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Wrist Time Reviews
by Zach Pina
Marin County's shelter-in-place mandate was formalized at midnight on Thursday, March 19th, 2020. By then, the news cycle around the Covid-19 pandemic had already become a dangerous cocktail of science-based fact and rationale mixed with what we now know to be hysteria-driven clickbait and misinformation. Hiding from the cacophony meant a break from the source of discomfort, but this also meant fully sequestering oneself from even digital contact with the outside world and any steady stream of reliable information, ultimately exiting any real timeline of the madness. Little did I know that I was already grieving the loss of normalcy and human contact. Many grieved the loss of loved ones. In a moment, it was the world who grieved. All of us, at once, together.
After returning home on Day Zero with a full tank of gas and enough groceries to last the next few days, I took off the G-Shock I was wearing and set it on my desk. Something about the bristling "end-of-days" capability it implied felt a little too on-the-nose. I started the teakettle and reached back into my safe, popping open my Halliburton watch case and retrieving my Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic "True Second." After a few turns of the crown, it jumped to life. Tick. Tick. Tick.
The Geophysic True Second is a rare bird. Not because it is a limited edition of any sort — on the contrary, actually, as it has been in production since its introduction in the Fall of 2015. It is rare because the "deadbeat seconds" complication is a staggeringly uncommon one in modern mechanical watchmaking, particularly at this price point. Austrian independent Habring2 has the Jumping Second Pilot, which is built around an impressively reverse-engineered Valjoux 7750 gear train, but that and the JLC are more or less your only options under $15,000. For true aficionados of the complication, the next logical *ahem* jump is to a Gronefeld, or an A. Lange & Sohne, either of which will set you back an additional $24,000, give or take.
The days quickly started to blend together. It didn't matter to the world whether or not I dressed or made the bed every morning, but in an effort to establish a sense of normalcy, I did anyway. Grabbing the Geophysic off the nightstand and snapping the deployant clasp shut after completing these mundane tasks became part of the same routine wherein I tried my hand at latte art with oat milk. I fed my hummingbirds. I let a pregnant doe nibble on our rosebushes every afternoon until weeks later she was joined by a wobbly-kneed fawn. One bright morning after a heavy rain, I watched a coyote cautiously emerge from the bramble to snooze in a warm patch of sun. I pulled the fast, cotton-cased road slicks off my Specialized Roubaix bike and swapped them out for fat tubulars with file treads and a bar bag — the perfect setup for long adventure rides into far west Marin. Out of habit, I once switched to a G-Shock for an afternoon hike, but after returning home, its implications still didn't sit well with the situation at hand. I returned it to the Halliburton and retrieved the Geophysic.
I've always loved the Geophysic's dial. I mean, how could you not? As the physical expression of the movement beneath, it's a portrait of simplicity and restraint, but one whose intent is only fully revealed under a loupe. And it's here, where the striping on the white gold markers, the sharply faceted handset, and smooth graining of the silver dial reflect a deep integrity of design to produce something that can only be appreciated by the wearer. From the details in the dial to the behavior of the movement itself, the Geophysic, as a whole, is a love letter to watch geeks — it is not an outward expression, but an inward one, meant to communicate something very specific to its wearer, and its wearer only.
As the weeks went by, I started to notice things. I stopped thinking about my watch box — my daily ritual of agonizing over its contents fading like the memories of standing shoulder-to-shoulder next to the bar on the canal whenever Phil Lesh would show up and play a surprise set, or my favorite Burmese restaurant in the Outer Sunset where the air, thick with spicy pepper and sesame oil hung lazily between tables spaced inches apart. I stopped opening and closing the strap drawer like it were the refrigerator, hoping that I'd somehow missed a leftover wedge of cheese. I started taking more stock of habits that I never found myself able to break. Less was absolutely more at such times. A moment in history when time itself remained important, partially because routine was important, but also because every day needed to count for something — anything, as we inched toward a conclusion that may never come. Ultimately, the aesthetic of time mattered less. It only mattered that friends, family, and neighbors remained healthy as we all did our part to flatten the curve — a duration being measured by a simple watch, reliable and running. Tick. Tick. Tick.
Unlike the dial, which I've always found easy to love, I didn't fully appreciate the many subtle complexities of the Geophysic's case until I handled a Polaris. In a similar manner, its short, sculpted lugs appear to be stretching the dial width to its absolute maximum before terminating in stubby, but sharp downward pointing angles. Its lines are restrained and elegant, while simultaneously sporty and aggressive — just as the prototypical mid-century tool watches once were. "But does it bother you that it ticks like a quartz watch?" It's a question I've grown all-too accustomed to answering. What the inquirer is really asking is, "Does it bother you that this expensive thing could be easily mistaken for something very cheap?" The question, in and of itself, is both complicated and simultaneously revealing because, if you have to ask, this watch isn't for you. Generally speaking, most luxury watches belong in one of two camps: watches you wear "for them," and watches you wear "for you," and the Geophysic True Second is without question the latter.
Predictably, and like clockwork every two weeks, the shelter mandate was extended by another two weeks. "Mid-April" first became "late April." April became May, then May became June. And what lies beyond June remains anyone's guess, though it's quite safe to assume that the routine that settled in after the first few weeks is looking a lot like a sneak preview of the summer of 2020 for many of us in the United States. I grew a "quarantine mustache" as a silly measuring stick of sorts with some friends, but the joke had run its course by week six. I shaved it off.
The Geophysic doesn't just "tick like a quartz" watch, though. To understand its functional design intent, you have to first understand the period after which it was named: specifically, the International Geophysical Year in 1958, an era defined by the concerted exploration and study of a number of key earth sciences (gravity, oceanography, meteorology, and seismology, just to name a few) on a global level, with over 60 countries pooling knowledge and resources toward the collaborative aim of better understanding the planet. During this unique period in history, the availability of precise, accurate timekeeping instruments upon which researchers could depend for synchronization or various time-related measurements (particularly in navigation, where exact demarcations of each second are required) was paramount. But I'm not studying geomagnetism and how it pertains to the migratory instincts of the flycatchers that are building nests in the fragrant eucalyptus at the edge of the yard. I'm perched on my steps, binoculars in one hand, KSA Kölsch in the other, bathing in the early evening's warm glow as I wait for the family of quail to make the rounds. Even without making eye contact with my wrist, I can hear each second being announced between the four-hertz oscillation of the automatic movement. As many of these moments soon blended into each other, I began to realize that the watch on my wrist wasn't just displaying a specific time when called upon; it was quite literally telling the time, audibly articulating its passage, second after second, minute after minute. And though I did not feel the movement of time between the many days spent at home, I witnessed its movement with my eyes and with my ears. And for three months, this was good enough. Tick, tick, tick.
I got to know my neighbors. To be fair, we've always been cordial, but our daily check-ins became the only human contact any of us would have for weeks on end. A conversation about the weather here, a cup of sugar for the hummingbirds and an extra pineapple there. I started making chicken soup on a weekly basis, making sure there was enough for all three households. The first batch was excellent. The second batch was terrible, but no one complained. Ellen is a longtime human resources professional whose hours had just been slashed by her employer. She is studying to be a meteorologist on the side, just because. Jonathan is a Native American and a Vietnam War veteran — one of the Marines' earliest Force Recon operators who would later apprentice under the legendary San Francisco photographer Jim Marshall. On a cloudy day in April, I used a long lens to shoot his portrait as he stood on the steps of his porch wearing Apache regalia. "Make me look old," he asked. "…And make it like a grainy black-and-white photograph." I did my best.
Flip the Geophysic True Second over to be treated to a jarring contrast in complexity: This is the exquisitely finished Calibre 770, an automatic movement that goes to great pains to make the seconds hand strike each marker, 60 times per minute, theoretically enabling its wearer to record or synchronize a specific time, right down to the exact second. The movement is also equipped with JLC's then-new Gyrolab balance, which is engineered around an unusual, open-ended shape (visually, it was designed to look a bit like the JLC logo) to reduce air friction, theoretically mitigating energy loss and preserving the watch's long-term accuracy when compared to a traditional circular balance. Granted, I'm neither scientist nor picky about accuracy, but I appreciate what this watch represents on a spiritual level: the pursuit of knowledge as it pertains to our physical world and the long traditions of haute horlogerie all wrapped up in a deceptively simple, uncomplicated package. And on a functional level, I also quite appreciate the fact that the calibre features an independently adjustable hour hand, making for a neat travel watch — which will again, presumably, come in handy, should we ever return to the skies.
But then something happened in late May. It happened after a custom leather strap I'd ordered for a different watch prior to the quarantine period finally arrived, and in trying it on said other watch over the course of a weekend, the Geophysic's meager 38-hour reserve ran dry. The ticking stopped. For nearly three months, its reassuring hum had been my constant, simultaneously offering clarity in its patterned simplicity. I paused in front of my desk where it patiently lay idle, debating whether or not I should wind it back up. For a moment, it felt as though time itself had also stopped. I closed the drawer, instead, taking its stoppage as prophesy that I, along with the world outside would be ready for change — precipitously, as it were, despite not yet arriving at any formal conclusion to the shelter mandate. We were all Chilean miners, finally rescued months after a cave-in but forced to prolong the blackness, wearing dark sunglasses even after our emergence from the gloom.
The goats are back, dotting our tinder-dry hillsides to help manage vegetation growth ahead of fire season. Baby jays squawk from the leaves above my kitchen. The fawns are starting to lose their bright white spots. Summer is imminent. I've just made an appointment with my barber, who'll be among the very last to be allowed to resume business. The police tape and orange cones haphazardly cordoning off park benches, trailhead turnouts, and shoreline parking lots across the county have been quietly disappearing. Northern California is slowly filling in its outline with the vivid colors we once knew. But I'm still buying groceries once a week. Still never far from a pocket-sized bottle of hand sanitizer. Still going on long, head-clearing rides into far west Marin. What was once a frightening new reality quickly settled into routine, and what we now wistfully define as the "new normal." In many ways, everything has changed, while time itself remains just as it always was. Tick. Tick. Tick.
For more on the Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic True Second, visit jaegerlecoultre.com.
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SAN FRANCISCO (August 10, 2016) -- Scientists have discovered a new species of colorful songbird in the Galápagos Islands, with one catch: it's extinct. Researchers from the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco State University (SFSU), the University of New Mexico (UNM), and the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO) used molecular data from samples of museum specimens to determine that two subspecies of Vermilion Flycatchers, both found only in the Galápagos, should be elevated from subspecies to full species status. One of these newly recognized species--the characteristically smaller San Cristóbal Island Vermilion Flycatcher--hasn't been seen since 1987 and is considered to be the first modern extinction of a Galápagos bird species. The findings were published online earlier this May in the journal Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.
"A species of bird that may be extinct in the Galápagos is a big deal," says Jack Dumbacher, co-author and Academy curator of ornithology and mammalogy. "This marks an important landmark for conservation in the Galápagos, and a call to arms to understand why these birds have declined."
The study examined the complex evolutionary history of Vermilion Flycatchers by using advanced genetic techniques. In the absence of living tissue, the team turned to the California Academy of Sciences, which houses the largest collection of Galápagos bird specimens in the world. Specimens collected and preserved over 100 years ago allowed the team to carry out DNA sequencing and piece together an evolutionary history of the species.
Vermilion Flycatchers exhibit a complex evolutionary history having branched from an ancestral population into twelve recognized subspecies with ranges that span across the Americas and the Galápagos Islands. This study compares their evolutionary history against the way scientific authorities currently classify the species (and subspecies) to look for any inconsistencies.
"Access to museum collections such as the Academy's for pursuing these types of studies is invaluable," says Christopher Witt, study co-author and associate professor of biology at the University of New Mexico. "Preserved specimens can provide the crucial links needed to better understand how life on Earth evolved."
Two subspecies of the Vermilion Flycatcher, both found only in the Galápagos, were determined to be so genetically distinct that the team elevated them to full species status: Pyrocephalus nanus (throughout most of the Galápagos) and Pyrocephalus dubius (only on the island of San Cristóbal). The latter--significantly smaller and subtly different in color from the other species--is commonly known as the San Cristóbal Vermilion Flycatcher and hasn't been seen since 1987.
"Wouldn't it be great if the San Cristóbal Vermilion Flycatcher weren't extinct? No one is looking, I'm pretty sure of that," says Alvaro Jaramillo, study co-author and biologist at the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory. Searches for the San Cristóbal Vermilion Flycatcher have turned up no evidence so far of its existence on the easternmost island of the archipelago, the only place on Earth it is known to have existed. But Jaramillo claims we shouldn't be so quick to give up on future sightings. "At the very least, this discovery should motivate people to survey and see if there are any remaining individuals of the species hanging on that we don't know about."
What exactly drove the San Cristóbal Vermilion Flycatcher to extinction remains unknown, but two invasive threats to the archipelago likely played a part: rats and parasitic flies (Philornis downsi). Rats often climb into nests to eat bird eggs, while the parasitic fly can kill growing chicks. These invasive species are severely impacting the remaining populations of Vermilion Flycatchers in the Galápagos, with some islands no longer hosting populations that once thrived there.
The Galápagos have been renowned for their species diversity since Charles Darwin--an honorary Academy member inducted in 1872--described the islands' biodiversity in vivid detail through his writings. Despite the lasting connection between Darwin's landmark work on evolutionary biology and the iconic islands, conserving Galápagos biodiversity remains a challenge.
"Sadly, we appear to have lost the San Cristóbal Vermilion Flycatcher," says Dumbacher, "but we hope that one positive outcome of this research is that we can redouble our efforts to understand its decline and highlight the plight of the remaining species before they follow the same fate."


