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Features | Written by Andrew Pollard 31/05/2016
Neil Marshall | DARK SIGNAL
Neil Marshall is one of the most well-known names in modern British horror. Having burst onto the scene with Dog Soldiers, the Newcastle-born director followed that success up with The Descent, a movie that made huge waves across the globe, and fantastic efforts like Doomsday and Centurion. With recent years having included directing gigs on genre favourite TV shows Constantine, Hannibal and Game of Thrones, Marshall has now served as executive producer on Dark Signal, the Welsh-set tense horror from Ed Evers-Swindell. With a killer at large and a mysterious spirit appearing, the film takes place in stunning North Wales and features a fantastic cast that includes the likes of Siwan Morris, Gareth David-Lloyd, Joanna Ignaczewska, James Cosmo, and Fulci favourite Cinzia Monreale. We caught up with Marshall to discuss the chilling Dark Signal, whether he felt any pressure coming off Dog Soldiers and The Descent, how it's now so much harder to stand out in the horror genre, what went wrong with the now-canned Constantine, and much, much more.
STARBURST: You served as executive producer on Dark Signal, which is a job title that can sometimes be extremely hands-on or can sometimes be a little vague. How hands-on were you with the film?
Neil Marshall: Well I'd known Ed for nearly twenty years now and had been pushing him and mentoring him as best I possibly could in trying to help him get his first feature made. So in that sense, I guess I was very hands-on in pushing him and giving him a good kick every once in a while and just helping him be as stubborn as you need to be to get it done. Also, I introduced him to Jonas , the producer, who I met at a BAFTA event. He said he was looking for a project, and I knew Ed had a project, and it was just a case of putting them together. Amazingly, more often than not when you do that it doesn't stick, but they connected immediately. Ed's project was something Jonas wanted to do and it all kind of clicked from there. So I was very involved with that process. When it came to making the film, as luck and timing would have it, I was shooting something so I didn't get directly involved at all with the shooting. But even if I had been free, I wouldn't have. As a director myself, I know what it's like to have people coming in and kind of getting in your face and telling you what to do when you're trying to do this kind of stuff. I wanted to afford Ed the respect I get from my producers and give him space to do it. I know he knows what he's doing, and he sees movies in the way I seem them, which is kind of why we're mates. We're into the same shit. There's no textbook on how to do this, no right or wrong on how to do these things; you have to go on your gut instincts, and I can't tell him what his gut instincts are. If I was to tell him what my gut instincts are, it'd probably be wrong. I wanted to support him as a mate and as a producer in doing his job. After that, I looked at it and had a watch of the first cut and gave some notes on that, but that's something that's a bit more tangible as you can see it and express what it is; it's out of Ed's head. From that point on, I just helped steer it to where it is now.
You've worked with Ed as far back as The Descent in 2005. Did you always see him directing his own stuff?
I knew he always wanted to. We both started out making our own little movies. Mine was Super 8 films but he was on video or whatever because he's a bit younger than me; he was the next generation. So he always wanted to direct, and I knew he was a great editor as he'd been working as an editor for a while; he's got fantastic skills in that department. But I could see it in his work. He had directed a very, very low-budget film that he and his friends had done over a number of years, but what I could see from that was that he was great at doing action stuff, great at editing, and clearly had the skills to do it. It was clear that was what he wanted to do, so it was a case of whatever I could do to help that happen.
Dark Signal itself is a very unique movie in terms of the plot and also because of the fantastic setting, with the film being entirely set in North Wales. Was it always the plan to shoot the film on the North Wales coast?
I think Ed always wanted to film in that part of the world. He lives in North Wales, it's with a bunch of people from North Wales, so it made sense to shoot it in North Wales. And North Wales offered up some fantastic scenery, which is instant production value. It looks beautiful so why go somewhere else to shoot it. The idea had been germinating for years. I know it grew from this idea of somebody stuck in a car, being haunted by a ghost. There was a hill up to his house that we were driving on one day, then he pulled over by the road and talked about what if there was a ghost out here in the moors at night, and I thought it was brilliant and unique for a ghost story. I told him to go ahead and write it, and he did! Then it grew from there.
Siwan Morris in Dark Signal
The cast that was put together was fantastic, but the chemistry between Siwan Morris and Gareth David-Lloyd is a particular highlight of the film. From what you heard, was that something that came naturally or did Ed have to work on that with them?
Well I wasn't on set to get any direct experience of that. I know Ed worked hard casting Siwan and Gareth and then working with them when he was directing. I definitely got a sense that he helped create that chemistry. It was important to get that natural chemistry between them, but it pays off handsomely as it's a great relationship. I love the whole radio station setting. I think it's definitely a little wink to The Fog, and why not!
You mentioned The Fog there, and there's also Fulci favourite Cinzia Monreale in the film, but would you say that there are a lot of influences from elsewhere on Dark Signal or was it more a case of Ed just trying to make his own vision?
I think a lot of it is very much Ed's vision and using the very Welsh influence in it. It's very unique as you don't actually see many Welsh-based horror films or Welsh-based movies. He's certainly a Fulci fan as well, and he's been a Fulci fan for years, so he was so happy to cast somebody from the Fulci movies. That was a huge deal for him and to get a bit of horror heritage in there as well. Then there's James Cosmo, who's a brilliant actor and perfectly cast in this role; he's so threatening the moment he walks on screen. It was getting some faces in there that people know; that always helps with this sort of thing. But I'm glad Ed went for the Welsh flavour with this. It makes it unique and makes it stand out from the crowd. It's not an obscure Welsh language film, though. It's very much just a flavour, and that makes it very much Ed's film.
And with yourself, when you were first making your steps into filmmaking, what were the films that made you want to become a filmmaker?
It's something else that Ed and I share a passion for, but the movie that made me want to make movies was Raiders of the Lost Ark. You might ask how that led to me making horror movies, but Raiders of the Lost Ark has guys melting and people getting stuck on spikes, people getting into propellers. I'd say that my influences are very much there, but then I was also influenced by Halloween, Escape from New York, The Fog, American Werewolf in London, those sort of horror movies. And horror was very much a way-in. It was easier to do a low-budget horror movie that do an adventure movie. Let's face it, I think for our generation and beyond, John Carpenter is a living God and a massive inspiration to so many of us out there. That played a massive part in how I got into the industry, and it's rubbing off on generations still.
When you were putting 2002's Dog Soldiers together, how easy did you find it to get that picture made? Was that a tricky process or was it maybe easier than you were expecting?
Well it took me six years from writing the script to actually getting it made, so it was a long process. It went through stages of almost getting made and collapsing twice before it actually got made. But I was younger then and just really stubborn. I don't know if it ever occurred to me that it wouldn't get made, but it was an uphill battle because horror films, at that particular time, weren't fashionable. Especially in the UK, no one was making horror films. Then suddenly myself, Danny Boyle and Michael Bassett made horror films at the same time. Then it suddenly grew. At the time, there wasn't a cheap way to make these things. We still relied on professional editing or professional cameras. Danny broke the mould with 28 Days Later, but it was part of the aesthetic of the film. At that stage digital just hadn't come on that far so you required a certain budget. You couldn't make films for the cost that you can make them now. It was too expensive. Then you look back now and you think the budget for Dog Soldiers was $2 million. Now, that would be a really big budget to do a low-budget horror movie with. Then, that was the bottom line; you couldn't get much cheaper than that unless you asked people to work for free, which we didn't want to do. All of that took time. Then the attitude we were getting from the British establishment was "We don't do horror movies. That's not our cup of tea." So we ended up getting our finance from America and Luxembourg.
Neil on the set of The Descent
Of course, you followed up Dog Soldiers with The Descent before then doing Doomsday and Centurion. Given how much of a splash you made with those first two films, how did you find the pressure put on you coming off The Descent?
I think the best part of it being at the beginning of my career was that I didn't really feel the pressure. I just went with it. I had these ideas and I went with them. I made Dog Soldiers partly because I always wanted to see a feature movie where soldiers were werewolves. Nobody else was going to make one so I made one. Then I always wanted to see a horror film set in a cave. Nobody else was making one so I made it. The same with Doomsday. It was stuff that I wanted to see in movies and nobody else was making them. It's kind of selfish in a way. I make movies that I want to watch. I think that's a very, for me anyway, kind of an unjaded way of looking at things. In a way, I wish I still had that. Now I'm constantly thinking of the art of filmmaking and the practical aspects of filmmaking. All that's just what I have to deal with. You just want to make the film you love but there's so much pressure in getting the money involved and getting it released. The industry's changing and there's way more competition out there because so many films are being made now. You have to kind of break out. I think that's why the Welsh angle helps with this as it makes it stand out from the crowd, because the crowd is way bigger than when I started out in terms of horror movies out there.
One thing we couldn't not talk about is Constantine. You directed a couple of episodes of that but the show ultimately got cancelled after just one season. How gutted were you to see that get axed?
Oh yeah, I was really gutted. I think the show was kind of hamstrung from the start. Constantine is a cable character; he should not be on a network show because you have to alter the character to fit the network profile. And that just kind of pulls it apart. So we were left with a fairly shallow version of what Constantine could've been, because the reality is Constantine's supposed to be this total bastard; he smokes, he drinks, and he's horrible to people, and he's awesome because of that. We had to take away the smoking and the drinking and the horrible part, so what does that leave? I think that we made the best show possible under the limitations. I think that Matt Ryan, another Welshman, is the best guy to play the part and did an amazing job. He is John Constantine now. It would be so good if he could carry on the character. I know he has – he made a cameo in Arrow – but it would be great to see more of that. I just think it's a shame when the kind of build that there was for this show, to transform this character was such a waste.
Even in the build-up to the show it was announced that Constantine wouldn't be smoking, which put some fans immediately on guard…
We did everything in our power to kind of crowbar the smoking in there. I think by the end of it we did actually have him smoking, but I got the feeling that if the show had run for a couple of years then it would've evolved into something darker and richer and we could've taken it in a different direction.
What's up next for you then?
I'm still working on several movie projects and will hopefully get them off the ground. Mostly I've been doing TV recently, and I directed an episode of Westworld last year. I'm really excited to see the finished product with that. I did a pilot for NBC and that got picked up, a thing called Timeless, which is sort of a great time-travel adventure sure, kind of Back to the Future meets Mission: Impossible. That literally got picked up a couple of weeks ago. Then I'm just about to embark on a future project for Netflix, but I can't really say anything about that yet. It's a science-fiction thing, though.
The Dark Signal is available on DVD now.SHARE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW OR ON TWITTER @STARBURST_MAG
Find your local STARBURST stockist HERE, or buy direct from us HERE. For our digital edition (available to read on your iOS, Android, Amazon, Windows 8, Samsung and/or Huawei device - all for just £1.99), visit MAGZTER DIGITAL NEWSSTAND.


