text:
Systematic review automation technologies
Guy Tsafnat*, Paul Glasziou, Miew K. Choong, Adam Dunn, Filippo Galgani, Enrico Coiera
Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare
Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › Research › peer-review
Systematic reviews, a cornerstone of evidence-based medicine, are not produced quickly enough to support clinical practice. The cost of production, availability of the requisite expertise and timeliness are often quoted as major contributors for the delay. This detailed survey of the state of the art of information systems designed to support or automate individual tasks in the systematic review, and in particular systematic reviews of randomized controlled clinical trials, reveals trends that see the convergence of several parallel research projects. We surveyed literature describing informatics systems that support or automate the processes of systematic review or each of the tasks of the systematic review. Several projects focus on automating, simplifying and/or streamlining specific tasks of the systematic review. Some tasks are already fully automated while others are still largely manual. In this review, we describe each task and the effect that its automation would have on the entire systematic review process, summarize the existing information system support for each task, and highlight where further research is needed for realizing automation for the task. Integration of the systems that automate systematic review tasks may lead to a revised systematic review workflow. We envisage the optimized workflow will lead to system in which each systematic review is described as a computer program that automatically retrieves relevant trials, appraises them, extracts and synthesizes data, evaluates the risk of bias, performs meta-analysis calculations, and produces a report in real time.
https://doi.org/10.1186/2046-4053-3-74
Published - 12 Apr 2014
Tsafnat, G., Glasziou, P., Choong, M. K., Dunn, A., Galgani, F., & Coiera, E. (2014). Systematic review automation technologies. Systematic Reviews, 3(1), [74]. https://doi.org/10.1186/2046-4053-3-74
Tsafnat, Guy ; Glasziou, Paul ; Choong, Miew K. ; Dunn, Adam ; Galgani, Filippo ; Coiera, Enrico. / Systematic review automation technologies. In: Systematic Reviews. 2014 ; Vol. 3, No. 1.
@article{a8153d2b65ed4f3e906fe6dcefe3294f,
title = "Systematic review automation technologies",
abstract = "Systematic reviews, a cornerstone of evidence-based medicine, are not produced quickly enough to support clinical practice. The cost of production, availability of the requisite expertise and timeliness are often quoted as major contributors for the delay. This detailed survey of the state of the art of information systems designed to support or automate individual tasks in the systematic review, and in particular systematic reviews of randomized controlled clinical trials, reveals trends that see the convergence of several parallel research projects. We surveyed literature describing informatics systems that support or automate the processes of systematic review or each of the tasks of the systematic review. Several projects focus on automating, simplifying and/or streamlining specific tasks of the systematic review. Some tasks are already fully automated while others are still largely manual. In this review, we describe each task and the effect that its automation would have on the entire systematic review process, summarize the existing information system support for each task, and highlight where further research is needed for realizing automation for the task. Integration of the systems that automate systematic review tasks may lead to a revised systematic review workflow. We envisage the optimized workflow will lead to system in which each systematic review is described as a computer program that automatically retrieves relevant trials, appraises them, extracts and synthesizes data, evaluates the risk of bias, performs meta-analysis calculations, and produces a report in real time.",
author = "Guy Tsafnat and Paul Glasziou and Choong, {Miew K.} and Adam Dunn and Filippo Galgani and Enrico Coiera",
doi = "10.1186/2046-4053-3-74",
journal = "Systematic Reviews",
publisher = "BMC",
Tsafnat, G, Glasziou, P, Choong, MK, Dunn, A, Galgani, F & Coiera, E 2014, 'Systematic review automation technologies', Systematic Reviews, vol. 3, no. 1, 74. https://doi.org/10.1186/2046-4053-3-74
Systematic review automation technologies. / Tsafnat, Guy; Glasziou, Paul; Choong, Miew K.; Dunn, Adam; Galgani, Filippo; Coiera, Enrico.
In: Systematic Reviews, Vol. 3, No. 1, 74, 12.04.2014.
T1 - Systematic review automation technologies
AU - Tsafnat, Guy
AU - Glasziou, Paul
AU - Choong, Miew K.
AU - Dunn, Adam
AU - Galgani, Filippo
AU - Coiera, Enrico
N2 - Systematic reviews, a cornerstone of evidence-based medicine, are not produced quickly enough to support clinical practice. The cost of production, availability of the requisite expertise and timeliness are often quoted as major contributors for the delay. This detailed survey of the state of the art of information systems designed to support or automate individual tasks in the systematic review, and in particular systematic reviews of randomized controlled clinical trials, reveals trends that see the convergence of several parallel research projects. We surveyed literature describing informatics systems that support or automate the processes of systematic review or each of the tasks of the systematic review. Several projects focus on automating, simplifying and/or streamlining specific tasks of the systematic review. Some tasks are already fully automated while others are still largely manual. In this review, we describe each task and the effect that its automation would have on the entire systematic review process, summarize the existing information system support for each task, and highlight where further research is needed for realizing automation for the task. Integration of the systems that automate systematic review tasks may lead to a revised systematic review workflow. We envisage the optimized workflow will lead to system in which each systematic review is described as a computer program that automatically retrieves relevant trials, appraises them, extracts and synthesizes data, evaluates the risk of bias, performs meta-analysis calculations, and produces a report in real time.
AB - Systematic reviews, a cornerstone of evidence-based medicine, are not produced quickly enough to support clinical practice. The cost of production, availability of the requisite expertise and timeliness are often quoted as major contributors for the delay. This detailed survey of the state of the art of information systems designed to support or automate individual tasks in the systematic review, and in particular systematic reviews of randomized controlled clinical trials, reveals trends that see the convergence of several parallel research projects. We surveyed literature describing informatics systems that support or automate the processes of systematic review or each of the tasks of the systematic review. Several projects focus on automating, simplifying and/or streamlining specific tasks of the systematic review. Some tasks are already fully automated while others are still largely manual. In this review, we describe each task and the effect that its automation would have on the entire systematic review process, summarize the existing information system support for each task, and highlight where further research is needed for realizing automation for the task. Integration of the systems that automate systematic review tasks may lead to a revised systematic review workflow. We envisage the optimized workflow will lead to system in which each systematic review is described as a computer program that automatically retrieves relevant trials, appraises them, extracts and synthesizes data, evaluates the risk of bias, performs meta-analysis calculations, and produces a report in real time.
U2 - 10.1186/2046-4053-3-74
DO - 10.1186/2046-4053-3-74
JO - Systematic Reviews
JF - Systematic Reviews
Tsafnat G, Glasziou P, Choong MK, Dunn A, Galgani F, Coiera E. Systematic review automation technologies. Systematic Reviews. 2014 Apr 12;3(1). 74. https://doi.org/10.1186/2046-4053-3-74
10.1186/2046-4053-3-74Licence: CC BY
Systematic review automation technologiesFinal published version, 694 KBLicence: CC BY


