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Miss Peregrine. La casa dei ragazzi Speciali è una serie di romanzi fantastici - più una raccolta di racconti - scritti tra il 2012 e il 2018 dall'autore statunitense Ransom Riggs. Hanno riscosso un notevole successo tra il pubblico, e hanno venduto più di 5 milioni di copie. La serie si compone di una trilogia, formata da La casa dei ragazzi Speciali di Miss Peregrine, Hollow City e La biblioteca delle anime, e altri due romanzi, La mappa dei giorni e  La conferenza delle Ymbryne, che faranno parte di una nuova trilogia in corso di completamento. Ambientata principalmente nell'isola di Cairnholm, nel Galles, e negli Stati Uniti, la serie parla delle avventure di Jacob "Jake" Portman, che scopre l'esistenza dei ragazzi Speciali, dei reietti della società con poteri sovrannaturali, che vivono nella casa di Miss Peregrine, che li protegge dagli attacchi degli Spiriti Vacui. Jacob scopre di essere uno di loro quando capisce di essere l'unico in grado di vedere gli Spiriti, abilità tramandatagli da suo nonno, Abraham Portman, famoso tra gli Speciali come un grande cacciatore di Vacui.

Nel 2016 dal primo libro è stato tratto il film  Miss Peregrine - La casa dei ragazzi speciali , diretto da Tim Burton. I protagonisti, Jacob, Emma e Miss Peregrine sono interpretati, rispettivamente, dagli attori Asa Butterfield, Ella Purnell e Eva Green.

Il quinto libro della serie, intitolato The Conference of the Birds, è stato pubblicato il 14 gennaio 2020; la traduzione italiana, La conferenza delle Ymbryne: il quinto libro di Miss Peregrine, la casa dei ragazzi Speciali, è stata pubblicata dalla casa editrice Rizzoli nel febbraio 2020.

Libri

La casa dei bambini speciali di Miss Peregrine, pubblicato nel 2012
Dopo la morte del nonno, Jacob Portman decide di lasciare gli Stati Uniti per recarsi a Cairnholm, luogo dove, secondo le storie che era solito raccontargli il nonno, si trova la casa dei ragazzi Speciali di Miss Peregrine. La casa, però, è stata distrutta il 3 settembre 1943, durante la seconda guerra mondiale, così Jacob scopre che, secondo l'intera isola, tutti i ragazzi che ci abitavano sono morti. Non arrendendosi, decide di andare nelle rovine, e incontra i ragazzi Speciali: reietti che possiedono poteri speciali come il controllo del fuoco, la levitazione e la superforza. Essi gli dicono che, grazie ai poteri di Miss Peregrine, una ymbryne, sono sopravvissuti al bombardamento, e vivono in un anello temporale che li tiene al sicuro dal mondo esterno. Jacob scopre così che suo nonno aveva ragione, nonostante tutti lo definissero pazzo, e così decide di rimanere alla casa per aiutare i ragazzi Speciali a proteggersi dagli Spiriti Vacui: ex Speciali trasformati in mostri da un esperimento fallito, che si nutrono delle anime degli Speciali giovani per tornare umani.

Questo libro per giovani adulti venne originariamente pensato come un libro di immagini riproducente fotografie che Riggs aveva collezionato, ma su suggerimento dell'editore Quirk Books, lo scrittore usò le fotografie come traccia per la stesura del romanzo. Riggs era un collezionista di fotografie, ma aveva bisogno di qualcosa di più per il suo romanzo. Incontrò Leonard Lightfoot, un noto collezionista di Pasadena che lo presentò ad altri collezionisti. Ne scaturì la storia di un ragazzo che segue gli indizi tratti da vecchie fotografie di suo nonno, che lo porteranno in un grande orfanotrofio abbandonato su un'isola gallese.

Hollow City - Il ritorno dei ragazzi speciali di Miss Peregrine, pubblicato nel 2014
Dopo il rapimento di Miss Peregrine, che è intrappolata nella sua forma di rapace, Jacob e gli Speciali partono alla volta di Londra per trovare le ultime ymbryne superstiti, che possano essere in grado di aiutare Miss Peregrine a tornare nella sua forma umana prima che sia troppo tardi e che diventi un uccello permanentemente. Solo quando la loro missione è compiuta, gli Speciali capiscono di essere stati ingannati, infatti, per tutto il loro viaggio, hanno cercato di aiutare il fratello di Miss Peregrine, e non lei, che è stata catturata ed è tenuta prigioniera nelle mani degli Spiriti Vacui. Così gli Speciali vengono rapiti e portati nella Londra dell'epoca Vittoriana.

La biblioteca delle anime, pubblicato nel 2016
Emma e Jacob, scampati dal rapimento degli Speciali, si recano nella Londra Vittoriana con l'aiuto di Addison MacHenry, un cane parlante Speciale che riesce a fiutare le tracce dagli altri Speciali, per ritrovare i loro amici e Miss Peregrine. Giunti a Devil's Acre, in un anello dell'800, scoprono che Miss Peregrine è tornata umana, ma Caul, suo fratello, insieme a Bentham, obbligano gli speciali a seguirli nella biblioteca delle anime, dove avviene una battaglia che culmina con il crollo della biblioteca sui due malfattori. Gli Speciali sono così al sicuro, e Jacob ritorna negli Stati Uniti, dove lo aspetta una sorpresa: poco prima che i suoi genitori lo portino in una clinica psichiatrica, Miss Peregrine e i suoi amici compaiono davanti alla casa dei Portman, per stare con Jacob dopo che i loro orologi interni sono stati azzerati, così da non dover invecchiare in pochi minuti di tutti gli anni passati nell'anello.

La mappa dei giorni, pubblicato nel 2018
Il libro racconta di come gli Speciali amici di Jacob, inclusa Miss Peregrine, vengono a stare a casa del ragazzo, anche se i suoi genitori non ne sono contenti. Miss P ha creato un anello nel magazzino degli attrezzi del cortile di Jacob, così da poter andare a Devil's Acre ogni volta che vogliono. Jacob decide di partire con i suoi amici per una delle missioni di Abe, suscitando la disapprovazione e la rabbia della ymbryne.

La conferenza delle Ymbryne, pubblicato nel 2020
Jacob cerca di portare a compimento, da solo, l'impresa che H gli ha affidato, pensando che i suoi amici non vogliano più seguirlo. Poi, loro lo aiuteranno a chiarire la profezia e a portare a termine il suo compito.

I racconti degli Speciali
Una raccolta di fiabe popolari riguardanti gli Speciali, più volte citate da essi durante la saga. Narrano le origini delle ymbryne e storie di altri Speciali, ignari delle loro capacità, ma che infondono al lettore morali inquiete e peculiari. Le storie, nell'ordine in cui vengono presentate nel libro, sono: Gli splendidi cannibali, La prima ymbryne, La principessa dalla lingua biforcuta, La donna che era amica dei fantasmi, Cocobolo, I piccioni di Saint Paul, La ragazza che domava gli incubi, La locusta, Il ragazzo che sapeva trattenere il mare, Il racconto di Cuthbert.

Glossario degli Speciali
Speciali — Ramo invisibile di ogni specie, umana o animale, benedetta - e maledetta - da poteri soprannaturali, quali l'evocare il fuoco dalle dita o l'essere leggeri come l'aria. Onorati nei tempi antichi, temuti e perseguitati in quelli più recenti, gli Speciali sono reietti che vivono nell'ombra.
Anelli — Area circoscritta all'interno della quale un unico giorno continua a ripetersi all'infinito. Creati e sorvegliati dalle ymbryne per salvaguardare dai pericoli gli speciali posti sotto la loro tutela, gli anelli ritardano per sempre l'invecchiamento di chi li abita. Ma chi vive in un anello non è affatto immortale: ogni giorno «saltato» si accumula in un debito, che viene riscosso provocando un veloce e orribile invecchiamento nel caso lo Speciale si attardi troppo a lungo all'esterno del proprio anello.
Ymbryne — Matriarche mutaforma degli Speciali. Possono trasformarsi in uccelli, se lo desiderano, manipolare il tempo, e hanno il compito di proteggere i ragazzi Speciali. Nell'antico Idioma degli Speciali, la parola ymbryne significa «rivoluzione, circuito».
Spiriti Vacui — Ex Speciali dalle fattezze mostruose che hanno fame delle anime dei loro antichi fratelli. Somigliano a cadaveri avvizziti, eccezion fatta per l'energica mascella che cela al proprio interno un groviglio di lingue tentacolari. Prima di una recente innovazione, essi non potevano entrare negli anelli.
Spettri — Se un Vacuo mangia un numero sufficiente di anime degli Speciali diventa uno Spettro. Essi sono visibili a chiunque e sembrano Normali in tutto e per tutto, tranne che per gli occhi completamente bianchi e privi di pupilla. Scaltri, manipolatori e bravissimi a mimetizzarsi, lavorano da anni per infiltrarsi tra i Normali e gli Speciali.

Personaggi

Ragazzi speciali.

