Earlier this fall, I took one last trip out to my favorite nursery, Cistus Nursery on Sauvie Island just outside of Portland. They were having their annual Tough Love sale, so I had to get in before the end of October. As it snowed in Portland today for the first time this season, it's a nice chance to look back at some colors other than white and gray.
Also, I must apologize for the tardy blog post, we experienced a family medical emergency over Thanksgiving weekend and needless to say, I have been preoccupied. All is well now and it's nice to get back in the swing of things. So, as the sign says, Walk this Way!
Even the parking lot is fabulous! OK - let's take a tour of some colors, textures and glowiness (is that a word??) of the beauty that is the changing colors of autumn. Let's go!
But first up under the big tent is a Yucca rostrata. Love these spiky guys!
Oooo...what's the collective pronoun for a group of Yucca? A spike of Yuccas? Gaggle?
I know Loree of Danger Garden fame has photographed this corked fellow below. How handsome is he??!!
Oooo...multiple spiky things. Me want.
Multiple rosette-y things too. Me also want.
OK, so out of the big tent and on to the tables outside....here comes the red and oranges. I think I got the timing just right. Look at those maples!
Some beautiful Chrysanthemum x rubellum 'Clara Curtis' - very tempting but I walked on by. I do like some pinks, and if I were to buy any pinks, this would be it. Kind of fairy-like...nice!
More yummy autumnal foliage. I was so bad at noting what plants were what this trip, I was just a bit overwhelmed with the trip in general as I tend to be at Cistus.
Beautiful Vitis vinifera (I think)...lovely color.
Me thinks this is a Schefflera delavayi. Me thinks me loves. Will have to find room in the garden next year for one of these beauties. Maybe this current freeze we are experiencing will take care of that for me. **sniff** I hope not....but it looks like we're going to have a Phormium Killing Winter, a PKW. Darn!
The native Bear Grass - Xerophyllum tenax, a lovely native plant. Cistus has a good selection of Pacific Northwest natives.
Some native Oxalis and ferns in the gardens...nice...for a shady area the native Oxalis is great for naturalization. I know some don't like it, but if it's given enough space and placed in a larger garden, it's quite lovely.
How about that gorgeous Acer color??
That's some fancy exfoliating bark!
Aah, the Eucalyptus. Such lovely fragrance.
Then there was this funny tree... I did not catch the name but it had these odd fruits hanging on.
And now we've come full circle, back to the parking lot where the sale was winding down. I managed to find several little treasures to take home.
I did not photograph them, but I got three Hosta 'Mouse Ears'...so sweet, a Yucca 'Blue Boy', some Impatiens omeiana, a couple Yucca schottii - one for me, one for a friend. Nice haul, really. I know there was something else but my mind fails me right now. All in all, a steal at only $3 each.
And it wouldn't be a visit to Cistus without a beautiful Arctostaphylos. I am not sure which variety this guy is but they do have quite a large selection. If you were looking for one, they've got a great assortment and can help with one to fit your specific needs and size requirements. They are native to this area and Cistus does a great job educating the public about their many landscape virtues.
So next time around, I think we'll have to ponder the effects of the cold snowy weather we are experiencing...let's cross our fingers and hope that the spiky goodness is spared. And also hope my plant-wrapping skills are up to par. Until next time....what's new in your garden?
Thanks for the (almost, relatively speaking) summer goodness on this cold cold day. You scored quite a few treasures at the tough love sale!
I'm kicking myself that I didn't go to that tough love sale! Anyway, thanks for this post, T! I'm feeling so nostalgic for summer!
D'OH! I know, Fifi...**sigh** seems like summer is a billion light years away...so, next Tough Love Sale, come with me!
Our steals from the tough love sale are now getting to feel what "tough love" is really all about. I'm wishing now that I had potted them up to keep on the porch through the winter. It's quite possible that even the porch will fail to shelter things adequately this time.


Barclays Bank Mauritius launched the Absa Africa Financial Markets Index on Thursday 22 November 2018, in partnership with the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF) and with the support of the Bank of Mauritius (BoM). Launched for the first time by a Mauritian bank, the Index is a premier indicator to assess the attractiveness of Africa's financial markets, for use by regulators, investors, corporates and asset managers. Mauritius was ranked fourth in the Index, superseding multiple countries in the region.
Policy makers and other stakeholders of financial markets can benefit from this tool to identify the areas and initiatives which will drive the most significant improvements. In the report, Mauritius is encouraged to broaden its financial market to increase economic growth and enhance accessibility.
"With the advent of Absa, our banking institution is now more focused on what Africa has to offer in terms of investment. Africa is one of the major players in the current global economy and represents high investing potentials. It is indeed a great honour for us to contribute to the economic advancement of the continent", stated Ravin Dajee, Managing of Barclays Bank Mauritius. Absa positions the institution as an outstanding pan-African banking group offering a myriad of possibilities to its clients.
Today, Mauritius is a jurisdiction attracting quality international investments which are subsequently redirected towards the African continent. "AFMI draws attention to the considerable investment opportunities that lie over the African market and allows African countries to assess their own progress. As for Mauritius' ranking, we are comfortable with how the country currently stands in regard to the report. We are confident that we are on track to gain even more momentum when it comes to its participation in how the African continent can identify and capitalise across the various economic opportunities that are open to us ", adds Vishal Joyram, Head of Global Markets of Barclays Bank Mauritius.
Maria Ramos, CEO of Absa Group, stresses that the development of well regulated, deep and liquid financial markets is a key priority that should be at the top of Africa's development agenda. She explains that the index facilitates a meaningful debate about the maturity and accessibility of Africa's financial markets. The report highlights an overall progress of countries subject to assessments with policies that support the development of financial markets across the continent. The greatest area for improvement for the African continent remains the 'capacity of local investors'. The index also shows that improvements in market infrastructure and regulatory frameworks could boost the performance of countries in the middle of the index over coming years.
"Mauritius has an economy with a strong regulatory and legal framework and its position in the Index gives us the impetus to seek new opportunities", adds Ravin Dajee. He firmly believes that the joint efforts of all stakeholders from the financial sectors will encourage financial market development, benefiting not only the Mauritian economy, but also the African continent economy at large.


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Best Of:
Chicago's North Shore
Beach - The Hamptons
Viewing As:
High Style
Heidi Wagman, Jennifer Parkins & Mary Ross
The Founders' Board of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago hosted a celebration at the 900 North Michigan Shops, honoring its inaugural Designer Closet pop-up shop. The resale-shopping event pays homage to the White Elephant Shop, a widely regarded historic initiative that once served as a vital source of funding for
the hospital.
Partygoers mixed and mingled over Champagne, wine and hors d'oeuvres while getting the first glimpse of racks of designer and contemporary merchandise. Among the extravagant items up for grabs in the silent auction was Kate Spade, Louis Vuitton and Ralph Lauren merchandise donated by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers.
Lurie Children's offers pediatric care for more than 149,000 children each year. The event's proceeds will support the board's new three-year, $5.5 million commitment to recruitment and violence prevention at the hospital.
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text:
Renew an Item
Curbside Pickup Service
E-Books for Children
Online Classes – Universal Class
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Self E-Publishing
Society Hill
Explore the World of Animals with Tails and Tales Summer Reading and Learning Program at the Library!
Explore the world of animals through the Darlington County Library System's annual Summer Reading and Learning Program. This year's theme is "Tails and Tales." This free two month series of special programs kicks off on June 1st with the opening of registration for children, teens, and adults to read to earn prizes and a series of special summer programs beginning with a virtual visit from the Riverbank Zoo on June 23rd at 11 a.m.
The Library sponsors a summer reading program for children every year. The 2020 Summer Reading and Learning Program was unique. "This year's Summer Reading and Learning Program, "Tails and Tales," will be a return to an in-person program at our libraries. While we will have a couple of virtual events at the program's beginning," according to Director Jimmie Epling, "there will be in-person programs in July and early August."
Director Epling went on to say, "You are limited in how you can interact with children when it cannot be in-person. Helping children, and adults, discover something that sparks their interest and imagination is tough when their access to the library is limited. You can only do so much through virtual programming. We have all missed the opportunities and connections made though in-person interaction because of the pandemic."
"It has been a tough year for learning," said Director Epling. "With children limited to virtual classes. Many children have fallen behind. As any teacher will tell you, children need to continue to read during the summer break to maintain their reading skills, otherwise they may experience the "Summer Slide" in their reading skills. This fact has never been so obvious as it is now. If a child does not continue to read during their summer vacation this year, the child's reading skills may slip two months or more behind where a child should be at the end of a normal school year. Many are behind where they should be now and will be even farther behind in the coming school year unless they hone their reading skills this summer. We want to inspire children and teens to continue reading during their time off this summer with our program. This is one way we can help Darlington County's children be successful."
Children, teens, and adults can register to join the fun by visiting any location of the Library or by going to our webpage at www.darlington-lib.org. Choose your age group, "Beginners" (0-5 years old), "Children" (6-12 years old), "Teens" (13–17 years old), or "Adults" (18-older). When you register online you will find a link to the 2021 Summer Reading and Learning Program's treasure map, schedule of special events, and a prize list.
This year all you need do is record the time you read to earn five colorful animal badges to display on a special "Tails and Tales" lanyard and become eligible for the grand prize drawing in your age group at the location you registered for the program. You can earn an animal badge when you have read the required minutes (180, 360, 540, 720, and 900) and the "Darcy's Helper" badge when you perform a community service. Check out the badges and the possible prize you may win by going to the Library's webpage at www.darlington-lib.org.
Our series of fun special summer reading programs begins June 7th and runs through the first week of August. Each location of the Library, Darlington, Hartsville, Lamar, and Society Hill, will have special programs every week, just check their individual schedules for details. Here are the VERY special programs the Library has planned:
The first program in the series will be a virtual visit to Riverbanks Zoo to discover some of their special animal friends on June 23rd at 11 a.m.
Join us at 11 a.m. for a virtual visit to the Tally-Ho Equestrian Center on June 30th.
Week of July 6th – 9th Math Camp @ Darlington July 6th-9th; Summer Reading Extravaganza and Puppet Show @ Hartsville July 7th; Create-ure Feature STEM @ Lamar July 7th; Outdoor Games @ Society Hill July 6th
Week of July 12-16th Black Creek Wildlife Center @ Darlington Lamar, and Society Hill July 13th and 14th; Columbia Marionettes – Tortoise and the Hare @ Hartsville July 14th
Week of July 20th-23rd DCSD Bloodhounds @ Darlington Lamar, and Society Hill July 20th and 21st; Jeff the Mime @ Hartsville July 21st
Week of July 27th-30th Professor Whizzpop @ Darlington and Lamar July 27th and Hartsville and Society Hill July 28th
Our special summer programs will wrap up with an in-person visit by the South Carolina Aquarium's "Critter Call" @ Hartsville and Society Hill on August 2nd and @ Darlington and Lamar on August 3rd. Meet live animals and learn all about how their tail helps them survive.
For a full schedule of programs and times for each Library, go to our website at www.darlington-lib.org. The treasure map to track your reading and a complete prize list may be found on the website as well.
The staff of the Darlington County Library System always looks forward to the summer reading program. This year we want everyone to discover the wonders of the animal world at the Library through reading, listening, and watching and by becoming part of the "Tails and Tales" 2021 Summer Reading and Learning Program.
For more information, call or visit the Library's branches or visit our website at www.darlington-lib.org.
Darlington 204 North Main Street, Darlington (843) 398-4940
Hartsville 147 West College Avenue, Hartsville (843) 332-5115
Lamar 103 East Main Street, Lamar (843) 326-5524
Society Hill 114 Carrigan Street, Society Hill (843) 378-0026
Explore the World of Animals with Tails and Tales Summer Reading and Learning Program at the Library!June 1, 2021 - 3:41 pm
Faye Griffin Receives FOSCL's Outstanding Individual AwardMarch 16, 2020 - 2:51 am
State Senator Gerald Malloy Receives FOSCL's Outstanding Public Official AwardMarch 16, 2020 - 2:46 am
Darlington County Honors Friends of the LibraryMarch 16, 2020 - 2:44 am
Paws to ReadMarch 15, 2020 - 11:30 pm
Branch Hours & Information
Administrative Offices | 843-398-4940
Darlington Library | 843-398-4940
Hartsville Library | 843-332-5115
Lamar Library | 843-326-5524
Society Hill Library | 843-378-0026
Library Program Calendar
Get the Library's latest program calendar by clicking here!
© Darlington County Library System | website by TheSiteCrew.com
Faye Griffin Receives FOSCL's Outstanding Individual Award


