a response.
In order to show how CSA can be applied to cybercrime, it is useful to look at previous research that has adopted this method to analyse the cyber threat, such as a study from Hutchings et al. that focused on the market for online stolen data. The authors decided to analyse the content of thirteen different blogs where services on the procurement of stolen data were exchanged. Ten of these blogs were in Russian and three in English. They explained the need for CSA as due to the fact that current cyber security solutions tend to focus on disrupting cyber attacks without trying to understand their root causes and the conditions that make them possible. In one of their findings, they highlighted how these websites contained numerous tutorials on how to become an expert in stealing data. Interestingly, users went as far as naming possible companies with job openings that could be infiltrated to learn how to bypass their systems. Knowledge of a particular company included name, city, reason for relocation and duration of their plans to improve security measures.
The script detailed the interactions among sellers and buyers of stolen data, articulating them in ten steps. First, new members would start by setting up accounts and ensuring anonymity. Then they would familiarise themselves with the language and terms of the online community, before obtaining and advertising stolen products. In the process, users would also happen to share intelligence on law enforcement while negotiating and talking about their products. Finally, the last part of the sale would include payment (generally in digital currency) and the packaging and transport of the product in question.
In this study, breaking down cybercrime into specific steps showed the relevance of the human factor behind online attacks. While having appropriate software in place is paramount to cyber security, looking at the social interactions behind it can lay the foundations of a sound prevention strategy. Improving knowledge of the cyber marketplace would help formulate a clearer picture and therefore define a better strategy against one of the biggest current threats to businesses. Appreciating all of the dynamics that pave the way for attacks was possible in this case thanks to the crime scripts built by the authors, who dug deep into the core of the threat. After all, understanding the technology behind cybercrime is hard enough without ignoring the human dynamics that surround it.
Understanding the catalyst
On a similar note, Willison et al. conducted a study on disgruntled employees committing computer crime. In their research, they mapped out the different stages that led a successful database expert to turn against her own company and compromise internal data in retaliation for suffering abusive behaviour. In this study, the authors did not strictly adopt CSA; however, they still broke down the development of the offence in different phases to understand how and when it could have been mitigated or prevented. The first part of the analysis focused on how the database expert complained to her company's HR department about sexual comments from her colleagues, who were also keeping her out of relevant conversations within projects she owned. In the second phase, the study showed how no actions were taken while the database expert continued to be subject to inappropriate behaviour. As a result, her performance deteriorated, turning the quality of her work from stellar to poor, which even led to her being demoted. The third segment revealed how, following further protests from the database expert, she was suspended from her job. Nonetheless, her troubles did not stop there, as once she began employment in another company, she came to know that only her most recent and worst appraisals had been passed on to her new employer. Only in the fifth and final section of the study did the authors actually talk about how this now disgruntled former employee accessed a database from her previous company and decided to erase data worth 1,800 hours of work from 115 employees.
There are two main points of failure that should be highlighted in this story. The first one is the fact that a former employee still had access to a database that should have been restricted to her. Some steps in the security procedures of her former company were either missed or not followed properly (which could by itself be the focus of another script) and that allowed her to retain her password. The second point of failure is the unfair treatment of an employee, whose situation was dealt with inappropriately, leading to a security breach. This is not to justify the retaliation of the database expert, as criminal acts are not defendable regardless of their motivation. But, had the human factor behind this computer crime been handled more professionally, the breach could have been prevented. As in the first study presented in this article, there are two main lessons to learn. The first one is that the human aspects of cybercrime are often as important as the technical ones; whereas the second one is that crime scripts can help a company spot the organisational fallacies that lead to a breach before it even becomes a technical issue. Indeed, CSA is mostly useful to understand human behaviour. Organisations should obviously have sound threat-detection software in place, but having a comprehensive and effective cyber security function means to take care of the technical issues as well as of the human 'weak link' – and this is where scripts can play a significant role.
Insider fraud
Another interesting study on crime scripts and internal threats was carried out by Spyridon Samonas, where the author conducted a thought experiment on insider fraud with the use of a computer network. The author analysed three possible scenarios of fraud committed by a hotel employee through the lenses of routine activity theory (RAA). RAA is a sub-field of criminology and focuses on the situational factors that create the opportunity to commit a crime. According to this perspective, there are three essential pre-conditions to a crime (known as the crime triangle by some), namely: an absent guardian, a suitable target and motivation to offend. Following this reasoning, there are several aspects to consider when dealing with an (in)efficient information security strategy. These range from complacency and misperception of a company's information security strategy, to technical, financial and implementation deficiencies.
In this particular study, Samonas highlighted three gaps in the security of an upper-tier hotel in the UK, by exploring three potential crime scenarios. These involved the willingness by a high-level insider (such as a manager) with access to advanced functions to commit fraud by manipulating the booking system. Therefore, three separate crime scripts were built to show each step of the process that ultimately could lead to the offender getting away with the crime. Each crime script included nine phases and showed mitigation strategies for every instance.
The first and least sophisticated scenario showed the employee simply withholding the receipt from a customer paying cash in order to revise the booking to show that the amount received was different than the actual paid sum. The fraud consisted of keeping the difference, which sometimes could be the entire sum. While the software in use would show red flags in the case of unjustified payment revisions, which granted some degree of safety, mitigation strategies included better employment screenings, password requirements at critical stages and double reviews for payments. Conversely, the second example presented a more viable and thus more dangerous type of fraud. It consisted of having customers pay the full amount for a booking, while registering it at a discounted rate and stealing the difference in price. In this case also, passwords, double reviews and better screenings were considered as relevant steps forward. The third and final case involved what is called routing: moving charges from a room's account to a virtual one (a rather standard practice), then pocketing the money and deleting the newly created account. This was the most convoluted but low-risk (from the offender's standpoint) type of fraud, which on top of the previously listed mitigation strategies also included random checks on routing practices.
Whilst this study focused on the hospitality sector, the lessons learned from its scripts can be easily applied to any industry or context. Stronger password systems, double-checks and accurate screenings should be the mantra of every organisation. Scripts can help a great deal when trying to visualise the necessary and most relevant security measures. In this case, the author was able to single out the weaknesses of the system under scrutiny, in order to recommend how to strengthen it. CSA, in addition, works particularly well with evolving and multi-faceted threats such as cybercrime, as it is a highly versatile research method. Risk and business continuity managers could find a precious ally in crime scripts when dealing with cybercrime, especially regarding its human aspects. As shown in the first part of this article, a number of techniques (RCA, BIA) and procedures in line with CSA are already in use in the risk prevention and mitigation industry. Looking at cyber-attacks with a step-by-step attitude might help provide a deeper understanding of the issue, borrowing a technique used within police and academic environments. How rigorously and in-depth this will be applied is ultimately down to the individual organisation; however, looking at the entire chain of events that led to the breach and not simply its final stage would provide meaningful insights on how to keep the business safe from online threats.


