Atrial septal defects (ASD) have been closed surgically for over 4 decades with very low morbidity and mortality. The position of ASDs has rendered itself to the ingenious attempts of a number of pediatric cardiac interventionalists for catheter closure. It was recognized early that the entry to the left atrium from the inferior vena cava through an ASD is an easy approach for placing occlusive devices. The challenge is to design an ideal device that can achieve results as good as surgical closure. The device should be safe, easy to deliver, position, reposition or retrieve if necessary, and should be delivered through a small sheath suitable for children with minimum discomfort. A number of devices have been manufactured attempting to achieve successful and safe closure of ASDs, aiming for a “perfect device”. Most of these were designed to enclose the atrial septum between 2 discs placed across the ASD and to be held in position across the atrial septum by varying mechanisms. They vary significantly in material, design, shape, delivery method, etc. Historical background. In 1976, King and Mills1 first described the percutaneous closure of an ASD without opening the chest or placing the patient on cardiopulmonary bypass circuit. This new approach became known as catheter closure of ASDs. The device consisted of 2 independent umbrellas that had to be opened in the atria and then snapped together. It was used successfully in 5 out of 10 attempts in human subjects. The device used at that time required a large delivery sheath (23 French). Because of the sheath size and the complexity of the delivery procedure, the device did not gain wide acceptance. A decade later, Rashkind2,3 described preliminary trials for catheter closure of ASDs. The Rashkind ASD device consisted of a single umbrella with hooks on 3 of 6 arms. The umbrella would self-expand in the left atrium once pushed outside the delivery sheath; the system was brought against the atrial septum and anchored in place by the hooks. Once anchored, the device could not be removed or repositioned. Although it was successful in approximately two thirds of the patients in whom it was tested, the device was felt to be unsafe because of its inability to reposition once deployed (requiring emergency surgery to remove). Its use was abandoned. Current status of ASD devices The devices described hereafter represent those which are currently or have recently been in clinical trials. The devices are discussed in alphabetical order rather than chronologically because some devices underwent modifications and were reintroduced at later dates under new names. The most recent name is chosen for the purpose of alphabetical listing. Amplatzer Septal Occluder (Figure 1). The Amplatzer Septal Occluder (AGA Medical Corporation, Golden Valley, Minnesota) is a self-expanding, double-disc device made from 0.004–0.0075 nitinol wire tightly woven into 2 discs with a 3–4 mm connecting waist.4 The diameter of the centering disc is from 4–40 mm in 1 or 2 mm increments. The left and right atrial discs are 12–16 mm and 8–10 mm larger than the centering disc, respectively. Depending on the size of the device, it is delivered through a 6–12 French sheath using a delivery cable attached to the center of the right atrial disc by a micro screw. The device is chosen so the central disc is 1–2 mm larger than the stretched diameter of the defect. It is advanced through a sheath previously positioned in the left atrium. The sheath is pulled back, allowing the left atrial disc to assume its circular position. The centering disc is uncovered across the atrial septum. The sheath is then pulled back, maintaining the position of the device and allowing the right atrial disc to assume its circular configuration as well. The device is thus deployed straddling the atrial septum. The stability of the device is tested by gentle pushing and pulling. If the device is in an appropriate position, it is released by unscrewing the delivery cable. Prior to unscrewing the device, it can be easily retrieved by a gentle and steady pull on the device into the delivery sheath. Wilkinson et al.5 and my own personal experience have indicated that the device can also be retrieved after release with mild difficulty by recapturing the right atrial knob (usually by a snare). Preliminary human experience has been very encouraging.4–7 There was immediate closure in 80% of the patients, which increased to 98% at 3-month follow-up exam. The residual shunt after 3 months was estimated to be trivial, without requiring additional intervention. Complete closure was seen in the patients who completed 1-year follow-up. No significant complications were encountered. In the initial studies, patients with ASD diameters > 21 mm were excluded. Subsequently, the size of the device has been increased to allow closure of ASDs up to 40 mm (stretched diameter). The reported combined United States and worldwide experience with the Amplatzer in all ASDs has exceeded 3,000 patients8 (> 9,000 at the time of manuscript preparation according to personal communication with AGA Medical Corporation). The size of the stretched ASD diameter ranged from 4–44 mm (unstretched diameter, 1–38 mm). There were no major complications. Success (defined as residual shunt 25 mm).9 Atrial Septal Defect Occlusion System (ASDOS) (Figure 2). In 1999, Babic et al.10 described the ASDOS (Dr. Ing Osypka Corporation, Gmbh, Germany), which consisted of 2 separate umbrellas made of nitinol wire covered with a polyurethane patch. Each umbrella is delivered on either side of the septum. The delivery method involves making a femoral/venous loop to cross the atrial septal defect. The material used in the loop is a 0.014´´ nitinol wire with a 0.035´´ conus in the middle and maintained in the left atrium.11 Once the loop is formed, an 11 French sheath is advanced from the venous side into the left atrium. The left atrial umbrella is advanced using a 22 gauge pusher cannula and is prevented from advancing by the conus on the guidewire. This allows the operator to pull it against the atrial septum. Subsequently, the right atrial umbrella is advanced using a screwdriver catheter. For definitive implantation, the 2 umbrellas are brought together across the atrial septum using the wire conus on the left atrial umbrella and the screwdriver catheter on the right atrial umbrella. When the position’s accuracy is confirmed by echocardiogram, the umbrellas are screwed together by the screwdriver catheter and the guidewire is pulled from the arterial side. If position is inappropriate, the umbrellas can be unscrewed and repositioned multiple times. The published experience with this device is limited. There was a small incidence of fractures and cardiac perforation after implantation; this, in addition to the complexity of the delivery mechanism, has made the device less attractive.12 Buttoned Device. In 1990, Sideris et al.13 introduced the Buttoned Device (Custom Medical Devices, Amarillo, Texas), which was used to close ASDs in an animal model. The use of the device was subsequently extended to clinical trials. The device consists of an occluder, counter-occluder and loading wire. The occluder is a square-shaped polyurethane foam supported by 2 diagonally-situated, Teflon-coated 0.018´´ wires.13,14 The skeleton wires are floppy at the ends (2 mm) and stiffer in the center. They have an x-shaped appearance when unfolded and are almost parallel when folded to the introducing position. The occluder resumes its shape when extruded from the delivery sheath in the left atrium. A button was also attached to the occluder. The occluder remains attached by nylon thread, looped through a hollow loading or delivery wire. This maintains continuous hold of the occluder after it is unfolded in the left atrium and allows the operator to pull it back against the left atrial side of the ASD. The counter occluder is also made of foam, and is in a rhomboid shape with a Teflon-coated wire skeleton. A rubber piece is sutured in the center of the counter-occluder. The occluder is loaded into the delivery sheath and advanced by a pusher catheter, introduced over the wire until the occluder is extruded in the left atrium. The occluder is then pulled against the left atrial side of the ASD. The pusher catheter is removed; the occluder is maintained in position by the wire and nylon thread. The loading wire is then threaded through the rubber piece in the center of the counter-occluder. The counter-occluder is loaded into the sheath and advanced by the pusher catheter and delivered into the right atrium. The counter-occluder is pushed with the tip of the sheath until the occluder loop is “buttoned” in the rubber center of the counter-occluder by a process of buttoning the counter-occluder onto the occluder against the atrial septum. Position and stability are then confirmed, and if appropriately placed, the device is released by cutting the delivery wire and nylon thread outside the body and withdrawing one end of the thread. This will free the device from the delivery system. Phase 1 Food and Drug Administration clinical trials began in 1991. Successful device implantation was achieved in 80% of the initial trial, with the incidence of residual shunts decreasing to 19% over a 12-month period.15 Because of unbuttoning and migration of the support wire’s corewire and residual shunts requiring surgical removal of the device, it has undergone several modifications. In the most recent modification (fourth-generation device), the single button loop was replaced with 2 spring radio-opaque buttons mounted 4 mm apart. The intent is to reduce the unbuttoning seen with the earlier generations.16 The incidence of major complications decreased from 7.8% (with the first 3 generations) to 1.4% using the fourth-generation device. Effective occlusion was achieved in 90% of patients using the fourth-generation device. An inverted buttoned device was used in a few patients with right to left atrial septal defects.17 A newer modification of the fourth-generation version included a centering on demand device (Figure 3).18 In this rounded, fourth-generation device, the centering wire ring is sutured to the center of the occluder. The centering ring could be used for centering purposes or buttoned with the occluder (ring augmentation, non-centering) (Rao et al.18 and personal communication with Dr. Sideris). In addition to the centering ability, this allows the option of using smaller-size devices for the same size ASD. Although the experience with the centering-on-demand device is still limited, there have been no incidences of unbuttoning or major complications. Guardian Angel/Angel Wings. The Angel Wings device (Figure 4) (Microvena Corporation, White Bear Lake, Minnesota) was used in 1993 to close experimental ASDs in an animal model.19,20 The device consists of 2 identical facing squares of polyester fabric supported by a frame of super-elastic, 0.0101´´-diameter nitinol wire. The discs are joined in the middle by suturing the edges of a punched hole in the right atrial disc to the corresponding part on the left atrial disc. The diameter of the punched hole is approximately half the size of the disc. The discs are sutured to be diagonal at their long axis. The joint center also provided the first self-centering mechanism for atrial septal occluders. The nitinol frame wire has tiny loops at each corner and at the center. This allows the device to be folded into the delivery catheter. One corner of the right atrial disc loop is held using an attachment mechanism until released. The left atrial disc is advanced very slowly because it can unintentionally pull the right atrial disc into the left atrium while advancing the left atrial disc. The preliminary results showed a successful implantation rate of 90–92% in the United States phase I trials and international experience.20 Similar results were reported in the European experience, which excluded ASDs > 20 mm in stretched diameter.21 A residual shunt immediately after deployment was found in 27% of patients, but decreased to 4% at latest follow-up. Surgery was required in a small number of patients because of malposition of the device and inability to retrieve. Transient complete heart block occurred in 4%. In a similar percentage, the right atrial disc was not fully deployed. Blood clots on the right atrial disc were seen on transesophageal echocardiogram in 3% of the patients. Serious complications including aortic root erosion with hemo-pericardium, left atrial clot and large residual shunts requiring surgical intervention were seen in 4% of the patients. Because of these complications, the device was withdrawn from clinical trials for modification. The new device, named the Guardian Angel, is almost completely rounded;22 after its deployment, it remains attached to the delivery catheter by tethers. This allows the device to float freely and assume its anatomical position. Until this point, the device is fully retrievable by a smooth withdrawal motion and can be removed or repositioned. If the position is appropriate, the device is released. The Guardian Angel device is expected to start United States clinical trials soon. Helex Septal Occluder (Figure 5). The Helex Septal Occluder (W.L. Gore and Associates, Flagstaff, Arizona)23 is comprised of 2 discs covered by an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) membrane. The discs are maintained in the rounded shape by a 0.012´´ circular nitinol wire. For delivery, the circular configuration is elongated around a central mandrel and pulled into a specially designed 9 French catheter (or sheath). The catheter, which has a standard NIH curve, is inserted through a short (or long) 9 French sheath and advanced to the left atrium. The left atrial disc is slowly delivered by repeatedly advancing the device a small distance out of the delivery catheter with the aid of a frame control catheter and pulling the mandrel to allow the nitinol wire to assume the circular configuration. When the left atrial disc has been fully extruded and assumes a circular configuration, it is pulled against the atrial septum and position is confirmed by trans-esophageal echocardiogram and fluoroscopy. The process is repeated for the right atrial disc on the right side. If there is concern about the position of the device, it can be pulled back into the catheter by reversing the process; i.e., slowly advancing the mandrel and withdrawing the frame control catheter until the device is pulled back completely into the delivery catheter where it can be repositioned or replaced if necessary. If the device position is suitable, the delivery catheter is advanced to hold the device in position and the safety cap is removed, allowing slack of the safety cord still looped through the device. The mandrel can now be completely removed, which releases the final curved portion of the device, locking the 2 discs firmly together and allowing the device to assume its final position and shape in relation to the atrial septum. If the device is satisfactory, the delivery catheter is advanced slowly while holding the device in place, and the frame control catheter is slowly pulled into the delivery catheter ensuring that the safety cord is loose at the end of the delivery catheter. When the frame control catheter is inside the delivery catheter, the device is free from any attachments and the safety cord can be removed. If the device was not in a satisfactory position prior to removal of the safety cord, the safety cap can be replaced, and the frame control catheter pulled (with the device) into the delivery catheter. If retrieval is done after the safety lock has been released, the device will be damaged but can be removed, thus allowing another opportunity for device retrieval if it was malpositioned. The device has been tested in an animal model with very encouraging results.24,25 International studies began in 2000 and the results have been presented in meetings. Complete closure rate has been seen in 94% of patients after 1 month. Clinical trials began in the United States in the Spring of 2001. StarFlex/Bard Clamshell/Cardioseal. The Bard Clamshell (USCI, Billerica, Massachusetts) Septal Occluder Device, which was introduced in 1989 by Lock et al.,20,26 is a modification of Rashkind’s patent ductus arteriosus double umbrella device and is also the precursor to several devices currently in clinical trials. This design has 2 facing double-square polyester umbrellas with 4 supporting arms extending from the center to the corners. Using an inverted cone, the distal umbrella is then collapsed into a small tube and the whole unit is pulled into the inverted cone, thus collapsing the right atrial umbrella. The folded device is advanced into the delivery sheath, which has been previously placed in the left atrium. The sheath is slowly pulled to uncover the left atrial umbrella, allowing the left atrial disc to expand in the middle of the left atrium, which is subsequently pulled against the atrial septum. Until this point, if the position of the device is not adequate, the device can be easily pulled back into the sheath without damaging the device and repositioned or removed if necessary. If the position of the left atrial disc is adequate, the right atrial disc is uncovered in the right atrium allowing expansion of the right atrial umbrella. At this point, the device can be retrieved if necessary, but with damaging the device since the right atrial disc would have to be folded backward to collapse. If the position is accurate, the device can be released. This device was used in over 800 patients with good results. There was a significant number of arm fractures (up to 84%),27 which may have resulted in some incidence of residual shunts, late embolization or development of small fibrotic masses on the left atrial wall in 1–2% of cases.14 Although these did not result in any clinical complications to the patients and despite clinical success of the device in almost 97% of the ASDs,26 these manufacturing flaws resulted in withdrawal of the device from clinical trials. A new device, now named the Cardioseal (NMT Medical, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts), was redesigned to decrease these complications. The frame is formed of MP35N alloy radially projecting 4 support arms, with 2 hinges in each arm to reduce metal fatigue. This design was shown in bench testing to withstand a much higher level of strain. In clinical trials, the incidence of arm fracture and residual leaks was substantially less, but not eliminated. The fractures were mostly seen in the larger devices. A newer modification named StarFlex® was introduced. This device has microsprings attached in an alternating fashion between the opposing arms,28,29 which provide a flexible centering mechanism. The delivery mechanism has also been improved, allowing the device to pivot freely on the delivery catheter before release. This should allow better positioning of the device, the use of smaller devices, and a decrease in the tension between the device and the atrial septum prior to its release. This is expected to decrease the incidence of fractures and residual shunts. The device can close atrial septal defects up to 25 mm in stretched diameter. The StarFlex device is currently undergoing multicenter trials. Transcatheter Patch Closure of ASD. In 1999, Sideris et al.30,31 described a different modality to close ASDs without involving wires or sutures. A modified balloon (Figure 7) is used to deliver porous patch material across the ASD. The balloon is inflated to maintain the patch in position across the ASD for a period of time to allow fixation of the patch to the ASD rim. This period varies depending on the porosity of the patch material. Polyurethane, which is a very porous material, requires >= 48 hours. Initial human testing (outside the United States) has been encouraging (personal communication with Dr. Sedaris). The patch is attached with retrievable sutures fixed to the groin. The balloon is kept inflated for 48 hours while the patient is maintained on heparin drip. After 48 hours, the balloon is deflated while the patch is still retrievable. The patch stability is examined by transesophageal echocardiogram; if stable, the sutures are removed. If the patch is not stable, it can be removed and replaced with another patch and fixated for a longer period. This technique has not been tested in a large number of patients and has not been introduced to the United States. Issue in device choice. Atrial septal defects can vary significantly in their characteristics. Consequently, one device may be suitable for a certain type of ASD whereas a different ASD may be better served with a different device. A number of issues should be taken into account when contemplating device/ASD compatibility. For example, an ASD that may be missing the anterior rim around the aortic root may be better served with a device that is flexible and can be manipulated easily to use the aortic root as the anchoring rim, provided that the device does not have sharp edges that may perforate the root. A non-central ASD with a deficient rim may be better closed with a non-centering device (or a device with a small rim). Larger ASDs should be closed with devices specifically designed for them, which can provide complete closure of the ASD. Since the risk of embolization is higher with larger ASDs, the device should provide unimpeded flow if it embolizes and should be percutaneously retrievable. An ASD with a large aneurysm may require a device capable of collapsing the aneurysm rather than a very flexible device, which may move with the aneurysm. An ASD with right to left flow of high pressure may need one of the stronger devices to withstand the elevated right atrial pressure rather than prolapsing in the left atrium and possibly causing left ventricle in-flow obstruction.32 Fenestrated atrial septal defects may be better covered by non-centering devices unless the central ASD is entered and used to position the device. Hopefully, in the near future more than one device will become available and the interventional cardiologist will have a choice of different devices to suit the specific ASD. Conclusion. Percutaneous catheter closure is a safe and effective method for ASD closure. There are many promising devices undergoing extensive clinical trials. Different devices may be suitable for different types of ASDs. In the near future, there may be a number of different devices available for catheter closure of ASDs.
1. King TD, Mills NL. Secundum atrial septal defect: Non-operative closure during cardiac catheterization. JAMA 1976:235:2506‚Äì2509. 2. Rashkind WJ. Transcatheter treatment of congenital heart disease. Circulation 1983;67:711‚Äì716. 3. Latson LA. Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects. In: Rao PS (ed). Transcatheter Therapy in Pediatric Cardiology. Wiley-Liss: New York, 1993: pp. 335‚Äì348. 4. Masura J, Gavora P, Formanek A, Hijazi ZM. Transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defects using the new self-centering Amplatzer Septal Occluder: Initial human experience (see comments). Cathet Cardiovasc Diagn 1997;42:388‚Äì393, 1997;42:394, and 1998;44:456. 5. Wilkinson JL, Goh TH. Early clinical experience with use of the Amplatzer Septal Occluder device for atrial septal defect (see comments). Cardiol Young 1998;8:285‚Äì286 and 1998;8:295‚Äì302. 6. Chan KC, Godman MJ, Walsh K, et al. Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect and interatrial communications with a new self expanding nitinol double disc device (Amplatzer Septal Occluder): Multicentre UK experience. Heart 1999;82:300‚Äì306. 7. Thanopoulos BD, Laskari CV, Tsaousis GS, et al. Closure of atrial septal defects with the Amplatzer occlusion device: Preliminary results (see comments). J Am Coll Cardiol 1998;31:1110‚Äì1116 and 1998;31:1117‚Äì1119. 8. Omeish A, Hijazi ZM. Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects in children and adults using the Amplatzer Septal Occluder. J Intervent Cardiol 2001;14:37‚Äì44. 9. Berger F, Ewert P, Abdul-Khaliq H. Percutaneous closure of large atrial septal defects with the Amplatzer: Technical overkill or recommendable alternative treatment? J Intervent Cardiol 2001;14:63‚Äì67. 10. Babic U, Grujicic S, Popovic Z, et al. Double-umbrella device for transvenous closure of patent ductus arteriosus and atrial septal defect: First experience. J Intervent Cardiol 1991;4:283‚Äì294. 11. Hausdorf G, Schneider M, Franzbach B, et al. Transcatheter closure of secundum atria1 septal defects with the Atria1 Septal Defect Occlusion System (ASDOS): Initial experience in children. Heart 1996;75:83‚Äì88. 12. Sievert H, Babic U, Ensslen R, et al. Transcatheter closure of large atrial septal defects with the Babic System. Cathet Cardiovasc Diagn 1995;36:232‚Äì240. 13. Sideris EB, Sideris SE, Fowlkes JP, et al. Transvenous atria1 septal defect occlusion in piglets with a ‚Äúbuttoned‚Äù double-disk device. Circulation 1990;81:312‚Äì318. 14. Latson LA. Per-catheter ASD closure. Pediatr Cardiol 1998;19:86‚Äì93. 15. Lloyd TR, Rao PS, Beekman III RH, et al. Atrial septal defect occlusion with the buttoned device (A Multi-Institutional U.S. Trial). Am J Cardiol 1994;73:266‚Äì291. 16. Rao PS, Berger F, Rey C, et al. Results of transvenous occlusion of secundum atrial septal defects with 4th generation buttoned device: Comparison with 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation devices. J Am Coll Cardiol 2000;36:583‚Äì592. 17. Rao PS, Chandar JS, Sideris EB. Role of inverted buttoned device in transcatheter occlusion of atrial septal defect or patent foramen ovale with right-to-left shunting associated with previously operated complex congenital cardiac anomalies. Am J Cardiol 1997;80:914‚Äì921. 18. Rao PS, Sideris EB. Centering-on-demand buttoned device: Its role in transcatheter occlusion of atrial septal defects. J Intervent Cardiol 2001;14:81‚Äì89. 19. Das GS, Voss G, Jarvis G, et al. Experimental atria1 septal defect closure with a new, transcatheter, self-centering device. Circulation 1993;88(part 1):1754‚Äì1764. 20. O‚ÄôLaughlin MP. Catheter closure of secundum atrial septal. Tex Heart Inst J 1997;24:287‚Äì292. 21. Rickers C, Hamm C, Stern H, et al. Percutaneous closure of secundum atrial septal defect with a new self-centering device ‚ÄúAngel Wings‚Äù. Heart 1998;80:517‚Äì521. 22. O‚ÄôLaughlin MP. Microvena atrial septal defect occlusion device: Update 2000. J Intervent Cardiol 2001;14:77‚Äì80. 23. Latson LA, Zahn EM, Wilson N. Helex septal occluder for closure of atrial septal defects. Curr Intervent Cardiol Rep 2000;2:268‚Äì273. 24. Zahn EM, Cheatham JP, Latson LA, Wilson N. Results of in vivo testing of a new nitinol-ePTFE septal occlusion device. Cathet Cardiovasc Diagn 1999;47:124. 25. Zahn EM,Wilson N, Cutright W, Latson LA. Development and testing of the Helex septal occluder; A new expanded polytetrafluoroethylene atrial septal defect occlusion system. Circulation 2001:104:711‚Äì716. 26. Lock JE, Rome JJ, Davis R, et al. Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects experimental studies. Circulation 1989;79:1091‚Äì1099. 27. Prieto LR, Foreman CK, Cheatham JP, Latson LA. Intermediate-term outcome of transcatheter secundum atrial septal defect closure using the Bard clamshell septal umbrella. Am J Cardiol 1996;78:1310‚Äì1312. 28. Hausdorf G, Kaulitz R, Paul T, et al. Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects with a new self-positioning device: Initial experience with the StarFlex device. Am J Cardiol 1999;84:1113‚Äì1116. 29. Hausdorf G. StarFlex ASD closure: Deployment, techniques, equipment. J Intervent Cardiol 2001;14:69‚Äì76. 30. Sideris E, Sideris S, Kaneva A, Moulopoulos S. Transcatheter occlusion of experimental atrial septal defects by wireless occluders and patches. Cardiol Young 1999;9:92. 31. Sideris E, Sideris S, Poursanov M, et al. Transcatheter patch correction of atrial septal defects: Experimental validation and early clinical experience. Cardiol Young 2000;10:13. 32. Ebeid MR, Braden DS, Gaymes CH, et al. Post-surgical use of Amplatzer Septal Occluder in cyanotic patients with pulmonary atresia/intact ventricular septum: Significance of Cor Triatriatum Dexter and dilated right atrium. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2000;51:186‚Äì191.


