It felt as if his stomach was turned upside down. For Jason, magic was a new and exciting experience, but when the Magic Instructior cast his teleportation spell, he felt the world spin faster and faster until it had become a horrendous smudge of color. He quickly leaned on one of the nearby trees for support. After a few minutes, his head began to clear but the sickness in his belly remained. He staggered to a fountain nearby and drank deeply; his stomach accepted the cool liquid greedily. From a distance he heard someone call out "Damn noob". The word was alien to him and so he didn't give it much thought. As his stomach stopped rolling, he stood up and looked around. To his amusement, there was another person leaning on the same tree he was earlier, looking as sick as he had. He felt the sun was beating down on him and judging from its position, Jason guessed it was around noon. He suddenly realized he was hungry, it had been hours, (or was it days?) since he had last eaten. Time was impossible to tell on Tutorial Island.
Directly in front of him stood what could only be Lumbridge Castle. Its walls seemed to reach up to infinity. On the very top of the castle, Jason could see massive cannons looming luminously; ready to defend the castle had it been under siege. No army in a hundred years has dared to enter the Kingdom of Misthalin, let alone attack Lumbridge. A massive door stood at the entrance of the castle, built from fine oak by master craftsmen. Jason had heard that it was the legendary owners of the crafting guild who had built it. The door seemed to be lined with golden hinges and handles. The sunlight reflected off of them in a shower of yellow light which warmed Jason's soul.
His train of thought was interrupted suddenly by a rough shove from the side. Jason fell to his knees, scraping them. He looked up to find a large man walking towards the castle. He was wearing armor black as night, with a massive sword at his side that was as long as Jason's height. The man was built like an ox, his broad shoulders fitting tightly into his plate mail. Enraged at the attack this man has landed on him, Jason drew his bronze long sword from his side and got up to strike back at him when a firm hand fell upon his shoulder. He turned around to find a gentle face greeting him. "Let it go", she told him quietly, "Saradomin shall give him what he deserves". Jason would have went after the man had it not been her eyes, they were blue as the ocean. He was held within them, hypnotized by them. "And besides", this stranger whispered in his ears, "He could have squashed you". This broke Jason out of the trance he was in. He was now angry and humiliated. He was annoyed by her statement but he knew it was true. The man had been ranked a level 40 where as he was only a level 3.
Jason got to his feet, cringing at the sting of his scraped knees but that seemed pale in comparison to his now ruined pants. He finally noticed the stranger was ranked a level 37 which put his rank to shame. She had long, golden hair which flowed down her back, covering most of the chain mail she was wearing. It was either iron or steel, he couldn't tell which. She was slightly shorter than him, although she was wearing thick and high boots. He was shocked to find that she was around his age, if not younger, yet she had a commanding look to her. Perhaps she had been in the military, or perhaps she was the daughter of a general. The latter made him uneasy. She had a fair face, which reminded him of a friend he had grown up with back in his home in Hillsfert. Instantly, he was struck by a strong wave of homesickness. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to go home and see his family again. To hear his sister's laugh or to wrestle with his brothers. But it was too late now, it was his decision to come here and he was going to stick by it.
"I'm Amber" the stranger inquired as she struck out her hand. "I'm Jason" he replied while he took her hand and shook it. "I'll have to get going now, I'm already late" Amber said as she looked down at a small round object she took out of her pocket. "If you need anything, just use the gem you got off of Tutorial Island." Jason rummaged through his backpack and fished out a small black stone. Its smooth surface gleamed in the midday sun. Jason turned it over in his hands, felling the cool and smooth surface. Carved into one side was the letter P and on the other side was the letter M. Jason didn't understand what the letters meant, but he did remember how to use it. The Quest Instructor had taught his lessons well. "I must be going now, if you're hungry, head into the castle and find the cook. He is very kind towards newcomers". Without another look, Amber turned and left, disappearing quickly through the crowd.
Jason's stomach rumbled an angry sound. He now realized he was starving. He had a few coins, but looking around, he saw no vendors. So he decides to take Amber's suggestion and headed towards the castle. Two guards stood by the entrance, but they said nothing when Jason approached the door as they understand that Cook usually helped newcomers and welcomed them to his kitchen. As Jason stepped through the door, he was astounded at the marvelous architecture that even put the grand church in his village to shame. Black and white tiles lined the floor. Painting upon painting lined the walls; some of landscapes, others of the king. Between every two paintings stood a suit of armor. Jason has always wondered if someone was hiding inside when he spotted one of these. The castle was a maze; three passages opened before him and he hadn't the slightest clue where the castle cook resided.
Luckily he was greeted by a friendly looking servant named who introduced himself as Hans. He wore a simple red shirt and comfortable green pants. "Hello, what are you doing here?" asked Hans. "I don't know, I'm lost, where am I?" replied Jason honestly. "Why, you're at Lumbridge Castle of course". A look of amusement crept across the servant's face. "Well, I know that. I meant, where in the castle? I would like to see the cook." Jason exclaimed. "Ah, bet you're hungry right? I heard they give you nothing but chicken feed on Tutorial Island." Hans chuckled. Before Jason could reply, Hans was walking straight towards the corridor in front of the castle entrance. Hans lead the way, first entering what could only be the dining hall. Again, Jason was amazed. A huge table stood in the center of the room, surrounded by satin covered thrones while delicate china plates lined with blue designs were placed atop them. "Why, a banquet could be eaten from this" Jason thought silently to himself. Before he had a chance to see more, Hans took a left turn and entered the kitchen. "Here you are" He grunted, and left through an adjacent door.
The room was nothing compared to the banquet hall, but Jason was equally amazed. Never in his life had he seen a working sink that brought water with the twist of a handle. In his village, all of the water was drawn from the village well. Cooking shelves lined the walls, filling the room with the aroma of a hundred different scents. To the right stood a piping hot range, a pot of stew cooking on top. In the center of the room lay a trapdoor, to which Jason can only guess led to the basement where more herbs and spices were stored.
And above the trapdoor stood the one and only, Lumbridge Cook. The Cook had tired black eyes. He looked as if he hadn't slept in days. He had graying hair which matched the color of his moustache. He wore flushed colored pants and a black blouse. Over his clothing was a long stained apron that reached from his neck to his knees. Perched atop his head was a chef's hat. It looked quite silly to Jason. Jason's stomach growled loudly but the cook didn't seem to hear. He had to eat soon or he feared he was going to pass out. "Erm, excuse me sir" Jason called out quietly. The cook didn't seem to hear. Instead, he rummaged through his drawers, looking impatiently for something. "Hello there sir" Jason said more loudly. The cook spun around, seeing Jason for the first time. "Oh hello" He replied. "I'm sorry, but it's not a good time for a chat, please leave the tomatoes by the sink." "You must've confused me with someone sir, my name is Jason, I'm new to the world of RuneScape." Jason said. "Oh, my apologies then, but I still have no time for chit chat, I'm very behind schedule", replied the cook. He seemed to be agitated now. "I'm sorry to disturb you sir, but do you perhaps have something to eat? I'll pay you if you wish." Jason asked. In truth, he didn't want to pay. He counted the coins in his pocket, and found he only had 25 gold pieces. A month's profit from the farm his family had given him as a farewell present. "Huh? Oh that's quite all right, there's half a meat pie on the table behind you, help yourself." Cook stated uninterestingly. He was now heading down the trapdoor. Jason turned around and found an entire meat pie with a slight sliver cut off on one edge. The pain in his stomach took over, he plunged into the pie. The taste was wonderful, he had heard Lumbridge had the finest beef in all of Misthalin, perhaps even RuneScape. This is due to the two huge ranches in the city where the cows were supposable fed wine to soften up their muscles. Within a few minutes, the pie was entirely gone, along with Jason's hunger pains. He got up and walked to the sink, filling a jug with water then drinking deep to wash down the salt from the pie.
A few moments later, the cook climbed up the trapdoor. He looked more troubled than ever. Jason thought of just leaving, but he couldn't do it after the generosity this man had just shown him. It would be extremely impolite, but something in the back of his mind told him to get out. Instead, he walked over to the cook. "What's wrong?" Jason asked. The cook did not seem to hear; instead he went back to his task of searching through the countless shelves placed around the kitchen. Jason tapped the cook on the shoulder. "Huh?" replied a startled cook "Oh yes, there's half a meat pie on the table." The cook went back to searching. "What am I to do?" Jason heard the cook whisper to himself. "What's wrong?" Jason asked much louder this time. "Huh?" the cook replied while spinning around, "Oh, it's nothing to trouble you with, but ooh dear I'm in a terrible mess. It's the Duke's birthday today, and I meant to be making a big cake for this evening" the cook replied with a long face. "Unfortunately, I've forgotten to buy some of the ingredients. I'll never get them in time now. I don't suppose you could help me?" What was Jason to say? He had to agree, this man had fed him when he was hungry, the very least he could do was to try and help this man.
"How can I help?" asked Jason in his most sincere voice, although deep down he wanted to explore this new land rather than help this strange man. "Oh dear oh dear, I need flour, eggs, and milk. Without them I am doomed" cried out the cook. He was on the verge of tearsnow. Jason gave assurance to the cook that he would get the necessary ingredients before sun down. He set out immediately, almost losing himself inside the castle on the way out. Luckily, Hans was there to save him again. Jason had to work fast, it was only a few hours before night and this was a foreign land to him. In the distance, he saw a building with a pot shaped sign hanging on its side. Jason instantly recognized it as the symbol of a general store. "Perfect" he muttered to himself. "Damn noobies talking to themselves now" exclaimed a passer by. Jason realized the word was meant to offend, but he didn't care. It meant nothing to him. Jason enters the general store to find it packed with housewives picking up last minute supplies before dinner. He had to shove his way through the crowd just to speak with the shopkeeper. "Can I help you at all?" asked the shopkeeper. He was an old man, perhaps the age of the cook. Neatly comber gray hair covered his head. "Yes please, what are you selling?" replied Jason. Jason was shown a display of everything in stock within the store, which wasn't much. This greatly disappointed him. Almost everything was already purchased by the noisy housewives. A few buckets and jugs remained and what looked to be a rolled up scroll. "What is this" asked Jason as he pointed at the scroll. "It's a newcomer's map, issued by the RuneScape Council to all new citizens, only 1 gp" But with only 25 coins in his pocket, Jason wasn't so sure. One gold piece was enough to buy an entire day's meal back in Hillsfert He bought it nevertheless, knowing it'll be needed to find the necessary ingredients the cook wanted. "Here you go" he said as he handed the coin to the shopkeeper. "Thank you" replied the shopkeeper while handing Jason one of the maps. "Thanks" said Jason as he headed out the door.
As he exited the store, he unrolled the map to find it no help at all. It was a map of all of RuneScape. He had hoped for just a map of Lumbridge, where he could perhaps find the nearest farm and purchase the needed items. Jason was now overwhelmed, the sun was moving west fast and he hadn't one single ingredient yet. He thought of just leaving the cook, and was shot by a strong sense of shame. He looked around and found a tall man leaning against a nearby tree. He approached the man, hoping for directions. "Hello" greeted Jason. "Hi" the man replied. He was wearing an orange split colored shirt and matching pants. He had brown hair and blue eyes that reminded Jason of Amber. "Can you direct me to the nearest farm? The cook of Lumbridge Castle has sent me on a sort of quest" Jason said. "The cook of Lumbridge Castle?" asked the man. "He happens to be a close friend of mine, what do you need?". "Well, it's what the cook needs, and it's an egg, milk, and flour." replied Jason. "Hell, I was just heading over to Alian's farm anyways, come on I'll show you." So they headed north, the man in the lead. "I'm Pete by the way." The man said without looking back. "But my friends call me Em." "Nice to meet you Em, I'm Jason of Hillsfert." They turned east onto a bridge. Jason could see ducks swimming in the river. "Hillsfert? Never heard of it" responded Em. They headed north until a chicken farm came into view. "Over there" grunted Em. Jason walked up to the man Em pointed at, a middle aged farmer standing in the middle of his chicken coop, pitchfork in hand. "Hello, do you have any eggs, milk, or flour?" asked Jason. "Yeap" replied the farmer. "Eggs a coin each, milk you can have for free as long as you milk them yourself. I'm a bit behind today so I haven't had the time to cycle through my chores, they're over yonder." The farmer pointed behind Jason at a bundle of ranches. "Third ranch from the left is mine, as for flour you'll have to get over by the windmills." "Alright, I'll take one egg then." The farmer hands Jason an egg in exchange for a coin. Jason watched the coin go with grief. He rejoined Em, telling him what the farmer had said. "Alright, let's go milk us some cows." They headed towards the cow pens as Jason rummaged through his backpack for the bucket he was given on Tutorial Island. He finally found it sitting next to his short bow.
It was true, the farmer had truly slacked off. The cows were bursting with milk, if they were not milked soon, they would explode. Jason chose the closest one and milked the cow with ease, bringing back another wave of homesickness. He remembered milking the cows at dawn with his dad, smelling the hay and sweet dew. Jason shook his head vigorously to rid his mind of these thoughts. "You alright?" asked Em. "Yeah, just fine" replied Jason in a very tired voice. "Do you know where the windmill is?" Jason asked as he hoisted the milk up and placed it into his magical backpack. Only one of these backpacks are given to each citizen of RuneScape, it could hold 28 items of any size. "Yeah, it's not far from here." They set off again, crossing the bridge and passing the general store. The sun was nearing the horizon. As they walked, an ugly green creature crossed their path. From his studies, Jason recognized it as a goblin, only a level 5 creatures but still vicious in packs. This one was holding a spear, making it extra deadly. Jason quickly drew his bronze long sword and put himself in a defensive position as taught by the combat instructor. "Put that aside" He heard Em say. "They wouldn't dare attack anyone in Lumbridge" Jason obediently sheathed his sword, feeling quite foolish now that he realized other people roamed the grounds among the goblins. Of course the goblins wouldn't attack anyone this close to Lumbridge Castle, with so many city guards around.
Shortly after, the two adventurers came upon a wheat field. Seeing no one around to ask for the grains, Jason went in a picked some himself. He had no time to waste with nigh approaching so quickly. Em had no objection to this, in fact he had a sheepish look on his face as if he picks wheat grains from this plot of land without permission as well. They continued north and not long after, they came upon the windmill, its sails rotating lazily in the evening wind. Em opened the large doors and climbed up the ladder, Jason followed after. On the top floor stood a large, metallic machine. Upon examining it, Jason found it to be a hopper. He guessed it must be to grind wheat grains into flour. His dad was always the one who went into town to grind their grains so Jason didn't know how to work the machine. Em understood this from the confused look on Jason's face and so he took the wheat grains from Jason. "Here" he said as he put the wheat grains into the hopper, and then pulling a lever at the hopper controls. Jason heard machinery activating below him and the sound of grain sliding down the chute. They climbed back down to find a pile of finely grinded flour at the base of the chute. Jason searched in his pack for a pot to store the flour in. He thought he had lost it when he finally spotted it hiding behind the map. He quickly swooped up the flour with the pot. "Well, I think that's everything" said Em. "I must be going now; I'm having dinner with a friend. Give Cook my best." Without another word, Em turned and left. PM me if you need anything else he called back over his shoulder. "Thanks" Jason cried after the already dimming form of Em.
He was fairly excited now. All of the ingredients were now in his possession. With a smug look on his face, Jason headed back to the castle. Streams of people were heading into the Castle when Jason arrived. Two different guards stood outside of the castle doors, taking invitations. Jason felt uneasy. He realized these were the guests for the Duke's birthday celebration. He walked up to the door, trying to blend in. A harsh hand came down on his shoulder. Jason turned to find the scarred face of an annoyed guard who seemed ticked for being assigned such a pointless position. "Name?" The guard said harshly. "I'm here with ingredients for the cook." replied Jason. "A noob like you? Push off squirt." "It's okay, he's with me." said a familiar voice. Jason looked over the guard's shoulder to find Hans rescuing him once more. The guard mumbled something under his breath which sounded a lot like issant. Jason thanked Hans as he was rushed to the kitchen by the servant. "At last, do you have the ingredients?" the cook asked with high hopes in his voice. "I now have everything for your cake. Milk, flour, and an egg." replied Jason. "I am saved, thank you." the cook whispered with relief in his voice.
