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Death Sentence Unrated (2007)
Urban vigilantes have always been a mainstay of exploitation cinema. Then in 1974, the commercial success of Death Wish brought the revenge thriller sub-genre in to the mainstream. It succinctly tapped into the public's fear of urban decay, escalating crime rates and an impotent justice system. However, in recent years the tide of lawlessness has broadly turned and the public's views on crime and punishment have been tempered. Subsequently the appeal and relevance of vigilante genre has waned. However, a decade ago there was brief resurgence of movies that tackled this thorny issue, although they did so in different ways. Neil Jordan's The Brave One (2007) pursued a more cerebral approach to the genre, attempting to intellectually or philosophically justify its themes of revenge. Then in 2009, Law Abiding Citizen, took the theme of retribution to extreme levels, with a farfetched plot and outrageously contrived death scenes. Sitting in-between these two movies was James Wan's Death Sentence, which put a contemporary spin on what was essentially a very eighties style of movie. Sadly, the film did not garner much attention at the time, with the press quick to dismiss it as exploitation fodder dressed up in studio trappings. Yet the film is more than that mainly due to the lead performance by Kevin Bacon.
Loosely based on the Brian Garfield novel, Death Sentence starts with successful risk analyst Nick Hume (Kevin Bacon) taking his eldest son to his Hockey match. A chance stop at a Gas Station on the wrong side of town, ends with his son being murdered by a gang. The impact upon the Hume family is immediate and as the parents grieve for their eldest, they seem to overlook the needs of their youngest son. When the perpetrator is arrested, the DA feels that he cannot secure a life time conviction and aims to plea bargain for a shorter sentence. Furthermore, it becomes apparent that robbery was incidental and the murder of Hume's son was a gang initiation ritual. At the pre-trial hearing, Hume deliberately implies uncertainty in his own evidence, securing a dismissal for the prime suspect. Hume then rashly plots and hastily carries out his revenge, only to make matters far worse for himself and his family.
Although Death Sentence is a thriller with strong action scenes, it does not totally capitulate to the baser needs of the genre and tries to explore the subject matter with a degree of rigour. Kevin Bacon is credible as a man whose job is based around numbers, risk and statistical balance. Although he may not know how to fight, his intelligence makes him a dangerous wild card. Yet, where other movies would simply have him glibly triumphing over his foes, director James Wan shows that there are consequences to his actions. Hume makes several errors that allow the gang to identify him. Tragedy begets tragedy and retributions comes with little satisfaction. It is here that Bacon excels, delivering a credible and sympathetic performance as a man out of his depth, driven purely by his convictions.
Technically, Death Sentence is well constructed. There is a notable chase scene that takes the audience through litter strewn alley ways, a restaurant kitchen, ending in a multi-storey carpark. There is a superb three-minute tracking shot by cinematographer John R. Leonetti, that really places the viewer in to the middle of the action. The set pieces are also well conceived and gritty. Nick Hume is an academic, not a fighter, yet he's smart enough to use what is available as make shift weapons. In one scene, he literally pulls the rug out from under a gang member pointing a gun at him. The violence is relatively realistic and grim, which is appropriate given the subject matter. There is a particularly nasty shotgun amputation, which trumps a similar scene in Steven Seagal's Out for Justice. An obvious homage to Taxi Driver is also crow barred into the proceedings. One particular aside amused me, where our Hume familiarises himself with the firearms he bought by reading the manual. It not as preposterous as it initially seems.
Death Sentence also benefits from an interesting supporting performance from John Goodman, playing against established preconceptions, as a sleazy gun dealer. His slow and measured delivery of his lines is entertaining and he has an amusing soliloquy about the death, revenge and cash paying customers. Garrett Hedlund has less to do as the story's main antagonists, Billy Darley. The complex relationship he has with John Goodman is only hinted at and would have been an interesting angle to explore further. Too often, genres such as this coast somewhat when defining their villains. It is easy and convenient to establish a character's evil intent simply by them committing an act of violence. Similarly, most of the gang are merely cannon fodder. Also, Detective Jessica Wallis (Aisha Tyler), who is investigating the Hume case, is more of a expositionary device than a fully rounded character.
However, despite some rough edges and lazy trappings from the exploitation genre, Death Sentence still manages to do something sufficiently different. It certainly is not meant to be a serious social or political study of crime and punishment. Conversely, it's not a tacit endorsement of personal justice, like Michael winner's movies. It offers a contemporary entry point into the vigilante genre for a whole generation of viewers who are unfamiliar with movies such as Death Wish or The Exterminator. It also showcases a change of direction for James Wan, who is usually associated with horror movies. Out of the two cuts of the film that are available, I would suggest that the unrated version is better than the theatrical cut. In this instance, there is no extra action or violence. Just five minutes of additional scenes that bolster the narrative. A nominal change made to the final scene also offers a definitive and sombre ending.


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Laura Spurgin is a Georgia native living in Austin, Texas with her husband and 3 children.
She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin (hook 'em!) with a bachelor's degree
in Advertising from the Texas Creative Portfolio Program and a minor in Business.
After graduation and completing an advertising internship in Atlanta, Laura moved to Dallas
to be an art director with Firehouse Advertising in Addison. She then went on to join Skyymedia, an interactive design shop and dib Creative, a full service agency in Dallas. She has worked on projects for The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, Nokia, Centex Homes and Guadalupe River Club.
During her time at those agencies, Laura developed a love of color, paper and type, and she
is excited to help clients perfect every detail of their projects.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen are at Number One on the Roots Music Reports Bluegrass Chart for the second week in a row! And Caleb Klauder's "Western Country" is in it's sixth week in the Top Ten on the Roots Music Reports Roots Country Chart. Thanks for all the spins out there, helping the people see Quicksilver's Stars shine!


