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The Skull Throne
The Skull Throne by Peter V. Brett
Ahmann Jardir and Arlen Bales, the two men believed to be the Deliverers of the world by many, are missing after Arlen threw them both from a cliff during their fight to the death. Their respective followers are forced to regroup and learn how to move forward without them.
In Everam's Bounty, Inevera attempts to keep a firm grasp on her power while keeping her sons, Jayan and Asome, from starting a civil war in order to claim their fathers' throne.
In Hollow County, Leesha Paper and Rojer Inn are summoned to the duchy of Angiers while hoping to gain additional aid from the Duke.
The duchy of Lakton is the next prize the Krasians intend to conquer as they move farther north in their goal to assimilate every man, woman, and child for Sharak Ka, the first war against demonkind.
First and foremost I have to admit that I'm unashamedly a huge fan of The Demon Cycle Series by Peter V. Brett. I've read every book and novella in the series multiple times. The Skull Throne is a worthy sequel and it sets the stage brilliantly for the series conclusion.
The Warded Man and Ahmann Jardir are missing in the story, but I was equally missing them. It was hard not having the series two strongest and in my opinion most interesting characters appearing constantly. The moments when they do appear in The Skull Throne are easily among the best moments in the entire series.
With the focus off of Arlen and Jardir, Peter V. Brett brilliantly manages to strengthen his other characters and his world. The void left by Arlen and Jardir effects Hollow County and Everam's Bounty differently. In Hollow County, things continue going strong and are getting ever stronger without Arlen's presence. I believe that's largely thanks to the fact that Arlen taught leaders and left them to lead on their own. In Everam's Bounty on the other hand things are in turmoil. Ahmann Jardir's every word became law and the Krasians utterly depended on his leadership. In Jardir's absence dissension reigns and every aspect of Krasian leadership is vying for control especially the Damaji, Jayan, and Asome. With Arlen and Jardir gone the world has also changed. The corelings priority has shifted away from razing Hollow County and Everam's Bounty. Each waning, since the one in The Daylight War, hasn't been an all out war or even a war at all. The Minds and Mimics haven't been seen on waning, but don't for a moment think they're gone.
Leesha, Rojer, Inevera, and Abban all assume greater roles of leadership in The Skull Throne to fill the shoes of the missing Arlen and Ahmann.
Leesha despite being about 3 months pregnant at the start of the story finally seemed to get her act together. After a number of particularly head scratching decisions in The Desert Spear and The Daylight War, Leesha was once again the leader I expected she'd be at the end of The Warded Man. Leesha is faced with numerous hard decisions and she handled them well. The ward witch as she's known by many has continued to give people valid reason to call her by that nickname. Leesha's also shown why she's Inevera's zahven.
Rojer despite becoming a married man has continued being his reliable jongleur self. The influence of Rojer's wives, Amanvah and Sikvah, can easily be noticed when he's thinking to himself though. Rojer is forced to deal with the results of his actions and inactions while living in Angiers during The Warded Man.
Inevera proves once more in The Skull Throne why she's such a dangerous adversary. Inevera is certainly not an enemy any wise person would choose. She sets the dama'ting and sharum'ting to showing off their true power in order to help secure her status as Damajah and secure Krasia's leadership.
Abban, the profit minded khaffit, continues to influence from the shadows by a whisper. His prophecies of profit continue to benefit him. Abban as expected finds the most profitable path to follow once Ahmann Jardir goes missing.
Some other characters who particularly shone in The Skull Throne were Count Thamos, Briar Damaj, and Asome.
Count Thamos by the end of The Daylight War still seemed a mostly vain and greedy royal who was more concerned with his own interests than that of the Hollow. In this edition Thamos has truly shown his development into an honorable trustworthy man, leader, and Count. He loves his people and they love him as well.
Briar Damaj, the tragically orphaned half Thesan half Krasian boy from Messenger's Legacy shone in his short time in The Skull Throne. We get to see just how dangerous a boy who has survived 10 years in the naked night and the bogs of Bogton can be. Briar was a major bright spot in the story and I hope to see him gain a larger role in the series final book.
Asome, the dama second son of Ahmann Jardir and Inevera, really shocked me in a great way. He is the opposite of his unthinking Sharum Ka brother Jayan; he's clever, calculated, and capable. Asome is a true son to Krasia, Ahmann Jardir, and most of all Inevera.
The battles in The Skull Throne were as crisp and sharp as ever. Including one battle I'd list as the best one of the series to date. Peter V. Brett really excels in depicting battles and comes up with increasingly interesting ways to utilize his characters abilities. The magic continues to expand with many characters learning to use their ward sight just as Jardir and Arlen had in The Daylight War.
The consequences in The Skull Throne felt more significant than ever before in the series. Past due debts are collected in blood. Foolish choices in this one lead to death more often than not. I'm personally still in shock over many of the events that took place.
There is only one thing I want to mention that seemed a bit off to me. After finishing The Skull Throne, Renna seems an odd choice for the character featured on the cover. My problem isn't with the cover artwork which is absolutely amazing. My concern is Renna is not a prominent character in The Skull Throne. The previous novels The Warded Man, The Desert Spear, and The Daylight War all had one of the most prominent characters on the cover with Arlen Bales, Ahmann Jardir, and Inevera respectively gracing the covers. Leesha, Rojer, Inevera, and Abban are all featured more in The Skull Throne than Renna. Leesha, Rojer, or Abban all seemed to be more fitting choices than Renna particularly if the goal was to avoid re-using characters to feature on the cover.
The Skull Throne was another great book by Peter V. Brett. I'd be lying to say I expected this book to go the way it did, but I definitely enjoyed reading it and I'm looking forward to re-reading it too.
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Posted by Terence Thomas at 10:22 AM
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In a desperate attempt to deflect from the damage to his presidency, Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday codified what Bernard Connolly has written about for 25 years. As Charles de Gaulle supposedly said to Konrad Adenauer: "Europe is France and Germany, the rest trimmings." In a resurrection of European history, Angela Merkel and Macron signed a new Treaty of Aachen. While the treaty language is vapid, the symbolism cannot be minimized. Germany and France promise to come to each other's defense if attacked while also promising to work for a more unified financial and fiscal system.
Notes From Underground: Angie, Where Will It Lead Us From Here?
Germany chose a new CDU party leader to replace Angela Merkel. Membership chose Merkel's hand-picked choice Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, also known as AKK. This is a very poor choice as it reflects a continuation of the status quo at a time that the traditional German ruling parties are struggling to maintain voter support. These are turbulent times for Germany, Europe and the world and Chancellor Merkel has proven to be too staid to deal with a world threatened by a populist upheaval.
There was singing in Rome when Angela Merkel announced that she is stepping down as the leader of the Christian Democratic Union. The two most recent German regional elections has solidified the unmitigated truth about the weakened condition of the German chancellor. For the last six years, I have been highly critical about Merkel's policies. The bumbling French President Nicholas Sarkozy out-maneuvered Merkel in 2011 as he prevented then-Bundesbank President Axel Weber from leading the ECB.
It is always a pleasure to talk with the Richard Bonugli at the Financial Repression Authority. Like Anthony Cruedele of Futures Radio, Richard is a very astute financial mind, which allows for deep discussions in a longer format. We cover several issues discussed in Notes From Underground so I'm sorry if it seems redundant, but I will say that we take a deeper dive on the issues. The segment taped on Wednesday, January 10 so from a trading perspective the information may be stale. But from an investors' perspective it will still be relevant as the markets begin to unravel the mysteries of a new year. We dive deeper into Europe as I am certain the continent will provide much of the tinder for market volatility in 2018. This weekend proved the case as several stories from Europe propelled the DOLLAR lower as U.S. markets were on holiday for Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday.
Notes From Underground: German Elections. The Sound of Complacency Shattering?
I will start tonight's BLOG with two very good comments from a long time reader and contributor GREEN AB who hails from Germany. Green has always provided great insight and though we don't always agree I have great respect for his perspective. On Thursday he posted a very prescient forecast about today's election and Sunday he followed with a post-election thoughts.
It is a great honor to feature another podcast with Peter Boockvar for The Financial Repression Authority. Peter is certainly one of the regular commentators that I watch with great interest whenever he is on Bloomberg, Fox Business or CNBC. I think we cover much of the global financial landscape. While it may run long, it is a lot easier than reading a 20,000-word blog post. Pour the scotch and give it a listen.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST EPISODE!
I'm still nursing a New Year's hangover. It takes a long time for the mind to rid itself of all the news the mainstream media deems fit to read. But as the third rock keeps spinning, markets will keep moving and we will strive to untangle the ball of confusion. After today's tepid ADP data the market has settled into a consensus for 175,000 nonfarm payrolls. Again, I would love to see a number greater than 250,000 just to test the recent market action. BONDS rallied, currencies rallied against the DOLLAR, precious metals are showing early year strength and commodities have held support levels in the age of TRUMFLATIONARY EXPANSIONARY EXPECTATIONS.
I've been staring at this image and keep thinking about the three living Fed Chairmen that sat on the stage April 7 and the fourth that was teleported from Washington, D.C. I was thinking about the replies to weak questions posed by the moderator and better questions from the audience. I thought about the question I would have asked first. I would have asked each Fed Chair what they had thought about the role of GOLD in the post-Bretton Woods global financial system. Ben Bernanke famously opined that he didn't understand GOLD but seemed very comfortable visualizing a role for BITCOIN. Yellen has never openly stated her concern about the barbarous relic. Back in the 1960s, Alan Greenspan wrote a serious paper for the Ayn Rand society on the important role of GOLD in a global system and more important for the impact of GOLD for a democratic capitalist world.
The main political news of the weekend was the falling electoral support of German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the three regional elections. The refugee issue continued to be the theme of voter discontent, according to the script presented by the nattering nabobs of nonsense. I have written that the financial repression foisted upon the German saving class was going to be a problem for Chancellor Merkel as insurance and pension funds were being punished in an effort to bail out the peripheral banks and ultimately the heavily indebted governments of the non-German core countries. Unlike the U.S., which has some political input on the role of the Federal Reserve, the German electorate is subjugated to a central bank over which it has no authority.
As the markets were heading into the close on Friday afternoon, I noticed that silver and gold were rallying and the newswire failed to provide any headline for the a substantial price rise. (There was no Syria news or any other type of geo-political event.) The weekend news also failed to support the rally at least until a few hours ago when the Washington Post ran a headline announcing that Larry Summers had withdrawn his name for consideration for Chairman of the Fed. Many pundits have been maintaining that Summers would be quick to end the entire QE program and thus would have a negative impact on all asset prices. Nonsense in the first degree, but as a trader, the first rule is to respect prices. The removal of Summers has led to the U.S. dollar selling in early Asian trading as the anticipation is now the Fed will be under a Chairman more in step with the Bernanke method of central bank theory.


