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Raster Image Processing – Montage
By using the more advanced features of Photoshop, students will assemble a montage from supplied resources. Complex selections, layers, layer masks, and paths will be introduced.
General Notes
Photoshop tools and features explored:
layers (blending modes, adjustment layers, clipping groups, layer effects)
layer masks
channels, selections
feathering selections
paths (bezier pen tool)
edit tools (type)
paint tools (rubber stamp, sharpen, blur, sponge)
Submit: Full sized, native PSD image file, with layers intact, to to the appropriate section of class Google Drive.
Follow the steps below using Photoshop to create a montage, similar to the example.
1. Download two resource images.
In this step you will:
• Download resource images for this tutorial.
Do this: Create a "[Your last name]-ex2" folder on your Desktop. Make sure the folder is open and visible.
Right click each image below to "save image as," or drag and drop them to your Exercise 2 folder.
2. Create a new document.
Setup a New Photoshop document of a specific size and resolution.
Launch Photoshop. Create a New document, or ⌘N
Enter the following data:
Name = YourLastName-ex2.psd,
Width = 640 pixels, Height = 480 pixels,
Resolution = 150 ppi,
mode = RGB,
Content = white.
Click OK.
Note: Most print quality images support a resolution of 300 ppi.
Immediately do a File>Save As… to save the file to the folder on your Desktop as [Your last name]-ex2.
3. Create a Background.
Double-click on the Background layer in the Layer Palette and rename it "Backdrop". This floats the original Background above the canvas and makes it a layer.
Choose Image>Adjustments…>Hue/Saturation.
Check the Colorize and the Preview options.
Lower the Lightness value so that you can begin to see tone.
Experiment with the effects of Hue and Saturation adjustments.
When you are satisfied with an initial color, click OK.
There is also a properties tab you can use by choosing Window>Properties.
Save your document.
Filters and commands look for areas of contrast and variation in order to apply their effects. Many, more advanced filters will not work unless there is a variance of texture and tone in an image. Your image does not yet have any variation. This step will add it.
Choose View>Actual pixels to see detail in your image at 100% magnification. Zoom In or Out as necessary.
Chose from among the following filters to begin a buildup of texture and variation.
(To undo one command, choose Edit>Undo, or type command-z. To undo multiple commands, click upwards through the History palette, or type option-command-z.)
• Noise>Add Noise…
• Pixelate>Mezzotint…
• Pixelate>Pointelize… (use a small setting)
• Texture>Grain…
• Stylize>Diffuse… (Anisotropic option)
• Stylize>Glowing Edges…
• Distort>Polar coordinates…
• Stylize>Trace contour…
• Sharpen>Unsharp mask…
Save your document.
4. Cut out an image using the Pen tool and Paste into tutorial file.
Open face.jpg or the image from the Pen tool page that you chose. Pick up the Pen tool and select the Paths option in the Options Bar at the top of the screen.
Note: To make your selection easier, go to Photoshop>Preferences and navigate to enable "Rubberband" Pen Option.
Add points and paths along the inside of the Face (object to be isolated) from the bottom, excluding the eyes as in the example to the right
Click-and-release to add sharp corner points.
Click and drag to pull direction handles out of your points to create smooth curves.
Press the Command key to temporarily switch to the Pointer tool, and select and move your points to achieve greater precision.
Option click with the Pen tool to convert a corner point to a curve point, or to move one direction handle independently of the other.
Be sure to place your final point on top of the first point to create a closed path. Be sure there are no breaks along the path.
Find and select the Work Path you just created in the Paths Palette(which is grouped with the Layers and Channels pallettes by default.) Convert the path into a selection by choosing Make Selection… from the Paths Palette options. Enter a Feather of 3 pixels and check Anti-alias. Operation "New Selection" should be selected.
Drag your selection into your YourLastName-ex2.psd file by using the Move tool. Drag and hover over the psd image tab until the psd image appears, then drop the selection in place. Rename the new layer "Face" (or other appropriate name) by option-double-clicking on the layer name.
Position and resize the "Face" layer approximately corresponding to the example by clicking on the Face layer in the Layers palette, picking up the Move tool, then choosing Edit>Free Transform. Shift click the corners of the transform bounding box to scale the layer proportionally. Rotate by clicking and dragging just outside the corners.
Save your document.
5. Blend the Face Layer into the Background Layer by using a Layer Mask.
Notice the bottom edges of the Face in the example that need to be softened in order to successfully blend the Face into the Background.
Select Layer>Add Layer Mask>Reveal All.
Click on the Layer Mask thumbnail to select it. We want to paint on the Layer Mask, not on the image itself.
Use the Brush tool with Airbrush option. Pick a Soft Round 65 pixel brush, 30% Flow, and Black color to softly mask out the bottom portion of the Face image. (Check also that you are in Normal mode and Brush Dynamics are Off.)
You can also paint with shades of gray (or by reducing the opacity of the black) to vary the degree of hiding on the mask.
Note: Layer Masks are useful because they don't permanently alter a layer. Layer Masks can be discarded at anytime restoring the original image.
Within the Layers Palette set the Blending Mode to Exclusion, or to a mode that is most appropriate for your background..
Save your document.
6. Select an object using the Magic Wand Tool.
Open Rock.jpg in Photoshop. Double-click the Background layer to float it above the canvas. Name it "Rock".
Select the Magic Wand Tool. Set the Tolerance to a low number, around 32. Click in the lighter-black area of the background and see how much of an area becomes selected. Increase the Tolerance to pick up a wider area. Shift-click to add to the selection, or option-click to subtract. See what happens when you click on different tones in the background. When the Tolerance is set right, you should be able to select the entire background with just a couple clicks.
Enter Quick Mask Mode by clicking the button at the bottom of the tool palette, or type Q. The area selected by your "marching ants" now appears clear surrounded by a red mask. Use the Paint Brush Tool with a small brush size to alter the mask and subsequently the area selected. Paint with white to increase the selected area. Paint with black to decrease the selected area.
Go to the Channels palette. Note the R, G, and B channels, which contain the color data for your image, and the Quick Mask channel which shows your selection. Click each of the R, G, and B channels to evaluate them one at a time. Where white is present in a channel, the full amount of that color is applied. Where black appears, none of that color is present. In the Quick Mask, white represents selected pixels. (Color channels can be used as the starting point to create masks based on inherent color contrast, which can be used to make complex selections know as Alpha Channels.)
Exit Quick Mask Mode by typing Q. Note how the selected area has changed.
Return to the Layers Palette. Invert the selection you just made by choosing Select>Inverse (or command-shift-I). Select>Modify>Contract by 2 pixels to tighten and clean the selection. Select>Modify>Feather 2 pixels to soften the edge.
Using the Move tool, drag and drop the image onto the tab of your Montage file. In the Montage file, rename the new layer "Rock".
Within the Layers Palette set the Rock Blending Mode to Hard Light (or to a mode that is most appropriate for your background) and change the Opacity to 75%.
Save your document.
7. Select an object using the Magnetic Lasso Tool
Open Heart.jpg in Photoshop. Double-click the Background layer to float it above the canvas. Name the layer "Heart".
Select the Magnetic Lasso Tool. Set Feather to 1, Width and Contrast to 10. Frequency to 7. Draw around the heart and notice how the tool attempts to grab the edge. Press Option to manually add a point along the selection.
Move the selected heart to your montage file. Rename the new layer, apply a Layer Mask, Blending Mode, and alter the transparency as you wish.
8. Select an object using the Color Range Command
Open Hand.jpg in Photoshop. Double-click the Background layer to float it above the canvas. Name the layer "Hand".
Choose Select>Color Range command. Click with the eyedropper on a color you wish to select. Adjust the Fuzziness value to select a wider or narrow range. Click OK when your preview appears as desired.
Use Quick Mask mode to correct any gaps left by the Color Range command.
Feather the selection 1 pixel.
Move the selected hand to your montage file. Rename the new layer, apply a Layer Mask and Blending Mode.
9. Save and Submit.
Submit a full sized, native PSD image file, with layers intact, to the appropriate section of the class Google Drive.
Copy your whole exercise folder from your desktop to removable media for backup. Other acceptable means would be to use your own cloud service as a backup.


