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Games that stand the test of time
Of late, despite all the hype over the release of the two new games consoles from Sony and Microsoft, I have found myself going back to older games and re-experiencing titles I've already finished.
It's pretty common to spend as much time looking back as you do looking forward, especially in entertainment, I'm sure many of you have some books you have reread a number of times or movies you watch over and over. The same is true of video games, we go back to re-experience them for all kinds of reasons, be it for nostalgias sake, reminding our selves of experiences we may have forgotten or simply to have a breath of fresh air from all those 'terrible modern games'.
Going back to something can mean a number of different things depending on what type of game you're talking about. It could be because it makes you happy, playing Super Mario World again because it was, and still is, a great game. There is the 'reminding yourself' play-though, when you go back to a game when ever you've forgotten enough about it to get a new(ish) experience out of it again. Then there is the relapse, in cases like this I'm talking about your MMOs, going back to games like World of Warcraft (or in my case The Old Republic) after finally managing to wrench yourself away from them.
Yoshi became so iconic that the simple mention of his inclusion in a Mario game is enough to get everyone excited
As gaming has broadened, we've seen a more diverse array of ways to game out in the world. One thing that has remained a focus for developers amongst all of these genres is a game's staying power, the ability to grab us and keep us playing for more than a single afternoon. Games have never been cheap even during the days of the 8-bit era, and as a result one of the biggest points of critique has become what we're getting for our money. It's sad that many games are being panned now for a short length, regardless of their quality in nearly every other area. To some people it's an important attribute, especially if they only buy one game a year for example.
This is why developers will tackle this aspect of game design and are always looking for more ways to provide their customers with more gaming bang for their proverbial buck. In the early days, it seemed the popular choice was to make games that were really difficult or broken to the point they were unbeatable, this way, players would continue to beat their heads over the game in an attempt to finally finish it, whether it was possible for them to do so or not. There are some games from back in the day I could never beat, but it kept me going back to them because maybe, one day, I'd finally get to see that ending. For example, I have never beaten Golden Axe on my old Mega Drive, and even when going back to it recently, I still found myself struggling to make significant progress. The lack of a password, coupled with permanent death made what would now be a frustrating couple of days something you would spend years on. Only if you were as terrible at games as a kid as I was of course.
Today, games are getting more creative in the ways they keep their claws in. Open world games are a hugely popular example, giving players a huge open worlds to play in, with a long checklist of side missions and jobs to do outside of the main game. Sandbox world design is showing itself in a significant number of the year's biggest titles, GTA, Assassin's Creed, Watch_Dogs (which was supposed to be out this year), the Arkham series, they all prolong play not only by travel times around the world, but by their wealth of additional optional content. The things is, while we will spend a lot longer playing these games as a result, it isn't the reason we come back to them. I would return to Arkham Asylum and Assassin's Creed II for the same reasons I watch Jurassic Park, Back to the Future or Ghostbusters every time I see them on TV, for their stories and their characters.
Older games have a natural ability stay with us because they were all essentially one offs at the time.
Games are far more cinematic now than they have ever been before, and there is a lot of merit in returning to them to experience their story again than at any point in the history. It's for this exact reason I will constantly return to the likes of Mass Effect, Phoenix Wright and L.A. Noire. In the case of the first two, they're filled with characters I enjoy and want to see them again, like revisiting old friends. They had stories I enjoyed and were worth experiencing more than once. In the the case of the second two, there is a unique aspect of problem/mystery solving that is a harder style of gameplay to come across compared to your FPS and racing games. There is a particular gaming itch that they scratch very well, and I gain a lot of enjoyment from going back to them and solving those problems again once they've faded from my memory.
While there are only so many games I'll go back to, and a huge list that'll just fall into the grey obscurity of the past. Some aspects of modern game design seems far less interested in having games that you can come back to, rather they want you to play their game for as long a time as possible after its release, but then just drop it when a new shiner version comes out to replace it. There are a lot of annual releases that the average Joe on the street wouldn't be able to pick apart if asked, your sport games (Madden and FIFA), your shooters (Call of Duty and Battlefield) and even titles like Assassin's Creed are coming out so often that once the newer one comes out, why bother going back to the older one? Thus now, rather than standing the test of time, games only need last a year before they can be cast aside.
This is from Fifa 11. Or was it Fifa 12?
I used Assassin's Creed as an example earlier as a game I would return to, but with the aggressive pace at which more and more of these titles are coming out, am I really likely to return to Assassin's Creed 6.2 when AC9 is right around the corner? The difference is, we have some games that are intended to be a singular experience, which contains a beginning and an end, the lastability (which I'm insisting is a word damn you spell checker) being the game is designed to be one you want to return to, with the pace at which Assassin's Creed games come out and the similar style of all of their gameplay it's only a matter of time before they start to blend together.
Mass Effect (I'm using it as an example again) does this incredibly well, having a single experience that as a huge number of divergences, encouraging you to pick it up again by rewarding you with a number of small changes throughout the entire thing. Other examples that comes to mind are Roguelikes, which we're seeing more and more of in the indie sphere. Games such as Spelunky, FTL, The Binding of Issac and Rogue Legacy which are intended for an entire game to be played and finished in a single sitting, but provide additional content over a long span of time for people to return to it at their own leisure.
Games like FTL are designed to provide a everlasting experience where the game you're currently playing takes importance over any spanning goal.
While there are some aspects of this seen in Call of Duty's prestige mode and FIFA's ultimate teams encouraging players to keep at it and build something over prolonged play, the necessity to restart your progress every year with the new release is somewhat off-putting. Once you get bored of the current Call of Duty, you're more likely to wait for the next release than come back to the previous one.
In the end, I think making a game you can return to comes with the territory. Some games are made in a way that returning to them is a treat, something you can rediscover or come back to as an annual event, burning the game into your memory and allowing it to stand the test of time. Other are designed to have a limited lifespan, which expires just in time for you to give the developers another £40 to £50 to have a slightly altered and updated version of the experience all over again. I'm not holding that against these annual titles though, at the end of the day they're companies making a profit, and making one hell of a profit at that, and with so many people happy with the current trend it looks like they'll continue to do so for a long time to come. But think about it like this, how many people still talk about Knights of the Old Republic here on the internet? Now think about how often you see people fondly looking back on FIFA 2003, you remember that one don't you, it was the one with Edgar Davids on the cover…
We hope you found this article useful, or informative, or thought provoking, or maybe even a little entertaining. Perhaps it was a guide that helped you through a tricky bit, or we even saved you some money? Lovely stuff! If you'd like to say "thanks" you could always buy the team a cup of coffee.
Related Topics:Assassin's CreedCall of DutyFIFAMass EffectRetroroguelikeSpelunkyStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
If flip flopping the line between cynicism and enthusiasm was an illness then I would have a nifty obscure disease named after me, but seeing as how it has yet to be diagnosed, I'll settle with just being inconsistent.
Spelunky and Spelunky 2 are releasing on Nintendo Switch this month
Ubisoft announces Assassin's Creed Infinity, a live service AC game
Johns Rambo and McClane are now playable in Call of Duty
Loop Hero is unlike any roguelike you've played before
Bioware reveals new Mass Effect game and remaster collection
Assassin's Creed Netflix TV series announced and it's not the anime