"Come now" Hans said while pushing Jason through a different door. "We must leave the cook to his work. There's a bed upstairs if you wish to spend the night, here take this." Hans handed him an entire meat pie along with a jug of wine. He then left Jason to his own. Jason never realized how exhausted he was until now. He found an empty room upstairs with a simple but comfy looking bed. He washed down the meat pie with the jug of sweet tasting wine. Setting the empty jug and pie-tin on a nearby table, Jason flopped down into the bed and was asleep instantly as his head hit the soft pillow. It had been a long day in RuneScape.
The sky was a clam blue. The smell of morning dew filled the air. The view of the woods was excellent. Julia. She was by his side. She smiled at the picnic he had set down, a smile that melted his heart. There was a sound in the distance; hoof beats. It was coming towards their direction. The sound grew in intensity. A man slumped over a horse. Was he alive? Multiple arrow shafts pierced his body. The stranger moaned. The cabin. Julia cared for the wounds. The stranger tried to say something. Darkness. He awoke, the pain exploding in the back of his skull. Julia was gone, and the stranger as well. The cabin door stood ajar. It was night outside, the moon hung pregnant in the dark sky. Her shoe, it was at the edge of the forest. Footsteps, where was it coming from? Oh god, a trail of blood. Her engagement ring glittered by a patch of grass. A crude alter up ahead. A body on the stone surface. Oh god, it was Julia. The blood, it was everywhere. Her throat, it was still bleeding. His vision grew blurry, his knees felt weak. Darkness.
The scream filled the small, musty room. Jason awoke to the sound of his own terror. He sat straight up in bed, feeling the sweat that drenched his entire body. His stomach rolled like waves in the sea, and his lungs seemed to be blocked by an invisible force. The panicked adventurer grappled blindly for the small table by the bed, finally finding the empty pie-tin he had set there the previous night. Leaning over the bed, he heaved what remained of his dinner into the empty dish. The smell of sickness filled the room, which caused Jason's stomach even more havoc. Finally, after several minutes, his stomach emptied, yet Jason continued to heave dryly; unable to control the convulsions from his belly. The nightmare playing over and over in his mind did not help getting himself under control. When he was finished, he set aside the now half full pie-tin and fell backwards onto the bed exhausted. The nightmares were coming to him more frequently, and each became more vivid as the days passed.
When he felt he could stand, Jason got up and exited the room, carefully avoiding looking at the pie-tin for that may cause his stomach to churn again. He found the wash a few doors down from his room; a small, clustered chamber with a rancid porthole and a dirty sink. Jason imagined this to be where the first year guards came to relieve themselves, thus the horrid condition it was in. Nevertheless, it was the best he could get at the moment, and he was grateful for that. Jason took one of jugs stacked along the single shelf in the wash and filled it with water from the sink Again, he was amazed at the technology in RuneScape. He poured the contents of the jug over his head and washed out his mouth with what remained. Despite doing this several times, Jason could still taste the bitterness of his stomach's content. He headed back into his room and brought back the pie-dish with him; the contents turning a putrid yellow. He quickly disposed of it in the porthole.
Back in his room, the young adventurer dried himself with the bed sheet. He quickly dressed, wishing to leave the room as soon as possible, hoping to leave the nightmare with it as well. Back downstairs, he decided to bid farewells with the cook. Jason headed into the kitchen, only to find the master chef snoring in the far corner of the kitchen, his face covered with flour. Jason smiled at the scene before turning and departing from Lumbridge Castle. The first hints of dawn shown in the sky as Jason advanced past the gates. To his left, he saw Hans tending to the flowers while humming a merry tune to himself. Even this early in the day, the streets were already filled with travelers from all over the world, most were newer ones fresh off Tutorial Island. Jason started walking among the crowd, hoping to find a tavern nearby for information only to be stopped by a tug on his sleeve. He looked down to find a child no older than twelve leading him to an alley. Before they went any further into the deserted alley, Jason tore free of the child's grasp with a hard jerk of his hand, causing the child to go fumbling towards the ground. The child didn't seem to mind his harsh fall and simply rose from the ground and patted the dirt off the rags he wore.
"What do you want?" demanded Jason in a stern tone.
With a big smile of his face, the child replied, "Trim yer weapon for ye sire?"
The child's Misthalin accent was so thick that it took a few seconds for Jason's mind to register what he had just been asked. For the first time, Jason noticed how thin the child was. His hands seemed nothing more than skeletal claws and his cheekbones sunk in so much that Jason swore he could count the teeth in the child's mouth. The child wore nothing but dusty rags which have been patched over so many times that it was impossible to tell what color the cloth had originally been.
"Well?" the child asked impatiently. "What about it?"
Curious about the offer and wishing to learn more of it, Jason decided to see inquire more on the matter. "What's your name, child?" Jason asked.
"Dansky sire." replied the child. "Me name's Dansky."
"Alright then Dansky," Jason said. "Now tell me, what's trim?"
The child stared at Jason as if he had grown a second head. "Why, it's what yer weapon needs in order to slay those monsters that dwell in those swamps and mountains. Sure you can kill a goblin or two with that weapon of yers," the child said while eyeing Jason's bronze long sword, "But if ye want to slay the big monsters, yer weapons needs to be trimmed."
"How is it that a squirt like you knows how to trim weapons?" asked Jason suspiciously. None of the instructors on Tutorial Island had said anything about trimmed weapons.
"My uncle taught me" replied the child. "I lived with him until a month ago when a fire started in his house while he was a sleeping. It was a quick death for him, bless his soul, but the fire left me homeless so I'm saving up to buy a cabin by trimming weapons for people. I'm awfully cheerful today, so I'm only charging twenty gold a trim. How bout it?" A big, friendly grin spread across Dansky's face.
"Twenty gold?" Jason laughed. "No thanks kid, I had thought that it was for free. Besides, I hardly believe that story you told on trimmed weapons; it has more holes than that shirt you're wearing." Jason began to leave the alley only to have the child step in his way.
"Alright, since you seem like a nice enough guy and I'm in such a great mood, I'll trim it for free. Just hand me that weapon yer carrying."
Still very suspicious about the offer, Jason posed to stop the child if he tried anything funny as he unlaced the sheath containing his bronze long sword and handed it to the child. Jason had heard too many stories on Tutorial Island about situations like this one that left the unsuspicious looted of their hard earned gold.
The child looked over the sword; holding it at eye level and then feeling its balance. "I'll be needing me tools." the child announced as he reached into his pocket.
In a flash, the child threw some sort of pocket sand into Jason's eyes with a speed that the young adventurer didn't think was humanely possible. Jason sank to his knees as he attempted to wipe away the sand with one hand while blindly grappling for the child with the other. Luckily, he caught the collar of the rags Dansky wore just as he was attempting to escape.
"Let me go" Dansky yelled as he struggled to tear free, but Jason's strength outmatched that of the child's.
With grim satisfaction, Jason pulled the thief closer to him. He held onto the collar with one hand while he wrestled for his weapon with the other. Without warning, pain exploded in Jason's shins. He had expected the brat to try something like this, but hadn't believed he could kick with such force. Jason released his grip, bending down to tend to his injured leg. Not only had Dansky damaged his leg, but he had also left a deep gash on it as well.
"Hahaha noob" the child shouted over his shoulder as he ran deeper into the alley.
Looking up, Jason saw Dansky disappearing around a corner, at the same time noticed the spurs on the back of the child's boots. No wonder the wound on his shin had been so deep; the brat probably wore spurs just for situations like this one. Cursing himself for being such a fool, Jason tore a piece of his shirt off to wrap around his injury. Upon further inspection, the gash had not been as deep as he first believed. Already, the blood flow was slowing and the pain had reduced to a dull throb. Nonetheless, he now needed a new shirt, a pair of new pants, and a new weapon. Thinking of the last made Jason very uneasy. It was definitely not wise to travel in a new land unarmed. Even more, Jason finally noticed how dark it was in the alley. He quickly scrambled outside into the safety of daylight, knowing that many have perished behind alleys on dark days. He winced at the pain with each step he took, yet he didn't want to waste what remained of his gold on a healer. Checking his pack, the only weapons the young adventurer now had was a woodcutter's axe and a small dagger; definitely not the appropriate protection one should have in this new land. Even so, Jason quickly strapped the dagger to his wrist and then the axe to his back.
Jason thought of reporting what had transpired in the alley to one of the castle guards, but then thought against it for the chances of them finding the brat was slim to nil and he didn't want to be humiliated again. Instead, Jason rummaged through his pack until he found the newcomer's map he had bough the previous day. He hoped to find a weapons merchant someplace nearby as he began to unroll the scroll. But instead of the map, he had found a new document that had not been there before. It appeared to be a certificate of some sort.
Under the light morning sun, Jason read the parchment. "Thank you, young man, for helping the cook of Lumbridge in a quest for the cake's ingredients. Feel free to use my kitchen for any of your cooking needs. I am forever in your debt. Sincerely, Alford LeBret. Head Cook of Lumbridge." In the lower-right hand corner, a red ribbon was pinned onto to parchment.
Jason smiled as he rolled up the certificate; returning it to his pack and withdrawing the newcomer's map. Hans must have snuck in the scroll while he was sleeping. Chuckling to himself, Jason unrolled the newcomer's map and studied the surroundings of his location. He noticed there was no sword shop nearby, but there was an axe shop positioned not far from where he was. Lowering the map, Jason could actually see the building directly ahead of him. He began walking towards the shop as he returned the map to his pack, wondering how he could have missed it earlier when it was only a few scant meters away from him. He would have much preferred a sword as he barely had any training with a battleaxe on Tutorial Island, but it'll do for now.
Jason quickly made his way to the shop. It was a simple building built of oak and maple. A large sign with the picture of a fearsome battleaxe hung loosely above an open door. Upon entry, Jason was greeted by the owner of the shop; a huge, dark skinned man who introduced himself as Bob. Battleaxes were carefully strapped to the walls of the building; some were even behind glass in fancy display cases. The words "Break glass in case of emergency" was carved into the frame of one of the cases. The shop was empty save Jason and Bob, which caused Jason to question the quality of the shopkeeper's wares. Surely many adventurers would come seeking new weaponry at Bob's Axes since it is located so close to Lumbridge Castle; the location where all who finished their training on Tutorial Island is teleported to by the Magic Instructor. But what other choice did he have? He couldn't travel all the way to Varrock just to purchase a sword.
"I'm in need of a weapon," Jason told Bob, "Something sturdy and effective but not too expensive."
"Well, you've come to the right place my friend," replied the huge man, "Here at Bob's Axes, you'll get the best merchandise at the lowest price. Let's try this one shall we?" Bob went over to one of the walls and took down a huge battleaxe made of some blue metal.
"Mithril, won't find many metals stronger than this," Bob chuckled as he handed the weapon to Jason. The young adventurer took the handle, and fell over at the weight of the axe. Luckily, Bob caught him and quickly removed the weapon from his hands. Jason turned red with humiliation, but the vendor didn't seem to notice.
With a frown on his face, Bob replaced the weapon back onto the wall. "Hrm, looks like that was a little too advanced for you. Here, take this one." The dark skinned man moved to the opposite wall and took down a much lighter looking axe. He offered the handle to Jason.
"If this is still too heavy for you, then I'm afraid I can't help you with your battleaxe needs. In fact, I doubt anyone in the realm can."
Ignoring the statement, Jason wielded the weapon with both hands. He found it to be heavy, but balanced for its size. He took a firm grip and swung it in a downward arc to his left as the Combat Instructor had taught him, feeling the weapon travel smoothly through the air.
"Well, looks like the pup likes it," Bob said with a satisfied grin on his face. "Iron's about five times lighter than mithril."
Jason marveled at the craftsmanship. The flat sides of the axe were so smooth and polished that he could see his reflection in them. The edges seemed razor sharp as if they had just been freshly forged. The handle was wrapped with leather that seemed to have been tanned only yesterday.
"I'll take it," Jason exclaimed with a big smile on his face. "How much?"
Now there was an equally large smile on Bob's face. "Two hundred gold pieces, a real bargain for such an exquisite weapon."
Jason was shocked at the price. In Hillsfert, two hundred gold pieces was enough to purchase the best plot of land in the small town. Yet here he was, hearing that a piece of weaponry costs as much as what his family made in a year.
"Two hundred gold? I'm sorry, but it looks like I will not be able to afford it at that price." Jason said with a disappointed look on his face. "But perhaps I can trade in some of my other items for the weapon."
"Hrm." The shopkeeper's face tightened to a deep frown. "Well, I doubt you'll have anything I'm interested in, but let's have a look anyways."
Jason opened up his sack, but found nothing very much of value in there. But then he remembered the dagger he had strapped to his wrist, and quickly brought it out for Bob to see. "How much will you give me for this?" asked Jason hopefully. If he could strike up enough money and perhaps haggle the price down some more, he might actually be able to afford the battleaxe. He certainly did not want to leave empty handed after having felt the magnificent power of the weapon.
But to Jason's dismay, Bob simply laughed at the offer. "A bronze dagger," the axe merchant chuckled, "Not even worth the metal its smithed from."
"Well, what about this?" Jason asked as he removed the woodcutter's axe from his back.
"I have no need for those, as you can see." Bob replied while gesturing to a section of the wall to Jason's left which was filled with bronze axes.
Heaving a sigh of defeat, the young adventurer began to head out the door when he was stopped by the shopkeeper.
"Wait," Bob demanded. "I have an offer for you."
That captured Jason's attention once more. He quickly turned to learn more of this offer.
"If you haven't noticed, my shop is very empty" the vendor began in a dismal tone. "This is because some trouble's been brewing over at the church across the road. There's been rumors going around that the graveyard is haunted by a ghoul who terrorizes anyone that comes close. At first, I thought it was just some hoodlums trying to scare up some fun, but then the Duke's own nephew said he saw the ghost himself while praying in the church. He swore that the spirit of some long forgotten ripper had come back, demanding the souls of the innocent. Since then, six others believe they've seen the specter and the church's gravedigger has gone missing."
"Hmm, do you believe that the church is haunted?" asked Jason.
"Not for a second" replied the dark skinned merchant. "It's been six weeks since the rumors started and I haven't seen anything at all. But that doesn't matter, because others do believe and now they stay as far as possible from that church, and since my shop is just next door, people have stopped coming for my wares. Of course, the different rumors that have spread since that day six weeks ago doesn't help either. I actually heard someone say that the Duke's nephew saw the legendary demon Delrith rising from one of the graves. It's nothing but dragonspit, and just between you and me, I'd bet my finest axe that the Duke's nephew was drunk that day he saw the ghost. Psh, as if the dead can rise up and live again."
Bob finished his story with a sneer of contempt, as if the Duke's nephew purposely started the rumor to turn customers away from him.
"Well, what do you want me to do?" Jason inquired. The story wasn't sitting well with the young adventurer, especially after hearing a demon could involved. But after all, hadn't he himself come to Misthalin in search of what could very well be a demon?
"I need you to investigate and find the truth behind these rumors." Bob answered. "If you somehow end these rumors and have people returned to my shop once more, I'll give you that battleaxe you wanted at no charge."
The thought of that battleaxe in his hands removed all fears of the ghost. "Great, I won't let you down." Jason replied eagerly.
"Excellent." Bob exclaimed. "You'll want to see Father Urhney first. He's the top Friar at the church. I'm sure he'll have more recent information on the ghost. He'll help you start off your investigation."
The pair exchanged farewells as Jason exited the shop. It was nearly noon now, he had been chatting with the axe merchant for quite some time. Surveying his surroundings, Jason spotted the holy church across the road to his right. Without hesitation, the young adventurer set off quickly for his destination.


