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Fresh Meat: December 31 to January 6 — 17 Speculative Fiction Releases
Posted January 1, 2018 by Carmel in Fresh Meat / 0 Comments
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Urban Fantasy / Mystery / Horror
Dragon Blood (A Novel of the Lupi Book 14) (Kindle Edition)
Eileen Wilks
The battle against a vengeful goddess reaches a climactic point as Lily Yu must now face the ultimate challenge in a dangerous new realm—without her husband, Rule …
When a mission to rescue five children stolen by an Old One falls apart under the assault of a demon prince, Lily wakes up in a strange reality—and is immediately taken captive by the dragon spawn who rule there. Jumping worlds has fractured her party, and Cynna is her only companion.
Although the clock is ticking, time works differently, and Lily has miraculously gained a week. That means seven days to free herself, find Rule and the others, rescue the children, and make it home alive. All before the dragon spawn holding her hostage trade her to the Old One. It would almost be doable if this weren't Lóng Jia—also known as Dragonhome: the birthplace of dragons.
Something to Howl About: An Alphaville Story (Kindle Single) (Kindle Edition)
Christine Warren
WELCOME TO ALPHAVILLE, where the she-wolves and alpha-males play. . .for keeps, in a brand-new paranormal romance series from New York Times bestselling author Christine Warren.
Dr. Annie Cryer has been called many things: Genius. Child prodigy. Scientific wonder.
Wolf Shifter.
Banished from her pack years ago, Annie's lone wolf wandering has brought her to Alpha, Washington, home to all shifters who don't quite fit in in the "normal" shifter word. Now Annie has the chance to go back home…if only she can make good on a favor her alpha owes the mayor of "Alphaville." But it's not much of a favor when you're helping the hottest shifter in town…
Grizzly shifter Jonas Browning has a clan in trouble. They haven't had a child born in over a hundred years…and their clan faces going completely extinct. Genetic scientist Anne Cryer has been sent to help save them. But what Jonas doesn't count on is being irresistibly drawn to the small wolf shifter, and his bear isn't about to let her go…
Elizabeth's Wolf (A Novel of the Breeds Book 3) (Kindle Edition)
Lora Leigh
From New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh comes a new, revised edition of a beloved classic in the passionate Breed series—Elizabeth's Wolf won the hearts of readers everywhere when it was first released, and now experience the magic again in this special, expanded edition!
Special-Forces solider Dash has all but given up his will to live until an innocent letter from a little girl brings him back to life. Cassie writes to him every week, strengthening his resolve to recover from the devastating loss of his unit. But when the letters suddenly stop arriving, Dash instinctively knows Cassie and her mother are in critical danger.
Elizabeth and her daughter are on the run from a dark and bloody past that refuses to let them go. The stakes are too high for her to fall for this dangerous man who's just walked into her life, but now more than ever she needs help.
Saving his mate and her daughter calls Dash's beast to the forefront and transforms the lone wolf into an alpha protector—he becomes Elizabeth's wolf.
Heart on Fire (The Kingmaker Chronicles Book 3) (Kindle Edition)
Amanda Bouchet
A USA Today Bestseller!
One of Entertainment Weekly's 27 Female Authors Who Rule Sci-Fi and Fantasy Right Now!
GODS. I'M AN IDIOT.
Without Griffin—and apparently a few meddling Gods—to push me along, I'd still be telling fortunes at the circus, lying about my past, ignoring my future, and living as far away from my tyrant mother as humanly possible.
True understanding thuds into place. Hope isn't just an abstract concept; it's me. Flesh and blood me. Griffin knew it all along. Probably everyone did. I'm an idea in human form.
I have the power of the Gods at my fingertips.
The only thing ever stopping me has been me.
The Kingmaker Chronicles:
A Promise of Fire (Book 1)
Breath of Fire (Book 2)
Heart on Fire (Book 3)
Praise for the Kingmaker Chronicles:
A NPR Best Book of 2016
A Washington Post Best Romance of the Month
A Bustle Best Romance of 2016
Readers are raving about the Kingmaker Chronicles
"A heart-pounding and joyous romantic adventure. Amanda Bouchet's talent is striking."—NALINI SINGH, New York Times bestselling author
"Give this to your Game of Thrones fans."—Booklist STARRED Review
"Utterly breathtaking!"—DARYNDA JONES, New York Times bestselling author
"Bouchet sets the bar for high-concept fantasy romance. Simply brilliant."—Kirkus STARRED Review
"Loved it!"—ELOISA JAMES, New York Times bestselling author
"Absolutely fabulous."—C.L. WILSON, New York Times bestselling author of The Winter King
"Easily my favorite book of 2016!"—Bookriot
"Top-notch. A fantasy romance that will blow your chest plate off."—Adrian Lang, Amazon.com's Omnivoracious
"I think you all should just go read it now."—Smexy Books
The Outcasts of Time (Kindle Edition)
From the author described by the London Times as "the most remarkable historian of our time" comes a stunning, high-concept time-travel adventure that is perfect for fans of S. J. Parris and Kate Mosse.
December 1348. What if you had just six days to save your soul?
With the country in the grip of the Black Death, brothers John and William fear that they will shortly die and suffer in the afterlife. But as the end draws near, they are given an unexpected choice: either to go home and spend their last six days in their familiar world, or to search for salvation across the forthcoming centuries – living each one of their remaining days ninety-nine years after the last.
John and William choose the future and find themselves in 1447, ignorant of almost everything going on around them. The year 1546 brings no more comfort, and 1645 challenges them in further unexpected ways. It is not just that technology is changing: things they have taken for granted all their lives prove to be short-lived.
As they find themselves in stranger and stranger times, the reader travels with them, seeing the world through their eyes as it shifts through disease, progress, enlightenment, and war. But their time is running out—can they do something to redeem themselves before the six days are up?
Fallen Gods: Tides of War Book II (Kindle Edition)
The gods are angry and only one man can fend off their apocalypse in the brutal sequel to The Last Sacrifice.
Brogan McTyre and his compatriots are wanted, dead or alive. Preferably alive, so they can be sacrificed to the raging gods. All they can do is hire more mercenaries and turn them into a fearsome army. But warriors aren't enough when the gods bring Armageddon to the world, unleashing storms and madness, and ceaseless attacks on Brogan's men by increasingly demonic foes.
Deep in the heart of the Broken Blades Mountains lies a sword containing the heart of a god slain in immortal combat, the one thing that might give Brogan an edge against the gods, but finding it isn't going to be easy…
File Under: Fantasy
Emergence (Foreigner Book 19) (Kindle Edition)
C. J. Cherryh
The nineteenth book in the beloved Foreigner space opera series begins a new era for human diplomat Bren Cameron, as he navigates the tenuous peace between human refugees and the alien atevi.
Bren Cameron, acting as the representative of the atevi's political leader, Tabini-aiji, as well as translator between humans and atevi, has undertaken a mission to the human enclave of Mospheira. Both his presence on the island and his absence from the continent have stirred old enemies to realize new opportunities.
Old hatreds. Old grudges. Old ambitions.
The situation has strengthened the determination of power-seekers on both sides of the strait. Bren knows most of them very well, but not all of them well enough. The space station on which the world increasingly relies is desperate to get more supplies up to orbit and to get a critical oversupply of human refugees down to the world below. Rationing is in force on the station, but the overpopulation problem has to be solved quickly—and Bren's mission on Mospheira has expanded to include preparation for that landing.
First down will be the three children to whom Tabini's son has a close connection. But following them will be thousands of humans who have never set foot on a planet, humans descended from colonists and officers who split off from Mospheiran humans two hundred years before in a bitter parting of the ways. There is no way the atevi, native to the world, will cede any more land to these new arrivals: they will have to share the island. But certain Mospheirans are willing to use force to prevent these refugees from settling among them.
Bren's job is as general peacemaker—but old enemies want war. Is Bren's diplomatic acumen enough to prevent a war that both sides are prepared to wage?
Black Star Renegades (Kindle Edition)
In the tradition of Star Wars, a galaxy-hopping space adventure about a galactic kingdom bent on control and the young misfit who must find the power within before it's too late.
SyFy Wire—January Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books to Pick Up as soon as Possible
The Verge—18 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books to Read in January
Chicago Review of Books—Best New Books of January
Cade Sura holds the future of the galaxy in his hands: the ultimate weapon that will bring total peace. He didn't ask for it, he doesn't want it, and there's no worse choice to wield it in all of space, but if he doesn't, everyone's totally screwed. The evil Praxis kingdom is on the cusp of having every star system under its control, and if that happens, there'll be no contesting their cruel reign. Especially if its fanatical overlord, Ga Halle, manages to capture Cade and snag the all-powerful weapon for herself.
Cade can't hide from Praxis, and he can't run from the destiny that's been shoved into his hands. So he only has one option:
He has to fight.
Cade's not going to let destiny send him on a suicide run, though. With some help from his friends—rebels and scoundrels alike—Cade's going to use this weapon to chart a new destiny for the galaxy, and for himself.
He just has to do so before everyone around him discovers that he's a complete and total fraud.
Blending the space operatics of Star Wars and the swagger of Guardians of the Galaxy, Black Star Renegades is a galaxy-hopping adventure that blasts its way from seedy spacer bars to sacred temples guarded by deadly creatures—all with a cast of misfit characters who have nowhere to go and nothing to lose.
New Adult / Young Adult / Middle Grade
The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
An instant bestseller!
By #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, the first book in a stunning new series about a mortal girl who finds herself caught in a web of royal faerie intrigue.
Of course I want to be like them. They're beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.
And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.
Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.
To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.
In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.
A Conspiracy of Stars (Kindle Edition)
Enter the vivid and cinematic world of Faloiv in the first book of this dazzling YA sci-fi/fantasy series, perfect for fans of Carve the Mark, Red Rising, and These Broken Stars.
Octavia has always dreamed of becoming a whitecoat, one of the prestigious N'Terra scientists who study the natural wonders of Faloiv. So when the once-secretive labs are suddenly opened to students, she leaps at the chance to see what happens behind their closed doors.
However, she quickly discovers that all is not what it seems on Faloiv, and the experiments the whitecoats have been doing run the risk of upsetting the humans' fragile peace with the Faloii, Faloiv's indigenous people.
As secret after disturbing secret comes to light, Octavia finds herself on a collision course with the charismatic and extremist new leader of N'Terra's ruling council. But by uncovering the mysteries behind the history she's been taught, the science she's lived by, and the truth about her family, she threatens to be the catalyst for an all-out war.
Gunslinger Girl (James Patterson Presents) (Kindle Edition)
Lyndsay Ely
James Patterson presents a bold new heroine–a cross between Katniss Everdeen and Annie Oakley: Serendipity Jones, the fastest sharpshooter in tomorrow's West.
Seventeen-year-old Serendipity "Pity" Jones inherited two things from her mother: a pair of six shooters and perfect aim. She's been offered a life of fame and fortune in Cessation, a glittering city where lawlessness is a way of life. But the price she pays for her freedom may be too great….
In this extraordinary debut from Lyndsay Ely, the West is once again wild after a Second Civil War fractures the U.S. into a broken, dangerous land. Pity's struggle against the dark and twisted underbelly of a corrupt city will haunt you long after the final bullet is shot.
Chainbreaker (Timekeeper Book 2) (Kindle Edition)
Tara Sim
Clock mechanic Danny Hart knows he's being watched. But by whom, or what, remains a mystery. To make matters worse, clock towers have begun falling in India, though time hasn't Stopped yet. He'd hoped after reuniting with his father and exploring his relationship with Colton, he'd have some time to settle into his new life. Instead, he's asked to investigate the attacks.
After inspecting some of the fallen Indian towers, he realizes the British occupation may be sparking more than just attacks. And as Danny and Colton unravel more secrets about their past, they find themselves on a dark and dangerous path—one from which they may never return.
Everless (Kindle Edition)
Sara Holland
New York Times bestseller!
"Sara Holland is a fierce storyteller. Everless gives new and terrifying meaning to the phrase running out of time." —Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of Caraval
In the kingdom of Sempera, time is currency—extracted from blood, bound to iron, and consumed to add time to one's own lifespan. The rich aristocracy, like the Gerlings, tax the poor to the hilt, extending their own lives by centuries.
No one resents the Gerlings more than Jules Ember. A decade ago, she and her father were servants at Everless, the Gerlings' palatial estate, until a fateful accident forced them to flee in the dead of night. When Jules discovers that her father is dying, she knows that she must return to Everless to earn more time for him before she loses him forever.
But going back to Everless brings more danger—and temptation—than Jules could have ever imagined. Soon she's caught in a tangle of violent secrets and finds her heart torn between two people she thought she'd never see again. Her decisions have the power to change her fate—and the fate of time itself.
Fans of Victoria Aveyard, Kendare Blake, and Stephanie Garber will devour this lush novel's breathtaking action, incredible romance, and dangerous secrets. Plus don't miss the thrilling sequel, Evermore!
The True Queen (The Impostor Queen Book 3) (Kindle Edition)
Using fire and ice magic, Elli and Ansa must bring their people together to fight a common enemy in this epic conclusion to the Impostor Queen trilogy, which is a perfect fit for "fans of Victoria Aveyard's Red Queen" (School Library Journal).
Now that Ansa knows she is the destined queen of Kupari, she is desperate to find a permanent home for her people in the Kupari lands. But as the small band of warriors crosses into the foreign territory, Ansa loses her fragile grip on her newly acquired—and violent—magic and puts everyone, including her love Thyra, in danger.
Inside the walls of Kupari, Elli maintains the facade that she is the magical queen, with her secret—that she has no magic at all—on the brink of exposure every day. But as she tries to prepare the citizens to protect themselves from another invasion, unrest spreads as wielders like her beloved Oskar begin to lose control of their powers.
As Kupari grows increasingly unstable, with the land literally crumbling beneath their feet, and a common enemy once again threatening everything, these two young women on a collision course with destiny must find a way to save the realm and their people from total destruction.
In this epic conclusion to the Impostor Queen series, Sarah Fine's sweeping tale of two fierce leaders imbued with unimaginable power and called to unthinkable sacrifice finally answers the question: who has the strength to be the True Queen?
Batman: Nightwalker (DC Icons Series) (Kindle Edition)
This dark and twisty BATMAN in the blockbuster DC Icons series is an action-packed thrill ride from #1 New York Times bestselling author MARIE LU.
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Before he was Batman, he was Bruce Wayne. A reckless boy willing to break the rules for a girl who may be his worst enemy.
The Nightwalkers are terrorizing Gotham City, and Bruce Wayne is next on their list. Bruce is turning eighteen and inheriting his family's fortune, not to mention the keys to Wayne Industries and all the tech gadgetry that he could ever desire. But on the way home from his birthday party, he makes an impulsive choice that leads to community service at Arkham Asylum, the infamous prison. There, he meets Madeleine Wallace, a brilliant killer with ties to the Nightwalkers. A girl who will only speak to Bruce. She is the mystery he must unravel, but is he convincing her to divulge her secrets, or is he feeding her the information she needs to bring Gotham City to its knees?
Bruce Wayne is proof that you don't need superpowers to be a super hero, but can he survive Madeleine's game of tense intrigue and deception?
Act fast! The first printing includes a poster of Bruce! Each first printing in the DC Icons series will have a limited-edition poster–collect them all to create the full image!
"Masterful. . . . A great story for any Dark Knight fan."
–Den of Geek
Don't miss the rest of the DC Icons series! Read them in any order you choose:
* Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo
* Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas
* Superman: Dawnbreaker by Matt de la Peña
As You Wish (Kindle Edition)
Chelsea Sedoti
If you could make one wish that was guaranteed to come true—what would you wish for?
Madison's secret: Madison is a small town in the Mojave desert on the road between nothing and nowhere. It's an unremarkable speck on the map, which is perfect for protecting the town's secret. Because in Madison, everyone can make one wish on their eighteenth birthday-and that wish always comes true.
Rules for wishing:
Never let an outsider find out about wishing. (Zip your lips and throw away the key.)
Wishes that would impact the world are off limits (i.e. no bringing back the dinosaurs).
Do no harm. (Murder = no bueno.)
No time travel. (What's done is done, pal.)
No bringing back the dead. (Come on. You've seen what happens in The Walking Dead.)
NEVER BREAK THE RULES. (Seriously. We mean it. See Rule #7.)
There are always consequences.
A wish can hurt: Most of Eldon's classmates have had their wishes picked out for months, even years. Not Eldon. He's seen how wishing has hurt the people around him. His parents' marriage is strained, his sister is a virtual ghost in their house, his ex-girlfriend is dating his ex-friend…where does he even begin?
One thing is for sure: Eldon has only twenty-five days to figure it out—and the rest of his life to live with the consequences.
As You Wish is a compelling and thought-provoking book with elements of magical realism. Readers who loved One of Us Is Lying and The Hate U Give will also love this new book from Chelsea Sedoti. As You Wish goes deep and is sure to be counted among the best young adult books about adolescence, alongside Tell Me Three Things, Before I Let Go, I Have Lost My Way, A Wish for Us, and The Way I Used to Be.
Between the Blade and the Heart: Valkyrie Book One (Kindle Edition)
Amanda Hocking
Between the Blade and the Heart is the first book in a brilliant new YA fantasy duology inspired by Norse Mythology by New York Times bestselling author Amanda Hocking.
When the fate of the world is at stake
Loyalties will be tested
As one of Odin's Valkyries, Malin's greatest responsibility is to slay immortals and return them to the underworld. But when she unearths a secret that could unravel the balance of all she knows, Malin along with her best friend and her ex-girlfriend must decide where their loyalties lie. And if helping the blue-eyed boy Asher enact his revenge is worth the risk—to the world and her heart.
Fresh Meat: April 15 to 21 — 19 Specul
Fresh Meat: April 8 to 14 — 32 Specula
Fresh Meat: April 1 to 7 — 27 Specula
Fresh Meat: March 25 to 31 — 22 Specul
Tags: Fresh Meat, January 2018


