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Every week it seems there is a new graphical comparison between the XBOX One and the Playstation 4. Each time it is noticeably different to varying degrees between each system, with the PS4 typically coming away with the slightly better texture improvements and lighting differences. Most of the developers recently interviewed about the consoles have insisted they are both equally strong platforms that are fairly easy to develop for. So why does the PS4 keep getting the graphically stout games like No Man's Sky and Horizon, while the XBOX One continues to struggle with increasing resolution and frame rate? The difference between the systems isn't a matter of which is stronger, but where they are stronger. Continue reading
Tag Archives: playstation 4
Rise of the Tomb Raider Timed Exclusive is stupid
It was recently announced that Rise of The Tomb Raider will be exclusive to the XBOX One for an entire year. After E3 this year I made the point that console tribalism isn't good for the industry and that both the XBOX One and PS4 were becoming more distinct platforms with different identities and target audiences. So when a third party title like Tomb Raider continues the timed exclusive nonsense that has made elements of Destiny's loot infuriating, I'm ready to start calling foul every time this happens. Entrenching loyalty is totally fine if it's done through perks or free games like Microsoft's "Games with Gold" program, but keeping a game hostage to your platform for a year? This just isn't helpful. Continue reading
Console wars are won with content
In the wake of E3 2015 many are weighing in about what games are the best graphically and which are the most anticipated. Some point to the impressive graphics of a handful of the titles announced for the PS4 while others look to the exclusives and fan favorite releases on the XBOX One. In an interview with GamingBolt prior to E3, Hussain Sheikh said some things that I think are going to be key to the future success both for game companies as well as consoles. He concluded his thoughts about both the XBOX One and the PS4 having sufficient computing power by saying that the console battle will, "not be won through graphics, but actual gameplay and content." I have written about this topic before, but it seems more relevant after so many games have been announced that may or may not deliver the goods. Continue reading
E3 2015 Winner – The Gamers
After what is being rightfully called one of the best E3's in years, many are weighing in about who can claim the crown of the winner. I covered the entire week on my stream and had a great time discussing the games and announcements with my viewers. The question I consistently got was: "Who is the winner of this E3?" For a while I talked about how both Sony and Microsoft brought their A-game and that each presentation was distinct, but I finally settled on the answer that gamers are the winner this year. I will have a future post about the obvious loser, Nintendo, and how disappointing it was. For now I want to talk about how Microsoft aims to close the gap in sales with Sony and what continues to distinguish each console from the other. Continue reading
PC Gamers need consoles
The debate about which platform is best for gaming is one that has been going on since the dawn of LAN parties. As someone who started on consoles, moved to PC, and then switched back to consoles, I can say it ultimately depends on what a player values. What tends to happen is a person finds their expectations met in a platform and then they become an avid fan, constantly advocating for PC, PS4, or Xbox. The reality is, we all need each other, and something CD Projekt Red's co-founder said recently really enforces this. Continue reading
Mortal Kombat took my advice about DLC
It's no secret that selling extra content for video games is here to stay, and many of us welcome it as a way to extend the experiences of the games we enjoy. Recently, however, I wrote that the DLC sales for Evolve are proof that companies need to approach selling extra content differently. One of the things I suggested in my post and video was that games should allow you to demo DLC before buying because it's too risky and expensive to drop money on something you may not enjoy. Obviously the makers of Mortal Kombat had this plan in play before I wrote my post, but hopefully more games take my advice about demoing DLC. Continue reading
Rainbow Six Siege might be too hard
I've certainly had my fair share of opinions about PVP shooters. Recently I wrote about and made a video discussing why PVP shooters aren't fun anymore, and also called for veteran gamers to walk away from Call of Duty. Most of the footage and press about Rainbow Six Siege has me intrigued, but still very apprehensive. I managed to download and watch the closed alpha footage before it was taken down, and I learned a valuable lesson in uploading commentary on video game footage that a company doesn't want to be seen. But what I also learned was that Rainbow Six Siege is going to be hard and may turn away most fans of shooters. Chris Watters at Gamespot confirmed some of my concerns about this title that has already received a good amount of hype and anticipation. Continue reading
What Titanfall 2 needs to add
I've already written about how exciting it is that the next installment of Titanfall won't be limited to the Xbox One. While many may disagree with me, I think expanding to other platforms will help increase the budget and scope which will hopefully increase the content and innovation the title receives. Most sequels run the risk of failing to outdo their predecessor, but with Titanfall that is very unlikely. Many criticized the game for its lack of depth, content, and replayability. I won't dignify all the complaints about a lack of a campaign since the game squarely marketed itself as a "multiplayer only" game, but there are definitely some areas the game could expand on, including a campaign. Continue reading
Should Destiny 2 skip last-gen?
Destiny has been the center piece of a few of my posts and videos. I've talked about how PVP is holding the game back, how they should stop tweaking the weapons, and how the split identity of the game is splitting the community and putting future content on a path of perpetual devaluation. Recently I saw that IGN had a Fireteam chat podcast discussing whether or not Destiny 2 should skip last-gen. It reminded me of a video about how some fans of Destiny had theorized that certain elements from the game were removed due to last-gen limitations. Some players have referenced early leaks of testing where the drop ships could be taken down and other players noted that they do still take damage in certain places (ie: shoot off their guns). So is it time to leave behind the limitations of last-gen? Continue reading
Exclusive Titles Aren't Helping Anyone
Since the beginning of the console battle exclusive titles have been central to the differences between them. For the longest time it was Mario vs Sonic, with both characters squarely representing the different choices of available consoles. As time went on, exclusives became less tied to a central character and more tied to a marketing strategy. The most memorable and potentially the most advantageous exclusive probably should be awarded to Halo. It certainly catapulted the Xbox to the forefront of the console war, but has since failed to be enough. Now it seems processing power and graphics have become a bigger marketing tool, which inevitably leads to exclusives that are graphically dependent. The Last of Us is one of the best video games I have ever played, but I only got to play it because my brother lent me a PS3. And it doesn't always help as the brilliant graphics of The Order 1886 didn't save it from scathing reviews about a lack of content and short game length. The primary reason some games are exclusive is due to the limitations of the other available consoles, and the same is certainly true for future titles like No Man's Sky and the next installment of Uncharted. But are gamers benefiting from this practice? Or does everyone lose? Continue reading


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The Dutch Central Bank (DNB) has issued a bitcoin warning aimed at banks and other financial institutions.
De Nederlandsche Bank has issued a warning on the perceived dangers of digital currencies.
Dutch Finance Minister Calls for ICO Regulations
Mar 9, 2018
The finance minister of the Netherlands has called for new regulations around cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings.
Money-Spinners: This Week's Bitcoin ATM News
Mar 21, 2014
In this week's bitcoin ATM news roundup, Jon Southurst tracks down the latest models to touch down.
Ten Dutch businesses lining two canal-side streets have announced they will band together to accept bitcoin this March.

subset: commoncrawl


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HERKIMER — Plans for a cheese trail, that would encompass stops in Herkimer County and other parts of the region, are starting to take shape.
Michele Hummel, executive director of the Herkimer County Chamber of Commerce, said between 15 to 20 people attended a meeting at the Chamber on Wednesday. She said this included two cheese producers from Herkimer County, other producers from the region, representatives of the Little Falls Cheese Festival and the representatives from state Assemblyman Brian Miller's office and Assemblyman Robert Smullen's office.
Talks for a cheese trail formed out of the Herkimer County Industrial Development Agency's Agricultural Development Council where committee members discussed the idea.
"We're looking to pick a date in early fall timeframe," said John Piseck, Herkimer County Industrial Development Agency executive director, who attended the meeting, about a possible kickoff for the trail. He noted he wouldn't want to see a kickoff conflict with other autumnal events such as the Mohawk Valley Garlic and Herb Festival and the Remsen Barn Festival.
Piseck said the tour could include different artisanal cheeses and maybe a couple of vineyards.
"We can expand on it," he said.
Suzie Jones, who has owned Jones Family Farm with her husband Peter since 2004, said there have been a couple meetings, so far, on the formation of a regional cheese trail and also attended the one held Wednesday. She said this is coming off of the "heels of success of the Little Falls Cheese Festival."
"I think it could be a really great thing. It's worth giving it a try," she said during a telephone interview. "I've seen it succeed elsewhere and I think people would enjoy it."
Jones said their farm, located off of state Route 28 in Herkimer, produces cheese, gelato and poultry and they sell their products to the public and to restaurants. She said agritourism is something that could pique a tourist's interest.
"I always felt 'out of sight, out of mind.' Let's do the opposite," she said. "… [Let's show visitors] where things are being produced. [People will be] reminded that agriculture is here, too, and it's important."
Jones added "[people] like to see where the food comes from. It helps reconnect people."
Hummel said Wednesday she had been making telephone calls to see about the possibility of a charter tour bus being used for those interested during a kickoff day for the trail that would include the local farms that are already "on board with developing a tour this fall."
She said a map will also be made available to the public, and anyone who wants to be added to the map at a later date will be able to do so. The map would likely include which places are open year round or during certain seasons, and the times available.
Hummel said the Chamber is helping with the coordination of a cheese trail since promoting tourism is part of its mission.
Hummel and Piseck said another meeting — which is going to be a smaller, more focused group — is being planned to move forward with developing the trail.
"This is the first start of it," said Piseck.


