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between any two of the partitioning powers, except in what immediately relates to their shares ot Poland.
Among the evils engendered by the preient age, there is no one perhaps more ratal in its tendency, or contagious in its example, than that whirh is now become fashionable in Gerriiany and the North, of reviving or letting up of obsolete and annotated claim, and titles. The dai.geious success which has already attended this conduct, will extend the evil, if not timely and effectually checked, to the loosening of all security, and the rendering all property precarious. A claim of tiiia nature, upon the city of Hamburgh, has b.tely been ilarted, and put in at Vienna, by Count Schomberg. As the title of the Hamburghers to their liberties, besides an original purchase several times acknowledged and confirmed, and a public declaration by the diet of the empire in the year I 510, by which Hamburgh was acknowledged a free and imperial city, was strengthened by a prescription of five hundred years standing, such an attempt at any other period, wouid only have afterded matter for ijlirth or ridicule. The cale is now however very different; and the liamburghers having understood that a neighbouring monarch was in treaty to purchase the Count's title, and hid probably urged him to the letting up of the claim, the fate of Dantzick struck them in all its terrors, and has given them no insufficient cause for the most grievous apprehensions.
A claim in feme degree of the fame nature, though not attended with the fame terror, h;<s been niade by the King of Prussia upon
the States of Holland. This claim consists in a debt, of above a century standing, and amoundng to more than four millions of florins, which is pretended to be owing from several os the cities belonging to the Republic, in the dutchy of Cicves, to the house of Brandenburgh. On the other side it was said, that this supposed cube, with the titles on which it was • founded, had been express) abolished by the treaty concluded in August 1698, between the Elector of Brandenburgii, Frederic the First, and their High Mightinesses. As the de.mar.d for payment was however very pieiltng, it caused sime alarm in Holland ; memorials were presented, and amwers returned: but the affair does not yet seem to be determined.
An exchange of territory has been much talked of, between the King of Prussia and the Duke of Meckienburgh Schwerin, by which the latter resigns his principality, and receives the King's part of the dutchy of Cicves in return. Tho' it may be highly eligible to a weak prince, to get out of the talons of an overgrown neighbour, who surrounds, oppresses, and overwhelms him upon every occasion, and that the value of the equivalent is not so much considered in such a situ* ation as the immediate ease and security that attend it; yet such an exchange, in the present state of affairs, would establish a most dangerous precedent in Germany, Proposals would soon be made to other weaker princes, to induce them to accept of equivalents, and such means would be taken with those who were not compilable, to render their inheritance uneasy ancj of no use to them, that in a little time they would deem it a happiness to obtain any exchange. Such measures are probably the first that will be taken, to prepare the way for a total change ot system in Germany.
Indeed that empire seems to be in as precarious a situation, as it has been at any time since its foundation. The equilibrium is entirely overthrown; and it must be only by a series of the moll extraordinary events, that it can be restored. The fate of the venal and arbitrary Polish nobility, presents a mirror to the German princes, which they could not too long nor too attentively study.
The total abolition of the Jesuits, after they had for above two hundred years made so much noise, and by their intrigues created so much contusion i.i the world, though it has been so long expected, is so remarkable an event, that it will stamp the present year as a distinguished aera. The reduction of the ecclesiastical power, is now become so general in all the Roman Catholic states, that it is no longer a particularity in anyone; and those encroachments which a sew; years ago would have made the greatest noise, and have been considered as matters ot the most alarming nature, are now past over in silence as things of course. Even the ecclesiastical princes are following the example of the lecular, and the Bishop os Liege having met with tome opposition, in his attempts to secularise a convent of monks in his own territories, has apeealed to the Emperor, as Lord Paramount upon that occasion. The event, with respect to the monks, f; not doubted,
As there seems to be a fashion in all things, even in virtues and vices, so it appears in nothing more remarkably, than in ecclesiastical affairs. While it was the mode of the times, to confer honours, power, and possessions upon the church, the was overwhelmed with them; piety degenerated into a vice; and private men ruined their families, and kings their countries, only to make her too rich and too potent. When this unna:ural power and grandeur had produced the distempers incident to them, and it was thought necessary to pluck off the adventitious plumage, the tide of fashion took the contrary course with equal rapidity, and seems now to proceed with an eagerness that threatens to leave only the skeleton behind.
The great commercial failures, which threw such a damp last year upon all business in this country, arrived at their utmost extent about the beginning of the present in Holland; and were of lu alarming a nature, and so extensiv-' in their influence, as to threaten a mortal blow to all public and private credit throughout Europe, These failures were the effect of an artificial credit, and of great speculative dealings in trade, as well as in the public funds of different countries; and though attended with an immense lols to individuals, of not less perhaps than ten millions sterling, took nothing out of the general stock, neither money nor goods being thereby lessened. They would, however, by leslening the value of those commodities, have been as pernicious in their effects, as if the loss had been real, and nothing bm the most judicious
and and timely remedies, could prevent this fatal consequence.
It is not to be wondered at, that the Republic of Holland, so long the emporium of trade, should
war-ting the plainest and most common necessaries of life. France, though in a lesser degree, has been a considerable sharer in this misfortune; and the distresses of the
have pursued the wisest measures people have occasioned riots and upon this occasion; and that in a disturbances in several of the pro
country of merchants, a number of private men, from their long acquaintance in monied matter.-, and knowledge of the vicissitudes attending commerce, should have acted & manly, spirited, and generous part, for the support df public and private credit. Cut it was particularly fortunate, that without any time for pre-concert, similar measures should have been adopted by most of the other trading nations; by which means the fatal consequences that were apprehended were in a great degree prevented, and the mischief restrained from becoming so general as it would otherwise have done. Of some of these particulars we shall take notice in their proper places.
The dearth which has so long aP.licted different parts of Europe, has this year been grievously felt in several countries. Germany, Bohemia, and Sweden, have presented scenes of the greatest calamity, and multitudes have perished jn tfrat miserable extremity, of
vinces. Nor has the taking off of the bounty on exportation in England, with all the other mealures that have been adopted to answer the same purpose, been sufficient . to remedy the evils, proceeding from inclement ikies, 'and unulual seasons.
No equal period of time, since navigation and commerce have brought distant nations acquainted with the affairs of each other, has prelented such a number of earthquakes, in remote and different parts of the world, as the present year. From the arctic regions to the center of Africa, and from the extreme eastern, to the western Indies, the globe was every where convulsed, and nature seemed struggling in some doubtful crisis. It has, however, pleased Providence, that the mischiefs have in no degree corresponded with the apparent danger, and have been infinitely greater at seasons, when the (hocks have been few in number, and confined in their extent.
fruitiest ifut ef^the negiciations for a peace at Bucharest. Nature-of the war on the Danube. Wile conduit of the Grand Fizir. State of the arms u .dtr General Romanzyw. Russians pass the rimer; engagement; nature of the country; difficulties on the inarch to Silijlria. Attack on the Turkijb encampment. Retreat from Siljlria. General IVeifman killed. Rujtans repafs the Danube. Stale and i/iariien of both armies. Latter campaign in Bulgaria. 'Turks defeated in dijjcrent engagements. Attempt upo.i farna; the Ruffians repulsed. Siege of Silijlria; brave defence; the fuge raijed, aud the RuJ/iuns again obliged to repajs the Danube. Hoffeim Bey. War in the Crimea. RnJJiin operations in the Levant; alliance and connexion •with AH Bty and the Chiek Daber; unsuccessful attempts: conJud nvith rijpetl to the Venetians; objecvations on the Me ditcrraucan ijour.
THE negociations carried on a^ Bucbarett for a peace, were as f. uitiets in the issue, as the congress at Foczani had been before. It seems probable, that this erent was equally foreseen and intended by each os the contending p.irties ; and that each had its distinct motives, for gaining lo long a paule, in the midit of a war thac called forth all its attention and powers: either thereby to provide the better for its renewal, or to make use of that time in the adjustment os other difhcult arrangements, which could not be so well attended to in the din and hurry of arms
Thus the views of each of the belligerent powers were in a certain degite answered. The Porte had time to get rid of Ali Bey, to restore order and obedience, jn a considerable degree, in its distracted dominions^ and by the eltabliihment of discipline to restore confidence to its t roc ps. On the other hand, the court of Petersburg thereby gained lime to fettle toe new arrangements in Po
land, to adjust difficult points wita the other partitioning powers, to observe the countenance borne by the rest of Europe upon so extraordinary an innovation, and to negociate loans, and recruit its armies for the renewal of the war.
No authentic/ account of these negociations has yet been laid before the public, nor would the detail be very interesting. The great, or ostensible bar to an accommodation is laid to have been, the pretended independency infilled upon by Russia for the Crimea, at the fame time, that she also insisted upon the keeping of two stron^ fortified garrison;; in it, which from their nature and situation, mult render the inhabitants of that peninsula totally dependent on her, and cut them off from their natural and hereditary friends and allies. If is also laid, that the Turks had in this, as well as in the former negociation, laid it down as a fundamental principle never to be departed from, to preserve the inde. pendency os Poland, and the union oi al} its parts jnviolate. This seems to be confirmed, by a letter which was written by tne Grand Vizir, during the height of the conferences at Bucharelt, to the chiefs of tiie confederacy in Poland, in which he assures them and the Poles in general, in the name and upon the irrevocable word of his mailer, that he never would abandon them, nor enter into any peace, till their country was restored to its rights and independency, and they again enjoyed the government of a tree republic, according to its ancient laws and constitution.
