text:
Students call for flag removal, respect for black lives
Abraham Lincoln, in his Gettysburg Address, spoke of a "new nation," one that was "conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."
Exactly 152 years later, students and community members gathered at the Oregon Capitol demanding this promise be fulfilled.
More than 50 people went to the Capitol on Thursday to speak to the Governor about racism in the United States, especially concerning current events in Oregon dealing with discrimination against people of color.
Earlier in the week, some people at Lewis & Clark College anonymously posted threats targeting black students, using the location-based smartphone app Yik Yak, and attempted to introduce the hashtag #BringBackSlavery.
Other students from the college refused to stand by.
"This is not an isolated occurrence," said Lewis & Clark Black Lives Matter representatives in a prepared statement. "We believe that racism, in all its forms, is exacerbated by federal and state constitutions. Racist threats like Tuesday's create a campus environment that is unsafe for black members of the community and it is time for the government to actively work to resolve enduring state-sanctioned racism."
They argued that the threats made against the black students were a direct violation of Title 42 of the United States Public Health and Welfare mandate, in which Sections 1-102 state that "no individual, on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation, or status as a parent, shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in, a Federally conducted education or training program or activity."
Ryan Seed, a junior at the college, said students shouldn't have to be at the Capitol demanding these things, that this is progress that should have already been made.
"This is not just my struggle," he said, when addressing the protesters. "We need to make a large, systemic change."
In addition to calling on United States and Oregon governments to "recognize a responsibility to eradicate racist threats on campuses across the nation," the group also called for the governor, a Lewis and Clark law school alumna, to remove the Mississippi flag from the Oregon Capitol grounds.
"It is possible for change to happen," said Richard Davis, a reverend at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Salem. "Why should we wait for Mississippi to take their flag down? What if they don't?"
The protesters presented the Governor's office with a petition to take the flag down, along with a letter addressed to the Governor and many other Oregon law makers and officials.
"The flag is an exclusive symbol of racism and exclusivity," Davis said. He added that while there are many other racist symbols still present today, this is one officials can address now.
The group walked to the flag and then made their way inside the Capitol, chanting around the rotunda, their words echoing loudly throughout the building.
Capitol workers came out to see what was going on. The protesters chanted, "The flag is racist; take it down! The flag is hateful; take it down! The flag is not welcome; take it down!"
firstname.lastname@example.com, (503) 399-6745, or follow on Twitter @Nataliempate
For more information or to read the open letter, get general updates and follow news coverage of the Lewis and Clark College Black Lives Matter group, go to www.barryglassdoor.com


text:
- Home
- Frequently Asked Questions
Discover Derm Acte…
Derm Acte is a trademark of Académie Scientifique de Beauté company that delivers cutting-edge dermo-cosmetic treatments.
Each product is formulated with an ultra-powerful active ingredient from the medical world delivering efficacy and visible results to the skin.
Where can I find the active ingredients?
You can find any active ingredients on the box or in the sheet article on the website.
Where can I find the product directions for use?
You can find any product directions for use on the box or in the sheet article on the website.
Are Derm Acte products tested on animals?
None of our products or raw materials are tested on animals in accordance with the European regulation.
Account & Customer Area
Should I create an account to order on DermActe.com website?
To place an order you must create your account. By creating your account on DermActe.com website, you will be allowed to place orders without having to enter your details everytime. You can also follow your orders and download your bills in the "My Orders" section.
How to create an account?
To create an account, click on "My account" in the top right corner of our website page. Enter your e-mail and password to connect. Once you completed this step, you will be redirected to your Customer Area where you will have to enter your details like your Name and Surname or also your address to complete your account creation. You can also complete your registration later when you will place your first order.
How can I change my personal information?
Your personal details can be changed any time from your customer area in the "Personal Details" Area.
Why do I have to provide my phone number?
Your phone number is a usefull information to make the delivery of your order easier. This information is provided to our carrier to contact you in case of need.
I forgot my password.
No worries. You can easily reset your password in your identification page by clicking on "I Forget my password". Then, fill your e-mail address and click on "Send". You will receive an e-mail with a link to create a new password. You will be able to connect again.
Where can I buy Derm Acte products?
You can order our products on DermActe.com. Our products are also available in our partners points of sale. To find your nearest beauty salon, go to our Points of sale section and fill your postal code in the designated fields.
How to buy a product on DermActe.com?
To order one or more products onDermActe.com website, just click on the "Buy" button on the product sheet you want. Once your selection has been confirmed, you will be able to choose up to 5 samples based upon the amount of your order. To finalise your order, you will have to identify or create an account. Once you are identified, you will be able to fill or select your delivery information, choose your delivery mode and payment, and then complete the payment of your order. After your order is paid, you will receive a confirmation e-mail and you will be able to follow your order from your Customer Area.
How to place an order on DermActe.com?
To place an order on DermActe.com website, explor our catalog or use our search engine to find the product(s) you want. Add to your basket by clicking on the "Add to Basket" button on pages of the catalog or on product sheets. Once you finalised your order, go to your basket, check your selection and follow the instructions.
How can I follow my order?
Once you finalised your order, you will receive a confirmation e-mail from us to the e-mail address you provided during the creation of your account. You can easily follow your order by connecting to BronzExpress.fr website in your Custumer area, "My orders" section.
Which payment methods are accepted on the DermActe.com online store?
Online Store DermActe.com accepts payments by credit card (VISA, Mastercard, AMEX), by Paypal or Paylib. To learn more about security and methods of payments, consult our General Terms and Conditions of Sales.
Are payments secured?
All of personal and banking information are secured. BronzExpress.fr website is in https and shows a closed lock in your browser, which proves that our website is secured.
My payment has been refused, what can I do?
After providing your payment information and confirmed your order, our provider question your bank to validate the payment and give the authorization. In case of refusal, please contact your bank. If you are encounter any sort of problem, you can contact our customer service by completing the contact form.
When will I receive my order?
Once your order is finalised, we prepare it with great care and send it in 48 hours to 5 working days depending on your delivery mode choice. For orders placed during the week (from Monday to Friday), we commit ourselves to prepare your order the same day or the following working day. For orders placed Saturday, Sunday or public holidays, we prepare your order on Monday or the following Tuesday. To find out more about order preparation and expedition, consult our General Terms and Conditions of Sales.
Where can I have my order delivered?
You can choose to be delivered at home or in the parcel pick-up point of your choice.
Can I be delivered abroad?
Académie Scientifique de Beauté only delivers to Metropolitan France (including Corsica) and to Monaco. If you live abroad, we invite you to contact us so we can tell you where to find our products.
What delivery methods are offered?
Standard home delivery with So Colissimo. Your parcel will be delivered in 2 to 3 working days.
Delivery in Parcel pick-up point with Kiala UPS Access Point. Your parcel will be delivered in the pick-up point of your choice in 24 to 48 hours (Excluding Week-ends and public holidays).
Fast home delivery with sandard UPS. Your parcel will be delivered in 24 to 48 hours (Excluding Week-ends and public holidays).
Is delivery is with cost?
For all orders equal to or less than 35€, standard delivery by So Colissimo costs 4,95 euros.
For all orders more than 35€, standard delivery by So Colissimo is offered for free.
Delivery in Pick-up point by Kiala UPS Access Point costs 4,95€.
Fast delivery by UPS Standard costs 7,95€.
Can I modify my delivery address?
By default, your delivery address corresponds to your facturation address. You can modify, add or delete a delivery address any time. Either from your Customer Area in the "My orders" section, or during the placement of your order. However, you cannot modify the delivery address once your oder is confirmed.
Return & Refund
Can I return an item?
You can return an article under several conditions. From the moment of receipt, you have 14 (fourteen) days to return one or more items of your order. Returned products must be closed, in their original package, with their accessories, leaflets, in a perfect resale condition and with the return form available in your Customer Area, in the "My Orders" section in the line of the relevant order. Shipping return costs remain payable by the buyer. We also advise you to keep a proof of sending. To find out more about return policy, consult our General Terms and Conditions of Sales.
Can I return or exchange an item purchased online in a partner point of sale?
No, you cannot exchange one or more items bought online on BronzExpress.fr in a partner point of sale. It's also impossible to return an item bought in a partner point of sale, for exchange or refund.
How to return an item?
You can return your article or articles easily in fourteen (14) days from the date of receipt of your order. To return a product, all you have to do is to connect to your Customer Area and to go in the "My orders" section. At the end of the relevant order, click on "Returns". In the summary of the order details, select the article you want to return and the reason for return. Finally, edit and print the return coupon. You can now prepare your parcel to send back your products and attach it the return coupon.
Send your parcel to the following address:
Académie Scientifique de Beauté
Retours Clients
157-189, rue Léon Jouhaux
78507 Sartrouville Cedex
We advise you to keep a proof of sending. We will send you an e-mail to confirm the reception of your order. If sent products are eligible for a refund, it will be done within fourteen (14) days. To find out more about return policy, consult our General Terms and Conditions of Sales.
How long will it take to be refunded?
After the reception of your return order, the product or products are checked. If they correspond to returns conditions specified in General Terms and Condition of Sale, Académie Scientifique de Beauté will proceed to the refund of the product our products concerned within fourteen (14) working days using the same method payment used during the purchase.