text:
Twin River Finds Another $275 Million in Financing, Firms Balance Sheet for Recent Deals
Posted on: April 30, 2020, 10:33h.
Last updated on: April 30, 2020, 11:21h.
Todd Shriber Read More
Expertise: Financial, Gaming Business, Mergers and Acquisitions.
Twin River Worldwide Holdings (NYSE:TRWH) is expanding its bank loan capacity by $275 million, bringing more cash onto its balance sheet to finance a series of recently announced acquisitions.
Twin River is raising additional cash in part to finance some recent acquisitions. (Image: Bloomberg)
The gaming company said it expects to be funded on May 11. The new influx of capital is an addition to a previously existing bank credit agreement.
The financing is expected to satisfy the financing contingency under Twin River's previously announced agreement to acquire the Eldorado Shreveport Resort and Casino and the MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa," said the Rhode Island-based company in a statement.
Last week, TRWH agreed to acquire the Eldorado Shreveport in Louisiana and the MontBleu Resort in Lake Tahoe, Nevada from Eldorado Resorts (NASDAQ:ERI) for $155 million – deals viewed by industry observers as favorable to the buyer because they're happening at fire sale prices.
Moving Cash Around
TRWH is also paying $25 million to purchase Bally's on the Atlantic City, N.J. Boardwalk from Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ:CZR) – another acquisition seen happening at a rock-bottom price. Those deals will take some time to close, giving TRWH the ability to repay an existing credit revolver and then borrow on it again in the future.
"As the regulatory approval process for those transactions will take some time, Twin River intends to repay $250 million of revolving credit borrowings under the bank credit facility, which will be available for future borrowings in accordance with the credit agreement," said the operator.
At the end of the first quarter, TRWH had $385 million in cash on hand and $250 million in borrowing capacity, giving it one of the stronger capital positions among smaller regional gaming companies. The company has no debt maturities coming due until 2024.
Not Much Vision on Reopening
Twin River's gaming property roster is currently comprised of seven casinos – two in Rhode Island, one in Mississippi, one in Delaware, and three casinos plus a horse racetrack in Colorado. As is the case with comparable venues throughout the US, the company's properties remain shuttered due to the coronavirus, and TRWH has little visibility as to when its operations will be allowed to reopen.
Operators with exposure to multiple states are saying they expect various timelines as to when their properties will be open again.
"While we remain optimistic about reopening, this additional financing ensures we have the financial resources necessary to continue funding operations, servicing our obligations, and pursing organic and strategic growth opportunities through the COVID-19 crisis," said TRWH CEO George Papanier.
On a brighter note, analysts are lauding the company's recent purchases. In addition to the favorable pricing – $180 million combined for three casinos is seen as cheap – Wall Street is applauding TRWH's ongoing effort to increase geographic diversity and reduce its revenue dependence on the highly competitive New England market.
Deal for Sinatra's Cal Neva Resort Back On, Oracle Founder Larry Ellison to Pay $35.8 Million
Eldorado Stock Approaches Highest Levels Since Early March as Nevada Properties Reopen
Twin River Gets Trio of Steals From Eldorado, Caesars in Recent Casino Buys
Paragon Gaming Chairwoman Bennett Expects Lake Tahoe Sales Following Eldorado Resorts Caesars Takeover
Horseshoe Baltimore Casino Betting Stadium Corridor Investments Pay Off
Todd Shriber — June 4, 2020
Todd Shriber — April 27, 2020
Todd Shriber — October 1, 2019
Super Group, SPAC Set Date to Vote on Merger

