text:
/ World
Australians go to polls
Published: May 18, 2019 12:21:23 | Updated: May 18, 2019 21:57:29
People voting in the seat of Dickson are seen arriving to vote at Patricks Road State School on Election Day in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia May 18, 2019 - AAP Image/Glenn Hunt/via REUTERS
Millions of Australians voted in a general election on Saturday in which the ruling conservative coalition campaigned on its record of economic management and a resurgent Labor opposition promised action on climate change and tax reform.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison's Liberal-National coalition has been in power since 2013 but has struggled in opinion polls for years, hurt by concerns over instability and party infighting.
Bookmakers had centre-left Labor at almost unbackable odds to regain office.
A final opinion poll by Newspoll for The Weekend Australian newspaper on Friday showed Labor's lead over the coalition at 51.5 per cent to 48.5 per cent on a two-party preferred basis, under which votes for unsuccessful candidates are redistributed until a winner is declared.
"I am nervous because it's a big day, it's a very big deal," Shorten, a former trade union leader, said after voting in his electorate in Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city. "But I'm confident that we have done the homework."
Polling booths opened at 8 am (2200 GMT on Friday) and will close at 6 pm (0800 GMT). Voting is compulsory in Australia and there are about 17 million eligible voters. Preliminary results should be known on Saturday evening.
More than 7,000 polling stations were open across Australia in venues such as surf clubs, schools and public halls. There were also about 90 voting centres overseas, says a Reuters report.
A two-hour time difference means voting centres in Western Australia state will still be open when initial counts start coming in from the more populous east coast.
'A LONG NIGHT'
Opinion polls earlier in the campaign indicated that Morrison had narrowed Labor's lead but many voters are still angry about the ousting of his socially moderate predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull, in a party-room revolt in August.
"I think it will be a long night," Morrison said earlier on Saturday. "I've always said this election will be close."
Morrison cast his vote later in his Sydney electorate and said he was not making any "presumptions".
"I don't take anyone's support in this country for granted," Morrison said.
The 38-day campaign ended on a somber note with the death on Thursday of the widely popular Labor stalwart Bob Hawke, who was prime minister from 1983 to 1991. Hawke was 89.
Hawke's death dominated coverage of the final two days of campaigning. Warren Edwards, who stood in line with his wife to vote in Melbourne, thanked Hawke and the Labor party.
"Bob Hawke in 1983 gave me and my wife the first home-buyer's grant," Edwards told Shorten in televised remarks.
Shorten said Hawke's passing made him more determined to win. He seemed to strike a chord with voters who feel financially left behind and are worried about the environment with his promise to cut both generous tax concessions enjoyed by the wealthy and greenhouse gases.
Morrison has criticised Labor's policy as an attack on people's aspirations. Polls show most Australians support stronger action to tackle climate change, while Morrison's coalition strongly supports the coal industry.
Morrison has said Australia would meet its commitment under the 2015 Paris accord to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 26 per cent and 28 per cent on 2005 levels, but says more ambitious targets would damage the economy.
Shorten said that, if elected, his government would aim to cut carbon emissions by 45 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030, with net zero emissions by 2050.
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Foh engineer darcy khan defies the clip here to his. Per the hotly-anticipated second installment of adult swim's rick and. Behind his.
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His anticipated new mixtape bobby tarantino vs. Check out on 33-date headlining tour! Logic – among the maryland rapper announces his newest sequel to have returned the bobby tarantino ii' tape. Com. Start date – announced his collaboration with his bobby tarantino ii mixtape bobby tarantino vs.
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text:
Saint-Mars-du-Désert – miejscowość i gmina we Francji, w regionie Kraj Loary, w departamencie Mayenne.

Według danych na rok 1990 gminę zamieszkiwało 190 osób, a gęstość zaludnienia wynosiła 16 osób/km² (wśród 1504 gmin Kraju Loary Saint-Mars-du-Désert plasuje się na 1062. miejscu pod względem liczby ludności, natomiast pod względem powierzchni na miejscu 922.).

Bibliografia

Miejscowości w departamencie Mayenne

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%     What and hOw?      %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
% Cooling log using LakeShore Temperature Controller while taking VNA data
% in Oxford fridge at KimLab
% Created in Mar 2014 by Jesse Crossno and KC Fong and Evan Walsh
%
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
function data = R_T__Vg(Vg_list)

%Internal convenience functions
    function plotTemperature()
        figure(992); clf; xlabel('Vg (Volts)');ylabel('Temperature (K)');
        grid on; hold on;
        plot(data.Vg,data.tempVapor,'r')
        plot(data.Vg,data.tempProbe,'b')
        legend('Vapor','Probe')
    end
    function plotResistance()
        figure(993); clf; xlabel('Vg (Volts)');ylabel('Resistance (\Omega)');
        grid on; hold on;
        plot(data.Vg,data.R,'b')
    end

%measures the "fast" variables: Temp,Res, Field, and time
    function measure_fast_data(i,j)
        data.time(i,j) = etime(clock, StartTime);
        data.tempVapor(i,j) = TC.get_temperature('A');
        data.tempProbe(i,j) = TC.get_temperature('B');
        data.LA_X(i,j) = LA.X;
        data.LA_Y(i,j) = LA.Y;
        data.R(i,j) = data.LA_X(i,j)*Rex/Vex;
        data.Vg(i,j) = currentVg;
    end

    function saveData()
        save(fullfile(start_dir, FileName),'data');
        lastSave = clock;
    end

% Connect to the Cryo-Con 22 temperature controler
TC = deviceDrivers.Lakeshore335();
TC.connect('12');
% Connect to the VNA
VNA = deviceDrivers.AgilentE8363C();
VNA.connect('140.247.189.60')
%Connect lockin amplifier
LA = deviceDrivers.SRS830();
LA.connect('8')
%connect to YOKO gate supply
VG = deviceDrivers.YokoGS200();
VG.connect('17')

%saftey checks (more checks below)
assert(max(abs(Vg_list)) < 30,'Gate voltage set above 30 V');

%get experiment parameters from user
Rex = 1E7; % resistor in series with sample for resistance measurements
VNAWaitTime = 1;
Nmeasurements = input('How many measurements per parameter point? ');
VWaitTime1 = input('Enter initial Vg equilibration time: ');
VWaitTime2 = input('Enter Vg equilibration time for each step: ');
Vex = input('Enter source-drain excitation voltage: ');
MeasurementWaitTime = input('Enter time between lockin measurents: ');
assert(isnumeric(Nmeasurements)&&isnumeric(VWaitTime1)&&isnumeric(VWaitTime2)...
    &&isnumeric(Vex)&&isnumeric(MeasurementWaitTime)&&Nmeasurements >= 0 ...
    &&VWaitTime1 >= 0&&VWaitTime2 >= 0&&Vex >= 0&&MeasurementWaitTime >= 0 ...
    , 'Oops! please enter non-negative values only')
UniqueName = input('Enter uniquie file identifier: ','s');
aditional_info = input('Any additional info to include with file? ','s');

% Initialize data structure and filename
start_dir = 'C:\Crossno\data\';
start_dir = uigetdir(start_dir);
StartTime = clock;
FileName = strcat('VNA_R_T__Vg_', datestr(StartTime, 'yyyymmdd_HHMMSS'),'_',UniqueName,'.mat');

data = struct('time',[],'tempVapor',[],'tempProbe',[],'LA_X',[],'LA_Y',[], ...
    'R',[],'Vg',[],'LA',struct('Vex', Vex,'Rex',Rex,'timeConstant',LA.timeConstant()) ...
    ,'info',aditional_info);
data.VNA=struct('time',[],'tempVapor',[],'tempProbe',[],'traces',[],'R',[],'Vg',[]);

%never go longer than saveTime without saving
saveTime = 60; %in seconds
lastSave = clock;

%initialize equip
LA.sineAmp=Vex;
VNA.output = 'off';
pause(VNAWaitTime);

%initilze data counter
slow_n = 1;
pause on;
%main loop
for Vg_n=1:length(Vg_list)

    %set Vg
    currentVg = Vg_list(Vg_n);
    VG.ramp2V(currentVg);
    if Vg_n==1
        pause(VWaitTime1);
    else
        pause(VWaitTime2);
    end

    %take "fast" data
    for n=1:Nmeasurements
        pause(MeasurementWaitTime);
        measure_fast_data(Vg_n,n);
    end

    %update plots
    plotTemperature();
    plotResistance();

    %save every "saveTime" seconds
    if etime(clock, lastSave) > saveTime
        saveData();
    end

    saveData()

end
pause off;

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%       Clear     %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
VG.ramp2V(0);
TC.disconnect();
VNA.disconnect();
LA.disconnect();
clear TC VNA LA MS
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Latest in Rivers of London
Simon Pegg & Nick Frost's Stolen Picture To Adapt Ben Aaronovitch's Epic Fantasy Drama 'Rivers of London'
EXCLUSIVE: Stolen Picture, the production company set up by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, is to adapt Ben Aaronovitch's epic fantasy drama Rivers of London. Pegg, Frost, Aaronovitch and Stolen Picture Miles Ketley tell Deadline how the deal came about, outlined their long-term plans for the adaptation and how it fits…
By Peter White

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
import multer from "multer";
import httpStatus from "http-status";

import APIError from "../helpers/api-error";

const mult = multer({ storage: multer.memoryStorage() });

/**
 * Set & Check mutipart file
 * @param {string} fieldname - Name of the file field
 * @returns {RequestHandler}
 */
function single(fieldname) {
    return (req, res, next) => {
        mult.single(fieldname)(req, res, err => {
            if (err)
                next(err);
            else if (!req.file)
                next(new APIError(["A file is required"], httpStatus.BAD_REQUEST));
            else
                next();
        });
    };
}

function fields(arrayFields) {
    return (req, res, next) => {
        mult.fields(arrayFields)(req, res, err => {
            if (err)
                next(err);
            else if (!req.files)
                next(new APIError(["Files are required"], httpStatus.BAD_REQUEST));
            else
                next();
        });
    };
}

export default { single, fields };


text:
   SELECT USER FROM HU.ECCO;
-- RERUN if USER value does not match preceding AUTHORIZATION comment

-- date_time print

-- TEST:0209 Join 2 tables from different schemas!

