text:
VERY cool ... much less compressed than the muddy Vapor Trails, plus the last chord is a nice little homage to Hemispheres.
Um ... technically, can one do an homage to one's own work?
Edited by Gene Best on 18 February 2007 at 6:29pm
Yes, and I think that's what we're hearing with this snippet. I wonder how Peart's lyrics will fit into this?
Since it seems I'm turning into the Rush geek of the
JBF, here's some news from one of the Rush
mailing lists I belong to. We all know how reliable
internet rumors are, but nothing like building a little
excitement if even half of these things are true.
Read and discuss:
<< The latest batch of rumors regarding the new
album started floating around the message boards
yesterday. They're of the friend-of-a-friend
variety so I had some doubts about posting them.
But hey! Why the hell not?! It actually all
sounds fairly believable. It comes from someone
on a Kings X (great band by the way) board who is
friends with producer Nick Raskulinecz's assistant.
Here's the first post:
I just got off the phone with my boy Louie
(Nick's assistant) and he was freaking out. He is
a HUGE Rush fan and he said that last night he
got to go to the studio to hear the final mix of
the new Rush album. It was only him, Nick, the
band and about 10 of the band's friends. He's now
gotten to hang with them a few times and said he
has to keep his cool and not geek out. He said
Geddy pulled him aside and said "Your boy Nick is
the best young producer we've seen. The sky is the
limit for him".
So I asked him his impression of the album and he
said "In one word, exciting". He said the jam all
over it, a couple of instrumentals that will blow
your mind and the pace of the songs is more
exciting than they have done in a long, long
time. Plus, Nick got them to break out some of
the old gear and it made a difference.
All in all, he said he wouldn't say it sounded
like old Rush. But he said fans of old Rush will like it
alot.
And in a later post he relays this conversation
with Nick's assistant: I just got off the phone
with Nick. I've never heard him so fired up about
a record he's done. He said he is normally so
burned out on material by the time the album is
done, but not this time.
And that snippet that we've heard, Alex played
the same amp on it that he played on Hemispheres.
He also said they plan on putting it out on vinyl as
well, a double album.
The album is 60 minutes long.
To quote him: "The instrumentals are sick".
In summary, there are 2 "sick" instrumentals; the
album is 60 minutes long; old gear was used
(which jibes with an earlier rumor about a
mellotron being utilized); Alex used the same amp
he used when recording Hemispheres on Far Cry;
and the album will be available on vinyl. Rumor
or not - this is all great news.
Nos vemos !
The Hemispheres Mailing List
http://www.rush-thml.com >>
The general tone of happiness with this album from
various band sources leads me to think we'll all be
very happy with the end result.
I'm eager to have this one in my hands.
Hate the word "sick" as a compliment though.
Derek Cavin
Thanks for sharing, Chris. Rush is my favorite group, saw them at the 30th anniversary tour, which was great.
This certainly bodes well ... nice to feel excited about an upcoming release for a change. :)
The song titles are out. I would post them here, but I don't want to spoil it for people who are holding out for the May release. You can look here if you're interested:
http://www.therushforum.com/index.php?showtopic=22979&st =0
RUSH ON!!!
Intriguing titles! Thanks for sharing, Jeremiah.
My pleasure. I'm a Rush Nut. As I was reading these new song titles today, I felt that familiar buzz of excitement in my stomach. It's Rush time again and I couldn't be happier.
Edited by Jeremiah Hetherington on 09 March 2007 at 4:32am
Posted: 09 March 2007 at 8:38pm | IP Logged | 10 post reply
You can hear 45 more seconds of Far Cry if you pop over to Rush Is A Band.com
Far Cry is up on www.rush.com! They put it out just around midnight. An official Syme pic (with lightning bolt and thunder) is up, too. Don't know if it's the cover. Celebrate the moment!
Thanks, Jeremiah! Cool stuff.
It doesn't pack the "first listen wallop" for me that hearing Tom Sawyer or Limelight did back in 1981, but it sounds really good. I thought Vapor Trails sounded horrible (the sound, not the songs) but Rush consistently delivers the goods, as far as I'm concerned.
Nice looking site, too!


Previous post: We've come a long way, baby! Or have we?
The "no good reason" turned out to be … well, they didn't know. Which I suppose is how they came up with "no good reason." In a passenger-recorded video, we don't see what led up to the confrontation, but it probably wasn't a "good" reason … right?
The New York Times and Yahoo Travel followed up with stories sharing tips on how not to get thrown off an airplane, as if that might to happen to you, the average traveler.
Want a tip for not getting kicked off a flight? There's only one: Act like a decent human being.
Need another one? Mind your manners. Pretend you're in a house of worship rather than a pub during a football game. Too difficult? Okay, what about just pretending you're traveling with your mother?
Or better yet: Don't even think about it because it's not going to happen to you, the average traveler. If it does, you're not the average traveler: Congratulations on being one of the very few passengers who get kicked off planes.
In the New York Times, a spokesman for the Los Angeles police department said: "Regardless of the cause, being ejected before take-off at LAX is not rare." When I read that my eyes just about popped out of my head. Regardless of the cause?!? What kind of message is that for the news to give to readers?
I'll tell you what kind of message it is: It's the kind that gets the average traveler worried about being thrown off a plane — to generate more readers.
Forgive me for being sensitive but these kind of stories make crazy. They affect my job, and they affect how passengers feel about air travel before they even walk on a plane.
With stories like these in the news, it's not hard to see how some people might come to the conclusion that airlines get a thrill out of kicking passengers off their planes.
You might even think flight attendants are on some sort of power trip. I hate when people accuse flight attendants of that. Seriously, let's think about this for a moment.
Flight attendants have the power to … what? Ask you to fasten your seat belt or stow your bag? To hand you a drink? What kind of power is that?
When I think of a job with power, I think of the police. Now find me a policeman who feels power over about 150 strangers with no more than a drink cart.
If you think flight attendants are on a power trip, you must have a very comfortable life. You should be grateful I'm the one causing you so much angst — me! The one handing you a Diet Coke, the very same one whose entire job is to keep you safe from Point A to Point B.
In between, I'll do whatever I can with the tools I'm provided to make your flight comfortable.
As a flight attendant, I don't even get to make the choice to throw someone off the plane on my own. The captain on the flight has the final call: It's his plane, and he decides who goes and who stays.
And from my experience working for a major carrier for 20 years, it's a huge deal to remove a passenger from a flight.


Kristina Sandberg's ability to take the mundane details of everyday life and turn them into high art has won her legions of fans from unexpected places.
When we meet at one of Stockholm's best preserved old-fashioned coffee bars, the 21st century suddenly feels very far away and the atmosphere is more reminiscent of the 1950s. You won't find any smoothies or wraps here. Instead, it's petits fours and pastries and traditional filter coffee. It is an appropriate venue to meet Swedish author Kristina Sandberg because it's a place Maj, the central character in her novels, could very well have spent time, if her 1950s housewife duties had permitted her to take an outing to Stockholm from the small town of Örnsköldsvik.
Kristina Sandberg has written six books in total, but it is her trilogy about Maj, a very ordinary mid-20th century Swedish housewife, that has been her big literary breakthrough. However, it was not until the third in the series, Liv till varje pris ("Life at any cost"), that the books gained the attention many thought they deserved. Maybe because a series of thick books describing a woman's life and household duties in such a detailed and intimate way did not really suit the trend-sensitive Swedish literary scene. A male critic expressed surprise, saying he never thought he would enjoy reading a book about baking, cleaning, and cooking. Housewives have long been a neglected subject in Swedish literature.
"I wanted to write about a woman who stayed at home and depict social developments through her eyes. Allow her to take her place and explain everything she does. All the work these women did – the cleaning, the cooking, the mending – has disappeared without a trace. The demands on them were tremendous, and it was so important everything was perfect. These mothers were heroic," says Sandberg, who first had the idea of writing the books when she was expecting her first child and chatting with her grandmother.
Sandberg stresses, however, that Maj is a fictional character, not her grandmother. Maj leaves her rural village to work in a coffee bar in the larger town of Örnsköldsvik. There, she meets a slightly older man, Tomas, falls pregnant and they marry in haste, despite hardly knowing one other. The marriage is a step up in class for Maj, as Tomas comes from "better" circumstances.
We then follow Maj's life as a housewife and mother from the 1930s to the 1960s. Life is not always simple – Tomas struggles with alcohol and has financial worries, while Maj wrestles with dark thoughts as she slaves away in the home. She is never touched by the women's liberation movement that started to emerge during that time, instead remaining in the kitchen, taking pride in being an accomplished homemaker. She cleans, she cooks, she bakes, she does the laundry, and she raises children. Everything is described in great detail. When you read the books, you can almost smell the freshly baked cakes and scouring powder.
Sandberg explains that she had to do a great deal of research for the books. She was determined to describe everything as accurately as possible.
Maj is a fictional character who has aroused strong feelings, and most readers develop a very personal relationship with her. This is not just because Sandberg lets us become very intimate with her, sharing her innermost thoughts – it is also because she has dared to make Maj a not altogether likable person. The need to "do the right thing" makes Maj something of a narrow- minded and prejudiced person at times. However, Sandberg is always on the side of her fictional character.
Sandberg adds that many people have also said that they recognize themselves in the way Maj thinks and feel a sense of relief that they are not alone in having such thoughts. Other people worry about Maj. Is she ever going to be happy in her life?
Since part three, Liv till varje pris, won the prestigious August Prize last fall, Sandberg has barely had a moment to herself. Readers in every part of Sweden want to hear her talk about the books, and to share stories of their own mothers and grandmothers. But does Maj really only belong to a forgotten era? How many of the demands that almost drag Maj under are relevant today, in an age where there is supposed to be more equality? That is a question Sandberg has been thinking about a lot.
The light is fading outside, our coffee cups are empty, the petits fours have been eaten. Before we go our separate ways, we talk a bit about the place of literature in general.
Sandberg dares to be cautiously optimistic.
Danish author Josefine Klougart – a new Virginia Woolf?
Known for its modernist design by Gunnar Asp-lund, the Stockholm Public Library is a place to worship the written word and enjoy a reading.
ABF (The Workers' Educational Association) is Sweden's largest liberal adult education association. Headquartered in Stockholm, it's a center for readings and cultural activities.
Enjoy the library, a coffee, a play, or an art exhibition just south of the city.