subset: commoncrawl


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Wooden Sideboard Brown Sofa Bold Accent Pillows Upholstered Chair Round Coffee Table Wall Mounted Display Cabinet Black Lamp Shade Table Lamp Frarmed Wall Art Piece
Elegant styles of the old times are well known in many aspects. Even interior décor style could come a really long way just to get a great appeal. A decent example is obviously incorporating vintage style with just a bit of elegant accents over it. That combination can create a really charming décor of any interior space just as this apartment done by La Traviesa de Conde Duque. It is a charming space with a somewhat magical appeal over original vintage features and elegant touches of various antique furniture items. There are so many things to enjoy inside this apartment.
It is actually a 19th-century apartment that has been renovated to be fresher than before. In the redesign process, several aspects have been eliminated such as space dividers to provide a larger space. Meanwhile, some of the original elements have been kept and even restored to add a classic accent to the décor. Solid brick walls and wooden beams are the original elements in which they are highly related to the structural matter of the house as well. They are done in fresh colors though to ensure that the vintage accent out of them can clearly and easily be seen.
The living room of this apartment has abundant light for a visually large space to feel. The restored fireplace is there alongside wooden ceiling and walls as the original features of the apartment in this space. A unique looking glass armoire is there as well to deliver a high level of vintage appeal. The chairs are upholstered in a cool way to accompany a comfy sofa and a refined coffee table in this particular space. Meanwhile, inside the bedroom, there is a faux fireplace that adds the style of that space. The large mantel of that fireplace is used as a shelf for books and artworks display. A large wicker chair is there to accentuate the décor further.
Even the bathroom is done uniquely to complement the rest of the space. It has a unique mix of white stucco ceiling, white subway tiles, and bold yellow botanical themed wallpaper. The bathtub is a free-standing one in a vintage style. Different styles can be seen there since an emerald stool alongside a cork one is there. In the end, it is totally true that perfect mix of the old and the new can be seen all over this beautiful apartment originated from the 19th century.
Wooden Beams Rough Stone Walls Wooden Flooring Vintage Chairs Round Vintage Coffee Table Pendants Fireplace
White Free Standing Bathtub Emerald Stool Metal Small Stool Wooden Top White Subway Tiles Half Wall Covering Bold Yellow Floral Wallpaper White Framed Window
Faux Fireplace Books Sculptural Base Table Lamp White Bedding Natural Wooden Beams Wicker Chair Blue Lamp Shade Table Lamp Pink Bed Spread Candle Holders Candles Framed Wall Art Piece
Rough Stone Walls Bold Yellow Rocker Green Round Crib Bed A Dog Faux Fur Rug Chequered Tiles Flooring White Finished Cabinet Wooden Sideboard Wooden Ceiling Beams Colorful Decorative Accents
Vintage Chandelier Colorful Flowers Wooden Dining Table Wooden Chairs Wall Mounted Glass Display Cabinet Walll Mirror Fireplace Wooden Sideboard
Wooden Ceiling Beams Wooden Flooring Low Coffee Table Brown Sofa Bold Accent Pilloes Blue Lamp Shade Floor Lamp Books Interior Radiator
Fireplace Wooden Flooring Wooden Chairs And Low Round Coffee Table Wooden Console Books Framed Mirror Sculptural Base Table Lamp White Lamp Shade Unique Pendant Lamp
White Finished Kitchen Cabinets And Island Wooden Stool Natural Wooden Countertops And Tabletops Square White Tiles Backsplash Pendant Lamp Rough Stone Wall White Framed Windows


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Caire opens service center
By HME News Staff
Updated Tue August 2, 2016
BALL GROUND, Ga. - Caire, a Chart Industries Company, has opened a new service center in Corpus Christi, Texas. The 5,000-square-foot center, which will operate through a partnership with ReOx Medical Services, a well-known resource for respiratory equipment repair, will employ 10. "This new Caire-Authorized Service Center answers a critical need for our providers in Texas," said Lanier Hogan, Caire technical service manager. "By partnering with ReOx, we ensure a smooth and quality experience for our customers in this local market." Services provided at the facility will include pick-up and delivery in select locations, fast turnaround, and factory authorized warranty and out-of-warranty repairs for the Caire portfolio of stationary oxygen concentrators.


text:
There is no failure except in no longer trying.
(Chinese fortune cookie, author unknown)
When Thomas Edison invented the light bulb,
- he tried over 2000 experiments before he got it to work.
A young reporter asked him how it felt to fail so many times.
He said, "I never failed once. I invented the light bulb.
It just happened to be a 2000-step process."
Wilma Rudolph was the 20th of 22 children.
- She was born prematurely and
- her survival was doubtful.
- When she was 4 years old,
- she contacted double pneumonia and scarlet fever,
which left her with a paralysed left leg.
- At age 9,
- she removed the metal leg brace she had been dependent on and began
to walk without it.
- By 13 she had developed a rhythmicwalk,
- which doctors said was a miracle.
- That same year she decided to become a runner.
- She entered a race and came in last.
For the next few years every race she entered, she came in last.
Everyone told her to quit, but she kept on running.
One day she actually won a race. And then another.
- From then on she won every race she entered.
- Eventually this little girl, who was told she would never walk again,
went on to win three Olympic gold medals.
In 1962, four nervous young musicians
- played their first record audition for the executives of the Decca
recording Company.
- The executives were not impressed.
- While turning down this group of musicians, one executive said,
"We don't like their sound.
- Groups of guitars are on the way out."
The group was called "The Beatles".
In 1944, Emmeline Snively, director of the Blue Book Modelling Agency,
told modeling hopeful Norma Jean Baker,
- "You'd better learn secretarial work or else get married."
She went on and became Marilyn Monroe.
In 1954, Jimmy Denny, manager of the Grand Ole Opry, Fired a singer after
one performance. He told him, "You ain't goin' nowhere....son.
You ought to go back to drivin' a truck."
He went on to become the most popular singer in America named Elvis Presley.
Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876,
After making a demonstration call, President Rutherford Hayes said,
"That's an amazing invention, but who would ever want to use one of them?"
In the 1940s, another young inventor named Chester Carlson took his idea to 20 corporations, including some of the biggest in America.
They all turned him down.
In 1947 - after seven long years of rejections! He finally got a tiny company
in Rochester, New York, the Haloid company, to purchase the rights to his
invention an electrostatic paper-copying process.
Haloid became Xerox Corporation we know today.
The Moral of the above Stories
Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.
Only through experiences of trial and suffering
- can the soul be strengthened,
- vision cleared,
- ambition inspired and
- success achieved.
You gain strength, experience and confidence by every single experience where you really stop to look fear in the face.
You must do the thing you cannot do.
And remember, the finest steel gets sent through the hottest furnace.
A winner is not one who never fails, but one who NEVER QUITS!


text:
Integration with Apache Camel, ServiceMix and ActiveMQ
Sr. RedHat Architect
Friday, March 27, 2009
ServiceMix 4 as a Web Application Server
In standard, the following bundles are installed :
[ 9] [Active ] [ ] [ 8] OPS4J Pax Logging - API (1.3.0)
[ 10] [Active ] [ ] [ 8] OPS4J Pax Logging - Service (1.3.0)
[ 11] [Active ] [ ] [ 5] OPS4J Pax Url - wrap: (0.3.3)
[ 12] [Active ] [ ] [ 5] OPS4J Pax Url - mvn: (0.3.3)
They are used to log information of the server and to install or wrap bundles. Nevertheless, PAX project is not limited to the mentioned bundles but proposes also Web support for jetty.
To install or transform ServiceMix as a Web Application Server, you can use the "web" and "web-core" feature (available under ServiceMix 4) or install the following bundles manually :
- OPS4J Pax Web - Web Container (0.5.2)
- OPS4J Pax Web - Jsp Support (0.5.2)
- OPS4J Pax Web Extender - WAR (0.5.0)
- OPS4J Pax Web Extender - Whiteboard (0.5.0)
- OPS4J Pax Url - war:, war-i: (0.3.3)
- Apache ServiceMix Bundles: jetty-6.1.14 (184.108.40.206)
The Web Application Server becomes available at the url http://localhost:8080.
Evidently, no jsp pages, servlets are available. Don't worry, to deploy a WAR, you only have to copy it to the deploy directory of ServiceMix and it will convert be converted as a bundle
By example, you can install a simple Hello World war using the command
install war:file:///d:/temp/sample.war?Webapp-Context=sample
remarks :
- file:/// must be changed according to the location of your war
- The parameter WebApp-Context is added to have a nicer web address
and see the result at the address : http://localhost:8080/sample/index.html
Yes, this looks beautiful but the web port number is 8080, my boss would like to secure the web site, change the session timeout, ....
This is very simple to do, you create a file named (org.ops4j.pax.web.cfg) and copy it in the directory etc of servicemix, in this file you can parametrize by example the following properties (see PAX for more information) :
You restart Servicemix and now the web site is available at the following address :
9 comments:
- Ade said...
Very nice! Thanks for blogging this useful feature. We should see about getting you write access to the servicemix Wiki so that maybe you could add content like this directly to the Apache online documentation?
Keep up the good work!
- March 27, 2009 at 3:51 PM
- cmoulliard said...
Since I already have access to Camel wiki web site, it makes sense that you provide me access to the ServiceMix wiki.
- March 27, 2009 at 3:57 PM
- led said...
Congratulations for your post!
Did you deployed a war file that uses jsp tag files? Im trying to deploy activeMQ 5.2.0 web console, but im having problems with the tag file inside /web-inf/tags/*.tag . As far i know paxWebExtender loads tld files from the web-inf folder. But in this case, it seems that pax is not handling .tag files (jsp 2 spec)
- March 30, 2009 at 2:00 PM
- cmoulliard said...
Hi Led,
Many thanks for your greetings.
I haven't tested a deployment of project including tld files. I will test it. I'm almost sure that the MANIFEST file does not include/import the files and in consequence are not loaded by PAX Web JSP bundle
FYI : here is the list of what is exported by PAX Web JSP. As you can see JSP 2.1 is supported :
Export-Package = javax.servlet.jsp.tagext;uses:="javax.servlet.jsp";version="2.1.0",javax.servlet.jsp.el;uses:="javax.servlet.http,javax.servlet,javax.servlet.jsp,javax.e
Have you modified the MANIFEST file as explained in the documentation : http://wiki.ops4j.org/display/ops4j/Pax+Web+-+Jsp ?
- March 30, 2009 at 2:55 PM
- led said...
Nice charles! If pax jsp supports jsp 2.1 spec, i must missing something or the pax-web-jsp bundle :)
the pax web jsp wiki say that the taglib support do two things: 1)look for all tld files in any jar referenced by your Bundle-ClassPath manifest entry
1) look for all tld files in WEB-INF directory or sub-directory of WEB-INF in your bundle jar
maybe the pax web jsp put on the class path just .tld files and misses .tag files... im saying that because my tag files are in a WEB-INF sub folder, where as the wiki says, its a valid place to put .tld files.
- March 30, 2009 at 3:32 PM
- cmoulliard said...
Here is what you have to do in order to solve your problem :
Create a file activemq-web-console.bnd and place it in c:/temp/ with the following content:
Bundle-Classpath=., WEB-INF/tags/form, WEB-INF/tags/jms
and then use on SMX4 the command:
install war-i:file:///c:/temp/activemq-web-console-5.2.0.bnd
- March 30, 2009 at 3:35 PM
- led said...
I did what you said in the previous post and im still having the problem;
Above is a part of osgi headers (MANIFEST) form my war deployed on the SMX 4.
Bundle-ClassPath = WEB-INF/classes,.,WEB-INF/tags/jms/*.tag,WEB-INF/tags/form/tooltip.tag,WEB-INF/tags/form/*.tag,
No even pointing to the specific .tag file , i get the problem solved
The exception is: "org.apache.jasper.JasperException: /topics.jsp(49,75) No tag "tooltip" defined in tag library imported with prefix "form".
Did you tested your bnd customization solution with the activemq-web-console 5.2.0 ???
many thanks for your atention!
PS: im also questioning alin from OPS4J in his blog.
- March 30, 2009 at 4:16 PM
- led said...
I've posted in Alin's blog (http://adreghiciu.blogspot.com/2009/03/ops4j-pax-web-ahead-of-its-time.html) and he told to use pax web snapshot bundles. The released bundles at the moment don't support tag files.
thanks for your atention!
- March 31, 2009 at 1:04 PM
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- June 23, 2009 at 3:55 PM


