text:
Rapid tests for COVID-19 have been distributed across Canada. Here's why some provinces aren't using them
By Kieran LeavittEdmonton Bureau
Jacques GallantLegal Affairs Reporter
Sun., Nov. 29, 2020timer9 min. read
The latest COVID-19 tests might be rapid, but Canada's uptake in using them has been anything but.
The federal government says it has procured 38 million rapid tests, and has so far shipped out about 5.5 million of them.
The provinces have been hesitant to use them. They have concerns that the tests are not as accurate as the gold-standard, lab-based PCR test widely used across the country since the start of the pandemic.
Some of the provinces aren't using them at all right now and others are wanting to study their use further.
Meanwhile, over November, provinces have set record highs for pandemic severity markers like case counts and deaths, and with the worst of the winter months still around the corner, the ongoing second-wave could only just be getting underway.
Widespread access to frequent, rapid tests has been touted by the federal Conservatives and some experts as a key element in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and the need for lockdowns.
But the rapid tests currently approved in Canada still require a professional to administer them and cannot be used by an individual at home.
Experts say these rapid tests can be helpful in targeting specific groups and settings to find asymptomatic cases of COVID-19, but what is truly needed is cheap, rapid, at-home testing — something which doesn't exist yet in Canada.
The research on it continues, and Health Canada has been proactively reaching out to manufacturers asking them to apply for approval, but so far none have done so.
Even south of the border, the Food and Drug Administration only granted emergency authorization last week to the first at-home, COVID-19 self-detection test. While that may be a bit of good news, the single-use device won't be widely available until next year, costs about $50 (US), and the company behind it has no plans to expand into Canada.
"The idea behind home testing is literally if people could test each other every day — and call your doctor for a lab test if positive — if we had that in place, we'd have no lockdowns, no quarantine, no pandemic," said Toronto infection control epidemiologist Colin Furness.
"We'd be done."
The Star spoke to infectious disease, rapid testing and health policy experts to find out what the current state in Canada is for the rapid tests, how they work, and what is the best way to use them.
What are rapid tests for COVID-19?
There are two currently being widely used in Canada: the Abbott Panbio antigen test and the Abbott ID NOW test, a rapid molecular test which is similar to the gold standard PCR test.
The PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test detects the genetic material of the virus and is nearly 100 per cent accurate, while the antigen test detects the protein of the virus and has been assessed as less reliable.
The benefit of a rapid test is the speed of its result. Throughout the pandemic, long wait times for COVID-19 test results have been common, but the downside to many rapid tests is that they aren't as accurate as lab-based PCR tests.
Abbott said in a statement to the Star that both its tests have been "studied extensively." The company said the Panbio has a sensitivity — the ability to correctly identify a positive result — of 98 per cent in cases of individuals who showed symptoms within the last seven days, while the ID NOW has a sensitivity of 95 per cent.
Experts have cautioned that data from testing in the real world can be different than the scenarios in which tests are studied.
According to a recent analysis of current literature by Alberta Health Services, the ID NOW test was found to be between 77 and 80 per cent sensitive under clinical conditions, while the Panbio test was between 73 and 98 per cent sensitive.
"The manufacturers' specifications for testing kits are often higher than the characteristics seen under real-world conditions," the analysis said, adding that "the body of evidence for rapid testing platforms is poor."
Why has the rollout of rapid tests been slow in Canada?
Most provinces have expressed concern about the accuracy of the rapid tests and are still debating how to use them. Some have decided not to use them at all for the time being, while others are first studying their use in pilot projects. This week, Ontario announced a plan for how to use them.
"I think what this shows you is that while Health Canada may have approved the rapid tests, there doesn't seem to be a ton of confidence behind them," said Dr. Nitin Mohan, a physician epidemiologist and partner at ETIO Public Health Partners.
Health Canada authorized the first rapid or "point of care" COVID-19 test in late March. In the early months of the pandemic, point of care tests — which must still be administered by health-care professionals — were in limited supply and mainly recommended for use in rural and remote areas where sending tests to a lab would take too long.
The Abbott ID NOW and Abbott Panbio were authorized by Health Canada in late September and early October, respectively. The regulator has so far authorized six point-of-care tests for use on the public.
Health Canada faced criticism at the time it approved the ID NOW for its slow pace in approving a rapid test that could be more widely used across the country, but its approval came just a few weeks after the FDA granted emergency authorization to another Abbott rapid test. Japan, notably, approved a rapid antigen test back in May.
"The provinces really own the consequences of this, so if I'm a province I'm not sure I want to just rely on a memo from Health Canada," said Furness of the decision by some provinces to first study the use of the tests further.
"It's the province that has to shoulder the burden. They really ought to hurry up, but I understand their logic."
Can rapid testing slow the spread of the coronavirus?
While less accurate than the lab-based PCR test, experts say there is a role for rapid tests to play in breaking potential chains of COVID-19 transmission by identifying people who are infected but asymptomatic. They note that a positive result from a rapid test can then be validated by the lab-based test.
Provinces like Nova Scotia have been doing just that, such as with its recent pop-up site in Halifax for individuals who had frequented bars and restaurants in the last two weeks, but who likely would not have qualified for lab-based testing due to a lack of symptoms.
"We are using it as a tool of public health engagement," said Dr. Lisa Barrett, an infectious diseases expert and researcher at Dalhousie University.
"Yes it is less sensitive, and yes we're probably going to miss some positives, but don't forget this is a population of people, 100 per cent of whom were never going to get tested, so we would not have known about these people at all.
"Can we, in real time during a pandemic, get a good sense of what's going on in the community with active infection? I think it's a great way of doing it, and I think it's an underutilized tool because we've totally taken away the stress from the usual health care system."
Furness refers to it as "surveillance testing," which he argues would be far more effective if Canadians had access to at-home testing — something Health Canada has not yet authorized, although research on it continues.
"It's when you go and try to find cases, to actually try to detect them, and not just sitting back and waiting for sick people to show up," he said.
But not all agree that mass rapid testing, ideally with at-home tests, would be a silver bullet.
They raise "a whole host of concerns that I think that the policy-makers are quite right to think about long and hard," said Katherine Fierlbeck, a political science professor and health policy expert at Dalhousie University.
The biggest one is that it causes a gap in data collection. In Halifax, for example, where young people were rapidly tested, a record was made of those who tested positive, she said.
"If you have an at-home test and you get a positive result, and you don't want to quarantine, there's no record that you're positive," she said.
There are also concerns about people using the tests correctly, and whether the they are easy enough to use that human error doesn't affect the results, Fierlbeck added.
The wide-scale use of an at-home tests could also cause a false sense of security in users who test negative and then forgo other measures like hand washing and mask use, said Fierlbeck.
"So this whole thing about rapid screening, I see the logic, but the lower the threshold, the more complications rise on a number of different angles."
Now that the provinces have some rapid tests, how are they being deployed?
Approaches have varied widely, from deciding not to use the tests at all for the time being, to studying them further, to deploying them in COVID-19 hot spots and remote areas.
Several provinces have expressed concern with the accuracy of the tests, and those that are currently using them say individuals testing positive with a rapid test will also undergo a lab-based test to confirm the result.
Prince Edward Island says it has no plans for now to use the 10,000 rapid tests the federal government is sending its way, as it's happy with the performance and turnaround time of the lab-based PCR tests, while New Brunswick says it will likely only be using its allotment in rural emergency rooms for now.
In what Mohan described as a "clever" strategy, Nova Scotia is using its rapid tests at pop-up sites in the metro Halifax area, targeting asymptomatic individuals who have been in late-night establishments in the last two weeks. Many of the province's recent COVID-19 cases have been in people aged 18 to 35 and related to bars and restaurants.
"It's folks who are getting the virus at the highest rate but aren't necessarily inclined to get in line and wait for results," said Mohan, the physician epidemiologist.
Quebec has set up an expert committee and plans to further study the use of the rapid tests before possibly rolling them out by the end of the year in settings including remote regions, health-care facilities and schools.
And in Ontario, where Premier Doug Ford lauded the rapid tests this week as a "game changer," tests will be used in hospitals, assessment centres and long-term care homes, as well as in some other workplaces as part of a pilot project.
As the Star reported Friday, experts including the head of Public Health Ontario's microbiology lab have expressed concerns with the accuracy of the tests, and described them as anything but "game changers."
The Health Ministry stated that the tests are "useful in helping to identify cases of COVID-19 early," and that their performance will be evaluated on an ongoing basis to inform how to expand their use across the province.
British Columbia has received 131 Abbott ID NOW machines and 27,000 test cartridges, as well as 576,450 of the Abbott Panbio antigen tests.
Laura Stovel, a spokesperson for British Columbia's ministry of health, said the province had "high hopes" for the rapid tests it received, but ultimately the tests "do not perform well" right before people begin showing symptoms. This is when people are "sometimes most infectious," she said.
The plan so far is to deploy the rapid-tests to where there is a "cluster" of people with an illness and where they'd want to determine if it's COVID-19, she said.
Manitoba and Alberta have deployed some rapid tests to remote and rural areas.
When will Canada get more rapid tests?
The procurement process is ongoing and more rapid tests are scheduled to roll in throughout the remainder of 2020 and into 2021.
Kieran Leavitt is an Edmonton-based reporter covering provincial affairs for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @kieranleavitt
Jacques Gallant is a Toronto-based reporter covering legal affairs for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @JacquesGallant


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Hajj pilgrimage, London Fashion Week, pope in Cuba, Bogota no cars day | Sept. 22
Steve Earley 0 Comment Daily Brief, World art, bikes, biking, boxing, Catholicism, Colombia, Cuba, cycling, England, fashion, Florida, France, Hungary, Islam, Japan, lighthouse, lighthouses, London, Mecca, migrants, Panama, Paris, Pope Francis, rain, religion, Saudi Arabia, sports, United Kingdom, water, weather
In this Monday photo, Muslim pilgrims pray while touching the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, while performing Tawaf, an anti-clockwise movement around the Kaaba and one of the main rites of the hajj, in Saudi Arabia. In Mecca, the holy site all the world''s Muslims pray toward, the annual hajj pilgrimage began Tuesday with over 2 million faithful gathering to call out in Arabic: "Here I am, God, answering your call. Here I am." (Mosa'ab Elshamy/AP)
Dancers perform following the Anya Hindmarch 2016 Spring / Summer collection show at London Fashion Week in London on Tuesday. (JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images)
Pope Francis heads to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Santiago de Cuba, in eastern Cuba, to hold an encounter with families and bless the city, on Tuesday. The pope was to conclude his trip to Cuba with a mass and a blessing in the country's second city Santiago, then depart for his first-ever visit to the United States. (RODRIGO ARANGUA/AFP/Getty Images)
Migrants queue to get food Tuesday at a site in Calais dubbed the "New Jungle", where some 3,000 people have set up camp. The slum-like migrant camp sprung up after the closure of notorious Red Cross camp Sangatte, which had become overcrowded and prone to violent riots. However migrants and refugees have kept coming and the "New Jungle" has swelled along with the numbers of those making often deadly attempts to smuggle themselves across the Channel. (PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images)
Residents bike to their destinations on Day Without Cars and Motorcycles, in Bogota, Colombia, on Tuesday. Thousands of residents were forced to leave their cars at home and ride their bicycles, or use public transport services during the third Car Free Day of the year, led by the city's mayor. (Fernando Vergara/AP)
Japanese champion Shinsuke Yamanaka, left, sends a left to Panama's challenger Anselmo Moreno in the 12th round of their WBC bantamweight boxing title match in Tokyo on Tuesday. Yamanaka defended his title by a 2-1 decision. (Toru Takahashi/AP)
Gallery staff and visitors walk around pieces of work entitled "Neon Forms (after Noh I,II and II)" by Welsh Artist Cerith Wyn Evans during a press preview at the White Cube Gallery in Bermondsey on Tuesday in London. The works consisting of suspended neon lights filled with illuminating gas will be shown at the gallery until Nov. 15.(Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Pablo Dona of Miami pauses while paddleboarding as sheets of rain fall on Tuesday off the shores of Bal Harbour, Fla. (Wilfredo Lee/AP)
Bangladeshi Muslims sit atop a train as they head back to their homes ahead of Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Tuesday. Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, is celebrated to commemorate the prophet Ibrahim's faith in being willing to sacrifice his son. (A.M. Ahad/AP)
People walk with a dog as they cross the beach near the Point of Ayr Lighthouse in Talacre in north Wales on Tuesday. A lighthouse has stood on the site since 1776, but the current one was discontinued in 1883 after being replaced by a lightship, situated off of the north Wales coast. The lighthouse is the oldest in Wales. (PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)
Hungarian soldiers work to construct a temporary fence on the border between Hungary and Croatia to prevent migrants from crossing the border line at Beremend, some 140 miles south of Budapest, Hungary, on Tuesday. (Tamas Soki/MTI via AP)
A man stops to observe as French artist Nowart puts the final touches on a mural in tribute to Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh at the Gare du Nord train station in Paris on Tuesday. (JOEL SAGET/AFP/Getty Images)
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Добрѝ ла̀ки е село в Югозападна България, община Струмяни, област Благоевград. Селото е в България от 1912 година в резултат от Балканската война.

География
Село Добри лаки се намира на около 49 km юг-югозападно от областния център Благоевград и около 19 km запад-югозападно от общинския център Струмяни. Разположено е в котловина между южни разклонения на Малешевска планина, в историко-географската област Каршияка. В селото откъм северозапад и север събират водите си малките местни реки Сухоборско дере, Клепалска и Раздолска и изтичат като Добрилашка река, която на около 2,5 km на юг се влива в река Лебница, десен приток на река Струма. Надморската височина в центъра на селото е около 835 m и нараства по слизащите към селото била на околните ридове.

Общински път през Добри лаки води на север към село Раздол, а на юг – към село Никудин.

Землището на село Добри лаки граничи със землищата на: село Клепало на северозапад; село Раздол на север; село Цапарево на североизток; село Колибите на изток; село Никудин на югоизток и юг; село Баскалци на юг. На запад землището на село Добри лаки граничи с Република Северна Македония.

В землището на Добри лаки има микроязовир.

Населението на село Добри лаки, наброявало 888 души при преброяването към 1934 г. и 1038 към 1946 г., намалява до 111 (по текущата демографска статистика за населението) към 2020 г.

При преброяването на населението към 1 февруари 2011 г., от обща численост 189 лица, за 188 лица е посочена принадлежност към "българска" етническа група.

История
През XIX век Добри лаки е неголямо селище с чисто българско население, числящо се първоначално към Мелнишката каза, а след 1878 към Петричката каза на Серския санджак. В "Етнография на вилаетите Адрианопол, Монастир и Салоника", издадена в Константинопол в 1878 година и отразяваща статистиката на мъжкото население от 1873 година, Добрилък (Dobrilëk) е посочено като село в Мелнишка каза с 60 домакинства и 200 жители българи.

Съгласно известната статистика на Васил Кънчов ("Македония. Етнография и статистика") към 1900 година в селото живеят 620 българи християни.

Според статистиката на секретаря на Българската екзархия Димитър Мишев ("La Macédoine et sa Population Chrétienne") в 1905 година населението на Добролаки (Dobrolaki) се състои от 784 българи екзархисти. В селото има 1 начално българско училище с 1 учител и 27 ученици.

При избухването на Балканската война през 1912 година трима души от селото са доброволци в Македоно-одринското опълчение.

Църквата "Света Троица" е завършена в 1913 година.

Личности
Родени в Добри лаки
  Васил Гаврилов Гюров (1916 – 1996), околийски лекар, основоположник на балнеоложкото дело в област Благоевград, също така пресушава заблатени местности и ограничава маларията в областта.
  Георги Тренчов, български революционер от ВМОК, войвода на чета в Петричко през Горноджумайското въстание
  Борис Иванов Костадинов (1912-1987), участник в битката при река Драва

Бележки

Външни препратки
 Топографска карта, мащаб 1:100000 Картен лист: K-34-094

Села в област Благоевград
Населени места в община Струмяни

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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McArthur raises R100 timetable concerns with Minister
Orkney's MSP, Liam McArthur, has today (Thursday) raised concerns around the timetable for delivery of the government's R100 broadband programme in Orkney.
During General Questions, Mr McArthur highlighted to the Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands, Paul Wheelhouse, that the government should have published clear timescales for delivery by summer 2019, according to a recommendation in Audit Scotland's progress update report from September last year.
In response, the Minister insisted that 'great progress' had been made but admitted there was still work to be done to reach their 100% target. He also confirmed that while BT was the only bidder for the contract in the South and Midland region, the preferred bidder for delivery of the R100 programme in the North would be announced in 'due course'.
Following the exchange, Mr McArthur commented:
"People and businesses in Orkney are fed up of inadequate broadband speeds and of the uncertainty around when they will see any improvements. Despite the Minister's assurances, the reality is that Orkney still has one of the lowest coverage rates for broadband anywhere in the country.
"Audit Scotland made clear last year that a clear timetable should have been set out by this stage if the government were serious about meeting their 2021 deadline. Instead, any reference to a deadline has been quietly dropped by Ministers in recent weeks.
"Vague statements referring to announcements in due course rather than specific timeframes aren't good enough. Indeed, they will sound ominously familiar to householders and businesses in Orkney that have been waiting for years to get access to the high speed broadband they need."


text:
/*!
 * @copyright   (c) 2015 - Jean-David Gadina - www.xs-labs.com / www.digidna.net
 * @brief       ...
 */

#include <XS/Atomic-Functions.hpp>

#if defined( _WIN32 )

#include <Windows.h>
#include <Winnt.h>

#elif defined( __APPLE__ )

#include <libkern/OSAtomic.h>

#endif

namespace XS
{
    bool AtomicCompareAndSwap64( int64_t oldValue, int64_t newValue, volatile int64_t * value )
    {
        #if defined( _WIN32 )

        return ( InterlockedCompareExchange64( reinterpret_cast< volatile LONGLONG * >( value ), newValue, oldValue ) == oldValue ) ? true : false;

        #elif defined( __APPLE__ )

        return ( OSAtomicCompareAndSwap64( oldValue, newValue, value ) ) ? true : false;

        #elif __has_builtin( __sync_bool_compare_and_swap )

        return __sync_bool_compare_and_swap( value, oldValue, newValue );

        #else

        #error "XS::Atomic::CompareAndSwap64 is not implemented for the current platform"

        #endif
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Here is another rough animation drawing by Milt Kahl that was discarded. This sheet comes from the estate of Disney animator Ken O'Brian. It shows the two lead characters from the short The Martins and the Coys, which was part of the 1946 feature Make Mine Music.
Grace Martin and Henry Coy are dancing energetically on their wedding night. For fast action like this, the animator most likely did all of the drawings (on ones) to ensure fluidity and readability of motion. This is a young Milt Kahl, who knew how to combine his knowledge of human anatomy with cartoony drawing and motion. This single frame from the dance is a JOY to behold!
I would say that the overall character styling is still influenced by Fred Moore. But Milt takes it a step further, because he knew so much about the human figure, composition and action analysis.
The full sheet is pictured below. As you can see, once discarded, Milt used it as a surface to sharpen his pencil. There are notes, calculations ($ 3000 ?) and what looks like telephone doodles.
I am glad that Ken O'Brian saved this gem for all of us to enjoy more than a half century later!!


Supper clubs, cooking demonstrations & event catering.
Supper clubs, demos, pop-ups and event catering. Based in Whalley Range and throughout the Manchester area.
All of my upcoming events are listed here, have a look and make sure you book early to avoid disappointment!
Read about some of my previous events, if you fancy seeing a repeat of any, just get in touch and we can organise something.


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[NON-SPOILER REVIEW] Scream: Resurrection (TV Mini-Series, 2019)
Let me begin by saying I have been a Scream franchise fan for two decades (hence this blog's name). And so, like many fans, I was cautiously optimistic when MTV announced they were developing a TV series based on those iconic films– with Scream director and master of horror Wes Craven listed as an Executive Producer. In theory, it sounded like an opportunity to expand the Scream universe and introduce a new generation to this wonderful franchise many of us love. Little did we know that a tumultuous journey awaited us ahead.
The first season of Scream: The Series dropped in summer 2015, and it was… messy, to say the least. As a self-contained, teen horror/drama series, there were elements I appreciated. However, the show rarely felt like the Scream films in any meaningful way, shape, or form. It lacked essential Scream franchise elements like writer Kevin Williamson's fast-paced, self-referential dialogue and Wes Craven's masterful/suspenseful directing style. In fact, from the beginning, Scream: The Series was closer tonally to MTV's other whodunit horror/drama series that was also a loose re-imagining of a feature film, Teen Wolf. Perhaps that was intentional– Teen Wolf was a major success for the network, after all. Also suspiciously absent from this TV iteration of the Scream franchise: the iconic Ghostface mask + Roger L. Jackson's haunting voice from the films.
Near the end of its first season, Scream: The Series began to find a decent groove and establish itself as a beast largely separate from the films. Notably, the best episode of Season 1 ("The Dance") was directed by acclaimed horror/genre filmmaker Ti West (The House of the Devil, The Innkeepers). However, rather than resolve the show's central mystery at the end of its first season, the production team decided to extend that storyline through the next season. Season 2– which aired the following summer– was a real slog for that reason, and pacing issues were further exasperated by the fact that the episode count was increased from 10 to 12 (NOTE: adding more time to a slasher project is rarely the solution– there's a reason most slasher films only run about 90 minutes long). The main storyline did finally resolve at the end of Season 2– though in a predictable and largely unsatisfying manner (to me). In any case, the show had reached its end.
Later that same year, MTV dropped a Halloween special episode featuring the same characters from Seasons 1 and 2 (at least, the ones still alive). Once again, this standalone episode barely resembled the Scream films. It was more of a riff on Agatha Christie's classic mystery novel And Then There Were None — with a little April Fool's Day sprinkled in. The episode didn't really deliver for me, and most frustratingly of all, it featured a major cliffhanger that added further wrinkles to the overarching series mystery (which, again, should have been resolved two seasons back…). Soon after the special aired, the series was renewed for a 6-episode third season.
Cut to 2017: In a surprise move, MTV announced that the series would be transitioning to an anthology format– meaning Season 3 would feature a new setting with new characters. Queen Latifah was brought in as an Executive Producer alongside new showrunner Brett Matthews (Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries), and a diverse cast of actors were hired to play roles created for the season's story arc. A number of fans were concerned about the old characters and mythology essentially being tossed aside, but honestly, I didn't care that much because I didn't think the first two seasons were particularly great anyway. And a new, diverse cast? Awesome! Most exciting of all: Ghostface would be returning for Season 3, and Roger L. Jackson would be voicing the character again. Finally, it seemed like Scream was going to be Scream again. Unfortunately, production on Season 3 got wrapped up in the Weinstein Scandal, and it would be another two years before it would air on television.
In July 2019, 'Season 3' did finally air over three nights on VH1 with a new title: Scream: Resurrection. Was it worth the wait? The short answer: no. The first few episodes are generally palatable. At least, they're not demonstrably better or worse than most episodes from the first two seasons. However, once again, Kevin Williamson's zippy, pop-culture laden dialogue is absent. In fact, any references to horror films that do exist in the show's dialogue feel extremely forced, corny, and [almost] inserted after-the-fact. They're certainly not clever, and they add very little to the storyline. In some cases, they even seem to halt the plot. That's a big problem, and the series gets generally worse and worse as it goes.
The above point really speaks to my main, overarching issue with Scream: Resurrection. More than anything else, it plays like a bad imitation of the films. It's as if the writers watched Scream once then said, "I can do that!". Joe Lipsett over at Queer.HorrorMovies. describes this phenomenon as "a boring cosplay version of Every.Single.Element that fans find so endearing about the Ghostface franchise." He's right. Sure, Ghostface and Roger L. Jackson are there. Sure, there are some references to horror films thrown in throughout. But the production team doesn't seem to realize those are superficial elements that only represent the tip-of-the-iceberg in terms of why the Scream films are so beloved by fans. You can't– or at least shouldn't– build a narrative around those things. They have to be utilized in smart and organic ways. Scream: Resurrection absolutely fails in that regard.
Beyond that main objection, these are other areas where I feel Scream: Resurrection struggles:
Pacing. For a six-episode season, this should move along like a breeze, right? Unfortunately not. The plot is very sluggish and occasionally veers off on tangents that no one really cares about.
Characters. The Scream films were notable for featuring main characters that audiences could root for. That was a change from certain 80s slasher franchises where most characters were considered disposable cannon fodder. The characters in Scream: Resurrection align closer to the latter. They don't really behave in any sort of realistic, believable manner, and viewers are thus given little reason to care about their well-being. Also, forget about character development and any sort of intelligent dialogue.
Cinematography. The series is shot in a flat and dull visual style (if you can call it style). There's no particular aesthetic here. It looks just like every other teen TV drama out there today.
Effects. The fact that I've already forgotten how 3/4 of the kills in this series went down should be evidence of how poor the effects are.
So, does this mini-series do anything right? Well, it doesn't shine in any particular area, no, but there are a few things I will give it some credit for:
A shorter season. No slasher series needs to have 10-12 episode seasons. Slashers by their very nature burn bright and fast, so limiting this mini-series to six episodes was a generally smart move.
A pretty strong cast. Unfortunately, that cast gets generally terrible scripts to work with. Scream Queens alum Keke Palmer is a national treasure, and Giorgia Whigham is another standout I will be keeping an eye on moving forward. I liked RJ Cyler in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, so I'm choosing to believe he wasn't given adequate material to work with here. As for Tyler Posey, he's really just around for the Teen Wolf crowd.
Ghostface + Halloween. Despite the writers clearly having no idea how to utilize Ghostface, I can't deny a wave of nostalgia rushed over me every time that familiar costume and voice were on display. I also give them a few points for incorporating a Halloween setting throughout the series. As an October baby, I'm always on board for that choice.
Bottom Line: Should you watch this series? Only if you're a Scream completist, honestly. It's nice to see Ghostface back, but the show rarely knows what to do with that horror icon. It's also nice to see a diverse cast of actors, but their dialogue is poorly written, and all the characters are underdeveloped (those actors deserved so much more). Overall, this is an extremely dull and disappointing addition to the Scream franchise, and I hope producers will finally learn their lesson moving forward.
OVERALL GRADE: D+ (4/10)
Like what you see on this blog? For post updates and other exciting content, make sure to like and follow Hello, Sidney! on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
90s, 90s horror, brett matthews, ghostface, giorgia whigham, keke palmer, kevin williamson, mary j. blige, queen latifah, review, rj cyler, roger l. jackson, scream 2, scream 4, scream resurrection, scream the series, scream trilogy, slasher films, slasher tv, tv, tv review, tyler posey, wes craven, willa fitzgerald
[NON-SPOILER REVIEW] Slasher: Solstice (TV Mini-Series, 2019)


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Q: Phaser texture atlas wrong dimensions I was using spritesheets in my game, but I had come to a problem, that I wanted my character to duck (to dodge bullets). I found out that I can use texture atlas. Based on what I have read, I thought, that this approach will resize the sprite,  based on its current animation. So when I would duck, the sprite would change its height, because the frame for ducking is less high that the frame for standing.
I load the atlas like:
game.load.atlasJSONHash('player', '../assets/images/player/player.png', '../assets/images/player/player.json');

I can see that the dimensions in the json are right, that the ducking frame height is 31 and the standing is 51.
"duck-right": {
            "frame": {
                "x": 20,
                "y": 0,
                "w": 19,
                "h": 31
            },
            "rotated": false,
            "trimmed": false,
            "spriteSourceSize": {
                "x": 0,
                "y": 0,
                "w": 19,
                "h": 31
            },
            "sourceSize": {
                "w": 19,
                "h": 31
            }
        },
"right": {
            "frame": {
                "x": 100,
                "y": 71,
                "w": 19,
                "h": 51
            },
            "rotated": false,
            "trimmed": false,
            "spriteSourceSize": {
                "x": 0,
                "y": 0,
                "w": 19,
                "h": 51
            },
            "sourceSize": {
                "w": 19,
                "h": 51
            }
        }

I create my player like this:
export default class Player extends Phaser.Sprite {
constructor({ game, x, y }) {
    super(game, x, y, 'player')
    game.physics.arcade.enable(this)
    this.body.bounce.y = 0
    this.body.gravity.y = 1200
    this.body.collideWorldBounds = true
    this.state = game.state.getCurrentState()
    this.anchor.setTo(0.5,1)

    //custom properties
    this.direction = 'left'
    this.isJumping = false
    this.isDucking = false
    this.isShooting = false
    this.isOnGround = false
    this.speed = 150
    this.lives = 2
    this.jumpSpeed = 350
    this.isInElevator = false
    this.activeElevator = null

    // set up animations
    //stand still
    this.animations.add('left', ['left'], 10, false)
    this.animations.add('right', ['right'], 10, false)
    //walk
    this.animations.add('go-left', ['go-left-1', 'go-left-2'], 10, true)
    this.animations.add('go-right', ['go-right-1', 'go-right-2'], 10, true)
    //shoot
    this.animations.add('shoot-left', ['shoot-left'], 1, false)
    this.animations.add('shoot-right', ['shoot-right'], 1, false)
    //duck
    this.animations.add('duck-left', ['duck-left'], 1, false)
    this.animations.add('duck-right', ['duck-right'], 1, false)
    //duck shoot
    this.animations.add('duck-shoot-left', ['duck-shoot-left'], 1, false)
    this.animations.add('duck-shoot-right', ['duck-shoot-right'], 1, false)
    //jump
    this.animations.add('jump-left', ['jump-left'], 1, false)
    this.animations.add('jump-right', ['jump-right'], 1, false)
    //jump shoot
    this.animations.add('jump-shoot-left', ['jump-shoot-left'], 1, false)
    this.animations.add('jump-shoot-right', ['jump-shoot-right'], 1, false)

    console.log(this.body)

    game.add.existing(this)
}

But the height is not changing with the animations. It does, but not correctly. Also the anchor(0.5,1) doesn't work, as when I duck, I duck on the top side of the sprite area, not the bottom.
Tried TexturePacker or alternatives, trim or not, always the same result. Can you at least confirm, that it shoul work as I am expecting? Eg. the anchor should work and the sprite should change its dimensions based on current frame?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Passionate by the sea and more particularly by boats, I created my first company in 2007: Boat Wash. Since then, other companies came to complete my service offering with Marseille Plaisance Services, and Med Yacht Services.
Today, I am very proud to present my latest company: ZEBOAT rentals and boat sales.
ZEBOAT adventure started in 2010, with the great ambition to bridge the service offering in the Marseille area: a high quality rental service, based on the Saint Tropez and the French Riviera standards.
In order to control the above-mentioned criteria we developed a new service within ZEBOAT: maintenance and upkeep.
ZEBOAT maintains your boats all year long, thanks to our mechanic team presence on site.
Before being passionate about the sea, our team is the first fan of our city and its seashore.
From the Cote Bleue, to Cassis, it is our pleasure to share this magic with you.


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Top 5 Game Apps of the Week
Recent times have seen the release of many game apps for iPhone which have reserved a semi-permanent place in the Top 25 Apps on the App Store. Once an app has been in this list for a few months, it's very hard for other apps to take this app's position, because, due to the increased exposure, apps in the Top 25 list get way more downloads than apps not in the list, and Apple judges popularity by download number, not rating! However, if an app is exceptionally original and awesome and is promoted all over the internet by the developer, an overthrow of an app in the Top 25 list is possible! Getting down to business, this week's top 5 game apps features terrific application from the sport, racing, word game and pet genres. Most of this week's apps are paid, but awesome tennis game Hit Tennis 2 is free, believe it or not! Continue reading for mini-reviews of this week's top 5 game apps: Hit Tennis 2, Smash Cops, Real Racing 2, Words With Friends and Hatchi.
Hit Tennis 2
Awesome tennis apps for iPhone are virtually non-existent, but this polished tennis game changes everything! Hit Tennis 2 is the only tennis app for iPhone where you actually swing the racket and make contact with the ball like you do when you play real tennis! As a result, users can put top spin on the ball and hit it at whatever pace they chose! The awesome feature list doesn't end there, however, because you can even play 2-player split screen against a friend on the same iPhone or iPod Touch! The ball physics are similar to those of the real world, and just when you thought there couldn't be any other huge pluses to this game, Hit Tennis 2 is free! If you want to play against more than 4 players, however, you'll have to buy a player pack for a few dollars, but this is only necessary for hardcore gamers!
Smash Cops is a takedown racing game by the developer Hutch, in which you play as a policeman and smash runaway vehicles before they get too far. There are numerous game modes in Smash Cops, including traffic dodging, evidence collecting, car park smashing and cone weaving, each with unique features which make them great fun. Smash Cops has some of the most stylish driving game graphics to date, complimented with "easy to master" controls and heaps of different gaming environments and levels. All this awesomeness costs less than $3, so grab Smash Cops at this steal of a price before it rises!
Real Racing 2 is another great racing game but this one doesn't involve smashing other cars to bits. Play through many hours of gameplay in Real Racing 2's career mode with numerous racing modes, such as time trials, head-to-head, eliminations, single 'cup' races, qualifiers and championships. Placing well in these races will allow you to upgrade your current car or even by another! Rise through the ranks from beginner to professional purchasing any of the 30 cars you like! You may be wary to spend $5.49 on a single game app, but trust me, if you are a fan of racing games then you will love Real Racing 2 because it's in the top league of App Store racing games.
Words With Friends is a word game which, as the name suggest, you play with your friends. Developed by Zynga, this app is based on the classic game, Scrabble, only Words With Friends is arguably better in the way that you can play up to 20 games simultaneously! If you haven't heard of Scrabble, it's the board game where you form words using the randomly selected letter in your hand, and certain letters are worth a certain amount of points. Everyone should work the puzzle side of their brain each day, and what better way to do it than having an intensely fun game of Words With Friends, which only costs 99 cents?
Hatchi
Hatchi is an app for iPhone which is based on the classic handheld gaming device, the tamagotchi. Developed by Portable Pixels, Hatchi allows you to look after and care for your own virtual pet! It's not as hard as it sounds, however, because all you have to do is clean, feed and play with your pixel-based friend, and these processes only require a few clicks, making this game suitable for young kids. If you enjoyed the tamagotchi during childhood and would like to let your kids have the same experience, then download Hatchi at the amazingly price of 99 cents – remember, a tamagotchi used to cost $10 and this app is a more than effective replacement!
This week's top 5 apps feature a few games which are remakes of old classic games, such as Scrabble and the Tamagotchi. It's great to be able to relive an old gaming experience, and Words With Friends and Hatchi allow you to do this! Other games which made it into the top 5 are racing games Smash cops and Real Racing 2, and tennis game Hit Tennis 2. All of these games are exceptional in my opinion and in the opinion of the majority of the Apple community, so don't miss out on Hit Tennis 2, Smash Cops, Real Racing 2, Words With Friends or Hatchi.


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News, Research, and Campaigns
Latest ME/CFS Research
Antibody Biomarker Discovery Research at Bateman Horne Center using technology from Serimmune
Thread starter Hufsamor
Hufsamor
http://batemanhornecenter.org/accel...vXSj2BxC8hwqoPk-EABBuR3R0VK3C4rbK-hl1i2-l0MIc
Likes: Learner1, ljimbo423 and Raven Mom
The analysis identified a set of antibody species that occur more often in patients with ME/CFS and FM than in healthy controls. Through this analysis we aim to map antigens back to particular organisms in the environment that may give rise to these antibodies in some ME/CFS and FM patients.
This preliminary result was intriguing enough that the next batch of 150 blood samples was sent to Serimmune last week to confirm these results as well as expand the number of antigens that are recognized. We hope to publish these results in early 2019.
Likes: Shoshana, Learner1 and ljimbo423
hixxy
Interesting but a shame there's no more details. I wonder when they're aiming to publish?
Likes: Learner1 and shannah
hixxy said:
Maybe early 2019?
Together with results from the next 150 blood samples?
Likes: Moof, Shoshana and Learner1
uglevod
Mean cytokine levels in ME/CFS patients(a table):
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5576836/table/t03/?report=objectonly
From the following paper:
Cytokine signature associated with disease severity in chronic fatigue syndrome patients
Although the inclusion of fatigue duration as an additional covariate was expected to result in a loss of statistical power, regression analysis by both disease severity and fatigue duration revealed that the upward linear trend across disease severity remained statistically significant for CCL11, CXCL10, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-5, IL-7, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-17F, leptin, LIF, NGF, ICAM1, and resistin. The findings by severity for CXCL1, SCF, and TGF-α shifted slightly above the threshold for statistical significance (CXCL1, adjusted P = 0.0536; SCF, adjusted P = 0.0531; TGF-α, adjusted P = 0.0797), possibly because of variance inflation (18) by the independent covariate of fatigue duration. Only CXCL9 and IL-1α inversely correlated with fatigue duration but lost statistical significance after correction for multiple comparisons (SI Appendix, Table S2).
Remarkably, 17 cytokines were associated with severity in ME/CFS patients. Thirteen of these 17 cytokines are primarily proinflammatory: CCL11, CXCL1, CXCL10, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-5, IL-7, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17, leptin, G-CSF, and GM-CSF.
By picking CXCL10(for example):
CXCL10/IP-10 in Infectious Diseases Pathogenesis and Potential Therapeutic Implications
Inflammation is associated with secretion of CXCL10 from leukocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils [1], monocytes, epithelia, endothelial and stromal cells, and keratinocytes in response to IFN-γ [2-3]. CXCL10 specifically activates CXCR3 receptor, a seven trans-membrane-spanning G protein-coupled receptor (GPCRs) [4], which is predominantly expressed on activated T, B lymphocyte [5], natural killer (NK), dendritic and macrophage cells. CXCL10 induces chemotaxis, apoptosis, cell growth inhibition and angiostasis. Abnormal levels of CXCL10 have been observed in body fluids of individuals infected with viruses [1, 6-7], bacteria [8-9], fungi [10] and parasites [11-13] indicating an important role in pathogenesis of these diseases.
Likes: Hufsamor
wigglethemouse
This antibody work is very similar to what others have done.
Here is a thread from Feb 2017
NVCBR researchers close in on a diagnostic test for ME/CFS patients
Cort wrote about the research at the Nevada Center for Biomedical Research here
https://www.healthrising.org/blog/2017/03/21/immunosignature-biomarker-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/
I seem to remember seeing another article or video about similar antibody research recently but can't remember where. I'm glad to see it being replicated.
@Hufsamor may I suggest you update the title to something more descriptive like "Antibody Biomarker Discovery Research at Bateman Horne Center using technology from Serimmune".
Likes: Shoshana and JadeD
wigglethemouse said:
Okay found it. It's a post also by @Hufsamor
Latest from Fluge and Mella: ME/CFS Immunosignature Identified
Paper : Immunosignature Analysis of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
Link : https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12035-018-1354-8
A random-sequence peptide microarray can interrogate serum antibodies in a broad, unbiased fashion to generate disease-specific immunosignatures. This approach has been applied to cancer detection, diagnosis of infections, and interrogation of vaccine response. We hypothesized that there is an immunosignature specific to ME/CFS and that this could aid in the diagnosis. We studied two subject groups meeting the Canadian Consensus Definition of ME/CFS. ME/CFS (n?=?25) and matched control (n?=?25) sera were obtained from a Canadian study. ME/CFS (n?=?25) sera were obtained from phase 1/2 Norwegian trials (NCT01156909). Sera from six healthy controls from the USA were included in the analysis. Canadian cases and controls were tested for a disease immunosignature. By combining results from unsupervised and supervised analyses, a candidate immunosignature with 654 peptides was able to differentiate ME/CFS from controls. The immunosignature was tested and further refined using the Norwegian and USA samples. This resulted in a 256-peptide immunosignature with the ability to separate ME/CFS cases from controls in the international data sets. We were able to identify a 256-peptide signature that separates ME/CFS samples from healthy controls, suggesting that the hit-and-run hypothesis of immune dysfunction merits further investigation. By extending testing of both our signature and one previously reported in the literature to larger cohorts, and further interrogating the specific peptides we and others have identified, we may deepen our understanding of the origins of ME/CFS and work towards a clinically meaningful diagnostic biomarker.
It sure would be nice if the Bateman Horne center could try and match the same immunosignatures as used in these two other research findings.
Likes: Moof, Shoshana and Hufsamor
Phoenix Rising Founder
Arizona in winter & W. North America otherwise
I visited the BHC about 2 months ago and asked Suzanne about this. She was very excited about it. She said it was using new technology. She tried to get together an antibody study using researchers across the country at least 5 years ago - well before the recent interest in autoimmunity. It seemed very promising given the people she got interested in it - many of whom I'd never heard of - but the grant was denied.
Glad to see the antibody work moving forward
Likes: Snow Leopard, Eve18, Moof and 1 other person
suggest you update the title to something more descriptive like "Antibody Biomarker Discovery Research at Bateman Horne Center using technology from Serimmune".
I would have if I could, but it seems I have forgotten how I did it?
May you guide me?
Hufsamor said:
I changed it. I'll have to check and see how it's ordinarily done and will get back to you so you could do it yourself in the future.
@Mary thanks...
I've done it myself ones before...
So I'm afraid it doesn't help if you explain now, next time I need it, I have probably forgotten again
Likes: alkt and Mary
I know the feeling!
Likes: alkt and Hufsamor
@Hufsamor - on the off-chance that you might remember how to do this ( ) when you want to change a name again, here's how: Click on or scroll over "thread tools" at the top right side of the thread. A menu will pop up, click on "edit thread", and you'll be given an option to change the thread name. I believe you will have about a week after a thread is created in which to change its name. If it's been longer than that, say a few weeks or months, and you think a name change is needed, let one of the moderators know and we can do it for you
Likes: Hufsamor, Learner1 and wigglethemouse
@Mary thanks again!
I've saved your explanation as a bookmark,
so I find it again when needed
Likes: Mary


Chokehold is a crime and action movie directed by Brian Skiba and written by Brian Skiba and Craig Michael Hall. The movie stars Casper Van Dien , Melissa Croden , Lochlyn Munro , Kip Pardue , Chris Austman , Corinne Van Ryck de Groot , Krissy Pomerleau , Brianna Rose , Nathan Pronyshyn and Ilona McCrea. Chokehold movie follows Zoey, an up and coming mixed martial arts fighter, gives up her dream of fighting in a worldwide mixed martial arts tournament to fight in the seedy, underground world of mixed martial arts fighting after her father is killed by the Russian mob associated with the underground fighting world. She battles a lot of fighters in many different venues to get the ultimate fight, a fight with the people responsible for her father's death.


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Home>>India>>Tragedy returns to Everest exactly a year later
Tragedy returns to Everest exactly a year later
Upendra SwamiApril 25, 2015 312 Views4
Exactly a year later tragedy struck again to the Everest region and at the very crucial time of the Everest climbing season. And this could be probably the worst tragedy to hit Everest region.
After the quake today noon an avalanche swept the face of Mt. Everest after the massive earthquake struck Nepal on Saturday. An Indian army mountaineering team found 18 bodies on Mount Everest on Saturday, an army spokesman said, after a huge earthquake in Nepal unleashed an avalanche on the mountain at the start of the main climbing season. Nepal's Tourism Ministry could only confirm 10 deaths, but spokesman Gyanendra Shrestha said that the death toll could rise, and that the avalanche had buried part of the base camp. He said two tents at the camp had been filled with the injured. Ministry officials estimated that at least 1,000 climbers, including about 400 foreigners, had been at base camp or on Everest when the earthquake struck. The avalanche apparently struck between the Khumbu Icefall, a rugged area of collapsed ice and snow, and the base camp where most climbing expeditions are, said Ang Tshering of the Nepal Mountaineering Association.
Exactly an year back on 18th April 2014 an avalanche swept down a climbing route on Mount Everest killing at least 16 Nepalese guides in the deadliest disaster on the world's highest peak till that time. The Sherpa guides had gone to fix ropes for other climbers when the avalanche hit just them below Camp 2 at about 6:30 a.m. That incident and the strike from the sherpas after that had almost but ruined the Everest climbing season. Its going to be same again this year as most parts of the capital city of Kathmandu under rubbles. Kathmandu is the entry and exit point to Nepal for climbers from world over.
The extent of todays's tragedy is yet to unfold as still there is very less communication coming out. Climbers have taken to social media to report the situation. Romanian climber Alex Gavan said on Twitter that there had been a "huge avalanche" and "many, many" people were up on the mountain. "Running for lifefrom my tent," Gavan said. "Everest base camp huge earthquake then huge avalanche."
Alex's first tweet was at 12.01 pm (20 minutes after the quake)-
Everest base camp huge earthquaqe then huge avalanche from pumori.Running for life from my tent. Unhurt. Many many people up the mountain.
— Alex Gavan (@AlexGAVAN) April 25, 2015
His second tweet was at 6.38 pm in the evening-
Huge disaster.Helped searched and rescued victims through huge debris area.Many dead.Much more badly injured.More to die if not heli asap.
It simply tells the gravity of the situation.
Another climber, Daniel Mazur, said Everest base camp had been "severely damaged" and his team was trapped. His first tweet was at 1.46 pm.
A Massive earthquake just hit Everest. Basecamp has been severely damaged. Our team is caught in camp 1. Please pray for everyone.
— Daniel Mazur (@danielmazur) April 25, 2015
He made another tweet at 2.54 pm-
Aftershock! #Everest team is in camp 1, hanging on. #Icefall route destroyed.
His last tweet so far was at 5.22 pm
http://t.co/1tDxlXU6Az : WE FELT THE EARTHQUAKE ON THE NORTH SIDE BUT HAVE NO DAMAGE AND ALL ARE SAFE
The trekkers are scattered all around the base camp and some had even trekked further up. It is almost impossible to get in touch with anyone. Choti Sherpa, who works at the Everest Summiteers Association, said she had been unable to call her family and colleagues on the mountain. "Everyone is trying to contact each other, but we can't," she said. "We are all very worried." "This will definitely have some impact on climbing activity, but this is a natural disaster no one can do anything," said Ang Tshering Sherpa, President of the Nepal Mountaineering Association.
April is one of the most popular times to scale the 8,850-metre (29,035 foot) peak, the world's highest, before rain and clouds cloak it the end of May. Hundreds of climbers, their guides and support crews gather at the base camp to prepare for attempts to scale the 8,850-meter (29,035-foot) mountain as early as March end or April beginning for attempting climbs later when weather conditions become favourable. They have been setting up camps at higher altitudes and guides have been fixing routes and ropes on the slopes above. Last year the area where the avalanche hit is nicknamed the "popcorn field" and is just below Camp 2 at 6,400 meters (21,000 feet).
More than 4,000 climbers have scaled the summit since 1953, when it was first conquered by NewZealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay. Hundreds have died attempting to reach the peak. The earlier worst recorded disaster on Everest had been a snowstorm on May 11, 1996, that caused the deaths of eight climbers. Six Nepalese guides were killed in an avalanche in 1970.
Related tags : avalancheavalanche at EverestbasecampEarthquakeearthquake in nepalEveresteverest base campIndiaKhumbu icefallMount EverestNepalnepal earthquakeNepal quakequaketourismtravel
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dkaps says:
It must have been total mayhem there at the Everest! One can't even imagine the panic and the terrible situation all the climbers would have been facing there!
Check out my post with all the information on this earthquake http://drishti.co/2015/04/25/all-that-you-want-to-know-about-nepal-earthquake-info-help-govt-effort-pics/
It was terrible indeed.
Ami (Yearful of Sundays) says:
Such a terribly devastating tragedy. And for Everest trekkers to be struck like this two years in a row – it's so sad. Hoping for some peace from nature's wrath now, and hoping the lives, hearts and homes of everyone affected are healed soon…
Very tragic and the sad part is that it is going to take long time to heal- both physically and psychologically…


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Regional Australian Theatre News
Home NSW Darkness and Light in Maitland – the Diary of Anne Frank
Darkness and Light in Maitland – the Diary of Anne Frank
Abbey Matt as Anne Frank & Chris Henderson as Peter van Daan (Photograph by David Elliott)
A chance visit to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam where those world famous diaries were originally penned during the Second World War, has inspired Co-Directors Lesley Coombes and Guil Noronha to put The Diary of Anne Frank on the stage of Maitland Repertory theatre – first produced on Broadway in 1955 and not often seen on Australian stages. Walking in the footsteps of the real life characters in Amsterdam, and being in Anne's actual bedroom has provided the directors a depth of understanding that is proving so successful on the stage.
The 13-year-old diarist who perished in the waning days of the Nazi death camps left behind a record of optimism, anticipation and, above all, existence.
However common perceptions of the play is of a dark, difficult subject, but as Coombes says, "the play is a testament to the human spirit". When the play premiered on Broadway in 1955, the real Otto Frank wrote a letter to the director and actors, which was pinned to a bulletin board backstage. In the letter, Otto wished the play success and his hope that "the message which it contains will, through you, reach as many people as possible and awaken in them a sense of responsibility to humanity."
Abbey Matt as Anne Frank, Giverny Burke as Margot Frank, Dimity Eveleens as Edith Frank and Ian Robinson as Otto Frank (Photograph by David Elliott)
"This has underpinned our interpretation of the play and has been at the heart of our production" says Coombes.
Just as in Anne's diary the war going on around them is always present, as is the unbearable tension and constant fear of being discovered, but it is Anne's relationships with the seven other people in hiding, and the relationship she has with herself over those two years, that is at the heart of Coombes' production. It is only when Otto returns in the final scene, we are reminded of the horrors of the war going on around the secret annexe.
Being able to deliver tremendous on-stage emotional growth is the key to the lead role (played by Abbey Matt) who begins as an innocent 13 year old, and by the end, must portray the experiences of a 15 year old matured beyond her years and facing death from the Nazis.
Despite the horrors of the war going on, it is human interactions that provide the interest on stage. Frank's diaries record in detail the daily life occurring in the annexe and narrate the development of her relationships, most notably with her exasperated mother which at the beginning reflects a typically difficult mother-daughter relationship, that then develops into a more mature almost adult relationship just two years later.
It is these and other interactions Anne has with many of the annexe inhabitants that brings their characters to life: Anne, as the budding romantic, unsure of the new feelings inspired in her by Peter van Daan (Chris Henderson). Anne as the feisty younger sister who is treated with unflinching tolerance by her serene older sister Margot (Giverny Burke). And Anne as the overly curious roommate to Mr. Dussel the dentist (Oliver Pink).
Giverny Burke as Margot Frank and Abbey Matt as Anne Frank (Photograph by David Elliott)
The portrayal of these relationships provide depth and poignancy to the play, and while it certainly could not be described as a comedy, Anne's diaries reveal comic moments that occur as a result of the day to day relationships that all of us can recognise in our own daily lives.
And it is not just the lead that is presented with challenges in this production. For the rest of the cast, once they enter the stage at the start of the play, they are "trapped" on stage for the full two hours of the performance (interval aside) with nowhere to escape – exactly the effect Coombes was looking for given the context of the story.
To provide even more depth to the action on stage, Coombes has used details from the primary source itself, which all cast also read. "The diaries go into great detail describing the character traits of the people Anne shared her life with, including those traits that entertain – and occasionally annoy – a maturing girl" says Coombes. Much of which today's 13 to 15 year olds could recognise, except today most are not trapped in a room with 7 others trying to escape the horrors of World War and persecution.
A long rehearsal period allowing several months of character development, the extra details provided by the diary itself and clever staging and direction from Coombes and Noronha has produced a show that delivers well beyond the words on the page, and despite the final outcome, it might help you to agree with Anne Frank herself who says at the end, "Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart."
Show opens September 20.
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Xanadu Jr – RatNews Review
Greek Gods, roller skates and leg warmers – ByteSized Productions Xanadu Jr.
Prepare Thyself For Action – Romeo and Juliet in the Gardens, Albury
Disney Rock'n'Roll returns to BYTESized
Disney's Camp Rock: the Musical is a massive Rock'n'Roll return to a Disney musical for Albury Wodonga's BYTESized Productions, after the brave, but hugely...
When ByteSized Productions announced Xanadu Jr. as their major production for 2018, it met with a collective "Huh?". While some may have rejoiced at...
Xanadu Jr, the hilarious send up of the 1980 movie of the same name, made famous by such world renowned show biz identities as...
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text:
package javay.game.othello;

import java.awt.Button;
import java.awt.Font;
import java.awt.GridBagConstraints;
import java.awt.GridBagLayout;
import java.awt.TextArea;

