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Blog Post 209 – Gunpowder
It's hard to miss the sounds of constant explosions overhead near a number of U.S. cities during the first week of July. The Independence Day celebrations are loud, full of the sounds of wailing guitars at outdoor concerts, screams at amusement parks, and of course, the smoky shrieks and bangs of fireworks overhead. Canada Day, celebrated July 1st, is also a reason to break out the big bangs and send rockets into the sky. The substance fueling much of the fun at these celebrations is gunpowder. A volatile but useful blend of potassium nitrate (or "saltpeter"), charcoal, and sulphur, gunpowder was first developed by the Chinese in the Sung Dynasty over a thousand years ago, when rulers quickly found celebratory and military applications for the new alchemical mixture.
While incredibly dangerous in the wrong hands, gunpowder has also become a ubiquitous part of human life for better or worse, and that includes in the realms of folk magic. Today I'm sharing a few examples of the way that folk magicians in North America have found uses for gunpowder that rely upon its explosive properties to create uncanny results. A NOTE: Please do not take anything in this post as advice. Messing with gunpowder is, as already stated, DANGEROUS. Everything presented here is offered as folklore and history, and not as any sort of endorsement of the behavior described.
So how have practitioners historically put gunpowder to use? As you might have guessed, the destructive qualities of black powder have been a major part of its magical applications. According to several variations of folk spells in the regions running from the northern Appalachian Mountains down into the Gulf of Mexico delta and a bit west of the Mississippi, it has several uses. Gunpowder combined with lodestone and red pepper can be turned into a mojo that will increase business. Added to foods, it also has the power to increase potency, as one hoodoo recommendation involves feeding gunpowder to a guard dog to make him vicious (DON'T DO THIS). One Pennsylvania pow-wow remedy for treating urinary disease in horses involves mixing gunpowder with flour, gentian, and calamus and feeding it to the animal until the disease clears. Perhaps one of the most surprising applications is in the area of women's reproductive health, where gunpowder was once believed to stimulate expulsive contractions, with results varying depending on when the woman used the remedy. Harry M. Hyatt found that gunpowder was used as an abortifacient to induce miscarriage in Adams County, Illinois, including a topical remedy that required a woman to rub her breasts with it every night until the desired outcome occurred. A belief from the mountainous area of eastern Kentucky says that a small dose of gunpowder given right before birth will help to ease the labor, as well.
Most hoodoo and Southern conjure-based magical applications incorporate the magical properties of the particular ingredients, especially the bad luck-breaking power of sulphur, as a component of the spell. Mixed with ingredients like salt and sugar, it can be turned into bathing scrubs that take off negative effects in hurry. In some cases, only the ingredients (usually sulphur but sometimes saltpeter as well) would be added to a bath, and in other accounts, gunpowder itself would be added to other components to actively destroy the harmful effects of a curse, as in this example from Hyatt's five-volume collection of (mostly) African American magical practices [dialect left mostly intact from Hyatt's transcriptions]:
Mah husband , he wus witchcraft heah a little before Christmas , an' when he begin , he begin as a chills-an' fevah. An' course I didn't know, you know, right then…an' I had [the] doctor…They say he had the flu. An' so he wusn't whut you call real, you know, sick like a medical doctor [says], you know. The medicine he give 'im—he give 'im medicine an' it didn't seem to do him no good. So his mind led' im that he knew it wusn't pure sickness. So I had my fortune told an' it…wusn't pure natural. So they fixed 'im—a root doctor fixed him some medicine. An' it holp him, too; but you see, jis' like they put [something] down for yah, all the medicine you take it won't cure you. So I had someone to come to pick it [an object she found] up. I don't know exac'ly wut it wus, but it was down under the—kin'a in the south part of the house an' right in the middle, jis' like you walk over it. An' this filth, of course you have to step in it. An' they [the root doctor] taken it up, an' after takin' it up, you know, they kill it. They kill it with salt. An' then I had to—after takin' it up they put salt on it, wash it off, an' put it in a paper an' let it dry. Then I had to take it an' put lye, an' sulphur, red pepper, an' gunpowder, put it in a quart up an' put a quart of water in it an' boil it [every] bit of the water out it, right dry, an' then take an' [carry] it to a runn' water an', you know, put it in. That's called, that's turnin' back on the one that did it.
One of the best (and most explosive applications) involves mixing gunpowder and other ingredients with an enemy's footprint, then lighting the mixture on fire and watching it explode. This supposedly causes them to leave town in a hurry (possibly due to the strange explosions they keep hearing). Because it contains sulphur, variations on the hexing compound known as "Goopher Dust" can also have gunpowder mixed in. Mixed with other repelling herbs like asafetida the gunpowder could be worn in shoes or carried in a pouch around a person's neck to ward off harm. Jason Miller's Protection and Reversal Magick mentions a "jinx-breaker" mojo bag a person can carry which has sulpher and saltpeter (and thus everything but the charcoal in gunpowder) as well as lemongrass. Miller doesn't specifically mention using gunpowder, but it is likely that some extant variations of the hand would use it as a necessary substitution.
Of course, gunpowder's application in celebrations can also have a magical or spiritual significance. Spinning fire-wheels powered by gunpowder fireworks are often used in ceremonies honoring the dead or unseen spirits. The Urglaawe Heathen tradition uses such a "Catherine Wheel" in its Sunneraad (Yuletide) celebrations, and similar wheels can be found in Mexican Dia de los Muertos festivities. Similarly, many Appalachian people would celebrate the arrival of the New Year by "shooting in" the day with live ammunition fired into the air, which was also thought to induce good luck or scare away bad luck. Shooting in also happened in cities, where it could pose a significant safety threat, and often those not directly participating would sequester themselves indoors to avoid the "Calithumpian" revelries which also included costumes, masks, and a lot of heavy drinking. In some Vodoun rituals, celebrants may make the veve designs of a particular loa out of gunpowder, especially if that loa is "hot" in nature, such as the Petro spirits. In other cases, gunpowder may be specifically avoided to prevent inciting spirits to become destructive or to avoid any potential spiritual insults.
Gunpower was also sometimes employed to spark a sudden or rapid change in less personal conditions as well, for example in weather magic. In American Folklore: An Encyclopedia, the author notes that out in the frequently dry prairie areas of North America such as Nebraska and Kansas, "professional 'rainmakers' sought to earn their pay by firing explosions from balloons, building large, smoky fires, or setting off gunpowder explosions from high peaks" during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
In most cases, the essential magical nature of gunpowder is driven by one of two factors: its ability to explode on ignition or its ingredients' magical properties. Many applications, such as the jinx-breaking in the hoodoo examples, rely on a mixture of both aspects: a symbolic rapid change and the physical presence or properties of the sulphur and saltpeter (the charcoal seldom gets a mention, but its "neutralizing" nature seems to be a good fit, too). The abortifacient uses of gunpowder also could be an extension of these characteristics. One of the most interesting things about gunpowder is its relative predicatibility for an explosive substance (as opposed to say, nitroglycerin, which can be incredibly volatile). Gunpowder is even used to create artworks in seriously cool ways because it can be controlled. At the same time, this substance continues to be dangerous, causing more than a few lost digits or limbs every year during July celebrations and fueling firearms that can do immense damage to life and property. In some ways, gunpowder is almost a perfect metaphor for folk magic more generally—deployed with intention and thought, it can do wonderful things, but carelessly handled it can cause irreparable harm.
So as the fireworks are booming overhead during this first week of July in North America, I hope you will look up at the bright and beautiful patterns and think about some of the magic in them that goes beyond the visual awe and glamor. Although, if you prefer to "ooh" and "aah" at them instead, I can hardly blame you.
Brunvand, Jan, ed. American Folklore: An Encyclopedia. New York: Garland Press, 1996.
Davis, Susan G. Parades and Power: Street Theatre in Nineteenth Century Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Temple Univ. Press, 1986.
Corbett, Bob. "Eshin-Fun Answers: African Religion Syncretism." Webster University Website (http://faculty.webster.edu/corbetre/haiti/voodoo/syncretism.htm).
Hohman, John George, and Daniel Harms, ed. The Long-Lost Friend: A 19th-Century American Grimoire, Llewellyn, 2012.
Hyatt, Harry M. The Folklore of Adams County, Illinois. New York: Alma Egan Hyatt Foundation, 1935.
—. Hoodoo, Conjuration, Witchcraft, Rootwork (5 Vols.). New York: Alma Egan Hyatt Foundation, 1970.
Miller, Jason. Protection and Reversal Magick. Franklin Lakes, NJ: New Page Books, 2006.
Milnes, Gerald C. Signs, Cures, & Witchery. Knoxville, Univ. of Tennessee Press, 2007.
Randolph, Vance. Ozark Magic and Folklore. Dover Publications, 1964.
Schreiwer, Robert L. "Yuletide Sunneraad 2017." Urglaawe: Deitsch-Pennsylvania German Heathenry Website. (http://urglaawe.blogspot.com/2017/12/yuletide-sunneraad-2017.html).
Thomas, Daniel, and Lindsey Thomas. Kentucky Superstitions. Charleston, SC: Nabu Press, 2012 (reprint).
yronwode, catherine. Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic. Forestville, CA: Lucky Mojo Curio Co., 2002.
Author newworldwitcheryPosted on July 3, 2018 July 2, 2018 Categories Blog, History & LoreTags Appalachians, conjure, folk magic, gunpowder, holidays, hoodoo, magic, magical ingredients, new world witchery, root work, witch, witchcraft, witchery
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eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY), a global commerce leader, and Flipkart, a leading eCommerce company in India, have agreed to jointly pursue eCommerce opportunities in the Indian market. In exchange for an equity stake in Flipkart, eBay will make a $500 million cash investment in and sell its eBay.in business to Flipkart. Flipkart will own and operate the eBay.in business upon the close of the transaction. eBay and Flipkart have also entered into an exclusive agreement in which they will jointly pursue cross-border trade opportunities to make eBay's global inventory accessible to more India consumers, while eBay's millions of active buyers globally will have access to more unique Indian inventory provided by Flipkart.
"The combination of eBay's position as a leading global eCommerce company and Flipkart's market stature will allow us to accelerate and maximize the opportunity for both companies in India," said Devin Wenig, President and CEO of eBay Inc. "eBay is committed to winning in India in partnership with Flipkart. Our exclusive global trade partnership will allow eBay and Flipkart to reach even more consumers around the world."
"This partnership between Flipkart and eBay is the coming together of two pioneering innovators who have disrupted commerce by applying technology. It bodes well for Indian and global customers, sellers and the wider eCommerce ecosystem. eBay.in has built a strong presence in India over the years and we hope to take it to greater heights as part of the Flipkart group," said BinnyBansal, Group CEO, Flipkart.
Upon the close of the transaction, which is expected later this year, Flipkart will acquire eBay's buyers in India. eBay will remove the number of active buyers in India from its reporting during the quarter in which the transaction closes. eBay does not expect this transaction to have a material impact on its guidance provided on January 25, 2017.
This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, the future performance of eBay Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. These statements are based on eBay's current expectations, forecasts and assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those predicted or implied in this press release for a variety of reasons. You can find more information about risks, uncertainties and other factors that could affect our operating results in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, copies of which may be obtained by visiting eBay's Investor Relations website at https://investors.ebayinc.com or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. You should not rely on any forward-looking statements. All information in this press release is as of April 10, 2017, and we do not intend and undertake no duty to update this information.


