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Hotels in Florence
Florence is a province in the northern Italian region of Tuscany. The province has become world famous mainly due to its capital city of Florence, considered to be the birthplace of the Renaissance and a cradle of art and architecture. The numerous historical monuments in Florence will satisfy the history buff in all of us, and the sheer beauty of some of the buildings and churches will make the trip to this cultural haven memorable for even the less history-oriented of travelers. Hit the historical center of the city, considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to catch a glimpse of famous Florence attractions. You should stop by the Galleria degli Uffizi, one of the most world-renowned art galleries and the Cathedral, one of the most famous works of religious architecture in the world. If you get tired of the Florence sights, head out to the countryside surrounding the city to immerse yourself in the vineyards and wine houses that produce the areas renowned Chianti wine. If youre in Tuscany for a weekend, Florence must be on your list of things to see.


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Stockholm (NordSIP) – Zooming in on gender balance and how it impacts a company’s financial performance, a recently published study by BlackRock, Improving Financial Performance by Investing in Women, concludes that workforce diversity pays off. For many of us, this statement might not count as news. Yet the current state of affairs, summarised in McKinsey’s latest Women in the Workplace report, indicates that hardly everyone is on board. True parity remains painfully out of reach. Gathering extensive and consistent supporting evidence could be a way to persuade the sceptics that a diverse workforce does indeed improve return on assets. That is why the BlackRock study is essential. Backed by the world’s largest fund manager, the analysts have reached their conclusion after perusing information from 1,250 big companies, which makes the study one of the largest ever to examine the phenomenon to date.
The best performance is found in equilibrium
The report finds an intermediate ‘sweet spot’ in gender balance that matters for performance. “A first look at the relationship between women’s representation and company performance suggests that it is diversity that counts, rather than the prevalence of women or men,” assert the authors. The analysis demonstrates that companies with a lower participation of women (16% on average) and those with a higher share (60% on average) achieve worse results than balanced ones. The results hold both across time and on a long-term average. It might be worth noting, however, that profitability is slightly higher in female-dominated companies than in male-dominated ones.
According to the report, the linkages between workforce diversity and corporate performance remain robust, even when controlling for country- and industry-specific factors. Companies with the most diverse workforces outperformed their country and industry group peers with the least diverse workforces in terms of return on assets on average by 29% annually between 2013 and 2022.
Alignment across the ranks matters
The study confirms the anecdotal evidence that women’s representation is closest to parity in entry-level jobs, and the balance tends to deteriorate with seniority. Senior and boardroom management-level diversity has so far received the most attention, which has led to board composition guidelines being implemented in many jurisdictions.
BlackRock’s analysis highlights, however, another critical aspect: the financial materiality of gender balance at the middle management level. The study shows that companies, where women’s representation in middle management best aligns with that of the overall workforce, perform better than those with the most skewed representation on a risk-adjusted basis.
The analysis demonstrates that overweighting companies that are closing the gaps in women’s representation at higher ranks is associated with higher portfolio returns. Promoting women is also associated with lower employee turnover rates, which is highly relevant for a company’s long-term performance.
‘Glass ceiling’ or ‘broken rung’?
“Companies within the MSCI World Index with women as CEOs have almost consistently outperformed companies run by men on RoA metrics over the past decade,” states the report. “Yet at the same time, men heavily dominate the drivers’ seats of the largest corporations, with only 6% of these corporations being led by women.”
According to BlackRock’s report, the problem is the persistent ‘glass ceiling’ is making it difficult for women to reach the very top ranks. Examining the same phenomenon, McKinsey’s latest report offers a slightly different explanation. According to their findings, women face their biggest hurdle at the first critical step up to manager, with only 87 women being promoted from entry-level to manager this year for every 100 men promoted. “As a result of this ‘broken rung’, women fall behind and can’t catch up,” they conclude.
Diversity beyond gender
BlackRock’s paper focuses specifically on gender diversity and its importance for corporate performance. The analysts are, however, careful to point out that this is primarily due to greater data availability on the representation of women in the workforce and that other forms of diversity, such as race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic or cultural background, age, national origin, personality, physical ability, or others, may be equally important in creating a diversity of thoughts, skills and perspectives, enhancing the performance of groups and organisations.
“We recognize that other aspects of workforce diversity are also important in driving corporate performance, and we believe that many of the arguments described here can translate into other features of workforce diversity.”

domain: finance


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Why India’s national game is hockey?
The Field Hockey game can either be played on a grass field or on the turf, a specially made mat like material. India’s performance in Hockey at various international forums was phenomenal during 1920-1950’s period and that was probably why the sport became accepted as national sport in the country.
Which country national game is hockey?
Is hockey originated in India?
The International Rules Board was founded in 1895, and hockey first appeared at the Olympic Games as a men’s competition at 1908 Olympic Games in London, with only three teams: England, Ireland and Scotland. The game had been taken to India by British servicemen, and the first clubs formed there in Calcutta in 1885.
Is Kabaddi is the national game of India?
Kabaddi , is a contact sport , native to the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the most popular sports in India , played mainly among people in villages. India has taken part in four Asian Games in kabaddi , and won gold in all of them.
|Kabaddi in India|
Is Kho Kho a national game?
Kho – kho is a traditional Indian sport a form of tag, that is one of the oldest forms of outdoor sport, dating back to prehistoric India. It is played most often by school children in India and Pakistan and is a competitive game .
What is national sport of Pakistan?
Which is the national game of Pakistan?
What is Russia’s national sport?
How many gold India won in Olympics?
Where is hockey invented?
Various museums offer evidence that a form of the game was played by the Romans and Greeks as well as by the Aztecs several centuries before Columbus arrived in the New World. The modern game of hockey emerged in England in the mid-18th century and is largely attributed to the growth of public schools, such as Eton.
Who started hockey in India?
Hockey became popular in India when the British Regiments played the game in India and introduced it in the British Indian Regiments who quickly picked up the game. The first hockey club was formed in Calcutta in 1885-86 followed by Bombay and Punjab.
What is the name of national sport?
There is no officially declared national sport. Many would consider cricket to be the national sport given its popularity. The wrestling sport of Varzesh-e Bastani was defined as a national sport in 1976. Polo is also considered a national sport, though football is the most popular.
What is the national sport of India 2020?
Is hockey India’s national game? The answer is NO. The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has said that the Centre has not declared any sport as the ‘national game’ of the country.
What is the national song of India?

domain: history


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(via marc malkin)
GLAAD, the National Black Justice Coalition and the Black AIDS Institute on Monday published a full-page ad in Variety calling on The View and ABC to publicly correct disparaging misinformation from Sherri Shepherd and D.L. Hughley on a June 21 episode (Video, AFTER THE JUMP…) of The View blaming Black men on the down low for increased rates of HIV in Black women, despite evidence to the contrary from the CDC.
Late Wednesday, ABC released a response to GLAAD's Action Alert to CNN, saying, essentially, that it's not responsible for correcting the misinformation spread by D.L. Hughley because it was just his "interpretation."
“On June 22, during a discussion about blood donation and the transmission of HIV/AIDS, a guest moderator on the show expressed his interpretation of data about one way the virus can be transmitted. The topic of HIV/AIDS has been raised many times over the show’s 13 years, with many voices and opinions contributing to a conversation that we expect to continue as long as The View is on the air.”
Watch the clip, AFTER THE JUMP…

domain: news


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Or bibs I guess. We have been low on the bib supply for some time since Kaiya is such a drool monkey she needs one on every waking minute and the super absorbant ones are hard to come by for less than $15, so I made some. Here is one I made for my girlfriend and her little guy. Kaiya has 2 like this with Flowers and Hearts on them. I thought they turned out rather well.
I used the template from the awesome Chickpea Sewing Studio.

domain: design


thanks, i know that fuel leaking is a symptom, hence the fuel smell. But are there any other symptoms, such as loss of boost, fluctuating idle.
A fuel pulsation damper is a device used to regulate the oscillation of fuel caused by the injectors opening and closing and smooth this out. Sometimes referred to.
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners – Pulsation Damper? – What exactley does this do? What would symptoms be ifthis wasent working correctley? Could it be vapor. Have replaced fuel pump and relay fuel pressure regulator egr plugs cap and roter mass air flow. Maybe the diaphragm in the damper was bad ?
Aug 25, 2019 – Subaru uses a fuel pulsation damper (PD) in the fuel line going to the engine rails. what symptoms it could cause if defective, let’s have that discussion. reporting thumping from the engine compartment has a bad damper.
Dec 26, 2010 – Hello everyone, A couple of days ago I replaced the fuel pulsation damper (FPD) in my ’87 4WD. What, you may ask, are the symptoms of a bad.
This month I’ll explain how a fuel damper works and. and you don’t want a bad one fooling you! At one time or. symptoms are missed or misinterpreted. Dan.
944 Turbo and Turbo-S Forum – symptoms of bad fuel dampener – What are all the possible symptoms of a bad fuel dampener. My car jerks.
Subscribe – if You like www.uszlachetniacze,blogspot.com enriching – tests and opinions.
Symptoms of these pressure pulsations include random lean areas in the rev range that can be diff.


text: This investigation by The Chicago Reporter found that "the Chicago Police Department diverted nearly $ 2.2 million to a private nonprofit agency, which used the money to pay up to 30 civilian workers in the department's community policing program from 1997 to 1999." The reporter revealed that "the agency...was spun off from the Chicago Department of Public Health in 1994 to promote public health..." and is "one of at least two dozen nonprofit agencies created with the help of the city since 1986." The new nonprofit center issued the paychecks of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) from 1997 through 1999 and was "spending hidden from public view," the investigation showed. Some of the story sources said that "CAPS workers do political work." The reporter also found that "some of the police department funds were funneled through the finance general account of the city corporate fund."

domain: law


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Celebrated artist Peter Brown’s stylish illustrations pair perfectly with Aaron Reynold’s text in this hilarious picture book that shows it’s all fun and games…until you get too greedy.
Aaron Reynolds is the New York Times bestselling author of many highly acclaimed books for kids, including Here Comes Destructosaurus!, Carnivores, and the Caldecott Honor–winning book Creepy Carrots!. He regularly makes time to visit schools where his hilarious hands-on presentations keep kids spellbound.
Peter Brown is the author of Children Make Terrible Pets and the critically acclaimed artist of Chowder and Flight of the Dodo. He is a graduate of the Art Center College of Design in Pasedena, California.

domain: artistic


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- Address: 7000 East Russell Road, Whitney
- Country: United States
- Capacity: 36,000
- Opened: 23 October 1971
- Main use: American football
Extra stadium info – Sam Boyd Stadium
The stadium, which opened as the home of the American football team of the UNLV Rebels, is named after a major figure in the hotel and casino industry in Las Vegas. It is known as a venue for several events, like American football, concerts, football, monster truck events and rugby sevens. The Las Vegas Quicksilvers, a former club of the world famous football legend Eusébio, played various matches at the stadium. The Quicksilvers football club was dissolved in 1978. In 2012, 29,000 people came to the Sam Boyd Stadium to watch a football match between Real Madrid from Spain and Santos Laguna from the United Mexican States. It became a record attendance for a football match in Nevada.

domain: geography


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Newtownabbey boy in hospital after scrambler bike crash
A nine-year-old boy is being cared for in hospital after he was hit by a scrambler bike on a football pitch in Newtownabbey, County Antrim.
Police said the collision happened at 20:45 BST on Monday at Mossley Pavilion, Carnmoney Road.
A spokesperson for Belfast Health Trust said the boy's condition was stable. No-one else was injured.
Police said they were following a definite line of inquiry into the identity of the person riding the bike.
The law surrounding the use of scramblers and quad bikes has been debated at Stormont.
It follows the death of mother-of-three Valerie Armstrong in July.
Police have appealed for witnesses to the Newtownabbey incident.


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National security adviser resigned in February over talks with ambassador.
Boosters typically are discarded following liftoff, sinking into the Atlantic.
LaVera Scott promoted to director of board.
Grant funds NextTech, a joint effort by ProMedica, Mercy Health, UT, and BGSU.
Gives Republicans, Judge Gorsuch 2 of 8 Democratic votes needed to avoid U.S. Senate floor fight.
Donald Harvey, 64, nicknamed the ‘Angel of Death.’
Top members of panel promising to steer clear of politics in probe.
Record day for Nasdaq.
Chief of Staff’s adviser will leave administration to join nonprofit focused on promoting president’s agenda.
Eduardo Cunha sentenced to 15 years in a corruption scheme involving state-run oil giant Petrobras.

domain: politics


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Parth Samthaan is all excited to come up with the new season of Kaisi Yeh Yaariaan with Niti Taylor. His latest look has fans awe-struck.
Parth Samthaan is amongst the most talented and handsome actors in the showbiz. The actor rose to fame after his stint in Kaisi Yeh Yaariaan in which he starred opposite Niti Taylor. His on-screen chemistry with Niti was widely appreciated and loved by the audience. Parth enjoys a massive fan following owing to his charming personality and good looks.
Parth has maintained an active social media presence and often shares his whereabouts with his fans and followers. He keeps his followers updated about his professional and personal life. His latest look will surely swoon many hearts. Recently, Parth shared a few pics on his social media handle flaunting his new look. Also Read: Reem Shaikh To Play Female Lead Opposite Karan Kundrra & Gashmeer Mahajani In An Upcoming Show Based On Vampire Diaries. Official Announcement Soon!
The actor seem to have bored with his earlier look in which he sported a stubble beard and messy long hair. Well, this time, he’s ditched his beard game for a clean-shaven style with spiky hair and this has given some strong throwback vibes which reminded them of Manik of KYY season 1. One fan commented, “We really missed this clean shaved mukhda of yours 😭 totally took us back to 2014 😭🤌 aaaahhh my heartttt”. Another commented, “Old Manik Look Was Damnnn Cutee and Hot🔥🥵And Every Girls Forever imaginary Man Was Like Manik😂😚”.
Some other comment read, “We are like our short hair and clean shave. You remember only Manik but we remember our Anurag also. We miss so so so so much our parth and Erica also . But any best wishes also ur Manik also parth. ❤❤❤😍”. Another user wrote, “Aahh! Our little manikkk❤😍damm cute and sweet boyy🔥🔥”. Also Read: Fahmaan Khan Has The Sweetest Birthday Wish For Best Friend Sumbul Touqeer Khan!
See Photos Here-
On the work front, Parth will be soon seen in Kaisi Yeh Yaariaan’s new season. The show is being renewed for its 4th season and we cannot keep calm as the most-loved Parth and Niti are soon going to come together again.
Kaisi Yeh Yaariaan season 4 will soon start streaming on Voot.

domain: entertainment


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VOLUNTEER! WhoWhatWhy loves our volunteers. Right now, we can use help with photo research/editing, specialty research, fundraising, social media, and more. Please get in touch if interested and tell us about your relevant experience and skills.
Now Live on WhoWhatWhy
Barbara Bush. Photo credit: Lauren Gerson / Wikimedia.
PoppyLeaks, Part 4
By Russ Baker
Hey, are we living in the old USSR? It sure looks like it, judging from the way the media has closed ranks around a blatantly false account of George H.W. Bush’s life. This bothers us so much that we’re going to give you portions of his real biography — free.
PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to firstname.lastname@example.org.
Cities throughout Japan hold festivals of lights known a Winter Illuminations. These events occur from October to February. The tradition started as a memorial to the victims of the 1995 Kobe earthquake with the Kobe Luminarie. About this photo: Nabano no Sato winter illuminations, Island of Nagashima, in Kuwana, Mie Japan.
The First Amendment Is No Laughing Matter (Klaus)
The owner of a comedy club said he received a call from the campaign of Hillary Clinton asking him to remove the video of a comedy skit featuring the former Secretary of State from his website.
Rubio Would Like to Know to Whom You Are Talking (Klaus)
Sen. Marco Rubio wants the NSA to continue to collect bulk phone records of Americans. The practice, which has since been ruled unconstitutional was revealed by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.
Most Hispanics Vote Democrat, so Why Are so Many Hispanic Politicians Republican? (Ben)
“When pollsters say the vast majority of Hispanics lean Democrat, they’re speaking of Mexican Americans, who make up the largest group of Hispanics by a landslide. Nearly two-thirds of Hispanic Americans – 64% – are of Mexican descent. Sixty-five percent of those, or 22.3 million, are US-born. Hispanics of Mexican origin make up 11% of the US population. But Mexican and Cuban immigrants have had vastly different experiences immigrating to this country.”
Koch Brothers Have Team That Spies on Political Opponents (Klaus)
This fascinating article describes a little-known group within the Koch brothers’ political operation that carries out surveillance and intelligence gathering on its opponents.
Ben Carson Wants to Change America — His Campaign Already Did (Klaus)
Ben Carson’s campaign on Tuesday released a map that gets an “A” for xenophobia and an “F” for geography. The map not only showed which states are refusing to accept Syrian refugees but it also creatively redrew the borders of the United States by moving several New England states north.
PC Yvonne Fletcher Shooting: Libyan Man Arrested in UK (Trevin)
Libyan man arrested “on suspicion of conspiracy to murder PC Yvonne Fletcher” who was shot and killed at age 25 “while policing a demonstration outside the Libyan Embassy in London in 1984.”
Russia, China Sign Contract Worth over $2 Billion for Su-35 Fighter Jets (Trevin)
The deal is a “rare bright spot in an otherwise gloomy economic picture for Russia, whose economy is suffering from weak oil prices and Western sanctions over the Ukraine conflict.”
The President’s Car Is Kind of Amazing (Trevin)
As we’ve pointed out in the past, the Secret Service doesn’t seem to have come very far since the Kennedy Assassination, but at least President Obama’s car is secure.
Turkey Could Cut off Islamic State’s Supply Lines. So Why Doesn’t It? (Ben)
“Western leaders could destroy Islamic State by calling on Erdogan to end his attacks on Kurdish forces in Syria and Turkey and allow them to fight Isis on the ground.”
Photos: South Africa Students Protest Tuition Hikes (Ben)
“A week of demonstrations culminate in front of the offices of President Jacob Zuma.”
Like what you see? Sign up here to subscribe to this newsletter — our daily roundup of stories from around the web that our editors or other readers thought worth reading. You can also sign up for our weekly newsletter, which recaps all of the exclusive WhoWhatWhy pieces of the past seven days.


The Senate yesterday rejected a bill that would have blocked state restrictions on abortion, including bans that are likely to be passed or will take effect after the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, as it is expected to do soon. Democrats touted the bill, which was supported by 49 senators, as a way to preserve the rights protected by Roe. But it goes much further than that, overriding existing regulations that have been upheld by the courts under current precedents or have yet to be tested. And it does that without citing any constitutional authority, a dangerous precedent that invites a future Congress controlled by Republicans to ban abortion nationwide without even paying lip service to limits on the federal government’s powers.
The Women’s Health Protection Act of 2022 says states may not ban abortion prior to “viability” (i.e., the point at which a fetus can survive outside the
..... (Read more by following the post link below)


The Celestron LCD Deluxe Digital Microscope offers 4 fully achromatic lens objectives, a mechanical stage, 3.5" TFT full colour touchscreen, 5 MP camera, and 1 GB of internal memory, which makes the taking high-resolution images of specimens exceptionally easy.
The LCD screen rotates 180 degrees so you can easily share your discoveries with others. With magnification from 40x to 400x (and up to 1600x with digital zoom), it's ideal for viewing a range of cellular specimens on slides.
The LCD Digital Microscope Deluxe with touchscreen is great for the discriminating professional or serious hobbyist, and is well suited for labs, schools, and research institutions.
- 3.5" LCD touchscreen, rotatable 180 deg
- Built-in 5MP digital camera with CMOS sensor for capturing images and video
- Quadruple nosepiece with 4x, 10x, 20x, and 40x objective lenses
- 4x digital zoom
- 40x to 1600x total magnification
- 1 GB internal memory
- SD card slot accepts optional SD cards up to 16GB
- 3.5" mechanical stage
- Coarse and fine focus knobs
- Top and bottom adjustable LED illumination
- Filter wheel with 3-position diaphragm
- USB 2.0 cable for use with a computer
- Universal AC adapter, also accepts 4 AA batteries for field use
- Accessories included: 7 prepared slides, touch pen, soft carrying case, dust cover


Check the numbers.
Allen always looks for what are known as “numbers-matching” cars: That is, cars where the engine, transmission, and rear axle all link up to the vehicle’s VIN number. “True investment cars are going to be numbers-matching cars,” he says. How do you know if the numbers add up? Allen says most motors have the last six digits of the VIN number stamped on them, which makes that an easy check. The transmission and rear end are a bit trickier. Usually they’ll be stamped with date codes, which you can look up to determine if the dates sync correctly. “It’s not a problem [if not everything matches],” says Allen. “It’s just not going to bring the bigger money that an all-matching car will. You can never lose if you find an all-numbers-matching car. It’s a way safer bet.”
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!Back to top


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Sharing their struggles. Sometimes, celebrities are forced to share details about their health to keep fans informed.
Hailey Bieber (née Baldwin), for example, shared an Instagram Stories post after she was briefly hospitalized in March 2022.
“On Thursday morning, I was sitting at breakfast with my husband [Justin Bieber] when I started having stroke like symptoms and was taken to the hospital,” the model shared at the time. “They found I had suffered a very small blood clot in my brain, which caused a small lack of oxygen, but my body had passed on its own and I recovered completely within a few hours.”
Hailey’s post continued, “Although this was definitely one of the scariest moments I’ve ever been through, I’m home now and doing well, and I’m so grateful and thankful to all the amazing doctors and nurses who took care of me! Thank you to everyone who has reached out with well wishes and concern, and for all the support and love.”
Her husband, Justin, has also shared his struggles with Lyme disease, which he revealed in January 2020.
“While a lot of people kept saying Justin Bieber looks like s–t, on meth, etc. they failed to realize I’ve been recently diagnosed with Lyme disease, not only that but had a serious case of chronic mono which affected my, skin, brain function, energy, and overall health,” the “Baby” singer posted on Instagram at the time.
These two aren’t the only celebs who’ve spoken out over the years. Selena Gomez has been candid about her ongoing battle with the autoimmune disease lupus. At first, she kept things under wraps, but has since been public with updates on her health.
“I was diagnosed with lupus, and I’ve been through chemotherapy. That’s what my break was really about. I could’ve had a stroke,” the Disney Channel alum told Billboard in October 2015. “I wanted so badly to say, ‘You guys have no idea. I’m in chemotherapy. You’re a–holes.’ But I was angry I even felt the need to say that. It’s awful walking into a restaurant and having the whole room look at you, knowing what they’re saying. I locked myself away until I was confident and comfortable again.”
Because of her health issues, the Wizards of Waverly Place star underwent a kidney transplant in 2017, which she revealed in June of that year. I found out I needed to get a kidney transplant due to my Lupus and was recovering. It was what I needed to do for my overall health,” Selena wrote on Instagram at the time, revealing that close friend and fellow actress Francia Raisa donated her kidney.
Scroll through our gallery to see which other celebs have shared their health scares.
Love J-14? Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for fun, exclusive videos with your favorite stars.

domain: celebrity


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Watch Michael B. Jordan Survive a Plane Crash in ‘Without Remorse’
Stefano Sollima, the director of “Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse,” narrates a sequence from his action thriller.
‘Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse’ | Anatomy of a Scene
The director Stefano Sollima narrates a plane crash sequence in his action thriller starring Michael B. Jordan.
I am a Stefano Sollima and I’m the director of Without Remorse. This sequence comes after the midpoint of the film, when the team is about to parachute to their location. Their plane is shot down and crashes in the ocean. What was important to me was Kelly’s, played by Michael B. Jordan, psychology in such an extreme situation. I wanted to create an intimate relation with the protagonist. So I decided to shoot the whole crash mainly from Kelly’s, Michael’s, point of view, only briefly showing the outside of the plane. The audience needed to be reminded of his determination for revenge. He has to get back the gear to finish the mission. And to shoot this sequence practically, we bought an actual plane, which we cut into pieces. And then we divided the crash sequences into four parts. The first was the crash in the ocean. Outside of the cockpit we built this slide that would release tons of water. And the second part was the rotation. The first class was half-way in a huge tank, and around it we built a rotating mechanism with pistons and motors. That way the entire cast could move while the plane rotated. And the third part was the mechanism that breaks the plane in half. This huge metal rig would split one part of the aisle and then sink it in the tank. At this point, Kelly either aborts the mission or gets the gear. And this is the fourth and final part. Kelley dives in the sinking tail of the plane and uses air pockets to get the oxygen he needs. And this was also all done by Michael himself. He trained for months to be able to hold his breath longer, while swimming and moving in the water in full gear. And this whole cargo scene is all built on Kelly’s breath. The rhythm, the music, the cuts, are all dictated by when Michael would need to get air. I tried to keep these shots on Kelly holding his breath as long as possible, to really have the audience feel his struggle. We need the air like he needs air. High strings creep in every time Kelly’s slowly losing the oxygen in his body. And this sound is released once he refills his lungs. But it’s too late now. And we have the strings back for one last time, the sound of the metal that starts compressing. And we feel his struggle. And then he grabs the last and most important equipment. And finally he gets to the surface, and, at the end, just like Kelly we are finally able to take a breath of relief.
By Mekado Murphy
In “Anatomy of a Scene,” we ask directors to reveal the secrets that go into making key scenes in their movies. See new episodes in the series on Fridays. You can also watch our collection of more than 150 videos on YouTube and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
A crashed plane is the setting for a centerpiece action sequence in the thriller “Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse,” which tells the origin story of the novelist’s popular character John Clark.
In the film (streaming on Amazon), the character is initially known as John Kelly and played by Michael B. Jordan. A Navy SEAL whose wife was killed by Russian assassins, Kelly is on a mission to track down the killer.
While that mission is moving forward, a plane carrying Kelly and his team is shot down by the Russian Air Force and crashes into the sea. The plane breaks in half and the section carrying supplies that Kelly needs for his mission sinks deeper into the water. Narrating this scene, the director Stefano Sollima explains the many moving parts that had to come together to pull this off this elaborate set piece, following Kelly all the while through the ordeal.
The filmmaker and his crew used an actual plane that could be cut into pieces and filled with water. Part of the set was built inside a rotating mechanism that would turn to keep the action unmoored.
And for the part of the scene where the plane is fully submerged, Jordan trained for months to be able to hold his breath for longer intervals and carry off the underwater action.
Read the “Without Remorse” review.
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UW System COVID-19 testing sites extend operations into spring
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) --- University of Wisconsin System's community COVID-19 surge testing sites will extend operations into spring at UW System campuses.
President Tommy Thompson made the announcement Monday, Jan. 25.
Most of the 22 surge testing sites were scheduled to close, however, an additional 140,000 tests will be used across Wisconsin the coming weeks.
The extension of the community tests begin Monday at UW Oshkosh and will launch at other sites in the coming days. Not all original sites will continue surge testing. University's set up surge testing sites last fall and began testing in early November.
“We thank the federal government for their confidence in us, and we’re pleased that our university sites can continue to be used in the fight against this insidious disease,” President Thompson said. “Where there’s a problem, I want the UW System here to help.”
Those interested in receiving a rapid-result test should register here or call 1-800-635-8611.


Local parent-activist Rory Cooper joined Thursday’s Vince Coglianese Show to discuss the grassroots, citizen-led efforts to remove Fairfax County School Board members Elaine Tholen, Laura Jane Cohen, and Abrar Omeish.
After more than 5,000 valid signatures to recall Elaine Tholen were submitted, the case to remove the embattled school board member was dismissed on August 20 — at the request of Albemarle Commonwealth’s Attorney James Hingely, who Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano personally selected to handle the matter (Descano recused himself due to conflicts of interest).
“The Virginia recall process is simply anti-democratic,” Cooper said. “It’s burdened with corruption.”
Notwithstanding the dismissal of Tholen’s removal case, Fairfax County parent-activists are still moving forward with efforts to recall Cohen and Omeish — to learn more, or to get involved, visit OpenFCPSCoalition.org.


Spanish police in raids across the country have arrested 186 people in a crackdown on the distribution of child pornography.
A total of 650 officers took part in the operation that broke up a system that used the Internet to distribute pornographic materials without the need to place them on web pages. The suspects used a series of pre-arranged passwords to share files directly between computers.
Last month, Spanish police broke up a group of pedophiles who abused and raped children then distributed the images over the Internet.
Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.


My first column ran in The Plain Dealer on April 2, 2000.
Roxodus Music Fest, minnedosa, MB, Canada, rockin The Fields.
It was a crossroads of just bad decisions and bad lifestyles.Sometimes its a good exercise to" that raw rage, or whatever it is, into an articulate piece of art that enables you to continue with your life as opposed to exploding on the street, he adds with a laugh.You laughed at my silly columns on the giant tooth, men and toilet seats, edible undies, snoring and Sudoku.Oh, the places we went: Malachi House, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, the West Side Catholic Center, burn camp, foster kids camp, inner-city homes in the poorest places and homeless shelters where a boy named David in a coat way too large reminded me that.Prince George, BC, Canada, cariboo Rocks The North, grand Bend, ON, Canada.I was too hard on Norma Lerner and.Cleveland Furniture Bank, new clothes for rape victims at area hospitals.Foxwoods Resort Casino offers the amenity and style of four extraordinary hotels; from the luxe comfort of our AAA Four Diamond.Thanks for keeping me so close to your heart.
"My beat is the human heart I told them.
This is my last column for The Plain Dealer: Life opens and closes doors.
Grand P"Tower to the action-packed excitement of our.
So while the most recent tour, which hits Calgarys Grey Eagle Casino on Nov.
What a joy it has been.We found the Lost Boys of Sudan jobs and homes and a future here.Thousands of you signed petitions, and we changed the law in Ohio to get open discovery so prosecutors could no longer hide information in criminal cases.And we were lucky just to have had those audiences.Tisdale, SK, Canada, rockin The Square, edenvale, ON, Canada.At the end of the weekend, to get us through our sh-t jobs, we now had this obsession.I want to thank, dick Feagler, whose PD columns I clipped, saved and studied.Talk about being blessed.I shot the lyrics (of Kingston) by him before he passed away, Dillon says.And we stayed in that place and wrote songs.You supported (or at least tolerated) me when I wrote about racism, abortion, gun violence, gay rights, the death penalty, drunken driving, sex education, pedophile priests, teen pregnancy, suicide, mental illness and child abuse.
Thank you all, for inviting me to your kitchen table every morning.
So Dillon can certainly wax poetic about the album, the band and those early days.
(This month makes 19 years cancer free for.).


The unit for measuring the rate at which light energy is radiated from a source is called the candela. Its symbol is cd. It is the SI unit for luminous intensity or luminous power per unit solid angle emitted by a point light source in a particular direction. On the other hand, lumen is unit used to measure the amount of light intensity emitted by a surface.
the unit for measuring the rate at which light energy is radiated from a source is the ?


Tele-Cognizance is the ability of TV characters to recognize the fact that they are living in the Television Universe. If they were in the Real World, their attitudes might be considered... mentally unbalanced.
Probably the leading tele-cognizant in Boston would have to be Alan Shore. He not only knows he's in a TV show, he could probably quote which episode he's currently involved in.
This past Tuesday, Shore was reunited with a former colleague, Chelina Hall, and he immediately lapsed into reverie about their last encounter:
"I think it was a Sunday. Then I was taken off the air; you went off to make movies; then I was switched to Tuesdays."
In response, Chelina added, "And here we are, with old footage."
When last they met, Chelina kissed Alan; so it's pozz'ble he transmitted this power of tele-cognizance to her as a contagion.
To buttress this idea, Alan also kissed his assistant Melissa Hughes a few episodes ago. And what happened? Melissa gave Alan this warning about Chelina:
"Don't fall for her. She's just a guest star."
Denny Crane has exhibited tele-cognizant abilities in the past, but I'm not about to suggest that he ever kissed Alan. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)
But if rumors about the direction his character may take before the season ends are true......
It's pozz'ble; it's pozz'ble.


text:
Experience the Moroccan desert on this 3-day trip from Marrakech to the small town of Merzouga. You’ll start off by crossing the Atlas Mountains and visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah. One night will be spent at a traditional Berber camp among the dunes. Accommodations on the first night will be a hotel in the Dades Valley.
Immerse yourself in the desert with this extensive tour
Get the chance to ride camels through the desert dunes
Dinner and breakfast is provided; lunch is not included

domain: travel


Health plans, cancer patients, nursing homes, and primary care doctors and internists have formed the Alliance for Site-Neutral Payment Reform to lobby Congress for pay policies that would reduce Medicare spending while increasing pay for providers in the coalition — a move that comes as President Obama pushes site-neutral pay policies for outpatient services in his 2016 budget. Lobbyists for providers across the four post-acute care sectors believe site-neutral pay is near the top of the list of offsets that Congress is considering to pay for an expected bill to override steep Medicare physician pay cuts scheduled for April 1.
The alliance is lobbying Congress to pay the same rates for services regardless of where those services are provided. The group wants site-neutral pay between hospital outpatient departments and physician offices, which would benefit family physicians and internists, and between nursing homes and inpatient rehabilitation facilities, which would benefit nursing homes.
Health plans would benefit from site-neutral policies because spending disparities in Medicare also apply to the commercial market, the alliance says. Cancer patients want site-neutral pay because they pay more for care when treated by oncologists who are employed by hospitals. Research by Milliman shows cancer care delivered in the hospital setting costs Medicare beneficiaries $650 more a year in out-of-pocket copayments compared to community-based care.
“The Alliance for Site-Neutral Payment Reform and our member organizations feel that it is time to address payment parity across site of service in order to decrease Medicare and commercial spending, ensure patients receive the right care in the right setting, lower taxpayers and beneficiary costs and increase patient access,” states a Jan. 20 alliance letter to congressional committees with jurisdiction over Medicare.
The president added a policy to his budget request this year that would pay the same Medicare rates for services provided in hospitals and doctors offices.
Site-neutral pay policies also could be applied to post-acute care services as Congress considers how to pay for either temporarily overriding pay cuts schedule by the Sustainable Growth Rate formula or replacing the formula. Even if Congress ends up fixing SGR this year, it will likely need to first patch it before the end of March, several lobbyists say. They believe that site-neutral pay policy between nursing homes and inpatient rehabilitation facilities is a likely offset candidate, in part because the Congressional Budget Office already scored that policy and because the president included the inpatient site-neutral policy in his past budget.
“The 2015 President’s Budget estimates that site neutral payment for select rehabilitation services could reduce Medicare costs by $2.4 billion over 10 years,” the alliance letter states.
Inpatient rehabilitation facilities say they do a better job than nursing homes in rehabilitating patients and are covered by stricter regulations that drive up their costs compared to nursing homes. Hospitals complain that their profit margins are razor thin and that cutting areas with higher profits will drive many of them out of business.
The alliance acknowledges the problems that hospitals face, and it says Congress should fix the payment system for hospitals and stop overpaying for services in outpatient departments to offset pay that is too low in other areas.
“Some hospitals now depend on HOPD payments to cross-subsidize other necessary patient care services, therefore alternative funding sources may be required to secure access to this care,” the letter by the Alliance for Site-Neutral Payment Reform states. — John Wilkerson (email@example.com)
See the original article on the Inside Health Policy website.


text:
Oak Built in Hutch
Oak built in hutch with lead glass doors. Cabinet comes in two pieces (easy to move!). Bottom features closed cabinet storage and 3 drawers. Inside cabinet is a single fixed shelf. Top piece features a beadboard back with lead glass double doors. Two adjustable shelves are included for display area but do not include shelf pegs.
50.5"W x 19.5"D x 87"H


Now showing items 1-2 of 2
Strongly linearly polarized low threshold lasing of all organic photonic quasicrystals
Lasing is obtained from a two-dimensional (2D) Penrose photonic quasicrystal made of a low index contrast material of holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystals (H-PDLCs) that enables a substantial reduction in the ...
UV-blocking ZnO nanostructure anti-reflective coatings
In this paper, we apply finite difference time domain simulation to determine the absorptance and reflectance of ZnO nanowire and nanohole array structures for an efficient UV-blocking anti-reflective coating. Comparing ...


text:
Candy Stripe Ornament (XS,S,M,L,XL) ~ Green
£19.95 – £24.95
This superb classic bauble with alternating gold raised lines of raised glass, green and gold diagonal stripes will really glisten on your Christmas Tree forever.
– mouth blown and hand painted glass
– includes luxury gift box, hang tag & red satin ribbon


text:
“Here’s a one-word language test to measure whether someone really knows a foreign country and culture: What’s the word for doorknob? People who have studied a language in a classroom rarely know the answer. But those who have been embedded in a country know. America would be a wiser country if we had more people who knew how to translate “doorknob.” I would bet that those people who know how to say doorknob in Farsi almost invariably oppose a military strike on Iran.”
Reported by Nicholas D. Kristof in an Op-Ed piece in the New York Times (March 10, 2010). He then went on to mention my alma mater, Goucher College, which was the first American college or university to make study abroad mandatory for all students.
“American universities are belatedly recognizing how provincial they are and are trying to get more students abroad. Goucher College in Baltimore requires foreign study, and Princeton University has begun a program to help incoming students go abroad for a gap year before college.”
You can read the full article here.


text:
Today [17 April 2019] marked the 50th anniversary of what racial justice campaigners have described as one of Yorkshire’s most shameful episodes. Nigerian immigrant David Oluwale had come to Britain to work, sailing into Hull on a cargo ship.
LawWorks is a charity committed to enabling access to justice through free legal advice. They believe in the power of pro bono legal advice to help improve the lives of people in need.
Mikey’s cousin and prominent activist and social justice campaigner, Tippa Naphtali, has written the following moving article to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Mikey’s 2003 custody death.


Recommended Retail Prices excluding sales tax.
Prices exclude shipping, import duties and installation.
Note: Except where mentioned differently, all exhaust systems, mufflers, drag-pipes, etc. shown in our catalog, are for closed course competition or in show competition only. They will not meet legal noise and emission standards.
Note: The adjustable disc system is accessible through the removable end caps, which are available in four different styles as replacement. Systems are made from highly polished steel tubing which then receives a brilliant chrome plated finish. Mounts to the stock factory mounts. For replacement parts see section: Accessories and replacement parts for internal disc series.


The 2015-16 season was one that the Huskies began with lofty goals. With only one key player leaving the team, and two stellar grad transfers joining a solid base, many fans felt the team would be one with balance, depth, and experience. However, these preseason hopes, such as reaching the third weekend of the NCAA tournament, never came close to fruition. Instead, the Huskies performed shockingly average during the regular season, before goinng on a run to win the conference tournament inspired by the second-best shot of the year, courtesy of Jalen Adams. The season eventually ended with a twelve-point loss to the Kansas Jayhawks. For many Husky fans, this was seen as salvaging a below average season with a respectable finish, while still not attaining the difficult goals expressed in October. But, a closer look reveals the issues that plagued this team, and prevented them from doing damage in the big dance.
Grad transfers Shonn Miller and Sterling Gibbs were expected to step in and not miss a beat. However, they were still two new players who had never experienced the UConn system or gameplay. Depending on new players to perform in key roles is a formula for feast or famine. This is not a knock on Miller or Gibbs; they both averaged double figures and never expressed anything but love for the university. But, the team did not have the familiarity of playing together for multiple years. In addition, the loss of Ryan Boatright proved to make a much bigger hole than initially projected. Many felt that the additions of Gibbs and Adams would be able to make up for Boatright, and they did, for the most part, in the stats columns. However, the Boatshow had been an unquestioned leader, the alpha male who everyone deferred to during crunch time. This void was not filled completely by any player on the UConn roster. Gibbs, Daniel Hamilton, Rodney Purvis, and Adams all attempted to exert their fortitude at different times, and were all met with mixed results. Without a calming presence of a true leader, the Huskies faltered late in many games, including losses to Temple, Houston, and Syracuse, and even in wins against teams like Memphis and Colorado. Very rarely were they able to maintain a 10 or 12-point lead and bury the other team. This was due to chemistry issues surrounding a lack of a true leader. In the coming season, the hope is that Jalen Adams or Rodney Purvis can emerge as the alpha.
POINT GUARD PLAY
Boatright was not just the Huskies’ emotional leader, he was also their floor general. Given that Sterling Gibbs had operated in a similar role his final season at Seton Hall, he was widely projected to come in and play as the lead guard. However, over the season, the picture became clear: Gibbs, while possessing a good handle, was in reality more of a shooting-specialist off ball guard than a true point guard. Jalen Adams could be the point guard of the future, but as an inexperienced freshman, handing him the reins and expecting a floor general was unrealistic. In fact, many times, it was wing Daniel Hamilton who brought the ball up the court and initiated the UConn offense. The game of basketball is evolving. The traditional big man is becoming less important, and a talented point guard is now the most critical position on the floor. This is doubly true in the college game, where, as UConn fans know better than most, a true point guard who commands respect from his teammates, his opponents, and the referees can will a team to victory. There was no commanding presence on this past version of UConn. The roster was deep and talented, probably their best on paper since the 08-09 Final Four squad. However, without the true point guard to tie everyone together and lead his team as a floor general, these skilled pieces did not come together.
There are many reasons why a team doesn’t win a national championship. However, statistics do not often tell the whole story. In 2015-16 UConn possessed one of the top defenses in the country, a roster stacked with long distance shooters, and the best free throw percentage in the NCAA. The reasons they came up short were intangible, and could not be properly expressed by merely looking at numbers. This coming year, the Huskies are younger and arguably not as talented. They lose several important players, including surprising draft-entrant Daniel Hamilton. However, the key players on this team (and presumptive co-captains), Purvis, Adams, and Amida Brimah will have played multiple years together, and could bring the kind of chemistry the 2015-16 team lacked. Winning the NCAA tournament is one of the hardest feats in sports, and the Huskies, despite less talent on paper, may be better equipped to challenge the vicious gauntlet next year.
Jalen Adams: http://www.nj.com/sports/index.ssf/2016/03/watch_uconns_jalen_adams_hits_amazing_shot_to_help_1.html
Sterling Gibbs: http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-mens-basketball/hc-live-updates-uconn-men-vs-memphis-20160109-htmlstory.html
Rodney Purvis: http://www.newsday.com/sports/college/college-basketball/ncaa-tournament-uconn-vs-colorado-pictures-1.11586477


text:
I have been working in graphic design for almost 20 years. Before embarking on a freelance career, I designed for two large publishers--Dutton Children's Books and Rosen/Gareth Stevens Publishing--and was an Assistant Editor at Marvel Comics before that.
In 2012 I created Daniel Hosek Design & Illustration. Through DHDI I've gained extensive, diverse experience including book and magazine design, logo design, branding and creating marketing materials, museum installations, interior design and more. I'll collaborate with you from the first step to make sure your vision becomes the reality you want.
I can draw on a talented pool of freelance illustrators and photographers when the need calls for it, and I can provide expert editorial services and copy writing.
I have extensive experience taking direction and adhering to established styles guides from having worked with many licensors including Dreamworks, Discovery Channel, Disney/Marvel, Playskool and Radio Flyer. I do my own preflighting and pre-press, and I'm well-versed with the technical aspects of printing/publishing.


text:
My son Leo is having lessons at Drum Stars, since he started he has gone from strength to strength. The lessons as well as his sense of skill and development have given him more co-ordination and has improved his life skills too. A great release at the end of a school day.
My son has been coming to Drum Stars and has progressed from a total beginner to the point where he is now studying a Music Degree at University. The staff and instructors are very friendly, helpful and the shop has lots of great drum stock.
My son has attended Drum Stars and it has a great vibe, venue and the drum teachers are great lads who have inspired and motivated his passion to play drums.
Very pleased with the instructors, I am getting better every week, it is also a very nice place to hang out whilst waiting to be collected after the lesson.
Check out Drum Shop, which is attached to the teaching studios! www.drumshop.co.uk
My teenager has used Drum Stars for a number of months now and enjoys both the instructors and the venue (having previously had home lessons). I'd recommend anyone wanting to learn how to play drums to give this place a go!
You wont be disappointed.

domain: hobby


Ideal Path for Wind Turbine Blade
Doesn’t it seem like the ideal path for a wind turbine blade would have the entire blade moving at “tip speed”, spending the majority of its time traveling in a direction that is orthogonal to the direction of the wind?
Description of the Machine
(Note that the word “power cable” in the diagram below does not refer to an electrical cable, but rather to a cable that carries the mechanical power to the pulley wheels at the generators.)
Drag on Moving Cable
How much aerodynamic drag does a moving cable add to the system compared to the drag of a strut or the low speed part of a troposkein Darrieus blade? Consider an H Rotor supported by a strut. The instantaneous velocity of a given radial location on the strut is at right angles to its longitudinal dimension. For this reason, it is able to leave a semi-evacuated space behind it as it moves. This space is filled with turbulent air. But the velocity of a given cylindrical cross-section of a cable is along its longitudinal dimension. Because there is always more cable following any cylindrical cross section, it is impossible for the cable to leave a semi-evacuated space in its wake. The only semi-evacuated, turbulated space it can leave is on its downwind side, and the force thus produced cannot drag down the system because it is orthogonal to the velocity of the cable. The only aerodynamic drag that is possible is that drag that is created by the cable’s ability to “stick to the air around it”. I’m not an aerodynamicist, but I’m guessing this might turn out to be pretty small. Also, the moving cable in the machine presented here has small diameter because it moves at “tip speed”, and because it is only required to carry the torque at tip speed. Because tip speed is high, torque will be low, and the cable will have small diameter.
One obvious disadvantage of the oblong path is the need to yaw the track. We can eliminate this problem by providing the turbine with a polygonal path that approximates a circle:
Airfoils Could be Slowed to Go Around Tower
To avoid inflicting excessive centrifugal force on the blades as they go around the tower, maybe the control system could sense the point at which blades are nearing towers, and slow them down somewhat as they make their way around the tower. Alternatively, mechanical support could be provided on the opposite side of the airfoil to prevent excessive bowing due to centrifugal force:
Low Drag Airfoil Variation
The airfoils need to have gaps near the regions where the load carrying cables penetrate them. This is necessary to accomodate the mechanical supports for the apparatus that steers the airfoils around the tower. But if the airfoils carry a small generator, like the generator that rubs against a bicycle tire in order to power a light for the bicycle, then these gaps could be filled with streamlined shapes during the long path between the two towers. The streamlined shapes would be pulled out of the way as the airfoil makes its way around a tower. The actuating mechanism is powered by electricity that is generated from the small generator just described that is located inside the blades.
Alternatively, maybe the streamlining shapes could be pushed out of the way by some mechanical means as the airfoil goes around a tower.


text:
The president of the Maldives ruled out early elections during an official visit to India on Monday, citing the constitution, and declared that the soonest that a vote could take place was July 2013. Mohamed Waheed Hassan replaced Mohamed Nasheed, the first democratically elected president of the Maldives, in February after Mr. Nasheed resigned, but the former president has said that he was forced to step down in what he called a coup. “I am all for free and fair elections in the Maldives as early as the constitution of the Maldives allows,” said Mr. Hassan at a news conference following official meetings in New Delhi. “There is no provision in the Maldives constitution to hold elections earlier than July next year.”
Masood Imad, Mr. Hassan’s spokesman, added that under the constitution, the president can push up the elections only by four months. The next presidential elections are scheduled for October 2013. Mr. Hassan defended his government’s commitment to democracy, saying: “The Maldives is more democratic today than ever before. We have a functioning Parliament, basic rights like assembly, speech are in place. Radio and TV are not in government control.”
“There is no turning back,” he said. “We are not willing to live in autocracy anymore.” He also disputed reports of unrest. “No school was closed, no resort was closed, no airport was closed. Demonstrations are there, but it does not mean that there is a major problem,” he said.
Full Article: Maldives President Rules Out Early Elections – NYTimes.com.


I've tested the new version of the Dnsmasq Custom Options feature created by @systemcrash and it seems to be working properly.
The new feature adds a new configurable field with uci for dnsmasq called
extraconftext that can be used to add any supported option by the current dnsmasq version in OpenWrt. Technically, most of these features are now configurable via uci: https://thekelleys.org.uk/dnsmasq/docs/dnsmasq-man.html
If you want try and test the commit, these are the steps:
Make a backup of your current configuration via Luci > System > Backup > Generate archive
Create 2 new folders on your Desktop called
dnsmasq-new (Terminal on macOS is used for this example, but the same can be applied to other platforms)
Save a backup of your current dnsmasq file from OpenWrt by using this command in Terminal:
scp -O firstname.lastname@example.org:/etc/init.d/dnsmasq ~/Desktop/dnsmasq-backup/
Download the latest dnsmasq.init file from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/systemcrash/openwrt/dnsmasq_filter_rr_v2/package/network/services/dnsmasq/files/dnsmasq.init and save it to ~/Desktop/dnsmasq-new/dnsmasq
Make the new dnsmasq file executable with this command:
chmod +x ~/Desktop/dnsmasq-new/dnsmasq
Upload the new dnsmasq file to OpenWrt:
scp -O ~/Desktop/dnsmasq-new/dnsmasq email@example.com:/etc/init.d/
Log into OpenWrt using SSH, and use uci to setup a custom configuration:
uci set dhcp.@dnsmasq.extraconftext='address=/example.com/0.0.0.0'
uci commit dhcp
- Restart the new dnsmasq file to apply the new configuration:
You can use any valid dnsmasq option in the
extraconftext configuration. In the example above, we used
You can also add multiple lines separated by
\n. For example, to add
use these commands in OpenWrt via SSH:
uci set dhcp.@dnsmasq.extraconftext='address=/example.com/0.0.0.0\nserver=184.108.40.206''
uci commit dhcp
What this does is it will create a new dnsmasq.conf file in
/tmp/dnsmasq.cfg01411c.d/extraconfig.conf with the specified options and will read that file with the rest of the dnsmasq configurations on initialization. The folder is created based on the name of your dnsmasq config name.
Please note that as this feature can accept any dnsmasq option, it's up to you to make sure what you add to it doesn't conflict with other configurations.
If you can, try out the new dnsmasq.init file using the guide above, check if it works properly, and review it or add suggestions on its Pull Request: https://github.com/openwrt/openwrt/pull/14975
To revert back to your original dnsmasq file, you can use the backup file from the guide above:
scp -O ~/Desktop/dnsmasq-backup/dnsmasq firstname.lastname@example.org:/etc/init.d/
If you use a squashfs image for OpenWrt, you can also delete the modified file from the overlay and use the original dnsmasq file from the squashfs image:
rm -rf dnsmasq
mount -o remount /


text:
On this episode of the manga series -- a few days later than expected -- Shea and Derek discuss two new deluxe editions of older titles. They begin with Revolutionary Girl Utena Complete Deluxe Box Set, soon to be released by VIZ Media. This is a different kind of shōjo, one that the guys don't often encounter, and an aspect that makes this title stand out is its conceptual genesis. Revolutionary Girl Utena was conceived by the creative team known as Be-Papas but written and drawn by Chiho Saito (also a member of Be_Papas). Shea and Derek discuss the "collaborative feel" of its genesis and the unusual mix of characters, costumes, and scenarios that define the series.
Next, the guys turn to a new deluxe edition of Masamune Shirow's classic Ghost in the Shell, just released by Kodansha Comics. The paperback versions of this title, and of the two follow-up volumes, are still in print, but Kodansha now has these wonderful new hardbound editions. The new Ghost in the Shell volumes stand out because for the first time in English, the story is presented in the original right-to-left reading order, they retain the author's original hand-drawn sound effects, the translation has been updated, and everything has been done under the author's supervision. Both Shea and Derek have a great time revisiting Ghost in the Shell, and they hope that Kodansha will be bringing back more of Shirow's manga -- e.g., Appleseed and Dominion -- in these nice deluxe editions.
This month on the manga show, Shea and Derek discuss the recently completed, Sunny, as well as other works by Taiyo Matsumoto. Late last year VIZ Media published the six and final volume of Sunny, a series that began in December 2010 in the original Japanese (published in Monthly Ikki), and has been coming out in English translation since the first volume in May 2013. This is a title that the guys have been wanting to discuss for some time, but they decided to hold out until the everything was wrapped up so that they could look at the series in its entirety.
This is a realistic, evenly paced drama about a group of orphans and outsiders residing at Star Kids Home, a foster home that serves as a refuse for children without family or whose parents do not have the means, or even the interest, in caring for them. Although this narrative functions with an ensemble cast, Shea and Derek feel that the de facto protagonist here is Haruo, an angry, troubled kid whose parents remain aloof. The series unfolds as Haruo interacts with the other children at the home, each of whom gets ample attention in the text, and the adults who try to make things manageable for them. The one central refuge in their lives, a space of safety and imagination, is a derelict Nissan Sunny 1200 that sits abandoned in the front yard of the Star Kids Home.
The guys spend most of the episode mapping out the various characters and their struggles in Sunny, but they also take the time to discuss other manga by Matsumoto, including Blue Spring (the original collected in 1993, and translated into English in 2004), Gogo Monster (2000/2009), the untranslated Takemitsuzamurai (2006-2010), and especially the Eisner Award-winning Tekkon Kinkreet, which originally ran from 1993-1994 and was collected as a one-volume English translation in 2007. As Shea points out, this is one of their favorite manga creators -- for both guys -- and they wanted to use this episode to dig deep into his art.
Build your Taiyo Matsumoto library:
It's the final manga episode of the year, and to close out 2016 Shea and Derek discuss a couple of fascinating new editions of older manga. But first they talk about their holiday activities with one another and then go on to share the listener mail they received about their November manga episode. After that, it's manga time! They begin with Junji Ito's Tomie: Complete Deluxe Edition (VIZ Media). This volume brings together all of the previous Tomie stories, initially released in three separate books. As listeners of the podcast may know, Shea and Derek are big fans of Junji Ito, but this is the first time either of the guys have read this series. They point out both the similarities and the differences between this text (especially the early stories) and later Ito works such as Uzumaki and Gyo. Shea is particularly taken by Ito's early, looser illustration style, while Derek focuses on the, at times, goofy scenarios surrounding Tomie. They're weirder than even the most unusual premises you'll find in Junji Ito.
After that, the guys turn to Tsutomu Nihei's Blame! This series has also been previously published, but now Vertical Comics is releasing it in new master editions. The second volume was just published this month, and volume 3 is due out in March. So Shea and Derek limit their discussion to the story contained within these first two book. This is an action-heavy manga, and while this kind of graphic storytelling isn't one of Derek's favorites, it's something that Shea absolutely loves. But both guys appreciate the incremental world building and especially Nihei's astounding ability in representing The City, the vast post-apocalyptic landscape in which the story takes place. The bottom line is that both guys love the storyworld and plan to continue reading this series.
For the month of November, Shea and Derek get together to discuss to two recent manga publications, although the first text they cover is not entirely new. Jiro Taniguchi's A Distant Neighborhood: Complete Edition brings together the two-volume English editions originally published by Fanfare/Ponent Mon in 2009. (The original Japanese was published in Big Comic magazine between 1998 and 1999.) It's the story of Hiroshi Nakahara, a 48-year-old salaryman with an uninspired life, and who finds himself mysteriously transformed -- or transported? -- into his 14-year-old self. This is the same period of his life when his father abandoned his family. The guys discuss A Distant Neighborhood as a quasi-time travel narrative, but definitely not science fiction. In fact, Derek reads this text through the lens of the romance tradition, à la Horace Walpole and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Shea enjoys to story, but he feels that the premise may be a little too loaded and that Taniguchi at times relies too much on telling and not showing.
Next they turn to a very different kind of book, Kodansha Comic's Attach on Titan Anthology. This is similar to a text that the guys discussed last month, Neo Parasyte F, an anthology of new works based on and inspired by a previous manga property, in this case Hajime Isayama’s Attack on Titan (which began in 2009). However in contrast to the Parasyte homage, this collection is made up of work written and drawn by a variety of Western creators. Although the collection resonates differently with each -- Derek tends to like it, as a whole, better than Shea -- both of the guys can agree on some of the anthology's highlights. These include Ronald Wimberly's "Bahamut"; Asaf and Tomer Hanuka's "Memory Maze"; Rhianna Pratchett, Ben Applegate, and Jorge Corona's "Skies Above"; and Evan Dorkin and Sarah Dyer's "Attack on Attack on Titan." But really, every contribution to this collection is worth reading. As the guys point out, one of the beauties of this anthology is that its eclectic styles reflect the broad and diverse readership to which Isayama's series appeals.
In celebration of the Halloween season, Shea and Derek devote October's episode to a discussion of horror manga. This month they look at six -- count them, six! -- books, all of which embody the eerie holiday spirit in some way. That makes this a extra-long episode, clocking in at over two and a half hours, the longest manga show the Two Guys have ever produced. They begin with a classic example of horror manga, Hideshi Hino's Hell Baby (Blast Books), and then move on to the medium's most notable practitioner of the genre, Junji Ito and his 2014 collection Fragments of Horror (VIZ Media). They then turn up the creep factor with Usamaru Furuya's Lychee Light Club (Vertical Comics) and Jun Abe's Portus (VIZ Media). Finally, the guys conclude with two brand new titles from Kodansha Comics, Kazuhiro Fujita's The Black Museum: The Ghost and the Lady, Book 1 and the shojo anthology Neo Parasyte F. The latter is a fifteen-story celebration of Hitoshi Iwaaki’s classic Parasyte series, which ran from 1988 to 1995. In their extensive discussions, Shea and Derek visit such topics as the juxtaposition of cute and gross, why the grotesque may become a writing crutch, the many uses of gender ambiguity, if video games are inherently spooky, and how Florence Nightingale can be quite sexy. That's right, folks, it's all here!
It's the end of the month, so that must mean it's time for Shea and Derek to look at another round of manga. For September, they discuss two recent releases, the first of which is Leiji Matsumoto's Queen Emeraldas, Vol. 1 (Kodansha Comics). Originally serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine between 1978 and 1979, this is a science fiction adventure with two protagonists. Hiroshi Umino is a fearless earth boy wants to make his own way in life, and the titular character is a mysterious and much-feared figure who sees in Hiroshi a kindred spirit. Matsumoto is known for these kind of space operas, and the guys aren't entirely sure why more of his manga hasn't yet been translated into English (although Americans may be more familiar with Matsumoto's work in anime).
Next, Shea and Derek look at the first of a two-volume collection, Otherworld Barbara. This is the latest in Fantagraphic's translations of Moto Hagio's manga, the previous editions being A Drunken Dream and Other Stories in 2010 and the shōnen-ai classic, The Heart of Thomas, released in 2013. The latest book has a completely different feel from the earlier Hagio translations, as this is a futuristic, psychological drama playing out in a surreal dreamscape. However, don't mistaken this for anything reminiscent of Christopher Nolan's Inception. Derek and Shea spend a lot of time discussing the themes of identity and doubling in this sophisticated narrative, and they eagerly await the completion of the concluding volume.
For the August manga episode, Shea and Derek go topless...at least that's a common condition that they sense in the two titles that they discuss this month. They begin with Hiroya Oku's Inuyashiki, the fourth English-language volume of which was released in June by Kodansha Comics. It's the story of an older Sad Sack of a salaryman, Ichiro Inuyashiki, whose slowly crumbling life is turned around after contact with an alien life form. As a result of this encounter, his body is replaced with a weapon-grade robotic shell, and over the course the first four volumes, Inuyashiki learns to use his new condition to positively change the lives of others. However, complications arise when another man similarly changed by the same alien encounter decides to use his powers for more nihilist purposes. Shea and Derek spend much time discussing Oku's art -- a clean yet static style -- the borderline melodrama of the storytelling, and the fact that Inuyashiki goes around without a shirt much of the time.
After that, the guys turn to their second title of the month, Kenji Tsuruta's Wandering Island (Dark Horse Manga). This is a quest narrative centered on the discovery of a mythical island in the Pacific that is free floating. The protagonist of this series, Mikura Amelia, owns a small delivery service and pilots a bi-floatplane along the Izu Islands. When she discovers the writings of her dead grandfather about the elusive Electric Island, Mikura sets off with her cat Endeavor to prove its existence. The guys appreciate the protagonist as a fully formed, complex adventuring character, but they disagree slightly about the ways in which Tsuruta represents her. Shea feels that the frequently bikinied Mikura is too often posed specifically for the male gaze, and while Derek agrees with his cohost, to a point, he's not entirely convinced that Mikura is sexualized for that purpose. Regardless, Wandering Island rests upon a fascinating premise that will have both of the guys coming back to the title for volume two...whenever that publication might be.
On the July manga episode, Shea and Derek discuss two recent publications that highlight, in different ways, the history of the Japanese medium. They begin with Seiichi Hayashi's Red Red Rock and Other Stories 1967-1970 (Breakdown Press). All but two stories that compose this collection were originally published in Garo, examples of the avant-garde coming from that publication in its heyday. Although not nearly as abstract and non-linear, Hayashi's manga reminds the guys of Sasaki Maki’s Ding Dong Circus, which they discussed in December's manga episode (and also a Breakdown Press publication). As both Derek and Shea point out, the stories collected in Red Red Rock represent some of the earliest of Hayashi's efforts, and they're noticeably more experimental, or at least less linear, than his other work available in English, such as Red Colored Elegy and the stories in Gold Pollen and Other Stories. Adding to this collection is an astute contextualizing essay by Ryan Holmberg, also the book's translator.
After their trip down Garo-inspired memory lane, the Two Guys turn to a work that delineates a much earlier chapter in manga history. The Osamu Tezuka Story: A Life in Manga and Anime is a graphic biography of a man often called "the god of manga" and published by Stone Bridge Press. Created by Toshio Ban (who served as Tezuka's "sub-chief" assistant) and Tezuka Productions, and translated by Frederik L. Schodt, the book appears to be a collaborative, or even corporate, effort to tease out the dynamism and the many facets of its subject's life. In fact, both Shea and Derek feel that there are too many details embedded in the narrative and that the book's 869 pages of story (not counting the substantive Appendixes) could have been paired down significantly. What's more, the tone of the the biography is blatantly reverential and becomes almost too much at times. Readers are presented with example after example of the seemingly superhuman nature of Tezuka, and with little insight into the contradictions and complications that would define any artist's life. Still, The Osamu Tezuka Story is a recommended read and a useful, albeit lengthy, introduction to this manga legend.
This month Shea and Derek look at two tonally different works of manga. They begin with Yoshitoki Oima's series, A Silent Voice, the final (seventh) volume of which was released from Kodansha Comics at the end of May. It's the story of an elementary school bully, Shoya Ishida, and his attempts to atone for his past behavior after he enters high school. The object of his ridicule was Shoko Nishimiya, a deaf transfer student who was pulled out of her elementary school because of Shoya's insensitive mocking. Now teenagers, Shoyo and Shoko establish a relationship that is spottily therapeutic for both, and with the help of their former elementary school classmates with whom they reestablish contact. While the guys both enjoy this title, there are times when the narrative is worn a little thin. Derek feels that there is excessive emotional wallowing in places, and Shea is not thrilled with the series' quick ending.
A completely different kind of manga is Rokudenashiko's What Is Obscenity?: The Story of a Good for Nothing Artist and Her Pussy (Koyama Press). And the book's subtitle says it all. Rokudenashiko -- a pen name for Megumi Igarashi, and which translates into "good-for-nothing woman" -- tells the story of her evolution as an artist, her work in manko (vagina) art (or "deco-man," as she calls it), and her two 2014 arrests for violating various obscenity laws in Japan. The core of the text is its manga, three separate stories that were originally serialized in the leftist political magazine, Weekly Friday. But about a third of the book is composed of photographs and text-only supplemental material, making this more of a hybrid chronicle of Rokudenashiko's art and legal ordeals. Both Shea and Derek love this book, filled with humor and keen observations on Japan's archaic, paternalistically mandated obscenity laws. In fact, they each want to get a little Manko-chan figurine for themselves!
For the month of May, Shea and Derek discuss two books that, at first glance, seem quite different, but whose similarities become more apparent upon closer examination. They begin with Masahiko Matsumoto's Cigarette Girl (Top Shelf Productions), a collection of eleven short comics originally published between 1972 and 1974. This is one of the few books by Matsumoto available in English -- another translation, The Man Next Door, was published by Breakdown Press in 2014 -- and the guys strongly advocate for more attention on this mangaka. Shea and Derek recall their earlier discussion of Yoshihiro Tatsumi’s A Drifting Life, where the figure of Matsumoto is central to Tatsumi's autobiographical narrative. The stories in Cigarette Girl demonstrate the artist's style storytelling, which he referred to as "komaga" (or "panel pictures" in English), with its emphasis on a cinema-influenced panel breakdown and a more adult subject matter. Along with this, all of the stories end ambiguously or "obscurely," without any neat resolution or closure, underscoring the mature and real-life tone found in Matsumoto's work. About all of the pieces in this collection have something to do with , complicated, compromised, or unrequited relationships, with Matsumoto writing from both male and female perspectives.
And it is this theme where Derek and Shea find the common ground with the other book they discuss this month, Riichi Ueshiba's Mysterious Girlfriend X, Vol. 1 (Vertical Comics). This story has everything to do with relationships, but, as the guys point out, it has perhaps the weirdest premise they've encountered on the manga series so far. The narrative's 17-year-old protagonist and focalizer, Akira Tsubaki, becomes addicted to his new love interest -- literally! -- after tasting some of her drool. He gets sick if he goes without a dose of her saliva every day or so. His drool-defined heartthrob, Mikoto Urabe, is a complete enigma, a mystery made all the more confounding by her hobby of scissor play. Urabe has an uncanny ability to cut quickly and precisely almost any material with her scissors, which she carries holster-like in her panties. In fact, it's the "panty part" of this book that receives much of the guys' attention. Shea and Derek aren't exactly sure what to make of Ueshiba's fascination with older teenage girls' bodies, or the fact that he finds certain "cute" acts so alluring. As the artist summarizes at the end of this first volume, "Don't you think a girl who drools when she falls asleep is cute? Well, this is a comic about that sort of girl." Still, the guys never suggest that Ueshiba is any sort of creepy pedophile, and, in fact, they even see the benefits of setting his particular story within a high school milieu. Be that as it may, Mysterious Girlfriend X has to be one of the most head-scratching stories Shea and Derek have encounter in some time, and, along with Cigarette Girl, provides them with much discussion fodder for this month's episode.
This month, Shea and Derek have a fun time discussing two recent manga releases. They begin with the first volume of Akiko Higashimura's Princess Jellyfish (Kodansha), a series that is new to both of the guys. In fact, Derek comments that he might not have given this title a try if they hadn't decided to discuss it for the podcast. Given the "princess" part of the book, he had wondered if this might not be too cute for him, a fluffy shojo title that may not appeal to him (while at the same time, admitting that he might be shortsighted). But as the guys discuss, Princess Jellyfish is anything but insubstantial. It's a multi-layered story exploring friendships, gender identity, and fandom. Yet, "fandom" isn't the right word when discussing this manga, and Shea and Derek spend a good deal of time understanding the character and behavioral nuances that Higashimura weaves into her narrative, supplemented by a useful glossary that she include in the back of the book. This is definitely a title that both of the guys will continue reading in the months to come. Next, they look at a completely different kind of manga, the first omnibus volume of Kengo Hanazawa's I Am a Hero (Dark Horse Manga). This book has been getting a good deal of press, especially given its apparent similarity to The Walking Dead. In fact, Derek and Shea discuss the expectations surrounding I Am a Hero and how calling it "zombie manga" may be a lazy way of categorizing this series. At least in this first volume, there is much more to Hanazawa's story that the undead rising. I Am a Hero is also a self-aware meditation on the place of manga in our culture, with the book's protagonist, Hideo Suzuki, serving as its focalizing agent. Plus, there are many unanswered questions surrounding Hideo, non-zombie-based, that makes us question his reliability. And as Shea and Derek point out, it's not entirely certain where Hanazawa's sympathies actually lie regarding his hero...and that's a good thing, at least for Derek, who appreciates ambiguity and authorial distance. Shea suspects that next volumes of the series will more firmly embed themselves in the zombie side of the story, although Derek is hoping that won't entirely be the case. Time will tell.
This is also the one-year anniversary of The Comics Alternative's manga series. So celebrate with them and let them know what you think of their episodes!
For the March episode of The Comics Alternative's manga series, Shea and Derek discuss two recent releases, both by Inio Asano: A Girl on the Shore (Vertical Comics) and Goodnight Punpun, Vol. 1 (VIZ Media). Before they plunge into those titles, though, they provide a bit of context about Asano's style and briefly discuss his other works that have been translated into English. The guys primarily reference Solanin and Nijigahara Holograph as key Asano texts, but they also mention the two-volume series of short stories, What a Wonderful World. In many ways, Derek feels that A Girl on the Shore is a cross between Solanin's emphasis on relationships and Nijigahara Holograph's fractured or more experimental narration. The guys also spend a good amount of time talking about the sexually explicit nature of the recent book. Most of A Girl on the Shore centers on its protagonists, Kuome and Isobe, slowly exploring one another, and much of that exploration is sexual in nature. However, neither Shea nor Derek feel that the visualizations are gratuitous in any way, and that Asano even complicates his explicitness through certain intriguing artistic choices. Next, the guys turn to a completely different kind of story, and one that's a little more challenging to wrap your brain around. Goodnight Punpun originally ran for thirteen volumes in Japan, and this month VIZ Media began releasing the English translation in larger, two-in-one editions. In this first volume, we're introduced to Punpun Punyama, a weird, largely silent bird-like creature who is supposedly a young human boy as are all of the other characters in the story. (Only the Punyama family is depicted as abstracted birds...although for all we know, this is a world where abstracted birds living with humans has been normalized.) While the storyline of this first volume is fairly straightforward -- primarily a quest narrative for Punpun and his friends, and mostly involving Punpun's love interest, Aiko -- the manner of storytelling isn't. At times Asano's art is surreal or even psychedelic, and the events that occur can be downright trippy. Derek is fascinated by the hipster figure of god that keeps popping up throughout the book, and Shea likens Asano's style to something approximating magical realism. All in all, this first installment of Goodnight Punpun is a fun punch in the gut that has the guys eagerly anticipating the next volumes to be released later this year. But then again, as far as Shea and Derek are concerned, any Inio Asano is worth eagerly anticipating.
On the February manga show, Shea and Derek look at a new title and an older title. They begin with a discussion of School Judgment 1, recently released by VIZ Media. Written by Nobuaki Enoki and with art by Takeshi Obata -- perhaps best known for his work on Death Note -- this is the first book in a series that has a unique premise. In fact, the guys comment several times on the wacky setup of School Judgment: a legal arbitration system established in Japan's elementary schools, where the students themselves try criminal cases serving as judge, prosecution, and defense. In this first installment, the protagonists Abaku Inugami (for the defense) and Pine Hanzuki (prosecution) battle over three strange cases, with the book ending by setting up a fourth. Shea and Derek discuss the weirdness and the social pertinence of the storylines, including arbitration concerning both drug use and pedophilic voyeurism. After that, they look at at Yoshihiro Tatsumi's A Drifting Life (Drawn & Quarterly). With an original English publication of 2009, this is Tatsumi's slightly veiled autobiography and a look at his growth as a manga artist. In fact, Derek points out that the book can best be read as a künstlerroman, a narrative about an artist's growth to personal and creative maturity. This is a hefty book of over 830 pages, a marked difference from the kind of short-form manga that Tatsumi is best known for. Indeed, both Shea and Derek contrast reading A Drifting Life to their experiences with his short-story collections, such as The Push Man and Other Stories, Abandon the Old in Tokyo, Good-Bye, and Fallen Worlds (also published in English by Drawn & Quarterly). While the shorter slice-of-life narratives are clear examples of gekiga, an alternative manga form advocated by Tatsumi himself, this autobiographical work is more conventional. And being a retrospective look back at his early life, Tatsumi brings into his story the real-life artists that inspired him and served as his companions and competitors, including Osamu Tezuka, Masahiko Matsumoto, Takao Saito, and Susumu Yamamori. As the guys conclude, this is an outstanding book and the perfect introduction to the world of Yoshihiro Tatsumi.
Shea and Derek are back with their January episode of the manga series. But isn't this the first of week of February? Yes it is, but due to unforeseen circumstances, the guys had to postpone the recording of their January episode and had carry it over into this week. But no worries! They still bring you the same great quality manga analysis, and, in addition, this means that listeners will get a double dose of Shea and Derek's manga talk for the month of February!
They begin with Hiroaki Samura's Die Wergelder, Vol. 1 (Kodansha Comics). Those familiar Blade of the Immortal will instantly recognize Samura's style and know that they're in for a dynamic narrative punctuated with what some might feel are scenes of gratuitous sexual violence. In fact, Shea addresses this issue toward the beginning of their discussion, wondering if Die Wergelder might put off some of its readers. Derek argues that these kind of scenes serve a legitimate narrative purpose, especially as it regards one of the book's protagonists, Träne, building character and setting a purposefully disturbing context. This first English-language edition collects the first two volumes of the original Japanese series, which began in 2011, and introduces what is arguably the title's three main protagonists, women with uncertain and even tragic pasts whose stories converge in a narrative of yakuza wars and corporate intrigue. Next, the guys turn to Suehiro Maruo's The Strange Tale of Panorama Island (Last Gasp). Originally published in English in 2013, this is an adaptation of Edogawa Rampo's 1920s novel, a twisted Poe-esque narrative of death, indulgences, and self-reinvention. Derek highlights what he sees as the carnivalesque nature of the story, but a more appropriate descriptive frame would be ero guro (erotic grotesque), a style of art defined by eroticism, decadence, and sexual (at times horrific) indulgence. Indeed, Maruo is known for this kind of manga, perhaps more notably displayed in Mr. Arashi's Amazing Freak Show and the stories collected in Ultra-Gash Inferno. Panorama Island is more tame and lower down the "grotesque" scale than these books, but it's nonetheless a disturbing, nightmarish journey into human desire.
For their December manga episode, Shea and Derek discuss two very different works. They start off with Makoto Yukimura's Planetes Ominbus, Vol. 1, just released from Dark Horse Books. This is the first of two large editions of the Japanese series that originally ran from 1999 to 2004. It's the story of a space debris removal crew -- orbital garbage collectors -- whose job is to clear out all of the man-made trash floating around the earth so as to make space travel safer. Taking place in the 2070s, this is a futuristic narrative that feels closely connected to our own world. The guys describe it as a kind of hard science fiction (with its emphasis on technical detail and scientific accuracy), but one that is heavily character-driven. Derek highlights both the drama and the comedy that take place among the crew members -- especially with Hachimaki, who is arguably the central figure in this first volume -- and Shea points out that while anchored in the science, Planetes is more of an "everyday" series that is focused on the mundane facets of space exploration. Next, the guys turn to a completely different kind of manga, one that challenges our ways of reading comics. Ding Dong Circus and Other Stories, 1967 to 1974 (Breakdown Press) collects fifteen of Sasaki Maki's short works, all but one originally published in the legendary manga magazine, Garo, between 1967 and 1971. The majority of these pieces are not what you would call "stories" in the strictest sense, in that there is no temporal or causal connection between panels suggesting sequence. Even the comics that do betray narrative elements, such as "The Town Horse" or "The Ballad of Henri and Anne," are constructed in fragmented ways that suggest an unsteady dreamscape more than anything. The best way to read Maki's work, as Shea and Derek point out, is by understanding it as visual poetry -- with an emphasis on image and association -- or as "musical" compositions reliant on graphical leitmotifs. If you approach Ding Dong Circus in this way, then you can better enjoy Sasaki Maki's pop art-like, collage form of manga that embodies much of the tone and significations of the 1960s. For more on this book, check out Shea's recent review on the A.V. Club.
Another month, another healthy dose of manga! For November, Shea and Derek make it a themed episode, one whose binding tie is an unlikely and infamous historical figure. To coincide with the 70th anniversary of the start of the Nuremberg Trials, the guys discuss two masters of manga and their takes on Adolf Hitler. They begin with Shigeru Mizuki's Hitler, released earlier this month from Drawn and Quarterly. Since 2011, the Canadian publisher has been introducing English-speakers to the incredible work of Mizuki, and this most recent translation is of a curious graphic biography originally published in 1971. Mizuki approaches Hitler's life as more of a character-study than as a historical determinant. Over the course of the book's first half, we see a very human, very pathetic -- and very troubled -- Adolf Hitler, a man whose failures far outweigh his triumphs. But both Shea and Derek note that as the text carries us into the 1940s, Mizuki's narrative is more rapid-fire and historically episodic, and the man that we're left with is the failed, unstable dictator most often depicted in popular media. Next, the Two Manga Guys turn to a more epic undertaking, Osamu Tezuka's A Message to Adolf (Vertical). Originally serialized in Shukan Bunshun magazine between 1983 and 1985, this is a work of fiction that heavily incorporates the historical figure. In fact, the entire narrative -- totaling over 1,200 pages in Vertical's most recent edition -- is driven by questions surrounding Hitler's possible Jewish heritage. The gist of the story, however, is devoted to the lives of two other Adolfs, both living in Kobe, Japan: one a German Jew growing up in the East, and the other a half-Japanese son of a Nazi Party official. The two become fast friends, only to have history, and fascist ideology, disrupt that relationship. Another character, a newspaper reporter named Sohei Toge, functions as the binding element of these various storylines, and both Derek and Shea highlight -- and marvel at -- the many moving parts that make up this narrative. This is a massive work that shows Tezuka at the peak of his artistry and storytelling abilities. There may be a lot of Hitler in this month's episode, but in the hands of both Mizuki and Tezuka, it's the kind of Hitler that the Two Guys can definitely stomach.
Shea and Derek return for another month's serving of warm, creamy manga. This one includes a heaping helping of other worldly phantoms and pedagogical cephalopods. In keeping with the spirit (literally) of the Halloween season, the guys begin with Nukuharu's Anomal (Gen Manga), a collection of seven short stores originally serialized in the Gen manga anthology. They enjoy the narratives well enough, but they're not entirely sure they understand the premises that Nukuharu establishes. At times there are noticeable gaps in exposition, as if the reader is coming into the middle of a story world with little context. Nonetheless, there are some stories that really stand out for the guys, such as "Kaeshi" and "Kaguya." While Anomal might not have been the strongest collection Derek and Shea have read, they conclude that it is worth checking out. Next, the Two Guys discuss the first six books in Yusei Matsui's Assassination Classroom series (the latest volume having just been released from VIZ Media). Whereas several of Nukuharu's stories were thin on premise, one cannot say the same of Matsui's efforts. Assassination Classroom centers on a mysterious other worldly being resembling an octopus, and who threatens to annihilate the earth, after having demonstrated his powers by destroying seventy percent of the moon. For some unknown reason, he asks to be the teacher of the underachieving students at Kunugigaoka Academy, a junior high prep school in Tokyo. All the while, and with the help of the Japanese Ministry of Defense, the students are trained and encouraged to assassinate their alien teacher, an all but impossible task given his varied and unlikely powers. The round-faced and multi-tentacled word-be destroyer adopts the name Koro Sensei -- a combination of "koro senai" (meaning "can't be killed") and "sensei" (teacher) -- and throughout the series he instructs his students on self-betterment, self-respect, and a sense of life purpose. As both Shea and Derek highlight, the series' strong suit is its ensemble cast, including conflicted classmates, unprincipled principals, and teachers with dubious backgrounds, ranging from government agents to sexy professional assassins. Although Shea is a little uneasy with the series' subtle emphasis on militarization, both agree that Assassination Classroom excels at wringing compelling stories out of outrageous premises. This is a title that the guys will continue to follow.

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Pesto Chicken & Cannellini Bean Soup
This healthy, Italian-inspired chicken soup recipe is loaded with fiber-rich vegetables and beans and gets an extra boost of flavor from a swirl of pesto at the end. To get a homemade stock flavor using store-bought broth, we simmer bone-in chicken breasts in the broth before adding the rest of the soup ingredients.
To make ahead: Cover and refrigerate, without the pesto, for up to 3 days. To serve, reheat and then stir in pesto.
2 1/2 lean protein, 1 1/2 fat, 1 1/2 vegetable, 1/2 starch

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Contact John McLellan, SMMS Director, for more information.
Belmont Public Schools parents may now pay most school-related fees online.
Belmont school news in your living room and online with a new television show called “Belmont Schools NOW” hosted by Superintendent John Phelan.
One of the sure signs of spring is when Daylight Saving Time begins. This Sunday at 2:00 a.m., March 12, please remember to adjust your clocks one hour forward. Although the temperatures on Saturday and Sunday look like winter is still upon us, winter is nearing its end. Meanwhile, please take a look at school news and events in this edition of the newsletter, and have a great weekend. Continue Reading→