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The skeletal remains of at least six people have been discovered inside two cars found at the bottom of a lake in Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said the cars had been found in Foss Lake, near Elk City, during a training session with a new sonar device.
The first was an early 1950s model Chevrolet car that had three bodies inside.
It was initially believed to include a couple who were last seen in Canute in the 1960s and were reportedly on their way to Foss Lake - but were never seen again.
But it was later suggested the car belonged to Alvi Porter, who went missing 44 years ago when he was 69 years old.
The second car pulled from the lake had three bodies inside, believed to be teenagers reported missing from the Sayre area in 1970.
They could be that of 16-year-old Jimmy Allen Williams, 18-year-old Leah Gail Johnson and 18-year-old Thomas Michael Rios.
The teenagers were reported missing on November 27, 1970, and were last seen riding around Sayre in Jimmy Williams' 1969 Chevrolet Camaro.
Custer County Sheriff Bruce Peoples told KWEY radio: "It's just been under water for 40 years. It's a mucky mess."
Authorities have not formally identified the bodies.
Debbie McManamman was 13 years old when her grandfather Alvi Porter went missing.
"I remember that green car," she said.
"It's sad. I can see his tall, lanky body walking up to the car. He always had a smile on his face.
"It's been very traumatic. I can remember my dad having dreams at night and getting in the car as soon as he finished his day job, taking my mom, and they would look and look and look."
It is thought the car belonged to Mr Porter, prompting new questions as to the identity of the other two bodies.
Mrs McManamman added: "There's a lot of mystery, it's a mystery."
Betsy Randolph, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, said the vehicles were located by dive teams last week.
"So they went back and did a scheduled dive today and were going to recover the cars," she said.
"When they pulled the cars out of the water, the first one that came out they found bones in the car.
"We thought it was just going to be stolen vehicles and that's not what it turned out to be, obviously."


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RICHMOND, Va. – Senior forward Courtney Hurt scored 15 of her game-high 17 points in the second half, while classmate Andrea Barbour added 16 and sophomore Robyn Parks chipped in 10 off the bench, but VCU fell just short in a back-and-forth battle against James Madison as the Dukes escaped with a 65-64 victory Sunday afternoon at the Verizon Wireless Arena.
The lead changed hands 10 times during the final nine minutes of the game and the Rams took their final lead on a drive from Parks with 1:26 to go. On the ensuing possession, Tarik Hislop, who finished with 12 points and a game-high seven assists, scored what proved to be the game-winner for the Dukes with a jumper in the paint with 1:09 remaining.
Senior Chelsea Snyder was just short on an 8-ft. jumper with 36 seconds left, which gave James Madison (19-5, 10-3 CAA) another possession. VCU pressured and Hislop missed a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired, but by the time Barbour grabbed the rebound and called timeout, the Rams had just 0.9 seconds to get a shot off. Following the timeout, Barbour sent an inbounds pass to junior Robyn Hobson in the right corner but the Leawood, Kansas native couldn't get off a shot off before the horn.
Hurt (pictured, left) added 19 rebounds for her 15th double-double of the season, fourth-most in the NCAA. Snyder finished with eight points and four boards, and Hobson chipped in seven points and a pair of assists for the Rams.
Barbour gave VCU (14-10, 7-6 CAA) an early 10-6 lead with a jumper at the 14:29 mark but James Madison settled in and scored 11 straight and took a nine-point advantage on a basket from Lauren Whitehurst with 10:08 to play.
The Rams cut the deficit to five twice over the next four minutes before a triple from Kirby Burkholder, who finished with a team-high 15 points, and a free throw by Lauren Whitehurst gave James Madison its largest lead of the half at 25-16 with 4:14 remaining.
A pair of jumpers from Parks, who scored VCU's final six points of the period, pulled the Rams within six on two occasions, including 28-22 with 2:16 to go before the break, but a 3-pointer from Nikki Newman extended James Madison's lead to nine again with 1:39 left.
Parks cut the deficit to 31-24 at the break with a bucket less than a minute to go in the half.
James Madison hit three of its first four to start the second stanza and pushed its lead back to 11 on a jumper from Jasmine Gill less than three minutes in. However, Hurt halted the spurt with a pair of free throws, which sparked a 12-0 VCU run and the Rams climbed all the way back to regain the lead, 38-37, on a drive from Hurt with 14:12 remaining.
After a Toia Giggetts basket put the Dukes back on top less than 30 second later, Hobson drained a triple from the left wing to give the Rams a 41-39 lead with 13:10 to go.
James Madison, which picked up its ninth straight win against VCU, would go up by as many as four with 11:21 showing before Hurt again gave the Rams a 51-50 advantage with a jumper in the paint with 8:56 left.
A traditional three-point play by Barbour (pictured, right) and a fast break layup from Hobson gave VCU its largest lead of the game at 56-52 with 6:30 to play.
Whitehurst added 13 points and Kiara Francisco chipped in 10 off the bench for James Madison, which handed VCU just its second home loss in its last nine games at the Verizon Wireless Arena.
VCU concludes its season-long three-game home stand on Thursday, Feb. 16 against William & Mary. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. The Rams then travel to Old Dominion on Feb. 19 at 2 p.m.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
He said there have been no break-ins, as doors on the homes were not locked. He adds that no one has reported anything missing.
"Lock your doors," said Adair, who also asks local residents to report any suspicious activity or home entries by calling 911 as soon as it occurs.


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Queen Rock Kiev With Adam Lambert
Queen are back in the saddle. The band, which first dealt with the loss of Freddie Mercury first by teaming with Paul Rodgers, returned to the stage Saturday (June 30) in Kiev as part of the ANTIAIDS benefit with Adam Lambert in the fold.
Ever since Lambert's 'American Idol' breakout, there's been the question of whether or not he'd entertain playing with Queen and, at least for now, he's enjoying the opportunity.
Saturday's set opened with the intro to 'Flash Gordon,' followed by the deeper cut 'Seven Seas of Rhye,' before transitioning into such classics as 'Keep Yourself Alive,' 'We Will Rock You,' and 'Fat Bottomed Girls.'
Drummer Roger Taylor stepped up to the microphone to join Lambert on the Queen/David Bowie favorite, 'Under Pressure,' and he later offered lead vocals on 'A Kind of Magic' and 'These Are the Days of Our Lives.' Guitarist Brian May was also up to the vocal challenge, adding his pipes to the songs 'Love of My Life' and '39.'
Watch Queen + Adam Lambert Perform 'Flash,' 'Seven Seas of Rhye,' 'Keep Yourself Alive,' 'We Will Rock You' and 'Fat Bottomed Girls'
Queen's Kiev Set List:
'Flash' (intro)
'Seven Seas of Rhye'
'Keep Yourself Alive'
'We Will Rock You'
'Fat Bottomed Girls'
'Don't Stop Me Now'
'Under Pressure' (Roger/Adam duet)
'I Want It All'
'Who Wants to Live Forever'
'A Kind of Magic' (Roger)
'These Are Days of Our Lives' (Roger)
'Love of My Life' (Brian)
'39′ (Brian)
'Dragon Attack'
'Drum Battle / Guitar Solo'
'I Want to Break Free'
'Another One Bites the Dust'
'Radio Ga Ga'
'Somebody to Love'
'Crazy Little Thing Called Love'
'The Show Must Go On'
'Bohemian Rhapsody'
'Tie Your Mother Down' (Brian)
'We Will Rock You'
'We Are the Champions'


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The First Lady has scored a cameo on "Iron Chef America," along with White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford.
It's all part of her sneaky plan to make children eat better. But more on that later...
In the episode, which will open the show's new season, Comerford and celebrity chef Bobby Flay joins forces against Mario Batali and Emeril Lagasse.
Mrs. Obama will reveal the secret ingredient that the chefs must use in their televised cook-off, the New York Times reported. She'll also talk about her Healthy Kids Initiative.
That's her campaign to reduce childhood obesity through better school lunches, community gardens, farmers' markets and exercise.
Hillary had health care. Michelle has the kids' waistlines.
The difference, according to the Times, is that Mrs. Obama is getting her message across in ways few of her predecessors would have considered. True, but we think The Gray Lady forgets how the Obamas used the Internet to help win the presidential campaign. The First Couple is smarter than smart, and hip too.
They're also big sweet potato lovers, according to the First Lady, who suggested the chefs might want to add one or two from the White House garden to their cooking.
Iron Chef's season opener was taped at the White House with the First Lady; the chefs had a reunion cook-off in New York this past Tuesday sans Mrs. Obama.
The episode is scheduled to air Jan. 3 on the Food Network.


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Courtesy of Western New England College Sports Information
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Western New England College football team defeated MIT, 27-10, for its school record sixth consecutive victory Saturday afternoon. The Golden Bears raised their overall record to 6-1 and remained unbeaten in the New England Football Conference (NEFC) Boyd Division with a 4-0 mark.
Junior quarterback Bryce Brown continued his fine play by rushing for a season high 111 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns. He also completed 12-of-18 passes for 113 yards and no interceptions.
MIT (1-5, 0-4 Boyd) provided a strong challenge taking a 3-0 lead on its second possession when Matthew Peterson kicked a 22-yard field goal at 5:24 of the opening period. The Engineers thwarted a scoring drive near the end of the quarter stopping the hosts on a fourth down play at the MIT 18.
Western New England College scored its first touchdown when Phil Tsopanides recovered a fumble and returned it two yards to the MIT 36 with 1:18 left in the stanza. Six plays later, Mike Graham (14 carries, 74 yards) scored from the one just seven seconds into the second quarter.
After forcing a punt, the Golden Bears scored again on their next possession to take a 13-3 advantage when Brown raced 35 yards on fourth down for a score at the 8:05 mark.
The Engineers quickly answered going 61 yards in two plays starting when Mike Fitzgerald caught a nifty 57-yard pass from freshman quarterback John Wenzel who then ran four yards to cut the margin to three just 39 seconds later.
The hosts entered the break with a slim 13-10 advantage.
MIT again stopped a scoring drive when a fourth-down pass by Brown from the visitors' four fell incomplete in the end zone on the first possession of the third quarter. Brown later found the end zone on a three-yard run which capped a four-play, 53-yard drive with 6:13 left in the period.
Western New England College scored its final touchdown when Brody Brandstatter burst through the middle and rambled 20 yards for his first collegiate touchdown on his first collegiate carry with 6:29 left in the contest.
Junior running back JJ Jachym added 74 yards rushing on 11 carries while Brandstatter had 46 yards on three carries. Kenny Muhlack had a game-high seven receptions for 56 yards. The Golden Bears put together another solid defensive showing as Kevin Soule compiled eight tackles, which included a sack. Brandon Ormsby added seven tackles while Dylan Chandler and Rob Kampson both contributed five tackles.
MIT finished with 269 total yards as Wenzel was 9-of-15 passing for 129 yards as he and senior Kyle Johnson alternated at quarterback. Johnson started the contest and ran for a team high 32 yards on 10 carries while completing 5-of-8 passes for 74 yards. Fitzgerald had five catches for 117 yards. Jake Laux compiled a game-best 14 tackles as Peter Gilliland had 13 stops. Matt Merlino chipped-in with 11 tackles and a pair of pass breakups.