text:
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy Gets Brand New Screenshots
Donovan Bertch February 14, 2017 News
So, Crash Team Racing When?
Crash Bandicot: N. Sane Trilogy, the HD re-release of the first three games in the classic platformer series, has been getting a lot of buzz lately. With his appearance in the Skylanders game and television series and some recently revealed gameplay footage, a resurgence in hype and excitement for the character is growing fast. N. Sane Trilogy is looking to make a killing once it actually comes out…except for the fact that we don't know when that will be, outside of sometime in 2017. Needless to say, with that vague of a time frame, the wait is leaving fans starved for any and all information they can get their hands on.
Luckily for them, a user on NeoGaf by the name of wrestleman has posted a few different screenshots of the remaster of the second game in the series, Crash 2.
Crash, either making his Winter Olympics debut or filming a BBC documentary.
All that's missing is a fedora and a whip.
Geronimo?
"Yep. That's me. You're probably wondering how I ended up in this situation."
These shots look pretty sharp, retaining the fun and vibrancy of the original game while giving it a fresh coat of paint (and those backgrounds especially look gorgeous). Combined with the footage and gameplay we've seen so far, the N. Sane Trilogy is looking like a return to form for the Bandicoot and co.
Crash Bandicoot: The N. Sane Trilogy spins its way onto store shelves sometime in 2017.
Source: NeoGaf
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
explaining teacher scarcity across the united kingdom.
more career guidance articles.
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Teaching is a hugely important industry, providing future generations with the skills required to fulfil their potential. As such, a steady supply of skilled applicants are required all over the country and across a diverse range of subjects, but recently some schools have found it difficult to fill vacant primary and secondary teaching jobs.
The issue is not a uniform one and certain types of institutions and particular subjects are facing more severe shortages than others. For educators that are flexible with their job prospects, this offers an opportunity not only to further their own career but to provide a valuable service for schools that require passionate and knowledgeable members of staff.
Teacher shortages.
Driven by the UK's population growth, many schools are already struggling to fill vacancies across key subjects. Figures published in August revealed that the number of trainee teachers recruited for the current academic year had failed to reach its target for the third year in a row.
Shortfall against recruitment targets in some of the worst affected subjects:
• Design and Technology
• Maths
Teaching opportunities abroad.
As well as the increase in the number of UK school children, public sector cuts have also exacerbated the teacher shortage. In fact, many UK educators have begun looking for teaching jobs abroad in the hope for more favourable working conditions. The Randstad Education job page, for example, has several international teaching jobs available for those of you that feel your career aspirations would be better fulfilled outside of the UK.
Traditionally, UK teachers have been viewed very highly by international recruiters and there are more global opportunities to explore than ever before. With excellent teaching environments and the chance to experience a new culture, teaching abroad is understandably an attractive option. Educators can also return to the UK teaching sector at a later date with fresh insights gained from their international work.R
Rural and city teaching opportunities.
Of course, the emigration of UK teachers only serves to heighten the shortages at home, and for educators that would rather remain in the country there are opportunities out there. Rural areas in the UK have often struggled to recruit talented individuals to the education sector, with rural depopulation, sometimes referred to as the "brain drain," making it difficult to attract individuals to remote areas. On the other hand, London is struggling to cope with its increasing pupil numbers despite its popularity amongst young professionals – there are now nearly four teaching vacancies per school in the capital.
Opportunities for teachers without qualifications.
For individuals considering teaching as a possible career, the shortage offers a great opportunity. Identify which subjects you are passionate about and see whether there are UK schools that require someone with your skill set. There are government promises to employ an additional 17,500 maths and science teachers over the course of the next five years, for example, highlighting that career opportunities are available.
Similarly, if you are not a qualified teacher, you may still be able to enter the profession. More practical subjects like music and PE often accept unqualified applicants with the right skillset. Moreover, entry routes such as Teach First enable candidates to gain practical experience while working toward qualified teacher status (QTS). Academy schools, in particular, are often the most flexible when it comes to employing non-qualified teachers, so if you are passionate and talented about teaching there may be an opportunity for you to help alleviate the shortage even if you do not have a formal qualification.
Supply teachers are another option that many schools are turning to in order to plug the skills gap. If you enjoy variety in the workplace, becoming a supply teacher could see you in high demand in the current teaching market. Because the UK's education sector is facing a serious teacher shortage, it means that the demand for talented candidates is high. By demonstrating your teaching skills to employers, you can do your bit to ensure that the country's next generation of pupils are taught by an inspirational and passionate workforce.
career in education
career in teaching
read more about careers in education.
how to become a special needs teacher.
teacher CVs: how to nail yours.
how much does a teaching assistant salary depend on location?
education rides out the recession above private sector roles.
career development for teachers.
how to write a great cv.


Free initial 10 minute telephone consultation to explore if Forrest Talking Therapies might be the best thing for you.
£55 per session for self-funding clients.
If you have a policy with Bupa you may be able to fund your sessions though them, please contact them directly to discuss and quote my provider number: 30037408.
£50 per session for people who are unemployed, full time students, or over the age of 65. I offer one appointment per week at this reduced rate so there may be times where due to demand you have to wait for your treatment to start.
Please note that each of these prices is based on a 50-minute session. If you require longer sessions, as is sometimes the case for work with PTSD, then we can negotiate this during our initial meeting.
I accept payment via Bacs, cash or cheque, and I'm happy to provide invoices and receipts upon request.
Please note that payment is required within 24 hours of your attended appointment. None payment will result in the suspension of your treatment until all bills have been settled.
If you fail to attend or cancel within 48 hours of your appointment, you will be charged half of your normal session fee.
In the unlikely event that I have to cancel our appointment, I will give you as much notice as possible and you will of course not be charged.
If your treatment is being paid for via Employee Assistance Programmes or insurance or medical companies, prices may be higher due to increased administration charges. This will be negotiated at the time of referral.


With a stay at Grand Copthorne Waterfront, you'll be centrally located in Singapore, steps from Singapore River and 8 minutes by foot from Robertson Quay. This 4.5-star hotel is 1.1 mi (1.7 km) from Orchard Road and 1.4 mi (2.2 km) from Raffles Place.
Grab a bite at one of the hotel's 2 restaurants, or stay in and take advantage of the 24-hour room service. Wrap up your day with a drink at the bar/lounge. Buffet breakfasts are available daily from 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM for a fee.
Relax at the full-service spa, where you can enjoy massages and facials. You're sure to appreciate the recreational amenities, including outdoor tennis courts, an outdoor pool, and a fitness center. Additional amenities at this hotel include complimentary wireless Internet access, concierge services, and babysitting/childcare (surcharge). Getting to nearby attractions is a breeze with the complimentary area shuttle.
Featured amenities include limo/town car service, express check-out, and complimentary newspapers in the lobby. Self parking (subject to charges) is available onsite.
Make yourself at home in one of the 574 air-conditioned rooms featuring minibars and LCD televisions. Complimentary wireless Internet access is available to keep you connected. Bathrooms have complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include phones, as well as safes and desks.
The following fees and deposits are charged by the property at time of service, check-in, or check-out. Fee for buffet breakfast: SGD 38 for adults and SGD 25 for children (approximately) Self parking fee: SGD 23 per day Early check-in fee: SGD 0 (subject to availability) Rollaway bed fee: SGD 100.0 per day The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
We understand that sometimes your travel plans change. We do not charge a change or cancel fee. However, this property (Grand Copthorne Waterfront) imposes the following penalty to its customers that we are required to pass on: Cancellations or changes made after 11:59 AM ((GMT+08:00)) on Apr 26, 2019 are subject to a 1 Night Room & Tax penalty. If you fail to check-in for this reservation, or if you cancel or change this reservation after check-in, you may incur penalty charges at the discretion of the property of up to 100% of the booking value.
The preferred airport for Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore is Singapore (SIN-Changi) - 18.6 km / 11.6 mi.