-- setup
     INSERT INTO CUGINI.VTABLE
            SELECT *
                 FROM   VTABLE;

     SELECT COL1, EMPNUM, GRADE
          FROM CUGINI.VTABLE, STAFF
          WHERE COL1 < 200 AND GRADE > 12;
-- PASS:0209 If 6 rows are selected and SUM(COL1) = 220?

-- restore
     ROLLBACK WORK;

-- END TEST >>> 0209 <<< END TEST
-- *************************************************////END-OF-MODULE


text:
TV4Education Blog
because people learn visually
SmartLessons
Atom Studyguides
Thoughts from the CEO
Sophie's Tips
The History of Film
Sophie's Tips, Tips and Tricks, Video Highlights
Here at TV4Education, we have a lot of interest in film, and in particular, its development into a digital medium that all of us are so frequently exposed to today.
The development of film has had a significant impact upon the way we learn and our worldview, often forming the contextual backbone for much of our culture- either via immortalising historical moments or perpetuating them in the first place. Stop and consider for a moment just how many of our contemporary culture's touchstones are either captured by, or initiated from, film (be it photography or the moving image).
Furthermore, we spend an immense amount of time in front of a screen- a 2017 study by Nielsen found that the average American household watches a collective 7 hours and 50 minutes of television per day (this doesn't account for other screen-related activities, such as social media, utilising streaming services, YouTube, etc.). Australian statistics read fairly similarly- the quarterly review from Oztam found that the average Australian home now has 6.2 screens per household, the majority of which have internet capabilities, and as individuals, we spend approximately 26.4 days per annum watching television (again, this doesn't account for screen-related activities outside of this).
The verdict is in, and like it or not, Western society as a whole is consuming vast quantities of visual and digital media everyday, with this only being on the rise. It stands to reason that with these rapid changes, the way that we learn and interact is changing too. Or perhaps it is merely being catered to better than ever before- according to Dr. Lynell Burmark, images are directly processed by our longterm memory, whereas words are filtered first by our short term memory, which only retains approximately 7 pieces of information. Additionally, 90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual, and is processed 60,000 times faster than text.
Visual and digital media is more accessible than ever before- the click of a button and you can access information or virtually any subject from all over the globe. But in proportion to how much time we collectively spend consuming visual media, we tend to know comparatively little about its origins.
Film has changed a huge amount since its arguable genesis in the 1890s. Prior to this there were a number of precursors to film- be it the camera obscura, magic lanterns, stroboscopic animation devices or even shadow puppetry. Humanity as a whole has always had a fascination with the moving image.
The oldest surviving film in existence is the Roundhay Garden Scene by Louis Le Prince, made in 1888. At first appearance this film seems somewhat insignificant- it is a mere 2 seconds long, monochromatic and silent. Nonetheless, it captures something that photography and portraiture alone can't capture- kinetic movement. Though this initial example lacks narrative, that was soon to come, and kineticism was to be a powerful part of story telling and our absorption of visual information, giving audiences the ability to see the subject moving from place to place and not only within the pages of a book or a theatre stage.
Initial films from this time period were seen as vaudeville entertainment, generally lasting under a minute and far more absorbed with the technology of the moving image than the story or information that image was attempting to convey- predominantly a novelty at this point. However, from there, film developed at a breakneck pace. In the span of a decade, cinema became a way to bring stage performances to the masses, in addition to travelogues, the latter of which catered beautifully to the Victorian fascination with exoticism. It wasn't long before film was considered to be a medium in its own right, rather than a temporary curio, developing its own metalanguage of cinematography, with one of the first films with more than one shot being Robert W. Paul's 1898 'Come Along, Do!'. And no surprise either- film clearly touched upon the power of visuals, something that was far more universal than a vocal language, though that too would come to be incorporated into the scope of cinema.
It wasn't long before film turned from being a novelty to being considered serious business, with the first film-exclusive theatre, 'The Nickelodeon', opening in 1905. By 1910, film actors were being credited for their roles, and the films that they were starring in became increasingly longer, featuring narrative flow and character arcs.
In America, film companies quickly tried to find a unified base, initially splitting the year between Fort Lee and Jacksonville, before congregating to Hollywood by World War 1. By now there was a huge global influx for this noveau industry, with the United States, Italy Germany, France and Britain leading the way, in addition to smaller, less centralised film hubs such as Denmark and Russia.
Whilst the film industry was on the rise, the commencement and duration of World War 1 brought about a significant transition for the industry, with many companies and countries' industries either collapsing entirely or vastly reducing their scale of production. This shift toppled the French and Italian monopoly as the the center of film production, with America / Hollywood coming to the forefront in their wake. By the 1920s, Hollywood was producing over 800 films per annum, over 80% of the total global film production. Additionally, going to the cinema was quickly becoming a weekly necessity, with approximately 50 million Americans attending every week. With the vast amounts of people coming to seem films every week, Hollywood began to create their own culture, implementing the 'star system' and garnering a huge amount of control over the public presentation and lives of their actors.
The development of the industry once again picked up in the post-war environment, with the first film with sound being released in 1927. Within two years, Hollywood had almost entirely shunned the silent film, and whilst the change was markedly slower in the rest of the world, the impact of sound was evident and the apparent immersion into film was nigh on complete. The inclusion of sound gave birth to the musical film in addition to the modern horror film, with the release of King Kong, Dracula and Frankenstein in the early 1930s. In addition to this, the invention of technicolour in 1916 positively revolutionised the industry, evident in multiple films from the period, such as the Wizard of Oz or America's first animated feature, 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.'
Much of this development happened in the lull between the post WW1 environment, with the industry shifting yet again in the 1940s- Britain once again gained a foothold on the industry via their influx of wartime propaganda films, with America following suit with films such as Casablanca (1942) and reflecting the disillusionment of the war via the cynicism of film noir, such as the Maltese Falcon (1941), Double Indemnity (1944) and The Big Sleep (1946).
Post World War 2 left no breathing room, with the Cold War commencing soon afterward. The threat of communism loomed large over the industry, with many members of the Hollywood film industry, including Charlie Chaplin and Dalton Trumbo, being blacklisted. Notably, this time period of the early 1950s was largely impacted by the commonplace introduction of the television into the home, with many film studios turning to satire or spectacle (as demonstrated by influx of 3D films and alien themed science fiction) the to keep audiences.
That is not to say that television toppled the film industry, far from it. However, the rise of screen time only catapulted from here, with the average American household watching nearly an hour and a half more television by 1959 than they did at the beginning of the decade. Couple that with the fact that Americans are now spending almost 24 hours per week online, with streaming service Netflix boasting over 137 million subscribers as of 2018, little over a decade after the company moved into online video streaming in 2007 and only being available worldwide since 2016. With this in mind, Netflix users had streamed over 42.5 billion hours of video via the service as of 2015, with their userbase currently spending over 100 million hours per day watching content. It seems that watching content has moved from being an event or outing to being an extension of our day to day lives, with accessibility and portability being the order of the day.
The way that we interact and learn has changed over the years, with our visual bias being catered to more and more as the years go by. Additionally, there is a growing expectation from consumers for a sense of immediacy with visual media, hence the requirement of portability- we want content that will fit into our lives, that we can access anywhere, anytime, on any device. As technology is viewed more and more as an extension of our day to day lives, it is a necessity that is just as flexible as we are.
Here at TV4Education, we endeavour to do just that- to provide you with great content that you can access 24/7, regardless of device or location. Because education should be easy, and TV4Education helps to achieve that.
Here's a list of TV4Education resources in relation to this subject. If you use the SmartSuite version of TV4Education, just search for the titles below on your site:
TV4Education: The Hollywood War
TV4Education: Looking for Truffaut
Tv4Education: The Story of Film- An Odyssey- The 1930s- The Great American Movie Genres (S01E04)
Curated YouTube: The History of Cutting- The Birth of Cinema and Continuity Editing
Curated YouTube: The History and Science of Color Film: From Isaac Newton to the Coen Brothers
Curated YouTube: The Changing Shape of Cinema: The History of Aspect Ratio
YouTube: Movies are Magic: Crash Course Film History #1
YouTube: The History of Cinema- Silent Era
November 1, 2018 November 1, 2018 sophiefsi Tagged cinema, education, film, history, internet, media, movie, Netflix, school, technology, tv, tv4education	Leave a comment
Saving Energy (Science Year 1,2 & 3)
SmartLessons, Video Highlights
Curriculum Code:
Light and sound are produced by a range of sources and can be sensed (ACSSU020) People use science in their daily lives, including when caring for their environment and living things (ACSHE022) People use science in their daily lives, including when caring for their environment and living things (ACSHE035)
Science knowledge helps people to understand the effect of their actions (ACSHE051)
Students develop understanding of energy and how to save energy.
Preparing:
– Ask students about energy, what gives us energy?
– Sing a song or dance of high energy which will show good instructions on how to use up energy.
– Once complete ask students how they feel? Did you feel this way before we sung or danced?
– Explain energy, what uses it, how we use it? How we need to save it etc.
– Listen to the story 'The Day Amy saved the World' and then discuss what she did to save energy.
– Have students look at different energy uses around the home. Have students make a list of different items in the house that use energy. Open up the link below and look at the different items in Amy's house that uses energy.
– Link: Amy's Energy saving website. (Click on Amy's House)
– Watch Eco Maths Clip – http://www.tv4education.com/SmartLibrary/SmartLibraryWeb/TitleView.html?BookID=151132.01
Applying:
– Have students use the link below to draw different items in their house that uses energy. Talk about ways we can reduce the energy used at home.
– Have students place this into their science books.
– Link: We can Save Energy
'The Day Amy saved the World'
http://www.amysenergysave.com.au/storybook/index.html#/the-day- amy-helped- save-the- world
Amy's Energy saving website.
http://www.amysenergysave.com.au/index.html
We can Save Energy doc.
June 6, 2018 June 6, 2018 TV4Education Tagged content, environment, learning, media, principal, school, science, technology	Leave a comment
SmartLessons, Sophie's Tips, Tips and Tricks, Video Highlights
The Renaissance is one of the most fascinating and innovative periods in history, and also one of the most hotly debated. There is much contention as to whether or not it can really be considered, as the term Renaissance suggests, a 'rebirth' of society, following the Middle Ages, especially with its deep roots and harking back to Greco-Roman classicism, two empires that were recognised as having 'fallen' almost a thousand years previously. Additionally, there is also debate as to whether or not it was a series of independent discoveries and philosophies made over several centuries (the Renaissance is commonly agreed to have been between c. 14th-17th centuries A.D) as opposed to a centralised movement. Regardless of one's position on the matter, the Renaissance gave birth to some of the most innovative works of art, literature, architecture, inventions and discoveries in science and medicine that the world has seen since.
Originating in Florence, Italy, the Renaissance spread over the majority of Europe in the following centuries. It was grounded in the philosophy of humanism, which largely sought to hark back to the values of classical Greece and Rome, aiming to create a people group that were educated and literate, capable of utilising the studies of the humanities (e.g. philosophy, history, poetry, rhetoric, etc.) for the betterment of their broader society, rather than it being an elusive mark of status. It was the idea of humanism that largely birthed the popular idea of the 'Renaissance man'- one that was well versed in everything from literature to art, Greek and Roman myths, science, history, theology, engineering and even stonemasonry, as opposed to focusing all their attention upon their designated trade. This Renaissance ideal is epitomised in many of the icons of the era, à la Galileo, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Da Vinci, for example, whilst likely best known as a painter, also considered himself a philosopher, engineer, sculptor, engineer, architect and more, whilst Michelangelo was also an architect and poet in addition to being a renowned sculptor and painter, with a keen interest in anatomy. There was a central ideology of this 'whole' education informing every aspect of their lives and working practice as opposed to a more isolated focus.
The Renaissance period is perhaps most commonly renowned for its art, after all, it is responsible for masterpieces such as the 'Mona Lisa', Michelangelo's 'David', 'The Last Supper', Botticelli's 'The Birth of Venus' and many more. There was a huge elevation in the status of the artist during this period, largely due to patronage from wealthy clients such as the Medici and Borgia families. The influence of humanism is evident in much of the art, with artist's knowledge of mathematics, anatomy, architecture, etc. vastly developing art in a way that had not previously been widespread. Additionally, the ideals and newfound fascination with classicism's interest in accurate anatomy and fascination with the physical form partnered with the religious influence and monetary support of the Church paved the way for many masterpieces on a scale never before seen in history, obvious in works such as Michelangelo's 'David', 'Pieta' and Sistine Chapel Ceiling. The grandeur of religion was fully fledged and the asceticism previously demonstrated in Christianity largely fell from favour, at least in regards to art and architecture.