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Medicare Fraud Strike Force Operation Leads to Charges against 94 Defendants, including 4 in South Texas
July 17, 2010 by Robert Liles
Filed under HEAT Strike Force, Medicare, Medicaid & Private Payor Updates
(July 17, 2010): Yesterday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced charges against 94 physicians, medical assistants, and health care company owners and executives in connection with alleged false Medicare claims amounting to more than $251 million. 24 defendants from Miami account for approximately $103 million of that amount. Four defendants were charged in Houston for their alleged roles in a $3 million scheme to submit fraudulent claims for durable medical equipment (DME). Other arrests were made in Baton Rouge, Brooklyn, and Detroit.
The offenses charged include conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program, criminal false claims, violations of the anti-kickback statutes, and money laundering. The charges are based on a variety of fraud schemes, including physical therapy and occupational therapy schemes, home health care schemes, HIV infusion fraud schemes and durable medical equipment (DME) schemes.
Announcing the arrests, Attorney General Eric Holder said, "With today's arrests, we're putting would-be criminals on notice: Health care fraud is no longer a safe bet. It's no longer easy money. If you choose to engage in health care fraud, you will be found; you will be stopped; and you will be brought to justice."
The operation was conducted by the joint DOJ-HHS Medicare Fraud Strike Force, multi-agency teams of federal, state, and local investigators designed to combat Medicare fraud through the use of Medicare data analysis techniques and an increased focus on community policing. Strike Force teams are operating in seven cities in the United States: the five aforementioned cities, Los Angeles, and Tampa. AG Holder noted that the ongoing Strike Force initiative in South Florida has resulted in the indictments of 810 organizations and individuals since March 2007 and uncovered $1.85 billion in improperly billed claims.
The Strike Forces are a part of Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), which is made up of top level law enforcement and professional staff from the DOJ and HHS and their operating divisions. HEAT is dedicated to joint efforts across government to both prevent fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country.
Should you have any questions regarding these issues, don't hesitate to contact us. For a complementary consultation, you may call Robert W. Liles or one of our other attorneys at: 1 (800) 475-1906.
HEAT Strike Force Update: Prosecutions in Texas Increased in March 2010
April 3, 2010 by Robert Liles
Filed under HEAT Strike Force, Regulatory Issues | Privacy | Other
(April 3, 2010): The Federal government is taking considerable steps to stop Medicare fraud and abuse. Notably, the number of publicly-disclosed HEAT Strike Force investigations and prosecutions in Texas significantly increased last month. Two of the cases disclosed involved mental health professionals:
- A Psychologist was convicted of health care fraud and money laundering, in connection with various claims fraudulently billed to Medicare. Instances of improper conduct included billing for more than twenty-four hours of services in a single day; billing for services in a single day which amounted to more than double the normal business hours of the Psychologist's practice; billing for services allegedly rendered during weekends, holidays, and times that the Psychologist was known to be out-of-town and away from the practice; and, submitting claims for services and evaluations not actually performed by the Psychologist, as required by law.
- An unlicensed Behavioral Health Counselor was charged with Medicaid fraud for allegedly engaging in aggravated identity theft. The defendant allegedly improperly acquired Medicaid beneficiaries' information, including names, addresses and Medicaid numbers, then used the information to file false claims through a behavioral counseling service the defendant owned. These behavioral counseling services were billed to Medicaid but allegedly not provided to the beneficiaries for which they were billed.
Since being established approximately a year ago, Texas' HEAT Strike Force has significantly increased both investigations and prosecutions throughout the State. Both enforcement efforts and the frequency of Medicare audits are anticipated to increase throughout 2010 and following years. In addition to the increasing number of civil and criminal cases brought by the Texas HEAT Strike Force, the number of administrative overpayment cases is anticipated to grow as well. It is essential that Texas providers continue their efforts to ensure that both business operations and billing practices fully comply with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
Liles Parker PLLC includes a number of attorneys with extensive former experience as Federal and / or State prosecutors. Should your organization find itself under investigation, call us today for a complimentary consultation at: 1 (800) 475-1906.


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An Austrian brothel's £72-an-hour sex doll has been such a hit with clients that it's become more popular than its real prostitutes. The dollRead More »
Photos: Baby Dumped By Her Mother To Die Inside A Bush Immediately After Birth, Celebrates Her 4years Old Birthday Today
Wow this is so amazing!!! According to a facebook user Gonzales Mbanatorio Alexandro Stephano a baby who was abandoned four yearsRead More »
"This Is The Height Of Double Standards Northerners Have Hisba Sharia Police But Buhari Has Commanded Nigerian Army To Kill Biafra Security Service"
The leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has said that he set up the Biafra Secret Service so as to provide securityRead More »
Photos: Corps Member Shows Off His Mom Who Sent Him To School By Selling Vegetable
A corps member serving in Jos, Amsolex shared this lovely photo with his mom who sells vegetables. According to him, she sent him and hisRead More »
One Killed As Police Shoot At Crowd Tussling Over Money Left By Robbers In Uyo
One person has been killed and several others injured as the police opened fire on people scrambling for money scattered in the streets ofRead More »
"We Now Monitor Social Media For Anti-Government & Anti-Military Information" – Military
Director of Defence Information, Major-General John Enenche, told Channels Television that the move became necessary in the light ofRead More »
Nigerian Woman Cries Out As RCCG Is Refusing To Return Fraud Money Amounting To N24.7Million That Was Traced To Their Church Account
In a post on her Instagram page, a Nigerian woman, Emilia (emilianhair) is accusing the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) ofRead More »
"Nigeria Ranks 3rd Globally In Cybercrime, Behind UK & U.S" – NCC
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says the country currently ranks third globally in cybercrime, behind the UK and the U.S.Read More »
"I'll Rather Work For My Own Money" – Mike Adenuga's Son, Paddy Says It's Nice Having A Wealthy Parent But "It's His Money & Not Mine"
Paddy Adenuga has said it's nice having wealthy parents but he's not to type to claim what's not his as he'll rather work for his own money.Read More »
Nollywood Actress, Eucharia Anunobi Loses Her Only Child To Sickle Anemia
Veteran Nollywood actress and associate pastor of the Fresh Oil Ministry International Church, Lagos, Eucharia Anunobi has according toRead More »


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The 2013 Destino is an interesting surprise of the Detroit Auto Show, combining the engine of a sports car with the looks of a hybrid.
[UPDATE] Interior photos and tehnical specs added.
The 2013 Destino is an interesting surprise for the Detroit Auto Show, combining the engine of a sportscar with the looks of a luxury hybrid.
Under the hood is Chevrolet Corvette ZR1's LS9 which produces 638 hp (476 kW) and 604 lb-ft (819 Nm) of torque and can be connected to either a 6-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. The company says chassis reengineering was necessary in order to accommodate the ZR1's handcrafted engine.
It will also be available with a 6.2-liter LT-1 V8 engine producing 450 hp (335 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 450 lb-ft (609 Nm) of torque at 4,000 rpm.
Set to rival cars such as the Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide, the Destino borrows the looks of the Fisker Karma and is 202.8 inches (5151mm) long, 52.4 inches (1331mm) tall, with a 124.4-inch (3160mm) wheelbase.
Currently in the prototype stage, the Destino will be built in Auburn Hills, Michigan and is expected to go on sale in the second half of 2013 at a yet undisclosed price tag.
Check out the specifications list for full details.


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British thief shouts out vegetable names before robbing his victims
Most people know nowadays that thieves and pickpockets often create a diversion before they attempt to rob someone.
What they may not expect is a thief who jumps up and down in supermarkets shouting out the names of vegetables — 'carrots', 'broccoli', 'turnips' — before he moves closer to his target and steals from them, reports Digital Spy.
The thief, who was recently seen operating in a supermarket in Surrey, England, is described as being blond, white and chunky and probably in his late 30s or early 40s. Anyone who sees someone screaming vegetable names in a supermarket, unless it is obviously the greengrocer promoting a produce sale, is asked to contact Surrey police.
Speaking to The Mirror, 59-year-old Hilary Brown recounted the experience of her dad and stepmother at the hands of the thief in Dorking, Surrey.
She said: "He distracted my father by shouting out all these vegetable names.
"My father thought, 'you're a bit strange', but thought nothing of it and carried on shopping."
The crook currently seems to be targeting elderly people, who are often easier to confuse than younger people.
A 90-year-old man and his similarly elderly wife were robbed by the thief last week. He made off with a few hundred pounds in a wallet and a purse, as well as several credit cards.
Police say he has struck at least half a dozen times over the last few weeks in the Dorking, Surrey area. Every time he manages to grab cash, credit cards, wallets and purses. Before the victim's even know what is going on, the thief has already left the store and all they are left with is the vegetable names ringing in their ears.