Needing a quick holiday treat?
But don't have time to bake?
Do you have 10 minutes to prepare something delicious?
Yes, really. This comes together almost too quickly. The first time I had it, I couldn't place my finger on the simplicity of it that gave it it's flavor.
What's that chewy deliciousness? Caramel, yes.
Okay, you get the idea. This comes together quick. Tastes awesome, and makes quite a bit!
I used to get caramels and cut them up for this. But that way time-consuming and since I started making this they now make the caramel baking bits, which work perfect for this. And saves a bunch of time and a nasty knife!
Melt the white chocolate over the stove or in the microwave.
Add the pretzels, Chex, peanuts and caramel to the white chocolate and stir until everything is well coated.
Pour out onto wax paper or foil lined counter top to let cool.


This piece comes from my Bamboo series, inspired by the qualities and color in the horizontal bands.
It is challenging to create a piece small enough to fit in your hands, yet still has a strong power of its own. The appeal draws the viewer to want to hold the piece, to experience it tactically as well as visually. The success of this piece comes from qualities in addition to its strong overall form.
The asymmetric natural edge rim infuses added life and suggests a natural front (and rear) not found in the typical bird's mouth approach to natural edge bowls. Transcending a mere vessel, this choice in design significantly changes the way we respond to a piece.
A contemplative mood is set by the overall color -- dark but yet not black. Harmonious energies are created by the contrasting lighter "bamboo" bands that flow in horizontal layers descending from the rim.
The closer you look the more detail you see-- both inside and out the ribs have been raised through controlled sandblasting. The fine, vertical texture between each rib has been pigmented adding contrast for the eye in addition to the texture for the hand. The feel of this piece is alive - picking up the ubiquitous highly polished bowl immediately afterwards can feel cold and plastic.
Lastly the piece has a subtle auditory treat for the senses. You can't help but run your hands over the texture as you hold it releasing the sound of the surface making it even harder to put down once picked up.


Everyone has heard the term "product branding," so often used by marketing companies, advertising firms, industrial design boutiques, and the media. But what does "product branding in product design" really mean? And how does it affect the final product?
Is an integral part of their marketing strategy.
Builds on the company's repetition, consistency, and simplicity to quickly and reliably communicate a new product to the consumer.
Enables all of a company's products to be associated with a successful corporation's name. There's no better examples than Apple's iPhone, iPad, and iMac.
At Integrated Design Systems, we maintain your corporate branding––without sacrifice to creativity and innovation––by judiciously applying color, logos, product details, and product features based on our clients' corporate guidelines. Our product branding in product design is detailed to comply with specific color pallets, logo sizes, proportions of design features, overall shapes, and countless product details.
We even specify quality and craftsmanship, surface finishes, labels, buttons, and GUI to maintain corporate identity, and exceptional aesthetics for product branding consistency across multiple client products.


text:
Q: Kubernetes cluster disappeared from Google Container Engine I've been running an app on Kubernetes very smoothly for the past few weeks, until today I found that my Kubernetes master is no longer available.
But the application is still up, seemingly because the cluster's nodes are still available in Google Compute Engine:

(We don't use any compute instances aside from our K8s cluster.)
My gcloud CLI has all the right configuration:
$ gcloud config list
Your active configuration is: [default]

[compute]
...
[container]
use_client_certificate = True
[core]
account = {email}
disable_usage_reporting = True
project = {myproject}

Even my kubectl CLI is configured to use the cluster that once existed:
$ kubectl config current-context
gke_{myproject}_us-central1-a_{clustername}

But any kubectl call results in a timeout.
$ kubectl get pods
Unable to connect to the server: dial tcp {ipv4 address}:443: i/o timeout

gcloud and the Google Container Engine web UI both agree that there are no clusters:
$ gcloud container clusters list
*crickets*

A: I got in touch with Google Support to solve this problem. The cluster's master instance was erroneously marked as abusive, and the master was taken down. Google was able to bring it back up. After that, there was a process to return the cluster to its normal state.
I suppose the solution here is to contact support.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: How to shield from electro surgical generator in close proximity? Looking for help EMI hardening a SERDES interface in close proximity to electro surgical instruments. I believe there may be tips or reference designs from existing pacemaker applications that may assist in my pursuit. Are there any examples or design resources available for this situation?
Thanks


Can you cross your eyes guys? That's one thing that amuses my husband, when I cross my eyes lol.
I can cross my eye, although I haven't tried it for ages!
Thanks for the visit today, following you back!
Hi! Happy Follow Friday! I'm your newest follower!
Happy Friday Follow! I'm your newest following friend. I'd love for you to drop by my blog sometime & follow me. Hope you're looking forward to a great weekend!
This is kind of interesting to me...I didn't think people COULDN'T cross their eyes. Have him follow his index finger from straight in front of him to his nose. Maybe he can do it that way.
Hi there! Thanks for stopping by my blog. It's cool because I just happen to be half filipino! you have a beautiful family and your dog is so adorable! Hope you stop back by!


To lookup a specific job, use the Job Search from the Job Dispatch Board, search using any keyword related to that client or job.
This will display a complete list of all jobs for the client, including their current status.
To view all jobs for a particular client, go to the Clients menu, lookup the client in question, and click the Jobs tab.
If you are using ServiceM8 mobile app, you can also view the client's job history from there.
Completed and active jobs will be displayed here.


text:
Unitus fund's latest StartHealth winners spotlight rise of medical tech innovation in India
Unitus Seed Fund, one of India's best-known impact venture funds that backs early-stage startups innovating for the masses, has named two winners of its StartHealth startup contest, which show medical tech innovation is taking off in India.
Winning StartHealth, now into its fourth edition, has become a badge of serious recognition for early-stage startups in the health care sector and previous winners have valuable innovations to their credit. This year, Ahmedabad-based Bioscan Research has emerged as the winner for its affordable, handy and non-invasive screening tool for early detection of intracranial bleeding, at the point-of-care.
Nanosniff Technologies, which has built a microcantilever-based (think of one prong of a tuning fork or a diving board, but a million times smaller that changes its vibration when its weight changes) bio-sensing system which can detect Myocardial Infarction, was judged a close second.
Source: Forbes India (link opens in a new window)
Health Care, Technology
healthcare technology, innovation, venture capital

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The Zwaan boat has 7 cabins, which can accommodate 14-15 guests. The boat has limited wifi (free up to 100MB) and 220 voltage electricity. The chef prepares nice meals, which are served in the dining saloon or, weather permitting, on the sundeck.
The Zwaan is a converted barge and remodeled to make efficient use of the limited space. The experience of the tour is built around guests being active cycling, and the layout of the barge supports a social environment in common spaces.


Prime is a revolutionary customer benefit providing free and ongoing access to Ignite's most in-demand software solutions. All Ignite customers are automatically enrolled in this Enterprise License Agreement (ELA), and best of all, Ignite's portfolio grows with each acquisition, continuously expanding customer options.
Video: Learn more about the Ignite Prime Program.
Unleash innovation, expand your business and save money with Ignite Prime. With currently more than a dozen solutions in the Catalog, and increasing with every acquisition, Ignite customers are adding new digital capabilities for their sales, marketing, finance, and IT teams, without adding to their budget.


text:
Finding Joe
Patrick Takaya Solomon | Filmmaker
30.Nov.2013 Sat | 7:00pm | The Loft Forum | Facebook Event
Documentary. 2011
Directed by Patrick Takaya Solomon
In the early 20th century, while studying world mythology, Joseph Campbell discovered a pattern hidden in every story ever told and he called it "the heroes journey". A truly inspirational film, FINDING JOE takes us on the ultimate heroes journey: the journey of self discovery. As you slay dragons and uncover treasures, you just may find that the holy grail you seek is closer than you think.
Featuring: Deepak Chopra, Mick Fleetwood, Rashida Jones, Tony Hawk, Catherine Hardwicke, Laird Hamilton, Robert Walter, Akiva Goldsman, Sir Ken Robinson, Robin Sharma, Lynne Kaufman, Alan Cohen, Brian Johnson, Joseph Marshall III, Rebecca Armstrong,
Chungliang Al Huang, David L. Miller, Gay Hendricks, David Loy and Norman Ollestad.
www.findingjoethemovie.com
Notes from the Director:
For the past 12 years I have been directing commercials; you can check out my reel at newhousefilms.com. I started my career shooting action sports films: snowboarding, motocross and skateboarding, etc. Notable films include Totally Boardand Crusty Demons of Dirt. I started Finding Joe in February 2009 and, even though it's not yet completed, it has been the best experience of
my professional life by a mile.
Joseph Campbell's work has influenced every major turning point in my life, including my decision to become a director. I owe my good fortune to the concepts and ideas that I discovered in his books. The Hero with a Thousand Faces put me on a path years ago that led me here, to my present film Finding Joe.
One day in 2009 I saw The Power of Myth again and though I love that program I felt I could better understand the material if there was more visuals to help describe the concepts. Like story re-enactments or simple visual icons that related more to modern living. That was the "aha" moment. I knew I had to make this film.
This is not entirely a biography of Joe Campbell. It is an exploration of what all stories tell us about what it means to be human. The film will dive deep into what Campbell calls "The Heroes Journey".
What is it? and most importantly, what does it mean for me? It is a contemporary look at mythology and the lessons we can learn from stories: both ancient and modern.


Optional All Inclusive Program Fees are per person, per day. Child age: 2-11 years old. Children under 2 years old are free. Children from 12 and over will have to pay regular adult fee. The program includes all meals (a la carte & buffet), domestic alcoholic beverages, activities (non-motorized water sports), 24 hour room service, entertainment & Kid's Club 0-11 years old. The program and fees are subject to change without previous notice.


How true, and how quickly we loose track of that.
Since he went through the trouble of making the blog, it should be reposted.
tl;dr: We pretend like Linux is not just for nerds, but actually it is.
I would like to know if you allow me to publish this image in my site and translate it to Brazilian portuguese.
While we are young, thoughts belong to love. Then love belongs to thoughts.


Rockbridge Aquatics Center is located at 194 Wallace Street in Lexington, Virginia. We can be reached by phone at 540-464-3663.
We are open daily from Monday-Sunday. Our daily access fee for swimming, classes, or any pool activity non-members is $5 for children and $7 for adults.
We offer morning, afternoon, and evening swim times.