The design of any architectural project begins with creativity and dreams. At Davis Design Inc. an exciting dialoque begins between the client and designer to nurture and flesh out the different concepts and ideas.
In the end Davis Design Inc. unique approach provides the creativity and expertise to turn the initial dreams into reality.
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Report on Plainridge Park Casino's Economic Impact
The Institute worked directly with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) and Plainridge Park Casino (PPC) to determine the economic footprint of PPC's operations.
The UMass Donahue Institute released an analysis of the impacts from Plainridge Park Casino's first year of operation.
The Institute worked directly with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) and Plainridge Park Casino (PPC) to determine the economic footprint of PPC's operations, including employment, wages, vendor spending, and fiscal impacts from taxes and other assessments paid to government. Researchers also analyzed how shifts in patron spending as a result of gaming expansion affected the state.
The economic impacts of a new casino opening in Massachusetts are not limited to the impacts of employees spending new wages in their communities. The casino also purchases goods and services from other firms and state and local governments collect taxes and other assessments from the casino, allowing them to spend more than they would otherwise have been able to. Alternately and as with any new attraction, some of PPC's revenue is coming from consumers who previously spent their money at other Massachusetts businesses, and those businesses will be affected by the loss of support.
Analysis highlights:
In PPC's first 12 full months of operation (July 2015 through June 2016), patrons spent approximately $172.5 million on gambling and non-gambling activities at the facility.
The majority of patrons surveyed at PPC were identified as "recaptured" patrons who would have spent their money gambling out of state had PPC not opened, while others were out-of-state visitors whose visit was prompted by the casino. Recaptured patrons are responsible for $100 million of the $172.5 million spent at PPC. Out-of-state residents spent $36 million at PPC. Another $36.6 million was spent by Massachusetts residents who otherwise would have spent their money elsewhere.
The largest single source of new economic activity came from $81 million in taxes and assessments collected from the casino's gross gaming revenue. Of those funds, $77.6 million in payments were made to various Massachusetts government entities with $66.4 million given directly to cities and towns in the form of local aid.
PPC created approximately 556 new jobs at the casino and $17.8 million in wages. In total, PPC created or supported 2,417 jobs in the Commonwealth with 1,633 jobs in the private sector.
PPC supported $19.1 million in spending on vendors, membership organizations, and charitable causes.
Visitors to PPC spent an estimated $3.2 million in the Plainville area in the course of visiting the casino.
MGC Chairman Steve Crosby said, "The principal motivation for the Legislature in crafting the Gaming Law was to recapture the approximately one billion spent annually by Massachusetts residents at out-of-state casinos. This report demonstrates emphatically that we are in the process of accomplishing that important objective. "
"It is exciting to see information beginning to emerge from the operational phase of the SEIGMA [Social and Economic Impacts of Gambling in Massachusetts] study. Going forward, this data will provide an ongoing assessment of how conditions change during the early years of casino operations," said Rachel Volberg, Principal Investigator of the SEIGMA group.
"As a result of the Commonwealth's forward-looking gaming legislation, EPPR [Economic & Public Policy Research] and the SEIGMA team have been able to pursue an ambitious and first-of-its-kind study on the operations of casinos in Massachusetts, of which PPC is only the first part. By coupling detailed data from the casino and an extensive survey of its patrons, we have been able to provide a clearer picture of the economic role of a casino than ever before," said Mark Melnik, Director of UMass Donahue Institute's EPPR group.
The UMass Donahue Institute is a member of the Social and Economic Impacts of Gambling in Massachusetts (SEIGMA) project team that has been charged with carrying out the research agenda of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.
NewsInstitute NewsReport on Plainridge Park Casino's Economic Impact

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Please visit www.DIY3DTech.com for more information on this and many other projects! As in this episode thanks to "WorldofZap" we will be printing a filament lock for the Wanhao Filament Arm we printed a while ago. If you followed along and printed one of these (arms) you need to print this handy lock! And a special shout out and thanks to moejarv (Moe Tsao) the designer of this gem!


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Fluetizolam (2-ethyl-4-(2-fluorophenyl)-9-methyl-6H-thieno[3,2-f][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]diazepine) is a thienotriazolodiazepine derivative with potent sedative and anxiolytic effects, which has been sold as a designer drug.

See also
 Brotizolam
 Clotiazepam
 Flualprazolam
 Flubrotizolam
 Fluclotizolam
 Etizolam
 Ro09-9212

References

Designer drugs
GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators
Heterocyclic compounds with 3 rings
Diazepines
Triazoles
Sulfur heterocycles
Fluoroarenes

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Digital Transformation and Society
Editorial: Digital technology transforms the global economy!
Qiu, Robin
2022 Digital Transformation and Society
doi:10.1108/dts-12-2022-040
The development of digital thread: the relations to digital twin and its industrial applications
Zhang, Yuxin; Dong, Wei; Wang, Junyan; Che, Congcong; Li, Lefei
doi:10.1108/dts-06-2022-0023
Through this research study, the authors found that digital thread has made significant progress in the life cycle management of the US Air Force. The authors hope that by reviewing similar studies in the aerospace field, the meaning of digital thread can be summarized and applied to a wider...
Impact of Covid19 on the development of digital service capability for value co-creation: a mediating role of service ecosystem self-adjustment
Sakaya, Ansgar
This study aims to examine the impact of Covid19 on service ecosystem self-adjustment (SES_SA) and additionally to explore the mediating role of SES_SA on the relationship between the Covid19 pandemic and the development of digital service capability (DD_SC).Design/methodology/approachData were...
The policy trajectory of China's globalizing Internet
Yang, Feng; Zhao, Shan; Zhang, Xiaoqian
China's globalizing Internet describes a situation where China is using the Internet as a tool or medium to transmit its voice on the world stage and enhance its influence over the global Internet governance system and the global digitalization process. Several concerns, however, exist regarding...
Choice-based games and resilience building of gender nonconforming individuals: a phenomenological study
Cantrell, Yuri; Zhu, Xiaohua Awa
Narrative-driven, choice-based games, games that allow gamers to make decisions regarding the game characters and storylines, can bring forth emotional changes in their players and offer empathy during scenarios that a player may not experience in real-world situations. Therefore, they can be...


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Pareteum to Restate Previously Issued Financial Statements
Pareteum Corporation
Oct 21, 2019, 16:38 ET
NEW YORK, October 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Pareteum Corporation (Nasdaq: TEUM) today announced that the Company will restate its previously issued consolidated financial statements as of and for the full year ended December 31, 2018, and interim periods ended March 31, 2019 and June 30, 2019. This decision was approved by the Company's Board of Directors upon the recommendation of the Company's Audit Committee, and after consultation with management and the Company's independent registered public accounting firm.
Investors should no longer rely upon the Company's previously released financial statements for the time periods cited above. Similarly, related press releases, earnings releases, and investor communications describing the Company's financial statements for these periods should no longer be relied upon.
The decision to restate these financial statements is based on the Company's conclusion that certain revenues recognized during 2018 and 2019 should not have been recorded during that period. For certain customer transactions, the Company may have prematurely or inaccurately recognized revenue. These restatements should not impact historical cash or cash equivalents based upon the current review. At the present time, the restatements are expected to impact Revenue, Cost of Service, Operating Income, Net Loss, Accounts Receivable and other Balance Sheet line items. While the Company's analysis is still underway, the Company currently estimates the revenue impact for the full year 2018 to be a reduction of approximately $9 million. For the first half of 2019, the Company currently estimates the revenue impact to be a reduction of approximately $24 million.
At this time, the Company has not fully completed its review and the expected financial impact of the restatement described above is preliminary and subject to change. The Company cannot predict the aggregate amount of revenue that will ultimately be restated, whether additional periods beyond those referenced above will be affected, and the final outcome or timing of the Company's filing of restated financial statements for the affected annual and quarterly periods. Until the full magnitude of these transactions is analyzed and understood, the Company cannot provide forward guidance, and expects financial results for the second half and full year 2019 will be materially below current analysts' estimates.
Pareteum has achieved a significant business transformation over the last few years, including the completion and integration of two large acquisitions, Artilium and iPass. The Company recently discovered internal control issues related to the accuracy and timing of the recognition of revenue. The Company is undertaking a financial review and is taking proactive steps to improve the oversight and controls associated with customer transactions. This restatement does not impact day-to-day operations and the Company continues to be encouraged by the positive customer interest in Pareteum's global cloud communications platform and its other products and services. Today's announcement reiterates Pareteum's commitment to best practices and upholding the highest standards of financial reporting. The Company recognizes the seriousness of the restatement and will continue to evaluate and implement a broad range of measures and controls to ensure that Pareteum has a strong foundation of processes, procedures, systems and talent in order to capitalize on future global growth opportunities.
Pareteum cannot at this time estimate when the restatement will be completed. The Company will continue to diligently pursue completion of the restatement and intends to make its upcoming 2019 quarterly filings as soon as reasonably practical.
About Pareteum Corporation: Millions of people and devices are connected around the world using Pareteum's Global Cloud Communications Platform, enhancing their mobile experience. Pareteum unleashes the power of applications and mobile services, bringing secure, ubiquitous, scalable, and seamlessly available voice, video, SMS/text messaging, and data, media and content enablement to our customers, making worldwide communications services easily and economically accessible to everyone. By harnessing the value of our cloud communications platform, Pareteum serves enterprises, communications service providers, early stage innovators, developers, IoT, and telecommunications infrastructure providers. Pareteum envisions a new mobile communications experience, imagining what is to come, while delivering now. Pareteum currently has offices in North America, South America, Spain, Bahrain, Singapore, India, Indonesia, Germany, Belgium, United Kingdom, Russia, and the Netherlands. For more information please visit: www.pareteum.com.
Forward Looking Statements: Certain statements contained herein constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to Pareteum's plans and objectives, projections, expectations and intentions. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about Pareteum's industry, management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Because such statements involve risks and uncertainties, the actual results and performance of Pareteum may differ materially from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks include, among other things (1) the ability to complete the restatement of the affected financial statements and address any material weaknesses, the timing of the completion of necessary restatements, interim reviews and audits by the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, (2) risks relating to the substantial costs and diversion of personnel's attention and resources deployed to address the restatement of the affected financial statements and internal control matters, (3) the risk of litigation or regulatory action arising from the restatement of the affected financial statements, (4) the timing of the review by, and the conclusions of, the Company's independent auditor regarding the restatement, (5) the ability of the Company to remediate any material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting, (6) potential reputational damage that the Company may suffer as a result of the restatement of the affected financial statements, (7) the impact of the restatement of the affected financial statements on the value of the Company's common stock, and (8) the risk that the filing of the restatement of the affected financial statements will take longer than anticipated. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Unless otherwise required by law, Pareteum also disclaims any obligation to update its view of any such risks or uncertainties or to announce publicly the result of any revisions to the forward-looking statements made here. Additional information concerning certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested in Pareteum's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which are available from the SEC or may be obtained upon request from Pareteum Corporation.
Pareteum Investor Relations Contacts:
Carrie Howes
Investor.r[email protected]
SOURCE Pareteum Corporation
http://www.pareteum.com