import javax.swing.JDialog;
import javax.swing.JFrame;

public class ErrorDialog extends JDialog {
  public ErrorDialog(JFrame parent, String all[]) {
    this(parent, all, null);
  }

  public ErrorDialog(JFrame parent, String all[], String msg) {
    super(parent, "", true);
    StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer();
    for (int i = 0; i < all.length; i ++) {
      sb.append(all[i]);
      sb.append('\n');
    }
    if (msg != null) {
      sb.append(msg);
    }
    setup(parent, sb.toString());
  }

  public ErrorDialog(JFrame parent, String message) {
    super(parent, "", true);
    setup(parent, message);
  }

  private void setup(JFrame parent, String message) {
    this.getContentPane().setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
    int row = 0, col = 0, i, width = 0;
    Font font = new Font("Serif", Font.PLAIN, 16);
    char c = ' ';
    for (i = 0; i < message.length(); i ++) {
      c = message.charAt(i);
      if (c == '\n') {
         row ++;
         if (width > col) {
           col = width;
         }
         width = 0;
      } else if (c == '\t') {
        width += 7 - width % 7;
      } else {
        if (c > 0x00FF) {
          width += 2;
        } else {
          width ++;
        }
      }
    }
    if (c != '\n') {
       row ++;
       if (width > col) {
         col = width;
       }
    }
    col ++;

    row = row > 24 ? 24 : row;
    if (row < 5) {
      row = 5;
    }
    if (col < 20) {
      col = 20;
    }
    TextArea tx = new TextArea(message, row, col);
    tx.setEditable(false);
    tx.setFont(font);
    AddConstraint.addConstraint(this.getContentPane(), tx, 0, 0, 1, 1,
      GridBagConstraints.BOTH,
      GridBagConstraints.NORTHWEST,
      1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0);
    Button b = new Button("确定");
    b.setFont(font);
    AddConstraint.addConstraint(this.getContentPane(), b, 0, 1, 1, 1,
      GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL,
      GridBagConstraints.CENTER,
      1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0);
    CloseWindow cw = new CloseWindow(this);
    this.addWindowListener(cw);
    b.addActionListener(cw);
    pack();
    setVisible(true);
  }
}


text:
You searched for: Institution: NYU ✖Remove constraint Institution: NYU Publisher: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center ✖Remove constraint Publisher: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center Subject: Literacy ✖Remove constraint Subject: Literacy
12. Village-Level Geospatial Socio-Economic Data for the state of Karnataka, India, 2001
2001. This polygon shapefile represents represents socioeconomic statistics of each village in the state of Karnataka in 2001. The set utilizes the offic... Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center.
13. Village-Level Geospatial Socio-Economic Data for the state of Kerala, India, 2001
2001. This polygon shapefile represents represents socioeconomic statistics of each village in the state of Kerala in 2001. The set utilizes the official... Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center.
14. Village-Level Geospatial Socio-Economic Data for the state of Madhya Pradesh, India, 2001
2001. This polygon shapefile represents represents socioeconomic statistics of each village in the state of Madhya Pradesh in 2001. The set utilizes the ... Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center.
15. Village-Level Geospatial Socio-Economic Data for the state of Maharashtra, India, 2001
2001. This polygon shapefile represents represents socioeconomic statistics of each village in the state of Maharashtra in 2001. The set utilizes the off... Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center.
16. Village-Level Geospatial Socio-Economic Data for the state of Manipur, India, 2001
2001. This polygon shapefile represents represents socioeconomic statistics of each village in the state of Manipur in 2001. The set utilizes the officia... Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center.
17. Village-Level Geospatial Socio-Economic Data for the state of Meghalaya, India, 2001
2001. This ESRI geodatabase file represents represents socioeconomic statistics of each village in the state of Meghalaya in 2001. The set utilizes the o... Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center.
18. Village-Level Geospatial Socio-Economic Data for the state of Nagaland, India, 2001
19. Village-Level Geospatial Socio-Economic Data for the state of Odisha, India, 2001
2001. This polygon shapefile represents represents socioeconomic statistics of each village in the state of Odisha in 2001. The set utilizes the official... Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center.
20. Village-Level Geospatial Socio-Economic Data for the state of Punjab, India, 2001
2001. This polygon shapefile represents represents socioeconomic statistics of each village in the state of Punjab in 2001. The set utilizes the official... Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center.
21. Village-Level Geospatial Socio-Economic Data for the state of Rajasthan, India, 2001
2001. This polygon shapefile represents represents socioeconomic statistics of each village in the state of Rajasthan in 2001. The set utilizes the offic... Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center.
22. Village-Level Geospatial Socio-Economic Data for the state of Sikkim, India, 2001
2001. This polygon shapefile represents represents socioeconomic statistics of each village in the state of Sikkim in 2001. The set utilizes the official... Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center.
23. Village-Level Geospatial Socio-Economic Data for the state of Tamil Nadu, India, 2001
2001. This polygon shapefile represents represents socioeconomic statistics of each village in the state of Tamil Nadu in 2001. The set utilizes the offi... Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center.
24. Village-Level Geospatial Socio-Economic Data for the state of Tripura, India, 2001
2001. This polygon shapefile represents represents socioeconomic statistics of each village in the state of Tripura in 2001. The set utilizes the officia... Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center.
25. Village-Level Geospatial Socio-Economic Data for the state of Union Territories, India, 2001
2001. This polygon shapefile represents represents socioeconomic statistics of each village in the state of Union Territories in 2001. The set utilizes t... Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center.
26. Village-Level Geospatial Socio-Economic Data for the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, 2001
2001. This polygon shapefile represents represents socioeconomic statistics of each village in the state of Uttar Pradesh in 2001. The set utilizes the o... Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center.
27. Village-Level Geospatial Socio-Economic Data for the state of Uttarakhand, India, 2001
2001. This polygon shapefile represents represents socioeconomic statistics of each village in the state of Uttarakhand in 2001. The set utilizes the off... Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center.
28. Village-Level Geospatial Socio-Economic Data for the state of West Bengal, India, 2001
2001. This polygon shapefile represents represents socioeconomic statistics of each village in the state of West Bengal in 2001. The set utilizes the off... Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center.
Population28


Use those coupons for free clothes!
Coupons are not just for groceries and household items. You can also use coupons on clothing. A lot of stores will mail or email generous coupons in order to get you in the door. This past weekend I was at the mall and was able to take advantage of some great promotions.
My first stop was Victoria's Secret where I got a pair of underwear completely for free. I resisted the urge to purchase anything else, and shamelessly checked out with my free underwear. That pair regularly sells for over $11!
I also had a $10 off coupon at JC Penney and used that replacing a pair of ripped tights. They're the fancy tummy-sucking in types, so I spent $8 on an $18 pair of tights.
My only other purchase that day was two $6 shirts at Old Navy for my niece. I managed a day of shopping for less than $25, considering tax. I would say that was a good day!
PS Bed Bath & Beyond will often let you use expired coupons. Especially when it gets crazy around back to school or the holidays. I know this from working there.
Awesome! Thanks for the tip, Shalini.


text:
Q: Package cannot find and import another package in the same Module In my app, my MainActivity.class does not recognise or see other packages that are in the module and importing them doesn't work, it only imports or can use classes that are inside the package where MainActivity is.
Although outside of it importing is working fine in every other package and class
Problem shown in red

A: You have to define like com.example.alan.ga.GA ----full path


FORTFS announced the new promo called Auto Rebate Up to $30 per each lot. The Promotion is aimed to get the balance compensation per each trade closed with the negative result. Get the greatest rebate on the market up to $30 per lot. Withdrawal the payout without any limitations.
Select the trading account for applying.
Withdrawal: Yes, After complete Terms and Conditions.


See what we have been up to and what we will be doing.
The Highlanders just started their 2019 Season - Deep Space.
We are working hard building a robot to play this game, and we only have 6 weeks! Check back with us soon to see our robot.
The Highlanders are in their off-season gearing up for another year.
We are working on some off season robotics projects, running Lego robotics tournaments and getting ready for the 2019 season.
We had a great time at IRI and cant wait to get the opportunity to go again!
Come see some of our robots!
IRI Tournament - We just returned from IRI and had a great time.
2018 Houston World Championship Finalist award Winner! Congradulations to The Highlanders!
2018 Energy Day - Winners and recipiant of the STEM Award!


In Reception, we follow The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum which came into effect in September 2012. This framework provides a structure for provision of the highest standard of early education and care. It ensures that every child's development is fully supported through the provision of strong foundations for their future life-long learning.
* to foster positive home school links with parents and other care providers.
All Areas of Learning are important and interconnected. Emphasis is put on cross-curricular activities so one activity is likely to cover a range of learning.
Playing and exploring – children investigate, experience things and 'have a go'.
Active learning – children concentrate, keep on trying if they encounter difficulties and enjoy achievements.