Jacob Portman — È il protagonista e nipote di Abe Portman, e da lui ha ereditato il suo potere, che consiste nel vedere gli Spiriti Vacui, invisibili all'occhio umano e Speciale. È innamorato di Emma, e ha deciso di aiutare Miss Peregrine nella battaglia contro gli Spettri. Ha sedici anni.
Emma Bloom — È una ragazzina capace di far scaturire fiamme dalle proprie mani, perciò tutto il suo corpo è ignifugo. Ha un carattere da leader, infatti dopo la scomparsa di Miss Peregrine sarà lei a prendere il comando nelle ricerche della ymbryne. Nell'adattamento cinematografico, Emma è invece la ragazza più leggera dell'aria.
Bronwyn Bruntley — Appare come un'adolescente. Bronwyn è intrisa di forza incredibile come suo fratello Victor. Viene considerata un'altra figura materna oltre a Miss Peregrine per i ragazzi più piccoli, come Olive e Claire nel libro. Bronwyn è estremamente leale e di buon cuore e capace di fare di tutto per i suoi amici.
Enoch O'Connor — Egli è capace di resuscitare e dare vita ad oggetti inanimati per un limitato periodo di tempo. Sembra una persona senza cuore, ma è qualcuno che si preoccupa realmente per coloro a cui tiene. È molto sarcastico.
Horace Somnusson — Riesce ad avere sogni profetici. Segue la moda dell'epoca, ed è comunemente vestito in giacca e cravatta, con un cappello a cilindro e un monocolo. Parla con un accento inglese ed è pretenzioso e altezzoso. Egli è anche molto vile e si conferma essere il personaggio più comico della trilogia, con molte battute divertenti.
Fiona Frauenfeld — Appare come un'adolescente poiché vive nell'anello temporale. Ha un'affinità con le piante e può farle crescere o morire ogni volta che le piace, anche se quest'ultima cosa è abbastanza rara. Ha l'immunità alla maggior parte dei veleni e sostanze tossiche. Si mantiene in uno stato trasandato, per alcuni aspetti, come le sue amate piante e non parla praticamente mai.
Hugh Apiston — Appare come un adolescente poiché risiede nell'anello temporale. Ha una grande empatia con le api. Le immagazzina nel suo stomaco per proteggerle e può farle uscire quando vuole. Hugh è innamorato di Fiona, ricambiato da lei. Gli altri Speciali ritengono che dato che l'uno controlla le api e l'altra le piante, la loro attrazione reciproca sia naturale.
Millard Nullings — Appare come un giovane adolescente e ha la straordinaria peculiarità di essere invisibile. Purtroppo, a causa della sua peculiarità, non può mai essere visto e così indossa gli abiti, la maggior parte delle volte, su richiesta di Miss Peregrine. Egli è anche estremamente ben versato in tutte le cose particolari, e documenta gli eventi di ogni essere vivente sull'isola durante il giorno che si ripete nell'anello.
Olive Elephanta — Una dei più giovani ragazzi Speciali. Lei è leggera come l'aria, infatti indossa degli scarponi speciali fatti di piombo che la tengono salda a terra (nell'adattamento cinematografico di Tim Burton, Olive Elephanta è invece la ragazza capace di evocare le fiamme, innamorata di Enoch).
 Claire Densmore — La più giovane dei ragazzi Speciali, ha la peculiarità di avere una bocca in più nella parte posteriore della testa con i denti estremamente aguzzi, nascosta sotto i suoi riccioli biondi.
Addison MacHenry— Vive nel serraglio di Miss Wren ed è uno dei due unici animali, che vi si trovano, che parlano. Come potere riesce a fiutare le tracce degli speciali anche ad enormi distanze. Aiuta Emma e Jacob a penetrare nella fortezza degli spettri (terzo libro).
Melina Manon — Una Speciale che risiedeva in un anello temporale, dopo la cattura della sua ymbryne, Miss Wren, decise di rimanere nella casa e di non scappare, dando per morti i suoi ex compagni e amici. Ha il potere della telecinesi.
Joel-E-Peter — Sono due fratelli ciechi, che come i pipistrelli possono orientarsi al buio grazie a dei suoni emessi che rimbombano sugli oggetti circostanti, dando loro la posizione esatta di tutto. Quando non si tengono per mano e vengono separati con la forza, emettono degli ultrasuoni che distruggono tutti i vetri vicini.
Sam e Esme — Sono due sorelle sopravvissute al bombardamento della loro casa. Sam è Speciale, infatti quando viene trafitta da un'asse di legno non si fa niente, e sembra essere indifferente al grosso buco che si è formato nel suo petto. Esme, invece è Normale, perciò la sorella ha rifiutato l'invito di una ymbryne a risiedere nel suo anello.
Althea — Una Speciale di Miss Wren, era l'apprendista ai grandi archivi degli speciali, fino a quando i Vacui attaccano l'edificio, allora lei, con la sua abilità, congela l'intero palazzo intrappolando gli spiriti nel ghiaccio.
Noor — Una Speciale originaria dell'India, è orfana e vive a New York. La sua abilità consiste nel catturare tutta la luce presente nell'aria di una qualsiasi stanza, facendola piombare in un'oscurità profonda. È capace di inghiottire la luce e lanciarla contro le persone, carbonizzandole.

Ymbrynes
Una Ymbryne è un particolare tipo di Speciale che può trasformarsi in un uccello ed è in grado di creare e mantenere un anello. Si tratta sempre di soggetti di sesso femminile e proteggono i ragazzi Speciali, gli adulti e gli animali, spesso salvandoli da situazioni terribili.
 Miss Alma Peregrine — Miss Alma LeFay Peregrine è la direttrice della scuola. È una donna delicata, che ama fumare la pipa e adora il suo lavoro, anche se a volte può essere eccessivamente rigorosa. Viveva nell'anello di Miss Avocet quando era giovane e può trasformarsi in un falco pellegrino.
 Esmeralda Avocet— Miss Avocet è una donna anziana dei primi anni dell'era vittoriana in Inghilterra. Il suo anello è stato invaso da Spettri e Vacui, costringendola a ritirarsi nel ciclo di Miss Peregrine. Può trasformarsi in un'avocetta.
 Miss Finch — Molto poco si conosce sul suo conto. Può trasformarsi in un fringuello ed ha una zia sotto forma di fringuello.
 Balenciaga Wren — Miss Wren è la direttrice di un serraglio per animali Speciali. Può trasformarsi in uno scricciolo.
 Millicent Thrush — Miss Thrush aveva un anello per ragazzi Speciali a Londra. Può trasformarsi in un tordo.
Miss Billie e Miss Annie — sono due semiymbryne, ovvero due speciali che possono controllare il tempo, ma non hanno le altre comuni abilità delle normali ymbrine. In America sono poste al comando degli anelli, dopo la scomparsa di tutte le altre ymbrine, come Miss Honeytrush , ma non sono in grado di far ripartire gli anelli, e una volta al mese un tale addetto all'azzeramento degli anelli svolge il compito al posto loro.

Non speciali
 Maryann Portman — Maryann è la madre di Jacob e moglie di Franklin. Crebbe in una famiglia ricca e ancora oggi vive nell'agiatezza ed è molto protettiva nei confronti di Jacob.
 Susan Portman — Susan è l'amata zia di Jacob. Gli ha dato la copia di suo nonno dei poemi di Ralph Waldo Emerson, che hanno condotto Jacob nella sua avventura in Galles.
 Franklin Portman— Padre di Jacob, ha sposato Maryann, è fratello di Susan e figlio di Abraham. È alle prese con un libro sull'ornitologia da anni, ma si scoraggia spesso e accantona i progetti per intraprenderne di nuovi.
Ricky — È il migliore, e unico, amico di Jacob, finche egli non si reca a Cairnholn per trovare gli speciali.
Lilly — Lilly è la migliore amica di Noor, e frequenta la sua stessa scuola superiore a New York. È cieca, e vede solo il 10% della luce. È molto amica con Millard, e capisce fin da subito che il ragazzo è invisibile.

Antagonisti
Dottor Golan — L'antagonista principale dei primi libri, si finge il terapeuta di Jacob per ottenere informazioni sull'anello, per poi catturare Miss Peregrine per ripetere l'esperimento che l'aveva trasformato in mostro.
Caul — Il fratello di Alma, è stato lui a salvare i ragazzi dal sottomarino e ha consentito loro di accedere al serraglio di Miss Wren e di trovare la stessa, l'unica ymbryne che era riuscita a sfuggire alla cattura. Contattando gli altri Vacui, rapisce ogni persona Speciale nella costruzione.

Adattamenti

Romanzo grafico
Un adattamento sotto forma di romanzo grafico del primo libro è stato realizzato da Cassandra Jean nel novembre 2013. In Italia è edito dal 12 gennaio 2016.

Miss Peregrine - La casa dei ragazzi speciali

I diritti cinematografici del romanzo di Ransom Riggs furono venduti alla 20th Century Fox nel maggio del 2011.
Nel novembre, Deadline Hollywood ha riportato che Tim Burton era in trattative per dirigere il film e scegliere degli sceneggiatori. Nel dicembre dello stesso anno, Jane Goldman venne scelta per adattare la storia in un copione.

Il 28 luglio 2014, Eva Green viene scelta per interpretare la protagonista del film; sono state considerate  anche Mischa Barton, Lucy Hale e Alison Sudol. Il 24 settembre 2014 è stato annunciato che Asa Butterfield era stato visto per il secondo ruolo da protagonista come scelta di Burton, ma che a quel tempo non gli era stato ancora offerto il ruolo. Il 5 novembre 2014, a Ella Purnell è stato offerto un ruolo ed Asa Butterfield è stato in trattative finali per unirsi al film; è stato anche riferito che a Butterfield è stato offerto il ruolo di protagonista maschile ed è stata la scelta preferita. Il 6 febbraio 2015, Samuel L. Jackson è stato aggiunto al cast per interpretare Mr. Barron, mentre Butterfield è stato confermato per il secondo ruolo da protagonista. Terence Stamp, Chris O'Dowd, Rupert Everett, Kim Dickens e Judi Dench sono stati annunciati nel cast il 12 marzo 2015.

Le riprese del film iniziano il 24 febbraio 2015 nella Tampa Bay Area, in Florida, e si spostano poi nelle contee della Florida di Hillsborough e Pinellas. Altre riprese si svolgono nel Regno Unito, tra le contee di Cornovaglia e Blackpool, ed in Belgio.

Dopo le anteprime per la stampa statunitense, le prime recensioni del film sono state contrastanti: Collider.com lo definisce "una forma di intrattenimento usa e getta", The Hollywood Reporter aggiunge che "il film funziona per la prima ora, lasciando poi spazio al cinema commerciale e contemporaneo, pieno di effetti speciali e CGI che mette da parte la narrazione", mentre Variety ne loda la sceneggiatura di Goldman.

Accoglienza
Il personaggio di Miss Peregrine è stato accolto positivamente dai lettori e dalla critica. A proposito dell'interpretazione della Green nell'adattamento cinematografico, Peter Travers, della rivista Rolling Stone dice:

Jordan Hoffman di The Guardian descrive la Miss Peregrine della Green come "una che ha appena sentito una battuta che è meglio non condividere"

Il primo romanzo divenne un best seller del New York Times. Raggiunse la posizione #1 della Children's Chapter Books list il 29 aprile 2012, dopo essere stato in graduatoria per 45 settimane, rimanendovi fino al 20 maggio, quando passò al quarto posto I critici elogiarono generalmente il libro per l'uso creativo di fotografie d'epoca, così come per la buona caratterizzazione e le impostazioni.
Miss Peregrine's è rimasto per 70 settimane nella lista dei best seller del The New York Times dei libri per ragazzi. Ha raggiunto la prima posizione nella lista il 29 aprile 2012 dopo 45 settimane di permanenza. Vi rimase fino al 20 maggio quando retrocesse in quarta posizione. Uscì definitivamente dalla lista il 9 settembre 2012, dopo 63 settimane.

