PINE MOUNTAIN, Ga. —Behind every garden is a story, and Callaway Gardens, scattered atop the slopes of Georgia's Pine Mountain, is no different.
The back story is that that Cason Callaway, a Georgia textile magnate turned gazillionire, once said that every child should see something beautiful before he's 6 years old so he would remember it all his life.
Callaway then carved out 2,500 acres out of about 40,000 of cotton farms he owned that had been eroded by poor farming practices and created Callaway Gardens, a beloved Georgia landmark threaded with woodlands, pastures, golf courses and spectacular gardens that defy generalizations.
"We don't want just to build the finest garden seen on earth since Adam was a boy," Callaway said decades ago of his masterpiece. "We want to build the prettiest garden that will ever be se en on earth 'til Gabriel blows his horn."
The four-season Callaway Gardens, which opened in 1952, isn't just another run-of-the-mill Garden of Eden filled with flowers, baby turkeys and fat squirrels. In a, um, nutshell, it's a 13, 000-acre preserve including Callaway's original 2,500 acres of azalea-covered gardens, an inn, several restaurants that feature everything from fried chicken to fancy gourmet fare, cottages and villas for rent, and even residential communities.
Spring undoubtedly is the showstopper. If you watch the Masters and marvel at the azaleas, then Callaway Gardens is sort of a supercharged Augusta National on steroids. The Callaway Brother s Azalea Bowl is the world's largest azalea garden, and the Easter lily display at the John A. Sibley Horticultural Center is the largest in the nation.
"In spring, everything glows with pink, purple and white," says Callaway's Rachel Crumbley, who serves as media and public relations director. "The color will knock your socks off."
During my visit in late spring, which in the South is really early summer, most of the azaleas were gone, but the grounds were covered with pockets of oak leaf hydrangea, mountain laurel, rhododendron, and a few remaining wild and hybrid azaleas. But perhaps the most spectacular sight was the more than 5,000 magnolia trees, their limbs practically sagging to the ground with heavy ghostly white blossoms.
Then spring transitions to summer when planting begins at Mr. Cason's Vegetable Garden, which serves as a filming site for the PBS series "The Victory Garden." More than 400 varieties of vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, and vineyards grow at Mr. Cason's, one of the most popular spots to visit at Callaway Gardens.
Remember the great family resorts of the 1950s and 60s? The resort has a week-long Summer Adventure Program that has had families returning for generations.
Here's how it works, says Crumbley. The package includes accommodations for a family in a two-bedroom cottage. Then each day kids participate in age-appropriate activities — maybe swimming in the indoor-outdoor pool, hanging out at Rockin' Robins with its malt-shop atmosphere, interacting with the Florida State University Flying High Circus, zip-lining the tree tops with TreeTop Adventure, or soaking up the sun at Robin Lake Beach, the world's largest inland manmade white sand beach.
While the kids are at supervised play, parents have the week to do what they want, whether it's hiking through the gardens, lobbing tennis balls, going cane-pole or fly-fishing in one of the resort's myriad lakes, shopping in the antique shops and boutiques in nearby Pine Mountain, playing golf on one of two 18-hole courses, or hitting a few balls at Twin Oaks Golf Practice Facility, one of the largest practice facilities in the world, or simply relaxing.
In other words, Crumbley says, "It's a vacation for parents within a vacation."
Autumn is for festivals and festive leaf color along the ridge of Pine Mountain. Hiking and biking are both popular during fall, and the Farmers Market, which begins in spring at Mr. Cason' s Vegetable Garden, runs through the end of October. You can buy bounty from the garden or other goodies like Georgia-made cheeses and wines.
Winter brings the Fantasy in Lights, the largest holiday light and sound production in the Southeast. It is so elaborate that work on it begins in August. And the Southern Gardening Symposi um, perhaps the South's premier gardening event, takes place each January.
Not much blooms in winter except the camellias and holly — the Holly Trail in the Meadowlark Garden area is one of the top 25 arboreta of holly in the world — so as has been the tradition, admission to the gardens in January and February are free.
No matter the season you visit, take in some of the many attractions that are open year 'round like a country store, the Birds of Prey show that features live raptors, or the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center — and here's that superlative again — one of the largest butterfly conservatories in North America with more than a thousand jewel-tone butterflies flitting about in a serene, peaceful, stress-busting tropical garden setting.
Cason Callaway's original plan for Callaway Gardens was deceptively simple, and it is something that no 6-year-old, or 60-year-old, for that matter, will forget.
Says Crumbley with a contented sigh, "It is a place to slow down and enjoy your day."
Callaway Gardens is just over an hour's drive southwest from Atlanta. For more information or to make a reservation, call 1-800-CALLAWAY (225-5292) or visit www.CallawayGardens.com.


Nothing beats the simplicity and satisfaction of a perfect chocolate chip cookie, and these 20 store-bought picks are all just as delicious as a homemade batch. Pair with a mug of steaming hot tea, dunk them in cold milk, or heat them in the microwave if you're craving warm and gooey munchies! Whether you prefer soft and chewy or crispy and thin, these chocolate chip cookies will cure any sugar craving — no baking required.
It's undeniable: Chocolate chip cookies are one of those go-to comfort-food staples, and these crunchy Chips Ahoy! Original treats are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Crispy, crunchy, and loaded with milk chocolate chunks of goodness, these treats come from (in our opinion) one of the best chocolate chip cookie brands of all time.
Arguably the best in the biz, Entenmann's minis are super soft and super yummy. For a cookie that could be devoured in two bites or fewer, each is packed with enough chocolatey goodness to satisfy your sweet tooth in one serving.
If you prefer cookies that are crisp, Tate's Bake Shop's got the goods. By substituting wheat in for white flour and decorating the batter with rich, dark chocolate chunks, you'll feel a little less guilty for over-indulging.
Famous Amos' yellow and brown packaging triggers all the nostalgic feels of decorative lunch boxes and elementary school cafeterias. It was always a good day when this package was spotted peeking out of your lunch pouch, so we suggest you keep a few stashed in your office drawer for bite-sized snacking between assignments.
M&Ms and chocolate chips?! Enough said. This Keebler box has your cravings covered, so chow down when you've got a sweet tooth that won't sway.
Mix it up from milk chocolate with Pepperidge Farm's oh-so-delectable white chip chunks paired with macadamia nuts. A bit fancy for snack time at the office, but if you're feeling bold, dig in for a Friday treat post-lunch. No one will judge you!
Sometimes great things come in itty bitty packages, and these cute Chips Ahoy! Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies are certainly no exception! Whether you toss these individually wrapped snack packs into your little one's lunchbox or keep a few bags on-hand for a mid-afternoon treat, these bite-sized chocolate chip cookies are guaranteed to sweeten your day.
Our chocolate motto? The more, the yummier. Chips Ahoy's chunk-tastic delicacy are a chocolate lover cult-classic. Snack, dunk, and stash them in your junk food cabinet for dessert or the occasional midday snack.
Back to Nature focuses on all aspects of the cookie experience. Just one bite treats your tastebuds to an all-natural, flavor-packed cookie loaded with rich chocolate chunks.
Crispy cookies require milk for dunking and softening, but chewy cookies can easily be devoured anywhere, anytime with or without a dipping beverage. These Chips Ahoy! favorites invite you to enjoy the consistency of a fresh-out-the-oven cookie without burning the roof of your mouth. Win.
Vegan, gluten-free, and packed with a whopping 18 grams of plant-based protein per cookie, these super cookies from Munk Pack are our new morning jam. The combination of crunchy macadamia chunks and chewy coconut flakes makes this a super satisfying cookie to kickstart the day. Who says you can't have cookies for breakfast?
Gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free, these tasty mini chocolate chip cookies from allergen-friendly brand Enjoy Life are the perfect treat for families with dietary restrictions and food sensitivities. Milled from nutrient-dense ancient grains, these cookies are a better-for-you treat to satisfy your sweet tooth.
We won't tell if you decide to swap the average bowl of oats for these delectable cookies from Kashi. Made with the brand's signature seven-whole-grain blend featuring peanuts, raisins, sunflower seeds, shredded coconut, and flaxseed, it's a nutritiously sweet treat to start your morning off right.
Sweet treats are obviously high in sugar and often lack nutritional value. These Fiber One cookies bring together the best of both worlds, with only 10 grams of sugar and 5 grams of fiber.
For the fitness buff who craves sweets as soon as the workout ends, Lenny & Larry's Complete Cookies are the ultimate solution to a sugar fix. Considered "baked nutrition," you get two servings' worth of cookie in one, with a whopping 16 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber. So don't feel too bad if you eat it all at once.
These classic chewy cookies from the treat masters over at Mrs. Fields are buttery with slight hints of butterscotch. Fans suggest popping them in the microwave for a few seconds to mimic freshly baked treats.
These decadent soft-baked chocolate chip cookies have huge chunks of milk chocolate that make classic chocolate chips look tiny. Each cookie is so hefty that one will be enough to satisfy you.
If you have dietary restrictions, these delicious, vegan cookies may change dessert time for you. Each fruit juice-sweetened cookie is made with rolled oats, walnuts, and dairy-free chocolate chips.
These crunchy chocolate chip cookies come in individually wrapped 1.25-ounce packages that are perfect for a treat to go. They're gluten-free, allergy-friendly, and non-GMO, too.
Curl up at the end of the day with a cup of tea and an Archway cookie to dunk with. These slightly oversized cookies crush any late-night craving, and leave you feeling full so you won't be tempted to have another.