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Despite being undersized and inexperienced as a pass catcher, Bill Belichick decided to take a flyer on the kid with a seventh round pick. He since caught over 400 passes for 24 touchdowns and more than 4,500 yards, he returned more than 150 punts and brought four back for touchdowns, he got another 1,000 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 15 playoff games, he thrown a pass in a critical moment of an AFC Championship Game, he was arguably the MVP of Super Bowl XLIX and made one of the most unbelievable catches in football history during Super Bowl LI. At 31 years old, he still got some more to accomplish before hanging up his cleats.
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Wilcox, Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne. They needed a LT and went out and got one in the first round with Utah's Garett Bolles, though Bolles played only one year at the position. Bolles, a work in progress, may take a while to develop. In time, we'll know whether the Broncos were smart taking him over the more seasoned Cam Robinson from Alabama.Lions: They passed on reaching for a needed pass rusher at No.
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Our game has long provided a powerful platform for dialogue and positive change in many communities throughout our nation. Thanks primarily to our players, the NFL also has been a unifying force in our country and impactful change has and hopefully will continue to be the result of peaceful expression, done so in order to highlight social injustices of all kind. Negative and disrespectful comments suggesting otherwise are contrary to the founding principles of our country, and we do not support those comments or opinions.
As part of the NFL's $400 million sponsorship agreement with Microsoft, coaches use the tablets to review photos of plays during the game rather than relying on paper images. "They're just too undependable for me," Belichick told reporters. "I'm going to stick with pictures, which several of our other coaches do, as well, because there just isn't enough consistency in the performance of the tablets. I just can't take it anymore."
"The front office or coaching at (the NFL) level, I think the front office thing would be (difficult). I think the competitive spirit would be there. It's just different because there's such a business side to it. I don't know if I would have that in me. Picking good players is always an art, and some do it better than others and there's some luck involved and things like that. But, yeah, it's crossed my mind, just like coaching has."
PayThe pay for working in football varies widely, based on position and league. Players who are considered the best in the NFL can make well more than $10 million. The league minimum salary in the NFL varies each year, but was about $310,000 in 2009, according to NBC Sports. The average salary for an NFL head coach is $2.5 million per year, reports Forbes magazine. Department of Labor. Some of these coaches must also teach and coach other subjects.
Think there will be a discussion about the entire issue including the policy, including all of the various elements that have been raised over the last four weeks, Lockhart said. not going to predict what might happen. anthem issue flared again Sunday when Vice President Mike Pence, a former Indiana governor, left Indianapolis home game against San Francisco after about a dozen 49ers players knelt during the anthem.
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Eastern time, some Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars knelt during Star Spangled Banner while other players locked arms with one another and team executives on a National Football League Sunday suddenly draped in political controversy. Later in the day, more demonstrations and symbolic statements spread across the league, drawing in players and executives who had not spoken before.
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NFL Defensive CoordinatorsNFL defensive coordinators earn six figure to seven figure salaries. A January 2005 article for USA Today, citing figures from NFL Coaches Association executive director Larry Kennen, reports the average salary of NFL defensive coordinators at $600,000 annually with a few at the time earning as much as $1 million annually (as noted above, as of 2011 there are no defensive coordinators earning $1 million salaries annually).
Nothing new, LaFrance said after the Riders improved their record to 8 6. my third year in the league as a Canadian running back and you know what it is by that point. Every time you go on the field you have to prove your worth. My mentality every day is: out there, show them what I can do. The rest is just where it lies. was prepared to run the ball on the Riders final drive. In fact, he even grabbed his helmet before the offence jogged on the field with LaFrance lined up at tailback.
5th Round Pick: Nate Gerry, LB Gerry was cut by the Eagles out of training camp and is on the practice squad. The Eagles willingness to expose him to waivers just a little over four months after drafting him speaks to how they feel his transition from college safety to NFL linebacker is going.
The Browns have the top overall pick of the draft and are in need (once again) of a quarterback. Some speculation has them using it on Trubisky. Other projections have the Browns eitherchoosing the player considered the draft's best at any position, edge rusher Myles Garrett from Texas A or trading the choice to another team that wants Garrett.
After building a Super Bowl champion through the draft making a number of questionable moves like the ones they did this year the Seahawks' infallibility level has reached "Pope." This year the Hawks picked offensive tackle Justin Britt 64th overall; ESPN ranked him 215th. But the TV analysts were so cowed by the Seahawks' drafting success, you didn't hear a peep of criticism. The Hawks could've taken Bo the White House Dog.
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Stafford versus the Giants 'D'. New York's defence was one of the meanest in the league last year, surrendering only 284 points for the season, good for second best in the league. They followed it up with a decent enough Week One showing against Dallas, limiting the Cowboys to just the one touchdown, though it was their own offensive struggles that cost them. If he's fit, there's no greater game changer in the NFL, let alone this game. The Giants' charismatic receiver has not seen any action since injuring his left ankle on August 21 in a preseason game. OBJ did not play in the team's season opening defeat in Dallas, with the team missing their star play maker desperately, as they mustered up only three points on offence. That certainly won't be the same story in Week Two if Beckham takes to the field.
THE TAKE: Can help but think that new Jags boss Tom Coughlin will be keeping his options open on draft night. He go in looking to help his QB Blake Bortles with LSU RB Leonard Fournette, but if Allen falls to him at 4, he go with Allen to beef up his defense against the AFC South. Allen can play inside or outside for the Jaguars who, let face it, could use help in a lot of areas. Best player available is Allen.
The meantime, Sloter looked back in amazement at how far he has come since he was ready last January to become a financial adviser.been a pretty interesting ride, and I just blessed to be here, he said.The Vikings filled their 10 man practice squad Monday by signing center Cornelius Edison and tackle Cedrick Lang.Edison, undrafted in 2015 out of Portland State, appeared in six games last year for Chicago and was waived Saturday by Atlanta.
I read sports news and the comments following them, frequently, and I seeing a number of explanations for lower ratings. Lot of talk about Boycotting the NFL. Lot of people saying they found the criminal element among many NFL players, followed by the corruption of the front office, dislike for Rogerare the reasons I see given by people reporting that they have already stopped watching football. Those who are sick of the political involvement of sports, when most people watch Sports to get away from politics and the news, and anger over the anthem protests are the most vocal and angriest fans who I seen posting in years. The product on the field stinks. The good teams of the past are now average and the average teams now suck. Combine that with the constant everybody, look at me! behavior of the players and it almost unwatchable. I know of at least two instances now where players have determined a penalty isn reason enough to dispense with the celebration routine they practiced at home in from of the mirror. I wonder if Cam has a I got sacked dance, we just got beat at home dance or I stole another student computer dance to go with his Superman act?
The effort was thwarted by Seattle's Earl Thomas in an unusual play that resulted in Thomas dislodging the ball from the Rams receiver, where it bounced into the end zone and forced a touchback.Seattle has been on a six game winning streak, dominating rival San Francisco (twice), the former division leading Arizona Cardinals (also twice), Philly's Eagles, and now the Rams.
"He's one of the best players in the league," said Cowboys coach Jason Garrett. "He is just fantastic in every aspect of the game. He's quick, he's fast, he's explosive. He's got great instincts for rushing the passer. He's so disruptive and he makes play after play after play each week. And he's getting a lot of attention from opposing offenses, so we have a real respect for him."
"There are some traits that Alvin Kamara has that remind me of Marshall Faulk, with regards to his intelligence and his ability to run routes," Payton said. "(Faulk) was as good as there was in that element of the game and probably one of the top three or four backs of all time. He was one of the smartest players I ever coached."
After the regular football season of the National Football League (NFL) comes the Super Bowl. The final playoffs happen on the last Sunday in January or the first Sunday in February giving the name to Super Bowl Sunday with festivities reaching bacchanalian levels. In 2006, Super Bowl Sunday will be on February 5 and America will be celebrating the fortieth anniversary of the game. Super Bowl XL will reach an all time high.
The source added: moved out of the family home when he and Fergie separated last spring and headed to Canada to film with Olivia. Olivia was newly single and playing his wife in the movie, and there was a lot of talk about them on the set. plot twist is that wife Fergie is reportedly friends with X Men actress as well, which must be awkward if the suggestive reports are true.
AJ, I like a good NFL game on TV as much as anyone else but many of us are guilty of overdoing it. Especially when it is so important to start our plan B. Goodbye pensions, hello new economy. Connecticut teachers should start now to avoid the pension crisis and so should everyone else for that matter.
But there was one thing the Green Bay Packers lead back didnt change: His number. Wanting to keep the No. 88 he was issued as a third round pick in 2015, Montgomery learned that NFL rules permit players to keep their original number even if it isnt typical for their new position if theyre moving from one ineligible receiver position to another or one skill position to another, as the San Diego Chargers Rod Bernstine did in the late 1980s moving from tight end to running back but keeping his No. 82.
However, one factor that appears to be making a large dent in the ratings and continuing to grow is the backlash resulting from the 49ers Colin Kaepernick sitting or kneeling during the national anthem in protest of police brutality against African Americans. A percentage of fans are now boycotting the NFL in reaction to Kaepernick protests and/or the lack of discipline from the league offices resulting from them. It likely that a sizable chunk of the rating decline is due to fans swiftly and decisively responding to Kaepernick growing protests by turning the games off entirely.
"Our next objective is to get into the youth football market," MVP CEO John Currier said. mlb sports jerseys "We firmly believe that's the future of football. It's great to have a product out there, and the NFL has been great leaders in getting our product out there, implementing it and helping us learn about it."
My husband is very conservative and opinionated about politics. Our daughter has become much more politically liberal over the last couple of years. Jason thinks it is disrespectful of her to not want to listen to him try to influence her to think like he does (he has tried before). I have told Jason she needs to work out her own political beliefs and, as she matures and sees how the business world works, she'll probably become more moderate.
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Experienced sports analysts are often highly visible broadcasting professionals who receive lucrative annual salaries. As with most occupations, many positions for a sports analyst involve more modest compensation. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2012 median pay for reporters, correspondents and broadcast news analysts was $37,090 per year. The top 10 percent in this category earned about $78,000, and the bottom 10 percent earned slightly more than $20,000 annually the lowest salaries typically represent those for starting positions in the industry.Job OutlookAs reported by the BLS, overall employment for broadcast analysts and reporters is expected to decline by 13 percent during the next 10 years.
Is going to be featured in this deal but Matt Breida is very much part of our plan, Lynch said. a guy who from Day 1 showed up here and you didn have to be a football savant to see the guy can move, and move fast. He a smart football player. And he has the intangibles. RECEIVERS (6)
The NFL is the pinnacle of organized football. It employs the best players in the world, and the game itself unfolds under the biggest of media spotlights. Yet every one of those professional players had a moment where they stepped onto a football field for the first time, with dreams of the NFL so far away. Several attributes are shared by those that have made the ascent successfully through youth and college football to the professional ranks. Keep in mind, however, the process exists to separate the rare few who are qualified from all the players who aren't.
Initially during the interview, Nungesser said it was "worth discussing" whether Louisiana should offer so much support to the Saints given the recent basketball singlets sale protests. Later, he said he didn't have an opinion on whether the contracts should be reviewed by legislators. "That's not my job to review those agreements," he said.
MPV ResultsAccording to the National Library of Medicine, a normal platelet count is 150,000 to 400,000 per microliter of blood. This may sound like a lot, but since they are tiny, they take up a very small part of total blood volume. A low platelet count is called thrombocytopenia. Thrombocytopenia can be caused by failure of the bone marrow to produce enough platelets, or it can result from the destruction of platelets after they're produced.
So many players focus on recuperating for at least part of the off season. Other players may work on recovering from surgery to correct lingering injuries. Weeks before training camp starts in October, NBA basketball players start getting back in shape for the upcoming season. These preparations may involve practicing basketball skills, performing drills to build stamina and lifting weights.
Also, I think people should differentiate what they think is a mistake from their college team's perspective and what's considered a mistake from the player's perspective. Tech fans sure would have loved to see all three of those guys come back, and the fact that they went low in the draft (or not at all) makes it clear cut to those rooting for the team that they erred in their decision making. But say Hodges makes the Vikings' roster this year. He'll make about $625,000, in addition to a signing bonus of$146,224. Ford's deal is worth a little less but is still pretty lucrative if he makes the squad. And Evans, who is a longshot to make the actual roster, could still fetch north of $100,000 by being on a practice squad. That's not the mega millions you'd get for being a first rounder and given the concerns about all three, I doubt coming back would have automatically vaulted them into the first round all of a sudden but it's a heck of a lot more than pretty much anybody is going to make fresh out of college. (And it's here that I should mention to the "get your degree!" advocates that they still can get their degree, even if they have to pay for a year themselves. If they carve out an NFL living, they can afford that easily.)
The NFL is used to crushing the TV ratings game. But this year, it's in a serious slump. Four weeks into the regular season, the league's ratings are down 11% across FOX, CBS, NBC and ESPN. And everyone in the industry is starting to take notice. Were this some other kind of programming, it might not be such a big deal. But for a large part of the year every year, the NFL is TV beating everything else that's on by millions of viewers and consistently delivering huge ratings that networks and advertisers have come to count on.
"We are shocked and surprised at the news of Aaron's death," Baez (who successfully defended Casey Anthony when she was accused of killing her daughter) said in a statement. "There were no conversations or correspondence from Aaron to his family or legal team that would have indicated this scenario was a possibility. Aaron was looking forward to an opportunity for a second chance to prove his innocence. Those who love and care about him are heartbroken and determined to find the truth surrounding his untimely death."
North Dakota was the only school to offer him a scholarship coming out of high school, so Golladay began his career there. But he rode a late growth spurt to his current 6 4 frame, and eventually transferred to Northern Illinois, where he used that length to turn into a scoring machine.
The Eagles got a team win against the Cardinals, but it was special teams that provided a huge spark. By Dave ZangaroMost Watched Most ReadMost EmailedFire Chief Removed From Post After Posting Racial Slur About Steelers Coach Tomlin'It's Not What Leaders Do': Curry Responds After Trump Disinvited Him to White HouseVP Pence Leaves NFL Game After Players Protest During AnthemSteelers Tackle, Army Veteran Villanueva: Mix Up Led to Anthem FlapDale Earnhardt Jr. Will Stand for Anthem, But Won't Judge Those Who Don'tOver 23,000 Sign Online Petition to Ban Pete Morelli From Reffing Eagles GamesPanthers Have Identified Perpetrator of Brutal Fan Violence at Eagles GamePolice Arrest Perpetrator of Brutal Fan Violence at Eagles Panthers GameColin Kaepernick Files Grievance Against NFLPackers' QB Aaron Rodgers Could Miss Rest of Season With Broken CollarbonePanthers Have Identified Perpetrator of Brutal Fan Violence at Eagles GameNFL Players' Union Unhappy With Jerry Jones' National Anthem CommentsSources: Jorge Velandia Emerges as Strong Candidate for Phillies Manager JobOver 23,000 Sign Online Petition to Ban Pete Morelli From Reffing Eagles GamesRoob Stats: Just How Historic Has the Eagles' Run Defense Been So Far?
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They must leave their families at home, spend hours on planes traveling throughout the country and try to stay rested while sleeping at a different hotel every night. Although the game day routine stays essentially the same, playing in front of a hostile crowd in less than familiar surroundings means that victories are much harder to achieve.Off Season RoutineThe NBA's 82 game regular season can wear down even the best conditioned athletes.

