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Legend of Grimrock - Review
Version Reviewed: 1.1.3
What I like: Sense of exploration, many of the puzzles.
Not So Much: Uninspired combat, too much reliance on teleporters & pressure plates, undeveloped rogue class.
Other stuff you may like: Nostalgia factor
The Verdict: B (good)
Official site: Legend of Grimrock
While cleaning out my closet in preparation for the neighborhood garage sale, my foot clanked against something hard. As I removed my old clothes, my eyes caught my reflection and I jumped. My old set of plate mail. It has been a long time my old friend. My adventures under Waterdeep were long ago and my sword arm not as strong as it once was, but I wondered if I still had what it takes.
As I rode through the Kingdom of Theraen on my way to Icefall Bay, my stomach rumbled as my supplies had run out. Obviously my skills for planning an adventure had atrophied along with my strength. Luckily, some magnificent deer grazed in the field next to the road. As I prepared my kill, I was unaware of the men who crept up from behind and knocked me senseless. When I awoke, the cold wind scratched unseen wounds across my face. I was chained to three others who I had never made the acquaintance of. Our charges were for poaching on the king's land. The guards had no interest in my protests; after the charges were read we were informed our only salvation would be escape from Mount Grimrock and we were pushed over the edge.
Legend of Grimrock is a first-person dungeon romp, in the spirit of Eye of the Beholder, Dungeon Master and other classics. I remember these games with a certain fondness, but did this style of game disappear for a reason? I also recall the original Dukes of Hazard, the A-Team and the Six Million Dollar Man as the pinnacle of prime-time adventure and high jinks. Could my memories of quality entertainment be a bit hazy when looked at through such passage of time?
The premise is simple, work your way through the dungeon, combat creatures, and solve deadly puzzles to escape.
The game play is pretty simple and covered well-enough in the 17 page manual and 4-screen static tutorial. Tooltips explain the character attributes and other in game items.
The game is all about making your way through the levels of the dungeon. These are not randomly generated levels in roguelikes, so the same puzzles and monsters are encountered on every play through. On the plus side, the creature placement is well balanced and puzzles more intricate.
When setting up a new game, the player can choose from 3 levels of combat difficulty. I stuck with the normal setting. One option that old-timers may appreciate is the ability to disable the automap feature. If you do so, be prepared to get out your graph paper and sketch your own maps. Otherwise traversing the dungeons will be much more difficult. I for one had no interest in disabling the automap as it is the most important discovery since penicillin. I can't imagine wanting to undo 20+ years of progress. Players anxious to get into the action can use premade characters, or those who want a little more control can create their own (like me).
Once you are ready, you are treated to a bit of back story with some rather attractive static artwork. Then your adventure begins and your first objective is to locate some equipment, because the guards threw you into the pit without anything.
Three character classes are available (fighter, mage and rogue) each sharing a set of 4 attributes and having its own set of 6 skills. Strength-affects your attack's power and carrying capacity, dexterity-affects the accuracy of making attacks and ability to evade attacks, vitality-affects health and ability to overcome harmful cold and poison, and willpower-amount of energy for magic and special attacks.
The player can allocate points to these skills upon character creation and each new level to tailor it to their liking. Unfortunately the rogue is really more of a ranged-based fighter rather than a class with unique thieving abilities. The mage's role is essentially to bring some ranged firepower to the party. The spells aren't particularly interesting. To be honest, I didn't explore every spell, but the ones I did basically just caused some elemental-based damage. There is slightly more variety than that, but I don't think much more. As skills are improved, different perks are gained (i.e. – more effective use of shields, greater strength, new attack, etc…). None of these really made the game more interesting, but just provided a way to improve the abilities of your character to meet the greater challenges as you progress through the dungeon. Two traits can also be granted to improve some aspect of your character (i.e.-more health, evasive, etc…).
As you can see from the screenshot below, 4 races are available. Humans can excel at any class, while minotaurs are geared to fighters, lizardmen to rogues, and insectoids as mages.
Off to Explore the Dungeon
Your party is arranged into a 2 x 2 marching order. The front row is able to use melee attacks (and is susceptible to them), while the back row is limited to ranged attacks (unless they have a special skill). In general the back row is safe from melee attacks, but can be hit by some magic and elemental based-attacks. Creatures attacking from the side or rear can also hit the back row.
Exploration is the most enjoyable part of the game, along with solving puzzles. Movement is handled via the WASD keys, or using the optional on-screen arrow button interface. I opted for the WASD keys. Your party moves one grid square at a time, turning 90 degrees per turn. A mouselook option is available using the right mouse button, but I never really found the need for it. There are sometimes interactive elements, such as chains, levers, or small buttons. Secret rooms and passages can be discovered, which frequently have some goodies to aid in your escape from the dungeon. Bits of the story are revealed now and then, but don't expect something along the lines of a Bioware adventure. There is enough to add some context to your predicament.
Combat is handled in real time. Party members' attacks are initiated by right clicking on the weapon. There is a cooldown period for each attack, so you can't spam attacks without limit. Special attacks, such as a bash, are unlocked as weapon skills are increased. The user has no control over when they occur and they essentially just give a damage boost during random attacks. Heavily armored fighters are better at absorbing damage, while evasive characters may be able to dodge and avoid the damage entirely. Unfortunately this combat mechanic isn't really explained, so one really never knows which is better other than through observation. My agile fighter seemed to live longer than his heavily armored counterpart.
Spell casters are handled a little differently. Spells can be learned by finding scrolls with the required rune pattern illustrated (top image in above screenshot) or through trial and error. To cast a spell, the player must initiate the attack by right clicking on the spell caster's staff. This opens the rune interface (bottom image in above screenshot). The user must click the runes for the desired spell, and then press the cast button. This must be repeated each time the spell is cast. Some players have complained this is too cumbersome in the heat of battle. Since I typically cast the same one or two spells, this wasn't too big a deal. I think a happy medium would have been to retain the last spell, so the player only had to jump through hoops when changing their spell. There are 19 spells in the game, but the player will typically only learn 4-8 of them.
Different potion recipes can also be found on your travels and can be created if you have the reagents. Characters must be fed, but I never ran short of food. I suppose if you rest a lot your food supply may dwindle, but I usually made use of other methods of healing.
For me, combat was a pretty big letdown. There are not a lot of choices to make during combat. The biggest key to success is the player's ability to manually move their party out of harm's way. Then move in to spam your attacks as fast as the cooldown allows, sip an occasional potion, and run away if necessary. It felt more like a simple arcade game than a role-playing dungeon romp. I fought all creatures in essentially the same manner. There were a couple that stood out as more interesting, but I will let you discover them rather than mention them here.
Puzzles are primarily of the pressure plate, teleporter, and lever flipping variety. There are some more, but these are the most common ones. They are generally well done and solvable. I did resort to some online help 3-4 times, but in general I felt like I should have figured it out on my own. My trouble usually stemmed from ignoring something I shouldn't have. There is one very frustrating sequence towards the end that forces the player to click repeatedly in several different places to find the right spot. I have to admit I hated that puzzle.
I think the biggest missed opportunity in Legend of Grimrock (other than having interesting combat), is that the secret buttons on the walls were nearly identical. More creative use of buttons and other interactive elements would have made exploration a little more engaging. It is a fine line between making it interesting and too frustrating, so I understand the developers' caution, but it could have been better. I did only find 55 out of 71 secrets, so perhaps I missed some more interesting ones, but I doubt it. Minor spoiler coming up, but it may save you a lot of wasted time-> I never encountered any illusionary walls, so I don't think there is a need to bump into every single wall to see if you can move through it.
The Steam version offers 40 achievements to obtain. I obtained 25 of them during my play through without trying. Other than that there are not any multiplayer / online features.
My favorite visual aspect of the game was the static artwork displayed during the introduction. They captured the mood perfectly and were quite attractive. The dungeon graphics themselves were fine, along with the creatures, but nothing extraordinary. They did get pretty repetitive, but perhaps that is expected in a dungeon crawler. More effort could have been done to have greater visual variety.
The only music is played in the menu screens and during character creation. There wasn't a lot of variety to it, but was enjoyable. I'm a sucker for stringed instruments. In game sounds were pretty limited, but useful. Some monsters made more noise than others, so you can hear their approach. Press some buttons and you can hear something opening in the distance. These auditory clues are much more useful than an elaborate musical score during play.
I have to admit I bought into the fervor on the Legend of Grimrock forums and was pretty excited for the game's release. While a decent game, it isn't the urn full of awesomeness I had hoped. The sense of exploration is there. Whenever I found another button I wondered what secrets would be revealed. Most of the puzzles were enjoyable, but a lesser reliance on pressure plates, teleporters, and the like would have been welcome. Some did require the player have a sense of timing, which can be a good or a bad thing depending on your outlook. Combat is mostly an exercise in strafing and dodging, instead of making meaningful tactical choices. To be honest I wouldn't miss the combat if they removed it completely. Instead, I hope they figure out how to make it more interesting to take their next game to a higher level. Despite the many shortcomings, I did have a pretty good time playing it. For those who don't think they would enjoy these styles of puzzles, I would downgrade the score significantly as the combat doesn't really add much value.
It has been a long time since I played Eye of the Beholder or anything similar, so perhaps those older games had the same weaknesses. I'm tempted to see if I could get it to run on my system. Were those older dungeon romps the classics I remember them as, or are they just another Dukes of Hazzard? I did have a bit more fun than apparent by just looking at an explanation of the features.
Score: B (good)
Amazing game. I would give like 8/10.
JFM April 16, 2012 at 9:08 PM
8 sounds about right. 6.5 is too low. The game deserves better.
I respect both of your opinions and am not questioning your right to disagree with me. I would just like to remind everyone that a 6.5 is not a 65%. My letter equivalent was a B-. A B in school is about an 85%, so a B- is about an 82%.
On a 1 to 10 scale, a 6.5 is a good (not but great game). A 5 would be an average game. I just wanted to make sure you didn't think I was giving a lower score than I really am. Sorry if there was some confusion.
I think I may do away with the number grades and stick with the letter and text grades, such as B (good). Since many game review sites don't properly use the 1-10 scale (everything pretty much gets a 7-10), it causes confusion on sites that do try to properly use the scale.
Nice review. I think I'll put it on my steam wishlist and buy it on a borng weekend.
McKertis May 1, 2012 at 2:39 PM
Will you agree that this game made graphic whores out of oldschool dungeon crawlers ? The actual game has literally nothing over dozens freeware projects in the gameplay department, and the only reason that anyone cares at all - is shiny graphics. Would you still play this if monsters were 5-frame sprites ? What if it had free textures with no normal mapping ? Would you care about puzzles or combat even then ?
Good question. I'm not familiar with the freeware projects you mention, so I can't compare. After playing Legend of Grimrock, I tried to play the original Dungeon Master. While the graphics were bad, it was the lack of automap that did me in. I just don't have the patience to draw my own maps anymore. I could live with the clunky graphics.
I feel that graphics can take a good game and make it better, but they can't take a poor game and make it good. I'm not as crazy about Grimrock as many other sites are. Rock, Paper, Shotgun gave it a rave review. I don't think it deserved that, but it is that authors opinion after all. If Grimrock focused more on the combat and didn't have as many puzzles I would have given it a much lower score.
Someone Please Make This RPG!!


