Up until relatively recently being 'addictive' was one of the greatest compliments you could bestow on a video game. Before the days of Fortnite and loot boxes the fact that a game could be so engrossing as to make you forget all other concerns was seen as the ultimate accolade. Nowadays things are more complicated, but we still have no hesitation in admitting that we are addicted to Into The Breach – and that's not a problem it's a positive.
Into The Breach is the latest from Subset Games, creators of FTL. Although the details are entirely different the game has a very similar approach, with very simple graphics and rules matched with rock hard difficulty and random elements inspired by roguelikes. It might not sound very appealing, but the deceptively deep gameplay that results is what leads to the aforementioned sidelining of normal social interaction and bodily functions.
Although there are obvious comparisons to be made with strategy games like Advance Wars and XCOM, the specific influences for Into The Breach are Square Enix's Front Mission series and the movie Pacific Rim. The game's backstory is told in a few short sentences but involves invading alien kaiju called Vek, which you have to face down with giant robots and other more mundane military equipment. The trick though, is that should you fail – and you will fail – you then get to travel back in time and try again.
The game's roguelike influences mean that maps are randomly generated, on a small eight by eight grid, and you start each mission with your squad of three vehicles beaming down and preparing to face off against the Vek as they tunnel up through the ground in usually infinite numbers. Into The Breach is a turn-based strategy, so you get to move each character once per turn and either fire or perform some other action such as repair.
Different vehicles have different weapons, with chess-like rules about range and deployment, but the controls really are as simple as that. The Vek are under similar restrictions but have a tendency to target cities and other buildings first, which is far more dangerous than when they just go after your robots. Unlike many modern action movies collateral damage is the most serious obstacle to your overall success, as the game monitors the overall 'grid power' of each island you fight on and if it drops to zero it's instantly game over.
Most Vek attacks involve a one-turn wind-up and if you see them targeting a building you have to drop everything to either knock them out of the way or take one for the team. Many attacks involve a robot or enemy being pushed back a square, which has all manner of tactical implications – from stopping new Vek from spawning to knocking them into the ocean or into the path of one of their own attacks.
Each map also has secondary objectives, such as protecting a train or destroying a dam, and can also involve help or hinderance from things such as friendly fighter support or extra tough enemies. Completing these extra objectives is usually the only way to recover more grid power, which can be vital for your long-term success.
Failure is built into the game's mechanics though, and when you are defeated you lose everything except for one pilot which you can take back in time with you and try again. Pilots earn experience as they fight, which can be used to level up their robot's equipment and activate new abilities like flight or special attacks. These can also be added to by keeping an eye out for time-travelling drop pods and making sure they're not destroyed.
By completing in-game achievements you can unlock other squads and cosmetic options, so despite the high cost of failure there is a constant sense of progression. Not least in your own rising confidence and expertise, as you find yourself planning out strategies before a match even starts. Or in those rare minutes when you're not glued to the screen, playing the game.
As with FTL, the art design is disappointingly uninspired and manages to make giant robots and kaiju as visually unexciting as possible. The old school pixel graphics are fine but most of the Vek are just giant bugs, and except for the ones that are ripped off from other sources the robots are similarly unimaginative in terms of design. Ultimately it doesn't matter, but we do wish there was a little more panache to Subset's visuals, especially as that's the game's only real flaw.
The low-tech approach and instantly accessible gameplay means the game is a perfect fit for the Switch, to the point where other console versions haven't even been announced yet. Oddly there's no touchscreen support in handheld mode, but the analogue stick controls work fine and it all becomes second nature within minutes.
The screenshots and videos may not look very inspiring but Into The Breach gets the maximum amount of gameplay depth out of the very minimum of inputs, creating a strategy game where 'one more go' is uttered with such insincere frequency that you'll wish you really did have time travel powers – just so you can fit in a few more games.
In Short: An almost perfectly formed strategy game, that hides near infinite variety and depth beneath its deceptively simple presentation.
Pros: Elegantly designed interface is instantly accessible but with amazing depth of gameplay. Great use of roguelike elements, with plenty of variety and a good sense of progression.
Cons: The art design is disappointingly unimaginative and the random elements do start to repeat a bit too early.