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Some students are worried about training with heart conditions, well all I can say is that I have one and most doctors would recommend some form of training. However, my advice is always check with your GP first and tell them what you intend to do and get their approval. Then inform your trainer.
Here is my story:
Some years ago I started to suffer from a condition called Atrial Fibrillation, or AF for short. It is a heart problem that gradually got worse and affected my life and training over the years, but is now being managed. In the early period of my condition I used to panic as the symptoms were unpleasant and scary to say the least, now when I get them I don't panic as much but that are still scary! I have even trained and instructed when having an attack, which I would not recommend.
So what is AF and why am I writing this article. Well the answer is to inform our members about AF and how to deal with it.
AF is quite a common condition, especially in older people. Nearly 50,000 cases are diagnosed each year in the UK. It affects about 1% (1 in 100 people) of the UK and has no age boundaries. Although its prevalence increases with age, being unusual below 30, but affecting 1 in 20 people above the age of 65. I have been told that it is common amongst rowers and athletes that have worked their hearts strongly, but again I don't know how true this is. There are some that don't even know that they have AF.
Now before I go on to describe AF I would like to explain how the heart works. Any Human Biologists out there if I have it wrong then please feel free to correct me!
Our Heart
The heart is one of our strongest muscles and is constantly working, amazing when you think that other muscles get tired and need to rest – it's a good job our hearts don't!
It is composed of four chambers – two Atria (top) and two Ventricles (bottom). These chambers need to squeeze in order to pump our blood around our body. This needs to be done in the correct order to be efficient and of course to keep us alive. This squeezing mechanism is what gives us our heart beat that we can hear and a pulse that we feel.
The sequence is as follows:
- Right and Left Atrium contracts to pump blood from these chambers into the Right and Left Ventricle. Then the Ventricles contract to pump the blood out of the heart to your body (oxygen rich) via the Aorta from the left ventricle, and to your lungs via the Pulmonary Artery (oxygen deficient) from the right ventricle. This function is clinically known as Systole.
- In the second stage the heart relaxes and the heart fills up with blood again and the first stage above repeats. This function is clinically known as Diastole.
This contracting mechanism occurs by way of electrical impulses from bundles neurons and fibres, which are called the Sinoatrial Node (SA # 1 in diagram), Atrioventricular Node (AV # 2 in Diagram) and Atrioventricular Bundle (AV # 3 to 5).
The SA Node is like a built in timer as it fires off the electrical impulse at regular intervals of around 60 to 80 per minute when you are at rest and faster during exercise; controlling the heart rate. This impulse spreads across both top chambers as seen in the diagram above, causing the chambers to contract and pushing the blood through one way valves into the bottom chambers.
As the impulse reaches the AV Node at the lower right of the chamber (#2 in the diagram), there is a small delay and then it carries this impulse through the AV Bundles (#3 to 5 in diagram) causing them to contract.
The heart then relaxes during Diastole and the sequence starts over. Thus for a normal heartbeat the rate is between 60 to 80 beats per minute as cause by the SA Node.
What is Atrial Fibrillation (AF)
Basically this is a fast and erratic heartbeat and the force of the beat can vary in intensity. What happens is the controlling timer of the SA Node is overridden by random electrical impulses causing it to fibrillate. This effect causes the atria to only partially contract, but very rapidly up to 400 times per minute. Only some of the impulses get through to the AV Node causing haphazard contraction in the ventricles, usually between 140 and 180 times per minutes, producing irregularity in contractions and with varying force.
Therefore you can feel this affect in your chest and throat. If you take your pulse you may count up to 180 beats per minute and it feels erratic and varies in strength.
In the early stages it might only last a few minutes, however, as the condition develops it can go on for hours, days and weeks depending on the type of AF you suffer from. I know when mine runs into several hours once it returns to normal heartbeat function I feel like I've run a marathon and suffer with the after effects.
However, this is only the minor downside to this condition, the dangers of AF are an increase risk of a stroke due to blood clots, and less common are heart failure, cardiomyopathy (weakening the heart muscle) and angina.
Types of AF
There are three types of AF and these are:
- Paroxysmal AF.
This is recurring sudden episodes that come and go and will stop without treatment within seven days (usually two). The heartbeat stops as sudden as it had started going back to its normal rate and rhythm. The occurrence between each attack can vary greatly and even occurs when you're sleeping; it has woken me many times in the night. Although it does go back without treatment, if you have suffered with this for more than 1 hour you are glad to get it under control with treatment. Also remember that while the heart is undergoing its AF you are at risk with the dangers mentioned above!
- Persistent AF.
This means that AF lasts longer than seven days and is unlikely to revert back to a normal rhythm. People that suffer with permanent AF are treated to bring down their heart rates, but the rhythm remains irregular.
Cause of Atrial Fibrillation (AF)
There are various conditions that will bring about AF. One of the most common is high blood pressure as it puts strain on the heart muscle. Other are also associated with the heart such as atherosclerosis, the blocking of arteries by fatty substances, such as cholesterol. Other heart problems are associated with the heart valve and congenital heart disease at birth, cardiomyopathy (the wasting of the heart muscle), and perocarditis (inflammation of the hearts lining).
Other medical conditions associated with AF are: hyperthroidism (over active thyroid gland), pneumonia, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, diabetes, pulmonary embolism (blockage in a vessel in the lungs) and carbon monoxide poisoning.
These all sound frightening but not everyone with AF falls into one of the above groups. Some people with AF have no other conditions, and no cause can be found. This is known as Lone Atrial Fibrillation. For example, it can affect extremely athletic people.
Triggers of Atrial Fibrillation (AF)
There are various triggers that set the heart away to fibrillate, and I assume they will be different for each person. Some of these are:
- drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, particularly binge drinking.
- being overweight
- drinking lots of caffeine, such as tea, coffee or energy drinks
- taking illegal drugs, particularly amphetamines or cocaine
- smoking
- stress
I'm glad to say that I don't have problems with 1, 3, 4 and 5 above. Also I was not overweight when my condition started. However, I do suffer with stress in my job. I have also noticed that certain foods set off an AF attack, especially cheese, which I love but don't eat so much now. So for me the main trigger is definitely stress, which can come in various forms. Sometimes I don't even notice that I'm under stress until my AF flares. Apart from the obvious work related stress, it could be worrying about missing an appointment, or trying to get the bike back on the road.
Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation (AF)
Talking to other people that suffer with AF, I'm quite lucky as their AF tend to go on for days. It's bad enough that my worst case has been about 12 hours. It knocks you off your feet, and the after effects once it settles down don't help. Some of my symptoms are:
- Fast heart rate and irregularity in rhythm and force. I first become aware of this in my throat; it feels like I have a lump there. I can then feel it in my chest and sometime can hear it in my head.
- Dizziness. Because the oxygenated blood is not getting to my head as it should I become dizzy and can't stand.
- Breathlessness. If I have a bad attack I become very breathless, even to walk a short distance. It feels like you have just run a marathon.
- Chest Discomfort. This is a minor discomfort for me, but can be worrying as it is associated with angina as the heart is beating too fast and becomes less efficient.
- After Effects. Once the heart reverts back to normal, I then suffer with headache, lethargic and tiredness. All I want to do is rest and sleep.
I think all this has to do with the fact that the heart is not performing as it should and the oxygen is not getting to the various parts of the body in the correct way. Because of the poor performance of the blood flow there are serious complications that could occur.
Possible Complications of Atrial Fibrillation (AF)
Because of the turbulent blood flow in the heart during AF and that it does not get pumped out as it should it causes the blood to pool. This could then lead to small blood clots forming. These cots then travel around the body until they get stuck in small blood vessels, such as in the brain leading to a stroke. This risk of this varies and depends upon various factors. These factors are calculated by your doctor who then decides what treatment to provide such as Warfarin or Aspirin to help prevent clotting. Other complications have already been discussed such as Heart Failure, Cardiomyopathy and Angina.
Once I knew I had a problem my doctor sent me to hospital for various tests. They included electrocardiogram (ECG), which confirmed the condition, blood tests and echocardiogram to look for underlying causes, such as heart problems or overactive thyroid. Luckily I did not have any heart and thyroid problems. It appears my AF falls into the Paroxysmal AF condition, although my attacks are regular.
So how can this be treated?
Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation (AF)
There are mainly two ways, either by medication or by catheter ablation. Another way, but don't necessarily prevent it from returning is cardioversion. This is where the heart gets shocked to revert it back to its normal rhythm. I have known a couple of people that have had this and it was not a cure as their symptoms returned within a week or so later. Most patients are on medication and some have had catheter ablation. I was offered ablation but so far have rejected this. The reason is as follows:
Catheter Ablation
A thin wire is passed from the large blood vessel in the thigh up into the heart chamber and towards the pulmonary vein. Once there the ablation process starts by burning the tissue so that it is unable to conduct the abnormal electrical impulse that causes AF.
This treatment is only suitable in certain cases and does not always work, it is supposedly has an 80% success rate. However, I know of two suffers that have tried this on three occasions and in all cases their AF had returned. Furthermore, like any heart surgery there are associated risks, such as stroke, perforation of the heart, narrowing of the pulmonary vein and death. They are fortunately unusual, between 1 – 2% depending on your local area.
In my case I want to stay and try the medication route.
Medicinal Treatment
These are called anti-arrhythmics and can restore the heart to its normal rhythm and control the beats. However, it not as simple as prescribing some medicine as it depends on the type of AF, how well it responds to the treatment and side affects of the medicine. In addition to these are the medicines that help to prevent strokes, e.g. anticoagulants.
I have tried several beta-blockers that did not control my AF, but finally the one that worked was Flacanide Acetate. However, it is not completely under control and I still get attacks. When I do I have the opportunity to take an extra tablet hoping to bring it under control. Sometimes this does not work and I have to wait for it to go away by itself.
I also take Aspirin to help prevent blood clotting and reduce the risk of strokes. I know of other patients that take Warfarin which has more serious side affects than Aspirin, so I'm glad I'm not on that yet!
As with all medication there are side affects, and you'll need to weigh these against the condition you are suffering from. The whole situation is a chance of risk, but one which needs to be taken.
My Outcome
I have been suffering with AF now for several years and my consultant said that there will be a time when the AF symptoms increase and I'll have more attacks. I used to have an attack every week, then I started my medication and it went down to once every two weeks and then finally I noticed I was going for long periods without an attack, several weeks leading into months. Now all of a sudden I started getting daily attacks again, whereby I have to take the extra Flacanide tablet to bring them under control. I was getting quite concerned as I did not want to go for the surgery.
Then Mr. David Owen, one of our student's parents had heard that I suffered and suggested vitamin treatment. He sent me information on Vitamin E, and Magnesium Chloride Oil, and just recently Vitamin B-100. This has been a big breakthrough for me because I'm back to normal again and have stopped taking the extra Flacanide tablet. In fact when my heart tries to go into arrhythmia it stops and goes back to normal, or I just put on more magnesium chloride oil.
As this treatment seems to work I thought I would inform people about it. The information that was sent to me by Mr. Owen will be put into another article, if that's of any help? Please let me know. I have also informed some of my friends about the benefits of vitamins E, B-100 and Magnesium Chloride and they too have started taking them.
In addition to this I went onto a low sugar diet and lost weight. I have now reduced my medication in-take and don't get as often AF attacks.
I hope this article has helped anyone who suffers with AF as it is very common, in fact more common that you think!
Useful Links for Further Information
British Heart Foundation
Greater London House, 180 Hampstead Road, London, NW1 7AW
Tel (Heart Help Line): 0300 330 3311 Web: http://www.bhf.org.uk/
Atrial Fibrillation Association
PO Box 1219, Chew Magna, Bristol BS40 8WB
Tel: 01789 451837 Web: http://www.afa.org.uk/
This is an international charity which provides information, support and access to established, new or innovative treatments for atrial fibrillation.


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Online Payment Methods in Bangladesh
Online Payment Methods – this is the most important topic for all Freelancers in the world as well as in Bangladesh. Everybody wants to know how many supported online payment methods are available in Bangladesh? Which of them are most reliable and safe?
How to bring their hard earned money to their local bank account safely and quickly using these online payment methods? We have tried to choose the best online payment methods for you.
Now a days, there are a few supported online payment methods available in Bangladesh. But it is all surprising that Paypal – the most popular online payment method is not available here. Bangladesh authority is trying to introduce them. We hope they will start their operations in near future.
Any way , there are 3 major online payment methods available in Bangladesh right now. They are safe, convenient and reliable. Any one can bring their online income through these online payment methods. All of them are offering Free account. The fees and charges are different. The list is given below. Please click the relevant links for full details.


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Neurotomy Rhizotomy
A radiofrequency Neurotomy/Rhizotomy is a treatment used to reduce pain from facet joints or the sacroiliac joint. Radiofrequency energy is used (either hot or cold) to partially destroy the nerves going to the facet or sacroiliac joints to reduce pain. This procedure requires an IV and is done on an X-ray table. After numbing the skin, fluoroscopy (real time X-ray) is used to guide a radiofrequency probe onto the nerves that supply the facet or sacroiliac joint. Radiofrequency waves are then used to create a lesion along the nerve pathway. The goal of a radiofrequency Neurotomy/Rhizotomy is to interrupt the pain signal to the brain, while preserving other functions, such as normal sensation and muscle strength. This procedure is done on an out-patient basis.


