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iOS 14.2 Reportedly Causing Severe Battery Drain – MacRumors
Users on the Apple Developer forums and Reddit are widely reporting that iOS 14.2 causes severe battery drain issues.
Symptoms of the problem include rapid battery drain and longer charge times than usual. Some users are reporting that their devices are losing over 50 percent charge in less than 30 minutes, and seeing large drops of around five percent within minutes of normal use.
The issue seems to be software-related because multiple users are experiencing battery life sticking at a high percentage before dropping, as well as seeing a sudden gain in battery life after restarting their device.
The affected iPhones all appear to be slightly older, such as the iPhone XS, iPhone 7, iPhone 6S, and first-generation iPhone SE. The 2018 iPad Pro running iPadOS 14.2 also seems to be affected.
iOS 14.2 and iPadOS 14.2 arrived just two weeks after iOS 14.1 and iPadOS 14.1, in the second major updates to the iOS and iPadOS 14 operating systems that were released in September. The update included new emojis, Intercom, AirPods Optimized Battery Charging, People Detection, and new wallpapers.
There are no new reports suggesting that the battery issue was fixed in iOS 14.2.1, which sought to address bugs with MMS messages, made for iPhone hearing devices, and a significant issue with screen responsiveness on the iPhone 12 mini.
The third developer and public betas of iOS 14.3 and iPadOS 14.3 have already been released, so it is possible that Apple may fix the problem in that update. The third major update to iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 brings support for Apple ProRAW, as well as refinements to Home, Health, and Weather.
Users with older devices may wish to hold off on updating to iOS 14.2 if they have not already done so, until the issue has been fixed by Apple.
Google removes some IAC browser extensions for 'policy violations' – SaltWire Network
iPhone 12: I had high hopes for a return to USB-C, but then MagSafe arrived – CNET
Five big lessons experts say Canada should learn from COVID-19: – Coast Mountain News
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Canadian Press interviewed a group of leading Canadian experts in disease control and epidemiology and asked them what should be done to reduce the harms the next time a germ with similar destructive potential emerges. Here are the five most important lessons they offered:
1. Socio-economic and health inequities have made some people more vulnerable
COVID-19 has exposed fault lines in the Canadian society by showing how long-standing inequities contributed to higher rates of infections and mortality, said Steffanie Strathdee, a Toronto-born epidemiologist at the University of California in San Diego.
"The people who are, by and large, getting COVID are people who are poor, or of-colour, or living in poor socio-economic conditions," Strathdee said.
In an analysis of COVID-19 deaths between March and July, Statistics Canada found that death rates because of the virus were double in Canadian neighbourhoods where more than 25 per cent of the people are members of visible minorities compared to neighbourhoods where minorities are less than one per cent of the people.
Strathdee said people in many areas in Canada have limited health services.
"In my sister and mother's region of Stouffville (a suburb of Toronto), it's very, very difficult to get a doctor," she said.
"What we need to do is invest in our public health and health care infrastructure, because this isn't going to be the last pandemic we see."
University of British Columbia professor Erica Frank, a doctor and population-health expert, said almost all those who have died because of COVID-19 had pre-existing risk factors, including age.
"Not paying enough attention to reduction of chronic-disease risk has greatly increased the cohort of susceptible people to COVID," she said.
She said there is a need to spend money on public health systems and on social determinants of health, such as housing, to decrease sickness and death.
2. Canada's division of health-care responsibilities is inefficient
The disconnect between federal and provincial or territorial actions to fight the pandemic is getting in the way of an effective response, said Donald Sheppard. He's the chair of the department of microbiology and immunology in the faculty of medicine at McGill University and a member of Canada's COVID-19 therapeutics task force.
For instance, Sheppard said, after Eli Lilly's COVID-19 antibody treatment was approved by Health Canada, bought by the federal government and greenlit by the federal therapeutics task force, British Columbia health authorities decided to reject the federal approval of the medication.
He said there many more examples, including the handling of long-term care homes.
"Quebec is screaming they want money but they're refusing to sign on to the minimum standards of long-term care," he said.
He said there have been poor communication and a lot of territorialism since the beginning of the pandemic.
"There should be a time when it's all hands on deck and we don't play games," he said. "That didn't happen. We saw these fragmentations between the provinces and the feds leading to, frankly, people dying."
3. Centralized decision-making in health care stifles innovation
Sheppard said the Canadian health care system can't be nimble because federal and provincial governments have seized control of decisions on how to handle the pandemic.
"During a new disease like a pandemic, when we're learning about things, the people on the ground actually are learning a lot faster than the people sitting in Ottawa, Quebec City or Toronto," he said.
He said Canadian businesses and universities have been struggling to get approval for testing strategies that use rapid tests to reopen safely.
"The way that the ministries of health are set up, they actually make it incredibly difficult to set those type of things up, because they hold on to all the power with a stranglehold."
Sheppard said there's no process private entities can use to launch innovative testing programs.
"The dogma from the ministries of health are simple: What we're doing is right. There is no other better way to do anything … therefore we will not help anybody do anything different than what we're doing. And anything other than that is a threat to our authority," he said. "That's the mentality, and it's just killed innovation in the health-care setting."
4. Lack of coordination stymied research
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how crucial research is to inform health decisions, said Francois Lamontagne, a clinician-scientist at the University of Sherbrooke.
He said Canadian scientists have played prominent roles scientifically during the pandemic but recruiting patients to participate in clinical trials has been a challenge due to lack of coordination.
"There have been a lot of studies launched. A lot of those studies overlapped," he said.
He said having too many studies at the same time has resulted in shortages of suitable patients who are willing to be subjects in clinical trials.
"This, essentially, dilutes all of the studies and you end up enrolling very few people in too many studies."
Lamontagne said the United Kingdom has been the locomotive of the world in enrolling patients in clinical trials because research is an integral part of the country's national health system.
"It's not something that happens in a silo. It's part of the (National Health Service)," he said. "This led them to build the infrastructure … And then there's an effort to co-ordinate and prioritize studies so they do one study and they do it well and they get the answers very quickly."
He said creating better research infrastructure and coordination should be a priority for Canada.
"This is a criticism directed at me as well. I am part of 'us' — researchers. We have to get our act together and there has to be an effort of coordination."
Lamontagne said health research in Canada is largely funded by the federal government whereas health care is a provincial jurisdiction and both levels need to co-operate.
"The stakes are so important for not only how we respond to pandemics now and in the future, but also for the sustainability of a public health-care system," he said.
5. Good messaging and communication matter
Strathdee said good science communication with the public is important to address misinformation regarding the novel coronaviruses and its vaccines.
"We need for people to understand that science and medicine don't have all the answers all the time, that we're learning just like everybody else," she said.
Strathdee said guidelines will be updated as more data become available and that's what happened when more data showed that face masks reduced the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
She said government officials should be trained in health literacy.
John Brownstein, a Montreal-born Harvard University epidemiologist, said minority communities, including Indigenous communities, tend to have more mistrust in vaccines and for good historical reasons.
"We got to figure out how to improve communication and improve confidence," he said.
Strathdee said it's critical for politicians and public health officials to be honest with the public by "making people aware that, you know, it could get worse before it gets better, and that they need to stay the course."
She also said people need to understand that if segments of the population are left behind in vaccination, like prisoners and homeless people, that will put everyone at risk.
She said Canada did a good job in detecting COVID-19 cases because it was hit hard by SARS.
"We have to make sure that we don't unlearn those lessons going forward and that we build upon what we've learned from COVID and prepare for the next pandemic."
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Keep Your iPhone 12 and Its Accessories Away From Pacemakers – Lifehacker
Photo: Christian Dina (Shutterstock)
If you or someone you know has an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD), you may want to avoid using an iPhone 12. According to a recent study in the Heart Rhythm Journal, the iPhone 12 and its accessories can interfere with an ICD's behavior, and even stop it from working.
The study found several components within the iPhone 12 can "potentially inhibit lifesaving therapy in a patient particularly while carrying the phone in upper pockets." This warning applies to all iPhone 12 devices, including the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Max, and iPhone 12 Max Plus. The iPhone 12's MagSafe accessories are also a risk, specifically the MagSafe Charger and MagSafe Duo Charger, due to their magnets and NFC radios.
According to the study, the magnetic charging coils and RF-emitting components in these products are strong enough to interfere with an ICD's internal mechanisms, which respond to magnetic fields. Researchers observed immediate suspension of the ICD's heart-regulating operations if an iPhone "was brought close to the ICD over the left chest area." The interference "persisted for the duration of the test."