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Home News Bitcoin Kidnap Ransom: Police Arrest Suspect In $15,000 Transaction
Bitcoin Kidnap Ransom: Police Arrest Suspect In $15,000 Transaction
Saadu Abubakari Bitcoin,Suspect
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has tracked down and arrested the main suspect in connection with the kidnap incident involving an exchange of bitcoins worth $15,000 ransom payment, which was the first of its kind.
This is coming as security sources have alleged growing insider connections to most kidnap incidents involving prominent victims especially those from the northern part of Nigeria.
A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftain, Dr. Umar Ardo, was in September 2019 forced to pay $15,000 in bitcoins to get his daughter, Ms. Aisha Umar, freed by kidnappers.
PRNigeria investigation reveals that the suspect, one Mr. Saadu Abubakari, who is currently in the Police custody has made a useful confession that is helping to crack what is regarded as a new trend in kidnapping cases.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma, gave a hint of Abubakari's arrest at the weekend in his weekly update when he disclosed that the Anti-Kidnapping Squad had nabbed "13 members of kidnapping syndicate and other dangerous criminals".
"Sequel to the ongoing investigation into a reported kidnap incident at Asokoro on 14th September 2019, Police detectives from the Command Anti-Kidnapping Squad have arrested one Saadu Abubakari 'm' 23 years in connection with the incident. ''
''The suspect was arrested around Apo after the phone number used for the criminal act was traced to him. The Command is making a concerted effort to arrest other persons involved in the criminal act," Ciroma Stated.
The Police had after facilitating the payment of the ransom and release of the suspect engaged its intelligent operatives who swung into action, trailed the suspect (Abubakari) and finally tracked him down in Apo where he was arrested.
Police sources informed PRNigeria that Abubakari, who is a commercial motorcycle rider (Okada) admitted to owning the sim card which was registered in February 2018 but he sold it to another suspect (now at large) who bought it from him for N1000. Abubakari who hails from Kano said he was tricked by a certain female suspect who acted to have lost her way, contacts and desperate for a new sim card to make calls.
"Speaking to him in Hausa, the female suspect negotiated to buy his sim card for N1000 with which the kidnap for ransom deal was made," Abubakari was said to have confessed.
Further findings also revealed that Abubakari who is illiterate and only speaks Hausa, claims to "have never stolen before, doesn't know anything about bitcoin or understand how it works, doesn't have a bank account or ATM card."
Saadu Abubakari Bitcoin Suspect at a scene of crime- PRNigeria
Police said that while the crack team of Intelligence and Investigative officers are on the verge of unraveling the case which according to the sources "sets a precedent in the kidnapping cases because of the bitcoin", yet there are challenges.
An intelligent officer noted that while the Police are monitoring the situation and so far more than $9000 has been withdrawn from the bitcoin but the sophistication of the technology involved has opened a new chapter challenging their investigative skills.
The officer, however, assured that they have found a way in overcoming the obstacles posed by tracking the bitcoins and would soon nab the culprits.
"We now know that we need a lot of tools, collaborations, and more training. We have almost wrapped up this case but there are still gaps and challenges in tracking the bitcoins owing to not only the technical nature of the transactions but the technological tools needed to crack it," the officer said.
Speaking further, the sources revealed that the investigation has so far disclosed a near certainty of insider connections and involvement in the kidnap incident, adding that Police have uncovered a growing trend of "insider information from family members, other relatives and domestic staff deeply involved in these kidnappings."
$15000 Transaction
Bitcoin Kidnap Ransom
Police Arrest Suspect
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Mortgage demand falls - new figures
Updated: 19:00 EST, 26 September 2000
The cooling housing market is having a knock-on effect on mortgage demand, figures released today showed.
The data, from the British Bankers' Association, which represents the major high street banks, shows demand for mortgages is slowing, although re-mortgaging remains quite active.
Gross new mortgage lending in August totalled £6.7bn, down slightly from £6.8bn in July. After taking into account repayments and redemptions the net new lending figure was £2.2bn (£2.1bn seasonally adjusted).
This compares with a slightly lower seasonally adjusted figure for net new lending of £1.8bn in July but is in line with the average monthly figure of £2.1bn over the preceding six months.
The gross value of loans purely for house purchase totalled £3.6bn in August - 6% lower than the previous month - continuing the decline in demand seen since May. The loan total was also lower than in the corresponding months last year.
In contrast loans for re-mortgaging, at £1.8bn, were at a higher level than last year, and slightly higher this August than in July.
Loans for home improvement or equity withdrawal fell back from the levels seen in June and July to stand at £749m. A strong level of repayments meant that there was only a modest rise in net new lending on personal loans of £228m in August - down 40% on the August 1999 figure. Similar strong repayments resulted in a similarly modest rise in net new credit card lending at £263m.
Tim Sweeney, director general of the BBA, said: 'While approvals data have shown a distinct slackening in demand for house purchase loans since May, remortgaging activity remains buoyant as customers are attracted to an expanding range of products.
'In contrast equity withdrawal, which has been used in part as a substitute for unsecured personal loans, was noticeably weaker in August, as were loans, reflecting softer consumer demand.'
PROPERTY: DON'T MISS
Would you buy (or sell) a property at auction? Grace Gausden joined a room full of prospective bidders for the latest Savills property auction - and all the theatre that entails.
Buying a home instead of renting could leave you £352,500 better off over 30 years - even if house prices never rise A new report found that that making monthly mortgage payments could yield £133,700 in savings over 30 years.
Stamp duty calculator: How much tax would you have to pay to buy a home? Work out how much stamp duty you will have to hand over for a new home with our calculator.
First-time buyers at highest levels since just before the financial crisis as average mortgage grows to 80% of home value First-time buyers were handed out some 35,010 mortgages in August.
Mortgaged to the grave: Homebuyers are borrowing into their 70s as more lenders stretch mortgage terms to 40 years Demand for longer-term deals has grown substantially since the financial crisis.
SIMON LAMBERT:It's time stamp duty was cut As with many of former Chancellor George Osborne's plans, the stamp duty shake-up five years ago was half way to a good idea, unfortunately the other half reveals how bad a tax it is.
Nine out of 10 leaseholders weren't given clear legal advice when they bought Thousands of conveyancing solicitors may have breached their duty of care to their clients.
Cambridge, Oxford... and Leicester: Where London's first-time buyers go in search of more affordable homes First-time buyers are escaping the costly capital.
Mortgage warning for homeowners as cheapest ever two-year deals come to an end Some 850,000 homeowners will see fixed rate deals end in the next six months.
Fix forever: First ever retirement interest-only mortgage that's locked in for life is launched A specialist lender has launched the first ever 'fixed for life' retirement interest-only mortgage.
Buy a home 1% at a time: Plans to make building a shared ownership stake easier revealed Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has announced proposals to tweak the system.
More first-time buyers are skipping flats to leapfrog up the property ladder by buying smaller family houses Analysis from Zoopla found that two thirds of those looking to buy their first homes are seeking houses rather than flats.
Homes put up for sale slump to three-year low as 'endless wrangling' over Brexit triggers stand-off between buyers and sellers The number of properties on estate agents' books remains close to a record low.
Latest: Mortgages
Home sellers backing a Boris bounce raise asking prices by £6,785 in the biggest ever New Year rise, but experts warn against over-pricing
Sainsbury's Bank urged to move borrowers to a regulated lender after pulling out of mortgage market
Housing market enjoying 'lift in sentiment' since Boris Johnson election win, respected property survey reveals
How these bonus-friendly mortgage lenders could let you borrow 10% more to secure your dream home
House prices rise at fastest pace for over a year as the market shrugs off Brexit fears and looks ahead to a 'Boris bounce'
What next for mortgage rates? 10-year fixed rates drop to near parity with two-year fixes as price war continues
Lenders slash rates on five-year mortgages to below 1.5% as popularity of longer term deals soars
Can you get planning permission AFTER you've built? As 40,000 retrospective filings are made in two years, we explain the rules - and why you can't hide a home in a haystack
How much does a home cost near you? We reveal average prices around the country and how to work out what yours is worth
True mortgage cost (rates AND fees)
House prices: Negative equity
Mortgage monthly interest
Interest rate rise/fall impact
How much tax would you have to pay on a home or buy-to-let?
Is this a buy-to-let or second home? (Higher rates apply)
Are you a first-time buyer?
*Transactions under £40,000 do not require a tax return to be filed with HMRC and are not subject to the higher rates
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text:
Topic: The little known movie review depot
Author Topic: The little known movie review depot (Read 203166 times)
Re: The little known movie review depot
Title: Candy Stripers (1978)
Director: Bob Chinn
Rating: XXX
Audio: English
Amber Hunt
Cris Cassidy
Nancy Hoffman
Sharon Thorpe
Paul Thomas
What happens when you let three horny teenage girls loose in a hospital?
They give new meaning to the word "BED"-lam, as they make sure that ALL of their patients' needs are taken care of...
Deep-Probing Doctors and Nasty Nurses service patients and staff in non-stop hot action guaranteed to melt you stethescopes!
Don't expect a very complicated movie there it's just a nice comedy without a real story, but don't take that as a negative comment (Debbie Does Dallas doesn't really have a story too and it's a fun time waster). The story is simple : 3 young girls work as volunteer at an hospital, their job is to distribute candy and magazine to the patient and that's all. Not really it's an adult movie, so they give more than candy
How you can't like a movie that start with Cris Cassidy having a phone conversation while she had a sexual relationship? The cast is great here (not really on the acting point of view, but on the other important one), the 3 candy stripers are real cutie (Amber Hunt isn't what most people would call one, but she wears a pair of glasses so she's sexy for me ), Paul Thomas and Richard Pacheco are in this too (the good acting is there). The rest of the cast is nice too with Eileen Wells, Mimi Morgan and Sharon Thorpe. You can see this movie as a dream hospital for the guys (a place that would give me the idea to injured myself to become a patient ).
Evidently the movie available on dvd is imcomplete, so what I have is a composite of the dvd and an old vhs release. The drop of quality is evident, but not too disturbing. The cut scenes are two fisting one and contrary to most of the time those one are sexy. I have no idea if this is something that fun in real life (just try to ask your girlfriend or wife if she would be interested to try it and... imagine the answer or the slap on the face).
A good time waster when you want something well done, tastefull, funny and not too complicated to watch.
Title: Necromania (1971)
Genre: Horror (kind of)
Director: Don Miller
They want to remain anonymous
Danny and Shirley have a problem. Danny can't seem to fulfill his marital duties (not that they're married, as it turns out) and Shirley has had about enough of it. As a solution, they seek out a 'Necromancer' known as Madame Heles to solve the problem.
This is certainly not a good movie. The story doesn't really make sense, the sex scenes are uninspired and badly filmed, most of the acting is really awfull (one of the actor isn't able to say a single phrase without missing it), the musical score is completly inapropriate (western, burlesque jazz and even the kind we heard in old silent movies) and the set and props are cheap. So what is the interest in this film?
Don Miller is Ed Wood and it's not hard to guess when we watch the movie I hope that it isn't a surprise for anybody, this is a well known fact that he had directed and written many adult movies at the end of his career. The other point of interested is in the cast, since two of my favourite actress in the exploitation movies are in this. It's not really hard for me to recognize Maria Arnold and Rene Bond, since I own 15 movies with Maria Arnold and 20 others with Rene Bond. I have no idea who are the two others girls (and I don't really want to know), but one of the actor is Rick Lutz (not a great one, but he is always funny) and the other is unknown (perfectly deserved since he can't act and get an erection)...
If you are an Ed Wood completist or if you like Maria Arnold or Rene Bond or if you like badly made cinema, this one is for you
« Last Edit: April 29, 2009, 08:09:58 AM by Jimmy »
Title: The Centerfold Girls (1974)
Director: John Peyser
Andrew Prine
Tiffany Bolling
Jaime Lyn Bauer
Jennifer Ashley
Francine York
A reedy man wearing saddle shoes and an ill-fitting suit drags the nude body of a young woman—her throat slit-- along an otherwise empty beach. Soon a number of other beautiful women turn up dead, their throats also cut open. Nurses, students, stewardesses… what's the common thread? All were centerfold models for a popular men's magazine, prey to a bloodthirsty psychotic with a straight razor!
When you like the same movie genre than me you need a lot of patience, by exemple I wait for the release of The Farmer since 3 years, Bonnie's Kids since 2 years and this one since april last year (like The Roommates). All this always create big expectations, this isn't always a good thing and often you get the "that's it!" reaction. Evidently when I finally get one of these long awaited film I watch it the same day and it jump over the waiting stake of dvd.
In this film we already know who is the killer, no suspense here, this is a religious right nut. Who attack the centerfolds of a man magazine because he wants to help them since they have sin... Evidently like all those loony religious people he is just sexually repressed (it's my humble oppinion here). You can be sure that he will kill, in fact right at the beginning we see him buried a dead corpse (Miss January). Even if the film had no real suspense (since you can easilly guess what will happen) it had a great dark scary sleazy vibes in it. The fact that the killer is played by Andrew Prine help a lot since he was a big name in the drive in movies and he continue to work a lot, so the name ring maybe a bell for some of you. Sure the cast if full of beautifull girls to play the centerfolds : Jaime Lyn Bauer (Days of Our Lives), Jennifer Ashley (Nightmare Circus), Kitty Carl (tv figuration role), Ruthy Ross (Playmate of the Month June 1973) and Tiffany Bolling (Bonnie's Kids). You get a lot of character actors in small role (Aldo Ray, Mike Mazurki, Paula Shaw, Ray Danton and Jeremy Slate). But theres more; Tallie Cochrane, Connie Strickland and Anneka Di Lorenzo are in this too. What this isn't enough? You sure are a tough crowd to please... OK this is the first movie of Janus Blythe (The Hills Have Eyes, the original not the crappy remake ). Do I really need to say that this movie had a great cast