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[Featurama] The Games of the Future
This being the entertainment industry, hype is everything. It's what feeds us day in and day out. So with the new year now a reality, there are many games in the pipeline that make us froth uncontrollably at the mouth in excitement and something needs to be done about it.
To celebrate 2013, we've gathered together to produce a list of our most anticipated upcoming titles. Read on to find out what we're looking forward to and sound off in the comments with your game of the future.
Muaz Zekeria's Game of the Future:
Grand Theft Auto V
Since we were all supposed to explode in fire and glitter last year, it's hard not to look forward to another year and for that alone 2013 is already shaping up to be a great year. The biggest game coming out this year in my eyes would have to be Rockstar's return to San Andreas with Grand Theft Auto V.
I've always held that GTA: San Andreas was the best GTA game to date, and I'm hopeful that returning to the Los Angeles counterpart with current gen technologies will put this new game on the open world mountaintop.
Tim Li's Game of the Future:
Rome II: Total War
The Total War series contains some of my favorite games of all time. The real-time, tactical battles are unlike any other strategy game out there, allowing the player to control armies of thousands of individual soldiers on a single battlefield. There is no sense of satisfaction like watching an epic, victorious battle of your own careful orchestration. The original Rome: Total War was the game that got me into the franchise, and with good reason. Not only did it introduce the scale that is the hallmark of the series, it was filled with historical nuances that made it feel authentic.
Besides modernizing graphical quality, Rome II plans to expand upon every area of what made these games great by focusing on scale. The player can experience the battle through the perspective of a single soldier, as well as an overhead view which can let the player see their whole army in motion. The ability to land soldiers on the field off ships are also an exciting addition, one of many that will make campaigning in Rome fresh again.
Matthew Stevens' Game of the Future:
Bioshock Infinite
My most anticipated game of 2013 has to be Bioshock Infinite. While I know that is going to be a cliche answer over the next week or 2, its one of the only games that I already have an eye out for and will be buying day 1 regardless of cost. Coming from a guy that never buys a game on day 1, what with the patches, bugs and initial sticker shock of a AAA release; that should speak volumes here.
The teasers that we've all seen appear to show off a vibrant and colorful world which is a stark departure from the color and water filled worlds that this franchise is used to and that's a great thing just by itself. With a seemingly deeper story and a promised ending that is revolutionary teamed up with the solid gameplay, I don't think there is going to be a better put together game coming in 2013 that has been announced already.
Now that the setting has changed, the characters are brand new and the evil pure and vile, I am as excited as ever to jump in and shoot some suckas.
Andres Ruiz's Game of the Future:
Animal Crossing: New Leaf
Animal Crossing is the kind of game that you can't just explain to someone. "You talk to animals, plant flowers, and shakes trees to raise money to pay off your mortgage." It doesn't sound like the most exciting game, but holy shit those games are addicting. The upcoming installment is actually the reason I will finally be getting a 3DS. There are just some games you can't miss out on, and I refuse to miss out on being the mayor or my own town and swimming around.
Yeah, trust me. That's a big deal.
I have spent days playing all of these games and it's only more exciting to see changes to a tried and true formula that actually looks wonderful. Also, those animals are so goddamn adorable. In all, it's such a simple concept and yet there is so much more to this series than at first glance.
Kristina Pino's Game of the Future:
The Cave
The Cave is created by Ron Gilbert and Double Fine, which is pretty much all of the reason I needed to want to jump in. I love adventure games in general, and playing a few average-to-mediocre ones in 2012 (Deponia and Chaos on Deponia) made me long for something truly great, which I am confident these dudes will deliver with The Cave. It was a tough decision to pick just one title to be most happy about, especially with strong contenders like Ni No Kuni on the horizon, 2013 is shaping up to be another great year for gaming.
Yamilia Avendaño's Game of the Future:
In an answer that shocks no one, I'm looking forward to SimCity this year. I managed to get my hands on it at PAX Prime and it was simply amazing. I've never been much of a fan of SimCity games, but since my favorite genre is becoming sort of barren in recent years, I'm definitely anticipating it. The tutorial I played through showed off that the core mechanics fans are used to are still here, but they've tweaked it enough to make it a much more gratifying experience.
I'm just really excited for the ability to get feedback directly from inhabitants, as well as the multiplayer mechanics that will have me sabotaging other cities around mine. I'm looking forward to spending hours upon hours juggling the politics that will come with running a thriving city. Or I could, you know, just burn it all to the ground.
Mike Eaton's Game of the Future:
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist
2013 is looking to be a year full of exciting PC games. The recent financial troubles over at THQ have caused no small amount of concern as two of my most anticipated titles, Metro: Last Light and Company of Heroes 2, have been delayed with no firm release date set. Thankfully, Ubisoft seems to be cranking out games right on schedule which means that my favorites series should be getting its latest installment some time in 2013.
I've always been a huge Splinter Cell fan and I appreciate that with each new game they're not afraid to tinker with the formula and provide a new experience. Splinter Cell: Blacklist looks to be no exception. The gameplay is more fluid and action-oriented, like in Conviction, but from the demo the missions and story appear to call back to the first three titles. Not every game in the series has been a home run to be sure, but Ubisoft has never failed to deliver a fun and unique stealth experience with Splinter Cell. Here's hoping Blacklist continues that tradition.
Christopher Hadlock's Game of the Future:
Generation of Chaos: Pandora's Reflection
About 2 years ago you would have found me citing something like Bioshock Infinite as the obvious game of the future and it most likely will be. Yet right now I am actually more excited for this little under the radar title from Idea Factory, of all people. Now, usually Idea Factory does not equate to something I'm particularly excited for. It's Idea Factory. They make great ideas, not great games. Generation of Chaos: Pandora's Reflection is such a generic name that I half fell asleep typing it out.
Really, it is the 6th game in the Generation of Chaos series. What could be intriguing about after 5 games?
Well, they ripped the game out of Neverland's hands and threw it in to a developer that's been doing Strategy RPGs since the Super Nintendo. Sting is in charge of this and if there is one thing Sting does well, it makes unique Strategy RPGs that actually work. Conceptually fully operational games are almost the opposite of what Idea Factory is known for. Sting however can't write an exciting story line to save their lives and that's where Idea Factory comes in. The devs over at Idea Factory make a living off their crazy ideas so this pairing is much more interesting than it really should be.
Sure it's not as safe of a bet as Bioshock will be, but safe isn't what I'm looking forward to for 2013. I look forward to an RTS game that pits you against cat wizards. Cat wizards. Generation of Chaos: Pandora's Reflection is the game I can't wait to get my hands on for some reason. I'm excited for it and I don't care if I'm the only one.


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Helpful (3)
I applied through an employee referral. The process took 2+ months. I interviewed at Gartner (Fort Myers, FL) in August 2014.
Spoke to Recruiting leaders across the organization. I probably had 9 interviews in total. I spoke to so many people, and the titles didn't make any sense to me at the time. They all asked me questions about my job experience. Each one focused on a different area. For example, one wanted to talk about how I built relationships with Hiring Managers, and another wanted to talk more about how I find candidates, etc.
Interview Questions
Helpful (3)
I applied online. The process took 6 weeks. I interviewed at Gartner (Fort Myers, FL).
I had multiple 1-1 phone interviews with a final in person interview day where I met several people and had a video teleconference interview with someone in Stamford, CT (Headquarters).
Interview Questions
Helpful (8)
I applied through a staffing agency. I interviewed at Gartner.
Phone interview, in-person interview, the manager made me feel pretty comfortable on the phone and his interactions with me in person were even better. I did not feel like he was judging me. The discussion in-person felt more like a friendly conversation.
Interview Questions
I applied through an employee referral. I interviewed at Gartner in April 2014.
2 phone interviews , 4 in person interviews, They asked a lot of questions around your current process and how you find talent then when you came in for the interview it was all around the cultural fit.
Interview Questions
Helpful (8)
I applied through a recruiter. The process took 7 weeks. I interviewed at Gartner (Irving, TX) in January 2018.
In all of my professional experience, both as a recruiter and candidate, this by far was the worst interview process I have ever endured. Dec. 7th - received LinkedIn message from recruiter after being identified as a potential candidate for the role. Dec. 14th - 1st phone interview w/ recruiter. (Was told that this was a streamlined process and that the team was not looking to drag out the interviews.) December 29th - Phone interview w/ HR Manager. Jan -5th - phone interview w/ Team Lead (Decision Maker). Jan. 12th - Onsite interview w/ 6 individuals total (4 hour long interview, which was supposed to be the final step. Received constructive feedback from the Team Lead, decision maker, to "for future interviews, let your hair down. [I] was too formal in the way that I spoke and that [he] couldn't tell if I was so "articulate" because I was nervous, but it was okay to not be "so polished."). Jan. 19th - after having to reach out to recruiter, I was informed that feedback from everyone on the team was "positive all around, except for the team lead. He felt that the other candidate's personality better matched his own, but you are the more experienced candidate." Jan. 24th - Tie breaker, phone interview with Associate Director (was unofficially told that this would be the final final interview and though the team lead liked the other candidate better due to his personality, a majority vote of the team would go in my favor.) Jan. 25th - phone interview with HR Director (I was never told the purpose of this interview.) Friday, Jan. 26th - had to reach out to recruiter at the end of the day Friday for feedback and was told that their would be next steps on Monday. Monday, Jan. 29th - after not hearing back from the recruiter, I reached out to her by email and was then told that I would hear from her tomorrow with final feedback. Jan. 30th - Never heard back from the recruiter. Jan. 31st - after reaching out to her, she finally informed me that the team lead decided to go with the lesser experienced candidate due to him "feeling that their personalities were more aligned." After expressing my frustrations of the process, being strung around for three weeks after my 'final'onsite interview, and the fact that their was no transparency on anyone's part including the senior recruiter, the only response yielded by the recruiter was "I'm sorry you're upset that you didn't get the position...you completely caught me off guard with your call today."
My frustrations do not lie with me not being offered the position, but the lack of transparency and utterly inefficient, elongated interview process. Gartner unfortunately has a long way to go in regards to providing a positive candidate experience for applicants. A major suggestion that I would leave for the organization is provide feedback to candidates in a timely manner, even if its feedback that candidates don't want to hear and shorten the interview process. Include everyone in the interview process early instead of one interview after another with different individuals. The total amount of time that I took away to interview with this organization was eight and a half hours over a 7 week period.
Interview Questions
I applied through other source. I interviewed at Gartner (Stamford, CT) in February 2018.
Professional and organized interview process. Met with many people from the team as well as management. There was a group panel at the end of the interview that felt trait based. Asked a lot of questions regarding how to handle situations, past experiences ect.
Now being here for a few months I have to say Gartner is a great place to work. strong work-life balance
Interview Questions
Helpful (3)
I applied through a recruiter. The process took 3+ months. I interviewed at Gartner in January 2016.
Initial communication was positive and exciting however it is very clear that there are some people who are involved with recruiting that are not actually good with people and should really be in the analytics side of the business. It was clear there was no respect for the applicants time as I had 4 of the 6 interviews rescheduled. 2 of which were rescheduled 5 minutes prior to the start and both times the manager did not apologize for the inconvenience (1 was a Skype interview I had taken work off for, and the manager knew that.)
Interview Questions
I applied online. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at Gartner (Stamford, CT) in January 2016.
The first step was a Phone screen. The second step was an in person interview with 2 people. There was follow up in between and a follow up and interview.
Interview Questions
I applied through a recruiter. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Gartner (London, England (UK)) in January 2016.
The hiring process involves three meetings where you will meet five managers. They're welcoming and encouraging in general. Real life examples are key to impressing them and earning progression to the next round/offer.
Interview Questions
I applied through other source. I interviewed at Gartner.
1st call with recruiter from other Gartner office and was advised that its very positive. Wants to schedule next round with reporting manager but went MIA despite several emails to follow up.
Interview Questions
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text:
Last year, I had a Make & Take with my fellow team members and we made a face serum to LIVE for ~ this year, my schedule got a bit busy, so I wasn't able to host another Make & Take but I DID want to share with you a similar recipe that might put a little Valentine's pep in your stop and help you LOVE YO FACE.
Also, I should say, that title does not belong to me - huge props to my sweet friend Jess who thought of it and is pure genius. All royalties go to her, of course.
The recipe is very forgiving and fun, so be sure to play. Add a little more of this, less of that. You get the gist. Also, it goes without saying that all of these Essential Oils are the Young Living brand, and I stand behind them 100%! They're my favorite and my life has changed in incredible ways since using them. To find out more, check out my other website here to get the inside scoop!
Here we go:
1 oz bottle of Argan Oil (or your preferred carrier oil like jojoba, grapeseed, reship, etc.) ~ make sure it has just a little bit of headspace (meaning, it's not completely full) to allow the displacement of the oils below....
3 drops Lavender Essential Oil
4 drops Frankincense Essential Oil
3 drops Manuka Essential Oil
2 drops Geranium Essential Oil
4 drops Copaiba Essential Oil
Add the drops to your bottle of Argan Oil and shake well. Please note, this oil shouldn't be rubbed into the skin, but rather pat - the application should be gentle.