plating, anodizing, & finishing Q&As since 1989
What does 'mill finish' of aluminum mean?
I am working in building curtain wall area. We use aluminum with different finishing: mill finish, anodize, Alodine, powder coating.... My questions are: What is 'mill finish'? When material extruded from die a coating of oxide is building-up while cooling. So it is not 'mill finish' but something like anodizing. What's the big differences(durability, easy sanding,against corrosion) between this oxide coating and anodizing? I don't know how long this coating forms? And how thick it will be? Another question is the 'mill finish' of extrusion is different of the 'mill finish' of aluminum panel? I will use answer to solve silicone adhesion problem.
Engineer - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
"Mill Finish" is the natural appearance of the aluminum as it comes from the rolling mill (Alcoa, Reynolds, Kaiser, or Alcan) or the extrusion mill. It is "as is" with no external mechanical or chemical finishing. Extruded metal is considered "mill finish". All aluminum has an oxide of some varying thickness. Anodizing is a very heavy controlled oxide. Anodizing is an electrolytically formed and controlled heavy oxide 0.0003 inches thick on up the 0.002 and on up. Mill Finish is a very lightly oxidized film and will wipe off with your bare finger and immediately form. Rolled sheet would probably have a thinner oxide than hot extruded aluminum. If you want to bond silicone adhesive then you want a phosphate etch, or a light chromate or a thin (.0004 anodize in either chromic, sulfuric, or phosphoric.) If you anodize, do not seal the coating and be sure your anodizer knows you do not want it sealed.
Robert H Probert
Robert H Probert Technical Services
Garner, North Carolina


text:
Meet overnight fosterer Rachel from Loughborough
Posted 10 months ago in the Volunteers and fundraisers category
Rachel, a mum-of-two, is a volunteer overnight (B&B) fosterer for Canine Partners.
New kennels are currently being built at our Midlands Training Centre near Osgathorpe, Leicestershire, meaning our dogs-in-training need to go to local foster homes each night while the building work is completed. The dogs are about 14 months old when they begin their advanced training, and we urgently need bed and breakfast fosterers to take on this rewarding role and to play an important part in contributing to transforming the life of someone living with physical disabilities.
Here is Rachel’s story. She is a volunteer B&B fosterer who has just finished fostering her 14th dog, Johnnie.
Rachel has been volunteering as an overnight (B&B) fosterer since 2016, and has just finished fostering Johnnie, an 18-month-old Labrador x Golden Retriever. Fosterers typically tend to foster the same dog for a full 17 weeks during their advanced training, to ensure the dog has some continuity, familiarity and is settled.
One of the reasons that Rachel decided to volunteer was the loss of her wonderful black Labrador, Murphy, back in 2014. He was 16 years old and left a huge hole in their family. Rachel said:
“We were devastated and said we could never put ourselves through that type of loss again. However, a couple of years on we desperately missed having a dog around but still didn’t feel we were ready to commit to having another dog of our own. We have a busy work and family life, so we aren’t in a position to have our own dog. We researched Canine Partners and the amazing work they did, which led to us learning that they needed volunteers to foster their incredible dogs in training. For us this was an easy decision, we got our dog fix without the full-time commitment and at the same time we could help a charity we believed in. As they say, the rest is history!”
On describing a typical day as a B&B fosterer, Rachel said:
“Most dogs just fit in with you as you go about your day; they follow you about to see what you are up to or just chill out on their bed. If it’s a working day for the dog, then we drop them off at the Midlands Training Centre in the morning and pick them up at the end of the day. They then come back home for playtime, dinner and to just chill out. When they’re with us it’s their time to rest and recuperate, we don’t do any training with them.”
Rachel describes her experience as a fosterer as “One of the most rewarding things I have ever done. To watch the dog grow and develop over the 17 weeks they are with us is fantastic, and to think that you have played a part in that is very humbling. We have learnt so much from the fantastic trainers and met some wonderful people.”
Become a B&B fosterer like Rachel
B&B fosterers must live close to the Midlands Training Centre and, preferably, be able to drop their foster dog off every morning and pick them up in the evening. Our other requirements are that you must be aged 18 or over, have a secure garden, have suitable transport and, preferably, be able to commit to caring for a dog for the duration of their 17-week training program. You will also need to have the stamina to manage an active dog. All equipment, such as beds, bowls, toys and food, will be provided by the Charity.

domain: pet


text:
Another problem facing public reporting comparison initiatives is differences in healthcare utilization and spending across U.S. regions with similar levels of patient illness, says Stephanie Jackson, MD, a hospitalist with PeaceHealth and a member of SHM’s Public Policy Committee.3 The public cannot look at data it doesn’t have. For example, when Dr. Jackson asked researchers for data on coronary stroke rates, she was informed some physicians asked the data be held back because they didn’t like what it showed. “Why aren’t we demanding [that data]?” Dr. Jackson asks.
Essentially, then, quality data utilization is an evolving story. ”An ongoing debate exists between proponents of public reporting who believe that the best way to improve measures is to start using them,” Dr. Lindenauer says, “and those who advocate a more cautious approach and argue we should not rush to publicize data until we are clear about what the numbers signify and what to measure.”
Some hospitals use more than 10 criteria as the benchmark for core measures, and 10 additional dimensions hospitalists use to assess their own internal performance (see Figure 1, pg. 41). Beyond that, metrics vary from hospital to hospital.
What Hospitalists Can Do
“It is very challenging to find doctors who are well-versed in public reporting of quality data,” says Latha Sivaprasad, MD, medical director, quality management and patient safety at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. Dr. Jackson believes the more hospitalists know about quality data, the more they will want to use it. “Even though some hospitalists may be afraid to find out how they are doing,” she says, “in general, the better we get at measuring individual performance, the more hospitalists can examine their performance and how they can improve as individuals, as a group, and as an institution.”
Additionally, the era of value-based purchasing (pay for performance) is here—in the form of CMS’ Physician Quality Reporting Initiative. For the past year, physicians have reported on specific performance measures tied to a 1.5% bonus payout. Of the program’s 74 measures in 2007 and 119 measures in 2008, 11 have reporting specifications applicable to hospitalists.
“Three to 5% of the DRG [diagnosis-related group] reimbursement could be at stake for hospitals to achieve certain benchmarks,” Dr. Torcson says. “This will be a great opportunity for hospitalists to partner with their hospitals to develop synergy in achieving performance goals that are going to help maximize hospital quality initiatives and reimbursement.”
Hospitalists can get more involved with quality measures by:
- Joining the hospital quality improvement or patient safety teams;
- Creating toolkits to educate physicians in using quality data;
- Setting up unit-sponsored interdisciplinary teams on the floors to marry all lines of care; and
- Educating the public.
“The conventional wisdom is that the more procedures that an institution does, the better their performance,” Dr. Alexander says, giving as an example a specialized cardiac hospital. “But you really want your surgery in a hospital where they manage at least a moderately high number of procedures and have a very high” success rate treating complications.
Dr. Sivaprasad believes the public wants guidance on medical care quality, legal ramifications of care, physician-specific volume, and the significance of physician hospital privileges. “Maybe we should be more public about system outcomes changes that resulted from root-cause analyses performed,” she adds.
Whatever the level, hospitalists should get involved, Dr. Vidyarthi says. “Quality improvement is an area where you as hospitalists may be asked to engage—and you’re needed.” TH
Andrea M. Sattinger is a medical writer based in North Carolina and a frequent contributor to The Hospitalist.

domain: medical


Every year there are movies that don’t seem worth the time, but if you take the chance, they may turn out better than expected. Here’s a top 10 list of the most surprisingly good movies of 2012.
Browsing: 21 Jump Street
0 Where’d They Come From? The 10 Most Surprising Movies of 2012
0 ‘Lincoln’ Earns Record Nominations for 2013 Critics’ Choice Movie Awards
The nominations list for the 18th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards have been revealed with a record breaking amount of nods going to ‘Lincoln’


text:
|Like the Sylvester Stallone movie Daylight, only not in a tunnel.|
Apparently Seoul is experiencing a jealous winter's return unlike any in quite sometime. It's snowing a week into April and winds were so bad that it forced a train on Seoul subway's green line to shut down while crossing Chamshil Bridge in the southeastern part of the city.
The weather has been wild enough that the Wall Street Journal commented on it:
For many people waiting for flowers to bloom in South Korea, it is winter all over again on Tuesday, as snow and strong winds sweep the country.Yikes. I guess I shouldn't complain about the boring weather we have here in the islands. To be honest, though, I was just remarking to someone a couple days ago that I miss Korean winters. I'd like to see snow at least once. We do have it in Hawaii, but it's way over on the Big Island, high up on Mauna Kea.
In Seoul, it snowed in April for the first time since 1993. Since the country started its systematic weather forecast in 1907, it snowed in Seoul only 29 times in April.
The Korea Metrological Administration issued a heavy-snowfall warning in the eastern parts of the country, which are expected to have as much as 20 cms of snow today.
The agency said a low pressure zone has settled on central Korea, bringing freezing winds, rain, and even snow. As it is moving east, it will affect the country’s eastern coast until Wednesday afternoon.
The strong winds are leaving their mark.
In Jeju, where a warning against strong typhoon-force winds and wind shear, or a rapid change in winds, was issued, more than 40 flights were canceled and 16 flights delayed as of midday Tuesday. All ferries were grounded due to high waves.
In Youngam, a southwestern city, typhoon-strength winds toppled a 25-ton crane at a shipyard onto a parking lot, destroying ten cars and disrupting electricity supply in nearby plants. No injuries were reported.
Anyway, I think I remember that April snowfall in 1993. It was April 10, and it did seem odd to have snow so far into spring. On the other end, the earliest snowfall I recall in Seoul was on October 31, but I can't remember what year. Sadly, the only time I remember a White Christmas was maybe 2005.
Anyway, folks. Stay warm! If you can, take advantage of some spring skiing.

domain: geography


text:
Resources on Racism, Racial Injustice and Antiracism
Below is some of the resources identified by Rev. Liz Williams, which we will continue to update!
From Amazon: "From the Civil War to our combustible present, acclaimed historian Carol Anderson reframes our continuing conversation about race, chronicling the powerful forces opposed to black progress in America. As Ferguson, Missouri, erupted in August 2014, and media commentators across the ideological spectrum referred to the angry response of African Americans as “black rage,” historian Carol Anderson wrote a remarkable op-ed in The Washington Post suggesting that this was, instead, "white rage at work. With so much attention on the flames," she argued, "everyone had ignored the kindling."
From Amazon: "From the New York Times bestselling author of The Other Wes Moore, a kaleidoscopic account of five days in the life of a city on the edge, told through eight characters on the front lines of the uprising that overtook Baltimore and riveted the world."
White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
From Amazon: "In this “vital, necessary, and beautiful book” (Michael Eric Dyson), antiracist educator Robin DiAngelo deftly illuminates the phenomenon of white fragility and “allows us to understand racism as a practice not restricted to ‘bad people’ (Claudia Rankine). Referring to the defensive moves that white people make when challenged racially, white fragilit is characterized by emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and by behaviors including argumentation and silence. These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate white racial equilibrium and prevent any meaningful cross-racial dialogue. In this in-depth exploration, DiAngelo examines how white fragility develops, how it protects racial inequality, and what we can do to engage more constructively.
Waking Up White by Debby Irving
From Amazon: “Waking Up White is the book Irving wishes someone had handed her decades ago. By sharing her sometimes cringe-worthy struggle to understand racism and racial tensions, she offers a fresh perspective on bias, stereotypes, manners, and tolerance. As Irving unpacks her own long-held beliefs about colorblindness, being a good person, and wanting to help people of color, she reveals how each of these well-intentioned mindsets actually perpetuated her ill-conceived ideas about race. She also explains why and how she's changed the way she talks about racism, works in racially mixed groups, and understands the antiracism movement as a whole. Exercises at the end of each chapter prompt readers to explore their own racialized ideas. Waking Up White's personal narrative is designed to work well as a rapid read, a book group book, or support reading for courses exploring racial and cultural issues”
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
From Amazon: “Antiracism is a transformative concept that reorients and reenergizes the conversation about racism—and, even more fundamentally, points us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other. At its core, racism is a powerful system that creates false hierarchies of human value; its warped logic extends beyond race, from the way we regard people of different ethnicities or skin colors to the way we treat people of different sexes, gender identities, and body types. Racism intersects with class and culture and geography and even changes the way we see and value ourselves. In How to Be an Antiracist, Kendi takes readers through a widening circle of antiracist ideas—from the most basic concepts to visionary possibilities—that will help readers see all forms of racism clearly, understand their poisonous consequences, and work to oppose them in our systems and in ourselves.”
Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi with illustrations by Ashley Lukashevsky
From Amazon: “Take your first steps with Antiracist Baby! Or rather, follow Antiracist Baby's nine easy steps for building a more equitable world. With bold art and thoughtful yet playful text, Antiracist Baby introduces the youngest readers and the grown-ups in their lives to the concept and power of antiracism. Providing the language necessary to begin critical conversations at the earliest age, Antiracist Baby is the perfect gift for readers of all ages dedicated to forming a just society.”
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
From Amazon: “Stevenson's story is one of working to protect basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society--the poor, the wrongly convicted, and those whose lives have been marked by discrimination and marginalization. Through this adaptation, young people of today will find themselves called to action and compassion in the pursuit of justice. A portion of the proceeds of this book will go to charity to help in Stevenson's important work to benefit the voiceless and the vulnerable as they attempt to navigate the broken U.S. justice system.”
The film ‘Just Mercy’ is now available on many streaming services to watch at no cost.
Brené Brown Podcast “Unlocking Us” - Brené with Ibram X. Kendi on How to Be an Antiracist
The New York Times 1619 Project - "The 1619 Project is an ongoing initiative from The New York Times Magazine that began in August 2019, the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative." Read more about The 1619 Project. (free registration to NYT required, but well worth it!)
The Episcopal Church has curated a phenomenal set of resources that you can access here: https://episcopalchurch.org/responding-to-racist-violence
The Church of Heavenly Rest in NYC has made a few great resources available, including the following Google docs with curated articles, books and other recommendations:

domain: library


text:
Those who learned that interests are fixed throughout a person’s life were less captivated by [information unrelated to] their [own] interests.
…The authors also had students learn about either fixed or growth theory and then exposed them to a new interest: Astronomy. First, they had them watch a video made by The Guardian for a general audience about Stephen Hawking’s ideas. It was easy to understand and entertaining. Then the authors had the students read a highly technical, challenging article in the academic journal Science about black holes. Despite saying just moments ago, after viewing the video, that they were fascinated by black holes, the students who were exposed to the fixed theory of interests said they were no longer interested in black holes after reading the difficult Science article. In other words, when you’re told that your interests are somehow ingrained, you give up on new interests as soon as the going gets tough.
…K. Ann Renninger, a professor at Swarthmore College who was not involved with the study, has researched the development of interests and said that “neuroscience has confirmed that interests can be supported to develop.” In other words, with the right help, most people can get interested in almost anything. Before the age of 8, she said, kids will try anything. Between the ages of 8 and 12, they start to compare themselves with others and become insecure if they’re not as good as their peers at something. That’s when educators have to start to find new ways to keep them interested in certain subjects.
Though the authors didn’t examine adults, they told me their findings could apply to an older population as well. For example, people’s interest in parenthood tends to escalate rapidly once they have a real, crying baby in their house. “You could not know the first thing about cancer, but if your mother gets cancer, you’re going to be an expert in it pretty darn quick,” O’Keefe said.

domain: psychology


Pro-Ject’s Record Puck is a heavyweight record clamp that is compatible with almost any turntable that doesn’t have a threaded spindle. It weighs approximately 1.7 lb and will help dampen vibration as well as holding your record in place on the platter. The Record Puck is made of metal with a powder coated black finish and felt on the bottom to protect your record.
The AT617a cartridge stylus cleaner is a specially formulated polyurethane gel that gently removes dirt particles from the stylus tip when the stylus is lowered onto it. The gel’s surface is washable and will remain tacky for years.
Material: Polyurethane gel
Dimensions: 37.5 mm (1.48″) diameter × 17 mm (0.67″)
This Turntable Tonearm Spirit Level for Phono / Headshell is compact and lightweight, and is just 18mm in diameter and 8mm in height. Weighs a mere 6 Grams This Spirit Level is placed on the headshell whilst tracking. Spirit Level For Turntables And Other Hi Fi Equipment Where Being Level is Critical to the Sound Quality And Playback Enhancement
turntable cleaner vinyl records spray
New Highest quality turntable belt, 18.7″/47,49 cm Inside Circumference x 0.120″/ 0,30 cm Wide x 0.032″/ 0,081 Thick Turntable Belt
New Highest quality turntable belt, 16.9″/40,64 cm Inside Circumference x 0.200″/ 0,50 cm Wide x 0.030″/ 0,076 Thick Turntable Belt
New Highest quality turntable belt, 27.3″/69,34 cm Inside Circumference x 0.200″/ 0,50 cm Wide x 0.024″/ 0,060 Thick Turntable Belt
This is a brand new generic replacement flat rubber belt.- manufactured to meet or exceed the Original Equipment Manufacturers specifications. .046 Inch / 1.2mm Thick and Wide 15.2 Inch / 38.1cm Inside Circumference (total length)
Audio Technica VM Series dual magnet cartridge, Aluminum cantilever , 0.3 x 0.7 mil Diamond elliptical needle, 1.8-2.2 grams (2.0 g standard) tracking pressure
This is a cartridge for the audiophile who demands the ultimate sonic performance from their system, together with the convenience of a user replaceable stylus. The 1042 uses a nude, natural-diamond stylus with a Gyger S profile. This is a revolutionary line-contact type which is shaped to more closely resemble the record cutting head than any previous design. The stylus profile is the main factor governing overall sound quality in a cartridge and the shape of the Gyger S with its 6 µm radius allows it to trace the smallest groove detail with complete fidelity. Mid-range tonality is incredibly accurate and precise with high frequency sibilance banished. The extended side wall contact of the Gyger-S diamond also gives the 1042 unsurpassed resolution of the fine groove modulations, producing an exceptionally detailed, smooth and musical sound.
Astatic 51-1 ASTATIC 51-2 AMI ROCKOLA JUKEBOX 33 45 78
The M-Series ATH-M40x professional monitor headphones are tuned flat for incredibly accurate audio monitoring across an extended frequency range. Your studio experience is enhanced with superior sound isolation and swiveling earcups for convenient one-ear monitoring. Engineered with pro-grade materials and robust construction, the M40x excels in professional studio tracking and mixing, as well as DJ monitoring.
More About the M-Series Headphones
Critically acclaimed M-Series professional monitor headphones deliver accurate audio and outstanding comfort, perfect for long sessions in the studio and on the go. Contoured earcups seal tight for excellent sound isolation, with minimal bleed. And the pro-grade materials are durable, yet comfortable. Find out why online reviewers, top audio engineers, and cult followers agree, M-Series is an unmatched combination of audio and build-quality that gets the job done. Hour after hour, year after year
The M50x are one of our most acclaimed audio solutions and our best-selling headphones. Based on the ATH-M50, the M50x include an upgraded detachable cable for convenience and versatility, perfect for the studio, gaming or when you’re out on the move. Enjoy passive noise isolation through the comfortable ear cups designed to keep you in the zone and in the game, while their large aperture drivers deliver our industry-loved sound signature.
The AT-HPH300 Headphone Hanger is a convenient tool for safely storing your headphones in areas where space is limited. The hanger features an adjustable clamp that mounts securely to a shelf, desk or other surface up to 3.5 mm (1.4″) thick. The hanger rotates 360°, allowing you to store headphones unobtrusively under the desk or shelf, or have out and at the ready to quickly grab when needed. And with the hanger’s soft leatherette pad, you never have to worry about your headphones getting scratched or damaged. A great space-saving solution.
VERTIGAIN® technology helps to increase quality and clarity by up to 10% compared to other digital USB microphones. As sound waves move in a vertical direction, the wave reaches the 3 condensers without being scattered by any microphone mesh.
4 Dedicated Recording Modes
The MDRILL One will be only mic you need!
4 different polar settings offer the ultimate flexibility. Record vocals, instruments, podcasts, interviews, conference calls, streaming and much, much more!
Simply press the mode button and choose between Cardioid, Stereo, Bi-Directional or Omni-Directional patterns to find the best performance setting. So, whether you stream from home or need to record your next masterpiece, the MDRILL One Pro will help you produce studio-quality recordings – every time.
Thronmax Mdrill One Black 48khz, Fabric Travel Case, Dust-proof Protective Sleeve, Foam Windshield, Pop Filter, User Guide, 3 meters Type C braided cable, Advanced Boom Adapter, 3/8” Female, 5/8″ Male Adapter
PC/Mac, Windows 8/Windows 7/Windows Vista, Mac OS X (10.7-10.9)
Product Code: M2P-B Jet Black 96 Kit
Record audio for your podcast straight to your computer with the Marantz Professional MPM-4000U, a USB microphone geared toward content creators. Bypassing the need for any audio interface, preamp, or mixer, the MPM-4000U lets you record yourself right out of the box, capturing broadcast-quality audio in the process.
Monitor audio straight from the mic with the headphone jack. Use controls typically only found on mixers to tailor the sound: mute the mic, control its gain, and adjust the volume on your headphones independently. The mic ships with a desktop mic stand, a mic clip, and a USB cable to get you up and running right away.
Audio-Technica’s stringent quality and consistency standards set the AT2020 apart from other mics in its class. Its low-mass diaphragm is custom-engineered for extended frequency response and superior transient response. With rugged construction for durable performance, the microphone offers a wide dynamic range and handles high SPLs with ease. The AT2020: the new standard for affordable side-address studio condensers.
Pack of 2 Pfanstiehl 727-D7 727D7 needle stylus
A proven aftermarket reproduction made in Switzerland of the ASTATIC NEEDLE N623as and sometimes sold in pairs, it is found in Seeburg cartridges equipped with two needles. in our case we sell them one at a time. For customer’s convenience we sell these individually. Th stylus is used in: SEEBURG Jukeboxes 370 cartridge by Pickering SEEBURG CARTRIDGE 370 by Pickering
High quality Conical needle made by Tonar
Diamond .2 X0.7 mil bonded elliptical tip needle for use at 16, 33 or 45 speeds. NOT for 78 rpm speed.
0.7 mil Diamond conical tip needle , 16 or 33 or 45rpm NOT for 78rpm , 1,25 grams tracking pressure
Orders shipped within 24 hours
Showing the single result
High quality Elliptical needle made by Tonar


text:
This week, after a funeral in Rome, a casket draped in the Nazi flag received an enthusiastic stiff-arm fascist salute from mourners who lined the sidewalk of the procession from the church. Last week, a well-known conservative writer got into a Twitter war with a Jewish, left-wing economist. This in itself is nothing new, but what was disturbing was that rather than battling over policies, the conservative writer resorted to derogatory comments (with not-so-subtle overtones of antisemitism)—about the other’s guy’s nose.
The funeral on Monday at St. Lucia in Rome was for 44-year-old Alessia Augello, a member of the openly neo-fascist Forza Nuova group, blamed for violent protests against Italy’s prime minister last fall. As her casket—which was draped in the Nazi flag—left the church, two dozen people shouted “Presente!” (“Present!”) and gave the raised-arm salute.
The Catholic Church—from Rome’s presiding vicar to the priest who presided over the funeral—denounced the action and said they had no prior knowledge of the mourners’ actions after the Mass.
“This ideological and violent exploitation, especially following an act of worship near a sacred place, remains serious, offensive and unacceptable for the church community of Rome and for all people of goodwill in our city,” according to a statement from the Church.
The parish priest also distanced himself from “every word, gesture, and symbol used outside the church, which are attributed to extremist ideologies far from the message of the Gospel of Christ.”
Rome’s Jewish community also responded to the fascist display. “It is unacceptable that a flag with a swastika can still be shown in public in this day and age, especially in a city that saw the deportation of its Jews by the Nazis and their fascist collaborators.”
While the stiff-armed salutes and Nazi flag are pretty in-your-face, it is also alarming to see conservatives (not extremists) showing antisemitic inclinations.
We’ve come to expect—or at least not be terribly shocked—when someone on the left or far-left says something against Jews or Israel. But when conservatives start to hint at it and then treat it as nothing unusual, this signals the possibility of a troubling shift in our culture.
Bestselling author Douglas Murray recently called out Pedro L. Gonzalez, a Lincoln Fellow at the Claremont Institute, in a column he wrote. Over the new year’s weekend, Gonzalez and David Rothschild, a left-wing Jewish economist, went a few rounds of tweet punches that sunk from policy to personal in a hurry.
Murray said Gonzalez’s comments were so “repugnant that it cannot be glossed over or ignored.” Gonzalez “unmasked himself, boringly and yet still wretchedly, as an antisemite. He did it casually, as though holding these noxious beliefs would be perfectly obvious.”
So, what did Gonzalez tweet?
“That Rothschild physiognomy is pure nightmare fuel.”
That’s right—he attacked Rothschild for his Jewish features (physiognomy is a reference to the facial features characteristic of an ethnicity). This kind of attack is reminiscent of how the Nazis used to post flyers of caricatures of Jewish men with ridiculously large noses.
And it’s not the first time Gonzalez has attacked someone’s physiognomy. In another Twitter joust, with a lawyer named Ari Cohn— “Oh, look another cursed goblin physiognomy” and then Gonzalez included a link to a very unflattering photo of Cohn.
Murray admits that this is a painful topic to consider for anyone on the political right, especially when terms like fascist, racist, and extremist have been overused.
“I think we can safely say that in these recent communiques, Mr. Gonzalez is sincerely enjoying playing with antisemitism. He is treating himself to some of it.
Indulging in it. Enjoying it,” Murray concluded. “Specifically thrilled at the opportunity to revive execrable motifs and notions that recall Nazi eugenics and their obsession with uber and Untermenschen (terms surrounding Hitler’s obsession with achieving racial supremacy). All the while believing that while his foes all happen to have Jewish features, he—Gonzalez!—is in the position of the Aryan. His odious game playing…is a kind of proto-violence. It is threatening to go there.”

domain: news


text:
Shelling hemp seeds reveals the most nutritious and tender part of the seed — the heart. Hemp hearts have a slightly nutty taste, similar to sunflower seeds or pine nuts.
Whether you mix them into your smoothie, sprinkle them on yogurt or cereal or add them to your baked goods, hemp hearts are a nutritional powerhouse with outstanding health benefits.
Video of the Day
Does Hemp Contain THC?
Hemp hearts come from the hemp plant, scientifically known as Cannabis sativa L. from the Cannabaceae family. Although marijuana belongs to the same family, there is no measurable tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD) present in hemp seeds, per the Colorado State University Extension.
For context, THC is primarily responsible for the effects of marijuana on a person's mental state, while CBD is another substance found in the cannabis plant and both are cannabinoids, per the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Drugs containing cannabinoids may be helpful in treating rare forms of epilepsy, nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy and loss of appetite or weight loss linked to HIV/AIDS.
Although hemp hearts aren't known for containing CBD, which has become a trendy ingredient used in many products recently, they still offer a wide variety of health benefits. What's more, eating nuts and seeds like hemp hearts can help you live longer: Consuming too few nuts and seeds was linked to 8.5 percent of adult deaths due to stroke, heart disease and type 2 diabetes in a March 2017 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Hemp Heart Nutrition Facts
Three tablespoons of hemp hearts is equal to a single serving. Three tablespoons of hemp hearts contain:
- Calories: 166
- Total fat: 14.6 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Sodium: 1.5 mg
- Total carbs: 2.6 g
- Dietary fiber: 1.2 g
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Added sugar: 0 g
- Protein: 9.5 g
Hemp Heart Macros
- Total fat: Three tablespoons of hemp hearts contain 14.6 grams of total fat, which includes 11.4 grams of polyunsaturated fat, 1.6 grams of monounsaturated fat, 1.4 grams of saturated fat and 0 grams of trans fat.
- Carbohydrates: Three tablespoons of hemp hearts have 2.6 grams of carbs, which includes 1.2 grams of fiber and 0.5 grams of naturally occurring sugars.
- Protein: Three tablespoons of hemp hearts have 9.5 grams of protein.
Vitamins, Minerals and Other Micronutrients
- Manganese: 99% of your Daily Value (DV)
- Copper: 53% DV
- Magnesium: 50% DV
- Phosphorus: 40% DV
- Thiamin (B1): 32% DV
- Zinc: 27% DV
- Niacin (B3): 17% DV
- Iron: 13% DV
- Vitamin B6: 11% DV
- Potassium: 8% DV
- Folate (B9): 8% DV
- Riboflavin (B2): 7% DV
Health Benefits of Hemp Hearts
Not only do hemp hearts put a delicious twist on many favorite recipes, but they can also boost the health of your bones and heart. They're also one of few plant-based foods that offer a complete protein.
1. Hemp Hearts Can Benefit Your Bone Health
Hemp hearts are a fantastic source of various vitamins and minerals that support your skeleton. For instance, just one serving of hemp hearts contains nearly your entire daily value of manganese, an essential mineral.
"Manganese is important for bone development, wound healing and the immune response," says Mia Syn, RDN.
In fact, this micronutrient plays a crucial role in the formation of bone cartilage and collagen, and it's been reported that people with osteoporosis have low blood levels of manganese, per a February 2017 review in Clinical Cases in Mineral and Bone Metabolism.
Hemp hearts also provide high levels of copper, magnesium and zinc, all of which are also important for bone health, per an April 2012 review in The Open Orthopaedics Journal. The researchers note that most people can get enough zinc and copper through their diet (say, through foods like hemp hearts), so a supplement should not be needed unless your doctor recommends it.
2. Hemp Hearts Support Heart Health
Boasting an impressive amount of heart-healthy fats, hemp hearts can give your ticker a boost. Just one serving of hemp hearts contains 11.4 grams of polyunsaturated fats and 1.6 grams of monounsaturated fats, both of which are considered beneficial for your heart.
Polyunsaturated fats are typically found in plant-based foods and oils, and eating foods rich in them in place of saturated fats can improve your blood cholesterol levels, lowering your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes in turn, per the Mayo Clinic. Replacing saturated fats with monounsaturated fats has been found to have similar effects.
In fact, replacing 5 percent of calories from saturated fats with the same amount from polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats was associated with a reduction in total mortality of 27 percent and 13 percent, respectively, in an August 2016 cohort study of 126,000 participants who were followed up with for up to 32 years in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Hemp hearts also contain some fiber, which is a carbohydrate the body can't digest and is important for regulating the body's use of sugars (which helps to control your hunger), per the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Fiber can also help to lower your cholesterol and promote regularity.
With each 3-tablespoon serving of hemp hearts, you'll get 50 percent of your daily value of magnesium, which plays an important role in processes like blood pressure regulation, regular heart rhythm and blood glucose control, per the National Institutes of Health.
An additional 100 milligrams of dietary magnesium intake was associated with a 22 percent decrease in heart failure risk and a 7 percent reduction in stroke risk in a December 2016 meta-analysis in the journal BMC Medicine. For reference, 1.5 tablespoons of hemp hearts contain 105 milligrams of magnesium.
3. They're a Plant-Based Source of Complete Protein
When a food contains the nine essential amino acids that the body cannot produce on its own, it's called a complete protein.
Animal foods like fish, poultry, eggs and dairy tend to be sources of complete protein, while plant-based foods like seeds, legumes, nuts, whole grains and vegetables tend to be incomplete sources of protein, meaning they contain some but not all of the essential amino acids (but you can typically eat a variety of plant foods to get the complete protein you need), per the Cleveland Clinic.
However, a few plant-based foods like hemp hearts and quinoa are complete sources of protein. "Hemp hearts are set apart by most seeds because of their higher protein content, and by the fact that they are considered a complete protein source," Syn says.
In particular, hemp hearts contain 1,365 milligrams of the amino acid arginine. Some evidence suggests that this amino acid may help to reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension (though research has largely looked at arginine supplementation), according to the Mayo Clinic.
Overall, getting enough protein is important because it makes up the enzymes that power several chemical reactions throughout your body and the hemoglobin that transports oxygen in your blood, per the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. You should aim to get 10 to 35 percent of your calories from protein per day.
Hemp Heart Health Risks
Allergy to the Cannabis Sativa (hemp) plant has been reported in a variety of forms, including through hemp seed ingestion, and can include symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, itching or even life-threatening anaphylaxis, per the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
If you suspect you have a hemp seed allergy — or any other type of food allergy — speak to your doctor or allergist, who may use skin testing to predict allergic sensitization.
Like most nuts and seeds, hemp hearts can pile on calories when eaten in excess. While 3 tablespoons contain a modest 166 calories, be aware of how much you're eating when pouring hemp seeds into your smoothie or onto yogurt.
Hemp seeds are high in fat, which contains 9 calories per gram compared to the 4 calories per gram found in protein and carbohydrates, per the USDA.
There are currently no known drug interactions with hemp. That said, eating high-fat meals — say, if you overeat hemp hearts or eat them along with other foods high in fat — can affect medications such as theophylline (used to treat the symptoms of bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema), esomeprazole (a proton pump inhibitor that decreases stomach acid) and cycloserine (used to treat tuberculosis), per a March 2011 review in the Oman Medical Journal. (Note: This is an older study. More research needs to be done to support this claim.)
Be sure to discuss any medication and food interactions with your health professional.
Hemp Heart Preparation and Helpful Tips
Hemp hearts are available at many supermarkets and natural food stores. Here's how to store and incorporate them into a healthy diet that's packed with nutrients.
Store hemp hearts in the refrigerator. Although they'll stay fresh at room temperature, it's generally a good idea to store seeds in the refrigerator or freezer to preserve the healthy polyunsaturated oils and other nutrients and to extend shelf life, per the Colorado State University Extension.
Hydrate with your hemp hearts. Generally, you should drink plenty of water with fiber-containing foods like seeds to avoid potential bloating or gastrointestinal discomfort, per the Colorado State University Extension. As a bonus, drinking plenty of water will ensure you stay healthy and avoid issues like urinary and kidney problems.
Enjoy hemp hearts with a variety of foods. The nutty flavor of hemp hearts can be complementary to both savory and sweet snacks. "Hemp hearts have a chewy texture and make a great topping for yogurt, smoothies, salads, oatmeal and toast," Syn says. "They can even be incorporated into breading and granola recipes."
Alternatives to Hemp Hearts
It's best to fit a wide variety of nuts and seeds like hemp hearts into your diet. You can swap hemp hearts for other seeds, such as:
- flax seeds
- chia seeds
- sunflower seeds
- pine nuts
- pumpkin seeds
You can even swap them for nuts like almonds, pecans and chestnuts.
- Colorado State University Extension: "Industrial Hemp"
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: "Cannabis (Marijuana) and Cannabinoids: What You Need To Know"
- The Journal of the American Medical Association: "Association Between Dietary Factors and Mortality From Heart Disease, Stroke, and Type 2 Diabetes in the United States"
- My Food Data: "Hemp Seeds"
- Clinical Cases in Mineral and Bone Metabolism: "Microelements for bone boost: the last but not the least"
- The Open Orthopaedics Journal: "Essential Nutrients for Bone Health and a Review of their Availability in the Average North American Diet"
- Mayo Clinic: "Dietary fats: Know which types to choose"
- JAMA Internal Medicine: "Association of Specific Dietary Fats With Total and Cause-Specific Mortality"
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: "Fiber"
- National Institutes of Health: "Magnesium"
- BMC Medicine: "Dietary magnesium intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and all-cause mortality: a dose–response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies"
- Cleveland Clinic: "Do I Need to Worry About Eating ‘Complete’ Proteins?"
- Journal of Chiropractic Medicine: "Therapeutic Benefits of l-Arginine: An Umbrella Review of Meta-analyses"
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: "Protein"
- America Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: "Marijuana Cannabis Allergy"
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: "How many calories are in one gram of fat, carbohydrate, or protein?"
- Oman Medical Journal: "Food-Drug Interactions"
- Colorado State University Extension: "Add Seeds to Your Healthy Diet"
- Mayo Clinic: "L-arginine: Does It Lower Blood Pressure?"


text: The Faber-Castell Sparkle Pencil Set in Dapple Grey is a delightful fusion of artistic precision and shimmering elegance. This exquisite collection of graphite pencils is a testament to Faber-Castell's century-old legacy of crafting premium writing instruments. The Dapple Grey hue, reminiscent of twilight skies, adds a touch of sophistication to your creative endeavors. Each pencil in this set is meticulously engineered for smooth, effortless drawing and writing, making it perfect for artists, writers, and creators of all kinds. What sets these pencils apart is their subtle yet captivating sparkle finish, which imparts a touch of magic to every stroke. Whether you're sketching, doodling, or jotting down ideas, the Faber-Castell Sparkle Pencil Set in Dapple Grey elevates your creative experience to new heights. Unlock your imagination with this enchanting set and bring your visions to life with every glimmering line.

domain: hobby


text:
This was a magical day... that's all there is to it.
These two lovebirds drove out to the Oregon Coast all the way from Idaho for their elopement ceremony. They said they chose to do an elopement because then it was all about them, instead of planning a big wedding for everyone else.
From the moment I met them in their fancy clothes in the sandy parking lot, you could see the warmth and comfort between these two.
They said their vows surrounded by the majestic cliffs at Cape Kiwanda, just feet from the waves. The groom got teary when the officiant had them hold hands and think about all those hands would do, and have done for each other.
After the kiss they laughed, and turned towards the ocean, overwhelmed and happy. My eyes weren't dry, let me just say.
There is something so very special about being a part of such a small and intimate ceremony. There are no distractions. The vows are delivered without the pressure of a huge audience.
We wandered the rocks and dunes, all while they talked and held each other and enjoyed the perfect beginning to their new life together.
They had their first dance on the beach, with a cell phone playing their song in his vest pocket. I cried again.
Congratulations, you guys! Thanks for letting me be there.


The online journal to Offscreen — for all the things that don’t fit into the magazine. We regularly publish behind-the-scenes posts about the making of an indie magazine. Why not grab the RSS feed and follow along?
Hey friends! I just launched Offscreen Issue No9. Shipping will stretch over two days beginning next week Wednesday, September 17th. Order now to be part of the first shipment and receive your magazine even before many of our stockists!
Once again a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone involved in making this issue happen, in particular to our sponsors:
Feeling super privileged that envato invited me to do this little mini-documentary about how I make Offscreen. All credits go to the amazing Josh Janssen and Natasha Postolovski for producing a visually stunning video, and cutting out about a million of my ‘ums’.
Disclosure: envato is a regular sponsor of Offscreen Magazine
I’m really glad that I was able to be part of IndieCon 2014 here in Hamburg, as far as I know the first conference in Germany dedicated to independent magazines (with a focus on German-speaking publishers, of course). The conference emerged out of a master thesis by Malte Brenneisen and Urs Spindler, analysing the extensive German magazine scene in an attempt to define what ‘indie’ really means.
And that question was very much the underlying theme of the event, too. IndieCon was set in a spectacular location here in Hamburg, ironically the posh HQ of one of Germany’s biggest publishing houses, Hoffmann & Campe. But the irony wasn’t lost on the event organisers, as indie publishers quite literally took over the building in a well-executed ‘pirate’ theme.
The event opened with a keynote by Oliver Gehrs, publisher of German magazine Dummy, that was meant to provoke and criticise, basically reminding indies to focus more on producing publications with soul and attitude and unique quality content, rather than making a bunch of pages look pretty and then selling them for big bucks. In my opinion, it was a fitting way to open a conference that was as much a celebration of indie publishing as it was a reality check in an industry where many “do it for the love of it”. But in all honesty, at times it was also loaded with a typically German seriousness — the ol’ Weltschmerz — that doesn’t leave a lot of room for making things ‘just for fun’, with no intention of changing the world.
Overall, I felt that everyone really enjoyed being amongst people struggling with the same issues such as monetisation, finding/building an audience, moral questions around generating content on a small budget (i.e. not paying contributors), etc. But some of the workshops also went into more practical details, such as how to price a magazine or how to minimise cost in the production process. I met a lot of new faces, but also finally got a chance to shake hands with people whose work I admired for so long.
My talk went well (I think), even though Offscreen was a bit of an exception amongst all the other magazines on display which, of course, focused mainly on the German-speaking market. Nevertheless, it was a successful event by all means, and I believe everyone left with new lessons learned and new ideas sparked.
Again, thanks to the organisers for having me, to the sponsors like AZ Druck (my printer) and Adobe Typekit who helped financially in getting me over there to attend/speak and make the event happen.
I’m off to Berlin now for the production of the new issue! Can’t wait to get my hands covered in ink! Photos to come soon.
I’m always interested in finding out what tools/apps other people use to get stuff done. In the spirit of sharing, here’s a list of current apps I use to work on Offscreen (by no means complete and in no particular order):
This clever, lightweight note-taking tool helps me capture thoughts and put ideas in order. Its power mainly lies in its ability to sync smoothly across all devices. I’m writing this very post in it and proof-read/edit it on my phone when I have a few spare minutes.
My invoicing software, largely a remnant of my freelancer years. I still use it to invoice stockists, sponsors, etc. The last few updates have really improved the user experience. I particularly like this tool over others because it handles multiple currencies well. However, it’s all still very manual — it doesn’t connect with my (Australian) bank account or reconcile transactions. But I don’t really need that anyway.
I never thought I’d be so reliant on a word processing app, but Google Docs has been indespensable for me since starting Offscreen. I create around 40-50 seperate documents (one for each contributor) with every issue. Its collaboration and editing features make working with others on content a breeze.
I don’t use a native Mac app for my emails. I made the switch to using Gmail in my browser (Chrome) many years ago and still love it! (I have a business account with Google, so no ads, more storage, custom domain name, etc.)
I only signed up for this one a few months ago. It’s my book-keeping app. I can either forward email receipts or upload photos of paper receipts (through my iPhone) and it does all the categorising, finding total amounts, tax, etc automatically. All I need to do is to export a spreadsheet at the end of the quarter and send it to my accountant. It works surprisingly well so far, even though the design/UX badly needs an overhaul (which is in the works, I was told).
This is one of the tools I use pretty much every day. It lives in my menu bar and I can drag’n drop anything onto its icon to either create a short-URL, upload a file or take a screenshot, and make it available online. It’s been a super handy companion. Happy to pay for a pro-membership.
Oh, I have no idea how I’d survive the login mayhem without my trusty 1Password app. It stores all my secret words, and therefore it’s probably the most important piece of software on this machine.
Oh yes, online content overwhelms me too. There is just too much I want to read, watch, listen to… I don’t get to read all the things I add to my Pocket app, but especially on long flights, I really enjoy catching up on interesting reads I’ve stored here.
I occasionally check in with my analytics tool, but what can I say? I find it hard to get excited about statistics and numbers about my own website. It’s all a lot more boring to me than it should be. I know, but I much rather measure success in the amount of nice feedback I get from you guys. ;)
Yep, you guessed it — Campaign Monitor is not just a sponsor of the magazine, I’m also a big fan of their product and use it for Offscreen’s infrequent newsletter.
With Typekit, Indesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom and even occasionally Bridge I do use a lot of Adobe products for the visual part of the magazine. It’s easy to criticise them for making software that crashes often, but when I’m in the depth of a project, I realise again and again that these tools are immensely powerful and have matured a lot over the last decade or so.
It’s not perfect, but close to. I wish they’d be stronger advocates for data and privacy protection, but like with so many other things, it’s a trade-off and I’m willing to make it.
I double-back-up critical data to AWS with this little helper tool.
Espresso + CodeKit + Transmit
Espresso is my text editor of choice. It’s getting a bit dusty and I’ve been meaning to move to Sublime (or maybe Atom), but moving to another editor is like breaking a bad habit. It’s hard, yo!
Tweetbot (with Tweetmarker)
Still the most powerful Twitter app (happy to support indie software too!). It’s going to be interesting to see how Tapbots fares in the face of all the changes Twitter is implementing, and given how hostile they’ve been towards 3rd party app developer in recent years.
Simple copy and paste tool allows me to have a clipboard history.
A little calendar menu app for quick access of my calendar. I use it for lack of decent alternatives. There are a few design issues that still confuse me after years of using it.
Quick access to… everything. It’s a search bar to help you open files, search Google, launch programs, do math calculations, insert often-used snippets of text, etc. I recently found this little plug-in that allows me to convert currencies on the fly. Nice!
Another mini app that lives in my menu bar and allows me to check and calculate global times/timezones. Handy when working with contributors from all sorts of places.
I try to listen to a handful of podcasts regularly. This app (on Mac and iPhone) helps me keep them in sync. It’s probably the most powerful podcast app for the Mac.
I don’t record a lot of screencasts, but when I do, Drew Wilson’s little app never lets me down!
A little tool for generating PayPal payment links on the fly. I use these links to request payments for postages fees, resending fees, etc.
* This is a partner link, meaning that I get a small increase in volume or a discount if you sign up through this link. Hope you don’t mind…
A super quick time-lapse video tour around the (shared) Offscreen office here in Melbourne. Love the sunlight we’re getting, but ask me again in three months when we’re in the middle of this city’s brutal summers. :)
With Offscreen, the future of print is in your hands — literally and figuratively. The magazine you are holding is representative of where print is headed as a medium: instead of cheaply-produced, ad-driven publications for the masses, we’ll see more high-quality niche titles in small print runs, created by zealous publishers with an appreciation for the printed word. More than anything, this model depends on loyal readers that help spread the word and form a community around a publication they love.
If you enjoy Offscreen, please recommend it to your friends and co-workers. You can buy back issues or subscribe through our website, and keep in touch via Twitter, Facebook, and our blog.
I thought I republish this little closing note that appears in the back of each Offscreen issue. Go Indie! And thanks for your support!


(Note to self: V 10.1 workbook)
See attached. Forget about swapping dimension names. Swap sheets instead.
In the attached I made a dashboard. Dashboard 1 has your two original sheets floating on it.
For Dashboard 2 I made copies of your two sheets and added a filter to display (or not) the sheets depending on which parameter value is selected. See Dashboard 2. On that dashboard I added a container and dragged the two sheets into it. Play with the "View By" parameter and see how the two sheets interact with it.
Go to Dashboard 3. Here I removed the titles of the two sheets. Now, when a sheet is blank, it collapses and the remaining sheet shifts to the left side of the container.
Dashboard 4 just formats the container a little bigger, and I added a text box that displays the value of the selected parameter.
The technique here is called sheet swapping.
This is a tangential question to your solution, but can this be achieved with fixed rather than floating sheets?
The key to sheet swapping is putting the two sheets into a container. And my personal preference is to use floating stuff all the time. However, you could put the two sheets into a container, fix the size, and then drag that container into your tiled dashboard and the sheet swapping should still operate the same way.


text:
Company Overview of Harmon & Co.
Harmon & Co. is a strategic and corporate advisory firm that caters to private and public institutions worldwide. The firm offers capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, and strategic consulting services. It also provides advisory services to foreign governments on issues like privatization and attracting foreign direct investment. Harmon & Co. has a strategic partnership with Rothschild Group to offer investment banking services worldwide. Harmon & Co. was founded in 2001 and is based in New York, New York.
888 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Founded in 2001
Key Executives for Harmon & Co.
Similar Private Companies By Industry
|@Visory LLC||United States|
|1 Road Partners LLC||United States|
|11T Partners, LLC||United States|
|123Jump.com, Inc.||United States|
|1509225 Ontario, Inc.||United States|
Recent Private Companies Transactions
|No transactions available in the past 12 months.|
Most Searched Private Companies
|Company Name||Geographic Region|
|Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law||United States|
|Bloomberg L.P.||United States|
|The Advertising Council, Inc.||United States|
|Rush University||United States|
Sponsored Financial Commentaries
To contact Harmon & Co., please visit www.harmonco.com. Company data is provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence. Please use this form to report any data issues.

domain: economics


text:
|SpectraBase Compound ID||DsJzZnZAyw0|
|Mol Weight||315.41 g/mol|
|Exact Mass||315.183444 g/mol|
|Title||Journal or Book||Year|
|Analytical characterization of three hallucinogenicN-(2-methoxy)benzyl derivatives of the 2C-series of phenethylamine drugs||Drug Testing and Analysis||2012|
Search your unknown spectrum against the world's largest collection of reference spectra
KnowItAll offers faculty and students at your school access to all the tools you need for spectral analysis and structure drawing & publishing! Plus, access the world's largest spectral library.


Name the region where the Lottery Committee initiated town planning during the 18th century. Mention any one feature of it.
a. During the 18th century, the Lottery Committee initiated town planning in Calcutta (Kolkata).
b. The Lottery Committee introduced the concept of drawing a map of the city to get a broader picture of Calcutta (Kolkata).
Concept: Official Records Used by Historians
Is there an error in this question or solution?


text:
Rated 3 out of 10 by Chrimardix S-T-I-N-K-I-N-G Game
this game looked fun. i read the warnings, i mean reviews, and didn't listen. boy did i get served! there are only like five or six levels, so you get past them pretty quick. when you choose your character, you can only choose from three peopleish sometimes you can unlock another character for one level, but if you're the unlocked character, and you die, then you can't be it until you unlock it again (i don't know how, it just tells you if you've unlocked something.) if you do free battle, sometimes allies will form a little group with you, and if you meat a troll, the warrior and maige guys will all crowd around it, get hit by the troll's club, and die. the archer is my personal fav because if there are a bunch of enemies, you can get far enough away where they can't hit you and you can snipe them till they all die. do NOT i mean NOT get this game you will NOT like it at all. i do NOT think justin bieber is cool!
Rated 5 out of 10 by Anonymous1002 Don't buy it.
I played this for PC and found it pretty fun and would give the PC version an 8.5, It's sad I can't say the same thing for the DS version, first of all, even though it's Lord of the Rings it lacks any story at all the levels are thrown at you randomly. The colors of the units are all similar (Grayish/Brownish), making it hard to tell friend from foe wich can often remove from the strategy part of the game which is already pretty bad. the controls are nothing more than a button masher. Also even though the online play has barely any players, it still has lag. However even with all those bads it still has nice sound and music (it is Lord of the Rings) and the interface works quite nicely. Overall unless you're a HUGE Lord of the Rings fan, I'd say skip it and go buy some of the better DS games.
Rated 6 out of 10 by Zushikitkat Maybe Lord of the Rings but not the lord of the GAMES
This is an ok game, It is definately worth the wait all this time after couple of months! The sound is simiolar to the movies (as usual) but there are extra sounds that were not so great The extra portion where you can play as evil and take over the world is amazing! This allows it to not follow exactly to the original story. Though similar to Starwars Battlefront, it has its own middle earth feel to it. It is a must for all lord of the rings fans and any game fan! The stylus controls for this is really fun to play with. I play with my friends in class all the time and i like the idea of becoming an ent or a trol and the power ups and speed ups is really make it a fun game to play. The only thing i did not like is the ai's and the bots which are simple to kill.
Rated 6 out of 10 by INZANE01 Will you buy this game or not?
This was a great game, but not really my favorite. It is a really short game that can be quickly finished. I would not recommend this to a friend since there are lots of DS games a lot better than this. I do still play it once in awhile, but not that often. It is also sometimes fun with a friend. The fun in the game won't last for someone who likes to play for a long period of time. I hope my review helps some gamestop customers!
Rated 5 out of 10 by duckymomothegamer Not what you except. AT ALL.
I bought this expecting not too much since it was a DS version of a game. This was not at all what i wanted. Kids may like this but anyone else stay away for your own good. please.
Rated 0 out of 10 by Sir Calibur Could be awesome
Since this game seems to be Battlefront for Lord of the Rings, on the DS. If it pulls it off, it will be an incredible game.
Rated 0 out of 10 by ajjjevans no
This game is like battelfront and the ds will not be able to pull it off. I would rather play it on the 360, it it was on the psp it might be okay.

domain: game