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What is Queen Latifah salary?
December 1, 2021, 1:37 am 17.5k Views
Introduction. As of 2021, Queen Latifah's net worth is roughly $70 million. Dana Elaine Owens, known professionally as Queen Latifah, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and producer from New Jersey.
Also, Is Queen Latifah married 2020?
Eboni Nichols is the long-time partner of world-famous singer and actress Queen Latifah. Eboni now works as a professional choreographer.
in the same way, How much is Taraji P Henson worth?
Taraji P. Henson became a household name when she starred as Cookie on "Empire," which ran from 2015 to 2020. Between the popular series and her numerous notable big-screen roles, Henson has accumulated a net worth of $25 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
likewise, Is Queen Latifah rich? Queen Latifah net worth: Queen Latifah is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, actress, model, television producer, record producer, comedienne, and talk show hostess who has a net worth of $70 million .
Queen Latifah Net Worth.
Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
What Will Smith worth?
As of 2016, his films have grossed $7.5 billion at the global box office. For his roles as boxer Muhammad Ali in Ali (2001) and stockbroker Chris Gardner in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), Smith received Academy Award nominations for Best Actor.
Website willsmith.com
Who is Queen Latifah's dad?
She is the daughter of Rita Lamae (née Bray; d. 2018), a teacher at Irvington High School (Latifah's alma mater), and Lancelot Amos Owens, a police officer.
Is Queen Latifah hair real?
For decades, Queen Latifah has kept her natural hair styled to perfection. Whether she was onstage rapping her greatest hits or on set for a blockbuster movie, we cannot recall a time when her hair was out of place.
How rich is Eddie Murphy?
As of 2021, Eddie Murphy's net worth is $200 million .
Country of Origin: United States of America
Source of Wealth: Professional Comedian/Actor
• 17 mai 2021
What is Denzel Washington's net worth?
Denzel Washington's Net Worth: $250 Million.
Who is the highest paid African American actress?
Angela Bassett Makes History As Highest-Paid Black Actress in TV History. Following a series of pay increases on Fox's drama series 9-1-1, the incomparable Angela Bassett has now made history as the highest-paid Black actress in broadcast TV history.
What is Janet Jackson's net worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, after a career spanning four decades and selling over 185 million records, Jackson is now worth an estimated US$190 million.
What is Oprah's 2020 worth?
When Oprah first crossed into billionaire status in 1999/2000, she became America's first black female billionaire.
Oprah Net Worth Milestones.
Oprah Net Worth Milestones
2019 $3,100,000,000
What is Tom Cruise worth?
Tom Cruise's estimated net worth is $600 million.
How rich is Jamie Foxx?
Jamie Foxx net worth: Jamie Foxx is an American actor, producer, singer and comedian who has a net worth of $150 million.
What is the scar from on Queen Latifah's forehead?
So, according to The Wendy Williams Show's official website, the rapper's scar came while she was outdoors. During a game of tag, Latifah tripped over a phone cord at age three. The spill resulted in a 2-inch scar placed in the center of the Living Single star's forehead.
Who is Latifah's grandmother?
Queen Latifah of 'Set It off' Wishes Her Grandmother Happy Birthday in a Sweet Post. Queen Latifah wishes her grandmother, whom she calls NaNa, happy birthday by sharing an adorable picture of both of them.
What is Queen Latifah's birth name?
Queen Latifah, byname of Dana Elaine Owens, (born March 18, 1970, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.), American musician and actress whose success in the late 1980s launched a wave of female rappers and helped redefine the traditionally male genre.
What hair color does Queen Latifah use?
But throughout the years, we've always been able to count on one thing staying the same: Her signature honey blonde hair. The superstar has worn her hair in this shade since her days of playing Khadijah James on Living Single, but she recently made a drastic color change for her latest project.
Does Queen Latifah have a perm?
Baker told Latifah to grow out her perm as her natural hair could better withstand the manipulation in comparison to her relaxed hair. "I started to learn more about hair and hair care," she recalled. "She comes from a family of hairstylists who really know about hair care."
Does Queen Latifah have Native American blood?
I'm black and we think that all of us think have Native American in us, and if I find out I don't have any Native American in me, I'm gonna be kinda mad about that. "I'm pretty sure I have some Blackfoot and Cherokee Indian in me… I've got a lot of Russian in me, apparently."
What is Chris Tucker worth?
As of August 1, 2021, Chris Tucker had a net worth of $5 million. He has earned much of his wealth from his highly successful big screen endeavors, which include acting and stand-up performances. Now, Tucker may have become famous in the early 90s both as a stand-up comedian and actor.
How much is Beyonce worth?
Superstar Beyoncé Knowles is turning 40 this year! In her four decades around the sun, she has led the band Destiny's Child, starred in films, released hit records, and has garnered a net worth of $440 million, according to Forbes.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Shipping might still be in recession but organizers of the world's most famous shipping show, Posidonia, said that the event, scheduled to kick off this weekend, will be a record one in terms of size.
Theo Vokos, executive director of Posidonia Exhibitions, reveals, "Despite the currently challenging market conditions, Posidonia 2016 will be bigger than the previous edition, underlining the importance of Greek shipping for both Greece and the international maritime industry."
The 2016 edition is the biggest exhibition ever in terms of floor space, as it has grown by some 15%. With floor space demand at unprecedented levels, more than 1,800 exhibitors from 89 countries will welcome almost 20,000 visitors in Athens.
This growth of Posidonia, Vokos says, is the result of the resilience of the Greek shipping industry, which has managed to cope with the difficult conditions prevailing in the shipping market, but has also capitalized on its entrepreneurial spirit by investing into upgrading and reinventing its product, thereby solidifying its leadership position.
Among the big growth areas for the show is the volume of conferences scheduled, with more than 40 taking place next week, which Vokos maintains will "transform Posidonia into the shipping hub of the world for one week".
No other shipping show has the power to move markets – as evidenced this week with brokers heavily active ahead of a lull in business likely next week as brokers and owners rub shoulders at parties in and around Athens.


9-months ago in early October, I took a leap of faith and entered a competition with Yes To, in hopes of becoming their next Yes To Stylista. After making it into the Top 10 of the photo submission round, we were asked to make a video and I sent that off in late October, yet again crossing my fingers. On November 9, they announced their big winner—and it was me! I was floored!! The prize came with a $1,000 cash award, a trip to San Francisco to meet the Yes To crew, and a 6-month guest blogging spot on their Tumblr.
On December 1 (also our wedding day), I began my 6-month Yes To Stylista journey. What did it involve? Basically, I received products in the mail, tried them all out (all of which were amazing and motivated me to throw out all my old and non-natural garbage), and then I blogged about it! I wrote a couple posts a month for the Yes To blog, and even made a video. In January, I was flown out to San Francisco for my big 3-day trip to meet the team and receive the royal pampering treatment! I blogged about that trip here and here, and made a video about the trip here. That was the trip of a lifetime, and the Yes To team was the most amazing group of people. I truly felt like I was one of them, and I was treated with such kindness and generosity!
Since the trip, I've kept in contact with the crew via email/instagram, and I've continued my guest-blogging adventures. My 6-months expired on June 1, and looking back, I'm just incredibly thankful and blessed for this once-in-a-lifetime chance. It's been an amazing time and I'm so thankful for every single opportunity that Yes To has given me. I made friends, I tried wonderful products, I got to reach out to a bigger audience and new group of people, and I just tried to take in every moment!
If you ever, ever have a chance to enter a contest or step outside of your comfort zone in order to win something big (or small), my only advice is just do it. You never know where that next step will take you.
To the Yes To team—thank you guys so much. The past months have been a dream-come-true and I'm so grateful for all you've done for me. You treated me like a part of your Carrot family, and totally spoiled me rotten. I am forever thankful for everything and for this amazing opportunity. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
In case you missed any of them, here is a recap of all my Yes To posts!
Yes To Celebrating Earth Week!
That sounds amazing! Congrats on the experience. I actually started following you more closely because of your trip to SF, just because it reminds me of home. I would love to do the Yes To or anything really. Or visit the headquarters. That would be so much fun!!
This is so awesome. It sounds like such a great opportunity. I would love to do something like that!
What an AMAZING opportunity. You never know when you'll find something to enrich your life.
Because of you and your posts I have tried many of the Yes To Grapefruit products and I LOVE them. Like you, I have also thrown out all of my old products. I think the Yes To team absolutely made the right choice in selecting you as their Stylista! Thank you for sharing your experience with us!
Thank you so much, Allison. Their HQ is fun... very, very orange! But I loved that. You know, my friend Kelli is a Boisean who moved to SF last year, she blogs at Leopard and Lavender... you might want to check her out! She has great style :) www.leopardandlavender.com. And no, she didn't tell me to promote her, and yes we are real-life friends :) ha!
I'd jump at the chance to represent another brand, too. It was amazing. If you get a chance to do something like that.. do it!
And I found this opportunity by chance. Danielle from Framed Frosting is the one who told me about it, and when I entered, I never in a million years thought I'd win!
Brenda, you're the best. It was really fun talking about their products with you at the WLC finale, and I'm so glad you like them. Fresh, affordable... and always great sales! Thanks for always being there for me!
It is all because of you that I started using Yes To products so I think they did a very good job in picking you as their winner!
Really?! I love this! I am tweeting them your comment as I type. You're awesome, Katie.
"If you ever, ever have a chance to enter a contest or step outside of your comfort zone in order to win something big (or small), my only advice is just do it. You never know where that next step will take you."
You did! Great great great job, Hannah! That's so amazing! I wish you the best of luck. When do you find out?
That's so long to wait! Wishing you peace in the meantime!


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Civil rights leader Bayard Rustin and astronaut Sally Ride were among the 16 Americans honored with the Medal of Freedom in a White House ceremony led by President Obama on November 20.
POZ magazine, an award-winning print and online resource for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, this week announced the fourth annual POZ 100.
The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) has published its Form 990 tax return for 2012, and it shows the anti-Gay organization with a $2.7 million deficit. Form 990s must be filed by nonprofit organizations to report their income and expenditures.


