text:
Video Gaming Icon Unleashes His Inner Guitar God
Featured Article Sidebar, Guitar November 7, 2014November 12, 2014 Making Music
Guitar Hero's Guitar Hero
For the past decade, Marcus Henderson has been locked up in a Silicon Valley bunker recreating the greatest guitar music of all time. You've undoubtedly heard his work for the Guitar Hero, Rock Band, and Karaoke Revolution Party video games. His painstakingly note for note performances have sold millions of games worldwide and inspired legions to take up a musical instrument.
Now, for the first time ever, he is coming clean with his own solo album. He is releasing the first six tracks, one at a time, eight weeks apart that will ultimately culminate with the full album release and bonus tracks in the Summer of 2015.
CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO GAME THAT WILL TEACH YOU GUITAR
What inspired you to start playing guitar and what were some of your favorite bands growing up?
I was trying to think of the very first spark, the catalyst that delivers the message to you, you know? I think the earliest possible instances where it hit me, was hearing Boston's "More Than A Feeling". Just the sound of Tom's (Scholz) distorted guitar was what did me in man. I think any guitarist can relate to that vibration running through them. But for me, it was something about the sound of that distortion, that wavelength that just connected with me so instantaneously. So I'm this little kid, and I'm hearing this incredible rock guitar playing, and these ridiculously big laser beam pick-slides and I'm like, "What else do you got?" you know? My ears instantly started tuning in to rock guitar players on radio and cassettes and records or whatever we could get our hands on as kids. So I remember badgering my parents about guitar for years and years and years before they finally relented when I was 14.
What was your first step into the music industry?
I earned five dollars for my first public performance with my teenage band, Square Meal. It was spent on a delicious cheeseburger after the show. From there I knew if I rocked hard, there would be more cheeseburgers in my future. Let that be a lesson kids: rock hard and you may be lucky enough to eat a burger.
Do you still practice guitar every day?
Yes, although it's not always a physical endeavor; it's more like a subliminal analysis of sounds. If something catches my ear, I'll instantly kind of filter it through and sort it out. "Well here's some cool liquor, something from a violinist, a horn player, something unique", and I'll sort of administer it into my database.
READ HOW TO BOOST YOUR SONGWRITING CREATIVITY
How did you get involved with Guitar Hero?
I had known a friend of one of the engineers at Wavegroup Sound, the Oscar nominated studio responsible for the music behind some of the biggest music games ever created. I was introduced to him at a party and was asked if I was open to possibly coming in sometime to track some metal guitar for them on a variety of applications. I came in, signed the nondisclosure agreement and was tasked with pounding out "Symphony of Destruction" by Megadeth as my first tune for an E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) build of a game called Guitar Hero. After that they kept giving me harder and harder songs until I somehow ended up doing 20 of the 30 tracks for the first game!
How did that experience help you improve as a guitar player?
For me personally and professionally it was by leaps and bounds. It was almost like a hyper-challenging six month video game recording GIT of sorts. No charts were ever given to me to learn so I'd pick things apart off of an MP3. My critical listening skills improved as well and that's a serious kung-fu that always stays with you, good or bad. Mostly good because I can analyze music at a seemingly molecular level, but also bad because it ruins the beauty of organic construct of music if you're not careful.
What video games (besides the ones you personally worked on) do you enjoy playing?
I love big, expensive to develop, release-date pushing, mega-engrossing games that you get absorbed into. The Bioshock series is one of my all-time favorites, and Portal 2 completely blew my pumpkin out of my gourd! Red Dead Redemption was epic. Probably my favorite game of the last few years was called The Last of Us. No other game had me thinking of it, rationalizing the character's decisions, and reading about it for days and weeks after I finished that game. I guess I like and appreciate cinematic style games with moving storylines and memorable characters the most. I'm actually a HUGE Alien fan, so the new Alien: Isolation game will be my reward when I finish this album.
What is cooler: having your own signature Epiphone guitar, The Apparition, having the White Flying V guitar you used for making Guitar Hero 2 on display permanently at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, or having your own Topps baseball card as a guitar player?
Hands down the Apparition Epiphone guitar. That other stuff is cool when you run out things to talk about at parties I guess, but having your own signature instrument with a company like Epiphone is beyond cool. I never grew up wanting to be in the Rock Hall of Fame, mainly because it didn't exist, and I stopped playing baseball when I kept getting stuck in right field. Also, I sucked at baseball so I didn't really dream of being on a Topps card, although Topps is another amazing American heritage type company. But that other stuff is still super-cool too!
LEARN THIS INCREDIBLE RHYTHM GUITAR EXERCISE
What did you look towards as inspiration while writing "Embers" and what message do you want the song to portray?
My son Orion was my biggest inspiration on "Embers" for sure. As a solo artist, I was going down this road where, for better or worse, I didn't have a collaborative partner and I really didn't have anybody else to rely on to bounce ideas off of. I would just gauge the response of the people around me to see how anyone would react to my music, and every time I put on "Embers" my son's face would light up and he'd start dancing like crazy. I suppose the message behind "Embers" is to stay positive, keep your head up and believe that better things are coming, even when you don't have any tangible evidence to support it. I know it sounds corny or cliché but you honestly have to believe in the idea that things will improve no matter how crappy it may seem in the immediate. Believe me, we've all been there.
What kind of gear did you use on the recording of "Embers"?
The "Embers" sessions were embarrassingly simple, but complex in the way I tracked and developed the tones. For guitars, I used an Epiphone Apparition with Dean Markley Signature Series Nickel Steel 9-46 strings, into a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, into my Macbook Pro. I have a larger external monitor for the sessions and mix windows and I use Logic for everything. The piano is pounded out by my unskilled hands using an M-Audio Keystation 49E and I use Amplitube 3 for all of my guitar and bass sounds. I have a bunch of great guitar equipment that takes 10 minutes to set-up, annoys the neighbors and sucks to record at home. I've found a bunch of warm sounding impulses that make mic'ing a hard argument to win in these circumstances, so I go with what sounds good. For you stat geeks, (like me) I used 67 tracks in Pro Tools to mix, and there is approximately 590 single guitar notes on "Embers".
How long did it take you to write "Embers"?
It took me somewhere around 450 hours of work from early scratch demo, to tracking, to mixing. I'm beyond repair when it comes to obsessing over music arrangement and depth of sound. It's like my own private Idaho; I get lost in writing a framework, and trying a ton of sounds until you match what's in your head. That discovery process, man it can be so rewarding when you find it, but it can suck when you get nothing. And that's grand illusion right? That every day you'll make something incredible. It's really like 70/30… 70% of it is crap, but if you seek hard enough, that other 30% is worth the work. The way I write and record is like driving five cars at the same time. Only it's like, 13 cars and every 2-300 feet you have to walk back and drive another car up 2-300 feet so it takes time for me. Plus I have two year old son that doesn't care about the nuances of Optic vs. FET Compression, so I can only record about 40% of the time when I'm not living/existing/not recording…
How different do you think this album would sound if you wrote it a decade ago?
The last album I wrote was Orchids and Ammunition from Drist. That was around 2006-2007 or so. After that, I was done. I was pretty well burnt out from recording at that point having done like four games worth of stuff and AND an album in such a small window. I guess not much, would change, but 10 years ago I was probably a bit more solo oriented so I guess this album would have a lot more notes if anything.
Why did you feel "Embers" was a good choice for the debut single opposed to other songs from the album?
I went with "Embers" because I wanted to start off with a track that meant a lot to me emotionally. It allowed a wider range of fans that are just discovering me to enjoy it. It's upbeat and deliberately paced. It just felt right.
What kind of sounds do other songs off your album have that fans can look forward to?
So there's a groove-metal track, some stuff that sounds like Robben Ford, a bunch of weird stuff that sounds like Muse, Faith No More, Emerson Lake & Palmer, and a bit of doom metal. Then there's a song that sounds like a Super Nintendo chip tune and a giant sweeping symphonic saga called "Forgotten Realms". There's also freak guitar type track I've been working up and oh yeah, a Plasmatics cover. So I guess it's all over the place (laughs) but somehow eerily cogent at the same time. This is the age of "who cares". If it works, it works. I can't explain it and I really can't help it… Like the drugs in Fletch; when it comes, it comes.
LEARN HOW TO CHOOSE THE PROPER GUITAR CASE
Can you talk about the Little Kids Rock (LKR) Charity in which you are on the Honorary Board of Directors, and expand on the importance of musical education?
LKR is my favorite charity going. Primarily because they are so results-driven and effective at what they do. LKR isn't some media darling, faux-ribbon organization. They go to the schools where they're needed most and I've been lucky enough to be a small part of the amazing efforts of David Wish, Keith Hejna, Tim Chang, and Jim Broadstreet. To me, music education is just like eating and breathing. It's an essential component of education in most countries and is an essential human element that must be fostered. We're lucky that charities like LKR exist. How else will rock continue on as an art form if the tools aren't present to begin with?
What advice do you have for musicians who are picking up a guitar for the first time?
Having a good attitude is everything. Fearlessly learn from those who know how, and give respect to those who have been where you want to go.
If you were stranded on an island and you could only have one movie, and one video game, which ones would you choose?
For the movie, I guess I'd take Escape From New York and for the game, I'd pick Metroid on NES, but with a PS4 Controller.
Are you excited or nervous for the new Star Wars movies to come out?
Dude, I'm actually typing this on my phone from the line at the box office!!! Sure I'm the only one here, but still! I think JJ (Abrams) is going to knock this out of the park. He knows very well what wrath he must face if it turns into another episode of C-Span with sub-par actors. I guarantee you some dude somewhere will build a working AT-ST and trounce Pinewood Studios or something if the holy trinity is sullied.
What do you think the 49er's chances are of winning the super bowl this year?
It all comes down to the defense. If Bowman comes back healthy and Smith can start getting to the quarterback after his suspension then we've got a decent chance at making a run at the title. Also the O-Line needs to stay healthy but that's a given. And when in doubt, feed #21(Frank Gore) the rock. Go Niners!
guitar, Marcus Henderson, metal, video games
Community Video: Ed Roman – Comin' My Way
Bono is Proud of U2's iTunes Giveaway
https://Makingmusicmag.com
Instead of being dedicated to one instrument, young musicians, or professionals, MakingMusicMag.com is a lifestyle resource for all music makers, regardless of age, instrument, or ability. We focus on providing educational articles teaching people how to play an instrument, but we also favor travel pieces, music related health articles, interesting news stories, and plenty more.
Diving Down the Rabbit Hole of Guitar Effects Pedals
Hal Leonard Pocket Guitar Chord Dictionary


