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A) As you can imagine, we receive many contacts and enquiries about submitting new product ideas. While we appreciate hearing from our customers, we must advise that we do not accept unsolicited submissions for new products. We depend on our employees, other organisations and professional inventors with whom we deal with on a regular basis for such ideas.
A good way of getting products into the toy industry would be to read the Toy and Game Inventor's Handbook by Levy and Weingartner. This book contains information about how to proceed professionally in the Toy Industry.
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Q) I am outside the UK and have a problem with a missing part/faulty item what do I do.
A) Character Options Limited are the UK Distributor. Unfortunately we do not offer aftersales outside the UK.
If you have had a problem with a missing part or faulty item, it is advisable to contact the seller/retailer for further assistance.
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Following the recent release of a Which? Report that questions the safety of some slime toy products Character Options Limited would like to assure customers of the safety of its slime toy brands Cra-Z-Slimy Creations® and Elasti Plasti™.
"We can confirm that all our products that include slime have passed all required safety tests. These include: Cra-Z-Slimy Creations®: Slimy Fun Kit, Silly Slimy Fun Kit, Chalkboard Slime, Slime Squish Ball Maker, the award-winning Super Slime Studio, Pre-made Slime tubs and Cra-Z-Slimy retailer exclusives, Scooby Doo: Goo Pods and Monsters of Terror Towerand also Elasti Plasti™.
Should you wish to receive further information about the brands supplied by Character Options please do not hesitate to call the Customer Service Team on 0161 633 9808 or visit online at www.character-online.com.
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Q) What do I do if the liquid from inside a Mashem toy gets onto skin?
A) Wash the skin lightly with clean water. If the liquid gets into the eye, rinse with fresh water. If any allergic reaction appears please seek medical advice.
Q) What if I have swallowed the Mashems Liquid?
A) Be assured that the liquid has been assessed for its safety even if consumed. The liquid consists mainly of water with a little preservative. There is no fragrance added. In the unlikely event that a child accesses and ingests some or all of the liquid please seek medical advice as some children may exhibit a previously unknown allergic reaction to preservatives. Take the toy and packaging with you. There is a contact number for our Customer Services Team who will be able to advise the Medical person accordingly.
Q) There is a funny smell when I open the Mashem packaging. Is it ok?
A) The smell will disappear after the toy has left the packaging. There is a small amount of Xylene used in one of the finishing processes which will evaporate after a short period. This is safe.
Q) What is the rubber or plastic part of the Mashems made of?
A) It is made out of a material called TPR, which stands for Thermo Plastic Rubber. This is a non-toxic material which should not cause any irritation to skin. The TPR material does not classify as a rubber allergen.
The Mashems toys comply with all relevant toy safety regulations and testing standards in force in the United Kingdom and European Union.
The liquid inside Mashems is safe for use in toys given foreseeable contact by the skin, eyes, oral cavity or ingestion. This does not mean there may not be a reaction in a small amount of cases such as skin irritation (e.g. as with lemon juice) and that this should not pose any immediate or long term health issues.
Character Options Ltd would always recommend that, as with any contact with a substance that causes a reaction, this is checked by the medical profession.
Q) My Chill Factor Slushy Cup won't freeze/make slushies?
a) The main reason for this is down to the temperature of the freezer. Freezer temperatures should be minus 18 or above to enable the slushy cup to completely freeze.
b) Try moving the cup to the top of the freezer and stand the cup upright.
c) If possible use an alternative freezer to establish if it is a temperature issue.
d) The juice that is being used has to be chilled before using to obtain best results (leave in fridge when you place the Slushy Maker in the freezer).
e) A heavily frosted freezer will not give you the same results and it is recommended that you defrost your freezer for best results.
Q) What is the liquid inside the inner cup?
A) It is a brine water solution.
Q) Can I obtain a new inner cup?
A) Yes, please phone our Customer Service Team on 0161 633 9808 or visit the spare parts section of our Customer Service Page.
Q) There is only a small amount of slush made or it does not work?
A) For best results, prior to use, ensure you read the instructions included with the product.
Thoroughly wash the Chill Factor Slushy Cup in warm soapy water and rinse before using.
Remove the lid from the Chill Factor Cup and place the cup in an upright position into the freezer for 4-6 hours, or until the chambers within the cup are frozen.
The amount of time it will take for your Slushy Maker to freeze is dependent on the temperature setting on your freezer.
When you remove your frozen Chill Factor cup from the freezer, add a chilled drink of choice and then squeeze. In less than a minute, your chilled drink will turn into an icy slush.
If the temperature of the drink used is not cold enough or you have used a diet drink/dairy product, place the cup and contents back into the freezer for 3-5 minutes to allow the liquid to chill, then remove and squeeze.
Q) The amount of slush produced is minimal?
A) The size of the Chill Factor Cup and volume is designed so that it is suitable for use by children and is portion controlled.
Q) The solution inside the chambers has leaked/my child has swallowed the solution?
A) The liquid within the chambers is a food grade, BPA free and is a natural cooling solution. It is 100% safe and made up of salt and distilled water, the solution is harmless if accidently swallowed.
If, in the event that the liquid from the chambers is inadvertently ingested and any unusual symptoms arise, seek medical advice.
Q) My Chill Factor unit has dried out what could be the cause of this?
A) We recommend that the product is to be stored in a freezer. This will keep the Chill Factor in a ready to use state and maintain the product for long term use. In some circumstances, the water bag can experience a "drying out" affect if it is exposed to sunlight or direct heat which results in less water and the salt becoming visible. This is not a fault with the product but a characteristic of this specific food grade plastic when not stored as recommended.
Don't worry if your new Teletubbies Soft Toy's face gets a bit dirty simply use any gentle (non-bleach) household cleaner, such as clothes wash, washing-up liquid, or even stain remover, mixed in a bowl with warm water. Use a clean light-coloured cloth, and clean the face with a light dabbing motion, then let it dry naturally. Do not rub the face, as this could result in damage to the toy. Do not place directly in the sun or on a radiator to dry.


Verrucae is the name given to a wart which grows on the feet. It is caused by the same virus that causes warts on other parts of the body (the papiloma virus). It is a contagious virus which readily thrives in wet or damp conditions. It is transferred by direct contact, and as such is most commonly transferred in places such as swimming baths, communal shower rooms, and bathing areas, where walking bare foot over an infected area already stepped on by an existing carrier passes on the virus. Cuts on the feet seem to increase your chances of picking up the virus. A sensible precaution, therefore, is to avoid walking bare foot in such areas, and items such as flip-flops or commercial verrucae socks will greatly reduce the chance of you getting the virus, or if you already have it, from passing it onto someone else.
The first visible symptoms are a pinkish area with tiny black dots. These mostly appear on the soles of the feet, though they may also be found in and around the toes. If untreated, the area may grow and turn darker in colour, more towards brown. At this stage, the surface may also be come crumbly. They may appear alone or in groups. Often, they do not cause any pain with normal walking, but may be painful if pinched between the fingers (wear surgical gloves, or similar!).
On discovering a verrucae, you should immediately cover the area with a plaster. This should be changed daily, when the condition of the verrucae should also be checked. This treatment alone might be enough to cure the condition, and the verrucae may disappear in time. However, if it continues to grow or becomes even the slightest bit painful, you should seek advice from your chiropodist, who will be able to provide the correct course of treatment. There are commercially available treatments which do work, but I would still advise consulting your chiropodist who will advise you on how to properly administer such treatments without the danger of causing harm to surrounding tissue.
If you are pregnant, a diabetic, taking steriods or taking any other long-term medication, always consult your chiropodist before starting any self treatment for verrucae.


