International Data Corporation (IDC) has published a framework designed to guide business and IT decision makers faced with planning and investment decisions related to artificial intelligence (AI) for automation. The framework defines the expected levels of human-machine interaction and the hierarchy of automation scope, which can then serve as a basis for assessing data, algorithm, IT, staffing requirements, and potential risks at the intersection of AI capabilities and use cases.
To understand the likely evolution of AI-based automation, IDC evaluated the interaction of humans and machines with a focus on the analysis of inputs, the decisions based on this analysis, and the actions that result from these decisions. The result was the identification of five levels of AI-based automation, ranging from human-led and human-governed to machine-led and machine-governed. However, because it is insufficient to consider only how the roles of humans and machines will change over time, IDC also developed a hierarchy to understand the scope of AI-based automation. The hierarchy is based on a rising scale of automation ranging from a task (the smallest unit of work performed on behalf of an activity) to a system (a set of connected processes).
The result is a pragmatic framework that decision makers across industries can use to assess the opportunities and risks of AI-based automation in the foreseeable future. To illustrate how the framework is applied, the report provides examples of how AI-enabled automation is used in healthcare and IT operations involving different levels of human-machine interaction and automation.
To learn more about IDC's AI-based automation evolution framework and why it matters, please see Dan Vesset's recent blog at http://bit.ly/2SQ4ERC.
The IDC report, Artificial Intelligence"Based Automation Evolution Framework (Doc #US44524318), presents IDC's framework for evaluating the evolving nature of the human-machine relationship and the application of artificial intelligence at different levels of automation scope, from tasks and activities to processes and systems.


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Q: How can I monitor HTTP traffic in C? I'm writing a program similar to fiddler or wireshark (but on a more simpler scale), and I was wondering how you would go about monitoring the HTTP request and response in C.
My initial guess was to create an infinite loop a new thread and monitor it at the TCP level. Maybe I'm wrong.
Any advice on best practices for doing something like the above?

A: You should start by getting familiar with the WinPcap library, or libpcap for most other OS'es - this allows you to capture packets quite easily.

A: You can use WinPcap/libpcap for capturing packets on IP level, but if you need to track TCP/IP session, it's better to use libnids which allow you to operate on sessions instead of packets.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Jubiläumsrigg (engl.: jubilee rig; auch baldheader, bald-headed rig (dt.: Glatzkopf-Rigg); stump-topgallant rig (Bramstumpfrigg), in den Vereinigten Staaten oft poor man's rig (Armen-Mannes-Rigg)) ist eine Bezeichnung für eine Besegelungsart (Rigg) ohne oberste Segel.

Bei Rahseglern hat der Mast nur Untersegel, Mars- und Bramsegel (einfach oder doppelt), keine Royalrahen (und keine Skyrahen), bei Schonern nur Hauptgaffelsegel, keine Toppsegel. Der erste Fünfmastgaffelschoner der USA, die Louis (1888–1907), führte ein solches Rigg.

Den Namen "Jubiläumsrigg" erhielt diese Besegelungsart, weil sie in England zum ersten Mal 1887, im sog. Jubiläumsjahr (50. Thronjubiläum) der britischen Königin Victoria, eingesetzt wurde. In Deutschland wurde sie aber schon früher (1874) gefahren. Sie war in den USA stark verbreitet.

Bekannte Vertreter dieses Riggs

 Viermastbarken
 Pommern ex Mneme (1903, Flying-P-Liner, heute Museumsschiff in Mariehamn)
 Lawhill (1892–1959)
 Garthpool ex Jutepolis (1891–1929)
 Fünfmastbark
 France (1911–1922)

 Dreimastgaffelschoner
 Wawona (1897, in Seattle aufgelegt)

 Viermastgaffelschoner
 Dauntless (1898–1928)

 Fünfmastgaffelschoner
 City of Portland (1916–1932)

Weblinks
Gemälde der Pommern
Beschreibung des Jubiläumsriggs (engl.)
Dauntless - Viermastschoner mit Jubiläumsrigg
Gemälde der Garthpool unter Segel

Segelschiffbau

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Because Migraines Are More Than "Just a Headache"
Migrastil Migraine Stick™ aromatherapy roll-on contains essential oils and is applied to the temples, forehead and back of the neck. The stick has a built-in roller ball for easy application and is the perfect size to take with you in a pocket or purse.
The latest migraine research shows that migraine attacks begin deep in the brain with insufficient brain cell energy which leads to unbalanced electrical activity, producing a sort of electrical "storm" in your head. This causes inflammation in the blood vessels in your head and neck leading to horrible migraine headaches.
Migrastil gives your body what it needs, before your migraine starts, and safely encourages your body's normal functioning by supporting normal brain cell and blood vessel activity.
Very good it awaken me n smells good.
I have headaches often and this migrastil stick is just amazing and gets rid of my headache in minutes. Would highly recommend it.
Bought for my sister as she gets headaches almost everyday. She says that it definitely helps relieve the pain a little!
This helps with Minor and Major Pain! Just keep this in your pocket and use as you need!
Sign up for our weekly flyer and get 10% off your next purchase. Plus, be the first to know about pre-order specials, hot price drops, special offers and more!
*Online prices and sale effective dates may differ from those in-store and may vary by region.


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Q: microsofts emotions-preview "message": "Video processing failed." I am trying to get the videos from my dropbox analyzed but even after getting the 202 success, status is showing "video processing failed".
TO crosscheck, I did analysis from other's account. Surprisingly, the same link video for analysis from this account is getting success. I am doing the analysis on the same video from my dropbox shareable link!! but it fails.
Any Help!!!

A: Got the solution. had to change the offset dl = 1 in the public url of the video, which automatically downloads the video. Essentially, if you are using any cloud drive, then make sure the link provided downloads directly, rather than preview.


Located in Darwin City Centre, this motel is within 1 mi (2 km) of Crocosaurus Cove and Darwin Waterfront. Cullen Bay Marina is 1.6 mi (2.6 km) away.
Charles Darwin did a lot with his life—like figuring out that whole evolution thing and whatnot. And because of his accomplishments, he got a lot of things named after him: schools, parks, buildings and a city in the Northern Territory, for starters. Excuse us, the capital of the Northern Territory.
And what a delightful place it is. The soothing coastal waters offer a great escape after you've hiked around the national parks of Kakadu and Litchfield. And after all that, our great Darwin hotels are the best places to lay your head down at night.
How do I get to Darwin from the airport?
Your flight will land at Darwin International Airport (DRW), 13km from the city centre. You can take a taxi, shuttle or book car hire to reach any of the hotels in Darwin.
What kinds of hotels are there in Darwin?
There are all sorts of places to stay in Darwin. Seriously, there are boutique hotels, luxury resorts with more stars than the universe and even places that look like your apartment back home. Here's a short list of some of our favourites.
Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront: The name doesn't lie; this place really is on the waterfront. There are rooms with epic ocean views, an on-site restaurant with great food and drinks and a spa that will relax you beyond your wildest dreams.
One30 Esplanade: If you're looking for a place that feels just like home—but with maybe a little more pizzazz—this is the spot for you. This fully serviced apartment hotel has rooms ranging from studios to three bedrooms and an array of amenities. What sort of amenities, you ask? A 25-lap pool, fully equipped gym and maid service. And that's just three of them! You'll have to stay here to find out the others.
Palms City Resort: If you're looking for accommodation in Darwin that's on the Esplanade and has luxury villas, look no further than Palms City. You can get yourself a standard hotel room, but where's the fun in that? Since you're on holiday, you might as well spring for the executive villa with a private outdoor spa. Yes, please!
Where should I stay in Darwin?
The capital city of the Northern Territory is full of quaint little neighbourhoods. Larrakeyah's parks are great for picnics. Stuart Park has an unbelievable fish and chips joint. The Marina is home to whale watching tours and the downtown area has epic nightlife. And in those neighbourhoods, you'll find plenty of Wotif's Darwin accommodation options. Don't believe us? Follow along below.
What are some things to do in Darwin?
From trekking through the rainforest to swimming in the ocean and wandering through museums, there's no shortage of activities to keep you busy during your stay.
Berry Springs Nature Park: Fill up a picnic basket with your favourite treats and enjoy a delicious meal in a picturesque park. When you've eaten, go for an easy hike through the monsoon forest. After you've worked up a sweat during your nature walk, take a dip in the swimming hole. Now, is that a fun afternoon or what?
Crocodylus Park: You can't go on holiday without visiting some sort of wild animal park. That's why you're going to pay a visit to Crocodylus Park. Not only will you get to see a keeper feed giant saltwater crocodiles, but you'll be able to have a real animal encounter. What's better than cuddling with koalas and baby kangaroos? The answer is nothing.
World War II Oil Storage Tunnels: No, this is not a joke. These tunnels exist and you'd be a fool not to explore them. They were built to protect the city's oil from Japanese bombing raids, but now they're open for your enjoyment.
Hey, we've done our part, so now it's time for you to do yours. All that means is booking one of Wotif's Darwin holiday packages, leaving immediately and staying as long as you want.
And if you get the urge to visit the land of kiwis, our deals on Auckland accommodation are unbeatable. Book one, hop on an airplane and eight hours later you'll be in New Zealand's capital.
How Much is a Hotel Room in Darwin?
Hotels in Darwin start at AU$64 per night. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.