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Discover Here The Most Eclectic Brands At Maison Et Objet – Maison Et Objet brings every year the best of design with incredible stands. Today, we are going to show you the best luxury brands at Maison Et Objet. Prepare to be amazed!
Vista Alegre is another good example of a luxury Portuguese brand with a lot of novelties for Maison et Objet. Among their collections seen at the event are the stunning 'Única' collection, the 'Herbariae' collection in cooperation with Christian Lacroix Maison, the 'Amzōnia' collection and a highlight to the striking cabinet 'Once Upon a Time…' done in collaboration with Boca do Lobo.
Maison Valentina had its surprised reserved for both Maison et Objet and IMM Cologne. Not only did they show some of their new bathroom furniture products, but they also presented some new partnerships with other brands such as Couto, Made in Youthland, Sanindusa, Pombo, among others.
Lladro was definitely a memorable stand at this year's event. The stand was conceived by Pierre Favresse (Lladró's current creative director) who proceeded to give a special highlight on the brand's latest creations in artistic porcelain. It's divided in three rooms: the Heritage Room, the Design Room, and the Light&Scent Room.
Rug Society was another daring brand that created a pinch of mystery and an enigmatic approach to its stand. Also there we new luxurious pieces of tapestry presented at this alternative interpretation of a mainstream stand.
live the crafts techniques used in their creation process. This goes to show the detail and quality craftsmanship put into jewelry hardware.
This year Circu decided to highlight their novelties of the Cloud Collection, composed by elements such as one bed, one bedside table, one chest of drawers, and even a Vanity Console. This was a dream stand to see both for parents and for children.


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Sports Stars From Lionel Messi to Cristiano Ronaldo Mourn Soccer's Pelé
Soccer superstar Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better-known as Pelé, passed away on Thursday after a year-long battle with colon cancer and other medical issues. He was 82.
The Brazilian scored a world record 1,281 goals in 1,363 appearances during a 21-year career. These included 77 goals in 92 matches for his country.
Pelé is the only player to win the World Cup three times, lifting the trophy in 1958, 1962 and 1970. He was named Fifa's Player of the Century in 2000.
His death was announced on his own Twitter page, with a black and white photo of Pelé accompanying the words: "Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pelé, who peacefully passed away today. Love, love and love, forever."
A inspiração e o amor marcaram a jornada de Rei Pelé, que faleceu no dia de hoje.
Amor, amor e amor, para sempre.
Love, love and love, forever. pic.twitter.com/CP9syIdL3i
— Pelé (@Pele) December 29, 2022
Tributes poured in from across the sporting world as well as from world leaders as the soccer innovator was honored for his contribution to the sport.
The U.S.M.N.T. (United States Men's National Team) and the U.S.W.N.T. (United States Women's National Team) both shared a tweet from U.S. Soccer that paid tribute to the original soccer G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time), which read: "Pele epitomized the beautiful game and spread the soccer gospel across the United States and around the world. One cannot imagine the sport—and the world—without him."
Current Brazilian superstar Neymar Jr. shared his tribute to the player he said "turned football into art."
Neymar posted on Instagram: "Before Pelé, 10 was just a number. I've read this phrase somewhere, at some point in my life. But this sentence, beautiful, is incomplete.
"I would say before Pelé football was just a sport. Pelé has changed it all. He turned football into art, into entertainment He gave voice to the poor, to the blacks and especially: He gave visibility to Brazil. Soccer and Brazil have raised their status thanks to the King! He's gone but his magic remains. Pelé is FOREVER!!"
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo also shared his thoughts: "A mere goodbye to the eternal King Pele will never be enough to express the pain that is enveloping the whole of the football world right now.
"The care he always showed for me was reciprocated in every moment we shared, even when we were apart.
"His memory will endure forever in every one of us who love football."
Pelé celebrates after Brazil won the World Cup at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on 21 June, 1970. Pelé passed away on Thursday after a year-long battle with colon cancer.
Former Brazil striker Ronaldo wrote on social media: "Unique. Genius. Technical. Creative. Perfect. Unequalled. Where Pele has gone, he has stayed. Never having left the top, he leaves us today. The king of football—one and only. The greatest of all time."
World Cup winner Lionel Messi, who is considered alongside Pelé and Diego Maradona as one of the greatest players to have ever graced a soccer field, wrote: "Rest in peace, @pele."
French striker Kylian Mbappé, who scored a hat-trick in this year's World Cup final, tweeted: "The king of football has left us but his legacy will never be forgotten.
RIP KING."
Legendary Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt also paid tribute, writing: "A sporting legend. Rest in peace King Pele."
Pelé is pictured during his time with the New York Cosmos prior to an NASL game at Giants Stadium in New York circa 1977. Tributes poured in from across the sporting world after the announcement of his death on Thursday.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: "Pelé had a magnetic presence and, when you were with him, the rest of the world stopped.
"His life is about more than football. He changed perceptions for the better in Brazil, in South America and across the world…
"Today, we all mourn the loss of the physical presence of our dear Pelé, but he achieved immortality a long time ago and therefore he will be with us for eternity."
President Joe Biden was among a number of world leaders also who paid tribute to the Brazilian superstar, tweeting: "For a sport that brings the world together like no other, Pele's rise from humble beginnings to soccer legend is a story of what is possible."
Pelé attends the GQ Men Of The Year Awards at the Tate Modern in London on September 5, 2017.
Former president Barack Obama also shared his thoughts after the passing of the soccer legend.
"Pelé was one of the greatest to ever play the beautiful game," he wrote. "And as one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, he understood the power of sports to bring people together. Our thoughts are with his family and everyone who loved and admired him."
Pele's daughter, Kely Nascimento, who wrote on Instagram: "We are thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace."
No details are available about the funeral but there will be a vigil at Vila Belmiro in Santos, the city where Pelé will be buried.
Pelé had been undergoing treatment for metastatic cancer but it was reported that his chemotherapy treatment was no longer working.
He was taken by his wife Marcia Aoki and a carer to the Albert Einstein hospital in São Paulo where medical staff confirmed his condition of anasarca (general swelling), edemigemic syndrome (general edema) and "decompensated heart failure."
Do you have a tip on a sports story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about soccer? Let us know via [email protected]
Biden signs $1.7 trillion government funding bill: CBS News Flash Dec. 30, 2022
Judge rules suspect in Colorado voting machine tampering case is incompetent
Security ramped up for release of video showing Tyre Nichols' violent arrest