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DIY Raised Planter Box Raised planter box is basically similar with the regular box as described above. However, instead of short cleats, you will need taller cleats or even poles to support the box.
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Erotic dating sim online
www.thegamer.com,Highlights
Explore NSFW games tagged Dating Sim on blogger.com Dating sims (or dating simulations) are a video game subgenre of simulation games, usually Japanese, with romantic eleme Find Apps Design. Jan It's much easier to connect with your partner by thinking about how you feel about them than by thinking about the dating app. I feel happy and my In this puzzle-adventurer-meets-dating-sim, the object of the game is to recruit a full harem of demon girls. With a bit of problem-solving and smooth-talking, the player can take home each Simgirls (full version), the most popular online dating sim game. Game 4,, Views (Ages 17+) Meet'N'Fuck Kingdom by VadimGoD. Meet'N'Fuck Lavindor Kingdom Game 14,, · FYI: This girlfriend simulator contains adult language, nudity, and sexual situations, so you must be over 18 years old to download and play it. URL: blogger.com ... read more
Human Cargo. Rob Colton. Mythic Manor NSFW. Homecoming ~Morenatsu Revisited~. A reimagining of the classic VN Morenatsu. Stormsinger Studios. A naughty sandbox RPG. Will you save the world, or conquer it?
My New Family. A story driven adult visual novel. Violet Memoir. Mikey Skye. Four-Letter Word. Follow the journeys of two roommates on their way to figuring out who they are and what they want out of life and love. The Amorous Adventures of a Duelist in High Society. moniker ersatz. A Shot in the Dark - V0. ViM Studios. Who would you be without your memories? Juicy Drake Studios. MurMur 0. School Of Love: Clubs! Make new friends and improve your relationships!
Dragon Island Demo. Follow Henry to the Dragon Island, and create some unique memory on the long shore with 6 other dragons! Manor Hill. Out of the fire and into the flame. Between chatting about Coldplay and deciding which early s icon is worthy enough to be a profile picture, players are immersed in Y2K nostalgia as they navigate the relationship between two tech-savvy punk indie music fans on the brink of adulthood.
The challenge lies in staying emotionally connected with nothing but an internet connection. One of the few free otome games available on Steam, Cinderella Phenomenon has a surprisingly cohesive storyline. The different routes, while unique and not at all repetitive, feel connected to one another in a way that really ties the story together, which is a level of polish that a lot of other visual novels lack. Another breath of fresh air that this game offers is its protagonist, Lucette. Unlike the standard, cookie-cutter, faceless women who lead most otome games, Lucette has a fierce and distinctive personality.
Over the course of the story, she and the other characters must work together to overcome the Fairy Tale Curses that they were shackled with.
Through this concept, the creators were able to insure their cast would be flawed but redeemable, changing greatly by the end of the game. Looking at this game's long, nuanced story that follows the characters from childhood to adulthood, it's clear that the developers cut no corners.
Players can even create their own characters and watch them grow up with the main cast! As they do, the player is in control of how the protagonist's personality and motives shift and change. Few other dating sims allow for such a player-driven experience, and fewer more give such a complete look into the lives of the NPCs. Falling in love with a visual novel character is one thing, but gradually transitioning from childhood friendship with a character to an adult relationship is something entirely different.
Magic, mystery, and murder flourish in this mobile dating sim. With art that is almost as vivid and intriguing as its rich plot, The Arcana: A Mystic Romance is a game that is almost impossible to put down. Aside from having the power to smooth-talk this eclectic group of characters, the protagonist has a gift for fortune-telling and an enchanted tarot deck to help bring them down the right path. This comes in handy for more reasons than one: it provides foreshadowing for what is to come; it helps to charm those who could've otherwise been adversarial toward the player; and it is a useful tool for investigating the unsolved killing of the elusive Count Lucio.
Welcoming to players of all gender identities and sexualities, this game has a large, dedicated fan base despite still being in development. For those willing to fight the occasional urge to purchase in-game currency, this is a great free game for just about anybody interested in dating simulators.
Most of the time you look for a dating simulator with well-drawn, relatively attractive romanceable characters and a decent story to keep you playing. This has some well-drawn characters and a story that doesn't take itself too seriously but this time it's combined with sometimes adorable cats. This is any cat lover's dream. It's a game where you get to make choices and take cats out on dates to get them to fall in love with you. It's a classic love story between animal and human that is wrong in so many ways that it makes the game hilariously entertaining to play.
Obey Me! is a mobile dating sim that's a cross between a visual novel and a card-based RPG. After a strange dream where a mysterious voice asks you to save them, you suddenly find yourself as an exchange student at an all demon school. There to develop a better understanding between humans and demons, you're sent to live with 7 demon brothers, with whom you have to form pacts to be able to command them.
The game has a lot of different paid "gacha"-like events to win cards that unlock outfits and stories for the different characters. The Arcana is a mobile dating sim created by Nyx Hydra.
Mixing the usual elements of dating sims with a mystery and the magic of Tarot cards makes The Arcana a one-of-a-kind dating sim. You can romance six characters and journey through the story in 22 "books" that all relate to the Major Arcana in a standard Tarot deck. You can earn either the Upright End or the Reverse depending on which choices you make End. All routes and endings are free to play with the option to pay for extra content, like CGs and side stories.
Amnesia: Memories is a visual novel game which means that it occurs in chapters and follows a strict plot that you cannot deviate from. In this game, each choice leads to a new parallel universe in which the heroine pursues a single male character. The end goal is to regain the heroine's memories through these interactions and figure out who she was and where she belonged before she lost her memories while becoming acquainted with the selected gentlemen.
Akash is a beautiful visual novel where you take on the role of Aurora. Aurora is an elemental within a village of other elementals and is the first female one within years of the village's history. This puts a lot of pressure on Aurora with her upcoming coming of age ceremony, as well as the tensions between her village and a human settlement nearby.
RELATED: The Best Romance Visual Novels. The game is full of amazing features, including fully-voiced dialogue options from many veteran VO actors like SungWon Cho, Morgan Berry, Ray Chase, and more. Katawa Shouju is a dating sim that follows the hero's recovery from a lengthy hospital stay as he transitions into a new school filled with students with a range of different abilities.
While adjusting to his new life, the hero also has the ability to pursue a romantic relationship with some of his new peers. However, it is important to note that the outcome of these interactions is very dependent on the success of the hero's attempts to woo his peers, and sometimes the game could end with him just as single as he was at the start of the game.
LoveChoice is a brief dating sim only around 2 hours long but that doesn't make it any less impactful. LoveChoice is drawn in a very simplistic way, reminding you of the childlike whimsy and the ease of new love. As the title suggests, this game is all about the choices that people make in their romantic relationships - every scene matters.
As a result, it also has some replayability value, extending the 2-hour playtime by a bit. True Love is one of the original dating simulation games. Though it was released in Japan in , it did not receive a North American release until You can experience the story from the perspective of a high school boy who is finding his course work far more difficult than expected as well as trying to juggle maintaining an active social life.
RELATED: The Most Bizarre Dating Simulator Games.
Dating sims or dating simulations are a video game subgenre of simulation games, usually Japanese, with romantic elements. The most common objective of dating sims is to date, usually choosing from among several characters, and to achieve a romantic relationship. Suggest updated description.
Explore NSFW games tagged Dating Sim on itch. Dating sims or dating simulations are a video game subgenre of simulation games, usually Japanese, with romantic eleme · Upload your NSFW games to itch. io to have them show up here. Browse Games Game Jams Upload Game Developer Logs Community. Log in Register. Indie game store Free games Fun games Horror games. Filter Results Clear. Dating Sim Dating sims or dating simulations are a video game subgenre of simulation games, usually Japanese, with romantic elements.
Input methods. Average session length. Multiplayer features. Accessibility features. Sort by. Visual Novel. Story Rich. View all tags. New itch. io is now on YouTube! Subscribe for game recommendations, clips, and more. A naughty sandbox RPG. Will you save the world, or conquer it?
FROST BITE demo. Scopophobia Studios. What if you had a new chance in life? Choice-driven adult Visual Novel Harem. Innocent witches is a rendition of the story of the boy who lived. A bit brighter, more lustrous, and more lustful.
Sad Crab Company. A lewd sandbox game in a RPG-themed world. A Harem Sandbox Game with Tons of Fun. DicPic Studio. Play in browser.
Jump Harem. Adult date simulator based in all anime. Colored Gaze VN. An R Visual Novel that has certain dark and sexual elements in some routes so take caution as you play the game. Ritz 🍇.
Tennis Ace. an interactive, furry, adult novel. School Of Love: Clubs! Make new friends and improve your relationships! Race of Life. Underground Studio. A lewd VN about Futas on an open island. HornyCraft v0. A tasteful, classy, futanari dating sim. Hope you like erotic dystopia! FDW - Binding Sim. Mythic Manor NSFW. MurMur 0.
What a Legend! An adult point and click adventure with dating-sim and visual-novel elements. Sileo: Tales of a New Dawn. A Slasher Dating Simulator. Date your favourite slasher icons! MC Simulator. MC Simulator is an Adult Sandbox VN with dating sim and RPG coming soon elements. Another Chance. An adult game about choices and redemption, about love and lust, and about living out your fantasies!
Take over as the teacher for a class of 20 adorable girls! DJNOSTYLE Selebus. My Harem Saga v Dawn Chorus. Spooky Milk Life. Studio Ginkgo. The Echo Project.
This time, you play the dragon. A bad dragon. My New Family. A story driven adult visual novel. io on Twitter itch. io on Facebook. Copyright © itch corp · Directory · Terms · Privacy · Cookies.
35 Best Porn Games Online: The Top Picks for Adult Games in 2021,*Written In Partnership With Pleasure Seeker*
· FYI: This girlfriend simulator contains adult language, nudity, and sexual situations, so you must be over 18 years old to download and play it. URL: blogger.com Explore NSFW games tagged Dating Sim on blogger.com Dating sims (or dating simulations) are a video game subgenre of simulation games, usually Japanese, with romantic eleme Find Simgirls (full version), the most popular online dating sim game. Game 4,, Views (Ages 17+) Meet'N'Fuck Kingdom by VadimGoD. Meet'N'Fuck Lavindor Kingdom Game 14,, 14 The Arcana. The Arcana is a mobile dating sim created by Nyx Hydra. Mixing the usual elements of dating sims with a mystery and the magic of Tarot cards makes The Arcana a Adult Games; Adult Toons; Dating Sims; Dress-Up Games + Dress-Up Dolls; Dress-Up Hentai; Gay Adult; Hentai; Latest Additions. Comix Harem by Kinkoid. Game , Views (Adults Apps Design. Jan It's much easier to connect with your partner by thinking about how you feel about them than by thinking about the dating app. I feel happy and my ... read more
Retarded Animal Babies. Steam offers a variety of adult video games that run the gamut of genres. This has some well-drawn characters and a story that doesn't take itself too seriously but this time it's combined with sometimes adorable cats. Hentai Heroes 2. This is because unlocking the adult material here takes a lot of time.
Vixen Wars erotic dating sim online. Galaxy Angel sim date RPG by Klacid. DJNOSTYLE Selebus. School Of Love: Clubs! As the title suggests, this game is all about the choices that people make in their romantic relationships - every scene matters. A Shot in the Dark - V0. This puts a lot of pressure on Aurora with her upcoming coming of age ceremony, as well as the tensions between her village and a human settlement nearby.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Is Benrahma really what the Gunners need?
afcpeter
10th Feb, 2020
Who is Benrahma, How much is he worth and who is after him?
Arsenal are looking to bolster their attacking options this summer. Arsenal are looking at many different candidates and one player that has caught the eye of the recruitment team at Arsenal and clubs and fans all over England is Said Benrahma, the Brentford man and Algerian national player is available for around 15 million pounds with eyes on him from other Premier League clubs like Leicester and Newcastle, Arsenal will be wanting to get a hold of the 24 year old winger who signed for the west London club in the summer of 2018 for around 1.5 million pounds from French club OGC Nice.
What could Benrahma add to the Arsenal Side Mikel Arteta is Building?
Benrahama is a very skilful player and is almost too good for the championship, with his technicality and ability to bring the ball forward by beating defenders. He is usually played as an inverted winger at Brentford on the left side of the pitch and has a great end product scoring 8 goals and getting 5 assists in the championship. The 24 year old would be a great asset to many Premier league teams and could provide an attacking threat to teams who need a bit of flair at the top end of the pitch,
Do Arsenal really need Benrahma?
The question on all Arsenal fans minds is, Do Arsenal really need Benrahma? The simple answer at this moment in time is no, with Martinelli showing promising signs on the left side for Arsenal and club captain Aubameyang being deployed on the left and even despite interest from Barcelona for Aubameyang it looks like he may be staying put, Arsenal also have Nicolas Pepe who can play on the left. It looks like Benrahma may not be the right man for Arsenal and the club should maybe put more effort into signing an attacking midfielder, box to box midfielder and of course a centre half.
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Arsenal battled back from a goal down to beat Chelsea 2-1 in the semifinals of the Carabao Cup.
90'+5' Match ends, Arsenal 2, Chelsea 1.
90'+5' Second Half ends, Arsenal 2, Chelsea 1.
90'+4' Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Nacho Monreal.


