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Home » All » US Blu-ray and DVD Releases: Back To The Future, The Hit, The Haunting, Space Ghost, NOS4A2, Star Trek and more
US Blu-ray and DVD Releases: Back To The Future, The Hit, The Haunting, Space Ghost, NOS4A2, Star Trek and more
Posted by Mike Spring on Oct 20, 2020 in All, DVD/Blu-ray, Film, Reviews | Comments Off on US Blu-ray and DVD Releases: Back To The Future, The Hit, The Haunting, Space Ghost, NOS4A2, Star Trek and more
Back to the Future: The Ultimate Trilogy (4K Ultra HD) – Well, the holidays are upon us and with a lack of major new theatrical titles hitting home video, we are at least getting some great new catalog releases. This week, that kicks off with this terrific 7-disc 4K Ultra HD box set from Universal Studios. Now, before you stop reading if you're not one of the people with a 4K player, don't worry; this set comes with each movie on both 4K and Blu-ray, so this is still an excellent way to get the whole trilogy of one of the best movie franchises of all time. In addition to the three films, you get all the original extra features from the first box set iteration (and there are plenty) plus some new extra features, including audition videos, a special YouTube program about BTTF, a look at the films' props and memorabilia, and more. But of course, if you're buying for the 4K versions of the films, how do they stack up in the premium format? After all, these films are 30 years old, so do they look brand new? Well, no, but I do have to compliment Universal for really delivering a terrific picture quality here. I just watched these films on Blu-ray a few months ago, so viewing them now on 4K, I was amazed how much vibrant and colorful the films are, especially how the past and future-era Hill Valleys appear. Image clarity is razor-sharp, and I feel like the films take on a new life. The surround soundtracks, likewise, really max out the use of the various channels, giving even seemingly insignificant sound effects a proper place and immersing you in the action. Yes, there have been several BTTF box sets before, but this is hands down the best yet.
The Haunting – The new Paramount Presents line continues with The Haunting, Jan de Bont's 1999 haunted house flick starring Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Owen Wilson, and Lili Taylor. This is an interesting release for this line, which has been focusing thus far on big hits and critically acclaimed or award-winning films. To my knowledge, The Haunting (based on the classic The Haunting of Hill House) is neither of those things. But since I hadn't seen it since 1999, it was a fun film to revisit. The cast is great, of course, and the film does a nice job of building some suspense before launching into a final third that is just full-on haunting/ghost mayhem. Is it a great film? Not really. But it's a perfectly entertaining haunted house romp that is easy to watch. It also features some of the most incredible set decoration I've ever seen on film. Honestly, if for nothing else, watch this movie to marvel at the incredible sets and the detail that goes into literally every single room of this incredibly large house. It's astounding.
The Captains Collection – In the 2000s, William Shatner took on a new role as sort of the "Steward of Star Trek," crafting a number of documentaries about the Star Trek franchise and phenomenon. Most notably, he sat down for a series of one-on-one interviews with all of the various captains of the different shows, including Patrick Stewart, Avery Brooks, Kate Mulgrew, Scott Bakula, and Chris Pine. Over the course of four discs, you get the following features: The Captains (the film version featuring Shatner talking to all five captains); The Captains Close Up (A five-episode miniseries using extended interview material that wasn't in The Captains, one episode for each captain); William Shatner's Get a Life! (a really fun documentary in which Shatner looks at Trek fandom) and Chaos on the Bridge: The Untold Story Behind Trek's Next Generation (Shatner's look into the creation of the second iconic series.) You also get a number of extra features that give you extra interviews, featurettes, and the like. I'll be honest, if you're a Star Trek fan, you really need to have this collection on your shelf. It's one of the best collections of programs about Star Trek I've ever seen, and Shatner's films are all terrific. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
NOS4A2: Season 2 – Let me start by saying that I had to play rapid catch up on NOS4A2 after not having been sent Season 1 for review. So I'm not the most knowledgeable person about the world of this show as I didn't watch it when it originally aired and kind of had to rush through the episodes to prep for this season. Because, boy, this is one of those shows where you really need to have the full context of the events to follow what's going on. NOS4A2: Season Two picks up eight years after the end of Season One, and I'm not going to even try and explain to you what happened in that first season. It's a pretty complicated show, with magic, vampires (sort of), and darkness, and this season we have a new character in the form of Vic's son, Wayne. So, I'll say this: I think this show is well-acted and has great production values. I found the first season somewhat interesting, but the second season kind of lost me. Maybe because I'm not a hardcore fan, but I found the story kind of uninteresting and the writing largely uneven. If you're a fan, this season might be up your alley, but it didn't do much for me.
The Hit – The Criterion Collection never fails to bring the best in cinema to home video, and this month we get the release of The Hit, the debut feature film from director Stephen Frears. Now, Frears might not be quite a household name, but he's an accomplished director with some great films under his belt, such as Dangerous Liaisons, High Fidelity, and Philomena. The Hit was a 1984 crime drama starring Terence Stamp, John Hurt, Tim Roth, and Jim Broadbent. Now, I'd never seen the film before, but it turns out it's a sharp movie, especially for a debut. Stamp plays a retired mobster who ratted out his colleagues a decade before. One day, two hitmen show up to drive him to Paris to face the music, but… well, let's just say that things don't go all that smoothly. There are some parts where the film drifts a bit, and it could be a bit more tightly edited in places, but overall, it's en enjoyable romp. As usual for Criterion, the film has been restored and remastered under the supervision of Frears himself and comes loaded with top-notch extra features. Definitely worth tracking down.
The Great: Season One – Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult star in the first season of The Great, a series about Catherine the Great on her way to becoming, well, Catherine the Great. But this isn't just a rehash of The Crown; whereas that show is uber-serious, The Great is more of a black comedy than anything else, and I suspect (and the show sort of confirms) that it's veeerrryyyy loosely based on history. This isn't a show that's trying to act as a docuseries in drama form; it's meant to have fun with Catherine the Great's life and her rise to power, and it wants to make the proceedings soapy, scandalous, and sexy. And for the most part, it works. Fanning and Hoult are terrific, and whereas I personally find The Crown boring as heck, this show moves at a good clip and keeps things interesting. Fans of history should check it out but be aware that it's not concerned so much with factual accuracy.
Space Ghost & Dino Boy: The Complete Series – I love Space Ghost, both the original animated series and the later, more comedic offerings from Cartoon Network/Cartoon Planet. This new Blu-ray release from the Warner Archive (WAC offerings can be found via warnerarchive.com and your favorite online retailer.) This Blu-ray set collects the entire 1966-1967 series that features three-part episodes. It also features character designs by the great Alex Toth, which is part of what makes the show so great. Yes, it has that somewhat cheesy (some would say classic) '60s aesthetic, but I loved watching this show in various forms (as reruns) as a kid, and its great to go back and revisit them after many years. There's also a cool extra feature focusing on Alex Toth, which is a real bonus for a comic art fan like myself. This is a great release that I'm really excited to have in my collection!
Ultraman R/B: The Series & The Movie and Ultraman R/B: The Movie Select! The Crystal of Bond – Mill Creek has done a terrific job with their Ultraman complete franchise release series so far, and these latest two releases are no exception, although there is a little overlap. So what you get here are first is Ultraman R/B: The Movie Select! The Crystal of Bond, a feature film from 2019. But there is also Ultraman R/B: The Series & The Movie, which gives us the preceding TV series as well as the movie (the same movie that's available on the stand-alone disc.) The show (and the movie) focuses on two brothers who get the Ultraman powers and become a red and a blue version of Ultraman to fight the usual big, bad monsters. The series (from 2018) ran for 25 episodes and then culminates in the follow-up movie that's part of the set. You get an awful lot of bang for your buck in this set, and if you've been grabbing the Mill Creek Ultraman Blu-ray series so far, you're not gonna want to stop now.
Also Available This Week on Home Video:
Grant: The Complete Miniseries – This history channel miniseries about Ulysses S. Grant was produced by Leonardo DiCaprio and is based on the best-selling biography Grant by Ron Chernow. Over the course of three episodes (running a little over four hours), we get a mix of dramatic recreations, interviews, photos, and documentary material to bring us Grant's story. The recreations star largely unknown actors Justin Salinger, Francis Chouler, and Carel Nel, and the documentary parts feature a variety of historians and experts. Now personally, I'm not a fan of this format all that much. I prefer either a full-on dramatic take on the story or a full documentary; I don't love the mix of the two. But Grant is at least interesting and features pretty good production values, so history fans should be pretty into it.
Quiz – Michael Sheen and Matthew Macfadyen star in this three-episode miniseries based on a true event. While it rings familiar to the Robert Redford film Quiz Show, this is actually about a different game show scandal that happened in the UK, in much more recent times. It's actually quite an interesting story, and this three+ hour teleseries does a nice job of taking viewers through what happened and how. Interestingly, the miniseries was directed by Stephen Frears, who I wrote about above (his first film is being re-released by Criterion.) Because of his sure hand, you get a strong story, terrific performances, and great production values. While definitely a drama and not a thriller, there are some decidedly suspenseful moments in this miniseries, and it's definitely worth watching.
The Vanished – Peter Facinelli wrote and directed this thriller (he also has a supporting role) and it's interesting to see the dependable actor move behind the camera for this abducted child thriller. Thomas Jane and Anne Heche star as parents who bring their ten-year-old daughter on an outing in their RV, and it doesn't take long before she goes missing. Facinelli packs the film with oddball characters, suspicious suspects, and twists and turns, and while it might be a little much early on, I have to say that it all pays off nicely in the end. Jane and Heche give good performances, and it's clear that Facinelli has some real talent as a filmmaker and not just an actor. Don't get me wrong, there's room for growth, but if he's going to start making more movies behind the scenes, I'll be along for the ride.
The Owners – Game of Thrones' Maisie Williams stars in this new horror-thriller that has echoes of films like Don't Breathe and The People Under the Stairs. In it, a group of young people set out to rob a house that's empty for the night. When the elderly couple who own the home show up unexpectedly, things get surprisingly dangerous. I don't want to say more to avoid any spoilers, but this is a good, taut horror flick. It's not terribly original, but sometimes I don't nee da horror movie to be all that unique as long as it does what it's supposed to well. Here we get a likable cast, some good surprises, and some decent bloody mayhem. And sometimes, especially two weeks before Halloween, that's all I want.
Scare Package – Another horror offering this week is Scare Package, an anthology horror film. This one features seven horror vignettes, all housed under the threading device of a lonely horror aficionado recounting the rules of horror films. And while I usually find anthology movies to be a hit or miss proposition, this one is pretty solid overall. It helps that it leans towards horror-comedy more than straight horror, and it also wears its influences on its sleeves; there are numerous references throughout o well-loved horror classics. Each of the different short films tackles a different subgenre of horror, and the whole thing plays out like a cross between a parody of and a love letter to the last 40 years of horror flicks. Fun!
The Amityville Harvest – Continuing with the horror theme (because, obviously, it's almost Halloween!), we have The Amityville Harvest. Now, there's a long line of Amityville movies that started with The Amityville Horror, and as near as I can tell, this movie has nothing at all to do with them. It's not about the house in Long Island that a real-life family left behind. Instead, it's a low-budget horror flick about a group of filmmakers who end up in a funeral home with a mysterious attendant. And, of course, things start to go haywire. I don't want to give away the film's major reveal, but honestly, it's sone of the only things going for it. This is a low-budget horror flick, and unfortunately, it's not the good kind of low-budget horror flick. It's poorly written, paced, and edited, and the performances leave a lot to be desired as well. I'd have to advise you to skip this one, sadly.
Spree – Stranger Things' Joe Keery (who plays breakout character Steve on ST) stars in this satirical-thriller-slash-horror-flick. Keery plays an Uber driver who's obsessed with getting more likes for his online video content. Desperate, he decides to start murdering his passengers and live-streaming it. Yep, you read that right. As the film goes on and Keery becomes more unhinged, the craziness of the events continues to grow. It's a clever take on the horror genre; fast-paced and manic, with a touch of social commentary regarding people and their online obsessions. Keery is delightfully over the top, but never loses you in a way that makes the character unrealistic or annoying. It's a fun, dark thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Cut Throat City – Directed by Wu-Tang Clan's RZA (who moves from scoring films to making them), Cut Throat City is a heist film set in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In the film, four friends find themselves desperate in the aftermath of the tragedy, and they end up wrapped up in a heist trying to find a way out. The film is split into two parts, with the first third letting us get to know the characters before Katrina hits land and the remainder of the film taking place afterwards. The film eschews being a straight action movie, giving the drama weight, and the characters aren't afraid to talk about racism, money, and other topics that reflect modern society. It's an interesting film that showcases that RZA has some talent behind the camera.
Indie Spotlight – Wrapping up this week, we have a number of indie films hitting DVD. First up is A Regular Woman, a dark drama in German and Turkish. The film follows a woman from a strictly conservative and devout Turkish family who tries to set out on her own, only to find that her family doesn't want to let her go. This tough drama deals with the subject of honor killings, something most of us probably don't know much about but is a dark aspect of certain cultures in the world. It's a difficult film to watch, but I think there's an important message here, and it is an affecting drama when all is said and done. On the flip side of that (but with a similar tough-to-watch aesthetic) is the documentary Rewind, in which filmmaker Sasha Joseph Neulinger uses old home video to explore the sexual abuse he and his sister suffered as children. He interviews his family, psychiatrists, and police to recreate his childhood and figure out exactly how it all happened. It's not an easy watch, but it does draw comparisons to the acclaimed Capturing the Freedmans, and it is a fascinating (if horrible) story. Not exactly Friday night popcorn fare, but a moving viewing experience. Next up, we switch gears completely, with Boobs: The War on Women's Breasts. This is a documentary that wants to shed light on mammograms and the fact that some people out there find them unnecessary and more detrimental than helpful. I'm not sure if it's going to find a big audience, but for people who like to explore all sides of an issue, there may be some interest there for them. Finally, we have Botero, a documentary/biography of the acclaimed artist Fernando Botero. Clocking in at 84 minutes, this 2018 film makes its home video debut this month. I can't say I was overly familiar with Botero's work, but as the film went on, I realized I recognized more of his art and his style than I realized. The film is your pretty typical doc, mixing photos, interviews, video footage, and the like to paint a picture (no pun intended) of the artists' life, works, and art. It's a solid film, and I appreciate that the compact running time keeps it from getting bloated or overdone.


text:
package me.xuxiaoxiao.xtools.common.http.executor.impl;

import me.xuxiaoxiao.xtools.common.XTools;
import me.xuxiaoxiao.xtools.common.config.XConfigTools;
import me.xuxiaoxiao.xtools.common.http.executor.XHttpExecutor;

import javax.annotation.Nonnull;
import javax.annotation.Nullable;
import javax.net.ssl.*;
import java.io.DataOutputStream;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.net.*;
import java.security.SecureRandom;
import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Map;

/**
 * http执行器的默认实现类
 */
public class XHttpExecutorImpl implements XHttpExecutor {
    public static final String CFG_CONNECT_TIMEOUT = XTools.CFG_PREFIX + "http.connectTimeout";
    public static final String CFG_CONNECT_TIMEOUT_DEFAULT = "20000";
    public static final String CFG_READ_TIMEOUT = XTools.CFG_PREFIX + "http.readTimeout";
    public static final String CFG_READ_TIMEOUT_DEFAULT = "60000";
    public static final String CFG_FOLLOW_REDIRECT = XTools.CFG_PREFIX + "http.followRedirect";
    public static final String CFG_FOLLOW_REDIRECT_DEFAULT = "false";
    public static final String CFG_CHUNK_LENGTH = XTools.CFG_PREFIX + "http.chunkLength";
    public static final String CFG_CHUNK_LENGTH_DEFAULT = "262144";

    public static final String CFG_COOKIE_MANAGER = XTools.CFG_PREFIX + "http.cookieManager";
    public static final String CFG_COOKIE_MANAGER_DEFAULT = XHttpExecutorImpl.XCookieManager.class.getName();

    public static final String CFG_HOSTNAME_VERIFIER = XTools.CFG_PREFIX + "http.hostnameVerifier";
    public static final String CFG_HOSTNAME_VERIFIER_DEFAULT = XHttpExecutorImpl.XHostnameVerifier.class.getName();

    public static final String CFG_SSL_ALGORITHM = XTools.CFG_PREFIX + "http.ssl.algorithm";
    public static final String CFG_SSL_ALGORITHM_DEFAULT = "TLS";
    public static final String CFG_SSL_KEY_MANAGERS = XTools.CFG_PREFIX + "http.ssl.keyManagers";
    public static final String CFG_SSL_KEY_MANAGERS_DEFAULT = "";
    public static final String CFG_SSL_TRUST_MANAGERS = XTools.CFG_PREFIX + "http.ssl.trustManagers";
    public static final String CFG_SSL_TRUST_MANAGERS_DEFAULT = "";
    public static final String CFG_SSL_SECURE_RANDOM = XTools.CFG_PREFIX + "http.ssl.secureRandom";
    public static final String CFG_SSL_SECURE_RANDOM_DEFAULT = "";

    private int connectTimeout;
    private int readTimeout;
    private int chunkLength;
    private boolean followRedirect;
    private CookieManager cookieManager;
    private HostnameVerifier hostnameVerifier;
    private SSLContext sslContext;

    public XHttpExecutorImpl() {
        this.connectTimeout = Integer.parseInt(XTools.cfgDef(CFG_CONNECT_TIMEOUT, CFG_CONNECT_TIMEOUT_DEFAULT).trim());
        this.readTimeout = Integer.parseInt(XTools.cfgDef(CFG_READ_TIMEOUT, CFG_READ_TIMEOUT_DEFAULT).trim());
        this.chunkLength = Integer.parseInt(XTools.cfgDef(CFG_CHUNK_LENGTH, CFG_CHUNK_LENGTH_DEFAULT).trim());
        this.followRedirect = Boolean.parseBoolean(XTools.cfgDef(CFG_FOLLOW_REDIRECT, CFG_FOLLOW_REDIRECT_DEFAULT).trim());
        this.cookieManager = XConfigTools.supply(XTools.cfgDef(CFG_COOKIE_MANAGER, CFG_COOKIE_MANAGER_DEFAULT).trim());
        this.hostnameVerifier = XConfigTools.supply(XTools.cfgDef(CFG_HOSTNAME_VERIFIER, CFG_HOSTNAME_VERIFIER_DEFAULT).trim());
        try {
            this.sslContext = SSLContext.getInstance(XTools.cfgDef(CFG_SSL_ALGORITHM, CFG_SSL_ALGORITHM_DEFAULT));

            KeyManager[] keyManagers = null;
            String keyManagersStr = XTools.cfgDef(CFG_SSL_KEY_MANAGERS, CFG_SSL_KEY_MANAGERS_DEFAULT);
            if (!XTools.strBlank(keyManagersStr)) {
                String[] array = keyManagersStr.split(",");
                keyManagers = new KeyManager[array.length];
                for (int i = 0, len = array.length; i < len; i++) {
                    keyManagers[i] = XConfigTools.supply(array[i].trim());
                }
            }

            TrustManager[] trustManagers = null;
            String trustManagersStr = XTools.cfgDef(CFG_SSL_TRUST_MANAGERS, CFG_SSL_TRUST_MANAGERS_DEFAULT);
            if (!XTools.strBlank(trustManagersStr)) {
                String[] array = trustManagersStr.split(",");
                trustManagers = new TrustManager[array.length];
                for (int i = 0, len = array.length; i < len; i++) {
                    trustManagers[i] = XConfigTools.supply(array[i].trim());
                }
            }

            SecureRandom secureRandom = null;
            String secureRandomStr = XTools.cfgDef(CFG_SSL_SECURE_RANDOM, CFG_SSL_SECURE_RANDOM_DEFAULT).trim();
            if (!XTools.strBlank(secureRandomStr)) {
                secureRandom = XConfigTools.supply(secureRandomStr);
            }

            this.sslContext.init(keyManagers, trustManagers, secureRandom);
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }

    @Override
    public int getConnectTimeout() {
        return this.connectTimeout;
    }

    @Override
    public void setConnectTimeout(int timeout) {
        this.connectTimeout = timeout;
    }

    @Override
    public int getReadTimeout() {
        return this.readTimeout;
    }

    @Override
    public void setReadTimeout(int timeout) {
        this.readTimeout = timeout;
    }

    @Override
    public void addCookie(@Nullable URI uri, @Nonnull HttpCookie cookie) {
        this.cookieManager.getCookieStore().add(uri, cookie);
    }

    @Nonnull
    @Override
    public List<HttpCookie> getCookies(@Nonnull URI uri) {
        return this.cookieManager.getCookieStore().get(uri);
    }

    @Nonnull
    @Override
    public List<HttpCookie> getCookies() {
        return this.cookieManager.getCookieStore().getCookies();
    }

    @Override
    public void rmvCookies(@Nullable URI uri, @Nonnull HttpCookie cookie) {
        this.cookieManager.getCookieStore().remove(uri, cookie);
    }

    @Override
    public void rmvCookies() {
        this.cookieManager.getCookieStore().removeAll();
    }

    public int getChunkLength() {
        return this.chunkLength;
    }

    public void setChunkLength(int chunkLength) {
        this.chunkLength = chunkLength;
    }

    public boolean getFollowRedirect() {
        return this.followRedirect;
    }

    public void setFollowRedirect(boolean followRedirect) {
        this.followRedirect = followRedirect;
    }

    @Nonnull
    public SSLContext getSSLContext() {
        return this.sslContext;
    }

    public void setSSLContext(@Nonnull SSLContext sslContext) {
        this.sslContext = sslContext;
    }

    @Nonnull
    public HostnameVerifier getHostnameVerifier() {
        return this.hostnameVerifier;
    }

    public void setHostnameVerifier(@Nonnull HostnameVerifier hostnameVerifier) {
        this.hostnameVerifier = hostnameVerifier;
    }

    @Nonnull
    protected HttpURLConnection connect(@Nonnull Request request) throws Exception {
        String url = request.getUrl();
        if (url.toLowerCase().startsWith("http://")) {
            HttpURLConnection connection = (HttpURLConnection) new URL(url).openConnection();
            //根据请求选项进行连接配置
            connection.setConnectTimeout(getConnectTimeout());
            connection.setReadTimeout(getReadTimeout());
            connection.setInstanceFollowRedirects(getFollowRedirect());
            return connection;
        } else if (url.toLowerCase().startsWith("https://")) {
            HttpsURLConnection connection = (HttpsURLConnection) new URL(url).openConnection();
            connection.setSSLSocketFactory(getSSLContext().getSocketFactory());
            connection.setHostnameVerifier(getHostnameVerifier());
            //根据请求选项进行连接配置
            connection.setConnectTimeout(getConnectTimeout());
            connection.setReadTimeout(getReadTimeout());
            connection.setInstanceFollowRedirects(getFollowRedirect());
            return connection;
        } else {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException("XHttpExecutorImpl仅支持HTTP协议和HTTPS协议");
        }
    }

    @Nonnull
    @Override
    public Response execute(@Nonnull Request request) throws Exception {
        HttpURLConnection connection = connect(request);
        //设置请求方法
        connection.setRequestMethod(request.getMethod());

        List<KeyValue> headers = request.getHeaders();
        if (headers != null) {
            //设置请求头
            for (KeyValue keyValue : headers) {
                connection.addRequestProperty(keyValue.key, String.valueOf(keyValue.value));
            }
        }

        if (cookieManager != null) {
            //添加cookie
            Map<String, List<String>> cookiesList = cookieManager.get(connection.getURL().toURI(), new HashMap<String, List<String>>());
            for (String cookieType : cookiesList.keySet()) {
                StringBuilder sbCookie = new StringBuilder();
                for (String cookieStr : cookiesList.get(cookieType)) {
                    if (sbCookie.length() > 0) {
                        sbCookie.append(';');
                    }
                    sbCookie.append(cookieStr);
                }
                if (sbCookie.length() > 0) {
                    connection.setRequestProperty(cookieType, sbCookie.toString());
                }
            }
        }

        //如果请求体不为null,则输出请求体
        if (request.getContent() != null) {
            connection.setDoOutput(true);
            connection.setUseCaches(false);
            XHttpExecutor.Content content = request.getContent();
            if (content != null) {
                if (content.contentLength() < 0) {
                    connection.setChunkedStreamingMode(getChunkLength());
                }
                try (DataOutputStream dOutStream = new DataOutputStream(connection.getOutputStream())) {
                    content.contentWrite(dOutStream);
                }
            }
        }

        //获取输入流
        InputStream inStream = connection.getInputStream();
        if (cookieManager != null) {
            //读取cookie
            cookieManager.put(connection.getURL().toURI(), connection.getHeaderFields());
        }
        return new XResponse(connection, inStream);
    }

    /**
     * 默认的Cookie管理器,接收所有Cookie信息并存储在内存中
     */
    public static class XCookieManager extends CookieManager {

        public XCookieManager() {
            super(null, CookiePolicy.ACCEPT_ALL);
        }
    }

    /**
     * 默认的主机名验证器,不进行主机名校验
     */
    public static class XHostnameVerifier implements HostnameVerifier {

        @Override
        public boolean verify(String s, SSLSession sslSession) {
            return true;
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Lodi (Provincia di Lodi) je italská provincie v oblasti Lombardie. Sousedí na severu s provincií Milano, na východě s provinciemi Cremona, na jihu s provincií Piacenza a na západě s provincií Pavia.

Provincie vznikla v roce 1992 odtržením 61 obcí od provincie Milano.

Externí odkazy

Lodi
Vzniklo 1992

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Yellow is Forbidden
news, Yellow is Forbidden	|
| by PBK
NZ International Film Festival 2018
Yellow is Forbidden is at the NZ International Film Festival in Auckland and 12 other locations. If you are in Auckland – at the first two NZIFF screenings (both Civic Theatre) screenings will be followed by a Q+A in the Wintergarden.
"In Guo Pei she meets a subject fit for the times. The contemporary hankering for imperial grandeur may never have looked more insanely magnificent than in Guo Pei's world of wearable arts. Its roots in suppression, aptly alluded to in the film's title, are astutely observed in Brettkelly's fascinating, gorgeous film."
"With a remarkable eye for detail and exquisite blending of visual art forms, Pietra Brettkelly captures Guo's drive, artistry, meticulousness, and acumen." — Brian Gordon, Tribeca Film Festival
The Herald said
4 out of 5 stars NZ Herald
"…enough nuance to keep non-fashionastas hooked."
Inside Film-Maker Pietra Brettkelly's New Documentary Yellow Is Forbidden
Rosie Herdman meets award-winning film-maker Pietra Brettkelly ahead of the release of her latest film at the New Zealand International Film Festival
By Rosie Herdman Note: Includes a podcast.
Our picks from this year's New Zealand International Film Festival line up Denizen.
From New Zealand director Pietra Brettkelly, this documentary explores the luxurious world of Chinese designer Guo Pei (best known for designing the yellow dress Rihanna wore to the Met Gala in 2015) as she strives to be recognised by the gate-keepers of haute couture and prepares for her Paris debut. For screenings and tickets, click here.
"Brettkelly's deliciously intimate film…a near visceral experience" Sydney Morning Herald.
Yellow is Forbidden Sydney Morning Herald
From bomber jackets to bling, MIFF struts its fashion cred
The Fashion X Cinema line-up includes documentaries and feature films in which clothes help tell the tale.
Other NZ International Film Festival locations. Read more about Yellow is Forbidden.
In Wellington Yellow is Forbidden Christchurch Yellow is Forbidden . Dunedin Yellow is Forbidden plus 9 other towns and cities.
#nziff, Guo Pei, New Zealand International Film Festival, Yellow is Forbidden
Spring and Tribeca
En route to my film's last screening at Tribeca Film Festival in New York I walked through the spring of Central Park. And a little boy came to show me the mosquito he'd caught, in a jar, that he was feeding a tulip flower.
I asked him to take my photo with the blossoms. And while his skills being able to capture alive other species is questionable, I think the kid has a certain appreciation of chiaroscuro as you see in the photo attached….
And now in the beauty of home, an autumn swim and distilling the last month of YELLOW IS FORBIDDEN's world premier, then Hotdocs Documentary Film Festival Toronto, my genre home and then to the inspirational and crazy Cannes Film Festival.
It has been magical and I thank you all truly for your enthusiasm for my film, your kindness to me and your dedication to helping me continue in this extraordinary filmic life.
For all the fabulous reviews and articles, and information on future screenings go to the film's facebook page… https://www.facebook.com/yellowisforbidden/
| by Jay
Yellow is Forbidden at Tribeca Film Festival in New York
Tribeca Film FestivalA radio interview today.
"Yellow is Forbidden, has just become the first New Zealand film to screen in competition at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival in New York.The documentary focuses on the extraordinary story of Chinese fashion designer, Guo Pei, the daughter of a communist soldier and a teacher, who counts Rihanna and Beyonce among her clients, and attempts to join the ranks of France's elite world of haute couture. Pietra Brettkelly talks with Kathryn Ryan about story telling and her fascination with the world. Yellow is Forbidden will premiere at the New Zealand International Film Festival in July."
The Guo Pei story
"A new film by New Zealand film maker Pietra Brettkelly chronicles the life and work of fashion designer Guo Pei – it's called Yellow is Forbidden – currently in post production. Guo Pei – whose clients include Beyonce and Rihanna – is based in Beijing and Paris. Pietra is fundraising to finish the film."
'Yellow is Forbidden' is in post production now. Radio New Zealand featured the film over the weekend. Listen below.
How You Can Help – Boosted
YELLOW IS FORBIDDEN was an extraordinary film to shoot and edit. As with any creative venture, there must be difficulty – ha! – and that has been in the funding.
I've managed to raise nearly half the budget, but I need your help to cover the fine cut of the film, the composer, archive, colour grade, sound mix and deferred fees.
The great thing about Boosted is that NZ donors can claim 33% back on their tax return. So if you give $100 you can claim $33 back!
I'm needing more than $20,000 but am truly grateful for anything. Boosted is an all-or-nothing platform meaning that if I don't reach the target of $20,000 in 30 days your donation will be refunded.
My overseas friends, Boosted is in New Zealand dollars – $1NZ equates to about .75US cents. But if you would like to donate US$1000 or more let me know as there is a similar US charitable organisation that operates for such donations.
Note: PROJECT STATUS: SUCCESSFUL $22,725.00 OF $20,000.00 by 98 DONORS. Thanks everyone.
Arts Laureate of New Zealand
Metro Profile – Oct 2017
Archives Select Month July 2019 July 2018 May 2018 December 2017 August 2017 June 2016 August 2012 June 2012 February 2012 December 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010
Categories Select Category A Flickering Truth artstar Blog films Maoriboygenius news Yellow is Forbidden
© Pietra Brettkelly 2003-2018 Site: dialogcrm

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The Eagles are playing the Buffalo Bills at home this Sunday at a critical juncture of the season. At 5-7, the Eagles are tied for first place in the NFC East, and a win will certainly go a long way towards improving their chances of winning the division.
Without further ado, here is a scouting report on the Buffalo Bills. Brent broke down the key numbers, while I broke down the tape of the last three Bills' games. Here is everything you need to know.
– 538 has the Eagles as 55% favorites, while Vegas has the game as a toss-up. I think that's a dead-on assessment. However, the Bills have been much more consistent, with just one loss by more than eight points. The Eagles, meanwhile, have been among the most inconsistent teams in the league (29th by DVOA variance). So…everything is on the table here. This shouldn't surprise anyone, but the Eagles have become just about impossible to predict.
– Eagles rank 29th in DVOA against opposing #1 WRs, by far the weakest link. Facing Sammy Watkins, that might be a big deal. I'm not sure how often they move Watkins around, but the coverage plan for him is going to be really important. Clay, the TE, is a good receiver as well, but he's questionable heading into the game, and beyond that there aren't any other real threats in the passing game.
– McCoy is obviously going to be a handful. The Eagles rush defense has fallen to 20th by DVOA, and is allowing 4.3 yards per carry. Kendricks will be a key man to watch (not that he isn't always). Alonso/Ryans simply don't have the speed to contain Shady at full explosiveness. The Birds were gashed against the Bucs, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about McCoy doing even more damage. The performance against the Patriots was nice, but their rush offense is just OK (and without Gronk/Edelman it's a lot easier to commit to the run).
– Tyrod Taylor, for those who haven't watched, is having a hell of a year. His mobility can be tough to handle (31.8 rushing yards per game), but he also takes too many sacks (8.4%), providing some opportunity for the defense to force long yardages. He has yet to record a passer rating below 75 for a game, and is throwing INTs at a rate of just 1.5% per game.
– The Eagles have the best punt return unit in the league. As we saw last week, it only takes one big return to have a massive impact on the game.
– The Eagles rank dead last in opponent touchback rate (72+%). There's obviously nothing they can do about that, but it's worth noting. The league-wide median is just over 56%, so we're talking about a huge difference. With a little mean-reversion, the kick return game might get a few more shots as well.
– With Taylor starting, the Bills are 5-4. However, those 4 losses? 2 against New England, 1 against Kansas City, and one against the Giants. The Bills aren't a great team, but they seem like a good one, at least by this season's standards. The Eagles haven't shown themselves to be anything but mediocre thus far, but back-to-back wins against the Pats and Bills would rightfully change the narrative a bit.
I watched the last three games the Bills played: against the Patriots (loss), Chiefs (loss), and Texans (win). Here are my general thoughts on the offense, defense and special teams.
– Greg Roman runs arguably the most complex running scheme in the NFL. Here is a good write up on Roman's offense, courtesy of CBS Sports.com. Boiled down: Roman marries inside and outside zone running concepts with more traditional power runs. I even saw a handful of wildcat plays called (especially in the red zone). In other words, they do almost everything.
– The run I saw the most was the outside zone run, where Taylor has the option to keep it himself or let McCoy use his explosive speed to get to the edge. They run it to great effectiveness, and it puts the defense in a bind given Taylor's running ability.
– But Roman uses a lot of misdirection, screens, and even trick plays built off the run game. Expect to see a lot of tight end and running back screens off of the playaction, where the Bills show run to one side of the field, just to go with a screen in the other direction.
– Big picture: the Bills offense is at its best when it uses the run to set up the pass. In a lot of ways, they are similar to the offense Roman ran in San Francisco with Colin Kaepernick. The run game is the key, and getting McCoy going will be critical for the Bills, especially with Karlos Williams out with a shoulder injury.
– To drive that point home further, on the opening drive against the Texans, the Bills called 6 runs to 1 pass. The pass was the last play call, which was a perfectly thrown fade route to Sammy Watkins in the end zone. McCoy led the way, while Taylor created with his legs as well. That is a vintage Bills drive.
– Speaking of Taylor: he is not a rushing quarterback that can throw. And while he isn't running an advanced passing game, he is a true duel threat. He is an accurate passer that can navigate the pocket well and tries to give his receivers time to make plays down the field.
– But as Brent pointed out, Taylor has a high sack rate. This is the downside to Taylor always trying to extend plays. He will often hold onto the ball too long, leading to sacks.
– The Eagles had a very good gameplan against Cam Newton, forcing three interceptions. Part of that was mixing up coverages and getting good pressure on Newton, confusing him and forcing him to make careless mistakes with the football. I expect a similar plan against Taylor. The Texans dropped two easy interceptions when Taylor was under pressure: the first resulted from Taylor throwing off his back foot, the other time Taylor failed to see a linebacker sitting in zone coverage.
– But here is the scary thing: Taylor ranks as the 5th best passer under pressure per PFF.com, completing 55.8% of his passes (which ranks 6th overall), throwing 4 touchdowns to just 1 interception. Obviously, context is key with these numbers, as the aforementioned 2 interceptions that were dropped by the Texans would change his ranking. But it still shows how highly he is playing: his area of weakness still grades out favorably against the rest of the league.
– If I were to rank my areas of concern, it would be LeSean McCoy first, followed by Sammy Watkins second. Watkins is Taylor's favorite deep threat, and he uses his good route running, hands and great speed to make plays down the field. I don't like Maxwell against Watkins in this matchup: he is just too slow to keep up with him. The Eagles are going to need to give Maxwell a lot of help over the top, or Watkins could have a big game. And the scary thing? Even when Watkins is covered, he still makes plays. The more I saw of him, the more concerned I became.
– One final thought: the Bills were able to do something virtually no one does: shut down J.J. Watt. He had 2 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 quarterback hits, and 0 pressures. I had to look for him throughout the game just to make sure he was playing. They made Watt a focus: double teaming him, using fullbacks to help chip block him, and most noticeably, running runs to the opposite side of the field from Watt to negate him entirely. As Vic Carruci pointed out for Birds 24/7, the Bills plan to employ a similar game plan against Fletcher Cox. While Cox is playing at an extremely high level, it will still be important for Bennie Logan and Cedric Thornton to have big games.
– The first thing to know about a Rex Ryan defense is that he likes to bring pressure often. He long down and distances, but he is not afraid to send the house on first down either. The Bills do a good job of mixing up their blitzing concepts and disguising their blitzes.
– The biggest concern I have here is that Bradford is not able to audible from a play depending on what he sees. The offensive line is going to need to play well, Bradford is going to need to make quick and decisive reads, and Kelly is going to need to incorporate a lot of check down/short routes into the passing game to respond to the pressure.
– The matchup I like the most in this game is Zach Ertz and Jordan Matthews over the middle. Alex Smith, Tom Brady and especially Bryan Hoyer used the short passing game over the middle to dink and dunk their way down the field against the Bills defense. Bradford has shown a tendency to attack defenses in similar fashion. And the Bills defense were beaten repeatedly with crossing patterns and curl routes. Expect the Eagles to attack the middle of the field in this game.
– Another advantage the Eagles theoretically could have is in the deep passing game, especially targeting rookie cornerback Ronald Darby out of Florida State. I know that Darby is getting a lot of press as a potential defensive rookie of the year candidate, but I saw him get beat repeatedly by Sammy Watkins, Jeremy Maclin, and Travis Kelce. Against the Chiefs, he gave up two touchdowns on deep throws — one to Maclin and one to Kelce — and almost gave up a third but Alex Smith overthrew an open receiver.
– I said theoretically though because until this point, the Eagles do not have an outside deep threat. Perhaps Huff or Agholor finally step up today and allow the Eagles to attack deep. But I wouldn't hold my breath.
– The Bills are not stout against the run, and have been especially vulnerable to runs up the middle. If there was ever a game for Murray to step up big, this is it. They also had a tendency to wear down as the game progressed. Against the Texans, the running back started to get five yards down the field before first contact in the fourth quarter.
– But the Bills are good at shutting down slow developing outside zone/stretch runs. The Bills have a lot of team speed and swarm to the ball. Most of the time I saw that play run, the Bills shut it down. Kelly will call the outside zone run regardless, but he should only use Ryan Mathews, Darren Sproles and Kenjon Barner on that play. Murray is just not quick enough or decisive enough to get to the edge for that play to be effective against this Bills team.
– The Bills have an impressive front four with Mario Williams, Jerry Hughes, Marcell Dareus, and Corbin Bryant. The first three get most of the publicity, but Bryant (#97) really popped on the tape with good penetration and pressure. The interior of the Eagles offensive line is going to have their hands full with him.
Carpenter makes things interesting on FG and extra points. He has missed four extra points so far this year. While he is connecting on 80% of his field goals, it always seems like an adventure when he is out there.
General observation: the Bills get called for a lot of penalties on both sides of the ball. I looked it up and was not surprised to see that they rank second highest in the NFL.


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MS Wheelchair Athlete Credits Shepherd Center's MS Wellness Program for Interest in Sports
MS Institute at Shepherd Center opens in new window
Fit for Life opens in new window
Joann Dickson
Joann Dickson, 55, with her sons Justin and Julian. Joann was diagnosed with MS in 1994 when she was pregnant with her younger son.
Joann Dickson is a wheelchair athlete and a patient in Shepherd Center's MS Institute. Photo by Gary Meek
Joann Dickson, 55, of Atlanta, was pregnant with her second son in 1994 when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). At first, Joann was relieved to know why she was so tired all the time and why she couldn't keep her balance. But relief was soon displaced with fear. Joann didn't know anyone with MS. She wondered if her baby would be OK. Would she?
"What stands out to me most, 20 years later, is that when I first came to Shepherd Center, I was encouraged to live my life," she says. "There are so many resources there, and people are willing to help. I learned that I hadn't been given a death sentence."
Indeed, Joann's life has been filled to the brim ever since. For the past 15 years, she has organized monthly meetings for the African-Americans with MS Support Group in Atlanta, a chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. She recruits speakers, welcomes new members and organizes the group's events.
"It sounds strange to say, but if it wasn't for MS, I never would have met so many people who've become lifelong friends," Joann says.
She also likely wouldn't have 20 medals – and counting – as a contestant in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games. A veteran of the U.S. Public Health Service, Joann has competed in the annual Games as a swimmer, bowler, and member of the track and field team. The events have taken her to cities across the United States, and now she is preparing for the 2015 Games in Dallas. Much of her training takes place in the sports and health classes she takes through Shepherd Center's MS Wellness Program.
"I never would have even tried these things if I hadn't gone through Shepherd Center," Joann says. "But I've become athletic in my old age! I've done more physically in the last 10 years than I ever did before."
She jokes that now she's the one asking her sons – Justin, 23, and Julian, 20 – if they can keep up with her. "They'll ask me, 'Well Mom, where are you going today?' I tell them, 'Today? Atlanta. Tomorrow? The world!'"
For more information on the Andrew C. Carlos MS Institute at Shepherd Center, click here.


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Home Harley-Davidson News
Harley-Davidson Goes Electric With Investment In Alta Motors
From the "Holy shit that's big news" file comes today's announcement that Harley just made a substantial investment in Alta Motors for electric bike tech.
Mar 01, 2018 at 6:27am ET
By: RideApart Staff
With an eye on future electric motorcycle development, the Motor Company teams up with Alta Motors
Well this is quite a surprise, and a pleasant one too. Harley-Davidson just announced that it made an equity investment in California-based Alta Motors, makers of the Redshift. This surprise collaboration was put together so that the two bike companies can share notes and work on electric motorcycle technology and new product development.
DANGER: Harley-Davidson Promises an Electric Bike in 18 Months
"Earlier this year, as part of our 10-year strategy, we reiterated our commitment to build the next generation of Harley-Davidson riders, in part, by aggressively investing in electric vehicle (EV) technology," said Harley-Davidson President and CEO Matt Levatich. "Alta has demonstrated innovation and expertise in EV and their objectives align closely with ours. We each have strengths and capabilities that will be mutually beneficial as we work together to develop cutting-edge electric motorcycles."
The fact that giant Harley took enough notice of little old Alta to invest in them says more about Alta than it does about the Motor Company. While not always the shrewdest company, Harley knows a good thing when it sees it. And, as we've discussed before, Alta's Redshift is seriously good. The brass over at Alta seems pretty tickled by the whole thing, as you might expect.
"Riders are just beginning to understand the combined benefits of EV today, and our technology continues to progress," said Alta Motors Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder, Marc Fenigstein. "We believe electric motorcycles are the future, and that American companies have an opportunity to lead that future. It's incredibly exciting that Harley-Davidson, synonymous with motorcycle leadership, shares that vision and we're thrilled to collaborate with them."
DANGER: Alta Motors Announces Hot New 2018 Redshift MXR
To paraphrase Diamond Joe Biden, this is a pretty big f***in' deal you guys. With Project Livewire back on track, and Alta's history of electronic motorcycle innovation, this collaboration promises to change the face of the growing electric bike business. Levatich thinks so, too.
"We believe that EV is where global mobility is headed and holds great appeal for existing riders as well as opportunity to bring new riders into the sport," said Levatich. "We intend to be the world leader in the electrification of motorcycles and, at the same time, remain true to our gas and oil roots by continuing to produce a broad portfolio of motorcycles that appeal to all types of riders around the world."
HIGH VOLTAGE!: Is Harley-Davidson's New Electric Motor a Revelation?
So, what's that mean for us? Hopefully it means a comprehensive, totally rad line of electric bikes from both companies and an energized (I see what you did there -JM) electric motorcycle market. Stay tuned for more about this in the future.
Industry News Technology Electric Motorcycles


Discover the hidden message in the bottle and allow your curiosity roam!
This is a high quality reproduction of my original art work where the art work is printed on watercolor paper, then mounted onto MDF wood panels which makes the art work very durable. We then laminate each panel with a unique coating, making the panels moisture-resistant.
This product is also UV-Proof, making it perfect in a sunny living room, alcove, or dining room.
Available in a variety of sizes, there is no need to frame, Ready to Hang.
It was one of Haiyan's beliefs that every Limited Edition piece would not only present like an original painting, but would also stand the test of time. These pieces, from the start, are designed to be heirlooms passed down from generation to generation.
Our reproduction process captures not only the color and mood of Haiyan's original painting, but the actual brushwork as well. Vibrant colors, rich textures and color tones accurate to Haiyan's original brushstrokes are the hallmarks of your finished piece.
The split panel in art work creates a window-effect which brings the art to life and makes rooms appear larger.
Thanks to the unique coating, it is safe to use water on a damp cloth.


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Book Review: Aesop the Fox by Suniti Namjoshi
Issue Five • Issue Five Book Reviews • Reviews
Review by Madeleine Reid
Aesop the Fox is Suniti Namjoshi's first novel in six years, and those familiar with her fiction works will be glad to see the return of her typically playful and inventive prose. She casts Aesop in the roles of melancholy slave and clever story-teller. Reflecting the eponymous character, it is a book of two halves.
In the first, the narrator is ripped mid-way through life from the twenty-first century into the Ancient Greek world of Aesop. At first, the story skips along whimsically from vignette to charming vignette. Aesop, the narrator and the characters share quips and tales, as they mull over the stories' meanings and integrate them into the everyday, slowing every so often to satisfy childish queries. 'Why don't we just go fast and steady on that horse and cart, Aesop?' The stories' meanings change as interpretations are shuffled between characters. Indeed, the moral of the story is often cheekily inverted.
The second half turns toward the meta. A child asks, 'Do all stories mean something'?[1] The famous slave's reply smacks of Derrida (albeit Derrida on a lucid day) 'each time a story is told it means something different'.[2] 'And each time it's heard', interjects the narrator.[3] The moment swiftly passes, yet this simple assertion, pitched to curious children, throws up a much larger concern of the book: whether the seemingly timeless wisdom of Aesop's fables is drawn from the simplicity of ancient life, stripped back to a deeper truth, or if such wisdom is fashioned and reimagined, contingent on the moment of its retelling.
Indeed, midway through the story, the narrator asks Aesop, 'What do I want from you?' And what could our narrator – a time-travelling, self-proclaimed feminist – possibly have to learn from a disenfranchised bard who predated the very question of gender equality? The value is clearly in the fact of the dialogue. And, more importantly, it is in the joy of story-telling.
Yet, as the book winds towards a close, the fables begin to dry up, and the narrator gives the impression that she is losing control of her story. Grappling with the contours of history, what's plausible and what seems true, she fears for Aesop's life as he approaches his historical end at Delphi; and she questions the possibilities of authorial power.
Throughout the novel, the reader experiences Aesop's stories in their imagined, classical context, and a strange disquiet seeps in. It is the emergent insanity of teaching one's children morality through these cautionary tales, produced in the misogynistic and slave-ridden world of Ancient Greece. Aesop and his fellow slave Androcles are beaten bloody on the slightest impingement and betrayed without justification by their master Xanthus. Of the women silence is expected; even the noble woman Aglaia has a fettered voice that she must deploy only with care.
After being sold to a kinder master, Aesop has an understated love affair with his master's wife. Aside from the obvious and irresistible temptation to make this figure – synonymous with morality – an adulterer, this sub-plot serves no discernible purpose. It feels a little like it has been shoe-horned into the novel, to compensate for the uncertain relationships between the characters – relationships that remain somewhat unsatisfactory, and almost peripheral, throughout.
But such short-comings are ultimately beside the point. The first half of the book will appeal to all. Lucid and engaging, it sweeps the reader along in wonderful fits and starts. While the second half loses its momentum, it is chock-a-block full of insight for writers and creators in particular. And the author has conducted sufficient historical research that only the most austere of classicists will fail to appreciate this novel.
At its best, it is a light-hearted jaunt into an uncertain past. At its most profound it is a dialogue with that past on the nature of morality and its bleak potential to shape our own uncertain future.
http://spinifexpress.com.au/Bookstore/book/id=305/
[1]Page 75.
Book review: The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree, by...
Extract from The Lace Weaver


