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Matt Chahda denied chance to race for LDM
STAFF WRITER | February 9, 2017 - 6:52pm
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 08: Matt Chahda driver of the LD Motorsports Holden Commodore VF poses during a portrait session during the 2017 Supercars media day on February 8, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
Matt Chahda, who was signed up by Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport to fill the second seat in the 2017 Supercar campaign, has been denied the vital superlicense he needs to get behind the wheel and race.
CAMS, the governing body of the sport, saw fit to deny Chahda as he failed to meet the new requirements set for this season, however, his would be teammate, 16 year old Alex Rullo, also failed to meet the requirements yet was granted his superlicense anyway.
To get the coveted superlicense drivers need to earn 13 points over a five year period in CAMS approved categories, and despite racing in the Dunlop series for the past two years, CAMS were not satisfied that he would be able to compete safely at the higher level.
"It is the opinion of CAMS that Matt Chahda has not demonstrated the necessary driving skill and competency to support the dispensation requested," they said in a statement. "CAMS values the safety of competitors, officials and fans above all other considerations."
Meanwhile, young Alex Rullo was granted his superlicense but it is only provisional until he turns 17 in June and will be reviewed after each round. That review will then determine whether he qualifies for his Superlicense to be continued on a provisional basis for the next round.
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You are at:Home»News»The race to build Africa's tallest building
The race to build Africa's tallest building
The Leonardo. Image c/o Co-Arc International Architects
What do South Africa, Ivory Coast and Morocco have in common? The three countries spread across south, west and north Africa are all vying to build the continent's tallest building.
The Leonardo, in Johannesburg's upmarket Sandton neighbourhood, is 234m high and is the current holder of the prestigious title. Yet not long after it officially opened in October, the skyscraper is expected to be topped by the Mohammed VI Tower in the Moroccan capital of Rabat within the next three years.
Construction of that 250m-high building started a year ago and when done "will have 55 floors hosting a luxury hotel, prestigious offices and luxury apartments as well as an observatory at the top of the tower", according to Leila Haddaoui, the deputy MD of O Tower, a subsidiary of the privately-owned FinanceCom SA Group that's commissioned and financed the project.
F tower is set to be 'an architectural feat, with a symmetrical geometry, like an African mask'
Construction is on track to be completed by May 2022, added Bjorn Walgraeve, project director from Belgium's Besix Group, which was awarded the construction contract in October 2018. "There are currently 300 people on site, but it will increase to 2 000 at peak," he said.
Further south, another contender for Africa's highest is the F Tower, set to be built in Ivory Coast's commercial capital of Abidjan. Construction is yet to get underway, but PFO Africa, a firm owned by Lebanese-Ivorian architect Pierre Fakhoury, has already tipped it as the tallest on the continent, peaking at 283 meters when built.
F tower is set to be "an architectural feat, with a symmetrical geometry, like an African mask", PFO says on its website.
Fakhoury is no stranger to superlatives, having designed the world's largest church, the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro, in the hometown of former Ivorian president Felix Houphouet Boigny.
Africa has been late to the tall-building party, with Asian and Middle East countries having nine of the 10 highest skyscrapers — all built in the last decade. Even when or if the F tower is constructed, it will still be about a third of the height of the world leader — the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris, completed more than 130 years ago in 1889, is 324m tall at its tip.
"After 9/11, everybody briefly thought we'd seen the end of skyscrapers and it's actually just the opposite," Eitan Karol, CEO of Louis Karol Architects, said by phone from Cape Town. "People naturally like tall buildings because it's an important symbol and it gives the city something," he said.
The Carlton Centre in the downtown Johannesburg had held the title of Africa's tallest building since the late 1960s, when it was built by Anglo American Properties for about R88-million. The Leonardo has dethroned that feature of the city skyline, as made official by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.
"The race to get the tallest building in your city is symbolic," said Philippa Tumubwainee, head of the department of architecture and planning at the University of Cape Town.
"Tall buildings need relatively complex engineering, innovative thinking, some kind of forward-thinking structural system because you've got to get people and material up," she said. "You have to have the skills, you have to have the labour, you have to have the money. It's an expensive exercise." — Reported by Leanne de Bassompierre, with assistance from Souhail Karam, (c) 2020 Bloomberg LP
F Tower Leonardo O Tower PFO Africa Pierre Fakhoury top
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NYC Mayor de Blasio: "progressives can be fiscally responsible, respect people's rights"
Washing her hair: Child interrogation program?
Ben Swann moves one step closer to having his own TV network!
WRC - Luke plays a drinking game.
How to Protect Yourself From Another Jon Corzine's MF Global Situation.
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Cops that shot innocent women during Dorner manhunt back on job.
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Reason: Legal Pot Coming Soon? 50-State Marijuana Law Roundup.
Should police wear Google Glass?
Senator Cruz: keep income tax, lower top rates.
Would you support a pro-war liberty candidate?
Monsanto - Picking up God's Slack. Parody SB commerical.
"Crazy B**ch Has A Gun!"
Son of a close family friend takes his life after cops escalate situation.
Lego the Movie, the Most Subversive Pro-Liberty Film Ever?
Which legislators will be brought up on charges?
Giving new meaning to the term "Birther".
We no longer raise the debt ceiling. We suspend it.
What's Really Behind the Persecution of Christians in the Middle East?
If Obama behaved with White House intern as Bill Clinton did, would GOP impeach him?
A republican just got elected to be mayor of the 8th largest city in America.
Will Democrats try to co-opt Liberty movement branding? Already happening!
Will Congress start to make their votes secret?
NH-State Supreme Court tosses conviction of Free Stater and founder of Cop-Block.
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"DO YOU WANT TO DIE TODAY?" 20 cops attack family.
American Solutions with Gary Johnson - Video, great interview.
CA-Cops beat, taser and burn deaf man for failing to comply with orders he could not hear.
Been hearing about more deportations but not seeing it?
Government employee steals free stuff?


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Focus on Isle of Dogs: Dog days are over for once-neglected peninsula as new development abounds
Property, Published work	by Helen Crane 28th Feb 2020 28th May 2020
Published in City A.M., Feb '20
There are two questions that residents of the Isle of Dogs are often asked. First, why is it called the Isle of Dogs?
The boring explanation is that it's a corruption of a more sensible water-related name like the Isle of Ducks. The grim one is that it was so called because of the sheer volume of dead dogs that once washed up there. Probably the most plausible is that Edward III, who hunted in Greenwich Park across the river, kept his greyhounds there.
The second question: is it actually an island? No – it's a peninsula, bounded on three sides by the deepest bend in the Thames, but attached to Canary Wharf and Poplar to the North.
The former heart of London's Docklands was historically a bit isolated – before the arrival of the Jubilee Line in 1999 it was only accessible by DLR, and pre-1987 only by bus – but that's slowly starting to change as more housing and amenities spring up.
"The Isle of Dogs is having a renaissance," says James Hyman, head of residential at Cluttons. "People are waking up to it representing value for money in a housing market which is mainly being driven by affordability."
It now finds itself slap bang in the middle of three regeneration hotspots: London City Island to the East, Wood Wharf to the North and Greenwich Peninsula to the South. Ambassadors for 'The Island' (as it's known by locals) are set to grow in number too, thanks to a slew of big new developments which will bring thousands of new residents there.
The controversial £1bn Westferry Printworks, a former printing press owned by newspaper tycoon Richard Desmond, is about to be turned into 1,524 flats, having been given the green light in January after years of planning back-and-forth. And another scheme, Landmark Pinnacle, will be Europe's tallest residential tower at a whopping 230 metres when it completes later this year. Apartments are still available there, with studios starting at £597,000.
Condense your commute
The average house price on the Isle of Dogs falls somewhere in between these shiny new-builds and the late 20th century housing stock that dominates the rest of the island, most of which was built after the docks were closed down in the early 1980s.
It currently sits at £481,830 according to Hamptons International: a 5.6 per cent drop year on year, and a modest 10 per cent increase in the last five. Prices are just above the London average, but could prove good value for City commuters.
"The Isle of Dogs is 33 per cent cheaper than Canary Wharf itself, but it's within walking distance," Hyman adds. It is also less than 20 minutes into Bank on the DLR, and Canary Wharf tube will also get you to Bond Street in 17 minutes.
Although its social scene leaves a little to be desired, the Isle of Dogs could be a savvy first step on the ladder for a young City professional, and according to Hamptons International one third of buyers in 2019 were first-timers. But it also suits City couples looking for their first family home. The average house will set you back £673,000 according to Hamptons International.
"Demand has shifted towards houses recently," says Lee O'Neill, partner and head of Knight Frank's Canary Wharf office. "While these buyers still need to live close to work, they are thinking longer-term and prioritising things like outdoor space."
Period properties were mostly knocked down as part of the dock clearance, but the great thing about living on a peninsula is there is no shortage of river frontage.
"The river-fronted townhouses of Mariners Mews and Quadrant Walk achieve top prices, with buyers prepared to pay a premium for the waterside position," says Frances Clacy, research analyst at Savills.
Its name and location might still bemuse the average Londoner – but the end of the The Island's dog days seems to be in sight.
Area highlights
The Isle of Dogs acts as the back garden to the temple of steel and glass that is Canary Wharf, and has plenty to offer outdoorsy types. Walk along the river for views of maritime Greenwich, or pop under it and out the other side using the Greenwich Foot Tunnel. If you want to actually get in the water, Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre has got you covered with courses in sailing, powerboating, canoeing and windsurfing. Sheep, llamas and turkeys are among the residents at Mudchute Park and Farm, which is one of the largest city farms in Europe and free to enter. Once you've had your fill of fresh air, catch some fringe theatre at converted church The Space – you might even run into Sir Ian McKellen, who is the venue's principal patron. Above the theatre is Hubbub, the cafe-bar where you'll find the best brunch on the island proper. For drinks, try The Ship which does a cracking stonebaked pizza, or Mthr, the newly-opened 20th floor restaurant and cocktail lounge with views across London.
Photo by Laura Lugaresi on Unsplash
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Portrait of a Lady on Fire review: Banishing men makes for a revolutionary period piece
property of the week: camden gothic mansion with ties to surrealist artist and ally pally


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Q: Facebook Graph API - Postback Event Issue There is a problem when the user is clicking a postback button and the internet connection is not stable or is reconnecting from the internet. After reconnecting to the internet, it will look like the user has successfully clicked the button (Labeled as Sent) but my webhook is not getting any postback events. So the user does not get any response from my bot unless they click the button again with a stable connection.
I already sent a support ticket to Facebook regarding this. I'm asking help for a workaround this issue, that will continue the conversation or maybe a reminder that the user must click the button again to progress.
I'm using Node.js and Microsoft Bot Framework for this.