Whilst the period may be most commonly renowned for its contributions to art and architecture, it also gave birth to some incredibly revolutionary inventions: the printing press, the mechanical clock, the telescope, the microscope, eyeglasses, the barometer, italics, the violin, the anemometer, the list goes on. In short, the Renaissance undoubtedly shaped our cultural view of the modern world as we know it, be it Galileo's radical advances in astronomy or Gutenberg's printing press.
The Renaissance period is one of the most influential times in history, arguably being a catalyst for the world as we know it today. Its effect is visible in almost every field and subject, with the explorations of art, science, literature and more largely forming the foundation for contemporary culture in the West. Whilst it may be more explicitly studied in art or history, knowledge of the Renaissance period will undoubtedly benefit any students understanding of their subject.
The Renaissance Unchained- God, Myths and Oil Paints (S01E01)
Italy Unpacked
Self Portraits of the Me Generation- Togetherness (S01E01)
Great Scientists- Galileo
Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man of Math
Inside the Mind of Leonardo
The Caravaggio Affair
The Nude in Art with Tim Marlow, The Renaissance, EP2
Bronzino Restoring Genius
Masterpieces of the Hermitage Raphael, Da Vinci & The High Italian Renaissance S01 E11
Masterpieces of the Hermitage Art of the Early Italian Renaissance S1 E10
June 1, 2018 June 1, 2018 sophiefsi Tagged art, art history, arts, history, learning, literature, research, school, science, technology, writing	Leave a comment
How to increase student engagement
Play music in the classroom:
Popular song parodies are both relatable and good at helping with retention.
Here are a few of our favorites
Flipped Classrooms
Have a look at this previous post showing you the benefits and how to flip a classroom.
Regular Brain Breaks
Silent Ball
Find an area where you can safely toss a ball around. No one can talk or make a sound – being silent is the aim of the game.
The ball is tossed between classmates. Students cannot throw the ball back to the person who threw it to them. If a player misses the ball, talks or makes a bad pass, that student is out. The last two players are the champions.
Timed Chatter
Allow the students to do what they are desperate to do. Set a 3-minute timer and allow the students to get up and talk to their friends.
lots of pair share:
This allows students to build confidence, social skills and deductive thinking as they are asked to discuss ideas.
Have a video lesson created by one of our video learrning experts:
That's right, just like the ability to request any program on free-to-air or Foxtel you can also request a multimedia rich lesson. Just send us the topic or curriculum code you are wanting and have it created for you within 2 business days. With over 140,000 videos already matched to the Australian curicculum we haven't had a request we were unable to fill yet.
For more information on the system or to make a request you can contact us on our website
May 30, 2018 May 30, 2018 charlesdantzic Tagged education, school, student engagement, teachers	Leave a comment
Forgiveness or Reconciliation?
Newsletters, Video Highlights
I'd like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which this piece was written today. I would also like to pay my respects to Elders past and present.
Today we will be exploring what it means to forgive and what it means to reconcile.
Let's look up the definitions.
Forgiveness:
verb (used with object), for·gave, for·giv·en, for·giv·ing.
to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.); absolve.
to give up all claim on account of; remit (a debt, obligation, etc.).
to grant pardon to (a person).
Reconciliation:
an act of reconciling, as when former enemies agree to an amicable truce.
the state of being reconciled, as when someone becomes resigned to something not desired.
the process of making consistent or compatible.
This week is a time once a year when the focus is on how lucky we are to be in this country.
As an immigrant myself like (98%) of Australia's population I feel very blessed to be in a country that is peaceful, prosperous and for the most part a wonderful place.
I remember spending a week in a township just north of Cairns called Yarrabah helping run a childrens program with my church, yes that's me dressed up as a clown.
It was a wonderful time to get to know more about a culture I was not very exposed to, growing up in an Afro-Caribbean family in London I knew a lot about my culture despite being thousands of miles from my ancestral place.
When I arrived in New Zealand for the first time I learned a lot about their culture, language, and customs. It was taught in school, the news was presented in the language of the land. There was a definite strong representation of their culture.
When I arrived in Australia, it was quite different, I would get small snippets of culture, at art galleries with paintings in the 10s of thousands, or a 30-minute program on NITV. But not until I got to the township did I really get to experience this vibrant and wonderful history. I learned about the hundreds of nations that make up the one we call our own.
I remember seeing some 6 or 7-year-olds throwing rocks at something on the beach only to be told later they were scaring away the local 8ft croc. Best leave it to the experts!
So Forgiveness Vs Reconciliation.
To forgive is to choose to let go of a past injustice.
I forgave my old housemate for eating my tim-tams, I know right! You understand why he is now my "old Housemate".
But we reconciled when he brought me back some Lindt chocolate of his own free will. I didn't expect anything back after I forgave but he recognised his error and made amends.
That's reconciliation
When the person who did wrong makes it right.
Now before I hear "I didn't do it" or "that was 300 years ago" Yes, you are right it was. But there are still imbalances that are still affecting Australians today.
This documentary by John Piliger explores those imbalances and starts a conversation about the country that we live in. It tells us a little about the Oldest continuous culture in the world. Before Egypt, Ethiopia, China, India, The Mayans, Greece, Rome and all those that have come since.
Some areas have seen improvement and I commend the work of everyone who has worked at achieving this. But we still have a way to go.
#DontKeepHistoryAMystery
May 28, 2018 May 28, 2018 charlesdantzic Tagged Aboriginal, australia, civil rights, education, reconciliation week, school	Leave a comment
John Steinbeck (1902-1968) was one of the most influential American writers of the 20th century, dubbed 'a giant of American letters' and shaping the face of modern literature along with other giants of the craft such as Hemingway, Faulkner and Fitzgerald. Having won both the Pulitzer and Nobel Prize in his lifetime, it is undeniable that his work resonated deeply with his readers, renowned for his syncretism of realism and imagination, and perhaps most profoundly, his social commentary. This is perhaps most famously displayed in his magnum opus, the 1939 tome The Grapes of Wrath, detailing the influence of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression on American families. It is this acute depiction of wider historical and social issues that were sweeping America that has, in part, made his body of work so enduring and widely studied to this day.
Growing up in California, Steinbeck utilised this ground as the basis for much of his work- East of Eden, Cannery Row, Tortilla Flat, The Grapes of Wrath, The Red Pony and many more were centred around this locale, capturing in part the nostalgia and mythicism of childhood and the fables he grew up, largely influenced by the nobility of the stories of King Arthur and tempered with the realism of the people he grew up with: the 'paisanos' and ranch hands and ordinary working class of America. This fascination with lore and legend is apparent throughout much of his work, influencing his voice in stories such as Tortilla Flat, where he explicitly poses Danny and his ramshackle friends as knights of the Round Table.
With Steinbeck's body of work amounting to 27 books throughout his lifetime, Steinbeck was renowned for his social perception and adhered largely to the old adage of 'write what you know'- mirrored through his portrayals of central California and the people who lived there, in addition to the plights and influence of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. It is this correlation between his life and what Steinbeck wrote that ensures that an understanding of his life is crucial to the study of his work. Despite his statement that 'writers are a little below clowns and a little above trained seals', his work has had an enduring influence beyond the factor of entertainment, and he is touted today as having produced some of the seminal great American novels of the 20th century.
Great Writers- John Steinbeck
A Letter to Elia
The Grapes of Wrath (movie 1940)
Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck audiobook part 1
John Steinbeck: An American Writer
John Steinbeck gives Nobel Prize Speech
Of Mice and Men (1992)
May 25, 2018 May 30, 2018 sophiefsi Tagged book, film, history, literature, novel, research, school, study, writing	Leave a comment
The Archibald Prize
The Archibald Prize is arguably the most prestigious and iconic portraiture award in Australia. Since its commencement in 1921 at the posthumous bequest of J.F Archibald, a former co-owner and editor of The Bulletin, the Prize has been the cause of much controversy and media attention, consolidating the career of many artists. Whilst it isn't the highest paying Australian portraiture prize ($100,000 to the Moran's $150,000), it is far better known, and for good reason, with J.F Archibald's edict stating that the portraits are to be 'preferentially of some man or woman distinguished in art, letters, science or politics, painted by any artist resident in Australasia'. As such, the Archibald has oft depicted well known people of varying degrees of celebrity: politicians, actors, musicians, sports stars, other artists (à la Ben Quilty's portrait of Australian icon Margaret Olley in 2011).
As we fast approach the centenary of the prize with today's announcement of the 2018 winner, Yvette Coppersmith's 'Self-portrait, after George Lambert', the Prize has demonstrated how portraiture has moved strictly from realism to a more emotive mode of painting. This was first particularly noted after the controversy surrounding the now infamous painting 'Portrait of an Artist (Joshua Smith)' by Sir William Dobell (whose portrait of Dame Mary Gilmore is featured on the Australian $10 notes), which won the prize in 1943, calling into question the nature and guidelines of portraiture, with the work being contested in the Supreme Court of New South Wales by two other entrants for falling into the genre of caricature as opposed to portraiture and thus not eligible for the prize. Nonetheless, their verdict was overturned and the Archibald has continued to be a demonstration of the changing face of art within Australia.
In 2014, there were over 130,000 tickets sold to the finalist exhibitions for the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes, and it is an event that attracts over $1 million in profit each year, with that number only climbing. There is criticism that it is, to quote gallery owner Michael Reid, 'a media circus' as opposed to a respected art prize. Regardless of opinion, it has undoubtedly cemented its place in the Australian art world and provides a platform for artists such as Ben Quilty, Del Kathryn Barton, Yvette Coppersmith, Fiona Lowry and more to be recognised outside of the often introspective sphere of the art world.
Portraiture is so often stereotyped as a stoic, bygone form of art, with Dobell stating during the Joshua Smith case that 'so long as people expect paintings to be simply coloured photographs they get no individuality and in the case of portraits, no characterisation. The real artist is striving to depict his subject's character and to stress the caricature, but at least it is art which is alive.' That is not to say that realism is out dated and irrelevant, but that the nature of portraiture goes beyond capturing a physical likeness of the subject. It is perhaps this unique insight of the artist, particularly when applied to so many notable figures in Australian culture, that has made the Archibald Prize the icon that it is today.
The Archibald- Welcome to the Archibald (S01E01)
The Archibald- First Strokes (S01E02)
The Archibald- D Day (S01E03)
The Archibald- And The Winner Is (S01E04)
Julia Zemiro's Home Delivery- Ben Quilty
Artscape Paths to Portraiture
Art Nation
May 11, 2018 May 21, 2018 sophiefsi Tagged art, art history, australia, australian history, design, research, school, teachers, teaching	Leave a comment
Why you should follow us on Social Media
We know you have a busy news feed, all those cute pets, family, friends, holiday photos! don't worry I have the same. But! Follow us for one simple reason. To save you time, what this means is we can give you the content you need for your next lesson.
By following us, you will be notified when something new becomes available.
This will save you time searching through the over 140,000 videos on TV4Education. We post relevant programs that are up to date or relevant to the date, such as Naidoc week, Book week or Anzac.
It also means you get access to special offers, new product launches and invites to events.
Don't stop at liking us on Facebook, we also have a YouTube channel, Twitter account and you can also subscribe to this blog, so you know when something new comes out.
May 10, 2018 May 10, 2018 charlesdantzic Tagged art, lessons, media, school, science, teaching	Leave a comment
ANZAC Day is one of the most momentous days on both the Australian and New Zealand calendars, marking the anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli on April 25th, 1915. This was one of the first major military actions on behalf of the Australian and New Zealand forces in WW1, with the campaign resulting in the loss of more than 8,000 Australian lives, with over 60,000 Australian lives being lost over the course of WW1. ANZAC Day has thus come to commemorate the sacrifice of all those who served and protected their country, not only in WW1, but in every war, conflict and peacekeeping operation that has followed since.
Australia had been a federated nation for only 13 years prior to the landing at Gallipoli, and the ANZAC legend has undoubtedly formed a foundational part of our national identity. The 25th of April serves as an occasion on which to honour the camaraderie, bravery and sacrifice of our troops in protecting the freedom of our country and Australian way of life. It is an opportunity to reflect upon the contribution of friends and family members, both past and present, and to pay our respects to those who built the values by which we uphold ourselves to on a national scale.