Secondo quanto scritto da Deborah Netburn sul Los Angeles Times, la parte migliore del romanzo è "una serie di foto in bianco e nero sparse per il libro".  Publishers Weekly classificò il libro "una piacevole, eccentrica lettura caratterizzata da personaggi ben sviluppati, con un paesaggio gallese credibile, e alcuni mostri molto raccapriccianti."

Note

Collegamenti esterni

Serie di romanzi
Ransom Riggs


Risk stratification in patients with chest pain.
This article reviews the role of exercise testing in the assessment of patients with suspected coronary disease. To accomplish this, four major topics are considered: the general concept of risk stratification; the estimation of outcomes using data from the initial evaluation of the patient; diagnostic assessment with the exercise test; and prognostic assessment with the exercise test. This review focuses on the standard treadmill exercise test.


Kat's 9 Lives: Prospect : Tasting Hot Spots At A Fraction Of The Price!
Prospect : Tasting Hot Spots At A Fraction Of The Price!
Don't you just love Happy Hours? You get to sample popular places like Prospect without putting a huge dent into your wallet. Although, I think I get order happy and end up with a huge bill at the end! lol Their bar area was PACKED for a Friday night. Be sure to get there with plenty of time because there is limited seating and sometimes people reserve part of the bar area. Quick tip: Don't be afraid to be aggressive and just squeeze! There is also nothing wrong with one person seated and the other one hovering over you at the bar to enjoy drinks and food.
The bartender was super nice and sweet! Even though they were super busy he was still very attentive and had a great smile. You could feel the sincerity and warm atmosphere so a huge plus in all the crowdedness.
Ms. Lin started the night with a Fleur d'Orange, $5. It is a mix of Citrus Vodka, St. Germain Elderflower Liquor, Sparkling Wine, Soda, and Orange Twist. The drink was refreshing and a great value. There were a few potent potables that looked and sounded good, but I will wait until next time to try.
Limited seating and time limits don't mix because you have to make quick and greedy decisions! I ordered one of everything except the Chickpea Fritters, because let's face it... I need my meat! There wasn't enough time for us to try the dish and order another round of the dishes before last call. That day I was very well behaved and only ordered one to try rather than over order.
All the appetizers were $5 each and that night they offered a Foie Gras & Truffle Mousse served with Toasted Sourdough. Really? For only $5? Bring it on! The mousse was nice and smooth. I was surprised at how generous the portion was. Even though it is suppose to have truffles inside, I couldn't really taste or smell the flavor. You can definitely taste the foie gras so I am not complaining! The only down side was it came with 4 small pieces of toast. We probably could have asked for more bread but we didn't want to be a bother.
Luckily there were some Kennebee Chips left over to top off with the foie gras & truffle mousse. I make do with what I got. The French Onion Dip that came with the chips was nicely seasoned and had a smooth texture. A tribute to good ol'fashioned potato chips and dip.
The Pork Belly encased in Steamed Buns with Brussels Sprouts and Miso was only so-so. It is Prospect's version of "gua bao", a typical Taiwanese snack. The pork belly needed to be cooked just a tad longer for the meat to melt in your mouth. My piece didn't have enough savory flavor. I personally make super delicious pork belly so I am a tough one to please.
They offered Trotter Tots with Lobster Aioli, Salsa Verde, and Capers. I think I was a little confused because I was expecting fried lobster but it was really fried pork. Still, I am not one to turn away bite-sized fried meat. Can't really remember anything good or bad about this dish, but I do think they did a nice job on the batter and crispy texture.
Ms. Lin is a huge fan of oysters so we were happy to see Fried Oysters served with Tasso Aioli on the $5 bites. The batter on the oysters wasn't as crisp as the trotters, but they were plump and juicy. Again, there was nothing wrong with this dish but nothing really stood out either.
What sounded really good was their Flat Bread with Bacon, Caramelized Onions, and Gruyere Cheese. How can you go wrong with bacon and melted cheese? The bacon was more like slices of ham and there wasn't much melted cheese. For me, the dish was a little on sweet side and had no savory characteristics. Maybe it was the caramelized onions that were too sweet but I also think the bacon didn't hold its end of the deal by bringing in the salty/savory component.
All in all I thought the bartender was super nice and welcoming. The food... was not bad but nothing special. I am glad I got to try their small bites to get a taste of what their restaurant might be like because their dining room menu is a bit more on the pricier side. This is why I love that they have a Happy Hour where you can still try them at but at a fraction of the cost. If I had to pay a lot for the food and drinks, I would have given them a harsher review. It is all about weighing the cost and taste. They do change their bites menu and if the next time I am up there they offer a good selection, I just might return.


text:
IE 8 coming today
SC Staff March 19, 2009
The official release of Internet Explorer 8 is scheduled to be available at noon EST on Thursday. The new browser "offers leading-edge security features," including a cross-site scripting filter, clickjacking prevention, and per-site ActiveX, which enables users and administrators to manage where an ActiveX Control can run, Microsoft said. The download, in 25 languages, is at https://www.microsoft.com/ie8. — CAM

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


We got Box tickets. 18 of them, first come first serve . Compliments of Mckenna Engineering.
If you would like to go, come to the gym during any of the classes today and I will give you a ticket for you and a guest. Take them if you are really going to go.
Well, allow me to help you out. 🙂 Up until Christmas, we will be making your christmas shopping a bit easier by offering all of our members the opportunity to buy $100 Heyday Giftcards for $50 to give as presents (to new people not present/former members).
And if you buy 2 giftcards, we will equate it to 1 month unlimited membership for that person ($220 value for $100!).
Think about it. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.


text:
Gîsca (meaning "[The] goose" in Romanian; ) is a village near in Căușeni District, Moldova, composed of a single village with the same name, population 4,841 at the 2004 Census. The locality, although situated on the right (western) bank of the river Dniester, immediately to the south-west of the city of Tighina (Bender), in the Bessarabian, not Transnistrian part of Moldova, is under the control of the breakaway Transnistrian authorities.

The village is located around a creek named Gîrla, which flows into the Dniester. The creek is small and not navigable, but it is the habitat of ducks and geese, which gave the name to the locality. The road south-west from the city of Tighina (Bender) follows into the Moldovan-controlled area immediately as the village of Gîsca ends, and the next village of Fîrlădeni starts.

At the census organized by the Transnistrian authorities in 2004, there were 4,841 inhabitants in Gîsca, including 819 (16.91%) ethnic Moldovans, 2,956 (61.06%) ethnic Russians, 719 (14.85%) ethnic Ukrainians, 168 (3.47%) ethnic Bulgarians, 91 (1.88%) ethnic Gagauzians, 22 (0.45%) ethnic Germans, 8 (0.17%) ethnic Belarusians, 7 (0.14%) ethnic Jews, 0 to 16 (0.17%) Armenians, 0 to 12 (0.12%) Poles, 0 to 5 (0.04%) Gypsies, and 13 to 44 (0.60%) others and non-declared.

In June 1992, during the War of Transnistria the village was the scene of alleged human rights abuses by Moldovans. According to a report of the Russian human rights organisation, "Memorial", members of the local armed Transnistrian paramilitary unit were killed in this village during a gun-battle with Moldovan forces. The Moldovan troops were said to have been finishing off the wounded. At least three villagers were killed by stray bullets and fragments of shells. Two more villagers were beaten by Moldovan volunteers, mopping up the village. On several occasions unprovoked fire was opened at the houses of villagers (there were no victims).

References

Villages of Căușeni District
Populated places under Transnistrian control
Bessarabia Governorate

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Meet the Blacks with Drake's Dad!
Directed by Deon Taylor and produced by Roxanne Avent for Hidden Empire Film Group. Meet the Blacks hits theaters April Fools Day 2016.
MovieHole – KingBach is the Secret Sauce!


This week's Fierce resource was originally published on Harvard Business Review and examines why many organizations continue to operate in fragmented silos, instead of focusing on improving cross-departmental collaboration.
In theory, technology has sped up the way we communicate and has allowed us to make real-time decisions. New productivity tools like video conferencing, instant messaging, and virtual workspaces promise to create a hyper-connected global workforce. In reality, it just adds to the confusion and most communication continues to get lost in translation. That's why we need to go back to the basics.
Jack Welch's Approach to Breaking Down Silos Still Works advocates adopting the "Work-Out" process - a series of structured and facilitated forums, bringing people together across levels, functions, and geographies to solve problems and make decisions in real time. The key is physically getting people in the same room, at the same time, and focusing on solving the issue at hand.
What walls need to be brought down in your organization?


Every project undertaken by Design Electronics presents a unique set of requirements, challenges, desired results, and deadlines. Our Project Management Team ensures that the solution we provide meets and exceeds these unique parameters while keeping the client completely informed throughout the entire integration process.
A typical Design Electronics' project begins with a meeting with the client where the vision, needs, and required results of the project are discussed and a location for the integration is examined. Parameters and information collected during this on-site assessment are then taken back to the Design Electronics' lab where our Design Engineers will design the optimal system solution based on the client's needs and budgetary requirements.
Once the project plan and deadline are approved by the client, Design Electronics will initiate the installation. Throughout the entire integration, a dedicated Project Manager will ensure that the client is completely informed of the progress on a regular basis.
The hallmark of a completed Design Electronics installation is a seamless integration. Our team of professional installers go to great lengths to make sure each component of the installation is completed cleanly, and accurately, leaving no trace of it's presence other than an aesthetically pristine and perfectly operational electronics integration.


