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Review: Spellbinder by Thea Harrison
Posted June 28, 2017 by Lucy D in Book Reviews, Paranormal Romance / 1 Comment
Spellbinder (Moonshadow, #2) by Thea Harrison
Series: Moonshadow #2
Published by Thea Harrison on July 18th 2017
From author Thea Harrison comes the latest story in the New York Times bestselling Moonshadow trilogy….
Kidnapped while on tour, musician Sidonie Martel is transported to the mystical land of Avalon. A human without magical ability, she is completely vulnerable to the deadly forces surrounding her.
When she defies her captors and refuses to share her music, an act of violent cruelty leaves her broken, her ability to play silenced, maybe forever. Her only hope is a whisper in the dark, gentle hands that offer healing, and a man who refuses to show her his face yet who offers advice she dare not ignore.
One of the most feared and powerful sorcerers in history, Morgan le Fae serves a Queen he despises, Isabeau of the Light Court. Once a famous bard and an advisor to kings, Morgan has been enslaved to Isabeau for hundreds of years, acting as enforcer and the commander of her deadly Hounds.
Sidonie's music touches Morgan in places he had abandoned centuries ago, and her fiery spirit resurrects feelings he had believed long dead. For Sidonie, trapped in captivity, passion offers a comfort she cannot resist.
But Isabeau holds Morgan bound in magical chains that only Death can break. And in the court of a cruel, jealous Queen, the only thing that burns hotter than love is revenge…
In a story about a wizard, it is Thea Harrison's writing that is the real magic. It took me a day to read to read Spellbinder, and several more days to finally put it down.
I have a new book boyfriend (and girlfriend) in Spellbinder. I just adore these two characters.
While Thea Harrison only hints in the story that Morgan might be Merlin from the King Arthur legends, she outright says that Merlin's abduction from Camelot was her inspiration for this story in the author's notes.
We have met Morgan le Fae in Pia Goes to Hollywood and in Moonshadow. Morgan is a very powerful wizard and the enforcer for the Queen of the Light Fae, Isabeau. Most of the Elder Races fear him since Isabeau is a bit unstable and she sends him out whenever Isabeau feels slighted by those lesser races. She had him destroy or hide all the crossover passages from Earth to the Dark Fae Court, trapping their knights here with no backup for decades. We do see something odd in Morgan's behavior in Moonshadow when he confronts Sophie in Town. "if my Queen does learn about you, and she orders me to do a thing, you must understand–I will do it. I must." This seemed a little off that he might suspect something of Sophie, but not act on it to protect his Queen.
In Spellbinder, we learn that centuries ago, Queen Isabeau coveted the powerful wizard belonging to a human king. She stabbed him with the Death's Knife known as Azreal's Athame which turned him into a lycanthrope and bound Morgan by a geas (a compulsion) to obey all of Isabeau's orders to the letter. In taking him from his King's side, the King and his Kingdom eventually fall in battle. The Queen took away Morgan's freedom and destroyed everything he loved. He loathes her, but because he must follow her orders to the letter, he also tries to disobey her whenever possible. He knows how to wiggle around them whenever possible, (like not being ordered to hurt Sophie, just question her) and wiggling around Isabeau's order is exactly what Morgan does to get a bit of freedom from Isabeau.
Morgan was shot with a silver arrow during the fight in Moonshadow and Isabeau orders him to get away from her until he is completely healed. So before she can realize her error, Morgan takes the passageway to Earth and keeps his injury fresh so he does not feel compelled to return to her side. This is the first measure of freedom Morgan has had since he was bound to Isabeau. While here, Morgan stumbles upon a concert being performed by master violinist, Sidonie Martel. Her music combined with his brief freedom, reawakens Morgan's love of music and life, and he follows her tour through Europe attending all her concerts. But his fixation with Sidonie doesn't go unnoticed.
Robin (the puck) from Moonshadow loves Sophie and he will do anything to protect her from Isabeau's wrath and Morgan's power, even if that means tossing an innocent into hell. Robin kidnaps Sidonie and presents her as a gift to Isabeau knowing the temperamental Queen will eventually have a tantrum and hurt Sidonie, possibly forcing Morgan to do it. Robin hopes that Sidonie will become a wedge between Isabeau and Morgan, and that Morgan would choose Sidonie over his Queen. Morgan was commanded not to speak of it, so no one knows about the geas. Robin is unaware that his plan is doomed from the start, and so is Sidonie because of him. Morgan has no choice but to give up his new found freedom and return to Avalon to try and protect Sidonie as well as he can, but he must try to keep away from the Queen so she can't countermand her last order.
As expected, an angry Sidonie sets off Isabeau's temper and she orders all of Sidonie's fingers to be broken and then tosses her in the prison to rot. Morgan comes to Sid in the dark of her cell, healing her and bringing her food and water, but Morgan was ordered long ago not to release prisoners so he cannot help her escape. All he can do is provide comfort. Morgan always stays in the shadows so Sid cannot identify him to Isabeau or else she would simply order him not to help Sidonie at all.
And it is not just Isabeau's orders that he fears. He doesn't want Sidonie to learn who he is simply because every creature knows who Morgan le Fae is and the atrocities he has performed on behalf of the Queen. Right now, Sidonie treats him as a friend and he doesn't want to lose her trust or affection. He knows that the beast he has become doesn't deserve either.
Morgan and Sidonie grow close as he cares for her in the prison while he uses his freedom to research a way out of the geas. If he can break the bond they can both be free of Isabeau.
Morgan and Sidonie are wonderful characters and have a great dynamic. Their affection grows naturally as they spend time together and work together to both get free from Avalon and Isabeau. Sidonie is smart and generous, and until he meet Sid, Morgan had all but given up on life after centuries on Isabeau's leash. He would have committed suicide long ago if Isabeau hadn't commanded him not to hurt himself. You know I love my wounded heroes and it is wonderful to see Sidonie bring Morgan back to life.
Thea gave us dynamic new characters in a story set in the well loved world of the Elder Races series so we can easily jump into this spinoff and take the time to get to know the characters. I can't wait for more.
I am only posting part of my favorite scene as not to ruin anything… 🙁
He hadn't wanted to tell her who he was because he didn't want to lose her. And now he clearly believed he had.
"Please, for the love of God, stop," she said in a gentle voice. Reaching out, she slid off the bed to kneel on the floor in front of him, put her arms around him, and hug him as tightly as she could.
He was holding himself so rigidly she was afraid he might shatter. That massive composure was coming at a cost, and now her heart hurt for an entirely different reason. Blindly, she rubbed her cheek against his, stroked his hair with both hands. Stop, please stop.
Then his rigidity broke with a suddenness so sharp it was almost audible. He clenched around her, bowing his shoulders as he held her with his entire body. She could feel each one of his fingers pressing along her back and at the nape of her neck.
"You are my friend," she said softly in his ear. "You are the best friend I have in this wretched place."
He put his face in her neck, which muffled his voice. "I'm your only friend in this wretched place."
"True," she acknowledged. His heartbeat hammered against her breasts. "Even so, I trust, respect and rely on you."
"Oh, Sidonie," he said.
She insisted, "On you, the man, not the geas. I know you will never hurt me. I know you will support, respect, and defend me, and you will never coerce me, and never try to push past any barriers I may erect." She pulled back just enough so she could look deeply into his eyes as she said, "And I am so glad I get the chance to tell that to you face-to-face, Morgan."
As she watched, a flood of emotion tightened his face. Huskily, he said, "Your music might be transcendent, but I'm not so sure about your smarts."
Widening her eyes, she gave him a wry smile as she gestured around the bleak little room. "I know, right? Who else could get herself in such a pickle? I mean, look at these clothes!"
Reluctant laughter flashed across his handsome face. Then, almost as quickly, it vanished, to be replaced by an expression of such vulnerable heat her eyes sparked with wetness.
"Morgan," she whispered, to savor the taste of his name in her mouth. "Morgan."
Shadows grew in the room as the unnatural candle flame died down to its normal size, the intense, burning gold replaced with a soft, gentle glow.
Giving her a slow, coaxing smile that turned the heat in the room up by a thousand degrees, he stroked her lips with the balls of his thumbs as he murmured, "Can we get back to talking about possibly inviting that werewolf for sex?"
By Thea Harrison
Moonshadow Series
Review: Pia Saves the Day by Thea Harrison
Review: Dragos Goes to Washington by Thea Harrison
Review: Peanut Goes to School by Thea Harrison
Audiobook Review: Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison
Review: Shadow's End by Thea Harrison
Review: Lionheart by Thea Harrison
Review: Moonshadow by Thea Harrison
Review: A Curse Awakened by Cecy Robson
Review: Witches with the Enemy by Barb Hendee
Audiobook Review: Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews
Review: Provoked by Rebecca Zanetti
Review: Marked by Rebecca Zanetti
« Audiobook Review: How the Witch Stole Christmas by Dakota Cassidy
Audiobook Review: Wicked Beautiful by J.T. Geissinger »
One response to "Review: Spellbinder by Thea Harrison"
JenM
Thanks for the review. With both Wildfire and this book, July is going to be a great reading month for me!
28th Jun, 2017 at 1:39pm


On February 17, Watu Weusi, a Scripps club dedicated to empowering students of African descent, presented the art exhibition Hidden No More: Artist Showcase at the Motley Coffeehouse. The second of three Black Arts Festival events organized by Watu Weusi, Hidden No More featured works by four current student artists: Natalie Johnson '18, Senqué Little-Poole (PO '19) and Sara Gonzalez-Bautista '18, and Ellington Bramwell (PO '19).
Event organizer and Watu Weusi leader Bemnet Gebrechirstos '19 described the theme "hidden no more" as a response to the released movie Hidden Figures as well as the residual effects of colonization and the resurgence of white supremacist ideology in the political mainstream. In its fifth year, the Black Arts Festival, which coincides with Black History Month, is a celebration of art and culture that also encourages dialogue, critique, and action toward issues of race and privilege across the 5Cs.


