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PADI Complete Divemaster Course
If you are a PADI Advanced Scuba Diver and are thinking about PADI Scuba Instructor training, read on…
The Complete Divemaster Program is designed to take advanced scuba divers right through to Divemaster certification, while providing you with a wealth of knowledge and diving experiences on the way.
The course includes:
- PADI Rescue Diver
- PADI Wreck Diver
- PADI Deep Diver
- PADI Navigation Diver
- PADI Equipment
- PADI Naturalist
- PADI Master Scuba Diver
- PADI Divemaster
Complete Divemaster Course
Your Complete Divemaster course costs – $2795
When you pay your $500 deposit, you will receive:
- PADI eLearning
- PADI Divemaster Manual
- PADI Divemaster Slate Set
- Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving
- Encyclopedia Work Book
- Frog Dive T Shirt
Prior to starting Divemaster training you must complete your Rescue Diver course. Your Divemaster program is then conducted over three weekends learning and practicing the skills of divemastering. The final weekend involves you in the store working with new dive students, and gaining hands on experience with cylinder filling and gear handling as well as conducting divemaster duties either aboard the dive boat Omega 2, or at our Dive Team Day.
Now all the specialty courses can be conducted as they and you become available. At the end of the program you should have all the necessary skills and experience to really consider becoming a PADI Dive Instructor.
Divemaster training is one of the most exciting times in your life and an experience you will never forget. The purpose of this course is to qualify you to independently organise and conduct safe enjoyable open water diving activities for certified divers. Divemasters are also qualified to certify PADI Skin Divers, as well as acting as instructional assistants to PADI Instructors. Although being an end in itself, this course is also one of the standard steps in preparing you for a PADI Instructor Development course.
Our Divemaster courses are conducted over four weekends. Three weekends involve learning and practicing the skills of divemastering, the final weekend involves you in the store working with students and gaining hands on experience with tank filling and gear handling. The Sunday will see you conducting divemaster duties, possibly aboard our boat Omega 2, or at our Dive Team Day as shore DM.
Complete Divemaster Course at Frog Dive
While you complete your Divemaster Training with Frog Dive Scuba Centres in Sydney, you will also enjoy the following additional benefits:
- Onsite heated pool at the Centre. (no unnecessary travelling time, more doing)
- Dedicated experienced training staff.
- Dedicated training rooms, separate from retail centre
- Nitrox facilities if required
- Hands on training with dive equipment & training in tank filling
We look forward to you joining us on our Divemaster program in the near future.
Course Pre-requisites
To qualify to enter the PADI Divemaster course, an individual must:
- Be certified as a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver or PADI Advanced Plus, or have an equivalent rating.
- Be certified as a PADI Rescue Diver or have an equivalent rating.
- Proof of 60 dives showing experience in night diving, deep diving and underwater navigation is a certification requirement.
- Be at least 18 years old at the start of PADI Divemaster training
- Submit to the instructor medical clearance for diving signed by a physician, attesting to fitness to dive. The medical clearance must be current within the previous 12 months
- Equipment—During open water training scuba training, each divemaster candidate must be equipped with the proper equipment for the diving environment. This includes, but is not limited to: fins, mask, snorkel, cylinder, regulator, alternate air source, buoyancy control device (BCD), weight system, appropriate exposure suit, timing device and depth gauge (or dive computer), compass, knife and an emergency signaling device (whistle/inflatable tube). All of the equipment MUST be in good repair.
Knowledge Development
- Supervising General Diving Activities
- Assisting with Student Divers in Training
- Dive Theory Introduction
- The Physics of Diving
- The Physiology of Diving
- Dive Equipment
- Decompression Theory and the RDP
- Divemaster conducted Programs
- Risk Management
- The Business of Diving
- Your Diving Career
Your PADI eLearning, DM Manual & Encyclopedia cover these topics.
Example Divemaster Training Schedule
- Day 1 Friday Evening
- Registration
- Course Introduction & Orientation
- Map making briefing
- Weekend One
- Day 2 Saturday
- Dive Management & Control
- Watermanship and Stamina – confined water
- Skill Evaluation circuit – confined water
- Problem Solving Assessment – confined water
- Day 3 Sunday
- Supervision of Students in Training
- Pool skills overview and practice – confined water
- The role of the divemaster in confined water training
- Weekend Two
- Day 4 Saturday
- Physics Review
- Physiology Review
- Diver Rescue Skills Assessment Confined and Open Water
- Day 5 Sunday
- Equipment Review
- Skills and Environment
- The Role of the Divemaster in Open Water Training
- Weekend Three
- Day 6 Saturday
- Recreational Dive Planner
- The Role of the Divemaster in Non Training Activities
- Day 7 Sunday
- Remediation
- Exams
- Weekend Four
- Day 8 Saturday
- Divemastering Open Water Course in pool
- Equipment handling and tank filling practical
- Day 9 Sunday
- Divemastering on Omega 2
- Divemastering shore divers at a Team Dive Day
- Additional Activities
- Underwater Map
- Emergency Assistance and Contact Plan
- Graduation Night


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It's no surprise: our wearables are made to be worn all day, every day (hence the name). As Fossil Q Founder becomes your daily staple, it's easier than ever to get your a look refresh with the switch of a strap. Here are some of our favorite outfit-changers:
Need a weekend update? Go for a classic(ish) light brown or blue camo leather strap to lighten up your off-duty look.
Give your watch (and workout) a lift with a bold orange or blue silicone strap.
Attention all color enthusiasts: our nylon straps come in plenty of bright and neutral shades so you can make your watch whatever hue want!

subset: commoncrawl


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Payment and Security
When you are ready to finalize your purchase, please use our secure checkout, where you will be provided with a variety of payment options. Please note that free shipping promotions and coupons will only be validated in our secure checkout.
Credit Card Payments
We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit card payments through our secure checkout system, via PayPal.
We also accept check cards or ATM cards, as long as they're connected with one of the major credit card companies listed above. You can definitely feel safe shopping with us. We use industry standard Secure Socket Layer software (SSL) to encrypt your personal and credit card information during the order checkout process so that it can't be read as the information travels over the Internet.
If you are considering an upgraded service or are just unsure about how long your package will take to arrive, please contact us so that we may assist you to choose the appropriate method.
We will not sell, share, trade, or give away any personal information that we receive regarding our customers. We are committed to protecting your privacy. We use the information we collect about you to process orders and to provide a more personalized shopping experience. Please read on for more details about our privacy policy.
What information do we collect? How do we use it?
We collect the domain name of e-mail addresses of visitors to our site and aggregate (not personally identifiable) information on what pages visitors access. We use this information to monitor the use of the site and to improve its performance and usefulness. We also collect information you volunteer, such as survey responses, comments, purchasing and billing information, and your requests.
When you order, we need to know your name, e-mail address, mailing address, credit card number, and expiration date. This allows us to process and fulfill your order and to notify you of your order status.
We may also use the information we collect to occasionally notify you about important functionality changes to the Web site, new services, and special offers we think you'll find valuable.
How do we protect customer information?
When you place orders or access your account information, we offer the use of a secure server. The secure server software (SSL) encrypts all information you input before it is sent to us. Furthermore, all of the customer data we collect is protected against unauthorized access.
How do we allow customers to update or change the information we collect?
You may update or change information related to your account by updating your profile, accessible via the home page once you are logged in, or by sending us email.