1. The eleventh meeting of the EU–U.S. Joint Committee took place in Rome on 30 May 2012. The list of participants is at Attachment 1. The agenda is at Attachment 2.
2. The U.S. and European delegations expressed their appreciation to the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) for generously hosting the meeting.
3. The Legal Working Group reported on the preparation of the draft Joint Committee decision covering the implementation of additional commercial rights set out in Article 21 (3-4) of the U.S.-EU Air Transport Agreement. The Joint Committee took note that further work was required on the list of countries for additional 7th freedom rights and asked the Working Group to continue developing the proposal.
4. The U.S. and European delegations reaffirmed their shared objective of enhancing standards for aviation security by maintaining a strong transatlantic relationship. The two delegations noted, with great satisfaction, substantial progress on a number of aviation security issues identified by previous Joint Committee meetings.
5. With regard to the recognition of the EU's air cargo security regime, the two delegations welcomed the achievement of an air cargo security partnership that will enhance information sharing, strengthen security and make the transportation of cargo between the United States and the EU more efficient. The air cargo security regimes in place in the EU and the United States were compared in detail and confirmed as ensuring an equivalent high level of security.
6. As a result, effective 1 June 2012, the U.S. and the EU intend to mutually recognise their respective air cargo security regimes. The U.S. delegation confirmed that this recognition allows air carriers operating between the EU and the United States to follow a single set of security rules, that is, the EU air cargo security regime in lieu of the Model Security Programme and Emergency Amendments and the Aircraft Operator Standard Security Program and Security Directives. Similarly, the European delegation confirmed that air carriers departing from the United States, bound for the EU, will not be required to apply additional measures over and above U.S. requirements.
7. On the question of screening of Liquids, Aerosols and Gels (LAGs), the two delegations noted the good cooperation achieved so far on working towards lifting the restrictions on the carriage of LAGs in cabin baggage. The European delegation reported that it is required to inform the Member States and the European Parliament on progress made with regard to the screening of LAGs by July 2012. In that respect, the EU is in the final stages of analysing the implications of lifting the restrictions by April 2013. Accordingly, the two delegations resolved to meet in Washington, D.C., as soon as practicable, to work towards concluding arrangements to permit the carriage of LAGs through application of a risk-based screening regime for transatlantic flights.
8. On One Stop Security and non-passenger screening, the United States has implemented and provided information on its risk-based assessment of security controls applied in relation to EU-bound flights. The European Commission intends to analyse that information with respect of the One Stop Security arrangement.
9. The European delegation raised its concerns with regard to the Notice of Proposed Rule Making on Foreign Repair Stations, especially with respect to possible distortion of the market. The U.S. delegation acknowledged these concerns. The Parties intend to work together on the implementation of the inspection regime, using existing arrangements where appropriate.
Pre-clearance of passengers and goods coming to the U.S.
10. The European delegation sought information about the pre-clearance of U.S.-bound passengers through airport hubs in the Gulf States and expressed concern over the potential competitive advantage in favour of Gulf carriers and airport hubs over those in Europe. The U.S. delegation explained the background and scope of U.S. preclearance operations, and said that the concerns raised by the European delegation will be relayed to the Department of Homeland Security.
11. The European and U.S. delegations welcomed the European Parliament's consent of 19 April 2012 to the new EU-U.S. Passenger Name Record (PNR) agreement on the transfer of air passengers' data for flights from the EU to the United States. The two delegations acknowledged it was a good example of beneficial and productive cooperation in fighting terrorism and serious transnational crime; the European delegation added that it also provided for improved protection of passenger data.
12. The U.S. delegation confirmed the U.S. commitment to progress in ICAO and emphasised that the ICAO work was essential. The U.S. delegation stated its view that to turn the statements into effective action, the EU needs to show flexibility and help drive forward the process. The European delegation emphasised its commitment to progress in ICAO, and underlined the crucial role of EU-U.S. cooperation to advance issues in ICAO. The U.S. delegation agreed that EU-U.S. cooperation is important, but emphasized the need for broader engagement to move forward. Without prejudice to the U.S. position on the EU ETS, the U.S. delegation raised issues that U.S. carriers have encountered regarding the implementation of EU ETS provisions. The European delegation stated its willingness to help swiftly resolve any issues that may arise in relation to Member State implementation, recalling that this is a law being applied by 30 countries, and expressed interest in receiving specific examples so that complaints could be addressed. The European and U.S. delegations discussed in more detail the EU ETS carbon market report.
13. The two delegations exchanged views on the implementation of production cut-off for aircraft engines not meeting the ICAO CAEP/6 NOx Standards established in 2004. The U.S. delegation noted that a status report had been provided to the European Commission on 4 May 2012 stating that processes to implement the ICAO NOx Standards by the U.S. Government are expected to be completed on or ahead of schedule. The European delegation confirmed that the implementation of the ICAO CAEP/6 NOx standards will be legally applicable in the EU from 23 January 2013. The deadline of 31 December 2012 could not be met due to delays in the EU internal decision-making process.
14. The two delegations discussed the EU-U.S. High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth established by the EU-U.S. Summit in 2011 and a prospective transatlantic free-trade agreement. The European delegation expressed the view that the issues of foreign majority ownership of voting shares of U.S. airlines, and cabotage, should be tackled by the Group. The U.S. delegation disagreed, and noted that as a general principle, trade agreements, including the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), U.S. bilateral free trade agreements, and the prospective Transpacific Trade Partnership (TPP) do not encompass air transport services. For the same reasons that air services have been excluded from such instruments, it would not be appropriate for the EU-U.S. HLWG to cover airline ownership and control, cabotage, or other aspects of air transport.
15. The European delegation clarified that the European Commission Directorate General for Competition would take a position on the compatibility of the prospective UPS acquisition of TNT Express with EU merger rules upon formal notification of acquisition. The U.S. delegation stated that the merger was not yet complete, and that any re-organisation of the ownership & control structure of TNT Airways, a subsidiary of TNT Express, would need to comply with applicable EU law. The European delegation stressed the sensitivity of the acquisition's impact on the EU labour force in particular in the Liège region of Belgium.
16. The two delegations discussed European concerns regarding the operations of certain U.S. all-cargo carriers in Europe. The European delegation noted that it had information indicating that some U.S. all-cargo carriers were exercising unauthorized 7th freedom traffic rights between certain EU Member States and that it had and would continue to relay that information to the United States. The U.S. delegation stated that it was difficult to address the question without full routing information and knowledge of what is being carried on each sector, but expressed its willingness to review the information to assess whether the carriers in question were in fact operating 7th freedoms as alleged.
17. The European delegation presented the EU's Better Airports Package and its current status in the legislative adoption process in the Council and the European Parliament.
18. On the proposed noise regulation, the European delegation provided an update on the progress of the proposal to establish the right of the European Commission to scrutinise actions addressing noise problems at EU airports taken by EU Member States and EU local authorities, and to ensure that the balanced approach process of deciding on operating restrictions is duly followed. The European delegation stated its view that the proposed noise regulation in its current form complied with Articles 15 and 21 of the U.S.-EU Air Transport Agreement and the ICAO Balanced Approach to Noise Management. The U.S. delegation expressed the view that the proposed regulation appeared to be helpful in addressing deficiencies in the implementation of the U.S.-EU Air Transport Agreement, but the U.S. delegation was not at a point where it could accept that the proposed regulation complies with Articles 15 and 21. In particular, the U.S. delegation expressed continuing concern that the proposed regulation still focused on how to adopt an operating restriction rather than more broadly on how to address noise problems, and challenged the concept of "marginally compliant" aircraft, as well as seeking information regarding the data and analyses used to set the limit for such aircraft. The European delegation noted the request regarding the analyses and data and undertook to provide it.
19. On the proposed slots regulation, the European and U.S. delegations discussed the proposed new rules on slot utilisation and series length including the 85/15 rule. The U.S. delegation expressed concern about the potentially disruptive effects of the 85/15 rule and the definition of slot series, especially where holidays are involved, and also questioned a preference for intra-EU carriers at non-regional airports. The European delegation emphasized again that the Commission's proposal brings important economic benefits and would ensure an optimal use of airport capacity, and promised to respond to the non-regional airport issue. .
19 bis. The U.S. delegation welcomed the prospect of increased competition in ground handling services under the Commission's proposed regulation.
20. The U.S. delegation expressed concerns that some EU Member States that introduced new noise-based operating restrictions at airports in the EU did not follow all the steps required under the ICAO's Balanced Approach to Aircraft Noise Management and did not notify the U.S. at least 150 days before its entry into force as provided for in Article 15 of the U.S.-EU Air Transport Agreement.
21. The U.S. delegation raised specific concerns as to whether EU Member States had complied with Article 15 of the U.S.-EU Air Transport Agreement with respect to noise-based operating restrictions at certain EU airports (Barcelona, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt, Helsinki, and Cologne). The German representative asked for further detail in writing to pass on to his government. The French representative said that he was not aware of questions the United States submitted in December 2011, and that cooperation between U.S. and French authorities during the process of introducing restrictions at CDG was very good. He said that the French authorities have respected deadlines insofar as restrictions were introduced in March 2012 and that the French authorities had informed the U.S. Department of State in April 2011 of such an eventuality. The U.S. delegation thanked the Spanish Government for information provided prior to the Joint Committee meeting and the two sides agreed to follow up. The Finnish Representative confirmed that the Finnish Government had just received the previous week an application for noise restrictions at Helsinki airport (this information had been shared with U.S. representatives prior to the meeting), and described the process it intends to follow to ensure compliance with Article 15 of the U.S.-EU Air Transport Agreement when evaluating proposed restrictions at the airport. The U.S. delegation reiterated the responsibility of all Member States to abide by the terms agreed to under the bilateral agreement.
22. The U.S. delegation asked for an update on the issue of the differentiated take-off and landing fee charges for intra-EU and extra-EU flights at Italian airports, discussed in the previous Joint Committee meeting, and reiterated its view that such differences were prohibited by the Agreement, which requires user charges to be cost-based and non-discriminatory. The Italian representative explained that the Rome airport's contract was being renegotiated, and from the end of 2012 a new charging regime would enter into force introducing lower charges for long haul services. The U.S. delegation countered that a new charging regime per se at Rome did not solve the issue of discrimination in charges between intra-EU and extra-EU flights, including flights at other Italian airports. The Italian representative replied that the differentiated charges regime would end when an independent supervisory authority was established in accordance with Directive 2009/12/EC on airport charges.
23. The European and U.S. delegations discussed the 2010 volcanic ash crisis and explored how prospective cooperation could minimise disruptions. Technical discussions have also been held in ICAO.
24. The European delegation asked for more details on the U.S. airports diversion/contingency plans submitted by U.S. carriers and airports to the Department of Transportation in May 2012. The U.S. delegation explained that the contingency rules apply only to U.S. carriers at U.S. airports and that they are applied in a non-discriminatory manner.
25. The U.S. delegation clarified that American Airlines remained in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and that there had not yet been any formal, official acquisition offer.
26. The European and U.S. delegations resolved to hold the next meeting of the Joint Committee in early 2013 in Washington, D.C.
Signed on 15 January 2013.


Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, this print highlights one of his famous quotes within the map of India.
How is this print made?
I first start with a swatch of ink rolled out onto a large sheet of textured paper, this is the base layer for everything to sit on. I then print out a large copy of the country, tracing around it creating a stencil or mask to work inside of. Next I roughly plot out where I want each of the letters to sit using pencil. Once I figure out the layout I start using ink to outline them. Using multiple sheets of tracing paper I am able adjust, make mistakes, and then correct them on the next layer. Once all of these elements are complete I scan them and then group them all together.
This print is outputted on the finest archival paper. A superior matte finish with a heavy basis weight of 240gsm.


text:
Today, Tomorrow, and Forever is a 2002 Elvis Presley compilation album released by RCA Records. The album features songs from the early years of Presley on Sun Records to his movie career, 68' Comeback Special, Gospel, Vegas and later years. As indicated on the packaging, none of the tracks in this four-CD set had ever been released previously, as all tracks featured were either alternate studio takes or previously unreleased live performances. The title track of the collection is a (then-)recently discovered outtake from the soundtrack recording sessions for Viva Las Vegas featuring Presley in duet with Ann-Margret.

Track listing

Chart performance

Year-end charts

References

Elvis Presley compilation albums
2002 compilation albums
RCA Records compilation albums
Compilation albums published posthumously

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Nancy Kidd, Ph.D. has been executive director of ASA since 2016. She spent the previous seven years as executive director of a sister learned society, the National Communication Association. Earlier in her career, Kidd served as a program officer at the Russell Sage Foundation and assistant director for policy at the South Florida Workforce Development Board. She also ran the strategic management division of Plexus Scientific Corporation, a government contractor, and led a business unit of the Corporate Executive Board, a company that does strategic research for leading corporations. Kidd has a Ph.D. in sociology from Stanford University and a B.A. in sociology from the University of Pennsylvania.
Margaret Weigers Vitullo, Ph.D. is deputy director of ASA, and previously served the association as director of academic and professional affairs for 11 years. Before joining the staff of ASA, she was a faculty member and chair of the sociology department at Gallaudet University. She also worked as a research scientist in the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research in the Department of Health and Human Services and was a Robert Wood Johnson scholar in health policy research at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. She received her Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Michigan and a B.A. in sociology and managerial studies from Rice University.
Jill Wharton, Ph.D. is the marketing and membership manager. She joined ASA in 2019 after serving as a Mellon visiting fellow and marketing and public relations manager at the American Historical Association. Wharton has a Ph.D. in English from the University of Notre Dame.
Naomi Paiss has been ASA's director of communications since 2018. She comes to us most recently from spending more than a decade as vice president of public affairs at the New Israel Fund. Prior to that, Paiss led communications efforts at Handgun Control, Inc. (now Brady Campaign), National Wildlife Federation, and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. She has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College in history and philosophy.
Johanna Olexy is senior communications associate and has been part of ASA's communications team for more than a decade. She a received a B.A. from American University in sociology and communications and a master's in education policy from George Washington University.
Les Briggs, CPA is director of finance for ASA and has worked for the association since 2002. Before joining the staff of ASA, he served as director of finance for the Society of Interventional Radiology and the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Research and Education Foundation. Earlier in his career, he worked for various CPA firms providing auditing and tax services within the greater Washington, D.C. area before subsequently deciding to leave public accounting for the non-profit world. Briggs has a B.S. in accounting from George Mason University and acquired his CPA license in 1994.
Girma Hirpassa Efa, CPA has been ASA's accountant since 1998. Prior to making America his home, he served in his birth country of Ethiopia as a senior management consultant on small industry projects and as a financial analyst in government agencies in charge of promoting privately owned small industries. Efa has a B.A.in accounting from Addis Ababa University as well as advanced diplomas and certificates in project studies, financial management and business consulting from different international institutes in Germany, the Netherlands and University of the Philippines.
Mark Fernando has been the director of governance and administration at ASA since 2017. Prior to coming to ASA, he worked at the National Communication Association for eleven years where he served in various positions including Chief Operating Officer and senior manager for communications. Fernando has also worked with the National Consumers League, Maryland Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention, and the National Organization on Disability. He has an M.A. from Georgetown University in communication, culture, and technology and a B.S. in political science and communication studies from Towson University.
Aubrianna Osorio is ASA's administrative assistant and receptionist. She graduated from Kenyon College with a B.A. in sociology.
David Matthews has served as ASA's office assistant for almost 30 years.
Michelle Randall, CMM, CMP has been director of meeting services since 2017. She spent the previous nine years as director of convention and meetings at the National Communication Association. She has worked in meeting planning, in various sectors, for over 20 years. She has a B.A. in English and communication from the University of Michigan.
JulieAnn Rudolph is the meeting services associate at ASA. Before joining ASA, she served as a program assistant and a program coordinator at AcademyHealth and as an event coordinator for The Women's Center. She received her bachelor's degree in business administration from Marymount University and a certificate in event management from George Washington University.
Jean Shin, Ph.D. is director of minority and student affairs. Prior to joining the ASA staff in 2006, he served as associate dean of academic affairs for first year students as well as a sociology faculty member at McDaniel College, a small, private liberal arts institution located in Westminster, Maryland. He received his Ph.D. in sociology from Indiana University-Bloomington and a B.A. in sociology from the University of Virginia.
Rebekah Smith joined ASA as minority and student affairs assistant in 2018. While in college, she worked as a program coordinator for the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History and peer mentor for the minority advising program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She received her B.A. in sociology from UNC in 2017.
Karen Gray Edwards is ASA's director of publications, a role in which she has served for more than 20 years. She also served as ASA's director of membership for 15 of those years and had several other positions at the association prior to that.
Jamie Panzarella is ASA's publications manager and has worked in various roles at the ASA for more than a decade. She received her B.A. in sociology and political science, with a public policy focus, from the George Washington University.
Teresa Ciabattari, Ph.D. is the director of research, professional development, and academic affairs. Prior to joining the ASA staff in 2018, she was a professor of sociology at Pacific Lutheran University, where she also served as department chair and the director of women's and gender studies. Ciabattari has a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Washington and a B.S. in sociology from Santa Clara University.
Diego de los Rios, Ph.D. is the assistant director of research, professional development, and academic affairs. From 2006 to 2010, he worked as the governance and sections coordinator of ASA. He received his Ph.D. in sociology from Northwestern University and a B.A. in sociology and religious studies from McDaniel College.
Nicole Amaya is senior research associate and has been a part of ASA's research team since 2006. She has a B.A. in sociology and education from Rider University and a master's in sociology from American University.


The proposed redevelopment at Southbank Place comprises of eight buildings arranged orthogonally across the site around the existing Shell Tower.
Two of the proposed buildings are predominantly office use, with the remainder residential use. Building 3 provides residential apartments on 28 levels and is configured as a mixed tenure residential building comprised of "Affordable rent – Extra Care accommodation", "Affordable rent – Intermediate accommodation" and "Private rented tenure accommodation". Darling Associates have been appointed as interior architects on the 203 Private rented units and Private common parts.


IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 1, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Habit Restaurants, Inc. (Nasdaq:HABT) ("The Habit"), today announced that Russell Bendel, chief executive officer, and Ira Fils, chief financial officer, will be presenting at the Wedbush Securities California Dreamin' Technology Consumer Management Access Conference at the Loews, Santa Monica Beach Hotel in Santa Monica, CA on Wednesday, December 9th at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time.
The Habit Burger Grill is a fast casual restaurant concept that specializes in preparing fresh, made-to-order char-grilled burgers and sandwiches featuring USDA choice tri-tip steak, grilled chicken and sushi-grade albacore tuna cooked over an open flame. The first Habit opened in Santa Barbara, California in 1969. The Habit has since grown to over 130 restaurants in 13 markets throughout California, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, New Jersey, Florida, Nevada, and Washington.


USSOCOM's mission is to Provide fully capable Special Operations Forces (SOF) to defend the United States and its interests and synchronize planning for global operations against terrorist networks.
Major established and global leading company has an opportunity for a Manufacturing Engineering Manager with growth potential at a well performing and good size plant in eastern Alabama.
You will be receiving job alerts for Engineering Jobs in Eufaula, AL.