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Senator Doug Jones' Voting Record Explained
Written by Dakota Layton on November 27, 2019
The 2020 Senate election in Alabama is heating up and as expected, Republicans are fighting relentlessly to take back former Attorney General and now Senate candidate, Jeff Session's former seat.
Last week, former Auburn University football coach and current Republican frontrunner, Tommy Tuberville tweeted the following, "Doug Jones may claim to be a 'moderate' Democrat, but he's just another liberal Dem. It's critical we replace him with a proud conservative who truly represents AL values and I'm ready to be that leader. Can you donate today and help defeat Doug Jones?"
Doug Jones may claim to be a "moderate" Democrat, but he's just another liberal Dem. It's critical we replace him with a proud conservative who truly represents AL values and I'm ready to be that leader. Can you donate today and help defeat Doug Jones?https://t.co/mwlojviS8D
— Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville) November 19, 2019
Considering how partisanship has become the sacred scripture of the current political era, it is considered conventional wisdom now to attack your opponent by framing him or her as a stereotypical caricature of the political party they are a member of. For example, if you are a Republican running against a Democrat, you may attack him or her as "too liberal," "far left," "a Socialist," or "a puppet of Chuck Schumer". If you are a Democrat, you may attack your opponent as, "far-right," "too extreme," "a puppet of President Trump," etc.
In light of these political tactics, we must be objective when judging the political views of a candidate. If they are currently serving in the United States Senate, there is no better way to judge them than by their voting record. So, let's put Mr. Tuberville's statement to the test. Is Senator Doug Jones just another liberal Democrat? Let's look at his voting record.
Back in September, Quorum Analytics released a report that ranked Senator Jones as one of the most bipartisan members of the US Senate. The first vote that Senator Jones cast was for a Republican-backed CR to avoid a government shutdown amid the fight between President Trump and congressional Democrats over the fate of Dreamers, children who were brought to the country illegally through no fault of their own.
Senator Jones also voted to confirm President Trump's nominees for Secretary of State (former Congressman and Director of the C.I.A. Mike Pompeo), Secretary of the V.A. (Robert Wilkie), Attorney General, (William Barr, the former Attorney General under President George H.W. Bush), Secretary of Defense (Mark Esper), and Secretary of Health and Human Services (Alex Azar, former President of the U.S. division of Eli Lilly and Company, a major pharmaceutical company).
Senator Jones voted to roll back some regulations of the Dodd-Frank Act and expand private healthcare options for veterans. He has also refused to support populist progressive policies like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal that are backed by his Senate colleague and 2020 presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont).
However, Senator Jones' record has not always aligned with President Trump. Following Mike Pompeo's confirmation as Secretary of State, he voted against the President's nominees for Director of the C.I.A. (Gina Haspel), Secretary of Labor (Eugene Scalia, the son of former Supreme Court Justice, Antonin Scalia), Secretary of Interior (David Bernhardt, a former oil lobbyist and Solicitor of the Department of the Interior under President George W. Bush), and Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (Andrew Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist).
He also voted to restore net neutrality rules, end assistance to Saudi Arabia in Yemen, keep abortion procedures after 20 weeks legal, and he has been a fierce critic of President Trump's tariff policy with China. He stated, "I think Alabama is not just in a unique position, but we are in a very vulnerable position with both manufacturing and farming, we cannot overlook the impact that this is having on farmers up and down the state from one end to another". But the two most crucial votes that Senator Jones has cast is arguably for President Trump's criminal justice reform bill (The First Step Act) and against the confirmation of current Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Other votes that Senator Jones has cast include a yes on overturning President Trump's national emergency declaration for funding the wall, a yes on a bipartisan immigration proposal, a yes on disapproving of President Trump's withdrawal of troops from Syria, a yes on providing disaster relief to Puerto Rico, approving of requirements for care of infants born after failed abortions, disapproving of President Trump's proposal to lift sanctions on three Russian companies, a no on prohibiting federal funds from being used for abortion procedures, a yes on providing humanitarian aid to the US-Mexico border, and a yes on overriding President Trump's veto of a bill that would block the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia.
Senator Jones has co-sponsored a bipartisan bill to improve access to rural healthcare for new and expecting mothers and introduced the Rural Health Liaison Act, which his office has stated will improve the coordination of federal resources and expand health care access for rural Americans. This legislation became part of the 2018 Farm Bill that was passed and signed into law by President Trump. He also introduced legislation to eliminate the Military Widows Tax and along with Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), introduced the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act. Both pieces of legislation were signed into law by President Trump.
Therefore, while we can definitely classify Senator Jones as someone who is of moderately liberal persuasion, he has proven himself to be an independent voice who prefers the pragmatic approach of reaching across the aisle to his Republican colleagues and getting things done. He has voted to confirm a handful of the President's nominees and he has voted in favor of some of President's legislative priorities. At the same time, he has proven himself to be unafraid to stand up to the President when he feels like the President's position or nominee hurts the state of Alabama. His refusal to back progressive policy proposals like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal clearly puts him in the more moderate camp of the Democratic Party. Since we have discovered Senator Jones to be a bipartisan dealmaker in the Senate, we can safely say that he isn't just "another liberal Democrat" as Mr. Tuberville claims. But will his bipartisan credentials be enough to give him a full term in the Senate? We will see on Election Day.
Dakota Layton
Dakota Layton graduated from the University of Alabama in Huntsville with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. He is currently enrolled at the University of Mississippi where he is working to earn his Master of Arts in Philosophy.
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UPDATE: San Angelo police officers injured while searching for suspect
Alana Edgin
SAN ANGELO — Two police officers were injured in a motorcycle collision while searching for a possible suspect in a shots fired call Friday morning.
The officers responded to a shots fired call at 10:35 a.m. at North Emerick and Pulliam streets. One unit was directly behind the first unit, and did not notice the first unit slow down, said Sgt. Matthew Vaughn, acting public information officer for San Angelo Police.
Vaughn said the officers have non-life-threatening injuries.
The location of the crash was swarmed in flashing lights and emergency vehicles. At least three police units, two ambulances and one fire engine responded.
Police news:Two officers receive minor injures at Tom Green County Juvenile Justice Center
Police news:San Angelo officer, motorcyclist wreck on 19th Street minutes apart
Both motorcycle officers were searching for a shots fired suspect, who was reported to have fled the area. The first motorcycle officer had slowed while searching when it was struck by the second motorcycle officer's vehicle.
The two officers were loaded into the ambulance and taken to Shannon Medical Center with minor injuries, Vaughn said.
"The focus now is on working the accident and making sure the officers are safe," Vaughn said.
Vaughn did not think anything had developed from the shots fired call, as it was cleared by responding officers.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area.
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This is a developing story. More information will be released as it becomes available.


READING, Pa., Feb. 06, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EnerSys (NYSE: ENS), the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, announced today results for its third quarter of fiscal 2019, which ended on December 30, 2018.
Net earnings attributable to EnerSys stockholders ("Net earnings") for the third quarter of fiscal 2019 were $48.4 million, or $1.12 per diluted share, which included an unfavorable highlighted net of tax impact of $2.0 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, from highlighted items described in further detail in the tables shown below, reconciling non-GAAP adjusted financial measures to reported amounts.
As previously disclosed, EnerSys completed the acquisition of subsidiaries and assets from the Alpha Group on December 7, 2018. For the third quarter of fiscal 2019, the contribution of the acquisition was $26.8 million to net sales and $(4.4) million to Net earnings, excluding the effect of the transaction and integration costs and interest expense on the debt to finance the acquisition.
Net loss attributable to EnerSys stockholders ("Net loss") for the third quarter of fiscal 2018 was $25.8 million, or $0.61 loss per diluted share, which included an unfavorable highlighted net of tax impact of $79.1 million, or $1.86 per diluted share from highlighted items described in further detail in the tables shown below. The $79.1 million net of tax impact included an estimated net tax expense of $77.3 million comprised of a one-time transition tax of $94.0 million, a tax benefit related to the remeasurement of U.S. deferred taxes of $14.7 million, and a tax benefit of $2.0 million related to the reduction of the fiscal 2018 federal tax rate to 31.5%, on account of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("Tax Act").
Excluding these highlighted items, adjusted Net earnings per diluted share for the third quarter of fiscal 2019, on a non-GAAP basis, were $1.17. The guidance of $1.23 to $1.27 per diluted share for the third fiscal quarter given by the Company on November 7, 2018, assumed that the acquisition of the Alpha companies would not close in this period. Excluding the effects of this transaction, the Company earned $1.21 per diluted share on a non-GAAP basis. The $.04 negative impact ($1.21 compared to $1.17) primarily reflects the additional interest and amortization from the transaction as the three weeks of post acquisition net sales of $26.8 million had a neutral impact. The adjusted Net earnings per diluted share for the third quarter of fiscal 2019, on a non-GAAP basis compare to the prior year third quarter adjusted Net earnings of $1.25 per diluted share. Please refer to the section included herein under the heading "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for a discussion of the Company's use of non-GAAP adjusted financial information, which include tables reconciling GAAP and non-GAAP adjusted financial measures for the quarters ended December 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.
Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2019 were $680.0 million, an increase of 3% from the prior year third quarter net sales of $658.9 million and a 3% sequential quarterly increase from the second quarter of fiscal 2019 net sales of $660.5 million. The increase in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter was the result of a 4% increase due to acquisitions and a 2% increase in pricing, partially offset by a 3% decrease in foreign currency translation impact. The 3% sequential quarterly increase was primarily due to a 4% increase due to acquisitions, partially offset by a 1% decrease in foreign currency translation impact.
Net earnings for the nine months of fiscal 2019 were $141.7 million, or $3.31 per diluted share, which included an unfavorable net of tax impact of $8.3 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, from cash and non-cash charges from highlighted items described in further detail in the tables shown below, reconciling non-GAAP adjusted financial measures to reported amounts.
Net earnings for the nine months of fiscal 2018 were $65.6 million, or $1.51 per diluted share, which included an unfavorable net of tax impact of $82.4 million, or $1.90 per diluted share, from highlighted items. The $82.4 million net of tax impact includes an estimated net tax expense of $77.3 million comprised of a one-time transition tax of $94.0 million, a tax benefit related to the remeasurement of U.S. deferred taxes of $14.7 million, and a tax benefit of $2.0 million related to the reduction of the fiscal 2018 federal tax rate to 31.5%, on account of the recently enacted Tax Act.
Adjusted Net earnings for the nine months of fiscal 2019, on a non-GAAP basis, were $3.50 per diluted share. This compares to the prior year nine months adjusted Net earnings of $3.41 per diluted share. Please refer to the section included herein under the heading "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for a discussion of the Company's use of non-GAAP adjusted financial information.
Net sales for the nine months of fiscal 2019 were $2,011.4 million, an increase of 6% from the net sales of $1,898.8 million in the comparable period in fiscal 2018. This increase was the result of a 4% increase in organic volume, a 2% increase in pricing and a 1% increase in acquisitions, partially offset by a 1% decrease in foreign currency translation impact.
This press release contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"). EnerSys' management uses the non-GAAP measure "adjusted Net earnings" as applicable, in their analysis of the Company's performance. This measure, as used by EnerSys in past quarters and years, adjusts Net earnings determined in accordance with GAAP to reflect changes in financial results associated with the Company's restructuring initiatives and other highlighted charges and income items. Management believes the presentation of this financial measure reflecting these non-GAAP adjustments provides important supplemental information in evaluating the operating results of the Company as distinct from results that include items that are not indicative of ongoing operating results; in particular, those charges that the Company incurs as a result of restructuring activities, impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles and other assets, acquisition activities and those charges and credits that are not directly related to operating unit performance, such as significant legal proceedings, ERP system implementation and tax valuation allowance changes, including those related to the adoption of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Because these charges are not incurred as a result of ongoing operations, or are incurred as a result of a potential or previous acquisition, they are not as helpful a measure of the performance of our underlying business, particularly in light of their unpredictable nature and are difficult to forecast.
Income tax effects of non-GAAP adjustments are calculated using the applicable statutory tax rate for the jurisdictions in which the charges (benefits) are incurred, while taking into consideration any valuation allowances. For those items which are non-taxable, the tax expense (benefit) is calculated at 0%.
This non-GAAP disclosure has limitations as an analytical tool, should not be viewed as a substitute for Net earnings determined in accordance with GAAP, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company's results as reported under GAAP, nor is it necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies. Management believes that this non-GAAP supplemental information will be helpful in understanding the Company's ongoing operating results. This supplemental presentation should not be construed as an inference that the Company's future results will be unaffected by similar adjustments to Net earnings determined in accordance with GAAP.
* See Income Taxes in Note 6 to the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 30, 2018.
EnerSys also announced that it will host a conference call to discuss the Company's third quarter fiscal year 2019 financial results and provide an overview of the business. The call will conclude with a question and answer session.
The call, scheduled for Thursday, February 7, 2019 at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, will be hosted by David M. Shaffer, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Michael J. Schmidtlein, Chief Financial Officer.
The call will also be webcast on EnerSys' website. There will be a free download of a compatible media player on the Company's website at http://www.enersys.com.
A replay of the conference call will be available from 12:30 p.m. on February 7, 2019 through 12:30 p.m. on March 9, 2019.
For more information, contact Thomas O'Neill, Vice President and Treasurer, EnerSys, P.O. Box 14145, Reading, PA 19612-4145, USA. Tel: 610-236-4040 or by emailing investorrelations@enersys.com; Web site: www.enersys.com.
EDITOR'S NOTE: EnerSys, the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, manufactures and distributes reserve power and motive power batteries, battery chargers, power equipment, battery accessories and outdoor equipment enclosure solutions to customers worldwide. Motive power batteries and chargers are utilized in electric forklift trucks and other commercial electric powered vehicles. Reserve power batteries are used in the telecommunication and utility industries, uninterruptible power supplies, and numerous applications requiring stored energy solutions including medical, aerospace and defense systems. Outdoor equipment enclosure products are utilized in the telecommunication, cable, utility, transportation industries and by government and defense customers. The company also provides aftermarket and customer support services to its customers in over 100 countries through its sales and manufacturing locations around the world. With the recent Alpha acquisition, EnerSys provides highly integrated power solutions and services to broadband, telecom, renewable and industrial customers.
More information regarding EnerSys can be found at www.enersys.com.
This press release, and oral statements made regarding the subjects of this release, contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, or the Reform Act, which may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding EnerSys' earnings estimates, intention to pay quarterly cash dividends, return capital to stockholders, plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts, including statements identified by words such as "believe," "plan," "seek," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "will," and similar expressions. All statements addressing operating performance, events, or developments that EnerSys expects or anticipates will occur in the future, including statements relating to sales growth, earnings or earnings per share growth, order intake, backlog, payment of future cash dividends, commodity prices, execution of its stock buy back program, judicial or regulatory proceedings, and market share, as well as statements expressing optimism or pessimism about future operating results or benefits from either its cash dividend or its stock buy back programs, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Reform Act. The forward-looking statements are based on management's current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance, and are inherently subject to significant business, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies and changes in circumstances, many of which are beyond the Company's control. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, even if subsequently made available by EnerSys on its website or otherwise. EnerSys does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.
Although EnerSys does not make forward-looking statements unless it believes it has a reasonable basis for doing so, EnerSys cannot guarantee their accuracy. The foregoing factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements. For a list of other factors which could affect EnerSys' results, including earnings estimates, see EnerSys' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," including "Forward-Looking Statements," set forth in EnerSys' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018. No undue reliance should be placed on any forward-looking statements.


text:
Duncan Casey
Rugby still the game for all creatures great and small – Irish Examiner
November 24, 2016 December 12, 2016 Posted in Irish Examiner
Online Version By Duncan Casey
You know the voices. Every sport has them. The ones that lament the state of "the modern game", who hanker for the way things were.
Creatures of tradition that long for a return to the good old days, when the game was pure, full of integrity and so on. Joe Brolly recently said science is destroying Gaelic football and has suggested children play tennis instead. George Hook is baffled by the fact that rugby players carry the ball into one another instead of around, like they used to. John Giles just can't stand Cristiano Ronaldo.
They are like Donald Trump supporters in some ways. No, I'm not calling them a basket of deplorables. They want to make their sport great again but might not be as well informed as they think.
People are flabbergasted at the size of rugby professionals today. Player weights are incomparable to what they were even 10 years ago. Purists argue that the game is full of muscular robots who are programmed to be dull and unadventurous. This, they argue, means rugby isn't the spectacle it once was. Watching enormous men run straight into one another for 80 minutes isn't the most riveting way to spend an evening. They claim there is no place for smaller, more talented individuals any more.
Such mournful talk makes me think of a scene from The Simpsons, back when it used to be funny.
Homer's extended family is in town and they spend most of their stay playing an unusual game.
Two of the men put pots on their head, bend over and run directly into one another from quite a distance away. How the winner was determined I'm not sure. The naysayers would have you believe this is what is being served up in the northern hemisphere every weekend.
The notion that skill levels have suffered as players have gotten bigger is simply untrue. What we have seen in recent years is the emergence of freakishly big and powerful men with a skillset that anyone on the pitch would envy. Anyone that saw Montpellier winger Nemani Nadolo terrorise the Leinster defence two weekends ago knows what I'm talking about.
The Fijian monster stands at 6 ft 5 and weighs 140kg. To put it in some context, that's about 10 kilos heavier than Mike Ross. Far from being a one-trick pony, Nadolo's handling and footwork are as good as any winger around and he has a habit of slotting conversions over from the touchline while playing for his national side.
Another that dismisses the stereotype is Racing's Ben Tameifuna. The Kiwi tighthead is 150kg, has a lethal turn of pace and is as capable of a one-handed offload as anyone. In addition to this, he is a plague at the breakdown with the ability to steal the ball as quickly as any back row I've seen.
But surely when men of this size are around, the pitch becomes an excessively dangerous place for a normal person? Have a huge number of exciting, twinkle-toed young men not been deprived of careers in professional rugby as a result? The facts disprove that theory. Rugby is more diverse now than ever before. Some of the most exciting and effective players in world rugby are punching well above their weight. Literally.
Take winger Gio Aplon. At 78kg, the average punter would probably laugh if you pointed at him across the bar and said he was a South African international. His countrymen aren't exactly known for being small in stature. Aplon reportedly has a €1m contract at Bernard Jackman's FC Grenoble and recently scored what will probably be the try of the season.
Weaving his way in from 60 metres out against La Rochelle, he left the bigger men in the dust.
Aplon will shortly line out alongside Kalolo Tuimona, another Polynesian wrecking ball that is making his way to France.
Nicknamed 'The Bulldozer', he caught Jackman's eye after impressive displays in New Zealand's Mitre 10 Cup. Understandably so — the last time I saw a tighthead score a hat-trick in 16 minutes was playing an U14 game against Crescent Comprehensive.
At 140kg he is, laughably, nearly twice the weight of his team-mate on the wing. It will be quite the sight if they ever stand shoulder to shoulder for a minute's silence but one that would highlight the range of personnel that rugby requires.
Australia's David Pocock and Michael Hooper are two the world's best back rows. Each weighing just over 100 kilos, they are proof that size alone is no match for technical ability and an instinctive understanding of the game.
The pair consistently out-class bigger, stronger opponents who, on paper, they should be no match for. In the same mould is Munster's Conor Oliver. The 21-year-old is not the biggest but hits ferociously hard and is certain to be a fixture in the province for many years to come.
We should be celebrating the fact that the sport provides a space that allows people of all shapes and sizes to thrive. From under-eights to Test rugby, there is no other team sport on the planet that can cater for everyone that wants to take part. If a child is a bit heavy or even overweight, they can play in the front row. If a child is small and skinny, they can play on the wing. If a child has an enormous ego, they can slot in at out-half!
This has always been a unique feature of rugby and not one we are in danger of losing.
We should be licking our lips at the evolution of the game and the size and ability of the people that play it.
Standards in rugby are at their pinnacle and will only continue to improve. There is no need to look back and long for what used to be.
The good old days were good. The days to come will be great.
'One harrowing story after another' – Life on Limerick's streets – Limerick Leader
Munster's Boris shows he's not too dainty for front row rough and tumble – Irish Examiner
I kicked in the wrong apartment door for Aled Walters 'cos I didn't want to let him down – Irish Examiner November 8, 2019
How much do we really love and appreciate our Irish culture? – Irish Examiner February 19, 2019
Fudge the Numbers All You Want- Homelessness Policy is Failing – Limerick Leader August 4, 2018
Housing First Initiative – Mid West Simon November 1, 2017
In Munster, the kids are more than alright – Irish Examiner March 19, 2017


WHO KNEW FAKING IT WOULD BE THIS HARD?
By far, I'm the best matchmaker in this business.
I learned early on that staying focused was the absolute key to survival.
Then in walks Logan, my new client who keeps pretending to be straight, and suddenly all bets are off.
Because Logan just so happens to have the tightest body and the deepest soul out of any man I've ever met.
Without question, I have to f*ck him.


Do you have challenges in dealing with your service warranties and contracts?
Michael Blumberg, Founder & CEO of Field Service Insights discusses various ways of how to overcome challenges in selling service contracts and warranties. Topics covered will be learning warranty configuration, determining ways of communicating with customers, understanding the role automation in improving renewal rates and so much more! YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS ONE!


text:
Home › ARGENTINA
2' X 3' - $25.10 USD 3' X 5' - $38.10 USD 4' X 6' - Sold Out 5' X 8' - Sold Out 3' X 5' POLE HEM & FRINGE - $75.50 USD 4' X 6' POLE HEM & FRINGE - $93.20 USD
2x3' - 5x8'
In 1816, the United Provinces of the Rio Plata declared their independence from Spain. After Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay went their separate ways, the area that remained became Argentina. The country's population and culture were heavily shaped by immigrants from throughout Europe, with Italy and Spain providing the largest percentage of newcomers from 1860 to 1930. Up until about the mid-20th century, much of Argentina's history was dominated by periods of internal political unrest and conflict between civilian and military factions.
After World War II, an era of Peronist populism and direct and indirect military interference in subsequent governments was followed by a military junta that took power in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983 after a failed bid to seize the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) by force, and has persisted despite numerous challenges, the most formidable of which was a severe economic crisis in 2001-02 that led to violent public protests and the successive resignations of several presidents. The years 2003-15 saw Peronist rule by Nestor and Cristina FERNANDEZ de KIRCHNER, whose policies isolated Argentina and caused economic stagnation. With the election of Mauricio MACRI in November 2015, Argentina began a period of reform and international reintegration.
Maps and information from CIA
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ar.html


Full House Resorts Inc (NASDAQ:FLL) files its latest 10-K with SEC for the fiscal year ended on December 31, 2018. Full House Resorts Inc, through its subsidiaries, owns, operates, develops, manages, and invests in casinos and related hospitality and entertainment facilities. The Company manages its casinos based on geographic regions within the United States. Full House Resorts Inc has a market cap of $57.360 million; its shares were traded at around $2.13 with and P/S ratio of 0.31.
For the last quarter Full House Resorts Inc reported a revenue of $40.7 million, compared with the revenue of $37.80 million during the same period a year ago. For the latest fiscal year the company reported a revenue of $163.9 million, an increase of 1.6% from last year. For the last five years Full House Resorts Inc had an average revenue growth rate of 4.8% a year.
Warning! GuruFocus has detected 2 Warning Signs with FLL. Click here to check it out.
The reported loss per diluted share was 23 cents for the year, compared with the loss per share of $0.07 in the previous year. The Full House Resorts Inc had an operating margin of 4.58%, compared with the operating margin of 4.38% a year before. The 10-year historical median operating margin of Full House Resorts Inc is 4.64%. The profitability rank of the company is 5 (out of 10).
At the current stock price of $2.13, Full House Resorts Inc is traded at 21.7% discount to its historical median P/S valuation band of $2.72. The P/S ratio of the stock is 0.31, while the historical median P/S ratio is 0.43. The stock lost 32.29% during the past 12 months.
Sr. VP, CFO and Treasurer Lewis A. Fanger bought 5,000 shares of FLL stock on 03/12/2019 at the average price of $2.15. The price of the stock has decreased by 0.93% since.
Sr. VP, CFO and Treasurer Lewis A. Fanger bought 6,000 shares of FLL stock on 03/05/2019 at the average price of $2.15. The price of the stock has decreased by 0.93% since.
For the complete 20-year historical financial data of FLL, click here.


Where the Streets Had a Name…Monkey Baa Theatre Co.
An adaptation of Mohammed Ahmad's book The Tribe, with director Janice Muller and actor Hazem Shammas which I created music for and perform live in. A simple powerful backyard show which brings theatre to its storytelling roots. The Tribe toured to the Castlemaine State Festival and Substation in Melbourne in March & April 2017. Originally produced by Urban Theatre Projects as part of Bankstown Live in The Sydney Festival January 2015, Belvoir St hosted a season in 2016 in Surry Hills backyards. The Tribe picked up a SMAC award in 2016 for Best On Stage Show.
Diary of a Wombat…Monkey Baa theatre Co.
This show is touring Australia in 2017- a mammoth 59-venue tour over 8 months kicking off at Riverside Theatres in Parramatta on 21 March and visiting every state in the country concluding in Bunbury, Western Australia in November.
I was sound designer on this co-production with Arab-Australian Theatre Co. Third Space Productions and National Theatre of Parramatta premiering at Riverside Theatres Parramatta in October 2016. Directed by Paula Abood, the work is an allegorical exploration of the 1916 agreement between British and French diplomats Sykes and Picot to carve up the middle east and its contemporary repurcussions.
When One Door Closes…Circa Circus with La Boite Theatre Co.
I created the score for this innovative circus/theatre co -production based on the meeting of three heroines of the 19th century theatre canon – Ibsen's Nora (A Doll's House) and Strindberg's Hedda Gabler and Miss Julie, premiering at La Boite in April 2016.
I recently produced the soundtrack for this multiplatform documentary, featured on ABC online, ABC RN and UNSWs icinema. Reflecting on Afghanistan and how she has affected 5 australian women and men who served in Australia's "longest and most unreported war". Music performed by Sayd Sarshar, Yama Sarshar, Dieter Kleemann, Jess Ciampa.
I recently wrote the music for this gps enabled walking tour app of Old Irish Sydney, produced by the Dictionary of Sydney with support from the Irish government.


text:
<?php

namespace Bamboo;

/**
 * A class representing a logger
 */
class Log
{
    const ERR     = 3;  // Error: error conditions
    const WARN    = 4;  // Warning: warning conditions
    const NOTICE  = 5;  // Notice: normal but significant condition
    const INFO    = 6;  // Informational: informational messages
    const DEBUG   = 7;  // Debug: debug messages

    protected static $_logger = null;

    /**
     * Set the logger to use
     */
    public static function setLogger($logger) {
        self::$_logger = $logger;
    }

    /**
     * Return the instance of the logger currently used
     */
    public static function getLogger() {
        return self::$_logger;
    }

    /**
     * Combine function arguments to form a message, sprintf-style
     *
     * @param  array $args Arguments in the form of an array
     * @return string      The sprintf'd result
     */
    public static function _getMessage($args) {
        $var = array_shift($args);
        return vsprintf($var, $args);
    }

    /**
     * Log a given message with a given level
     */
    protected static function _log($message, $level) {
        $logger = self::getLogger();
        if ($logger) {
            $logger->log($message, $level);
        }
    }

    /**
     * Send an error message
     */
    public static function err() {
        $message = self::_getMessage(func_get_args());
        self::_log($message, self::ERR);
    }

    /**
     * Send an warning message
     */
    public static function warn() {
        $message = self::_getMessage(func_get_args());
        self::_log($message, self::WARN);
    }

    /**
     * Send an notice message
     */
    public static function notice() {
        $message = self::_getMessage(func_get_args());
        self::_log($message, self::NOTICE);
    }

    /**
     * Send an informational message
     */
    public static function info() {
        $message = self::_getMessage(func_get_args());
        self::_log($message, self::INFO);
    }

    /**
     * Send an debug message
     */
    public static function debug() {
        $message = self::_getMessage(func_get_args());
        self::_log($message, self::DEBUG);
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: How do I let the user specify a number without getting errors thrown back at me? I've created a prime number generator and wanted the user to specify the number of prime numbers generated. I was wondering how I could change "1000" to a raw_input without the program throwing errors back at me as it has been doing. Also how do I save this list generated to a .txt file? Thanks in advance
Code:
no_of_primes = 1
candidate = 2
start = 2
list_of_primes = []

while no_of_primes <= 5000:
    result = candidate % start

    if result > 0:
        start +=1

    elif result == 0:
        if start == candidate:
            list_of_primes.append(candidate)
            candidate +=1
            no_of_primes +=1
            start =2
        else:
            candidate +=1
            start = 2

print list_of_primes

A: First, replace the 5000 with a variable (like, say, primes_to_generate). Then before the while loop, set that variable by calling int on the result of raw_input. The int will convert it from a string to a number, fixing your error:
primes_to_generate = int(raw_input("How many to generate? "))

You can also use a try block to catch errors for if someone, say, types in "ninety" rather than "90":
try:
    primes_to_generate = int(raw_input("How many to generate? "))
except ValueError:
    print "Whoa! That's not a number I know!"
    # You'd probably then want to let the user retry
    # by enclosing this whole thing in a loop or something.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Dr. Anita Nelson discusses patient barriers to accessing IUDs and implants in a rapidly growing contraceptive market.
Joining host Ana Maria Rosario at the Women's Health Annual Visit in Deerborn, MI, is Dr. Anita Nelson, professor emeritus at UCLA and professor and chair of OB/GYN at Western University in California. The two discuss patient barriers to accessing IUDs and implants in a rapidly growing contraceptive market.


text:
Actors Turned Musicians: The Best of Both Worlds?
by Jessikah Hope Stenson
Many Disney stars have attempted to produce music following acting success by abusing the growth of their young fanbase. The generic audience of thirteen-year-old girls is a powerful one, and when they're not funding Justin Beiber's new car, they're funding the success of many role models who can be found on the Disney Channel. Strangely, it's often women who tend to veer into music and become brands that sing rather than renowned musicians. The rich and famous are greedily taking up space in the music industry that would otherwise be occupied by bands that are starting out and attempting to make a name for themselves. And you thought Disney faces were sweet.
The nature of Disney is to produce actors that can also sing – plenty of Disney movies are musicals, so it's not the case that these actors can't sing at all. Put it this way, they wouldn't fail an audition on X-Factor. Successful High School Musical star, Vanessa Hudgens, gained a sturdy following but singing for a Disney film is somewhat different to launching a career as a professional musician – shocker.
There are other Disney actresses that have in fact made the move into music smoothly. Just compare the Selena Gomez of today to her character on Wizards Of Waverly Place and you will see that not a single part of her image is the same. Her supposed ex-best-friend Demi Lovato also became a successful pop artist and I'd go as far as saying that neither of them are necessarily associated with Disney any more. Why? Gomez and Lovato have explored genres that don't target their Disney following and have marketed their music in a way that will appeal to an older generation. This has gained them supporters who weren't there for their Disney days, unveiling that they do have some musical talent. Gomez's notorious Come & Get It and Lovato's track Heart Attack indicate that the ultimate factor that makes or breaks a music career for a Disney star seems to be no different to that of a local band – talent.
The whole point of talent is that it's not that common. The likes of Emily Osment, Miranda Cosgrove, and Ashley Tisdale have all launched, and crashed, in their music careers suggesting that some actresses should just stay actresses. Dylan Sprouse said it perfectly when he responded to a fan's tweet: "'Why do Cole and Dylan do that with their hair?' Remember, we could have a Disney singing career. So you owe us." As though putting your fans through a singing career is an act of torture (it is). Also, notice that he wrote "singing career" and not "music career". Very rarely to Disney stars dream of picking up an instrument – they are often mediocre singers manipulated by their management into a brand that can also sell lunchboxes. It's like killing two birds with one stone - say hello to a Vanessa Hudgens album and lunchbox bundle! Is it not obvious that the young Disney fanbase of today won't be around for long? Most Disney actresses who turn to music have short-lived careers because their audience have grown-up and moved on before they reach a second album.
It seems the more distance from Disney, the better in this case. Let's talk about everyone's favourite, non-controversial Disney star, Miley Cyrus, otherwise known as Hannah Montana. Although her sound and image is completely different these days, she has always been an actress and a musician because her role of Hannah Montana required it. Nowadays, Cyrus can be found swinging on a wrecking ball, and because of this has a completely new group of followers. Even her sound has changed – from acoustic country to gritty pop. This reinvention has led to her controversy – but also her independence as a musician.
Cyrus is a rare case but she is not the only one to have successfully built a music career following an upbringing with Disney. Who remembers Aly & AJ? They are a prime example of Disney actresses who picked up instruments and formed a band, and they're still making music now. Did you know Ariana Grande began as a Disney Actress? Grande has made the shift from acting to music smoothly and is continually broadening her fan-base by not advertising herself as a face of Disney.
Alas, you do not have to be a Disney actress to become a musician. Hayden Panetteire attempted a music career and received a startlingly negative backlash, despite her popularity. Disclaimer: Panetteire's singing career only began after she recorded a song for A Bug's Life with Disney. So perhaps, Disney does have a way to infect the minds of their actors and push them to sing…
It's as simple as this: all Disney musicians began as actors, in most cases because they couldn't become musicians without the audience they established through their acting. It's not that these women have no musical talent, it's that their talent lies best in the career they were already pursuing.
Outside the world of Disney, it's not just actresses that have taken a shot at music. Paris Hilton's music career was a whole one album in length. The credits list for her only album, Paris, are abnormally long – with eighteen performers, most of which are vocal ones. It truly makes you wonder how large Hilton's contribution to the album really was. Perhaps the gossip that Paris Hilton had recorded some songs was the extent of her contribution. Needless to say, the album wasn't popular amongst critics. The only country in which Paris reached number one was Turkey… Go figure.
Likewise, TV Personality Kim Kardashian seems to have attempted every possible career from television to modelling to launching clothing collections, fragrances, and endorsing food products. So when Kardashian put forth a music career, it was expected and laughable. Even better, Kanye West cameoed in the music video to Kardashian's song Jam (Turn It Up), I expect in an attempt to boost the view count. By incorporating a real musician, Kardashian poses as an artist herself. Yet, The Daily News described the song as "a dead-brained piece of generic dance music, without a single distinguishing feature" and labelled Kardashian the "worst singer in the reality TV universe". You would think that these celebrities would learn from the mistakes of their peers and save themselves the embarrassment.
In some ways the sheer volume of celebrities who have pursued music is a tragedy for the industry. Not only because plenty of the music produced lacks anything special, but because in the meantime small-town bands are struggling to get off the ground, sharing their latest demo over Facebook in the hope that their family and friends will like it and spread their sound. Famous figures are in a much stronger position to put their music in front of audience while often lacking the skills required to produce a high quality release.
To put it bluntly – there's nothing wrong with experimenting with music while already a renowned figure. However, I have much more respect for those who distance themselves from their roots, like Gomez and Lovato, who display real talent, creativity, independence and flair. They took the long road into music by distancing themselves from their roots and rebuilding the brand behind their name, which shows their genuine desire to be musicians, and to be themselves.
Although some people enjoy the music made by these actors-gone-artists, I beg the question – did they admire the person behind the music, before the music? I suppose when Kim Kardashian took a crack at music, it really showed how many celebrities perceive music to be an easy career to pursue. These celebrities learn the hard way that it takes more than just fans from your previous work to sustain a successful career in music. It takes talent, hard-work, commitment and so much more.


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OHCHR > English > News and Events > Between tradition and exclusion: struggling for the right to pitch a trailer
Between tradition and exclusion: struggling for the right to pitch a trailer
It took an epic legal battle of many years to evict some 300 Irish Travellers from their land at Dale Farm in Basildon, Essex, United Kingdom. Although they owned the plot, they were prohibited from pitching their trailers because it was declared part of the "green belt" where no development is allowed, in order to protect the environment.
The Irish Travellers' advocates pointed out that the designation was questionable – the Dale Farm plot had previously been a contaminated scrap yard, used by the Basildon authorities themselves, rather than a part of pristine nature. Moreover, Dale Farm is adjacent to a legal plot where other Travellers have long been living. In the end, however, the Travellers lost. The largest forced eviction in modern British history took place on 19 October 2011 amid violent clashes between the police and so-called supporters of the Travellers.
"What is worrying is that the general public confuses these 'supporters' with the Travellers themselves," says Candy Sheridan, Vice Chair of the United Kingdom's Gypsy Council, which includes representatives of all groups generally identified by the majority as "Gypsies" (Irish Travellers, Roma and British Gypsies). "But the people who picked up fights with the police were radical students who have their own political agenda, not Travellers." In addition to being stigmatized as "Gypsies", Irish Travellers are also conspicuous by their fervent Irish Catholicism.
Candy herself is a relative of the Dale Farm residents but she never lived there. Unlike them, she has long been an activist. "It didn't actually start with Traveller-specific issues. I got drawn into local politics because – like many Travellers – I am an antique dealer, and I joined a more general public protest against the establishment of a big shopping centre. The Liberal Democrats offered me a place on their electoral list to my town's local council, and to my surprise, I got elected. Then I was sent on a crash course on how to be a local councillor," smiles Candy. "It was tough but I learned a lot. And I was empowered to represent my people."
She also emerged from her political experience as a staunch legalist, aiming to always act in accordance with the law and expose unlawful conduct of the authorities wherever it happens. In the Dale Farm saga, she led "her people" through legal battles, finding solutions which professional lawyers failed to identify, while always putting an emphasis on the well-being of individuals – above all the children, the sick and elderly Travellers – and seeking reasonable compromise.
However, more than a year after the eviction, a large part of the evicted families still live by the roadside, a stone's throw from their former plot, in deplorable hygienic conditions. The authorities say they should go somewhere else; Candy says they have nowhere to go. Sewage pipes which were dug up during the eviction remain broken, threatening the health of people at the adjacent legal site and at the roadside.
As Candy points out, Travellers suffer the double effect of marginalization. "The authorities are willing to spend large amounts of taxpayers' money on forced evictions rather than smaller amounts on sensitive solutions, just to appease local voters," says Candy. "Moreover, prejudice against us is still considered OK. It is still possible to use 'Gypsy' in public speech in such stereotypical, prejudiced ways that would not be acceptable in the case of any other minority group in Britain. And the so-called supporters steal the show by speaking and acting as if on our behalf, which is relatively easy to do because most Travellers are media-shy and many adults are in fact illiterate."
The Dale Farm eviction was part of a systematic effort of the authorities across the UK to increase enforcement of planning law. "The problem is that at the same time, the number of pitches available to Travellers has decreased and our applications are routinely turned down," points out Candy. Although the Government also has a policy of positive measures aimed at the Travellers, the new Localism Act, introduced in 2010, has significantly reduced the obligations of local authorities to provide pitches for them.
The difficulties faced by Travellers are in stark contrast to the UK's positive contribution to the well-being of many Central European Roma migrants. In their home countries, many Roma children were labelled as "intellectually disabled" and shunted off into special schools in their home countries. However, as shown by a 2011 study by the NGO Equality, as migrants they did well in mainstream British schools.
"Unlike the new Roma migrants who tend to join the cosmopolitan urban environments, Travellers are traditionally rural. Not only are rural areas far less multicultural, but the space for Traveller lifestyle is decreasing due to gentrification," says Paul d'Auchamp, Deputy Regional Representative for Europe of the UN Human Rights Office. D'Auchamp visited Basildon in February 2012 and was involved in efforts to start mediation between the Travellers and the authorities. The Regional Office for Europe also invited Candy as a panellist for one of its Human Rights Day commemorations, thus drawing attention to the Travellers' side of the story – mostly overlooked by the media which often prefer stereotypical images of 'Gypsies'.
In the past, Irish Travellers travelled all around Europe, living from small buying and selling or from their crafts. "When we still travelled, I even went to Rome," remembers Candy. Today, most of them have abandoned the traditional travelling lifestyle, but prefer to live in pitched trailers, not in bricks-and-mortar accommodation (which they often refuse when it is offered to them). In the context of the Dale Farm eviction, the UN special rapporteur on adequate housing, Raquel Rolnik, and the independent expert on minority issues, Rita Izsàk, have urged the authorities to provide culturally appropriate alternatives, but to no avail.
"I am proud of our Traveller traditions, but of course change is coming to the Travellers, too," says Candy. "We don't want to live permanently apart from other people. We want our children and grandchildren to have an education, to study, to have opportunities in life. But this development must come from within the Traveller community, from our own choices, not as a result of being forcibly dispersed and displaced. And we should not be forced to renounce our identity."
Minority Rights
Independent expert on minority issues
Toolkit on the right to adequate housing
Special Rapporteur on adequate housing


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Els halibuts o flétans són, en general, els peixos plans que pertanyen al gènere Hippoglossus, dins la família (Pleuronectidae). Altres peixos plans també s'anomenen halibuts. El nom deriva de halibut de l'anglès: haly (holy: sagrat, sant) i butt (peix pla), per la seva popularitat en els dies de la quaresma catòlica. L'halibut és un peix demersal que viu als oceans Pacífic Nord i l'Atlàntic Nord. Són peixos comestibles molt apreciats.

El març de 1995 la pesca d'aquests peixos va donar lloc al conflicte o guerra del fletán entre Canadà i Espanya.

Característiques físiques
Els halibuts són els peixos plans més grossos, pesen de mitjana 13,5 kg, però se n'han arribat a pescar de 333 kg. Són de color negre-grisos a la part de dalt i blanc per sota, les escates no són visibles a ull nu. En néixer tenen un ull a cada banda del cap i neden com els salmons. Després de sis mesos un ull migra a l'altre costat i l'altra ull s'enfosqueix. Aquest sistema de colors el camufla per dalt i per sota (estratègia coneguda com a countershading).

Alimentació
L'halibut es menja pràcticament qualsevol animal que li càpiga a la boca. Els halibuts joves mengen sobretot crustacis petits i altres organismes del fons del mar. També són caníbals i es mengen altres halibuts. Viuen en un ampli rang de fondàries des de pocs metres a centenars de metres de profunditat, encara que passen la major part de la seva vida al llit marí. Els halibuts es poden moure en la columna d'aigua per a alimentar-se. En la majoria dels ecosistemes els halibuts estan prop de la part superior de la xarxa tròfica. Al nord del Pacífic els seus predadors habituals són el lleó marí (Eumetopias jubatus), l'orca (Orcinus orca), i el tauró salmó (Lamna ditropis).

Com a aliment

Els halibuts sovint es mengen bullits, fregits profundament o a la graella. Fer halibut fumat és més difícil que en el cas del salmó pel fet de tenir molt greix. Té una textura ferma i densa.

Històricament els halibuts havien tingut molta importància per als amerindis dels Estats Units i Canadà. La població de l'oceà Atlàntic ha patit sobrepesca i està declarada espècie en perill. La major part de l'halibut que es consumeix a la costa est dels Estats Units prové del Pacífic.