Another particularity of this film is the fact that it is an "anthology" in three parts. Each of them consist has the attack of one centerfold (or a group of centerfolds) by the crazy religious guy. All the parts are really well construct and all the girls pass through hell before their demise... Not as bloody as it sounds, the film lies on a scary mood (ok it had a little blood too). The last one is my favorite, but it's kind of natural since this is the Tiffany Bolling portion.
A real good drive in movie that had meet all my expectations.
Strong recommandation! A real winner!
Title: Little Girls Blue (1977)
Genre: Girls School
Director: Joanna Williams
K.C. Winters
Samantha Morgan
Chris Petersen
Carl Regal
Lori Blue
It's a fresh take on the boarding school theme. Don't worry, the girls still engage in lots of sexual shenanigans with each other, their college faculty and staff, but this movie has something the others sadly lack: an IQ well above room temperature and a wit sharper than the high heels its stars are constantly slipping out of. Made in 1977, this title is a true classic and many of its stars will now seem like fresh new faces. This film is fun to watch as a time capsule of sorts containing '70's utterly carefree sex and totally natural bodies.
Another synopsis that tell nothing about the movie... The action happen at a private girls school where the students and the teachers let their imagination go on each other (not that mine is that great, but at least it is more real). First thing to say, and that doesn't happen often, I'm not really familliar with the girls in this movie, always nice to discover some new visage. Like I've said most of what happen is in the imagination of the protagonists when they phantasm on a student or a teacher. Those scene are surrealist with only a white room with no furniture at all and with always a big blue ball present. The love making scenes are really sexy and arousing with no talking and shouting, but only with pleasure sigh. The acting isn't too bad and surprisingly the movie doesn't have any girl-girl scene (can't remember another movie where that happens). The only thing that I've not really like is the end, happen way too fast and without a real conclusion.
Title: Pretty Peaches (1978)
Director: Alex De Renzy
Desiree Cousteau
Joey Silvera
Ken Scudder
John Leslie
Juliet Anderson
Peaches is a daffy carefree female who cheerfully plunges through life without any worries. After attending her father's wedding, she has an accident in her jeep that leaves her unconscious. Two guys find her and immediately take advantage of their good luck. It turns out that Peaches has amnesia, so the fellows offer to help her. The plot revolves around all the silly circumstances and schemes they come up with, and her resolve to keep on smiling through it all. Alex De Renzy regards Pretty Peaches as one of his best all around films.
This one is a classic and a really good comedy. Desiree Cousteau gives a real good acting performance with all the timing and charm needed to lead a comedy (not something that we can say about many so-called comic actors actually). Here you have a real movie with a pretty good plot that follows the misadventure of Peaches while she tries to get back her memory. Silvera does a good job too in the role of one of the guy who try to profit of the whole situation and, as usual, Paul Thomas and John Leslie are perfectly reliable. The movie had even a shocking ending (it takes a shock to bring back the memory and this is a real one). Sadly this movie is unrelease officially on dvd and it will never be, because the label had a stupid censorship politics. The movie countains a sequence where Peaches is raped by four women (not really a funny scene and played very real by Miss Cousteau) and, even if no laws prohibits this on a movie, the labels censor themselves on this. This isn't for nothing if so many classic adult movies aren't available uncut on official dvd (the sad fact is that they show more worst than that in what they called adult movie now ).
« Last Edit: May 01, 2009, 06:48:39 AM by Jimmy »
I've decided to start a second thread for my reviews. Evidently this one is always active, but I will now use it only for non hardcore movies. It didn't means that it will became a child movie topic, you know the genre of stuff that I usually watch , but it will return as it was at the beginning.
Of course I'll continue to watch and review adult movies... I've actually 285 of them (a number that increase each weeks) and the majority aren't reviewed or watched yet...
So, you will have the old topic that could be considered safe for work and the new one not really safe (even if I don't post any picture).
Nobody had request this, but I think that it will be appreciated
Forget to mention that I will not move the ones that are already here, since it would been way too much works to make the correction in the review index
Title: JCVD (2008)
Director: Mabrouk El Mechri
Rating: 13+
Audio: French & English
Subtitles: English, French & Spanish
François Damiens
Karim Belkhadra
Zinedine Soualem
Norbert Rutili
The "Muscles from Bussels" is back and facing the biggest fight of his life. Returning to his home town for some much needed rest after losing his daughter in a lengthy custody battle, Jean-Claude Van Damme finds himself smack in the middle of a bank heist. Even worse, the cops think the penniless aging action star is the culprit. Now in the midst of a dangerous hostage situation where everyone wants a piece of Van Damme, JCVD will have to use his Hollywood training to plan an escape. But can Van Damme really be the underdog hero in real life?
This is one of the movies that I was waiting to watch the most this year (the other is The Wrestler), since I was a big fan of the Van Damme's action movies. Evidently this film isn't an action movie and this is a good thing since it's ridiculous to continue to play the tough guy at a certain age (a good exemple could be Steven Seagal, but he was never that great to begin with). I can say that Van Damme had win his bet with this film : he can act. It's great to watch an aging actor showing that he isn't invincible and just a normal guy. I've appreciated the performances of the actor playing the fan-boy criminal and the woman playing the taxi driver (she really made me laugh, but I ain't sure how it looks in a dub version).
I've like the film from the beginning untill the end at least in the original version (didn't watch the dub one, it's possible that the emotions doesn't pass the same way).
Jimmy, have you heard of Dr Antoine Pellissier? I've just watched a clip of a British TV show from a few years ago called Eurotrash, which was basically French host Antoine de Caunes taking the mickey out of anything weird and wonderful from Europe. It was bloody bizarre! Ranf to years... Wikipedia Entry for Eurotrash
Anyway, Pellissier is apparently a real French doctor, but in his spare time, he makes horror films. They look horrendous and apparently are so disgusting most people fail to watch all the way through! Obviously, I immediately thought of you...
There doesn't seem to be much info on him, but I did find this interview. I think the film they kept showing bits from was called "Malefica".
Never heard of him, but it isn't that much of a surprise since I ain't the biggest fan of French Cinema. I think that we had agreed on this in the past : the French are unable to do good horror (Jean Rollin being the only exception, but his movies are exactly my genre). The French horror movies most of the time tend to drag and drag never getting to the point (thinking of it most of their cinema are like that). For me they are probably the least interesting movie producers country in Europe (but the Polish black and white borefest aren't too far from them). I've read the interview and it looks like the usual over the top Troma stuff, not that I don't like a Troma movie occasionally but not too often. But this line had made me laugh coming from their lab and knowing how bad is the quality of some of their release : ""Mr. Pellissier, we're sorry but we can't sell a movie worth 2/5, so try sending us a better master".
Well, from what I saw, "cinema" (French or otherwise) really doesn't come into it with this guy! The piece claimed he insists on using real pigs blood and intestines and the results are not going to bother any serious distributor to the point he could claim to be contributing to the local culture... basically it's his home videos...
I can't find him on IMDB, and they even have Uwe Boll!
Title: Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
Genre: Musical
Director: Norman Jewison
Audio: English & French
Ted Neeley
Yvonne Elliman
Bob Bingham
This dazzling interpretation of the hit Tim Rice – Andrew Lloyd Webber rock opera tells the story of Christ's (Ted Neeley) final weeks in a bold and epic production. Shot entirely on location in Israel, producer-director Norman Jewison creates a brilliant example of modern movie making with groundbreaking vision and the unforgettable songs of Rice and Webber. Nominated for several Golden Globe Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress, this legendary classic is now a must-have Special Edition
I agree I cheat a little, since this isn't an unknown movie at all but it's been a long time since I've reviewed a film here. I've appreciated this one a lot more than anticipated, I was "traumatized" as a young child with the broadcasting of another version of the Christ story every year here. The music is really good, in fact I listen the movie again while I write this. All the performers had great voices, but Carl Anderson who plays Judas and Yvonne Elliman who plays Mary Magdalene (she's quite beautifull also) are above the rest. The idea of filming the movie in the Israel desert is a real good one since the scenery is astounding. Love the fact that the story is tell from the point of view of Judas since we are able to understand his reasonning for the treason he will do later (hope that I haven't spoil the end of the story for anyone ). An interesting fact, at least for me, this movie is the first one of Paul Thomas who will became a couple of years later one of the best actor in the adult movies I love so much. One thing that was puzzling me while watching is the fact that we don't see Mary at all, but finally I've understand at the end... Tim Rice who had written the opera is British and they don't believe in the Immaculate Conception like us the Roman Catholics
Really there isn't a part of this movie that I haven't like. A sure recommandation for everyone except Pete
« Last Edit: July 18, 2009, 09:40:26 AM by Jimmy »
I like this movie, but I love the 2000 stage version.
Jimmy, have you heard of Rubber Johnny, by Chris Cunningham? It's bloody weird. There's a six-minute short online. Not sure if there are any longer versions. Enjoy!
Rubber Johnny
Title: Wonderland (2003)
Genre: Real Crime Story
Director: James Cox
Subtitles: English & Spanish
Josh Lucas
Dylan McDermott
On the afternoon of July 1, 1981, Los Angeles police responded to a distress call at 8763 Wonderland Avenue and discovered a grisly quadruple homicide. The police investigation that followed uncovered two versions of the events leading up to the brutal murders - both involving legendary porn actor John Holmes. You're about to experience both versions.
This film is a perfect exemple of a movie that didn't get the success it deserve. Because what we have here is for me the best American movie made in the last 10 years. Sure the shaky cam and the mtv editing is present but that was used for a reason (pass a lot of information fast and get the confusing mood of the persons involved in the events), so I can tolerate them. The director and the script writer had done their work to get the story straight something that we aren't used too anymore (for an exemple of lazy works full of errors just watch Boogie Nights, a real piece of crap). Val Kilmer is perfect in his interpretation of John Holmes (who can honestly say that he was sure that Nick Rivers would had a career that big), in fact nobody is a weak link in the cast. The soundtrack is awesome, full of seventies rock hits and all the songs are well used when they are (the opening credit using Shooting Star from Bad Company is a perfect exemple of a song well used). Contrary to many recent movies this one isn't sanitized for the teenagers. It's violent, it's bloody, it's dirty and it's perfectly how a crime story must be done.
If you have never seen this one it's time to give it the chance it didn't had when it was originally released.
Title: Run Angel Run (1969)
Genre: Biker Movie
Director: Jack Starrett
Valerie Starrett
Gene Shane
Lee de Broux
Paul Harper
Angel (William Smith), a member of a notorious and violent motorcycle gang, gets an offer from a major news magazine. $10,000 in exchange for exposing the secret inner workings of his leather-clad brethren. Angel takes the offer, although it means betraying a coven of outlaw bikers and risking his life!
Time to get back to the roots of this topic that is the little known genre film. The one I've choose today is a biker flick a genre who got its start in 19641 with a British film (The Leather Boys) and was a popular drive-in genre untill 1976 with Northville Cemetery Massacre. Most of those movies were build in the same mold : the live free spirit, the violent action and the heavy drinking. The one reviewed here is a little bit different of the usual biker movie. Before talking of the film I'll named some of the people involved since many of those name are familliar for many. First the director Jack Starrett was in The Gay Deceivers, Blazing Saddles, First Blood and Nightwish (a 1989 horror film that Pete had maybe seen). William Smith the title character continue to work today in the industry and you probably know him for Conan the Barbarian, Red Dawn, Laredo (Roger certainly know this western TV serie) and many other TV shows. Lee de Broux start a long serie of TV role after this film and he was in Pumpkinhead and Robocop. Finally it was the first movie of Margaret Markov who didn't had a long career (only 5 years) but it was enough to establish her cult actress status with movie like Pretty Maids All in a Row, The Arena, Black Mama, White Mama and The Hot Box. Finally the theme song is sing by Tammy Wynette.
Like I've said in the beginning this is a different kind of biker flick, sure it countains the long moto driving sequence but not the usual violence attach to this genre (untill the very end when finally it happens2). In fact this is more a drama, I could even say that it's a chick movie since the character who had most of the control in this film is the girlfriend of Angel played by Valerie Starrett that maybe some of you know for her role in General Hospital. It doesn't mean that the film is bad because it is different, since in fact I like it. The movie lie entirely on the shoulders of Smith and Starrett since the central plot of the film is their couple relation, a job that they have achieve with no problem.
I sure recommand this one, since it's a good introduction to the genre if the violent biker film like Hell's Angels 69, Hell's Bloody Devils or Born Losers aren't your bag of tea.
1. I've voluntarily written off The Wild One (1953) since it didn't bring a lot of immediate follow up.
2. A 17 years old teenager (Markov) is raped by the four bikers searching Angel, an important moment for the movie conclusion.