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December 5: Time and the Rani Parts One & Two
149) And so the opening story of season 24 becomes the debut story for seventh Doctor Sylvester McCoy. Meanwhile, Nathan-Turner's also hired a new script editor named Andrew Cartmel to help oversee the next three seasons, and he knows he needs a script pronto, so he turns to his old standbys Pip and Jane Baker, who willingly set about first writing Colin Baker's swansong, and then, with a few minor tweaks, McCoy's debut. Time and the Rani is the result.
|The sixth Doctor regenerates into the seventh. (Time and the
Rani Part One) ©BBC
I have to confess, I quite like both the new titles and the theme. It's probably nostalgia in some regards (as the McCoy stories were really, for me, the first set of brand-new Doctor Who that I'd experienced), but there's still quite a bit to enjoy. The theme's back to a more upbeat, heroic sound -- and we get to hear the middle eight again in the opening credits -- and the title sequence is very swish, with the galaxy swirling about as the TARDIS moves through it; it's a hell of a lot better than that pre-titles CG sequence. I don't even mind the wink that much; the silver face is a neat touch and the result is a lot better than the abandoned attempt at making the sixth Doctor wink. It's all rather thrilling.
Sadly, the same can't be said for the actual episode. McCoy's actually not too bad here, even if they keep giving him pratfalls and malapropisms; you can see where his performance will be going in some of the quieter moments here, with a sense of gravity and a touch of world-weariness. Meanwhile, Kate O'Mara seems to be deliberately playing this with a welcome bit of theatricality, and her impersonation of Mel is really rather entertaining indeed. But everyone else is largely useless -- the real Mel spends most of her time screaming (well, it feels like it, at least) and the native Lakertyans are a weak-willed bunch, with only the rebel Ikona standing out in any way. The Doctor's costume change sequence (after swimming in Colin Baker's coat for most of the episode -- and note that he's wearing the Mindwarp/actual trial sequences costume, rather than the "future" Terror of the Vervoids one) feels like it's going through the motions, as if it's a requirement to see McCoy in old Doctors' outfits before showing us the real one -- which itself isn't bad, although the question mark sweater is ludicrous, but doesn't really seem of the same mind as the previous outfits tried on (so, a bit like Tom Baker's costume scene in Robot, then). It's an oddly joyless scene.
Things sadly don't improve much in part two. There's more farting about with trying to make the Doctor think he's the one performing this experiment, not the Rani, and Donald Pickering and Wanda Ventham have to try and look dignified beneath some rather ugly alien makeup. And Mel still seems off here -- which is especially strange when you note that there's only been one Mel episode so far that hasn't been written by Pip & Jane. But no, she's generally unlikeable here until Ikona finally believes her and they start working together. Her first encounter with the newly-regenerated Doctor is also rather wonderful (unconvincing judo throw at the start aside) -- if the story had been more like this scene things might have gone better.
Still, it is generally nice to look at; it's another quarry, but the effects shots are rather impressive, and care has clearly gone into the exterior of the Rani's lair. The smoking skeleton of the recently deceased Sarn is also well done, even if surprisingly graphic for what feels like a lightweight story. And the Tetraps (the hairy creatures with the bat wings) are also designed well, even if they're not as effective when they actually have to do things. But the visuals alone aren't enough to save this story; let's hope there's a dramatic increase in quality for the last two episodes.
December 6: Time and the Rani Parts Three & Four
A somewhat surprising thing happened; I actually found myself somewhat enjoying these two last episodes.
That's not to say they're actually good (and there are still times when they're very bad indeed), but there are moments that entertain. Beyus's continued determination to collaborate because the alternative is the death of his people is noble even if it's presented as misguided, and the discussion between Ikona and the Doctor about the idleness of the Lakertyans is also rather nice. (The Centre of Leisure set is also nicely done.) Ikona is also one of a handful of good performances on display here (Faroun is another) that do lead to something worth watching. And while the realization of the giant genius gestalt brain is rather silly, the idea is a striking one. Plus, even though we've barely got a handle on this new Doctor (and, weirdly, they seem to have decided that his primary characteristic is malapropisms), the Rani's problem of the Doctor causing confusion when he's hooked up to the gestalt is both entertaining and rather difficult to imagine the sixth Doctor pulling off in quite the same way -- which means that this new seventh incarnation is already taking form in new ways. Finally, while the Rani's interactions with the Doctor in these episodes tend to be of the plot exposition variety, they're still nevertheless entertaining to watch.
|The Rani and the Doctor. (Time and the Rani Part Four) ©BBC
But considering how poor the first two episodes were, I'm genuinely surprised to find that these two have risen from the level of "painful to view" up to "barely watchable" -- high praise, I know, but considering where this story appeared to be going it's something of a welcome change. If you're willing to just switch your brain off and essentially watch a broad pantomime version of Doctor Who, this story just about fits the bill. It's understandable if you don't want to do that, but even then there are a handful of decent bits and bobs in these four episodes to reward the patient and/or generous viewer. All damning with faint praise, I realize, but it's some small comfort to know that in the final analysis, Time and the Rani isn't a complete waste of time.
December 7: Paradise Towers Parts One & Two
There's definitely a different feeling about these first two episodes of Paradise Towers. I wonder if it's partly because this is really the first story edited by Andrew Cartmel (his name is on Time and the Rani, but by his own admission he didn't actually do much work on it), but it's certainly distinct from anything we've seen in quite some time.
The first thing that's worth noticing is how filthy and dirty everything looks. This is a good thing, as the Towers are meant to be run down and dirty, but they really do a nice job with all the graffiti and caked-on dirt along the edges of corridors. Even the frosted windows look dingy as they let brownish light in. And thankfully, there's a lot of nice moody lighting to help sell the scene even more. When one thinks back to the set of Warriors of the Deep, and the floodlighting everywhere, you start to realize how much of a refreshing change this is.
The second thing worth noting is how distinct and reasonably well-defined all the various inhabitants are. Yes, there are some casting problems (some of the Caretakers seem too young, all of the Kangs seem too old, and Pex isn't nearly as much of a Stallone-esque meathead as the script wants him to be), but the striking thing about this is how easy it is to look past these problems. Stephen Wyatt's script sparkles with enough idiosyncrasies (the Kangs' slang terms, the Caretakers' reliance on their rule book) that the characteristics of these different groups comes through, and it doesn't really matter that the Red Kangs look like they're in their 20s -- you know what the story is getting at, and that works just fine. And it certainly helps that the structure of this story is different enough from other recent Who stories, in both concept and execution, to maintain the audience's interest.
And into this environment the Doctor and Mel are inserted. This is a story where McCoy starts to really put his stamp on the show -- his reactions here feel fresh and unique to this incarnation, and thankfully the malapropisms have disappeared. And while Mel is wandering the Towers more or less separated from the Doctor, she more than manages to hold her own -- her conversations with Tilda and Tabby, the two Rezzies, are enjoyable, and she gets some genuinely good moments with Pex (her chastising of his destructive behavior, her crestfallen reaction to learning that he's a fraud). This feels like a world that existed long before the TARDIS arrived, rather than one with a specific problem for the Doctor to solve (as the recent crop of stories has occasionally felt).
So far Paradise Towers is smart, clever, and genuinely funny at times (such as the "Are you annoying these old ladies?" gag), and while there are some problems that show up here and there, they're generally easy to look past. A rather wonderful breath of fresh air, but can the concluding episodes keep it up?
December 8: Paradise Towers Parts Three & Four
|The Doctor tries to convince the Blue Kangs and the Red Kangs to
work together. (Paradise Towers Part Three) ©BBC
Really, the only real major problems come in part four, and that's almost entirely because of Richard Briers' decision to play the Kroagnon-controlled Chief Caretaker as a sort of zombie, almost literally slack-jawed and wide-eyed staring as he shuffles through the corridors. And I don't even mind that too much -- Briers seems to be playing a character who's unused to inhabiting a body, so while it might be playing it a bit too broadly you can still see what he's going for. And this is offset by all the other good stuff going on. Watching all the various groups in Paradise Towers come together is really nice, and their team efforts to destroy the robotic Cleaners are suitably entertaining. And while Pex comes off as a coward for a lot of it (his yelling for help while Mel is being attacked is hilarious -- although, as a side note, the shot of the machine dying after Mel shoots it in the eye is really really good), he gets to redeem himself in the final moments. This is followed by a touching memorial that shows how the various groups are continuing to work together and genuinely coexist in the Towers.
It's by no means perfect, but Paradise Towers does a lot of things right. The ideas are really strong and, while we might wish for better realization of those ideas here and there, they still shine through. There's a distinctive look and feel in the Towers; visually, there's a unity at play here that makes this place feel both real and slightly caricatured. In this respect this is (with the possible exception of parts of The Ultimate Foe) the closest Doctor Who has gotten to looking like its comic strip in Doctor Who Magazine; it's all too easy to imagine this as a storyline there, with art by John Ridgway. This gives everything a heightened, fantastic (in the best sense of the word) feel, and this leads to one of Paradise Towers' main strengths: a world where the pictures and the dialogue are telling the same story. It's stylistic and charming, with just enough of a skew to keep your attention throughout. It's also a uniquely seventh Doctor story (certainly it's hard to imagine Wyatt's particular blending of dialogue styles between groups surviving being edited by Eric Saward, but in Andrew Cartmel's hands this aspect clearly comes through) that manages to be fun, fresh, and genuinely entertaining. As I said, it's not perfect (some of the aforementioned casting, the impractical design of the Cleaners), but it's a lot easier to forgive this story's sins than those of several other stories (particularly recently). Build high for happiness, indeed.
December 9: Delta and the Bannermen Parts One & Two
Because the overriding sense throughout these two episodes is one of energy and fun. Even when danger seems imminent (such as throughout part two, with the impending arrival of Gavrok and his Bannermen), it's still an exciting sort of danger; you want to find out what will happen next, rather than dread what's coming. That's not to say it's a light and breezy story (the destruction of a bus filled with alien tourists is proof enough of that), but rather that they've got the balance between entertainment and menace right.
It was a good move, filming this at an actual holiday camp, because it gives everything a feel of verisimilitude as well as brightens things up no end. (Even if the camp does look a tad rundown in some shots -- but that's really what you want, isn't it?) Add in the surrounding countryside, which also looks gorgeous, and this is certainly a story that's nice to look at. And not only that, but it's filled with great actors as well. There are the big names, like Ken Dodd and Stubby Kaye (Stubby Kaye! In Doctor Who!), but all the supporting actors are wonderful as well, with Richard Davies as Burton, Hugh Lloyd as Goronwy, Sara Griffiths as Ray, Don Henderson as the amazingly evil Gavrok... everyone does a great job of making this story as entertaining and engaging as they can. Even Bonnie Langford seems to snap into focus, as Mel is asked to be more of an ordinary woman than a genius computer programmer with an eidetic memory (why Pip & Jane Baker ever thought perfect recall was an ideal characteristic for a companion is beyond me), and Langford seems far more interested (and interesting) here than in earlier stories. And while the Doctor has resorted to a few malapropisms, they're generally low in the mix while his other characteristics rise to the surface -- almost all of his interactions with Ray are rather wonderful to behold, giving off a sense of awkwardness mixed with genuine care and concern. McCoy is really coming into his own here, and the cliffhanger, where he's outraged at Gavrok's shooting at his white truce flag, is very well played.
It's a quick-moving story (well, only three episodes -- it has to be, right?), with some great dialogue ("Now, let me try and get this right. Now, are you telling me that you are not the Happy Hearts Holiday Club from Bolton, but instead are spacemen in fear of an attack from some other spacemen, and because of the danger, you want me to evacuate the entire camp?") and some fabulous performances. It doesn't feel forced or strained. So far Delta and the Bannermen is firing on all cylinders.
December 10: Delta and the Bannermen Part Three / Dragonfire Part One
Considering how they've only got an episode left, there's a surprising amount of incident packed into these 25 minutes. There are a number of skirmishes between the Bannermen and various parties as they try to track Delta down, but there's also time for some quieter moments as well, and for a proper ending too. This means that the whole episode feels really quick and exciting.
|Ray examines Billy's bike while the Doctor, Mel, Weismuller,
and Goronwy look on. (Delta and the Bannermen Part Three) ©BBC
Delta and the Bannermen is a quick, breezy story from new writer Malcolm Kohll -- it's energetic, entertaining, and charming, with a welcome summery feel to the proceedings. And, more impressively, there's not really a sense that anything is rushed (which won't be the case for many of the 3-parters coming up) -- everything happens at the right moment, and you don't get the feeling that you're missing anything. It is something of a "slight" story -- nothing here strikes you as Important or Monumental -- but frankly that's a plus; it's about time Doctor Who got back to making fun stories that aren't weighed down by excessive continuity or inflated self-importance, and Delta and the Bannermen fits the bill admirably.
150 But anything for a bit of promotion -- especially at this point in the show's history...
Dragonfire also bears the personal distinction of being the first new Doctor Who that I actually remember watching. I have earlier memories of the show, but they were all of stories that had aired a number of times (such as Spearhead from Space). Dragonfire, on the other hand, was a brand-new story, and as I was sick at the time, I got to stay home and watch it as it was broadcast (instead of on tape later) -- which is probably why I remember it.
The episode itself isn't terribly memorable though. There are some nice interactions between Glitz, the Doctor, and Mel, as they encounter each other in an Iceworld café. We're also introduced to a young woman named Ace who, frankly, makes Mel look like cardboard in contrast. It's not a perfect characterization by any means (there are a number of less-than-stellar moments, such as Ace yelling about not having parents), but what's striking is how much more interesting Ace seems as a character than Mel does.
The villain of the piece, Kane, is suitably creepy, and I like the idea both of how he's so cold that he can kill people by touching them, and by the mark of Kane that Belazs bears on her palm. "As long as you bear my mark, I own you," Kane tells Belazs. There's also enough going on to keep things interesting, but nothing really stands out so far.
Well, except for that damn cliffhanger. Dragonfire Part One is rather infamous for having one of the strangest cliffhangers of all time, where the Doctor appears to be trying to climb down a sheer ice cliff by hanging from his question-mark umbrella. It might be acceptable if they had given us any sort of indication as to why the Doctor is trying to get down there, but as it is it looks like they just wanted to give us a literal cliffhanger, rationale be damned. But that's the image we're left with as this episode closes. Sigh.
December 11: Dragonfire Parts Two & Three
|Ace and Mel in the depths of Iceworld. (Dragonfire Part Two) ©BBC
It's nice that Dragonfire is filled with a number of good moments and scenes, as it means that it has a greater impact on the viewers. Whether it's the genuinely funny scene of the Doctor ending up discussing philosophy with a security guard ("You've no idea what a relief it is for me to have such a stimulating philosophical discussion. There are so few intellectuals about these days. Tell me, what do you think of the assertion that the semiotic thickness of a performed text varies according to the redundancy of auxiliary performance codes?"151) or the genuinely impressive manner of Kane's suicide (with his face melting away, rather like Raiders of the Lost Ark), there's a lot to recommend this story -- it's certainly the most accessible story of season 24 for people (both at the time and now, if fan polls are anything to go by).
There are some duff moments, though; I'm not really sure what the point of having the little girl, Stellar, wandering around the restricted area is, as she doesn't really interact with anyone, and the attempt to do Aliens (the ANT hunt) on a Doctor Who budget doesn't come off at all. And while Mel is better in these two episodes in her interactions with Ace, her decision at the end to leave comes totally out of left field, and barely any time is really spent dwelling on her choice: a brief speech from the Doctor ("That's right, yes, you're going. Been gone for ages. Already gone, still here, just arrived, haven't even met you yet. It all depends on who you are and how you look at it. Strange business, time") and then it's off to keep Glitz on the straight-and-narrow. It's the sort of farewell that would be almost unthinkable nowadays, but that's how what turned out to be the last companion departure of the 20th century went.
Still, as I said, there's quite a bit to enjoy about Dragonfire. It's not perfect by any means, and it's not my personal favorite of the season (that's Paradise Towers), but it's an entertaining enough story with enough incident and cleverness to keep you amused. The feeling of freshness and energy that's been present throughout the whole season is still here, and that means that even when stories falter a bit, they're still worthwhile -- and Dragonfire is no exception.
For some reason fandom generally seems to be down on season 24. Time and the Rani certainly doesn't help things one bit (and the shortened season means that this accounts for over a quarter of season 24's screen time), and it's true that there aren't any out and out classics this time around. But what's eminently clear is the sense of renewal blowing through this show like a crisp wind. Andrew Cartmel has stepped in as script editor, and John Nathan-Turner seems to be giving him quite a bit of leeway to remake the show more how he sees fit. It's significant that, with the exception of Pip & Jane Baker (who were hired by Nathan-Turner rather than Cartmel), none of the writers during the McCoy era have written for the show before -- and in fact, for many of them this is one of their first gigs. This lends everything a freshness, a vitality, and a sense that they can do anything -- and crucially, there's no one there to simply tell them "no". The production team is instead much more willing to work with the writers to realize their visions -- not always successfully, but with more hits than misses. This is no longer a show constrained by continuity or accepted beliefs about how the show works; instead it's treating the show's format as a sandbox that can do anything and say anything they want, and the start of this new approach can be seen here in season 24. It's not perfect, but nevertheless this is the clear beginning of Doctor Who's creative renaissance.
149 Howe-Stammers-Walker, The Handbook: The Sixth Doctor, p70.
150 We'll get into even more complicated numbering shenanigans when "Planet of the Dead" -- billed as Doctor Who's 200th story -- comes along.
151 This is a reference to a line from Doctor Who - The Unfolding Text -- an academic work that I have to confess I've never managed to plow all the way through.


text:
NEW YORK (CBS.MW) - ChevronTexaco on Monday said it would be cutting 500 more jobs than previously expected, as the company reaffirmed its target of saving $1.2 billion in the next six to nine months following the merger of its predecessors.
At the combined company's first analyst conference since last month's merger closing, Chairman and CEO Dave O'Reilly also said annual savings would run at a rate of $1.8 billion by March 2003.
Last week, the nation's second largest energy company CVX, +0.50% began laying off 7 percent of its workforce, or 4,000 jobs. The job loss would rise to almost 8 percent of 57,000 employees who work at both companies worldwide.
Annual savings would be found across the board, with the greatest increase coming from the "downstream" business -- refined products. Savings from refining and marketing is expected to almost quadruple to $450 million, according to ChevronTexaco.
Savings plans
Although the downstream business of both Chevron and Texaco don't show a great deal of overlap, O'Reilly said, the companies were able to find more opportunities to save than expected -- in terms of streamlining products, raw material purchases and in marketing, support and advertising expenditures.
"Downstream will contribute more than we thought," O'Reilly said.
Total merger-related expenses should top $1.5 billion -- $1.2 billion from job loss benefits and restructuring.
The $1.8 billion in annual savings should boost the company's return on capital employed by 2 to 3 percent in 2003 and 2004, O'Reilly said, with higher rates foreseen for years beyond. ChevronTexaco seeks to close the ROCE gap with its top rivals.
Oil and gas production to rise
In addition, ChevronTexaco sees oil and gas production increasing by 1 percent in 2002 as the company focuses on its merger integration. However, production growth overall should rise by 2.5 to 3 percent a year over the next five years.
As for Dynegy, O'Reilly said investment in this company would be accretive to earnings and represents "significant" upside potential. The company has committed to investing $2.5 billion in energy marketer Dynegy DYN, -0.24% enabling it to propose a merger with larger rival Enron ENE, +7.69%
The $2.5 billion investment, which will not exceed $32 a share in price, includes buying $1.5 billion in Dynegy convertible preferred shares. The remaining $1 billion will be invested in Dynegy common shares after the marriage with Enron closes. Following these activities, ChevronTexaco would own 26 percent of Dynegy.
Shares of Dynegy were up almost 3 percent to $43.60. Enron was up 6 cents, or less than 1 percent, to $9.06.
Chevron, a predecessor of ChevronTexaco, in 1996 merged its natural gas businesses with Dynegy forerunner NGC Corp. to form a new company under the NGC name.
NGC later became Dynegy, the largest natural gas and natural gas liquids marketer in North America. Its merger with Enron would create the world's largest energy trader.
Shares of ChevronTexaco were down less than 1 percent to $82.91.


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|My little pumpkin getting ready to try avocado for the first time!
Dane loves to eat. Mom loves to cook. We were a match from the start. I knew even before we started thinking about children, that I wanted to make my child's baby food. It was not because I was over health-conscious, or to save a ton of money...but just because I love to cook & it sounded fun. I know so many mama friends who don't like to cook and/or don't have the time...no problem!
And their kids are just fine. :)
We are all doing what works best for our families, and I think that is the most important thing to remember.
I waited until Dane was 6 months old to start solids. He didn't start sitting up until a little after turning 6 months anyway, so the timing was perfect. A friend from church offered to bring her baby food maker & freezing trays & show me the ropes. It really was unbelievably easy & in just a few hours we made weeks of baby food that could be stored in the freezer and conveniently thawed for meals. Healthy foods + saving money =
more shopping for Abigail more grocery money for the month! Per our doctor's advice, we started with vegetables (sweet potatoes, squash, avocado, green beans) and later tried fruits (banana, pears, mango, peaches, apples). Dane is an excellent veggie eater and I am convinced that is because we started with vegetables! Each food was introduced one at a time to make sure we were clear of allergies, and then new foods were added every few days. Some vegetables were added later (like carrots, who knew they could be full of nitrates? Not good for infants. Berries were added in later as well, common allergen) My sweet friend Allyson also suggested the book Super Baby Food & I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone thinking about making their own! It has user-friendly charts for each month recommending foods to try/add, tons of recipes and is just very informative. I also made Dane's oatmeal and rice cereal to begin with (also super easy!) & recipes for those were found in that book as well.
Now that Dane is 18 months (I can't believe I just typed that) the baby food days are over, and I am a little sad! I really loved making new foods & pureeing different things together to see what he liked. We have moved on to real "people food" for him & that can be just as fun! Dane typically eats what we eat for meals, and does a great job in his high chair. His favorite meal is probably breakfast...and mine as well! He loves French toast, pancakes, muffins, fruit, yogurt, eggs...basically anything that goes with coffee. :) Lunch is usually some sort of sandwich (pb&j, ham & cheese, grilled cheese, quesadillas, etc), plus fruit and veggies and dinner is whatever we eat as a family. He has grown accustomed to Mommy's Famous Meatloaf which is great since it is on the Carter dinner rotation quite frequently! Snack time is another favorite for Dane and is typically offered after waking up from his nap, or before dinner if he is acting hungry. Sometimes I run out of snack ideas and don't always want to offer a "cracker" type of snack...although he definitely smiles for his beloved Goldfish! Some other popular snacks for us are: grapes, banana slices, cheddar cheese & baby Triscuits, Puffs, graham crackers, or string cheese.
Because Dane loves breakfast, I included two of my go-to recipes below. I love both of these because the recipes make a lot and both freeze well. We all know that when the Today Show is on, Mama likes to thaw something out quickly for breakfast and not have to worry about being in the kitchen all morning! I also love both of these recipes because you most likely have all of the ingredients in your pantry right now. Happy cooking!
Whole Wheat Pancakes (adapted from the Super Baby Food book)
*makes a lot, depending on size of pancake. I usually do a silver-dollar size*
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons oil (coconut, veggie or canola)
1 very large RIPE banana, smashed
1 teaspoon vanilla
cinnamon to taste
Mix wet ingredients together. Add in dry ingredients; do not over mix. Pour silver-dollar sizes on griddle & cook until golden brown. Top with pure maple syrup. Freeze up to 1 month. *Can sub pumpkin for banana (I loved to do this in the Fall!) I also have added mini chocolate chips to spice them up as well!*
Heavenly Banana Oatmeal Muffins (adapted from Skinnytaste Cookbook)
* makes 12 large muffins, or 20 mini muffins*
1.5 cups quick oats
1 1/4 cups unsweetened almond milk
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup ripe banana, smashed (about 2 large bananas)
2 large egg whites
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup flour (I used spelt flour)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Preheat oven to 350. Line a 12 muffin tin with cupcake holders & then lightly spray with Pam. In a large bowl mix oats and milk together and put in fridge for 30 minutes. After soaking, add in wet ingredients - then dry. Mix well and pour into muffin tin. Bake about 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Dane loves his with butter or even fancier - a little peanut butter on top!
And there you have it. Simple. Easy. Yummy. Three prerequisites in my cookbook. Now you share!
"Food tastes better when you eat it with your family."
~ author unknown


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Israel Post issued a beautiful set of three stamps this month featuring children's games which all popular among kids all over the world. The colorful tabs on each stamp depict the specific game. The tabs are special features of stamps issued by Israel Post which always bear a small design related with the stamps.
Tag (also known as tip, tick, tig, dobby, it chasey, and many other names) is a playground game played worldwide that involves one or more players chasing other players in an attempt to tag or touch them, usually with their fingers. There are many variations. Most forms have no teams, scores, or equipment.
Hopscotch is a children's game that can be played with several players or alone. Hopscotch is a popular playground game.
Modern schoolyard court; designs vary.
Hopscotch Courts
There are many other forms of hopscotch played across the globe. In India it is called Stapu or Kith-Kith, in Spain it's Rayuela. In Latin America, golosa. In Russian it is known as классики (diminutive for the word meaning classes). In Poland, it is called klasy, meaning classes. In Italy it is called campana (meaning bell), or mondo (meaning world). In the Netherlands and Flanders, Hinkelen. In Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia it is called školica, meaning little school. In Malaysia the most popular variant is called tengteng. In Mexico, it is called bebeleche (mamaleche) meaning drink milk or avioncito meaning little plane ("probably because of the shape"). Different countries have different names for this game !!
Hide-and-seek or hide-and-go-seek is a variant of the game tag, in which a number of players conceal themselves in the environment, to be found by one or more seekers.
Hopscotch & Hide and Seek
Collection Pack – September 2011 issues
Special Covers
West Bengal


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Aug. 31, 2000
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida State women's volleyball team is set to open the 2000 season with the Florida State Tournament, in Tully Gymnasium. The Lady Noles will compete against four different teams from four different conferences. The list includes Illinois (Big Ten), Charleston Southern (Big South), Southern Mississippi (Conference USA) and Florida Atlantic (Trans America Athletic). FSU will open up action with Southern Miss., at noon on Friday, followed by Florida Atlantic on Friday night (7 p.m.). FSU will host CSU at noon the following day before closing out the tournament with the Fighting Illini.
"This is a big weekend for us," FSU head coach Dr. Cecile Reynaud says. "We have four big matches, and I am really excited about the variety of teams. It will be a lot of fun to start the season off at home against a number of good teams, including Illinois which made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season."
The Garnet and Gold will have its hands full with four matches on the weekend. The Golden Eagles will take the floor first against the Lady Noles, and they bring with them a 13-20 record from 1999. Southern Miss. will look to improve on last season's 4-12 conference record with the opening game of the season in Tully. Up next for Reynaud's team will be FAU, which returns five of six starters from the team's 6-3, first-place conference finish in 1999. The Owls notched a 17-13 overall record under head coach Jody Brown. Saturday morning the Lady Seminoles will face off against Charleston Southern, who completed the 1999 season with an 8-22 record, but returns with all of its starters from the 1999 squad. FSU will close out the tourney with its biggest challenge of the weekend, as the team faces off against Illinois in what could be the championship match of the tournament. The Illini bring with them the biggest threat to the Noles dominance, bringing a 12-8 1999-record in the Big Ten Conference to Tully Gymnasium. Illinois returns three starters as well as nine letterwinners.
"Illinois should be the biggest challenge this weekend," Reynaud says. "The Big Ten was the top conference in collegiate women's volleyball last year, with the ACC coming in second. The Illini went to the NCAA Tournament last season, and had a pretty successful year."
With four games over the weekend, the fifth coach in the history of Division I volleyball at Florida State has an opportunity to do something only eight other current coaches have accomplished. Reynaud ended last season with a total of 597 career victories, placing her eighth on the all-time career victories list among active D-I volleyball coaches. With three wins this weekend, the Southwest Missouri State alumnae could reach the 600-win mark. As the Noles take the floor against CSU on Saturday afternoon, Reynaud and the Lady Noles have an excellent opportunity to achieve a milestone. Reynaud's 500th-victory came against Southern Illinois in 1994, with a three-set win.
"It certainly would be great to reach 600 this weekend," Reynaud says. "Hopefully, if our team plays well, we can achieve that. It really would be great to be able to do that at home."
The Noles will be led into action by Norisha Campbell, a junior-outside hitter that did everything except renovate Tully last year. After playing on the USA Junior National Volleyball Team in 1999, she joined the team on Sept. 7, ending the season with 27 matches under her belt. The University City, Texas native notched three career-highs in 1999, in kills (20), attacks (41) and solo blocks (4). Campbell is fifth in single-season hitting percentage, all-time at FSU with a .360% in 1998. Freshmen Jennifer Anderson and Cerina Pele will make their first start in a garnet and gold uniform, and will be joined by Kristin Frye, Alex Sevillano and Jennifer Werrick.
FSU will be back in action after this weekend as they play host to the University of Alabama in a home match before leaving for the Ball State Tournament in Muncie, Ind. The Alabama match begins at 7:07 p.m. in Tully Gym, and will be televised on Sunshine Network.


