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[SPOILERS - for real] Game of Thrones: The Final Season.
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[SPOILERS - for real] Game of Thrones: The Final Season. Mar 5, 2019 13:29:50 GMT -6
Post by Rafael on Mar 5, 2019 13:29:50 GMT -6
Here goes the first trailer for the fantasy extravaganza of our time.
I am going to be honest: I have completely given up on the story, but I watch it for the excellent flair, the great acting, and the special effects. Twenty years from now, this will be what kids watch when they want to get into the genre, the same way my generation watched old VHS tapes of the uncut version of "Conan the Barbarian".
What do you think about this one?
Last Edit: Apr 28, 2019 21:40:46 GMT -6 by Rafael
"Surtr moves from the south -with the scathe of branches:
There shines from his sword - the sun of Gods of the Slain."
Cameron DuBeers
Post by Piper on Mar 5, 2019 14:24:34 GMT -6
Mar 5, 2019 13:29:50 GMT -6 Rafael said:
The dragons look amazing ... even if they have the limb arrangement of a wyvern (chuckle).
I'm interested in how it all ends up. And, I'm glad to see "big ticket" fantasy (LotR, GoT) getting positive attention from the public and the critics.
Red 5 Standing ... Hey! Is That A Banana?
Post by Falconer on Mar 5, 2019 14:51:44 GMT -6
I'll watch for the spectacle and the lulz and the thrill of being part of a shared audience reaction. I'm deep into the books (again) at the moment, and it's hard in my current state of mind to really take too seriously an adaptation that has wandered into lazy pastiche and, eventually, pure fanservice; this detached attitude will surely only improve my viewing experience.
As for kids getting into the genre through it, well, not my kids! There were plenty of moments that were too graphic for even my tastes, when I almost said, I'm done with this garbage! The last season or two have actually been pretty tame, so, it's easy to forget. And in general I remain convinced that Fantasy is a genre best served by media other than TV/film.
sixdemonbag
Wolfman has nards!
Post by sixdemonbag on Mar 5, 2019 14:57:10 GMT -6
Pretty sure that title belt still goes to Peter Jackson's LOTR.
Twenty years from now, this will be what kids watch when they want to get into the genre, the same way my generation watched old VHS tapes of the uncut version of "Conan the Barbarian".
Kids will still be watching Harry Potter and LOTR, first and foremost, then GoT when they are in college. I'm too young for Conan, so my introduction to the fantasy genre in the visual medium was Willow, The Never-ending Story, Labyrinth, He-Man, The Princess Bride, The Black Cauldron, The Sword in the Stone, Robin Hood, and The Prince of Thieves.
I'm very excited for it. I've invested enough time to be interested in the ending, even though I wish the last few seasons had a more GRRM-vibe. It's still appointment TV for me and I'm looking forward to it.
I've read all the books twice and I'll need the last two official installments before I make any overall critiques of the story. The TV-version started life as an exemplary adaptation, but that has gone downhill since they exhausted the source material.
The show still does a good job with characters, acting, set pieces, spectacle, and the rest to keep me on the edge of my seat. I hope it's good!
Last Edit: Mar 5, 2019 19:57:11 GMT -6 by sixdemonbag
I'm curious about ...
What about the Red Witch?
Is the undead matron of the Stark family (Caitlyn) going to reappear? We've seen Benjen's ultimate fate, after all.
Arya's semi-wild direwolf Nymeria and its pack of hunters, are they going to show up?
(I hope the spoiler tags worked)
More "I wonder about ..." as I think of them.
Level 10 Necromancer
DM of the Wilderness and of Carcosa
[SPOILERS - for real] Game of Thrones: The Final Season. Mar 5, 2019 18:36:15 GMT -6 Piper likes this
Post by geoffrey on Mar 5, 2019 18:36:15 GMT -6
I have two big wishes for how it all ends up:
1. I hope Arya Stark is OK at the end.
2. I hope Daenerys sits upon the Iron Throne.
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Mar 5, 2019 18:36:15 GMT -6 geoffrey said:
Yes, Arya "Underfoot" is an interesting character I'd love to see make past the end. Of course, that puts her on the chopping block were GoT is concerned.
Regarding the Iron Throne? It's tough to call. The fairy tale ending has Dany on the throne. Less desirable is either Jon or Dany sacrificing themselves for the other. Even less desirable is Circe on the throne and only a little worse is the Winter King victorious and eternal winter.
Since ASOIAF is basically one long treatise on GRRM's fascination with trope reversal, I'm betting the Iron Throne gets melted by dragon fire at some point.
Now, as to who actually takes control of Westeros? It will be the Iron Bank (Iron Throne/Iron Bank) as always with some figurehead installed. That figurehead? Someone who always pays their debts: Tyrion.
I'm probably totally wrong about everything I just wrote and that's why I like the series so much because it's a lot of fun to theorize about and hard to pick a favorite character.
[SPOILERS - for real] Game of Thrones: The Final Season. Mar 6, 2019 7:22:19 GMT -6
Post by Rafael on Mar 6, 2019 7:22:19 GMT -6
FTR, I am going to keep out of any spoiler talk, this time... Because I know how it ends - or at least how the famous Spanish Youtube-Ist "Frikidoctor" says it will end. That guy is not some internet random person, but actually a pretty accomplished Spanish screenwriter, and the way he analyses the plot of most movies or TV series is usually crisp, and to the point. His videos are, frankly, at this point almost more interesting to me than the actual show. Almost.
As to GoT's standing in TV/genre history, that's an interesting point both of you, Falconer and sixdemonbag, are making: Myself, I was born in '82, so I was too late for most of those titles as well - "Conan" had a cult following among kids around here, though, back in the day, because it was adult-oriented and supposed to be edgy. Myself, I was more a fan of other stuff, as well: "Robin Hood", as per Kevin Costner, He-Man, and Prince Valiant.
As to what format suits fantasy best, that's an interesting topic as well: I think the problem is less the medium than the usual interference of zeitgeist-y issues in movies. To name the tamest of examples, "The Last Jedi" not having a guy called "Ackbar" blowing himself up in a suicidal rescue of the rebellion was a bad narrative decision, but a very smart one concerning the social context. The same goes for "GoT", with the annoying "sexposition", or for Peter Jackson's Hobbit movies turning into a special effects showcase.
A quieter introduction into a fantasy world is something we rarely see in movies - which is why PJ's LotR movies are so good: We have time for the Rohan prince's funeral scene, and for Frodo taking a walk through Bag End. "GoT" has lost that over the years - instead of real "fluff", we get cameos by famous people: Nothing ever took me out of my own suspension of disbelief like the scene with *redhead singer whose name now escapes me*.
Last Edit: Mar 6, 2019 7:23:50 GMT -6 by Rafael
Mar 6, 2019 7:22:19 GMT -6 Rafael said:
FTR, I am going to keep out of any spoiler talk, this time... Because I know how it ends ...
Just curious, but do you commonly read or view spoilers?
Not really - the "Frikidoctor" thing in Spain is more of a singular phenomenon: The guy is a magnificent storyteller. What he's talking about is more of a secondary concern. He's also one of the hosts of a famous late-night show, and does this kind of stuff during the day hours. ...Which tells a lot how Spanish people view cultural events - as a community thing. Or so I guess.
Last Edit: Mar 6, 2019 11:02:09 GMT -6 by Rafael
I'm guessing they'll discover they can reforge the Iron Throne into a cache of much-needed Valyrian Steel swords.
Westeros is undergoing a transformation of mythic proportions. There is no chance, in my view, that it will cycle back to the status quo of 300 years ago (Westeros united under the Targaryen dynasty).
I consider it much more likely it ends up that either:
1. Magic/Dragons/White Walkers all end up gone from the world forever,
2. History cycles back fully to the Age of Heroes/the Long Night.
I lean towards #1 for the books, but #2 for the show. Winter has been coming, coming, coming, this whole time, so the show has to be about the coming of a long winter, right? They can't drive it back in a half-season and end up in Summer again. Also, they are planning a series called The Long Night, so.
Mar 6, 2019 13:07:00 GMT -6 Falconer said:
Also, they are planning a series called The Long Night, so.
They are? This could be a spoiler, I suppose ... unless it's a prequel? Oh, well. I'm certain to be entertained, even if it it plays out as expected (and I'm doubtful it will).
Mar 6, 2019 21:08:01 GMT -6 Piper said:
It's prequel that takes place 5,000-10,000 years in the past:
GRRM said:
"This one really puts the PRE in prequel, since it is set not ninety years before Game of Thrones (like Dunk & Egg), or a few hundred years, but rather 10,000 years (well, assuming the oral histories of the First Men are accurate, but there are maesters at the Citadel who insist it has only been half that long)," Martin wrote. "We're very early in the process, of course, with the pilot order just in, so we don't have a director yet, or a cast, or a location, or even a title. (My vote would be THE LONG NIGHT, which says it all, but I'd be surprised if that's where we end up. More likely HBO will want to work the phrase "game of thrones" in there somewhere. We'll know sooner or later)."
www.hbo.com/hbo-news/game-of-thrones-prequel-what-to-know
Taking place thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones, the series chronicles the world's descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour. From the horrifying secrets of Westeros's history to the true origin of the White Walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend, only one thing is for sure: It's not the story we think we know.