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Robot Vision pp 11-18 | Cite as
Computer Vision in Industry
Part of the International Trends in Manufacturing Technology book series (MANUTECH)
- Citations
- 211 Downloads
Computer vision will revolutionise manufacturing in two important areas: inspection and adaptive control of robots. Already both these uses of computer vision are beginning to change manufacturing, with many systems now in production. The two specific industrial vision systems to be described in this paper, KEYSIGHT and CONSIGHT, will give a general indication of the state of the technology.
KeywordsGrey Level Edge Pixel Structure Light Computer Vision System Robot Vision
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
- [1]M. R. Ward, L. Rossol, S. W. Holland, 'Consight: An Adaptive Robot with Vision', Robotics Today pp. 26–32 (Summer 1979 ).Google Scholar
- [2]L. Rossol, 'Vision and Adaptive Robots in General Motors', Proc. 1st Int. Conf. on Robot Vision and Sensory Controls, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK, IFS (Publications ) (April 1981).Google Scholar
- [3]C. A. Rosen, 'Machine Vision and Robotics: Industrial Requirements', Computer Vision and Sensor-Based Robots, ed. G. G. Dodd and L. Rossol, Plenum Press (1979).Google Scholar
Copyright information
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1983


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Alex Plante nearly missed his chance to play on an Olympic hockey team — because when the offer that would eventually lead him to the Olympics first came up, he turned it down.
"I was at a bit of a crossroads," said the 28-year-old Brandon, Man., native when an agent first contacted him years ago, telling him a South Korean hockey team was looking for a "big, red-headed defenceman with experience in the AHL and a little NHL experience."
So he turned the offer down.
"It was a little difficult for me to find a job … [where] just every column seemed to fit me."
But the Asian hockey league he has now played in for three seasons kept pressuring him, eventually leading him and his young family to pack up and move from Norway, where he had been playing after moving from Canada.
Little did he know he would be one of six Canadians, plus a Canadian-raised coach, playing on the South Korean men's hockey team at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.
Plante, who now plays for Anyang Halla — one of three Korean teams in the Asia League Ice Hockey (ALH) — was joined on the South Korean men's hockey team by Canadians Brock Radunske of Kitchener, Ont.; Bryan Young of Ennismore, Ont.; Eric Regan of Whitby, Ont.; Mike Swift, of Peterborough, Ont., and goalie Matt Dalton of Clinton, Ont.
Coach Jim Paek was born in Korea but raised in Canada. He became the first Korean-born player to make it to the NHL and played on two Stanley Cup-winning Pittsburgh Penguins teams.
Their journey began when Pyeongchang was announced as the host of the 2018 Olympic Games. Korea had never qualified to have a men's hockey team in the Olympics, and so it did what many countries now do — it went shopping for talent to fill out its roster.
Plante says playing in the the Olympics was an experience he'll never forget.
"There's no real egos. Everybody's super friendly," he said of his fellow players. "I feel incredibly blessed and thankful."
Playing on Olympic stage
Plante says learning to play in the ALH — a league he joined in 2015 and which also includes four Japanese teams and a team from Russia — was a challenge.
"You've got to change gears all the time," he said, noting the differences in the game in Canada versus overseas. "You play a Japanese team, they play a different style. You play a Russian team, they're all massive.
"You always kind of find yourself finding styles, learning how play different teams…. It kind of rounds you out as a player."
But playing on the Olympic stage was a whole different game — and one that would see him and his Canadian teammates standing across the blue line from Team Canada during preliminary round action.
"I was always wondering what that was going to be like," he said. "Oddly enough, it was just worth a chuckle. It's not like I'm turning my back on my nation.
"As soon as that puck drops, I'm sure most professionals will say, a switch happens and you turn into game mode."
Plante said he wasn't sure what to expect when he walked into the Gangneung Hockey Centre — one of two hockey venues for the Pyeongchang Olympics — as the home team.
"We had no idea what to expect. Everybody here was so focused on 'how are you guys going to do, what's it going to be like … are you going to embarrass it, or win?' Nobody knew," he said.
"Our goal was to compete and to just see what happens and I think that's what we did.… No matter what the score was, nobody gave up."
Even though professional hockey is still in the early stages of making gains in the Asian country, Plante said the hometown fans seemed to enjoy every minute of it.
"No matter what the score was, they were on their feet after every game and super excited and really eager to learn about the game," he said.
Plante's parents, along with his brother and his family, made the journey to South Korea for the Olympics.
North Korea tension
On the women's hockey side, there was much buzz about the fact that the Korean team included players from both North and South Korea.
But "for us, it was just hockey," said Plante. The men's team did not include any North Korean players.
"For the North and South Korean stuff, everybody has their opinion on what that is. Nobody really knows what's happening."
On the women's team, he said players from both sides seemed to gel together.
"It's super refreshing to know a sport like hockey can be a platform and humanity takes over."
Reflecting on games
Now that the games are over, Plante said he finally has some time to reflect on the experience.
"I'm slowly starting to digest what happened. [It was] nothing but [an] amazing experience for me and I'm sure everybody could say that as well," he said.
"After our last game, everybody stuck around — they were carrying the Korean flag around," Plante said.
"It's a memory that I'll never forget."


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Top 10 best smartphones for Christmas 2018
6 minute read
Every year, smartphones are the most commonly requested gadget on Christmas wish lists. Of course, getting a new smartphone means a lot in this day and age, so choosing the right one from literally hundreds of options is important. We're here to help though, so take a look at ten of the best smartphones to give - or receive! - this holiday season. We start from budget phones as cheap as £50, include a bunch of great mid-range options and finish with flagship smartphones all the way up to £1000. Let's get straight to the Christmas 2018 smartphone recommendations!
1. Nokia 3 Refurbished - £49
Who says smartphones have to be expensive? This Nokia special was released last year but has seen constant updates to new versions of Android, including a leap from Nougat to Oreo, making it feel like new. The Nokia 3 includes a 5-inch IPS display, a quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB of storage and 8-megapixel front and rear cameras. This is a refurbished model costing just £49, down from the launch price of £130, making it by far the best smartphone per pound on the market.
Get the Nokia 3 Refurbished from giffgaff
2. Motorola Moto E5 Play - £79
Here's another modern smartphone with a clean user interface and an entry-level price tag. The Moto E5 Play sports a big 5.34-inch screen and a healthy 2100mAh battery too, making it quite a practical choice. Again, there are faster phones on the market, but for a brand new smartphone it's hard to find much better for less than £80.
Get the Motorola Moto E5 Play from giffgaff
3. Nokia 3.1 - £129
The Nokia 3.1 is the upgraded version of the Nokia 3 we saw earlier, with a faster octa-core processor, an improved 13-megapixel rear camera and - most important of all - a larger 5.2-inch screen with a modern tall 18:9 aspect ratio. That gives you more screen real estate without making the phone much larger at all. The Nokia 3.1 also comes with Google's Android One platform, which guarantees security updates and OS upgrades for two years after launch. Overall, it's a ton of phone for just over £100.
Get the Nokia 3.1 from giffgaff
4. Motorola Moto G6 - £219
The original Moto G was a transformative entry-level smartphone, offering incredible value for money. The Moto G series has shifted continually upwards since then, and now holds a low-to-mid-range position in the market. That means you can expect a lot of flagship features - a tall 18:9 aspect ratio screen with a diagonal of 5.7 inches, a dual sensor rear camera, fast charging, a fingerprint reader and so on. The phone comes with a mid-range Snapdragon 450 octa-core processor which performs better than the MediaTek processors you'll find on budget phones, backed with 32GB of storage and 3GB of RAM. All in all, a great mid-range phone that costs far less than equally-equipped competitors.
Get the Motorola Moto G6 from giffgaff
5. OnePlus 5T - £369
The OnePlus 5T was released late last year, so in 2018 you'll be able to grab it at a much lower price than the £500 it debuted at. Like other OnePlus phones, it comes with flagship-grade specifications out of the box, including a Snapdragon 835 processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. In terms of photography, its 16MP and 20MP dual rear cameras were extremely solid in 2017 and remain competitive in 2018. A clean Android operating system, extremely fast wired charging, a fingerprint reader and a gorgeous 6-inch AMOLED 18:9 display complete the picture. This is an insanely good phone for just over £350!
Get the OnePlus 5T from giffgaff
6. OnePlus 6T - £499
OK, here's where we enter flagship territory. The OnePlus 6T was released just a few months ago and boasts the same features and specifications as flagship phones that are twice the price: a Snapdragon 845 processor, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage and three 16MP+ cameras divided between the front and rear. It comes with the latest version of Android, 9.0 Pie and should remain updated for months to come. My favourite feature of this phone is its teardrop-shaped camera notch, which allows it to fit in a 6.41-inch display into a seriously compact body. Compared to the massive notches on the iPhone and Mate 20 Pro we'll see later, it's an absolute triumph of design.
Get the OnePlus 6T from giffgaff
7. iPhone Xr - £749
The iPhone Xr is perhaps the smartest iPhone you can get today. It retains the excellent 12-megapixel rear camera, blazing-fast A12 Bionic processor and advanced Face ID of the significantly more expensive iPhone Xs, while also giving you the choice of several bold colours instead of the usual silver and gold. The only thing you're giving up are arguably unimportant - the second rear camera which is only useful for portrait mode and the AMOLED display, with an LCD display used instead. These are sensible cost-cutting measures that make the iPhone Xr the best iPhone, pound for pound, on the market.
Get the iPhone Xr from giffgaff
8. Huawei Mate 20 Pro - £899
The Huawei Mate 20 Pro is one of the latest phones to be released, making it a canny choice for Christmas this year. The Mate 20 includes a distinctive Leica camera with three lenses: 40MP, That lets you switch between ultra-wide angle, wide angle and telephoto just by pressing a button, and the results from all three are top notch. It's also fast, with a bleeding-edge Kirin 980 processor, backed with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Huawei also continue their trend of choosing great colours for their flagship phones, with a cool Twilight colourway that irridesces between blue and purple as you move it in the light - absolutely gorgeous. Huawei might not be as well known as Apple or Samsung, but the phones they're producing are absolutely worth considering.
Get the Huawei Mate 20 Pro from giffgaff
9. Samsung Galaxy Note 9 - £899
The Samsung Note 9 is the obvious pick for the best Android phone right now. It's got leading specifications, a useful stylus, a modern version of Android packed with features and arguably one of the best smartphone cameras in the business. It's also worth mentioning that Samsung haven't removed from this phone: it still has a 3.5mm headphone jack, a Micro SD card slot and a notchless display, so if you aren't on board with the recent removal of these features, you'll be comfortable here. Samsung phones are dependably excellent, and the Note 9 is their greatest work yet.
Get the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 from giffgaff
10. iPhone Xs - £999
It all comes down to this - the £1000 phone. The iPhone Xs is the finest smartphone that Apple have ever produced, a superlative design with perhaps the best screen found on any smartphone. Face ID makes it easy to log into your phone without lifting a finger, Apple's legendary camera produces top-notch results, the A12 Bionic processor positively sings and nothing matches the style and class of an iPhone. With regular and Max sizes, plenty of colours to choose from and multiple storage size options, there's sure to be an iPhone Xs to fit your needs.
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Wrapping up
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The two-week stormy discussions on the topic of the upcoming meeting of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev concluded with Pashinyan's press conference on March 19 in Yerevan. The prime minister argued for his approach to the negotiation process, citing a number of provisions from the basic documents of the 1992-94 negotiation process. The theme of the meeting of the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan was concretized.
So, what do we have today?
- The statement of the Prime Minister of Armenia that he cannot represent the people of Artsakh in the negotiation process and about the need to return the leadership of Artsakh to the negotiation process.
- Statement by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs on the inadmissibility of changing the format of negotiations without the prior consent of all parties.
- The decision of the Armenian Prime Minister is to clarify the arbitrary interpretations proposed by the Minsk Group of the three principles and the six elements of the settlement.
- Actualization of the problem of the OSCE Minsk Group's retreat from the provisions of its mandate of March 24, 1992, and from the decision of the Budapest Summit of the CSCE December 1994.
How one can characterize the current diplomatic situation?
In one word, it is the crisis of the Minsk process launched in 1992. More precisely, it is disarrangement of the negotiation process, which began with the decision of the 1994 Budapest Summit on the reorganization of the Council on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) into the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). This decision entailed another decision: the reorganization of the chairmanship of the CSCE Minsk Group into a Russia-OSCE co-chairmanship. Later, the co-chairmanship took a triple form in the face of Russia, the United States and France.
Given that the Budapest Summit laid the foundation for the development of the negotiation process on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on a tripartite agreement of 12 May 1994 on a cease-fire on the line of contact of troops, the mandate of the Minsk Group in 1992 lost its relevance due to inconsistencies with new solutions. However, formally, the Minsk Group composed of 11 states was not disbanded. Nonetheless, the legal framework of the negotiations was completely blurred. As a result of this, the question of which of the conflicting parties represents whom in the negotiation process has remained unanswered for a long time. Moreover, another question is still unanswered: what rights and responsibilities do the negotiators have?
It is not by chance that over time, arbitrary changes occurred in the format of the negotiations, from which was withdrawn the Karabakh side - the separate side of the conflict officially recognized by the OSCE summit in 1994. The relations of the conflicting parties began to be based not on the official decisions of the OSCE, but on the "honest word" of all those involved in the negotiation process. And the topic of negotiations left less space for any responsibility of both the opposing parties and the mediators. It is quite logical that such empty negotiations should have led to a military escalation, which we observed in April 2016. The 1994 treaty was violated by Azerbaijan, which decided to unilaterally ignore it.
Such a situation was supposed to "burst" when one of the negotiating parties declared that it would conduct negotiations on the basis of the rights and responsibilities of the parties involved in the conflict. A proposal to regulate a measure of responsibility has been introduced. And, as it turned out, here the fantasy of the OSCE Minsk Group and other interested parties was simply exhausted...
How all the actors responsible for resolving the conflict will act, time will tell.