Billy Bragg: "I'm Still Getting Away With It!"
The Radio X Inspiration Award winner tells us a story that proves that Paul Weller is the down-to-earth legend we always knew he was.
They're two icons of alternative music in Britain with a passion for politics.
But Billy Bragg has revealed to Radio X that him and Paul Weller have something else in common: they both clipped stories about themselves out of the newspapers to keep!
Speaking to Jo Good, Bragg revealed that he's only recently let go of the feeling that he didn't fully deserve his three decades of success.
"We all have it," he said. "I once went to see Paul Weller and he sat down and we had a long chat about stuff.
"And while he was talking to me he was cutting news stories out about himself out of the newspapers and putting them in a pile. So I thought: it's not only me that does that!
Bragg says the story is proof that Weller kept his feet on the ground despite finding fame at a young age.
"I think that's good and I think that speaks well of Paul because he's been doing it a long longer than most of us and from a lot younger age as well...the urge to think I've been there, I've done that - you've got to constantly find new things you haven't done."


Moving to Denver? It's a Great Place for a 'Fresh Start'!
Relocation.com recently prepared a list of the top cities in which people could get a 'fresh start'. Denver ranked #4, just behind Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and Charlotte.
The study factored in economic conditions, but also looked at the cities' popularity, volunteerism rates, and home affordability.
For more information about the study, please check out Relocation.com's blog.
If you're thinking about moving to the area, The Bibeau Group would love to help you get started. Click on the tab above to request a free relocation packet!


text:
Q: Connecting signals with button handles I am using Qt to create GUIs in python.
I created a QThread which has an infinite loop during which it emits some QtCore.SIGNAL in certain moments when certain conditions are fulfilled. In the main function I want to connect each signal with one button handler. I make in this fashion:
    self.workThread = WorkingThread()
    self.connect( self.workThread, QtCore.SIGNAL("button_right"), self.handle_a2_right)
    self.connect(self.workThread,QtCore.SIGNAL("button_left"), self.handle_a2_left)
    self.workThread.start()

where WorkingThread is my thread and handles are my button handles respectively. However when it achieves the first connection of signals the program gives the following error:
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/gnuradio/gr/top_block.py", line 151, in _coerce_endpoint
raise ValueError("unable to coerce endpoint")
ValueError: unable to coerce endpoint