Whether you are visiting for a one day meeting, a weeklong conference, or a team building weekend, we want you and your guests/delegates to make the most out of their trip to the Yorkshire Coast and North York Moors.
The Yorkshire Coast has 45 Miles of dramatic coastline offering a diverse range of attractions, from castles and abbeys, concert venues and theatres, to water parks and aquariums.
There are many stunning coastal villages and market towns alongside some beautiful parks and gardens. We have a variety of sandy coves that are just waiting to be explored. If it's outdoor activities you are looking for then look no further; the coast provides ample opportunities: surfing, sailing, walking, climbing and cycling are just some of the pastimes available.
Whitby Pavilion Complex nestling into the West Cliff has wonderful views over the North Sea. The Victorian Theatre and the refurbished Northern Lights Suite provide a multi-functional venue suitable for almost every type of event.
With over 2,500 years of turbulent history behind it, Scarborough Castle defends a prominent headland between the north and south bays, with sheer drops to the sea.
Originally Europe's largest open air theatre, Scarborough OAT has since built a reputation as a concert venue worthy of hosting household names from all corners of the world of music.
High on a cliff above the Yorkshire seaside town of Whitby are the gaunt, imposing remains of Whitby Abbey. Whitby Abbey was recently named Britain's most romantic ruin.
Scarborough SEA LIFE Sanctuary will take you on a fascinating journey from the coastline to the depths of the ocean through 12 themed zones. Discover a magical underwater world filled with a dazzling array of amazing creatures.
And to make sure you have plenty of fuel to enjoy the array of activities, and of course your own event, you'll love our fabulous food and drink, both home-grown and from around the world.
Afternoon tea on bone china, fish and chips in paper with sand between your toes, or fine dining in Michelin-starred surroundings: you'll find them all and more on the Yorkshire Coast - and proper, no-nonsense portions! The Yorkshire Coast is the place to be! Whatever your food favourite, you'll find it here.
Fantastic pasta, pizza, grills, fish and salads along with our daily specials. Little Monkeys childrens menu and colouring sheets. Early bird deal available 7 days a week.
Scarborough's famous fish and seafood restaurant. Fantastic food and glorious views over the harbour to Flamborough. Children welcome, extensive wine list, full air conditioning.
A lively cafe-bar and restaurant located within feet of the golden sands on the North Bay Beach with unbelievable views of the bay and Scarborough Castle.
The Plough pub-style restaurant in Scalby just outside Scarborough. Our varied and eclectic menus are packed with local and regional produce that showcases the best of Yorkshire food.
Eat Me Cafe sits quietly in a backstreet of Scarborough behind the world-famous Stephen Joseph Theatre.
Nostalgic coffee shop serving Yorkshire Tea and homemade scones and cakes in this TV location of Heartbeat.
At Farrer's we use locally sourced produce, with a menu which caters for all tastes. With fantastic views of Scarborough's South Bay, Farrer's in the perfect setting for your Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner.
We are situated on the Foreshore in Scarborough, directly opposite and overlooking the towns historic working harbour. Antons has classically executed dishes, served in comfortable, relaxed surroundings.


Our philosophy is simple. We believe that every person and every family has their own story and unique situation.
We want to help families find the right coverage that will give them the care and treatment they want for their family.
We also believe that you shouldn't overpay for your health insurance, however you should be secure and have peace of mind that you are protected financially from costly medical bills.
We buy our own individual health insurance for our families. Each of us at Health Quotes USA has one or more of the plans we represent.


text:
The Pictet Group supports diversity, equity and inclusion, and our employment opportunities are open to all qualified candidates. We aspire to have a highly diverse workforce with a unique range of skills, distinctive talent and varied perspectives.
Open-minded, open to all
We actively support the promotion of an inclusive culture. As an equal opportunity employer, we seek to provide employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals without regard to gender identity, race, ethnicity, age, disability, religion, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital or parental status or any other personal characteristic. We believe in valuing our differences and ensuring that everyone can bring their true self to work.
Self-governed internal networks enable employees to foster open dialogue and influence positive action, including on the subjects of race and ethnicity (Race at Work (RAW) Forum), gender advancement (Pictet Women's Network) and LGBTQ+ (Proud+). Specific leadership, mentoring and sponsorship programs have also been developed.
To further support our employees at different stages of their careers and lives, we offer numerous competitive benefits and policies in relation to family care, including parental leave and eldercare. Flexible working arrangements are also available to all employees to encourage work life balance.
Why diversity, equity and inclusion matters to us
Diversity goes hand in hand with equity and inclusion ― that is, making each employee feel valued and giving each a voice in daily business.
We are not aspiring to be the biggest financial group; we want to be a responsible firm we all feel proud to work for.
— Renaud de Planta Senior Managing Partner
Our aim to promote greater diversity and inclusion extends beyond our business, to the industry and the communities in which we operate. We have established partnerships with organisations that not only provide support to our employees in their personal and professional lives, but also allow us to make a difference in areas such as socio-economic mobility, disability, minority and gender representation. We also encourage employees to give back to their communities and participate in charitable engagement.
The Diversity Project
We are proud to be on the Steering Committee of the Diversity Project. The Diversity Project is an initiative supported by the UK Investment Association to accelerate progress towards an inclusive culture in the investment profession – aiming to achieve diversity across all dimensions, including gender, ethnicity, socio-economic background, LGBTI+, age and disability.
City Hive
Pictet Asset Management is a founding member of City Hive. City Hive is an independent organisation which partners with companies across the Investment Management industry, helping them to meet their sustainability responsibilities in creating a more diverse, equitable and inclusive world.
See all partnerships
The Pictet Group is committed to giving gender-related dimensions a high priority in the management of our business, and has raised its global EDGE certification from Level 1 (Assess) in 2019 to Level 2 (Move) in 2021.
EDGE certification recognises our continued focus on building a gender-balanced talent pipeline, ensuring pay equity, having an effective framework of policies and practices to ensure equitable career flows and fostering an inclusive culture.
Pictet receives global EDGE Move Certification
What EDGE Certification measures
Short talks
Hear from some of our employees on why DEI matters to them.
Ernesto Grijalva Ortega
Giorgio Cremonesi
Ioanna Exarchou
Lise Roda
Liz Dillon, CEO of our first US office
Junjie Watkins, first female CEO of Asia ex-Japan for Pictet
Andres Sanchez Balcazar, Head of Global Bonds
Shin Lee, a diversity advocate in Singapore

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Last December, the midterm outlook looked bleak for Republicans. With the Democrats enjoying a 13-point lead on the Generic Ballot, pundits talked of a "big blue wave." The question was not whether the Democrats would win the two dozen seats needed to gain control of the House, but whether they might win 40-50 seats in a landslide approaching the Republican gains in 2010.
Since then, Republicans passed a tax cut, eliminated the Obamacare mandate and took other steps to reduce the regulatory burden. The economy took off, people are feeling better about how things are going in the nation, and recent primaries suggest that the enthusiasm of Republican voters is higher than expected.
As a result, the Democratic lead on the Generic Ballot is down to five points. At that level, control of the House is close to a toss up. Those with Nancy Pelosi's party may be slight favorites to win the 23 additional House seats they need, but they could easily fall short. While seeking to navigate this newly treacherous electoral landscape, the Democrats are dealing with the reality that the enthusiasm of the progressive base can be a double-edged sword. It could help with turnout, but may also create electoral headaches.
Earlier this week, for example, progressives helped social worker Kara Eastman win the Democratic nomination in Nebraska's second Congressional District. It's a district that the president won in 2016 and is expected to be competitive this fall. With a more centrist candidate, the race was considered a pure toss up. With a far-left nominee in the race, however, Republican incumbent Don Bacon is now favored to win.
The importance of a single race like this can be seen in the numbers. At ScottRasmussen.com, we rate 202 races as leaning toward the Democrats. Additionally, there are 24 races rated as either a toss up or just barely tilting toward the Republicans. To win control, Pelosi's party will need to win 16 of these 24 races. Every potentially competitive race they give away makes the odds more challenging. Primaries in the next month or so will give us a good sense of how big a problem this is for the Democrats.
On top of that, the double-edged sword of progressive enthusiasm provides Democrats with another challenge: The issues that appeal to the progressive base are likely to turn off swing voters. Nancy Pelosi recently confirmed that her team will raise taxes if they win. That message will appeal to Bernie Sanders' supporters, but not middle-income families.
And, of course, progressive Democrats want their party to impeach President Trump. The more that such talk dominates the midterm elections, the more it helps Republicans. Impeachment talk will not play well with the swing voters who disapprove of the president but still view him as the lesser of two evils.
It's been six months since Democrats enjoyed their 13-point lead on the Generic Congressional Ballot and dreamed of historic gains in the midterm election. With six months to go, there's obviously plenty of time for the political environment to change again. For now, however, the parties are locked in a tight race-by-race contest that could go either way.
Rasmussen, founder of Rasmussen Reports, is publisher of ScottRasmussen.com and Editor-at-Large for Ballotpedia.
Editor's note: Michael Barone is off this week.


