Share this page "Debt Repayment Plan (or Summary Instalment Orders - SIO)"
A Debt Repayment Plan (SIO) gives you extra time to pay back some or all of your debt — usually 3 years, though it can be more or less.
It's a formal debt repayment plan with the people or organisations you owe money to (your creditors). After applying for a SIO, you'll sign up with a SIO Supervisor, who'll work with you, the Official Assignee (the government official who oversees the management of SIOs), and your creditors to arrange the details and your payments.
You can only get a SIO if you owe less than $47,000 in unsecured debt.
You must be unable to pay off those debts right now, but be able to make some repayments towards them over time.
It may not be a good option if most of your debt is secured or relates to student loans, fines, penalties, and reparation orders, as that debt would be excluded from the SIO and you would have to find a way to pay it as well.
To work out what your SIO repayments might be, use our repayment calculator.
If you are living overseas you can still enter a SIO, but you need to be able to make regular repayments. You will need to find a Supervisor in NZ. Creditors that are not based in NZ might continue to chase you for any money you owe them.
A SIO Supervisor will work with you, the Official Assignee and your creditors while the Summary Instalment Order is in place.
keep paying any other debts that aren't part of the SIO.
take on any new debt over $1,000 without making the new creditor aware that you are currently in a SIO. You should let them know in writing to avoid any misunderstandings.
Once you've entered into a SIO, creditors can't continue to chase you for payment of any unsecured debts included in the order or add any further penalties or interest to that debt.
When you have completed the SIO you don't have to pay anything further towards the outstanding amount owed to the SIO creditors. Note however, that any creditors that are not included in your SIO can continue to chase you for payment. So it is very important to ensure your application includes all unsecured debts that are owed at the time of making your application.
All disclosed unsecured debts at the time of application unless specifically excluded below.
contingent debts — these debt will only be included in your order if you are required to make payments on the debt at the date of your order. e.g. when you sign as guarantor for a friend's finance agreement. You don't have to pay any money now but you might have to repay the debt in the future if your friend doesn't pay as this would be a new debt to you at that future date.
joint debts — if you owe a debt jointly with another person, the creditor has the right to claim the full amount from either person, so the full amount owed must be included in your order.
overseas debt — Any unsecured debts owed to creditors that are based overseas are included in the New Zealand order. However, if you return to that country where the liability was incurred then the creditor has the ability the recover any debt that is still owing in that country.
Secured debts are debts where the creditor can repossess your property if you stop making payments. If you no longer have the property that was secured, then the debt is no longer secured over your property and will be included in the order.
For example, if you stop making the arranged payments for a car you bought on finance, the creditor can repossess the car under the finance agreement.
If there's still money owing after the repossessed property has been sold, the remaining balance is an unsecured debt that will be included in your order.
You keep control of your assets, income and spending when you're in a SIO.
If you want to, you can offer to sell some of your assets in your SIO application, e.g. if you have a car that's not under finance, you can offer to sell it and use the money to pay off some of your debts. Talk to your SIO Supervisor if you want to do this.
Your SIO is administered by a SIO Supervisor who will help you deal with your creditors. You'll appoint a SIO Supervisor after you've applied for a SIO. They're independent from the Official Assignee, who oversees the management of SIOs.
The Official Assignee is responsible for making sure that SIO Supervisors do their job according to the law. If they don't do this the Official Assignee may cancel their appointment and can appoint a replacement Supervisor.
charge a fee for doing their job.
making sure that all payments to creditors are correct.
If you have any questions about your SIO you should talk to your SIO Supervisor first.
You can also find contact details of Supervisors at local support offices like Citizens Advice Bureau, Budget Advisors or Community Law Centres.
Administration costs — currently 7.5% of your payments.
The Official Assignee's costs — currently $102.22 application fee plus 2.5% of your payments.
The debts owed to your creditors — the amount agreed to when you entered the SIO.
Any extra money back to you.
To work out what your repayments might be, use our repayment calculator.
the date you entered the SIO.
As soon as the SIO is finished, the record will be removed.
When you enter a SIO, the creditors will get a report from the Supervisor. They can log onto our website to get updates after the report is sent.
Although a SIO can help to resolve your financial problems, it will have a wider impact on your everyday life.
Note: This is a typical SIO - your SIO might be different depending on your situation and conduct.
1 If your situation changes, including your job, tell your Supervisor.
2 If your situation changes, the Order may be varied.
You can apply for a SIO online by completing these four steps.
Once you've logged in, click on Do it Online and then Apply for Summary Instalment Order.
Find a SIO Supervisor. The Supervisor needs to provide a consent form before your application is considered. View the list of SIO Supervisors.
You'll usually hear from us within 10 working days. If we accept your application, your creditors will be told and given a chance to object. If they don't object then the order will be made.
For privacy reasons your application won't be put on the public register unless it's accepted.
If your application is rejected by the Official Assignee, you'll be given the reason in writing. You can ask for the decision to be reviewed. You need to do this in writing within 15 working days — complete the application form below and send it to the Official Assignee by email or post.
All of your creditors included in the SIO will be contacted.
have the secured item returned/repossessed. You can then stop making any payments under the agreement. They can claim against you for any unpaid amount.
Your Supervisor will tell the Official Assignee if you fail to make any payment due under your order.
If your circumstances change, you may need to change your order.
If you don't make the payments the SIO can be terminated. Then your creditors can start legal proceedings to chase you for the full amount they are still owed, not just the amount you had agreed to pay them under the order. Then your only option might be to go into a No Asset Procedure or bankruptcy.
Some debts are not included in a Debt Repayment Plan (SIO). Creditors can keep chasing you for payment of those debts, so you need to make arrangements with them directly.
Search the SIO Register for your own name.
Click on the More Info button to see details of the claims and check whether the creditor is on the list.
If the creditor is already listed against your estate, then let them know that they need to contact your SIO Supervisor with any questions. If they keep harassing you, tell your Supervisor.
If the creditor is not listed against your estate, then give your Supervisor their details so that they can be contacted and given a chance to file a claim.
Once you have entered an SIO you need to cancel any direct debits, unless the type of debt isn't included in your SIO, e.g. court fines, Child Support. The Official Assignee cannot cancel the direct debit for you. You will need to contact your bank.
If you have an attachment order over your wages for a debt that is included in your SIO, your creditor should tell your employer to stop making the deductions once they receive the report from the Official Assignee. If this does not happen you need to take a copy of your SIO acceptance letter to the District Court that made the order and ask them to cancel the order.
Once your creditors have been notified of your Debt Repayment Plan (SIO), some details of your file will be available on this website. You can log in to see your file and track the progress of your SIO, like how much you have paid so far.
If you applied for your SIO online, you can use the same details to log in and look up your file.
If you applied manually, you should have received an activation code or link with the written confirmation of your SIO acceptance. You can use this activation code to activate your account on the website.
Once you've logged in, scroll to top of page and click on SIO Register in the header of website.
Once you agree to a SIO, you have to meet its conditions.
If your circumstances change you may need to change the SIO — this is called a variation. You, your creditors or your Supervisor can apply for a variation. Your application must clearly explain what changes you want and why, and be sent to the Official Assignee by email or post.
If the change might be negative for your creditors, e.g. increasing the time or reducing the amount they would get, your Supervisor will contact them, and they'll have 10 working days to object. The Official Assignee will make the final decision.


