Directed By Sam Strong
Monologues are hard. In my first year at university we put on a production of Gary Owen’s Ghost City, which is essentially a collection of 25 monologues. It was a very useful exercise for us in terms of developing as actors, and while I thought it was quite a strong show (some of my classmates might disagree) I spoke to a lot of people who simply thought, “two hours of monologues… not really a good thing”. I’ve often wondered why this is the case and I think it’s because in life, we rarely listen to one person speaking for extended lengths of time, there’s generally some sort of dialogue. If we are listening to the one person speak for an extended period, it’s generally in a classroom or lecture situation, experiences we don’t normally associate with captivation. That being said, last year I went to a couple of one-person shows that I thoroughly enjoyed. Radio at the Old Fitz, was a beautiful story, tenderly acted by Andrew Bibby, and My Name Is Rachel Corrie, offered a strikingly personal insight into the Palestine/Israel conflict that brought me to tears. However, even in these works, there were moments when the labour of listening to the same voice for over an hour hit home and I tuned out. Therefore, it was with a certain amount of trepidation that I approached Thom Pain (based on nothing). I knew Luke Mullins was a talented actor, and I had also heard good things about Will Eno’s script, but would it be enough to keep me interested? In short, yes.
At the heart of Thom Pain is a story of lost love. It would perhaps be too simplistic to say that it is Thom’s story, because one is never really sure who Thom Pain is, and whether anything or in fact everything is personal. The telling of the story is broken up by moments of existential contemplation, stand-up comedy, and audience interaction. If anything, it is this relationship, between audience and performer which is the core of Thom Pain.
The stage is completely bare, apart from a chair and a glass of water and from the moment the lights go down, the audience is on the back foot. I find it highly disappointing that in these days of OH&S the head usher has to tell us beforehand that the play will begin with an “intense blackout” (as opposed to a more placid “greyout” I suppose) because it somewhat spoils the surprise. However, as I discovered earlier in the year at Benedict Andrews’ The City, blackouts can really affect you whether you know they’re coming or not. Something about being plunged into darkness for an extended period of time sets some sort of inner alarm bell off, warning you that you’re vulnerable. Perhaps this fear is why so many mobile phone lights were visible in the audience at this point. More likely some people are just shit. Regardless, there was something truly wonderful about Luke Mullins appearing out the darkness with the lighting of a match. It was even better when he returned to darkness and kept talking, asking questions about how he looked. This production stopped you from getting comfortable for a long time. For the first fifteen minutes you were never quite sure what was coming next, and it was only after you got used to expecting the unexpected that you allowed yourself to relax. This settling was of course subverted later on.
Some of my favourite moments in theatre are when you ask yourself the question was that meant to happen? Surely that can’t have been rehearsed? The most memorable for me was the time during Exit The King when Geoffrey Rush’s wig fell off and he quickly replaced it whilst mumbling, “You weren’t meant to see that. 1, 2, 3 and you’re back in the room!” The ultimate pay-off was later in the show when the wig was taken off to reveal Rush’s decaying body, one performer exclaimed, “That’s never happened before!” The solution to the problem was almost too good to be random. Throughout Thom Pain I found myself wondering time and again what was detail and what was accident. By the end I had come to the conclusion that nothing was left to chance, it was just good theatre. This included a great piece of audience plant work, where someone ran out of the theatre, and Mullins ran after him saying goodbye, only to remark unhappily “cunt!” while returning to the stage. For a moment I was genuinely fooled, and was sure that this “random” audience member had just got a text message about his wife being in labour. Unfortunately, the text went on about the exit for just a little bit too long, and I recall being very disappointed upon realising that it was faked. But you were just as unsure when the glass of water was spilt, or when a light came up on a different area of the stage to where Mullins was standing. Throughout, the audience expectation was played with, culminating in the final section of the play where an audience member was brought up onto stage to help Pain finish the story.
Luke Mullins’ meticulous performance was stunning. He had impressed me before, particularly with the STC Actor’s Company, but this was a new level of his work for me. I’m sure that that is in part due to the intimacy of Downstairs Belvoir, but I also feel that the text gave him a lot of room to explore to the full realm of his abilities. No gesture was out of place, and his voice moved through its registers as if he was singing. He gave the words sufficient bite to confront you, but he also kept the sense of intimacy required for us to care about his stories. He also generated a lot of trust, which was important because of the playful nature of the work. I didn’t really mind when he made me jump in my seat by screaming “boo!” in my face, and I was more than happy to watch him as he laughed to himself for a while after commenting “I have a vibrant inner life”. The details created a fascinating portrait of a man, who almost made not wearing socks with a suit look good.
After a somewhat disappointing finish to the last B Sharp season, I’m once again excited about this strong start for one of my favourite spaces. Will Thom Pain be another Ladybird, the standout beginning that was too hard for the rest to live up to? I guess I’ll find out at the Lonesome West next week.


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The recent past has seen a number of new entrants make their way towards television in their own areas of expertise and skills. While there have been many new faces introduced on screen, there are many people who have been showing interest in tasks that are related to activities behind the camera. Therefore, it is no surprise that in today's world, a larger number of individuals are finding themselves at home in a field that was once considered to be only for a select few people.
Since no drama can stand on its own without a powerful script, a good drama writer is the basic need for any drama to be successful. This is why there has been a greater emphasis in these past few years on introducing new writers. Among the newly introduced writers, Hashim Nadeem Khan has been a very promising addition to the writers' fraternity.
Basically a novel writer, Hashim has produced 27 telefilms and 11 drama serials. He wrote the PTV drama 'Sipahee' for which he was awarded Bolan Award. Other successful dramas to his credit are 'Hijaab' (as writer and director), which aired on ARY Digital and 'Khuda Aur Mohabbat' (writer), which is airing on Geo TV currently.

domain: artistic


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There are many ways to add color to the tail and fin of your polymer clay mermaid sculpt. One very easy way is by painting with heat-set or acrylic paints. Another way is to add a very thin layer of a polymer clay in a color you like. You can also add a thin layer of a liquid clay. And don't forget that glitter is often sprinkled onto the tail to add sparkle. This doll maker shares his method of 'painting' a mermaid tail using embossing powder in a photo tutorial:
The fin part of the tail can be made from polymer clay or other materials. Thanks to this doll maker for some photos of fins she made using Angelina and Fantasy Films:
See more about sculpting a mermaid in in this blog's Index under 'Fantasy- Fins and Tails'


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The Board Connection is a not-for-profit founded to increase the number of women serving on corporate boards through programs designed to develop, influence and connect credentialed women with board governance opportunities.
The Board Connection’s criteria-based application process identifies talent with the credentials most appealing to board search committees, and best-aligned candidates are invited to membership. TBC members gain access to development tools and networking events, and our corporate community is afforded a diverse group of board candidates prepared to improve corporate growth. The Board Connection members' increased visibility has produced successful landings on Fortune 1000 corporate boards in our area.
Our board of directors consists of leaders from prominent Dallas-Fort Worth companies, committed to the advancement of women serving on corporate boards.
See event page for more details
November 2012 - TBC Member Leigh Ann Epperson honored by D CEO as 2012 Outstanding General Counsel, Large Corporate Department
Today's in-house corporate attorneys have the opportunity to be difference makers. The Board Connection member Leigh Ann Epperson has been named one of 22 honorees in the Corporate Counsel Awards program, a partnership between the Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel and D CEO.
Epperson serves not only as senior vice president, general counsel, but also as a member of Alliance Data's six-person executive committee, along with the CEO, CFO, and the heads of each of the three businesses that comprise Alliance Data, North America’s largest provider of data-driven marketing and loyalty solutions.
Leigh Ann Epperson joined Plano-based Alliance Data as an assistant general counsel in 2002, and has shepherded the company’s expansion over its 10 years as a publicly traded company.
The honor was recognized with a feature article highlighting Epperson's success in D CEO's November 2012 issue. Read the article here.
ION and Catalyst Release Reports on Percentage of Women Executive Officers and on Boards of Directors
ION (InterOrganization Network), a national alliance of women's board advancement organizations, published its Ninth Annual Status Report on women directors and executive officers of public companies. Follow the Leaders: It CAN Happen Here profiles 11 corporations that have experienced financial success and made boardroom gender diversity a high-priority business initiative. Highlighted companies include Akamai Technologies, Alliant Energy, Cardinal Health, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store., General Motors, Hormel Foods, H&R Block, HSN, Intuit and Xerox. These featured companies - and their CEOs - are leaders in demonstrating that gender diversity in the boardroom is a strategic business imperative.
Released in conjunction with Catalyst's census of Fortune 500 corporations, the ION report summarizes data from ION member organizations in 15 U.S. metropolitan regions.
The Board Connection (TBC) joined ION in 2010. Melisa Denis, President of TBC and a KPMG Senior Partner in Dallas, commended corporate board leaders featured in the ION report, stating:
"If 21st century corporate boards are to represent their shareholders, and we know that shareholder value increases on average when boards include women, then boards who pursue the appointment of qualified women show their commitment to position their companies for growth."
To read the full reports and download them, click here.
TBC Member Mary Murcott Named a 2012 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year
August, 2012 - The Board Connection congratulates Mary T. Murcott, CEO of NOVO 1, Inc. honored as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2012, Technical Services, of the Southwest Area North program. The award recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Ms. Murcott is one of two women in the category's fifteen honorees.
New organization sets ambitious goal of 30% Gender Diversity on Corporate Boards
August 21, 2012 - The Board Connection, along with ION, the national organization advocating gender diversity in corporate boards of directors, is contributing to the momentum in partnership with a new organization. The Thirty Percent Coalition is a group of advocates, corporate leaders, institutional investors, and state treasurers working to encourage companies to appoint more women board members, with the goal of reaching 30% women by 2015. Read the article here.
TBC Member Sandra Beach Lin Named Director of American Electric Power
August 5, 2012 - Sandra Beach Lin has been elected to the American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) Board of Directors. American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. and owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system.
March 29, 2012: The Board Connection's Annual Census of Journey to Diversification: A Texas Perspective 2011 Census Released
The Board Connection has released their third annual census, offering a statewide comparison of Texas women serving on corporate boards by region and by industry in FORTUNE 1000 companies throughout our state across 2011.
Gayle Anderson, Executive Director of The Board Connection, remarked "while the census study shows little improvement between 2010 and 2011, we are seeing recent indications that more companies are recognizing the extent to which board diversity improves corporate results and brings higher financial performance.” Download the full census.
The Board Connection is a member of the InterOrganization Network.