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Home // News & Events // News Releases // Penn Dental Medicine Receives $10 Million Gift from Alumnus Robert I. Schattner, DDS
Penn Dental Medicine Receives $10 Million Gift from Alumnus Robert I. Schattner, DDS
The gift is the largest from a living alumnus in the School's history and will fund a dramatic new meeting/reception space and the renovation of the School's Main Clinic.
Philadelphia — Penn Dental Medicine has just received the largest gift from a living alumnus, a $10 million gift – from Robert I. Schattner, DDS, of Bethesda, Md., a member of the class of 1948. This gift will fund the renovation of the School's Main Clinic and expansion of its iconic Schattner Center to create a dramatic new meeting and reception space. The gift comes as the School celebrates the centennial anniversary of its Evans Building and represents the final phase in a ten-year 'renaissance' plan.
This is the second major gift from Dr. Schattner. In 1997, he and his late wife, Kay, contributed $5.5 million for the construction of the School's Robert Schattner Center and surrounding gardens. The Center, dedicated in 2002, is home to several clinics and the Penn Dental Medicine Family Practice at Locust Walk. The Schattner Center constitutes the main entrance to the dental school, forming a unified Penn Dental Medicine campus by linking to the School's other two buildings – the Thomas Evans Building and Leon Levy Center for Oral Health Research
"Dr. Schattner has so very generously stepped up to the plate once again in support of the health-promoting work of Penn Dental Medicine," said Penn President Amy Gutmann, "and it is all the more heart-warming because he is a proud alumnus. No one better understands the vital work of this hallowed school than someone who has been such a valued and respected member of the Penn Dental Medicine family for almost 70 years. His generosity will be transformative and forever honored and remembered."
Located within the School's historic Thomas Evans Building, the Main Clinic is the 11,520-square-foot clinical space that has been the hub of DMD clinical instruction and patient care since its construction in 1915.
"The Main Clinic has clinically educated thousands of students, and is the centerpiece of the Evans Building. Students spend some of their most critical professional training hours in this space," says Dr. Denis Kinane, Morton Amsterdam Dean of Penn Dental Medicine. "Dr. Schattner's vision of the importance of this facility will have a lasting impact for our students and the School overall."
Plans for what will be named the Robert I. Schattner Clinic involve a complete updating of the entire space for an improved student and patient experience. The main improvements will include all new equipment and operatories in an individual bay design, new flooring and lighting, enhanced radiographic capabilities, and the restoration of the grand wall of original, historic windows that line the north side of the clinic.
In addition to funding the Main Clinic improvements, Dr. Schattner's latest gift will create a new indoor pavilion, built adjacent to the existing atrium of the Schattner Center and enclosing a courtyard area behind it to create a dynamic new indoor space for public gatherings and interaction.
"Few alumni have had as great an impact on Penn Dental Medicine as Dr. Robert Schattner," says Dean Kinane. "His career exemplifies the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of our earliest benefactor, Dr. Thomas Evans. And, Dr. Schattner's continual commitment and warm personality are an inspiration to me and others at Penn Dental Medicine."
Dr. Schattner is the inventor of the world renowned Chloraseptic, the sore-throat anesthetic/mouthwash, and the hospital disinfectant Sporicidin. He holds 70 patents and trademarks in addition to his 10 years in private practice in the New York area. Active within Penn Dental Medicine for many years, he has served on the School's Board of Overseers since 2002.
"I can attribute my success to a combination of serendipity, luck, and perseverance," says Dr. Schattner.
"With this gift," says Dean Kinane, "Dr. Schattner will not only expand his legacy, and Kay's, at Penn Dental Medicine, he will improve the educational experience of generations of future students of our School."
The Office of Communications is available to assist journalists in contacting our faculty experts to discuss the latest dental techniques and technologies. To schedule an interview or locate a faculty expert, please call 215-573-8224, or e-mail Beth Adams at adamsnb@upenn.edu.
Penn Dental Medicine Journal


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Marvel's Avenger's Alliance 2 releases today
Marvel's sequel to the its hit Facebook predecessor is out now to take over your wallet and free time
by Joshua Potter
Following the success of Marvel: Avengers Alliance, Offbeat Creations released a sequel to this hit game today. For those new to the series, Marvel: Avengers Alliance is a turn-based strategy RPG. Players take the role of an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. tasked with recruiting heroes and villains in the Marvel universe to take on the innumerable threats to the world.
Most of this title is free-to-play, and almost everything is accessible without having to spend any money. That isn't to say that the game doesn't have it's pay-gates. The first game in this franchise was so well-received and addicting that some players even took to the forums to write out posts detailing their addictions, and how they best prevented themselves from going overboard in spending money on the in-game currency.
The story of the franchise is written by Josh Fine, the writer for the incredible animated series The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes. The heroes find themselves facing off against the villain Thanos as he prepares to destroy the universe for what most likely is the millionth time. The game will have ties to the original Marvel: Avengers Alliance, but Bill Roseman, Marvel Games' creative director, stated in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly that:
"If you're a longtime player of Marvel: Avengers Alliance, you'll find the story of Avengers Alliance 2 has connections... But it's been crafted in a way that if you're brand new to this game, we made every effort for it to be accessible."
Characters in the newer game have an expanded repertoire of abilities to select, with the average hero having nine abilities to choose from, but only three slots to take into battle. This will allow for more customization than the previous installment, and allow for more diversity in how a player chooses to arrange their superhero team. Also included are team up abilities and traits between heroes who are known associates, such as The Heroes for Hire: Luke Cage and Iron Fist.
Marvel: Avengers Alliance 2 is available for download now on all Android, iOS systems, and Amazon's Kindle store.
Joshua Potter
Joshua Potter (AmeNemA) is an avid video game player, having been hunting ducks and collecting coins since he was a toddler. Now he applies his years of knowledge to writing about the games he's come to love.
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Games Marvel: Avengers Alliance 2 Genres AdventureCasualFree to PlayMassively MultiplayerRPGStrategy	Platforms iOSAndroidWindows PhoneAmazon Fire TV	Tags marvelturn-based strategy
Source marvelavengersalliance2.com
Published Apr. 1st 2016
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The short-tailed woodstar (Myrmia micrura) is a species of hummingbird in tribe Mellisugini of subfamily Trochilinae, the "bee hummingbirds". It is the only species placed in the genus Myrmia. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.

Taxonomy and systematics

The short-tailed woodstar was originally placed in genus Calothorax but since approximately 1876 has been placed in its current myrmia. It is the only species in its genus and has no subspecies.

Description

The short-tailed woodstar is about  long and weighs about . It and the gorgeted woodstar (Chaetocercus heliodor) are the smallest birds in South America, though the little woodstar (C. bombus) is only slightly longer. It has a very short, slightly decurved, black bill. Both sexes have shining green upperparts. Males have a white stripe from the bill to below the eye. Their gorget is glittering violet and the breast white with dingy flanks. Their very short tail's central feathers are green and the rest blackish. Females lack the bright gorget; their underparts are pale buffy whitish to cinnamon buff. Their tail is like the male's with the addition of white tips on the outer feathers.

Distribution and habitat

The short-tailed woodstar is found from the southern part of Ecuador's Manabí Province south into Peru as far as northern La Libertad Department. It inhabits arid scrub, shrublands, and gardens. It is mostly a bird of the lowlands. In Ecuador it usually occurs below , though in Loja Province it can be found as high as . Similarly, in Peru it is usually found within a few hundred meters of sea level but occurs locally as high as .

Behavior

Movement

The short-tailed woodstar is a year-round resident in most of its range but seems to leave the immediate coastal areas in the rainy season.

Feeding

The short-tailed woodstar forages for nectar at all heights but most often feeds close to the ground. It also eats small arthropods. Details of its diet are lacking, but it has been recorded feeding at flowers of families Malvaceae and Fabaceae. It is often attracted to flowers planted around houses.

Breeding

Almost everything that is known about the short-tailed woodstar's breeding phenology comes from observations in southwestern Ecuador, where the breeding season is mostly from March to May. Males make a U-shaped courtship flight. Females build a cup nest of plant down and spiderweb in a fork of a thin branch. It is typically  above the ground. The female incubates the clutch of two eggs for 15 to 16 days and fledging occurs 22 to 23 days after hatch.

Vocalization

The male short-tailed woodstar's song, given during the display flight, is "a sweet, high series of tititi notes interspersed with a high sweee." The species' call is a "thin tchi-tchi-tchi."

Status

The IUCN has assessed the short-tailed woodstar as being of Least Concern. It has a fairly large range, and though its population size is not known, it is believed to be stable. It is considered fairly common to common in Ecuador and uncommon to fairly common in Peru. "At least in the short term, [it] seems to be little affected by human activities"

References

Further reading

Trochilinae
Hummingbird species of South America
Birds of Ecuador
Birds of Peru
Birds of the Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena
short-tailed woodstar
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot


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Newtown Teacher Charged For Bringing Gun to School
A teacher was arrested last week for bringing a gun to a middle school in Newtown, Conn., where a gunman shot and killed 20 students and six educators at nearby Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, police said.
Jason Adams, 46, has a valid pistol permit, but Connecticut state law bans firearms on school grounds.
Adams was charged with possession of a weapon on school grounds. He has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.
Published in Print: April 13, 2016, as Newtown Teacher Charged For Bringing Gun to School