Saving money isn't always the most fun activity, especially if you aren't a frugal person by nature. To make the process of saving painless, try tricking yourself into saving!
There are MANY ways to do this. Here are a few of my favorite ways!
I think this is the best way to save. Set it up so that a certain amount of your check automatically deposits into a savings account or retirement account. That way, you don't even have to think about it and the money always goes in every month.
My husband is a spender and he really struggles with saving. Yet, he still saves 4% of his paycheck every two weeks, without fail. Why? Because it's automatic and he doesn't have to spend a second even thinking about it.
The money is gone before he even sees it, so there's no temptation to spend it.
When you receive change, put it in a coin jar. Keep saving your pennies for several weeks or months (or years). Once the jar is full, head to your bank and deposit the change into your savings account.
You might be surprised by how much money you have in coins! The little things add up.
When you receive a raise, it's easy to bump up your spending accordingly. Instead, pretend you never received the raise. If you're getting an extra $300 per month now, transfer that $300 to savings each month.
There's no need to give into lifestyle inflation every time your income increases. If you live below your means now, you'll be thanking yourself later!
I love this one! Make savings a "bill" that you schedule to pay. My husband and I are currently saving for our first home, and we do this. Depending on when we get paid (which varies slightly from month to month), we'll pick a date to pay our savings "bill".
On the day your savings "bill" is due, transfer the money to savings – no excuses!
When you track your spending, round all of your bills up. For example, make a $54.27 bill $55 and make a $101.37 bill $102 (or $105).
Do this for tracking all of your bills all month long. At the end of the month, add up the total and transfer that amount to savings.
Did you just pay something off? Maybe you had a $200 per month car payment. Instead of blowing an additional $200 every month, why not put that $200 toward savings?
You probably won't miss it if you aren't used to seeing that money anyway.
Did you receive some unexpected cash? Maybe you earned a gift card with an app (my favorite money making app is Ibotta), your received a bonus, or perhaps someone gave you a "just because" gift.
Whatever it may be, you don't need to blow any of that unexpected cash (if you don't want to). Put that money toward savings! You aren't going to miss it anyway if you weren't expecting to get it.
If it's a gift card, use the gift card for something you were going to buy anyway, which will free up cash to add to savings.
For example, if you get a $100 Target gift card, you could use that to buy groceries and then you could transfer $100 of your allotted grocery money to savings.
Saving money doesn't have to be a painful process. There are plenty of easy ways to trick yourself into saving.
If you need money now, these tips will help you to pocket a little more cash quickly.
Start saving now; you'll thank yourself later!
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Spray painting and airbrushing can be a fun activity while some people take it up as a career. The key to making the most of your skills is by investing in the right equipment. The wide variety of airbrush kits available on the market today can make it difficult for you to select the right one.
You have to consider a few factors before you can make a decision, including the accessories that come with the kit, along with the price. Thankfully, the high competition between brands that produce airbrush kits means that you don't have to break the bank to purchase one.
There are numerous applications of airbrushing. They range from printing logos to creating patterns on clothing. You can use the machine to spray the liquid paint on to the surface and create the design you want.
Modern tools make it easier for amateurs to start learning to airbrush and within some time, enhance their skills to a level where they can conveniently use them on cakes and other items they bake. You can find kits that incorporate all the tools you need for cake decoration, making it easy for you to enhance the appearance of your cakes.
The quality of modern airbrush kits means that you can create smooth gradients without hassle. The most important factor that you need to consider when selecting an airbrush kit is that it should match your level of expertise. People who are seeking to buy an airbrush kit expressly to decorate cakes can find a variety of options today.
The Complete Master Airbrush Cake Decorating Set from Master Airbrush is one of the best airbrush kits you will find on the market. Master Airbrush is the foremost provider of airbrush products today.
Safety: This kit is safe to use for anyone, regardless of their skill level. Beginners and professionals can use the airbrush to paint on any surface. The safety level is evident by the fact that the FDA approved this kit. The edible colors come with FDA approval and Kosher certification.
Instruction Book: Master Airbrush designed this kit to be useful for beginners and amateurs. They enhanced the ease of use by incorporating an instruction book, free of charge, in the package.
Perfect for Baking: This kit is exclusively for baking and cake decoration. You don't have to opt for a conventional spray painting tool that is not optimal for the purpose you need it for, which enables you to present cakes that are eye-catching.
Low-Maintenance: Maintaining this kit is easy, thanks to the design of each component. The professional-grade tools don't take much effort to clean, which means you don't have to invest much time in maintaining your equipment.
Extensive Tools: This kit includes all the tools and features that you will need for beautifying the cakes you bake. These components include the TC-20 Air Compressor, a G34 Dual-Action Airbrush, and an E92 Siphon Feed.
Edible Colors: The paints and colors that come with this airbrush kit are edible. This reason is why the brand emphasized the importance of receiving FDA approval before they released it on the market. You don't have to worry about the ingredients you use for decorating the cake causing any harmful effects or health issues.
Twelve Colors: You get no fewer than 12 edible colors as part of the package. This variety gives you plenty of options to choose from, enabling you to decorate the cakes you bake in any color you desire.
Makes for a Great Gift: You can present this Airbrush kit as a present for any budding bakers you know, as it makes for a great gift.
Versatility: You can use this airbrush along with the colors in the kit to decorate cakes along with other items. These include sugar pastes, fondants, isomalt, and even icings.
A majority of people who purchased and reviewed this product on Amazon are happy with its performance. Most reviews mention the ease of use this airbrush kit offers, which makes it perfect for beginners. A customer wrote that this is the first airbrush she ever used but the ease of use means it doesn't feel like she lacks experience.
She further states that her friend used this product too and now she plans to buy one for herself. A customer wrote that he bought this product for his 10-year old daughter, who is into baking, and she loves the airbrush.
On the flip side, a few customers did not have a pleasant experience with this product. A couple of customers mentioned that the airbrush broke down after the first two times of use.
You can order the Master Airbrush Cake Decorating Set from the comfort of your home on Amazon. The retailer will deliver the product to your home, free of charge. The price of this Airbrush Kit is around $110. You can also check out other airbrush kits on Amazon, including the products provided by Master Airbrush.
Overall, this airbrush kit is perfect for cake decoration. You can invest in this product if you want to enhance the appearance of the items you bake at home. Even professional bakers can use this airbrush to add colors to their cakes, or even the ingredients that go into baking the cake. There are no major drawbacks to using this product, which makes it a great purchase.