What is the status of this directory?
advance of working group approval?
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U.S. Health Dept. awards $5.6M to 6 P.R. care centers
Michelle Kantrow-Vázquez May 6, 2016
HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell (center) was on the island recently meeting with government officials headed by Gov. Alejandro García-Padilla (left.)
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday it has assigned more than $5.6 million to six rural primary health care centers in Puerto Rico to renovate, expand or build facilities.
The awards went to: Centro de Salud de Lares Inc. in Lares ($1 million); Consejo de Salud de Puerto Rico Inc. in Ponce ($1 million); Corporación de Servicos Médicos Primarios y Prevencion de Hatillo in Hatillo ($666,729); Neomed Center Inc. in Gurabo ($1 million); Prymed Medical Care Inc. in Ciales ($1 million); and Salud Integral en la Montaña Inc. in Naranjito ($1 million.)
The local grants are part of a $260 million disbursement announced Thursday by HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell. Health centers will use this funding to increase their patient capacity and to provide additional comprehensive primary and preventive health services to medically underserved populations.
"Health centers are cornerstones of the communities they serve," said Burwell. "Today's awards will empower health centers to build more capacity and provide needed health care to hundreds of thousands of additional individuals and their families."
These awards will allow health centers to renovate or acquire new health center clinical space in Puerto Rico to benefit a projection of nearly 7,000 patients. the agency said.
"Providing funding to help health centers renovate their facilities will allow them to provide care to more patients," said HRSA Acting Associate Administrator Jim Macrae. "Perhaps more importantly though, health centers will now be able to provide more health services in one location, better meeting the needs of their communities."
Since the beginning of 2009, health centers have added 6 million patients; they now serve nearly 23 million people each year, the agency said. Today, nearly 1,400 health centers operate about 9,800 service delivery sites in every U.S. state, D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Pacific Basin.
330 Centers receive $12.8M in CARE Recovery Funds
Contributor September 10, 2018


All overseas property agents must now perform their own Due Diligence process before marketing their properties for sale. This is especially important when it comes to new buildings and urbanizations.
So, what is Due Diligence? Further, what does it have to do with PortugalProperty?
Due Diligence is a process where an agent investigates a property or new development to ensure that everything promised during marketing is actually delivered upon sale. Every aspect of the property must be analyzed during this process.
It is the agents responsibility to ensure everything is legal and on board with the property, but how is this accomplished?
Who owns the project, land and/or property?
The sellers are the owners and are free to sell.
All necessary planning permissions have been granted and followed adequately.
The property has no outstanding debt.
There are no outstanding planning issues.
Bank financing has been secured.
There are no unusual conditions with the sale.
Contracts are presented in English as well as Portuguese.
Developers insurance has been secured for a new build.
10 year structural insurance has been secure.
We never begin marketing property until we are satisfied that all of the above have been taken care of satisfactorily and we are happy with the overall concept and securities put in place.
For any well seasoned agent, performing this type of detailed Due Diligence should be standard working procedure, but unfortunately many fail. The press is filled with horror stories that simply shouldn't occur.
It is highly recommended that you hire a lawyer familiar with the conveyance procedure and who can ensure every aspect of the deal is done in your favour. Further it is recommended that you go with a bi-lingual lawyer who speaks Portuguese fluently and who has ample experience in this process.
PortugalProperty works with a number of top notch, experienced independent Portuguese lawyers. We would be more than happy to recommend one to you!
Through our PortugalProperty Due Diligence checks and the PortugalProperty Guarantee, we hope to ensure your investment in Portugal will be enjoyable, hassle free and smooth. We hope you will end up extremely profitable as well!


Why Are So Many Blood Pressure Medications Being Recalled?
Recalls for dozens of medications that treat high blood pressure began in July 2018 and is continuing today with more pharmaceutical companies taking these drugs off the shelves earlier this month.
Last year, FDA investigators found 2 potentially cancer-causing contaminants in numerous batches. The contaminants discovered were the chemicals N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) and are classified as probable human carcinogens.
All of these high blood pressure medications contain valsartan, losartan, irbesartan and combination drugs including valsartran (valsartran is an off-patent ingredient used in generic medications to treat high blood pressure). These medications are from various manufacturers, and marketed by different pharmaceutical companies.
*The FDA says that "the risk of harm to someone's health may be higher if one of these medications is stopped immediately without any alternative treatment." After consulting with your doctor, they can find you a safe alternative to take.


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Q: how to force core.ignorecase to false I have already use command git config --global core.ignorecase false,but each time i use command git init to creat a new git repository or git clone http://xxx to download a remote repository,core.ignorecase are still true, did i miss some configuation? Thanks !
OS:Windows10

A: Basically it can be done by setting a template for checking out projects.
All the information how to do it it explained in here.
git clone --template ...

Specify the directory from which templates will be used
The default template directory includes some directory structure, suggested "exclude patterns".

So you can put your .gitignore in this folder and it will be used for your projects.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


A range of clutch tools to allow easy install of all EBC clutch kits. Range covers 95% of US market motorcycles and ATVs and allow positive holding of the clutch basket or center boss to allow untightening and retightening of securing nuts.
allow positive holding of the clutch basket or center boss to allow untightening and retightening of securing nuts.


I woke up as the early morning breeze touched my skin leaving my body feeling chilly, next to me was the woman i rescued the previous night, Paula. I watched her soft movement as she breathed. I could bet she was tired all the beating and shouting she was exposed to by those mafias probably grabbed all her strength i thought to myself as i watched her long face.
Her skin looking pale, probably because of the cold and the stress too. I took advantage of the moment and analyzed her. She had a slim and long face, her nose a bit pointed out making a shape of a well curved wooden doll. Her thick lips with a faint red color, with the silky hair in her head a little bit messed up,but still tied in a pony tail. She was definitely beautiful. I presumed she had a mixture of Asian and African blood. Everything about her face was like a white person, only her skin which wasn`t as white as that of the whites.
"of all people you had to rescue a colored girl." I moved her away from my shoulder she leaned on and slowly placed her head down. She slowly opened her eyes and woke up with a start realising obviously that she wasnt in a luxury bed, but in the thick forest, with a stranger.
" i was so tired and i slept so much forgetting my situation" she grinned as she stood up removing my combat jacket hanging on her shoulder.
"yeah we have to start off and if we are luck, we might find people ahead and ask exactly where we are, from there you will probably find your way back home" i added looking at the sky trying to read the weather, hoping it wouldn`t rain. But my wish was in vain as the clouds were already dark and in minutes it would start raining.
"Yeah sure, thank you" she paused obviously she had forgotten my name..
"yeah" she let a weak smile exposing her white and sharp teeth.
"you saved my life and if God willing we make it out of here alive, i will see to it you are well compensated" she told me as she removed her brown leather boot she wore on her feet and hit it on her palm to remove the small stones and soil that had entered inside.. i watched her feet, her nails well manicured and painted red. she however had a few bruises on her feet.
we stood closer to the tree as the rain started falling. I suggested we waited there until the rains stopped. The big and thick leaves gave us at least some shelter. Even though a few drops of water still reached us. I handed her a tin of fruits as i opened the last one from my bag..
In total, i had stolen 6 tins from the camp, meaning for the past days i was running i only eat 4 tins. I looked in my bag and removed the two bottles of water that had remained, handing Paula one.
"that is all we have left" i said.. gulping on my own water..
" we have to make it on time or you wont survive this jungle" i sighed as the water made its way to my stomach.
The rain stopped finally and we started our journey.
"so tell me who exactly you are and who your father is. In short, try to explain the details of what is going on in your life." i asked her as i watched her walk in front of me her skin jeans colored with some dirty, as her small behind moved side to side.
"My father is a business man and politician too, we just moved in to Africa, i mean Zambia" she paused.
"being rich isnt that funny after all" i added with a laugh.
"so what do you do yourself?" i asked her as we walked on approaching a clear valley ahead.
"where is that?" i asked when she mentioned Copperbelt. I was hoping that would give me a hint of which side of the country we would head.
"that means we are near. I dont think they could have held you far away from Solwezi and the fact that those guys where speaking some sort of Bemba with a tone of Kaonde, it means we sure are close " i told her..
We came across a village and seeing the man we had stopped to talk to my heart rejoiced, up until that moment i didnt realise i already crossed the boarder. The elderly man was kind especially after seeing how tired Paula looked. He offered as a meal and water which we gladly accepted. After talking to him and asking him some questions, he told us we were a few meters away from the road going to the town. We thanked him, though my kaonde wasn`t so good i was able to grasp most of the things he was saying.
With our bodies energized we matched down to the road as i explained to Paula about myself and how i got where we were. I don`t even know whether my parents are still alive and where they must be. I told her the time i joined the Commando, my father only had 2 years to his retirement day.. we came to a gravel road and sat down as we waited for a vehicle to show up.
"I wish we had a phone," Paula said weakly.
"well we have none my dear" i shrugged removing the jacket. The sun was now shinning up in the clear sky and it was getting a bit hot. Paula was quite for some time looking at me from head to toe, i caught her glaring.
she smiled widely.. "you are okey given the circumstances." She smiled. I shook my head.
An open van stopped an hour later, i rushed to the driver and told him we needed a lift. Pula offered him some money telling him he will be paid well if he gets us to town.
"This is it then," i told her as we sat in the back of the open van, the bumps moving us from one side to another.
"what is?" she shouted on top of the noise from the engine.
" i mean from here we part ways." i told her dodging a small branch ahead as the van moved to the side of the road swaying the pothole ahead.
"you need to clean up and get some other clothes before you go on to your city. i will see to it you are comfortable before leaving" she added..
"Okey then!" i shouted back.


After a complete re-branding at GTECH it was time to develop a new website. I was part of the internal team tasked with creating and providing key images and graphics for the site. These images were created to represent the primary components of GTECH's business: Gaming, Lottery, Interactive, and Betting. We did all the photography over two days, four locations, and two states. I was the Photographer and Art Director, working closely with the GTECH Creative Director.