This little birdie (I think it's a song sparrow) was trapped in our garage. Bill managed to catch it and set it free. The bird flew over to our potato barrel for a moment, then soared away.
I've got a couple of pictures below, but they're not of REAL creatures. The pictures are at the very end of the post, so if you want to keep reading, feel free.
This morning I went outside to check on The Web. (It's become so important to me that it now deserves capitalization.) And, not surprisingly, there was no web – just some strands of silk left after all the rain we had yesterday.
I started to walk past my car and was surprised to feel a rather strong, slightly stretchy band of something across my forehead.
Last night just before nine, Bill noticed that the spider that lives in the clothesline housing on the corner of our house was busily spinning a new web.
And she'd become quite ambitious. Instead of running the main strands to points on the house and the clothesline as before, this time she had launched herself from the house to my car.
We went blueberry picking the other day.
Came home with 8 cups of blueberries, mostly the tiny wild ones.
So dark blue they look black.
I was getting ice from the freezer, which is near the back door in the kitchen, and I just happened to glance outside.
And I saw a little bunny on the grass on the other side of our driveway.
Eeeeeeeeeeeee! A bunny! Only there was no one to tell, because everyone else was (and is) still in bed.
…in the blossoms of your hydrangea….
We were walking around the yard this morning, inspecting the fields, so to speak, and I saw this pollen-laden bumble bee.
She (she? he?) was just resting there. Not dead – I saw a leg move. I'm guessing she was still a bit damp from the overnight dew.
Whatever the reason, she stayed put while I got as close as I could with the camera.
I figure once the sun warms and dries her, she'll be on her way.
For now, thank you, bee, for letting me photograph you.
This is the oldest one.
We've concluded that because he/she has pretty much lost the tail entirely and looks most like a teeny tiny real frog.
We're Up to Ten Legs!
Yep, two of our tadpoles have front legs now – I bet the other guy will sprout them by tomorrow. It happens so quickly!
One day they're just little blobs and the next minute – teeny tiny froglets!
Sniff…they grow up so fast!
Our Trio of Tadpoles – Now With More Legs!
Time for breakfast, little tadpoles! Are they still tadpoles once they get hind legs? Yep – I just looked it up. They remain tadpoles (or polliwogs) until they've got all their legs, their lungs have developed, and their tails are disappearing. Then they're called froglets. I can't wait til we can refer to them that way – it's cute.
Here's what we've been feeding them – lettuce. Bits of lettuce (organic, from the garden – nothing but the best for our tadpoles!) that have been frozen (to break down the cell structure) and then chopped up into little bits. They thaw at this point and get all mushy.
It's the baby bunny again!
That was Softie this morning, staring at the tadpoles….
Except…well…we won't be able to milk these….
No, I'm not pregnant. Two is Enough in this house.
But that doesn't seem to apply to other forms of life.
We've got the three cats, as you know.
And Cricket-Catcher, the Cuban Knight Anole.
And a tank of assorted tetras and catfish and swordtails and other stuff down in the basement.
And we've had a series of Bettas (Siamese Fighting Fish) over the years. First Reddy, then ReddyII, then Bluey, and most recently (and briefly), Fire, who was overtaken by a rogue fungus of some kind. Very sad.
Well, two things have happened since I last wrote about the pets.
I seem to be on a water fowl theme lately. A bit. Okay, just a tiny bit. But still.
This morning, this cold, drizzly, Opening Day of Little League Baseball pictures/ceremony/first game morning, Alex and I went to the police station, which is where team pictures were being taken.
We parked in the farther away parking lot and hurried through the damp air, across the parking lot and the wet grass, to the station's main entrance. Other little groups of parents and kids were arriving, too. Kids with their brand new team hats, their matching jerseys and matching socks, and their winter coats or rain coats on over everything.
See it? Heading past our garage?
Some friends of ours up the street mentioned they'd seen a fox running past our house early one morning. I can't remember if it was going toward or away from, but still. A fox! Wow.
And then, not too long ago, Bill and I were sitting in the living room one morning, having our morning coffee, and there it went! It had come from somewhere behind our house and was trotting down the road, probably (we think) toward the pond that's not far from our house.
Of course, I didn't have my camera handy, so no picture.
Then yesterday morning we both woke up very early, so we got up to enjoy the peace and quiet while the kids were still sleeping. We made coffee, and sat in our usual spots here in the living room, and all of a sudden, the fox went by again. Same direction - coming from somewhere behind the house and heading down our street. And THIS time it had a dead squirrel hanging from its mouth! So maybe that was breakfast, or maybe it's a she and she's got babies to feed. Who knows.
Oh, and again, no camera. You'd think I'd learn that I NEED that camera by me at all times.
Anyway, later in the morning while I was priming the walls in Julia's room and he was working on the hardwood floors, I kept peeking out the window, hoping to see the fox trotting by. I even had a camera upstairs, just in case. But nope. No fox. Guess it was past the fox's travel time.
But then at some OTHER point that morning, I was in the kitchen doing something...I think I was putting something in the fridge, and I saw the fox again! Trotting along the bit of yard between our driveway and our neighbor's house! I yelled something and grabbed my camera and took this one and only shot through the window over the sink. Didn't have time to focus or anything, but fortunately you can at least tell that it's some sort of animal.
Anyway, that's the fox story. Apparently some people a few streets behind us actually have chickens. So that could be part of the reason the fox is going this route. No idea.
I'm just glad our cats stay indoors.
WARNING - THIS POST CONTAINS (AT THE VERY END, AFTER THE JUMP) PHOTOS OF BABY SPIDERS!! THEY ARE VERY CUTE, BUT I REALIZE THEY STILL MIGHT BE SCARY TO SOME OF YOU!! BUT THE STORY ITSELF IS NOT AT ALL SCARY!!! SO YOU COULD STILL READ THAT AND NOT LOOK AT THE PICTURES!!!! MAYBE I'LL POST A HARMLESS NON-SPIDER PHOTO FIRST, JUST SO YOU KNOW THE PICTURES ARE COMING (IF YOU'RE VIEWING THIS IN YOUR GOOGLE READER OR SOMETHING) AND AT THAT POINT YOU CAN DEPART!!!! OKAY??? GOOD!!!!
There. I did my good deed for the day. You can thank me later.
About a week ago I was heading out into the back yard one morning, and I don't even know what prompted me to look down between the gate post and one of the fence posts, but I did, and there it was: a strange clump of something caught in a sloppy looking spider web.
Naturally I scooted back inside to get my camera. Baby ANYTHING is worth a picture or twenty.
I took some pictures from the rather awkward angle of looking down and through the fence posts...and then I went around to the gate post side to see if the view would be better, and, lo and behold, there were MORE of them! This batch was hanging around on the side of the gate post that faces the other gate post - which meant I had a perfect up-close-and-annoying view of them.
There were one or two out of all zillion who had gotten brave and decided to leave the safety of their little groups. Tiny, tiny little perfectly formed spiders. I have never seen more adorable arachnids.
I took more pictures, and then I had to run out to the grocery store for something we needed right away. Before I left, I showed the babies to Alex.
You know how baby geese imprint on the first creature they see, and so if you are hanging around when they hatch, you are, to them, Mommy or Daddy?
Well Alex tends to imprint on baby animals. He sees them, and immediately becomes their guardian.
Anyway, I showed him all the tiny babies and he was enthralled. And practical.
"I want to feed them! What if they're hungry?"
I told him they didn't need him to feed them - they were born knowing exactly what to do to get food (and besides, I didn't want him dropping enormous bugs into their tiny web and scaring them to death), but he could certainly watch them.
I got in the car and headed out, leaving Alex to tend his new pets.
Later, when I got back, Bill said Alex sat and watched the baby spiders for quite a while and was very protective.
"He even yelled at me - 'Dad! You're scaring them!' " Bill told me.
"I was just walking by," he said.