Hong Kong: Out of the darkness appeared a snout.
"Fei zhu! Fat pig!" eight-year-old Shino Chen shouted to her younger brother as she jumped up and down and pointed at a wild boar.
The hairy black pig, which must have weighed at least 68kg, grunted and snuffled through a flimsy, old fence along the sidewalk. The children tiptoed toward the animal then sprinted back to their father's side.
Kenneth Chen, 44, and his children visit the boars almost every night. All they have to do is step out of their apartment here in the neighbourhood of Tai Wai, located on the fringes of an ever-expanding metropolis.
Hong Kong's 7.4 million residents spend most of their days rushing between high-rises, metro stations, tiny apartments and air-conditioned offices. People occupy less than a quarter of the 1,103-square-kilometre region, making its urban core one of the most densely populated places in the world.
There have also been injuries: A 70-year-old man was hospitalised last week after he threw a stone at a wild boar and the animal retaliated by biting him.
The classic solution for boar overpopulation in most places is hunting. Hong Kong once licensed hunters to kill boars, especially in rural areas where farmers often complained about the animals uprooting their crops.
Boars have also provoked anger for lurking around cemeteries, waiting to eat food that people leave on graves to honour deceased relatives in accordance with Chinese tradition.
"It is very cruel, not civilised behaviour to do that," Wong explained.
But wild boars are strong swimmers, and their predators — tigers and wolves, among other carnivores — wouldn't exactly fit the urban landscape either.
A team of veterinarians recently launched a two-year pilot sterilisation programme that starts with tracking down boars and shooting them with tranquiliser darts.
"Sometimes it's in the middle of the city centre, like a big pig in a small area and it's very challenging," said Karthi Martelli, one of the vets.
"It was really cute once upon a time, but I mean, wild pigs running loose in a city centre is not very exciting anymore," Martelli said.


A while back I posted another recipe that I sometimes make for my family. This recipe is the recipe I generally use. It's so good. This one is simple. You need a few basic ingredients.
This recipe smells like fall. It's a recipe I can get the boy helping with. It's something that's got more dietary needs than let's say mashed potatoes. I really have never been a huge sweet potato fan, but it's a good alternative.
We never grew these when I was a kid. We had regular potatoes, but never sweet potatoes. Really, we only grew things like cucumbers, corn, green beans, cabbage, and potatoes. I guess my family just typically eats more of these things than anything else. I had never eaten asparagus or Brussel sprouts until this year. I never ate collard greens until I was an adult either. I'm not a huge fan of asparagus, but I will eat it. This makes me wonder…what is ya'lls favorite veggie? What's your least favorite veggie??
Peel and cut your potatoes. Boil them until soft. Mash the potatoes and add in the butter. Get out a hand mixer and mix until a creamier consistency. I prefer no chunks in mine. Add cinnamon and sugar. I usually use a few tablespoons of sugar and maybe about 1/4-1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon. I didn't list the amounts, because everyone's taste is different. I prefer them not to be super sweet. Add salt. Mix until combined. Put in a baking dish. Top with marshmallows. Put under broiler until melted and browned. Watch carefully, or it'll burn.