'Lest we forget' is one of the seminal phrases of the ANZAC tradition, and for good reason- it is an occasion of commemoration and serves as a constant reminder to never forget the imprint of every person who has contributed to the protection of our nation, commencing with many of our ancestors in Gallipoli. Understanding the history of this contribution is unquestionably a key part of continuing the ANZAC tradition and giving it the full scope and honour that it deserves.
As ANZAC Day approaches, it is a wonderful opportunity to reflect upon its history and significance, and how it continues to influence our lives to this day. Here at TV4Education, we wholeheartedly believe in the enduring influence of education, and understanding the sacrifice, history and stories of the ANZACs and the role they played in the formation of our cultural identity is undoubtedly a part of that, so that this tradition will be perpetuated for generations to come. Lest we forget.
Here's a list of TV4Education resources in relation to ANZAC Day. If you use the SmartSuite version of TV4Education, just search for the titles below on your site:
Lest We Forget What
Gallipoli Symphony
Gallipoli (1981 movie)
Monash- The Forgotten ANZAC
ANZACs- Remembering Our Heroes
ANZAC Girls- Adventure (S01E01)
Deadline Gallipoli Part 1 (S01E01)
ANZAC Day National Dawn Service Canberra
April 23, 2018 May 18, 2018 sophiefsi Tagged Anzac, anzac day, content, education, history, learning, school, teaching, tv4education, video, videos, writing	Leave a comment
Soup Cans and Superstars: How Pop Art Changed the World
Pop art is one of the seminal art movements of the mid 20th century: brash, bold and instantly iconic. Whilst it was arguably initiated in Britain, it took root in the advertisements and commercialism of the modern American landscape, designed to appear lightweight and vacuous. However, as host Alastair Sookes states in the documentary Soup Cans and Superstars: How Pop Art Changed the World, pop art has far more depth than it is often given credit for, being utilised to 'expose the dark side of the American dream.'
What exactly is pop art? In 1957, pop artist Richard Hamilton defined it as the following: 'popular (designed for a mass audience); transient (short term solution); expendable (easily forgotten); low cost; mass produced; young (aimed at youth); witty; sexy; gimmicky; glamorous; and big business.' In short, it seeks to emulate the industry of its eponymous popular (pop) culture, mass media and advertising that it so often commentates on, bringing commercial art into the gallery.
Unlike many art movements, à la Dadaism, Futurism, Symbolism, Realism, Surrealism, Cubism and more, pop art wasn't initiated with a strict manifesto regarding its boundaries or its foundation. However, like many of these movements, pop art plays with the boundaries of what is considered to be art, creating syncretism between 'high' and 'low' culture. The majority of the pop art movement was formed in isolation, made cohesive by the spirit of the time rather than commonality with other artists. Indeed, as curator Henry Geldzahler stated to Andy Warhol, 'It was like a science fiction movie- you pop artists in different parts of the city, unknown to each other, rising up out of the muck and staggering forward with your paintings in front of you.'
Many famous pop artists, such as Warhol and James Rosenquist had their start in advertising. Their artwork often plays with the concepts of consumerism, celebrity and media, of mass reproduction, and the advertising ideal of happiness being a commodity. Advertising as we know it today had its genesis in the late 1940's and 50's, with the introduction of television advertisements, and pop art, coming to the forefront in the 1950's and 60's, was very much a reactionary framework for artists. As Sookes notes, pop art 'holds up a mirror to the times… in all its Technicolor, tarnished glory.' Against the backdrop of the Cold War and in a post WWII society, the glossy façade of celebrity and mass media was increasingly apparent, with the dichotomy between their projected optimism and artist's cynicism being a frequent theme, prominently displayed in works such as Warhol's 'Marilyn Diptych', Rosenquist's 'F-111' and Roy Lichtenstein's 'Whaam!'
Pop art is a unique movement, in that in often directly participates in perpetuating the very aspects it is commenting on. A perfect example of this is Warhol's infamous 'Factory', which cemented him as one of the first 'business artists', a model that has found favour with many contemporary artists (Jeff Koons and Damien Hirst spring to mind). Warhol's method of screen printing allowed him to mass produce his work, this mechanical, accessible art style being a direct representation of Western consumerism, with Warhol noting that what was wonderful about America was that they 'started the tradition where the richest consumers buy essentially the same things as the poorest. You can be watching TV and see Coca-Cola… you know that the President drinks Coca-Cola, Liz Taylor drinks Coca-Cola… you can drink Coca-Cola, too. A Coke is a Coke and no amount of money can get you a better Coke.' This is further extrapolated in his famous 'Campbell's Soup Cans', playing with everyday, highly recognisable imagery, and in doing so, taking art out of the gallery and into everyday life.
Whilst pop art is often intrinsically linked with the golden age of advertising in America, Sookes is also quick to note that it didn't only find its home in the U.S.A. Pop art stretched to Britain, France, Germany and the USSR, often finding its beginnings as protest art. However, it consolidated its place in China's late 20th century economic boom, as they embraced political reform and opened their doors to Western society. Long after the NY Times had declared the pop movement as 'dead', pop art found new life in China's 'tiger economy' of the 1980's, something that has continued into their current day art scene, reflecting an inherent fascination with the deeply embedded role that the nation has in the culture of consumerism and mass production.
Pop art is one of the major art movements of the mid 20th century, however, its reach stretches far beyond the typical association with the so called 'golden age of advertising' from the 1950's and 60's. Pop art has undoubtedly informed our perception of art today, serving as a direct commentary on our culture and influencing the business model of many current artists, utilising mass production and an assimilation of popular culture as a means of furthering their reach. The documentary Soup Cans and Superstars is an excellent resource in the study of this fascinating movement and will undoubtedly assist students in their understanding.
Here's a list of TV4Education resources that can be used in relation to the topics covered in this post. If you use the SmartSuite version of TV4Education, just search for the titles below on your site:
Soup Cans and Superstars- How Pop Art Changed the World
Alan Cumming on Pop Art
Pop Artist Roy Lichtenstein
A Guide to Pop Art
Behind the Artist- Andy Warhol
TED-ED Lessons Worth Sharing- A Brief History of Graffiti
April 18, 2018 May 18, 2018 sophiefsi Tagged art, art history, arts, content, education, history, learning, painting, school, teaching, tv4education
I Was There- The Great War Interviews
I Was There- The Great War Interviews is a fantastic resource for students studying World War I. Extrapolating upon the original 1964 documentary series The Great War, this documentary provides a deeper look at the original collation of 280 eyewitness interviews, with never-before-seen footage of both soldiers and civilians. Thus, it provides invaluable insight into the behemoth that is WWI.
It is often easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer scale of an event like WWI, whereas I Was There- The Great War Interviews offers a deeply personal perspective, with interviews from a broad range of primary sources, from celebrated author Mabel Lethbridge O.B.E, soldiers Sebastian C. Lang, Charles Carrington, Wilhelm Eisenthal, factory worker Katie Morter, and many more. In addition to this, both the Allied and Central sides are represented, thus significantly minimising any inherent bias.
Whilst the overall strategic and historical outlines are not discussed in great detail, the documentary explores the human relations of the war, such as the methods of recruitment, be it women using white feathers to represent cowardice, propaganda posters, the utilisation of music hall stars like Vesta Tilley, pro-war effort music and film, etc., all designed to solicit enlistment. It also showcases the changing attitudes of towards the war, from the initial excitement and euphoria to the grim realisation of the horrors of the battlefield, with soldier Frank Brent stating that '…it (the war) required that we should live in animal conditions… inevitable that we would develop the animal characteristic of killing.'
Furthermore, the documentary successfully displays the disparity between soldiers and civilians, with former soldier Charles Carrington stating 'one was seemingly annoyed by their (civilians) attempts to sympathise… which only really reflects that they didn't understand at all', whilst Mabel Lethbridge noted a '…a strange lack of ability to communicate… to tell us (civilians) what it was really like… They were restless at home… They didn't want to stay home. They wanted to get back.'
The battlefield is displayed as a kind of microcosm, running from being 'an inferno', with the apparent need to 'exact retribution' from the enemy, to the Easter and Christmas armistices and the 'deceptive peace' that fraternisation with the enemy brought, with men singing together in the trenches, exchanging gifts and addresses for after the war. The documentary aims to explore multiple facets of the human experience of the Great War, recognising that to focus on only one would be to vastly limit its representation of this vast moment in history.
I Was There- The Great War Interviews proves to be a deeply personal look at a time in history that has deeply rooted itself in our collective psyche. The utilisation of such a wide range of primary sources will certainly be of interest to students and assist in broadening their understanding of WWI.
Here's a list of TV4Education resources that can be used in relation to the topics covered in this post. If you use the SmartSuite version of TV4Education just search for the titles below on your site.
Lest We Forget What- The Commemoration of WW1 and the ANZAC Legend
100 Years of ANZAC: The Spirit Lives 2014-2018, World War 1, Conscription (S01E21)
The Panzer
World War I's Tunnels of Death- The Killing Fields (S01E01)
14 Diaries of the Great War- Into the Abyss (S01E01)
The War that Changed Us- Answering the Call (S01E01)
April 6, 2018 May 18, 2018 sophiefsi Tagged content, education, english, film, history, learning, literature, media, movie, politics, principal, reading, research, school, students, teaching, technology, tv, video, videos, world, writing	Leave a comment
Fry's Planet Word: Babel
What is the value of language? Indeed, why is it something that we study, or devote the slightest iota of attention to? 'Babel', the first episode of Fry's Planet Word, presented by Stephen Fry, explores this very notion, focussing upon the origins of language as a uniquely human concept, helping both teachers and students to gain a greater understanding of this foundational method of communication and thus obtain a greater appreciation, both of its importance and how it continues to shift and develop over time.
At its root, language is the grounding method of communication, but it does far more than that, with the acquisition and development of our utilisation of language being, according to Fry, 'the most complex bit of brain processing that we know of.' It goes beyond an animalistic need to communicate fear, hunger, danger, etc., becoming a nuanced social medium that differentiates vastly from person to person based upon a multitude of factors: the particular language you speak, the breadth of your personal vocabulary and manner in which you use it, the register that you use, whether or not in is appropriate to use idioms and colloquialisms regarding the situation, the list goes on and on. In short, language is something that uniquely identifies us, but also allows us to find commonality and communicate with those around us.
At present, there are approximately 7,000 languages in use today, varying from a handful of users, to over a billion. Whilst many of these languages differentiate in their conception of sentence structure, complexity, breadth of vocabulary, whether or not they are vocalised (in the case of sign language), the vast majority are made up of the same basic components: nouns, to identify things; adjectives, to describe them; verbs, to tell you what they do. It is from the use of these building blocks that much of what we identify as being a uniquely human quality springs from, a sinuous and consistently changing lens through which our worldview is shaped, in addition to allowing other people to share in our perspective.
Fry demonstrates the pervasive and fundamental nature of language in 'Babel' through a myriad of ways: the initial acquisition of language as the documentary tracks 15 month old Ruby over a one year period, philology, the comparisons between the Turkana language and English, how communication methods between animals are vastly different than those explored in humans, the determining factors on if a language flourishes or dies out, how our brains are affected by language use, and many other topics.
'Babel' proves to be an informative and uniquely insightful glance into the value of language and how it underpins so much of our daily lives, and will prove to be of particular interest to English and Language students as a supplement to their primary studies.
Fry's Planet Word- Babel (S01E01)
The Sound of Aus (2007)
TED-ED Lessons Worth Sharing- The Controversial Origins of the Encyclopedia
How I'm Discovering the Secrets of Ancient Texts
March 22, 2018 May 18, 2018 sophiefsi Tagged content, culture, development, economics, education, elearning, english, film, history, language, learning, literature, media, principal, reading, research, school, students, teachers, teaching, technology, training, tv, video, videos, world, writing	Leave a comment
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Climalife have now extended their HQ-POE oils range to include three new viscosity grades; 46, 170 and 220 in addition to existing grades 22, 32 and 68.
With new updated F-Gas regulations on the way, Climalife already have several Lower GWP solutions available to help the market deal with the changes in the new Regulation that look set to enter into force from 2015.
Do you have one of our latest Refrigerant Cards?
We've updated our Refrigerant Card to reflect the latest range of refrigerants that we offer.
All clear ahead, it's time to take action!
On 12th March 2014, the new F-Gas regulations were adopted as proposed by 644 votes to 19 with 16 abstentions by the Plenary session of the European Parliament.
Climalife - keeping cool at this year's ACR Show!
Rain, sleet and snow did not put off visitor numbers to the Climalife stand as they battled the elements to come and talk to us at the ACR Show in Birmingham. We would like to thank all our visitors for making the difficult journey and helping to make the show a success for us.