You can create an account for whatever you like, whether it is a personal account about you, or an account dedicated to your favorite television show, etc.
When clicking on the category of your choice, you will be prompted to Tap the Picture to reveal that every product featured in the photo is tagged with a corresponding account name, like ps_laptop_station.
Question Why has an error occurred?
This is how you will appear to others on Instagram.Question zeemeermin cadeau How do I choose a username?Depending on your internet/data connection speed, Instagram may take a minute or two to download.6 Tap the "Website" field to add your website's URL.This may include a bio for your account, a link to your personal website, or a profile picture.8 Review your private information.If business owners cant take you to their website, they can bring their website to you. digital marketer and writer in New York.This address needs to be valid/current because, if you forget your password, you can use your email to reset.You have successfully created an Instagram account!Question Instagram won't let me create a new account.
Can be found on a dance floor, or on her iPhone keeping up with trends in marketing and tech).
This will save your changes!This is at the bottom of the page; only you can see this information, as it pertains to your Instagram account's registration.7, enter a username and password.Instagram is a powerful tool for leveraging brand awareness and building community around your business.Ikea PS: Instagram Website from, instinct on, vimeo.Make sure that this is a current email address to which you have access.This will open Instagram.7 make up webshop nederland Add any information you wish to display.When you open Instagram, it will prompt you to sign up using either Facebook or an email address.Ask yourself, what is my brand's community interested in?


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10: Basilica of Sacred (Heart of Paris)
Basilica of Sacred is a roman church, located at Montmartre hill, the highest point in Paris. It was designed by French architect Paul Abadie, the construction took place between 1875 – 1914.
9: Pont Du Gard Bridge, Nime
This is a giant Ancient Roman bridge, that is located in the city of Rome, in Southern France. The bridge has a length of 50 kilometres, it was built in the first century. It is used by Romans to carry water from the Uzes commune of France to Nîmes.
They used: Yellow lime stones, breeze blocks and calcium deposits in the construction of this bridge. The height is 48,8 meters.
8. Arc De Triomphe, Paris
Arc De Triomphe is the most popular triumphal arc in Paris. The construction of this monument was ordered by French emperor Napoleon in 1806 to honor the warriors who fought with him in number of wars. It got inaugurated in the year 1836, construction had been stopped number of times after abdication of emperor Napoleon.
7.Verdon Gorge Canyon, Alpes De Haute Province
It is also known as the 'grand canyon of Europe', located in Alpes De Haute province in Southeastern France. This river canyon is about 25 kilometres in length and cliffs have a height of 700 meters.
6.Chateau De Chambord, Loir et Cher
The largest uncompleted chateau in Loire valley, within central France. It is the finest example of French Renaissance architecture. Interestingly the entire manor house is surrounded by the largest forest park in the nation. It was built for King Francois I as a hunting lodge. Now it is one of the popular tourist attractions and world heritage sites of France.
Starting the construction in the year 1519 it took 28 years for getting into today's form. But chateau never gets completed by the wake of the French revolution. The internal section of the chateau shows off French and Italian style in a grouping of rooms together into a suite.
There are 440 rooms, 80 staircases and 280 fireplaces are within this chateau. It also features different types of towers and chimneys. The guided tour at the chateau offers the tourists chance to explore all important sections within the chateau, will also get clear information about the method of construction and design styles.
5. Saint Michel, Normandy
It is one of the most recognizable landmarks and popular religious sites in Europe, located on the island of Normandy. The island is best known for the abbey that occupies rocks 1 km in diameter. The abbey, church and monastery located in the top section of Saint Michel. The bottom section includes stores, halls, and houses. This site attracts more than 3 million visitors every year, another world heritage site of France.
It is easy for the pilgrims to reach the abbey as Saint Michel located only 6000 meters away from the land. Visitors can reach the top galley on the roof of the abbey through a much-known lace staircase, have to climb 900 steps to reach the top of the abbey. A special show at the museum of Saint Michel let the visitors know about the history and construction of this great monument.
4. The Louvre, Paris
One of the largest museums in the world, located in Paris. The impressive art collection of this museum makes it the most visited museum in the world. There are 35000 prehistoric objects, includes Egyptian antiques, crown jewels, old paintings and ancient sculptures.
The museum is actually a part of Lovre palace, a baroque-style palace that dates back to the medieval period. The Louvre museum was opened for the first time in the year 1763. Later emperor Napoleon added a large number of number art worksorks to the museum. The contribution from following French emperors also increased the collection of historical objects in the museum.
There are eight main departments within this museum to display the objects. Eastern antiquities, Egyptian antiquities, Greek, Etruscan, Roman antiquities, Islamic arts, sculptures, decorative arts, paintings, prints and drawings are the eight main departments of the louvre museum, display of objects spanning from 6th century BC to the 19th century. The Louvre pyramid at the entrance is another important attraction of this museum, designed by architect I.M Pei.
3. Palace of Versailles,IIe de France Region
Palace of Versailles is the largest palace of France, also known as chateau de Versailles. The first part of this palace was built by Louis XIII king in 1624 as a hunting lodge. Later Louis XIV, the successor of Louis XIII expanded it as the largest palace in the country. The palace features 700 rooms, 2153 windows, 68 staircases and 2000 acres of the beautiful garden.
Nowadays palace of Versailles becomes the foremost tourist attraction of the country. It is also used for hosting several political functions. Inside the palace, the rooms have different sizes and styles, varies by the rank of power who lived there.
The hall of mirrors becomes the most important part of the palace to visit by the tourists, which diffuses the day daylight garden in the palace of Versailles has a French style, included 200000 trees, more than two lacks of flowers from various species and 50 fantastic fountains.
2.Disneyland, Paris
Disneyland entertainment resort opened in central Paris in the year 1992. As of 2014, it has been visited more than 275 million times by visitors, one of the most popular attractions in Paris. Disneyland covers an area of 4800 acres, it includes two theme parks, resorts, shopping and entertainment sections.
There are 57 rides, 62 shops, 5800 hotel rooms and 55463 employees in 500 different sections. Upon rides Pirates of Caribbeans, the ride becomes the most popular one, attracted 6.7 million visitors in the year 2011. It is based on the hugely successful Hollywood film Pirates of Caribbeans starring Johnny Depp.
The small world, space mountain: Mission 2, Big Thunder Mountain and Buzz lightyear laser blast. The Walt Disney studio park, opened in 2002 showcased movie based rides, behind the technology of movies and movie based businesses. The Disney village offers visitors several entertainment venues, restaurants and shopping experiences. The Walt Disney studios within Disneyland of Paris showcase movie based rides, behind the scenes of successful movies and show business.
1. Eiffel Tower, Paris
One of the most recognizable landmarks of Paris. It was opened in the year 1889 as an entrance arc to universal exposition or world's fair. For the next 41 years, it stands as the tallest man-made structure in the world, has a height of 320 meters. The construction of the Eiffel tower started in 1887 and took two years the complete. It was named after Gustave Eiffel, the French architect in the head of the construction of the Eiffel tower.
Around 10000 tonnes of Iron are used for the construction of the Eiffel tower. As the Eiffel tower became a globally popular structure it reconstructed in Nevada of the United States and Tokyo. The tower repainted every seven years to protect it from corrosion, demand 50 tonnes of paint. Tourists can access the first two levels of the Eiffel tower, can use the staircase or life for it.
Facts about Sialkot Facts about Islamabad Quiz About Islamabad Facts about France

