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A Virgin's View on Dracula (1897) by Bram Stoker
in Books, Entertainment, Reviews
by Erin Chapman May 3, 2016, 10:34 pm 753 Views 9 Comments
What do virgin eyes see? Title page of Bram Stoker's Dracula (1897). Picture: MHR/Bookbinder's Chronicle.
The Broadview edition of Dracula (1998), edited by Glennis Byron.
Welcome to the sixth instalment of "Virgin's View." Normally, I review a classic vampire film without being exposed to any background information or reviews, hence the term "virgin." This time I will mix things up a bit and review a book instead; Bram Stoker's vampire classic Dracula (1897).
To ensure I bought an appropriate edition, Anthony put a call out in the The Lord Ruthven Assembly Facebook group on April 2, 2014, asking which edition group members recommended. With feedback, we narrowed it down to two choices; the Broadview edition or the Norton Critical edition. I chose the Broadview edition because it came with some bonus goodies in the back appendix.
I started the book last year and put it aside because I wasn't enjoying it. I found out the Transylvanian Society of Dracula is holding a conference in Dublin this October that I want to attend and Anthony pointed out I couldn't go to a "Dracula" conference, without reading the book.
I picked Dracula up again for the second time and finally finished it on April 6, 2016. When I told Anthony I'd finished it, he remarked: "you've popped your Dracula cherry! lol."
Background knowledge. Jonathan Harker (Keanu Reeves) writes diary entries on his way to see Dracula in Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992). Picture: Columbia Pictures; Screenmusings.
I have no prior exposure to this book. My background and knowledge about Dracula is limited to only three films; Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), and my Virgin's View of Dracula (1931) and Horror of Dracula (1958).
I originally saw the 1992 film in the theatres when I was younger and only watched it for the second time last month when it came on TV as a refresher.
As for the novel, I jumped right into the story and skipped reading the extras; the acknowledgements, introduction, note on the text, brief chronology, and the appendixes at the end.
Before you proceed, beware: major spoilers ahead!
Brief history. Excerpt from slideshow Dracula: History, Myth and Literature by Regina Randall. Picture: Regina Randall/SlidePlayer.
For me this was a hard book to get into. I didn't enjoy the epistolary format. The entries were done by the main characters; Mina Harker (née Murray), Lucy Westenra, Jonathan Harker, Dr. Abraham Van Helsing, Arthur Holmwood, and Dr. John Seward.
The book bounced back and forth from diaries, telegrams, letters, reports, and articles. It seemed like everyone back in that era kept a diary, maybe that was common back then?
Stoker covered a seven month period in his novel. The first entry was by Jonathan on May 3 and the final one by Mina on Nov. 6. It took a lot of entries to fill 388 pages and made the story progress too slowly for my liking.
Also there were extremely long paragraphs throughout the novel, which I found annoying. I think it's the first time I have seen single paragraphs extend a couple of pages. I am more used to shorter ones that break down ideas more precisely.
I found the dialogue lacking, due to the format. Conversations between characters keep things interesting and give the reader a chance to know them in more depth. Some entries did have dialogue; however, I find it odd that the exact conversations were recorded in a diary. How is that even possible unless you have perfect memory recall?
I get the novel was written back in 1897 and language was a little different. I did not have an issue with this. Stoker was a very descriptive and detail oriented writer, which was good, but I found myself skimming to skip ahead and had to stop and go back numerous times.
I enjoyed the footnotes included at the bottom of each page, which is my personal preference as opposed to flipping back and forth to the end of the book.
One footnote stood out to me on page 280: "Arminius Vámbéry (1832-1913), Hungarian orientalist. Stoker met him on a number occasions in the Lyceum Club."
I recognized the name and recalled an article written by Trystan Swale on his Highgate Vampire blog discussing Sean Manchester's many sock puppets. Arminius Vámbéry was one of his preferred choices for his online dealings.
I recognized numerous footnotes that referenced the Bible because I started reading it back in 2014. On page 178, Renfield, a patient of Dr. Seward's said, "The blood is the life! The blood is the life!" The footnote was: "Deuteronomy 12.23: 'Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.'"
I noticed the characters, especially Mina, mention God throughout the story, which leads me to believe they were Christian. On page 370, Mina says: "In the morning we go out upon our task, and God alone knows what may be in store for us" and then on page 371: "I cannot believe that to die in such a case, when there is hope before us and a bitter task to be done, is God's will."
"God's will," is actually a reoccurring theme that comes up frequently throughout the story, which demonstrates the characters believe an outside force affects their fate.
I enjoyed how Stoker used other footnotes to reference real locations. Jonathan left for his journey to Transylvania from Exeter Cathedral Close, a place I know well. I have wondered around here and eaten lunch on the steps many times.
Exeter Cathedral Close. Surrounding the cathedral is a variety of shops and cafes (behind the photographer). Taken during my visit there on Sept. 1, 2014. Picture: Erin Chapman.
Also Stoker had Mina and Jonathan leave from Exeter Station. I'm not sure about back then, but there are currently three rail stations in Exeter and I have been to all of them. It's fun to envision characters in a place you are familiar with in real life.
Speaking of characters, based on my previous influence of films, I found it strange Stoker portrayed Dracula as what I interpret as an ugly man. Perhaps the concept has morphed over the years as his novel did lay the groundwork.
In the film Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), Gary Oldman was a picturesque gentleman with flowing locks and foreign accent that would make most women swoon; however, I have to point out he did start as a geriatric wearing what looked like fancy kimonos.
As they say, clothes make the man. His fancy Victorian style completed the package. The 1931 and 1958 films portrayed Dracula in a similar way; charismatic, debonair men with good looks.
I found Stoker's take a little different:
His face was a strong — a very strong — aquiline, with high bridge of the thin nose and peculiarly arched nostrils; with lofty domed forehead, and hair growing scantily round the temples, but profusely elsewhere. His eyebrows were very massive, almost meeting over the nose, and with bushy hair that seemed to curl in its own profusion. The mouth, so far as I could see it under the heavy moustache, was fixed and rather cruel-looking, with peculiarly sharp white teeth; these protruded over the lips, whose remarkable ruddiness showed astonishing vitality in a man of his years. For the rest, his ears were pale and at the tops extremely pointed; the chin was broad and strong, and the cheeks firm though thin. The general effect was one of extraordinary pallor.