Wilson Sekadde, who is now 23, is the last-born of eight children. He was born with the HIV virus.
His father told him he used to be sickly as a baby, which he initially thought was as a result of lack of breast feeding. Sekadde's mother, who has since passed on, developed a mental problem a few weeks after giving birth and was therefore unable to breast-feed.
Because of the baby's persistent diarrohea, fever and lack of appetite, Sekadde's father took him to The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) in Masaka in 1999, where both father and child were tested and found to be HIV-positive.
At the time, Sekadde's father felt he was too young to be told of his status and only did so five years later when the boy was in Primary Three.
"Like any other person, I was devastated, but I thank my father for being supportive. We continued visiting TASO with him after the death of my mum and I used to enjoy the milk tea we always received and other delicious food items, but I didn't know why we had to keep on visiting the place," he reveals.
His father told him that the other friends he would meet at TASO were also HIV-positive and just like him, needed to take the life-saving anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) - and at the right time.
"He also bought me a wrist-watch to ensure I took my medicine on time."
The year 2009 was a low one for Sekadde. He dropped and remained out of school for two years due to stigma.
He at times missed taking his drugs because he feared his friends would ask questions.
"Once, I went to stay with my grandma for a few days, where we would take the animals to graze over the weekend with friends from the neighbourhood. My father had set the time for taking our drugs at 8.00am, but we would be away looking after the animals at the time. I feared to carry the medicine along with me," recalls Sekadde.
Hoping that he would resume his normal drug-taking schedule after the visit, Sekadde suddenly went down with a severe fever and was later diagnosed with tuberculosis. "I will never forget the bitter challenge of taking both tuberculosis drugs and ARVs everyday. I was on treatment for TB for eight months."
He returned to school in 2011, sat his Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) and later joined secondary school, at the end of which he sat his final exams (O' level) in 2015.
The determined lad attended a guiding and counselling training at Health Nest Uganda in Entebbe, where a good Samaritan named Edward Kafeero offered him accommodation for the period of the training. Sekadde did his internship at Kisubi Hospital, where he was later retained based on his spirit of hard work and his skills.
After joining Kisubi Hospital on full-time basis, he fought off stigma by interacting with youth counsellors.
"For the first time, I was meeting people of my age in the counselling rooms as well as our youth groups, where I ended up learning to share my challenges with them. The older people I had been meeting the previous years were gentle and caring but I never felt free to share with them personal challenges," he says.
Today, Sekadde has overcome stigma and is part of a group who do field visits in the communities of Kasanje, Nakawuka, Bwerenga and nearby places to train and counsel the youth.
"One time I noted that about three of our clients had missed their sessions for some time and I decided to visit them. They had a challenge of lack of transport to the hospital [Kisubi] and so I came up with an idea."
He set up nursery gardens for each of them and helped them plant vegetables at their homes. "I wanted them to get money out of the gardens while at the same time they would benefit by getting nutritional value from consuming the 'greens' as part of their diet," says Sekadde.
He is appealing to the youth to make sure the virus stops with them and those who are HIV-negative to avoid getting infected with the virus by living responsibly.
Going forward, Sekadde plans to further his studies and get a Diploma in HIV Counselling and Guidance.
He hopes to marry his HIV-negative girlfriend after studies and then sire HIV-free children.
Most importantly, he is determined to stick to his medication. He is happy that his girlfriend is ready to share a life of marriage with him.
To fight against HIV, everybody must know their status through screening. Since April last year, our department has embarked on a 'home testing' sensitization programme after realizing those who fear to go through screening will not show up even when they hear announcements.
Through our positive clients and working hand-in-hand with the village health teams, we have reached out to many people who were hiding. Screening pregnant women has also been helpful as once they test positive, the medical team will come up with ways of tracing their husbands for testing too. Convincing husbands or people identified by village health teams to come out for screening needs great tactics. At times, we have had to go to the extent of meeting them at their malwa [local brew] drinking places.
Getting Wilson Sekadde on our team has boosted our mission and I wish more youths who are HIV-positive come out and declare their status.
There are many out there who were born with the virus, like Sekadde, but they fear to come out for treatment yet this will cause harm to their lives. We should stop stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV while noting that you can remain healthy by taking your drugs as prescribed by a healthy worker.
It is necessary for everyone to know their status as this will help those infected to start on medication soon while those found to be negative should avoid getting the virus. In order to increase the opportunities of screening those claiming to be busy, our HIV testing department puts in extra time and work up to 8.00pm while there is someone on duty even on Saturdays and Sundays.
We encourage all those who have tested positive to start on drugs immediately and also embrace joining groups where they share experiences, something that has helped many overcome stigma.


text:
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New Lyre Podcast #23: Prometheus and Poetry Today
In this podcast, Daniel Leach and David Gosselin discuss the importance of reviving the Promethean spirit in art, poetry, and society...
New Lyre Podcast #22: On the State of Classical Poetry
Prometheus and the 21st Century Battle for the Mind
The New Lyre Podcast is joined by history professor Pascal Chevrier to discuss the ancient story of Prometheus. Who was Prometheus? Why...
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How did western civilization lose its connections to the historic moral and philosophical traditions that had imbued it with a love of...
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In this first episode, poets David Gosselin and Adam Sedia discuss the nature of tragedy and explore the subtleties of escaping a today's...
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Robert Frost once said, "A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom." We could not agree more. In this World Poetry Day podcast, New...
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Modernism has many secrets—some might even call it a dark side. This dark side involves a stunningly elitist philosophy, a pro-imperial...
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Professor Kim Blank, author of Mapping Keats's Progress, joins the New Lyre Podcast to discuss the astounding poetic development of John...
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In the spring of 1819, Keats experienced one of the greatest bursts of creativity in the history of science and art. Among other works,...
Podcast: Schiller's Ghost Seer, Intelligence Methods and a Global Citizenry
In this dynamic interview, New Lyre's David Gosselin and Rising Tide Foundation President Cynthia Chung discuss the deeper implications...
Podcast: Edgar Allan Poe and the Search for the Supernal
In this New Lyre Podcast, David Gosselin (Founder of The Chained Muse) and Matthew Ehret discuss the real story of Edgar Allan Poe as a...
New lyre Podcast 03: From Shakespeare to Huxley (Happiness or High Art)
New Lyre is joined by Adam Sedia for an exploration of today's "brave new world" of art and culture and how it can be transcended through...
New Lyre Podcast 02- Timelessness and the Role of Art in the 21st Century
How is a timeless work of classical art created? What does it mean to create a new classic in the 21st century? Poet and critic Adam...


Georges St-Pierre's reign as the UFC middleweight champion lasted just 31 days.
After being away from the sport for four years, St-Pierre returned to the UFC's Octagon at UFC 217 to claim the UFC Middleweight Championship from Michael Bisping. It was an impressive performance from the 36-year-old, who showcased his improved boxing ability before using his renowned wrestling to control the contest and eventually submit Bisping in the third round.
Despite St-Pierre's superb performance, many mixed martial arts fans were skeptical as to whether the Canadian would defend his title.
First of all, St-Pierre had shot up a weight class in what seemed like an attempt to target the 'weakest' champion in his return. While he was able to hang in there with Bisping without problems, St-Pierre is tiny in comparison to the largest of athletes in the middleweight division such as Luke Rockhold and Chris Weidman.
It was not the most promising of post-fight speeches and the danger of St-Pierre holding up the division was now a possibility.
For Luke Rockhold, who was already one of the most outspoken athletes on the roster, he announced his concern about the situation just recently and shared his belief that St-Pierre wouldn't defend his title.
St-Pierre's decision to release the UFC Middleweight Championship is not controversial by any means. Instead, it leaves us in a state of pain and confusion.
The announcement is painful in the sense that it causes mass confusion to the many fans out there who now have to understand and process this entire situation.
The UFC has elevated Robert Whittaker to champion status now that St-Pierre has vacated his title. While this is the correct move, it unfairly robs Whittaker's opportunity to win the UFC Middleweight Championship. Can you imagine Whittaker's fame if he was able to challenge St-Pierre and claim the title dominantly?
In a time when the UFC is struggling to create new stars, the organization could have really used St-Pierre's star-power to help shine the light on Whittaker as the true UFC middleweight champion.
Instead, Whittaker will be challenged by one of the toughest middleweight's on the roster as he gets set to compete with Luke Rockhold at UFC 221 in Perth, Australia.
While St-Pierre's choice to leave the title behind is not surprising, the decision to grant the returning star a title shot in the first place is baffling. Of course, hindsight plays a major role in our analysis of the situation, but this never looked like a good move from the beginning. Can you remember the initial public outrage (that's a different type of IPO) when Bisping vs. St-Pierre was announced?
The decision didn't make sense.
The UFC's middleweight division is one of the most top-heavy in all of mixed martial arts with stars by the name of Robert Whittaker, Luke Rockhold, Chris Weidman, Yoel Romero and Jacare Souza, who have all been within range of a shot (or another chance) at the title in recent times.
To bring back Georges St-Pierre and throw him ahead of these worthy contenders was a slap in the face to the division.