text:
1. Do we have motorbike parking?
Yes, we do provide free and secured motorbike parking for in-house guests.
2. Do we have elevator?
Yes, although our buildings are not condos, elevators are equipped to make our life easier.
3. Do we have security and curfews?
Yes and No. We have security 24/7. Although our gates are not always open, guests are always provided with a gate key at their check-in to access the gates on their own.
4. Do we have high speed internet?
Yes, we register high-speed internet package. However, network cables are sometimes interrupted due to traffic, technical problems, or simply weather. We do provide a back up 4G sim in the event of urgency and upon demand.
5. How many people a room can accommodate?
All of our rooms are designated as studios and queen sized beds. A room can accommodate 1 person or a couple. We do provide extra bed, however a room should not accommodate more than 4 adults to guarantee the quality of stay.
6. Are our rooms kids friendly?
It really depends on how old the kids are. Usually the rooms with the loft are not recommended for infants-toddlers, however the others should be fine.
7. Are the rooms disabled-friendly?
We do have elevator and security guys to help the disabled-guests. We highly recommend the rooms without the lofts for the disabled.


text:
Home Tags Mpeg
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Switching on a television set in the evenings is a habit for most. Surfing through the channels we may find a telecast we like and go on to watch. While there are no issues on most days, you might...
Network Consists of Further Focused Websites (Channels)
© Copyright 2022 - EFY Group


text:
AMERICAN ANIMALS (no distrib): It's not easy to come up with a new spin on the venerable heist movie genre, but writer/director Bart Layton has managed just that with American Animals. Layton had been until now a documentarian, and here he intercuts between his dramatized version of a real life robbery in which four college students targeted rare books by Audubon and Darwin worth millions, with actual interviews he conducted with the criminals themselves (and a few others). The result isn't just a rousing and sometimes very funny thriller, but a commentary on fiction vs. reality and on the difficulty of pinning reality down at all, since often the interviewees here disagree about key elements of their own story. This is Layton's first try at directing actors, and he seems to be a natural, with turns by Barry Keoghan, Evan Peters, Blake Jenner and Jared Abrahamson that aren't overshadowed even when they're contradicted by their living counterparts. (Ann Dowd, as ever, is also splendid in a small but key role.) Sharply edited by Chris Gill, and with some particularly effective use of musical needle-drops, American Animals makes its meta-ness work in its favor.
THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER (no distrib): Sarah Colangelo's adaptation of an Israeli drama gives Maggie Gyllenhaal the opportunity to take center stage for an intense character study. She plays Lisa Spinelli, a New York public school teacher who discovers that Jimmy, an often inexpressive 5-year old in her class, may be a poetry prodigy, a veritable Mozart able to summon powerful form and imagery seemingly out of nothing. Lisa packs all of her yearnings and dissatisfactions with her own life into Jimmy, in increasingly damaging and obsessive ways. The Kindergarten Teacher is a very tiny film that isn't likely to find much audience interest, and plot developments late in the story become contrived to the point of being unconvincing. Jimmy, as well, is conceived as such a blank slate that he's more a premise than a person. But Lisa is a full-blooded, complicated creation, and Gyllenhaal plays her to the hilt, emotionally comprehensible even as the character veers toward self-destruction and heartbreak.