text:
The 2012 NBA Playoff Guide: Part Two
By Oliver Miller, April 25th 2012
http://tcat.tc/125poFW
"I am still living with your ghost/ Lonely and dreaming of the West Coast." So begins the classic Everclear song "Santa Monica" — as sung by the immortal Art Alexakis. Which really has nothing to do with PART TWO of our 2012 NBA PLAYOFF GUIDE. …Except for the fact that today's section of the guide covers the Western Conference, and the song has the words "West Coast" in it. …So, er, in a way, by covering the Western Conference, we're dreaming of the West Coast? I got nothin'. The song was just stuck in my head today, to be honest.
Plus, it's a highly stupid song, and this is a very stupid and ill-informed NBA Playoff Guide. And hey, can you believe that Everclear was ever famous? Or that I had to hear that song approximately 10,000 times in college? Or that the song is almost barely tolerable until you see the singer acting like a total jag-off in the video? Amazing.
…Anyway, where was I? Ah, yes. Basketball. And so here is…
THE 2012 N.B.A.P.G.
Or, "How to bluff your way through a conversation about basketball"
PART TWO: THE WESTERN CONFERENCE
Gosh but this was a fun idea for a column until I remembered that I had to write about the Western Conference, which I know little to nothing about — except for the part where you hate Kobe Bryant, but you can hate Kobe Bryant without knowing anything about basketball. Go ahead and try it. Try it right now. It's easy. Let the hatred flow through you. Ahhh… Didn't that feel good and cleansing?
Anyway, writing Part One of this Playoff Guide was good clean fun. But now I'm just regretting the whole thing and wishing that I had written about drinking and sex the way that I always do. Ah well. Let's begin.
THE WESTERN CONFERENCE:
1) Oklahoma City Thunder: You might be wondering why a team based in Oklahoma City is located in the "Northwest Division." Well, good question, you! The team used to be the Seattle SuperSonics, until the owners screwed over the good people of Seattle by moving the team to Oklahoma for no apparent reason.
So, this team features Kevin Durant, the most likable superstar of our generation. Durant is so likable that he re-signed with the Thunder, and thus voluntarily chose to continue living in Oklahoma. That's how easy-going and likable he is. But I still can't like the Thunder because of the whole screwing over Seattle thing. Give me 20 years or so and maybe I'll get over it.
Cocktail party chatter: "Where is Oklahoma, exactly? West of Missouri? South of Arkansas? East of Texas? Does anyone know and/or care?" "…The Thunder's uniforms look like they were grabbed from a bargain bin at a going-out-of-business sale at a T.J. Maxx at 7 p.m. on a Sunday night right before the store closed forever." "Is 'Durant over Oden' one of the most obvious no-brainers of all time, even before you factor in the Portland 'ghosts of Michael Jordan past' aspect to the equation?" "…Scottie Brooks rules!"
2) Denver Nuggets: LET'S GO NUGZ! …I know close to nothing about the Denver Nuggets, now that they've traded Carmelo Anthony away. I don't even know if anyone calls them the "Nugz," but if people don't, they should. Let's just pencil them in for a first round loss in the playoffs and move along quickly.
Cocktail party chatter: "Hey, Ty Lawson is on the team! He's, uh, fast. And um, HEY WHAT'S THAT BEHIND YOU? NO, I'M SERIOUS, YOU'VE GOT TO LOOK BEHIND YOU RIGHT NOW WHILE I DEFINITELY DON'T RUN AWAY OR NOTHIN'."
3) Utah Jazz: I forgot to put Utah in this here Playoff Guide until someone mentioned them in the comments. Which pretty much tells you all you need to know about Utah and their playoff hopes and dreams. I'm looking them up on ESPN even as I write this. …So, who's on their team? Paul Millsap? Jamaal Tinsley? Whatever.
Cocktail party chatter: "Er." "Ah…" "Mmm…" "…Uhhh, let's talk about something else. How do you feel about, oh, say, the deficit? The Federal Reserve? …So, how 'bout that Mitt Romney? He seems… likable?" Or just give up and kill yourself if you have to talk about the Utah Jazz. Or propose a cult-style mass suicide. That ought to "break the ice" at any cocktail-party-style gathering.
1) L.A. Lakers: Fun fact: Kobe Bryant played at the high school next to my high school in Pennsylvania. And my high school did not have a good basketball team. So Kobe would come and regularly "drop" sixty or seventy points on us. Ugh. …Less fun fact: there's a fifty-fifty chance that Kobe Bryant is a rapist. Ugh.
Cocktail party chatter: "Kobe Bryant might just be the most dominant rapist to ever play in the NBA!" …Rape jokes, yay. Those always just sort of reflect badly on the teller, I guess. "Hey, does Ron Artest make, like, members of his own family call him 'Metta World Peace,' or how does that work?"
2) L.A. Clippers: "LOB CITY, LOB CITY, LOB CITY." Just say that a lot. It'll make you sound very… basketball-y, I promise.
1) San Antonio Spurs: OHMIGOD ARE WE DONE TALKING ABOUT SPORTS YET? …Never again, I swear. Yay, the Spurs are in the playoffs for the 20th straight year, fantastic. Aaaaah, who ca-aaaaares?
Cocktail party chatter: "Living through the period of the Spurs' dominance is like living through the Ford Administration. Nothing ever happens, but you still have a vague sense of malaise, for lack of a better word." "How many women has Tony Parker f-cked since his divorce from Eva Longoria? My best guess is… all of them." "Tim Duncan is absolutely my favorite player of all time from the Virgin Islands. Ever. I totally guarantee it."
2) Memphis Grizzles: Memphis GM Chris Wallace has made every terrible trade ever — including the absolutely indefensible Pau Gasol trade — and yet somehow still ended up with a halfway decent team. Go f-cking goddamn figure, I guess.
Cocktail party chatter: "Marc Gasol — all the Gasol, less of the angst." "The Speights pick-up was an absolute steal." "Is it actually possible to root for a team whose mascot is a pissed off Care Bear™?"
3) Dallas Mavericks: Hey, they're last year's champs! Possibly the most forgettable NBA champions since the '79 Seattle Sonics, or maybe I'm just in a bad mood today.
Cocktail party chatter: "Dirk Nowitzki looks like the most amiable German stoner backpacker of all time. He's either the guy you meet on a Eurorail trip to Prague, or the dopey exchange student who lived down the hall from you — the one you 'got baked' with for all of Sophomore year." "…AND WAIT, JASON KIDD IS STILL IN THE NBA?!!! JESUS." "..AND WAIT, OLIVER IS ACTUALLY DONE WITH HIS NBA PREVIEW ARTICLE?!!! JESUS."