Colin Drake, Project Architect, will present on the Libraries of Our Future: The Story of the Architecture of the Southwest Library.
Project Description: The Louisville Southwest Regional Library is the first of three new regional libraries strategically positioned to serve the suburban regions of Metro Louisville. The project was a true design collaboration between the Louisville Free Public Library's design team, JRA Architects, and MSR of Minneapolis. Over 120,000 books and media offerings are available in a building that aspires to be a vessel for daylight. The exterior was inspired by the act of discovery, with symbolic metal curtains that are peeled away to reveal greater knowledge within. The surrounding site re-imagines the suburban parking lot as a vessel for rainwater, allowing the property to collect and infiltrate all of the water from several surrounding properties to relieve the burden on the municipal system. Supreme adaptability drove the interior arrangement to allow the facility to react to rapid changes in library programming. Outside, a variety of earth tone materials were selected for their durability, texture, and depth, allowing daylight and shadow to animate the facade throughout the day. The entire project was meant as a new model of sustainability for Louisville, as the project expects to receive LEED Gold certification. Most importantly, the new Southwest Regional Library aspires to be a landmark in the community for generations to come, offering lifelong learning to its users and acting as a catalyst for future neighborhood development.
Have you ever tried to edit specifications and think: "There has GOT to be a better way!" Well, here is your chance to find out from someone who has been editing specifications every day for years.
1.	Effective section editing sequence and the decision making process.
2.	Readily available MasterSpec® recourses.
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5.	Easy customizations to simplify tasks and improve productivity.
RSVP: Register at http://aiackc-febprogram-specifying.eventbrite.com by February 18th.
The AIA/CKC along with the Louisville chapter of RCI (Roof Consultants Institute which focuses on the Building Envelope) and ABAA (Air Barrier Association of America) will host a joint educational event which will offer CEUs for AIA, RCI and USGBC. This presentation will provide both basic information about specification writing and designing air barrier - and provide an opportunity to bring your toughest questions to two national experts in this field.
1) Why is an air barrier important in building construction?
2) How does a designer approach the design of a building air barrier system?
3) What is the Air Barrier Association of America' Quality Assurance Program and how does it work?
Time will be available for questions at the end of the first session.
Lunch will be served between the two sessions.
1) What are the differences (pros/cons) in the different air barrier materials available?
2) What are the most critical features of detailing air barrier systems?
3) What details are more successful (and examples of ones that are likely to fail)?
4) Performance levels and Blower door testing - what you need know.
Time will be available for questions at the end of the second session.
Presenters will be Len Anastasi and Terry Brennan.
Presenters: Len Anastasi, Len Anastasi worked in the construction industry for twenty years in masonry, waterproofing and restoration work. He currently owns EXO-TEC Manufacturing, Inc. which manufactures specialty construction products, EXO-TEC Solutions, Inc. which performs marketing work for various quality and innovative manufacturers of construction products and EXO-TEC Consulting, Inc. which performs consulting services on building enclosure issues for building owners, managers, design professionals and lawyers. In his construction and consulting work, he has performed inspections and / or repairs on over 300 buildings as well as giving expert testimony in trials and reviews on dozens of legal cases. He is a member of ASTM's E 06 Committee on Building Performance where he has authored both proposed standards as well as proposed changes to existing standards. He is a member of the Boston Society of Architects' Building Enclosure Council where he has presented on several topics and has been sponsored to speak at the Build Boston Exposition, AIA National Convention and CSI National Convention. He has authored several articles and papers on building enclosure performance and has spoken on these topics at several conventions, seminars and meeting. He is the current President of the Air Barrier Association of America as well as a member of the Construction Specification Institute ( CSI ), the International Concrete Repair Institute ( ICRI ) and the U. S. Government's Building Enclosure Technology and Environment Council ( BETEC ). He is also a guest lecturer at the Boston Architectural Center. Mr Anastasi is based out of Massachusetts.
Terry Brennan, Terry Brennan is a building scientist and educator. He has studied buildings since the 1970's. Because of his background in physics, biology and building construction, Mr. Brennan combines theory and practice in a unique and integrated way. Mr. Brennan has provided research, training, curriculum development and program support for the EPA, building owners and managers, individual homeowners, and several state health departments. He is currently the chair of the Air Barrier Association of America's Whole Building Test Committee. He is a member of ASHRAE 62.2 committee on ventilation for low-rise residential buildings. He served as a consultant to the National Academies of Science Committee on Dampness and Health in Buildings. He was one of the 12 speakers at the most recent Building Envelope Symposium, an annual RCI national event. Mr Brennan is based out of New York.
The first session is designed as more of an introduction. The second will go into greater depth. You may either or both sessions. Lunch will be served between the two sessions. The program is free to AIA/CKC members.
The design of the modern commercial kitchen, including the ventilation system, can be a challenging endeavor. The idea seems simple - air being exhausted from the building must be replaced in order to maintain balance. However, the CKV system is only one component of the overall restaurant system and all of these, when designed, must work well together to maintain the comfort level of both the restaurant patrons and staff. This presentation will go over exhaust hood basics such as hood types, sizing, listed hoods, installation, reduced clearance and fire protection.
1 AIA CEU awarded for attendance.
Overview: The construction industry remains one of the last to experience significant process improvement as a result of the economic, legal, operational, technical, and environmental influence affecting our global economy. As leaders in the industry it is imperative that our teams examine the policies, processes and technologies that have revolutionized the manufacturing industry in order to reduce risk, waste, and energy consumption, while improving quality, safety, and speed to completion.
Those coming up on Friday may want to attend the "First Friday" festival in downtown Carrolton from 6:00-8:00pm.
7:30pm – Dinner at Down On Main Street Restaurant.
8:00am – Registration and continental breakfast.
Tom has recently moved back to Kentucky after a career at the General Services Administration (GSA) where he worked on condition assessments and specification of treatments to historic federal buildings.
5:00pm – 6:30pm – Free time. Rest or Hike around the lake.
After the movie – A social in the recently renovated bar area designed by Anne Saint-Aignan.
Total AIA CEUs for the day: 7.5 (5.5 HSW). See flyer for detailed information about the programs and speakers.
Cost for entire day is $40 for AIA members and guests, $60 for non members. Click Here To register for the conference.
Time: Breakfast event- 7:30-8:30am (The presentation will begin promptly at 7:30am); Continental breakfast from Panera (or similar) will be served at the program.
Presentation: 'Their Final Place'- this program will feature the burial locations of famous architects (such as Eero Saarinen, Louis Sullivan, H H Richardson, etc.). The presenter, Henry Kuehn, has authored a book by this same title. Mr. Kuehn is from Chicago, and is on the Board of the Society of Architectural Historians. He is very knowledgeable of architectural history. He also is a tour guide for the Irwin Miller House in Columbus, Indiana as well at Graceland Cemetery in Chicago.
Tour Description: AIA/CKC, CSI, NAWIC, SMPS, and Ky USGBC are invited to join us for this unique opportunity to tour the Louisville City Soccer facility. Louisville City Soccer owner and president of TEG Architects, Wayne Estopinal, AIA, ACHA, LEEP AP will be taking us on a tour through the Louisville City team's new locker room, and will be discussing the transformation of the pitcher's mound to allow for the baseball diamond at Slugger field to become a soccer field. He will discuss the construction of the mound and the materials used to make this happen. After the tour, you may purchase tickets to the Louisville City vs. Charleston Battery game at a discounted rate using the promotion code: GROWS2015. See flyer.
Register to attend: Please visit the eventbrite site to sign-up to attend the tour. Members may bring one guest and can register their guest on the following site as well.http://lcstour-aiackc-csi-smps-nawic-kyusgbc-event.eventbrite.com. Any questions please contact Anna Triplett at atriplett@jrarchitects.com.
contact Anna Triplett at atriplett@jrarchitects.com. Program is free for AIA/CKC members and nonmembers fee is $25.
Program Description: Join us for this unique event! The AIA/CKC annual meeting will be held at the Louisville Water Company Gatehouse at the Crescent Hill reservoir. The program will include a panel discussion with local government officials from Metro Louisville, and Louisville Forward/Develop Louisville. After the program, you will have a chance to tour the building and learn about the project from the architect and design team of the Gatehouse.
Understanding Poly-Ash trim and the other categories of the exterior trim market.
Program Title: Understanding Poly-Ash trim and the other categories of the exterior trim market.
areas of installation, longevity, maintenance and sustainability.
Target Audience: Architects, owners, specifiers and other design professionals in the residential, commercial or multi-family markets.
Instruction Method: Facilitator may use a Powerpoint presentation or handouts, depending on audience size.
Facilitator Qualifications: All facilitators will be Boral TruExterior Sales personnel, or Distributor product specialists who have undergone training on CES guidelines and presentation skills.
You and a guest are invited to join us on December 10th for the annual AIA/CSI Louisville Holiday Party. Join us at the historic Rathskeller Bar at the Seelbach Hotel for dinner and drinks. The cash bar will open at 6:30pm. Dinner is served at 7:30pm. The evening will conclude by 10:00pm. This is a FREE event for AIA CKC and CSI Louisville members and their guests. Member spouses and significant others are welcomed to attend this event. We look forward to seeing you there!
RSVP by noon on Monday, December 7th.


Of the many perception battles the world's mining industry is combating, the role of women in the sector is among the most pressing.
Roughly 17% of the mining industry globally comprises female employees, a surprisingly low number considering half the world's population is women.
This is notwithstanding the wide array of opportunities that exist in the sector if one only scratched beneath the surface.
The fact is that not all mining is deep underground and strenuous, although there is an argument to be made as to why more women are not employed in such capacities anyway.
The problem is, however, that so few women bother to explore career opportunities in mining – which still shapes in the modern consciousness as monolithically forbidding, intimidatingly toilsome and dirty.
According to Nichole McCulloch, who heads up the UK Chapter of Women in Mining (WIM), an advocacy group, there's first the challenge of attracting female skills to the mining sector, and then the job of retaining them.
It is boys who are pushed into the stem skills that feed mining, says McCulloch.
As for the women who make it into the ranks of mining, it's sometimes hard for them to see how career progression is possible, especially as so many men occupy the senior seats "above them".
It was only in 2014 that Glencore – one of the world's largest mining companies – appointed a woman to its board in the person of Canadian veteran Patrice Merrin (which was followed by Glencore's appointment of Gill Marcus, a South African, to its board in 2017).
Where women do make an impact, it is often unique and important. Cynthia Carroll, CEO of Anglo American from 2006 to 2012, is famously remembered for putting lives before commerce, following a series of underground fatalities in SA's platinum mines.
Closing a shaft in the event of a fatality is now standard practice, but it was not when Carroll was facing down her male counterparts.
A new edition of a book published every two years by WIM is on release now.
Titled 100 Inspirational Women in Mining, it seeks to tell the stories of women from a diverse array of technical and professional fields across all mining jurisdictions and job levels – from board directors to geologists in the field.
One of the takeaways is how the notion of motherhood is unseated as the single largest career inhibitor.
Several women speak of participating and competing in the mining industry while raising children; and anyway – says McCulloch – raising a family is more of a shared duty between the genders than ever before.
From a South African perspective, there are some particular challenges in increasing the level of female participation in mining.
One is the preponderance of underground mines, which can present hazards for women – although that is largely to do with safety of a very different ilk.
"I think ensuring women are safe in places such as SA is a key challenge," says McCulloch.
"It's a difficult subject to talk about, but sexual assault is a problem where it is prevalent not just in the mining sector but across society as a whole," she says.
The Minerals Council said in a March publication that its members were making sure women employed underground worked in closer proximity to one another than before, and had better access to toilets and changing facilities, and that equipment – including protective clothing – was custom-made rather than having to cope with the one-size-fits-all approach of the industry in the past.
SA's mining sector is shifting to increased mechanisation, and away from expensive underground mining, however, there is still some 22% of the total 53 100 women employed in the sector working in platinum and gold, most of which is found underground.
This article originally appeared in the 22 November edition of finweek. Buy and download the magazine here or subscribe to our newsletter here.