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Far Cry 5 Review
REVIEW | Will this new pilgrimage take the series to the promised land?
I come into Far Cry 5 with a bit of skepticism. I've somewhat enjoyed the series, but I've only beaten Far Cry 3 and Primal. The rest I've tasted: played for a while, but never really committed to. I'm not fully onboard this franchise. So I'm shocked to say I enjoyed my time with Far Cry 5 from intriguing start to insane finish.
The overall feel of Far Cry 5 remains the same as previous games in the series. It's still an first-person open-world action game where players have to shoot, drive, hunt, and stealth kill their way to success. If you've played a Far Cry game since Far Cry 3, jumping into Far Cry 5 should be easy.
Take Me Home, Country Roads
The Far Cry series has always operated as a fictional travelogue to an "exotic" region. Far Cry 3 took place in the Rook Islands, a fictional pair of islands somewhere between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Far Cry 4 traded the sea for the mountain peaks of Kyrat, a fake region in the Himalayas. Far Cry 5 takes the franchise to the fictional region of Hope County, Montana, which feels decidedly less interesting until you really get in there and start wandering around.
Ubisoft has made a few changes to encourage that wandering. Gone are the infamous "Ubisoft Towers" that featured in many of their open-world adventures; one character even jokes early on "I'm not going to have you climbing towers." Instead, you find new locations by getting there in-person, having a mission send you in that direction, or finding a bit of intel from a discarded note or local townsperson. The mini-map is gone, replaced with a Skyrim-style compass at the top of your screen.
There are still a few waypoints on the map, letting you know that something worthwhile is in the unexplored darkness of the map, but there's also a ton out there that requires you to actually hoof it out there to find something. Having finished the game, I still haven't found a few cult structures and I assume they're in the big parts of the map I haven't charted yet.
I admit, this focus on being in the world helps Far Cry 5. Between the three major regions of the game-Holland Valley, Henbane River, and the Whitetail Mountains-there's a good bit of differentiation in terms of layout and look. Holland Valley is the flattest region, full of farmlands and prairies; the Henbane River region features hot springs and marshes, while being mining country; and the Whitetail Mountains not only has higher elevations on its side, it also a completely different set of flora and ground cover in comparison to the rest. There's also more building interiors this time around and Ubisoft has gone out of its way to make these buildings feel formerly lived in. (Cultists hurt property values.)
I played primarily on PlayStation 4 Pro and found some of the vistas stunning to look it; this is a damned beautiful game and as a person who firmly lives in suburban and metropolitan areas, I'll take this glimpse into the wide open spaces of the US. The PS4 Pro sounded like a jet engine at times, but performance was pretty solid for a game that throws as much at you as it does. I wouldn't say it's a locked 30 fps, but it didn't hitch too hard for me.
Long May You Run
To help you get around the world, the wingsuit returns from Far Cry 3, the grappling hook is back from Far Cry 4, and Ubisoft has added helicopters and planes to the roster of available vehicles. The plane is a nice option, but having to do wide sweeps whenever I needed to turn around was a bit annoying. While you can fast-travel, once I unlocked a good helicopter, it was my preferred way of getting around. You can't discover new areas from high in the air, but it does help give you a bird's eye view of what's going on.
Those new vehicles can also be customized this time around. Much like the weapon modification system from previous Far Cry titles, not every vehicle can get a personal touch, but with some you can add new paintjobs and some weapons to the mix. I ended up using the "named" vehicles you unlock with story missions instead of customizing my ride, because how can I turn down rides like The Widowmaker, a big rig with machine guns? (You can't.)
You'll be tackling Hope County with the new rides, but you're never really alone in Far Cry 5. Ubisoft has expanded on the Guns for Hire system found in Far Cry 4. By liberating certain areas and freeing lone townspeople, you can hire them to be on call. They'll shoot what you tell them to, revive you in combat, and they're even pretty good at stealth kills. Beyond the random townsfolk though, there are new special Guns for Hire characters.
These characters are split between the three regions, with three of the nine "named" Guns for Hire being in each region. Each one has a speciality that will come in handy. Hurk returns from previous games as an RPG-wielding vehicle killer, while Sharky Boshaw has a similar zest for life and penchant for using a flamethrower. Hurk's mother Adelaide Drubman features here too as one of the vehicle-using Guns of Hire, taking to the skies in her helicopter. Cheeseburger the bear is a pure tank, which is good because he just attacks whatever he feels like.
Once you've unlocked all of them, you'll settle into a good pair that you'll keep active most of the time. I'm stealth heavy, so I went with Jess Black, a surly, hoodie-wearing archer, and Peaches, the quiet cougar. Neither is great in a huge firefight, but they're damned good at killing quitely, provided you stay hidden. Ubisoft even went the extra mile and added a little banter between Guns for Hire; they have unique dialog depending on who you have active.
You can also play the entire campaign in cooperative mode. Doing so shuts off most of the Guns for Hire system, but as a trade-off, you have another fully-functional murder machine. It's here that another change in Far Cry 5 appears: character customization. You can choose a male of female character for the silent persuasion, pick your look and then deck yourself out in a wide variety of clothes. Some you buy in shops, while others are unlocked for completing missions. In solo mode, you only see your look in Wanted posters, but cooperative allows you to see other players in all their customized glory.
On the Hunt
While the changes to exploration are generally great, I did have a problem with the changes to crafting this time around. In previous games, players would hunt local animals and then use the materials to craft gear and weapon upgrades. In Far Cry 5, all weapons upgrades are purchased and character upgrades are done via the new Perks skill tree.
Montana has a wide variety of animals to hunt or avoid, including bears, moose, deer, or bison. There's also murderous creatures you should avoid, like the wolverine or turkey. (Seriously, turkeys are evil.) Ubisoft also added a whole new fishing system to Far Cry 5, probably spending more time on it than they needed to. Fishing in the game has its own unique mechanics, there are different rods and lures, and different fish inhabit certain bodies of water. It's pretty calming to just cast your reel out into the lake for a calm moment.
The problem is there's no real reason to hunt or fish. Capturing each animal or fish a couple of times finishes off set challenges that earn you Perk Points to learn new skills. After a specific challenge is done, all the pelts and fish are just sold en masse at general stores. There's no real need to hunt once you've done a challenge.
Crafting is vastly pared down compared to previous games; outside of building bombs, which is done via materials you'll find around homes. It's a shame, because tracking and hunting specific creatures was one of the highlights of Far Cry: Primal. To see it mostly left by the wayside here is a step back.
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
The other half of most Far Cry games is a look at fictional religions and that's also on display here. Your antagonists are a vaguely Christian cult called The Project at Eden's Gate. (Known by the local populace as "Peggies".) Under the control of Joseph Seed, the Father, the cult has slowly taken over the town, converting the local populace and taking over the infrastructure.
Each of the three regions in the game is under the control of one of the father's lieutenants. Holland Valley is John Seed's place, and John prefers to convert his followers through coercion and guile. The Henbane River is Faith Seed's region, full of the Bliss flowers that she turns into drugs to calm the people. The enforcer Jacob Seed controls the Whitetail Mountains, subjecting the locals with fear and his alpha pack philosophy.
In each area, you'll destroy local cult structures, tear down the infrastructure used for its specific industry, and get to know the local freedom fighters through story missions. Doing so doesn't clear up areas of the map, instead it gains you Resistance Points in the area. It's here that Far Cry 5's major problem rears its head. When you reach a certain point in a region's Resistance meter, Far Cry 5 shunts you from one game to another.
The narrative of Far Cry 5 is built on the cult's control of Hope County and the opening hours bleed tension and a dark tone, not unlike Resident Evil 7 or Outlast. You're an average Sheriff's Deputy tasked with arresting a local cult leader and of course, everything goes wrong. Cults are scary things that can ruin lives and Far Cry 5 trades on that fear.
After this prologue, the game only returns to this feeling during these Cult Leader sections. You're sent to meet with the region's leader face-to-face, where you'll get an idea of what makes them tick, sometimes ending in a mission. These sections carry the heavier tone of Far Cry 5's narrative, a story of people drugged, tortured, murdered, and turned against their friends.
But the rest of Far Cry 5 is a playground of destruction. It's you riding around Montana, listening to great classic rock as you throw a stick of dynamite out the window. It's living up to the dream of stuntman Clutch Nixon as you race though crazy time trials. It's sniping cultists from far away as the bear mows them down and other guy lights them on fire.
One game is horror. The other is action. Occasionally, they meet, but it's an odd pairing and it's not helped by the fact that the Cult Leader missions completely stop you from doing whatever it was you were doing before. You can be working on another mission, only to pass out or get taken and wake up in one of these missions. It's a weird mechanic and I wish Ubisoft would let me choose when to switch over to these sequences.
It's weird, because I enjoy both games. The horror side of things really does work: it's dark, interesting, very trippy at times, and Ubisoft tries to make a morality play in the style of Bioshock Infinite. (Read: I see what they're getting at even if the execution doesn't entirely work. No, shooting at the folks impaling other folks isn't bad.) And the playground is fun as hell; I actually looked forward to exploring more of Hope County and taking down more cultists with my ninja crew. But more so than other Far Cry titles, I felt like I was playing two different great games, instead of a single one.
Down At The Arcade
I guess I should say three great games, because Far Cry 5 also comes with Far Cry Arcade. Arcade is the multiplayer-centric side of Far Cry, expanded into what feels like its own thing focused heavily around player-created content.
You can play either solo or cooperatively through maps built for one of four gameplay modes. Journey maps have you trying to reach an exit, and sometimes even without fighting. The others are more combat heavy: Assault maps charge players with killing a certain number of targets, Bounty Hunt has you killing specific targets before trying to escape, and Outpost maps work like Far Cry 5's Outposts, where you need to kill everyone within the area to clear the map. There's also full multiplayer maps, built for Deathmatch or Team Deathmatch (6v6).
Previous Far Cry games have had a similar map editor, but what's different with Far Cry Arcade's Editor is its far more robust. For one, Ubisoft has loaded it up with pre-made characters, objects, and structures from Far Cry 5, Far Cry 4, Far Cry Primal, Watch Dogs, Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, and Assassin's Creed: Unity. Beyond that though, the Editor offers a wide variety of terrain, effects, gameplay modifiers, and more. You can change the sky box, the weather, set up the AI, add audio and environmental effect; it honestly feels like Ubisoft is trying to built the biggest map editor yet.
You can play through user created maps in Far Cry Arcade using your campaign character. Finishing maps (or even just playing them) nets you experience, which gives you Perk Points and money when you level. You use the same character in campaign or Arcade, with skills carrying through on either mode. You can also play Arcade Hero mode, which throws you at random new maps for double experience gain as a way to get players to rate new content.
I admit the Deathmatch feels a bit janky in some of the maps currently available and matchmaking takes forever, but the Solo/Coop experiences show a lot of promise. One Ubisoft map has you clearing an outpost on top of buildings in a sunken city. A good Bounty Hunt map had me sneaking through a prison to get to my target, starting with only a single throwing knife. There's a lot of great stuff that can happen in Far Cry Arcade if you're willing to open yourself to it. I even tried the Map Editor, but I had Minecraft Syndrome: big dreams, but no desire to put in the time to build those dreams.
I have problems with Far Cry 5. The fighting tones of the game's narrative and the rest of the game world is a problem, and Ubisoft's method of pushing you between them isn't great. I wish crafting and hunting were more meaningful. At the end of the day though, I had a great time with Far Cry 5. Montana might be my favorite setting outside of Primal's Oros, as it provides just enough differentiation to keep the experience novel, while not being as annoying to get around as Far Cry 4 was. I was on the ride for most of the game (right up until that ending, which I'll write about in another article), and I can't always say the same for other Far Cry titles.
It's one of the best in the modern version of the series and that's before you take into account Far Cry Arcade. Great job all around Ubisoft.
Far Cry 5 is a game that struggles in trying to serve two purposes. On one hand, there's a dark, horrific tale of a cult taking over a small town. On the other, it's a playground of destruction, letting players fly and drive around, blowing up things with a bear and a dog. Both sides are good, but they don't really meet in the middle. If you can survive the tonal whiplash, you'll find a great game here and Far Cry Arcade only makes it better.