text:
LADIES' WATCHES ROGER DUBUIS
Velvet by Massaro
Velvet by Massaro is a line designed to reveal the visionary facet of femininity. It epitomises the creative muse, the revolutionary passionaria, exploring the fascinatingly eccentric side of women who are fearless in revealing their true selves.
When imagining the Roger Dubuis world at the SIHH 2016, Creative Director Alvaro Maggini was determined to create a glamorous stage recalling the golden age of Hollywood and the rise of the rst global stars who dominated the 1930s and 40s in the major lm studios. As Maggini explains, "the retro-glamour mood of this ' lm set' for modern-day divas was also intended as a nod to the 1980s and to Madonna's iconic 'Vogue' video clip with its memorable injunction to 'strike a pose', all of which ties in with Warhol's '15 minutes of fame' that is central to our determination to give women a chance to shine in the spotlights."
As a natural extension of this creative vision, the idea of working with a master of feminine luxury led Roger Dubuis to the prestigious Parisian doors of Massaro. Entirely dedicated to the world of fashion and feminine glamour for over 130 years, the Maison Massaro is proud of the traditions of its craft, as indeed are the watchmakers at the Geneva-based Manufacture. Like Roger Dubuis, the Maison Massaro has never feared to introduce daring and iconoclastic interpretations of his art.
And like the watchmaking Maison, Massaro is just as dedicated to hand workmanship as to the use of innovative materials and original designs, as well as the kind of subtle details that create an unmistakable and powerful allure. Small wonder that these footwear gems should have appealed to Roger Dubuis, the "jeweller of rare artistic masterpieces".
Creative inspiration from the Massaro workshops
The perfect tandem
The Maison Massaro is acknowledged by the greatest names on the haute couture planet as capable of setting the perfect nishing touch to any out t. Look no further for the signature that has captivated celebrities around the world, or for the genius behind the iconic black-and-beige slingbacks synonymous with Chanel.
Maggini decided to take the Massaro mantra – "anything is possible here" – quite literally by imposing a set of aesthetic and technical challenges that would have daunted a less talented and inventive rm. The idea was to bring the distinctive beauty of creative shoemaking to the wrist through an instantly recognisable yet unequivocally original line. Gold, silver, feathers, beads, woven motifs, cinema costumes… but absolutely no spangles nor bling: such was the creative brief perfectly grasped by Massaro. The shoemaker enthusiastically launched into an interactive creative endeavour that called for exactly the kind of lateral thinking in which
both Maisons excel. Maggini describes this prestigious collaboration between two distinctive brands that are unafraid to stand out from the crowd as "the perfect tandem, involving fascinating opportunities to witness the same superlative degree of ne workmanship that Manufacture Roger Dubuis is committed to upholding."
From heel to wrist
SIHH 2016 brings the big reveal of this line and – in tune with the craze carried by a number of contemporary stars – it's a case of redheads rst with a model named… Rita, in tribute to the silver-screen siren, the legendary Rita Hayworth. Nicknamed "The Love Goddess", she took a far more down-to- earth view of her success, famously saying: "A girl is, well, a girl. It's nice to be told you're successful at it." She exuded a powerful and provocative presence as well as a taste for living both passionately and dangerously that chimes with the Roger Dubuis vibe.
The highlight 'feature' of this charismatic creation is of course the pleated Haute Couture leather strap evoking the beauty, elegance and originality that Roger Dubuis shares with the Parisian shoe designer. Bringing that touch from heel to hand – and from sole to soul – was no ordinary 'feat', but the Manufacture and Massaro share the above-mentioned belief that anything is possible once the right creative idea has been sparked. In the process Maggini discovered even more parallels between the two worlds than he had initially imagined. Those who consider shoes or timepieces to be mere accessories should try and imagine a runway show without the right footwear, or a perfect daytime or evening out t without the wristworn companion that both reveals and enhances a personality. And just as shoes adorn and surround a woman's feet, so too a sensual watch strap embraces the wrist in an intimate and alluring way.
Secured by a white gold adjustable folding clasp set with brilliant-cut diamonds, this unique strap glows in warm gold tones that are picked up in the yellow gold barrel-shaped dial centre typical of theVelvet collection.The radiating applied hour-markers – including two yellow gold ones at 6 and 12 o'clock – are arranged on a satin sunburst exterior and also re ect this shining, luminous theme. The bezel, lugs and decor of the dainty 36 mm white gold case are set with brilliant- cut diamonds. And because Roger Dubuis has always believed that women deserve the best of mechanical watchmaking, the self- winding calibre beating at 28,800 vph and nely adjusted in ve positions delivers a 48-hour power reserve. In tune with the rare nature of such a creation, this model is issued in an 88-piece limited edition.
In case you were wondering, yes indeed, these creations celebrating the Grand Dance of Time will be displayed in dedicated showcases along with a matching pair of pumps made from the same original leather and further re ecting this visionary facet of femininity. For where would a girl be without shoes? As another famous Hollywood icon, Marilyn Monroe famously said: "Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world". But for those who longing to know the names of the blonde and brunette Hollywood icons who inspired the other two Velvet by Massaro creations in this unique trilogy, stay tuned!
WATCHESPEDIA
https://i0.wp.com/www.watchespedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/thumb_1635_default_imageRatio-3.jpeg?fit=767%2C265&ssl=1 265 767 WATCHESPEDIA https://www.watchespedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/logoneww.png WATCHESPEDIA2017-08-02 08:30:392019-04-09 09:39:54Velvet by Massaro
Velvet Black Limelight Gala Contemporary muse