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BOOK V Cover Update: Mood and Lighting
CAROL PHILLIPS is working away on the horrific cover to Book V, The Temple of the Exploding Head. It's coming along quite well with the enhanced lighting adding mood and drama to the scene.
As Carol puts it:
Light and shadow is a really important part of creating mood in a painting. It can take a boring painting and make it look really awesome, or if done incorrectly, can make it look flat and dull. I learned early on it was important to pay attention to your various light sources and always keep them in mind while creating your piece. It is a key point in creating a believable environment, character or creature and can make or break your artwork.
"The Temple of the Exploding Head" by Carol Phillips
Creating an environment from your head can be tough and it can be difficult to keep your light source in mind. A good thing to do, is to mark out the direction of your light source with an arrow (on a separate layer or lightly on your drawing,) to remind you while painting where the light is coming from. It also helps with confusion of multiple light sources. Working from your head you probably wont get things 100% real life accurate but if you keep the light sources in mind it will help to make your work seem possible.
It's also important to keep in mind if your light is warm light ( fire/ candle) or cool light (could be found out doors). It is especially challenging when working with both cool and warm light sources on a piece like the Temple, but using warm and cool lights can add a lot of drama and interesting colors to a piece.
Look how the warm fire light brings out the depth of the Temple, lighting up the back tiers giving the viewer a hint how wide the Temple is, while the cooler lighting provides a sense of loftiness and imposing height. With the lighting in place, you can see what was previously hidden behind the more prominent tiers of statue and pillars. With the orange light, the Temple looks more unsettled, more wild and dangerous, which is the impression the viewer should be getting. I can only imagine what the scene will look like when the character layers are turned on.
See the difference when only the cool lighting elements are displayed. The Temple looks calm, peaceful even, like a football stadium before the football game starts. Even though the place is festooned with horrific images, the lighting makes it seem at peace. It also loses all of its depth, with the deeper parts of the temple lost in shadow. The Temple seems much taller rather than wide in the cool lighting.
Book V, The Temple of the Exploding Head will be available for purchase November 2011.
copyright 2011, Ren Garcia and Carol Phillips
Filed in General Book Info ·Tags: Artwork, books, cover, demons, Fantasy, Fiction, temple, Thoughts
"The Machine" is Ready for Release
The second book in the Temple of the Exploding Head Trilogy is finally here!!
The Temple of the Exploding Head Saga continues…
Lord Kabyl of Blanchefort, his cousins Sarah and Phillip and their friend Lord Lon of Probert quest to recover the three pieces of a fabled machine lost for centuries: The Oberphilliax.
Their quest will take them beyond the safety of the League to the Xaphan city of Waam where an ancient Black Hat and her vile army of Spectre henchmen await their arrival with great anticipation.
The Machine sees Kay and his cousins visit distant Xandarr where he is confronted by the manifestations of his three Gifts: Waft, Cloak and Sight. Each will test him to his limits and if he falters for even a moment, he will die.
And, if he manages to survive that, then there's the city of Rostov where death is a roll of the dice away, Dee, with the creature lurking in the water and Waam with its Black Hats and roving army of Spectres. To be a Shadow tech Male in Waam is to be hunted and killed without question … and Kay is a Shadow tech Male. The chase is on.
The book features cover art by Carol Phillips, and is lavishly illustrated with over 25 full page maps and drawings by Carol Phillips, Fantasio and Eve Ventrue.
Book Specifics:
Publisher: Loconeal Publishing
Filed in General Book Info ·Tags: books, Fantasy, Fiction, machine, release, Writing
Thank You, Adam Ant
In looking back on things as Book IV of the Temple of the Exploding Head saga nears release, I puzzle over exactly how I got here. What dissimilar things came together to put all these odd ideas into my head and then, eventually, onto paper in a cohesive manner.
The simple truth is a lot of things added their influence. The League of Elder series is a veritable Rabbit Stew elements thrown together to form the bedrock of my ever-growing universe. My home in Ohio provided much of my inspiration, my wife, Erin, as well provided a grand contribution, and the usual bits stuff also added to the pot (movies I'd seen, books I'd read and the subtle weave of morning dreams that refused to fade from my memory).
But, undoubtedly, a big part of the colonial-retro look of my stories comes from one singular source: Adam Ant.
Adam Ant--Punk Rocker and Self-Styled Madman (From Prince Charming)
Growing up in the `80's, Adam Ant was a big thing. MTV was big and Adam Ant was big too, in the ascendency of a grand career. He was all over MTV. At the time, I lived out in the Ohio countryside and didn't get cable, so whenever I visited my friends in the city, I watched my fill of MTV to make up for the lack of it all the rest of the time. And there was Adam Ant, emblazoned all over the small screen in a leather and wool commotion.
In the mid-Eighties, Adam Ant was taking that well-travelled step from being a speck on the fringe of things, from a punk-rock freak a-la David Bowie whom all parents fear, to a force in the establishment, accepted and welcomed into the pop culture with open arms.
Adam Ant, all Pop'ed-Out in Friend or Foe, a very influential album for me
And I watched. Everything about him fascinated me. I noted the colonial-style top coat he wore, with tight leather pants, bucket boots a tailed-shock hairdo complete with bow and Indian-style face paint scratched across the bridge of his nose.
To me Adam Ant was the embodiment of cool, of sexy and fresh, or daring and bold and I wanted to be him. I wanted to be just like him. I painted my face and grew long my hair (I didn't quite succeed and ended up with the eponymous and dreaded mullet).
Captain Davage--Ant-like in his dress
I never forgot Adam Ant's particular look, and, as the League of Elder began to take shape in my mind, it was only natural that I emulated it and made it my own.
I hope Adam Ant continues his recent comeback from years of obscurity, mental health issues and other set backs and once again thrills young people, as he did me.
Bowl Naked
Filed in Thoughts ·Tags: Adam Ant, books, Fantasy, Fiction, Thoughts, Writing
TOTEH Characters: Paymaster Stenstrom
"Lord Stenstrom of Belmont" by Eve Ventrue
LORD STENSTROM OF BELMONT serves Captain Davage aboard his grand Fleet warship, the New Faith. Stenstrom is a civilian aboard the ship and performs the role of Paymaster, a clerk overseeing and observing the ship's pays and outlaying of money.
Stenstrom isn't the normal sort of modest, unathletic fellow occupying the role of Paymaster. At 6'7 he is a towering man, taller even than Captain Davage. He is the son of the famed Fleet captain Lord Stenstrom the Older who commands the warship Caroline. He carries the traditional LosCapricos weapons of his House, the NTHs, a pair of pistols said to be capable of slaying virtually anything with a single shot. He also wears a long dark green coat once worn by the defunct Hoban Royal Navy–Stenstrom is rarely seen without his HRN. As a final odd note, Stenstrom wears a small mask covering his eyes.
He hails from the House of Belmont, an old Zenon House on his father's side and the House of Tyrol on his mother's. The House of Tyrol are an odd, silver-haired lot living on the eastern coast of Esther, and consider themselves a tribe apart, through no official recognition has been given to them as such. Stenstrom's mother, Lady Jubilee of Tyrol, is a notorious socialite and suspected witch. Her indomitable personality is well-known–she was under Public Wergild for over twenty years, meaning someone had formally posted a vendetta against her. She bore Stenstrom's father 29 daughters ahead of him as a result of an oath she took. She feared for the life of her husband as he spanned the stars in his Fleet ship and swore he would have no sons until his boots were firmly planted on the ground for good; thus twenty-nine Belmont daughters. It has been said that Stenstrom the Older had to resort to sorcerous methods of his own to gain a son, purchasing a questionable tincture on Bazz said to ensure the birth of a son, and thus Stenstrom the Younger was finally born.
Private Taara de la Anderson is one of Paymaster Stenstrom's closest friends (painting by Eve Ventrue)
The Blood Oath
His mother was said to be enraged upon his birth and swore to murder him in his crib, though she quickly came to love and adore her handsome son. Seeing the younger Stenstrom clamoring to follow his father to the stars, Lady Jubilee took steps … extreme steps to prevent him from joining the Fleet. Stenstrom has hinted she put him to an obscure ritual known as the Tyrol Blood Oath. Plunging a red-hot dagger into his heart, she made him swear he'd never join the Fleet as either a crewman or officer, least his wound burst open. She updated the Blood Oath over the years, adding the Astro Merchants, Billings and Merchant Marines to it. She was convinced the stars were no longer in his future.
A Tyrol Sorcerer
Paymaster Stenstrom is well-known for his ability to perform a number of feats considered to be Tyrol Sorcery taught to him by his mother. Though he has no Gifts of the Mind, he can fade into the shadows and pass unseen. He can also make small to medium-sized items appear and disappear with just a wave of his hand.
Flight From Bern
As a youth, Stenstrom went off to school at the University of Bern studying accounting (a pre-approved course of study). A disinterested student, his fiancée, Lady Lillian of Gamboa whispered in his ear and told him of a way to get around his mother's curse. His oaths had made no mention of joining the Fleet as a civilian and she hit him upon the notion of becoming a Fleet Paymaster. The requirements of the position demanded he be an attorney or an accountant of vast tenure. Having no tenure, Stenstrom fled Bern upon his graduation and went into hiding in Calvert, accumulating his tenure at the barrel of a gun. Soon he secured a job as Paymaster aboard the Sandwich, a rusting Fleet frigate, which was illegally running Kanan grain spirits to the Xaphans. Due to his House standing and his fortune, he was not well-liked aboard the Sandwich and was widely shunned.
Lt. Gwendolyn, Lady of Prentess, threatened to knock Stenstrom's teeth out (painting by Eve Ventrue)
The Captain of the ship, a Lt. Dunkster of Carew, was caught red-handed trying to sell counterfeit spirits to the Xaphans and was forced to put out a call to the Fleet for help. The Fleet ship New Faith answered the call and ran the Xaphans off. When questioned, Stenstrom willingly took the blame for the spirit-running operation and allowed himself to be incarcerated. Captain Davage of the New Faith, had an extensive dossier on Lt. Dunkster and knew Stenstrom was covering for him. He was impressed by his loyalty and courage and was intrigued by his HRN and his mask. Davage released him from the brig and invited him to join the New Faith crew, replacing the retiring Paymaster, Lord Milke.
Stenstrom's Mask
Along with his HRN coat and his NTHs, Paymaster Stenstrom is known for wearing a black mask at all times. The mask was a source of constant speculation until he revealed the mask contains several magical pieces of metal folded up in the cloth called "hermelins" which prevent his soul from being torn apart by demons sent by his mother. Without his mask, he'll perish in short order.
Paymaster Stenstrom is introduced in Book IV as Captain Davage's Paymaster aboard the New Faith. He will become the Main Character in the League of Elder Second Series starting with Book VII, The Sands of the Solar Empire, coming soon.
Copyright 2011, Ren Garcia and Eve Ventrue
Filed in General Book Info ·Tags: books, Characters, Fantasy, Fiction, Stenstrom, Writing