text:
New Leaders Foundation (NLF) is a not for profit company that is committed to transforming South African education. The organisation is looking to employ someone who can conduct and lead the intelligence of the organisation. The Data Driven Districts (DDD) Programme is currently NLF's flagship programme. The aim of the project is to improve learner outcomes by improving the way key educational data is collected and used by officials in the education system to support schools and teachers more effectively.
Context of Opportunity
The DDD project contains within it a vast amount of data and information regarding software usage, data quality, project progress and other monitoring and evaluation data. NLF requires an individual who is skilled in data analytics and interpretation for the organisation's internal and external reporting and for overall DDD Programme insights generation.
Senior Data Analyst High-Level Responsibilities Include
- Develop and hold the intelligence of the DDD project.
- Interpret data, analyse results using statistical techniques and provide ongoing reports.
- Develop and implement data analytics and other strategies that optimize statistical efficiency and quality.
- Complete internal and external project analytics such as impact analysis, hypothesis testing, etc.
- Interpreting project analytics and insights with respect to national policy and plans.
For more information or to apply click here


text:
CDA Symmetry is a multi-media creative agency based in Otley, Leeds.
We provide our clients with advertising and marketing solutions and provide the full range of services – from traditional advertising and marketing such as newspaper/magazine adverts and branding through to digital marketing such as websites and social media marketing.
Whatever your requirements, we have the experience and skills to deliver results.
Brian is the creative force behind CDA Symmetry. Brian founded CDA over thirty years ago and has been helping clients in Yorkshire market their products and services ever since.
Brian is a member of the Handlebar Club (hence the moustache) and you may hear him from time to time on BBC Radio Leeds commenting on the days papers. He enjoys playing the melodeon and wearing tweed, either separately or at the same time.
Never dull, Brian's passion for the unusual and quirky can be a real tonic.


text:
Scandinavia as a source of inspiration
CBA twists the Scandinavian design codes and offers Lov Organic a Nordic, minimalist, happy and colorful visual world
CBA twists the Scandinavian design codes and offers Lov Organic a Nordic, minimalist, happy and colorful visual world
Founded in Moscow in 1867 by the Kousmischoff
family (they subsequently moved
to Paris and then to Berlin and London) for over 150 years the Kusmi Tea
company has been inviting lovers of tea to enjoy fine and sought-after teas, as
well as their special blends.
After some years of financial uncertainty, in 2003 the company was taken over by the Orebi brothers, part of a long line of commodity traders, and the brand Kusmi Tea was born.
By the beginning of the 2010's, the French tea category appeared to be ripe for innovation, specifically the introduction of a premium brand of organic tea and infusions sold under a new brand and identity. The new products would benefit from the creativity and know-how of Kusmi Tea, and would be as beautiful as they are delicious, packaged of course in environmental-friendly containers.
Scandinavia, universally
recognised as a forward looking society that understands the value of nature, was chosen as the source of inspiration. Care
for the environment strongly defines this region and resonates with the values
of the new brand. From this inspiration came
its uplifting name, Lov (meaning « leaf » in Danish and Swedish).
The creation of the visual identity is derived from classic Nordic design cues : minimalist, joyful and colourful. And presenting a striking contrast between Lov's dramatic modernity and the dull and conservative approach traditionnally used for organic teas.
Lov typography is deliberately pure and elegant to highlight the premium positioning of the brand. Straight out of a Scandinavian forest, a delicate little bird becomes the emblem of Lov. More than simply a graphic symbol, it represents the beauty and fragility of nature. The different positions it occupies on pack help to give a sense of liveliness to the brand, while at the same time aiding range navigation.
The Lov brand experience is also brought to life in store where touches of nature (eg birch trunks, a green wall) create a backdrop for furniture made of unfinished natural wood, on which the eco-friendly colourful packaging is presented to maximum effect.


text: A Kurumba painting workshop was held at the Bee Museum on the 26th of September under the guidance of Krishna, a Kurumba artist from Vellaricombai. Around 20 participants watched on as Krishna demonstrated the intricate strokes used to create these unique paintings.This conventionally established art form is done using natural inks that are collected from forest plants. After the demonstration, participants were given a chance to try their hand at the Kurumba painting technique. In the end all the work done by the participants was judged and the piece done by Ms Tamilarasi from the Lawrence School, Lovedale was awarded a prize for the best depiction of the Kurumba style of painting.


text:
Available on Exchange
Single Wallet for all your digital assets
SIX network uses blockchain technology and smart contract to reinvent the digital economy by building a better infrastructure; SIX Digital Asset Wallet, Decentralized Financial Services, and Wallet-to-Wallet (W2W) Decentralized Commerce. With this economic infrastructure, SIX is creating an ecosystem that is transparent, fair, secured, and efficient for all stakeholders in the digital and creative economy.
SIX was originated from 'one' of the largest digital media startup groups in Korea and Thailand, OOKBEE U Company Limited and Yello Digital Marketing Global PTE LTD. The alliance is creating a more transparent, fair, secured, and efficient ecosystem for all stakeholders in the digital and creative economies
SIX Wallet's average transaction time is less than 5 seconds, making it easy to use in everyday life.
SIX Wallet requires 3/4 keys between server and client to sign a transaction before broadcasting to the blockchain
Human - centric
Apart from copy/paste long addresses, now that you could easily send money to your friends via @username instead
Universal - wallet
SIX Wallet plan, digital assets can be stored, including movies, music, pictures, and intellectual property.
What we provide
What the program provides is fund in cash and SIX Token which works As-A-Service in the medium of SIX Token. Moreover, the program supports each startup in blockchain technology as well as provides business strategy consultancy.
Program Value Proposition
Startup side
The combination of startup strong point and SIX blockchain technology.
SIX network side
As a blockchain technology company, gaining strategic partner company to connect with the people in the ecosystem while creating the better solution.
Society side
Transparency and decentralized platform that enables everyone in the society. People are now able to audit theirsocial institution as well as an opportunity for raising awareness of intellectual property
Great Opportunities
With extraordinary experience from both of SIX network co CEO.
The founding members of SIX
Our Alliances and Business Partners
Team Members
Akira Morikawa
President and CEO of C Channel Co., Ltd. Former CEO of LINE Corporation (Japan)
Bhurit Bhirombhakdi
CEO of BoonRawd Trading and director of Singha Corporation
Boyd Kosiyabong
CEO of Loveis music
Choi Siwon
Singer/ Actor in South Korea
David Lee
CEO of Yello Digital Marketing Group
Jirath Pavaravadhana
CEO of BNK48