The prequel show is already subject to a lot of controversy, because Martin has written and/or designed next to nothing about the aforementioned "long night". Based on that alone, the idea of the show adhering in any way to the known ASOIAF canon is pretty much zero, and many fans have voiced a certain lack of enthusiasm.
The idea here is clearly to milk the franchise, and to do the interesting projects later on - "The Rains of Castamere", the rise of young Tywin, was floated as a prequel idea for some time, but apparently canned after some marketing research. Likewise, "The Dance of Dragons", as described in the books, was in early development stages, but HALTED for this more generic take on the setting. - For me, both of those prequel stories would have made way more sense, and would have been way more interesting than what is done now.
My guess is, "The Long Night" will reversely explain or at least contextualize the events of season 6 to 8 of GoT; that, in itself, is not a bad thing, because the story is beyond the point of making sense.
If there's any indication from the casting and from the material quoted by official sources so far, we will learn more about the origin of the Dothraki, as well as the story behind the Great Harpy of Mereen on one side of the world, and then on the foundation of House Stark on the other.
...Based on what is considered a >>> megaspoiler <<< from "The World of ASOIAF" book, there is a clear direction that the tale could take that would probably entertain audiences - even though the great spin would probably not be the "Azor Ahai" storyline, but how the traditional Northern and Southern storylines could correlate.
PREQUEL MEGASPOILERS FROM EXISTING GoT-LORE
So, there was already a take on Westeros during the "Age of Heroes" - if not by GRRM, then by HBO, in the form of a video game called "Games of Thrones - Genesis". Given that the game is based on the show, and hence the respective IPs belong to the studio, not to the author, it's likely that we'll see recurring themes, because the scripts are already written: Also, in terms of name recognition, "Nymeria" as a character makes sense.
In the "World of Ice and Fire book", there are - apparently - several allusions to the ancient Northerners having commanded dragons, as well. The same book states that dragon eggs are buried under the crypts of Winterfell. The GoT-TV series has not used the line, but remember how the books say that "there must always be a Stark in Winterfell"? Fans seem to think it's because the Starks are supposed to guard those eggs. - Personally, I think this is something we will see discovered in the last scene of the TV show.
Early leaks indicate that "Lan the Clever" will play a role - the founding father of House Lannister. Also, "The Grey King", the ancestor of House Greyjoy was mentioned as a possible character - apparently during an interview with HBO brass.
"The Fist of the First Men" filming location was apparently scouted again during summertime; whatever that means. - Certainly, a pattern seems to be emerging from the leaks.
I know it's a prequel that takes place in the past. What I was talking about was basically whether the "present" conflict was pointing to a final end of myth and magic, or whether the state of things would "cycle" back to a fully mythological age resembling the Age of Heroes … or whether time could literally cycle back à la The Worm Ouroboros.
Not trying to bait you, but obviously I know, through the Spanish leaker, where this is heading. So, I'd rather not comment. I agree that the books are probably headed towards a different path than the TV series, though - not in "specific" terms, not in relation to the actual plot lines displayed on the TV show - but in that GRRM doesn't really seem to have concluded "Act I" of of the usual three-act story structure. Especially "A Feast For Crows" and "A Dance of Dragons" introduced so many new elements with regards to the overall composition of the world that it just doesn't feel like the series was in any way headed towards a conclusion. More like, "The Wheel of Time" at the same level of progression - everybody knows where things are heading, but we're not getting there for quite a while. - No specific spoilers here, either, but just think of the character named "Pate", and the overall implications that storyline might still have.
Personally, I am glad we're getting a conclusion to the story on TV: I am not one of the OMG-GRRM-sixty-so-he-almost-dead guys, but at his current pace, I doubt the series will conclude before 2030. With the TV conclusion, at least there is room for new material inside the genre. On TV, I think "The Wheel of Time" could be genre-defining, and in the literary hemisphere, I think we're in for an era defined by more Patrick Rothfuss (whose work I hate), and, on our side of the genre, by Nicholas Eames. ...But for that, the genre needs to move on from Martin: I am happy that ASOIAF is going to stick around a while longer, but it has also kind of grown old on me. It's time to freshen things up, a little bit!
(Says the dude who just pre-ordered Shannara novel #29. So much for, eeeh, repetitive writing. )
Post by geoffrey on Mar 8, 2019 9:07:47 GMT -6
I doubt the series will conclude before 2030.
I think the soonest we can hope for is this year for book 6 and 2027 for book 7 (and that's being optimistic).
In the meantime, I read and enjoyed Fire & Blood.
How was that one? A fictional history book, or more "assorted short fiction"? - I think it's an interesting book to write for Martin, and I hope that it will one day serve for a TV series, as well: The (historical, in-universe) "Dance of Dragons" is something that I quite simply want to see done for the silver screen.
[SPOILERS - for real] Game of Thrones: The Final Season. Mar 8, 2019 15:47:07 GMT -6 Rafael likes this
Regardless of whether ASoIaF will ever be finished, speculating about where it's headed is a great hobby.
I think AGoT+ACoK+ASoS represents a solid Act I; I think AFfC+ADwD is a sort of interlude that falls outside the 3-act structure.
[SPOILERS - for real] Game of Thrones: The Final Season. Apr 12, 2019 0:29:53 GMT -6
Post by Rafael on Apr 12, 2019 0:29:53 GMT -6
The best (not-so-best) way to recap the series before the big-event-television of the coming weeks might be this:
chrysreviews.com/index.php/game-of-thrones/
Slightly NSFW, I guess.
[SPOILERS - for real] Game of Thrones: The Final Season. Apr 14, 2019 11:53:52 GMT -6
Post by Rafael on Apr 14, 2019 11:53:52 GMT -6
- Got up two hours early to watch this: No surprises, so far - the tendency of bad dialogue continues, and many scenes are too rushed, especially when compared to the first few seasons. Not quite phoned in, but the series would have needed two or three more episodes, already, just for the action that transpires in the first sit-in. - No spoilers here, but the penultimate scene of the episode (the one involving the Night's Watch) is one of the most effective scenes in the entire show. Yet, its tone doesn't fit with the overall tone of the episode. Too much crammed into too little time.
Now, please consider this only a minor criticism: With this show, we're seeing the fantasy redefined for an entire generation. It might admittedly be pretty uneven, but it's going to places we've not seen in the genre. Like, maybe in PJ's "Lord of the Rings", twenty years ago, or in Netflix' recent "The Last Kingdom". But nowhere else. Ten years ago, the gold standard for fantasy television was the dildo-swinging models-hired-as-actors in "Legend of the Seeker"*. Now, we have a 100-mil, ensemble cast production that sports one of the consensus best movie soundtracks ever made. ...Not the worst way for things to go.
*That series wasn't even that bad.
Brace yourselves, small spoilers are coming:
The one thing that really made me space out over my breakfast coffee was a conflict in the show that really challenged the suspension of disbelief. That conflict, between the Northern and Southern protagonists, originates in Jon Snow famously "bending the knee" and swearing allegiance to the Dragon Queen with the unspellable name. - And if you know that, you also know how season seven ended. There was even a twitter hashtag involving the word "boat".
So, now Jon and Danny are boyfriend and girlfriend, hangin' out and flirting - but the possibility of a royal marriage that would, like, instantly end all the political issues that hinder the preparations ahead of the fookin' apocalypse is outright dismissed. Because we need the filler, and because modern "woke" HBO audiences might probably not emphasize with a wedding that's not entirely done out of love. As inconsequential as that storyline might ultimately turn out to be, it DOES bring "teh cringe". Let's hope they find a way to write around this one.
Post by geoffrey on Apr 23, 2019 16:40:04 GMT -6
A theory (not a prediction) of mine:
1. Arya is pregnant from Gendry.
2. Gendry will die before the season ends (and probably in the next episode).
3. Sansa will die before the season ends.
This leaves Arya as the last true Stark heir. Bran? Not really Bran anymore. Jon Snow? Never really was Jon Snow.
In episode 6 Arya will discover and mention that she is pregnant, and Bran will remark in his off-hand tone: "He will be lord of Winterfell."
That will allow Arya to become lady of Winterfell without being a domesticated wife. She will know that she bears her (male!) heir with no need for a spare, so she can be lady of Winterfell without giving up her free-spirited ways.
I'm a bit put off how inconsistently Bran is written: He's very much like Green Lantern from DC, in that he doesn't use his powers as common sense would demand it. For example, couldn't he track the evil guys better than he is doing?