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...too late. It already happened.
This one is from Crown Royal's Facebook feed. It camed with the caption, "Anyone else cry into their glass of Crown when they heard lock out news? This pretty much sums up how we feel."
Although if you blinked, you would have missed it. It was almost immediately taken down from the public feed. It lives on, however, in their photo albums.
Why is it a problem? This is Canada. Hockey counts many, many women among its fans here. And they're just as hardcore as the men.
In fact, when the CBC launched a "woman-friendly" sports streaming site called "While the Men Watch, " and angry fan noted, in an editorial in Maclean's magazine:
Jaclyn Garfinkle, a 23-year-old sports fanatic and an associate producer at TSN's Off the Record, thinks While the Men Watch is grossly "miscalculated" in its assumption that women don't know about sports. "I think it's somewhat ridiculous," she says. "I think females in Canada are really underestimated in terms of how much they watch hockey."Women play hockey here, too. And they're good at it.
The whisky brand may be trying to appeal to a male audience, but it's too bad they have to do it with such outdated ideas about men and women. Appealing to some guys' anti-arts sentiments at the cost of angering female sports fans just doesn't seem worth it.

subset: commoncrawl


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Girls short haircuts
Let's start with short hairstyles for girls. These are perhaps the top choices of hairstyles 2013 for girls who want to look simple and fresh. Short hairstyle is considered so easy to care and style making it perfect for daily activities. It looks great on girls with oval, long or round faces, even the heart-shaped faces. It can be inverted bob, graduated bob or classic bob. To go more dramatic, get short pixie like what Emma Watson had once. Combining the short hairstyle with layers is another excellent idea. It will make thick hair looking a bit thinner. Meanwhile, it will also put more accents to the hair. In other words, it will be great enough to remove boring look. Bangs or fringe also makes the overall hairstyle looks catchier.
Medium to Long Girls Hairstyles
To be looking more feminine, medium and long hairstyles are perfect for girls. These kinds of hairstyle also help girls to be looking more mature. Try to adopt Miley Cyrus's hairstyle for rich wavy long hairstyle. This haircut is nice for straight to wavy hair texture, either it is thin or thick. Don't forget to cut some layers to make the hair more accentuated. If you want to go more modest, get long bob hairstyle and combine it with layers and fringe that is around the eyebrow.


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An estimated 800,000 Americans seek medical attention each year after being bitten by a pet. Children are bitten most often, and their injuries can be devastating — even life-threatening. We have assembled some resources below that we hope will be of help to you:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Preventing Dog Bites
American Academy of Pediatrics: What You Should Know About Dog Bite Prevention
The Humane Society of the United States: Dog Aggression


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OISE Review 2015-2016
The University of Toronto commissions external reviews of faculties as part of its regular cycle of quality assurance. As part of this regular cycle, the Provost has commissioned a review of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education during the 2015-2016 academic year. This webpage will be used to share updates and documentation on the review with the OISE community.
Background Documents
- New: One-Year Follow-up Report to the External Review of OISE
- Administrative Response to the External Review of OISE: October 3, 2016
- Dean's memorandum to the community on the key findings, recommendations & next steps: June 10, 2016
- OISE External Review 2015-2016: Summary of Key Findings & Recommendations
- OISE External Review 2015-2016 FINAL Self-Study
- OISE External Review 2015-2016: DRAFT Self-Study
- Provostial announcement incl. members of the external review committee & site visit dates: October 9, 2015
- Webcast of the 2nd community consultation meeting held on October 27, 2015
- Webcast of the 1st community consultation meeting held on September 24, 2015
- Dean's memorandum to the community on the community consultations regarding the OISE Review: September 16, 2015
- Dean's memorandum to the community on the OISE Review: July 23, 2015
- Provost's letter to the Dean commissioning the OISE Review: July 6, 2015
- Terms of Reference
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Camouflage can refer to:
- Active camouflage - A Covenant cloaking device in the Halo series.
- Cloaking - A Halo 3 equipment usable only in campaign mode.
- Camouflage (UNSC) - The UNSC concealing coloration used to blend into surroundings.
- Camouflage cloak - Used on the SPI Armor of the SPARTAN-IIIs.
- Type-3 Refraction Dissonance Modifier/Camouflage - An Armor Ability in Halo: Reach and Halo 4.
- This is a disambiguation page - a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. If an article link referred you here, you might want to go back and fix it to point directly to the intended page.
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.


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Healthcare's perverse financial incentives
A hospital puts profits over patient safety
First do no harm.
That's part of every medical school graduate's oath. It should be the motto of anyone working in healthcare.
But I just read a disheartening piece of investigative journalism in my local newspaper, the Seattle Times, about a hospital where I trained, worked, and received care. The story highlights how the perverse financial incentives in healthcare (do more, get paid more) undermine patient care and safety.
…the aggressive pursuit of more patients, more surgeries and more dollars has undermined Providence's values — rooted in the nonprofit's founding as a humble home where nuns served the poor — and placed patient care in jeopardy, a Seattle Times investigation has found.
Specifically, the report focused on the neurosurgery department, which includes procedures for back pain, stroke and aneurysm.
The hospital recruited the "best" neurosurgeons from around the country. They were encouraged to do more complicated and invasive procedures.
The doctors in the neuroscience unit are incentivized to pursue a high-volume approach with contracts that compensate them for large patient numbers and complicated surgical techniques.
As a result,
Patients have undergone surgeries that are more invasive than available alternatives, [and the hospital] was flagged for having high rates of blood clots, collapsed lungs and serious surgical complications.
What's the incentive? Money, of course. In 2015, five surgeons were able to bill $67 million in medical charges. In one year. That's mind boggling to me.
Related post: Perverse incentives – Where's the outrage?
Surgeons "operate" on several patients at once
How is that even possible? Because the surgeons are doing more than one procedure at a time.
…current and former staffers said those doctors will sometimes do little in the operating room once the patient is under anesthesia. Instead, the surgeons will leave less-experienced doctors receiving specialized training to handle parts of a surgery. That allows the primary surgeons to be in another operating room — a practice known as "concurrent surgery" — to maintain high volumes.
It's not uncommon for experienced surgeons to oversee trainee surgeons who do the actual procedure. What makes this more egregious, I think, is that the underlying motive seems to be about volume and profit rather than training a new generation of neurosurgeons.
Other staff and doctors brought their concerns to hospital management, but they fell on deaf ears.
The complaints include explicit warnings about inadequate patient care, inappropriate surgeries, poor documentation, a lack of accountability for postoperative complications and dubious decisions that resulted in patient harm and death.
Those objections have been largely suppressed by a leadership team that has been accused of disregarding clear problems, according to the records and interviews.
(There has been some fallout from the Seattle Times story. As I was writing this post, it was announced that the hospital CEO had resigned in the wake of this investigation.)
Patient, protect thyself
The saddest part of the article was an interview with a patient. An ex-Marine, he underwent a spinal fusion. His surgeon assured him that he could perform the surgery "with his eyes closed."
That's great, but that doctor wasn't the one performing the surgery (although the patient didn't know that).
The trainee surgeon made a mistake that left the patient unable to swallow for months. He had to be fed through a stomach tube.
What's a patient to do?
It's difficult to protect yourself entirely, and sometimes bad things happen even when the surgeon and staff have the best skills and intentions (read that consent form carefully!)
As a former surgical nurse, I know that surgeons like to perform surgery. It's what they are trained to do, and it's how they make a living.
Before undergoing surgery, especially a complicated surgery, get a second opinion from a surgeon who will not benefit financially from your decision. He or she will be more likely to discuss the downside of surgery and your non-surgical options.
I've written several posts on patient safety and protecting yourself during a hospitalization, as well as choosing a doctor and hospital. Nothing is perfect, but being forewarned about possible conflicts of interest can help.
- Hospital safety tips
- Preventing hospital readmissions
- Hospitals can be dangerous to your health
- Consumer Reports hospital ratings
- How to choose a hospital
- Be informed – Shared decision-making
- The Open Payments database
- Need a new doctor?
I've also listed a few helpful books and guides at the bottom of the post.
I wish I could say this article surprised me, but it didn't. Our behemoth healthcare industry, in general, pushes profits at the expense of patients and patient safety.
But I know there are doctors and nurses and others who are upset at the status quo and want to bring back patient-centered care, increase patient safety, and decrease ever-rising healthcare costs.
That gives me hope 🙂
Frugal Nurse
More information patient and hospital safety:


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After being closed for nearly two years, Momma Brown's BBQ has reopened as Mamma Browns' BBQ in the former KFC building at the corner of Highway 17 and Highway 41. This is great news to the loyal fans who ate at the old location for years. This time, however, it's not buffet style, but it's still a bang for your buck. A pulled pork platter with two sides will run you $7.50. They've got the original vinegar/pepper barbecue pork, mustard barbecue pork, chicken and sausage pilau, ribs, and more. Classic sides include mac and cheese, coleslaw, collard greens, and even some seasonal fare like butter beans. We missed Momma and we're glad she's back. —Eric Doksa, Dish (Summer 2012)
Hours: L, D(Mon-Sat)