text: St. Lucia: After Ravichandran Ashwin and Wriddhaman Saha hit centuries in the post-lunch session, West Indies bundled out India for 353 in the first innings and were 16 for no loss at tea in the third Test match at the Darren Sammy National Cricket stadium here on Wednesday. Surviving the nervous nineties for too long and after getting stuck at 99 for six overs, Ashwin crossed the 100-mark in style by lofting a Roston Chase ball to six at long off in the 117th over of the innings, taking the score to 323 for 5 wickets. This is Ashwin's second Test century in this series after 113 in the first Test at Antigua on July 20 and fourth against the Windies. Three overs later, Saha too hit his maiden Test hundred with two runs of a Chase ball to the cover drive in the 121st over, taking the overall score to 332 for 5. Incidentally, Saha is the fourth Indian wicket-keeper after Vijay Manjrekar, M.S. Dhoni and Ajay Ratra to hit a Test century in the away from home series. In the following over (122), Saha nicked the ball from Alzarri Joseph to be caught by stumper Shane Dowrich for 104 in 227 balls with 13 boundaries, which is the highest in this innings. Ashwin's sixer is the only one in the Indian innings. His marathon innings ended on a high note of 118 runs in 297 balls with six boundaries. The centurion duo also set a record 213-run partnership for the sixth wicket against the Windies. With the star middle order batsmen back in the pavilion, the tail-enders did not last long after Ravindra Jadeja left for 6-run, caught behind by keeper Dowrich of a Cummins' ball, as Bhuveneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma got out for ducks, while Mohammed Sami remained not out with nil score. India lost its last 5 wickets for a paltry 37 runs For the hosts, keeper Dowrich took four catches, while ML Cummins and debutant Alzarri Jospeh shared three wickets each, followed by ST Gabriel and Chase two each. Skipper Jason Holder and Kraigg Braithwaite did not any wicket. With a record double century partnership by Ashwin and Saha, who pulled India out of deep trouble on the first day by defying the Windies attack and taking the score to 339 from 126 for 5 wickets on Tuesday after Jinked Rahane left for 35 runs. Windies began their chase with openers Brathwaite and Johnson surviving the initial bust of Indian pace attack, which was aided by seam and swing. At tea, Windies were 16 for no loss in 9 overs, trailing India by 227 runs. Kumar and Sami had no initial success when tea was called on. IANS


text:
Fusce tincidunt, arcu vel semper mollis.
Washington, DC -- The Board of Governors of the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is pleased to announce that William Schimmel will become PTCB's new Executive Director and CEO on December 14, succeeding Everett B. McAllister, MPA, RPh, Colonel, USAF (Ret.), who announced his departure in August for a new career. Mr. Schimmel has been PTCB Associate Executive Director (AED) for the past 7 years, serving as Interim Executive Director for 5 months from 2011-2012.


text:
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
#345-365 Upside Down or Inside Out
These are not Bats as depicted by Hollywood, they are mammals that dine almost exclusively on ripe fruits, in size they vary from about the size of large squirrels up to about the size of a small Daschund. They are called Flying Foxes cause they do resemble foxes in facial features.
They have been reported as the source of an insidious disease that is apparently Fruit Bat borne and has been transmitted to both horses and man which resulted in the deaths of a number of race horses and the horse trainer Vic Rail. But I have friends who hand feed them on a regular basis, and haven't even caught fleas from them so not being an authority, all I will say is that they are noisy, squabble amongst themselves a lot and are downright messy under their roosts, so I would wear a hat that you are willing to throw away if you venture into the colony, and oh yes wash your hands after leaving.
11 comments:
- tterlyn said...
This is just freaky....
Nice of you to show us though.
Very interesting...
- May 5, 2009 at 10:35 AM
I see you are now trying to scare away all the would-be visitors to Australia that were being attracted by your previous posts.........
- May 5, 2009 at 10:46 AM
- Clara said...
OMG! Ron! Bats scare me to death. Run!!!!!!
- May 5, 2009 at 11:58 AM
- Chesney said...
Not sure I like these, but what a shot!
- May 5, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Yikes! A bat tree! We don't have them here in the States but I've heard about them & always thought it was Australian folklore! Thanks for setting the record straight. Great shot & love the sky!
- May 5, 2009 at 11:23 PM
- Vita Stunder said...
OMG!! Now I'm scared...
But what a shot, like Tammy says :)
- May 5, 2009 at 11:48 PM
- Rachel said...
Terrific shot for the theme!
- May 6, 2009 at 1:59 AM
- Candyce said...
ugghhh I didn't see them at first- I don't like bats!
- May 6, 2009 at 10:21 AM
- mljrbg said...
They sure look like bats to me!! Yuck!! Nice photograph though.
- May 6, 2009 at 11:06 AM
Now it's clear just how you've been spying on me and Tammy.... Cool shot Ron, too bad you tipped your hand here.
- May 6, 2009 at 12:20 PM
I admire bats, these are amazing. I think of them sleeping in caves or at least in sheltered dark spots. Very cool shot.
- May 8, 2009 at 1:41 PM


text:
United Fruit - latest EP/
Glaswegian quartet UNITED FRUIT today announce their return with the release of their latest EP 'Nightmare Recovery' on 13th November 2015 via Ditto Music. To celebrate the news, the band are streaming the title track in full.
The band will also be hitting the road on a run of UK headline datesthis November in support of the new record, including a London show at The Black Heart in Camden on Wednesday 11thNovember – see below for full dates.
'Nightmare Recovery' is the latest step in a brave new direction that sees the four piece continuously tinkering with the rules of modern rock, as evidenced by the EP's further departure from the tried and tested formula into territory that crosses paths with post-punk, post-rock and shoegaze influences whilst retaining the melodic surges and choruses that have so far served them well.
Discussing their ambitions for the future earlier this year, guitarist Stuart Galbraith said: "You've got to believe you're going to do bigger and better things every time… you've got to have that vision or else you're not going to do it. We're here, so it's kinda worked."
Busily building their reputation as a blinding and unrelenting live act over the past few years, UNITED FRUIT have previously toured with the likes of Twin Atlantic and The Twilight Sad, and been a part of theDIY and Dr Martens sponsored #StandForSomething tour. They have appeared at festivals all over the world including Scotland's T in The Park, Czech Republic's Rock For People and Austin's infamousSXSW 2015, where they played theStereogum and Exploding In Sound Records showcase along with several other appearances.
Previous single 'Open Your Eyes' has racked up an impressive 68,000 Soundcloud streams and counting, with support from BBC Radio One and saw praise heaped on the band from the likes of The 405, Clash, Drowned In Sound, The Skinny, Artrocker and more.
'Nightmare Recovery' is released on 13th November 2015 via Ditto Music
2015 UK Headline Tour Dates:
Sun Nov 8 UK Manchester Fallow Café
Mon Nov 9 UK Liverpool Studio 2
Tue Nov 10 UK Birmingham The Ooblek
Wed Nov 11 UK London The Black Heart
Sat Nov 14 UK Glasgow Hug and Pint
Sun Nov 15 UK Edinburgh Sneaky Pete's


text:
Bruce Springsteen rocks out at The Apollo Theater
Don't worry. It was still a party.
Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band's show last night at the Apollo Theater had so much baggage attached – the high expectations for the first full concert since the death of Clarence "Big Man" Clemons last year, as well as the weight of being the first concert in support of the new album "Wrecking Ball" (Columbia) about struggles and celebration in a time of economic hardship. The stakes were even higher as the private two-hours-plus show was broadcast live on SiriusXM, as part of the satellite radio company's 10th anniversary celebration.
But Springsteen and the even mightier than usual E Street Band, now 15 members strong, delivered, dropping the stress as effortlessly as James Brown has shrugged off his cape so many times on the historic Apollo stage. Springsteen recreated the moment during "Hold On, I'm Coming" to end the show, with Steven Van Zandt draping a black t-shirt on his shoulders instead of a cape – the grandest of all the nods he made to playing the legendary venue.
"If you played in a bar on the central New Jersey shore in the '60s and '70s, you played soul music," he explained, before launching in to an impressive version of "The Way You Do The Things You Do," that opened a capella with lush harmonies from Springsteen and five of the E Street Band's singers. "We knew that way off in some never-never land of rhythm and blues there was a place called the Apollo... It was the home of the gods and the true temple of soul."
However, as much as he paid tribute to the Apollo, there was even more love for his late saxophone player Clarence Clemons. During "My City of Ruins," which became far more soulful thanks to the five-piece horn section now led by Clemons' nephew, Jake Clemons, Springsteen declared a roll call, with each member getting introduced and taking a solo. (When Jake Clemons nailed his first solo in "Badlands," there was a noticeable sigh of relief followed by wild cheers.)
Then Springsteen asked, "Are we missing anybody?" repeating the question until the star-studded audience -- including Tom Hanks, Elvis Costello, and Ben Stiller -- understood he was referring to Clemons and longtime keyboard player Danny Federici, who died in 2008. He led the crowd in a rousing ovation before saying, "If you're here and we're here, they're here."
During "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out," Springsteen stopped the song entirely after singing, "The Big Man joined the band" to allow for another huge ovation.
The tributes added another level to the already-layered show. It puts the "Wrecking Ball" album mission statement, "We Take Care of Our Own" into a new context. It makes the epic title track's defiant taunt of "Bring on your wrecking ball" even more emotional and the payoff line, "Hard times come and hard times go" all the more soothing.
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"On our new record, our motto is dancing and crying," Springsteen said, introducing a stunningly spare version of his classic "Mansion on the Hill," from the 1982 "Nebraska" album, accompanied only by the harmonies of his wife, Patti Scialfa, and Soozie Tyrell on violin. "This one is just crying."
There was more dancing than crying in the eight songs he rolled out from the new album, though some offered both, especially in "Death to My Hometown" and the gospel-styled "Rocky Ground," which featured Michelle Moore singing and rapping. Even "Land of Hope and Dreams," which on previous tours had been cast as more of an emotional plea, has become tougher and more rocking, thanks again to the larger horn section.
The Springsteen classics chosen specifically to support the "Wrecking Ball" economic theme packed the most punch, though. "Promised Land" outlines the same "Wrecking Ball" desire for the American dream, as does "Thunder Road."
"We've got some old friends and some new friends with us, but our mission remains the same," Springsteen said early in the night. "We're here to bring the power, hour after hour. We're here to put a whoop-ass session on the recession. We're here to bring a smile to your face, an extra beat to your heart, and to raise your spirits high in these hard times."
Mission accomplished.
(The "Wrecking Ball" tour hits the Izod Center April 3 and 4 and Madison Square Garden April 6 and 9.)
SETLIST: We Take Care of Our Own / Wrecking Ball / Badlands / Death to My Hometown / My City of Ruins / The E Street Shuffle / Jack of All Trades / Shackled and Drawn / Waiting on a Sunny Day / Promised Land / Mansion on the Hill / The Way You Do The Things You Do / 634-5789 / The Rising / We Are Alive / Thunder Road / Rocky Ground / Land of Hope and Dreams / Tenth Avenue Freeze Out / Hold On I'm Comin'
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text:
Some risks in life, despite how challenging they may seem, are just worth taking.
For Riverhead High School graduates Melanie and Mike Drozd, that risk was creating a life. And — with the help of Ms. Drozd's co-workers at Riverhead Ford and some others at a nearby GMC dealership — that risk ended up being well worth it.