I had a few over-ripe bananas sitting in my fruit bowl so decided to make a banana loaf. I found this quick and easy recipe on the BBC Good Food website and it so happens that I had most of the ingredients already.
The full recipe can be found here. I made a couple of adaptations to the recipe by substituting half of the butter for olive oil; adding ground cinnamon bark; grated Grenadian dark chocolate (which contains ginger) and a sprinkle of freeze dried raspberries to decorate.
It was very quick and easy to prepare (I whisked by hand) and baked in 30 minutes. The finished texture was soft and light. More of a cake than a bread. I was very pleased with the results.
Gor for it! You wont be disappointed.
would love to have you share some stories/information. I know myy subscribers would appreciate your work.
Thank you. I will be in touch.


Find your perfect Ferrari alloy wheels and tyre packages. Massive deals and fast delivery available. Select your Ferrari below.
Need help choosing your Ferrari alloy wheels?
We have a team of experts who can help you choose the right Ferrari wheels at the right price. Call 0333 800 8000 now and ask about Ferrari Alloy and Tyre Packages.


Is it dumb to spend $14,000 on a "smart" toilet?
A Japanese company is making "smart" toilets that features comfortably heated seats that deodorize local air on demand. Its lid rises and falls based on proximity sensors. The unit continually cleans itself, and auto-flushes. It also cleans your personal bits. This could be the death of toilet paper.
Designed by TOTO, the Neorest NX2 claims to be the future of toilet systems, created to make going "pit-stops" a more pleasurable experience. It's automatic functions make use effortless, and the auto-closing cover means no more arguments over who left the seat up.
The self-cleaning NX2 uses electrolyzed water known as eWater+ in its tornado flush to remove waste and sanitize the bowl. There's also a UV light that works 24 hours a day to get rid of any lurking bacteria.
One of the most revolutionary features of this toilet, though, is the 'WASHLET' technology which produces a "soothing, hygienic stream of warm water" in place of toilet paper and then dries you off automatically. Never buy toilet paper again!
But how does this perform in terms of energy consumption and water use? Across the Pacific, Californians have been "dropping a brick" in their toilets to conserve water. Elsewhere, industry leaders are considering what the "toilet of the future" might look like (link here). Meanwhile, the World Health Orgaization calculates that 1 of 3 people on the planet lack access to proper sanitation facilities.
You may wet yourself when you see its $14,000 price tag, but if cost doesn't deter you, learn more on the Neorest NX2 h website, link here.
Next Next post: Popeye was right: Spinach means energy!


"Fall of the Batmen, part 2"
Summary of Stephness: Asleep in his Belfry chair, Tim Drake (Red Robin) dreams of Bat-Tim's warning to him – that everything he just returned to will be over sooner than he can imagine. He wakes, sweating, to Stephanie Brown (Spoiler) leaning over him in concern. He brushes her worry to the side, even though it's been four days since he's had a real sleep in a bed (similar to Batman, who over in Justice League #34 went three days without sleep, with disastrous consequences). He takes "micronaps," but Steph reminds him he "died" just months ago. Still impatient, he tells Steph all the ideas won't let him rest for too long – organizing all of the Bat-Family, coordinating (secretly) with the police, planning patrols of the entire city with all the manpower, even starting a Bat-Ambulance service with Leslie Thompkins. Steph begs him to slow down and listen to himself, but Tim feels like he can't miss his chance to reshape the world.
Later, Tim calls Steph to the Belfry, and accuses her of leaking the footage to all the various groups. She agrees that it was her phone, but proves that Anarky is behind the distribution. She goes to find out Lonnie's plan, and tells Tim angrily that by assuming she would betray the Knights like that, he has betrayed their relationship. She also reveals that she knows he doesn't plan to retire like he did before his "death," and tells him she's leaving – not sure if she's just exiting, quitting the team, or breaking up with him – or all three.


text:
A Fictional Conversation Between Islamic Terrorists and the People Who Make Up Excuses for Them November 18, 2015 Hemant Mehta
A Fictional Conversation Between Islamic Terrorists and the People Who Make Up Excuses for Them
***Update***: I was led to believe Faisal wrote this because it's on his website and Facebook as if it was his own work.
It's not. Joseph R. wrote it, sent it to Faisal, who then posted it online without attribution. Faisal tells me Joseph gave him permission to do that, but it should be noted that Joseph wrote it, not Faisal. I have contacted Joseph to verify this. Faisal has since updated his Facebook post to include the attribution. (Update to the update: Joseph has confirmed this story.)
The Blaze and several other sites gave credit where it wasn't due, so my apologies for not catching it sooner. Thanks to a reader for bringing this to my attention.
Faisal Saeed Al-Mutar imagines a conversation between Islamic terrorists and the apologists who make excuses for why they're committing violent acts. It gets more entertaining the more you keep reading.
He prefaces it by saying, "It's like a bad Monty Python sketch":
"We did this because our holy texts exhort us to to do it."
"No you didn't."
"Wait, what? Yes we did…"
"No, this has nothing to do with religion. You guys are just using religion as a front for social and geopolitical reasons."
"WHAT!? Did you even read our official statement? We give explicit Quranic justification. This is jihad, a holy crusade against pagans, blasphemers, and disbelievers."
"No, this is definitely not a Muslim thing. You guys are not true Muslims, and you defame a great religion by saying so."
It goes on like that for a while. And I disagree with Faisal. That would make an excellent Monty Python sketch.
Read the full "conversation" here.
Your Guide to the Supreme Court Abortion Case That Could Change Everything
November 18, 2015 Pennsylvania Legislator Tells Church Crowd "We Need to Turn Our Nation Back to God"


The February program will be filled with lots of love, new ideas, and fun as we learn to create several styles of Valentines to share some love with others. From open-out hearts to paper globes and fortune cookies, we will take home some gems. Mary Glidewell, Maggie Griffin, and Christy Town will present their favorites to us. Most paper will be supplied except the watercolor paper; if you don't have any Suzi Ickles will have extra.


text:
Atomic Heart - Half Life with Russian Robot Clowns
By Wroth,
May 8, 2018 in Discussion
Getting Half Life, Serious Sam and god knows how many other vibes from that. Crazy business, high hopes.
JoeK
4 hours ago, Len said:
Yeah. This one in particular felt like a sequel to Bioshock.
Still looks very intriguing though!
On 06/03/2022 at 07:24, Unofficial Who said:
I suspect we won't be seeing this for a long time if ever now given current world events.
Surely you can't describe 6 months as being a particularly long time. I'd rather they work out the bugs than have a Cyberpunk style release debacle on their hands.
This game looks insane. Wasn't even on my radar until yesterday but looks like it could be very special.
Day one game Pass!
It feels like this could actually could be a game as opposed to a cool graphic demo now!
I'm really excited about it!
Looks great, although I felt the player feedback was lacking a bit. I couldn't work out how they got the robot to reveal its weak points. Was it through attacking it or does it just happen after a set period of time? Oh, and the jump looked a bit puny.
Other than that though, it looks amazing. Really well art directed. I can't wait to give it go.
jonamok
Pronouns: He / Him
NOMEP
The insta cut to black screen on death, while logical, just feels awkward. Otherwise looks good, and the sound of that thing is great.
14 minutes ago, jonamok said:
Those little 2D animations that show how you've died on the death screen are great though. Little touches like that make it feel like a Labour of love.
layten
On 09/02/2022 at 19:43, layten said:
Ol' Liz is not taking anymore shit.
Zombie mode confirmed.
Well, I'm still not sure if the game will be any cop, but I'll pick it up because it just looks so damn pretty...
It's got Metacritic 77 written all over it.
Xbox, not Wii
2 hours ago, JoeK said:
Genuinely looks amazing.
If a bigger developer was making this then everyone would be talking about it.
It's on game pass day one, so no need to spend money to check it out
This looks great so far and I hope it's indeed a 7/10 or higher game like @Timmosaid. We used to get fun story-driven single player FPS games like this all the time - from FEAR to BioShock to Singularity to Bulletstorm to Metro... Fun solid action romps.
Nowadays it's mostly either a live gaas game, and/or a token add-on to the multiplayer as the real star of the show, and/or CoD influenced standard military fare. Until the next Metro appears this will hopefully be a solid and inventive fun experience.
This looks like absolutely brilliant fun the more and more we see. Really looking forward to a play though. Everything suped up to max.
As I said before, high hopes.
three1ne
This looks like a straight up 9 or 10 although I won't believe it until I'm playing it myself.
something doesn't sit right that it's day 1 Gamespass.
Unofficial Who
It appears I was wrong, this is about to be released, and on GamePass as well.
Although there's a little bit of controversy brewing which I think was going to be inevitable.
https://www.gamesradar.com/atomic-heart-dev-facing-backlash-on-statement-relating-to-russo-ukraine-war/
Atomic Heart developer Mundfish is facing backlash over a statement on its stance on the Russo-Ukraine war.
Earlier today on January 16, Mundfish published several tweets from its official Twitter account. Follow-up tweets to the one below state that Mundfish does "not comment on politics or religion," and that the developer is "a global team focused on getting Atomic Heart into the hands of gamers everywhere."
"We do not, and will not, condone contributors or spammers with offensive, hateful, discriminatory, violent, or threatening language or content," the tweets from Mundfish conclude. Now, the tweets from the Atomic Heart developer are facing backlash from Twitter users, such as Remedy Entertainment developer Sergey Mohov just below, criticizing the studio for refusing to name the Russo-Ukraine war in its statement.
As Mohov further points out in a follow-up tweet, the protagonist of Atomic Heart is a KGB agent in the USSR of the future, set in an alternate timeline where Russia outright defeated Nazi Germany in the Second World War. Mohov writes that for developer Atomic Heart to play the "non-political" card against a video game backdrop of this nature is nonsensical.
At the heart of the discussion around Mundfish though, is the matter of whether or not the studio has accepted funds from the Russian government in development of Atomic Heart. This is a question that's been on the lips of many Twitter users over the past months, and has partially led to today's statements from Mundfish, but it's one that the developer has never explicitly commented on. While Mundfish's headquarters are in Cyprus, the company is Russian, and is understood to be linked to companies that have received sanctions as a result of the invasion of Ukraine.
Is this going to affect sales? Responses to the tweets in question suggest not.
I hope it doesn't affect sales. I just want the game to be judged on how it actually is as a game - and I'm still not entirely certain how it'll fare in that respect. I think it'd be a very poor state of affairs when everyone in a country gets tarred with the same brush, and seeing as I'm not aware that all the enemies you fight are actually robots from Ukraine I'll happily let the game speak for itself.
If I were a Russian game developer, I'd probably think twice before making an overtly political statement around the release of a game I was working on. It's all well and good expecting people to do the right thing, but I'd also not expect people to put themselves and their families at risk.
The developers are still based in Russia, correct? And people loudly and publicly criticising the government don't tend to fare too well, so I don't expect every Russian to come out and denounce the war where there is a credible threat to their safety.
I think it speaks somewhat to the privilege of those not living in Russia and the Ukraine to be making any kind of deal out of this.
As for taking Russian government grants, so what? I'd wager that process is so far removed from those wanting to wage war as to be inconsequential. It'd be like people criticising every grant awarded when Blair was taking the Uk into an illegal war as being tainted in some way.
Unless the devs came out and praised 'mother Russia' or something, then I think this is an unfair story to be running.
The developers are fucked either way here. They either don't say anything and get criticised or do say something and get into a lot of trouble with the Russian government dictatorship if they do, even more so if they've been taking their cash.
It's looking really good.
Although the first thing I'll be doing is changing all the voices over to russian, because the idea of all these american accents in an altogether foreign environment seems right out of place.
MansizeRooster
If there's even a fleeting chance that a single penny from a sale of this game ends up in the Russian government's hands, then I'm going nowhere near this.
"weighty melee combat system"
shows footage of swinging a giant axe at a frozen enemy and it does absolutely fuck all 🙃
dvdx2
1 hour ago, MansizeRooster said:
I think it's on gamepass?
47 minutes ago, dvdx2 said:
I don't have an XBox.
LaveDisco
So that's a probable yes then. I think gamepass rates can change depending on users reached? Maybe?