GPTcash this is a great airdrop, I recommend to join all. I participate from the first airdrop and I am very glad that I joined there.
Hello Everyone! Welcome again to Bitnewsportal.com. The home of the best projects and airdrop opportunity! Today we will feature an article about the future plans of GPTCash in upcoming airdop round number 6.
Listed on exchange or not?
Hello Goodmorning Everyone! Welcome again to Bitnewsportal Blog, The home of the best projects and airdrop opportunity. Today we will discuss the recent announcement made by the GPTCash Dev team about the income stream from in-forum advertising.
Hello GoodMorning Everyone! Welcome again to Bitnewsportal Blog. The home of the best project and airdrop opportunity. As we welcome 2019, We will feature another weekly community newsletter for GPTCash airdrop project.
Hello Goodmorning Everyone! Welcome again to Bitnewsportal.com, the home of the best projects and airdrop opportunity. Today we will feature the much awaited announcement of the release of the new GPTCash wallet.
Hello Good Morning Everyone! Welcome again to Bitnewsportal Blog, The home of the Best Projects and Airdrop Opportunity. Today we will feature the much awaited news from the development team the swap registration. This article will feature the process and other important notes that you need to know about the GPTCash Swap Registration.


Six More Facts About Hoobastank That You Will Not Believe! #5 made me want to climb a tall building whilst wearing a gorilla suit holding a small girl in my arms!
After the universal interest in my previous article on Hoobastank, I present to you another list of unbelievable facts about the world's foremost experts in post grunge, nu metal, and ska punk.
Drummer Chris Hesse accidentally designed the infinity symbol.
Back in the early days of Hoobastank, Hesse would write the band's name with the two "o"s connected in a little loop. The other members of H∞bastank thought this was confusing, so they reverted it back fairly soon after. Clergyman, mathematician, and Hoobastank fan John Wallis was listening to the band while furthering his research of infinitesimal calculus, and decided that it would be easier to use the connected "o"s Hesse designed instead of writing the word "infinity" over and over. Thus the infinity symbol came to be!
Hoobastank wrote the first elevator music.
Back in the early days of Hoobastank, while they were still gaining popularity, they wrote a series of songs that consisted of upbeat pop rhythms, usually without lyrics. Major General George Owen Squier took particular interest in these, noticing how his perception of time would be sped up greatly due to them being in the background. He, very soon after, used this music as the basis of Muzak, his brand of background music that would be played in retail stores, public establishments, and, you guessed it, elevators. Of course, now that Hoobastank has reached stardom, you won't be hearing their music in elevators anymore due to those pesky royalty fees!
Doug Robb was a poetry ghostwriter.
Before Robb entered the music world, he was a poet. One of his most eloquent poems, "The Reason," became inspiration for Hoobastank's hit song "Crawling In The Dark." But prior to even that, he spent many of his teen years as a ghostwriter for Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde, Thomas Stearns Eliot, Theodor Geisel, amongst others. Although his poetry didn't get him too far, it was his love of language that brought him into the world of music, where we love him today.
Born in 1904, Estrin was raised in the black-and-white world. When the world started to make the transition to color in 1918, Estrin, as a rebellious teenager, decided to not go through this transition. Now, 101 years later, he stays like the dalmatians, two-toned. In an interview, Estrin said that he prefers this view. This hipster way of life has largely affected Hoobastank's sound.
The members of Hoobastank are actually the reincarnated members of The Beatles (I'm pretty sure they spelled their own name wrong).
On December 8, 1980, John Lennon was shot in The Dakota, his residence at the time, in New York, NY. Later that evening, Doug Robb was shot out of the womb of his mother in the exact same building. Coincidence? No, not in the slightest. Robb is the reincarnated Lennon. All the three other members of the critically panned band The Beatles also have been reincarnated as the other three members of Hoobastank. It is so great to see four sub-par musicians get a second life in a famously genius band!
The band likes to occasionally dabble in cosplay.
Six Facts About Hoobastank That You Will Not Believe! #4 made me want to punch a baby!


text:
John A. Sanborn
John Anthony Sanborn, 67, of Danvers, died April 8, 2015. He was the husband of Wendy (Whitmarsh) Sanborn of Danvers, with whom he shared the last twenty years of his life. Born in Salem, he was the son of the late Grace (Tricomi) Sanborn and the late Roy Sanborn. He was a graduate of Salem High School. John proudly served his country as a U. S. Navy "Seabee" in Vietnam, followed by nearly 20 years as a member of the Massachusetts Army National Guard. He was employed by the Town of Danvers Department of Public Works for many years. John was predeceased by his loving son Shawn Sanborn of Danvers. He is survived by his sons, Kevin Sanborn and his wife Erica of Derry, NH; Christopher Sanborn and his wife Ashley of North Andover; and Brian Sanborn of Salem. He was also the beloved grandfather of Reilly and Cadence Sanborn, Liam Gustison, Colin Sanborn, and Miranda Sanborn; and leaves a daughter-in-law, Erin Sanborn of Danvers. Visiting hours will be on Tuesday, April 14, 2015 from 4-7PM in C.R. Lyons & Sons, Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers Square. Relatives and friends are invited. All other services are private. In lieu of flowers, donations in John's name may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675 or Operation Troop Support, 16 Trinity St., Danvers, MA 01923.
John Anthony Sanborn, 67, of Danvers, died April 8, 2015. He was the husband of Wendy (Whitmarsh) Sanborn of Danvers, with whom he shared the last twenty years of his life. Born in Salem, he was the son of the late Grace (Tricomi) Sanborn and... View Obituary & Service Information
The family of John A. Sanborn created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories.
John Anthony Sanborn, 67, of Danvers, died April 8, 2015. He...
Share and view memories of John ...


Started with Expedia as a Sales Agent, receiving in-bound calls from clients who are looking to book a hotel stay and assist them in making hotel reservations, met or exceeded company sales target.
Worked a month long "refund project" requested by CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and met the desired target date of completion.
Currently manage a portfolio of chain hotel accounts in the collection department, establishing corporate contacts and liaisons and assist them with any billing questions and or concerns.
Brought projected Chain Hotel Collection target to a 4% goal by working with partners and setting up web portals for research. Have recovered $25k+ due to finding a closed account that checks were being sent to since early 2015, still finding and working with partners in recovering additional funds.
Provide personalized corporate housing needs for companies and individuals during their relocation of a job or temporary assignments.
Manage accounts for Apple Travel, Safeway, Nike, Amgen and third party relocation companies.
Work with top executives / families and HR reps in finding locations that fit their budget and desires.
managed assignments across the nation for Apple Corporate Headquarters.
Set up "Meet and Greet" appointments with clients who were coming from different counties to introduce the US city they were assigned to.
Set up lease contracts with A+ Apartment communities and worked with the Apartment staff with any issues during lease terms.
Increased revenue by selling furniture and home décor products to assist customers in creating a total home solution.
Upsold customers by offering décor products, protection or additional furniture for other rooms. Consistently top mattress sales each month due to showing clients the mattress area and providing benefits of a new mattress.
Qualified clients at the start of their shopping experience with in house credit applications to manage time and work within desired budget.
Top 5 Sales Rep contentiously each month selling over $70,000 monthly. Won both monitory and gift prices.
Generate sales from inbound / outbound calls for new insurance policies and services while maintaining existing accounts.
Recommend additional coverage's and options to increase revenue. Exceeded sales goals by selling over $90,000 monthly.
Strong skills in networking in community and presenting to prospects with a high close rate.
Constantly surpass sales quota (20 to 35% above target). Sold 1,000,000 in revenue yearly earning "Club Level" status. Won monetary and gift prices yearly.
Investigated claim documentation to determine accuracy of auto or home insurance loss and issue payment for legitimate claims. Negotiated with other insurance carriers and clients to determine percentage of liability.
Effectively handled a high volume of inbound and outbound calls to assist clients in the insurance claims process and close files in a timely matter.
Consistently worked within the Governmental Regulatory and Company guidelines for claim follow up, documentation and closure.
Field Property Claims Representative with territories included multiple counties within California's San Joaquin Valley telecommuting from a home office.
Where can I find a Expedia Inc., Collection Coordinator resume example in Springfield, Missouri ?
This is an actual resume example of a Collection Coordinator who works in the Account Management Industry. LiveCareer has 47604 Account Management resumes in its database. LiveCareer's Resume Directory contains real resumes created by subscribers using LiveCareer's Resume Builder.