text:
Q: If a car appears in horison and within 2 seconds passes you by, whats the speed it's doing? While watching the first 4 seconds of driving at 745 km/h is ludicrous from any angle
wondered

*

*If we knew the curvature of the Earth in a "flat" desert, what would be the speed of the car?

*Assuming we don't know the curvature of the Earth, how long would it take for the car to go around the Earth ( assuming a "flat" desert all the way travelling on a great arc)?
Using my ninja pause skills it seemed it took 2 seconds from the time the car appeared ( as a dot ) in horizon to the time it passed by the camera, although 2 second window of observation seems to lead to a great error in overall estimates, using the 745 as the value for 1 and 2 the error of human observation could be calculated (?)

A: In order to solve this question, we need to determine the distance from the eyes of the observer to the horizon, as this will be the relevant distance the car travels within those 2 seconds. Let's define a few variables:
$d =$ distance between observer and horizon
$v =$ velocity of the car
$t =$ time for car to travel from horizon to observer
$h =$ distance of observer's eyes above ground
$R =$ radius of Earth
This calculation makes a few considerable approximations. First, it assumes that the Earth is spherical, and that the region between the observer and the horizon is a part of that sphere. Light is assumed to move in perfectly straight lines, neglecting any effects such as diffusion or refraction.
Here is a highly exaggerated diagram showing the Earth, and a 'not-to-scale' observer:

We can now create a right angle triangle, the three vertices located at the observer's eyes, the horizon (the end of the dotted line furthest from the observer), and the centre of the Earth. The sides of the triangle are $h+R$, $R$ and $d$. By a bit of Pythagoras' Theorem, it turns out that:
$$d = \sqrt{h^2+2hR}$$
The mean radius of the Earth, $R$, according to Wikipedia, is $(6.371 \times 10^6)m$, and let's assume that $h\approx 2m$. Therefore, $d\approx 5048m$.
Then, given that $t = 2s$, we can calculate the velocity of the car with:
$$v = \frac{d}{t} \approx 2524ms^{-1}$$
$$= 9086kmh^{-1}$$
So, with a velocity of around $9000kmh^{-1}$, and a Mach Number of around $7.4$, it goes without saying that we have stumbled upon a pretty absurd result. Which makes me question whether this deserves be an answer or a comment. Anyways, this value gives us a few possible scenarios to work with:

*

*The radius of curvature of the desert may be a lot smaller than that of the Earth, i.e. there might have been a hill

*The car can go ridiculously fast without becoming scrap metal (unlikely)

*The camera resolution/human observation cannot detect something crossing the literal horizon

*The camera is a mere few centimetres above the ground

*The effects of light diffusion and refraction are significant to the distance of the horizon

*The above theory and calculations are wrong


text:
Pickens County names and faces
Ron Gimbel has been named to chair the public health sciences department at Clemson University
Pickens County names and faces Ron Gimbel has been named to chair the public health sciences department at Clemson University Check out this story on greenvilleonline.com: http://grnol.co/1rzvrAI
GRE Published 12:00 a.m. ET July 23, 2014 | Updated 8:02 p.m. ET July 22, 2014
Ron Gimbel
■ Puhan Liu of Central earned the distinction of Faculty Honors for spring 2014 at the recent graduation ceremony at Georgia Tech. The designation is awarded to undergraduate students who have a 4.0 academic average for the semester.
■ Xinru Wang of Easley has been named to the Dean's List at the University of Iowa for the spring 2014 semester. To be eligible for the list, students must achieve a grade-point average of 3.50 or higher on 12 semester hours or more and have no incompletes.
■ Maham Awan of Easley was named to the spring 2014 Dean's List at Emory University in Atlanta. To be named to the list, students must be in the top 20 percent of their class or have approximately a 3.859 grade-point average or higher.
■ Clemson Computing and Information Technology has named Tom Taylor to serve as the interim deputy chief information officer for enterprise systems and applications. Taylor has led Clemson University's Medicaid IT Services group, responsible for the state's Medicaid eligibility and claims payment systems for an estimated 925,000 Medicaid recipients. Taylor has more than 30 years of combined experience in information technology, enterprise application development and business intelligence provisioning, and has held senior IT leadership roles for 17 years.
■ Ron Gimbel has been named to chair the public health sciences department at Clemson University. Gimbel will replace Lee Crandall, who will return to the public health sciences faculty.
Email accomplishments to news@pickenscountynews.com.
Read or Share this story: http://grnol.co/1rzvrAI
SC is 7th worst state for millennials to live
Officials: Prisma Health laying off 327 employees
Pastor John Gray, Relentless Church sued for allegedly unpaid wages
Demonstrators attend cold, rainy 2020 Women's March Greenville
Ask LaFleur: How is Clemson football team allowed to bypass TSA and long airport lines
Oprah Winfrey Network has 'no plans' to renew John Gray TV show


text:
Лангірано, Ланґірано () — муніципалітет в Італії, у регіоні Емілія-Романья, провінція Парма.