A: The class you call connect on is a GNU Radio hierarchical block, not a QT GUI thing, as noted by jb and ekhumoro; most probably you want to do something like
self.qtgui_widget_instance.connect(SIGNAL...)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Marketing F12 schedule
Revision as of 18:34, 7 July 2009 by Moixs (talk | contribs) (→Between Beta and Preview Release (2009-10-07 - 2009-10-20))
This schedule depends on Fedora general release schedule.
1 The 6 weeks leading up to Alpha (2009-07-07 - 2009-08-18)
2 Between Alpha and Beta (2009-08-19 - 2009-10-06)
3 Between Beta and Preview Release (2009-10-07 - 2009-10-20)
4 Between Preview Release and Final (2009-10-21 - 2009-11-03)
5 Final release and subsequent 4 weeks (2009-11-04 - 2009-12-01)
The 6 weeks leading up to Alpha (2009-07-07 - 2009-08-18)
Status/Notes
Alpha Readiness Meeting Owner YYYY-MM-DD A note
Update the Talking Points Owner YYYY-MM-DD A note
Renew the news distribution network people list to always have motivated people moixs 2009-07-21 A note
Cleanup the wiki from the obsolete marketing cycles moixs 2009-07-14 A note
Cycle the wiki pages to the new release moixs 2009-07-14 A note
Between Alpha and Beta (2009-08-19 - 2009-10-06)
Determine the features that we want to focus on Owner YYYY-MM-DD A note
In-depth feature profiles to 75% completion Owner YYYY-MM-DD A note
Contact beats people about topics/features we cover Owner YYYY-MM-DD A note
Beta Readiness Meeting Owner YYYY-MM-DD A note
Begin working on release slogan Owner YYYY-MM-DD A note
Between Beta and Preview Release (2009-10-07 - 2009-10-20)
Finish the in-depth feature profiles Owner YYYY-MM-DD A note
Brief FAMSCo on talking points and propagate link to Ambassadors Owner YYYY-MM-DD A note
Update the press kits on the Fedora press material page moixs and someone else YYYY-MM-DD moixs is updating the French kits
Between Preview Release and Final (2009-10-21 - 2009-11-03)
Update the screenshots page moixs YYYY-MM-DD A note
Update the Fedora tour page Owner YYYY-MM-DD A note
Aggressively push stories to the News Distribution Network moixs YYYY-MM-DD A note
Final release and subsequent 4 weeks (2009-11-04 - 2009-12-01)
Monitor community news sites and provide corrections and additional information as needed Owner YYYY-MM-DD A note
Additional outreach to independent journos and podcasters Owner YYYY-MM-DD A note
Retrieved from "https://fedoraproject.org/w/index.php?title=Marketing_F12_schedule&oldid=112116"


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text:
When the best defence is no defence
Justin Cartwright 12 March 2011 12:00 am
This remarkable book is the account by their lawyer of the trial, imprisonment and sentencing to death in the late Eighties of a group of young men who came to be known as the Delmas Four.
Walking wounded
Honor Clerk 19 February 2011 12:00 am
Paul Torday's phenomenal success with Salmon Fishing in the Yemen was always going to be a hard act to follow.
John Preston 19 February 2011 12:00 am
Britain recovered from the humiliating loss of her American colonies surprisingly swiftly. But a harsh fate awaited many of her loyalist supporters, according to John Preston
BOOKENDS: Hang the participle
Marcus Berkmann 5 February 2011 6:00 am
An awful lot of books are being published these days about the English language. David Crystal has a new one out every few weeks, and John Sutherland probably has half a dozen on the go. The Language Wars: (John Murray, £17.99) is Henry Hitchings's third and unlikely to be his last.
Australian Books – Hot off the presses
Ian Hancock 5 February 2011 12:00 am
Peter Allen Ryan has had several adult careers.
A war of nutrition
Ian Thomson 5 February 2011 12:00 am
The long summer that led up to the last days of peace in Europe in 1939 — the vigil of the Nazi assault on Poland on 1 September and the ensuing Phoney War — gave little hint of the storm to come.
And then there was one . . .
Lewis Jones 5 February 2011 12:00 am
The English fascination with spies is gloriously reflected in our literature, from Kim to A Question of Attribution, and while their Egyptian and Israeli counterparts remain untranslated, and the Americans unreadable, English spy novelists rule.
And now the good news
John Hirst 22 January 2011 12:00 am
Anh Do, the stand-up comedian, came to Australia as a young boy with his parents in 1980.
On the silver trail
Jonathan Sumption 15 January 2011 12:00 am
The Spanish empire was the first of Europe's great overseas empires, and for many years the richest and most powerful.
Too good for words
Charlotte Moore 15 January 2011 12:00 am
I confess myself baffled by this fable. The narrative is as clear, the prose as uncluttered, as one expects from Susan Hill, but its very simplicity leaves me wondering whether I've missed the point.
The gentle touch
Caroline Moore 8 January 2011 12:00 am
My main disappointment with this collection of stories was that I had already read six of them, in publications ranging from the New Yorker to the Guardian.
On the charm offensive
Patrick Skene Catling 27 November 2010 12:00 am
Derek Hill (1916–2000), writes Bruce Arnold, was an English representational landscape and portrait painter of 'haunting and evocative creative spirituality that is perhaps indefinable'.
BOOKENDS: Xmas with the exes
Cressida Connolly 20 November 2010 10:00 am
'I only see radiators these days', announces one of the characters in this novel — 'You know, people who give out heat and warmth.' A radiator is a pretty good description of India Knight's Comfort and Joy (Fig Tree/ Penguin, £14.99), too: a book so kindly and funny and affectionate that you could probably warm your hands on it.
The Spectator 20 November 2010 12:00 am
A further selection of the best books of 2010, chosen by some of our regular contributors
Change, decay and success
David Sexton 20 November 2010 12:00 am
After having for so long been treated with such disdain by the French literary establishment, Michel Houellebecq has at last been embraced by it.
So far from God . . .
Ian Thomson 20 November 2010 12:00 am
Ciudad Juárez, Mexico's second largest border city, is clogged with rubbish, fouled with car exhaust and, increasingly, flooded with narcotics.
Unpredictable pleasures
John Preston 20 November 2010 12:00 am
As befits a magazine with an erudite and international readership, I shall begin this review with a short salutation in the Western Greenland Eskimo language: 'Ata, sûlorsimavutit!' The phrase, as some of you — although I fear reprehensibly few — will know means: 'Well, now you have again relieved yourself in your trousers.' One can, I think, deduce two things from this.
Follow your star
Jonathan Keates 20 November 2010 12:00 am
In these straitened times it looks as if a great many more hours of most people's days will have to be spent waiting in queues.
The body in the library
Gary Dexter 13 November 2010 12:00 am
Jacques Bonnet is a distinguished French art historian and novelist who has amassed a private library of 40,000 volumes (around double the number contained in the average Waterstones).
Groupthink and doubletalk
John R. MacArthur 23 October 2010 12:00 am
Soon after his historic victory over John McCain, Barack Obama was ushered into a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) located deep inside the Federal building in Chicago to receive his first top-secret intelligence briefing as President-elect.
Philip Hensher 23 October 2010 12:00 am
They were 'soulmates' according to people who knew both of them.
« 1 … 26 27 28 29 30


text:
Darwin Day 2023 approaches
It's time to dust off your Darwin costume again: Darwin Day 2023 is just around the corner! Despite the pandemic, a handful of colleges and universities, schools, libraries, museums, churches, civic groups, and just plain folks across the country — and the world — are preparing to celebrate Darwin Day, on or around February 12, in honor of the life and work of Charles Darwin. These events provide a marvelous opportunity not only to celebrate Darwin's birthday but also to engage in public outreach about science, evolution, and the importance of evolution education. NCSE encourages its members and friends to attend, participate in, and even organize Darwin Day events in their own communities. To find a local event, check the websites of local universities and museums as well as the Darwin Day Celebration registry administered by NCSE. For its part, NCSE, with the National Association of Biology Teachers and Larisa DeSantis, will be reprising the popular "Chewing on Change" evolution symposium online at 6:00 p.m. Eastern on February 9. And of course NCSE will be active on social media in support of evolution education — look for (and use) the hashtag #whyteachevolution on Darwin Day, and check out our #whyteachevolution essays.
And with Darwin Day comes the return of Evolution Weekend, recently redubbed Religion and Science Weekend! Dozens of congregations across the country and around the world are taking part in the event, February 10-12, 2023, by presenting sermons and discussion groups on the compatibility of faith and science and the year's theme "Mystery, Awe, and Wonder in Religion and Science." Michael Zimmerman, the initiator of the project, writes, "[Religion and Science] Weekend is an opportunity for serious discussion and reflection on the relationship between religion and science. One important goal is to elevate the quality of the discussion on this critical topic — to move beyond sound bites. A second critical goal is to demonstrate that religious people from many faiths and locations understand that evolution is sound science and poses no problems for their faith. Finally, as with The Clergy Letter itself, [Religion and Science] Weekend makes it clear that those claiming that people must choose between religion and science are creating a false dichotomy." At last count, 141 congregations in 35 states (and four foreign countries) were scheduled to hold Religion and Science Weekend events.
Glenn Branch is Deputy Director of NCSE.
branch@ncse.ngo
Support Accurate Evolution Education
Help NCSE ensure every student gets a great evolution education, no matter where they live.