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Le Chant du Moineau / Casta
Benjamin Bondonneau
David Chiesa
Didier Lasserre
Daunik Lazro
Laurent Sassi
Humus (CD)
An improvised performance with Benjamin Bondonneau (clarinet), David Chiesa (double bass), Didier Lasserre (drums), Daunik Lazro (baritone saxophone) and Laurent Sassi (sound).
Benjamin Bondonneau (born in 1975 in Sarlat) is a French artist and clarinetist active on the free improvisation scene. He has collaborated with Daunik Lazro, Michel Doneda, Barre Phillips, Lê Quan Ninh, Raymond Boni, David Chiesa, Benjamin Maumus, Sébastien Cirotteau, François Rossé, Fabrice Charles, Géraldine Keller, Raphaël Saint-Remy...
French musician David Chiesa (double bass, electric bass and piano frame) has been active on the international improvised scene since 1997. He is the co-founder with Michel Doneda of the Ensemble Nodal. As an improviser, he has played with a great number of musicians and has been nourishing his work for a long time with an intimate relationship with other practices such as dance (with Fine Kwiatkowski, Yukiko Nakamura, Masaki Iwana...), poetry (with Charles Pennequin, Ly Thanh Tien. ..), experimental cinema (with Gaelle Rouard, Xavier Quérel, Etienne Caire...) or light (with Christophe Cardoen, Sébastien Perroud, Michael Vorfeld...), visual arts or theater. He is also strongly influenced by the articulations of electroacoustic music with which he works regularly.
Didier Lasserre (born 1971 in Bordeaux) is a French drummer and percussionist. His musical roots are in free jazz and improvisation. In a paradoxical way with respect to his activity as a "free" percussionist, he has always been interested in what is commonly known as silence, as well as in very soft dynamics, worked as a passageway to access this silent zone.
Daunik Lazro (born in 1945 in Chantilly, France) is an eminent jazz and improvised music saxophonist, a major figure of the European avant-garde music scene. He has played and recorded with countless groups and musicians, such as Joëlle Léandre, Evan Parker, Michel Doneda, Georges Lewis…
Laurent Sassi (born 1973 in Abidjan, lives and works in Rabastens, France) explores sound in relation to a variety of contemporary fields: improvisation, instrumental and electronic music, phonography and the art of sound in the theatre.
order wishlist
Published with Amor Fati.
Benjamin Bondonneau, David Chiesa, Didier Lasserre, Daunik Lazro, Laurent Sassi: other titles

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Metallica new song
Metallica have announced that fans will vote to create the setlist for the band's 2014 summer shows in Europe.
"As we embark on two short treks through Europe, we're going to give you, the ticket holders, the chance to vote on what songs you would like to hear at the show(s) that you attend," posted Metallica. "It will be pretty simple... pick up your ticket(s) online and you'll receive an e-mail shortly after with a code and a link to a site on which you may cast your ballot."
"We normally play around 18 songs a night, and since we didn't want to be left out of the fun, the band also gets to vote . . . and we vote for a NEW SONG!," added the group. "That leaves the other 17 slots for you to choose, so vote for all your favorites from the close to 140 songs we've recorded in our career and to make it more fun along the way, you'll be able to follow what you and your fellow fans are selecting by watching the site for continuous results."


Dogs 'n' Dough bring you hot dogs and freshly made pizza in Manchester with a side of frosty beers, cocktails and music in an underground setting.
Dogs nn' Dough is a basement bar and restaurant located just off Albert Square offering a wide range of delicious dogs, pizzas, cocktails and bar snacks all packaged up in a retro 80's underground setting.
You'll find the city's best selection of American sodas, mental cocktails and a vast array of classic beers on tap including Pabst Blue Ribbon and Longboard as well as a cracking range of cans and bottles.
Food wise, they offer huge gourmet hot dogs draped in a variety of toppings, alongside a wide selection of pizzas with equally adventurous flavours.


At the 2018 Acres Conference I had the opportunity to listen to a great session on getting back into sync with our Circadian Rhythms presented by Dr. Nasha Winters. After that session I knew we had to have her on the show and she was kind enough to take some time to join us today.
Dr. Nasha is a global authority on integrative cancer research and consults with physicians around the world. She has co-authored the best selling book, The Metabolic Approach to Cancer.
Together we'll be discussing what writing The Metabolic Approach to Cancer, Naturopathy, diet and much more.
Looking at it from the ground up and the body down.


Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) is conducting online recruitment to fill the posts of SDO, JE, Assistant Urban Development Officer, Extension Officer, Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Demonstrator under establishment.
Age: Candidates age must be in between 21 to 30 years as on 01-01-2018. Age is relaxable for reserved category candidates.
Educational Qualification: Candidates must possess Degree, Diploma, B.Tech, B.V.Sc & AH in relevant discipline from a recognized University by AICTE.
Physical Standards: Height: 163 cm for men, 150 cm for women with correlated weight.
Pay Scale: Salary will be paid as per NPSC norms.
Selection Procedure: Candidates are selected based on their performance in the competitive exam and interview.
Fee: All candidates have to pay of fee Rs. 300/- in the form of D.D drawn in favour of Secretary, Nagaland Public Service Commission, Kohima, payable at Kohima.
How to Apply: Eligible candidates may send their application form with bio-data, relevant certificates of testimonials, recent passport size photograph on or before 31-01-2019.


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Psych Media Night | July 12, 2021 – Dr. Bruce Perry on Trauma, Resilience and Healing
by calpsychiatry | Aug 2, 2021 | Event, Family, Growth, Mental Health, Psychology, Relationships, Social Issues, Therapy, Trauma
On July 12, Dr. Bruce Perry joined Dr. McNary and a group of mental health professionals to discuss his recently released book, What Happened to You? Conversations in Trauma, Resilience and Healing. In this discussion, Dr. Perry shared the clinical insights he has...
Pediatric Concussion and Mental Health
by calpsychiatry | Jun 26, 2021 | Anxiety, Article, Child Therapy, Depression, Environment, Family, Growth, Mental Health, Mood Disorders, Parenting, Personality Disorders, Social Issues, Trauma
Concussion (also known as a mild traumatic brain injury) is quite a common diagnosis particularly in children and adolescents. While there is still much research to be done, this informative systematic review sheds light on the mental health implications of concussion...
Results from a Phase 3 MDMA Trial for PTSD Treatment
by calpsychiatry | Jun 25, 2021 | Addiction, Anxiety, Article, Depression, Environment, Growth, Mental Health, PTSD, Social Issues, Trauma
In a phase 3 trial of 90 participants, 67% of patients who received MDMA with talk therapy no longer met criteria for the PTSD diagnosis. This exciting news comes at a time when more research is being conducted on previously banned substances, and it could pave the...
"Overly Intensive Parenting": Why there are downsides for parents and kids
by calpsychiatry | Jun 24, 2021 | Anxiety, Article, Child Therapy, Depression, Environment, Family, Growth, Mental Health, Parenting, Social Issues, Teens, Women's Mental Health, Young Adults
Generally speaking, sociologists have found that parents today are more involved in their children's lives than the previous parental generation. But more may not always be better. "Intensive parenting," as researchers call it, may not be beneficial for parents or...
Psych Media Night | May 20, 2021 – Dr. Robin Berman on Intensive Parenting
by calpsychiatry | Jun 18, 2021 | Anxiety, Depression, Environment, Event, Family, Growth, Mental Health, Psychology, Relationships, Social Issues, Therapy
Dr. Robin Berman spoke at our May Psych Media Group about the challenges and opportunities of modern day parenting especially in context of the recent article in The Atlantic entitled 'Parents are Sacrificing their Social Lives on the Altar of Intensive Parenting.'...
Psych Media Group | April 19th, 2021 – Dr. Ted Robles on Loneliness during the Pandemic
by calpsychiatry | May 3, 2021 | Anxiety, Depression, Environment, Event, Family, Growth, Mental Health, Psychology, Relationships, Social Issues, Therapy
On April 19, 2021, CalPsychiatry founder Josephine McNary, M.D., moderated a discussion with Prof. Ted Robles, Ph.D. of the UCLA Department of Psychology, as part of CalPsychiatry's monthly "Psych Media Night" for California mental health...