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Posts Tagged 'foreboding'
Bedbugs by Ben H. Winters
Title: Bedbugs
Author: Winters, Ben H.
Geographical Setting: New York City
Genre: Horror Stories, Suspense Stories
Series: N/A
Plot Summary: When Alex, Susan, and little Emma Wendt move into a New York City brownstone boasting a prime location and an amazingly cheap rent, they happily embark on a new chapter of their lives. Sure, the landlady may be slightly eccentric, and the previous tenants may have disappeared inexplicably, but these are small grievances compared to the perfection of the place. Until the bedbugs show up, those notoriously hardy pests swarming ever-increasingly across the city. When an exterminator finds no trace of the insects, Susan's sanity shows signs of cracking. Where are these bugs? Why aren't Alex and Emma being bitten, and what exactly is in the basement? Winters' story preys on our collective fear of creepy-crawlies delivering a good, old-fashioned horror story wrapped up in a modern-day package. He draws inspiration from the best conventions of great horror classics: the hopeful beginning, the slightly off-kilter secondary characters, an ominous warning to stay out of the basement, the escalating psychological torture of a progressively unstable narrator, even a portentous portrait a la Dorian Gray. This fast-paced novel will keep the pages turning until the chilling and twisted end; it will keep the lights on much longer than that.
Appeal Characteristics: creepy, menacing, fast-paced, foreboding, paranoid, plot-twist, details of New York City, dark, resolved-ending, off-kilter, manic, unsettling, compelling, plot-driven, suspenseful, movie-like
Subject Headings: New York City, Brooklyn, Bedbugs, Family, Haunted Houses, Secrets, Apartment houses, Paranoia
Three Terms Best Describing this Book: Creepy, Unsettling, Fast-Paced
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
This horror classic shares many themes with Bedbugs chief of which is the unstable nature of the narrator's mind. Where Winters' tale is completely resolved, Jackson's leaves the reader with a little more ambiguity. Read this as both source material and a genuinely scary story.
Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin
Another classic horror story this time featuring the psychological torture of a young woman by neighbors whose eccentricities begin taking on a malevolent tone after Rosemary becomes pregnant. The similar frame—everyday life slowly replaced by darkness—and paranoid feeling of this novel should appeal to readers who enjoyed Bedbugs.
Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
For anyone who wants a terrifying read with plenty of turns and surprises set in the modern landscape, look no further. The menacing bed bugs are replaced here with a menacing—and very real—ghost. Similar to Winters, though, Hill adds layers of poignant everyday struggles that interweave with the overall fight against the supernatural.
Bonus Watch-alike: The Innkeepers written and directed by Ti West
During the last operating days of the Yankee Pedlar Inn, Claire and Luke, the last remaining employees, are determined to expose the ghosts that haunt the one hundred year old building. As the final night wears on, Claire's psyche begins to unravel as the line between reality and imagination begin to blur. A modern-day ghost story that feels like an homage to its predecessors, the movie finds plenty of common ground with Bedbugs.
Wicked Bugs: The Louse that Conquered Napoleon's Army and Other Diabolical Insects by Amy Stewart
This natural history contains not just the story of the bed bug but all manner of creepy and devilish insects. Stewart proves that bugs don't have to be supernatural to be scary.
Death Sentence: The True Story of Velma Barfield's Life, Crimes, and Punishment by Jerry Bledsoe
The horror story staple of sweet, grandmotherly, ladies hiding a menacing secret isn't just fiction, as proved by this true crime. An account of the life and murders of the only woman executed in the US between 1962 and 1998, this book will chill readers with accounts of Bledsoe's crimes as much as it shows redemption by prison.
Songs from the Black Chair: A Memoir of Mental Interiors by Charles Barber
A closely detailed look at mental illness and the real tortures of the psyche from the mouths of the sufferers, this book is part memoir, part investigative science writing. As a man himself living under the dark shadow of obsessive-compulsive disorder, Barber tells the stories of the insane with balance and respect.
Name: Jessica
Tags:compelling, Creepy, dark, details of New York City, fast paced, foreboding, manic, menacing, movie-like, off-kilter, paranoid, plot twist, plot-driven, resolved ending, suspenseful, unsettling
Posted in Horror | Leave a Comment »
Vlad: A Novel
Auth or: Carlos Fuentes
Title: Vlad: A Novel
Genre: Horror; Mexican Fiction
Geographical Setting: Mexico City
Series: Not part of a series, but a reimagining of Bram Stoker's Dracula
Plot Summary: Yves Navarro, an attorney, is ordered by his boss, the enigmatic Don Eloy Zurinaga, to find and secure a house for an old school friend of his from Europe, a certain Count Vladimir Radu, who tiring of constant unrest in the Balkans has recently decided to move to Mexico City. At first, Navarro is merely puzzled by some of Radu's eccentric requests: the home must admit no light and a large tunnel is to be excavated beneath the premises. But after an unsettling dinner with the count, a repulsive, pale-skinned and bulbous-headed figure clumsily disguised with a wig, false mustache, and dark glasses, Navarro becomes anxious for his own safety. A sense of foreboding and menace come sharply into focus as the attorney begins to suspect Radu may be a vampire. But when Navarro discovers a photograph of his own wife and daughter taped inside an armoire in the count's chambers—a sense of panic grips him, as he realizes too late that he has become ensnared in a web, the contours of which he is only dimly aware. Fuentes' reimagining of the Dracula story is filled with vivid and darkly disturbing scenes, and punctuated by moments of humor, mostly in the form of roman à clef references to the Bram Stoker's original. Beneath the tragic horror is a philosophical meditation on the meaning of mortality and what it is to be human.
Subject Headings: Vlad III, Prince of Wallachia, 1430 or 31-1476 or 7; Stoker, Bram, 1847-1912; Dracula — Sequels; Vampires; Lawyers; Real estate agents; Grief; Aging; Mortality
Appeal: compelling, fast paced, dramatic, eccentric, intriguing secondary characters, quirky, vivid, character centered, layered, some elements of humor, literary references, historical references, mystical, mythic, open-ended, tragic, bleak, dark, foreboding, menacing, philosophical, sensual, suspenseful, classic, concise, elegant, sophisticated
3 appeal terms that best describe this book: character centered, dark, philosophical
Similar Authors and Works:
The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead (2010) by J. Gordon Melton
Vlad: A Novel weaves familiar tropes of vampire fiction into its narrative and playfully references Bram Stoker's Dracula. Readers who want to delve further into the lore and literature of the vampire will enjoy perusing this exhaustively detailed collection of some 500 essays on the subject.
The Philosophy of Horror (2012) by Thomas Fahy
Carlos Fuentes' characters rhapsodize with philosophical musings about the nature of God, the fear of dying, and grief and loss. Fahy's thought-provoking and persuasive guide to the philosophical subtexts of horror stories will resonate with readers who responded to the thematic underpinnings of Vlad: A Novel.
The Routledge Companion to Latino/a Literature (2012) edited by Suzanne Bost and Frances R. Aparicio
Carlos Fuentes is a much-admired author and critic in his native Mexico. Readers taken with Fuentes style and subject matter, and who want to learn more about the broader landscape of Latin American Literature, will find here a collection of forty scholarly but accessible essays that describe the most significant Latino and Latina authors and their work.
Three Messages and a Warning: Contemporary Mexican Short Stories of the Fantastic (2012) edited by Eduardo Jimenez Mayo and Chris Brown
Three Messages and a Warning will appeal to readers who enjoyed Vlad: A Novel and want to read more tales of the supernatural and the macabre told from a uniquely Mexican perspective. Thematically serious, like Fuentes' work, the short stories found in this anthology similarly offer a sense of the vibrant Mexican literary scene. The creepy but stylistically complex tales include: a pact with the devil, an apocalyptic ghost story, and an encounter with a doppelganger.
Anno Dracula (New Edition; 2011) by Kim Newman
Fans of Bram Stoker's Dracula who enjoyed seeing the character revisited in Vlad: A Novel may appreciate Newman's offbeat and compelling spin on the venerable vampire. In the alternate history of Anno Dracula, Count Dracula has not only not been vanquished, but is married to Queen Victoria and rules over England with an iron fist. Fuentes' story is filled with references to characters and moments from the original Dracula; Newman goes one further and presents a supporting cast of familiar literary and historical characters, including Jack the Ripper, Dr. Jeckyll, and Sherlock Holmes.
The New Annotated Dracula (2008) by Bram Stoker; edited by Leslie S. Klinger
After reading Fuentes' interpretation of Dracula, those who wish to revisit Bram Stoker's atmospheric and menacing gothic tale will find a treasure trove of history and lore along with the original story in Klinger's lushly illustrated and comprehensively annotated edition. Along with Stoker's original manuscript, this edition also includes an alternate ending penned by the author sure to surprise readers who think they already know the story well.
Name: John Rimer
Tags:bleak, character centered, classic, compelling, concise, dark, dramatic, eccentric, elegant, fast paced, foreboding, historical references, intriguing secondary characters, layered, literary references, menacing, mystical, mythic, open-ended, philosophical, quirky, sensual, some elements of humor, sophisticated, suspenseful, tragic, vivid
Posted in Horror, Literary Fiction | Leave a Comment »
Heart-Shaped Box
Title: Heart-Shaped Box
Author: Hill, Joe
Geographical Setting: New York, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia
Time Period: Present Day/Contemporary
Plot Summary: In this chilling tale that should be read with all the lights on, aging rock star Judas Coyne is no longer touring and releasing album. Instead he spends his time dating Goth chicks, such as his current lady Georgia, and expanding his bizarre, macabre collection of artifacts including a witch's confession and a snuff film. So when his assistant Danny mentions an auction for the suit of a dead man that comes with a ghost, Judas is hooked and must have it. But when the suit arrives, danger and chilling nightmares enter Judas' life. He begins to see the dead man everywhere swinging a deadly razor from a chain or rocking in a Shaker chair. Judas cannot escape the ghost's hypnotizing presence or the haunting words about taking "a ride on the nightroad." It turns out the ghost has a link to Judas' past and it is out for revenge of the deadliest kind. As the terror and sense of dread builds, Judas and Georgia are eventually forced to hit the road to face their pasts and solve the mystery surrounding the dead man to avoid the dreaded "nightroad." Winner of the Bram Stoker Award, it is a horror novel reminiscent of your favorite classic ghost stories but with a contemporary feel. You will be wary with each turn of the page as the uneasy, menacing atmosphere builds throughout the story until its satisfying conclusion. This is a great novel for both newcomers and seasoned veterans of the horror genre, and will have you rooting for its flawed, compelling characters to triumph over evil.
Subject Headings: Ghost stories, Rock Musicians, Suspense Fiction, Supernatural, Paranormal Phenomena, Apparitions, Men/Women Relations, Life after death
Appeal: builds in intensity, atmospheric, chilling, suspenseful, menacing atmosphere, flawed characters, plot twists, well-crafted, uneasy mood, character-driven, creepy, dangerous, haunting, macabre, sense of dread, compelling, violent, engaging characters, foreboding, vivid storyline, descriptive
Three Most Relevant Appeal Terms: Creepy, Flawed Characters, Suspenseful
The best of H.P. Lovecraft: Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre by H.P. Lovecraft
Horror fans and novices can enjoy this classic collection of ghostly stories from a pioneer of the genre. Here are 16 classic tales to chill the bones and haunt your dreams, and are just as menacing and creepy as The Heart-Shaped Box.
Christine by Stephen King
Go from haunted suit to a haunted car with this classic novel by Stephen King. Written by Joe Hill's father, here is a similarly compelling and suspenseful horror novel where teen Arnie Cunningham falls in love with a 1958 Plymouth car dubbed "Christine." This car is not as simple as it seems, and it starts to haunt and endanger Arnie as well as those around him. With Christine, you can get to know the work of Stephen King to whom Heart-Shaped Box was dedicated.
Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson
A horror story that also has hypnotism and a similar mood, Tom Wallace mockingly agrees to be hypnotized at his brother-in-law's party. But when Tom awakens from the hypnotism, he discovers that he can hear the thoughts of those around him. Even more compelling and terrifying, through this new ability he receives a message from beyond the grave that leads Tom onto a dangerous, creepy path in order to solve the message.
Crap I bought on eBay: 101 Crazy Bizarre, Seriously Weird, Ridiculously Raunchy Items Exposed by Cary McNeal and Beverly L. Jenkins
A great book for those fascinated by the macabre collection of character Judas Coyne. The book highlights 101 of the craziest things actually bought on eBay by the authors. Enjoy a mixture of laughter and shock as you browse these real-life items.
The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band by Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee, Mick Mars and Vince Neil
Get to know the crazy rock n' roll world of Judas Coyne with this tell-all book about 80's heavy metal group Motley Crue. Written by member of the band with the help of music writer Neil Strauss, this book reveals the tours, drugs and alcohol, rock music and sex. A fun glimpse into a crazy rocker's world.