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Weird Rules That MasterChef Contestants Have To Follow
David Buchan/Getty Images
By Hannah Cole/Updated: Jan. 12, 2021 10:10 am EST
Have you ever found yourself lounging on the couch on a Saturday afternoon, watching season number I-don't-even-know-anymore of MasterChef, and casually thinking...Should I try out?
While we can't speak to your cooking abilities, we can certainly assure you of one thing: Being a contestant on MasterChef is no joke, so you best be prepared before making your couch daydream a reality by signing up for next season's audition!
First thing's first: No professional chefs allowed. Yes, seriously — MasterChef only recruits and signs off on self-taught, casual cooks (via Delish). Some reality TV rules like this are a given, no matter what series it is. Take, for example, the game show Big Brother, where all contestants must live in the California home for the duration of the season (or until they're booted), according to the show's official casting website. Well, things are relatively the same in Gordon Ramsay's TV kitchen. Former contestant Elise Mayfield revealed to AV Club that producers gave her less than two weeks notice to get to California — that's not even a full heads up for the full-time job you're likely leaving behind! So if you aren't willing to temporarily relocate to the Golden State at the drop of a hat, then your MasterChef reality TV dreams are pretty much a no-go.
Potential MasterChef contestants are forced to go through an intense pre-show evaluation
That's not the only strange rule competitors must follow on the set of the Fox hit MasterChef. In fact, one of the most surprising requirements takes place before contestants even make it to the set.
Jessie Glenn, a one-time hopeful vying for the MasterChef top prize, details her experience with producers in a full exposé for Salon. According to Glenn, auditioners are required to partake in a lengthy personality evaluation and one-on-one with a psychiatrist before getting the official sign-off to join the series. Don't expect to get a copy of the results, though — Glenn says that you're never shown them, likely because "it seemed to [Glenn] that the point of the test is to judge what dramatic traits each person has that could be harvested later for a plot twist." And MasterChef isn't the only show that does this, when Glenn asked the doctor if they perform these consultations for other shows, they replied "'Yes! The Biggest Loser, American Idol, all the Fox shows.'"
Glenn explains that the "invasive" pre-filming prodding doesn't end there, either; potential contestants are also required to meet with an investigator, whose purpose is to dig into every last bit of your personal history before approving you for TV. Even though Glenn says they hadn't thought they had done anything that would prevent them from being selected as a contestant for the Fox hit, they were still incredibly nervous and concerned they "sweated guilt." We don't blame them! We can imagine being interrogated by a psychiatrist followed by an investigator would be a stressful experience.
The MasterChef set is a strict phone-free zone, with officials watching at all times
Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images
Since MasterChef cooks are expected to be self-taught, there are strict rules in place to ensure no one has an upper hand. According to AV Club, that means that no recipes (yes, even for baking) or phones are allowed, which — let's be real — is a good rule. It's a little too easy to Google search "potatoes," find thousands of gourmet roasted russet recipes, and become a MasterChef in your own kitchen these days.
But, as AV Club points out, the no-phone rule ultimately means very minimal interaction is allowed with friends and family back home. So if you're looking to launch your TV cooking career, MasterChef may not be the place to do it if you easily get homesick.
With so many rules in place, MasterChef has to be on top of things to make sure the set is an even playing field for all of the cooks. Lucky Peach spoke with MasterChef and MasterChef Junior judge Christina Tosi, who assured readers that there is a "team of standards-and-practices officials who watch the contestants' every move." That way, no one's sneaking potato recipes on a burner phone under the kitchen table. But that doesn't mean the contestants are totally on their own! While it doesn't usually make the final cut, Tosi says the judges do walk around while the competitors are cooking and give pointers to help them succeed. After all, nobody actually wants the contestants to fail. (Okay — maybe the producers would be okay with a few failures here and there, but that's just good TV.)
If your reality TV kitchen dreams are now fizzing out, we can't say we blame you — that's a whole lot of rules, after all. Our advice? Maybe just stick to Saturday MasterChef Junior re-runs from here on out.