A: While I am unfamiliar with Facebook Messenger for bots, as far as I can tell, a postback button seems to work the same as any other button, with added async functionality. The intermittent internet connection appears to be interrupting that async call. There isn't a work around that I know of, as your bot is still waiting for a response from your user, a response that won't come, if your user thinks they've already sent info to the bot.
I would put a proactive/welcome message in the very beginning of your bot dialog that if the user is connecting with a weak/intermittent internet connection, to resend their response if the bot doesn't respond. If you're using the bot for sales purposes, then a message to not use the bot unless they're using a stable internet connection as they could accidentally send a purchase order twice, would be more appropriate.

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Want to Know More About Cross Plains, Texas?
Visit the websites for the City of Cross Plains, Cross Plains Chamber of Commerce, Barbarian Festival, Cross Plains Veterans Memorial, Cross Plains Ex-Students Assn. or visit the Cross Plains, Texas Facebook page. Website sponsored by Rolan and Sandra Jones.
Make your plans now -- Robert Howard Days is coming up soon on Friday and Saturday, June 13th and 14th, 2014.


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Acomys seurati es una especie de roedor de la familia Muridae.

Distribución geográfica
Se encuentra en Argelia.

Hábitat
Su hábitat natural son: zonas rocosas y desiertos calientes.

Referencias

 Schlitter, D. 2004.  Acomys seurati.   2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

seurati
Fauna del Sahara

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Hugo Chavez's little Kiwi collaborators, Socialist Worker, are touring a top Venezuelan revolutionary around New Zealand this coming week.
Revolutionary Venezuelan diplomat, NELSON DAVILA to speak.
Nelson, who is based in Canberra, is Venezuela's charge d'affaires for Australia, NZ and the Pacific. He is not your traditional diplomat, starting out as a student activist, then becoming an indigenous rights activist, and joining Huge Chavez's secret revolutionary group inside the Venezuelan armed forces. He is one of President Chavez's closest and most trusted political collaborators right up to this day.
Nelson will speak about the nature of the Venezuelan revolutionary process, including the recent formation of the five million strong United Socialist Party of Venezuela, the government's strong support for indigenous rights in Venezuela, and the growth of Communal Councils which have delegated powers to decide on local and regional priorities along with a huge chunk of state funding to implement their own plans at the grassroots.
Nelson is hoping that his tour will give impetus to the establishment of a broad-based, inclusive Venezuela solidarity movement in New Zealand. It is hoped Nelson's tour (one week in NZ) will result in the creation of a nationwide Venezuela solidarity network pave the way for a visit to New Zealand by President Chavez.
A member of the Left's favorite warmongering neo-Communist state in Latin America is in New Zealand. Will these "peace activists" protest Chavez's warmongering rhetoric toward Colombia over the death of Raul Reyes, member of FARC?
I wouldn't be holding my breath MAH.
Aggression is OK with the "peace movement" when it comes from the left.
It just seems like it's the twilight zone, here doesn't it?
Are you serious when you imply Colombia is 'one of the few remaining free countries in Latin America'? Colombia has a terrible human rights record. Paramilitaries and death squads connected to the armed forces regularly 'disappear' journalists, peasant leaders, unionists, community leaders and others who speak their mind.
Usually those who are disappeared have nothing to do with the FARC.
"Are you serious when you imply Colombia is 'one of the few remaining free countries in Latin America'? Colombia has a terrible human rights record. Paramilitaries and death squads connected to the armed forces regularly 'disappear' journalists, peasant leaders, unionists, community leaders and others who speak their mind.
Usually those who are disappeared have nothing to do with the FARC."
Are you shilling for Hugo Chavez over the death of FARC narco-terrorist Raul Reyes? Warmongering to people like you are only bad if it happens to be implemented by people whom are remotely Capitalist or right-wing. But it's okay if Comrade Hugo and Correa do it.
I probably should have said anti-communist rather than free.
Colombia has been fighting communist rebels (FARC) for 40 years. Colombia is also a centre for drug traffiking which makes things worse for all sides.
I acknowledge that Colombia's armed forces have probably committed atrocities, but I am also very aware how leftist propaganda works and take allegations against the military with a a bucketful of salt.
You always here these stories about "innocent" people being tageted by the military-usually they are not so innocent and quite often they are hit by their own side-you'd know this from the Philippines Cameron.
Colombia is a pro Western nation with a comparitively sound form of government, while virtually all its neighbours are sliding into socialism and tyranny.
While I don't regard Colombia as perfect, I'll take Uribe's government over neo-communist Venezuela, Brazil or Ecuador anyday.
have you noticed this flame war between Labour's Trotter and SW's Carolan over the election?
Considering the fact that self-confessed socialist Kevin Rudd has in the past expressed admiration for Chavez and his Komrade in New Zealand is just to the right of Stalin, it's no wonder this clown feels so at home in our neck of the woods. I wonder what he's going to be stirring up in the smoky beerhalls of New Zealand.
colombia is free like america is pro peace.
colombia is free like national is pro worker and labour listens to people. colombia is free like don elder didnt hire spies to spy on environmentalists.
aggression should be O.K when it's directed up-wards from the people towards fascist scum like yourself trevor.
I hope you're assassinated, problem is in this country: there is no assertive political violence, other than that used by the state and police against innocent citizens trying to make a real positive difference in society (unlike your own parade of neurotic and ridiculous daydreaming about the possibility of revolutionary violence) the brutal terroristic and institutionally violent capitalist state is destroying this country and hurting the people.
Well you know you're doing a good job when people feel so threatened they feel the need to say these sort of disfunctional things!


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AWI Transportation Projects
A host of District Department of Transportation (DDOT) transportation projects chronicled on this website will serve as the spine that supports the overall Anacostia Waterfront Initiative. By providing better mobility – for walkers, cyclists, transit riders and drivers – these projects will reconnect communities on both sides to the river and to each other.
See below to learn more about each of the transportation projects included in the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative:
11th Street Bridge Park
The 11th Street Bridge Park, a project of the nonprofit Building Bridges Across the River, will be Washington, DC's first elevated public park located on the piers of the old 11th Street Bridge spanning the Anacostia River.
Arboretum Bridge and Trail
The Arboretum Bridge and Trail will be a key route designed specifically to provide the missing passageway between the Anacostia Waterfront and the U.S. National Arboretum, which alone garners over 500,000 visitors annually
11th Street Bridge
By far the largest DDOT project completed to date, the 11th Street Bridge Project is critical to improving travel and achieving the larger vision of the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative.
Interstate-295/Malcolm X Interchange
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) relocation onto the St. Elizabeths Campus requires substantial improvements to the I-295/Malcolm X Interchange and widening Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue SE to accommodate the expected increase in traffic.
Anacostia Riverwalk Trail
The Anacostia Riverwalk Trail serves as a backbone of the Anacostia Waterfront, connecting residents, visitors and communities to the river, one another and numerous commercial and recreational destinations.
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Trail
This much-anticipated segment of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail is now complete and provides the missing link in an almost 60-mile network of bicycle and pedestrian trails between the District of Columbia and Maryland.
Lincoln Connector Trail
The Lincoln Connector Trail Project will provide an important connection in Wards 5 and 7 by providing a bike and pedestrian trail connection from Fort Lincoln and surrounding neighborhoods across the Anacostia River to join the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Segment of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail.
Pennsylvania and Potomac Avenues SE Intersection Improvement Study
The Study proposes to enhance safety at these street intersections for neighborhood pedestrians and transit users of the Potomac Avenue Metrorail Station and the numerous area bus stops.
South Capitol Street Trail
The South Capitol Street Trail Project will extend the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail into the southernmost areas of the District of Columbia, filling a bicycle and pedestrian travel void for local communities.
M Street SE-SW Transportation Study
This study identified existing and future transportation challenges and ways to address them within a roughly 1.7-square-mile area along M Street SE/SW.
Parkside Pedestrian Bridge
Provides safe, well lit,
disabilities-accessible pedestrian travel between neighborhoods and a local Metrorail station now separated by DC 295 and two sets of railroad tracks just north of the Benning Road interchange.
Shepherd Branch Trail
The Shepherd Branch Trail is a proposed 3-mile long, shared-use path that will extend from the intersection of Firth Sterling Road SE and South Capitol Street SE to E Street SE. The trail would connect the South Capitol Street Trail (currently in the design phase) to the Greenway neighborhood in Anacostia.
Southeast Boulevard and Barney Circle
DDOT and FHWA are required to conduct studies under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 to understand the environmental impacts of any changes proposed to Southeast Boulevard.
South Capitol Street Corridor Project Phase 1 (Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge Project)
This project calls for replacing the 68-year-old bridge and reconstruction of the Suitland Parkway/I-295 interchange.
Virginia Avenue Tunnel
The Virginia Avenue Tunnel project replaces infrastructure that is more than 110 years old. The modernized tunnel will alleviate a critical rail bottleneck as well as help reduce highway congestion in the District, in the Washington region and nationwide.


This app saved me a month of my time lol. And it keeps helping me with bulk edit. It's so good to have all editing tools in one place. Makes it easy to get all the tedious job done.
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<"If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live" – Albert Einstein
To make a piece of furniture means to create an art de vivre: Roche Bobois>
Beauty, Fashion, Green, Sport & Health
Jessica Alba – the newest global ambassador for Earth Hour
Editorial Teamon March 15, 2013 /Comments closed
Actress and Co-Founder of The Honest Company, Jessica Alba becomes the global ambassador of WWF's Earth hour 2013, the world's largest mass participation event that has become the iconic symbol of people's commitment to protect the planet.
Earth Hour, which World Wildlife Fund helped start in 2007, has grown from a one-city initiative to a 7,001-city/town global movement. Last year it reached an estimated 2 billion people in 152 countries and territories across all seven continents.
Jessica Alba, together with Christopher Gavigan, Sean Kane and Brian Lee, all co-founders of eco-friendly family brand The Honest Company, are lending their support to the cause through a fun 'I Will If You Will' challenge, in line with the company's focus on promoting health and sustainability.
"Christopher, Sean, Brian and I, founders of The Honest Company will let our kids dress the whole Honest team, including us, for work for one day IF 10,000 people commit to switch to using non-toxic products in their home," Alba said.
As global ambassador, Alba is also encouraging those who accept The Honest Company challenge to participate in Earth Hour's monumental lights off event on Saturday, March 23 at 8:30PM.
"The choices we all make in our daily lives can make a massive difference, not only to our children, but also to the very planet on which we live. I hope you'll accept the Honest challenge and help us take the mission of Earth Hour, beyond the hour," she said.
"As a concerned mother like Jessica, I work every day to make sure that the next generation will inherit a habitable planet. I love Earth Hour because it is a time when we can show off the reach of our global movement to protect the environment and tackle climate change. When we come together for Earth Hour, we are setting the stage for a brighter tomorrow," added WWF's Director of International Climate Policy, Keya Chatterjee.
Christopher Gavigan says he hopes the challenge will help parents make better choices for their families and for the planet.
"I hope that by challenging parents to commit to buying non-toxic and eco-friendly products, they can inspire their own friends, family and colleagues to make a commitment to positively impact our planet," he said.
"It's important to consider where our products come from, what's in them and the impact they have on the environment – before they reach our shelves, during their time in our homes and after we're done with them. I believe Earth Hour is a movement that empowers people to make a difference, and I'm excited to be a part of it."
Tagged: Brian Lee Earth Hour Earth hour 2013 Earth Hour ambassador Jessica Alba Sean Kane The Honest Company together with Christopher Gavigan World Wildlife Fund WWF
The Convertible Snow Mantra: Angel Chen reimagines iconic Canada Goose styles
2021 One: Couture wedding dresses sure to wow every bridal aisle this year
The Year of the Ox: The Lunar New Year Capsules from Fendi, Dior, Breguet, Burberry, and Four Seasons Hotel Singapore


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The October Country Stories
Ray Bradbury (author)
Paperback (12 Apr 1985) | English
10+ copies available online - Usually dispatched within 48 hours
The October Country is Ray Bradbury's own netherworld of the soul, inhabited by the horrors and demons that lurk within all of us. Renowned for his multi-million-copy bestseller, Fahrenheit 451, and hailed by Harper's magazine as "the finest living writer of fantastic fiction," Ray Bradbury proves here that he is America's master of the short story.
This classic collection features:
The Emissary: The faithful dog was the sick boy's only connection with the world outside-and beyond . . .
The Small Assassin: A fine, healthy baby boy was the new mother's dream come true-or her worst nightmare . . .
The Scythe: Just when his luck had run out, Drew Erickson inherited a farm from a stranger; and with the bequest came deadly responsibilities . . .
The Jar: A chilling story that combines love, death . . . and a matter of identity in a bottle of fear.
The Wonderful Death of Dudley Stone: A most remarkable case of murder-the deceased was delighted . . .
Plus fourteen more unforgettable tales!
"An author whose fanciful imagination, poetic prose, and mature understanding of human character have won him an international reputation."-The New York Times
Launched in 2013, Del Rey (UK) is a new Sci-Fi and Fantasy imprint publishing the newest and most exciting voices in speculative fiction. As part of the Penguin Random House group, Del Rey sits alongside SSF imprints such as Del Rey (US), TOR, and Ace Books. Del Rey is dedicated to publishing the very best in Science Fiction and Fantasy across many and diverse genres. Del Rey's ultimate aim is to bring to something new to the Science Fiction and Fantasy spectrum. If Del Rey were ray on that spectrum we'd be the 'Del' ray.
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Imprint: Del Rey
Pub date: 12 Apr 1985
Amal El-Mohtar (author...
Delilah S Dawson (auth...
The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the ...
Douglas Adams (author)...
Salvation Lost
Peter F Hamilton (auth...
The Long Way to a Small, Angry ...
Becky Chambers (author)
Against the Fall of Night
Arthur C Clarke (author)
Philip K Dick (author)
The End of the World Survivors ...
Adrian J Walker (author)
Children of Ruin
Adrian Tchaikovsky (au...
The Hopkins Manuscript
R. C Sherriff (author)


I can think of a few Brit geeks who would appreciate a POKIA retro phone of the future. I particularly like the names – The Stevenage, the Peckham Cottage etc.
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Advanced screening provides memorable experience
Steven Spielberg and Daniel Day-Lewis answer questions via satellite in a Q&A session after the advanced screening of "Lincoln". Photo by Elizabeth Sims
By Elizabeth Sims
Junior Keith Kellenberger dreams of making films and becoming the next Steven Spielberg.
With fellow EMAC Academy and student media students, Kellenberger was able to hear from the iconic director and producer on Wednesday.
"I think for people like me, who are more geared toward feature films and journalism, the best part was that we got to talk to a very successful director and ask real time questions," Kellenberger said. "It was an insanely great opportunity."
The lessons learned from this experience were different for every student and teacher in attendance. Kellenberger hopes to use what he learned in the future as well as have something to talk about with his friends.
"I hoped to have something I could brag about to my friends, first of all," Kellenberger said. "Second of all, something that I could learn from as I experience opportunities the school has to offer with assistance from the advice of Steven Spielberg."
With the red velvet seats in the expensive theater filled with teachers and students from the Dallas area, excited chatter stirred in the air as anticipation built for the movie to begin and the chance to ask Steven Spielberg or Daniel Day-Lewis questions. For some students, this screening and conversation was a once in a lifetime opportunity they could not pass up.
"The overall experience was awesome. The movie was great and should definitely get an Oscar, and it taught me a lot about Lincoln that I never knew," sophomore Braden Creel said. "The Q&A was very informative, and it was interesting to hear about the making of the movie from [Daniel Day-Lewis and Steven Spielberg]."
Coppell High School students and teachers from the Emerging Media and Communications Academy (EMAC) and publications attended the advanced screening of the new feature film "Lincoln" at AMC North Park in Dallas.
In addition to the screening, those in attendance were able to have a live satellite conversation with the film's director Steven Spielberg and the Academy Award winning actor, portraying President Lincoln, Daniel Day-Lewis.
This screening was shown simultaneously in AMC theaters in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Seattle and Washington D.C. with audiences made up predominately of high school and college students and teachers. CHS was one of several schools in the region invited to the Dallas screening.
Students and teachers were invited by account executive for Susan Jacobs Inc. Madison Donahue.
"[Susan Jacobs Inc.] has a great relationship with Coppell," Donahue said. "I was reaching out to different schools in the region and Coppell was on the list."
EMAC lead Irma Kennedy was originally contacted by Donahue and jumped at the chance to give her students this exciting learning experience.
"It is interesting and eye opening to see that you have access that most people do not," Kennedy said. "Even better, to be able to be a part of a Q&A session with people as prestigious Steven Spielberg and Daniel Day-Lewis as students speaks volumes about how important they believe student voices are and how much their opinion matters."
Kennedy was eager to see her students engage in a personalized conversation with Steven Spielberg and Daniel Day-Lewis as they texted and tweeted questions to the prestigious speakers. However, the thought of what they would take away from this opportunity excited her even more.
"With the access these students had, I think they cannot help but walk away understanding the importance of the role of the media," Kennedy said. "As well as understanding the responsibilities [journalists] have to take information and spread the message in a clear, concise, accurate and ethical manner."
Those who did not attend the screening can share in the experience by going to movies.yahoo.com/lincoln-live/ to view the Q&A session with Steven Spielberg and Daniel Day-Lewis and watching "Lincoln" when it hits theaters on Nov. 16.
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So..it has been pointed out that after I posted the entry saying I was about to post a bunch of new stuff, I disappeared again. Bad me. In my defense, I do have 3 entries in draft form in blogger. But yesterday I told myself I was going to finish one and get it posted no matter what.
So I wrote something. Hated it. Rewrote it. Hated it a little less. Rewrote it again and finally decided it was ready to post. Yay! Reread it one more time and saw a couple of typos/small changes. Tried to go back and make the change and some bug/hiccup in blogger somehow erased all the saved versions and disappeared the whole thing.
So now I'm starting over trying to remember what I had in the final version that I liked. Hopefully that won't take as long to throw back together and I can post it soon.


Last week I ended with the question "Do you have your story ready?" This week I follow up with some helpful resources to assist you in telling your story. Below I've Included seven articles that cover the "tell your story" topic. You will find some common ideas and some unique approaches in the listed items. I hope this combination of information helps you craft your perfect story in a compelling and expert manner.