text:
Gibson ES-335 vs. Epiphone Dot (Guitar Face-Off)
Written by Adam in Guitar Gear
I must say what a fantastic comparison the Gibson ES-335 vs the Epiphone Dot. Sure, both guitars feature the classy semi-hollow body design.
However, the Gibson ES-335 is absurdly eight times more expensive than the Epiphone Dot.
So is the Gibson guitar eight times better? And can the affordable Epiphone Dot match the mighty ES-335?
My informative post will compare both guitars, materials, tone, specs, and value for money. All wrapped up in comprehensive guitar face-off.
Sound good? Before we delve in, let's start with a short answer.
What is the main difference between the Gibson ES-335 and Epiphone Dot?
The Gibson ES-335 is a high-end vintage guitar, while the Epiphone Dot is an affordable version. The Epiphone Dot includes a maple body and a mahogany center block, while the Gibson ES-335 has a maple center block. The Gibson ES-335 includes higher spec materials compared to the Dot impacting overall quality.
Comparison Video (Watch Below)
Gibson ES-335 – The History
Gibson's ES-335 remains one of Gibson's most prestigious guitars. Fun Fact, It was the first-ever semi-hollow-body electric guitar when released back in 1958.
It all started when Gibson designers had the bright idea of installing a solid block of maple into a regular acoustic sized guitar.
They noticed this produced tonal qualities to a solid-body guitar, yet the sound reverberates inside the wings. This combination results in a tonal 'hybrid' of a full solid-body and hollow-body.
This tonal quality armed blues and jazz guitarists with an elegant and soulful sound.
Likewise, old-school and modern rock guitarists adopt this guitar as a great rock n roll machine. Highlighting the incredible versatility of the ES-335.
When it comes to famous players, The ES-335 was made famous by guitar icons such as BB King, John Scofield, Chuck Berry, Larry Carlton, Eric Clapton, Noel Gallagher,
Epiphone Dot – The History
Being the company's subsidiary, Epiphone produces cheaper versions of Gibson guitars.
This is also the case with their legendary ES-335 model which they produce under the nickname the "Dot" due to the guitar's dot inlays on the fretboard.
The Epiphone Dot was introduced in 1997 and has remained almost unchanged since then. The instrument is intended to replicate what the Gibson's ES-335 can at a lower price level.
These differences come with the use of different materials, as well as some modified design features. Once again, we have the same semi-hollow-body formation, along with humbucker pickups and the same type of controls.
It goes without saying, the Epiphone Dot is a 'watered down' version. Giving guitarist the semi-hollow vibe at a vastly more affordable price.
However, don't be fooled! The Dot is a great entry-level guitar perfect for guitar players of all ability levels.
Gibson ES-335 – Wood & Materials
The most important traits of Gibson's legendary ES-335 are the specially selected materials, as is often the case with the company's guitars.
The recognizable arched top body is made from a 3-play maple and poplar combination.
The same material is used for its back and sides, and we also have spruce bracing inside the body.
This is all accompanied by a maple center block, giving this guitar a completely new twist compared to Gibson's usual mahogany formation. On the body edges, we have a standard yet very stylish single-ply binding.
As far as the neck goes, we have a standard mahogany one with its classic "C" profile.
The neck comes with a rosewood fretboard, although ebony has been used on some versions as well. The body and neck form a standard "set-in" formation, and the neck also comes with acrylic dot inlays and binding on the sides.
This is all rounded up with the guitar model's gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish.
This particular formation makes it look super-glossy and stylish, which has often been one of the ES-335's best and most recognizable features. These days, the guitar comes with an aluminum stop bar and a graph tech nut.
Epiphone Dot – Wood & Materials
While the Epiphone's Dot is designed to emulate and replicate the classic ES-335 concept, there are a few notable differences in the choice of materials.
Once again, we have maple as the main material for the instrument's body.
However, instead of the maple and poplar 3-ply combo, here we have a classic layered maple, or the maple plywood, used for its top, back, and sides.
When it comes to the guitar's center block, the Epiphone comes with one made from mahogany.
This impacts the guitar's tone, making it just a little mellower compared to Gibson ES-335. We also have a single-ply binding on the body's edges, but it's not as good-looking compared to the one on ES-335.
This is all followed by a mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard with its pearloid dot inlays. And while we also have the standard set-neck construction, the neck doesn't feature binding on it.
And just like we have with the Gibson ES-335, the Epiphone Dot's hardware comes a nickel finish on it. There may be a few other differences with specific models and releases, but these are the essential ones.
Gibson ES-335 – Playability
Designed way back in the 1950s, Gibson's ES-335 has rarely ever been changed over the years. This goes for all of the instrument's specs, including the ones that impact its playability and ergonomic qualities.
But some would say that the instrument's playability is the same as it always has been. There are a few modifications applied these days. On this legendary guitar model, we have a neck that features a rounded "C" profile.
What's more, the neck's shape has been finalized by hand, increasing the price significantly and making the instruments overall feel much better than regular necks.
Although thicker than what you'd see on some more modern guitars, the neck on it is still pretty comfortable to play.
Additionally, the set-neck construction and the classic double-cutaway body design allow for easy access to higher frets.
The overall feel all across the neck is pretty balanced and without any unexpected "surprises" along the way.
It might not be an instrument for super-technical shredders, but Gibson ES-335 feels pretty great, no matter the genres that you're into.
Other traits make this instrument fairly enjoyable, including its overall body shape and weight.
Epiphone Dot – Playability
Looking at Epiphone Dot's overall specs, the instrument's feel and playability are pretty similar to those of Gibson's ES-335.
While there are certainly some differences in weight due to the materials used for these two instruments, you'll get a pretty similar package.
The body shape is pretty much the same, aside from some possible differences that are almost unnoticeable, even to the most experienced guitar players.
But although the instruments seem different at first glance, Epiphone Dot comes with some important differences compared to the Gibson. The most important one comes down to the neck profile.
While Gibson ES-335 features the classic rounded "C" neck profile shape, the Epiphone comes with the 60s SlimTapper "D" shape neck profile.
Interestingly, many guitar players who have tried both of these instruments claim that this aspect is better on the Epiphone Dot model.
Due to a slimmer neck profile, this guitar might be a bit more comfortable for some of the more virtuosic players. However, this all comes down to personal preferences and what individual guitar players prefer.
Gibson ES-335 – Tone
Ever since they came onto the scene, hollow-body electric guitars have been mostly associated with jazz music.
And semi-hollow-body instruments, the first commercially available one being the company's ES-335, mostly found their use in this particular genre.
Of course, as time went by, they were used in blues, blues rock, as well as rock 'n' roll, rockabilly, and even hard rock music.
Looking at the materials, the guitar's overall design, as well as the pickup configuration, it's pretty clear that the instrument goes a bit towards a "darker" side of things with just a little bit of high-ends in there.
While maple may add some brightness, the guitar's hollow body design and humbuckers add some mellowness to the mix. The resulting tone is pretty rich and has enough elements for an abundance of genres.
But what makes the ES-335 even more versatile is the instrument's controls. With individual volume and tone pots for each of the pickups, as well as a 3-way selector switch, players get more ways to do some fine-tuning in there.
While you won't ever get that "twang" or "jangle" of single-coil pickups, you'll still be able to adapt it for different settings. The tone isn't as "tight" compared to solid-body electric guitars, and yet you can still have some higher ends in there.
Epiphone Dot – Tone
While the Epiphone Dot guitar has been designed as a cheaper version of Gibson's ES-335, some sonic differences are worth mentioning here.
There are two main reasons for this. The first one comes down to different types of humbucker pickups used on the Epiphone Dot.
While the ES-335 comes with stock Gibson humbuckers, the Dot has Epiphone Alnico Classic ones, which are essentially Epiphone's stock pickups.
And, to be honest, you can't expect Epiphone's pickups to reach all the sonic and dynamic qualities that Gibson pickups provide.
Nonetheless, Alnico Classic humbuckers manage to capture the guitar's essence well, but they'll probably sound just a little mellower compared to what we can hear with Gibson.
The lack of "crispiness" in the tone also comes down to different use of materials. Epiphone Dot comes with a mahogany center block, as well as a cheaper layered maple for the main body construction.
This is yet another thing that will make Epiphone's tone mellower compared to the Gibson. Other than that, the controls are the same, and you'll be able to get a similar versatility in there.
Gibson ES-335 – Price
And here we come to one of the biggest issues in Gibson guitars – the price. For many years now, many guitar players have been complaining about how expensive the company's guitars can get.
While we can discuss whether some of the models are worth it or not, the ES-335 retains a lot of high-end qualities even in all of its different variants.
We can clearly see this with the choice of build materials and the guitar's finish, as well as some nice touches, like the guitar's binding.
However, it's the instrument's amazing tone and sustain that makes the cut here. Sure, you'll need to put aside quite a sum for this instrument, but you'll be set for life if you get an ES-335.
Epiphone Dot – Price
As already explained, Epiphones are cheaper alternatives to Gibson. And just like many have complained about Gibson guitars being too expensive.
On the other hand, many praise Epiphone for giving some surprisingly great qualities within an affordable price bracket.
In fact, Epiphone Dot will be about 1/8 of Gibson ES-335's price, making it a very viable alternative for those who need a budget-friendly instrument that covers the same musical styles.
Of course, you can't expect a fully professional instrument that's significantly cheaper, but it still manages to deliver great performance and a great tone.
Gibson ES-335 – Verdict & Who's It for?
To put it simply, the ES-335 is a guitar for full-blown professional players. This is essentially an iconic vintage guitar which obviously makes it so expensive.
Furthermore, you are paying for the Gibson name on the headstock which considerably hikes up the price.
More importantly, in my opinion, I believe the ES-335 is not eight times as good as the Epiphone Dot. The ES-335 is for experienced musicians who have the money for an exceptional and iconic guitar no expenses spared.
As far as genres go, it's pretty common in blues and jazz, although the same exact models can be used in blues-rock and hard rock
It's also not uncommon to see an ES-335 in the hands of those "hired gun" guitarists of famous pop stars.
With its amazing tone and very ergonomic performance qualities, it will satisfy the needs of even the most professional and the most demanding musicians out there.
But with this said, it's important to note that the instrument is not exactly recommended for beginners.
This is due to its price and the instrument's qualities that cannot be used to full potential by those who are not that experienced.
What's more, you'll also need quite a rig and experience with setting up other gear in order to get the full potential out of it.
Epiphone Dot – Verdict and Who's It for?
Being a cheaper version of the ES-335, there are two groups of musicians that I would recommend this guitar to.
The first one is the beginners or intermediate players who need something a little vintage-oriented in their collection and don't want to spend a lot on their gear.
The second group is the more experienced musicians, even professional gigging musicians, who need something cheaper as a side guitar.
Although the Dot doesn't come close to the qualities that Gibson provides, you can still use it for some studio sessions and live shows and have no significant issues with it.
Ultimately, the Dot is another excellent entry level guitar from Epiphones catilog of great value guitars.
Overall, if you're a fan of Gibson's ES-335 and its qualities but don't feel like spending a fortune on it, Epiphone Dot comes as a viable alternative for a very reasonable price.
Every guitar player knows that it's never easy to find an instrument that will suit your needs, no matter the price level. But if you're into bluesy and vintage-oriented stuff, you can't ever go wrong with either Gibson ES-335 or Epiphone Dot models. And while the Gibson is most certainly a better one, the Dot manages to live up to its reputation and pay tribute to the original guitar model.


text:
GOODMAN PROBABLY MADE RIGHT MOVE BY BACKING OUT OF `BABE RUTH' TV MOVIE
Scott D. Pierce, Television Editor
SHARE GOODMAN PROBABLY MADE RIGHT MOVE BY BACKING OUT OF `BABE RUTH' TV MOVIE
When "Babe Ruth," a made-for-TV movie that airs Sunday on NBC, was originally announced, John Goodman was to play the title role.
That was two years ago. And Goodman, who co-stars on the hit show "Roseanne," does not appear in the telemovie (which will air at 8 p.m. on Ch. 2)."Along the way, John Goodman's career changed," said Lawrence A. Lyttle, the movie's executive producer. "And feature films had become an integral part of his hiatus period (from `Roseanne')."
So about six months before NBC officially picked up the TV movie of Ruth's life, "I received a call from Goodman's agent, who informed me that Universal Pictures had a Babe Ruth script. . . . And that they (Goodman) had received an extraordinary offer and financial terms. Substantially more than we were paying him.
"And, see you later. And to put it mildly, we went ballistic."
The theatrical film won't be out for several months, so it's impossible to judge which is better. But from seeing the TV version, chances are that Goodman made the right decision in backing out of "Babe Ruth."
Not that the movie is terrible. But it's shallow, unconvincing and cliche-ridden.
"Well, we're first," Lyttle said petulantly.
But that's perhaps the best thing that can be said about his project.
Ruth is portrayed as a big jerk who couldn't control his appetite for food, booze and women. He cheated continually on his poor wife, ignored his adopted daughter, threw his considerable weight around in an attempt to bully his manager, teammates and the rest of baseball - then ended up a sad and disappointed man when people refused to believe he'd changed later in his career. Quite the hero.
Instead of Goodman, the producers hired Stephen Lang, a New York stage actor who also appeared in the series "Crime Story." Lang does his best with the material he's given, but he's called upon to chew the scenery time and time again.
"It seemed to me that the central metaphor for Ruth's whole life was something he said. He said, `I swing big, I hit big or I miss big and that's the way I live my life, as big as I can,' " Lang said.
"I tried to approach the role that way. I acted big."
Maybe too big. In scenes that portray the latter part of Ruth's career, Lang is padded around the middle and has some sometimes ridiculous-looking prosthetic jowls attached to his face.
Lang spent time with Hall of Famer Rod Carew learning how to bat like the Babe so he could recreate homer after homer after homer. (From this movie, you'd come to believe that Ruth never hit a single, double or triple in his life.) But it doesn't add much to the final product.
The movie also pulls an absolutely stupid, publicity-grabbing stunt by casting baseball outlaw Pete Rose as Ty Cobb. Rose is no actor, and having a man who's been banned for life from the game of baseball in this movie seems almost an insult to the game itself.
But the producers still have time to be petty over Goodman's defection. Lyttle said the recasting of Lang in Goodman's part prompted no script changes.
"The only difference was, I read in the paper, Goodman had to drop 65 (pounds). Lang had to gain 35. So it's a 100-pound swing," Lyttle said.
"I also understand from our wardrobe people that Goodman did the entire (Universal) movie at a size-48 waist," said producer Frank Pace. "And Babe was never above a size 43 in his life."
So, nyah to you, John Goodman - even though you're laughing all the way to the bank.OUT OF THE NIGHT: ABC has not only given up on its ill-fated "Into the Night," but has given up on late-night entertainment period for the time being.
"Into the Night" bites the dust Nov. 14, just two days short of its first anniversary. The low-rated and critically panned show began with disc jockey Rick Dees as its host, but he was dumped in July. ABC has tried various guest hosts since then, to no avail.
The network officially blames the poor economic climate for the decision, but ABC executives have been openly unhappy with the quality of the show since it began. And many ABC affiliates have refused to air the program.
The network will continue to air "Nightline" Monday-Friday and its "In Concert '91" on Fridays.