As this letter was publicly (hewn in Poland, and no disavowal of it was required from the Grand Vizir, nor no breach of the conferences took place in consequence of it, we may be satisfied that the Pcrte had uot agreed to the dismemberment of that country, and that as the partitioning powers, had already gone such lengths towards the completion of that design, as nothing but necessity could make them recede from, it is evidejit that the peace could have been but little thought of at the congress, it is laid, that the navigation on the Slack Sea, was another insurmountable obitacie to an accommodation, the Ruffians not only infilling on that right in its utmost extent, but allo on a free liberty of trade, through the Dardanelles into the Mediterranean, in all the coasts of Greece and the Archipelago, and even in the ports of Egypt and Syria. , As these were the great obstacles to the success of the congress at Foczani, it becomes a matter of difficulty to conceive what the commissioners at Bucharest could treat upon: or upon what ground a fresh negociation could hive been, entered into, without
the removal of some of those impediments which were found insuperable in the former; and seems only to be accounted for, by supposing that an armistice being equally necessary to both parties, was all that was looked for by either.
Previous, however, to the breaking up of the conferences at Bucharest, the Turkish commissioners proposed a prolongation of them, as well as of the armistice, to the latter end of the ensuing month of June, which being resuied by those
of Russia, and the time ., , , ,. . , J , March zzd,
limned tor the nego
. • ° 1773.
ciations being now ''J
elapsed, the commissioners retired, and both sides accordingly prepared for the opening of the campaign. As the Danube was the boundary between the hostile armies, it became of course the scene of continued action; its wide extended waters, its islands, ar.d its banks, affording endless opportunities for that desultory kind of war, which consuls of surprizes by night, and ambuscades by day, of alternate flight and pursuit, and in which, from the vicinity of the hostile troops, and the facility of embarkation and descent, neither rest nor security is to be obtained en either fide. A bloody, ruinous kind of war, which soon devours great armies; and in which lives are lost without effect, and courage exerted without honour.
This destructive kind of war, was not, however, a matter of choice with the Russians; and the Turks were too skilfully commanded, to forego the advantages which the nature of the country and the river afforded. To them, who were at home, and abounded


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Preheat oven to 350°F. Season turkey with salt and pepper to taste.
Prep time
Cook time
Preheat oven to 350°F. Season turkey with salt and pepper to taste.
Use a skillet that can go into the oven. In a large skillet, on high heat, add oil and place turkey in pan skin, side down. Reduce heat to medium and brown on all sides. Place skillet in oven and roast turkey for about 50 minutes or until internal temperature of 165°F.
In medium sauce pot on medium heat, add margarine and onions. Cook for 2 minutes then stir in turkey stock, dried apricots, apricot preserves, lemon juice, Billy Bee Honey for Passover and chipotle pepper.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer about 30 minutes or until sauce has thickened. Season with salt and black pepper to taste, if necessary. Serve sauce with sliced turkey.

subset: commoncrawl


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2015 Alabama A-Day Game Set For April 18
Alabama football announced that the A-Day Spring Football Game will be played on Saturday, April 18 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The annual intersquad game represents the end of spring practice every year. The 2015 edition will be played at 2 PM/CT on the third weekend of April. More details, including television coverage and gameday info, will be released by the university at a later date.
The Crimson Tide has set the bar for spring game attendance over the last eight years by leading the nation with an average of 83,545 fans per game during that period. In head coach Nick Saban's first year (2007), the stadium was filled to capacity. The attendance record was broken in 2011 after the latest stadium expansion when 92,310 came out for A-Day.
This will mark the second-straight season that the game has been played on a weekend when no other team will be playing in Tuscaloosa. Alabama baseball will be in Columbia, Missouri, while softball will be playing in Auburn.


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Kim Snow has been teaching children piano for over 20 years. As a new piano teacher, she discovered that most modern piano curriculum proved inadequate to teach children the language of music. Through many years of testing and reworking concepts, introducing new techniques and developing her own materials, she created an integrated, holistic method to teaching both the practicum and theory of music in such a way that children learn the language of music, and have fun! Her methods include:
- Using the Circle of Fifths as basic foundation to understanding the language of music, deciphering musical patterns such as scales, chords, intervals, tetrachords, etc.
- Employing colors to explain scales and chords on the piano keyboard, with a heavy emphasis on manipulatives like magnets and flash cards — all of which she has designed for her students.
- Composing her own music, and arranging folk and popular songs, down to each student's level.
- Integrating music theory in each lesson with the use of paper and interactive digital worksheets.
- Using these techniques students as young as five years old are able to play, read and understand musical concepts.
Kim Snow is also an expert in Finale/Cubase DAW software programs and operates her own in-house recording studio. She has composed her own songs, taught composition and arranged hundreds of songs for her piano students.


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A Warrior Goddess is a woman who challenges her emotionally wounded belief system that is based on projections, assumptions and false fears (fears of being judged, not good enough, and ungrounded fears), which create unnecessary suffering and unhappiness. It is an internal battle between heart and mind that takes patience, practice, persistence, courage and commitment in order to transform the war-torn emotional battlefield into a landscape that supports and integrates Heart-Mind. The challenge requires sobriety, awareness and clarity that personal freedom is attainable beyond the struggle.
Courage – To question and challenge one's own beliefs, to continue on the path in spite of life's challenges, disappointments and failures, to have the self-discipline to self-motivate, to not be controlled by the opinions of others.
Sobriety – Clear headed and discerning what is me and what is not me, not under the influence of the "other", using common sense and practicing self-control.
Awareness – Perception without interpretation or opinion that allows discernment. Self-awareness is the clarity to know who and what you are. It is presence without projection or self-importance. Takes practice.
Personal Freedom – To love and serve who and what we are called to love and serve, to have the freedom to choose what we want to do when and with whom.
Photo ©2017 by Marion Z. Skydancer


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I sometimes hear from people who have realized that in addition to its very aggressive hair loss , scalp and hair become very oily. Once you do a little research on this topic , sometimes they find that an oily scalp can be a sign of another condition of hair loss called androgenetic alopecia. But amateur diagnosis does not fit completely , either by the loss of androgen-related hair does not always present itself with dramatic outpouring . oily
So I could hear a similar comment . "I always thought I had telogen effluvium, because my hair loss started after I stopped taking a drug that was for some time, but now I realize something in my hair besides just spill. my scalp and hair are oily and greasy and have never had this problem before. When I tried to investigate, I read in several places that excess oil can be a sign androgenetic alopecia . could have telogen effluvium with a leather hair healthy when it comes to something that is new ? "
I'll tell you my opinion on that, but I am not a specialist or hair loss . However, because of my own experience and research I've done , I have an opinion, but I suggest you see a doctor if you still have doubts. oily
I think sometimes you can see a scalp is more fat when you have telogen effluvium. And here's why . When many more hair follicles go into the resting phase and shedding , inflammation is created sometimes when all this hair loss at a time. ( This is why your scalp may be sore or becomes red or pink. ) Now if your scalp is inflamed, your body can not see what harm . Therefore, he will try to protect themselves and reduce the same damage . But this mechanism is not your scalp must abstain ? Oil. That's why sometimes people who use harsh shampoos for oily hair find it actually makes the problem worse. The shampoo was hard on the scalp and scalp reacted to become fat , because the oil is produced to act as a protective barrier. It is possible that this was the case here . One thing you can try is topical emu oil as relaxing or tea tree .
Another possible reason why you might see an oily scalp is the hair care system you use. Sometimes when hair loss are naturally we just wash your hair less. Or, if we wash it carefully, is that it is not as effective . This may cause a little more oil than we are used to. In addition, as described above , aggressive topical products and try to stop the loss of hair can irritate or dry scalp that can bring this protective oil. Finally , sometimes the oils we use to satisfy our scalp can cause hair appears to be fat.
With all that said , it is possible to have two hair loss conditions and may think that you have when you really another . Aggressive androgenetic alopecia with effusion was certainly not out of the question . That's why a doctor may be helpful. But since this rejection was initiated when the medication was discontinued , it was reasonable to assume telogen effluvium , unless you started seeing more loss or thinning patterns.
I can say that my scalp gets a little fat when I was very aggressive TE. Fortunately, my dumb never progressed to loss specific reasons . But I still wanted to put my scalp and inflammation of the address , which definitely made things better.
from Blogger http://1topofwhole.blogspot.com/2013/12/i-thought-i-had-telogen-effluvium-but.html
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What are the uses of Hospitality Email List?
Unlike other Email Service Providers, B2B Data Services empowers marketers with world-class email lists to accomplish their marketing objectives. What better way to connect to your target audience than a perfectly consolidated mailing list? So if you want to launch products or service targeting these prospects, then our service will be helpful to in the manners mentioned below:
- Build a strong network using our database
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So, connect with us by calling us at +1 888-538-5188 or mailing at email@example.com to know more about our list of Hospitality Email Lists


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WASHINGTON — A new report by congressional economists says the economic stimulus law produced jobs for 1 million to 2.1 million people by the end of last year.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office study says the $862 billion stimulus added between 1.5 to 3.5 percentage points to the growth of the economy. The controversial stimulus law combined tax breaks for individuals and businesses with lots of government spending.
The report reflects agreement among economists that the measure boosted the economy. But the wide range of estimates means it won't resolve the debate over how effective the stimulus has been.
… we'd like to ask for your support. More people are reading the Mississippi Business Journal than ever before, but advertising revenues for all conventional media are falling fast. Unlike many, we do not use a pay wall, because we want to continue providing Mississippi's most comprehensive business news each and every day. But that takes time, money and hard work. We do it because it is important to us … and equally important to you, if you value the flow of trustworthy news and information which have always kept America strong and free for more than 200 years.
If those who read our content will help fund it, we can continue to bring you the very best in news and information. Please consider joining us as a valued member, or if you prefer, make a one-time contribution.Click for more info


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Belknap and Garvin Gate lead this weekend's fall festivities
Finally fall has fallen on Louisville, which means it's time to remember what it feels like to enjoy the outdoors with a sweater wrapped around your waist. There are a handful of events this weekend that encourage you to mingle with neighbors, take in some live local music, get out to the farm and see how long you can hold a beer stein with one arm.
Here's an Insider roundup of what to do and when to do it.
Belknap Fall Festival — Oct. 12-13
This quaint Highlands corridor throws a street party each year at this time, celebrating the best the city's artists, organizations, restaurants and musicians have to offer.
This is the 24th year of the Belknap Fall Festival, and more than 50 booths will take over the Douglas Loop area near Dundee Tavern, Graeter's Ice Cream and Heine Bros.
The free fest runs from 6-11 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Saturday. The live music schedule is below.
Friday, Oct. 12
- 6:30 p.m. — Carl Anthony Stuck
- 8 p.m. — VILLA MURE
- 9:30 p.m. — Anemic Royalty
Saturday, Oct. 13
- 11:30 a.m. — Lost Tribe Louisville
- 1 p.m. — Brigid Kaelin
- 3 p.m. — Louisville Leopard Percussionists
- 4:30 p.m. — Southern Sirens Music
- 6:15 p.m. — Bleu Phonque
- 8 p.m. — MaryMary
- 9:45 p.m. — Carly Johnson
Garvin Gate Blues Festival — Oct. 12-13
This free blues fest has been taking over the streets of Old Louisville since 1988 with live music, arts and crafts booths, food and drink options and lots of dancing. This year there will be more than 50 vendors and a sweet lineup that features both local and national acts (see below).
This year there's also a Blues For Youth program featuring young and aspiring musicians, organized with the help of Jecorey "1200" Arthur. The fest runs 6:30-11:15 p.m. on Friday and 2-11:15 p.m. on Saturday. The live music schedule is below.
Friday, Oct. 12
Four Roses Stage
- 6:30-7:15 p.m. — Jamiah "BluesSuperMan" Rogers Band
- 8:15-9 p.m. — L.C. Williams and The Driver
- 10-11:15 p.m. — Andy T Band featuring Alabama Mike and Anson Funderburgh
Info+ Kentucky Blues Stage
- 7:20-8 p.m. — One Shot Johnny
- 9:10-9:55 p.m. — Ladies Sing the Blues featuring LaToye Montgomery, Lainey Brown and Jennifer Lauletta
Saturday, Oct. 13
Four Roses Stage
- 2-2:45 p.m. — The Pearls
- 3:15-4 p.m. — King Bee & The Stingers
- 4:30-5:15 p.m. — Django Knight
- 5:45-6:30 p.m. — Mississippi Adam Riggle Band
- 7:15-8:15 p.m. — Laurie Jane & the 45s and Friends
- 8:45-9:45 p.m. — Danielle Nicole
- 10-11:15 p.m. — Keeshea Pratt Band
Info+ Kentucky Blues Stage
- 4:05-4:25 p.m. & 5:20-5:40 p.m. — da Mudcats
- 6:40-7:10 p.m. & 8:20-8:40 p.m. — The Dirty Church Revival
Foxhollow Farm's Fall Festival — Saturday, Oct. 13
This outdoor festival is held at a real farm not too far from town — Foxhollow Farm in Crestwood, Ky. The 11th annual Fall Festival features hay rides, a corn maze, pick-your-own pumpkins, a beer garden, arts and crafts, carnival games, food trucks, adult beverages, live music and more.
"I love inviting our community to experience wholesome fall fun," said Maggie Keith, fourth-generation steward of Foxhollow Farm, in a news release. "Pumpkins, colorful leaves and grazing cattle in lush fall grasses are a wonderful sight to see. Our community gets to experience a working farm, play games and tap along to some great music. The farm is glowing with life and beauty."
There is a $10 admission fee ($7 in advance), but all proceeds go to the Dare to Care food bank. The fest runs from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday and is family-friendly, except for your pets. Leave them at home.
Flea Off Market — Oct. 13-14
While this isn't a festival per se, it is a chance to get out and about and pick up some records for your vinyl collection or something. The monthly flea market features more than 200 vendors selling all sorts of goods, and there's also live music, food trucks, craft beer and cocktails.
We hear there might be happy hour pints of Monnik Beer for $4 around, say, 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, but don't tell anyone we told you. The free market runs 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday.
Kittens & Cocktails @ The Hub — Saturday, Oct. 13
We're not really a cat person, but we can sniff out a good cause and event when we come across one. The Hub restaurant and bar, located at 2235 Frankfort Ave., is hosting Kittens & Cocktails on their patio, and event that'll feature adoptable kitties courtesy of the Animal Care Society.
Basically, if you like cats, you can sip on cat-themed cocktails while you pet free felines fishing around for a forever home. It all goes down Saturday from 3-6 p.m., and attendees are encouraged to bring an item from the Animal Care wish list, which includes Pedigree canned dog food, laundry detergent, paper towels and Method bathroom cleaner in the eucalyptus scent (details!), among others.


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re: Explain Object Storage like I'm Five VIEW POST
If you have more than instance of a server you probably end up storing common data in object storage because it's distributed and you can access it from wherever. Think about it: if you store "filea.txt" in the file system of the server the only way you can get to it is if you connect to that machine somehow, download it on your computer and then upload it somewhere else you might need it.
With a distributed object storage you just need the path and you can access it from wherever.
The file system in a cloud context is useful for temporary local data: let's say you're writing an image processing system, you are interested only in the last artifact, not the steps in the middle. Another use for a file system is to actually store the files of an application server you want to install manually, like on your computer :-)
A database gives you querying capabilties, the ability to join related and unrelated data, data typing and validation, the whole ACID set of features and so on. Not all databases have all the features and some are better than others depending on what you need.
Thanks a lot for the explanation :)


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Vocational Consultant
Margaret brings an inclusive and positive approach to supporting clients affected by disability, injury or long term health conditions; enabling them to achieve a sustainable return to their substantive role or transition to a new role. Her work has included assisting clients with mental health conditions to improve their condition management and retain their roles as well as supporting transitioning soldiers and veterans to adjust to civilian life. Margaret has supported several leading commercial companies contributing to their recruitment drives, assessment campaigns, disability awareness and absence management procedures.
Margaret is a Certified Disability Management Professional and a British Psychological Society member, experienced in utilising motivational interview techniques, psychometric testing and leading profiling tools to assess aptitudes, abilities and development areas.


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I International Conference of the Temple, Spiritual Chivalry and Templarism in Almourol available in video (full lenght, all conferences and visits, 9h30m)
The Municipality of Vila Nova da Barquinha just released the full 9h30m of video that documents the full I International Conference of the Temple, Spiritual Chivalry and Templarism that took place in Almourol, Portugal in October, where the milestone Protocol of Almourol was signed.
The I Conference was the first International Event organized by the CITA (here and here), an Interpretation Center for the Order of the Temple and the Order of Christ that complements the world famous Templar Castle of Almourol.
During the Event the OSMTHU and the OSMTJ, represented respectively by Master Antonio Paris and Regent Nicholas Haimovici-Hastier, signed a Protocol with the Municipality, declaring the CITA and Almourol as an International Place of Templar Cultural Interest. Both branches of the Order also committed to the development of the library and archive available at the CITA and the organization of three yearly Conferences where members of the Order, the academic community, researchers and the general public can come together and celebrate the Templar heritage (here).
Short clip of how the collaboration came to be:
The released videos extensively document the Guided Tours and the Conferences that took place along three days in October 2019. A large part of the content is in English. The footage will be edited shortly in order to make the conferences more accessible and subtitle in English those that are only available in Portuguese.
The present uncut release is, however, very useful for all those who were not able to attend and want to have access to all the discussions and groundbreaking research presented. Reviewing the videos will also provide almple reason not to miss the II International Conference to be held in Almourol in October 2020. (more info: email@example.com)
THE VIDEOS (Parts 1, 2 and 3)
The Story of the Crown of Thorns
When the magnificent Cathedral of Our Lady (Notre Dame) in Paris caught fire earlier this week, the world was mesmerized by the apparent destruction of such an historical and holy edifice—one of the most widely recognized and frequently visited structures in the world.
Although the soaring Gothic cathedral is well known, until recent events relatively few people knew that it has been home to the holy relic of the Crown of Thorns worn by Christ during his Passion. The destructive fire sharpened the world's focus on the cathedral, Paris, and the Catholic Church at the beginning of the holiest week of the year and, in God's own providential way, made more widely known the existence of this singular relic.
It has also aroused skepticism and questions. How did one of the central relics of the Passion end up in the capital of France? How do we know this relic is authentic? Isn't it more likely some pious myth?
The story of the arrival of the crown in Paris is a dramatic tale of the sacking of a majestic city, a bankrupt empire, and a saintly monarch desirous of manifesting leadership of Christendom in medieval Europe.
Three of the four Gospel narratives record that Jesus, during his Passion, was crowned with thorns by Roman soldiers (Mark 15:17, Matt 27:29, John 19:2, 5). However, documentary evidence for the crown's whereabouts after the Crucifixion are scarce until the fifth century, when the Gallo-Roman bishop St. Paulinus of Nola (354-431) referenced the relics of the crown and the cross in his writings. A century later, the Roman senator and later monk Cassiodorus (c. 490-585) mentioned the relic of the crown of thorns in his commentary on Psalm 86.
Another sixth-century reference is found in the travel diary of the anonymous Pilgrim of Piacenza, a Christian from Italy who went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, who wrote, "There is in that church [the basilica Church of Hagia Zion] also the crown of thorns with which the Lord was crowned." From the sixth to the tenth centuries, there are reports of the distribution of thorns from the crown to various persons including St. Germanus (c. 469-576), the bishop of Paris; Charlemagne (742-814), king of the Franks and holy roman emperor; and the Anglo-Saxon king Æthelstan (894-939). It is believed that sometime in the mid-eleventh century the crown was transferred from Jerusalem to Constantinople, where it remained for nearly two centuries.
In the thirteenth century, Robert de Clari (1170-1216), a French warrior who participated in the Fourth Crusade (1201-1205), provided a description of his Crusade activities. He describes in his chronicle the multitude of precious objects and sacred relics contained within the majestic city of Constantinople:
Within this chapel were found… two pieces of the true cross… two nails that were driven through the midst of his hands and through the midst of his feet. And there, too, was found the blessed crown wherewith he was crowned, which was wrought of sea rushes, sharp as dagger blades."
The Fourth Crusade, in 1204, resulted in the sack of Constantinople, which Pope Innocent III (r.1198-1216) condemned, and the establishment of a Latin Empire (called "this new France" by Pope Honorius III and colloquially known as "Romania") that lasted until 1261. The Latin Empire faced significant challenges in its short existence, including the presence of exiled Byzantines, who wanted their imperial capital back, and a lack of western military manpower. Many westerners left the Holy Land and settled in Latin-controlled Constantinople, which ultimately weakened Christian-controlled territory in the Latin East (Acre, one of the last major Christian cities in the Holy Land, fell to a Muslim army in 1291).
The last Latin emperor to rule in Constantinople was Baldwin II (r. 1228–1273), who was also the only Latin emperor born in the city. Faced with significant financial difficulties, Baldwin embarked on a tour of western Europe in a recruitment campaign for men and money. While in France, Baldwin received word that his barons had borrowed money from the Venetians and used the crown of thorns as collateral. He begged King St. Louis IX(1214–1270) to help him repay the loan to prevent the transfer of the precious relic to Venice. In return, Baldwin promised to gift the crown of thorns to Louis.
The saintly monarch envisioned France as a new Holy Land, and what better way to manifest that vision than with possession of the relics of the Lord's Passion. The king earnestly believed that the offer from Baldwin was providential and agreed to provide the funds to the young emperor. King Louis sent two Dominicans (Jacques and André), one of whom had spent time in Constantinople and could verify the authenticity of the relic, with a royal letter to the imperial city. The royal messengers arrived on June 17, 1238, one day before the loan's due date. The Venetians, disappointed that the prized relic would not permanently reside in their city, honored the king's payment with the condition that Louis allow the crown to travel to Venice for a period of veneration by the inhabitants of the republic. Louis agreed to the request, and, in 1239, the crown was transported across the sea to Venice, where it was received with much adulation.
That same year, the relic began the overland journey to France. Miraculous occurrences were reported during its journey to Louis's kingdom, including weather phenomena wherein no rain fell when the relic was transported by day but torrential rains when it was safely inside at night. The king planned to accompany the crown into Paris (along with his mother, brothers, several bishops, barons and knights), meeting it ninety miles away at the town of Villeneuve-l'Archevêque.
From there, the king and his entourage began a penitential procession to Sens, which welcomed the relic with great fanfare. Clerics brought out the city's collection of saint relics to welcome the crown amid the ringing of church bells and the sound of organs. The relic's journey of continued via the Yonne River from Sens to Vincennes over several days. As they neared Paris, Louis and his brother Robert carried the crown of thorns into the city barefoot, each wearing a single tunic. Once inside the city, the king took the crown to Notre Dame Cathedral for a brief period before its arrival at the royal palace, where it was placed in the Chapel of St. Nicholas.
Recognizing that such a holy relic should not remain in a small palace chapel, King St. Louis IX ordered the construction of a special chapel on the Île de la Cité, near Notre Dame. The Gothic style chapel, known as Sainte-Chapelle (Holy Chapel), containing fifteen exquisite stained glass windows that depict 1,113 scenes from the Bible, was consecrated on April 26, 1248.
The crown of thorns remained in Sainte-Chapelle for over 500 years until the French Revolution, which saw the crown removed to the National Library for several years until the archbishop of Paris received it back with the signing of the Concordat of 1801 between Napoleon and Pope Pius VII. Subsequently, the crown was placed in Notre Dame. Encased in a jeweled rock crystal reliquary and containing only a circlet of rushes and no thorns, the relic was displayed on First Fridays of the month and Fridays during Lent, including Good Friday when the faithful were allowed to venerate it.
Although the fire destroyed the spire and wooden roof of the almost 900-year-old cathedral, a courageous priest, Fr. Jean-Marc Fournier, rescued the crown, along with other holy relics and the Blessed Sacrament, from the blaze. Let us hope and pray that the renewed interest and knowledge of Notre Dame Cathedral and the crown of thorns caused by the great fire of 2019 might bring a resurgence of faith to France—the Eldest Daughter of the Church—and the whole world.
by Steve Weidenkkopf in catholic.com
The historical reality of the Templars of 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Assassin's Creed'
The planning was meticulous. Signed and sealed, laden with accusation and instruction, the letters were sent by the king to local authorities throughout his realm. They were to act exactly one month later, simultaneously and at the crack of dawn — on a Friday the 13th, as it happened. The targets were unaware of what lay in store, their leader even spending time with the king and seeming to enjoy his favor. The hour came, and armed men launched their surprise, summarily carrying off hundreds to the king's dungeons, and many ultimately to their deaths. It was a performance reminiscent of a Stalinist purge or Hitler's Night of the Long Knives.
The year was 1307, and the month was October. The king was Philip IV of France. And his victims were all members of the order of "the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Jerusalem," better known as the Knights Templar — or simply the Templars. Over a period of two centuries, this charitable and military order of Crusaders had grown in power and wealth. At a stroke, and with the acquiescence of a weakened pope, Philip destroyed the order, imprisoning its leaders and burning many at the stake. "God will avenge our death," said James of Molay, the last Grand Master, as he faced the flames on an island in the Seine.
And, in a way, God has. The Templars live on in popular culture — from the video game "Assassin's Creed" to Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code." Philip IV does not.
Dan Jones, the author of well-regarded histories of the Plantagenets and the Wars of the Roses, obviously gives no credence to the conspiratorial fantasies that have been spun around the Templars over the years. No, they do not guard the Ark of the Covenant or the Holy Grail, and never did. No, a surviving remnant does not protect the identities of the descendants of Jesus and Mary Magdelene. No, the order does not secretly run the world — that's the Trilateral Commission or maybe Skull and Bones. In "The Templars," Jones relegates this curious afterlife to an epilogue. His aim is to present a gripping historical narrative, and in this he succeeds.
The raw material is rich. Founded by a French knight in 1119, after the successful First Crusade, the Templars began with a mission to protect throngs of pilgrims now traveling to the Holy Land. The members of the order wore white robes with a distinctive red cross, embraced personal poverty and lived according to a regime codified by the great Cistercian abbot Bernard of Clairvaux. A papal charter was followed by a papal decree granting the Templars an exemption from taxes and local laws, effectively creating a transnational entity whose members could go anywhere. As Jones describes it, the order comes across as a combination of Blackwater, Goldman Sachs, Kroll International, FedEx, Fort Knox, Bechtel and, well, the Red Cross.
The financial acumen of the Templars was considerable. In the post-"Da Vinci Code" era, visitors to London often make their way to the Temple Church, between Fleet Street and the Thames, built in the mid-12th century. The circular nave — typical of Templar churches — is the oldest part of the structure and was used as a repository by English nobles and by the Crown itself. "By the 1240s," Jones writes, "the order was providing diverse financial services to some of the richest and most powerful figures across Christendom." The Templars "guaranteed debts, ransomed hostages and prisoners of war on credit, and could arrange very large loans — such as the one made in 1240 to Baldwin II, the emperor of Constantinople, and secured by his very own fragment of the True Cross."
The order's military record was mixed. In 1187, an army of Templars and others, under King Guy of Jerusalem, was surrounded and slaughtered by the sultan Saladin in his successful campaign to restore Palestine to the Muslim fold. Saladin had played his hand skillfully: stopping up wells even as he enticed the Christians farther into the searing flats; pausing long enough to allow dehydration to take its toll; then moving in for the kill. Some 200 Templars were captured, and Saladin beheaded them all.
That was an unhappy episode, but the Templars had another century of influential life in front of them, until that Friday the 13th in 1307. Philip IV was pious, paranoid, unscrupulous and mercurial — and deeply in debt to the Templars. It was all too easy to manufacture charges of heresy, blasphemy and sexual depravity: urinating on the cross, having sex on the altar — the usual allegations. The power and secretiveness of the Templars only fueled the charges. The decisive blow was struck in France, but within a few years the Templars were extinct throughout Christendom, except in the popular imagination.
"The themes of the Templar story resonate powerfully today," Jones observes. He rightly does not pontificate about this and draws no specious parallels, but the reader can't help recognizing familiar territory. There is the preoccupation in the West with what we now call the Middle East. Religions collide and atrocities abound. Cries of "Allahu akhbar" pierce the din of battle. The power of states is threatened, or seen to be threatened, by unaccountable forces with global tentacles. Information is unreliable and easily manipulated, allowing conspiracy theories to take root and spread.
Nothing is left of the Templars except words on parchment and ruins in stone. An older crusading order with certain similarities, the Knights Hospitaller, does still exist, after a fashion — its genetic progeny are the Knights of Malta. They have a palatial headquarters on the Aventine in Rome. They have a papal charter and enjoy quasi-sovereign status. They can issue their own passports. They maintain diplomatic relations with a hundred countries. And, like the Templars, they do not rule the world.
By Cullen Murphy in The Washington Post
'Knightfall' – Tom Cullen Interview on Playing a Templar Knight on a Quest for the Holy Grail
Tom Cullen Knightfall Interview:
Did you have to do any extra training or had you already known how to use the sword?
Tom Cullen: "In drama school in the UK we do a lot of fight training, and so I'd done a lot of sword training prior. And,I found that I had the propensity for killing people, ironically. (Laughing) So, I'd actually done extra exams and had some practice while studying in drama school but that was about eight years ago. I hadn't swung a sword in about eight years, so it was all very new in many respects.
The stunt team that we had was led by an amazing Frenchman, Cédric Proust. He is a top stuntman and fight choreographer. He really put us through it and we had a great swordsman called Roman. The entire team wanted us to be at a very, very high level. Every day on set they would drill us and I did about three months of physical training beforehand to get myself and my body ready for the fighting portion of my character and the series.
We also did a two and a half week boot camp where we would walk in the morning and do some circuit training and then do fighting in the afternoon. Later, we'd go horse riding and do some more sword training and then we would go to the gym. When it came to the actual filming, because there were a lot of fight scenes I was filming 14 hours a day doing scene work and then I'd have to do my fight training either on my lunch breaks or on the weekends. Any kind of second in the day that I did have I would fill it by going up to the stables and ride.
Working on Knightfall was a full-on experience because the team wanted it to look authentic and real, and when you watch the fights they are absolutely incredible. I'm so proud of all of the actors who've participated in the battles because we've really done a great job. The stunt guys have really trained us well and they're epic battles and muddy and gruesome. And they feel very real, which I think is something I'm very proud of.
There is an incredible battle sequence in the final episode which is the biggest thing I've ever been involved in. We had like 400 guys on a battlefield fighting for about two weeks. It's epic and amazing. And the real geek, nerd in me – because I am one – just can't believe that I'm in it. I'm extremely proud of it."
How much research did you do?
Tom Cullen: "Whenever I have done a historical piece, I think it's imperative that you have to bathe yourself in as much literature to understand the world as much as possible, so that when you get onto the set, the world is just vibrating inside you. I wanted to know as much about the Crusades and about the politics at the time. Not just the politics in Europe or in the Middle East, but also Mongolian politics because they had a huge influence.
You just need to immerse yourself in the world and know everything that these men would have known, understand every single permutation and the political permutation that is affected where they are at this point and what drives these men and women to do the things that they do. I think that's something that you have to do, otherwise it's just lazy and in a way unforgivable because at that point that's where you make mistakes.
You take history for granted and history should never be taken for granted because it's essential for us furthering ourselves as a society and as a culture, because the one thing that history teaches us is that it's cyclical. And so, yes, I read a lot and we had a fantastic historian on set. His name is Dan Jones. He's just released an amazing book that you must read called The Templars which is on the New York Times Bestseller's List. It's brilliant. He was there on hand at all times feeding into us and making sure that what we were portraying was as accurate as possible. Anything that would come up in the script that we didn't know, we would use him as a source of knowledge and he would say, 'Go and read this, go and read that,' or just tell us because he's a real fountain of knowledge.
And that wasn't just the access that put me in the world of the Knights Templar. […] The costume design, the art direction, the production design, makeup, etc. it was all so dense and real that you feel like you're right in it as soon as you turn up on set. It's just all there for you, you know, and you can really immerse yourself into the world.
The days we spent on set were amazing. We filmed on the biggest sets in Europe at Barrandov Studios. They built Medieval Paris. I've never seen anything quite like it. In the show, I have to do this shot where I'm riding down this nearly 200-meter long street that they built. And there are 350 extras and each extra has a job, each extra has a name. And it's live, real world and you just forget that the cameras are there because it's so extraordinary.
Our costume designer, Diana Cilliers, was amazing. I remember the first time we did our screen test, which is where you put on the costume in front of camera and you kind of like pose and walk around so they can see what it looks like on camera with the makeup and the hair and all of that kind of stuff. I remember putting the costume on, the chainmail and everything, and it weighed 50 pounds which was like an insane amount of weight. I struggled to walk down the corridor to get to the studio to do the screen test.
I was like, 'Guys, why is the costume so heavy? How are we supposed to move and fight in this?' And the answer was that Diana tried out lighter material such as plastics and other materials but they just didn't look authentic. And so they put us in the most authentic costume that they could and we just had to deal with it. We got bigger and we got stronger, and so very quickly we were able to run and jump, get on horses in the 50-pound costumes and do everything that we needed to do to play our parts. But, you know, you can see the difference in the way that the costumes move and the way that your body moves in them. It's just authentic and I think it makes for a very real experience when watching the show."
Can you talk about Landry's relationship with Godfrey, played by Sam Hazeldine?
Tom Cullen: "So the relationship that Landry has with Godfrey runs throughout the entire first season. And so in episode one, Godfrey is Landry's surrogate father. Landry was an orphan and Godfrey essentially took him in and saved him from this orphanage. And so because of the promise Godfrey saw in him, Landry became a Templar at the age of 11 which is very, very, very rare.
One of the Templar rules is that you must become a Templar of your own volition because it's such a monastic lifestyle where you do things like eat your food out of the same bowl as another man. There's no vanity, there's no possessions. It's completely monastic. And so it's very rare for a young boy to join the Templars like Landry did.
So, Godfrey becomes Landry's father and as the season goes on, in episode one there is a truth revealed to Landry about Godfrey that he didn't know. And Landry, like a classic hero that we all know, as the protagonist, he hunts and searches for the truth at all costs. He is like a boar who gets physically beaten, emotionally beaten and he just gets back up by himself and charges towards the truth.
Godfrey is pivotal in that circle of truth that Landry is striving towards and it isn't a very easy journey for Landry to go on throughout the first season. But, it's a very satisfying journey for the viewers. Every time the scripts would come in there would be a new revelation and it would be a new shock and a new turn and it was very cool to read and really fun to play. I hope that the audience enjoys it as much as we enjoyed making it."
Is any particular theme or aspect to Knightfall you think will really resonate with the viewers?
Tom Cullen: "Yes, sure. I think what I'm very proud of in the show is that you can kind of look at the show objectively from the outside having not seen it and say, 'Oh, this is about guys swinging swords and that's what the show is about,' but the show is so much more than that. The show is about politics. We have a lot of stuff that takes place in the French Court at the time, dissecting and breaking down the politics and the machinations of political interplay, which I just love that kind of stuff.
It has a fantastic central spine through the show; an amazing love story which I'm surprised at how strong and moving that story was as we were filming it. It kind of grew into this thing that we had no idea it would become. The show talks about revenge and betrayal, brotherhood, loyalty, faith, humanity and mortality. I think that it raises really big questions about who we are whilst at the same time being really kind of fun and entertaining. So, that takes you on a really wild journey.
And, so I truly believe the show has something for everybody. I think that it is by no means a gendered show. I think that women would love it as much as men will love it and that is something I'm really proud of, too. It has fantastic, strong female characters. They are actually probably stronger than all of the male characters and they're just as complex and rich as the male counterparts, and it's very moving. I've watched the last episode three or four times now and I've shed many tears every single time. It's a great rollercoaster."
What do you like about the medieval time period?
Tom Cullen: "I've always been obsessed with the Medieval time period because I think it's a time that we can look back on and learn from. And, actually, 800 years isn't that long ago and that this is the time really when the world that we live in today was created and formulated. We're still feeling the repercussions of the actions and choices the people made in the medieval period today.
It's also a period that is grimy and dirty and dangerous. The line between life and death is so thin, it's really interesting to learn about. And I think that's a fantastic place to make a drama in. It's a very rich world since life and death was so next to each other, and it's world rich in terms of human wants and needs. Nowadays our lives are reasonably comfortable for certain people, especially in America. We typically don't have that kind of life and death threat every single day where we are going to drop down with scurvy or have to go into battle.
So, our choices aren't as drastic. But if you have a lifespan of 35 years, every choice you make is loaded. And so I think that the world of the Medieval period is one of very high octane and people making life and death choices every single move. And that, for me, is an exhilarating period of time to make a drama in."
How do the scenes in Knightfall resonate in your own life? How do you draw on your own life to play the part of Landry?
Tom Cullen: "That's such a good question. On the paper, it isn't necessarily very easy to draw on myself, and I think that I like to work as an actor from the places of truth instead of drawing on myself as an empathetic being. Well, I've had some experiences personally that I put it into Landry but not many. I worked in an empathetic way, anyway where I try and put myself into the character's body and some kind of lose myself as much as possible. And so my thoughts and my character's thoughts were somewhat separate as opposed to my own.
I don't really like to draw on my own experiences. I feel that's confusing and muddied and I don't think it's very healthy. So, it wouldn't have been very healthy for me to continue working in that way and it's not why I'm an actor. But the themes that were very resonant with me in the show, that resonated with me as a reader and as a viewer and as an actor, are ones of brotherhood and loyalty, love and lust, and denying one's own happiness, complexity in relationships with a father and feelings of abandonment. All of that stuff really resonated with me."
Do you believe that because Landry became a Templar at such a young age that's why he was able to rebel against that part of his vow and enter into a romantic relationship?
Tom Cullen: "I think that when we first meet Landry at the top of episode 1 he is 20, and he is brash and young. He is a maverick, incredibly cocky, and is kind of emboldened by the fact that he has God on his side and he thinks that he's invincible, which I think a lot of 20 year-olds think, regardless of whether they have God on their side or not. I know I certainly felt like that.
But what we see at the top of episode one is his entire life flipped upside down when they lose Acre, the last Templar stronghold in the Holy Land and they lose the Holy Grail. And so we flash forward 15 years and when you've been brought up as a as a warrior, and that's all you know, everything you know, it's a tough reality to deal with. He's like a caged animal, unable to fulfill what he thinks is his only purpose and duty which is to fight.
And so when we meet him, he is this very, very complex, pulled apart guy in episode one. He is battling with his humanity and he is secular yet he is also still mentally devout. He is very loyal to his brothers, his family, yet he is lying to them. He is having an affair with a woman yet he is a monk. He is the bravest, most fearless warrior, yet he's starting to feel a sense of his own mortality. I think that's why he kind of falls in love with this woman. It's not that he's doubting God or that he's doubting the Templars or religion, but that he's doubting himself. He is in a conflict, in a battle with himself, which are the stories that I love to watch where your hero is so full of contradiction and battle and personal complications. And throughout the first season, we see him work through that and battle through that and try and find out who he really is. It's an awesome journey for me to play and to take viewers on."
Did you discuss what would happen moving forward with the series, where it might go in seasons two, three or four? Were you given an idea of Landry's entire arc beyond the first season? And if so, to what degree does that influence your approach to the character? How much are you able to build into the character as the series goes on?
Tom Cullen: "We love the show and we really hope that we can continue making it for as long as possible because we're a real family and we're very, very proud of it and we love making it. There's also still a lot of the Templar history that has yet to be told. We have an idea of where the show will go and where it will take us. But what actually happens is that while you're making a show, it becomes this dialogue that happens between the writers, the actors, directors, the costume designers, the art director, the production designer, makeup artists, etc. where you're constantly kind of feeding into this pot which is the show. It evolves and changes and moves in ways that you would never expect it to.
It's like a living organism but that surprises you. And so though we have an idea of where this is going, actually the truth is that we don't in many respects. We have the structure of history and what actually happened which we have to stay with but in terms of the characters, and their fuels and wants and needs and how they navigate their way through that history is something that we're constantly being surprised by with the characters. And that's a really exciting place to work with.
And especially as an actor, I don't want to know where the character is going because in life I have no idea what I'm doing tomorrow or how it's going to pan out. I can only be in the present and I can only make choices in the present, and so that's what you want your characters to do. And so the writers actually withheld scripts from us and didn't tell us what was happening later in this first season so that we could be surprised in the moments whilst we were making the episode, which is a really fantastic and authentic way to work. And then once we get the script, we kind of talk about them and collaborate on them.
Dominic Minghella is an incredible showrunner. He is a force of nature and an amazing man and a brilliant writer, and he really values the actors' input. He is always very good at fielding ideas and whether he takes them or not is up to him, but it feels like a very collaborative process where everybody is feeding into it and we all have ownership over the show and that's really exciting."
in showbizjunkies.com by REBECCA MURRAY
History's Knightfall delivers a fascinating story centered around the Knights Templar and their quest to find the Holy Grail in the early 14th century. Like the network's flagship series Vikings, Knightfall proves why History needs to develop more original dramas.
Knightfall goes big and bold right from the beginning with a large-scale battle set in the city of Acre. For a TV budget, the assault on the stronghold looks great, but it's the use of intricately placed cameras that make the sequence shine.
Typically, an actor that wears a helmet, like Thor, finds a reason to take it off, in order to better show the actor's face. Studios don't want to pay someone millions of dollars to hide beneath a helmet. Instead of taking the helmets off, Knightfall puts the cameras inside the helmets. It's a brilliant choice because it creates a feeling of claustrophobia that adds to the intensity of the fights.
The combat is well choreographed and believable. It's not as flashy as Vikings, but with warriors wearing armor that heavy, it must be difficult to move. The only complaint is the ineffective use of slow motion throughout the episode. It doesn't ruin any of the skirmishes, but it is distracting. It feels like the show is trying to be overly stylized when it doesn't need to be.
The characters that inhabit the story are remarkably realized. Landry (Tom Cullen) is one of the lead knights in the order. Cullen (Downton Abbey) brings all the good looks, charm, and toughness needed to carry a historical epic like Knightfall. Early on, Landry's close relationship with the King is revealed to be a sore spot between Landry and the rest of his brothers. This conflict should make for a compelling story down the road — especially if you know a little bit of the history concerning the Templar order.
Knightfall takes place around the time of the Templars' downfall, which according to some historical accounts, has to do with the troubled financial relationship between King Philip IV of France and the Templars. This version of the King, skillfully portrayed by Ed Stoppard (The Crown), doesn't seem like the type of guy who would betray his friends. These are merely first-impressions, but I'm excited to see how it all plays out. History is a network that's not afraid to toy with expectations, even in a historical setting (e.g. Vikings). Remember, this is a television show after all.
Some of the supporting characters based on their names alone add to the mystery surrounding the Grail legend. Parsifal (Bobby Schofield) is one such character. Schofield (Black Sea) effectively plays the wide-eyed farm boy who's in over his head. What's fascinating here is the historical significance of his name. In the legends about King Arthur, Parsifal (Percival) is one of Arthur's most trusted knights and he's also part of the Grail legend. It looks like the writers are using various legends and historical accounts to shape their story. This mixture of fantasy and history makes Knightfall all the more delightful.
It's nice to have a series that gives the Templar's a story from their point of view. Properties like Assassin's Creed haven't painted them in a good light and while there are reasons for that — having a different perspective on the ancient order is enjoyable to watch. Landry and his brothers are seen as protectors of the people, as opposed to cold-blooded killers.
Knightfall creates an engaging story centered around the Knights Templar and their search for the Holy Grail. With gorgeous costumes and wonderfully designed sets, Knightfall does a great job of bringing 14th century Paris to life. Backed by a strong performance from Tom Cullen, Knightfall should have enough staying power to see it through until the finale.
in ign.com by DAVID GRIFFIN
Note: This review is reprint from IGN. The OSMTHU has no official review of Knightfall. However, we should point out that Knightfall is a ficcional series with the Templars as a background. It's not History. You should enjoy it as you enjoy any other great fictional story.
If you're looking to get fit, Tom Cullen, star of History's Knightfall, has a suggestion for you: wear chain mail.
The actor stars as Landry, leader of the Knights Templar, in the newest scripted drama from the network home of Vikings — which meant wearing 50 pounds of armor nearly daily for the better part of a year.
"I didn't want to weigh the costume early on, because otherwise it would just become a thing in my head. I have weighed it since and it has become a thing in my head," Cullen, who played Lord Gillingham in Downton Abbey, told Rotten Tomatoes. "The costume weighed 50 pounds, which is a lot to be carrying for 14, 15 hours a day when you're fighting and riding horses. My body changed shape. I went from fit and kind of slender to muscular and big, just from the fact that I was carrying this amount of weight, this heavy costume.
"I couldn't even get on a horse when I first started," he confessed. "I had to have a stepladder because I didn't have the power in my legs to get over the horse. But by the end of the shoot, I was leaping and running and jumping on horses. It was intense."
So if you want to "get swole," try the Chain Mail Workout!
"It's where you wear 50 pounds of chain mail for seven months, every day, 15 hours a day," Cullen said. "That's all you have to do. And you'll end up [muscular]. I've had to go to my wardrobe and buy all new trousers because my ass is so big. Honestly, if you want an ass like Kim Kardashian, become a knight."
Knightfall takes place in the 1300s and follows the Knights Templar as they hunt to recover the Holy Grail in the final days of their reign, ahead of their eventual downfall. The series was shot in Eastern Europe on a Prague backlot — "they built medieval Paris, they built a temple, a palace, streets, a market, a moat, castle walls, a church, shops, alleyways, a pub — it was extraordinary," Cullen said. The show tackles the later days of the Knights Templar's reign of power.
"They were such a fascinating, clandestine sect," Cullen said. "That the myriad of lies and layers that they bathed themselves in — it's very difficult to unpack all of that. It was fascinating to learn about them. It was a real educational process for me."
While, like most people, Cullen had a working knowledge of the group, he learned a lot while simply researching for his role.
"One of the things that really stuck with me was that they invented to first bank," he said. "They created the banking system, and they created the first checks. They became the wealthiest fighting force in the world. And they answered to no country, no king, no queen. They only answered to God and to the Pope. No borders. You could cash your money in France, and you could take it out in Jerusalem. They were kind of untouchable. Fascinating guys. The thing that really surprised me was the level of their power. You learn about how they were in the battlefield. They were extraordinary. They would never leave. Even if they were losing, they would never turn their back and run. They would basically only surrender when the last man had been killed. That level of bravery and intelligence is an extraordinary combination, I think."
Cullen's character, Landry, was taken in by the Knights Templar as a 10-year-old orphan.
"All he's known is war, fighting, and God. When we first see him in episode 1, he's a very brash young maverick knight who ultimately loses the Holy Grail and loses Acre, the last stronghold in the Holy Land, which is the one thing that he understands himself through. The series is set 15 years after that event, and we find him questioning everything about himself. He's questioning his faith and his own identity. He's a very contradictory, very complex character. He is lying to his brothers. He's having an affair with a woman. But he is immensely loyal. He is maybe the most fearless, brave knight. Yet he is starting to discover his own humanity and his mortality. He is a very pious man and is still a very faithful man, yet he is starting to discover who he is outside of his brotherhood."
Yes, that's right — there's still plenty of sex on this show about religious monks, and Landry's dedication to the Knights Templar only wavers when his chastity vow is involved.
"He's very faithful to her," Cullen said. "He's a one-woman kind of guy."
Except he's supposed to be a no-woman kind of guy.
Added Cullen, "He's a very complex guy, which is the kind of guy I'm interested in watching."
The season will include major developments about Landry's love — in the first episode, even — but his relationship will take a back seat to his main quest: to recover the Holy Grail.
"Landry goes on a pathological hunt to try and find the Grail, because I think that he entwines a lot of his own identity into that piece of pottery," Cullen said. "I think that he hopes to find it not only to garner enough power to go back to the Holy Land, which is what he thinks that he should be doing, but also to return himself back to who he was — search for his identity before he became this very complex guy. What's great is that on the way, we see his life fall apart, and as he discovers more about himself, he discovers more about the people around him and the lies that are entwined around his whole life and his whole existence."
in rottentomatoes.com by Jean Bentley
The real human history behind Game of Thrones
MODERN authors don't have to look far for inspiration. Often, it's right there on their shelves in learned tomes of history.
Some of the stories are truly fantastic. Others are simply amazing examples of human behaviour.
Dr Katie Barclay of the Adelaide University school of History and Politics says she finds the use of history in popular modern fiction fascinating.
"These are clearly engaged with much of the historic literature, particularly for the medieval period," she said. "And, as a historian, you watch it, and you're constantly thinking 'yeah that's good', and 'no, that wouldn't happen', except it's fantasy so you can't get annoyed!"
Dr Barclay points out that history and fantasy have had a long and close relationship: The first novels were called "histories" and purported to be based on real events.
"They often were," Dr Barclay said, "at least to the level that they featured real historical characters if re-imagined to suit the sensibilities of the era".
And such "re-imagining" is central to the history-fantasy link. The same story is often retold in different ways over hundreds of years, with each incarnation pitched at the tastes and expectations of a new generation, she said.
"But the most inspirational tales for modern writers and audiences are not necessarily those based on the most outlandish stories or supernatural events, but those that relate to unexpected human relationships."
Here's just a sample of some of the most eye-catching historical sources you may recognise in popular books, films and television shows.
CAUTION: There are some Game of Thrones spoilers ahead. You've been warned.
The "Red Wedding" episode from Game of Thrones had fans in shock, with several characters cut down. However there is a precedent — clan-based slaughter in the north of Britain.
"The Scottish 'Red Weddings' linger in the historical imagination because of what it says about betrayal and loyalty and human relationships, and because they wiped out whole families, not just because they are bloody," Dr Barclay said.
The brutal slayings, while not weddings, were regarded as particularly heinous as they breached strict moral codes of hospitality.
In 1691 a terrible betrayal saw most of the key members of clan MacDonald massacred.
The Scottish clans had been summoned to produce a signed document swearing allegiance to King William of Orange. The MacDonald clan, delayed through a series of misfortunes, delivered their oath several days "too late".
Several months later, a troop of 120 men under the king's Captain Robert Campbell arrived at the MacDonald's estates in Glencoe and claimed shelter from the harsh weather.
Hospitality was duly offered, but, after a fortnight of enjoying the MacDonalds' food, drink and card-games, the soldiers slew about 40 of the clan as they slept in their beds in what would become known as the Glencoe Massacre. The 40 or so women and children that escaped died of exposure.
An earlier, similar, massacre has gone down in history as "The Black Dinner".
In 1440 the young Earl of Douglas (traditionally called the Black Douglas), 16, and his younger brother David were invited to dine at Edinburgh Castle with 10-year-old king James II.
The story goes that the young nobles were getting along like a house on fire, enjoying food, entertainment and each other's company until deep into the evening. Suddenly, legend has it, the severed head of a black bull was dropped on the dining table.
The two Black Douglas boys were dragged outside, given a mock trial, and beheaded.
The young king was not likely to have been to blame. The Chancellor of Scotland, Sir William Crichton, had issued the invitations as he felt the Black Douglas clan had grown too powerful.
If "Smaug" the dragon from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit gets your blood racing, imagine what impact the real thing would have had on medieval Europe.
The only encounter with a "dragon" recorded in history happened on the Mediterranean island of Rhodes in the 1340s. The question is, what was the beast really — a crocodile? A giant lizard?
According to the Order of St John's archives, the beast had established a lair to the south of the fortified city of Rhodes. There, it had begun preying on the local livestock and maidens.
Several Knights Hospitaller are said to have set out to prove their valour by tackling the dragon. After they failed to return, the Order's Grand Master firmly ordered a stop to such expeditions.
One, however, ignored the order. The French knight Dieudonne de Gozon decided to take on the beast personally. He gathered as many descriptions as he could of the animal from the country folk who had seen it and built a scale model.
He then trained his dogs to attack the creature and practised angles from which he could attack it with his sword and lance.
Once confident, he sallied forth into the countryside and slew the dragon. He was then summarily expelled from the Order for disobedience.
But the public outcry from the peasants about how poorly their hero had been treated soon saw "the Dragon Slayer" restored to the Order and he ended up becoming Grand Master himself in 1346.
"The Rhodes story is not the only crocodile as dragon story going around," Dr Barclay said. "There is one for St George too — only the crocodile got to Essex! We don't really know if it was a crocodile, that's just what a 19th Century scientist thought when he saw a skull in Rhodes that they claimed belonged to the dragon. Given that selling relics was big business during the medieval period and there was 600 years for a 'dragon skull' to go missing, decompose (or never exist in the first place) and be replaced with that of a crocodile by an entrepreneurial relic salesman, we don't really know the truth here. Maybe there really was a dragon!"
There is a reason why the likes of the Tudors keep appearing in books and on our screens. Many were truly awful people from absolutely horrible families.
"Games of Thrones is fascinating," Dr Barclay said, "not just because of the gruesome deaths and sex, but because these are families defending lineages, committing incest, being wiped out in a single generation.
"We get behind the families because of their relationships to each other, not just because they have dragons.
"Wendy Moore's Wedlock (a tale described by The Independent as a "misery memoir" of how Georgian Britain's worst husband met his match; it is "crammed with corrupt surgeons, questionable chaplains, fallen women and gossips") is also fascinating because of the manipulative and abusive relationship between husband and wife. Then there was Georgina, Duchess of Devonshire — which became the movie The Duchess — a story about a dodgy threesome."
There is also the true story of James Annesley, the heir to the estate of Anglesea. He was abducted as a child in the 1730s and sold into slavery in the Caribbean. He managed to escape in his late teens and returned to Britain to discover his uncle had inherited his estates. He won the first trial, but died during a drawn-out 10-year appeals process. This inspired stories such as Memoirs of an Unfortunate Nobleman, Peregrine Pickle and The Wandering Heir.
The magic of a glittering, all-dominating sword is a powerful icon of hope and victory. In the case of magic swords, it may be an idea burnt onto our cultural heritage by history.
Some say the legend of Excalibur could have been born from the impact a high-quality Roman sword would have had if it had survived into the Dark Ages of Britain. Such a refined, well-made and strong weapon could indeed win almost magical status among its enemies.
This is likely what happened some centuries earlier, as the Bronze Age collapsed before the onrushing Iron Age. The new grey metal swords cut through bronze as if it was butter. Whole armies could fall in the face of a smaller band of iron-equipped men.
Iron's impact was not just felt on the battlefield. The entire economy and social structure of Europe was turned on its head as it shifted away from bronze to the tougher, easier, more common metal.
Even the story of pulling Excalibur from the stone may be a cast-back to a long-forgotten time. Bronze blades were cast in moulds of stone before being pulled out and polished.
Iron was to experience a similar revolution when the refinement of steel emerged. It's an arms race that has never ended. And each age would most likely have had its own "Excalibur".
But such magic-history links are rare, Dr Barclay said.
"The 'magical' element of fantasy allows us to set aside our practical concerns ('that wouldn't happen') and go with the story ('it isn't real, so that's fine'), despite the fact that what drives the story could often happen without the magical elements," Dr Barclay said.
The romantic notion of a band of outcast warriors living on the fringes of civilisation who have taken a binding oath to protect the ignorant and ungrateful people they left behind is a common one.
It was no less popular when it was a reality.
The Knights Templar are well known for their supposed mystical secrets and the staged trial that accused them of such. But their real purpose also has passed into legend.
In the early 1100s, a small band of knights resolved to police the roads of the newly captured Holy Land for pilgrims making the dangerous journey from Europe.
To save their souls and prove their devotion the knights adopted the rigid rules and lifestyle of monks, with the added responsibility of protecting Christendom from all its enemies.
The idea spread like wildfire: Soon every second son in Europe was clambering for permission to win glory (and a secure lifestyle) within a rapidly expanding network of farms, forts and fleets all designed to feed equipment, knights and soldiers to a distant chain of castles protecting Jerusalem and the Holy Land.
Many other Orders sprung up, imitating the idea: The Hospitallers and the Teutonic Knights were among the largest.
However, the trials and tribulations of the hot and volatile Holy Land soon caused the chivalric dream to lose much of its gloss. As such, many in the later ranks of the Templars were drafted from "grey knights" who had committed crimes or lost the support of their lords. In return for their service, these warriors were promised the limited freedom the Order offered — as well as a chance to fight, pursue a career and save their souls.
In fact, it's already been. Several times.
We're talking weird seasons that last for years — not the typical annual event.
In 536AD a 10-year winter kicked off in the Northern Hemisphere. Scribes in Europe and Asia reported bitterly cold conditions that seemed to never end. The sun was darkened, they said, and remained "small" even into the depths of summer.
Famine, war and plague quickly followed as crops failed and hungry hordes started streaming south.
Tree rings and ice core samples have since confirmed these events and tied the decade-long winter to the eruption of a supervolcano in El Salvador. But many academics consider that is in itself not enough to explain the duration of this winter. Some say Earth may have also passed through Halley's Comet's dusty tail.
Another unusual winter struck Europe in 1816. Known as "The Year without Summer", hunger once again quickly swept across Europe as crops shrivelled up.
This event has been tied to the 1815 super eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia. The dust in the upper atmosphere from this eruption produced an average 1C drop in temperatures worldwide.
From Game of Thrones to The Narnia Chronicles, myth continues the reality.
in news.com.au


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Giving this tender, heartwarming moment a shot at this. (except for the second half, where they finally make up and chase down Peridot)
1. Follow the video below for voice references
2. Record with a microphone, having good to great sound quality, no background noise or too much static! I need to be able to hear you guys clearly!
3. Drink some water if you need to if you'd need to hydrate your throat and not wear it out.
4. Be the character! Make your emotions, reactions and ranges sound believable!
(panicking with Amethyst) AAAAH!! WHAT DO WE DO, WHAT DO WE DO, WHAT DO WE DO, WHAT DO WE DO?!
The Crystal Gems are gonna get yoooou!
I caught a Peridot!
*sighs* That's not what I mean... I really wanted to catch Peridot to make up for what I did... I wanted to prove to you that... that... everything could go back to normal...
But it's true! No matter how hard I try to be strong like you... I'm just a Pearl. I'm useless on my own. (starts to cry) I need someone to tell me what to do.
When we fuse, I can feel what it's like to be you. Confident and secure, and complete. You're perfect. You're the perfect relationship, you're always together, I just... I wanted to be a part of that.
.... I understand. I can't give up anymore!
You can't! You lied to me! You need to learn that there are consequences to your actions!
Yo're wrong! I'm not as strong as you think! I-I fell apart over this. Ruby and Sapphire were in turmoil over how you decieved me. I came undone...
(comforting) It's not easy being in control. I have weaknesses too. But I choose not to let them consume me. I struggle to stay strong because I know the impact I have on everyone. Please, understand, Pearl. You have an impact too. There are times when I look up to you for strength. You are your own gem. You control your destiny. Not me, not Rose, not Steven. But you must choose to be strong, so we can move forward. So I can trust you again.
Surrender, Peridot! You have nowhere to run!
Hey! They're actually talking!
Not if they get crushed!
(panicking with Steven) AAAAHH! WHAT DO WE DO, WHAT DO WE DO, WHAT DO WE DO, WHAT DO WE DO?!
(lies down, sighs heavily in relief) Finally.
(frustrated) Ugh, stupid button here I don't know what anything is AAAAAH! Blast this old Gem tech! Where'd they go? Why isn't anything working?! (the wall behind her blasts open, through which Steven and the gems enter) AAAGGH!!
Well, I'd love to stick around and watch another one of your patetic attempts to capture me, but I guess I'm just too smart for the likes of you lumpy, clumpty clods! *laughs*
*groans* You'll pay for this, Crystal Gems. I'll get you back, just you waaaaaaait!


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where are the chicks?
Anon I'll let Jules tell you the tale but he did describe them as "cute" to me… ;-)
zah? Now I'm confused. There are, however, lots of cute English girls getting around on scooters replete with tennis outfits/racquets. Babe I think you should get a scooter ;-)


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So caucus has voted. The party members in their thousands have voted. On Sunday, we'll know the result. Who will be the leader to steer Labor away from the turbulence of the Rudd and Gillard period, and into the next phase?
The two candidates have made much of their similarities and their common values throughout the process of the leadership ballot, but these are two different men, with two distinctly different styles of political leadership.
Here are five things to ponder this weekend, as we wait for the result.
1. Which candidate gives Labor the best chance of moving past the Rudd/Gillard era?
The internal consensus among parliamentarians on that question (while not settled of course) seems to point towards Bill Shorten. Shorten, a significant protagonist in the 2010 coup against Kevin Rudd, and then the effort to bring him back as prime minister in 2013, has nonetheless pitched himself more deftly than Anthony Albanese as the "next generation" guy. Some colleagues see Shorten as less inclined to prioritise defending to the last full stop and semicolon the Labor legacy between 2007-2013, and more intent on building the next Labor story. Shorten's strongest suit is what he can offer Labor for the future, and, unsurprisingly, that has been central to his campaign pitch. Shorten has been busy translating an aura of "inevitability" around him into a new phase.
2. Does Labor need to move past the Rudd/Gillard era?
Yes, and no. Labor's most urgent task is about trust and about authenticity. The ALP needs to rebuild faith with the voters. That means meaning what you say, and doing what you say, rather than producing a fountain of new ideas that may or may not lead to anything tangible. Trust is more important on that analysis than legacy – but the two concepts are of course connected. Keeping election promises is obviously part of being trustworthy. Standing behind the carbon price, for example, has been central to the pitches of both Albanese and Shorten. More broadly on the legacy point, there is a view that Labor stayed longer in opposition through the Howard period because it allowed the newly-elected Coalition government to define what the Hawke/Keating period was about, to play up the negatives, rather than Labor cohering around the positive reforms of the 1980s and 1990s, and allowing them to form the bedrock of opposition.
3. Does parliament matter? Bill Shorten suggests it doesn't. Is he right?
One of Shorten's negative messages against Anthony Albanese (yes they were there, just muted) has been the implication that he's too aggressive in the parliament. Shorten's argument is Labor needs to be less preoccupied with winning the daily tussle in the parliamentary bear-pit and more intent on winning a million votes, and getting back to government. Like a lot of statements in politics, this statement is both absolutely correct, and a straw man. Shorten is correct: Labor's big rebuilding task is out in the field, with the voters. But in opposition, the parliament matters, particularly with new governments, who often start nervously. In the first days of government, oppositions often know more than governments – the key players are more experienced. And a key task of successful opposition is interruption: interrupting the journey of the opposition leader to credible prime minister. Parliament isn't the be all and end all, but it helps establish the psychology of the major party contest. Think of how Tony Abbott used the parliament to define the "chaos" narrative of the previous Labor government during the 43rd parliament – all those procedural motions, everything contested. It built an atmosphere of instability that was helpful to the Coalition's overall positioning and messaging.
4. Will this contest produce a significant gap between what the ALP members want and what the parliamentarians want in terms of the party leader? Does it matter?
Conventional wisdom suggests it's possible. The internal wisdom goes Shorten gets the thumbs-up from the caucus, Albanese from the membership. This may be right. It would reflect recent history, which has seen the left win ballots involving membership votes. The party membership leans left in the big inner-city branches. However, the Shorten campaign has pulled out all the stops with the membership. Shorten himself has made an extraordinary number of calls to party members; he's been backed by an organised phonebanking exercise. Shorten's right faction has put a lot of energy into getting out the membership for this vote, knowing Albanese starts with a structural advantage. Does it matter if the two groups, the caucus and the members, lean in different ways? Not all that much, I don't think, in practical terms – although the conflict will of course be noted. This is after all just the a start of a process for Labor, and it will be interesting to see if the party has the courage of democratisation, whether it's the beginning of a transformation or just a blip on the radar.
5. Has this leadership ballot replaced the Rudd/Gillard civil war with a factional war?
Again, that's a yes proposition and no proposition. A number of MPs were seriously irritated by efforts by factional leaders on both sides to get the right to vote for Shorten exclusively and the left to vote for Albanese exclusively. Labor hasn't had "locked" votes for the leadership for a very long time, and the idea that democratisation would be accompanied by a return to old-school factionalism did not go down well in all quarters of the party. In the end it remains to be seen whether the party institutionally can ease off a bit. Part of the problem is some influential rightwingers see democratisation as a means of boosting the left's influence in the ALP. That will always be resisted. A complicating factor in this ballot has been a desire on the part of the ALP right to mend fences and rebuild a genuine national right bloc. The Rudd/Gillard power struggle created all kinds of fractures across the party, and it prompted a nasty split in the right. This ballot in part has been an effort to get the right back together as a cohesive force. That dynamic has benefited Shorten.