text:
package com.piasy.simpletravel.model;

public class Flag
{
	public boolean value;
	public Flag(boolean value)
	{
		this.value = value;
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Cole Wright
Cole on Facebook
Follow Cole on twitter
About Cole
Kevin Faulk: 'New England Was My First Choice, Always'
by NESN Staff on Thu, Mar 11, 2010 at 10:40PM
The Patriots rewarded the longest-tenured member of their organization on Thursday, signing running back Kevin Faulk to a new one-year deal.
Faulk phoned in to Thursday's edition of SportsDesk to discuss his excitement over spending one more year with the only team he has ever known.
"I said the last time I was on the show that there was an 85 percent chance of me coming back," Faulk told NESN's Cole Wright.
Though Faulk tested the market with other teams in the NFL — he reportedly received offers from the likes of the Redskins and the Eagles — New England was always first on his radar.
"It was a [matter] of me figuring out what my value was and then coming back and seeing what New England thought," Faulk said. "Like I said, New England was my first choice, as always."
For more from Faulk, including his opinion on the Patriots' other offseason moves, check out the video below.


Now that it's summer and the days are getting longer, it's time to start thinking about the best way to keep children safe when they're hanging out with friends and enjoying the time off from school. One of the best ways to do this is with a GPS watch for kids.
Why Should You Use a GPS Watch for Kids This Summer?
It Allows Children to Have More Freedom – Though the summer is a fantastic time to spend more time together as a family, it's also a fantastic time for children to explore their freedom. A lot of kids will want to see their friends during the summer holidays, but this isn't always possible if your schedule is busy or if you have more than one child to contend with. However, a GPS watch for kids makes it easier to give children freedom. By knowing where they are at all times, it's a lot easier to allow them to hang out with friends at the cinema or local park.
It Allows Children to Safely Enjoy the Sunshine – Most children enjoy spending time outdoors, but many fret and worry when their parents aren't nearby. It's all part of growing up and eventually it's something they get used to, but technology can make this transition easier. With a kids GPS watch, children can safely enjoy the sunshine knowing that they can contact you at a moment's notice.
It Helps to Ensure Your Summer is a Relaxed One – Though the summer brings with it longer days and better weather, it isn't always a relaxing time as a parent. In fact, most parents spend a lot of the summer holidays worrying about where their children are and what they're doing. However, with a GPS watch for kids, you can relax. There's no need to stress or worry, as you'll know exactly where they are at all times.
As you can see, a GPS watch for kids is ideal for the summer. By buying one before the summer holidays, you'll have everything ready for when school ends. To find out more about a GPS watch for kids, go to WatchOvers.com.


text:
The Marina Experiment: reclaiming images of child abuse
Marina Lutz turned the lens in on her voyeur photographer father, but what did it achieve?
By Clare Conway
In 1996 Marina Lutz, a reformed heroin user, was tasked with cleaning out her dead parents' garage. She stumbled upon a vast archive of photographs, thousands of images taken by her photographer father Abbot Lutz which chronicled the first 16 years of her life. Some were sexually suggestive, while others hinted at an unsavoury obsession with his child. Lutz spent the following ten years sifting through the archive to compile a short film called The Marina Experiment "chronicling his view of me through my own digital video microphone," she told the Observer last weekend.
The 18-minute film has won nine awards worldwide — everything from best documentary to best taboo film — but it has divided opinion. Some see The Marina Experiment as compelling insight into her long-suffered abuse, others as a perversion of her father's art — that in reversing the lens, Lutz portrays only the most controversial of images and without their context. But surely that there are so many photos is protest to Lutz's suffering.
Brutally cut, she lays bare the secrets of her abuse, denouncing her father through her own mortification. There are pictures of Lutz as child in her pants, on the toilet, and one where she's innocently touching her genitals.
The images are vulnerable, uncomfortably raw and captivating. By contrast, Lutz's edit and voiceover is brash, bordering on crude. The trailer for The Marina Experiment II — the second installment of her film — opens with Hollywood action movie music. "When it came to leaving behind 16 years of evidence you picked the wrong gal," Lutz intones, as though she's moments from unveiling a lethal dose of retribution — which, of course, is her intention.
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She lists a string of charges for which she believes her father is guilty: from "routine spanking" to "latent paedophilia". Lutz narrates the images with a quiet, restrained fury that makes her voice seem lethargic: Marina in the bathroom, in a bikini by the pool — her bottom jiggling and played on a loop as she prepares to leap off a diving board. There were 10,000 photos to choose from, buried in the "rats' nest" of her parents' garage. So why does Lutz pick only a handful and show them over and over? Does she revisit the worst of her ordeal out of catharsis? Or is she trying to make the most of the archive's suggestive nature, pulling together those stray shots, captured in the indiscriminate flutter of the lens?
Lutz told the Observer she wanted to evoke the sensation of returning to the pain she felt when she began to sift through the vast archive. "I used the repetition because that's how it felt going through the archive. I kept finding the same thing and it kept hurting and hurting me. It felt right." It's a disturbing collection. It's not the images' content that build a case against a predatory father, it's the sheer number of them, sexually suggestive or otherwise. It's "the way you feel when someone's standing too close to you" as Lutz puts it: Abbot invading her space, her privacy and chalking his own daughter up to an art installation.
Lutz has been applauded for her debut film making efforts, and yet I wonder if it's enough. The work of art might be held together by her words and edit but the evidence is of his making and it comes highly acclaimed. We're not enthralled by the music or the PowerPoint fonts: it's the awful voyeurism, the concept that someone might have violated his daughter's privacy so fervently. Is it her father's cruel ambition realised?
Clare Conway
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To kill a literary career
Poly Styrene, 1957-2011


Yes, I know this post is late. Memorial Day threw me off.
"An Obliger?" you might ask. "What is that?"
According to Gretchen Rubin in Better Than Before, "Obligers meet outer expectations but struggle to meet inner expectations.... Because Obligers resist inner expectations, it's difficult for them to self-motivate--to work on a PhD thesis, to attend networking events, to get their car serviced. Obligers depend on external accountability, with consequences such as deadlines, late fees, or the fear of letting other people down."
Rubin also identifies three other tendencies: the Upholder, the Questioner, and the Rebel; but as I read this part of the book, I was in shock. "That's me!," I thought. "OMG! That is so me!" I still can't believe that someone pegged me so perfectly.
So, what does this mean? How does this affect my life?
Well, it means that I have a difficult time meeting all the goals I set for myself. I need accountability. I am trying some different methods of holding myself accountable. I am using trackers and offering myself rewards if I continuously meet my goals. I am very purposefully setting aside time for each activity in my day.
If I continue with this long enough, this could become a habit, and I will no longer have to think about it.
But maybe that is wishful thinking.
After all, I am an Obliger.
"In the "compelling"* and "pitch perfect"** follow up to Tana French's runaway bestseller In the Woods, it's six months later and Cassie Maddox has transferred out of the Dublin Murder squad. But an urgent telephone call beckons Cassie to a grisly crime scene. The victim looks exactly like Cassie and carries ID identifying herself as Alexandra Madison, an alias Cassie once used as an undercover cop. Suddenly, Cassie must discover not only who killed this girl, but, more importantly, who is this girl?"
I saw my double once, as a child, on vacation in the west of Ireland. We were driving on a country road, and she was walking in the sunshine. At the time I wished I could have stopped to talk to her. Now I wonder what her life was like. Did she have the same struggles and successes that I have had? How different were our lives? I can't imagine what I would do if I saw my double's dead body?
When Cassie now only saw her double's dead body but also found out that her double had been living the life of one of her former undercover personalities, curiosity must have taken over. Imagine sneaking into your double's life and taking over where she left off. It would be so tempting. And her life was so different. I felt it pulling her in and surrounding her in its comfortable rhythm.
The book did drag at times, but I feel it was reflective of Cassie's desire to allow the investigation to drag on, so she could wallow in her new life for a while longer. I figured out the true murderer long before Cassie did but, again, I think she hid the truth from herself as long as she could. She did not want to rush back to her real life.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and recommend it. There are times where the story slows and the reader can put the book down and take a break. Other times it keeps you on the edge of your sear and you won't want to put it down. I can't wait to read more Tana French.
Have you ever read a book by Tana French? What did you think?
On Friday morning the school where I teach went into lockdown. It was easily the most terrifying day of my life.
At 9:40am, class had just begun. My students were signing into their Chromebooks, and we were joking about what would happen next in our weekly video series, Mi vida loca.
"This is not a drill. Lockdown! Lockdown!"
My mind immediately went blank. The students were ready. Our drills had worked. They knew what to do. But I had to stop and think. "Lockdown. That means the threat is inside the school. We have to hide from the window in the door."
The lights were already off in the classroom since we were preparing to watch a video, and I always keep the door locked. There were just a few more steps to complete. I turned off the projector and my computer screen and directed the students to close their Chromebooks. We all moved to one side of the classroom and squeezed in tight, hoping to keep ourselves hidden from the small rectangular window in the door.
As I huddled with my students against the wall, I glanced around the room and quickly realized two things: there is nothing even remotely weapon-like in my classroom, and all the water bottles and Chromebooks on the desks made it painfully obvious that people were hiding in that room.
My 21 students were scared; some of them were crying, all of them were on social media exchanging messages of love with each other and passing on the latest rumors about what was going on.
"Someone brought a gun to school"
They already knew more than me. For the first and only time in my life I wished I was part of their group chat on Snapchat. I felt so lost. How was I supposed to protect them when I didn't even know what was happening outside our room?
The door shook. We all stopped breathing for a minute. Whoever it was moved on down the hallway. "It was the police," one of my students reported. He showed me a picture of all the police cars outside the high school. Three different departments had come to help us.
We stood against that wall for almost two hours before the lockdown ended. The police took three suspects into custody No shots were fired. No one was injured or killed. In that sense, we were lucky.
I held it together for the rest of my work day. Then I went home, took a shower, and cried. I am not generally an emotional person, but the stress of that day was too much. I am still happy that there is nothing weapon-like in my classroom; I am happy that we all emerged from the experience unharmed; but I am sad that this now seems to be part of my job description.
A recent assignment for the Ninja Writing Challenge involved visualizing my inner critic and the place I would send her when writing my first draft. I had never really thought much about my inner critic before, so this task was very interesting to me.
My first thought was that my inner critic definitely wears glasses. I imagined that she probably looks just like me, but with big, thick-framed glasses.
Then a clearer picture started to form.
I'm pretty sure that my inner critic is a version of my 8th grade English teacher, Mrs. Claus. Yes, that was her real name, Mrs. Claus, no relation to Santa, although she did always wear red. Red from head to toe.
I think my inner critic is a lot like Mrs. Claus. She wears glasses to prove that she is smarter than me. She is short and sweet, like my writing should be. She wears red, like the pen that she is marking my text with. Her clothing is impeccable, like her editing skills.
But where can I send Mrs. Claus when she gets in the way of me finishing a first draft? Well, I think I will send her to the North Pole. Maybe she can reunite with Mr. Claus. She can correct the elves' grammar and proofread the toys' instruction manuals until I actually need her.
Goodbye Mrs. Claus! I will need your help soon, just not right now. Oh, and thanks for publishing that poem I wrote as an 8th grader. I didn't appreciate it then but you made me believe that I could be a writer someday. Thank you for that.
What does your inner critic look like?
Ninja Writer Challenge Starts Tomorrow!
I am starting a new writing challenge tomorrow. I already have my new notebook, a pen that brings me joy, and I've listed the challenge goals on the first page. I really like having goals for a new notebook.
From what I can gather, the challenge should require about 30 minutes of my time each day during the month of May: 10 minutes of writing, 10 minutes of reading, and 10 minutes for the daily challenge.
I am excited to start this challenge (I am always excited to start a challenge); my concern is that, as usual, I will not complete the challenge. I am hopeful that I can follow through with this challenge - 30 minutes a day seems like such a small commitment.
Dear reader, I would love a gentle nudge to help me stay on track. If you are interested in joining the challenge and becoming my writing buddy, visit this link. I look forward to a month of writing with you.
Well, my reading year was off to a great start but I am definitely slowing down. With only five days left, I have one and half books left to read in order to complete Erin's book challenge. I know that I can do it, if I really focus and read. The question is, will I do it?


Ensuring employees are happy at work is one of the most important jobs for any employer.
Happy employees create positive and productive work environments, allowing everyone to thrive while working together toward a common goal.
Unfortunately, there are times when personal problems prevent employees from doing their best work. This may lead to a sharp reduction in productivity and focus, and can negatively impact the rest of the team.
To address this, many employers have recognized the benefits of Employee Assistance Programs in helping keep their teams healthy and happy.
An EAP is a workplace wellness program designed to boost your employees' performance by proactively helping them resolve personal issues. This program offers confidential and short-term support that assists with a variety of issues, including financial, legal, physical, and mental health.
These benefits and services are also often available for each employee's dependents, spouse, and extended family.
Studies on workplaces have shown that job stress is increasing at an alarming rate. According to the Statistics Canada General Social Survey (GSS), 25% of working Canadians are affected by stress, while 60% of workers attribute their main source of stress to their job.
Ongoing stress leads to exhaustion and apathy, often resulting in a lack of productivity and psychological burnout. EAPs can help prevent this, by providing employees critical support before their stress snowballs into a crisis.
When employees are distracted by personal problems, they become less motivated and creative at work. They may also start to use more sick days in an effort to cope. Needless to say, these absences can have serious consequences.
In fact, the Society for Human Resource Management reports that companies lose 36.6% of their productivity due to employee absences.
However, statistics show that after an EAP is introduced, productivity increases. Studies also show that EAPs reduce sick leave usage by 33%, lost time by 40%, and work-related accidents by 65%.
One of the major benefits of employee assistance programs is that they are surprisingly affordable, ranging from 42 to 60 dollars per employee per year. This is less than 1% of what the average employer pays annually for employee health insurance!
It's important to keep communicating the availability of the program to keep it top of mind for employees. If you don't, the likelihood that they will use it decreases significantly.
According to Statistics Canada, mental health issues cost employers a staggering $20 billion per year and account for 75% of short-term disability claims in Canada. If you're not addressing mental health in the workplace, it may cost you dearly.
On a positive note, Morneau Shepell reports that EAPs give employers an excellent return on investment: for every $1 you invest, the return is 8 times greater!
Investing in an EAP leads to reduced healthcare costs, lower medical insurance usage, fewer disability claims, and fewer absences.
Stress-caused issues such as absenteeism, decreased performance, and health problems affect not only one person but the overall work force.
Additionally, if someone is experiencing a high level of stress, they may become more defensive, argumentative, and a less communicative at work.
A positive work environment is a key factor in retaining talented employees.
Did you know that a survey by the American Health Association found that 51% of employees stay at their job because of good relationships with coworkers? An EAP helps keep employees productive, present, and happier while on the job.
The psychological and financial costs of stress and mental health issues are taking a toll on Canadian businesses. Now, more than ever, employers have a responsibility to support employees and contribute to their wellbeing.
An EAP can be an integral part of a complete employee wellness program. Ready to learn more about how employee wellness is good for business?


text:
"""This code example gets all image creatives.

To create an image creative, run create_creatives.py.

The LoadFromStorage method is pulling credentials and properties from a
"googleads.yaml" file. By default, it looks for this file in your home
directory. For more information, see the "Caching authentication information"
section of our README.

"""

# Import appropriate modules from the client library.
from googleads import dfp

def main(client):
  # Initialize appropriate service.
  creative_service = client.GetService('CreativeService', version='v201508')

  # Create statement object to only select image creatives.
  values = [{
      'key': 'creativeType',
      'value': {
          'xsi_type': 'TextValue',
          'value': 'ImageCreative'
      }
  }]
  query = 'WHERE creativeType = :creativeType'
  statement = dfp.FilterStatement(query, values)

  # Get creatives by statement.
  while True:
    response = creative_service.getCreativesByStatement(
        statement.ToStatement())
    creatives = response['results']

    if creatives:
      # Display results.
      for creative in creatives:
        print ('Creative with id \'%s\', name \'%s\', and type \'%s\' was '
               'found.' % (creative['id'], creative['name'],
                           dfp.DfpClassType(creative)))
      statement.offset += dfp.SUGGESTED_PAGE_LIMIT
    else:
      break

  print '\nNumber of results found: %s' % response['totalResultSetSize']

if __name__ == '__main__':
  # Initialize client object.
  dfp_client = dfp.DfpClient.LoadFromStorage()
  main(dfp_client)