Conference Semi-Final picks: Oklahoma City, L.A. Clippers, San Antonio, Memphis
Conference Finals picks: Oklahoma City over San Antonio
NBA Finals pick: Oklahoma City over Miami. …THUNDER UP!
Coming next: Nothing about sports ever again, I swear to God.
You should follow Thought Catalog on Twitter here.
image – Domenic Gareri / Shutterstock.com
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Chris Paul dirk nowitzki Entertainment greg oden Kevin Durant Kobe Bryant Lob City Los Angeles Lakers Michael Jordon NBA nba playoffs norm macdonald oklahoma city thunder Oliver Miller pau gasol san antonio spurs seattle sonics Sports tim duncan Uncategorized we like sportz you got pau'd
The 2012 NBA Playoff Guide: Part One
30 Outrageous NBA Predictions For The 2014-2015 Season
Everything I Know About Chris Webber
The NFL Playoffs For Dummies
7 Crazy NBA Playoff Predictions Before The Playoffs Even Start
24 Life Lessons Learned From The NBA
10 Terrible Songs That I Love
http://twitter.com/outpaigeous	Paige Handley
I like the sports articles. Don't say no more.
Nonono
Oh God. Thought Catalog, I love you, but never write about my favorite professional sport or my Spurs, ever again. Please, no.
http://baileypowell.com/	B
The Spurs, ew.
Richardbobby89
You missed a team lol…(Utah)
Oliver Miller
FUCK!!!!!
haha, sorry- just had to point that out. Guess your sports writing career isn't *quite* over yet
Errr, fixed-ish. God. Kill me. Let's never talk about this again.
hahahahahah that was awesome, sir. Well done.
http://twitter.com/shoshkabob	Shosh
Daaaaamn, your Lakers/Kobe hate is almost Boston-esque.
I BLEED the purple and gold.
You know nothing about basketball.
Egads, I've been found out!
Oklahoma, north of Texas, west of Arkansas and refining the gasoline you put in your car since always. At least they win in your curious collection of things that look like sports references! Thunder Up!!
Cole Armstrong
Technically, every geographic description Oliver used is true. Oklahoma can be reached by travelling west from certain parts of MO, east from certain parts of TX, and south from a very small part of Arkansas (like Siloam Springs and Cherokee City).
How are the Clippers and Memphis both going to make it to the semi-finals if they're going to play against each other in the 1st round?
Aah, I dunno. We'll figure something out. Maybe David Stern can fix the series so both teams win or something. …I actually thought that Memphis and the Lakers could still switch positions, but no, the Lakers have the tiebreak, oh well.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Dr. Gottlieb has already heard of the plague in St. Hubert, for Ross McGurk's worldwide means of transportation and communication keeps the Institute better informed than are the residents of Blackwater itself. It is rumored that Arrowsmith of McGurk may have something to eradicate the plague. Martin is summoned and asked if he will go to St. Hubert and experiment with the phage on half the patients and keep the others as controls. Martin agrees. Sondelius is to go along for publicity and to see that the Institute receives proper credit, though he is not to participate in the experimentation. Martin is to find if possible a district comparatively untouched by the plague and should there have test cases, one half injected with phage and the other half untreated. In the badly afflicted districts, he may give the phage to everyone. If results are favorable, that part of the experiment will be secondary proof. In the meantime, the Surgeon General, Dr. Inchcape Jones, cables that no help is needed. Sondelius considers himself the official rat-killer and is enthusiastic about the job.
When Martin breaks the news of his departure to Leora, she insists on going along since she has no life of her own outside of her husband and his work. He will need her help, she argues, for she has helped him before in the laboratory, and in addition he may become ill. She wins her point.
Gottlieb warns Martin not to let a kind heart spoil his experiment in St. Hubert, for it is necessary to think of generations to come as well as of men now dying. Terry Wickett admonishes Martin to keep his phage notes complete and up-to-date, in ink.
Before the McGurk Commission sails, the island of St. Hubert is under quarantine. Dr. Inchcape Jones has declared that people may come in but that none may go out. Martin buys a supply of tropical-weight clothing to take along, in addition to his syringes and his ampules of phage.
Martin, Leora, and Sondelius sail one winter morning on the steamer St. Buryan, of the McGurk Line. Only Terry Wickett sees them off. It is the first sea voyage for the Arrowsmiths, though Sondelius is a globetrotter. Gottlieb arrives at the dock too late to find them at the rail. He is disappointed.
Martin and Leora are seasick off Cape Hatteras but enthusiastic about their voyage. Leora has brought a West Indian guide book and reads it avidly. Sondelius is all over the ship, striking up acquaintance with all kinds of people. A Miss Gwilliam, from New Jersey, makes him conscious of his lack of culture and refinement, but not for long. Martin becomes conscious of how much he has neglected Leora and promises to do better. So great is her absorption in him that she has never felt neglected and makes light of his attempts to apologize. He promises her that on their return from St. Hubert, they will take the coveted trip abroad so that she may see England and Italy, and most of all, France. She is ecstatic over the prospect of "going places." In their close little stateroom, she tries to make him as comfortable as possible and adores him more than ever.
The representatives of McGurk Institute are drawn into the narrative again and are now on the way to the West Indies, Martin of course being in the lead. To Ross McGurk, the expedition furnishes an opportunity for the Institute to acquire worldwide fame; to Gottlieb, Martin, and Sondelius, it is an attempt to acquire further scientific knowledge, at the same time saving lives. The whole-souled absorption of Leora in her husband is again brought into the narrative, this time leading her into grave danger with him. She admits being lazy, useless, and ignorant except for the protection and love she gives him. Sondelius, once Martin's leader, is now cast in a subordinate though important role. He has qualities which Martin lacks, and the two complement each other. The episode builds up to its highest point, the actual fight against the plague.


One of the most exciting czech acts is about to hit Utrecht club scene for the first time. Ghost of You is bent on moving your limbs in a rather disquieting manner, setting your bones apart by neurotic, sturdy drumming with a machine-like rigidity, bathing you in them velvet bass lines, allowing you to submerge in the depths of soothing ambient, yet carving your skin with blazed, jazzy guitars and a pleading voice of Tom Novohradský. The band is known to have extensively toured, with around 400 gigs all around Europe in the past 6 years, including a tour in London, being the youngest Czech band to play Sziget festival, Eurosonic Nooderslaag 2017, BUSH showcase or Waves Vienna.
Give their new, ethereal record Black Yoga a spin and come and check them out in ACU!
Cymbaline tells a story of losing yourself in a deranged frenzy, only to find yourself back in some twisted reality that bears no esemblance to anything you thought you knew. Drawing heavily from the 70s New York scene, Cymbaline brings a sonic mix of raw, psychedelic rock 'n roll, in the likes of Lou Reed, David Bowie and Patti Smith. However, don't be surprised if you hear some 60s Flower Power or Jazz somewhere along the way. So, why don't you go ahead and let them take you on a Tarantino-esque roadtrip, setting the perfect scene for a reflection on all that's wrong with us kids today.


text:
Q: Cannot express tuple conversion with UIImage I try to set the theme (include the background and a picture) for my app. I try this code:
import UIKit

enum AppTheme {
    case dayMode
    case nightMode

    func setBackground() -> (UIImage, UIImage) {
        switch self {

        case .dayMode():
            let backgroundImage = #imageLiteral(resourceName: "DayMode")
            let sunControllerImage = #imageLiteral(resourceName: "sun")
            return (backgroundImage, sunControllerImage)

        case .nightMode():
            let backgroundImage = #imageLiteral(resourceName: "NightMode")
            let sunControllerImage = #imageLiteral(resourceName: "moon")
            return (backgroundImage, sunControllerImage)

        }
    }
}

then in viewDidLoad, I try:
override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()
        // Do any additional setup after loading the view, typically from a nib.
        (backgroundImg.image, sunControllerImg.image) = AppTheme.nightMode.setBackground()

    }

However, there is an error:

Cannot express tuple conversion (UIImage, UIImage) to (UIImage?, UIImage?) (aka (Optional<UIImage>, Optional<UIImage>)).

Is there anyway to handle this?

A: try this way
enum AppTheme {
    case dayMode
    case nightMode

    func setBackground() -> (UIImage?, UIImage?) {
        switch self {

        case .dayMode():
            let backgroundImage = #imageLiteral(resourceName: "DayMode")
            let sunControllerImage = #imageLiteral(resourceName: "sun")
            return (backgroundImage, sunControllerImage)

        case .nightMode():
            let backgroundImage = #imageLiteral(resourceName: "NightMode")
            let sunControllerImage = #imageLiteral(resourceName: "moon")
            return (backgroundImage, sunControllerImage)

        }
    }
}

cause UIImage is  Optional .
Swift have  a  concept of failable initializers and UIImage is have  of them. The initializer returns an Optional so if the image cannot be created it will return nil.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Yes, I lost the plot.
It was as if I'd taken a lover.I'd spent day and night with it. I thought of little else.
Pride, love and energy caressed each page. That was how I felt when I finished and printed my first draft.
Yet doubts haunted me. Was it good enough to show off yet? Filled with trepidation, I approached five people to read the first draft. I chose people who I knew would give me honest and direct feedback. I wasn't interested in feeding my ego. I wanted to develop my writing.
Like waiting for exam results I was restless to have their feedback. Days and weeks rolled by as busy lives got in the way. Then one by one they came back. There were pencil notes on grammar, punctuation and sentence structure. Some pointed out flaws that I'd not seen before; changes in point of view; over explaining a point in two or three ways, repeating some of the same words over and over again. These were just a few areas to work on.
Then my good friend Don sat me down and asked, "What do you want your book to be about?" We talked about the plot. What was I writing? Was the plot a series of events pulled together without any cohesion? Yes, I had lost the plot.
I suddenly saw my book in a different light – it was clear what I needed to do. My book and I needed time apart. Fortunately, it was Christmas and the holiday season made it easier to deal with any seperation anxiety.
Eight weeks later, I opened the file on the computer – there was my book. I'd missed it. I re-read the first chapter, said goodbye and then deleted it. Then, I painstakenly altered, deleted, expanded, tweaked and corrected. Each chapter and every sentence had to earn it's place. I had to be ruthless. With that, I changed the whole direction of the book.
You can't do that to a lover.
This entry was posted in Writing and tagged Learning to write, novel writing, obsession, writing on September 18, 2015 by S.C. Karakaltsas.
How do you know if you can write?
I had finished reading the book "Questions of Travel'. The author, Michelle De Kretzer, wrote two stories with two points of view. One was about a man who suffered the loss of his wife and son under horrific circumstances during the war in Sri Lanka and the other was the story of a wanderlust young woman.
Perhaps I could do the same thing but instead tell one story from two points of views. What I had was an important history in my fathers letters.Could I write a book about what happened on the island?
The Australian media focussed on the murders of the husband and barely mentioned his wife. I know it was indicative of the times but this got under my skin. I wanted her to have a voice. Why had they died? What had happened?
One night I lay in bed and thought about what she must have endured . I couldn't sleep so I got up and wrote my first chapter.
I hadn't written anything creative since high school. I had worked in the financial services industry for more than 30 years. What did I know about writing? I hadn't written anything . . . or had I. I began thinking about my working life. I had written policy, procedure, letters, emails, newsletters, speeches,templates. Perhaps I was equipped to write but didn't have the confidence. What I did have though, was my growing obsession which drove me to just give it a go. What did I have to lose? I read that first chapter to my family and with their encouragement began to build confidence.
I went away for a weekend with some close friends and read the first chapter. I got some positive feedback – wow. A small part of me wondered if they were humouring me . . . or if they were just shocked to find out I wanted to write a book . . . or maybe just surprised I could string two words together.
It was enough to spur me on to write five chapters. I picked out the events that my father wrote about then visualised the scenes with the help of the photos I had.The story was built around the events and I filled in the missing blanks. How did I do this? Research and imagination.
How did I know if I could write? Well, I still don't but if it makes sense and the reader gets something out of it then I'm half way there. Aren't I?
This entry was posted in Writing and tagged blogging, family history, novel writing idea, obsession on June 25, 2015 by S.C. Karakaltsas.
I had almost finished typing up the letters.
The next one dated 3 May 1949 dropped a bombshell. The gruesome murder of a couple – I knew their names. My father had mentioned them in his earlier letters. Why had this Australian husband and wife been stabbed to death? I didn't know them but my father had a connection to them. I don't know why, but I felt sad. Was I the only one who thought about them after 65 years?
I flipped through the remaining letters – there were only 3. The murderer was at large and three detectives from Brisbane arrived. The next letter speculated about the murderer. "By the way, you seemed to think that natives were the cause of this strife – well they're not. They would never come at anything in that nature and so far as I'm concerned the Chinese aren't a patch on them so far as work and manners is concerned." Did he believe someone from the Chinese community was the culprit?
The final correspondence ended by saying that a person had been arrested.Then nothing more.
Imagine my frustration. I had lots of questions and my father was no longer here to ask him. Then, when I thought about it, I realised he probably didn't know much anyway.
I had typed up 65 pages and 23000 words – a story had unfolded. All I had to do was work out how to tease these events into a coherent story. That's when I started writing my novel and my obsession.
This entry was posted in Writing and tagged family history, novel writing idea, obsession on June 16, 2015 by S.C. Karakaltsas.