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3 Great Lead Generation Case Studies
For many businesses, the key in profitability lies in lead generation. Strategies like branding do very little in helping them reach their goals. Leads are what can be quantified into sales numbers and revenue. Acquiring leads is very straightforward for the most businesses. You market through a medium to qualify prospects and move them through the selling process. However, leads can be generated in many unique ways that can result in higher volume and cost effective prices. Here are 3 case studies that you can learn from: Case Study #1: How RoboForm Got High Quality Leads Through Surveys The company Siber Systems wanted to generate leads for their product RoboForm, but didn't know if something other than white papers would produce the quality of leads they were looking for. They set up a survey asking questions related to account/password management but not directly about RoboForm. After collecting the survey results, they delivered the information back to the people that completed or was interested in the survey. This added value to people that had an interest in account/password management. The only marketing that was done was making RoboForm a sponsor for the survey. What was the result? Siber Systems managed to get leads that were as valuable as leads that came in through white papers. Reference: http://www.emedia.com/resources/emedia-case-studies/ Case Study #2: BreakingPoint Generates Leads Despite The Lack of Marketing Funds BreakingPoint is a company that provides online cyber security solutions. The challenge the company had was that they were limited in their marketing budget and were targeting security professionals that didn't respond well to hard marketing. To get past both of these challenges, BreakingPoint started a blog and built a social media presence by taking part in relevant conversations. As the company built a following they regularly shared valuable content through their blogs and social media accounts. Their focus was on helping professionals address security problems rather than marketing their product as the solution. This built a relationship with their prospects and eventually, the strategy became so effective that their online lead sources attributed 55 percent their total leads. Case Study #3: Medici Clinics Looks to Target Online Leads Medici Clinics was an established and successful cosmetic medical service group but lacked a strong online presence. To improve their online results, they decided to use both paid search as well as SEO to generate traffic. To cut down on lead costs, they focused on analyzing their traffic and optimizing all of their ads to reduce leads costs. In order to increase the quality of the leads coming in, Medici Clinics got initial leads to sign up for teleseminars. These teleseminars would deliver high quality content while educating them. All of the strategies resulted in high rankings for major search terms, higher quality leads, and more than double their initial sales lead volume over the course of year. This case study and BreakPoint's case study shows that businesses should not focus solely on increasing sales lead volumes. It's also important to cultivate the initial leads and take a multi-pronged approach to lead generation. Hopefully, these case studies have opened your eyes to what is possible even if you do not have a big budget to work with. Sometimes it's a matter of experimenting and testing to find out which strategies are effective in generating leads. This post was guest blogged by Sarah Gotheridge. Sarah represents a site called http://www.monetise.co.uk. She has been writing about internet marketing for the last 3 years now.
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Welcome back to Cosplay Spotlight! This weekend was the well-loved MCM Comic Con and the Final Fantasy Union team were there in full-force on the Saturday. It was busy as always but that meant there were more wonderful cosplayers to see and boy, did we see them!
The SE Cosplay meet had a wonderful turn-out, and we had the chance to interview and feature further some of the wonderful cosplayers there. If I could've interviewed everyone, I would have – but then this article would have become about 10 pages long!
I hope you enjoy a look at the three wonderful cosplayers I've picked out, I think they're rather special.
Lulu/Yuna Cosplay: Final Fantasy X
When I saw the adorable Lulu and Yuna duo, comprising of Samantha and her daughter Sophie, I just knew I had to feature them!
Samantha has been playing Final Fantasy ever since Final Fantasy VII came out back in 1997 and her daughter was introduced to the series with X (a wonderful choice). I asked them what inspired them to cosplay characters from Final Fantasy X and they told me it was due to how beautiful and romantic the game and characters were.
This is Sophie's third time cosplaying as Yuna, but Samantha's first time for Lulu! Both costumes were handmade and hand painted, taking well over 100 hours for Lulu's costume especially. It's safe to say that the effort definitely paid off, both ladies looking absolutely incredible and it was great to see a mother daughter combination!
Moogle Queen Lightning Cosplay: Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
As many people know, I am a HUGE Lightning fan. So, when I saw this wonderful Moogle Queen Lightning cosplay, made and worn by the fabulous We Are Lightning Cosplay, I knew I had to feature them!
We Are Lightning Cosplay has wanted to cosplay Lightning for a while, but when Lightning Returns released, they were spoilt for choice on which outfit to wear! They asked a friend for advice, and their friend dared them to cosplay the Moogle Queen herself – and who's one to back down from a dare? Not We Are Lightning Cosplay!
Everything about the costume was handmade, including each of the adorable Moogles. The costume itself took about a year to make, and the time was definitely worth it – even the clock staff is fully functional! I think we're all in agreement that the costume looks absolutely fantastic, it could've been handpicked out of the game itself – the detailing and hard work poured into it shows with how brilliant it looks.
(No Moogles were harmed during the making of this costume).
Aerith Miqo'te Cosplay: Final Fantasy VII/XIV Cross-over
As an avid Final Fantasy XIV player, I was in awe of this wonderful twist on the generic Miqo'te! They're my favourite race from the game (sorry Lalafel's...), so I knew I had to feature this one.
Becky, also known as Aerith Harajuku, has cosplayed the Final Fantasy VII heroine since 2011 but decided on the original idea of combining it with something else after playing Final Fantasy XIV. Who could resist the adorable aura of the Miqo'te? It's safe to say that if Aerith decided to take a trip to Eorzea, this is how she would look!
The costume was handmade and took 3 months to create. I love the detailing on the costume and the flowers make a wonderful addition – very Aerith, indeed! Needless to say, it's apparent how much hard work was put into the costume and it looks absolutely wonderful! I love seeing different twists on Final Fantasy characters, and this one definitely stood out!
Fran Cosplay: Final Fantasy XII
Last, but definitely not least, is the beautiful viera Fran from Final Fantasy XII cosplayed by Lady Bee!
The sheer amount of detail in the costume is incredible, the hard-work definitely paying off and looking fantastic! Final Fantasy XII is an underrated, but brilliant game in the series and it's wonderful to see so many passionate fans cosplaying as the characters.
Seeing Lady Bee at first, it was almost as if Fran herself had decided to take a break from her duties to explore the venue, looking for her partner in crime.
Until next time, Final Fantasy Union readers!


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A small business quote a day keeps you thinking, inspired and entertained
"What is the answer to the question? The problem. How is the problem resolved? By displacing the question… We tmust think problematically rather than question and answer dialectically."
Michel Foucault (1926-84) French philosopher, 'Theatrum Philosophicum', Language, Counter-Memory, Practice (1977)
To find previous Quotes of the Day look here


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Queen's Brian May is still astounded at how the success of the band's Bohemian Rhapsody biopic has planted the band at the top of the rock world nearly 50 years after forming. 2019 saw Queen's profile skyrocket with the Oscar-winning feature grossing over $900 million globally, marking the film the most successful musical biopic in history.
Brian May spoke with Planet Rock magazine and talked candidly about Queen's incredible resurgence, admitting, "I mean, it's not like we've been away, we've been away. We've always been out there working, but the film has been a bridge to a new generation without a doubt. . . maybe to two new generations. Suddenly people not only know the tunes, but they understand us as well. The audiences are young again, and noisy again, and they want to sing along."
May, who continues to lead the band with drummer Roger Taylor, went on to say, "America has always been great for us, but in the old days they'd scream and shout, but they would not sing along, or they wouldn't do the handclap thing in participation has always been part of Queen, and now suddenly that's been kind of energy."
May was asked about seeing the complete cut of Bohemian Rhapsody for the first time: "I burst into tears. We all did. It was quite overwhelming, emotionally devastating, even traumatic, at times. The film has been so long in the making, and then we're watching these young actors tell our story, and our families are captivated and they know how much this means to us. . . It was a remarkable feeling actually, very powerful."
When asked about a Bohemian Rhapsody sequel, Roger Taylor laughed and explained, "I've gotta say, from my point of view, that is not on the cards. We've done it once and we've done it well, and I don't really see where it would go to be of global interest. So, no, not for me. A sequel would smack of opportunism. I'm very proud of my band, it's been the biggest thing in my life, and in Brian's too, and we've realized that this is what we are and this is what we do. We're really enjoying it. It's quite good being in Queen right now."
Brian May and Roger Taylor shed light on the dedication they found from the top down from the cast and crew of Bohemian Rhapsody: "(Brian May): All the way down the cast and the whole production team, you feel this passion. They all felt it was something exceptional and we felt like that (Roger Taylor): Yeah. (Brian May): . . . visiting the set. It was an amazing feeling of loyalty and passion to this whole teamwork. (Roger Taylor): They got very close to us, I mean, visually, which made it particularly uncanny to watch. . . (Brian May): Mmm. (Roger Taylor): . . . for us, and after a couple of viewings, I mean, you start to (laughs) completely believe, 'Ah, that was us!' No, it's not, no. (Brian May): You do. (Roger Taylor): . . . it's other people. But (laughs) phenomenal (laughs)."
Queen + Adam Lambert kick off its 2020 dates on January 25th in Saitama, Japan.
Brian May And Roger Taylor On Cast Of 'Bohemian Rhapsody' :


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Mazda is indeed planning a 25 Anniversary celebration at the show. But no one knows if the new model will be there or not.
Some say they will only show the new chassis. (Who cares)
It would be really nice to see the all new model. As it has been referred to as "best design ever" by some Mazda people.
So expectations are really high.
But I had also heard previously that the car wouldn't be shown before next year.
They did have a deal with Fiat to share the platform with an all new Alfa Romeo model.
Since it seems that might not be happening anymore, it could be that Mazda just decided to show the car early.
Who knows.
This illustration above is OK. But not really the "best design ever" I am now waiting for...