domain: news


Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo has posed for pictures with her daughter Priscilla’s Mercedes-Benz, Igbere TV reports.
The 43-year-old shared pictures on Instagram on Wednesday.
“@its.priscy this your car fits my outfit, should I,” she wrote.
Iyabo has been involved in a messy car situation after taking a swipe at her colleague Mercy Aigbe who announced that she was given a Range Rover HSE by a socialite popularly known as Mummy Glee on February 5
According to Mercy, the vehicle was a belated gift for her 43rd birthday which took place on January 1.
“So, few days ago @gleeoflife said to me that she would like to host me today for my belated birthday since I wasn’t in town during my birthday. Little did I know what she had in store for me,” she wrote in an Instagram post.
Iyabo Ojo who had announced back in September 2020 that a goddaughter gave her a Range Rover Evogue thought differently about the gift.
In what many see as a direct attack on Mercy, Iyabo Ojo wrote in an Instagram post on Saturday, “Nothing beats being yourself! there is nothing more toxic and stressful than trying to compete. Honestly, it’s getting old.”
Priscilla bought her Mercedes-Benz in December 2020.
She is the second child of Iyabo Ojo.


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Junior Explorers Write & Wipe Feelings Book
Junior Explorers: Write and Wipe Feelings encourages young children to tune into their emotions and provides fun
illustrations for added comprehension and context. This truly charming education and discovery title is beautifully presented to promote a joyful and gentle early learning experience and nurture a love of literacy.
Includes Wipe-clean marker
Suitable for 4yrs+

domain: library


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The United States is working to capitalize on what it regards as new leverage with Saudi Arabia to end the brutal civil war in Yemen and ease a regional standoff with Qatar, according to multiple US and diplomatic officials.
Seeing an opening created by the kingdom’s new pariah status after the killing of a dissident journalist, US officials say the time is ripe to move on longstanding goals, including forcing an end to the Saudi-led bombing campaign that has prompted a humanitarian crisis in neighboring Yemen.
The officials acknowledged that neither the Yemen war nor the dispute with Qatar can be solved quickly. But the administration hopes to make progress on both fronts by the end of the year, they said, and have recently stepped up public calls on Saudi Arabia to alleviate the disputes.
Calls for Yemen ceasefire
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo both this week called on participants in the Yemen civil war to agree to a ceasefire “in the next 30 days,” a demand that comes amid fresh criticism of US support for the Saudi-led coalition in the conflict.
“Thirty days from now we want to see everybody around a peace table based on a ceasefire, based on a pullback from the border and then based on ceasing dropping of bombs,” Mattis said at an event at the US Institute of Peace in Washington on Tuesday.
His call was later echoed by Pompeo, who issued a statement saying, “the United States calls on all parties to support UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths in finding a peaceful solution to the conflict in Yemen.”
Mattis and Pompeo both insisted that the US-backed Saudi-led coalition and the Iranian-aligned Houthis stop their respective aerial and missile bombardments.
The three-year conflict between Saudi-led coalition and their Iranian-backed enemies has devastated Yemen and killed at least 10,000 people. United Nations experts say that the coalition’s bombing of civilians are potential war crimes and that its partial blockade of the country has put 13 million men, women and children in danger of starvation, in what could become the worst famine in 100 years.
Griffiths said the most pressing factor justifying the US call for a cease-fire was the threat of starvation: “The threat of famine is a very real threat and risks doubling the numbers of people in Yemen who are at risk of dying of hunger or famine. That’s the urgent factor here.”
Griffiths said he believed the US administration is taking this issue seriously, adding: “Secretary Mattis and Secretary Pompeo are on this day and night” but acknowledged “the challenge now is to turn this call into action.”
Outrage over the situation has created increasing pressure on the US to pull its support for the coalition, which it provides in the form of military sales, training and refueling of coalition jets.
Saudi Arabia’s belated admission that Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post journalist and US resident, was murdered by a team with close ties to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has left the Trump administration – including the President himself – feeling stung by Saudi Arabia.
After initial strong denials, the kingdom has produced multiple explanations. Even after admitting that Khashoggi was murdered by men close to bin Salamn, the Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said blaming Saudis for the US resident’s death is “hysterical.”
Speaking at the International Institute for Strategic Studies Manama Dialogue in Bahrain Saturday, al-Jubeir said, “This issue has become fairly hysterical. People have assigned blame on Saudi Arabia with such certainty before the investigation is complete. We have made it very clear that we are going to have a full and very transparent investigation, the results of which will be released.”

domain: politics


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The wheat fields have really taken off in the last two weeks. After an ugly winter, they’re looking thick and green and most fields have started jointing. Here’s a photo of a field planted into cotton stubble. A week ago the cotton stalks were still clearly visible, but this field is growing fast.
Here is a split stem (below) showing the first joint and the tiny grain head to the left of it.
When pulled away from the rest of the stem, this little grain head doesn’t look like much.
Here is another grain head (below) from a field that was planted a little earlier. This one looks more recognizable.
The flag leaf will be out on the wheat in the picture above pretty soon.
Ideally, all your nitrogen should be out by the time the plants start to joint because that is the time when they’re really going to be using it. Some fields are getting that final shot now. There aren’t many pests to be concerned about yet. Aphids have been very light this year as well as disease pressure.
A little powdery mildew is starting to show up, but we don’t need to be too concerned until the flag leaves emerge.
Once the flag leaves emerge, the threshold we’ll use is 20% of the leaf area is infected on the leaf just below the flag leaf and cool, wet weather is predicted to continue. If the weather turns hot and dry, we probably won’t have to worry about powdery mildew at all. Take a look back at this post from last spring for some more in depth info on powdery mildew.

domain: agronomy


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By Louisa May Alcott
Read Online or Download Little Women and Good Wives (Vintage Classics) PDF
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“There is certainly existence after dying, and Rosenblatt proves that definitely. ”—USA TodayFrom Roger Rosenblatt, the bestselling writer of constructing Toast and until It strikes the Human middle, comes a poignant meditation at the nature of grief, the passages via it, the solace of solitude, and the therapeutic energy of affection.
A brand new assortment from the awardwinning poet and writer of the bestselling novel hole Creek
In the phrases of Poetry journal, Robert Morgan’s poems “shine with attractiveness that transcends locale. ” The paintings in his most up-to-date assortment, rooted in his local Blue Ridge Mountains, explores the mysteries and tensions of family members and formative years, the splendors and hidden dramas of the wildlife, and the agriculture that helps all tradition. Morgan’s voice is lively and unique, establishing doorways for the reader, discovering unforeseen pictures and connections. The poems succeed in past surfaces, to the unusual forces within atoms, our genes, our background, and outward to the farthest pursuits of galaxies, the darkish power we can't clarify yet realize in our bones and blood, in our private thoughts and mind's eye.
A part of the Penguin Orange assortment, a limited-run sequence of twelve influential and loved American classics in a daring sequence layout supplying a latest tackle the long-lasting Penguin paperback For the 70th anniversary of Penguin Classics, the Penguin Orange assortment celebrates the historical past of Penguin’s iconic ebook layout with twelve influential American literary classics representing the breadth and variety of the Penguin Classics library.
One of many maximum AMERICAN brief tale COLLECTIONSIn 1955, with this brief tale assortment, Flannery O'Connor firmly laid declare to her position as the most unique and provocative writers of her iteration. Steeped in a Southern Gothic culture that might turn into synonymous together with her identify, those tales exhibit O'Connor's specified, gruesome view of life-- infused with spiritual symbolism, haunted by way of apocalyptic danger, sustained by means of the tragic comedy of human habit, faced through the need of salvation.
Extra resources for Little Women and Good Wives (Vintage Classics)
He did do unsuitable, yet we forgave him, and all promised to not say a note to any one,” begun Jo, reluctantly. “That won’t do; he shall now not protect himself at the back of a promise from you soft-hearted women. If he’s performed something amiss, he shall confess, beg pardon, and be punished. Out with it, Jo! I won’t be saved at the hours of darkness. ” Mr. Laurence regarded so alarming, and spoke so sharply, that Jo might have gladly run away, if she may possibly, yet she was once perched aloft at the steps, and he stood on the foot, a lion within the direction, so she needed to say and courageous it out. “Indeed, sir, i will not inform, mom forbid it. Laurie has confessed, requested pardon, and been punished particularly sufficient. We don’t continue silence to guard him, yet a few one else, and it'll make extra hassle should you intrude. Please don’t; it was once partially my fault, yet it’s very well now, so let’s overlook it, and speak about the ‘Rambler,’ or anything friendly. ” “Hang the ‘Rambler! ’ come down and provides me your note that this harum-scarum boy of mine hasn’t performed something ungrateful or impertinent. If he has, finally your kindness to him, I’ll thrash him with my very own arms. ” The risk sounded lousy, yet didn't alarm Jo, for she knew the irascible outdated guy could by no means carry a finger opposed to his grandson, no matter what he could say on the contrary. She obediently descended, and made as gentle of the prank as she may possibly with no betraying Meg, or forgetting the reality. “Hum! ha! good, if the boy held his tongue simply because he’d promised, and never from obstinacy, I’ll forgive him. He’s a obdurate fellow, and tough to manage,” stated Mr. Laurence, rubbing up his hair until eventually it regarded as though he’d been out in a gale, and smoothing the frown from his forehead with an air of reduction. “So am I; yet a sort be aware will govern me whilst the entire king’s horses and all of the king’s males couldn’t,” acknowledged Jo, attempting to say a sort observe for her buddy, who looked as if it would get out of 1 scrape in simple terms to fall into one other. “You imagine I’m now not sort to him, howdy? ” was once the pointy resolution. “Oh, pricey, no, sir; you're particularly too sort occasionally, after which only a trifle hasty while he attempts your persistence. Don’t you're thinking that you're? ” Jo was firm to have it out now, and attempted to appear relatively placid, notwithstanding she quaked a bit after her daring speech. To her nice reduction and shock, the outdated gentleman basically threw his spectacles directly to the desk with a rattle, and exclaimed, frankly,— “You’re correct, woman, i'm! i admire the boy, yet he attempts my persistence earlier bearing, and that i don’t know the way it is going to finish, if we cross on so. ” “I’ll inform you,—he’ll run away. ” Jo was once sorry for that speech the minute it was once made; she intended to warn him that Laurie wouldn't endure a lot restraint, and was hoping he will be extra forbearing with the lad. Mr. Laurence’s ruddy face replaced by surprise, and he sat down with a look on the photo of a good-looking guy, which hung over his desk. It used to be Laurie’s father, who had run away in his adolescence, and married opposed to the imperious previous man’s will. Jo fancied he remembered and regretted the previous, and she or he wanted she had held her tongue.


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Moose Mountains Regional Greenways invites the public to continue exploring the Branch Hill Farm property in Milton Mills through the seasons! The ‘Seasons of Change’ walk is newly updated for the winter months and will be open most days from sunrise to sunset. This event continues to offer families a safe, informative, and fun place to walk with their kids during this time of home isolation. The walk also features a ‘story walk’ based on the Berenstain Bears series and sponsored by the Milton Free Public Library and a new assortment of birdhouses built by the Carroll County Conservation District. We ask that the public please adhere to social distancing guidelines on this self-guided walk. Thank you to our Seasons of Change sponsor D.F. Richard for making this continuing opportunity possible!
Posts By: Jared Kane
Join MMRG and Branch Hill Farm for a Forest Habitat Walk on October 31st, 10:00am-1:00pm, with Charlie Moreno (NH Licensed Professional Forester) and Mariko Yamasaki (Research Wildlife Biologist, USDA Forest Service). We’ll walk through Branch Hill Farm in Milton, NH, and visit two very different forest habitats — a mature forest with century-old hemlock and pine, and a six-years-young forest patch of new growth.
Participants will learn about the essential value that these habitats offer to the invertebrates, birds, and mammals inhabiting them. We’ll also discuss habitat ecology, maintaining optimal ecological areas, and long-term management strategies. This will be a wonderful opportunity for landowners and the general public to learn more about the importance of forests to wildlife! More info here: https://mmrg.info/explore-forest-habitats/
This workshop is rain or shine and we will be requiring masks and practicing social distancing to keep the event safe and fun for all.


You can keep helping us expand the Shawn Mendes Wiki by creating pages and editing. If you need help getting started, check out our help pages.
Mendes released his self-titled debut EP (2014) and his debut studio album Handwritten (2015), whose single "Stitches" reached number one in the United Kingdom and the top 10 in the United States and Canada. He then released his second studio album Illuminate (2016), whose singles "Treat You Better" and "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" reached the top 10 in several countries. His self-titled third studio album (2018) was supported by the lead single "In My Blood". All three albums debuted atop the US Billboard 200, with the first one making Mendes one of five artists ever to debut at number one before the age of 18 and the third one making him the third-youngest artist to achieve three number one albums. In 2017, Mendes became the first artist to land three number-one singles on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart before turning 20 years old. In 2018, he became the first artist to achieve four number-one singles on the Adult Pop Songs chart before the age of 20 as well. In 2019, he released the hit singles "If I Can't Have You" and "Señorita", with the latter peaking at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. In December 2020, Mendes released his fourth studio album Wonder and became the youngest male artist ever to top the Billboard 200 with four regular studio albums.
- Shawn's mother, Karen, was born in England and is a real estate agent, and his father Manuel, is a businessman.
- He can play both the piano and the guitar.
- He gets his second name from his father, who has Portuguese heritage
- Shawn released his first studio album, Handwritten, in April 2015.
- He went to the Pine Ridge Secondary School in the Pickering suburb of Ontario.


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Some weeks ago, I discovered this beautiful jewelry campaign inspired by Marie Antoinette (perhaps more the movie by Sofia Coppola than the authentic queen but who cares!?). Stunning dresses and settings and I just had to share it..
Title: Jewelled hors d'oeuvres ZOYA
Photography: Suresh Natarajan
Styling: Gautam Kalra
Food Stylling. Indranie Dasgupta
Model: Mariana (agency not mentioned)
Location: ZOYA Diamond Jewelry Boutique, Delhi


|Publication number||US7612343 B2|
|Application number||US 11/872,513|
|Publication date||Nov 3, 2009|
|Filing date||Oct 15, 2007|
|Priority date||Oct 16, 2006|
|Also published as||US20080087828|
|Publication number||11872513, 872513, US 7612343 B2, US 7612343B2, US-B2-7612343, US7612343 B2, US7612343B2|
|Inventors||David S Vickers|
|Original Assignee||Gvi Medical Devices|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (33), Non-Patent Citations (1), Referenced by (8), Classifications (8), Legal Events (3)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/829,621, which was filed on Oct. 16, 2006.
This application relates generally to a device and method for acquiring Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) data.
More specifically, this application relates to a method of acquiring data using a gamma camera detector with a collimator, such as a slotted, inverse fan beam collimator, for example.
In the field of Medical Imaging, one modality is Nuclear Medicine (gamma camera, SPECT and PET) imaging. This modality uses a detector consisting of a scintillator backed by a plurality of photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) with appropriate electronics. A patient is given a radioisotope either by injection or ingestion and the detector(s), after being placed in close proximity to the patient, can determine where the radioisotope goes or has gone.
The process of detection is when the radioisotope emits a gamma photon in the direction of the detector; it is absorbed by the scintillator. The scintillator emits a flash of light (a scintilla) which is detected by the plurality of PMTs. The PMTs closer to the flash have a higher signal than those further away. By measuring the intensity of the flash at each PMT, then using a centroid type calculation, a fairly accurate estimation of where the flash occurred is possible. All this is well known in the art.
During the process of image reconstruction in a SPECT or PET system, correcting for the probable attenuation of the gamma photons is desirable. When corrected for attenuation, images are much more accurate and less prone to diagnostic errors.
To image accurately some type of collimation is needed. Traditionally, a parallel hole collimator is used. This typically allows only gamma rays traveling perpendicular to the face of the detector, to be detected. Other gamma rays, traveling obliquely to the face of the detector, are typically absorbed by the lead in the collimator.
Alternate types of collimators have been used for different types of studies. For example, a pinhole collimator is sometimes used to image specific organs such as the thyroid. The principle behind a pinhole collimator is similar to a pinhole camera or camera obscura, i.e., only photons traveling through the pinhole strike the detector. An advantage of a pinhole collimator is it can achieve high magnifications with high resolution. A disadvantage is because photons can only travel through the pinhole, the sensitivity of the system can be poor.
Another type of collimator is a fan beam collimator. This type of collimator is used to acquire fan beam type data for use in fan beam reconstructions. It can again achieve magnification (or demagnification), but typically only in one dimension, i.e., the direction of the fan beam.
Yet another type of collimator is a cone beam collimator. A cone beam collimator can be either converging or diverging. A converging cone beam collimator is a demagnifier allowing viewing of larger objects using a smaller detector. A diverging cone beam collimator is a magnifier allowing better visualization of small objects.
A problem for typical collimators is sensitivity. Because collimators essentially reject any gamma photons which are not parallel to the holes or apertures in the collimators, a large percentage of photons traveling in the general direction of the detector are absorbed by the collimator and not detected for use in the images. While this may allow good images to be generated, it can take significant time to detect enough photons to generate a good low noise image.
Another problem for collimators is due to the optics of the collimator; the resolution of collimator-detector system deteriorates the further the object is from the face of the collimator.
It would be useful to improve the sensitivity of a collimator and improve the resolution of a collimator, especially at significant distance from the detector.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,525,320; 7,012,257; 7,015,476; 7,071,473; all incorporated herein by reference, describe using a stationary collimator with multiple slots in front of a large, stationary, arcuate detector. This typically allows for no space or method for acquiring attenuation correction data in the SPECT system. In addition, the slot of the collimator moves in relation to the detector. This typically requires having a large, expensive detector behind the collimator. Economically, the detector is typically the expensive component in the assembly. The collimator is typically relatively inexpensive. It would be more economical to have smaller detectors, each with its own collimator. In addition, since the detector is one continuous arc, there is typically no place to put a co-planar CT type system for generating attenuation correction maps.
Provided are a plurality of embodiments the invention, including, but not limited to, a collimator for gamma camera imaging, with the collimator comprising: a slot substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of a SPECT scanner; a plurality of plates, each one of the plates being substantially perpendicular to the slot and also being substantially parallel to a transaxial direction of the SPECT scanner; and a detector associated with the slot and the plurality of plates such that, through any motion of the scanner, the slot, the plates and the detector retain their relative positional relationship.
Also provided is a collimator for a gamma camera imaging, with the collimator comprising: a pair of bars for forming a slot substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of a scanner, wherein a width of the bars is adjustable; a plurality of plates distributed along the slot, each one of the plates being substantially perpendicular to the slot and also being substantially parallel to a transaxial direction of the scanner, wherein the plates are comprised of a radiation absorbing material; a low-density material for separating the plates from each other; and a detector associated with the slot and the plurality of plates such that, through any motion of the scanner, the slot, the plates and the detector retain their relative positional relationship.
Further provided is a method for imaging a body part using a collimator, the method comprising the steps of:
Also provided is a collimator, such as one discussed above, where the plates are separated from each other by a separation distance, the method further comprising the step of modulating a position of the collimator relative to the detector by an amount substantially equal to one half the separation distance with a frequency of at least two times per acquisition frame time.
The features and advantages of the examples of the present invention described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon reading the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Provided is an invention comprising a plurality of embodiments, including, but not limited to, a method of collimation for a gamma camera utilizing a fan beam type approach, which allows magnification, demagnification, reduced resolution deterioration with distance and increased sensitivity. This method can allow use of a traditional attenuation correction scheme.
One apparatus for practicing the method is called an “inverse” fan beam collimator. In a traditional fan beam collimator the object to be imaged is between the focus of the collimator and the aperture of the collimator. In the inverse fan beam collimator, the focus of the collimator is instead between the object being scanned and the aperture slot of the collimator, causing a geometric “inversion” of the image in one dimension.
The inverse fan beam collimator can help overcome the system sensitivity and resolution limitations of traditional parallel hole collimators. The device discussed herein, as shown schematically in
The resolution of such a device has two components. In the direction parallel to the aperture slot 5, i.e., perpendicular to the attenuating plates 1, the resolution approaches that of the plate separation 2 convolved with the intrinsic resolution of the detector 6. In a normal SPECT scanning operation, this would be the resolution between image slices. In the direction perpendicular to the aperture slot 5 direction, the resolution is basically the intrinsic resolution of the detector convolved with the aperture slot 5. Assuming a detector intrinsic resolution of about 3 mm with no magnification, and a slot aperture of about 2 mm, the resulting image resolution would be about 4 mm. A typical parallel hole collimator resolution, in contrast, is on the order of about 8 mm or more.
In addition, because the aperture slot 5 can be conceptually thought of as a pinhole collimator extended in one dimension, the resolution perpendicular to the aperture slot 5 direction, at depth, should not deteriorate as much as in a parallel hole collimator. This result can be attributed to the uncertainty of the source of the counts. In a parallel hole collimator, each individual hole actually “sees” a cone of potential source points. As the distance from the collimator increases, the cone becomes larger. At some distance, the cones from the holes begin to overlap, and it becomes more difficult or impossible, to determine the location of where some events have occurred. At some further distance, all of the cones may mostly or completely overlap, making it impossible to determine the location of most, or even all, of the detected events.
By using an inverse fan beam collimator, such as that discussed above, in a manner such as the method described herein, however, the potential source points have much less uncertainty. No matter how far the source point is placed from the collimator 4, the location of the source point is confined to a thin wedge, with its apex at the detected point on the detector 6 and its sides touching the aperture of aperture slot 5. While wedges from different detector points may, in some instances, overlap slightly, a complete overlap can be avoided no matter how far one is from the collimator, in contrast to the results provided by a parallel hole collimator. Therefore, there can be less uncertainty in the location of the source point of an event using the device and method of the invention.
To manufacture a collimator such as the one discussed above, one can use a means to keep the attenuating plates 1 separated by a constant distance, parallel to each other and perpendicular to the aperture slot 5 direction. A typical material for the plates 1 would be a stiff and dense material, such as lead-antimony alloy with about 5% (a value of 2% to 5% would typically be acceptable) antimony to increase the stiffness of the plates; or tungsten could be used in place of the lead-antimony alloy; or the plates 1 could be comprised of any highly attenuating material with adequate stiffness. The thickness of the plates should be relatively thin, about 0.5 mm or less (a thickness of 0.25 to 0.5 mm would typically be acceptable). The separation can be on the order of about 2 mm (a separation of 1.5 to 4 mm would typically be acceptable).
To keep the plates 1 separated, one could use some type of shim. This “shim” should provide as low an attenuation as possible. Typical materials that could be utilized for this “shim” include polystyrene foam, aero-gel, balsa wood, or some other low density plastic foam. Whatever material is used, it should have sufficient rigidity to keep the plates separated by a relatively constant distance, such that the lower plates are separated by about the same distance as the upper plates. A typical preferred thickness for the shims would be approximately 3 mm.
The aperture slot 5 can be defined by a pair of bars, such as knife edges 3 that can be comprised of a material such as tungsten, for example. To improve the attenuation at the knife edges 3, a coating can be used, although it is not required. This coating can be of any of several possible high Z, high density materials, including one or more of Osmium, Rhenium, depleted Uranium, Rhodium and Iridium. The knife edges 3 can be made adjustable, for example, to allow for increased resolution, when desired, by providing a narrowing of the slot width 5. Alternatively, if resolution is not as important, sensitivity can be increased by widening the slot width 5.
Referring now to
As an additional improvement, sensitivity can be increased and made more uniform across the field of view by using a constant length lead vane, such as depicted in
Another improvement can be achieved in another embodiment by adding a thin sheets of copper, preferably of a total thickness of about 0.020 inches, between the collimator and the detector input surface. The copper will filter out the lead fluorescence x-ray produced when the lead absorbs typical gamma radiation produced by the most common radioisotopes used in nuclear imaging.
Still another modification would be to use a non-Anger type gamma camera. These types of gamma cameras include pixilated cameras, solid-state cameras, and non-planar cameras.
A non-planar camera would have the input crystal formed into an arc with the radius substantially equal to the distance from the focus of the inverse fan beam collimator to the input surface of the crystal. This would provide the benefit of uniform sensitivity across the input face of the detector.
Still another improvement would be to modulate, that is, physically move, the collimator, but not the detector, in the direction parallel to the rotation axis. The distance of modulation would be one half the distance between the lead vanes. The frequency of modulation would be at least 2 cycles per acquisition frame. This would have the effect of smoothing out or blurring out any sensitivity modulation caused by the absorption of the lead vanes.
The invention has been described hereinabove using specific examples and embodiments; however, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various alternatives may be used and equivalents may be substituted for elements and/or steps described herein, without deviating from the scope of the invention. Modifications may be necessary to adapt the invention to a particular situation or to particular needs without departing from the scope of the invention. It is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular implementations and embodiments described herein, but that the claims be given their broadest interpretation to cover all embodiments, literal or equivalent, disclosed or not, covered thereby.
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|Citing Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US8126119||Mar 19, 2010||Feb 28, 2012||Ge Medical Systems Global Technology Company, Llc||Collimator unit, radiation detecting device, and radiodiagnostic system|
|US8890079||Jun 29, 2012||Nov 18, 2014||General Electric Company||Radiation detection device and radiation tomographic apparatus, and method for assembling radiation detection device|
|US9014340||Dec 20, 2012||Apr 21, 2015||Ge Medical Systems Global Technology Company, Llc||Radiation tomography system, radiation detecting device, and spatial resolution changing method for radiation tomography|
|US9271683||Nov 30, 2012||Mar 1, 2016||General Electric Company||Radiation focal position detecting method, radiation detecting apparatus and radiation tomographic imaging apparatus|
|US9318229||May 29, 2012||Apr 19, 2016||General Electric Company||Collimator plate, collimator module, radiation detecting device, radiography apparatus and assembling method of collimator module|
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|CN103337273A *||Jul 17, 2013||Oct 2, 2013||中国原子能科学研究院||Pinhole collimator|
|CN103337273B *||Jul 17, 2013||Jun 29, 2016||中国原子能科学研究院||一种针孔准直器|
|U.S. Classification||250/363.1, 250/363.04, 250/370.09|
|International Classification||H01L27/146, G01T1/166, G21K1/02|
|Sep 1, 2009||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: GVI MEDICAL DEVICES, OHIO
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:VICKERS, DAVID S., MR.;REEL/FRAME:023175/0153
Effective date: 20090815
|Apr 30, 2013||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 4
|Jun 16, 2017||REMI||Maintenance fee reminder mailed|


text:
There are more than 10,000 types of ferns out there. Some are better for growing indoors while others will do well in a shaded area of the garden. A few popular fern types, like the Boston fern, need a lot of humidity to thrive, while others, like the hay-scented fern, can handle drier conditions. Before you choose a fern, take a look at the conditions in your garden or in your home.
Types of Ferns to Grow Indoors
According to the USDA, ferns are a very old group of plant. They’ve been around for more than 300 million years and are more closely related to mosses than they are to other plants. All told, there are more than 10,000 different species of fern.
What sets them apart from other plants is how they reproduce. Ferns produce spores, rather than flowers or seeds. The spores are typically found on the underside of their leaves.
Since there are so many different types of fern, the plants tend to have a wide range of requirements when it comes to light, warmth and other needs.
Although nearly 500 varieties are hardy, a number are better off grown indoors, at least in temperate areas. When you grow a fern inside your home, you’re better able to control the temperature and humidity around it, two features that are very important for the overall health of your plant.
One of the more popular types of fern to grow indoors is the Boston fern or Nephrolepis exaltata. The Boston fern helps to clean and filter indoor air, by absorbing common indoor pollutants. It looks like your classic fern, with long fronds that have smaller green leaves on each side.
The bird’s nest fern (Asplenium nidus) is a particularly good pick for homes that don’t a lot of light. The fern thrives in dimmer area and can also tolerate drier conditions than other types of fern.
A bird’s nest fern doesn’t look like your typical fern, either. It has long leaves or fronds that are some what crinkly on the edges. The leaves unfurl from the center of the plant. It’s also an epiphytic fern, according to Gardening Know How. That means that you’re like to see it growing on tree trunks or rocks in the wild, rather than in the soil.
The video above introduces you to the mother fern (Asplenium bulbiferum). Although the video shows the plant being grown outdoors, it’s often better suited for indoor growing, since it isn’t very hardy.
The fern gets its name from the way it reproduces. Baby fern plants develop on the ends of the leaves. You can see what those baby plants look like around the 0:30 second mark in the video.
Another popular houseplant fern is the button fern (Pellaea rotundifolia). It’s a native to New Zealand and is only hardy to USDA zone 9, which is why so many people grow it indoors. The plant has very distinct leaves, which are shiny green and shaped like buttons.
Neglectful gardeners might want to try growing the Holly fern (Cyrtomium falcatum). It has thicker, stiffer leaves compared to other varieties of ferns. It is also less fussy when it comes to water needs and can handle cooler indoor temperatures.
What Ferns Need to Grow Indoors
What your fern needs to survive and thrive in your home depends in large part on the variety you’re growing. The Boston fern, for example, needs a fair amount of humidity. For that reason, people often recommend growing it in the bathroom. If your fern needs high humidity and your home is dry, you can try misting its leaves with water to help it out.
Ferns need some light to thrive, but not too much. It’s best to keep them out of south or west facing windows, which become too hot and bright in the summer. North or east facing windows are often ideal.
Most ferns like a fair amount of air circulation. To keep your plants happy, don’t push them up against the wall or cram them into corners. If you can hang a planter from the ceiling, you might find that arrangement keeps your fern happiest.
Types of Ferns to Grow Outdoors
Some ferns are hardy, meaning they can tolerate outdoor conditions in colder or more temperate climates. You don’t need to live in the tropics or a subtropical area to grow certain types of fern in your outdoor garden.
The lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina) is hardy in zones 4 through 8 and is a native plant in many parts of the US. It’s considered easy to grow and will thrive in shaded areas or in a rock garden. It can grow up to four feet wide. The plant is able to tolerate some drought-like conditions, according to Clemson University Extension.
The western sword fern (Polystichum munitum) is hardy in zones 3 through 8 and is incredibly low maintenance. It has evergreen fronds and is a native to the Northwestern areas of the US. As a woodland fern, it will tolerate very shaded conditions.
The hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula) lives up to its name. If its leaves are torn or crushed, they release an odor that’s similar to that of fresh-cut hay. The plant is a native to the eastern area of North America and is hardy in zones 3 to 8.
The hay-scented fern is a fairly moisture loving plant. How much water or moisture it needs is directly related to the amount of light it gets. It can tolerate drier conditions in shadier spots, but will need more moisture in sunnier areas.
The video from Growing Wisdom gives you some pointers on growing ferns outside, based on the type of fern you’re planting. It also introduces you to a few more fern varieties that can thrive outdoors.
Challenging Types of Ferns
There are a few ferns that can be pretty fussy and challenging for gardeners to grow, either indoors or out. According to the University of Minnesota Extension, the maidenhair fern and staghorn fern both have high humidity requirements, which make them better suited for greenhouse growing than for growing has a houseplant or in the garden.
Care for Ferns Outdoors
It’s best to choose a shaded area when growing your ferns outdoors. Although the plants can do with a bit of sun, they tend to be less fuss if you plant them in the shade.
The quality of the soil is very important for the success of your ferns. Although they like moisture, you don’t want to plant them in heavy, waterlogged soil. Well drained soils with a good amount of compost mixed in are ideal.
One thing to be wary of when planting ferns in your garden is that some do produce runners, which spread underground, and can be invasive. If you’re trying to cover a large area with ferns, that can be great news. But if you want the plants to grow in a controlled manner, it’s important to make sure you pick a variety that won’t take over your garden.
Learn More About Ferns
We’ve got a lot of articles on different types of ferns and their needs in the garden. If you’re looking for specific information on growing ferns, take a look at the sidebar. You’ll find a list of articles there, one of which is bound to have the information you’re after.


text:
Have you ever noticed that some parents tend to ruin youth sports matches? Certainly, most of us are familiar with the type of parent that flies into a rage when their child doesn't score a point or win a match. You might see such a parent verbally abusing a coach or referee or bullying their kid into doing better on the field. These individuals take "helicopter parenting" to a new level of emotional abuse.
Certainly, there is something very off about modern society when parents feel entitled to behave in this way during a game. At base, sports are valuable pastimes in life precisely because they inculcate valuable lessons about fairness, level-headedness, and equality into the value systems of our children. But controlling parents upend these important lessons and replace them with nothing but snobbery and anger.
The Root Causes of Sports Snobbery
So why do these parents behave in this way? What do they hope to accomplish by driving their children to the brink of exasperation on the playing field? Why do they antagonize other parents or bully school administrators?
As in many cases of snobbery or displays of "moral superiority" over one's peers, the truth is that these parents have profound self-esteem issues and immense problems related to personal insecurity. For these parents, not feeling "good enough" has become a way of life. These parents likely aspire to the company of a "better" class of people and in all likelihood feel as though they deserve a life of comfort and wealth.
When Bullying Becomes a Parenting Style
Perhaps these individuals were driven to succeed by their own parents. Perhaps they were taught that anything that they did in life was not good enough.
To wit, a person who feels secure about their social position or about their character does not have to bring other people down to feel good about themselves. Secure people do not have to "prove" their worth by making more money than their peers or pushing their children to a psychological breaking point.
The Effect of Bully-Parenting on Children
Sadly, with regard to this last point, it is the children who often suffer the most from the behavior of such parents. In these families, success is prized above everything else. Moreover, it is taken for granted that a person's social position relative to others is commensurate with their worth as a human being.
Despite their obsession with wealth and position, however, the types of parents that behave in this way are seemingly never actually from the upper classes. Their snobbery is in fact a type of bluff designed to inflate their position beyond its natural boundaries.
When Deep Insecurities Cause Problems
In fact, the type of snobbery displayed at youth sports matches almost always relates to parents whose social position is far from assured. No actual aristocrat would feel the need to stoop to such behavior; any person from the upper classes who did behave in such a rude way would be immediately taken to task and even ostracized for their lack of manners.
In a sense, we should feel sorry for individuals who have such issues with self-esteem that they feel the need to flaunt their supposed superiority in front of everyone else. And we should certainly feel sorry for the children who have to endure such parenting. After all, the effects of this type of bullying can last a lifetime. And you can rest assured that it doesn't stop at the baseball diamond or football field. If this is how these parents behave in public, imagine how they must act behind closed doors.
What We Can Do
So what can we do as parents when we witness this type of bullying firsthand? The truth is that parents who "make a scene" at youth sports matches thrive on attention. If they're not given that attention, they'll be less inclined to repeat their negative behaviors in the future.
In a wider sense, however, we must understand why this type of behavior bothers us. However ironic it is to admit it, parents who try to telegraph their own sense of superiority to their peers often succeed in making others feel insecure too.
Learning From Quidditch
This type of toxic parenting was actually a major plot point in the "Harry Potter" book and film series. As the father of Draco Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy is constantly berating others and placing his son on a pedestal. Lucius often suggests that other Hogwarts students such as Ron Weasley are not good enough to compete with scions from the Malfoy family.
This obsession on the part of the Malfoys with social status plays out most fiercely on the sports pitch. During the game of quidditch, debates about social status play out as fiercely as matches. Clearly, author J.K. Rowling had been to at least a few youth sports matches in her time: As a writer, Rowling is all too familiar with the posturing and pretensions of "striver" parents and the immense pressure that the children of such parents experience during sports matches.
Seeking to Change
As always, moreover, we should recognize the life lessons that such parents inadvertently teach us about our own behavior. How do our own insecurities affect our relationships with our children? Do we place such a premium on our own wounded self-esteem that we push our children to succeed at all costs? Does social snobbery bother us because we have our own insecurities and hangups about status?
Indeed, we should in some sense thank the types of parents who interrupt sports matches with their boorish behavior. By their example, we know exactly what bad parenting looks like.
When we're truly confident in ourselves, in other words, we will not need to live vicariously through our children. Snobbery on the part of others may still irritate us from time to time; however, such displays of rudeness and selfishness should not affect our deepest values. And it certainly should not affect our child's self-esteem!
Youth sports are supposed to be fun for your children not a place for parents to take over and ruin the fun for everyone.
Celebrate youth sports with our fun line of sports stickers.

domain: psychology


text:
Homestays in Morangis in l'Essonne (91), 17 km from Paris
1 studio, 15 m²
Please wait... we are looking for availabilities
Instant confirmation rental Morangis No booking or credit card fees
Check-in : 15:00 - 23:00
Check-out : 05:00 - 11:00
La Casita is situated in Morangis.
The studio features a TV and a fully equipped kitchen with a coffee machine and a kettle. It also has a mezzanine with a sleeping area with sloped ceilings and a private bathroom with a shower. La Casita offers free WiFi throughout the property.
The nearest airport is Paris - Orly Airport, 4 km from the property.
Located in an annex and accessed via the property owner's home, this studio features a fully equipped kitchen with a microwave, a fridge and a kettle. It also has a bathroom with a shower and a mezzanine with a sleeping area with sloped ceilings.
WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge. Free public parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed). Street parking. Pets are allowed on request. No extra charges. All children are welcome.
There is no capacity for extra beds in the room.
The maximum number of total guests in a room is 2.
There is no capacity for cots in the room.
Please inform La Casita in advance of your expected arrival time. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly with the contact details provided in your confirmation.
This property will not accommodate hen, stag or similar parties.
Please note that the studio's mezzanine level is accessed via a steep staircase.
La Casita120 Avenue Aristide Briand - 91420 MORANGIS (17 km from Paris) GPS coordinates : 48.70147, 2.32338

domain: travel


There has been a lot of attention in the media lately with respect to the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica issue and its fall-out (including today’s coverage of the announcement that Facebook suspended almost 200 apps pending a more complete investigation in whether any user data was misused). As part of that discussion, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook has been one of many voices criticizing Facebook’s practices. It is interesting then to note then that Apple is quietly beginning to enforce long-standing and long-ignored rules in the Apple iOS developer’s agreement and App Store Review Guidelines that, except for two limited exceptions, precluded an app publisher from sharing information collected from users on their phones with third parties. According to a recent article in 9to5mac.com, Apple is now removing those apps from the app store that are sharing data in violation of these restrictions.
It will be interesting to see how this all plays out and whether this development captures the media’s attention the way the Facebook episode did. This latest episode highlights that instances of consumer data accessed by third parties in the mobile context is an issue that may be broader than first thought.


The Los Angeles Clippers host the Los Angeles Lakers Saturday night in the long-awaited battle of Staples Center. The Clippers have won their last four home games while the Lakers have won their last five games overall. Here is a look at the probable starting lineups, with news and notes for each player.
Point Guard - Derek Fisher: Had 10 assists Friday for the first time since January 11, 2009, a span of three years.
Shooting Guard - Kobe Bryant: Is only 322 points shy of Shaquille O`Neal for fifth place on the NBA all-time scoring list.
Small Forward - Matt Barnes: Shooting 61.5% and averaging 12.2 points over last five games.
Power Forward - Pau Gasol: Five straight double-doubles.
Center - Andrew Bynum: Shooting just 45.3% in last five games.
Point Guard - Chris Paul: Recorded his 116th game of 20 or more points and 10 or more assists on Wednesday, most in the NBA during the last seven seasons.
Shooting Guard - Chauncey Billups: Had the audacity to miss one free throw in each of the last two games; has made 37 of 39 free throws this season, fifth in the NBA at 94.9%.
Small Forward - Caron Butler: Has scored exactly 20 points in three straight games
Power Forward - Blake Griffin: His 22 dunks are tied with Dwight Howard for second in NBA, behind only JaVale McGee's 23.
Center - DeAndre Jordan: Leading the NBA with 3.38 blocks per game this season, including six on Wednesday night against Miami.


- $99 for training and range time with six different firearms ($200 value)
Registration begins 15 minutes prior to class time, after which students experience a safety briefing and training on firing 10 rounds each with two pistols, 10 rounds each with two submachine guns, 5 rounds with a shotgun, and 3 rounds with a sniper rifle at the range. Those who wish to do so can purchase another round of shooting with one of the firearms for an additional fee ($20). See the class schedule here.
Contego Defense Group
Contego Defense Group trains out of Article II Gun Range in Lombard as well as a private range in Villa Park and Joliet.
- Pistols such as a 9 mm. Glock
- Submachine guns such as an MP5 SD
- Shotguns such as a Remington 870
At a Glance
Contego Defense Group's staff consists of military veterans, who train others in a variety of firearms. They lead classes in the use and handling of rifles, pistols, and shotguns, covering techniques ranging from rapid reloading to proper target acquisition. When not helping students hone their aims, the instructors also train in hand-to-hand combat for self-defense.


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Lachey and Minnillo Giving Love Another Chance?
Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network 2009-08-30 15:45:03 - Former 98 DEGREES singer NICK LACHEY sparked speculation his relationship with ex VANESSA MINNILLO is heating up again after the pair was spotted kissing during a night out.
Join the discussion below, or Read more at PR-inside.com.
#1 Sep 1, 2009
They deserve each other.
Add your comments below
|Las Vegas...98 Degrees Hotter than ever (Jun '14)||Jun '14||Christians In Nam...||13|
|Nick Lachey buys Cincinnati-area house, records... (Jan '06)||Jul '13||who cares||54|
|NKOTB, 98 Degrees, Boyz II Men Tour Rescheduled... (Feb '13)||Feb '13||Uh Clem||2|
|Drew Lachey Commands 'Dance War' - 'Dancing' ch... (Nov '07)||Nov '12||mammy slocumbsono...||7|
|Jessica Simpson pregnant with first child (Oct '11)||May '12||Cindery||3|
|Nick Lachey begs for Jessica Simpson blessing (Dec '06)||Oct '11||Teresa||72|
|Celebrity birthdays for Feb. 25 (Feb '11)||Feb '11||bob||1|
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domain: celebrity


text:
Not Only Black + White Magazine Number 15
32cm x 24cm. 124 pages, colour illustrations. Pictorial wrappers.
Single issue of successful Australian photography magazine, (not only) Black+White. Published between 1992 and 2007 Black+White was a coffee table format magazine which featured work from some of the world’s top photographers, often nude or semi-nude portraiture, together with interviews with photographers and celebrities and articles on popular culture and current events. In this issue: Aldo Fallai, Jean-Baptiste Mondino, Dale O’Dell, Koto Bolofo, Phillip Dixon, Steve Jensen, Jeffrey Diamond, Chip Simons, Robyn Hills-Nielsen, Gail Grey, Cathie Brooker, David Scheinmann, Malcolm Palsey, and features on the Japanese underground, Lenny Kravitz, and photographic history, plus Kate Moss, superbugs, disco tech, and performance art.
. Fine Condition.
24 in stock

domain: hobby


text:
Patient-preferred, safe, effective pain management as a service
WRS is dedicated to getting better, faster, in the field, for our payors, practices, and patients.
Payors want better outcomes. HCPs want better tools and service to supplement all they tackle daily. And patients want to get better, faster.
So WRS gets you better—from patent-pending products, to PROs in CCT and SAM, to professionalism unmatched in our industry. Multi-modal post-op pain management for orthopedic excellence.
How We Help Avoid the Opioid
As a national provider of world-class Cold-Compression Therapy (CCT), Sustained Acoustic Medicine (SAM), Point of Care Dispensing (POCD), and mail-order pharmacy services (WFRx) we’re focused on systems that make patient recovery, and practice management, more efficient and effective.
Plus, our mission in multi-modal pain management is to combat the runaway Opioid Epidemic, utilizing the latest therapies, and best practices, to help drive consistently better outcomes for patients.
The work we perform is incredibly important, yet it can only be as successful as the entire recovery process. With WRS, I know my patients are in excellent hands — safe, speedy, predictable, and proven. All with far less risk than prescription painkillers. WRS has become an indispensable extension of our team.
When I went into surgery, I feared the worst. When would I be able to get back to work? Would I make progress fast enough? Plus warnings about painkillers truly scared me. WRS came to my house, eased my pain, gave me confidence, and empowered me with a simple, safe, and speedy recovery.

domain: medical


text: This is a superb sterling silver brooch by Viking Craft. The workmanship is of the highest quality. The design is outstanding and the dimension is in high definition. Oak leaves and acorns have been a popular theme in jewelry for generations. This will rival any others out there. Pin is about 2 1/4 inches x 1 1/2 inches. It comes with matching earrings. I have had the pin before but have never even seen the earrings. The earrings are screw backs and measure 1 inch top to bottom. All pieces are in excellent condition and marked Sterling. I cannot find Viking Craft but very often the name was lightly impressed so very hard to see. It could be there. I just can't find it. However, there is no doubt that this is Viking Craft.

domain: design


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Vs > Cape Celjuskin/ Fedo
Villa Riva vs Cape Celjuskin/ Fedo Climate & Distance Between
Villa Riva vs Broadview, Sk, Canada
Villa Riva vs Chillan, Chile
Villa Riva vs Barra, Brazil
Villa Riva vs Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine
Cape Celjuskin/ Fedo vs Tabora, Tanzania
Cape Celjuskin/ Fedo vs Alice, Tx, Usa
Cape Celjuskin/ Fedo vs Hama, Syria
Cape Celjuskin/ Fedo vs Shirakawa, Japan
Brasilia vs Ankara
Kalispell, Montana vs Nosy Be/ Fascene
Dillon, Mt vs Limassol
Ikahuak/ Sachs Harbour, Banks Island, Northwest Territories vs Galuut
- The distance between Villa Riva, Dominican Republic and Cape Celjuskin/ Fedo, Russia is approximately 9,236 km or 5,739 mi.
- To reach Villa Riva in this distance one would set out from Cape Celjuskin/ Fedo bearing 354.5° or N and follow the great circles arc to approach Villa Riva bearing 181.2° or S .
- Villa Riva has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) whereas Cape Celjuskin/ Fedo has a tundra climate (ET).
- Villa Riva is in or near the subtropical moist forest biome whereas Cape Celjuskin/ Fedo is in or near the polar desert biome.
- The annual average temperature is 41.5 °C (74.7°F) warmer.
- Average monthly temperatures vary by 27.9 °C (50.2°F) less in Villa Riva. The continentality subtype is extremely hyperoceanic as opposed to truly continental.
- Total annual precipitation averages 1994.7 mm (78.5 in) more which is equivalent to 1994.7 l/m² (48.95 US gal/ft²) or 19,947,000 l/ha (2,132,467 US gal/ac) more. About 9 as much.
- The altitude of the sun at midday is overall 57.2° higher in Villa Riva than in Cape Celjuskin/ Fedo.
Climate Comparison Table
The table shows values for Villa Riva relative to Cape Celjuskin/ Fedo. You can also view this comparison the other way around from the perspective of Cape Celjuskin/ Fedo vs Villa Riva
|Average Temperature °C ( °F)
|Average Precipitation mm (in)
|Average Daylight Hours & Minutes/ Day
|Sun altitude at solar noon on the 21st day (°)
There are so many comparison pages. Please post a link to one to help people find them:
Villa Riva vs Burns, Oregon, Usa
Villa Riva vs Vilnius, Lithuania
Villa Riva vs Ed Dueim, Sudan
Villa Riva vs Lancaster, Wi, Usa
Cape Celjuskin/ Fedo vs Wiarton, On, Canada
Cape Celjuskin/ Fedo vs Onahama, Japan
Cape Celjuskin/ Fedo vs Qalai Naw, Afghanistan
Cape Celjuskin/ Fedo vs Pamplemousses, Mauritius
Tarko-Sale vs Sydney, Nova Scotia
Belgaum (Sambre) vs Oswego, Ny
Maebashi vs Manado, Sulawesi
Catanduva vs Coen, Queensland
Villa Riva vs Cape Celjuskin/ Fedo Discussion
You are welcome to incorporate your thoughts on the differences in climate or other matters such as contrasts in culture, standard of living, demographics etc.
Currently under general maintenance.|
Climate Guides for Locations near Villa Riva
Climate Guides for Locations near Cape Celjuskin/ Fedo

domain: geography


text:
Why do some people bounce back from difficult situations more easily than others? How is it that they are more resilient? Training can help. Managers can help their teams to become more resilient and confident. Training your people to handle difficult situations helps them to respond appropriately.
Letting people fail – Allowing people to fail builds resiliency. People need to try, to risk, and then try some more. This comes from failing a few times along the way. Resilient people are not people who have never failed. They are people who have learned from trying, failing, and trying again.
Richard Branson for example, has failed several times along the way to becoming a billionaire business leader.
Steve Jobs failed – he was pushed out of Apple in 1985 even though he was one of the founders of the company. He returned to the firm in 1997 and it is now the worlds largest company by revenue.
One of the issues today is that people are afraid to allow for mistakes, and they want to protect others from failure. However, every good manager knows that if we never fall over, we won’t learn how to get back up again.
Teaching your team to solve problems – Solving problems doesn’t mean solving them all yourself.
The most difficult task a manager has is to resist doing something themselves even though they may be able to solve the problem more quickly. Instead, managers need to step back and ask their people: “What is the next step?” or “What do you think you should do?” It is really hard watching people make mistakes without stepping in, but your team will never learn if someone else is doing their job for them. It will pay off in the long term as your team becomes more capable and confident.
Focus on the big picture – It is easy for your team to get discouraged if they only see the failures. Teach them to consider the big picture. They should be encouraged to see every step of the learning process as being a step towards success, even if that attempt doesn’t result in a solution to whatever problem they are facing.
Getting it wrong along the way should be ok in the grand scheme of things. Equally when they get it right, encourage them to see how this has contributed to the overall success of the business.
Accountability – Making allowances for people to fail does not mean that people shouldn’t be held accountable.
Failure without a lesson is failure in its worst form. By contrast, failure with a lesson is a learning process. Encourage your teams to consider what went right and what went wrong, and to note what lessons have been learned from the process.
Your team should take note of the failures and figure out a way to avoid failing in the future. They should be encouraged to accept responsibility for the problem and move to create a better outcome.
A problem versus an inconvenience – Problems are serious issues that are a real threat to the business. Inconveniences are when you get stuck in traffic on the way to the office, for example. You and your team should focus on letting the inconveniences go and focus on solving the real problems.


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Dara M. Steinberg, PHD
Dara Steinberg, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Medical Psychology jointly appointed in the departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry. She serves as the Psychosocial Director in the Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation. Dr. Steinberg specializes in pediatric psychology, working with children, adolescents, young adults, and their families, who have chronic and acute medical conditions, particularly oncological and hematological conditions. Dr. Steinberg uses evidenced-based treatment to address adjustment, adherence, and emotional and behavioral aspects of living with medical conditions. Her research interests focus on the interaction between physiological and psychological health and well-being.
Dr. Steinberg graduated magna cum laude with a BA, with honors in psychology, from Brown University and went on to earn her Ph.D in clinical psychology from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University. She completed her clinical psychology internship and post-doctoral fellowship at Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine.
- Assistant Professor of Medical Psychology (in Pediatrics and Psychiatry)
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
- NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital
Schedule an Appointment
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- Ferkauf Graduate School, Yeshiva University
- Internship: Texas Children's Hospital
- Fellowship: Texas Children's Hospital
Steinberg, D. M., Santiago, R. A., Tanenbaum, M. L., Cline, G. D., & Schneider, N. M. (2019) "It made me the person I am today…" survivors of childhood and AYA cancer reflect on their experiences. Journal of adolescent and young adult oncology.
Steinberg, D. M. (2019). Pausing: lessons from the PICU. Journal of social work in end-of-life and palliative care.
Shea, K. A., Steinberg, D. M., & Santiago, R. A. (2019). Bridging the gap: A pilot program to understand and meet the needs of pediatric patients and families as they transition off cancer-directed therapy. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 36, 86-92.
Steinberg, D. M., Anderson, B. J., de Wit, M., & Hilliard, M. E. (2018). Positive well-being in youth with type 1 diabetes during early adolescence. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 38, 1215-1235.
Steinberg, D. M., Serebrisky, D., & Feldman, J. M. (2017). Asthma in children of Caribbean descent living in the inner-city: Comparing Puerto Rican and Afro-Caribbean children. Psychology, Health and Medicine, 22, 633-639.
Schneider, N. M., Steinberg, D. M., Grosch, M. C., Niedzwecki, C., & Depp-Cline, V. (2016). Decisions about discussing traumatic loss with hospitalized pediatric patients: A needs-assessment of a multidisciplinary medical team. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, 4, 63-73.
Feldman, J. M., Matte, L., Interian, A., Lehrer, P. M., Lu, S. E., Scheckner, B., Steinberg, D. M., Oken, T., Kotay, A., Sinha, S., & Shim, C. (2016). Psychological treatment of comorbid asthma and panic disorder in Latino adults: Results from a randomized controlled trial. Behavior Research and Therapy, 87, 142-154.
Feldman, J. M., Steinberg, D., Kutner, H., Eisenberg, N., Hottinger, K., Sidora-Arcoleo, K., Warman, K., & Serebrisky, D. (2013). Perception of pulmonary function and asthma control: the differential role of child versus caregiver anxiety and depression. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 38, 1091-1100.
Steinberg, D. M., Sidora-Arcoleo, K., Serebrisky, D., & Feldman, J. M. (2012). The relationship between caregivers post- traumatic stress disorder and their asthma health beliefs in an ethnic minority inner-city sample. Journal of Asthma, 49, 724-730.
Goodwin, R. D., Bandiera, F. C., Steinberg, D., Ortega, A. N., & Feldman, J. M. (2012). Asthma and mental health among youth: etiology, current knowledge and future directions. Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine, 6, 397-406.
Feldman, J. M., Kutner, H., Matte, L., Lupkin, M., Steinberg, D., Sidora-Arcoleo, K., Serebrisky, D., & Warman, K. (2012). Prediction of peak flow values followed by feedback improves perception of lung function and adherence to inhaled corticosteroids in children with asthma. Thorax, 67, 1040-1045.

domain: health


text:
I need someone who is proficient in Adobe Indesign.
For a hypothetic magazine I need 1 cover and a 2 page spread - I will provide the images and body of text for you to use. I basically just need you to do the layout in indesign.
I will also need someone to can create an interactive form in Indesign - I will provide the form, you will just be making it interactive.
TLDR: Design a cover for a magazine using InDesign that includes a masthead, selling line, dateline, price, main image, cover lines, credits and a barcode.
Design a 2 page magazine spread using InDesign that includes title, first paragraph, pull quotes, body type, images and folios which achieves a consistency in style with the magazine cover. (all Images & text will be provided for you to use).
I am looking for someone with a fast turn around time. 3 Days max, if you can do this in less I am happy to pay you more.


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Today’s Adventure: Learning to operate and having fun with New Gadgets.
Jam Fact: I am dusting away my procrastination streak.
A great last week was had by this little UNYOUNG JAM.
I am now the proud owner of an Air Fryer, bought on the spur of the moment. I was influenced by my sewing peers who have been enjoying tasty meals since their purchases a few weeks ago and as I was passing an electrical store on my way home from a lovely lunch with good friends last week, I just swung in off the highway right into a well known store car park and thought, why not go and have a look at an air fryer UNYOUNG JAM. So I did go and have a look and 15 minutes later I came out with one. As it was the only store I visited I count that as my little Miss Procrastinator streak, getting a definite dusting off.
I consider it to be a very successful purchase so far too, as My J and I enjoyed a very tasty meal of roast lamb last week, complete with rosemary and garlic flavourings too. Sadly no recipe book came with the product but that’s okay as for the last couple of days, it has kept us amused searching the net for recipes to try and we have four ready to go right now, so all is A Okay in my part of the world.
My next spur of the moment purchase happened on Friday as I was coming back from my lovely afternoon of sewing and I again just swung in off the highway, this time into a camera shop, again a well known one. I purchased a very smart RED carry case for my new camera; where that thought had been lurking I’m not sure but it turned out to be a very good shopping experience.
Whilst I was in the shop …very busy it was too with both young , in betweens and unyoungs buying all sorts of photo equipment… I noticed a container filled with stacked film boxes displayed very prominently on the counter. I couldn’t resist asking my very helpful young assistant about the film boxes and yes the old black and white film reels are making a comeback…just when I have got into the swing of digital cameras.
Never mind, my new red [not sure what possessed me to buy red …certainly an out of the box choice as the usual non ambiguous looking greys and blacks were there on offer]softly padded carry case is working a treat, so I’ve chalked it up as another fantastic spur of the moment purchase for the week.
I also this week somehow synchronised my ‘smart watch’ with my incoming texts from my phone…not sure it is an asset that I really wanted to happen but it has provided me with a feeling of being just a little more Tech Savvy than I was last week even if I did somehow happen to gain it by default.
So with my little Miss Procrastinator streak being somewhat usurped on two occasions this last week I am looking forward to this coming week with a spring in my step because who knows what next I will purchase when I swing off the highway on my way home from another great adventure.
Until next time … stay safe.


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The Manning brothers are at it again. No, not on the football field, but in a brand new music video.
It’s a poorly-kept secret that the Seattle Seahawks don’t mind taking a penalty flag or two for pass interference or defensive holding in exchange for five or six no-calls on borderline plays. Supposedly, the NFL will be cracking down on physical play in the defensive backfield. If true-and that’s a big if-it could mean even bigger numbers for the quarterbacks.
5 Must Have Offensive Players To Use When Playing Your 1st Game Of Madden’15
According to a new Harris Poll, NBA superstar LeBron James — now a member of the Cavaliers — is the United States’ favorite athlete.
This practical guide serves as the perfect introduction to the city affectionately known as the Mile High City.
Golfers and fans of the sport who attend PGA events can visit some of the best golf courses in America.
Jay Mohr — a very good friend of the Boomer & Carton program on WFAN — asked Eli a series of questions about the two brothers, and they revealed a lot about who is superior in different aspects of life.
He was in town not only to see Jeter but to appear Monday on late-night TV with David Letterman, another star planning to step away soon: “I’m sad to see some of these guys retiring. I’m not far behind.”
Peyton Manning’s never-ending quest to hone his game and Nick Saban’s desire to decipher fast-paced offenses led to a recent meeting that the Crimson Tide coach called mutually beneficial.
After just a few seasons we find reasons to jam the eject button on an athlete. Manning went from G.O.A.T. to goat in just 60 minutes. And from winner to loser.
The Denver Broncos seemed unstoppable, even unbeatable at times during the 2013 season. But, when the Vince Lombardi Trophy was on the line, they were blown out by the Seattle Seahawks.
It’s unfair to say that Denver lost it. Seattle snatched it and swallowed it. This team was bigger, faster and bionic in the way that it smashed the Broncos.
Led by its All-Pro cornerback, Seattle’s “Legion of Boom” secondary and the nastiest defense in the NFL proved the strength of the Seahawks was greater than the record-setting arm of Peyton Manning in their stunning 43-8 rout on Sunday night.
While the rest of the world was tweeting about Peyton Manning’s nightmarish Super Bowl, Hillary Clinton was taking aim at the network airing game.
As Eli Manning looked on at his brother’s struggles in Super Bowl XLVIII, he must have said, “Welcome to my world, Peyton.” Or, as Yogi Berra might have said, “It’s déjà vu all over again.”


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What would you do if aliens came by the hordes and threatened your existence? Easy.you shoot the living crap out of them and ask questions later! Your protector, the only defense there is for the inhabitants of Haven-7, you must destroy the aliens, and save the planet..not very hard to do, or is it? Like many other games of this type, you have the simple basics; your protecting something and you must destroy everything to keep it. The Jaguar doesn't have many shooters, and the closest we have had to a "defender" clone was Defender 2000 by Jeff Minter, but it seems his classic version of Defender didn't quite cut it in the eyes of players, but was good none the less, it just lack that certain something. After what seems like a very long time, Carl Forhan of Songbird Productions managed to get the rights to finish and publish this lost game, it's out, it's hot and it's non-stop adrenaline pumping action!
Upon starting you journey, you notice a very familiar layout, makes you feel right at home, the graphics are crisp and done very well, some nice backdrops accompany the battlefield and there is some decent parallax scrolling in the background, your ship is detailed nicely, kinda small (I tend to lose it in a crowd of enemies when going real fast) but you get use to it, what I like most is the Defender like radar that is at the top of your screen to show your location in respects to your enemies (and the people your protecting). The main problem with Defender 2000 was the action was so fast that your game play was based on your radar and not on the main screen, simply cause it was all a blur. Protector changes that and makes the game not so radar intensive, you focus more on the action and keeping your butt out of trouble (rather than watching dots on a screen). There are a great deal of enemies, anything ranging from Landers, to ships that just about kamikaze attack you, with all this action going on, there is no drop in frame rate or anything, the game says on the back of the box, that it runs at 60+ frames per second like 90% of the time, I'd say that is really great, since some good Jaguar games suffer simply because of the frame rate being so low, and sometimes making the game not very enjoyable. For a game of this type, the graphics are done really well and inviting to any avid game player, it gets a pretty good grade in my book.
Nothing gets your blood pumping faster and the action more intense then a good dose of music, the main song (which also serves as a track in some of the levels) is pretty cool, kind of a cool techno beat, but repeats too much and gets on your nerves, some of the other tunes are good as well, although I feel there were too little tracks to hear, you seem to get repeating and you wish you had some more to listen too, course maybe I just didn't get that far in the games and didn't get to hear music that was different. Overall, not too bad, just needed a little bit of work, hey music adds a lot to a game ya know.
Control is always a major factor when you zipping around blasting everything in sight and living to tell about it. The control layout is very basic, consisting of a bomb button, fire button and a special button you will get use to it in no time at all. The control itself (Maneuvering) is very tight; you can go and stop on a dime with no problem at all. It just couldn't get any better than this.
Your ship can handle itself in a fight pretty well, but in order to even out the odds a little more, you have to have a little more oomph in your defense. When you destroy some enemies you can pick up power ups, they can do anything from enable hyperspace, having your energy restored, getting rapid fire or being in "PROTECTOR" mode, in which the enemies cannot lock onto you little human friends and take them away. Aside from getting this power ups via the main game, in between levels you get to stop at "Ye Olde Shoppe", and use your credits to buy extra ships, rapid fire, smart bombs and shields. One thing you find out when playing this game is a great deal of staying alive is by using your arsenal of power ups, without them you will have a very hard time getting anywhere. Ok so you've got your power ups, and that is all good.helps you out a lot, but I personally had a hard time with the game overall, I just found the game to be very very hard, it kinda starts out simple and easy but the learning curve is steep and I found many a time getting pissed off and throwing down the controller, I just think the difficulty could have been tweaked a little more (but then again that is why they created cheat codes for hehehe). Overall Protector is a great new addition to the slowly growing library of Jaguar games, and anyone who likes shooters and wants to try a defender style game that focuses more on game play and action rather than flashy graphics then this is your choice. Some people may like it more than other, it's an pretty good title in my book, but you know what they say, "Different strokes for different folks"

domain: entertainment


text: Freezing Pears See my page on how to freeze peaches, plums, nectarines, figs and cherries. Potassium is necessary for maintaining heartbeat, muscle contraction, nerve transmission, and carbohydrate and protein metabolism. Asian pears can be stored but may develop a strong, wine-like taste if kept too long. Marks on the Pears: Also when green skin color Asian pears ripe to change to yellow, they're ripe. If pears are picked before they are fully ripe, they Asian pears ripe be ripened at a temperature of 60 F to 70 F.

domain: food