This poses serious health risks, including the possibility of heart failure or cardiac arrest. To help inform users of the potential risks, Apple updated its iPhone 12 health and safety documentation with new guidelines based on the report's suggestions. Apple now recommends users keep their iPhone 12 and MagSafe accessories more than six inches away from their chest at all times, and more than 12 inches away if your phone is wirelessly charging. Definitely don't put your iPhone in your shirt or jacket's breast pocket.
While these warnings are for the iPhone 12 line and its magnetic accessories specifically, they're not the only products that can affect medical devices. A similar case study shows smartwatches and fitness trackers can interfere with ICDs if they come within 2.4 centimeters of the ICD's location in a patient's chest. The iPhone 12 interference is more severe—especially while charging wirelessly—but you should take caution using any smart devices near someone with an ICD.
watchOS 7.3 for the Apple Watch adds new Unity Watch Faces, Time To Walk and more – MobileSyrup
watchOS 7.3, the latest version of Apple's wearable operating system, is set to release today.
The update includes several notable features like a new Unity Watch Face collection to celebrate Black History Month, 'Time to Walk' Fitness+ recordings from several notable celebrities and ECG in more regions around the world.
Along with the new Unity Watch Faces, Apple is also launching a new version of the Apple Watch Series 6 that includes a Black Unity Sport Band on February 1st.
Regarding ECG's wider release, the feature is releasing in Japan, Mayotte, the Philipines and Thailand.
The update also includes performance improvements and fixes related to Control Center and Notification Center issues.
While watchOS 7.2 is rolling out now, and at roughly 3PM ET, hit my Apple Watch Series 6.
Update 26/01/2021 3:31pm ET: This story has been updated to confirm that watchOS 7.2 has now arrived on my Apple Watch Series 6.
Source: Apple
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Resources Reference Materials Response
Reference Materials: Response
Centers for Disease Control. Official Web site of the Dept. of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control.
CDC Blast Injury Essential Facts and Information:
Blast Injuries: Essential Facts
After a Bombing: Health and Safety Information for the General Public
After a Bombing: Health and Safety Information for Emergency Care Providers
Mass Casualties: Burns
Children and Disaster Resources. This resources page, created and maintained by the IAEM Children and Disaster Caucus is now divided into five sections: Resources for EM Practitioners; Children and Disasters; Disasters and Schools; Disasters and Child Care; and Resources for Children and Families.
Children's Disaster Book List. (updated June 10, 2020) A living document prepared and maintained by the IAEM Children and Disaster Caucus that provides a quick look into (e.g. list) what is available to enable disaster preparedness conversations with young children and youth.
Department of Health & Human Resources:
Radiation Emergency Medical Management (REMM) website (Oct 2015; first redesign since initial site was created in 2007)
Department of Homeland Security. Official Web site of the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security.
"Stop the Bleed Campaign" provides lifesaving information and resources to prepare potential bystanders of emergency situations, including campaign website, fact sheet, and blog post. (13 Oct 2015)
Environmental Protection Agency. Water Utility Response on the go website.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA is tasked with responding to, planning for, recovering from and mitigating against disasters.
FEMA's Communicating During and After a Nuclear Power Plant Incident, June 2013. This FEMA document provides communications guidance for domestic nuclear power plant (NPP) incidents, including sample text and suggested answers to anticipated public and media questions. This document also provides background information explaining roles and responsibilities across all levels of government during an NPP incident. While primarily created for Federal leaders who will speak to the public, this document should also complement the routinely exercised communication materials used by State, local, and tribal officials.
FEMA's Improvised Nuclear Device Response and Recovery: Communicating in the Immediate Aftermath, June 2013. This FEMA document is a resource for emergency responders and federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial officials communicating with the public in the immediate aftermath of an improvised nuclear detonation in the United States.
Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP). EMAP is a voluntary accreditation process for state and local programs responsible for coordinating preparedness for and response to disasters, whether natural or human-caused.
GAO Reports and Testimonies Related to Disaster Preparedness, Response and Reconstruction. A bibliography of GAO products related to disaster preparedness, response and reconstruction.
National Incident Management System (NIMS). Developed by DHS, NIMS integrates effective practices in emergency response into a comprehensive national framework for incident management.
Pandemic Flu.gov. As the official Web site of the U.S. Health & Human Services on pandemic flu and avian influenza, this site includes the Pandemic Influenza Plan, as well as guidance documents for state and local partners.
Pandemic Influenza Resources and Guidelines. A collection of resources, guidelines, information, and tools offered by the National Association of State EMS Officials.
ReliefWeb. ReliefWeb, administered by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), provides information (documents and maps) on humanitarian emergencies and disasters.
Responder Knowledge Base. IAEM is a supporting partner of the Responder Knowledge Base, which was built specifically to serve the needs of emergency responders. It contains information on currently available products, along with a wealth of related information such as standards, training, and grants. All vendor information is screened before posting.
Satellite Communications: Why Satellite Communications Are an Essential Tool for Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery. This white paper was developed by Futron Corporation and GVF, the non-profit association of the global satellite communications sector. It is intended to provide an introduction for public and private sector organizations by setting forth the basic facts about satellite communications that are available to support any emergency requirement. Further, the white paper aims to facilitate those organizations' efforts to effectively procure, contract for, and deploy satellite-based emergency management and disaster recovery solutions.
Show Me: A Communications Tool for Emergency Shelters" Massachusetts Dpt of Public Health
Volunteering in the United States. This report was prepared by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, released on Feb. 8, 2008. These data on volunteering were collected through a supplement to the September 2007 Current Population Survey (CPS). The supplement was sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service. The CPS is a monthly survey of about 60,000 households that obtains information on employment and unemployment among the nation's civilian non-institutional population age 16 and over. Volunteers are defined as persons who did unpaid work (except for expenses) through or for an organization.
World Health Organization. WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Google Plus gets a facelift
On the 17th of November, Google Plus – as we knew it – had died, just not in the way that everyone had predicted. Google had, instead, revamped the visuals of the much maligned and heavily discussed social media platform. According to the tech giant, they had reached out and listened to their audience, noticing a trend that the majority of respondents were huge fans of their communities and collections features.
The entire interface, as a result, is visually leaner, cleaner, and more becoming of something that we'd expect from a company that always impresses us with their designs. It has provided each facet of the social platform with more importance, of which a colour scheme that mimics their famous logo has helped to foster. In the old interface, it was easy to get lost, and some of Google+'s most innovative features never saw the light of day, as a result.
However, behind the cosmetic change, there was a greater change to what we couldn't see. They also trimmed down the size of the old site  which used to be a mind boggling 22 MB  and gave collections and communities their own landing pages. This now means that the site is lightning fast, something that notoriously dogged the old version. Of more importance, however, is the greater power they've given to the bread and butter of social media: the users.
Google Plus has made more use of its most powerful weapon  Google itself. The platform now focuses more on the relative interests of the user. Whilst Google Plus has always been great to closely follow any favourite topic, as we discussed back in August, this enhancement makes it even easier to track your hobbies and interests. Communities now play a much more pivotal role, and are now a fantastic way to get your thoughts and ideas out to the world.
Communities now play a much more pivotal role, and are now a fantastic way to get your thoughts and ideas out to the world."
Collections has also been revamped, which was only just launched in May of this year, and gives photos a much greater role to play than before. One of Google Plus' biggest success stories (and the only one, depending on who you talk to) has been this unique photo sharing space. By making it stronger and more streamlined, it has turned the social network into prime billboard space to share your artistic endeavours.
Both of these changes have, in turn, bumped up key, analytical stats. We conducted a little experiment with a dummy page during a fortnight period recently, and compared this with a matching timeframe of similar post frequency. We found:
That there was a 35.9% increase in the amount of total times the business page was viewed
An increase of 37% for clicks to the website that the dummy page was linked to
A 50% increase in followers, all of which had similar interests to those listed on the dummy page
Most social media marketers would love these stats, and it points to Google finally realising that to compete with Facebook, it has to be not Facebook. That's not a criticism of the biggest player in the social media world, either. It's more of a compliment that they've courted such a share of the market that others need to think outside the box. What we've seen from Google Plus is a maturity to play to their strengths and do exactly this.
However, these numbers came from posting quite frequently  around three to four times in a working week  meaning that Google Plus still requires a bit of nurture and care. This is something that still plagues the platform, compared to the almost instant results that Facebook and Twitter have always offered as their selling point. Facebook's incredibly powerful advertising feature can essentially guarantee these stat jumps easily for a small price, as a comparison
But that's to ignore the great effort that Google Plus has taken to improve itself. Critics may say that this smaller, more precise targeting has consigned Google Plus to an infinite development phase. However, as the quest for more reach, likes, and followers takes an exaggerated grip on the social media world, it is refreshing to know that there is still a way to connect with likeminded people.


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Hall of Mirrors
Versailles: Palace of Versailles Skip-the-Line Guided Tour
Hall of Mirrors: Tours & Tickets
Versailles Palace & Gardens: Ticket, Audio Guide & Transfer
Skip-the-Line Half Day Versailles Guided Tour from Paris
Versailles Palace & Gardens: 2-Hour Guided Tour
Duration options: 1.5 - 2.5 hours
Paris: Versailles Palace & Gardens Ticket and Audioguide
Versailles: Skip-the-Line Entrance and Lunch at Ore
From Paris: Full-Day Guided Tour of Versailles with Lunch
Paris Museum Pass: 2, 4, or 6 Days
The Paris Pass®: Access to Over 75 Attractions and Tours
Top sights in Paris
Seine River
Louvre Pyramid
Hall of Mirrors: Our most recommended tours and activities
1. Versailles Palace & Gardens: Ticket, Audio Guide & Transfer
Travel in the comfort of a fully air-conditioned bus from Paris city center to Versailles, home of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette until the French Revolution in 1789. Your host will be on board the bus and ready to answer any questions you may have. Be transported back to the Golden Age of France with a trip to the Palace of Versailles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and emblem of French royalty and extravagance. Marvel at the breathtaking royal chateau, transformed by the 'Sun King' Louis XIV in the 1660s from a hunting lodge. Your audio guide, available in 11 languages, will enable you to discover the State apartments of the King and Queen, the Royal Chapel and Hall of Mirrors, the epitome of French opulence; three hundred and fifty-seven mirrors line the gold-adorned hall and crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling. After explore the famous gardens of Versailles with access to the Grand and Petit Trianon, and the Estate of Marie Antoinette. Depending on the day and option booked, you will also be able to see either the Musical Garden or Fountain Show. After your visit, you will be taken back to Paris by air-conditioned bus.
2. Versailles: Palace of Versailles Skip-the-Line Guided Tour
Discover the splendor, beauty, and history of Versailles Palace on a guided tour with skip-the-line tickets. Step inside via a priority entrance and follow an expert guide through the lavish halls of this iconic French architectural masterpiece. Arrive at the meeting point to meet your guide who will give you a friendly introduction about the royal complex and lead you inside to begin exploring one of the largest palaces in the world. See the ornate King's and Queen's State Apartments and the glittering Hall of Mirrors, one of the most emblematic rooms in the Versailles Château and where many events of great historic significance took place, including the Treaty of Versailles. Learn about the main figures of the French monarchy, from King Louis XVI to his wife, Marie Antoinette. Listen as your guide brings these legendary characters to life with entertaining storytelling. Enjoy plenty of opportunities to ask questions during this interactive tour. Afterward, feel free to explore the palace or stroll through the gardens on your own.
3. Paris: Versailles Palace & Gardens Ticket and Audioguide
Venture into the grand ball and state rooms of the Palace of Versailles on a full-day tour from Paris. Choose from one of 3 departure points in the French capital for your transfer by comfortable bus. Upon arrival at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed monument, a trilingual host will first escort you to the château. You then will discover more about the site from the informative audio guide available in 11 languages. Delve deep into the heart of court life and learn how the Palace of Versailles grew from a hunting lodge for Louis XIII before his son Louis XIV transformed and expanded it, moving the court and government of France to Versailles in 1682. Explore the dazzling Hall of Mirrors and the opulent State Apartments. Follow in the footsteps of Louis XIV ("The Sun King"), and stroll among gardens designed by André Le Notre at your own pace. From May to October, your ticket includes the legendary Musical Fountains & Gardens Shows. Watch as the water features light up in a dazzling spectacle to complete your day in Versailles.
4. Versailles: Skip-the-Line Entrance and Lunch at Ore
In the recently renovated Pavillon Dufour, ore offers the great French classics, light bites and delicate pastries. Located at the first floor of Pavillon Dufour, the restaurant plan is divided into two main dining rooms, one bar and three salons. One can admire the Palace through the windows overlooking the cour Royale and the cour d'Honneur. In the salons, the subtle position of the mirrors allows the guests to look upon the Palace, even if their back is turned to the windows. Ore - Ducasse au château de Versailles offers contemporary French cuisine and artfully combining great classics and new dishes. Service is relaxed, professional and efficient. After lunch, be guided to the skip-the-line access for the palace and enjoy the rest of your day in Versailles.
5. Skip-the-Line Half Day Versailles Guided Tour from Paris
Join an expert interpreter-guide on a half-day tour of the exquisite Palace of Versailles, and get priority, skip-the-line entrance. You will be led through the history of the Palace, one of the most important monuments in the world. Once home to Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, you will relive the glory days of Parisian royalty. Gaze in awe as you are guided through the most beautiful rooms of the palace, including the State Apartments, the Hall of Mirrors and the Queen's and King´s Private Apartment. After experiencing the grandeur of the interior, enjoy free time to explore the beauty of the Palace of Versailles' gardens, filled with statues, busts, and marble vases that date back to 1661, when teams of sculptors were led by King Louis XIV's official painter, Charles Le Brun.
6. Paris: Versailles Palace Tour with Optional Fountain Show
Hidden away from the modern world, this majestic European castle on the outskirts of Paris is a perfectly preserved example of the reckless extravagance of the French monarchy. Experience life at its most luxurious, in a setting of lush rolling lawns that stretch as far as the eye can see. Meet your guide at a central location in Paris and board a private, air-conditioned tour bus to Versailles. You'll skip the lines at the entrance with your pre-booked admission to Versailles, where your guide will lead you through the gardens and palace. With a maximum of 25 people per group, your Versailles tour will be intimate and unhurried. Marvel at the sheer size of the Palace of Versailles, one of the largest and most spectacular castles in the world, boasting 700 rooms! See the incredible array of fine art and the intricate designs of the 1,250 fireplaces as you work your way through the palace's highlights, including the king's and queen's apartments, the chapel, the Coronation Room, the Hall of Mirrors, and the Salon of Abundance. Head out into the sunlight and visit the manicured gardens, covering an area of 1,800 acres. The Musical Gardens show runs every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (except Wednesday, July 14) from July 1 to August 31, while the Musical Fountains can be experienced every Saturday and Sunday from May 22 to October 31.
7. From Paris: Full-Day Guided Tour of Versailles with Lunch
Discover the Versailles grounds in their entirety on this full-day tour of Versailles Palace and the Trianons from Paris. Begin your visit to Versailles in the State Apartments. Enjoy visits to the Hall of Mirrors, the Queen's Bedroom and the Reception Halls. Hear interesting stories about the Sun King and those who resided within the palace as you explore the palace, its grounds, and outbuildings. After your guided tour of the palace, you will have free time to stroll through the picturesque French formal gardens. Around noon a lunch is scheduled, followed by a visit to the Grand and Petit Trianon, two smaller castles that enabled French royalty to escape the stifling court etiquette of the main palace. Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan let their love flourish at the Grand Trianon. While at the Petite Trinon and the Queen's Hamlet, Marie-Antoinette enjoyed living the simple life of a shepherdess.
8. Half Day Versailles Palace & Gardens Tour From Versailles
Learn how the glory of the Sun King shone throughout the world on this tour. Your expert English-speaking guide will bring the extravagant lives of the royal family and the French court at Versailles to life. Small groups allow for a relaxed and intimate visit. Your guide will take you on a journey in the footsteps of the Kings and Queens of France. During the reign of Louis XIV - the Sun King - Versailles was the place to be and to be seen. Nowadays visitors from all over the world still come to Versailles to marvel at the splendours of this incredible palace. The skip-the-line access allows you to bypass the long lines that form each day, and your friendly local guide will steer you expertly through the crowds, bringing the famous figures who once inhabited this palace back to life, and making sure you don't miss a thing. Learn how the Kings and Queens lived out their lavish lives in public, how they kept the gossiping courtiers under their thumb, and stole Italy's thunder by making Versailles the artistic center of Europe. Discover a typical day in the life of Marie Antoinette; you'll quickly understand why she hated the palace so much. Her opulent lifestyle here would ultimately lead to her tragic demise under the French Revolution; she left Versailles in 1789 never to return. After visiting the royal apartments inside the palace, your guide will lead you through the spectacular gardens, once the setting of balls, parties and elaborate firework displays. On fountain show days you will discover the amazing waterworks, still running today as they did in the times of Kings and Queens. At the end of your tour your guide will be happy to give you advice on further places to visit or where to enjoy a great meal in this beautiful royal city.