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I was reading around on some antivirus stuff when I saw (on this main page) of a product called Resolution Antivirus. I read up on it and I'm liking the concept of the way they're dealing with virii that's unleashed into the wilds or simply shared through p2p.
The link of the main program is here and it goes into depth about various things, main things mentioned below.
Interesting approach as one might wonder "how's it going to do it by itself?". Good question and here's what I think the answer is:This system can be installed, managed, and monitored through secure Hands-off-technology via the internet.
Mentioned after the above is the usual list of headaches associated with virus protection software. Updating, out of sync servers, end user manipulation, etc... These are all pretty real issues considering that viruses get spread throughout enterprises and businesses worldwide a lot more than just regular end users.In partnership with the Secure Resolution, one of the worlds security software leaders, Secure Resolutions Hands-Off-Technology combines ease of use in a single point of management with constantly updated virus signatures.
My question is, as good as this program sounds and whatnot, do you guys think it's the right way to go? Meaning, hands-off entirely except for those savvy enough or in the IT field? I'm leaning more and more to the realization that hands-off no-maintenance-needed programs like this might be a good thing because most don't update anything, ever...


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Splish Splash through puddles and don't smell like a wet dog with this fun Polka Dot & Daisies Dog Raincoat by Klippo.
Why We Love It:
This is a cheery dog rain jacket that will make rainy days brighter and your pup stay drier! This adorable rubber ducky yellow hooded raincoat features daisies embroidered on the back, and soft cotton lining accented with white polka dots. There is a touch fastener strip around each sleeve to prevent rain from splashing into the sleeves.
For ease of walking, there is an attached large D-ring on the back for easy leash attachment. This dog raincoat is easy to put on with touch fastener closure at the chest and a drawstring hood keeps your pup's head dry.
A small D-Ring is attached at the jacket front to add on a "Klippo" charm or ID tag! (Each jacket comes with its own Klippo logo charm.)
The cute polka-dot lining is a nice breathable cotton and provides a comfortable layer of warmth against your pup's body.
Don't let the gloomy weather keep you and your pup inside. This bright yellow dog rain slicker will have you both singing in the rain!
Garment Care and Info:
Vinyl shell. 100% cotton knit lining. Machine wash cold with like colors on a gentle cycle. No bleach. Hand dry. Do not iron. Do not dry clean.
Important Sizing Note: The following measurements are the dimensions of the actual product, not of the pet they fit. After measuring your pet, make sure all measurements fit within the following dimensions (with a little room to spare in the chest and neck).X-Small
Ruby is a playful and cheeky fur ball. She loves to dress to impress.By Kristyn on Apr 14, 2017
Everyone wants to meet Pixie when she's wearing her Polka Dots & Daisies raincoat.By Judy on Dec 14, 2016
We are finally getting rain in NV. Pixie is prepared in her adorable Polka Dot & Daisies raincoat by Klippo.By Judy on Dec 14, 2016
Zoey does most of her shopping at Baxter Boo. I have been looking for a nice raincoat since early spring. I finally found one on this site. The quality is great. Very soft inside and the outer rubber is also soft making it easy for her to run and walk. Love this little raincoat.By Michele on Nov 8, 2016
Bailey can't wait to wear for a rainy day so she can wear this coat.By Onesa on Jul 13, 2016
Posh absolutely loves going outside! So, she really needed this raincoat..and it fits her perfectly!By Jude on Mar 3, 2015
Briley is all ready for April Showers in her new raincoat!By Gail on Mar 18, 2014
in Montana we usually get lots and lots of snow! But this year we have receiving rain. GG loves to go out "Singing in the Rain"By Francine on Dec 7, 2013
Ivy ready to head out into the rain in her new Polka Dot and Daisies raincoat! We just needed to still put on her matching yellow Guardian Gear boots and she was ready to head out into the wet spring weather!By Ann on May 2, 2013
Size upPosted On 03/13/20 by Daisy from Easton , PA Yes, Daisy recommends this product!
Thanks for the info I normally go with size medium this time a large was perfect, Size up.
PerfectPosted On 10/21/19 by CLINTON from CLINTON, TN Yes, CLINTON recommends this product!
These raincoats run very small by "KLIPPO" and I had to order an XL and although it fits, it is a little snug and should really fit loose. I also like that it has velcro closing in 3 areas on the underside. Baxter Boo does not offer an XXL or I would have gotten that size. Other than that, it is adorable and I love it. Maddie loves it too. Thank You
Absolutely Adorable!Posted On 08/27/18 by Clinton from Clinton, TN Yes, Clinton recommends this product!
Very cute raincoat. Never in a million years did I ever think i'd buy my puppy a rain jacket but when I saw it, I couldn't resist. Love it.
April showersPosted On 09/27/17 by Belinda W from , Yes, Belinda W recommends this product!
This raincoat fits perfectly! Gracie is ready for the storms!
CutePosted On 09/09/17 by Amanda K from Houston, TX
It seems very small but is made really, really well and is so adorable. Returning it to get bigger size.
Rain coatPosted On 09/09/17 by Kris B from Lodi, WI Yes, Kris B recommends this product!
This is made well and adorable!
So cute!Posted On 08/28/17 by Marlene D from Las Vegas, NV Yes, Marlene D recommends this product!
Raincoat is so cute. I have to roll up the front legs because I have a shih-tzu. Other than that the coat fits fine. She doesn't like the hood but I just tie it under her chin and she's fine with that. I got her a large and it covers her back. She weights 13 pounds and is almost 17 inches long. Happy with purchase.
Cute and functionalPosted On 06/23/17 by Vicky H from Columbus, OH Yes, Vicky H recommends this product!
I like that this rain coat has legs in front, helps to keep the coat in place. It is fleece lined so dog doesn't get sticky underneath
RaincoatPosted On 06/23/17 by Nicole from , NC Yes, Nicole recommends this product!
Sooooo cute!
Yellow Polka Dot RaincoatPosted On 06/19/17 by Jennifer C from Queenstown, MD Yes, Jennifer C recommends this product!
Wow! Had to get a size bigger coz it's an outer wear. Bärra looks so cute in it and might also use this when it snows and sleets this winter.
Beautiful RaincoatPosted On 06/19/17 by Jennifer C from Queenstown, MD Yes, Jennifer C recommends this product!
This raincoat is great. My dog will certainly stay dry when it rains. Just need some rain boots to go with it!
Yorkie ownerPosted On 05/19/17 by Debra S from ZACHARY, LA Yes, Debra S recommends this product!
It's so cute. Runs a little small. I ordered a small for my 5lb.Yorkie and it is almost too small.
RainwearPosted On 05/15/17 by Anne B from , CA Yes, Anne B recommends this product!
Really cute and well made
Cute jacket!!Posted On 05/11/17 by Tresie C from Lake Zurich, IL Yes, Tresie C recommends this product!
Love this rain coat! The only problem is, it does not have a slit in the top of the coat for the leash to slip through. Makes it a little more difficult.
SizingPosted On 04/18/17 by Chris-Marie I from , Yes, Chris-Marie I recommends this product!
This a an adorable rain coat but the length is short . I wish the hood was removable or had a snap to pull it back. Tula had a hard time walking while wearing it. The hood kept covering her eyes. I had to keep rolling it throughout our walk
Cute but runs smallPosted On 01/29/17 by Sandi K from Aptos, CA Yes, Sandi K recommends this product!
This raincoat is adorable. I wish I could have kept it. I ordered it in the extra large since my 21 pound terrier is deep chested. The sizing listed said it should have fit but it was too small. I had to send it back. If you order this, I would suggest getting a size larger.
Doggie RainwearPosted On 01/23/17 by Linda B from Rome, GA Yes, Linda B recommends this product!
This little raincoat is as cute as it can be! Sadly, its delivery was delayed several days during which time we had 2 full days of rain! We haven't had a chance to "try it out" yet, but we're looking forward to doing so. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the hood actually has a drawstring; I had envisioned it flopping around while our furbaby pranced around in the rain. This is the 2nd Klippo item I have purchased for our Yorkie and other than having to order up one size, I love their products!!!
LOVE THIS COAT!Posted On 01/19/17 by Terri C from Bethlehem, PA Yes, Terri C recommends this product!
This is the 2nd Polka Dots & Daisies Raincoat I've purchased for my Yorkies. It's such an adorable coat and we're constantly getting compliments ... so I had to get another coat for my other Yorkie. The raincoat is so cute, easy to get on and off and gives them great coverage when it's raining. And did I mention it's adorable!!
AdorablePosted On 12/29/16 by RIta I from Chalfont , PA Yes, RIta I recommends this product!
I couldn't resist this great rain coat. Superior quality and fits well. Great for spring
cutest raincoatPosted On 12/16/16 by Gina E P from bklyn, NY Yes, Gina E P recommends this product!
purchased this for a xmas gift for my friend. the designer makes great products but they run very small, needless to say I had to return for bigger size.
RaincoatPosted On 12/05/16 by Cheryl M from , MN Yes, Cheryl M recommends this product!
Love this raincoat. Great quality and looks great on my dog.
RaincoatPosted On 11/25/16 by Patricia S from Wrightwood , Yes, Patricia S recommends this product!
Great fit & quality!
RaincoatPosted On 11/25/16 by Patricia S from , Yes, Patricia S recommends this product!
Great fit & quality!
AdorablePosted On 11/16/16 by Daenerys from Dayton, OH Yes, Daenerys recommends this product!
Adorable, and fits perfectly.
AdorablePosted On 11/10/16 by Nathalie G C from Timmins, Yes, Nathalie G C recommends this product!
This little rain coat is as adorable in person as online. True sizing as well.
Not your average puppy raincoat....Posted On 10/27/16 by Lynn W from Lincoln City, OR Yes, Lynn W recommends this product!
We like this for several reasons -- the snuggly t-shirt fabric lining is great because it keeps the pup a little warmer than just plastic or nylon with no lining ever could. And where we live, the rain is nearly always accompanied by chilly winds, so it's a double plus.
Our aussie-doodle, Cocoa has a nice water repellant coat, but the Lhasa (whose raincoat this is) absorbs rain like a little dishmop -- and takes forever to dry. With this cute yellow slicker, it's only nose and paws that drip. :D
Runs SmalllPosted On 10/14/16 by lynne s from East Moriches, NY Yes, lynne s recommends this product!
It looks cuter in the photo. I do like the feature of Velcro on sleeves to keep rain out.
Cutest Coat EverPosted On 07/13/16 by Onesa B from Brooklyn, NY Yes, Onesa B recommends this product!
This is a cute raincoat. I just wish it was a little bit longer for my pup - but the chest runs large - but she will grow into it. Highly recommend.
Beautiful RaincoatPosted On 02/14/16 by Diane from Prior Lake, MN Yes, Diane recommends this product!
It's hard to find a nice raincoat. This one is adorable and practical. It's waterproof, gives good coverage,and fits well. It's also great that the leash attaches to the back.
Perfect Fit!Posted On 01/15/16 by Latosha J from North Brunswick, NJ Yes, Latosha J recommends this product!
I have a 16 lb Cavalier who is long and lean. I took a chance and got the XL (for the length) and it fit very well. The coat is light weight yet has a warm cotton liner which is great for cold rainy days. The colors are vibrant and ensure that Cami is visible to drivers. The Velcro closures are strong and secure, and stay closed when she squats. If your dog is between sizes, I recommend purchasing the larger size.
Lillie & I love our new raincoat!!Posted On 01/14/16 by Myrna K from Boynton Beach, FL Yes, Myrna K recommends this product!
I've been looking for a raincoat for my dog and finally found the one at Baxter Boo. She & I love the polka dot & daisy design. This raincoat is easy to put on her and keeps her dry. It looks really cute too. I would definitely recommend this product.
5 StarsPosted On 12/27/15 by Margaret B from Bennettsville, SC Yes, Margaret B recommends this product!
Love this cute raincoat! I wish the hood was bigger, but everything else is great. Received item quickly.
rain coat - adorablePosted On 12/16/15 by Rebekah R from new york, NY Yes, Rebekah R recommends this product!
super cute - but too big. returned it for hopefully what will be the right size. Waiting to receive the next package!
Daisy RaincoatPosted On 12/11/15 by Barbara V from Lakewood Ranch, FL Yes, Barbara V recommends this product!
So adorable! My "Daisy" weighs 5 pounds and I got her the small -- it fits perfectly. I am very pleased with this purchase!
Polka Dots and Daisies Dog RaincoatPosted On 12/09/15 by Paula W from Copiague, NY Yes, Paula W recommends this product!
Really cute! Made very well. Good rain coverage!
Cutest Rain Jacket EverPosted On 11/06/15 by Kim D from Beverly Hills, CA Yes, Kim D recommends this product!
This is the cutest jacket--makes me want a girl LOL! I bought this as a gift--it is absolutely adorable. So glad I found/bought it!
Perfect!!!Posted On 10/30/15 by Linda C from Riverside, RI Yes, Linda C recommends this product!
I have a tiny dog. Most people I know don't take their small dogs out. Mine goes out in all weather. Bought several raincoats, never fit right. This one fits perfectly and is warm. Also very well made
Cute raincoatPosted On 04/08/15 by Elizabeth K from Girdwood, AK Yes, Elizabeth K recommends this product!
Well-made and cute raincoat...I ordered one that was too small so returned and got larger one. Love the quality!
Ridiculously cute!Posted On 02/05/15 by sj from , Yes, sj recommends this product!
This raincoat is well made, with quality details. It's also very cute!
Quality Cuteness!Posted On 12/14/14 by SuziCat from Knoxville, TN Yes, SuziCat recommends this product!
This is made as well as mommys! With a drawstring hood to fit around the face, velcro straps to tighten the sleeves and a nice cotton lining, this bright yellow plastic raincoat is just perfect! The little daisy design is embroidered, not stamped, so it looks really good. The fit is perfect and she looks ready for puddle jumping - I only wish I could find one of these for myself!
This raincoat is 2 cute!Posted On 12/01/14 by Debi B from Hammond, LA Yes, Debi B recommends this product!
This raincoat is absolutely adorable. I love the daisies on the back. Not only does my girl look beautiful in it but the lining in the inside keeps her dry.
Klippo Polka Dots & Daisies RaincoatPosted On 11/10/13 by Patrice M from Livonia, MI Yes, Patrice M recommends this product!
Have ordered this coat twice so far and have not had luck in fitting my dog. She is only 15 pounds so I ordered a Small. It was about big enough for a guinea pig. So I sent it back and ordered a Medium. Still too small in the chest. So I sent it back and I plan on ordering a Large. Hope third time is a charm because this raincoat really is cute. Constructed well with flannel lining to keep the chill off.
This was my second purchase, and like the first, I was very pleased with the quality of the merchandise, the ease of navigating the website and the speedy delivery. The discount and free shipping was very much appreciated!