Лангірано розташоване на відстані близько 360 км на північний захід від Рима, 90 км на захід від Болоньї, 22 км на південь від Парми.

Населення —   (2014).
Щорічний фестиваль відбувається 25 липня. Покровитель — San Giacomo.

Демографія

Сусідні муніципалітети

 Калестано
 Корнільйо
 Феліно
 Лезіньяно-де'-Баньї
 Нев'яно-дельї-Ардуїні
 Парма
 Тіццано-Валь-Парма

Див. також
 Список муніципалітетів провінції Парма

Примітки

Муніципалітети провінції Парма

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
package it.cnr.isti.vir.similarity;

import it.cnr.isti.vir.features.AbstractFeaturesCollector;
import it.cnr.isti.vir.features.FeatureClassCollector;
import it.cnr.isti.vir.features.localfeatures.ORBGroup;
import it.cnr.isti.vir.features.localfeatures.SURFGroup;

import java.util.Properties;

public class ORBGroupSimilarity  extends AGroupSimilarity<ORBGroup> {

	private static final FeatureClassCollector reqFeatures = new FeatureClassCollector(ORBGroup.class);

	private final double sqrLoweThr;

	@Override
	public Class getRequestedGroup()  { return ORBGroup.class; }

	public ORBGroupSimilarity( Properties properties) throws SimilarityOptionException {
		super(properties);
		String value = properties.getProperty("loweThr");
		if ( value != null )
			sqrLoweThr = Double.parseDouble(value);
		else
			sqrLoweThr = 0.8*0.8;
	}

	public ORBGroupSimilarity() throws Exception {
		super("query");
		this.sqrLoweThr = 0.8*0.8;
	}

	@Override
	public FeatureClassCollector getRequestedFeaturesClasses() {
		return reqFeatures;
	}

	@Override
	public final double distance(AbstractFeaturesCollector f1, AbstractFeaturesCollector f2 ) {
		return distance((ORBGroup) f1.getFeature(ORBGroup.class), (ORBGroup) f2.getFeature(ORBGroup.class));
	}

	@Override
	public final double distance(AbstractFeaturesCollector f1, AbstractFeaturesCollector f2, double max ) {
		return distance((ORBGroup) f1.getFeature(ORBGroup.class), (ORBGroup) f2.getFeature(ORBGroup.class));
	}

	@Override
	public final double distance( ORBGroup g1,  ORBGroup g2) {
		double sim = 0;

		switch (option) {
		case optFt1:	sim = ORBGroup.getLowePercMatches( g1, g2, sqrLoweThr ); break;
		case optFt2:	sim = ORBGroup.getLowePercMatches( g2, g1, sqrLoweThr ); break;
		case optAvg:	sim = ORBGroup.getLowePercMatches( g1, g2, sqrLoweThr )+ORBGroup.getLowePercMatches( g2, g1, sqrLoweThr )/2.0;	break;
		// min distance corresponds to max similarity and viceversa
		case optMin:	sim = Math.max(ORBGroup.getLowePercMatches( g1, g2, sqrLoweThr ), ORBGroup.getLowePercMatches( g2, g1, sqrLoweThr )); break;
		case optMax:	sim = Math.min(ORBGroup.getLowePercMatches( g1, g2, sqrLoweThr ), ORBGroup.getLowePercMatches( g2, g1, sqrLoweThr )); break;
		default: 	break;
		}

		distCount++;

		return 1.0 - sim;
	}

	public String toString() {
		return super.toString() + " sqrLoweThr=" + sqrLoweThr + " ";
	}

	public String getStatsString() { return ""; };
}


There are those who practically live in the Apple world. They treat the Worldwide Developer Conference as if it were a religious event. They never fail to get waitlisted for the latest and greatest iPhone, cancellation fees and lack of discount be damned. And they never fail to trumpet the gospel of the One True Computer Brand to those who will listen (or to those who are within earshot).
As a kid, I cut my technological teeth on BASIC on a VIC-20, and later graduated to a PC XT in 5th grade. I grew up in the DOS/Windows world and remain firmly there for my own computer purchasing decisions, at least for the time being. I do have an iPhone, which I do love.
Well, I shouldn't be surprised – but still, his departure from this world so soon after departing from Apple touches us all. RIP Steve Jobs.
And as much as I've historically resisted the siren call of Apple products and endured the abuse inflicted on me by my Mac nut friends, I do have to admit that, for better or for worse, Steve Jobs' legacy has touched me and the lives of many around me.
Who would have known that a pointing device and pictures, introduced to the world at large with the Apple Lisa and perfected by the Macintosh, would become the standard way of human interaction with computers the world over? Who would have known that a small device no larger than the size of a deck of cards would forever change the way that music is delivered? And who would have thought that a mobile phone could be used for things other than phone calls and text messages? Who else but Steve Jobs?
A lot of people my age have fond memories of Apple IIs as their first computers, either at home or at school. I remember computer classes where I learned BASIC and LOGO. In fact, Apple's traditional niche has been in the education field (while PCs have been mainstays in the business world), and for those of us who were fortunate to have computers and computer labs at school, chances are good that those computers were Apples (either Apple IIs and their relatives, or Macs). True, the digital divide in schools and in homes has not been completely bridged (as one of my Twitter followers forcefully pointed out), but I think Steve Jobs deserves at least some of the credit in attempting to build that bridge.
One thing that I do credit Steve Jobs for. The fact that he opened up the iPod and iTunes to people on the other side, and making those platform agnostic, was a stroke of marketing genius. Apple introduced a lot of people to their products without making them switch over to the Mac universe. I had an iPod photo, then an iPod touch, then the iPhone 4, all without leaving the Windows world. But the end result is this: Filled with favorable experiences with Apple mobile products, they may then be more willing to plunk down the cash to get, say, a MacBook Pro. Like I said, well done.
…there may be no greater tribute to Steve's success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented.
So thank Steve Jobs for your Apple II when you were a kid; thank him for that Mac you wrote your college thesis on; and thank him for the iPhone on which you found out that he left this world. So long, Steve. Maybe one day I will spring for a MacBook. Give me time to think it over.
It's hard to believe that it's been over 10 years since the biggest historical event of our time. I know, I'm a little late to the 10th anniversary party here (if you can call it a party), but it took a little while to recover from the nearly non-stop coverage of the pre-10th anniversary to really reflect on where we are 10 years later.
On the fifth anniversary, I rescued my posts from September 11 and 12, 2011 from my old hand-edited journal and reposted them both in two posts here.
I woke up in a U.S. city that was about as far away from New York as one could get. And still, I was shaking. Those 4,968 miles were too close to home. Anywhere would have been, for a horror like that.
What was striking was how he describes how his then-three-year-old daughter Katie reacted to the utter horror on the tube. Of the three Ozawa children, she was the only one who lived through 9/11 (her two brothers were born since then). Katie is now a teenager, and has probably been exposed as a child to September 11 as a historical event numerous times since then.
Now, fast forward 10 years. Osama bin Laden is no more. Al-Qaeda, while still around, has lost some of its scare factor. The Iraq War is winding down. Afghanistan is still dangerous. The fear of global terrorism has given way to that of global economic collapse.
Yet, we live with the legacy every time we take off our shoes. Not when we come home each night, mind you, but when we go through security every time we go on a plane. I didn't have the opportunity to get on a plane for about a year or two after 9/11, and it was quite a shock to see how stringent airport security had become. But since then we've returned to being able to travel where we want and have taken increased security in stride…for the most part. Mind you, though, a lot of the more inconvenient parts of the TSA experience came about not from 9/11 itself, but from subsequent attempts…from the shoe bomber, to liquids, to the underwear bomber. Still, even though TSA makes it quite hard to do so, I still try to travel carry-on only when I can.
We see the legacy of 9/11 whenever large numbers of people are gathered in one place. We see it in increased security presence. We see it in more intense questioning in cross-border traffic between the United States and Canada. Sadly, we see it when people of South Asian or Middle East extraction are held and questioned because people saw something that wasn't there. And we see it when our young men and women are deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, leaving behind spouses and family to take the fight to militants.
But more importantly, we see the legacy of 9/11 when police and fire personnel put themselves into harm's way, with little thought of their own welfare, to save others. We see it when the people of other countries still look to the United States as a model of political governance, and, as many have in the Middle East, uproot their own governments in an attempt to emulate what we have. And most important of all, we see it when Americans go about their lives, knowing that the events of September 11, 2011, may have shaken us, may have stirred us, but have not destroyed us.
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance, and for better or worse, September 11 reminded us quite clearly of that fact. In a way, everyday is 9/11.
From Friday5, July 15, 2011. It's late, I know, but I couldn't resist.
1. What is the longest distance you've traveled (in one trip) by foot?
26 miles, 385 yards – the length of a marathon. I've made that trip eleven times, always on the second Sunday in December. Although my time in making that trip has varied widely and trended up in recent years (from close to four hours to almost six).
2. What is the longest trip you've taken by car?
I believe it was in February 1994 (or possibly 1993). I was in college then, and my RA asked me on a Friday night to help share in the driving from Portland, OR to Palo Alto, CA so that her mom could attend a funeral. I was reluctant at first, as I had never driven on the mainland up until then, but agreed. We picked up one of her friends in Eugene, then we shared the driving through the night and the next day. We spent Saturday night and Sunday in San Francisco, then drove back, making it back to Portland early Monday morning. It was about 661 miles going and coming back.
The longest road trip I've done solo was from Portland to Seattle to Vancouver to Portland in 2010 – 314 miles going and coming back.
3. What is the longest trip you've taken by plane?
From Honolulu to Osaka, about 3500 miles.
4. What is the longest trip you've taken on some kind of water craft?
Longest I can remember was on a recent passenger ferry trip from Seattle to Victoria, about 100 miles each way.
5. What is the longest trip you've taken aboard a bus or train?
Zero miles. I've never taken either between cities. Probably about 15 miles if you count public transportation.
I think I've reached a time in my life where I'm probably the happiest that I've been in a while. That is to say, nothing's thrown me completely off balance. Physically, I've gone from being significantly underweight, to ideal, to being slight overweight, at least as far as BMI is concerned. But I have run eleven marathons and counting. There's room for improvement in both departments, of course.
I've found that my magic formula for staying happy is remembering that whatever happens to me, God has a higher plan. To the extent I try to force things and stray from that sweet spot, that's when I feel tension, unhappiness, feelings of deprivation, etc. I've gone through a lot…abandoned a career path that I thought I was meant for, lost family members and friends along the way. But I know that there's a plan at work here, and just pray each day for the strength to keep the faith and do what I was meant to do.
I watch it every so often but not as much as before. These days, at least in the WWE, it's become less about athleticism (your off-the-top-rope maneuvers and finishing), and more like a bad soap opera.
My normal clothing is pretty subdued—I tend toward earth tones, reds, browns, tans, and beiges. Occasionally blues and blacks when the occasion calls for it. My most colorful clothes in my wardrobe, though, are my finisher shirts for the Honolulu Marathon. Sometimes they're tasteful, understated maroons, yellows, blues, and such. But the shirt I have for the 2009 marathon is a microfiber shirt that is—I swear I am not making this up—fluorescent chartreuse. And yes, I do wear it to work from time to time.
Actually, this is not something that I do, but something that I choose not to do. Yes, I know alcohol is American culture's widely accepted social lubricant. But my father's side of the family has an unfortunate history with it—problems with drinking to excess, leading to liver problems. Soon after I lost my father at age 16 to complications from his treatment for a liver condition, I made the decision that whatever happened to my grandfather, my uncle, and my dad, would not happen to me. I am probably one of the only people in America who went to a mainstream college and avoided alcohol entirely, and not for religious reasons.
And twenty years later, I'm still true to my promise. This has put me in awkward positions at times—my good friend's bachelor party, for instance. I have been in confrontations where I've had to resist—strongly—efforts to get me to drink. And it has limited, somewhat, my options for social interaction. I don't feel entirely comfortable in a place when others are indulging (and maybe overindulging) in alcohol. It's like being a vegetarian in a steak house. But if I have to, I find ways to cope.
Still, I know that my decision to be a teetotaler will mean that I may live longer and avoid the problems that come with drinking to excess. That's a good outcome in itself.
Put a King Arthur's Supreme pizza from Round Table Pizza on the table, and I'll keep eating it until it's gone or I'm stuffed. It's that good.
The last couple of weeks, in general, have been a bummer. The motherboard of my desktop computer of two and a half years died a horrible death, forcing me to get a new computer and go through the necessary rigmarole of reloading programs and data. Then I find my mom's last mammogram found abnormalities. The biopsy found a tumor—fortunately, most likely benign—but one that my mom will probably have removed pretty soon. The Blazers' 23-point comeback over Dallas on Saturday, though, had been a bright spot of sorts.
Still, nothing could have prepared me for what happened on Sunday—a Japan-earthquake sized jolt.
I logged on to Twitter last night and found the mood on Twitter to be much gloomier than usual. What caught my eye was Ryan Ozawa's tweet, "Godspeed, my friend," which I found weird. Reading his tweet stream, I found an entry on a 10-year-old dying rice cooker and thought to myself: A rice cooker is indispensable in Hawaii, but to be that attached to one's rice cooker to bid it farewell? That didn't make sense.
Seems everything is breaking. Just replaced my desktop; mom will be going in for surgery soon. Reading my tweet stream, seems I'm not alone.
In the next few minutes, it became clear that something was going on behind the scenes. Mentions were made of seeing something on the news. A look at the Star-Advertiser site found a story of a hiker killed in a fall off of Mount Olomana.
Then it dawned on me that my friend Ryan, whom I had just seen last week Sunday at the Geek Meet, was planning a hike there. Ominous signs on Twitter emerged – tweets asking about his welfare and that of another Twitter user in the same group. When I found the other Twitter user, atop his feed was an "I'm OK" tweet. But nothing atop Ryan's. His last tweet was that morning.
Final confirmation came on Facebook, where Ryan's profile page had been transformed into a makeshift shrine of sorts. The jigsaw puzzle became clear, and even though the authorities and media had not released the victim's name until this morning, it became clear that night who the victim, in fact, was.
Ryan Suenaga—social worker, diabetic turned endurance athlete, and all-American geek—was no more.
One thing I remember about Ryan was his fastidiousness about money. He pinched his pennies until they bled, and made them work overtime. His ultimate goal was to retire early, which, given his work as a social worker (not exactly a relaxing career), might have been just as well. But fortunately, while frugal about money, he was generous in other things that were ultimately more important.
I'm not exactly sure where I saw Ryan first, but I imagine it was probably at the first Geek Meet. Since then I had seen him at tweetups and at endurance athletic events. Although he was a self-described hater of running, he nonetheless did a lot of it, completing two marathons. After having completed my own race, I was glad to have been able to cheer him on and congratulate him on a job well done. His true love, though, was cycling, and he was always in training for the next 100 mile or 100 kilometer race. And how he got there was equally inspiring. From a peak of 265 pounds, he reached 172.8 in the last week. (He would weigh himself most mornings and tweet his weight.) If you saw him as I remember, you wouldn't know that there was a lot more of him back in the day. For most of the time I knew him he was around 180. Yet, 180 wasn't good enough—his ultimate goal was 165, a one-hundred pound loss.
True, he was a self-professed non-people person. But he had filled every other moment of his life with fulfilling things and in so doing touched other people's lives as well. He was a curmudgeon with a big heart.
Like I said, everything is breaking, and it appears a lot of hearts are tonight. God's comfort be with all of us during this difficult time.
My front door faces Mount Olomana and it greets me every morning. This morning, as I left the house, I looked up at the three headed monster that ate my friend and spit him out, and said a silent prayer for his soul.
Thank you, Ryan, for being a part of my life.
For more tribute posts, read Ryan Ozawa's blog post and see the list at the bottom. Too many to list here.
It started off fairly uneventfully. The flight over left on time and arrived on time, which is pretty much the norm. I was able to pick up my rental car without much trouble either, but boo to the girl at the counter who tried to upsell me; I got this rate (~ $370 for two weeks) by planning ahead, and you'll have to offer me something comparable to get me to change (not $100-200 more). Getting to the hotel was quick, and I did have a room waiting for me even at close to midnight (thank goodness; I've heard too many horror stories about late arrivals getting their reservations given away).
When I got there, I got a bacon maple bar from Voodoo Doughnut (mmmm…), and made my way to the Park Blocks, snapping pictures along the way. I spent most of the half hour before the market opened taking pictures of the fruits and vegetables being put out for display.
My plan was to have dinner at Cannon Beach (which I did, over at Mo's Restaurant) and then catch the sunset, but I realized that at this latitude sunset happens at 9:00 p.m. So back to Portland I went. Besides, I do have a great photo of Haystack Rock from a previous trip.
Today, I started my day at the flagship location of the Original Pancake House. And it really is a house. Maybe about 15 tables in the whole area. I was able to get a table right next to the fireplace. I ordered one of their signature dishes – apple pancakes. It came out quickly (I was surprised!), and it was monstrous. Maybe about 9 inches in diameter, with apples in the batter, with apple-cinnamon topping on top. I couldn't finish it all. It occurred to me, though, while I was sitting there…I had gone to Lewis & Clark, which is not too far away, for four years, and I've visited Portland five times in the double-ohs. It surprised me that this was the first time I'd ever eaten here.
Made a stop at Pro Photo Northwest (picking up a TTL flash cable for back home), and then decided to spend the day out in the Gorge. First stop was Multnomah Falls. It's the second highest waterfall in North America, 620 feet high. And you can hike all the way to the top, which I did. Wasn't really prepared for the big climb – 1.25 miles but with that 600 foot elevation gain. Then coming back down again.
Had some lunch over in Cascade Locks and then headed back to the hotel to take a nap before heading out to dinner with my friend from high school.
The trip's getting off to a great start and I'm looking forward to the rest of it!
In my mailbox today landed a list of the dumbest questions asked by visitors to Banff National Park. Fortunately, I'm not going anywhere near there on my trip, staying in the Vancouver vicinity, but it's a good reminder of what not to say to stay in the good graces of our Canadian friends.
Is this the part of Canada that speaks French, or is that Saskatchewan?
If I go to B.C., do I have to go through Ontario?
What's the best way to see Canada in a day?


text:
Smashing Pumpkins Shiny And Oh So Bright Vol.1 LP
Shiny And Oh So Bright Vol.1
Number of pieces in a package
*additional details about the product, such as pictures and descriptions are informative and sometimes do not match the product in full
Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie & The Infinite...
Smashing Pumpkins Monuments To An Elegy
Smashing Pumpkins Rotten Apples Greatest Hits
Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie And The Infinite...
25 Greatest Albums of All Time by Uncut:
01. The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
02. The Beatles - Revolver
03. Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
04. The Velvet Underground & Nico
05. The Beatles - The Beatles (White Album)
06. Love - Forever Changes
07. Bob Dylan - Blond on Blond
08. The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead
09. Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited
10. Television - Marquee Moon
11. David Bowie - Hunky Dory
12. David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust...
14. Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
15. The Beatles - Rubber Soul
16. Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street
17. The Band - The Band (1969)
18. Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks
19. David Bowie - Low
20. Kraftwerk - Trans-Europe Express
21. The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
22. Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions...
23. The Clash - London Calling
24. The Beatles - Abbey Road
25. Kate Bush - Hounds of Love
Cedeterija.com uses cookies to provide a better user experience, functionality and display advertising system. Cookie settings can be controlled and configured in your web browser. By continuing to browse the website you agree to our use of cookies . More about this can be read here


Check out our latest ladies' scuba tshirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, dresses and tunic length tees. Scuba ladies don't seem to have the best selection of lady-fit fun scuba diving t-shirts, so we're expanding the horizons. Customize any of our t-shirts, or if you have an idea of a scuba diving ladies' design that you might like, contact us!


Modulate display 2m x 2m L-Shaped Fabric Exhibition Stand. Hidden magnets enable multiple frames to be connected together. Reconfigure your layout for each exhibition.
L-Shaped 2m x 2m Modulate Display Exhibition Stand.
The 2m x 2m Modulate display is magnetic and fully reconfigurable enabling you to change the layout at each event with ease. Comprising a 30mm aluminum frame structure together with a high quality printed fabric graphic, this versatile exhibition graphic is brand new to the market for 2019.
With powerful 360° magnets, the MagLink system makes it easy to assemble Modulate frames without the hassle of traditional clips add in or the need for Allen keys. These patent pending magnetic connectors and the 40 cm extension, allow you to vary the height of the structures, making Modulate a very versatile and reconfigurable solution.
All modulate displays are available in 2 height options 2000mm or 2400mm.
Each element of the Modulate range is designed to make your life easier: sections with colour co-ordinated numbering system, bungee poles and easy-to-install feet. No tools required! Assembling Modulate is child's play, allowing you to change your configuration in seconds.
Assembling Modulate structures does not require no tools. Each section is labelled by number and colour coded for ease of assembly, connecting with a push-button. Once the structure is assembled, the Twist & Lock feet can be locked into place by rotating a quarter of a turn, for a perfectly stable free-standing frame. Add the perfect finishing touch with a tension fabric graphic, designed to fit the frame perfectly.
Get original by combining the different sizes and shapes of Modulate frames. Thanks to the exclusive MagLink magnetic system built into the structure, you can connect the frames by simply touching them together. Each structure includes 4 magnets that allow you to connect the frames together without any need for or tools. Modulate includes tubular frames (Ø30 mm) that can be used with double-sided printed textile graphics. These modules can be used by themselves or combined to create hundreds of possible configurations. The different structures are classified according to their width or shape. The colour of the module corresponds to the coding system on the structure. Each frame is supplied with a Modulate carry bag with dedicated slots for the feet and graphics.
Modulate offers innovative layout solutions and maximises the impact of your message with sublimation printed textile graphics. Choose your Modulate frames from the shapes and sizes and on offer and connect them magnetically at any angle using the exclusive MagLink system. You can mix and match to create new configurations or change them to suit your needs. Switching from a simple wall of images to an exhibition stand takes just a few minutes! Each frame features a coding system for easier assembly. No tools required! The graphics are very easy to maintain thanks to the crease-resistant and machine washable textile cover. Each Modulate frame comes in a bag to carry the structure, feet and graphics.
The versatility and variety of Modulate frames make them the ideal choice for decorating interior spaces. The same frames can be arranged in different ways to redesign your POS advertising.
Easy to transport and assemble, Modulate frames can be used to create a stand. Modulate offers the freedom to redesign your stand as many times as you want, guaranteeing an excellent return on your investment.
The use of large-format graphics is particularly suited to the world of events and promotions.
Create unique staging options with the Modulate frames. Placed in strategic locations, they offer passers-by an original and immersive experience.
Attract greater attention to your shopfronts and windows. Modulate offers a range of excellent solutions for organising retail spaces, allowing you to refresh your message and play with the available display space.
Creating simple private reception spaces, partitions or office spaces with the Modulate frames. The large customisable surfaces can also be used for decoration as well as brand communication.