As to who lives and who dies this season, the only information that is not definitive yet [NOT going to tell what I know unless people explicitly demand it] is what happens to Gilly, to Missandei (who is very different than her book counterpart), and to Daenerys. My prediction, based on my gut feeling alone, is that all three of them are NOT going to survive next episode.
I don't exactly know how the series ends, either, but I would also bet on a Stark sitting on the Iron Throne, in the end - at least in the TV show.
Full disclosure: It's not difficult to find these spoilers, about what happens in the show's last episode. However, the most important part - how the setting's general conflict is ultimately resolved, is NOT known. So, even though there are sequence plans out there for virtually every outdoor scene that was filmed (which is crazy), it is NOT known who will be sitting on the Iron Throne when the credits roll.
Also, seriously, Tormund is my spirit animal.
"Rowell the Blade marries Sansa." - Frikidoctor, on Twitter, 100% legit.
Last Edit: Apr 28, 2019 9:37:23 GMT -6 by Rafael
[SPOILERS - for real] Game of Thrones: The Final Season. Apr 28, 2019 20:51:38 GMT -6 Rafael and magremore like this
ARYA STARK KILLED THE NIGHT KING AND THEREBY DESTROYED THE ARMY OF THE DEAD!
She's my favorite. I've liked her since the show's first episode. I think and hope she'll survive the season.
And speaking of favorites, the one who has always been my favorite claimant for the Iron Throne--Daenerys Targaryen--is alive and well.
I feel bad that Jorah Mormont was slain, but it is the death he would have chosen: To die with his sword in his hand defending his queen and the woman he loved.
Last Edit: Apr 28, 2019 20:52:11 GMT -6 by geoffrey


Quick, point to your gallbladder. Half credit if you guessed that it's somewhere between your hips and your heart. Full credit if you know that this pear-shaped member of your digestive system sits in the upper right abdomen, nestled below your liver.
1. It helps with digestion.
Your gallbladder stores bile, a goopy liquid produced by your liver to help break down fats. As your stomach begins to digest food, your gallbladder kicks into action, releasing this bile to your small intestine. "The gallbladder just serves as a 'booster' when you eat a meal that is higher in fat," says Rahul Nayak, MD, a gastroenterologist at Kaiser Permanente Atlanta. "So the next time you eat fried chicken, mac and cheese, and chase it with some Southern chess pie, you can thank your gallbladder for not having diarrhea."
2. Gallstones are the most common gallbladder problem.
According to some estimates, up to 20 million Americans may have gallstones, the most common type of gallbladder disorder. Gallstones form when the substances that make up bile (cholesterol, electrolytes, and water to name a few) are out of proportion. The stones, which can be super-painful, range in size from small grains of sand to golf balls.
3. Being a woman puts you at a higher risk.
While the 40+ crowd is most at risk for gallstones, women are more likely to develop them than men, and at a younger age (starting in their 30s), too. Pregnancy and oral contraceptives are major risk factors for developing certain kinds of gallstones due to the extra estrogen in the body. Others include family history, obesity, ethnicity, and also rapid weight loss, especially from weight loss surgery. "The mechanism is not clear," says Nayak, "but theories include a change in the composition of bile."
4. You may have them and not even know it.
Gallstones aren't always problematic. They're often too small to cause a blockage, and you might not even know you have them unless you are doing tests for other medical issues. Even if you do have gallstones, you don't need to worry about them or have them treated if they aren't causing issues.
5. Abdominal pain is your biggest sign something may be wrong.
Signs that your gallbladder may be getting clogged include indigestion after eating foods high in fat or protein, severe and sudden pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, or pain under the right shoulder or in the right shoulder blade. If your bile duct gets completely blocked, it can cause nausea and vomiting, fever, jaundice, and dark urine. While these symptoms may go away once the gallstone moves, complications can arise if the bile duct remains clogged, so it's important to share your symptoms with your doctor.
6. The best defense is a good offense.
Want to keep your gallbladder happy? Focus on overall body health by eating a heart-healthy diet and exercising, says Nayak. Limiting your fat intake—especially when it comes to unhealthy fats like saturated and trans fatty acids—will keep your gallbladder from working overtime. And savor that morning cup of joe with your avocado toast. "Coffee consumption and increased vegetable-based protein [consumption] also seem to protect against gallstone disease," says Nayak.
7. You can live without it.
The most common treatment for gallbladder problems is to remove it. Fortunately, you can live without this particular organ. "Since the liver is the source of bile, removing your gallbladder which merely acts as an holding vessel for the bile, doesn't have any discernable impact on a person's digestion," explains Nayak. "The bile in the liver goes directly to the small intestine, bypassing the gallbladder."
8. Gallbladder cancer is rare but serious.
Although it's not common, gallbladder cancer has a high mortality rate since it's not often caught in the early stages. If discovered in Stage 0 or 1, the 5-year survival rate runs between 50 to 80%. In a later stage, that survival rate drops to single digits.


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text:
The Main Library is located on the last floor of the AD BLOCK and shares floor with KTU FM and the Guidance and Counselling Unit of KTU. The main library is stocked with over 8000 collections (fiction and non-fiction, motivational books, reference materials such as newspapers past questions, reports compendiums, manuals, periodicals, etc.), which primarily answers the information needs of the faculty of business and management studies (FBMS). This library is air-conditioned and has a seating capacity for about 205 readers. The Main Library stocks multiple copies of prescribed textbooks and other publications, which could be borrowed by users for reading outside the library premises. It also handles the reservation of books, user education and aids readers. The Library also registers users. It is inevitable that there must be some rules governing the borrowing of books if all individuals are to be served equitably.
The Engineering
The engineering library is a very important unit of the university library system because it is stocked with materials for four faculties in the university community. These faculties are the faculty of engineering (FOE), faculty of built and natural environment (FBNE), faculty of applied science and technology (FAST), faculty of health and allied sciences (FHAS). The Library provides a congenial atmosphere for study with the provision of access to internet connectivity.
Electronic Resource Library
The Electronic Resource Library, also known as the E-Library is located on the last floor of the Central Classroom Block (CCB). It is a 130-seating capacity state of the art library facility. It is furnished with ancillary facilities with 120 workstations with full Internet connectivity, free internet and Wi-Fi connections. Users of the e-library could access online electronic journals the Library subscribes to through the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Ghana (CARLIGH). There are trained members of staff to assist users.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Feature Stories Archive 2006-2007
Philosopher in Residence
December 15th, 2009 Alan Barker
Assistant Professor of Philosophy Alan Baker joined Swarthmore's faculty in 2003. Specializing in the philosophy of mathematics and the philosophy of science, his courses also include logic and philosophy of mind. Baker graduated with honors from Cambridge University and earned his Ph.D. at Princeton University. Write to him at abaker1@swarthmore.edu.
t might have been worth doing for the job title alone. I spent last July as 'philosopher in residence' at Whitehall, the 18th-century home of philosopher George Berkeley, located just outside Newport, Rhode Island. Berkeley is generally considered to be one of the "big three" British philosophers of the early modern period, along with John Locke and David Hume. He was already well-known in Europe when he embarked on a voyage to America in 1729; indeed he was said at the time to be the most famous European ever to visit the New World. Berkeley was hoping to found a progressive college on the island of Bermuda; the plan never came to fruition, but he spent three years living in Rhode Island, then an important center of colonial commerce and religious freedom. He bought a farmhouse and waited in vain for funding from the British crown to be approved.
The house, Whitehall, survived and is now owned and administered by the Colonial Dames of Rhode Island. As the headquarters of the International Berkeley Society, Whitehall boasts a comprehensive collection of early editions of Berkeley's works. These include a first edition of Alciphron, the book which Berkeley wrote during his stay in Rhode Island, inscribed "from the Author." Upstairs is a small research library with an impressive range of secondary literature on Berkeley, from the scholarly to the eccentric. (An example of the latter: Berkeley and the Paranormal.)
My duties were to live in the house, to raise the flag at dawn, lower it at dusk, to pursue my own scholarly research, and to give tours to any members of the public who managed to find their way there. Joining me in residence were my wife, Shelley, and 18-month-old daughter, Chloe.
It is an atmospheric place to stay. The property is bordered with dry-stone walls, and a garden of culinary and medicinal herbs faces one side of the house. Inside, the rooms are laid out as they might have been in Berkeley's time, with period furniture, books in English and in Latin, and 18th-century maps and portraits on the walls. Most of the house has no electric lighting so at night we lit candles which flickered in the cool evening breezes that blew in off the sea. A pendulum clock sitting on a bracket in the front parlor ticked noisily in the darkness.
If nobody is in Whitehall's front parlor to hear the clock, does it make a sound?