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Євге́н Сергі́йович Соловйо́в — майор Збройних сил України, військовий льотчик 1-го класу, миротворець, учасник російсько-української війни. Герой України (2022).

Біографія
Народився 1990 року. Дідусь — авіатор, ветеран війни в Афганістані; дядько — борттехнік; батько — інженер авіаційного обладнання. Дитинство Євгена пройшло на аеродромах і в гарнізонах.

Після закінчення, з відзнакою, авіаційного вишу розпочав службу в 11-ій окремій бригаді армійської авіації, в/ч А1604, авіабаза Чорнобаївка, Херсонська область. Вже за три місяці служби став командиром вертольоту Мі-8. За рік в складі українського миротворчого контингенту полетів у Конго, де виконував завдання в умовах високих температур, розрідженого повітря, небезпечних гір. Повернувся у травні 2014 року.

Влітку 2014, у зв'язку з російською збройною агресією проти України, виконував завдання на території проведення антитерористичної операції, брав участь у бойових діях, займався евакуацією поранених на вертольоті Мі-8, зокрема в районі Савур-могили.

2018 року виконував завдання в складі 56-го окремого вертолітного загону Місії ООН у Ліберії.

Призначений на посаду заступника командира вертолітної ескадрильї з МПЗ.

Командир авіаційної ескадрильї Повітряних сил ЗСУ. Виконав 78 бойових вильотів з метою ураження живої сили та техніки противника, пунктів управління, логістичних центрів. Завдяки мужнім діям Євгена Соловйова у складі екіпажу літаків СУ-24М було знищено значну кількість живої сили й техніки противника.

Мешкає у Херсоні. Одружений.

Нагороди
 звання Герой України з врученням ордена «Золота Зірка» (14 жовтня 2022) — за особисту мужність і героїзм, виявлені у захисті державного суверенітету та територіальної цілісності України;
 орден Богдана Хмельницького II ступеня (24 квітня 2022) — за особисту мужність і самовіддані дії, виявлені у захисті державного суверенітету та територіальної цілісності України, вірність військовій присязі;
 орден Богдана Хмельницького III ступеня (31 жовтня 2014) — за особисту мужність і героїзм, виявлені у захисті державного суверенітету та територіальної цілісності України, вірність військовій присязі.

Примітки

Джерела
 Коли повертався із заблокованого Маріуполя, у двигун вертольота влучила ракета, але не здетонувала… — Герой України Євген Соловйов // «АрміяІнформ». — 2022. — 18 жовтня.
 А. Олехнович, Євген Соловйов: «Ми рвали полин і засипали його в кабіну, аби хоч трохи перебити запах від тіл загиблих» // «Голос України». — 2019. — 9 квітня.
 Євген Соловйов дивом залишився живим при падінні гелікоптера в Конго // «АрміяІнформ». — 2019. — 15 липня.

Посилання
  // Головне управління розвідки МО України. — 2023. — 16 березня.
  // Головне управління розвідки МО України. — 2023. — 9 березня.

Українські військові льотчики
Українські миротворці

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
<?php

declare(strict_types = 1);

use function fphp\concat;

describe('concat', function () {
	it('should concat two arrays', function () {
		$res = concat([1], [2]);

		expect($res)->toBe([1, 2]);
	});

	it('should concat two strings', function () {
		$res = concat('hello ', 'world');

		expect($res)->toBe('hello world');
	});
});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: Specify indexPath.row for a new item in an array I have an iOS project I'm working on using Xcode7 and Swift. The user can add items to an Array called "details" that is viewed in a TableView. Is there a way to specify the location of where you want the new item to be?  Let's say I have 5 items in my array and I want the next added item to be placed in location indexPath.row for position 3. How do I do that? How can I make the new details[indexPath.row] be 3 for that item?

A: You should add the item into the "details" array at a specific index, then reload the table view.
details.insert("This String", atIndex: 3)
self.tableView.reloadData()

A: Let's say details is:
var details = ["Hello", "Hi", "Bye", "Goodbye", "No"]

Wherever you want to add the next item (I'm assuming position 3 means the 3rd index):
details.insert("Hey", atIndex: 3)

Then reload the table view:
tableView.reloadData()

A: Just insert the item in details at the requested index and call tableView.reloadData()or tableView.insertRowsAtIndexPaths:withRowAnimation: passing the same index wrapped in [NSIndexPath]. But first check if the index is not out of bounds.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has said his government is going to take a formal position on the halting arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
Giuseppe Conte gave the information while addressing his traditional end-year news conference on Friday, reports Reuters.
"We are not in favour of the sale of these weapons and so now it is only a question of formalising this position and acting accordingly," Conte said.
He was answering a question on Italy's ongoing arms exports to Saudi Arabia in the light of its involvement in the conflict in Yemen and the murder of journalist Jamal Kashoggi.


M.A.S.S. is a multi-active strengthening system for horses by Kinetic Technologies. M.A.S.S. nutritional supplements are given with the horse's feed in order to help strengthen their muscles.
M.A.S.S supports a healthy weight in horses and improves muscle strength. The product contains Gamma Oryzanol, L-Lysine, Fenugreek, and Threonine to enhance appetite and promote weight gain in thin horses.
Use M.A.S.S only as directed by your veterinarian.
A single serving size of M.A.S.S. is 1 ounce.
Read package inserts carefully before use.
Top-dress 1 ounce daily per 1,000 lbs. of body weight.
Consult your veterinarian about dosing for horses weighing less than 1,100 lbs.
Give once daily or as directed by your veterinarian.
Store M.A.S.S away from heat, light, and moisture, between 59 and 86 degrees. Keep away from children and pets.
M.A.S.S contains the essential amino acids L-lysine and threonine to improve and maintain healthy weight in your horse. The product also contains fenugreek, an herb that promotes appetite and provides vitamins and minerals, and gamma oryzanol, an extract of rice bran oil that supports the functioning of your horse's endocrine system.
M.A.S.S is intended for use in horses only. Do not give this supplement to other animals. Not for human use.
CAUTION: If your horse fails to gain adequate weight, other causes must be considered. See a veterinarian for a full check up, including an examination to detect parasites and look for dental issues that may be interfering with eating.
Do not use M.A.S.S in animals with a known allergy to it or to similar products.