This Sunday, April 5th, Club Shostakovich is back with an all-Russian program featuring the gorgeous soprano Jennifer Krikawa singing Russian ART* songs. The Girsky Quartet performs Prokofiev's rousing Second String Quartet. Rowena Hammill, Blayne Barnes, Artur Girsky and I perform the dark and brooding Shostakovich Thirteenth String Quartet, dedicated to the violist of the Beethoven Quartet, who premiered most of Shostakovich's quartets. Cellist Douglas Davis joins us for some lovely Rachmaninov pieces. 7:30 PM at the Royal Room in Columbia City. Come early for dinner: though there's no cover, reservations for a table are recommended. Call 206 906 9920 for a reservation. *Arensky, Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky --- check out our Facebook event page for more.


SE philosophy professor, Michael Vendsel, will discuss Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" and illustrate philosophical trends present in the novel April 17 on SE Campus.
"Thinking about the Monster: Philosophical Themes in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" will be hosted in conjunction with the exhibit "Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature," which will be on display in the SE library until the end of the semester.
Vendsel has been a TCC faculty member since the fall of 2014, teaching philosophy and religion. He attended the University of Dallas where he studied how the humanities relate to each other and philosophy. It was during this time that Vendsel explored philosophy in literature.
"Frankenstein" author, Mary Shelley, as the daughter of two philosophers, grew up with a strong concentration of philosophy in her formal education.
With that background, she would later go on to write about Dr. Frankenstein and his monstrous creation.
"Though 'Frankenstein' recently reached its 200th anniversary of publication, the characters and their dilemmas about individual and societal responsibility are still relevant to us today," said Tracey Minzenmayer, SE library services assistant director.
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This package has a home page at http://live.gnome.org/GooCanvas.
The package is located in the "graphics/goocanvas" directory. The current source version of the package is "goocanvas-1.0.0nb24". For a summary on how to use the package collection, go to the top of the packages tree.
This package requires the following package(s) to build: glib2>=2.4.0 perl>=5.0 cwrappers>=20150314 libelf>=0.8.5 pcre>=8.31 pcre>=3.4nb1 libffi>=1.20 pcre>=8.30nb1 libffi>=3.0.11 python27>=2.7 mozilla-rootcerts>=1.0.20150804nb1 readline>=2.2 readline>=6.0 python27>=2.7.1nb2 cairo>=1.0.0nb2 MesaLib>=3.4.2 libxcb>=1.6 libXdmcp>=0.99 xorgproto>=2016.1 libXau>=1.0 xcb-proto>=1.13 libxml2>=2.6.2 xmlcatmgr>=2.0beta1 libxml2>=2.8.0nb2 xcb-proto>=1.4 py27-mako-[0-9]* py27-setuptools>=0.8 py27-expat-[0-9]* x11-links>=1.13 osabi-NetBSD-8.0_STABLE Xrender>=0.2 Xrender>=0.8.2 lzo>=2.01 fontconfig>=2.2.95 libuuid>=2.18 freetype2>=2.8.1 freetype2>=2.4.5 freetype2>=2.1.3 freetype2>=2.4.11 gperf-[0-9]* fontconfig>=2.10.93 fontconfig>=2.1nb2 freetype2>=2.1.9 png>=1.2.4 pixman>=0.30.0 pixman>=0.25.2 MesaLib>=7.11.2 Xrender>=0.9.0nb1 fontconfig>=2.13.0 png>=1.6.0nb1 gtk2+>=2.12.0 shared-mime-info>=0.15 glib2>=2.34.0 atk>=1.30.0 glib2>=2.31.2 gobject-introspection>=0.6.14nb1 py27-cElementTree-[0-9]* glib2>=2.54.0 libffi>=3.0.0 gobject-introspection>=1.34.0 atk>=1.11.4 glib2>=2.28.0 gdk-pixbuf2>=2.22.0 glib2>=2.37.2 tiff>=3.6.1 jbigkit>=2.0 jpeg>=8nb1 jpeg>=9 shared-mime-info>=1.0nb1 tiff>=4.0.3nb5 xcursor>=1.0 Xfixes>=2.0.0 fixesproto>=3.0.0<5 Xrender>=0.8 Xfixes>=2.0.1nb2 xcursor>=1.1.1 Xft2>=2.1.2nb2 fontconfig>=2.2 Xrender>=0.9.0nb2 Xft2>=2.1 Xft2>=2.1nb2 libXi>=1.3.0 libXi>=1.0.0 Xrandr>=0.99 Xrandr>=1.0.1 libXcomposite>=0.3.1 pango>=1.20.0 Xft2>=2.1.7nb3 fontconfig>=2.11.91 fribidi>=0.19.7 fribidi>=0.19.1 glib2>=2.33.12 harfbuzz>=0.9.9 icu>=3.4 icu>=64.1 harfbuzz>=2.1.1 cairo>=1.12.10 cairo-gobject>=1.10.2 cairo>=1.16.0 glib2>=2.14.0 Xft2>=2.1.7nb7 cairo-gobject>=1.16.0 help2man-[0-9]* p5-gettext>=1.01 perl>=5.28.0 perl<5.30.0 pango>=1.6.0 cairo>=1.6.0 atk>=2.6.0 gdk-pixbuf2>=2.34.0nb1 xcursor>=1.1.2nb1 Xrandr>=1.0.2nb3 pango>=1.42.4nb2 gobject-introspection>=0.9.3 gtk2+>=2.4.0 gtk2+>=2.24.32nb7 .
This package requires the following package(s) to run: glib2>=2.4.0 perl>=5.0 libelf>=0.8.5 pcre>=8.31 pcre>=3.4nb1 libffi>=1.20 pcre>=8.30nb1 libffi>=3.0.11 cairo>=1.0.0nb2 MesaLib>=3.4.2 libxcb>=1.6 libXdmcp>=0.99 libXau>=1.0 Xrender>=0.2 Xrender>=0.8.2 lzo>=2.01 fontconfig>=2.2.95 libuuid>=2.18 freetype2>=2.8.1 freetype2>=2.4.5 freetype2>=2.1.3 freetype2>=2.4.11 fontconfig>=2.10.93 fontconfig>=2.1nb2 freetype2>=2.1.9 png>=1.2.4 pixman>=0.30.0 pixman>=0.25.2 MesaLib>=7.11.2 Xrender>=0.9.0nb1 fontconfig>=2.13.0 png>=1.6.0nb1 gtk2+>=2.12.0 py27-expat-[0-9]* python27>=2.7 mozilla-rootcerts>=1.0.20150804nb1 python27>=2.7.1nb2 shared-mime-info>=0.15 libxml2>=2.6.2 xmlcatmgr>=2.0beta1 glib2>=2.34.0 libxml2>=2.8.0nb2 atk>=1.30.0 glib2>=2.31.2 atk>=1.11.4 glib2>=2.28.0 gdk-pixbuf2>=2.22.0 glib2>=2.37.2 tiff>=3.6.1 jbigkit>=2.0 jpeg>=8nb1 jpeg>=9 shared-mime-info>=1.0nb1 tiff>=4.0.3nb5 xcursor>=1.0 Xfixes>=2.0.0 Xrender>=0.8 Xfixes>=2.0.1nb2 xcursor>=1.1.1 Xft2>=2.1.2nb2 fontconfig>=2.2 Xrender>=0.9.0nb2 Xft2>=2.1 Xft2>=2.1nb2 libXi>=1.3.0 libXi>=1.0.0 Xrandr>=0.99 Xrandr>=1.0.1 libXcomposite>=0.3.1 pango>=1.20.0 Xft2>=2.1.7nb3 fontconfig>=2.11.91 fribidi>=0.19.7 fribidi>=0.19.1 glib2>=2.33.12 harfbuzz>=0.9.9 icu>=3.4 icu>=64.1 harfbuzz>=2.1.1 cairo>=1.12.10 cairo-gobject>=1.10.2 cairo>=1.16.0 glib2>=2.14.0 Xft2>=2.1.7nb7 cairo-gobject>=1.16.0 pango>=1.6.0 cairo>=1.6.0 atk>=2.6.0 gdk-pixbuf2>=2.34.0nb1 xcursor>=1.1.2nb1 Xrandr>=1.0.2nb3 pango>=1.42.4nb2 gtk2+>=2.4.0 gtk2+>=2.24.32nb7 .


Time for another Birdwatching post. Please take time to check out some of the other posts in the blog hop. You can do so by clicking on the button at the bottom of my post!
We have already done some study on the birds in our area and we have put together a birdwatching kit. Now we just need birds! Obviously you can go to parks, lakes, rivers, hiking trails, and such to locate birds. We have several parks we have visited and of course we always watch for them while camping or traveling. The river nearby is another source where we find many types of birds. This is where we saw the Bald Eagles. We also see many types of ducks and geese here.
Most State and County parks have an information building where you can find out about their hiking trails and the types of birds often seen in their park. Some of them even have flyers or brochures you can take with you as you are out on the trail. As a family we do have some rules when we are birdwatching.
1. Stay on the trail.
2. Do not disturb the birds. Watch, take notes, take pictures, but do not bother the birds.
3. Never take a nest. Yes, we do have some that we have found that were obviously no longer in use as they had been torn down by a storm or wind. But we never remove them from a tree, or any location where it is obvious there are or will be used.
4. And we always go out in pairs, never alone.
5. Bring your Birdwatching kit, along with water and perhaps a snack.
6. Let someone know where you are going and when you plan on being back.
Now, that we have some rules in place, let's start birdwatching! Be sure to wear comfortable clothing and shoes and bring along sunscreen if necessary. We usually choose a trail and start walking, being sure to look all around us. Some birds will be found in trees, or bushes, while others will be in the air. Then you will find some on the ground while others will be in or around water. Keep your eyes open! Take your time walking. If you are in a hurry you will miss seeing many things. It is easy to walk past a nest in a tree or bush if you are not looking for them. If it is nesting season be very careful not to scare the mother bird.
Be sure to try and get pictures. Especially if you do not recognize the bird. This way you will be able to use a book or the internet after you get home to try and identify the bird. Another source my daughter uses is her Birds and Blooms Magazine collection. Oftentimes she can find a bird we have seen in one of her magazines.
While at a campground recently, we were able to watch and get several pictures of two birds building their nest. We were able to sit on a bench nearby and take several pictures. It did not seem to bother them at all. Of course their nest was high enough up we could not have bothered it without a ladder!
I am sure many of you have your own favorite places for birdwatching and tomorrow I will be discussing one of mine, so be sure to stop by At the Fence tomorrow and see where our favorite birdwatching place is!
And please visit some of the other bloggers posting this week on the Homeschool Blog Hop. Just click on the button below!
I love the photos you got of the nesting birds! Your little flying twitter bird is especially apt in this post! LOL It landed on the photo as I was reading. Too cute!


A boy falls and finds himself in a dark and terrifying new world. It's a world of lost things: car keys, wedding rings, dads and a mysterious girl who is building an amazing machine. Performed in a unique dome structure, The Lost Things is about losing things and finding things you didn't even know you were looking for; a dark fairy-tale set in a fantastical world, where nothing is quite as it seems. Created by award-winning theatre company, Tortoise in a Nutshell and writer, Oliver Emanuel: a reader at the School of English, based at The Byre (Dragon, Titus, The Day I swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish).
While we take every opportunity to ensure the details for The Lost Things are accurate, we always advise that you contact the event organiser before setting out for the event to avoid disapointment.


text:
Serena Williams, Closer to the End Than the Middle, Still Believes
SportsTennis
"Great that she's trying to return back," said Nadal, who has 22 Grand Slam singles titles, one fewer than Williams.
Like Williams, he has battled back from potentially career-ending injuries of late. He is sort of five years younger than Williams, but is considered one of the few individuals who can understand what's going through Williams's heart and mind.
"The one thing that shows is passion and love for the sport," Nadal said of her comeback attempt. "Just being here shows that she has lots of love for her work and for this game. And I believe that's a terrific example."
There have been flashbacks on Tuesday. Williams surged to an early lead within the deciding set, then minutes later, she was fighting, down a game, though on serve, against the One hundred and fifteenth-ranked player on the earth, a 24-year-old who grew up watching her on television. Williams even served for the match after greater than two and a half hours on the court, at 5-4. Serving comes from the legs, and Williams's legs had lost their power. She sprayed errors wide and into the web, suddenly unable to handle Tan's slicing strokes.
She would save a match point on her serve two games later with a classic swinging forehand volley as she charged the web. But within the tiebreaker, she frittered away prosperity over again, allowing a 4-0 result in grow to be a 9-7 deficit. Then got here one last forehand into the web on the 3-hour, 11-minute mark.
Williams packed up her bags, waved to the gang, after which, in an interview room slightly while later, said the thought of playing in Recent York on the U.S. Open later in the summertime, after a while on the practice courts, carried loads of appeal. She, a minimum of, still believes. Retirement, for now, didn't come up.
Believes
sportinbits@gmail.comhttps://sportinbits.com
Get the latest Sports Updates (Soccer, NBA, NFL, Hockey, Racing, etc.) and Breaking News From the United States, United Kingdom, and all around the world.


We've been waiting and it's finally landed for Foot Locker's Week of Greatness — the adidas Harden Vol. 1 is here! Better yet, it's debuting in a black/gold colorway with a Primeknit upper. Photos do not do this shoe justice; the upper has tons of gold in it that shines. Moreover, the suede on the forefoot is not the crap other brands are known to use — in-hand, the suede is buttery soft, thick, and premium.
The Harden Vol. 1 features full-length Boost cushioning, a premium toe shroud that utilizes an unstitched design, beastly traction, and slightly asymmetrical lacing. To read Nightwing2303's full performance review on the Harden Vol. 1, click here (it received the Starting Five mark in every category).
To pick up your pair of the adidas Harden Vol. 1 'Imma Be A Star' for $160 click here (Foot Locker, but it just isn't working for me, won't add to cart) and here (adidas).
Are you sure they are primeknit. The description on Adidas.com does not say it is primeknit. I ordered a pair anyway.
People are sleeping on these. I am looking forward to these more than the Yeezys.
The Yeezys are haunting you–FTL's website is f*@ked up because of the Yeezy release. haha. I have the turtle dove Yeezys and I agree that the primeknit and boost is subpar compared to UltraBoost, NMD, DRose, etc. The Hardens were any easy cop at Adidas.com, but I assume you have a $20 voucher for FTL. haha. Good luck!
I'm really digging the new Harden logo. so cool.
another one of those fake sold outs. I hate when brands do that… watch the shoes being available soon again… even being discounted after a few months..
I don't think this is fake soldout, the quantity should be big this time, and it took awhile to sold out.
I dunno. but considering the style of this shoe and the reception that Adidas is getting nowadays, I wouldn't be surprised. also, this isn't your typical Harden Volume 1 shoe, which I'm sure those are available. these are pretty and pretty much Yeezy status imo.
Does anyone know if they will be released again? I tried to order them at 9:10 central and they said they were sold out.
I was able to walk into footlocker and just get a size 10. They did say it was the last pair.
I was about to hoop in them. Should I not?? Is resale high?
The more I see these the doper they look. I may have to cop a pair. Especially in this colorway. Straight fire!


text:
using System.Security.Cryptography.X509Certificates;
using Difi.SikkerDigitalPost.Klient.Domene.Entiteter.Aktører;

namespace Difi.SikkerDigitalPost.Klient.Domene.Entiteter.FysiskPost
{
    /// <summary>
    ///     En mottaker av fysisk post.
    /// </summary>
    public abstract class FysiskPostMottakerAbstrakt : PostMottaker
    {
        /// <summary>
        ///     Informasjon om mottaker av fysisk post.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="navn">Fullt navn på mottaker av fysisk post.</param>
        /// <param name="adresse">Adresse for mottaker av fysisk post.</param>
        /// <param name="utskriftstjenesteSertifikat">Sertifikat for utskriftstjenesten.</param>
        /// <param name="organisasjonsnummer">
        ///     Identifikator (organisasjonsnummer) til virksomheten som er sluttmottaker i
        ///     meldingsprosessen.
        /// </param>
        protected FysiskPostMottakerAbstrakt(string navn, Adresse adresse, X509Certificate2 utskriftstjenesteSertifikat, Organisasjonsnummer organisasjonsnummer)
            : base(utskriftstjenesteSertifikat, organisasjonsnummer)
        {
            Navn = navn;
            Adresse = adresse;
        }

        /// <summary>
        ///     Informasjon om mottaker av fysisk post. Kun for returmottaker, da utskriftstjenesteSertifikat og
        ///     organisasjonsnummer til postkasse ikke blir satt.
        ///     Bruk overload med utskriftstjenesteSertifkat og organisasjonsnummer for Mottaker.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="navn">Fullt navn på mottaker av fysisk post.</param>
        /// <param name="adresse">Adresse for mottaker av fysisk post.</param>
        protected FysiskPostMottakerAbstrakt(string navn, Adresse adresse)
            : this(navn, adresse, new X509Certificate2(), new Organisasjonsnummer("000000000"))
        {
        }

        /// <summary>
        ///     Fullt navn på mottaker av fysisk post.
        /// </summary>
        public string Navn { get; set; }

        /// <summary>
        ///     Adresse for mottaker av fysisk post.
        /// </summary>
        public Adresse Adresse { get; set; }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
2016 — The Year of Drought Busters
Mike Tipton
Kyodo News via Getty Images
There's no surprise if I told you the Cubs and Indians were in the World Series. Both teams have droughts that have lasted decades, and in the case of the Cubs, a century. However, one of those long streaks is coming to an end. The Cubs have to be the overwhelming fan favorite, plus the stats position by position would favor the Northsiders over the Indians. Yet there is still that aire of doubt looming over the heads of the Cubbies who have had plenty of disappointment in the past.
The city of Chicago though, has had it's fair share of championships since the last time the Cleveland Indians won the Fall Classic in 1948. The BlackHawks, White Sox, Bears and Bulls have given the Chicago fan base 12 championships while Cleveland as a whole struggled to form a competitive team for decades.
This year though, the city with more nicknames for heartbreaking plays than winning seasons, transformed into Believe-land and lead by LeBron James, the Cavaliers defeated the overwhelming fan and statistical favorite Golden State Warriors.Prior to the Indians series with the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS, Akron native and Cleveland's renewed favorite son, LeBron James, gave the Tribe a rousing speech that helped lift the team over the Jays, and ultimately punched their ticket to the World Series.
There has been little hidden about the struggles of Cubs fans. From the Curse of the Goat, to blaming Steve Bartman for something hundreds of thousands of fans have done in the past. The Cubs seemingly have had more bad luck than any franchise in sports history,
Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
I though, think the magic of Believe-land is something real. Cleveland as a whole struggled for 52 years between championships and there is a feeling of starting a new in the whole city, while there seems to still be that cloud over Chicago. On ESPN's Sports Center, Jay Harris read a note from Bartman's spokesman when asked if Steve would throw out the first pitch. "The chance of that happening, is slim, to none, to impossible..."
Perhaps it might be time for the multiple curses of the Cubs to come to an end, however as a history buff, there's a part of me that loves seeing this streak. The Cubbies not winning the whole thing is about as reliable as the sun rise and set daily, why mess up a good thing? But, it goes deeper than my never ending quest to be #HaterOfTheYear, it's the fact that Cleveland has been through much more as a whole. Who knows when there will ever be another chance for the city to win it all in more than one sport!
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
One thing is for sure though, while one team is feeling the ecstasy of winning the whole thing, the other is still goin' streakin'! Here's to a great Fall Classic, and may your team feel the agony of defeat.
Listen to all the World Series games on 600 ESPN El Paso
Categories: Baseball, Include in Newsletter, Local / El Paso / Texas, Opinion, Sports, SportsTalk


Why Take Low Light or Night Photos?
Pictures taken in the same spot in different lighting conditions can make for very different images. Images taken at night are usually vastly different than those taken in bright light. Ambient light varies from morning to noon to evening making subjects look a little different in each position of the sun in the sky. The light available at night gives you another category in which to experiment. A subject that is boring during the day may be beautiful at night.
Low light conditions allow for more creative control over the light that reaches your camera's sensor. There are things you can do in low light because the shutter is open for long periods of time that you can't do in daylight--light trails, geometric light tracing designs, motion blur, ghosting.
with the lowest noise possible.
Bring a flash light. To see, for focusing, and light painting.
Remove all filters. Filters will cause lens flares.
Turn down display brightness. The next to the darkest setting is usually good, but each camera is different.
You can use the eyepiece cover for long exposures to block unwanted light entering from the view finder. It's that rubber thing on many manufacturers' stock camera straps.
Turn off Image Stabilization when on a tripod. IS is for handheld shots. IS can create blur on a stationary, solid tripod. However, IS might help on a tripod being jiggled in strong wind.
Use a hot shoe level if your tripod or camera doesn't have one built in.
Have plenty of fresh batteries. Long shutter times and noise reduction drain batteries. Also batteries don't work well in the cold. Keep spares in your pockets to help keep them warm.
Photography gloves allow you to use your finger tips without having to remove your gloves. You can always cut slits in old gloves for the same effect.
2a. Keep the Camera Steady.
Limit camera shake to keep pictures from blurring.
Use a tripod. You can also set the camera on something—a table or camera bag in a pinch.
Use a cable release, remote, or the self timer to limit camera shake. Most cameras have a 30 second max automatic shutter speed. You need to use a remote with the BULB setting to use a longer shutter speed. In Manual Mode, BULB is the last longest shutter speed setting.
Use mirror lockup to limit camera shake. One click of the shutter button raises the mirror. Second click activates the shutter. Mirror lockup is usually under the custom functions setting in the menu.
Use a detachable camera strap, wrap the strap around the tripod, or hold it still if it is windy out. A strap can act like a sail in wind causing camera shake.
Sand bags can be attached to many tripods if there is a strong wind. There are also sling bags that rocks can be placed in for the same effect.
Step on a jury-rigged bungee cord loop connected to the tripod to stabilize the tripod in wind.
2b. On the Flip Side, Don't Keep the Camera Steady.
Move it, spin it, or throw it for abstract light patterns while hanging on to the strap. Just be careful with your gear. There is always a risk of damage here.
With a zoom lens, zoom in or out or both while the shutter is open.
Auto focus doesn't work well in low light on most cameras and it's difficult to see through the view finder to manually focus. Live view is a little better, but not much.
Use an existing light source in the frame. Auto focus on light source at the distance you want to be in focus—a light bulb, reflection, the moon. Put a focus point over the light. When the camera acquires focus switch AF off to keep it from readjusting and then recompose your shot. You can always fine tune with manual focus if you can see well enough. You can look for a light or bright object completely outside of your composition that your camera can focus on at the same distance as the subject in your composition.
Add a light source in the frame. Temporarily place a bright light where you want your focus to be and auto focus on it. Place or have someone stand next to your subject with flash light pointed at the camera. Lock AF then switch to manual.
Shine a light into the frame. Shine a powerful flashlight on your subject to auto focus then switch to manual.
Sometimes a laser pointer will work for this, too. I hear the green ones work best. NOTE: Never shine a laser pointer at your camera. It can permanently damage the sensor just like it can damage your eyes.
Preplan. If you have plenty of time, you could set up your shot and determine focus during the daylight, lock it in by switching to manual focus and leave the camera in position, then take the shot later when it is dark. Placing gaffer's tape across the focus ring can help keep it from being bumped out of focus by accident in the dark.
You can use smaller apertures with their greater depth of field to help with focusing problems. (Although this will increase how long the shutter stays open.) Start with larger apertures (f2.8 to 5.6) and work toward smaller ones until you get the depth of field you need, i.e. enough of your subject in focus.
Manual focus is not easy to do at night. It's hard to see through the viewfinder. If you have a distance scale on the lens barrel you can try to use that as a guide.
Live view. If your camera has a "live view" feature, you may be able to manually focus using that. A Hoodman loupe viewer would be beneficial. It allows you to see your LCD screen better.
What seems to have worked best in workshops for those with live view is to shine a flashlight with a strong, focused beam (500 lumens or greater) on your point of focus, auto focus on that, then zoom in with live view and switch to manual focus to make minor tweaks if necessary.
Noise=hot pixels in low light photography. The camera's sensor builds up heat with long exposures. That heat temporarily burns out random pixels causing noise. Noise also increases as you increase the ISO due to how the sensor electronics work.
LENR. If your camera has Long Exposure Noise Reduction (LENR) on, the camera will need to process for as long as the shutter was open. LENR takes a second shot at same length of time as the first with the shutter closed to duplicate noise. It uses the second exposure to remove/cancel out noise. You can move your camera during the second exposure with the closed shutter if you want to set up for your next shot, etc.
LENR Auto setting usually doesn't activate unless the shutter is open for longer than 15 or 30 seconds. It depends on the camera.
You can clean up noise in editing software. You can use noise reduction software like Nik Software's Dfine or do some clean up manually in Photoshop.
Take several exposures of the exact same image at the same setting, at least three, maybe more.
Set the forth layer at 25% etc. etc. The overlapping of all the noise in all the layers effectively cancels each other out; the more layers the better.
Shoot at ISO 100 to keep noise at its lowest.
Many cameras can shoot at higher ISOs and still have low noise. Experiment with your camera to see what is acceptable. Higher ISOs mean a shorter shutter speed.
Use high ISOs as a test to more quickly determine exposure. Then retake the photo at a lower ISO. See below: #5 Technique for Calculating Exposure.
Aperture—is usually a creative choice for depth of field. You can use it to help with focusing—more will be in focus with a narrow aperture (e.g., f/22). You can use it to have a shorter shutter speed (wide apertures). If you use a wide aperture (e.g., f4--a wider opening allows more light in) you can use shorter shutter speeds which are nice if time is an issue, but you will lose some depth of field.
If you are in a well lit setting like a city, choose an aperture (I recommend between f/4 to f/8 as a starting point as you learn) in Aperture Priority Mode and let the camera determine shutter speed. Take a picture and see if you are happy with the exposure. If not, adjust exposure compensation. If that isn't enough switch to Manual Mode using the previous readings as a baseline. If you were using f/4 and the camera chose 30 seconds, but that was still a little too dark, then in manual mode choose f/4 and try 45 or 60 seconds. Keep increasing the time the shutter stays open until you have an exposure you are happy with.
Manual Mode and shutter speeds.
City--using f/5.6, shutter speeds in cities usually run from 10 to 30 seconds.
Country—shutter speeds will run from 30 seconds to minutes. Star trails can take hours.
Shoot wide open at high ISO to calculate basic exposure.
If you have an f/1.4 lens and can set your camera to ISO 3200, do so.
Let your camera make an automatic exposure and use that as a starting point.
For example, if you get a decent (though noisy and otherwise awful looking) exposure at ISO 3200, f/1.4, and 1 second you can work backwards from there to get a better exposure.
Changing your aperture back to f/11 means adding another 3 stops for 4 minutes 15 seconds.
(At ISO 6400 you can do a straight conversion from seconds to minutes – e.g. if the exposure at some aperture is 1 second at ISO 6400 the claim is that it will be 1 minute at ISO 100 at that same aperture.) Note: It's close; it's technically 64 seconds so this works for shorter intervals of time. The longer the time the more this shortcut will be off.
Remember most cameras have a 30 second max automatic shutter speed. If you have a wireless or wired remote you can use the Bulb setting and have the shutter open as long as you want. The longer the shutter is open the more noise you will have.
Streetlight color, multiple light sources, etc. issues. It's easiest to shoot in raw and adjust white balance in software.
Purposefully choosing a cooler temperature white balance can help your image have moonlight feel with the blue color cast that it creates, if that is the look you want.
Allows light trails to follow behind the subject instead of in front of it. It causes the flash to fire at the end of the shot instead of at the beginning. You can usually turn this setting on under the custom functions setting in the menu.
The moon is very bright and moves quickly. It's very difficult if not impossible to expose properly for both the moon and the landscape. You can take two shots and blend them in Photoshop.
She Danced by the Light of the Moon by J. DeRuosi (Bliss Dance on Treasure Island): ISO 100 f/8 @ 10 sec. Moon layered over actual full moon: ISO 100 f/11 @ 1/100 & 1/200 HDR.
Narrower apertures create better starbursts than wide ones. Try f/22 to start.
http://www.lonelyspeck.com/ is another good resource.
600/(Focal Length) = Maximum Exposure Time in seconds before star trails start to form.
Some inspiration by Lincoln Harrison. Check out his blog, too.
Best shot on a moonless night.
Can take several hours to get full trails. Digital sensors get very hot and create a lot of noise.
Can take multiple exposures to reduce noise with star trails instead of one long exposure. You probably want to turn off LENR (Long exposure noise reduction) to do this or you will have big gaps in the trails. The setting is usually under the custom functions in the menu.
You can then take your multiple sequential short exposures and use stacking in Photoshop.
Load images into Adobe Bridge.
In Bridge I compiled them into a stack by selecting them all and right clicking and selecting group as stack.
You can then open tools–>Photoshop–>open in Photoshop layers. Or you can download Russell Brown's scripts which will add a Dr Brown's Services menu item under tools and one of those services is Dr Brown's Stack-o-matic. He seems to be having a problem with the scripts but they will show up on this page. He has CS3 and CS4 versions. He has a lot of good Photoshop material on that page too and the scripts do more than stacking. Select maximum mode from his script.
Finally the Stack Modes menu item will be visible on the layers menu, select maximum mode there. There are a lot of modes and you can play with them.
If you have a lot of layers in the stack, be prepared for long waits as Photoshop does the work.
If you don't have PS Extended: in that case load the shots into layers in Photoshop as above then try to combine them using blend modes and opacity. Screen or lighten mode are likely to work the best and the opacities should probably be 30 percent or so. But you will have to experiment yourself or check Google.
6. Consider Black & White.
HDR images converted to black and white often work very well with night photography.
Use an off camera speedlight flash to creatively light subjects in the foreground as your long exposure is gathering light info from the background. You can fire the flash manually with the test button.
Or use flashlights to illuminate an area. Try this on the background and/or foreground/subject.
Costco has been carrying Duracell 500 and 1000 lumen l.e.d. flashlights that I love for around $20. They have an evenly spread light beam that you can focus and the color temperature is close to that of flash.
Tie a flashlight with the bulb exposed on a string and swing it to make patterns. Any portable light source works. Use your imagination and try everything.
Buy colored lights and move them around in your camera's field of view with the shutter open. I use these light wands by Niteize that most hardware or camping stores carry.
Use a laser pointer to write or make patterns. (Again, NEVER shine it in your eyes or directly into the camera.) A tightly focused flashlight beam can sometimes work, too.
You don't even have to leave the house to try low light photography. Practice at home first and/or get creative with what you have at hand in your home, yard, or garage.
Dress warmly (it gets cold standing still at night). Always be aware of your surroundings and bring a friend if you can.
A stop is a doubling or halving of the light reaching the sensor. ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed all affect the incoming light. ISO controls how sensitive the sensor is to light. Aperture controls the size of the hole for light to enter the camera. Shutter speed controls how much time the light has to enter the camera and be detected by the sensor. If you take a shot then change one of the three, but want the same exposure in your next shot, you have to alter another of the three in a balanced way. Basically, you want the same mathematical quantity of light to reach the sensor for each of those shots.
Assuming aperture stays constant, the exposure for a picture taken at ISO 100 for 64 seconds will be the same as a picture taken at ISO 6400 for 1 second. The difference being that the shot at ISO 6400 will have much more noise than the one taken at ISO 100. When you are trying to compose in the dark or figure out exposure, a short shutter time is a wonderful thing so we take test shots at a high ISO. After you have composition, focus, and exposure dialed in at a high ISO, you switch to ISO 100 and proportionately increase your shutter speed to take your "real" shot. Below is a visual aid for the halving and doubling relationship. Remember, if your correct exposure at ISO 6400 for a given situation were say 3 seconds, you'd be doubling starting with 3.
A slight short cut is to use the numbers below. For each change in stop from a high ISO to a low ISO you multiply your seconds by the numbers below. For example, if your camera metered at ISO 1600 for 6 seconds to get the exposure you wanted. Switching to ISO 100 is 4 stops (4 halvings of 1600). Look at the numbers below. 4 stops has you multiply by 16 so you would take 6 seconds and multiply it by 16. 6x16=96. So at ISO 100 you would open your shutter for 96 seconds to get the same exposure you had at ISO 1600 for 6 seconds.
Note: exposure calculator apps exist. I haven't tried any yet to recommend.
Lincoln Harrison. Check out his blog, too.
Some material included from other sources. Website links to original authors provided.


text:
U.S. luxury car market
How Cadillac got left behind in the booming luxury car market
With interest rates low, gas prices down, and the economy finally on the march, 2014 was a banner year for luxury car sales. But don't tell that to the folks who run Cadillac.
The iconic brand saw sales decline by 6.5 percent last year despite boasting what auto critics call an impressive lineup of cars. Making matters worse for Cadillac, many other luxury brands saw robust sales growth in 2014.
At the Detroit Auto Show, which begins Monday, Cadillac will try to give its numbers a jolt, officially unveiling its new Cadillac CTS-V. The carmaker says the luxury sedan boasts Cadillac's most powerful engine ever.
There was a time when Cadillac was a coveted totem of American success. Athletes and movie stars drove them. Singers crooned about them. And prosperous people, from fictional ad man Don Draper to the factory worker who happened to book a lot of overtime, owned them. But it has been a long time since that was the case. These days, when Americans want a car that conveys status, they are more apt to choose a BMW, Mercedes, Lexus or an Audi.
It is a problem that has bedeviled General Motors for decades. A long decline, marked by slipping quality and increasing competition from European and Japanese automakers, left Cadillac with an image that was more old-school than anything else.
Cadillac began to improve its cars in the eyes reviewers in the past decade or so, slowly putting the brand on the upswing. But that success came against a backdrop of a crumbling U.S. auto industry. The federal auto bailouts helped save General Motors, and in the past several years the car maker has been working hard to re-establish Cadillac as a go-to luxury brand.
"They had kind of damaged the brand, " said Karl Brauer, a senior analyst with Kelley Blue Book. "That started to change about a decade ago when they introduced the [luxury sedan] CTS." The company also had unanticipated success with the Escalade, a luxury SUV that became a hit among celebrities, allowing Cadillac to broaden its appeal to a younger demographic.
Sales improved for Cadillac in recent years, but 2014 marked a setback. Analysts believe part of the problem is that its redesigned CTS, which won rave reviews for its automotive prowess, was priced too high at $46, 000. The price was raised to make room for a smaller luxury sedan, the Cadillac ATS. Last week, GM announced it was cutting the price of the three best-selling packages of options for the CTS by as much as $3, 000.
Source: www.washingtonpost.com
New U.S. Car Maker Pushes Luxury Karma
Infiniti Looks to Millennials to Capture Luxury Car Market ...
Can U.S. Luxury Cars Compete? - Pedal to the (Luxury) Metal
Acura getting back to engineering: although it was the first Japanese luxury brand in the U.S. market, Acura has not gained the sort of traction that ... article from: Automotive Design & Production
Book (Gardner Publications, Inc.)
Ford luxury car brand
What luxury means To Me?
What is luxury car tax?
What luxury car are you?
The Rambler (later AMC) Marlin is a two-door, mid-sized fastback car made in the United States by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1965 to 1967. A halo model for the company, it was marketed as a personal luxury car.
The fastback roof design was previewed on the 1964 Rambler Tarpon show car, based on the compact Rambler American. 1965...
The Volvo 480 is a car with an unusual 4-seat, 3-door hatchback body, somewhere between liftback and estate in form, though marketed as a coupé. It was the first front-wheel drive car made by Volvo Cars and the only production Volvo to feature pop-up headlamps.
Press launch was on October 15, 1985, but the 480 was first put on show at Geneva in...
The Acura Legend, sold as the Honda Legend outside the U.S., Canada, and parts of China, was a luxury vehicle sold from 1986 to 1995 as both a sedan and coupe. It was the first flagship sedan sold under the Acura nameplate, until being renamed in 1996 as the Acura 3.5RL. The 3.5RL was North American version of the (KA9) series Honda Legend. In...
I said "expensive, " but they aren't ultra luxury cars like @rollsroycecars @Ferrari and are barely @MercedesBenz C-B class or @BMW 5 Series. Sat, 23 May 2015 11:26 AM
@yasuikankei Hibiya line is ultra luxury compared to the fucked up shit that cunt oedo line is. tiny cars 100m under ground. fuck. Tue, 26 May 2015 03:13 AM


"I have played my first game for Prahran 1st XI. The standard was really good especially for club cricket – similar to county women's league….
A week from getting the keys and a month from the opening – nets looking fantastic!


text:
namespace {

const char* kModuleSystem = "module_system";
const char* kModuleName = "module_name";
const char* kModuleField = "module_field";
const char* kModulesField = "modules";

} // namespace

ModuleSystem::ModuleSystem(v8::Handle<v8::Context> context,
                           SourceMap* source_map)
    : context_(v8::Persistent<v8::Context>::New(context)),
      source_map_(source_map),
      natives_enabled_(0) {
  RouteFunction("require",
      base::Bind(&ModuleSystem::RequireForJs, base::Unretained(this)));
  RouteFunction("requireNative",
      base::Bind(&ModuleSystem::GetNative, base::Unretained(this)));

  v8::Handle<v8::Object> global(context_->Global());
  global->SetHiddenValue(v8::String::New(kModulesField), v8::Object::New());
  global->SetHiddenValue(v8::String::New(kModuleSystem),
                         v8::External::New(this));
}

ModuleSystem::~ModuleSystem() {
  v8::HandleScope handle_scope;
  // Deleting this value here prevents future lazy field accesses from
  // referencing ModuleSystem after it has been freed.
  context_->Global()->DeleteHiddenValue(v8::String::New(kModuleSystem));
  context_.Dispose();
}

ModuleSystem::NativesEnabledScope::NativesEnabledScope(
    ModuleSystem* module_system)
    : module_system_(module_system) {
  module_system_->natives_enabled_++;
}

ModuleSystem::NativesEnabledScope::~NativesEnabledScope() {
  module_system_->natives_enabled_--;
  CHECK_GE(module_system_->natives_enabled_, 0);
}

// static
bool ModuleSystem::IsPresentInCurrentContext() {
  v8::Handle<v8::Object> global(v8::Context::GetCurrent()->Global());
  v8::Handle<v8::Value> module_system =
      global->GetHiddenValue(v8::String::New(kModuleSystem));
  return !module_system.IsEmpty() && !module_system->IsUndefined();
}

// static
void ModuleSystem::DumpException(const v8::TryCatch& try_catch) {
  v8::HandleScope handle_scope;

  v8::Handle<v8::Message> message(try_catch.Message());
  if (message.IsEmpty()) {
    LOG(ERROR) << "try_catch has no message";
    return;
  }

  std::string resource_name = "<unknown resource>";
  if (!message->GetScriptResourceName().IsEmpty()) {
    resource_name =
        *v8::String::Utf8Value(message->GetScriptResourceName()->ToString());
  }

  std::string error_message = "<no error message>";
  if (!message->Get().IsEmpty())
    error_message = *v8::String::Utf8Value(message->Get());

  std::string stack_trace = "<stack trace unavailable>";
  if (!try_catch.StackTrace().IsEmpty()) {
    v8::String::Utf8Value stack_value(try_catch.StackTrace());
    if (*stack_value)
      stack_trace.assign(*stack_value, stack_value.length());
    else
      stack_trace = "<could not convert stack trace to string>";
  }

  LOG(ERROR) << "[" << resource_name << "(" << message->GetLineNumber() << ")] "
             << error_message
             << "{" << stack_trace << "}";
}

void ModuleSystem::Require(const std::string& module_name) {
  v8::HandleScope handle_scope;
  RequireForJsInner(v8::String::New(module_name.c_str()));
}

v8::Handle<v8::Value> ModuleSystem::RequireForJs(const v8::Arguments& args) {
  v8::HandleScope handle_scope;
  v8::Handle<v8::String> module_name = args[0]->ToString();
  return handle_scope.Close(RequireForJsInner(module_name));
}

v8::Handle<v8::Value> ModuleSystem::RequireForJsInner(
    v8::Handle<v8::String> module_name) {
  v8::HandleScope handle_scope;
  v8::Handle<v8::Object> global(v8::Context::GetCurrent()->Global());
  v8::Handle<v8::Object> modules(v8::Handle<v8::Object>::Cast(
      global->GetHiddenValue(v8::String::New(kModulesField))));
  v8::Handle<v8::Value> exports(modules->Get(module_name));
  if (!exports->IsUndefined())
    return handle_scope.Close(exports);

  v8::Handle<v8::Value> source(GetSource(module_name));
  if (source->IsUndefined())
    return handle_scope.Close(v8::Undefined());
  v8::Handle<v8::String> wrapped_source(WrapSource(
      v8::Handle<v8::String>::Cast(source)));
  v8::Handle<v8::Function> func =
      v8::Handle<v8::Function>::Cast(RunString(wrapped_source, module_name));
  if (func.IsEmpty()) {
    return ThrowException(std::string(*v8::String::AsciiValue(module_name)) +
        ": Bad source");
  }

  exports = v8::Object::New();
  v8::Handle<v8::Object> natives(NewInstance());
  v8::Handle<v8::Value> args[] = {
    natives->Get(v8::String::NewSymbol("require")),
    natives->Get(v8::String::NewSymbol("requireNative")),
    exports,
  };
  {
    WebKit::WebScopedMicrotaskSuppression suppression;
    v8::TryCatch try_catch;
    try_catch.SetCaptureMessage(true);
    func->Call(global, 3, args);
    if (try_catch.HasCaught()) {
      DumpException(try_catch);
      return v8::Undefined();
    }
  }
  modules->Set(module_name, exports);
  return handle_scope.Close(exports);
}

void ModuleSystem::RegisterNativeHandler(const std::string& name,
    scoped_ptr<NativeHandler> native_handler) {
  native_handler_map_[name] =
      linked_ptr<NativeHandler>(native_handler.release());
}

void ModuleSystem::OverrideNativeHandler(const std::string& name) {
  overridden_native_handlers_.insert(name);
}

void ModuleSystem::RunString(const std::string& code, const std::string& name) {
  v8::HandleScope handle_scope;
  RunString(v8::String::New(code.c_str()), v8::String::New(name.c_str()));
}

// static
v8::Handle<v8::Value> ModuleSystem::LazyFieldGetter(
    v8::Local<v8::String> property, const v8::AccessorInfo& info) {
  CHECK(!info.Data().IsEmpty());
  CHECK(info.Data()->IsObject());
  v8::HandleScope handle_scope;
  v8::Handle<v8::Object> parameters = v8::Handle<v8::Object>::Cast(info.Data());
  v8::Handle<v8::Object> global(v8::Context::GetCurrent()->Global());
  v8::Handle<v8::Value> module_system_value =
      global->GetHiddenValue(v8::String::New(kModuleSystem));
  if (module_system_value->IsUndefined()) {
    // ModuleSystem has been deleted.
    return v8::Undefined();
  }
  ModuleSystem* module_system = static_cast<ModuleSystem*>(
      v8::Handle<v8::External>::Cast(module_system_value)->Value());

  v8::Handle<v8::Object> module;
  {
    NativesEnabledScope scope(module_system);
    module = v8::Handle<v8::Object>::Cast(module_system->RequireForJsInner(
        parameters->Get(v8::String::New(kModuleName))->ToString()));
  }
  if (module.IsEmpty())
    return handle_scope.Close(v8::Handle<v8::Value>());

  v8::Handle<v8::String> field =
      parameters->Get(v8::String::New(kModuleField))->ToString();

  return handle_scope.Close(module->Get(field));
}

void ModuleSystem::SetLazyField(v8::Handle<v8::Object> object,
                                const std::string& field,
                                const std::string& module_name,
                                const std::string& module_field) {
  v8::HandleScope handle_scope;
  v8::Handle<v8::Object> parameters = v8::Object::New();
  parameters->Set(v8::String::New(kModuleName),
                  v8::String::New(module_name.c_str()));
  parameters->Set(v8::String::New(kModuleField),
                  v8::String::New(module_field.c_str()));

  object->SetAccessor(v8::String::New(field.c_str()),
                      &ModuleSystem::LazyFieldGetter,
                      NULL,
                      parameters);
}

v8::Handle<v8::Value> ModuleSystem::RunString(v8::Handle<v8::String> code,
                                              v8::Handle<v8::String> name) {
  v8::HandleScope handle_scope;
  WebKit::WebScopedMicrotaskSuppression suppression;
  v8::Handle<v8::Value> result;
  v8::TryCatch try_catch;
  try_catch.SetCaptureMessage(true);
  v8::Handle<v8::Script> script(v8::Script::New(code, name));
  if (try_catch.HasCaught()) {
    DumpException(try_catch);
    return handle_scope.Close(result);
  }

  result = script->Run();
  if (try_catch.HasCaught())
    DumpException(try_catch);

  return handle_scope.Close(result);
}

v8::Handle<v8::Value> ModuleSystem::GetSource(
    v8::Handle<v8::String> source_name) {
  v8::HandleScope handle_scope;
  std::string module_name = *v8::String::AsciiValue(source_name);
  if (!source_map_->Contains(module_name))
    return v8::Undefined();
  return handle_scope.Close(source_map_->GetSource(module_name));
}

v8::Handle<v8::Value> ModuleSystem::GetNative(const v8::Arguments& args) {
  CHECK_EQ(1, args.Length());
  if (natives_enabled_ == 0)
    return ThrowException("Natives disabled");
  std::string native_name = *v8::String::AsciiValue(args[0]->ToString());
  if (overridden_native_handlers_.count(native_name) > 0u)
    return RequireForJs(args);
  NativeHandlerMap::iterator i = native_handler_map_.find(native_name);
  if (i == native_handler_map_.end())
    return v8::Undefined();
  return i->second->NewInstance();
}

v8::Handle<v8::String> ModuleSystem::WrapSource(v8::Handle<v8::String> source) {
  v8::HandleScope handle_scope;
  v8::Handle<v8::String> left =
      v8::String::New("(function(require, requireNative, exports) {");
  v8::Handle<v8::String> right = v8::String::New("\n})");
  return handle_scope.Close(
      v8::String::Concat(left, v8::String::Concat(source, right)));
}

v8::Handle<v8::Value> ModuleSystem::ThrowException(const std::string& message) {
  return v8::ThrowException(v8::String::New(message.c_str()));
}


text:
typedef struct iree_byte_range_t {
  iree_host_size_t offset;
  iree_host_size_t length;
} iree_byte_range_t;

static inline uintptr_t iree_page_align_start(uintptr_t addr,
                                              iree_host_size_t page_alignment) {
  return addr & (~(page_alignment - 1));
}

static inline uintptr_t iree_page_align_end(uintptr_t addr,
                                            iree_host_size_t page_alignment) {
  return iree_page_align_start(addr + (page_alignment - 1), page_alignment);
}

// Computes a page-aligned range base and total length from a range.
// This will produce a starting address <= the range offset and a length >=
// the range length.
static inline void iree_page_align_range(void* base_address,
                                         iree_byte_range_t range,
                                         iree_host_size_t page_alignment,
                                         void** out_start_address,
                                         iree_host_size_t* out_aligned_length) {
  void* range_start = (void*)iree_page_align_start(
      (uintptr_t)base_address + range.offset, page_alignment);
  void* range_end = (void*)iree_page_align_end(
      (uintptr_t)base_address + range.offset + range.length, page_alignment);
  *out_start_address = range_start;
  *out_aligned_length =
      (iree_host_size_t)range_end - (iree_host_size_t)range_start;
}

//==============================================================================
// Memory subsystem information and control
//==============================================================================

// System platform/environment information defining memory parameters.
// These can be used to control application behavior (such as whether to enable
// a JIT if executable pages can be allocated) and allow callers to compute
// memory ranges based on the variable page size of the platform.
typedef struct iree_memory_info_t {
  // The page size and the granularity of page protection and commitment. This
  // is the page size used by the iree_memory_view_t functions.
  iree_host_size_t normal_page_size;

  // The granularity for the starting address at which virtual memory can be
  // allocated.
  iree_host_size_t normal_page_granularity;

  // The minimum page size and granularity for large pages or 0 if unavailable.
  // To use large pages the size and alignment must be a multiple of this value
  // and the IREE_MEMORY_VIEW_FLAG_LARGE_PAGES must be set.
  iree_host_size_t large_page_granularity;

  // Indicates whether executable pages may be allocated within the process.
  // Some platforms or release environments have restrictions on whether
  // executable pages may be allocated from user code (such as iOS).
  bool can_allocate_executable_pages;
} iree_memory_info_t;

// Queries the system platform/environment memory information.
// Callers should cache the results to avoid repeated queries, such as storing
// the used fields in an allocator upon initialization to reuse during
// allocations made via the allocator.
void iree_memory_query_info(iree_memory_info_t* out_info);

// Enter a W^X region where pages will be changed RW->RX or RX->RW and write
// protection should be suspended. Only effects the calling thread and must be
// paired with iree_memory_jit_context_end.
void iree_memory_jit_context_begin(void);

// Exits a W^X region previously entered with iree_memory_jit_context_begin.
void iree_memory_jit_context_end(void);

//==============================================================================
// Virtual address space manipulation
//==============================================================================

// Defines which access operations are allowed on a view of memory.
// Attempts to perform an access not originally allowed when the view was
// defined may result in process termination/exceptions/sadness on platforms
// with real MMUs and are generally not detectable: treat limited access as a
// fail-safe mechanism only.
enum iree_memory_access_bits_t {
  // Pages in the view may be read by the process.
  // Some platforms may not respect this value being unset meaning that reads
  // will still succeed.
  IREE_MEMORY_ACCESS_READ = 1u << 0,
  // Pages in the view may be written by the process.
  // If unset then writes will result in process termination.
  IREE_MEMORY_ACCESS_WRITE = 1u << 1,
  // Pages in the view can be executed as native machine code.
  // Callers must ensure iree_memory_info_t::can_allocate_executable_pages is
  // true prior to requesting executable memory as certain platforms or release
  // environments may not support allocating/using executable pages.
  IREE_MEMORY_ACCESS_EXECUTE = 1u << 2,
};
typedef uint32_t iree_memory_access_t;

// Flags used to control the behavior of allocated memory views.
enum iree_memory_view_flag_bits_t {
  // TODO(benvanik): pull from memory_object.h.
  IREE_MEMORY_VIEW_FLAG_NONE = 0u,

  // Indicates that the memory may be used to execute code.
  // May be used to ask for special privileges (like MAP_JIT on MacOS).
  IREE_MEMORY_VIEW_FLAG_MAY_EXECUTE = 1u << 10,
};
typedef uint32_t iree_memory_view_flags_t;

// Reserves a range of virtual address space in the host process.
// The base alignment will be that of the page granularity as specified
// (normal or large) in |flags| and |total_length| will be adjusted to match.
//
// The resulting range at |out_base_address| will be uncommitted and
// inaccessible on systems with memory protection. Pages within the range must
// first be committed with iree_memory_view_commit_ranges and then may have
// their access permissions changed with iree_memory_view_protect_ranges.
//
// Implemented by VirtualAlloc+MEM_RESERVE/mmap+PROT_NONE.
iree_status_t iree_memory_view_reserve(iree_memory_view_flags_t flags,
                                       iree_host_size_t total_length,
                                       iree_allocator_t host_allocator,
                                       void** out_base_address);

// Releases a range of virtual address
void iree_memory_view_release(void* base_address, iree_host_size_t total_length,
                              iree_allocator_t host_allocator);

// Commits pages overlapping the byte ranges defined by |byte_ranges|.
// Ranges will be adjusted to the page granularity of the view.
//
// Implemented by VirtualAlloc+MEM_COMMIT/mmap+!PROT_NONE.
iree_status_t iree_memory_view_commit_ranges(
    void* base_address, iree_host_size_t range_count,
    const iree_byte_range_t* ranges, iree_memory_access_t initial_access);

// Changes the access protection of view byte ranges defined by |byte_ranges|.
// Ranges will be adjusted to the page granularity of the view.
//
// Implemented by VirtualProtect/mprotect:
//  https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/memoryapi/nf-memoryapi-virtualprotect
//  https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man2/mprotect.2.html
iree_status_t iree_memory_view_protect_ranges(void* base_address,
                                              iree_host_size_t range_count,
                                              const iree_byte_range_t* ranges,
                                              iree_memory_access_t new_access);

// Flushes the CPU instruction cache for a given range of bytes.
// May be a no-op depending on architecture, but must be called prior to
// executing code from any pages that have been written during load.
void iree_memory_view_flush_icache(void* base_address, iree_host_size_t length);

#endif  // IREE_HAL_LOCAL_ELF_PLATFORM_H_


Open House. PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE: Sunday, July 28th, 2-4pm.
Please visit our Open House at 4988 SHIRLEY AVE in North Vancouver.
PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE: Sunday, July 28th, 2-4pm.
This beautiful home provides the ideal floorplan for entertaining and comfortable living. High ceilings & plenty of windows allow loads of natural light to stream in. Warm your toes with in-floor radiant heat on all three levels. Enjoy thesparkling kitchen with new stainless steel appliances. Open to the family room, this area of the home overlooks the south-facing yard, an area perfect for outdoor entertaining. Enjoy 3 spacious bedrooms up including a lovely master suite, plus a 2 bedroom in-law or nanny suite below. Situated on a sunny, corner lot on a flat street in the Montroyal Elementary and Handsworth Secondary catchments, this just may be the one. Call for your private showing today.


Retrospectives are opinion pieces looking back at older games and discussing what made them great, mediocre, or terrible. Cynical Hunter takes a look at recent Game of the Month title, Overlord, and gives his opinion.
Overlord is a third-person action RPG with elements of RTS thrown in to confuse you. However, all these elements are stripped down to their bare essentials so you'll never confuse this hybrid as a pure breed. The RPG elements are sparse overall. Loot has only three tiers of items and the only restrictions of this these is finding the forge needed to make them. You can customise items to a point by adding a few souls to change the armour or weapons abilities but it's subtle and basic. On the RTS side of things, your abilities begin and end with the ability to tell where minions they should go, whom to kill and whether they should be drowning or not, more on the minions later.
The game takes place in a fantasy world filled with hobbits with eating disorders, elves suffering from a horrendous case of narcolepsy, dwarves with drinking problems and homicidal unicorns…. so typical yeah? That's the way with Overlord setting and story; you are presented with the expected and the unexpected jumps you and steal your wallet which is to be expected due the writing of Rhianna Pratchett (yeah Terry Pratchett's daughter, the apple never falls far from the tree). The games story is, and I'll try to be spoiler free here, a typical revenge quest at its core with the Overlord being raised from the dead and then setting out to kill the seven heroes who beat him last time they met. However, during his time as worm food the seven heroes have become corrupted by wealth and power and so you raise your army of minions to show these heroes how to be properly evil. You won't feel emotionally invested in the story but that's fine as it isn't what carries this game, what does are the minions.
The Minions are the heart and soul of this game. They do everything you could want them to do, they kill peasants, loot villages, ride sheep and generally be unpleasant to the world at large. The Minions come in four flavours. Vanilla is your basic brawler. This little feller is with you from the start and does the lion's share of the work when it comes to you conquering the world. They can be brutally effective at killing enemies when sent in a swarm but are weak on their own. They will equip any weapons and armour they find so your army with start to look very strange (the rat hat is a interesting piece of head wear) any gold, souls or anything else useful to your cause will be brought to the overlord followed by some grovelling that really makes you feel like a god. The second class of minion is the little red bugger, the archer. The archer throws fire and has the ability to absorb fire, meaning you can then go places you couldn't before. The third class is the assassin, and this little feller would, in a personal ad, describe himself as "green and homicidal with GOSH". He likes to jump on peoples backs and start slashing. He's also immune to poison and so can destroy pods puffing out toxic fumes that impede your progress. The fourth and final class you get is the little blue healer, who is the only one able to kill magical enemies and are able to revive the recently deceased. They are also the only minions who can walk in water.
Controls over the minions is simple to learn but difficult to actually manager, especially late in the game when things get hectic and you need to control several groups of minions, but to be honest the tactic of sending everything at one target can often work out just fine. In contrast, combat as the Overlord himself is just bad. You don't feel like an all powerful being swinging a battleaxe at the poor whelps, but instead you feel weak and feeble, only beating up a sleeping kitten with its paws behind its head. Combat it greatly improved when your magic supply grows and you can unleash some pretty darn spectacular magic spells. My personal favourite is the good old Inferno; it just looks fantastic when invoked on cowering peasants.
Being evil is the second main selling point to this game after the minions, and you're given many opportunities to choose whether or not to be a douche bag to the plebs, settlements and girlfriends. The problem with this is that due to the light hearted nature of the world you live in, none of the really evil choices have any moral guilt attached to them, so the evil option becomes your go to for choices in most cases since playing through the game as a nice guy will leave you poor, bored and sexual frustrated (at least one of these symptoms may be exclusive to me). As is often the case with being good, you will find yourself restrained from pillaging; taking away the fun from one of the more enjoyable acts in the game. Any of these problems I had are tempered with the fact that this game was not meant to be serious and the story was never going to be Dragon Age quality (insert other game that personally got you).
To sum up, Overlord is a good game and has some great ideas in terms of gameplay but some control issue and the main character being silent (not in the Gordon Freeman badass way) distract from the experience and lessen its appeal. The game's true heroes are the minions, their charm and moments of chaos they can unleash are divine to watch. Out of ten I would give this an above average six, and i felt it was certainly worth revisiting from when I first bought it at release.
This entry was posted on Saturday, August 27th, 2011 at 12:00 and is filed under Features, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.


text:
Imprint: Pan
Game of Thrones meets Thor: Ragnarok in Between the Blade and the Heart, a gripping story of love and revenge from Amanda Hocking, author of the Trylle trilogy and the Kanin Chronicles.
Malin is a Valkyrie-in-training. It's her responsibility to slay immortals, returning them to the afterlife to maintain balance in the world. She also struggles to maintain balance in her own life – between her studies, her duties as a Valkyrie and her conflicting feelings for her ex-girlfriend.
But when a beguiling stranger breaks into her home on a quest for vengeance, Malin's carefully balanced life falls apart. Asher is hunting the rogue immortal who murdered his mother, and he thinks Malin may have information. Her loyalties are tested, as she uncovers a betrayal that unravels everything she thought she knew. And she must decide if helping the mysterious Asher enact his revenge is worth the risk – to the world, and to her heart.
Long-listed for Inky Awards 2019.
Amanda Hocking lives in Minnesota, had never sold a book before April 2010 and has now sold her millionth. She is now 'the most spectacular example of an author striking gold through ebooks' according to the Observer. In her own words, Amanda is an obsessive Tweeter, John Hughes mourner, Batman devotee, Muppets activist and unicorn enthusiast. Her books include the Trylle trilogy, the Kanin Chronicles and the Watersong series.
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