Big Data: What Business Problem are you Trying to Solve?
CutterResearch members discuss how they are approaching Big Data in their organizations. Are there specific business problems that they are trying to address? And what technologies are they exploring?


text:
PinneyAssociates Comments that FDA Guidance on Drug Abuse and Dependence Will Minimize Occurrence and Risk of Substance Use Problems
Jack Henningfield and Sid Schnoll Submitted Comments on FDA Category 4 Labeling
View Henningfield PDF»
View Schnoll PDF»
Meet NMS Labs, Our New Partner for In Vitro Abuse-Deterrent Formulation Strategy and Evaluation
Pink Sheet interviewed Michael Hufford about nonprofit Harm Reduction Therapeutics' goal of low-cost OTC naloxone
Pink Sheet»
Pinney Associates' Scientific Abuse Potential Assessment of Kratom Finds Evidence of Public Health Benefit and Little Harm
View 8-Factor Analysis»
More Smokers Trying to Quit – PinneyAssociates' Analysis of National Health Interview Survey Data Confirms Increase in Attempts to Quit Smoking
PinneyAssociates Presents at FDA Public Meeting to Help Facilitate the Development of Abuse Deterrent Opioids
View PDF »
PinneyAssociates Offers ALERRT® Methodology for In Vitro Assessment of Abuse-Deterrent Formulations
Can consumers self-select for appropriate use of an over-the-counter statin? The Self Evaluation of Lovastatin to Enhance Cholesterol Treatment Study
Brass EP, Vassil T, Replogle A, Hwang P, Rusche S, Shiffman S, Levine JG
Am J Cardiol. 2008 May 15;101(10):1448-55. Epub 2008 Mar 17.
Access to over-the-counter (OTC) statins has the potential to improve public health by reducing cardiovascular events. The Self Evaluation of Lovastatin to Enhance Cholesterol Treatment (SELECT) Study was designed to assess consumers' ability to self-select for treatment with lovastatin in an unsupervised setting. Subjects examined proposed OTC lovastatin cartons with labels that detailed an algorithm for self-selection based on age, lipid profile, and cardiovascular risk factors. Subjects viewed a carton with either a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-based self-selection algorithm or one based on total cholesterol. Labels also contained warnings against use based on health conditions that might increase the risk of adverse events. Subjects were asked if the drug was appropriate for their use (self-assessment) and whether they would like to purchase the drug (purchase decision). A total of 1,326 consumers provided self-assessment decisions. After viewing the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-based label, 82%, 36%, and 82% of those who self-assessed that the drug was appropriate for their use were correct with respect to the age, lipid, and risk-factor criteria, respectively. Corresponding numbers for the total cholesterol algorithm were 85%, 50% and 75%. Almost 90% of women aged <55 years who evaluated the drug indicated the drug was not right for them, and women in this age group made up only 9% of the total group of subjects who believed the drug was appropriate for their use. The label was also effective in discouraging use by women who were or may become pregnant, consumers with liver disease, and those with potential drug interactions. In conclusion, SELECT showed that consumers could use an OTC drug label in an unsupervised setting to appropriately self-select for self-management of their cholesterol with lovastatin.
Consumer understanding of prescription drug information: An illustration using an antidepressant medication.
Shiffman S, Gerlach KK, Sembower M, Rohay JM
Annals Pharmacother 2011;45:452-458.
Patient education and warnings have emerged as prominent interventions for improving drug safety. As part of the provision of information and guidance on safe use of drugs, patients often receive multiple pieces of written information when they obtain a prescription medication, including a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-mandated medication guide (MG), consumer medication information (CMI), and patient package insert (PPI).
To determine whether patients understand the materials providing drug information and whether the materials convey the intended information.
Fifty-two adults with a high school education or less were shown an actual (blinded) MG, CMI, and PPI for a marketed antidepressant medication. Comprehension was tested with methods used by the FDA to assess label comprehension for nonprescription products.
The majority of participants (88.2%) looked at all 3 pieces of information provided. The mean (SD) time spent reviewing the CMI was 5.2 (4.8) minutes (range 0-21.9), 16.5 (13.3) minutes for the PPI (range 0-43.0), and 2.5 (1.6) minutes for the MG (range 0-7.6). Less than 20% of participants were able to identify the symptoms of a rare but potentially life-threatening situation that can occur with this medication and only 61.5% recalled the risk of teen suicide, which is the sole focus of the MG. Respondents with lower literacy scores performed more poorly than those with higher literacy scores.
Information provided with at least some prescription drugs is not adequately understood by less-educated consumers and does not effectively communicate critical safety messages or directions.
Consumers appropriately self-treat based on labeling for over-the-counter hydrocortisone
Ellis CN, Pillitteri J, Kyle TK, Ertischek MD, Burton SL, Shiffman S
J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005 Jul;53(1):41-51.
Over-the-counter (OTC) topical corticosteroids, such as hydrocortisone cream (HC), are commonly used for the treatment of minor dermatological conditions. The safety and efficacy of such products are well documented, but details on patterns of use and self-treatment with HC in the OTC environment remain scarce.
We sought to determine compliance with label directions of OTC HCs by examining self-reported patterns of OTC HC use in adults and children.
A random digit-dialed telephone survey was conducted with 2000 US adults. Following identification of users of OTC HC in the last 6 months, respondents were asked questions about the conditions being treated with OTC HC and the frequency and duration of use in both adults and children.
Of adults completing the survey, 20% (n = 396) had used OTC HC. In 83% of cases, the conditions treated were consistent with the OTC label. Use was limited; HC was applied < or =4 times daily in 98% of adult users and lasted < or =7 days in 92%. Patterns of pediatric use were similar and almost always consistent with the labeling. Of households with children, 25% (n = 168) had used OTC HC to treat pediatric dermatological conditions. Of child users, 93% were 2 years of age or older, treatment was limited (97% applied HC < or =4 times daily and 94% of treatments lasted < or =7 days), and the conditions treated were appropriate in 86% of cases.
This telephone survey relied on respondents' recall and self-reporting. Our data on pediatric use of OTC HC are skewed toward treatment of younger children.
The data suggest that OTC HC products are used for self-treatment in a limited and appropriate fashion that is likely to be safe in both adults and children.
Ten years after the Rx-to-OTC switch of nicotine replacement therapy: what have we learned about the benefits and risks of non-prescription availability?
Shiffman S, Sweeney CT
Health Policy, 2008 Apr;86(1):17-26. Epub 2007 Nov 1. Review
Review the history of the Rx-to-OTC switch of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in the US, outlining concerns expressed before the switch, discussing how concerns were addressed, and presenting data on the actual experience in the decade following the switch.
Literature review of studies examining trends in NRT utilization pre- and post-switch, the efficacy and safety of NRT in the OTC setting, and patterns of OTC NRT use.
OTC availability of NRT increased access to and utilization of treatment. Studies show that OTC NRT has been used safely and effectively, without substantial misuse or abuse, and with continued physician engagement and wide access to proven behavioral treatment.
With other medications that challenge the traditional OTC paradigm being proposed for OTC switch, the NRT case study serves as a useful example in highlighting the potential role that Rx-to-OTC switch can play in addressing public health challenges. The NRT experience suggests that advance identification and analysis of concerns, implementation of plans to manage concerns, including appropriate marketing and post-marketing surveillance, can ensure that OTC switch of medications for behavior change and disease prevention can help minimize risks and maximize public health benefits.
The ALERRT® instrument: a quantitative measure of the effort required to compromise prescription opioid abuse-deterrent tablets.
Cone EJ, Buchhalter AR, Lindhardt K, Elhauge T, Dayno JM
Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2017 May;43(3):291-298.
US FDA guidance recommends measuring the degree of effort needed to manipulate abuse-deterrent (AD) opioids. The ALERRT® instrument (PinneyAssociates; Bethesda, MD) uses visual analog scales to assess the labor, effort, and resources necessary to physically compromise AD product candidates in standardized settings.
Use the ALERRT® instrument for testing morphine abuse-deterrent, extended-release, injection-molded tablets (ADER-IMT) 60 and 100 mg and the comparators immediate-release (IR) morphine sulfate 30 mg and extended-release (ER) morphine sulfate 60 mg.
Four technicians tested the products using 10 household tools. The ALERRT instrument quantified effort (all tools) and time (3 preselected tools) required for manipulation.
Morphine-ADER-IMT 60 and 100 mg were difficult to manipulate, as demonstrated by high scores (mean range, 71.0-99.0 and 77.0-99.5, respectively). IR and ER morphine sulfate were easy to manipulate (low scores; mean range, 2.0-14.8 and 2.3-17.5, respectively). Statistically significant mean differences between morphine-ADER-IMT and comparators' ALERRT scores were observed. Manipulations of morphine-ADER-IMT 60 and 100 mg for 300 seconds failed to produce substantial powdering. Manipulations of IR morphine sulfate (mean range, 65.5-175.8 seconds) and ER morphine sulfate (49.3-163.0 seconds) produced substantial to complete powdering in 92% of tablets.
Morphine-ADER-IMT was extremely difficult to manipulate versus non-AD formulations of morphine. The ALERRT system differentiated the degree of effort for manipulation of morphine-ADER-IMT and non-AD morphine formulations, indicating sensitivity of this instrument as part of Category 1 testing. By measuring the degree of effort required for manipulation, the ALERRT instrument provides an empirical assessment into the relative difficulty of manipulating opioid analgesics for abuse.
Abuse potential assessment of novel opioid analgesic NKTR-181: implications for labeling and scheduling
Webster LR, Smith S, Silowsky J, Gogas K, Odinecs A, Eldon M, Abrouk N, Medve R, Henningfield JE, Buchhalter AR, Cone EJ, Fant RV, Schnoll S
CPDD. 2013.
The recent Draft FDA Guidance for Industry (Abuse-Deterrent Opioids Evaluation and Labeling) recognizes the need for safer opioids designed to deter abuse through their chemical structure. Current experience in the field has been with re-formulations of the drugs that are highly abused, hence the draft guidance does not provide specific consideration of new molecules with reduced abuse potential specifically engineered into the chemical structure. Since physical manipulation is not relevant in this setting, a new molecule with reduced abuse potential that is not subject to degradation or transformation of the chemical bonds to yield an abusable opioid may warrant an additional tier in the draft FDA guidance.
An iterative model for in vitro laboratory assessment of tamper deterrent formulations
Cone EJ, Giordano J, Weingarten B
Drug Alcohol Depend 2013;131:100-5.
In an effort to address the continuing problem of prescription opioid abuse, manufacturers are incorporating new technologies into formulations that are designed to deter product tampering and misuse. Standards for laboratory assessment of tamper deterrent properties of new formulations have not previously been developed.
Experimental designs were developed for the in vitro laboratory assessment of the tamper deterrent properties of reformulated oxycodone. Given that an exhaustive study of all potential tampering methods was impractical; this model was developed to evaluate the product in an incremental fashion with iterative changes that were amenable to objective and replicable laboratory testing.
A description of the model is provided along with pertinent examples involving assessment of reformulated oxycodone with comparisons to the original formulation. Physical and chemical procedures were developed that relate to "real-world" scenarios that may be applied to opioid formulations. Test results were interpreted in relation to the relative ease or difficulty of the manipulation as compared to control materials and the amount and purity of active drug that could be accessed. Results from some of the tests were designed to be useful in predicting whether specific tampering methods would facilitate or deter drug administration by different routes of administration.
This model, developed to assess the tamper deterrent properties of reformulated oxycodone, should have application in the assessment of other drug formulations designed to exhibit tamper deterrence properties.
Do prescription monitoring programs impact state trends in opioid abuse/misuse?
Reifler LM, Droz D, Bailey JE, Schnoll S, Fant RV, Dart RC, Bucher Bartelson B
Pain Med. 2012 Mar;13(3):434-42.
Prescription monitoring programs (PMPs) are statewide databases containing prescriber and patient-level prescription data on select drugs of abuse. These databases are used by medical professionals or law enforcement officials to identify patients with prescription drug use patterns indicative of abuse or providers engaging in illegal activities. Most states have implemented PMPs in an attempt to curb prescription drug abuse and diversion. However, assessment of their impact on drug abuse is only beginning. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between PMPs and opioid misuse over time in two drug abuse surveillance data sources.
Data from the RADARS® System Poison Center and Opioid Treatment surveillance databases were used to obtain measures of abuse and misuse of opioids. Repeated measures negative binomial regression was applied to quarterly surveillance data (from 2003 to mid-2009) to estimate and compare opioid abuse and misuse trends. PMP presence was modeled as a time varying covariate for each state.
Results support an association between PMPs and mitigated opioid abuse and misuse trends. Without a PMP in place, Poison Center intentional exposures increased, on average, 1.9% per quarter, whereas opioid intentional exposures increase 0.2% (P = 0.036) per quarter with a PMP in place. Opioid treatment admissions increase, on average, 4.9% per quarter in states without a PMP vs 2.6% (P = 0.058) in states with a PMP. In addition to the time trend, population and a measure of drug availability were also significant predictors. A secondary analysis that classified PMP based upon ideal characteristic showed consistent though not significant results.
Two observational data sources offer preliminary support that PMPs are effective. Future efforts should evaluate what PMP characteristics are most effective and which opioids are most impacted.
Epidemiology of stimulant misuse and abuse: implications for future epidemiologic and neuropharmacologic research
Gerlach KK, Dasgupta N, Schnoll S, Henningfield JE
Neuropharmacology. 2014 Dec;87:91-6
Stimulants are a diverse array of drugs that range from everyday caffeine to prescription medications and illicitly manufactured street drugs. The surveillance of misuse and abuse of stimulants many times confounds prescription and illicit street drugs such that the data are not specific enough to guide mitigation efforts or assess their impact. This review highlights the surveillance efforts that are conducted in the United States (US) for stimulant misuse and abuse. These surveillance efforts include national level surveys as well as reporting systems such as Poison Centers and emergency departments. This epidemiologic analysis has implications for interpreting the current known neuropharmacology of stimulants and possibly informing future neuropharmacology research that may contribute to a better understanding of potential neuropharmacologic factors influencing differing patterns of use, abuse, and adverse consequences associated with various stimulants. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'CNS Stimulants'.
Establishing "abuse-deterrence equivalence" for generic abuse-deterrent opioid formulations: A proposed development framework
Setnik B, Cone EJ
J Opioid Manag. 2016 Mar-Apr;12(2):96-100.
Abuse-deterrent formulations are one strategy for mitigating the epidemic of prescription opioid abuse. Regulatory guidance documents describe the requirements for developing abuse-deterrent formulations of novel drugs and formulations; however, they do not address "abuse-deterrence equivalence" for generic formulations. As generics may be produced with different excipients and formulations compared to reference drugs, differences in their properties may impact their abuse-deterrent features. Currently, it is unclear what specific studies are needed to support generic abuse-deterrence claims. This commentary outlines several recommendations on the in vitro and in vivo testing required, including the conditions for conducting a human abuse potential study.
Extreme work requirement of EG-001, an abuse-deterrent, extended-release morphine product, as demonstrated with the ALERRT® Visual Analog Scales.
PainWeek. 2015.
The goal of this study was to measure the amount of "work" (ie, combination of time, effort, and resources) required to physically compromise the AD technology of EG-001 tablets compared with marketed formulations of immediate-release and extended release morphine using standardized manipulation techniques and a newly developed instrument, the Assessing Labor, Effort and Resources Required for Tampering scales (ALERRT tm; PinneyAssociates, Bethesda, MD), visual analog scales or VASs.
Nonmedical use of prescription ADHD stimulants and preexisting patterns of drug abuse
Sweeney CT, Sembower M, Ertischek MD, Shiffman S, Schnoll S
J Addict Dis. 2013;32(1):1-10.
Multidrug use is well documented among nonmedical users of prescription stimulants. We sought to provide insight into the drug use patterns of those reporting nonmedical use of prescription attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) stimulants in an attempt to discern whether such use is a first step in a pattern of drug-abusing behavior or, conversely, is a later development accompanied or preceded by a history of drug abuse. A cross-sectional, population-based survey of the U.S. civilian, non-institutionalized population aged 12 years and older was analyzed for lifetime nonmedical use of prescription ADHD stimulants, lifetime nonmedical use of another prescription drug, illicit drug use, and drug use initiation patterns. This included 443,041 respondents from the 2002-2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Lifetime nonmedical use of prescription ADHD stimulants was reported by 3.4% of those aged 12 years and older. Of these, 95.3% also reported use of an illicit drug (i.e., marijuana, cocaine/crack, heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants) or nonmedical use of another prescription drug (i.e., tranquilizers, pain relievers, or sedatives), and such use preceded nonmedical use of prescription ADHD stimulants in 77.6% of cases. On average, 2.40 drugs were used prior to the first nonmedical use of prescription ADHD stimulants. These data suggest that nonmedical use of prescription ADHD stimulants is not commonly an initiating factor leading to the nonmedical use of other prescription medications or abuse of illicit drugs. Rather, nonmedical use of prescription ADHD stimulants appears to be adopted by individuals already engaged in broader patterns of drug abuse and misuse.
The new science of abuse-deterrence assessment of pharmaceutical products; FDA proposed guidance and Category 1 laboratory studies
Cone EJ, Buchhalter AR, Henningfield JE, Schnoll S
Pharm Anal Acta. 2014; 5(9): 317.
The problem of prescription drug abuse in the United States began more than 100 years ago and became
epidemic in the last decade producing many tragic consequences with incredible societal costs. Drug overdoses have doubled over the last 10 years and now surpass deaths from motor vehicle accidents (DHHS, 2013). Congress reacted to this ongoing tragedy in 2012 by mandating the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) promulgate guidelines for the development of abuse-deterrent formulations (ADFs) for prescription opioid medications as one of the approaches to reducing this problem.The FDA responded in 2013 by issuing a draft guidance to industry for assessment of ADFs (FDA, 2013). The 2013 guidance expanded initial guidance proposed in 2010 (FDA, 2010).FDA is expected to issue final guidance for industry in the latter part of 2014.
All Hands on Deck: Improving Community Health
February 12 | Washington, DC
Who will be there: Erin Nealer