"All right," said the Cat; and this time it vanished quite slowly, beginning with the end of the tail, and ending with the grin, which remained sometime after the rest of it had gone.
— 1865 The disappearance of the Cheshire Cat. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, ch.6,'Pig and Pepper'.
— Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass, Chapter 4.
Yet still to choose a brat like you, To haunt a man of forty-two, Was no great compliment!"
— Lewis Carroll, Phantasmagoria (1869), Canto 1.
"Reeling and Writhing, of course, to begin with," the Mock Turtle replied, "and the different branches of Arithmetic, Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision."
— Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland, Chapter X.


Home » 360° Camera Guides » Which 360 Camera is best for Photography?
A question I get asked a lot is "which is the best 360 camera if I only want to take photos". It's a valid question, because when most people review and judge 360 cameras they tend to focus on video and don't pay much attention to the 360 photo capabilities. There are plenty of people with no interest in shooting 360 video but want an easy to use all in one solution for shooting high quality 360 images.
Until recently the only way to create 360 images was to use a DSLR and panoramic tripod head to take multiple photos and stitch them together manually. This results in very high quality panoramic images, but takes a long time and the cost of the equipment is high. The cameras I'm going to show you won't be able to match up to the quality of a DSLR, but in some cases they come close and are way easier to use.
The cameras I'm going to be looking at today are the Samsung Gear 360, the Ricoh Theta V, Xiaomi Mijia Mi Sphere and the Insta360 One. I chose these specific cameras because they have all been vying for the position of "best 360 camera" at some stage and all of them have manual photo controls.
In my first comparison I took each camera out to a largely empty field and took a single 360 photo using tripod in the same location. I chose to test in this way so that there was minimal interference from objects or people. I've combined the resulting photo from each camera into a single 360 image which you can see below.
The changes in color between each camera is quite apparent, however the Mi Sphere represents the closest to reality. The Insta360 One, while taking a very sharp image, seems to add a warm hue to the image.
The Gear 360 is noticeably worse that any of the other cameras. Objects close up and far away appear blurred and the whole image looks very very quality. This may be due to the low 15 megapixel resolution, however I think it's more to do with lenses used in this camera, which are cheap and basic.
The Ricoh Theta V, which shoots at an even lower resolution, actually takes a very good photo here. The colors and details are on point and there's little blurriness. The Theta V uses more advanced lens technology and you can see this goes a long way, however the camera is somewhat limited by a lack of pixels.
The image below features each of the 4 photos used to make the comparison in their flat, non 360 format. I've labeled each one with the camera and resolution. The images have been made small enough to fit on this page but the size difference remains to scale.
As you can see the size difference between the Mi Sphere/Insta360 One and Theta V/Gear 360 is quite large. Megapixels are important for 360 photos because the image has to wrap all the way around you, so the more pixels the better. But that's just one consideration, the quality of the lenses and the manual options available are also an important factor to consider.
I'm going to remove the Samsung Gear 360 from the running at this point, because it not only lacks sufficient resolution, it also uses basic lenses and has fewer options for manual control. It's a very cheap camera and shoot 4K video, which is great, but for photos it doesn't really hold up.
Lets take a look at another flat photo comparison in a different (and more interesting) location. These images were take with the three remaining cameras at the same time and location. I've taken a third of each camera and combined them into one panorama so you can see the differences.
All three cameras do a great job, but we end up with very different looking images. The Mi Sphere is again the most accurate to reality and the Insta360 One is the sharpest, but a little off with the coloring. The Theta V image looks very attractive but there is a lack of detailing in the far away objects, probably due to the lower resolution.
I took each of the above images and created a 100% crop of each one. This allows us to clearly see how good each camera is at captuturing details.
Each camera actually does very well and I think most people would be happy with any of these, but there are some subtle differences. The Ricoh Theta V, despite compensating for poor resolution with excellent lenses, struggles to keep as much detail when zoomed in this close. Everything looks a bit blue and there's a slight blurriness to the whole image. The camera handles light better than the other two and has excellent dynamic range but I don't think this quite makes up for a blurry image.
The Ricoh Theta V is a big upgrade from its predecessor and it's 360 video capabilities excellent, but for some reason Ricoh decided not to upgrade the resolution of its lenses. I think if they had done so the Theta V would be the best 360 camera for photography, but at this stage I'l going to eliminate it as the remaining two can shoot at much higher resolutions and keep those all important details looking sharp.
Xiaomi Mijia Mi Sphere or Insta360 One?
So it's down to these final two cameras, let's take a look at some photos shot with each of them.
These two images, while not shot at the same location, indicate the primary difference between the two cameras. Both of these can shoot large 23 megapixel photos that look great most of the time, however the Insta360 One suffers from a noise issue at lower light levels. In areas of darkness, or when there isn't much light in general, the Insta360 One creates photos with a lot of grain and noise, which ruins an otherwise good shot. The Mi Sphere doesn't seem to suffer from the same issue and can shoot mostly smooth and clear images at low light.
There is also the issue of color grading. The Insta360 one seems to constantly produce photos that are on the warmer end of the color scale and no setting seems to change this. One advantage the Insta360 One does have is that it can shoot RAW photos, allowing you to adjust the colors yourself without losing quality, still, it would be better if it got it right in automatic mode!
After considering all the features and having examined any side by side comparisons from both camera, I'm going to declare that the Xiaomi Mijia Mi Sphere is the best 360 camera for photos. Why? It consistently shoots sharp, clear images at a high enough resolution to not look blurred in the 360 format. In handles light well and have a range of full manual controls. The best thing about it is that it's one of the cheapest 360 cameras around! At just over $200 this really is a bargain. So if you are looking for a 360 camera primarily for taking photos, I'd recommend the Mijia Mi Sphere.
The best 360 camera for photography available only on Gearbest.com. Ships to over 200 countries.
Hello, wondering thoughts on the best 360 camera (video would be great too but not necessary) under $1,000 USD. Would you rate the Garmin Virb better from a photo vs the Mi Sphere? My main interest is in focus. So many of these cameras get blurry on me and I'm about to buy another. Your advise is appreciated. Love the YouTube channel and I appreciate your information on 360 tech.
Hi That is a really great article to compare still 360's which is my only interest not video.Could you just go a bit further as I am particularly interested in the best still 360 camera for use in propertyor real estate type interior images for use in building virtual tours.
How much difference is there really these days between dslr and the new 360 cameras for this sort of use.
Helpful article! I actually prefer the warmer tones of the Insta 360 One, but that's just a personal preference. I am anxiously waiting for Xiaomi to add raw files to their next camera. Then I'll finally get a better 360 (at this price point).
What about Samsung gear 360 2016? It has better resolution. But I cannot compare it with Mi Sphere.
Thanks for the excellent review. I'm thinking about getting a cam for Mapillary.
With respect to the poor quality of the Gear I want to add that in contrast to regular cameras image resolution and sensor resolution are different for 360 cameras.
The gear has a 2×8.4MP (16.8MP) sensor and a 15MP photo resolution. The Theta has also a 15MP photo resolution but a 2x12MP (25MP) sensor. Because the distorted raw-fisheye-image has probably to be rectified the over-resolution helps improving the quality by offering more points for resampling.
Great review – thanks for taking the time an sharing your experience. I think I'm going with the insta360 because it seems to have really strong support and works great with iOS tethered with bluetooth. A few items -the Mi is now priced at $299 everywhere I have looked – so now the same price point at the Insta360. In reference to the Ricoh you stated: "Ricoh decided not to upgrade the resolution of its lenses". I'm confused by this statement. Lenses don't have resolution – the image sensor has resolution based on the sensor size. Lenses can impact sharpness, distortion etc but don't have impact on resolution in terms of image size/MP/ or pixels per unit of area. Did you just mean that they didn't upgrade to higher quality lenses?
What are your thoughts on the original Gear 360 for stills? It seems to have the highest pixel count of all the cameras tested at 30MP. Have you compared it to the others? Thoughts on color reproduction, range, etc?


text:
using Umbraco.Cms.Core.Manifest;
using Umbraco.Cms.Core.Mapping;
using Umbraco.Cms.Core.Models.ContentEditing;
using Umbraco.Cms.Core.Sections;
using Umbraco.Cms.Core.Services;
using Umbraco.Extensions;

namespace Umbraco.Cms.Core.Models.Mapping;

public class SectionMapDefinition : IMapDefinition
{
    private readonly ILocalizedTextService _textService;

    public SectionMapDefinition(ILocalizedTextService textService) => _textService = textService;

    public void DefineMaps(IUmbracoMapper mapper)
    {
        mapper.Define<ISection, Section>((source, context) => new Section(), Map);

        // this is for AutoMapper ReverseMap - but really?
        mapper.Define<Section, ContentSection>();
        mapper.Define<Section, ContentSection>();
        mapper.Define<Section, ManifestSection>(Map);
        mapper.Define<Section, MediaSection>();
        mapper.Define<Section, MembersSection>();
        mapper.Define<Section, PackagesSection>();
        mapper.Define<Section, SettingsSection>();
        mapper.Define<Section, TranslationSection>();
        mapper.Define<Section, UsersSection>();
    }

    // Umbraco.Code.MapAll
    private static void Map(Section source, ManifestSection target, MapperContext context)
    {
        target.Alias = source.Alias;
        target.Name = source.Name;
    }

    // Umbraco.Code.MapAll -RoutePath
    private void Map(ISection source, Section target, MapperContext context)
    {
        target.Alias = source.Alias;
        target.Name = _textService.Localize("sections", source.Alias);
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Ris Low named spokeswoman for Espire
January 15, 2010 aileenwoMiscLeave a Comment on Ris Low named spokeswoman for Espire
Stripping of her Miss Singapore World title doesn't stop 19-year-old, Ris Low from becoming the rising stars in the entertainment world. After her title was stripped of from Miss Singapore World title, convicted for credit card fraud on how she spent almost $8000, sentence to be under survellience for 24 months, indecent photos, she stand strong in her own way. She even publicly stated she wanted to make a comeback as a beauty pageant organiser and was looking for sponsors for an as-yet-unnamed three-in-one beauty pageant. Then she stirred another controversy by liberal use of vulgarities and expletives on Shan + Rozz show on radio station 98.7. Since then, she had became one of the infamous person in the world.
Despite being infamous, she is the most searched person on the internet like Google, Yahoo and rednano.sg, she even became the cover girl for men's magazine and now Espire.
With her strong determination to become a celebrity, she caught the attention Zander Asia who approached her to be their condom company Espire youth ambassador, to promote its latest product as well as educate safe sex to Singapore youths.
"Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly"
http://www.zanderasia.com/
Ris Low's official website
condom, Espire condom, Miss World Singapore, ris low
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Google is in hot pursuit of the virtually unlimited local business advertising market. Of course, there has always been Google Adwords available for local business owners. And then came along Google Places, which is free advertising platform where local business owners can "claim" their local business and have it appear on Google Maps search results on both desktops and mobile phones.
Google Boost allows business owners to easily create online search ads from directly within their Google Places account. No ongoing management is needed after the initial set up, and this beta is currently available to select local businesses in San Francisco, Houston and Chicago.
Unlike Google Places, Boost is a "pay per click" advertising platform, just like Google Adwords. However, Boost allows for a deeper integration of your Google Places page into the Google Maps display. And this is especially relevant for mobile searches, which are growing exponentially as a percentage of total searches conducted by users.


text:
Challenge: Create a poetically charged interactive drama that explores what it means to leave home.
#Poetry #Narrative #GameDesign #LevelDesign #3D #Animation #UE3
Leaving is a short-form interactive drama for iPad.
The game takes you on a poetically charged journey with minimalistic gameplay, saying goodbye to your loved ones at the international departures hall of an airport.
"Leaving is a carefully crafted experience."
Simon MaurerUI Designer
"Leaving is what Ian Bogost calls a provocation-machine"
Tommy RousseGames Scholar (ludist.com)
"The melancholy of travel, in the palms of your hands."
Pippin BarrGame Maker (The Artist Is Present)
About Leaving
In the role of Willem, the player transits through a three act sequence with loved ones, before experiencing that final moment of Leaving.
Leaving is a first-person interactive drama about self-reflection. It allows you to experience those last few precious moments of a familiar space and time, before that final moment when you step away and turn to face the unknown.
Leaving is an artistic game inspired by the reflective poetry of the Spanish poet Antonio Machado.
The game's original soundtrack was created by Than van Nispen tot Pannerden.
Leaving is no longer available in the App Store.
Development of the game has ceased as we have chosen to no longer support the never-ending amount of updates required by Apple, to stay compatible with their new devices/services. This has made it impossible for us to guarantee a trouble-free game experience. Support for existing customers will continue to be provided via support (at) mimicrygames.com.
"It's been a great 2,5 years for Leaving, with engaged feedback from players and critics alike. I will remember the heart-warming responses from the game's community, the journalists who mocked the game, as well as those who praised it. I hope that those who still have a copy of Leaving on their iPad will cherish this now very rare item!"
– Thomas
Mimicry Games News
Development Studio
For all press opportunities, please reach out to us at [email protected].
© 2012-2018 Mimicry - All rights reserved.


Bible Ballistics: BBs #475 His Blessings Abound!!!
Just a few thoughts from scripture this morning to remind us to keep our eyes on the skies—our God is still God, and Jesus His Son is coming soon!!!
Sometimes it's hard to keep our focus on our Lord, but He is faithful even when we fail, and we simply need to look up at the God who reigns (Because HE holds the 'reins'!) not the circumstances which distract us!
We must remember that God is God no matter our circumstances, and when we keep our eyes on HIM, we will find victory in our daily walk—not necessarily ease—but victory! Because our God is faithful and sovereign, and is every present in the hearts and lives of His own!
So stand fast today in our Great God Almighty—He's got this!
Amen and blessings on your day!!! Keep looking up!