And if nobody is in the front parlor to hear the clock, does it make a sound? George Berkeley is primarily known today (aside from having a university town in California named after him) for his metaphysical position known as "idealism" or "immaterialism." This is often paraphrased by reference to the proverbial tree falling in the forest. Though there is no evidence that Berkeley ever said this, the point of the tree example is to illustrate the idealist view that sounds exist only as perceptions in people's minds.
Whether you find this claim plausible or not, it is not an accurate reflection of Berkeley's version of idealism. On the one hand, Berkeley's position is more extreme. He does not think that it is merely secondary qualities such as colors, sounds, and tastes which exist only as perceptions. Material objects such as tables, chairs, and planets also exist only as bundles of perceptions in people's minds. So if the falling tree is not seen or heard by anyone, then not only is there no sound, there is no tree! On the other hand, Berkeley's position has less radical consequences than one might think. Doesn't it imply, for example, that the furniture around you blinks out of existence each time you close your eyes? For Berkeley, an Anglican theologian and later a Bishop, the answer is no. The reason why not is encapsulated in the following 19th-century limerick:
There was a young man who said, "God
Must think it exceedingly odd
If he finds that this tree
Continues to be
When there's no-one about in the Quad."
"Dear Sir, your astonishment's odd.
I am always about in the Quad.
And that's why this tree
Will continue to be
Since observed by Yours faithfully, God."
Unlike most of the previous philosophers in residence at Whitehall, I am not a scholar of Berkeley per se. Instead my connection to Berkeley is via the subject matter of my research in the philosophy of science and the philosophy of mathematics. Specifically, I am interested in the link between methodology and ontology - in other words, that the way we evaluate different theories relates to what we end up believing exists.
For example, other things being equal we tend to prefer simpler theories over more complex alternatives. How simple is Berkeley's idealism? In one sense, it is simpler than the main alternative metaphysical view of the time, the dualism of Descartes. According to Descartes the world contains both material stuff (tables, chairs, human bodies) and mental stuff (human minds). According to Berkeley, the world contains only mental stuff. So idealism is simpler.
George Berkeley's theory of immaterialism is perhaps best summarized as, "Esse est percipi," to be is to be perceived.
Or is it? The number of things (or kinds of things) a theory commits us to is not the only measure of its simplicity. We also value theories which can condense a diverse array of phenomena into a few elegant principles. (A paradigm example: Newton's Three Laws of Motion.) Here the believer in material objects seems to have an edge over the idealist. She can explain, for example, the motion of a ball thrown through the air, by reference to the mechanical principles governing physical bodies. It is unclear whether the idealist has any corresponding explanatory principles at his disposal, since for him the ball is merely a succession of sense impressions. [For a more in-depth discussion of simplicity, see my Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on this topic.]
Since Whitehall lies well off the beaten track, and is little advertised, visitors are few and interesting. We averaged a group or two a day, ranging from a Professor of architecture, to three Episcopal ministers from Ohio, to 16 high school students from a summer philosophy program at Brown University. My wife, Shelley Costa, is an 18th-century historian and native of Newport specializing in women's history (Berkeley's wife, Anne, was another fascinating resident of Whitehall) and in the history of mathematics, she was at least as qualified as I was to lead tours of the house, so we shared this duty. Indeed it was Berkeley's interest in mathematics which formed the link to my second main area of research, in the philosophy of mathematics.
In 1734, Berkeley published a pamphlet entitled The Analyst: or a Discourse addressed to an Infidel Mathematician. This has an important place in the history of mathematics. The 18th Century saw the rise of mathematized natural science as the new source of authority on the workings of the world, increasingly taking over this mantle from theology. The Analyst was written as an attack on a key part of the mathematical basis of the new sciences, namely the calculus that had been co-invented by Newton and Leibniz in the 17th Century. The calculus at that time relied on the notion of infinitely small quantities, or infinitesimals. At some points in a calculus proof you must divide by an infinitesimal, so to avoid absurdity it cannot be equal to zero. But then later in the same proof the infinitesimal is assumed to be equal to zero so that it can be ignored in the final result. Berkeley claims that this notion of infinitesimal is therefore contradictory - he refers to infinitesimals derisively as "the ghosts of departed quantities," hence the new mathematics is less intellectually secure than theology. One of my interests is the relation between philosophy of mathematics and mathematical practice. In this respect, The Analyst is a fascinating example of a major philosopher writing for an explicitly mathematical audience. Moreover, Berkeley's concerns were taken seriously by practicing mathematicians.
I found it a uniquely satisfying experience to spend several weeks living and doing philosophy in a place still so imbued with the spirit of a major figure of the Western philosophical canon. My future ambitions for philosophy-related summer jobs? Most large companies have mission statements, some even have corporate philosophies. So why not "corporate philosopher"? If there isn't such a job, it ought to be invented.
Rides and Rights Redux
How appropriate that more than a year after completing a thesis on transportation, Anson finds that his work still seems to follow him around.
Nos Tets, Nos Revle
Watch: Forty years ago, as seen in Nos Tets, zombies took over campus at the behest of an Evil Genius. Earlier this year, in Nos Revle, they returned.


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Oskar and Zofia Hansen
The exhibition of Oskar and Zofia Hansen's legacy showcases various aspects of the Open Form theory, which was the axis of their architectural, artistic and educational work.
Presented by Oskar Hansen during the International Congress of Modern Architecture (CIAM) held in Otterlo in 1959, the theory of Open Form proposed to open architecture up to its users and allow them to co-create it. Hansen fought against what he defined as Closed Form, that is fully designed structures leaving no space for users' creativity and constituting rather a monument to their authors than a comfortable living space. Instead, Hansen put forward a radical change in the perception of the architect's role which, in his opinion, should consist in creating a passepartout, a background for everyday life. The mission of architecture should be showcasing people and the richness of their daily activity in space. Architecture should highlight subjectivity and create a framework for individual expression, become an instrument that can be used and transformed by its users and that can easily adapt to their changing needs.
Oskar Hansen expanded on the concept of Open Form in projects of varying scale: from designs of temporary exhibition pavilions and residential estates to the Linear Continuous System, a design of linear cities stretching across the entire territory of Poland, from the Baltic to the Tatras. His wife, Zofia Garlińska-Hansen (1924–2013), was the co-author of many of these designs, in particular the residential estates that were built. Affiliated with the Warsaw Residential Cooperative, she typically remained in her husband's shadow, but he often stressed her involvement in creating Open Form.
The exhibition displays various areas and scales of creative activity in which Open Form was applied. "Background of Events" focuses on designs for exhibitions and pavilions, which offered an ideal ground for theoretical experiments due to their ephemeral character. "Politics of Scale" focuses on Oskar Hansen's urban planning projects, displaying their socio-political dimension. "The Individual in the Collective" treats the Hansens' realized residential estates in Warsaw and Lublin, presenting their lesser-known, often unpreserved details. "Architecture as an Instrument" focuses on designs for public buildings: museum, gallery, theatre, recording studio - whose shape was to be determined by the users. "Active Negative" shows the private space of the Hansens and the concept associated with them of sculptural presentation of architectural interiors. "Anti-monument" describes the space-time design for the "Road" memorial to the victims of Auschwitz-Birkenau, a group work that became the sculptural reflection of Open Form. Exercises from Hansen's studio at the Faculty of Sculpture at the Warsaw Fine Arts Academy are mixed into parts of the exhibition. Hansen taught at the academy for 30 years, promoting the tenets of Open Form among his students.
Aleksandra Kędziorek
Centrala (Małgorzata Kuciewicz, Simone De Iacobis)
Piotr Chuchla
Joanna Turek in collaboration with Sylwia Borowska and Michał Kożurno
Jakub Antosz, Marek Franczak, Szymon Ignatowicz, Paweł Sobczak, Marcin Szubiak, Michał Ziętek
Katarzyna Witt
Kacha Szaniawska
Catalogue design
Jakub Jezierski
Exhibition communication
Marcel Andino Velez, Zofia Czartoryska, Bartosz Stawiarski, Kacha Szaniawska, Anna Tryc-Bromley, Iga Winczakiewicz, Daniel Woźniak
hansen.artmuseum.pl/en/
The event held by the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw is the fourth edition of the exhibition prepared by Soledad Gutiérrez, Aleksandra Kędziorek and Łukasz Ronduda, produced by The Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw and Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona. It has already been presented in MACBA, Barcelona (2014), Serralves Museum, Porto (2015), and Yale School of Architecture, New Haven, US (2016). The Warsaw edition constitutes the culmination of the exhibition's international tour.