Craters & Freighters of Omaha does not just place your item in a box and hope for the best. We will assess the fragility of the items and base our packaging on the most protection that can be offered. We can provide corrugated packaging, foam wrapping, foam bracing, floating bases and crating for domestic and international shipping. We do all our packaging engineering in house. We do not outsource any of our packaging to insure your shipment for safe transport.
Craters & Freighters can offer packaging and shipping for any size shipments. If you are looking for services that may require expedited services or white glove services we can meet those needs. If you are just looking for the most economical way to ship your item we can provide you with options from corrugated packaging to terminal pick-ups.
Package, crate and ship your valuables with Craters & Freighters of Omaha, NE by Requesting a Quote today!
Our Omaha location serves the pickup, packaging, crating, shipping and delivery needs of businesses and residential clients. We can pickup locally and ship to just about anywhere nationwide and worldwide your item needs to go.
Serving Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa since 2004!
In Nebraska: Omaha / Greater Metro Area, Lincoln, Fremont, Blair, Ashland, Gretna, Sioux City, Plattsmouth, Nebraska City.
Cities in Nebraska: Omaha, Bellevue, Papillion, Fremont, Gretna, Ashland, Plattsmouth, Waverly, Lincoln and more!
Cities in Iowa: Council Bluffs, Woodbine, Dunlap, Neola, Onawa, Sloan and Sioux City Counties in Iowa: Harrison, Monona, Pottawattamie, Woodbury.


text:
Q: what does [[...]] mean in python? I tried to print a list which supposes to be(I think) a empty list, However I got a [[...]] instead. I tried to google it, but no luck. Futhermore, When I use slice to see what the hell is [...] in the strange list, I got the same [[...]], I guess there would be some kind of recursive, but what leads to it ?Anyone knows why?

A: You are correct. It's a list that contains itself recursively. Here's a simple way to create such a list:
a = []
a.append(a)
print(a)

output
[[...]]

A: That means a list contains itself:
a = []
a.append(a)
print(a)

A: >>> a=[]
>>> a.append(a)
>>> a
[[...]]

This is one way to get that -- a list with one element, namely itself.
Such a structure can't be printed (it recurses forever) so Python prints ellipsis to mean "and so on".


text:
Westminster Proves Muslim Ban Is Humane
In yet another display of how multiculturalism, "refugees," and Islam are turning the civilized world into just another Third World cesspool, London became a war zone Wednesday when an Islamic man drove a car into a crowd of people outside of Parliament and killed three and wounded twenty, including a police officer whom he stabbed to death. Prime Minister Theresa May was reported to be safe, and members of the House of Commons were held in their offices on lockdown in what law enforcement officials have described as a terrorist attack.
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his condolences and offered full U.S. support to the British prime minister shortly following the attack. Trump has been pushing to ban travelers from six predominantly Islamic nations in order to prevent precisely this sort of mass murder from taking place. Liberal judges have thus far stymied his attempts to make America safer.
Predictably, members of the liberal press corps will play down any connections between mass Islamic migration to Britain, the ongoing influx of so-called Islamic refugees of military service age, and the jihad attack.
London's first Islamic mayor, Sadiq Khan, even discounted the attack as just "part and parcel" of life in a major city.
The attack came on the one-year anniversary of an Islamic terrorist attack in Brussels which killed 32 people and wounded 300.
Sadly and fittingly, the king of the dying Belgian nation marked the anniversary by telling his subjects to roll over and play dead.
"It's the responsibility of each and every one of us to make our society more humane, and more just. Let's learn to listen to each other again, to respect each other's weaknesses," he said, as a new monument was unveiled to the victims in the Belgian capital's European quarter.
"Above all, let us dare to be tender," he said.
While flanked by dozens of security guards and soldiers with automatic weapons, no doubt.
Prime Minister May spoke to the nation following the attacks Wednesday, calling the attacks "sick and depraved," and confirming that the Islamist terrorist used a car and a knife in his attacks (not a gun). Hopefully the Brits won't ban cars or knives in response to the attack.
They would make more headway by banning Muslims.
Previous story Exclusive: Our Interview with a Real Live Actual SJW!
Next story The Gospel Coalition Endorses Women's Ordination


If you desire a medicinal tea: This herb has a tough cellular structure and some heat is required to release all of it's medicinal properties and flavour. Use one tea bag per cup of hot water in a stainless steel or glass pot, cover, boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 20 minutes. This is known as the decoction method. Extra tea can be kept in a covered glass jar for a day or two in the refrigerator.


text:
News Release: Beautiful sculptures by blind Native American sculptor are a multisensory experience
Touchable exhibition of artist Michael Naranjo's work is at Eiteljorg Jan. 18-July 26 Michael Naranjo (Santa Clara Pueblo, born 1944) Glory, 2005 Bronze, Edition of 10 12 x 11 x 7 inches Loan courtesy Michael and Laurie Naranjo INDIANAPOLIS – A new exhibition opening Jan. 18 at the Eiteljorg Museum...
News Release: Eiteljorg's new exhibition "Quilts: Uncovering Women's Stories" unfolds in Indianapolis
Exhibition of historic and contemporary textile art of the West is part of Honoring Women theme INDIANAPOLIS – The Eiteljorg Museum will launch a yearlong exploration of the profound artistic and cultural contributions of women in the American West and Native America with a new exhibition...
News Coverage of "Blurring the Line: The Eiteljorg Contemporary Art Fellowship 2019"
Some recent news coverage of the Eiteljorg Museum exhibition Blurring the Line: The Eiteljorg Contemporary Art Fellowship 2019 is found at these links. Click on the link to read the article: Destination Indy, Oct. 8 2019 Daily Journal of Johnson County, Nov. 14, 2019 Ridgewood Times, Queens, N.Y.,...
Eiteljorg People: Broadening Horizons With New Possibilities
By Blaire Trusty, Eiteljorg Marketing and Communications fall intern The past few months interning in the marketing department at the Eiteljorg Museum have been better than I could have imagined. Going into my senior year at Butler University, I was scared thinking about how "real life"...
News Coverage of Jingle Rails
The new Spanish Colonial Missions of the Southwest scene in Jingle Rails An excellent thorough article about Jingle Rails: The Great Western Adventure appears in TheStatehouseFile.com. Read about the latest additions to the Eiteljorg Museum's holiday model train exhibition at this link: The Statehouse File_Jingle Rails story ...
News Release: Indy favorite holiday tradition Jingle Rails returns to Eiteljorg Museum for 10th year
Captivating model railroad adventure opens Nov. 23, recreates IMS; open late hours Photo courtesy of Zach Dobson INDIANAPOLIS – Visiting the holiday-season model railroad display at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art has become an annual tradition for many families. Back for its 10th...
"Native American Art" Magazine — Coverage of the Eiteljorg Museum
The December/January issue of Native American Art magazine included two articles about the Eiteljorg Museum. One article focuses on the exhibition Blurring the Line: The Eiteljorg Contemporary Art Fellowship 2019. The other notes the museum's recent acquisition of the Pohrt collection of Great Lakes Native...
"Art of the West" Magazine: Coverage of Eiteljorg Museum
One of the most renowned publications about Western American art, Art of the West magazine, recently published two articles about the Eiteljorg Museum. Read the article about the Eiteljorg's 30th anniversary at this link: Art of the West -- 30th Anniversary Story. Read the article recapping the 14th...
Eiteljorg acquires exceptional Native items of the Great Lakes; future exhibition planned
By Bryan Corbin, Storyteller magazine editor Potawatomi, Otoe, Ojibwe and Wyandot artists Moccasins, ca. 1800–ca. 1890 Tanned and smoked deerskin, glass seed beads, ribbon applique, silk ribbon, moose hair Museum purchase with funds provided by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. The Eiteljorg Museum recently acquired another major, nationally prominent...
No Limits: an innovative arts series opens the door to creating access for all
By Martha L. Hill, Ph.D., Eiteljorg former vice president for public programs and the Beeler family director of education Eiteljorg Guide Sandy Schipp introduces students to the triptych painting October Suite, Grand Canyon, 1991, by Wilson Hurley. Image courtesy of 12 Stars Media In 2018 the...