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Home » Grads » Erlin Rogel '08
Erlin Rogel '08
Erlin Rogel '08
Erlin Rogel '08 (Classical High School) graduated from Roger Williams University in 2012 with a B.A. in Political Science. "I majored in poli-sci because I wanted to learn about the structure and function of government," he says. "In high school, I enjoyed my history and government classes and wanted to embellish on that."
Erlin is currently is a second-year student at Roger Williams University School of Law. Eventually he hopes to use his legal degree and knowledge to help advance educational reform in Providence, where he grew up.
This summer, Erlin is interning at Rhode Island Legal Services, which is a nonprofit law firm that specializes in helping indigent clients. "I conduct legal research and writing for the attorneys in the Housing Department, who defend our clients in eviction and foreclosure proceedings," he says. "What I love most about my internship is that I get to give back to the beautiful community that helped raise me. Clients frequently cry and express the purest of gratitude to me because too often we are the only organization they can turn to. RILS provides advocacy for those whose voices sometimes go unheard in a justice system that is blind but not deaf to louder and more affluent influences."
Erlin describes his college years as a meaningful time when he discovered what was important to him. "The best thing about my college experience was my coming of age," he says. "I learned to accept myself and thereafter love myself. I narrowed my focus in life and defined my purpose for pursuing higher education. I am an educated poor man and I want nothing more than to uplift my city."
The College Crusade scholarship he received was a big help. "Being financially independent, as a lot of inner city students are when they get to college, the College Crusade Scholarship eased the financial burden of having to pay for textbooks and my living expenses. College can be, and was, expensive, and I'm grateful for every penny of aid I received," he adds.
Erlin values the time he spent as a Crusader. "My experience was enriching," he says. "Most importantly, The College Crusade demonstrated to me that there are people and organizations that care. It also kept me off the streets and out of trouble. It provided my mom with hope that there would be a successful future after high school for both my brother and me."
In his free time, Erlin enjoys listening to music, especially Jay-Z. He writes poetry and every so often manages to find a quiet spot to just be. "I like escaping to scenic locations and immersing myself in the ebb and flow of nature," he says.
For the past few years, Erlin has worked part-time for The College Crusade. "I have been a mentor at CAAP and an instructor for Cru Club and Ways to A's," he says. "Honestly, my most favorite jobs ever." He offers this valuable advice to Crusaders who are starting college in the fall: "Mark Twain once said, 'The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.' Pay attention to the signs."


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Ethiopia PM warns Egypt against taking dam file to UNSC-UPDATED
Relations between Ethiopia and Egypt have soured over Ethiopia's plans to build its Grand Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile, which represents Egypt's main source of water.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said Wednesday that Egypt would be on the losing side if it referred the issue of Ethiopia's multibillion-dollar hydroelectric dam project to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
"We're ready for this and will win politically," Desalegntold local reporters on Wednesday.
He went on to describe as "useless" Egyptian plans to take the Ethiopian dam file to the UNSC.
The Ethiopian prime minister added that work on the dam was proceeding on schedule despite stalled negotiations between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt, which Desalegn attributed to Egyptian "intransigence."
The controversial project has raised alarm bells in Egypt, the Arab world's most populous country, regarding its traditional share of Nile water.
Water distribution among Nile basin states has long been based on a colonial-era agreement granting Egypt and Sudan the lion's share of the river's water.
Ethiopia, for its part,says it must build a series of dams in order to generate electricity, both for local consumption and export.
Addis Ababainsists the new dam can benefit downstream states Sudan and Egypt, which will be invited to purchase electricity thusgenerated.
Local Egyptian media recently quoted Irrigation Ministry spokesman Khalid Wasif as saying that Egypt would take its complaints against the Ethiopian dam project to the international level.
Desalegn responded by saying that the international community sympathized with his country's "just" position.
He stressed Ethiopia's desirefor stable relations with Egypt, reiterating his country's rejection of what he described as the "language of threats" employed against Ethiopia by the Egyptian media.
He went on to rule out the notionof armed conflict between the two countries, describingsuch an outcome as "impossible."
Egypt irrigation minister says 'all options are open'
Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Mohamed Abdel-Muttalib on Thursday said that "all options are open" for Egypt regarding Ethiopia's multibillion-dollar hydroelectric dam project, which Egypt fears could threaten its traditional share of Nile water.
"Ethiopian decision-makers must bring a solution to the table that won't compromise Egypt's share of water," Abdel-Muttalib told Anadolu Agency.
Abdel-Muttalib stressed that Egypt wouldn't close the door to negotiations with Addis Ababa, but maintained that the "internationalization" of the crisis remained an option for the Egyptian government in the event of an impasse.
"All options and scenarios are open," Abdel-Muttalib asserted. "Each party has the right to defend its interests without compromising the other's rights."
#Ethiopia,
#Grand Renaissance Dam,
#Renaissance Dam
MASSAY - 7 yıl Before
THE ETHIOPIAN PEOPLE ARE PREPARED FOR ALL EVENTUALITIES! TO WIN OR DIE FOR THIS CAUSE! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY EGYPTIAN POLITICIANS' PROBLEM AND THEY MUST THEMSELVES BRING THE SOLUTION! THEIR PROBLEM IS NOT WATER, BUT KEEPING ETHIOPIANS UNDER POVERTY LINE AND PREY ON. THEY HAVE STOLEN THE LIFE OF ETHIOPIANS AND LIVED ON US FOR CENTURIES. NOW IS THE TIME TO CLAIM FAIR SHARE AND ASCERTAIN OUR SOVEREIGNTY. ARROGANCE NEVER CHANGES OUR MIND AND LIMIT OUT ASPIRATION.LONG LIVE ETHIOPIA.
G/Cherqos G/Alef. - 7 yıl Before
Deforestaion in and around the Nile Basin of Ethiopia is the single most dangerous threat to the survival of the Nile River and ultimately Egypt. 85-90% of Nile water comes from Ethiopia, it is therefore immoral and illegal to demand Ethiopia not to use its water for producing electricity, which will eventually help protect the green environment around the Ethiopian Nile Basin and thus lead to a sustaibale Nile flow to feed water hungry Egypt.
Meles Zenawi - 7 yıl Before
What Egypt need to realize is to come to its senses before it too late.If threats and self aggrandizing continue in this manner.The Ethiopian people will start preemptive strike measures on Abay(Nile) in order to response to the threat which is coming from Egypt. There are lots of suggestions in Ethiopia by the right wing views to do to the water if attacked.So Egypt and Ethiopia need to work to gather in order to safeguard the water responsibly.
Bilal - 7 yıl Before
There are many people in Ethiopia who oppose this dam construction and will help Egypt destroy it.
Anteneh - 7 yıl Before
Egypt has no rulers and is in the brink of collapse. They tell us you can use the water for your development and in the meantime we don't allow one drop reduction in our quota of waters. Well, if you accept your quota found in the cooperative frame work agreement signed by the majority of nile basin counties you are well come other wise wake up.
DOVE - 7 yıl Before
The entire Ethiopian project/s for its Blue Nile IS A COMPROMISE in Egypt's favor; in that it is a hydro electric power generation plan as opposed to an agricultural one with direct impact on water usage ( which Ethiopia will certainly be justified in implementing ). I wish the Egyptians would take YES for an answer! I wish Ethiopian officials would let Egypt/World know, the country has already made the defining compromise, not out of being FOOLISHLY threatened, but out of concern for Egypt !!
Linda - 7 yıl Before
Assab+Nile=Mot le Ethiopia
Eth - 7 yıl Before
@Linda, Ethiopia will never die. perhaps you will die
See More Comment


Designed to fit into small spaces, the innovative wide design offers more interior room than expected from a compact unit.
The wide design of this 1.4 cu. ft. unit means users give up less interior space than other compact models. Can handle a medium sized casserole dish. Ideal for cooking small plates or reheating.The microwave will last with moderate use – some have lasted as many as 5 years.
800 watts handles smaller dishes this model was designed for, but may require extra time to cook larger dishes.
This model boasts an array of great features in a powerful, spacious unit that can handle the cooking needs of large families.
At 2.0 cu. ft., this interior is big enough to accommodate larger dishes. The 1,200 watts on this unit cooks food thoroughly and evenly. Features include an impressive 13 programmable one-touch setting and built-in sensor cooking controls. Automatically detects if the oven needs to adjust its power level or cook time.
The unit is quite loud when in use, which some users might find annoying.
Choose this smart microwave if you love the idea of controlling it by voice command – a great choice for consumers with smart homes.
Distances itself from other GE models we considered with its smart capabilities, as it has WiFi connectivity and can be operated with voice commands through Alexa. Scan-to-cook function works with the app to find precise cook times. A mid-sized model with 900 watts of power. Lots of features for a surprisingly low price.
Connecting it to WiFi and setting it up for voice control takes some tech savvy.
This model has a lot of power for a mid-size unit, so it can handle the needs of an average family without using a lot of counter space.
1,100 watts is a surprising amount of cooking power for a 1.4 cu. ft. microwave. Food heats quickly and thoroughly. Pre-programmed instant start buttons for 1-6 minute cooking times; longer times can be entered manually. Interior is more spacious than we expected for a microwave of this size.
Some users report that the door open button wears out or begins to jam with frequent use.
If space is an issue, this small microwave will still provide reasonable heating power while taking up as little room as possible.
Ideal for quick reheating or single-use dishes, the 700 watts of power gets the job done. Features include auto and manual defrost functions. This is a great choice for a guest house or dorm room.
Intended for moderate use, and frequent use may shorten the life of the unit significantly.
The microwave is a staple in most kitchens, and GE covers the complete range, from built-ins and countertop models to over-the-range designs with vents. GE incorporates the latest technology in its smart microwaves, using Alexa for voice activation and control. Microwaves with scanning technology adjust power and cooking times, removing the guesswork from cooking. If you have a limited counter area, there are compact models with a unique design and optimal interior space. Then, of course, you've got your standard built-in and over-the-range GE microwaves that offer a sleek look and keep your countertop clear. Whether you want a standard or smart model, GE makes a microwave that would probably work for you.


I seek admission to the Croydon division of the alliance on behalf of Eastern Aviation and its newly formed subsidiary, creatively titled "Eastern Regional." Although Regional is just barely three weeks old, the parent company has been operating for more than seven months.
Although I'm not the largest enterprise in Japan, I do have a solid network feeding to and from Tokyo-Haneda with twenty-nine total operating aircraft with another being added at minimum of every two weeks. I operate to twenty-five airports with a minimum of two daily flights in order to provide frequent connections.
My goal for both companies is to provide frequent and comfortable service. EA handles service between 5+ demand bar airports using 737s and my eventual widebody fleet, whilst ER will feed to and from 4-bar passenger demand airports and less. ER uses an ATR instead of Q400 fleet because I will eventually operate cargo variants, and because the 50-seat version is still produced. My growth is slower compared to other Japanese airlines because I only use aircraft that are currently produced, and because I use better-than-default seats while charging the same as my competition. However, my growth is steady and constant.
I have signed interline agreements with a few of you already, and I'm not beholden to my non-Infinity interline partners. However, if accepted, I simply don't have the capacity to be your exclusive interlining partner in Japan just yet. My intentions for applying to join Infinity is to secure partners for my eventual international expansion, but as of now, my resources are wholly devoted to continued expansion within Japan. Until such time as I can expand internationally, I can only provide a decent feeding network for your Japan-destined passengers and cargo.
Hello, we're still discussing your application. It's just taking a bit longer than usual due to the fact that it's summer and as a result of Croydon not being as active over the last year, some of our members aren't as active as in times past.
Thanks for the notification, I was starting to get a little unnerved by the lack of movement. It seems the summer slump doesn't just affect the AGEX.
Thanks so much for your application. We have decided to go another direction in Japan simply due to the size of your airline. You yourself seem like someone who'd make an exemplary member, we just have to make the right choice based off traffic, despite how well written your application was. We wish you the best of luck going forward on Croydon.