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Archive for the 'survival' Tag
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Admittedly, I knew nothing about pachinko before reading the book of the same name by Min Jin Lee. The first mention of the popular Japanese pinball-like game doesn't surface until halfway through this epic novel spanning four generations.
It begins on a small Korean island in 1910 and progresses rapidly several years later following the birth of Sunja, the only daughter of a poor, disabled innkeeper and his wife. Times passes quickly; soon Sunja is a teenager helping her widowed mother run the inn: a glorified name for a shack with paying guests. Tension between Korea and Japan contributes to the dire economic straits.
Sunja discovers she is pregnant and her lover is married. The arrival of a young man, ill and en route to Japan to serve as a minister, changes the course of her life. They marry, move to Osaka and live with his brother and sister-in-law.
History converges with their story as war, famine and prejudice dictate their lives: Koreans are considered less than third-rate citizens.
The family's ability to survive depends largely on an unknown benefactor, reminiscent of Great Expectations. Heartache ensues once the identity is revealed.
The novel is rich with characters reflecting both the intolerant attitudes of many Japanese and the cultural constraints of Koreans living on foreign soil.
This is a bulky, albeit well-paced, joyful and heart wrenching story with a historical perspective. The game is an apt title since much of life is left to chance while bouncing around from situation to situation.
Four-and-a-half Bookmarks
Grand Central Publishing, 2017
Posted June 24, 2018 by bluepagespecial in Books, Reviews
Tagged with epic tale, family ties, Grand Central Publishing, Korea, Korean history, Koreans in Japan, Min Jin Lee, Pachinko, prejudice, survival, war
Family Ties 2 comments
At first, Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi seems more like a collection of short stories than a novel and that, along with the title, is part of its beauty.
Spanning more than 300 years, this is an epic tale of the evolution of a family. Each chapter focuses on a specific character and could be a stand-alone story. Fortunately, a thread connects one to the other, even though there are some knots and loops along the way. These simply enhance the narrative. There is a chronology but not in the traditional sense.
In 18th century Ghana, Effia, the young beautiful daughter of a village chief is married to an Englishman, where she lives in a castle. She's unaware that her half-sister, Esi, is imprisoned in the castle dungeon as a slave to be sold and sent to America.
The author traces, through the years, the lives of the sisters' descendants as they experience warfare among Ghanian tribes, plantation slavery, British colonization, the migration from Alabama to Harlem, and more.
Gyasi provides portraits of 14 distinct main characters and a supporting cast of dozens more. Each is nuanced through his or her experience, determination and environment. Almost equally important are the landscapes; the element of place shapes the individuals in ways that can't be ignored. There are lush and harsh jungles, shorelines, cotton fields, inner-city Baltimore, Alabama coal mines and smoky jazz bars.
Survival and the strength of family ties resonate in every chapter as each character takes a turn in the spotlight.
Four Bookmarks
Alfred A. Knopf, 2016
Posted June 9, 2018 by bluepagespecial in Books, Reviews
Tagged with Alfred A. Knopf, family, fate, Ghana, history and fiction, love, multiple characters, slavery, spanning generations, survival, Yaa Gyasi
From Russia With Art 1 comment
Anthony Marra is the master of foreshadowing. At times he's subtle, then he's as obvious as an agitated teenager reeking of cigarettes claiming he doesn't smoke. This was true of his first novel, A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, and follows suit in his most recent: The Tsar of Love and Techno.
Marra has chosen a similar setting in Russia with another interesting cast of characters; however, he spans more time, beginning in 1937 continuing to present day. He expands the setting from Siberia to Leningrad/St. Petersburg to Chechnya: landscape is a crucial element.
The narrative begins with an artist in the propaganda department whose job is to erase enemies of the state whose images appear in paintings and photographs. He does this by blotting out faces with ink or by painting something new, which is often his dead brother's face. It appears in a myriad of scenes representing various phases of his life: child, teenager, middle age and old age.
With each chapter comes a new narrator, in a different setting providing a singular element to the overall novel. The stories are a progression. It's no spoiler alert to note that the pieces do eventually fit together (very well). Even if they didn't, Marra's writing is full of wit and pathos. The images of the pollution-wreaked mining community in Siberia are stark and frigid; just as a Chechnyan hillside is pastoral and warm. The men and women introduced by the author are so human their breath practically turns the pages.
The Tzar of Love and Techno
Hogarth, 2015
Posted May 10, 2016 by bluepagespecial in Books, Reviews
Tagged with Anthony Marra, art, Chechnya, families, love, propaganda, Russia, secrets, survival
Misplaced Loyalties Leave a comment
Even with plenty of objectionable characters and situations, it's easy to empathize with the narrator, known only as the captain, in Viet Thanh Nguyen's The Sympathizer.
The captain is the sympathizer; he's an undercover agent in Viet Nam just as the country falls to communist rule in 1975. Nguyen's writing is of the step-on-the gas and honk-the horn variety. It's thrilling, witty and poignant. It demands well-deserved attention.
The captain receives orders from his communist handlers to travel with a South Vietnamese general as part of his entourage to the United States. They're among those on the last planes to leave the war-torn country. It's in the captain's nature to consider both sides and see the value and downsides in each. He is the son of a Vietnamese woman and a French Catholic priest. This and his western education make him an outcast. In Nguyen's hands, the captain is kind, albeit sarcastic, and exceptionally intelligent. It's not difficult to understand his situation.
It's clear from the beginning that the captain has been caught. Most chapters begin addressed to the commandant and it eventually becomes clear that the captain is recounting the days that led to his capture. However, this is not before the captain's loyalty to his friends, his love for his mother and a handful of questionable decisions and actions are detailed.
The aftermath of war, the stigma of not fitting in and the lengths people go through to survive are all addressed by Nguyen in this compelling narrative.
Four-and-half Bookmarks
Grove Press, 2015
Posted April 28, 2016 by bluepagespecial in Books, Reviews
Tagged with communist rule, Grove Press, loyalty, survival, The Sympathizer, Viet Nam, Viet Thank Nguyen, war
Survival Modes 4 comments
I'm usually not drawn to apocalyptic novels, but Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven is so much more than a foreboding tale about a small group of people who survive a pandemic. It's also about getting through the trials of what we might consider the normal elements of life: existence before the disaster. She blends the backstory of the half dozen characters she masterfully introduces with their lives following the devastation; and it works!
The story follows the characters whose lives shared parallel paths with Arthur Leander, a famous actor, and which orbit around the fall of society. Unrelated to the flu that kills most of the world's population, Arthur dies of a heart attack. Nonetheless, he remains a substantial character as viewed by those who knew him: one of his ex-wives, his best friend, a young girl who watches him die and the man who tries to save him. Another ex-wife and Arthur's son have important, albeit tangential, roles. Each character is connected to Arthur, although they don't all intersect with one another.
St. John Mandel creates a bleak, but not black and white picture, which is often the case in similarly-themed novels. Cormac McCarthy's The Road comes to mind as a portrayal of a dismal post-catastrophe world. Sure, there is plenty of anarchy and death in Station Eleven, but somehow they don't overshadow the power of friendship, love and art.
The author deftly illustrates that fear and loss exist before and after the collapse of civilization – as does hope.
http://www.emilymandel.com/bio.html
Five Bookmarks
Tagged with apocalypse, art, best seller, Emily St. John Mandel, friendship, hope, love, pandemic, Station Eleven, survival
Befores and Afters Leave a comment
In her debut novel, An Untamed State, Roxane Gay serves up a brutal story about cruelty, survival and love. In the process she's created haunting characters who don't easily disappear from the mind's eye — even days after putting down the book.
While vacationing in Haiti to visit her parents, Haitian American Mireille Duval Jamison is kidnapped just outside the gates of their well-heeled estate. Her husband, Michael, and young son are threatened, but it's Miri the kidnappers want for the ransom she's likely to bring. What they have no reason to expect is her father's steadfast and misguided refusal to ante up. Nor can they have any clue regarding Miri's tenacity to survive.
Gay tells the story in two sections. The first includes the kidnapping and Miri's past: how her parents came to leave their island home only to return years later having led successful lives in the U.S., as well as how Miri and Michael fell in love. A particularly moving section recounts Miri's care of her mother-in-law and the evolution of that relationship from tolerance to respect and even friendship. This plays a significant role in the novel's second section which comes after Miri is released from her 13-day ordeal. There's no need for a spoiler alert, since the beginning of the story reveals as much.
Gay doesn't temper her descriptions of Haiti's poverty or of the brutality inflicted by the captors. Miri's pain, fatigue and even filth are tangible. So is her despair.
An Untamed State
Black Cat, 2014
Posted April 6, 2015 by bluepagespecial in Books, Reviews
Tagged with An Untamed State, Haiti, kidnapping, marriage, misguided principles, resolve, Roxane Gaye, survival
Soviet Roulette Leave a comment
Anthony Marra's A Constellation of Vial Phenomena demonstrates that families are often created by need, proximity and shared experiences – sometimes more than bloodlines.
Marra writes of worn-torn Chechnya. More accurately, his story involves the newly-formed family of Akhmed, Havaa and Sonja, three genetically-unrelated characters whose lives intersect because of friendship, obligation and fate.
Moving back and forth between 1994 and 2004, Marra details the poverty and fear of those living in a small Chechen village. Eight-year-old Havaa is rescued by Akhmed, a long-time family friend, when the girl's father is "disappeared" by military authorities.
Akhmed, a third-rate physician, takes the child to the city hospital 11 kilometers away. There, he convinces Sonja, a surgeon, in charge of the facility to keep Havaa. In exchange, Akhmed offers his medical services, which prove to be lacking.
The novel's beauty is Marra's writing. The people and landscape are bleak, and are vividly portrayed. Yet hope surfaces in spite of the harsh conditions. Havaa is optimistic about her father returning; Akhmed hopes he can keep the child safe; and Sonja needs to believe that her younger sister, Natasha, is still alive. Hope also makes cameo appearances when Marra foretells characters' futures. At first this is done with incidental players, then minor ones and finally those about whom the reader cares most.
Trying to understand the historical context of Chechnya is confusing. Fortunately, Marra's emphasis is on a handful of characters, each who do what it takes to survive while trying to remain true to themselves.
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena
Posted March 24, 2015 by bluepagespecial in Books, Reviews
Tagged with A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, Anthony Marra, Chechnya, family, friendship, Hogarth, repatriation, Russia, survival, war
The Blue Page Special