text:
Q: What makes some commercial JFETs asymmetric? In a MOSFET, the obvious cause of asymmetry is the fact that the source is tied to the body. But in a JFET, no such obvious answer exists, as the body, gate, and drain are all the same piece of silicon with no material differences between them (as far as I'm aware). And indeed, most JFETs seem to be symmetric.
But there are some JFETs on the market have specifications that would imply asymmetry. See for example the UJ3N120070K3S that I just used in a design; it's rated for a gate-to-source voltage of no more than -20 volts, but a drain-to-source blocking voltage of 1200 volts. But if \$V_{ds} = 1200\ \mathrm V\$, and \$V_{gs} = -20\ \mathrm V\$, that leaves \$V_{gd} = -1220\ \mathrm V\$! Even if \$V_{gs} = 0\ \mathrm V\$, \$V_{gd}\$ is still vastly higher than the rated \$V_{gs}\$.
If the FET were symmetric, that would imply that the gate-source and gate-drain ratings should be the same, but they clearly can't be here, as if they were, the drain-source rating couldn't possibly be higher than the gate-source rating, and applying rated \$V_{ds}\$ would fry the gate junction.
What about its physical construction makes this JFET, and others like it, asymmetric? Why can \$V_{gd}\$ be so much higher than \$V_{gs}\$?

A: Many JFETs are symmetric and this is sometimes indicated in the datasheet such as the

Source: https://shop.micross.com/pdf/LSM_2N4117A_TO-71.pdf
If it is indicated then you know its symmetric otherwise you would have to assume either.
I think this is question is backwards:

What about its physical construction makes this JFET, and others like
it, asymmetric? Why can Vgd be so much higher than Vgs?

If there is asymmetry you can infer this from measurements or from the datasheet because if the physical construction were symmetrical there would be no difference.
A better question would be: Can I infer that a JFET is asymmetric if there is a difference between Vgd than Vgs. I believe the answer is yes, but you could never be sure unless you actually check the physical construction or a patent. Also if there were Cgd and Cgs listed and they were different I also think you could assume asymmetry.
This J308 "N-Channel JFET" has a different Cgd and Cgs.

Source: https://www.digchip.com/datasheets/parts/datasheet/078/J308-pdf.php

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
package com.zuehlke.carrera.javapilot.rest;

import com.zuehlke.carrera.javapilot.services.SimulatorService;
import com.zuehlke.carrera.relayapi.messages.RaceStartMessage;
import com.zuehlke.carrera.relayapi.messages.RaceStopMessage;
import com.zuehlke.carrera.simulator.model.racetrack.TrackInfo;
import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Autowired;
import org.springframework.web.bind.annotation.*;

@RestController
@RequestMapping("/api/simulator")
public class SimulatorResource {

    @Autowired
    private SimulatorService simulatorService;

    @RequestMapping(value="/track", method = RequestMethod.GET,  produces = "application/json")
    public TrackInfo getTrack() {
        return simulatorService.getTrackInfo();
    }

    @RequestMapping(value="/startRace", method = RequestMethod.POST)
    public void startRace() {
        simulatorService.fireRaceStartEvent(new RaceStartMessage("local", "TRAINING", "", 0L, "", false));
    }

    @RequestMapping(value="/stopRace", method = RequestMethod.POST)
    public void stopRace() {
        simulatorService.fireRaceStopEvent(new RaceStopMessage());
    }

    @RequestMapping(value="/start", method = RequestMethod.POST)
    public void startSimulator() {
        simulatorService.startClock();
    }

    @RequestMapping(value="/stop", method = RequestMethod.POST)
    public void stopSimulator() {
        simulatorService.stopClock();
    }

    @RequestMapping(value="/reset", method = RequestMethod.POST)
    public void resetSimulator() {
        simulatorService.reset();
    }

    @RequestMapping(value="/powerup/{delta}", method = RequestMethod.POST)
    public void powerup(@PathVariable int delta) {
        simulatorService.powerup(delta);
    }

    @RequestMapping(value="/powerdown/{delta}", method = RequestMethod.POST)
    public void powerdown(@PathVariable int delta ) {
        simulatorService.powerdown(delta);
    }

    @RequestMapping(value="/selectDesign", method = RequestMethod.POST, produces = "application/json")
    public TrackInfo selectDesign(@RequestBody String trackDesign ) {
        return simulatorService.selectDesign ( trackDesign );
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