text:
Portugal / Madeira / Funchal
Villa Gaula
Sleeps: 2 - 8 Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 4
The ocean views from Villa Gaula were second-to-none and could be enjoyed whether we were indoors or out, thanks to the villa's elevated position and huge windows
Each bedroom has ensuite facilities, which was really convenient when we were all getting ready to go out for the day
It was wonderful to have some beaches really nearby
The separate barbecue house was a really cool addition that meant we could try out some authentic Portuguese recipes back at the villa
Set in a beautifully elevated position overlooking the shimmering blue of the Atlantic, Villa Gaula is a spacious and stylish four-bedroom villa accommodating u...
Set in a beautifully elevated position overlooking the shimmering blue of the Atlantic, Villa Gaula is a spacious and stylish four-bedroom villa accommodating up to eight guests. Promising a relaxing and memorable holiday, this modern property features a stunning open-plan interior with large glass doors to showcase those breathtaking ocean views and has a fresh white decor, beautifully-crafted furniture, and plenty of home-from-home comforts. The cosy lounge area is the perfect spot for chilling out after a busy day, with a large turquoise corner sofa and flatscreen Smart TV that comes complete with Netflix - ideal for enjoying a movie night or for entertaining the kids while you get ready for your day.
The good-sized dining space provides ample room for family meals, all prepared in the villa's well-equipped kitchen, which features high-end amenities such as a fridge-freezer, oven, hob, microwave and kettle. There is plenty of food preparation space, as well as all of the cookware, crockery and utensils you'll need during your stay.
Villa Gaula features five spacious and beautiful double bedrooms, all complete with stylish and modern ensuite facilities. Each room is decorated in the same fresh tones as the rest of the villa, with luxurious soft furnishings and artworks offering pops of colour. There is plenty of wardrobe space available for your convenience, and balcony access allows guests to greet the day in privacy - we recommend stepping out and taking in your surroundings while enjoying a morning cuppa before joining the rest of the group in the shared areas of the villa. It's the perfect start to the day!
The villa is equally spacious outside, with a covered terrace for alfresco dining, as well as a cosy outdoor lounge area. Indoor to outdoor living is made easy, with these fully furnished spaces being easily accessible from the indoor living area. There's a barbecue house on the grounds of the villa, fully stocked with logs for burning and with a built-in brick oven - ideal for roasting delicious local meats to serve to your guests with a drink or two, while looking out over the glittering ocean.
Villa Gaula is located in a residential area with other properties nearby, so perhaps not an ideal location for those who are looking for more isolated or rural surroundings
There is no pool at the villa
The villa features a handy laundry room with a washing machine and dryer
A highchair and cot are available on request
Wi-Fi/Internet BBQ Hairdryer Ground Floor Bed & Bath Satellite TV Heating Seaview
Villa Gaula is a truly spacious villa that will give you all the comfort you need. It has 4 bedrooms so you can enjoy a beautiful holiday with your family or friends.
- Ample living room with comfortable seating, satellite TV and access to the garden
- Open plan dining area for 8 people and access to the garden
- Well equipped kitchen with dining area and access to a terrace
- Laundry room with washing machine
- Shower room
- Bedroom with double bed and access to the garden
- Bedroom with double bed, access to a balcony and en-suite bathroom
- Bedroom with double bed and access to a balcony
- Ample terrace and garden area
- Outdoor dining
- Covered terrace
- Garden furniture
Additional Facilites
- Wi-Fi connection
- Electric heating
- Cot and high chair
- Hair dryer
Registration Number: 124880/AL
Villa Gaula is situated in the historic village of Santa Cruz - one of the oldest on the island. It ...
Nearest Airport Madeira Airport
Nearest Ferry Port Funchal Ferry Port
Nearest Village Gaula
About the surrounding area of Villa Gaula
<1hr to Airport Outstanding Landscapes Outdoor Pursuit & Activities Tourist Towns & Villages
Villa Gaula is situated in the historic village of Santa Cruz - one of the oldest on the island. It is home to some beautiful rocky and black sandy beaches, including the Praia das Palmeiras, which offers fantastic sunset views and is a great place to spend a relaxing day, with its seafront promenade lined with palm trees and restaurants.
Nearby Funchal is the island's capital and is one of the most popular areas with visitors to Madeira, thanks to its mild year-round temperatures, stunning landscapes, and variety of things to see and do. Whatever outdoor pursuits you are into, you're sure to find them here in Funchal, whether it's hiking or cycling, swimming, scuba diving, snorkelling, paragliding, surfing or even golf. Boat trips are popular here, as are whale-watching tours - and you'll find plenty of places in the region offering such excursions, so Oliver highly recommends booking up if you want the chance to do something really unique during your stay.
If it's nightlife you're after, you won't be disappointed either, as Funchal comes alive after dark while still retaining the calm and laid-back atmosphere that tourists love. Guests who come here like to spend the evenings and earlier parts of the night dining in one of the many restaurants and bars - perhaps sampling some Poncha, a delicious local sugar cane rum! - and then heading home for a few hours before setting out again around midnight, with bars and clubs in the area offering good music and a friendly ambience right through until 7 am!
Funchal is a fantastic place to visit all year round, with lots of exciting attractions and festivals to experience. The city's Carnival and Flower Festival is celebrated during the summer months, where you can enjoy samba beats and colourful costumed parades, as well as June's Atlantic Festival's International Fireworks Competition and the region's famous wine festival. One of Funchal's best-known celebrations is its New Year's Eve firework display, which is one of the largest in the world, and if you happen to be visiting Funchal during the Christmas period, you'll be treated to a twinkling wonderland as the whole city comes alive with lights.
Nearest Town/City Santa Cruz
Nearest Restaurant So Espeto
Nearest Bar/Pub Bar A Fonte
Nearest Supermarket Minimercado Noemia
Nearest Beach Reis Magos Beach
Nearest Golf Palheiro Golf Course
Funchal is the largest city on the island of Madeira and is encapsulated by Pico Ruivo and its neighbouring mountains, which look as if they have been seamlessly carved into the skyline by a Lusitanian God.
There is no better spot to start your holiday than in the Old Town, which illustrates its personality though street art, architecture and busy local businesses. There are many fine eateries, botanical gardens, a cathedral and impressive museums. Perhaps hop on the Madeira Cable Car as one of your first activities, as this will give you a great idea of the islands size.
Many flock Funchal in order to enjoy the Atlantic Coastline. This is home to its prominent harbour, where hundreds of boats and yachts, some of which enable visitors to embark on a magical sea voyage, can be found. Funchal really is a destination for lovers of the sea; as there are renowned surfing points, as well as being a great place to spot some whales.
Madeirans are also notorious for their elaborate festivals. If you're travelling during the New Year, you will be treated to one of the world's biggest Firework Festivals…a dazzling sight! During late February & early Mrach, you are able to witness Carnival and the streets of Funchal are lit with parades and festivities. If that's not enough for you; the Atlantic Festival International Fireworks Competition, Wine Festival and Christmas are all noteworthy dates for anyone visiting Funchal.
There are some incredible villas on the island and we believe that we have done a great job finding them for you. Have a browse and let us know what you think.
ABOUT MADEIRA
The island of Madeira can be found south west of mainland Portugal, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Due to the island's location, its is considered to have a Mediterranean climate that serves locals and visitors all year round – making it an ideal escape from reality at any point in the year.
What we love Madeira for is its seemingly ongoing festivals! Madeirans have found an excuse to celebrate most things; including film, their natural surroundings and key patron saints. This means that planning a visit during these days and even weeks of commemoration is well worth it (scroll down to see some key dates).
Madeira is divided into several municipals, each with a special offering to those who visit this island. Our favourite two communities are Funchal and Calheta and these are where you will find most of our beautiful villas.
Madeira's landscape extends much more than a striking coastline. Make sure you pack some hiking boots and venture inland during your stay. With mountainous trails along Vereda do Arieiro, or more countryside appropriate paths like Levada do Risco and waterfall chasing treks like Levada do Caldeirao Verde – this archipelago has everything a keen outdoors person requires.
For those who enjoy either playing or watching sports, you'll be happy to know Madeira offers so much selection. Madeira is also home to three notable football clubs, so if you're visiting during the football season and want to see a good quality of football, you have every chance to. Porto Santo Golfe is the island's renowned golf course. With an 18-hole course (Par 72) overlooking a Galapagos-like backdrop, golf enthusiasts will certainly want a 'slice' of the action! Surfers can access some great beaches like Jardim do Mar, Ponta Pequena, Paul do Mar, and Fajã da Ovelha in order to find some swell. Or, if you're simply looking to recline on a sun lounger and soak up some rays, whilst listening to crystal clear waves break as they hit the shores, you will find plenty of man-made beaches & Lidos created for your leisure!
With a superb climate, close proximity to the coastline, wonderful cuisine, charming locals and astonishing scenery – this is a fabulous holiday choice for families & friends.
But while you're enjoying one of our fantastic villas in Madeira, you may well want to take some time out from all that sun worship to explore everything else the region has to offer – so we've put together this handy travel guide to give you a little help and inspiration!
Download our Madeira travel guide >>
Villa Gaula's spacious interior and grounds make it an ideal accommodation choice for larger group...
Villa Gaula's spacious interior and grounds make it an ideal accommodation choice for larger groups - including those with children. There is plenty of space for outdoor play and a large TV with Netflix for keeping the kids entertained while you're busy preparing meals or planning your day. We recommend keeping an eye on the littlest ones around the barbecue house, on balconies and around the stairs - but well-supervised children will enjoy a safe and comfortable stay here in this beautiful villa.
The surrounding area has plenty to offer families who don't want to venture far from the villa, including some really nice beaches that have great amenities, as well as parks, restaurants and cafes. One of the biggest attractions here for kids is Aquaparque, a large water park that is incredibly popular as it is one of very few on the island. Here you'll find saltwater pools for adults and kids, fast and slow rivers, and water slides - including the ominously named 'black hole'.
If you're coming to this area of Madeira with the kids, we recommend heading to the capital of Funchal, a popular destination for families thanks to its laid-back atmosphere and easy-to-navigate streets, and the birthplace of the island's most famous export, footballing legend Cristiano Ronaldo. There is plenty to see and do in the city to amuse and delight visitors of all ages, including watching the giant cruise ships that dock at the port and marvelling at the vibrant street art that is all around in the form of painted doors along the streets. There are plenty of wide green open spaces in the city for playing, picnicking and burning off some energy, as well as some unique attractions like cable car rides that showcase some incredible views over the city.
The city is also home to the island's famous toy museum that divides over 20,000 toys into seven thematic rooms, such as a room for trains and a room with toys from the USA. This unusual and interesting collection is a wonderful alternative to outdoor activities on a rare rainy day and is considered one of the best attractions for young children visiting the area.
Security deposit Credit card details are required 2 weeks prior to departure for pre-authorisation.
Energy costs included? Yes, included in the rental price.
Heating costs included? Yes, included in the rental price.
Linen & towels included? Yes, included in the rental price.
Pool towels included? No.
End of stay cleaning included? Not included in the rental price, extra €140 to be paid with the balance to OT. However, guests are required to leave the accommodation clean, tidy and in the same condition as on their arrival. Any extra cleaning, laundry, maintenance and/or garbage disposal required will be charged against the security deposit.
Changeover day Flexible.
Smoking Allowed? Smoking & Vaping are not permitted.
Pool heating charge? Not available in this property.
Tax Tourist Tax up to €5 per pax is not included in the rental price and will need to be paid prior arrival via a link or cash on arrival direct to the supplier.
Insurance Guests are required to be in possession of a valid insurance policy, which covers them for cancellations, loss of personal belongings, personal liability and any accidental damage caused during their stay.
Prices based on an occupancy of 2 people: For every additional guest up to 8, it will cost an additional £20 per person per night.
Jan 29th 2023 - Apr 1st 2023 £805 £1,127
Apr 1st 2023 - Jul 1st 2023 £1,106 £1,549
Jul 1st 2023 - Oct 1st 2023 £1,257 £1,760
Oct 1st 2023 - Dec 23rd 2023 £905 £1,267
Dec 23rd 2023 - Jan 3rd 2024 £1,106 £1,549
Jan 3rd 2024 - Mar 30th 2024 £905 £1,267
Mar 30th 2024 - Jun 29th 2024 £1,106 £1,549
Jun 29th 2024 - Aug 1st 2024 £1,257 £1,760
Prices based on an occupancy of 2 people: For every additional guest up to 8, it will cost an additional €22 per person per night.
Jan 29th 2023 - Apr 1st 2023 €861 €1,204
Apr 1st 2023 - Jul 1st 2023 €1,183 €1,656
Jul 1st 2023 - Oct 1st 2023 €1,344 €1,882
Oct 1st 2023 - Dec 23rd 2023 €968 €1,355
Dec 23rd 2023 - Jan 3rd 2024 €1,183 €1,656
Jan 3rd 2024 - Mar 30th 2024 €968 €1,355
Mar 30th 2024 - Jun 29th 2024 €1,183 €1,656
Jun 29th 2024 - Aug 1st 2024 €1,344 €1,882
Prices based on an occupancy of 2 people: For every additional guest up to 8, it will cost an additional $23 per person per night.
Jan 29th 2023 - Apr 1st 2023 $936 $1,310
Apr 1st 2023 - Jul 1st 2023 $1,286 $1,800
Jul 1st 2023 - Oct 1st 2023 $1,462 $2,046
Oct 1st 2023 - Dec 23rd 2023 $1,052 $1,473
Dec 23rd 2023 - Jan 3rd 2024 $1,286 $1,800
Jan 3rd 2024 - Mar 30th 2024 $1,052 $1,473
Mar 30th 2024 - Jun 29th 2024 $1,286 $1,800
Jun 29th 2024 - Aug 1st 2024 $1,462 $2,046
Please select number of guests
Number of Guests (aged 2+)
2 or fewer 3 4 5 6 7 8
Portugal, Madeira, Funchal
Villa Martinho
Casa Frutuoso
Funcho Cottage
£751 - £962 per week
Ask a question about Villa Gaula


text:
Completed Cancer Research Projects | NYU Langone Health
Cancer Research Track Completed Cancer Research Projects
Division of Health & Behavior
Expand In Page Menu
Section for Global Health
Section on Health Choice, Policy & Evaluation
Section for Health Equity
Faculty Leadership & Staff
Center for the Study of Asian American Health
NYU-CUNY Prevention Research Center
Cardiovascular Health & Diabetes
Healthy Aging & Alzheimer's Disease
Applied Research & Evaluation Unit
Community Engagement & Education
Policy & Action
Center for Early Childhood Health & Development
Center for Healthful Behavior Change
Community Service Plan
Together Growing Strong
Completed Cancer Research Projects
Scientists in the Cancer Research Track, a part of the Section for Health Equity in NYU Langone's Division of Health and Behavior, have completed several research projects.
Asian American Hepatitis B Program
In 2003, the NYU Center for the Study of Asian American Health helped form the Asian American Hepatitis B Program to develop a comprehensive hepatitis B virus (HBV) screening, vaccination, and treatment program. Seventy-five percent of the program's resources went to community and clinical partners.
With funding from Office of the Mayor of New York City, Chau Trinh-Shevrin, DrPH, and colleagues created the program, which mobilized local community organizations, public hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers, independent primary care practices, community health workers, and patient navigators to reach medically underserved and limited-English-proficient communities. Individuals were offered HBV serologic testing at education and screening events or by drop-in at 12 participating healthcare centers and community-based organization sites. The program focused on Chinese, Korean, Southeast Asian, African, Latinx, and Russian immigrants at high risk for HBV.
Overall, about 9,000 high-risk individuals received hepatitis screening, vaccination, and treatment. The prevalence of chronic HBV was about 18 percent. Among HBV-negative individuals, 35.5 percent were susceptible to infection and required vaccination. Ninety percent of the 1,162 individuals completing a full clinical evaluation were referred to care and treatment.
Research conducted through the Asian American Hepatitis B Program enabled the NYU Center for the Study of Asian American Health and the B Free CEED: National Center of Excellence in the Elimination of Hepatitis B Disparities to co-found the NYC HEP B Coalition and inform the development of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene–funded CheckHepB Patient Navigation Program.
The Asian American Hepatitis B Program also influenced the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force policy change in May 2014 on HBV screening to include international-born individuals from countries with a more than 2 percent HBV prevalence rate.
B Free CEED: National Center of Excellence in the Elimination of Hepatitis B Disparities
The Asian American Hepatitis B Program led to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) award to fund the B Free CEED: National Center of Excellence in the Elimination of Hepatitis B Disparities, from 2007 to 2012. B Free CEED developed, evaluated, and disseminated evidence-based communication strategies, education, screening programs, and collaborative care and treatment models to eliminate HBV disparities in Asian and Pacific Islander communities. B Free CEED was 1 of 18 Centers of Excellence in the Elimination of Disparities funded under the CDC's Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health Across the U.S. program.
In 2012, B FREE CEED launched the Be Certain: Get Tested for Hepatitis B campaign, consisting of a 30-second public service announcement available in Chinese and Korean with English subtitles and print ads available in Chinese, Korean, and English.
Muslim Americans Reaching for Health and Building Alliances
Nadia S. Islam, PhD, conducted Muslim Americans Reaching for Health and Building Alliances (MARHABA) to investigate the barriers and facilitators to breast and cervical cancer screening among Muslim women in New York City. This research was conducted with the NYU Center for the Study of Asian American Health.
Colorectal Cancer Screening Among South Central Asian Immigrants in New York City
Dr. Islam led this study to explore barriers to and facilitators of colorectal cancer screening among Asian Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi New York City residents and to inform culturally tailored campaigns and interventions to increase screening. Learn more about Understanding the Barriers and Facilitators to Colorectal Cancer Screening among South Central Asian Immigrants in New York City conducted through the NYU-CUNY Prevention Research Center.


text:
// -----------------------------------------------------------------------
// <copyright file="BasePartnerComponentString.java" company="Microsoft">
//      Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
// </copyright>
// -----------------------------------------------------------------------

package com.microsoft.samples;

/**
 * Holds common partner component properties and behavior. The context is string type by default.
 */
public abstract class BasePartnerComponentString
        extends BasePartnerComponent<String> {
    /**
     * Initializes a new instance of the BasePartnerComponent class.
     *
     * @param rootPartnerOperations The root partner operations that created this component.
     */
    protected BasePartnerComponentString(IPartner rootPartnerOperations) {
        super(rootPartnerOperations, null);
    }

    /**
     * Initializes a new instance of the BasePartnerComponent class.
     *
     * @param rootPartnerOperations The root partner operations that created this component.
     * @param componentContext      A component context object to work with.
     */
    protected BasePartnerComponentString(IPartner rootPartnerOperations, String componentContext) {
        super(rootPartnerOperations, componentContext);
    }

    @Override
    protected void testInherited() {
    }
}


Here's a philosophical question for you. If a dog barks his head off in a forest, and no humanoid is there to hear him, is he still a bad dog?
I think that Alpha has forgotten whether or not there's a doorbell at our house. He certainly doesn't need one with me around.
But I am certainly more inclined to bark when the perimeter needs to be secured against those who would cross the line-of-sight I have from the top of the stairs. You can see the street from up there. You can see whether people are just passing by, or whether they are turning to come to our house. Sometimes it's a good idea to bark at the passers-by, just to keep them honest.
But barking in the forest is another matter. You don't need an excuse. Nature provides excuses a-plenty, but why not bark for the sake of barking? If you don't howl, how will you ever find your pack?
Alpha took me out to the hills last week.(1) He brought along his skis but, because of some arcane rules posted by the side of the road, he was not allowed to unleash me. What followed was an afternoon of exploring new forms of winter sport.
We developed several new games. In one, the challenge is to pull Alpha along on his skis, as though he were water skiing at the cottage. You score extra points if you can pull him off balance and send him into a snow drift.
In another, the challenge is to dart across the trail as skiers approach from the opposite direction. You score points if they trip over the leash.
And finally, my personal favourite is played when Alpha and his friends have paused to catch their breath. While they lean on their ski poles, the object is to go out on a sniffing expedition and hope they don't notice as you mosey around someone. At one point, you can bound back to Alpha and tie up the legs and poles of your victim with your leash.
A couple of times we were stopped by humanoids who appeared to have some kind of authority. They told Alpha that dogs were not allowed on these trails. So Alpha and I will likely return to our regular ski haunts along the river beside Windsor Park. (2) I prefer this in any event. You don't need to stay on leash as you explore along the snow-covered ice of the river. It leaves me free to investigate smells at my leisure, and reduces Alpha's stress levels considerably.
The Pup does not accompany us on these expeditions, but he has acquired yet another device for going down the hill at the park.(3) This year, he straps boots to a bright yellow board, and tries to go down the hill standing up. The gentler slopes give him a longer ride, and on this contraption he's able to make quite a show of carving gentle arcs for as long as there's even a hint of a downward grade.
Meanwhile, Alpha watches him like a hawk – or like he used to watch the Pup when he first began going down the steeper hills on a sled. He's ready to dash off in an instant if he thinks the Pup is heading toward trouble. This means he is paying less attention to the real purpose of the day's adventure: to throw the tennis ball over the trees toward the hockey rink.
I've heard Alpha discuss with the other humanoids how he intends to get one of these boards himself. I'm not so sure this is a wise idea. I remember all too well how he broke his foot two summers ago, but Alpha is particularly stubborn, even for a humanoid.(4) Maybe it's safer pulling him along on his cross-country skis.
(1) Recent scholarship, including Dr. Cassandra Wise, The Zoscha Years, Carleton University Press, 2009, p. 187, concludes that this passage refers to cross-country skiing in the Gatineau Hills outside of Ottawa.
(2) The Rideau River, op. cit. p. 193.
(3) The toboggan run at Windsor Park is known to this day as "Brody's Hill," in memory of one of Zoscha's companions who used to chase balls down the slopes.
(4) Zoscha proved to be remarkably prescient in predicting Alpha's future mishaps on skis. See "Limping Along Together," The Windsor Chronicles Part 60, March 2006.


My newest finds now listed! Click the picture for more information!
We're up, up and away with lots of new old propellers listed in sizes ranging 6-12 inches. Also some large old industrial gauges and old fishing and sports gear – happy browsing!
A visual round-up of this week's new listings! Click on the photo for more information.
A visual round-up of this week's new listings over at Found By Her. Click on the picture for more information.
A visual round-up of this week's finds now available in my shop! Click on the picture for more information.
Wow, what a week! Hope you love this weird and wonderful mix of items, including 11 collectible Royal Copenhagen Mothers' Day plates, silver items, and ceramics!
A visual round-up of this week's new finds. Click on the picture for more information.
Some unusual finds this week – check out those fabulous old biology slides!! And that old steriliser cabinet…..


text:
Phil Bennion (* 7. Oktober 1954 in Tamworth) ist ein britischer Politiker der Liberal Democrats. Von 2012 bis zum 31. Januar 2020 war er als Nachrücker für Elizabeth Lynne Abgeordneter im Europäischen Parlament in der Allianz der Liberalen und Demokraten für Europa.