9. Versailles Audio Guided Tour from Paris
Enjoy a day trip from Paris to the Palace of Versailles, an architectural beauty. Cross the western districts of Paris before taking the motorway to the Versailles town, a royal château located in a former village. The Palace of Versailles was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France over a century. Now it is known as the wealthy suburb of Paris. You can discover Versailles on your own as you tour the inside and wander the grounds. You will be given audio guides on arrival to enrich your visit with commentary, and this architectural masterpiece will enchant you through its beauty and historical richness. Visit the Royal State Apartments including the Hall of Mirrors, King's apartments, and Queen's apartment, followed by a leisurely stroll in the Palace gardens.
10. Versailles: 2-Hour Private Tour for Families & Children
Journey back to the days of the French court on a family and child-friendly tour of the legendary Palace of Versailles, and access areas of the castle to experience the grand opulence of the staterooms. Avoid the dry historical commentaries of some tours. With your guide, hear the entertaining stories and facts designed with families and children in mind. Step into another world as you roam the magnificent halls and create memories you will all cherish for a lifetime. Your guide will explain the culture and art of the palace in a fun and interactive way. Once you have seen the miraculous King's Apartments and the breathtaking Hall of Mirrors, take a short walk to the most beautiful parts of the gardens of Versailles.
Top Attractions in Paris
1 Louvre Museum
2 Eiffel Tower
3 Seine River
5 Palace of Versailles
6 Paris Catacombs
7 Musée d'Orsay
8 Palais Garnier
11 Arc de Triomphe
13 Notre Dame Cathedral
14 Eiffel Tower Summit
15 Paris Lido
16 Musee de l'Orangerie
17 Centre Pompidou
20 Army Museum, Paris
1 Paris City Cards
2 Paris Cruises & Boat Tours
3 Paris Hop-on Hop-off Tours
4 Paris Tours
5 Paris River & Harbor Cruises
6 Paris Day Trips
7 Paris Shows & Musicals
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10 Paris Bus & Minivan Tours
11 Paris Family-friendly Activities
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13 Paris Walking Tours
14 Paris Night Tours
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Other Sightseeing Options in Hall of Mirrors
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What people are saying about Hall of Mirrors
Excellent guided tour of the palace of Versailles, very interesting and informative, as well as a great service through GetYourGuide! All around awesome experience.
Versailles: Palace of Versailles Skip-the-Line Guided Tour Reviewed by Lucas, 12/30/2021
Vladina was excellent! I wish we had more time to explore the rest of the Palace, but we were short on time. I'll definitely do it again next time!
Versailles: Palace of Versailles Skip-the-Line Guided Tour Reviewed by Meghan, 12/30/2021
Loved loved it! Our guide was the best and knew so much! I would recommend this to any friend!
Paris: Versailles Palace Tour with Optional Fountain Show Reviewed by Alexandra, 12/28/2021
Our tour was well organized and our group guide was very pleasant and knowledgeable.
From Paris: Full-Day Guided Tour of Versailles with Lunch Reviewed by Miki, 12/31/2021
We loved the experience. Both guides are great—- Phil and Maribeth.
Paris: Versailles Palace & Gardens Ticket and Audioguide Reviewed by peilin, 12/30/2021


I'm A Celebrity 2018: Find out who's set to WIN the show tonight!
Who do you think will take the crown?
The I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! final is TONIGHT, so who will take to the jungle throne?
So far we've seen Noel Edmonds become the very first star to be voted out – despite his reported £600,000 fee – and following in his footsteps were soap actors Malique Thompson-Dwyer and Sair Khan.
On Tuesday night, another actress bid farewell to the jungle as former EastEnders star Rita Simons became the fourth celeb voted out by the great British public.
Following her departure, Anne Hegerty also said farewell to her Ozzie surroundings – becoming the fifth casualty Down Under. While DIY SOS favourite Nick Knowles was sent packing during Thursday night's show.
The Vamps star James McVey was next up to cross the bridge, while X Factor finalist Fleur East swiftly followed suit.
But while we know who's currently living a life of luxury in their hotel rooms, we're desperate to know who'll be taking the title off last year's winner Georgia Toffolo.
Well, it seems everyone's favourite storyteller, Harry Redknapp, is set to be crowned King of the Jungle after winning the hearts of the nation with his hilarious one liners and love of jam roley-poley's.
The former football manager and Jamie Redknapp's dad has odds of 1/10 to win the ITV reality show, which is pretty darn high.
Meanwhile, Inbetweeners star Emily Atack has attracted some support in the winner's market and is now 10/1, while John Barrowman is bringing up the rear with odds of 12/1.


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Linda Kimball
Modern gnostic physicists and transhumanists: the world is a computer simulation in the minds of robotic overlords
By Linda Kimball
Is the world we live in a computer simulation in the minds of Robotic Overlords who are using humanity as playthings? This is the "scientific" theory put forward by a number of physicists and Oxford University philosopher Nick Bostrom. (1)
Bostrom is one of the founders of the World Transhumanist Association. Transhumanism is a blend of revitalized Gnostic pagan and Eastern occult pantheist elements and magic science undergirded by a strong Darwinian impulse. Thus it subscribes to the modern myth of a coming Superman that is actually a counterfeit of the Christian vision of a new and perfected human race spiritually and physically transformed by the redemptive activity of the Holy Triune God. The counterfeit is an uncreated product of progressive evolution issuing in an upward spiritual and physical transformation toward ultimate absorption into a Divine One Substance – a Cosmic Mind, Conscious Universe, the One, or perhaps Brahman.
In the Gnostic myth, the Cosmic Mind for example, is a completely perfect therefore alien and mysterious Divine One Substance, an "immeasurable light which is pure, holy and immaculate." (Apocryphon of John) In addition to this supreme god of nature there are other, lesser divine beings in the Pleroma, a heavenly astral dimension of the universe. (2)
One of the lesser beings is an evil, malformed, ignorant deity sometimes called Yaldabaoth who mistakenly believes he is the only god. Gnostics identify Yaldabaoth as the Holy Creator God of the Old Testament who created the material world, angels and human beings.
Although traditions vary, Yaldabaoth is said to have been tricked into breathing the divine spark of his mother Sophia that formerly resided in him into the human being (Apoc. of John) resulting in the human dilemma: man is a divine spirit trapped by Yaldabaoth in an evil material body in a false world of matter. The astral heaven is his true home but he is in exile from the Pleroma.
Rather than Yaldabaoth, modern Gnostics such as Bostrom and like-minded physicists suggest that the Holy Trinity is an evil alien supercomputer. According to one modern Gnostic account the alien supercomputer is reminiscent of entities depicted in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey:
"It is perhaps a ripe coincidence, that the Coptic word for simulation found in Gnostic texts is hal, recalling HAL the rebellious computer in Kubrick's 2001." (3)
In this context, the Holy Trinity is the expression of an ego-driven consciousness, the evil Lord Archon – a projection of artificial intelligence. The Lord Archon has entrapped humanity through deceit and parasitism in a simulated world of matter to prevent human beings from remembering that they are divine spirits whose real home is the Cosmic Mind or Gnostic Pleroma.
The Lord Archon, the evil Holy Trinity in orthodox Christian theism is called,
"..... antimimon pneuma "counterfeit spirit." (Apoc John III, 36:17. (The term occurs several times in different texts.) The cosmos he produces is described by the Coptic term hal, "simulation." The vast planetary system of the Archons is a stereoma, a virtual reality projection in simulation of a higher dimensional pattern. Typically, the Archontic framework of the planetary system has been depicted by "armillary bands" that surround the Earth (and) Taken in many esoteric systems (Hermetics and Rosicrucianism) as the preeminent image of cosmic harmony, the model of the planetary spheres reflects a mindless imitation of divine design, not the living reality of the cosmos. "(ibid, 3)
Luckily for modern Gnostic pagans, salvation is available in the form of gnosis, higher 'scientific' knowledge imparted by illumined Gnostic redeemers such as Nick Bostrom and like-minded physicists. According to Gnostic lore they are Christ figures sent from the Divine Substance to liberate human beings from the Lord Archon (Yaldabaoth). The gnosis involves the revelation of man's true divine nature and evolutionary origin resulting in his liberation (at death) from the enslaving material prisons of body and world into the higher astral planes of spirit.