Volleyball rotation rules including overlaps and positional faults.
An overlap occurs when at the moment of serve contact, players on a team are overlapping positions on the court.
And judgement is made by the position of the foot.
Left front needs to be closer to the center line than left back.
Left front needs to be closer to the left side line than center front.
Right front needs to be closer to the center line than right back.
Right front needs to be closer to the right side line than center front.
Left back needs to be closer to the left sideline than the center back player.
Right back needs to be closer to the right sideline than the center back player.
So basically, it's centerline and sideline that is the focus. For example, the left front player can straddle the middle front player and also the left back player because it's where the left front players (closer to the left side line) that's important.
Players rotate clockwise when the team wins the right to serve.
The players follow a serving order. Each player should serve after the same player in the line up. If a team is uncertain who the next server should be, the coach or captain can request a line-up check.
If the the team serves with the wrong player, the scorer should immediately inform the R2 who then blows the whistle and calls a positional fault.
The coach or captain can request a line-up check as many times as they desire as long as the referee doesn't think the team is trying to delay the match.
You can see in the above diagram, the player in position 4 only needs to worry about players in position 5 and 3 (when concerned about overlapping during the serve).
Player in position 3 worries about players in position 6, 4 and 2.
Players in position 2 worries about players in position 1 and 3.
Players in position 1 worries about players in position 2 and 6.
Players in position 6 worries about players in position 1, 5 and 3.
Players in position 5 worries about players in position 6 and 4.
Players in position 4 worries about players in position 5 and 3.