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Good reasons to visit Edenbridge, Kent
PUBLISHED: 01:16 28 October 2011 | UPDATED: 20:12 20 February 2013
Steeped in ancient history and with royal connections, Edenbridge comes into its own every November with its much-anticipated bonfire spectacular
Good reasons to visit Edenbridge, Kent
Steeped in ancient history and with royal connections, Edenbridge comes into its own every November with its much-anticipated bonfire spectacular
1.Hot Guys
On 5 November the Edenbridge Bonfire Society will organise a 2,000-strong torchlight procession of floats, tableaus and marching bands that will pass through the town, culminating in a spectacular firework and the burning of 30ft-high effigies of Guy Fawkes and a topical celebrity, whose identity is kept secret until only days before the event (note: road closures in town from 6pm). At the head of the procession theres a Bishop of Bonfire, followed by the effigies: Guy Fawkes is accompanied by Ann Boleyn, with her head under her arm, and the unlucky celebrity. Tickets from Edenbridge Bookshop, 01732 862180.
2.Nesting coots and moorhens
Bough Beech reservoir, three miles to the east, is a nature reserve, popular for bird watching and a haunt for migrating osprey. Theres a 19th-century oast house visitor centre and a shop. You can see nesting coots and moorhens by the bridge, and masses of other wildlife, from ducks and nesting herons to glow worms, bats and reed warblers. From 1 Nov-Mar the reservoir is open Sun only, 10am-4pm, Apr-Oct on Wed, weekends and bank holidays, daytime only.
3.Medieval museum
Eden Valley Museum (01732 868102) is housed in timber-framed Doggetts Farmhouse, otherwise known as Church House (see far right). A Grade II listed building, built around 1380 when the farm was the principal employer in the area, the original timber framing has been covered up with brick. Theres a shop with items of local interest, books and leaflets, plus recordings of people talking of life in other eras, displays of the history of iron-making, tanning, cricket-ball making, shopping and accounts of famous local people. Phone to check opening times.
4.Really fit
Edenbridge Leisure Centre, 01732 865665, offers a wide range of facilities, including a wellness gym, exercise studio, 25-metre swimming pool and teaching pool, multi-purpose sports hall, all-weather pitch, squash courts, crche and caf, Badminton, table tennis, short-matt bowls, and short tennis and free parking, which
is a real plus. Swimming classes cater
for all abilities and ages, also exercise and Aqua fit classes.
5.Just a minute
St Peter and St Paul parish church dates from Norman times and has memorials to illustrious local families, including Holmden and Jemet. There is a stained-glass window in the Martin chapel designed by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, a clock with only an hour hand, and a fine font and Jacobean pulpit. Arts-and-Crafts architect Mackay Hugh Baillie Scott is buried in the cemetery, and the lych gate was designed by a local carpenter. The roof in the chancel has partially collapsed due to death-watch beetle attack and this part is currently boarded up.
6.Bridge the gap
The Great Stone Bridge is thought to have inspired the towns name, and this beautiful structure across the river is on the High Street to the edge of town. The first bridge here was timber, built by Saxon Abbot Eadhelm, a pack horse bridge was built next and in
1834 the present stone bridge was constructed. George Langridge and Augustus Corke, two early bridge wardens, are commemorated by an 1836 stone plaque, and the lamps were provided by the Great Stone Bridge Trust to commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
7.Royal connections nearby
Nearby Chiddingstone has a record of a village shop dated 1453, which was bought in 1517 by Ann Boleyns father, Sir Thomas Boleyn. Quaint and steeped in history, it boasts a row of timbered Tudor houses, a beautiful church, the popular Castle Inn, and an antique shop, plus magnificent Chiddingstone Castle, with 35 acres of grounds and wonderful artefacts and paintings and displays (closed in winter). Part of the village was once owned by
Sir Edward de Burgh, first husband of one of Henry VIIIs wives, Katharine Parr, after which the famous local Streatfeild family were the local bigwigs until 1939, when the Streatfeilds sold the village to the National Trust.
8.Ancient inns
Edenbridge High Streets beautiful ancient buildings include Ye Olde Crown inn, dating from 1375, which has elaborate decorative timbers, as well as a curious inn sign that stretches across the road. At 94 and 96 High Street you can see an attractive Wealden Hall House; this split property started life in the 16th century as two separate buildings built 50 years apart, which were then joined to make one house. The White Horse Inn is another timber-framed building, the timbers covered with brick, with the date 1574 and two pairs of hand shears carved into a first-floor beam. Next to this is Ebenezer chapel, built in 1808 as a Calvinist place of worship, and now used as a community caf, Bridges Pop-in centre, 01732 868186.
9.Ann Boleyns home
Hever Castle, 01732 865224, is a moated fortification dating back to the 1200s and was the family home of the Boleyns and notably Ann, Henry VIIIs second wife and mother of Elizabeth I. See 16th-century portraits, paintings, tapestries and furniture, complete with life-size figures in period costume. There are audio tours, displays of armour, a shop and visitors centre. Surrounded by 125 acres of grounds, including a yew maze, adventure playground and a beautiful lake with boating facilities, plus Ann Boleyns Walk, with centuries old trees. Winter season (Wed-Sun), 2 Nov-24 Dec (check opening times).
10.Around the church
Notable buildings near the church include the timber-framed Church Cottage, originally the Chequers Inn before becoming the Parish Poor House until it was rebuilt
as the Church School in the 1850s.
On the corner of The Square is the Priest House, once a Wealden Hall House, and numbers 2 and 4 Church Street are attractive homes with unusual tile and brick features. Farringtons Jewellers and the Edenbridge Bookshop are housed in a 1450s Wealden-style building, while the entrance to Edenbridge Bookshop is the structures original Cross passage. Next door is Honours Mill, built in the late 1700s
on the site of a medieval water mill.