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Advantest Expands Application Coverage of TAS7500 Series of Spectroscopic Imaging Systems with 2 New
Advantest Expands Application Coverage of TAS7500 Series of Spectroscopic Imaging Systems with 2 New Systems; Transmittance Polarization Analysis Module Also Developed
Richer Spectroscopic Analysis Capability Increases
Applicability to Chemicals, Communications Material, Terahertz Research
TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Advantest Corporation (TSE: 6857, NYSE: ATE), a global leader in test and measurement sciences, has developed two new spectroscopy systems and a new transmittance polarization analysis module for its TAS7500 product series of systems, which employ terahertz waves to perform non-destructive imaging and analysis of samples.
・Wide-Band Coverage: TAS7500SU Terahertz Spectroscopic System
・Low-Frequency Coverage: TAS7500SL Terahertz Spectroscopic System
・Transmittance Polarization Analysis Module for Terahertz Spectroscopic Analysis
The new systems and module dramatically expand the range of applications of the TAS7500 series to include chemicals and materials for high-speed communications components, in addition to the pharmaceutical applications covered by existing systems, while also delivering the ability to analyze the polarization characteristics of samples. The new products are scheduled for launch in March, 2013.
Advantest Enables New Applications for Terahertz Technology
In recent years the terahertz frequency range has increasingly been utilized in non-destructive measurement and spectroscopic analysis applications. Advantest has led the development of this technology, launching its 3D Imaging Analysis System, the TAS7000, in April 2010, followed in September 2011 by the groundbreaking TAS7500, a non-invasive, non-destructive analysis system for pharmaceutical applications. The company has continued to invest in expanding the analysis capabilities and applications coverage of its terahertz technology, leading to the development of the new TAS75000SU and TAS7500SL systems.
In combination with the previously launched TAS7500SP, these three systems, each covering a different bandwidth, greatly expand the TAS7500 series' analysis range, and provide enhanced measurement quality in each frequency region. Further, Advantest's newly developed transmittance polarization analysis module for spectroscopic analysis enables polarization characteristics analysis of optically anisotropic materials,* among others.
The new systems and module expand the applications of the TAS7500 series beyond the pharmaceutical arena, to fields including terahertz wireless communications, biotechnology, and research applications utilizing terahertz waves.
* Optically anisotropic materials display varying refraction indices depending on the polarization direction of the light directed at them.
Wide-Band Analysis System TAS7500SU
■ Improved High-Frequency Coverage Enables Diverse Terahertz Research Applications
Advantest's Cherenkov THz radiation source* enables higher-frequency terahertz wave generation, giving the TAS7500SU an analysis range of 0.5 - 7.0 THz, compared to the 0.1 - 4THz range of the previous TAS7500SP system. This wider coverage facilitates diverse new analysis applications.
■ Industry-Best High-Speed Measurement Functionality
The TAS7500 series boasts an industry-best scan time of 8 milliseconds, ensuring speedy measurement results unaffected by exterior changes in humidity and temperature.
* Advantest's new Cherenkov THz radiation source, which generates a superior range of frequencies, was announced in September 2012, as was the company's terahertz time-of-flight (TOF) tomography analysis system, which employs the Cherenkov radiation source.
Low-Frequency Analysis System TAS7500SL
■30GHz-2THz Analysis Range Optimal for Terahertz Wireless Communications Materials Development, Other Applications
In the field of terahertz wireless communications—a technology expected to find practical applications in the near future—it is crucial for engineers to accurately analyze the characteristics of the materials they work with, such as permittivity and absorptiveness. The TAS7500SL is specialized for the 30GHz - 2THz band of the spectrum, optimizing it for R&D in the area of materials to be used for packages, boards, and other communications components, as well as spectroscopic analysis at these bandwidths.
Transmittance Polarization Analysis Module
■ Measurement of Crystalline & Molecular Structures Provides More Detailed Analysis Results
Advantest's new transmittance polarization analysis module, which can be mounted on the TAS7500SP, enables polarization analysis of anisotropic optical materials, among others, via polarization characteristics measurement, thus providing more detailed analysis results.
■ Easy Operation Boosts Efficiency
In common with Advantest's existing spectroscopic measurement modules (transmission, reflection, and ATR), the new transmittance polarization analysis module is easy to install and remove, aiding ease of operation in any measurement environment.
For more information:
TAS Project
Advantest will exhibit at SPIE Photonics West at the Moscone Center, San Francisco on February 5-7, 2013.
About Advantest Corporation
A world-class technology company, Advantest is the leading producer of automatic test equipment (ATE) for the semiconductor industry and a premier manufacturer of measuring instruments used in the design and production of electronic instruments and systems. Its leading-edge systems and products are integrated into the most advanced semiconductor production lines in the world. The company also focuses on R&D for emerging markets that benefit from advancements in nanotech and terahertz technologies, and has recently introduced multi-vision metrology scanning electron microscopes essential to photomask manufacturing, as well as a groundbreaking 3D imaging and analysis tool. Founded in Tokyo in 1954, Advantest established its first subsidiary in 1982, in the USA, and now has subsidiaries worldwide. More information is available at www.advantest.com.
Advantest Corporation
Hiroki Yanagita, PR/IR Section
Tel: +81-3-3214-7500
KEYWORDS: United States Asia Pacific North America California New York Japan
The article Advantest Expands Application Coverage of TAS7500 Series of Spectroscopic Imaging Systems with 2 New Systems; Transmittance Polarization Analysis Module Also Developed originally appeared on Fool.com.Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


text:
Veterinarian Licensure Application Process
60-Day temporary Permit - Nonresident Validly Licensed in Another Jurisdiction
A nonresident veterinarian validly licensed in another state or foreign country who pays the the fee established and published by the board may be issued a temporary permit for a period of no more than sixty (60) days. No more than one permit may be issued during each calendar year.
To apply for this type of permit, you must:
- Complete and return the application form below.
- Pay the appropriate fees for the permit application. The cost of the permit is $25.00. Checks should be made payable to the North Dakota Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and mailed to: NDBVME, PO Box 5001, Bismarck, ND 58502.
- Provide a copy of all valid licenses to practice issued by another state, province, foreign country.
The permit will be issued by the Executive Secretary of the North Dakota Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. No permit will be granted to an applicant if they have previously failed the North Dakota Examination. Please note that this permit does not allow you to do the work of an accredited veterinarian. You need to complete the orientation program administered by the USDA before you can you can work as an accredited veterinarian in the state of North Dakota.
60-Day Temporary Permit Application
Updated 5/15/2014


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One last note: Eric Hacopian is probably the hottest mail consultant in the state right now. Fresh from engineering Emmanuel Pleitez' head-turning campaign in CA-32, Hacopian turns around and gives Krekorian a handy victory in the 2nd Council District primary. Nice going.
Now, apparently some people don't like that opinion. I got an email from an anonymous delivery service, so it's completely untraceable. I got it on Thursday morning, essentially a day removed from the election returns. I quote:
You must be a politics outsider.
You post stuff like, \"Hacopian is the best mail consultant\" [and
that is why Krekorian won.]
And, \"golly gee, the absentees really were a lot.\"
Do a google search for \"Hacopian and forged absentees.\" Research
what the law the city of Glendale had to pass in municipal elections
to prevent his fraud.
Turnout in the 2nd council district was 10%. Armenian turnout, if we
are to believe the numbers, was 99%. Even the dead ones voted. I\'ll
have you guess for whom.
Armenian absentee voters are typically 1% of the population. This
year, they were 22%, a 2200% increase.
Paul got 40% of the absentee vote when you figured these numbers,
then roughly 28% at the polls.
Hmmm.... Is he the real preference of real voters?
If you care one iota about politics and preserving our right to vote,
you\'ll post a story with some well researched facts. It is well
known that Hacopian forges absentee ballots. Only a matter of time
before he gets caught. The numbers in this race are highly
suspicious, and merit a little more analysis than your doe eyed post.
Let's see now. First of all, I did that Google search. Nothing came up. Not even a rumor. Secondly, for someone to have specific numbers like that, they must have to have access to the PDI data that can track that information along ethnic surnames, and the only way one would have access to that is if one were working on one of the campaigns that were well-financed enough to purchase it. Or one could have just made up the numbers out of whole cloth.
One argument the anonymous flamethrower makes is that the discrepancy between Krekorian's election-day results and his absentee results is indicative of fraud. Problem is, it's not. Judy Chu got about 40% of the absentee ballot vote, but ended up with a 32%-23% victory over Gil Cedillo--and that's a race where the ration of absentee ballots to poll ballots was significantly lower.
So, there are two things to conclude. One, some campaign insider likes throwing anonymous bombshells. And two, whichever insider that is hasn't studied the numbers--including from an election on which Hacopian was on the losing side.
Of course, if you had this sort of irrefutable evidence that dead people were casting absentee ballots, wouldn't you file some sort of police report? It's a crime, after all...


text:
Hey Tankers!
This mornings downtime was to address the following items:
Map Rotation...
Based on feedback, we have capped the maximum Battle Tier to Tier 8 for the following maps. They will no longer be available to play in Tier 9 and 10 battles.
Widepark Rain
Pacific Island
Pacific Island - War
Liberty Falls
Based on feedback, we have increase the ammunition capacity from 56 to 72 rounds. Players will need to manually adjust their loadouts to take advantage of the larger ammunition capacity.
Server Restarts
We have changed the weekly Server restarts to take place every Tuesday @ 2am Central (08:00 UTC) for all severs and platforms.
Previously, each server was restarted on a different day and was different per platform.


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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) The New England Revolution have obtained the No. 1 overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft from Toronto FC for the fourth pick and allocation money.
It will be the highest pick for the Revolution, who missed the playoffs in each of the past three years. In 2002, the team picked Taylor Twellman, who retired as the franchise's all-time leading scorer.
The draft will take place on Thursday at the Indiana Convention Center.


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Relaxation can be a little hard with an active household of three growing boys! But, I find that I need to just take care of myself sometimes. I walk with a good friend most Monday nights to get some exercise and to share girl thoughts together. I enjoy writing and take time at the end of most days to think through the day and write about things that stood out or that I want to remember.
I also take some time to meditate as I get ready for sleeping at night. I read my Bible - usually something from Psalms, something from the Old Testament, and something from the New Testament and try to weave them together somehow. I pray in my journal because it keeps my thoughts clear and reminds me about things that I can be thankful for.
I hope you all can find some time to relax, even for a moment. Things will look so much better after you take time for yourself.
Share your best relaxation tips for moms!
We all get stressed out from time to time. What are some of your favorite ways to unwind after a long, stressful day? Help other moms with your great ideas.
Relaxation can be a little hard with an active household of three growing boys! But, I find that I need to just take care of myself sometimes. I walk with a good friend most Monday nights to get some exercise and to share girl thoughts together. I enjoy writing and take time at the end of most days to think through the day and write about things that stood out or that I want to remember.
AS a working mother of 2 with a husband that works late nights, my relaxztion comes in 2 ways: if I can get away for a few minutes, a laughfest and chat with my neighbor (a working mom as well) works wonders; and the second is to shut off ALL tech gadgets and sit in bed reading WITH my daughters-this is also teaching them how to relax when the world is a bit too much!
I have five children...ages are 10yrs, 8yrs, 6yrs, 5yrs and 10 weeks! Between two in soccer, girlscouts, church and ofcourse the normal homework, house work, dinner and so on! Plus now throwing a baby in the mix! My life is crazy! Especially with my husband who works a ton for me to stay home But I'm a firm believer in finding some time thats only for yourself! I lock myself in my bathroom with a hot bubble bath, a great book and sometimes a glass of wine! Its very relaxing and very quite! I also pray for patience and remind myself how awsome and blessed I am even though life is very crazy! But the biggest thing is is to slow down and atleast give yourself a half hour out of each day and do what you really enjoy! Whats still only yours! Not your kids or your significant other! :)
Cabernet, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Petite Sirah and Pinot Grigio
I am a single mum with 3 kids and on my shoulder. My life always on the road from early as 6.40am till almost 7pm-fetching/picking them up before/after school and I work somehow.It's certainly stressful to beat the time esp as I need to get up at 530am waking them up,preparing them breakfast,and sending to school.;soo, what did I do?To avoid quarelling in car, I will usually make some kind of 'a car on a stage performer' while I become a DJ of a radio and handing in to each of them to act and talk while driving,sometimes a chairperson while they will sing a song together, smtsm i ll change the tone of my voice and make them laugh ,or ask some tricky questions/riddles/idioms, I enjoy to hear their answers esp idioms i.e."what's the meaning of throwing 2 birds with 1 stone? " haha..-so funny answers from my 5 and 6 yr kids,while everybody laughs aloud in car. After got back, I nd prepare dinner-inbetween the time-I hand in sheets ,pencil, colours -let them play teachers and pupils-last 2 nights-we had colouring class where everybody presents their drawing and coached by the elder brother(10) -last nite, we have a performing nite-I gave to each of them to perform a song/ impromptu poem etc while I can mark my exam papers(i am teacher) and feed them some food. I guess at least I dont feel like screaming all the time.I enjoy, and so do they. I am satisfied too.Thank God! -other actv: 1. bring to park-jogging/aerobics 2. swminng pool - u hv ur sweet time watching them swimming (or jst join) 3. watch video at home 4. have some creative class for them.So u can go for reflexology , spa etc before fetching them back.What a wonderful life!
This topic needs some work, especially for moms of the very young. I am the single mother of a 15 year old son, and most of my stress comes from work, health, and disagreements with my ex. Having coffee with an acquaintance recently helped me realized the untapped wealth of friends I have in those I know slightly. I felt so good afterwards! My first suggestion is coffee with a new friend.
Go for a walk, even with your children if you have a safe place to do so. If not, play music in the house and let everyone, including your children jump around and dance or do something physically active to release endorphins which will help reduce your stress level. Count your blessings and write them down, even the children can be involved. But above all, have quiet time for yourself when you can read something inspiring, or think of your goals and life in general.
1. I pop in an exercise DVD and work out for an hour. Endorphins get released and I get stronger!
2. I take a long bubble bath and enjoy a glass of red wine and a shameless romance novel.
Yoga class. I actually tell my family I am a happier and nicer person after chilling on my mat. Debbie Alexander
Swinging on a porch swing with a lemonade or hot tea, listening to the windchimes and nature is so relaxing! It's like my little spa at home. ;)
I like to work out while I am away from my kids. I love zumba, but any workout is great. The focus is on you..staying healthy and fit.
Take a long walk by yourself and have some music head phones on just get away for an hour
I'm a single mum with 3 girls aged 9, 6 and 1. Thankfully I got them into a good bedtime routine so they all go to bed at 7pm and my eldest 2 can read or play quietly in bed until 8pm then they go to sleep. I have also set myself into a routine that, on most days, everything that needs to be done has been done by the time the girls are in bed so most evenings are "mum time". I spend some of that time on the computer or watching tv but what relaxes me most is painting (pictures) or reading.
how do you manage to get everything needed to be done, finished by their bed time? Are you also a working mom?
No I'm not working, except for volunteering at the school but that doesn't take up much of my week. However, when I am at home I am constantly teaching my 1 year old. I know it's harder as a working mum. My friend, who is a working single mum, sets aside an hour to get things done once her daughter has gone to bed - it's amazing what you can get done in an hour - but the majority of housework, etc gets done at the weekend.
Meditation works for me, even if it's just 15 minutes a day. Help me relax and find clarity at the same time.
I got kids aged 5 n 1 .The best thing I do is put them to bed early by 8 n spend the rest of the evening by taking a bubble bath or reading ,listening to music or else watching your fav soap on TV or else browsing net ....pampering yourself is very important part of motherhood !
I am a mother of two lovely boy's ages 4 and 2. my relaxtion time would be jogging. i would jog every morning just to go out and breath alittle with no kids no husband. it really helps me relax & another would be reading to my boys.
My son, 6, has never liked taking naps, even when he really needs them. On weekend afternoons, when he starts getting whiny, I ask him if he wants to stay up until 8:30. Of course he says yes and then I tell him that in order to do this, he has to go to his room and lie down for 30 or 45 minutes. Often he falls asleep for up to 2 hours. Other times I think he just watches the clock. It doesn't matter, because either way, I've had some time off.
I find sitting outside to be very relaxing.. I'm a single mom of a 2 1/2 yr old and a 4 year old. We have a set routine so I always have time to unwind at night. 7:30 is the latest they are in bed and asleep. But I also love to garden, which is relaxing for me, so when I come outside at night I just listen to my water fountain trinkle water and the garden is surrounded by solar lights. It is what works for me.
I am a working mum and with kids; 12yrs, 8yrs, 5yrs & a month old. And of course a working husband. After tucking them to bed, I sneak out to my neighbour(s) to chew buai or just to chat for an hour or so. If not, then am watching movie(s) with my husband.
It might sound contractary, but I find that dancing with my son (3 years old) helps relax me. It takes my mind off anything that might be worrying me and I feel the stress melt away. Could be the endorphins that are released during exercise, could be the distraction of focusing on the dancing, could be the joy of laughing with my son ... it's likely all three! Mind you, we are dancing to music I enjoy (not those annoying nursery rhymes), which he also likes.
I also find it relaxing to do puzzles with my son (or even just watch him do them) - he's very good at them (already mastered a 60-piece labeled 6+) which amazes me and makes me so proud. I read an article the other day that said puzzles are very good for kids, they help them with math and engineering skills.
At least once a month, my friends and I go out for dinner, drinks and dessert. It helps us to know we can eat out of the house and not cut anyone's meat or have to share a dessert. We always have a designated driver, but for the most part, we get high off the laughs we have and how much fun it is to talk about anything and nothing that has to do with marriage, the house and the kids. My husband has always been supportive of these "Mom Nights Out" because I seem to be a lot more relaxed after I've had one. I used to do this with a mom's group when we lived in North Carolina...after dinner we would head over to the local Starbucks, drink coffee and hang out...usually coming home well after 1 a.m.!!!! Again, a great stress reliever and a wonderful way to connect with people.
I agree with all moms that bedtime is a great down time with kids
They are relaxed and so am I . We share our day with each other
Like that they never hide things from me abd they get a sense of being like adults that i am sharing my day with them. We do our healing prayers and learn to tackle problems at school too.
Summit Grover
Heather knight thank u very much i feel so much better when u said that u pray for patience and remind ur self how awesome and blessed u are u inspired me:)
Take a relaxing bubble bath. Sometimes it seems that is the only alone time I get.
when the kids are bathed, fed and in bed and the lunch boxes are done i get ready for bed after a lovely shower and curl up in my bed with my laptop or a few magazines or a book even my husband is not allowed in our bedroom for a few hours (he prefers to sit downstairs to read or watch tv) then its sleep :)
I always put on my fave music best way to get my mood on the go :) and browsing around the internet keep my self updated with what's going on in the world or the latest trend and yes! Night out with my husband for a movie and shopping of course the best relaxation buy my self something nice ( and sexy) heheheeh.. Enjoying motherhood is always a great tips to relax and just have fun with ur little ones -( gadsya - mother of 8 months old baby boy Joshua , clydebank Glasgow )
have a cup of coffee outside somewhere at your favorite soothing atmosphere with your closest buddy not ur husband or bf. it will relax you for a very longer time share your thoughts and point of views discuss ur related problems and come back home happy and contend.
I find having a bath or a shower mid way through the day to be relaxing & restoring.
Afterwards, I usually put on something fresh and pretty - maybe some jewelry - to perk me up. This has a way of uplifting and renewing my perspective. Like Heather (above) I also use bath / shower time to pray for patience and perspective. As a homeschooling mother of many there have been days where I've needed more than one !!!
I walk rather than drive or take the bus as often as I can. I have 3 boys and a very busy life with guitar lessons and little league practices...you add in a very loving husband and it is very easy for mom to get lost throughout the week. I find that by walking, I am getting exercise, I am being "green" I am getting a few moments alone to think and clear my head without the distraction of driving and traffic. For work I walk to and from the train for my morning commute and it adds up to 5 hours and almost 20 miles a week! I
I am a mother of 3 adult one is 17th years old and twins they are 13 years old , I can relaxe my self by going out from home and have a walk in open air to recharge my battery , as sometimes I feel I am out of charge due to the great effort at home
' I am a working mom in India and am heading the nursing depatment of a 300 bedded hospital . Work is always busy and when you get home , I have a son who is 14 years old and who has so. Much to talk and share with me . Having given him a patient hearing , I slowly decide that's its time for myself and thus I wear my walking shoes and go off for a walk . During the walk I do not carry my ceel phone so that I can be with myself and the time that I am walking , I use it to talk to God and pray for others , so at the end of the walk I am feeling totally relaxed both in mind and body . I try to do this at least 4 times a week ! Once a month I indulge myself in a facial and pedicure etc , that also keeps me destressed .
Go for a run, go to a Zumba class, read a book after everyones in bed, watch "my shows"!
A bubble bath with the hottest bath water I can stand, breathing exercises and darkness with candles are my tools for relaxing! And all of this only works for me, if I can lower the sound level enough, as it is the combination of all three - warmth, darkness and quietness - which allows my mind to remove itself from the chaos happening in my mind!
I truly appreciate this site to read. I am a great grandmother, but am intrigued by all of your answers. Truly what a mother needs is "Time for Hersel". YOu need time away from your kids so you can reenergize yourself. A baby sitter, whether paid or volunteered will be a Godsend. Getting away from your house would also qualify as a good experience. Whether you go with friends/relatives, or go alone, find somthing that is fun to do. Shopping or a movie is great. A great addition is being able to eat out also. Anytime you don't have to do dishes is a relief! I try to help my granddaughter, who lives near me, as often as I can because sh has such a full plate - 2 kids, 5 1/2 and 3 1/2 are high needs kids. Boy, 5 1/2 is high functioning autistic and 3 1/2 girl who wants as much time as he gets! Wish I lived near you girls so I could baby sit for you. Try to relax and note that they will not be young forever!
My relaxation tips is very simple and easy to do. I just need a hot shower while doing a body scrub (choose your favorite one) and take my time to care for my body. It may take an hour or so. I really enjoy that moment & always come out light-weighted, refresh & vigor. If you have a bathtub in your home, it could be your best means to relax yourself. Just enjoy your tranquil moment soaking in your warm water bathtub or your "me time" and you are ready to start a new day.
I have so many ways it's not even funny!!! Here's the rule at my house and my philosophy that we run with. Wither you are a mom, dad, mom or dad trying to be both parents. If Mommy and Daddy are happy, everyone else is happy. So do things that make YOU happy, and do them on a consistant schedule. Here are a few of mine. Zumba!!!! Yes it's a dance workout party and it's keeps you healtly and happy. Time by myself. I have 3 kids, 11, 8 & 5 all into everything you can think of so we are a busy family. I work full time as does my husband. But I find time every week for myself, bath time, reading time, talk a walk, walk the dog, run, go shopping. You get the point. Time with my friends, I am social butterfly. So I thrive on being around other people. Not that you need to be one, but just having coffee, brunch, lunch, shopping for the afternoon, dinner, drinks, dessert a movie with a girlfriend can do wonders. Heck you don't even have to leave the house you can always call up a girlfriend and chat for a little. Yoga. One of the best relaxation methods you could do for your mind and body. Point is, your life is busy, you have to find the things that you like to do on your own time to help you relax. You have to make the time to do because no one is going to do it for you.
I love going running. I know this sounds like more work. At least that is what I thought it would be! But I feel like it is a chance to run away from all the chaos, noise, and demands and just be by myself. I love it! Running is even better in the rain and listening to some favorite music to help me get more energy.
Have a family spa night on Friday after dinner is done. I do it with my five year old and my husband get out the foot baths and everyone gets pampered. We watch a movie it allow us to catchup on each other and also spend well needed time together after a long week of work. Or you can hire someone to come in and pamper your family if your in the Baltimore Area check out Chocolate Mobile Designs or email to set up your pampering session. email@example.com
Also you can shop on my website for relaxation products firstname.lastname@example.com look under Soul Purpose or any of the other products that maybe of intrest to you. Thanks Natasha
uhmm...relaxation i have a lot of hem.my relaxation would be watching t.v. especially my favorite programs and movies too.im really relax when im in our room and quiet.i do read books and magazines like fashion,recipes,and home "IKEA brochure,those stuff.But i've got this wierd relaxation sometimes.I do cleaning and tidying in our room.Honestly,im more relax when my surrounding's not messy.
This for me isn't much. I am a single mom with 2 very active toddlers. Age 17mths and 29mths. But when I get a chance maybe once a month I try to do a mommy night. That may be a night shopping or a night at the movies sometimes it is just a walk around the mall. But whatever it is it is away from all children. (I have a babysitter for my boys during this time so I don't have to worry about them.).
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Monday, January 30, 2017
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Poetry Pantry #338
"The tree house was my accommodation for 2 nights. It felt good to be away
from the city. The room is air-conditioned, with toilet and bath too :)"
"Some of my friends stay here at the floating cottages."
"Each floating cottage has an access to the crystal blue waters."
"This is the view in front of the tree house."
Happy Sunday, Friends. Well, I am back once again here at the Poetry Pantry. So glad to have some very interesting photos from Totomai to share. The captions under each photo are Totomai's as well. Come back next week as well for some more of his beautiful photos!
I would like to thank Sherry who ran the pantry so expertly in my absence. And to Susan, Sumana, and Rosemary who did more than their share as well. Smiles. And I would like to thank those of you who continued to write and share.
Lots of great features each week here at Poets United. I do want to give you an advance heads up for Susan's Midweek Motif prompt on Wednesday.......Faith. We all have to find ways to keep it alive in our lives.
With no further delay, let's share poetry. Link your poem below, and then comment on the poems of others who have posted. Enjoy your Sunday and your week.
Friday, January 27, 2017
I Wish I'd Written This
My sister jokes with me on Skype—pretending that we can feed each other what we're eating through the cameras.
I remember her feeding me when I was a little girl. She makes the same faces when playing with my son and my daughter—lips twisting sour, eyes wide.
It is as if each memory is made of tiny mirrors and if I pick one up to examine it, I must carefully wipe my fingerprints off of it afterwards.
One time, when I was six, she fed me slim skewers of a frankfurter hotdog off the tip of her fork. She was a train, I was a tunnel.
Each piece of meat dipped in ketchup, salty and warm,
with skin just taut enough for my teeth to tear into ...
I ate six hotdogs that day because she fed me.
By Natasha Marin
from MILK (Seattle, Minor Arcana Press, © 2014)
The book's blurb says:
Natasha Marin's debut e-book MILK is about sustaining children, relationships, and a thriving creative life through the act of breastfeeding. In this multimedia collection, Marin explores nurturing as an act of both power and privilege wherein milk-filled breast is not just a metaphor, but a galaxy of possibility.
The creative work I produce takes on many forms: poetry, video, sound, performance, and immersive and interactive installation. This multiplicity defines my work and functions like a native tongue. I use this language of multiplicity to communicate most profoundly who I am and what I believe about the world we are living in.
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Change
Thy pyramids built up with newer might
To me are nothing novel, nothing strange;
They are but dressings of a former sight.
Our dates are brief, and therefore we admire
What thou dost foist upon us that is old,
And rather make them born to our desire
Than think that we before have heard them told.
Thy registers and thee I both defy,
Not wond'ring at the present, nor the past,
For thy records, and what we see doth lie,
Made more or less by thy continual haste:
This I do vow and this shall ever be:
I will be true despite thy scythe and thee.
Then I will, when on the Everlasting Hill
A Smaller Purple grows—
At sunset, or a lesser glow
Flickers upon Cordillera—
At Day's superior close!
The lilies bloomed within the sedge,
And we were lingering to and fro,
Where none will track thee in this snow,
Along the stream, beside the hedge.
Ah, Sweet, be free to love and go!
For if I do not hear thy foot,
The frozen river is as mute,
The flowers have dried down to the root:
And why, since these be changed since May,
Shouldst thou change less than they.
And slow, slow as the winter snow
The tears have drifted to mine eyes;
And my poor cheeks, five months ago
Set blushing at thy praises so,
Put paleness on for a disguise.
Ah, Sweet, be free to praise and go!
For if my face is turned too pale,
It was thine oath that first did fail, --
It was thy love proved false and frail, --
And why, since these be changed enow,
Should I change less than thou.
Monday, January 23, 2017
Poems of the Week ~ with Audrey and Annell
you wrote your poetry
on clouds
blue on white
a daisy, your pen
until grey streaks pushed
your kind aside
deeper and deeper
into the edges
pulling petals apart
a litany to tiny ends
the wilt of a berry
on your breast
rebirth it's red
this new ink
the leaves your pages
poetry, your breath.
Audrey: I am honored and thrilled to be featured---I feel like my poetry is shifting right now--or I as a poet am shifting--one or the other or both--anyway, something of the old is being left behind as the new starts to take more focus--this piece was about that process for me--it feels like a loss of some kind, and I am uncertain right now where this shift is taking me--but I am trusting that it will be a good place for me--
Sherry: It is always interesting, when things start shifting within. Would you tell us a bit about this inner shift?
Sherry: Sometimes these shifts can feel discombobulating, but I view them as very positive, personally, as it means growth is happening. And I think the most authentic poems, the ones we respond to most strongly, are the ones that speak the poet's truth.
We will watch where your work takes you with interest, Audrey. You posted another poem recently that I found a very positive response to the political climate we are struggling with these days. Let's take a look:
A Reweaving
i awoke to a world gone mad
and though i didn't want to,
i cried with each step this morning,
picked up worn linen
woven in youth's innocence
its nubs a part of its landscape
i will reweave it
over time
make it stronger
though you may shout your imprecations
loudly in my ear
i will not falter
i will not halt
i will not hate
so that our children
need not fear
Sherry: We are being set back 50 years. At my age, I feel very tired, from all the overcoming. Sigh.
I love "I will not hate so our children need not fear." That really speaks to me, my friend. But it is hard to hold onto hope.I find your work strong and powerful; you seem to be tapping into a deep well these days. Thanks so much for sharing your poem and your thoughts with us today, and where you are at on your journey.
This fall, Annell shared a pensive poem about memories of past summers, that I think you will find very moving.
Annell: Thanks for asking for this poem, and for giving me the opportunity to talk about it, and what I was thinking.
you will often find them there)
when you hold it to your ear, you can still hear the sounds of summer)
there is a certain sadness in this idea)
with silver thread that cannot be broken)
which came too soon)
they pop up unexpected anytime)
we did have together)
until I can see it no more, you have gone to a place I cannot follow….yet)
the afternoon light
that creates that line to you)
(perhaps I speak to myself, or maybe to you)
what I say to you, you will know how much I loved you) hoping you will hear


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The ndb_mgm management client process is actually not needed to run the cluster. Its value lies in providing a set of commands for checking the cluster's status, starting backups, and performing other administrative functions. The management client accesses the management server using a C API. Advanced users can also employ this API for programming dedicated management processes to perform tasks similar to those performed by ndb_mgm.
To start the management client, it is necessary to supply the host name and port number of the management server:
shell> ndb_mgm [host_name [port_num]]
For example:
shell> ndb_mgm ndb_mgmd.mysql.com 1186
The default host name and port number are
localhost and 1186, respectively.
The following table includes options that are specific to the NDB Cluster management client program ndb_mgm. Additional descriptions follow the table. For options common to most NDB Cluster programs (including ndb_mgm), see Section 18.4.27, "Options Common to NDB Cluster Programs — Options Common to NDB Cluster Programs".
Table 18.259 Command-line options for the ndb_mgm program
|Added, Deprecated, or Removed
|Set the number of times to retry a connection before giving up; synonym for --connect-retries
All MySQL 5.5 based releases
|Execute command and exit
All MySQL 5.5 based releases
Property Value Command-Line Format
This option can be used to send a command to the NDB Cluster management client from the system shell. For example, either of the following is equivalent to executing
SHOWin the management client:
shell> ndb_mgm -e "SHOW" shell> ndb_mgm --execute="SHOW"
This is analogous to how the
-eoption works with the mysql command-line client. See Section 188.8.131.52, "Using Options on the Command Line".Note
If the management client command to be passed using this option contains any space characters, then the command must be enclosed in quotation marks. Either single or double quotation marks may be used. If the management client command contains no space characters, the quotation marks are optional.
Property Value Command-Line Format
Type Integer Default Value
Minimum Value
Maximum Value
If the connection to the management server is broken, the node tries to reconnect to it every 5 seconds until it succeeds. By using this option, it is possible to limit the number of attempts to
numberbefore giving up and reporting an error instead.
Additional information about using ndb_mgm can be found in Section 18.5.2, "Commands in the NDB Cluster Management Client".


text:
The Santuari de Lluc is a monastery and pilgrimage site located in the municipality of Escorca in north-west Majorca. It is located in a basin on a height of 525 metres and is surrounded by a number of high mountains such as the Puig de Massanella. The sanctuary was founded in the 13th century after a Moorish shepherd found a statue of the Virgin Mary on the site where the monastery was later erected.
Lluc is considered to be the most important pilgrimage site on Majorca. It is also known for its boys' choir, Los Blauets (a name derived from the blue cassocks worn by the boys), which was founded in 1531; the choir holds regular concerts and has gained international fame. A boarding school and numerous tourist-orientated facilities are to be found in the town. Today, the cells of former monks are leased to visitors.


text:
The visual objects make the Lakers' standard pretty clear.
The banners at Staples Center and the trophies seen through the window at the team's practice facility illustrate what's driven this franchise toward 16 NBA championships. But in a season with diminished expectations, the Lakers reached a milestone in their 100-86 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday at Staples Center that's still worthy to note.
The Lakers' third consecutive win pushed them to 7-7, a .500 record that would usually spark panic in this city. But at a time when they have nursed long-term injuries to Kobe Bryant (left Achilles tendon) and Steve Nash (back), the Lakers have talked about the need to stay around this mark until their talented albeit aging future Hall of Famers return.
"We could be better right now," said Lakers guard Steve Blake, who recorded a near triple-double with nine points, 12 assists and five rebounds. "We have a lot of talent and if we put it together, we can be really good. There were some nights we slacked off and didn't play up to our potential."
Sunday wasn't those nights.
Instead, the Lakers mixed in a few simple ingredients. They boasted team balance, ranging from Xavier Henry (21 points), Pau Gasol (20), Jodie Meeks (14) and Jordan Hill (10). The Lakers' held the Kings to a 42.2-percent mark from the field. The Kings' 61 points through the third quarter also represented the lowest total the Lakers allowed all season entering the fourth quarter. Such concepts seemed foreign last year amid endless infighting.
"We have good guys," Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni said. "It's like we're in kindergarten when you share your paste and crayons. They share. They don't care. They don't get into stat sheets."
The Lakers may not seem consumed with box scores, but the one against Sacramento showed an encouraging sign. Henry's 7-of-11 mark from the field snapped a four-game stretch where he scored in single digits and shot under 50 percent.
"You're not always going to score 20 points," Henry said. "But as long as you affect the game in other ways, which I think I've done with steals, defensive intensity and playing hard every night. I'll be all right."
The Lakers showed other signs of a unified team.
D'Antoni mentioned Wesley Johnson's positive demeanor despite sitting out the entire fourth quarter after finishing with seven points, two rebounds, two steals and three turnovers. D'Antoni kept in Nick Young, who compensated for his nine points on 3-of-11 shooting with stellar defense.
"You just go out and play basketball," Johnson said. "If I'm out there to play a lot, I'll play a lot. If not, I'll just go and make up the effort by showing it in practice in hopes I can get in the game."
Lakers forward Shawne Williams also intervened after believing Kings center DeMarcus Cousins played overly physical with Lakers guard Jordan Farmar. Cousins and Williams both were called for technicals with 5:42 left in the fourth quarter.
"Everybody in this locker room is our family," Williams said. "Anybody who tries to do something to our family, I'm going to stand up for them."
All those elements left D'Antoni in a bright mood.
"They got the right values," D'Antoni said of his players. "They like their teammates. They like the Lakers and we're trying to win as a team."


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In del Toro's 'Pacific Rim,' mankind stands tall, too
- Charlie Hunnam stars alongside his %27Sons of Anarchy%27 co-star Ron Perlman
- It%27s the latest film from Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro%2C who also co-wrote the screenplay
- The movie features epic battles between Kaijus %28massive monsters%29 and Jaegers %28giant robots piloted by humans%29
When actor Ron Perlman first heard about the sci-fi film Pacific Rim, he desperately hoped it was more than just giant robots punching giant monsters for two hours.
His fears of a very loud, very empty movie were allayed when he heard that his good buddy Guillermo del Toro was the director.
"The greatest choice they ever made was hiring Guillermo,'' Perlman says. The movie opens this weekend.
If there's any through-line to the Mexican director's work, it's the heartbeat of humanity that exists even amid the strangest and weirdest — and biggest — creatures imaginable.
Del Toro's 1993 film Cronos dealt with the downside of eternal life. Pan's Labyrinth (2006) centered on a young girl escaping the horrors of World War II to find different ones in a fantasy realm. His Hellboy movies cast Perlman as a half-demon superhero looking anything but human, yet underneath he was as relatable as they come — albeit with a giant stone hand.
And so it goes with Pacific Rim: Years of robotic Jaegers fighting off Kaiju (giant monsters) from an underwater interdimensional rift have created the need for a world army. Leading the charge are Raleigh Becket (Charlie Hunnam), who looks to redeem his life and avenge his fallen brother; and co-pilot Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi), who aims to not be the young girl she once was cowering in fear from mankind's worst enemies.
TRAILER: Pacific Rim
VIDEO:Rim cast loves monster-making del Toro
STORY:For Del Toro, Pacific Rim opened up his inner geek
INTERACTIVE:Meet the Rim robots and monsters
Del Toro, who wrote the screenplay with Travis Beacham, envisioned a movie about humans battling forces of nature. And he wanted to offer a positive message of people who trust one another to survive and spread it to a younger generation.
"I always hoped it would be kids in their early teens or kids with their parents who'd like to see a good monster movie," del Toro says. "A lot of the summer movies in the past few years have been so dark and existential and gritty. I wanted to throw a little change in there."
Gigantic robots and monsters are cool, Hunnam says, and no one makes them as vibrant as del Toro. "He goes to sleep thinking about this stuff, and wakes up in the middle of the night and sketches robots."
But the actor says people also will be surprised at the richness of the human story.
"These robots and monsters and the human struggle actually represent something tangible. It's kind of a beautiful allegory, really, in that these robots are a representation of the problems that we actually face as humanity now," Hunnam says.
"We've got some big problems on the horizon with populations spiraling out of control and global warming and water shortage and all of these very severe problems we're going to face over the next 100 years."
Perlman, who stars in Pacific Rim as a black-market purveyor of Kaiju organs, has always taken note of del Toro's interest in the human condition.
"This thing he has about monsters and creatures is more of a reflection of his opinion of people than it is anything else," Perlman says. "In his movies, the people are usually more monstrous than the creatures and the creatures are more human than the people. He's really fascinated by that duality."


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A Primer to Peruvian Pisco
The world of drink is always in flux, with ever-shifting trends and tastes influencing what's popularly poured at a given time. At one point, gin is in, and a year later, everyone's drinking mezcal. Currently, there's a spirit that's long languished in semi-obscurity, but producers and importers are hoping and anticipating that the coming year could be its moment: pisco.
At its most basic, pisco is South American brandy, produced from several styles of grapes, including some familiar to the wine world. Pisco is made in Peru and Chile (though there are pisco-style brandies made in California and Washington), and these countries have long sparred over which has claim to being the birthplace and true homeland of the spirit (in recent trade debates, Peru seems to have made a more convincing case), as well as over their similar yet different approaches to producing pisco.
Chilean piscos such as Capel and Alto del Carmen are somewhat easy to find in U.S. liquor stores, but for now I'm going to focus on Peruvian piscos, for a couple of reasons: first, we'll be seeing more Peruvian pisco in bars and shops in the year to come, and second, I visited Lima earlier this month in an effort to learn more about the spirit, so the details of Peru's approach to pisco are still fresh in my mind.
Produced since the early 17th century, Peruvian pisco is largely made in the Ica region of southern Peru. Eight grape varietals are used in Peruvian pisco, ranging from non-aromatic styles such as Quebranta, which is the most widely used and contributes a dry earthiness to the finished spirit, to aromatic varieties such as moscatel and Italia, which can contribute a heady perfume of jasmine and honeysuckle, along with a bright sweetness.
Each grape varietal may be distilled and bottled on its own, for pisco puro—Quebranta is the most popular style, but Italia, Torontel, Mollar and other styles are also prepared this way—or the different grapes or distillates may be blended at some point to match their complementing characteristics, producing an Acholado pisco, the most familiar type found in the U.S. (Another style, Mosto Verde, is made from partially fermented grape must, which may lend a distinctive flavor and sweetness to the spirit.)
Distilled in a copper-pot still and rested after distillation (classically in earthenware vessels, but today more often in glass, stainless steel or inert plastic containers), Peruvian pisco isn't aged in oak barrels like familiar French brandies, which take much of their color and flavor from the wood, nor is it diluted or altered in any way before bottling. This results in a spirit that is at once bold and complexly nuanced, and depending on the style of grapes, with a flavor that can be dry and mineral or bright, sweet and floral.
Often consumed on its own in Peru, pisco is popularly served in a Pisco Sour, made with lime, sugar, egg white and bitters. San Francisco, which had a brisk trade in pisco during the Gold Rush, is home to the pineapple-rich Pisco Punch, and bars in Lima serve variations on the sour including the Coca Sour, with coca leaves either shaken in the drink or infused in the spirit, as well as sours flavored with mango or passionfruit.
While brands such as Macchu Pisco and Bar Sol have made the rounds of American bars, there's recently been a bit of activity on the pisco front. Last year, San Francisco bar owner Duggan McDonnell introduced Campo de Encanto pisco (which I mentioned last summer), an Acholado produced in Peru that was designed to have the assertive balance of flavor sought by many American craft bartenders.
A familiar sight on a number of Bay Area bar menus, Campo de Encanto is expanding into additional markets, including New York and Washington state, and was recently awarded "Best in Show" at a national pisco competition in Peru. This winter saw the debut of Piscologia, which introduced an Acholado and plans to bring in single varietals in the future; Piscologia is currently available in California and Washington. And this spring, bars in California, Texas and New York will see the debut of a Mosto Verde pisco from Pisco Porton, a producer with ambitious goals for the future.
It's too soon to tell if 2011 will be pisco's year, but expect to see this distinctive brandy popping up in new places. Are you already a fan of pisco? What kinds do you enjoy, and what are your favorite pisco cocktails?
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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Eleven Must-haves for Making Video Trailers
Mary Deal
Video trailers help sell books. Just as a preview of a film or TV special can spark interest and make you impatient for the day you can see the show so, too, can trailers incite a potential reader's interest.
If you are computer savvy, you will probably enjoy making your own trailer. If you are not knowledgeable in the way of putting written word, moving or still pictures and music together to make an exciting presentation, you should have the following items ready when you approach a professional to make the trailer for you.
1) Book title
2) Sub-title, if applicable
3) Name or pen name of the author(s)
Under this, you can include such phrases as "Award-winning novelist," or
Author of ____(previous book title)_____
4) One or two brief blurbs from popular writers or well-known persons in the industry, if you have them.
5) A tagline: One sentence as brief as possible.
6) The story synopsis
7) 5 – 10 sentences that distill your story and/or synopsis without giving away the ending
This can be difficult. In order to distill, you need to keep your focus on your main
character and the main plot thread.
In my thriller, River Bones, I have a strong sub-plot about Vietnam MIAs which totally feeds into the main plot and that the story couldn't be without. However, I never mentioned this sub-plot in any of the information used for the making of the trailer. See the trailer here (All four of my video trailers are on this page):
8 ) Places where the book can be purchased
9) A .jpeg image of your front cover. You will be told the size requirements.
10) You should plan to do a fairly thorough search for photos that fit your distilled description. If they do not match the description, they will make the trailer seems confusing to the viewer. For each line of description, try to find one or two good photos that represent that bit of information. You may not use all of the pictures but it will give your video maker a good selection from which to choose.
11) You can also do a search for music to accompany your video. Music, in my opinion, can make or break your project. Blazing Trailers, who made all my videos, found an exquisite bit of music by Kevin MacLeod for my novel, The Ka, that so fit the story that I can't remember the music I originally suggested.
All of these items will be required in order to begin building your video. The maker will probably suggest other pictures that better suit the action. She or he may also suggest different music than you were able to find. Professionals have access to royalty free photos and music that writers may not. Your suggestions in all of this will guide them to find the best products that emphasize your vision of how your wish your story portrayed.
If the video maker makes suggestions, listen. Check out every detail they offer. Your suggestions of photos and music are just that. If they don't fit, they give the video maker a good idea of what you hope to create. Having once read your synopsis and distillation into ten sentences, you will be told which sentences to use and which to omit. The maker may even reword your sentences to make them more exciting. That may also be required in order to overlay the words onto a picture.
As the process moves along….
The maker will send you a mock-up, like a first draft. You can change or correct anything. Make sure your verbiage is as exciting as possible. The pictures should be as close a representation to the story as possible, especially any characters. If your story is about a brunette, don't use a picture of a blonde. The music should accentuate the action. Once you approve at this point, the video is made into its final format.
The finished presentation may start with your book cover, but not necessarily. With my novel The Tropics, the video starts with a sailboat way out in the middle of the blue ocean. This was to exemplify the feeling of aloneness.
From the order of information at the end of the trailer for my thriller, Down to the Needle:
~ The book cover, author name and Web site
~ A very brief one line blurb from a popular writer or other, if available.
~ A list of places where the book can be purchased
~ The logo of the person or company that created the video
~ A credit for the music composer
Having all of this information readily available before you seek someone to make your trailer will quickly speed things along and minimize time and expenses. You'll have some changes along the way to tighten up the presentation but once finished, you should have an exciting clip.
Please visit Mary Deal's website for more wonderful articles like this one: Write Any Genre.


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Smart, Beautiful Kitchen Banquettes
Get inspired by some of our favorite kitchen banquettes
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A banquette is an easy way to add a casual and multifunctional element to any kitchen. It can act as a space for casual dining, homework, playing games, or reading the morning paper with a hot cup of coffee. Get inspired by some of our favorite kitchen banquettes.
A recent remodel of this home opened up space in the kitchen for an adjoining breakfast nook with a long L-shaped banquette. Lively tangerine-hued pillows and the chairs' leather upholstery pop against the banquette's powder-blue cushions. A glass-topped table and easy-to-clean fabrics make the area kid-friendly and usable.
See the rest of this home here.
Design: Julie Massucco Kleiner
This large table with banquette and chairs serves as a dining area when the homeowners entertain. The shorter side of the banquette has an extra-deep cushion, making the corner a cozy spot to recline and watch TV, read, or work on a laptop.
Table ("Lane Tyden," custom): Tritter Feefer, 706/885-0242, tritterfeefer.com. Banquette base ("42-inch Essex Recessed Square" in Vintage Lace on Maple): Wood-Mode, 877/635-7500, wood-mode.com.
Banquette fabric (#31829-578/Truffle, discontinued): Duralee, 800/275-3872, duralee.com.
Pillows on banquette ("Toile du Mandarin"/Taupe #90538-04): Hines & Co., 212/754-5880.
Pillow trim ("Merida Tassel Fringe"/Java #63083): Schumacher, 800/523-1200, fschumacher.com.
Dining chairs (SCW Private Label); dining-chair fabric, seat (Parchment leather): SCW Interiors, 703/549-2449, scwinteriors.com.
Dining-chair fabric, back ("Biron Check"/Truffle #0566004): Vervain, 800/611-8686, vervain.com.
Paint ("Sonnet" #AF-55, by Affinity): Benjamin Moore & Co., 888/236-6667, benjaminmoore.com.
Mirror (custom, by SCW Interiors): Hamilton Snowber Architects, 202/332-5416, hamiltonsnowber.com.
Sconces ("Large Kensington Double Sconce"/Antique Mirror with Antique Burnished Brass #CHD1173): Circa Lighting, 877/762-2323, circalighting.com.
Mantel (custom, by SCW Interiors): Hamilton Snowber Architects, 202/332-5416, hamiltonsnowber.com.
Fire screen: original to house.
Art: owner's collection.
Tray on table: Made Goods, 626/333-1177, madegoods.com. Available through SCW Interiors, 703/549-2449, scwinteriors.com.
White porcelain mugs and teapot: owner's collection.
This spacious kitchen's casual banquette provides a spot to sit and relax. Red-and-white-checked fabric from Ralph Lauren Home covers the L-shaped banquette's cushions, while festive throw pillows add shots of cool blues into the colorful mix.
See the rest of this Marblehead home here.
Design: Dee Elms and Andrew Terrat
In this active family home, a custom banquette covered in "pleather" backs the kitchen's island for creative seating in an easy-to-care-for material. The banquette's nailhead trim reflects the graceful lines of the blue chairs from Barry Dixon.
Explore the rest of this Atlanta home.
Design: Beth Barfield
A niche in this kitchen was "just calling for a banquette," says designer Tobi Fairley, which she covered in a houndstooth fabric from Fabricut. The room's elegant black-and-white palette is enhanced by the graceful balloon curtains and graphic striped rug underfoot.
See the rest of this home here.
Design: Tobi Fairley
This breakfast area is as functional as it is colorful. The curved banquette wraps around the large round table, and together provide enough seating for the whole family and guests. A vinyl sisal rug underfoot can be mopped, making cleanup a breeze. The bright coral-red palette is punctuated with black and white, like the playful dove pattern on the roman shades.
Explore the rest of this unique Dallas home here.
Design: Mary Anne Smiley
A cool blue-and-white palette keeps this breakfast area feeling fresh. Faux-ostrich vinyl from Kravet covers the tufted banquette, which is accented with blue-and-white ikat bolster pillows. A custom-laminated linen seat on the rattan chair keeps the area easy to clean.
See the rest of this stylish family home here.
Design: Melissa Warner
Just off the kitchen, this banquette area plays double-duty as an additional dining area and family room. A desk area to the side provides space for books, papers, and a television for causal dining. The elegant balloon shades, area rug, and beautiful wooden dining chairs keep the space sophisticated for more formal occasions. The custom banquette, which seats up to eight people, was designed by Tres McKinney.
See the rest of this home here.
Design: Tres McKinney
A metallic wall finish and amber-colored hand-blown light fixtures establish a warm ambience for this showhouse banquette area. Graphic fabric from Dedar covers the banquette and klismos side chairs for a contemporary touch.
See the rest of this gorgeous showhouse kitchen here.
Design: Regina Bilotta
Designed by Charles Faudree, this breakfast area boasts beautiful fabrics and delicate design details, like molding on the banquette and antique tole chandelier with dainty shades. Vintage garden prints on the walls give the space a touch of country charm.
Design: Charles Faudree
An upholstered banquette for two is tucked in between two floor-to-ceiling pantries for plenty of kitchen storage space. A space-saving half-round table provides surface area for dining or homework, and can be moved to accommodate the dining room, which is just a few steps away.
Take a look at the rest of this colorful home here.
Design: Bill Murphy
The desire for a kitchen banquette triggered a whole-house renovation for TV celeb Meredith Vieira and her husband Richard Cohen. The resulting diner-style banquette is upholstered in leather from Ralph Lauren; reclaimed white-oak flooring and an Italian-inspired light fixture above give the space a rustic villa feel.
See the rest of Meredith's home here.
Design: Stanley Hura
This space-saving banquette is covered in a snappy polka-dot fabric from Lee Jofa and tucked underneath a set of cabinets for additional kitchen storage. A pair of wall sconces flanking the banquette and a trio of black-and-white prints above keep the snug space friendly and inviting.
See the rest of this New York home here.
Design: Eric Cohler
Arched windows frame a country-chic breakfast area, where a long banquette seats a crowd at the oval dining table. Plush pillows and swing-arm lamps on either side of the banquette keep the space casual yet intimate.
See the rest of this French-inspired home here.
Design: Mary Jo Donohoe
Built-in window seats and cozy benches are attractive solutions for creating compact seating space in kitchens or other high-traffic rooms.
In this space, the windows work with the cheerful blue chairs to open up the kitchen and make the most of this small breakfast nook.
Architect: Dan Rew
Design: Joe Lucas and Parish Chilcoat
Offering both a splash of color and additional seating, this banquette curves around a round table at one end of the kitchen.
Architect: Cynthia Childs
Design: Brenda Eastman
Atlanta designer Robert Brown created this sunny breakfast room, which is furnished with a settee from Lee Industries, a Robert Allen leather armchair, and a wood-topped Henredon table that's suited for dining or paperwork.
Interior Design: Robert Brown
Kitchen Design: Lina Pittam
Architect: Lew Oliver
The cozy corner banquette, with its sophisticated cocoa-and-cream fabric, helps add character to this kitchen.
Interior Design: Jessica Lagrange
Kitchen Design: Kathy Manzella
The black table and banquette free up this narrow kitchen while adding character and glamour to the space.
Interior Design: Carrie Hayden
This dainty breakfast nook is the perfect complement to the sunny yellow walls of the kitchen.
Architectural Design: Louise Brooks
The black and white cushions as well as the streamlined nature of this breakfast banquette add to the crisp, graphic look of the kitchen.
Design: Eva Quateman
Ideal for entertaining, the dining bench in this kitchen decorated by Denyse Rinfret, is comfortable and sure to encourage leisurely conversation.
Interior Design: Denyse Rinfret
Kitchen Design: George Gavalas
This kitchen banquette not only offers a cozy place to eat breakfast, but also a wonderful view to the outdoors.
Architect: David Neff
Interior Design: Jennifer Garrigues
This sunny banquette provides a lovely view outside, and keeps the table from blocking traffic to the beach.
This large corner banquette is a comfy place to eat, lounge, play games, or enjoy the view.
A deep cushioned bench banquette covered in natural hues looks casual and is an inviting seat in any home.
With light blue cushions, this spacious, curved banquette provides a pleasant dining experience.
The light blue and champagne hues of this plush corner banquette and dining bench give off the aura of a home in the English countryside.
The white wood of the walls and corner banquette offer a striking contrast to the dark stain of the floor, table and chairs in this kitchen.


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Free PS4 PlayStation Plus Games For January 2020 Revealed
PS4 kicks off the new year with an Uncharted collection and Goat Simulator.
PS4 kicks off the new year with an Uncharted collection and Goat Simulator.
Drake's adventures don't fit the games-as-a-service model.
In the third and final part of our recap series, we revisit Nathan Drake's adventures in Uncharted 3 so you'll be all set to get stuck into Uncharted 4!
The Uncharted Collection is dropping motion controls and adding difficulty, and Call of Duty developers think space is too sci-fi for the series.
Check out this promotional teaser to the full length anniversary piece coming soon.
It's the two year anniversary of the release of Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception. Playstation is celebrating by launching a new map, Dry Docks, and giving away all our DLC maps ...
Danny wonders if games are trying too hard to be movies, or if experiences like Beyond: Two Souls are opening up new avenues for the medium.
Before the PlayStation 4 enters our lives, take a look back at some of our fondest and darkest memories of the PS3.
Homer takes a look at the Turtle Beach booth at the E3 2013 show floor.
GameSpot's Jonathan and Randolph checks out Sony's freemium foray that is Uncharted 3's multiplayer portion. Features plenty of vertical combat and some free F2P model words of wisdom.
Danny celebrates the life of the PlayStation 3 by getting drunk with a bunch of retired consoles.
GameSpot Asia's Jonathan Toyad speaks with new SCEA president Hiroyuki Oda about the challenges of the PS Vita, the progress of the company's collaboration with Nanyang Polytechnic in Singapore, and ...
Uncharted: Fight for Fortune has been listed on the Australian Classification Board's website; developer One Loop Games is attached.
Learn about all the changes coming in patch 1.13 for Uncharted 3 including custom parts, treasure sets, trophies and more.
Learn more about Tournaments in this video for Uncharted 3.
Check out some of the new headpieces you can get and new ways to taunt your opponents.
Everyone gets frustrated with video games sometimes. Some people just get extra frustrated. Gareth Robinson talks about his video game rage and thinks about the games and mechanics that cause ...
Have you ever watched a video game trailer that doesn't look or feel anything like the final product? Laura Parker investigates this phenomenon.
How does Darksiders II play? What's up with misleading video game trailers? What will Game going into administration actually mean? Find out on this episode of Crosshairs!
This week, we cover new titles Journey, Warp, Defenders of Ardania, and Shoot Many Robots, as well as old titles, Reality Fighters, Ridge Racer, BioShock 2, Phineas and Ferb: Across ...
Uncharted 3 and Mirage are up for their own respective Visual Arts awards tonight, but The HotSpot pits indie versus AAA developer here and now.
Leaders of the industry chime in on their thoughts of the Sony PlayStation Vita and the future of mobile gaming at D.I.C.E 2012.
In case you missed it live, it's the 15th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards hosted by Jay Mohr.
This week, we feature titles BurgerTime World Tour, Shank 2, Gotham City Impostors, Catherine, Top Spin 4, LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game, the Jak and Daxter: Collection, ...
On this week's episode of Super Start/Select, we make famous gaming characters in SoulCalibur V, address your apocalyptic feedback, and bring you news of the huge update for The Old ...
Tune your ears to our favorite video game soundtracks of last year.
A visual journey through 2011 through the eyes of a gamer.
The gaming industry's most prolific voice talent talks about his favorite roles, the hardest working people in games, and the things that were just too big to make it into ...
These are GameSpot's nominees for the Best Action Adventure Game of 2011.
The cast and creator of Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception take a look at the historical inspiration behind the game.
We've got demos of Uncharted 3, Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, Serious Sam: The Random Encounter, Need for Speed: The Run, and more!
GameSpot's Kurtis Seid locates the final hidden treasures 91 - 100 in this game guide for Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception Chapters 20 - 22.
GameSpot's Kurtis Seid digs up the hidden treasures 81 - 90 in this game guide for Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception Chapters 16 - 19.
GameSpot's Kurtis Seid finds the hidden treasures in this Game Guide for Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception Chapters 14 and 15.
We present announcements (or announcements of announcements) for new Alan Wake, BioWare, and Rainbow Six games, and play a spot of Uncharted 3's oft-overlooked co-op adventure.
Look, there's no room for a high-definition TV and your PS3 when you're shimmying along the edge of a cliff. Randolph Ramsay gives you some complimentary pocket-sized mobile and tablet ...
GameSpot's Kurtis Seid reveals the hidden treasures in this game guide for Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, chapters 12 and 13.
This week on Crosshairs, we chat with Uncharted 3's lead FX artist about making the game cinematic and check out the hilarious fun of our Battlefield 3 Community Game Night!
Dan Chiappini sits down with Uncharted 3 lead FX artist Keith Guerrette to converse about getting into visual effects, its role in cinematic video games, and Naughty Dog's response to ...
For the pugilist enthusiasts, Nathan Drake dukes it out in this Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception gameplay montage.
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Liquid Zeolite Liquid Zeolite is a powerful detox cleanse agent that protects your body against toxins, chemicals and microbes. Zeolite Liquid is based on pharmaceutical grade micronized zeolite powder made into an easy to use and take with you formula. It has the smallest molecule size and the highest bio-availability (your body can use it effectively). It has the highest …Read More »
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by Dan Sunday
The intersection of the most basic geometric primitives was presented in the Algorithm 5 about Intersections of Lines and Planes. We will now extend those algorithms to include 3D triangles which are common elements of 3D surface and polyhedron models. We only consider transversal intersections where the two intersecting objects do not lie in the same plane. Ray and triangle intersection computation is perhaps the most frequent nontrivial operation in computer graphics rendering using ray tracing. Because of its importance, there are several published algorithms for this problem (see: [Badouel, 1990], [Moller & Trumbore, 1997], [O'Rourke, 1998], [Moller & Haines, 1999]). We present an improvement of these algorithms for ray (or segment) and triangle intersection. We also give algorithms for triangle-plane and triangle-triangle intersection.
Assume we have a ray R (or segment S) from P0 to P1, and a plane P through V0 with normal n. The intersection of the parametric line L: and the plane P occurs at the point P(rI) with parameter value:
When the denominator , the line L is parallel to the plane P , and thus either does not intersect it or else lies completely in the plane (whenever either P0 or P1 is in P ). Otherwise, when the denominator is nonzero and rI is a real number, then the ray R intersects the plane P only when . A segment S intersects P only if . In all algorithms, the additional test is the only difference for a segment instead of a ray.
Consider a ray R (or a segment S) from P0 to P1, and a triangle T with vertices V0, V1 and V2. The triangle T lies in the plane P through V0 with normal vector . To get the intersection of R (or S) with T, one first determines the intersection of R (or S) and P . If it does not intersect, then it also does not intersect T and we are done. However, if they intersect in the point PI = P(rI), we need to determine if this point is inside the triangle T for there to be a valid intersection.
There are a number of ways to test for the inclusion of a point inside a 3D planar triangle. The algorithms given by [Badouel, 1990] and [O'Rourke, 1998] project the point and triangle onto a 2D coordinate plane where inclusion is tested. To implement these algorithms, one must choose a projection coordinate plane which avoids a degenerate projection. This is done by excluding the coordinate which has the largest component in the plane normal vector n [Synder & Barr, 1987]. The intent is to reduce the 3D problem to a simpler 2D problem which has an efficient solution. However, there is a small overhead involved in selecting and applying the projection function. The algorithm of [Moller-Trumbore, 1997] (MT) does not project into 2D, and finds a solution using direct 3D computations. Testing with some complex models shows that the MT algorithm is faster than the one by Badouel.
We present here an alternate method that also uses direct 3D computations to determine inclusion, avoiding the projection onto a 2D coordinate plane. As a result, the code is cleaner and more compact. Like [Moller-Trumbore, 1997], we use the parametric equation of P relative to T, but derive a different method of solution which computes the parametric coordinates of the intersection point in the plane. The parametric plane equation (see: Planes in Algorithm 4) is given by:
where s and t are real numbers, and and are edge vectors of T. Then, is in the triangle T when , , and . So, given PI, one just has to find the (sI, tI) coordinate for it, and then check these inequalities to verify inclusion in T. Further, is on an edge of T if one of the conditions s = 0, t = 0, or s + t = 1 is true (each condition corresponds to one edge). And, the three vertices are given by: , , and .
To solve for sI and tI, we apply the method described in Algorithm 4 for Barycentric Coordinate Computation using the "generalized perp operator on P " that we defined there. Then, with , which is a vector in P (that is, ), we solve the equation: for s and t. The final result is:
which has only 5 distinct dot products. We have arranged terms so that the two denominators are the same and only need to be calculated once.
This solution yields a straightforward ray/segment-triangle intersection algorithm (see our implementation: intersect3D_RayTriangle() ). Based on a count of the operations done up to the first rejection test, this algorithm is a bit less efficient than the MT algorithm, although we have not done any runtime performance comparisons. However, the MT algorithm uses two cross products whereas our algorithm uses only one, and the one we use computes the normal vector of the triangle's plane, which is needed to compute the line parameter rI. But, when the normal vectors have been precomputed and stored for all triangles in a scene (which is often the case), our algorithm would not have to compute this cross product at all. But, in this case, the MT algorithm would still compute two cross products, and be less efficient than our algorithm. So, the preferred algorithm depends on the application.
Consider a triangle T with vertices P0, P1 and P2 lying in a plane P1 with normal n1. Let P2 be a second plane through the point V0 with the normal vector n2. Unless they are parallel, the two planes P1 and P2 intersect in a line L, and when T intersects P2 it will be a segment contained in L. When T does not intersect P2 all three of its vertices must strictgly lie on the same side of the P2 plane. On the other hand, when T does intersect P2, one point of T must be on one side of (or on) P2 and the other two be on the other side of (or on) P2. We gave a test for which side of a plane a point is on (by using the signed distance from the point to the plane) in Algorithm 4 for Distance of a Point to a Plane. In fact, to determine the sideness of a point P, one only has to find the sign of .
Suppose that P0 is on one side of P2 and that P1 and P2 are on the other side. Then the two segments P0P1 and P0P2 intersect P2 in two points I1 and I2 which are on the intersection line of P1 and P2. Then, the segment I1I2 is the intersection of triangle T and the plane P2.
Consider two triangles T1 and T2. They each lie in a plane, respectively P1 and P2, and their intersection must be on the line of intersection L for the two planes. Let the intersection of T1 and P2 be the segment S1 = I11I12, and the intersection of T2 and P1 be S2 = I21I22. If either S1 or S2 doesn't exist (that is, one triangle does not intersect the plane of the other), then T1 and T2 do not intersect. Otherwise their intersection is equal to the intersection of the two segments S1 and S2 on the line L. This can be easily computed by projecting them onto an appropriate coordinate axis, and determining their intersection on it.
Here are some sample "C++" implementations of these algorithms.
// Copyright 2001 softSurfer, 2012 Dan Sunday// This code may be freely used and modified for any purpose// providing that this copyright notice is included with it.// SoftSurfer makes no warranty for this code, and cannot be held// liable for any real or imagined damage resulting from its use.// Users of this code must verify correctness for their application.
// Assume that classes are already given for the objects:// Point and Vector with// coordinates {float x, y, z;}// operators for:// == to test equality// != to test inequality// (Vector)0 = (0,0,0) (null vector)// Point = Point ± Vector// Vector = Point - Point// Vector = Scalar * Vector (scalar product)// Vector = Vector * Vector (cross product)// Line and Ray and Segment with defining points {Point P0, P1;}// (a Line is infinite, Rays and Segments start at P0)// (a Ray extends beyond P1, but a Segment ends at P1)// Plane with a point and a normal {Point V0; Vector n;}// Triangle with defining vertices {Point V0, V1, V2;}// Polyline and Polygon with n vertices {int n; Point *V;}// (a Polygon has V[n]=V[0])//===================================================================
#define SMALL_NUM 0.00000001 // anything that avoids division overflow// dot product (3D) which allows vector operations in arguments#define dot(u,v) ((u).x * (v).x + (u).y * (v).y + (u).z * (v).z)
// intersect3D_RayTriangle(): find the 3D intersection of a ray with a triangle// Input: a ray R, and a triangle T// Output: *I = intersection point (when it exists)// Return: -1 = triangle is degenerate (a segment or point)// 0 = disjoint (no intersect)// 1 = intersect in unique point I1// 2 = are in the same planeintintersect3D_RayTriangle( Ray R, Triangle T, Point* I ){ Vector u, v, n; // triangle vectors Vector dir, w0, w; // ray vectors float r, a, b; // params to calc ray-plane intersect // get triangle edge vectors and plane normal u = T.V1 - T.V0; v = T.V2 - T.V0; n = u * v; // cross product if (n == (Vector)0) // triangle is degenerate return -1; // do not deal with this case dir = R.P1 - R.P0; // ray direction vector w0 = R.P0 - T.V0; a = -dot(n,w0); b = dot(n,dir); if (fabs(b) < SMALL_NUM) { // ray is parallel to triangle plane if (a == 0) // ray lies in triangle plane return 2; else return 0; // ray disjoint from plane } // get intersect point of ray with triangle plane r = a / b; if (r < 0.0) // ray goes away from triangle return 0; // => no intersect // for a segment, also test if (r > 1.0) => no intersect *I = R.P0 + r * dir; // intersect point of ray and plane // is I inside T? float uu, uv, vv, wu, wv, D; uu = dot(u,u); uv = dot(u,v); vv = dot(v,v); w = *I - T.V0; wu = dot(w,u); wv = dot(w,v); D = uv * uv - uu * vv; // get and test parametric coords float s, t; s = (uv * wv - vv * wu) / D; if (s < 0.0 || s > 1.0) // I is outside T return 0; t = (uv * wu - uu * wv) / D; if (t < 0.0 || (s + t) > 1.0) // I is outside T return 0; return 1; // I is in T}
Didier Badouel, "An Efficient Ray-Polygon Intersection" in Graphics Gems (1990)
Francis Hill, "The Pleasures of 'Perp Dot' Products" in Graphics Gems IV (1994)
Tomas Moller & Eric Haines, "Intersection Test Methods" in Real-Time Rendering (3rd Edition) (2008)
Tomas Moller & Ben Trumbore, "Fast Minimum Storage Ray-Triangle Intersection" in J. Graphics Tools (jgt) 2(1), 21-28 (1997)
Joseph O'Rourke, "Segment-Triangle Intersection" in Computational Geometry in C (2nd Edition) (1998)
J.P. Snyder and A.H. Barr, "Ray Tracing Complex Models Containing Surface Tessellations", ACM Comp Graphics 21, (1987)
© Copyright 2012 Dan Sunday, 2001 softSurfer


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It's dim, it gets hot, and it will probably chew through batteries faster than an electric car. But damned if this vintage Swiss Army flashlight dating back to the '50s and '60s isn't a lovely piece of hardware.
As the story goes, a cache of the decommissioned flashlights were recently discovered in Switzerland. And one can now be yours for a mere $35. Compared to today's flashlights it's probably not worth keeping in your glovebox for emergencies. Even with a set of sliding red or green signal filters, and the ability to send messages in morse code using the push button on/off switch. But as a retro collectible, this has hipster bike adornment written all over it. [Abodeon via bookofjoe]