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You are here: Home / Freeport Blog
February 21, 2018 /in Freeport, Green Ronin News, Nisaba Press (Fiction) /by Evan Sass
This week's fiction offering from Nisaba Press is "In the Shadows," a new short story set in the City of Adventure, written by Richard C. White.
A crew docks in the City of Adventure, ready to carouse with their newly-won booty. But one swabby has a much darker purpose…
For just $1.99, you can download this rollicking tale in your choice of PDF, ePub, or mobi (Amazon Kindle). Or all three! We're not the captain of your ship.
About Nisaba Press
Nisaba Press is the fiction imprint of Green Ronin Publishing. Nisaba will be publishing novels, anthologies, and short fiction tied to the rich and varied worlds of Green Ronin's tabletop roleplaying properties. Current plans include stories of swashbuckling horror in the fantasy world of Freeport: City of Adventure, tales set in the romantic fantasy world of Aldea from the Blue Rose Roleplaying Game, superheroic adventures set in the world of Earth-Prime from Mutants & Masterminds, and chronicles of fantasy survival-horror in the world of The Lost Citadel.
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January 31, 2018 /in Freeport, Green Ronin News, Nisaba Press (Fiction) /by Evan Sass
Today we present a new short fiction piece by Dylan Birtolo, set in Freeport: The City of Adventure. In "Unlikely Tides," a new ship's crew of unusual composition tacks against the wind to establish their places on the seas and in in the city.
"Unlikely Tides" by Dylan Birtolo
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October 31, 2017 /in Freeport /by Evan Sass
Need something spooky to scare your players for Halloween gaming? Green Ronin's Freeport Bestiary is full of things that go boom in the night! As a free preview we're offering a single creepy critter, the chindi–an undead created to terrorize its victims as it pursues a mission of vengeance!
Freeport Bestiary PDF Preview
(Psst! If you don't have the Freeport Bestiary yet, you might want to also check out the Deadwood Tree, for additional free, creepy, Halloweeny preview goodness.)
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Ronin Roundtable: Nisaba Press!
Hi, I'm Jaym Gates, Line Manager for Green Ronin's Nisaba Press. We'll be publishing fiction tied in to the Green Ronin properties, both short fiction and novels. I was given three missions: make a great fiction line, make sure it was a great diverse fiction line, and find some great new voices for both fiction and RPGs. That's pretty much the most exciting mission plan you could give me, for anything. Why? I got into editing because I discovered how amazing it was to find those incredible new voices that no one else has found yet. There is also something intensely rewarding about taking a good piece of fiction and refining it to its best form.
As we're releasing our first batch of regular stories, I wanted to talk a little bit about tie-in fiction, and why Nisaba.
First off, one of the best things about tie-in fiction to me is that it gives fans new stories and elaborates on beloved settings. Flavor text in RPG books is great, but sometimes you really want to go on an adventure with characters. See the sights of Emerald City, smell the sweet reek of Freeport, maybe feel the wind on your face as Rezeans gallop across the plains. While we can't LITERALLY give you all of that, fiction gives windows to the new and existing characters in our settings. Maybe they'll inspire new adventures, show up in your existing adventures, or just be a brief excursion with a fictional friend, but any way it goes, we love giving fans the chance to interact at more length with our settings.
It's also a great way to get your RPG fix if you don't have time to game, are playing another game, or can't get a good group. It's like talking to an old friend you don't get to see often enough.
Secondly, tie-in fiction is a great way for new fans to get involved. There are a lot of settings, a lot of rules, and a lot of history. It can be scary for someone to just jump in at the deep end with no idea what's going on. A short story or novel takes away that overwhelming feeling of "SO MUCH STUFF" and gives the reader a gentle introduction to a new place.
And last but not least: because the world is made of stories, and stories allow the creators to develop things that might never come up in the RPGs, or that might just not have been thought of. Narrative is a unique thing that forces you to think of so many angles that you might not otherwise see. The scents and sounds of a world, the interplay between character and their religion, questions of morality and honor. A story fleshes out what the RPG has built to a level that flashes and flavor text can't approach.
So that is "Why tie-in fiction." I'm really thrilled with the stories I've already been working on. We have Anthony Pryor's My Night in Freeport, Lindsay Adam's tale of an Aldean agent and a Jarzoni priest-adept, Eytan Bernstein's story of Kid Robot's first day of school, and so much more. All of these are original fiction set canonically in the settings you know and love. My hope is that they bring another aspect of engagement and joy in the setting.
And keep an eye out, we're planning to host an open submission period in a few months, so if you're wanting to write fiction for Blue Rose, Freeport, or Mutants & Masterminds, get plotting now!
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Today we present a new short fiction piece by Anthony Pryor, set in Freeport: The City of Adventure. In "My Night In Freeport," a naive cabin boy goes ashore in Freeport for the first time, and learns important lessons about life in the big city, why attention to proper knot lore matters, and about the sailors' code.
For just $1.99, you can download this rollicking tale in your choice of PDF, ePub, or mobi (Amazon Kindle). Or all three! We're not the boss of your reading habits.
"My Night In Freeport" by Anthony Pryor
https://greenronin.com/freeport/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2017/10/GRR70001_200.jpg 301 200 Evan Sass https://greenronin.com/freeport/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/01/FP_WP_Logo.png Evan Sass2017-10-27 14:37:372017-10-27 14:37:38Short Fiction: My Night in Freeport
Green Ronin Freebooters – Run games for us!
October 6, 2017 /in Freeport /by Evan Sass
Welcome to the Green Ronin Freebooter GM Information Hub!
Green Ronin Publishing is looking for some great new folks to run our games at select conventions. You may have seen us promoting our program at GaymerX and Gen Con, but for 2018, we're expanding out to more shows. Here's some information about various shows we're looking for folks to submit games.
Many of our games, especially Mutants & Masterminds, are on the list of Gen Con High Demand Games. Over the years, we have also received a lot of requests for more Dragon Age, plus we're always happy for more Song of Ice & Fire. For 2018, we hope to expand that out more with lots of submissions for Blue Rose RPG, The Lost Citadel RPG, Fantasy Age, Titansgrave, Freeport, Critical Role Campaign Setting, Lazarus, Love 2 Hate, and more.
We're looking for volunteers to run games, whether one session or 4-days of sessions. Here's how it works:
Green Ronin arranges for a GM Badge in return for 12-hours worth of game time scheduled.
For 16+ hours of game time scheduled, we will reimburse your hotel based on ¼ of a regular rate. As an example, if a room is $200 per night we'll pick up your part, so $50 per night!
Green Ronin must submit your games to count towards the GM Badge reimbursement and hotel room reimbursement.
You are still welcome to submit games via your favorite game group or other game companies, but we will only pick up badges/hotel reimburse for our submitted games.
Don't need a free badge or hotel reimbursement? We'd still love to feature your game! If you submit a game with your favorite gaming group, or on your own, let us know and we'll promote your game via our social media and at the Green Ronin Publishing Booth.
Other shows:
We'll also be looking for Freebooter GMs at the following shows in 2017 and 2018! We will update the info here when we know what we can offer folks who can do the shows. If you're interested in any of these shows below, please submit on the form at the bottom!
GeekGirlCon
OrcaCon
Norwescon
ChupacabraCon
UK Games Expo
If you're interested in the Gen Con Volunteer GM Program for 2017, you can fill out this handy form so we can email you with information. Thank you for your interest in running games for Green Ronin Publishing! Questions? Email Veronica at rubytemplar@greenronin.com
Happy Gaming!
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Return to Freeport, Part Four: The Freebooter's City
September 6, 2017 /in Freeport /by Evan Sass
Today we introduce Part Four of our Return to Freeport Pathfinder-compatible PDF adventure series.
Return to Freeport
Freeport is known for its adventures, from Death in Freeport (the one that started it all!) to the mega-adventure Black Sails Over Freeport. Now the City of Adventure goes back to its roots with Return to Freeport! This six-part adventure series for the Pathfinder RPG is a new way to begin your Freeport adventures.
Part Four: The Freebooter's City
In Return to Freeport, Part Four, the adventurers sail back to Freeport and find themselves embroiled in a different kind of battle, even more dangerous than they are used to: pirate politics.
You can buy The Freebooter's City in our Green Ronin Online Store.
https://greenronin.com/freeport/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2017/09/GRR19154_200-2.jpg 260 200 Evan Sass https://greenronin.com/freeport/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/01/FP_WP_Logo.png Evan Sass2017-09-06 15:16:072017-09-06 15:16:09Return to Freeport, Part Four: The Freebooter's City
Ronin Roundtable: Freeport in Space
August 28, 2017 /in Freeport /by Evan Sass
While Freeport City of Adventure was written specifically to work with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Freeport has a history with class- & level-based RPGs with a core d20 mechanic that predates Pathfinder. Freeport has always been a location that's easily adapted to new game systems and settings, with much of the core information it provides (such as maps, factions, politics, and adventure seeds) are useful to a GM building a campaign or adventure regardless of the game system used.
Thus with the recent release of the Starfinder Core Rulebook, a new game and new setting built off the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game and advancing its campaign world thousands of years in the future, it seems a perfect time to discuss how Freeport City of Adventure (and the Freeport Bestiary) can be adapted to spacefaring campaigns!
Conceptual Adaptations
While it may seem that a sailing-ship port doesn't have a lot of relevance to a science-fantasy game, it's actually not at all difficult to adapt Freeport to a Starfinder Roleplaying Game setting. The simplest way is to leave it on its island, and make it a major starport in a system that is along a significant trade route but far from any major government within your campaign. This allows the layout to be largely unchanged (starships might even dock in the water, as a cheap alternative to expensive high-tech landing pads), and keeps all its internal politics intact. All mentions of ships are simple adapted to starships, and local groups and NPCs are updated to their high-tech equivalents. The city's factions, history, and even many of its adventures can be easily translated to science-fantasy equivalents.
Though it takes more work, Freeport can also be adapted to be an independent spaceport free of any planetary body. It can be placed on an asteroid with an environmental field keeping air in (again allowing the existing map to be used), or even turned into a massive (potentially mobile) space station. For this last option you'd likely need to create a new map (or accept a really oddly-shaped space station), but the scores of shops, temples, homes, and buildings in Freeport can be adapted largely unchanged by simply assuming their technological base (and goods, and NPCs) are updated to appropriate levels.
Obviously rather than flintlock-carrying, peg-leg bearing sea pirates, this updated Freeport is an open base of operations for space pirates. Some may cling to ancient fashions and traditions (eyepatches strapped on even over cybernetic eye enhancements), but in generally their technology and appearance changes to match the campaign setting. However, ship names, rivalries, debts, rumors, and rough parts of town remain conceptually the same whether your pirates and their home sport flintlocks or plasma pistols. Especially given how vast an entire galaxy of adventure is, having a fleshed-out set of goals, organizations, and names is extremely useful, even if you need to update the gear and stat blocks of anyone the PCs decide to fight with.
Finally, although it's not as useful in most science-fantasy campaigns, Freeport can be dropped into a science-fantasy game largely unchanged. In this case it remains a low-tech sailing ship port, on a world with much less advanced science than a typical Starfinder Roleplaying Game setting. This makes the most sense if you want your high-tech PCs to have at least one low-tech world they interact with. Freeport might be on a planet where advanced technology doesn't function for some reason, or under a powerful protectorate that ensures its culture isn't irreparably altered by spacefaring visitors. Or it could be a world that is perfectly well aware of lasers and starships, and happy to trade local materials for such advanced tech, but simply lacks the industrial base to recreate circuit boards and transistors even when such things fall into local hands.
Adapting NPC Stat Blocks
While much of the material in Freeport City of Adventure can be updated to a far future setting with nothing more than the flip of a conceptual switch, the numerous named and generic NPCs are more useful if you can use them in your campaign when needed. In general, you can convert an NPC's stat block using the same process as converting a monster stat block using the guidelines in Chapter 13 of the Starfinder Core Rulebook. This will tell you what skills to change, how to create a target's EAC and KAC, how to generate Stamina Points, and so on. Most of the conversions are simple enough they take at most a minute or two, and you can actually ignore most of them and just use any appropriate-sounding skill for science-fantasy skill checks (it doesn't really matter if you use Diplomacy as a Computers check, if you have an NPC you want to be good at computers, and you can simple use half an NPC's hp as Stamina and half as Hit Points and give them all 3 resolve Points). The end result may not be exactly what a Starfinder Roleplaying Game npc of the same level would have, but it's close enough.
Equipment is a little trickier—but only a little. You can either just change what an NPC's equipment looks like (and change reload needs from once per attack to one per 10 attacks) and allow the NPC to attack multiple times based on iterative attacks and two-weapon fighting and similar options, or you can upgrade the NPC to level-appropriate weapons from the Starfinder Core Rulebook, and add the NPC'S CR to the damage.
Adapting Monsters
The Freeport Bestiary has a huge number of monsters that players won't be expecting, making it a great resource for populating strange planets, new worlds, and the drifting hulks of abandoned starships. Altering a monster's stat block is largely the same process as adapting an NPC stat block. However, a monster may need some additional changes made to make sense in a Star-Freeport setting.
For example, aquatic creatures you would normally encounter at sea should either be updated to exist in a wide range of environments (including flying in gas giant planets, and even travelling through the void of space), or be set up as creatures that might sneak onto a ship, be transported by PCs (perhaps as part of a space menagerie) so they can escape and cause havoc, or be adjusted to be planar creatures able to travel through realities (and possible be encountered during hyperspace travel). The important part is to make sure PCs don't have to go to a planetary body of water to encounter them. Similarly monsters tied to specific terrain types, be that jungles or underground caverns, should be liberally re-envisioned to dwell in fungal forests, asteroid interiors, or the crypt-worlds of necromancer robots, as needed to fit the campaign. Constructs may be given the technological subtype to represent various robots, or left as magical creatures powered purely by eldritch forces.
Other monsters can simply be moved to locations the plot sends PCs to. It doesn't much matter if an ancient ruined temple is a remnant of a long-lost serpent-folk empire on one world, or part of a reptilian civilization that spanned a thousand star systems, if it's an adventure site it needs demonic traps, undead lurkers, constructed guardians, and inhuman intelligences with their own reasons for breaking in.
Exploration is About the Unexpected
The very fact most players won't think of Freeport material as a natural fit for a science-fantasy game means they won't see it coming when Mr. Wednesday has a task for them involving tracking down the privateer starship Morgenstern, or offers to vacate their gambling debts if they'll deal with a bloathsome that's settled on an asteroid with valuable mining concerns on it.
https://greenronin.com/freeport/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2017/08/drac_s_end-1.jpg 436 568 Evan Sass https://greenronin.com/freeport/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/01/FP_WP_Logo.png Evan Sass2017-08-28 09:18:062017-08-28 09:18:08Ronin Roundtable: Freeport in Space
Pre-Orders Closing Soon
May 25, 2017 /in Freeport /by Evan Sass
We have several products pre-ordering currently, but time is running out!
Through the end of May, 2017, when you pre-order the print version of Blue Rose: The AGE RPG of Romantic Fantasy, Blue Rose Narrator's Kit, and the Freeport Bestiary (which is for the Pathfinder RPG) through our Green Ronin Online Store, we'll offer you the PDF version of the relevant title(s) for just $5 during checkout. Just click the Add to Cart button on the popup to get the deal.
The Blue Rose Dice Set is also pre-ordering right now through the end of the month, but it doesn't have a digital counterpart.
Other recent releases you may have missed are Love 2 Hate Politics and Love 2 Hate Comics, expansions for Love 2 Hate: The Party Game for Inappropriate People.
https://greenronin.com/freeport/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2017/05/GRR6502_200-1.jpg 260 200 Evan Sass https://greenronin.com/freeport/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/01/FP_WP_Logo.png Evan Sass2017-05-25 17:20:162017-05-25 17:20:25Pre-Orders Closing Soon


At Red Earth Yoga Center, we practice Vinyasa, Hatha & Ashtanga Style Yoga. Most (but not all) of our classes are heated in a studio to 85-90 degrees. The warmth helps you sustain a healthy amount of sweat which is a natural detox for the body, and also helps to build flexibility. The warmth helps to gently reduce tension and safely raises your heartbeat. Always remember that warm muscles mean a safer practice. All of our classes are non-competitive. We offer powerful flows for those that like the intensity, as well as slower, softer practice that don't require so much energy.
Interested in our Teacher Training program?


text:
How Greg Schiano is keeping Rutgers football diligent: 'Our No. 1 opponent is the virus'
Chris Iseman
Rutgers is less than three weeks away from opening its season at Michigan State and officially kicking off its nine-game Big Ten only schedule.
But the Scarlet Knights' toughest competition isn't on the list of teams they'll be seeing in Greg Schiano's return season.
"I've said this to the team literally every day: Our No. 1 enemy, our No. 1 opponent is the virus," Schiano said in a virtual press conference with local reporters Monday, his first public comments since Rutgers began training camp practices.
Avoiding COVID-19 remains the biggest challenge for not just the Scarlet Knights, but every team across the country.
Many college football games have been canceled or postponed following outbreaks, and the Tennessee Titans last week became the first NFL team to battle multiple positive tests.
Rutgers dealt with an outbreak that affected as many as 30 players over the summer before the Big Ten's initial decision to cancel the season — a decision it reversed last month.
Since Wednesday, all Big Ten football teams are tested daily using rapid-response tests, which Schiano believes it crucial to pulling off the season successfully.
"I'm confident in our testing, I'm confident with what we're doing, testing every day," Schiano said. "It's the best way to protect so we know when we start our day here as a team that everybody who's with us is clean. From the very beginning, I thought in my mind that's the only way you can do this and really be safe."
Schiano, who said he will be wearing a mask on the sideline during games, wants his players and coaching staff holding each other accountable.
"I think the guys have gotten into a pretty good routine of what we do and also they feel comfortable just helping each other out, correcting each other — anybody, players, coaches, helping each other out," Schiano said. "That's going to be key because it only takes one, as we've seen, and it can spread."
'YOU MADE IT GUYS':Greg Schiano's message to NJ high school football players
LOOKING AHEAD:Game-by-game analysis for Scarlet Knights in 2020
IMPACT PLAYERS:5 key players to watch when the Scarlet Knights take the field
Even a small outbreak would be a significant problem during the season.
As part of its return, the Big Ten instituted a policy that any player who tests positive for COVID-19 must sit out at least 21 days.
But Schiano said it would more likely be four weeks since a player would need a week to prepare before getting back into a game.
In the league-only shortened season, that's half the season.
"Our biggest challenge, COVID-19, they've been doing a really good job at battling that," Schiano said. "I've told our team: That's our No. 1 opponent right now. It's not anybody on our schedule. If you get on that plane and you don't have your best players, it's going to be tough. We really, really are working hard to stay healthy and stay clean of the virus. But it's a huge challenge."
Questions remain
Rutgers has had five days of practices in full pads, the first chances for Schiano and his coaching staff to see what their roster can actually do on the field considering spring practices were wiped out.
There still are plenty of questions.
The Scarlet Knights are still awaiting word from the NCAA on whether a couple of their transfers will be eligible (Schiano didn't specify which players) and there's also a quarterback competition among several players, particularly Nebraska graduate transfer Noah Vedral and returnee Art Sitkowski.
Schiano said Rutgers will release its roster Oct. 12 and then a depth chart on Oct. 19.
Email: iseman@northjersey.com Twitter: @chrisiseman


text:
<!doctype html>

    <meta charset="utf-8">
    <title>One Segment Drag</title>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="../include/style.css">

      Example from Foundation HTML5 Animation with JavaScript

    <canvas id="canvas" width="400" height="400"></canvas>
    Move mouse on canvas element.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: Setting language variant in polyglossia removes small caps from font I've come across a strange interaction between polyglossia and certain fonts (I've only tested Libertinus Serif, though). When specifying the language variant bokmal for the language norwegian, small caps don't work in the Libertinus font.
\documentclass{article}

\usepackage{polyglossia}
    \setdefaultlanguage[variant = bokmal]{norwegian}
\usepackage{fontspec}
    \setmainfont{Libertinus Serif}

\begin{document}
\textsc{abc}
\end{document}

LaTeX Font Warning: Font shape TU/LibertinusSerif(1)/m/sc undefined
(Font)              using TU/LibertinusSerif(1)/m/n instead on input
line 9.