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Breathless Moments
Disclaimer: I love the Monday Night Tease, and I'm frequently onstage at Three Clubs. A photo of my wife is hanging on the wall at The Perfect Exposure Gallery. My opinion may be a little biased.
"People are so wonderful that a photographer has only to wait for that breathless moment to capture what he wants on film." - Weegee
On exhibit now through February 16th at The Perfect Exposure Gallery in Koreatown: The Monday Night Tease Retrospective:
Burlesque! — The Monday Night Tease Retrospective celebrates nine years of live performances at LA's longest weekly running burlesque show. Since 2004, Monday Night Tease has been a staple in the variety arts world. Described as the heartbeat of the Los Angeles burlesque scene, it is a home to local performers as well as a destination for out of town artists. Producer Lili VonSchtupp prides herself with launching new talent as well as nurturing established performers to take risks and further their art form. Several burlesque shows have come and gone, but every Monday the backstage area of The Three Clubs in Hollywood pulses with the beat of makeup, glitter, shimmy belts, and pasties. The energy presented weekly at Monday Night Tease is unmatched and we are proud to share it with you through a collection of images captured by some of LA's premier event photographers.
At the opening of the exhibition this past Thursday night, I experienced a moment of wonder: One of the audience regulars of The Monday Night Tease intently studying the faces in the crowd of one photo, trying to locate himself in the shadows. He recognized the moment frozen in time; that specific burlesque dancer's performance. He knew he was a part of that moment when it happened, and he was searching for the photographic evidence.
Live entertainment photographs very, very well. The work of the photographers on display, curated by Lili VonSchtupp, almost perfectly captures the glitz, glamour, sweat, exhilaration, and breathlessness that you will experience on Ms. VonSchtupp's stage every Monday night. I say "almost," because there is no real substitute for the live experience.
Yet presented in this way, these breathless moments give the viewer a rare opportunity to reflect on live entertainment on a more sublime level. The beautiful lines of dancers in motion, the colors and textures of their costumes, the expressions on the audience's faces -- it can be spellbinding to let yourself slip into the details of the photos. For those of us who perform and produce live entertainment, it strikes a deep chord. You can't help but feel connected to this world. For those who appreciate live entertainment, the specificity of each image charms and enchants.
The Monday Night Tease Retrospective is on exhibit until February 16th, 2013. The Perfect Exposure Gallery is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11:00 am to 4 pm, and is located at 3519 West 6th Street in Koreatown, just a couple blocks east of Normandie Ave.
For more information visit www.theperfectexposuregallery.com, and by all means come out to see The Monday Night Tease! Who knows what breathless moments you may be a part of?
The ProAm Divide
[NOTE: I'm still clearing out old drafts. I notice Phillip Kelly has a few kicking around as well. I may have to twist his arm and make him dash off an ending paragraph and hit "publish."]
I just ran across the most sobering and depressing thing I've read in a long time, "The Delusion Driving Much of American Theater," on Parabasis. Here's a sample of the pain:
In fact, I'm pretty sure in terms of number of productions, the majority (or at least plurality) of theatre produced in this country is probably Pro-Am (and i use this term to distinguish it from truly amateur productions such as community theatre).
And here's the thing: most of the artists working in the Pro-Am circuit have very very little chance of crossing over. They are, essentially, pursuing a delusion as a result of a category erorr, namely that the Pro-Am circuit and the LORT/Institutional circuit are part of the same system.
Did I say sobering and depressing? Sorry, I meant inspiring and exciting:
I also think (and I'm trying to develop this into a larger and longer piece to be published elsewhere) it's in the LORT systems' best interests to try to find ways to learn about, be more involved with and collaborate with the Pro-Am system and start to break down the walls a bit. Why? Because, well... we have the audiences they want, the creative energy they need and the next generation of artsits likes working with us.
Now, if only we could inspire and excite the staid old elitists who guard the gates of "real" theater. They're open to taking risks and exploring new ideas, right?
Don't Rehearse -- Simulate
[NOTE: This is another draft that has been sitting around forever. I'm not sure why I never published this one. What more could I have added? It's almost as if I like the sound of my own voice so much, if something I write lacks capacious verbosity I get discouraged and hit "save" instead of "publish." Oh well.]
I love directing, but I'm a tinkerer. My casts are lucky if I let them get to the end of a page before jumping in and tweaking things. I like to think I've gotten better about this, but I really do like to roll up my sleeves and work stuff out with the actors. When we are into dress rehearsals, I stuff the tinkering side of my directoral personality into a mental broom closet and bar the door. Those final runs before the audience appears are sacred.
Musician Alex Starapoli blogged some months back: "The Best Ways To Rehearse With Your Band" at the Tom Hess website. If you're new to Mad Theatrics, I often look to other artforms for fresh ideas on how to approach what we do in live theatre. This is a perfect example of why I do this:
Think of your band's rehearsals as a 'simulator' not as a time when you 'practice' playing your songs. 'Practicing' is what you do when you are trying to improve a skill. A 'simulation' is what you are doing when you try to recreate the same conditions as you may face at your next gig. Most inexperienced bands never do this. They practice their songs, but they don't really try to 'simulate' their next gigs. Think about how many possible conditions you might expect to encounter at future concerts you play. Now ask yourself how many of these can we recreate in detail at our next band rehearsal. This is what professional bands do to prepare for a tour.
Back in college, when we had the luxury of time and space, we'd run a good solid week of dress rehearsals and tech rehearsals. Shit would go wrong, but barring any actual dangerous situations (which would elicit a loudly voiced "HOLD!" and an immediate stop of the rehearsal) we'd barrel through as if it were an actual performance. Afterwords, we'd have a re-e-e-eally long notes session. Oftentimes the tech crew would split off from the actors and directors, but occasionally we'd do our notes together. Every single issue that came up -- no matter how minor -- would get addressed. Loose screw on the upstage platform? On it. Stitching coming loose on the sleeve of the lead's act two jacket? Done.
Light cues didn't time out right? Sound system failed? Well, we know what we'll do if that happens again. But it's not going to happen again.
You shouldn't scrimp on tech and dress rehearsals, although many of us do.
Bad Theater, Bad Powerpoint
Comic by Hugh Macleod. Check him out and support him here.
Bad theater is like bad Powerpoint.
It is a presentation platform, not the presentation itself. Like bad Powerpoint, bad theater confuses the two. Instead of focusing on a solid narrative that engages an audience on an emotional and intellectual level, bad theater worries about putting it all onstage, cluttering a simple construct in hopes that the mere weight of excess of words (or blocking, etc.) will literally give the production gravitas.
Bad theater uses the stock templates available, or else settles for a bare stage because it's the easy choice, not because it's the most aesthetic choice.
Bad theater goes nuts with bullet pointing moments. Bad theater uses bells and whistles for the sake of bells and whistles.
Good Powerpoint and good theater will give you a single image—a single moment—to focus on, while the narrative spills over you. It takes you on a journey to enlightenment; every seeming digression pushing you along.
Bad Powerpoint is displayed. Good Powerpoint is conveyed. So it is with theater.
Manifestos, not mission statements
[Note: From time to time I wind up with unfinished drafts sitting around, waiting to be finished and published. Oftentimes I had an itch that needed scratching. This is one of those times. As always, please keep in mind my disclaimer.]
The "Rules"*
(a working draft)
Audience first.
Manifestos, not mission statements.
New works; new tellings of old tales.
Solve problems with creativity.
Question creativity with problems.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle -- at both ends of production.
Assemble only what you need, use it all, and end with nothing.
Everyone gets paid or no one gets paid.
Don't chase renown, chase the work.
*Ultimately, do not blindly accept or follow any lead, rule, or authority. Adherence, allegiance, assemblage -- these things should be voluntarily committed and withdrawn when necessary. Theater is an ephemeral art form and nothing is set in stone. Nothing.
It's been a while since I've trumpeted the genius of Seth Godin, so here goes: He's a genius.
I wish I could just quote an excerpt here and send you off to his blog to read the whole thing, but there is a ratio of brevity to wisdom in his posts. This is a short one, and it is critically relevant to live entertainment. And so here is the entirety of Godin's latest post for you to read and ponder:
Two kinds of mistakes
There is the mistake of overdoing the defense of the status quo, the error of investing too much time and energy in keeping things as they are.
And then there is the mistake made while inventing the future, the error of small experiments gone bad.
We are almost never hurt by the second kind of mistake and yet we persist in making the first kind, again and again.
(Go to Seth Godin's blog, follow it, buy and read his books, etc.)
There are enough people doing theater exactly like everyone else. Find your own way, or don't bother.
Invent the future. Build the piano. Sure, learn from others, but at some point you have to strike out on your own and contribute your own verse (to borrow a sentiment from Walt Whitman). You need to make those mistakes, because they are the mistakes worth making.
Permanent Ink 2012
Image courtesy of Pixabay
As nominated by our intrepid readers, presented in chronological order of premiere date, here is the 2012 Permanent Ink List:
The Jacksonian
by Beth Henley
Premiered February 7th, 2012
Presented by Geffen Playhouse
Lemon Meter: 76% Read review excerpts here.
Summary: "This eerie offering by Pulitzer Prize winner Beth Henley and directed by Tony Award winner Robert Falls transports us to a seedy motel in Jackson, Mississippi circa 1964. You go to The Jacksonian Cottages to bury your secrets, making the motel an unsettling world where the subversive becomes commonplace and the passage of time becomes hauntingly unpredictable. Revolving around the night of a murder, The Jacksonian is a surreal trip that is rife with disturbingly dark humor. As this salacious tale's mysterious events unfold, both characters and audience find themselves on a road that ultimately leads to a dead end."
by Phinneas Kiyomura
Premiered February 24th, 2012
Presented by Theatre of NOTE
Summary: "Using the seven deadly sins as a springboard, writer, L.A. native, and co-director (with Jerry Kernion) Phinneas Kiyomura weaves together 8 different stories of ordinary sinners fighting, flailing and fornicating their way through what passes for normal life in modern day Southern California. Travelling up the 5 freeway and along a fractured timeline, Figure 8 turns the very notion of sin 'round upon itself."
Naked Before God
by Leo Geter
Premiered March 24th, 2012
Presented by Circle X at [Inside] the Ford
Summary: What do a porn star, a stripper and a soldier have in common with a Christian, a Muslim and a Mormon? They all want to get NAKED BEFORE GOD ... what's left to reveal, once they've bared it all?
Cafe Vida
by Lisa Loomer
Premiered April 26th, 2012
Presented by Cornerstone Theater Company
Lemon Meter: 100% Read review excerpts here.
Summary: "Acclaimed playwright Lisa Loomer pens the first play in The Hunger Cycle, a collaboration between Cornerstone, Homeboy Industries and Homegirl Café. Chabela and Luz are rival homegirls ready to leave the life and begin anew at Café Vida — the only place in the city that gives young women and their troubled pasts a genuine second chance to start a new life free of violence. It's here that these former enemies choose "la vida" over "la muerte" as they learn to compost, tend a garden, julienne an onion, and rock your lunch order with a smile and a heaping side of transformation."
Sukie and Sue
by Michael John LaChiusa
Presented by The Blank Theatre Company
Summary: "Based on actual events, Sukie & Sue: Their Story tells the creepy yet funny tale of two young nurses who have everything to live for ... great boyfriends, jobs that actually help people, and as much weed as they can smoke. That is until their Raggedy Ann doll becomes possessed and destroys their lives."
by Michael Elyanow
Premiered May 3rd, 2012
Presented by Boston Court
Summary: "What if a character from Medea wrested the children away from their mother's murderous intent, accidentally transporting them to present-day Maine in the middle of a hurricane? The Children is a layered, Rubik's Cube of a story, rich with comedy, passion and pain. Is that the modern-day sheriff or Jason, Medea's husband? Will these children grow up to overcome their horrific childhoods? Wild theatricality, myth, and puppetry combine to tell an eerily moving story of survival and healing."
Stoneface
by Vanessa Claire Stewart
Premiered May 25th, 2012
Presented by Sacred Fools
Summary: "Chronicled through the lens of his own silent films, Stoneface recreates some of Buster Keaton's most memorable gags live on stage, capturing the legend of a bygone era and telling the tale of the redemption of one of Hollywood's greatest performers."
Hearts Like Fists
by Adam Szymkowicz
Premiered August 3rd, 2012
Summary: "Dr X is sneaking into people's apartments late at night and injecting lovers with a serum that stops their hearts. Lisa joins the Crimefighters, a group of crimefighting women, to stop him. Peter, a heart doctor, is trying to create an artificial heart that can be mass produced so no one will fear to sleep with their lovers again."
Justin Love
Book by Patricia Cotter and David Elzer
Music and Lyrics by Lori Scarlett and David Manning
Story by David Elzer and Bret Calder
Premiered September 21st, 2012
Presented by Celebration Theatre
Summary: "Justin Rush is Hollywood's biggest movie star who has it all; a beautiful, devoted wife, more money than he knows what to do with, a huge summer action blockbuster set to open - but he's finding it harder to keep his secrets secret in our TMZ, twitter-addicted, celebrity-obsessed culture. Justin's wife Amanda, (rumored to be under some sort of "contract"), is getting frustrated by the growing questioning of her husband's sexuality and the endless scrutiny about their "alleged" arrangement. When Chris Andrews, his publicist's assistant and Mitchell Matthews, her old high school sweetheart (and now tabloid photojournalist), enter their lives, things start to get complicated. What if the rumors aren't true? But if they are...will any major movie star ever come out, or will they continue to retreat into the closet for career's sake? Someeone has to go first…will it be Justin Rush?"
Faith: Part 1 of a Mexican Trilogy
by Evelina Fernandez
Premiered October 12th, 2012
Presented by Los Angeles Theatre Center
Summary: "Set before the backdrop of the Great Depression, Faith is the story of a family faced with the challenge of retaining ancient traditions and cultural memory in the midst of social and political upheaval."
Death of a Salesgirl
by Patricia Scanlon
Presented by Bootleg Theatre
Summary: "Death of a Salesgirl follows Cat (Patricia Scanlon), a struggling salesgirl on her mission to break in new territory. Sales aren't what they used to be and Cat longs for the satisfaction she once found in "a mutually beneficial, yet heartfelt, exchange between two consenting human beings." As Cat prepares to stake out new territory, alone, in a seedy Hopperesque motel, she succumbs to a strange and disorienting nostalgia that invites a mysterious visitor, Frank (Paul Dillon). Gin, magic and mayhem ensue… and Cat soon finds herself caught between two worlds. As the real and surreal collide, Cat is forced to decide between the two or remain forever stuck between them... in the cramped motel, in the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere."
by Jim Leonard
Music by Beth Thornley and Rob Cairns
Presented by Circle X
Summary: "Bad Apples is a new rock musical that follows three characters inspired by the three National Guard soldiers behind the atrocities at Abu Ghraib prison in 2003/2004. Jim Leonard has created a compelling, jarring, beautiful and heartbreaking story that asks how this tragedy came to be. Who were the victims? Who were the villains? Is sadism part of being human? Was Abu really an aberration brought on by a few 'bad apples?'"
Three Views of the Same Object
by Henry Murray
Presented by Rogue Machine
Summary: "Jesse and Poppy, longtime loves, have made a suicide pact to protect against the time when their bodies deteriorate and they lose control over their destinies. But life has thrown them a curve… so what does this mean for the pact? Three Views of the Same Object explores three different outcomes to this dilemma. It's a story about enduring love and aging in America."
The Fisherman's Wife
by Steve Yockey
Presented by Ensemble Studio Theatre/LA
Summary: "Vanessa's marriage to Cooper has grown stale. She wants excitement, passion. He merely wants to provide for her the best way he knows how: fishing. While Cooper is out at sea, Vanessa receives a visit from a mysterious traveling salesman with a bag full of danger. And he's not the only one new in town: a ravenously horny giant squid and octopus have settled in under the dock, ready for whomever comes their way. Drawing inspiration from the foremost example of tentacle porn, Hokusai's famous 200-year-old Japanese erotic woodcut The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife, playwright Steve Yockey (Disassembly, Cartoon) seduces the audience with another of his brutally hilarious fantasias."
I guess I should have been a bit more clear: the Permanent Ink List is for world premieres in Los Angeles. The following shows had their LA debuts in 2012, but were produced in other towns first.
The Convert
by Danai Gurira
LA Premiere: April 17th, 2012
Presented by Center Theatre Group with McCarter Theatre Center and The Goodman Theatre
Summary: "It's 1895 when the convert, a teenager named Jekesai, is thrust into strange new circumstances that pit Ancient African traditions against Western culture and Christianity. When conflict erupts, she must follow her heart and make the ultimate sacrifice. With an urgent voice, both heartrending and humorous, Obie Award-winner Danai Gurira (In the Continuum and Eclipsed) brings yet another faraway world to the Douglas to enlighten, enrage and ultimately edify audiences."
by Keliher Walsh
LA Premiere: September 15th, 2012
Summary: 'Race, gender, marriage and motherhood come into conflict in the award-winning war drama Year of the Rabbit. Spanning two families, two generations and two highly controversial wars, Rabbit illuminates the devastating consequences of war across generations and ethnicities -- from Vietnam to Afghanistan."
by Jeff Stetson
LA Premiere: October 3rd, 2012
Presented by Ebony Repertory Theatre
Summary: "Three weeks after Dr. King's seminal "I Have A Dream" speech, a bomb destroyed an Alabama church, murdering four young girls and shattering the dream that had inspired so many. Set in a private club in 1987, Jeff Stetson's "Fraternity" explores the journeys of seven successful black community leaders whose lives were forever affected by that tragedy. It examines what happens to those who seek power, privilege and inclusion, while abandoning the sacrifices that made their success possible."
The Belle of Belfast
by Nate Rufus Edelman
LA Premiere: October 6th, 2012
Summary: "The Belle of Belfast is Nate Rufus Edelman's sharp and witty play set in 1985 at the height of Northern Ireland's "Troubles." Seventeen-year-old Anne Malloy, a wild child since her parents' death by a terrorist's bomb, turns to the comforts of her local parish. However, her passion is not for the Church, but for her confessor, Father Reilly, forcing both to re-evaluate the meaning of faith and love in a time of crisis."
Note: If I got anything wrong, or if any of you playwrights wish to correct the URL I direct people to from your name, shoot me an email: madtheatrics@gmail.com
Also, PLAYWRIGHTS: IF YOU DO NOT YET HAVE ONE, PLEASE ESTABLISH AN ONLINE PRESENCE. This goes for all of you out there, not just the few folks on this list I had to track down. Make it easy for people to find you, dammit.
Okay, artistic directors and producers far and wide: Take heed. The companies listed above have done the R&D for you. If you're looking for an exciting new work that will delight audiences, you may just find what you're looking for on this list.
Permanent Ink 2012 is coming ...
Should be published by the end of the day week.