text:
Q: How to implement RSA public key cryptosystem in python I need big help with an exercise I'm struggling with... here is what I have to do:
Implementation of the RSA public key cryptosystem (n,e,d).   [I need to say that I'm programming in python for a couple of months so I'm still a newbie]
1)first Proceed with Key generation
•Generation of two big prime numbers p and q for the factorization of n using the Miller Robin property.
•Choice of e and computation of d using the Extended Euclidean algorithm.
2)Encryption and decryption
•using exponentiation of plain/ciphertext
Here is the RSA which I got, searching also on the web and trying to adapt to my necessities.
I'd appreciate it if anyone knows how to solve it as I tried a lot of times to adjust but I'm stuck at a point in which I don't know what else to do.
import random
import math

message = int(input("Enter the message to be encrypted: "))

def RabinMillerWitness(test,possible):
    a,b,n=long(test%possible),possible-1,possible
    if a==1:
        return False
    A=a
    t=1
    while t<=b:
        t<<=1
    t>>=2
    while t:
        A=pow(A,2,n)
        if t&b:
            A=(A*a)%n
        if A==1:
            return False
        t>>=1
    return True

smallprimes = (3,5,7,11,13,17,19,23,29,31,37,41,43,
                47,53,59,61,67,71,73,79,83,89,97)

def getPrime(b,seed):
    #Generates an integer of b bits that is probably prime
    bits=int(b)
    assert 64<=bits
    k=bits<<1
    possible=seed|1
    good=0
    while not good:
        possible+=2
        good=1
        for i in smallprimes:
            if possible%i==0:
                good=0
                break
        else:
            for i in xrange(k):
                test=random.randrange(2,possible)|1
                if RabinMillerWitness(test,possible):
                    good=0
                    break
    return possible

def egcd(a,b):
    # Extended Euclidean Algorithm
    u, u1 = 1, 0
    v, v1 = 0, 1
    while b:
        q = a // b
        u, u1 = u1, u - q * u1
        v, v1 = v1, v - q * v1
        a, b = b, a - q * b
    return u, v, a

def modInverse(e,n):
    return egcd(e,n)[0]%n

def totient(p,q):
    return (p-1)*(q-1)

def crypt(string,power,n):
    data1=0
    for char in string:
        data1<<=8
        data1+=ord(char)
    data2=pow(data1,power,n)
    ret=""
    while data2:
        data2,r=divmod(data2,256)
        ret=chr(r)+ret
    return ret

def encrypt(me):
    en = math.pow(me,e)
    c = en % n
    print("Encrypted Message is: ", c)
    return c

print("Original Message is: ", message)
c = encrypt(message)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Meta Descriptions are snippets of text you place inside your website code, in the head of any html document.
They don't directly influence page rank, so are not an SEO feature, but I'll include them here and explain how you can leverage the rank status of your page to improve your chances of getting people to your website.
Like title elements, the Meta Description influences your Click-Through-Rate (CTR) and is another opportunity to convince the search engine user to visit your website, but it comes with a complication: You can't make Google or Bing show your Meta Description in search results. The best you can do is engineer your Description to increase the likelihood that it will show.
Meta Descriptions are only useful to you if they render where someone can see them.
If most of your pages are not yet appearing on the first 2 pages in Google search, then there's no stress in writing them just yet. You are much better off launching your site without them, than for them to be the thing that holds you back from launching.
Writing great Meta Descriptions can be very time consuming and requires a good grounding in SEO copywriting skills – an SEO service we specialise in.
While it's a good idea to have one ready for your home page when you are about to launch your website, it's not absolutely critical that you write them for all of your web pages.
This is because search engines like Google will extract text content from your page instead if it thinks the text is a better match to the search phrase being used.
There is a limit to the number of characters that can be rendered in Google search from a Meta Description encoded into your page, so it's important to be aware of this length restriction before starting to write them for your pages.
The limit equates to 312 characters, including spaces, give or take a few, but it's measured in pixels, in the same way that Title Elements are restricted (see Step 3).
Using all upper case will use more space than all lower case letters, so to get the most out of the available space, I recommend using standard sentence first word capital and proper noun first capital, but lower case for everything else.
If you're aiming to use as much space as possible, avoid using a final full-stop as Google has an ellipsis rule that chops off the last word if any characters in that word passes the last available pixel mark.
In other words, any word passing the imaginary barrier where the Meta Description space runs out will get swapped for "…". If it happened to be the full stop that crosses that line, then you lose the entire last word.
Generally, I advise writing a Meta Description that will comfortably fit within the allowed space, without you having to severely compromise the meaning of your message.
Keywords are an important inclusion for Meta Descriptions, not because they add to the SEO strength of the page, but because they are highlighted in Google search results in bold lettering.
Generally, the more bold lettering that appears in Google search results pages, the more it stands out that the web page may be relevant to the searcher and therefore influences Click Through to your page.
Google will bold any word that it deems to be a match to the search of the user, but this doesn't mean the words match exactly – sometimes the matches are about the meaning of the search, and not the actual words themselves. For example the word 'company' may become bold in the search results if a search was made for 'firm' or 'business'.
These matched meanings are determined by Google's 'Hummingbird' algorithm that is designed to detect the meaning of a search and provide search results that are most appropriate, even if different wording was used.
For this reason, you should explore and make use of different phrases that could carry the same or similar meaning as your main keyword phrase when implementing SEO on any given page.
Calls to Action are an optional element that you should consider including in your Meta Description. In their most simplistic form, it's an instruction to the viewer that tells them what you want them to do: 'call us', 'visit here', or 'buy online' for example.
Benefits are great to help convince the viewer that they have found the right place, but it's sometimes difficult to predict exactly what kind of benefit the viewer is searching for.
Depending on what keywords your page is being optimised for, you can usually figure out what kind of benefit statement could work best, for example, a search for 'cheap t-shirts' could have a benefit statement that matches this meaning by saying something like: 'save 50% on our latest range of t-shirts'.
The Ultimate Combination of Content in the Meta Description contains all three elements stated above.
Step 1. Using your Google Search Console account, access the Search Queries report for your site and click on the 'Top Pages' tab. If you haven't already got a Google Search Console account, set one up here.
Step 2. Take note of which pages are receiving the most impressions in Google search. Order the pages by most impressions first by clicking on the 'Impressions' column header. It's most likely that your home page is the top page in the list.
Step 3. Click into the page in the 'Page' column to show a list of search phrases that this page is getting impressions for. Your page may be getting the most search impressions for a phrase like "cheap t-shirts", for example.
Step 4. Search for the phrase you found to be first on the list and confirm if your Meta Description is showing. If it isn't, carry on to Step 5. If it is, you needn't do anything else.
Step 5. Re-write your Meta Description to use The Ultimate Combination of Content from the guidelines above.
Step 6. In Google Search Console, use the Fetch command to get the page crawled, and then submit the page for indexing.
Step 7. Sit back and wait. Your change to the Meta Description can take anything from 1 hour to several weeks to show up in Google search, but from now on, it's more likely that your hand-crafted Meta Description renders in search results for searches that trigger an impression for your matching page. Test it by searching for "cheap t-shirts" (or whatever you reverse-engineered for) and confirm if your Meta Description shows in search.
Step 8. Do this for at least every page that is getting page 1 or page 2 search impressions in Google or Bing search.
You can extend your Meta Description engineering to also include your content. This is recommended if your page is getting page 1 search impressions for more than 1 search phrase.
For example, you got page 1 impressions for "cheap t-shirts" and also "custom printed t-shirts".
You can't write two Meta Descriptions that both work, so instead you can leverage the fact that Google extracts page snippets that best match the search phrase.
To do this, write a second Meta Description sized piece of text so that it fits all the elements of length and content as described on this page. Paste that text into the body copy of your page as a text feature like a callout, quote, title or body copy element.
When the alternative text is searched, you will have increased the chance that a well-written Meta Description-like span is extracted and shown in Google search results.
Repeat as many times as you feel necessary to leverage search impressions and snippet extraction, but keep in mind that your page content should stay well structured, logical and engaging for your page visitors.
This is not likely to be necessary if your page already has a lot of great text content that's both informative and engaging – Google already does a great job at extracting informaive snippets from context.


text:
import enums = require("ui/enums");
import locationModule = require("location");
import common = require("./location-common");

global.moduleMerge(common, exports);

class LocationListenerImpl extends NSObject implements CLLocationManagerDelegate {
    public static ObjCProtocols = [CLLocationManagerDelegate];

    static new(): LocationListenerImpl {
        return <LocationListenerImpl>super.new();
    }

    private _onLocation: (location: locationModule.Location) => any;
    private _onError: (error: Error) => any
    private _options: locationModule.Options;
    private _maximumAge: number;

    public initWithLocationErrorOptions(location: (location: locationModule.Location) => any, error?: (error: Error) => any, options?: locationModule.Options): LocationListenerImpl {
        this._onLocation = location;

        if (error) {
            this._onError = error;
        }

        if (options) {
            this._options = options;
        }

        this._maximumAge = (this._options && ("number" === typeof this._options.maximumAge)) ? this._options.maximumAge : undefined;

        return this;
    }

    public locationManagerDidUpdateLocations(manager, locations): void {
        for (var i = 0; i < locations.count; i++) {
            var location = LocationManager._locationFromCLLocation(locations.objectAtIndex(i));
            if (this._maximumAge) {
                if (location.timestamp.valueOf() + this._maximumAge > new Date().valueOf()) {
                    this._onLocation(location);
                }
            }
            else {
                this._onLocation(location);
            }
        }
    }

    public locationManagerDidFailWithError(manager, error): void {
        if (this._onError) {
            this._onError(new Error(error.localizedDescription));
        }
    }
}

export class LocationManager implements locationModule.LocationManager {
	get android(): locationModule.AndroidLocationManager {
		return undefined;
	}

	get ios(): locationModule.iOSLocationManager {
		return this.iosLocationManager;
	}

	public isStarted: boolean;
    // in meters
    // we might need some predefined values here like 'any' and 'high'
    public desiredAccuracy: number;