Exhibition Open
TUE–FRI 12:00–8:00 PM
SAT 11:00–8:00 PM
SUN 11:00–6:00 PM
MUSEUM on the Vistula
Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie 22 (Skwer Kpt. S. Skibniewskiego "Cubryny"), WarsawSee on the map
Partners of the Museum
Partner of the exhibition
Photo documentation:
Paint, also known as Blood
Women, Affect, and Desire in Contemporary Painting 07.06 – 11.08.2019
Archive Events connected with the exhibition:
16.09.2017 14:00 Walk Guided Tour in Englishof the "Oskar and Zofia Hansen. Open Form" exhibition
In cycle "Oskar and Zofia Hansen " MUSEUM on the Vistula
Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie 22 (Skwer Kpt. S. Skibniewskiego "Cubryny"), Warsaw
14.10.2017 14:00 Guided tour Guided Tour in Englishof the "Oskar and Zofia Hansen. Open Form" exhibition
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Tapjoy's rewarded video ads grew 80% in the past year
Dean Takahashi@deantak
Tapjoy has helped boost these games with its ad platform.
Image Credit: Tapjoy
Mobile engagement and monetization firm Tapjoy said its ad platform reached about 581 million mobile consumers at the close of the second quarter. The San Francisco company also said that in terms of daily unique viewers its rewarded video ads grew 80 percent in the second quarter, compared to a year ago.
Unique video views for rewarded video grew 107 percent from June 2016 to June 2017, and quarterly revenue grew 117 percent in Q2, compared to a year earlier.
"Our ad platform experienced tremendous growth during the past two quarters, thanks to several important advances in our technology, a continued supply of engaging ad content from industry-leading advertisers, and of course, our partnership with some of the biggest names in app publishing," said Shannon Jessup, chief revenue officer of Tapjoy, in a statement. "We are honored to work with many of the most popular titles in the app stores today to bring our fun and highly engaging rewarded ads to millions of additional consumers."
During the first half of the year, the company added thousands of new apps from nearly 150 new partners, bringing the total number of apps on the platform to over 20,000. Tapjoy's latest partnerships include big names in mobile publishing, such as Sega, Miniclip, Zynga, ZeptoLab, Jam City, and Atari. New apps added to Tapjoy in 2017 include Seriously's Best Fiends, Jam City's Cookie Jam Blast, Flaregames' Zombie Gunship Survival, ZeptoLab's C.A.T.S., Sega Networks' Crazy Taxi Gazillionaire, Zynga's Crosswords with Friends, Atari's Rollercoaster Tycoon Touch, Umi Mobile's Family Feud Live, TinyCo's Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow, and Etermax's Trivia Crack.
The 2nd Annual GamesBeat and Facebook Gaming Summit and GamesBeat: Into the Metaverse 2
Above: Tapjoy's customers helped it grow rewarded video views by 80 percent in Q2.
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On Sunday we held auditions for our new upcoming short film. This was our first time holding auditions here at Lift, and it was really a great learning experience, so I decided to share what we learned about the whole process!
Make sure you know who is coming so you can create a solid schedule for the day. If you are doing a short film like us, we found about 15 minutes to be a good amount of time to give each person individually, however if you are casting for a feature, you may want more time.
It is crucial that you have everyone's contact info, and that they have yours. This will help avoid anyone missing out because they were lost, or something happened. This will also assure that if something changes with the scheduling, everyone will be on the same page.
If you are an independent operation, you most likely won't have the luxury of having a casting director do the work for you. This means the director, producer, writer, AD etc. will have to do the work themselves. If this is the case, you want to be able to sit back and focus on the performances, not be running back and forth calling people in. Get someone to work the door for you, and take down everyone's info. This will save you time, and stress.
If the audition area is hard to find, have signs everywhere to direct people to it. Make sure there is sufficient seating in the waiting area to accommodate everyone that will be there. Have extra copies of the script ready in case an actor comes unprepared. Make sure you know everything you want to ask, and everything you are looking for in the actors ahead of time to save the guess work.
Roll the camera as soon as the actor walks in. You obviously want the performance recorded to go back to later, but it is also helpful to record their overall demeanor, so you know if this person will be hard to work with, or if you think they will be a great fit.
An actor can only perform their best if they are comfortable. When they walk in, be open and friendly. Remind them that this is only an audition, they don't need to have all the lines memorized. Take time to introduce yourself and learn more about them. After all, if they are selected you will be spending a lot of time together on set, so make sure you can get along.
Reading through the lines multiple times in different ways will show whether or not they can take direction. Have them read it first in the way they interpreted it on their own. Even if they nailed it on their own, switch it up and give them a different direction to go in. This will prove if they can take direction or not, because what good is an actor if they can't follow directions?
Don't beat around the bush. If they gave a performance you didn't like for some reason, let them know what they need to change. This is your movie and you want everything to fit your vision perfectly. At the same time, don't be a jerk just for the sake of it. Constructive criticism goes a long way, but straight up negativity never helps. Give them a few positive things they did before you start picking out the bad. If they don't fit what you're looking for in this certain role, but you notice they have talent, let them know that even if it doesn't work out you may still have opportunities for them in the future.
Even if you're almost positive you've found what you're looking for, everyone deserves a chance. Just because you're burned out from listening to auditions all day doesn't mean the last person should receive any less attention than the first. Go in with positivity and an open mind, and you could be surprised by what you find.
Auditions are over and you know who you want to fill the roles. Figure out a backup for each of them, and a backup for the backup. If an actor doesn't show up on shooting day, have someone on deck to fill their place. If you are on a tight schedule, you can't afford to wait for anyone. Things like locations and rental equipment can be very time specific and you don't want to miss out or waste money because the actor decided to sleep in that day. There is no room for that in this industry, especially when you have tight deadlines and a budget (usually other people's money) to stick to.
Follow all these rules and you should have a success auditioning. Remember first and foremost, this is YOUR movie. Carefully select the actors to fit your vision, and don't settle. Films can easily be ruined by bad acting, so make sure you pick not only the best performers, but the most professional, reliable people. You don't want your image as a director to be ruined because your actors were out of line. Remember though, the same goes for you. Don't be an egotistic know it all, don't put people down, and don't burn bridges. You may need these people some day, so make sure you leave them on a friendly note, and they will do the same. In this competitive industry, the last thing you want is a bad reputation.


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April 3, 2017 February 14, 2018 The Abadan TimesLeave a Comment on Review of empirical evidence
Review of empirical evidence
From "Oil Nationalisation and Managerial Disclosure: The Case of Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, 1933-1951"
Chapter 3: Employee relations and Iranianisation
Author : Neveen Abdelrehim | The university of york
William Fraser, 1st Baron Strathalmond, MBE (3 November 1888 – 1 April 1970), was a Scottish businessman and a leading expert on the oil industry. He served as chairman of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (known as BP from 1954) from 1941 to 1956.
The above discussion has re-considered the claims and counter claims of the AIOC and Iranian representatives in the light of Fraser"s public and private correspondence. Historical evidence has tended to reflect the bi-polar aspects of the negotiations and the differences in historical interpretation. Such evidence has therefore been used selectively, with the purpose of reviewing the neglected documents, including the secret political correspondence between Fraser and other diplomats. There are interesting contrasts between Fraser"s private views and his public pronouncements, and it was the former that informed the company"s negotiating position and contributed to the failure of the talks and subsequent nationalisation. Undertones of colonial attitudes in these public documents demonstrate all the more strongly the underlying resistance to Iranian involvement in the management of the company revealed by Fraser"s private correspondence. Within the above context, it is quite clear that Fraser"s public pronouncements were part of a wider propaganda battle. It is clear to observe that Fraser used his public statements as a tool to communicate an assumed attitude towards the Iranians, in order to maintain their confidence. However, his mindset and personal attitude, as illustrated in the archival evidence, revealed his individual beliefs which underpinned the fact that the Iranians were not treated as genuine stakeholders. To the reader of the Chairman"s statement of 19th November 1951, the behaviour of the company was nothing more than a reasonable response to difficult circumstances. However, the moral tone of Fraser"s arguments only reinforced the colonial attitudes that angered many Iranians. Fraser was willing to be seen as a key visible figure in the AIOC, making public statements and speeches which would bring him credibility and respect. It was in his own interests, therefore, not to reveal his conflicting private opinions to the public. To the public, he played a major role in portraying the company as "fair" and in attempted to show the AIOC"s employment policies in a positive light. On this point, nevertheless, the Iranian nationalists saw things quite differently, to the extent that their principal justification for nationalisation was the charge of discrimination by the AIOC against its Iranian employees. Even though the delayed 1951 report was a carefully worded document, it is clear from further analysis that Iranian and British staff were regarded as different. The evidence shows that the AIOC was discriminatory towards Iranians, reflecting a negative attitude towards their technical potential as well as traditional colonial stereotyping. The segregation of housing and social facilities created relations of unequal power, thus, reinforcing hierarchies resulting in subordination and exclusion for Iranians. For instance, Fraser created racial hierarchies within the company according to his imperial beliefs which in turn isolated and deprived the indigenous people from becoming competent in their own country. He was clearly disdainful of their knowledge of the oil industry[484]. Evidently, the AIOC resisted Iranianisation because the redistribution of employment in favour of Iranians, including at senior level, threatened to compromise the control of the business. This point was therefore the most strenuously resisted by the AIOC negotiators and was the reason why the company was less willing to compromise. The AIOC concessions were insufficient to forestall the ensuing nationalisation crisis, which after all, was all about the crucial question of control of the oil fields. Therefore, Fraser"s insistence on full control of the company and its operations by incumbent British staff was the greatest obstacle to the solution of the problem. Fraser had a negative attitude towards Iranian staff, and CSR policy and his comments on the issues raised by Article 16 were elusive. There was no concept of partnership and cultural incorporation with the Iranians and this left them living in an environment of injustice and social and economic domination. Obviously, this proved to be the point on which no compromise could be countenanced because the AIOC paid only lip service to the Iranianisation process. Documentary evidence shows that changes in staffing ratios, including reductions of British staff had no chance of being achieved from Fraser"s perspective and thus these associated obstacles prevented more Iranians from being employed in the AIOC. Meanwhile, social responsibility disclosures, on subjects such as health and housing, were easy to make but where imprecisely quantified especially in the published AIOC Annual Reports and Accounts. To sum up, the public image of the company was seen as a crucial ingredient of the nationalisation crisis, not least because a key objective of the AIOC management was to maintain the confidence of its own stakeholders in the face of a major threat and the backing of the British government in the face of that threat. However, it might also be supposed that if the AIOC could defend itself from the claims made by the Iranian government regarding discrimination against Iranians, it would also absolve itself of any blame for the international crisis.