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The Passion Within
Drama 2010 1 hr 32 min
Set in 1940s Spain, The Passion Within, tells the true story of Spain's most famous bullfighter Manuel "Manolete" Rodriguez Sanchez (Brody) and his obsessive love for actress and social beauty Lupe Sino (Cruz) who becomes the love of his life, until his untimely and tragic death in the bullring at the age of 30. Lupe and Manolete couldn't be more different from each other. She is in love with life and he is in love with death. Their love for each other is passionate, explosive, dangerous and ultimately tragic. On the last day of Manolete's life, after a bitter argument with Lupe, he enters the bullring for the last time filled with sadness and rage. He has lost the will to fight. Having shown Manolete how to live, Lupe ultimately also shows him how to die.
Starring Adrien Brody, Penélope Cruz, Ann Mitchell
Director Menno Meyjes
Манолете
Manolete
Lupe Sino
Ann Mitchell
Dona Angustias
Josep Linuesa
Enrique de Ahumada
Juan Echanove
Pepe Camara
Santiago Segura
Pedro Casablanc
Nacho Aldeguer
Luis Miguel Dominguín
Menno Meyjes
Andrés Vicente Gómez
Robert D. Yeoman
Iberoamericana Films Producción S.A.
© 2010 Paradise
Russian (AAC, Dolby 5.1)
English (United States) (Audio), Russian (Russia) (Subtitles)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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EFCC re-arraigns Saraki's Aide, Makanjuola, others For N3.5bn Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, on Wednesday, March 13th, re-arraigned Gbenga Makanjuola, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, before Justice Maureen A. Onyetenu sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on an amended 11-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy, accepting cash payment beyond threshold and money laundering to the tune of N3.5 billion ((Three Billion, Five Hundred Million Naira).
Makanjuola is charged along with Kolawole Shittu, cashier to the Senate; Robert Chidozie Mbonu, a former Managing Director, Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria, SGBN (currently at large); Melrose General Services Limited and Obiora Amobi, Operation Manager, Melrose General Services Limited.
They were first arraigned on October 3, 2018 before Justice Babs O. Kuewumi of the same court.
One of the counts reads: "That you, Gbenga Makanjuola, sometime in December 2016 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did accept cash payment of the sum of $500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) only from Kolawole Shittu without going through a financial institution and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012) and punishable under Section 16 (2) (b) of the same Act."
The defendants pleaded "not guilty" to the charges preferred against them.
In view of their pleas, the prosecuting counsel, Kamil Bashir, asked the court for a trial date.
In his response, counsel to the second defendant, Omeoga Chukwu, urged the court to allow the defendants to continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted by the Justice Kuewumi, adding that "the terms were very stringent and verified by the EFCC."
Justice Onyetenu granted the prayer of the defence on the existing bail.
The defendants were granted bail in the sum of N250 million each, with two sureties in like sums.
The sureties must be resident in Lagos and must have landed properties with Certificate of Occupancy, CoO, within the Lagos metropolis.
Also, the sureties must show tax clearance certificates and letters of identification from their banks.
Each of the defendants was ordered to deposit four recent passports with the Court Registrar.
The case was adjourned to May 20, 21 and 22, 2019 for commencement of trial.
Drake takes son Adonis on his European tour with him
Canadian rapper, Drake, has reportedly brought his 17-month-old son Adonis to join him at his Assassination Vacation European tour.
The 32-year-old who began the 22-date show in Manchester on Sunday is said to have been spotted cradling Adonis backstage and during rehearsals. He welcomed the child with former French adult film star Sophie Brussaux in October 2017.
A source said: 'Drake doesn't mind who saw him with his baby – he was holding him backstage in Manchester and looked really at home.
'He's spoken about being really committed to fatherhood and this really proves it.'
It was also reported that Drake is still planning to party in-between looking after Adonis while on the road.
Yemi Alade shares stunning new photos to celebrate her 30th birthday
Nigerian singer, Yemi Eberechi Alade simply known as Yemi Alade turned 30 on Wednesday, and to celebrate, she shared some stunning new photos of herself.
Born on March 13th 1989, she gained prominence after winning the Peak Talent Show in 2009, and is best known for her hit single "Johnny".
See more photos below...
What could Rotimi Amaechi be explaining to VP Yemi Osinbajo in this photo?
As captured during the Federal Executive Council meeting held on Wednesday.
Witness reveals how former bank MD, Erastus Akingbola bought London properties for £9.7m
A prosecution witness, Abdulraheem Jimoh, in the ongoing trial of Erastus Akingbola, a former Managing Director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, on Wednesday, March 13, 2019, told Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, how the defendant diverted funds from the bank and bought some properties in London for the total sums of £9.7m.
The prosecution had, on Tuesday, March 12, opened the trial of the former bank chief.
One of the counts reads: "That you, Dr. Erastus B.O. Akingbola, whilst being the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Intercontinental Bank Plc, between November 2007 and July 2008, at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, caused to be created a misleading appearance of active trading in the shares of Intercontinental Bank Plc on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, by being connected with the utilization of an aggregate sum of N179, 385, 000, 000 (One Hundred and Seventy- Nine Billion, Three Hundred and Eighty-five Million Naira) of the bank's funds for the purchase of Intercontinental Bank Plc's shares."
At the resumed hearing today, Jimoh a former Chief Inspector with the defunct Intercontinental Bank, told the court how he unravelled fraudulent transactions by Akingbola.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, the witness said: "I was given a letter by the Management of the bank, which came from Tropics Securities Limited, a company owned by Dr. Erastus Akingbola, his wife and some other shareholders.
"The letter was addressed to the Group Managing Director, Dr. Erastus Akingbola and was attentioned to Mr. Olayinka Adebiyi, requesting the payment of N10billion, N1.2billion and N4.3billion to Tropics Securities Limited and other companies".
"Investigation report on the issuance of N10billion to Tropics Properties, Tropic Securities Limited and Bankinson Nigeria Limited showed the monies paid and cleared by Access Bank were said to have been used to pay for the "indebtedness to Access Bank".
The witness said the N10b fraud was discovered by the bank and later forwarded to him for further enquiry.
In his further evidence, he said he discovered, during investigation, that the defendant acquired properties in London with the sums of £8.5m and £1.2m allegedly diverted from the bank.
He added: "This was discovered when the bank received a letter via e-mail from Deutsche Bank of London.
"Monies were transferred to Soo-Kok Holdings Limited; Tofa General Enterprises; Cinca Nigeria Limited; Harmony Trust and Investment Limited; Stanzus Investment Limited."
Counsel to the defendant, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, during cross-examination, confronted the witness with a documented evidence he gave to an Ikeja High Court some years ago, where he contradicted himself over his MBA qualification.
"I enrolled, but the MBA programme was aborted because I didn't finish some project works in 2000 from the University of Ilorin", the witness told the Judge.
Olanipekun also told the court that the witness was misleading the court, adding that "The witness is not a witness of truth and, therefore, should not be believed by the court of his testimony."
When asked to explain to the court the origin of the statement to the court marked exhibit L, he said: "The statement was written in my office when the EFCC investigators came to interview me.
"They gave me their letter head.
"The statement was typed by someone else in my office.
"I sat beside the person who typed the statement, while I dictated the hand- written statement to her."
Under further cross-examination, he said he never interrogated or met with the defendant.
The witness, however, admitted to have interrogated various Heads of Departments in the bank.
"I interrogated various Heads of Departments in Intercontinental Bank because they acted upon the instructions of Akingbola", the witness said.
The witness also told the court that no loan was granted to the defendant or his companies.
Justice Olatoregun adjourned the case to March 14, 2019 for continuation of trial.
The defendant was first arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris of the same court on a 26- count charge of fraud, granting reckless credit facility, abuse of office and mismanagement of depositors' funds in 2009.
The case was later transferred to Justice Charles Archibong on October 25, 2010.
Justice Archibong, however, struck out the charge for want of diligent prosecution by the prosecution.
Dissatisfied, the Commission approached the Court of Appeal on February 20, 2015.
The appellate court, in its ruling, overturned the judgment of the trial court.
The defendant subsequently headed for the Supreme Court, where the decision of the Appeal Court ordering him to face the charges preferred against him by the EFCC was affirmed.
The prosecution counsel, Mr. Mabas Mabur, represented the EFCC in the case.
The case was adjourned to May 20, 21 and 22, 2019 for commencement of trial
Update: Female police officer killed in Edo police station attack was pregnant
Sergeant Justina Aghomon pictured above was amongst those killed by unknown gunmen at the Afuze police station in Owan East local government area of Edo state.
Sadly, preliminary investigation report by the state police command says Aghomon was pregnant when she was killed by the gunmen.
Recall that on Tuesday March 12th, gunmen said to be about 10 in number, stormed the police station and began shooting sporadically, killing the Divisional Police Officer DPO Tosimani Ojo; the Divisional Crime Officer, Inspector Sado Isaac and Corporal Glory David.
Aghomon was said to have been recently transferred to Afuze from Benin where she met her untimely death alongside her unborn child.
The state Commissioner of Police, Muhammed DanMallam, said efforts are being made to arrest the criminals that were set free from police custody during the attack. He added that the remains of the pregnant police officer and others killed during the attack have been deposited in the morgue.
Photo: Yahoo boy who posed to his victim as a white woman, jailed In Osun
An Osun State High Court, sitting in Osogbo has sentenced one Adeniyi Ebenezzar (aka Mary Oliver) to four months in prison in a fraud charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan zonal office.
Justice W. O. Akanbi of the State High Court 3 gave the verdict in Osogbo on Wednesday March 13th after Adeniyi settled for plea bargain and his hitherto three-count charge was replaced with a lone-count charge of obtaining money under false pretense, contrary to section 1(3) of Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.
Operatives of the Commission had arrested him on December 5, 2018 after defrauding an American citizen, Anthony, of one hundred United States Dollars.
He had posed to his victim to be a white woman with the name Mary Oliver, using same to extort his victim.
The amended charge reads: "That you Adeniyi Ebenezzar (A.K.A. Mary Oliver) sometimes in 2006, at Ilesha within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court by false pretence and with intent to defraud, obtain Gift Card worth $100 USD (One Hundred United States of America Dollars) through your email moliver1820@gmail.com from one Anthony, a United States of America Citizen when you falsely represented to him that you are a white woman by name Mary Oliver and other false pretences which representation you knew to be false and thereby committed offence."
Though, the term of the plea bargain was to the effect that Adeniyi would bag seven months imprisonment with effect from his day of arrest, the judge used his discretion to commute the sentencing to four months, also from the day of his arrest.
Part of the conditions of the plea bargain was restitution of the One Hundred Dollars back to the victim, and forfeiture of two Tecno mobile phones, one iphone 6X plus mobile phone, one Philips Wrist Watch and other items recovered from him in the course of EFCC investigation of him.
Nicki Minaj sparks marriage speculation as she calls boyfriend Kenneth Petty her 'Husband'
American rapper, Nicki Minaj, has sparked marriage speculation after she called her boyfriend Kenneth Petty her 'Husband.'
On the newest episode of her Beats1 show, Queen Radio on Apple Music, the 36-year-old referred to her convicted sex offender boyfriend, as her "husband," while sharing some intimate details about their romance.
"Every night when I get out of the shower, my husband takes this really good lotion that we just bought, and he massages my feet, and rubs them, and he rubs each toe individually, and the heel, and the ball of my foot, and he does it all," Minaj said on the show, which was recorded from London ahead of her March 14 concert in Birmingham.
Davido's hypeman, Special Spesh, shares cute photos of himself bottle-feeding his son
Davido's hypeman, Special Spesh, who many see as a hard man because of his demeanor, shared these cute photos of himself bottlefeeding his son. He shared the photos on his IG page.
Labels: CELEBRITY UPDATE, E-NEWS, NEWS
Davido's hypeman, Special Spesh, shares cute photo...
Nicki Minaj sparks marriage speculation as she cal...
Photo: Yahoo boy who posed to his victim as a whit...
Update: Female police officer killed in Edo police...
EFCC re-arraigns Saraki's Aide, Makanjuola, others...
Witness reveals how former bank MD, Erastus Akingb...
What could Rotimi Amaechi be explaining to VP Yemi...
Yemi Alade shares stunning new photos to celebrate...


The Oracle BlueKai data management platform enables site owners to personalize online, offline, and mobile marketing campaigns.
Leveraging the rich profile and social information collected by Gigya, this integration grabs information about site visitors and channels it into BlueKai, where it is used for segmentation and targeting.
A client-side component, which grabs the visitor's Gigya UID as the visitor logs into the site, and performs a real-time ID Swap with BlueKai.
A server-side batch process which runs in close to real time (60-second intervals), gets all the users who have logged in during that interval, and exports their user profile information from Gigya to BlueKai in a secure ETL transfer that uses the BlueKai API.
The server-side batch process that transfers user information from Gigya to BlueKai will be set up for the customer by the Gigya team.
BlueKai Partner ID: This is the ID shown in the top right corner of the Bluekai admin console.
BlueKai Web Service User Key: To get this key, in the BlueKai admin console, go to Tools > Web Services Key Tool.
BlueKai Web Service Private Key: To get this key, in the BlueKai admin console, go to Tools > Web Services Key Tool and click Show Private Key.
The fields may not contain Personally Identifiable Information.
The fields must conform to BlueKai's restricted data policy as well as BlueKai's field length limits.
To channel additional fields from Gigya, discuss your requirements with your Implementation Consultant. For more information about Gigya user data fields, see the Profile object documentation.
For more information on self-classification categories, see Oracle Bluekai documentation.
Add the integration's client-side component (below) to every page in which you want to transmit login events to BlueKai.
This script is dependent on having gigya.js loaded as well as JQuery. Best practice is to add the script to the site footer.
For more information on generating a unique site ID in Bluekai, see Oracle Bluekai documentation.


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Plarium's Kharkiv Studio
Plarium Kharkiv employs more than 600 professionals. Together we are a team that creates and evolves games for browser and mobile platforms. Since 2009, we have grown from a small startup to one of Ukraine's most highly-rated employers.
We're skilled designers, developers, analysts, and industry specialists. We take strategy, action, and RPG games all the way from concept and development to the market.
Do you share our passion for games and innovation? Then come help us do even better. Click below to check out our current career openings.
Officially registered full-time employment & 28 days paid vacation leave
Complete medical insurance package for all employees and their children
Pilates classes and a fully-equipped gym inside the office
Workshops, training programs, and the opportunity to attend industry conferences
Educational English programs, including lessons with native speakers
Free assistance from our travel managers
A creative environment supports creative minds. Here in the Kharkiv studio we work on games that millions of people interact with every day. Onsite benefits, such as our gym and yoga center, make sure we take care of ourselves as well as our players. Quality equipment ensures the work we do is up to a standard we can be proud of.
I have had the chance to work in four departments at Plarium: first as a Proofreader, then as a QA Engineer. At first, my main roles were editing and localization, but afterwards I decided to try myself in testing. I had to try something new, and this line of work logical represented a logical extension of my skill set.
When I joined Plarium, what impressed me most was the scale of the operation. I was also pleasantly surprised to find how open the communication between colleagues from different departments was. My feeling was that I had joined a company, rather than just a single team. In the three years I have been here, we have become more professional within our teams and the company feels more grown up and serious, a necessary step when the studio employs 700 people instead of 300.
Serhii
I started at Plarium as a trainee in the Banner Team, working on gifs and banners. When my period as a trainee ended, I carried for another 8 months, which I really enjoyed. After this, I was offered the position of Technical Artist in the Mobile Team, who needed someone with knowledge of 3D graphics, animation, and VFX.
Even as I did the test task, I wasn't sure that I could make it in another department. Despite my doubts, both heads of departments and my colleagues supported me, so when I finally switched positions, I knew that everything would be fine.
I love the people at Plarium. There are many talented and experienced people around who I can learn from. I have the opportunity to advance professionally and put my knowledge into practice, and that's the coolest thing of all.
Unity Software Architect
When I joined the company in 2012, I was really surprised by how ambitious all the managers and employees were. But later I realized it was a core part of our philosophy. Even now, we don't shy away from taking risks to test our hypotheses.
My inner ambition and desire to find my own limits are what motivate me personally. That's why it's so cool that initiative and suggestions are always welcome here at Plarium. Our company provides all the means necessary, and then it's up to me to realize my ideas.
For a developer, games are just as complex as any big service or application. It's just that game development is way more fun and dynamic because of the high level of competition and how demanding the users are. As a gamer, I perceive games differently now. I can no longer just play a game without analyzing its technical aspects and gameplay.
Plarium Kharkiv vacancies
.NET Developer (Game Server)
Automation QA Engineer (С#)
Back-End Team Lead (Business Solutions)
.NET Developer (Business Solutions)
Unity Developer (Action Games)


Fidelium – a reliable partner.
Fidelium is an experienced partner for companies seeking a long-term operational investor. Whatever the challenge, our approach is always responsible, pragmatic, and dependable. We also benefit from short decision-making paths and a culture of open communication.
Our core business involves companies that are profitable but offer room for improvement through targeted operational measures. We aim to work with management to address the various challenges and help the organization to achieve a new and sustained level of competitiveness.
Fidelium has many years of experience with corporate carve-outs, helping business units to become successful independent companies. We have a wealth of insight into the challenges and complexities of this type of investment. Our proven strategy is to focus on non-core assets and provide them with both capital investment and active hands-on support.
We invest in special situations, such as succession scenarios, management buy-outs/buy-ins, and turnarounds. Our goal in each case is to implement the long-term changes required to secure future viability. We also seek to act in a fair and proportionate manner toward all parties.
Operational engagement is the strongest form of commitment.
Fidelium is an operational investor. Unlike most financial investors, we look for companies that are currently facing significant operational challenges. Growth and stable cash flows are our goal, but rarely in place already. Our objective is to improve the business and secure its long-term growth.
To achieve this, we work closely with the management teams, providing active operational support. Rather than periodic monitoring or occasional appearances on an advisory board, we draw on our long experience to provide hands-on assistance with specific issues. We also act as a sounding board for new ideas on strategy and business development. We offer particular expertise in the areas of sales and financing, efficiency enhancement, and the implementation of buy-and-build strategies. Our role also often involves providing active support for the carve-out of business units and their subsequent transformation into independent SMEs.
Long-term capital offers companies the best prospects.
Fidelium manages a major equity fund backed by a number of German business families. Long-term assets totaling EUR 103 million are available for acquisitions, follow-on investments, and add-ons. The Fidelium team members also invest significant amounts of their own money.
This enables us to finance transactions without bank borrowing. As a result, our portfolio companies are not loaded up with additional debt. This is particularly important in challenging situations, where speed, flexibility, and transaction reliability are vital.
The Fidelium Group is based entirely in Germany and registered with the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) as an external capital management company in accordance with Section 44(1) of the Capital Investment Code (KAGB).
Special situations are the norm for us.
The Fidelium team has long experience in acquiring and supporting companies in special situations. Our dependability has been proven repeatedly across a wide range of transactions. We provide our partners with exceptional transaction reliability as well as the flexibility required to handle the needs of complex sales scenarios.
In recent years, the Fidelium team has successfully implemented over 30 major transactions.


Loss Control Insurance - Modesto CA & San Francisco CA - Nicholson Insurance, Inc.
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Cybersecurity expert Darryl Togashi has been named to Indiana Gov. Eric J. Holcomb's Executive Council on Cybersecurity. Togashi is the department chair for Cybersecurity/Information Assurance, Information Technology Support, Network Infrastructure and Server Administration programs at Ivy Tech Community College's Fort Wayne Campus.
Togashi has joined government (local, state and federal), private-sector, military, research and academic stakeholders to collaboratively move Indiana's cybersecurity to the next level. The council is led by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana Office of Technology, Indiana State Police and the Indiana National Guard.
The cross-sector body of subject-matter experts will form an understanding of Indiana's cyber risk profile, identify priorities, establish a strategic framework of Indiana's cybersecurity initiatives and leverage the body of talent to stay on the forefront of the cyber risk environment, according to the Indiana Cybersecurity website at Indiana.gov.
"Basically, the council will be sending recommendations to the governor regarding the state's cyber defense priorities and to see where the political realm can help to remove or mitigate these threats," Togashi says.
With 28 council members and more than 50 advisory members, the council will deliver a comprehensive strategy plan to Holcomb by September 2018.
The launch of his council follows Holcomb's signing of the National Governors Association's "A Compact to Improve State Cybersecurity" in July 2017. The 38 governors who signed the compact agreed to protect personal and government data stored on state systems as well as develop statewide plans to combat cyberattacks against information technology networks. The governors' agreement included a pledge to build a cybersecurity governance, prepare and defend the state from cybersecurity events and increase the nation's cybersecurity workforce.
In addition to serving as a department chair at Ivy Tech's Fort Wayne Campus, Togashi is the College's statewide point of contact for its Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense designation among two-year colleges, a distinction awarded by the National Security Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from 2017 through 2022. Togashi is also the state director for the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition.


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Michael Sanchez*
Director and Senior Portfolio Manager – Securitized Credit
Mr. Sanchez joined Bradford & Marzec, now part of Tortoise, in 2013. He is responsible for analysis and trading of residential mortgage, commercial mortgage and asset-backed securities.
Mr. Sanchez has more than 30 years of investment industry experience including most recently as director of fixed income trading at CastleOak Securities. Prior to that, he was vice president, institutional mortgage/ABS sales at RBC Capital, senior vice president and proprietary trader at Countrywide Securities, portfolio manager at Hotchkis and Wiley and senior vice president/portfolio manager at Provident Investment Counsel. He was also portfolio manager/analyst for Arco Investment Management Co. Mr. Sanchez' portfolio management experience includes oversight and investment of both structured products and credit sectors, including investment grade credit and municipal securities.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in applied chemistry from Harvey Mudd College and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business with an emphasis in finance.
Michael Sanchez


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Black Magick #14
ComicsImage
tjaxzi
This issue continues the newest arc of this story titled Ascension I. In the previous issue, Rowan and her new partner, Nicky, hook up after Rowan has a run-in with a spirit which disorients and upsets her. Rowan is under attack but hasn't gained the wherewithal to figure from where and to what end. Rucka and Scott do a nice job continuing the dangerous feel of the world while expanding the connections between characters like the story developing between Rowan and Nicky.
Meanwhile, Alex continues gathering evidence narrowing her scope on the danger that surrounds Rowan. She fights the same spirit that argued with Rowan in the previous issue, in the form of an evil girl. The exchange increases the mystique of the story and the dark magic present in this tightly-knit world.
Finally, Lauren, The Witch Hunter, is falling for Alex – a witch. This story twist builds on the danger already introduced in the previous book. He is alarmed by the unresponsiveness of his partner, Anne Marie, who was attacked by someone she recognized. It will be interesting to see how this arc unfolds.
The art is strong in this issue. I especially love the shading and the almost antique visual aesthetic created by the mostly black and white pallet. Nicola Scott excels while drawing intimate spaces, bedrooms, and the human body. If I have a critique, it's that the character's faces are not always consistently drawn. However, the uniqueness of each character, their quirky deficiencies, makes them feel real and alive.
This is an intriguing story because it leans on strong character development in Rowan and Alex to build on the horror and mysticism genre. If you love spiritualism, horror, and witchcraft stories you will love this. If I had a critique it's in the pacing. The story does not advance much from issue to issue. However, what is presented is consistent with previous parts of the story and it advances the reader's investment in the characters. Overall 9/10
Tags:greg ruckaimage comicsnicola scott
Issue #461: ALL the News & Detective Comics #1027
X of Swords Week 1: X of Swords Creation #1
I am a licensed clinical social worker and trauma therapist. Comic book heroes have been a passion of mine since I was a small child. However, making the weekly trip to the local comic book store to redeem my pull list has become a regular occurrence only…
The Life of Captain Marvel #1 Review
by KrisK
Writer: Margaret Stohl Penciler for Present Day: Carlos Pacheco Inker for…
Wolverine & The X-Men #15 Review
Wolverine & The X-Men #15 Written by Jason Aaron Pencils by Jorge Molina…
This Month in Comics History: The Killing Joke
by Max Mallet
Batman: The Killing Joke (1988) Writer: Alan Moore Artist: Brian Bolland…
Flash #16 Review
by Adam Shaw
The Flash # 16 Written by Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato Art by Francis…
Flavor #1 Review
Written by Joseph Keatinge Art by Wook Jin Clark, Tamra Bonvillain, and Rich…


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Dr Ben Lewis
that science guy
Today I learnt
Energy, Engineering, Environment, Future, Rapid Article
The 2011 World Solar Challenge has been run and won
October 20, 2011 April 13, 2020 Ben Lewis
They started under clear skies and blazing heat and finished in steady rain, but the winner of the 2011 World Solar Challenge has been decided. After 4 days of travelling, Tokai University (Japan) crossed the finishing line north of Adelaide today in the lead. In the closest finish in the history of the WSC, mere… Continue reading The 2011 World Solar Challenge has been run and won
Engagement and Education, Engineering, Environment
Getting the sustainability message out through film
August 21, 2011 April 13, 2020 Ben Lewis
Over the past few weeks I've been involved in the organisation of public screenings for the 2011 SCINEMA Festival of Science Film. The festival showcases science dramas, docos, animations and shorts, and in 2011 SCINEMA received over 400 entries from 35 countries including entries from professional filmmakers, amateurs, and student-groups, making it one of the… Continue reading Getting the sustainability message out through film
Engagement and Education, Environment, Future, Genetics, Space, Weird
New ways to communicate science – Science-Rap
June 17, 2011 June 18, 2011 Ben Lewis
This fortnight I thought I'd do something a little different. Rather than a normal article, I thought I'd draw your attention to a group of science communicators who definitely have their own style. These people are part of a burgeoning group of science rappers. Oort Kuiper Jon Chase, aka Oort Kuiper, is a science communicator… Continue reading New ways to communicate science – Science-Rap


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Open'er Festival Announce 2018 Lineup Featuring Bruno Mars, Depeche Mode and Gorillaz
Matt Matasci November 16th, 2017 - 10:04 AM
Gdynia-based music event Open'er Festival has announced a third headliner for the festival, with British electronic-pop group Depeche Mode joining Gorillaz and Bruno Mars atop the lineup. The festival is scheduled for July 4-7 in Poland, at the Gdynia-Kosakowo Airport. Expect a lot more big names to be added to this festival between now and the summer of 2018.
Last year's festival featured artists like James Blake, Radiohead, The Weeknd, Prophets of Rage and more. The diverse festival was headlined by At The Drive-In, LCD Soundsystem and The Last Shadow Puppets in 2016.
Depeche Mode has had an eventful 2017, highlighted by their Global Spirit Tour, which saw them performing with groups like Warpaint and more. Of course, they also released another great album, this one called Spirit. More recently, they released a video featuring a cover of David Bowie's classic song "Heroes," which was in honor of the song's 40th anniversary.
Gorillaz released a new album in 2017, which was their first since 2010's The Fall. Like all albums by the Damon Albarn-led group, there were plenty of guest appearances on the new record, which was titled Humanz. Guests included De La Soul, Danny Brown, Kelela, Grace Jones, Mavis Staples, Pusha T, Kali Uchis and Jehnny Beth of Savages. They have been a staple at festivals like The Meadows and Outside Lands, with many more headlining appearances on the way in 2018 like Bilbao BBK and Rock Am Ring/Rock Im Park.
UPDATE (1/29): Arctic Monkeys have been added to the lineup for Open'er Festival 2018. They join other newly announced performers at the festival such as Massive Attack, Fleet Foxes and David Byrne.
Photo Credit: Owen Ela
Opener Festival
Matt Matasci


Camilla Dietz Bergeron was founded in 1987. Known for its antique, period and estate high jewellery, the salon offers an extensive collection of one-of-a-kind pieces that reflects Camilla's view of today's woman who has a variety of needs both professionally and socially. Special high jewellery pieces are offered at various price points from masters such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Paul Flato, Jean Schlumberger, Verdura and David Webb. "I love to search for that one-of-a-kind piece - the pearl in the oyster," says Camilla. "Chic isn't some kind of formula; chic just is."


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Home/News/Dr Aafia Siddiqui sustained 'minor injuries' in assault by fellow inmate in US prison
Siddiqui was sentenced to 86 years of imprisonment by a US federal court in 2010
News Desk Follow on Twitter Send an email 23 August 2021Last Updated: 23 August 2021
https://www.kbconline.tv/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/AAfia-Siddiqui-Attacked-in-US-Prison.mp4
Incarcerated neuroscientist Dr Aafia Siddiqui had received "minor injuries" after being assaulted by a fellow inmate at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Carswell, US last month.
Siddiqui — a US citizen of Pakistani origin — was convicted by a US court on charges of shooting at US army and FBI officers while in custody in Afghanistan and was sentenced to 86 years imprisonment.
On August 19, CAGE — an independent advocacy organisation working to empower communities impacted by the 'war on terror' — said that it had received disturbing reports from Siddiqui's lawyers stating that she had been attacked in her cell by an inmate who had been harassing her for some time.
Dr Aafia Siddique
According to the statement, the inmate smashed a coffee mug filled with scalding hot liquid into her face.
"Shocked by the violent assault and in excruciating pain, Dr Siddiqui curled into a fetal position to protect herself. She was unable to get up after the assault and had to be taken out of the cell in a wheelchair," the statement said.
Siddiqui was sentenced to 86 years of imprisonment by a US federal court in 2010, after she was convicted of firing at US troops in Afghanistan while in their custody and other six charges against her.
Her lawyers had requested a sentence of 12 years, while prosecutors had pressed for a life sentence.
In 2009, a jury found had found her guilty of seven charges, including two counts of attempted murder. The jury found there wasn't premeditation in the attempted murder charges.
Prosecutors had alleged that Siddiqui travelled to Ghazni, was behind a curtain in the second-floor room where they gathered.
She burst out from behind a curtain, grabbed an American soldier's rifle and started firing. She was shot in the abdomen by a soldier who returned fire with his sidearm, the prosecutors said.
During the trial, she testified that she was simply trying to escape the room and was shot by someone who had seen her. She said she was concerned at the time about being transferred to a "secret" prison.
Siddiqui's family and supporters claim she was arrested in Pakistan and handed over to intelligence agencies, who then transferred her into US custody. Both US and Pakistani officials, however, claim that she was arrested in Afghanistan.
Siddiqui, who received her graduation degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Brandeis University in biology and neuroscience while living in the US between 1991 and June 2002, denied grabbing the weapon or having any familiarity with firearms.
She allegedly went missing for five years before she was discovered in Afghanistan.


The global agricultural biologicals market is projected to reach USD 10.05 Billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of 14.5% from 2015 to 2020. The demand for biologicals is also fueled because major agriculture firms intend to continue and preserve their market share or produce incremental income streams; governmental regulatory bodies are actively participating in environmental conservation issues; growers are looking for fresh ways to generate higher yield; and there is an increased demand for agricultural products that ensure overall wellness of consumers.
In the global market for agricultural biologicals, microbials as a source for biologicals is growing at a higher rate as microbials are broadly utilized over the globe and are a valuable source for biologicals to defend crops against insects, diseases, and pests. They are made from microbes which can work alone and complement the conventional method of plant production and protection. They are attractive in controlling agricultural pests which do not create any harm to the environment. Continuous research & development in agrochemicals and advances in the farming methods have also played a major role in the growth of the biologicals market.
Soil treatment is one of the most widely used mode of application under the biologicals market. Soil treatment with the help of biologicals involves the method of improving the soil quality, by adjusting the pH level of the soil, so that the nutrient quality is ultimately improved. Soil treatment also involves the removal of hazardous substances from soil that has been contaminated and unfit for production of agricultural products for human consumption. Recently, there has been an increase in the seed treatment mode of application to protect seeds from early season diseases and pests, which improves crop emergence and its growth. It also improves plant population and therefore there is higher productivity.
The global agricultural biologicals market is dominated by Europe and is closely followed by North America. These regions are quite ahead in adopting modern agricultural technology and organic farming as they are more developed as compared to other developing regions round the globe. This has led to create an increased demand for the overall organic ways to produce crops in the European market. These factors have played a major role in the dominance of the European Agricultural biologicals industry across the globe. However, the demand for agricultural biological products from developing regions, such as Asia-Pacific and Latin America, has significantly increased. Increasing land degradation and rise in productivity of high quality crops have put tremendous pressure on countries with agrarian economy.
Barriers in adoption, leading to lower penetration of biologicals, are a key restraint of the agricultural biologicals market. The microbial products industry comprises numerous small players who take into account the demand of niche markets. These suppliers may not be fit for giving desired products to all crop types, consistently. Besides, the development of counterfeit plant protection is on the rise, due to factors such as inadequate attention to the implementation of regulations governing pesticides and fertilizers by national authorities. The rate of switching to chemical fertilizers after the usage of microbial products is also high, due to the use of counterfeit products by growers, which discourages them from using agricultural biological products again. The unavailability of specific products for different plant types and increased penetration of counterfeit products in the market may restrain the growth of the agricultural biologicals market in the near future.
Players in this market have adopted various strategies to increase their global footprint and their market share. Agreements & contracts, partnerships, new product launches, expansions & investments, and acquisitions are some of the key strategies adopted by players to achieve growth in the agricultural biologicals market. The global market for biologicals is dominated by top players such as Syngenta (Switzerland), The Dow Chemical Company (U.S.), Bayer CropScience AG (Germany), BASF SE (Germany), Isagro Spa (Italy), and Novozymes A/S (Denmark). Other players include T. Stanes & Company Ltd (India), Marrone Bio Innovation Inc (U.S.), Arysta LifeScience Ltd (Japan), Certis USA LLC (U.S.), and Koppert B.V. (The Netherlands).
5.4.1.1 Need for New Innovations to Meet Ever Increasing Food Needs.
13.9 Marrone Bio Innovation Inc.


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Q: Dropwizard / Jersey HTTP Servlet Connection Reset but Jersey Resource is fine I implemented an API using Jersey Resources and environment.servlets().addServlet(newServlet) to see which one would be faster.
Both do the exact same thing. But when I run AB benchmarking on the two implementations, using Jersey Resource works fine but with Servlet I get apr_socket_recv: Connection reset by peer (54).
This only happens when hitting with concurrent requests:
ab -n 10000 -c 100 -k -T application/binary -p req.bin http://localhost:8142/

Any idea why Servlet would have this issue? (the reason I want to use servlet is the data I am posting is raw binary and its easier to handle it there using the Input/Output Stream.

A: I found the reason. It was due to Keep Alive connections, I needed to set the Content-Length header in the response.
        response.setContentLength(out.len());
        response.getOutputStream().write(out.get(), 0, out.len());
        response.getOutputStream().flush();

And not call response.getOutputStream().close()


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Pennsylvania coronavirus update: State exceeds 20,000 deaths; outbreak reported in Forest state prison
Missed out on the $731.1M Powerball jackpot? Friday's Mega Millions drawing climbs to $970M
Pennsylvania updates coronavirus vaccine rollout to give priority to people 65 and older as St. Luke's announces plan
Biden picks Rachel Levine, who drew credit and criticism for handling of Pa.'s COVID-19 crisis, as assistant health secretary
LV Music
Top 5 new music picks include releases from Bob Mould and The Spyrals
By Alan Sculley
"Blue Hearts" is Bob Mould's latest release. (Daniel DeSlover/Sipa USA/TNS)
For this week, I have reviews of one of Bob Mould's best, most passionate albums of his stellar 40-year career, new albums from a pair of acts that have been making waves in other countries in Steffen Morrison and Pillow Queens, and the impressive return of Naomi Hamilton.
Bob Mould: "Blue Hearts"
Even before the pandemic forced Mould to cut short touring behind his 2019 album, "Sunshine Rock," he had begun writing new songs. And with America falling deeper into crisis, the alt-rock icon kept writing and now we have "Blue Hearts," a bracing effort that's as dark as "Sunshine Rock" was, by Mould's standards, sunny. Mould was clearly tuned into the turmoil and uncertainty around him, and he shows both rage and compassion throughout "Blue Hearts." In "America In Crisis," Mould, who is gay, compares the early 1980s when the federal government did little to fight AIDS to the Trump administration's inaction on COVID-19. On "Heart on My Sleeve," Mould blasts climate change deniers, noting that the west is on fire and the Southeast is sinking into the sea. He calls out the hypocrisy he sees in evangelicals and the far right in "Forecast of Rain," asking "This love thy neighbor thing, does it apply to all mankind?/Or only those who fit neatly inside Your narrow lines?" Mould's blunt lyrics are matched by a furious musical assault. But as hard as this thoughtful album rocks, Mould's melodic sensibilities still shine through on virtually every song, with "When You Left," "Forecast of Rain," "Password To My Soul" and "Baby Needs a Cookie" among the musical standouts on this consistently strong album. Long may you rage on, Mr. Mould.
The Spyrals: "Same Old Line"
On this eight-song release, the Spyrals mix acoustic folk with gritty and fuzzed-up electric guitars and a rhythm section that could anchor a steamship. "Same Old Line" is predominantly made up of deliberate rockers, including "Bleed," "There's A Feeling" and "In Your Room," that sound more than a little like Neil Young & Crazy Horse in the "Rust Never Sleeps" era (but with less distortion). These Spyrals' songs, though, are solid enough that you won't report the Spyrals for copyright violations. And other songs, such as "Goodbye," "Don't Turn Me Down" and the title track expand the album's range and hint at a future for the Spyrals that may feature more of an original sound.
Jealous Of The Birds: "Peninsula"
"Parma Violets," the 2016 debut album from Jealous of Birds, the solo project of Naomi Hamilton, put her on the "artist-to-watch" radar. Now, two EPs later, comes "Peninsula," a full-length album on which Hamilton shows a talent for putting twists into her songs that make them feel like they're traveling down slightly different paths than the typical pop song. In "Shiloh Chandra" the song takes an unexpected pause after the second verse that sets up a melodic and near-wordless vocal part that functions as a chorus. On "Pendulum," a nifty bassline and jazzy cadence open what is otherwise a lush mid-tempo ballad on an unusual note. Other songs, including "Pulaski Skyway" and "Always Going" work simply because of their beauty and smart arrangements, while Hamilton shows she can rock on "To The Rind," "Hadron Collider" and "Young Neanderthal." It's uncommon for a young artist to emerge sounding fully formed and putting a different slant on pop music. But that's what Hamilton is doing, and it will be fascinating to see what musical adventures come next.
Pillow Queens: "In Waiting"
After releasing a pair of EPs in 2016 and 2018 respectively, this all-female Irish band is back with its first full-length album, "In Waiting." It's a welcome development, as Pillow Queens sound ready to make an impact beyond the UK (where the group has had some radio play), Europe and Australia. With a sound that has considerable bite to go with a strong element of melody, Pillow Queens favor songs with deliberate tempos, but an anthemic scope. For instance, "Liffey" rides a rolling beat and a wall of fuzzy and melodic guitars to create a big sound. "Brothers" gains its breadth from airy guitars and a big, hooky chorus. The shimmery songs "Harvey" and "Child of Prague," meanwhile, show Pillow Queens can craft effective ballads. If this solid album is any indication, the Pillow Queens shouldn't have to wait much longer to expand their reach to this side of the Atlantic and beyond.
Steffen Morrison: "Soul Revolution"
It's refreshing to hear an artist who can recapture the rich melodies and groove of classic 1960s soul, and Morrison, who hails from the Netherlands, does just that on "Soul Revolution." The album covers a pretty full range of styles. There are rousing uptempo tracks like "Hold On Lovers," "Handful" and the title song, a few strong mid-tempo tunes ("You've Been Hit By a Butterfly," "Where I Wanna Be" and "True To Myself") and a pair of killer ballads in "Let Us Not Wait Too Long," and "Positivity." There actually isn't anything revolutionary to Morrison's music. But there aren't many artists doing '60s-rooted soul any better than he does on "Soul Revolution."
Music writer Alan Sculley is a contributor to The Morning Call.
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Families of patients with Alzheimer's and other memory conditions need to know that their loved ones are valued and involved in the world, even though they may be experiencing diminished functioning in some areas of their lives. Heartfields Assisted Living in Easton is reimagining Alzheimer's and Memory Care with its Bridge to Rediscovery Memory Care neighborhoods and communities. The Montessori-based Dementia Programming creates an environment where residents feel valued, secure and involved in the world around them. Residents experience success by focusing on the strengths and abilities they have now.
Melissa Boudrie (left), Director of Sales and Marketing at Heartfields, and Sallie Twinam, RN, Director of Bridge to Rediscovery at Heartfields, meet together in the Bridge to Rediscovery Memory Care neighborhood at Heartfields.
For those of who may have had children in Montessori programs, the approach is very similar, focusing on the individual and personalized activities, engagement with the environment, and celebrating self-esteem. Maria Montessori (1870-1952) was the first female physician in Italy. She developed innovative educational programs whose principles were based on the abilities of the children, allowing them to work at their own pace while receiving positive feedback. These principles are now being applied to patients with Alzheimer's and other memory conditions.
In the Bridge to Rediscovery Memory Care neighborhoods, staff at Heartfields learns about their residents, including their careers, their hobbies, their interests and the important people in their lives. These details help the staff to create a lifestyle where each resident can rediscover joy and meaning in life. There is structure, routine and repetition. The program relies on programs rather than medications when dealing with certain behaviors.
Activity stations throughout each community help residents engage in activities based on the comprehensive life assessment that is done upon their arrival. These stations include recreating a desk and chair for the resident who may have worked in an office most of his or her life. Other activity stations include vanities with jewelry and hats which the residents can try on, cribs with baby dolls for residents who may have been mothers in their lifetime, replicas of workbenches for men who may have had hobbies such as woodworking, gardening benches where pots can be repotted for the gardener, a post office box where residents can get their mail, and even a laundry room where towels and linens can be folded.
According to Melissa, it can be frustrating for residents who are experiencing Alzheimer's or memory conditions to be in a large environment where they can't do what they used to do. By creating a smaller environment, based on Montessori traditions, such as eliminating distractions such as clutter and noise, it can be less frustrating for the resident. In addition to activity stations, residents re-learn activities related to their needs in daily living. This may include re-learning to brush their teeth or setting the table with the right utensils. Staff respectfully engages residents to re-learn these skills.
As one tours the neighborhood, each resident room is marked by a memory box which has been created with family members and includes items that speak to the resident's life, tactile and visual cues which can prompt conversations and discussions with each resident.
Among the fun activities residents at Heartfields experience are Sallie's "Magical Mystery Bus Tours," which are bus trips that the residents take twice a month throughout the region. Sallie says that the residents determine where the bus will go for each trip. Often, the residents want to go to see boats in a local marina, as they may have worked or lived near the water before coming to Heartfields.
Another aspect of Bridge to Rediscovery, which contributes to quality of life for residents, is an award-winning dining and nutrition program. Residents enjoy chef-prepared dining where they have choices at every meal. Meals are served family style at individual tables with linen table clothes and yellow dinnerware, which helps residents' visual perception and independent dining. Brain healthy, nutritionally-balanced and freshly-prepared meals help feed both the bodies and souls of residents in the program.
The bottom line is that individuals with dementia still want to feel valued and involved in the world around them. Heartfields Bridge to Rediscovery Memory Care believes that by following the Montessori principles of "relating, motivating and appreciating," the program can support a happy and healthy life for its residents.
Five Star Senior Living, which operates Heartfields Assisted Living at Easton, serves residents and families at more than 270 Independent Living, Assisted Living, Alzheimer's/Memory Care communities and Healthcare Centers across the country. For further information about Bridge to Rediscovery Memory Care at Heartfields, call Melissa Boudrie, Director of Sales and Marketing, at 410-820-4400 or visit heartfieldsassistedlivingateaston.com.


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'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' is back after a dramatic cancellation. Here are three small (but key) changes.
January 11, 2019 at 6:00 a.m. EST
Melissa Fumero as Amy Santiago, Andy Samberg as Jake Peralta in "Brooklyn Nine-Nine." (Vivian Zink/NBC)
(This post contains spoilers from the "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" Season 6 premiere.)
How many times does a collective Twitter freakout lead to something positive? Not often, obviously, but it resulted in a small TV miracle last spring. Moments after Fox canceled its comedy "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," the show became the No. 1 Twitter trending topic in the world. Celebrities tweeted their displeasure with the decision, from Lin-Manuel Miranda ("RENEW BROOKLYN NINE NINE") to Mark Hamill ("NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!").
A mere 24 hours later, after producers were reportedly bombarded with calls from networks who saw the fan uprising, NBC executives made the announcement: They would pick up the show for a sixth season. (This also made financial sense, because the show is produced by Universal Television, which shares a parent company with NBC.) Twitter rejoiced, as one of the nicest shows on television had been saved.
"Brooklyn Nine-Nine," while critically beloved, didn't get very high ratings on Fox; its creators say it's one of the most-watched shows on Hulu. So as we wait to see if the move to NBC — and the drama surrounding its near-demise — causes a spike in live TV viewers, we can confirm: The show, which returned Thursday night, is essentially the same. However, there are a few small (but key) differences since the network jump:
'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' picked up by NBC after being canceled by Fox
1) The characters can swear now (sort of).
Turns out that Fox is very strict about certain TV standards, but NBC is basically a free-for-all! Terry Crews, who plays Sergeant Terry Jeffords, said that Fox had "more restrictions."
"We could not do any bleeping out, we could not do any fuzzy nudity. . . but NOW there's lots of bleeping, lots of fuzzy nudity," Crews told Buzzfeed's "AM to DM," and joked, "It's like 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' after dark. If you ever had a hardcore movie version of 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine,' that's what you're going to see on NBC right now."
That seems like a slight exaggeration, though the premiere did have one memorable bleeped-out line. (We can't repeat it here, but let's just say it had to do with a misunderstanding about what an abbreviation really meant.) However, it doesn't sound like the new rules are going to drastically alter the show.
"It is edgy and jokes that are definitely not G-rated, but I am conscious of the fact that we have a strong family fan base," executive producer Dan Goor said to Variety. "So we wouldn't gratuitously change the characters."
2) We get a glimpse of depressed Captain Holt.
Holt (Andre Braugher) has been through tough times, but when he found out he didn't get the New York police commissioner job, he went off the deep end in a way viewers have never seen. Specifically, he flew to a resort in Mexico to drown his sorrows in margaritas and wear colorful T-shirts with slogans such as "What's Up, Beaches?" and "DTF: Down to Fiesta."
Unfortunately, it was the same resort that Jake (Andy Samberg) and Amy (Melissa Fumero) were going on their honeymoon, because they all used the same discount code offered by Gina (Chelsea Peretti.) Holt swore he wouldn't be a buzzkill, but he was so sad, he couldn't help himself. "What is it about me that screams, 'Loser'?" he wondered as he interrupted Jake and Amy's couples massage. When he wound up by them in the pool on a raft, he said sadly, "I can't even float right. Just push me away. Everyone else does."
Jake and Amy gamely tried to include him in their activities, such as a class called "Sensual Food Tasting: The Art of Feeding Your Lover" and a trip to the spa, though they had different takes on the mud masks. Amy: "I love the way the mud revitalizes your skin." Holt: "And I love how it masks my shame."
Eventually, Holt realized that there was more to life than the NYPD, and decided to quit — until Jake and Amy brought him back from the edge, using some fairly creative methods.
3) Charles and Gina are no longer going to be brother and sister.
Charles (Joe Lo Truglio) loves reminding people that even though he and Gina once had a brief fling, they're also brother and sister, because his dad later married her mom. It appears that special time has come to an end — Charles's dad and Gina's mom are getting a divorce. At first, Gina tried to tell Charles it wasn't that big of a deal ("The average American marriage lasts fewer than two days"), yet Charles was still devastated. Turns out her mom was cheating on his dad, which should lead to some awkward story lines in the future.
Why 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' fans took its brief cancellation so hard
If Brooklyn Nine-Nine does get canceled, the Sterling K. Brown episode is the perfect send-off
Opinion | Goodbye, "Brooklyn Nine-Nine." And thank you.


The film stars Mark Wahlberg, John Malkovich, Lauren Cohan, and Ronda Rousey in the lead roles.
"Miles 22" starring Mark Wahlberg, John Malkovich, Lauren Cohan, and Ronda Rousey was released on August 17, 2018, in the United States.
"Mile 22" is a slick story of a tactical crack unit "Overwatch" who have been tasked to spirit away an asset with loads of damaging information from a US embassy to waiting for military transport.
However, even the best-grafted plans can go awry and what happens next is what the flick is all about.
The action is fast paced, especially in the first scene when the main protagonist bursts into a quiet wood side uptown home that's a Russian safe house.
The flick has all the usual elements in a Wahlberg film. Frenzied pile-ups, blasting walls, fuzzy surveillance images, computers which make you feel that you are watched round the clock, and there is no place in this planet which is not being watched.
Berg and Wahlberg is a synergistic pair and together deliver an unremittingly fast-paced, addictively slick paramilitary spy story and is immensely satisfying for the diehard Wahlberg fans who are used to gonzo brutality and turbocharged machismo.
It also has in colossal overdose weaponry from rocket launchers and chunky black machine guns. No shortage of hands to hands combats with a brief interlude of Muwai Thai and martial arts.
Berg has been honing his skills and refining his mode of operandi, and there is nothing left to be proved or revealed. With four films in five years and his fans had endured all his flicks, it seems that the director has finally exhausted all his tricks in the hat. However, one cannot but admire the supercharged effectiveness of his direction.
One jarring anomaly which is visible in the flick is Wahlberg's monologues.
In the past action, heroes were, and snarls, fisticuffs, and derring-do did the talking.
However, Wahlberg's monologues are so loud and jarring making many wonders how he transformed from curiously sensitive masculinity into his present avatar. Director Peter Berg says that his movie Mile 22 was shot in just 42 days.


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SWANSON 14
Jan Swanson
"Interpretations: New Work"
March 6 - March 30, 2014
Jan Swanson is a native of Asheville, NC and graduate of Clemson University. Swanson became interested in art and the business of art while owning The Bus Stop Gallery located on Millwood Avenue Columbia, SC for several years. Swanson became familiar with many artists in the Southeast during her tenure as Gallery Director of Bus Stop and also began her journey as a bonefide artist herself. The Gallery business is time consuming and counter productive to an artist's own work so the end of the Bus Stop era came about following four years of successful exhibitions. Swanson claims the niche of a self-taught artist working in oils. While the artist has no official degree in art, she has taken drawing and painting classes at the University of South Carolina, Columbia College, Anderson Ranch, Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts and Penland School of Arts & Crafts thus bolstering her self-taught status to one with cumulative skills garnered from artists and teachers along her journey and discovery of the making of art. Jan is represented by Camellia Art Gallery in Hilton Head Island, SC and also sells work out of Slate interiors in Charlotte. This is her first Gallery affiliated exhibition in Columbia since the close of Bus Stop. Her inclusion in exhibitions at Gallery 80808 has been with a group of artist friends and set the scene for this exhibit March 2014. Swanson's painting, "Barney in the Shadows," was the first place winner in the Mixed Media Division at the 2013 South Carolina State Fair.
Swanson's work shows her ability to own her style not merely emulate others around her. She has carefully developed a palette and composition skills that reflect in all of her work regardless of subject matter. The diversity of subject matter increases interest and offers the viewer constant musings of what and why. Swanson does not rest with her pursuit giving the art aficionados an appetite for more of her work.
Swanson comments, "My paintings are developed from things I see or remember from childhood. Many times what I start with doesn't look remotely like what I end up with, but the layers that develop are appealing to me. My paintings usually are of things that aren't quite right (like me). Sometimes the spots fall off of a dress or the shutters fall off a house or the flowers fall out of a vase or a string of pearls falls apart. I don't know why I do this, but I guess it comes from way back somewhere!"
Uptown Girls Show 2012 and 2011 at Gallery 80808
Hemlocks Studio Show 2009 and 2012 at Gallery 80808
Paul Sloan Pool House Gallery Show December 2013


4 Birds Local – Taphouse & Grill is the newest kid on the block. Located in the heart of Paradise Point, on the Broadwater Esplanade. This perfectly lit, cool, comfortable European-inspired neighbourhood boutique tavern allows its patrons to dine alfresco or sit up high and enjoy the stunning park and Broadwater views from the elevated inside viewing space. 4 Birds Local specialise in craft beer and share food and offer the option of full table service or bar food fare. How good is that!
Entering 4 Birds Local you will immediately want to sit and stay. Unique furniture, antique light fittings, a long impressive tarnished copper bar, live music and walls and walls of cosy bench seating makes this the perfect place to eat, drink and relax. You can keep an eye on all the sporting scores whilst listening to live music and be a witness to all the comings and goings of a busy bar. Or you may find yourself staying on the outside because the vibe and feel out there with the all that greenery hanging from ceiling pots and the twinkle of the fairy lights at night makes the alfresco space to tempting to walk away.
Enjoy a relaxing Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner or late night with magnificent views overlooking the park and Broadwater in the family friendly restaurant or just come and take a seat inside the Steam Punk Bar and enjoy the atmosphere! The food is sourced locally and 100% organic where possible, and the menu may vary from time to time based on the seasons and ingredient availability (working closely with the locals to ensure you always get the freshest and finest produce available).
Live music and a host of features make 4 Birds Local the hottest place to be this Summer. Open 7 days a week from 6am till midnight for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & late drinks. Be excited – be ahead of the flock and head to the new coop in town - the best new watering hole on the GC. Flockin' fabulous!


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Christmas, Toys, and Oz
Posted on December 6, 2017 by Nathan
I might do a re-read of The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus this year, seeing as how I have the new edition with Eric Shanower's illustrations. I guess it depends on how soon I finish the library books I have checked out. But anyway, this book credits Santa with making the first toy, a wooden cat; and later the first doll from clay.
L. Frank Baum sets the story in an unspecified past, when "[t]he world was new" and "so long ago our great-grandfathers could scarcely have heard it mentioned," but the mention of Christmas suggests it couldn't have taken place before the fourth century AD. We know that playthings existed long before that, so I suppose the mythology has to be taken with a grain of salt. Also, we know that Merryland is ruled by a wax doll who is also a fairy, so did she exist before Santa made the first doll?
I'm sure I'm thinking way too hard about this, but that's basically what I do here. The Baum and Oz books contain a lot of toys, including living ones and beings inspired by them in different ways. The Scoodlers, for instance, were based on jumping jack toys with faces on both the fronts and backs of their heads, but they're flesh-and-blood creatures.
Bear Center is a community of live teddy bears.
We don't know who created them, but the King claims that the fairies dropped some magic into his body while he was being stuffed. According to Bill Campbell and Irwin Terry's The Lavender Bear of Oz, the city is equipped with the necessary materials for the bears to repair themselves and even make new residents, with help from the Threadbears who produce strands of thread from their own bodies. Miss Cuttenclip has a village of paper dolls made from living paper provided to her by Glinda.
The Squee Gees are rubber people who live in a rubber city in the southern Gillikin Country, and Kabumpo compares them to Princess Pajonia's rubber dolls that can only make noise when squeezed. As such, they have to punch or squeeze each other in order to converse.
Oddly, one of the Squee Gees is said to be a baker, but there's no indication as to what a rubber man might bake. There are a few different communities of balloon people, and an island of living kites. The Fuddles, Topsies, Hoopers, and Sport from the island of retired pirates and bandits are based on jigsaw puzzles, tops, rolling hoops, and sporting equipment, respectively. Peg Amy spends time as a live wooden doll, and Twiffle and Twoffle in Jack Snow's Shaggy Man are little wooden clowns.
Getting back to Merryland, two of the seven valleys there are inhabited primarily by toys. The Fourth Valley, where the Queen lives, is home to dolls of many different sorts. Most of them are quite small, and live in dollhouses set on streets lined with trees carved from wood and grass made of wood shavings. The Queen herself is the size of a small child, and carries a magic wand. She rides in a coach drawn by horses on wheels. They eat cotton, while the dolls eat sawdust. The majority of her subjects are mischievous, troublesome, and hyperactive, so she only animates them for a little while at a time, which seems rather cruel.
There's a lot about Merryland that comes across as perhaps unintentionally dark, though. Queen Dolly also has a room in her palace decorated with laughing children's faces, which I can't imagine would be too pleasant, although Tot seems to like it.
In the Sixth Valley, there are a good many wind-up toys, including a merry-go-round and a train, as well as a lot of animals. One alligator contains a squeaker, and unlike the Lavender Bear's embarrassment at his own, he quite enjoys hearing it but can't unless someone steps on him.
Winding up the residents is the job of Mr. Split, a wooden man who can split himself into two by means of brass hooks. When separated, his left side speaks only the beginnings of words, and the right only the ends.
The alligator refers to a person who made him, but never says who it was.
In Ruth Plumly Thompson's The Curious Cruise of Captain Santa, the titular character visits the Lost Islands, which, like Merryland, are home to many living toys. One of them, Rockaway Island, not only rocks back and forth itself but is inhabited by wooden rocking animals.
Another, Doll Island, is ruled by a jack-in-the-box, and its inhabitants speak a language called Squeek.
With their permission, Santa and his crew take some of the residents, buildings, and vehicles to use as Christmas presents; but they are no longer able to talk and move on the other side of the horizon. Santa thinks they might come to life again if they're loved enough.
This entry was posted in Bill Campbell and Irwin Terry, Characters, Christmas, Eric Shanower, Holidays, Jack Snow, L. Frank Baum, Magic, Oz, Oz Authors, Places, Rachel Cosgrove Payes, Ruth Plumly Thompson, Toys and tagged bear center, doll island, dolls, dot and tot of merryland, fairies, fuddles, handy mandy in oz, hoopers, jack-in-the-box, john dough and the cherub, jumping jacks, kabumpo in oz, lavender bear, lost islands, merryland, miss cuttenclip, mr. split, peg amy, queen dolly, rockaway island, santa claus, scoodlers, sport, squee gees, squeek, teddy bears, the curious cruise of captain santa, the emerald city of oz, the lavender bear of oz, the life and adventures of santa claus, the lost king of oz, the lost princess of oz, the purple prince of oz, the road to oz, the shaggy man of oz, topsies, twiffle, twoffle. Bookmark the permalink.
3 Responses to Christmas, Toys, and Oz
marbpl2 says:
There was also Wyndup Town in FORBIDDEN FOUNTAIN OF OZ.
https://vovatia.wordpress.com/2014/05/06/cybernetic-ozites/
That's true. I did mention them here, but that had more on Clockwise than his creations. It's interesting that the toys sometimes seem to be of unfamiliar technology in fairyland, as there's a Wyndup dump truck, but I don't recall seeing any full-size dump trucks in Oz.
Also, re the dating of LIFE & ADVENTURES OF SANTA CLAUS, while the book and most of it's adaptations place it in a quasi-medieval setting, the 1996 anime TV serial
has a 18th century look to it.


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Q: Extension for Safari IOS 8 I am working on extension for safari.I have checked we can communicate between host app and extension as we can run extension or close extension.But in my case I want to communicate with host app without closing extension app.
var MyExtensionJavaScriptClass = function() {};
MyExtensionJavaScriptClass.prototype = {
run: function(arguments) {
    arguments.completionFunction({"baseURI": document.documentElement.innerHTML});
 },

test: function(arguments) {

    alert("Need to run without closing extension");

},
finalize: function(arguments) {

    alert("Test Done");
    // arguments contains the value the extension provides in [NSExtensionContext completeRequestReturningItems:expirationHandler:completion:].
    // In this example, the extension provides a color as a returning item.
    document.body.style.backgroundColor = arguments["bgColor"];

}
};
var ExtensionPreprocessingJS = new MyExtensionJavaScriptClass;

In above my JavaScript file I have run function that run at the time of extension run and finalize fun run as we call completeRequestReturningItems in objc side.I want to run my test function without closing extension

A: You don't.
To quote Apple's Extension Guidelines, from the section How an Extension Communicates.

There is no direct communication between a running extension and its containing app; typically, the containing app isn't even running while its extension is running.

This isn't to say that you cannot, just that Apple doesn't want you, and the ability to do so is probably either private or non-existent.

A: Quick terminology level set:
Containing App = "an app that contains one or more extensions is called a containing app"
Host App = "An app that can let users choose an extension to help them perform a task is called a host app."
That being said, Apple does not supply a communication stream from Host App to extension. In your case, you can load data initially with the run() in the JS Preprocessing file and then respond with data on exit of the extension with finalize().


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A Giddy Thing: Much Ado About Nothing at London's Wyndham's Theatre (August 29, 2011)
There are worse ways to spend a summer night in London than in a lush West End theatre watching a high-octane Shakespeare production, but I have to confess that my girlfriend and I hadn't actually planned for it. Coming on the heels of a much more orderly two and a half weeks in France, our time in London had a satisfying seat-of-your-pants feel to it, since it was essentially a pit stop en route from Paris to our final destination in Scotland But even months earlier, when all we'd confirmed about our time in the UK were our arrival and departure dates, there was one thing we were certain of: we knew exactly where we would be on Saturday August 27 at 19:00 GMT. That night we'd be sitting in front of a TV screen watching the much-anticipated fall premiere of Doctor Who. The preceding episode of the season had aired way back in early June, and I have no shame in confessing that our twin geek hearts were genuinely aflutter with the mere idea of watching the show's return live on British soil. (Europe is lovely yes, but we'd let our travelling interfere with our TV watching quite enough at that point in our month-long trip!) And so perhaps you can imagine our excitement when, while looking for the entrance to the Charing Cross tube station, Jessica and I stumbled serendipitously upon Wyndham's Theatre. There, on the marquee, were the shining faces of David Tennant and Catherine Tate – both of Doctor Who fame! – headlining as Benedick and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing. No doubt all the stars in heaven had conspired to bring us to this very moment: these were our last two days in London, and it turned out to be the last week of the show's 3-month run. We simply had to see this play.
David Tennant and Catherine Tate in Doctor Who
And so, on the morning of Monday August 29, Jessica and I got up early and stood in line for that day's lottery, hoping to secure two of the few remaining seats for that evening's sold-out performance. We weren't alone, it turned out. The line outside the theatre that morning was well-populated, but buoyant. Many were coming to see the show for a second time, and true to form, the conversations we had were less about Elizabethan theatre than that Saturday's Doctor Who episode. In the end, we left with two standing room tickets, and were grateful for them! We spent the rest of the day enjoying the Tate Modern and following a quick visit to a nearby pub, we got to the theatre a half hour early (as we'd been advised to do by the lovely woman and rabid David Tennant fan, we'd met in line that morning) in order to secure a good standing spot for ourselves. It turned out we needn't have worried: Wyndham's is a fairly intimate space (especially in the Stalls), and the back of the house had a clear, unobstructed view of the whole stage. And so we waited, and watched, as every seat in the sold-out house slowly filled up.
At 7:30, the lights dimmed. And Catherine Tate stepped out from behind the curtain, clearly in costume for her first scene. We instantly knew that this didn't bode well. To the crowd's audible groans, she reported that on the strong advice of a voice specialist, David Tennant would not be performing that night. Apparently Tennant had lost his voice, and stepping in for him as Benedick would be his understudy, Alex Beckett, taking on the role for the very first time. After three months and 105 performances, this would be the first time Tennant and Tate wouldn't be performing the show together. (It turns out that Tennant would also miss the next evening's show, returning to the stage on Wednesday.) The audience couldn't hide their distress, but Tate's good natured, and clearly sincere, sympathies went a long way to soften the blow. But I can't deny that my heart fell when I heard the news. I looked to Jessica for some sense of how I should be reacting to this, and for a few seconds read in her face the same fear that must have been visible in mine: after all the anticipation, was the evening going to be a huge disappointment? But seconds later as the curtain began to rise, I could see the smile quickly return to Jessica's face as the excitement of a live Shakespeare performance took hold once again.
Catherine Tate and David Tennant as Beatrice and Benedick
Josie Rourke's production relocates the play's action from the Sicilian port town of Messina in the 17th century to a sunny Spanish resort island – perhaps the British territory of Gibraltar – in the early 1980s. The British naval base at Gibraltar was in fact a launching pad for the UK's military operations in the Falklands in 1982, implying a contemporary context and background to the fighting Much Ado's officers are returning from. The '80s era also provides an excuse for indulging in some period music, costumes, and hair styles. (Though composer Michael Bruce's Wham-inspired "Hey Nonny Nonny" would more than justify Rourke's choice of era on its own merits!) The only other significant modification to Shakespeare's script was the inspired decision to give Hero's normally silent mother Innogen (Anna Farnworth) lines originally attributed to Leonato's older brother, and Hero's uncle, Antonio. Not only does it give the script another meaty woman's role (instead of implying Beatrice is the only strong female for a 100 miles), her more sympathetic response to her daughter's humiliation in the wedding scene gives much needed balance to Leonato's initially less forgiving reaction.
Admittedly, my disappointment over Tennant's absence wouldn't dissipate all at once. I have to confess that at the beginning I was caught up in a "I can almost imagine how Tennant would have done that scene" feedback loop, but Beckett (whose beard and distinctively curly hair gave Benedict an infectious impish quality) took about 10 minutes to win me over – and his performance seemed to have the same effect on the most of the audience. Tate, it should be noted, may have been born to play Beatrice. As the scenes between Benedict and Beatrice moved through verbal sparring, to slapstick comedy, to poignant intimacy, Tate's uproarious mix of cynicism and sensitivity shone through Beatrice's every line.
Alex Beckett
And in the end, I think the nervous energy of the audience seemed to actually invigorate the cast. The whole company was uniformly tight, and right out of the gate Alex hit every cue and every gag as if he he'd been performing it for months. Much Ado About Nothing is Shakespeare's answer to the golden age of screwball comedies: an Elizabethan His Girl Friday or Bringing Up Baby. The "merry war" waged between Benedick and Beatrice is the heart of the play, and no doubt the longstanding chemistry between Tennant and Tate was one of the production's most precious assets. But even knowing how natural the chemistry between Tate and Tennant can be from Season 4 of Doctor Who, it is difficult for me to imagine it could have been stronger – or more laugh out loud funny – than what I saw that night between her and Beckett.
The rest of the cast was also uniformly strong. Adam James' Don Pedro was a high energy charmer – spot on for the Prince. James (most familiar to me from a two-time guest spot on BBC's Hustle) was a joy to watch on stage, and when he spoke, you could look nowhere else. The Prince is a juicy role, but to be true to the story, his likeability needs to be balanced by his capriciousness, especially the ease and eagerness with which he takes on the machinations which are so central to the show's plot. Spurned by Beatrice, Don Pedro is the one who initiates the plan which brings Beatrice and Benedick together (a deception which of course ends well), but those same aspects of his character also lead him to conspire with Claudio on the plan to publicly humiliate poor Hero on her wedding day when they believe her to be unfaithful. There's a dangerous quality to the Prince: quick to act, but unreflective and callous with the lives and feelings of others, even (it has to be said) Benedick and Beatrice.
Claudio (played by newcomer Tom Bateman, in his professional debut) has a much trickier road to travel. While Don Pedro can leave the stage by the show's end with his roguishness intact, Claudio has a lot to atone for between Act IV and Act V for the play's final moments to work. His cruel treatment of Hero – motivated, to be sure, by genuine and deep feelings of betrayal and hurt – cannot be easily pushed aside by most audiences. Bateman plays the part well and with confidence, and Rourke's direction helps immeasurably, allowing their Claudio to come across with balance and sensitivity.
Tom Bateman as Claudio
The best comedies of Shakespeare have elements of subtle (and not-so-subtle) darkness – Malvolio's fate in Twelfth Night always haunts me long after that play ends – and Much Ado is no exception. To the director's credit, she didn't shy away from these moments – often highlighting them. Notably, the wedding scene in Act IV was horrifying to witness. With the cruelty of Claudio, the anguish of Hero, and the portrayal of a father who, for several key minutes, appears to value his own reputation over his daughter's life, it was difficult to not turn away. It is a lot of weight for a comedy to bear, especially so close to its end. It is always surprising to be reminded that Act IV of Much Ado bears an uncomfortable similarity with Act IV of Romeo and Juliet, and Rourke makes those parallels all the more emphatic by taking Claudio to the brink of Romeo's fate. Believing himself responsible for his death, the production shows us Claudio, overwhelmed by grief and guilt, stumbling drunkenly to Hero's 'tomb', a boombox in one hand and a gun in the other. (The dialogue-free scene was so dramatic that for an uneasy few seconds, I genuinely thought I'd forgotten how the show usually ends!) Having Claudio flirt with a guilt-ridden suicide attempt before reluctantly agreeing to his scripted penance (marrying "Hero's cousin" in the play's final scene) does a lot to bring Claudio closer to his required redemption.
But in the end, the night belonged to Alex Beckett. With only two-hours notice (and with an audience no doubt determined to be disappointed), he stepped firmly into a world-class production, and brought it home. At the curtain calls, the crowd gave Beckett a well-deserved standing ovation. It was, quite simply, a remarkable night at the theatre.
That evening reminded me precisely what the real joy of attending live theatre can be. Live performances are unpredictable, and that is often what is best, and sometimes what is worst, about them. But in the end you go to live production knowing that, whatever else happens, you are going to see a singular performance. Even with identical casts and crew, the fact is that no two live performances are ever the same. But that night this was particularly true: we saw an amazing show, yes, but it was also truly a show that no-one else had ever seen before. We were treated to a unique combination of the seamlessness of a well-oiled machine – a show over 3 months into its mostly sold-out run – and the thrill of an opening night!
Alex Beckett, Jessica, and me after the show
Catherine Tate had set the tone right off the bat: that night, we were all in something together. One of the unique features of live theatre comes from that connection that develops between the performers on the stage and the people in the audience over the course of a performance, a bond that ties everyone together into a temporary artistic community. Jessica and I may not have seen David Tennant perform that night, but we left the theatre that evening elated and buoyant, having been a part something special and unrepeatable.
Much Ado About Nothing ran at Wyndham's Theatre in London from May 16-Sept. 3, 2011.
Posted by Mark Clamen at 12:00 PM Labels: Theatre Review
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