KSPS Sustainers make automatic, ongoing monthly contributions that roll over from month to month and year to year. Easy for you, stable income for KSPS. You can change or cancel your monthly contributions any time -- just let us know. Use a credit or debit card, or set up automatic bank withdrawal.
You set up your bank account or credit card to make an automatic contribution every month in support of KSPS.
You choose any amount that works for you: $5 a month, $10 a month, $100 a month—whatever you can give.
And that's it! It's easy on your budget because it spreads your generous support throughout the year. Plus, your membership will always be active – so you'll never have to wonder if you're still a member or worry about renewing your support. It's easier on your budget and it keeps KSPS stronger by providing a steady, reliable revenue throughout the year to make more great programs. And best of all, your generous support will provide a steady stream of support to KSPS that makes possible wonderful programs like Nature, PBS NewsHour, Masterpiece and much more.
It takes just a couple of minutes to set up your sustaining membership. But what an impact it will have for KSPS public television. There isn't an easier or more popular way to do your part to keep your favorite shows on the air.
Here at KSPS, we steadfastly aim to reflect the tastes and viewing preferences of the communities we serve. KSPS is locally owned and operated, and programming decisions are made right here by people who understand the unique character of our viewers across Canada and the Inland Northwest. And that's part of what makes public television special. But it also takes your support to keep it this way. Your generous support helps KSPS continue this service to everyone in our area.
You couldn't choose a more responsible and trustworthy local organization for your financial support. KSPS is Spokane's number-one-ranked non-profit organization in financial health, accountability, and transparency, according to the independent rating site, Charity Navigator. With a total score of 98 of 100 possible points, we occupy the top spot ahead of nearly 1,900 total such organizations in Spokane. A class-leading 80% of our total expenses are spent directly on the programs and services we deliver. KSPS public television is also a Gold Level participant in the independent non-profit information source, GuideStar.
Thank you for supporting KSPS public television.


"College changed my life," says Sid DeBoer, chairman and CEO of Lithia Motors. Although he is a Stanford alumnus, Sid has chosen instead to focus his support on Southern Oregon University. "If people like me don't look out for our local college, who will?"
Sid began working in the automobile dealership industry as a young man and has held virtually every job in the field. He's received numerous professional awards, including the Chrysler Corporation 5-Star Dealer Award many times, Time Magazine Dealer of the Year, and American Auto Dealers Association National Dealer of the Year. Lithia Motors is a New York Stock Exchange listed, publicly traded company that ranks as one of the largest auto dealerships in the United States.
"Higher education is critical for our society," says Sid. "I believe in a liberal arts education. You need to be able to deal with a complex world. If people aren't educated, they can make many bad decisions."
A lifelong resident of Ashland, Sid explains, "My commitment is to the Institution. I think I can make some differences both financially and by asking others to help. There are resources in this community we can tap. SOU needs support for scholarships, athletics, and new buildings."
DeBoer says Oregon's public universities, unlike Oregon community colleges and K–12, do not have a local tax base for their support. In recent state budgets, K–12 has received over 50 percent of the general fund allocations. As state allocations decrease for higher education, public universities are increasingly on their own—left to raise operating funds through higher tuition, grants, and philanthropy.
"The majority of the cost of fundraising is not borne by the University," says DeBoer. "That's why I support the Foundation and its projects. We do annual gifts, and my will is going to be for scholarships."
DeBoer's role as co-chair of the Center for the Visual Arts and Hannon Library campaigns contributed to the success of both projects. DeBoer and his wife, Karen, are involved in many community projects, including the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Oregon Community Foundation, Ashland YMCA, and the Sid & Karen DeBoer Foundation. They are true citizens of this region.