The notion of the British Empire and its political formation played a crucial role
in defining the AIOC"s operations and in transmitting British attitudes of racial discrimination that resulted in disparity between the company and the Iranians. The AIOC"s economic hegemony in the 1950s was attributed to the prosperity of the company and high standards of living of the British staff. The AIOC"s social and economic domination entailed inequality and violation of Iranian sovereignty because the company always regarded Iranians as low-grade and not on an equal
footing with their British colleagues. Abadan was run as a company town, where "natives" were kept out of company stores and clubs. Although the efforts of British staff had resulted in growth and benefits to the company but it is estimated that the drawbacks of their performance was reflected in their treatment of the Iranian workers. Iranians believed that hiring expatriates and largely excluding the local population created problems in the running of the company and also certainly diminished the rights of Iranians. One of the more salient points in the AIOC"s working environment was that the Iranian workers felt that they lacked a wellarticulated set of career paths because of cultural biases. This was coupled with the sense of anti Iranian discrimination from the British towards them. Iranians criticised the British staff for being inflexible, unfair, disrespectful and insensitive to them. From an adjustment perspective, the greater the economic and cultural distance, the more difficulty the Iranians have in accepting the new environment of the AIOC. Iranians always felt that they were inferior beings because their life was lived away from the British and because the company"s attitude towards them seemed to require an acknowledgement of gratitude for the success of the company. It worth noting that there was instability in Iran at that time, as well as a general deterioration in housing, schools and hospitals during the AIOC"s era. The Iranian government was justified in asking for better terms for Iranian employees whose education and training was not well planned and required further development by the company. However, the AIOC had never committed itself either to develop its training programmes or to recruit more local workers. It did not even commit to increasing the construction of houses or providing other benefits for Iranian employees. It was not surprising that the unfair treatment and injustice against the Iranian employees were the precursor to the bill approving the nationalisation of the company"s holdings, in May 1951 [485] Musaddiq was committed to nationalisation because expatriates from the foreign company"s home country provided most of the managerial and technical skills, whereas locals constituted most of the labour force. It was clear that the Iranians were eager for their country to benefit from an important agreement, fairly honoured and properly implemented by the AIOC To conclude, the AIOC was seen as a typical colonial power and an arm of the
imperial British government and the accusations against the AIOC of discrimination against Iranians can be upheld on the basis of the evidence reviewed here.
Notes & References
484. White, The Business and the politics of decolonization: the British experience in the Twentieth century, 549.
485. Mansoor, State-Centered vs. Class-Centered Perspectives.
Categories ArticlesTags Abadan, Abadan oil refinery, AIOC History, Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, British Policy, Company employees, Iran, Iranian Politics, iranianization, Khuzestan, Labor, Middle East, Nationalism, Nationalization, Neveen Abdelrehim, oil company towns, Oil Workers, Premier Mossadegh, United Kingdom, United States, William Fraser
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France's top literary award goes to book on Spain's civil war
PARIS, FRANCE, Myriam Chaplain Riou- A former psychiatrist, Lydie Salvayre, on Wednesday won France's top literary prize, the Goncourt, for her book "Pas pleurer" ("Don't cry") in which she interweaves the voices of her mother and a French writer during the Spanish Civil War.
Salvayre, the daughter of exiled Spanish Republican parents, beat off competition from favourites Kamel Daoud, an Algerian first-time novelist, and French best-selling author David Foenkinos to win the prize.
Born in 1948, Salvayre grew up in the southwest French city of Toulouse after her parents fled the regime of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, learning French only when she went to school.
"I am very happy, I'm very moved," Salvayre said, with tears in her eyes, following the announcement, made in line with a 100-year-old tradition at Paris's Drouant restaurant.
The author of numerous works, many of Salvayre's books have been adapted for the stage and she has been translated into over 20 languages.
Her Goncourt-winning novel is dominated by both the figure of French writer Georges Bernanos and the voice of her own mother, Montse, telling the story of the uprising that started Spain's civil war in 1936.
The winner of the prize receives the nominal sum of 10 euros ($12) but can expect to see sales of around 400,000 in what is considered a literary jackpot for authors.
Sales of Pierre Lemaitre's 2013 winner "Au revoir la-haut" soared from 30,000 to 620,000, according to his publishers Albin Michel.
The prize is one of four important literary awards handed out in France this week starting with the Femina on Monday and the Medicis on Tuesday.
The lesser known Renaudot, also announced on Wednesday, went to Foenkinos for his book "Charlotte", a tribute to a young artist, Charlotte Salomon, killed at Auschwitz in 1943.
Thanks to his 2009 novel "La delicatesse" ("Delicacy"), which was made into a film starring Audrey Tautou, the 40-year-old writer is already one of France's best selling authors.
Supporters of the widely-tipped Daoud, however, were left disappointed.
Shortlisted for the Goncourt for Meursault, contre-enquete" (Meursault, counter-inquiry"), the Algerian journalist's novel revisited Albert Camus' famous work "L'Etranger".
In Camus' 1942 novel -- translated into English as "The Outsider" -- the main character Meursault shoots and kills a man known only as the "Arab" on a beach in colonial-era Algiers.
Returning to the story from the perspective of the victim's younger brother, Haroun, Daoud has his main character deliver a bar room monologue in which he rails against his family's treatment and how it marred his own life.
Daoud, 44, who works for a daily newspaper in the Algerian city of Oran, has said that his book has been misinterpreted by some as an attack on Camus' novel.
In fact, he says, it was intended as a homage to another of Camus' works "La Chute" ("The Fall"), in which a man reflects on his life in a series of monologues.
France's Patrick Modiano, a former Goncourt winner, won this year's Nobel Literature Prize.
Thursday, November 6th 2014
Myriam Chaplain Riou


What comes in your mind when you hear the word ration card?
What is the purpose of having a ration card at all, do we still use the ration card for the purpose it was created?
Although Ration card is a privilege given for citizens who have low margin income and are unable to afford the prices for essential commodities like food, oil. It is by no means meant for everyone in the country.
Ration card was primarily used to providing rice/wheat/cooking oil/kerosene to people with lower income and who cannot afford to buy these basic commodities from market.
This set up proved to be a flop show and it gave rise to a big problem called black-marketing.


This is a high level formal meeting including both diplomatic representatives of OSCE participating States as well as representatives from civil society organizations across the OSCE region. Following the introductory presentations, participating State delegations and civil society organizations will have the chance to take the floor and give their own statements on the session.
Dr. Borbala Fellegi, founder and director of the Foresee Research Group (Hungary), organisational member of the EFRJ, will represent the EFRJ on this event. Fellegi's presentation will come at the start of Session I: Current Trends, Challenges and Opportunities in the Area of Access to Justice (16 November, 16-18hrs). She will present RJ as one of the possible means of overcoming barriers in access to justice, bringing in her extensive professional experience.


First of all, thank you for visiting my blog. For a fes years, I've been collecting sniper scopes of both World Wars, with a preference for the WWI german scopes. During these years, I learned a lot with the help of other collectors. In my opinion, I would not be very useful sharing my knowledge about sniper scopes since everything I know is already accessible in books or online. That's why I decided to complete these very complete sources with pictures, pictures of scopes coming from my collection or from collecting friends. You can't always share what you own in your collection but you can share pictures of it. That's the point of this blog.