When removing the language variant or using the default font, small caps appear as usual. Although I assume this is some strange bug, I would like to know how I can work around this until it has been fixed.

A: You can reset the language for small caps:
\documentclass{article}

\usepackage{polyglossia}
\setdefaultlanguage[variant = bokmal]{norwegian}

\usepackage{fontspec}
\setmainfont{Libertinus Serif}[SmallCapsFont={Libertinus Serif},SmallCapsFeatures={Language=Default,Letters = SmallCaps}]

\begin{document}

\textsc{abc}
\end{document}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Камионџије д.о.о.  је српска телевизијска серија у режији Филипа Чоловића.
Од 28. децембра 2020 се емитује на РТС 1.

Радња

У фокусу приче је мали, обичан човек, који пролази кроз перипетије разних девијација актуелних друштвених односа.

Ово је прича о два човека, два потпуно различита темперамента, различитих интересовања, немања посла, који вероватно никада не би друговали, али их је животна ситуација спојила да буду пријатељи и сувозачи...

Прича почиње случајним сусретом Жиће, бившег шофера, а потом библиотекара у малој сеоској школи у околини Уба, и Баје, возача аутобуса у градском саобраћајном предузећу у Убу. Тај сусрет ће у потпуности изменити њихове животе.
Пошто су обојица остали без посла, они су, гледајући репризу серије "Камионџије" са популарним Чкаљом и Павлом Вујисићем, који су играли Јарета и Пају, одлучили да купе камион и оснују фирму за превоз робе.

Током заједничког рада, Баја и Жића пролазе кроз низ занимљивих и духовитих, а друштвено актуелних авантура, током којих гледаоци могу да се упознају са разним судбинама обичних, такозваних "малих људи" који живе у провинцији и који своју свакодневицу проводе на сасвим други начин, у односу на "брзи живот" у узаврелим градским срединама.

Комедија по жанру, серија је својеврсни омаж "Камионџијама" из седамдесетих година, како је то замислио писац истих сценарија, покојни Гордан Михић.

У серији "Камионџије д.о.о.", постоји јасна разлика у односу на "Камионџије" из седамдесетих и осамдесетих година прошлог века. Нову серију с подједнаким интересовањем могу да прате и поштоваоци претходних серијала, али и нова публика, која није "оптерећена" догодовштинама Паје и Јарета, јер може да се поистовети са новим главним ликовима, који постављени у контекст овог времена, постају оригинални јунаци данашњице.

Улоге

|-
| Тихомир Станић || Живорад Грујић "Жића"
|-
| Ненад Јездић || Предраг Бабурић "Баја"
|-
| Паулина Манов || Дара Грујић
|-
| Бранислав Зеремски || Ђорђе Грчић "Грча Јарац"
|-
| Јелена Ступљанин || Сека Грчић
|-
| Данина Јефтић || Ђерасима "Ђера"
|-
| Анка Гаћеша || Невенка
|-
| Марко Гверо || Грга Мурињо
|-
| Тања Пјевац || Зока
|-
| Небојша Илић || Родољуб
|-
| Јована Гавриловић || Авдика
|-
| Владислав Михаиловић || Тале
|-
| Иван Јевтовић || Петопарац
|-
|Амар Ћоровић || Сеад
|-
| Андреј Шепетковски || Реџа
|-
| Јелица Сретеновић || Тетка Милица
|-
| Славиша Чуровић || Емир Шарачевић
|-
| Милош Ђорђевић || Тровач
|-
| Михаило Лаптошевић || Шваца
|-
| Раде Марковић || директор школе
|-
| Бранка Пујић || разредна Нада
|-
| Ања Мит || Мира
|-
| Изудин Бајровић || Меша
|-
| Вања Ненадић || Жута
|-
| Јован Мемедовић || лично
|-
| Милорад Милинковић || лично
|-
| Софија Јуричан || Лили
|-
| Бојана Ђурашковић || Тијана
|-
| Ива Штрљић || шалтеруша
|-
| Јована Кнежевић || таксисткиња
|-
| Владимир Гајовић || Раша
|-
| Младен Совиљ || Зоран
|-
| Марко Николић || полицајац
|-
| Тара Милутиновић || девојка за посао
|-
| Душан Дуле Савић || лично
|-
| Мина Николић || Мина
|-
| Николија Николић || Николина
|-
| Иван Томашевић || судија
|-
| Душан Ашковић ||
|-
| Радован Пулетић ||
|-
| Вук Трнавац ||  Буцa
|-
| Сара Хубач || Маја
|-
| Тадеј Милутиновић || Тадеј
|-
| Ива Илинчић || Силвана
|-
| Дара Џокић || Дуда
|-
| Олга Одановић || Биба
|-
| Бојан Димитријевић ||Миле
|-
| Нела Михаиловић || Силванина мајка
|-
| Небојша Миловановић || иследник
|-
| Бора Ненић || Скочаић
|-
| Слободан Бода Нинковић || Бата Крњаја
|-
| Весна Чипчић ||Лепосава
|-
| Оливера Викторовић || Радојче
|-
| Милан Михаиловић || Божа
|-
| Властимир Велисављевић || Влаки
|-
| Јован Радовановић || Јова
|-
| Новак Билбија || чичица
|-
| Милена Предић || Милена
|-
| Борис Миливојевић || Мића
|-
| Тијана Марковић || Љубинка
|-
| Душко Радовић || саобраћајац
|-
| Милош Влалукин || Раде/Гиле
|-
| Мирајана Ђурђевић || Магда
|-
| Игор Дамњановић || други здепасти
|-
| Горан Даничић || шљункар
|-
| Бојан Перић || Богатун Сале
|-
| Бојан Јовин  || Џибра
|-
| Радомир Николић || ливрејисани батлер
|-
| Димитрије Илић || саобраћајац
|-
| Александар Ђурица || адвокат/Лазар Шегрт
|-
| Гордана Јошић || средовечна
|-
| Бојана Ђурашковић || Тијана
|-
| Никола Штрбац || Стева
|-
| Анида Исановић || Анида
|-
| Алекса Радојловић || Ћелавац
|-
| Иван Зекић || "Крештав" Зоран
|}

Епизоде

Извори

Спољашње везе

Српске серије
Српске серије које су се почеле приказивати 2020.
Српске серије које су се престале приказивати 2021.
Телевизијске серије на српском језику
Емисије и серије на РТС-у
Оригинални програм канала Суперстар ТВ


Alejandro Villanueva, a famous American football player, was at the Eagles' training session, swapped jerseys with Luisão and was delighted with everything.
Now there are even more people cheering for Sport Lisboa e Benfica! In the United States, the Club won a new and enthusiastic supporter: Alejandro Villanueva, a famous American football player who defends the colors of the Pittsburgh Steelers.


THE Malaysia Hockey League, which starts today, will see 20 foreign signings playing for various clubs and double champions Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) will find it hard to defend their titles.
A total of 14 teams will battle in the Premier and First Division of the TNB/MHL.
And the monopoly of Tenaga Nasional and KLHC looks set to be broken this season, as several players have been engaged to boost the chances of other clubs.
Eighteen foreign signings are from Pakistan, and one each from Australia and India.
The clubs failed to secure more players from India due to the reluctance of Hockey India to release its current batch of national players while their juniors are embarking on an European playing tour at the beginning of May.
KLHC have signed six foreigners -- five from Pakistan and the sole Australian to replenish their squad that was hardest hit by debutants Terengganu.
Pakistan national team skipper Muhammad Imran, who scored five goals in the Azlan Shah Cup last week, leads the cast that also comprises the evergreen Waseem Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad, Muhammad Umar Bhutta and Akhtar Ali.
"It will be interesting playing for KLHC this time around as I played for Sapura last season. The MHL is an interesting league and there are no easy matches. I believe that we have a good team and we are capable of defending the titles," said Imran.
Also signed up by KLHC is Timothy James Deavin, who is best remembered for his last gasp goal against Korea at the Azlan Shah Cup that helped Australia earn a 3-3 draw.
Maybank are the other team that went on a recruitment drive, securing former Pakistan skipper Shakeel Abassi, Muhammad Irfan, Muhammad Waqas and Shafqat Rasool.
Sapura signed Pakistan's Khasif Ali, Yasir Islam, Muhammad Zubair and India's Raja Veerachamy.
Nur Insafi Warriors opted for six players from Pakistan -- Nasir Ahmad, Abdul Asim Khan, Shazad Amir, Imran Muhammad, Hussain Muhammad Salman and Ateeq Muhammad, all from Pakistan.
TODAY -- Premier Division: Tenaga v Terengganu (National Stadium Hockey II, 6pm), Nur Insafi v Sapura (USM, 6pm), KLHC v UniKL (National Hockey Stadium II, 8pm).
Division One: SSTMI v Thunderbolts (Taman Daya, 6pm), Ipoh CC v UiTM (Azlan Shah, 6pm), Sunday 2030 v UniTen (National Hockey Stadium I, 6pm).