A book has been put together to summarise the project that I did during two weeks December 2010 in the streets of Bristol as part of Inbetweentime Festival. The book includes an introduction by Helen Cole, the Director of Inbetweentime Festival, an essay by Astrid Breel, one of the project facilitators, and it also includes all the images created and documentation of the night projections of images onto buildings in the streets of Bristol.
The Still Image Moving project was commissioned and produced by Inbetween Time Productions in collaboration with Bristol City Council's Neighbourhood Arts Team.


03/20/2018 10:00 AM CDT - 05/01/2018 7:55 PM CDT CLOSED!
4. PICK UP ITEMS: All pickups are scheduled in advance. Its the Buyers responsibility to be certain all items are included before removing boxes from the premises. Items not picked up can incur both a moving and/or storage fee.


2 BOGALUSA, LOUISIANA. THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 1916.
submission of the demands today.
thirty Mexicans were killed, Gen.
tion was captured by the Americans.
most cordial invitation to attend.
and a committee composed of M.
furnish the labor free of charge.
mission to hear him speak.
Y. M. C. A. early tonight.
the Washington Bank & Trust Co.
9 o'clock mass. Rev. Abbot Paul.
practice the latter part of the week.
il the sale of any merchandise.
helthe streets of Bogalusa Sunday.
telegrapah offices will not be closed.
tent with doing something, else.
You can get an ice cream soda.
a cigar and a newspaper.
cars had violated the speed limit.
missioner and Chief of Police.
le next weeks issue of the Enterprise.
Mr. Branch secretary. Dr. E. A.


Signing up for a BIPS account is quick, easy and can be done online 24 hours a day, seven days a week with no obligation to make a transfer. To get started, sign up here or call 00 44(0)1753 752760.
You can use BIPS if your main residential address is in the UK, France or Ireland.
You will get a client number and you'll be asked to create a password for your international payments account.
In some cases, for your security, we may need you to provide some documents to prove your identity and/or address before we can activate your account.
How much can I transfer through BIPS?
The amount you can transfer is unlimited. Online, you can transfer between £50 and £300,000. You can also make transfers of £10,000 or more by telephone on 00 44(0)1753 752760.
What currencies can I send?
The service will allow you to buy and sell all of the world's major currencies. The most popular currencies are available to transfer online. For a wider range of currencies (available in amount of £10,000 and above), please call 00 44(0)1753 752760 to discuss your requirements.
What types of transfers are available?
Spot, Forward and Market Order transactions are all available and you can also take advantage of automated regular transfers. You can find more information about each of these services below. Please call 00 44(0)1753 752760 to discuss the best option for your requirements.
There are no transfer fees for transfers of £2,500 (or currency equivalent) and above. For amounts below this, a £9 / 10€ fee will apply. All fees incurred are clearly displayed throughout the transaction process and are in the currency that you are sending your funds in. Additional charges may occasionally be applied by Britline or other third party banks when transferring the funds to us or before the funds arrive in the recipient account.
The online service enables you to pay with a wide range of UK and French issued debit and credit cards. You can pay via electronic transfer (BACS/CHAPS) for online and telephone transfers. Please note that if you are paying via electronic transfer, the account to which you send your funds will be a HiFX currency account based in the UK, as they provide our currency services.
If you are sending money back to the UK from your CA Britline account, you can download the transfer request form here. It is recommended that you confirm that you can readily access your funds before you complete a transaction.
For transfers of up to 2,500€, you may wish to add the HiFX account to your CA Britline banking online as a beneficiary.
When will my money be sent?
We will confirm a payment date to you when you book a transfer and this will be the earliest date we can make your payment, provided we have received your funds. From when we send the payment, it can then take 1 to 4 working days for the payment to clear into the receiving account.
Please contact us immediately on 00 44(0)1753 752760 should you need to cancel your transaction. This will result in us entering into a reversal transaction, which may incur a close out cost to you.
Who is HiFX and is my money safe with them?
Britline has been working with HiFX, a leading UK foreign exchange specialist, for a number of years to provide quick, easy and secure international money transfers to our customers. We selected HiFX as our currency provided because their passion for excellent customer service mirrors our own at Britline.
HiFX Europe Limited is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Payment Services Regulations 2017, registration 462444, for the provision of payment services. HiFX Europe Limited is also a registered MSB with HM Revenue & Customs – registration number 12131222.
In the segregated client accounts.
In transit, i.e. being sent.
We keep your money and personal information secure at all times. The BIPS website uses Norton, trusted by companies and consumers across the world.
Are my details and personal information protected?
The online service is fully encrypted using the highest form of security certificates provided by Norton.
You can find information below on each of the services offered by the Britline International Payments Service.
Spot contracts are available online or transfers for larger amounts can also be booked over the phone. For any of our other services, please give us a call on 00 44(0)1753 752760.
If you have access to your funds and want to convert all or part of them straight away, you can enter into a spot contract. This is essentially a 'buy now, pay now' option.
This is effectively a 'buy now, pay later' scenario, which allows you to lock in an exchange rate for up to two years. You don't need to have all of the funds available right now but you will need to pay a percentage of the amount as an upfront deposit. Should the exchange rate worsen, you won't need to worry. However, it is important to remember that if the exchange rate improves, you will still be obliged to complete your contract at the agreed rate.
This option is available for transfers over £10,000 and it can be helpful if you need to make a large payment, such as a house purchase, so you know exactly how much you will be paying.
If you are looking to achieve a specific rate, a market order can be arranged. You just need to let us know what your target exchange rate is. We will then monitor the market on your behalf and the transfer will be made automatically when your desired exchange rate becomes available. Your order can be amended or cancelled at any time until the transaction takes place.
We have developed a regular transfers service to remove the stress from regular payments, such as mortgages, pensions, salaries or bills. Our regular transfers team can help you to secure an exchange rate for up to two years into the future and organise your international money transfers.
The process is fully automated by direct debit, which means you will never miss a payment. This type of transfer is ideal if you want to credit your CA Britline account with the same amount each month, and enables you to avoid unnecessary bank fees as there is no additional fee for these transfers.