Hidden Depths: The Story of Hypnosis by Robin Waterfield
Hypnosis was featured throughout the novel, and with this book you can become more familiar with it. You will get to know the history, practice and modern uses of this controversial field.
Tags:atmospheric, builds in intensity, character driven, chilling, compelling, Creepy, dangerous, descriptive, engaging characters, flawed characters, foreboding, Haunting, macabre, menacing atmosphere, plot twists, sense of dread, suspenseful, uneasy mood, violent, vivid storyline, well-crafted
Author: Gillian Flynn
Title: Gone Girl
Genre: Psychological Suspense
Geographical Setting: North Carthage, Missouri and New York City
Time Period: 2005-2012
Plot Summary: On the morning of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne is faced with a nightmare when he learns that his quick-witted, beautiful wife, Amy, has vanished. While investigating Amy's disappearance from the small town of North Carthage, police and media begin to unravel unflattering secrets of the Dunne marriage that soon put Nick in an incriminating position. Desperate to clear his own name and find his missing wife, Nick sets out on a psychological scavenger hunt in which he discovers dark and shocking secrets about the seemingly perfect Amy. Nick's narration of the investigation is alternated with entries from Amy's diary, adding layers to the mystery and leaving readers guessing which characters are trustworthy in this disturbing tale. Flynn writes a well crafted, suspense story that is both thought provoking and dark. Gone Girl makes for an engrossing read with a disturbing, yet fascinating, conclusion.
Subject Headings: Husbands – Fiction, Married people – Fiction, Wives – Crimes against – Fiction, Mystery Fiction, Conflict in Marriage, Deception, Husband and Wife, Married People, Missing Women, Murder Suspects, Secrets
Appeal: Engrossing, Fast-Paced, Chilling, Foreboding, Psychological, Suspenseful, Detailed Characters, Multiple Points of View, Flashbacks, Layered, Thought-Provoking, Descriptive, Well-Crafted
Three Appeal Terms: Engrossing, Chilling, Suspenseful
The Breaker by Minette Walters
Walters' psychological suspense story begins with a disorientated three-year-old wandering the streets of Poole, England. Hours later, her mother's body is found washed up on the beach. Police investigators reveal unsettling evidence that incriminates the woman's husband as well as a young actor. Gone Girl fans who are looking for another compelling whodunit read might enjoy this disturbing mystery.
Die For You by Lisa Unger
When Isabel Raines' husband mysteriously disappears she is determined to track him down despite his pleas for her to forget their life together. During her investigation, Isabel discovers her husband had stolen an identity and has been legally dead for a long period of time, among other shocking secrets. Readers who are looking for works told in multiple perspectives with a narrator revealing dark secrets about her spouse might enjoy this book.
In the Woods by Tana French
Detective Rob Ryan is called to investigate the murder of a twelve-year-old girl in a wooded area right outside of Dublin- a creepy coincidence as he witnessed the disappearance of two childhood friends in the same woods twenty years prior to this case. Readers who are looking for another dark, character-driven suspense story involving criminal investigation might also enjoy this title.
Three Nonfiction Read-Alikes:
The Cases that Haunt Us: from Jack the Ripper to JonBenet Ramsey, the FBI's legendary mindhunter sheds light on the mysteries that won't go away by John E. Douglas
Through Nick's narration of the investigation, readers are given detailed descriptions of a missing person case as police and FBI piece together clues in hopes of solving the puzzle and finding Amy. Readers who were intrigued by the crime scene/mystery aspect of Gone Girl might also enjoy The Cases that Haunt Us. Written by a former FBI agent, Douglas explores eight well-known unsolved mysteries and speculates the criminal and motive of each case.
The Gardner Heist: a true story of the world's largest unsolved art theft by Ulrich Boser
Flynn writes with such detail while describing the investigation and discovery of evidence that Gone Girl sometimes reads like a true crime piece. The Gardner Heist should be considered for readers who liked the suspense of solving a crime but perhaps are not interested in missing person cases. The Gardner Heist details the true story of a 1990 museum robbery in which 12 highly valuable pieces of the collection (worth over $500 million collectively) were stolen. Boser writes of his own informal investigation, including interviews with art thieves and mobsters, taking readers through his collection of clues as he attempts to offer insight on this mysterious cold case.
The Restless Sleep: Inside New York City's Cold Case Squad by Stacy Horn
Another strong title for those who enjoy reading about crime investigation; however, The Restless Sleep may also be of interest to fans who enjoyed the New York City setting found in Gone Girl. After interviewing NYC detectives, Horn writes a true crime piece that describes four unsolved murders, some of which have remained cold cases for over fifty years. Horn provides readers with an in depth view of each case and describes the dedication of the NYPD detectives who are determined to solve the mysteries and seek justice.
Name: Elizabeth Hopkins
Tags:chilling, descriptive, detailed characters, engrossing, fast paced, flashbacks, foreboding, layered, multiple points of view, psychological, suspenseful, thought provoking, well-crafted
Posted in Psychological Suspense | Leave a Comment »
Author: Sidney Sheldon
Title: Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Genre: Suspense
Geographical Setting: Many international cities including Berlin, Paris, and mainly Manhattan
Time Period: Modern times; 2004?
Plot Summary: A series of suspicious murders wracks the scientific world. Four murders occur within hours of each other, and upon further investigation, it is found that all these murders are linked through the ultra-secret, super high powered think-tank Kingsley International Group. Two widows of the murdered scientists meet in Manhattan with the head of KIG to beg him for assistance in finding their husbands' killer, and he promises he will. Yet the longer they stay in New York, the more terrifying their lives become as multiple murder attempts are made on both their lives. Scared for their lives and not knowing who to trust, the widows begin a death defying adventure to uncover the secrets of their husbands' deaths, and who is behind KIG.
Subject Headings: Widows, Think Tanks, Environmental Disasters, Weather Control, Murder, Attempted Murder, Escapes, Conspiracies, International Intrigue, Spy Stories, Romantic Suspense, Suspense.
Appeal: Plot Driven, Suspenseful, Urban, Violent, Dangerous, Foreboding, Paranoid, Romantic, Murderous, Evil, Thrilling, Fast-paced
3 appeal terms that best describe this book: Plot Driven, Suspenseful, Romantic
Brown, Dan. The Lost Symbol When symbologist Robert Langdon discovers his friend has been abducted, he is out to solve the mystery and bring her to safety. This story is full of intricate plot twists and conspiracies that keep the reader guessing. Readers who liked the pacing and the conspiracy aspects of AYAOTD will enjoy this read.
Brown, Sandra. Lethal Like Are You Afraid of the Dark? Lethal centers around two widows who are previously unaware of their husbands' involvements in shady dealings. It is also fast paced and intricately plotted, with many twists and shocking revelations to keep the reader begging to know what happens.
Clark, Mary Higgins. Before I Say Goodbye This story deals with a corrupt business venture, similar to the corruption in Are you Afraid of the Dark? It is suspenseful and plot driven, and takes place in New York City. There are also romantic aspects of this novel, although not as heavily as in AYAOTD.
King, David. Death in the city of light: the serial killer of occupied Paris Readers who enjoyed discovering who the killers were, and trying to work along with the plot twists, will enjoy this true crime. This would also be a good pick for readers who enjoyed the exotic locales as it is set in Paris.
Owen, David. The conundrum: how scientific innovation, increased efficiency, and good intentions can make our energy and climate problems worse Readers who enjoyed the aspects of environmental technology and climatology will enjoy this title.
Pooley, Eric. The climate war: true believers, power brokers, and the eleventh-hour fight to save the earth Readers who enjoyed the big business and think tank aspects of this story as it relates to environmental well being, and the conspiracy theory aspects, might enjoy this title.
Tags:dangerous, evil, fast paced, foreboding, Murderous, paranoid, plot-driven, romantic, suspenseful, thrilling, urban, violent
Posted in Adrenaline, Suspense | Leave a Comment »
The Proving Trail
Author: Louis L'Amour
Title: The Proving Trail
Genre: Western
Geographical Setting: The main character travels through multiple states, including Texas, Colorado, and Kansas.
Time Period: Late 1800s
Plot Summary: This is a suspenseful tale of crime and corruption in the American West. Kearney McRaven was only a teenager when his father was killed after he had won a lot of money while gambling. He was determined to solve his father's murder and keep his father's winnings. This lead McRaven on a cross-country journey of self-discovery to search for information related to his family history and why it seemed like his father was previously running from someone that had attempted to kill him. Through out this journey Kearney McRaven had to learn to stay alive while out running these same outlaws that had murdered his father.
Subject Headings: Western stories, Outlaws, Murder
Appeal terms: action-oriented, investigative, menacing atmosphere, fast-paced, chilling, gritty, plot-centered, explicitly violent, tragic, foreboding, details of frontier life, well-crafted
Three appeal terms: action-oriented, investigative, menacing atmosphere
West Texas Kill by Johny D. Boggs: This work is about fighting outlaws and corruption in Texas.
Hard Luck Money by J.A. Johnstone: This is a tale about solving a murder and fighting outlaws.
The Badger's Revenge by Larry D. Sweazy: This story questions why outlaws want to seek revenge against the main character while he tries to stay alive.
Big Trouble: a Murder in a Small Western Town Sets Off a Struggle for the Soul of America by J. Anthony Lukas: This is a non-fiction book about a real murder in America's west.
Sacagawea's Nickname: Essays on the American West by Larry McMurtry: This is a non-fiction book of essays written by a well-known author of Western fiction.
Gunfighter Nation: the Myth of the Frontier in Twentieth Century America by Richard Slotkin: This is a non-fiction book that examines the influence of the frontier myth on American culture and politics.
Name: Rachel Fischer
Tags:action-oriented, chilling, details of frontier life, explicitly violent, fast paced, foreboding, gritty, investigative, menacing atmosphere, murder, Outlaws, plot-centered, tragic, well-crafted, Western
Posted in Western | Leave a Comment »
The Postmistress
Author: Sarah Blake
Title: The Postmistress
Geographical Setting: Franklin, Massachusetts and London, England
Time Period: 1940-41: War-torn London/Pre-WWII America
Plot summary: After leaving a letter with the local Postmistress to be given to his young wife should he not return, a doctor departs his small, Massachusetts town for London in 1940 to volunteer his services to care for those injured in the Blitz. A gritty, female war correspondent, devastated by all she has witnessed in war-torn Europe, travels to Massachusetts in 1941 to deliver news of the doctor to his wife. She soon suspects that the Postmistress may be keeping a devastating secret similar to her own. The novel offers an engrossing portrait of a small American town's growing understanding of the issues at stake in the war, and is heartbreaking in its depiction of the impact war can have on those not caught in actual battle.
Subject Headings: World War II; London Blitz; Radio; War Correspondents; American Home Front; Small-town Life; Postmasters; Secrets
Appeal: compelling, atmospheric, emotionally-charged, romantic, dramatic, foreboding, heartbreaking, well-developed characters, multiple plot lines, character-driven, thought-provoking, historical details (World War II), small-town, descriptive, lyrical
Three Appeal Terms That Best Describe This Book: emotionally-charged; small-town, historical details (WWII)
Fiction Read-alikes:
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.
A British author strikes up correspondence with the members of a literary society on the German-occupied island of Guernsey during WWII, and quickly becomes invested in their lives. Like The Postmistress in its portrayal of the impact of WWII on a small community not caught in the midst of battle.
Human Voices by Penelope Fitzgerald.
BBC radio staff struggle to report the news and maintain morale during the chaos of WWII London. Like The Postmistress in its depiction of the impact of war on the personal lives of civilians, and the quest to get information out to the public.
Coventry by Helen Humphries.
The lives of a widow, a single-mother and her son intertwine as they struggle to escape the chaos and carnage of Coventry, England after it is destroyed by German bombs in 1940. Like The Postmistress in its portrayal of the devastating impact of war on civilians and the strength of women in dealing with the realities of war.
Related Non-fiction:
WWII on the Air: Edward R. Murrow and the Broadcasts that Riveted a Nation by Mark Bernstein.
The story of Edward R. Murrow and his fellow radio broadcasters who brought news of WWII to Americans at home. Includes recordings of historic broadcasts. In The Postmistress, the fictional character of Frankie Bard worked for Murrow.
Blitz: The Story of December 29, 1940 by Margaret Gaskin.
An historical account of one of the worst nights of the London Blitz, the event that drives the story of The Postmistress from afar.
Women of the Homefront: World War II Recollections of 55 Americans by Pauline E. Parker.
A collection of personal stories that illustrate the impact of WWII on American women at home, a perspective shared by The Postmistress.