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There's a new Vice episode about autism, and they pack a lot of good information into 40 minutes. The first featured kid, Griffin, is a lot more like Dar than most media representations of autism. Like Dar, Griffin is seven, male, non-verbal, uses a tablet for a talker, and it's a minor miracle when he can express his needs. So for those of you who are reading this and want a video sense of what Dar is like (something I don't provide here), go ahead and watch the latest Vice from HBO.
For the first time ever, we are airbnb-ing our in-law studio. It's a transitional time before our next tenant moves in on September 1st. The entrance is through a gate in the backyard, and the backyard is one of Dar's favorite places to walk around and "tee-tee-tee." I've been trying to keep him from doing it quite so much with the airbnb-ers around, because 1) noise, 2) danger. We ask them to keep the gate locked but there's a slight chance they'll forget and Dar will escape. The problem is that if Dar feels frustrated about remaining inside, he may scream incessantly, leaving the airbnb-ers to wonder if we've caged a farm animal and have decided to flay its flesh, follicle by follicle. I guess it's not that different from having a baby or keeping kids busy on a rainy day, but it feels like more of an ordeal.
Shopping for a new dog presents similar issues. Over the weekend, we were THIS close to adopting a dog named Jox from the Milo Foundation. The whole family was out in Richmond (not as easy as it sounds) and we took a long walk and had a great bonding experience with this total-sweetheart animal. I mean, Jox was practically in our car when this one Milo employee, who reminded me of Adam Driver, warned me off. He explained that Jox is great at Milo, but when people have fostered him (and brought him back) they reported on his unpredictability. He's never drawn blood, but he gets very growly over things he thinks are his (food, toys). Unfortunately, that's a red-flag for Dar. Of course we can teach our five-year-old never to touch dog stuff, but of course we cannot teach our seven-year-old anything close to that. You never know when Dar will grab something and finger it for a while. So…bye-bye, otherwise ideal dog.
We tend not to put icons on the iPad that we don't want Dar to ask for. This sometimes creates a problem, because Dar wants to ask for certain things, and we're not even letting him ask for them. Every day lately, he wants to go to the Rose Garden/Codornices. They're only a block away, but it's not always practical for us to go. He stands at the front door, stamping his foot with frustration as I keep saying "not available." Sometimes I think we don't need to adopt a dog, because Dar is already acting the part.
He's becoming more willful, but also more obsessed by routines. Most days lately, he wants a car ride, a trip to the Rose Garden/Codornices, backyard time, a bath, and my presence at night as he falls asleep. The latter two are more high-maintenance than they may sound. I'm not worried about him drowning in the bath, and I like that he cleans his disgustingly dirty self, but I don't like him often pushing the bathwater out of the bath. I can keep putting towels on the floor, but that's not great. I can drain the water, but I feel bad for him.
I know I blogged about this before, but the problem of him wanting me next to him at night is getting worse. He sits on the couch in the living room (he won't be anywhere else) and literally screams the minute I walk away. It has to be me, not his mother. That means he screams if I go to the kitchen for a late snack, but it also means I can't read his brother to sleep anymore. Dar is taking away one of the great pleasures of my life. Could I put his brother in the living room for reading? Maybe, but that doesn't feel like the right place for him to fall asleep. So now I have wifey read the brother to sleep. But I miss that time. I miss watching his brother discovering worlds in books. (I know what you're thinking, but Dar will not sit still for a book for more than a few seconds.)
If you have two kids, remember to treasure each and every moment that they play with each other and keep themselves busy. We have two kids and we have had maybe three moments like that, ever. Our kids don't relate to each other in any way, and don't want to. So, when wifey is away, I basically have the issues of any single parent, only doubled. In other words, I have to play all the games with each kid. I have to run. I have to hide. I have to get the creative supplies.
In some ways, this post reflects our dogless dog days of summer. We normally qualify for coverage, that is, 90 hours of state-paid baby-sitting. But we've used all our hours for the season, so now I'm watching Dar, waiting for school to start, applying for jobs, and trying to finish book revisions.
The latter two aren't anywhere near easy, less so when Dar approaches me every few minutes with a request he can barely articulate.
But every so often, he'll let me work while he watches cartoons. And every so often during that every so often, he'll smile at me and clap. That's his sign that he wants me to clap in response. I do. And we may share a few claps. That kind of joyful communication is something I am always happy to make time for.


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Coming Home to Windows Home Server, Part 26
Mar 1, 2010 10:13 AM,
By Eric B. Rux
Special Micro Business Edition
Figure 1.(See larger version of image.)
Just like many home networks, "micro businesses" (business with 10 or fewer employees) do not always have the luxury of nightly backups or remote connectivity. These networks are usually setup in a workgroup fashion with no centralized server and basic Internet connectivity. Microsoft's Windows Home Server is the perfect solution for these businesses. Unfortunately, the product is marketed exclusively to the home market and is only found in retailers like Best Buy.
Related Links
Coming Home to Windows Home Server Series
Welcome Home! In this series, Eric B. Rux—Windows Home Server MVP—breaks down the Windows Home Server (WHS) with useful tips, new add-ins, problems solvers, and the latest news. …
When Microsoft and HP realized that a large percentage (around 25 percent, I was told by Microsoft some time ago) of the Home Server install base was from the micro business market, they knew they had a winner on their hands. In order to make it easier for value added resellers (VARs) to get their hands on a Home Server, HP created a new product based on their highly successful MediaSmart Server, called the HP StorageWorks X510 Data Vault.
HP sent me a unit last month to put through its paces. The one I received came with two 1TB drives for a total of 2TB of space and retails for around $800. You can purchase the X510 in 1TB, 2TB, or 3TB configurations. The 3TB unit comes with two 1.5TB drives (instead of three, 1TB drives). I recommend at least the 2TB model as this will allow you to protect your data by storing it on multiple drives.
Figure 2.See larger image.
The first thing that I noticed about the X510 was the packaging. HP has forgone the flashy packaging reserved for home products and instead packages the Data Vault in a plain brown box. The other visual differences are also purely cosmetic, such as slightly different branding, and an all black color scheme.
Just like the first HP Home server (the MediaSmart Server), the setup begins with plugging in the server to power and your home/business network. As soon as the lights Data Vault start to slowly flash green, you can insert the client setup CD into your PC and start the DataVault setup process.
Once you answer a few easy questions, you're ready to log onto the console. The first time I logged in, I knew that this wasn't the old Media Smart server that I was used to; this one was fast. When I was in Redmond, Wash., with the Home Server Team a couple of weeks ago, I was told that the new Data Vault was the fastest HP Home Server available, and wow, they were right. When I used a CPU identification program, CPU-Z, it verified what I suspected:
- Original Media Smart Server: AMD Sempron 3400+ single core with 512M of memory
- New DataVault Server: Intel Pentium E5200 dual core with 2048M of memory
After I was logged in, I was greeted with the familiar Windows Home Server Console. The brand DataVault can be seen in various parts of the product, but it's clear from the console screen and the System Tray icon that the DataVault is built on top of Windows Home Server. This may or may not be a turn off for potential buyers. I personally feel that it is, and wish that Microsoft and HP would have worked closer together to change the name from Home Server to DataVault, or Micro Server, etc. Time will tell if affects sales of the unit.
I was also disappointed to see that the DataVault includes a trial version of McAfee's antivirus. After the Home Server Console and System Tray icon are configured, a popup notifies the user that the antivirus is ready for installation, but never mentions that it is a trial. This has been an issue for some time (I let the marketing folks at Microsoft and HP know about this last year, but I see that they are still including the add-in trial).
Most micro businesses do not have the resources to setup a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for remote access capability. Windows Home Server makes setting up remote access super easy, and it even provides you with your own "YourName.HomeServer.com" address. HP adds to this functionality by allowing you to easily create your own domain name during the remote access setup. HP uses TZO.com to accomplish this for you. Cost is $9.99 per year (free the first year). (Note that this feature is also available in the HP MediaServer version as well)
There are some features special to the DataVault, such as iPhone Streaming and an HP Video Converter that converts videos to MPEG-4. Like most features that are included in Home Server, I found these features to be extremely intuitive and easy to setup. Figures 1 and 2 show the first HP MediaSmart Server, and the new HP DataVault Server to give you a comparison between the consoles.
If you want to protect the data at your micro business and have easy remote connectivity while you are not in the office, then the HP DataVault Server is a great choice. This new Home Server is crazy fast. It does bother me that this "business server" has the word "home" plastered all over it. If you can ignore it (and more importantly, if the VAR's customers can ignore it), then I think HP may have a winner on their hands. Heck, I think I'll get one for my home!
What are you doing with your Home Server? I'd love to hear from you. Contact me.


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Yesterday morning we drove into the city for church - a quick drive if you're leaving early enough. Directly following, we jumped in a cab headed down Amsterdam and stopped in Midtown for brunch at El Centro (one of our favorites in our old neighborhood) and an eastward walk to Rockefeller Center.
There are hints of the Christmas season all over the city - wreaths, twinkle lights and store displays appearing overnight. In just a couple more weeks, there will be tree stands, music, gingerbread smells piping from coffee shops. I hate to rush through Thanksgiving, because it deserves its own moment, but I seem to get ahead of myself every year.
How fortunate, to be alive in this very moment.


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Topic: Dev Zoom
Is everything okay? We are use to seeing posts from you ever week at least twice and your last post was on the 11th and we haven't heard anything blog related in a month or two. Observing on my end Perpetuum has become a forced project instead of enjoying a game you've developed. I hope that's not the case and all is well.
Dev Zoom: I think its time to confess, Ville is my alt
Dev Zoom: Ville can be sometimes so sane it's scary.


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A crown (or cap) is a covering that encases the entire tooth surface restoring it to its original shape and size. A crown protects and strengthens tooth structure that cannot be restored with fillings or other types of restorations.
Although there are several types of crowns, porcelain (tooth colored crown) are the most popular. Dr. St.Germain in most cases will use his State of the art Cerec machine to create your tooth colored crown while you wait. These crowns are highly durable and will last many years, but like most dental restorations, they may eventually need to be replaced. Porcelain crowns are made by the Cerec machine to match the shape, size, and color or your teeth giving you a natural, long-lasting beautiful smile.
Reasons for crowns:
What does getting a crown involve?
A crown procedure usually requires two appointments. Your first appointment will include taking several highly accurate molds (or impressions) that will be used to create your custom crown. A mold will also be used to create a temporary crown which will stay on your tooth for approximately two weeks until your new crown is fabricated by a dental laboratory.
While the tooth is numb, the dentist will prepare the tooth by removing any decay and shaping the surface to properly fit the crown. Once these details are accomplished, your temporary crown will be placed with temporary cement and your bite will be checked to ensure you are biting properly.
At your second appointment your temporary crown will be removed, the tooth will be cleaned, and your new crown will be carefully placed to ensure the spacing and bite are accurate.
You will be given care instructions and encouraged to have regular dental visits to check your new crown.
I was a patient of Dr.St.Germain for years before a family member decided we needed a change. At my first appointment the new dentist looked in my mouth and said "Wow" Three times. When I inquired he told me he was admiring the work of my previous dentist, he told me that my previous dentist had done work that only another dentist would recognize and respect, things like "reconstructing the biology" and so on. After hearing that I decided to go back to my previous dentist, and I haven't strayed for 15 years. Steven is the best!
David S.
My Experience with the St.Germain's Dental Practice has been extraordinary! From the time you walk through the door you are greeted with smiles and a wonderful calming atmosphere. They make you feel like you are their most important patient. In a caring, compassionate and highly professional manner, they take time to answer all questions and do whatever it takes to meet your individual needs.
They are understanding of someone who is terrified to set foot in a dentist office and somehow make you instantly comfortable. They are totally non-judgmental. They want you to be happy and satisfied. I wish I had found them 40 years ago. I can honestly say after all these years of being afraid; I actually look forward to going to the dentist!!!!
Thank you all for the wonderful care you've provided me.
Jean C.
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Soon-to-be famous Portuguese mad scientist, Rui Pereira, has created the ultimate instrument for the Guitar Hero generation.
"This is a musical instrument for people who don't know shit about music," Pereira said.
In practical terms, that means it has no frets, no knobs, no reeds, or anything else associated with instruments. It's just a long plastic tube with sensors for picking up finger pressure that can pretend to be a guitar, drums, or a stand-up base. Switching instruments is as easy as changing the orientation of the TUIST (Transformable Uber Interface for STardom). For example, stand it up straight and it becomes a stand-up bass.
Pereira said his thesis project solves a long-standing problem with Guitar Hero and Rock Band: no matter how loud your real or virtual fans cheer you, fundamentally you haven't created anything, you've just perfectly replicated the required sequence of button mashes.
The TUIST actually allows "creative output," and even has a built-in loop controller for recording your guitar-like noisemaking.
Pereira added that feature because he figures his target market–those who don't know shit about music–won't be good enough to find bandmates, so they better be able to play alone. Which might not be such a bad idea, given that the New York Times Magazine recently declared "the return of the one-man band."
And now for what you've been waiting for, Pereira, hot meme of the near future, jamming with his "multi-mode musical interface for super-star wannabes incapable of playing musical instruments":