text:
from __future__ import print_function
import sys
sys.path.insert(1,"../../")
import h2o
from tests import pyunit_utils
from h2o.estimators.gbm import H2OGradientBoostingEstimator

def test_pdp_user_splits_no_cardinality_check():
    data = h2o.import_file(pyunit_utils.locate('smalldata/prostate/prostate.csv'))

    x = ['AGE', 'RACE']
    y = 'CAPSULE'
    data[y] = data[y].asfactor()
    data['RACE'] = data['RACE'].asfactor()
    data['AGE'] = data['AGE'].asfactor()

    gbm_model = H2OGradientBoostingEstimator(ntrees=50, learn_rate=0.05)
    gbm_model.train(x=x, y=y, training_frame=data)

    user_splits = {
        "AGE": ["64", "75"]
    }
    pdp = gbm_model.partial_plot(data=data, cols=['AGE'], user_splits=user_splits, plot=False)
    assert len(pdp[0].cell_values) == 2

if __name__ == "__main__":
    pyunit_utils.standalone_test(test_pdp_user_splits_no_cardinality_check)
else:
    test_pdp_user_splits_no_cardinality_check()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Carpenters who get training in Construction ICRA are given 24 hours of total training, including eight hours of hands-on training. Successful results in skill-assessment testing must be mastered before certification, and the carpenter must re-certify every four years. A photo ID issued from the Carpenters International Training Center validates the completion of the ICRA training. A hard hat sticker specifically designed for the CRCC member is worn to quickly identify the worker who has been properly trained in Construction ICRA. There is no additional cost to the contractor or the healthcare facility for carpenters to be trained. All UBC members are trained free of charge.


text:
BJ Baldwin Wins 2010 Best in the Desert Parker 425 Off-Road Race
Benson KongWriter
The results aren't official yet, but "Ballistic" BJ Baldwin is the preliminary winner of the 2010 Best in the Desert Parker 425 off-road race. The race was held February 6 and is the first official cars and trucks competition of the 2010 BITD season.
Beginning and ending in Parker, Arizona, the Parker 425 race is three laps of a 138-mile desert loop. Certain classes -- 1700, 1800, 3700, 4400, and 7300 -- ran just two laps. The course is not particularly technical, but difficult terrain and cold, rainy weather took its toll on the 239 starting vehicles. According to BITD president Casey Folks, only 82 competitors crossed the finish line.
Baldwin, behind the wheel of his #97 Chevrolet trophy truck, finished first with an uncorrected time of 7 hours, 16 minutes, and 14 seconds. His time was nearly 20 minutes ahead of runner-ups Steve and Ray Croll in the #1585 Ford. Among the two-lappers, Dan and Dave Moore were winners in the #1815 Jeep with a time of 6 hours, 19 minutes, and 35 seconds.
Next on Baldwin's calendar is the King of the Hammers race this weekend, where he will have 10 hours to cover 135 miles from his 44th-place starting position. He also recently competed in the 2010 Dakar Rally, where he finished 20th.
The 2010 Parker 425's official times and final results will be released later this week.
----- UPDATE -- February 10, 2010 -----
Visit the Best in the Desert Web site to see the final times and results.
Sources: General Tires, Parker Pioneer