On Sunday February 24, Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria celebrated the Divine Liturgy in St. Andrew Cathedral in Kananga, the third city in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was assisted by hierarchs Nicholas of Amathus (Church of Cyprus), Meletios of Kananga, Nicephorus of Kinshasa, Theodore of Babylon, and the new metropolitan, Theodosius of Kananga, who was enthroned at the end of the Divine Liturgy, according to the Alexandria Patriarchate ceremonial.
The patriarch expressed warm words about the new Metropolitan, giving him guidance and suggestions to spiritually guide the people of God. He also spoke of the honor and blessing that God gave him to elect and consecrate the first bishop of Kananga, urging him to follow in the footsteps of the great missionaries of Africa. The patriarch also thanked the Greek fraternity "Sotir" for sending its members to this country, as well as several Greek missionary associations.
A large number of faithful attended the service. Here is an album of pictures taken during the ceremony.
You can watch here below a documentary film on Orthodoxy in the Congo, shot mainly in Kananga, with comments in Greek and English subtitles. It received several awards. At the end of the film, you can see Pascha celebrations in Kananga. Some faithful walk up to 250 miles to attend Pascha.


I recently viewed this artist's work through his FaceBook page. Today I am honored to introduce this artist to this Gallery site… Mr. Warren Zoell. Owner of The Great Canadian Model Builder's Site, Warren is an outstanding artist with obvious, great creative skills. This kit bash alone is a fantastic design.
Here are some images of my 1/537 scale kit bash Clarke Class U.S.S. Kubrick NCC – 2001 in honor of a great film, a great writer and a great director. 18 months after the christening of the Kubrick she disappeared without a trace while investigating strange signals coming from the beta quadrant. It's whereabouts to this day still remains a total mystery. Interestingly enough the next ship to bare the 2001 designation was the Excelsior Class U.S.S. Proxima. She too was lost presumably to "unspecified aggressors" though this cannot be substantiated.
The specifications of the Clarke classes only member remains to this day classified.
The Aztec decals were downloaded from Starship Modelers web site.


text:
namespace bubblefs {

namespace algorithm_internal {

// Performs comparisons with operator==, similar to C++14's `std::equal_to<>`.
struct EqualTo {
  template <typename T, typename U>
  bool operator()(const T& a, const U& b) const {
    return a == b;
  }
};

template <typename InputIter1, typename InputIter2, typename Pred>
bool EqualImpl(InputIter1 first1, InputIter1 last1, InputIter2 first2,
               InputIter2 last2, Pred pred, std::input_iterator_tag,
               std::input_iterator_tag) {
  while (true) {
    if (first1 == last1) return first2 == last2;
    if (first2 == last2) return false;
    if (!pred(*first1, *first2)) return false;
    ++first1;
    ++first2;
  }
}

template <typename InputIter1, typename InputIter2, typename Pred>
bool EqualImpl(InputIter1 first1, InputIter1 last1, InputIter2 first2,
               InputIter2 last2, Pred&& pred, std::random_access_iterator_tag,
               std::random_access_iterator_tag) {
  return (last1 - first1 == last2 - first2) &&
         std::equal(first1, last1, first2, std::forward<Pred>(pred));
}

template <typename It>
It RotateImpl(It first, It middle, It last, std::true_type) {
  return std::rotate(first, middle, last);
}

template <typename It>
It RotateImpl(It first, It middle, It last, std::false_type) {
  std::rotate(first, middle, last);
  return std::next(first, std::distance(middle, last));
}

}  // namespace algorithm_internal

// Compares the equality of two ranges specified by pairs of iterators, using
// the given predicate, returning true iff for each corresponding iterator i1
// and i2 in the first and second range respectively, pred(*i1, *i2) == true
//
// This comparison takes at most min(`last1` - `first1`, `last2` - `first2`)
// invocations of the predicate. Additionally, if InputIter1 and InputIter2 are
// both random-access iterators, and `last1` - `first1` != `last2` - `first2`,
// then the predicate is never invoked and the function returns false.
//
// This is a C++11-compatible implementation of C++14 `std::equal`.  See
// http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/algorithm/equal for more information.
template <typename InputIter1, typename InputIter2, typename Pred>
bool equal(InputIter1 first1, InputIter1 last1, InputIter2 first2,
           InputIter2 last2, Pred&& pred) {
  return algorithm_internal::EqualImpl(
      first1, last1, first2, last2, std::forward<Pred>(pred),
      typename std::iterator_traits<InputIter1>::iterator_category{},
      typename std::iterator_traits<InputIter2>::iterator_category{});
}

// Performs comparison of two ranges specified by pairs of iterators using
// operator==.
template <typename InputIter1, typename InputIter2>
bool equal(InputIter1 first1, InputIter1 last1, InputIter2 first2,
           InputIter2 last2) {
  return bubblefs::equal(first1, last1, first2, last2,
                     algorithm_internal::EqualTo{});
}