Espècies del gènere Hippoglossus (halibuts pròpiament dits)

 Halibut de l'Atlàntic, Hippoglossus hippoglossus
 Halibut del Pacífic, Hippoglossus stenolepis

Altres espècies de vegades anomenades "halibut"
 Dins la mateixa família (Pleuronectidae) de l'halibut pròpiament dit
 Atheresthes evermanni - "Arrowtooth halibut"
 Eopsetta grigorjewi - "Shotted halibut"
 Reinhardtius hippoglossoides - "Greenland halibut"
 Verasper variegatus
 Família Paralichthyidae
 Paralichthys californicus - "California halibut"
 Paralichthys olivaceus - "Bastard halibut"
 Família Psettodidae
 Psettodes erumei "Indian halibut"
 Família Carangidae
 Parastromateus niger - "Australian halibut"

Referències

 Clover, Charles. 2004. The End of the Line: How overfishing is changing the world and what we eat. Ebury Press, London.
 Oxford English Dictionary, second edition, ed. John Simpson and Edmund Weiner, Clarendon Press, 1989, .
"FishWatch - Pacific Halibut." NOAA :: National Marine Fisheries Service. Web. 14 Dec. 2010. <http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/fishwatch/species/pacific_halibut.htm>.

Enllaços externs

 International Pacific Halibut Commission
 Alaska Department of Fish & Game

Pleuronectiformes

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Q: How to control allocations in Objective C ARC project iPhone sdg I have written the code in objective C ARC project everything is working fine but after running my project 20-25 my project crash. i have tested my project on xcode instrument there i found no leaks my in instrument i have observed that my live bytes are continually increasing. Is there is any way to handle this or there is any way to remove everything all and free the allocated memory of my project.

A: The most common cause of this is retain cycles. Retain cycles happen when you have two objects A and B that hold strong references to each other. By definition, an object won't get released by ARC until its reference count is 0. Therefore, you can't delete A unless you delete B first, and you can't delete B until you delete A.
To solve this, change one of the strong references to a weak one. Typically, you want the container class to hold a strong reference, and the child class to only hold a weak reference to its container. Here are some examples and more detailed information:
*Retain Cycle in ARC
*Advanced Memory Management Programming Guide (Look at the "Use Weak References to Avoid Retain Cycles" section)


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Introducing The Seafarer, limited edition sunglasses with dark grey frames designed to flatter and fit you in style. Handcut from Cellulose Acetate, the frames are then polished for up to 72 hours to create a super smooth frame with the glossiest finish. Fitted with subtly graduated dark lenses with filter category 3 to reduce glare, they offer maximum UVA/UVB protection.
Seafarer Sunglasses come in our ingenious origami style case, which folds flat when empty!
Classic style sunglasses with black and grey frames and black lenses.
The right hand arm features a silver plaque bearing the OSPREY LONDON logo.


Rolex Oyster Perpetual Sea-Dweller 4000 126600. Automatic chronometer movement calibre 3235 this is a new-generation movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. Brushed and polished steel case 43mm diameter which is water resistant to 1,220 meters 4,000 feet. Black dial with index hour markers. 'SEA-DWELLER' in red writing. Ceramic Bezel. Steel Oyster bracelet with safety catch, fliplock and Glidelock extensions. Box and papers dated August 2018.
SKU: 3108886. Categories: Gents, Rolex, Sea-Dweller.


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UV-Conversion Screens
Laser Components (Hudson, NH) offers the LDT-300B and LDT-300BG UV-conversion screens that can make UV laser radiation from 190 nm — 390 nm visible. The emission is based on "photon up conversion" effects. The screens do not require activation or moving inside the beam since there is no fading effect. The LDT-300B version measures 100 mm × 23 mm, while the LDT-300BG version measures 100 mm × 25 mm. The screens offer a minimum intensity of <100 mW/cm2 (CW) or <10 mJ/cm2 (pulsed), and a maximum intensity of >10 kW/ cm2 (CW) or >10 J/cm2 (pulsed). The difference between the B and BG version is the mounting of the active material. The active surface of the B version extends to the edges of the conversion screen for use in alignment tasks, while the active material of the BG version is covered with a frame to protect the screen against mechanical shocks. The screens are suitable for use with excimer lasers, gas lasers, and tripled ND:YAG lasers.
For Free Info Visit https://info.ims.ca/10976-213


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History Santiago
Santiago Island
An island of mixed fortunes. It is the largest island in the archipelago. It has the highest population with over half the population living in the capital, Praia.
The landscape varies from one area to another with some mountains, white sandy beaches, forestation and agriculture to gravelly landscapes devoid of any greenery. An African and European mix of people and culture.
Santiago previously Sao Tiago (St.James) was discovered and first settled on in 1462 by Antonio de Noli and Diogo Gomes together with a small number of other people from the Algarve, Portugal. Whilst other islands concentrated on trading in salt, Santiago which some locals still refer to as Cape Verde flourished. The island initially traded in slaves and was used to resupply ships.
It was the area of Ribeira Grande now known as Cidade Velha that became the main settlement for trading. Later, Portuguese ships stopped at Ribeira on their way to Brazil and India. At that time it was reported that the valleys had groves growing various fruits.
After a French raid in 1712 which robbed the Cidade Velha of its wealth the settlement started its demise and interest was being shown in Praia becoming the capital. The town of Assomada has recently been granted the rank of Cidade.
History of the Islands
History did you know
History Sal Island
History Boavista Island
History Sao Vicente Island
History Santo Antao Island
History Santiago Island
History Maio Island
History Sao Nicolau Island
History Fogo island
History Brava Island
Investing in Property
Investment in Cape Verde
Promote your property- INVESTING IN PROPERTY CAPE VERDE ISLANDS
Looking for - Accommodation


Transform your patio into a statement of contemporary design.
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Light up your landscape with the Lanai, which offers contemporary style with glowing flames and a colorful firebed. The Lanai features a stainless steel interior specifically designed to magnify the voluminous flames as they stretch across the entire length of the fireplace. It comes standard with seven colors of LED interior lights that shine through the translucent glass firebed, each accentuating the flames in a different way. Or if you'd like, you can cycle through the colors continuously. The lights can be adjusted to three intensity levels, and can also be turned on when the flames are off, creating a dramatic patio display even on hot summer nights.
The Lanai is constructed of rust-resistant stainless steel and is outfitted with Heat & Glo proven technologies, such as the IntelliFire™ Ignition System. If you're ready to take your patio up a notch, keep the Lanai in mind.
For more information about this amazing new patio fireplace, click here. And to see it in action, watch the video below.


Great companies made different choices and different decisions. This study really nailed it for me. Maybe other people didn't make the same choices because they didn't know any better. That's irrelevant. What's relevant is the differentiator, namely, what people did.
Despite what you may have heard, hard work in your chosen trade is absolutely the stupidest way to join the billionaires club.
The most common pathology I saw was not heart disease or diabetes; it was loneliness.


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Activision Defends Call of Duty Elite Platform
Activision is defending itself from backlash against its subscription-based Call of Duty Elite platform, promising consumers
Frank Cifaldi
Activision is defending itself from backlash against its subscription-based Call of Duty Elite platform, promising consumers that "nothing will be taken away." In a blog post and subsequent FAQ published Friday, Activision clarified to its Call of Duty fanbase that the platform -- which will offer subscription-based perks and services starting with this year's Modern Warfare 3 -- will be an "additive experience" that will not take away from the kind of content that players can currently access. "The Call of Duty 'out of the box' experience that our players expect... remains the same as ever," the FAQ reads. "Our promise to you is this: Elite only adds to the Call of Duty experience. Nothing will be taken away from the experience you know and love." "With Call of Duty Elite, we're adding a new choice for those who want to get even more out of the game. Even haters can play for free," it continued. The FAQ goes on to outline features that Elite will provide for free, including custom iOS and Android applications, custom leaderboards, detailed performance tracking, video uploads, and Facebook integration. The company again stressed that it was unable to detail most of the paid features of Elite, as the premium-tier service "was designed to be deeply integrated with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, and will not be demonstrable until we are closer to the launch of the game." "We know seeing is believing, and over the next few months we will be revealing and demonstrating more of the premium features and by the end of the summer, we will reveal the entire service in full." The full FAQ released Friday is available here [pdf link]. More details on the service are available in our original report, and Gamasutra's Chris Morris wrote a detailed editorial piece on Elite's potential impact here.


Thank you to all who got involved in organising and helping at our events in the first term of 2018/2019.
Together we raised amazing £5600 for our children's school! So thank you again!
Please have a look at the dates below to see what else we are planning to do before the school breaks up for the summer.
FOPS is not only about making extra money for our school, but it also brings families together and makes sure we have some fun as a community. And we really hope that at our events you will be able to do just that!
Are you looking to rent, sell or buy your property? Cavender Estate Agents have been supporting our fundraising events for a few years now and they will give our school £500 if you should complete a sale of your property through them or alternatively if you let your property through Cavender they will donate £250 when the tenancy commences. Just don't forget to mention your connection to the school!
These are held twice a term in the staff room and all parents are invited to attend. Dates for meetings and FOPs news appear in the weekly school newsletter.