With pristine beaches and mangrove swamps, the turtle-filled estuary flowing between towering rock cliffs and breathtaking waterfalls, it's an easy place for backpackers to chill-ax.
The Mtentu area is as well known for adrenaline packed activities like 4x4 trails, quad-biking, hiking trails, canoeing, and river and sea fishing, as it is for laid-back time out during which you simply enjoy the beauty and peace of the Wild Coast.
Backpackers can hire a canoe and be prepared to be amazed. Turtles accompany you as you wind your way between cliffs, or take a shower under one of the waterfalls, chat to fiddler crabs in the mangroves or listen for the baboon's bark. For more cultural travellers, visit the Sangoma and experience a traditional healing ceremony in a local homestead.
At the end of an adventure-filled day, bed down in one of Mtentu River Lodge's wooden cabins to prepare for the new day ahead.


text:
package aztables

import (
	"encoding/base64"
	"strings"
	"testing"

	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
)

func getAccountKey(cred *SharedKeyCredential) string {
	return base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString(cred.accountKey.Load().([]byte))
}

func TestConnectionStringParser(t *testing.T) {
	connStr := "DefaultEndpointsProtocol=https;AccountName=dummyaccount;AccountKey=secretkeykey;EndpointSuffix=core.windows.net"
	serviceURL, cred, err := parseConnectionString(connStr)
	require.NoError(t, err)
	require.Equal(t, serviceURL, "https://dummyaccount.table.core.windows.net")
	require.NotNil(t, cred)

	require.Equal(t, cred.accountName, "dummyaccount")
	require.Equal(t, getAccountKey(cred), "secretkeykey")

	client, err := NewServiceClientFromConnectionString(connStr, nil)
	require.NoError(t, err)
	require.NotNil(t, client)
	require.NotNil(t, client.cred)
	require.Equal(t, client.cred.accountName, "dummyaccount")
	require.Equal(t, getAccountKey(client.cred), "secretkeykey")
	require.True(t, strings.HasPrefix(client.con.Endpoint(), "https://"))
	require.True(t, strings.Contains(client.con.Endpoint(), "core.windows.net"))
}

func TestConnectionStringParserHTTP(t *testing.T) {
	connStr := "DefaultEndpointsProtocol=http;AccountName=dummyaccount;AccountKey=secretkeykey;EndpointSuffix=core.windows.net"
	serviceURL, cred, err := parseConnectionString(connStr)
	require.NoError(t, err)
	require.Equal(t, serviceURL, "http://dummyaccount.table.core.windows.net")
	require.NotNil(t, cred)

	require.Equal(t, cred.accountName, "dummyaccount")
	require.Equal(t, getAccountKey(cred), "secretkeykey")

	client, err := NewServiceClientFromConnectionString(connStr, nil)
	require.NoError(t, err)
	require.NotNil(t, client)
	require.NotNil(t, client.cred)
	require.Equal(t, client.cred.accountName, "dummyaccount")
	require.Equal(t, getAccountKey(client.cred), "secretkeykey")
	require.True(t, strings.HasPrefix(client.con.Endpoint(), "http://"))
	require.True(t, strings.Contains(client.con.Endpoint(), "core.windows.net"))
}

func TestConnectionStringParserBasic(t *testing.T) {
	connStr := "AccountName=dummyaccount;AccountKey=secretkeykey"
	serviceURL, cred, err := parseConnectionString(connStr)
	require.NoError(t, err)
	require.Equal(t, serviceURL, "https://dummyaccount.table.core.windows.net")
	require.NotNil(t, cred)

	require.Equal(t, cred.accountName, "dummyaccount")
	require.Equal(t, getAccountKey(cred), "secretkeykey")

	client, err := NewServiceClientFromConnectionString(connStr, nil)
	require.NoError(t, err)
	require.NotNil(t, client)
	require.NotNil(t, client.cred)
	require.Equal(t, client.cred.accountName, "dummyaccount")
	require.Equal(t, getAccountKey(client.cred), "secretkeykey")
	require.True(t, strings.HasPrefix(client.con.Endpoint(), "https://"))
	require.True(t, strings.Contains(client.con.Endpoint(), "core.windows.net"))
}

func TestConnectionStringParserCustomDomain(t *testing.T) {
	connStr := "AccountName=dummyaccount;AccountKey=secretkeykey;TableEndpoint=www.mydomain.com;"
	serviceURL, cred, err := parseConnectionString(connStr)
	require.NoError(t, err)
	require.Equal(t, serviceURL, "www.mydomain.com")
	require.NotNil(t, cred)

	require.Equal(t, cred.accountName, "dummyaccount")
	require.Equal(t, getAccountKey(cred), "secretkeykey")

	client, err := NewServiceClientFromConnectionString(connStr, nil)
	require.NoError(t, err)
	require.NotNil(t, client)
	require.NotNil(t, client.cred)
	require.Equal(t, client.cred.accountName, "dummyaccount")
	require.Equal(t, getAccountKey(client.cred), "secretkeykey")
	require.True(t, strings.HasPrefix(client.con.Endpoint(), "www."))
	require.True(t, strings.Contains(client.con.Endpoint(), "mydomain.com"))
}

func TestConnectionStringParserInvalid(t *testing.T) {
	badConnectionStrings := []string{
		"",
		"foobar",
		"foo;bar;baz",
		"foo=;bar=;",
		"=",
		";",
		"=;==",
		"foobar=baz=foo",
	}

	for _, badConnStr := range badConnectionStrings {
		_, _, err := parseConnectionString(badConnStr)
		require.Error(t, err)
		require.Contains(t, err.Error(), errConnectionString.Error())
	}
}

func TestConnectionStringSAS(t *testing.T) {
	connStr := "AccountName=dummyaccount;SharedAccessSignature=fakesharedaccesssignature;"
	serviceURL, cred, err := parseConnectionString(connStr)
	require.NoError(t, err)
	require.Equal(t, serviceURL, "https://dummyaccount.table.core.windows.net/?fakesharedaccesssignature")
	require.Nil(t, cred)

	client, err := NewServiceClientFromConnectionString(connStr, nil)
	require.NoError(t, err)
	require.NotNil(t, client)
	require.True(t, strings.HasPrefix(client.con.Endpoint(), "https://"))
	require.True(t, strings.Contains(client.con.Endpoint(), "core.windows.net"))
}

func TestConnectionStringCosmos(t *testing.T) {
	connStr := "DefaultEndpointsProtocol=https;AccountName=dummyaccountname;AccountKey=secretkeykey;TableEndpoint=https://dummyaccountname.table.cosmos.azure.com:443/;"
	serviceURL, cred, err := parseConnectionString(connStr)
	require.NoError(t, err)
	require.Equal(t, serviceURL, "https://dummyaccountname.table.cosmos.azure.com:443/")
	require.NotNil(t, cred)

	client, err := NewServiceClientFromConnectionString(connStr, nil)
	require.NoError(t, err)
	require.NotNil(t, client)
	require.True(t, strings.HasPrefix(client.con.Endpoint(), "https://"))
	require.True(t, strings.Contains(client.con.Endpoint(), "cosmos.azure.com:443"))

	require.NotNil(t, client.cred)
	require.Equal(t, client.cred.accountName, "dummyaccountname")
	require.Equal(t, getAccountKey(client.cred), "secretkeykey")
}

func TestConnectionStringChinaCloud(t *testing.T) {
	connStr := "AccountName=dummyaccountname;AccountKey=secretkeykey;DefaultEndpointsProtocol=http;EndpointSuffix=core.chinacloudapi.cn;"
	serviceURL, cred, err := parseConnectionString(connStr)
	require.NoError(t, err)
	require.Equal(t, serviceURL, "http://dummyaccountname.table.core.chinacloudapi.cn")
	require.NotNil(t, cred)

	client, err := NewServiceClientFromConnectionString(connStr, nil)
	require.NoError(t, err)
	require.NotNil(t, client)
	require.True(t, strings.HasPrefix(client.con.Endpoint(), "http://"))
	require.True(t, strings.Contains(client.con.Endpoint(), "core.chinacloudapi.cn"))

	require.Equal(t, client.cred.accountName, "dummyaccountname")
	require.Equal(t, getAccountKey(client.cred), "secretkeykey")
}

func TestConnectionStringAzurite(t *testing.T) {
	connStr := "DefaultEndpointsProtocol=http;AccountName=dummyaccountname;AccountKey=secretkeykey;TableEndpoint=http://local-machine:11002/custom/account/path/faketokensignature;"
	serviceURL, cred, err := parseConnectionString(connStr)
	require.NoError(t, err)
	require.Equal(t, serviceURL, "http://local-machine:11002/custom/account/path/faketokensignature")
	require.NotNil(t, cred)

	client, err := NewServiceClientFromConnectionString(connStr, nil)
	require.NoError(t, err)
	require.NotNil(t, client)
	require.True(t, strings.HasPrefix(client.con.Endpoint(), "http://"))
	require.True(t, strings.Contains(client.con.Endpoint(), "http://local-machine:11002/custom/account/path/faketokensignature"))
	require.NotNil(t, client.cred)
	require.Equal(t, client.cred.accountName, "dummyaccountname")
	require.Equal(t, getAccountKey(client.cred), "secretkeykey")
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub