Multi-layered Decomposition of Recurrent Scenes
- Cite this paper as:
- Russell D., Gong S. (2008) Multi-layered Decomposition of Recurrent Scenes. In: Forsyth D., Torr P., Zisserman A. (eds) Computer Vision – ECCV 2008. ECCV 2008. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 5304. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
There is considerable interest in techniques capable of identifying anomalies and unusual events in busy outdoor scenes, e.g. road junctions. Many approaches achieve this by exploiting deviations in spatial appearance from some expected norm accumulated by a model over time. In this work we show that much can be gained from explicitly modelling temporal aspects in detail. Specifically, many traffic junctions are regulated by lights controlled by a timing device of considerable precision, and it is in these situations that we advocate a model which learns periodic spatio-temporal patterns with a view to highlighting anomalous events such as broken-down vehicles, traffic accidents, or pedestrians jay-walking. More specifically, by estimating autocovariance of self-similarity, used previously in the context gait recognition, we characterize a scene by identifying a global fundamental period. As our model, we introduce a spatio-temporal grid of histograms built in accordance with some chosen feature. This model is then used to classify objects found in subsequent test data. In particular we demonstrate the effect of such characterization experimentally by monitoring the bounding box aspect ratio and optical flow field of objects detected on a road traffic junction, enabling our model to discriminate between people and cars sufficiently well to provide useful warnings of adverse behaviour in real time.
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This paper analyzes the interplay between society and the arts, tracing historic events to show this relationship. Additionally, the paper explores how the "self" is represented in arts and theater, particularly over the last century. This includes a discussion about how homosexuality and cross-dressing are represented in the arts such as photography and theater. Various photographs are included in the paper to demonstrate the work of Cecil Beaton. The paper also examines at length Beaton's work and his emotional life. The paper concludes by noting the timeless nature of Beaton's contribution to photography.
From the Paper:"At the end of the war, the avant garde resumed what was, before the war, just beginning to take shape as an era of personal and artistic expression of modernism unlike that which had ever been seen before. The advertising industry became the vehicle for modernists' expression, utilizing the illustration to go beyond the advertising statements of "reason-why copy," appealing to the emotional aspects of consumer perception. There was energy and excitement in the world of advertising, art, high fashion, literature, and film. The momentum was fast, and the ideas flowed, crossing genres, and the result was a newfound appreciation for form, texture, movement, and the creation of not just merchandise or art, but a visual emotional experience. What was begun in the pre-World War I era, was briefly interrupted by the war, resumed with not just an eagerness, but a hunger to express Self (Taylor, Charles, 1992) and is defined by Other. What had been censored in Paris during the war now burst like a dam of creative design and ideas that created an expanding stage upon which the creators played out their innermost private turmoil, and outermost public goals and ambitions."
Sample of Sources Used:
- Annan, Noel, The Dons: Mentors, Eccentrics, and Geniuses, (Chicago: Illinois, University of Chicago Press, 2001)
- Berzoff, Joan, Flanagan, Laura Melano, and Hertz, Patricia, Inside Out and Outside In: Psychodynamic Clinical Theory and Practice and Psychopathology in Multicultural Contexts, (Jason Aronson, 2007)
- Bullough, Bonnie, Cross Dressing, Sex, and Gender, (Philadelphia: Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania Press, 1993)
- Halloway, David and Beck, John (Eds.), American Visual Cultures, McComb, Don, The Avant-Garde and the Market: Debating Modernism: Art and American Advertising in the 1920s, Continuum International Publishing Group (London: England 2005)
- Lacan, Jacques, Some reflections on the Ego (1953), quoted in Dylan Evans, An Introductory Dictionary of Laconian Psychoanalysis (London: Routledge, 1996)
Cite this Term Paper:
The Arts and Society (2012, June 10) Retrieved June 24, 2022, from https://www.academon.com/term-paper/the-arts-and-society-151404/
"The Arts and Society" 10 June 2012. Web. 24 June. 2022. <https://www.academon.com/term-paper/the-arts-and-society-151404/>

domain: library


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A light now shines in a shadowed corner of Cleveland's Buckeye neighborhood, and there's a delicious aroma around it. Edwins Butcher Shop, an extension of the fancy restaurant a few blocks away at Shaker Square, is now open for business seven days a week. Part gourmet food store, part café for every wallet, it is also part of the Edwins ("education wins") nonprofit empire that makes it possible for people who went to prison to come out, train and reach for dignity in the working world of food.
That’s a potent formula.
A pig that flies is the sign at Edwins Butcher Shop, a training facility, cafe and market on Buckeye Road, Cleveland. (Photo by Gus Chan/The Plain Dealer)
It’s more difficult to write a food review when an organization is so well-aimed at redemption and rebirth. Who wouldn’t be moved? Time again to say out loud that my first obligation is to the reader looking for excellence and value for their hard-earned money. I also know many, like myself, feel added value in supporting a noble effort, as we do in supporting skilled, hardworking restaurant staffs everywhere.
After two visits, and knitting my experiences together, I can say there are lots of very good reasons to eat here, food items among them. If I were ranking the effort, overall food would get more than two stars; intent would get four or more. We’ll settle on three.
Don’t miss the brandy and brown sugar glaze on the sweet potatoes. (Photo by Gus Chan/The Plain Dealer)
Founder Brandon Chrostowski said early on that the café would have a wider price range than Edwins the restaurant, making it more affordable to the community. With some $2 and $5 sandwiches, $1 to add an order of fries, an array of vegetable sides and soups in $2 and $4 portions, and $3 fried chicken pieces, you can definitely eat here on a budget. At the same time, the menu lays out all the elements of reasonably priced Southern-style Sunday Dinners with beef brisket, 3-piece fried or half a rotisserie chicken, half-slab ribs, 6-ounces pulled pork, sausages and more. A meat with two sides runs $8.50-$10 whether you take out or eat in. It’s hard to find quality from-scratch food at that low a price point.
Both corned beef and pastrami are offered here. (Photo by Gus Chan/The Plain Dealer)
On the plate, the shop’s strongest suits we tried were meat textures and vegetable side dishes. Our disappointments: A rotisserie chicken dinner ordered late in the day that had a slightly mushy texture, as if it had been kept warm too long. A regular brisket dinner where the meat was a bit dry and one slice that had been cut with the grain (instead of across) and seemed a bit tough. And chicken noodle soup where noodles were soft and breaking up.
Head butcher Travis Gunter, center, trains apprentices Teon Delk Sr., left, and Willie D. Neal, right, on the proper way to carve a strip loin at Edwins Butcher Shop. Edwins sources some of their meats from Ashland farms. These were among 60 steaks prepared for Valentine's Day at Edwins restaurant. (Photo by Gus Chan/The Plain Dealer)
More often, the textures were on target. Fork-tender smoked brisket, crispy wings, plush Reuben, crispy bacon BLT, and a hamburger that crumbled just enough with every bite were all signs that Edwins, which also serves as a butchering school back in the kitchen, pays a great deal of attention to the cooking of, not just cutting of, meats.
Ribs are super-tender at Edwins Butcher Shop. (Photo by Gus Chan/The Plain Dealer)
There was one disagreement at the table about the ribs. Formidable companion insisted that ribs must be chewed from the bone. Since the meat fell off immediately, she didn’t think they made the grade. I grabbed my fork and took the opposite opinion, since the meat that fell off was so lusciously cooked, tender but still richly grained, not greasy but still unctuous.
Crisp and well-seasoned, wings are a star at Edwins Butcher Shop. (Photo by Gus Chan/The Plain Dealer)
What the dish lacked, and this was true of several items, was enough seasoning to give it a signature. On both visits we asked for salt and pepper, which was delivered in little plastic cups. I sprinkled it on the ribs, the briskets, the soup, the burger and the chicken. Each rose a couple of notches in flavor, including the raw Italian sausage that I bought from the store operation and cooked later. Still, I would have loved a splash of barbecue sauce on the smoked brisket.
A 1938 photo of the Buckeye Meat Market, which stood a few doors down, hangs at Edwins Butcher Shop. Elsie Stefnitzky, center, was one of the early female butchers in Cleveland. (Photo by Gus Chan/The Plain Dealer)
Nothing is labeled vegan or vegetarian on the shop’s menu, and that was not surprising in a school for meat cutting. But there are options among the consistently stellar lineup of side-dishes, including tomato-sauced baked beans, creamy cheddar mac and cheese, balanced peppery greens, super-fresh red cabbage slaw, and sweet potatoes in a brandy and brown sugar glaze. Ask your counter person about the presence of meat, since the greens clearly had some. But don’t miss these sides. All the flavors are lively without being too hot, too sweet or too salty. With the right main dish, they can lift a lunch or dinner to new heights, just as they are lifting expectations in this corner of the world.
Flourless chocolate “cookies” are addictive here. (Photo by Gus Chan/The Plain Dealer)
TASTE BITES: Edwins Butcher Shop
Where: 13024 Buckeye Road, Cleveland, 44120
Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday – Friday; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.
Prices: Meals with two sides, $8-$10; sandwiches, $2-$10; burgers, dogs, $6-$9; desserts, $1-$3.
Reservations: Only for parties of 8 or more.
Credit cards: All major cards and Ohio Direction Cards.
Kid-friendliness: Kid-friendly menu items. One booster chair.
Bar service: Beer and wine, but carry out only.
Grade: * * *
Ratings: One star means fair; 2 stars, good; 3 stars, very good; 4 stars, exceptional. (Zero stars: not recommended.) Plain Dealer reviewers try to make at least two anonymous visits to each restaurant and do not accept complimentary meals. Read past reviews at cleveland.com/dining
The mac and cheese at the new Edwins Butcher Shop is a classic, with silky sauce and cheddar flavor. (Photo by Gus Chan/The Plain Dealer)
Beef brisket is available smoked or not. (Photo by Gus Chan/The Plain Dealer)

domain: food


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An alleged shooting involving an illegal AK-47 rifle ended peacefully after an hour long stand-off with the Armed Offenders Squad in Auckland on Monday afternoon, Stuff reports. Inspector Kerry Watson of Ōtāhuhu Station said, “When we’re talking about illegal firearms with high-calibre rounds, its quite potentially dangerous, and it’s safer for us and the community if we use our specialist staff.” Two people are in custody after the incident, which began in West Auckland and ended in Māngere East several hours later.
- Auckland and Northland hotels will allow only fully vaccinated guests
- St Heliers footpath protesters don’t let lockdown get in way of halting digger
- Poorly vaccinated south Auckland suburbs pass 50 per cent double-dosed
- Covid-19: Survivor says virus had him ‘boiling from the inside’
- Wrestling with forestry decisions

domain: news


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domain: finance


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The King James Version of the Bible (KJB), translated by William Tyndale, has had more influence on the world spiritually than any other book since its publication in 1611 — over 400 years ago. In addition, there are more copies of it published than any other book; more than a billion have been published and the publishing rate increases. No other book exceeds that.
Consider these Questions: 1. How Accurate is the King James Edition of the Bible? 2. Are There Serious Consequences from Inaccuracies?
Many consider the KJB the most accurate English translation. I will show there have been, and are now, and will be serious consequences from KJB inaccuracies. At the same time, we are grateful that the KJB may be the most accurate of the English translations, and in large measure we can thank William Tyndale for that – an unsung hero.
It is ironic that when King James convened his 51 scholars in 1604 to perform the translation over the next several years, they ended up using most of Tyndale’s translation; 76% of the KJB is Tyndale’s. His whole life focus was to bring the Bible into English.
He was a gifted linguist and became fluent over the years in French, Greek, Hebrew, Latin, Spanish, in addition to English. Between 1517 and 1521, he went to the University of Cambridge. Erasmus had been the leading teacher of Greek from August 1511 to January 1512, but not during Tyndale’s time at the university. Later Tyndale was greatly influenced by Erasmus’s translation of the New Testament in Greek.
But yet, as I discuss in “It’s About Time”, chapter 3 of my book, “What is God’s Word?” every translator by nature is influenced by his beliefs. We would not expect it to be otherwise. He wants his translation to line up with what he believes to be true! So, as we look at the beliefs of Tyndale, who has had more influence on the world spiritually than perhaps any other person, what are they?
From Wikipedia we read:
“Tyndale denounced the practice of prayer to saints. He taught the supreme authority of Holy Scripture, the doctrine of the Trinity, the sovereignty of God, the deity of Christ and His divine glory as the Son of God, His saving work and mediation as the sole basis of man’s salvation, the importance of the covenants, salvation by grace alone, baptism in the name of Christ, justification by faith, the return of Jesus Christ, obedience to God’s law, the evil of idolatry and superstition, the necessity of Biblical reformation, and that the Papacy was anti-christ. More than just a Bible translator and scholar, William Tyndale was a gifted theologian, and could therefore in many ways be called the first English Puritan.”
Grace or Works or Both?
As I share in “It’s About Time”, chapters 17 and 18, if we ask how modern Christianity lines up with ancient Christianity at the time of Christ and the Apostles, we find some significant and serious dichotomies. This blog article, “Are We Saved By Grace or Works” gives some aspects. There is a fascinating book by David W. Bercot, Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up, that reveals some of these dichotomies as well, and it is fascinating to learn that the “saved by grace and not by works” doctrine had its main origin with Martin Luther, who greatly influenced William Tyndale, and this doctrine did not exist in the pristine primitive church established by Christ and His apostles.
The doctrine of being saved by grace is fundamental to Christianity, and we should teach it and believe it. But in Chapter 18 of my book “It’s About Time”, I list a large number of scriptures from the Bible that say we will be judged by our works. The “not by works” teaching is pervasive in the evangelical world – keeping them from seeing or believing the fullness of gospel, as taught beautifully in the Book of Mormon.
Similarly, the doctrine of the trinity originated with the creeds – starting with the Nicaean Creed about 321 AD – and also was non-existent in the early church’s teachings. Not only are the creeds vague, but they are impersonal – moving the Godhead far away from most Christians. Yet Jesus in his last great High Priest’s prayer said, “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3) In other words, the process of gaining eternal life is the process of coming to know God the Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus the Christ.
We see that we have the serious consequence of the false doctrines coming from the creeds destroying the path to eternal life, and most of Christianity believes in these creeds – including Tyndale. It took the first vision of the Prophet Joseph in the spring of 1820 to open to the world the true nature of God, which is taught in the Bible and in the early Christian Church, but masked by the creeds.
Off Spring of God
Another fundamental teaching lost over the dark ages, but which is also taught in the Bible, is that we “are the offspring of God.” (Acts 17:28-29) As I explain – using the scientific method in Chapter 2 of my book – each of our spirits had a pre-mortal birth. We are literally children of God with the inherent potential to become like God, as Jesus asked us to do in the Sermon on the Mount: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48) What an incredible promise and potential we have, which teaching has been lost to almost all current Christians, and precious each of us is as His child.
So while Tyndale’s contributions to the world’s spirituality are enormous, many have been led astray by distortions in Bible translations and by many misinterpretations due to false traditions. No one’s world view is perfect. We do the best we can, and we do our best when we follow the counsel of the Savior, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12) Peter’s counsel in this regard is most apropos; only the Spirit of Truth can help us know the Truth’s of God:
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:20-21)
Tyndale’s Inspired Work
I believe Tyndale was raised up by the Lord to do the work he did. He was held to be a man of virtuous disposition, leading an unblemished life. His main mission in life was to bring the Bible into the English language in as pure a form as was possible for him to do. Tyndale told a clergyman, who was worried that William’s work be considered heretical, “… if God spares my life, ere many years, I will cause the boy that driveth the plow to know more of the Scriptures than thou dost!” Clearly, He was influenced greatly by the Spirit of the Lord, as attested by his contributions to the KJB.
A fascinating attestation of the inspiration given by the Lord to Tyndale is in how he preserved phraseology having its origin in the Adamic language. See this article. as shown in this article. This important phraseology tying all of scriptures together — both ancient and modern — is lost in essentially all other English translations of the Bible.
For his enormous contribution, Tyndale died as a martyr at age 42 at the hands of Henry VIII. His last words were, “Lord! Open the King of England’s eyes.” Three years later there was an English version of the Bible staked to every pulpit in the churches of England — thanks to Ann Boleyn, who loved Tyndale’s Bible.
The King of Heaven
Now my plea is, “Open our eyes to the King of Heaven!” The need for repentance and especially in this land of the free (America) is paramount! Let us by pass the false traditions that have crept into Christianity over the centuries, “And look to God and live,” (Alma 37:47) and live the beautiful truths brought forth through the Prophet Joseph Smith and the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. How blessed we are to Have the Book of Mormon translated one time into English by the gift and power of God. The Bible contained the fullness of the gospel until the translators did their thing. It took the 51 scholars seven years for the KJB to do 24%; the other 76% came from William Tyndale. Professor John Welch of BYU documents that it took Joseph 65 working days at 20 words a minute to miraculously translate the Book of Mormon from ancient reformed Egyptian script with Hebrew nouns added. A language of which he knew nothing — translated for him by the gift and power of God.
David W. Allan

domain: literature


text:
Unconjugated bilirubin, the hydrophobic end-product of heme degradation, is generally held to be little more than a metabolic by-product of heme catabolism. Heme oxygenase (HO) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the conversion of heme to bilirubin. The inducible isoform of this enzyme, HO-1, is up-regulated in response to inflammatory stimuli and has been shown to be cytoprotective in a number of tissue injury models. Hence, we speculate that bilirubin may be a primary mediator of the protective effects of HO-1 in the liver and in other organ systems. The proposed studies will specifically investigate the hypothesis that bilirubin functions as an endogenous inhibitor of the inflammatory response. The broad, long-term objectives of the outlined research proposal are to characterize the mechanism(s) underlying the anti-inflammatory properties of bilirubin and to explore potential therapeutic implications. The experiments outlined in Specific Aim 1 are designed to evaluate the potency and establish the pathways whereby bilirubin suppresses inflammatory responses in vivo, through the use of established rodent models of inflammation. Studies will specifically evaluate the ability of bilirubin to regulate NF-kappaB nuclear translocation, the expression of key NF-kappaB dependent pro-inflammatory enzymes, and the activation of proteinase-activated receptors (PARs).
Specific Aim 2 will focus on investigating whether bilirubin exerts a direct effect on the activity of enzymes essential to the inflammatory response, including cyclooxygenases, nitric oxide synthase, phospholipases, and prototype serine protease activators of PARs (e.g., trypsin, thrombin). Kinetic and binding analyses will facilitate elucidation of the mechanisms underlying bilirubin's effects. Based on the findings of the above outlined analyses, future studies will focus on the mechanism(s) whereby bilirubin suppresses NF-kappaB activation and on the local regulation of bilirubin production and catabolism at sites of inflammation. It is anticipated that the results of these studies will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the role that bilirubin plays in the regulation of inflammation. As bilirubin is fairly innocuous in adults even at high concentrations, the findings of the proposed experiments may lay the foundation for potential new therapies for the treatment of inflammatory conditions.
|Vogel, Megan E; Zucker, Stephen D (2016) Bilirubin acts as an endogenous regulator of inflammation by disrupting adhesion molecule-mediated leukocyte migration. Inflamm Cell Signal 3:|
|Idelman, Gila; Smith, Darcey L H; Zucker, Stephen D (2015) Bilirubin inhibits the up-regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase by scavenging reactive oxygen species generated by the toll-like receptor 4-dependent activation of NADPH oxidase. Redox Biol 5:398-408|
|Zucker, Stephen D; Vogel, Megan E; Kindel, Tammy L et al. (2015) Bilirubin prevents acute DSS-induced colitis by inhibiting leukocyte infiltration and suppressing upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 309:G841-54|
|Smith, Darcey L H; Shire, Norah J; Watts, Nelson B et al. (2006) Hyperbilirubinemia is not a major contributing factor to altered bone mineral density in patients with chronic liver disease. J Clin Densitom 9:105-13|
|Keshavan, Pavitra; Deem, Tracy L; Schwemberger, Sandy J et al. (2005) Unconjugated bilirubin inhibits VCAM-1-mediated transendothelial leukocyte migration. J Immunol 174:3709-18|
|Zucker, Stephen D; Horn, Paul S; Sherman, Kenneth E (2004) Serum bilirubin levels in the U.S. population: gender effect and inverse correlation with colorectal cancer. Hepatology 40:827-35|
|Wang, Weizheng W; Smith, Darcey L H; Zucker, Stephen D (2004) Bilirubin inhibits iNOS expression and NO production in response to endotoxin in rats. Hepatology 40:424-33|
|Keshavan, Pavitra; Schwemberger, Sandy J; Smith, Darcey L H et al. (2004) Unconjugated bilirubin induces apoptosis in colon cancer cells by triggering mitochondrial depolarization. Int J Cancer 112:433-45|

domain: medical


text:
The preparation of 3α,7β-dihydroxy-22,23-methylene-5β-cholan-24-oic acid (2-sulfoethyl)amide (5) by the one-step EEDQ-induced conjugation between ursodeoxycholic acid "cyclopropylog" (4) and taurine is described. The presence of a cyclopropyl ring adjacent to the amide bond is shown to make it resistant to degradation by intestinal bacteria. This new cyclopropylog is neither deconjugated at the C-24 amide bond nor 7-dehydroxylated when incubated with human stools in anaerobic conditions.
|Number of pages||4|
|Journal||Journal of Medicinal Chemistry|
|Publication status||Published - 1985|
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Organic Chemistry

domain: chemistry


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The number of people in England testing positive for coronavirus may be levelling off, according to a household survey by the Office for National Statistics.
After a low in cases at the end of June, it estimated infections had been rising slightly in July.
Restrictions have been introduced in recent weeks in a number of different areas to control outbreaks.
The figures are based on throat and nose swabs from nearly 120,000 people.
They are tested whether they have symptoms or not.
Individuals in hospitals and care homes are not included in the ONS survey, which has been estimating cases in private households since May.
Figures for Wales have been included for the first time – and during the week of 27 July to 2 August, 1,400 people are estimated to have had Covid-19.
In England, the figure for the same week is 28,300.
Katherine Kent, who leads the analysis of the ONS Infection Survey, said: “Although we are still reporting an increase in England since the lowest recorded level of infection in late June, this week’s estimates suggest this trend may be levelling off when compared with the data we published last week.”
The ONS is expanding its survey to include Northern Ireland and is also hoping to collect figures in Scotland.
However, there is uncertainty around these figures because they are based on modelling a sample of the population and a very small number of positive tests – just 53 people from 53 households over six weeks.
And the ONS says there is no clear evidence from its survey to say whether infection rates differ by region in England.
Local restrictions are currently in place in 18 areas in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and East Lancashire, plus Leicester.
This means there are stricter rules on socialising for people living in these areas and for businesses, in order to control the spread of the virus.
Leicester was the first place in the UK to have a local lockdown introduced after a rise in Covid-19 cases. The city’s pubs and restaurants are now preparing for their first weekend open in months.
The latest R number for the UK was also published on Friday. It is now estimated to be between 0.8 and 1.0, suggesting coronavirus cases in the UK are either stable or shrinking slightly.
However SAGE, the government’s scientific advisors, says it does “not have confidence that R is currently below 1 in England”.
The number relates to how many people each infected person is passing the virus on to. Anything above 1.0 means cases are starting to grow again.
Highs and lows
Prof Keith Neal, emeritus professor of the epidemiology of infectious diseases, at the University of Nottingham, said estimating R was becoming “increasingly difficult” because of the small number of cases around.
“A local cluster in one part of a region such as Leicester in the East Midlands can give a value over 1 overall for the region but the figure would be much lower in the rest of the region.
“These local clusters need to be identified and managed with locally targeted measures,” he said.
“For many parts of the country, infection rates continue to fall but caution and avoidance of high risk mixing needs to continue.”
Prof Neal added: “The best way the public can help control Covid-19 is to get tested if they have symptoms, and if positive, isolate and identify their contacts.”
- CARE HOMES: The forgotten frontline struggling to protect residents against the killer virus
- TEMPERATURE CHECKS: Do they work or are they giving false reassurance?

domain: geography


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Chios Travel Information
Chios Travel Information
Chios Is The Most Magical Greek Island, If Greece has a magical island, Chios is definitely it. This lesser-known isle sits happily in the northeastern area of the Aegean Sea.
Chios is most famous for its cultivation and production of mastic, an aromatic resin that forms in a teardrop.
The whispering sounds of Chios, the waves echo in the breeze as they reach out and cling to the seashore. The clear blue sky is filled with seagulls flying freely in the air. Imagine a place offering escape, recreation, shelter, adventure, and discovery all provided from the natural components that comprise its existence.
Travel to Chios, the Greek island that links the west to the east Anatolia.
Chios is the fifth-largest island of the Greek islands (842 sq. km.) with a 213 km coastline and a population of approximately 55,000 inhabitants who live in the capital as well as within the 65 villages.
The island Chios is often called myrovόlos. The port of the island faces East, due to the commercial links that had always existed with the ports of the East.
The aromas that emerge from the citrus tree blossoms during spring fill the air. The old is harmoniously combined with the new, and the trip of the senses begins. Byzantine religious art in Greece.
The effect of sunlight or candlelight reflecting off the glistening surfaces of the mosaics creates an indescribable atmosphere.
The island of fertility and mastic
Chios has fertile plains where fruit, wheat, and vegetables are cultivated, rich pine forests, and some bare mountains with stone-built goat and sheep shelters that may date back to Antiquity.
Its well-known product is the mastic, the sap of the very fragrantschίnos (pistacia lentiscus) shrubs of various sizes that cover the hills of the southern part of the island. Mastic is the ancient chewing gum, which is extracted from pistachio lentiscus, a variety that grows in this part of Chios and nowhere else in the world.
Very much sought after since Antiquity, mastic is still used as a flavoring and chewing gum, mainly in Arab countries and the Middle East, where most of the island's production is exported.
The island of local gastronomy
Chios has a tradition of fruit preserves or "spoon sweets" as they are called. The tangerines rolled pieces of bergamot, bitter orange peel, tiny unripe eggplants, unripe pistachios or figs, even fragrant citrus blossoms, and the petals of pink roses are cooked in syrup and served on small glass plates, as a gesture of welcome by locals who have interesting recipes to share.
The island of architectural variety
In Kambos, the area that lies south of the town of Chios, you will see an extraordinary architectural style: impressive villas and townhomes that were the homes of the Genoese and the Greek entry, built in the middle of well-watered fertile grounds.
Here, you will get a glimpse of the glorious past of the island, described by foreign travelers who described the way of life that the Chians enjoyed during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Built mainly with the bright ochre and brick red stone from Thymiana, the neighboring village, the villas of Kambos have vast gardens and cisterns decorated with white marble columns and reliefs.
There are also large “Mangano” - water wheels powered by mules that used to bring water up from the wells. The impressive arched gates have the Genoese coat of arms and the courtyards are paved with black and white pebbles that create interesting decorative mosaics.
These architectural features are unique, but unfortunately, today many of the estates are in ruins. A few have been restored and some have been turned into small hotels or restaurants.
It is worth exploring the narrow streets of Kambos, even getting lost in its maze of alleys and bridges, crisscrossing the streams and admiring the remnants of the past.
Mainly citrus fruit orchards surround the houses. Citrus fruit and especially a very fragrant indigenous variety of tangerines was once extremely popular, bringing wealth to the owners of “perivolia” (orchards in the Chian dialect).
Another unique architectural style is one of the mastic villages, also known as castle villages.
The southern region of the island, which has many exceptionally well-preserved villages built during the years of the Genoese domination (1346-1566), is devoted to the cultivation of mastic.
The “Mastichochoria” (mastic villages) as they are called, are rare examples of medieval architecture: the two-story stone houses have no windows on the first floor façade that faces out the village. Built in the form of a coil with narrow inner lines and arches linking many houses, those villages had only one entrance.
Mesta and especially Olympi, are the best examples of this extraordinary architecture, while Pirgi, the largest of the Mastichochoria, has old and modern houses decorated with “xysta” (scratched walls), as referred to by the locals, a technique probably learned from the Genovese.
In the northern part of the island, the architecture is very different. Here, the less wealthy villages have simpler stone houses. The houses’ architecture is a result of the local materials used by local people. It is thus pure folklore architecture.
The walls are made of stone and the houses usually have a ground floor for the animals and another floor on the upper level for the people. The stairs were usually external, giving access to a small terrace which, in turn, gave access to the rest of the house.
Chios has been subjected to a stream of cultures over the course of time.
The Island’s History: Live the island's past through the present.
Chios is an island where the historic past is still living in the present. One can find traces of all different eras. There is evidence that the island had inhabitants since the Stone Age.
3000 BC: Neolithic findings in the Cave of Agio Galas (a village located in the northwest region of the island).
Chios, unlike other places, had no colonies. The Chians were creating what was called in Greek “emporia” (meaning trading posts) and they were very famous for their wine and mastic, two of their most popular products contributed to the flourishment of the island flourish.
1600-1100 BC: An ancient settlement found in the southern part of the island, in the area of Kato Fana, is probably a remnant of the Mycenaean period.
600 BC: Around 600 BC, the “Great Clause” (Megali Ritra) was established on the island. The first democracy in the world was based on this law. It is said that Solon, prior to establishing the democratic laws and institutions in Athens, visited Chios and used plenty of the democratic principles of the Great Clause.
1042-1055 AD: Emperor Constantine Monomachos keeps his promise and begins building the Nea Moni Monastery. The Emperor had promised the two monks that found the Holy Icon of the Virgin hanging from the branch of myrtle, that should he regain his throne (as they predicted), he would furnish the Monastery with a dowry.
1261 AD: According to the Treaty of Nympheon Chios is given to the Genoese, who are permitted by the emperor to maintain an establishment there, including a palace, a church, gardens, public baths, dwelling places, and their own counsel.
1304-1329 AD: Chios comes under the temporary rule of the Genovese. A treaty with the Emperor concedes to the Genovese a ten-year right to “protect” the island provided it remains under Byzantine sovereignty.
1346 - 1566 AD: Genoese rule, Republic of Genoa. Chios prospers during the Genoese period. A commercial Genoese firm called Maóna maintains control of the island’s commerce. Although they oppress the inhabitants, they manage to organize the commerce of mastic and the rest of the products.
They bring to the island the cultivation of citrus trees and the raising of silkworms. Castle villages are created in the South to protect mastic production and mansions are established in the area of Kambos. The population increases and the standard of living is high.
The Ottoman era.
Chora is built almost in the center of the east coast and is the most significant harbor in the island.
According to archeological finds, the island has been inhabited since 6000 B.C. Chios town was built by Ions little before 1000 B.C. So, Chora has a history of more than 3000 years' time. During this period Chios enjoyed great prosperity.
Chios Town, as an important educational and spiritual center that it is, has many excellent schools of all degrees of education, from nursery schools to lyceums, libraries (Adamandios Korais library) and the great Spiritual and Cultural Center of the island (Homerion), where conferences and councils of any kind are held, cultural manifestations, theatrical performances, and generally many different artistic activities.
The harbor is connected by ferry with the other two islands of the prefecture of Chios, Psara, and Onousses, also with the biggest harbors of Piraeus, Athens and other Greek islands, Mytilini, Lesvos, Samos, Kavala, Greece generally, and with Cesme, Turkey. As a result, we have great trading development and frequent journeys and trips both from tourists and residents.
Today the Town has kept the basic town planning schedule without big changes during the course of time, with the castle, the harbor, the streets, and the settlements. But the destruction of 1822 and the terrible earthquake of 1881, with the general reconstruction in postwar years, have ruined the historic architectural physiognomy of the Town.
For all its extent, the Town affords a unique opportunity for wandering by feet among the small streets of the settlements and the central arterial roads.
In the center of the Town is the famous "Vounaki" square, where the biggest part of the area is taken up by the Public Park. From the center of the square, the "Kenenti" street leads to the official gate of the medieval Castle of Chios.
The building of the Castle was at the end of the 10th century and the beginning of 11th in the area of the ancient town and very close to the harbor. By the time the Castle was built and until today is constantly inhabited and has kept the main characteristics of the old castle, narrow streets, many ruins and buildings of various ages.
Near the square, there are remarkable buildings that were rescued, the Bairakli Mosque, the Osmanie Mosque, and the Metzitie Mosque, where is situated the Byzantine Museum of Chios. Around there is also the temple of Agios Vasilios Petrokokkinon, whereby the end of the 16th century housed the cathedral of Chios and the church of Saint George.
In the sound part of the square is extended the main road of the town, Aplotaria, where are located all the trade shops and markets. Most buildings here are old mansions of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. At the end of the main road to the east side, the road leads to the Secondary school, which was established in 1792, the Cathedral and Korais Library that is 13.5000 books strong and on the first floor is roofed the Art gallery and the Argenti Folklore Museum of Chios.
The settlements of the south part of Chora were first inhabited around the 20th century and since then has shown expansionist tendencies for the town. This area is also situated in the Archeological Museum, the University of Aegean, the Nautical Museum and the central Sports Field of Chios.
Finally, on the periphery of the Town, there are buildings of the Genoan times, the one called Kamenos Pyrgos and the Gothic Tower.
Historic Monuments of Chios
The Castle or Fortress of Chios lies north of the center of town. When it was built, it enclosed the entire town of Chios, soon thereafter, however, the town expanded beyond the Castle walls.
The first architectural phase of the monument dates back to the Byzantine period (the end of the 10th century), however, almost nothing has survived of the original fortification. Its entrance is through the Central Gate (“PortaMaggiore”) located at the south end, which was reconstructed by the Venetians in 1694. In the enclosed area, near the gate, stands the two-story building known as the Ioustiniani Palace.
Two of the most important structures inside the Castle are the Kria Vrisi (Cold Fountain), a semi-subterranean water cistern built under the Genoese, and the massive tower known as “Kulas.” the Castle was surrounded by a wide moat that has now been filled.
In recent years, excavation research was carried out over the course of house construction within the area. This research brought to light important evidence regarding the morphology and history of the fortress.
Nea Moni Monastery
The Nea Moni Monastery was built in the 11thcentury (around 1042 – 1056) and was dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. It covers an area of approximately 17,000 m2 and is located in the central region of the island of Chios.
The buildings comprising the Nea Moni Monastery include the main church (“catholicon”), 2 smaller churches, a table or “trapeza” which was the monks’ dining area, the monks’ quarters (“kelia”) and underground tanks (“kinksters”) that were built to collect water. In the northwest corner of the Monastery, there stands a strong defensive tower. A tall stone-wall surrounds the complex of the Monastery.
According to monastic tradition, the Emperor Constantine Monomachos founded the Monastery to repay three Chian monks for predicting that his banishment to Lesvos was temporary and he would eventually return to the throne. The three monks discovered the miraculous Icon of the Virgin Mary hanging on a branch of myrtle at the Monastery’s current location.
This was where they originally built the small church with a few quarters. Emperor Monomachos provided the Monastery with property and revenues, something that was often very unusual for the Byzantine financial system. The Nea Moni Monastery became one of the wealthiest and most well-known monasteries in the Aegean.
The main church or “catholicon” is located in the central point of the Monastery.
It is comprised of the main church, the “eso-narthex” and the “exo-narthex”.
The architecture of the main temple is the well known “island” octagonal type.
The only examples of this architecture in existence today are in Chios.
The other buildings contained within the limits of the stone walls include:
a) The Temple of the Holy Cross – a small temple built on the side of the entrance gate which stores the skeletal remainings of the martyrs and fighters of the Massacre of Chios.
b) The Temple of Aghios Panteleimonas – a small temple on the right side of the road that leads to the Tower. It is dated around 1889.
c) The Museum – the exhibition of the relics of the Monastery was opened to the public in 1992.
d) The mosaics of the Nea Moni Monastery date back to the 11th century and comprise a portion of the Monastery’s dowry. Today, it is one of the three remaining collections left in Greece of the mid-Byzantine period and it remains in relatively good condition.
Key characteristics of the technique used to create these mosaics pertain to the dramatic expressions and monastic simplicity in its entirety.
The golden background occupies a large portion of the surface drawings and as the light reflects on it, it enhances the transcendence of the depictions and shapes as if they are moving on a superior and spiritual world.
Their exquisite quality in addition to the fact that they comprise the work of artists directly connected with the imperial workshops in Constantinople, place them amongst the most significant creations of Byzantine art.
The Monastery is listed in the monuments protected by UNESCO’s World Heritage.
“Kambos” – the ‘perivolia’ district
Kambos is located south of the town of Chios and encompasses an area 7 kilometers in length and a width of approximately 2 kilometers from the town of Chios.
The literal translation of the word Kambos is the plane (connoting a leveled surface), however, this does not begin to depict the splendor of the evergreen trees, the lusciously green countryside, and the thick, plentiful citrus trees contained within each orchard.
Over the course of time, various cultures have dominated Chios, thereby reinforcing the fact that the island has been the crossroad for many civilizations, a connection between the west and the east.
Kambos has a history of civilizations that have swept through its estates and evidence of foreign influence has been engraved within its buildings, stone walls, and the family coat of arms made of marble above each estate entrance.
Kambos’ history dates back to the Byzantine period and continues with the Genovese that has passed. The prosperity of Kambos is attributed to the Genoese domination dating 1346 – 1566. The Genovese took advantage of the plentiful water deposits in the soil contained within the Kambos area.
They imported citrus trees and introduced the island inhabitants to the systematic cultivation of the trees, thereby increasing wealth by exporting golden fruit abroad, amongst other goods.
The wealth that was initially generated in the 14th century is evident even today. Within the limits of Kambos are approximately 200 historical estates, each of which displays a splendorous mansion, auxiliary buildings, a wheel powered well, cistern, pebble paved courtyard, and orchard.
Today, in an effort to preserve this cultural inheritance, renovations have been completed and inhabitants have either taken up permanent residence or utilize the estates as lodges.
Kambos has been characterized as a traditional settlement (paradosiakos ikismos), thus limiting construction and renovation within the area. Renovations must be performed by taking into consideration the protective legislature of the area.
Mastic – the trademark of Chios
This amazing tree thrives within the mastic villages of southern Chios only.
The oldest references to mastic have been traced back to Herodotus in the 5th Century B.C. The people of Ancient Greece chewed mastic to whiten their teeth and if you think about it, mastic was the unique chewing gum even then! During the Roman period, toothpicks were made from the mastic tree and the use of mastic spread to the harems of the East.
Tradition says that God blessed the mastic tree which began to "cry" in 250 A.D. when St. Isidoros cried out in pain during his martyrdom.
The “Magical Tears”
Mastic has a plethora of qualities and uses. It absorbs cholesterol, is an antibacterial act as an oral antiseptic, aids digestion, tightens the gums, heals wounds, and scientists recently discovered that when it is administrated in small doses it cures stomach ulcers.
Aside from the medical aspects, these magical tears are used in distilleries to produce mastic liqueur and mastic-flavored ouzo called mastichato.
There are also culinary uses for mastic. For example, mastic is used in baking and in sweets such as biscuits, mastic ice cream, and mastic sweets of the spoon.
In a refined form, it is also used as the primary ingredient for toothpaste, shampoo, perfumes, in frankincense, and varnish.
Kendo, The Incision.
The collection of mastic begins when the mastic producers clean the area under the tree and they cover it with white clay so that the tears will stay clear and dry faster as they fall to the ground. The “kendo” ( a , process of making incisions to the tree) begins in June and lasts through September.
The mastic producers make an incision along the tree trunk in the shape of an arch with the “kentitiri” (incision tool). Their day begins early before sunrise and they make their way to the fields with their donkeys in one of the most picturesque scenes ever seen on the island those days. The mastic growers are suitably dressed and well equipped in their endeavor, racing against the sun, trying to avoid his presence.
The curing of the mastic tree ends before the sun reaches its highest point. When the tears have been coagulated, the mastic laborers use the “timitiri” to gather the precious crystals. Every little piece of this natural product is collected even if it is mixed with dust.
If you visit the mastic villages during that period you will feel the warmth of the people prevailing in every corner of the village.
After all, isn't this the real magic of mastic?
The Chian ouzo was produced in early times and played a primary role in the Chians’ social lives. Originally, it was considered an alcoholic beverage for men, however, throughout the course of time, it was served during special occasions, such as welcoming guests, bidding farewell as well as an aperitif prior to serving dinner. Seafood traditionally accompanies ouzo, thus, creating a strong and delightful combination.
The island of Chios, known as the cradle of spices and aromas, produces a variety of soft and smooth ouzo, which depends on the recipe used. The traditional ingredients include “glykanissos” (aniseed) combined with “maratho” (fennel), “koliandro” (cilantro), and the unique mastic.
Clearly disassociated from the local tsipouro (raki) and from souma (suma), which is mainly produced by figs. Chian ouzo is still distilled primarily in the small copper stills (“kazania”) of traditional family manufacturers.
What is Ouzo
The classic Greek drink Ouzo begins as alcohol made from grape skins or other local produce. It is then brought together with herbs and other ingredients, including star anise, coriander, cloves, angelica root, and even cinnamon and lime blossom. The mixture is boiled in a copper still and regulated by a taster. The resulting liquid is cooled and stored for several months before it is diluted to about 80 proof or 40 percent alcohol. However, homemade ouzo can be a deliriously strong 80 percent alcohol.
Ouzo is usually served as an aperitif but is also used in some mixed drinks and cocktails.
When mixing Ouzo with water, it turns whitish and opaque. The reason is that the anise oil dissolves and becomes invisible when mixed with conventional alcohol content, but as soon as the alcohol content is reduced, the essential oils transform into white crystals, which you cannot see through.
Ouzo is protected by the European Union as an exclusively Greek product. As a traditional drink, it is subject to half the tax imposed on most other EU spirits.
Chios is called "myrovolos", meaning fragrant. That should not surprise you since the fragrances of the verdant “perivolia” (orchards) in the district of Kambos surround you from the very first moment you begin strolling through the green nucleus of the island. Narrow streets, high stone walls, thick, green leaves will emerge everywhere and surround you with their precious aroma.
The cultivation of citrus trees was a new culture imported by the Genoans (1348-1566), who were cruel conquerors yet clever traders. As soon as they realized that the evergreen trees thrive on the water enriched soil deposits, they started to import them from Italy.
Kambos exhibited these characteristics primarily and was thereby transformed into a huge, orange orchard. The Chians also imported orange trees from Africa, since the tree's cultivation was so successful. It is worth noting here that the tangerine trees were not imported by the Genoans, as many people want to believe, but by the Chian family of Horemi who imported them from India around 1860-62. They were first cultivated in the family's orchard and were then planted in Kambos.
Chian tangerines are unique and they are considered to be a distinguished variety. Grocery stores and farm stands sell these fruits as "Chian tangerines".
Kambos is a region where the water deposits favor the cultivation of the "Esperides' Golden Apples", as the ancient Greeks used to call the oranges.
When one wanders the various paths of Kambos, one can use their sense of smell and imagination to 'see' the orchards through the huge, stone walls that surround them in order to keep the south winds and the winter's cold away. winds.
The Mastic Sweet
On its way from the East, sugar brought with it its secrets. The Persian and Arabic recipes were combined with ours to create a delightful tasty result.
The Chios mastic, an exclusive product of the island, combined with sugar, gave birth to the spoon sweet – mastic, also known as “hyporvrychio”, a different and more intensely flavored form of vanilla.
Since the last century, this kind of mastic has been spread in the Greek Diaspora gentry’s estates and mainly in Constantinople (Istanbul) as the welcome sweet by the name of the “White Sweet.” It is still the official treat in the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate today.


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Clear the Stage for 1990 : Predicting some of the probable contenders--and the movies haven’t been released yet
If “Rain Man” has taken the suspense out of Wednesday’s Academy Awards for you, if the only mysteries remaining are whether Dustin Hoffman will make his acceptance speech in character and producer Allan Carr will bring the show to a close before the bars close in Boston, here’s something to consider: There are only 368 days until the 1990 awards are presented.
What better time to begin sorting through the contenders than before the films have been shown to anyone, before some of them have been made, or even cast, before the publicity mills grind and critics compose the praise that will fuel next winter’s long Oscar race?
Go ahead, pick a winner. Say it--"For best performance by an actor in a leading role . . . Marlon Brando in ‘A Dry White Season”'--and see how smart and right it feels before anyone has had a chance to write it off.
Predicting next year’s nominees is not the strain it seems. By following some simple rules, you can eliminate all but a handful of films from contention. First, you dismiss the B genre chaff--action, horror and teen-age sex/slob comedies, anything with the word Ninja in the title. Then you concentrate on those films set to be released near the end of the year.
Only five times since the Eisenhower Administration has a film released before July won the best picture Oscar. The last first-half winner was “Annie Hall,” an April 1977 release. When a major studio sets a serious movie for release between September and the end of the year, it can be taken as a declared candidate.
Finally, with apologies to Lt. Renault in “Casablanca,” you round up the usual suspects. Which previously honored “serious” stars and star directors have work coming out this year? Nicholson, Hoffman, Newman? Streep, Fonda, Winger? Forman, Allen, Jewison?
This is more practical than it is cynical. The serious stars and star directors get the pick of the litter of serious screenplays, the plum roles and the juicy themes. Good scripts are often undermined in the process of accommodating the directors, stars, producers and studios first drawn to them (which accounts for so many bad movies made by so many talented people), but Oscar ambitions always start with the writing.
The major studios don’t make the best films every year, but they make most of the Academy Award contenders. It is a function of their being able to afford those classy stars’ and directors’ salaries, the big ad and publicity campaigns that stimulate the box office, and the Oscar campaigns that eventually lure academy voters out of their dens up in Benedict Canyon to see what the fuss is all about.
So, who are the candidates for next year’s awards? Some films will probably be postponed (for reasons of marketing, production delays or odor) and unforeseen titles will be slipped in. But based on the current schedule, some reluctant handicapping by studio sources, and the outrageous assumption that these films and performances will live up to their potential, here’s an early look at the field for ’90
“Untitled Woody Allen.” Orion. Nobody outside Allen’s immediate circle knows anything about this planned fall release, except that it’s going to be funny/serious, in the mold, they say, of “Annie Hall” and he’s in it! After “September” and “Another Woman,” bleak trifles that the Grim Reaper might have walked out on, an Oscar nomination would almost be an act of national conscience.
“Fat Man and Little Boy.” Paramount. English director Roland Joffe (“The Killing Fields,” “The Mission”) is as serious as a World War II newsreel and he’s got the sort of topic here (the creation of the atom bombs dropped on Japan) that will assure both massive publicity and sincere reflection by voters.
“Valmont.” Orion. Czech director Milos Forman doesn’t make movies often, but when he does, they get Oscar nominations. His last effort, “Amadeus,” was the big winner in 1986, and even though this is based on the same material that inspired the current nominee, “Dangerous Liaisons,” it will be a major player in ’90.
“In Country.” Warners. Director Norman Jewison, who won an Oscar 23 years ago for “In the Heat of the Night,” is hot again. His “A Soldier’s Story” was nominated for best picture in 1984, and he was nominated as best director last year for “Moonstruck.” Known as an actors’ director, Jewison is working here with a family’s struggle to overcome the wounds of Vietnam, and if he gets a believable performance out of Bruce Willis, he’s in.
“I Love You to Death” (Tri-Star). The reliable Lawrence Kasdan returns to “The Big Chill” ensemble form with a psychological drama starring William Hurt, Kevin Kline, Tracey Ullman and River Phoenix.
“Two Jakes” (Paramount). The long-awaited sequel to “Chinatown” has yet to go into production, which makes a 1989 release a little iffy. But if it does make it, and if it’s as good as the original, it will be the film to beat. It would also make Jack Nicholson a nominee in two categories, as best director and best actor.
Other pictures bound to get a lot of attention are: “Steel Magnolias,” the Herbert Ross-directed adaptation of the hit off-Broadway play set in a Southern beauty salon; “Born on the 4th of July” (Universal), Oliver Stone’s profile of paraplegic Vietnam hero Ron Kovic; “Letters” (MGM/UA), a relationship movie that teams Jane Fonda with Robert De Niro and reteams director Marty Ritt with his “Norma Rae” writers Irving Ravitch and Harriet Frank, Jr.); “Family Business” (Tri-Star), a three-generation family drama starring Sean Connery, Dustin Hoffman and Matthew Broderick and directed by Sidney Lumet; “Always,” another “serious” Steven Spielberg movie, this one starring Richard Dreyfuss and Holly Hunter; and “Dead Poet’s Society” (Touchstone), which stars Robin Williams as a popular teacher in a boy’s prep school and directed by the gifted Australian Peter Weir.
The lead actors in any of the preceding films above could be nominated, providing the film’s work and are well-reviewed. But these seem most likely:
Paul Newman has two chances this year, playing Gen. Leslie Groves in “Fat Man and Little Boy” and Louisiana Gov. Earl Long in “Blaze.” Historically, the academy members have just loved Newman’s Southern accents. Three of his seven nominations came for Southern roles (in “Hud,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and “Cool Hand Luke”).
Marlon Brando plays an aging lawyer in “A Dry White Season,” his first role since “The Formula” in 1980. Brando, like Allen, never participates in the Oscars, but the academy loves him nonetheless.
Al Pacino, a perennial nominee until he starred in the ill-conceived “Revolution,” plays a veteran New York cop in love with murder suspect Ellen Barkin in Harold Becker’s “Sea of Love.”
Colin Firth, in the role John Malkovich plays in “Dangerous Liaisons,” will be the newcomer to the category if “Valmont” is up to Milos Forman’s standards.
Jack Nicholson, who’s at home in both lead and supporting roles, could end up with nominations in both categories, as best actor for “Two Jakes” and best supporting actor for “Batman,” in which he plays the Joker.
Robert De Niro is going to be seen all over the place this year. He can be seen right now playing a Vietnam veteran in “Jacknife,” and later in the year as an illiterate factory worker getting the word and wisdom from Jane Fonda in “Letters” and as a con man on the lam with Sean Penn in Neil Jordan’s “We’re No Angels.”
Other actors with the right stuff: Richard Dreyfuss has done nothing but good work since his comeback in “Down and Out in Beverly Hills,” and will appear in a big film (“Always”); Dustin Hoffman is always a contender, and will be this year for “Family Business”; Tom Cruise gained credibility in “Rain Main” and may cash it in for his role as Ron Kovic in “Born on the 4th of July”; the well-liked Jack Lemmon has another showcase role in “Dad,” in which he plays a man in his late 80s; William Hurt (“I Love You to Death”), whose work seems to hold his acting colleagues in awe; and Robert Duvall, hot off the well-reviewed miniseries “Lonesome Dove,” plays the fugitive Nazi Adolph Eichman in “The White Crow.”
Television fans will have several chances to root for their stars. Bruce Willis (“In Country”), Tom Selleck (“Hard Rain”) and Michael J. Fox (“Casualties of War”) all have starring roles in heavy dramatic films.
Meryl Streep is starring in something called “The Lives and Loves of a She Devil.” No word on what the accent will be, but she’s always a contender.
If Glenn Close doesn’t get the Oscar on Wednesday night (for “Dangerous Liaisons”) that many people think she should have won last year (for “Fatal Attraction”), they’re really going to owe her. And the payoff could come for either “Immediate Family,” in which she co-stars with James Woods, or “The White Crow,” where she plays an American professor confronting the truth of the Holocaust.
Jane Fonda has had a tired run in recent years, but in Marty Ritt’s “Letters,” she’ll benefit from sage direction and the energy of co-star De Niro.
Shirley MacLaine and Sally Field are the two most frequently mentioned stars of “Steel Magnolias,” the Herbert Ross-directed adaptation of a hit Off-Broadway play about the relationships of several women in a Southern town.
Bette Midler may be seen by the end of the year in Touchstone’s “Stella,” a remake of “Stella Dallas,” a four-hankie weeper that won an Oscar nomination for Barbara Stanwyck in 1937.
Among the other actresses with awards potential: Jessica Lange plays a big city widow with two kids in Paul Brickman’s “Men Don’t Leave” and a criminal attorney in Costa-Gavras’ “Music Box”; Barbara Hershey, who keeps winning awards at Cannes and getting shut out by the academy, plays a lawyer in a tangled courtroom family drama “Defenseless”; Susan Sarandon, well-liked but overlooked in “Bull Durham,” is a reporter in “A Dry White Season”; English discovery Emily Lloyd tries on a Southern American accent in “In Country”; and Holly Hunter from “Broadcast News” will appear in two films, as the flaming redhead title character in “Miss Firecracker” and a World War II pilot’s girl in Spielberg’s “Always.”
If all this takes the suspense out of next year’s awards for you too, consider this: there are still 730 days or so before they give out the awards for excellence in 1990. But you heard it here first--Warren Beatty’s “Dick Tracy” is going to run the table.

domain: artistic


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All aboard the Naval Air Station Pensacola! Make the most of your sight-seeing and join us for the Lighthouse Museum grand opening.
Housed inside the Keepers’ Quarters on the ground floor, the museum exhibits maritime history and local archaeology that traces back to Pensacola’s first settlement by Spaniards in the mid-1500’s.
Climb 177 steps above Keepers’ Quarters to view Pensacola Pass, the historic Navy Yard and forts, and the downtown Pensacola skyline! The historic Pensacola Lighthouse, built in 1859, offers the most scenic perspective of the oldest European settlement in mainland America.


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I've long admired much of the older architecture at Washington University, which generally includes the Academic Gothic styles of medieval Cambridge and Oxford Universities in England.
This is the John M. Olin Library, which opened in 1962, and is named after an ammunition manufacturer. I've spent many hours in this fine library, which has recently been redecorated.
I have a certain respect for the architecture of High Modernism, whose practitioners were classically trained and who saw art as a virtue that needed to be cultivated. This library was designed by Eugene Mackey and Joseph Murphy, who also designed the High Modern Saint Ann's Church in Normandy and Saint Peter's in Kirkwood. However, this well-designed but cold style died out in the 1960s; by that time, classical architectural curricula were gone and schools taught theories of art that derived from Marx rather than Aristotle.
The buildings constructed at Washington University from the late 1960s through the 1970s were sometimes inhumane — like Mudd Hall, an ugly concrete structure that lasted only a couple decades before its unlamented destruction. Holy Mother Church has long taught that beauty itself is a school that conforms the soul to goodness and truth — and that ugliness does the opposite. The campus in recent years has gone back towards the Academic Gothic style, albeit in the more simplified and ‘modernized’ fashion that characterizes the postmodern school of architecture.
The Gothic — or Catholic — style is perhaps the pinnacle of all architectural styles. Modernism is known for technological prowess, but largely lacks beauty; and the Romanesque and Byzantine styles were beautiful but clunky in construction: the Gothic style is both beautiful and technologically advanced. Perhaps a new school of architecture which incorporates an integral beauty married to contemporary technology can be developed.
This photo was taken about 20 minute before sunrise. Many architectural photographers like dusk and dawn for their subjects, especially at the moment when interior lighting balances the light from the sky. This time of year, dawn happens so quickly that finding the right balance is difficult.
Note: most of these photos were processed at full camera resolution. Click on any photo to get to a much larger version.
Graham Chapel was dedicated in 1909 and is named after industrialist Benjamin Brown Graham. This and most of the following buildings were designed by the firm of Cope and Stewardson. James P. Jamieson was the on-site supervisor for Cope during the initial construction of the university; later he formed his own firm, Jamieson and Spearl, which designed many more buildings on the campus between 1902 and 1950.
The stained glass window depicts the dedication of King Solomon's Temple, and was made by the firm of Clayton and Bell, of London, England. Although this is called a chapel, this building is not set apart for sacred worship, rather it is used as a concert and lecture hall.
Washington University was chartered by the Missouri State congress in 1853 as Eliot Seminary, named in honor of the Unitarian minister and co-founder William Greenleaf Eliot, but its name was quickly changed in honor of Founding Father George Washington. Eliot was also instrumental in creating the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Saint Louis public schools, and Mary Institute — which was named after his late daughter and not the Blessed Virgin. He was also the grandfather of the famed poet and Anglo-Catholic T.S. Eliot.
The Catholic Saint Louis University existed for decades before Washington University, so this school from its beginning was non-sectarian, with much of its historical leadership taken from liberal Protestant clergy and wealthy businessmen.
Charles Rebstock Hall was paid for and named after a liquor wholesaler. It dates from 1927 and houses the Biology department.
It was almost total darkness when I parked my car near here; 15 minutes later the sky was quickly lightening.
The James B. Eads Hall was completed in 1903; this and following buildings were the original structures on the campus. This is named after James Buchanan Eads, a self-taught engineer who made his fortune with the design of diving bells and salvage ships which retrieved the remains of shipwrecks; he built ironclad gunboats for the Union navy, and designed Eads Bridge, the first span over the lower Mississippi River.
Judging from the greenish color of the interior lights on this campus, evidently nearly all inside lights are fluorescent bulbs.
Construction of Stephen Ridgley Hall started in 1900, and is named after an industrialist and State Senator. During the 1904 World's Fair, this building was used for balls and meetings, and the second floor was occupied by the British Government, which displayed a collection of gifts to Queen Victoria from the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee. This building now houses the departments of Romance and Germanic languages.
Covered walkways are very useful in Saint Louis, which suffers from brutal heat in the summertime and frequent thunderstorms, however this architectural element is not duplicated on the campus.
IN HONOR AND MEMORY
OF THE ALUMNI AND STUDENTS OF
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR
COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR
ALMA · MATER · HONORIS
CAVSA · DEDICAT · MCMXXII
A loving mother mourns for the loss of all her children, even if they were killed in an unjust war.
Washington University was located in downtown Saint Louis from 1853 to 1905. Plans to move the university out to the county started in the mid-1890s, and construction commenced here in 1900. Four of the nine original buildings were financed by a lease agreement with the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company which operated the World's Fair of 1904, using these buildings for administrative offices and exhibition space. The 1904 Olympic Games were also held on these grounds.
Brookings Hall serves as the administration building. It was completed in 1902 and is named after Robert S. Brookings, a wholesaler. My other photos of this building are here and here.
Inscriptions on the facade read:
Discere Si Cupias Intra: Salvere IubemusThe lights illumining the building turned off right after this photo, taken about six minutes before sunrise.
Cedunt Horae, Opera Manent
If you wish to learn, enter: we welcome you
The hours go by, the works remain
Archway under Brookings Hall looking to the east along Lindell Boulevard; the campus is adjacent to Forest Park.
Here we see a view downward; this was formerly called the Hilltop Campus (to distinguished this from the University's other sites) and was selected because of a resemblance to the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. The landscape architectural firm of Frederick Law Olmsted assisted in the original site planning.
Lion gargoyle fountain.
In front of Brookings Hall is Danforth Plaza, named after prominent patrons of the University. Here we see frost-covered vegetation in a planter.
Another view under the archway of Brookings.
Grace Vallé January Hall, the former law school building, was completed in 1923 and was named after Brookings' mother-in-law. It now houses the Classics department and East Asian library.
Dedication plaque on January Hall.
Doorway to Adolphus Busch Hall; the building is named after a brewer, and construction commenced in 1900. Originally the chemistry building, this and the other original science buildings on campus are in a Jacobean style, with neoclassical elements that more expresses the tastes of the Enlightenment. It now houses various humanities departments.
Most of the buildings on campus are faced with Missouri Red Granite and Bedford Limestone.
Click here for a map to the campus.

domain: design


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Ashnil Samburu Camp
Details van Ashnil Samburu Camp
- 30 deluxe en-suite tents:
- 15 with King or Queen sized beds,
- 12 with twin beds
- 3 with triple beds.
Each of the exclusive comfort- able deluxe tents gives perfect view of the Ewaso Nyiro River, surrounding beautiful landscape and all lives this brown river supports. Every spacious tent consists of a dressing area, sitting area, luggage rack and en-suite facilities to provide a memorable stay close to nature.
Kort overzichtAshnil Samburu Camp sits in Buffalo Springs Game Reserve which takes its name from an oasis of crystal clear water at the western end of the reserve. It is separated from Samburu National Reserve by Ewaso Nyiro River and is less hilly and dense yet equally very attractive.
- Family friendly
- Outside national park


Traverse City judge reduced bond conditions for Whitmer kidnapping suspect
One of the men accused of helping plan a kidnap attempt of Governor Gretchen Whitmer had his bond conditions reduced on Wednesday.
It comes as jurors in Grand Rapids are still deliberating over federal kidnapping charges for four other men in the same plot.
A Traverse City judge reduced bond conditions for Shawn Fix on Wednesday.
He’s one of four men who, state prosecutors say, participated in armed surveillance of the Governor’s Elk Rapids home.
It’s been two and a half years since Fix was arrested.
His attorney asked the judge to remove his electronic tether and curfew requirement so he can travel outside the state for work.
The assistant attorney general did not object to the bond changes.
Fix and three other men are waiting for a joint preliminary hearing in northern Michigan which will determine if their cases go to trial.
Those dates have not yet been set.


Previously reported studies have shown that the volumetric receivers have lower radiative and convective losses, leading to higher efficiency. However, the conventional volumetric receivers are difficult to use along with the thermal storage systems, owing to the use of air as the heat transfer fluid. Molten salt, having high heat capacity, emerges as a suitable candidate to be employed as the heat transfer fluid and for storing thermal energy in the storage devices. It is challenging to use the molten salt in the conventional volumetric receiver configuration; therefore, a novel design called Liquid Volumetric Plated Cavity Receiver is proposed, where the solar salt is used as heat transfer fluid. It consists of a parallel arrangement of hollow plates in an open cavity. Solar radiation concentrated by the heliostat field is absorbed on the outer surface of the hollow plates. The heat is then taken away by the molten salt flowing inside the hollow plates. The plates are arranged such that the molten salt gets heated up within the volume of the enclosure, effectively mimicking the heating performance of the volumetric receivers. Using an analytical model for heat losses, it is observed that the losses are very sensitive to the aspect ratio of the aperture and depth of the receiver. The effects of receiver inclination, plate orientations, radiation incident at the aperture, and surface emissivity have been investigated as well. The results show that a Liquid Volumetric Plated Cavity Receiver increases the efficiency (by ∼3%) as compared with that of the simple cubic receiver.


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Nashville Predators vs. Minnesota Wild Preview: The Force Is Still Not Awake
The Predators continue to struggle, having won only 3 of their last 10 games. But hey, the new Star Wars movie is out!
The Nashville Predators will take on the Minnesota Wild in a Saturday night Central Division clash. The Preds could be poised to disappoint us yet again, but hey, maybe they won't.
The loss against the Blues hurt. Not only did the Preds lose yet another lead, they struggled to score goals and, for the first time in a while, they struggled to own puck possession and shot attempts. At times they looked pretty hapless. The Blues not only won, they definitely looked like the better team.
But in the Central, you can't dwell too much on the previous game, you just have to move on. You can't even really worry about what lies ahead. Take it one game at a time and just try to build on one positive play, one positive period, one positive result and worry about where you land later. You can't spend all your life looking away... to the future... to the horizon. You have to keep your mind on where you are, hmm? What you are doing, hmm?
Adventure, excitement, puck possession, Corsi... a Jedi craves not these things.
The Minnesota Wild
The last time the Preds faced the Wild was a veritable disaster. You'll recall it was right in the middle of that awful November stretch where the Preds couldn't score a goal for what seemed like years. The Preds only managed 23 shots on goal, the penalty-kill and power-play looked meager, Ryan Suter finally scored against his old team, Mike Ribeiro received a game misconduct for being ridiculous, and the Wild won 4-0.
Since then, the Wild have gone 6-2-3 in 11 games. Not setting the world on fire or anything, but they have certainly been better than the Predators. Thomas Vanek and Zach Parise lead the team with 11 and 10 goals respectively. While the Wild aren't really known for their scoring, they find themselves at 8th in the league in that regard, scoring 2.80 goals per game. Not too shabby. But their overall game is still a defensive one: they are 5th in the league in defense, allowing only 2.33 goals per game. They swallow up offenses consistently, methodically forcing opponents to the outside and never denying easy puck-entry. It's not fun to watch, but it's effective.
Devan Dubnyk, while he hasn't been the black hole he was last year, has certainly been solid in net with a .918 save % in 24 games. We can still root for #DubnykRegression2015, as he obviously won't touch the .929 that he posted last year, but it's looking more and more likely that he will continue to post numbers above his career average. Stability and confidence does a lot for a goalie. And Dubnyk always plays well against the Preds: he has a career .922 save % vs. Nashville, posting a 7-4-2 record in 13 starts.
The Nashville Predators
The Preds are 3-5-2 in their last 10 games. They sit firmly at 5th in the Central, clinging to the 2nd Wild Card position. They can't find consistent scoring, their defense isn't strong enough to support a weakened offense, and their goalie is showing some serious holes. Most of the money that was spent in the off-season on retaining aging forwards has unsurprisingly not paid off.
About the only positive in Predators camp right now is Roman Josi.
The 25-year-old Swiss is leading the team with 23 points (8 goals, 15 assists). His shooting % is in double-digits for the first time in his career at 10.4%. He leads the team in blocked shots at 86 (3rd best in the league). He leads all Preds skaters in ice-time. His 12 points on the power-play are 2nd on the team to his blue-line partner Shea Weber. He leads the team in point-shares at 4.4 (point-shares is a debatable, but interesting metric that attempts to apply value to a player based on how many points he has likely contributed to the team in the standings... its like win-shares in baseball). He hasn't missed a game this year. In nearly all aspects of the game, he has been the most consistent and enjoyable player to watch on the ice for the Preds since October.
I'm calling it: ladies and gentlemen, your one and only 2016 Nashville Predators All-Star Selection will be Roman Josi.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'll just be out here
Reasons To Watch
- Because you can only watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens so many times in a day, right? I mean, the game starts at 7, so you could squeeze in at least 2 screenings before the puck drops.
- "Welcome to Whose Line Is It Anyway where the line combinations are made-up and the goals don't happen anyway!"
- Watch just to see what happens. It could be a disaster. It could be a surprising win. I really have no idea at this point. Your guess is as good as mine./
The Important Details
7PM Puck drop at the Bridge. FS-TN and 102.5 The Game will help you take it all in.

domain: sports


CAS Caston II Crane Scale
The CAS Caston II Crane Scale is a sturdy easy to use crane scale. With capacities up to 10,000 lbs, the Caston II Crane Scale works well in light to medium industrial applications. This scale also comes equipped with a wireless remote control.
|Non-swivel Hook and Permanent Top Shackle


The influential international event took place from the 13th to the 15th of February in the Feria Valencia exhibition center and introduced an extensive agenda of discussions and presentations covering all aspects of sustainable mobility. Upon visiting the conference on its opening day, Boris Usherovich shared his impressions of the event and its role in shaping the sustainability of transportation on a global scale.
The first thing Usherovich wanted to emphasize is the urgent need to adapt the eMobility sector to novel challenges caused by current economic turbulence and geopolitical shifts. Sustainability strategies adopted earlier were significantly affected by the changes, which also impacted the mobility industry.. In this regard, it was highly important to provide an international platform for professionals in transport, energy, eco-cities, smart manufacturing, and other related industries to share the latest solutions and innovations that can contribute to reaching stated sustainability goals.
Usherovich praised the efforts of the hosts and partners of the conference, who attracted about 6,000 mobility professionals and 375 international speakers to promote valuable insights on the future of eMobility. He also noted that the participants’ list included representatives of private organizations and public administrations, as well as small businesses and large companies, reflecting the need for collective efforts to truly transform the eMobility sector.
Another fact highlighted by Usherovich is the broad scope of topics discussed during the congress. On the first day of the conference, he could visit meetings addressing issues of cost reduction in the automotive industry, decarbonization of European transport systems, implementation of sustainable logistics, and integration of smart cities to mobility systems, among other events. The complete list of forums covers every aspect of sustainable mobility, from discussions specific to certain transport modes to global trends in geopolitics and technology.
Usherovich also appreciated the possibility for decision-makers to explore over 400 innovations showcased across the conference. He was impressed by innovative solutions in collaborative robotics, SOEC/SOFC systems, autonomous electric buses, and modular HPC stations developed by the path-breaking European companies he could get acquainted with during his visit to the conference. Usherovich pointed out that the practical solutions and success stories presented within the event could play a significant role in boosting improvements in the field of transport sustainability and efficiency.
Apart from thematic forums, exhibitions, C-level summits, and B2B meetings, the congress held a startup contest, eMobility Innovation Awards, and the first edition of the H2-Hydrogen World Congress exploring the application of green hydrogen in the mobility sector.


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Built-in 660 games, Nuilhpn mini classic game system collects the most popular NES retro games from 80s of the last century, such as Mario, Contra, Street Fighter etc. There are some game repetitions in the game console, But you can always find the games you like, and it’s a third-party product.
ATTENTION Please ask the seller any questions you may have before purchasing. Never conduct transactions outside of FiddlePiddle. Seller will provide you with the tracking number directly (24-72 hours usually). Always check your spam folder.

domain: game


text:
written by Nick Baxter, CEO at The IN Group.
The intangible truth
Culture – it’s incredibly hard to define and even harder to create; also impossible to get away from. It’s become a buzzword that organisations and leaders use to tell everyone
why they’re brilliant, without usually understanding their own culture or how to improve it.
Let’s get it straight – a positive culture is not only about hybrid working, flexible hours or a casual dress code. It’s a set of values, behaviours and actions that signal what your company stands for and what’s important. Understanding your people and creating an inclusive environment that works for them, while remembering that fun is an intrinsic part of work, is a significant step in the right direction.
You can measure engagement, staff retention and job satisfaction in various ways but our experience is that too many organisations feel that culture is something they should leave to HR. But it’s not an HR issue. It’s engrained in everything an organisation does and should start at the top.
What is a culture to me? It’s how you behave, what you stand for and who you are – it’s your identity as a business. It’s how all the different characters within your organisation mesh together. Your culture will never stand still; it should always evolve.
The tangible impact
Culture might be hard to define, but it has a very tangible impact on your business. When you neglect your culture, people will leave and your business will go backwards… It’s our job to create an environment where our people are progressing, learning and developing; have a reward scheme which is industry leading; understand the business strategy and are excited by it; and enjoy coming to work.
For this magazine, we’ve brought together a range of views, from both inside and outside our organisation, on many aspects of culture. These include: Cohesive cultures in global teams, How to create a high-performance culture – where I speak to culture expert and
best-selling author Damian Hughes; and Scaling cultures without breaking them – from entrepreneur Phil Burns.
I hope you’ll not only find this magazine an interesting read, but a useful source of advice on how to solve your culture-related challenges.
If you’d like to discuss any of these articles or just want to talk culture, please get in touch.Unlocked: Culture

domain: sociology


PHILIPSBURG–“Take control of this urgent matter ASAP” was the gist of an e-mail sent to business contacts by a representative of the cruise industry about the increased harassment of cruise passengers by “barkers” and vendors while in St. Maarten.
“The last thing we want is Celebrity Cruises putting a warning and telling guests about the harassment on Front Street,” Royal Media Senior Vice President David Mardini said in a recent e-mail to St. Maarten contacts.
Mardini visited St. Maarten last week with fellow Senior Vice President Michael Weil aboard cruise ship Celebrity Silhouette. What they saw and the feedback they received from passengers of that cruise line were not flattering for the island.
Mardini shared that Celebrity Cruises’ Hotel Director has been confronted with mounting complaints about the destination. The hotel director is “very concerned” about guest comments regarding “harassment from various stores on Front Street.” He added that many stores have “barkers in the street chasing and grabbing the guests in the middle of the street.”
The mushrooming cosmetic stores selling beauty treatments have also caught the industry representatives’ attention. Like the barkers – people employed by stores to stand on the street to hand out flyers and lure people into establishments they represent, the cosmetic stores have people on the sidewalks pushing samples to passers-by.
The barkers sometimes try to physically pull people into stores with what they consider friendly persuasion, while the cosmetics people at time try to apply their products to the faces or bodies of passers-by.
“These cosmetic stores are very aggressive with our guests. They’re putting their hands on the guests unannounced and they feel violated,” said the cruise rep.
The cruise rep called for Government and the Indian Merchants Association (IMA) “to please calm down these businesses. We need the stores to be welcoming the guests and thanking them for visiting and supporting St. Maarten.”
The situation in Philipsburg is mirrored in other tourist hotspots on the Dutch side. Primary locations for cruise and stay-over visitor harassment include Maho Beach, Mullet Bay Beach and Kim Sha Beach.
Adding to the visitor harassment mix with the barkers and cosmetic hawkers are taxi drivers screaming out to visitors, and timeshare sellers with scratch-card gimmicks.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/74582-visitor-harassment-catches-attention-of-cruise-industry