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SEASON SEVEN EPISODE TWELVE
I was not looking forward to this episode, not because of the episode itself but because of the potential fall-out after it. I know that a lot of fen had strong views about the relationship between father and son both now and in the past, heck I had an opinion and DiNozzo isn't my favourite character. Those views varied considerably and some people wanted what had happened in the past to be dealt with and shown on the screen and had they not have been things could have got messy.
However, to my mind the episode dealt with everything that past canon has thrown at us and actually confirmed my own opinion of the relationship and DiNozzo's canon comments, etc. I do hope that it went far enough for others and I feel, having seen it, the fall-out should not be anywhere near as damaging as I was fearing. Kudos to the writers.
Overall it was an okay episode with some really strong scenes between DiNozzo and his father, and also between the man who has become his replacement father and his father. There was some nice sibling banter, not that much, but what there was was good and there was no nastiness or cutting comments, just a nice, happy family. The case? Oh, there was a case; once again it was far down the list as to importance.
If last week's theme was 'indulgence' then this has to be 'predictability'; there was so much that was obvious and pretty much telegraphed. Not that it affected my enjoyment that much, but it did go a little too far in how many things were 'stand up and dance' in obviousness also, the repetition of motives and certain character traits.
It begins with a man (Walid Abbas) standing watching a Navy plane. The plane lands and two pilots get out and talk. They stop by the man on the ground and he addresses one of them as 'Highness' and says he's wait for him to change. His Highness is Prince Sayif Ibn Alwaan from Saudi Arabia; he goes off and Walid goes towards the car. At that moment a jet flies very low overhead and the car explodes, knocking Walid off his feet.
In the squad room a clearly irritated DiNozzo is on the phone, he's having trouble accessing his Bank account in New York. At first I wondered why on earth he'd have a Bank Account in NY, but then given his 'nomadic life style' pre-NCIS, it makes a bit more sense. However, he's having problems and they seem to be confusing him with his father who is also Anthony DiNozzo. They ask him, clearly not for the first time, to spell his name; he does so and doesn't use the nice standard 'words for letters'. Great fun. Ziva is standing by McGee's desk and wants to know what DiNozzo needs the money for, McGee tells her it's so DiNozzo can go on a cruise with a couple of his frat buddies. Ziva wonders why DiNozzo just doesn't call his father and get it sorted out - he has done that, two days ago, but his father had not got back to him. Then the Bank asks DiNozzo to spell his name again and he asks if they are in India - and I'm sure that comment will resonate with many, many people who have experienced such 'call centres' and 'help desks'. At that moment Gibbs arrives to tell them they have a dead foreign national at Pax River.
At Pax River, Ziva asks DiNozzo where he's going and he tells her it's a 'need to know basis'. As always, it's fine for DiNozzo to want to know everything about everyone, but not the other way around. A very nice character-consistent comment. Ziva then suggest he might be too old for Spring Break (he is) and he says he's not.
The car was registered to a rental company and hired by the week by Sayif and the explosive device was under the car. Ducky tells Gibbs that Walid wasn't killed by the actual blast as such as there is no burning (he must have been thrown a long way back) but was killed by blunt force trauma when he hit his head on the pavement. He and DiNozzo then exchange a little bit of what was meant to be humorous banter, but I didn't really care for. I have to confess that recently Ducky has been making these odd little 'funnies' that I don't really like and seem somewhat out of character.
We learn that Sayif was in the US for three months to train as part of the pilot strike force program and that he had been through several instructors. Clearly he was not a vastly popular man - and was seen as 'trouble'.
Gibbs goes to Sayif who is on the phone making arrangements to be picked up. Gibbs tells him to cancel them, as he is now in the protective custody of NCIS. Sayif doesn't like the idea, but Gibbs tells him that if he doesn't go along with it, he'll simply cancel Sayif's flight training. Sayif, who obviously does want to be a pilot, agrees, but on his terms - he'll still stay at his hotel.
Gibbs, Vance and DiNozzo are in MTAC; the Saudi Embassy insist their royal guards be part of the protection detail, Vance says they'll co-ordinate with them. It appears that a group known as the 'Freedom Warriors' are claiming responsibility for the bomb. The woman to whom they are talking asks if they've questioned Sayif about the group. Gibbs says he has and he didn't seem that concerned. She tells them Sayif will be going home once he completes his training, which will be in two days. She also tells them his father Prince Omar Ibn Alwaan is a major player, so they need to be kept in the loop. Vance and Gibbs go to call the embassy from Vance's office.
During this scene McGee has come into MTAC. On his way out Gibbs asks if McGee wants him, but no, he has a message for DiNozzo. When Gibbs and Vance have gone McGee tells DiNozzo he has a visitor, but won't tell him who. There's some very nice banter between them, very nicely done. They go out and DiNozzo looks down into the squad room and then crouches down.
We see a man, who is DiNozzo's father, talking to Ziva and saying how DiNozzo has mentioned her, but didn't say how lovely she was and he asks if she's ever considered wearing her hair down. It's clear from where DiNozzo gets his flirting skills from. DiNozzo and McGee are still watching when the man looks up and sees DiNozzo and calls him 'Junior' and DiNozzo asks what his father is doing there.
I thought it was very interesting that DiNozzo had told his father about Ziva. Gibbs I can understand being his boss and all that, but given father and son are meant to be estranged to an extent, DiNozzo has taken the time to mention Ziva. A nice moment for DiNozzo/Ziva fen.
DiNozzo and DiNozzo Snr return to the squad room with coffee. DiNozzo is talking about the Bank account and wants to know why his father is still named as trustee. DiNozzo Snr says he'll sort it all out, bells were beginning to ring softly at his point. DiNozzo wonders why his father is there, after all he could just have made a phone call to sort the thing out, but DiNozzo Snr says they haven't seen one another for a long time. DiNozzo makes a comment about his father hopping on a plane to fly to DC, but DiNozzo Snr says he took the train - it wasn't that far.
At that moment the bells became alarms and I knew what had happened and why Daddy DiNozzo was there. He had money troubles and had come to tell his son, as it's not the kind of thing you tell over the phone. His whole body language and hesitation and the fact he hadn't sorted out the account by phone and that he took a train rather than flying screamed of the problems. DiNozzo also picks up something when his father mentions the train and is concerned that something is wrong with him; he's genuinely concerned. But his father brushes it off and starts to ask DiNozzo about Ziva and wants to know more about her. DiNozzo comments that she's just Ziva. To me it showed that DiNozzo Snr. had picked up a vibe from his son that Ziva was important to him. Another nice DiNozzo/Ziva fen moment, I would have thought.
At that moment McGee and Ziva arrive with Sayif and DiNozzo Snr recognises him. Gibbs joins the other three and they go off together. DiNozzo asks how his father knows Sayif and in turn his father asks what Sayif is doing there. DiNozzo tells him about the assassination attempt and when his father asks how, he at first says he can't tell him, but then does and mentions the car bomb and that Sayif's father is flying in and he tells his father the name of the hotel Sayif is staying in - the Adams House Hotel. He says he'll get his father a cab and again asks if there's something he wants to tell him. DiNozzo Snr says DiNozzo is busy, they'll talk later.
Okay, so it was all needed, but it was really something more than a little out of line to give an outside, even though it was his father, all the information. Somewhat clumsy and given DiNozzo's years as cop and NCIS agent not something I'd expect him to do. But it had to be done; his father had to have the information, so . . .
Gibbs goes to the hotel and McGee and Ziva are there in Sayif's room. Sayif's older brother Prince Abdalla Ibn Alwaan. They are 'arguing' and don't know that Ziva speaks Arabic. She tells Gibbs that Abdalla is criticising Sayif's life-style and how he's fallen into the western ways. There does not seem to be a lot of love lost between the brothers and my spider-sense twitched a little at this point, wondering if in fact brother was somehow involved, maybe to scare little brother? Abdalla tells Gibbs Walid was not just Sayif's aide and driver, but an old family friend. DiNozzo arrives and Sayif says he wants to go to the gym; DiNozzo says he can't until they've cleared it and also one of them will have to go with him. Sayif chooses Ziva.
In Autopsy the doors open and Ducky begins to address Gibbs, saying that it was blunt force injury that killed Walid. However, it's not Gibbs it's Vance. Ducky is surprised and asks Vance to what he owes the pleasure of his visit. Vance tells him the Saudi Embassy had requested a quick release of the body because of religious reasons. He then asks after Ducky's mother. Ducky says she's slipping away and when he visited her that morning she was convinced the clock was going backwards. Vance says he has days he feels that and he goes. Ducky comments that everyone does.
Poor Ducky, I wanted to hug him after that scene. I imagine we are going to have Mrs. Mallard's death in the not too distant future as her deteriorating condition has now been mentioned more than once this season.
Down in the evidence garage, Abby is under Sayif's car. She has odd shoes and socks on and tells Gibbs that it's mis-match Monday for her. Gibbs wants to know about the bomb. Abby has found fragments of it. She then starts to talk about DiNozzo's father asking if he looks like DiNozzo, Gibbs hasn't yet met him and pulls Abby's focus back onto the case. She's downloaded the on-line navigation system onto a hard drive. At that moment McGee calls and asks Gibbs to go to MTAC.
Gibbs joins Vance and McGee. On-line chatter has been picked up and key words such as 'Prince Omar' and 'assassination' have been picked up. The message is thought to have come from the group who claimed responsibility for the attempt on Sayif. And they have tracked it to the corporate business centre of Sayif's hotel.
DiNozzo and Ziva hurry down to the centre, both have a little 'moment' with the bell boy when they ask where the centre is and he's doesn't answer quickly enough. They go in guns drawn and find . . . Daddy DiNozzo using a computer. He tells them to put their guns down.
DiNozzo Snr is in the interrogation room and Abby and Ducky are looking through the glass. Abby comments that maybe DiNozzo didn't have a mother, but was cloned. Ducky says there is a strong resemblance between father and son. Gibbs goes in and shakes DiNozzo Snr's hand. DiNozzo Snr says Gibbs has now met the real Tony DiNozzo. He asks Gibbs what is going on, he was emailing business contacts and his son and Ziva arrive with guns. Gibbs tells him of the words that have been picked up and DiNozzo Snr expresses surprise that that kind of thing is real and not just part of a spy movie. Gibbs asks him why he'd mentioned Prince Omar and assassination. DiNozzo Snr explains that he's an opportunist and money isn't as good at it once was. He says he and Prince Omah, whom he calls 'Al' as does all his close friends, are friends and he thought he'd tell his business contacts that Omar was in town because of an assassination attempt on his son. Ducky and Abby are still watching.
Gibbs asks DiNozzo Snr why he's staying at the Adams House Hotel and DiNozzo Snr says it's because it's his favourite hotel. He mentions the concierge, saying he can fix anything. And he asks Gibbs if he's ever been to the Roof Top Grill; Gibbs says he hasn't; DiNozzo Snr says he should as it had the best rib eye in town. Outside Ducky concurs that is true.
DiNozzo is out in the hall and Gibbs tells him to keep his father away from the Alwaans. He then goes into the observation room and is surprised and a tad annoyed to see Abby there; she hurries away. We have a wee Gibbs/Ducky moment when Gibbs says that DiNozzo's father is not involved, but he does have an agenda and Ducky agrees with him.
At the hotel DiNozzo brings his father a drink - three fingers of Macallan. His father says he remembers and DiNozzo comments he would as cocktail hour was always Macallan and a lecture from Senior. He is drinking non-alcoholic beer; DiNozzo Snr comments it the downside of law enforcement and asks if there's an upside; DiNozzo says he gets to carry a gun.
And then father and son talk and cover virtually everything that DiNozzo has mentioned about his father and childhood in past episodes. He begins by saying his father had never liked him becoming a cop. DiNozzo Snr is genuinely surprised by the accusation and says he was always supportive, he never said anything. DiNozzo says that's the problem, he wanted him to say something like 'Hey, Junior, I'm glad you've found a career you're passionate about'. His father asks how DiNozzo knows he doesn't feel that way.
DiNozzo asks how could he as they've never talked. He gets it; his mom died when he was eight and his father was left with him. He didn't know what to do so he was sent off to boarding schools and summer camps. DiNozzo Snr says they had some great vacations and DiNozzo brings up the time he was left in a hotel room for two days whilst his father went off, supposedly on business, but she was a very attractive woman. His father says it was still business and he certainly seemed genuine. Then DiNozzo asks after his step-mother; who, his father tell him, is in fact his ex-step-mother. He says he's sorry as he'd always liked Karen; his father explains that actually he's missed one; the one he's just divorced was Phoebe. And then DiNozzo goes off to relieve Ziva after telling his father to stay away from the Alwaans; he adds that he'll call his father later.
I personally thought the scene was not only poignant and extremely well acted by both men, but explained pretty much everything DiNozzo has said about his upbringing and relationship with his father in a completely believable way and in the way I'd always got the feeling it was. Yes, he was sent away to boarding schools and summer camps, but that wasn't abuse or even neglect. It was the kind of thing that a man of DiNozzo Snr's ilk and class would do. He didn't know how to deal with an eight year old who'd lost his mom, so he did what a lot of people in his position and income bracket did - he made sure his son was well looked after and cared for, even if not by him. The hotel room at least DiNozzo was safe there (he didn't get left on a bus as a baby *g*) and the whole 'not talking' again is akin to the class and age of DiNozzo Snr he couldn't talk to his son; it wasn't what he did. And his silence over DiNozzo's career choice was also logical and believable. He really thought by not opposing it, DiNozzo would get that he was happy about it. Of course it would have been far better had he told his son he did approve and even told him why the boarding schools, but that isn't the man he is and he is DiNozzo's father. You can see from where DiNozzo gets many of his traits from; he talks constantly and says very little. I thought it was an excellent scene and I hope it will appease everyone and covered all the things people wanted addressing from the snippets DiNozzo had shared.
Gibbs and McGee are in the squad room looking at footage taken at the garage where Sayif's car had gone for a service the day before the assassination attempt. There is no evidence at all that the bomb was planted there and checks on the mechanic who worked on the car check out - he's clean. McGee says he'll focus on the time period concerned.
At that moment Ziva returns saying that Sayif is a chauvinistic pig and a pain in the tush. She adds that Gibbs might have to hire someone to protect him from her - nice Ziva.
Vance then appears to let Gibbs know that he'd had a call from MI6 who said they had a mole deep undercover in the group who claimed responsibility for the bomb and the mole says the claim was bogus. It had not been a terrorist attack. Gibbs says he doesn't have any other leads at that point.
Gibbs and Ziva go to the hotel and she is 'testing' him on the constitution and he gets it wrong. In the lobby is DiNozzo Snr who says he's indulging in one of his favourite past-times: people watching. He tells Ziva her hair looks lovely down.
Gibbs and Ziva go up to Sayif's room and find DiNozzo on one leg bending over, wearing a cowboy hat, whilst a woman hold his other leg; another woman is sitting on Sayif's lap, another is asleep on a sofa. Gibbs is, not surprisingly, livid with DiNozzo. He takes the hat off and hits DiNozzo several times with it and demands to know what the hell is going on. DiNozzo says Sayif had a couple of dates and wanted to go clubbing, so he took the decision to go clubbing in the hotel suite and then the yoga girl had turned up and things got somewhat out of hand. You think, DiNozzo.
Abdalla arrives and tells Sayif their father's plane landed half an hour ago and he's on his way to the hotel. Sayif immediately orders the girls to go, for the first time he actually seems concerned about something; he clearly has more respect for his father than for his brother. One of the girls, the one who'd been asleep, has DiNozzo's handcuffs on.
The lift doors open and there, much to Gibbs's annoyance and DiNozzo's chagrin, with Prince Omah is DiNozzo Snr They are talking about when they last saw one another. Gibbs asks DiNozzo if he can give him a reason not to bench him and DiNozzo says he won't let his father out of his sight.
In Abby's lab both she and McGee have something. McGee tells her to show hers first. She tells him that the bomb maker was sloppy, cheap parts were used and the timer should have gone off thirty minutes after it did. However, it was triggered by something like a loud noise or vibrations and it's her theory that the low flying jet set it off. She then tells McGee to show her his. McGee tells her that after the service the car only went to two places and the only place it went that wasn't under surveillance cameras was a remote place at Pax River. It looks as though Walid placed the bomb himself.
A really lovely Abby/McGee scene with lots to squee about for A/Mc lovers :-)
Vance is with Abdalla, outside Autopsy, who says he'll be accompanying Walid's body home. Ducky and McGee are in Autopsy and Vance goes into speak to Ducky leaving Abdalla outside. He brings Ducky back with him and Ducky tells Abdalla that he can't release the body just yet as he has one more procedure to carry out, but he assures him there won't be any desecration. Abdalla is not happy, but has to accept it.
DiNozzo Snr is at DiNozzo's computer, whilst DiNozzo sits at another desk. DiNozzo Snr won't let his son near. He tells him that he's straightened out the Bank problem and DiNozzo will be able to get the money. DiNozzo goes towards the computer and his father asks if he has to stick his nose into everything - oh, yes, Mr. DiNozzo, he does. DiNozzo says it makes him a good investigator. Then the phone rings and DiNozzo Snr answers it; it's for him, the hotel spa have arranged a massage for him.
Gibbs and Ziva arrive, Sayif is in the air and will be for the next two hours. DiNozzo Snr is about to leave, but DiNozzo says Ziva, or as he calls her 'very special probationary agent David' (DiNozzo does like the 'very special' term) will give him a tour. DiNozzo Snr says he's sure Ziva is busy, Gibbs says she is and says he'll take DiNozzo Snr on a tour - starting with the armoury.
When they've gone we have a nice moment when DiNozzo says he's flashing back to boarding school when his Headmaster wanted to talk to his father. He then calls McGee and says that Gibbs wants him in the squad room immediately and he tells Ziva he needs McGee to find out what his father was doing on DiNozzo's computer as he's up to something.
Gibbs takes DiNozzo Snr to the conference room and says he wants to talk about DiNozzo. DiNozzo Snr asks what his son has done now. Gibbs says DiNozzo likes to hide behind the face of a clown, but is the best young agent he's ever worked with. He asks when the last time was they really talked; DiNozzo Snr says they keep in touch. Gibbs then tells him about DiNozzo's brush with the plague and DiNozzo Snr is surprised - DiNozzo hadn't told him. Gibbs says DiNozzo has inherited a lot of his personality from his father (very true) and there's a lot he doesn't share. DiNozzo Snr says he should tell Gibbs to piss off, but as he knows DiNozzo thinks the world of Gibbs he'll be civil. He asks if Gibbs has kids. Gibbs says he had a daughter, but he never had a chance to know her as an adult and says DiNozzo Snr has that opportunity. DiNozzo Snr is not happy - the truth does tend to hurt - and leaves.
I think part of the reason, apart from the truth hurting, that DiNozzo Snr was not happy with Gibbs was that no father likes to see the person who has usurped him in his son's affections; he has met the man who has become DiNozzo's surrogate father and no father wants to see that. MW himself mentions the fact that Gibbs has taken Anthony DiNozzo Snr's place as Anthony DiNozzo Jnr's father. It really is a season of 'fathers', with Ziva saying Gibbs is the closest thing to a father she now has and now DiNozzo. Okay, it was MW who said it and not DiNozzo and I tend not to think of interviews or episode commentaries as canon, but MW has said it more than once. Although I have to say that as good as the scene was, to my mind Gibbs was somewhat out of line to talk to DiNozzo Snr like that. I know he has taken his place as DiNozzo's 'father' but I do think he over stepped the line a little. But that aside it was a good scene.
McGee is in Abby's lab again and we learn that substance Ducky swapped from Walid's hands matched the substance on the bomb. They slap hands and look at one another. The victim was his own killer; Abby comments that's hinky. Well solved Timmy and Abby.
Gibbs, McGee and Ziva are discussing Walid's reasons for planting the bomb. Ziva suggests he should have been in the car with Sayif when it went off and thus it would have looked like a suicide bomber and look like a terrorist attack. Gibbs asks DiNozzo if he's with them.
At that moment Abby and DiNozzo Snr arrive, Abby has her arm through DiNozzo Snr's. He comments that whoever hires the women in NCIS do a grand job as they are not only beautiful they are bright. Abby had taken him on a tour and then DiNozzo says the polygraph person would like to give his father a demonstration. DiNozzo Snr refuses, but says he'd like to ask Abby some more questions. Gibbs nods at Abby and she and DiNozzo Snr go off and Gibbs says they should look into Walid's background.
The way DiNozzo Snr interacted and flirted with both Abby and Ziva was so reminiscent of how Jackson Gibbs interacted and flirted with Abby and Ziva.
Gibbs sends Ziva and McGee off to meet Sayif's plane and he and DiNozzo go to MTAC. DiNozzo says he has to break Rule #06 and say he's sorry for the hotel room; it got out of hand. Gibbs says it's covered by Rule #18 which DiNozzo quotes as 'it's better to seek forgiveness than ask permission'. He asks if Gibbs has forgiven him and Gibbs says he hasn't. He says that DiNozzo is distracted by his father. DiNozzo says he's not the man he thought he was; Gibbs says he doesn't know his father. DiNozzo say his father had always been a mystery to him, just a wealthy one, but now he's broke (the telegraphing was correct) and has been for years. He has overdrawn Bank accounts, his credit cards are frozen, property is foreclosed, everything is tapped out. McGee got DiNozzo into DiNozzo Snr's records. DiNozzo wonders if his father had ever been as rich as he appeared. He thinks his father came to DC to tell him about the charade, but then when he learnt about the Prince Omah coming to town he decided to have one last score; his life was one big con. Gibbs asks what DiNozzo is going to do about it. DiNozzo says he's going to end the game when his father checks out of the hotel; he's staying in a $1,000 a night room he can't pay for.
McGee and Ziva meet Sayif and want to ask about Walid; Sayif asks if they want to know if he passed, they ask; he did. He says that Walid wasn't his friend, but his brother's. They had religion and politics in common and Walid would do anything for Abdalla. McGee and Ziva look at one another and yes, they're thinking what I was thinking. McGee tells Sayif that Walid planted the explosive.
Gibbs and DiNozzo go to the hotel. Prince Omah is about to check out. They learn that Walid was indeed following Abdalla's orders to kill Sayif as his life style was bringing shame to the family and it was better for him to die as a martyr. They ask where Abdalla is and Prince Omah tells them he's at the airport on the royal jet and as he works at the Embassy, he has diplomatic immunity. Gibbs asks if he is just going to let it go and Prince Omah says: "He is still my son. Fathers do what they have to do for their children." The look on DiNozzo's face is really telling at that point as it hits him. Prince Omah says Abdalla is his problem now and he'll deal with him. He asks DiNozzo to tell his father he's sorry he had to go so quickly and that he'll be at Monte Carlos next month and they can meet there.
DiNozzo and his father go to the desk for his father to check out; DiNozzo Snr tries to persuade DiNozzo to go, but son is sticking to father. He goes to the girl on duty, but then 'Bruce' takes over. DiNozzo Snr says he's having trouble with his credit card, but Bruce looks at the screen and tells him the bill has been settled. He also gives DiNozzo Snr a note from Prince Omah with an open ended first class flight to Monte Carlos. DiNozzo comments that his father leads a charmed life. DiNozzo Snr says it' been great seeing DiNozzo and they should, and will, talk more often; they shake hands. Then DiNozzo Snr pulls his son into a hug and tells him he loves him; in fact he tells him it twice. I doubt he's ever said the words to DiNozzo before - so Gibbs's pep talk did hit home. Maybe Daddy DiNozzo is going to reclaim his son.
And again I knew just how had paid the hotel bill and bought the ticket. It wasn't Prince Omah; it was DiNozzo.
The final scene is in Gibbs's house. DiNozzo turns up with a pack of beer and Gibbs has been cooking a steak (rare *shudders*) on the open fire. He asks DiNozzo how it went and DiNozzo tells him his father skated again. Gibbs asks from where DiNozzo got the money. DiNozzo tells him he didn't need to go on a cruise with his frat brothers. Gibbs said he's conned the con man - it runs in the family. He asks why DiNozzo did it. DiNozzo tells him his father is who is he, he couldn't bust him and that some things are better kept to oneself. He and Gibbs clink bottles of beer.
An okay episode that I felt worked fairly well insofar as it answered a lot of questions and fully satisfied me as to the whole DiNozzo and his father in the past.
Great interaction between DiNozzo and his father, despite everything there was a lot of love of deep affection on both sides. And DiNozzo really is his father's son.
It was interesting to see that DiNozzo had made a point of mentioning Ziva to his father; clearly she's important to him. Again, I liked the way it was done, as DiNozzo/Ziva fen can see it as important as in a romantic sense; whereas non-DiNozzo/Ziva can just see it as important in a friend sense. Yet nothing was said that he'd mentioned either McGee or Abby.
What team interaction there was was good and no slapping was needed. There wasn't as much as there usually is, but then the episode was about the DiNozzos, so that was to be expected.
It's a shame, I felt, that the case in many ways mirrored the one of two episodes ago, i.e. the reason for the murder and that DiNozzo Snr when it came to flirting with Abby and Ziva mirrored Jackson Gibbs.
Minor irks.
- I felt Anthony DiNozzo Snr and Jackson Gibbs were far too alike in their flirting with Abby and Ziva.
- Far too little Ducky.
- No Jimmy - he's in the cast list, but he wasn't there.
- The clear sign-posting of things, especially that DiNozzo Snr was broke.
- The fact that brother kills brother (well orders killing of brother) for the same reason as brother killed brother in Faith: because of the shame dead brother was bringing on the family. Did we really need the same 'plot' and 'justification' two episodes apart?
Best scenes:
- The opening squad room scene with DiNozzo on the phone.
- DiNozzo and his dad having a drink.
- Abby and McGee in her lab.
- DiNozzo and his dad in the lobby of the hotel.
Pairing of the week:
Gen: DiNozzo Jnr. & DiNozzo Snr.
Ship: Abby/McGee
Character of the week:
Anthony DiNozzo Snr.
Actor/Actress of the week:
Storyline: 7.50
Enjoyment: 7.50
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Contributors Fundamental Analysis Sterling Pares Gains After A No-Deal Brexit Ruled Out
Sterling Pares Gains After A No-Deal Brexit Ruled Out
Mar 14, 08:41 GMT
The sterling rose after parliamentarians in the UK voted against the possibility of leaving the European Union without a deal. This was viewed as a victory for the market, which believes that leaving without a deal with the EU would be chaotic. It was, however, a blow to Eurosceptics who believe that the country can prosper under the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. This vote leaves the country at a difficult place because the current plan is for the country to leave the EU on March 29. As such, no one knows what will happen if the day comes and passes without the parliament voting for a deal. Today, there will be another vote that will determine whether to extend the deadline. While this is a favorable thing, it will lead to more uncertainty for businesses and for individuals.
The price of crude oil continued the upward trend after data from the US showed reduced inventories. According to the EIA, crude inventories contracted by more than 3.86 million barrels. This drawdown was much lower than the gains of 2.6 million barrels that traders were expecting. Last week, the data showed that inventories had grown by more than 7 million barrels. Earlier in the day, data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) showed a drawdown of more than one million barrels.
In China, the weakness of the economy continued after the release of retail sales, industrial production, and fixed asset investments. In February, retail sales rose by an annualized rate of 8.2%, which was better than the expected 8.1%. It was in line with the growth in January. The industrial production continued weakening, with the growth coming at 5.3%, which was lower than the expected 5.5%. Fixed assets investments grew by 6.1%, which was in line with expectations.
XBR/USD
The XBR/USD pair rose to a high of 67.75, which was the highest level since February 22. In the past few weeks, the pair has moved from a low of 63.98. This sharp increase has come as investors bank on the supply cuts announced by OPEC and the perception that demand too will rise. On the hourly chart, the pair is trading above the 25-day, 50-day, and 200-day moving averages, while the momentum indicator has moved above 100 and the RSI has remained above 70. This momentum is likely to continue for the coming days.
The EUR/USD pair declined slightly in overnight trading. The pair is now trading at 1.1320, which is slightly below the 61.8% Fibonacci Retracement level. The price is below the 25-day and 50-day moving averages. On the hourly chart, the 50-day EMA is along the 50% Fibonacci Retracement level. The signal line of the Stochastics Oscillator has moved below the oversold level of 20. The pair could continue moving lower until it tests the 50% Fibonacci level of 1.1297.
The sterling rose sharply after legislators voted against a no-deal Brexit. It reached a high of 1.3380, which was the highest level since June last year. The GBP/USD pair then pared those gains as traders sold the news. It is now trading at 1.3240. This price is above the 25-day and 50-day EMAs while the RSI has dropped from the overbought level of 78 to the current 58. The pair will likely reach the 50% Fibonacci level of 1.3166.
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As the students move back into their digs, comedy returns to Manchester too.
Manchester hasn't been devoid of comedy this August, but there are a fair few local acts representing the city at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Their motto is 'bake it, bring it, share it, eat it'. As mottos go, it's a good one.
Hurrah! The Manchester gay celebrations are almost upon us.
After a summer of uncertainty and a national divide following Brexit, it was perhaps fitting that Rochdale's Feel Good festival should be accompanied by a near constant downpour.
Although I'm led to believe there were some loudmouthed Kinks fans who expected more of a singalong as well as, equally annoyingly, some professional reviewers who seemed smugly ignorant of the band's substantial output, there are many reasons why Sunny Afternoon is so much more than just another jukebox musical.
We don't need a 'Northern Cultural Tsar'. But funding parity with the South? Yes please.
Helen Nugent August 16, 2016 Comments Off on We don't need a 'Northern Cultural Tsar'. But funding parity with the South? Yes please.
The New Statesman says that the North is in need of 'a cultural renewal'. Really? Helen Palmer, Co-Director of Creative Tourist and Palmer Squared, a consultancy specialising in the cultural and tourism sector, responds to this for Northern Soul.
One of the biggest interview clichés is someone describing their life experiences as "a journey". However, if anyone has earned the right to use the dreaded "J" word then it's performer Kate O'Donnell.


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Stephen Holden, né le , est un écrivain, poète et critique de cinéma et de musique américain.

Il a gagné un Grammy Award en 1986 dans la catégorie « Best Album Notes » pour une anthologie des chansons de Frank Sinatra.

Il a été critique musical dans des publications comme Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, Blender, The Village Voice ou encore The Atlantic. Depuis 1981, il est critique de cinéma et de théâtre au New York Times.

Liens externes
  Biographie de Stephen Holden sur le site du New York Times
  Articles écrits par Stephen Holden sur le site du New York Times

Écrivain américain du XXe siècle
Poète américain du XXe siècle
Critique américain de cinéma
Critique musical américain
Collaborateur de Rolling Stone
Étudiant de l'université Yale
Lauréat du Grammy Award
Naissance en juillet 1941

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text:
Q: Non-standard examples of Distributions Can somebody point me to examples of distributions which are not sums of delta functions or derivatives thereof. Also of course not integrals with local integrable functions.
Additional: is there a classification?

A: Joelafrite made a good suggestion: consider the first distributional derivative of a function $f$ that is not absolutely continuous. By definition, this distribution acts as
$$\phi\to -\int f\phi'$$

*

*If $f$ is increasing (like Cantor staircase and Minkowski's ?-function), then the distribution $f'$ is a measure.

*If $f$ has bounded variation, then $f'$ is a signed measure.

*For more extreme examples, such as the Weierstrass nowhere differentiable function, $f'$ is a distribution that is hard to  imagine or compare to any familiar object.

And of course, higher distributional derivatives of the same functions provide even more singular examples.
As for classification: a derivative is of order at most $k$ if its value on test function $\phi$ is bounded by $C^k$ norm of $\phi$. So, order $0$ distributions are signed measures. There are distributions of  every finite order, as well as of infinite order.

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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Asian J Neurosurg 2022; 17(04): 651-655
Primary Leptomeningeal Medulloblastoma in Adults: A Diagnostic Challenge—Case Report and Systematic Review
Sara Fabbro
1 Department of Neurosurgery, ASUFC "Santa Maria della Misericordia," Piazzale Santa Maria della Misericordia, Udine (UD), Italy
Enrico Pegolo
2 Institute of Anatomic Pathology, ASUFC "Santa Maria della Misericordia," Udine, Italy
Daniele Piccolo
Antonio Cramaro
Maurizio Mascarin
3 AYA Oncology and Pediatric Radiotherapy Unit, CRO IRCCS, Via Franco Gallini 2, Aviano (PN), Italy
Elisa Coassin
Miran Skrap
Francesco Tuniz
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
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Primary leptomeningeal medulloblastoma (PL-MB) in adults is a rare disease with a severe prognosis. A 35-year-old woman presented with headaches, diplopia, and gait ataxia, with triventricular hydrocephalus and descent of the cerebellar tonsils beyond the foramen magnum. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy was performed. Six months later, headaches recurred. Dilatation of the supratentorial ventricular system and massive cerebellar swelling without contrast-enhancing nodularities were reported. Occipitocervical decompression with duraplasty was performed. A bioptic diagnosis of PL-MB was made. Craniospinal irradiation and chemotherapy were administered. After 18 months, no recurrence was observed.
Few cases of PL-MB have been reported: patients die before treatment or within a few days after surgery. Our long-term survival could be ascribable to a slow clinical presentation and an early diagnosis that allowed surgical treatment and the administration of a combined chemoradiotherapy protocol. Cerebellar swelling, even without associated enhancing lesions, with or without hydrocephalus, should be a neuroradiological alarm sign, and PL-MB should be considered.
Chiari-like malformation - endoscopic third ventriculostomy - obstructive hydrocephalus - occipitocervical decompression - primary leptomeningeal medulloblastoma
PL-MB is a rare disease with a severe prognosis. Cerebellar swelling, independent of the presence of nodular enhancing lesions and hydrocephalus, should be considered a neuroradiological alarm sign. Although uncommon, in the case of leptomeningeal involvement, MB should be considered as a differential pathological diagnosis.
Medulloblastoma (MB) is a malignant neuroepithelial tumor that originates from primitive neuroectodermal tissue.[1] [2] In most cases, it occurs as a mass lesion in the vermis or hemispheres of the cerebellum.[1] [3] Although MB commonly metastasizes along the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pathway[4] and subarachnoid seeding is found in up to one-third of patients at diagnosis,[5] primary leptomeningeal medulloblastoma (PL-MB) without any evidence of a tumor mass is exceedingly rare,[5] and only a few cases have been reported in the literature.[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
Herein, we report the unusual occurrence of a pathologically-confirmed PL-MB in an adult woman, focusing on the differential diagnosis implications and on the good clinical outcome compared with other reports in the literature.
A 35-year-old woman experienced headaches and diplopia over the course of 2 years. Due to the onset of gait ataxia and worsening of the headaches (that became continuous and invalidating), she underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This study demonstrated the presence of triventricular hydrocephalus with transependymal transudation and downward displacement of the cerebellar tonsils beneath the foramen magnum into the cervical spinal canal with obstruction of the fourth ventricle, similar to a Chiari malformation ([Fig. 1]). The patient underwent endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) through a right-sided burr hole. Postoperative computed tomography (CT) scans excluded any complications, and the patient was discharged 3 days after the endoscopic procedure with prompt amelioration of her presenting symptoms. The neuroradiological follow-up 1 month later demonstrated a decrease in the size of the third and lateral ventricles, with resolution of the transependymal transudation and reduction in the cerebellar ectopia ([Fig. 2]). Fast spin-echo sequences revealed the patency of the stoma on the floor of the third ventricle and the regular flow void inside it. Six months after surgery, the patient lamented the onset of mild headache. The neuroradiological investigations documented mild dilatation of the supratentorial ventricular system, downward displacement of the cerebellar tonsils, and widened cerebellar folia. Some areas of hyperintensity were identified in fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences, but no contrast enhancement was documented ([Fig. 3]). Thus, although atypical and infrequent, a Lhermitte-Duclos disease with involvement of both cerebellar hemispheres and vermis was suspected, and occipitocervical decompression with duraplasty was performed. Intraoperatively, the cerebellum was found to be extremely swollen, but no gross tumor mass was observed. Multiple biopsies were taken from both cerebellar tonsils and both cerebellar hemispheres. Histological examination of the tumor fragments from all the sampled areas showed a dense population of atypical small cells arranged in loosely cohesive sheets located within the subarachnoid space, extending through the Virchow-Robin spaces, and focally infiltrating the subjacent cerebellar parenchyma ([Fig. 4A]). The tumor cells exhibited moderately pleomorphic round to ovoid hyperchromatic nuclei with scant cytoplasm, and many mitotic figures were observed ([Fig. 4B]). Immunohistochemical staining revealed positivity for microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP2) and synaptophysin ([Fig. 4C]), and negativity for CKAE1/AE3, glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP), P53, transcription thyroid factor-1 (TTF-1), and CD45 in the neoplastic cells. The Ki-67 labelling index was approximately 30% ([Fig. 4D]). Considering the morphologic and immunohistochemical profile of the leptomeningeal infiltrate, the lesion was considered consistent with a classic MB. Two weeks after surgery, an examination of the CSF was performed, and no neoplastic cells were found and no abnormalities in physicochemical parameters were recorded. After the exclusion of areas of FLAIR-hyperintensity and contrast enhancement on whole-spine MRI, the patient was referred for adjuvant therapy. She was treated with irradiation at a dose of 32.4 Gy to the craniospinal axis followed by a 23.4 Gy boost to the posterior fossa (1.8 Gy/fr). Postradiation MRI showed persistent cerebellar hyperintensity, and six courses of platinum/etoposide-based chemotherapy were administered. Eighteen months later, the patient did not have any symptoms, and no neuroradiological recurrence was observed ([Fig. 5]).
Fig. 1 Preendoscopic third ventriculostomy magnetic resonance imaging. The neuroradiological investigations documented triventricular hydrocephalus with signs of transependymal transudations (A). On the sagittal scans, a mild dilatation of the aqueduct (B) and downward displacement of the cerebellar tonsils beyond the foramen magnum with obstruction of the fourth ventricle (C) were evidenced.
Fig. 2 Postendoscopic third ventriculostomy magnetic resonance imaging. The postoperative images documented the patency of the stoma on the floor of the third ventricle (A, B), with a regular flow inside it (C) and a reduction in the dilatation of the lateral ventricles with resolution of the transependymal transudation (D).
Fig. 3 Magnetic resonance imaging at 6 months. Mild triventricular dilatation (A) and downward displacement of the cerebellar tonsils (B) were associated with areas of hyperintensity in both cerebellar hemispheres and vermis and diffuse cerebellar swelling (C). No contrast enhancement was documented (D).
Fig. 4 Histological and immunohistochemical specimens. The hematoxylin and eosin-stained section (A) showed the neoplastic infiltrate within the subarachnoid space (original magnification 100 × ). A higher magnification (B) revealed the neoplastic cells with large, round-oval nuclei, and scant cytoplasm (original magnification 400 × ). The immunohistochemical staining documented the positivity for synaptophysin (C) and a high proliferation index (D).
Fig. 5 Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging. The patient underwent craniospinal irradiation and subsequent chemotherapy. The sagittal scans (A) documented a resolution of the downward displacement of the cerebellar tonsils with enlargement of the fourth ventricle and distension of the cerebellar folia. No evolution of the cerebellar hyperintensities was documented (B). No area of contrast enhancement was evidenced (C).
MB is a posterior fossa embryonal tumor that represents the most common brain malignancy in children.[1] [2] [3] It accounts for 12 to 25% of central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms in childhood and 1% in adults.[1] [2] [3] Three-quarters of MB arise from the cerebellar vermis and tend to protrude into the fourth ventricle, although the site of origin in adults is commonly the cerebellar hemispheres.[13] Of all primary CNS tumors, MB has the greatest propensity for local, regional, and distant spread.[14] It may spread locally to adjacent structures (brainstem, upper spinal cord, midbrain, and cerebellar surface) or invade the subarachnoid space to form an icing-like layer of neoplastic cells on the pial surface.[14] Metastases, through the CSF pathway, manifest as supratentorial implants, spinal cord lesions, and malignant cells within the CSF.[14] [15] Dissemination of tumor cells can occur at any time.[5] In most cases, it appears to be secondary to the primary mass.[7] [16] Although subarachnoid seeding is common, occurring in approximately 33% of MB at the time of diagnosis,[5] purely diffuse leptomeningeal tumor spread without mass lesion in an adult patient is rare,[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [17] and has, to the best of our knowledge, been only reported few times in the literature,[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] and all the described patients had very unfavorable prognosis.[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
Generally, PL-MB manifests with headache[4] [6] [8] [10] [12] [18] and visual abnormalities[4] [6] [8] [10] [18] lasting a few months, and may also result in rapid neurologic deterioration.[8] [9] [11] [12] In particular, Hankey et al[4] described the case of a 39-year-old woman presenting with a month-long history of headaches, slurred speech, ataxia, memory impairment, and olfactory and auditory hallucinations. Headache and blurred vision lasting a few months were reported in an 8-year-old boy[10] and in a 22-year-old man.[6] In both patients, MRI revealed an intense leptomeningeal enhancement of the cerebellar folia and cerebral convexities, and a suboccipital craniotomy was performed.[6] [10] A more rapid neurological deterioration, following several weeks of premonitory signs, such as headache and vomiting,[12] neck pain,[11] diplopia, and tinnitus,[8] has been reported in other cases.[8] [9] [11] [12] This difference in symptom progression could explain the difference in overall survival between our patient and the others. In particular, our subject presented with a long story of headaches and diplopia and did not present any episodes of consciousness reduction. Thus, we initially treated her for chronic triventricular hydrocephalus, similar to the authors who used a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.[8] [16] In contrast, in subjects with rapid neurological deterioration, Rushing et al[11] preferred an external ventricular drainage for an acute-onset hydrocephalus, while Ferrara et al[7] and Guo et al[8] opted for an emergent posterior fossa decompression.
Contemporary evaluation procedures in MB include MRI of the brain and spinal cord, histological examination of biopsy or resected tumor specimens, and analysis of CSF cytology.[14] On MRI, MB appears as a heterogeneous enhancing well-defined mass lesion,[5] [13] [16] often with surrounding cystic degeneration of necrosis.[5] It is generally iso- or hyperintense on FLAIR and T2-weighted sequences, and commonly appears heterogeneous because of cyst formation, calcification, and necrosis.[13] Diffusion-weighted imaging shows restricted diffusion, while spectroscopy demonstrates elevated choline peaks and decreased creatinine and N-acetylacetate peaks, with occasional elevation in lactic acid and lipid contents.[13] However, in rare cases, leptomeningeal enhancement without a detectable intraparenchymal mass is apparent.[7] [9] [10] [11] [12] Gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted and FLAIR sequences have been suggested.[11] [19] While some authors have demonstrated the presence of contrast-enhancing leptomeninges on CT[4] [7] and MRI,[6] [8] [9] [10] [12] in our case, no variation was recognized after contrast administration both before and after the endoscopic procedure. Our neuroradiological investigations demonstrated only a Chiari-like malformation[11] [16] with triventricular hydrocephalus[6] [11] [16] and nonspecific cerebellar swelling with some hyperintensities in FLAIR and T2-weighted sequences.[9] [11]
Excluding an autoptic pathological diagnosis in a 30-year-old male,[11] a bioptical sample was obtained.[4] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [12] The differential diagnosis of a lesion that involves only the leptomeninges is quite wide and includes metastasis (meningeal carcinomatosis), especially in adults, primary brain tumors (gliomas and mixed glioneuronal tumors such as the recently described diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumor), and infectious and noninfectious meningitis.[1] Histologically, in a case showing this morphology ([Fig. 4]) and occurring in an adult patient, the diagnosis of a metastatic small cell lung cancer or lymphoma has to be ruled out; negative immunostaining for cytokeratins, TTF-1, and CD45 excluded these entities.
In meningeal pathology without mass formation, CSF cytology studies are considered the most useful step in clinical diagnosis.[20] Some authors have demonstrated the presence of neoplastic cells in the CSF.[7] [10] [18] Similar to others,[4] [6] [9] in our case, no neoplastic cells were identified in the CSF sample.
Despite advances in multimodal therapy, the 5-year survival rate of patients with MB still ranges from 50 to 70%.[5] Subjects with PL-MB generally die a few days after surgery[4] [10] [12] or deteriorate before any treatment.[9] [11] Only Guo et al[8] reported a case of a 21-year-old man who underwent craniospinal irradiation and died 6 months after diagnosis. No long-term survivor was described, with the exception of our patient, who underwent both craniospinal irradiation and chemotherapy. Our good outcome could be attributed to the slow progression of the symptoms. This allowed for early identification of cerebellar swelling before the onset of any contrast-enhancing nodularity. Thus, the patient was referred to an early combined chemoradiotherapy protocol.
In conclusion, PL-MB is a rare disease with a severe prognosis. Contemporary evaluation should include cranial and spinal MRI with and without contrast administration and CSF analysis. Our experience underlines the importance of maintaining a degree of suspicion for leptomeningeal tumors in patients with Chiari-like neuroradiological images, cerebellar swelling, and obstructive hydrocephalus. Moreover, cerebellar swelling, independent of the presence of nodular enhancing lesions and hydrocephalus, should be considered a neuroradiological alarm sign. Even if subarachnoid neuroepithelial neoplasm is an extremely uncommon presentation, in the case of leptomeningeal involvement, MB should be considered as a differential pathological diagnosis.
1 Louis DN, Perry A, Reifenberger G. et al. The 2016 World Health Organization classification of tumors of the central nervous system: a summary. Acta Neuropathol 2016; 131 (06) 803-820
2 Roberts RO, Lynch CF, Jones MP, Hart MN. Medulloblastoma: a population-based study of 532 cases. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 1991; 50 (02) 134-144
3 Blessing MM, Alexandrescu S. Embryonal tumors of the central nervous system: an update. Surg Pathol Clin 2020; 13 (02) 235-247
4 Hankey GJ, Khangure MS, Spagnolo D, Quinlan MF. Adult onset medulloblastoma cerebelli with leptomeningeal dissemination and coincidental primary hyperparathyroidism. Australas Radiol 1989; 33 (01) 111-115
5 David KM, Casey AT, Hayward RD, Harkness WF, Phipps K, Wade AM. Medulloblastoma: is the 5-year survival rate improving? A review of 80 cases from a single institution. J Neurosurg 1997; 86 (01) 13-21
6 Asadollahi M, Shayanfar N, Rezaiyan B, Hasibi M. A rare presentation of medulloblastoma in adults as primary leptomeningeal involvement. Iran J Neurol 2012; 11 (01) 30-33 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3829233/
7 Ferrara M, Bizzozero L, Fiumara E, D'Angelo V, Corona C, Colombo N. "Primary" leptomeningeal dissemination of medulloblastoma. Report of an unusual case. J Neurosurg Sci 1989; 33 (02) 219-223 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2795197/
8 Guo X, Zhong D, Ma W. Primary leptomeningeal medulloblastoma: a rare case. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2012; 114 (08) 1181-1184
9 McGlacken-Byrne SM, Gorman KM, Lagan NK, Robinson I, Farrell M, King MD. Identification of leptomeningeal medulloblastoma with contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging: a devastating differential of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. J Paediatr Child Health 2018; 54 (08) 929-930
10 Mehta RI, Cutler AR, Lasky III JL. et al. "Primary" leptomeningeal medulloblastoma. Hum Pathol 2009; 40 (11) 1661-1665
11 Rushing EJ, Smith AB, Smirniotopoulos JG, Douglas AF, Zeng W, Azumi N. Occult leptomeningeal large cell medulloblastoma in an adult. Clin Neuropathol 2009; 28 (03) 188-192
12 Suman R, Santosh V, Anandh BA. Primary leptomeningeal medulloblastoma. Pediatr Neurosurg 2007; 43 (06) 544-545
13 Millard NE, De Braganca KC. Medulloblastoma. J Child Neurol 2016; 31 (12) 1341-1353
14 Ayan I, Kebudi R, Bayindir C, Darendeliler E. Microscopic local leptomeningeal invasion at diagnosis of medulloblastoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1997; 39 (02) 461-466
15 Rutka JT, Hoffman HJ. Medulloblastoma: a historical perspective and overview. J Neurooncol 1996; 29 (01) 1-7
16 Noiphithak R, Mektripop N, Thamwongskul C. Rapidly progressive medulloblastoma initially mimicking idiopathic intracranial hypertension and Chiari I malformation: a case report. Int J Surg Case Rep 2021; 85: 106147 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2021.106147.
17 Packer RJ. Childhood medulloblastoma: progress and future challenges. Brain Dev 1999; 21 (02) 75-81
18 Kajtazi NI, Nahrir S, Al Shakweer W, Al Ghamdi J, Al Fakeeh A, Al Hameed M. Malignant idiopathic intracranial hypertension revealed a hidden primary spinal leptomeningeal medulloblastoma. BMJ Case Rep 2021; 14 (07) e243506 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2021-243506.
19 Griffiths PD, Coley SC, Romanowski CAJ, Hodgson T, Wilkinson ID. Contrast-enhanced fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging for leptomeningeal disease in children. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2003; 24 (04) 719-723 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8148663/
20 Budka H, Pilz P, Guseo A. Primary leptomeningeal sarcomatosis. Clinicopathological report of six cases. J Neurol 1975; 211 (01) 77-93
Address for correspondence
Fabbro Sara, MD
Department of Neurosurgery, ASUFC "Santa Maria della Misericordia"
Piazzale Santa Maria della Misericordia 15, 33100, Udine (UD)
Email: sarafabbro@libero.it
Article published online:
© 2022. Asian Congress of Neurological Surgeons. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
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text:
The Technical World, March, 1905, pages 18-26:
Distribution of Time Signals
Many-Sided Activities of the U. S. Naval Observatory at Washington, D. C.--The Determination of Time, and Other Important Astronomical Work ___________
By WALDON FAWCETT SEVERAL notable achievements and a progressive advance in aims and administration, have of late brought into special prominence the work of the United States Naval Observatory at Washington, D. C. Though the youngest among the great astronomical institutions of the New World, this observatory unquestionably ranks with that at Greenwich, near London, and that at Pulkowa near St. Petersburg. It is but little known, however, to the general public in the United States. Though its unusual attainments have won the enthusiastic admiration of scientific circles throughout the world, it is less heard of than are many private institutions in this country. This is doubtless due in great measure to the fact that the object of the governmental institution is not the further discovery of the unknown, but the development and application of the known--the one purpose which, of the two, is likely to be by far the more beneficial to mankind in general.
Growth of the Institution
The United States Naval Observatory was established in 1842, prior to which time this Government was almost wholly dependent upon Greenwich, Pulkowa, and Paris, and on college observatories on this side of the Atlantic. As early as 1833, however, there appeared a forerunner of the present magnificent institution, in the form of an unpretentious frame structure sixteen feet square, erected under the shadow of the National Capitol at the expense of Lieutenant Wilkes, an American naval officer. This small building was equipped with a 5-foot Troughton transit which had been manufactured in England early in the century for the use of the United States Coast Survey, but which was not needed for that service when Congress refused to authorize the establishment of a national observatory.
The object of Lieutenant Wilkes in establishing his naval observatory in embryo, was solely to provide facilities for obtaining the clock errors needed for the determination of true time and the rating of naval chronometers then under his charge. However, the testing of all chronometers and other naval instruments used by United States vessels was found to be so wise and beneficial that the Secretary of the Navy speedily took it upon himself to give the little observatory official recognition under the title "A Depot for Charts and Instruments," and an officer was regularly detailed to look after the work of the institution.
In 1838, there were made upon the young institution unexpected demands which in their fulfilment so demonstrated its usefulness that its future was in a measure assured. An exploring expedition in the results of whose researches the United States was very deeply interested, sailed for the South Seas and, in perfecting the plans for its work, the discovery was made that it was well-nigh essential to the accurate determination of the longitude of the places visited by the expedition, that corresponding observations should be made at home, in order to afford comparisons with the data obtained, by the explorers. The Secretary of the Navy turned this task over to Lieutenant Gilliss, who had succeeded Lieutenant Wilkes, the founder of the Observatory; and, under stress of the new exactions, an achromatic telescope was added to the equipment of the miniature institution. For four years, though handicapped by inadequate equipment, Lieutenant Gilliss discharged faithfully and accurately the duties thus suddenly thrust upon him, and won by his success the applause of many of the foremost astronomers of Europe.
The most clearly defined development of this interesting institution dated from the time when, as a result of the object-lesson afforded by the work of Gilliss, an appropriation of $25,000 was secured. Even after this, however, the establishment continued to be known officially as the Depot of Charts and Instruments, partisan reasons preventing Congress from allowing it to be designated as an "observatory."
The first site chosen for the permanent home of the institution was selected by President Tyler. It consisted of a tract of nineteen acres which had originally been set aside for a national university--one of the pet schemes of George Washington. This location was soon found to be unsatisfactory, owing to the fact that its proximity to the heart of the city involved almost constant vibration; but it was not until 1884 that Congress could be induced to make appropriation for the purchase of the present admirable site on Georgetown Heights, overlooking the national capital.
Once the new institution was formally established, the Observatories at Berlin, Paris, Greenwich, and Vienna generously made a donation of some two hundred rare volumes of the highest standard, as a nucleus for an astronomical library. With this modest start, the library of the Naval Observatory has grown until the collection now numbers more than 22,000 volumes and pamphlets, and ranks second only to that at Pulkowa. In 1874 the institution installed the largest refracting telescope then in existence--the famous 26-inch equatorial. This telescope was set in place just in time to observe the transit of Venus, which occurs but about once in a lifetime and which affords a valuable method of determining the sun's parallax--the baseline measurement for determining celestial distances.
The present home of the Naval Observatory was completed in 1893. As has been explained, the site has a considerable elevation over much of the surrounding country; and the original site has been so extended by supplementary purchases of land, that the proper and essential isolation of the institution would seem to be insured for all time.
The equipment of the Naval Observatory is all that could be desired. The dome that houses the great equatorial is a particularly wonderful piece of mechanism. Although exceeding six tons in weight, it is so perfectly balanced that its huge bulk can be swung round, raised, or lowered by one man without excessive effort. The dome rolls around on a circular wall so that an opening for the telescope can be presented toward any part of the heavens. The entire floor of the apartment containing the large telescope, rises and falls by means of hydraulic power, after the fashion of an elevator, thus giving easy access to the instrument in all positions.
In addition to the 26-inch equatorial, the equipment of the Naval Observatory includes a 9-inch transit, a 6-inch transit circle, a 12-inch equatorial, a prime vertical transit instrument, a 6-inch azimuth, and a 40-foot photo-heliograph. The latter is used in the daily photographing of the sun.
A feature of the equipment which is worthy of special mention, is the Clock Room, or, rather, the vault connected therewith, which was designed and constructed with a view to removing from all disturbing influences the delicately adjusted time-pieces upon which dependence must be placed in much of the work of the Observatory. The clock vault is 8 feet square and 7 feet high, and its whole construction has been with a view to keeping the temperature very nearly constant throughout the year. In the vault is a frame structure of the dimensions above given; and, inclosing this, is a 9-inch brick wall. Between the frame and brick construction there is an air space of 12 inches which contains hot-water pipes for heating. The entire structure is closely roofed with boards, inclosing a 6-inch layer of asbestos wool. The vault contains three brick piers for clocks, and one smaller pier for mounting a pendulum apparatus designed for testing the minor irregularities of clock rates. The vault is provided with triple doors and with means for slow ventilation; and, inasmuch as it is located on the summit of a hill, the drainage conditions are such that the basement containing the vault is remarkably dry, so that there has thus far been little damage from rust.
Time Signals Flashed
One of the most important functions of the Naval Observatory is found in the daily distribution of the correct time to every portion of the United States. This is effected by means of telegraphic signals, which are sent out from Washington at noon daily, except Sundays. The original object of this time service was to furnish mariners in the seaboard cities with the means of regulating their chronometers; but, like many another governmental activity, its scope has gradually broadened until it has become of general usefulness. The electrical impulse which goes forth from the Observatory at noon each day, now sets or regulates automatically more than 70,000 clocks located in all parts of the United States, and also serves, in each of the larger cities of the country, to release a time-ball located on some lofty building of central location. The dropping of the time-ball--accompanied, at some points, with the simultaneous firing of a cannon--is the signal for the regulation by hand of hundreds of other clocks and watches in the vicinity.
The large telescope--which, by the way, cost $46,000, and has few rivals save the 36-inch Lick telescope in California and the 40-inch Yerkes telescope of the University of Chicago--is not used in the determination of time. In this work, only the transit instrument is used. By means of this latter piece of apparatus, an observer watches the movements of the stars on each clear night, and, by their aid, corrects the large Frodsham clock which stands in the Signal Room of the Observatory.
In this phase of the observations, spiders' webs play an important part, being used to form cross-lines extending at right angles across the field of view so as to divide it into mathematical spaces. The web of the spider, it may be explained, is not only exceedingly fine, but of great strength considering its delicacy of texture. These nets of fragile strands also possess remarkable stability in another respect--namely, that they are not affected by moisture, and do not expand or contract as a result of changes in temperature. Formerly the directors of the Naval Observatory sent to China for all the spiders' webs required, it being supposed that the large spiders of the Orient produced the most desirable webs for scientific purposes; but of late years it has been discovered that the webs of spiders found in certain portions of the United States are equally suitable.
How Time is Determined
The time determination at the Naval Observatory is manifestly one of its most important activities, since the sun is irregular and cannot safely be depended upon as a measurer of time. The actual elapsed time required for one revolution of the earth on its axis can be accurately determined only by measuring the interval between two passages of a given star across a designated meridian of the earth--intervals which do not vary from century to century. This, then, becomes the basis of the work of time determination. It is, however, a foundation not secured without considerable effort, for the number of revolutions which the earth actually makes on its axis is one greater than the number of so-called solar days in the year as prescribed by the calendar in common use. Accordingly, the day, hour, minute, and second as determined by the stars are shorter than those of the sun as told off by our clocks; and consequently the time of the "star clock"--which is corrected directly from the stars by means of the transit--must needs be translated into solar time ere it can be of use to Uncle Sam's citizens in the readjustment of their timepieces.
Time correction by the stars is in itself an interesting process. As an aid, the observer has the Nautical Almanac, a practically infallible time-table of the stars. This great work is compiled year by year as the combined result of that careful timing of the days of the stars which is ever in progress at all the principal observatories scattered over the globe. By consulting the Almanac, an observer learns at exactly what hour, minute, and second the star under observation should cross the meridian. Taking his place under the telescope, he awaits the scheduled passage of the star. Precisely as the latter crosses the imaginary line, the observer presses a telegraph key, and the exact time of passage is accurately registered by the chronograph. This instrument, in popular parlance, might be compared to a clock with a revolving cylinder of paper for a dial. Moving over this paper, instead of a second hand, is a fountain pen which answers the electrical impulse by making a mark on the paper cylinder at the exact instant that the circuit is closed. The "star clock" whose inaccuracies are thus determined at such cost of time and labor, is never literally set right. Allowance is merely made in subsequent calculations for any errors which may have been discovered, these errors amounting only to an infinitesimal part of a second in many days.
The translation and transmission of the correct time from the star clock to the clocks which are directly responsible for the sending of the time signal, is accomplished by mechanical methods very similar to those already referred to. The paper-covered cylinder of the recording device is made to revolve at a fixed speed, passing under a stationary pen loaded with red ink. Behind the dial in each clock, marking the seconds, is a cogged wheel each cog of which in turn touches a brass spring, thereby closing the circuit of a battery, and, by a mechanical arrangement, causing the pen above mentioned to make a horizontal mark on the paper enveloping the cylinder. This affords a permanent record of each second. The star clock is also in circuit with the recording pen. A cup of mercury resting in the clock is connected with one pole of the battery. The pendulum is connected with the other. As the latter swings, it touches the mercury in the cup, closing the circuit and sending an electric impulse which causes the pen to do its work. It is comparatively easy to set one of the ordinary clocks within a second of the star clock; but an adjustment of a fraction of a second requires measurements of great nicety. Corrections such as above described are made a comparatively short time before noon, so that there will be little opportunity for the clocks to gain or lose before the time at which the all-important signal is dispatched.
The clocks which contain the mechanism for sending the time signal, cost upwards of $800 each. As a precaution against accident, two of these clocks are provided; but only one is used in sending the signal. At three and a-quarter minutes before noon, the signal clock is switched into the telegraph circuit which covers the entire country; and from that moment until the sending of the signal, all business is suspended throughout the 350,000 miles of telegraph lines over which it is to be flashed. Warnings of the approach of the time signal precede by short intervals the actual announcement of the noon hour. These warnings are in part sent automatically. The signal clock is fitted with a toothed wheel which is located directly behind the wheel that marks the seconds, and which is divided into sixty spaces corresponding to the seconds in a minute. However, the tooth representing the twenty-ninth second is missing; and so, likewise, are those representing the fifty-fifth to the fifty-ninth second, respectively. As the wheel revolves, the teeth come in contact with a spring which is in connection with the electric current, closing the circuit and causing the sounder to respond. The absence of the twenty-ninth tooth causes the twenty-ninth signal to be omitted, and indicates the approach of a half-minute; and then the skipping of the five beats announces the approaching conclusion of the minute. All this takes place in the next to the last minute of the final hour. There is a third warning interval of twenty seconds before the supreme signal; but this is produced not automatically but by the telegraph operator at the Observatory, and occurs when he moves the switch key which throws out of the circuit the wheel marking the seconds, and throws into the circuit the wheel marking the minutes.
In the final one-hundredth of the last second of the fifty-ninth minute of the last hour at Washington, the tooth of the minute wheel touches the spring which closes the circuit. Simultaneously, the announcement is flashed to every part of the country, the flow of the current serving of itself to release the time-balls which have shortly before been hoisted to the tops of the staffs in various cities. How rapidly the signal travels may be appreciated from the fact that it is flashed from Washington to San Francisco in one-fifth of a second. Since the time signal is sent out from Washington at noon, or at 12 o'clock standard Eastern time, and there are four different standard times in the United States, determined by geographical locations, it will be appreciated that the signal from Washington will reach the Central, Mountain, and Pacific Time Belts at 11 o'clock, 10 o'clock, and 9 o'clock A. M., respectively. On the last night of the year, the time signal--which in this instance marks the advent of the New Year--is sent entirely around the world, traveling over 1,180,000 miles of wire and cables, and making the circuit of the globe in ten seconds.
Yet another phase of the activities of the Naval Observatory is found in the regulation of all the chronometers of the Navy. How important is this duty, may be appreciated from the fact that a second of error in a ship's chronometer at the equator means a variation of more than sixteen miles east or west of the mariner's calculation of his position.
Photographing the Sun
In the photographing of the sun to which reference has previously been made, extreme care and skill are required, it being necessary to use extremely delicate plates and to develop them by special methods. Considerably more than one hundred photographs of the sun are made each year. The camera with which the sun is photographed has a triangular box 35 feet in length. The lens is five inches in diameter, and has a focal length of forty feet. The shutter travels across a six-inch opening. The negatives, which are taken on every clear day in the year, are carefully filed for reference, and are measured with the greatest accuracy in order to show the changing positions of the sun spots, their sizes, shapes, etc.


text:
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Supporting future geothermal markets
5 - 7 February 2019 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Feb >
Under the framework of Global Geothermal Alliance (GGA) – IRENA, the International Geothermal Association (IGA) and the World Bank co-organised a series of technical sessions with the Geological Survey of Ethiopia (Under the Ministry of Mines), and other local stakeholders in the geothermal sector in the country. The group sought to gather information for developing an understanding of the inventory of existing geothermal fields and resource recovery estimates in Ethiopia, and to support the country in classifying these estimates based on Internationally acceptable guidelines of the UNFC.
The group also looked to gather specific data-sets on sub-surface geology (ideally up to 10 kilometres (km) depth showing sedimentary basins - thickness, density, thermal conductivity and permeability) and existing bottom hole temperature logs for Ethiopia – required to model and develop high resolution vertical temperature maps in 1km vertical intervals up to a depth of 10km. The result will be digitalised and integrated into the IRENA's Global Atlas for Renewable Energy platform to enrich the geothermal component.
This activity was part of a joint project by the three institutions that would be undertaken in four prospective countries/regions.
IRENA essentials
© 2011-2022 IRENA - International Renewable Energy Agency. All Rights Reserved. * The designations employed and the presentation of materials herein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the International Renewable Energy Agency concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.


Trigonometry! Ha! I Laugh in your Face!
Disclaimer: This is a blatant case of bait and switch!
So my son had a meeting with a tutor the other day because he actually wants to learn these subjects. It's a complicated process involving finding a qualified person, checking references, calculating return on investment, and fitting the session in around other appointments, obligations and meetings. My wife takes care of 99 44/100% of it, while I, on the other hand, am responsible for chauffeuring.
In in case you don't know, the most common and generally accepted venue for private tutoring is a meeting room at the public library. This branch was particularly small, but I believe the Constitution requires all libraries, regardless of size to have meeting rooms. My son and the instructor took off, and I sat down, got bored, walked around, and sat down again.
I walked around the non-fiction section, and although they had a collection that must run in the dozens, nothing looked the least bit interesting.
Once again I sat down, etc. This time I accidentally turned into the fiction aisle, and there, staring at me was Dave Barry. It was his new book, You Can Date Boys When You're Forty.
So, as my son is cosining his trigonometry, I'm muffling my giggles.
While there may be no serpent's tooth sharper than an ungrateful child, there's nothing more delicious quietly giggling while others study trigonometry.
This entry was posted in Arts, Celebrity, Communications, Culture, Education, Family, Humor, Media, People, Philosophy, Writing and tagged math, trig, trigonometry, tutor. Bookmark the permalink.


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« The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is reminding the public to report any cold stunned spotted seatrout…
New 2021 Harvest Seasons Established for Striped Bass on the Roanoke River… »
Added on Wednesday, December 30, 2020 Fish Post
Stricter harvest restrictions will take effect Jan. 1, 2021 for the commercial and recreational striped bass…
Stricter harvest restrictions will take effect Jan. 1, 2021 for the commercial and recreational striped bass fisheries in the Albemarle Sound Management Area. The reduced harvest is needed to end overfishing on the Albemarle-Roanoke striped bass stock.
The spring 2021 recreational harvest season will open with a one-fish-per person daily possession limit and, initially, with harvest allowed seven days a week. The recreational spring fishing season will close when allowable landings are predicted to be reached or on April 30, whichever comes first.
The Division of Marine Fisheries may reduce the recreational harvest days per week to prolong the season if it predicts that harvest may exceed allowable landings prior to April 30. Any remaining allowed landings will be available for a fall season.
The commercial season will open March 3 to coincide with the American shad gill net fishery. The commercial harvest season will close when allowable landings are predicted to be reached or on March 24, whichever occurs first. Any remaining allowable landings will be available for a fall season to coincide with the 2021 flounder season in the Albemarle Sound.
The harvest reductions are required because the most recent stock assessment for Albemarle-Roanoke striped bass indicated the stock is overfished and overfishing is occurring. A 57% reduction in landings is necessary to end overfishing. This brings the new Total Allowable Landings to 51,216 pounds, split evenly between the commercial and recreational sectors.
The new management measures were implemented through a Revision to Amendment 1 to the North Carolina Estuarine Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan.
For more information, contact Charlton Godwin with the Division of Marine Fisheries at 252-531-6753 or Charlton.Godwin@ncdenr.gov.
New 2021 Harvest Seasons Established for Striped Bass on the Roanoke River…
RALEIGH, N.C. (Jan. 15, 2021) – The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission issued a proclamation outlining significant changes to the 2021 striped bass harvest season in the Roanoke River Management Area. Striped bass open harvest dates will […]


Full Notification Below link and Apply Form Online.
High School Class 10 Exam in Any Recognized Board in India.
Post Deatail Check PDF Click in Notification Below.
Candidate Click the Apply Online Form link.
Write the All Basic Details like - Name, Father Name, Date of Birth etc.
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Pay the Examination Fee and Complete the Application Form.


Not far from the Beaubourg center, by the Saint Merri church, I found these big portraits that are usually not there... They look like rabbis to me, so I suppose they were installed on the occasion of a Jewish celebration. Anyway , they give the neighborhood a festive aspect which is good. It's already Le weekend, it feels good, even though I've worked only 3 days this week ;). Update: thanks to my visitors (see comments) I know now these 3 men are a Rabi, a priest and an imam.
How exciting! These are a part of the Face 2 Face project: http://face2faceproject.com/ , an attempt by 2 photographers to who hope that this project will contribute to a better understanding between Israelis and Palestinians.
Almost as impressive as the photo itself is the fact that the first comment above by Laura St. Vincent nailed the provenance of the portraits.
Glad to read Laura's comment: I have seen those pictures somewhere totally different and really can't remember where. I like them a lot on these walls. I'd love to have that huge picture of the guy in the middle in my apartment. You really can be in a bad mood when you see those three.
Laura St. Vincent - You are GOOD! Thanks for that!
I see that you can also purchase a poster of the images by clicking here. Eliane, you'll have to do the clipping if you only want the guy in the middle hanging in your apartment!
I thought they might be advertising a comedy show, as they are all smiling and looking slightly mad.
Il y a eu un long article sur les deux artistes à l'origine de ce "happening" dans Libération il y a peut être 2 mois.
Le but est de prendre en photo des palestiniens comme des israéliens et de coller leurs portraits sur ce "mur de la honte".
Eric, ces 3 hommes que vous voyez là sont respectivement un rabbin, un prêtre et un imam. 3 religions pour une seule entente.
Je trouve que c'est une très belle démarche, pleine d'espoir.
Ce "mur de la honte", j'entendais bien sûr le mur de séparation en Israel/Palestine, pas celui de l'Eglise saint Merri!
The British artist banksy paint one of those images on the wall that divides belem and jerusalem in israel.
I like the tromp l'oeil aspect of the display. And the fact that the silly faces make you smile. That is a great way to start the weekend!
Feels good to me too Eric. Even though i've only worked the same 3 days i've done a lot of research into the night and have matchsticks holding up my eyelids and chocs in my mouth.
I like these rabbis if they are such. They look great fun don't they.
So unexpected! The wonders of Paris never cease.
Just to add--I love how it's juxtaposed with the older building on the left. I'm glad you included that in the photo.
Merci Eric!! I love shots of Paris that show it in a state of "disarray"..don't get me wrong, I also love the beautiful almost "postcard" shots; but there is something about a photo like this of a scene one might see as you are rushing about and not notice. I love the BIG faces..I agree that one would have to chuckle when confronting them!
Notes to posts from the last couple days..Eric if you quit PDP..tomate knows where you live..we'll come to Paris and kidnap you and force you to take photos!!! LOL!!
Just received another Paris calendar for Christmas[in addition to my PDP calendar]and there was a nostalgic photo taken from inside a cafe near the Canal St Martin..and you could see the ashtray on the table, that had survived years of use. I wonder if photos of ashtrays and people smoking in cafes in Paris will now become collectors items...along with those ashtrays???
The smiles are priceless! Peace in the new year to all.
We'll walk through the Marais.
See photos by Saint Merri.
It's our PDP picnic parade!
OK Jeff, what are you ON?!
I bet you're on the same thing as Guille LOL!
Thanks everybody for all your links and info on these 3 photos, I got it totally wrong then (well one of them is a Rabi, so not totally).
Tonton, LOL on the "Tomate knows where you live"!!
BTW, you're right, photos of people smoking in bars have started to become real collectors, hence the latest cover of Paris Obs where they used a superb B&W photo of two smokers with the word "Fin" (the End) on them.
I'm ON nothing, only tiredness and happyness to discover this shot with this artist work I really like.
Eric, there was no cartel, no information at the foot of the wall? That's weird.
We were married in Paris on this date at the Eiffel. Many people took our photo and we are looking for any copies! Anyone have any ideas on how to find people who may have been there?


Based in Todmorden on the Lancashire edge of West Yorkshire, this online store offers a wide range of eco toys, models and kits, all powered by renewable energy. Eco-Life Gizmos make great gifts for all ages, providing new and inspirational activities for children, teenagers and parents. If your children are interested in science, sustainability, modelling or the thrill of building something new from scratch, they will find it here.
If you're searching for an unusual gift, Eco-Life Gizmos stock a range of novelty toys and stocking fillers at pocket money prices. The selection includes balloon helicopters, bubble flyers, solar powered aeroplanes, wooden construction kits, windmill generator construction sets and a cosmic rocket launching kit.
Orders can be placed online or sent by email, telephone or post. All major credit and debit cards are accepted and there is a 14 day returns policy. This West Yorkshire online eco store has a small showroom at their offices in Todmorden.
Eco-Life Gizmos is a West Yorkshire toy shop that specialises in eco toys.
This West Yorkshire-based shop is 3 miles from Eco-Life Gizmos.
This Bacup-based shop is 4 miles from Eco-Life Gizmos.
This Rochdale-based shop is 4 miles from Eco-Life Gizmos.


On the evening of 22 February 2013, the crew of a Regional Express Saab 340B aircraft, registered VH-ZRL, were conducting a scheduled passenger service from Sydney to Taree, New South Wales.
During the approach to Taree, the crew monitored the weather conditions, with the crosswind initially observed as 50 kt when at about 6,000 ft, although it decreased as the aircraft descended.
At about 700 800 ft above ground level (AGL), the crew became visual with the runway. The crew assessed the approach and determined that it was suitable for landing. At that time, the crew reported that the wind was fluctuating and light rain was experienced.
At about 1904, the aircraft touched down. Immediately after, the crew reported that the aircraft was subjected to a wind gust, which caused the left wing to lift slightly and the aircraft to weathercock to the left, into wind. Reverse thrust had been selected after touchdown.
The aircraft veered left toward the runway edge and the captain assumed control of the aircraft. He applied right rudder, but the aircraft did not respond. As the aircraft's airspeed decreased, the captain also applied right brake, with no effect. He then simultaneously commenced nose wheel steering using the tiller. As the captain believed that the nose wheel steering was ineffective, he elected to apply asymmetric thrust by reducing the amount of reverse thrust on the left engine and increasing reverse thrust on the right engine. The aircraft commenced moving to the right. The aircraft slowed and was taxied to the parking area.
After shutdown, using a torch, the FO then conducted a post flight inspection, with nil damage found.
The next day, the aircraft returned to Sydney, at which time maintenance personnel conducted an inspection of the aircraft and observed damage to the left propeller blades. All four blades had sustained stone damage predominantly on the back (reverse) of the blades.
Weather can behave in an unpredictable manner, particularly when unfavourable conditions exist. While this incident highlights the adverse effects weather can have on aircraft operations, it also emphasises the impact of complacency and interruptions/distractions.


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Q: Access to localstorage from Vaadin flow I need to save user preferences in the browser's local storage. How can I access localStorage from my Vaadin code?
I tried with https://vaadin.com/directory/component/clientstorage but it looks that this addon supports only vaadin 7-8 versions, and I am using version 12.

A:
There is no server side Java API for local storage.
  But you may call JavaScript on the client side to deal with it directly.
  - Denis Anisimov, from a github 'ticket'

You will have to find out how to access localStorage using javascript. There are many tutorials in the net how to do that so I won't be explaining it here.
If you don't know how to add javascript to your view in Vaadin and then call it, please see here and here


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Q: ListView in Stepper - Step I examined the Stepper Class and saw that it is using a ListView to display items in horizontal mode (StepperType.horizontal).
I've no clue, how I can use a nested ListView inside my Step.
I've tried a couple of methods mentioned in other threads, but none worked (due to the impossibility of computation of height).
Meanwhile I'm using a Column instead a ScrollView, but it has a BUG.
When I remove an item from the Column and call setState to refresh the Step, the thing that is rendered is not consistent, the count of Items from DataSource is equal to the count of Widgets in the Column, but the displayed widget is cached somehow showing the removed item.

A: You can use singlechildscrollview with row
List<Step> steps = [
    Step(
        // Title of the Step
        title: Text("Send Money"),
        // Content, use SingleChildScrollView
        content:SingleChildScrollView(
                scrollDirection: Axis.horizontal,
                child: Row(
                children: <Widget>[

                  Container(
                    color: Colors.green, // Yellow
                    height: 200.0,
                    width: 200.0,
                  ),

                  Image.network('https://flutter-examples.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/blossom.jpg',
                     width: 300, height: 200, fit: BoxFit.contain),

                  Image.network('https://flutter-examples.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/sample_img.png',
                     width: 200, fit: BoxFit.contain),

                  Container(
                    color: Colors.pink, // Yellow
                    height: 200.0,
                    width: 200.0,
                  ),

                  Text('Some Sample Text - 1', style: TextStyle(fontSize: 28)),

                  Container(
                    color: Colors.redAccent, // Yellow
                    height: 200.0,
                    width: 200.0,
                  ),

                  Image.network('https://flutter-examples.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/blossom.jpg',
                     width: 300, height: 200, fit: BoxFit.contain),

                ],
              ),
             ),

        state: StepState.complete,
        isActive: true),] ...