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Latest News
Lote Tuqiri included in Classic Wallabies squad; Luke Burgess back
Lote Tuqiri won 67 caps for the Wallabies and will make his GFI HKFC 10s debut from April 4-5. Photo: Getty Images.
Hong Kong; March 22, 2018: Lote Tuqiri has been included alongside fellow winger Wendell 'Big Dell' Sailor in the Classic Wallabies squad for the 33rd GFI Hong Kong 10s from April 4-5 as the star-studded Australian side compete at Hong Kong Football Club for a second year.
Former Australia lock Justin Harrison and prop Bill Young – who both played alongside Sailor and Tuqiri in the 2003 World Cup final – will be head coach and manager respectively of a squad that includes over 200 Wallaby caps and over 900 Super Rugby appearances. Tim Horan was announced as head coach last month, but is unable to make the trip.
Sailor (37 caps), scrumhalf Luke Burgess (37 caps), Morgan Turinui (20 caps) and flanker Stephen Hoiles (16 caps) return from last year's squad along with Super Rugby stalwarts Patrick Phibbs and Sam Harris.
Adam Freier (25 caps) and the 6ft 6in Peter Kimlin (two caps), currently playing in Japan, were announced last month as new additions, while the iconic Tuqiri, who scored 30 tries in 67 appearances for Australia, and Matt Hodgson (11 caps) – who played his final Super Rugby season last year – will also be making their GFI HKFC 10s debut.
Arthur Little and former Brumbie Tyrone Smith are also among those over 30, while the squad has been bolstered by several current or recent Super Rugby and Australia Sevens representatives in their 20s including David McDuling, Alex Gibbon and Fred Dorrough.
Melbourne Rebels stars David Horwitz and Henry Hutchison also join the squad with the blessing of Rebels' Head Coach David Wessels, illustrating just how seriously the Classic Wallabies are taking the Hong Kong 10s.
"The balancing act for us is getting enough former Wallabies and enough up-and-comers to have the right mix, and we think we've managed to do just that with this squad," said Hoiles, who manages the Classic Wallabies for the ARU.
"Henry Hutchison was the 2016 World Rugby Sevens Rookie of the Year before moving to Super Rugby, while Matt Hodgson, David Horwitz and David McDuling were all Super Rugby regulars in 2017. All of the players returning from last year's 10s are in markedly better shape and raring to go, so we're looking forward to getting over to Hong Kong and ripping in."
The Classic Wallabies lost in the semi-finals of the third-tier Bowl last year and as eighth seeds this year, will face defending champions UBB Gavekal (first seeds), A-Trade Overseas Old Boys (12th) and Hunter + Boo East Africans (16th) in Pool A on the opening day.
On Tuesday, April 3, the team will be running a Mini Wallabies Camp at Discovery Bay Rugby Club in the morning and at the Australian International School in the afternoon.
GFI has title sponsored the event since 2006. Other sponsors and suppliers for 2018 include Natixis (Gold Sponsor), AIA, Allied World, BT, DHL, Q-Net and Taikoo Place (Silver Sponsors), CBRE, EY and Markel (Bronze Sponsors), Last Word Media, Volvo (Official Car), Grolsch (Official Beer) and Samurai Sportswear (Official Apparel).
The Official Charity is the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, created in support of former Scotland and Lions lock Doddie Weir who is suffering from Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
Inaugurated in 1986 to celebrate Hong Kong Football Club's centenary, the GFI HKFC 10s has long attracted the game's top players including seven All Blacks who won the 2015 Rugby World Cup – Conrad Smith, Jerome Kaino (both 2003), Ben Smith, Charlie Faumuina (both 2008), Beauden Barrett, Sam Cane (both 2010) and Nehe Milner-Skudder (2013).
Classic Wallabies players (ages) for 2018 GFI HKFC 10s
Luke Burgess (34) – 84 Super Rugby Caps, 37 Wallaby Caps
Fred Dorrough (22) – Uncapped
Adam Freier (38) – 102 Super Rugby Caps, 25 Wallaby Caps
Alex Gibbon (25) – 2 Super Rugby Caps, Australia Sevens
Sam Harris (38) – 26 Super Rugby Caps
Matt Hodgson (36) – 140 Super Rugby Caps, 11 Wallaby Caps, Australia Sevens
Stephen Hoiles (36) – 116 Super Rugby Caps, 16 Wallaby Caps, Australia Sevens
David Horwitz (23) – 27 Super Rugby Caps
Henry Hutchison (21) – Uncapped, Australia Sevens
Peter Kimlin (32) – 77 Super Rugby Caps, 2 Wallaby Caps
Arthur Little (36) – Uncapped, Australia Sevens
David McDuling (28) – 28 Super Rugby Caps
Patrick Phibbs (36) – 73 Super Rugby Caps, Australia Sevens
Wendell Sailor (43) – 55 Super Rugby Caps, 37 Wallaby Caps, Australia Sevens
Tyrone Smith (34) – 47 Super Rugby Caps
Lote Tuqiri (38) – 89 Super Rugby Caps, 67 Wallaby Caps, Australia Sevens
Morgan Turinui (36) – 70 Super Rugby Caps, 20 Wallaby Caps, Australia Sevens
GFI HKFC 10s 2018 (seeding in brackets)
Pool A: UBB Gavekal (1), Classic Wallabies (8), A-Trade Overseas Old Boys (12), Hunter + Boo East Africans (16)
Pool B: Turkish Airlines Penguins (2), Projecx Waterboys (7), Irish Vikings (11), Natixis HKFC (15)
Pool C: Tradition YCAC (3), King's College sponsored by Strategic Equity Alliance (6), CCIG Tigers (10), Devil's Own Shanghai Silver Dragons (14)
Pool D: Samurai International (4), Kir Club Pyrenees (5), Taikoo Place Scottish Exiles (9), Sedbergh School Old Boys (13)
Match schedule: www.hongkongtens.com/match.php< back