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This current affairs website hopes to address the so-called 'echo chamber' created by online media. Based in the United States, The Perspective is a digital news platform that aims to provide two sides to every story, allowing readers to take a more empathetic approach and understand where the other side might be coming from.
The current affairs website aims to broaden minds and fight fiercely felt divides and polarization in American society and beyond with features "designed to persuade readers to consider ideas threatening to their worldview." Due to social media filters, search algorithms and similar tactics, many content consumers are not exposed to contradicting political views. Currently The Perspective is focusing on hot topics and gamified challenges that encourage listening to opposing opinions.
Contradictory News Platforms
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Video Debate Platforms
VR News Platforms
Immersive VR Journalism Platforms
Crowdsourced Microjournalism Sites
Millennial-Targeting News Sites
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Our Research Methodology
This article is one of 350,000 experiments. We use crowd filtering, big data and AI to identify insights.
Current Affairs Website The Perspective Endeavors to Open Minds
- By: Alyson WyersApr 8, 2017
References: theperspective & springwise
References: theperspective & springwise


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Use These Travel Tips To Make Your Next Trip A Breeze
Traveling is similar to going away from home for a fun adventure. The following advice should be taken under consideration before going out on your travel check list.
Be aware that in a strange city. Do not give anyone have your passport unless you are sure they are legitimate. Do not ever agree to go somewhere with a local who you don't know.
The fewer items you carry, the lower the chances of you having your valuables lost or stolen.
Hold Doors
These wedges are usually used to hold doors open but they can just as easily be used to hold doors closed.
Always remember to tip any bell station and bell station.
When you are traveling in an airplane, be sure to wear light shoes that are extremely comfortable and easy to kick off. You are required to take your shoes off during security checks. Sandals and flip-flops are footwear that is ideal for air travel.
Bring a business card with you explore your destination city. This is useful if you don't speak the language fluently.
Sign up for forums and social websites that are focused on travel.Getting connected with fellow travelers is a great way to get prepared for your trip. This will put you make friends and share similar experiences.
Sleeping Pills
Sleeping pills can help get you through those long red-eye flights. It can be very hard to get sleep on a plane with all the noise, given the cramped seating, and the uncomfortable seats. Try a sleeping pills to make your flight if you have trouble falling asleep otherwise. Don't have the pill before the plane takes off, as there may be a delay or problem that requires a return.
Booking travel online is a one stop shop for your vacation planning. Travel websites can assist you in the planning of your travel itineraries with little effort. You are able to reserve hotels, hotels, and rental cars all from your computer! You can even review pictures and reviews of hotels on the Internet.
If taking a plane trip, pack a few snacks.
If you want to adjust faster to a different time zone, don't allow yourself to fall asleep until nighttime locally. Though you may be tired, succumbing to sleep earlier than you should may end up making your jet lag worse because you have not allowed your body to recalibrate.
When you take a cruise, get to know other travelers while on board. Many ships will seat you with people you are unfamiliar with. Have fun and speak with all the people you come in contact with. You are going to see them daily, and it is possible that you will glean some information regarding the ship along the way.
Make sure you create copies of all important documents when you leave. Keep these copies of passports, insurance information, and other documents in a separate place than the ones you travel with.
Regardless of how much you prepare, it is pretty likely that something unexpected will happen on your trip. After you have properly planned, sit back, relax and enjoy your trip.


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South African terror suspect threatened to unleash biological weapons on the UK, USFebruary 13th, 2011 - 12:23 am ICT by BNO News
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (BNO NEWS) — South African police on Saturday arrested a 64-year-old businessman who had threatened for months to unleash biological weapons on Britain and the United States.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) said the man, whose identity was not immediately released, was arrested at 10.30 a.m. local time in the Hartbeespoort area of North West Province. He was arrested on unspecified charges relating to terrorism.
According to police, the terror suspect was taken into custody after a six month operation conducted by various SAPS units after a notification by British police of an individual threatening to attack Britain.
"The suspect repeatedly, through letters and e-mails, demanded an amount of USD 4 million in exchange for not deploying a biological agent within the borders of the United Kingdom," a police statement said. "This biological agent, if deployed, would have caused the destruction of property and resulted in major economic loss. This was therefore regarded as a very serious threat against the UK."
A similar threat was also made against the United States, South African police said, without providing other details. It said the London Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were involved in the investigation.
"Over the past years we have emphasised the need for strong and effective cooperation with all Interpol member countries in order to fight international crime syndicates and their corrupt activities," said Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa. "This arrest affirms our firm stance that it is only through a working-together approach that we will be able to crack the backbone of networks of crime. As Government and Police leadership, we welcome the arrest and are hopeful that this scoundrel will receive the harshest sentence."
SASP said several crime scenes, including the storage facility where the arrest took place, were still being processed as of Saturday afternoon and did not say whether or not the suspect had any weapons to carry out his threat. The man is expected to appear in court on Monday.
- South African president to fight corruption in police - Jul 24, 2012
- No mercy for thugs at FIFA World Cup, says S.African minister - Apr 30, 2010
- South African police to communicate better with public - Mar 19, 2012
- S. African thugs threaten to rob and kill Brit footie fans - Jan 20, 2010
- Seven more held in Britain for terror offences - Jul 06, 2012
- Arrest made after death threats against retired U.S. Congresswoman Diane Watson - Jan 29, 2011
- Man kills four in Hungary sword attack - Apr 07, 2012
- Eight bookies arrested from Pakistan for threatening Zulqarnain - Apr 27, 2011
- South Africa beefs up airport security after drug seizures - Feb 19, 2009
- Two terror suspects arrested in New York - May 13, 2011
- TV New Zealand targeted in spate of World Cup media robberies - Jun 13, 2010
- Amnesty for South Africans surrendering firearms - Jan 12, 2010
- South African security forces promises 'safest World Cup ever' - Jun 08, 2010
- Four held in Britain on terrorism charges - Nov 15, 2011
- 'Security threat' shuts down US facilities in South Africa - Sep 22, 2009
Tags: biological agent, biological weapons, bno, british police, corrupt activities, counter terrorism, crime scenes, federal bureau of investigation, international crime syndicates, investigation fbi, london metropolitan police, north west province, police leadership, police minister, police statement, pretoria south africa, sasp, south african police, south african police service, storage facility


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Main Content
About the Talk
August 9, 2012 5:00 AM
Norris Conference Center, Austin, TXNorris Conference Center, Austin, TX
Today there is an ever-increasing amount of overlap in the responsibilities of developers and sysadmins, thanks in no small part to the DevOps movement and projects like Puppet and Chef. Unfortunately, most software classes teach you to treat the computer like a black box with nearly infinite resources. On top of that, most full-time developers have never worked in an operations role, missing out on some very valuable lessons learned by their ops counterparts. The purpose of this training is to shine a spotlight on the challenges and operating environment that your code will face when it gets into production.


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by Nell Lewin
Light and fluffy pancake recipe
Inside the genuine article, you can discover light AND ALSO fleecy pancake recipe AS WELL AS magnificent with respect to a decent weekend brunch. Have a go at including a vast scoop of crisp blueberries to the player sooner cooking.
We adore fundamental, no-come up short recipes. Recipes anybody return to have the capacity to over and over. The individual for you to learn will be simple with a specific end goal to adjust and also add to inside straightforwardness. The genuine recipe will be only that. It's basic AND ALSO we're eager to wager you've attained it everything you need to make them suitable now.
Give me a chance to demonstrate an individual how inconvenience free you're.
Recipe # 01
The recipe makes light ALONG WITH fluffy pancakes. They're not too sweet IN ADDITION TO tend to be lightly scented throughout vanilla, making them added delicious.
135g/4¾oz plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
2 tbsp caster sugar
130ml/4½fl oz milk
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 tbsp melted butter (allowed to cool slightly) or olive oil, plus extra for cooking
To serve
Maple syrup
Preparation method
Filter your flour, preparing powder, salt AND caster sugar specifically into the substantial vessel. inside a decent separate vessel or maybe container, softly whisk together ones milk AS WELL AS egg, consequently whisk at the liquefied spread.
pour your milk mixture specifically into the flour mixture and, which has a fork, beat until anybody get a smooth hitter. any irregularities can soon vanish which has a small blending. Let ones player stand with respect to some minutes.
heat a decent non-stay skillet over a medium hotness AND include the handle including spread. While It's softened, include a scoop joined with hitter (or a few whether your skillet is generally huge enough to have the capacity to cook two pancakes in the same time). It is going to appear to be thick however This truly is how That In the occasion that be.
Hold up until your own particular top of your pancake starts to help bubble, then turn It over AND cook until both sides will be brilliant tan in addition to the pancake characteristics climbed to data on 1cm (½in) thick.
repeat until the greater part of the player is generally taken up. You might keep ones pancakes warm with an extraordinary low broiler, yet they taste Easiest new out your own particular container.
serve in lashings of genuine maple syrup IN ADDITION TO further spread whether individual
Recipe # 02
The particular recipe consists of whipped egg whites for further light IN ADDITION TO fluffy pancakes. since then they make use of the yolks AND ALSO melted butter, they are still loaded AND ALSO tender.
1 cup sifted all-purpose, pastry, or cake flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 tablespoon baking powder
2 egg yolks
3/4 cups milk, more or less
4 tablespoons butter, melted
2 egg whites
1 tablespoon sugar
* Sift your current dry ingredients together.
* Inside another bowl, mix the yolks, most of any milk, plus the melted butter together until smooth.
* Produce a effectively on the middle of a dry ingredients AND ALSO add your current mixed wet ingredients all with once. Stir until simply combined. (Over-mixing will probably make pertaining to an hard pancake.)
* Beat your egg whites until light AND fluffy ALONG WITH soft peaks appear Just as pertaining to meringue. complete your own sugar toward ones end of any beating. Fold your egg whites gently directly into your batter which has a spatula. fill out milk As needed to obtain your own suitable consistency.
* 5Cook In the same way people would some other pancakes.
Light and fluffy pancake recipe (Without baking powder):
Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
* 1 cup flour
* 1/4 tsp kosher salt
* 1 cup milk
* 1 tsp vanilla
* 2 egg yolks
* 3 egg whites
* 1/4 cup sugar
* In a great large bowl, stir together your flour, salt, milk, vanilla, IN ADDITION TO egg yolks simply just until smooth. Do not over-mix.
* In the separate bowl, whip ones egg whites AND ALSO sugar to stiff peaks. Gently fold your current whites into the batter until You will find simply no image white streaks.
* Heat a great griddle or even skillet more than medium high heat. Pour exactly about 1/4 cup batter per cake on to ones greased skillet ALONG WITH gently spread your batter out to an circle from the back of a spoon or maybe measuring cup. Bubbles will still application on the top though there is no baking powder. Flip ones cakes once, Whenever the bubbles pop and also the bottom will be lightly browned. Cook until lightly browned towards different side.
* Keep warm with an 200F oven if not serving immediately.
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You may know that I'm passionate geocacher. At the end of year I usually go somewhere, where I can find a few last caches of this year. Today I wanted to go by car to Vsetín, city about 40 km from my home, continue by bus to the top of Soláň and go back by walk on mountain crest, while collecting some caches. There was chance to find over 30 caches in single hunt.
Excellent idea! I got up at 5:00 to catch bus at 6:45 from Vsetín. All went well, I was there 10 minutes before departure, bus already at station. It's time to get wallet and buy ticket. Well, I can't find it. Hmm, I even don't remember I put it in my backpack. And where are my documents and driving license? At home, sad to say.... So I get up early only to find that I'm silly person. Day failed so early :(
But, earth still rotates in the same direction, I have GPS full of caches in the surroundings, so I simply change route and everything is ok. Finally I have opportunity to find one special cache hidden in sewer under city. It wasn't easy, as sewer has low ceiling, but fortunately cache is located not too far from the entrance. And it was quite clean sewer. :)
Of course, I spent my time mostly out of city, in the forest and hills, so I enjoyed day as it was planned. Only difference is number of kilometers walked and number of caches found (24 altogether. Not my record, but not bad).
As they sing in Monty Python's Life of Brian - Always look on the bright side of the life. I did. :)


