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Specifications, Pricing, and Availability
Apotop released the S3C in four capacities, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB. Today we're looking at the 256GB drive. Like the other capacities, the 256GB uses a Silicon Motion SM2246EN controller paired with synchronous MLC NAND flash.
Apotop quotes the 256GB S3C at 490 MB/s sequential read, and 275 MB/s sequential write speeds. The specification sheet doesn't quote random performance, but does go into details regarding operating temperatures, shock resistance, and so forth.
The Apotop S3C comes with a three-year warranty. The drive also ships with an accessory package that includes a desktop adapter bracket, 7mm to 9mm adapter, and screws for piecing it all together.
Apotop S3C 256GB SSD
Apotop uses what I call Samuel L. Jackson Purple (from Mace Windu's light saber in Star Wars) for the A3C package and drive. It's a nice, deep purple color. The cut out on the front of the box allows us to see the capacity.
The retail package shows us the model and serial number. We also found a sticker on the back, and some performance information.
Inside of the box we found the S3C SSD, along with the accessories in the package. You get a desktop adapter bracket, a 7mm to 9.5mm adapter, and screws for mounting the drive.
Apotop used a reflective chrome-like label that is difficult to capture in a picture.
This is a 7mm z-height drive, so it will fit in your new Ultrabook that requires a slimmer SSD.
Inside we found a full size PCB that was underutilized to get to 256GB.
The controller is from Silicon Motion, and it's the SM2246EN model.
There are four NAND packages total, two on each side. The flash isn't marked other than a five digit code, G4Z81.
There is a single DRAM package of unknown density. The top says A-TOP.
Apotop's specifications page says this is synchronous flash. We suspect it's Micron 20nm die in the package, but we can't confirm.
Test System Setup and ATTO Baseline Performance
Lenovo T440 - Notebook Power Testing with DEVSLP and Windows 8.1 Pro
Nearly all of the performance tests are run on the desktop system, but we use a Lenovo T440 to run the power tests. The T440 is the latest addition to our client SSD test lab, and allows us to test the notebook battery life offered by a SSD with advanced features like DEVSLP enabled.
ATTO - Baseline Performance
In ATTO, in the QD4 setting, we achieved just under 562 MB/s sequential read performance, and just over 301 MB/s sequential write performance. The write performance was a bit higher than Apotop's claimed 275 MB/s sequential write speed. Apotop uses CrystalDiskMark to measure baseline performance though.
HD Tune Pro - Sequential Performance
The Apotop S3C didn't have any problem ramping up high sequential read performance in our HD Tune Pro test. With an average speed of 468 MB/s with 64KB blocks, the S3C can read data back quickly.
With modern SSDs, you are paying for higher write performance. Value class SSDs like the Apotop S3C don't deliver the same write performance as enthusiast class drives like the Samsung 850 Pro and SanDisk Extreme II.
HD Tach - Sequential Write Performance after Random Writes
After writing a reasonable amount of sequential and random data to the drive, we tested it with HD Tach to look for sequential read and write performance after use. The read speed remained very high, but where the flash was dirty, the write speed dropped off a considerable amount, down to less than 20 MB/s.
So what is Anvil Storage Utilities? It's a storage benchmark for SSDs and HDDs where you can check and monitor your performance. The Standard Storage Benchmark performs a series of tests; you can run a full test, or just the read or the write test, or you can run a single test, i.e. 4k QD16.
Anvil Storage Utilities is not officially available yet, but we've been playing with the beta for several months now. The author, Anvil, has been updating the software steadily on several international forums, and is adding new features every couple of months.
We can use Anvil several different ways to show different aspects for each drive. We've chosen to use this software to show the performance of a drive with two different data sets. The first is with compressible data, and the second data set is incompressible data. Several users have requested this data in our SSD reviews.
Incompressible Data
The performance with compressible data and incompressible data is the same, so you don't have to worry about performance loss while editing audio, video, or files that are already compressed.
Low Queue Depth Read IOPS
The random read performance at QD1 is nearly 8K. The drive scales well to QD4, but the random read performance is lower than many of the other 256GB class drives on the market.
High Queue Depth Read IOPS
It's rare for users to reach high queue depth random reads under normal use; SSDs are just too fast to allow the commands to stack up this high.
Low Queue Depth Write IOPS
It's much easier to reach high write queue depths when multitasking, or working with professional applications. The Apotop S3C 256GB turns in solid random write performance at low queue depths, but by QD4, the drive starts to level off.
High Queue Depth Write IOPS
The QD4 random writes are nearly topped out. At these high queue depths, the S3C is the slowest drive on the chart today.
Benchmarks - Mixed Read / Write Workloads
Mixed Read / Write Workloads
In this series of tests, we measure mixed workload performance. We start with 100% read, and then add data writes to the mix in 10% increments until we get to 100% writes. We believe this will be the next major area SSD manufacturers will address after performance consistency.
Mixed Workload Bandwidth
Many SSDs, both past and present, are fast when reading or writing data; doing both is a bit more difficult. Here we see sequential data in different read / write ratios. From what we've experienced so far, low-cost SSDs have a difficult time remaining competitive in these tests. A drive may show high sequential read speeds, but when a small amount of data writes are added to the mix, the low-cost SSDs fall rapidly.
80% Read / 20% Write Bandwidth
Here we see the performance in an 80/20 mix. The Apotop S3C is the lowest performing drive in this consumer mix.
Mixed Workload Response Time
We still have two drives left to test in this benchmark; the drives are currently in queue for our Notebook Battery Life test, so we won't have the results for them in time for this review. We have run more drives through the test since our last review though.
The Apotop S3C sits in the middle of the test results when it comes to overall mixed IO workload.
PCMark 8 Consistency Test
Futuremark PCMark 8 Extended - Consistency Test
Heavy Usage Model:
Futuremark's PCMark 8 allows us to wear the test drive down to a reasonable consumer steady state, and then watch the drive recover on its own through garbage collection. To do that, the drive gets pushed down to steady state with random writes, and then idle time between a number of tests allows the drive to recover.
Precondition Phase:
1. Write the drive sequentially through, up to the reported capacity with random data.
2. Write the drive through a second time (to take care of overprovisioning).
Degradation Phase:
1. Run writes of random size between 8*512 and 2048*512 bytes on random offsets for ten minutes.
2. Run performance test (one pass only).
3. Repeat steps one and two, eight times, and on each pass increase the duration of random writes by five minutes.
Steady state Phase:
1. Run writes of random size between 8*512 and 2048*512 bytes on random offsets for 50 minutes.
3. Repeat steps one and two, five times.
Recovery Phase:
1. Idle for five minutes.
3. Repeat one and two, five times.
Storage Bandwidth
PCMark 8's Consistency test provides a ton of data output that we use to judge a drive's performance. Here we see the three states of performance for the select SSDs, which are light use, consumer steady state, and worst case.
The Apotop S3C performs surprisingly well in comparison to other drives under light use (orange and red bars). Under heavy load, the S3C is slow, but still faster than many of the other low-cost SSDs on the market. The OCZ ARC 100 is one of the fastest low-cost drives in these tests, but it does cost a bit more than the S3C.
Storage Bandwidth All Tests
Here we see the results from all of the test. The Apotop S3C is black line, and is easily comparable to the other drives on the market. We like to look at the Recovery 1 performance for consumer SSDs. At that mark, the S3C falls on the lower side of the pack, but right in the middle of the low-cost SSD group.
PCMark 8 Consistency Test - Continued
Total Access Time
The access time test measures the total latency across all 18 tests. This is one of, if not the most important test we run at this time for consumer SSDs. When your latency is low, your computer feels fast; it's just that simple.
More important than the throughput is the latency. This shows how fast you feel your computer is performing in everything you do. Installing a SSD is like uninstalling Windows Hourglass; a really good SSD means instant everything. In light use, the S3C performs very well, but once you start using the drive hard, the latency jump up considerably.
Disk Busy Time
In the final test, we measure the amount of time the drive worked to read and write the data to complete the test. When a drive is active, it uses more power, so the faster it can complete the tasks the faster it can fall into a low-power state.
The disk busy time chart for the S3C is nearly identical to the latency chart. Under consumer workloads, the S3C does fairly well, but under intense loads, the drive has to work a lot harder to complete the tasks.
Benchmarks - Power Testing
Bapco MobileMark 2012 1.5
Version and / or Patch Used: 2012 1.5
Developer Homepage: http://www.bapco.com
Test Homepage: http://www.bapco.com
MobileMark 2012 1.5 is an application-based benchmark that reflects usage patterns of business users in the areas of office productivity, media creation, and media consumption. Unlike benchmarks that only measure battery life, MobileMark 2012 measures battery life and performance simultaneously, showing how well a system design addresses the inherent tradeoffs between performance and power management.
The Apotop S3C shipped to us with N0530A firmware, the same we found on the Angelbird SSD wrk. Like the SSD wrk, the S3C delivers awful notebook battery life performance. Angelbird told us this was a firmware issue that would be sorted out with a firmware update in October. As it sits right now, the Apotop actually delivers less notebook battery life than a Seagate Momentus Thin 500GB HDD. You know, the ones that need power to spin disks and move heads on arms around so fast they are hard to see.
Power Limited Performance
The performance doesn't drop below the standard 126 rating when used in a low-power state on the notebook.
Performance is just one aspect to consider when purchasing a SSD. Generally, people start with price, which is a good starting point that can have a hard limit. Then other aspects come in to thin the list, like performance, quality, reputation, support, and so on. The Apotop S3C has the price part down, and this drive should easily get through to round two.
For a low-cost SSD, the S3C does reasonable well in the performance category, but is slower than some of the other drives in this price range. The OCZ ARC 100 240GB sets the bar in this price range; the Extreme II costs a few dollars more, but is the current leader for 256GB class drives under $150.
The S3C is down to the other drives on performance, but we need to know where Apotop sits in the other categories. That's where things get cloudy. The S3C includes a three-year warranty, and while wrapping this article up, we did find updated firmware for the drive. It appears Apotop will be proactive with firmware release.
While looking at the support options, we found an office in City of Industry, CA, and a toll free number as well. That doesn't mean the support is amazing, it just means that support is available without dealing with an overseas point of contact.
In this ultra-low price range, the S3C is about as good as anything else. There is some give and take on performance, quality, accessories, and other minor details, but in this price range you really don't get everything you want. If you can muster a bit more money for a SSD, then you can get more performance, higher quality, and so on. However, at $109, you have to make sacrifices.
Performance 89%
The Bottom Line: Apotop's S3C SSD scores points for its low price and the accessories package, but loses the performance battle with drives costing just a few dollars more.
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WD Black SN850 2TB NVMe M.2 SSD Review
SSD Reviews