text: Welcome to the Lompoc church of Christ. We are an active community of Christians who care for each other and want to serve God. We invite you to browse our site and get to know us a little better. Hopefully our site will give you plenty of information about who we are. Also, follow us on Facebook, and our other social media platforms. We hope to see you soon!


text:
We have listeners everywhere, with downloads in over 50 countries worldwide. We are a small, independent production, but we continue to grow every week. Our current sponsorship rate is $150 per episode.
Our episodes are able to contain up to 3 sponsorships. In the show, those sponsorships include:
A produced read by a host during the episode, approx. 1-2 minutes long, with either your prepared script, or we can freeform an ad-libbed one, guided of course by any bullet points.
A link and short description at the bottom of each episode, which can be viewed on any podcasting app, as well as on our blog
We reach a diverse, engaged, and loyal group of listeners, with those interested in music, games, new technology, pop culture, as well as podcasters, musicians, and artists.
If you've got a great product or service that you want to spread the word about, look no further. Our audience is an incredible group of people, who won't be duped into buying crap, but will reward the good stuff by spreading the word, and continuing to use it.
Are ya interested? We hope so. We'd love to hear from you.
Do you buy stuff on Amazon? Use our affiliate link HERE and help us out without doing ANYTHING AT ALL.


text:
I get a lot of people ask me about reviewing workout gear, they want to know what's out there. So, I thought today I would write about the these yoga/athletic pants I got from Winners. Being from Winners and costing $25 makes me think they are accessible and affordable to most people. Now I know you may be thinking "But Jen, Winners prides themselves on the fact that every time you go there is something new. They have commercials saying the item could be gone in a hour!" Yes, this is true. And I can even think of sometimes I didn't buy something only to regret it later when it was gone. The one thing I've noticed they keep pretty reliable is their workout gear section. There are brands (such as these) that I've seen every time I go.
Moving on to why we are here. The pants.
The pros:
I really like the fact that they are lightweight. I love them for hot yoga and cardio. I don't feel like they are make me even warmer and they are breathable. I like that they stay on me for these types of activities too. Some pants I find start falling down as I hit the treadmill. (Subscribe to email to watch for which ones!) These pants don't move.
I like the fun design/colors they have. The crazier the better seems to be the trend in workout gear and they've got a lot of great options. Side note here; with the designs and so on it hides sweat marks really well!
The wide waist band rocks. This is basically the very first thing I look for on workout/yoga pants. Being a mom of two, the lower part of my stomach doesn't always "behave" with pants. Wide waist bands are nice to keep everything tucked in and secure.
They are not see through. I went to take some pictures to show you how they aren't see through and decided against posting pictures of me basically bent over full bum in the frame shots. So here is one of me off to the side. The flash is really bright here and you still can't see through them.
They cost $25. Yeah that's a big difference between some brand names of upward to $200.
The cons:
There is no small key pocket. I used to think these were useless. But I use these pockets in pants alllllll the time. I usually take off my rings for weightlifting and put them in these pockets. If they are big enough and the location works, I sometimes put my music device in there too!
I have bought pants basically exactly like this and enjoyed them immensely, but after about a year the had a hole in the side, where the seem split a bit. I haven't had this exact pair that long but they are the same material and stitching. This is the difference in pricing. The expensive pants usually last a really long time and these types not so much.
Final Verdict:
Great for activities like running and yoga.
Good choice if maybe starting to workout and looking for something inexpensive to start with. Also if you are planning to very dramatically change your body (read as loose say 40 lbs) they would be good. This way you aren't buying really expensive stuff that wont fit. (soon hopefully)
Share with me some brands you'd love to see a review of!
Love, Jen


text: Yes, it's true... the Robinson's will soon be a family of four!! We are so excited and blessed that God has given us another precious gift! The expected due date is sometime in early March - which means Micah and his soon-to-be brother/sister will be 18 months apart!!! So fun and so scary at the same time! Haha! Please join us in praying for this little Robinson peanut if you will. Thank you all so much!


text:
(fiz eye' a trist)
A physiatrist is a medical doctor who after medical school attends a 3-4 year residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Physiatry is a non-surgical specialty treating musculoskeletal and neurological conditions.
Physiatrists treat a variety of medical conditions and injuries including catastrophic injuries such as spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury and amputations. They see patients who have had strokes and other conditions such as multiple sclerosis and direct their rehabilitation. They lead the rehabilitation team that includes physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, nurses, psychologists and social workers, and attend to the medical needs of their patients during their stay at rehabilitation hospitals or centers.
Physiatrists may treat sports injuries, occupational injuries and many conditions involving the spine. Their expertise often allows patients to avoid surgery. They are frequently asked by other physicians to perform electrodiagnostic studies (EMG / NCS) to evaluate such conditions as carpal tunnel syndrome, pinched nerves in the neck and back and other nerve and muscle conditions. They may also treat chronic pain syndrome and provide therapeutic injections to the spine and extremities. They are often asked to assess the future medical needs for patients requiring Life Care Plans.
Physiatry recognizes the impact that severe and disabling injuries or illnesses have on all aspects of a patient's life.


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One of my friends, whom I had previously worked with in security enforcement, recently approached me with a problem (and seeking advice from me). The background to the whole story is that the friend in question set up his own security firm after leaving government employment. But the security firm he set up hasn't been doing very well lately, and he was seeking advice on how to turn the firm around, by increasing its profits.
After listening to his tribulations, I gave him a few pieces of advice, which I will also share here. Firstly, I told him that one way to increase a private security firm's profits is by bidding for more projects. More projects would translate into more revenues, and more revenues would (potentially) translate into more profits. Beyond bidding for more projects, I advised him to also consider advertising in the media and undertaking other marketing activities that would help him get more clients, translating into bigger revenues and higher profits.
Secondly, I told him that another way to increase a private security firm's profits is by starting to offer more services. Like beyond basic guarding services, he could branch into other areas: like private investigations, offering VIP security (bodyguards), offering events security… and so on.
Thirdly, I told him that yet another way to increase a private security firm's profits is by reducing overheads. It should be, for instance, quite easy to scale down on administrative costs. The security firm's offices could also be moved to a cheaper address, and greatly cut down on the costs. Another strategy would be by hiring non-skilled people, and training them in-house — as opposed to hiring people who are already security experts, and who tend to demand premium salaries. Having hired one real expert, you can have him train other staff members in the relevant skills, as opposed to hiring folks who consider themselves to be experts already, and whose salaries could be very hefty.


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The latest trailer for The Social Network, director David Fincher's Facebook movie, set the blogs afire yesterday — not least because of the eerie choral cover of Radiohead's 1993 hit "Creep" that soundtracks its opening images of friend requests and status updates. So who's that singing?
Reports have identified several contenders. A rep for Columbia Pictures confirms that the correct answer is Scala and Kolacny Brothers, an otherwise little-known Belgian women's choir (pictured) headed by conductor Stijn Kolacny and pianist Steven Kolacny. "Creep" appeared on 2002's On the Rocks, their first collection of rock and pop covers. Tunes by Nirvana, Muse, Kylie Minogue, and Wheatus also got the choral treatment on that disc.
Check out the full version of Scala and Kolacny Brothers' "Creep" after the jump (brief NSFW language), followed by that Social Network trailer. An inspired choice, no? I bet Social Network co-star and noted Radiohead enthusiast Justin Timberlake was feeling it.
(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)
More from EW.com's Music Mix:
Vampire Weekend sued by 'Contra' cover model
Amy Winehouse says third album will be ready "in six months at most"
Carlos Santana's 'Guitar Heaven': Full tracklist revealed
Katy Perry's "California Gurls" still on top of Billboard Hot 100


text: The Griffith Tour got under way at Sharkx Snooker Club, Newbridge on Saturday 9th February. With the interest growing for these events we are able to increase the prize fund and we hope that will be the norm for its future. This is all about grassroots snooker, giving players the opportunity to play competitively and improve their standard of play. This Snooker Shield competition saw some great snooker on the day with numerous 30 and 40 breaks and excellent safety and tactical play from everyone throughout the event. Anthony Clifford last years Champion beat Annette Newman the number 1 from last year 2 frames to nil in their quarter final. Newcomer Steve Patten went through to meet Anthony beating Robert Rogers 2 nil. In the bottom half of the quarters Ronan Deegan beat Gary Seales 2 nil and Stephen McAdam beat Larry O'Dea 2 nil also to set up the semi final line up. Steve Patten fought a close encounter against Anthony Clifford to eventually come through 2 frames to nil for a place in his first final, Stephen McAdam had a very close match against Ronan Deegan going down to the final black with Stephen taking it to give him his first final on the Tour. Stephen McAdam took the first frame on a re spotted black and turned on the pace with some great snooker to win the second frame and give him his first tour win and the title of Tour Shield Champion 2013. Congratulations on Stephen on his win and to Steve for a fine performance. Thanks to everyone who supported and took part on the day. A special thanks to Bernie and Sharkx for their support and as always providing excellent facilities.