text:
The Bridge's Sofia Helin: my love/hate relationship with Saga Noren
The star of BBC4's hit Danish/Swedish co-production says she sometimes "can't stand" her character Saga – so why does she keep coming back to her?
By Ben Dowell
Saturday, 21st November 2015 at 2:30 pm
When we last tuned in to the bleak, wintry Scandi crime drama The Bridge, things had taken a tricky turn for our two detectives.
The flawed, emotional, likeable Dane, Martin Rohde (Kim Bodnia), had just been arrested for poisoning the man who had killed his son. And Sofia Helin's Swedish cop Saga Noren had sniffed out her partner's crimes and shopped him.
Martin was last seen looking ruefully at her during his arrest while Saga looked on impassively. It appeared that loyalty did not matter to Saga, nor empathy, her Asperger's-type condition leaving her short on both. It was getting the job done that was important.
Since then, Bodnia and The Bridge creator Hans Rosenfeldt disagreed over how his character would operate in series three, which starts on Saturday. Bodnia thought he should stay in prison; Rosenfeldt wanted him free. In the end Bodnia pulled out in April 2014, leaving Rosenfeldt to make hasty rewrites for filming due that autumn. Much of the plot stayed intact but Saga was given a new partner, Henrik Sabroe (Thure Lindhardt). Rosenfeldt says there was (and remains) no ill feeling.
But how did all this affect Sofia Helin, the woman behind the Porsche-driving, leather trouser-wearing brilliant oddball that is Saga?
"It was a painful process before the decision was made," she says, "and at first I was terrified, unhappy and, of course, sad. But I quite quickly realised this was an opportunity for me as an actor to use the situation. So I started using it, and said, 'Sofia, step forward and do it.' We had a new energy to do something completely new."
As fans of the show will have clocked by now, Saga is the kind of woman who would have been pleased to be working by herself. But her new partner Henrik is someone with whom she has a "good relationship", says Rosenfeldt. "We couldn't have them fighting for ten episodes, and we have found that if people take against Saga on screen they end up being hated by the audience!"
This series is as dark as ever (in every sense) and sees Saga investigate the murder of a gay woman (and pioneer of Denmark's first gender-neutral preschool) in an apparent gesture against her supposed betrayal of family values.
Family and prejudice is a clear theme and the series will also see Saga face up to the suicide of her sister Jennifer, mentioned in the last series. And we meet her "awful" (her words) mother for the first time. "It was hard to go into her past – quite depressing actually," adds Helin. "The guilt, the suicide of a kid… I had to go into really dark places within me to find her dark places so I spent months in darkness."
Rosenfeldt really puts Saga through the mill in series three. "She's not on top of things, and we see her emotion affecting her work for the first time," he says. But he was keen to have a lower body count from the "ridiculous" 37 corpses that piled up in series two.
"Because I am so much into my character I don't count bodies," says Helin. "I am so much into Saga, I see everything from her perspective… It's the story, the psychological issues that I am interested in and what makes people do what they do."
Thure Lindhart as Saga's new partner Henrik
Part of the fascination of The Bridge is its exploration of the differences between Swedes and Danes, who live on opposite sides of the Oresund Bridge that the programme is named after. This new series draws attention to the Danish notion that the Swedes are much more politically correct, and to the two countries' different approaches to the refugee crisis: the Swedes have taken in many more displaced people than Denmark (and the UK), something Helin says her countrymen and women should be proud of.
"You're taking 4,000 a year and your population is 64 million and we are taking 100,000 and we are nine million. So we have to discuss it. It's a big responsibility we have. I am so proud of Sweden, I think it's so beautiful.
"When you make it simple, say, if someone stood outside your door saying, 'They are killing me, will you let me come in?', could you say no? Why do you have to make it more complicated than that? If they are coming to ask us, don't we have to open our doors? After a few years people coming in start to gain for the country."
Helin's social awareness also extended to the character. While Rosenfeldt has always resisted diagnosing Saga's condition ("It means we are free to do what we want with her as a character"), Helin is clear she has a form of Asperger's syndrome. "Saga would never go to a doctor to diagnose herself," says Helin firmly, "and she has avoided that all her life. She knows she's different and she knows about Asperger's as well. If some-one asked her she would say: "It might be but it's not important. It's important that I can work and I am good at that.'
"For me it was a great help to read about and meet people with Asperger's. I went out onto the streets being her, to experience how other people would react. I am talking to you now. I am seeing you, I am hearing you, but what happens when people don't? It was interesting."
Playing such a demanding character does, however, take its toll on her life at home, where she lives with her husband Daniel Gotschenhjelm, an actor turned Church of Sweden priest, and their young children (son Ossian and daughter Nike).
"When I am playing Saga my husband can sense I am not as emotionally present as I am otherwise. When I stopped I had to make a real effort to stop my brain being her way of thinking and being more me. What we have in common is the passion about work. We never stop working. Otherwise we are quite different. But what happens is when I am being her for such a long time it affects me. I become a bit like her."
She says she is a "believer" in God, but would not necessarily describe herself as a conventional Christian. But there is no denying her warmth and humanity, especially when talking about Saga. "I love her, I care for her and I can't stand her at the same time," she laughs. "She would be annoying in real life, but as the viewer you love her. I don't get a good feeling being her. She's tense in her body, she moves fast. She exhausts me.
"I think of her a lot when I am not playing her. She's like a relative, a close cousin you are forced to hang out with all summer even if you don't like her. Because I wouldn't want to hang out with her. Who would?"
A lot of men, probably. It takes a while to get on to that subject, but the idea of being a sex symbol is something that prompts her to screw up her nose in distaste. "That's not something I think about when I am playing her. I heard she is a feminist icon and that's something I want to hear… the other things, I don't know. Some students at a Q and A in London said she is now a feminist icon and that really made me happy."
Happiness? It's a rare commodity in Saga's world – so it's one that should be treasured.
The Bridge returns to BBC4 tonight (Saturday 21st November) at 9.00pm
Sofia Helin
The Bridge (drama)
Saga's all alone in The Bridge series three trailer
I'd rather be a feminist icon than a sex symbol says The Bridge star Sofia Helin
All about The Bridge (drama)
The Bridge series three could be the last says series creator Hans Rosenfeldt
The Bridge 2 body count was "ridiculously high" says its creator and will be cut for series 3


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After a less than ideal youth-hood, a spunky Indian girl in Indiana turns to the popular teen movies of the time for guidance on how to master high school. Because real life is totally just like the movies… right?!
From cheerleading stunts and IM conversations to bad boy crushes and girl posses, NOT ANOTHER TEEN SOLO SHOW combines storytelling and sketch videos to bring to life Rati's diehard mission to have the perfect high school experience. Which in her mind meant an Andrew Keegan type boyfriend, a Sarah Michelle Gellar'esque power, and of course… a She's All That prom miracle.
Wanna know more about the production? Or bring it to a theater near you?


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Here's How Much the Busby Family Makes Per Episode of 'Outdaughtered'
It sounds pretty intense to raise six girls — especially when five of them are quintuplets, but that is the premise of reality TV series Outdaughtered.
The TLC hit follows Danielle and Adam Busby, who used to be your average Christian Texan couple with an only child, Blayke Louise, until they found out they had five buns in the oven: America's first-ever all-female quints.
Olivia Mari, Ava Lane, Hazel Grace, Parker Kate and Riley Paige would go on to grace our TV screens before taking their first steps. And with a family like theirs, it seems like they are practically made for entertainment.
But how much does the Busby family make per episode? Let's investigate...
How much does the Busby family make per episode?
We're not sure if we speak for the rest of America, but you can be sure that if we found out we were about to be mothers to six girls, we'd find any way possible to ask friends and friends of friends about any way to connect with someone who could open the path to reality TV.
Luckily for everyone, it seems like America wanted an inside look into how this family would get through their exponential expansion — and the extra TLC pay certainly helped the Busbys make ends meet.
While there is no word on the official figures that Danielle, Adam and the rest of their family is bringing in per episode, reality producer Terence Michael has told In Touch that reality show families earn about "10 percent of the show's budget."
"This means that the Busbys would be raking in $25,000 to $40,000 per episode," he continued, calculating that TLC likely budgets about $250,000 to $400,000. Since In Touch's article dates from 2017 and the family has continued their success, we can only assume these figures keep rising.
Which is lucky in light of the financial drama peeking its head in the background of Outdaughtered's Season 6. Adam recently quit his job as an account manager for Intrinsic Solutions/Sprint Safety after working there for 12 years in favor of a more demanding role that requires him to travel to Dallas and leave Danielle in charge of the six girls.
For her part, Danielle is beginning to resent Adam and wants to do more with her life than be a stay-at-home mom. "Before we had kids, she used to have a great career and the ability to travel and do all these fun things, but now her life is her kids," Adam understands. "She loves them, but also, she's kind of been losing herself in the process."
When two show families collide... it's been so great to hang out this week. (wish we would have thought to take this photo before Audrey took Ember up for a nap...) #littlepeoplebigworld #outdaughtered 📸: @daniellewalker 👈🏼she's pretty famous too!😉
A post shared by Adam Busby (@adambuzz) on May 9, 2019 at 8:43pm PDT
Things are looking up for the family now that Danielle has carved out enough time for herself to indulge her own side project, a fitness athleisure clothing line called CADi, which she runs alongside her twin sisters.
It wouldn't surprise us if a TLC raise helped facilitate this quality of life upgrade, and if the Busbys are using some of that money toward childcare and to fund their side hustles. At least, that's what we'd do if given the chance.
Catch up with the Busby family when Outdaughtered airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on TLC.
It Looks Like the Busbys Purchased Their Temporary Home
It's No Secret That Hazel Is the 'OutDaughtered' Fan Favorite
Adam Busby's New Job Might Bring Danielle to Her Breaking Point on 'OutDaughtered'
Is Charli D'Amelio Quitting TikTok? Why She's Been Inactive
Some Major Stars Are Set to Perform at Joe Biden's Inauguration
'Bachelor' Star Matt James' Romantic History: An Inside Look
Season 2 of 'Bridgerton' Is Delayed Because of the Coronavirus Pandemic


Re: is this too geeky?
It might have done a little bit better, but not enough.
It would have brought another audience to the movies-the bookworms. So many people I know who love that movie never saw it in the theatre because the wrong people went to see it. Once I introduced them to it, they were obsessed. Many of these people are the friends I made on book fan sites and in my reading club, etc. Lady just needed some good publicity, and the literary world would be better adapted for that kind of story than the average movie watcher.
Then again, Night movies aren't for the average movie watcher so I don't know what to say on that regard. lol But it still stands that people who read books often see the movies they inspire, so that would have added diversity to the audience.
At least the first time I saw it the majority of the theatre applauded at the end...I have hope for the human species in moments like that.
That's cool, the first time I saw it, people just filed out. Nobody said anything.


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The Taiwan National Health Interview Survey 2009 covered topics such as demographic information, health status, health care, and behaviors including smoking, drinking, and drug use. The sample size covered 23 cities and counties with approximately 30,528 participants. The questionnaires were divided by age groups: under 12 years, 12-64 years, and over 65 years of age. The self-answer questionnaires on drug use were also divided by age groups: 12-17 years and 18-64 years of age. In an aim to make processing more efficient and to enhance the quality of data collection, the 2009 survey utilized computer-assisted personal interviewing and computer-assisted self-interviewing.
More information on questionnaire design and site visits is available on the 2009 survey page.
Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare (Taiwan), National Health Research Institutes (Taiwan). Taiwan National Health Interview Survey 2009-2010. Zhunan, Taiwan: National Health Research Institutes (Taiwan).


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