// Performs a linear search for `value` using the iterator `first` up to
// but not including `last`, returning true if [`first`, `last`) contains an
// element equal to `value`.
//
// A linear search is of O(n) complexity which is guaranteed to make at most
// n = (`last` - `first`) comparisons. A linear search over short containers
// may be faster than a binary search, even when the container is sorted.
template <typename InputIterator, typename EqualityComparable>
bool linear_search(InputIterator first, InputIterator last,
                   const EqualityComparable& value) {
  return std::find(first, last, value) != last;
}

// Performs a left rotation on a range of elements (`first`, `last`) such that
// `middle` is now the first element. `rotate()` returns an iterator pointing to
// the first element before rotation. This function is exactly the same as
// `std::rotate`, but fixes a bug in gcc
// <= 4.9 where `std::rotate` returns `void` instead of an iterator.
//
// The complexity of this algorithm is the same as that of `std::rotate`, but if
// `ForwardIterator` is not a random-access iterator, then `absl::rotate`
// performs an additional pass over the range to construct the return value.

template <typename ForwardIterator>
ForwardIterator rotate(ForwardIterator first, ForwardIterator middle,
                       ForwardIterator last) {
  return algorithm_internal::RotateImpl(
      first, middle, last,
      std::is_same<decltype(std::rotate(first, middle, last)),
                   ForwardIterator>());
}

}  // namespace bubblefs

#endif  // BUBBLEFS_UTILS_ALGORITHM_H_


Ikea Kitchen Models Tags : Engagingkitchen Renovation Picturesthat Will Make You Say #whaaaaaaaat! Personablei Kitchen Designthat Will Make You Say ~right,it Is Time For Me To Do The Same Thing~ 100 Ingredients In A Pictures For Kitchen Number 79 Is Impossible!. Beautifulkitchen Decor Ideasthat Will Bend Your Knee.
Nayeli Walker Kitchen design ideas, 2018-07-29 12:43:18. The storage space is one of the most important areas for the kitchen design ideas. The cupboards have to be planned well to store not only the cooking vessels but many other things. The pantry has to have enough shelves and counters.
Paula Foreman Kitchen design ideas, 2018-08-27 16:24:32. When searching for the latest kitchen ideas, the Internet can be an excellent resource. There are multitudes of kitchen-oriented websites that can be found simply by performing searches on popular search engines, such as Google, Yahoo or MSN. Some of these sites feature a kitchen photo gallery where you may peruse the latest kitchen design pictures. If you seek inspiration for a kitchen remodel, there are also kitchen plans that you may access on some of these sites. Such plans are instrumental in the early stages of those types of projects, and the more information you can obtain before commencing the better. Finally, kitchen showrooms and home centers are also helpful in this process as many of them have charts and kits especially designed for kitchen remodels.


I would like to announce that I have made a decision to enter the race to become a City of Niagara Falls Councillor.
I have been a resident of Niagara for more than 39 years and have participated in the many stages of growth within our Region and specifically in Niagara Falls. I have built my career on partnership development, collaboration and transparency often rising to challenges that a first glance seems prodigious. I have worked and volunteered in the non-profit sector for more 40 years and have been recognized as an early adopter of social enterprise to meet emerging budget demands and funding limitations.
I am currently the Executive Director (ED) of a Niagara region non-profit charity Heart Niagara which is focused on education, screening, diagnosis and health management for long term sustainable positive health change. As the ED I have lead the organizations staff, volunteers and Board as we transitioned to meet emerging healthcare needs. This has been possible due to communication with and through the Board of Directors, Funders and our staff.
On a personal and professional note, I have monitored the expansion of our community and the opportunities available to support growth, and connectivity. I am confident that I can play a role strengthening a team approach to reach further and increases successes. I believe that at this point in my career I have the vision and experience to make a significant contribution that can take Niagara Falls City Council to the next level. This can be accomplished this with the support of partners, community, staff and other change agents in Niagara and Ontario.
As a community leader I would be honoured to bring my experience, qualifications, and connectivity to Niagara Falls City Council and work with Councillors, other Boards and staff through the next stage of development in Niagara Falls.
Please consider a vote for Karen Stearne on October 22, 2018. I will leverage and utilize more than 30 years' experience in building capacity through community and partnership development on our community's behalf.
Engage citizens in, and inform them about, local issues so they will be more likely to vote in the upcoming municipal election and so that they will feel comfortable about their choices when they enter the voting booth.
To find and endorse good candidates who are running because of a genuine desire to serve their community and who have the skills, experience or ideas that make them an asset on local and regional councils.
Copyright © 2018 Karen Stearne for City Council - All Rights Reserved.