Being a creative artist amid such regimented and structural excellence cannot be easy.
On the hour mark, with spoils divvied and the holy trinity of Sexton, Murray and Best icing bruised limbs, Jordan Larmour did what a only handful of players on the planet can replicate.
Jordan be nimble, Jordan be quick, he was held and set to be bowled over until a Houdini escape from ankle shackles was followed by laterally evading another giant blue body. The crowd oohed and ahhed, but it was his next action that has Ireland's departing Kiwi coach trusting him. After passing he tracked play before arching over a fallen comrade to deny Mathieu Bastareaud's hulking body a chance to pilfer Ireland's ball (and it was their ball for as long as the game was relevant).
Larmour rucked because on this team everyone must.
"We told him this morning Rob's calf was still tight 'so it's you young fella at number 15' and he virtually rubbed his hands together and said 'right, I'm delighted'," said Joe Schmidt with genuine amazement.
As the most successful coach and captain combination Irish rugby has ever known bid farewell to Dublin on a Test match weekend, the age of Garry Ringrose, James Ryan and Larmour is only beginning to roll.
But he's in trouble and he knows it. On 71 minutes there came a spontaneous ripple of applause after twisting the French in knots.
Even Sexton was up off the bench cheering yet Larmour retreated with a harsh Monday morning chiding already ringing in his ears. Skipping past three men was a sight to behold but all the coach notices is the French turnover penalty. No point dazzling if the ball doesn't trickle into the scrumhalf's palm.
Still, the public are growing to love the 21-year-old like they are already obsessed with Ryan and Ringrose's combination of class and grunt. Once they see more of him the relationship can only blossom.
Dan Biggar may slow the coronation because, if allowed, the Welsh tactician will exploit Larmour's lack of Rob Kearney's solid essence.
"I'd be surprised if Rob wasn't training on Tuesday," said Schmidt. This was no French examination, none at all. Even the weather smiled on Jordan Larmour. A biblical storm of sleet, snow and rain abated seconds after sodden players escaped the warm-up.
The scene was set for Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack and Thomas Ramos to drag this St Andrew's hockey prodigy from pillar to post. Up into the swirling sky the ball would surely sail with the local audience praying to the gods of high-fielding to grant Larmour the gift of composure.
Suddenly, the sun shone on Kearney's latest deputy. Unlike Robbie Henshaw against England, France failed to run or turn him, mainly because they failed to touch the ball themselves. Not even the delicate boot of Dupont could alter the lopsided territorial advantage in a first half of pure pressure rugby.
Ireland squeezed France dry, making any fullback's gate-keeping duties largely irrelevant, so Larmour went hunting for work. From kick-off he was game, up on tippy toes only for Ryan to soar above everyone to gather and hide the ball up his green jumper.
Not a minute was clocked when the pitch seemed like a sinking ship as play diagonally slid towards the old Lansdowne pavilion corner with Larmour's bouncing chip forcing Damien Penaud to gift Ireland an attacking lineout.
This was the game for 40 slow, methodical minutes; Ireland picking off three tries by Rory Best – whose tears during the anthems confirmed the end of these heady Dublin days. Johnny Sexton, looping the loop as Larmour's decoy run tempted Yoann Huget into error. And finally, after Ringrose's majestic leap and fumble denied the Aviva a score for the ages, Jack Conan muscled over.
No need for dominant tackles, just utter dominance proved the French revival against Scotland was mere illusion.
Larmour's showing was not without flaw; throwing ball to ground and turned over (twice) by stepping into contact when a difficult offload would have gifted Jacob Stockdale a try. This is knitpicking but the worry about fullback remains and, as Schmidt likes it, nobody knows who is Kearney's true understudy. Certainly not the players. Keep them guessing, keep them hungry, keep them working.
Larmour must possess a deep well of self-belief to couple with his magical talent because Schmidt blooded him early at the age of 20 and keeps going back to him. There is no room in the starting team, at the moment, so injury or Act III arrivals remain his opportunity.
What is guaranteed, five days from now under an emotional haze of Grand Slam fever in Cardiff, is every single player will be tested to their core.
"It's going to be a proper Six Nations test match," said Best.
Henshaw will not return, Kearney has a chance, but the kid who already owns every medal on offer in European rugby could well meet Liam Williams and the tortuous tactical boot of Biggar. Cardiff is the suffocating stage where others, equally as gifted as Larmour, have faltered. Luke Fitzgerald's fullback dream ended there.
If not, Larmour gets properly examined.


text:
Movies@
Online and offline
Online (disambiguation)
Online (magazine)
Movies@ Ltd. is a cinema chain in the Republic of Ireland. The company opened its first multiplex cinema at the Dundrum Town Centre on 1 October 2005, with 12 screens. Other sites include the Pavilions Centre, Swords (11 screens) which opened in mid November 2006, and Gorey, Co. Wexford. A branch was proposed to be located in Salthill, County Galway (10 screens) in Autumn 2007, but has not yet opened.
The company bears some resemblance to the largest Irish cinema chain, the Ward Anderson group, in that it is a family owned business run by members of two families, in this case the O'Gorman family (who ran the Ormonde Cinema in Stillorgan) and the Spurling family who are also involved in rural cinemas, albeit having closed one (Enniscorthy) due to being in relative proximity to a Movies@ site.
Movies@.ie
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia -	https://wn.com/Movies@
The following is an overview of the events of 1894 in film, including a list of films released and notable births.
William Kennedy Dickson receives a patent for motion picture film.
Thomas Edison films his assistant, Fred Ott sneezing with the Kinetoscope at the "Black Maria."
April 14 - The first commercial presentation of the Kinetoscope took place in the Holland Brothers' Kinetoscope Parlor at 1155 Broadway, New York City.
June 6 - Charles Francis Jenkins projects a filmed motion picture before an audience in Richmond, Indiana. Earliest documented projection of a motion picture.
Thomas Edison experiments with synchronizing audio with film; the Kinetophone is invented which loosely synchronizes a Kinetoscope image with a cylinder phonograph.
Kinetoscope viewing parlors begin to open in major cities. Each parlor contains several machines.
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia -	https://wn.com/1894_in_film
The year 1905 in film involved some significant events.
The Manaki brothers make the first motion picture in the Balkans, The Weavers.
Pathé Frères colors black-and-white films by machine.
Filmmaking takes an unexpected historical role by recording activities along Market Street, in the year preceding the destruction from the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 (footage in the modern film Trip Down Market Street 1905/2005).
Aleksandr Khanzhonkov begins filming his first documentaries.
The Misadventure of a French Gentleman Without Pants at the Zandvoort Beach, the oldest surviving Dutch fictional film is released by Alberts Frères. Later to be included in the canon of Dutch cinema as released by the Netherlands Film Festival.
Films released in 1905
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes; or, Held for Ransom, directed by J. Stuart Blackton
Airy Fairy Lillian Tries On Her New Corsets
Baby's Toilet, directed by Cecil Hepworth
The Black Imp, directed by Georges Méliès
Boarding School Girls At Coney Island
The terms "online" and "offline" have specific meanings in regard to computer technology and telecommunications in which "online" indicates a state of connectivity, while "offline" indicates a disconnected state. Common vernacular extended from their computing and telecommunication meanings and refers specifically to an Internet connection. Lastly, in the area of human interaction and conversation, discussions taking place during a business meeting are "online", while issues that do not concern all participants of the meeting should be "taken offline" — continued outside of the meeting.
In computer technology and telecommunication, online and offline are defined by Federal Standard 1037C. They are states or conditions of a "device or equipment" or of a "functional unit". To be considered online, one of the following may apply to a system: it is under the direct control of another device; it is under the direct control of the system with which it is associated; or it is available for immediate use on demand by the system without human intervention.
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia -	https://wn.com/Online_and_offline
The term "online" can refer to a state of connectivity.
"Online" (or variations) can also refer to:
Online (magazine), magazine for information systems first published in 1977
On Line, 2002 American drama film
"Online" (song), 2007 song recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley
On Line (film), 2015 Chinese science fiction action film
One Nevada Transmission Line (ONLine), proposed electrical power line in Nevada
Offline (disambiguation)
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia -	https://wn.com/Online_(disambiguation)
Online was a magazine for information systems first published in 1977. The publisher Online, Inc. was founded the year before. The magazine was headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 2001, Information Today, Inc. acquired the assets of Online Inc. The first issue under Information Today, Inc. was published in January/February 2002. The magazine merged in 2013 with the magazine Searcher to form Online Searcher.
Marydee Ojala served as the editor of Online. The website contained selected full-text articles and news from each issue.
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia -	https://wn.com/Online_(magazine)
onlinemothersworkonline.com
onlinemothersworkonline.net
onlinejobsonline.com
moviesdb.com
fullactionmovies.com
freeyogatrainingonline.com
onlineinvestor.com
a2zonlinejob.com
classiconlinemovies.com
onlinenews.com
organicproduceronline.com
yogaandmeditationonline.com
bestmartialartsmovies.net
10000moviesonline.com
bangaloreonlinejobs.com
everythingmusiconline.com
1000moviesonline.com
onlinemake.net
accreditedmbaonlineprograms.com
workonlineinghana.com


Orange County's happiest family tradition is 27 years old! Once again, Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit and, of course, Ebenezer Scrooge himself will bring 19th-century London to life in Orange County's favorite Christmas tradition.
Enjoy song and dance performances by students from the Orange County High School of the Arts as they celebrate Santa's Arrival. Children will be able to take part in this interactive production and magical parade to Santa's Village led by Santa Claus himself.
One of Orange County's oldest and best loved holiday traditions. Witness Santa's spirited arrival during the lighting of a live 90-foot Christmas tree. Free to the public.
A traditional and authentic Swedish Christmas, complete with a St. Lucia procession brought to you by the SWEA of Orange County. Wonderfully decorated exhibits, food, arts and crafts, traditional music, dancing and activities for children will be available as well as visits from both St. Lucia and the Swedish Santa Claus or "Jultomten".
One of the largest orchid shows in the world, in addition to many orchid lectures, there will be over 100 orchid exhibits and thousands of orchids available for purchase from world wide growers. Admission is $3 and parking is free.
It's the largest pet and pet product expo in the world. Over 1,000 animals will entertain you in stage shows, competitions and demonstrations including dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles, rodents, goats, pigs, llamas, alpaca, rabbits, miniature horses and more. Also, pet adoptions, pet products for sale, petting zoo, how-to workshops and advice from animal experts. Presented by a nonprofit organization to promote responsible pet care. Lots of free parking. Please do not bring your pets.
Guests enjoy premium wines, live music and culinary specialties from South Coast Plaza restaurants. The festival benefits Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and Someone Cares Soup Kitchen.
The Orange County Fair is the premier family attraction in Southern California offering a wide variety of exhibits, foods, entertainment, rides and hands-on activities. There is something for everybody at the Fair including the summer headline concert series, working farm and petting zoos, thrill rides, contests, and games.
The Brew Hee Haw will feature more than 60 craft beer selections from regional breweries with a primary showcase of local Orange County breweries. Attendees can expect various styles of beers such as Pale Ales, IPA's, Stouts, Saisons, Hefeweizens and more!
South Coast Plaza and The Friends of CASA present a Halloween Extravaganza that includes a scrumptious pancake breakfast, trick or treating, arts & crafts, animal shows, opportunity prizes and more. Children come in costume. The event benefits abused and neglected children who are served by CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) programs of Orange County.
Project Cuddle, whose goal is to eradicate the growing epidemic of baby abandonment and neonaticide, has an annual Costume Gala and Fundraiser Ball.