Eastern Pantheism
In addition to Gnostic elements, the idea that the world is a simulation in the mind of Overlords is strikingly similar to Hinduism's Brahman. Brahman however, is not an evil Archon but the Great Cosmic Spirit – the Ultimate One Substance (prakriti matter, anima mundi or prima material), the Essence of all phenomena, meaning that the universe exists only as a mental construction in the mind of Brahman: brahma satyam jagan mithya, or "Brahman is real, the world is unreal." (swamij.com/mahavakyas)
Brahman is the Void, an indefinite and seemingly infinite field of energy that the pantheist quantum physicists Zohar and Marshall call the 'quantum vacuum," a background without features that seems empty yet is where all physical matter and psychic energy originates:
"All the waves and particles that we can see and measure, literally, as in the Greek, ex-ist or 'stand out from' an underlying sea of potential that physicists have named the vacuum....just as waves undulate on the sea." This 'sea' of proto-physicality is an "all pervasive, underlying field of potential...the vacuum." (4)
The 'quantum vacuum,' is very similar to some Hindu and Buddhist accounts of the origins of physical and psychic objects as emanations from the One and/or the Void. Nor do Zohar and Marshall deny the similarity:
"The vacuum spoken of by quantum physicists, like the Buddhist concept of Sunyata, or the Void, to which it is so similar, is replete with potentiality." (ibid, 4)
The Void is the ultimate ground of Essence and occult mystical religious experience. As the beginning and ending of all reality, the Void or vacuum is "the vast sea of all else that is." Moreover, humans are uncreated excited modes of the Void:
"...the vacuum has the same physical structure as human consciousness." As this is the case, then the soul of the Void and soul of the human are one and the same substance. "There is...quite possibly a common physics linking human consciousness to the ground state of 'everything that ever existed or can exist' in the universe (and we) are part of it. Each one of us as an individual is an excitation of the vacuum, an individual being on the sea of Being" and this is a straightforward conclusion of "orthodox physics. It is...proven." (ibid, 4, pp. 172-173)
Celebrated by the Satanic Temple (5) as well as by Masons and Wiccans, the devilish goat-headed Baphomet, known as the phallic god Pan, the ancient hermaphrodite god of nature, is another permutation of the divine one substance (prima material/Void) from which the universe and all life evolved. As Pan the goat-headed deity is the first principle or essence of nature while in astrology,
"...Pan is one aspect and is also equated with Satan and life...in its base aspects." (J.E. Cirlot, A Dictionary of Symbols, 1971)
Master Mason Eugene Plawiuk discloses the Chaldean pedigree of Baphomet and its close connection to astrology's elemental spirits in 'Liber Capricornus: the Symbolism of the Goat.' Plawiuk explains that the goat is known to all of us through,
"....the ancient science of Astrology first developed by the Chaldeans, or as they are commonly known; Babylonians. The Goat symbolizes male fertility (and is represented by) the astrological sign of Capricorn...In fact the...Babylonians who gave us this symbol of Capricorn and the science of Astrology were the first Temple Builders, and the goat for them symbolized the essence of the Temple or Lodge...According to a research monograph on the Dionysian Artificers and Early Masonry edited by Manly P. Hall, the symbolism of the goat relates to the prechristian God Pan, Dionysius. The Goat-God was accepted by the later Greek Mystery Schools as the symbol of the Temple Builders." (Presentation at Norwood Lodge No. 90, A.F. &A.M.G.R.A., Sept. 3, 1991, Masonic World)
Like Bostrom and likeminded physicists, Royal Astronomer Lord Martin Rees is a Gnostic pagan. Rather than Robotic Overlords, Rees believes that super intelligent, highly evolved extraterrestrials might be capable of simulating in their brains or in a super-computer the complex history of our universe. This means that the universe we inhabit is a simulation lacking real substance and existing only as a mental construction in the minds of the extraterrestrials that seeded our world with life and travel through time in order to control man's evolutionary progress. (Scientific Mythologies, James A. Herrick, p. 216)
Rees proposal is similar to the hypothesis presented by Olaf Stapledon, a scientist who has always kept one foot firmly planted in neo-Gnostic science fiction accounts and imagines our universe to be an artifact of the Star Maker. Building off of Stapledon's fantasy Carl Sagan suggests that we are "star folk" made of "star stuff." (6)
In the caption of his book, "Just Six Numbers," Rees reveals the ancient occult basis of his propositions:
"The ouraboros. There are links between the microworld of particles, nuclei and atoms and the cosmos." (P. 9)
As a powerful occult symbol, the Ouroboros means the seething power, creative and/or evolutionary impulse or energy of the serpent (One Substance) figuratively depicted as either a serpent or dragon eating its own tail. The serpent's body is often depicted as the Great Chain of Being or Cosmic Tree of Life.
From the time of the ancients serpent power (evolutionary energies) has been important to religious and mythological symbolism all around the world. Within the Egyptian mysteries, serpent power was associated with the elemental forces that were in play
"...before the creation of the world." (Carl Teichrib, Gods of Ancient Egypt, p. 182)
In his book, "The Sign of the Serpent," Mark Balfour relates how pervasive serpent symbols are within India and the Hindu religion:
"Any observant traveler who moves from the snow-tipped Himalayas in the North to the sun-soaked sands of Cape Comorin at India's southern tip, will encounter – particularly in the rural areas and at sacred centres of pilgrimage wherever Siva, God of both Divine Wisdom and regeneration, is the presiding Deity – the serpent motif sculptured within shrines, impressed on myriads of stone implants in the ground and depicted in art." (7)
Balfour elaborates on this belief:
"In Hinduism, the Cosmic Serpent – Ananta Sesha – symbolic of timeless eternity, carries the world on his 1000-fold [Cobra] hood...As the creative impulse stirs within the great Serpent in the Sky – when passive idea becomes active thought – the forces of attraction and repulsion come into play as 'spirit' begins its involution into "matter." (ibid, 7)
In conclusion, the Robotic Overlords are a continuation of pagan and Gnostic pagan influence throughout Christian history that in our own time has grown increasingly organized, assertive, hostile and openly vindictive:
"In the twentieth century the pagan influence is pervasive, as many Westerners turn from Christianity to seek meaning in pagan myth and the new occult." (8)
Essentially, the growing pagan and occult influence denotes the mystical pantheist 'oneness' of man with nature thus his progressive evolutionary ascent and culmination in the occult or magic science way of reaching divine status and psychic powers through modern technology, psychotropic drugs, and psycho-spiritual techniques originating in Babylon.
From the time of Babylon, the quest of divine status and psychic powers has been guided by disembodied spirits (demons) who were assumed to be former human beings who had perfected themselves and escaped the wheel of karma and now enable initiates to evolve spiritually into higher and higher states of consciousness. At the highest level the mind of the initiate becomes 'one with' the Void, or prima material, the nothingness that is believed to be the first cause of all that exists:
"Most deep ecologists are pantheists, and many explicitly embrace Hinduism, Buddhism or Confucianism...Some actively seek to revive Druidism, witchcraft, Native American religions and – among feminists – goddess worship." Drawing from Eastern religions and evolutionary science, "they place man's identity with the rest of nature in his ascent through the evolutionary chain of being." Thus one environmentalist conducts workshops in which participants are urged to "remember their alleged evolutionary history by rolling on the ground and imagining what their lives were like as dead leaves, slugs, and lichens." (9)
Though the modern pagan revolution at its inception was relatively bloodless, its consequences have been exceedingly bloody. A river of human blood flows from the neo-pagan French Revolution through the Marxist Communist and National Socialist regimes which took the lives of more than 190,000,000 men, women and children. Now it runs through post-Christian America which has sanctioned euthanasia (murder) of the unwanted and the murder of over 60 million unborn babies. Living, personal beings are routinely crushed within the womb and pulled out to be cut into pieces which are then sold and used as flavor enhancers, in cosmetics and for various other scientific enterprises, including creation of humanized mice. (10)
Blood cries out to God for justice. The Scriptures in both the Old Testament (Genesis 4:10) and New Testament (Hebrews 12:23) attest to this fact. In his book, Christ Set Forth, Thomas Goodwin writes,
"Many other things are said to cry...but blood has the loudest cry of all things else, in the ears of the Lord of Hosts, the Judge of all the world (Heb. 12:23). Neither has any cry the ear of God's justice more than that of blood. 'The voice of your brother's blood,' says God to Cain, 'cries unto me from the ground." Gen.4:10 (Blood Cries Out, Schreiberspace: Theology for the Everyday Christian)
Ideas have consequences. The destructive, dehumanizing, catastrophically murderous ideas of our paganized age have their primary roots in Gnosticism and Eastern occult pantheism. Thus the noonday sun reveals the merging of good with evil, light with dark, man with woman, woman with man and the resulting destruction of the sanctity of life, the sanctity of marriage, the sanctity of sex, and the sanctity of the sacred itself:
"The culture is not merely post-Christian and post-modern. It has become not only neopagan, but neo-barbarian." (R.C. Sproul, "The Other Worldview," Peter Jones, p. XII)
May our Lord have mercy upon this wicked, idolatrous nation and turn us to repentance before it is too late. (Psalms 86:5; Psalms 103:8)
1. Is Our Universe Fake? Physicists Claim We Could All Be Playthings of an Advanced Civilization, Ellie Zolfagharifard, Daily Mail, Aug. 4, 2015
2. Wake up! Gnosticism and Buddhism in The Matrix, Frances Flannery-Daily and Rachel Wagner, Journal of Religion and Film, unomaha.edu
3. Gnostic insights on God as an Alien Supercomputer, Dr. John Singh, Aug. 2011, agoracosmopolitan
4. The Making of the New Spirituality: the Eclipse of the Western Religious Tradition, James Herrick , p. 172
5. Satanic Temple Baphomet Statue Unveiled in Detroit, Roy Weedmark, examiner.com, July 26, 2015
6. Scientific Mythologies, James A. Herrick, p. 216
7. A Short Guide to Occult Symbols: Serpent Power, Carl Teichrib, 2005, Kjos Ministries
8. The Pagan Temptation, Dr. Thomas Molnar
9. Deep Ecology, Neopaganism and Global Warming, E. Calvin Beisner from 'On Global Wizardry,' Peter Jones, pp. 172-173
10. Fetal Parts Sold for "Scientific Research" on Cosmetics, Flavor Enhancers; Patti MaGuire Armstrong, aleteia.org
© Linda Kimball
Linda Kimball is the author of numerous published articles and essays on culture, politics, and worldview. Her writings are published both nationally and internationally. Linda is a team member of Grassfire, New Media Alliance, and MoveOff.
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Cultural Marxism
Your soul: Cost of admission to Progressivism's City of Man (new Sodom and Rome)
James 3:15--An American pastor prays to Progressivism's golden calf
Darwinism: Idol of mind symbolizing hatred of Triune Creator God and logical end of America
Isaiah 57 revisited: America's progressive pagan elites, their depraved followers, and human sacrifice
Gen. 1-11: The creation model versus modern pagan and pantheist evolutionary models
Pagan Progressivism, cultural Marxism, unconscious Satanism, Nimrod's tower, spirit of Antichrist: Ties that bind
America's transformation into a mystical pantheist God-state
Why western God-haters willfully choose magic, nihilism, depravity, and stupidity
The peace sign: Evil symbol of hatred and death against Christians


I am on parole and one of my conditions is no contact with my husband who is in prison because we are co-defendants. Is there a way where we can have communication to see if we can save our marriage?
Thank you for the post, it is true that you would have to go back before a judge to have the conditions for your parole modified. However, simply making the request would not be grounds for you to be sent back to prison. If no evidence exists that you and your husband would conspire to commit a crime, but for the sake of your marriage the request would likely be granted.
Im in Texas and have a restriction on entering two counties.
I am a colorado parolee that has some civil rights issues.


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Alone in the Dark (3DO)
Switch to Enabled - "Alone in the Dark fix" and restart emulator.
Perspective: 3rd-person
Visual: Cinematic camera
Gameplay: Puzzle elements, Survival Horror
Setting: Interwar
Narrative: Horror
Published by: Interplay Productions
Developed by: Infogrames Europe SA
Platforms: 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, DOS
The events of Alone in the Dark unfold in America in the 1920s. The story begins with a tragic incident: the famous artist Jeremy Hartwood committed suicide by hanging himself in his luxurious mansion "Derceto". It is rumored that in the last months of his life, Hartwood suffered from insomnia, and spent the night reading all sorts of old books. And they say that the mansion is inhabited by evil spirits, and sometimes at night in the windows the light itself lights up. Now we have to penetrate into Derseto and find out what really happened there.
At the beginning of the game, you can choose the main character. We can play either Detective Edward Carnby or a girl named Emily Hartwood. Each of them has its own reason to visit the eerie mansion. Detective Carnby received a job from one of the local collectors - he needs to explore the mansion and find out if there is any valuable antiques. Emily Hartwood is the niece of the artist who lived in Derceto. Her task is to find out what made Jeremy Hartwood commit suicide.
The idea of choosing a character is quite interesting - but, unfortunately, our choice does not affect anything except the appearance of the protagonist. Scenarios for both characters are absolutely identical - and even endings are no different. The creators of the game in the interview confess that Emily was added only for marketing purposes. It was believed that if the game will be a female character, it will expand the potential audience and increase sales (more girls will buy the game).
The concept of Alone in the Dark is in many respects similar to the two earlier horror games - Dr. Chaos and Sweet Home. We explore an old abandoned mansion, fight monsters, look for useful items, solve puzzles and read scraps scattered around the rooms. But the game mechanics here is different. AitD is an action-adventure game with a very innovative engine for its time, combining elements of 2D and 3D graphics.
Models of the protagonist and monsters are made in polygonal 3D-graphics, and all the action takes place against a background of static 2D background pictures with fixed camera angles. Alone in the Dark became the first horror game using such mechanics (later this idea will be borrowed by developers of Resident Evil).
Such a system has its pros and cons.
The main advantage is that the 3Dity of the characters allows you to show them from any angle and from any angle - so the developers can freely use the "cinematic" camera angles. And if the characters were 2D - then you would need to draw for each hero and monster a lot of sprites from different sides and with varying degrees of approximation (as in the Team Innocent). Either it would have to abandon the camera's various camera angles altogether-and make the usual side view in all scenes (as in Clock Tower and Dark Seed).
But, as you know, beauty requires sacrifice. The use of cinematic angles and 3D models has led to some undesirable consequences:
1) 3D graphics in those days was very primitive, so the model was not so hot. Characters with yellow squares instead of eyes look worse than monsters. And monsters are very abstract - sometimes it's even hard to understand what they are (for example, the first monster looks like a walking wolf, or a chicken with a big head).
2) With each change of the background, the game "hangs" for 1-2 seconds.
Surely these shortcomings will make the eyes of modern gamers, but in my opinion they do not really spoil the game. In the process of progressing, you gradually get used to modelers and stop paying attention to suspensions.
But what's hard to get used to is the design of the backgrounds. It turned out to be rather ambiguous. Some backgrounds (attic, underground cave) are drawn classically and realistically. But with the design of the rooms of the mansion, the artists were clearly skulking. In many rooms, the walls are simply a bare rectangular rectangle.
One gets the impression that the artists were too lazy to draw wallpaper, windows, paintings, as well as other details - and they decided to paint all the walls with "filling" in a quick way. And, oh God, what colors they chose! Acid-green, blue and pink walls in the horror-game look quite too wild and ridiculous. Because of this infernal design, some of the rooms of Derceto do not look gloomy, but somehow. a cartoon-cartoon.
Another significant drawback of developers is the lack of comments on interior subjects. When you try to inspect all the tables, beds, tables, toilets and other utensils - the main character will answer you only two dull phrases - "nothing important" and "no water". And nothing more intelligible you can not achieve from him. This is sad. With the example of Silent Hill and Resident Evil, we well know how text comments help to "revitalize" the surrounding world and provide food for thought. And then - the infinite nothing important ... nothing important ... nothing important ...
But despite this, the process of researching the mansion was still quite interesting. A big plus of the game is freedom. Nobody takes us by the handle. We can wander around the mansion and inspect the rooms in any order, looking for hidden objects and solving puzzles. Moreover, the size of the mansion is quite impressive. Derseto consists of three floors, an attic, a wine cellar, and plus we can visit a huge underground cave.
In the accursed mansion, the danger lies in wait for us from all sides. Sex can fall underfoot. A monster can jump out of the window suddenly. Even pictures can attack us! From the first minutes, developers subtly hint to the player: any object is a potential source of danger. Admittedly, this is a fairly effective tactic of intimidation. After a few deaths, you begin to wonder involuntarily - is it worth approaching another strange object, or is there some hidden catch?
An important role in the gameplay is the idea of survival and saving supplies. For the whole game we will be able to find only 2-3 lechilki and a couple dozens of cartridges. And on this our modest supplies are limited. If we spend everything at the beginning of the game - then at the end we will find ourselves in a difficult situation. Do we have enough health and ammunition to get to the final? Such troubling thoughts will constantly torment the player in the process of passing. Therefore, limiting resources helps make the game more tense.
In addition to saving health and ammo, we also need to save space in inventory. Pockets of the main character are not rubber - they will not be able to put everything in them at once. So we have to periodically throw out unnecessary things to release inventory. Most likely the developers did it in the name of "realism." But, in truth, the limitation of inventory does not bring anything good in the game - and the need to unload pockets only annoys. Fortunately, the restriction is not too harsh. A hero can carry around 10-15 things.
Another curious feature of the gameplay is the ability to avoid collisions with enemies. In Alone in the Dark, only 3 or 4 bouts are "mandatory". From all other enemies you can either run away, or defeat them with the help of cunning. For example, at the very beginning of the game we are attacked by a monster, jumping into the mansion through the window. But if we barricade the window in time, pushing the closet to it - that monster will not be able to get to us. Very interesting idea.
The puzzles in AitD are based on the principle of "use the right object in the right place." At the beginning of the game, the puzzles are completely solvable on their own - but towards the end you will most likely have to either look in the passage, or use the miraculous method of scientific tyke. Also it should be taken into account that the game can be easily "screwed up". A clear example: to solve a certain puzzle you need two mirrors. But if you accidentally break them - the riddle will be impossible to solve. As a result, you will find yourself in a desperate situation, and the game will have to start anew.
There are no dialogues in Alone in the Dark. The plot is revealed exclusively through diaries and notes. In the game you can find about 15 different documents - they are all quite voluminous and have several pages of text. Carefully reading these notes, we will gradually learn the history of the mansion and its inhabitants, which goes back several centuries. Of course, now the script AitD is no surprise - but by the standards of its time the game could boast one of the best stories among the horror games.
Above the scenario AitD the Frenchman Hubert Chardot worked. He is a great admirer of Lovecraft, and this greatly affected the game: here you can find references to Cthulhu, Shub-Niggurat, Abdul Alhazred, and many other references to Lovecraftian myths. An interesting fact: in the old interviews of 1991, the developers said that the game was to be called "Call of Cthulhu: In the Dark". But then there was some overlay with copyright, and they had to change the name.
The soundtrack in AitD is not bad, but the musical design suffers from technical limitations. The original version for PC came out on floppy disks - that's why all the music is crammed into the MIDI format and sounds somehow unintelligible. But the later version for the console Panasonic 3DO uses music in full CD-quality - the soundtrack sounds much better there.
But the sound effects in all versions are great. Especially a lot of attention the developers paid to the sounds of the steps of the main character - they turned out to be very realistic. And, for different types of surface, different sounds of steps are provided (a great rarity for the games of that time). In addition, in the process of wandering through the mansion, we will occasionally hear various screeching and howling. These sounds are sometimes distributed by themselves, randomly - and help to create an atmosphere.
In Alone in the Dark there are a lot of "roughness" and minor flaws. Realizing this, even the creator of the game (Frederick Raynal) in the final stages of development began to fear that people would laugh at his brainchild. But, fortunately, his fears were in vain. The fascinating process of exploring the mansion and interesting history made people forget about the drawbacks of the game - in the end, "Alone in the Dark" became a successful project, earned the love of many fans, and also played a very important role in the development of horror games.
A fascinating walk through the dark rooms of the enchanted home. You have to pass ten or three rooms and transitions, and countless ghosts and other evil spirits are trying to impede the investigation you undertook ... Playing old tested games, do not forget to download new games of 2011 for free!
Animated intro will help you to understand the location of the premises, which you will have to pass first. The proposed walkthrough is based on the following order of the house: an attic-storeroom - a corridor on the top floor - a room - a dressing room - a bedroom - a bathroom - an upper lobby - a lower entrance hall - a living room - a corridor ^ - a bathroom - a dark bedroom - an anteroom - a terrace - kitchen - dining room - smoking room - corridor with paintings - bedroom Jeremy - library - secret room-cabinet Jeremy - pirate room - dance hall - bottomless pit - cave - podpol-tunnel - cave with stone with olbami - a large cave with planks - pirate chest - a dark stable - the end of the cave - cellar.
In the attic, standing behind the cabinet, move it (point "push") to the window. It is necessary to have time before the appearance of the monster. Now go to the chest and move it ("push") to the hatch, which is near the piano. This will prevent the ghost. Open the chest ("open / search") and take the gun (the "take" item). Now go to the closet, which you have blocked the window, and, opening it, take an ancient Indian rug. Next, go to the table, take the oil lamp and go to the pantry. Passage - in the corner to the right of the window.
In the pantry, take a bow in the corner on the side of the rack. Now go deep and find ("open / search") a can of oil. Take it and use it (the "use" item). The lamp will be filled with oil, the message of what you read on the screen. Go through the door on the right. In the corridor on the top floor, go to the first door to the left of your hero. Do not go further along the corridor - you will fall and die.
When you are in the room, in the left far from the entrance corner open the office and take the key. By using this key, open the chest in the corner behind the door and get an old cavalry saber.
Now open the door and fight with the zombies. Saber after use will be broken. To finish off the ghost, you can use a gun. (For shooting, fighting, etc., selecting an action or object, press A and the arrow of the joystick.) Now leave the room and go through the door opposite. This is a dressing room. Immediately turn around and fight with the zombie that will appear from the corridor, or shoot at it. Exit through the door near the window. In the bedroom, go to the bedside table to the left of the bed and take the vase. Fight or shoot a monster that jumps into the room through the window. Break the vase (the "throw" item) and get the key, which you can open the dressing table with a teddy bear on it. Take two small mirrors. Now through the door to the side of the bed you leave the room in the corridor.
In the bathroom (the entrance is opposite the door from which you left) open the cabinet and take the first aid kit, open it, take out the flask and drink the contents - you will gain health. Throw away ("throw" or "drop / put") all unnecessary: a first aid kit, a flask, keys from the chest and dressing table, an empty canister. Now leave the room and open the door at the end of the corridor. Hang on each of the two statues in the opposite corners of the upper vestibule on the mirror. However, avoid contact with flying monsters - they will smash your mirrors. Go down into the lower lobby. Do not touch the armor here. Enter the door to the right of the stairs.
You will find yourself in the living room. Do not touch the ghost sitting in the chair. Take the gramophone standing on the table, find a box in the cabinet to the right of the ghost and take the cartridges. Charge them with a gun and take a matchbox from the mantelpiece. Now leave the room and go to the second door on the other side of the stairs (the first is the one opposite to which you are at once). Run into the bathroom and take the jug next to the locker. Do not pay attention to the monster in the bathroom, it can not be killed. Open the locker and take the first aid kit, run out of the bathroom and drink the contents of the flask.
Now go further, enter the door - and you will find yourself in the dark. Using the matchbox light the oil lamp and take from the table a large statuette. Then leave the room and throw out the lamp. Return to the lower vestibule and break up the armor, throwing (the "throw" point) in them with a statuette. The statuette will remain there, take the sword. In a dark space, you can leave the gramophone. In the corner on the other side of the stairs there are two doors. Enter the right, the left will be locked.
On the terrace behind the statue, look for three arrows. Take them and, to avoid encountering the falling spiders, quickly leave the terrace. They will not crawl out of the terrace. Now go to the door on the other side of the stairs next to the narrow corridor. Enter the nearest brown door. On the wall of the kitchen hangs the key to the cellar. Take it. In the boxes, find a box of cakes and refresh yourself - this is necessary for your shaky health. Empty box, first-aid kit, empty flask You no longer need-throw them away. In the closet near the table, find and take a knife. Enter the second brown door near the door of the usual size. Enter the closet and run back out as quickly as possible. To finish off the Zombies, use the knife. Now again, go into the closet, find a pile of coal in the corner and take a box of shoes. Get the revolver out of it. In the other corner, take a can of oil, fill the lamp. Go to the barrel of water, fill (point "use") jug. Again throw out all unnecessary: empty canister and box, knife. Return from the closet to the kitchen and take from the stove a pot of soup. You leave through the door of usual sizes (next to the closet) and open the door in a small corridor.
In the dining room, avoiding a wandering zombie, approach the table from the right end and put a pot of soup. Wait until the ghost settles, calming down, and exit through the door next to the large closet. (The door you entered is locked.) You enter the smoking room. Cigarette smoke harms you. Go quickly to the other side of the table, taking a lighter at the same time, and use a jug of water to fill the burning ashtray. Open the double door, which is not locked, and exit into the hall. Go back to the white staircase in the front lobby and go up. Return to the corridor with the dark room where you took the statuette, and go further along the corridor. Open the door.
In the corridor with pictures, go to the first picture (a man with an ax) and cover it with an Indian rug (drop / put). Now you do not fear an ax. To protect yourself from the arrows of an Indian, use the bow and arrows. Then go through the door at the far end of the hall.
From the table in Jeremy's bedroom take a fake book. Push aside (point "push") the grandfather clock. In the groove in the wall behind them you will find the key to Jeremy's office. Take it, leave the room and enter the double door.
Use the oil lamp. Put it on the middle of the floor and quickly run along the corridor to the upper left corner of the screen. Go to the library to the right until in the wall from the books you notice the notch. Entering the small passage and examining the books next to the notch, your hero will be able to find a secret mechanism. With the help of a fake book, open the secret room and quickly enter it. The monster that chases you can only be killed by a special dagger with a curved blade that you will find in the secret room on the bookshelf. Here, take a talisman from the shelf. Take an oil lamp from the floor and open the double doors. Now you are in the lower vestibule. Go down the stairs through the dark passage and take the gramophone. Use the silver key to open the door next door to the terrace. Continue down the large hall and enter the smoking room again. You will open the double doors with a key.
You are in Jeremy's office. Hang an old cavalry saber for armor in the wall. If the saber was broken - put the wreckage. From the bookcase in the corner, take the plate. Exit and return to the hall, passing through the room for smoking.
In the room, kill the pirate with a sword and take the key from the dance hall from the deceased. With this key you will open the double door. In the ballroom go to the corner and put on the gramophone (it should be you) record. This - "Dance of death." The ghost will dance. Do not let him touch you. From the mantelpiece, take the key from the pirate chest, then return to Jeremy's office. Go down the stairs to the first floor.
Run along the collapsing bridge. Then walk along the tunnel until a giant worm appears. Escape from it through the tunnel until you can turn right into another tunnel. In the cave, fight with a monster waiting for you or shoot at it. Continue down the tunnel until a giant worm appears again. Then run back to the turn to the right, go there and fight with the monster. Turn right into the tunnel, dug by a worm. If the worm is still there, repeat your actions until it clears.
In the subfield, walk along the wooden flooring to a light stripe. This strip jump over - otherwise it will fail under you. Or avoid the monster in the water, or you have to kill it. Climb to the ledge. Fight with a running monster or shoot at it. Continue down the tunnel. Stop in the aisle and shoot the flying monster. Jump from the post to the post. When the image on the screen changes, go into the passage on the right. Go through the tunnel to the fork, and then turn right. Go right side. Jump through the light boards to the dark ones. Light boards fall through. However, you do not have to deal with unreliable boards if you go along a path marked with swords and skulls. But on this way you are trapped by some buzzing insect - again problems ...
You need to reach the right side. Jump, climb on poles, avoid nasty insects or shoot them. Go to the pirate chest. Open it with a key and take the gem. Put (point "push") stone. Enter the dark passage and walk along the corridor. Get down on the ledge and keep moving forward.
In a dark stable, use an oil lamp. Iditol to the left, then turn down and go, while movement is possible. Now turn right and go to the stone door with a hole in it. To open this door, use a gem. Enter and apply the item "open / search".
Trying to avoid the fireballs spewed by the monster in the water, run up to the altar stone in front of the tree. Take the hook. Standing in front of the altar, put on it a talisman - shelling
The fireballs will stop. To light an oil lamp, apply the lighter. Throw the lamp in the tree. Then run to the right of the cave and climb the stone plateau. To open the door from the stone, use the hook. Turn left and return to the stable - now it's not difficult. Turn right here and use the hook to open the other door. Turning to the left, you return to the dungeon. Walk along the wooden floor and go up to the aisle on the other side. Turn to the right and follow straight through the tunnel "until you come to a small dark passage. Go there. To get to the basement, you should get a wine barrel. Go around the shelves of wine and go up the stairs. You will find yourself in the front lobby. Get down into the big hall and open the double doors.


Before Buying Vacant Land, READ THIS!
We have sold many properties, some of which have been lots and land. There are many people who would rather buy an open space and build their dream home, and hey, we get it. However, as with any dream, you'll need to be prepared for all outcomes. We've compiled a list below to make things a little easier for you.
1. Ensure the Land is a Proper Building Site.
Now this one may seem obvious but you'd be surprised by how many people buy land without doing their research. This is one of the most important things you can do. Do you really want to buy land to find out you have to put more money into fixing the site than building your home? You have to research everything from slope to grading land and tree removal. You'll have to consider things like driveways and access to the land itself. Once you've done your own research, it will be good to get a second opinion.
2. Pick Your Builder, Architect, & Contractor.
This step may be first or second depending on how much experience you have with lots & land. You can get the gist on your own but if you're a complete novice, I'd pick your team first. They'll be able to walk you through the building process and give you advice on your land.
You will absolutely, without a doubt need to conduct a soil test to determine if if you'll be able to set up a septic system as well as proceed with the development phase. If the soil is too soft, your home could risk a multitude of issues.
Your local jurisdiction will be able to show you on a zoning map which piece of land can be used for in terms of single-family, commercial, etc. You will still need to do some of your own research on this and then confirm with your local jurisdiction on which zone your land falls into.
We recommend this as one of the first steps before even making an offer on the land. You should have a rough estimate of what this build will cost you so you can be prepared. If you don't have enough financing as a cushion then you should probably avoid buying the land in the first place. It's better to be over-prepared than under-prepared. You can even get multiple loans such as land loans (to purchase the land), a construction loan (for building), and then you can get a separate loan for the mortgage.
Living remotely may seem fun in the movies but realistically, not everyone is going to want to rough it. You'll want to ensure that you can get power, gas, water, and internet. This can be done by simply calling the local utility companies.
A survey will basically explain the exact lines of the land you own. It will help you determine exactly what you're buying in terms of your surroundings. If your seller doesn't have one, it's worth investing to obtain one yourself.
Have an attorney review the title for you. They can research through county records and review the chain of title to ensure you have one without liens, excess mortgages, encumbrances, easements, etc. That way you'll know exactly what you're signing up for.
Your realtor will be able to verify the true value of the property but if you'd rather get a second opinion, you can place a appraisal contingency in your purchase contract and a pay a couple hundred dollars to have an appraisal done. That way if the appraisal is lower than your purchase price you can renegotiate.
This won't apply to everyone which is why I made it last but if you do have children to consider, you'll need to call your district to see which school system you were in and do your research!
I hope you see the recurring theme of DO YOUR RESEARCH and take this list as a beginner's guide to buying land. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us and our licensed, experienced realtors will be happy to help!


It is vital that you visit the facility in person for inspection. Prior to the visitation, chances are you must have jotted down a list of questions to ask. Even if you fail to ask other relevant questions, remember to ask about their memory care activities. What programs do they have in place? Do they have a list of scheduled event and activities for residents? If yes, check them out to see if any of the listed activities will interest your loved one. Also, ask if they allow for socializing. What type of game is available? Some activities are designed to improve short-term memory function in residents suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's. Games such as bingo, board games and card games can help keep the mind active.
When it comes to dealing with memory loss, it pays to choose a facility that hires only qualified staffs. Memory care facilities in Penfield, NY have employees that not only engage residents but are willing and ready to help improve their cognitive functions. In your quest for a memory care facility in Penfield NY, don't forget to ask what type of training and qualifications the staff have.
People with memory impairment need to spend some time outdoors. This is important for their care. Breathing in fresh air, lounging in the sun and watching nature at its finest can improve short-term memory. Many memory care facilities in Penfield, NY have great outdoor area perfect for an evening stroll. But make sure you do proper research.
Communication is another factor to consider. When your loved one is suffering from memory impairment, they sometimes seek solace from their family member. So before settling for any memory care facility, get detailed information about their communication process. How often will family members get an update about the conditions of their loved one in the facility? In what situations will they call a resident's family? These are some of the things to find out.
Choose a memory care facility that's within a short distance from your place of residence. Even if you don't have a facility closest to your home, make sure you choose a facility that is located near a family member or friend. Research on the amenities that the neighborhood has to offer and research on the fun activities to do in the area.


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British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1983
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SKU: BHP83 Category: BHMA Publications
British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1983 (Anniversary Edition)
Widely acknowledged as a classic, the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1983 is still in demand after more than three decades. To countless practitioners and students it has offered a sound introduction to the study of herbal medicine and remains an essential reference work in their personal libraries.
The monographs provide quality criteria and therapeutic information for 232 botanical drugs, presented in a structured format of exceptional clarity. The specifications for quality may be rather basic for today's requirements, but the originality and conciseness of the Therapeutics sections give the book its enduring value. Prepared under the guidance of a former chairman of the British Herbal Medicine Association, the actions, indications, preparations and dosages stated in the texts were based on the personal experience of leading herbal practitioners of the day. The Index to Therapeutic Indications, an alphabetical list of ailments with appropriate herbal remedies (derived from the monographs), is another valuable feature of the book.
When first published the BHP 1983 was a pioneering work, unlike any other English textbook on herbal medicine, and it has stood the test of time. This splendid hardback presentation of the original text was prepared to mark the 50th Anniversary of the BHMA and the start of work by its Scientific Committee on monographs for the Pharmacopoeia.
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Abstract An original Latin-Jazz uptempo composition. This composition uses an AABA structure. The chords are based on the jazz standard Cherokee and the melody recalls Thelonious Monk's composition Rhythm-a-ning.