Like Robert Spielauer did in his beautiful books, this blog will focus on pictures and short description. For more complete information, I invite you to visit the links section, redirecting to websites and books containing everything you need to know on the subject.
I would like to thank all the people who support me and/or contribute to this blog by sending me pictures of their collections. If you want me to show scopes from your collection or other sniper-related items, don't hesitate to contact me.
Also, if you need more information, if you have something to sell here or if you wish to use the pictures of this blog, feel free to contact me at snipercollections@gmail.com and I'll do my best to help.
You can also push the "Follow" button in the lower right corner of the main page if you wish to be notified of future updates.
i have a 1939 i think its russian or german not sure all it has is 1939 serialno. 04484 no name brand any information would help also woul like to know the value of the scope it is in very good condition thank you.


Since 1928 we have been pioneers of Polish aerospace.
Last Saturday 9th September, I joined a group of around 50 employees of PZL for an integration event in OTS Sosenka.
We were lucky with the weather and we could spend a very nice and active day together: we rafted in kayaks, played different games and competitions in the outdoors, shared a barbecue and a few drinks, and there was even disco polo for the bravest.
Really, it was a great initiative and a fun way of getting to know colleagues outside of work. I am happy I participated.
We want to maintain a pleasant atmosphere in which people can participate without fear of being insulted or negatively perceived. Please avoid personal attacks or insulting comments of any kind directed to the author of this site or any other person. You have every right to comment anonymously but do not use your anonymity to tell people things that you would not tell them to their faces. Comments that violate these basic rules will be deleted.
I'm looking forward for your next put up, I'll try to get the dangle of it!


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3 out of 4 children with mental health disorders aren't accessing care
by Melissa Mulraney, Murdoch Children's Research Institute and Harriet Hiscock, Murdoch Children's Research Institute
Three-quarters of Australian children with mental health disorders aren't getting professional help, according to our new research. Girls, younger children and families from non-English-speaking backgrounds are the least likely to access mental health services.
We looked at the mental health of just under 5,000 Australian children aged eight to 13 via parental surveys of their child's emotional and mental health. We then linked the results with Medicare data to see which families had accessed help.
Fewer than one in four children we identified as having a mental health problem saw a health professional in the 18 months after we surveyed them.
Left unaddressed, mental health problems can become more entrenched and harder to treat. And mental health problems in childhood can have lifelong ramifications including increased risk of mental health problems in adulthood, poor educational attainment, unemployment, and contact with the criminal justice system.
So ensuring children and adolescents who experience mental health problems receive access to timely and effective care is essential.
What types of mental health problems do kids have?
Around 14% of children and adolescents aged four to 17 meet diagnostic criteria for at least one mental health disorder.
The most common mental health disorders in Australian children in this age group are anxiety disorders, which affect 6.9% of children, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which affects 7.4% of children.
Around 50% of all adult mental disorders begin before the age of 14. Yet in 2017-18, children under the age of 15 had the lowest use of Medicare-rebated mental health services (5.1%) of any Australian age group.
Younger children
Younger children were less likely to access services than older children. Some 20-27% of children aged 12-13 years accessed services, compared to 9-15% of children aged eight to nine years.
Young children respond to and process emotional experiences and traumatic events in ways that are very different from adults and older children. Consequently, it can be more difficult to recognise problems in early childhood.
A child acting up in the classroom, for example, may be perceived as being "naughty" rather than having mental health problems. Or a child may experience stomach aches and headaches which are caused by anxiety but thought to be a physical problem.
When problems are recognised, families may delay getting help for young children in the hope that they will "grow out of" the mental disorder.
While this may apply in some cases, treatment is still important. Take ADHD, for example. Although about 80% of children with ADHD will grow out of it by adulthood, children with ADHD often find it hard to make friends. If they miss out on developing their social skills early in life, it can become increasingly difficult to make friends during adolescence and adulthood when peer relationships become more complex.
In our study, the factors most consistently associated with getting support were symptom severity and parent perception that the child needed help.
The gradual onset and increase in severity over time of many mental health problems means children and their parents are more likely to seek services when the symptoms become severe or impact significantly on the child's ability to function. This typically occurs as they grow older.
Boys versus girls
We found girls were less likely to receive care than boys. Girls made up 50% of children with mental health problems in the study, yet accounted for just 30% of children who received support for emotional problems at ages eight to 11.
This may have something to do with the fact that mental health conditions can be more difficult to recognise in girls.
Boys are more likely to externalise problems such as anxiety by reacting angrily when asked to do something that upsets them. Girls are more likely to internalise these issues by withdrawing or appearing very quiet, making problems harder to detect. In an environment like the classroom, boys' problems are more likely to get noticed because of their disruptive nature.
Culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
Around 14% of children with emotional problems came from a non-English speaking background, but they only accounted for 2% who received help.
The reluctance of parents from non-English speaking backgrounds to get help may be related to different cultural understandings of mental health and illness. They may also struggle to find services for their child in their own language.
Mental health conditions may also be more difficult to recognise among children from non-English speaking backgrounds, where quietness in the classroom may be mistaken for a language issue rather than a mental health issue.
We need change
Over the past 20 years there has been little change in the prevalence of child and adolescent mental disorders in Australia despite increased investment in resources. This is likely in part because the quality and the intensity of services provided have not improved.
Children may not be receiving sufficient treatment sessions or treatment sustained over a long enough period to meaningfully impact on their symptoms. It's recommended that children receive at least eight sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy for the treatment of anxiety, for example, but many children will require more.
Australia's health system rewards discharging patients from care within a set number of appointments rather than once they have improved. The Medicare Better Access scheme allows for a maximum of ten subsidised appointments with a psychologist in a calendar year. But again, many children require more.
We need a system-level shift to funding based on measured symptom improvement rather than a capped number of appointments both in hospital settings and in the community.
Our research suggests we need to better understand parent and child drivers of why children miss out on care, particularly girls, younger children, and those from diverse backgrounds. Doing so and ensuring access to high-quality care will benefit not only the child and their family now but also the adult they will become.
Melissa Mulraney, Postdoctoral research fellow, Murdoch Children's Research Institute and Harriet Hiscock, Principal Fellow, Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Murdoch Children's Research Institute
Children feel the brunt of unemployment woes, experiencing mental health difficulties
Be You mental health initiative launched today
Childhood trauma and adult mental health link to be explored in cutting edge project
Duchess of Cambridge speaks about the importance of the early years, mental health


Montalto is a privately owned estate nestled in the picturesque surroundings of the County Down countryside.
Convenient to Ireland's airports, famous links golf courses and the attractions of nearby Belfast, this special hideaway is one of Ireland's best kept secrets.
The estate is undergoing a transformation. Owned by the Wilson family, this estate is being developed into a flagship tourism visitor destination which will open to the public later in 2018.
Located in the town of Ballynahinch just 30 minutes from Belfast and under 2 hours from Dublin Airport.
There are public transport links to Ballynahinch town.
In 1660 the estate was first purchased by the Rawdon family from the McCartans. A two storey house was then built by the Earl of Moira in 1765. The plaster work on the ceiling of the Lady's Sitting Room, attributed to Robert West of Dublin, from that period still survives to this day.
In 1798 the Battle of Ballynahinch took place on the outskirts of the estate.
The Carriage Rooms at Montalto is an exclusive private wedding venue set in the stunning County Down countryside. As you drive along the tree lined avenue taking in the views of the surrounding Montalto Estate, it will become apparent that you have arrived somewhere very special indeed.
The lavish settings of The Carriage Rooms at Montalto are truly picture perfect. The venue is licensed for both indoor and outdoor ceremonies with indoor ceremonies taking place in The Sawmill offering distinctive stone walls and illuminated arches. Romantic outdoor ceremonies take place in the beautifully manicured gardens.
Guests can spend the afternoon meandering here with a drink in hand while you take advantage of the wonderful photo opportunities on this 400 acre estate. After this everyone moves into the banquet hall for dinner. With its exposed walls, vaulted ceilings and 19th century beams, this room provides an elegant setting for your sumptuous meal served by our award winning caterer, Yellow Door. A bespoke menu will be created by their expert team working alongside you to make sure that everything is exactly how you imagined it would be. After dinner, you and your guests will move downstairs to dance the night away.
In addition to providing these exceptional venues, we also offer wedding accommodation with nine superbly appointed ensuite double bedrooms in the historic Montalto House.
For more information, or to discuss booking Montalto for your wedding, please contact Charlotte McCann.
Your venue is unparalleled and we have received countless comments regarding the beauty of the building, grounds and gracious ambience. It was a pleasure to work with such a professional organisation. Thank you!
The Carriage Rooms only host one special occasion per day, so you can be sure of our undivided attention at all times.
More intimate weddings, of up to 50 guests, can be accommodated in the house itself.
With its exposed walls, vaulted ceilings and 19th century beams, this room provides an elegant setting for your sumptuous meal served by our award winning caterer.