In Task 1 the candidate must describe the main features of the data.
We will look at the theory first and then see how it applies to the graph we looked at in the previous two posts.
If you understand the principle of how these questions must be done, you will be able to do anything you are given.
This will allow you to group data together in some logical manner. If you do that, you are already way above Band 5 and possibly Band 6 if you get this right.
Actually, we have already done most of the work because we realized there were 3 important features when we looked at the overview.
We will use the METHOD 1: increasing, decreasing, stays the same.
Please note: Japan is NOT increasing, it is not expanding, it is not getting bigger, Japan does not change; it is the UNEMPLOYMENT RATE in Japan that is increasing. (Writing "Japan is increasing ..." is like waving a red flag at the examiner saying give me Band 5).
Now put these three parts together into three body paragraphs.
"In detail, the percentage of the people who were unemployed in the US began at 7% in March 1993, when it was actually at its peak, and then it fell fairly steadily until around March 1997, when it reached about 5.4%. After this, the rate fluctuated around 5%.
The situation in Japan was almost the reverse of this. In March 1993, the unemployment rate shot up sharply from 2.5% to 3%, which amounts to a rise of 20% over a very short period of time. Although unemployment did not continue to increase at this pace, the number of people who were out of work continued to increase steadily until it hit its peak value during 1998, when it was 5% of the total workforce.
In the final 12 months from from 1998 to March 1999, even though the US and Japan had started the study period with very different unemployment rates, both countries experienced an unemployment rate which was almost the same at approximately 5%."
There is a lot more to say about the way we have structured these paragraphs but this is already long so we will leave until next time.
Notice that I have left out all the minor detail EXCEPT the sharp rise in the unemployment rate in Japan at the very start. I did this because this change actually represented a 20% rise in a very short period of time, which makes it an interesting, though perhaps, minor feature of the data.
So, I have written about 200 words (a little long) and I have FIVE paragraphs!
In my opinion, coming from writing for newpapers and magazines, it does not. Each paragraph has a different point to make and that is the reason they were invented. They help to make your writing clear.
If you don't like short paragraphs you can combine the introduction and overview into a single paragraph and then combine all the detail into another paragraph, so you would finish with a 2 paragraph essay. That would be fine.
Some teachers will tell you to put the overview at the end so it serves as a conclusion. That is also fine. This is a short esssay and examiners are not looking for a conclusion so you don't have to write one, but the overview sentence could be used to round off the essay.
There is no rule about where the overview goes, but if you leave it out, you will be scored maximum Band 5 for Task Achievement - the Public Band Descriptors are very clear about this.


text:
Prada Opens First Flagship in Denmark
The two-floor unit is located inside the Illum department store in Copenhagen.
By Sandra Salibian on November 14, 2016
Prada's flagship in Copenhagen.
The Danes Wear Prada: The fashion house has unveiled its first flagship in Denmark, located in the Illum department store in Copenhagen. Overlooking Ostergade, one of the main shopping streets of the city, the unit covers 9,688-square-feet over two floors.
The external facade replicates the building's architecture with a sequence of display windows and light boxes, while the interior concept combines Prada's heritage with modern aesthetics and Italian design elements, such as architect Osvaldo Borsani's velvet chairs, reproduced exclusively for the brand.
Showcasing women's and men's ready-to-wear, footwear, accessories and leather goods collections, the store is divided into different areas, each defined by a specific decor.
Walls covered in deep green canvas contrast with a black-and-white checkerboard floor in the entrance area, dedicated to women. Glass cases, green marble shelves and green beamed ceilings, which represent a modern interpretation of Italian historic ceilings, complete the space.
Doorways framed in green marble allow access to the adjacent spaces, showcasing women's leather goods and accessories, in addition to the rtw collection. Footwear is presented in yet another designated zone, defined by a turquoise hue seen on walls, seats and shelves.
Dedicated to men's collections, the second floor replicates some design elements with a bolder twist. An Air Force blue shade is introduced on the walls and velvet seats, in combination with checkered floors and beamed ceiling, while gray velvet chairs and geometric-patterned carpeting dominate the footwear area.
Shaded green canvas walls, narrow-plank ebony flooring, colored carpeting and iron and glass cases define the space reserved for men's apparel.
Illum, which was acquired by Italy's La Rinascente in 2013, revealed the store opening project back in August, as part of a major transformation process that continues to add luxury fashion and jewelry brands to be introduced to the Nordic market.
Copenhagen	flagship	flagship store	Prada


text:
Home/Top Stories/Genocide: ICJ directs Myanmar to protect Muslims, submit report
Genocide: ICJ directs Myanmar to protect Muslims, submit report
By Younus| Published: 23rd January 2020 6:36 pm IST
Bangkok — While the world silently watched Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims genocide at the hands of Military clampdown, Millions were slaughtered, brutally killed, raped, forced to run for their lives, take refugee in other countries, the world finally seems to have woken up against these atrocities.
Rejecting the arguments made by Myanmar's civilian leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the International Court of Justice at The Hague ruled that Myanmar must take action to protect Rohingya Muslims, who have been killed and driven from their homes in what the country's accusers call a campaign of genocide this Thursday, The New York Times reported.
The International Court of Justice said Myanmar must "take all measures within its power" to prevent its military or others from carrying out genocidal acts against the Rohingya, who the court said faced "real and imminent risk."
The Court also essentially put Myanmar under the court's oversight, directing it to submit regular reports to the tribunal explaining what further steps the country had taken since the order.
This is the first- ever decision where the international court ruled against Myanmar over its military's brutal genocide of the Rohingyas.
While the court has no enforcement power, any member of the United Nations can request action from the Security Council based on its rulings.
"The chances of Aung San Suu Kyi implementing this ruling will be zero unless significant international pressure is applied," said Anna Roberts, executive director of the rights group Burma Campaign UK.
According to sources, the nation of Gambia has addressed the case to the tribunal in the month of November on behalf of the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
READ: If governments can last 5 years, so can protests: Tikait
Gambia nation's legal team urged the top international justice court to condemn Myanmar for violating the Genocide Convention and asked for more immediate action: a temporary injunction ordering Myanmar to halt all actions that could make the Rohingya's situation worse, including further extrajudicial killings, rape, hate speech or leveling of homes owned by Rohingyas.
Ruling in Gambia's favor on Thursday, the court did not give Myanmar any specific instructions for ensuring the Rohingya's safety but the court said the country must ensure that no more acts of genocide including killing, causing serious bodily or mental harm, or deliberately imposing conditions meant to destruct the Rohingya population.
The international court of Justice headed by Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf of Somalia also directed Myanmar to report back within four months explaining the steps it has taken, to preserve evidence relevant to the genocide case, and also to submit further reports to the court every six months.
The 2017 military clampdown known as Tatmadaw, that committed Rohingya genocide in the western state of Rakhine forced more than 700,000 to flee to neighboring Bangladesh while mass murdered thousands.
According to sources, about half a million Rohingya are still in Myanmar, including about 100,000 people who were forced from their homes.
Responding to ruling, a military spokesman Gen. Myat Kyaw, said: "We will take action in accordance with the military judicial framework if there is a war crime," he said.
READ: Allahabad HC bars police action against inter-faith couple
"What the Tatmadaw did was a just war. If individuals violated the law, we will take action by the military court."
Independent Commission of Enquiry- a panel appointed by Myanmar's government found the war crimes did take place in 2017 earlier this week but refused of any 'genocide intent' in the military actions while stated the military's action was in response to rebel attacks.
"War crimes, serious human rights violations, and violations of domestic law took place during the security operations," the commission said in its report summary released on Tuesday.
Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, had traveled to the Hague in December to speak on Myanmar's behalf at the hearings.
At the hearings, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi heard gruesome accounts of summary executions, babies thrown to their deaths, mass rapes and whole villages burned to the ground. When it was her turn to speak, she did not directly address those accusations, but told the court, "Genocidal intent cannot be the only hypothesis."
She also said Gambia's case against Myanmar was "precariously dependent on statements by refugees in camps in Bangladesh," who she said, "may have provided inaccurate or exaggerated information."
Surprisingly individuals in the country still support her and organize rallies to support Ms Suu kyi.
"The military who committed the crimes should thank her," said Ko Win Hlaing, a taxi driver who helped organize a rally to support Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi.
"You might see the critics of Aung San Suu Kyi on Twitter because international communities are mostly on Twitter," he added.
"But on Facebook, most people support her and I'm sure her party will win again in coming elections. I feel that she is the real mother of our country."
Get the news updates on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. For all the latest Top Stories updates, download our app Android and iOS.
GATEQuest: TIME to conduct scholarship test for GATE coaching


Oak Fireplaces | Oak Fire Surrounds | Direct Fireplaces..
When looking for a wooden fireplace, you can't go far wrong when you choose an oak fireplace from Direct Fireplaces. We stock a stunning range for you to choose from, whether you want an oak fire surround to complement a cast iron fireplace, an electric fire or a gas fire.
If you are looking for a rustic oak fireplace surround, you can find natural-looking grains with uncluttered designs. Alternatively, to add some grandeur to your living room, choose an oak fireplace surround with more impressive carvings for an elegant focal point. For something more modern, a simple yet stylish oak fireplace mantel will be perfect for you - find yours here today!
Buy your oak mantelpiece from Direct Fireplaces now to enjoy our low prices, easy finance options and free delivery. For more, see our full range of fireplaces for an array of fires, fire surrounds and fireplace packages.


text:
Eton College Defends Sacking Teacher Over Video On Masculinity
Tue, 12/01/2020 – 03:30
Authored by Simon Veazey via The Epoch Times,
Amid growing backlash for firing an English teacher over a video on masculinity, Eton College has said that it is "not an issue of freedom of speech."
Teacher Will Knowland was dismissed from the school—which has famously educated over one-third of all British prime ministers, including Boris Johnson—after he refused to take down a lecture from his private YouTube channel that questioned "current radical feminist orthodoxy."
The school initially refused to comment since an appeals process is underway.
After growing accusations of bending to woke progressivism, the school has now defended its actions, insisting they made the decision based on legal advice.
"The dismissal of Mr. Knowland was not an issue of freedom of speech," the college said in a statement emailed to The Epoch Times.
"The school was advised by specialist lawyers that the content in question was in breach of the Equalities Act and the Education (Independent Schools Standards) Regulations. There was simply no other choice than to ask for it to be taken down."
Pupils at Eton College hurry between lessons wearing the school uniform of tailcoats and starched collars, in Eton, England, in this file photo. Eton is one of the most expensive and prestigious private schools in the world. (Graeme Robertson/Getty Images)
Eton says that they repeatedly asked Knowland to remove the video temporarily from his YouTube channel "pending further discussion" but that he refused.
He was sacked for gross misconduct by a disciplinary panel.
The Patriarchy Paradox
Knowland has taught English for nine years at the £42,500-a-year boys school, which is a byword for privilege and traditional private education.
His video was based on a lecture entitled "The Patriarchy Paradox," which he had prepared earlier this year, as part of a course to encourage critical thinking in older students.
Before presenting to students, he pre-recorded a video of the lecture, which was circulated among other teachers on the school's intranet. According to the Telegraph, when one of the teachers complained, the headmaster asked for the video to be removed. It was removed.
Knowland, however, refused to remove the lecture from his personal YouTube channel.
"Because I believe passionately in free speech, I said I would only take it down if given a clear reason, which is how I ended up being dismissed," Knowland said, reported The Telegraph.
The Provost of Eton (chairman of the governing body), Lord Waldegrave, responded to what he described as a "fake news" narrative that Knowland had been sacked for preparing the video lecture itself.
"It is alleged that he was sacked for having the temerity to articulate such views," Waldegrave wrote in a statement sent to The Epoch Times. "This is false."
A student walks in front of Eton College, in Eton, west of London, on Oct. 1, 2015. (Jack Taylor/AFP via Getty Images)
Waldegrave said that Eton "prides itself on encouraging open-minded, independent, and critical thinking."
Knowland's personal video was, with the school's permission, "clearly identified with Eton," according to Waldegrave.
He said that the dismissal "is not about free speech within the law, behind which Eton stands foursquare. It is about a matter of internal discipline, quite properly now subject to appeal."
A Letter from Pupils
Knowland said his intention was to present different views from "the current radical feminist orthodoxy"—but not to necessarily endorse them.
"In my lecture, I pointed out that, historically, masculine qualities like strength, courage, and tenacity have often been as beneficial to women as they have been to men," he said according to the Telegraph.
A crowdfunding site set up in the name of Knowland says, "I have been dismissed from my employment. My wife and I will be made homeless, along with our five children. I am raising money to challenge my dismissal in the Employment Tribunal if necessary."
The funding site has currently raised almost £35,000 ($46,700) of a £60,000 target.
Meanwhile, a petition letter written by current pupils at the school has been steadily gaining signatures from current and former pupils, reaching almost 2,000 as of writing.
The Epoch Times cannot verify signatories are all as stated.
The authors said that the disciplinary action could not be separated from the content of the lecture.
"We struggle to identify where Mr. Knowland's video steps out of the realms of academic debate and into genuinely discriminatory private opinion," the letter said.
"The boys have concluded from watching the video that the problem cannot lie in the way he sets out the ideas, but in the ideas themselves."
The letter urged the school to be kind.
"The dismissal of Mr. Knowland—at least on the facts available to the boys—points to a heartless and merciless spirit at the top of the school," they wrote. "Mr. Knowland is loved by all who have encountered him. He is an obviously and thoroughly good man."
Author: Tyler Durden
Author Zero HedgePosted on December 1, 2020 Categories Zero HedgeTags Zero Hedge
Previous Previous post: The media's double standard| Sharyl Attkisson
Next Next post: UN Climate Agency Slapped With Corruption Allegations
The True Legacy of Donald Trump
Where to Find a Principled Right-Wing Party
Antifa on the move in Seattle following Joe Biden's inauguration
WHO admits PCR tests create false positives, just in time for Biden Admin
Pelosi 'not worried' impeaching Trump after leaving will undermine Biden's message of 'unity'
With Democrat Congress, Biden moves on immigration, might push infrastructure, student debt and more
Twitter suspends Chinese Embassy account over tweet about sterilization of minority Uighur women
Canada Reacts to Biden Ending Keystone Pipeline; Biden Revokes Trump EOs; CCP Sanctions US Officials
Inauguration of the NWO Puppet // Ghost Town DC // ANT1FA is Back!
Google Searches Expose Stolen Corporate Credentials
Google Forms Set Baseline For Widespread BEC Attacks
Chuck Todd: Biden's Inauguration Speech The First 'To Mention The Virus Of White Supremacy'
Wyoming State Senator Announces Primary Challenge Against Liz Cheney
Biden Accuser Tara Reade: 'Unspeakably Hard' To Watch Biden Take Office
Iran Tells Biden 'Ball In US Court' To Revive Nuclear Deal While Admin Says "Long Way To Go"
Media Suddenly Questions Whether California's Outdoor Dining Ban Contributed To COVID-19 Surge


We are delighted to announce the second Annual Soul of Austin Culture Festival. Celebrating a mosaic of cultures manifested through art, music, food and unique performances.
The authentic diversity of the Capital City is what sets it apart from other parts of Texas. Our diverse neighborhoods are an asset for a city that seeks to continue building bridges and supporting all of its people.
Time: 12noon - 6 p.m.
It's a family affair and we are planning many special activities and need your support. Expect lots of prize give-aways and more fun surprises. Bring your lawn chairs. No outside coolers will be permitted. This is a multi-cultural event. Everyone is welcome!
PATRONS - Come hang out, eat, drink have fun.
VENDORS - Calling all food trucks, food and business vendors. Large crowds expected.
SPONSORS - The festival is not possible without the generous donations from our Sponsors. Contact us for more info.
VOLUNTEER - Come on out, volunteer for a couple hours and stay for more fun.
The Soul of Austin Culture Fest is a celebration and empowerment tool for our multicultural communities - neighborhoods, its businesses and its occupants.
Soul of Austin Culture Fest's Mission: To nurture artful and economic relationships, as well as celebrate authentic cultures with other communities. The Soul of Austin Festival encourages an inclusive demographic of creative artists, professionals, musicians, educators and established businesses.
NO REFUNDS, we are a 501c3 organization and your donation is appreciated.


Buying auto insurance can be important in regards to the life of your vehicle. If you enjoyed this short article and you would like to get more details concerning young Driver car insurance kindly go to our own site. You need to do all of your research so that you don't wind up paying for a policy that doesn't work for you or losing money to a policy scam. There are some tips listed below to help you.
Purchase a high quality "safety-rated" vehicle to get lower premium rates. These vehicles are known to be the safest on the market, young driver car insurance so insurance companies will give you a bit of extra credit if you are driving one. Look for sedans and family cars, as they are usually the ones with the best ratings.
To make sure you're getting fair pricing in your premiums, verify that your reported information is accurate in your policy. For example, ensure that the make/model of your vehicle is correct, the number of miles on the vehicle when you took out the policy, etc. Even your reported commuting distance is important young driver car insurance as shorter commuting distances can have a positive effect on your premium savings.
So after reading this article, it is quite plain to see that there are techniques that you can use that will help simplify the process of buying auto insurance. So keep these ideas in mind and go and search out the best auto insurance for you. Do not just settle on something just because you were not sure what to get.


The Sasaki Kojiro Suburi Bokken is designed after the famous long sword used by Sasaki Kojiro known for being Miyamoto Musashi's long time rival. Although he was defeated by Musashi in their legendary duel on Ganryu Island, his skill was highly respected and his technique "Tsubame-gaeshi" using his extra long sword became one of the most well known Kenjutsu techniques. Our Sasaki Kojiro Bokken features a extra long and heavy blade. Made with Japanese White Oak, comes with urethane coating. A variety of wood selections and finishes are available upon request.
So easy to purchase online. We are very happy with the products and the speedy delivery.
Would be happy to recommend to other customers.
I was looking for a longer bokken to use for the sword style I am learning and was lucky to have bought this one. This bokken is heavy and slightly bigger than normal but it feels balanced and good for doing suburi and kata. The quality of this wood work is perfect and is highly recommended for people who want to use a longer bokken.
The first thing you'll notice on this Bokken is the length. It's pretty darn long. About 4'2". I would suggest using this bokken in an open space, like the backyard or on a rooftop, unless you like changing smashed lightbulbs. Aso, if you want a bag for this one, I suggest making it yourself, or you can get a bag that could fit a Jo staff here in Tozando.
The weight of the bokken is distributed closer to the hilt, and is heavy, which really makes it perfect for suburi. If you're new to Kendo, using this for suburi would definitely slow you down. I suggest you focus more on your form rather than the speed when you do. Very easy to develop bad habits with this if you're not careful.
As for the looks, it's really nicely made and it's exactly as described. I've owned a bokken made from a local wood called "kamagong", a type of ironwood. Compared to that one, this one's craftsmanship is definitely better. You can see and feel the effort put into every inch of this beautiful piece.


text:
Q: What are the appropriate ANOVA and classification methods to use for this data set? I have collected data on 293 individuals. I measured the concentration of the same 7 Substances in each individual, represented by Sub1:Sub7. The concentration of these Substances may be different in individuals from different Locations. I am interested in seeing how well the Individuals can be separated based on their concentrations of these Substances. I am also interested in seeing how these Substances may be correlated with each other, as the concentration of some may effect the concentration of others.
Each Individual in my data set is represented by a unique ID number. Three "nested" grouping variables (Location, State, and Region) can be used to separate these individuals. Multiple Locations are in each State, and multiple States are part of larger Regions. The broadest grouping variable is Location, which has 26 levels (26 different locations). Each Location contains roughly 10 individuals (10 IDs). The State grouping variable contains 18 levels, and the Region grouping variable contains 9 levels. I want to use these grouping variables to see the level of refinement at which the Individuals can be separated using the Substances. My data is structured like this:
---------------------------------------------------------------
Location State Region  ID Sex Sub1 Sub2 Sub3 Sub4 Sub5 Sub6 Sub7
---------------------------------------------------------------
Loc1      FL     Reg1  1   F   0.123 0.222 ect...
Loc1      FL     Reg1  2   M
Loc2      FL     Reg1  3   F
Loc2      FL     Reg1  4   F
Loc3      GA     Reg1  5   F
Loc3      GA     Reg1  6   M
Loc4      GA     Reg1  7   F
Loc4      GA     Reg1  8   M
Loc5      NC     Reg2  9   F
Loc5      NC     Reg2  10  M
Loc6      SC     Reg2  11  M
Loc6      SC     Reg2  12  F
Loc7      SC     Reg2  13  F
Loc7      SC     Reg2  14  F
------------------------------------------------------------------

I want to ensure that I do not violating any critical assumptions and still reach the full potential of my analysis. My questions are: What assumptions do I need to be concerned about? What is the appropriate kind of ANOVA to use in R (aov, anova?) and post hoc test? What would be the best classification method to use on this data, and if new individuals were added to the data set in the future (I was thinking Random forest, Bayes, or LDA)?

A: Firstly, there are a couple of things you need to be careful about.  LDA, RF, and NBC are classifiers, so this assumes that each object (person) is assigned to a class label. Your question, however, states that you want to be able to somehow predict individuals based on concentration values, which implies a 293-class prediction problem.  You didn't say you wanted to use concentration values to predict location, state, or region.   This would be impossible since would only have 1 object per class label (a sparse or ill-conditioned problem).
What you could do first is determine if there is a significant difference between concentration values (for each of the 7 substances) across location, state, and region using nested ANOVA.  Nested ANOVA is a telescoping-type test of mean differences for concentration values for which you assign subject IDs within regions, within states, within locations.  (lookup nested ANOVA examples in R).  The main questions you want to answer with ANOVA is: Does region matter, does state matter, or does location matter, where "matter" implies: Is there a significant difference in average value of concentration for one (of the 7) substances across the various regions, states, locations?  As a beginner, I would recommend running nested ANOVA with one dependent variable which is set to one of the 7 substances.  (that is, you need to run 7 nested ANOVA analyses).   There is a way to shotgun all 7 substances into nested ANOVA at one time, but if you don't know the multivariate Hotelling Test and/or multivariate repeated/nested MANOVA, don't go there.
For correlation between concentrations of the 7 substances, you can simply run Pearson (or Spearman rank) correlation for the entire dataset, and then run correlation of the same within each region, state, or location.  You don't have to do this, but it could reveal different patterns.  I have never heard of a nested correlation methods.
You could also run a regression analyses instead of ANOVA by using a "panel data" approach.  (lookup panel data-based regression analysis of the Boston Housing data, for which there are zip codes within neighborhoods, within counties, etc.)  For R, lookup something like "panel data analysis using R".  I like to use GEE regression for panel data (nested data) instead of using nested ANOVA, since I commonly run regression instead of the ANOVA (it's the same thing).
Now that we are done addressing the nested hierarchy of your data, it's important to note that LDA, RF, NBC are not nested-friendly, but rather are for straightforward unnested classification analysis.  But what you could do is determine if concentration values among the 7 substances predict region, state, or location based on LDA, RF, NBC, etc., in which you use the class labels for region, state, or location as the categorical outcome you are trying to predict.


The Ehrlund Acoustic Pickup offers an intriguing new take on the ubiquitous piezo-based contact pickup. Described by its Swedish manufacturers as an "ultra-linear microphone", it is nevertheless a piezo pickup, albeit a relatively pricey (£185) triangular one.
According to the manufacturers, the pickup's unusual shape does make a difference. Something certainly does, for the Ehrlund sounds significantly more microphone-like than your average stick-on pickup. It is also a lot less fussy about how it is terminated (the input impedance of whatever it is plugged into) than most piezos. Normally, I would expect to have to terminate a piezo with a minimum of 2MΩ (ideally, 5MΩ) to get the maximum power transfer and full frequency range out of it. That is one reason why piezo-equipped guitars invariably have on-board preamps, placing a buffer stage as close as possible to the pickup. The Ehrlund seems perfectly happy feeding slightly less than 1MΩ, so something other than just its shape must be different to 'normal' piezo pickups.
Piezos are characterised by their non-linear dynamic response and this is partly where the infamous 'piezo quack' associated with under-saddle pickups comes from. The Ehrlund seems to display a significantly more natural dynamic response. Talking with the manufacturers elicited only guarded references to the potential for some kind of beneficial interaction between waves reflected from the three sides of the triangle, if I understood correctly. However it's done though, the result is a piezo that doesn't sound too much like a piezo.
Placement is everything with a contact pickup and the Ehrlund is no exception. Experimenting on the outside surface of an acoustic guitar, just above and behind the bridge, it is easy enough to find a number of viable positions. For a permanent installation, you would obviously want to fit the pickup inside the guitar, where positioning options will be more restricted by the bridge plate and bracing. The pickup doesn't seem to work well mounted on the bridge plate itself, but just in front of it, or just behind (towards the bass side, not the treble, interestingly) I found it produced a balanced output in both a small-bodied Gurian and a slightly bigger, more heavily braced Avalon.
Some of the best results came from combining the Ehrlund with either a microphone or a traditional under-saddle piezo pickup. The latter proved particularly effective on classical guitar, which is always very poorly served by an under-saddle alone. Used with a mic, the pickup can be subtly blended in to provide low-level detail and an immediacy that complements the mic's broader perspective. The Ehrlund's more natural dynamics (as compared to other piezos) seem to help it combine well without becoming too prominent.
The pickup itself is highly immune to feedback, but any form of soundboard transducer is always at the mercy of the resonant surface that it is mounted on. It is the guitar itself that feeds back, with the amplified sound driving the guitar's top into oscillation, rather than the pickup detecting its own output. On smaller instruments with a smaller soundboard area, such as violin and mandolin, this is less of a problem and the Ehrlund really shines in these applications.
Of course, we'd all rather use a nice mic in a good room, but recording acoustic guitarists are always looking for better alternatives to the pickup systems currently available, to help overcome compromised acoustics or spill from other sources. The Ehrlund pickup (however it works!) is a really useful new option in the studio toolbox and just might be the start of a significant new line of development.
Sound-Link Marketing +44 (0)1223 264765.
My reference to 'compensating networks' on electric guitar volume controls in the review of the Terratec Hi Jack in last month's issue led to some enquiries for more information. I was referring to the technique of adding a capacitor, sometimes with a resistor as well, between the input and output lugs of a guitar's volume pot in an attempt to compensate for treble loss as the control is turned down. All passive guitars display this effect to some extent as the resistance of the pot combines with the capacitance of the guitar cable to form, effectively, another tone control.
Of course, this won't bother you if you permanently leave your guitar's volume control flat out, and I know some players who actually even prefer the mellowing effect of turning the volume down for rhythm parts and then getting a bit more bite when they turn up for a lead line. But players who use their volume control a lot do tend to be bothered by it and there are a couple of simple DIY techniques for dealing with it. They all involve the addition of capacitor, generally around 0.001µF, between the two 'signal' terminals (in other words, not the grounded one) of the volume potentiometer, effectively allowing some high frequencies to bypass the pot when it is partially turned down. Fender incorporated this as standard in Telecasters from the mid-'60s right up until the reissue models started, but using the cap on its own actually has the effect of making the sound progressively brighter as you turn the volume down, rather than just keeping it the same at all levels. The addition of a resistor (about 150kΩ if the pot is 250kΩ) in parallel with the capacitor (as shown on the left of the diagram below), keeps the treble better balanced all the way down, but affects the overall pot taper, making it more linear. I happen to like this side-effect, but not everyone does.
If you put the resistor in series with the capacitor (as shown in the diagram), rather than in parallel, you can maintain a more traditional logarithmic volume taper, but you will need to fine-tune the resistance value to achieve an even treble taper. The resistor is now determining how much of the capacitor's 'treble bleed' is allowed to bypass the pot when it is partially turned down, and I find the value generally needs to be between 100k and 150k, depending on the effect you want.
Best known for their bass amps, Hartke have introduced a pair of amplifiers for acoustic guitars. The AC75 and AC150 are pretty unusual too, in that they feature a 2x4-inch ribbon tweeter, backed up by conventional five-inch full-range drivers and housed in tuned, ported enclosures. The ribbon driver is intended to add clarity to the acoustic guitar's vital high frequencies and overtones. The AC75 uses a 75W bi-amped design, with 50W powering two five-inch drivers and 25W powering the ribbon tweeter. The AC150 (pictured above) uses a tri-amped design, with four five-inch drivers arranged in stereo with 50W per side, and 50W powering the ribbon tweeter. The two-channel amps provide active and piezo instrument inputs on channel one and XLR microphone and RCA line inputs on channel two. There's a five-band graphic EQ, a built-in 100-preset 24-bit digital effects processor that can be routed to either channel and a variable notch filter to tackle feedback. The amps also feature an effects loop and XLR direct outs to feed a mixer. The AC75 costs £399 while the AC150 costs £499. Both will be available in the spring.
The latest floor effects processors from Zoom are the G7.1ut and G9.2tt. The units feature 24-bit/96kHz A-D/D-A converters and combine DSP modelling with tube processing, courtesy of Zoom's brand new 32-bit ZFX3 chip and the 12AX7-equipped Energizer circuit respectively. On top of lots of amp and effect modelling options, there are two channels per patch, handy for quick channel switching during live performance, and the amp- and drive-modelling blocks have two dedicated algorithms, one designed for live use and one for direct recording. This means that you can take the same sounds you use for practice and recording onto the stage. Both units feature analogue-style controls, footswitches and an expression pedal, but the G9.2tt has an additional '3D Z-pedal' which detects sideways movement as well as conventional up-down pedal movement. That's technically only two dimensions, but it's a unique feature, allowing the user to assign up to four parameters to each axis, so we'll overlook it! Both units are also equipped with a USB port allowing them to function as audio and MIDI interfaces, and come with a copy of Steinberg Cubase LE and Zoom's own editor/librarian software. The G7.1ut costs £249.95 and the G9.2tt costs £329.
The new G Sharp rack processor from TC Electronic offers a simplified and affordable route into the world of TC reverb, modulation and delay effects. The G Sharp's name is clearly intended to remind us of its heavyweight forebears like the G Force and, more recently, G System, but the new unit is a rather different proposition. It has two DSP engines, one dedicated to reverb, the other to modulation and delay effects, each of which provides 15 preset effects carefully voiced for a variety of applications. Though the presets are fixed, the two effects can be adjusted — there are pre-delay, decay time and filter controls in the reverb section and delay time, feedback and tap tempo controls in the modulation/delay section, plus global controls for the input level, dry/wet mix and balance between the two effects. The G Sharp has 99 user and 256 factory presets and can be controlled via MIDI or a footswitch, and there are stereo analogue and 24-bit S/PDIF inputs and outputs. The unit is expected to cost around £199 when it goes on sale in April, which sounds like great value if you can live without the more advanced programmability of the G Sharp's more expensive predecessors.
The latest addition to the Radial Engineering Tonebone range of effects has a distinctly British flavour. The Plexitube is a hybrid tube/solid-state distortion unit designed to deliver a wide range of Marshall-esque tones. It has two separate channels tailored for rhythm and lead sounds, each with independent level, voicing and EQ contour controls. The Plexitube also features true bypass switching and, unusually, an effects loop. It costs £269.
Aria UK +44 (0)20 8572 0033.