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- Inseam: 7"
- Imported


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Have a Blessed Easter
Just as the beautiful flowers of Dallas spring into bloom we celebrate the holiest of times for Christians. Easter.
Our fervent wish is that you have a wonderful and joyous Easter holiday.
If you're traveling, be very safe.
If you're going to be with family, enjoy and remember to thank them for the opportunity you have at this incredible institution that is SMU.
If you're staying here with friends, look at each one and count your many blessings.
Easter is a time for remembering the sacrifices made for each of us and giving thanks for all we have.
Enjoy your holiday and return with renewed


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Wednesday was a strong day for the stock market, as investors continued to be optimistic about the future of the U.S. economy. Major market benchmarks climbed more strongly than in sessions earlier in the week, with gains of 1% or more sending both the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrials to new record highs. Yet even though the overall market performed well, some stocks got left out, and Flotek Industries (NYSE:FTK), Oxford Industries (NYSE:OXM), and bluebird bio (NASDAQ:BLUE) were among the worst performers on the day. Below, we'll look more closely at these stocks to tell you why they did so poorly.
Flotek takes a hit
Flotek Industries dropped 15% after the oil services company found itself the target of negative analysis from an investment company. A report from FourWorld Capital Management made critical assertions of Flotek's products, suggesting that they might not be as effective as some believe in improving well productivity. Others looking at the negative report weren't nearly as certain about its conclusions, but that wasn't enough to comfort some nervous shareholders. Looking forward, this sort of news item often leads to a quick reversal if a report is discredited, but if the concerns prove to be warranted, then there's no guarantee that Flotek will recover quickly.
Oxford reports a loss, predicts tougher times ahead
Oxford Industries fell 12% in the wake of its third quarter financial report. The company behind the popular Tommy Bahama and Lilly Putlizer brands said that sales rose 12% from year-ago levels, but the business still suffered a net loss of $0.07 per share on an adjusted basis. That was actually somewhat better than investors had expected, but guidance for the full fiscal year wasn't as good as hoped. Looking forward, full-year revenue of $1.02 billion to $1.035 billion and adjusted earnings of $3.50 to $3.65 per share weren't enough to satisfy investors. An analyst downgrade following the results also led to investor pessimism about Oxford's prospects.
bluebird bio prices its offering, falls with healthcare
Finally, bluebird bio declined 11%. The biotech company said late yesterday that it had priced its secondary offering of shares, selling 3.29 million shares of stock at a price of $76 per share. That was about $3 per share less than where the stock had closed on Tuesday afternoon, but shares continued even further downward in a broader sell-off of healthcare stocks throughout the industry on Wednesday. With President-elect Donald Trump having made negative comments on the price of pharmaceuticals and other treatments, investors seem nervous that even the most innovative of companies could end up having to face political pressure that could eventually result in lower profits. Investors will know more once the Trump administration actually takes office, but today, fear ruled the day and sent Bluebird and many of its peers lower.


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Donor Advised Funds
What is a donor advised fund?
A donor advised fund (DAF) is a type of giving program that allows you to combine the most favorable tax benefits with the flexibility to easily support your favorite charities. An increasingly popular charitable vehicle, DAF's are an excellent way to both simplify your charitable giving and facilitate your strategic philanthropic goals.
How does it work?
Establish your DAF by making an irrevocable, tax-deductible donation to a public charity that sponsors a DAF program. Advise the investment allocation of the donated assets (any investment growth is tax-free). Recommend grants to qualified public charities of your choice.
If I have a DAF, how do I use it to support Memorial Sloan Kettering?
If your DAF is with Fidelity Charitable, BNY Mellon, or Schwab Charitable, you can start your donation as follows:
- Select the public charity that sponsors your DAF from the DAF Direct dropdown menu.
- In the "Designation" field enter Memorial Sloan Kettering.
- Enter the amount (in USD) you would like to recommend in the "Amount" field.
- Click the "Next" button to proceed to the sponsoring organization's website to complete your DAF transaction.
- Once the sponsoring organization approves the recommended disbursement, the grant is made to the qualified charitable organization (i.e., Memorial Sloan Kettering).
Please note: If your DAF is with a different entity, you may process your donation through their usual method — just be sure to designate to Memorial Sloan Kettering.
Whom should I contact with questions?
If you have questions about making a gift to Memorial Sloan Kettering through a DAF, please contact us.


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1. Place the plate glass on paper and shine the laser through the plate glass at an angle. Large incidence angle (large to the normal) yields the best results.
2. Now record on the paper the laser beam positions and the plate glass position. Include also the reflected beam as well as the beam that passes through the plate.


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My mother has recently retired from her job as a supervision aide at an elementary school. She has decided to set her sights on getting a dog, preferably through the usual rescue channels. My sister and I have been working day and night (well, day anyway) to make this happen, but with no luck so far.
Obtaining a rescued dog (not a rescue dog, which, to me, is a rum-toting Saint Bernard) is not as easy as it sounds, in spite of the fact that she has owned 3 dogs previously. The criteria list is long, which is fair enough, since these are creatures who cannot speak for themselves. My own mother's criteria list is equally lengthy: must have floppy ears, must be female, must be over one year old (puppies are a non-starter for her), and must be medium-sized. Non-smoking, of course.
Every few months or so, some rock star trailers come up from the States (California usually, even Mexico) with a motley group of up to 40 pooches. They are quickly snapped up, each dog receiving dozens of applications for ownership. In fact, such is the furor, that a lottery system has had to be used. Sadly, our number has never come up.
We continue to plod on. So, immersed are we in our task, that it has inhabited my dreams – the titular dream, which I will now relate.
Fade in to my parents' house. The sound of a whining and movement comes from within. I enter, my heart lifting, as it appears that my mother has finally obtained a dog on her own. As I enter the house, I notice chairs on their side, broken crockery, and glass strewn on the ground, along with red scraps, which appear to be raw meat. A resounding crash from the kitchen punctuates the silence. I enter, and to my shock, a bear cub is seen capering on the floor.
The sight of this filters into my sluggish dream brain. My mother, in a desperate gambit, has taken the bear cub with a view to 'domestication'. I relate to her the tradition of bear cubs growing to many times their current size, and the present danger of a bear cub cavorting in the house, with the mother bear lurking nearby, no doubt. This does not produce the effect I had hoped, and she throws more scraps of meat (it is bacon) onto the kitchen floor.
She is skeptical of my advice (I am no zoologist), and asks me to run it by my father. He, too, is not a zoologist, but an engineer, which gives him a tenuous authority. He echoes my concerns. This should have ended things, but our discussion is interrupted by a keening sound, coming from another part of the house. It would be just typical for a dream to contain a nonsequiteur such as a dog, never mentioned by my mother, ensconced in another part of the house a la Jane Eyre. It is not a dog, although it is in the neighbourhood. My mother has captured a wild coyote and has it penned up in the master bedroom, a contingency, in case the bear cub does not work out, I suppose. At that point, I throw up my hands, and leave the house for the relative comfort of my wife and two teens.


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Chile pays close attention to WEF ASEAN
Chilean Foreign Minister Roberto Ampuero has affirmed that Chile pays particular attention to participating in the World Economic Forum on ASEAN (WEF ASEAN) as it is a leading mechanism in supporting the application of technology and creating benefit for citizens.
Chilean Foreign Minister Roberto Ampuero (Source: Chile's Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Hanoi (VNA) – Chilean Foreign Minister Roberto Ampuero has affirmed that Chile pays particular attention to participating in the World Economic Forum on ASEAN (WEF ASEAN) as it is a leading mechanism in supporting the application of technology and creating benefit for citizens.
By proposing the forum's theme – "ASEAN 4.0: Entrepreneurship and the Fourth Industrial Revolution" – Vietnam, the host of the event, has touched upon timely solutions to deal with emerging challenges in the digital economic era, he told the Vietnam News Agency on the sidelines of the event.
He held that amidst the strong development of technology, different countries with different experiences and growth levels will see different benefits and challenges.
The WEF ASEAN should offer a forecast on some of the challenges brought about by Industry 4.0, thus helping countries to prepare for it and exchange knowledge and experience for their continued stable, sustainable, and inclusive growth, he said.
He also stressed the need for the forum to create favourable conditions to assist economies with timely responding to rapid and in-depth changes to the fourth Industrial Revolution.
Regarding relations with the ASEAN, the Chilean FM showed his hope to strengthen cooperation with Southeast Asian countries and join the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), as well as become a development and dialogue partner of ASEAN.
He revealed that Chilean President Sebastian Pinera received an invitation to attend the ASEAN Summit in this November in Singapore.
He underlined that Chile attaches much importance to fostering ties with the ASEAN, expressing his belief that Chile has abundant potential for the growth of the grouping.
With the signing of 16 free trade agreements with Asia-Pacific partners, Chile has become one of the most open countries in the world enjoying various economic, trade, and financial deals with the region and ASEAN member countries in particular, he said.
He added that Chile is willing to share its experience with ASEAN in poverty reduction and international integration through the FTAs.
Noting that Chile and Vietnam have enjoyed a sound traditional friendship since 1971, he recalled the historical visit in 1969 by Speaker of Chile's Senate Salvador Allende who later became the President of Chile from 1970-1973. He was also the last foreign guest to meet late President Ho Chi Minh.
He said that the two countries should maintain their exchange of delegations, while reforming and completing reached agreements.
He lauded the formation of the Chile-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce, expressing his hope that it will help connect businesses of both sides and opening new cooperation opportunities.
Ampuero highlighted that the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, which was signed in March in Chile, will also contribute to promoting bilateral trade, as well as the economic integration in each country.
During his stay in Vietnam, he is scheduled to have a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh to discuss measures to bolster bilateral ties.–VNA


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ALL Ways Professional Painting LLC.
By: Mr. Luis F. Martinez, Owner
cellphone: (407) 259-9379
Interior & Exterior House Painting Services
We promise to deliver top-quality interior and exterior house painting as well as small home repairs with personalized service at competitive prices.
Call Today, Paint Tomorrow! I will answer my phone at any time to answer all your questions.
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Services and information
An inventory of private and public sector projects in Alberta valued at $5 million or greater.
Bid on procurement opportunities for government goods, services and construction.
The Government has many ways for the public to buy surplus goods and equipment.
Offering vendors opportunities to conduct business with Alberta Infrastructure.


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Explore our full selection
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Yes, white Beaujolais! Not too surprising if you consider it's just down the road from the Maconnais region. All...
The Cru, true to its terroir, has more firmness of texture than many Beaujolais with lots of peppery, black fruit...
Cellar Selected is a trading arm of Halifax Wine Company Ltd
Company Number 09560732, VAT Registration 772 343527
Registered Office – Equitable House, 55 Pellon Lane, Halifax, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom, HX1 5SP


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Nicole Bates
Interim Pastor and Head of Staff
Rev. Nicole Bates began serving as NorthPark's Interim Pastor in May 2019. She loves NPPC's friendliness and inclusiveness, love for music and arts, and focus on outreach and mission.
Nicole holds degrees from the University of Iowa (B.A. in Religion, Master of Social Work) and McCormick Theological Seminary (M.Div.). A Midwestener and lifelong Presbyterian, Nicole served two churches in Chicagoland before her move to Dallas in 2008.
Nicole is married to Trey Angel, whose son Chase is a high school Senior. In her free time, you can find her practicing yoga, on a long walk, binge watching Netflix, or cheering on the Chicago Cubs.
Nicole Bates
214.363.5457 x 23
Kathy McCarron
Director of Christian Education
Kathy, a life long Dallas native, has been involved in children's ministry over 30 years as a volunteer, church staff member, and ministry consultant. She graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio with a degree in education and is a PCUSA Certified Christian Educator. Talking about ministry for children is exciting for Kathy and she is passionate about encouraging parents and congregations as they nurture the spiritual formation of children.
Kathy and her husband, Mike, have three adult children and three grandchildren.
Kathy McCarron
214.363.5457 x 25
Rev. Sally Brown
Associate Pastor, Emeritus
Following certification as a professional church educator, and earning a Master of Divinity degree at Perkins School Theology, Sally found her home at NorthPark, where she served as Associated Pastor for 13 years. Once officially in "retirement" someone whispered in her ear that she had a new title: Associate Pastor Emeritus. Sally says Emeritus is really a nice way of saying, "You're done. And old. So relax. And give lots of hugs to old friends and new."
Sally gives thanks to God for her wonderful family members, including husband Weldon, who put up with her antics and collection of artifacts.
Ellen Mata
Director of Mission &
Older Adult Programs
Ellen joined our staff after many years of working in the Dallas nonprofit area. She began her career as the Director of Children and Youth at The Stewpot. Most recently, she served as the Executive Director of the English Language Ministry. With a professional background in social work, she has had the opportunity to serve some of Dallas' most vulnerable.
Ellen is married to Michael, and they have two children, Jackson and Katie. Ellen's heart for mission and her background in volunteer training make her the perfect fit for the mission endeavors of NorthPark.
Ellen Mata
214.363.5457 x 24
Greg Miller
Facilities Manager
Greg is a Dallas native who grew up in Tyler. He graduated from Baylor University, where he met his wife, Susan. Greg spent over 30 years in the sales industry, has two daughters, two son-in-laws, and two grandsons, Jonathan and Jack.
Greg's hobbies include playing guitar, photography and watching sports, especially English football (soccer!) His furry family members include a dog and rabbit.
Greg Miller
214.363.5457 x 27
Cheryl Cunningham
Membership Coordinator
Cheryl is a longtime member of NorthPark Presbyterian Church, serving as both an elder and a deacon in addition to numerous committee and volunteer endeavors. She joined the staff in December 2013 in an interim capacity to help with membership services, and quickly made the decision to stay permanently.
Her professional background in Employee Benefit Services means her attention to detail and computer skills are a welcome addition to the NorthPark team.
Cheryl Cunningham
214.363.5457 x 26
Tinsley E. Silcox
Director of Music
In addition to serving as Director of Music at NorthPark Presbyterian, Tinsley is also Choirmaster at St. Mark's School of Texas. During his tenure at NorthPark, the Sanctuary Choir has performed numerous large works with orchestra, including Handel's Messiah, Faure's Requiem, Rutter's Gloria and Requiem, Duruflé's Requiem, and Beethoven's Mass in C Major. Choirs at NorthPark under his direction have sung for the AdventSing in Vienna, Austria where the choir also performed at Schönbrum Palace, for the Festival Chorale Toscana in Montecatini Terme, Italy, and at cathedrals across the UK, including St. Paul's in London, Glouchester Cathedral, and St. Jiles in Edinburgh.
Tinsley Silcox
214.363.5457 x 30
Accounting Office
Please email the Accounting Office if you have questions related to the following financial topics:
- Pledge Payments
- Year-End Giving Receipts
- Check Requests
- All Saints Fund Contributions
- Committee Reimbursements
The accounting office is open on Mondays only, so please allow up to a week to receive a response. Thank you.
Accounting Office
Louis Walker
Louis Walker earned a BA in Organ and Voice from California State University, and religious graduate studies in Portland, Oregon. Music became an avocation after earning a BS in Computer Science and an MBA, focusing on audit of computer systems and business operations. Citigroup relocated him to Irving in 2003 where he works as an Audit Manager, evaluating bank back-office operations.
Balancing business life with music, he has served as organist and choirmaster at several congregations of varying traditions. Louis is excited to be part of the NPPC family and to help lead worship on the phenomenal Cassavant!
Louis Walker
Carol Blackwood
Director of Children's Music
Carol's father, Jim Farabee, was the Sanctuary Choir Director and organist here at NPPC and she's enjoyed following in his footsteps! Carol has a BFA in Acting from the University of Texas in Austin and served as the staging director for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's Children's Chorus for the Christmas Celebration concerts from 2007-2009. She performed with "RSVP...the vocal group," winner of the Manhattan Area Cabaret award in 1988, and has directed several children's musicals for Grace Presbytery. She is Director of Marketing for Our Redeemer Lutheran School. Carol has an extensive background in music and musical theater. Other national credits include "Four out of Five Doctors" comedy improv and hundreds of radio voice-over, TV and film parts.
Carol Blackwood
Erick Reich
Director, Handbell Choir
Erick received his Bachelor of Arts in Music from the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. With the heavy focus on performance during his tenure as a student, Erick received numerous opportunities to perform operatic roles and concert performances throughout the United States and abroad. Additionally, he served as Stage Manager for four seasons with Dallas Wind Symphony.
As an elementary school teacher with DISD, Erick is most at home when teaching. He is also a member of Schola Cantorum with St. Mark's School of Texas, and a member of the NorthPark Presbyterian Choir.
Erick Reich
Martica Luckey
Communications Coordinator
Martica, is a native of Colombia and a naturalized citizen of the United States, Martica couples her love of the church with expertise in graphic design, website and social media design and management, and photography. She serves as NorthPark's part-time Communications Coordinator.
Martica and her husband, David, have a 19 year old son named Miles.
Martica Luckey
214.363.5457 x 22


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President Buhari has finally reacted to claims of cabal in his government which was made by his wife, Aisha Buhari.
You would recall few months ago when Aisha Buhari, who sat for an interview with BBC Hausa, claimed that Buhari's government had been hijacked by only a "few people", who were behind presidential appointments.
"The president does not know 45 out of 50 of the people he appointed and I don't know them either, despite being his wife of 27 years. Some people are sitting down in their homes folding their arms only for them to be called to come and head an agency or a ministerial position," she said.
Aisha Buhari made the claims again while speaking at a National Women Leadership Summit organised by a political group, Project 4+4 for Buhari & Osinbajo 2019, in Abuja. According to her, some politicians have formed the habit of going to these two powerful men in the night to beg for favours. A situation she described as disappointing.
However Buhari who reacted to claims of a cabal in his government in an with VOA Hausa, said;
That's her business & it shows I am a true democrat by allowing everybody to have an opinion. I challenge those alleging to show a single evidence.
Video below :
She has locked her account. Whatever she's trying to do now is damage control. SHE HAS NOT PAID A DIME out of that money. You @Teniwadess said January so we will take your for it. Until then…i rest this case.
— Hot Kek (@ElegantChic_) December 25, 2018


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00142 Roma
Phone: 065 196 3915
Fax: 065 196 3915
B&C s.r.l. is a market research company founded in 1975 and specialised in a wide range of qualitative and quantitative studies to support the decision making process in Marketing.
Company type:
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Facilities: CATI center, meeting rooms, one way mirror, audio/video recording, English, French, Spanish, Deutch,Chinese spoken.
Our exclusive methodologies and high quality national staff will help you to optimize your Marketing effectiveness.
From 2014 B&C opened an headquarter in South Africa, in the city of Capetown. The location has at its disposal an office of 200 sqm. It is equipped with a 30-posts call center, it has about 60 inteviewers and an internal team of 15 people both from Italy and South Africa. It conducts especially industrial and financial researches, but the food consumer sector is also in expansion
Research specializations
Market Sectors
- Advertising / Public Relations
- Chemicals
- Healthcare / Pharmaceutical
- Textile / Fashion / Clothing
- Travel / Tourism / Sport / Leisure
Research Solutions
- Customer Satisfaction Studies
- Demographic Research
- Media Research
- Audience Research
- Semiotic and Cultural Analysis
- Tracking Studies
Research Services
- Data Collection / Field Services
- Omnibus Surveys
- Qualitative
- Recruiting
- Quantitative
- Mystery shoppers
Research conducted in
- Africa
- Angola
- Botswana
- Italy
- South Africa
Key people
Ms. Giustina Badaracco
Managing Director
ESOMAR Member
Ms. Giustina Gentile Badaracco
Ms. Romina Malaspina
Mr. Sandro Savoldelli
Ms. Stefania Padula
Mr. Nicola Ferrigni


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Martin St. Louis was honored prior to Monday's game for playing in his 1000th career NHL game last week.
During the actual game the Tampa Bay Lighting right wing scored his ninth goal of the season and promptly hit the ice.
And for those wanting to see the ceremony celebrating they can do so in the video below.


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Europe's austerity drive has left an entire generation in Greece with "no future", according to a prominent Syriza spokesman, who repeated the party's vow to tear up its bail-out agreement and wind back austerity.
Marina Prentoulis, a senior lecturer at the University of East Anglia and the leftist government's London spokesman, described repeated rounds of belt tightening in Greece as a failed experiment that had triggered a European backlash against austerity.
"We are not going to enforce the austerity programmes, what we call the memoranda, it created a huge humanitarian crisis. People have been working all their lives and their pensions have been slashed to 40pc," she told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show.
"We have huge unemployment – 27pc. And 60pc for young people. This means that they have created a generation that has effectively no future. They have destroyed any employment rights. So this has to stop. This programme Syriza has pledged is not going to be enforced any more."
Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, has ruled-out cancelling more of Greece's national debt, which has climbed to more than 175pc of gross domestic product (GDP). However, Ms Prentoulis said Germany should "remember it's own history".
"In 1953 a big part of the German debt was written off and then the repayments were associated with growth. This is what Syriza is asking for Greece as well," she said.
While the comments are likely to set up a showdown between Greece and its creditors, Ms Prentoulis insisted that a Greek exit from the eurozone was not on the cards. "This discussion is not about a Greek exit, that discussion was for back in 2012.
"What we are talking about now is the renegotiaton of the debt. A fair deal as Germany has before, and of course as Syriza has been saying, we're not going to go along with the programme that created this catastrophe in Greece because what we're talking about here is a humanitarian crisis. Sometimes in Britain I'm not even sure that people realise the extent to which Greece has been destroyed and how much Greek people are suffering."
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Madrid on Saturday in support of a call for change from new anti-austerity party Podemos, a week after Greece elected its ally Syriza (Photo: AFP)
She said the leftist party was working very closely with Podemos, which is gaining mass popular support for its anti-austerity policies.
Ms Prentoulis's comments contrast with the more conciliatory remarks made by Greece's new prime minister on Saturday, who insisted his country will fulfil all of its loan obligations as it appointed investment bank Lazard ahead of crunch talks with the Troika.
In a statement designed to calm tensions between Greece and its creditors, Alexis Tsipras said: "I am absolutely confident that we will soon manage to reach a mutually beneficial agreement, both for Greece and for Europe as a whole."
"No side is seeking conflict and it has never been our intention to act unilaterally on Greek debt" he added.
The Syriza leader also spoke to European Central Bank president Mario Draghi on Friday to provide reassurances that his government was seeking a mutually beneficial deal on its bailout arrangements.
Mr Tsipras said his commitment to end austerity and kickstart growth in the country, "in no way entails that we will not fulfill our loan obligations to the ECB or the IMF."
However, Erkki Liikanen, a member of the ECB's governing council, said the central bank would cut off funding to Greek banks unless a deal was struck to extend its rescue package.
"We (ECB) have our own legislation and we will act according to that... Now, Greece's programme extension will expire in the end of February so some kind of solution must be found, otherwise we can't continue lending," he said.


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The Mesolithic Age: the earliest periodTheme
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The Mesolithic Age – heaven on Earth?
The long beginning
Although the Mesolithic Age was the longest period in Danish history, few traces of it remain. At that time, the area was thinly populated, and the people did not create permanent monuments. But if you look closer, some of the remnants from this early period are easily seen on fields, on beaches and under the water.
Tool making was under constant improvement, and humans regularly had to adjust their lifestyles to adapt to the changing climate, water levels, vegetation and animal life.
It is likely that Neanderthals lived in the area that was to become Denmark around 125,000 years ago. Modern humans arrived around 12,000 BC. The period drew to a close with the spread of agriculture starting around 3950 BC.
Little people
Hundreds of skeletons dating from the Mesolithic Age have been found in Denmark. They tell the story of a people that was much smaller than modern humans. Average heights were 150…


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It's a happy coincidence that comedy is the common thread among our four new films and one opera beginning this Friday, March 30th. OH LUCY! is an against-the-odds charmer about a woman, a tragic wig and an improbable journey. Just about everything works in this emphatically modest comedy-drama. The writer-director Atsuko Hirayanagi isn't selling a packaged idea of what it means to be human; she does something trickier and more honest here, merely by tracing the ordinary absurdities and agonies of one woman's life. The human comedy here is by turns tender, plaintive, heartfelt and joyful. Independent Spirit Award Nominee, Best First Feature. Independent Spirit Award Nominee, Best Actress Shinobu Terajima. 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating. Costarring Josh Hartnett. (Excerpted from The New York Times). "Bracingly funny." -The Village Voice
The one-liners fly as fast as political fortunes in THE DEATH OF STALIN, an uproarious, wickedly irreverent satire from Armando Iannucci (VEEP, IN THE LOOP). Moscow, 1953: When dictator Joseph Stalin drops dead, his parasitic cronies square off in a frantic power struggle to be the next Soviet leader. The palace intrigue and rapid-fire farce, make this audacious comedy a bitingly funny takedown of bureaucratic dysfunction performed to the hilt by cast that includes Michael Palin, Steve Buscemi, Jeffrey Tambor, Andrea Riseborough, Paddy Considine, Jason Isaacs, Olga Kurylenko and Simon Russell Beale. "Hilarious and horrifying." -The New York Times. 95% Rotten Tomatoes rating THE DEATH OF STALIN opens Friday in both the Rose and Starlight Room.
LOVE, SIMON's tag line says it all: "Everyone deserves a great love story." But for seventeen-year-old Simon Spier it's a little more complicated; he's yet to tell his family or friends that he's gay and he doesn't actually know the identity of the anonymous classmate that he's fallen for online. Resolving both issues proves hilarious, terrifying and life-changing in this heartfelt coming-of-age story. 91%Rotten Tomatoes rating. "Sweet, funny and disarming." -Los Angeles Times
When KING OF HEARTS opened in Seattle decades ago it seemed to play forever, and likely it did because Seattle theatre owner Randy Finley bought the rights to this French cult favorite. In Cambridge, Massachusetts it played at the Central Square Cinemas for five years! And it was likely the first movie that I watched multiple times. This French comedy-drama directed by Philippe de Broca stars Alan Bates and Genevieve Bujold. It was adapted into a Broadway musical in 1978, but never found the same popularity as it did on screen. Our Classics Night showing of this newly restored film is unfortunately already sold out.
The first performance of COSI FAN TUTTE, Mozart's comedy about the sexes was in 1790. Phelim McDermott's 2018 version is set in a carnivalesque fun world inspired by 1950s Coney Island, complete with bearded ladies, fire eaters and a Ferris wheel. The fun starts in the Rose Saturday morning at 9:55.
We have two very special events taking place next weekend. Saturday, April 7th we're presenting a free community screening of THE S WORD, a powerful documentary that puts a human face on a topic long stigmatized and buried with the lives it has claimed - people who have attempted to take their own lives and survived to tell their stories. Director Lisa Klien will be with us via Skype.
And beginning a week-long, Rose engagement next Friday, April 6th will be BIG SONIA, a beautiful story about 91-year-old Sonia Warshawski. Standing tall at 4'8", Sonia is the last remaining Holocaust survivor in Kansas City, and one of the only survivors who speaks publicly about her wartime experience. Sonia's enormous personality and fragile frame mask the horrors she endured. She still runs the tailor shop she's owned for more than 30years. But when she's served an eviction notice, the specter of retirement prompts Sonia to resist her harrowing past as a refugee and witness to genocide. A poignant story of generational trauma and healing, BIG SONIA is testament to the power of love, to triumph over bigotry, and the power of truth-telling to heal us all. Director Leah Warshawski will be here over the course of the weekend, and next week's newsletter will indicate her presence at specific screenings for Q&As. "BIG SONIA is one of those documentaries that seems to bring its own light just like the woman at its center." -Moira MacDonald, The Seattle Times


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In a letter written to Interior Health's CEO, Kaslo's mayor pulls no punches in addressing his community's impending loss of 24/7 emergency department.
"Your announcement of the permanent curtailment of the Emergency Department's days and hours… is hugely disappointing and confirms that your organization has been working toward a predetermined outcome for this community for well over a year," writes Mayor Greg Lay to CEO Robert Halpenny.
"While some of the IHA's commitments to improved primary care may offer a shard of light at the end of very long, dark tunnel, they fall short of representing any competent strategic plan for the future of healthcare in Kaslo and the surrounding area."
Interior Health sent a delegation to last week's village council meeting to inform the community that the ER hours would be cut to 9 to 5 Monday to Friday starting January 6.
Lay suggests that making the announcement before council was "not the right place to break news of this nature to the community at large," he says.
About 200 people gathered outside the chambers to protest IH's direction and their mayor suggests "a full public community meeting in Kaslo, hosted by the IHA, is long overdue."
Lay would like to see the health authority invest in mending its relationship with Kaslovians and takes considerable offense to the delegation's suggestion that citizens are "scaring away potential new physicians" by voicing their frustrations publicly.
He calls it a "woeful approach to fence-mending."
Lay would like to see the Rural Coordination Centre of British Columbia called in as they have been in other rural communities facing the same challenges.
He asks that the IH partner financially should the community take on physician recruitment tasks and suggests that any financial savings from ER cuts be transparent so that the people of Kaslo don't feel victim of a "cost-cutting exercise."
Lay is frustrated that the decision made in his community is based on an urban formula. Low use of an ER doesn't mean it isn't a necessary service.
"By this logic, rural communities must maintain high levels of illness and trauma year-on -year to justify the provision of emergency medical and paramedical services," he says.
Lay says his community wishes to work with IH to find an alternative long-term solution to their challenges, "but cannot disguise our disappointment and justified outrage at the way our community has been treated thus far in this process."


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Coach Roberto Martínez lost his first game in charge of Belgium…and never looked back. 1 Loss, 19 Wins and 5 Draws.
Belgium stretched their unbeaten run to 24 beating Brazil 2-1 and coach Roberto Martinez believes his team can do even better in the semifinal against France.
The Red Devils entered the semi-finals for only the second time after beating Selecao 2-1 in the quarter-finals.
"They did it. You saw incredible heart from this team," BBC Sport quotes Martinez as saying.
"You have to accept that Brazil have finesse and they will break you down but we did not accept it. This is something special. These boys deserve to be real special people back in Belgium.
"I never lost a game on the tactics board, it's the execution that matters and the execution was magnificent. Players have to be brave to change the way we play and we had two days to do it. That is down to desire, they wanted to make it happen.
"It is special. We can't let them down back home now. We have beaten Brazil in the World Cup, we have created a nice memory, let's treasure it and pass it down. Now we need more energy for the semi-final."


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Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls (PS4) – Review
Playing a game where the antagonist wants to rule the planet or end the lives of a particular group of people isn't anything new, but when the antagonist is a group of children whose only goal is to kill all adults…. Well, Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls takes players on a dark, emotional roller coaster. The game takes place between Danganronpa 1 and 2 and acts to fill in the gap between the two stories. Perhaps the most drastic divergence Ultra Despair Girls takes from its predecessors is the shift in genre, from a visual novel to a third-person adventure game with mild shooting mechanics and some light horror elements.
The story focuses on Komaru Naegi, a high school girl who is forced to flee captivity when she is suddenly attacked by a group of murderous black and white robot bears known as Monokumas. Komaru eventually teams up with Toko Fukawa, an estranged member of a force known as Future Foundation, who agrees to help only when she discovers that her "love interest" may have been captured after having helped Komaru. Together, the two uncover the truth behind the Monokumas that have been aggressively, and violently murdering any and all adults they come across; meanwhile a group of children who call themselves The Warriors of Hope have banded together to hunt down every demon (see: adult) in Towa City for no reason other than "it's fun" and have been using the Monokumas to achieve their goal of an adult-free paradise.
As the story unfolds, motivations for the Warriors of Hope start to unfold and what is presented as "just fun" in the eyes of these deranged, parricidal children turns out to be motivated by repressed feelings of child abuse, self-deprivation, depression, sexual abuse, and many other unspeakable acts. The inclusion of hidden collectibles that can be found throughout Towa City include manga and novels that act as dark, deeply disturbing recounts of the last thoughts of adults that have been killed by the children. The game is unabashedly morbid, but it's all to drive a point. Not to be overly depressing however, Ultimate Despair Girls also sprinkles in some comic relief and a healthy dose of fan service through some cringe-worthy dialog between the two protagonists, but also in conversations with the girls and the Warriors of Hope. The writers also enjoy breaking the 4th wall from time to time with one-liners that let the player know they're in on the fan-service nature of the game and they're not afraid to poke fun of the situations the player may find themselves in.
Though Ultra Despair Girls is billed as a third-person action game, it's still very padded with dialog and cut scenes like its visual novel cousins, and it's a good thing because unfortunately gameplay is where the game suffers the most. That's not to say that it's bad, but none of the various elements are particularly good. Combat takes place in a third-person view as Komaru wields a "gun" in the shape of a microphone which fires "truth bullets" which come in a variety of ammo types such as Paralyze, Dance, Break, and Burn.
The interesting twist is that each type of bullet has it's own unique effects on the Monokumas and can be used in various combinations to different outcomes. Shoot a Monokuma with a siren on its back using the Dance bullet and all other Monokumas in the area will be drawn to it. Couple that with "Break" and you can easily pick off all the Monokumas one at a time while they're distracted.
All of this sounds great, and it would be if not for the controls and the camera. Aiming in third-person is done just as you'd expect, yet it feels just slightly aloof and never as precise as it should be, considering the game defaults with laser sight. The inability to quick-fire becomes a problem anytime several enemies start making their way towards Komaru simultaneously. The slow turn radius coupled with the slow rate of fire can make up-close encounters a daunting task. Thankfully there is a 2nd combat option.
By pressing "Δ" the perspective switches from Komaru to Toka's alternate personality, Genocide Jack, a scissor-wielding sociopath with lightning fast reflexes and an immunity to damage. This ability comes at a price and is limited in use due to the need to fill up her special battery gauge. This would almost solve the up-close encounter issue if not for the abhorrent camera controls.
There are two options given to the player, auto-camera, or manual camera. Auto-camera is all but useless and will more often lead to your death than it will help you navigate the open environment, and much like aiming in combat, the manual camera just doesn't feel precise. In the case of Genocide Jack's melee focused combat, the camera doesn't feel equipped to keep up with her blazing quick speed and more time is spent spinning around in circles looking for your next enemy rather than sticking pair of razor-sharp scissors into them.
One of the more unique, if not distracting qualities of Ultimate Despair Girls is its art direction. The moment-to-moment gameplay passes in quality for PS2-era animations and the 3D models wouldn't look out of place in the early days of the PS3. Considering this is a port of a PS Vita game, however, those shortcomings can be forgiven. Where the aforementioned distractions come into play is anytime the game transfers from the player's control to cinematic cut scene or RPG dialog session. These can vary in visual style from one scene to another. Some moments are rendered in a very beautiful anime style cartoon, some are depicted as a voiced-over still image, while others use the in-game models to play out the scene. None of these art styles are bad, but jumping from one to another in between camera moves is a weird development choice.
The writing in Ultimate Despair Girls is where this game shines brightest. Like the games before it, Another Episode relies heavily on the player being engaged in the story. Throughout my time in Towa City I had genuine feelings of sadness and laughter for the characters in this world. Discovering the horrible backstory to each of the Warriors of Hope left me sitting speechless in my chair at the end of each chapter and at times even made me feel guilt for hating them the way I did. Watching Komaru come to grips with her situation and evolve from a timid, average, "nothing special about me" school girl who just wants to run away into a woman who is willing and able to fight back against the despair.
Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls is ultimately a fun, if not morbid, ride that fans and newcomers alike should absolutely embark on. Despite some technical flaws, and the transition from pure visual novel to a 3rd person action, this is every bit a Danganronpa game as its predecessors. Spike Chunsoft may have some technical hurdles to overcome if they want to pursue this genre for future games in the series but they're off to a good start so far.