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The Never-Ending Convenience of Our Amenities
Hunters Creek Apartment Homes is known for its extensive amount of amenities, available in both our individual apartment homes and the apartment community at large. We believe that the convenience and the comfort of these amenities enhance the lives of our residents. Residents will enjoy designer color schemes, white European cabinetry, classic French doors to their patio or balcony, a wood-burning fireplace, and ceramic tile entryways all within a serene country setting. Venturing outside of your individual unit, you will have unlimited access to our internet café with Wi-Fi, refreshing pool with sun deck, elegant clubhouse, and fun-filled playground for the kids!
Apartment Amenities
Private Patio/Balcony
Storage Closet on Patio/Balcony
Classic French Doors to Patio/Balcony
Generous Closets
White European Cabinetry
Kitchen Pantries
Furnished Corporate Homes Available
Wood-Burning Fireplace
Full Size Washer and Dryer
High Speed Internet and Cable Ready
Energy Efficient Central Heat and Air
Ceiling Fans in all Bedrooms
Designer Color Schemes
Ceramic Tile Entries
Tranquil Country Setting
Note: Some features available only in select units
Community Amenities
Refreshing Pool w/ Sundeck
Lighted Alta Regulation Tennis Courts
State-Of-The-Art Fitness Center
Free Weights
Exclusive Internet Café with Wi-Fi
Relaxing TV Lounge
Grilling & Picnic Areas
Elegant Clubhouse
Fun-Filled Playground
Courtesy Officer
Flexible Lease Terms Available
Award-Winning Service
Online Rent Payment & Resident Services
Package Receiving
10X15 Storage Units
24-Hour Emergency Maintenance
Pet Friendly Community
Hunters Creek Apartment Homes is a pet-friendly apartment community and provides a wonderful place for not only you to live, but also a wonderful place for your pet to live. Pets are known to better your physical health and mental well-being. They also ensure a more active social life and lower stress at work. With all these benefits, we understand why you would want to have a lovable companion to greet you upon your return every evening. Hunters Creek Apartment Homes believes that pet-friendly apartments are an important part of life, which is why we have policies to accommodate pet ownership. Furry friends must be under 30 lbs., and aggressive breeds are not allowed. We require a $300.00 pet fee and $10.00 in pet rent per month. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call during our normal business hours to ask about our pet policies and our pet-friendly amenities.
Pet Policy
Pet Types: Cats & Dogs
Breed Restrictions Apply
Max Weight: 30
Maximum Pets Per Unit: 2
Pet Fees
Fee: $300.00
Rent: $10.00
Additional Pet Fees
Fee: $300.00
Rent: $10.00


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Fri, 27 June 2008
The conversation about motherhood and feminism continues. First Amy and Sheryl tackle the topic, reflecting on life at the intersection of feminism and reality.
Then Mojo Mom continues the conversation with Amy Richards, author of Opting In: Having A Child without Losing Yourself. Richards is also the author of the Ask Amy column at Feminist.com
This is the last week of our latest iPod giveaway. The drawing is on July 1, so listen to the show to find out how to enter!
Direct download: Mojo_Mom_and_Amy_Richards_01.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:55am EDT


text:
Message from our publisher: An appeal for your support of good journalism
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Menlo Park police arrest alleged looters en route to Stanford Shopping Center
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Facing budget shortfall, Palo Alto agrees to cut more than 70 positions
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Such delightful city employee perks
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"Gunn at Salinas"
Livia Bednaz. Photo by Karen Ambrose Hickey. Submitted by Rick on Nov 5, 2019
Palo Alto imposes 10-day curfew starting Tuesday night
Citing reports of criminal activity planned for local commercial districts, Palo Alto is instituting a curfew tonight and plans to keep it in place until June 11. Tuesday, 4:01 PM | 148 comments
Protesters block highway, set off fireworks to show solidarity with Black Lives Matter
Hundreds of protesters marched through Menlo Park, Palo Alto and East Palo Alto on Monday to protest police brutality in the wake of the death of George Floyd, who was killed while in Minneapolis police custody last week. Tuesday, 12:38 PM | 80 comments
Palo Alto leaders condemn police brutality, vow to protect demonstrators
Hours after staged local protests on Monday over the killing of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody, city leaders expressed support for those fighting for racial equality. Tuesday, 12:15 AM | 17 comments
Despite calls to think smaller, Newell Bridge replacement plan wins final approval
A regional effort to replace and expand the narrow Newell Road Bridge between Palo Alto and East Palo Alto reached a crucial milestone on Monday night, when the City Council gave the project its final clearance. Tuesday, 9:48 AM | 18 comments
George Floyd and 'the moral arc of the universe': insight from MLK's official historian
Stanford historian Clayborne Carson offers some much-needed clarity and historical perspective surrounding recent protests throughout the U.S. over the killing of George Floyd. Tuesday, 9:04 AM | 2 comments
Palo Alto public, private high schools team up for car parade graduation
While graduating high school seniors can't walk across the stage to receive their diplomas surrounded by friends and family this year, they will be able to celebrate via a car parade this Wednesday. Friday, 8:19 PM | 20 comments
Coronavirus central: Cases in people ages 50 and younger rise by the dozens over past week
The coronavirus continues to take its toll on the Midpeninsula. On Tuesday, Santa Clara County reported 2,819 cases and 143 deaths; San Mateo County reported 2,188 cases and 84 deaths. Tuesday, 2:00 PM | 8 comments
New county order allows outdoor dining, in-store retail starting Friday
Hot weather returns to the Bay Area
Local bans on residential evictions extended into August
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Chelsea Player Eden Hazard Agreed Personal Terms With Real Madrid
Posted By: Prince Marcus
on May 15, 2019
Chelsea Player Eden Hazard Agreed Personal Terms With Real Madrid
Sport Update! Chelsea Star Eden Hazard Agrees Personal Terms With New Club
Chelsea star player, Eden Hazard, has agreed personal terms with Real Madrid, according to Express Sports.
The Belgian international is desperate to force Chelsea and Real Madrid to come closer to an agreement to allow him play at the Santiago Bernabeu next season.
The newspaper reports that Hazard went public about his feelings after the 0-0 draw with Leicester on Sunday.
The player desperately wants his future resolved, out of sheer frustration that Chelsea and Real are no nearer agreeing a deal after weeks of talks.
Real have already offered around £85million for the 28-year-old Belgian captain.
However, Chelsea want around £112m – and an agreement between the clubs has still not been reached.
Hazard has finalised his own terms with Real on a move.
The Blues, however are holding out for the full figure for their star player, who still has a year of his contract to go.
500 total views, 4 views today


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French Majolica Jardiniere Planter Wall Vase Moustiers 1960
Vintage french majolica jardinier or wall vase made by the famous Moustiers factory during the 1960's. The hand painting pattern depicts flowers and heads of old man on a white background. Perfect condition. It's signed on the back. 3"7/8 high 7"3/4 width 3"3/4 depth.
Price : 80.00 $
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For our French-speaking friends: Jardinière de table ou murale en barbotine de Moustier à décor de fleurs et sculptures de vieillards, vers 1960. Bon état. Hauteur 10 cm, Largeur 19.5 cm, profondeur 9.5 cm.
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are and are sold with a 15 days full refund GUARANTEE.
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This leisurely paced tour features a 7-night single hotel stay located in the heart of Beijing. Take in everything from the quiet pleasure of lunch with a local family at home in the Hutongs to the once-in-a-lifetime thrill of walking on the Great Wall. Explore historic Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Venture to the Summer Palace and the Lama Temple. Indulge in dim sum, learn dumpling making and savor a hot pot dinner. Experience the honored ancient alongside the visionary futuristic that can only be found in this incredible city.
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Love Between a Mother and a Child Necklace
Sterling silver rectangle charm (1") is hand stamped with a date. Sterling silver charm (1/2") is hand stamped with names. Sterling silver charm (7/8") is hand stamped with "The love between a mother and a child is forever". Two Swarovski dangles come with the necklace. This hand stamped necklace is hung on a sterling silver box chain. Additional options are available (see below). All orders include first-class worldwide shipping (expedited shipping options available). All orders are shipped in a black velour bag - ready for gift giving.
Price: $82.00


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This content has been marked as final. Show 1 reply
1. Re: What is TSM command for Tabadmin config -o?Zach Leber Nov 1, 2018 11:51 AM (in response to Jim Hollon)
Comparing Functionality of tabadmin and TSM - Tableau
Configuration import and export
In the legacy tabadmin versions of Tableau Server, configuration and topology information was managed as part of the backup and restore process. With the introduction of TSM, you can now export and import your configuration and topology information using the tsm settings commands.


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Gadget-Cop is a character from the Viewtiful Joe series of action beat em' up games. He first appeared in Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble! as one of the bosses.
Profile Edit
Gadget-Cop is a good cop gone bad when his hero-ness is taken from him. The ammunition from his double 9's must be used against him in order for him to be defeated.
Trivia Edit
- Gadget Cop is a spoof of Robo-Cop.
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.


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6 Foot Audio Patch Cable with 3 Gold Plated RCA Plugs on Each End
Triple RCA male to triple RCA male deluxe audio video stereo dubbing cable is a great choice for applications including DSS receivers, VCRs, DVD players, camcorders and home theater. These 6ft patch cords have right and left audio and video comprised with double shielded RG59 coaxial cable that are 95% spiral wound shielded. These quality cables make a great choice for VCR dubbing and DSS applications.
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Sunday seemed to be "Let's Not Challenge Democrats From Massachusetts Day" on America's top political talk shows. Similar to what occurred on "This Week" as reported here, Tim Russert on "Meet The Press" seemed content to allow his first guest, Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass), to say whatever he wanted to about American history regardless of accuracy, with total impunity, and with no fear of being challenged (video link to follow).
The first historical misstatement made by Kennedy was that we have now been in Iraq as long as we were in Korea: "You know, Tim, as of this week, American forces will have been in Iraq as long as America was in the Korean peninsula in the Korean war." Certainly, any journalist worth his salt would have challenged his guest on this statement, as America more than 50 years later still has troops in Korea. In fact, according to Global Security.org, as many as 67,000 American troops were still in South Korea in 1970, 43,000 in 1991, and 37,000 as recently as October 2004. Today, this number appears to be about 30,000. Yet, Russert chose not to bring this fact to Kennedy's attention, even when Kennedy reiterated this misstatement later in the interview.
Kennedy's second unchallenged misstatement came when Russert asked him whether there could be huge consequences to pulling all of America's troops out of Iraq: "If we got out and there was a civil war, chaos and you saw al Qaeda moving in in record numbers and Zarqawi exerting great control over the country, would you go back in?"
Kennedy responded: "Well, first of all, I heard the same kinds of suggestions at the time of the end of the Vietnam War: 'the great blood bath. We're going to have over 100,000 people that were going to be murdered and killed at that time.' And for those of us that were strongly opposed to the war heard those same kinds of arguments at the time."
Well, Tim, it would have been nice of you to point out to your guest that an estimated 1.7 million Cambodians were killed by the Khmer Rouge after America pulled out of Vietnam. As such, the great bloodbath that folks were predicting did happen. Mightn't it have been appropriate to point this out to your guest, Tim?
It appears not.


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Mercyhurst students set forth to slay the gerrymander
How Harrisburg approaches political redistricting in 2021 could have everything to do with 100 Mercyhurst University students in Dr. Joe Morris's Campaign Strategy & U.S. Elections course.
The students are engaged in a mapping contest hosted by Draw the Lines (DTL) PA, a statewide civic education initiative intended to help Pennsylvanians of all ages learn more about political redistricting and gerrymandering while simultaneously lobbying for reform.
Using the same digital tools needed to draw a valid election map, individuals, community groups, service clubs and student organizations are drawing their own maps, one by one making the case for a larger voter role in redistricting. Winners of regional contests – East, West and Central – will then face off for statewide honors with prizes of up to $5,000. Entries will be evaluated on several quantitative metrics.
If Mercyhurst's team were to win a prize, that would be great, acknowledged Morris. But the exercise is more about exposing the folly in the redistricting process, where politicians have divided the map into political units, giving advantage to one party over the other.
"It's also to say, 'we're on to you' – enough is enough," Morris said.
DTL is hoping to receive thousands of maps, enough to affect how politicians in Harrisburg approach redistricting in 2021. According to the DTL website, the state's politicians "will find it flat-out dangerous to their political careers to try anything as secretive and partisan as they pulled off last time."
After the 2010 census, Pennsylvania drew new congressional districts to accommodate changes in the state's population.
"The new congressional districts were so gerrymandered that Pennsylvania was considered by many to be the most gerrymandered state in the nation," Morris explained. "In 2018, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court found that the districts violated the state's constitution and ordered the state legislature to redraw district lines. When the legislature failed to submit a map that satisfied the justices, the Court redrew the district map itself."
The redistricting process will begin again after the next census in 2020. Morris said his students' deadline is Dec. 3; entries must be submitted by Dec. 14.


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It's rare to talk about marketing without hearing the phrase 'brand purpose'. Whether it's the world-changing Tesla, or a humble pack of chewing gum (Wrigley's exist to 'Brighten Everyone's Day' if you were wondering) the value of brands having a distinct purpose is now a basic necessity.
Overall, this has been a good thing. Despite a host of brands puffing hot air, purpose has led to creativity that aims to have an impact in the world. It has elevated the role of brand within organisations and motivated employees behind a common goal other than purely profit.
But this surge in purposeful brands means people now consider brands sentient beasts. There's an expectation for brands to make the right choices. Not just once in a tear jerking manifesto film, but on an ongoing basis. The metric for what is right, of course, is subjectively tricky to define.
"These polarised times mean people are expecting brands of all shapes and sizes to choose which side of the fence they sit."
The challenge for brands is made trickier still because we inhabit a world split right down the middle. Challenger brands have long embraced a strategy of polarising, knowing that the potential upside of being loved by one tribe and loathed by another is better than people feeling indifferent. These polarised times however, mean people are expecting brands of all shapes and sizes to choose which side of the fence they sit. The results of which have allowed for some glorious rubbernecking as brands discover the quickfire consequences of taking sides.
With a flurry of new #Boycott <insert brand name here> trending every day. It doesn't matter what you sell, no brand is safe from a consumer who believes you have backed the wrong side. In the current climate, it's impossible to please everybody, and as such, no particular position is safe.
Take Starbucks' response to Trump's potential so-called travel ban. The brand pledged to hire 10,000 refugees over the next five years. Although some people met this gesture with cheers, #BoycottStarbucks began trending on Twitter.
Similarly, Budweiser's Super Bowl ad which was deemed as pro-immigration led to angry threats to ditch the (previously considered 'all-American') beer whilst others pledged to buy it in bulk. This highlighted that responding to our split political climate can lead to both good and bad-will in equal measure.
At a grassroots level, people are combining their efforts across multiple targets with both #TheResistance and #GrabYourWallet movements. As punishment for toeing the new White House's party line, these aim to hit brands where it hurts most - in the pocket.
Under Armour fell foul to a backlash after their CEO Kevin Plank expressed his excitement at having such a 'pro-business president'. Sponsored athletes vocally condemned this point of view and #BoycottUnderArmour gained momentum.
In response, Plank took out a full page ad in The Baltimore Sun where he used a letter to personally clarify that he did not agree with Trump's approach to social justice.
Similarly, sparks flew when fashion retailer Nordstrom pulled Ivanka Trump's brand from their range after sales began to plummet. Unsurprisingly, Nordstrom received a huffy tweet from President Trump himself and once again, the twitterati responses involved adulation and disgust in seemingly equal measure.
"For years brands were dying to 'join the conversation' and now they're involved, people are demanding more"
Moreover, where brands claim they haven't taken a side, assumptions are quickly made on where they may stand. Take Mark Zuckerberg's 'Building Global Community' manifesto questioning whether collectively 'we are building the world we all want'. Although avoiding specifics, Zuckerberg's choice of language around 'divisiveness' and 'isolation' led to swift interpretations of an anti-Trump message.
For years brands were dying to 'join the conversation' and now they're involved, people are demanding more from them. And since this boycott train doesn't feel like it is slowing down, brands need to be confident and consistent in delivering on what they believe.
For a brand with a clear, longstanding purpose, taking a side is made much easier. Take Airbnb's 'community commitment' request where they ask travellers to accept their terms and conditions of use.
The set of principles of worldwide respect and tolerance is perfectly in tune with their brand and beliefs. Failure to accept results in the user being unable to host or book a trip. Like many a challenger before them, it's an opportunity to show that there are people they are for and others they're against.
Perhaps people's response to brands who pick-a-side has intensified because we have lost faith in those who we expect to lead us. Instead we are increasingly relying on big businesses, rather than politicians, to fix what is broken. Many brands seem to be embracing this new pressure with promises that they can fix the world. Here's hoping some of these actually do.
View the original article here


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I would like to know how to write code for a right circular shift aka lazy susan. Its an array with 10 elements let me show you and example
first time throw array it prints
second time throw after right circular shift of 3 places for example it prints
and so on. if there is anyone that can help that be just great.


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Sunday, February 20, 2011
From the Archives!
Mitch at… carry the 7, minus 3… oh, you do the math!
Poster for a Chicago Bettie Page play. Sadly, the one night I went there to see it they only had one paying customer in attendance so the performance was canceled.
I even shrieked (while stamping my feet), "Do you know who I am?!!" to no avail.
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The European Parliament has held a meeting that discussed 'A Message of Peace' to look at how forces of tolerance and moderation can tackle religious extremism of all forms.
Held in Brussels on December 4, 2012, this was the first meeting of the 'Friends of Ahmadiyya Muslims group', a group that highlights that the cause of peace is at the heart of the Muslim faith.
The Ahmadiyya Muslims group promotes a common vision of human rights and freedom of religion for all, and it seeks to promote respect between followers of different faiths.
The Khalifa of Islam and the worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad delivered a powerful and inspiring address at the European Parliament.
Dr Charles Tannock, Conservative MEP for London and the new Chairman of the friendship group spoke at the inaugural event.
Dr. Tannock has a strong working relationship with the Ahmadiyya community.
"It is a prosperous, courageous and determined community. Its slogan 'Love for all, hatred for none', is the welcome antithesis of the hatred and violence perpetrated by a minority of jihadi radicals." Dr. Tannock said.
Dr. Tannock said that "religious extremism and violence represents a clear and present danger to both peace and respect for human rights which ultimately underpins our democratic ideals."
"We, in Europe, believe democracy generally as a rule goes hand in hand with respect for fundamental human rights," Dr. Tannock added.
Amjad Mahmood Khan, director of external affairs for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of the United States traveled to Brussels to attend the event at the European Parliament.
Khan said via his social media post that it was "an absolutely brilliant, cogent, insightful and prescient address delivered by Khalifa of Islam" in reference to extremism and peace.
Khan further related that after the speech by Khalifa of Islam a Member of Parliament was overheard saying, "We need more world leaders like Mirza Masroor."
According to the press desk of the Ahmadiyya Community, His Holiness Ahmad also answered questions at a press conference at the European Parliament.
Ahmadiyya Muslim community's international press desk says that they will soon release photos of the European Parliament event including excerpts from the address delivered by His Holiness Ahmad.
The UK chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was founded in 1913 and it now has 100 branches.
The largest Mosque in Western Europe, the Baitul Futuh Mosque, serves as the headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association in the UK
A version of this article by Imran Jattala appeared in Ahmadiyya Times. Excerpts from ECR Group's website statement are adopted in this news article.
Follow Imran Jattala on Twitter: @IJattala


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Superbly animation?
eternityblue last edited by
I am still on 2014, but wondering how using Superfly for animation is working for people, and if anyone has examples of their work?
seachnasaigh Poser Ambassadors last edited by seachnasaigh
It will take longer to render, if you want the greater IDL quality of which Superfly is capable. I highly recommend scavenging extra computers (used servers are great for this) and networking via Queue Manager.
This is a test render of the self-lit Superfly material setup for Dystopia and John Hoagland's Viper MkII:
http://vidmg.photobucket.com/albums/v604/seachnasaigh/miscellaneous/Dystopia Superfly test2- 480x320p 254f 05fps Cinepak98.mp4
If the Photobucket MPEG4 doesn't work, try a ShockWaveFlash from Dropbox:
Dystopia Superfly self-illumination test
nerd3d last edited by
And if you're looking for cheap render drones try Ebay. Used enterprise grade hardware id dirt cheap and has the needed horse power. Look for something similar to this:
Look for something with a Dual Intel Xeon Hex Core X5660, like a Dell Power Edge 710. Remember it's Ebay so watch your back. Be sure it includes the CPUs and the RAM. Most of them will not include hard drives. A windows COA sticker is a bonus.
Something like this will make a killer render dummy and since they have lots of drive bays you can make yourself a network storage box on the cheap. One of these on ebay cost less than a fancy NAS appliance does new.
Yes I'm a cheap skate.


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My visit to Iriga City last February 19, 2010 ended with a short stop at the public library. It was built in 2007 through the LGU's initiative on strengthening the advocacy on books and reading. I took some photos using the built in camera of my old LG cell phone. It's only 1.3 megapixels so I ask you to bear with the not so impressive photos.
The library is housed on the second floor of the new building. According to my friend and tour guide, Hermie Salazar, the first floor shall be the repository of the city's Library Hub.
Outside is a spacious patio where tables and chairs are set for those who wish to read in the open air. A good number of users were seated comfortably, their laptops turned on. Yes, they're logged on Facebook. Inside, one would find a mini-photo exhibit of places and people that are relevant to Iriga. Nora Aunor; Dr. Filipina Alfelor; the ancestral house of Jaime Frabregas (which I hope the family would repair and rebuild); and tourist spots in the locality. Provision for reading area is present as well as Internet stations.
If that's any indication on modernity, then the Iriga City Public Library sure knows how. And more!
It was my first time to see a library cum coffee shop. Wow. My kind of place! Books. Coffee. And a place with WIFI connection. Sadly, I did not get to talk to its librarian who attended the seminar-workshop I gave earlier that day at the University of North Eastern Philippines (UNEP). I would be interested on knowing the library and literacy programs they run for children, young adults and older members of the community. Library facility is one thing. The services and programs it implements are important things as well.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
The Iriga City Public Library
Thoughts in action by Zarah C. Gagatiga at Sunday, February 21, 2010
3 comments:
- mikersindahawz said...
panalo sila ha :)
- Sunday, February 21, 2010 11:33:00 PM
- Zarah C. Gagatiga said...
may mga public libraries naman sa manila na wifi, like the quezon city public library. pero, walang coffee shop :-(
- Thursday, February 25, 2010 8:05:00 AM
wow! talagang kakaiba sila.
- Thursday, July 22, 2010 3:35:00 PM
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Vivid: Gaza cauldron simmers while the world watches, media outraged
The international community mustn't allow the conflict to escalate. In the absence of any Arab initiative, Israel's western backers must use their leverage to nudge Israel to lessen tension & stop the attacks, says exchange4media's Annurag Batra
It almost seems that a helpless world can only seethe in anger as Israel continues its onslaught on Palestinians for the second week, while the global media flashes images of death and destruction. Already 200 Palestinians have been killed in the latest flashpoint between the Palestinians and Israel, 89 per cent of whom are civilians; 20 per cent, children.
Hundreds of Palestinians, their children crying, have fled their homes in Gaza City as the world's fourth largest military might intensified its airstrikes. The raids are supposedly intended to target Hamas militants but more often than not find civilians in the crosshairs.
Israel's fury against the hapless in Gaza has already inflicted heavy civilian casualties and rained devastation on the long besieged and impoverished Gaza Strip. For 1.7 million Palestinians, living in 365 square kilometres – a little less than three times the size of Chandigarh -- bounded by a wall and the sea, there is no place to run.
This is the third time in six years that the people of Gaza have had to endure such an attack.
Experts say the aggressive attack was prompted by a national revulsion in Israel after the seminary students' death. It may be noted that there is huge popular support in Israel for the military action. "This is a wake-up call," Shlomo Avineri, one of Israel's most respected political scientists, told the New York Times. "A line has been crossed ... this is absolute evil."
The international response to the escalating Israel-Gaza tensions has been at best mixed. While the West and its media have emphasised Israel's right to defend itself, regional powers have called the attacks on Gaza 'savage'.
Even though White House reiterates its support to Israel's right to defend itself, but one wonders why US plays the ostrich. The European Union, like the US, condemned the "indiscriminate" rocket fire from the Gaza Strip into Israel but also focused on the growing number of civilian casualties caused by Israel's retaliation. But just the call for both sides to exercise restraint to re-establish calm is quite soft.
As has happened in the past, what is being reported – particularly in the West – about Palestinians and Israelis fighting each another on a level battle field, under same conditions and on a level playing field. It's certainly no more Muslims versus Jews, not just about Palestinian "terrorists" inviting retaliation by a country's Army. Some years ago, in similar Israeli attacks in Jerusalem many Palestinian Christians suffered as much as their Muslim neighbours. Few remain but as Israeli bombs rain on West Bank inhabitants, there's no sensor yet made to make detection of man, woman, child, Christian, non-Christian possible.
And the media in the West, surprisingly continues to be silent about these deeper issues and continue to give the conflict merely Israeli-Palestinian colour. Back in 2001, the media largely ignored the conditions of the occupation and continue to do so. Inaccuracies too continue on reporting human rights issues in the region.
But not all have been so much at ease with all this. According to Guardian columnist Seumas Milen "The idea that Israel is defending itself against unprovoked attacks from outside its borders is an absurdity. Despite Israel's withdrawal of settlements and bases in 2005, Gaza remains occupied both in reality and international law, its border, coastal waters, resources, airspace and power supply controlled by Israel".
According to Mint Press News founding editor-in-chief Mnar Muhawesh, "The deaths of Israeli teens Naftali Fraenkel, Gilad Shaer and Eyal Yifrah represent a tragedy- one that no family should have to face. Violence touches communities deeply and does not spare race, creed or intellect. What I grapple with, is the reaction to their deaths — Israeli lawmakers calling for a genocide and vengeance against Arabs, the torture and murder of 17-year-old Muhammad Abu Khdair by Israeli settlers, Israeli settlers' continued kidnapping and abuse of Palestinian children, and now the Israeli military operation and violent assault against Gaza that is collectively punishing 1.7 million people who are already living in poverty. Gaza has been described by human rights groups as an open air prison with no where to escape. It has to end."
What is also surprising this time is that while the sufferings of Palestinian people prompted spurts of anger and condemnation across the world, little action is seen in the Arab world. Official Arab responses have been fairly muted, partly because of the hostility of Saudi Arabia and Egypt towards Hamas, analysts say.
Jordan called the attack as "barbaric aggression" against Gaza, but, it is unlikely to jeopardise its peace treaty with Israel. Turkey was reported to have warned Israel that the Gaza Strip escalation could lead to "chaos in our region", while Iran lambasted "savage aggression by the Zionists".
For decades Palestine was the touchstone of pan-Arab solidarity but since the 1973 war, that has meant little more than posturing. Experts say all 21 members of the Arab League have formally endorsed a 2002 Saudi plan for peace – based on Israel's withdrawal to the 1967 borders. The split between the PLO and Hamas in 2006 weakened the Palestinians, but wider divisions since the start of the Arab spring uprisings in 2011 have damaged the cause even further, as pointed out by global media.
With the entire region in turmoil, it is unlikely that the world will see an early solution to the West Bank conflict. Even Egypt, which use to mediate in earlier conflicts, is not showing any interest this time.
However, the international community must not allow the conflict to escalate. In the absence of any Arab initiative, Israel's western backers, must use their leverage to nudge Israel to lessen tension, and stop the attack. UN also must intervene to end the conflict. Otherwise, gory images of death and destruction will continue to flow in our drawing rooms.
Interestingly, though as in other events, social media witnessed outrage against the Israel attack. It has becomes the latest battleground in Middle East aggression and become a minefield of propaganda and misinformation, as per The Guardian.
Graphic violent images of civilians under fire were posted in large numbers, suggesting that news organisations were turning a blind eye to the attacks. "The media are not reporting anything," was the hashtag's catch line. From #prayforgaza hashtags to 'bomb shelter selfies', millions in Israel took to social media to share their experiences of the ongoing Gaza crisis, according to media reports.
Contrary to its traditional stand of firmly standing with the Palestinians, the new government in India took an `equivalence' stand this time. An External Affairs spokesperson while expressing deep concern at the steep escalation of violence said that India is also alarmed at the "cross-border provocations resulting from rocket attacks against targets in parts of Israel."
The Indian stand has left West Asian rivals disappointed, says Suhasini Haidar Strategic and Diplomatic Affairs Editor, The Hindu, adding that "India seems to have pleased neither the Israeli nor the Palestinian side with its stand of 'equivalence' over the conflict in Gaza".
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