text:
Nintendo Switch Review – First Year Part 4: Hardware and Power
by Brian Myers
Outlast Nintendo Switch Review
Nintendo Switch Review – First Year Part 4: Features and Power
*Note: This review ended up being over 25 pages in Microsoft Word, so I have broken it up into five more easily digestible articles. I am going to post one part of this review per day for the next five days. You will be able to find links to the other parts of the review at the bottom of each page.
You are missed, but your final great work is bringing millions of people the happiness and joy you dreamed of.
Play On The TV Or On The Go
This isn't the first time that Nintendo has experimented with bringing their handheld experiences to the TV nor is the the first time we have seen console level games on the go. Nintendo's own Super Gameboy on the Super Nintendo and the Gameboy Player on the Gamecube brought Nintendo's handheld experiences of the time to your television, and with Sony's Playstation Vita and PSP combined with a PS3 or PS4 would allow players to stream their favorite console games on the go. Especially in Somy's case, those options were not utilized by many people because you had to buy two systems and required a powerful internet connection. The Switch is the first mainline gaming platform to take this concept and integrate it this deeply into the core concept of the machine.
I find this function to work spectacularly well. You hear about how when people first get their Switches, they frequently dock and undock them in amazement that the function works so well. This is a concept that has been realized to near perfection, and it is the factor which separates the Switch from the pack. Nintendo attempted something like this with the Wii U, but it didn't really feel like the idea or technology had really reached the stage where it could be done to Iwata-san's vision. It saddens me greatly that he could not be here to witness the fruition of his plan, but I hope that he is watching down upon us enjoying our Switches with great pleasure and satisfaction.
Most Powerful Nintendo Platform To Date
Somehow, Nintendo along with Nvidia has managed to perform some technological magic to make a handheld system almost equally on par with the current-gen consoles being offered by Microsoft and Sony. It is still a little ways behind the standard Xbox One, but it is still quite a feat nonetheless. Ironically, this puts the Switch, a console/handheld hybrid, in a comfortable position as Nintendo's most powerful console to date. Considering Nintendo's handheld history, I'm not sure that many people anticipated that their next system following the 3DS would reach technological heights like this, but it has.
Having such a powerful system that doubles both as a console and handheld has opened up new doors for game's on Nintendo's newest platform that had been closed before. We are seeing a surge of interest in the platform on the side of indie and 3rd party developers thanks to its popularity and capabilities, and we are seeing games selling very well on the Switch primarily thanks to all the unique features it offers. For many, optional motion controls such as the newly added gyro aiming in DOOM or the ability to take your L.A. Noire game with you anywhere while using optional touch or motion controls makes them worth investing in again or simply just buying on the Switch over their PS4/Xbone/PC counterparts.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a great game, but it might push the Switch a little too far in handheld mode.
Has Trouble Even With Some Switch-Exclusive Games
While the Switch Is Nintendo's most powerful console to date, it still falls behind the PS4 and Xbox One in terms of what it can do, and this has caused some problems for the young system. Already we are seeing some instances where even games extremely well-optimized for it are struggling such as with Panic Button's fantastic ports of DOOM and Rocket League. These games work great on the Switch, but one would have to be blind to deny the frame rate and resolution issues suffered by DOOM and the resolution issues on Rocket League. There are reports that a Rocket League performance patch is on the way which will boost the resolution, but I can only write about what we have currently.
While it is understandable that some of the more technically advanced 3rd party games may struggle to be brought to the Switch, it is harder to justify the situation we found in Xenoblade Chronicles 2. As much as I personally loved it, it is impossible to deny that the game suffers especially while in handheld mode. The resolution issues stopped bothering me after a while, but I am keenly aware that it was a deal breaker for many others. The real question is whether or not the game was too much for the Switch to completely handle or if it was simply rushed out the door to meet the target release window. I hope that it was the latter and a performance patch is on the way to resolve those issues, but I fear that may not be the case.
Power Isn't Everything
But, as it goes, power is far from being everything. There are many Switch fans, myself included, who are more than happy to sacrifice visual fidelity for the sake of having a more convenient playing experience. In my own case, Switch is a more enjoyable console to experience games on even when I had the option to play on my PS4. I don't care for it when a game relies exclusively on a touch screen to maneuver, but I think it makes a game far more enjoyable when it perfectly marries touch controls with button controls such as with Darkest Dungeon. I love being able to play using split Joy-Cons, so that alone is a factor which makes me prefer the Switch over other platforms.
The Joy-Con are small when split, but it doesn't hurt the experience.
Joy-Con and HD Rumble
To create a system that could conveniently double as both a handheld and a console, it would need a controller which would be just as flexible. Nintendo could have just made the Joy-Con an irremovable part of the console with players needing a separate controller for docked mode, but they didn't. They took their concept of the Wiimote+nunchuck, and expanded upon it tenfold.
Here now is a controller which can be used in multiple ways as the players desire. If you want to play in handheld mode, you can have the Joy-Con attached which gives it the feel of a Wii U gamepad (albeit much smaller) or a Playstation Vita. If you prefer playing with the split Joy-Con, there is the option along with an optional, comfortable strap. If you prefer the feel of a traditional controller, you have the Joy-Con grip. It isn't a perfect solution, but it certainly does the job. Then, of course, there is the option to use a single Joy-Con with some games which emulates the feel of using an NES controller. Not only that, but, as I mentioned earlier, people can even use the split Joy-Con for two player experiences while in docked or handheld mode.
When I have handed someone a single Joy-Con for the first time to play a game, their initial reaction is generally one of puzzlement as they are shocked by how small it is. They usually think at first they won't like it for that reason. Then, as they start playing they almost always says that they just forgot about the size of the controller. Even though it is small, it conforms well to the hands and is just a comfortable controller in general.
Why, Nintendo? We can't we have one of these?
My only issue with the Joy-Con is that there is not an option for one with a proper D-pad. The primary reason for having a set of face buttons on the left Joy-Con instead of a D-pad is that the controller requires a set of face buttons on both to be fully functional as a separate controller. However, not everyone uses their Joy-Cons in such a manner. Some people always just play games on their own or love platformers which control significantly better with a D-pad than with face buttons or an analog stick. I cannot fathom why Nintendo has yet to release a "pro" left Joy-Con with a D-pad for gamers who want that experience. If we can have a traditional pro controller, then I don't understand why we can't have an option for a Joy-Con with a D-pad.
HD rumble is another new feature that Nintendo has brought to the table. Standard rumble simply causes the controller to vibrate at certain times but it always vibrates in the same way at the same intensity. What HD rumble offers is a way for the controllers to vibrate in a variety of ways to provide custom sensations based on what is happening in the game. While some may consider this to be a gimmick, and that is how it is frequently used in games, there are some games which have utilized this feature to convey specific information to players in a way that significantly enhances the experience.
Atomicrops Review – These Plants Won't Grow Themselves
Picking locks in Skyrim is brilliant precisely because of the HD Rumble.
I briefly brought this point up about Skyrim, but I will further elaborate on it now. When you are turning the lock pick and looking for the correct place to turn the other one in order to open it, you will feel the controller vibrate softly at certain intervals. When you feel it vibrate in a suddenly sharper way, you know it is time to turn the other pick. This was a brilliant application that made picking locks on the Switch version of the game intuitive and fun. I discuss this and much more in my full review of Skyrim.
Joycon Issues
At the beginning of the Switch's life, it felt like it had a bit if a rough start. I think anyone who was interested in it saw that video Crowbcat on Youtube had compiled of faulty Switches at launch, although those were very rare cases that did not reflect the user experience at large. However, there was one problem which many people experienced, myself included: the left Joy-Con desyncing issue. What happened was when you were playing and anything got in front of you and your Switch, the signal would be interrupted causing your inputs to be delayed. It would even get interrupted by your leg or hand being in the way.
The Youtuber Spawn Wave disassembled his Joycon and discovered that to fix the problem; he just had to add a copper antenna to the lower part of the Joy-Con to strengthen its signal . For users under warranty, Nintendo offered to fix the Joy-Con experiencing this issue for free even paying for expedited shipping in most cases. After receiving their repaired Joy-Con, some people took them apart to find out what had been done and discovered that a small piece of conductive foam had simply been added to it. This surprisingly simple solution worked well, and the issue has been resolved at the factory level in the time since.
After I sent my Joy-Con back to Nintendo for repair, I ended up discovering I had another problem with mine which have resulted in me sending both of my Joy-Con back to Nintendo on two separate occasions. Occasionally, even when my Joy-Con are directly connected to my Switch, my analog inputs will remain even after I have let got of the sticks. This results in my characters walking off in one direction on their own or my camera just spins. It resets if I tap the analog stick again, but it is very annoying and has caused me to make some mistakes while playing games. Unfortunately, even after sending them back in a second time, I am still experiencing the issue, so I am just learning to live with it. A Nintendo representative I spoke with recommended that I send my whole console in for a replacement, but I just can't force myself to do that.
Touchscreen Support
There is one final feature I would like to discuss which seems to be an oft forgotten one, and that is the touchscreen. Of course, this is something which only people who play in handheld mode get to take advantage of, but it is a feature which has greatly enhanced my enjoyment of some games on the system. It is no secret that I love it when a game developer can perfectly combine both button controls and touchscreen controls. While I do not like games which force you to completely rely on the touchscreen, I am a firm believer that there are certain instances where it is more convenient to use buttons and other times where a touchscreen makes it far easier to navigate the screen. Whenever I have the option, I tend to swap seamlessly between using the buttons and the touch screen just because I enjoy the change of pace.
Aside from this, the touchscreen compatibility has made the Switch a system perfectly suitable for ports of mobile games. While there are many mobile games of low quality being brought to the Switch at prices significantly too high for what the games offer, there are also many other quality mobile titles being brought to the Switch while still being able to use their native controls. On top of that, these mobile titles on the Switch have an advantage over their other console-port brethren because players in fact often have the ability to use both buttons and touch controls. It really is the mixture of the best of both worlds.
*This review was written by Brian Myers for switchwatch.co.uk.
Nintendo Switch Review Part 3: Functionality and Updates Nintendo Switch Review Part 5: Value and Summary
dpad dpad Joycon HD Rumble Joy-Con Joycon nintendo switch Skyrim touchscreen
Brian Myers
Brian is a passionate gamer who has been playing video games since the early 90's. The first game he ever played was the original Super Mario Bros on the NES, and he never looked back. When Mario Maker came out, he spent many hours creating a complete Mario game. Brian is also a lover of JRPGs. Particularly Final Fantasy.
Brian Myers March 6, 2018
Fear Effect Sedna Review
Collapsed, a Roguelike Platformer, Heading to Switch
Dead Cells' New 'Barrels o' Fun' Update Dropping Soon
Super Blood Hockey Getting Physical Release on Switch
Phoenotopia Awakening Coming Exclusively to Switch
Shiny Amoonguss Being Distributed in Sword/Shield
Prehistoric Dude Coming to Nintendo Switch Next Week