Reporting to a high-profile partner, this is a rare and exciting role in the current market with both technical competence and client facing skills required.
This is a superb opportunity to act for mid to high net worth private clients alongside assisting the senior team on more complex financial matters. Alongside finances (including pensions, foreign assets, business arrangements etc) the successful applicant will be dealing with pre and post nuptial agreements, co-habitation and private children law. Networking and client development will be key aspects of the role.
We have been instructed to present details of family solicitors who have good academics and experience gained from a similarly highly rated law firm. Along with the quality of work, an excellent starting salary and long term career prospects are both on offer.
Please click 'apply'. Don't worry if you don't have an up to date cv, call or text me on 07903 222 898 to get the ball rolling.


Question in regards to Jayco quality. Presently considering a 28.5RSTS. To all of the owners out there with one of the newer model HT series would you purchace another knowing what you know now? Appears to be some substantial changes from the 2018 to the 2019 models. Interior colors are new as well as an out door kitchen added. Dealer told me one of the issues with the pre 19 models was the slide system which have been addressed in the 19's. He did not have an 18 on the lot so he was certainly embellishing the new model. What were the issues with the slide systems and how has Jayco been in regards to warranting said issue? What other warrantable issues have people experianced?
Some of the models used the Schwintek system on heavier slides (like kitchen) and they did not do well some of the time. When used on lighter slides (like our bedroom closet slide) they work very well.
I have a 2017 28.5. Bought it used and called Jayco and got the history on it before we bought. 2 very minor issue fixed under warranty from the previous owner.
I have had a few minor issues since we have owned it since March but dont have a warranty since you only get that from Jayco if your the original owner. I am a very handy person and never plan to bring it in for any repair.
So far we are very happy with the unit and would buy it again. We traded in a 2018 Rockwood 2440BS that we didnt care for at all. I would never get a Rockwood again.
Everyone has different experiences. But I think Jayco is above average in quality for the money.
We have had our 2018 28.5 RSTS for a year. It's been towed over 3500 miles so far and used at least three weekends a month with one long trip per year. Other than a few very minor issues, which were promptly addressed by our wonderful dealer, it has been great. I would definitely buy it again. To date, we have had no issues with any of our slides and we load the kitchen/entertainment slide heavy. It has the Schwintek slide. We do make sure that we are always level. Extremely happy so far.
We have a 2018 Eagle HT 29.5 FBDS, I have had 2 water leaks in the plumbing. One on the kitchen sink fixture because the fitting was only hand tight. I tightened it and it's fixed. The other was on the water heater. It was tight but the fitting was installed with the seal cocked. I straightened the seal and re-tightened it and really had to, what I consider, over tighten the fitting but it is not leaked again. Neither of these leaks happened for the first few camping trips. We have camped a total of about 50 nights this summer and towed approximately 2500 miles. Have about 10 more nights scheduled. I had an Eagle Super Lite (see in my signature) for 6 years and did not have any issues. That's why I bought the new Eagle HT. Good luck and just get what you like and go with the flow. You may have problems with any RV you buy as you can see if you check the other brand forums.
We have the 2017 Eagle HT 28.5 RSTS, and are quite happy with it. We've had some minor issues which were addressed by our great dealer; Forrest Marine and RV in Tynesboro, MA. I would definitely recommend it. My only complaint is that I wished it slept more than four people. Good luck.
You may be thinking...wow...that's a lot of problems. I've come to learn (we are newbies) , that ALL RV manufacturers have these issues. I was naive in thinking that this was going to be like a new car. I must admit I would NEVER buy from a dealership far from our home. You need to get it to them for your warranty work so accessibility is also critical. Our Jayco dealership has been great. (Hilltop RV in MN) One reason we purchased Jayco was due to their 2 year warranty. We are thinking the bugs will be all worked out from manufacturer slips by then. Time and years of use will determine the longevity of our 5th wheel. We take good care of our things by doing proper maintenance and plan on continuing this with our Eagle. I think a good dealership is the key! I would pay slightly more for this We love our 28.5 ...we will be adding another AC to our bedroom and may change out our recliners for theatre seating in the future due to the lack of space from the bigger recliners.
My newbie advice is find a great customer service dealership and expect some issues.


CBD oil made from hemp, that is THC-free, is legal to sell in the UK, but many merchant processors shy away from accepting vendors that sell it because they consider that particular industry to be high-risk. It can be hard to find merchant processors that offer good rates and that want to work with companies that sell CBD oil – however, there are some companies that do allow CBD sellers, and that will do their best to accommodate sellers large or small. Read How Much Does It Cost To Set Up a Merchant Account Info .
Then you might find that you have to accept long holds on your transactions, or to have a rolling balance. You may be charged higher rates than average, but that is something that you might need to accept until your business gets established. Once you have a monthly processing volume of £30,000 or more, you can expect better tratment from merchant processing companies.
For smaller companies, eCheck solutions are a good option. This is particularly true if you are selling products online and dealing internationally. There is minimal risk for you as a seller, and it is comparatively friction-free for the buyer too.
If you are a more experienced brand and you can beet the volume requirements that some of the high-risk payment processors use, then you can get some quite beneficial rates compared to the lower-volume accounts. A transaction rate of up to around 8% is not unusual, and that is still higher than what you might see with some of the low-risk accounts for more mainstream businesses – but if you are selling internationally and not just in the UK then you may have to accept that, and accept rolling reserves and slow settlements too.
For your fee, plus an annual account maintenance fee, you can get access to payment processing accounts that will allow you to trade in 100 currencies. Web-merchant.co.uk for example allows 100 currencies, and settlements in GBP, EUR, Bitcoin and RMB – that's a lot of flexibility.
Because of the comparative high risk of the industry that you are getting into, and you will need a trading website that is already established, and you will need some decent trading history. Expect to be asked about chargebacks and refunds, and to need to show proof of your past history.
The CBD industry is growing rapidly, and CBD is becoming legal in more and more states in the USA. The UK's own attitude towards cannabis in general is starting to soften, although it will take some time before there are any changes to the law – if that ever happens. CBD may eventually occupy a category outside of that of cannabis in the minds of more officials, and that will make it easier for merchants to sell it online without fear of repurcussions. For now, however, the best you can hope for is a high-risk specialist offering an account. For futher details click at www.thesoutherninstitute.com/cbd-merchant-account/ .