To own an original from Keely, click "Request Commission" above. You'll have a chance to send a message and describe what you're looking for. This is a great opportunity to mention the pieces you liked while browsing Keely's Easel profile or anything special you need this to be, like made a certain size or finished by a certain day.
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Blog Exclusive! Interview with Corrie's real-life Hayley Cropper
I am absolutely gutted that we're going to be losing Coronation Street's Hayley Cropper later this year. It's therefore time to re-post this interview with the real-life woman who worked with and advised Corrie on the character of transsexual Hayley.
Here at the Coronation Street blog, we are privileged to bring you an exclusive interview with the lady who helped bring Corrie's Hayley Cropper to life. The interview was first posted here on the Coronation Street blog after Roy and Hayley's (2nd) wedding in 2010.
Working with Press for Change, the lobbying and educational organisation, which campaigns to achieve equal civil rights and liberties for all transsexual people in the UK, she's been the advisor to Coronation Street since April 1998, three months after Hayley first appeared on screen.
We are absolutely honoured to speak now to the woman whose help and advice has propelled Hayley to become one of Corrie's best loved female characters.
Q: First off, how did you enjoy Hayley's wedding tonight on Corrie?
Wonderful! Very happy that Granada have continued to invest in Roy and Hayley as a couple and still occasionally drop in the kind of everyday situations that trans people face, legally and socially, in the wider world. The legal wedding of the Croppers is, in a way, the final step in a 12 year journey. It was all shot on location at the end of June, when we still had a summer, so it all looks beautiful. It was a lovely atmosphere on set for those five days of filming... I got quite emotional!
Q: Most people thought that Roy and Hayley were already married, so why was this second wedding necessary?
When Roy and Hayley first wanted to marry, they were unable to do so because the law at the time refused to acknowledge that Hayley was now a woman, i.e. she was still legally male. The best they could have was a "blessing ceremony". The change of law brought about by the Gender Recognition Act of 2004 means that persons such as Hayley could now apply for a revised birth certificate, legally allowing her to marry the man of her choice, Roy. Since the law changed, I'd been hoping the story team would "finish the story" as it were, so I was delighted when I was told in March that it would indeed be featured this year.
Q: How did you get involved in bringing Hayley to life?
I was introduced to the story team by campaigning group Press for Change in 1998, just as Hayley was leaving Weatherfield for the first time, because they wanted to bring her back later that year, and really get to grips with her as a person and the subject of transsexuality as a plotline. I had already expressed a desire to do so, because there were very large parallels with Hayley's life and my own. It was more a consultation exercise about her thoughts, emotions and hopes, than it was about the legalities. Things that only a first-hand experience could relate. The regular advisory role gradually diminished as years went by and ended around 2001, but I have always tried to stay in contact with the office, and offer whatever help I can.
Q: Are there any of your own experiences that you suggested for Hayley's storylines on Corrie?
There weren't that many incidents as such. It was more life experiences, such as her father refusing to acknowledge her as Hayley, the missing photographs of her as a teenager, the fear of discovery and the humiliation felt when insults were thrown. The tax office blunder experienced by Hayley and Mike Baldwin was one of the good ones though. Because the first meeting between myself and the researcher was taped, a lot of my quotes and lines were used by Hayley over the next couple of years. I was often asked what my reaction would be to certain situations.
Q: What've you been most proud of in your advisory role with Hayley on Corrie?
Helping to change public perceptions I suppose. Not all trans people are some of the attention-seekers we see occasionally in the press. I've also been very happy at the warmth and love shown by the public to this "odd couple" love story, which has had to overcome so many challenges to get to where they are today.
Q: Isn't Julie Hesmondhalgh, who plays Hayley on screen, a patron of Press for Change?
Julie's patronage is not a duty, nor is she led by Press for Change. She is simply an ambassador for "the cause" as it were. Because of her character, and our personal friendship, she can answer almost any question on the subject with honesty and insight. She has a passion for social justice and equality, and the role of Hayley has allowed her to have her part in changing the world in a very real way. She was the perfect person to cast as Hayley... in every way.
Q: Do you think having such a high-profile transsexual such as Hayley has helped change the public's understanding and perception of transsexuals in the UK?
It has been very encouraging to see the sensationalist aspect of transsexualism diminish, as the wider public came to know a trans woman face-to-face, albeit a fictional one. The vast majority of transpeople want the same as Hayley; a quiet life with the one they love. For those of us who experienced the conflicts and emotions of being trans from very early childhood, life up to the point of transition was anything but quiet. Life has, in many ways, but not all, been made a little easier for the other transpeople out there, men and women, who want just that.
Q: What would you dearly love to see Hayley achieve in the future on Corrie?
After this wedding, she's achieved everything I think... certainly in the realm of trans issues. I've often suggested to the story team that the issue of Hayley's mum needs addressing. (She left Hayley and her dad to run off with another man when Hayley was only 12). So technically, she's out there somewhere.)
Although the storyline about foster child Wayne back in 2001 has prevented the couple fostering or adopting a child officially... I'd like to see them become some kind of parents in the future. Having said that, they almost are, to Fiz and Becky.I'd also like to see Hayley become her own boss somehow since she's got the skills and drive to do so. Most of all, I just want to see Roy and Hayley live happy ever after.
Labels: hayley cropper, julie hesmondhalgh, newsnow, press for change, transsexualism
abbyk said...
Confused. Was this an interview with Julie Hesmondhalgh, or with someone else? If so, could you tell us her name (unless she wants to keep it private)?
The interview is with the woman who was the advisor for Hayley's character. I believe she preferred her name not be used but i count her as a good friend :))
Okay, makes much more sense now, and I think we can all respect her wish for privacy.
this interview confused me too :)
Glenda Young said...
Apologies for any confusion. Many people don't realise there's an advisor to Corrie for Hayley and this interview was with the Press for Change advisor. She's a good friend to both Tvor and I and we've known her for over 10 years.
Zoe Brain said...
A suggestion for a new storyline - Hayley gets assaulted, then is refused entry to a Rape Crisis Centre on the grounds that she's Transsexual.
See the "Equality" Act 2010 that for the first time formally legalises this. Here, I'll quote the explanatory notes to the Act:
Gender reassignment: paragraph 28
749. This paragraph replaces a similar provision in the Sex Discrimination Act
A group counselling session is provided for female victims of sexual assault. The organisers do not allow transsexual people to attend as they judge that the clients who attend the group session are unlikely to do so if a male-to-female transsexual person was also there. This would be lawful.
*SIGH* That's Reality.
No further comment necessary.
Some people remain more equal than others, sadly. However it does refer to group counselling. One-to-one counselling and help would still be available.
Anyway, the rest of the women would not necessarily know someone's gender past.
PS: Men suffer sexual and physical assault also, and it's hardly a level playing field for them either.
gadgee said...
Good interview, really interesting.
"Most of all, I just want to see Roy and Hayley happy ever after."
Mary Prankster said...
I too am very sorry to learn of Ms. Hesmondhalgh's plan to leave, although I understand her wish to expand her repertoire.
The advisor suggested that the writers do something involving Hayley's mum. Perhaps Hayley could be contacted to tell her that her mum has been located and needs nursing care. Hayley would feel obliged to take this on, which could last several years, giving Julie Hesmondhalgh the option of returning if she wants to in future.
The one thing that has always saddened me about the characters of Hayley and Roy is that the powers that be decided to make them the most stable, loving couple on the program. They are the most "decent" people on the street. It's as though we're being told that in order to be caring, compassionate and honourable, you have to have experienced something as major as a sex change, or to have a condition such as Aspberger's Syndrome (although that's never been acknowledged). What does this say about our society? So-called "normal people" can't manage to be faithful, caring, loyal? And even more concerning; characters who are transsexual or have a mental condition have to be drawn as altruistic, almost saintly, in order for us to love and accept them. I'll know things have truly changed when a trans character can be written as a jerk!
It is terrible to think of another great character and actress leaving the Street but not surprised, given the total lack of use of Hayley over the past while. She's been on screen less than the extras and I hope it's because the Julie has been busy in her personal life. If Hayley goes, I'm betting Roy is not far behind her. After all, we see other characters behind the counter at Roy's Rolls as much or more than Roy himself!
Might I suggest the possiblity of Haley re-locating to a 3rd world country in order to persue her dream of working as a missionary or some such. She was a great character and will be sorely missed I'm sure, but I do think the producers would make a great mistake in killing her off. I also hope they don't try to pair Roy off with anyone else because it just wouldn't seem right somehow.
IMO anyway.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Euderces pini är en skalbaggsart som först beskrevs av Olivier 1795.  Euderces pini ingår i släktet Euderces och familjen långhorningar. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Långhorningar
pini

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The logging section of the heartbeat.yml config file contains options for configuring the Beats logging output. The logging system can write logs to syslog or rotate log files. If logging is not explicitly configured, file output is used on Windows systems, and syslog output is used on Linux and OS X.


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Q: AWS instance scheduled for retirement - What is simplest resolution? Got this email from AWS, "Amazon EC2 Instance scheduled for retirement". If you use AWS heavily, you've probably seen this email. Here's the meat of it:

We have important news about your account.  EC2 has detected degradation of the underlying hardware hosting one or more of your Amazon EC2 instances in the us-east-1 region. Due to this degradation, your instance(s) could already be unreachable. Running instances will be stopped or terminated after 12:00AM UTC on YYYY-MM-DD. The affected instances are listed below:
i-12345678
<...other stuff, not relevant to my question...>
What do you need to do?
If you can still access the instance, we recommend the following:
<...other stuff, not relevant to my question...>

*

*If your instance's root device is an EBS volume, you can replace the instance by creating an AMI of your instance, and launching a new instance from the AMI. For more information please see Amazon Machine Images... other stuff, not relevant to my question

The AWS docs, and the email itself, indicate I must create an AMI from the current instance to resolve this. I've heard, though, that simply stopping the instance and restarting it will migrate it to new hardware.
Is this true?
If simply stopping/starting won't solve this, is there a simple solution for this that isn't as clunky as creating an AMI and launching from that?