text:
Tomorrow, the living will be programmed... like an iPhone!
by Mickaël Réault
Biotechnology is on the rise and now represents a major economic and societal challenge. However, far from science fiction stories and faced with a succession of "feats", they are still poorly understood and raise many questions. The fact remains that the top start has been made and that we will have to buckle down in the face of a flood of applications of all kinds.
Ehat if tomorrow, the Avenue des Champs Elysées shone with a thousand lights under the spotlights... of fluorescent trees? A crazy idea at first glance, but not so much any more if we take a closer look at the already well-advanced research of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The American researchers have in fact taken up work initiated by two students who, by crossing the DNA of an aquatic bacterium with that of a terrestrial plant shoot, gave birth to a tree stump... naturally luminous. Behind, the ecological consequences would be extraordinary, especially in terms of energy savings.
READ ALSO IN UP' : Biopixel: Bacteria make light
And this is one biotech project among many, many others! The field of health, the main one concerned, is multiplying research linked to the fight against cancer or the slowing down of ageing as well as many associated pathologies. Agriculture, industry, marine biodiversity and environmental protection are also very much focused on this field of the future. All the more so as in the field of manipulation of living organisms: epigenetics, pluripotent stem cells, somatic cloning, etc., there are many advances and research is moving fast. Very fast. Especially since the arrival of Crispr/Cas9, the now famous "DNA scissors" capable of modifying all types of genomes at a lower cost. The corollary of all this is a redistribution of the cards in terms of skills.
The first X-mens in biohackers
Indeed, until now reserved for biologists, the manipulation of living organisms will open up to other professions. No more pipettes and time for programming! We can already anticipate a diversification of developers in the life sciences sector, as has happened on the web and then in mobile applications. Major technological barriers have been overcome and, as soon as complete programming environments appear, the hitherto dormant movement of biohackers will see new followers emerge. Experiments will then be launched everywhere, it is no longer science fiction. Internet is already full of video tutorials featuring biohackers, in their kitchen or garage, detailing each step of manipulation to magnetize their fingers, become phosphorescent, etc.. The American Josiah Zayner recently announced that he had modified the musculature of his arm and tried to market his product in the form of a "kit". Will we thus see the first mutants in a few years' time, in the image of superheroes? Or the return of prehistoric animals, like the controversial work of Harvard researcher George Church, whose project is to recreate the woolly mammoth that disappeared 4,000 years ago?
To date, the promises announced by the various research projects in progress leave us wondering: genetically modified men who, from birth, are endowed with genes for disease resistance and even increased IQ; artificial blood created from stem cells; artificial uterus with gestation outside the womb from simple skin cells and without sperm or eggs (a pregnancy without an umbilical cord would, for example, make it possible to free oneself from the 250 or so endocrine disruptors that can be found there), etc. In short, there are many examples, but they also raise real questions: overpopulation, risk of impoverishment of the species, appearance of a new form of eugenics and disruption, even disruption of ecosystems.
A revolution launched that is as risky as it is promising
What to think, however, of this recent discovery in the United States, in Indiana, which reported that following a genetic mutation, the Amish saw their life expectancy extended by ... 10 years! If this genetic mutation were offered on the comfort health market tomorrow, wouldn't we be tempted?
We must certainly seek to support the biotechnological movement from now on, or else delay it in order to give ourselves the means to move forward under the best possible conditions. Entering into a dynamic of Manichean opposition would lead to nothing and would not prevent those who wish to do so from practising what is now called cell tourism.
It is best to avoid entering into a logic of pros and cons. The idea is that everyone should be able to find his or her own side, whether it be for the treatment of pathologies, for comfort or for leisure, but in a context where freedoms are properly delimited. Tomorrow's bioethics will require fundamental rules of respect and protection to be laid down. On the one hand, to unleash and frame innovation and, on the other, to ensure that exemplary sanctions are applied in the event of non-compliance. In this respect, the "Etats Généraux de la Bioéthique", which began on 18 January and is scheduled to result in a new law by the autumn, is a step in the right direction. France is already falling behind its neighbours. They are innovating while we are in the forbidden. China, for its part, free of all regulatory constraints and cultural barriers, is bringing biotechnology into the present and is already several steps ahead of everyone else. On the European side, the risk is that we may lose our ability to become autonomous on these issues and capture market share.
Mickaël Réaultfounding director of Sindup
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In Sanskrit, Padma is a name for the sacred lotus flower, a symbol of beauty, purity, and growth. The meaning is well-suited for the river bearing the same name, which seems to be constantly evolving and changing in beautiful ways. That is a mixed blessing for the people who live nearby.
The Padma is one of the major rivers of Bangladesh, and satellite imagery shows that it has been growing in size, transforming in shape, and changing in location for at least the past 30 years. It forms in India at the junction of the Ganges and Jamuna Rivers, then merges with the Meghna River and ultimately empties into the Bay of Bengal.
Thousands of people rely on the Padma for transportation and for farm irrigation, which means they must regularly adapt to changes in the river's 130-kilometer (75-mile) shoreline. Numerous farms, houses, and lives have been lost or displaced in recent decades because of riverbank erosion that can swallow large chunks of the shore. Every year, hundreds (sometimes thousands) of hectares of land erode and fall into the Padma River. Since 1967, more than 66,000 hectares (256 square miles) have been lost—roughly the area of Chicago.
The extreme erosion patterns have two main causes. First, the Padma is a natural, free-flowing river with little bank protection, other than some occasional sandbags to protect buildings. Second, the bank sits on a large sand bed that can be eroded quickly.
Like parents measuring a child's height, scientists measure erosion on the Padma River by noting differences in its width, depth, shape, and overall appearance. These natural-color satellite images show the changes to the shape and width of the Padma since 1988, and each twist and zigzag tells a different geologic story about the river. The images were acquired by Landsat satellites: the Thematic Mapper on Landsat 5, the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus on Landsat 7, and the Operational Land Imager on Landsat 8. They include a combination of shortwave infrared, near infrared, and visible light to highlight differences between land and water. All images were acquired in January and February, during the dry season.
Over the years, researchers have observed an increase in the river's sinuosity and braiding. Sinuosity is the tendency of the river to snake back and forth in an S-shape across its plain. Rivers with high sinuosity are labeled "meandering." Such rivers evolve as the flow wears away the outer edges, widening the channel. The flow on the inner edge has less energy, allowing more sediment to be deposited there. Sometimes meandering rivers leave scars where the water once flowed, as you can see in the 2014 image of the Harirampur region.
Meandering rivers can turn into braided rivers, which have numerous channels that split and combine again. Whether a river is braided or meandering has a lot to do with the amount of sediment it carries. If there is a lot of sediment, they tend to pile up in places and divert the water flow, creating a braided river.
The sediments can come from a variety of sources. One theory suggests that some of the sediments are remnants from a landslide triggered by an earthquake in 1950. Researchers think the coarser material (like sand) took half a century to pass through the river.
Over the past three decades, the river has changed from a relatively narrow, straight line to meandering to braided and, most recently, back to straight. In the image sequence, the most noticeable change occurs upstream near the Harirampur upazila region, which experienced the most erosion. A large flood rose over these banks in 1998, exacerbated by the opening of the Farakka barrage (dam) in India, which released more water into Bangladesh.
Further downstream, meandering bends eroded the land near Char Janajat. The river's curves became most extreme from 1995-1996. The curve started to develop in 1992, began to decline in 2002, and has since disappeared.
Researchers are particularly interested in the Char Janajat area, the site of a new bridge crossing. As one of Bangladesh's biggest construction projects, the Padma River Bridge will connect the eastern and western parts of the country and shorten travel times between some locations from thirteen hours to three. There are some concerns that erosion could threaten the construction of the bridge, although some researchers believe it could actually stabilize the land and reduce erosion once it is finished. The bridge is scheduled to open by the end of 2018.
In recent years, Padma's erosion rates, sinuosity, and braiding have decreased. Erosion slowed as the meandering bends disappeared due to sedimentation and chute cutoff—when the water flows across the land instead of following the curve of the river. But that does not mean the area is free from erosion. Any disturbance in the ecosystem, such as floods, landslides, or construction, could influence the morphology of the river.
Bhuiyan, M.A.H., et al. (2017, December 21) Exploring impacts and livelihood vulnerability of riverbank erosion hazard among rural household along the river Padma of Bangladesh. Environmental Systems Research, 6: 25.
Islam, Md. Tariqul. (2009, December) Bank Erosion and Movement of River Channel: A Study of Padma and Jamuna Rivers in Bangladesh Using Remote Sensing and GIS.
Islam, S. et al. (2012, January) Padma Bridge in Bangladesh—An Opportunity and Challenges for Char-Land Livelihoods Sustainability: A Case Study on Char-Janajat in the Ganges Active Delta. Asia Pacific Journal of Rural Development (APJORD) . XXI. 119-144.
Living Reviews (2014) River Bank Erosion in the World. Accessed June 12, 2018.
Sarker, Maminul Haque (2017, December 16) Morphological response of the Brahmaputra-Padma-Lower Meghna river system to the Assam earthquake of 1950. University of Nottingham.
National Geographic (2014, April 17) Vanishing Act: The Disappearing Banks of the Padma River. Accessed June 7, 2018.
Rahman MM, Islam MN (2017, March 21) Bank Erosion Pattern Analysis by Delineation of Course Migration of the Padma River at Harirampur Upazila Using Satellite Images and GIS Part II. Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 6:284.
Rahman MM, Islam MN (2017, November 23) Comparison of Right and Left Bank Erosion Pattern of the Padma River Part III. Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 6: 315.
Rahman MM, Nazrul Islam M (2018, April 20) Meandering Bend Development Process at Mawa Reach of the Padma River. Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 7: 338.
The Economist (2014, April 19) The game of the river. Accessed June 14, 2018.
University of Nottingham (2017, December 16) Morphological response of the Brahmaputra-Padma-Lower Meghna river system to the Assam earthquake of 1950. Accessed June 13, 2018.
Xinhuanet News (2018, March 11) Third span of Bangladesh's largest Padma bridge installed. Accessed June 13, 2018.
World of Change: Padma River
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Water Level in Lake Powell
Yellow River Delta
Coastline Change
Sprawling Shanghai
Antarctic Ozone Hole
Columbia Glacier, Alaska
Burn Recovery in Yellowstone
Shrinking Aral Sea
Padma River
Growing Deltas in Atchafalaya Bay
Recovery at Mt. St. Helens
Athabasca Oil Sands
Ice Loss in Glacier National Park
Mountaintop Mining, West Virginia
Development of Orlando, Florida
Fire in Etosha National Park
Green Seasons of Maine
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Urbanization of Dubai
Seasons of Lake Tahoe
Larsen-B Ice Shelf
Mesopotamia Marshes
El Niño, La Niña, and Rainfall
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Land Water Remote Sensing