A survey carried out by Which? has found that 46 per cent of consumers would rather have payments stopped from leaving their bank accounts than pay overdraft charges.
Younger people would rather avoid charges, with 65 per cent of those in the 16-24 age group preferring to have their payments blocked, compared to the 38 per cent of over 45s, who would pay the overdraft fee.
Following the Supreme Court's ruling last week that banks did not have to refund unauthorised charges, Which? has called for banks to make unofficial overdrafts on accounts optional.
Which? personal finance campaigner Phil Jones said that these charges are effectively giving consumers loans they have not asked for, then charging them high rates for them.
"Such an expensive 'service' shouldn't be forced on people who don't want it as it can easily lead to financial difficulty," he concluded.
Following the ruling, the financial services provider had advised consumers to get in touch with their bank if they found themselves in money trouble as the institution may waive any fees it has imposed.


text:
Korean-speaking threat groups strike close to home
Sara Barker
Korean-speaking cyber threat groups seem to be 'waging war' on the Korean peninsula and across Southeast Asia, according to a new report from cybersecurity firm Kaspersky.
Kaspersky's APT Trends Report Q3 2019 indicates that there are plenty of threats targeting the region.
One of those threats includes an Android malware disguised as a mobile messenger or cryptocurrency apps. The Korea Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Kaspersky investigated the malware and linked it to a Windows malware strain called KONNI.
"KONNI is a Windows malware strain that has been used in the past to target a human rights organisation and personalities with an interest in Korean Peninsula affairs," Kaspersky explains.
"It is also known for targeting cryptocurrencies by implementing full-featured functionalities to control an infected Android device and steal personal cryptocurrency using these features."
One of the most notorious APT threat groups, Lazarus, and its financial arm BlueNoroff, is being watched by Kaspersky. According to the company, researchers have been able to access information about how the threat group moves laterally to access high-value hosts and banks.
Kaspersky says that BlueNoroff uses a sophisticated malicious software that can run as a passive or active backdoor, or even a tunnelling tool, depending on the command line parameters. BlueNoroff is also evading detection by constantly changing its Powershell script.
"Targeted attacks against financial institutions combine sophisticated techniques - that were previously seen only in APT attacks - with typical criminal infrastructures used to launder the stolen goods," comments Kaspersky global research & analysis team director Costin Raiu.
"In Q3, we've seen advanced threat actors such as Andariel and Lazarus' BlueNoroff arm attempting to breach not only banks, but investment companies and cryptocurrency exchanges, among others. We advise all companies in APAC to be vigilant and take precautions to guard against such attacks."
Another Lazarus group called Andariel APT Group has also attempted to build a new command and control infrastructure that exploits Weblogic servers through vulnerability CVE-2017-10271.
According to Kaspersky, the group was successful in similar trials. In one case, it used a legitimate signature from a South Korean security software vendor to implant malware. The case was quickly dealt with through the quick actions of the South Korean CERT.
The Q3 APT Trends report summarises the findings of Kaspersky Lab's subscriber-only threat intelligence reports, which also include Indicators of Compromise (IOC) data and YARA rules to assist in forensics and malware hunting.
Kaspersky Advanced persistent threats Malware
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Should You Worry About Molori Energy Inc's (CVE:MOL) CEO Salary Level?
Joel Dumaresq has been the CEO of Molori Energy Inc (CVE:MOL) since 2016. First, this article will compare CEO compensation with compensation at similar sized companies. After that, we will consider the growth in the business. And finally – as a second measure of performance – we will look at the returns shareholders have received over the last few years. This process should give us an idea about how appropriately the CEO is paid.
How Does Joel Dumaresq's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies?
At the time of writing our data says that Molori Energy Inc has a market cap of CA$3.1m, and is paying total annual CEO compensation of CA$292k. (This is based on the year to 2017). While this analysis focuses on total compensation, it's worth noting the salary is lower, valued at CA$240k. We took a group of companies with market capitalizations below CA$267m, and calculated the median CEO compensation to be CA$155k.
As you can see, Joel Dumaresq is paid more than the median CEO pay at companies of a similar size, in the same market. However, this does not necessarily mean Molori Energy Inc is paying too much. A closer look at the performance of the underlying business will give us a better idea about whether the pay is particularly generous. Take a look at Molori Energy's key growth metrics by clicking on this link to view earnings, revenue and cash flow.
The graphic below shows how CEO compensation at Molori Energy has changed from year to year.
Is Molori Energy Inc Growing?
On average over the last three years, Molori Energy Inc has grown earnings per share (EPS) by 80% each year. In the last year, its revenue is down -33%.
This demonstrates that the company has been improving recently. A good result. The lack of revenue growth isn't ideal, but it is the bottom line that counts most in business.
Has Molori Energy Inc Been A Good Investment?
Given the total loss of 36% over three years, many shareholders in Molori Energy Inc are probably rather dissatisfied, to say the least. So shareholders would probably think the company shouldn't be too generous with CEO compensation.
We examined the amount Molori Energy Inc pays its CEO, and compared it to the amount paid by similar sized companies. We found that it pays well over the median amount paid in the benchmark group.
However, the earnings per share growth over three years is certainly impressive. On the other hand returns to investors over the same period have probably disappointed many. Considering the per share profit growth, but keeping in mind the weak returns, we'd need more time to form a view on CEO compensation. So you may want to check if insiders are buying Molori Energy shares with their own money (free access).
What Kind Of Shareholder Owns Most Kootenay Silver Inc (CVE:KTN) Stock?
Are Nippon Dragon Resources Inc's (CVE:NIP) Interest Costs Too High?