Montalto House showcases an outstanding example of how the conservation of a building can successfully lead to its reinvention and revival and provide guests with a place to stay like no other. Nestled in the rolling countryside of County Down, Montalto Estate offers over 400 acres of private natural woodland and park, and is an ideal base for anyone exploring Northern Ireland.
The character of the building is its greatest asset due to its carefully conserved architectural features. The house offers a wonderfully intimate place to stay, accommodating guests in seven exquisitely decorated bedrooms with two additional bedroom suites in the adjoining Courtyard Annex. A fine collection of Irish and European art and antiques furnish this meticulously restored Georgian country house.
Upon arrival, guests are warmly greeted by their knowledgeable and experienced personal host, who will make sure they feel like Lord and Lady of the manor during their stay. Guests will enjoy a meal with locally sourced ingredients home cooked by our chef in the evening before tucking into our famous 'Montalto Breakfast' the next morning.
Please contact us for further details, or to discuss booking accomodation, at Montalto Estate.
From a board meeting in sumptuous surroundings to team building and outdoor activities throughout the Estate, Montalto is the perfect location to 'get away from the office' in unparalleled luxury and privacy.
From board meetings in sumptuous surroundings to team building and outdoor activities on Montalto Estate, we offer the perfect location to 'get away from the office' in unparalleled luxury and privacy.
Montalto House itself offers a range of meeting facilities in sumptuous surroundings. The Carriage Rooms at Montalto offers a purpose-built conferences and events venue, with an 1850s listed mill building at its heart. This can accommodate a broad spectrum of activities suitable for both corporate and private clients. These include clay shooting, zip line, fly fishing, falconry, archery, wine tasting, kayaking, cookery demonstrations and much more.
Please contact us for more information, or to discuss your corporate event.
Fly Fishing, clay shooting, falconry and archery are all available on the estate, as well as many other popular activities.
We are happy to accommodate corporate events in the house and will work with you to ensure everything runs smoothly.
The range of outdoor activities, at Montalto, offers a great choice for team building events.
We welcome primary and secondary schools on walks throughout the estate.
Please contact us to arrange a visit for your school.


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Home / Accessories / News
Apple's iPod updates: What's new
Macworld	 Sep 18, 2006 5:00 pm PDT
Apple has overhauled its entire iPod line, unveiling new versions of the video iPod, iPod nano, and iPod shuffle. Having a hard time keeping up on all the changes? Here's a summary of the key changes to all three iPod offerings, including how they compare to their predecessors.
The big news: "We're going to make the iPod more affordable and accessible," Apple CEO Steve Jobs said at the iPod's September 12 unveiling, and he wasn't kidding. For just $249 , you can have a 30GB iPod capable of storing music, showing photos, and playing videos—the lowest price Apple has ever charged for a full-sized iPod. That's a $50 discount from the fifth-generation 30GB iPod's price tag. The top-end iPod's price has also dropped $50, to $349 , while its capacity has jumped to 80GB from 60GB.
New features: Beyond the price tag, the most significant changes to the iPod include a brighter screen—60 percent brighter, Apple says—and longer battery life, at least on the 80GB model. Apple claims the higher-end iPod offers up to 20 hours of music playback, six hours of slideshows with music, and six-and-a-half hours of video playback. The 30GB iPod continues to feature 14 hours of music playback, though battery life for slideshows and videos has ticked up an hour and an a hour and a half, respectively.
The iPod software has also undergone an overhaul, gaining support for 640- by 480-pixel video; a new search feature that lets you use the scroll wheel and Center button to enter letters for instant searches of the iPod's content; and a Quick Scroll feature that displays a rectangular overlay of the letter you're currently scrolling through when browsing long lists of items. Support for gapless playback—an iTunes 7 feature that allows songs on classical, jazz, and concept albums to play seamlessly—has also been added, as has the ability to control screen brightness. Finally, these iPods can also play the nine new iPod games Apple sells for $4.99 from the iTunes Store. (The games also play on fifth-generation iPods, which, via an iPod software update, also gain support for the higher-res video, Quick Scroll, brightness control, and gapless playback.)
Accessories: Jobs says Apple has spent the last 18 months working on improvements to the iPod earbuds—these new earphones ship with the overhauled iPod. Other accessories include a USB cable, dock adapter, and sleeve case.
What's the same: The dimensions of the iPod remain the same, with the larger-capacity iPod still just a little bit thicker than the 30GB offering. The display may be brighter, but it remains the same size—2.5 inches. The iPod's interface is unchanged, and you continue to sync and charge via Apple's USB dock-connector cable. Both configurations are available in either white or black cases.
What we think: We're currently in the midst of evaluating both the 30GB and 80GB iPods and testing Apple's battery-life claims. We'll update this story with a link to the review once it's posted later this week.
The big news: No, the iPod mini hasn't made its triumphant comeback, but it's easy to see the mini's influence over the second-generation nano's new look. Gone is the high-gloss case of the previous iPod nano; this model comes in an anodized aluminum body (all the better for resisting the sorts of scratches the glossier nano was prone to picking up). Not only that, these nanos come in different colors—blue, pink, green, silver, and black. That's virtually identical to the rainbow of iPod mini models available back when that music player debuted in 2004. (Only the gold option is missing in action.) Another key difference from the mini's color selection is that, with the nano, certain colors are only available in certain capacities. The 2GB nano only comes in silver, the 4GB model comes in silver , green , blue , and pink , and the 8GB offering is only available in black.
Capacity changes: The original nano came in 2GB and 4GB sizes; a 1GB model was added earlier this year. Now, the smallest nano you can get is a 2GB version. The second-generation version also comes in 4GB and 8GB sizes.
Pricing: The range of iPod nano prices remain unchanged: $149 for the 2GB model, $199 for 4GB, and $249 for the 8GB offering. But since capacities have grown, as noted above, you're actually getting twice as much storage space for your buck.
New features: Many of the new features added to the full-sized iPod have also been incorporated into the nano line—specifically, Quick Scroll, search, and gapless playback. As with the new iPod, the nano comes with a brighter screen—40 percent brighter, according to Apple—but you can't adjust the brightness level. Battery life has also been improved, from 14 hours of music playback to up to 24 hours. The nanos also pick up a capability that's been present in full-sized iPods for a while: the ability to record voice memos with a compatible accessory. Speaking of accessories…
Accessories: Included add-ons remain the same as before—earphones, a USB cable, and dock adapter—though the included earphones are the redesigned ones that Apple also ships with the new iPods. It's worth noting that the headphone port is farther away from the dock connector than it was on the original nanos, making first-generation accessories that plug into both connectors incompatible with the new model.
What's the same: Technically, the dimensions of the nano have changed—the device is now 0.26 inches thick instead of 0.27 inches. But if you're able to detect a difference, your sensory powers are far greater than ours. And, of course, the overall shape and finish have changed. But everything else remains nearly identical to the original, including the bottom-mounted headphone port, top-mounted Hold switch, and USB-only syncing.
What we think: "The second-generation iPod nano is both a welcome step back to the more colorful (and scratch-resistant) days of the iPod mini and a moderate step forward in functionality." —From Christopher Breen's iPod nano review
The big news: When the second-generation shuffle debuts in October, it will sport an entirely new, smaller design. While the old flash-based player resembled a stick of gum, the latest version looks more like a wafer. It's only 1.07 inches tall, 1.62 inches wide and 0.41 inches deep—and that depth measurement includes an attached clip that fastens the shuffle to your clothes. The shuffle has dropped some weight as well, weighing in at 0.55 ounces, down from 0.78 ounces in the original model. Gone too is the USB connector that used to charge the shuffle; now, you connect, charge, and transfer music via the headphone jack.
Capacity changes: The 512MB option is no more. The second-generation shuffle comes in one capacity—1GB.
Pricing: Whether the pricing has changed depends on whether you're a glass-half-full or a glass-half-empty type. On the one hand, at $79, the second-generation iPod shuffle is $20 cheaper than the 1GB model that preceded it. On the other, you used to be able to buy an entry-level 512MB shuffle for $69; you'll have to pay $10 more to get your hands on a new shuffle.
Accessories: The shuffle now comes with a USB dock for connecting to your computer; as mentioned above, it plugs into the shuffle's headphone jack. The shuffle also includes Apple's new iPod earbuds.
What's the same: The spartan interface of the shuffle hasn't changed—there's a central play/pause button ringed by controls for fast-forwarding and replaying songs as well as adjusting the volume. Battery life remains rated at 12 hours.
What we think: Other than to marvel at the shuffle's slimmer size, we'll defer on making a definitive assessment on the new device until it arrives in October.


In college, I worked as a Visual Designer for Associated Students of the University of Washington (ASUW); and I was Director of Communications for UW AIGA. Basically, I just whipped out posters. As I was tidying up my hard drive, I found these old gems.