	// The minimum distance (measured in meters) a device must move horizontally before an update event is generated.
    public updateDistance: number;

    private iosLocationManager: locationModule.iOSLocationManager;
    private listener: any;

    public static _locationFromCLLocation(clLocation: CLLocation): locationModule.Location {
        var location = new locationModule.Location();
        location.latitude = clLocation.coordinate.latitude;
        location.longitude = clLocation.coordinate.longitude;
        location.altitude = clLocation.altitude;
        location.horizontalAccuracy = clLocation.horizontalAccuracy;
        location.verticalAccuracy = clLocation.verticalAccuracy;
        location.speed = clLocation.speed;
        location.direction = clLocation.course;
		var timeIntervalSince1970 = NSDate.dateWithTimeIntervalSinceDate(0, clLocation.timestamp).timeIntervalSince1970;
        location.timestamp = new Date(timeIntervalSince1970 * 1000);
        location.ios = clLocation;
        return location;
    }

    private static iosLocationFromLocation(location: locationModule.Location): CLLocation {
        var hAccuracy = location.horizontalAccuracy ? location.horizontalAccuracy : -1;
        var vAccuracy = location.verticalAccuracy ? location.verticalAccuracy : -1;
        var speed = location.speed ? location.speed : -1;
        var course = location.direction ? location.direction : -1;
        var altitude = location.altitude ? location.altitude : -1;
        var timestamp = location.timestamp ? NSDate.dateWithTimeIntervalSince1970(location.timestamp.getTime() / 1000) : null;
        var iosLocation = CLLocation.alloc().initWithCoordinateAltitudeHorizontalAccuracyVerticalAccuracyCourseSpeedTimestamp(CLLocationCoordinate2DMake(location.latitude, location.longitude), altitude, hAccuracy, vAccuracy, course, speed, timestamp);
        return iosLocation;
    }

    public static isEnabled(): boolean {
        if (CLLocationManager.locationServicesEnabled()) {
            // CLAuthorizationStatus.kCLAuthorizationStatusAuthorizedWhenInUse and CLAuthorizationStatus.kCLAuthorizationStatusAuthorizedAlways are options that are available in iOS 8.0+
            // while CLAuthorizationStatus.kCLAuthorizationStatusAuthorized is here to support iOS 8.0-.
            return (CLLocationManager.authorizationStatus() === CLAuthorizationStatus.kCLAuthorizationStatusAuthorizedWhenInUse
                || CLLocationManager.authorizationStatus() === CLAuthorizationStatus.kCLAuthorizationStatusAuthorizedAlways
                || CLLocationManager.authorizationStatus() === CLAuthorizationStatus.kCLAuthorizationStatusAuthorized);
        }
        return false;
    }

    public static distance(loc1: locationModule.Location, loc2: locationModule.Location): number {
        if (!loc1.ios) {
            loc1.ios = LocationManager.iosLocationFromLocation(loc1);
        }
        if (!loc2.ios) {
            loc2.ios = LocationManager.iosLocationFromLocation(loc2);
        }
        return loc1.ios.distanceFromLocation(loc2.ios);
    }

    constructor() {
		//super();
        this.desiredAccuracy = enums.Accuracy.any;
        this.updateDistance = kCLDistanceFilterNone;
		var iosLocManager = new CLLocationManager();
        this.iosLocationManager = new iOSLocationManager(iosLocManager);
    }

    public startLocationMonitoring(onLocation: (location: locationModule.Location) => any, onError?: (error: Error) => any, options?: locationModule.Options) {
        if (!this.listener) {
            if (options) {
                if (options.desiredAccuracy) {
                    this.desiredAccuracy = options.desiredAccuracy;
                }
                if (options.updateDistance) {
                    this.updateDistance = options.updateDistance;
                }
            }

            this.listener = LocationListenerImpl.new().initWithLocationErrorOptions(onLocation, onError, options);
            this.iosLocationManager.manager.delegate = this.listener;
            this.iosLocationManager.manager.desiredAccuracy = this.desiredAccuracy;
            this.iosLocationManager.manager.distanceFilter = this.updateDistance;
            this.iosLocationManager.manager.startUpdatingLocation();
			this.isStarted = true;
        }
    }

    public stopLocationMonitoring() {
        this.iosLocationManager.manager.stopUpdatingLocation();
        this.iosLocationManager.manager.delegate = null;
        this.listener = null;
		this.isStarted = false;
    }

    get lastKnownLocation(): locationModule.Location {
        var clLocation = this.iosLocationManager.manager.location;
        if (clLocation) {
            return LocationManager._locationFromCLLocation(clLocation);
        }
        return null;
    }
}

/* tslint:disable */
export class iOSLocationManager implements locationModule.iOSLocationManager {
	private _manager: CLLocationManager;

	public get manager(): CLLocationManager {
		return this._manager;
	}

	constructor(manager: CLLocationManager) {
		this._manager = manager;
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Structures and Furnishings: Dwellings and Furnishings. Tipi ornament, three part rawhide strips with wool backing, wrapped with red, purple and yellow porcupine quills. Strips spaced with green seed beads, ends have deer dew claws and red horse hair.


text:
Wojcieck Halejak (né le ) est un coureur cycliste polonais.

Biographie

Palmarès
 2008
  du Szlakiem walk major Hubala

Liens externes

Coureur cycliste polonais
Naissance en juin 1983

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


This is the links & Resources section. Here we can collect links to external resources - databases, directories etc.
- 100s of innovative lesson ideas across all subject areas and year groups.
This page was last modified on 16 December 2013, at 12:45.


We describe an approach to beamforming an acoustic source with a circular array microphone topology by deploying a single inverse filter which is source direction blind. Consider the circular array illustrated in Figure 1 below and suppose a beamforming solution is desired.
Figure 1: Circular microphone array topology for 8 microphones, .
, the filter arising from summing the signals at all microphones, attenuates some speech signals considerably as seen in Figure 2 below, and has to be compensated for.
Figure 2: Filter produced by summing all the microphone outputs.
The super directivity of the filter can be used to improve the noise attenuation.


text:
<!DOCTYPE html>

  <title>Backbone Modal</title>
  <meta charset="utf8">

  <link rel="stylesheet" href="/modules/modal/backbone.modal.css">

Control Room

    <button id="btn-open">open</button>
    <button id="btn-close">close</button>
    <button id="btn-log">log all</button>

Modal dialog section

garbage content

Footer part goes here


ChargePoint leads the market with revolutionary electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions that serve a variety of industries. The largest online charging network in the world, ChargePoint connects drivers to charging stations in more than 14 countries. ChargePoint service plans offer cloud-based solutions for handling all driver billing and support and give organizations the control and flexibility they need to optimize the performance of their EV charging operations. As an open, standards-based platform, ChargePoint is compatible with charging stations from any manufacturer, allowing station owners to maximize ROI while simplifying and streamlining EV charging station management and administration.
ChargePoint customers include large corporations such as Google and SAP; utilities such as Orlando Utilities Commission and Austin Energy; municipalities such as City of San Francisco and City of New York; large shopping centers such as South Coast Plaza and Bellevue Square; and parking services providers such as Edison Properties and Priority Parking.
Headquarters location 1692 Dell Ave.


text:
Study massage therapy online
How long does it take to become a certified massage therapist?
Legal minimum hours for obtaining a massage therapy license vary by state, and these minimums range from 300 to 1,000 hours . Depending on how your program is structured, you can obtain your license in a matter of weeks, or it might take you up to two years .
How much does massage therapy certification cost?
Costs for massage therapy school typically range from $6 to $17 for each hour of education. The average cost thus ranges from $9-$10 per hour. If your state has minimal or no educational requirements, you can opt to take a short program to cut costs.
What qualifications do you need to become a massage therapist?
Prospective massage therapists should complete a certificate or diploma degree program from an accredited school approved by the state. During their studies, future massage therapists may take coursework in medical terminology, body mechanics, massage ethics, anatomy, and physiology.
Should I go to massage therapy school?
The most common reason for attending a massage therapy school is to seek a career in the massage therapy field. While there are some simply hoping to further their general education , the vast majority are attempting to work in the massage therapy industry in some capacity.
Is a massage therapist a good career?
While working as a massage therapist does not pay as much as some other healthcare occupations, it does provide an above-average median income. Additionally, a career of relieving pain and helping people overcome injuries offers a great deal of personal satisfaction.
How much does a LMT make?
Massage Therapists made a median salary of $41,420 in 2018. The best-paid 25 percent made $57,730 that year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $28,450.
You might be interested: Ozone therapy side effects
How much does a 1 hour massage cost?
The average cost for a massage is $75 an hour. Hiring a massage therapist for a one-hour massage, you will likely spend between $50 and $90 . The price of a massage can vary greatly by region (and even by zip code).
How difficult is massage therapy school?
Each individual Massage school will be a different experience but they all require one thing— hard work. The program lengths vary between six months and three years, depending on which school you choose. Many offer day or night class so it's easier to work around your schedule.
What is a happy ending?
For the uninitiated, a " happy ending " is exactly what it sounds like: an orgasm for the client, courtesy of the masseuse, at the end of the massage. Weirdly enough, while the rest of the beauty industry is largely dominated by female clientele, it's a service almost exclusively aimed at men.
How can I start my own massage business?
Start a massage therapy business by following these 9 steps: STEP 1: Plan your Business . STEP 2: Form a legal entity. STEP 3: Register for taxes. STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card. STEP 5: Set up business accounting. STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses. STEP 7: Get Business Insurance.
How many messages can a therapist do in a day?
Typically a therapist in such spa work for 8 to 9 hours every day and perform around five to six massages.
How much do massage therapists make in a year?
Wages*
Low (5th percentile)
Starting $15.00 $29.79
Overall $15.00 $33.61
Top $15.00 $38.21
You might be interested: Ozone therapy cancer
What is the best massage therapy school?
Find out what schools ranked top 10 in the United States. National Holistic Institute . Myotherapy College of Utah. National University of Health Sciences. Miami Dade College. Cortiva Institute Schools of Massage Therapy. Bryan College. The Soma Institute, The National School of Clinical Massage Therapy.
Can you make good money as a massage therapist?
Experienced Massage Therapist (10 to 20 years of practice) can expect to earn an average total compensation of $48,000. The most experienced massage therapists can earn up to $54,000 and up a year. (I know several who make between $80K and $100K).
How do I prepare for massage therapy school?
Most massage therapy programs will require students to have a high school diploma or GED before they can even enroll. Typical subjects include anatomy; kinesiology, or the study of how the body moves; physiology, which covers how the different parts of the body function; and ethics.
Previous Trigger therapy
Next Occupational therapy vs physical therapy
Light therapy for psoriasis
Antiresorptive therapy


text:
Warwick Tucker (* 1970 in Sydney) ist ein schwedisch-australischer Mathematiker.

Leben
Tucker promovierte 1998 an der Universität Uppsala (The Lorenz Attractor exists). Danach war er als Post-Doc am IMPA in Rio de Janeiro und war ab 2000 Assistant Professor an der Cornell University.  Ab 2002 war er wieder in Uppsala, wo er 2004 Dozent wurde. 2007 wurde er in Bergen Leiter einer Gruppe für Computer gestützte Beweise in der Analysis (CAPA).

Tucker gelang es 2002, ein wichtiges offenes Problem (von Stephen Smale auf seine Liste der Smale-Probleme gesetzt) der Theorie dynamischer Systeme zu lösen: die Existenz des Lorenz-Attraktors für die von Edward Lorenz angegebenen Parameterwerte. Der Beweis verwendet Intervallarithmetik und beruht auf massivem Computer-Einsatz.

2001 erhielt er den Wallenberg Preis der Schwedischen Mathematischen Gesellschaft und 2004 den EMS-Preis (Preisvortrag: Validated Numerics for Pedestrians).

Weblinks
Homepage

Einzelnachweise

Mathematiker (20. Jahrhundert)
Mathematiker (21. Jahrhundert)
Australier
Geboren 1970
Mann


Been playing the new NFS for a few days now, and im quite surprised how good it is. Of course it's not REAL, and all the haters will complain about every little inaccuracy or glitch in the game, but overall its good arcade style fun gaming, thats what matters to me!
Starting to really get into it. The game opens up alot more as you progress, and get into higher levels of tuning. The fine setup and tuning is VERY good, and has a very realistic affect on the car, just the same as real life settings. For now I built the '86 replica, my old 180sx, and currently racing Career mode with my Nur R34 GTR!
Some more photos from this weekend's car show in Belfast..
The AE86 was invited, representing TRIAL...looking good!
Nicely done ER34, URAS kitted, and plenty of Carbon!
Running a H22A Conversion..oh yes, with a Turbo! Very tidy!
Turbo'd MX5, great build, this would be so much fun to drive!
My friend's 600 bhp 'Clover Auto' tuned Soarer was also there!
Overall winner was this stunning 600bhp Lancer Evo...Awsome!
Just a quick update of whats been going on...Local Car show!
For a change, it was great to see some American talent!
Stunning Mustang and TransAm, but my favourite, this 'GT500'..
Of course it wouldn't be right if there was no General Lee..
Just check out this video from Kansai All Stars event at Meihan Circuit. I think its one of the best things I've seen in the drift scene for a while now...I can't wait to hitup MSC @ Meihan next month!
Some quick snaps of the A.I Autosport latest built A.I-700 Evo!
Simple, understated, but pure quality and Performance!


Roger Hanotiau : Born on the 2nd June 1927. In1975 he opens his own gallery in Durbuy. He exhibits his paintings in Belgium and abroad. He is a self made man. He is famous for the sharpness of his paintings and his command of the old techniques he has been improving all his life. He uses amber melted in his own medium to guarantee a perfect conservation of his paintings. The Ourthe Valley enables him to express his love of nature. In his compositions he calls metafigurative he demonstrates his creativity and imagination. After 30 years exhibition in Durbuy he closes his gallery. But he hasn't run out of inspiration. He carries on painting on the heights of the smallest city of the world, where you can admire the paintings of one of today's best Belgian painters.


text:
Rapid infection diagnosis in preterm babies
Thursday, 19 December, 2019 | Supplied by: Oxford Nanopore Technologies
Scientists and clinicians at the Norwich Research Park, UK, have pioneered a new method for profiling the microbiome of preterm babies that can significantly speed up the identification of infections and indicate more effective treatments.
By harnessing next-generation sequencing techniques, the team from the Quadram Institute and the Earlham Institute (EI) showed that they can rapidly and reliably identify the microbes present in a preterm baby's stool sample that may cause life-threatening conditions such as sepsis or necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). The method also uncovers the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes — vital information needed to select the most effective treatment.
Using Oxford Nanopore Technologies' MinION portable sequencing device, coupled with bespoke software to analyse the sequence data in real time, data can be obtained in under five hours. With current methods taking up to 48 hours, developing this platform for routine use in a clinical setting would allow faster and tailored antimicrobial treatments to be used.
"Preterm babies are born with underdeveloped gut physiology [and] immunity, and have an altered gut microbiota, all of which increase risk of life-threatening infections. Time is of the essence in detecting or diagnosing infections," said Dr Lindsay Hall from the Quadram Institute. "Not only could our approach be more effective, it will also reduce the use of antibiotics and help slow the rise of antimicrobial resistance."
Dr Richard Leggett, Group Leader at EI, added, "With the MinION and our own analysis pipeline (NanoOK RT, developed specifically for this work), we can go from faecal sample to pathogen and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profile in just four to five hours… We can also take advantage of the MinION's long DNA reads to place AMR genes within host bacteria, enabling better understanding of antibiotic resistance."
"Nanopore sequencing is an interesting technology because it provides useful data so quickly," continued Dr Matthew D Clark, former Head of Technology Development at EI. "We were excited to see how well it could perform on clinical samples with our custom software. It hasn't escaped our attention that because it is cheap, small and low powered it could be uniquely useful in lower and middle-income countries."
To test their platform, the researchers used the portable MinION to carry out shotgun metagenomics on mock microbial communities. Shotgun metagenomics analyses the genomic sequence from a mixed collection of organisms — in this case, 20 different microbes. Having confirmed that the MinION approach worked, the researchers progressed to using faecal samples obtained from preterm babies, collected by the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
The method, published in the journal Nature Microbiology, discerned between healthy babies and those diagnosed with NEC or sepsis, with the healthy babies having a strong population of beneficial Bifidobacterium and the others harbouring either E. cloacae or Klebsiella pneumoniae, both of which can cause life-threatening infections.
Professor Paul Clarke, Consultant Neonatologist and Research Lead at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NICU and the University of East Anglia, said, "Preterm babies are a group at high risk of dangerous infection. More than 90% of our preterm babies are presently treated with antibiotics, yet in retrospect most did not need them. This study is important because it raises the hope that we might soon have available the technology that could help us to discern at a much earlier stage which babies really need antibiotics, and which do not need them. This could save many babies from getting antibiotics they did not need and would be an important advance in helping limit AMR."
The system facilitates sampling over a period of time, so that changes in the microbiota profile can be monitored. This is useful for monitoring pathogenic bacteria, but it also lets researchers see how other interventions affect the microbiome over time. For example, it can monitor the effect of antibiotics on the overall microbial profile or measure the effects of probiotic supplementation.
Shotgun metagenomics doesn't just profile the species diversity. In the study, the researchers were particularly interested in profiling the genes that confer antibiotic resistance in the microbiome — known as the 'resistome'. Klebsiella, in particular, is of concern as it is becoming increasingly resistant to multiple antimicrobials. An expansion of shotgun metagenomics could therefore help in surveillance for AMR in these clinical settings.
The development of the platform for rapid, portable microbiota profiling brings its use in a clinical setting closer, though more trials at different locations are required before it can be adopted as a routine diagnostic tool. However, there is clear potential for its deployment to save lives in the clinical setting.
Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Steve Lovegrove
Online: nanoporetech.com
Restek Resprep PLR SPE products
Laboratory professionals can simultaneously remove phospholipids and proteins in a single, simple...
Greiner Bio-One NanoShuttle-PL for magnetic 3D cell culture
The core technology of Greiner Bio-One's magnetic 3D cell culture is the magnetisation of...
EpiQuik m6A RNA Methylation Quantification Kit (Colorimetric)
EpiGentek's EpiQuik m6A RNA Methylation Quantification Kit (Colorimetric) is a complete set...
Bürkert Australia celebrates 40 years
Making buildings smarter for a sustainable future
CSIRO app helps sugarcane farmers manage fertiliser
Australian tyre recycler to build plant in USA
Model shows cooling planet will boost GDP


My 13 year old son has always been very happy, awake , a full of life. I would say the past months or so he has become a different person. Sleeping all the time , looks pale , achy , headaches and has had one episode of dizziness. There is a possibility that minocycline could be the cause. He started soloydin but insurance would not pay do they switched to mimo. he has had all types of blood work done and Vit D was very low at 16. I have started per Dr. 2000 mg a day and as of Saturday because he was back to Dr. with headache dr. says stop Minoclyclin. He also ordered and more sensitive Lyme test , something to do with pituitary gland , celiac disease and prolactin. MY son is tall 5'8 1/4 and only 115 lbs. He does jujitsu 3 nights a week but lately he is juts to tired to go. Has anyone's son had these symptoms or issues with acne medication , his skin is pretty bad. I'm a worrier and I always think the worst.. needless to say very upset as this juts came out of nowhere. So many people are like oh its hormones, age etc. But I know my Son and its just not right. anyone please answer or have ideas or thoughts please I would be so grateful for your input.
Almost everything you describe is listed as side effects of that antibiotic.
yes, I know ... But why are they not thinking it is that ? they are testing him for everything..
Because they are being thorough????? And it may take quite a while for the side effects from the drugs to go away.
Why not find out if your doctor can do D infusions or shots? When my D was that low, I was getting a shot a week for 4 months to get it to a higher level and only once it got close did I get changed to 4000 IUs a day to continue to raise it. It took a full year and now I take 2000 a day to maintain.
The symtoms of D deficiencies are exactly what you are describing and having been there, I know how detrimental it can be.
Was your son also tested for Mono? Even though he is young, mono goes around middle and high schools very quick and many students can get it at once...mono symptoms are also the extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, etc.
I was on Minocycline for years for my skin. I never had any of the symptoms you are describing.
I don't think injections are needed. I raised my Vit D from 18 to 101 in 3 months with 60,000 units twice a week and increased Calcium (forget the dosage). Very common in menopausal women.
I'm going to ask the Dr. about the shots ( great Idea) .. They also have prescription type and I here that will raise you very fast. lets see what the newest blood work reveals.
Thanks you all so much. I'm such a worry wart. but there are so many story's you here and that dr's miss things all the time.


text:
Netflix's The King review: a gorgeous but uninspiring period drama
Timothée Chalamet plays a king in The King, David Michôd's well-acted but flat adaptation of Shakespeare's Henriad…
By Patrick Sproull | November 3, 2019 |
Ahead of the upcoming awards season, The King seemingly ticked every box: it packed all the necessary ingredients, and looked poised to take away a smattering of gongs.
With the people's favourite star, Timothée Chalamet, at the helm, Animal Kingdom's David Michôd behind the camera and a screenplay based on three (!) Shakespeare plays, The King had everything to lose. It's regrettable, then, that while it doesn't quite lose everything, it certainly falls short of expectations.
Chalamet is – to quote Lady Bird – the titular role, playing Hal, the layabout son of ailing King Henry IV (a spluttering Ben Mendelsohn), apathetic about his impending ascension to the throne. He's a drunk, a social butterfly and his father's last choice to succeed him. But after some internal family politics, Hal is soon crowned and in the face of his country's uncertainty over his fitness as king, he sets the gears in motion to prove himself at the Battle of Agincourt.
If The King is remembered for anything, let it be its visuals. Calling it sumptuous is an understatement, and Adam Arkapaw's cinematography gives The King bags of texture and polish. Typically, generously budgeted features like these deserve to be viewed on the big screen, but there's something to be said for this being a Netflix release as it feels a great deal more intimate.
Where The King stumbles is in how safe it plays things. A sweeping narrative like this, drawn from some of Shakespeare's best, should pop in a way that this effort never gets close to. It's a dutiful production, handsomely directed and filled with rock solid performances, but there's no edge to it. The battle sequences mean viewers get their fair share of bloody violence, but it's mostly perfunctory.
Chalamet is characteristically strong, delivering a mature performance delivered with precision. This feels particularly important as the script, penned by Michôd and Joel Edgerton (who also co-stars as Hal's drinking buddy and knight, John Falstaff) fails to capture any of the Shakespearian language or scope that would allow a film like this to soar. Chalamet is a valuable beacon of clarity in a film that is, at best, reverent and, at worst, inarticulate.
As Hal's chief adversary, Louis, the dandyish Dauphin of Viennois, Robert Pattinson makes the most refreshing lemonade out of lemons. His role – a preening, underhand plutocrat – is given an almost goofy edge by Pattinson, who adopts a shaky French accent and exchanges memorable barbs with Chalamet's king. There is no comic relief in The King, but Pattinson's Dauphin is the closest thing to it – an eminently watchable, entertaining and necessary addition to a film that plays it very straight.
While Timothée Chalamet shows that he needs more leading roles in this vein, The King is too unemotional to have any real impact. Visually, it's a treat, and that, combined with game work by the cast, might be enough for some, but its mishandling of exquisite source material is hard to forgive.
The King is available to stream on Netflix now.
Tags: NetflixNetflix Originals
Patrick Sproull
Read more from Patrick Sproull
More on Netflix
The King Review: Netflix Movie Isn't Quite Shakespeare
November 3, 2019 | By Nick Harley
The King: Release Date, Trailer and Details on Netflix Shakespeare Movie
October 24, 2019 | By Joseph Baxter
Why Timothée Chalamet Was The Perfect Lead Actor For Dune
September 9, 2020 | By Don Kaye
The Real History of Game of Thrones: Tyrion Lannister
May 17, 2019 | By David Crow


SUNDROPS 67 can be used wherever frequent handwashing is critical. This liquid synthetic-based hand cleaner combines mild, but effective cleansing with outstanding dual-action antibacterial properties. Contains 10,000 ppm (or 1.0%) of the highly effective germicide PCMX (para-chloro-meta-xylenol). PCMX is registered with the Enviromental Protection Agency (EPA 4026-4).


text:
package it.unitn.ds.rmi;

import it.unitn.ds.entity.Item;
import it.unitn.ds.entity.Node;
import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;

import java.rmi.RemoteException;
import java.rmi.server.UnicastRemoteObject;
import java.util.Collections;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Map;

/**
 * Used to simulate crashed node or in case of network errors
 */
public final class NullNodeRemote extends UnicastRemoteObject implements NodeServer, NodeClient {

    @NotNull
    private final Node node;

    public NullNodeRemote(@NotNull Node node) throws RemoteException {
        this.node = node;
    }

    @NotNull
    @Override
    public Node getNode() throws RemoteException {
        return node;
    }

    @NotNull
    @Override
    public Map<Integer, String> getNodes() throws RemoteException {
        return Collections.emptyMap();
    }

    @Override
    public void addNode(int id, @NotNull String host) throws RemoteException {
    }

    @Override
    public void removeNode(int id) throws RemoteException {
    }

    @Override
    public void updateItems(@NotNull List<Item> items) throws RemoteException {
    }

    @Override
    public void removeItems(@NotNull List<Item> items) throws RemoteException {
    }

    @Override
    public void updateReplicas(@NotNull List<Item> replicas) throws RemoteException {
    }

    @Override
    public void removeReplicas(@NotNull List<Item> replicas) throws RemoteException {
    }

    @Nullable
    @Override
    public Item getItem(int key) throws RemoteException {
        return null;
    }

    @Nullable
    @Override
    public Item updateItem(int key, @NotNull String value) throws RemoteException {
        return null;
    }
}


Looking for more Vga Ati Rage 128 similar ideas? Try to explore these searches: Flag Handle, Sister Ash Grey T-Shirt, and 18k Bridal Set Ring.
Look at latest related video about Vga Ati Rage 128.
Shopwizion.com is the smartest way for online shopping: compare prices of leading online shops for best deals around the web. Don't miss TOP Vga Ati Rage 128 deals, updated daily.