A: I've received several of these from AWS over the years, and in each case a stop/start cycle was enough to get it on different hardware.
That said, it would be best to contact AWS support and verify that a stop/start will be sufficient in this case. Regardless, it's a good idea to make an AMI anyway, as a last resort.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Welsh Olympic swimmer Chloe Tutton tells BBC Sport Wales she is aiming for a "comeback year" after a disappointing 2017.
Tutton finished fourth in the 200m breaststroke at the 2016 Olympics but missed out on a debut World Championships last summer after a "bad swim" at the British trials.
The Cardiff-based swimmer says she hopes she's "had her downfall" and is hoping for a return to form at this April's Commonwealth Games in Australia.


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Q: Problem with finding Bandwidth for MGWR in python So im using python and trying to do a MGWR
When looking for bw for my GWR I used
>>> gwr_selector = Sel_BW(g_coords, g_y, g_X)
>>> bw = gwr_selector.search(bw_min=2)
>>> bw

and it worked fine. I am trying to do
>>> mgwr_selector = Sel_BW(g_coords, g_y, g_X, multi=True)
>>> mgwr_bw = mgwr_selector.search(multi_bw_min=[2])
>>> mgwr_bw

and it is not working.
ValueError: kth(=53) out of bounds (33)

Mentionable is that I had issues with finding the bw for my GWR when using
>>> gwr_selector = Sel_BW(g_coords, g_y, g_X)
>>> bw = gwr_selector.search()
>>> bw

and got the same ValueError: kth(=53) out of bounds (33) as I am getting now with my MGWR, even though I am using the same min. Ive played around with the min value but it is not working.


Play Hungry Mario | Free Mario • Play Free Mario Games!
Super Mario is so hungry! hmm. you must feed our super hero Mario! He needs to eat something with your help. collect the green balls as soon as possible. You must not fall down. Take care about it. Use arrow keys to navigate Mario and use spacebar to jump. If you are hungry to eat green dots, lets do it!.


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[VN] Sabbat of the Witch
Published on February 14, 2016 April 29, 2016 by Conjueror
An exceedingly dull moege that you will either like (because you are a moebuta and deserve to die) or despise for boring you to death.
Release: 2015 (ゆずソフト)
Writers: Hozumikei & Touta & Amamiya Ritsu
Japanese difficulty: Medium (lots of modern slang)
English: None
Ratings: VNDB (7.87); EGS (7.99)
Yuzusoft and their games remind me of the Transformers and Twilight phenomenon — everyone articulate seems to hate them, yet they sell like hotcakes and dominate the sales. Well, while Sabbat of the Witch (not Son of a Bitch despite how they pronounce it on the title screen) might not be as outright terrible as those two, it's still a tired trite of a novel following poorly written plot and a cast of one-dimensional characters.
If there was one thing that this year's Pure x Connect has taught me, is that you can still be somewhat interesting despite having no plot whatsoever if you know how to write entertaining character banter; I wish the three hacks responsible for this game knew it. Everything that pertains to plot in Sabbat of the Witch is painfully dull to read, and the game would actually be improved if you cut it altogether — it's almost laughable how underwhelming that whole witches and magic business ends up being.
I also felt that whoever came up with the concept for this little abomination just looked around for what were the popular fads lately and threw them all together without giving a thought for their context. One of the heroines has a very similar speech quirk to "pya" of Hatsuyuki Sakura, but in this game it comes so out of nowhere and doesn't fit her personality that I legit thought my ears were playing tricks on me the first time I heard it. Then the protagonist has the same power as the one in Soreyori no Prologue — ability to sense the emotions of others —, but instead of a thought-provoking and heart-rending drama that the latter game offers, Sabbat of the Witch not only dismisses any sort of logical repercussions for possessing such a power, but also has the bright idea to have its protagonist as the usual generic MC who's too dim to take a hint. Newsflash: mind reading and inability to understand that a girl is hitting on you are mutually exclusive, you damn morons. You have to either interpret that his powers don't work when it suits the scene, or that he is too retarded to understand the feelings that he can actually read. Talk about aiming for new heights of dimwittedness.
Still you could technically skip the dull plot and ignore the dumb things if you're enjoying character banter and the cuddling moments. Unfortunately, while characters, despite being shallow, are fairly likable and their banter is all right for the most part, the lethargic pacing and the repetitiveness of the jokes makes even that part of the game fall flat. With romance as shallow as seen in your everyday romcom, there is very little to like in Sabbat of the Witch… although I have to admit Yuzusoft does have a knack for writing arousing ero scenes, so I guess it's not completely without appeal.
Now, it might sound like I'm condemning the whole genre, and I have to admit that moege are not really my thing, but I still give credit where it's due — I loved Hatsuyuki Sakura which managed to build a legit dramatic story with actually interesting characters despite in essence being a moege, and OreTsuba has little other going than character banter, but it's a damn masterpiece. Heck, I even enjoyed this year's Pure x Connect that has less plot than this thing. Sabbat of the Witch is not only a lousy visual novel, it's not even a particularly good moege. I guess it doesn't have anything intrinsically terrible about it, but the whole thing is simply dull even for what it's supposed be, and it never really delivers on anything. In any case, it was the first Yuzusoft's game I ever picked up — mainly because it was also the first of theirs to ever make it to egs' top 300 —, but it might as well be my last.
Beautiful character art, although I wish the sprites weren't as close-up all the time Although likable, characters are shallow and not even particularly consistent
Kinda, sorta likable characters, I suppose? Incredibly dull and shallow plot that only serves to torture you
Arousing ero scenes Shallow, underwhelming romance
Exceedingly slow pacing and same jokes repeated ad nauseam
Categories Uncategorized, Visual Novels
Previous [Game] Call of Duty: Ghosts
Next [Novel] Beowulf (R.K. Gordon)
3 thoughts on "[VN] Sabbat of the Witch"
MaterialPackage says:
Just here to let you know that you might've misunderstood his ability. Rather than straight up mind-reading, his ability is to sense the emotions of others through his five senses, albeit vaguely. Each emotion manifests as something distinct and he has been able to associate specific sensations with specific feelings. An example would be the taste of medicine when someone is lying. This makes it somewhat understandable (at least not straight-up dumb) that he didn't catch on the feelings of the heroines since the emotions being directed to him were very new to him. Remember that he keeps everyone at arm's length and he has only started to try to accept his ability more since joining the club. His ability operates on a visceral level since negative emotions make him uncomfortable to the point where it makes him nauseous. This goes both ways since once someone started directing pleasant emotions at him, he started craving it. This is quite apparent during Meguru's route where he was actively trying to get a bittersweet taste (presumably love) out of his interactions with Meguru.
Though admittedly, the utilization of his ability felt underwhelming. Perhaps it was only appropriate for the tone of the game itself but it's still lost potential.
It's been so long I don't remember if I misunderstood something or just stated it was mind reading to avoid the pain of long explanations, but thanks for clarifying.
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Obituaries, Week of Feb. 19, 2022
Priest 'Endured Pain, Suffering for His Faith'
Father Dehua (Edward) Zhang, C.S.J.B., a retired religious priest of the Roman Catholic Congregation of Saint John the Baptist who ministered in the Diocese of Brooklyn, died Thursday, Feb. 3, in Flushing Hospital at age 98.
Father Zhang served the Diocese of Brooklyn as Parochial Vicar of the Parish of Saint John Vianney (Flushing), and Our Lady of China Chapel (Elmhurst).
Father Zhang was born Oct. 24, 1924, to a devoted family of faithful Catholics in Tianjin, Hebei Province, China. His parents had five children, three of whom dedicated their lives to God: Father Zhang as a religious priest, and his two sisters as religious nuns.
He joined the Little Brothers of St. John the Baptist on November 18, 1944, and he made his first vows on August 28, 1947, in Qinghe Town, in Beiping Province, China.
In 1958, he was jailed in Communist China for his religious beliefs and held in labor camps for more than 30 years.
After he was paroled, he was ordained as a priest in Xi'an by Bishop Jia Zhiguo on Dec. 19, 1986. When the Communist authorities learned of his ordination, he was imprisoned again for another eight years.
On April 16, 1994, Father Zhang escaped to Hong Kong and came to Los Angeles, Calif. on April 22. He arrived in New York in May 1994 to begin his life of religious freedom.
After his long battle to profess his faith, Father Zhang finally took his perpetual vows at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Elmhurst, Queens, on April 13, 1996.
After taking those vows, Father Zhang served as a parochial vicar for Our Lady of China Chapel in Elmhurst and St. John Vianney Parish in Flushing, performing pastoral services in the Chinese Catholic community.
He also ministered to faithful in nursing homes across New York City and as far as Long Island, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.
"Father Zhang endured much pain and suffering for his faith," said Brother Peter Li, the Provincial Superior of the North American order of the Congregation of St. John the Baptist. "With his loving devoted heart, Father Zhang said, 'All this is the will of God. God is love, so I should hate no one.' Father Zhang gave all his heart and love for God in serving others."
A wake and vigil Mass for Father Zhang was held on Feb. 11 at St. John Vianney Church, Flushing.
A funeral Mass was held on Feb. 12 at St. John Vianney Church, followed by burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, New York.
Deacon William P. Oggeri, an ordained deacon assigned to Transfiguration Church in the Diocese of Brooklyn, died Tuesday, Feb. 8, at age 89.
Deacon Oggeri was born Feb. 1, 1933, and ordained a deacon May 16, 1988, at St. James Cathedral-Basilica by Bishop Thomas Daily.
After his ordination to the diaconate, he was assigned to Transfiguration Parish in Maspeth, Queens, and after a merger of the parish with St. Stanislaus Kostka, he was assigned to the newly-merged parish of Transfiguration–St. Stanislaus Kostka, Maspeth.
Deacon Oggeri was an Army veteran having served as a Private from 1953-1955, with an honorable discharge. In civilian life, he worked for Con Edison for 42 years as a Photo Specialist.As a deacon, he volunteered in prison ministry, for two hours on Thursdays. He retired from active ministry on Nov. 16, 2009.
Deacon Oggeri, whose wife, Violet, died on Jan. 9, is survived by sons William and Joseph.
A funeral Mass for Deacon Oggeri was held on Feb. 15 at Transfiguration Church, followed by interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, New York.
CORRECTION: The funeral Mass for Sister Eleanor Nishio was celebrated at the Sisters of Mercy Convent in Whitestone and burial was in St. John's Cemetery. Sister Eleanor is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Margaret and Arthur Tom and a loving niece and four nephews. The information provided to The Tablet for the Feb. 12 edition was incorrect.
Tags: Obituaries


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"I Didn't Think It Would Be As Blunt & Cold As It Has Been"
by Sean McMahon
The case for Simon Zebo's inclusion in the Ireland squad has been raised again due to the 28-year-old's superb form for Racing 92 in the Top 14 and Champions Cup.
The former Munster winger and fullback has also been nominated among 14 other players for the European Player of the Year award and he could make the final cut if Racing 92 successfully navigate their Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final at home to Toulouse at the end of March.
The Cork native, since he announced his move away from Munster about 15 months ago, has been omitted from every Ireland squad since.
He admits that he knew what was going to happen but that the coldness and bluntness of his international exile has taken him a little bit by surprise.
"I didn't think it would be as blunt and cold as it has been so that's been probably…I knew I was going. I knew what was going to happen. So it's not that big of a shock. But in terms of how blunt and cold it was, a little bit."
Zebo believes all he can currently do is play as well as he can and hope that it convinces the Irish management to consider him rather than trying to open dialogue himself.
"No, I'm not going begging or anything," Zebo said.
"I'm enjoying my life and my rugby. That's not how it really works I think. If the coach wants to keep in contact with a person to see how they are doing or whatever they put in the effort. They do that, select a person for a squad or whatever so it can't really come from the player.. say 'pick me!' It doesn't work like that. If it did I'd definitely pick up the phone."
When Joe Schmidt announced his 38-man Ireland squad for the upcoming Six Nations earlier this month, he name-checked a further 27 players who were close to being included but Zebo was not on this list.
Zebo admits he wasn't even aware of this and he admits that it probably doesn't bode well for his chances.
"I actually didn't even know. But that's just probably their mindset. Once I'm gone, I'm out. But it was obviously different in the past when Johnny [Sexton] and people were playing abroad and they were very much keeping in contact.
"I suppose different circumstances and different personnel involved so it's a different situation. I would obviously like to be in the thought process of 50 odd people. I think my form would warrant that, even if there were a couple of injuries but clearly not.
"There are no bridges burnt or anything. He [Schmidt] can go his way and I'll…"
Often, one of the reasons for Zebo's exclusion which is bandied about is that he cannot fit into an incredibly structured style of play which the Ireland head coach employs. However, this didn't stop him from playing 10 times (out of a possible 12) for Ireland in the 2016/2017 season and Zebo himself refutes this claim.
"Yeah, I can fit in no problem. That's not the issue, there is no issue as regards fitting in. I can adapt to any game plan, I was just saying what would benefit me the most wouldn't necessarily be to play under a lot of structure and that's what you've seen how I go in France and how I go with Munster when we haven't had a lot of structure and it's free-flowing.
"But international rugby, you do tend to need structure to break down teams. It's not me going up against another team, it's one to 15, you have to cater for the squad which is totally understandable. What would make flourish better would obviously be less structure, that's not say I wouldn't love to play for Ireland or adapt to any game plan that we have."
Despite his current situation which sees him left out of the Ireland-fold, the 28-year-old hasn't given up on representing his country again.
"Definitely [want to play for Ireland]. I always have the urge and the desire to play for my country. I've had that since I was a small boy. That will never go away I'd say.
"I would be too young anyway to close the door. I'm still only 28. I have a few more years left in me. By the time this contract with Racing is finished, whether I stayed or went, I would still be young enough to decide what I want to do next."
A-to-Zebo: Irish bookmaker Paddy Power have launched their brand new Six Nations Rugby Ambassador Simon Zebo and the star kicks off his role as a columnist with Paddy Power News (news.paddypower.com) this week.
Read More About: ireland rugby, Joe Schmidt, racing 92, Simon Zebo, Top Story
Author: Sean McMahon
Sean is Deputy Editor and head rugby writer. You can contact him by email seanmc@punditarena.com or on Twitter	View all posts by Sean McMahon
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Quiz: Name every Rugby World Cup-winning captain


No.1, The Samantha Bag, a new addition to the inclusive fashion scene, a bag for anyone and has additional clips that attach, very neatly, to a wheelchair, rollator or scooter. It's been created by Mia Tui in collaboration with actress, disability campaigner and all round lovely person Samantha Renke.
Created in Collaboration with Samantha Renke Actress, Campaigner & Famous for a Maltesers AD!
No.2, Ivy Collection Gift Vouchers. Give someone a taste of the celebrity lifestyle at The Ivy Collection brasseries & cafes that are now located in major cities of the UK and Ireland. We've reviewed a number and the majority are accessible with disabled toilets (see below). They give you such a special experience, the food is brasserie style and the service is impeccable as they say it's "sophisticated yet approachable, casual yet polished ", just as you'd expect from the original celeb hang out The Ivy, Covent Garden. The vouchers start at £25 and can be used in any of the restaurants except The Ivy West Street (the original in Covent Garden) and to guarantee delivery in their lovely packaging by Xmas you need to order by 17th December. Book them on this link and this video gives you a taste of what to expect.
The Ivy Clifton, Bristol, has a portable ramp to get in and a disabled toilet. The Ivy On The Square, Edinburgh has flat access and a disabled toilet. The Ivy Harrogate has flat access and a disabled toilet. Dublin has flat access and a lift to a disabled toilet. The Ivy Victoria Quarter, Leeds has a disabled toilet and flat access. Norwich has flat access and a disabled toilet. The Ivy Cambridge has flat access and a disabled toilet, as does Ivy in the Park at Canary Wharf. We would recommend you call in advance to tell them your needs and they always do their best to help. However, make sure you ask to talk to the restaurant direct as the booking line doesn't always know the restaurant in detail.
The Interior at Ivy Richmond is Art Deco and Can be Dark at Night But The Acoustics Still Work even When Full.
No.3, The Sissel Sports Swing Vibrating Exercise Bar for those who want to keep fit but have not a lot of strength (or are just lazy). This an inclusive piece of kit that can be used by anyone. We haven't tried it yet but we will be making a video of how easy or hard it is to use. It costs £39.95 from designed2enable and they say….
"Getting cardiovascular exercise can be particularly difficult for wheelchair users but the Sports Swing exercise pole can easily be used from a seated position and depending on the intensity, it can create a cardiovascular work-out strengthening core muscles. The bar is designed to be used for improving joint stabilisation and core stability, exercises can be done using little strength but can be significantly increased in intensity".
No.4, DRINK our very own universal glass holder that attaches to anything – wheelchair, buggy, scooter, rollator, garden chair – and holds most glass sizes including champagne so very handy for a sociable Xmas party. It also holds coffee cartons, beer bottles etc. Sold at £29.99 including the 'Smart Fixing' and if you buy before 31.12.18 we'll give you a 20% discount using the code sunrise20. It's sturdy without being cumbersome and comes in black, red or blue. It's the ultimate in hands free socialising!
'Masterpieces for your wheels designed with love by top artists'.
They are £129 a pair and can be bought from their website. They look cool whether you're an adult or a child wanting to pimp your chair.
No.6, The Able Label Zip Pull is useful for anyone and especially for those little black dresses with back zips. Necessary if you don't have a partner to help and a great little stocking filler at just £6.
No.7, Scarves are a lovely gift and we've chosen 2 – for ladies and gents. This scarf from Cos is really warm and is the new long length that will satisfy any fashionista. I have one and can get by with just a jacket and this scarf even on the coldest day. Extremely soft with a wool/cashmere mix and comes in a variety of colours from lavender to vibrant blue. At £59 it's a lovely present with a touch of luxury.
Similarly, this mens scarf is an exclusive gift from menswear designers Lou Dalton and John Smedley who have collaborated in this all British production. The painter and ceramicist John Booth has hand-decorated a brightly coloured stripe design to create a printed scarf in 100% Merino Wool. A one off exclusive design for that fashion conscious man. £150 from ADDITI+ON Shop.
One Off Stripe Design Scarf From British Menswear Designer Lou Dalton (600x778mm).
No.8, Google Home Mini (£29) may be seen as a gimmicky tech present but recently it saved my life following a fall! I'd been gifted this and until recently only used it to curate my shopping list or play a quiz but I fell in my bathroom without my phone or alarm nearby. I couldn't move and was panicking at the thought of 24 hours on the floor but I suddenly realised I could call my contacts through Google Home. It worked and help arrived. I now have two to give complete coverage throughout my home. There are of course other things it can do like play music, adjust light, heat etc. and there are other 'assistants' available such as Echo Dot (24.99) from Amazon and Apple Home Pod (£319). A good review site for these can be found on TechRadar and John Lewis is a good place to buy, Prices depend on what functionality you need and even in a year prices have reduced dramatically and they are cheaper than using a call alarm service. 'Technology for good' is now a reality and who knows what we'll be using next year – a robot carer would be good!?
Battle of The Home Assists Google, Amazon….
& The Stylish Apple Home Pod, All Can Make Calls & Help in a 'Fall Emergency' !!! Google Saved My Life!
No.9, Good Smells & Tastes are great for anyone who's blind or partially sighted. The Soap Co. produces toiletries from £12 for their hand wash and the 'soaps are purer than pure and manufactured by less able workers.' You can buy these from our ADDITI+ON shop website where you can find anything from tasty organic teas by Teministeriet from Sweden (£5.75) to foraged flavour chocolate from Naive(£6.99) – an assault on anyone's senses.
No.10, For those that are deaf or hard of hearing you can get some funky additions for their earpiece. Hearrings are a beautiful way to decorate your hearing aid at £65/pair. They 'are jewellery specifically designed to accessorise your hearing aid – turning them from a necessity to a must have accessory!' Decorated with Swarovski crystal they definitely make a statement.
Other enhancements to a hearing aid or cochlear implant are Lugs . Originally designed so that a little boy could 'wear his device with pride', they are really cool and I know some adults who may like these. They range from £8.99-£12.99 a pair.
I really wish that that drink holder *did* actually fit "any" wheelchair. Alas, my chair has no upright upon which to attach it or any other drink holder I have yet to come across. There's got to be *some* way to attach one to the arm of my chair, but I have yet to find it. I get so tired of ads and product listings that say they will fit "any" chair when they obviously don't.


MGS fan site MetalGearSolid.nl has reported that the PSP version of Peace Walker is already available in the PSN Store for the Vita. (Note: this is the PSP version, not a port of the version that comes with the MGS: HD Collection for PS3 and 360 that includes MGS2:SOL and MGS3:SE).
With such news surfacing though, one has to wonder why the game was never included with the Vita MGS:HD version in the first place. I'm sure it adds a bit of confusion, what with the Japanese HD version for consoles actually shipping PW separately from the collection, as it were. My radar always seems to point to companies always wanting more money from us consumers. Greedy SOBs.
Personally I have a physical UMD of PW for my PSP so I have absolutely no reason to pay for a premium download of the game. I also don't own a Vita so that's a factor. I don't know who comes up with the models that dictate how certain games are sold or how they're released but sometimes they don't make any sense. At all. I believe that these pricing procedures hurt buyers and fans of gaming franchises in general. If I wanted to buy a Vita and had a desire to play MGSPW on it I wouldn't be able to because the media isn't compatible and being a download-only title for the Vita, I'd have to spend more money to reacquire a game I already own. Perhaps if there were a code to let places like PSN know that people physically own certain games that would help. Big companies aren't that generous though.
As for Vita owners new to MGSPW you're in for a treat as the game boasts 100+ hours of gameplay and a crucial addition to the MGS lore. Since this is the PSP version I wouldn't expect much of a bump up in terms of visuals but at least you can play on the pretty screen Vita offers. Head over to PSN to grab a copy right now.


Mighty Bubble is designed to remove built up minerals and urine from fabric. If your cloth diapers are struggling in hard water, this may be the solution! Simply run a hot wash on clean clothes or diapers with 1 pod. Follow with 1 extra wash. Each pack dissolves complete and is safe to use in HE and non-HE washers. You can feel good using Mighty Bubbles knowing that they are pH neutral and free from phosphates, ammonia, alcohol, and ethers. 10 pods per package.


Join us for our weekly Lenten reflections and prayers. This 45-minute gathering will take place every Monday evening from March 11 through April 15. Feel free to stop by for just one reflection session or all of them—All are welcome!
Each Lenten Reflection Circle will open with a prayer. Then we will read aloud the meditation for the day, followed by conversation and individual prayer. We will close with a brief Lenten prayer and a blessing.
If you are interested in joining one or more of the Lenten reflection sessions, please stop by the church anytime to pick up a free copy of the book we will be discussing: Ashes and The Phoenix: Meditations for the Season of Lent.


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NZ's retirement savings system drops down global rankings
19 Oct, 2020 01:01 PM 5 minutes to read
KiwiSaver contributions should rise to improve New Zealand's pension system. Photo / file
By: Tamsyn Parker
Money Editor, NZ Herald
tamsyn.parker@nzherald.co.nz
New Zealand needs to increase the contribution rate to KiwiSaver and introduce ways of allowing people to turn their lump sum savings into an income stream in order to improve its pension system.
That's the view of an annual global pension review which saw New Zealand drop down two places from eighth to 10th place this year out of 39 retirement income systems looked at by investment consultants Mercer.
Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index gave New Zealand a B rating with a score of 68.3 out of 100.
Covid 19 coronavirus: All your KiwiSaver questions answered - NZ Herald
Covid 19 coronavirus: KiwiSaver's $7.4 billion bounce-back - NZ Herald
Why you should prepare for your KiwiSaver to go down again - NZ Herald
Legal Small Talk: Accessing Kiwisaver to buy your first home - NZ Herald
Pick n Mix: New KiwiSaver scheme offers access to multiple investment managers - NZ Herald
The B rating means the system has a sound structure with many good features, but has room for improvement. Only the Netherlands and Denmark received an A rating.
New Zealand's system ranks well for integrity with a score of 82.9 but is let down by adequacy and sustainability where it only scored 63.8 and 62.9 respectively.
The New Zealand index value fell from 70.1 in 2019 to 68.3 due to reductions in the net replacement rates published by the OECD.
The net replacement rate is how well individuals replace their income in retirement compared to what they earn while working.
The report noted New Zealand could increase its index value by increasing the level of KiwiSaver contributions, raising the level of household savings and reducing the level of household debt.
It also recommended introducing a requirement that part of the retirement benefit be taken as an income stream and continuing to expand the coverage of KiwiSaver and thereby raising the level of pension assets.
Mercer New Zealand chief executive Martin Lewington. Photo / file
Martin Lewington, chief executive of Mercer New Zealand - which is also a KiwiSaver provider - said "sustainability had traditionally let down New Zealand's retirement system, however adequacy dropped this year as well".
"While still above average, our retirement system has dropped to a C+ grade for adequacy and sustainability. It's disappointing that our ratings here have gone backward."
Lewington said while changes could be made to increase New Zealand's rating these were difficult in the current economic climate.
"...as we enter a challenging economic environment, raising the level of KiwiSaver contributions and placing more focus on income streams in the place of lump sums becomes more difficult to achieve.
"The growing gender inequality is also a concern and something the system must address. This further highlights the importance of investing in responsibly invested funds which help tackle gender issues head-on as part of their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) policies," Lewington added.
Around three million Kiwis belong to KiwiSaver but about 1.2 million of those members don't contribute to it. The minimum contribution rate is 3 per cent.
Shane Solly, a chartered financial analyst from CFA Societies New Zealand, said Covid-19 may have been the first time many New Zealanders have seen their KiwiSaver pension balances take a short-term hit.
"While it is great to see New Zealanders maintaining their KiwiSaver contributions, many are in low-risk default schemes, which may not provide the wealth accumulation they need for a comfortable retirement."
The report also came with a warning that the economic impact of Covid-19 will heighten the financial pressures many retirees face.
David Knox, senior partner at Mercer and lead author of the study, said the economic recession caused by the global health crisis had led to reduced pension contributions, lower investment returns and higher government debt in most countries.
"Inevitably, this will impact future pensions, meaning some people will have to work longer while others will have to settle for a lower standard of living in retirement.
"It is critical that governments reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of their systems to ensure better long-term outcomes for retirees."
Deep Kapur, director of the Monash Centre for Financial Studies (MCFS), said that many governments around the world had responded to Covid-19 with substantial fiscal stimulus, and central banks had adopted unconventional monetary policy.
"The outlook for investment returns is muted while volatility may be elevated, adding to the normal challenges of risk management in a pension portfolio."
Kapur said Covid-19 had also increased gender inequality in superannuation savings.
"Even before Covid-19 disrupted economies across the world, many women faced retirement with less savings than men.
"Now, that gap is expected to widen further in many pension systems, particularly in the hardest-hit sectors where women represent more than half of the workforce, such as hospitality and food services," Knox added.
Bill Gates is now the biggest owner of farmland in America
Business Hub: Leigh Hart on Wakachangi and SnackaChangi


Plan A below shows a health centre in 2005. Plan B shows the same place in the present day.
Some say that it would be better if the majority of employees worked from home instead of travelling to a workplace every day.
Do you think the advantages of working from home outweigh the disadvantages?
The plans show the changes to a health centre over the last six years. Since 2005, the centre has expanded in a number of different ways. Firstly, an extension has been added to accommodate a minor operations room. Also, the interior has been significantly remodelled. In 2005, there was a large entrance area with wide doors and a lot of open space for waiting, with the reception desk in the middle.-There were only three consulting rooms and a physiotherapy room. This room has stayed the same size but the consulting rooms have been made smaller and increased to four in number. The office has been made smaller and the reception desk put in front of it. A children's play area has been added in the corner near the entrance.
Outside there have also been changes. The car park has been expanded with room for 18 more cars. The garden is decreased in size to accommodate the extra parking space.
In many parts of the world, and in many different sectors, more and more people are staying at home rather than commuting to work.
Opponents of home-working say that being together in a workplace with colleagues is an important part of keeping people healthy and happy. Staying at home, never meeting people can lead to depression. They also say that, from a professional point of view, it is important to spend time in formal and less formal situations with co-workers. Although it is argued that interaction can happen via computers, especially with a visual element such as video conferencing, they don't believe this can ever replace face to face contact.
For me, the advantages of working from home more than outweigh the disadvantages. Firstly, many workers prefer home working, saying they function more effectively because they can relax, without the pressure and waste of the long commute. With new technologies placing people in the same room metaphorically, it is becoming much easier to do this. With less travel there is a smaller carbon footprint, although this is a claim which has yet to be proved because many people choose to live in remoter areas and car use is not significantly reduced when working at home.
Finally, what clinches the argument for me is the fact that working at home enables many people to join the workforce who would not otherwise be able to do so.
This option is particularly liberating for women because they often have more caring responsibilities.
To sum up, I believe strongly that working from home is the fairest and most efficient option for most people.


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Junior Research Fellow at the Centre for Research on Health and Social Care Management at SDA Bocconi School of Management. She holds a BSc in Economics and Management for Arts, Culture and Communication at Bocconi University and a MSc in Management at Bocconi University. Her research interests include policies and management issues on primary care, integrated care, chronic diseases, clinical governance and governance models and organization of the healthcare system.
Giuditta Callea
Research fellow at the Centre for Research for Health and Social Care Management -SDA Bocconi School of Management. She holds the MSc degree in Manage...
Giovanni Fattore
Prof. Fattore has a laurea degree in Economics from Bocconi University, a MSc from the Harvard School of Public Health and a PhD from LSE in Social Po...
Giovanni Fosti
Giovanni Fosti is researcher at CeRGAS Bocconi, where he is responsible for the "Social Policy and Service Management" area. He is a Contract Professo...
Arianna Bertolani
Junior Research Fellow at the Centre for Research for Health and Social Care Management (CeRGAS) at SDA Bocconi. After achieving the MSc degree in Pha...
Ludovica Borsoi
Ludovica Borsoi graduated from the Master of Science in Economic and Social Sciences at Bocconi University (Milan) on April 2015. After a 3-month peri...
David Stuckler
David Stuckler, PhD, MPH, HonMFPH, FRSA is a Professor of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Bocconi in Milan. He directs a WHO Collab...
Lorenzo Fenech
Lorenzo earned a Degree cum laude in Economics from Sapienza University, Rome. He was Visiting Scholar at Alfred Lerner College of Business and Eco...
Monica Otto
PhD in Business Administration and Management, Coordinator of the Pharmaceutical Observatory at CERGAS – SDA Bocconi. She is the Director for Executi...
Claudio Jommi
Claudio Jommi is Professor of Practice at SDA Bocconi School of Management (Government, Health and Not for Profit Division). He is also Member of...
Giulia Cappellaro
Giulia Cappellaro is Assistant Professor, Department of Social and Political Sciences, Bocconi University and affiliate at CERGAS She holds PhD in Ma...
Marianna Cavazza
Marianna Cavazza is contracted researcher fellow at the Centre for Research for Health and Social Care Management at Bocconi University where she is a...
Benedetta Pongiglione
Benedetta Pongiglione holds a PhD in Epidemiology and Population Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of Londo...


The second Clinton-Trump debate had about 20% fewer viewers than the first face-off did.
Why the drop-off? The "Sunday Night Football" game was definitely a factor. There is speculation that the ugly, bitter nature of the presidential campaign also had something to do with it.
"I think people are repulsed by it now," a senior TV executive said Monday morning when the overnight ratings came in.
The audience was still massive by any measure. The six biggest channels that televised the debate -- CNN, ABC, CBS, Fox News, MSNBC, and the Fox broadcast network -- had a combined 60 million viewers.
With the addition of Spanish language broadcasters and smaller channels, the total reached 66.5 million.
For comparison's sake, the first debate, held on September 26, averaged 84 million viewers via TV, setting an all-time record for presidential debate viewership.
Millions more people watched both debates via the Internet.
In the days leading up to Sunday's rematch, TV executives predicted that the second debate would have a slightly smaller audience. A chief reason: one of the big broadcast networks that aired the first debate, NBC, showed the Giants-Packers game during the second debate instead.
The game attracted more than 15 million viewers, which accounts for some of the decline between debate #1 and debate #2.
There are other factors too, like Hurricane Matthew, which displaced families and disrupted power (by extension affecting television ratings) in some Southeastern markets.
But some analysts immediately wondered on Monday if campaign divisiveness -- driven by Donald Trump -- is also partly to blame.
Fox Sports research guru Michael Mulvihill tweeted, "Have to say I'm surprised and maybe a little encouraged by debate decline. Looks like it's finally gone too far for millions of people."
Ken Bone, a town hall questioner who became an overnight celebrity, may have said it best. "It felt almost like watching mom and dad fight. It got very uncomfortable," he told CNN's Carol Costello on Monday.
While that is true, the ratings remained relatively steady from the beginning until the end.
Some channels fared better than others. CBS, which was boosted by NFL coverage earlier in the evening, had the biggest overall audience, with more than 16 million total viewers.
ABC had 11.5 million viewers and CNN had 11.3 million. ABC's Martha Raddatz and CNN's Anderson Cooper co-moderated the debate.
Sunday's match-up ranked as the most-watched general election debate in CNN's history.
Fox News averaged 10 million viewers, Fox broadcast had 5.6 million, and MSNBC had 5.5 million. PBS had about 2.9 million and Univision had about 2.4 million.
While the ratings fell between debate #1 and #2, online chatter was even higher the second time around.
According to Facebook (FB), which crunched its numbers overnight, the debate between 9:03 and 10:37 p.m. ET was "the most talked-about debate on Facebook -- ever."
The company found that about 20 million users in the United States were commenting, liking and sharing content about the debate.
The same thing was true on Twitter (TWTR). "Tonight's #debate was the most tweeted ever," the company said afterward, "with more than 17 million debate-related tweets sent."
Furthermore, Twitter said, Sunday was "the most tweeted day of the entire 2016 election, with nearly 30 million tweets sent."
Both social networks found that Trump dominated online chatter, garnering a lot more "share of conversation" than Clinton.
Many of the comments about both candidates were negative.