StoreShip Ecommerce fulfilment service is one of the best and most economical fulfilment services available in the UK, our dedicated team of pickers and packers combined with the most hi tech software to ensure your products reach your customers, quicker, safer and more accurately than any other company in the UK.
Our software means you can track the status of your customers orders whilst in our care, we can even offer photographic evidence of finished packaging for every item we send, reducing missed, damaged and non received deliveries.
We can offer white label printing and marketing literature for your customers as well as branded labels and your own unique returns address that can be handled by our professional team.
We take the work out of picking, packing and posting your customers orders and our competitive postage rates ensure a reduction in your postage costs, we can also offer competitive packaging costs with a large stock of bags, boxes and packing materials always kept close to hand.
Our software system is the best in the business, developed in house, it works seamlessly with your Ecommerce software so we receive all orders within 1 hour of your customer placing it online, 90% of all orders once received are picked and packed by our professional team within 1 hour of receiving your order into our system during working hours. Your order online is then updated and any necessary shipping details, e.g. carrier or tracking number is updated on your software for your customers to see, if timed right we can theoretically have your order ready for the postman within just 10 mins of your customer placing the order online, no other fulfilment company in the UK can offer that sort of service.
Storeship Limited can also handle kitting, repacking, labelling, boxing, prepacking and bundling your products for ease of sale.
We can handle all your returns and as well as stock and inventory.
We take care of your Ecommerce fulfillment needs while you sit back, relax and spend the profit from your online sales.
Why pay out for staff, packaging and postage when we can fulfill for you all in one?


Republican lawmakers will be holding a media availability Thursday to voice their disappointment with the House Majority as the Democratic-controlled Legislature once again demonstrates it is content with the status quo.
With a dark cloud hovering over Beacon Hill, and the public's lack of trust in its elected officials, we believe it to be imperative that the culture of corruption come to a grinding halt. Far too many ethical improprieties have violated the Legislature's standing and have jeopardized our ability to lead.
Tomorrow, we will be discussing the amendments we put forward in the rules debate and articulate to you and to the public why these rules changes are necessary to regain the public's trust. Additionally, a letter being sent out to every member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives will be distributed to members of the press.
The press conference will be held tomorrow (Thursday) at 12:15 p.m. outside Room 124 on the first floor of the Statehouse.


Join us for this exclusive opportunity to connect with over 1,200 K-12 education decision makers!
The CISC Leadership Symposium offers four levels of high value sponsorship. All packages include Disney Hotel space with sponsor bingo* and recognition in the online conference program.
*Sponsor Bingo – participants will use a bingo card to connect with sponsors and a chance to win fabulous prizes.
This year our Diamond and Gold sponsors will receive recognition at all Symposium General Sessions and premier locations in the Disneyland Hotel Lobby. Join our 2019 Symposium team today!
Contact Yvonne Contreras, Chairperson, contreras_yvonne@lacoe.edu or 562-922-6319.
Slide left on the table below to access all content.
At Corwin, we take pride that we are and always will be a fiercely independent family-owned business. Our stakeholders are learners all over the world: that's whom we invest in; that's whom we want to live rich, abundant lives through education. We love that being an independent, privately held company allows us to offer resources and services that come from a deep-welled vision about the purpose of education.
BetterLesson works with educators and instructional leaders to develop the skills and strategies needed to develop the next generation of resourceful, compassionate, and resilient learners. Through virtual coaching, Design Workshops aligned to classroom and district goals, and free, high quality lesson plans from some of the nation's most effective teachers, BetterLesson provides the support educators and leaders need today to prepare students for tomorrow.
From hundreds of school employees who made deposits and received loans in the 1930s, SchoolsFirst FCU has grown into a full service financial institution that helps more than 800,000 Members organize and integrate every part of their financial lives, with outstanding, competitively priced products and services that help you every step of the way.
Cyber High, a non-profit entity owned and operated by the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, creates pathways to success through standards-based, digital curriculum that fosters critical thinking, provides active and collaborative learning opportunities, and engages students in rigorous coursework.
For 50 years, Curriculum Associates (CA) has been united around one common purpose: to make classrooms better places for teachers and students.
Game Learning brings the past to life through fast paced, exciting game play. Our educational video games are best suited for ages 9+. Game Learning transports players to pivotal moments in the past where they meet a diverse cast of historical figures.
We are Imagine Learning. We teach language, literacy, and mathematics to the children of the world, changing lives and opening doors of opportunity.
The Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) is a state-funded public agency that promotes academic excellence and financial stability in the county's 80 K-12 public school districts and 2 million preschool and school-age children.
The purpose of the California Jump$tart Coalition is to improve the quality of life in California by teaching young people how to succeed with money, including organization, earning, spending, saving, investing and credit. We are a not-for-profit, Section 501(c)(3) organization affiliated with the National Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy.
PIPER: WHERE PLAY UNLOCKS POTENTIAL. With Piper, kids discover the skills they'll need to solve the problems of the future — problems we can't even predict yet. Kids are built to explore. And Piper is built to turn that exploration into real-world skills.
OverDrive is the leading digital reading platform for libraries and schools worldwide. We are dedicated to "a world enlightened by reading" by delivering the industry's largest catalog of eBooks, audiobooks and other digital media to a growing network of 40,000 libraries and schools in 70 countries.
Engaging Lessons for Every Subject. With Flocabulary, every lesson is an opportunity to bring the curriculum to life and reinforce core knowledge and skills.
Lakeshore has grown from a single brick-and-mortar store to a leading developer and retailer of top-quality educational materials for early childhood programs, elementary schools and homes nationwide.
Studies Weekly standards-based curriculum applies a Balanced Literacy approach to education. Our products foster Critical Thinking Skills that help develop a new generation of Responsible Decision Makers.


Bachelor s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or related field and 4 years experience in facilities management, construction management, engineering, or related area OR 6 years experience in facilities management, construction management, engineering, or related area.
1 year's experience in retail operations management.
3 years experience creating budgets and managing profit and loss statements.
4 years experience with building controls automation software.
Certified Facilities Manager or related facilities manager certification.
Master's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or related field .
Project Management Professional certification or related project management certification.


Description : My wrestler caw version of Catwoman off of WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011. This costume version is a tribute to Anne Hathaway's Catwoman from this years hit movie The Dark Knight Rises. The song in the video is the main theme from the Christopher Nolan Batman films. By Hans Zimmer.


Natural diuretics boost urination and cleanse the body of excess fluids. This article is aimed at providing information about how these items help in lowering blood pressure than some over-the-counter diuretics.
Accumulation of excess fluids in the body, or water retention, can lead to high blood pressure. Often, sodium consumed through a diet is found to be the major cause of fluid retention, also referred to as edema.
Whenever you consult your doctor for high blood pressure, he/she may recommend a medication acting as a diuretic, to flush out the excess fluid build up in your body. Natural diuretics are also often preferred to lower water retention. It should be noted that though these remedies are not supported by strong scientific evidence, still they have been used for decades, or rather I would say, for centuries. It is imperative that you consult your physician while taking these diuretics, through diets, or as a supplement. Always keep in mind, these remedies need to be administered under medical supervision only. Depending upon your body's need, your doctor decides the dosage quantity for you, either through diet or through medication.
Garlic: Garlic, also referred to as Allium sativum scientifically, is considered to be one of the best remedies for lowering blood pressure. Garlic, consumed as cloves or through garlic powder capsules, reduces dysfunction or spasm of small arteries, helps to maintain a normal pulse rate and alleviate symptoms of high blood pressure such as giddiness and shortness of breath.
Brown rice: Brown rice is one of the best among natural diuretic foods, low in cholesterol and salt content and hence, works best as hypertension medication. Brown rice diet, enriched with calcium, creates an alleviating effect on the nervous system and reduces the symptoms of high blood pressure.
Dandelion: Though not supported by scientific evidence, dandelion remains to be the most favored natural diuretic. Some sources state that the dandelion does not exhaust potassium content in the body. Dandelion tea reduces water retention in the body. However, make sure that you seek your doctor's opinion before self administering this treatment, since it may react with some antibiotics.
Celery Seed: This herb, taken through diet, or in form of a capsule, is enriched with a diuretic ingredient, called 3-n-Butylphthalide. Some research has affirmed that celery seeds boost blood circulation in the body. Celery seed intake may lead to an allergic reaction, so consult the doctor before adopting celery seed as a diuretic.
Indian gooseberry: A tablespoon of honey and fresh Indian gooseberry juice blend in the morning is also advised to lower blood pressure.
Watermelon: Watermelon, believed to be a shielding agent against high blood pressure, expands blood vessels, thus lowering blood pressure.
Parsley: Parsley, one among the best natural diuretics for high blood pressure, is enriched with potassium. It stocks the potassium quantity in the body. It is also believed that, parsley works best if consumed as a tea.
Lemon: Along with vitamin C, lemon is also enriched with vitamin P. Lemon tea benefits include prevention of capillaries from getting brittle.
Prescription diuretics and over-the-counter diuretics is the most popular way of curing high blood pressure in the UK and the US. The mechanism is to excrete excess amount of salt and water through urine, which in turn, lowers blood pressure. It also soothes blood vessels. Consult your doctor for the best brands available in pharmacies.
For centuries, these diuretics have been found to work best for high blood pressure, but you have to remember, you should consult your doctor before taking these, since some of these have side effects such as allergic reactions.


PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior Caitlin Connor (Bow, N.H.) tallied the game-winning goal, while sophomore Marykate Thompson (Glastonbury, Conn.) notched her first career goal as Plymouth State University defeated Suffolk University, 3-2, in a New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) women's ice hockey game on Senior Day Saturday afternoon at Hanaway Rink.
Plymouth State grabbed the advantage at the end of the first when Thompson found the back of the net with just four seconds left in the period. Suffolk battled back to tie the game in the second period, but junior Alexis Fagan (Burrillville, R.I.) took the lead back for the Panthers just 3:15 later.
The Rams retied the game in the third period, but once again Plymouth State responded as Connor netted a power play goal to put the Panthers up for good.
Prior to the game Plymouth State honored the seven seniors playing in their last regular season home game; Emelie Lindqvist (Gulleråsen, Sweden), Mackenzie Kennedy (Brea, Calif.), Taylor Jackson (St. Albans, Vt.), Kelsey Roy (Livermore, Colo.), Brooke Maggy (Los Angeles, Calif.), Hannah Elmer (Chicopee, Mass.) and Tori Sanford (Greene, Maine).
Plymouth State finishes the regular season 7-14-4 and 4-6-3 in the NEHC. The Panthers enter the NEHC Tournament as the sixth seed and will travel to third-seeded Castleton University for a quarterfinal game next Saturday (Feb. 16). Both games against the Spartans this year went into overtime, with Castleton earning a win on Jan. 26 and the teams skating to a 3-3 tie on Nov. 9.
Suffolk wraps up the regular season with a 15-8-2 mark and a 10-4-2 record in league games. The second-seeded Rams will host seventh-seeded University of Massachusetts Boston next weekend.
* Both teams supplied even pressure throughout the first period, with Plymouth state mustering 11 shots to Suffolk's 12.
* PSU connected in the final seconds of the first when Thompson skated into the offensive zone along the far side and snapped a wrist shot over the goaltender's blocker.
* Suffolk evened the score at 3:06 in the second period after freshman Jesse Kennedy (Southworld, Ont.) poked the puck off the goal line and into the net during a scrum in the crease.
* The Panthers went back in front when Fagan fired a wrist shot bar down from the far side face-off circle at the 6:21 mark in the second.
* The Rams struck back midway through the third on a wrist shot by freshman Sydney Tietz (Gull Lake, Minn.) from the slot.
* Plymouth State grabbed the lead for good on a power play strike at with 5:39 remaining when Connor tipped home a slap shot from junior Sydney Linnick (Highlands Ranch, Colo.).
* Fagan has five goals in her last five games.
* Suffolk outshot the Panthers by a 43-27 margin.
* Lindqvist made 41 saves in her final regular season game at Hanaway Rink to improve to 6-7-2.
* Sophomore Kristin Caporusso (Stouffville, Ont.) stopped 24 shots for Suffolk, but fell to 15-7-2 on the year.
* Plymouth State finished 1-of-4 on the power play, while the Rams were 0-for-1.
* Salem outshot the Panthers by a 20-16 margin.
"I was very pleased with our poise throughout the game," said head coach Mykul Haun. "Suffolk plays a high-tempo game and we were able to negate many of their scoring opportunities, which allowed us to win. We had great goaltending a great team effort all the way through. I was very excited to see Caitlin [Connor] get her first goal of the season after battling injuries for the last year and a half."
* NEHC Tournament quarterfinal action is set for Saturday (Feb. 16). Sixth-seeded Plymouth State will visit third-seeded Castleton, while second-seeded Suffolk will host seventh-seeded UMass Boston. Game times have not yet been determined.


text:
Updated: 19 Nov 2019 3:46 pm
Cracking packs and getting wild in MTG Arena
BY: lem galpo
How To Get Cards In MTG Arena
Learn some of the best ways that you can get the best cards in MTG Arena!
In MTG Arena, the best way to build the best decks is to get the best cards. There are several ways that you can get cards in the game. The first way is to win randomly selected cards by completing quests. While tThese cards are randomly selected, and it's very unlikely to get a rare or mythic rare card this way. The next way is to open booster packs. This is the best way to get cards. Not only do you get several cards (four commons, two uncommons, and a rare/mythic rare) but you also add your Wildcard meter.
Redeeming wildcards in MTG Arena
What Are Wildcards? Wildcards allow you players to redeem them for the rarity card of your choice. For example: If you have an uncommon wildcard, you can redeem them for an uncommon card of your choice. Each time you get a wildcard with a pack, it adds to your wildcard meter. There are six levels on the meter. Once it is full, you are awarded a wildcard.
So essentially, the best way to get the best cards is to keep cracking those booster packss. Not only are you guaranteed at least one rare/mythic rare, you also boost your wildcard meter, allowing you to eventually redeem them for cards that you need for your deck building. Here are the best ways that you can crack open as many booster packs as you can.
Complete Daily's and Weekly's
Completing Daily and Weekly Quests is a great way to grind
Each player in MTG Arena receives Daily Quests and Weekly Quests. Each player can have as many as three daily quests at a time. The prize for completing daily quests can be anywhere from 500-750 gold. This prize, paired with the Daily Win Bonus of 250 gold, means you can earn at least 1000 gold a day. This is important because the cost of all booster packs in MTG Arena is 1000 gold. Your Daily Win Bonus starts with a prize of 250 gold for the first win, then 100 gold for the next four wins, and then the prize alternates between 50 gold and a random card for the next wins.
One of the fastest ways of completing Daily Quests is to build custom decks that will accomplish the each specific quest faster. A player can have as many as 30 decks, so you can create as many custom decks for your daily quests. For example, if your daily quest is to cast 30 creatures, the best deck to build is a Weenies deck with small creatures that you can cast quickly. This way, you can complete your quests in as little as 2-3 games.
Build as many decks as you need
Weekly quests reward players with booster packs for their 5th, 10th, and 15th win of the week. This can usually be done in a day or two. So in a week, just by completing the Daily and Weekly Quests, you can win at least 10 booster packs. It can be a grind, but it will yield results, and you will eventually get enough boosters and wildcards to create that coveted Tier 1 deck.
The best mode to play when completing your Daily and Weekly Quests is by playing Ladder matches. These games match you up with other players on the same tier. As you win games, you climb the ladder into a higher tier and compete with the players on that pool. In terms of playing for cards, it is more efficient to play Ladder Play rather than Ladder Competitive because you can win and complete quests with there are less games.
Play Singleton
Another way to get premium cards is to play the Singleton mode. Singleton means having just one of each card in your deck (compared to the usual set of four). In this mode, players can win both cards and gold. Singleton is a time limited event, meaning players only have certain amount of time to sign-up and register for the event.
The singleton format is very competitive
In Singleton, players keep playing until they get two losses. If players don't get any wins, they will only receive a prize of 100 gold and two cards of one common and one rare. A player that reaches 5 wins gets 600 gold and the two cards. To enter sign up for the Singleton mode, a player has to pay either 100 gems or 500 gold.
This mode can be hard on new players because they could be facing competing against players with Tier 1 decks. It does guarantee a rare and an uncommon card and for just 500 gold. But new players will benefit more from amassing common and uncommon cards from cracking boosters instead.
Time Limited Events
Another option for earning gold and winning booster packs is to join in Time limited events. These events include Constructed Sets and Limited Drafts. In Constructed, you can only use cards from a specific expansion (A Ravnica Constructed will only allow cards from the Guilds of Ravnica set). In Limited Draft, players can open packs and select one card from rotating 15-card draft packs. During the draft, the packs are passed around. As the pack is passed, each player picks a card and before passes passing it on.
Limited Time events in MTG Arena
These events can be very rewarding, especially the Limited Draft, where players can keep the cards that they draft. But the price to join these events can be high. For Constructed, the prize is 1500 gems, while the prize of joining Limited Draft is 750 Gems or 5000 gold.
Learn the Calendar
Familiarize yourself with the calendar in MTG Arena
Most of the events in MTG Arena are time limited, meaning players only have a set amount of time to join each event. Players can familiarize themselves with the ongoing events of MTG Arena by looking at the calendar. This is a great way to plan and save up gold for your preferred event.
Magic the Gathering |
magic the gathering arena |
lem galpo
George RR Martin once wrote "A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies". He may have been talking about gamers too.
Favorite Genre: MOBA
Currently Playing: Fortnite, MTG Arena, DOTA2, MHW, COD4, Hearthstone, NBA2k18
Top 3 Favorite Games:DOTA 2, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Diablo
Nicol Bolas, the Ravager
The planeswalker Nicol Bolas is the main antagonist in the MTG Lore
MTG Arena Guide, Tips and Tricks What is Magic: The Gathering Arena? MTG: Arena (MTG: A) is a new digital product from Wizards of the Coast (WotC). The game was initially referred to as Magic Digital Next. The design team's mission is to take the game you love and deliver it in a modern...
The 10 Best MTG Arena Singleton Decks (2019)
What Are The Best Singleton Decks in MTG Arena? When it comes to Singleton, the first thing you should learn about the format is that all decks are very inconsistent. Having just one copy of each card (including non-basic lands) changes the Meta significantly. You can no longer rely on 2-3 cards...
[Top 10] MTG Arena Best Red Decks That Wreck hard
Are you ready to burn through the ranks of standard? Red is the color of aggression and energy. This energy is what drives the pyromancer and devil drivers who use it to be feared. Whether using just red mana or pairing it with another, these decks take the flames literally and...
[Top 25] MTG Arena Best Red Cards
Like the phoenix it is time to rise witness the power of red Red's raw power radiates in the form of rage. Playing red cards means, playing with destructive adrenaline to burn your opponents. But, what shall we use to start such a flame? This list contains the top 25 red cards in Magic the...