text: This is an incredibly yummy and easy breakfast dish that only requires 4 main ingredients – eggs, milk, parsley, and white cheese! If you are an egg and cheese lover, you are in for a treat. The cheese itself is salty so you can pass on the salt if you wish. We recommend you use either Nabulsi White Cheese or Mexican White Cheese for grilling, or better yet, Halloumi Cheese. These cheeses are great for grilling. If you wish, you can use Greek Feta cheese cubes – but skip the grilling bit as Feta cheese is too soft for grilling. The combination of freshly chopped parsley and white salty cheese is out of this world.


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After looking at the recipe for lemon-ricotta-blueberry biscuits, and seeing I have some sour cream that needs to be used, I was wondering if anyone had made biscuits or scones with sour cream. Thanks!
You'll be fine - I do this often for the same reason, to use up sour cream before it turns into a science experiment.
Yes! I used to make biscuits a lot, including scone variations. Sometimes I've found myself without the right dairy ingredients, so I've improvised with any number of combinations of milk, sour milk, milk soured with vinegar or lemon juice, buttermilk, yogurt, yogurt mixed with milk or soured milk, cream, sour cream, half and half, or cottage cheese (which makes really neat biscuits, especially done in the food processor).
I would mix your sour cream with enough milk or soured milk to make the consistency of the ingredient called for, like if it calls for 1 cup of buttermilk, use about 2/3 cup sour cream mixed with 1/3 cup milk and a teaspoon of vinegar.
I often use a little leftover sour cream in my biscuits. Instead of my usual 1 cup of milk, I use 2/3 cup milk and 1/3 cup sour cream.


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Tristan Thompson's dad is planning on writing a tell-all book.
Trevor Thompson has lashed out at his 27-year-old son - from whom he is estranged - after video footage surfaced early last week which seemingly showed the NBA star leaning in for a kiss with a mystery woman and hinted there was more to the "big, big" story which overshadowed the couple when they welcomed their baby daughter into the world on Thursday (12.04.18).
Speaking to RadarOnline.com, he confessed: "I have a big, big story about what happened.
"I can write a book about what happened. [It would be] really good and sad."
Trevor blamed his son's public scandal down to the fact he no longer speaks to him- as he thinks the sportsman would be a "better person" if the pair were communicating on a regular basis because he could always "get through to him" better than his mother would be able to.
Speaking to America's OK! Magazine, he said: "Tristan needs to communicate with his father so he can be a better person to me and to others.
"If Tristan was communicating with me, these problems would not happen, mothers can't get through to the son the way the father would be able to."
In spite of the drama surrounding the birth of her first child, the 33-year-old 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' star is reportedly in "no shape" to start thinking about her relationship with Tristan after having just given birth, but sources don't believe the alleged infidelity will mark the end for the pair.
An insider said: "She loves him, and it looks like for the time being she isn't ending their relationship. She is in no shape to make that decision right now."


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Nicole Page-Smith, 2015
When the wind turns Northerly, God has a bird enter your house and this is the communication of the Lord. Some cultures describe this occurrence to mean death is in the house or someone close to you is going to die. For other cultures, death in the house does not mean the physical death of those ready to die. A spiritual death communicates the ascension of the Holy Spirit. Birds take you to another home. Your home is the forest where the birds are happiest in abundance with one another and communicate their love this way. Birds are part of God in the forest of your love and the voice they speak tells you of the love for God with the tone of their birdcall. Your Spirit finds a home in the forest. The bird in your heart flies to God when you die and after ascension occurs, a feather may be left behind. The Spirit flies to God.


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Generally speaking, in Germany, if you want to get yourself arrested, you have to be fairly determined or terminally stupid. Where possible, the police prefer the non-confrontational approach; so how, you might well ask, can you get yourself arrested for not getting up from your seat? By being really, incredibly dumb, that's how.
The story begins on one of Germany's high-speed trains, an ICE (Intercity Express for the uninitiated). A passenger, who has just boarded the train, has finally found his reserved seat and is slightly dismayed to find a young man already sitting there. I personally hate it when that happens, because it means I have to speak to a stranger, which, for an Englishman, is up there with "being waterboarded" on the list of things I would rather not have to do. But since our unfortunate passenger is German, he doesn't hesitate to politely ask the young man to move.
He stays put.
Nobody likes to have to move, but there it is: if you didn't pay to reserve that seat, you're supposed to give it up to whoever did. That's sort of the point, really. So there began what our newspaper referred to as "a discussion".
And then the young man decided that the only way to be allowed to stay in his seat (which wasn't his seat) would be to commit a crime, so he operated the emergency brake. Yes, in Germany, it's a crime. The fines can be massive, not to mention the court costs; and if the sudden halt caused any injuries, you can be looking at a bill with a six-figure sum on it.
You have to wonder which planet this guy's brain was orbiting at the time. The guards came to discover that the "emergency" was a squabble over a seat reservation. Any other passengers whose sympathies may have been with the young man were unlikely, at this point, to be as well-disposed towards him. Unsurprisingly, the guards informed him that when the train arrived at the next stop (fifteen minutes late now, because... well, y'know, emergency brake and everything), the young man would have to leave the train.
For some reason, and don't try this at home, he thought to himself, "How can I possibly make this even worse for myself?" It was a stroke of genius (of a kind) what he came up with: not only did he still refuse to leave, meaning the police would have to be called to physically haul him off the train, but he casually explained that he had a knife and wasn't afraid to use it, meaning that the police, when they came, came in force.
I don't know the details of his arrest, but I can guarantee it was a spectacle of the sort you so rarely get in this country. Accusations of police brutality do surface from time to time, but what was this guy thinking? Did he think everyone would back down? Did he suppose he would be let off with a warning? Perhaps a free ticket and an apology for the inconvenience?
At any rate, the police — however many of them there were — manhandled him off the train using whatever technique they had of dealing with potentially armed idiots to prevent them from sticking their knife into anything, and of course found, perhaps predictably, that he didn't have any kind of weapon on him.
I think the only way anyone would be able to top this would be to board a plane, smile apologetically at the cabin crew and say, "I'm a bit nervous — this is my first suicide bombing mission."


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Brand New Steel Stainless Bar Set Tools Which Include Cocktail Shaker, Double Jigger, Handled Strainer, Lemon/Lime Slicing Knife, Stirrer, Tongs, Bottle Opener And Wood Holder. With This Set, You'll Be Able To Make A Truly Perfect Martini, Margarita Or Daiquiri. Don't Hesitate To Buy It Now!
Material: Stainless Steel and Wood
Package Size: 10 * 8 * 6 inches
Product weight: 2.4 lbs
Package Includes:
1 X Stainless Shaker (350ml)
1 X Double Jigger
1 X Lemon / Lime Slicing Knife
1 X Cocktail Strainer
1 X Bottle Opener
1 X Stirrer
1 X Tongs
1 X Wood Stand
Great For Home Bars And Parties – With these essential tools, you'll be shaking, straining & serving like a bartender.
8 Pieces Stainless-Steel Bar Set – Includes shaker, double jigger, strainer, bottle opener, lemon / lime slicing knife, tong, stirrer and wood stand.
Durable Stainless Steel Material – Every piece is made from stainless steel for strength, durability & easy care.
With Wood Holder For Storage – Just keep everything tucked away in the rack until it's time to make cocktails.
EASY to clean polished mirror look stainless steel martini mixer bar tool kit set.