Becky King
Tags:atmospheric, character driven, compelling, descriptive, dramatic, emotionally charged, foreboding, heartbreaking, historical details (World War II), lyrical, multiple plot lines, romantic, small town, thought provoking, well-developed characters
Author: Emma Donoghue
Title: Room
Genre: Psychological Suspense, Bestseller
Geographical Setting: Not specified- probably North America
Time Period: Present
Series (If applicable):
Plot Summary: Five-year-old Jack has lived in Room his entire life. His Ma was abducted at age 19 and forced to live in a one-room shed for seven years. She has done the best she could raising a small child, making sure he has been fed and healthy and keeping their captor from coming near Jack. But, as Jack gets older she knows they must get out and away from "Old Nick". Escape is dangerous and the outside world will be scary but Jack and Ma are ready for a new life and a second chance.
Subject Headings: Boys-Fiction, Mother and Child- Fiction, Kidnapping-Fiction, Psycopaths- Fiction, Escapes- Fiction
Appeal: compelling, engrossing, detailed characterization, intriguing, realistic characters, well- drawn characters, complex, issue oriented, thought-provoking, bittersweet, foreboding, candid, unusual style
3 terms that best describe this book: compelling, well-drawn characters, thought-provoking
Anatomy of a Kidnapping- Steven L Berk
In March 2005, Dr. Steven Berk was kidnapped in Amarillo, Texas, by a dangerous and enigmatic criminal who entered his home, armed with a shotgun, through an open garage door. Dr. Berk's experiences and training as a physician, enabled him to keep his family safe, establish rapport with his kidnapper, and bring his captor to justice. This nonfiction book would interest readers who want to hear a true story of abduction from an adult point of view.
A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard
When Jaycee Dugard was eleven years old; she was abducted from a school bus stop in South Lake Tahoe, California. She was missing for more than eighteen years, held captive by Phillip Craig and Nancy Garrido, and gave birth to two daughters during her imprisonment. On August 26, 2009, Garrido showed up for a meeting with his parole officer; he brought Jaycee, her daughters, and his wife Nancy with him. Their unusual behavior raised suspicions and an investigation revealed the tent behind the Garridos' home where Jaycee had been living for nearly two decades. A Stolen Life was written by Jaycee herself and covers the period from the time of her abduction in 1991, up until the present. This book is a very similar, true-life story of Jack's Ma in Room.
Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard by Liz Murray
Liz Murray was born to loving but drug-addicted parents in the Bronx. At age fifteen, Liz found herself on the streets when her family finally unraveled. She learned to scrape by, foraging for food and riding subways all night to have a warm place to sleep. When Liz's mother died of AIDS, she decided to take control of her own destiny and go back to high school, often completing her assignments in the hallways and subway stations where she slept. Liz squeezed four years of high school into two, while homeless; won a "New York Times" scholarship; and made it into the Ivy League. This is a compelling story about a woman breaking free from extreme adversity that readers of Room will thoroughly enjoy.
His Illegal Self by Peter Carey
Che is an eight-year-old boy being raised by his grandmother in New York in the 1960's. His parents are radical student activists and Che has been yearning for them since he was very small, but his grandmother has kept him in relative isolation. One day someone comes to take him back to his real parents and Che enters a wild journey that leads him to Queensland, Australia. This book deals with the same themes of isolation and kidnapping that Room does.
The Crocodile Bird by Ruth Rendell
A mother and a daughter live quietly in the rustic gatehouse of Shrove House, an isolated British estate. Their life seems perfectly ordinary except that daughter Liza has been kept isolated from the outside world for all of her sixteen years. And that she has seen her beautiful mother commit murder. Now, as the police come searching for a missing man, Liza's sheltered, strange world begins to fall apart. Room and The Crocodile Bird are both haunting psychological suspense stories in which a child who grew up in isolation now faces the unexpected real world.
Trance by Christopher Sorrentino
When a newspaper heiress is kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army, she ends up surprising everyone by taking a new name and staying with her captors. This story is loosely based on the Patty Hearst case and chronicles the next 16 months of Tania's life in hiding with them. Like Room, this book deals with the psychological effects of living in isolation and captivity.
Name: Becky Ozinga
Tags:bittersweet, candid, compelling, complex, detailed characterization, engrossing, foreboding, intriguing, issue-oriented, realistic characters, thought provoking, unusual style, well-drawn characters
Posted in Best Seller, Psychological Suspense | Leave a Comment »
Man in the Picture
Author: Hill, Susan
Title: The Man in the Picture: A Ghost Story
Number of Pages: 160 p.
Geographical Setting: Cambridge, England and Venice, Italy
Time Period: Unspecified, but likely in the 1900s
Plot Summary: This fast-paced, old-fashioned ghost story begins with the narrator, Oliver, visiting his old tutor, Theo Parmitter, at Cambridge on a cold winter night. While the two friends have had many conversations over the years, Theo chooses this night to tell Oliver the tale of his acquisition of an 18th century painting of Venetian revelers. While his story starts as a regular trip to an art auction, it soon becomes evident that the painting is more than meets the eye. As Theo tells Oliver the story of Lady Hawdon and the full history of love, revenge, and death behind the painting, the present starts to mirror the past in dangerous and mysterious ways. Can Theo and Oliver escape the curse of the painting before it's too late? The novel alternates between the points of view of Oliver, Theo, Lady Hawdon, and Oliver's fiancée, Anne. Susan Hill uses concise chapters and descriptions to create an atmospheric, eerie, chilling, and suspenseful story of a painting that may be more real and powerful than anyone can imagine.
Subject Headings: Spirits; Carnival; Auctions; Wedding Presents; Portraits; Revenge; Universities and Colleges—England— Cambridge; Cambridge, England; Venice, Italy; Suspense Stories; Horror Stories; Ghost Stories;
Appeal: fast-paced, atmospheric, chilling, creepy, dangerous, darker, disturbing, foreboding, haunting, menacing, mysterious, nightmare, suspenseful, familiar intelligent characters, quirky and dangerous secondary characters, cinematic, layered, plot twists, tragic, atmospheric gothic setting, classic language, concise, dramatic, polished, restrained, vivid
3 Terms that Best Describe This Book: mysterious, atmospheric, haunting
Lore of the Ghost: The Origins of the Most Famous Ghost Stories Throughout the World by Brian Haughton and illustrated by Daniele Serra is a thought-provoking and vivid book about the history of ghost stories and an analysis of people's fascination with the supernatural. Like The Man in the Picture: A Ghost Story by Susan Hill, this haunting book focuses on the subject of spirits and old-fashioned gothic ghost stories.
Haunted England: Royal Spirits, Castle Ghosts, Phantom Coaches, and Wailing Ghouls by Terence Whitaker is an eerie book about various hauntings throughout England's history. Like The Man in the Picture: A Ghost Story by Susan Hill, this creepy book highlights the subjects of spirits and ghost stories in the same setting of England.
Vanished Smile: The Mysterious Theft of Mona Lisa by R. A. Scotti is a fascinating book about the disappearance and return of one of the most famous portraits of all time. Like The Man in the Picture: A Ghost Story by Susan Hill, this book tells a mysterious and suspenseful story about a portrait
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier is a classic horror story about a woman, Mrs. Maxim de Winter, moving into the eerie home of her new husband, where the housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, constantly reminds the new Mrs. Maxim de Winter of how inferior she is to the deceased first wife, Rebecca. Like The Man in the Picture: A Ghost Story by Susan Hill, this well-written book with plot twists focuses on an atmospheric and haunting story in England about disturbed women as secondary characters who cannot cope with past events and attempt to destroy other women's lives as a result.
The Uninvited by John Farris is a suspenseful ghost story about a woman, Barry Brennan, who finds a man one day who may or may not be real as she mourns the death of her boyfriend. Like The Man in the Picture: A Ghost Story by Susan Hill, this book tells a fast-paced disturbing ghost story about art, characters who cannot forget tragic relationships, and how fantasy can become reality.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is a gothic horror story about a handsome man who never ages while a portrait of him reflects his moral decline. Like The Man in the Picture: A Ghost Story by Susan Hill, this book is a horror story with plot twists focused on a haunted portrait with special powers that takes place in England and contains characters who gradually give in to evil activities.
Tags:atmospheric, atmospheric gothic setting, chilling, cinematic, classic language, concise, Creepy, dangerous, darker, disturbing, dramatic, familiar intelligent characters, fast paced, foreboding, Haunting, layered, menacing, mysterious, nightmare, plot twists, polished, quirky and dangerous secondary characters, restrained, suspenseful, tragic, vivid
Author: Crichton, Michael
Title: Jurassic Park
Geographical Setting: Multiple Locations in the United States and Costa Rica
Series: Has a sequel, The Lost World
Plot Summary: In this thrilling, fast-paced science fiction story, a genetic engineering corporation, InGen, successfully clones 15 species of dinosaurs. Hoping to feature these previously extinct creatures in the greatest theme park of all time in an island off the west coast of Costa Rica, the visionary of the project, John Hammond, brings a group of people to evaluate it, including a paleontologist, Alan Grant, a paleobotanist, Ellie Sattler, an investment banker, Donald Gennaro, a mathematician, Ian Malcolm, a computer system analyst, Dennis Nedry, and Hammond's two grandchildren, Lex and Tim Murphy. While the theme park initially lives up to its fascinating premise, the underlying instability and chaos of the organization are apparent when an employee turns off the park's power and security grid to steal dinosaur embryos for a competing genetic company, Biosyn. The action that follows is a nightmarish fight for survival against several Tyrannosaurus rex, velociraptors, and other dinosaurs as every character tries to leave the island alive. The novel alternates between the points of view of many different characters, although Ian Malcolm and his illustrations often serve as the main narrator and framework of Michael Crichton's concerns regarding unregulated science and technology. As in many of his novels, Crichton uses clear language and technical details to tell a suspenseful and compelling story about the dangers of bioengineering and people's desire to use science and math to control nature and the world.
Subject Headings: Genetic Engineering; Clones and Cloning; DNA; Dinosaurs; Prehistoric Animals; Amusement Parks; Business Sabotage; Scientists; Eccentric Men; Billionaires; Islands — Costa Rica; Science Fiction; Suspense Stories; Adventure Stories; Thriller Stories;
Appeal: fast-paced, compelling, dangerous, dramatic, foreboding, menacing, suspenseful, thought-provoking, thrilling, multiple points of view, flawed and recognizable characters, strong and interesting secondary characters, sympathetic characters, action-oriented, cinematic, violent, imaginative, issue-oriented, descriptive, detailed, informative, intelligent, persuasive, scientific, thoughtful, unique, vivid, well-crafted
3 Terms That Best Describe This Book: unique, thrilling, thought-provoking
Rex Appeal: The Amazing Story of Sue, the Dinosaur That Changed Science, the Law, and My Life by Peter Larson and Kristin Donnan is an intriguing book about the politics and legal issues surrounding a real significant dinosaur discovery and excavation.
A Clone of Your Own?: The Science and Ethics of Cloning by Arlene Judith Klotzko is an informative and thought-provoking book about the moral and legal issues and history of stem cell research and cloning.
Blindsided: Surviving a Grizzly Attack and Still Loving the Great Bear by Jim Cole is a fascinating book about a grizzly bear that attacks the author during a trip to Yellowstone National Park and how despite his injuries, he still has empathy for grizzly bears and other animals that are still trying to survive in the wild.
Tyrannosaur Canyon by Douglas Preston is an action-oriented, detailed science fiction thriller about Tom Broadbent who receives a journal from a dying man, Stern Weathers, in New Mexico that a murderer and the government is determined to get because of its description of the location of a special completely preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Shock by Robin Cook is a suspenseful and thought-provoking story about two Harvard graduate students Joanna Meissner and Deborah Cochrane, in Boston, Massachusetts, who investigate the use of their eggs at a fertility clinic and in the process, confront firsthand the hazards of cloning.
Esau by Philip Kerr is a fast-paced scientific story about Stella Swift, a paleontologist, who receives a fossilized skull from America's greatest mountain climber, Jack Furness, and organizes an expedition to the Himalayas to investigate the possible new species that the skull represents.
Tags:action-oriented, cinematic, compelling, dangerous, descriptive, detailed, dramatic, fast paced, flawed and recognizable characters, foreboding, imaginative, informative, intelligent, issue-oriented, menacing, multiple points of view, persuasive, Scientific, strong and interesting secondary characters, suspenseful, sympathetic characters, thought provoking, thoughtful, thrilling, unique, violent, vivid, well-crafted
Posted in Science Fiction | Leave a Comment »

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Primefaces selectOneMenu ajax event on select / click I am using Primefaces 5.0. I have a selectOneMenu with ajax listener inside:
<p:selectOneMenu value="#{mybean.myselection}" >
    <f:selectItems value="#{mybean.mylist}" />
    <p:ajax listener="#{mybean.test}" />
</p:selectOneMenu>

The listener is called every time when value is changed. This works fine. But I also need an event like "select" or "click" which fires an action also when the selecteditem is clicked.
I could not find an event in PF UserGuide. Is there an easy way to do this?
EDIT:
Add Javascript functioN.
   <h:form>
    <p:selectOneMenu value="#{mybean.myselection}" widgetVar="mySelect">
        <f:selectItems value="#{mybean.mylist}" />
        <p:ajax listener="#{mybean.test}" />
    </p:selectOneMenu>
   <h:form>

<script>
            //<![CDATA[
            $(document)
                    .ready(
                            function() {
                                PF('mySelect').selectItem = function(item,
                                        silent) {
                                    var selectedOption = this.options.eq(this
                                            .resolveItemIndex(item)), currentOption = this.options
                                            .filter(':selected'), shouldChange = null;

                                    if (this.cfg.editable) {
                                        shouldChange = (selectedOption.text() != this.label
                                                .val());
                                    } else {
                                        shouldChange = true;
                                    }

                                    if (shouldChange) {
                                        this.highlightItem(item);
                                        this.input.val(selectedOption.val())

                                        this.triggerChange();

                                        if (this.cfg.editable) {
                                            this.customInput = false;
                                        }
                                    }

                                    if (!silent) {
                                        this.focusInput.focus();
                                    }

                                    if (this.panel.is(':visible')) {
                                        this.hide();
                                    }
                                }
                            })
            //]]>
        </script>

A: In the selectItem function of the selectOneMenu widget you can see that when the item is selected a condition is present which is sameOption, if it's true the change event won't be triggered.
So this is by design. To override this you have multiple options, you can alter the prototype of the selectItem, where the sameOption is considered always false, meaning you don't have to delete all the code related to that option just for simplicity of going backwards, or you can take out that option for ever!
This example is where I toke that option from the equation...
PrimeFaces.widget.SelectOneMenu.prototype.selectItem = function(item, silent) {
    var selectedOption = this.options.eq(this.resolveItemIndex(item)),
    //sameOption = selectedOption.val() == currentOption.val() | or make it false |
    currentOption = this.options.filter(':selected'),
    shouldChange = null;

    if(this.cfg.editable) {
        shouldChange = (selectedOption.text() != this.label.val()); //changes done here, see original function
    }
    else {
        shouldChange = true;
    }

    if(shouldChange) {
        this.highlightItem(item);
        this.input.val(selectedOption.val())

        this.triggerChange();

        if(this.cfg.editable) {
            this.customInput = false;
        }
    }

    if(!silent) {
        this.focusInput.focus();
    }

    if(this.panel.is(':visible')) {
        this.hide();
    }
}

Now altering the prototype of the whole object might not be your case, if you want this behaviour for specific selectOneMenu you may change only the function like this:
PF('selectOneMenuWidgetVarName').selectItem = function(item, silent) {
    var selectedOption = this.options.eq(this.resolveItemIndex(item)),
    currentOption = this.options.filter(':selected'),
    shouldChange = null;

    if(this.cfg.editable) {
        shouldChange = (selectedOption.text() != this.label.val());
    }
    else {
        shouldChange = true;
    }

    if(shouldChange) {
        this.highlightItem(item);
        this.input.val(selectedOption.val())

        this.triggerChange();

        if(this.cfg.editable) {
            this.customInput = false;
        }
    }

    if(!silent) {
        this.focusInput.focus();
    }

    if(this.panel.is(':visible')) {
        this.hide();
    }
}

That way the change event will be triggered even if the same value is selected.
You need to execute this code in the $(document).ready.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
THE ATO AS SMSF REGULATOR: OBSERVATIONS
In the opening address to the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand National Self Managed Superannuation Fund (SMSF) Conference in Melbourne on 18 September 2018, James O'Halloran, ATO Deputy Commissioner, Superannuation, shared some observations and advice from the ATO's perspective as regulator for the SMSF sector. The address included the following points:
• The ATO aims to address behaviour that seeks to take advantage of the closely held and concessionary nature of an SMSF or seeks to undermine the retirement system by accessing savings in circumstances not allowed under the law.
• The role of trustees is a crucial one. For example, they must act honestly in all matters concerning the fund, must act in the best interests of all fund members when making decisions and must manage the fund separately from their own affairs.
• The ATO estimates that about 1,900 SMSFs reported reserves in their 2016–2017 annual returns, totalling $375 million.
• As at 30 July 2018, some 90% of SMSF returns for the 2016–2017 financial year were lodged on time.
• Some 27,000 registered SMSFs have not lodged since their establishment, including some 8,900 funds that registered in the 2016–2017 financial year and have not yet lodged their 2016–2017 return.
• Events likely to attract close scrutiny from the ATO include any unexplained increase in new reserves, increases in the balances of existing reserves, or allocation of amounts from a reserve directly into the retirement phase.
• Where an SMSF does have reserves, the ATO will be looking to see whether they're being maintained by a trustee in line with the sole-purpose test.
• Another emerging issue is the use of multiple SMSFs to manipulate tax outcomes. Given the recent introduction of the transfer balance cap and disregarded small fund assets provisions, the ATO will closely scrutinise arrangements where an individual with multiple SMSFs acts within these funds to circumvent the intended outcomes of these measures. At a baseline level, the ATO believes there are some 13,600 trustees who have more than one SMSF, and 35 trustees who have more than five SMSFs.


The mystery over a series of unexplained "health attacks" against foreign diplomats in Cuba deepened on Monday when Canada announced it will join the U.S. and downgrade its presence on the island.
For the past year, several Canadian diplomats stationed in Havana have complained of symptoms similar to those experienced by American diplomats. On Monday, Canada's Ministry of Global Affairs said ongoing medical testing has raised the possibility of a "new type" of "brain injury" that doctors still can't define.
That prompted Canada to change the classification of its embassy in Cuba to an "unaccompanied post," meaning relatives of diplomats, who often fill support roles in foreign embassies, will not be allowed to travel to Cuba.
"The cause remains unknown but could be human-made," read a statement from Canada's foreign office Monday. "We will be reviewing all of our diplomatic positions in Cuba, with a view to balancing our duty of care to our staff members and their families, with the ongoing need to deliver services to Canadians in Cuba, and to promote and protect Canadian interests there."
Canada's decision mirrors the response from the Trump administration, which pulled 60% of its staff out of Cuba after U.S. diplomats started complaining of similar, mysterious ailments in late 2016. In those cases, U.S. officials said they suffered unexplained losses of hearing, sharp pain in their ears, vertigo, disorientation and extreme fatigue.
That combination led investigators to consider the possibility of "sonic attacks," but U.S. officials have cast doubts on that technology and started talking about unexplained "health attacks" instead.
Related: Mystery behind U.S. decision to yank diplomats from Cuba?
In October, the Associated Press obtained an audio recording of the sound heard by some of the U.S. diplomats. Described as a high-pitched whine or a mass of crickets, the recording added to the mystery over the attacks but did not help investigators determine what caused the sound.
The FBI sent a team to Cuba to meet with government officials there to try to understand what's been happening. At a Senate hearing in January, State Department officials said that investigation has not yet been concluded and the cause of the ailments remains a mystery.
Whatever the direct cause, several senators, including Cuban-American Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., said it's naive to think that the Cuban government didn't play a part or didn't even know that something was happening.
"As someone who has personally witnessed the modus operandi of the Cuban government, it is unfathomable that the Castro regime, and the intelligence services specifically, were not aware of these attacks," Menendez said.
Cuba has denied any involvement in or knowledge of the attacks against foreign diplomats on its soil.
In February, a team of Cubans that has been investigating the illnesses said they had found no evidence of government involvement and provided a list of 14 theories of what could have happened.
During an interview with The Miami Herald, the team listed off several possibilities, including "mass hysteria" brought on by the stress over the deterioration of U.S.-Cuba relations under President Trump. But the Cubans were insistent that there are no sonic devices in Cuba capable of inflicting the kind of damage described by diplomats.
"This type of weapon doesn't exist in Cuba," Col. Ramiro Ramírez Alvarez, chief of diplomatic security at Cuba's Interior Ministry, told the Herald. "The United States is the first one that would have this type of thing. They're made there; they're sold there."
Last month, doctors released the first detailed medical reports on the case but a clear diagnosis of what happened to trigger their health problems is still a mystery.
The symptoms are similar to the brain dysfunction seen with concussions, specialists from the University of Pennsylvania found after testing 21 of the 24 embassy personnel believed to be impacted.
In an editorial, the Journal of the American Medical Association said a conclusion "remains elusive" and "many potential causes for the symptoms.... remain possibilities."
Contributing: Doug Stanglin and Jessica Durando.


Does it get any better than strawberry preserves? Yes, when you try ours! Made with real sugar and the freshest strawberries, picked at their ripest in small batches, our strawberry preserves will become your family's must-have, go-to, eat-up, right-now jam.
Stir it into your morning yogurt or pour over a stack of fluffy pancakes.


text:
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Why Hiring A Lawyer Is Important
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FDA Requires Essure to Carry Black Box Warning Label
Posted on behalf of D'Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC on Mar 10, 2016 in Product Liability
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is now requiring the birth control device Essure to come with a "black box" warning label, the strongest label possible, to indicate the device carries significant risk of adverse events.
More than 5,000 women have filed grievances with the FDA between November 2002 and May 2015. Their grievances reveal a multitude of serious side effects after being implanted with the birth control device.
Along with the black box warning, the FDA is requiring Bayer, the manufacturer of the birth control device, to perform a post market surveillance study. The FDA hopes the study will provide better data to understand the risks associated with using Essure. Bayer will be required to provide information on complications like unintended pregnancy and device problems that require corrective surgery. The study must include information on how these complications affected a woman's quality of life.
Another requirement from the FDA is the creation of a Patient Decision Checklist. The checklist would be provided to doctors in order to properly discuss the benefits and risks associated with the birth control device. Furthermore, doctors will be required to discuss with patients the importance of a "confirmation" test, which will determine if the device was placed properly and is working correctly.
The FDA has issued a draft guidance, which will allow the public to make comments and suggestions on what the labeling for Essure should include. The open period for comments began March 4 and will close after 60 days.
Though the FDA is making an effort to ensure the safety of Essure users, many women feel it is too little too late. Thousands of women have suffered medical complications; some women allegedly died as a result of the birth control device.
A study published in 2015 revealed that women who used Essure were 10 times more likely to need follow-up surgeries than those who underwent tubal ligation.
The product liability lawyers at D'Amico & Pettinicchi are ready to help you if you have suffered injuries or illness after using a defective medical device. Our team will work hard to help you fight for your rights.
For a free case review, call (866) 848-7077 or fill out a contact form to get started.
Product Liability News
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Report Says Women Are at Greater Risk of Exposure to Dangerous Drugs and Medical Devices
Three-Year-Old Killed in House Fire Caused by Recharging Hoverboard
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text:
Q: trying to move robot using the distance from camera to face So, i am  trying to move a dc motor using the distance from my face to a raspberry camera.
I have the raspberry connected to an arduino mega via serial comunication.
Currently i am testing only one dc motor.
I should say that i am using an raspberry pi 3b+ with 1 gb of ram.
This is the raspberry pi code:
`import numpy as np
import cv2

USB_PORT = "/dev/ttyUSB0"  # Arduino Uno WiFi Rev2
# Imports
import serial

try:
   usb = serial.Serial(USB_PORT, 9600, timeout=2)
except:
   print("ERROR - Could not open USB serial port.  Please check your port name and permissions.")
   print("Exiting program.")
   exit()

Known_distance = 76.2

Known_width = 14.3

GREEN = (0, 255, 0)
RED = (0, 0, 255)
WHITE = (255, 255, 255)
BLACK = (0, 0, 0)

fonts = cv2.FONT_HERSHEY_COMPLEX

face_detector = cv2.CascadeClassifier("haarcascade_frontalface_default.xml")

def Focal_Length_Finder(measured_distance, real_width, width_in_rf_image):

    focal_length = (width_in_rf_image * measured_distance) / real_width
    return focal_length

def Distance_finder(Focal_Length, real_face_width, face_width_in_frame):

    distance = (real_face_width * Focal_Length)/face_width_in_frame

    return distance

def face_data(image):

    face_width = 0

    gray_image = cv2.cvtColor(image, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)

    faces = face_detector.detectMultiScale(gray_image, 1.3, 5)

    for (x, y, h, w) in faces:

        cv2.rectangle(image, (x, y), (x+w, y+h), GREEN, 2)

        face_width = w

    return face_width

ref_image = cv2.imread("Ref_image.png")

ref_image_face_width = face_data(ref_image)

Focal_length_found = Focal_Length_Finder(
    Known_distance, Known_width, ref_image_face_width)

cap = cv2.VideoCapture(0)
if not cap.isOpened():
    print("Cannot open camera")
    exit()
while True:
    # Capture frame-by-frame
    ret, frame = cap.read()
    # if frame is read correctly ret is True
    if not ret:
        print("Can't receive frame (stream end?). Exiting ...")
        break
    # Our operations on the frame come here
    face_width_in_frame = face_data(frame)

    if face_width_in_frame != 0:
        Distance = Distance_finder(Focal_length_found, Known_width, face_width_in_frame)
        cv2.line(frame,(30,30),(230,30),RED,32)
        cv2.line(frame, (30, 30), (230, 30), BLACK, 28)
        cv2.putText(
            frame, f"Distance: {round(Distance,2)} CM", (30, 35),
        fonts, 0.6, GREEN, 2)

        if(Distance<50 ):
            print("back")
        elif(50<Distance<80):
            print("stop")
            usb.write(b'of')
        elif(Distance>80):
            print("forward")
            usb.write(b'on')

    # Display the resulting frame
    cv2.imshow('frame', frame)

    if cv2.waitKey(1) == ord('q'):
        break
# When everything done, release the capture
cap.release()

cv2.destroyAllWindows()`

and the arduino code is this:
`#include <AFMotor.h>

AF_DCMotor motor(1);

void setup() {
  //mstop();
  Serial.begin(9600);

}

void loop() {
   if (Serial.available()) {  // check for incoming serial data
      String command = Serial.readString();
      if (command == "on"){
        forward();
      }else if(command=="of"){
       mstop();
      }}

}

void forward(){
  motor.setSpeed(200);
  motor.run(FORWARD);
}

void mstop(){
  motor.run(RELEASE);
}`

So, the problem is that when i run the python code it's working till the if statements, those one :
        `if(Distance<50 ):
            print("back")
        elif(50<Distance<80):
            print("stop")
            usb.write(b'of')
        elif(Distance>80):
            print("forward")
            usb.write(b'on')`

and i know that the print statements work just fine, but the usb.write(b'of')  and  usb.write(b'on') parts are only working sometimes.
I want them to send info to the arduino smoothly to the arduino, i tried using the sleep function but it won' t work.
I am expecting to start and to stop the motor based on the distance from the camera to my face, and to do this smoothly.

A: Try using 1 character like '1' or '0' (use single quote instead of double,  Serial.read() in arduino instead of Serial.readString(), and char instead of String.
char command = Serial.read();
if (command == '1') {

Then usb.write(b'1') and usb.write(b'0') in Python
From my past experience, I had arduino readString()s like "on " instead of "on"


This common and delicious creature is a Canada Goose. I recall seeing a pair in Germany, and was not mistaken, as there is an introduced population covering a number of parts of Europe. Somehow they found their way to New Zealand as well.


While paper scanning is an office task and can be done with general office equipment, any type of medical film digitizing, including dental film, is an imaging procedure governed by medical and industry regulations. Therefore, dental film digitizing requires specialized equipment that meets the regulations imposed by the FDA. Particular attention must be paid to accurately and reliably scanning the details in medical and dental films because a medical opinion and/or treatment decision will be made about patient care based on these scanned images. When making a diagnosis from an x-ray, image quality is everything.
Make sure that the dental scanner you choose can replace film as the legal original. There is no sense in digitizing your dental film if you still have to store the originals to comply with legalities.
Analyze your office digital workflow to make sure that you can integrate your digitized analog film into the workflow. Whether you're just converting into a digital practice, half-way there or fully converted, it never hurts to review your workflow to see if improvements can be made.
Consider space requirements and ease of use for the dental digitizer that you choose. The smaller the better, the simpler the better – as long as your diagnostic and legal requirements are met.
Ask about digitizing time — it should take mere seconds (roughly 18 seconds) to digitize a panoramic film.
Make sure that the dental digitizer you choose supports scanning of all dental film sizes: Panoramic, Cephalometric, and Intraoral.
Ask if any clinical studies have been done comparing film to the digitized images produced by the dental digitizer you're looking at. Reliable medical digitizers will have been employed in clinical studies at known institutes.
Mmake sure that the dental digitizer you choose can digitize patient films from other referral facilities or for consultation. You want referral patients brought into your digital workflow, not consigned to paper files and x-ray film in file drawers.
One device that meets the criteria is VIDAR's Dental Film Digitizer, which is specifically tailored for dental applications and is a regulated medical device for use in diagnostic applications. According to VIDAR, the VIDAR Dental Film Digitizer is able to produce digitized images as detailed as the original film. This is because VIDAR employs specialized optics to deliver quality results specifically for transmissive materials such as x-rays – not reflective media. The VIDAR imaging system is designed to accurately render the full grayscale data with minimal noise throughout the specified grayscale density range. VIDAR's medical products repeatedly meet demanding Optical Density tests that include specifications for both noise and linearity – at all grayscale steps. This is a calculation of clinically relevant Optical Density – not DMAX. For medical professionals this difference is important.
VIDAR claims over 20,000 placements of radiology devices, and is therefore the #1 selling medical film digitizer manufacturer worldwide. The VIDAR dental digitizer has the same image quality and reliability as the medical film digitizers have, and a variety of software connectivity options exist for easy integration into practice management systems.
VIDAR offers high-speed digitizing of dental images without sacrificing quality, and supports the digitization of all dental film sizes – for Panoramic, Cephalometric, and Bitewing films (in approved film holders).
Remember when you go shopping for your dental x-ray digitizer you need more than a "scanner." You need a dental digitizing machine that will enable you to do everything you need to do for today and the future in your digital office.


The person you speak to is the person you will meet and will attend your wedding.
Unique planning approach that considers the whole of your day & evening as one.
Trained, experienced, formal or relaxed as appropriate. James Ross helps guide your guests to help the day and evening flow smoothly.
I love weddings and I genuinely want your whole wedding to be fantastic! The couples who I work with want their friends and family to enjoy celebrating this special occasion together. Every element matters. Together we formulate a timeline that makes sense, flows smoothly with no lulls and is directed appropriately by myself so that all of your guests are aware of what is happening and about to happen without any embarrassing awkwardness.
"Didn't realise how useful a DJ would be for the whole day. Same with the position of Master of Ceremonies, definitely you need someone independent from the venue and definitely you need someone experienced. James was great, he went out of his way for us, and I don't think our day would have been as good without him."
I will work with you in advance so that the music is perfect. Using a suitable sound system to ensure appropriate volume and that music starts/stops smoothly. We'll also consider timings/pacing so that necessary edits are made for the entrance and exit so that it fits.
IMPORTANT: Ensure you have contacted the appropriate Registry Office and completed all formalities for a Registrar to attend and conduct your Wedding Civil Ceremony! Ultimately they are in charge but you do have choices to make in advance to personalise your wedding ceremony.
Guests starting to arrive. Gentle mood setting music playing in the background as they assemble for the ceremony.
My duties as your Master of Ceremonies starts here by being present to assist your ushers so your guests are guided and know what is happening.
If one of you will already be inside waiting with your guests then the final background song could be a special favourite indicating that the other is ready to enter.
The Superintendent Registrar announces the entrance and the music transitions to the song that you have chosen. We consider distance, timings and pacing so that the start/stop of the song is smooth and we play the appropriate section to fit the timings.
The Superintendent Registrar in charge but you need to make choices in advance for the declaratory and contracting words as well as optional readings, singing and choice of music involved.
From experience this may take between 3 and 10 minutes to complete the actual signing and then pose for photographs. Music is a great way to support the mood of the occasion and may need 1, 2 or 3 songs depending how long it takes. In conjunction with the Superintendent Registrar I ensure that the music commences smoothly and runs continuously for however long is needed.
The Superintendent Registrar asks everyone to stand and presents you as a married couple! As you walk up the aisle to exit we again time a selected song to enhance the mood.
Guests share a congratulatory drink together and maybe some nibbles?
Depending on location then maybe nice background music playing to again support the mood.
Your photographer will be engaged in posed shots and candid shots? You may want certain photographs e.g. a group photo, just yourselves, then just one side of the family, then the other side, parents, bridesmaids/bestmen etc. This can be organised in a nicely relaxed way if a list is made in advance and I can help this flow smoothly.
Guests are invited to their tables. I can help inform your guests and prepare them for your Grand Entrance (optional) where you are both announced into the room to a loving cheer from your guests.
We can involve music with your entrance as well to build atmosphere. If you preferred something more discreet then we can adapt this.
Background music playing during the meal. Volume moderated so guests can easily talk and hear each other. This is a great time to personalise with your own favourites however I can help with suggestions if desired.
The length may vary depending on the content. A short thank you from yourselves will be the minimum. I'll help get everyone's attention in an appropriate manner and introduce the speakers who can then commence using a wireless microphone. This is useful for most people as they can focus on their words rather than also projecting their voices.
There are many formats so this provides a possible idea to build on.
Party lights, volume increasing and into party time! Mixture of music from across the decades that people will recognise and want to dance to!
Plan for something to be provided for everyone to keep the energy going?


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OJJPAC does not collect personally identifiable information about individuals except when such individuals provide such information on a voluntary basis, such as registering for an e-mail notice. This site is not intended for use by minors and OJJPAC asks minors not to submit personal information to OJJPAC.
Software used by OJJPAC may allow the identification of the domain name and its associated internet protocol. Personally identifiable information on individual users will not be sold.


Now you've got a compelling reason to do the dance of joy! Hillsong United is on tour and making their way to Fresno, California for a highly anticipated show at the Save Mart Center on Thursday 6th June 2019. Fans are on the move to get first dibs on tickets to get the best seats in the house. So what are you waiting for? Get on your feet, get your groove together to make a run for those high-in-demand tickets!
The rumours are true! Hillsong United is heading out on the road and bringing their incredible songs to a live stage. California fans will be getting the time of their life as Hillsong United has now announced an exciting date will take place at the Save Mart Center! Hillsong United never fails to give the crowd everything they have been waiting for and more… With an already successful tour, there's no doubt in mind that this night will follow in the same footsteps. If like Hillsong United, you cannot wait for main event, then be sure to grab your tickets and ensure your Thursday night is a memorable experience! Your favorite music, surrounded by friends – It doesn't get much better than that!


This competition supports research on the development and improvement of the measurement of indicators of classroom quality in grades K-12. Quality is defined as those features and processes of classrooms that are likely to cause improvements in important youth outcomes such as academic achievement and engagement or reducing disruptive and antisocial behavior. This RFP focuses on the common interest of both foundations in the development and improvement of tools for measuring and understanding the quality of K–12 classrooms.


I've heard many reports over the years about the benefits of group tapping. The focused energies, it seems, appear to have an expanding effect on the participants. Marilyn Deak, PhD gives us some tangible examples of these benefits from her cardiac support group.
I have had the privilege of introducing EFT to the cardiac support group that I attend. The use of EFT in the group setting has offered some special benefits, and has been very useful for the participants.
1) The focused energy of the entire group tapping for one person's problem seems to magnify the energy available for the healing process. For example, Ellen had been walking with a cane for about a year, and her ability to walk was deteriorating. Ellen identified for us the physiological problem, and the group tapped for "Even though the messages from Ellen's brain aren't reaching her right calf muscle, she deeply and profoundly loves and accepts herself", and "Even though the blood flow to Ellen's feet is insufficient......". Ellen reported feeling energy moving in her leg during the tapping, and at the end of the session, her leg was feeling "more relaxed and the nerves seemed less uptight." She continued tapping on her own, and within four days she was walking without a cane and has continued to improve.
2) We find that group processing at the end of the session helps members integrate the EFT healing, and broaden the cognitive shifts. The group tapped with Amy for her fear of a recurrence of her illness. "Even though I'm terrified of a relapse, .......", "Even though I'm afraid this cold is the beginning of another hospital stay, ....". After several rounds of tapping, group members shared their own health fears, and shifts they experienced from the tapping. They talked about learning to see themselves as individuals, separate from their physical challenges, the lessons they had learned from the process of meeting illness head on, and that life goes on. As we talked, Amy continued to relax, and to recognize a path going forward.
3) Working in the group setting offers Borrowed Benefits, and after tapping for Amy's fears, John reported his neck pain had disappeared.
4) We have been finding that group members often support each other between sessions, encouraging each other to 'TAP!'. This seems to speed up the incorporation of EFT as an every day coping tool.
5) The equality of group members, and the input from many, has allowed us to discuss questions in a way that does not seem possible in individual therapy. We have had many discussions about EFT, and particularly about the 'Set-Up' phrase. The pairing of self acceptance with recognition of the problem has been of primary interest. Many in the group have struggled with saying "I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself". As we've shared life stories about being taught that 'pride' was a sin, and that we are 'unworthy', the importance of this affirmation in our healing journey has generally been deeply felt, and for many has been a joyful awakening.


text:
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6 Common Cat Sayings & Their Origins | Hill's Pet
Origins of 6 Common Cat Sayings
Variations of common cat sayings have existed in some form of English for hundreds of years, but how, exactly, and when, did these phrases make their way into modern, everyday vernacular?
Cats were domesticated thousands of years ago, and their coexistence has ranged from employee (keeping rodents out of homes and barns) to beloved house pet. Most cat idioms are rooted in relatively modern history, going back mere hundreds of years instead of thousands. And some, such as a cat having nine lives or believing that if a black cat crosses your path, it's bad luck, are more folklore myths than cat phrases.
Kitties of all sizes and temperaments have eased their way into daily life, thus working their way into our conversations, too! Here are six common cat sayings.
1. Cat Got Your Tongue?
Perhaps the most popular cat saying, this should not be taken literally! It refers to someone who isn't talking, particularly if they don't respond to a question. This idiom possibly dates to ancient Egypt, where punishment for a crime meant your tongue would be cut out and fed to a cat, and the Middle Ages, when a witch's cat would steal or paralyze your tongue so that you couldn't speak. Neither option is appealing, yet this phrase shows no signs of slowing down!
2. Curiosity Killed the Cat
It's common knowledge that kitties are curious creatures. This instinctive but somewhat hazardous behavior can get the best of them if they aren't careful, and therein lies the root of this cat saying. Don't ask too many questions, or you'll regret what you discover. Renaissance playwrights, including Shakespeare, used this phrase at the end of the sixteenth century, albeit in the form of "care killed the cat," as it also appears in Brewer's 1898 Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, according to Bartleby.
3. While the Cat's Away, the Mice Will Play
In other words, when the boss is gone, it's party time! Historically, cats, who still retain their strong hunting instinct to this day, keep mice out of home and hearth. Dictionary.com reports that this phrase originated around 1600, although cats were used as mousers a few hundred years earlier.
4. Like the Cat that Ate the Canary
If you've ever had the satisfaction of completing a challenging task or winning a terrific prize, then chances are you've had this look on your face! Cats are stealth hunters, as noted above, and "getting the canary" is the feline equivalent to getting a big raise or award. Conversely, this phrase also can mean you're guilty of acquiring something that isn't yours. "The cat that got the cream," one of several common cat sayings in England, essentially means the same thing.
5. Let the Cat Out of the Bag
Another popular cat phrase, this refers to revealing a secret without intending to — whoops. Because kitties loves to hide in small spaces, you'll find a cat in a bag fairly often, but the origin of this phrase is fuzzy. Popular folklore has it that it may refer to being whipped by the cat-o'-nine-tails if you got out of line while a member of the British Royal Navy. Or, it harks back to the days of livestock trade on the streets of England during the Renaissance. A hawker would sell you a pig concealed in a bag, but it turned out to be a cat. Snopes even got into the game, dispelling these myths and offering no clear-cut etymology or origin for the phrase. One thing that's true? This phrase remains a favorite to this day!
6. Fraidy- or Scaredy-Cat
Pet parents know cats can be skittish, a trait that establishes the foundation for this idiom used to describe someone who's timid or frightened, used more frequently during childhood than adulthood. The Online Etymology Dictionary notes that by 1871, this term was used as American English slang to denote a coward.
Cats have obviously played a large role in the world's history, and thus found their way into a number of common idioms throughout history, so much so that you probably never even thought about what you were saying or where it originated. But now, the next time you hear someone using one of these phrases, you can wow them with the breadth of your knowledge of common cat sayings history. They might even think you're the cat's pajamas!
Christine O'Brien
Christine O'Brien is a writer, mom, and long-time cat parent whose two Russian Blues rule the house. Her work also appears in Care.com, What to Expect, and Fit Pregnancy, where she writes about pets, pregnancy, and family life. Find and follow her on Instagram and Twitter @brovelliobrien.
Scottish Fold Cat Breed - Facts and Personality Traits | Hill's Pet
A charming cat, the Scottish Fold offers easy care and becomes comfortable with all members of the family.
American Shorthair Cat Breed - Facts and Personality Traits | Hill's Pet
A pleasant companion, the American Shorthair is a loving cat and will become attached to all members of the family.
Ragdoll Cat Breed - Facts and Personality Traits | Hill's Pet
A large, long-bodied cat, the Ragdoll gets along well with people and can be an ideal pet for those living in an apartment setting.
Ragamuffin Cat Breed - Facts and Personality Traits | Hill's Pet
Learn more about your Ragamuffin cat and read about it's various physical characteristics and personality traits.
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text:
Kaiju Thriller Novel Project Nemesis to Receive TV Adaptation
It's a murder mystery, but the detective is also a monster. Interesting...
Justin Carter
Image: Breakneck Media
The last couple of years have delivered us some solid kaiju fun in the form of Ultraman, numerous Godzilla projects from both Japan and the US, and Kaiju No. 8. Whether they're metaphors for climate change or the atrocities that human beings inflict on one another, or just big ass monsters, watching kaiju wreck densely populated cities has yet to get old. And soon, a new TV show will join in on that massive, apocalyptic fun.
The Inventor of High Valyrian on Creating Game of Thrones' Languages From Scratch
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Meditate With Yoda
Deadline is reporting that Jeremy Robinson's 2012 sci-fi novel, Project Nemesis, is set to receive its own TV adaptation courtesy of Sony TV and Fast & Furious studio Original Film. In the book, the kaiju Nemesis serves the goddess of vengeance and seeks brutal, city destroying justice for those who've been tormented. When her DNA becomes merged with a recently murdered girl named Maigo, Nemesis does what she does best and begins to go on a rampage from Maine to Boston in search of the girl's killer. Tracking their pursuit is a DHS agency named John Hudson, now vindicated for heading up the agency's paranormal division.
Sounds like a fun enough premise for a TV show, if only because no one's really done a murder mystery featuring a giant monster as the detective before. (If they have, please let me know!) And the book's fans seem to agree, because Project Nemesis went on to spawn its own series, dubbed "The Nemesis Saga." The six-book series spawned a comic miniseries adapting its events, and at one point, there was even a video game featuring Nemesis monsters called Colossal Kaiju Combat that was crowdfunded on Kickstarter and intended as a fighting game in the vein of old Godzilla fighting games from Pipeworks during the PS2 and Xbox days. Sadly, the game went unreleased, and ultimately shut down in 2017.
At this time, an intended platform or release date for Project Nemesis has yet to be revealed. Serving as executive producer and director is Chad Stahelski, best known for the John Wick franchise, the eventual Highlander remake, and the upcoming film adaptation of Sucker Punch's Ghost of Tsushima. In a press statement, Stahelski expressed excitement at bringing Robinson's series to life, having been hooked on the book the moment he read it. "This amazing book series has everything I love about the genre," he said. "It's got martial arts, action, great characters, and of course, Kaiju!"
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel and Star Wars releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about House of the Dragon and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
io9TelevisionSci-Fi


text:
package com.sfernandezledesma.graphics;

import com.badlogic.gdx.Gdx;
import com.badlogic.gdx.graphics.Texture;
import com.badlogic.gdx.graphics.g2d.Animation;
import com.badlogic.gdx.graphics.g2d.Batch;
import com.badlogic.gdx.graphics.g2d.TextureRegion;
import com.badlogic.gdx.utils.Array;

public class GameAnimatedSprite extends GameSprite {
    protected enum Frame {FRAME_STANDING, FRAME_RUNNING_1, FRAME_RUNNING_2, FRAME_CLIMBING, FRAME_ATTACKING, FRAME_DEAD}
    private Animation<TextureRegion> runningAnimation;
    private Animation<TextureRegion> climbingAnimation;
    private float stateTimer = 0;

    public GameAnimatedSprite(Texture texture, int srcX, int srcY, int srcWidth, int srcHeight, float screenOffsetX, float screenOffsetY) {
        super(texture, srcX, srcY, srcWidth, srcHeight, screenOffsetX, screenOffsetY);
        setBounds(0, 0, 16, 16);
        TextureRegion textureRegion = new TextureRegion(getTexture());
        Array<TextureRegion> frames = new Array<TextureRegion>();
        Frame frame = Frame.FRAME_RUNNING_1;
        textureRegion.setRegion(srcX + 16 * frame.ordinal(), srcY, 16, 16);
        frames.add(new TextureRegion(textureRegion));
        frame = Frame.FRAME_RUNNING_2;
        textureRegion.setRegion(srcX + 16 * frame.ordinal(), srcY, 16, 16);
        frames.add(new TextureRegion(textureRegion));
        runningAnimation = new Animation<TextureRegion>(0.1f, frames);

        frames = new Array<TextureRegion>();
        frame = Frame.FRAME_CLIMBING;
        textureRegion.setRegion(srcX + 16 * frame.ordinal(), srcY, 16, 16);
        frames.add(new TextureRegion(textureRegion));
        frame = Frame.FRAME_RUNNING_2;
        textureRegion.setRegion(srcX + 16 * frame.ordinal(), srcY, 16, 16);
        frames.add(new TextureRegion(textureRegion));
        climbingAnimation = new Animation<TextureRegion>(0.1f, frames);

        setFrame(Frame.FRAME_STANDING);
    }

    @Override
    public void draw(Batch batch) {
        stateTimer += Gdx.graphics.getDeltaTime();
        TextureRegion region;
        switch (state) {
            default:
            case STANDING:
                setFrame(Frame.FRAME_STANDING);
                break;
            case RUNNING:
                setRegion(runningAnimation.getKeyFrame(stateTimer, true));
                break;
            case JUMPING:
                setFrame(Frame.FRAME_RUNNING_1);
                break;
            case CLIMBING:
                setRegion(climbingAnimation.getKeyFrame(stateTimer, true));
                break;
        }
        setFacingRight(facingRight);
        super.draw(batch);
    }

    private void setFrame(Frame frame) {
        setRegion(srcX + 16 * frame.ordinal(), srcY, 16, 16);
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub