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You thought Infinity War was the most ambitious crossover event in history, you were definitely wrong. Whichever genius came up with a Legend of Zelda and Doom crossover is truly living in 3019 while the rest of us sit and watch in awe, all the way from 2019.
A person by the name of Exkodius is the Project lead for the creation and here is what he had to say about the masterpiece in the works:
The project began as a silly idea while me and my friend were playing Zelda on the good ol' NES. We thought it would be really cool if you could run around in first person and look around Hyrule in all it's 8-bit glory.
I had just started modding Doom again recently and though that the mix would be perfect! So i spent a couple of days researching how to get started. Then i got my friend Holkish to take care of the map making and the general "Know it all" for Zelda. (He's a huge Zelda fan)
Right now the mod is being developed using the GZDoom source port. I love the additional functions ZDoom has added and the OpenGL features from GZDoom aswell.
However, he recently updated the site with a post saying he doesn't have the time to be able to finish the creation:
After almost three years i needed to realise that i probably won't get the time to ever get anywhere with this project let alone finish it! I have received several requests to release the files to the open waves of the net wich by now i think is the only valid option. I really hope someone with the passion or just the know how can have some use of this and mabye even finish it?
I want to thank all of you that showed your support and your kind comments about the project! It all gave me a nice fuzzy feeling inside.
I had a blast working on this. And who knows? Mabye one fine day i'll come back and poke at it some more ;P
The progress he has made is incredible and the idea is solid, he just needs to find someone who has the time to create such a masterpiece. I hope that someone will take the project onboard and be able to finish this piece of art.


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There's no shortage of worthwhile dance music to cover this month. In fact, there's been far too much of it in the seven weeks or so since the last edition of this column (delayed due to Unsound Festival and a brief period of total musical overload) to compress everything down into a piece of writing that anyone would have the patience to read. So instead, this edition of Hyperspecific focuses mainly on artists operating around the fringes: making use of improvisation, live instrumentation and noise (Upperground Orchestra, Bee Mask), subtracting the forward drive normally required to move a dancefloor (Fatima Al Qadiri, pictured, above), or slowing and darkening their music until it's barely recognisable as club-friendly (Samuel Kerridge, Kassem Mosse & XDB, Area). Oh, and a fantastic new 12" from Swedish techno maestros Skudge, because it's been on near-constant rotation over the past few weeks.
Upperground Orchestra - The Eupen Takes
That techno mystic Rabih Beaini, aka Morphosis, should moonlight in an improvisational jazz ensemble seems fitting. Drawing influence equally from Middle Eastern musics, free jazz, Detroit and Chicago club lineages and noise/experimental electronics, his takes on techno and house are entirely based around live improvisation, and find him constructing music in real time both in the studio and live onstage. Similarly, the Upperground Orchestra are entirely a live concern, with each performance starting from scratch and unraveling in an entirely different manner to the last. The Eupen Takes is the first recorded document of an Upperground show to be officially released, and their first release full stop since 2008's Solaris Eremit, a 12" of studio improvised material again released through Beaini's label Morphine.
On the surface, there are a fair few similarities between Beaini's solo music and his work in ensemble. Both hang on a knife-edge between tight and muscular funk and total rhythmic disarray - often remaining in one mode while flirting ominously with the other - making them refreshingly fluid and unpredictable. Take any particular moment of either Morphosis' 2011 debut What Have We Learned or The Eupen Takes: both possess a nagging sense that the music could potentially launch off along any number of different trajectories from its current position. Throughout both, Beaini runs a similar line in Radiophonic squawks, Geiger counter grit and modal melodies that hint toward the music of his home country of Lebanon. But where Beaini's solo work is intended as club music, and thus remains locked within its specific parameters (while admittedly often pushing their boundaries almost to the limit), Upperground Orchestra are free to change tack at will.
This forty-minute recording shapeshifts a disorienting number of times: an opening segment ('Born Again') suggesting lounge jazz in a hotel lobby beset by malfunctioning Daleks and swarms of angry metal wasps, is dragged through a prolonged tempo escalation into 'Memory Shark's predatory techno jack. Later, it passes through sleazy funk, sun-baked desert ambient, gorgeous and meandering avant rock ('We Travel The Lands of Stars & Dust') to a closing section whose percussion is all chatter, wheeze and hum, and buzzes around like traders at a busy street market. The focal point here is some virtuosic and very intuitive drum and saxophone dialogue - the players appear psychically linked, signaling for group shifts in direction within a matter of mere seconds. He might be the group's most well-known member but Beaini is present as binding factor: his electronics provide enough consistency of tone and atmosphere to hold the entire performance together. Jazz and techno might be the two touchstones here, but between them they find a mutual language - parabolic rhythmic mania punctuated by interludes of blissful calm - that's an appreciable distance away from either.
Bee Mask - When We Were Eating Unripe Pears
(Spectrum Spools)
Bee Mask - 'Vaporware'/'Scanops'
Of all the neo-kosmische/post-noise explorers whose balmy currents have lapped at our shores over the past few years, Chris Madak is among the few who seem hellbent on mapping out genuinely new territory. Like contemporaries on labels like PAN and Broken20, there's a rhythmic axis that beats - often near imperceptibly - beneath the vast floodplains and wandering paths of his music, ensuring that Bee Mask tracks tend to throb and seethe rather than aimlessly drifting. That kinetic energy also percolates upwards and bubbles out at the music's surface, where everything is in state of harried and erratic motion, like a still body of water shaken by a heavy shower of rain.
New full-length When We Were Eating Unripe Pears - his third for Spectrum Spools after the wonderfully sinister Canzoni Dal Laboratorio Del Silenzio Cosmico and a compilation of older material, Elegy For Beach Friday - is the most beautiful and enigmatic thing he's released to date. Propulsion and percussion are the order of the day here, made far more explicit than on much of his older material. 'The Story of Keys & Locks' is both spectacular and threatening, unfolding triffid-like into a writhing mass of tendrils that coil gracefully around its centre, and 'Pink Drinq' chuckles and burbles before erupting in a shower of static and screaming distortion.
Though untethered from either weighty 808 rhythms or the need to function in a club, the overall effect is not too dissimilar from Morphosis, or other techno hypnotists like Donato Dozzy: the same stately inevitability, the same muffled aggression that occasionally simmers over into attack mode, a similarly meditative impact upon the listener. Madak and Beaini also appear to share a mutual respect for the essential autonomy of their machines: they may be at hand to guide them in particular directions, but the individual characteristics and imperfections of the hardware are allowed to play an equal role in defining the music's nature.
Madak's recently released 12" 'Vaporware'/'Scanops' is a neat companion piece to the shorter-form compositions on Unripe Pairs - its two pieces sprawl outward across entire sides of vinyl. The space does them good. 'Vaporware' is a glorious near-fourteen minutes of music, all synthetic vocal chants, stringy harmonies and a rhythm tapped out on glass chimes. As its title - a pun, perhaps, on the recently emerged niche genre vaporwave, influenced strongly by James Ferraro's Far Side Virtual and recently explored in depth by Adam Harper in an essay on Dummy - might suggest, it marks a step into subtly new territory for Madak. Its near-uncanny perfection suggests a similarly soothing mood music for the artificial halls and corridors of the web, though lacking the obvious signifiers now characteristic of music that deals with notions of digital space (Windows 95 idents, glassy voices, clipped distortion), its intentions are pleasingly ambiguous.
Fatima Al Qadiri - Desert Strike
(Fade To Mind)
On new EP Desert Strike, Brooklyn resident Fatima Al Qadiri presents a form of digitally disembodied dance music that draws strongly from ghetto sounds like grime, footwork and G-funk, but strips them of the locality that's typically characteristic of those genres. The results are beguilingly strange and almost disturbingly placeless, finding themselves perpetual residents of some bizarre and crystalline fourth world departure lounge, an interzone between one place and the next. Desert Strike's first three tracks draw much of their energy from their essentially contradictory nature, placing signifiers of ghetto-ness - cocked firearms, bounding 808 toms, lurking sub-bass - within eerily translucent background ambience that suggests yoga music for an ashram in Second Life. It feels - intentionally - almost too perfect, with the threat of danger implied by its terse drum machine hits stripped of potency and left behind only as vague menace.
Wiley's early eski riddims and Devil Mixes are clear compositional touchstones here - Al Qadiri's rubbery melody lines have a similar property of seeming both hi and lo fidelity at once, simultaneously futuristic and obselete - as is the work of contemporaries and fellow eski devotees like Nguzunguzu and Logos. But where Wiley's music remained solipsistically focused upon its own tight sphere of existence, Al Qadiri's tracks are like riddles, packed so full of reference points to other places, times and cultures that they're dizzying to try and unpick. Spiritual, religious and mystical undertones weave their way throughout. The organ trills on 'War Games' suggest worship - a less overt companion to 'Vatican Vibes', from last year's Genre-Specific Xperience, where a synthetic choir lent a devotional edge to rattling footwork. 'Hydra's squeaky clean textures and synthetic steel pans conjure a weightless digi-utopia equally familiar to both incense-burning New Agers and modern tech-evangelists who dream of one day reassembling minds in cyberspace. The EP's title and track names hint towards unpleasant truths of military intervention in the Middle East, even as its artwork - fire and a stealth bomber over a roiling CGI ocean, seen through the lens of an iPad-like viewfinder - connects with violence only at a remove.
Desert Strike presents these questions but doesn't, in and of itself, provide any concrete answers. By and large that's not a problem. Most tracks here are strong enough to exist by themselves, but lacking the drive of Genre-Specific Xperience, at times they feel frustratingly fragile, beautiful and absorbing miniatures that could be scattered to the wind within a fraction of a second.
Samuel Kerridge - Auris Interna
(Horizontal Ground)
The personnel behind Manchester's Frozen Border and Horizontal Ground label collectives might be less mysterious - only a little, mind you - since they started printing the names of artists on their record sleeves, but the music they release remains as enigmatic as ever. The latter has established itself as the more exploratory sister to Frozen Border's propulsive, coal-black techno, with earlier releases from the likes of Szare and Skirt finding a beguiling and rhythmically slippery middle ground between out-and-out UK industrial techno and the barren post-dance of Blackest Ever Black artists like Raime. It's into that kind of liminal zone that Berlin's Samuel Kerridge is tapping with his debut 12" Auris Interna - beats are sparse and unhurried, sub-bass is a hollow roar like hot wind whipping across open ground, the midrange is dominated by the clangs of metal upon metal.
Comparisons with Raime aren't inaccurate - for a first release, there's a similarly unusual level of skill to Kerridge's music not dissimilar to Raime's incredibly full-formed 2010 debut EP. However, where jungle is a major touchstone for the latter's sound, techno and house lie at the heart of the four tracks on Auris Interna, albeit bolstered by forays into doom metal and the post industrial meditations of artists like Current 93 and Coil. The kickdrums on opener 'inANDout' splat like sacks of wet cement hitting the pavement - a reminder that this is, however obliquely, dance music - but a soft piped melody that whistles across its surface suggests some decrepit folk form, long lost to the ravages of time and only resurrected as a shadow of its former self. 'Auditory System' and 'Membranous Labyrinth', a pair of sensual and serotonin-drained techno tracks, are the EP's highlights. Across the former's surface chuckle time-stretched breaks extended to the point where they rattle the senses - an utterly merciless comedown where the previous night's music still rings ceaselessly in the ears. The latter is the closest thing to a dancefloor track here, albeit one where metallic thuds emerge slowly and violently from a metallic sheen of abattoir ambience.
FIT ft. Gunnar Wendel & Omar-S - 'Enter The Fog'/'Roll Out'
XDB & Kassem Mosse - 'Ekatem'/'Omrish'
(Diamonds & Pearls)
Area - Not Waiting Anymore
(Until My Heart Stops)
Gunnar Wendel, aka Kassem Mosse, creates grooves with such endless flexibility and momentum that they could conceivably continue to slowly unspool forever. His presence as beatmaker is immediately distinguishable on this collaborative 12" for Omar-S's label FXHE - both 'Enter The Fog' and 'Roll Out' are underpinned by his distinctive chesty kicks and clustered handclaps. They're an ideal match for Aaron 'FIT' Siegel's piano and synth work, which leaves behind the austerity of Wendel's solo material (he typically focuses in on one or two basic motifs and twists, stretches and otherwise distorts them across a track's entire length) in favour of a freewheeling compositional language equally rooted in jazz, soul and Detroit techno. The results are, as to be expected, pretty spectacular. The meandering pianos and wriggly-worm funk licks of 'Enter The Fog' recall classic Theo Parrish as experienced at 9am in a packed Panoramabar, driving urgently forward with all the spaced-out obsessiveness of an entire night spent timelocked to four-to-the-floor. 'Roll Out' is even more addled, triangulating a tipping point between funk, European house and a woozily romantic, very Kraftwerkian core melody.
2012 seems to have been a sociable year for Wendel, whose other releases and remixes in the last twelve months have been written in conjunction with fellow drum machine voyager Mix Mup. He crops up again this month in collaboration with XDB on the fiendish 'Omrish', a mood-altering hall-of-mirrors of a track whose entire psychic space is filled with fragmentary synth shivers that track and reflect one another's movements. As they repeatedly flip the track's kinetic energy inwards, it gradually spins deeper into a confused and increasingly self-referential vortex, a dark pool whose near infinite depth is hinted at by the slivers of light that glance playfully across its surface. A whole new meaning for the idea of 'deep' house, perhaps.
On the subject of deeper-than-deep house - it's been a rather good month for the stuff - the second release through the recently established Until My Heart Stops comes from enigmatic and practically un-Googleable Chicago-based producer Area (even "Area + Chicago + house + music" doesn't work that well). Like the label's first release from Joey Anderson, neither track is going anywhere in a hurry. 'Munged' couldn't be better named, given that it's caked head-to-toe in warehouse party muck and just about equalised enough by a cocktail of uppers and downers that it's able to stagger around drunkenly to its own tune. And the lone voice that chants wordlessly throughout 'Not Waiting Anymore' is practically its sole feature, save a great aurora of shimmering intergalactic dust that accumulates around the track's middle. Perhaps surprisingly, fans of Burial will probably find a lot to appreciate here; the latter track in particular stirs up a similar cocktail of nostalgia, comedown blues and derelicts scattered with post-party detritus.
Skudge - 'Fingers'/'Vessel'
In exactly the same manner as their own house/techno hybrid tracks, my own love affair with Skudge has taken its sweet time to reach full fruition - how appropriate! Operating at a remove from both the hollowed-out booms typically associated with the Berghain and the abrasive recent resurgence in UK industrial techno, the Swedish duo's music is a delight because it breathes fresh air into a fairly classic and established set of compositional tropes. Rather than being explicitly warehouse-y or power station-y, their releases on their own label and now through Nonplus+ are crisper and clubbier. Self-contained, fat-free and pinpoint accurate, they work by quickly setting up tessellated arrangements of dubby pads, brittle percussion and swooning ornamentation, then allowing the entire array to escalate in potency through force of repetition. Both 'Fingers' and 'Vessel' demonstrate just how infectiously funky that basic cocktail allows the results to be. This essentially minimalist approach freeing them from the baggage of excess material, the elastic interactions between the few ingredients that are present take complete prevalence, lending both tracks here a dark garage flex worthy of early Artwork or Oris Jay. The latter is the most melodic thing the duo have released to date, a beautiful and keening neo-Detroit creature led by an loopy, electric-blue melodic flourish in line with Shed's WAX material or early Peverelist.

subset: commoncrawl


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Sayehban, Mona (2015) Mean field evolution in an open quantum system. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.
- Accepted Version
Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission.
Download (43MB)
In this thesis, we consider N quantum particles coupled to collective thermal quantum environments. The coupling is energy conserving and scaled in the mean field way. There is no direct interaction between the particles, they only interact via the common reservoir. It is well known that an initially disentangled state of the N particles will remain disentangled at times in the limit N -> [infinity]. In this thesis, we evaluate the η-body reduced density matrix (tracing over the reservoirs and the N - η remaining particles). We identify the main disentangled part of the reduced density matrix and obtain the first order correction term in 1/N. We show that this correction term is entangled. We also estimate the speed of convergence of the reduced density matrix as N -> [infinity]. Our model is exactly solvable and it is not based on numerical approximation.
|Item Type:
|Thesis (Masters)
|Item ID:
|Additional Information:
|Includes bibliographical references (pages 45-46).
|Mean field, open quantum system, entanglement
|Science, Faculty of > Mathematics and Statistics
|July 2015
|Date Type:
|Library of Congress Subject Heading:
|Quantum systems; Mean field theory; Density matrices
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We all know the feeling after a long stressful day, when the tensions of the past few hours begin to amass in your temples, perhaps starting as a dull throb before advancing in waves to a deep pounding ache. The headache is a common malady, but what mechanisms lay behind these debilitating pains and which aspects of your life may be triggering them?
The question of why and how we experience headaches is significantly harder to answer than you might imagine. Particularly since the term 'headache' is in itself non-specific, being a broad term used to describe a range of common head pains, each of which may stem from a different underlying cause. Interestingly, however, one thing we do know is that the pain you experience during a headache does not originate from the brain itself. Indeed, the brain lacks pain receptors (nociceptors), therefore does not have the capacity to feel pain.
But then where does the pain of a headache come from? The pain we experience during an everyday headache originates in pain-sensitive structures surrounding the skull. These include; the extracranial arteries, veins, cranial and spinal nerves, neck and pericranial muscles – all of which express pain receptors and are therefore susceptible to these sensations.
It is possible to pin down a number of simple lifestyle factors which commonly contribute to the development of headaches. These include; emotional disturbances, stress and mental tension, certain types of food, alcohol, cigarette smoke, exercise and even the way you wear your hair – hair-dos (including the tight ponytail, braids, headbands and even tight hats) can strain the connective tissue that lies across the scalp and cause headaches. So simply letting your hair down can relieve this pressure and thus the pain of the headache.
A number of the factors which lead to headaches (including certain foods, cigarette smoke and alcohol) involve the blood vessels which lie around the brain. For example, inhaling nicotine from cigarette smoke causes narrowing of blood vessels around the skull. Narrowing of these vessels can often induce extremely painful headaches. Changes in blood pressure also explain hangover and exercise headaches and why, for some people, certain foods can act as headache triggers.
The episodic tension headache (the type you may get after a long day at work) is the most commonly occurring type of headache. However despite the extensive research into the cause of migraines, this common type of headache remains one of the least investigated. As relief can normally be sought through over-the counter painkillers, most sufferers will not consult a doctor. The mechanisms underlying what specifically causes these headaches remains elusive, however, a number of theories regarding their pathophysiology have been proposed:
It appears that the occurrence of headaches are commonly linked to general problems of the musculoskeletal system. Skeletal muscle constitutes the largest muscle mass of the body, controlling movement, breathing, facial expressions and numerous other normal physiological functions. Each individual skeletal muscle is composed of hundreds of cells, arranged in muscle fibres. Each muscle fibre is connected to the nervous system via interactions with a single branch (an axon) of a nerve cell.
Each fibre of a muscle can relax or contract in response to signals sent from the brain via these nerves. These muscle fibres also contain sensory receptors which can feedback the health of the muscle to the brain. This helps tell you when the muscle is tired or overstretched for example. Abnormal activity in these nerves, perhaps as a consequence of injury, stress or poor posture, can therefore result in the relay of pain signals to the brain. For example, bad posture places abnormal pressure on the muscles of the neck which can result in heightened tension and the subsequent development of 'tension headaches'.
Interestingly, tension headaches can also be induced by activation of so-called 'trigger points'. A trigger point is defined as 'a hypersensitive area of the body, associated with taut bands within a skeletal muscle'. Pressure or compression on these localized trigger points can cause the referral of pain along linked nerves to a nearby area. So, the presence of active trigger points in your head, neck and shoulder muscles can refer pain that will be subsequently experienced as a headache.
A number of studies have confirmed this, identifying an increased number of trigger points in the muscles of the head in patients prone to headaches, compared with patients who do not regularly experience headaches. What causes these trigger points to develop in the first place still remains unclear, however, some have speculated that they may be associated with past muscular injuries, fatigue, diet and even as a result of chronic repetitive strain, such as persistent typing.
Infrequent headaches, while menacing, are nothing compared to their chronic cousins. Infrequent headaches can become chronic as a result of changes that originate in the brain and spinal cord. This involves so called 'second-order' nerve cells which act as connectors between peripheral organs (e.g. the skin and muscles) and nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain.
A number of studies have proposed that chronic tension headaches may be triggered by changes in the sensitivity of these second order nerves, particularly those in the spinal cord and an area of the brain known as the trigeminal nucleus. This process is known as 'central sensitization' and can alter pain thresholds and trigger nerve cell activity. It is hypothesized that, in the presence of persistent stress or pain signals from peripheral muscles (such as that brought about through regular bad posture), nerve cells can grow forming new connections and effective contacts to low-threshold nerves that do not normally signal for pain. Furthermore, increased sensitivity can be caused by the enhanced release of chemicals that facilitate nerve cell communication. This increase in the number of pain signalling nerves and their sensitivity to strain and tension results in enhanced pain sensitivity, lower pain thresholds and the development of chronic pain states.
Chronic pain states, may be a result of prolonged stress and musculoskeletal tension, alongside central changes in the brain and spinal cord. So, if regular headaches are wearing you down you might benefit from trying to reducing your stress levels, being aware of dietary triggers, improving your posture and trying exercises to relax your muscles.
Post by: Isabelle Abbey-Vital


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The Perfect Buffalo Plaid Hat in White
Everyone needs a fun buffalo plaid hat to show off their style! Pair with a solid top and jeans or kick it up a notch with a hit of buffalo plaid in your shirt for a fun style perfect for you!
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Williams, K., Williams, K., Baucher, H. M., & Plenefisch, J. (2015). The Tail Domain Is Essential but the Head Domain Dispensable for C. elegans Intermediate Filament IFA-2 Function. PLOS ONE PLoS ONE, 10(3).
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Your kids should be able to swim 25 metres confidently by the time they've turned seven. And so should you...
"I'm a poor swimmer but I can do 20 laps of utterly uncoordinated breaststroke and the experts tell me that if I fell off a boat, I'd probably last long enough to be fished out. Unless I died of fright, which is likely considering the way I feel about vast expanses of water.
So as a result of the spate of recent drowning deaths, I've booked myself into one-on-one lessons. My goal is freestyle, both-sided breathing and, as above, kick, kick, kick."
Sign up for Adult Swimming Lessons at SWISH this term! Classes are on every Wednesday and Thursday at 6PM. At only $32 per 30 minutes session. Email us to book your payable trial class now!


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Help Me Get to SxSW –
Panel Voting is Open
As most of the SxSW junkies know, voting opened yesterday on the SxSW site. Of course, as a sponsor of SxSW Interactive, I've had the pleasure of attending the conference for the last several years. This year, not only will Adobe be there in our sponsor role, we've also submitted a number of individual panels. I, in particular, have two panels in the running:
Pssst! New Secrets Revealed For Adobe Flash – Thought you knew everything about Adobe Flash? Think again, because you will be amazed at some of the ways to increase your productivity and get beyond the basics. You'll learn some secret tips and trick about the latest version of Adobe Flash CS4 Professional. Vote for this session.
Modern Solutions For Old Problems In Browser Testing – Learn the latest solutions for simplifying cross-browser testing, from time-tested CSS best practices to online services. See how to test websites on popular browsers and operating systems and get tips on how to quickly pinpoint issues. Vote for this session.
I would appreciate your vote (and you should vote even if you're not going to attend).
Also, a number of my colleagues have also submitted topics and I'm sure that they too would appreciate your vote:


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Publication Type:Book
Quelle:New York, NY : Da Capo Press,, United States, p.xiii, 236 pages ; (2017)
Call Number:ML54.6.L19
Schlüsselwörter:England, Rock music, Songs, Texts.
"A collection of lyrics and autobiographical commentary by singer Mark Lanegan, with a preface by John Cale and a foreword by Moby. With a voice that Pitchfork has called 'as scratchy as a three-day beard yet as supple and pliable as moccasin leather,' former Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age vocalist Mark Lanegan draws frequent comparisons to masters like Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen. Lanegan's voice is one of the most distinct and recognizable in rock, but his talents aren't limited to his vocal skills. Lanegan's lyrics are on par with the best of them, exploring with Blake-like insight the stark and scorched emotional terrain that exists somewhere beyond sadness, addiction, trauma, and spiritual longing. With a body of work that now includes seven albums with the Screaming Trees, eleven acclaimed solo albums, three albums of duets with Belle and Sebastian's Isobel Campbell (including the Mercury Prize-shortlisted Ballad of the Broken Seas), and collaborative albums and singles with the likes of Queens of the Stone Age, Moby, Soulsavers, Twilight Singers, and countless others, Mark Lanegan occupies a singular space in rock music. Now, for the first time ever, the reclusive singer presents a comprehensive look at his lyrics, the stories behind them, and the making of his albums" --Inside dust jacket.


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Simone Biles goes wire to wire at Secret Classic
Simone Biles cemented her favorite status for the P&G Championships by running away with the Secret Classic all-around title Saturday, her first meet since winning the World Championships all-around in October.
Biles, 17, scored 61.7 points at the tune-up meet in Hoffman Estates, Ill., beating 2012 Olympian and reigning World all-around silver medalist Kyla Ross by 1.65.
"I just came in here with a positive mind, and I've been out for a while, so I just tried to hit all four and have fun with it," Biles said on Universal Sports. "I hope [U.S. National Team coordinator Martha Karolyi] was smiling."
Biles led the field with a 15.8 on floor exercise and a 15.9 on vault, where she landed an Amanar (Ross performed a double twisting Yurchenko, one-half less twist than an Amanar). Biles also scored a 14.75 on uneven bars and closed with a 15.25 on balance beam, matching Ross for the highest score on that apparatus.
Biles was slated to compete in the American Cup in March and the Pacific Rim Championships in April, but pulled out of both meets due to a shoulder aggravation. She also had ankle surgery after the World Championships.
Biles and Ross will be the headliners at the P&G Championships, Aug. 21-24 in Pittsburgh. The team for October's World Championships in Nanning, China, will be named later this summer.
McKayla Maroney determined for Rio 2016 despite knee surgery


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- City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
- Dubai 04:53 06:06 12:12 15:35 18:12 19:26
All you Zaheer Khan fans may have a heart break after reading this article. The handsome cricketer has finally decided to tie the knot with girlfriend Isha Sharwani.
If you are hoping there's still time, more bad news; he is getting married in two months' time in March 2012.
The families have met and have finalised the wedding details.
If all goes according to the plan, the couple will get married by the end of March. But if they can't do the preparations so soon they will tie the knot in October.
The final decision will be made after Zaheer returns from the ongoing Australia tour.
Zaheer first met Isha in 2005 but after two years of dating they decided to end their relationship. They got back together in 2010 and have been going strong ever since.
During the World Cup Isha was seen cheer the bowler from the stands.
Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.


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Canon Powershot G7 X Mark II vs Sony RX100
Canon has announced a new premium point and shoot camera, and its target couldn't be clearer. It's taking on the imperious Sony RX100 IV.
Sony has ruled the point-and-shoot roost ever since the launch of the original RX100 in 2012.
Canon finally provided some direct competition in 2014 with the first Canon Powershot G7 X, though Sony still arguably had the edge with its own RX100 III.
So how is the Canon Powershot G7 X Mark II shaping up against Sony's latest? We'll need to go hands-on with the final G7 X Mark II for a fully nuanced view, but here are some of the key differences based on initial observations.
Related: Best Cameras
Canon Powershot G7 X Mark II vs Sony RX100 IV: Same-sized image sensor
Arguably the key similarity here is that both cameras employ a 1-inch 20.1-megapixel CMOS sensor. This is much larger than that of your average – or even above-average – point-and-shoot, and it's significantly larger than pretty much any top-end smartphone can offer.
This component above all others is why these two camera ranges can punch well above their weight, with decent low-light performance and pronounced bokeh (that blurry depth of field effect that DSLRs capture so well).
We actually found that the last Canon G7 X pipped the last Sony RX100 on detail and dynamic range at higher ISOs, so it'll be interesting to see how the next round pans out.
Canon Powershot G7 X Mark II vs Sony RX100 IV: Canon has zoomier lens
Both of these lenses are super-fast, with the same range of f/1.8 to f/2.8.
However, the Canon's lens takes the edge when it comes to sheer range. It's a 24–100mm effort, which equates to a 4.2x optical zoom. That trumps the Sony's 24–70mm and 2.9x optical zoom.
Canon Powershot G7 X Mark II vs Sony RX100 IV: Sony slinkier
While both of these cameras punch above their weight, let's not lose sight of the fact that weight is an important factor in itself. These are point-and-shoot cameras, designed to be slipped in a modest-sized pocket.
The Sony wins on that count, but it's close. The RX100 IV measures up 101.6 x 58.1 x 41.0mm, while the Canon is 105.5 x 60.9 x 42.2mm. Perhaps more significantly, the Sony is 21 grams lighter at 298g.
Buy Now: Sony RX100 IV at Amazon.com from $899
Canon Powershot G7 X Mark II vs Sony RX100 IV: Sony has EVF
Arguably the biggest plus point for the Sony RX100 III over the Canon G7 X was the presence of an electronic viewfinder. That's set to be a key difference in the next round too, as the G7 X Mark II continues to omit an EVF.
This means everything to enthusiast photographers, as it makes for much better shot composition than simply relying on the LCD screen. Of course, to casual snappers it matters a whole lot less.
Canon Powershot G7 X Mark II vs Sony RX100 IV: Differing screen tech
Both of these cameras have 3-inch LCD displays that can tilt down as well as flipping up 180 degress, but that's about where the common ground ends.
The Sony screen is a good deal sharper than the Canon's. We're talking 1,228,800 dots for the RX100 IV, and 1,040,000 dots for the G7 X Mark II.
However, the Canon camera's screen is touch sensitive, which is arguably more important on point-and-shoot cameras like this where there are fewer manual controls. It's also handy for changing the flexible spot autofocus.
Buy Now: Canon Powershot G7 X Mark II at Amazon.com from $699
A lack of touchscreen functionality has been cited as a (admittedly minor) weakness ever since the original Sony RX100, and it continues up to this day.
Canon Powershot G7 X Mark II vs Sony RX100 IV: Sony is king of video
If you're a keen video taker with a swanky new TV, you might be swayed by the Sony RX100 IV's 4K recording capabilities. The Canon can only manage 1080p.
The Sony can also capture super slo-mo footage at 1,000fps, though the resolution suffers. However, it will still manage 1080p video at 250fps while the Canon peaks at 60fps at the same resolution.
Canon Powershot G7 X Mark II vs Sony RX100 IV: Big price difference
The Sony RX100 IV is a brilliant all-rounder, and it also has the benefit of that EVF. But you have to pay for the privilege.
It's a seriously expensive camera. At launch, back when we first reviewed the RX100 IV, it was an eye-watering £849. You can knock £100 or more off that these days, but it's still mighty expensive.
Buy Now: Sony RX100 IV at Amazon.com from $899
Contrast that with the brand new Canon Powershot G7 X Mark II, which will cost £549.99 at launch, and you have a considerable difference. Will the Sony prove to be worth the extra £200? We'll find out in April when the two go head to head.
Buy Now: Canon Powershot G7 X Mark II at Amazon.com from $699
Will you be getting G7 X Mark II or Sony RX100 IV? Let us know in the comments below.


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Getting a 'good-night' sleep is as important as having a 'good-day'. Sleeping is the phase when our body and mind relax. It is beneficial for our health, physically and mentally. If you feel the disruption of sleep frequently and spend sleepless nights for several days, you must try to seek medical help. Disruption of sleep can cause multiple sleep disorders that harm your body and mind. Here are some sleep situations that need medical help for sure.
1. Obstructive Sleep Apnea
There are a huge number of elderly people who suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea. It prevents the airflow of your throat and nose and creates difficulty in breathing. The throat and nose tissues get swelled up. People start snoring louder. Eventually, it can cause lung problems too.
2. Rapid Eye Movement Disorder
The Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Disorder is another disorder found in older adults. It is noted that Elders tend to display complex activities. They kick, jump, punch, yell, or punch in the REM phase while asleep. This is mostly the reaction of the imagery dream of the REM phase. It can lead you to clinical symptoms.
3. Insomnia
Most of the time elderly people face stress, anxiety, and a decrease in lifestyle. When we get old we tend to say no to any productive activities during the day time. It makes our body inactive and pressurises our mind more. It can cause Insomnia at night. The study says this happens to older women more than older men. Insomnia is a sleep disorder that can cause chronic illness too.
4. Restless Legs Syndrome
Restless Legs Syndrome is a condition where you feel a deep urge to move your leg. It is caused by some uncontrollable sensations. It normally happens when you are lying or sitting. In elderly people, it happens more when they are asleep.
5. Circadian Rhythm Disorder
The sleep cycle is linked to the circadian clock system that helps to respond to the light-darkness behavioural changes. Sleeping at night and being awake at the day time is one of the results of the circadian cycle. With age, we tend to have a weaker rhythm and that can cause you to sleep disorder.
6. Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a disease where you tend to fall asleep anytime and anywhere. It becomes uncontrollable. You can even fall asleep while eating or working. Narcolepsy damages your sleep cycle and sleep-wake schedule. You can feel dizzy all day. It can cause sleep paralysis too. Hallucination can be counted as a result of Narcolepsy.
7. Sleep Walking
lack of sleep can cause make you to walk while you are asleep. Sleepwalking is harmless until you get injured. But it can bring other sleep disorders like sleep terror or nightmares. Sleeping walking can be noticed in children more.
No matter, what sleep disorder you are suffering from consulting your doctor is always the best option. In a long time, inefficient sleep situations and sleepless nights can cause many serious conditions. So take a step before it's too late.


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Entry requirements
A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent. A biomedical, medical, public health, veterinary or relevant bioscience topic is particularly suitable for this degree programme. We may also consider your application if you have relevant work experience.
Months of entry
Course content
This programme is designed to enable those with a personal, academic or professional interest in global health to study a variety of related subjects and join colleagues and fellow students in a global community.
The programme is invoiced at course level, allowing you to pick and choose your curriculum content, and manage your learning within flexible 5 or 11 week teaching blocks, which are offered at fixed time periods across the academic calendar.
The programme is structured to equip students with a comprehensive knowledge base in various aspects of global health.
The emphasis is on the interdisciplinary nature of the subject and this is reflected by the wide range of courses it is possible to study within the programme.
Possible subjects include:
- Animal health
- Biodiversity
- Conservation and global citizenship
- Forensic medicine and science
- Global health
- Infectious and non-communicable diseases
- Sanitation and water issues
Qualification, course duration and attendance options
- PGCert
- part time36 months
- Online learningis available for this qualification
- Professional Development
- part time24 months
- Online learningis available for this qualification
Course contact details
- Name
- Programme Director
- email@example.com
- Phone
- +44 (0)131 242 9376


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Next Entry
You know it's a shame really. That a show like this that was a fun *** reunion of Real Worlders and Road Rulers now revolves around(and caters to) the three people in the photo above. A show like this shouldn't be that way..It shouldn't be about 1/2/3 people. Noone should carry it or noone should have to be relied on to make it good. It should be about an ensemble of people, the whole cast need to be able to lift this show up and make it good..That's what shows like this should always do. For Me the challenge was never about 1 person: to me it was about several people and the drama, competition, and fun they all brought. Not CT beasting everyone, Not Backpack running though everyone like a bulldozer, or Wes politicking people in circles. And not even about just the people..the different challenges, eliminations that are done..just everything really.
Having a show like this reolve around 3 people is stupid because they can't be around forever. As of now CT's future on the show is unknown, Wes has only one more show in him, and Backpack..well he'll keep doing these but even he can't be around forever: What happens when all these guys are done for good? What happens then? This show just goes off the air?
It's time for them to build new people up to take their places and I do feel like they're doing that now with Rivals 3..but it should've already been done a long *** time ago. The Challenge is not CT/Wes/Backpack. Never has been and never will be..at least for me.


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I've seen Ayn Rand occasionally mentioned on television shows, but I've never seen anything like this clip from a UPN sitcom. It's a lengthy, detailed, accurate, and positive discussion of Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism, including saying that Atlas Shrugged integrates metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, politics, economics, and sex! (Okay, so it's not fabulously acted, but I don't want to be too picky!) Really, I've never seen anything like it.
The video is hosted on Betsy Speicher's CyberNet. Betsy graciously gave me permission to link to it, so long as I mentioned that you can request a sample issue of CyberNet at [email protected] or visit http://www.4cybernet.com/.


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Dispatchers are conductors and coordinators, gatekeepers, watchmen, controllers, listeners, analyzers and problem solvers. The dispatcher is the magnet that brings all the parts of the delivery system together and the grease that makes the operation run efficiently and effectively. The dispatcher's primary role is communication....to ensure the operation delivers on all of its commitments by making sure drivers and customers connect smoothly, efficiently and on time.
Dispatchers also make sure that Green Ride is ready and able to meet the challenges of each day by route planning, tactical scheduling of drivers and vehicles, and vehicle preparation. Dispatchers have the central role providing drivers all the information and tools to successfully deliver great service to our customers. The careful effort they put into creating excellent routing, along with the special instructions for drivers, sets Green Ride up for on-time performance and a successful delivery system every time.


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Minnesota AIDS Project and DIVAMN Host Oscar Night® Minnesota
Turn off your boob tube—the red carpet's in town! With the 81st annual Academy Awards only a week away, and increasing buzz surrounding the broadcast, for this year's viewing, we at Lavender urge you to ditch the fuzzy rabbit slippers, trade in your oversized pajama tee, and remove the long johns (or at least wear them under your red carpet attire). Head to Oscar Night® Minnesota, a fund-raiser for HIV/AIDS education, advocacy, and prevention.
Promising to be one of the most alluring events of the year, and set in the posh Downtown Chambers Hotel in Minneapolis, Oscar Night® Minnesota is the first-ever partnership between two organizations: Minnesota AIDS Project (MAP), a statewide nonprofit agency devoted to enhancing the lives of people living with HIV, prevention education for those at risk, and advocating for the rights of all affected; and DIVAMN, a nonprofit group working in creative industries that are committed to raising money to impact HIV/AIDS in Minnesota.
Monitoring infection data and maintaining the central database of persons living with HIV in our state, the Minnesota Department of Health reported 325 new cases of HIV in 2007, a number that is rising at a slow yet steady rate.
David Folkens, MAP Director of Communications, notes, "This is the very reason why prevention-education funding is more important than ever."
As the largest AIDS service organization in the state, MAP has a wide variety of programming, and not all of those efforts can be covered by state or federal funding.
Therefore, Folkens adds, "Fund-raising is absolutely essential for our agency to meet its goals."
So, you might be thinking: How can we combat these alarming statistics on one of the most nerve-clenching nights on television?
The answer is to throw a jubilee sure to leave a lasting impression on the entire Twin Cities—"a cool cause on a haute night."
Oscar Night® Minnesota was founded by activist/philanthropist Scott Mayer in 1988, when the first event was a private party in his home. Over the years, and with increasing hype, it has become one of the largest and most eagerly anticipated galas in the Twin Cities.
"We are certain that this year's Oscar Night will be one of the most talked-about events of the year," David Knapp, MAP Special Events Manager, predicts.
Combining efforts with DIVAMN, which has an astonishing reputation for creativity and support through HIV fund-raising, Knapp and his team are counting down the days to transforming the Chambers Hotel into a red carpet experience you will not want to miss.
Lavender's very own Wanda Wisdom will be special guest emcee, covering all the details—from garb to all-around glamour—via Podcast in the Rock Star Suite.
"We will be screening the program throughout the Chambers Hotel, will host a silent auction and raffle, will predict the winner's contest, and DJ Paris will be spinning in the Red, White, and Blue Lounge," Knapp explains.
This year, tickets are $125, or two for $200. Proceeds go toward advocacy, education, and service in the community aimed at stopping the spread of HIV in Minnesota.
Now on sale at the URL below, the VIP package includes exclusive access to the ART Room, Burnet Gallery, Ice Bar, and Rooftop Lounge at the Chambers—four unique rooms, each with a one-of-a-kind aura.
Simply put, this red carpet event provides an opportunity to see and be seen, mingle with the A-list of Minnesota, and possibly be photographed by the media, while supporting an incredibly important cause.
With the red carpet opening at 6 PM, and the paparazzi hungry for photo ops, attendees can expect a night full of glamour, exquisite hors d'oeuvres prepared by world renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and warm company—sharing in those anxiety-filled pauses between the opening of an envelope and the announcement of a winner.
Trust us when we say this year's event will be nothing shy of complete fabulousness.
Oscar Night® Minnesota / Feb. 22 / Red Carpet at 6 PM / Telecast of the Academy Awards at / 7 PM / Chambers Hotel, 901 Hennepin Ave., Mpls. (612) 767- 6900. mnaidsproject.org/oscar


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In a world where we have less and less time, Gizzi Erskine breathes new life into the idea of ?slow?. Embrace technique, understand the stories behind your ingredients and learn to savour the art of cooking again. The result of a life-long affair with food, Slow shows you how to braise, bake, poach and roast to truly make the most of every flavour. From nourishing stews, melt-in-the-mouth roasts and indulgent puddings, to simple guides to making your own pasta, noodles, dumplings and pastry, each one of over 100 delicious recipes tells the story of Gizzi?s passion for food that?s worth waiting for.
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Did you know Goodman Games sells PDFs in our online store? Our PDF library includes almost every book published in our nearly two decades of history, including our complete library of D&D 3E and D&D 4E books! Plus, of course, all of our Dungeon Crawl Classics titles.
Click here to find the whole store!
And here are the category previews of what's on there!


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The more proposals I do, the more I appreciate the need for a style sheet. These templates can do more than establish fonts, headings, spacing, captions, and body text styles. They can provide the proposal team with a list of standard practices for writing. Today I'll touch on some of those often-unspoken needs.
Company Nomenclature
I first became aware of company sensitivities to proper naming conventions when I was working at Disney. They were very particular about spelling out things such as the company name, how it was represented on the page, and what specific company products were called. This also included things like italicizing specific words, adding © or ® before or after particular words, and general nomenclature for company products. For example, Disney has "attractions" not "rides," "cast members" not "employees," "costumes" not uniforms, "guests" not customers. Oh, yes: and it's the Walt Disney World Resort, not "Disney World."
All of this might seem picky (and it is), but using specific nomenclature for company names, products, and services is tied to copyrights, patents, and brand naming. If you don't remain consistent with your nomenclature, your trade name can get diluted in the marketplace and, eventually, fall out of your control. For example, "Kleenex" has become a generic term for facial tissues, and "Aspirin," once a brand name, became a generic term for acetylsalicylic acid. If you're using your nomenclature correctly and properly, you're solidifying not just your branding but your corporate culture.
Along with product name consistency, proposal writers have to be consistent about how they refer to their organization in their writing. It's usually customary, for example, to spell out the company's full name ("ABC Widget Company, Inc.") the first time it appears in the text; after that, a company-acceptable shorthand might be used after that ("ABC").
However, depending on your corporate culture or how often you need to refer to yourselves in the proposal, you might need to switch to a pronoun just to break things up. Would "ABC Widgets" or just "ABC" be permissible? Is the "royal 'We'" acceptable, or should you say "The Company?" But wait, there's more.
Other Conventions
In addition to branding issues, there are just some things you have establish up front for consistency's sake–otherwise you end up overworking your writers/editors. These include:
- Do you use the Oxford comma before "and" or not? (I'm of the school of thought that says, "You'd bloody well better." 🙂 )
- How do you number tables and figures in your proposal? If it's short, numerically using Arabic or Roman numerals is probably acceptable. If you're writing a much longer one, it might make more sense (and sometimes the organization issuing the RFP will specify) that you number tables and figures by section number followed by a hyphen and then its sequence number.
- Do you include a period at the end of each caption?
- Do you use only numerals or do you spell out the numbers one through ten?
- Do you add ordinal abbreviations to dates (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) or just use the number?
- Do you spell out an acronym and put the initialism in parentheses afterward or do you write the acronym and put the full spelling in parentheses?
- Do you use end notes or footnotes for references?
- Is the ampersand acceptable (&) in certain situations?
- What format do you use for telephone numbers? (I've become fond of 407-824-2222 format myself, but some companies use 407.824.2222.)
- Do you capitalize individuals' titles? Documents? Reviews? Procedures? Types of analyses? (I once tried to form the Society for the Elimination of Unnecessary Capitalization (SEUC), but I couldn't get any takers, alas.)
- Do you treat data as a singular or plural noun?
- Do you include a space between a numeral and a unit (e.g. 5m vs. 5 m)?
- Which abbreviation do you use for items that have more than one (e.g. LOX or LO2 for liquid oxygen)?
Note that most of these items are matters of choice/preference, not matters of generally accepted spelling, grammar, or punctuation. And while these issues might seem minor, by keeping your style consistent among contributors, you get a lot closer to "making it sound like only one person wrote it," which is an editorial task proposal writers often receive. The consistency also makes your proposal easier to read. As a result, it's worth taking some time to establish the conventions ("rule of engagement") under which your proposals will be written. It can save your team a lot of effort in the future.


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Salmon Count
The importance of Pacific salmon & why revitalizing creekwalker monitoring programs is so important to our coast.
Why salmon count
Wild salmon are the lifeblood of the B.C. coast, connecting and feeding the ocean and forest. Each spring, young salmon swim from river to sea, where they grow and feed killer whales, sea lions, and a multitude of marine animals. In autumn, bears, wolves, eagles, gulls, and other wildlife gather in estuaries and along rivers to feast on adults returning to spawn. The end of the salmon life cycle brings an essential surge of ocean-derived nutrients to the trees and mycorrhizal networks below ground that line the banks of each river. These marine nutrients transported by salmon have been found in the tops of trees and have been correlated with higher abundance and diversity of birds. Wild salmon literally feed the forests we love.
salmon feed our coast
land mammals
marine mammals
Quintessential to coastal cultures and traditions, our communities rely on salmon for sustenance and livelihoods. They are also a cornerstone of B.C.'s tourism industry, a highlight of local cuisine, and essential food for the wildlife that attract so many visitors to our coast. Directly or indirectly, we all rely on wild salmon.
dive deeper into why salmon count
Pacific Salmon Species Spotlight
Our complete overview of the five Pacific salmon species, covering appearance, ecosystem roles, spawning preferences, economics and conservation status.
7 Reasons Why Salmon Count
Wild salmon are the lifeblood of the B.C. coast. Here are our top 7 reasons why #SalmonCount from a cultural, economic and environmental standpoint.
Salmon Feed Forests
Salmon feed forests? Yep. Salmon feed killer whales, sea lions, bears, eagles and wolves which decompose into fertilizer for forests.
Salmon: A Keystone Species
If salmon were to go extinct, various ecosystems and wildlife species would collapse in response. This quality is what makes salmon a keystone species.
the salmon crisis
In 2018 and 2019, the rivers of B.C.'s North and Central Coasts saw one of the most devastating salmon returns on record. Historically hundreds of spawning populations of chum and pink salmon provided a huge annual influx of nutrients to creeks and rivers throughout the Great Bear Rainforest, but many of these runs have become devastatingly low. These troubling numbers extend to other vital Pacific salmon species including coho, sockeye and Chinook. On the North and Central Coasts a lack of monitoring means we don't even know the state of many salmon stocks, and yet commercial openings continue.
For more than a decade, federal legislation, commissions, policies and court rulings have spelled out the threats to wild salmon and the changes needed to protect them. In 2018, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) found that 50 percent of Chinook salmon populations in Southern B.C. were at-risk, yet few changes have been implemented, and salmon populations continue to decline. But if fewer than half of B.C.'s salmon runs are actually monitored, how can we know their status?
There has never been such a sense of urgency over the state of salmon on the B.C. coast.
salmon run populations in the great bear rainforest (1955-2017)
discover why salmon are in trouble
Top Threats to Pacific Salmon
Wild salmon are essential in ensuring the health of the coastal ecosystem in British Columbia, and the need for genetically diverse runs is critical as we face climate change — yet salmon continue to face human-caused threats at every turn.
Salmon in the News
Recent reports predict that the 2020 run will provide the lowest returns on record. Here is a collection of new articles of the health of salmon in British Columbia.
Ghost Runs: The Salmon Crisis Continues
Nearly two decades after the release of the Ghost Runs report, concerns are escalating as salmon populations reach alarmingly low numbers.
Counting Is Key
Photo: Roland Gockel
The single greatest asset to salmon conservation on our coast is on-the-ground monitoring undergone by Indigenous Nations Guardian programs, academics, volunteers, stewardship programs, and a few remaining DFO charter patrolmen who are trying to keep the salmon count alive. In the midst of an escalating wild salmon crisis and despite tens of millions of dollars allocated for salmon, Canada's federal government is divesting from this foundational pillar of salmon management.
"Escapement data are the basis of the whole fisheries management regime, beginning with the expectations of returning stocks based on brood year escapements through to the development of future fishing plans, according to the species and cycle of return. Obviously neither pre-season planning nor computer stock modeling and run reconstruction or any other long term strategic planning exercise is possible without this information."
— DFO Area 6 Operational Framework, 1987
The Great Bear Rainforest has 2,592 populations of wild Chinook, coho, chum, pink and sockeye salmon. Despite new announcements for $142.5 million towards wild salmon protection, DFO has decreased their investment in monitoring by over 60 per cent over the last 15 years alone. Supporting enumeration and using existing data to make informed management decisions imperative in the wild salmon conservation effort.
Learn More
Data Deficiency: The Salmon Dilemma
Pacific Wild recently completed an in-depth analysis of salmon enumeration data, compiled from the Pacific Salmon Foundation Salmon Explorer and DFO New Escapement Salmon Database. This research determined how many salmon spawning streams are monitored and counted on a yearly basis and identified voids in data collection.
Salmon Counting Projects on the Coast
Salmon monitoring programs are truly our only window into the status of salmon on the central and north coast of BC. Without proper annual stock assessments the status of wild salmon is at best a guess.
Blind Management, Uncounted Rivers
The very foundation of salmon stewardship requires the annual monitoring of thousands of watersheds in coastal B.C. in order to assess the health and abundance of spawning salmon, yet in the last 15 years, DFO funding for salmon escapement programs has been cut by over 60%.
Why Are Rivers Left Uncounted?
Despite tens of millions of dollars being allocated for wild salmon conservation in B.C., Canada's federal government has divested from salmon monitoring projects. If fewer than 10% of B.C.'s salmon runs are actually monitored, how is DFO reliably allocating wild salmon for fisheries and broader ecosystem needs?
Video: SFU Researchers Count Salmon in Heiltsuk Territory
For the last 13 years, Reynolds Lab researchers have been counting salmon in 25 salmon streams in Heiltsuk Territory. Get a glimpse into their process and learn about the importance of salmon monitoring in B.C.'s smaller streams which are often overlooked by the government.
external resources
This interactive tool displays data collected on Pacific salmon species and their habitats – a project by the Pacific Salmon Foundation's Salmon Watersheds Program.
As part of his duties as Commissioner, in 2012 Bruce Cohen completed an investigation into the status of the Fraser River Sockeye Salmon. This report outlines his recommendations to improve the future sustainability of the species by a deadline of September 30th, 2020.
In 2002, Brian Harvey and Misty MacDuffee of Raincoast Foundation published a report addressing the growing concerns in British Columbia's coastal communities about the declines in local salmon runs.


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About Band Rotunda and Fairy Fountain
Miss Janet Melville bequeathed the Fairy Fountain and Band Rotunda in memory of her brother Andrew who was Mayor of Maryborough in 1863. The entire structure was imported from Scotland in 1890 after the Hon. A.H. Wilson MLA saw it at the Glasgow Exhibition and acquired it as a suitable memorial.
In 1905, the fountain was moved from under the ornate roof of the rotunda to its present site to allow the use of the rotunda as a performance area.
Last Sunday of the Month, activities in the park feature live brass bands performing in the rotunda and miniature steam trains.


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It's the 28th February and my seed giveaway has come to an end.
Thank you very much for joining in with my quest to add wildlife friendly plants to your garden or allotment.
I am thrilled that you are part of our group.
Thanks very much for agreeing to share a photo of your flowers.
I can't wait to see your pictures.
Your seeds will be arrive in March.
In the meantime thanks again and Happy Gardening! Gillian 🙂


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Marijuana has an impact on the development of the brain. The brain is not fully developed until around the age of 25. This means that marijuana use in youth and teens is dangerous, and can change the structure of the brain, creating a variety of challenges for the impacted individual.
There is still MUCH more research to be done on how marijuana affects the brain, especially in those who start smoking in their teens.


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Depending on your pet's condition, recheck visit(s) may be necessary, and may be performed at the OVC HSC or with your family veterinarian depending on the nature of the condition. The schedule of rechecks, as well as any cost estimates for rechecks performed at the OVC HSC can be discussed prior to your pet being discharged from the hospital. If you choose to pursue some or all of the rechecks with your family veterinarian, members of the OVC HSC are available to discuss results of tests performed with you and/or your family veterinarian.
Thank you for entrusting us with the care of your pet. We will do our very best to ensure that you and your pet have a positive experience at the Ontario Veterinary College Health Sciences Centre.


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South Korean technology giant Samsung has hinted that it may have plans of unveiling its foldable smartphone at the Galaxy Unpacked event that is scheduled for February 20. On Sunday, the smartphone maker issued a press release in South Korea that marked the placement of two Galaxy Unpacked event banners.
It is worth noticing that these banners were written in Hangul and have been placed at Place de la Concorde of Paris. For those unaware, Hangul is the Korean alphabet and Samsung has mentioned that this is the first time that it is being used for outdoor advertising by the company.
The press release shared by Samsung reveals that the banners have 'Unfolding the future' written on them. This is a very big hint that the company may be planning to launch the foldable phone at the Galaxy Unpacked event.
But then at the same time, the company hasn't openly said that it will be launching its foldable phone or Galaxy F at the Galaxy Unpacked event, so some may argue that the foldable phone will be launched along with the 5G variants of Samsung Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+. However, we feel that if the company has used the phrase 'Unfolding the future' to publicise the event, it means that the upcoming event on February 20 will include the foldable phone too.
We should also mention that this is in-line with the recent report in The Wall Street Journal, which stated that Samsung will b be launching its first foldable phone at the Galaxy Unpacked event. However, The Wall Street Journal did not specify whether the company will just showcase the device or officially unveil it.
This coupled with the latest indication from the company has given us all the hint that we need to conclude that Samsung will be taking wraps off its foldable phone on February 20. While it isn't clear if the smartphone maker will be launching the foldable phone, what we do know is that Samsung is definitely launching the Galaxy S10 smartphones at the February 20 event. Samsung's foldable phone first got showcased at the company's developer's conference in November 2018 and it also made an appearance at CES 2019 this month.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel.


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In Tallinn will bring life to the historical center
The chief architect of Tallinn Endrik Mende intends in the near future to continue to fight against the migration of residents to outlying areas. It is necessary to breathe life into the center of Tallinn to reconstruct the squares and parks, to unload it from the abundance of private cars, to improve the infrastructure of the streets.
In addition, in the near future, the former industrial area on the coast of the Baltic Sea will become a new landscaped area with its parks, playgrounds for sports. Will also appear trams to the airport and port, as well as new other transport lines.
In Riga intend to preserve historical heritage
Gvido Princis, chief architect of Riga, in his speech underlined that the Latvian capital gained its present appearance throughout many centuries. Therefore, new projects should not change, but enhance the quality of urban space.
Another priority of Princis is to make the city even more green. He said that is very important the development of the district Skanstes. There will be realized a number of residential, public and business projects, will appear many commercial real estate. It may be built tramline to the city center.
However, the largest in recent years project is the Northern corridor, which is planned to link the port of Riga with the major European traffic arteries. Additionally, until 2022, will be built high-speed track, which will directly connect the Western and Eastern parts of the city.
In Vilnius are developing districts and former industrial zones
Mindaugas Pakalnis told about the fact that the population of the Lithuanian capital is growing rapidly. The amount of investment increases, and the share of foreign capital is more than a half. Many multinational companies establish their offices in Vilnius. If the pace of development will not be lowered, then after 20 years, according to Pakalnis, the city will be the largest capital in the Baltic region.
Construction is developing intensively. A couple of years ago per capita was only 16 square meters, and now – 25 sq. m. Overall, the city is developing polycentrically – besides the center there are 6 major areas. Great attention is paid to the development of their transport infrastructure. Will actively develop the former industrial zones - not less than 500 hectares, 120 of which are located in the center.
By 2017, the total area of office premises should reach 47,5 thousand square meters. In the center will be built a new district of skyscrapers. Block design, inherited from the Soviet era, will be reconstructed.
Text – Alena Eliseeva, ee24
Photocredit Depositphotos.com


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How people travel costs organisations time and money.
The Sandyford Smarter Travel project aims to improve and promote sustainable travel options for those working in the area over time mainly through Mobility Management Planning and the upgrade of infrastructure – both are key objectives in the recently adopted Sandyford Urban Framework Plan.
A Mobility Management Plan (also known as a Travel Plan) is a long-term management strategy developed and used by an organisation. Thousands of companies nationwide are already involved in making and managing these plans.
The good news is that while it takes some time and effort, mobility management planning creates benefits for everyone, for your business and for your employees.
It also helps businesses and employees to make a difference in terms of quality of life, health of employees and the environment.
The Mobility Management Plan helps to promote and deliver sustainable transport objectives through positive action. It takes the form of a document that is regularly reviewed and acted on. A good Mobility Management Plan will provide realistic alternatives to the car, making alternatives to driving alone more attractive whilst reducing the overall need to travel.
Area Wide Mobility Management Plans cover a particular set of sites in an area that can be linked in order to increase the effectiveness of individual travel plans.
Developing an Area Wide Mobility Management Plan has advantages over multiple organisation-specific plans as it encourages the pooling of resources. This increases the potential for effective initiatives to be identified and introduced relating to sustainable travel.
An Area Wide Mobility Management Plan has been developed for the Sandyford Business District to provide a focus on achieving the transportation and economic vision for the Sandyford Business District as outlined in the Sandyford Urban Framework Plan.
A Mobility Management Plan Network is a group of organisations working together to reduce and manage car use in an area and improve transport options for everyone.
It brings together, formally or informally, individuals and organisations involved in preparing Mobility Management Plans with the aim of facilitating the process.
Setting up a network in an area has a number of benefits:
- The exchange of information, ideas and good practice.
- Achieving greater economy of scale and sharing of resources.
- To provide encouragement and practical support for those involved in Mobility Management Plan process.
- To make viable the provision of services relating to Mobility Management Plans on a collective basis.
- Bring together organisations to generate an effective bargaining force and to enable smaller companies to benefit from the support and assistance of larger organisations.
The benefits of a Mobility Management Plan network for the Sandyford Business District are that concerted action by a number of organisations makes things more likely to happen.
Mobility Management Plans are more likely to be prepared and implemented with a network behind them. The terms of reference for the network will decided by the network members early in the process.


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In competition, lifts may be performed equipped or un-equipped (typically referred to as 'raw' lifting or 'classic' in the IPF specifically).
Equipment in this context refers to a supportive bench shirt or squat/deadlift suit and knee wraps. Weight belts, knee sleeves, wrist wraps and special footwear may also be used, but are not considered when distinguishing equipped from un-equipped lifting.
Each competitor is allowed three attempts on each of the squat, bench press, and deadlift. The lifter's best valid attempt on each lift counts toward the competition total. For each weight class, the lifter with the highest total wins. In many meets, the lifter with the highest total relative to their weight class also wins. If two or more lifters achieve the same total, the lighter lifter ranks above the heavier lifter. Competitors are judged against other lifters of the same gender, weight class and age.
What Powerlifting Equipment is Available at Kings Fitness?
- 3 x Eleiko Combo rack*
- Bull Combo rack*
- ER Combo rack*
- Elite FTS Combo rack
- 1300kg+ Calibrated competition plates*
*IPF Approved
- 10+ powerlifting bars*
- Deadlift bar
- Safety squat bars
- Buffalo barPower racks
- Power racks
*IPF Approved
24/7 Access to all members / $60/month membership / $15 Drop in
Kings Fitness Powerlifting Club
The Kings Fitness Powerlifting Club is an official CPU Certified Training Centre and a recognized APU Alberta Powerlifting Association Club, are the current Provincial Champions (2019). We promote a positive, respectful and fun training atmosphere where everyone is welcome. We offer coaching for beginners up to the World level by our partner team The Strength Guys, we would love for you to drop in and train with us!


text: Advance Screening and Happy Hour: Life of the PartyApr 24, 2018 | 6 commentsMoms – grab your daughters! Daughters – grab your Moms! Girlfriends, let's have a girls night out with TanyaFoster.com followers and subscribers. Find out how you can join me for a Happy Hour and EXCLUSIVE and private advance screening of LIFE OF THE... read more


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In most cases, these games against FCS opponents present a lose-lose situation for the FBS school.
But if that is the rule, consider UW's 70-3 victory over Austin Peay the exception.
The Badgers ran off a nearly flawless 60-minute performance Saturday and set a new school record for points scored in a game with 70.
The running backs were fast, the quarterbacks were accurate, the wide receivers were sure-handed and the defense was solid all-game long. Sure, it was Austin Peay, but the Badgers did everything they were supposed to do against the opponent they were playing Saturday and they did it well.
James White had a ridiculous breakout performance as he ran for 145 yards and four touchdowns on just 11 carries. That's an average of 13.2 yards per carry for those scoring at home. His 66-yard touchdown run in the second quarter certainly aided those numbers.
John Clay still received the most carries as he ran for 118 yards and a score on 15 rushing attempts. Montee Ball added 65 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Overall, UW ran for 346 yards and seven touchdowns on the day.
Wisconsin's passing game was in sync all day long as well. Scott Tolzien threw for 217 yards and three touchdowns while completing 15-of-17 passes. Freshman backup Jon Budmayr saw his first playing time as a Badger and looked sharp as he completed 6-of-7 passes. His only incompletion was a ball he smartly threw away.
If there were any negatives at all it was that the defense still had a small case of the missed tackles and showed poor technique at times. But considering that the Governors never even got inside the red zone and only put up three points because of a 51-yard field goal, it's hard to say the unit had a bad game.
This is the fifth time in five years the Badgers have played an FCS opponent, but it's the first time one could make the argument that it was a good idea.
With injuries mounting and mistakes from the previous three games looming, the Badgers needed a cupcake like Austin Peay to get well and provide a boost of confidence. That's exactly what happened Saturday. Wisconsin ran up the score and rested their starters in preparation for the Big Ten season starting next week.
The only bad news? Michigan State did the same thing yesterday as they beat Northern Colorado 45-7.
Regardless, the Badgers did what they were supposed to do Saturday. No matter what your feelings are about the schedule, Wisconsin played and beat Austin Peay in the best possible way it could.


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Spike Lavender Essential Oil
Lavandula latifolia cineolifera
Fantastic for muscular pain, also circulatory, rubifacient and mucolytic properties.
Essential Facts
- Country of Origin:Spain
- Plant Parts:Flowers
- Cultivation Method:Distiller is Certified Organic
- Note Classification:Middle
- Method of Extraction:Steam or Hydro Distillation
- Botanical Family:Lamiaceae
- Chemical Family: Ketones, Monoterpenols, Oxides
- Extraction Date: Summer 2022
- Approx. Shelf Life: 6 years
- Batch: spikelav
Therapeutic Benefits of Spike LavenderAnalgesic, Anti-anxiety, Anti-bacterial, Anti-depressant, Anti-fungal, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-microbial, Anti-oxidant, Anti-spasmodic, Anti-tussive, Anti-viral, Decongestant, Energizing, Hypotensive, Immuno-stimulant, Insect repellent, Mucolytic, Sedative, Stimulant
Recipes & Blends


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Researching the politics of development
The political economy of social protection in Mozambique
Working paper 103
Download pdf
Lars Buur and Padil Salimo
In the view of international donors, multilateral organisations and government officials, social protection in Mozambique benefits from strong government commitment to it. Their argument is that, in contrast to many African countries, the government has demonstrated a level of commitment and support to social protection that is quite unprecedented. This view relies on the fact that more than 90 percent of the budget allocated to the implementation of social protection programmes comes from the state budget and that, even within the complex context of the financial crisis that has devastated the economy since 2013, social protection has continued to receive special attention from the government in its budget allocations. Based on a political economy analysis, this paper challenges the common narrative of social protection in Mozambique, by arguing that social protection has been used as a means to mobilise resources from international agencies, in order to ensure the political survival of the Frelimo government. The paper argues that government support of social protection emerged as a reaction to the poor performance of poverty-reduction initiatives, becoming also a mechanism to overcome social protests after the 2008 and 2010 riots in Mozambique, which threatened to jeopardise the stability of the regime and its reproduction of power.


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36 Hustonville Street, Liberty, KY USA
(606) 303-9041
We're located in the heart of old town. Centrally located, you can easily get to us from any area in town. Here's a map, but if you get lost, just give us a call and we'll tell you how to get here.
Lights of Liberty Theater
if you have a large party, planning an event, or need catering services, drop us a line and we'll hook you up.


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Font::TTFMetrics - A parser for the TTF file.
use Font::TTFMetrics;
my $metrics = Font::TTFMetrics->new("somefont.ttf");
my $ascent = $metrics->get_ascent();
"Font::TTFMetrics" encapsulates the font metrics of a true type font file. A true type font file contains several tables which need to be parsed before any useful information could be gathered about the font. There is the excellent module for parsing TTF font in CPAN by Martin Hosken, "Font::TTF". But in my opinion the use of "Font::TTF" requires intimate knowledge of TTF font format. This module was written to support the use of TTF in "Pastel" 2D graphics library in Perl. Three factors prompted me to write this module: first, I required a fast module to access TTF file. Second, all the access required was read-only. Last, I wanted a user friendly, higher level API to access TTF file.
Each font file actually contains several informations the most important information is how a particular character will display on screen. The shape of a character (glyph) is determined by a series of points. The points are generally lines or points on curved path. For details see the TTF specification. Remember, the points actually determines the outline of the curve.TTF file stores the glyph shape in the "glyf" table of the font. The first glyph described in this table will be always a particular glyph, called "missing-glyph" which is shown in case the font file doesnot contains the glyph that a software wants.
Each character in computer is actually a number. You can find what number corresponds to the character, you can call "ord()" on the character. This value is called the ordinal value of the character. If you just use common english typically the number of any character falls between 32-126, commonly called as ASCII. If you use some more extra character not commonly found in key-board like "degree" then your character code will fall between 0-255, commonly called LATIN-1 character set. Unicode is a way to use charaters with ordinal values beyond 255. The good thing about it is that the UTF8 encoding in perl works silently in the backdrop and you can intermix characters with any ordinal value. This ofcourse does not mean that you will be able to use character with any ordinal values for display. The font file must contains the corresponding glyph.
The way to extract the glyph for a character is done by looking into "cmap" table of the font. This table contains the character ordinal number and a correspoding index. This index is used to look into the "glyf" table to extract the shape of the character. Thar means if you just substitute another index for a particular ordinal number you can actually display a different character, a mechanism known as "glyph substitution". As you can guess there is one more way to display a particular character instead of what if should display in a more font specific manner. If you just add a particular offset to a glyph ordinal value and provide the index for this added value in the "cmap" table, you can generate a completely different glyph. This mechanism works for a particular type of fonts supplied by Microsoft called symbol fonts. Example of these are symbol.ttf and wingding. Both these fonts does not supply any glyphs corresponding to LATIN-1 character sets but with ordinal values in the range of 61472-61695. But notice if you fire up your word-processor and change the font to symbol and type any character on the key board you get a display. For example, if you type A (ordinal value 65) what you get is greek capital alpha. This works this way: as soon as the word-processor find that you are using a symbol font (you can call "is_symbol()" method to find that) it just adds 61440 to any character you type and then queries the "cmap" table for the glyph.
One more important aspect of using a TTF file is to find the width of a string. The easiest way to find this to query "htmx" table, which contains advanced width of each character, add up all the advance widths of the individual characters in the string and then go look into "kern" table, which contains the kerning value for pair of glyphs add deduct these values from the total width. You need to deduct also the left-side bearing of the first character and the right-side bearing of the last character from the total width.
User of this module should keep in mind that all the values returned from this modules are in font-units and should be converted to pixel unit by:
fIUnits * pointsize * resolution /(72 * units_per_em)
An example from the true type specification at <http://www.microsoft.com/typography/otspec/TTCH01.htm>:
A font-feature of 550 units when used with 18 pt on screen (typically 72 dpi resolution) will be
550 * 18 * 72 / ( 72 * 2048 ) = 4.83 pixels long.
Note that the "units_per_em" value is 2048 which is typical for a TTF file. This value can be obtained by calling "get_units_per_em()" call.
This module also takes full advantage of the unicode support of Perl. Any strings that you pass to any function call in this module can have unicode built into into it. That means a string like:
"Something \x{70ff}" is perfectly valid.
Creates and returns a "Font::TTFMetrics" object.
Usage : my $metrics = Font::TTFMetrics->new($file);
Args : $file - TTF filename.
Returns : A Font::TTFMetrics object.
Returns true if the font is a Symbol font from Microsoft. Remember that Wingding is also a symbol font.
Usage : $metrics->is_symbol();
Args : Nothing.
Returns : True if the font is a Symbol font, false otherwise.
Returns the advance width of a single character, in font units.
Usage : $font->char_width('a');
Args : A single perl character. Can be even a unicode.
Returns : A scalar value. The width of the character in font units.
Given a string the function returns the width of the string in font units. The function at present only calculates the advanced width of the each character and deducts the calculated kerning from the whole length. If some one has any better idea then let me know.
Usage : $font->string_width("Some string");
Args : A perl string. Can be embedded unicode.
Returns : A scalar indicating the width of the whole string in font units.
"Leading" is the gap between two lines. The value is present in the "OS/2" table of the font.
Usage : $metrics->get_leading();
Args : None.
Returns : A scalar Integer.
Get "units_per_em" of the font. This value is present in the "head" table of the font and for TTF is generally 2048.
Usage : $metrics->get_units_per_em();
Args : None.
Returns : A scalar integer.
"Ascent" is the distance between the baseline to the top of the glyph.
Usage : $metrics->get_ascent();
Args : None.
Returns : A scalar integer.
"Descent" is the negative distance from the baseline to the lowest point of the glyph.
Usage : $metrics->get_descent();
Args : None.
Returns : A scalar integer.
Returns true if the font is a bold variation of the font. That means if you call this function of arial.ttf, it returns false. If you call this function on arialb.ttf it returns true.
Usage : $metrics->is_bold()
Args : None.
Returns : True if the font is a bold font, returns false otherwise.
Returns true if the font is italic version of the font. Thar means if you call this function on arialbi.ttf or ariali.ttf it returns true.
Usage : $metrics->is_italic()
Args : None
Returns : True if the font italic, false otherwise
Returns the family name of the font.
Usage : $metrics->get_font_family()
Args : None
Returns : A scalar
Reuturns the style variation of the font in text. Note that depending on this description might actully be pretty confusing. Call "is_bold()" and/or "is_italic()" to detemine the style. For example a "demi" version of the font is not "bold" by text. But in display this in actually bold variation. In this case "is_bold()" will return true.
Usage : $metrics->get_subfamily()
Args : None
Returns : A scalar.
Returns true for a fixed-pitched font like courier.
Usage : $metrics->is_fixed_pitch()
Args : None
Returns : True for a fixed-pitched font, false otherwise
Font::TTF, Pastel::Font::TTF.
Copyright (c) 2003 by Malay <curiouser AT ccmb DOT res DOT in>. All rights reserved.
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself.


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For the past two years I've worked with the Parkway West Career and Technology Center (PWCTC) Consortium of Schools and the Energy Innovation Center (EIC) to develop a series of real world Design Challenges. There are some lessons I've learned:
- Identify the students teams as consultants. Make the students aware of the role of a consultant and the importance of addressing the needs of the client. Work with the teacher facilitators to frame the problem in ways that relate to the students and allow teams to work collaboratively.
- Bring in experts from Day 1. We have each kick-off event at the EIC. Bob Meeder, the CEO of the EIC, arranges for a team of experts, or as he calls them "bosses," to work with the student consulting teams.
- Frame the challenge around a Request for Proposal (RFP). In the business world RFPs are the documents that outline the expectations of the client. The consulting team has to address the project based on the client's needs.
- Use a human-centered design process to move the project along. I've had an opportunity to undergo training through the LUMA Institute. The LUMA framework, developed through a meta-analysis of the best strategies in design thinking, helps to shape the problem more succinctly and provides the focus on the target population.
Here are some ways I've worked these principles into a series of Design Challenges with high school students this fall. To start the challenge the student consultants walk through the Energy Innovation Center and use a LUMA strategy called "Fly on the Wall." They use the camera on their phones to document everything that they see. At the kick-off they develop questions they need to address based on the RFP. Experts from the business, non-profit, or other arenas, begin to answer the student questions. At the midpoint I bring the students back together. (Between the kickoff and midpoint the student teams work with their teacher facilitators conducting research into the RFP issues. Sometimes the teams get together and other times they go their separate ways.)
For this year's two Design Challenges I used a LUMA recipe – a combination of strategies – at the midpoint session. For a Food Menu Item Design Challenge where the student consultants from South Fayette, Carlynton, and PWCTC had to come up with their best ideas for the forthcoming EIC Healthy Cafe, I needed a way to identify the best choices. Each student consultant created what LUMA calls a "Concept Poster" for their food item and then had to pitch the idea to their colleagues and a team of experts that included people in the food industries. Each consultant and expert then chose the three best ideas and put dots on the Concept Poster – LUMA's "Visualizing the Vote." This combination of strategies narrowed the choices, but there was an issue – could the choices work in a cafe environment in a cost-effective manner? Fortunately, I had a team of student experts who were studying Culinary Arts and their teacher, a chef from the Parkway West Career and Technology Center. The chef with the student consultants then examined the top choices that would be prototyped in the PWCTC kitchens.
The second Design Challenge focused on the renovation of an existing space – Innovation Hall- at the EIC. The student consultant teams from Keystone Oaks and Chartiers Valley worked in four teams – lighting technologies, smart technologies, surface technologies, and furnishings. At the midpoint each team developed a "Concept Poster" and then each consultant and expert working on the project responded by placing a red note for a Great Idea, a green note for a promising idea that needed some further thinking, or a brown note for an idea that might not work. LUMA calls this strategy "Rose, Thorn, Bud." Once the teams received the feedback from the other teams and experts, they had to revise their plan.
In both Design Challenges the LUMA strategies provided great ways to get all students involved in a collaborative manner. The consulting teams had to use communication skills that included visualizing ideas. The teams had to analyze feedback and revise (iterate) their ideas.
We're not done yet. The final presentations will take place in the next month, but one of the Design Challenges from last year will soon have a ribbon-cutting ceremony. What's better than having the student consultants actually see their ideas implemented?
Last year three teams of students worked on the installation of a windmill at the EIC. Consultants from Carlynton High School came up with a very original model using a Hummingbird Kit from Birdbrain Technologies. A second team from PWCTC's Electrical Studies program devised a storage and power strategy for the RFP, while the third team from West Allegheny developed an educational strategy to instruct visitors at the EIC about wind energy and sustainable energies. In December members from the original Design Team will join Windstax Technologies, key members of the EIC, the mayor of Pittsburgh, and the County Executive of Allegheny County in a ribbon cutting ceremony – a great real world celebration for a challenging real world problem.


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Sunset Suite
The Ultimate Romance Suite for $240 per Night
Sky themes are our favorite, so we've painted our most romantic suite with evening sky, shading from pink to lavender and filled with sun-streaked clouds. Enjoy the end of your day among the rosy clouds of sunset.
Our bed, surrounded by Roman columns and overhung with lush flowers, creates a fanciful setting for cuddling in front of the gas corner fireplace with dancing flames.
Watch the sun set over Pikes Peak from your private sitting room. Whirlpool tub for two and separate shower in bathroom featuring hand-painted floral tile murals inset in hues of rose and burgundy.
Suite Photos
Click on thumbnails to view full size photos
About This Room
• 2 Guests Occupancy
• Air conditioning
• Cable Television w. all news channel
• CD & DVD player
• Ceiling fan
• Closets in room
• Coffee/Tea maker
• Complimentary High Speed Wireless Internet
• Dining guide
• Gas Fireplace
• Free movies / video
• HD Flat Panel Television - 32' or greater
• Iron & Ironing board
• Jetted tub for 2 + shower
• King Bed
• Meal included: full American breakfast
• Microwave & Mini-refrigerator
• Outdoor space
• Sitting area / Alcove
• Soundproofed room
• Tables and chairs
Guest Reviews
Thank you for creating such a beautiful getaway. I felt stress melt away when I entered the Sunset suite. All the personal touches made me believe
this room was decorated with love & creativity. I can't wait to come back.
The outdoor setting is also amazingly lovely. Walking around and finding all the secret hideaways was fun. Y'all have put so much effort into every aspect of this B&B.
My only complaint: I think I gained 5 lbs from eating the muffins.! They are wonderful!
Chuck & Sharice
We celebrated our 46th Anniversary with you. We were elated with the beautiful setting of Blue Skies Inn – very relaxing and serene.
The Sunset suite was wonderful, very neat and clean. The breakfast is the very best of any place we have ever stayed. All in all, it was much more than we expected.
Thank you, and God bless.
Will & Dru, Oklahoma City, OK
Dear Sally & Mike
Elizabeth describes the Sunset suite as her fairyland. Every aspect of the suite was so well done, it puts all the other places we stayed on our trip to shame. We really enjoyed the gardens. Having breakfast brought to the suite was a real treat.
Our friends who visited us here were amazed and impressed. Thanks for being here.
Elizabeth & Will, Dripping Springs, TX
Just southward of Denver, along I-25
Beneath Pikes Peak mountain, by the arch of Blue Sky
We arrived at our suite, and there we did sigh,
Our retreat is so wonderful!" as we stood there wide-eyed.
The touches were perfect, the atmosphere glowed
Our fast-paced existence immediately slowed,
And nestled in comfort, a peace seemed to flow.
Relaxed and romantic, we found our love grow.
Did I mention the breakfast that arrived at the door?
Did I mention the muffins, egg quiche, fruit and more?
Did I mention jacuzzi, our fire-light chat?
My compliments to you - we'll soon be right back.
Bill & Susan, Denver, CO


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Exhibition games for Major League Baseball are under way ahead of the 60-game regular season that kicks off on July 23.
The practice games are providing a look at what the regular season will look like for teams as COVID-19 keeps stadiums closed to the public. Some players are wearing face masks on the diamond, while backup players watch from the stands in order to social distance. The league has even issued a ban on licking fingers and on spitting. There is also no pre-game exchange of lineup cards.
Despite the safety measures some players are opting out of the 2020 season for health or other personal reasons.
Players aren't the only ones choosing to opt out. Canada's federal government is barring the Toronto Blue Jays from playing any home games in Canada, citing COVID-19 concerns of players traveling back and forth from the U.S. The team is reviewing alternative home game sites in Dunedin, Florida or Buffalo, New York.