I did already post a behind the scenes photo from the photoshoot back in 2015, but Un-Titled Project magazine number 8 is out now. It has five different covers, one with a painting of Daniel by Kris Knight. You can purchase an issue at un-titledproject.com: PDF or a hard copy.
Update: 5th February 2016. More photos from the photoshoot.
Update: 10th February 2016. "In conversation with Daniel Radcliffe" video.
Update: 4th March 2016. The original photo they used for the "painted cover" version.
Update: 10th July 2016. A video shared by Dennis Golonka.
Update: 6th August 2016. More photos.
Update: 9th July 2017. More outtakes on dennisgolonka.com.
Does Daniel Radcliff ever stop looking so good?


Today, my happy thoughts are all about the fact that I just worked my last day in 10 freakin days!!! I am so so so excited about this. I am a bit of a workaholic, working full time during the day, working on this sweet sweet blog, working on buying a house, working on wedding stuff, oh man the list just goes on. Enough sheesh!
Tomorrow, we are headed to the Puyallup Fair, a September tradition that I absolutely cherish (who doesn't love stinky animals, mullets, and fried dough huh?). Then on Sunday we are spending a week relaxing in a house with a hot tub right on an inlet off of the Puget Sound. Like, ON the water.
I am uber excited about this week coming up. Time to recharge my batteries.
I'm sure you had a blast.


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Q: Help with caption from Kittel: Can we get phase angle difference from dot product? Can someone help me understand how the phase angle difference is just the dot product of k and r? Also, how do we get that the difference in phase angle is 2pir*sin(phi)/lambda?

A: Generally, the local phase angle $\alpha$ of a wave described by
$$\psi=e^{i\vec k\cdot \vec r}=e^{i\alpha(\vec r)}$$
is of course
$$\alpha(\vec r)=\vec k\cdot \vec r$$
That is just the very definition of phase $\alpha$ of a plane wave (in stationary description, i.e. temporal phase $e^{-i\omega t}$ has been divided out of the wave).
Due to that, all the wave fronts (the lines that look like "stair steps" perpendicular to the peripheral rays of the beam in Kittel's figure) have the same phase. In mathematical terms:
$$\vec k\cdot \vec r=const.$$
defines a plane (or in this 2D figure, a line).
From that it is clear that the phase difference between $r_O$ and $r_{dV}$ is given by the quotient of the respective phase factors:
$$e^{i\delta\alpha} = \frac{e^{i\vec k \cdot \vec r_{dV}}}{e^{i\vec k \cdot \vec r_O}}=e^{i\vec k \cdot (\vec r_{dV}-\vec r_O)}=e^{i\vec k \cdot \vec r}$$
and hence the phase difference is
$$\delta\alpha=\vec k \cdot \vec r$$
Again, this is just the definition of the term "phase difference".
As to your second question: suppose that $\chi$ was the angle opposite to $\varphi$ next to the other leg of the right (in the sense of orthogonal) triangle. Then $\chi$ is the angle that corresponds to the dot product:
$$\vec k\cdot \vec r = kr\cos\chi=kr\cos (\pi/2-\varphi)=kr\sin \varphi$$
Since the angular wave number is defined by
$$k=2\pi/\lambda$$
(you want to have a phase difference of $2\pi$ if $r=\lambda$ in $e^{ikr}$, i.e. exactly one period of the wave after a distance of one wavelength), you finally get
$$\vec k\cdot \vec r=\frac{2\pi r}{\lambda}\sin \varphi$$
By the way: the same formulae are also useful for single or double slit diffraction.

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Walter T. Matia was educated at Williams College in Massachusetts, where he earned degrees in biology and art design.
After graduation he worked in the Exhibits Department of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and later for the Nature Conservancy, a national nonprofit organization. He started his art studio, Curlew Castings, in 1984.
Matia is a Master Signature Member of the Society of Animal Artists, a Fellow of the National Sculpture Society, and a Master Wildlife Artist at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum Birds in Art exhibition. He is a regular participant at the Autry's Masters of the American West, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum's Prix de West, and Western Visions at the National Museum of Wildlife Art.
Matia's sculptures are exhibited at the prestigious Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum; the Brookgreen Gardens, Pawleys Island, South Carolina; the National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, Wyoming; the Thomas Gilcrease Art Museum, Tulsa, Oklahoma; the Wichita Botanical Gardens, Wichita, Kansas; the Cleveland Zoo and Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland, Ohio; the American Kennel Club Museum, St. Louis, Missouri; NFL Texans Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas; and Blair House, the Guest House of the U.S. President, Washington, D.C.
He has received the Award of Excellence from the Society of Animal Artists; the National Sculpture Society's Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals; the National Museum of Wildlife Art's "Red" Smith Award; Birds in Art Master Wildlife Artist designation; the Prix de West's Pitman Wildlife Award for Exceptional Artistic Merit, and the Masters of the American West's Kenneth T. and Eileen Norris Foundation Award for Sculpture and James R. Parks Trustees' Purchase Award.
Matia resides in Dickerson, Maryland, with his wife, daughter, son, and two Labradors.
Walter T. Matia is represented by Collectors Covey, Dallas, Texas; Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico; Legacy Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona, Jackson, Wyoming, and Bozeman, Montana; and Simpson Gallagher Gallery, Cody, Wyoming.
43 x 15 x 10 in.
29 x 29 x 2 in.
68 x 25 x 8 in.
13.5 x 10.5 x 1 in.


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RealtimeCampaign.com Explains How Pcie Seems Certain to Remain a Pillar of Personal Computer Tech for Years to Come
Computer components like peripheral cards need effective, reliable ways to connect and communicate with the machines they are installed in. For many years, the Industry Standard Architecture, or ISA, allowed add-on parts like sound cards and modems to integrate naturally with personal computers. Eventually, a more advanced standard was introduced, with the original version of the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus upping the ante over ISA in several important ways. Companies like Viavi Solutions and many others are busy making sure the still-significant personal computer market will not lack components that are compatible with PCI Express.
Despite being so much faster and easier to configure than ISA, PCI was superseded before very long by an even more sophisticated successor. The PCI Express computer bus standard has since become a mainstay of personal computer technology and has even evolved into a more capable solution than it originally was. As those who click for more info will see, PCI Express is definitely here to stay.
A Better Way to Connect Components to Computers
Ever since personal computers became widely available, users have sought ways to make their own systems better suited to their needs. Thirty years ago, that might have meant spending thousands of dollars on a machine only to devote a similar sum to add-on cards that would be installed in the available ISA slots. While most modern computers prove to be satisfactory out of the box, businesses and individuals still consistently find it worthwhile to enhance their computers' capabilities in various ways.
The PCI Express standard has become by far the most common way to accomplish such goals. Even though some motherboards still include support for legacy-grade standards like the original form of ISA, PCI Express has proved versatile and powerful enough that it suits just about every conceivable use case quite well. Most modern computers include full-length PCI Express slots that are most often used to host power-hungry peripherals like graphics cards along with shorter ports that can accommodate other types of add-on products.
The Future is Bright for PCI Express
Despite PCI Express becoming such a cornerstone of modern personal computer technology, some suppose that it will become outmoded before long. In practice, though, PCI Express has continued to evolve and keep pace with the latest developments in the field, which is something that could not be said of its two most prominent predecessors. As a result, PCI Express seems well-positioned to persist and remain relevant for many years to come, particularly given that the standard is still being actively improved on and developed.
Resources like Peripheral Component Interconnect Express Market | Key Players make it clear there is plenty of interest within the industry in ensuring that PCI Express remains viable and accessible for a long time to come. From scientists and gamers to productivity-suite experts, every common type of personal computer use is being accounted for.
According to RealtimeCampaign.com, interest in personal computers remains quite strong despite the global market shrinking somewhat. Whatever the future of the personal computer, it seems certain that PCI Express will remain an important part of it. That is a testament to a flexible, open-ended design that has allowed this important standard to keep up with the times.
Company Name: Realtimecampaign.com
Contact Person: Rose Mary
Website: Realtimecampaign.com


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Senator Bernie Sanders Delivers Keynote To Sanders Institute Gathering
WAMC Northeast Public Radio | By Pat Bradley
Senator Bernie Sanders delivers keynote at Sanders Institute Gathering
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Dr. Cornel West introduces Bernie Sanders at The Sanders Institute Gathering
Dr. Cornel West and Senator Bernie Sanders at The Sanders Institute Gathering
Sanders Institute co-founder Jane O'Meara Sanders
Author and motivational speaker Simon Sinek at The Sanders Institute Gathering
Actor and activist Danny Glover at The Sanders Institute Gathering
Bernie and Jane Sanders at The Sanders Institute Gathering
Progressive and liberal thinkers from around the world are in Burlington, Vermont this weekend to discuss issues and find practical ways to move forward. Many of the people at this first conference organized by the Sanders Institute attended the opening reception Thursday evening to hear the keynote speech from Independent Senator Bernie Sanders.
The Sanders Institute was created in June 2017 by Senator Bernie Sanders' wife Jane O'Meara Sanders and his stepson David Driscoll. The Senator is not affiliated with the group. O'Meara Sanders says this is the first major event the organization has coordinated. "We are using the Sanders Institute Gathering, our first conference, to bring together leading intellectuals and people from a variety of experience to come and talk together. We ended up with 49 speakers in 48 hours and it's only the beginning. We're hoping that a lot of things spin off from this and we're going to establish a global network of progressives that resonate each others' ideas."
Among those attending the three-day "Gathering" are San Juan, Puerto Rico Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, environmentalist Bill McKibben, international economist David McWilliams and actor and activist Danny Glover, who is a founding fellow of the Sanders Institute. "One of the things that's imperative for us to develop is a left think tank that is able to embrace the political realities that we face right now but at the same time begin to offer alternatives, real alternatives that's real change transformative change. And certainly with extraordinary young leaders here and those who have been on the battle lines for years I think it's an important moment a critical moment so that we can have a conversation about our relationship to humanity."
Civil rights attorney James Thompson, who ran for Congress in the Kansas 4th district, finds many people are looking for progressive alternatives. "It's like people starving for a progressive vision out there. There's also a lot of pushback because we have such a conservative state. But there's a lot of people that are getting tired of having their lives ruled over by the 1 percent. They're really wanting somebody that's going to talk to them about helping working people."
The first speaker of the evening was author and motivational speaker Simon Sinek. During the question and answer session he unnerved the crowd a bit by admonishing them to learn from President Donald Trump. "When we think about people like Trump and other Republicans it's hard to wrap our heads around the fact that they're worthy rivals at all. And we have to. Because if we see Trump purely as evil all we do is get angry. And it feeds a narrative that they capitalize on by the way. And you're going to get uncomfortable with me even saying these words. We are really good at connecting with people rationally except rational doesn't inspire anything. And Trump is extremely good at connecting complicated ideas in extremely emotional ways. We should listen and learn from him. It'll make us better."
The keynote was delivered by Senator Sanders, who touched on many of his familiar themes. "On issue after issue I want you all to know that the American people are with us on those issues. So what do we do? Our job is to bring our people together around a strong progressive agenda that speaks to the needs of all and not just the 1 percent. And I know that within this room there is an enormous amount of brain power, an enormous amount of experience, in terms of dealing with all of these important issues. And I can tell you as a United States Senator we desperately need your expertise. We need your ideas."
Senator Sanders did not address his plans for 2020. His 2016 campaign manager Jeff Weaver believes if he does run many people will support him. "I think he's been very transparent about this process. You know he's weighing it right now and you know I think in the not too distant future he'll have something to say about it."
The Sanders Institute Gathering runs through Saturday in Burlington.
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Sanders Institute To Host Conference Of Like-Minded Thinkers
An institute founded by relatives of Vermont's independent U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders will host a conference of like-minded thinkers in Burlington that…