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Lobelia laxiflora is a sprawling perennial with medium green leaves and colorful tubular flowers. Also known as Mexican Lobelia, the plant is native to Mexico, Central America, and Southern Arizona.
As a care-free perennial plant with bright orange and red flowers, it grows best in warm and dry regions – a perfect plant for xeriscape gardens. As gardeners, we love these species as they're beautiful, easy-to-grow, and attract colorful hummingbirds.
Quick Care
|Common Name
|Mexican bush lobelia, Mexican cardinal flower, Sierra Madre lobelia,loose flowers, drooping lobelia
|Scientific Name
|Lobelia laxiflora
|Height & Spread
|2-3′ tall and 4-6 wide
|Full Sun
|Well-draining, rocky, deep
|Pests & Diseases
|Aphids, spider mites, whiteflies
The perennial can grow up to 2-3″ tall with arching stems that bear gracefully long and narrow leaves.
The inflorescence grows up to 16″ long and blooms in late spring and summer. The dainty blooms have a tubular base with narrow corolla from which the anthers protrude.
While Lobelia laxiflora is its own species, it belongs to the Campanulaceae family and there are many different kinds of Lobelia that are quite similar to the laxiflora.
- Lobelia cardinalis, for example, is known for its dark-red tubular flowers and rich green foliage.
- Lobelia erinus is also a famous species that produces tiny purple blooms and is native to South Africa.
- Lobelia inflata or the Indian Tobacco has toothed, ovate leaves that grow up to 3″. It has beautiful violet flowers tinted with yellow that appear in mid-summer.
Lobelia Laxiflora Care
As a carefree plant that grows well in sunny areas, Lobelia laxiflora requires the same care and maintenance as other herbaceous plants. The following are the optimal conditions it needs to grow.
Light and Temperature
The plant should be grown under full sun or partial shade, preferably through a south or west-facing window if grown indoors. Avoid a north facing window.
It's suited for USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11. In areas with cooler climates or slightly harsh winters, the plant will require overwintering by planting in a container and putting under cover.
Water and Humidity
Younger plants need deep watering throughout the summer. However, once the plant has established, it is drought-tolerant and won't require frequent watering.
In fact, excessive water causes the plant to rapid spreading and it may become invasive. Less water keeps the growth in check while allowing the blooms to flourish.
The plant needs well-drained, moist soil for optimal growth. Sand and loam are the best choices with a slightly alkaline pH to keep the plant thriving through the seasons. Rich potting soil with organic compost and a pH of 6-7.5 is an optimal choice. If mixing your own, feel free to add a bit of sand or perlite to the mix to loosen it up.
The plant works best with liquid fertilizers that are high in phosphorous. Treat it with a high-quality fertilizer once a month to sustain optimal growth, dialing it back in winter.
Transplanting and Repotting
The plant can be transplanted in spring right before the new growth starts. If you're growing the plant inside a container, don't transplant unless it requires a larger pot. You can either sow the seeds directly in the garden or start indoors and then transplant it later on.
To grow this indoors, choose a time about 10-12 weeks before the last frost in your area. Choose a small pot and spread the tiny seeds. Water thoroughly and place the pot in a well-lit, warm area.
The seedlings will pop up within 1-2 weeks, which is a good time to thin them out. Once the plant is at least 2-3″ tall, and the frost is completely gone, transplant it to your garden. Space them at least 5-6″ apart.
The Mexican cardinal flower can be propagated in late spring when you're grooming the plant. Measure and cut at least 4-5 inches of the branches while simultaneously removing the leaves.
Now, take a clay pot and prepare it nicely with well-drained potting soil. Hydrate the soil and then gently push the fresh cuttings about halfway into the container.
Lightly mist them at least twice a day and water the container every alternate day. Once they take root, it's time to replant them in new pots.
When you're sure that the last frost has died, carefully transplant the young roots to an outdoor ground.
Simply, pinch off any dying or wilting flowers to encourage new blossoms. And, cut down any dead stem or foliage following the first freeze.
Growing Problems
When supported by a well-draining soil, sufficient water, and lots of sun, this perennial plant grows without any problems. However, it's susceptible to a few pests and diseases
Spider mites, white flies, and some species of aphids are three pests that can threaten the growth of this plant. To eliminate spider mites, mix a few drops of rosemary oil in water and spray the mixture over the leaves. You can also use a insecticidal soap to kill the insects.
White flies can be easily blasted away with a jet of water. You can then follow up with an insecticidal soap over the stems and leaves to ensure the plant's safety.
Aphids like new stems and soft leaves. If you spot any, mix a tablespoon of dish soap and warm water and rinse the plant with the mixture. The concoction will effectively kill the aphids.
Although there are no specific diseases, in damp, mild condition, the crowns of the plant can rot. Therefore, it's extremely important to ensure minimal water once the plant has established.
Is the Mexican cardinal flower a good plant for a pollinator garden?
Certainly. It is an excellent choice as its colorful flowering and bloom size attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
Is the plant tolerant to drought?
Yes, this species is drought-tolerant with a long blooming season.
Can it be grown in a container?
Yes, it can be grown inside a pot; however, make sure the soil remains well-drained and moist.


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About Us
Since 1999 Dorset Storm Basketball Club has provided opportunities for both boys and girls aged between 8 and 18 to play basketball at whatever level they want. From beginners through to those with dreams of representing England, Dorset Storm can cater for you. The club also has one of the biggest men's and ladies team in the Southern Region, providing opportunities for players of all standards to play competitively. Coaching and officiating courses are also run in conjunction with the club. For further details on anything concerning basketball please do not hesitate to contact us.
*NEW Clothing Catalogue NEW*
NBL Trials 2016 – 17 SeasonPosted on May 2, 2016 | No CommentsSunday 22nd May @ Ashdown Lesiure Centre.
NBL Under 16s Vs Rhondda 12-03-2016Posted on March 15, 2016 | No CommentsGreat rounded performance wraps up a good season for the Under 16s.
NBL Under 16s Vs Dorchester 05-03-2016Posted on March 9, 2016 | No CommentsExcellent all round team performance sees Storm beat Dorchester.
NBL Under 16s Vs Bristol II 27-02-2016Posted on March 2, 2016 | No CommentsTough defensive display sees Storm pick up win on the road in Bristol.
NBL Under 16s Vs Bristol I 20-02-2016Posted on February 22, 2016 | No Commentsx04q8vny2k
NBL Under 16s Vs Vale 13-02-2016Posted on February 16, 2016 | No CommentsStorm overcome scrappy first half to take the win in Wales.
NBL Under 16s Vs Plymouth 06-02-2016Posted on February 8, 2016 | No CommentsAn incredible 44 points in the final 12 minutes sees Storm take win versus Plymouth.


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"I believe that the nations of the world that are carrying out the tests of nuclear weapons are sacrificing the lives of hundreds of thousands of people now living and of hundreds of thousands of unborn children, and that this sacrifice is unnecessary."
– Linus Pauling, No More War!, 1958.
The recent disaster in Japan has lent renewed relevance to the various risks associated with human exposure to nuclear radiation, a subject to which Linus Pauling dedicated a substantial amount of time and energy during his lifetime. It is in this context that we revisit the general estimates made by Linus Pauling in the 1950s concerning the long-term effects of radiation on human populations, and compare them to some modern estimates today.
In the years following the detonation of two atomic weapons during World War II, Pauling became increasingly active in the realm of nuclear policy, politics, and regulation. He attended conferences and addressed atomic issues in many of his speeches, but tackled the subject most thoroughly in his sixth published book, No More War! Released in 1958, No More War! covers a wide range of topics ranging from the physical aspects of atomic explosions to the need for international nuclear non-proliferation and test-ban agreements. Along with its expressions of concern about the certain devastation that would be wrought by wars fought with atomic weapons, the book addresses many of the health risks that result from human exposure to lower doses of radiation, particularly in relation to the test detonation of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere.
For the most part, there was and is little disagreement among professionals when discussing the effects of large doses of radiation on the human body. It is well established that, at certain levels, exposure to radiation in a single dose or over a specific period of time will lead to radiation sickness or death. However, the nuclear age has seen a much livelier debate over the effects that increased exposure to low doses of radiation might have on human populations over an extended period of time. Pauling was generally of the opinion that the fissionable materials released by the testing of atomic weapons was slowly contributing to a build up of human genetic defects – maladies that were attributable in large part to increases in average atmospheric radiation levels around the world.
The mainstream opinion of the time held that there was a particular radiation exposure threshold below which there was no likelihood of significant increases in the risk levels for particular illnesses such as leukemia and other forms of cancer. Pauling, however, believed that with every nuclear detonation, humans everywhere were being subjected to an unnecessary increase in risk of such illnesses, and that increases in incidences of illnesses worldwide could be measured in accordance with increases in environmental radiation. The disagreements that resulted from these interpretations led to conflict among several prominent scientists and scientific institutions; and Pauling, for one, was subsequently portrayed by critics as stubborn or simply unwilling to accept a largely agreed-upon establishment consensus.
Upon close examination, however, there generally appear to be more similarities between Pauling's message and that of his opponents than there are differences, and the major differences that do exist often result from alternative interpretations of widely accepted data. Furthermore, Pauling, in his book, was ultimately willing to admit that though he considered it very unlikely that a threshold for dangerous levels of radiation exposure could exist, "There is also the possibility, which I consider to be a small one, that there is a threshold for radiation, below which no damage occurs."
Aside from clashes concerning acceptable levels of radiation exposure, one of the greatest conflicts between Pauling and those employing a conflicting perspective (Edward Teller and the Atomic Energy Commission for example) was that of extrapolating the increased level of genetic abnormality that might result from heightened exposure to increased atmospheric radiation, and the prevalence of increased disease and disability among future generations attributable to damage in the human gene pool.
When discussing the link between radiation and heredity, a very important component of Pauling's general argument was rooted in an excerpt from a report released by the Committee on Genetic Effects of Atomic Radiation. As quoted in No More War!, it reads
Any radiation is genetically undesirable, since any radiation induces harmful mutations. Further, all presently available scientific information leads to the conclusion that the total harm is proportional to the total dose (that is, the total accumulated dose to the reproductive cells from the conception of the parents to the conception of the child).
The committee was, in effect, suggesting that any increase in radiation dosage, no matter how small, has the potential to detrimentally affect humans that come into contact with it, a point Pauling that emphasized. According to Pauling, every detonation of a nuclear weapon could be counted on to lead to a proportional increase in detrimental birth defects and a rise in radiation-related illnesses. Indeed, according to Pauling's interpretation of estimates made by Dr. J. Laurence Kulp and other contemporaries, if nuclear testing was to be continued over a ten-year period at a rate similar to that maintained in the mid-1950s, 8,000 additional deaths would result every year from leukemia alone.
Generally, Pauling was of the opinion that increased risk of illnesses such as leukemia and bone cancer was proportional to exposure to increased levels of radiation above and beyond naturally occurring forms of background radiation. Pauling was also concerned with the potential for damage to the reproductive organs when subjected to increased levels of radiation, and the impact that this damage might portend for future generations of children. Likewise, Pauling expressed alarm for children exposed to heightened levels of radiation in utero.
One of the chief vulnerabilities of Pauling's estimates was, of course, that for such large global effects, no pure control group could be monitored, since the counterfactual scenario to a nuclear detonation in the atmosphere would be that of no detonation. This particular aspect of Pauling's argument made it much more difficult for some of his colleagues, associates and rivals to tolerate or accept his analysis.
As was the case at the time of No More War!'s original publication in 1958, there exists today considerable debate over estimates of risks to humans from exposure to low doses of radiation. The most obvious difficulty in establishing a concrete estimate is that humans are constantly subjected to low doses of radiation on a daily basis, and calculating additional risk to human health in terms of increased exposure to comparatively low doses of additional radiation is very difficult.
One practical difficulty is the fact that there exist few groups that can be studied in a long-term setting who could reliably establish the presence or absence of health risks that result from increased exposure to radiation. This noted, during the previous century, various groups who had been exposed to heightened levels of radiation have been the subjects of long-term, multi-generational analysis. Several additional studies have illuminated the issue more fully in recent years, allowing for the formation of conclusions that are a few steps beyond mere hypotheses.
One similarity between modern estimates of radiation risk and those issued during Pauling's time is the notion that any increase in radiation exposure leads to increased risk. However, estimates of the level of increased risk are still debated, or rather not debated, since there exists a broad consensus that any such estimate will likely suffer from a general lack of statistical significance. While several studies have been conducted on populations exposed to heightened levels of radiation over time (among them the first generation of x-ray technicians, miners of radioactive minerals and workers at nuclear facilities), one of the most extensive and long-term studies conducted on an affected population with a significant control group was based in Japan following the Second World War.
In what has become a very long-term epidemiological study, survivors of the atomic bombings in Japan were monitored to assess the long-term health effects of exposure to wide ranges of radiation. The Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF), an offspring of the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission, is still monitoring atom bomb survivors and their offspring, and the results of their research are frequently reported to government officials and the public, most recently in the journal Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. In their most recent report, RERF identifies a few trends that bear relevant connections to Pauling's general argument, and that address some of his more potent fears.
In terms of genetic abnormalities being passed down genetically as a result of exposure to increased radiation, the recent report (Douple, et. al., 2011 5: S122-133S) concludes that this type of theorized trans-generational build-up of genetic defect has been largely unobserved. According to the Japanese data, children who are exposed to certain levels of radiation are themselves much likelier to develop harmful syndromes than are either children exposed in utero or the offspring of those who have been exposed but conceived at a date following exposure. In this respect, a portion of Pauling's argument has been proven to be less grave than projected. On the same token, some of the RERF research suggests that survivors who have lived several years past their initial exposure were in fact more likely to contract an illness that can be attributed to radiation exposure, but the researchers admit that the variations between bomb survivors and their control group were much less extreme than had been expected.
While the conclusions reached by the RERF studies help to illuminate portions of the debate, they do not necessarily validate or contradict important aspects of Pauling's argument, since they focus on the effects of a singular event as opposed to prolonged exposure to increased levels of low-dose radiation. More germane this component of the question is work conducted by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), which has carried out studies similar to those of the RERF.
While having conducted work similar to the RERF group, UNSCEAR has also reported findings from an analysis of other populations that have been exposed to extended and chronic low-dose levels of radiation. In so doing, UNSCEAR admits to explicit difficulty in identifying a lifetime risk calculation for exposure to radiation. This is generally a result of "the lack of specificity in the type of characteristics of disease induced by radiation exposure, the long delay (years or decades) between exposure and disease presentation, and the high spontaneous incidence of diseases associated with radiation in the aging general population." In other words, just as was the case in the 1950s, the issue is simply a difficult one to confidently test and measure.
While the most recent report (2010 – PDF link, see p. 6) released by UNSCEAR suggests that increased exposure to low doses of radiation can increase the risk of developing cancer and other human illnesses, they are generally of the opinion that the excess risk, particularly with regard to cancer, is significantly smaller than are the risks posed by other factors. They write
There is strong epidemiological evidence that exposure of humans to radiation at moderate and high levels can lead to excess incidence of solid tumours in many body organs and of leukaemia. There is also growing information on the cellular/molecular mechanisms through which these cancers can arise.
Cancers are due to many causes, are frequently severe in humans, and are common, accounting for about one quarter of deaths in developed countries and a growing burden of deaths in developing countries…any increase in cancer incidence thought to be caused by low-dose radiation exposures is modest by comparison.
Despite several attempts to reach a meaningful conclusion, high margins of error and low levels of statistical significance have rendered modern professionals reluctant to develop strong opinions about the effects of low-dose radiation on human health. Reports like those published by the UNSCEAR tend to be less alarmist than was Pauling's stance, while still supporting his contention that even small increases in exposure to radiation can lead to detrimental health effects. As UNSCEAR puts it in its 2010 report, "even at low doses of radiation it is likely that there is a very small but non-zero chance of the production of DNA mutations that increase the risk of cancer developing."
On the same token, some of the most common conclusions made by extended radiation health risk studies suggest that the carcinogenic effects of low-dose radiation exposure are less significant than is exposure to other health-deteriorating substances and practices. Smoking tobacco, for instance, is seen to increase incidences of lung cancer more than is common lung exposure to radon. In final analysis, while many professionals still regard any extrapolation that low-dose radiation deleteriously impacts human health as misleading or irresponsible, it is clear that the debate which surrounded Pauling and his risk estimates more than forty years ago is still strong and lively in the current scientific community.
Filed under: Peace Activism | Tagged: J. Laurence Kulp, Linus Pauling, low-dose radiation, No More War!, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation |


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Reaching Out To All Medicaid Recipients And Their Families
Are you currently receiving Medicaid Benefits?
Do you have a loved one whose health is declining and is receiving Medicaid?
Most people do not know that Medicaid benefits include a final expenses benefit of up to $1,500.00.* This benefit can be serviced through our funeral homes. Shrine of Remembrance has been serving the community for over fifty years with cremation services through our on-premises, state-of-the-art cremation facilities. We are uniquely qualified to assist Medicaid families (and veterans who are Medicaid recipients) with all their wishes, including the final placement of cremated remains, optional when requested. This will provide closure for the family.
Our compassionate services, including meaningful benefits provided to our veterans and their families, are legendary throughout the Pikes Peak Region. The Shrine of Remembrance Veterans Honor Court has been recognized by two former U.S. Presidents, the Colorado State Legislature, the Colorado Springs City Council, Peterson Air Force Base, and the United States Air Force Academy.
When selecting simple cremation arrangements only, Shrine of Remembrance can provide families of Medicaid recipients with the comfort of knowing that there will be no out-of-pocket expenses for those who have exhausted their assets and financial resources.
We offer free inurnment of cremated for Medicaid veterans in our Gate of Heaven community columbarium, which is exclusively for veterans. To provide peace of mind and closure for Medicaid recipients' families, complimentary scattering of cremated remains is available in our dedicated, perpetually maintained, and truly inspirational Rock of Ages and "America the Beautiful" scattering gardens. For families who select our simple cremation services and request the use of our funeral chapels, or elect to have a service at their church with our participation, in celebration of our 50th Anniversary, at no charge, if requested, we will provide a beautiful reception for up to 100 family members and guests (a $1,641.88 value) through our exclusive Olympian Plaza Reception and Event Center (975 S. Union Blvd.).
In summary, a family who has a loved one who passes away and was receiving Medicaid benefits and has no assets can receive cremation through the Shrine of Remembrance free of charge. Also, the family of the deceased can request a memorial service (which can be held through our "America the Beautiful" Chapel), a reception, and a scattering of cremated remains for only $570 out-of-pocket. No other cremation provider will give you $4056.88 worth of valuable services for so little money, amounting to thousands of dollars in savings to the family.
Our experienced staff will prepare the necessary paperwork for the Department of Human Services, Social Security, Veterans Affairs (including military honors), and/or application for burial of cremated remains at Pikes Peak National Cemetery. Please share this with your friends. They will be glad you did.
– Respectfully, Costas Rombocos, C.E.O.
*DHS, The Department of Human Services, recently announced that effective March 1, 2020, depending on the deceased's assets at the time of death, they may receive up to $1500 in benefits to be paid directly to the funeral home. Please ask us for more details. Why be compromised seeking a cheap cremation through inadequate providers when you can have the best? When you compare, there is no comparison.