text:
X16 Hardware Support
X16 Help & Support Lounge
Howto get banked RAM size
Asked by Stefan
Stefan 59
I'm working on X16 Edit, a text editor. There's a thread in Software Library Chat discussing the program in depth. My program uses banked RAM to store text that's edited.
However, I have a general question regarding the hardware.
It's said that the final product will have banked RAM of 512 KB expandable to 1 MB, 1.5 MB or 2 MB (by populating 1, 2 or 3 sockets).
Is there a way for a program to determine what memory banks are actually available?
If there is no other option, would it be possible to write a routine that tests certain memory addresses by first writing values and then reading them back?
I guess that approach could work, but it depends on what the hardware does when you access an unpopulated address in banked RAM.
A test routine would probably work if the data bus floats (returning a random value) or if it's tied high or low (returning ff or 00).
29 answers to this question
You can set the carry flag and then call memtop at $ff99. This will return the number of ram banks on A and a pointer to the top of memory in X and Y. Keep in mind that bank 0 is used by the kernal, so really only 1 on are free.
TomXP411 201
At present, you have to write to a memory cell and read its value back. If you assume you can take over all of upper memory (not necessarily a safe assumption), then you will need to write at least 3 values to each bank and then read them back.
What I'd probably do is write $00, $FF, bankno to each bank, then cycle back through and read them back. Every bank that gives you back the correct value has RAM in it.
You may also be able to shorten the test by just testing banks 64, 128, and 192, since the banked memory consists of 4 512K chips.
MEMTOP does not appear to work in the emulator, at least. You will need to simply test the higher banks. Bank 65 is a safe one, as it will be a mirror of bank 1 if there is only 512k (64 banks). Bank 64 will be a mirror of bank 0, so you don't want to mess with that without knowing first. So, I made this simple BASIC program that tells you (it would be similarly trivial to check at the beginning of an assembly program):
Here you can see that I poked the value 42 to the top of bank 65, then zero to the top of bank 1. Going back to bank 65, if it's no longer 42, then I know it was overwritten by the poke to bank 1, which it simply mirrors in the 512k configuration. If it was still 42 (as you can see in the screencap, it wasn't), then you can assume that all 256 banks are installed. AFAIK, there is no intention of having an in-between configuration (e.g. 1MB/128 banks).
7 minutes ago, SlithyMatt said:
AFAIK, there is no intention of having an in-between configuration (e.g. 1MB/128 banks).
Don't trust that, as people can install their own memory modules.
10 minutes ago, SlithyMatt said:
MEMTOP does not appear to work in the emulator, at least.
In what way? I just tested it and it seems to work for me.
10 minutes ago, Ender said:
The code that I see when debugging R38 pre-built for Windows shows MEMTOP just being a function that reads from three memory addresses, which are all zero for me. Maybe if you use an earlier release or build from code it works?
This is with R38 right after returning from $ff99. You can see that $40 is in A.
Yep, I just get all zeros. Did you build the emulator yourself?
UPDATE: I restarted the emulator, and now it's working for me. It seems that MEMTOP is fragile, and may not work after running other programs.
Edited October 1, 2020 by SlithyMatt
P.S. The memory addresses MEMTOP returns are at $0259-$025B, which get put into X, Y, and A, respectively. So really, you can just peek at $025B for the bank count, but that address is subject to change with later ROM revisions, but MEMTOP should always be placed in the jump table at $FF99.
OK. I will use MEMTOP. It seems to work in emulator r38 on macOS.
One more question though.
That Kernal function returns the number of banks, for instance $40 (64) with banks 0-$3f populated.
What will it return if all banks are populated? I suppose it might wrap around to zero.
Good question. I just tested it with starting the emulator with "-ram 2048" and yeah, it looks like it returns 0.
Edited October 2, 2020 by Ender
5 hours ago, Ender said:
Just to try it out, I tested it with 1024 and got $80, and then attempted to run with zero banked RAM, but the emulator didn't allow that. I think it's a safe assumption that nobody is going to entirely de-populate the banked RAM and then expect any software to actually work, including the kernal and BASIC, which depend on bank 0 to be present. So, 0 = 2MB should be a safe assumption for the programmer.
I wasn't aware of the -ram option.
I don't think it's mentioned in the emulator docs. But I can see it's in the emulator -help.
The emulator seems to accept any -ram value dividable by 8 between 8 K and 2048 K.
However, as I understand, the hardware will have four memory IC slots of 512 K each, and the only possible values in real life would then be 512, 1024, 1536 and 2048 K.
Maybe the best solution is to support all memory size options available in the emulator, even though only four of those options will be supported by the hardware.
Edited October 3, 2020 by Stefan
16 hours ago, Stefan said:
This *should* do the job... I suppose I should go test it.
; MEMTEST
; Returns highest upper memory bank in A
; Preserves: None
MEMVAL = $AA ; 1010 1010 pattern.
MEMTEST:
STZ $01 ; Set bank 1. Bank 0 is used by the KERNAL, so don't mess with it.
MEMTEST1:
LDA #MEMVAL ; 1010 1010 pattern
STA $A000
LDA $A000
CMP #MEMVAL
BNE MEMFAIL
INC $00
JNZ MEMTEST1
LDA #$FF;
RTS ; The full 2MB is available
; This bank failed. So subtract 1 and return the last bank that succeeded.
MEMFAIL:
DEC $00 ; Select the previous bank, which passed
LDA $00 ; Get the selected bank
RTS ; Returns the last available bank
On 10/4/2020 at 5:26 AM, TomXP411 said:
I think there might be a problem with this solution.
When you go beyond the last bank, it will first mirror bank 0, as @SlithyMatt pointed out above. For instance, if 64 banks are populated (bank 0-63), bank 64 will mirror bank 0.
I think your code will overwrite at least one byte of bank 0 that is used by the Kernal before you know that you have reached end of banked RAM, which is not a safe thing to do.
If you're going down the memory test lane, you might succeed by backing up the value of bank 0 address $A000, and restore it after the memory test is finished.
Or you may go easy on yourself and use the Kernal function
On 10/5/2020 at 12:31 PM, Stefan said:
I don't think anyone has explained why that would be... if the chips aren't populated on the board, then the lines will float and either have random values, be all zero, or be all one. There's no mechanism I can think of for reads and writes to "mirror" lower banks. To actually write to a chip, the CS line must be set for that socket, and the CS for the first RAM chip would not be set if you're writing to bank 64.
If the emulator is doing that now, I'm going to pin that down as an emulator bug, rather than the correct behavior of the final board.
Of course, if all 256 banks are populated, the test does not actually write to 0. It falls past the JNZ MEMTEST1 and sets the top bank to $FF.
as to using MEMTOP... @SlithyMatt explained above that it doesn't always work.
Edited October 6, 2020 by TomXP411
2 hours ago, TomXP411 said:
About that, I figured out what I was doing wrong. If you call MEMTOP with the carry bit clear, it will permanently blow away the values in RAM and replace them with whatever you have in A,X,Y. Just make sure you always do a SEC beforehand, and you should be good. Of course, you can't depend on another program not blowing it away before your program is run, so you may need to do a RAM test in that case or just document your requirement for the X16 to be reset prior to loading your program.
P.S. - This means that calling MEMTOP from BASIC is definitely NOT recommended.
If you call MEMTOP with the carry bit clear, it will permanently blow away the values in RAM and replace them with whatever you have in A,X,Y.
Right. MEMTOP doubles as a READ MEMTOP and SET MEMTOP based on CC. MEMBOT is similar...
The behavior of ramtas, which is what initializes memory and detects the number of banks and reports the total memory at bootup, seems to rely on it working this way. If it doesn't work on actual hardware, wouldn't they have seen it in their testing?
I agree that it's unlikely that the hardware chip select wraps around to skip unpopulated memory. At the beginning of this thread, I also assumed that we would see random, ff or 0 on the data bus when reading unpopulated memory. I guess we just have to wait and see when the board is done. Reading a recent post by @Lorin Millsap elsewhere on this site, it is a work in progress. Maybe the Board works in mysterious ways
Lorin Millsap 128
On that, the RAM works perfectly.
For unpopulated chips there is no wrap around or skip. Reads from unpopulated chips will give erratic results, mostly random residual values.
To check how much ram is present you need to write a non-random sequence then attempt to read that sequence back. If the sequence returned matches the sequence written that RAM is populated. Otherwise it is either unpopulated or there is a fault.
m00dawg 32
I wonder, it's not for me to say given my level of programming skills here, but that's something that might be convenient to do at boot-up and store the results somewhere in the BASIC RAM space (or somewhere) so applications can easily reference that without having to write similar memory detection routines? It would be neat to see the X16, while paying homage to the Commodore 8-bit machines, counting RAM at boot like a PC Or if not at boot maybe having something in ROM that can be called so as not to consume any program space to do this?
Apologies for a "gosh it would sure be nice if..." sort of post I'm not qualified to implement myself but thought I'd toss that out there just the same since I'd imagine there would be several potential applications that might want to know how much RAM there is to work with including several apps being discussed outside of this one (such as trackers, games, etc.).
I'm sure we can do that. I think it should be an official feature request.
On 10/17/2020 at 7:12 AM, Lorin Millsap said:
Sounds logical and simple, but a bit weird to me. ) May be just because a never needed to check ram presence in my programming experience.
Since I heard about such technique for the first time, now I'm curious: is this a common approach in many different systems?
As far as I understand, this is a thing for early and simple chips. If I'm not mistaken, modern more complicated chips contain small fixed info in them, so you can just try read this info, and not only check the chip presence, but also immediately identify its capacity and other parameters. And in most modern systems this is done by BIOS and not by the user. Am I understanding this correctly?


text:
Twenty-seven Year-Old Babies: The Promise and Perils of Embryo Adoption
Latter-day Saint Fiction: Men of Action
Marriage Myth: More Alike Means More Happy
By Richard and Linda Eyre
Monsters University is a Surprisingly Worthy Prequel
By	Jonathan Decker · June 28, 2013
Contrary to my initial fears, Monsters University is not an empty cash-grab prequel, nor is it a disappointing follow-up that jettisons most of what made the original work like Cars 2. The folks over at Pixar have crafted a fine film here with a surprisingly rich story and thoughtful character arcs. A university for monsters is a perfect setting for the kind of creative flourishes the animation house is celebrated for. Even though it lacks the first film's touching monster-child relationship, in every other way it's as accomplished as its predecessor.
Unlike the sometimes clunky Star Wars prequels (which I still like), Monsters University establishes itself as an almost-airtight origin story. Whenever it references the other film, it does so in ways that are either purposeful or funny. The new characters are skillfully brought to life, especially the frightful Dean Hardscrabble (Helen Mirren, Red) and arrogant Johnny (Nathan Fillion, Serenity). The animation is superb (check out the individual blades of grass wafting in the breeze, for example). While it's not as funny as it is amusing and the story is at times predictable, there's plenty to enjoy here, most of all the ultimately poignant back-story of Sully and Mike (voiced again by the dynamic pairing of John Goodman and Billy Crystal). This is Pixar's best movie in years.
CONTENT OVERVIEW: Monsters University is rated G. There's really nothing offensive here. Similar to the first film, training scenarios allow monsters to practice scaring "children" (actually robotic simulations), but no one is hurt and the monsters are shown to be harmless. A scene with monsters scaring adult humans is a bit creepier in tone than what we saw in the previous film. For what it's worth, my almost-three-year-old daughter said it was "scary" but that she "liked it" and wanted to see it again. A few of the monsters might be considered mildly frightening. There's some college partying, but it's all innocent.
MESSAGES TO DISCUSS: We all have different gifts and talents; we'll succeed best if we work together to take advantage of them as a team (1 Corinthians 12:14-23). Dishonesty will ultimately have negative consequences (D&C 42:21). "Treat everyone with kindness and respect, and refrain from judging and criticizing those around you. Do not participate in any form of bullying. Make a special effort to be a friend to those who are shy or lonely, have special needs, or do not feel included" (For the Strength of the Youth- "Friends").
Jonathan Decker is a licensed marriage and family therapist in St. George, Utah, specializing in couples' therapy and singles' guidance. For more information, please visit www.jdeckertherapy.com. Jonathan also writes Hollywood film reviews from a Latter-day Saint perspective at www.mormonmovieguy.com. His book, 250 Great Movies for Latter-day Families, is now available for pre-order at Amazon.