Ward is going to be a quality starter, but not taking Chubb there is just a head scratcher.
Dorsey picking players at the key positions. Doing a great job.
The Browns already have a stud pass rushing DE. Didn't have a shut down corner - now they do.
I think getting pressure on the QB is more important than a corner. That said I think Ward can be a great player and I hope he is, but I would have just taken the better player there which is Chubb.
Why is Herbie on the panel? He is a college guy and even admitted it. I heard him say that he would never be calling an NFL game (about 10 years ago), now he is. Too funny. And the funny thing is he's giving reasons why Mayfield will be good for the Browns. He knows College, not the NFL.
Getting pressure on the QB makes the DBs jobs easier. In the top of the draft, excluding QBs, you take the best player, which is Chubb not Ward.
No one is ever happy. We filled a major need. Chubb would have been nice, but it would have been a rotation.
Love Ward, but was hoping for a Garrett/Chubb duo.
Ward does seem like Marshon Lattimore clone though.
I'm a Bucks homer but didn't see this one coming. Apparently had no good trade down offers as I feel we could have gotten Ward quite a few spots later. I prefer bigger more physical DB's but hey I hope he is a shutdown guy.
The value you brought to the thread is similar to what I just flushed.


text:
US Senators Seek Blockchain Guidance From CFPB, Federal Reserve
Twenty-two US senators sent a leader to senior government officials and the Federal Reserve requesting information about the regulation of blockchain.
By Stan Higgins
Jul 29, 2016 at 1:14 p.m. UTC
Updated Sep 11, 2021 at 12:23 p.m. UTC
Stan Higgins
Twenty-two US senators have sent a letter to senior government officials and the Federal Reserve requesting information about the regulation and oversight of virtual currencies and blockchain tech.
In the letter dated 21st July, the US Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs wrote that it is seeking to "better understand the way US regulators oversee FinTech and their relationships with federally regulated financial institutions".
The letter was addressed to Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation chair Martin Gruenberg, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director Richard Cordray, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency chief Thomas Curry, and National Credit Union Administration chair Rick Metsger.
The letter casts a broad net on the subject of FinTech, though it makes specific reference to blockchain technology.
It states:
"Please describe: What your agency has done to study and understand the various types of FinTech companies involved in marketplace lending, alternative payments, consumer lending, blockchain and distributed ledger, virtual currencies…"
The letter further sought details about regulatory cooperation among international bodies on the topic of FinTech, as well as clarification on consumer protection policy.
"These companies are changing financial services, and it is vital that the regulators and Congress understand all the impacts and take actions as appropriate," it urged.
Though notable for its broader take on both digital currencies and potential non-financial blockchain applications, the letter isn't the first of its kind to emerge from Congress.
In mid-2013, the US Senate Committee on Homeland Security sent a letter to the Department of Defense seeking clarification on its then-current policies on digital currencies.
Individual senators have inked letters pursuing information – or action – on the technology as well. 2014 saw several senators contact the US government to seek information on the subject, and in the case of Joe Manchin of West Virginia, an outright ban on bitcoin.
The full letter can be found below:
Fintech Letter - 2016-07-21 by CoinDesk on Scribd
Ink and quill image via Shutterstock
Federal ReserveCongressRegulationNewsUS GovernmentSenate
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text:
NZME appoints Paul Maher to lead OneRoof
New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME) has announced Paul Maher is to join the NZME executive team as Chief of OneRoof.
Paul has extensive commercial media leadership experience in numerous senior roles in New Zealand's leading media companies and is currently Business Strategy Director at TVNZ. Prior to this role, Paul was responsible for TVNZ revenue across television, digital video and diversified content services as Commercial Director.
Launched in 2018, OneRoof is New Zealand's fastest growing multi-channel real estate and property platform.
NZME CEO, Michael Boggs said, "The continued growth of OneRoof is a key pillar in NZME's strategy. We've been delighted with the ongoing success of OneRoof since its launch in 2018. The passionate and skilled OneRoof team under the leadership of
NZME's Chief Digital Officer Laura Maxwell has built OneRoof from a start-up into a prominent national brand in a short space of time."
Real estate continues to be NZME's largest advertising vertical and OneRoof.co.nz is the number one site for residential for-sale listings in Auckland and is now the second most visited property site in New Zealand.
"OneRoof has grown to the stage where not just continued but accelerated growth requires dedicated executive leadership. I'm delighted we've been able to secure a commercial media executive of Paul's calibre with his extensive media industry experience, commercial acumen, and strategic thinkingto take on this challenge," said Boggs.
Mr Boggs added: "This move also allows Laura to dedicate her focus to the continued development of NZME's extensive portfolio of digital platforms, product development and the maximisation of NZME's audience and customer data".
Maher's commercial media experience includes establishing media communications agency Starcom MediaVest Group in New Zealand andleading the group's business as CEO of Canada, China and then the North Asia region. Paul also held the role of Chief Executive Officer at Mediaworks Television.
"I've always enjoyed taking on new challenges and the enormous ambitions NZME has for OneRoof are incredibly exciting. Laura and her team have built a great platform for OneRoof based in part on the depth of dedicated real estate experience in the team. OneRoof GM Vikas Verma has grown a strong reputation with the real estate industry across New Zealand and it will be a privilege to work with Vikas and the team to take OneRoof on the next leg of its journey," said Maher.
Paul Maher will take up his role as NZME's Chief of OneRoof in early 2021.
Cliff Joiner
GM Communications
NZME
Email: cliff.joiner@nzme.co.nz


Digi-Key's Production Business team provides additional, personal service for companies engaging in production business and related supply chain support services. Drawing from a team of representatives, Production Business assigns account representatives to be Digi-Key liaisons with these customers. Each Production Business account representative establishes a personal relationship with his or her customers and becomes each customer's point of contact with Digi-Key. Account representatives are assigned based on a customer's production and engineering needs.
In addition to providing ordering assistance by phone, fax, e-mail, or the Internet, account representatives direct customers to Digi-Key resources including technical support and design support services to provide aid in the design-to-production process. Customers may also deal directly with their Production Business account representatives to establish the terms of their accounts in regard to shipping, scheduled ordering, payment options and plans, and purchasing objectives.


"Woods Chapel Annual Crafty Chapel Bazaar - This will be our 3rd year, and we are getting excited!! Our show draws crowds of 500+, the event will include arts & crafts, food, kid zone with bounce house, silent auction and tons of vendors with amazing hand made items sure to get your Christmas shopping off to a great start! Vendors will have the opportunity to chose between an indoor or outdoor location."
We are located at the corner of California Lane and Bowen.
Vendors get 1/2 off on all food at the concessions stand.
Applications are available here emailed and are due by September 20, 2015.
For more information, visit their website or contact their event coordinator at bazaar@woodschapel.org / Debi at 817-480-3667.


text:
HP Omen 15 Review
By Andrew E. Freedman
Editor's Note: We generally don't recommend laptops older than 2 years. For our top picks, check out the Best Laptops, or answer a few simple questions in our Laptop Finder to get personalized recommendations
Laptop Mag Verdict
The HP Omen 15 is a good-looking gaming notebook with a vibrant display and powerful sound for immersive play sessions.
(opens in new tab)at Walmart (opens in new tab)
(opens in new tab)at Best Buy (opens in new tab)
Good looks
Bright, colorful display
Booming sound
Plastic instead of aluminum lid
Why you can trust Laptop Mag Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
HP's Omen 15 is more desirable than ever. The gaming notebook ($950 to start; $1,659 as tested) has been redesigned with an eye-catching chassis; a clicky, responsive keyboard; and an easy-to-remove panel to upgrade the hard-disk drive, solid-state drive and RAM. Add in a bright, vibrant display and some nice, loud speakers, and you have a gaming notebook that will enthrall you. The only downsides are the short battery life and a few plasticky areas of the chassis.
While HP couldn't escape the black-and-red aesthetic we find on most gaming laptops, the new Omen is as good as this color scheme can possibly look. I just wish it used more premium materials. The lid is black, with four red lines forming an "X." That X divides the lid into quadrants: two covered in carbon fiber and two in plastic made to look like brushed aluminum. The carbon fiber looks and feels premium and unexpected. The plastic? Not so much. The top quadrant features the Omen logo in an attractive, shiny red, though the foil was starting to peel off when we took our review unit out of the box.
When you lift the lid, you'll find the 15.6-inch 4K display, surrounded by a thick bezel with the Omen logo. (The word "Omen" is spelled out again on the deck.) There's a full island-style keyboard with a number pad. The WASD keys are in bright red, while the rest are black with red sides and letters.
HP Omen 15 (8GB RAM AMD Ryzen 5) at HP (US) for $849.99 (opens in new tab)
Unlike the lid, the deck is made of aluminum, and it feels strong and durable. The bottom, though, returns to plastic. I don't usually focus on what the bottom looks like, but the undercasing features yet another Omen logo, textured plastic and some triangular patterned vents. Removing a small port on the bottom gives you easy access to the hard drive and RAM for simple upgrades.
MORE: Here Are the Best PC Game Controllers
The Omen is an inch thick and 5.7 pounds, which is a bit heavier than most competing notebooks, but also a little thinner. The Acer Predator Helios 300 is a lighter 5.5 pounds but it is 1.5 inches thick; the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming is heavier, at 5.8 pounds, but it is also 1 inch thick; and the Razer Blade is the smallest all-around, at 4.2 pounds and 0.7 inches thick.
The Omen includes almost every port a gamer could want. On the left side of the machine are a Kensington Lock slot, a Mini DisplayPort, HDMI output, an Ethernet jack, a USB 3.0 port, a Thunderbolt 3 portand headset and mic jacks. The right side of the notebook sports an SD card slot and another pair of USB 3.0 ports.
The 15.6-inch, 4K display is quite bright and offers up vibrant hues. When I watched the 4K movie Tears of Steel, a lab's holograms were vibrant shades of pink and neon green, and I could see some gray hairs in one character's otherwise dark beard. The panel also served me well while gaming. While I played Battlefield 1, the bright-blue skies shined over my warplane, and I could see all of the sharp, jagged rocks on the mountains I was flying around.
The Omen's screen covers an excellent 114 percent of the sRGB color gamut, surpassing the mainstream notebook average (100 percent), tying the Razer Blade, and beating both the Predator (81 percent) and the Inspiron (67 percent).
At 313 nits of brightness, the Omen was more luminous than the competition. The mainstream average is 255 nits, and the Razer Blade was just a hair dimmer than the Omen, at 310 nits. The Inspiron (226 nits) and the Predator (253 nits) have noticeably darker displays.
HP designed a new keyboard for the Omen, and it's a fascinating beast. It offers low travel -- just 1.2 millimeters -- and requires 70 grams of actuation to press, but the keys are extremely clicky and responsive. This makes for a keyboard that will take some getting used to for regular typing, but is great for gaming. . On the 10fastfingers.com typing test, I reached 105 words per minute, just shy of my usual 107 wpm, but I maintained my usual 2 percent error rate.
The Omen's keys are backlit with red lighting, with the exception of the WASD keys, which are white. I wish HP allowed for customizable sRGB backlighting in any color you'd like.
MORE: How to Stream to Twitch
The 4 x 2.2-inch touchpad is a little on the small side, but I had no issues browsing the web or navigating Windows 10 with it. It's great with gestures like pinching to zoom and tapping three fingers to open up Cortana. The mouse buttons are a little small for my liking, but in practice, I didn't have any problem using them.
The speakers on the Omen 15 are nice and loud, filling our lab when I listened to Yellowcard's "Lights and Sounds." The vocals were clear, though they slightly overpowered the drums and guitars; the bass was almost nonexistent. With the Omen Audio Control app, I adjusted the bass, treble and vocal clarity for more balanced sound, though I only ever got a hint of the bass.
The Omen sounded great when I played Battlefield 1. Bullets rang out loudly, and the orchestral background music filled our lab. My co-pilot's frantic yelling was clear as I whipped over the mountains and dodged enemy fire.
Gaming, Graphics and VR
The Omen 15's Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q design and 6GB of VRAM won't power games to take advantage of the 4K display, but they're more than enough to play games at smooth frame rates in 1080p resolution. When I played Battlefield 1, I shot down enemy planes over French mountains at between 57 and 60 fps, using 1080p resolution and ultra settings. (The game caps the frame rate at 60 fps.) At 4K, I had to go down to medium settings, and even then, it sometimes fell below 30 fps (it ranged from 27 to 32 fps).
HP's laptop played Rise of the Tomb Raider (1080p, very high settings) at 32 fps, just below the mainstream average (35 fps) and less than the Predator Helios (67 fps, GTX 1060) and the Blade (43 fps, GTX 1060). It was below our playability threshold of 30 fps on the Inspiron (22 fps, GTX 1050 Ti).
When it came to stealthily snapping some necks in the Hitman benchmark (1080p, ultra settings), the Omen rendered the game at 66 fps, outperforming the average (57 fps), the Predator (64 fps), the Blade (60 fps) and the Inspiron (35 fps).
MORE: The Best Gaming Laptops
On the very intensive Metro: Last Light benchmark (1080p, high settings), the Omen reached 41 fps, which is above the average (39 fps) and the Inspiron (29 fps). However, the Blade (43 fps) and the Predator (46 fps) each eked out a few more frames.
VR is iffy with the Omen. The HP machine earned a score of 5.7 on the StreamVR performance test, which is below the average (5.8) as well as the scores from the Predator (7.1) and the Blade (6). VR will work on the Omen, but not as well as it will on PCs with a full-size GTX 1060 or more powerful cards. Think twice before making this the main PC for your Rift or Vive.
HP stuffed our review configuration of the Omen 15 with a 2.8-GHz Intel Core i7-7700HQ CPU; 16GB of RAM; a 1TB, 5,400-rpm HDD; and a 256GB SSD. That's plenty of power for everyday computing. Case in point: I had 30 tabs open in Chrome, including one streaming a 1080p episode of Last Week Tonight, and downloaded a game from Origin.
The Omen 15 notched a score of 12,528 on the Geekbench 4 overall performance test, beating the mainstream average (10,543) and Inspiron 15 7000 (10,363; Core i5-7300HQ) but falling short of the Predator (13,587; Core i7-7700HQ) and the Blade (13,684; Core i7-7700HQ).
It took the Omen 27 seconds to copy 4.97GB of mixed media files, translating to a rate of 188.5 MBps. The mainstream average is a faster 237 MBps, and the Blade (203 MBps) is also speedier. The Predator transferred files at the same speed as the Omen, and the Inspiron was the slowest (106 MBps) of the bunch.
MORE: The Best Headsets for Immersive Gaming
On the OpenOffice Spreadsheet benchmark, the Omen paired 20,000 names and addresses in 3 minutes and 21 seconds, making it the fastest in the field. The average is 4:27, the Predator was just behind the Omen (3:22), and the Razer and Inspiron took 3:31 and 3:37, respectively.
The Omen 15 will have to be plugged in almost all of the time, especially while you're gaming. It lasted just 3 hours and 18 minutes on the Laptop Mag Battery Test, which continuously browses the web over Wi-Fi. That's just a little over half of the mainstream average (6:20), while the Predator endured for 6:48, the Blade survived for 7:45 and the Inspiron kept running for a whopping 11:14.
During regular use, the Omen stayed nice and cool. After we streamed 15 minutes of HD video from YouTube, it measured 93 degrees on the bottom, 91 degrees on the touchpad and 80 degrees at the center of the keyboard. All of those are below our 95-degree comfort threshold.
Unsurprisingly, the Omen heated up when I played Battlefield 1, reaching 107 degrees on the bottom, 100 degrees between the G and H keys, and 81 degrees on the touchpad.
The 1080p webcam on the Omen is far brighter than most embedded laptop cameras, and colors appear extremely accurate.
When I took a few shots at my desk, my bright-red shirt was the same color on-screen as it was in real life. Unfortunately, most of the shots I took were grainy and fuzzy.
Software and Warranty
HP really packed the Omen 15 with software, to the point where some of it feels unnecessary. Besides specialized gaming software, it also features almost all of the programs you can find on a consumer-focused HP laptop. The big gaming app is Omen Command Center, which details GPU and CPU utilization and RAM usage, as well as a feature called Network Booster that lets you prioritize which apps get bandwidth priority.
HP's other software includes JumpStart (a series of how-to guides and articles) and HP Orbit, which lets you transfer files between your PC and smartphone.
Additionally, you get all of the usual bloat that comes preinstalled with Windows 10, including Twitter, Keeper, Hidden City: Mystery of Shadows, March of Empires: War of Lords, Drawboard PDF, Netflix and Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition.
HP sells the Omen 15 with a one-year warranty. See how HP performed on our Tech Support Showdown and Best and Worst Gaming Laptop Brands ranking.
HP sells the Omen 15 in a variety of prices and configurations. The model we reviewed costs $1,659 and has a 2.8-GHz Intel Core i7-7700HQ CPU; an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q GPU with 6GB of VRAM; 16GB of RAM; a 1TB, 5,400-rpm HDD; and a 256GB SSD.
The cheapest option is $999.99 and has a Core i7 CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 1TB HDD and am AMD Radeon RX R550 GPU with 2GB of VRAM. For $1,300, you can get a Core i7 CPU, a GTX 1050 GPU with 2GB of VRAM, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB HDD and a 128GB SSD.
HP's latest Omen 15 is one of the company's best gaming laptops yet, with a striking design and solid performance. I wish HP had gone all out on the materials and got rid of the plastic, but it's hard to argue with the Omen's beautiful display and loud speakers.
The GTX 1060 Max-Q can handle some VR, but if you want something a bit more souped-up, consider the Razer Blade, which has a full-size GTX 1060 and an all-aluminum chassis. Of course, you'll pay for that at a hefty $1,849.
If you want something cheaper, another option is the $1,099.99 Acer Predator, which also offers a GTX 1060 and easy upgradability, making it a bargain. However, the display is dimmer than I'd like.That positions the Omen 15 as a fine premium gaming laptop, and it's just good enough to overcome its few flaws.
Credit: Shaun Lucas/ Laptop Mag
More on Laptops
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HP Omen 15: Price Comparison
Recommended Retail...
HP Omen 15 (late 2017) Specs
Brand HP
CPU 2.8-GHz Intel Core i7-7700HQ CPU
Card Slots SD memory reader
Company Website hp.com
Display Size 15.6
Graphics Card Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 (Max-Q Design) / 6GB
Hard Drive Size 256GB
Hard Drive Speed n/a
Hard Drive Type PCIe SSD
Highest Available Resolution 3840 x 2160
Native Resolution 3840 x 2160
Ports (excluding USB) Line Out, Line-in, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3, SD card slot, Ethernet, HDMI, Kensington Lock
Secondary Hard Drive Size 1TB
Secondary Hard Drive Speed 5400RPM
Size 15.3 x 10.85 x 0.98 inches
Touchpad Size 4.0 x 2.2 inches
USB Ports 4
Video Memory 6 GB
Warranty/Support 1 year warranty
Wi-Fi 802.11ac
Wi-Fi Model Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
Andrew E. Freedman


text:
Konwitschny ist der Familienname folgender Personen:

 Franz Konwitschny (1901–1962), deutscher Dirigent und Kapellmeister
 Peter Konwitschny (* 1945), deutscher Opernregisseur


It's lights, camera and action for a Teesside video animation company that has created new jobs and signed a potentially lucrative US contract.
Middlesbrough-based Animmersion, a 3D computer graphics company, has secured a contract with a manufacturing firm from Kansas.
The contract will see Animmersion create a series of product videos for Vortex Valves and has led to the creation of two new jobs.
The relationship was formed after Vortex Valves found they couldn't get the same quality of service and creativity in the US.
Dominic Lusardi, Animmersion's managing director, said: "Branching out into the US is a fantastic boost for the business and caps what have been the best few months in our seven year history.
"Vortex Valves is one many new contracts we've secured recently and could lead to a lot more work. They have a huge product range and we're in talks to produce 3D video animations for all of it.
"We produced an initial video which they were very impressed with so they asked us to produce more animations for use as demonstration videos on their website and for marketing purposes.
To cope with the extra workload the company has recruited two new members of staff to work as 3D animators.
Ensuring creative talent stays in the region the new recruits, Nick Ruddock and Tim Yearby, are both graduates from Teesside University, just like Animmersion's founders Dominic and Sam Harrison. The company now employs 11 people.
Animmersion is based in DigitalCity's Boho One, a building the company know a lot about, it designed the 3D computer model for Boho One and then became one of its first residents four years ago.
Dominic said: "What started as an idea seven years ago has grown into a thriving and well established business.
"Winning new contracts and being able to take on new staff is a great feeling.
As a Digital City Business member Animmersion was able to access the help and advice of Digital City's team of business growth experts.
Mark Elliott, DigitalCity CEO, said: "Animmersion is a fantastic business and DigitalCity success story.