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Let's Talk! hosts talk to actor Benito Martinez (The Shield) who had just been nominated for a NAACP award for his work in Lifetime's In Plain Sight. Martinez also talks about his wife's bout with cancer. This is a segment of full episodes of Let's Talk! the TV show.
|Posted by letstalkshow on September 28, 2011 at 8:39 PM
|3773 Views
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Looking For The Best Therapeutic Massage in North Plympton?
A growing number of citizens in Australia are complaining about sharp lower back pain or an overall sensation of discomfort in the body. The problems of arthritis and tendonitis are even affecting people who have just entered their 40's, and this has in turn caused an increase in psychological disorders like depression and anxiety in the society. In such abysmal conditions, it becomes quite necessary for all of us to take proactive measures to improve our health and overall wellbeing. Getting a massage therapy can be a great measure, as not only would it help you relieve various sensations of discomfort in your body but it would also help you feel more connected to your soul and mind.
Before we sense a feeling of pain in any part of our body, it goes through a complex combination of biological and psychological variables. The pain tolerance of each individual is different from one another, and this is the reason there is no standard rule of identifying the intensity of pain in patients. That is why; many times pain is detected at a critical stage in a particular person's body, because they were able to bear it without feeling helpless. Most master masseurs know about the pain receptors in the body, and they perform deep tissue therapeutic techniques to release the muscular knots – which can form due to inactivity or sharp movements of the body. If you want to desire to get a soothing massage session in Adelaide, then you should check out the link at https://www.gianfranco.com.au now. By applying certain pressure and friction to your affected parts, your massage therapist would be able to remove all your existing discomforts. This way, you would be able to focus on being productive in your life by staying pain-free.


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ObservePoint officials say website tagging is often flawed, which can provide executives with inaccurate information from the company's website.
Orem, Utah – July 9, 2013 – Datalicious, a leading Australian data analytics firm, takes data integrity to a higher level through its partnership with ObservePoint. Using ObservePoint's Site Scanning & Site Auditing tools, Datalicious is able to identify and fix data tagging issues on client Websites quickly and efficiently – without needing to trawl through sites or examine pages individually. Using SuperTag, Datalicious' own tag management solution, the team is able to then quickly tag up and plug any data gaps the Observe Point Audit tools find, and be confident in presenting accurate data to clients.
"Businesses are becoming more reliant on big data produced by web analytics, " said Elly Gillis, General Manager for Datalicious. "Marketers and organizations are making important business decisions based on the reports they receive, so if the data isn't accurate and up to date then they could run into problems."
This is especially true for large enterprise clients, who are constantly adding new content to their websites. Without a tool like the SuperTag, tag implementation can be time-consuming, and important data collection points can be either overlooked or incorrectly configured. Ultimately, this leads to the collection of erroneous data, leading marketing analysts and business executives to make incorrect business judgments based on inaccurate information. The impact of inaccurate data may seem superficial at first, but could be extremely costly and detrimental to business operations in the long run.
SuperTag and ObservePoint integrations address this risk – increasing data integrity and ensuring tags are not accidentally removed or forgotten. SuperTag's simple copy-and-paste implementation across website's means tags can be implemented very easily. Coupled with ObservePoint tag auditing, Datalicious is able to ensure tags are not missing from any new and/or existing pages. The combined proficiency of the SuperTag tag management solution and ObservePoint auditing scans ensures 100% data accuracy. Digital marketers can be confident the data they present to clients and business decision makers is accurate and valuable.
To read more about how ObservePoint and Datalicious solve the problem of tag management, read the case study here.
About Datalicious
SuperTag is a superior tag management platform developed by Datalicious. With SuperTag, customers can benefit from the tag management platform's level of simplicity with its convenient drag and drop tagging interface. It is an easy to use tool – made with online marketers in mind, helping them to make better business decisions, and to execute and deliver successful online marketing campaigns. For more information on SuperTag, visit http://supertag.datalicious.com.
About ObservePoint
Based in Orem, Utah, ObservePoint is the leader in web tag auditing – a critical element of web analytics. Audited web reporting resolves significant flaws in ROI analysis and executive data. ObservePoint uses a unique method of simulating network traffic at a speed and scale unparalleled in the industry to identify web analytic tag errors.


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Lily Collins marries Charlie McDowell in 'magical' Colorado wedding
Surprise! Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell are married.
The Emily in Paris star, 32, announced on Tuesday she and the 38-year-old director wed over the weekend in Dunton, Colo. McDowell is the son of actors Mary Steenburgen and Malcolm McDowell.
"I've never wanted to be someone's someone more than I do yours, and now I get to be your wife," Lily captioned a photo of her and McDowell kissing.
Phil Collins's daughter shared a close-up photo of her Ralph Lauren wedding dress, writing, "Never been happier."
The gorgeous setting looked straight out of a fairytale.
"I'll never be able to properly describe how otherworldly this past weekend was, but magical is a pretty good place to start," Lily wrote alongside a third image.
McDowell also shared the news on social media, writing he "married the most generous, thoughtful, and beautiful person I've ever known."
"I'm so excited to be your WIFEY," Lily commented.
McDowell and Lily were first linked in 2019. They announced their engagement one year ago.


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Late Fee Policy
- City customer's statements will be mailed out the last week of the month.
- Payments are due on the 15th of the month, either delivered in person or postmarked by the 15th.
- Late charges of 10% will be assessed between the 16th & 18th of the month. Delinquent letters will be mailed at that time.
- Delinquent payments are due seven (7) days from date of delinquent letters.
- Arrangements for payment can be made with the City Office to avoid water shut-offs. However, payments must be made no later than the end of the month.
- Once water is turned off, payment must be made in full, plus the reconnection fee of $100.00 during business hours (7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.) After hours, the fee is $130.00.
- All charges including delinquent late fee must be paid by the end of the month.
- There will be no exceptions; everyone will be treated the same.


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After almost five years in existence, Astro's streaming service – Astro On The Go (AOTG) – will soon have a new name. Starting from today onwards, the service will be known as Astro Go (AG).
To celebrate the occasion, all Astro subscribers (not inclusive of NJOI) regardless of their package types will be able to access everything that AG has to offer including all of its 71 channels, on-demand contents, and live sports from 1 April to 31 May for free. Only Pay Per View and premium ala carte sports contents are excluded from this promotion.
Within AG's 71 channels are three channels that are exclusive to the service which included Aniplus, Comedy Central Asia, and K-PLUS. These three channels will eventually make their way to subscribers' TV screen although the company didn't reveal the actual date for it to happen.
Not enough with that, subscribers will also able to enjoy the award-winning musical La La Land through AG for free from 25 April to 31 May. The launch of AG also marked the official debut of a new user interface for the service although frankly speaking, it not exactly new as the UI has actually been part of the AOTG app since earlier this year for beta testing.
While the UI made AG simpler to navigate as compared to its predecessors, what made things more interesting is Astro has also implemented deep machine learning into AG in order to provide better and personalized content recommendation to users based on their viewing habits. During her presentation at AG's launch event today, Astro's Chief Commercial Officer, Liew Swee Lin stated that the company believes the future of TV lies on the idea of personal screens regardless of whether traditional televisions or connected devices.
That might sound nothing out of ordinary but somehow, we do feel that the company seems to have given more thoughts on its digital reach especially with several upcoming features that it has planned for AG. One such feature is the ability to have up to four concurrent users to utilize AG under one single Astro account.
This way, Astro's contents could be simultaneously enjoyed by multiple users in the same household even though there is only one physical decoder. This could a highly viable alternative to Astro's existing Multiroom scheme although with AG, the multi-user experience could take place outside of user's home too.
Not only that, the company is also planning to add casting capability to AG app which again allows users to enjoy Astro's contents on TV or display that are beamed directly from their smart devices instead of the usual Astro decoder. We have also learned that Astro also has on-going discussion with unnamed TV manufacturers to have AG on smart TVs although there is no confirmed roll out schedule at the moment.
For sports fan, Astro is working to provide interactive features including multiple camera angles, instant replays, video highlights, statistics, and many more. The company is also planning to add social and e-commerce elements into AG in the near future.
While AG might be positioned as a digital extension to one's Astro subscription for the time being, all the upcoming features we mentioned above might not only able to improve AG's experience but also increased its capability to become the primary way to watch Astro for some customers out there. Additionally, they might also able to help Astro to stay relevant in the market that have begun to warm up to online content distribution.
Meanwhile, there are still free contents that NJOI and non-Astro customers able to enjoy through AG app and website although they are nowhere near the amount that Astro customers able to enjoy. That being said, Swee Lin has stated in its response to our enquiry during Q&A session at yesterday's launch event that the company will have special announcement for NJOI customers later in May.
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