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Memorial Days and Images of Hawaii
The famous credit sequence for Hawaii Five-O (1968-1980) remains a thrilling piece of media. Although more well-known for its music (as with many such Hawaiian-themed artifacts in the American imagination), the visual sequence itself is a remarkable work of montage that even today can hold its own against the latest films and music videos. Yet, the aesthetics of those credits are only a small part of why I find it (and the show itself) absorbing—like the larger narrative canvas of Hawaii Five-O—it is also a remarkable historical snapshot of the mainland's particular fascination with Hawaii in the middle of the 20th Century.
The credit sequence in Hawaii Five-O is a montage of the state's appeal—spliced between introductions to the show's stars are extended shots of Waikiki Beach, a weirdly excessive fetishization of a United Airlines 707 jet airliner (the popularity of Hawaii rose partly in tandem with the emergence of affordable airfare and a new US middle-class), hula dancing and Hawaiian girls, Honolulu's nightlife and so forth.
But what I always find the most striking in this sequence every time are two separate shots of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu—one a bird's eye view of the Honolulu Memorial and then a cut to a zoom-in on the Lady Columbia statue. Built just four years before the show began, it is a tribute to veterans of WWII and the Korean War (later, too, of Vietnam—a conflict which Hawaii Five-O negotiated in interesting ways during its run). The appeal of Hawaii in the mid-20th Century was always very much in dialogue with war.
My next major project, which will take many years to complete, will be a study of US images of Hawaii in film and television from roughly 1935 to 1970. The particular emphasis will probably be the 1950s and 1960s, when the territory/state was at the height of its popularity in the mainland, but the roots of that popularity stretched back to before WWII. The white sugar plantation owners in Hawaii by the 1930s realized that that commodity wasn't going to last, and thus made the conscious decision to rebrand Hawaii as a tourist destination. As early as 1935, Hawaii became a fad in the mainland US, with the popularity of Harry Owens music and Bing Crosby musicals (in particular, 1938's Waikiki Wedding). By 1940, the interest had begun to wane, until the attack on Pearl Harbor, which added a whole other layer to the issue. While the US military had long built up a huge presence there, the attack focused mainstream America on the islands, much of which didn't even know Hawaii was a US territory.
Before WWII, images of Hawaii largely depicted the islands as an ahistorical tropical utopia for the rich and famous (Hawaii was where Hollywood celebrities went to get away from Southern California, which is literally the subject of the 1939 Robert Young comedy, Honolulu). In a sense, that's not unlike how Hawaii is represented today—think of a recent episode of ABC's Modern Family or the Apatow comedy, Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008).
But, for a couple decades, images of the islands seemed very locked in to a particular moment in American history. In particular, I'm interested in examining the reception of these film and television images through the lens of US military involvement in the Pacific, whiteness' negotiation with notions of racial utopia, and the emergence of a new leisure middle-class. It is similar in scope and methodology to the Song of the South project—focusing on the historical contexts, generational nostalgia and transmediated branding of populist American media within an overlapping time frame (40s-70s)—but with a very different series of central artifacts.
So, then, the question becomes . . . why? There are two answers. The first is more scholarly (and perfectly valid): people just haven't yet talked about it, and yet it demands attention. Consider this: in 1961, Elvis Presley's soundtrack album to the film Blue Hawaii was released, and went on to be the highest-selling album of his career during his lifetime. Elvis went on to do two more popular films and soundtracks during this decade set in Hawaii (Girls, Girls, Girls and Paradise, Hawaiian Style). In 1966, meanwhile, the historical epic, Hawaii (based on the hugely popular James Michener novel of the same name), was the highest-grossing film of the year (and followed with a sequel four years later). In 1968, finally, Hawaii Five-O premiered, and went on to be the longest-running night-time drama in the history of American broadcast television, until it was finally passed by Law and Order in 2003. My initial research question is, then, why was the subject of Hawaii so popular by the 1960s?
But, as I mentioned above, the seeds for this were planted in the 1930s—like my project on Song of the South, I think of media history in terms of accumulation and dissipation, such that asking why something was popular in mainstream US media requires looking more so at the decades which proceeded the timeframe in question, those decades which established the conditions of possibility which the presence of current texts then activate. For example, the sudden, unexpected popularity of Song of the South in 1972 was less a reflection of that decade, and more the culmination of different factors set in motion in the 1950s and 1960s (even though those were the decades when the film was theatrically-unsuccessful and then pulled from circulation for 16 years). There, I suppose, the connection ends—I have a very different personal relationship to the kitschy, if condescending, Hawaii Five-O than to the far more disturbing Disney film (and, of course, the historical context of the Hawaiian islands is very different than the American South).
The other interest in the Hawaii is more personal—my grandfather and father both worked for United Airlines, which built its tourist empire, beginning in the 1950s, on being the "official" gateway to Hawaii for mainland tourists. Episodes of Hawaii Five-O (and the opening sequence of Blue Hawaii) are littered with gratuitous shots of United jets. My grandparents went there every summer. All of this is a part of my family's history. What is also a part of my family's history is war. My grandfather served in the Pacific during the Korean War. Meanwhile, two of my uncles, his sons, then served in Vietnam.
A few years ago (approx. `05-`06), at a family holiday gathering in Oregon, several of us were talking about experiences visiting Hawaii (I had only been there a couple of times as a kid, though I have since visited there once more in 2007). While my grandfather and father talked excessively, nostalgically even, about their many memories of the islands, my uncle (who never had the luxuries of air travel that others in his family had) at one point simply remarked, "the only time I was in Hawaii was on my way to Vietnam."
This was always very powerful to me. In many ways, that simple statement completely changed my understanding of that generation of post-(pre-?)war, middle-class, white America's relationship to Hawaii, and I think in retrospect planted the seeds for this project. I understood what my uncle was literally saying—dating to the late 19th century, Hawaii was always the hub for the US military presence in the Pacific (even before the US military overthrew the sovereign Hawaiian government in 1983). In the 20th Century, all military activities and personnel involving conflicts with the Japanese, the North Koreans and the Vietnamese went through Oahu. But I also understood what he was saying symbolically—his memories of Hawaii directly co-existed with memories of combat. I also then thought about my other uncle, the one who didn't come back from Vietnam, and realized that the last vision he had of the US, and maybe of "paradise," was Honolulu.
Whether one agrees or not with the righteousness of 20th Century US military intervention in the Pacific (and I adamantly do not), there is nonetheless a profound, genuine, sense of "utopia" at work there for a whole generation of middle-class Americans—including those, remember, who didn't have a choice about serving—when they saw images and sounds of Hawaii in populist media of the time. Hawaii was the last, and first, thing they saw of paradise (and of the U.S.) on their way to, and from, war. That brief shot of the Honolulu Memorial evoked that memory for audiences, every week on CBS, for 13 seasons.
Labels: Hawaii, Hawaii Five-O, Memorial Day

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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October 18, 2022 Danielle McGlenister
Wayne Gretzky Signed Framed 16x20" Final Game at Maple Leaf Gardens Photo (LE/99)
On December 19, 1998 Wayne Gretzky skated in his final Maple Leaf Gardens game, when the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the New York Rangers. In this game, Gretzky recorded two assists to add to his already All-Time NHL point lead.
After 21 illustrious seasons in the NHL, Gretzky ended his career in 1999. He retired and currently still is the all-time leader in goals, assists and points. He finished with 2,857 points and still holds the record for the only player to reach the 2,000 plus point milestone. Even if Gretzky had never scored a goal, his 1,963 assists would still rank above all players in career points.
Wayne Gretzky Signed Photo Features:
Signed in silver Sharpie by Wayne Gretzky
Limited Edition 25 of 99
From Frameworth's exclusive private memorabilia vault
Professionally framed and comes ready-to-hang
Includes original Wayne Gretzky Authentic COA
Approx. Finished Frame Size: 24x33"
For just over 67 years, Maple Leaf Gardens was home to eleven Stanley Cup banners, eight times where the Cup was won on Gardens ice. It was the home where famous radio broadcaster Foster Hewitt had the idea to broadcast the game and the birth of Hockey Night in Canada sprung. Maple Leaf Gardens was also the place where Darryl Sittler had his iconic 10 point game, still being the only player ever to record 10 points in a single game. Players like Bower, Salming, Mahovlich, Keon and Kelly all took their final skate on Maple Leaf Gardens ice.
This is an exclusive item that has been uncovered from Frameworth's vault and comes complete with a FW Certificate of Authenticity and Hologram in addition to its original WGA Certificate of Authenticity.
Please contact customersupport@frameworth.com to inquire about Wayne Gretzky Signed Framed 16x20" Final Game at Maple Leaf Gardens Photo.
MIN BID: $1,500
Filed in: Gretzky Memorabilia, Wayne Gretzky, Wayne Gretzky Memorabilia
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CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation) est un satellite d'observation de la Terre de petite taille, de , franco-américain (CNES et NASA) lancé en 2006. Ses instruments permettent d'étudier les impacts radiatifs des nuages et des aérosols. L'objectif est d'améliorer le modèle mathématique de l'évolution du climat. CALIPSO fonctionne en tandem avec le satellite radar CloudSat au sein d'une constellation de satellites, la A-train, consacrée à l'observation des nuages, des aérosols et du cycle de l'eau. L'instrument principal de CALIPSO est un lidar qui permet de mesurer avec précision les caractéristiques des différents étages de l'atmosphère. La mission d'une durée initiale de 3 ans est prolongée en 2009. Cette mission spatiale fait partie du programme Earth Observing System qui regroupe un ensemble de satellites de la NASA chargés de collecter des données sur de longues périodes sur la surface de la Terre, la biosphère, l'atmosphère terrestre et les océans de la Terre.

Contexte

La modélisation tridimensionnelle des processus climatiques à l'échelle de la planète est nécessaire pour permettre une prédiction du changement climatique qui constitue de nos jours un enjeu sociétal important. Pour que cette modélisation soit correcte il faut disposer d'une représentation exacte des processus en jeu au sein de l'atmosphère et des interactions entre l'atmosphère, l'océan et la biosphère. À l'époque de la conception de CALIPSO, la source d'imprécision la plus importante est l'impact radiatif des nuages et des aérosols. Pour avoir une meilleure connaissance du bilan radiatif de la Terre, il est nécessaire de mesurer le flux radiatif au sommet de l'atmosphère et au sol mais également à différentes hauteurs dans l'atmosphère.

Description de la mission
Les instruments de mesure passifs qui se contentent d'analyser la lumière réfléchie par les nuages ne sont pas suffisamment précis pour atteindre ces objectifs. Le satellite CALIPSO emporte un lidar qui comprend un laser émettant de courtes impulsions lumineuses de forte intensité et un télescope qui permet de collecter la lumière renvoyée. L'analyse de celle-ci permet de déduire la composition des différentes couches de l'atmosphère.

CALIPSO fait partie du A-train, une constellation de plusieurs satellites franco-américains qui permettent une étude co-localisée temporellement et spatialement de la grande majorité des paramètres climatologiques et météorologiques utiles pour comprendre le climat. Les mesures effectuées par le lidar de CALIPSO peuvent être ainsi rapprochées de celles du satellite CloudSat qui suit CALIPSO sur la même orbite à faible distance. Cloudsat emporte un « radar à nuages » qui constitue un autre instrument de mesure actif complémentaire du lidar. Le satellite CALIPSO est développé pour répondre aux objectifs suivants :
 mesurer l'effet direct et indirect des aérosols.
 préciser les flux radiatifs en améliorant d'un facteur 2 la précision des estimations des flux radiatifs ondes longues.
 disposer des caractéristiques des cirrus fins, des nuages polaires et des nuages multi couches.
 contribuer aux objectifs généraux de modélisation par synergie avec les données recueillies par les satellites PARASOL, Aqua et CloudSat du A-train.

Pour remplir sa mission, le satellite est placé sur une orbite héliosynchrone à  d'altitude avec une inclinaison de 98,2°.

Le satellite et ses instruments scientifiques

CALIPSO utilise la plate-forme de minisatellite Proteus développée par le CNES et Alcatel Alenia Space (devenu Thales Alenia Space) dans le Centre spatial de Cannes - Mandelieu pour les satellites d'une masse d'environ . CALIPSO pèse  et ses panneaux solaires déployables fournissent . Les télémesures permettant la surveillance du satellite et les télécommandes envoyées au satellite utilisent une liaison en bande S avec un débit de 4 kbit/s (liaison montante) et 727 kbit/s (liaison descendante). Les données recueillies par les instruments de mesure sont transmises aux stations terriennes par une liaison en bande X de 80 Mbit/s.

L'instrument principal de CALIPSO est CALIOP, un lidar à rétrodiffusion et comportant deux canaux (532 nm et 1064 nm) équipé d'un télescope de  de diamètre. Les deux autres instruments sont une caméra fonctionnant en lumière visible à ouverture grand champ et un radiomètre imageur infrarouge à 3 canaux (IIR). La NASA développe le lidar et la caméra tandis que le CNES prend en charge le radiomètre fabriqué par la société Sodern.

Les installations au sol (segment sol) comprennent les 3 composants principaux suivants :
 le centre de mission scientifique de la mission est l'Atmospheric Sciences Data Center situé au centre de recherche Langley de la NASA ; il reçoit les données scientifiques et les distribue aux utilisateurs.
 le Mission Operations Ground System également situé à Langley est chargé de la coordination globale de la mission (vol en formation du A-train, surveillance et commande de la charge utile) et de la réception des données scientifiques.
 le Satellite Operations Ground System (SOGS) au CNES à Toulouse contrôle le satellite et le fonctionnement de l'instrument IIR.

Déroulement de la mission

Le projet est lancé en 1998 et le développement du satellite commence en 2001. CALIPSO est lancé le  depuis la base de lancement de Vandenberg en Californie, en même temps que le satellite CloudSat par un lanceur Delta II. Les premières mesures scientifiques collectées sont distribuées à compter de décembre 2006. En mars 2009, le laser de secours est activé. En 2009, il est également décidé de prolonger la mission.

Articles connexes
 Circulation atmosphérique
 A-train (satellite)
 Proteus (satellite)

Liens externes
  CALIPSO : site de la Nasa
 CALIPSO : site du CNES
 CALIPSO : site de l'Institut Pierre Simon Laplace (IPSL)
  Présentation de CALIPSO sur le site de Thales Alenia Space

Notes et références

Satellite d'observation de la Terre
Programme spatial français
Programme Earth Observing System
Sigle de 7 caractères
Satellite artificiel lancé en 2006

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Welcome to the Out NYC, whose owners have called it both the first gay hotel in New York and a "straight-friendly urban resort." Located in way west Clinton between 10th and 11th Avenues, the three-story, 70,000-square-foot hotel, the brainchild of Ian Simpson Reisner, a managing partner of Parkview Developers, has 105 rooms. The XL nightclub and bar are just off the lobby; a restaurant and other amenities are in the works.
So my question was: in a place like New York City, what does being a gay hotel mean, exactly?
The OUT NYC hotel boasts two hot tubs, a secret garden, its own nightclub and the title of Manhattan's first boutique hotel built specifically to cater to millions of gay tourists to New York.
New York's first "straight friendly" gay hotel opened in Hell's Kitchen yesterday, welcoming the gay and lesbian set to an urban- style resort designed for their tastes.


The NP3 pages - and the EdFutures website as a whole - are designed to be interactive - we are aiming to build a community of people interested in the NP3 project. We're keen to hear your views on the project and on pedagogy and digital technology more generally. If you are involved in any work (research, teaching etc) on these topics we would really like to hear about them.
To sign up for your own account, click on the 'create account' link on the top right hand corner of the screen and complete your profile and you can upload a picture to. You'll need an account to be able to post messages, respond to or start new threads and edit pages.
A good place to start, whenever you visit EdFutures, is the 'recent changes' link on the left hand margin. This page tells you all the latest changes on EdFutures including changes to pages and new discussion threads and replies. At the top of the page there is a box with a number of links to press for various viewing options, including the number of days. In addition to specifying how far back you want to go, make sure you press the 'show' bots option to show changes made my the people who started the wiki. They are also core members of the NP3 team. You can then click on any link in the list of changes to see what the change was.
To navigate the pages, use the links on the left hand margin. Many of the pages are not listed there so it is well worth looking at the contents list page for a list of everything on the EdFutures website. All the NP3 pages are linked onto the main NP3 page.
To start a new discussion topic or reply to an existing one: on each page on EdFutures there is a 'page' and 'discussion' tab. If you click on the 'discussion' tab it will take you to the discussion page where you can post a new thread or respond to a discussion already underway, if you are logged in. To start a new discussion, simply click on the 'new discussion' link which will bring up a new text box which you can write in. To reply to someone else's message, you click on the 'reply' link in the bottom right hand corner of the text box. There is a link called 'ask questions and discuss the project' on the main project website, where you can of course post questions, etc, but feel free to do this on any of the pages.
If you have any problems or questions there is a 'help' link on the left hand margin with a number of topics advising you on how to edit pages. You can also ask one of the NP3 team members PeterT, FionaH or Amelia H-J.
This page was last modified on 23 June 2017, at 07:14.


THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) will address the country's biting foreign currency shortages in its monetary policy review which is expected later this month, a cabinet minister has said.
Zimbabwe has long struggled with a serious foreign currency crunch with the problem lately manifesting in shortages of fuel and other imported basics such as medicines.
Miners which need to import consumables and spare parts have also been affected with gold producer Rio Zim forced to temporarily close three of its mines last November.
However, addressing, a mining conference in Cape Town, South Africa Monday, Zimbabwe's mines minister Winston Chitando said the RBZ would seek to alleviate the challenge.
"One of the current challenges which the industry is facing relates to foreign currency retention," Chitando was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.
"The governor will over the next week or two come up with monetary policy intervention which would address that issue.
Government's insistence that the surrogate bond note and RTGS currency have the same value as the US dollar has also been blamed for confusion in money markets.
In interviews ahead of the monetary policy review, economist urged the authorities to end denial over the issue.
"The RBZ must also put in place mechanisms that assist in confidence restoration for the public to buy into policy measures," economic commentator John Robertson told NewZimbabwe.com recently.


text:
Fichtenhof ist der Ortsname von

 Fichtenhof (Ammerthal), Ortsteil der Gemeinde Ammerthal, Landkreis Amberg-Sulzbach, Bayern
 Fichtenhof (Fichtenau), Weiler im Ortsteil Matzenbach der Gemeinde Fichtenau, Landkreis Schwäbisch Hall, Baden-Württemberg
 Fichtenhof (Königstein), Ortsteil des Marktes Königstein, Landkreis Amberg-Sulzbach, Bayern
 Fichtenhof (Nittenau), Ortsteil der Stadt Nittenau, Landkreis Schwandorf, Bayern


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Q: HttpClient POST request returns status 200 without any body (however it should be). Length of the content is -1 I use Apache HttpClient for POST requests to web service.
I'm getting

httpResult=200

however there is no body. I know that some body should be there as when I
use another POST call method then I'm getting the body in JSON format.
At this method the length of the response body = -1.

response.getEntity().getContentLength() = -1;
The result of EntityUtils.toString(response.getEntity()) is empty string.

The code is:
    CloseableHttpClient client = HttpClients.createDefault();
    HttpPost httpPost = new HttpPost(url);

    JSONObject attributes = new JSONObject();
    JSONObject main = new JSONObject();

    attributes.put("201", "Frank");
    main.put("attributes", attributes);
    main.put("primary", "2");

    String json = main.toString();

    StringEntity entity = new StringEntity(json);
    httpPost.setEntity(entity);
    httpPost.setHeader("Accept", "application/json");
    httpPost.setHeader("Content-type", "application/json");

    CloseableHttpResponse response = client.execute(httpPost);
    httpResult = response.getStatusLine().getStatusCode();

    client.close();

    if (httpResult == HttpURLConnection.HTTP_OK) {

        HttpEntity ent = response.getEntity();

        Long length = ent.getContentLength();

        System.out.println("Length: " + length);// length = -1

     }

Could anyone give my some hint how to solve the issue?
In addition I would like to add the code that gives me a correct response body. At this case I use HttpURLConnection.
        HttpURLConnection urlConnect = (HttpURLConnection) url.openConnection();
        urlConnect.setConnectTimeout(10000);

        urlConnect.setRequestProperty("Accept", "application/json");
        urlConnect.setRequestProperty("Content-Type", "application/json");
        urlConnect.setRequestMethod("POST");

        JSONObject attributes = new JSONObject();
        JSONObject main = new JSONObject();

        attributes.put("201", "Frank");
        main.put("primary", "2");
        main.put("attributes", attributes);

        urlConnect.setDoOutput(true);

        OutputStreamWriter wr = new OutputStreamWriter(urlConnect.getOutputStream());
        wr.write(main.toString());
        wr.flush();

        httpResult = urlConnect.getResponseCode();

        System.out.println("Http Result: " + httpResult);

        if (httpResult == HttpURLConnection.HTTP_OK) {

            InputStream response = urlConnect.getInputStream(); // correct not empty response body

            ...
        }

A: Please move the client.close(); to the end, i.e., after working with the response.
And to extract the response from HttpUrlConnection use the following
InputStream response = urlConnect.getInputStream();
BufferedReader br = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(response));
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
String line;
while ((line = br.readLine()) != null) {
    sb.append(line+"\n");
}
br.close();

JSONObject object = new JSONObject(sb.toString()); //Converted to JSON Object from JSON string - Assuming response is a valid JSON object.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


I think it's so inspiring to see people on the street with great style. For me, it gives me a little push to look at my own closet through a fresh set of eyes. Expressing ourselves through style is a privilege that we all can indulge in. When we look at our closets with a fresh perspective, it's easy to mix and match new combinations that we haven't considered before - hello, does anyone remember the days of the "30 for 30" challenge?!
Here are some ways you could freshen up your outfits for the new year ahead, using what is probably already hiding in your closet!
The first step to freshening up your outfits for the new year is to forget about the trends that come and go. It can be super tempting to spruce up your wardrobe by splurging on new pieces, but shopping for an entirely new wardrobe isn't the key to expressing your personal style and, frankly, adding more clutter to the pile isn't going to sort out a mess of mismatched items. Not to mention, frequent shopping isn't exactly the most ethical approach. Trendy outfits can be fun, but the truth is, they come and go! And who wants to constantly be running to the store to keep up with the latest things we see on Instagram? By opting for timeless classic pieces, they can stick with you for the long-term. And, as we'll mention later, you can keep your wardrobe fresh by mixing and matching outfits to create new looks. (I'm telling you. I really should harness those 30 for 30 days. Who is with me?!) One way to keep things fresh and classic is to opt for a neutral look that avoids patterns. Choosing classic basic colors is a good way to keep your look fresh and classic no matter what styles are currently on trend. And there are so many ways to express your personal style and spruce up your day-to-day look!
If you're getting the craving to reinvent your existing wardrobe, take a step back to consider a shift in the way you're accessorizing. Personal style is all in the details! A neutral outfit can be stylish, as mentioned in the last point, but an accessory is a statement piece that gives your understated look some character. A nice belt can transform a flowing summer dress into a formal piece of work attire, for example. You might also want to check out SuperJeweler for some personalized jewelry. Rather than simply accessorizing your outfit with any old necklace or bracelet, you could add that extra personal touch by making your jewelry unique to you. Freshening up your personal style should be individual.
Don't underestimate the power of a good handbag either! Handbags aren't just a practical necessity but they can be an outlet to express your style while adding a little spruce to your outfit. Consider handbags that speak volumes, while still being neutral enough to pair with a variety of pieces in your closet. I know I feel like I have so many pieces tucked in my closet that contribute to variety – so when I shop for handbags, I try to consider getting styles that won't clash with certain colors and patterns, when I wear them with some of my clothes. Accessorizing well is all about choosing pieces that not only compliment your personal style, but bring it to life! Your accessories shouldn't detract from your existing outfit, but they shouldn't disappear into it either. The smallest of accessories can make the biggest impact, even if you don't realize it.
This one is HUGE for me. Throughout my journey towards health and fitness, I feel like I was constantly shifting sizes in my clothes. I know I mentioned above about the value in choosing classic over trendy styles - following trends isn't just bad in terms of ending up with outdated clothing but it's unethical. If you feel the need to restock your closet, doing a little spring cleaning and donating what you don't need to charity is an ethical way to upgrade your wardrobe in preparation for shopping for well-fitted pieces. When I slimmed down my closet, I tried on each piece and considered how I could incorporate each piece into my day-to-day. Some pieces were just too big, but some of them could still be used with a belt (loose dresses, boyfriend tees, and baggy pants are kind of in right now anyway, right?!). But at the end of the day, having fitted pieces that are tailored to your physique is important.
For me, I needed to upgrade to feel put together. I feel like having well fitted clothing just looks and FEELS better. Maybe it's because a tailor-made wardrobe looks as if it's the result of careful consideration. If your outfits fit your shape well then it's apparent that you've put a lot of thought and effort into your appearance. That's not to say you always have to take the "try hard" approach to style, but even stylish people who have mastered the "effortless" look have put more thought into their outfits than you might think. And your personal style is all about confidence. Sometimes a bold statement with your personal style can just come from the confidence you have when you're flaunting your figure! Wearing baggy clothes made me feel like I was hiding – and that wasn't the impression I wanted to leave the world with.
There's more potential to your wardrobe than you realize – and you don't have to buy an excessive amount of clothing to enhance you personal style. Versatility in our closets is all about mixing and matching. It's so easy to get stuck in a rut, and feel as if you're cycling through the same few outfits every week. But you can switch things up, if you get creative. Accessories can help, but you can try putting together different pieces of clothing to create new and exciting outfits. Why not wear your favorite blouse with your favorite pair of jeans instead of a skirt or throw on a jean jacket over your favorite dress to create more a casual look, after work?
Expressing your personal style is all about how what you wear makes you feel. Looking good in what you have on requires feeling confident! For me, I needed a fresh perspective and to step away from my baggier clothing, to feel like I wasn't hiding and to really express confidence. That's not to say that I don't embrace the occasional oversized sweater and leggings, combo. But in order to make the most of what I have, I have to embrace creativity. And so should you!


Your host: Elaine Fitzgerald. A small, well-kept property of charming Key West-style studio and one-bedroom cottages. White Glove award-winner and nationally rated as a Superior Small Lodging. Each restored 1940s cottage has a full kitchen, king or queen bed and sleeper sofa, lush, tropical garden views, large screened-in porches or open patio, private BBQ grills, with a central sundeck and coin laundry on site.
The Cottages are centrally located on a quiet street in the safe, ocean-side community of Pompano Beach, 15 minutes north of downtown Fort Lauderdale and 15 minutes south of Boca Raton. Less than two blocks from one of South Florida's most pristine, award-winning Blue Wave beaches (with life guards), and a short walk to dozens of restaurants, shops, nightspots, public fishing pier, snorkel/dive boats, charter fishing boats, jet ski and boat rentals, gym, day spa, drug store and more.
A five-minute drive to the Pompano CitiCenter shopping mall, movie theaters, tennis and aquatics complex, dog park, air park for private planes and the Goodyear Blimp base, 36-hole city golf facility with its brand new (Jan 2013) Greg Norman signature course and driving range. The new Isle Casino (smoke-free), next door to Pompano Harness Track, is a 15-minute drive. I-95 is a 10-minute drive for easy access to all South Florida business centers, shopping and attractions.
For the comfort of future guests, no smoking is allowed inside the Cottages. Small dogs – inquire. White Glove Award.
Driving Directions: From I-95 go East on Atlantic Blvd. over the Intracoastal Waterway bridge. Turn right on S. Ocean Blvd. (A1A), then right on S.E. 3rd Street. Cottages by the Ocean is a half block down on the right.


I was going back and forth yesterday on Twitter with a friend of mine and the concept of playing outside of one's comfort zone came up. That said, I want to talk about playing INSIDE the comfort zone first, so I'll get to the outside part next time.
There are a lot of games out there. The ones I feel most comfortable playing are the ones I can pick up and just run with without a second thought. When I sat down to play Dragon Age: Origins, for example, it was like pulling on a new pair of shoes that looked and felt extremely similar to my last pair. I still needed to break them in, but I was already familiar with the process and it was pretty quick since I wound up doing a lot of walking in a very short period of time.
So there are games that are, in and of themselves, within the comfort zone. For me, it's a space flight simulator, a turn-based strategy game, a Baldur's Gate derivative. These are the kinds of games I grew up playing.
Well, what about the games that don't fit inside the comfort zone automatically? I can still be in my comfort zone even then, given the right opportunities.
For example, I love playing self-sufficient characters. My favorite D&D character was a Psychic Warrior who, with proper power choices, I was able to fight effectively, defend myself against a myriad of potential harms, and heal myself. To this day, I still play that way where I can. My Captain in Lord of the Rings Online is one such character. When I played Star Wars: The Old Republic as the Smuggler, I chose to be the Scoundrel and went straight down the healing tree. I did the same thing as a Mercenary Bounty Hunter and a Commando Trooper.
If I don't have just one character, I believe distinctly in the balanced party. While Dragons Age is wholly within my comfort zone, I maintained a solid party of a rogue (for lockpicking primarily), a mage (for healing), a warrior (for tanking), and anyone else (for DPS). Yes, that restricted my play a bit, but it made decisions really easy when I went to make party choices. In XCOM: Enemy Unknown, I always had the four types of soldiers represented and then the two extra soldier spots would be where that particular playthrough was different from earlier ones. I've had those two spare slots taken up by a heavy and a support and an assault and a support before and that allowed me some considerable latitude in play style.
In Civilization IV, I set up the environment if I can so that my civilization is totally contained and secure before spreading out and taking new lands. I focus on infrastructure so that I can develop a powerful military at the drop of a hat and a few turns. In Star Trek Online, I chose a ship type that can take a lot of damage, then I proceeded to make it deal a lot of damage and be able to handle every situation that could come up. A long time ago when I played the Yu-Gi-Oh! card game, I built a deck that was affectionately referred to as "Whatever you do, I stop and make you regret it" or something like that. Essentially it was a balanced deck that countered many things the other player could do and then could crack them on the knuckles for doing it.
For me, it's all about the balanced approach. Mixed arms and combined tactics to provide a well rounded and quality experience. I suppose I'm the kind of guy who likes to dip into every style to ensure an approach that can respond to every issue that might arise. In some games it's just the simple "just shoot them" strategy. In others it's more nuanced. My particular comfort zone playstyle is a kind of go-with-the-flow thing and it totally works for me.
The real trick for me is finding that comfort zone in each new game I pick up. Sometimes I'm lucky, like with Borderlands 2 where I started playing the Mechromancer and was pleasantly surprised how it flowed with my playstyle. Other times I'm not so lucky, like with Neverwinter where I played a long time as a Cleric before realizing that the Guardian Fighter was where it's at for me.
An odd little thing: the Mass Effect series started in, I think, 2007 (yup). When that game came out, I played it for a week straight and loved it. Truly loved it. Turns out, I'd played its predecessor, a little game from 1986 called Starflight. Now, it's quite a stretch to go from Starflight to Mass Effect, but the ship shape was kind of similar, the ground vehicle was (aside from armaments) was remarkably similar, and the stories I developed for my Starflight crew in my head was rivaled neatly by the stories developed for the crew of the Normandy. Look it up. Starflight inspired Mass Effect. Mass Effect has essentially been in my comfort zone since I was 4 years old. How about that, huh? Oh, I beat ME2 and ME3 each in a week as well. I'm that kind of gamer, just can't put a good game/book down.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with finding and playing inside your comfort zone. It allows you to kick back, relax, and just play.
P.S. There are no quotes I could find quickly about the benefits of staying in your comfort zone because everyone's trying to be all inspirational on the internet and encourage people to do stuff that's new and "outside your comfort zone". I maintain that you need to be aware of what your comfort zone is prior to stepping outside of it, hence why I started with this piece instead of the next one. If you know your comfort zone and you stray from it, you always know where it is for when you need to get back to it for whatever reason.
I've finished Mass Effect 2 and I'm making steady progress through Mass Effect 3, but that's not all I've played lately. I've also played some Splinter Cell: Conviction, ME3 Multiplayer, Mechwarrior Online, DC Universe Online, and Sid Meier's Ace Patrol.
Once I've finished this playthrough of ME3, I'm expecting to cut loose on a few games, namely I'd like to get back into regularly playing Star Trek Online instead of occasionally looking at it wistfully while I do my schoolwork. Further, I'd like to settle into a bit of Neverwinter, some more Star Wars: The Old Republic, and I think I'd like to play some more Diablo III before the expansion comes out.
Oh, I'm very very excited about the upcoming expansion for XCOM Enemy Unknown. Entitled "Enemy Within", it's going to include new enemies, new options for soldiers, and I'm hoping some more council missions. I mentioned it in a P.S. a couple of weeks ago, but as it gets closer to release, I get more excited about it!
I'd also like to share my excitement about the new Tex Murphy game coming soon thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign. The game will be called "Tesla Effect" and takes place after the last game, Overseer. Check it out. I grew up with Under A Killing Moon and came to love its dry humor and film noir style approach.
Anyway, I've got things to do, so until next time!
P.S. "All I've ever needed was a soft felt fedora, a well-tailored overcoat and a comfy pair of sneakers. Some people know what they like and they stay with it." – Tex Murphy, Under A Killing Moon.
These days I'm keeping extremely busy. Balancing school and gaming is a challenge all over again.
I've been replaying the Mass Effect trilogy and I'm about halfway through Mass Effect 2. I can't wait to be back in Mass Effect 3. Being the newest of the three, it's got the most fluid combat system. Further, I keep misremembering side quests… well, misattributing them to Mass Effect 2 instead of Mass Effect 3.
I picked up Sid Meier's Ace Patrol tonight on Steam and I'm simultaneously thrilled and impressed by the game. It has a super simple interface with rather complex gameplay mechanics under the hood. There's something about a turn-based strategy flight sim amalgamation that thrills me. I think everyone should look into it.
Honestly, that's all I've got to report right now. As I said, school's keeping me busy and nothing spectacular has happened in Mass Effect (well, I'm picking the occasional Renegade option just to move things along sometimes).
I'm quite sure there's plenty of positive feedback towards Bioware, but as I haven't seen much myself, I figured I'd do my best to raise the level of discourse around the nets and say something regarding Mass Effect and how awesome it is, regardless of any perceived issues or faults.
You have built an incredible experience that has earned a place of honor in my life. Let me explain a bit here. There's plenty of quality science fiction/space fantasy out there and I've been captivated by my fair share of it. I am a huge fan of Star Wars, Star Trek, Wing Commander, Babylon 5, Firefly, and more. I have found Mass Effect to be entertaining, exciting, and enlightening. I have truly enjoyed the whole trilogy of games: every moment of horror, terror, excitement, urgency, tragedy, humor, victory, and loss. You have created an incredible story that I have enjoyed reliving and recounting time and again over the years.
I might be a strange sort of bird though. I loved the original Star Wars trilogy. Then the Special Edition was released and I loved that. Then the prequels and I loved them. I believe that the current vision that George Lucas has for the Star Wars saga is fantastic and I'm saddened by the verbal abuse he's received at the hands of people who have no idea how to express themselves in a thoughtful and polite manner. Likewise for the ending of Mass Effect 3, I am fully in your corner. I have my questions about the ending that I noted in a prior post, but honestly, I'm okay with whatever you decided was a great ending. Regardless of how tomorrow's extended cut DLC for ME3's ending is received by some, I will enjoy it. It could be a wall of text answering questions and I'd probably be happy. The main reason for this? You've decided to give me a few more moments in a world I've come to care about, even if it is just cinematics or a wall of text.
You created a story that I care about deeply. You developed a trilogy with characters and events that I want to visit and experience time and again. You created something incredible and I don't think you've received enough praise for that. Sure, you got paid and, probably in the end for some, it was about the money. Maybe my buying your games and DLCs was enough for you, but something tells me that money and sales numbers and press isn't enough in the way of proper feedback.
So I write this: Thank you Bioware. However tomorrow's DLC is received, thank you. I can't wait to see what you do next.
I have to go get my game ready for the new DLC, so, until next time!
P.S. Yes, I did compare Mass Effect to Star Wars. As far as I'm concerned, it's definitely up there with the great science fiction/space fantasy greats.


text:
You are here: Polari Magazine / Film & Television / Noordzee, Texas (North Sea Texas)
Noordzee, Texas (North Sea Texas)
30 Aug 2012 / Comments Off / in Film & Television/by Michael Langan
Noordzee, Texas (North Sea Texas) ★★★★★
Dir: Bavo Defurne
Cert:15 • Be: 96 min • Indeed Films • August 6, 2012 [DVD]
North Sea Texas, the film that closed this year's 26th BFI London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, is the debut feature from Belgian director Bavo Defurne. Defurne has previously made many award-winning short films, which explore the particular desires, longings and disappointments of gay adolescence. North Sea Texas extends and expands these themes into an affecting and beautifully acted coming-of-age story, set in a run-down Belgian seaside resort.
When we first meet Pim he's a small boy playing dress-up in his mum's bedroom. She's a former local beauty-queen gone to seed and, when Pim finds her sash and tiara, he takes the opportunity to crown himself, naked except for red lipstick, throwing open the shutters and bathing himself in light. This establishes Defurne's aesthetic – romantic, poetic, dreamy and tinged with nostalgia – and his approach to his subject. It's a joyous, liberating moment for the child, but one that doesn't last for long. When his mum walks in and sees him she tells him it's okay, but it marks the beginning of Pim's development as her 'strange boy', her 'crazy boy' who, as he gets older, grows further away from her and her dreams of escaping her mundane life and travelling to far off places.
The story then jumps to the few days before Pim's fifteenth birthday. He is in love with his best friend and boy next door, Gino. Gino's home and family provide a refuge for Pim and some stability, given his own mother's lack of care and weekends away playing accordion at local fairs. He doesn't say much, his mother complains, he just draws all the time and never shows her what he makes. What he draws is Gino naked and, we soon discover, this is drawing from experience, not imagination. Gino (who's seventeen) and Pim are lovers, spending summer nights together in a tent, or riding into the woods on Gino's motorbike, Pim holding onto Gino nice and tight because he wants to, not because he has to.
Like Andrew Haigh's Weekend, North Sea Texas emphasizes the universality of love amidst the specificities of gay experience. Many of the same longings, desires, anxieties and disappointments that you might find in any teen-romance movie are explored here, while not compromising on depictions of gay teenage sexuality. This is probably why the film's end credits contain a dedication from Defurne to "all the kids whose parents wouldn't let them take part in this film." Over 200 actors were tested for the parts of Pim and Gino and a lot of teenage boys were scared of portraying a gay character, and to do things that wouldn't be an issue if they were playing opposite a girl. Apparently, there were many no-shows at the auditions and some actors were forbidden to play gay by their parents. However, compared to your average episode of Skins, the nudity and sexual content of North Sea Texas is really tame and sensitively handled. The camera's gaze is never exploitative or gratuitous. Any anxiety about looking at the young male body as a sexual object, especially for male viewers quite a bit older than Pim and Gino, is likely to be because, culturally, men looking at boys is taboo, and when we were boys looking at boys we felt ashamed. It's hard to shake these things off.
Pim's also anxious about looking, constantly averting his gaze, first from Gino and then from Zoltan, the sexually ambiguous 'fairground gypsy' who rents a room in his mother's house. She and Pim are rivals for his attention and there are moments in the film when we're not sure who Zoltan will settle for. When Pim discovers him and his mother in bed it's clear that, as far as her son is concerned, she's stolen his imagined escape route and taken it for herself. Her abandonment of Pim becomes complete.
It's these grittier elements of the plot that stop the film from tipping over into total slushiness. Defurne says, "Though this film is set in a social and emotional environment that's mundane and everday, I didn't want to make another gritty realist movie about a neglected boy in a grey world". The film may be small in scale but it's avowedly cinematic, making a limited budget work to its advantage with its confined spaces and use of natural light. The 1970s sets are perfectly realized, even stylized, as are the costumes, and this is also part of Defurne's aesthetic: "The colourful visuals and romantic music make this film an uplifting viewing experience, and provides a different perspective with which to explore the inner world of the characters. It adds the poetry and irony that social realism tends to understate".
It's in the film's ending that these competing elements of realism and romanticism come to a head. "I really wanted to make a point by leaving out the traditional tragic gay finale," Defurne says. "We have too often seen how gay love leads to a life of disappointment, violence or even death and I didn't want to add another film to this cycle. I wanted to show that the life that wasn't possible for the boys from Brokeback Mountain is not beyond everybody's reach." Fair enough, and this is the same approach we saw taken by Beautiful Thing, and even Queer as Folk, both having fantastical romantic endings. So when Pim gets his boy at the end of this film, did I feel happy for him? Yes. Did it ring true? Not quite. It sits somewhat uneasily with everything that has gone before and also, by this time, I thought Pim could do better for himself anyway. He grows a lot in this movie and perhaps Defurne's real achievement, and that of the young actor Jelle Florizoone who plays him, is that I care enough to want him to realize his larger dreams and his potential.
All of the film's actors are pitch perfect and convince through their naturalistic, seemingly effortless, performances. That Defurne can draw these out of some especially young actors is a testament to his talent as a director. North Sea Texas is an immensely promising first feature from someone who wants to tell our stories. It'll be interesting to see where he's headed next.
Click here to read an interview with the young star, Jelle Florizoone, the director, Bavo Defune, and the producer, Yves Verbraeken.
Tags: bavo defurne, eva van der gucht, jelle florizoone, mathias vergels, north sea texas
Did you like this entry?
Here are a few more posts that might be interesting for you.
Weekly Digest • Week of August 27
North Sea Texas • Competition Results
Festival Highlights • April 1
North Sea Texas • Closing Night Gala Preview
Interview: North Sea Texas


Took a look at this today. Highly modified I know, but in impeccable condition.
I went to look at a Ferrari there a few years ago and I wasn't that impressed with them.I think most of their stock is SOR too.Proceed with caution.
it was 10k cheaper a few months back so even the GT3 market is having issues ?
front discs look like they could do with changing.
it has a club sport cage by looks of it but not sure a clubbie from OEM as does not the centre console but leather seats. regardless its a cracking car.
It'd be nice to know which indie has been looking after it, but on the face of it, looks like it'd be worth a closer look. Price is a bit optimistic, but I'd guess the owner wants to see £50K back and they need 10% as their fee.
Although it looks like they might not have seen it for a while.
all very good points and fair. yeah I thought it was a clubsport cage and no idea where he found that.
NXI what would be the clubsport code on the options sticker? is it 004?
if Nick thinks its worth a look in then I would go do it!
those wheels really do make a difference when driving as a lot lighter than OEM. not as pretty but depends on what you want.
Clubbie is 003 on the options code.
Welded floor plates & carpet with the appropriate cage cutouts are the signs it's been done properly if it's not a genuine CS.
To get really picky, the sun visors are different too (foldable end flaps to accommodate the cage). These are NLA and I've never seen them on a non-genuine CS (people just either dump the sun visor completely or it's tucked up by the screen & useless if the front section of cage is fitted).
ETA: I think that car might have been owned by a user called slodge on PH - it's got a lot of the mods he put on his. If so, it's a genuine good 'un.
Thanks for all the help guys! Knew I could rely on you lot!
I have viewed the car, it's an absoloute stunner. It is slodges old car, then went into a collection for 4 years and has done 10 miles since then!
Looks like I may be about to take the plunge on my first GT3 - subject to PPI.
Excited and apprehensive at the same time!
That's very exciting, wish I could stretch to afford this!
If it was this time next year I'd have been there like a shot. I remember Slodge from P'heads, from my GT3 days, he had a yellow Mk1 back then and then he caught the trackday bug with that mk2. It will have been properly maintained.
As the kids say, "Tote's amaze-balls, I'm well-jel", or something like that.
Hope the PPI goes well - fingers crossed.
Great to see these cars being appreciated. They just do not make them like this anymore.
Weird, weird things going on with GT3 prices in general and I think that, despite a bit of gloom/softness late last year, it is being tempered by the recognition that the days of analogue driver's cars are, effectively, over. So to get one, you have to look at something used.
awesome news and hope it goes well.
NXI I have only ever seen those sun visors on my mates old 6.2 RS and that had full cage so get your point.
Good luck, that's lovely car.
It is slodges old car, then went into a collection for 4 years and has done 10 miles since then!
Crazy isn't it? A car in this spec deserves to be used.
As said this car has been on sale for a long time and it was for a lot more £££ when it first appeared.
Polar is beautiful on a 996.2.
Best of luck. It's a proper road racer.
Have you sold the turbo now?


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AN OER can be as granular as a single image or Word file, or as large as an entire educational package built using Open Courseware.
(source: JISC (2010). Open educational resources (OERs) | Jisc. [online] Retrieved from: https://jisc.ac.uk/guides/open-educational-resources [Accessed 9 Jun. 2016].
Themes underpinning the Open movement are that of justice, equity, access, and community building.
To access a wealth of Open Educational Resources, you can explore the OER Commons website.
'Building an Australasian Commons: Creative Commons Case Studies Volume 1' (edited by Rachel Cobcroft) includes 60 stories of how people are using Creative Commons both in Australia and internationally. You can access it via the embedded link below.
If you would like to access the PDF version of this publication click here.
Cobcroft, R. (Ed.) (2008). Building an Australasian Commons: Creative Commons Case Studies Volume 1 (1st ed.). Creative Commons Australia. Retrieved from: http://creativecommons.org.au/materials/Building_an_Australasian_Commons_book.pdf [Accessed 8 Jun. 2016].
Kapitzke, C., Dezuanni, M., & Iyer, R. (2011). Copyrights and Creative Commons Licensing: Pedagogical innovation in a higher education media literacy classroom. E-Learning and Digital Media, 8(3), 271.


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curly-coated retriever
curly-coated retriever, breed of large sporting dog conjectured to be descended from the water spaniel and the retrieving setter. It stands about 23 in. (58 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs about 65 lb (30 kg). Its dense coat is tightly curled all over and may be black or liver in color. Easily trained as an efficient and hardy retriever on land and water, the curly-coated retriever is uncommon in the United States. See dog.
"curly-coated retriever ." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. . Encyclopedia.com. 16 Jan. 2023 <https://www.encyclopedia.com>.
"curly-coated retriever ." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. . Encyclopedia.com. (January 16, 2023). https://www.encyclopedia.com/reference/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/curly-coated-retriever
"curly-coated retriever ." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. . Retrieved January 16, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/reference/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/curly-coated-retriever
Bush Dog , bush dog (Speothos venaticus) See CANIDAE. Speothos venaticus (bush dog) See CANIDAE. Raccoon Dog , raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides Dog , dog, carnivorous, domesticated wolf (Canis lupus familiaris) of the family Canidae, to which the jackal and fox also belong. The family Canidae is so… Welsh Terrier , terrier •barrier, carrier, farrier, harrier, tarrier •Calabria, Cantabria •Andrea • Kshatriya • Bactria •Amu Darya, aria, Zaria •Alexandria •Ferrier,… Prairie Dog , Prairie dogs, or barking squirrels , are ground-dwelling herbivores in the genus Cynomys, in the squirrel family Sciuridae, order Rodentia. Prairie d… Hot Dog , Hot dogs are a processed meat product made by mixing chopped meat with various curing ingredients, flavorants, and colorants. The meat is then stuffe…
flat-coated retriever
dog-kennel
dog louse
Trichodectes canis
Andalusian Dog
curly kale
Curling, Hon. Alvin (Scarborough-Rouge River) Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Curling, Alvin 1939–
Curling's ulcers
curlicue
Curley, Wilma (1937–)
Curley, Tagak (Rankin Inlet North)
Curley, Stephen J. 1947–
Curley, Michael Joseph
Curley, Marianne 1959–
Curley, Marianne 1959-
Curley, Marianne
Curlew, The
Curlew, Eskimo
curlew sign
Curlew River
Curless, Ann (1965–)
curler
Curlee, Lynn 1947–
Curlee, Lynn 1947-
Curlyheadedness
curmudgeonly
Curney
Curnow, Allen
Curnow, W. Leslie (d. 1926)
Curnutt, Jordan 1958-
Curnyn, Lynda
Curran, Alvin
Curran, Charles E.
Curran, Charles E. 1934-
Curran, Colleen 1974–
Curran, Kathleen 1955- (Kathleen A. Curran)
Curran, Lynette 1945–
Curran, Margaret (c. 1962–)
Curran, Pearl Lenore (Pollard) (1883-1937)
Curran, Thomas F. 1961–
Curran, Tony 1969(?)- (Anthony Curran)
currants, dried
Curren, Tom
Currency (Brazil)
Currency Act of 1764
Currency and Coinage