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Updated: 2 hours 11 min ago
English Electric Lightning F1/F1A/F2/F3
Thanks first off to Hornby/Airfix for sending IPMS/USA this kit, and keeping the brand alive! If you have not built one of the new Airfix kits, you need to get over to the store and buy one, or several. HELP KEEP THEM IN BUSINESS, as Airfix has many economical and fantastic kits. Kudos to John and Phil to providing it to me to review.
Airfix's re-release of their venerable 1/48 English Electric Lightning kit is a welcome return of an old friend, not one of their newest molds. When originally released in 1997, the kit was considered ground-breaking with "state-of-the-art" molding technology. The parts fit was lauded as best available, with detail impeccable for the time. This kit and the Spitfire Mk 22/24 and Seafire FR46 were the "new Airfix" in the late 1990's for a short time, but this kit was one of the best at the time.
The Lightning F-1/1A was first out the door, with its small fuel tank on the belly. This kit was rapidly followed by the F-6 with a totally new fuselage with large underbelly tank and over-wing tanks as optional parts, including gun panels for the lower fuselage tank area for the few fitted with that setup.
Aero Commander 560
The Aero Commander line of medium twin-engine aircraft began with the Model 520 first flown in 1948. Designer Ted Smith used design cues from his work on the A-26 Invader in formulating the Aero Commanders layout. Known for stable handling characteristics and seating capacity, the Aero Commander proved its utility in service. The 560 series introduced more powerful engines and a swept vertical tail. In its later variants, the Commander would gain PT-6 turboprop power. Notable firsts for the type include the U S Air Force purchasing some designated L-26 or U-4 to carry President Eisenhower, the first medium twin authorized to carry the POTUS. Perhaps the most famous Aero Commanders were flown by the legendary Bob Hoover. His routine included full aerobatic maneuvers with two engines, one engine, and no engines!
Tempest Mk. V cockpit
Eduard has released a great Brassin Cockpit set for its new tooled Tempest Mk.V which in its self is a great kit. This Brassin set is full of Resin parts, a Photoetch sheet, and Decals.
In the box is;
Approx. 55 resin parts
1 x film sheet
1 x Small Decal sheet
1 x Photo Etch detail set
1x Instruction booklet
First is the assembly of the side frames of the cockpit and the detail controls. I did find the removal of the side frames from the pour stub to be a bit hard and the frames are very thin and fragile. Apart from that, no issues were encountered during the stages on page 2 of the instructions.
RF-5E Tigereye
There's something about this relatively small, compact and sleek fighter that can grip the imagination. I've been enamored with it, that when Hasegawa released their 1/32nd scale version many moons ago, I made no less than five over a single week, just to show it in some of its endless liveries.
With the release of this version of this famous aircraft, Kittyhawk has not only provided us with a variant never before available in this scale but upped the game considerably over the venerable Hasegawa kit in terms of detail.
Master details 1/144 Pitot probe for Mirage III/V
IPMS/USA again thanks Piotr for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with one more of many monthly releases, with an extremely useful and well-thought out 1/144 Pitot tube probe for any of the 1/144 kits of the Mirage III.
1 part (ONE) is included, along with a detailed instruction sheet on what size hole to drill and where to insert the probe. I find these probes more useful than pins to address the issues of scale size, appearance, and flexibility without incurring personal injury. Steel pins are more durable, but tend to not "flex" or give, and the effect of driving a staple into one's eye or hand or whatever is not so traumatic if the brass probe deflects off to one side. Even Nurses wince with needles....
Hauler Brengun WWII U. S. Navy wheel chocks in 1/32
Many thanks to the Hauler Brengun Company and the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me to review this unique diorama accessory! Hauler Brengun is a prolific contributor to the IPMS Reviewer system and I am very pleased to report on my experience with these excellent accessories, USN wheel chocks in 2 scales.
These chocks are great addition to any USN aircraft of the WW2 era. The chocks are virtually identical, other than scale. They are cleanly cast in gray resin that is not too brittle or soft. The chocks are excellent replicas of the style used during World War 2. They are very easily detached from the pour plugs and assembled. A little cleanup with a square file is required and the chocks are adjustable!
Shiden-Kai N1K2-J "George" Late Type
The Shiden Kai was developed, in 1944, to counter US bomber aircraft that were attacking the mainland of Japan. With the combination of a refined airframe and a 2,000-horsepower engine the Shiden Kai was a masterpiece of a fighter with balanced performance. While it might be said that it was too little too late, production of the Shiden Kai was limited due to it being introduced in late1945.
This updated boxing of Platz's 1/144th scale airplane kit includes new decals, packaging, and illustrations, while retaining the nicely molded detail and easy-of-assembly of the original.
This updated release features:
Zoukei-Mura Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu (Nick) Part 1
Zoukei-Mura's latest release in 1/32 scale is the wonderful Ki-45 Toryu (Nick). This twin engine 2-seat, heavy fighter was used by the Japanese Army in WWII. Let's not wait another minute and jump into the box and see what's what.
Eduard Mirage III C 1/48
The Dassault Mirage needs little introduction. It is a fighter aircraft that became iconic during the 6 Day War and other conflicts. Twelve nations flew the Mirage, including France, Israel, Australia and South Africa. Compared to other jet and propeller fighters, the Mirage is quite small and compact, but packs a mean punch!
This kit is a ProfiPACK re-release of Eduard's previous Mirage editions. After the super tight box lid was finally prized off, one finds multiple dark grey plastic sprues contained in two bags along with a separately bagged clear parts sprue. The instruction book, decal sheet and photo etch fret were located at the bottom of the box. Everything appeared in good condition, although the main canopy had separated from its sprue attachment. I found some flash on quite a few parts, and mold misalignment between each side of the one piece tail, as well as numerous other parts. I have an earlier edition, Kit number 8102, of the Mirage and most of these mold misalignment problems are evident on that one as well.
VIETNAMESE SPADS (2) VNAF AD-6/A-1H Skyraiders in the Vietnam War
AoA (Angle of Attack) decals are in their fourth year by my records, and continue to release some of their earlier Vietnam War subjects in different scale from the earlier releases ... We sincerely appreciate AoA sending IPMS/USA their latest releases for review! (...and the usual thanks also to IPMS USA Reviewer corps leadership John and Phil for sending these my way...)
This sheet provides 11 different paint schemes, and covers the range of Vietnamese A-1 schemes from the early 1960's to the early 1970's.
Airframe stencils in included for each model, along with national insignia. This sheet focuses on the main markings for the aircraft, particularly since several of these SPADS were repainted with camo and as such did not receive replacement stencil markings.
Notable options include several early 1960's A-1's with colorful tail bands; I believe these markings would sell the sheet more than anything, as they certainly have some different markings.
America's Round-Engine Airliners: Airframes & Powerplants in the Golden Age of Aviation
This book is an account of the development of the American airliner powered by reciprocating engines, up to their replacement by jet powered aircraft in the 1960's. The authors are well qualified to trace the advances in both airframes and powerplants. Craig Kodera has a completely aeronautical background, having experience as both an airline and Air Force pilot, and as an excellent aviation artist. William Pearce's background is in aviation powerplants, and between them, they are able to trace the technical developments and the developmental histories of each major aircraft and powerplant.
F6F-3 Hellcat
The Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat was a US carrier based fighter that served with distinction throughout the Pacific War.
This kit has been issued several times with different markings. It is packaged like other Eduard kits in a strong top opening box with the parts contained in a plastic bag with the photoetch, decals, and instruction manual protected in the bottom of the box. Resin wheels are a nice addition.
Curiously there were two fuselage sprues, although there is no reference to one of them. The part numbers were different as was the sprue number. I put it aside and continued on.
Construction starts with the cockpit. It appears a bit simplistic at first, but with the supplied photo etch, decals, and painting, the cockpit came out looking quite good. I used Eduard's Look instrument panel and steel seat belts, which saved time.
P-51 Mustang Volume 1: North American's Mk. I, A, B, and C Models in World War II
David Doyle's book on the P-51 Mustang is one of the latest entries in the 'Legends of Warfare' series with entries in Ground, Naval, and Aviation. The first Ground book focused on the Panzerkampfwagen IV, the first Naval book was on the USS Yorktown (CV-5), and the first two Aviation books were are on the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (#4) and Douglas TBD Devastator (#3). The Legends of Warfare series has expanded rapidly since its 2017 debut in the market with now over 50 titles released. This hard cover series covers a wide variety of monographs at a good price point.
Armies of the Italian Wars of Unification 1848–70 (2): Papal States, Minor States, & Volunteers
Gabriele Esposito is an Italian researcher and a long-time student of military history. His main field of research is the military of 19th-century Latin America, but his interests range from the Ancient world to modern post-colonial conflicts. He has authored over 16 books, several works in the UK, including MAA 499 Armies of the War of the Triple Alliance 1864-70 and MAA 504 Armies of the War of the Pacific 1879-83, and is a regular contributor to many specialized magazines. He lives in Benevento, Italy.
M3 Half Track
When I was around 10-11 years old I got into a small scale armor kick. The local shop carried Airfix kits and I built a lot of their kits at the time. The first time I built the M3 Half Track it was a MPC release in their Battle of the Bulge Historama kit.
Fast forward 45, cough, years later and Airfix is re-releasing many of their kits under their Vintage Classics range. The kit appears to be the exact same plastic first released in 1966 including the 1 Ton Trailer. The kit includes 54 parts molded in an OD plastic. There is a bit of flash but what would you expect from a set of molds almost older than me. The kit includes some nice detail, a driver and one of the nicest small scale .50 caliber machine guns. Decals are included for an M3A1 during Operation Overlord. More about them later. The color scheme is shown in full color in the instructions. Other than that change the instructions look like they did when I first built it.
Supermarine Walrus MK1
The Supermarine Walrus (originally known as the Supermarine Seagull V) was a British single-engine amphibious biplane reconnaissance aircraft designed by R.J. Mitchell and first flown in 1933. Designed for use as a fleet spotter to be catapult launched from cruisers or battleships, the Walrus was later employed in other roles, notably as a rescue aircraft for aircrew in the sea.
The instruction booklet was divided into eight pages of clearly marked parts and their construction sequence. Illustrations for the parts and their construction sequence were very clear. Included with one of the paint schemes, is a drawing of how to place rigging lines.
Sprues: 5 molded in gray plastic
Clear plastic: 1 sprue
Magach 6B Gal Batash, Israeli Main Battle Tank
Meng exploded on the scene several years ago and continue to produce very high-quality kits of a variety of subjects. This kit focuses on the Israeli modified M-60 Battle Tank known as the Magach 6B. M-60s began service with the Israeli Army with the 1973 Yom Kippur War and most of the armored force was equipped with M-60 A1 and later models. The Israelis continued to upgrade their fleet to meet the changing threats on the battlefield. These vehicles have the low profile commander's cupola, an upgraded engine, and armor package as well as an upgraded fire control system. Academy has provided kits of the Magach 6B and 7C, so it will be interesting to see which direction Meng takes with this kit.
F6F-3 LööK 1/48 Instrument Panel and Steel Seat Belts
I used this instrument panel and seat belt set in conjunction with a full build review of the latest release of Eduard's 1/48 scale F6F-3 Hellcat, Kit # 8227.
I applaud Eduard for their innovation and the thought of simplifying build cockpits. They are pre-painted and ready to install in your cockpit.
While the instrument panel is very nice, compared to their photo etch equivalents I find the pre-painted markings are a little thick, and make some instruments look like mostly white circles.
The steel seat belts are wonderful and bend easily around the seat edges to conform naturally like the real belts would.
Both the instrument pane and belts make a great addition to the Hellcat cockpit.
Thank you Eduard and IPMS for the opportunity to review this great product.
The Khazars: A Judeo-Turkish Empire on the Steppes, 7th – 11th Centuries AD
Mikhail Zhirohov was born in eastern Ukraine, in 1974. Mikhail graduated from Donetsk State University with a degree in History. He has focused on the former USSR ranging from its medieval history to modern warfare. He has authored over 20 books and published more than 300 articles on various aspects of Ukrainian and military history for popular magazines in Russia, Ukraine, France, UK and other countries since 1998. He lives in Chernihiv, Ukraine.
David Nicolle is a Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute of Medieval Studies, Nottingham University. David has focused his research on the military history of Islam. He is the author of over a dozen books on medieval military history. He lives in High Barnet, UK.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Now reading: Tyson vs Jones Jr: Legends Collide
Tyson vs Jones Jr: Legends Collide
Once a fighter, always a fighter - boxing flows through the veins.
Legendary world champions Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. will soon become the latest in a long line of all-time greats to make high-profile returns to the ring.
The pair will meet in the squared-circle on November 28th for an eight-round pay-per-view 'exhibition' clash that has caused pandemonium within boxing circles. Especially for those legions of fans who grew up following these two iconic figures in their prime years.
Decades on from witnessing these two superstars rise to prominence and cement their legacies, passionate followers will once again see their idols do what they've done their entire lives; fight.
Fighters that older fans have grown up telling their children about will now be overseen afresh by that same fanbase, accompanied by a younger generation. And while it's been branded an 'exhibition', once these historic sporting figures come face-to-face, there's no label that can be used to make it any less of an iconic moment.
Tyson was once hailed as the baddest man on the planet. At just 20 years of age he became the youngest world heavyweight champion in the sport's rich history; a record that still stands today.
Photo: Getty Images - Tyson vs Jones Jr
He reigned as the undisputed division king from 1987 to 1990, striking fear into anyone who dared trade leather with him at the peak of his powers. The New Yorker also rallied to the summit of boxing's popularity ladder, sealing his position as one of the sport's most distinguished characters.
Jones Jr. became an Olympic Silver medallist in 1988, before emphatically securing world championships across four weight classes in a glittering professional career. Beginning at middleweight and ending in heavyweight supremacy, he was an athletic freak of nature and one of the most talented boxers of all-time.
But perhaps it's the waves these icons have made crashing out beyond boxing culture into the fabric of popular culture, that makes the buzz around this clash all the more electric.
In 1990, Tyson overtook Michael Jordan as the highest paid athlete in the world, he has heavily featured on screen in popular TV shows and movies as himself, as well as being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012.
Tyson was also a catalyst for mental warfare; introducing the 'fear factor' with his ability to win fights before they began. With his plain black trunks and shoes, no socks, rarely a walkout song and simply a towel around his neck, opponents were beaten before they got in the ring through sheer terror.
Throughout the 1990s, Jones Jr. was regarded as virtually untouchable. Cementing himself in unique fashion as an all-time great. His presence and impact were boosted through past-times outside the ring.
He played minor league basketball for two different teams during his career, sometimes on the day of a scheduled fight. Jones also officially released rap music, with his most notable tracks being 'Y'all Must've Forgot' and 'Can't Be Touched'.
Tyson vs Jones Jr will take place on November 28th
Between them the pair of iconic fighters hold 133 fights, 116 victories, 91 career knockouts and 35 world title fight triumphs.
There's another notable number involved ahead of this blockbuster showdown. When the two men climb into the ring to face-off, they will have a combined age of 105. Both are now over 50.
'Iron Mike's' last career win came in February 2003, before retiring two years later. Jones Jr.'s most-recent victory was over Scott Sigmon in February 2018, eight years on from his rematch loss to long-standing rival Bernard Hopkins.
The announcement of such an unexpected match-up has brought forward every possible range of emotions from those who passionately follow the sport. Disbelief. Excitement. Curiosity. Worry. But, ultimately, no matter the end result or anyone's opinion of the clash of legends, this will be a boxing spectacle once the anticipation is ended by the opening bell.
Boxing is a compelling sport. For those who dedicate their entire lives to it, it becomes their everything. When a fighter retires, their competitive instinct still remains within them; burning away inside, waiting on a chance to be unleashed.
For Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr., that opportunity arrives on November 28th. When two legends take centre stage on a monumental night for boxing culture.
Written by BOXRAW
Mexican Warfare: Barrera vs. Morales
Boxing Is Back


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Home » Affordable Classics
1971-1975 Volkswagen Super Beetle
By B. Mitchell Carlson on June 1, 2004 in Affordable Classics
Any Beetle of yore is more closely related to a lawn tractor than it is to the modern auto with which it shares a name and silhouette
It hardly seems believable that by 1971 the Volkswagen Beetle-the success story of the 1960s-was losing favor with the public. In earlier years the Beetle's quaint simplicity had been a plus, but those same qualities were beginning to seem as hopelessly outdated as the car's underpinnings and mechanicals. To complicate matters, after years of mostly ignoring VW's pest, domestic manufacturers started to fight back with new cars that were good enough to steal market share from the "people's car." Rather than totally redo the Beetle, VW introduced the Super Beetle, the first car to officially carry the "Beetle" moniker. Sold alongside the standard Beetle, the new Super Beetle coupe was a slightly larger package all around, including a three-inch longer wheelbase. To compensate for the Super's additional 155 pounds, engine output was increased to a blistering 60 horsepower, from the 1970 Beetle's 57. But manufacturing economies dictated that this engine also be used in the standard model in 1971, meaning the Super carried no power advantage. The big technical news was a McPherson strut front suspension in lieu of horizontally stacked transverse torsion bars. Not only did this provide a smoother ride (albeit with an increased turning radius), but now the forward compartment could actually swallow more than a purse, as its volume almost doubled. Still, the only way you could put a set of golf clubs in the "trunk" was with a Sawzall. With competition from such automotive heavyweights as the Chevy Vega, Ford Pinto, and AMC Gremlin, even these slight improvements to the standard Beetle were enough to make the car a success. It sold in respectable enough quantities that changes for 1972 were minimal. Both Beetle models were given a new steering wheel, column-mounted light switch lever, inertia wheel three-point seat belts, a hinged rear parcel shelf, and a larger rear window. The adjustment in SAE horsepower ratings meant that last year's 1585-cc flat four now yielded an advertised 46 net horsepower, which must have made the ad agency's job a little tougher: "Now with 14 less horsepower than the year before" is not exactly a catchy slogan. For 1973, the two models began to diverge a bit more. The Super Beetle received a larger curved glass windshield, with a correspondingly shorter trunk lid, making it easier to distinguish between the two Bugs. With the added interior space came a new dashboard. Changes for 1974 applied to all Beetles, and were mostly unique to the North American market, such as telescoping bumper supports, slightly beefier bumpers, and the infamous federally mandated seat belt interlock and buzzer system. From day one, purists would have nothing to do with the Super Beetle, decrying the styling as bulbous and calling it "the pregnant Beetle," which later gave way to "the fish bowl" when the panoramic windshield debuted. In a manner that would have made the late, great Henry Ford proud, they insisted that a proper VW could only have a transverse front suspension. In 1975, this argument was rendered as dead as old Henry when an even greater blasphemy occurred: Volkswagen introduced its new water-cooled, front-wheel-drive Rabbit, rendering all Beetles antiquities. Even worse, the recent Arab oil embargo had shown the public that the Beetle was less of an economy car than everyone had been led to believe. With Honda Civics then getting over 30 miles per gallon in the city cycle, the contemporary Beetle was hard pressed to get 25 mpg on the open road, or anywhere else. Americans were increasingly turning to more modern cars, rightly desiring better mileage and more room, and figuring crumple zones might not be bad things either. Volkswagen had made good use of limited edition color and trim specials in 1973 and 1974, with packages like Sports Bug, Sun Bug, and, of course, Love Bug. Following in these footsteps came 1975's "La Grande Bug," the new name for the final Super Beetle model. Yes, by now the sizzle was getting almost indistinguishable from the steak, though '75 did see fuel injection added to all Bugs, upping horsepower to 48. The standard Beetle sedan soldiered on in the U.S. through 1977, though as it turns out, the Super Beetle did get the last laugh, as all Beetle convertibles from 1973 on through the end in 1979 used the Super Beetle structure. A generation later, time has healed all wounds in the Super versus torsion bar Beetle dispute. Indeed, any Beetle of yore is more closely related to a lawn tractor than it is to any of today's cars, including the one with which it shares a name and silhouette. The original Beetle remains a timeless classic, with Super Beetles lagging farther down the collectible food chain. But the Super Beetle is inexpensive to buy, drive, maintain, and restore. Fewer "enthusiasts" purchased Supers when new, meaning most of these bigger Bugs were used like the appliances of their era-disposed of rather than repaired when in need of major work. Consequently, fewer have survived intact than standard Beetles, making them somewhat harder to find. The upside here is that the dune buggy/kit car/tuner crowd have had little interest in Supers (apart from their drivetrains) so few lost their sheetmetal virginity for cut-down fenders and zoomie exhaust pipes. Some of the unique Super parts can take a bit more effort to track down (like the 1973-1975 windshield), but no Beetle parts can really be called expensive. The rest of what you might need to fix or restore a Super Beetle is as easy to find as for any other Bug, in that parts almost drop out of the sky. Remember, millions were made so it's a buyer's market. The same can be said about the cars, although we've seen some staggering auction prices for convertibles, with some selling for over $20,000. However, the smart buyer who shops around shouldn't pay much more than half that price. While hardly a sporting car, the softer-sprung Super is just the ticket for aging baby boomers who aren't as nimble as they used to be, don't want to pop a couple of ibuprofen after every drive, yet are still nostalgic enough to want to teach a new generation to play "Slug Bug."
Written by B. Mitchell Carlson
Brian wrote his first auction report for Old Cars Weekly in 1990 and has contributed his colorful commentary in Sports Car Market since 1998. His work appears regularly in Kelley Blue Book, and also in a handful of marque-specific publications. Carlson shuns what he calls "single-marque tunnel vision" and takes great pride in his "vehicular diversity." He attends about two dozen auctions per year, but he broke away to roar around Oregon with Paul Hardiman in SCM's Dodge Viper and Porsche 911 Turbo in the 2015 Northwest Passage.


The battery in Icon HD Net Ready allows for up to 5-7 hours of diving time, with the actual duration strongly dependent on water temperature and usage of the high intensity on the back light. When diving a lot, as on a live-aboard, we recommend charging Icon HD Net Ready every night, like you would for a smart phone.
Icon HD Net Ready however uses up battery power also when not diving, at the rate of approx 5-6%/day. This means that the battery will go from full to empty in about two weeks without doing a single dive. This is due to the fact that Icon constantly monitors the environment, checking for ambient pressure every 20 seconds in order a) to start diving in case a diver jumped into the water without turning on Icon and b) to always have the correct reference pressure at the surface (autozero) in order to be accurate also in presence of altitude changes or barometric changes. Additionally, even in standby Icon must always be ready to receive RF (radio frequency) messages.
The standby battery consumption is quite higher in Icon HD Net Ready than it used to be on the original Icon HD without hoseless tank data integration. Aside for the energy needed to be ready for RF commands in Icon HD Net Ready, this is due to the fact that, while in Icon HD we were able to use stabilizers on the printed circuit board which were very efficient, for Icon HD Net Ready we had to use a different kind of stabilizers that unfortunately are less efficient. The switch to these stabilizers was necessary because of the high electromagnetic noise generated by the original and efficient stabilizers, which interfered with the ability to exchange information via the RF communication. The new but less efficient stabilizers are very quiet in terms of electromagnetic noise, and hence allow the communication to function, but unfortunately at the cost of a higher battery consumption. The problem of electromagnetic noise in Icon HD Net Ready is magnified by the fact that the color display itself generates significant EM noise. In other words, with all the technology packed in this instrument, it is unavoidable to have a limitation somewhere. An iPhone after all is much more likely ot be attached to a power outlet than a standard cell phone.
All this means that, even if you are not diving with Icon HD Net Ready, the battery will be empty within approx 2 weeks. If you haven't dived for 2 or 3 days, you should always recharge Icon HD Net Ready prior to a new dive. It does not hurt the computer to be left on the charger for extended periods of time, as it disconnects itself once it reaches full charge and then reconnects when the power drops by a few percent. An alternative for people with long periods of inactivity in diving is to let the battery run down and then recharge it prior to diving. Even if the battery is left empty for a few months, it does not get damaged by this and you are not going to lose any logbook data. You will however lose the correct date and time, so after charging it prior to a dive, it is necessary to set the date and time (this can be done in one click with Dive Organizer). When charging Icon HD Net Ready after a very long time of inactivity, we suggest to leave it on the charger overnight, or at least for 7 hours, to ensure a full charge.


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Q: Is it possible to do a color overlay on a specific section of an image in WordPress/Woocommerce? Let's say I have a product - a girl's dress which has three colors. Top, middle and bottom sections of the dress are n different colors. Is it possible to create an option for this, that a client could pick up provided colors and he would be able to change those colors whichever way he wants? Let's say he wants to see how the dress would look with green/yellow/blue variation or maybe opposite way. Sorry if this is too confusing:)

A: The Woocommerce Composite Product plugin has this functionality: https://woocommerce.com/products/composite-products/
You just need to use the (free) Conditional Images extension for the plugin: https://wordpress.org/plugins/composite-products-conditional-images-for-woocommerce/
For a live demo of the possibilities, see my website: https://www.bristolbicycles.co.uk/products/hybrid-bike
(as you select different components, the picture of the bike changes).
You could do the same for different colours (or shapes or styles) on the dress.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Collins Booksellers - Dialogues on the Human Ape by Laurent Dubreuil & Sue Savage-Rumbaugh, 9781452958293. Buy this book online.
Humanness is typically defined by our capacity for language and abstract thinking. Yet decades of research led by the primatologist Sue Savage-Rumbaugh has shown that chimpanzees and bonobos can acquire human language through signing and technology.
Drawing on this research, Dialogues of the Human Ape brings Savage-Rumbaugh into conversation with the philosopher Laurent Dubreuil to explore the theoretical and practical dimensions of what being a "human animal" means. In their use of dialogue as the primary mode of philosophical and scientific inquiry, the authors transcend the rigidity of scientific and humanist discourses, offering a powerful model for the dissemination of speculative hypotheses and open-ended debates grounded in scientific research.


The University of Mary Washington highly values its vendors and appreciates the outstanding services they provide to the University. Our goal is to treat our vendors fairly and with respect.
Vendors sometimes seek to express their appreciation for the University's business, especially during the holiday season. Vendors can best convey their appreciation by continuing to promptly provide high-quality goods and excellent, reliable services at the best possible prices.
The University, as an Agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and its employees are subject to the Virginia Comprehensive Conflict of Interests Act as well as the Governing Rules. The University is a member of the National Association of Educational Procurement and endorses and supports its Code of Ethics. One provision of the Code, reads, "decline personal gifts and gratuities." In keeping with that Code and the Laws of the Commonwealth, and in the spirit of a professional public entity, the employees of the University do not accept gifts of any kind from vendors.
We greatly appreciate your understanding and support of this Policy. We look forward to your continuing business in the years ahead.


So... I pissed of an Etsy seller that was posting empty vessels. And copying Creepy Hollows encyclopedia for their hussel... I bought something...was disappointed...left a bad review. I verified with my pendulum and tarot cards that it was an empty vessel. How can I protect myself if this woman is a real witch. I am Wiccan, but I'm not that experienced with witchcraft. I have done some spells, however, I AM experienced in Tarot. I have read for over ten years, so I trust my readings. Any advice?
If she's selling empty vessels and copying CH, she's probably not a real witch or capable of anything interesting.
If she were professional and capable, she'd not be attacking you over leaving a negative review either.
However, people be they witches or not can still send out negative energy in the form of evil eyes, etc.
To protect from something like that I'd just suggest a mirror/reflecting spell ---establish a mirror construct or speak to the elementals/spirits around you to instill this like a shield.
The acknowledgement and intent in this may seem simple, but does wonders with something as plain as this.. I wouldn't be worried of more elaborate confrontation from the individual.
And remember, you can sabotage your attempts at self-protection by over-concerning yourself about this person, as you are giving away your power when you fear what they are capable of.
Take the stance that they aren't capable of anything, but you're going to make sure their nasty attitude doesn't inhibit you by employing the mirror (or whatever other spells you've already done!) Then proceed to trust in what you've done, and move on.
Why not you write your experience with that seller in sellers review section. It will help others to be aware.
Jillybean wrote: So... I pissed of an Etsy seller that was posting empty vessels. And copying Creepy Hollows encyclopedia for their hussel... I bought something...was disappointed...left a bad review. I verified with my pendulum and tarot cards that it was an empty vessel. How can I protect myself if this woman is a real witch. I am Wiccan, but I'm not that experienced with witchcraft. I have done some spells, however, I AM experienced in Tarot. I have read for over ten years, so I trust my readings. Any advice?
Honestly, if this woman were a legit real witch, she would not be selling empty vessels. You have absolutely nothing to fear from her other then grumpy messages in response to your feedback to her.
I can put here one nice link about banishment defense method for you, or if your problem is already gone, for the rest of those in need. I have found it trustworthy.
And then don't forget to shield too and to ask your Spirit (if you have one) to protect you.
Also don't scare. Fear is something your enemy or entities (s)he sent in your direction can feed at. Anger too. Sadness too. Stand tall, head up and trust yourself - once you learn proper defense anyone can hurt you, not even high vibration entity.
After all even if the hex is lethal or whole life destroying, it isn't the only life we have, and once our material body stops breathing our souls are free again.
I think I know what Etsy seller you may be talking about.. I've avoided buying from her. She's also on Ebay too. I've been very on the fence about her work for the longest time. But I will personally say I do not rely on tools to tell me if a spirit is present or not in a vessel. I have a pendulum and tarot cards too and I read professionally for others, but then again you did mention you've read with tarot for over 10 years. Perhaps other people feel differently on this, but I have a claircognizant and clairvoyant ability so I usually rely on my abilities to help me.
At the same time, I completely agree though if the seller is copying descriptions, and pretending to work within a coven... There literally would be nothing to worry about because this person cannot truly cast spells or cause harm to your life. Though if they really do work within a coven and work within a practice, then that may be a different story and if they really had the intention of doing anything to you then I would just look at the above response to try shielding and self-protection techniques. At the same time, I do believe any true practicing witch would normally not resort to cursing or hexing others because of the karma they can reap from that. Especially I feel sure this person said she was the High Priestess of said-coven... That's basically the highest position you can have in a coven and it would be very naive of a witch within a coven to try harming others (but like above comment says, you never know, but this is what I think).


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Home News Staples launches Staples Safety Solutions
Staples launches Staples Safety Solutions
Staples Australia has announced that it has launched a new division called Staples Safety Solutions.
Provided image
The company is a leading single-source supplier of business products and services – part of Staples Inc., the world's largest office products company.
According to the media release by Staples, the Staples Safety Solutions is specially created to offer safety equipment to Australian businesses in the mining, construction, manufacturing, food service, transport, government and warehousing sectors.
The range includes over 25,000 products, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and work-wear, sourced from reputable safety brands.
All of the products meet either Australian or the equivalent global standards.
"The gap we saw in the market, combined with an increase in demand from our customers for a single source solution for all their PPE and work-wear, led us to launch Staples Safety Solutions," said Joe Taylor, Head of Facility Solutions, Staples Australia and New Zealand.
"Our team of Safety Specialists can help ensure that there is product consolidation across an organisation and that they're only ordering necessary equipment and clothing, reducing overhead costs and excess deliveries."
The company is also able to provide vending machines with key card access and an inventory management system that tracks stock usage and controls stock.
"Our goal is to ensure that our customers continue to have access to the most up-to-date and innovative safety products at cost effective prices and with fast delivery," added Taylor.
"We are currently working on some exciting improvements to our online ordering platform, which will make ordering work-wear a much easier experience for our customers. New functionality will enable them to customise their uniforms with logos and associated embroidery – ensuring a faster turnaround time."
For further information on Staples Safety Solutions and to obtain a copy of the 180-page standalone catalogue which showcases some of the PPE, work-wear and site safety products available, visit www.staplesadvantage.com.au
Manufacturing Australia
Staples Australia
Staples Safety Solutions
work-wear
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If you own a car or you drive one, then it is almost certain that you will need the services of a tow truck in Sandown 3873 eventually. Cars are maybe one of the best human innovations however as helpful as they may be they are prone to establishing issues now and then.
Prior to calling for a tow service, it will be essential for you to find out the kind of tow vehicle you want depending on the circumstance. This is because of that fact that there are different sort of tow vehicles, and every one of them can be used for various circumstances. The following are the three popular kinds of tow vehicles.
This tow vehicle is also frequently described as the "slide" or "rollback" tow truck. It is fitted with a hydraulically inclined bed that can be lowered to ground level. The automobile being towed is then driven or pulled onto the bed. Once the automobile is protected, the bed is then adjusted to a driving position.
The Flatbed is the most popular kind of tow vehicle specifically for emergency situations as it inflicts minimum damage on the vehicle. Instead of dragging the automobile behind the tow truck carries it on its flatbed. Besides from vehicles, the Flatbed can also be utilized to tow other equipment like little boats and motorbikes.
The Hook and Chain tow truck is most likely the oldest type of tow truck, and it has been in usage for almost as long as the vehicles. It is also the cheapest and most easily available type of tow truck. The Hook and Chain tow truck utilizes a hook and chain just as the name suggests for lifting and dragging the vehicle. The tow truck links to the axle or frame of the car from behind using chains. The chains are then used to raise the rear part of the vehicle for simple dragging.
Although these types of tow trucks are the oldest, they are no longer utilized as frequently as they were utilized years back because of the damage that they cause to the vehicle. Nevertheless, they can still be used if the cars and truck is already badly damaged or in emergency situation situations when you do not have adequate money to pay for much better alternatives.
Unlike the Flatbed, the Wheel-Lift tow truck raises your cars and truck by the wheels and after that drags it from behind. The Wheel Lift if fitted with a metal yoke and a hydraulic system to help raise your automobile either on the front or rear tires. In some cases, dolly wheels can be mounted on the trailing wheels so that all the automobile wheels are off the ground.
These tow trucks have actually replaced hook and chain trucks in the past couple of years because they trigger lower damage to your automobile. However, they are still not as safe as the Flatbed however are likewise less costly. This type of tow truck is utilized mostly when you want to decrease the damage to your vehicle, and you do not have enough cash to spend for the Flatbed tow truck.
Action time: Vehicles tend of breaking down when you least anticipate and at the wrong time for instance when you are late for work or an essential meeting. Due to this you will require a business that can react within an extremely short period. Although many tow business respond really fast, often it is never ever fast enough. To make sure that the response time is quick enough, you need to choose a local roadside assistance company.
Services: Besides from the tow service what other services does the business deal? This is an important concern to ask your possible tow provider before going for them. An excellent company must provide you other vital services like roadside support.
Schedule: In the towing company accessibility of the provider will be figured out by the number of tow trucks the company has and the variety of clients they serve. No matter how good the business might be it will only benefit you if their services are available when you need them.
The expense of the service: The cost of the service will depend on the kind of tow truck used and the range that your car will be hauled. As a vehicle owner what matters more is the security of your vehicle and so instead of constantly going for the least expensive service you must choose one that offers you worth for your money. This suggests the more you pay, the much better the service you get. However, a great business will constantly charge you relatively while still ensuring your vehicle reaches its location with very little damages.
Emergency situation services are the most typical service we get called for, and we're more than prepared to manage them. We understand that most of the problems you deal with on the road are unanticipated, and we likewise understand that you most likely have important places to be. We've trained our specialists well so that they can provide expert emergency options in a quick and efficient way to get you back on the road.
Is your automobile out of gas? Your automobile will not start? Experiencing an automobile lockout? Towing Sandown works every hour of the day and night to make sure you get the tow automobile services and roadside help you need! We provide competitive rates not just for a car tow, however also roadside help. In a roadside emergency, the last thing you must stress over is expense. Towing Sandown is a credible and qualified tow truck company you can trust.
If you find yourself with a flat tire on the highway, do not try to change it yourself. Call us for roadside support services and we'll safely, expertly, and efficiently do it for you. We offer all type of roadside assistance, from cars and truck battery jump start to gas delivery to flat tire repairs. We will bring the shop to you on the side of the roadway so that you don't have to search for a way to get to us.
Call Us Now 844-861-1977 For All Emergency Towing In The Sandown 3873 Location.


ImageNow (Desktop): "System Cannot Establish A Connection"
This covers the two most common errors when logging into the ImageNow Desktop App.
This error occurs when the prompt on your Duo app has timed out or if you have rejected the prompt.
Please click OK and sign in again. Be mindful that the Duo push has to be approved quickly or else it will time out.
This error occurs when a user has entered an incorrect password or has not added their Duo FOB code.
The Duo FOB requires users to use the append mode. See 2-Step (Append Mode): Logging into systems using "append mode" for more details.
Please click OK and sign in again.
2-Step (Append Mode): Logging into systems using "append mode"


On Monday 5th June 2017 Year 10 and 12 History students from the RSA Academy will have the privilege to hear testimony from Holocaust survivor, Mala Tribich MBE, as part of a visit organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET).
"The Holocaust Educational Trust educates and engages students from across the UK, from all communities about the Holocaust and there can be no better way than through the first-hand testimony of a survivor. Mala's story is one of tremendous courage during horrific circumstances and by hearing her testimony, students will have the opportunity to learn where prejudice and racism can ultimately lead.
Mala was born Mala Helfgott in 1930 in Piotrkow Trybunalski, Poland. When the Nazis invaded Poland in 1939, the family decided that it would be safer for Mala to be taken to the town of Czestochowa to try and pass as Christian children.
Mala was eventually taken back to the ghetto at Piotrkow. Shortly after Mala's return to the ghetto there were further round ups during which her mother and eight year old sister were taken. All these people were murdered in the local forest. When the ghetto was liquidated, Mala became a slave labourer until November 1944, when the remaining Jews were deported, Mala was sent to the Ravensbruck concentration camp.
After about 10 weeks they were transported in cattle trucks to Bergen-Belsen where conditions were appalling and Mala contracted typhus. At the time of the liberation by the British army, Mala was very ill. She was transferred to a hospital/children's home and it was many weeks before she recovered. Three months later she was sent, with a large group of children, to Sweden where she spent nearly two years. Mala was surprised to receive a letter from her brother Ben in England, the only other member of her close family to have survived.
In March 1947, Mala came to England to be reunited with Ben. In 1949, she met Maurice, whom she married in 1950. Whilst her children were growing up, Mala studied and gained a degree in Sociology from the University of London. Today Mala has two children and three grandchildren.


"You are dead wrong if you think I'm gonna be laying in a hospital bed two months after I retire. Hell, I'm not gonna sell or retire." Two months ago, John (not his real name) retained me to sell his electronics distribution business. He was one of those instinctively-good business owners, he just seemed to do a lot of things right. Look no further than his financial statement for proof, annual revenue of $8 million with profit margins in the low 20% range. Growing at a steady rate, his business was likely to sell for $7 to $8 million.
I remember what John said when he first called me, "I've been doing this for 3 years, my family is set, I don't have to work anymore, it's time for me to back out." I remember how he sounded so sure of himself, so confident, so ready to get it done.
I didn't know what to say (which doesn't happen to me very often). In one sense, I really admired John's thinking, indeed, I agree that work is a privilege. On the other hand, John isn't getting any younger, and how long he can keep the company growing and strong is uncertain. I always tell business owners to "sell before you have to", but that obviously was not what John wanted to hear.
Of course, it's unlikely that retirement is what caused John's brother's stroke, but there was no way to convince John of that. I am seeing increasing examples of the "sell before you have to" message not resonating. A lot of baby boomer business owners want to keep working. Fear of retirement is a very real thing, even when the business owner can afford to retire. But I am not in the business of changing minds; I'll never try to scare a business owner into selling. When I meet someone like John who, for whatever motivation, doesn't want to stop working, I encourage them to focus their work time on making their company sellable. That way, when the time comes to sell, whatever the catalyst, they will be ready. Though it sounds self serving to say this, I'll say it because it's true …if a business owner reads my book "Home Run, A Pro's Guide to Selling a Business" and follows my seven principles of irresistibility, they will have much more control over the timing and results of when and why they sell.


You understand the perform of an auto glass windshield however have you learnt how it's manufactured? They're used as a complete entrance window of any automobile equivalent to bus, automobile or truck. It not solely safeguards the passengers from mud, climate circumstances and incurred rocks but in addition generate aerodynamic component on the entrance of the motorcar that gives consolation whereas driving to the motive force of the automobile. Beforehand windshields have been made up of tempered reflector used for distinctive heating remedy that manages the sturdiness of the glass, so that may resist shattering. Nations like Columbus makes use of laminated multi-layer glass pane that's thought of as a protected alternative for the automobile customers. A number of strategies are utilized by the producer of auto glass in Columbus.
Parts Vital for Windshield Panes A specialised windshield is designed for the physique of the windshield. They're made up of soda ash, silica nice sand, cullet, dolomite, and limestone. For the manufacturing formulation aluminum oxide and potassium oxide is required. Soda ash reduces the melting level. Dolomite helps in rendering the versatile construction of the reflector. Limestone will increase the sturdiness. After mixing with water it mixes with the fuses that management the temperature of the decanter. After manufacturing, it's despatched to the workshops of auto glass alternative in Columbus. Strategies Used To Create Windscreen After the method is made, the part of clips in windscreen is made up of a slim sheet of molten tin the place it floats. There's an extra treating chamber of annealing that's wanted for slicing the decanter of the windshield.
To melt the glass and convey it into mildew form cool jets are used to remodel the temperature. It helps in sustaining the temperature of it and hardens it. In any case these steps lamination course of is finished with two items tempered decanter in a skinny sheet of polyvinyl that's used for butyl. Every element is heated by autoclave that's pressed between rollers. This system makes the reflecter clear and fusing with three layers. Additional elements are added by some producer to craft design on the windscreen. They use sensors to the reflector which assist to get fitted with the metallic physique of the automobile. There are a number of companies of auto glass alternative in Columbus who manufactures windscreen. They observe all of the steps through the use of totally different strategies in forming windshield.


Whether you ride solo or pillion, Ladies of Harley promotes female participation in the world of Harley-Davidson. It operates within a local Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) Chapter. Members of L.O.H. run their own meetings and sponsor activities that everyone can participate in.
Membership is free of charge, and it applies to any lady that belongs to H.O.G. with full or associate membership. However, membership it is not automatic. Your H.O.G. card will indicate whether you are a Lady of Harley and you can contact H.O.G. directly if you want to add this. Ladies of Harley have their own patches and pins too.
In Geordie Chapter, we have three Ladies of Harley Officers and they are on hand to answer any questions you may have. They organise and take part in social, travel and charitable events for everyone, including with other chapters. They hold monthly meetings, usually at the local dealership, when they get together to plan activities or just have a coffee and a natter.


text:
import os
from jinja2 import Template

def main():

    home = os.environ["HOME"]

    logdir_launchpad = raw_input("Launchpad logging directory (e.g. %s): " % os.path.join(home, "fw", "logs", "launchpad"))
    db_host = raw_input("Database host (e.g., x.mongolab.com): ")
    db_name = raw_input("Database name (e.g., covertrack): ")
    db_username = raw_input("Database username (e.g., fireworks): ")
    db_password = raw_input("Database password (stored in plaintext, unfortunately): ")
    db_port = raw_input("Database port: ")

    logdir_qadapter = raw_input("Queue adapter logging directory (e.g. %s): " % os.path.join(home, "fw", "logs", "qadapter"))
    covertrack_path = raw_input("covertrack path (e.g., %s): " % os.path.join(home, "covertrack"))

    template_my_launchpad = os.path.join(covertrack_path, "fireworks", "my_launchpad.yaml")
    my_launchpad = os.path.join(covertrack_path, "my_launchpad.yaml")

    os.makedirs(logdir_launchpad)
    os.makedirs(logdir_qadapter)

    h = open(template_my_launchpad, "r")
    t = Template(h.read())
    h.close()

    my_launchpad_text = t.render({
        "LOGDIR_LAUNCHPAD": logdir_launchpad,
        "DB_HOST": db_host,
        "DB_NAME": db_name,
        "DB_USERNAME": db_username,
        "DB_PASSWORD": db_password,
        "DB_PORT": db_port,
        })

    h = open(my_launchpad, "w")
    h.write(my_launchpad_text)
    h.close()

    template_my_qadapter = os.path.join(covertrack_path, "fireworks", "my_qadapter.yaml")
    my_qadapter = os.path.join(covertrack_path, "my_qadapter.yaml")

    h = open(template_my_qadapter, "r")
    t = Template(h.read())
    h.close()

    my_qadapter_text = t.render({
        "LOGDIR_QADAPTER": logdir_qadapter,
        "COVERTRACK_PATH": covertrack_path,
        })

    h = open(my_qadapter, "w")
    h.write(my_qadapter_text)
    h.close()

    print "Created %s with the information provided." % my_launchpad
    print "Created %s with the information provided." % my_qadapter

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Video calling is now live in Hike Messenger
Derin J Tom — October 26, 2016add comment
India's own messenger app, Hike Messenger now supports Video calling for its users. This feature was earlier launched in the beta version of the app. The beta version was available only for a few hundreds and now the stable version is going to be rolled out to all the Android users from this week.
Kavin Bharti Mittal, Founder and CEO, Hike Messenger said:
"This was an obvious one and we're excited to bring it to the market so quickly. We've been in beta for a few months and the results have been really positive. We're now excited to roll this out across our entire userbase. We see India as primarily a sight and sound market — and we believe video calling will have a large impact on how people communicate inside of Hike."
Don't miss: Video calling in WhatsApp beta for Android rolled out
All thanks to the video calling feature, the users in Hike Messenger will not only hear the voice, but can also see their friends and relatives during the call. According to the company, they developed and integrated this feature in such a way that it will work fine even in difficult situations such as being on 2G network.
Are you using Hike Messenger? Let us know if you have been waiting to have this feature in the app by commenting in the comments section below.
Also read: Top and Best Lockscreen apps for Android. You will be glad that you read it.
Android Hike Messenger


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Marvel's Eternals
Eternals Mid-Credits Scene: Who Is Harry Styles' Eros aka Starfox, Brother of Thanos?
Marvel introduces one final Eternal, Eros, and he's brother to the Mad Titan.
byJoshua Yehl
Posted Nov. 5, 2021, 4 a.m.
Warning: full spoilers for Marvel's Eternals!
The mid-credits scene for Marvel's Eternals movie introduces the brother of Thanos, Eros, aka Starfox, played by Harry Styles, along with his teleporting pal Pip the Troll, voiced by Patton Oswalt. While these eccentric characters may feel a world apart from the more stoic Eternals we met in the movie, they have an extensive shared history in the comics.
Here's everything you need to know about Starfox, from his origin and powers to his connections to the Eternals, the Avengers, and the Mad Titan himself.
Starfox's Origin
Starfox may be brother to Thanos in the comics, but they couldn't be more different. Whereas Thanos is a genocidal, power-hungry warlord, Eros is a carefree lover, not a fighter, who spends his days as hedonistically as possible. What else would you expect from a cosmic being who shares a name with the Greek god of love? In fact, according to Marvel lore, he inspired Earth's myths about Eros and was given a new superhero name by the Wasp, Starfox.
Eros aka Starfox. (Marvel Comics)
Starfox made his comic book debut right alongside his big, purple brother in 1973's Iron Man #55. He was born an Eternal on Titan, the moon of Saturn where a splinter group of Eternals made their home. Starfox lived a life filled with fun and pleasure with little in the way of actual responsibility, but that all changed when Thanos emerged as one of the greatest threats the Marvel universe has ever seen. It's worth pointing out that Thanos is technically an Eternal, too, but a recessive Deviant gene caused him to appear monstrous compared to the beautiful, god-like Eternals.
It wasn't until Thanos hatched a plan to destroy their home of Titan that Starfox snapped out of his lackadaisical life and joined the hero Captain Marvel in saving the day. While not exactly the universe's next greatest defender, Starfox finally took on actual responsibility and fashioned himself a hero. When Thanos enacted his master plan to assemble the Infinity Gauntlet, Starfox joined the Avengers in their fight to stop him.
Even though Thanos proved himself to be a monster, Starfox maintained a rocky relationship with his brother -- a relationship that was frequently pushed to the limit, like when Thanos revealed to Starfox that he killed their mother. And you thought your family had drama!
Starfox's Powers
Starfox has the same basic attributes as the other comic book Eternals: longevity, flight, accelerated healing, and super strength, speed, and endurance. The special ability that sets him apart is his psionic power to control people's emotions. He typically uses this power to make a person feel intense euphoria--a sense of love so strong that they'll do whatever he says. Unfortunately his power does not work on Thanos, otherwise instead of the Mad Titan he'd be the Glad Titan, and we never would have had that whole Snap thing happen!
As you can imagine, Starfox's reputation as a womanizer combined with his power to cast a love spell has made him the subject of controversy. For example, after a one night stand, She-Hulk beat the hell out of Starfox because she thought he may have used his power on her. But it was later revealed that he did not, and has never, used his power like that, and She-Hulk went so far as to defend him in a court of law to prove it.
That's the long and short of Starfox's adventures in the comics, but what's he going to be up to in the MCU?
Starfox's MCU Future
As for what role Starfox will play in the future of the MCU, we already have a good idea. After teleporting onto the Domo with Pip, he reveals he's in possession of one of the Eternals' communication orbs (the one Ajak and Sersi used to communicate with Arishem). He tells Thena, Druig and Makkari that their friends are in big trouble and he knows where to find them. Given that Arishem scooped up Sersi, Phastos, and Kingo and made off to parts unknown to judge them for their actions on Earth, it seems Starfox is uniquely poised to help rescue them.
That said, one has to wonder, what is Starfox's motivation for helping them? While Starfox in the comics has long proven himself to be a hero, this Starfox may be at the beginning of his character journey and may still be in a self-serving mindset. After all, what kind of "hero" has a lackey run ahead to announce their arrival by listing off numerous titles like "The Knave of Hearts"? Well, if the comics are any indication, it could be that his plan has to do with Thanos. That's right: Starfox could be on a secret mission to resurrect his brother.
Now, it's hard to say whether MCU Starfox is actually Thanos' brother like in the comics. After all, Starfox is supposed to be an Eternal, but MCU Eternals are a big departure from the comics because they were revealed to be cosmic robots, whereas comic book Eternals are living beings. So if Thanos was a real being, as we know him to be, then how could his brother be a synthetic Eternal? Perhaps MCU Starfox isn't an Eternal at all, but a flesh-and-blood alien with a different origin than the comics. We'll have to wait and see.
But either way, even though comic book Starfox often fights against his brother, he still has a soft spot for him. After all, Starfox is all about love. In fact, when Thanos was killed in the comics, Starfox proved to be the key to bringing him back to life. Given there's a precedent in the comics, it could be that MCU Starfox may be how Thanos makes his grand return. But would Starfox even be able to redeem his brother? If our theory comes to pass, we'll just have to wait and see.
Be sure to check out IGN's Eternals review and an explainer on the Marvel hero teased in the Eternals post-credits scene played by Kit Harrington, the Black Knight.
Developer: Marvel Studios
Publisher: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Why the success of Guardians of the Galaxy depends on a talking raccoon


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BREAKING: Donald Trump's Farewell Speech: 'I Hope They Don't Raise Your Taxes'
Putin Explains Why Russia Can Afford to Spend Less on Defence
© Sputnik / Mikhail Klimentyev
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.com/i/logo-itemprop.png
https://sputniknews.com/military/201911111077281330-putin-explains-why-russia-can-afford-to-spend-less-on-defence/
Russia is one of just a handful of major military powers to actually make cuts to its defence spending in recent years, and recently dropped out of the top five countries in terms of total spending.
Reductions in Russia's defence spending are related to the country passing the "peak of modernisation," allowing the government to contribute fewer resources while maintaining the same level of defence, President Vladimir Putin has said.
"[Cuts] aren't related to us letting things slide when it comes to these issues, but due to the fact that the main planned initiatives connected to the need to intensify work on ensuring the country's security…and with regard to the need to ensure the renewal of military equipment and hardware, and we have passed the peak of this work," Putin said, speaking at a government meeting on Monday.
Putin noted that Russia's military-industrial complex will need to continue its efforts to create high-tech, competitive equipment, and not resort to "making pots and pans" (i.e. engage low-tech civilian production) as it had to in the 1990s.
The president instructed the government to prepare "clear-cut and understandable" plans to include defence enterprises in the realisation of national projects, a series of government initiatives aimed at improving various aspects of Russia's economy, science, and human development, and to report back on the necessary regulatory or organisational decisions which could help the defence industry in this area.
"It's necessary to ensure the strict, targeted use of funds allocated for the purchase of machinery and equipment. I want to emphasise that we must reach absolute transparency in this area," Putin said. "The flow of funds should be clearly monitored at all levels of government and for all types of budget expenditures," he added.
'Russia Won't Be Dragged Into an Arms Race'
Last month, Putin told media that Moscow would not be dragged into another arms race with the United States, and said that even though Russia was only spending $48 billion on defence and ranked seventh in the world behind the US, China, Saudi Arabia, the UK, France and Japan, Moscow enjoyed "unmatched military capabilities" thanks to "focused research on priority areas" by Russia's defence engineers and specialists.
"An arms race is a bad thing, and it will not be good for the world. However, we will not be dragged into exorbitant budget spending games," Putin said.
Earlier this year, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, an independent think tank focused on conflict and disarmament, calculated that NATO had spent over $1 trillion on defence in 2018, with seven of the alliance's members making the list of the top 15 countries in terms of total defence spending.
7 of the 15 highest military spenders are members of NATO:
Canada🇨🇦
France🇫🇷
Germany🇩🇪
Italy🇮🇹
Turkey🇹🇷
UK🇬🇧
USA🇺🇸
Comparison in the graphic below and in SIPRI's #MILEX report: https://t.co/vkhLyUZ155 pic.twitter.com/K8EbHrYE5T
— SIPRI (@SIPRIorg) 9 мая 2019 г.
In October, NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance should be prepared to continue to increase members' defence budgets, even as an additional $100 billion in spending is expected to be added in 2020.
The Trump administration has pressured all of NATO's members to increase spending to 2 percent of GDP, and US lawmakers have approved increasing defence spending to $686 billion, up from $667.6 billion in 2018. The Trump administration has also continued the 30 year, $1 trillion programme of upgrading the US's nuclear forces that was started by his predecessor Barack Obama, and overseen an increase in NATO deployments and drills along the bloc's borders with Russia.
Russia to Boost Defence Potential, Deploy Modern Weapons for Combat Duty - Putin
Putin Explains How AI Research Can Help Bring About New Civilisational Breakthroughs
Erdogan, Putin Discuss Syria Over Phone, Reaffirm Commitment to Sochi Memorandum
Putin, Erdogan Discuss Syria, Mutual Projects, Pledge to Commission TurkStream by Year End - Kremlin
13:39 GMT Donald Trump's Farewell Speech: 'I Hope They Don't Raise Your Taxes'
13:33 GMT Trump's Adult Children 'Need to Be Shut Out of Politics, Contained', Niece of Outgoing POTUS Charges
13:33 GMT Tesla Reportedly Seeks Specialist to Protect Elon Musk From Criticism on Social Media


South Africa is the southernmost country in Africa, bordering Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, and Lesotho. As it has 11 official languages, it is a multi-ethnic society with a wide variety of cultures and religions. South Africa is well known for its wine and its gold.
South Africa consists of two parts: its major cities such as Cape Town and Johannesburg are a first world state, while the other side of the country is under developed and has a large scale poverty. Therefore, it is one of the most unequal countries in the world.
Worth a stop are Hermanus, the Kruger National Park, Limpopo, the annual Sardine Run, the Addo Elephant National Park, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Sodwana Bay, the Whale Route, Zilkaatsnek Nature Reserve, the Table Mountain, Cape Point, the Garden Route, the Botanical Paradise Grootbos Nature Reserve, Tsitsikamma, the Augrabies Falls, the Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park, the Blyde River Canyon, Robben Island, the Cederberg, the Eastern Cape coast, the Bloukrans Bridge, Graskop Gorge, the Karoo semidesert, the Kalahari semidesert, the Swartberg and the Cape Winelands.


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The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2: Coin Flip
Since I began watching The Hunger Games movies a month ago, I've been struggling to put my finger on why it is that I have found myself simultaneously intrigued and frustrated. Even when it's been objectively good, I haven't been able to find that investment. But after watching the conclusion in Mockingjay Part 2, I think I can finally put my finger on it. This franchise had two main threads…almost two different stories, if you will.
One was an insular and intimate exploration of the effect such an unjust, violent, and oppressive world has on its more marginalized citizens, and how in light of this, two survivors of trauma managed to find mutual support and some semblance of peace with one another. Katniss and Peeta's relationship really took off for me in Catching Fire, and to see them end with a quiet life after so much suffering was just…nice. In some ways it makes me uncomfortable that this romance is the clearest part of Katniss's character arc I can point to, but the fact is, her growing to be able to care for someone past survival instinct and the protection of her family was rather significant. And perhaps the point? It wasn't perfect, but this aspect worked; it played out in a meaningful way.
However, the other story was that of the revolution. Of Panem's political system; the way we see this cat-and-mouse dynamic first established with the hunger games ultimately play out on a larger scale, complete with Katniss blowing up its foundation yet again. That sounds deep, doesn't it? There is something poetic about how Katniss's final arrow in Catching Fire so beautifully parallels her murder of Coin. Add to that Snow and Plutarch (I looked up his name for you this time) with their pithy bits of wisdom, and the fact that the climactic showdown was a nuanced conversation, and you'd think this would be something I'd love.
Except…it wasn't executed well at all. And kind of didn't make any sense. Not to mention, the revolutionary plotline was the "excitement" and the external "stuff that happens," so it necessitated a large focus. That's fine, except for the fact that I would argue it ended up competing with, and ultimately eclipsing, Katniss's internal journey. Maybe a large part of this is due to the visual medium? It's a bit challenging to get a handle on her headspace when she's being attacked by sewer boogers.
To discuss what didn't work in this film, I think I have to start with President Coin. Maybe I had this coming…I rather liked her in Mockingjay: Part 1 because she seemed pretty dang reasonable. Not perfect, not charismatic for sure, but reasonable. I'm worried that I might have projected too much competency onto her? Or logic? Except, no, I don't think I did. We know she was the elected President of District 13, and we get a quick sense that her leadership was characterized by pragmatism, an ability to make tough calls (the whole "wait this out and don't update their intelligence" thing springs to mind), and a tendency to present blunt truths with no thought to politics or image, if her non-Plutarch speech is anything to go by.
Someone in the comment section made the comparison that she was a Stannis, with Plutarch becoming her Davos; an apt analogy given how Plutarch's influence by the end of Mockingjay: Part 1 helped her seem more likeable…a legitimate quality needed when launching a revolution.
However, perhaps this comparison was a bit too on the nose, because what happened to Coin this in this film was quite reminiscent of Game of Thrones's treatment of "Stannis," where he illogically burns his heir in the most recent season.
Seriously, I have spent quite some time thinking about this, and I really don't believe it's unfair to point out that Coin just randomly grew a moustache to twirl during this movie.
Out of the gate, Coin agrees with Gale's "wolves in the den" strategy, but insisted that the rails be left open for civilians to escape, which seemed kind of like the only call to make? But we're clearly supposed to be on Katniss's side and sympathize with her horrified face, even though the entire time I was shouting at my screen, "what did you think a revolution would entail?" And all of this led to Katniss getting shot, in a situation where of course she'd get fucking shot; why was anyone letting her walk near that?
After this incident, Coin reasonably objects to Katniss heading to the front lines given her injury and importance, and when Katniss disobeys, Coin calls it "insubordination." Plutarch's reaction to that is clearly supposed to be skepticism, but given how District 13 is a military district where people follow orders, it kinda makes sense, right?
Except then the next thing we know, Coin decides to airdrop Peeta into Katniss's revolutionary band, and Boggs, who had been presented as nothing but a dutiful soldier, is suddenly all "Coin is trying to kill you because you might not publicly endorse her in an election." What.
In fact, Boggs is so mistrustful of Coin that he turns over possession of the hologram thingy to Katniss as he's dying (I thought it was because she was right there, but whatever), leading to a random showdown with Katniss and that lady who I think was their new commanding officer? And Natalie Dormer decided to lie because no one is Team Coin anymore?? And then Commanding Officer Lady goes with it too because of Boggs???
What the hot hell is happening?
I'm sorry, it's just that in the span of what seemed like ten minutes, Coin goes from making a few calls that are worth questioning, but reasonable given the revolutionary context, to deciding that it's a grand ol' idea to rather blatantly risk Katniss's life, despite the fact that Katniss had almost no strong feelings about the woman. Is paranoia a character flaw of Coin's that they just forgot to seed? How is it worth "inflaming" the rebels at this point when the districts are united? And how is it that her own soldiers are all suspicious of her in an instant?
Then we need to talk about Coin's brill strategy to bomb the Capitol's children. Keep in mind, most of this movie takes place after all the districts have been "liberated" or joined the rebel cause, or however you want to put it. I'm actually not sure why every single rebel didn't just point out the fact that "hey we control all of the resources, so let's just hold up and wait out the Capitol's inevitable surrender." Seriously, this wasn't even suggested, and this is a universe that lived through our history, so it's not as though a blockade is something they wouldn't have heard of.
But whatever, apparently the best play for Snow was to booby trap the entirety of the Capitol and televise gruesome deaths of rebel soldiers while he hides in his mansion. And the best play for Coin was to send troops marching through, but have Katniss and the Rebels of Moderate Importance follow in their wake to film more propaganda. Propaganda for who? Doesn't matter. Need more, or else they can't take the Capitol, because reasons.
Oh and let's have Finnick lampshade that this is the "76 Hunger Games" because it's getting apparent that this author might be a one-trick pony.
Anyway, once the rebel forces get close, Snow orders a mandatory evacuation to his mansion for citizens "more than a half mile outside the city's center." Who somehow were unaffected by his massive amounts of booby traps, or something. (Also, this is neither here nor there, but I really thought he had ordered an evacuation earlier in the movie, which only added to the "what" factor.) So all these children and families and stuff make their way towards the mansion's gates, because Snow promised safe haven and pointed out that the rebels are coming to "destroy their way of life." Which…yeah, actually.
But here's Coin's amazing plan: she's gonna have a "Capitol" airship drop "supplies" onto the crowd of innocent Capitol civilians, except hold up: they're actually bombs.
Then she's going to send in her own medical crews…oh wait! There were more bombs that had a delayed fuse, which blew up even more innocents, along with a bunch of her own people. This results in Snow's "people turning against him," allowing the rebels to take the Capitol and win.
Except…how were they in danger of losing exactly? Coin was just that impatient? Or is it that she has a taste for blood of her own?
Like, it makes no sense, on a fundamental level. The rebels were at the gates at this point, and as Snow put it, "it was only a matter of time." It made so little sense that for a second that I assumed Snow was lying to Katniss in their rose garden conversation, except his words were more or less confirmed with Gale's admission about the bomb and Coin's Stalin impression for the remainder of the film. We can try and be generous and say that Coin just didn't want to raise the body-count of her own forces any more, except that she sent in her own fucking medics (unless Prim randomly switched sides), knowing they'd blow up.
To say it was "unmotivated" is putting it mildly. But I guess after that, why not declare yourself interim president (even though as the President of District 13 she probably would have been able to give orders without arousing suspicion anyway, and likely would have won an election) and propose more hunger games? Just fuck it, at this point.
Me too, Joanna
And because of how nonsensical it all seemed, "may your aim be as true as your heart is pure" went from being what should have been a clever and impactful parallel to a groan-worthy anvil to the head.
There's also the fact that the large majority of Snow's conversation with Katniss made little to no sense, but was clearly written by someone who thought it was very clever. I guess in fairness, it did start out that way? If nothing else, I loved the touch that Snow let Katniss see him bleed; symbolism is fun sometimes.
But the thing is, throughout this entire franchise none of Snow's actions made a whole lot of sense either, and this conversation only served to highlight that. I mean, yes, we can chalk a lot of that up to his Katniss-obsession. However, he then blamed that on Coin with his "I was watching you while you were watching me while she was actually grabbing power." And just…no. You began directly fucking with Katniss in Catching Fire, and pissed her and everyone off with your terrible, terrible quarter-quell idea, while Coin, I don't know, brewed non-caffeinated tea underground.
The assertion that "she pitted the Capitol against the districts" so that she could "take control of District 13's arsenal" is equally meaningless, because she was the district's President and kinda already had that control. And this is also literally the definition of what a revolution is.
The only sense I can make of this at all is that maybe it was Plutarch who secretly won the long game? He definitely manipulated Snow during the events of Catching Fire, and then I guess the argument could be made that he used Coin as needed, somehow ensured that Katniss was let into talk to Snow so that she'd want to assassinate her, and ended up winning by supporting a "Commander Paylor" candidacy? Which honestly, sounds more like the "Palpatine controlled everything" honeypot of the Star Wars prequels than anything actually in evidence within this franchise. Also what did he get out of it? A sweet Chief of Staff position? Cause Leo McGarry seemed so happy all the time.
This isn't made better by the fact that Philip Seymour Hoffman died in the middle of this movie's production, so I'm guessing there were supposed to be other scenes showing his "moves." Like, I'm quite certain Haymitch doesn't turn up with a letter from Plutarch when Katniss is in jail, though I'll certainly give it a pass.
The worst part is that I could go on. Why did Snow order an evacuation of his citizens if he was about to surrender? Was it just to demonstrate how ruthless Coin was to Katniss because he knew she'd bomb the kids magically? Was it because he truly believed he had food for everyone? Is this evidence that he was actually the one lying and it was just quite lucky for him that Coin began not-subtly grabbing power and turned Katniss against her? (Though his actual manner of death was far worse than an arrow to the heart in my opinion.)
And for the love of god, will someone seriously tell me how it is that the Capitol even sustained itself without the districts? Like, forget rigging every street and putting on a massive television show for a handful of people… Where was their food coming from?
I feel bad hammering on just the politics, but I truly don't know what else to make of a franchise whose plotline revolved around toppling a dystopian government. This isn't aided by the fact that aside from Theon's Peeta's recovery arc and Jennifer Lawrence's acting, there is barely anything left to recommend this movie. I think we were supposed to be emotional about a wedding between two people we saw hug once. We were supposed to be scared when literal boogeymen chased everyone through the sewers. We were, god I have no clue, supposed to feel the tension(?) when Gale and Peeta talk about the love triangle five feet away from Katniss. And we were supposed to buy that Nat Dormer and her smirk was more equipped to survive a war-zone than what was it? 5 seasoned soldiers who all ate it?
I don't think this will be the last I write on Mockingjay Part 2. In many ways it cries out for a snarky recap, but in others, there is something very legitimate and deep to talk about with some of interpersonal relationships. Some of them.
However, overall it was impossible to ignore the illogical politics, inconsistent characterizations, and random 'splosions that characterized this film. It was very flash over substance, complete with a pseudo-intellectual bow on top. At least the final few scenes focused on the one narrative thread that worked.
All images courtesy of Lions Gate Entertainment
Kylie is a Managing Editor at The Fandomentals on a mission to slay all the tropes. She has a penchant for complex familial dynamics and is easily pleased when authors include in-depth business details.
In this article:hunger games,katniss everdeen,mockingjay,president coin,president snow,the hunger games
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