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Tender Hearts Arena
Tender Hearts Arena is an initiative that seeks to enhance the social, behavioural & life skills of differently abled children in a manner that is fun and above all boosting their self-esteem. We believe that every child has a potential that can be used as a springboard and propel them into learning new skills, which could enhance their personal sense of accomplishment.
Under the supervision of a professional recreation staff, children will be provided with safe and a variety of age appropriate developmental activities that are exciting, stimulating and enriching. Tender Hearts Arena is a place where children can make friends, play with their loved ones and express themselves through their recreational activities, hence learning to take pride in themselves.
Social Communication
For children with slow development like ADHD, Dyslexia , PDD etc. social interactions are problematic. Social skills are an important skill that can help your child succeed in all aspects of his life.Read More
Yoga promotes mental and physical well being allowing the kids to strengthen their bodies while simultaneously calming themselves.Read More
Essential Learning Skill
Life Skills are essential to job functioning. Several kids who are differently abled are denied the opportunity to engage in meaningful employment.Read More
Creative Studio
A great outlet for the kids to express their feelings through collages, paintings, drawing and sketching.Read More
Differently-abled kids always would want to express their feelings. In order to work and enhance the communication abilities for these kidsRead More
This will be a powerful mean of engaging kids with developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorders, Down's syndrome etc.Read More
Through dance classes, students are taught life skills whilst at the same time experiencing dance as an expressive art form.Read More
Martial Art
Any parent of differently abled kid understands the importance of activities that enhance social and motor skills.Read More
Brain Gym
Brain Gym builds, enhances and restores natural neural pathways in the body that assists natural learning.Read More
This program is designed to build confidence, learn about kitchen safety, gain an understanding of nutrition, make new friends and above all, have fun in the kitchen.Read More
Mom & Toddler
A program developed to enrich the mother and child relationship to stimulate the love of learning, free play, educational toys, singing and making music.Read More


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That's right. I have some new videos on YouTube. I finally uploaded the two zipline videos I edited back in August with Cyberlink PowerDirector 11 and I made a new video today with Cyberlink PowerDirector 13.
I edited these videos because my new job at the college requires me to edit lots of videos, so I need the practice.
The new video:
Zipline videos:


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by Santorini Dave • Updated: November 20, 2018
Garden Hotel Siena (moderate/luxury)
Fantastic outdoor swimming pool with kid's pool. Located just outside the city with a park like setting and free parking. Nearby bus takes you right into the city though it's also a comfortable walk. Rooms are very large for Siena.
More Siena Hotels for Families
These hotels have large family-friendly rooms.
- B&B Piazza Duomo
Quadruple rooms for family of 4, Family Rooms for family of 5.
- Piccolo Hotel Etruria
Quadruples are perfect for a family of 4. Great location.
- Hotel Alex Siena
Quadruples have 1 queen & 2 twins, or 4 twins.
- Il Chiostro del Carmine Residence
Large quadruples sleep families of 4.
- Athena Hotel Siena
Very nice triples and quadruples. Free parking, breakfast included.


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I don't typically comment on fashion, but what the hell is going on with this look?!
Liza is a woman in her 40's who is pretending to be in her 20's to work an entry-level job in publishing. I get that she needs to embrace millennial fashion, but this is a horse of a different color.


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Seattle Aquarium, Seattle, Washington
1483 Alaskan Way, Seattle, Washington 98101| Map |
Other Nearby Places to Visit
The Seattle Aquarium is located on Pier 59 on the Elliott Bay waterfront. Its attractions include large exhibit pools with touch zones and Window on Washington Waters, which replicates the coastal waters of Washington state and is home to native marine life including salmon, rockfish and sea anemones. During dive shows, which take place several times each day, divers wearing special masks converse with the visitors.
Jamie Howard and 2 other parents have been here
Ratings by kids' ages
- Tots (0-2)
- Little kids (3-5)
- Big kids (6-8)
- Tweens (9-12)
- Teens (13+)
Tips for Families
Address: 1483 Alaskan Way, Seattle, Washington 98101| Map
Phone: 206-386-4300
URL: http://www.seattleaquarium.org/
Hours: Mon-Sun 9:30 am - 5 pm
Price: Free
Family Trips that include Seattle AquariumView All
Recent User ReviewsView All
Saratoga Springs, New York
- Visited: August 2011
- Submitted: Jan 14, 2013
- Traveled with:
Little Kids (3-5) and Tweens (9-12)
Not my favorite AquariumFlag review
HAve spent half my life living in the Seattle area and when this aquarium was all I knew it was one thing . . . as I have visited others with much lower budgets and in much smaller cities, I have decided that really the Seattle Aquarium could be a lot better. Recent remodeling has made the physical buildings for people nice, filled with cool modern architecture, etc . . . but the exhibits lack a lot for me. Also no big draw here. A nice little aquarium, but not what you are thinking you will receive in a great city like Seattle! The touch tank area that you come into upon entering is great for kids and is always a fav of mine at any age. Walking under a glass arch that has jelly fish is lots of fun to look at and the glass enclosure for a large octopus is also lots of fun! Then you enter a series of small dark aquarium tank rooms that sure have lovely small and medium fish, but the exhibits have no pizzaz. For years my kids favorite fish on the yearly visit when in town seeing grandma, was the Nemo or Dory fish . . . come on, I could do that in a home tank! Then you head outside to the more native to Washington area. Some ducks, birds, marsh land kind of stuff. Like the trout. A outdoor space with some funny otters (better otter viewing at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle), some seals and sea lions. The enclosures are small, hard to see and don't seem all that fun for the animals. The best viewing is the small underwater quarters. For us it is about a 2 hour visit and the kids are bored. Thank goodness grandma has a pass otherwise our family would take a pass . . .
Tips for Families
Lots of fun to hit the piers around the aquarium for the wonderful seafood restaurants that line each pier. You can't go wrong really anywhere. Close walk to public market. Parking is often hard to find. We often park in Myrtle Edwards park and take the trolly or walk to the aquarium. Sometimes you get lucky and find a metered space under highway 99.
Suggestions for nearby family-friendly accommodations
Suggestions for nearby family-friendly restaurants
My Kid's Review
Was this review helpful to you?Yes
Living in San Diego and having to experienced the Sea World there made me expected a lot more from aquariums, but I guess this is just a standard aquarium. There really isn't that much to look at! my boyfriend and I finished viewing the whole exhibit in about h...
We went to check this place out because we had half off admission tickets and we both enjoy marine life/Aquariums etc. Coming from living on the east coast which has many aquariums, we were trying to lower our expectations. To be honest if we had paid full price we would have been sorely disappointed. The animal...
Went to a corporate private party here that was a lot of fun. They leave the entire aquarium open to wander, which surprised me, and made the whole thing really cool. Nothing says entertainment like drunken fish-gazing! I hadn't been here since I was a kid. The Imax-like giant fish tanks seemed much more giant when I was four feet tall, but were still pretty neat. And the otters and seals were just as cute as I remember. As for party food: the crab cakes were really outstanding, and the scallops wrapped in bacon were great too. Some of the other apps weren't as great. The pasta bar was disappointingly bland. (Glad I filled up on those crab cakes.) The donut-dipping bar, however, was quite fun. The venue was ...
I highly recommend coming here early during the day as there are a lot more volunteers earlier than there are during the late afternoon. The volunteers are sooo helpful and have a wealth of knowledge to share! Great exhibits, you can touch some of the starfish and other sea creatures. I also found they pump in the water from right outside so the water is extremely cold because that's the same temperature as outside water. Highly recommend watching the Octopus feeding! Super entertaining to watch! Great for both kids and adults a like. And makes for fabulous field trips & outings! Make sure to enjoy the waterfront before or after. During the summer it's beautiful to walk around outside or grab an ice cre...


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Bunga Bantahan/ Protest Flowers
Flowers to express your sentiments / Bunga membantu perluahan perasaan
Flowers are fraught with symbolism - the chrysanthemum's multiple layers signifying immortality, the morning glory's tenacity at climbing and impermanence - and make for lovely visual imagery. They've also been part of protests for years. Their organic fragility and colour are counterpoints to the cold steel of guns and cell bars.
Kekwa Malaysia
In Asian culture, the chrysanthemum stands for longevity and immortality, as well as joy and happiness. It's often seen in homes and places of worship in Malaysia.
Rise and Resist
The morning glory stands for impermanence and in some cases, unrequited love - that of a citizen for their country and government - but it is also a creeping plant, adept at climbing walls and slipping through bars. You only have so long to live - how will you spend it?
Defiant Hibiscus/ Bebas Maria, Mansuh Sosma
The floral symbol of the country, crushed under the boot of authoritarian rule and abuse of the law. Solitary confinement is torture. Usage of this on a civil activist calling for fair and clean elections is tantamount to inhumane treatment, intimidation, and draconian application of a law.
Resilient Cactus/ Usah Gentar
Fear not. Resilient Cactus and its bright yellow blossoms stand unmoved, despite all of the challenges and difficulties beating down on them.
Beloved Lotus/ Free Maria
The lotus is known for its purity and beauty despite growing in muddy water. In an age of corruption, surrounded by dirty tactics and acts, what will you do? Will you be like the lotus? Will you protect the lotuses?
You can download high-resolution versions to use, share, and adapt, as long as you do not use it for profit or commercial purposes, and allow others to use and share your work as well.
Anda bebas untuk kongsi dan mengubah imej-imej ini, selagi anda tidak menggunakan hasil untuk tujuan komersial/ keuntungan, dan anda membenarkan orang lain untuk kongsi dan menggunakan hasil kerja anda.


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Please click anywhere to continue browsing our site.
The suspension system allows your tires to maintain constant contact with the road, especially on uneven surfaces like bumps and potholes. Ball joints are ball-and-socket joints located between the control arm and the steering knuckle. Ball joints act as the pivot point between the wheels and the rest of the suspension system. They are designed to allow for movement in two planes at once while providing ease of rotation in those planes. They allow a vehicle's suspension system to move up or down while the wheels turn left or right. Vehicles with shocks have upper and lower ball joints, while many vehicles with struts have only lower ball joints. Some ball joints are load-bearing and will wear faster than normal ball joints. As an important suspension component, ball joints are designed to experience wear and tear, often in the form of friction. Like all suspension system components, ball joints have a maintenance schedule that can help prevent unexpected repairs or replacements.
Upper and lower ball joints are designed to fit snugly inside a lubricated casing. If the casing loses lubrication, dries out, or the linkage becomes loose, wheel alignment may be affected. A loose ball joint can also result in suspension noise and uneven tire wear. Because ball joints act as the link between the wheels and other suspension components, a bad joint can conflict with normal steering capabilities. In extreme cases, a worn ball joint that fails may fall out of its casing and cause a collapse of the suspension system. Clunking sounds, poor handling, and unnatural pulling are all signs of bad ball joints. In some cases, ball joints may require replacements. If you plan on avoiding a ball joint failure, be sure to consult your owner's manual for the maximum allowable wear on your suspension system's ball joints. Our replacement ball joints will restore full functionality to your suspension system.
We proudly service the Ball Joint Replacement needs of customers in Santa Fe, NM, Taos, NM, Las Vegas, NM, and surrounding areas.
Areas Served :
Santa Fe, NM | Taos, NM | Las Vegas, NM | and surrounding areas
Amigo Tire and Auto repair is here to serve the auto repair and tire needs of the greater Santa Fe region. Our auto repair and tire shop is locally-owned and operated since 1981. Put our championship team to work for you when you need tires, alignments, exhaust system work, brakes, shocks and struts, and more. If you see a check engine light in your vehicle, stop in! Need wheels? We can help there too with a great selection of rims at affordable prices. We also offer custom metalwork, pure nitrogen inflation, auto glass repair and window tinting. Give us a call or stop in to learn more about what we can do for your car, truck, or SUV.


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BOOMERANG - The "come-back-again" card game!
In Boomerang, the "true blue" card game, players travel round the great south land, trying to see and do as much as possible. But will the cards you want to see come back to you?
Pass your cards and take note of where you have been and what you have seen!
Boomerang could be described as a card drafting game (like 7 Wonders or Sushi Go!), mixed with a roll-and-write game (like Yahtzee, or Qwixx).
Each turn, players select one card from their hand to play, and then pass the rest to the next player to choose from. Will you take what you really want, or a different card, so as to deprive another player of something cool?
At the end of each round, players mark different things off on their score sheets, corresponding to what they earned from the cards they selected.
In Boomerang, players are touring Australia, trying to see and do as much as they can before their holiday ends! By spotting native animals, collecting pieces of Australiana, and doing other holiday activities, players will earn points. Each round players will draft cards, mark off various accomplishments on their score sheets, and at the end of the game, the best traveller wins. You beauty!
The game is fast to learn and smooth to play. It gives players lots of nice choices as they select which cards to draft, without burdening them with heaps of rules.
If you like drafting games, roll-and-write games, or Australia :), then distribute the score sheets and pencils, shuffle the cards, and you're ready to play!
➼ To watch a 3-player run-through of the game, please enjoy the following video! All the rules are taught so you can see how the game plays, and well... fun is had!
➼ You can also click on the download button below to read the full (subject to change) rule book:
Every copy of Boomerang will contain...
Plus a rule book, all within a sturdy 2-piece box (150x110x30mm)
- The cards will be 63x88mm
- The score sheets will be 130x80mm
But we could get more in there if we hit stretch goals! (See below...)
Should we over-fund, we will be able to use your support to make the game even better in the following ways...!
At this level we will be able to increase the card quality to 310gsm ivory core. Snazzy!
Why not provide players with 4 mini pencils to fill out their score sheets? At this level of funding we will add them to the box! Bonza!
Maaate! 50 more score sheets will mean even more chances to travel round Oz!
...And hopefully we can announce more stretch goals as well :)
And you can read his full review here:
It features a how-to-play write-up as well as an interview with the game's designer, Scott Almes!
And you can read his full review here:
The article features a very in-depth review and how-to-play section, alongside Eric's fantastic photos!
And here's a nice tweet from The Dice Tower's Suzanne...!
You can hear her discussing the game on The Dice Tower, episode 559. During the discussion, she says:
"It was really really enjoyable. All of us were pleasantly surprised by Boomerang... I definitely had a lot of fun with it... I think Boomerang does something different."
All backers who pledge $20AUD or more, can add-on as many copies of Boomerang to their pledge as they would like. Simply hit the "Manage Your Pledge" button and add $18AUD for each extra copy of Boomerang you need.
We will confirm how many copies you are to receive in the backer survey after the close of the campaign.
Q: What about other Grail Games' titles? Can I add these on to my pledge as well?
Currently, quantities of our titles are limited for backers, due to where the games are located, as well as the hindrance and cost of overseas shipping. If you would like Criss Cross, or King's Road, please pledge at those levels. If you would like both, please pledge at the BOOMEROLL & WRITE level, and then add $40AUD to your pledge to cover King's Road.
We also have some copies of Jeju Isand available for US customers. If you would like Jeju as well as Criss Cross or King's Road, please pledge at one of those levels and then add $25AUD to your pledge to cover Jeju Island.
For more info on Criss Cross, please check out the game on our website and boardgamegeek.com. This game is just about to release.
For more info on King's Road, please check out the game on our website and boardgamegeek.com. You can also check out our KS campaign for the game last year.
For more info on Jeju Island, please check out the game on our website and boardgamegeek.com.
Q: Is shipping for this game actually free?!
Well... yes and no. Worldwide shipping is certainly not free! However, we are happy to swallow this cost if it will mean getting this great game into your hands! Your pledge includes shipment to you, no matter where you live.
➼ All games will ship to backers from China. We expect the game to be small and cheap enough to enter most countries without fear of import/customs fees and taxes, but we cannot promise that. (Jeju Island copies will be sent to US customers only, from IN.)
➼ Backers who also pledge to receive copies of our other titles should receive these in July/August.
By supporting Boomerang on Kickstarter, not only are you helping us to produce the game in the first place, but if you back now, you also receive these perks:
PRICE! You will receive your copy of of the game at, or below, retail cost - especially considering that worldwide shipping is included in your pledge! (MSRP will be approximately $20USD/$25AUD.)
- EARLY! You will receive your copy about two months prior to the game being made available to online and bricks & mortar game stores. We do not produce huge print runs - to be sure of acquiring the game, pledge during the KS campaign.
- NICE! Your support will make the game better! More stretch goals means more components and a better quality.
- AND! We are also providing copies of some other titles to backers of this campaign at a reduced price as a thank you to you!
We run streamlined KS campaigns where stretch goals are to make the quality of production better, not to add extras that may blow out costs, timelines, and shipping prices. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Scott Almes is the designer of Boomerang. He is a prolific and well-known designer, most especially of titles such as Heroes of Land, Air and Sea, Harbour, and of course, the entire Tiny Epic series! Boomerang is Scott's first collaboration with Grail Games...
Grail Games is a card and board game publishing studio located in Sydney, Australia.
Founded almost four years ago, we have already run 12 successful Kickstarter campaigns. We focus on reprints, and producing English language versions of great games from Asia and Europe.
Grail Games' aim is to produce board and card games that are:
- Family-friendly: We believe that games can strengthen friendships and families. All of our games can be enjoyed by players of a variety of ages.
- Fast to teach: our games have clean, straight-forward rules sets to decrease the number of barriers to entry.
- Replayable: Games blossom when they offer a variety of pathways to explore. All of our games have a high Game Play Depth > Box Size ratio.
If you would like to find out more, please visit www.grailgames.com.au and/or www.grailgamesshop.com.au
➼ Follow Grail Games on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! You can follow Scott Almes on twitter, too!
➼ Check out Boomerang on the Grail Games website!
➼ Visit Boomerang on BGG for videos, forums, photos and more!
And feel free to show your support across social media with the following downloadable avatar:
Thanks for your support! We hope to see you round...
Image acknowledgements: retro jar (harperandcharlie.com)
Risks and challenges
Grail Games has already successfully funded twelve games, all currently available (or about to release) in game stores around the world. Since our first Kickstarter campaign was received EARLY by backers in January 2015, we have continued to send high quality products to backers on time! We have our systems well in place and use a top manufacturer to produce and ship quality games around the world. Grail Games is beginning to forge a track record of delivering fun games with quality components… on time!
However, unforseen circumstances can hold up a project. This can happen at the point of manufacture or during shipment. Grail Games has given a time-frame for delivery of Boomerang that we believe is certainly achievable. If anything does affect the project, backers will be kept in the loop via regular backer updates at every step of the production and shipment process.
Note that the currency conversions in the pledge level blurbs are a guide only. Currency values may fluctuate during the campaign.
Also note: Pledge levels do include all shipping costs, and backers will receive their games before retail stores, but Grail Games cannot guarantee that retailers will not sell Boomerang at a cheaper price than Kickstarter supporters will "pay."
Finally, Grail Games will happily send replacement copies of any game damaged in shipment to backers, etc., but if backers fail to inform Grail Games of a change in shipping address or similar, backers may be asked to pay extra costs for a replacement copy of the game.Learn about accountability on Kickstarter
Funding period
- (21 days)