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Peter Weber: I'm the Worst Bachelor Ever, I Know!!
By Author Simon Delott at Feb 10, 2020 • Category Peter Weber
Because he himself was not keeping up with The Bachelor Spoilers, Peter Weber had no idea that some of his suitors were catty and mean.
Now, Peter is responding to backlash that he's received and explaining why being the leading man is so much harder than he had imagined.
Photo via ABC
Peter Weber spoke to E! News about his difficult role as the titular Bachelor and the volume of hate that he has received for it.
"I'm definitely getting some tough skin now," Peter confesses.
"I understand that there's a lot of drama right now and things are kind of crazy," he acknowledges.
"But," Peter continues, "I do think it's a little … it's too bad a lot of the criticism and a lot of hate that's been kind of coming out."
"I just think there's no place for that," Peter opines, "and there's too much of that right now."
"And," he adds, "I wish that people could more focus on spreading love and just more positivity."
In contrast, Peter says: "And not so much negative stuff."
"Because again," he explains, "we're just … we're all human."
"And I know there's a lot of opinons about the women on the show," Peter states.
Some would argue that viewers having differing opinions about the women on the show is kind of the point of the franchise.
He adds that viewers have "a lot of opinions about me."
Namely, a lot of people think that he's overwhelmed, indecisive, and simply wasn't cut out for the role.
"You know," Peter says, "we're just doing our best."
"We sign up for this type of experience," he explains, "and you hope for the best."
"You hope you're going to find love at the end of it," Peter notes.
"And yeah," he acknowledges, "things are always going to happen, things are gonna come out."
Peter says that stories from people's personal histories come to light "because we're human beings and we're not perfect."
"But," he expresses, "I just wish people would focus more on spreading love rather than so much hate."
As to how much hate Peter receives and sees, he says: "You have no idea."
He admits that even having been on The Bachelorette did not prepare him for his current role or the hate that he would receive.
"And obviously," Peter details, "being on the contestant side and being on the lead side and two different worlds."
He warns: "So you can never really prepare for either one."
"I remember getting ready to be the Bachelor," Peter recalls, "and you try to prepare as well as you can."
"You think you know what's coming and how you're going to handle it," he explains, "and htere's just no way."
Peter cautions: "You can't ever imagine dating htat many people in that kind of environment."
"It's a beautiful, amazing environment," he quickly clarifies, "but it's also very tough."
"There's a lot of pressure," Peter explains, "and you have to make decisions in a really short amount of time."
"And," he continues, "you have to let go of relationships that you maybe don't know if you want to let go of yet, and it's tough."
"And you just try your best," Peter affirms.
"And," he notes, "that's all I did."
"And, you know," Peter concludes, "I'm happy about that."
Sometimes, all that you can do is try your best.
Hannah Brown Might Be Getting a Second Chance as Bachelorette … And Fans Are PISSED!
Luke Perry Left Out of Oscars "In Memoriam" Segment; Fans React With Outrage
Jason Priestley is Simply "Heartbroken" Over Shannen Doherty Cancer Diagnosis


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The Business Recovery Procedure
The recovery procedure of a company with difficulties is a business restructuration process known in France as "redressement judiciaire".
Unlike the procedure of safeguard, the company has effectively ceased its payments, but it still seems possible to retake the company and relaunch its activity. The procedure is indeed very similar to the safeguard one, and it also applies to any type of enterprise.
Who is involved in the procedure?
The people who intervene in a company recovery project is the same as in the case of a safeguard procedure, namely a designated judge, an attorney, and an administrator. However, the director of the enterprise may not intervene in the process.
An attorney appointed by the judge will carry out the process. He's in charge of watching its evolution and making sure that the company pays its debt in a 10 years maximum period.
Other legal professionals are added to the procedure, especially in case the revenues are too big (at least three million of euros), as well as in case of having more than 20 employees. These professionals are, for example, an auctioneer, or a bailiff. Unlike the safeguard procedure, in the recovery process it is compulsory to appoint them.
With regards to the opening of the process, it can be requested by:
The debtor (director of the company) himself. He can ask it when the company is no longer able to pay its debts, but bearing in mind that he mustn't exceed a period of 45 days to request it.
A creditor who is not getting paid. If a creditor demands a "redressement judiciaire", a hearing will be held and both parties will be heard. The company will have to explain the reason of the debt, and also provide proofs that it's solvent if that's its case. The judge will in fact appoint both parties in a period of 10 days after the request was made.
A public prosecutor.
Once the request for a recovery procedure has been approved, the tribunal will examine the debts of the company to make sure that there's a possibility of relaunching the activity. If its future seems insurmountable, a liquidation process for insolvent companies will be open instead.
Particularities of the recovery procedure
In the case of a recovery process, differing from the safeguard, the AGS (insurance for the guarantee of salaries) intervenes to make sure that the employees' rights are respected.
The company becomes immediately available for transfer to any third party interested in retaking it and relaunching the activity if they can better the offer of the current managers. Additionally, it's the judge who will determine the salaries of the director and his associates, or anyone involved in the management of the company.
Unlike in the safeguard process, during the "redressement judiciaire" it's the experts appointed by the judge who will elaborate the inventory of the belongings of the company, not the enterprise itself.
During the recovery procedure, the past debts of the company are also put aside and a "new" accountancy is established to allow the business to function again. These debts will be included afterwards in the recovery plan. However, exceptionally urgent payments will have to be paid immediately.
During the recovery procedure, all the legal ways to individually prosecute the enterprise are blocked, meaning that the creditors cannot demand their benefits.
The phases of the recovery procedure
An enterprise requesting or being demanded a recovery process has to provide a dossier to the registry of the Commercial Court that reflects its exact accountancy situation so that they estimate its chances to survive once the recovery plan is over. If it's thought to be able to overcome its insolvency situation, then the procedure is opened.
After pronouncing the opening of the process, the attorney verifies the debts and makes a publication in the Bodacc. The creditors can then make their claims in a 10 days period after the publication if they disagree. After this period, the company is put on an observation plan, where the attorney determines the payment deadlines for these debts in a maximum of 10 years.
It's important to note, however, that the creditors have two choices as of how to claim their debts:
Either part of the debts are paid immediately or,
They receive the totality of the due amount in the course of the recovery plan.
As mentioned before, during the observation phase, the company cannot be prosecuted by the creditors, and the interests cannot be increased. The phase lasts for 6 months initially and it's renewable two times, going for a maximum of 18 months.
The objective of the observation plan is to evaluate the past situation of the enterprise with regards to its debts and the reasons that led to ceasing the payments to the creditors, its current situation and its capability to recover, planning the future of the enterprise so that it doesn't become insolvent again, and ultimately, remake a whole new treasury of the company.
End of the procedure
The procedure is over once the company has liquidated all of its debts at the end of the 10 years period. If its activity revenues allow it, the debts can be paid earlier.
On the other hand, if the enterprise cannot face the payments, the recovery process will be finished and a liquidation procedure will be opened instead to finish the activity of the company.