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Utah Home Run Housing Grant Program
The Utah Home Run Housing Grant Program provides home buyers with $6,000 worth of grants to purchase a newly constructed single family home. There are 1600 grants available to those who qualify.
Some of the highlights of the program:
Home buyers first begin by selecting the house they wish to buy with their realtor. During this time, they work with an approved, qualified, lender. A full list of approved lenders is available on the Utah Housing Corps website, www.utahhousingcorp.org. The lender and home buyer work together on the application for the grant.
There are a limited number of 1600 grants available and will be distributed to those who apply and qualify first. The current number of grants available is also posted on Utah Housings Corps website.
To qualify, you must be buying your first home and meet certain income restrictions. For single buyers, your income must be below $75,000 and below $150,000 for married buyers. This grant CAN be used in conjunction with the first time home buyer $8,000 federal tax credit. The mortgage must be on a 30 year or below fixed interest rate plan.
For more information, please email us at email@example.com


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Red worms eat their way through kitchen waste to produce rich soil amendment
Keeping a worm farm is an easy project
Kym Pokorny | Aug 12, 2016 | News Story
Kym Pokorny | Jul 23, 2018 | News Story
Q: Where can I find information on adding worms to soil that has none? Thanks.
A: View answer | View all featured questions
Sally Reill | Jul 2017 | Article
Maud Powell, Nick Andrews, Melissa Matthewson, Shelley Elkovich, Gwendolyn Ellen, Tim Franklin, Don Tipping | Jul 2015 | Article
Francisca Belart, Lauren Grand | Aug 2019 | Article


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Elvin Jones' Zildjian 20″ K Ride Cymbal, $895. Authenticated.
Part of the Donn's Drum Vault Elvin Jones Collection. This cymbal was owned and used by Elvin Jones. Elvin Jones has been closely associated with K Zildjian cymbals for his entire career. He was deeply involved in the design and creation of modern K Zildjian cymbals. Acquired directly from his wife. COA signed by Elvin's wife and seller. See and hear the cymbal in the video demo below.


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Diabetic patients have less 'hypo's' when using sensor
There is a significant drop in the number of 'hypo's' experience among diabetes patients who, in place of a vingerprik to their blood sugar to determine, use a measuring system with a sensor.
This is evident from the global data of almost 51,000 users of the measurement device, writes the Telegraph.
The measuring system consists of a small sensor that is on the skin is worn and for which the value is to be scanned with a reader or an app on the phone.
Wednesday in Paris at a conference about new diabetestechnologie announced that in the group of patients that make use of the sensor, there is a decrease with 38 percent of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and a decrease with 19 percent of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).
If the blood glucose value of a diabetic patient is low, there arises a 'hypo', where palpitations, fatigue, dizziness, impaired vision, altered mood, or a worse ability to concentrate may occur.
More often measure
Professor Cees Tack – head diabetes of the Radboudumc – tells the Telegraph that at first he was sceptical about the sensor. "Beforehand I thought that the blood test is more reliable than the sensor that is in the skin. But this alternative works quite well, especially because you are also much more common to measure it. It seems that if you have more monitors, you yourself as a patient can better set up (with a particular food or insulin) and you are better off," said the professor.
According to Tack, patients are especially pleased that they no longer need to prick. "They find it a relief. No one wants to be twenty times prick a day, but it may nevertheless be necessary to check whether it is still going well. A painless scan along with your skin is of course much easier. It is, however, often to the group of patients very carefully. Those who often check, is better set. That also goes for the vingerprikken of course," said Tack.
Basic package
The Dutch Diabetes Federation is a guideline to develop when, for which patient the scanning system has a purpose. "If there is, it is likely that the device for compensation from the basic insurance eligible," says Michiel Geldof of the Zorginstituut the Netherlands against the newspaper. In surrounding countries such as Belgium, Germany and France this is already happening.


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Which massage program do you need the most?
Yakson House has a wide variety of programs ready for effective care of your body. Do you want to know which program you need for keeping your body healthy and beautiful? Check this out link to find the best program for you.
URL : yaksonhouse.com/html
Website : www.yaksonhouse.com
Facebook : www.facebook.com/yaksonhouse
Yakson House NY Branch : 212-564-7474
Yakson House Makati Branch : 02)892-9441


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Thunder the Elephant and Friends
More Friends of Thunder
Teacher Resources
About Us
Thunder's Game Zone
Our Authors
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Rhinoceros Facts
Thunder's friend Soma is a rhinoceros or rhino. Rhinos can be found in Asia and Africa. The name rhinoceros means nose horn in Greek. Like all rhinos, Soma is thick skinned in more ways than one. While their skin is thick, it is very easy to get burned from the sun. They often let other small birds feast on the bugs crawling all over to keep their sensitive skin protected from the bites. This is a symbiotic relationship, the same kind Soma shares with the three egrets in the story.
A rhino's horn is made from keratin, which is the same thing that makes up our own hair and fingernails. They are not hollow like elephant tusks. Their horns make them a target for poaching as many cultures believe their tusks have healing properties. They are herbivores that eat fruits, vegetables, and any vegetation they can find. Since their eyesight is poor, they use their other senses to help survive. Their sense of hearing can detect noises from over a hundred feet away.
Baby rhinos are called calves. They stay with their mothers until they are three years old. Rhinos often live in extended families, especially females with their calves.
Back to Home
Rhino Fun Facts
Video by All Things Animal TV


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Bruce Adams
I enjoy making personal goals and working hard to reach them, most of all I enjoy helping other people with their goals and reach their dreams.
I'm a coach and mentor, I'm passionate about helping other people succeed and carry on with a healthy life.
I joined 4 Life Research in 2012.
I remember when I was five years old laying a wake night after night with itchy eyes and irritating sinus. All through my life I have been exposed to trees, flowers and lots of grass. Mowing the lawn would encourage an allergy flare up.
I started taking Transfer Factor Plus, with in a week I noticed the difference in my health, the ichy eyes stopped and my breathing became normal.
I'm hooked on Transfer Factor Plus, sure is much better than steroids the Doctor subscribe for me too take.
I feel it's my respnsibility to share these products with people around the world.
Network marketing in it's true sense is about building mutually supportive relationships. 4Life is committed to translating success into service by giving back to those in need - service to customers and distributors, as well as our communities.
I invite you to join our team and I promise you, with 4 Life Research and my support you will be on your way to creating a healthy lifestyle, free of stress and financial worry for yourself.


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As I tweeted yesterday, @dhlbrown was attending a workshop on which I participated last year at the University of Sussex on getting published in Academia. He very kindly tweeted his notes and I recommend you go follow him but thought it was worth collating the information in one place, which also gave me an opportunity to dig out my notes from last year's session. Items in quotation marks are the tweets that Doug sent out, whereas all other text is my commentary/notes.
Image by inkelv1122 under a CC-BY-NC license.
Should my thesis be published as a book?
"Learnt at workshop on getting published post-PhD:Turning thesis into book can delay next project which could be better conceived as a book."
This is true, but having a book published is far more likely to get you a job from which you can undertake that next project.
"Typical monograph print run 1990: c.2,000. Now: c.200."
Yes, afraid fame isn't coming from this route!
"If you want to reach the general market, get an agent and a non-academic publisher, and expect no success."
"Don't want yr monograph to read like thesis. But don't make yr thesis read like a monograph - it'll be referred!"
I've had conflicting advice on this; a colleague who has published widely with CUP advised me to be less footnotey so that my thesis would require little editing to be a book. I'm not sure this is the case. The thesis is designed to be an examined piece of research showing your ability to substantiate claims through concentrated research, it's less about communication which is the point of publishing.
On Interdisciplinarity
"If interdisciplinary research, market for monograph likely to be subject matter not methodology."
"Interdisciplinarity virtue for PhDs but not for monographs. Publishers don't have expert readers; librarians think it's marginal to subject."
This is a particularly interesting one. We're so used to thinking that interdisciplinarity is cutting-edge and the way to go, but publishers want to SELL and that means they need generic markers; has to be situated in a discipline.
Pitching to academic publishers
"Practise selling benefits of your work to friends who know nothing about the field. Don't just describe content: Why is it indispensable?"
"Some e-catalogues drop everything in the book title after a colon, so put key words first. Be literal, not obscure or elliptical."
The title is one of the most important aspects:
Situate the subject clearly, don't use idiom.
Think macro, not micro.
Avoid cryptic allusions, quotations, jargon, word-play and playful academic stuff.
Make it snappy.
Give a strong positive message (active verbs implying movement etc.)
"Check publishers' guidelines for submission. Getting it wrong is an easy way to be ignored."
"You already know the market for your book. You're part of the market. Worst case: You are the market."
"Trying to sell your book to a publisher? Why did you buy the books *you* bought?"
"Write plenty before sending proposal to publisher. There'll be no interest if you've got nothing to back it up."
"Choosing a publisher? Look in your own bibliography."
This is very true, although I wonder whether there reaches a point of exhaustion -- do they want *ANOTHER* book on topic X?
"Don't submit to >1 publisher at once. But give time limit: "If I don't hear from you in 3 months I'll try others.""
"Apparently publishers get proposals with nothing under "Conclusion" heading - that's the most important bit!"
"Think research too specialised for publisher? Add comparisons. Extend geography & chronology. Make paradigmatic."
Article or monograph?
"Maybe article more appropriate to material than monograph - but what if your discipline expects monographs?"
"Article might have higher readership than monograph though. Want readers or respect? (Both possible I hope)"
I'd say that this is the entire chicken and egg problem for early career researchers; the latter is needed while the former is wanted!
Open Access
My final criticism, looking back through my notes, was the lack of focus on Open Access. Perhaps this has changed this year, but there seemed to be a great deal of scepticism towards the movement, probably coming about from the threat it poses to the traditional publication model. I will, therefore, add my own final comments here: Open Access IS peer reviewed, there are many Open Access journals carrying Impact Factor and, if you want to be read, this could do a hell of a lot more for you than a limited run of a traditional print publication. Obviously, it's not an alternative solution to the monograph at the moment, but it's certainly a viable alternative to print journals.


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1 The words of Amos, who was among the ashepherds1 of bTekoa, which he saw concerning Israel cin the days of dUzziah king of Judah and in the days of eJeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years2 before fthe earthquake.
Judgment on Israel's Neighbors
2 And he said:
g"The Lord roars from Zion
and utters his voice from Jerusalem;
hthe pastures of the shepherds mourn,
and the itop of jCarmel withers."
k"For three transgressions of lDamascus,
and for four, lI will not revoke the punishment,3
because they have threshed mGilead
with threshing sledges of iron.
4 nSo I will send a fire upon the house of oHazael,
and it shall devour the strongholds of oBen-hadad.
5 I will pbreak the gate-bar of lDamascus,
and cut off the inhabitants from the Valley of qAven,4
and him who holds the scepter from rBeth-eden;
and the people of sSyria shall go into exile to tKir,"
says the Lord.
k"For three transgressions of uGaza,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because vthey carried into exile a whole people
to deliver them up to Edom.
7 So I will send a fire upon the wall of uGaza,
and it shall devour her strongholds.
8 I will cut off the inhabitants from wAshdod,
and him who holds the scepter from Ashkelon;
I will turn my hand against Ekron,
and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish,"
says the Lord God.
k"For three transgressions of xTyre,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they delivered up a whole people to Edom,
and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.
10 So I will send a fire upon the wall of xTyre,
and it shall devour her strongholds."
k"For three transgressions of yEdom,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
ybecause he pursued his brother with the sword
zand cast off all pity,
aand his anger tore perpetually,
aand he kept his wrath forever.
12 So I will send a fire upon bTeman,
and it shall devour the strongholds of cBozrah."
k"For three transgressions of the dAmmonites,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because ethey have ripped open pregnant women in fGilead,
that they might enlarge their border.
14 So I will kindle a fire in the wall of gRabbah,
hand it shall devour her strongholds,
with shouting on the day of battle,
hwith a tempest in the day of the whirlwind;
15 and itheir king shall go into exile,
he and his princes5 together,"
says the Lord.
About English Standard Version
The English Standard Version™ is founded on the conviction that the words of the Bible are the very words of God. And because the words themselves—not just the thoughts or ideas—are inspired by God, each word must be translated with the greatest precision and accuracy. As Jesus Himself stressed, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4).
This passion for God's Word is the driving force behind the translation of the ESV™ Bible. The English Standard Version™ does not try to "improve" on the original in light of today's culture or by using trendy language. Instead, the utmost care has been taken to express God's Word in English that most closely captures the meaning of the original, with understandability, beauty, and impact.
The Classic Reference Edition, English Standard Version® (ESV®)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version
ESV Text Edition (2016)
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The ESV text may be quoted for audio use (audio cassettes, CD's, audio television) up to two hundred fifty (250) verses without express written permission of the publisher providing that the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible nor do the verses quoted account for 50 percent or more of the total text of the work in which they are quoted.
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"Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved."
When more than one translation is quoted in printed works or other media, the foregoing notice of copyright should begin as follows:
"Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from . . . [etc.]"; or,
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The "ESV" and "English Standard Version" are trademarks of Good News Publishers. Use of either trademark requires the permission of Good News Publishers.
When quotations from the ESV text are used in non-saleable media, such as church bulletins, orders of service, posters, transparencies, or similar media, a complete copyright notice is not required, but the initials (ESV) must appear at the end of the quotation.
Publication of any commentary or other Bible reference work produced for commercial sale that uses the English Standard Version must include written permission for use of the ESV text.
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Permission requests for use within the UK and EU that exceed the above guidelines must be directed to: HarperCollins Religious, 77-85 Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, London W6 8JB, England.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.
Published by Good News Publishers
Good News Publishers (including Crossway Bibles) is a not-for-profit organization that exists solely for the purpose of publishing the good news of the gospel and the truth of God's Word, the Bible.
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If you've navigated the minefield of a family feast, the least you can do is make the most of your spoils. Turkey — along with chicken, capon, Cornish game hen, quail, goose, duck and pork — has a higher proportion of unsaturated fats in its fat tissue than beef or lamb. It has nothing to do with how they look in that dress (unsaturated fat is actually better for you than saturated fat), but unsaturated fat does produce off, stale, cardboard-like flavors in meat that's been stored and reheated.
When unsaturated fatty acids are damaged by surrounding oxygen and the iron from the meat's own myoglobin proteins, the vaguely-defined "off" flavors occur. This damage happens slowly in the refrigerator and more quickly when the meat is reheated. The meat hasn't gone bad, it just doesn't taste as good as it did the night before.
The most obvious solution is not to reheat meat. Cold chicken tastes fresher than warmed-over chicken simply because the fat-damaging reheating step is skipped.
Another solution is to reduce the meat's contact with oxygen, either by blocking oxygen during storage in air-tight containers or by seasoning the meat with vegetables, herbs or spices that are high in antioxidants. Cranberries are probably nearby, or pomegranates for fancy eaters. Oregano is also high in antioxidants, as are dill, thyme, rosemary and peppermint.
Nothing can be done about the iron content already in the meat, but not storing the food in metal containers will keep the unsaturated fatty acids from having traumatic encounters with added iron.
If the meat must be reheated (which you probably should if it's already been a couple of days), reheat it gently and maybe cook it in a flavorful sauce. Meat is more tender when cooked over low heat, and this is as true for leftovers as it is for something fresh from the butcher.
Enjoy your favorite foods all over again with our Food Storage and Cleaning Category.
Leading image: From The New Joys of Jell-O cookbook (yes, some of those contain meat).


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|Exhibitions > Our Fragile Planet
|back to exhibitions
Our Fragile Planet
A collection of work by Francisco Castro Lostalo, Florencia Madrigal, Sebastian Mello, Elisa Morera, Mariamarta Pacheco, Janet Candido and Renán Calvo Chaves.
Duration: August 20 – September 4
Reception: Thursday, August 26, 6:30 – 8:30 pm.
This exhibition of paintings, photography and sculpture presented by Costa Rican/Canadian artists is a celebration of the beauty and vulnerability of our natural world.The exhibition compliments a symposium of sculpture and painting by the same artists outside First Canadian Place from Aug. 20 - 31, focusing attention on preservation of natural resources by recycling marble panels from the building's façade as raw material for their art. The symposium is organized by Toronto Art Visions.


text: Snap Co-Founder Evan Spiegel has recently focused media attention on how much time Snapchat's users spend inside the app, rather than company plans to grow its user base.That's sound strategy for a company whose flagship product has essentially stopped growing: Snapchat's daily active user base has been essentially flat on Android,and is slightly down over that same period, according to data from mobile app analytics firm Apptopia. However, as a number of experts have established, more time spent on social platforms in new capacities assigns them more value in the lives of the people that use them, which increases the value and power yielded by such platforms.Active and prolonged engagement over audience size has been the holy grail for marketers and brands alike for a number of years. This indicates that genuinely effective content – which people seek out and organically interact with – trumps inflated audience size built through non-strategic media spend aimed at growing large,


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|RODZINNY OBÓZ EDUKACYJNO-WYPOCZYNKOWY - WIŚLA 2018 r.
Lauder Foundation Hosts Jewish Summer Camp in Wisla, Poland
The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation once again welcomed campers and their families to a unique and exciting Jewish summer camp in Poland. With a devoted staff, guest speakers and volunteers from
Dorothy and Baruch Ciesielski, who also serve as the directors of the Lauder e-Learning school in Poland, lead the summer camp with the same excitement, heart and creativity used in the e-Learning program. Intended for children and adults to gain from the experience, the camp includes stimulating lectures, workshops, evening programs, arts, crafts, music,
|« poprzedni artykuł
|następny artykuł »


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Ok, so here's the deal; I'm working on some high-level projects for College Info Geek that will take a long time to complete. Add to that my job as an RA, my second job at the career center, my classes, and my girlfriend who keeps on requesting this odd thing called my "undivided attention" (what's that?) – you probably get the picture. Posting every day is a little difficult.
Fear not, however, as my less frequent posting will result in more awesomeness down the road. For now, check out this video. If you're on the internet on a Saturday, you're probably not doing homework anyway, so watching some dudes take out terrorists by shooting the raw power of dubstep at them isn't going to hurt, right?
I came across this video last weekend, when one of my best friends was all like:
So I watched it. It was glorious. Seriously, the guys at Corridor Digital have some real talent, and I can't wait to see what they do next. (If you're on mobile and can't see the video, watch it here)
Anyway, I'll have some more stuff coming next week. Also, as we grow and the increasing administrative duties I have start to make me have lumberjack dreams, I start thinking of bringing on more writers.
So, if you think you're some sort of badass writer, why don't you apply to write here? The application process is grueling, and we may or may not require a contract written in blood, but hey – don't be a sissy.


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Ah, the bank holiday weekend! A sunny bank holiday weekend too! We've mostly been in the garden, trying to tame the marshlands we indadvertedly created last year with all the horrid rain and lack of functioning lawnmower. I say 'we', Mr. C-C has been the one doing the gardening in all fairness, and a good job he's done of it too! Weeding, mowing, digging all with the help of Otis (the cat). I've been turning myself into a smurf whilst painting the garage windows blue. I now have a collection of blue moles and some seriously blue hands but the windows are looking lovely!
Anyway, on to the recipe. It's too lovely to spend time cooking indoors but bank holiday weekends call for some super tasty food so here's a very quick and tasty recipe we made for brunch which took no longer than 30 mins to make and cook.
serves 2
for the lamb patties
250g lean lamb mince
1/4 tsp ground coriander, ground cumin, ground cinnamon, dried mint
salt and pepper
everything else
a handful of cherry tomatoes, sliced or halved
a few slices of cucumber
2 spring onions sliced lengthways
a few mint leaves
a handful of lettuce leaves (any kind you've got around will do nicely)
a few olives
2 hard boiled eggs
2 pittas, toasted
sweet chilli sauce and mayonaise
make it!
1. mix all the pattie ingredients together and then with wet hands shape into flattened balls. You should be able to make 6.
2. Put under a preheated grill (medium to high setting) for about 17 mins, turning once so they get lovely and brown on both sides.
3. In the meantime, get all the other ingredients ready – do all your slicing, toasting and egg boiling.
4. Arrange on a chopping board so you can build your own pattie pockets.
5. Chow down! They're seriously delicious!


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Pelican-Hardigg Mobile Armory
ATTENTION: All Hardigg Cases are specialty orders and are non stocked items. ETA 4-5 weeks from date of purchase.
They are NON-Refundable items.
Pelican-Hardigg 472-M4-M16-12 Rifle Case
- $1,835.00
Pelican-Hardigg 472-M4-M16-4 Rifle Case
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- $1,780.00


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I caught a story about the marketing of legal marijuana on public radio yesterday that was predictable in its content. It is always interesting to observe human behavior when it comes to selling a potentially addictive intoxicant. Suddenly - people with no interest or aptitude for science and medicine become "master growers" and gurus of the medical effects of marijuana. It takes on an eery analogy with the business types who have taken over medicine. Money gives you immediate legitimacy whether you know anything or not. And really - how much do you have to know to grow and sell pot? Feign a little concern and market it to everybody - just like tobacco.
In all of the agitation about "medical marijuana" and the gnashing of teeth in state legislatures across the land, I guess nobody was anticipating that there will now be a branding and marketing emphasis on weed. How do you determine if 30% or your audience is minors? The MPR story illustrates how some dealers want to differentiate their product by the people who use it. They want to make sure that they are attracting more than "stoners". Put it in an upscale store and market it like fine wine. Having gone from Cheech and Chong comedy albums and movies in the 1970's to weed as a serious product is a mind expanding experience for people from my generation. Besides getting used to the concept there are probably a couple of other things for consideration.
The issue of crime and marijuana production is real. As a student of reality TV, there are clearly growers and dealers out there who have questionable ethics and seem to do more than just drop prices to compete with one another. The people on reality TV seem to carry firearms and steal from one another at the minimum. It makes sense to me that with an increasing concentration of people who expect to get wealthy from selling weed, that this kind of activity will increase. The 2009 letter from the Department of Justice on potential federal prosecution in states where medical marijuana is legal addresses this to some extent:
Typically, when any of the following characteristics is present, the conduct will not be in clear and unambiguous compliance with applicable state law and may indicate illegal drug trafficking activity of potential federal interest:
• unlawful possession or unlawful use of firearms;
• violence;
• sales to minors;
• financial and marketing activities inconsistent with the terms, conditions, or purposes of state law, including evidence of money laundering activity and/or financial gains or excessive amounts of cash inconsistent with purported compliance with state or local law;
• illegal possession or sale of other controlled substances; or
• ties to other criminal enterprises.
Edward Lotterman. The Cost of Sunday Liquor Sales. March 16, 2014.
Luke Runyon. To Keep The Business Growing, Vendor's Rebrand Pot Stoner's Image. Minnesota Public Radio. April 21, 2014. (listen to the link).
Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner. Why do drug dealers still live with their moms? in Freakonomics, Harper Perennial, New York, 2005, 2006, 2009: 85-113.
Supplementary 1: I intentionally avoided any reference to the medical costs of cannabis even though we know more about that now than at any point in history. There have been some high profile stories recently but the most believable one should come from long time cannabis advocate Tommy Chong during an interview on TMZ a few weeks ago. I personally saw the video in real time where he comments that pot is not for everybody and that some people should avoid it. That is a paraphrase. I thought the actual video would be out there but it is not. Probably too much at odds with his other videos.
Supplementary 2: Public domain photos of marijuana courtesy of U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration.
Supplementary 3: It will be an interesting twist if cannabis is marketed as anything but a drug. That will be the difference between direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical ads where the consumer is rapidly advised of a string of significant side effects (including the possibility of death in some cases) and some ads contain the phrase: "this drug is not for everybody" and an ad for an alcoholic beverage that says "drink responsibly". The latter by definition will result in broader exposure for a larger number of people.
Supplementary 4: I was just (4/30/2014) informed by a reader from Colorado that medical marijuana is still the preferred product there because the taxes on it are lower.


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NEW DELHI: For the average Metro rider, the non-Metro part of the commute -getting to the station and to the final destination after the ride -is just 20% of the total journey distance. Yet, riders spend more than 50% of travel cost and over 40% of commute time on this part of the journey , a study has revealed.
The disproportionate ti me and money spent on nonMetro segment of commutes shows that while the Metro network remains fast, cheap and convenient, Delhi has a long way to go in providing last-mile connectivity.
The study was conducted by CSIRCentral Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI). Transport experts said the study again high lights the need for mul ti-modal integration (MMI) in the capital to ensure that commuters have smooth access to Metro stations and also ease congestion on roads.
The study is part of a larger research commissioned by the Centre for `Development and Application of Technologies for Sustainable Transportation' (SUSTRANS).
"The study shows that about 50% of feeder trips (from and to Metro stations) are through walking and the remaining by all available modes, cycle-rickshaw, auto, bus etc. Integration among these modes, especially between feeder and major modes is very important to attract commuters to the mass transit system," said Errampalli Madhu, principal scientist and head of transportation and planning division of CSIR-CRRI.
Also Read: App cab rates should not dip below kaali-peeli tariff level, says fare panel
Though Metro is seen as a solution to the growing traffic problem in Delhi, experts say the city cannot solely rely on it. "Metro alone can't solve the congestion problem. There is a need to integrate all the other modes of transportation for seamless travel. There should be some incentive for people to shift to public transport. Quality of travel is an important factor," said Amit Bhatt, director transport, WRI India.
In the absence of an integrated system, there is chaos outside most Metro stations, as cycle-rickshawsautos are haphazardly parked on main roads resulting in traffic bottlenecks. It also leaves little space for safe pedestrian movement.
Under MMI, all modes of public transports are integrated with the Metro stations so that commuters can take autocycle-rickshaw bus from the station to reach their destinations.
Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning and Engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC) has approved the guidelines for developing infrastructure at Metro stations for multi-modal integration.
Mukti Advani, senior scientist, CSIR-CRRI, said, "Vehicle movement plan for other modes of transport (bus, auto etc) around Metro stations and bus stops can help users in accessing them with ease, resulting in an acceptable integration. It will also help in sorting out the chaos around stations that leads to confusion and discomfort to public transport users and delays private vehicle users."
While existing Metro stations don't have facilities for MMI, UTTIPEC has approved MMI proposals for 63 stations in phase III of Metro expansion, which will be developed by various agencies. UTTIPEC has also ap proved MMI proposals for 10 existing stations.
Also Read: Mahametro drops Gadkari's tunnel plan to save Rs 650cr
UTTIPEC and DMRC officials say, as per the approved proposals, the focus is on providing pedestrian access to the station and developing infrastructure facilities for autocycle-rickshawbuses, NMV lanes, cycle stands etc within a 300m radius of the station.
Anumita Roychowdhury , head of Centre for Science and Environment's air pollution and clean transportation programme, says that smooth pedestrian access to stations is very important.
"The focus should be on developing infrastructure to facilitate pedestrian movement around mass transit.Under MMI, there should be infrastructure and fare integration for seamless travel," said Roychowdhury .
Madhu said implementation of MMI will lead to more commuters shifting to the Metro. "Even a 10% shift from private vehicles to mass transit would bring huge savings and difference in terms of air pollution and improve of quality of life."


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Sadly, most of us know that on April 15, 2013, improvised bombs near the finish line of the Boston Marathon created havoc, killed three people, injured hundreds, and shattered a day traditionally filled with joy and camaraderie. Although the bombing immediately shattered the celebration, it sparked an outpouring of extraordinary work and the city of Boston set an example for the rest of the world by proving that even a heart-breaking tragedy cannot tear it apart. One year later, Boston is once again ready to host this year's marathon on April 21st, Patriots' Day, with the same zeal and enthusiasm. We should salute them for showing strength, resilience, and even defiance in the wake of the attack.
Lately I've been researching about this unique marathon race - here are some of the interesting tidbits I found out.
- 1. The Boston Marathon is one of the oldest and most prestigious marathons in the world with over 36,000 participants and 1,000,000 spectators watching the 118th race this year.
- The First Boston Marathon was called the American Marathon and was held in 1897. It was 24.5 miles, from Ashland to Boston.
- In 1918, at the height of World War I, the race held only as a 10-man relay for military teams.
- Women were not allowed to race officially until 1972, but in 1966 Roberta Gibb became the first woman to win the Boston marathon(unofficially.)
- In 1975, Boston became the first major marathon to include a wheelchair division.
- For the 100th Marathon in 1996, there were a record 38,708 official Boston Marathon entrants.
- Boston's a pretty serious marathon to run, where you have to qualify by completing a Boston-qualifying marathon beforehand. The timings are tough to reaching each age group. Qualifying time While it's hard to qualify for Boston, it's not a cakewalk once you're there by any means.
- In terms of media coverage, the Boston Marathon is the second biggest single-day sporting event in the U.S., just behind the Super Bowl!


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Find the best look for your living room
If you need a decor of the living rooms, there are dozens of articles that work perfectly for your living rooms. Do you want a modern and elegant style?
If you are redecorating or just buy a new decoration of the living room to your living room, there are many items to choose. If you think your home needs a new look, trying to accentuate your living room with the hottest new accessories. The new living room furniture can also change the decor of the chamber. So it will be able to create a beautiful room or kitchen adds an excellent touch is already beautiful.
Living room carpet:
The carpet in your living room is critical for the overall look of your living room. The carpet can be a particular color that will try to match when the rest of the decor of your living room ready, or can incorporate into (usually with a dull, neutral colors) to match the rest of the new room decor. Once you've designed the perfect B & B, you'll be glad you did. You will have a pleasant space for the eyes, and that reflect your personal style.
Window curtain:
Blinds will make much difference. They can be a major focal point of the living room. By choosing the decor of your living room to make sure you get the best blinds to luxurious look, or only add a simply elegant touch.
Depending on the size and style of the window of their room, living room curtains can attract attention. With the blinds perfect part of your home décor is pleasing to the eye may be the most impressive aspect of decorating your living room. The decor is plush living room cozier, window curtains that you want to be right with the rest of the decor of the chamber. If you are not sure when choosing the curtains of your living room, you may want to consult a professional.
The green color and fresh oxygen in the living room, and the atmosphere that plants can provide will have a different taste to it.
Hanging plants is one of the most popular articles of the living room decorated. The plants and flowers are a beautiful addition to any living room.
With hanging plants, potted plants, and even a small herb garden, you can decorate the chamber!
It is likely to have a fireplace in the living room of your choice, especially if you have a fireplace.
Practice should be something that appears on top of the ledge. There's even a name for it: the fireplace. In addition to a fireplace you choose, there is usually a chimney most anticipated. Some homes are quite complete, p.
If you do not have a fireplace that is very easy to install in your living room and is available in different sizes.
Sofas and armchairs:
The other two main important life decorate your sofa and chairs. Want to have a couch and chairs that delight the eye and associated with the overall look of the living room and totally part of the decor of your living room. Sofas and chairs are a critical part of your living room, almost equal importance in functioning since they were in looks. There are lots of lovely set of chairs and couches that should work for your living room.
Little table:
The same basic concept of bed and breakfast decoration applies to your coffee table, and a coffee table could quickly be the focal point of the room. If you do not have a coffee table right now, you can always find a table that is well served by it.
Otherwise, also, a mix of sofas and chairs together to get the look you are going for, a coffee table can be a very impressive piece of your living room decor.
If you have everything you do in your living room, whether for entertainment or other purposes, you need at least a rack that contains objects that hold and use in your living room. Shelves should also please the eye and fits well within the decor of your living room.
Bathroom accessories finishing times, and the lounge is sometimes essential elements are, and they come in a beautiful design. These are items such as candles, statues, mountains, floors, fireplaces and more.
Entertainment center:
It is rare to see live without these days. And they come in sets or individual chunks to amusement needs of your room decor.
Living room decorating classes available in the market today seem almost endless. However, you can limit the search quite easy by their space, their needs, the look you're going for, your personal style and the amount of money you have to spend on decorating the living room.


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the truth shall make you free
Are you willing to hear the truth? (Rom 10:17)
Do you believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God? (John 3:16)
Do you have faith in His resurrection (1 Cor 15:1-4), enough to repent (Luke 13:3) and call on His name? (Rom 10:9)
If so you qualify to receive forgiveness of sins within the only one kind of church our King has built (Matt 16:18), come find freedom in His assembly (John 8:32) as you submit to His will (see chart bellow) and remain faithful forever (Rev 2:10).
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Rom. 16:16
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Guram Dolenjashvili (Georgian: გურამ დოლენჯაშვილი; born 9 March 1943 in Kutaisi) is a Georgian painter often working in a monochrome technique. (more…)
Monthly Archives: February 2014
Robert Heindel – The Obsession Of Dance
Robert Heindel was born in Akron Ohio and, with no art training except a correspondence class, worked his way up from tire advertisements in Ohio to car illustrations in Detroit (more…)
Math and Nature by Rafael Araujo
Rafael Araujo, artist from Venezuela, goes "old school" in his series of drawings called Calculation. (more…)
Petra Péterffy
Petra Péterffy is a Budapest-born collage designer, now based in Berlin and just starting to unleash her creativity. (more…)
Atelier Olschinsky – Structures
Atelier Olschinsky founded in 2002 is a small creative studio based in Vienna, Austria. (more…)
Viktor Timofeev – hybrid realities and utopian society
Viktor Timofeev was born in 1984 in Riga, Latvia. He studied at Hunter College in New York (2002-2008). (more…)
Hiroshi Yoshida – After Rain
Hiroshi Yoshida (吉田 博 Yoshida Hiroshi, September 19, 1876 – April 5, 1950) was a 20th-century Japanese painter and woodblock print maker. (more…)
Monograms & Ciphers designed and drown by A. A. Turbayne and other members of the Carlton Studio
Albert Angus Turbayne (1866 – April 29, 1940) was an American (more…)
The Geometry of an Art – Wenzel Jamnitzer
Wenzel Jamnitzer (sometimes Jamitzer, or Wenzel Gemniczer) (1507/1508 – December 19, 1585) was a Northern Mannerist (more…)
Callum Russell
Callum Russell is a freelance illustrator and artist living in London. (more…)


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Each year, nearly half a million barge loads of bulk material such as coal, grain, wood chips, crushed stone, sand and minerals travel to delivery points along our nation's inland waterways. River transportation is the safest and most efficient method for moving massive quantities of materials. Ports and other terminals along the rivers utilize various types of unloading systems to quickly and economically offload the barge traffic that comes their way. One such system for unloading barges is the grab bucket barge unloader.
Often referred to as the "workhorse of the rivers," grab unloaders use a clamshell bucket suspended by a set of hoisting cables, while a separate set of control cables opens and closes the bucket. In a complete unloading cycle, a bucket unloads a barge at a rate of once every 30-40 seconds. A moderately-sized grab bucket unloader has a maximum unloading rate, also known as free digging rate, of 1500 tons per hour. This rate decreases considerably as the barge is emptied. At that time, less bulk material is available in the barge, so the bucket takes longer to fill.
The grab unloader is traditionally a stationary machine, but it can be engineered to travel short distances along tracks that run parallel to a river, for simple left-to-right movement. The unloader features a control tower that straddles the dock conveyer and supports the receiving hopper. An attached cantilevered boom carries the grab bucket trolley and cable systems. While the machine is operating, it works in a continuous cycle of hoist-travel-discharge-travel-lower motion.
The distance the bucket travels will vary as it unloads material from the full width of the barge. In order to unload material from the full length of the barge, the barge is positioned by a barge haul system. For grab bucket unloaders, barge hauls are a simple tugging motion to keep the barge parallel and flush with the dock. This system consists of a steel cable and hoist that is directly connected to the barge itself. Since the barge's movement is intermittent, its position does not need to be exact. Barges are usually positioned in and out of the unloading area by tugboat.
For more information about Heyl & Patterson barge unloaders and the barge haul systems associated with them, contact us or click here:


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Panasonic Avionics is the market leader in the world of In Flight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFEC), offering sophisticated products and unparalleled service levels to deliver industry leading in-flight entertainment through video, audio, games, software applications and telecommunications.
Our success is built upon our cutting-edge technology and outstanding customer service, driven by our corporate heritage and as we enter an exciting period of rapid global expansion to support new business, we are seeking experienced Maintenance Services Representatives to join our team at Gatwick.
As a Maintenance Services Representative you will perform maintenance, preventive maintenance, and alterations to Panasonic Avionics' In-flight Entertainment and Connectivity Systems on aircraft to include: troubleshooting and testing of electronic assemblies and units, the removal and replacement of electronic assemblies, units or cabling while installed in the aircraft and the modification/alteration of installed equipment.
The role:
Perform built-in test (BIT) and manual test of Panasonic Avionics Corporation IFE systems.
Troubleshoot electronic units, cabling or seat consoles in which failures occur down to the line replaceable modules, using knowledge of electronic theory.
Identify necessary repairs to restore functional acceptance, which may require the removal and replacement of defective line replaceable modules and/or cabling.
Operate airline communications equipment.
Communicate and interface with customer.
Document the testing and repairs using computer and bar-coding equipment.
Receive and prepare parts.
Assist in tracking the spares inventory.
Check aircraft logs for defects including deferrals
Sweep cabins for unreported defects
Maintain integrity of Maintenance Service Stores Inventory by completing all necessary stock room procedures, booking parts into stock, on to aircraft and out to repair.
Endeavour to meet, greet and dispatch each and every flight and perform the required tasks as per contract.
Ensure all necessary customer and Maintenance Service documentation is properly completed and filed prior to the end of the shift.
Aircraft documentation to be completed in accordance with customer specific requirements.
Your skills/ qualifications:
Must have an EASA CAT B1/B2 licence with B747 type rating
Aircraft maintenance experience essential
Avionics/ IFE experience desirable
Excellent communications skills (verbal and written)
Must hold a valid Driver's Licence
The person
Customer focused
Ability to work shifts
Ability to pass extensive security and background checks for Airside access


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Accueil CEDRIC > Publications > Article > Nei16 >
[Nei16] Game Design Tools : Can They Improve Game Design Practice?Mémoire de Thèse :
Résumé: This thesis contributes practice-led evaluation research to the question of whether game design tools can effectively support and expand game design practice. It offers insights that can be used to inform future game design tool development. Game designers, unlike most other design practitioners, typically do not use design tools in their work. While conceptual models and software tools have been developed to address this, we lack discussion and critique of how tools work in practice. Taking the point of view of a practitioner, this study of game design tools is based on longitudinal, practice-led evaluation research conducted as a participant-observer, applying game design tools to 5 contrasting game design case studies.


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While Skylanders is often my focus on this site, I'm an avid and loyal Nintendo fan. I also try to go to every gaming event that happens in Chicago. And as luck would have it, Chicago is one of four cities selected for a tour of the Nintendo Switch. Needless to say I was excited to try all of the new games. Well, almost all of them, anyway.
The preview event was held at an event space called Revel Fulton Market, which was also last year's home to the annual Bit Bash. While the event started at 10, people started lining up hours before; the line was already around the corner when I lined up at 7. An hour later, gamers were allowed into the building in small groups, where we were issued wristbands to guarantee entry at a specific time. I missed the first group and ended up getting a wristband for 12:30. So, after a morning of walking across the city playing Pokémon Go with my boyfriend, I returned at 12:00 to find people already lined up. Inside were a ton of demo stations of all shapes and sizes. Mixed in with them were displays for Splatoon 2 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, among other games. It was cleverly set up so that we could try each of the system's control modes, which I endeavored to do.
After getting a quick lay of the land, I was pleasantly surprised to see that a number of non-launch games were available to play; it's rare that your average gamer has a chance to try major games far from release without going to an expensive trade show. After learning that certain other options were unavailable (more on that soon), I decided to try out ARMS. I'd been intrigued with the game since it was announced. As I was at the event by myself, I was paired up with a random opponent and given two Joy-Con controllers. The controllers are fairly small and light, but once you figure out where all of the buttons are, they work pretty well. The game's controls are pretty basic: you tilt the controllers left and right to move, and use motion controls to punch. After choosing our characters (I went with the game's mascot, Spring Man), we chose a weapon for each hand and went to battle. It was a little bit difficult to get the controls right on the fly, but it was also an even match since neither of us had played the game before. As the trailer shows, you can tilt the controllers to send punches at an angle, but it was tough to get it just right. Still, the game was quite fun, and I actually managed to win the match. I will almost certainly get this game when it comes out, though I do hope some additional content is added before release. There are only a handful of characters, though the different weapon options for each of them do add more opportunities to choose your play style.
This was one of the most important games for me to try, as I have been debating whether to pick it up at launch. The game was set up in two demo stations set apart with transparent walls. I competed against someone working at the event, though unfortunately there were only three games available. The first was Quick Draw, which is pretty self-explanatory. The game does avoid cheating by making sure the controller is down by your side before starting. After that we tried Milk, which has you trying to milk a cow. I didn't do very well, but I was somewhat impressed by the HD Rumble feature, which makes different actions feel like they should. This was the focus of the third game, Ball Count. It casts the Joy-Con as a box holding a certain number of marbles, and using the HD Rumble, you have to tilt the controller around and try to feel how many are "inside" of it. While the feeling wasn't a perfect match, it was good enough that I was able to get the correct answer. During this part of the demo, the employees switched from TV mode to tabletop mode, and it really does change instantly. These three games aren't enough to really judge the whole package, but while it wasn't perfect, the HD Rumble was pretty cool. I don't see a whole lot of other games, but it does allow for some interesting possibilities.
Splatoon 2
As you might already know, I loved the original Splatoon. It's one of the few games I'm willing to play online, and I'm actually pretty decent at it. I tried the demo that allowed me to play in a local 4-on-4 match using the console in handheld mode. The controls definitely took some getting used to, especially since you no longer have a second screen to look at the map. Instead you have to press a button to toggle the map, and use the directional buttons to teleport. In general the controls were a bit confusing at first; the second joystick and the triggers aren't exactly where they would be on the Wii U Gamepad or the New 3DS, so there was some learning curve, but I imagine one would get used to them quickly enough. The game itself felt pretty much the same as the first one; though there were some new weapons and maps to try, it otherwise didn't add too much. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, as it was still a lot of fun, but it remains to be seen whether there's enough new to revitalize interest in the game, and whether the new weapons are interesting enough to get veteran players like myself away from the things we're more comfortable with. But to be honest, even if it doesn't do much to set itself apart from the first game, there's nothing wrong with more Splatoon, and it will definitely be a day one purchase for me.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
As I didn't get a chance to try the new Battle Mode, my time with Mario Kart was mostly an opportunity to play as my favorite new character, Inkling Boy, and try out the console's tabletop mode. The demos for this game were cleverly set up on the venue's stage, with four mock locations to show how you'd use the system's gameplay modes. There was a living room for TV play, a car for handheld play, and a restaurant and airplane for tabletop play. I was using the latter, with my opponent and me sitting in mock plane seats and the console set up on his tray table. To my dismay, I was given the right Joy-Con, which has the joystick in the middle. However, it actually wasn't difficult to use at all. I was expecting hand cramps, but while it was a bit unusual, it wasn't any trouble. I even managed to win, which almost never happens in Mario Kart. Like Splatoon 2, this one doesn't add too much to the previous entry (it's only billed as an update), but the capabilities of the console itself add a lot of possibilities. Since each player only needs one Joy-Con, you can play multiplayer Mario Kart nearly anywhere with just one console. And since I don't think I've ever met a single person who doesn't enjoy Mario Kart, I see this working out quite well.
Other Games
There were many other games available to try out at the event, but I don't have that much to say about most of them. Skylanders Imaginators was on display, of course, showing off a cool feature exclusive to the Switch version: you no longer need the Portal of Power, and can instead use the NFC reader built into the controllers. I'm actually surprised they didn't do that for the Wii U. I gave Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers a try, but unsurprisingly got my butt kicked. That wasn't the case with Super Bomberman R though, as this game adds to the classic formula an opportunity to get back into the game by blowing up your opponents from the sides of the play field. Finally, Fast RMX (the sequel to the Wii U's Fast Racing Neo) is basically F-Zero with a different name, and that isn't a bad thing.
But maybe by now you've noticed the elephant missing from the room. Yes, I wanted to try The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and almost a third of the event space was dedicated to this title. However, to get an opportunity to check that game out, I would need to wait in another line to get a ticket, just so I could wait in another line to try the game. And frankly, there was so much else to do that it didn't seem worth my time.
The event was awesome, and if you get a chance, I highly recommend checking out the similar upcoming events in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Even if you don't think you want to get the Switch at launch, it's always cool to play upcoming games before release, and a lot of these are super fun. Plus, you'll get a free pin and microfiber cloth with the Switch logo, which is always nice. And if you really wanted to get my opinion on Breath of the Wild, don't worry; I'll be reviewing that title (and the console itself) for the site as soon as I can get my hands on them.