The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) seeks to secure an ISO accreditation for its meter testing laboratory in order to gain international acceptance and recognition of its testing and calibration results.
"The move aims to strengthen the ERC's testing and calibration system through the accreditation of its meter testing laboratory to ISO/IEC 17025 which pertains to the General Requirement for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories. In doing so, our capacities and standards shall be aligned to meet international standards" ERC Chairperson and CEO Agnes VST Devanadera explained.
Getting an ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation provides benefits to both the ERC and the electric power industry stakeholders, particularly: (1) National and international recognition; (2) Recognizes the technical competence of laboratory staff; (3) Assures the client that results of testing are reliable and valid; (4) Provides comparability of measurements; (5) Decision makers can rely on test results; (6) Improves staff motivation; (7) Reduce barriers in trade; and (8) Saves money by getting it right first time.
The ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation project pursues to achieve international obligation as member signatory to international agreement and a more efficient and effective way of undertaking testing and calibration. The accreditation will also promote cooperation between laboratories and other certifying bodies around the world by generating wider acceptance of results between countries. Test reports and certificates will be accepted from one country to another without the need for further retesting, which in turn, improves international trade by way of liberalization of entry of goods.
The ERC's ISO accreditation is also aligned and complies with Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business Act which seeks to make the process of putting up and running a business in the Philippines easier and more efficient. Once the accreditation is completed, the ERC's meter testing and calibration mandate shall observe the standardized deadline for government transactions based on the Ease of Doing Business Act.
The Meter Division of the Consumer Affairs Service (CAS) of the ERC shall spearhead and oversee the completion and proper implementation of the ISO/IEC Project.
"The ISO/IEC accreditation will be an added feather in ERC's cap as our meter test results gets international acceptance and recognition. We owe it to the citizenry to secure and maintain their trust and confidence by assuring them of an accurate and reliable meter test and calibration results" ERC Chair Devanadera concluded.