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I love this quote: "I say it all the time -- that I want a classic, so it's like a dream ... Hopefully the sound that I'm trying to get out there surfaces instead of being under the radar. 'Cause people thought I was out the game, but I haven't even reached my peak yet. So, I'm definitely back at it." His sentiments equally inspire and sadden me. That drive and hunger ... to be heard, to impact a culture; for success and for listeners to hear what you hear in your own head; that's an inspiring message. It saddens me because what we know today is that he passed away probably never feeling like he reached his peak and a lot of people didn't give him his flowers while he could smell them. It took a man's life, literally, to inspire a culture but then outsiders tried to turn his legacy into a t-shirt. It irks me that we neither appreciate the geniuses and the forward-thinkers of our culture in their time, nor do we know how to properly honor their legacies. Rest In Peace, J Dilla.


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Watch Preview for Coming of Age Drama "The House of Malik"
Speaking of Clifton Powell, whom I just wrote a post about starring in Psalm 23rd: Redemption, he also stars in The House of Malik, set for release December 1, 2011. The film, a coming of age tale about a New Jersey trumpet prodigy, is written and directed by Jesse James Jackson Jr. and produced by Jersey Style Films Inc. Along with Powell, the film also stars Sean Taylor, Xiaofei Wang, Thomas C. Bartley, Jerry Ross and Anthony Warren.
Here's the storyline:
This is a coming of age tale of a young 13 year old trumpet prodigy from the intercity of Camden New Jersey who has to try and define his place in life. Malik Brett Perkens, as a young child, has gone through a traumatic experience of losing his mother in an accidental mishap. Maliks father Zip Perkens, is left to raise his son on his own, faced with the challenges of losing his wife and the ruthless streets of Camden.
Malik is now a young 23 year old man who has transformed into a street thug who has no thought of his future and life expectations. He has become totally out of control and has approached the "fork in the road" of his life. Zip has had all the trouble he can handle with Malik and enlists the help of his brother-in-law Kyle, (Clifton Powell) who lives in Japan to take Malik back there to broaden his horizon in the hopes that Malik will change his life.
Unbeknownst to Malik, his uncle Kyle has some hidden secrets that will pit him against some formidable opponents of the Japanese underworld. The ultimate in concealed secrets will eventually destroy a life, and bring another one to light. The "House of Malik," is a young boy's journey into Manhood. With a thundering, pounding, blistering soundtrack and stunning visuals, you can expect to take a rollercoaster ride into a powerful dramatic motion picture that will be the years spoiler box-office hit.
As I said earlier, the film has a release date of December 1st of this year.
Take a look at the preview.


Today, during consideration of the FY 2012 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill, pro-gun U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) offered an amendment to prohibit the use of funds for a new and unauthorized multiple sales reporting plan proposed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Amendment was passed by a vote of 25-16.
The Rehberg Amendment, which was strongly supported by NRA, will defund the Justice Department's controversial and illegal move requiring federally licensed firearms retailers in states bordering Mexico to report multiple sales of semi-automatic rifles.
As we reported yesterday, this procedure was proposed last fall as an "emergency" measure by BATFE. Specifically, it calls for all of the firearm retailers in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas to report multiple sales, or other dispositions, of two or more .22 caliber or larger semi-automatic rifles capable of accepting a detachable magazine purchased by a single individual in a five consecutive business day period. It is important to note that under existing law, BATFE already has full access to every dealer's firearm transaction records, either during a bona fide criminal investigation or simply to enforce compliance with record keeping requirements. This new reporting procedure would create a registry of owners of many of today's most popular rifles–firearms owned by millions of Americans for self-defense, hunting and other lawful purposes. Most importantly, however, the BATFE has no legal authority to demand these reports.
In addition, the agency has recently come under intense scrutiny due to its ill-conceived "Fast and Furious" operation. "Fast and Furious" encouraged Arizona gun stores to sell thousands of guns to suspicious buyers, despite objections from dealers and even BATFE's own field agents.
Earlier this year, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on and passed, by a vote of 277 to 149, an amendment to H.R. 1 (also offered by Rep. Rehberg, along with Rep. Dan Boren (D-Okla.)) that also would have prohibited the use of federal funds for this reporting requirement. Unfortunately, the amendment was not included in the final version of the bill as a result of Senate inaction.
In March, U.S. Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) introduced S. 570–"to prohibit the Department of Justice from tracking and cataloguing the purchases of multiple rifles and shotguns." The bill would ensure that federal funds cannot be used for the multiple sales reporting procedure.
NRA will continue to work to make sure the Rehberg Amendment makes it through the appropriations process. The amendment is scheduled to be heard on the House floor in August.


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ALAMEDA, Calif. & JERUSALEM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 9, 2017-- BioTime, Inc. (NYSE MKT and TASE: BTX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing and commercializing products addressing degenerative diseases, today announced its intent to offer to sell shares of its common stock in an underwritten public offering. BioTime, Inc. also expects to grant to the underwriters for the offering a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 15% of the number of shares of common stock offered in the public offering. The offering is subject to market, regulatory and other conditions and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering.
Raymond James & Associates, Inc. will act as the sole book-running manager for the offering.
BioTime intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including, without limitation, to fund clinical trials of products it is developing, to finance its research and development programs, and for general working capital.
The shares will be issued pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement that was previously filed with and has become effective by rule of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). A preliminary prospectus supplement and the related prospectus have been filed with the SEC and are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained, when available, from Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Attention: Equity Syndicate, 880 Carillon Parkway, St. Petersburg, Florida, or by telephone at (800) 248-8863, or by e-mail to prospectus@raymondjames.com.


The Science Museum of London has a set of 60 eerie little plaster heads that look like miniature death masks. Johann Gaspar Spurzheim (1776-1832), a well-known 19th century phrenologist, commissioned these bizarre relics to help his students study phrenology. As phrenology became popular in the early 19th century, practitioners needed reference collections to aid their research. Doctors and anatomists could easily acquire human skulls, often by robbing graves, for their phrenology collections. But the general public wanted affordable cranial libraries of their own and these tiny plaster busts would have satisfied that demand.
Phrenology, meaning study of the mind, was based on the idea that the brain was an organ of the mind. Practitioners believed that the mind has a set of mental faculties that are controlled by different areas of the brain, called brain organs. These "brain organs" could be large or small depending on an individual's personality traits or intelligence. Phrenologists believed the shape of the skull would correspond to these organs, forming bumps and depressions. They believed that they could ascertain a person's character and intellect by measuring these cranial features (Aldersey-Williams 2013).
Franz Joseph Gall (1758-1828), a neuroanatomist and psychologist, developed phrenology at the end of the 18thcentury. Johann Gaspar Spurzheim was Gall's lecture assistant and dissectionist until he decided to start his own competing system (Aldersey-Williams 2013). It was Spurzheim who coined the term "phrenology," added to Gall's list of brain organs, and organized them into a hierarchical system ("Johann Gaspar Spurzheim," n.d.). His list of organs included: amativeness (physical love), combativeness, secretiveness, individuality, and imitation.
Spurzheim helped to commercialize phrenology by lecturing across Europe and America. As the study of phrenology became trendy, his research was published in several languages and went through numerous editions (("Johann Gaspar Spurzheim," n.d.). But phrenologists needed more than books and lectures to learn this fashionable "science," they also wanted to see three-dimensional examples of cranial features.
It was easy for those in the medical field to acquire collections, but people didn't typically have access to real human skulls. Spurzheim saw this need, so in 1832 he commissioned artist and phrenologist William Bally, who had worked with him since 1829, to scale down a collection of plaster heads that he felt best-represented phrenological traits (Cliff 2014). Because these little busts were based on casts taken from live and dead subjects, each 3-inch head has individualized features. Each miniature bust was numbered and came with a description that was printed by Spurzheim (Cliff 2014).
and knowledge, and we recommend it strongly to our readers.
The whole set, with descriptions, are sold for two guineas.
made to the science for several years.
line backward, both sides are of the same size and form.
In 1951, the Wellcome Historical Medical Museum acquired the set that is now at the Science Museum in London. Other sets are in the collections at Johns Hopkins University and the Kulturen Museum in Sweden (Cliff 2014).
Phrenology was eventually debunked and discredited but it did influence early forensic scientists like Cesare Lombroso and Alexandre Lacassagne.
Aldersey-Williams, H. (2013). Anatomies: A cultural history of the human body. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company.
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