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1. The Ghost in the Shell, by Masamune Shirow
December 19, 2011 in Japan | Tags: Anime, Appleseed, Books, Cyberpunk, Franchise, Ghost in the Shell, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, Heroine, Kick-ass Women, Mamoru Oshii, Manga, Masamune Shirow, Phoenix, Robots, Shinji Aramaki, Solid State Society, Stand Alone Complex, The Major | 2 comments
So interweaved are elements as science, philosophy, cyberpunk, police procedural narratives, conspiracy, comedy, and action, the work blends conventions to invisibility just like the technological binding holding each characters' spirits in a bodies. No saying that any of these elements is up to the par set by succeeding entries in the series, but Shirow's original was the first, and the first to do it right. This in itself is compelling; from what I understand of the man's earlier works, The Ghost in the Shell came out of nowhere in terms of pure Shirowesque creativity. The first volume of the manga is a stand alone work, where a story arc is uncovered across a series of smaller stories. We follow Major Motoko Kusanagi and her team of elite Japanese police known as Section 9, a cyborg special-ops squad dealing in anti-terrorism. Like 24's CTU, but more high-tech and with less betrayals. As they tackle troubles of the day, they explore some pretty lofty ideas that often coincide with the artist's more cartoonish tendencies in the illustration.
Going into the manga, I had a fairly good idea of what to expect. Shirow has often attracted criticism (at least, from the three anime-related podcasts I subscribe to) for being the idea-man, and nothing else. He's given the world Ghost in the Shell, but really he gave Mamoru Oshii Ghost in the Shell, and he made something great with the material. Having finally read the thing for myself, I can say that this is not entirely true, but not unfounded either.
The chief issue one familiar with the anime might find paging through the comic is its tone. Whereas the two movies are deadpan serious, and the series feels very western in its handling of light-heartedness (in moderation), the comic is relentless in its plain goofiness. The humor itself isn't necessarily terrible, but its presence is felt, and it feels inappropriate. Every issue ends similar to how some of the Stand Alone episodes of Stand Alone Complex do — the Major and Batou solemnly discuss the philosophical or psychological undercurrents of what just happened. Sometimes this will include a panel of the guy who's been hacked to believe he's got a wife and kids, and this moment is pretty sombre, but also a satisfying conclusion. Classic Ghost in the Shell. But then we get one more panel at the bottom with superdeformed Aramaki barking some order and the Tachikomas, or Fuchikomas, squawking about a farcical robot rebellion.
It's not fair to say that this is simply what to expect when one reads Japanese comics, because the last time I reviewed a manga it was Phoenix, and that was consistent in art style and tone throughout. At the very least, it was balanced, confident in its tone. Yet, I can't help but imagine that indeed this is simply what to expect when one reads Japanese comics. Why else would Shirow include it? He's got to be playing to a culture, a rich history of titles with these types of jokes and breaking the seriousness every once in a while.
That would be perfectly fine were it not for what the humor sidelines often distract from. The Ghost in the Shell by Masamune Shirow to me was like the bible for the rest of the series — from this point stories were drawn for elements in Innocence, episodes in Stand Alone Complex, and the arc for Ghost in the Shell (1995) and Ghost in the Shell SAC: Solid State Society. Because of this, the stories are a delight to behold. It also takes the approach closer to the series than the movies in terms of the characters; Saito and Pazu and Boma aren't seen a whole lot (I'm pretty sure "Paz," as he's called, never makes an appearance), but they're there, where they never show up in the films (except for Saito for a frame or two in the first movie, without his eyepatch).
The artwork, when it isn't superdeformed, is in my opinion pretty superb. I qualify with "in my opinion," because my experience with the medium is limited, so it's difficult for me to judge what truly great comic art should be like. The cityscapes and robot designs are particularly striking; Shirow undoubtedly has an eye for design, which I suppose is why Shinji Aramaki gets hired to bring his stuff to the silver screen. Guns are another big thing for me, and they get their due, as do the vehicles.
Most impressive would have to be the cyborg stuff. When somebody gets shot up real bad, the metal gets all jagged and wires stick out. Sometimes — as in the making of a cyborg — we see heads split open and mechanical brains inside. The detail in these drawings is inspiring, and we couple that with footnotes provided by the author that discuss the ludicrous science behind it all.
It's certainly a unique experience, and though it's been recognized time and again that The Ghost in the Shell exists mostly to create a formula for other things, its own merits should not be undervalued. There is a great deal of entertainment and provoking thought to be had in the volume, and if you're as big a Major fan as I am, it's always nice to see her in more adventures. I suppose that if you're a real Major fan though the series would constitute as the "more adventures," but whatever. To each his own Ghost in the Shell.
Prelude to Ghost in the Shell, a Franchise Examination in Six Cantos
December 2, 2011 in Canon of SF, Japan | Tags: Amazon.com, Anime, Blade Runner, Buyer's Guide, Canon of SF, Cyberpunk, Franchise, Ghost in the Shell, Japan, Kenji Kamiyama, Kenji Kawaii, Kick-ass Women, Mamoru Oshii, Manga, Masamune Shirow, Post-Cyberpunk, Robots, Series, TV, William Gibson, Yoko Kanno | Leave a comment
It will be difficult for me to get across in words just how much I appreciate the Ghost in the Shell series, how much it means to me as a fan of science-fiction and… things that are good. I suppose that'll make the next post somewhat ironic, but beyond that it's all uphill, or downhill–good stuff anyhow, all good stuff. Ghost in the Shell appeals to me on almost every level as someone who's watched a fair to nearly good amount of science-fiction movies and shows and never really 'fallen in love' with anything beyond the nostalgia movies of childhood.
They take a premise, which is that in the future we've blurred the line between metal and flesh, man and machine, such that our brains are computers and can be manipulated. But what of humanity?, and they don't just make it about a detective or some dude, they make it about a paramilitary organization within the Japanese government–and they run into some crazy stuff. Of course, Ghost in the Shell 2 is more about detectives, but you still get the same dose of robot suits, cyber-terrorists, gadgets, gross bodily harm, artificial intelligence, and existential musings the series is known for.
It's cyberpunk, or post-cyberpunk if you must, with a heavy philosophical bent. An obvious influence on the Deus Ex series in this regard (though it's probably more successful), and something that took a few notes itself from the likes of Gibson and Blade Runner. The world it creates is much more frightening than 2019 Los Angeles, or the Sprawl, however, as the future tech has become so advanced it's invisible. You can have a shotgun in your arm and walk around town fully loaded while none would be the wiser. That's not really the scary part, but it's kind of a fun idea. What's scary is the ability to be hacked…
We don't really feel for computers when they cluck up–we feel for ourselves and our wallets. But what if we could be compromised mentally by the will of some motherfucker with good hacking skills? What if an artificial life form created on the Net wanted no more than to exist, but first needed you to believe you have a family when you don't? One minute you're some poor dude and the next you're a terrorist. Or, one minute you're a terrorist and the next you're a meat puppet killing all your friends and waiting for somebody to cap you–depends on who's team you're on.
Ghost in the Shell is much more concerned with cyborgs and virtual reality than megacorporations or cyber-drugs or androids; there's a prevailing preoccupation with the man-machine interface and the loss of humanity. The Major can't quite be sure of herself, as her body was patched together before our very eyes in a lab, and there exist fake memories, like Blade Runner. Might she just be a collection of false lives inside a robot shell? At least she's got her personality… but we'll get into that.
This choice of cyberpunk tropes is what I like most and least about the series, but we'll get there too…
Before we begin, I suppose I should note something. I've never watched a single volume of Ghost in the Shell with the original language track, so… see ya.
If you've decided to stick around to see what I have to say–thank you, that's very courteous. The truth is: the dub is excellent. Which dub? All. With the exception I suppose of the first movie, all the voice talent is consistently good. There are those weird pauses and awkward intonations that you'd expect from any translated work, but these are few and far between, and perhaps appropriate, given the inhuman nature of the cast.
Ghost in the Shell is one of my very favorite things in the realm of science-fiction, so I'll try to do it justice here. It's all worth seeing, so if you haven't yet, I recommend you get your ass to Amazon right quick, and here to help is a Ghost in the Shell Buyer's Guide, because it can get kind of confusing:
(These are things that I've bought–they're all good. I won't speculate on anything)
1. Ghost in the Shell DVD, released by Manga Entertainment: $10 on Amazon. Light on special features, from what I recall, but it's probably the most essential to own for any cinema buff. If you prefer high-def, you'll have to settle for Ghost in the Shell 2.0, which is nearly the same movie, but with awkward CG rendered scenes in the beginning.
2. Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence Blu-Ray, released by Bandai Entertainment. There was a big curfuffle surrounding the original US release of Innocence. The DVD by DreamWorks Video has apparently a terrible subtitle job, which is basically just closed-captioned. If you want to know that a helicopter is making noise or that footsteps are happening, check this one out (Netflix ships this one), but if you want a real version or the English dub, look no further than the excellent Blu-Ray disc. Along with the Stand Alone Complex cast dub, it's also got some Oshii-esque special features: a trip to Cannes and a look at how some scenes were animated. It's $149.99 New on Amazon, which is shocking because it definitely was not that when I picked it up. Sorry. The DVD version, with its weird naked girl cover is equally absurd, at $49.99. The poop CC version will have to do, it's a more modest $11. Honestly, the CC isn't that terrible…
3. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – I have yet to buy this one, because I watched it all on Netflix streaming, which it is currently on right as we speak. At the time, 2nd Gig wasn't, so…
4. Ghost in the Shell: Anime Legends 2nd Gig, released by Bandai Entertainment. If I remember correctly, this is the same deal as the Cowboy Bebop I have–something like a Franchise Collection line, I don't really know. It's the cheaper version of the real thing, so you get all the discs but it's bare bone–no special features. Being the whole second season I suppose $20 on Amazon isn't bad, especially compared to the current cost of a new 'real' version, which may have better cover art, but'll run you in the ballpark of $299.99. Used is only $24.95 at this moment, so if that doesn't bother you it's probably worth it. Like the first Gig, this is on Netflix streaming, so there's an instant alternative if you have the subscription.
4. Ghost in the Shell SAC: Solid State Society Limited Edition Steelbook, released by Manga. Yikes this one is also expensive, running at $37.98 Amazon price. I paid maybe $20 for it so maybe the tides will turn in time. As it stands though it's not a terrible deal. Three discs, including the soundtrack, which is pretty good–From the Roof Top by Ilaria Graziano is awesome–but not the series' best. Considering the Blu-Ray is ten dollars cheaper I'd probably go for that one. The Limited Edition Blu-Ray is so expensive that it isn't even available. (laughs)
5. Ghost in the Shell, PS2 game. Yeah I bought this for some unreasonable amount of money for the PS3, a system that refuses to play it. I think it was like $3, which wouldn't be so bad but I also bought one of the PS2 classics–Zone of the Enders 2–the same day, and it wouldn't play either. Thanks, Sony. You're a pal.
So that's the list. Pretty expensive. But worth it. I guess there were also two books, but… damn it. I'll get to those later.
The Next Generation: Tron Legacy (2010) Review
October 24, 2011 in Reviews | Tags: Action, Avatar, CGI, Cyberpunk, Daft Punk, Disney, Doomsday, Family, Franchise, Garret Hedlund, James Bond, Jeff Bridges, Kick-ass Women, Mamoru Oshii, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Misogyny, Music, Olivia Wilde, Reboot, Sequel, Spectacle, Tron, Virtual Reality, Visual Effects, Visuals | 2 comments
Two things were zapping through my head as the lightcycles and disccs passed across the screen: Avatar, and – strangely – Mamoru Oshii. For the former, this movie is its little brother. It creates a world, and populates it with characters created digitally. For the latter, I wished earnestly during the first half that a movie this visually dazzling was more cerebral, slower. It wasn't until later on that I realized that Tron Legacy shouldn't be an Oshii picture, that it's a great film even without that meditative bent.
Having never seen the 1982 original, my only familiarity with the universe is vicarious through fellow nerds on the Internet and scifi history books. It's the movie that revolutionized the use of computer graphics in film, and established a distinct look. It also came at a price for fans – the movie, from what I understand (and can infer from from Legacy), is totally goofy. Truly nobody believes that this is what the inside of a computer looks like…
No, it's not cyberpunk by way of Gibson, but it's a family movie. Kids, as we know, are ace at suspending their disbelief. Assumedly then the theory is 'turn your brain off, sit back, and enjoy.' Have your mind blown – one half of it, anyway.
Tron Legacy does the same thing: it numbs the skull as it blows the mind. It's a battle between A to B storytelling and character and a devastatingly beautiful world. For me, the victor of this struggle was undeniably the visuals. In the end I suppose that this movie stands where Avatar falls, and it becomes one of the best scifi action movies in recent memory. The story and characters aren't stellar, but they aren't stultifying or offensive like most action contemporaries like The Expendables and Machete.
We find the son of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges' character from the original), Sam, the daredevil bad boy type, returning to Tronworld, better known as the Grid. There he meets his father who's been trapped for twenty years, and one of the few non-hostile inhabitants of this strange world, Quorra. Together, they journey back to the Real World, and must contend with Clu, a doppleganger of Flynn who's trying to defect to the Real World for nefarious Bond villain reasons. Blow up the ocean, probably. Father and son will reunite, good will fight evil, there will be betrayals, there will be chases of all kinds.
On paper, it's nothing we haven't seen before. So how did something like this get greenlit? Well, that's a question that has more to do with the Tron brand than anything, but it works because of the product on screen. It can't help but feel fresh. I've seen stills and a trailer from Tron, and this is very rather different – they definitely embodied the J.J. Abrams philosophy of design, where everything has that Apple Store shine, right down to the lens flares themselves. The polygonal cyberspace of Tron has been given quite the update – I believe on critic described the world as "Blade Runner after gentrification."
No matter what you call it, it's still pure visual stimuli. It's the kind of thing one watches scifi film to see – I feel like we're glimpsing a rare thing here, the climax of cinema dreams thirty years old. I'd advise you to turn the sound off and just take the world in, but that'd be doing everybody a disservice. Yes, the dialogue is flat – though never poorly delivered – but the real kicker is the sound effects and score. Daft Punk's thumping soundtrack looms with foreboding swell or pops with electric energy when the scene calls for it – layer this on top of some of the movie's action scenes and you've got a recipe for gold.
It's an action movie where the story doesn't bother me; in movies in the mold of Bond or Bourne, the budgets are high, giving the action scenes the filmmakers' attention. They may be entertaining, but much less focus put on the characters, premise, and storytelling shows. So in between car chases we must slog through dead characters and poorly told story that was bland to begin with.
The argument can be made that Legacy is the same way. But it offers something new in these hard times between the action. The characters don't gather into the Pentagon or in a hotel room or outside the White House to move the story along, they sit on a floating laser train in an electrical sky, or on the neon streets of the Downtown area, where fog and light dance in the background like classic Ridley Scott.
Of course, the action scenes alternating the obligatory plotforwards are so good, they make the movie. Fighting with discs may sound idiotic, but it's elevated to aesthetically violent pleasure by the art design of the costumes, the environments, and the weapons themselves, all of which light up and react when touched. Everything's streamlined and coupled with the slick energy and movement of the choreography and cinematography. The director comes off as an expert here, despite this being his first – and rather ambitious – feature film. He establishes rules for the action and then lets the situation run wild. Everything feels logical as it flows by us.
There is also that great sense of invention pervading these sequences. I know that the trailing light was a product of the first movie, but it's a great idea, and lovingly applied to the new film. For offense and defense, the characters find many inventive purposes for it, and it feels like something that would be difficult to handle. Every time a vehicle would emanate with that light stream my interest would pique, the suspense would ratchet up – how are the heroes going to maneuver this challenge?
As inventive and dizzying as everything was, there was one major issue I have with the action scenes, and with the movie in general, and her name is Quorra. Olivia Wilde's character is terrible, an absolute joke that makes the movie feel like it was made in 1982, an era where genre women had to be punched in the gut by the hero for him to move on, like in the otherwise awesome Streets of Fire, or nearly raped as in Blade Runner: the women that make Ripley look like a fucking saint. Remember the little girl from The Matrix Revolutions? The one Neo meets in Mobil Station? That's Quorra. A program who doesn't quite understand you humans, only twenty-something years old, just like all the naive alien babes out there who you can totally have sex with.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead's Kate Lloyd, from the other update of a 1982 classic, may have been a simple imitation of the aforementioned Alien heroine, but she was proper in the form of the Strong Science-fiction Female Character arehetype. These women don't get kidnapped – and by extension don't get rescued – they kick just as much ass as everyone else, whether that means fighting Agents in the Matrix or Renaissance knights in the post-apocalypse, and probably looking good as they're at it, because there's nothing nerds like better.
It wouldn't be a problem (I can handle weak females just like I can handle weak males), but it didn't match up with expectations. Wilde, in some of her press interviews, discussed how little girls these days don't really have movie role models anymore – obviously this doesn't mean women a la Kill Bill, but certainly not this. I did assume that her perception of Quorra was pure marketing speak, but in my heart, I hoped. Cyberpunk is generally pretty good about tough, well-to-do women, but alas.
One minor fumble aside, Tron Legacy is great fun. It's an exhilarating marriage of image and sound – there's nothing that looks or sounds like it, not even Tron. Maybe it could've been bettered if there was no dialogue (same solution to Wall-E), and if it was ninety minutes of straight action, but as it stands, it's a delightful entry in a cult favorite franchise. My appreciation of Tron Legacy was as a nerd. I liked the flashbacks, the moments where we find that Tron had fought to save Flynn from Clu during the creation of the Grid – I don't know, something about that rang right with me, the history of this world. I'm not sure if this has anything to do with the original mythos, so named for a character and not the world itself, a fact I always found odd, but it was interesting to me nonetheless. I look forward to this story being furthered.
For more, be sure to check out the Review Index…
Inception (2010) Review
August 1, 2011 in Reviews | Tags: Action, Avalon, Dark City, Descartes, Dreams, Inception, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mamoru Oshii, Memento, Paprika, Spectacle, Strange Days, The Dark Knight, The Matrix, Virtual Reality | 9 comments
Inception is the movie that, were it to be made five to ten years ago, would've been the one to inspire me to want to be a filmmaker. It's the perfect blend of science-fiction ideas and dazzling action/adventure filmmaking.
I recall talking about this movie for Episode 7 of Dreck Fiction, the podcast whose creation was the origin of this blog. Back when Podcast Co-Host and I talked about Inception for that asshole podcast that sucks and I will do anything to disown for fear that it will act upon me as though libel, I wasn't nearly as enthusiastic about the film as everyone else was. We agreed that it was director Christopher Nolan's best, edging out even one of the three superhero movies close to my heart, Batman Begins, but maintained that it was still just a blockbuster with a brain, which is doubtlessly derogatory. Smart, but not intelligent, was the quote I recall.
How foolish I was, because on my most recent reviewing of the movie, I've turned around entirely on it. This movie is great great. A great film. Not a movie I'd consider one of my personal favorites, but a film I can appreciate as special and monumental for the genre. The major factor from Inception I failed to note in that audio review was that element of exploration which is so dear to the genre.
Never once in The Matrix does Neo say quietly to Mouse aboard the Nebuchadnezzar, "If I was just woken from what I percieved as the real world, how do I know this is real? Just because Furious said it was? And don't give me that crap about doubting the doubter…" The Matrix built up a classically SF world, brimming with laws to be applied later on in its breathtaking 90 minutes. It doesn't frequently explore that world though, doesn't really delve into the Matrix-as-Descartes-exercise (think evil demon) to give us something new to think about. So when the sequels went on to continue not exploring, and didn't contain the sleeper hit surprise of the original, people jumped all over them. (Story for another day)
I don't want to turn this into an Inception versus The Matrix Trilogy debate, because personally I have a bias that would hinder the argument of this post. However, Inception on the other hand sets up its world slowly and measuredly throughout the movie, and explores it, sometimes doing both concurrently.
What I'm speaking to specifically is the unique character exploration in Leonardo DiCaprio's character, the oddly named Dom Cobb. As his backstory with the deceased wife unravels, all sorts of ideas bubble to the surface and have tragic depth. Suddenly we've found that the Inception world has startling, heartbreaking implications, where realities can be confused and have dire consequence.
Yes, we've seen this before, and that was what made me write it off initially, which was truly what effected my first opinion on the film. In Oshii's Avalon (2001) does the confused reality take place, this time with virtual reality. The difference between Oshii's movie and Nolan's is what they were both striving to achieve. Though they both employed the same trope, Avalon was going for intellectual depth while Inception was more emotionally-driven, making the former a foreign curio and the latter the crowd-pleaser that it is.
Afterall, interspersed between the touching moments with Dom's wife are totally kickass action scenes, often in escapist, James Bond locales.
Dom's wife, let's call her Moll, like Molly, I don't know – they say her name constantly but I don't know what it is – had become lost to the dream world, and as we discover, this was due to Dom's interfering: the proof of concept for performing inceptions. Now he blames himself, and this emotional situation he's in and keeps going back to pushes the action forward, gives us things to think about, and makes the film unique. This specific character conflict could only come about through Inception's world building; Nolan has accomplished here an exquisite embrace of science-fiction's conventions.
He is also capable of continually driving the story forward, and the balance he maintains between world continuity and logic with sound plot structure and story beats is masterful, inspirational work. We're constantly riveted, and it's a mix of elements that keeps us on that cliche seat-edge.
Most prominently, the script keeps the stakes high. It's a wonderful screenplay, not because of the dialogue necessarily, though there are a few brilliant character interactions, but because of the weave it maintains between the world and the plot, a heavy burden it pulls off with panache. For example, after the crew enters the first dream they're ambushed and Saito is mortally wounded. They take refuge in some warehouse and Dom freaks out because he didn't expect a militarized subconscious. What we discover in this scene sets the tension bar high, because if the characters are killed, they enter limbo, a theoretically infinite sprawl of the unknown.
In any other movie, this would be like having a scene where the characters sit around and explain that if they're killed, they die. Of course, we know that already, so in some way we're desensitized to the consequence the characters face. That's when characterization must be employed to make us invest in the characters' survivals. In this movie, the consequences are laid out in a way that couldn't be in a movie existing in the non-Inception universe, and they're damn scary. We can't be desensitized to it because we've never heard it before, and this makes the threat of death more real than it was before, silly as that may sound.
For the rest of the movie, we don't want these people to die because that would mean spending an eternity in some freaky-deaky – or stark white – mind world. Now I said that other movies need characterization to make us care about characters dying, and that sort implies that Inception doesn't have that. Well, that's kind of true, but it's not unfortunate.
I heard from a guy who heard from a guy that there are characters who are compelling because they change, and characters who are compelling because they don't, like the Man with No Name, James Bond, even guys like Spike Spiegel from Cowboy Bebop and Nikita. The guys in Inception, Eaves, Arthur, Juno, even Saito, are just that. They're here to do a job, not go on a personal journey like Dom. They are the optimal supporting characters for a 90 minute-long narrative with this style: interesting and easy to watch, particularly Arthur and Eaves, who are totally badass, and have entertaining interplay between them.
Also keeping us riveted, and this does deserve a special mention, is Hans Zimmer's score. Once again, the first time I saw the flick, I wrote the music off as the typical invasive Zimmer score, but have since come around to really appreciate the effect it has on the movie. The action is heightened by the throbbing, intense music, adding a layer of suspense that gives Inception a dark, edgy feeling, like what we're watching is more brutal than it actually is. There were moments in the music, particularly around the snow base area, that felt reminiscent of Clint Mansell's work in The Fountain, one of the most powerful scores in recent memory.
Inception is a perfectly flawless movie, but that doesn't necessarily mean I'm going gaga over it like I did with Scott Pilgrim. As much as I found more to enjoy in it than I did the last time I watched it, which was opening night last year, my inner sci-fan fan is still not satisfied fully, but never could be with this type of movie. Essentially the problem for me personally boils down to this: I much, much prefer Oshii's Ghost in the Shell cycle to his Avalon, and I prefer Videodrome to eXistenZ. Virtual reality is for cyberpunk what time travel is for greater science-fiction: my least favorite trope. I find it to be a limiting foundation to build a story off of, and I found it hard to really latch onto what was going on in the film where I could with lesser fare like Terminator Salvation, as mentioned in the last post. The Matrix is, and always will be, the key exception.
Also, there is something on the – dare I say – meta level, that irks me. This movie is wildly popular. Not a bad thing, certainly, but almost… unfair. Does it deserve the popularity? Of damn course, if I can coin a phrase. But I do believe that its near-universal acclaim by critics and fans shields the movie with an armor that didn't protect another movie I care about (somehow still, even after exorcising myself of the movie recently), Avatar.
Pardon my French, but Avatar got fucking shit on all the fucking time for being derivative. Ever hear of FernGully? I hadn't, not before Avatar (though curiously I swear I'd seen the movie at a young age and liked it). What about Call Me Joe, Dances with Wolves, Pocahontas, and that one with the castles in the sky, where it was animated? No, not Castle in the Sky. Well, some of those we've heard before, but my point remains: those titles were dredged up from the past to taunt Avatar with for two different time periods. The first was when the trailer didn't look so good, which it definitely didn't, but even the executives at Fox agreed that Avatar wasn't really a coventional trailer type of movie. The second time window was when the movie was released and blew the fuck up. The nerd minority in particular becomes hostile at popularity, like a feral cat – trust me, as a dedicated contrarian (read: dick), I know.
It's easy for reviewers to use familiar terms when describing things, because the reader too can understand what's going on. Peruse any online review of Dead Space and you'll doubtless come across "Alien meets Resident Evil 4" boundless many times. Dead Space wasn't, like Call of Duty or Fallout, an established triple-A franchise, though it tried to be right out of the gate. So it becamse easier to pidgeon-hole the game this way because it was only an alright game. And also, inconsequentially – just look at it. It really is Alien meets Resident Evil 4.
Avatar wasn't nerd-popular because it was popular-popular. So nerds scrambled like the United States military in 1941 to come up with comparisons and point accusing, Cheeto-stained fingers at James Cameron. What about Inception? Don't try to tell me that movies like Dark City, Strange Days, The Thirteenth Floor, eXistenZ, Avalon, and The Matrix aren't obscure, because – FernGully? Come on.
By his own admittance, Nolan was trying to strike back into that era in the 90's where we had those reality-what movies where we were never really on solid ground, he even likened Memento to the group to some extent. He also found influence in Paprika, a recent animated movie from the late Satoshi Kon about dreams.
That Inception didn't catch never as much flak – if it caught any – about its influences as Avatar did pisses me off. Now, I have no problem with it taking influence, though this argument implies that in nerd-crying fashion, I'm really just upset that nobody seems to notice. It's like injustice, but really, if people started to bitch about Inception being unoriginal, I'd probably have a bigger headache than I do now with just Avatar alone.
My theory as to why nobody compares Inception to Strange Days, though they share similar themes of indulging in lost fantasy, or Inception to Dark City, which explores a fantastical world within a world, is that Inception is a movie taken out of nerds' hands. When this movie came out, people had high expectations, and they were all satisfied, a rare happenstance that I can only imagine is moviegoing ecstasy, something I would've felt if Machete was actually good. It has wide-appeal, being a star-studded flick – stars being Leo and Nolan, at this point – and holdover between Batman sequels, which will undoubtedly add up to huge by next year with Rises. The wide demographic wouldn't want their darling Inception to languish in the genre of science-fiction, which it shares with Battlefield Earth and Dune (1984).
It may seem assholistic that I'd actually be upset by a movie's popularity, but I can't help it because Inception is exactly what we sci-fi fans need right now – an original SF work in film that's worked, take notes Battle: LA, ahem – and it's almost too successful. It's not Blade Runner, which revolutionized a genre by appealing to the filmmakers only. Inception appeals to everyone, and I doubt that anybody will try to follow those footsteps and do the same, it's just a bar set too high.
Indeed, we will never see Inception 2.
Well, that's certainly enough of my gripes. I don't have a real reason to dislike Inception, as you've no doubt concluded. It's implaceable, very difficult to pin down. Especially when, afterall, it's an amazing movie. Absolutely incredible. So at the end of the day, this really was a movie that required two watches to understand.
Directors: Mamoru Oshii
June 28, 2011 in Directors, Japan | Tags: Anime, Avalon, Based on the Book, Basset Hound, Directorial Signature, Ghost in the Shell, Jin-Roh, Kazunori Ito, Mamoru Oshii, Manga, Masamune Shirow, Movies, Patlabor, Science-Fiction | Leave a comment
Like Ridley Scott, Mamoru Oshii is an unsung hero of science-fiction in film. He became a name among nerds in America in 1995 with the global release of Ghost in the Shell, a film that touted itself as the next Akira, as I suppose every anime movie does or should. It was based on a manga by Masamune Shirow, but having read quite a bit of the source material myself (ten pages?), I can tell you that the movie is definitively a product of Oshii.
We can also see this as true because another Shirow flick, Appleseed, is child's fare intellectually compared to Oshii's Ghost in the Shell. The man has a style, he has obnoxious signatures, but above all, he's willing to use the medium of film to do what so few other science-fiction filmmakers dare to do – explore. Whether it's ideas of personal or metaphysical philosophy or new and profound imagery, Oshii always has something fascinating to say, and an equally fascinating way to say it.
I think I'll paraphrase a quote used to compliment The Fountain – something like it's a film that's as deeply felt as it is imagined. That's a beautiful criticism, and for a cerebral, thoughtful science-fiction film, I can think of no higher accolade. Such an accolade can easily be applied to movies like Ghost in the Shell, Innocence, Avalon, Patlabor 2 (though I really didn't like that one), and even Jin-Roh, though he didn't direct that one (it'll still be covered here). Sure, his movies lack the emotional depth of The Fountain, but they make up for it in science-fiction themes generally unique to the director.
His visuals are matched by their ideas, and in this was he's a director who fills out what I believe to be the height of science-fiction film. If the greatest, most important sci-fi flick is Blade Runner, this is because it makes us think, maybe it scares us into thinking but I like to think it moves us to do it as well, and dazzles us with visuals that spark our imaginations.
That is what I ask of sci-fi filmmakers to do, because I personally find that to be the best, most engaging experience I can have watching a movie. The images and thoughts of Oshii linger in my head long after the Major's joined the Sea of Information, long after Ash has joined the Sea of Information, long after Batou has… walked off with a dog.
I also got some of his older stuff in the mail, two of which I haven't even seen. Hopefully they're good, because that's what we're starting with…


text:
Classic car markets are up 8.53% as $16.39m Ferrari bucks the trends
If you want to gauge how well the classic car markets are doing, look no further than the HAGI Top 50 benchmark Index.
Overall, it's good news. The "HAGI Top" index, which tracks performances of the top classic car marques at worldwide auctions, is up 8.53% this year.
Meanwhile, HAGI's P & F index - representing all the top marques minus Ferrari and Porsche - rose by 16.22% this year and 4.41% throughout August 2011.
Yet, at the same time, the Porsche and Ferrari sub-indices have declined; down -4.71 and -6.05 respectively in the same month. Overall, Ferrari is up 7.35% this year.
The reason behind this? According to HAGI's analysts, the trends suggest an "over-supply and a reluctance of market players to pay (at auction) the high prices recorded during the previous month [July 2011]."
That isn't to say that strong auction results haven't been recorded by Porsches or Ferraris during August, only that these individual car sales did not change the overall trend.
In fact, last month saw a spectacular new Word Record price set by the auctioning of a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Prototype in the US.
The $16.39m World Record price set by this 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
Prototype shows that the world's rarest classic cars are resilient despite
wider economic trends
Chassis number 0666 TR was the model for all future Testa Rossas, making it invaluable to classic sports car collectors. The Testa Rossa Prototype sold for $16.39m (including premium) and is now the world's most valuable Ferrari.
Yet, examples like this aside, HAGI's analysts suggest that uncertainty among classic car buyers may have been created by a worldwide sell-off in stock markets at the beginning of the month.
Global equities, as measured by the S&P Global 1200 Index, fell by 7.44% during August.
In other words, investors who have diversified their portfolios into classic cars bought fewer Ferraris and Porsches at auction as their mainstream investments underperformed, according to HAGI.
However, examples like the $16.39m Testa Rossa Prototype demonstrate that the world's most exclusive classic cars are effectively immune to market trends.
As a result, classic cars are continuing to perform well at the world's top auctions, despite the ups and downs of the mainstream financial markets.
Watch this space for all the latest classic car news.
Join our readers in over 200 countries around the world - sign up for your free weekly Collectibles Newsletter today


text:
Q: How to run V8 evaluation multiple times? Maybe it is stupid question (I am newbie to C++, just wanted to use it as library for android), but I am not able to run evaluation of some JS multiple times.
I have started with "hello world" tutorial. But then I have wanted simple thing, re-run main (just wrap content of tutorial code into function and run it twice in newly empty main.
This is what I got:
#
# Fatal error in ../src/isolate.cc, line 1868
# Check failed: thread_data_table_.
#

==== C stack trace ===============================

1: 0xa890b9
2: 0x6a22fc
3: 0x42694f
4: 0x405f66
5: 0x405ec7
6: __libc_start_main
7: 0x405dc9
Illegal instruction (core dumped)

This cames after creating new isolate
Isolate* isolate = Isolate::New(create_params);

Well, what I should do? Am I using wrong construct or so? Should I close/delete/clear something more?
In bigger view I just want to do evaluate function, that can be triggered multiple times, and beside that also run multiple js snipets in same context (how to split this function?).
Any idea?

UPDATE:
Ok, lets say that the main can be split into three logical parts:
init

int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
// Initialize V8.
V8::InitializeICU();
V8::InitializeExternalStartupData(argv[0]);
Platform* platform = platform::CreateDefaultPlatform();
V8::InitializePlatform(platform);
V8::Initialize();

// Create a new Isolate and make it the current one.
ArrayBufferAllocator allocator;
Isolate::CreateParams create_params;
create_params.array_buffer_allocator = &allocator;

evaluation
Isolate* isolate = Isolate::New(create_params);
{
Isolate::Scope isolate_scope(isolate);

// Create a stack-allocated handle scope.
HandleScope handle_scope(isolate);

// Create a new context.
Local<Context> context = Context::New(isolate);

// Enter the context for compiling and running the hello world script.
Context::Scope context_scope(context);

// Create a string containing the JavaScript source code.
Local<String> source =
    String::NewFromUtf8(isolate, "'Hello' + ', World!'",
                        NewStringType::kNormal).ToLocalChecked();

// Compile the source code.
Local<Script> script = Script::Compile(context, source).ToLocalChecked();

// Run the script to get the result.
Local<Value> result = script->Run(context).ToLocalChecked();

// Convert the result to an UTF8 string and print it.
String::Utf8Value utf8(result);
printf("%s\n", *utf8);
}
isolate->Dispose();

and clean
// Dispose and tear down V8.
V8::Dispose();
V8::ShutdownPlatform();
delete platform;
return 0;

Now as I said before if I run main consists of init->evaluation->clean twice, that mean init->evaluation->clean->init->evaluation->clean, then the error occurs. I have figured out, that if I extract evaluation part into separate function I can run it multiple times e.g. as init->(evaluation){2}->clean
Is that how should it work? Next step is to divide this main into tree separate function that mean I have to have static member with platform? Could it cause leak somehow?
NOTE: that I want to run it from android, that mean e.g. click in UI, propagate js source to C via JNI and then call c++ V8, which is already initialized or not. hm?
Prefered way is to have "blackbox", but if I have to hold platform, so be it. It maybe could be also faster without re-initialization of V8, right?

UPDATE 2:
Well, still have problems with splitting evaluation part to achieve multiple runs in same isolate/context.
I have splitted it after creating context with stored isolate and context, but with no luck. When in second part try to create source string it fails, probably because of using stored isolate (something with isolate scope I guess).
:(

A: My assumption as I introduced in UPDATE1 was correct. That part works well.
According to UPDATE2 I have splitted evaluation part into two.
First for initialize isolate and context:
mIsolate = Isolate::New(mCreate_params);
Isolate::Scope isolate_scope(mIsolate);
{
    // Create a stack-allocated handle scope.
    HandleScope handle_scope(mIsolate);

    v8::Handle<v8::ObjectTemplate> global = v8::ObjectTemplate::New(mIsolate);
    // Bind the global 'print' function to the C++ Print callback.
    global->Set(v8::String::NewFromUtf8(mIsolate, "print"), v8::FunctionTemplate::New(mIsolate, Print));

    // Create a new context.
    mContext = Context::New(mIsolate, NULL, global);
    Persistent<Context, CopyablePersistentTraits<Context>> persistent(mIsolate, mContext);
    mContext_persistent = persistent;
}

and second that will run js in same context:
Isolate::Scope isolate_scope(mIsolate);
{
    HandleScope handle_scope(mIsolate);
    mContext = Local<Context>::New(mIsolate, mContext_persistent);
    // Enter the context for compiling and running the hello world script.
    Context::Scope context_scope(mContext);
    {
        // Create a string containing the JavaScript source code.
        Local<String> source =
            String::NewFromUtf8(mIsolate, js_source, NewStringType::kNormal).ToLocalChecked();

        // Compile the source code.
        Local<Script> script = Script::Compile(mContext, source).ToLocalChecked();

        TryCatch trycatch(mIsolate);

        // Run the script to get the result.
        v8::Local<v8::Value> result;
        if(!script->Run(mContext).ToLocal(&result)){
            v8::String::Utf8Value exception_str(trycatch.Exception());
            dprint(*exception_str);
        }else{
            if(!result->IsUndefined()){
                String::Utf8Value utf8(result);
                dprint(*utf8);
            }
        }
    }
}

Well the code works very well on linux, but I still have some issues when I try to run first part for the second time (create new context) on android:
 A/art: art/runtime/thread.cc:986] pthread_getschedparam failed for DumpState: No such process
 A/art: art/runtime/base/mutex.cc:485] Unexpected state_ 0 in unlock for logging lock

But that's another question I guess. Peace.

A: Did you initialize v8 more than once?
v8::V8::Initialize() this method should be called once per process.
deep into project source file "v8/src/v8.cc", you will find the prove
bool V8::Initialize() {
  InitializeOncePerProcess();
  return true;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Retired couple Steven and Millie Tani, like many folks, took on a new hobby in their golden years. While these people frequently take up painting or traveling, Steven and Mille have incorporated both of these things via making and wearing costumes; it culminates in their brilliant couple cosplay.
It all started in 2014 on Halloween with a sweet homage to the film Up. Steven and Millie imitated Carl and Ellie, the adorable couple who were responsible for all the tears within the first 10 minutes of the movie. Since then, their ensembles have run the gamut from Mary Poppins and chimney sweep Bert to Princess Leia and Han Solo.
The couple first learned about cosplay through their daughter, who has dressed up—independently of her parents—for ten years. Although supportive, Steve and Millie never imagined that they would eventually follow in her footsteps. Now, they travel around California to play dress up. This requires a lot of preparation on their part, and it can take up to two months to make a costume. Millie is responsible for any sewing, and they'll furnish their attire with thrift store items or accessories acquired through eBay and Etsy.
Steven and Millie chronicle their outfits through their Facebook page. It's aptly called Cosplay Parents, and it's full of pictures from their adventures at different comic cons and events.
Married for 27 years, Steven and Millie Tani are relationship goals.
In 2014, they started couple cosplay, and they dress up as characters from the Marvel universe, Disney films, and more.
Through cosplay, they're doing that!
How cute is this couple?!


text:
from django.core.exceptions import MiddlewareNotUsed
from django.conf import settings

if settings.FIXX_URL is None or \
   settings.FIXX_USER is None or \
   settings.FIXX_PASSWORD is None or \
   settings.FIXX_DEFAULT_AREA is None:
    raise MiddlewareNotUsed


Dote is one of the best shopping apps I've discovered! It makes shopping quick, easy and extremely simple.
We all know that sometimes things get lost and forgotten in our shopping carts and NOTHING haunts us more than the things we didn't buy. That's exactly why I love Dote. You enter your credit card and shipping information and it is stored in the app; making shopping done in just 1-click!