I go here frequently with my non-celiac friends. The waitstaff are great and the coffee is hood, but this restaurant doesn't really cater to people with food allergies. As a person with celiac disease, the only thing I feel safe eating here is a poached egg and maybe some fruit.
Despite the description of this restaurant, there is no GF menu. There does not seem to be a dedicated GF prep area either. This could be wrong but I asked the server. If you have severe allergies / celiac, probably best to avoid this spot.
Delicious! I order here almost everyday. I love their omelettes and their seasoned fries are delicious. I love their buns, too. They are sweet and tasty, a good toast substitute.


text:
Product Reviews > Electronics > Nintendo Switch Games >
Nintendo Switch Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
Last updated date: August 12, 2019
Our Nintendo Switch Game Buying Guide
Our Nintendo Switch Game Tip and Advice
We looked at the top Nintendo Switch Games and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Nintendo Switch Game you should buy.
Update as August 20, 2019:
Checkout The Best Nintendo Switch Game for a detailed review of all the top nintendo switch games.
Find the ever-popular Crash come back to life in the "Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy" for Nintendo Switch. The game provides endless play time with tons of levels, but also super flexible characters throughout. In addition, the game is a three-in-one pack, so you will surely find the Best Value in this purchase.
In our analysis of 162 expert reviews, the Nintendo Switch Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy placed 9th when we looked at the top 10 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.
Your favorite marsupial, Crash Bandicoot, is back! He's enhanced, entranced and ready-to-dance with the N. Sane Trilogy game collection. Now you can experience Crash Bandicoot like never before. Spin, jump, wump and repeat as you take on the epic challenges and adventures through the three games that started it all, Crash Bandicoot, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back and Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped. Relive all your favorite Crash moments in their fully-remastered graphical glory and get ready to put some umph in your wump! Dr. Neo Cortex has a plan to take over the world, and he wants to create genetically engineered animals to do his bidding. To create his minions, Cortex kidnaps as many animals as he can; Crash Bandicoot's girlfriend just happens to be one of his victims. Take control of Crash as he runs, jumps, and spins through 30 levels of intense action on three different Australian islands. Only you can help Crash save the animals, save his girlfriend, and foil Dr. Cortex's plot. The evil Dr. Neo Cortex is back…out this time to save the world? And he's asking for help from his arch nemesis, Crash Bandicoot? Is this just a conniving plan to lure Crash into Cortex's next dastardly experiment? Can Crash win again or will he join Cortex's mindless zoo? Bigger free-roaming 3-D environments, all-new animations and a whole host of colorful characters – watch as our hero Crash, ice-skates, rodeo-rides a polar bear and jet-packs through zero-gravity in the continuing adventures of Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back – This time he ain't joking! Oh yeah…he's back…AND he's ready! It's a Whole New Time-Traveling Adventure! All new-style gameplay action – scuba dive, ride a motorcycle, a baby T-Rex, and go free-roaming airborne in a plane! Play as Coco! Gallop along the Great Wall of China on a tiger, go extreme on a jet-ski and other high-flying surprises! Prove your skills with the new Super-charge Body Slam, Super Slide, Double Jump, Death-Tornado Spin and a Laser-Guided Bazooka. All new enemies include a new Big Boss, Uka Uka, N. Tropy, a menacing Dingodile and of course, the return of some favorites like N. Gin and Tiny. More Action. More Fun. More Puzzles and Secret Levels. And you didn't think it could get any better!
It's not just the dozens and dozens of levels that look and feel great either. Crash himself is reborn, his coat bristling with energy and detail. Tapping Vicarious Visions to handle this remaster was the smartest decision that Sony had ever made since they demonstrated how to share games with a friend on the PlayStation 4.
- Critical Hit
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is a welcome remaster in a generation full of them, every level is intact.
- NDTV Gadgets 360
July 3, 2018 | Full review
It has 3 great games in one package.
- Game Axis
August 8, 2018 | Full review
An enjoyable variety of challenges and environments keep you engaged from one level to the next
- GameSpot
June 28, 2018 | Full review
The save system has been completely overhauled, complete with an autosave feature as well as a level-by-level save you can do yourself if you just don't trust the tech to remember you've got that gem in Sunset Vista, thank you very much.
- Games Radar
Vicarious Visions have been handed the task of making Crash relevant again and they have done a great job on the graphical updates.
- Impulse Gamer
I'm quite pleased that this remaster doesn't mess about with the way the game used to play, the welcome changes come from updated graphics, making Crash look better than ever and the ability to play as Coco in the earlier games is a lovely touch.
- Nintendo Insider
Levels are slick, gorgeous to look at, and recreate the feel of the originals superbly.
- Nintendo Life
As a lovingly crafted and doggedly faithful remake of the first three PlayStation-era Crash Bandicoot games, the N. Sane Trilogy is pretty much perfect.
- PC Gamer
The runner levels where you're either mounted on a baby polar bear or jet ski are good at breaking up the monotony, just as they were in the original.
- Polygon
Infectious charm injected in to the design of the game.
- Trusted Reviews
No expense is spared performance-wise with the Switch version of the N. Sane Trilogy, as it runs at 30fps as it does with the Xbox and PS4; the PC version can achieve an unlocked 60fps. In fact, according to Digital Foundry, it's actually the second-fastest loading version of the game, after the Xbox.
- Switch Player
July 12, 2018 | Full review
May be too difficult for some, for newcomers.
No bonuses or extras fitting a collection.
Outdated designs feel at odds with the modern presentation
Neither analogue or d-pad controls feel precise enough...and that imprecision will kill you. Repeatedly.
Of the three games, it might not be surprising to learn that the original holds up the worst. The platforming mechanics are at their worst, the enemy and scenery are at their drabbest and Crash doesn't have all the moves he'll gain later on in the series.
These games are seriously tough at points. Some levels we breezed through, but others were really troublesome, causing us to drain all of our lives and have to restart the stage from the beginning.
The fixed camera angles make gauging many jumps difficult, which is a problem in a game where falling down a pit means being thrown back to a checkpoint or the start of a level.
But as novel as these sections are, there's still too many demands placed on unstable mechanics. Part of me was expecting the steering on the baby polar bear to be tighter, less unruly than its PlayStation 1 counterpart. But it wasn't.
First game really shows its age.
My only gripe with the Switch version would be the controls, as having used the D-pad entirely in the PS4 version, I found it difficult transferring to the analogue stick as my finger kept slipping, and the D-Pad isn't ideally placed on the Joy-Con for me.
1. Nintendo Switch Super Mario Odyssey
2. Nintendo Switch The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
3. Nintendo Switch Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
4. Nintendo Switch Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
5. Nintendo Switch Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
6. Nintendo Switch Minecraft
7. Nintendo Switch New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
8. Nintendo Switch Splatoon 2
9. Nintendo Switch Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
10. Nintendo Switch LEGO Marvel Superheroes 2
An Overview On Nintendo Switch Games
With video gaming constantly evolving, it is dizzying to keep up with the latest number one games. There are countless platforms to play games on, and recently, the Nintendo Switch has become quite high on the popularity list. With a soar in popularity, there have been a myriad of games released to appease the gaming community. With over 2,000 games offered for the Nintendo Switch, find out which games are at the top and surprise your gamer with a few of the best Nintendo Switch Games this year.
The Nintendo Switch is a gaming console composed of a console and a handheld device. The awesome thing about the Switch is the portability of it. There are no wires attaching the handheld device to the console. This allows you to game from many different places and, positions around your home, depending on the range. In addition, it is extremely easy to take on-the-go with you to play with pals.
Of course, this gaming console is not for everyone and has its pros and cons. There are so many personal preferences for those who game and buy gaming consoles that it is important to know what the Nintendo Switch offers for consumers.
For those who enjoy the first-party games that Nintendo has created, the Nintendo Switch is the console for you. This includes "Super Mario Odyssey", a great game that all ages can enjoy. In addition, "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild" is also one of the best Nintendo Switch first-party games that users will love.
If you are the type who is always on the go, then the Switch is definitely for you. With a super portable handset that features a built-in screen and attachable Joy-Con controllers, you can take this from living room to vacation in a snap. This is a huge advantage over other gaming consoles of its class.
The Nintendo Switch is also known to be a favorite of indie game players. Coined as "Nindies" by Nintendo, there are countless options for indie game lovers. A few of the Indie games that are most popular with Switch users include: "Stardew Valley," "Axiom Verge" and "Shovel Knight."
Perhaps the biggest pro to the Nintendo Switch is the charging cable. It is a super common, USB Type-C that you can find almost anywhere and easily replace for not a lot of money. In addition, it works with Type-C power banks to give it a longer life to use on-the-go.
Now that you've heard the pros, let's talk about the cons of the Nintendo Switch. There are always a few elementary features in the first release of a new product, and that's what you'll find with the Switch.
First, the graphics are not the best of the best. Though it features 720p resolution, you won't have high definition in some of the games. When compared to its competitors that are less mobile and more stationary, this is one of the features that knocks it down a bit.
Depending on what you are playing, the Switch can have a shorter battery life. It is advertised that the battery lasts anywhere from 2.5 hours to 6 hours. This isn't ideal, especially when you are traveling or playing a long game.
An additional negative to the system is the expensive accessory costs. The controllers are slightly more than their competitors, and if you want a charging grip for the Joy-Con, you'll pay extra for that too. This is a huge con to the system.
Finally, if you are a multiplayer game-lover, the Switch is a bit behind. Their chat feature costs you an annual subscription fee to their online service but even that seems to be a bit slow. This is tough for multiplayer enthusiasts.
That sums up the pros and cons for the Nintendo Switch, but let's take a look at a couple more of the best games for the Switch that game-lovers are going crazy over. "The Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" is an upgraded version of one of the classics. This game has endless intrigue and impressive graphics for users to enjoy. Next, you should really take a look at "Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy-Nintendo Switch Standard Edition." This game features a fan favorite, Crash Bandicoot, and he sure does have all the moves. Players of all ages will find this game fun and exciting. There are hours of fun to be had with these Nintendo Switch Games.
The Nintendo Switch Game Buying Guide
When you are ready to start purchasing games for your Nintendo Switch, be sure to look at those customer reviews. The reviews will help you to know the best value and overall experience of each game.
Many gamers recommend getting a good case as well as a screen protector for your Switch.
When a game does not require Wi-Fi, turn it off to preserve some of the battery.
If you find a game you like that requires lots of storage, invest in a Micro SD card to accommodate it.
Recommended accessory is an external battery to keep the Switch going even after its short battery life ends.
Plugging in keyboards and external accessories will also extend the battery life when you are home.