Als Europaparlamentarier war Bennion Mitglied im Ausschuss für Beschäftigung und soziale Angelegenheiten und in der Delegation für die Beziehungen zu den Ländern Südasiens. Als Stellvertreter war er im Ausschuss für Verkehr und Fremdenverkehr und in der Delegation für die Beziehungen zum Palästinensischen Legislativrat.

Weblinks

Quellen

Mitglied des Europäischen Parlaments für das Vereinigte Königreich
Liberal-Democrats-Mitglied
Brite
Geboren 1954
Mann


text:
Lenovo IdeaPhone S890 Review
By Sameer Mitha | Updated Apr 13 2019
Good display
Smooth multitasking
Crisp text reproduction for reading books
Lacklustre camera
Skin may not appeal to all
Doesn't support HD MKV and MP4 video files
The Lenovo IdeaPhone S890 brings two unique features to the table - a nice cover which works like a smart cover, and a UI that is funky and may appeal to some. It is your run-of-the-mill Android smartphone in terms of other features. It won't run all the video formats but its multitasking capabilities are nice. You can consider this smartphone but there are better options available out there.
BUY Lenovo IdeaPhone S890
Out of Stock ₹16799
Lenovo IdeaPhone S890 detailed review
For a budget of Rs. 20,000, the consumer is spoilt for choices when it comes to smartphones running Android. You have the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Grand, which gives you TouchWiz, and some of the features and shenanigans that you'd get in a premium device. You also have the Xolo X1000, which is a well-built, beautiful smartphone giving you a vanilla Android experience. Apart from Android devices, you can also get the Lumia 720, which is one of the hottest selling Windows Phone 8 devices.
Today, we have with us the Lenovo IdeaPhone S890. The smartphone shows off a dual-core processor, an IPS display with a qHD (960x540 pixels) resolution, and an 8MP camera. Does it bring enough features to stand out from the crowd, or are consumers better off looking at the tried and tested available smartphones? We find out!
From the outside, the Lenovo IdeaPhone S890 looks like your run-of-the-mill Android smartphone with a 5-inch display. The smartphone runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and has the same skin we have on the Lenovo IdeaPhone K860 and the S560. The smartphone even comes with a flap cover. The unique thing about this flap cover is that it works like the smart cover of the iPad which is to say that the display goes off when you close the flap cover and the comes on when you open it. It is nice to see the flap cover, as it adds more utility than protection for the display.
At Rs. 20,000 the Lenovo has some stiff competition in the market. Here's a quick look to see how it stacks up against the competition in terms of the specifications.
Lenovo IdeaPhone S890
Xolo X1000
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
Android 4.0 ICS
Display Resolution (pixels)
32GB via a microSD card
Dual-core 1.2GHz MTK 6577T
Dual-core 1.2GHz
2GHz Intel Atom Z2480 Processor with Hyper Threading
Dual-core 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8227
The specifications of the Lenovo IdeaPhone S890 aren't stellar when compared to the competition. Sure, it has the largest battery and an IPS display but there are other impressive devices in the same price bracket available in the market.
If it isn't broken, don't fix it. Following this policy, the Lenovo IdeaPhone S890 has a simple candy-bar form factor with curved edges found on a plethora of other Android-powered smartphones. Above the display you have the front-facing camera and the earpiece. Below the display you have the menu, home and the back capacitive buttons, which don't eat into the displays real estate. Long pressing the home button brings up the multitasking menu. The bottom of the smartphone has the microUSB port. The right has the volume rocker and the top of the device has the headphones jack along with the power button.
The rear of the smartphone has a white glossy finish that is a fingerprint magnet. It also houses the 8MP camera along with the flash and the speaker grill. At 176 grams, the device isn't the heaviest out there but does feel a tad heavy in your ones hands.
Overall, the design and build of the Lenovo IdeaPhone S890 is quite good. The flap unfortunately is white, which means that it will easily get dirty. In the same price bracket you have the Xolo X1000 which has a rubberised back giving it a premium build and a good grip. You also have the Lumia 720, which has a polycarbonate body making it one of the sturdiest devices in its price bracket.
UI and Interface
The lock screen of the smartphone is standard Android, giving users access to a directl shortcut to the camera and Google Now. Unlock the Lenovo IdeaPhone S890 and you will be greeted by the same UI we have seen on the Lenovo IdeaPhone K860 and S560. By default, you have access to three home screens but you can have a total of nine home screens to load with apps and widgets.
One of the preloaded widgets on the Lenovo IdeaPhone S890 is the Lotus widget. This gives you quick access to Facebook, Maps, Music, camera and the play store by default. The preloaded apps on the smartphone such as the camera, messaging calling, calculator and more have a very Tron-like neon look which may not appeal to all but it is a refreshing change from the standard icons we have come to see on other skins.
In the Lenovo IdeaPhone S890's app menu, you have the option to list the apps either in the regular Android style grid or alphabetically. You can also jump to the recent and running apps from the menu as well.
The Lenovo IdeaPhone S890 doesn't come with any noteworthy preloaded apps but you do have access to 5GB SugarSync straight out of the box, which is a nice touch.
Here's a quick look at how the Lenovo IdeaPhone S890 compares against the Xolo X1000 and the Samsung Galaxy Grand.
From the benchmark scores, it is clear that the Lenovo IdeaPhone S890 isn't the best performer in its price bracket in terms of benchmarks – in most tests, the Galaxy Grand Duos and the Xolo X1000 beat it.
The touchscreen response of the Lenovo IdeaPhone S890 is smooth. We didn't face any hiccups in terms of navigating the device launching and using apps. The keyboard is laid-out well, and good to type on. It also offers you swipe to type, which is a nice addition.
The display on the Lenovo IdeaPhone S890 is 5-inches with a 960x540 pixel resolution. It has an IPS panel, which means that the viewing angles are good. The text, especially in books, is crisp and good to read. It's a treat using the display. Even the colour representation of videos was nice.
The downside to the Lenovo IdeaPhone S890 is that it didn't play the MKV or the MP4 HD videos we loaded on it. The MKV just stuttered and the MP4 only produced audio. This was via the native video player on the smartphone. SD AVI files however ran quite smoothly.
Browsing the Internet and reading e-books was a very good experience. The text was crisp around the edges and there was no pixilation and that is a very good thing. Reading books on the Google Books app was a treat.
The audio output from the speaker is nice. The apps sound loud and clear and audio didn't distort even at full volume. For the videos, too the audio was clear but at full volume at the high octave moments, the audio did crackle.
Considering that the benchmark scores weren't the best, the gaming performance of the Lenovo IdeaPhone S890 is quite good. Angry Birds Star Wars loaded quite fast. The performance of the game was quite smooth too. Dead Trigger also played quite smoothly on the smartphone. While playing the game, there were no apps running in the background. Even in the intense moments of the game, the smartphone performed well. The stutter and lag was minimal. Third party apps, such as news apps, social networking apps, etc., all ran well on the Lenovo IdeaPhone S890.
The rear of the Lenovo IdeaPhone S890 has an 8MP shooter. When the lighting conditions are good, you get decent looking images. View these images in their actual size and you will see there is a loss in detail. If there is text or something readable involved in the image, the details look hazy. The low light shots aren't that great. Don't expect the camera on this smartphone to replace your point and shoot, and is mostly useful for just clicking the occasional image when a camera is out of reach.
The Lenovo IdeaPhone S890 works as a phone as well. To start with, it shows off dual-SIM capabilities, which is nice, especially if you are someone who needs to be active on two numbers at the same time. The call quality from the smartphone is good. The audio from both the ends is clear and there is nothing specific one can complain about with the call quality.
In our continuous video playback test, the Lenovo IdeaPhone S890's battery lasted for 6.5 hours, which is excellent. For this test we had the brightness and audio at their maximum levels along with the Wi-Fi on. The video was an SD AVI file running via the native video-playing app.
For an MRP of Rs. 19,800, you have a large number of smartphones to choose from. If you are looking for a sturdy well-built smartphone with a good camera and don't care much for apps, you can take a look at the Nokia Lumia 720. The smartphone however runs on Windows Phone 8.
You can also take a look at the Samsung Galaxy Grand Duos, which gives you TouchWiz and some of the other features found on premium Samsung devices. You also have the Xolo X1000, which is a very well-built smartphone. The camera of the X1000 isn't the best and it runs on ICS but it is a great smartphone nonetheless.
The Lenovo IdeaPhone S890 brings two unique features to the table - a nice cover which works like a smart cover, and a UI that is funky and may appeal to some. It is your run-of-the-mill Android smartphone in terms of other features. It won't run all the video formats but its multitasking capabilities are nice. You can consider this smartphone but there are better options available out there.
Lenovo IdeaPhone S890 Key Specs, Price and Launch Date
Release Date: 19 Jun 2013
Variant: 4GB
Market Status: Launched
5" (540 x 960)
8 | 0.3 MP
4 GB/1 GB
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Sameer Mitha
Sameer Mitha lives for gaming and technology is his muse. When he isn't busy playing with gadgets or video games he delves into the world of fantasy novels.
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Samsung Galaxy M21 (Midnight Blue, 4GB RAM, 64GB Storage)
₹ 12499 |
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Are you the Eggs or the Bacon?
it is time to decide if you are the eggs or the bacon.
I had a netflix addiction with Grey's Anatomy.
(I was even going to school to be a surgeon in my past life lol).
But I remember really clearly the line "Are you the eggs or the bacon".
the chicken lays the egg and goes about its day.
But the pig dies for you to be the bacon!
When it comes to your dreams, are you the bacon or the eggs?
Are you fully invested and down for your dreams to make them reality?
but expectations of big results?
Are you really committed to this?
I can't lie to you, I was just the eggs at first lol.
I wasn't fully committed into building my muilti-billion dollar brand.
To be honest, it was fear.
I was fearful of failing, fearful of falling, fearful of being laughed at, fearing of trying.
"I'm not popular. I'm not beautiful, I don't have any money, I'm not that good I can't do this" was creeping in the back of the mind.
That fear caused me to make many mistakes, was lost in the rut, and sulking in depression and failure.
I was just the eggs.
It took God to get me this far-- I am nothing without him.
so I can see and live his vision in all of his light.
drinking scotch in front of my fireplace.
He told me to became the bacon!
I am dedicated to living my life full of passion and utilizing my brand to help people like you do the same.
Here is your opportunity for free exposure before time runs out!
Are you the eggs or are you the bacon?