Following are the updates I will be pushing onto the reference page I'm trying to keep up to date and failing miserably most of the time.
Building your own commandlets for PowerShell Extensions – tutorial.
Build a custom command in Sitecore PowerShell Extensions – similar tutorial from Mike.
Using PowerShell Extensions runtime in your own code.
If #Sitecore #PowerShell is something that interests but still eludes you, here's a great video by @jsnover – the architect of PowerShell.
Michael Reynolds "Sitecore from the Command Line" – Event & Video.
Michael West's presentation of PowerShell Extensions to PowerShell users who do not know Sitecore.
Michael Reynold's "Sitecore PowerShell Extensions" presentation at SUGCON 2014 and the PowerPoint deck from it.
How Sitecore PowerShell got GUI support… a tale of JobMonitor and Sitecore Async UI API.
Uli – (Blog) Fantastic series about the use of PowerShell to deliver Integration tests.
Chris Lewis (@ChrisLewisDev) – joins the PowerShell Extensions contributor's team with his excellent commit improving Publish-Item commandlet!
Hans Léautaud (@HLeautaud) – migrates a large amount of content with PowerShell Extensions and blogs about it.
Ufff…. this was A LOT more work than I expected… now let me use the remainder of the night to integrate it back into the Sitecore PowerShell Extensions resources page.
This entry (Permalink) was posted on Monday, November 3rd, 2014 at 2:49 pm	and is filed under Best Practices, C#, Code Samples, Continuous Deployment, PowerShell, Sitecore, Software, Software Development, Web applications. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response , or trackback from your own site.


text:
Middle East & AfricaJan 4th 2014 edition
Will it hold together?
The civil war in neighbouring Syria is putting an ever-greater strain on Lebanon's fraying political fabric
"WE lurch from crisis to crisis, with superficial calms in between. But the crises are coming closer and could soon merge into a single, all-consuming crisis." So warned Muhammad Shatah last month. Two weeks later, on December 27th, Lebanon's 62-year-old former finance minister and ambassador to Washington was dead, killed along with seven others when a remote-controlled bomb punched a fireball into his passing car.
Around the site of the blast in Beirut's central business district and across other posh parts of Lebanon's capital, construction cranes loom amid a ceaseless racket of pile-drivers. Such relentless industry testifies to Lebanon's resilience, despite the proximity of the bloodbath across the Syrian border, barely an hour's drive from Beirut. More than 1m Syrians have already fled to safety here; they may now make up a quarter of Lebanon's population, previously 4m. Syrians now man the building crews, just as Syrian flight capital and war profits largely keep housing prices high.
But as Mr Shatah suggested and his death underscored (his funeral is pictured above), the flimsy barriers that have spared this tiny country from a far greater deluge of woes grow weaker by the day. Papered over for two decades, the cracks from Lebanon's own brutal civil war of 1975 to 1990 have widened and spread. Syria is partly the cause. As its popular uprising has descended into a vicious slugging match between increasingly chauvinistic sects, tensions have grown among Lebanon's own complex religious mix—around a third of its people are Sunni Muslim, a third Shia and a third Christian.
Lebanon's Sunnis broadly share the rage of Syria's battered Sunni majority; its Shias share the fears of the defiant minorities that form the core of support for Bashar Assad's regime. The regional rivalries, chiefly between Shia Iran and arch-Sunni Saudi Arabia, that have made Syria a proxy war are also reflected in Lebanon.
For three decades Iran's Revolutionary Guard has nurtured and funded Hizbullah, Lebanon's powerful Shia party-cum-militia. Disciplined and ruthless, Hizbullah has in effect used Shia unity to gain a stronghold over much of Lebanon's feeble state, and a veto over policy. Alarmed by military setbacks to Mr Assad's regime earlier last year, the party belatedly plunged into Syria's fray. Its fighters have helped relieve Damascus, the Syrian capital, but at a painful cost. Perhaps 500 Hizbullah combatants have died in the fighting, say independent analysts, more than during the war it fought with Israel in 2006.
Politically fractious and geographically dispersed, Lebanon's Sunnis have no similarly dominant militia. And Syria's strife has sapped the influence of traditionally moderate Sunni leaders. With Lebanon's current government unable to control arms smuggling, radical Sunni gangs have proliferated, many with links to Syrian rebels. Lebanon's Christians, meanwhile, remain split, too. Some back a Hizbullah-led, pro-Syrian political front known as March 8th. Others, along with much of Lebanon's diverse but militarily impotent political centre, back the rival, pro-Western, Saudi-supported March 14th group, of which Mr Shatah was a figurehead.
For the first part of Syria's 33-month-long war, the stark polarisation in Lebanon was contained within its shaky, nominally democratic politics, bound by rules that allot each sect a proportion of government posts and powers. Last March the elected prime minister, by tradition a Sunni, resigned in protest against Hizbullah obstruction. After much wrangling the almost evenly split parliament designated a new prime minister, but hostility between the March 8th and March 14th groups has so far prevented him forming a cabinet, leaving his predecessor, Najib Mikati, to run a weakened caretaker government.
But Lebanon's rivalries have begun leaking out of politics and into violence. In 2013 nearly 100 Lebanese died in bombings that targeted—variously and at a growing rate of frequency—mosques in the largely Sunni city of Tripoli, Shia-dominated suburbs of Beirut and, in November, Iran's embassy. Assassins struck down a senior Hizbullah official as well as Mr Shatah, whose death follows a chain of killings that have punctured the March 14th leadership, starting with a bomb in February 2005 that killed the faction's founder, Rafik Hariri, who had served five stints as Lebanon's prime minister.
Sunni radical groups have claimed responsibility for the attacks on Hizbullah, but the Shia militia and its allies still pin the blame broadly on March 14th, the Sunnis' most popular movement. This group's supporters, while not excluding direct Syrian involvement, are increasingly open in charging Hizbullah with a campaign of terror against its foes. Mourners at Mr Shatah's funeral chanted insults against Hizbullah, as one orator vowed to liberate Lebanon from "occupation by illegal arms", a reference to complaints that Hizbullah poses as a resistance force against Israel while in reality using its armed might to blackmail weaker political rivals.
Held in check so far by shared memories of Lebanon's descent into civil war 38 years ago, such tensions may yet explode. A long-delayed trial of four fugitive Hizbullah men charged with killing Hariri is due to start in an international court in The Hague on January 16th. And unless Lebanon's parliament, which has not met in months, chooses a new president by the spring, the country will enter a dangerous constitutional vacuum. "We face having no legitimate government at a time of the greatest challenge to the Lebanese state," says Yezid Sayigh of the Carnegie Middle East Centre in Beirut, a think-tank. "What we have now can't be called a civil war, and it may not become one. But it is a shadow war."
This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline "Will it hold together?"
More from Middle East & Africa
The Arab world is re-embracing its Jews
Torturers on trial
Middle Eastern legal dramas play out in far-off courts
Full of tension
Sunnis and Shias in Bahrain remain as far apart as ever
Soot, loot, reboot
South Africa, the world's coal junkie, tries to quit
Potions for prudes
Nigeria's conservative north is overflowing with aphrodisiacs
Changing attitudes and self-interested leaders are behind a surprising religious revival
Despots won't prosecute their own henchmen. So victims seek justice abroad
A prime minister who once called for dialogue has disappointed
But a gang of coal-dependent politicians is making it hard
The call to prayer is often followed by offers of more earthly upliftment


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2022 APM 4.0 Predictions with a Review of 2021 and More
Joe Perino
It's that time again…each year, LNS Research puts forth predictions around the key trends in the Industrial Transformation (IX) topics where we focus our research. In the case of Asset Performance Management (APM 4.0), our 2021 forecast focused on multiple definitions of Digital Twins, the shift of APM 4.0 to a broader view in terms of Operational Excellence (OE 4.0) and Operation Risk Management (ORM), the Connected Worker (CW), now called the Connected Frontline Workforce (CFW), and the Open Process Automation (OPA) pilots and related progress. Two additional trends are that the path to autonomy flows through Operational Excellence, a concept that requires redefinition and reimagining compared to past approaches; and second, the scale and depth of what it will take to be autonomous is not yet well understood.
For 2022, despite the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, we see activity levels returning to pre-pandemic levels and continuing to increase. While we continue to focus on the progress of APM 4.0 and Digital Twins, we are keeping a broader perspective toward risk management, operational excellence, remote operations, autonomous manufacturing operations, i.e., the autonomous plant, and how all of this fits under the umbrella of sustainability.
Here are what we see for 2022:
The adoption of Digital Twins will continue to increase in 2022, though twins will still be defined in the eye of the beholder, meaning the vendor offering them. Several vendors, including TwinThread, Sight Machine, Braincube, Tulip, and ThinkIQ, regard their data models as Digital Twins. However, are these data models really virtual representations of the actual physical material, equipment, or machine? No, but they are representations of the manufacturing process and the supply chain, and as such are twins, just as many other twins do the same in their own way…for example, financial twins. I predict that these vendors are establishing a new category…not a new form of MES, but instead a form of manufacturing performance analytics where the data model is the twin. Hence, they complement MES, or in some cases, substitute for MES. The next step will be moving from prescriptive advice to a closed-loop supervisory control. Look for this capability to emerge in 2022.
Finally, the hyperscalers entered the twin market last year with AWS TwinMaker. We predict that AWS, with perhaps Microsoft to follow, will slowly but surely gain twin ground, as they move up the stack and move ever closer to operations.
APM spend will pick up steam. At the same time, the larger players are filling in their portfolios to complete their APM offerings via partnerships and acquisitions, a good example of which is Emerson's acquisition of AspenTech. This will begin to squeeze out the smaller predictive maintenance (PdM) and analytics-only players, who must find a niche to survive. At the same time, what I will call mass-condition-based monitoring (CbM) and mass-PdM will increase market share and focus on the less critical assets that can be instrumented with low-cost sensors. The mass approach uses asset templates to provide starter models which learn over time to provide more accurate predictions. This will displace manual data collection and reduce the number of assets left in the Run-to Fail (RTF) mode.
Last year, we said that there would be increased friction between APM, EHS, and Quality in the pursuit of Operational Excellence (OE 4.0) and Operational Risk Management (ORM). All the attention is on EHS vendors because of their role in sustainability and ESG. More power to them as referees and scorekeepers. However, human performance and operational integrity are the keys to safe and responsible operations in the process industry. More operating companies will wake up to the fact that doing EHS and APM the same old way won't get them to OE 4.0, let alone reduce risk and sustain operations. Organizational change and replacing the siloed software now in use will begin to make progress.
With ExxonMobil's commitment to pilot an O-PAS in one of their Gulf Coast facilities in the 2022-2023 timeframe, progress will finally be made toward OPAF's goals. ExxonMobil's partners, as well as others, will begin to follow. And this movement toward openness will be further accelerated by Schneider Electric's formation of UniversalAutomation.org (UA). UA, leveraging the IEC 61499 standard, will drive the development of a vendor-agnostic ecosystem of portable and interoperable "plug and produce" software that can run with almost any hardware. UA complements the open compatibility of O-PAS systems. Look for these two to "gel" in 2022 and build even more momentum in 2023. The long climb up to the peak of the "open Sisyphus hill" finally looks within reach. My bet that Schneider will be the first major automation vendor to release O-PAS conformant products remains in place.
Finally, LNS's research into Operational Excellence and the autonomous plant revealed two things: first that the path to autonomy flows through Operational Excellence, a concept that requires redefinition and reimagining compared to past approaches; and second, that the scale and depth of what it will take to be autonomous are not yet well understood, despite the bloviation of some vendors. In 2022, we will start seeing more examples of autonomous operations, beginning with applications that work with control systems, such as operator advisors, to help guide decision-making during transitions and upsets. John Deere also announced a ~$500K autonomous tractor to be available later in 2022. Currently, its autonomous capability is limited to tilling the soil. It still has a cab so it can be used in manual mode for all the other farm tasks. We look forward to seeing how it will compare with the autonomous trucks used in mining operations.
How Did We Do on Our Predictions for 2021?
Not sure whether or not to believe our predictions for 2022? Let's review how we did on our predictions for 2021. At the start of last year, we made five predictions for 2021. Let's look at what those predictions were and then drill into how things turned out…
Multiple definitions of Digital Twins
The shift of APM 4.0 to a broader view in terms of Operational Excellence (OE 4.0) and Operation Risk Management (ORM)
The Connected Worker (CW), now called the Connected Frontline Workforce (CFW)
Open Process Automation (OPA) pilots and related progress
Two additional trends are that the path to autonomy flows through Operational Excellence, a concept that requires redefinition and reimagining compared to past approaches; and second, the scale and depth of what it will take to be autonomous is not yet well understood.
For 2022, activity levels remain high, and IX acceleration continues as more companies progress toward true transformation. While we continue to focus on the progress of APM 4.0 and Digital Twins, we are keeping a broader perspective toward risk management, operational excellence, remote operations, autonomous manufacturing operations, i.e., the autonomous plant, and how all of this fits under the umbrella of sustainability.
First, the saga to define a Digital Twin will continue without any doubt. There are at least ten different twins, ranging from design and engineering through operations, maintenance, and the supply chain. Some vendors have added the concept of a data model as a twin whereby the data from production system equipment and material flows are organized into a twin. One can argue whether or not this is a virtual representation of the physical, as many other twins are. But considering that we can have financial and other data-based types, why not. Those vendors offering twins on the engineering side have and will continue to overweight their importance, which LNS's research has shown is not a top priority for brownfield operations. Process twins remain king but still haven't gained true predictive capabilities, as have asset twins. But process twins have been gaining AI/ML capabilities, particularly hybrid model twins. The hyperscalers have entered the field with AWS's TwinMaker. On the industry organization front, the Digital Twin Consortium is gaining momentum with the introduction of the Digital Twin System Interoperability Framework.
APM 4.0
Second, we said the focus on APM 4.0 will shift to a broader view in terms of Operational Excellence (OE 4.0) and Operation Risk Management (ORM). This will lead to increased friction, and at the same time opportunity, between APM, EHS, and quality too. Competitors will begin to react in 2021, and we'll see more partnerships and M&A ramping up. We cited the Honeywell/Enablon partnership, but there's been little press nor similar activity from other leading vendors since its announcement. So we missed this prediction, though we continue to believe there is considerable opportunity for synergy. Look for more on OE 4.0 from LNS Research in 2022.
Connected Frontline Worker
Here we predicted that no market area seems more hyperactive than CFW, where numerous competitors from automation to ERP major ISVs to startups are struggling for hand-room on the steering wheel. CFW is getting serious attention from end-users, but the field is crowded and differentiation is difficult. There are at least 20 vendors in the space, each adding 30-40 logos a year, though most of these new additions are single plant sites and not corporate roll-outs. Nevertheless, serious dollars are flowing to these mostly startups with new funding rounds in the $10 million to $50 million range. This past year has seen tremendous activity in CFW, so we hit the nail on the head with this prediction. Look for a lot more insight on CFW from my colleague Pete Bussey in 2022.
Open Process Automation (OPA)
This set of predictions was a mixed bag. ExxonMobil's OPAF* partners, ConocoPhillips, Dow, Linde, and Reliance, still have yet to publicly announce when they will proceed with their pilots. However, ExxonMobil has announced they will pilot a system in one of their facilities in the 2022-2023 time frame. Exactly where and in what service remains to be seen. Progress also continued on the O-PAS standard, with v3 expected to be available later in 2022.
Last year, we missed the mark in predicting that at least two smaller independent hardware vendors would introduce OPA conformant components to the market. None have. But the good news is that a group of the original ExxonMobil testbed vendors, known as the Coalition for Open Process Automation (COPA), has introduced a pilot system for companies to test. COPA is directed by Collaborative Systems Integration (CSI) and CPLANE.ai.
Remote Operations and the Autonomous Plant
Finally, LNS's research into Operational Excellence and the Autonomous plant was presented to several vendors and end-users. First, market feedback confirmed that the path to autonomy flows through Operational Excellence, a concept that requires redefinition and reimagining compared to past approaches; and second, the scale and depth of what it will take to be autonomous is still not yet well understood. Furthermore, there is still the tendency to look at autonomy solely through the lens of automation, with automation meaning, control systems. All of this means that transformation is necessary to achieve not only OE 4.0 but to make progress toward autonomy. LNS Research will continue our research on autonomy into 2022 as we explore the challenging journey of getting there.
By our account, we had three hits, one miss, and one mixed bag. In wrapping up our 2021 predictions, we said without any doubt, we have entered a new normal that we are defining as we go and what is certain is that it will not be a return to the old normal. So yes, even though we are getting a leg up on the pandemic, we still don't see things going back to the same pre-pandemic way of working. For example, some changes like remote work have already become a permanent part of the landscape.
Well, we have again rolled the dice for 2022 and expect it to be an exciting year of growth and change. Come December 2022, it will be interesting to see just how well we did with these predictions. We are still riding the rollercoaster, so stay buckled up and tuned in. Without any doubt, we have entered a new normal still in the process of being defined. However, we think we would all agree that it will not return to the old normal. Undoubtedly, the journey ahead promises to be full of twists, turns, and hopefully, positive surprises.
All entries in this Industrial Transformation blog represent the opinions of the authors based on their industry experience and their view of the information collected using the methods described in our Research Integrity. All product and company names are trademarks™ or registered® trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.
Operational Excellence Risk Management Industrial Transformation / Digital Transformation Asset Performance Management (APM) Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Digital Twin Autonomous Operations Data Analytics
2020 APM 4.0 Predictions
LNS Research Analyst, Joe Perino, lays out LNS' Asset Performance Management (APM) predictions for 2020.
Joe Perino Jan 24, 2020
Industrial Transformation / Digital Transformation
2021 Predictions: APM 4.0 & More
LNS Research Analyst Joe Perino makes his annual Industrial Transformation (IX) predictions for 2021, including what's in store for APM and more.
Joe Perino Jan 5, 2021
How'd We Do? Our 2020 APM 4.0 Predictions Reviewed
LNS Research Analyst Joe Perino looks back at this year's state of Industrial Transformation (IX) to see how accurate his 2020 predictions have...
Joe Perino Dec 22, 2020


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Chemical health violations require consistent response
Andrea Traietti
At the beginning of the 2015 school year, Walpole High Administration made the decision to lower all chemical health suspensions remaining from last spring by 50%. This controversial decision seemingly contradicted Walpole High's strict policy of administering suspensions to students who are only "in the presence of alcohol," raising serious questions about the legitimacy and effectiveness of Walpole High's chemical health policy.
"We wanted to try to get all of the suspensions off the books as quickly as possible," said Principal Stephen Imbusch.
The lowering of the suspensions, he said, was a way to move past the negativity caused by outdated suspensions.
"It's a way of saying, 'Hopefully we've all learned from this, let's get past these suspensions,'" said Imbusch, "because every game that occurred where a kid was sitting on the sideline because of a suspension, [the suspension was staying] alive and it was starting to really become a negative thing as opposed to a learning experience."
However, suspensions are supposed to be negative. The purpose of suspensions is to punish students who have done something illegal by taking away something they enjoy doing. While it is true that "kids are better off actively involved than sitting on the sidelines," as Imbusch said, it is crucial that administration sticks to its policy in terms of suspending students for illegal actions, so that administration can maintain its credibility and discourage students from breaking the law.
The decision to lower suspensions reveals a major flaw in Walpole High's punitive system: how can administration expect to see a decrease in Walpole High's chemical health violation numbers while continuing to confuse students with a strict policy that is not at all strictly enforced? They can't.
As long as Walpole High continues to loosely enforce its stringent policy, Walpole will see no decrease in the number of violations for various reasons. First, Walpole High's policy is just too strict. The rules defined in the handbook are stricter than necessary according to MIAA guidelines, as Walpole's handbook states that students who are "in the presence of alcohol" will be suspended, while other schools only punish students who have actually consumed alcohol. This "in the presence of" clause has been in place for two years and both years, Walpole has led the MIAA with the most chemical health violations.*
Besides the fact that the difference in the school's policy is not working, the rules themselves seem to contradict Walpole High's mission. If Walpole High administrators really want to lower the number of suspensions, why are such harsh rules in place that only make it easier for students to get into trouble?
Maybe it's because administration hopes that the school's stricter policy will decrease overall suspensions rates by scaring students into staying away from drugs and alcohol entirely, which is actually somewhat understandable. However, the final issue lies in following through. The school's decision at the beginning of the year to lower all suspensions has caused, and will continue to cause, more problems than it intended to solve. Administration showed all of the students who had received a suspension last spring that their offense was not nearly as serious as they thought it was.
Moreover, the school has sent a message to all students and the Walpole community on the whole that they are not in control of the chemical health situation. When kids who receive punishments this year wonder why their suspensions are not lowered, how will the school be able to turn down future requests after its arbitrary decision this fall?
If administration at Walpole High is serious about lowering chemical health suspensions, they should consider the obvious fact that no changes will occur until the policy is reexamined, redefined, and fairly reinforced.
*The Rebellion reported erroneously the year in which the "in the presence of" clause was created. The rule was added to the handbook in 2007 and has therefore been in place for eight years, not two. The story should have stated that although the rule has been in place for several years, Walpole still led the MIAA with the most chemical health violations in the 2014-2015 school year.
chemical health
Andrea Traietti, Author
Performance Based Sports Promote Disordered Eating
The Truth About Santa
Holiday Meals Can Provoke Disordered Eating
Sports Specialization Is Not As "Special" As It Seems
Society Should Not Demonize Teenagers for Hating the News
More Teachers Should Hold Class Outside
Students Should Not Get Schoolwork Over Break
Should the School Administration Consider Going Virtual?
New Years Resolutions Are Overrated
Concerts Need a Change


The hack of the credit bureau Equifax has sparked justifiable outrage.
It has many of the too-familiar trappings that come with financial scandal: a tone-deaf and lackluster corporate response, warning signs about data security, and even senior executives selling off shares of the company before news of the breach broke.
Outrage is appropriate, but it also won't immediately right these wrongs, much less stop a thief from abusing your private data.
The Equifax hack potentially reaches 143 million people. There are a few things consumers can do to limit the damage. Most important is freezing your credit.
Clearly, Equifax has no idea whose information has been compromised. That's why the company is offering free ID monitoring for a year. Consumers should do this.
We know. It's outrageous that Equifax initially wanted to charge consumers for this service. It should also be free for life. And the last thing you want to do is give Equifax your personal information after it lost that information to hackers. But on the balance, it makes sense to sign up for the free service.
But this alone is not nearly enough. Consumers should freeze their credit with all three bureaus — Equifax, Transunion and Experian. A freeze will stop the bureaus from releasing credit reports to new companies, limiting fraud. Freezes can be lifted when consumers are considering new loans. You will pay small fees, another outrageous aspect to this debacle, but it's worth the peace of mind.
Consumers did not ask Equifax to collect and sell their information — and now it's up to consumers to play defense. But this is the world we live in. Be angry, but make sure to take the necessary steps to prevent the hassles of ID theft and fraud.


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The Peace Project [edit]
by Hillsong Worship | Genre: Praise & Worship | Release Date: October 20, 2017
Timely titled "The Peace Project," the holiday collection presents a fresh collaboration of renown Hillsong talent such as Young & Free frontman Aodhan King, UNITED's Taya Smith and Worship's Brooke Ligertwood, among others. The album features seven new, original songs including "Prince of Heaven," "Seasons," and "Peace Upon The Earth" along with new arrangements of five of the most beloved Christmas classics like "Hark," "O Holy Night" and "Joy To The World."
Hillsong Worship's Brooke Ligertwood said about "The Peace Project," "As recipients of reconciliation, we now carry the outrageous and holy responsibility of propagating this kind of peace in our broken world: Peace that is active, justice that is presenced, the Kingdom of God in our midst."
Click here to add a video. Click to add lyrics if not listed.
01. Joy to the World
02. Hark
03. Seasons
04. Prince of Heaven
05. O Come All Ye Faithful
06. Noel
07. When I Think Upon Christmas
08. Silent Night (with Saviour King)
09. Arrival
10. Theme of the Eastern Star
11. O Holy Night
12. Peace Upon the Earth
Entry last edited by NRTeamAdmin on 12.01.17
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MarkRyan_NRT (108)
A Soundtrack For Reflection | Posted December 19, 2017
Many people say that Christmas is a feeling, a state of mind, that we can hold Christmas in our hearts year round. Although this is somewhat true, for the majority of Christians, it is one of the foundations of our faith. It is a time of peace and joy, tradition and wonder. Hillsong Worship's new album Christmas: The Peace Project evokes all of these emotions and more. This project is filled with both new takes and traditional treatments of classic carols and a few worship songs that deliver the gospel message and would be as much at home in July as they are during the Lenten season.
The album opens with new, yet respectful treatments of "Joy to the World" and "Hark." While "Joy to the World" sticks mainly to the classic rendition we all have come to know and love, "Hark" is a modern take on "Hark the Herald Angels Sing."
Along with these traditional carols, the team from Hillsong gives us a new rendition of "O Come All Ye Faithful" that builds from a simple acoustic guitar throughout into a large chorale ensemble. The drums build and draw us into the place of worship that we are so used to being in with Hillsong. Rounding out the updated carols is "Noel."
If Hillsong has become known for one thing, it is the ability to provide worship songs for the Church that are timely for the here and now. Whether it be the contemplative "Seasons," the worshipful "Prince of Heaven" or the radio friendly "When I Think Upon Christmas," the worship team at Hillsong has provided us with new music that will quickly become classics for the season.
A highlight on this album is the treatment of "O Holy Night." The song holds a special place in my heart as it was during this song 23 years ago that I first felt the presence of the Lord, that opened my heart to walk with Christ. I get offended when the song is mistreated or changed, so it was at this song that my heart rested and cemented Christmas: The Peace Project as an album I will replay again and again.
The album ends with "Peace Upon The Earth." A beautiful lullaby set to Chopin's "Nocturne op.9 No. 2." This new creation from something old is perhaps the most ambitious moment on the album. The lyrics are beautiful and endearing, however, I was longing for soaring vocals to match the composition.
The Bottom Line: Hillsong Worship has given us a very special project with Christmas: The Peace Project. It is the perfect soundtrack as you sit and reflect on the goodness of God at this time, remembering the most precious gift that we ever received: Jesus.
Song to Download Now:
"O Holy Night" (Get it on iTunes here.)
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Congress Exerting Pressure On FDA For CBD Clarification
Original Source: Congress Exerting Pressure On FDA For CBD Clarification
Many are accusing the FDA of dragging their feet when it comes to approving and regulating CBD products. Following a dedicated public meeting recently, many expected some long-awaited guidance by now.
Lawmakers are now putting pressure on the Food and Drug Administration to get moving and draft their rules on the regulation of CBD products. However, to their defense, the whole issue is so complex, it's taking the FDA longer than expected to get their heads around the matter and issue some guidance.
One has to have some sympathy for the FDA after they were forced to scramble to get a hold on hemp-derived CBD (cannabidiol) products following the Farm Bill 2018. The bill allowed for the industrial cultivation of hemp and sent many people into a tailspin; not least, the good people over at the FDA.
CBD is both considered to be a health supplement and a drug, and that's the main reason why the FDA has such a difficult battle on their hands. Some lawmakers have even gone as far as to threaten that they won't wait for FDA guidance and will proceed as they see fit at the legal level. Like Jonathan Miller, general counsel for the industry advocacy group U.S. Hemp Roundtable said according to a report from The Hill, "In Congress, some are itchy [for action]. If their patience ends [and FDA doesn't act], there will be an effort for legislation," Miller said.
The FDA's public hearing on May 31st was supposed to resolve the matter, as expert after expert stood and spoke about CBD and its numerous benefits. Despite 10 hours back and forth at that meeting, the FDA Commissioner, Ned Sharpless did not indicate timeframes.
CBD has been around for many years but the FDA tried to ignore it
"While we have seen an explosion of interest in products containing CBD, there is still much that we don't know," Sharpless said. One sticking point is dosing levels; another is the long-term effects of CBD (if any) that are not known about due to decades of cannabis prohibition. CBD from hemp is legal, but a separate issue arises when it comes to CBD in food, beverages or as a dietary supplement due to consumption and other issues.
As Miller pointed out, those inside the cannabis industry are willing to wait for the FDA to get their act together, but only because they believe it's good for business. "We want to give FDA the appropriate space to come up with their conclusions," Miller said. "They are under a lot of pressure from Congress, and Congress is under pressure from the public. I think they realize they need to move quickly."
At the same time, Senators on a bipartisan level are pushing the FDA to get moving and offer some clarification. More than $100,000 was earmarked and set aside as part of a House appropriations package to study CBD. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell even met last week with Sharpless and told him to get a move on.
"Congress's intent was clear with the passage of the Farm Bill that these products should be legal, and our farmers, producers, and manufacturers need clarity as well as a workable pathway forward regarding the agency's enforcement," McConnell said to reporters.
While the process for approving new products with the FDA traditionally takes at least a couple of years, it's taking much longer than that to get a hold on CBD. While everyone is mainly on the same team here; all wanting a better understanding of CBD, it's effects and level of safety, lawmakers don't want the FDA to use that as an excuse to drag their feet on this occasion.
As attorney Jessica Wasserman noted, "FDA needs to create a pathway without taking years worth of safety data," she said. "[CBD] has been on the market for a long time, and they [FDA] haven't been using their enforcement powers on it." And while that may be true, the buck stops with the FDA, and that's one of the reasons why they need to proceed with extreme caution when it comes to hemp-derived CBD and CBD products.
This article was republished on CBDNewsFeed.com from the original article, Congress Exerting Pressure On FDA For CBD Clarification, which was originally published on 2019-07-14 13:56:15 (based on the date that was listed on the original article at the time it was republished). We shared this article on CBDNewsFeed.com because our editorial staff believed that its context was useful and helpful to our readers. If you have any questions regarding this article, please email us at [email protected].
Thank you for reading this article! We'd love to hear your thoughts and answer your questions in the comments below.
Read the original article at Congress Exerting Pressure On FDA For CBD Clarification
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Tall tapered legs and a classic Mid-century modern appearance make this lanky bar cabinet an easy fit in any den, dining room or living space.
Corner bolted for highest quality.
Standing high on lofty hand-carved legs, our craftsmen ensured every inch of this stylish bar cabinet is a looker. Lengthy metal drawer pulls lend a weighty presence to its outside while expert engineering on the inside means drawers operate smoothly and seamlessly every time you slip inside to top off that drink.
Ever so accommodating, this impeccably handcrafted bar cabinet features a pull-down cabinet drawer that doubles as a neat and tidy space for popping corks, mixing and serving up favorite libations. Inside is plenty of space for bottles, martini shakers and everything needed to host the ultimate soiree.


La Grua Center is pleased to welcome back artists from the Northeastern Connecticut Art Guild (NECTAG) from May 11th to July 9th. A wide variety of works are on display for the exhibit called "Wonder" including fiber art, oils, watercolors, acrylics and more! Opening reception Friday May 11 from 5-7pm. Open to the public.


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ICS > 35 > 35.030
Information technology — Trusted platform module library — Part 1: Architecture
Buy this standard
This standard was last reviewed and confirmed in 2021. Therefore this version remains current.
The previous edition of the standard exceptionally remains valid until 2025
The electronic version of this International Standard can be downloaded from the ISO/IEC Information Technology Task Force (ITTF) web site
Abstract Preview
ISO/IEC 11889-1:2015 defines the architectural elements of the Trusted Platform Module (TPM), a device which enables trust in computing platforms in general. Some TPM concepts are explained adequately in the context of the TPM itself. Other TPM concepts are explained in the context of how a TPM helps establish trust in a computing platform. When describing how a TPM helps establish trust in a computing platform, ISO/IEC 11889-1:2015 provides some guidance for platform requirements. However, the scope of ISO/IEC 11889 is limited to TPM requirements.
ISO/IEC 11889-1:2015 illustrates TPM security and privacy techniques in the context of a platform through the use of cryptography. It includes definitions of how different cryptographic techniques are implemented by a TPM. The scope of ISO/IEC 11889 does not include cryptographic analysis or guidance about the applicability of different algorithms for specific uses cases.
TPM requirements in ISO/IEC 11889-1:2015 are general, covering concepts like integrity protection, isolation and confidentially. Defining a specific strength of function or assurance level is out of scope for ISO/IEC 11889. This approach limits the guarantees provided by ISO/IEC 11889 itself, but it does allow the TPM architectural elements defined to be adapted to meet diverse implementation and platform specific needs.
Status : Published
Corrected version (en) : 2016-03
This standard contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals:
std 1 198 Paper English
A standard is reviewed every 5 years
Stage: 90.93 (Confirmed)
Full report circulated: DIS approved for registration as FDIS
International Standard under publication
International Standard confirmed
Withdrawal of International Standard proposed by TC or SC


Your individual training plan. High intensity workouts. Adapted to you and your goals.
WHY IS INDIVIDUALISED TRAINING IMPORTANT?
There is no doubt that having clear goals helps you to succeed. Being able to quantify success often makes it easier to continue driving forward and track your own progress as you improve.
In a sport where 'routine is the enemy', and no two training sessions are exactly the same, is it then possible to have both? Are clearly defined goals (with structured plans to achieve them) and constantly varied and exciting workouts compatible? The simple answer is yes. Of course they are.
Look at any high level athlete and they will do specialised strength / endurance / technique / gymnastic sessions, week in week out, with some of the best trainers and professionals in those fields. Unfortunately, not many of us have the luxury, time or money to train three times a day with the best coaches and facilities in the world. So how can we simulate this individualised, professional approach? How can you really push your training forward?
HOW DOES THE FREELETICS GYM APP WORK?
Say, for example, that you train two or three times a week in the Box. You could also add a couple of extra sessions where you incorporate a more individualised training program with Freeletics. This combination will give you the best of both worlds.
Here you can target your specific goals, such as that 200kg Deadlift or first Pull Up or new Squat PR that you really want to achieve.
Freeletics is physically demanding, and if you do want to combine the Gym App with Crossfit training, make sure that you do not overload yourself. Avoiding injury is vital for success, so build up volume gradually over time. This will allow your body to adapt properly.
The Freeletics Gym coach will assess your current ability, strength, endurance and fitness levels based on what you can already do, and will then adjust your workouts accordingly.
Ok, so how does this work in practice? Referring to that first goal, say you want to achieve a 200kg Deadlift (scale the weight or exercise accordingly to fit your ambitions). Ask any powerlifter or strength and conditioning professional and they will make it very simple. If you want to hit that target you will need to build up strength gradually over time by working through progressively heavier sets and cycles of Deadlifts.
If you have no individualised programming when you train with a class in the Box, then the general progression will be tailored to the needs of the many. What happens if your coach leans more towards endurance work and long, mentally taxing Metcons? You will undoubtedly get fitter, but you won't get a whole lot closer to that 200kg.
The same is true for your strength/technique sessions. If you train two to three times a week and one week involves Overhead Squats, Ring Muscle Ups and Power Snatches for each individual session, then you WILL get stronger and technically improve in those exercises, but you WILL NOT improve your Deadlift numbers in the same way that you would with two to three sessions that specifically train this exercise. If you add these specially programmed sessions on top of your work in the organised classes in the Box, then you will see how this creates a formidable combination.
Simply substitute the Deadlift with any other goal that you want to achieve. Whether you are keen to build muscle, cut body fat, hit a new max number of Pull Ups, build cardiovascular ability or to look and feel better, Freeletics Gym can help you to achieve this in alignment with your Crossfit training.
Freeletics Gym also has built-in Conditioning workouts that range from targeting your lower body, upper body, full body and core. These help to add new challenges and can act as milestones that will help you to measure your performances and progress.
Every workout you do will yield a certain amount of points , and so by training you will accumulate more and more points. This becomes a fun and surprisingly motivating way to train, and the Freeletics Gym app also includes many additional exercises that you can complete sets of in order to earn more points.
Another handy motivational tool is the total kg lifted score. This quantifies all the iron that you have shifted during your entire Freeletics training and is an incredibly effective way of motivating you to continue.
Freeletics also have a nutrition app. You can use this in combination with your Gym App and tailor your exact nutritional needs to fit the frequency and intensity of your training, all in alignment with your specific goals.
The Nutrition app also has a coach option that will help you to get the exact portions of protein, minerals, complex carbohydrates and fats that you need to support your training and help you to achieve the goals that you are aiming for. A quick assessment before you start will help the coach to determine your current eating habits, lifestyle and experience. From there you simply select your focus from the following options and begin training hard and eating clean.
You log your meals as you make them and even eating out can be catered for as well. To account for physical activity, you can also add post-workout snacks and shakes, tailored to the amount and type of your training.
What is great about Crossfit, is the way that it incorporates all forms of exercise. It is deliberately unspecified in order to improve overall fitness. We are all different and everyone has slightly different goals. When you combine that kind of training with Freeletics, you can enjoy both constant variety and individualised programs with specific goals on your own terms. A coach in a Box cannot program an everyday class to exactly fit the needs and goals of ten different people. So why not combine the two and get the best of both worlds?
Every process is a journey in itself and you are just one step away from your own success story. Take it.


A marketing ROI of 1,168% would be incredible! When do you evaluate whether an advertising investment was worth the cost of the venture?
A new grill prompted a celebration with a couple of thick rib-eye steaks. Still available in the area is a butcher carrying on the tradition of having the best selection of meats. Most would agree yore paying for the quality and personal service but it's worth every penny." Are prices comparable to other businesses in the area? You'd be surprised.
Six steps to designing your business card!
Business cards represent your business and you have approximately 10 seconds for it to make an initial and hopefully lasting impression.
"Fantastic! Thanks, too, for your quick response back! Nice to see other businesses that respond so quickly!! Much thanks to you!"
...more feedback in guest book!
Two questions to get you started!
When starting a business too many people start without proper and sufficiant planning. I suggest that you think of the	two following questions in your planning before you start up your business. Be sure you do research in answering them, don't guess.
Identification of the target market!
The first of them is identification of the target market with detailed information of the customers' generic needs.
Forms working as hard as you do!


Let us find the best calling card for you. This is the only calling card price comparison site on the internet. We calculate the total cost for you, including all fees for your stated usage.
Cartridges, printer cartridges, toner, laser toner, compatible toner, copiers, copier toner, ink, paper for printers, wholesale cartridges, printer services and more.


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MX of Nations 2013
www.mxlarge.com
Here is a press release from Motorcycling Australia:
Motorcycling Australia has officially confirmed the Australian team that will compete in the 2013 FIM Motocross of Nations at Teutschenthal in Germany on 29 September.
Newly-crowned Canadian champion Brett Metcalfe will spearhead the team in MX1, last weekend's Belgian Grand Prix winner Dean Ferris will contest MX2 and MX Nationals contender Todd Waters (pictured above) will enter MX3.
Combined, the trio all have experience at the 'Olympics' of Motocross. Metcalfe has been on Team Australia on multiple occasions, and was part of the squad alongside Chad Reed and Matt Moss when they finished on the podium in 2011.
Ferris rode for Team Australia in 2010, while Waters made his first appearance last season in an all-rookie line-up.
The announcement was fast-tracked by MA this afternoon following Chad Reed's confirmation this morning that he'll take time out for the remainder of 2013 (click here for more).
Team manager Gary Benn said selection was extremely difficult this year, but believes Australia will be well represented by Metcalfe, Ferris and Waters.
"These guys are in amazing form at the moment and were a natural pick to represent the Aussies on the motocross world stage," Benn said.
"Of course we're disappointed Chad withdrew his nomination. He is without a doubt an outstanding rider and Aussie legend, having represented the country at the MXoN many times in previous years."
Featuring as reserve for Team Australia will be runaway MX2 national series leader Luke Styke.
Current MX1 MX Nationals series leader Moss didn't apply for a position in 2013, instead opting to focus on the Australian Supercross Championship.
Last year at the MXoN in Belgium, Australia finished 10th in the event won by Germany over Belgium and the United States.
Reed also out of MXon
Chad Reed has made the decision not to race the Motocross of Nations. Originally selected in the team, along with Dean Ferris and Brett Metcalfe the former AMA Supercross and Motocross championed twittered this morning the news. Simon Cudby image
"Toughest decision when you have to make the call to not represent your country. Will miss the opportunity to put on the GREEN&GOLD."


"Thug Life" and others are looked down upon (Arty Farty) by some parts of society when in fact it can be just as rewarding.
Due to the age of the camera used for the poster the person taking the session may have to explain what the 8mm is.
Why do some black boys (and working class white boys) choose to pick up a gun and become a robber, dealer, killer, rather than enter the world of Media/The Arts and become a Filmmaker, Painter, or Poet?
(Referring to poster 3) In your view which "Tool of the trade" is better/more glamorous?
Why is (positive) storytelling important? (Oral history, tradition, connection/bonding, past, present and future?


I have a planing Wheel for a year that needs some coloring (see attchment). I need the Wheel to have a Rainbow coloring scheme. The colors should be standard Word color. Fast and easy Project.
HI The minimal budget! It will be ready in 30 minutes. File a vector 300dpi format AI, PSD, PNG, JPG Former works can be seen in my portfolio. Any questions.


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Tag Archives: vertical
Playing Ano Gaia (Spectrum)
Another week and another shoot 'em up… hardly surprising considering it's me writing, but perhaps I need to go looking a little further afield at some point. Anyway, this particular blaster is Ano Gaia, which was developed by Simon Tillson (with some great, beeper-powered title music by Andy Mills) and published on the cover of Your Sinclair during 1992 so presumably the only thing preventing it from getting a full commercial release was only that it arrived pretty late in the day. The storyline that YS were provided with apparently talks about "pollution, luxury spacecraft, gigantic pirate ships which swallow up everything in their path and waistcoats" so can safely be ignored because the game itself is about flying a spaceship through scrolling landscapes and blasting anything that moves even if it hasn't actually started to.
The ship starts off moving slowly and pretty much under powered for the job, so it's very convenient that random enemies will leave a power-up behind when blasted. There are two to collect – a cyan one that boosts the ship's speed or the red one which beefs up the weaponry – and passing over these items with the fire button held down will bolt them on. Dying resets the ship back to the start of the current stage and downgrades both speed and firepower by the equivalent of one item, but it doesn't take long to build everything back up again.
Keeping the ship to one or perhaps two speed ups is best because it becomes surprisingly unwieldy at top speed, something which isn't helped by the collision detection being unforgiving. There's also a couple of rather cheap deaths to be found where the background splits with one path leading to a literal dead end but, for players willing to sit down and learn their way through it as would more often be expected of a horizontally scrolling example of the genre, Ano Gaia is enjoyable stuff and technically impressive as well.
Posted in Playing | Tagged 1992, Andy Mills, Ano Gaia, game, gameplay, shmup, shoot 'em up, Simon Tillson, Spectrum, vertical, Your Sinclair | 4 Replies
Playing Lightfarce (Spectrum)
I've never really been a fan of Mastertronic's platform shooter Zub; some of this comes from having played it first on the C64 – which isn't a perfect conversion of the original – but even when revisiting the original on the Spectrum over the years it just feels empty, in part because the developers were working to a strict deadline and didn't have the time to get it finished to their own satisfaction. But one thing it does have going for it at least in the Spectrum 128K incarnation is an Easter egg called Lightfarce, a parody of a certain similarly-titled blaster which had just been released and was gathering quite a bit of media attention.
There's nothing to write home about in Lightfarce on the originality front; it has big objects moving around and multi-level parallax scrolling but the action is incredibly simple, with enemies pootling down the screen and the player having to either blast or dodge them because collisions will sap some of their shield. Everything updates at quite a sedate pace but, due to the quite erratic movement of the nasties, keeping the ship safe from harm is tricky and can get the adrenalin pumping when there are only a few hits left on the energy gauge. The craft wraps around horizontally – completely disappearing off one side before reappearing on the other – which can occasionally prove helpful whilst trying to avoid collisions, but there aren't any weapon power-ups or items that restore shield power.
There's a beefed up version called Zarjas – a misspelling of "zarjaz", the catchphrase of 2000AD's editor Tharg which publishers Reaktor would later "borrow" wholesale – which was given away on Sinclair User's covertape a few years later; the colour schemes have changed and it now sports a titles tune and loading picture, but more important than those cosmetic tweaks is the gameplay which has been rebalanced for the worse, making the enemies less predictable and allowing them take more health away from the player on contact. I get that they had to "rebrand" Lightfarce once it stopped hiding behind Zub' skirts, but just swapping the name out and wedging in the tune before going to the pub for the rest of the day would've been fine. If they absolutely had to alter the gameplay for some reason, just changing the movement pattern for one enemy type would've worked better.
Lightfarce was knocked out in an afternoon, I suspect as a diversion for coder John Pickford in order to avoid burnout from the crunch of finishing the game it was buried within, and free to anyone who'd paid their three quid for Zub. It was never going to set the shoot 'em up world on fire of course, but is still technically neat with those large sprites and the parallax, with the action being a forgettable but fun distraction for the player. For me personally, this little game is more entertaining than the bigger product it was bundled with or indeed some later Mastertronic efforts like Speed Zone. Zarjas is the same in most respects, but both it and Lightfarce have pretty sensitive collision detection so the former is significantly more frustrating overall to play and less enjoyable as a result.
Posted in Playing | Tagged 1986, game, John Pickford, Lightfarce, Mastertronic, scrolling, shoot 'em up, Sinclair User, Spectrum, vertical, Zarjas | Leave a reply
Playing Mission Genocide (Amstrad CPC)
The Badstar Empire is on a mission to subjugate the people of your world, but a counter attack has been organised; the first wave of this assault is to do as much damage as possible to the little Badstars using a small but manoeuvrable spacecraft armed with lasers for airborne enemies and missiles to destroy the ground-based defences. The cassette inlay comments that this super secret project has been given the codename ZTB – Zap The Badstars… and yes, that's deliberate because the original name of Paul ""Spindizzy" Shirley's hardware scrolling 1986 blaster was ZTB, which in turn is short for Zap The Bastards.
The gameplay in Mission Genocide for the Amstrad CPC is fairly traditional scrolling shooter fare, using a fairly rarely employed feature of the CPC hardware for scrolling – similar to the technique used for the excellent Firetrack on the BBC Micro – and some neat tricks to speed up sprite rendering which keeps things very smooth and responsive. The ship is simple to control but rather cleverly puts two weapons onto just the one button; holding fire down shoots the main guns at nasties in the air – pressing space will toggle a handy automatic fire option – whilst missiles are launched when the button is pressed after being released.
There's a power-up system too, with items being found in storage silos after they're destroyed along with blobs of Astro Gloo which are needed to actually stick said items to the craft. Just grabbing everything uncovered will rapidly backfire however because, if the player accidentally picks up a black hole, said adhesive loses its stick and the previously collected toys are lost. The other item to keep an eye out for is the shield which is incredibly useful , especially when things get busy around the third stage – rather subtly called "Taking the Urineium" – where the ground bases start getting more enthusiastic about firing back.
Mission Genocide is on a couple of other platforms but didn't have as much impact there as it did on the Amstrad CPC; the Atari ST version is much of a muchness that doesn't really take advantage of the hardware and the C64 version didn't make much of an impression in part because there were a lot of more accomplished scrolling blasters around when it arrived in 1988. If you think I'm perhaps being harsh there, Paul Shirley himself has previously described the C64 conversion as "not worth the tape it's saved on". But the Amstrad CPC version is solid stuff and, when our trusty CPC464 has been set up in the front room and left running in the past, it's usually Mission Genocide that's loaded into it.
Posted in Playing | Tagged 1987, Amstrad CPC, Firebird, game, Mission Genocide, Paul Shirley, scrolling, shoot 'em up, vertical | 2 Replies