My brain also compared the Mina from Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), Wynona Ryder, to Stoker's version. In the film, I found this character more flighty, girlish and what I would expect from the time period.
Stoker's Mina was strong-willed and as demonstrated by the lengthy discussions by the other characters, the centre of devotion and unconditional love. The other characters adored her and were willing to risk their lives for her no matter what it took, which is interesting considering some of their relationships were relatively new.
This made me think back to the title track in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) by Bryan Adams "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You."
If you break down the plot though, it can be simplified as two damsels in distress; Lucy and Mina. Lucy gets sick and they try to save her and then Mina has the same problem. The only difference was Lucy ended up in a box at the end, despite the long drawn out process of staking her in the cemetery. Stoker focused so much attention on setting her soul free.
They wouldn't have been hunting the vampire in the first place, if he hadn't gone after their women. Perhaps it was his ego, but Dracula could have gone after any female in London. Instead he went after those close to Jonathan. Kind of kicking the hornets nest if you ask me.
Concerning souls, Dracula's soul, was a whole other can of worms. I was extremely disappointed in how things panned out at the end of the book. My text to Anthony was actually, "Then chop, stab, and crumble what the fuck."
Seeing three films now, yeah I get that Dracula has to die at the end, but I figured Stoker would have jazzed it up a bit more, especially after how descriptive he was with the rest of the novel. Instead I got:
But, on the instant, came the sweep and flash of Jonathan's great knife. I shrieked as I saw it shear through the throat; whilst at the same moment Mr. Morris's bowie knife plunged into the heart.
It was like a miracle; but before our very eyes, and almost in the drawing of a breath, the whole body crumbled into dust and passed from our sight.
Two measly paragraphs, that's it after the entire build up of the novel. Not to mention, Dracula died on the second to last page, which left little room for a finale. I felt like the author was tired, wanted to wrap things up and head out to the pub for a pint. A little gore wouldn't have hurt or some added suspense.
I know Stoker wasn't trying to censor his book for the audience due to the time period because he didn't hold back in an earlier scene. Page 69 of all pages, showed how Jonathan got a little hot and bothered by Dracula's brides:
The fair girl went on her knees, and bent over me, fairly gloating. There was a deliberate voluptuousness which was both thrilling and repulsive, and as she arched her neck she actually licked her lips like an animal, till I could see in the moonlight the moisture shining on the scarlet lips and on the red tongue as it lapped the white sharp teeth. Lower and lower went her head as the lips went below the range of my mouth and chin and seemed about to fasten on my throat. Then she paused, and I could hear the churning sound of her tongue as it licked her teeth and lips, and could feel the hot breath on my neck. Then the skin of my throat began to tingle as one's flesh does when the hand that is to tickle it approaches nearer — nearer. I could feel the soft, shivering touch of the lips on the supersensitive skin of my throat, and the hard dents of two sharp teeth, just touching and pausing there. I closed my eyes in languorous ecstasy and waited — waited with beating heart.
Considering this book was published in 1897, I was blown away. I would assume this must have caused a big uproar back in the day, but I don't exactly make it a habit of reading books this old so I have no point of comparison.
One entry I could compare caught my eye. It was an article called the "Hampstead Mystery" (page 214). Based on my research with Anthony on the Highgate Vampire, I instantly thought of the case and the newspaper, the Hampstead and Highgate Express.
Stoker's article mentioned children being led astray and then found later with marks on their necks. Also there was a cemetery near by. The situation sounded similar to victims of the Highgate Vampire and animals in the area that were supposedly attacked and left with marks on their necks. Hell, that case even had an infamous vampire hunter, Sean Manchester, like Van Helsing.
What was interesting to see was the use of common vampire tropes back in 1897. I am more familiar with them being used in recent movies or books that have come out since I was a kid. Did some originate with Stoker or did they stem from research he did for his book? No idea at this point. That will take some research on my part after this.
A few that caught my attention were Dracula turning into an animal or mist, having fangs, not being able to cross water and being killed by beheading or a stake to the heart. From other readings I understand the stake method was used to pin the corpse to the ground as opposed to the final blow.
Some new ones I learned were the whole hypnotic connection that Mina and Dracula had at sunset and sunrise, and sleeping on earth. I had to ask Anthony what the religious deal was with the placing wafers on top of the boxes of earth.
I noticed when Jonathan arrived at Dracula's there was an awkward moment before he entered the castle. Dracula didn't step over the threshold to greet him, instead waited for Jonathan to enter. I have heard the whole you have to invite a vampire in, but the scene left me wondering about this one.
A mysterious part that I cannot figure out is what's the deal with Renfield. Perhaps I missed something. I understand he was Jonathan's predecessor and came back from Transylvania in his unwell condition. Sure Jonathan went a little loopy over there as well, but if Dracula did not turn Renfield into a vampire, what did he do to him? Maybe it was the promise to turn him?
Why the snacking on bugs and the spiders? I am assuming each time he referenced his "master," he meant Dracula, but also why kill Renfield in the end? Did he cease to be of use after he told his master to leave Mina alone, demonstrating affection for her?
This also leads me to question Dracula's affection for Mina. After all if he was attempting to turn her into one of his brides and spend eternity together, he must have had the hots for her on some level or was it all spite to Jonathan?
I am glad I put in the effort to read this book, as Anthony said it was required reading for what we do. Would I read it again? Probably not. I would recommend it to others for research purposes, but as for the entertainment value, it wasn't my cup of tea.
What does blow my mind is the amount of literature based on Dracula and the number of films done over the years. I am looking forward to read the bonus bits in the back of the novel, perhaps these will appeal to me more than the actual book and answer some of my questions.
I know with my Virgin's Views of the vampire film classics I have barely scratched the surface. I am sure there will be plenty more versions of Dracula's demise. Seeing where it all started was fun, but for this reader, it is a rare case for me where I would say the original is not always the best.
Was the book ahead of it's time and did it set a precedence for vampires? For sure. The genre owes a great deal to Stoker as he set the stage for authors and film makers to come; however, the fans determine its success.
a call out in The Lord Ruthven Assembly Facebook group: Anthony Hogg, post on The Lord Ruthven Assembly Facebook group, April 2, 2014, accessed April 24, 2016, https://www.facebook.com/groups/lordruthvenassembly/permalink/10152032907827607/.
"you've popped your Dracula cherry! lol": Anthony Hogg, Facebook message to the author, April 6, 2016.
Dracula: Erin Chapman, "A Virgin's View on 'Dracula' (1931)," Vamped, May 26, 2015, accessed April 24, 2016, http://vamped.org/2015/05/26/a-virgins-view-on-dracula-1931/.
Horror of Dracula: Erin Chapman, "A Virgin's View on 'Horror of Dracula,'" Vamped, July 29, 2015, accessed April 24, 2016, http://vamped.org/2015/07/29/a-virgins-view-on-horror-of-dracula/.
recalled an article written by Trystan Swale: admin [Trystan Swale], "Effective Sock Puppetry 101," The Highgate Vampire (blog), July 8, 2015, accessed April 12, 2016, http://thehighgatevampire.co.uk/index.php/2015/07/08/effective-sock-puppetry-101/. archive.is link: https://archive.is/JqDJj.
I started reading the it back in 2014: Erin Chapman, "A Biblical Marathon," Erin Chapman (blog), Feb. 28, 2014, accessed on April 12, 2016, http://erinchapman.ca/bible-reviews/bible-marathon-discoveries/. archive.is link: https://archive.is/Di9sM.
I found Stoker's take a little different: Bram Stoker, Dracula, ed. Glennis Byron (1897; 1998; repr., Peterborough, Canada: Broadview Editions, 2000), 48. Citations refer to the Broadview edition.
"But, on the instant, came the sweep and flash of Jonathan's great knife": Ibid., 417–18.
"The fair girl went on her knees": Ibid., 69–70.
my research with Anthony on the Highgate Vampire: Erin Chapman, "5 Reasons a Wampyr Didn't Walk in Highgate Cemetery," Vamped, Feb. 27, 2015, accessed April 23, 2016, http://vamped.org/2015/02/27/5-reasons-why-a-wampyr-didnt-walk-in-highgate-cemetery/.
Bram StokerDraculaVirgin's View
Written by Erin Chapman
Erin is Vamped's Co-administrator. She is the owner of Vampire Classifieds and Horror Classifieds. She has 2 turtles; has 15 piercings and 5 tattoos; loves turtles and walking around in bare feet. She has a degree in marketing and sales and has been in the industry for over 12 years. She lives in Vancouver, Canada.
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Andy Boylan says:
Erin – one comment I have to make is that Stoker does not suggest that Renfield was Harker's predecessor. That comes from movies (it can be easy to conflate, especially when you are not enjoying the book). Renfield is never explained, indeed Seward knows little about him, and is generally seen as a psychic barometer of the vampire – his activity increases whenever the vampire is near. In other words he is a plot device.
However, for a device he is a popular character and the Book of Renfield is a fine attempt by a modern author (Tin Lucas) to explain him
Erin Chapman says:
Thanks Andy! Have you read the book by Lucas? Also do you know of any notes or anything from Stoker that address this character at all?
Erin, Stoker's notes are available but he says very little about Renfield – indeed for much of the notes he doesn't even have a name and is called Fly Man or Fly Patient.
I have read Lucas' book my review is here: http://taliesinttlg.blogspot.co.uk/2007/08/book-of-renfield-review.html
Vladkergan says:
There's also an interesting take on the character in the Renfield : Tale of madness comic book (I see in your review of it, Andy, that you find it less successful than the Tin Lucas book).
Remembering my first reading of Dracula, it was one of the most attractive book I read when I was an teenager, and still reading it again with a great pleasure. In fact I was already used to read XIXth century's book, due to my litterature studies. And I still find more pleasure reading old novels on the subjet than newer ones. But for me, one of the reason of the many existing adaptation of the book is that it seems having been made to be adapted : the many point of view, the archetypic characters, etc.
But if you really want to have a real panorama of the first apparition of vampires in litterature (and pop culture), you must'nt focus only on english books or novels. Carmilla, The Vampire and Dracula are important milestones in vampire fiction litterature, but La morte amoureuse from Théophile Gauthier, Le Horla from Maupassant, Infernaliana from Charles Nodier, La baronne trépassée from Ponson du terrail, Là-bas from Huysmans, La vampire et La ville vampire de Féval are also not to be missed books and short stories for someone who want to have a wide idea of the vampire starting in litterature.
I have to admit I am not one for comics. Never actually read any. When you read Dracula originally was it in English or French? I know we discussed reading books before and that you mentioned you are reading more in English. My first question would be, are those books available in English?
a lot of the stories and books Vladkergan has mentioned are translated – indeed much of the 19th century French vampire literature (as well as much fantastique material) has been translated by the brilliant Black Coat Press
If you scroll down to classic literature on this link: http://taliesinttlg.blogspot.co.uk/p/books-and-literature.html you will see links to my thoughts on La morte amoureuse and Là-bas, I also cover Féval and Ponson du terrail's vampire output
Callum Beesley says:
As for comics, after reading Andy Miller's, A Year of Reading Dangerously, in which the author aims to read 50 books in a set period of time, one of these is a comic! Following this read I began to approach books I wouldn't normally read and this too included a comic – Marvel's, The Death of Dracula, of course.
I had never read a 'proper' comic before this one and I also prefer the more historical, 18, 19 century vampire works but this I thoroughly enjoyed.
Well worth a try as the new vampire angle opens the mind.
Hi Vladkergan
I think my biggest problem with the graphic novel was the way it crowbarred things such as having Seward use Renfield to inspect the Demeter. Also the original novel changes (moving the action solely to Whitby for instance).
Whilst an author can re-imagine, this to me was not enhancing the original, which Lucas did.
re the 19th century material you mention – absolutely, there was a whole plethora of vampire material that is now overlooked by many and is absolutely fascinating.
When I first read Dracula, it was in french. But I'm currently reading it again on 4 different version :
– the Leslie Klinger annotated in english VS the 3 most well know french translation
In order to make an article dealing with the way the novel has been translated.
Many of the french books I listed above are translated. I'm pretty sure that Andy has already read a lot of them 🙂
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Typewritten, including name of writer. Attached: Statement of Income & Expense accounts, November 1, 1897. 2 pages.
The Baptist Argus 16 Dec 1897 1 item.
Louisville, Kentucky 15 Dec 1897 Part of Papers Concerning the "Alabama Battle". 14 December 1897 - 24 December 1897. 10 Items.
Louisville, Kentucky 17 Dec 1897 Part of Papers Concerning the "Alabama Battle". 14 December 1897 - 24 December 1897. 10 Items.
Part of Papers Concerning the "Alabama Battle". 14 December 1897 - 24 December 1897. 10 Items.
Louisville, Kentucky 18 Dec 1897 Part of Papers Concerning the "Alabama Battle". 14 December 1897 - 24 December 1897. 10 Items.


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The simple present tense and the present perfect progressive tense, also present perfect continuous, are both used to talk about the present. The simple present is used for general statements and actions that take place regularly in the present. The present perfect progressive is used to express the duration of an action that started in the past and continues into the present.
Compare the usage of the simple present and present perfect progressive in English grammar with Lingolia's simple tense comparison chart. In the exercises, you can practise using these present tenses.
Helen, you've been cycling for three hours and you are not tired. How often do you cycle?
I cycle almost every day. My grandparents gave me a bike on my fourth birthday. I've been cycling since then.
The chart below provides an overview of the differences between the English simple present and present perfect progressive tenses.
I cycle almost every day.
You have been cycling for three hours.
I have been cycling since then.
Signal words can help us to recognise which tense to use in a sentence. Below is a list of signal words for the simple present and present perfect progressive tenses.
Some of the signal words for the simple present are the same as those for the present perfect. In the case of the simple present, the frequency of a present/ongoing action is stressed, whereas with the present perfect, we express how often it has taken place in the past up to this present point in time.


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Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil Makes His 2022 Spring Prediction
Leslie Ann Published: February 2, 2022
Credit: Punxsutawney Phil, Facebook
A holiday that most Americans pay no attention to is today, February 2 - Groundhog Day. According to Groundhog.org, Groundhog Day became a tradition with German roots that started back in 1887 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania and is celebrated with a big party to this day, drawing thousands each year.
Let's face it, it's something fun to focus on in the dead of winter when very little is going on and in Punxsutawney, it's quite the party no matter what the weather. During the celebration, a Groundhog King and Queen are even crowned!
How did this rather unusual "holiday" get starting? Groundhog.org says that the celebration all began when Christians would take their candles to the church to have them blessed on February 2nd. It was thought that by doing that, it would bring blessings to their household for the rest of the winter. Over time, it evolved into weather prognostication thanks to an English folksong...
If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come, Winter, have another flight;
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Go Winter, and come not again.
It wasn't until this tradition made its way to Germany that the hedgehog became associated with the celebration. When German settlers came here, bringing their folklore of a weather-predicting hedgehog, the groundhog was traded in for the hedgehog since both animals similarly hibernate and there are no hedgehogs here.
So how did the "modern" version of Groundhog Day as a celebration end up in Punxsutawney? It just so happens that in 1886, a mention of Groundhog Day appeared in the local newspaper there. The following year brought the first official trek to Gobbler's Knob and each year since, people come from all over the world come to join in the celebration, to find out if Punxsutawney Phil (the groundhog) will see his shadow or not. If he does, he gets frightened back into his hole to hibernate for six more weeks of winter. If he does not see his shadow, legend has it that Spring will arrive early. "Early" is open to interpretation I think.
So if you're wondering what Punxsutawney Phil had to "say" about when spring will arrive this year then here it is. The official word is that after seeing his shadow, six more weeks of winter can be expected. Of course, as Central New Yorkers, we are used to long winters and if Phil says there will be six more weeks of winter, we consider that an early spring so no worries there. Usually, winter doesn't end until halfway through April so anything before that is a bonus!
13 Places Across Upstate New York To Buy Chocolate At
Are you looking to buy chocolate for Valentine's Day in Upstate New York? Why buy it from a grocery store when you can purchase it at these 13 businesses?
Insane Woodwork In This Gorgeous Adirondack House
Check out the amazing woodwork in this beautiful Adirondack house for sale.
Brave Mermaid Make Magical Visit to Ice Castles in Lake George
Filed Under: February 2, Gobbler's Knob, Groundhog Day, predicting spring, Punxsutawney Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney Phil
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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SUSAN SAYS: "Our '60-Day Core Essentials' is a powerful and affordable protocol from herbalist Derek Clontzd. It condenses larger and more expensive support programs to the heart-and-soul essentials of six tried and trusted rainforest herbs that are not only easy to keep up with, they reduce the physical stresses of taking more (meaning 'too many') supplements than you and your body can handle.
"And you take them just twice a day in the same glass. Compare that with programs that are dosed four to six times a day.
"Bean-counting companies charge you a fortune for their programs and too many of them leave you hanging, almost daring you to try to get answers to even basic questions from gum-popping clerks and poorly-trained 'phone bank reps' who know nothing about botanicals and couldn't care less about you.
"We aren't doctors and we don't pretend to be. We don't give medical advice. But we do care about you. And our professional staff stays with you for general questions every step of the way. Need help? You'll get help. You'll even get special direct-connection access instructions with your protocol. That ensures that you'll get help when you need help. We make everything easy for you.
"Remember, too, that this is a full 2-month program for most people ... meaning the cost is a highly affordable $88 per month.
"To repeat, full instructions on how and when to take your herbs are included with your kit. This is a 60-day program for most people (based on weight) containing everything you need for two full months of support. Questions? Ask. Call 1-800-215-4682 or email: My Question About Core Essentials. I say it again - we make everything easy for you."
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When you become a member of CommuniCare Advantage Cal MediConnect Plan you may be taking drugs that are not on our formulary or that are subject to certain restrictions, such as prior authorization or step therapy. Current members may also be impacted by changes in our formulary from one year to the next. You may speak to your doctor to help you decide if you should switch to an appropriate drug that is covered by CommuniCare Advantage Cal MediConnect Plan or request a formulary exception (coverage determination) in order to get coverage for the drug.
you need help requesting a formulary exception.
CommuniCare Advantage Cal MediConnect Plan may provide a temporary supply of the non-formulary drug if you need a refill for the drug during the first 90 days of new membership in our plan. If you are a current member affected by a formulary change from one year to the next, we will provide a temporary supply of the non-formulary drug if you need a refill for the drug during the first 90 days of the new plan year. During this time period you should speak to your doctor to determine the right course of action.
When you go to a network pharmacy and CommuniCare Advantage Cal MediConnect Plan provides a temporary supply of a drug that is not covered on our formulary, or that has coverage restrictions or limits (but is otherwise a considered a "Part D drug" or a drug covered by Medi-Cal), we will cover a 31-day supply (unless the prescription is written for fewer days). After CommuniCare Advantage Cal MediConnect Plan covers the temporary 31-day supply, we generally will not pay for these drugs as part of our transition policy again. CommuniCare Advantage Cal MediConnect Plan will provide you with a written notice after we cover your temporary supply. The notice will provide explanation of the steps you can take to request an exception and how to work with your provider to decide if you should switch to an appropriate drug that is covered by CommuniCare Advantage Cal MediConnect Plan.
If you are a new member that resides in a long-term-care facility (such as a nursing home), CommuniCare Advantage Cal MediConnect Plan will cover a 93-day transition supply (unless the prescription is written for fewer days). If necessary, CommuniCare Advantage Cal MediConnect Plan will cover more than one refill of these drugs during the first 90 days a new member is enrolled in our plan. If you have been enrolled in our plan for more than 90 days and need a drug that is not on our formulary or is subject to certain restrictions, such as prior authorization or step therapy, we will cover a temporary 31-day emergency supply of that drug (unless the prescription is for fewer days) while you pursue a formulary exception.
We will also provide a temporary fill when you experience a change in the level of care you receive, for example, when you are discharged from the hospital to a long-term care facility or home. We will make coverage determinations and re-determinations as soon as your health condition requires. You will be provided with an emergency supply of non-formulary drugs, including drugs that are subject to certain restrictions, such as prior authorization or step therapy.
To ask for a temporary supply of a drug, call Customer Service at 1-888-244-4430, TTY/TDD: 1-855-266-4584, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The call is free.


Swim meets for Miles are obviously indoors now and generally fairly low light settings. And given that the stands for high school meets are pretty far from the pool, it's basically a no-win situation for me and my current camera lens.
I really could just do a complete head slap on myself. Clearly I had enough light. Why I was shooting at an ISO of 100 is beyond me!
I recently finished my October projects for GCD Studios and I love them both. Can't wait to share them. Look for one around the 24th and the other will be in the GCD Newsletter and I'll provide a link when it's available.
I'm currently reading Chi Running. So glad I ordered this book about a week ago, because clearly I need to improve my form. On Friday's run, I pulled something around my Achille's tendon. It's nearly pain free now so I know it must have just been muscle. I'll wait until Wednesday to give it a go again.
Tuesday is my bible study day for the next 6 weeks or so. Enjoying it so. In the afternoon, I hope to get some work done in my studio!


SANTA ROSA, Calif. — When a wildfire forced her to flee her home on a bicycle early Monday morning, a California woman used a duffel bag as a makeshift sidecar for her 70-pound pit bull, according to KTXL.
"I would never part ways with my dog. ever," Wallace said. "That's my ride or die. Oh my God, literally.
Wallace shoved Bentley, her 4-year-old pit bull, into her Honda and drove down the road — within minutes, she was stuck in traffic.
"(The fire) was coming faster than I could leave in traffic, so I went back and got my bike," Wallace remembers.
She also grabbed a duffel bag which she used as a makeshift sidecar for her 70-pound best friend.
"So I grabbed my dog and I told him, 'Hey man this is serious, you need to just sit in the bag.' And he, he hopped right in," Wallace said.
After she made it down the road a few miles ahead of the fire, a man in a truck pulled over and took her and Bentley the rest of the way out.
"I just want to say thank you to him. Paul Johnson," Wallace said.
Thursday night, Wallace was reflecting on how lucky she was, not only to have survived the fire but to have people around to help.
He have tiny legs but a huge heart and he is fighting to live!
Pit Bull dog declares immediate friendship after the first kind touch! Hilarious!


NYC has two retroactive requirements for all existing elevators: door lock monitoring by January 1, 2020, and single-plunger brakes by January 1, 2027. This document will provide information and guidance on the door lock monitoring requirement.
To prevent operation of the car if the car door is not closed, regardless of whether the car-door contact and interlock contact circuits are open or closed (excluding access switch operation and inspection operation).
To prevent power closing of the doors if the door is open and the car door contact circuit is closed or bypassed, or if the interlock circuit is closed (excluding during Firefighters' Service Phase II). Primarily, this determines if jumpers or other means of bypassing normal door operation are being used.
1.	The requirement was first introduced in ASME A17.1-1996. Therefore, most major equipment manufacturers would have started including this capability in their equipment around 1996-1997. However, NYC excluded this requirement in RS-18 when it adopted the 1996 code in 2003, so this was not required in new installations or modernizations in NYC at that time.
2.	Upon adoption of the 2008 NYC Construction Code, NYC no longer excluded the relevant rule from the ASME code, making it a requirement on all new installations and controller modernizations in NYC. This code went into effect July 1, 2008, but was optional until permits filed after July 1, 2009.
The 2008 Construction Code did not include an exception from A17.1-1996 rule 2.26.5(b)(2) for Firefighters' Service Phase II operation, although NYC made it informally known that this was what they wanted. Some manufacturers were aware of this and incorporated this exception into the equipment installed in NYC at that time. All units installed after July 1, 2009 will need to be verified as to whether or not the Firefighter's Service Phase II exception was implemented.
3.	The 2014 NYC Construction Code included the same door lock monitoring requirement with the Firefighter's Service Phase II exception noted in item 2 above. All units installed or having controller modifications after January 1, 2015 should be fully compliant with the requirement.
4.	As of January 1, 2020, all existing elevators in NYC with automatic coupled doors, including those opposite a manual swing panel, must comply with the requirement.
1.	To address each existing elevator the owner/building manager should consider the following rough guidelines for the likely condition of the existing equipment related to this requirement.
However, it ultimately needs to be verified in all cases by the elevator contractor that the equipment complies; just because it was required by code when the equipment was installed doesn't mean it is operating at this time.
Installed or modernized before July 1, 2009: will likely need a software update and possibly a hardware update.
Controllers installed or modernized after July 1, 2009: may be compliant. This needs to be confirmed by the contractor, especially the Firefighter's Service Phase II exception which may need a software update.
Installed or modernized after January 1, 2015: should be fully compliant, but this should be confirmed by the contractor.
Also note that modernization of controllers and door equipment going forward would be compliant, so this is a viable method of achieving compliance if it will be completed by January 1, 2020.
2.	We are prepared to assist clients by evaluating the material and labor costs associated with contractor proposals. We can also work with controller manufacturers to determine what requirements are currently being met in units installed or modernized after July 1, 2009.
3.	We can witness testing by the contractor that the completed work meets the code requirements and will incorporate witnessing of door monitoring testing into CAT1 testing, once the DOB makes this a code-mandated requirement.


Under an agreement with the developer and depending mostly on word of mouth, BC has been disseminating the five-foot wide poster (free to qualifying teachers) across the past year. The recent spurt of requests was a definite departure from the usual gradual rate, however. In fact, the applications received in May mark the most requests for the poster ever.
Additionally surprising is the fact that almost all these recent requests came from Arkansas! The state of Arkansas is in a region known as the "American Bible Belt" (shown here in red).
What happened in Arkansas to cause so many teachers to apply for a poster all at once (across two weeks) but seemingly independently?
We have begun the process of tracking back and hope to have the mystery solved by next month's bulletin. We'd like to replicate the situation elsewhere! In the meantime, make sure that all the high school science teachers you know are aware that they too can apply if they are teaching about evolutionary changes on earth.
Because of the burst of poster-related activity in May, we can state that 2,152 students in Arkansas now have exposure to its unique presentation of information and can engage the material with the help of knowledgeable teachers. How do we know? Because of the commitments of the teachers and the process BC uses for disseminating posters.
At the office, besides appropriately preparing the five-foot wide items for posting without damage. Kelly checks the information each teacher submits (an agreement for its use in certain classes) and enrolls the teacher (for subsequent follow-up). She encloses activity suggestions and also follows up on the mailings acquiring feedback from the teachers. We continuously gain confidence that the teachers who are receiving this teaching resource are dedicated to using it and thankful of receiving it. So far, the reception has been totally positive.
At Brights Central, we didn't mind that one bit that the Arkansas science teachers kept us so busy processing their applications. Arkansas, after all, had until 1968 a law that prohibited the teaching of human evolution in the state's public schools. Teaching evolution there previously triggered fines and dismissal.
The law was overturned by a U.S. Supreme Court decision in Epperson v. Arkansas. The case shifted the picture (away from religion and toward science) not only in Arkansas, but also in classrooms across the nation.
Although Arkansas and other states have come a long way since then, we appreciate that Arkansas teachers, like many elsewhere (especially in the U.S. Bible belt region), continue to face difficulties today.
It's nice to have a Brights' project that clearly aids those educators who are committed to teaching about evolution amidst ongoing challenges.
The "evolution poster" project was initially conceived as a program for the Brights' Special Initiative Group 2 (Brights who support authentic science and science education).
To keep the service going, we rely on backing from all Brights who find the project of value. BC has been able to provide the teaching resource thanks to the PayPal donations received that are earmarked to the project. If you appreciate this project, please join in with your support and tell your friends.
For Daniel: Perhaps the sticker on your car or in your cubicle will result in some productive exchanges with fellow citizens (coworkers, acquaintances, family and friends). The sticker's message helps focus attention on the Brights' egalitarian civic vision. We hope fellow citizens will be curious and reach the website after reading the message and noticing the home page URL.
FYI to all: For the one ounce postage, we were able to enclose a brochure, bookmark, and biz card along with the "Step Forward for Civic Equality" sticker and "No Supernatural Ingredients" cling.
Plaudits to all in the constituency who pitched in to help spread the word about the Brights initiative and its vision of civic fairness.The sticker message is just one of the main ideas of the Brights movement, but it's an important one: Citizens who have a naturalistic worldview need to be candid about their supernatural-free perspective while at the same time making a case for social acceptance and full civic participation in society of people who have a naturalistic outlook.
The May bulletin re-taught BC a hard lesson: When providing instructions to thousands of readers, precision is important! We should have told the American Brights exactly how much postage to put on that self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE). The intent (unspoken assumption) was to receive a standard #10 envelope sufficient to go out with 1 ounce postage. (It would hold a sticker and cling and maybe a bookmark or two slipped in.) But some Brights right away sent along a BIG ENVELOPE stamped with abundant postage, and it was a scramble for BC to find half-way suitable swag to match it.
The website's instructions were revised when the large envelopes started to arrive, but too late for those who responded right away. The good part is that, thanks to the Americans who enclosed an extra dollar in their envelope (and to a handful of generous folks who enclosed even more), BC was able to respond to ALL international requests received during May. Yea!
The Forum community has been interested in American politics this month, pursuing a lengthy topic on how presidential contender Mitt Romney got so rich, and what implications his business practices have on the ethics that can be expected of him as President of the United States. In a related topic on Job Creators, various ins and outs of the business world are explored.
But an abundance of interests exists in the Forum community, and of particular interest to us is how brights fare in society in general, and what interests brights, collectively, might have. Why not register in the Forums, and communicate your concerns to an audience that might share them? We'll see you there.
A Change in the Canary Islands: Jose, of the Brights in Tenerife, reports that his Meetup group there is converting to Facebook and thereby extending online communications to the entire archipelago via the new FB site: "The Canariesґ Brights" or (in Spanish) "Brights de Canarias".
Paul Geisert has been "central" to Brights Central since the beginning. He has all along been the person most likely to answer an emailed query to BC or to respond to a site comment coming in through the website. And, it has to be mentioned too that, in all his involvement at The Brights' Net – in every capacity (and he has served in multiple roles) – Dr. Geisert has been 100% volunteer.
A model of dedicated volunteerism and a nifty deal for The Brights' Net to have on hand a former university professor (zoology/education) donating so much time in retirement to educating about the naturalistic worldview and providing impetus to others to re-examine their status in society from a civics point of view.
Even now, with tapering involvement due to declining health, he is still volunteering as he can, and editing Brights bulletins (except this single entry). Although much reduced in time and unloading some tasks on others, we fully expect Paul will be right here continuing to contribute to select activities from which he will, later on, sadly need to cut back yet again.
The May Bulletin introduced this new site segment to offer some thoughts on responsibilities of brights for advancing their own civic status, along with links to strategies to at least consider for playing a civics ballgame.
Brights Central has identified four general areas of individual activity that align well with the overall aims of the Brights movement.
The website also presents some suggestions for Brights to consider in each of the four categories.
Read through the suggestions in each category. Keep in mind the civic vision. Do you have additional counsel to offer?
If you do, feel free to send to Brights Central for consideration. Email your submission to the-brights@the-brights.net with ACTION in uppercase letters in your subject line.
Overall, citizens who have a naturalistic worldview are the moral equals of those who hold fast to supernatural and mystical explanations. They should be treated as civic equals, too. But they aren't.
It is a fact that brights are held back when society doesn't hold this view of moral equality. Some research indicates that the absence of deity belief brings along civic suspicion.
A large portion of the citizenry does not see that human morality has developed naturally in the species. However, in some ways, we ourselves don't make the matter better. Because so many brights stay wholly mired in the religion realm, they don't seem to help much in the civic sense and in some ways, do harm.
For all the value of recent billboards and bus ads at awakening the citizenry to our presence in society, we continue to fail in one sense: to impart our wholeness. We need to present ourselves more fully.
The idea of god is reinforced again and again, as in every statement we make, God gets another advertisement.
We'd claim that "we who are without god" can be positive contributors to society, but it's a fact that "we who have a naturalistic worldview" can be making the positive contributions to society. And one very positive contribution would be educating others in constructive ways.


text:
56 new AIDS patients detected in Khulna division
Hedayet Hossain Molla, Khulna
Published at 02:05 am December 13th, 2019
This year, 12 AIDS patients died, eight of them were women
At least fifty-six new AIDS patients were detected in Khulna division between November 2018 and October 2019.
The patients include 26 men, 24 women and six children. This year, 12 AIDS patients died, eight of them were women.
According to Strengthening of HIV Services Project of Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) sources, 67 AIDS patients were detected in Khulna division last year.
Currently, 250 patients are receiving free treatment at Anti-viral Therapy Centre (ART) of KMCH. Of them, 86 people are the residents of Khulna district.
Sixty-two of the patients are from Jessore, 34 from Satkhira, 25 from Narail, 12 from Bagerhat, 10 from Jhenaidah, four from Magura, three from Chuadanga, six from Gopalganj, four from Faridpur, three from Pirojpur and a transgender person from Borguna.
The first HIV patient was detected in Bangladesh in 1989, and since then the number has been on the rise. Between 1989 and last year, 6,455 people were infected with HIV virus.
Dr ATM Manjur Morshed, KMCH Director and Director of the Project, said the only way to prevent the disease is raising awareness.
"If we can detect HIV in the blood of a pregnant woman, it's possible to save the child in the womb from through treatment," he said.
37.9 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide in 2018, according to WHO. Last year, 770,000 people died of HIV-related illnesses.
2 suspected militants arrested in Khulna
New wooden bridge collapses in a week in Khulna
Choi Jhal: The culinary fire of Bengal
50 jute mills workers fall sick as strike continues for 5th day
Jute mills workers' hunger strike rolls to Day 4
5 members of banned militant outfit Allahr Dal held


The Animated Woman: Growth spurt.
HAH!!! That is so the beginning of the school year happening. With my daughters it's pants...pants that are at their shins and not longer at their ankles. Capris are trendy now though, right?
Yup. "Outgrown" is a fashion statement.
Ooof. We had to buy new pants this year... again. And probably again this winter.
When I was a kid, my mom extended the lengths of my jeans with pretty fabric. I've done it with my son's clothes when he was smaller, but not sure he'd wear them now. He's growing so fast these days! I'm gonna hit the second hand shops.
Definitely shoes are the worst. Trouble is they wear them out as fast as they grow into them.
Wait...baby belly?? You're pregnant? OMG CONGRATULATIONS JO!!!!!!!! When is the baby due? Fantastic news!
I totally buy everything too big, so I don't have to replace stuff quite as often. It's a habit and it's worked well for me. But then when the shirt does start to get too small or the pants are a little short, it feels like a HUGE shock because he's been wearing them for so long.


Aaron Nigel Smith's "Call To Action" is to get kids moving. In 2002 he founded FUNdamentals of Music and Movement, an arts program which is now the program of choice to over 100 early education centers in Los Angeles, San Francisco, NewYork, and Boston. His fun, inspired, and lively show is guaranteed to get the audience off their feet.


I live in McKinney, Texas and have been married to my beautiful wife Ashley since 2007. We have three children Felicity, Caroline Mae, and Crockett.
I was a left-handed pitcher at Texas Tech for two and a half years and still enjoy being around the game. When not at work, you can find me serving at Watermark Church - Plano, running or hanging out at home with friends and family.


text:
Q: No value associated with key CodingKeys while trying to get data from GitHub API in Xcode app So listening to @Larme and @JoakimDanielson (thanks a lot, guys!) I started doing some tasks on URLSessions to actually get the data I am looking for from GitHub API.
The endgame here is to create a mobile GitHub search app for repositories.
I have realised a code from this tutorial:
https://blog.devgenius.io/how-to-make-http-requests-with-urlsession-in-swift-4dced0287d40
Using relevant GitHub API URL. My code looks like this:
import UIKit

class Repository: Codable {
    let id: Int
    let owner, name, full_name: String

    enum CodingKeys: String, CodingKey {
        case id = "id"
        case owner, name, full_name
    }

    init(id: Int, owner: String, name: String, fullName: String) {
        self.id = id
        self.owner = owner
        self.name = name
        self.full_name = full_name
    }
}

(...)
        let session = URLSession.shared
                let url = URL(string: "https://api.github.com/search/repositories?q=CoreData&per_page=20")!
                let task = session.dataTask(with: url, completionHandler: { data, response, error in
                    // Check the response
                    print(response)

                    // Check if an error occured
                    if error != nil {
                        // HERE you can manage the error
                        print(error)
                        return
                    }

                    // Serialize the data into an object
                    do {
                        let json = try JSONDecoder().decode(Repository.self, from: data! )
                            //try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data!, options: [])
                        print(json)
                    } catch {
                        print("Error during JSON serialization: \(error.localizedDescription)")
                        print(String(describing:error))
                    }

                })
                task.resume()

    }

}

The full error text is:
keyNotFound(CodingKeys(stringValue: "id", intValue: nil), Swift.DecodingError.Context(codingPath: [], debugDescription: "No value associated with key CodingKeys(stringValue: \"id\", intValue: nil) (\"id\").", underlyingError: nil))

I tried removing some values that had this error but the others still threw the same and I used the coding keys I could find in the GitHub docs:
https://docs.github.com/en/rest/reference/search#search-repositories
Please help!

A: First of all you don't need CodingKeys and the init method.
Second of all use structs, not classes.
If you want to decode the repositories you have to start with the root object, the repositories are in the array for key items
struct Root : Decodable {
    let items : [Repository]
}

struct Repository: Decodable {
    let id: Int
    let name, fullName: String
    let owner : Owner
}

struct Owner : Decodable {
    let login : String
}

Another issue is that owner is also a Dictionary which becomes another struct.
To get rid of the CodingKeys add the .convertFromSnakeCase strategy which translates full_name into fullName.
let session = URLSession.shared
let url = URL(string: "https://api.github.com/search/repositories?q=CoreData&per_page=20")!
let task = session.dataTask(with: url) { data, response, error in
    // Check the response
    print(response)
    // Check if an error occured
    if let error = error {
        // HERE you can manage the error
        print(error)
        return
    }

    // Serialize the data into an object
    do {
        let decoder = JSONDecoder()
        decoder.keyDecodingStrategy = .convertFromSnakeCase
        let json = try decoder.decode(Root.self, from: data! )
        print(json)
    } catch {
        print("Error during JSON serialization:", error)
    }
}
task.resume()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Conditional Statements using "cmd python -c" — How can I pass `if`? I have written a batch script that prompts the user for an input and displays the help for a specific library ExternalLibrary. However, I receive the error below the code sample.
@echo off
set input=NUL
set /p input="Help: "

python -c "import sys; sys.path.append('D:\\lib'); import ExternalLibrary;lookup = ExternalLibrary.Presentation_control();if ('%input%' == 'NUL'):&    help(lookup.%input%)&else:&    help(lookup)"

A working version can be achieved by replacing the if statement with:
help(lookup.%input%)

Error in the column that starts with if
C:\Users\usah>Lib_Help.cmd
Help:
  File "<string>", line 1
    import sys; sys.path.append('D:\\lib'); import ExternalLibrary;lookup = ExternalLibrary.Presentation_control();if ('NUL' == 'NUL'):&    help(lookup.NU
L)&else:&    help(lookup)
                                                                                ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

Footnotes
1. I am note sure whether I should pass &, \n, or ; as newline
2. These related answers are not satisfying as they use workarounds.

A: Only simple statements can be written on single line separated by semicolons
This was more interesting than it seemed. For the sake of unambiguity you can't write conditional or any other compound statement on semicolon separated single line.
Simple statements
Compound statements
Your options
Rewrite it all to Python
This should not be so hard. Use sys.argv for arguments and
getattr(lookup, "something")

instead of your
lookup.%input%

sys.argv
getattr
Use linefeeds
Write multiline Python script on one cmd line. You can do it using !LF! special.
@echo off
setlocal enableDelayedExpansion
set LF=^

set input=NUL
set /p input="Help: "

python -c "import sys!LF!sys.path.append('D:\\lib')!LF!import ExternalLibrary!LF!lookup = ExternalLibrary.Presentation_control()!LF!if ('%input%' == 'NUL'):!LF!    help(lookup)!LF!else:!LF!    help(lookup.%input%)!LF!"


text:
New York Lift-Off Film Festival 2021 - Network Round Shorts
Wednesday 4th August - Wednesday 11th August
There After
Dir. Pierce Stephan
Logline: A young woman isolated by her fear of the inevitable finds solace in an unlikely digital companion, forcing her to reevaluate her life, her relationships, and herself.
Being Alive
Dir. Dalin Nelson
Logline: After completing her mother's birthday present, Jade discovers a heartbreaking secret that will change her family forever. Feeling confused and isolated, Jade must decide if her mom is deserving of the gift.
Dirs. Ryan Gentle, Austin Quarles
Logline: Alexander, a space-loving day dreamer hopes to pass that love on to his son Galileo. As he grows up, Galileo realizes he needs to break away from his father's hope to find his own path, but his path is closer to his father's dreams than he ever thought.
Dir. Gwendolyn Granger
Logline: Hinge is a short drama about Layla, an overworked artist in NYC, who comes home to find herself locked out of the apartment. Her husband is home— why is she still locked out?
A Man Cleans a Toilet
Dir. Jeniffer Hernandez
Logline: Siblings Ana and Carlito as they scramble to clean their home before their mother arrives with a new boyfriend. On the same day, Ana has a crucial job interview so she begs, then blackmails, Carlito to do one thing for her: clean the toilet.
Criminal Rejects
Dir. Michael DePalma
Logline: After failing to get hired by the mob, two wannabe criminals take matters into their own hands by robbing the house of a pizza mogul.
La Brouette
Dir. Josh Garvin
Logline: A woman's dark secret is revealed on her small family farm.
Dirs. Ariel Glenn, Edoardo Nicholas Bianchi
Logline: A young woman named Emma leaves the city for the countryside during a pandemic. She is escaping from the virus, but she is also attempting to leave behind painful memories of her husband, Johnny, who was recently killed by a police officer.
Song of the Open Road: The Story of the Southern California Youth Chorale
Dir. Melissa Dowler
Logline: The story of the Southern California Youth Chorale, inspired by one extraordinary Music Teacher, who took on the difficult task of challenging talented but insulated teenagers of the sixties and seventies to become Musical Ambassadors while performing around the world, and how those experiences continue to affect their lives even today.
Driving B
Dir. Croix Belgard
Logline: A man has 8 hours to transport his boss' off the rails girlfriend along with contraband to Atlantic City, will he deliver?
Dir. Everett Marston
Logline: The Line is a dystopian drama set in a world where males and females are kept completely separate by a line, except for reproduction. Jake attends his first appointment and finds himself unable to process the emotions it brings with it. He must decide whether it is worth the risk to cross the line.
Dir. Alison Hale
Logline: 'Scar' is a short film about what it's like to be diagnosed with cancer as a teenager.
Dir. Zen Pace
Logline: Recounting her life as a daughter and young mother grappling with addiction, Rachel Marshall makes generational amends from the pain of her drug use, giving thanks to those who inspired her along the way.
Dir. Joe Quint
Logline: Roz Pichardo is more than a domestic violence and gun violence survivor, she's a warrior. Despite of - or because of - being thrown off a bridge by an abusive ex-boyfriend, the unsolved murder of her brother, and the suicide of her identical twin sister, she's able to channel her trauma into service by helping the often-forgotten people of North Philadelphia.
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I also like the Krona. It works best for me with a very sharp blade---e.g., a Feather. Shaving the upper lip does present some difficulties for those who have a nose, but the key is the XTG pass, which I do in both directions. While the WTG may be difficult in the philtrum area, the XTG cleans everything up since the nose is not in the way for that pass.
Congratulations to you both for the twins. They'll keep you busy.