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The Northwest Ordinance
| Religion, Morality, and Property
The Northwest Ordinance The Northwest Ordinance Adopted by the Congress of the Confederation in 1787, the Northwest Ordinance set forth a model for the expansion of the American republic. Providing a governing structure for the territory that would later become Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, it prohibited slavery, protected religious liberty, and encouraged education. Following the adoption of the Constitution, the new Congress passed the Northwest Ordinance again in 1789. July 13, 1787 An Ordinance for the government of the territory of the United States northwest of the river Ohio Section 1. Be it ordained by the United States in Congress assembled, That the said territory, for the purpose of temporary government, be one ...
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« Beltway Basketball Bonanza—Bracket Racket III
Beltway Basketball Bonanza– Bracket Racket V »
Beltway Basketball Bonanza– Bracket Racket IV 1/2…
Two days until Selection Sunday…with bubbles bursting across the nation as Texas can't hold on to a double-digit lead and Miami can't completing a miracle comeback against Notre Dame. At 7pm this evening there will be an odd feel, as Maryland and Virginia will be playing conference tournament games at the same time for the first time ever.
The Insiders:
Virginia–#1 seed in the East, headed to Charlotte for the first weekend with a round of 64 matchup against the winner of Manhattan and Robert Morris (ESPN) or Montana (CBS). Go about your business.
Maryland–#3 seed in the East, headed to Pittsburgh and a matchup with Northeastern (CBS). An early exit in the Big Ten Tourney might slide a Terps team known for close wins down a slot.
Georgetown–CBS has the Hoyas a #4 seed in the Midwest, Yale in Jacksonville while ESPN has Gtown a #5 seed in the East facing Valparaiso in Seattle. Credit the committee with pitting Princeton man JT3 against an Ivy.
VCU–CBS sends the Rams to Pittsburgh as the #9 seed in the East Bracket, facing Xavier. ESPN sends Shaka Smart's team to Omaha as the #10 seed in the Midwest where they will meet St. John's. After their escape against Fordham–they're just happy to be playing.
On the Outside Looking In—
George Washington (21-11, 10-8 Atlantic 10) got a necessary win over Duquesne in the A-10 Quarterfinals–that is step one. Step two against Rhode Island will be much tougher.
Old Dominion (24-7, 13-5 Conference USA) — when you need to reach the finals just to be in the conversation, losing in your conference tournament quarterfinal is not ideal. The Monarchs' 59-52 loss to Middle Tennessee was crushing because they held the Blue Raiders to 38% from the field…but couldn't muster the necessary the offense to reachg the semfinal round. Jeff Jones' team looks forward to the alphabet soup that is the NIT…CBI and CIT.
Howard (16-16, 10-6 MEAC)– the 65-60 loss to Delaware State was a tough way to end what was a turnaround year for a long-suffering program…as the Hornets close the game on a 14-6 run. James Daniel closes out his sophomore season by scoring 25 points…while the other two members of the James Gang (Carlton and Miller) shoot a combined 3-of-14. Hopefully there's more talent headed to the Burr Gymnasium for coach Kevin Nickelberry…and this is merely a steppingstone.
Richmond (19-13, 12-6 Atlantic 10) was oh so close to reaching the A-10 Semifinals…but couldn't withstand a 15-7 run by the Rams. The toughest moment? When Kendall Anthony slipped on the floor on a fast break with the Spiders trailing by one. One tough bus-ride home…
On Tap Tonight–
6:30PM–Big Ten Quarterfinals–Maryland meets Indiana. The two games were the classic "best of times, worst of times" vibe of the season. The Terps lost 89-70 in Bloomington as the Hoosiers shot 60% from the field…before beating IU 68-66 in College Park when Yogi Ferrell's three-pointer and then putback fell off the mark. Can the Terrapins tame Ferrell (23.5 ppg in the two games) outside and Troy Wiliams (16.5ppg and 8.5rpg) inside when they meet on a neutral court?
7PM–ACC Semifinals–Virginia plays North Carolina. Old school UVa fans will say they liked beating Maryland and enjoyed keeping Virginia Tech in their place–but their orange and blue souls fire up when they meet their neighbor to the south. Both schools boast a bit of popped collar frenzy, as Kippy and Buffy will gossip about Meredith and Peyton (and vice versa). The Cavaliers beat the Tar Heels by 11 in Chapel Hill–but they're still working Justin Anderson back into the lineup after the junior missed eight games with injuries. Despite the "go-kart governor on the UVa offense", floor is high for Tony Bennett's team: UNC is capable of scoring 46 points at home in a loss to NC State.
930PM–Atlantic 10 Quarterfinals–George Washington faces Rhode Island– the Colonials lost to the Rams 59-55 in the lone regular season meeting between two schools. Can GW build off last night's victory over Duquesne? And will the game actually begin at 9:30?
930PM–Big East Semifinals–Georgetown plays Xavier. To put it mildly, the Musketeers are a matchup nightmare for the Hoyas–they lost by 17 in Cincinnati and by 13 in DC. Taking care of the ball and poor 3-point shooting proved to be their undoing in both games: they shot 2-13 and 6-22 from outside the arc while turning the ball over 16 and 17 times. After avoiding a bullet from last-place Creighton, will the Hoyas be "pressure-free" as they face their recent nemesis?
Tags ACC, American University, big east, Big Ten, Cavaliers, college basketball, George Washington, Hokies, Howard, Hoyas, Terps


Ionut Sur, the architect of the highlighted project Pendant Light:Prometheus ILight by Ionut Sur explains, The project captures the moment in which Prometheus stole knowledge from the Gods so he can share it with mankind. It is designed to serves as a protective shell. The light from the sphere is warm because it is only a fraction. The cube represents the source, the Gods themselves and is fitted with a strip of LEDs, generating cold light, the boundary between the two levels of existence and perception..


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Q: How do I send a message to someone mentioned from a string? How could I send a message to a user that was mentioned in a message?
Here is what i tried so far:

A: You could use message.mentions.members.first().
This returns the first member mentioned in the message.
Documentation: Message, Mentions, GuildMember, Collection

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Boletines Informativos - Suscríbete Facebook Twitter RSS
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AYSE BERKTAY: Biographical Outline - PEN Turkey Award - Photos - more about Ayse Berktay
by Lieven De Cauter on 24-01-2013
Click here for a google translation
Ay�e Berktay is a peace and human rights activist, a translator and a writer on feminism and politics, now in prison in Turkey. In order to supply information to people we compiled a biographical outline of Ay�e.
Ayse Berktay - 2004 - World Tribunal on Iraq
BIOGRAPHICAL OUTLINE BACK TO THE PRESS RELEASE
PEN TURKEY AWARD
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT AYSE BERKTAY
Letter From Istanbul Bakirkoy Women's Prison by Ayse Berktay
Lawyers statement by coalition of international lawyers
summary and proposals by Ayse Berktay
Guantánamo Bay Istanbul - Kafkaesque trial in the Middle of Nowhere by Lieven De Cauter
Guantánamo Bay Istanbul - At the camp of punishment by Lieven De Cauter
Guantánamo Bay Istanbul - A theatre of terror by Lieven De Cauter
BIOGRAPHICAL OUTLINE
Ay�e Berktay Hacimĭrzaoğlu was born in 1956 and attended the American College for Girls (later Robert College) in Istanbul after primary school and graduated in 1974. Which helps explain why she later became a translator, as she owes her fluency in spoken and written English to these eight years. She furthermore spend one year in Sacramento, California as an exchange student. She then studied architecture at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara. She was also active as an artist, she lived in Stockholm and Paris from 1987 to 1994 as a member of the theatre group "Peoples' Artists". She acted in several plays and participated in the Avignon Festival with one of them: "The Epic of Mustafa Suphi". She was also on the cast of the film "Sahte Cennete Veda" (Farewell to False Paradise) shot in Germany. Since 1995, she has earned her living as translator and editor.
She translated some major non fiction books: Intellectual Property Rights and Customs Union, Virginia Keyder, 1996; Makarenko, His Life and Works, 1997; The Imperial Harem: Women and Sovereignty in the Ottoman Empire, Leslie Peirce, 1998; A History of the Ottoman Bank – Edhem Eldem, 2000; Economic and Social History of the Ottoman Empire - Bruce McGowan, Donald Quataert, Suraiya Faroqhi, �evket Pamuk, 2003; The Ottoman Empire 1700 – 1922, Donald Quartet, 2004; The Ottoman Empire and the World Around It, Suraiya Faroqhi, 2006. Popular Protest and Political Participation in the Ottoman Empire) by Suraiya Faroqhi, (2007)
Beside this she translated fiction: Puppies and Dogs, David Sands, 2005, The Woman In Black, 2006 (Play) adapted by Stephen Mallatratt from the book by Susan Hill; Reconciliation, Aysel Ingham, 2006 (Novel); The Prophet - Khalil Gibran, 2006; Sula – Lavinia Derwent, (Children's Novel); Black Beauty – Anna Sewell, 2009.
This gives an idea of her broad interest and cultural background. She co-authored a book of the WWHR (Women for Women's human rights) on the gender issue in Turkey, Turkish Civil and Penal Code Reforms From a Gender Perspective: The Success of Two Nationwide Campaigns . It describes in a concise yet comprehensive manner the legal status of women in Turkey with new laws in both private and public spheres. Covering a wide array of fields ranging from marriage to economic rights; from sexual and reproductive rights to violence against women, the booklet provides an excellent resource for advocacy and research on women's human rights and recent gains in Turkey.
She has been politically aware all her life; she has been active in many causes, like the Palestinian cause. She was one of the main founders of the World Tribunal on Iraq. This people's court on the illegal invasion of Iraq, the war and occupation, started with a session in Brussels and travelled 24 cities worldwide, each sessions focusing on a specific aspect of the war (the role of media, depleted uranium, etc), to end with a final session in Istanbul. She was pivotal for this effort and devoted an amazing amount of energy to this initiative. Everybody involved could witness her idealistic commitment, perseverance and integrity.
In the same vain she defended the human rights of the Kurdish people. She is an active member of the Peace and Democracy Party, which has representatives in the Turkish parliament. It is this commitment that brought her in prison since October 2012, in the frame of a wide sweep of arrests in the socalled 'KCK-case'. She is accused of terrorism.
But, as this short biogpraphical sketch makes clear: Ayse Berktay is not a terrorist, but an idealist. All her activities make her a staunch defender of peace, culture, feminism and human rights, so she might in the end be in prison for what she is: an courageous activist. One can only hope that she soon be released; to be able to continue to help build a better world and a better Turkey.
BACK TO THE PRESS RELEASE
ACCEPTANCE SPEECH FOR THE PEN TURKEY ASENA by Ayse Berktay - March 16, 203
To mark 8 March International Women's Day Ay�e Berktay and Bü�ra Ersanlı have been awarded the PEN Turkey Duygu Asena Award 2012. Berktay, a scholar, author and woman's activist, and Ersanlı, a political science professor, have been detained, awaiting trial since October 2011.
'I view this award as a meaningful act of defiance in the face of the injustice and audacious disregard for the law that has resulted in the imprisonment of myself along with over 200 fellow members of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), 34 of which are women. For the case brought against us, the result of an ongoing political en masse hunt-down which completely disregards the freedom to practice politics, the freedoms of thought and speech, and the freedom to organize, which constricts democratic political space, and which, by targeting the BDP, aims to render the party ineffective and thus disempower the people, is not a case of a few 'innocents' who happened to get mixed up with a gang of criminals. This case is, through and through, a massacre of law, democracy, and freedom.'
'This case is a striking expression of the extremes to which the state is capable of going, feeding upon the mentality which defines the state of conflict/war that has been happening in our country in various degrees of intensity for decades as a terror issue, and which claims that there is in Turkey not a Kurdish issue but a terror issue. And it for precisely this reason, that is, because it is not a singular/incidental case, because it is a part of the approach of the mainstream, which dominates all official levels of government, whether of the ruling party or the opposite on, that it is especially troubling. Categorizing stances on the issues and even lives themselves solely within the framework of the 'war on terror', according to whether or not a particular action represents a 'weakness' in the face of terror, whether or not it will beneficial for 'terrorists', and whether or not the person in question has ever given voice to similar opinions on any topic, this indictment clearly illustrates the aforementioned mentality, a mentality that comprises the greatest threat to peace, friendship, democracy, and freedom in Turkey and the greatest obstacle to efforts to resolve the issue. In fact, we might say that this is true not only for Turkey, but for the entire world.'
'I hope that some benefit can be derived from this damned case, this unfathomable and ridiculous torment. I hope that the fact that there are some of us on trial who are not Kurdish, and who do not fit the image of the Kurdish militant as 'boogeyman', 'subhuman', 'terrorist', 'monster', 'bloodthirsty' etc. etc. an image which has been created in the minds of people not only by the existing AKP government but by decades of state tradition, will result in the toppling of prejudices and stereotypes and the questioning of just what kind of injustice the Kurds, those 'naturally born suspects', who have been struggling with the same problems for decades, face. I hope that this 'fate' we are sharing, albeit only in small part, with the Kurds will help to make others aware of the importance of listening to what the Kurds themselves have to say, to their problems, demands, and suggestions; of the importance of bending ear to this not inconsiderable portion of the population, certainly too considerable to be ignored, which states loudly and clearly that it imagines another, better future.'
AYSE BERKTAY PEACE PRIZE PRISON TURKEY WORLD TRIBUNAL IRAQ
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(26-01-2013) Comunicado de prensa: Premios BRussells / BRussells Awards for Resistance and Solidarity
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The times they are a-changin' is het eerste grondige Nederlandstalig overzicht dat voorbij oppervlakkigheden en algemeenheden wandelt, en ook nog eens de hele regio bestrijkt, van Egypte en Tunesië tot Marokko, Libië, Syrië, Libanon, Palestina, Jemen, Jordanië, Irak, Bahrein en Israël. Daar bestaat een woord voor: een standaardwerk. meer informatie
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STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) plans to report its first quarter 2017 results before the market opens on Friday, April 28, 2017. The earnings release and presentation materials will be available on Synchrony Financial's corporate website at www.investors.synchronyfinancial.com. A conference call to discuss Synchrony Financial's results will be held at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on that day. The conference call can be accessed via an audio webcast through the Investor Relations section of the website, under Events and Presentations. A replay will be available on the website or by dialing (888) 843-7419 (U.S. domestic) or (630) 652-3042 (international), passcode 12017#, and can be accessed beginning approximately two hours after the event through May 12, 2017.
*Source: The Nilson Report (May 2016, Issue # 1087) - based on 2015 data.


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FBI Awards Contract for up to $19 Million of Specifically Designed Federal Premium Training Ammunition
ANOKA, Minnesota – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has awarded Vista Outdoor a contract to supply FBI and other Federal Government Agencies with a high-performance Federal Premium 9mm handgun training round specifically designed to support their mission.
The IDIQ (indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity) contract, which has four option years, is for up to $19 million in 9mm handgun training rounds. This ammunition is built distinctively to FBI's specifications using Federal Premium's precision manufacturing and testing methods, innovative technology, and industry-leading components.
"We are extremely proud of this important contract, which continues Federal Premium's long-running tradition of supplying law enforcement, military personnel and civilians worldwide with the most reliable ammunition possible," said Federal Premium President Jason Vanderbrink. "This high-value, optimized training round utilizes a new match-grade bullet designed specifically for the FBI to maximize accuracy, along with Federal Premium's Catalyst lead-free primer formulation to provide reliable, consistent ignition."
Since 1922, Federal Premium Ammunition has been a staple for shooters wanting high-quality shotshell, centerfire and rimfire ammunition. The company's relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation has resulted in numerous technological breakthroughs, such as the patented Catalyst primer used in the new FBI training round.
The extremely clean-burning Catalyst primer creates more uniform and complete propellant combustion, yielding minimal velocity variation and consistent bullet launch for improved accuracy. It is also non-hydrophilic, so it does not attract water molecules like DDNP-based mixes found in most lead-free primers, resulting in better reliability. The Federal Premium proprietary Catalyst primer provides the cleanest, most consistent ignition possible.
Civilians and other Law Enforcement agencies looking for similar high-performance primers in their range ammunition can find it in Federal's full lineup of lead-free American Eagle and Syntech ammunition. The polymer-encapsulated Syntech bullet prevents metal-on-metal contact between the bullet and bore, which can shorten barrel life and rob accuracy, while also eliminating copper and lead fouling. Combined with specialized clean-burning powders, your gun will stay cleaner longer, so you can shoot more - and shoot better.
For more information on Federal Premium ammunition and components, go to www.federalpremium.com.
About Vista Outdoor
Vista Outdoor is a leading global designer, manufacturer and marketer of consumer products in the growing outdoor sports and recreation markets. The company operates in two segments, Shooting Sports and Outdoor Products, and has a portfolio of well-recognized brands that provides consumers with a wide range of performance-driven, high-quality and innovative products for individual outdoor recreational pursuits. Vista Outdoor products are sold at leading retailers and distributors across North America and worldwide. Vista Outdoor is headquartered in Utah and has manufacturing operations and facilities in 13 U.S. States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico along with international customer service, sales and sourcing operations in Asia, Australia, Canada, and Europe. For news and information, visit www.vistaoutdoor.com or follow us on Twitter @VistaOutdoorInc and Facebook at www.facebook.com/vistaoutdoor.
For further information: JJ Reich, Communications Manager, Phone: 763-323-3862; Email: pressroom@vistaoutdoor.com


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Scientists Use Biorocks to Regenerate Coral Reefs in Gulf of Kutch
Feb 03, 2020 by Priya Chauhan in India
Global warming has endangered many wildlife species, especially the coral reef. The increasing oceanic temperature has spiked the acidic elements in the water, which have been slowly killing these beautiful ecosystems.
The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has installed solar-powered biorocks to regenerate coral reefs in the Gulf of Kutch. It is the country's first such system and one more would be installed in another 15 days.
Zoological Survey of India has installed solar-powered biorocks to regenerate coral reefs in Gulf of Kutch / Image: Hindustan Times
According to the lead coral scientist of the project, Dr. Chowdula Satyanarayana, two solar panels were installed on a floating buoy to transmit energy to the biorocks. These biorocks are steel structures installed on the seabed and connected to the solar panels.
The mechanism is similar to that of electrolysis. Very low doses of electricity (less than 12 volts) are transmitted to the steel structure through a cable. When the current passes, a chemical reaction takes place in seawater and minerals like calcium carbonate accumulate on the steel structure.
An amount of approximately Rs 2 million (~$28,060) was spent on the installation of the two solar panels. Dr. Thomas Goreau, a U.S.-based coral expert also worked on the project.
Scientists have collected fragments of broken corals from the sea bed and have tied them to the Biorock structures, which would help the corals to grow and form colonies. Initially, we plan to come up with 70 such colonies on the Biorocks.
Goreau said.
The forest department of Gujrat has been working on the restoration of coral reefs, which also includes branching corals that vanished from the region 10,000 years ago.
Also Read: We've Almost Killed the Great Barrier Reef
The calcium carbonate which is deposited on the steel structure helps in regenerating the corals. With this first solar-powered biorock, the team of marine scientists, with the help of locals, has managed to save around 40 to 100 corals. The process will be replicated in other locations too.
Nearly 600 species of corals are found in India and are listed in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act. The country has four major coral reef areas in Andaman and Nicobar Island, Lakshadweep, Gulf of Mannar and Gulf of Kutch. The reefs in Andaman are considered the richest and most diverse, whereas the reefs in Kutch area are the poorest.
Scientists in many countries have conserved and protected coral reefs with the help of biorocks. Pemuteran in Indonesia has the largest biorock coral regeneration project.
With the previous successes of biorock projects, the expectation is high that these solar-powered biorocks will help to protect the beautiful aquatic ecosystems.
Via: Hindustan Times
Tagged with: Coral reef, Solar-Powered
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About the author Priya Chauhan
Aspiring to be an accomplished writer, Priya is also passionate about art. Reading novels, painting and watching TV shows are her favorites in the long list of hobbies. She also loves to travel and meet new people.


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Godzilla: King Of the Monsters Director Says Ghidorah Is 'The Joker to Godzilla's Batman'
R.A Karthik Prasad
Godzilla: King Of the Monsters is one of the most anticipated titles of the year and its popularity, hype doesn't have anything to do with the much successful superhero movie genre. but instead, its a title from the MonsterVerse/Toho Universe which in fact played a role in the inspiration of what we now call as a 'cinematic universe'.
In the Empire's recent issue, Godzilla: King Of the Monsters director Michael Dougherty spoke about pitching for the project when Gareth Edwards declined to return for a sequel after his 2014 Godzilla. Dougherty knew what he was getting into from the moment he pitched for the sequel project and seems like he always intended to embrace Godzilla as a God.
"I pitched something I thought was an evolution of Godzilla. I wanted to tell a story where Godzilla really was the main character, that explored who he was and our relationship to him. It couldn't just be 'a giant monster rises up and rampages through the city'. There had to be some extra context to it. To put it simply, I said I wanted to put the 'god' back in Godzilla," says Dougherty.
Dougherty spoke about the idea of a hypothetical scenario where humans considered these creatures as Gods. An ancient race that walked the earth and has now returned to take what's rightfully theirs. The director couldn't shake off the idea after watching Ishiro Honda's 1954 original where the main characters come across an island monk who tells them he believes the troublesome titan is a kind of god.
"What if there really was this ancient race of giant creatures that humans both feared and were awestruck by?" he says. "And [to whom} we bent our knee and worshipped? We've never seen a giant monster film truly embrace that concept: What if these creatures did rule the world and were trying to reclaim it?"
In the upcoming movie, Dougherty was lucky enough to have the chance to introduce not one but three titans. Unfortunately, Edwards' Godzilla film couldn't due to licensing issues and had to resort to nameless 'MUTOs'.
Dougherty calls these creatures as "the Justice League of the Toho Universe." He also states that he was impressed by how grounded the 2014 reboot was.
"I knew it would serve as a springboard for something more. What would it look like if you introduced Rodan, Mothra and King Ghidorah into that world?"
Speaking about Ghidorah which is without a doubt a fan favorite from the Toho Universe, the director makes another DC reference calling it "the Joker to Godzilla's Batman". The perfect sentence which teases Ghidorah's importance in this series.
Godzilla: King Of The Monsters will hit theaters on May 31st.
Source: Empire Magazine
Related TopicsfeaturedGodzilla: King of MonstersMonsterVerse
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Home Science Tech Researchers Produce Synthetic Hall Effect
ScienceTech
Researchers Produce Synthetic Hall Effect
By Troy Oakes
Researchers have replicated one of the most well-known electromagnetic effects in physics, the Hall effect, using radio waves (photons) instead of electric current (electrons). (Image: via University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign )
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have replicated one of the most well-known electromagnetic effects in physics, the Hall effect, using radio waves (photons) instead of electric current (electrons). Their technique could be used to create advanced communication systems that boost signal transmission in one direction while simultaneously absorbing signals going in the opposite direction.
The Hall effect, discovered in 1879 by Edwin Hall, occurs because of the interaction between charged particles and electromagnetic fields. In an electric field, negatively charged particles (electrons) experience a force opposite to the direction of the field. In a magnetic field, moving electrons experience a force in the direction perpendicular to both their motion and the magnetic field.
These two forces combine in the Hall effect, where perpendicular electric and magnetic fields combine to generate an electric current. Light isn't charged, so regular electric and magnetic fields can't be used to generate an analogous "current of light." However, in a recent paper published in Physical Review Letters, researchers have done exactly this with the help of what they call "synthetic electric and magnetic fields."
Principal investigator Gaurav Bahl's research group has been working on several methods to improve radio and optical data transmission as well as fiber optic communication. Earlier this year, the group exploited an interaction between light and sound waves to suppress the scattering of light from material defects and published its results in Optica.
In 2018, team member Christopher Peterson was the lead author in a Science Advances paper that explained a technology that promises to halve the bandwidth needed for communications by allowing an antenna to send and receive signals on the same frequency simultaneously through a process called nonreciprocal coupling.
In the current study, Peterson has provided another promising method to directionally control data transmission using a principle similar to the Hall effect. Instead of an electric current, the team generated a "current of light" by creating synthetic electric and magnetic fields, which affect light the same way the normal fields affect electrons.
Unlike conventional electric and magnetic fields, these synthetic fields are created by varying the structure that light propagates through in both space and time. Peterson explained:
"Although radio waves do not carry charge and therefore do not experience forces from electric or magnetic fields, physicists have known for several years that equivalent forces can be produced by confining light in structures that vary in space or time.
"The rate of change of the structure in time is effectively proportional to the electric field, and the rate of change in space is proportional to the magnetic field. While these synthetic fields were previously considered separately, we showed that their combination affects photons in the same way that it affects electrons."
By creating a specially designed circuit to enhance the interaction between these synthetic fields and radio waves, the team leveraged the principle of the Hall effect to boost radio signals going in one direction, increasing their strength, while also stopping and absorbing signals going in the other direction.
Their experiments showed that with the right combination of synthetic fields, signals can be transmitted through the circuit more than 1000-times as effectively in one direction than in the opposite direction.
Their research could be used to produce new devices that protect sources of radio waves from potentially harmful interference, or that help ensure sensitive quantum mechanical measurements are accurate. The team is also working on experiments that extend the concept to other kinds of waves, including light and mechanical vibrations, as they look to establish a new class of devices based on applying the Hall effect outside of its original domain.
In addition to Peterson and Bahl, co-authors Prof. Taylor Hughes, Mao Lin (Department of Physics at Illinois), and Dr. Wladimir Benalcazar (Physics at Penn State University) contributed to the theoretical developments in this work.
Provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign [Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.]
Troy Oakes
Troy was born and raised in Australia and has always wanted to know why and how things work, which led him to his love for science. He is a professional photographer and enjoys taking pictures of Australia's beautiful landscapes. He is also a professional storm chaser where he currently lives in Hervey Bay, Australia.
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The Best National Costumes At Miss Universe 2015
By Eliza Florendo
One of the most exciting parts of watching a pageant is seeing all of the beautiful looks of each contestant. Such is the case with some of the national costumes at Miss Universe 2015. To present every woman, 80 in total, each contestant introduces herself, as well as her country, dressed in their respective national costumes. This is perhaps my favorite part of the entire competition, as we get to see all of their insanely intricate looks (read: Miss Universe Hungary dressed up as a Rubik's cube).
Though the evening gown section is also a time to ooh and aah at all the beautiful gowns and get some serious #dressenvy, nothing is quite as jaw dropping as seeing all the glitz, glamour, and glitter of the national costumes. As a woman born and raised in the Philippines, I can't tell you how proud I felt when I saw Miss Universe Philippines rocking a classic Filipiniana dress — A gorgeous white and pearl gown with puffed sleeves.
There were so many memorable looks, from dragon-inspired costumes, to feathery-wings, to the most intricate headpieces I've ever seen (shout out to Miss Universe Indonesia and Miss Universe Dominican Republic). But there were also some more subdued get-ups that were equally gorgeous, like Miss Universe France's minimal dress and glittery Eiffel Tower decals on her body, to honor the recent Paris Attacks.
Below, find some of the best national costumes at Miss Universe 2015, and prepare to be completely stunned.
Each country, like each woman, all had unique looks that spoke to their home country. But the best look of all was the pride that each and every contestant carried with them as they represented their nation. Good luck, ladies!


Rachael Wilkinson relocated from Western Australia to Victoria to join the policy team at Ai Group in 2017. Prior to Joining Ai Group she worked for the Fair Work Ombudsman, providing advice to the public on the Fair Work Act. She then spent time living in Vancouver (Canada) where she worked as an Appeal Coordinator, and volunteered with the homeless community.
There are countless opinions out there as to what's going to happen in the future world of work, but the truth is, no one knows for sure. That said, we shouldn't fear this unknown, or the change that is coming….