Welcome to Wired Amazon - a collection of citizen science projects powered by Rainforest Expeditions. You can help scientists identify fauna and flora and new species of insects from your computer at home. You will earn travel credits that can be used against a stay at one of our three lodges and an Amazon Villa during Science Season when our principal scientists hang out at the lodges for nature hikes and field work.
Don't have a Zooniverse username yet?


Join us for a 1.5-day public workshop that will examine the interaction of economic activity and microbial threats, including infectious disease outbreaks and antimicrobial resistance. The workshop will focus on the need for key metrics of risk and analytical tools to provide a comprehensive understanding of the economic risk that microbial threats pose. We will also explore approaches to incorporating estimates of infectious disease risk to overall macroeconomic assessments of economic growth in countries to incentivize actions that minimize these threats.
Economic costs from infectious diseases that may place a disproportionate burden on low- and middle-income countries but impact regional and global stability due to interconnected financial systems worldwide.
Gaps in assessing economic costs of microbial threats through multiple channels of disruption, including dynamics of fear-based behavioral change.
Critical opportunities and challenges to model and develop metrics of risk and to build analytical tools to understand the potential economic consequences of infectious diseases on the short, medium, and long term.
Strategies to incorporate estimates of infectious disease risk to overall macroeconomic assessments of economic growth to ensure the risks are reflected in financial markets and business investment decisions or influence flows of development assistance, and to link these assessments to incentives for action to minimize the threats.
Implications for the International Health Regulations, particularly on trade and travel measures, as well as for upstream and downstream strategies, policies, and interventions—such as effective communication messages, simulation exercises, investment decisions, and One Health approaches—that various sectors of government, multilateral institutions, and others may carry out in preventing and mitigating the economic costs.
Collaboration and coordination mechanisms among various stakeholders and across sectors in public health, animal health, economics, travel, trade, commerce, agriculture, among others.


The largest pork processor in the Midwest in an effort to maintain and upgrade their facilities is seeking a motivated and detail oriented Project Engineer to work in a world class facility. The position is located in a quiet, beautiful area of Central Indiana.
Very competitive salary, bonus,--benefits and relocation assistance.
The Project Engineer is responsible for the development, implementation and completion of various capital and MRO projects at multiple locations. This position will also develop solutions from concept to implementation.
Design and management of capital and MRO projects.


This device can only work when the ignition key is at MAR.
flick wipe: on certain versions, turning the knurled ring (F), four possible intermittent speeds are obtained (slowest to fastest).
Operation in position (E) is limited to the time the lever is held in this position. When the lever is released, it returns to position (A) automatically stopping the wiper.
Pulling the stalk towards the steering wheel (unstable position) operates the windscreen washer; indeed, the latter comes into action automatically if the stalk is pulled for more than half a second.
The wiper stops working three strokes after releasing the stalk. On certain versions a further "cleaning stroke", after a few seconds, completes the wiping operation.
Operating the stalk quickly and repeatedly (for less than half a second) it is possible to wet the windscreen several times without operating the wiper.
wiper to remove ice or snow from the windscreen.
In these conditions, the wiper is submitted to excessive effort that results in motor protection cutting in and wiper operation inhibition for few seconds as a consequence. If operation is not restored contact Fiat Dealership.


The way you handle your credit card is no doubt very important for your personal finance. Sometimes having a bad credit score does not necessarily mean that you are broke. Not at least in the strict sense. Sometimes it simply means that the figures in your credit cards imply some mismanagement. So how can you make sure that your credit cards are managed in the best possible way, without having to strain yourself too much? Your Personal Financial Mentor mentor gives you some priceless advice on how best to handle your credit cards so that you don't find yourself with a poor credit score.
First of all, avoid carrying too many credit cards with you. Or just avoid having too many credit cards bearing your name. In fact, you hardly need more than two cards – one which you are sure that you can pay off every end of the month and another one to use in case of an emergency. You can carry the emergency credit card with you all the time, but the other one should be left behind unless you have some planned use for it at that time. This will ensure that you are not tempted to spend spontaneously and that you keep track of your expenditures all the time.
You should also sit down and come up with your own acceptable debt limits. It is always best not to spend anything beyond what you can afford to pay in two months. Although the acceptable ratio between debt and income stands at about 25 percent, you should try as much as possible to keep it between only 10 and 15 percent. Anything beyond 15 percent may turn out to be uncomfortable for you. Once you have your personal limits for expenditure, it is a lot easier to manage your credit cards.
It is important also that you take credit cards from the right providers. Before applying for one, read and understand their terms and conditions very carefully. For example, avoid providers who require you to pay some annual charges just for holding the card. That is not acceptable. In fact there should be bonuses and incentives for holding the card.
When the debt on one of your credit cards becomes very high, avoid using it at least until such a time that you have settled the credit card debt. If you insist on using that card, it might have an adverse effect on your credit score.


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Woman gets 70 million dollars in Johnson n Johnson baby powder lawsuit
Jury awards more than $70M to woman in J&J baby powder cancer lawsuit
Roger Yu ,
A St. Louis jury ruled in favor of a woman who claims years of using Johnson & Johnson's baby powder caused her cancer, and she received over $70 million. Susana Victoria Perez (@susana_vp) has more. Buzz60
(Photo: Dan Peled, EPA)
A California woman has been awarded more than $70 million after she claimed in a lawsuit that Johnson & Johnson's baby powder caused her cancer.
In a trial that began Sept. 26, Deborah Giannecchini of Modesto, Calif. alleged that her ovarian cancer, diagnosed in in 2012, was a result of her years of use of the product.
"We are pleased the jury did the right thing. They once again reaffirmed the need for Johnson & Johnson to warn the public of the ovarian cancer risk associated with its product," Jim Onder, an attorney for the plaintiff, told The Associated Press.
Johnson & Johnson maintains it's baby powder is perfectly safe. "We deeply sympathize with the women and families impacted by ovarian cancer," Carol Goodrich, a spokeswoman with Johnson & Johnson, said in a statement. "We will appeal today's verdict because we are guided by the science, which supports the safety of Johnson's Baby Powder."
Some studies suggest a link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer, but scientists say it's not clear yet whether products containing talc can cause the disease.
"Studies of personal use of talcum powder have had mixed results, although there is some suggestion of a possible increase in ovarian cancer risk," the American Cancer Society says on its website. "There is very little evidence at this time that any other forms of cancer are linked with consumer use of talcum powder."
Earlier this year, two other lawsuits in St. Louis ended in jury verdicts worth a combined $127 million. But two others in New Jersey were thrown out by a judge who said there wasn't reliable evidence that talc leads to ovarian cancer, an often fatal but relatively rare form of cancer. Ovarian cancer accounts for about 22,000 of the 1.7 million new cases of cancer expected to be diagnosed in the U.S. this year.
About 2,000 women have filed similar suits, and lawyers are reviewing thousands of other potential cases, most generated by ads touting the two big verdicts out of St. Louis — a $72 million award in February to relatives of an Alabama woman who died of ovarian cancer, and a $55 million award in May to a South Dakota survivor of the disease.
Talcum powder is made from talc, which absorbs moisture well and helps cut down on friction. That makes it useful for keeping skin dry and preventing rashes. The powder was used for many years when diapering babies, but health concerns led doctors to recommend against its use. Talc is still widely used in other cosmetics.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2016/10/28/johnson-jnj-talcum-baby-powder-ovarian-cancer/92878176/
A star-studded protest in India #FOE #Right2Dissent
Syrian-American poet Amal Kassir describes losing 10 family members in Syria bombing
#India - First people's court rejects Vedanta, tribals claim entire Niyamgiri hills #Goodnews
Amar Kanwar receives the 2014 Leonore Annenberg Prize For Art And Social Change #GOODNEWS
Advocacy, Health Care, Human Rights, Justice, Kractivism, Law
This shows that the corporates are intent on making money regardless of people's safety. Consequently, women as suffering from fatal diseases. Safety should be prime object of any product. The safety standards should be tested.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Students will learn how to sculpt dragons from polymer clay.
SCULPTING A MONKEY Students will sculpt the monkey from scratch with polymer clay. After baking and coloring some fur will be applied. Or, if you wish, he may be dressed in a little outfit.


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PS5 specs officially revealed during The Road to PS5 presentation
The official PlayStation 5 specs were discussed during today's The Road to PS5 presentation, put on by Sony and lined out by Mark Cerny himself.
Sony Interactive Entertainment's lead PlayStation 5 system architect Mark Cerny lead viewers through a deep dive into the upcoming system during today's presentation.
The Road to PS5 was a long-awaited updated on the tech embedded within the upcoming system, which has been said to "shape the future of games." Obviously we don't know every single detail about the PlayStation 5 just yet, but Cerny's lengthy presentation certainly gave us a bounty of new information to pore over, including updated specs.
While the presentation did not reveal our first real look at the PS5 or several of the other pieces of information fans had been looking forward to, it was chock-full of specs that should delight anyone looking to know more about its inner workings. The PlayStation 5 is confirmed to feature the following specs, all powered by a CPU and GPU made by AMD as well as an 852GB SSD.
The system will include 8x Zen 2 Cores at 3.5GHz as well as 10.28 TFLOPs and 36 CUs at 2.23GHz (all custom-made by AMD) in addition to 16GB GDDR6/256-bit.
Mark Cerny noted that there were three important principles that went into bringing the system to fruition: balancing evolution and resolution, listening to developers, and "finding new dreams."
Cerny noted that the SSD was the most important request from game developers and noted that it would be integral for loading data in lightning-fast intervals. The PS5 can, for instance, load 2GB of data in 0.27 seconds, compared to the PS4's 20 seconds for the same amount. The SSD will also be a boon when it comes to RAM storage. The PS5's SSD is almost as fast as RAM, so game data can be retrieved quickly from the SSD to free up the RAM already in use.
In terms of the GPU, Cerny noted that a series of new strategies came about that allowed the team to develop new strategies that resulted in a capped 2.23GHz graphics process to produce 10.3 teraflops despite the processor being topped off at 3.5GHz. Not only will this reduce the amount of power consumption by the system but it will help it to keep quieter and cooler at the same time.
Cerny noted that the PS5 audio would also feature what the team is referring to as the Tempest Engine in terms of audio hardware that allows for 3D audio, starting with headphones. It will be considered the "gold standard" for the console, which will create virtual surround sound even for those who opt to use their own TV speakers or soundbars and other setups.
It was also confirmed that the PS5 won't be completely backwards compatible at launch with PS4 games. Most of the top 100 games measured by play time will be playable when the console debuts later this year, but the other titles will be rolled out on a case-by-case basis.
Right now, there's still a lot we don't know about the PS5, but that should hopefully change in the coming weeks. We'll keep you posted when there's more information coming down the pipeline.
Fueled by horror, rainbow-sugar-pixel-rushes, and video games, Brittany is a Senior Editor at Shacknews who thrives on surrealism and ultraviolence. Follow her on Twitter @MolotovCupcake and check out her portfolio for more. Like a fabulous shooter once said, get psyched!
Brittany Vincent posted a new article, PS5 Specs officially revealed during The Road to PS5 presentation
the man with the briefcase
He spent 52 minutes only talking about the hardware. Shut up, Wikus.
Shadowdane
GPU to GDDR6 memory bandwidth is listed as 448GB/s.
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2020-playstation-5-specs-and-tech-that-deliver-sonys-next-gen-vision
I think they might have calculated it based on the speed and 256-bit bus.
one random winner
GDDR6 is 14-16gb/s/module, I don't recall if they listed the number of RAM modules but it's probably 32 500MB modules, which would give 448gb/s on the low end.
you know i'm not sure.... Digital Foundry is the only place I've seen giving that detail. Either they have more details or they are guessing.
If the 448GB/sec is corrrect it's using 14,000Mhz Effective GDDR6. Same GDDR6 memory speed as the RTX 2080 Ti just a smaller memory bus.
Memory Interface (Bits) * Clockspeed (Mhz) / 8 = Megabytes / sec
256 * 14,000 / 8 = 448,000 MB/sec
deathofrats
Did you even watch it? It was nothing but specs. Very technical
I watched the whole talk, frankly enthralled. I guess it was all pre-recorded with no audience etc, but that just kept me that much more focused on Cerny: He's an articulate speaker, the language and technical discussion was at a very high level, the low-key, respectful format in this troubled time absolutely spot on. He sold me on a PS5.
There was either a small or virtualized audience which would be funny if true. It'll be a great console I'm sure, I'm mostly curious about how 3rd party game performance will be between the two, I doubt I'll be able to tell much of a visual fidelity difference save possibly games using a lot of ray tracing.


text:
Oscilloscope Laboratories Acquires Jessie Barr's Teen Drama 'Sophie Jones'
January 5, 2021, 12:00 PM ·2 min read
EXCLUSIVE: Oscilloscope Laboratories is about to get angsty. The Adam Yauch indie film company has acquired North American rights to Jessie Barr's coming-of-age drama Sophie Jones executive produced by Nicole Holofcener. The film is slated to be released in the first quarter of 2021.
Inspired by true experiences of grief, girlhood, and growing up, Sophie Jones paints a portrait of the titular 16-year-old (played by the director's cousin Jessica Barr) who is shocked by the untimely death of her mother. As she struggles with her loss and the challenges of being a teen, Sophie tries everything she can to feel something again, while holding herself together.
More from Deadline
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Oscilloscope Acquires 'All I Can Say' Docu From Late Blind Melon Frontman Shannon Hoon
"Sophie Jones has been a true labor of love and I'm beyond thrilled that the film has found its home with Oscilloscope," said Jessie Barr, who was also a Sundance Fellow. "This is a dream come true. Oscilloscope's love for filmmakers, commitment to creative collaboration, and passion for the film make me confident Sophie Jones will reach its audience. We can't wait to share it."
O-Scope's Aaron Katz added, "We are very excited to be bringing Sophie Jones to audiences. Jessie has crafted a heartfelt and honest coming-of-age portrait that reignited a range of teenage emotions I thought I had long since escaped. The film's naturalism and relatability provided an 80-minute escape to normalcy in what has undoubtedly been a hell of a year."
Sophie Jones made its World Premiere at the Festival du Cinéma Américain de Deauville 2020. The teen drama was written by Jessica Barr and Jessie Barr who also serve as producers alongside Joe Dinnen and Lindsay Guerrero. The executive producer is Nicole Holofcener.
The deal was negotiated with UTA Independent Film Group on behalf of the filmmakers. Barr is repped by Management 360.
Best of Deadline
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Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


text:
The Lonely Revolts are an American Christian punk band, who primarily play punk rock and Oi!. They are from Salinas, California, and they were formed in 2011 by Josh Galvan and Lupe Gutierrez. The Lonely Revolts include Josh Galvan (Guitar & Vocals), Lupe Gutierrez (Bass & Vocals) and Chip Fratangelo (Drums).

Having contributed tracks to "Punk Never Dies Vol.1" (2011), "Punk For The Gospel Vol. 1" (2012), and the "Kicking It Old School" 7 inch (2012) compilations, The Lonely Revolts released their debut album "Remnant" on Thumper Punk Records on October 30, 2012.

Discography
Studio albums
 Remnant - CD/Digital Download (October 30, 2012, Thumper Punk)
 Broken Bones Burning Hearts (January 30, 2015, Thumper Punk)
Acoustic albums
 Remnant - (Lights Out) (January 16, 2013, Thumper Punk)
Other album appearances
 Punk Never Dies Vol. 1 - V/A Digital Download (2011, Indie Vision)
 Punk For The Gospel Vol. 1 - V/A CD/Digital Download (2012, Thumper Punk)
 Kickin It Old School - V/A 7"/Digital Download (2012, Veritas Vinyl)

References

External links

 HM Magazine announces The Lonely Revolts release of debut album
 Indie Vision Music announces The Lonely Revolts release of debut album
 Punk Rock 77 Thru Today interview with The Lonely Revolts
 The Metal Resource announces The Lonely Revolts release of debut album

Musical groups established in 2011
Christian punk groups
Oi! groups
Punk rock groups from California
People from Salinas, California
2011 establishments in California

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
// Google BSD license https://developers.google.com/google-bsd-license
// Copyright 2012 Google Inc. wrightt@google.com

//
// iOS WebInspector
//

#ifndef WEBINSPECTOR_H
#define	WEBINSPECTOR_H

#ifdef	__cplusplus
extern "C" {
#endif

#include <plist/plist.h>
#include <stdint.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

typedef uint8_t wi_status;
#define WI_ERROR 1
#define WI_SUCCESS 0

// Create a webinspector connection.
//
// @param device_id iOS 40-character device id, or NULL for any device
// @param to_device_id selected device_id (copy of device_id if set)
// @param to_device_name selected device name
// @param recv_timeout Set the socket receive timeout for future recv calls:
//    negative for non-blocking,
//    zero for the system default (5000 millis), or
//    positive for milliseconds.
// @result fd, or -1 for error
int wi_connect(const char *device_id, char **to_device_id,
               char **to_device_name, int *to_device_os_version,
               void **to_ssl_session, int recv_timeout);

struct wi_struct;
typedef struct wi_struct *wi_t;
wi_t wi_new(bool partials_supported);
void wi_free(wi_t self);

struct wi_private;
typedef struct wi_private *wi_private_t;

// iOS WebInspector.
struct wi_struct {

    //
    // Call these APIs:
    //

    // Appends an arbitrary number of bytes to our input buffer,
    // calls recv_packet when the buffer contains one or more packets.
    wi_status (*on_recv)(wi_t self, const char *buf, ssize_t length);

    // Calls recv_plist if the packet is a full plist, otherwise appends
    // the partial packet to our pending buffer.
    wi_status (*recv_packet)(wi_t self, const char *packet, ssize_t length);

    // Calls send_packet with the serialized rpc packet(s).
    wi_status (*send_plist)(wi_t self, const plist_t rpc_dict);

    // Optional state for use in your callbacks.
    void *state;
    bool *is_debug;

    //
    // Set these callbacks:
    //

    // Send a serialized rpc (full or partial).
    wi_status (*send_packet)(wi_t self, const char *packet, size_t length);

    // Receive a deserialized full rpc.
    wi_status (*recv_plist)(wi_t self, const plist_t rpc_dict);

    // For internal use only:
    wi_status (*on_error)(wi_t self, const char *format, ...);
    wi_private_t private_state;
};

#ifdef	__cplusplus
}
#endif

#endif	/* WEBINSPECTOR_H */

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
package fr.vidal.webservices.interactionservice;

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;
import javax.xml.bind.annotation.XmlAccessType;
import javax.xml.bind.annotation.XmlAccessorType;
import javax.xml.bind.annotation.XmlElement;
import javax.xml.bind.annotation.XmlType;

/**
 *
Java class for ArrayOfProduct complex type.
 *
 *
The following schema fragment specifies the expected content contained within this class.
 *
 *

 * <complexType name="ArrayOfProduct">
 *   <complexContent>
 *     <restriction base="{http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema}anyType">
 *       <sequence>
 *         <element name="product" type="{urn:Vidal}product" maxOccurs="unbounded" minOccurs="0"/>
 *       </sequence>
 *     </restriction>
 *   </complexContent>
 * </complexType>
 *

 *
 *
 */
@XmlAccessorType(XmlAccessType.FIELD)
@XmlType(name = "ArrayOfProduct", propOrder = {
    "product"
})
public class ArrayOfProduct {

    @XmlElement(nillable = true)
    protected List<Product> product;

    /**
     * Gets the value of the product property.
     *
     *

     * This accessor method returns a reference to the live list,
     * not a snapshot. Therefore any modification you make to the
     * returned list will be present inside the JAXB object.
     * This is why there is not a set method for the product property.
     *
     *

     * For example, to add a new item, do as follows:
     *

     *    getProduct().add(newItem);
     *

     *
     *
     *

     * Objects of the following type(s) are allowed in the list
     * {@link Product }
     *
     *
     */
    public List<Product> getProduct() {
        if (product == null) {
            product = new ArrayList<Product>();
        }
        return this.product;
    }

}


text:
Satomi Hakkenden Sokanbi Yakkohime Ten'en o eru zu - Utagawa Kunisada Prince Genji Listening to Insects - Utagawa Kunisada
Utagawa Kunisada
Japanese (1786 - 1864) Primary
Prince Genji Listening to Insects
Color woodblock
15 3/4 x 10 1/2 (40.01 cm x 26.67 cm)
Gift of Margery Hoffman Smith, Class of 1911
Accession Number: S.69.c
Geography: Asia, Japan
Classification: Fine and Visual Arts; Prints; Woodcuts
Culture/Nationality: Japanese
Description: The Tale of Genji, one of the most important works of Japanese literature, recounts the adventures of Genji, a lover, poet, and ideal eleventh-century courtier. This print, which is the right panel of a triptych, is from a mid-nineteenth-century retelling of the tale written by Ryutei Tanehiko.
Genji sits in a garden listening to the short-lived crickets with his wife, who tells him, "I have long since learned how very cruel a time autumn often brings, yet I would not wish to lose the bell cricket's lovely song," to which he replies, "You may, for yourself, have no wish but to be free of this poor abode, yet your sweet bell cricket song for me will never grow old."
Asian*, bijinga*, color*, color woodcuts*, families*, figures*, flower*, flowers*, Japanese*, princes*, triptychs*, Ukiyo-e*, woodcuts*
Asian - Refers to the cultures of the continent of Asia, which is in the eastern hemisphere, and is bounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, and is generally considered to be delimited on the west by the Ural Mountains. It also refers to the numerous islands off the coast of Asia.
bijinga - Paintings or prints that depict beautiful women. This term, which literally means "pictures of beautiful women," was most likely coined in the Edo period (1615-1868) or the Meiji period (1868-1912). Before this period, these pictures may have been called "onna-e" or "bijin-e".
color - Refers to pigment in a medium, such as ink, water, or oil. A common example is in referring to the media of Asian art (e.g., "ink and color on paper").
color woodcuts - Woodcuts that incorporate color, usually through combining a series of blocks in precise registration that have been inked with individual hues and pressed onto one support.
families - Groups of individuals related by blood, marriage, adoption, or cohabitation.
flower - Material comprising flowers, which are the reproductive portion of any plant in the division Magnoliophyta (Angiospermae).
flowers - The reproductive portions of any plant in the division Angiospermae, flowering plants. As popularly used, the term "flower" especially applies when part or all of the reproductive structure is distinctive in color and form.
Japanese - Nationality, periods, cultures, and styles found in Japan, either in historical times or in the present.
princes - Refers to a chief authority or ruler. It often refers particularly to certain male members of royal families, usually the sons or grandsons of kings or queens. The term may also be used to designate lower-ranking nobles. Princes are always males; for female rulers or daughters of kings and queens, see "princesses."
triptychs - Paintings or carvings consisting of or mounted on three attached panels, often hinged so that the outer wings fold over the central portion; a common form for altarpieces. Also used for other works having three related images side by side.
Ukiyo-e - Distinctive genre in painting and other media, but most prominently in woodblock printing. It arose in the Edo period (1600-1868) and built up a broad popular market among the middle classes. Subject matter typically focused on brothel districts and kabuki theatres, with formats ranging from single sheet prints to book illustrations. Generally, the style is characterized by a mixture of the realistic narrative of the Kamakura period and the mature decorative style of the Momoyama and Edo periods. Distinctive styles and specialties in subject matter were developed by different schools throughout the period.
woodcuts - Prints made using the process of woodcut, which is a relief process in which the design is cut into and printed from the plank side of a wood block; distinct from "wood engraving (process)," which is a relief process using the grain end of a wood block.
S.69.c_BMC_f_3.jpg
The Tale of Genji: From Princesses to Pop Bryn Mawr College , Jan 25, 2017 – Mar 5, 2017
Worlds to Discover: 125 Years of Collections at Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr College , Sep 24, 2010 – May 28, 2011
Related Publications Click for more information
Bibliography List
The following Bibliography exist for this object:
Marianne Hansen and Emily Croll. Worlds to Discover. Bryn Mawr College. Bryn Mawr, PA, 2010
Marianne Hansen, ed. "The Tale of Genji." Mirabile Dictu: The Bryn Mawr College Library Newsletter 19 (Fall 2016):
Related Object(s) Click a record to view
S.69.a
S.69.b
Asian Prints
Featured Japanese Prints
<ref name=BMC>cite web |url=http://triarte.brynmawr.edu/objects-1/info/173381 |title=Prince Genji Listening to Insects |author=Bryn Mawr College Library Special Collections |accessdate=1/30/2023 |publisher=Bryn Mawr College</ref>
Your current search criteria is: Keyword is "BHTIO" and [Object]Country of Creation is "Japan" and [Object]Display Artist is "Utagawa Kunisada" and [Object]Century is "19th century".


Kids eat free at Beacon Hill Playground this summer!
Seattle Parks will offer free lunches for ages 18 and under from noon-1 p.m. Monday-Friday from June 22 to August 14 at sites including Beacon Hill Playground, 1902 13th Ave. S.
Dates and locations are subject to change. Call 206-615-0303 for more information.


Before I make clothing, I make fabric. Using a hand powered knitting machine and locally sourced wool and alpaca yarns, I knit yards of fabric and shrink them using hot water, soap and agitation. This creates soft, warm fabric that I cut and sew into classic and stylish jackets, vests, hats and scarves.


Are you involved in designing, documenting, managing or auditing processes? If so, you should take the time to check out a 30 minute demo of the Navvia Process Designer.
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Canadian develop and manufacture, suitable for all skin types, concerns.
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We define beauty as a state of being-the conscious choice of live meaningfully, authentically, and a touch of magically.
With the quality claim "Made in Germany", the high-quality assortment offers innovative products in decorative cosmetics.


In Syllabus: Notes from an Accidental Professor, Lynda Barry examines aspects of the arts through her various teaching methods. She strives to understand why humans develop intricate aesthetic patterns and why we need the humanities, using concepts rooted in neuroscience, philosophy, biology, and poetry among other things. Connecting the arts, Barry asserts, is an abstract concept called an image, an idea that translates to a distinct method of teaching.
For Barry, an image is "it," the element of the arts that is at the core of communication: "This ancient 'it' is something I call 'an image.' By image I don't mean a visual representation, I mean something that is more like a ghost than a picture; something which feels somehow alive, has no fixed meaning and is contained and transported by something that is not alive" (15). Though Barry may allude to psychoanalytic theories of the unconscious or Marxist notions of commodification, an image goes beyond such categorization by enacting a transcendent quality. This unifying force is dynamic, creating an interaction with objects that goes outside of language and quantification.
According to Barry's notion of an image, art represents a specific interaction with objects, rather than any tangible quality. It is through an innate, a priori ability that humans engage with the world from this unique perspective. Though in some ways at odds with poststructural theory, especially its universality, the idea of an image allows for an epistemological shift that benefits humanities teachers. Instead of teaching skill or specific content, by shifting to Barry's image approach instructors are able to teach a way of interacting with reality, a method of living in the present. Barry's syllabi frequently assert that students do not need to have prior knowledge of a subject or be able to draw; they must simply involve themselves in the class and remain open minded.
Barry's pedagogy is translatable to multiple environments and disciplines, redefining the way students approach the learning process. Individuals are able to more actively engage with courses, rather than passively receive instructions from the teacher. This reinforces the significance of creativity, ultimately making learning more effective.
Barry, Lynda. Syllabus: Notes From an Accidental Professor. Canada: Drawn and Quarterly, 2014. Print.
I am a graduate student at Wright State University studying English Literature. My research interests include Modernism and media studies, particularly the relationship between film, photography, radio, and literature. I am a managing editor for the Emily Dickinson Journal, and I work as a content writer for Reynolds and Reynolds as well.


This week's Holding onto Hope Devotional is entitled THE UNEXPECTED STORM. Scroll down to read the devotional online, or click the link below to view, save or print the PDF version.
One morning, a couple of months ago, I woke up; and heard everyone around me talking about a storm that passed so sudden, and unexpected, during the course of the night. There was heavy rain, lightning, thunder, strong winds you name it—it happened. Personally, I had no clue that any of this occurred, because I was fast asleep, all night long, during the "freak storm." When I arrived at work, my co-workers were talking about the storm. I went on social media; and even there, the storm was a hot topic in many conversations. I was not in a position to say much or comment, as I did not experience the unexpected storm.
In the midst of the storms of life, you can rest assured that God's got you covered, protected and secured. Sometimes, we might get a warning in advance, saying "the storm is coming, be prepared." Other times, there are storms that are "unexpected" such a death of a loved one, sickness, financial loss, a family issue and the list go on and on.
All we have to do is to change our response, because in the midst of any storm, God is still with us. So go through confidently! Pass through confidently and walk through confidently! You can even sleep peacefully, in the midst of the storm.
Take some time and meditate on the above scripture and song. How can you change your response as you go through the storms you are facing. Or, in what way(s) can you prepare for an unexpected storm?
Lord, I thank you for the reminder that you are with me always. Even though I am facing storms at this moment, I stand confident and I stand strong upon your word ………..


text:
Tag: spirits
By Franz Patrick on April 3, 2011 • ( 2 Comments )
★★★★ / ★★★★
The Lamberts, led by schoolteacher Josh and musician Renai (Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne), recently moved into a new house with their three kids (Ty Simpkins, Andrew Astor). In the beginning, there were small incidents around the house like books being put out of place but no one ever touching them. Then the changes started to become more noticeable like Renai hearing malevolent voices from a baby monitor when no one was supposed to be upstairs other than the sleeping infant. One night, one of the children, Dalton, went to explore in the creepy attic and fell from a ladder. He was hurt but there was no serious injury. The problem was, the next morning, Dalton wouldn't wake up. Doctors claimed he was in a coma but they couldn't explain why. Written by Leigh Whannell and directed by James Wan, "Insidious" was a creative, thrilling, old-fashioned haunted house film. When you've seen a lot of horror movies, you start to feel as though you've seen everything in the genre, that nothing can surprise you anymore. But there are times when movies like this would come and take you completely by surprise. From its title card in gargantuan red text designed to summon 70s and 80s cheesy horror nostalgia down to its chilling soundtrack, it immediately showcased its knowledge of horror conventions. I got the feeling that maybe it was going to poke fun of the standards. In some ways it did, but I was happier with the fact that it took the known conventions and made them better by altering them just a little bit. In a wasteland of bad remakes and cringe-inducing adaptations, a spice of modernity feels like a new breed. The first half worked as a horror picture because of the way it patiently built the suspense. The ghosts were scary but they didn't go around following the family (depending on how one sees it). They were just hanging about, taking up the same space as the living. The director was careful in revealing too much. Sometimes the ghosts were on the background and the characters didn't see them. But the audiences certainly did. Sometimes the apparitions were on the foreground and we had no choice but to scream at the images thrown at us. Because the director varied his camera angles and the types of scares, the film held an usually high level of tension. Each situation was a potential cause of alarm. In a dark room, we knew that something was going to happen but it was a matter of when. "Insidious" also worked as a horror-comedy. Specs (Leigh Whannell) and Tucker (Angus Sampson), a geek tech duo who seemed to have been plucked from Ivan Reitman's "Ghost Busters," provided required tension-relievers as they attempted to get bigger weapons to detect the ghosts. Meanwhile, the addition of Lin Shaye as the concerned psychic was an excellent counter-balance to the more comedic moments. Her character reminded us that "Insidious" was a horror movie first and foremost by allowing us to see what she saw in a dark room via Spec's drawings. For an old-fashioned horror flick, "Insidious" felt progressive, even fresh. Sitting in a packed theater, I felt like the film continually threw snakes of increasing size onto my lap. I screamed louder each time.
By Franz Patrick on February 12, 2011 • ( 2 Comments )
Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)
A family of four, led by Daniel and Kristi (Brian Boland and Sprague Grayden), decided to set up cameras all over the house because they believed someone vandalized their home while they were on vacation. Several days after the cameras were set up, the family reviewed the recorded images and started to notice strange things like objects moving by themselves. We observed baby Hunter (played by William Juan Prieto and Jackson Xenia Prieto) focused on something while in his crib in the middle of the night. Ali (Molly Ephraim), the eldest child, initially thought it was cool that the house was haunted so, along with her boyfiend (Seth Ginsberg), they tried to communicate with the spirits using a Ouija board. That's never a good idea. "Paranormal Activity 2," directed by Tod Williams, had a solid rising action. It was similar to its predecessor, directed by Oren Peli, because it managed to convey chilling images by showing very little. For instance, when the mother started hearing noises in the baby's room and found that the weird noise wasn't there, she headed to the connecting bathroom. Then something small would move near the crib. It obviously wasn't the wind because the doors and windows were shut. When the mother returned to the room, the object ceased to move. It was scary because it defied physics. A moving object can't abruptly stop moving without some force acting against it. Micah (Micah Sloat) and Katie's (Katie Featherston) return worked in some ways. Their appearance reminded me of why I enjoyed the first picture so much. They had good chemistry and their interactions were playful and amusing. But when the film started to weave in and explain how Micah and Katie's story was related to the family in question, it felt forced. It began to feel like I was in a room watching a home movie and the writers were next to me as they attempted to write the script using a loud typewriter. It lacked believability. Once the kitchen cabinets and drawers were flung open at the same time, it was downhill from there because it wanted to increase the ante. But it didn't need to. I missed the amusing scenes when Martine (Vivis Cortez), the family's nanny, believed the house was haunted so she tried to let the good spirits inside using various incense and prayers. I also thought it was funny when Ali "researched" haunted houses and seemed to believe everything she read on the internet. The boyfriend just smiled because he knew how silly it was. It was simple, but I think it worked as a commentary for the young and not-so-young's dependence on computers when we desperately need information. "Paranormal Activity 2" had some good scares and uncomfortable (but fun) chuckles as byproduct of stress (or fear) but it offered nothing new.
By Franz Patrick on August 26, 2010 • ( 4 Comments )
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
"Tonari no Totoro" also known as "My Neighbor Totoro" has been on my Netflix queue for about six months so I was so happy when it finally arrived in the mail. It must be noted that this review is based on the dubbed version so some of the dialogue might have been lost in translation. Written and directed by the great Hayao Miyazaki, the film had a very simple story with a big heart. It was about two sisters (Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning) who recently moved to the countryside with their father while their mother (Lea Salonga) stayed in the hospital due to an undisclosed illness. The girls, since they were still at a young age, could see dust sprites and spirits, one of which was Totoro, who was supposed to be a troll but he looked more like Snorlax to me (yes, the Pokémon) because of his lax nature but incredibly cute proclivities. The whole movie was basically how the sisters used their imagination as an escape from the ennui of the countryside and dealing with their mother's illness. I enjoyed that it was simple because the sadness in the core's story easily appealed to adults while the cuteness appealed to the kids. I've read some critiques saying that the movie was slow and aren't as grand as other Miyazaki projects. In some ways, I agree but at the same time I think those people have missed the point. The movie was supposed to be from a child's perspective. When you were a child, didn't everything appear so simple? There's no taxes to pay off, no job to go to, and no fear of taking an exam that can determine your future. It was all about running around in the outdoors and getting caught up in pretend play. I loved the fact that the younger sister's qualities reflected real life; she constantly mimicked her older sister, was always in "me" mode and she didn't quite yet grasp the idea of danger. Details like that elevated this film for me because it showed there was some thought under the sugary cuteness. However, there were some underdeveloped characters that I thought were interesting but were never really explored. For instance, the boy who seemed to like the older sister and the grandmother who once could see the spirits when she was a child. I especially wanted to know more about the latter because I felt like she had a lot of wondrous stories that she could potentially tell the girls (and to us). "My Neighbor Totoro" offers a healthy dose of great imagery (such as when Totoro stood in the rain with the girls) and is obviously inspired by "Alice in Wonderland." I wouldn't go as far as to say that it was a masterpiece but I appreciated the innocent feel it had. Characters going on great adventures isn't a must for animated films to be interesting. And that's one of this picture's important messages: adventures can happen right in your backyard.
By Franz Patrick on March 18, 2010 • ( Leave a comment )
Every time I watch "Spirited Away," I am in complete awe from start to finish. When Chihiro and her family discovered an abandoned amusement park on the way to their new house, Chihiro's parents were turned into pigs right when the sun started setting and she found herself alone in an alternate universe full of strange creatures and spirits. Chihiro must then navigate in her new world and find a way to turn her parents to their original form and return to the human world. There many elements to love in this animated film. One of those elements was Chihiro's drastic change from a whiny, spoiled girl to a mature individual who was capable of making decisions under extreme pressures. With the responsibilities that the bathhouse (where she had to work so that the witch would not turn her into a pig) had thrusted upon her, she eventually learned to break from her "me" mindset and really care for others. I also admired the fact that there were many morals that could be learned from this picture but none of those lessons felt heavy-handed. The movie merely showed what was happening and then it was up to us to determine why certain events were unfolding before our eyes. The concept of false first impressions was definitely at the forefront. Instead of making the hideous monsters one-dimensional, they turned out to be quite docile and adorable in their own ways. I particularly loved the raddish spirit, the stink spirit and No-Face because each of them were put under the spotlight at some point which at first suggested that they were not friendly or had something up their sleeves. The level of imagination of the picture was very impressive. Everything is so magical–from a giant baby capable of making threats to a one-footed lamp that worked as a guide–that it was able to easily entertain the kids and make the adults look back on childhood when anything seemed possible. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, "Spirited Away" was a complex demonstration on the power of imagination. Or better yet, how our imagination can inspire us to pull something from within and make it a reality. I would also like to note that I believe this is stronger than Miyazaki's other classic animated feature called "Princess Mononoke." The reason why I prefer "Spirited Away" is that I feel like this one had more magic, depth and malleability. It really offers a first-rate adventure that is unforgettable.
Thir13en Ghosts
By Franz Patrick on November 15, 2009 • ( Leave a comment )
Thir13en Ghosts (2001)
I decided to revisit this movie because it scared me when I saw it back in middle school. Directed by Steve Beck, "Thir13en Ghosts" was a mess in every sense of the word. A father (Tony Shalhoub), his two kids and the nanny (Rah Digga) were invited to visit a home they inherited from an uncle (F. Murray Abraham) who dedicated his life collecting spirits. Not knowing that there were ghosts locked up in a basement of a mansion made out of glass, the family decided to visit, along with a psychic (Matthew Lillard) and a man (JR Bourne) who let the family know about the inheritance. This movie did not make sense to me. It spent about half of its running time showing the characters walking around the place and arguing. It quickly got annoying because it didn't help the story to get anywhere near interesting. In fact, I really wanted the ghosts to escape their respective cells and start killing off the characters because maybe then they'd stop arguing and finally face the mission at hand. I was astounded that there were twelve very interesting ghosts (various methods of scaring and killing their victims, for instance) but the audiences never really get to know them other than their names. Some of them were obviously angry and were prone to attack anyone, while some of them looked more sad and just stayed in one corner. It made me wonder about their varying reactions to their visitors. The "scary" scenes were aided by a booming soundtrack so I didn't find it to be truly scary. The violent scenes might have been gory and kinetic but my actions of flinching and looking away had nothing to do with genuine fear that is requisite of truly chilling horror pictures. If the movie didn't take itself too seriously, it might have worked in some angle. There were some lines voiced out by the nanny that were very amusing but none of it was enough to save this sinking ship. If Beck spent more of his time actually helming the suspense instead of the violence and loud sountrack, this definitely would have been a rewarding experience. Instead, the audiences unjustly got a movie with loud barks and no bite.


How does it feel to be back in the swing of things? We hope everyone enjoyed the poetry books. The children worked very hard on them and we know they are very proud of their work.
** Parents, please take the time to look through your child's school supplies and make sure they still have all the supplies they need for school. This will give your third grader the tools to be successful.
** We are happy to hear that many students are enjoying Reading Bingo. Remember that even after you have completed one BINGO you may still work towards another or even try to fill in the whole chart! On February 24th we will have a 3rd grade bingo game as a reward for all who completed at least one BINGO. Keep up the good work and happy reading!
** Our 3rd grade students have been very busy reading! Thank you for supporting the Read-a-thon. The read-a-thon started on January 20 and will continue for 2 weeks. Our third grade is busy reading and raising money for the Easttown Library. Thank you to our great readers!
** In science we are working on our chemical testing unit. Ask your third grader what they think the unknown powders are.
** Students continue to work hard in math class. We would like to remind students to keep studying their basic multiplication facts to increase fact fluency.
** On Thursday, January 19^th we took our first field trip to the Easttown Library. As you know, the third grade has a partnership with the Library and there we spent time with a special visitor, Betsy Ross. Thank you to the Easttown Library for sponsoring this fun visit for us.
** Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Our classroom parties will be on Tuesday, February 14th.
** Thank you again for all of your care and support.


Hill's is voluntarily recalling select canned dog food products due to potentially elevated levels of vitamin D. Hill's Canada plans to support veterinarians in their relationship with their clients and their pets. As an expression of our empathy for pet parents, Hill's will evaluate on a case by case basis, requests for reimbursement of veterinary fees including specific diagnostic tests and treatment for dogs who have eaten the voluntarily recalled diets and the veterinarian recommends diagnostic tests and treatment for hypervitaminosis D.
Please contact tanya_van_der_pryt@hillspet.com with general questions about diagnosing and treating hypervitaminosis D.
Questions about specific cases and individualized patient work ups should be done through our veterinary consultation service at 1-800-548-8387 or vet_consult@hillspet.com so that a patient case file can be opened and a patient record maintained.
Vitamin D such as vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, increased thirst, increased urination and/or joint issues.
If you have these products in your clinic, please remove them from you shelves and place them in a secure location. We will be providing you with more details on product retrieval.
Click below for a letter from Dr. Jill Zigomanis (Veterinary Affairs Managar of Hill's Canada) and the appendices which contain a full list of impacted products. Please note that this recall does not apply to any feline products (canned or dry) or any dry canine products or treats.
The list of affected canine canned products, their SKU's, lot numbers and date codes can be found on www.hillsvet.ca. For additional information about the specifics surrounding this recall and possible medical implications, please check www.hillsvet.ca. If you have concerns about a particular patient, you may also contact our Hill's Veterinary Consultation Service at vet_consult@hillspet.com or 1-800-548-8387.
Hill's Pet Nutrition Canada Inc.


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The amazing EAM tool iteraplan was improved further and is now available in version 6. The switch to the interactive client is complete. All functionality is now available via a new and modern user interface. Besides that, many improvements are included in the release.
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For a detailed list of all changes since iteraplan 5.5 please see the release notes. Check out the new release via our online demo. The iteraplan team is at your disposal for questions and comments via direct@iteraplan.de.