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Carrizal es una localidad del estado mexicano de Chihuahua, localizada al norte de su territorio y en el municipio de Ahumada, es una de las poblaciones más antiguas de su región, aunque a la fecha cuenta con una población muy baja.

Historia
Carrizal se encuentra situada en una región sumamente árida, en el Desierto de Chihuahua, lo que siempre ha marcado su aislamiento y difícil mantenimiento de su población, previo a la conquista española esta zona desértica estaba habitada por grupos étnicos como los sumas, jumanos, janos, mansos y apaches; tribus que en su mayoría resistieron con fuerza todo intento de conquista por parte de los españoles, así como la propaganda religiosa de los misioneros.

Al situarse en medio del desierto la agricultura no podía practicarse a gran escala, por lo que las primeras actividades de la zona fue la explotación de salinas, formadas en las cuencas cerradas de lagunas que al evaporarse dejaban depósitos de sal, surgiendo así haciendas y poblaciones en los alrededores; para la seguridad de la zona frente a los frecuentes levantamientos indígenas, la corona española resolvió el establecimiento de presidios militares, uno de los cuales fue el Presidio Militar de San Fernando de las Amarillas del Carrizal, fundado el 8 de noviembre de 1758 por Mateo Antonio de Mendoza gobernador de la Nueva Vizcaya, sobre el Camino de la Plata, que unía a la Ciudad de México con la de Santa Fe de Nuevo México, siendo Carrizal prácticamente el único punto intermedio entre la entonces villa de San Felipe de Chihuahua (hoy la ciudad de Chihuahua) y la villa de El Paso del Norte (hoy Ciudad Juárez) y al situarse en la rivera del río del Carmen, uno de los pocos de la región, logró estabilizar la población y un entorno de relativa paz y prosperidad. Recibió su nombre en honor del entonces Virrey de la Nueva España, Agustín de Ahumada y Villalón, II Marqués consorte de las Amarillas.

Tras la independencia de México, Carrizal continuó siendo una de las principales poblaciones de su región, sin embargo, en el 20 de enero de 1831, en las cercanías de Carrizal ocurrió el primer alzamiento de tribus apaches que inició un conflicto que se desarrollaría a lo largo de todo el siglo XIX y que protagonizaría la historia de Chihuahua en todo ese periodo; en 1826 el gobierno del estado restableció la compañía presidial de Carrizal, para reforzar la lucha contra los alzados, el pueblo recibió el caráceter de cabecera del municipio de Carrizal según decreto del 17 de marzo de 1855, a principios de agosto de 1865 pasó por Carrizal el presidente Benito Juárez en su traslado desde Chihuahua hacia Paso del Norte perseguido por las tropas francesas.

Con el gobierno de Porfirio Díaz llegó a la región la construcción del ferrocarril de México a Ciudad Juárez, sin embargo la línea no fue trazada por Carrizal,sino a una distancia aproximada de 15 kilómetros al noroeste, por el punto denominado Labor de Magdalena, lo que significó que esta nueva población se convirtiera en el principal polo económico de la región y con él el deaimiento de Carrizal, el 14 de julio de 1894 esta población se denominó Villa Ahumada y se constituyó en cabecera de un nuevo municipio segregado del de Carrizal.

Uno de los hechos históricos más importantes ocurridos en Carrizal tuvo lugar durante el desarrollo de la Revolución Mexicana, cuando se enfrentaron en la población el Ejército Mexicano mandado por el Gral. Félix U. Gómez y tropas del Ejército de Estados Unidos bajo el mando del capitán Charles T. Boyd el 21 de junio de 1916; este enfrentamiento, conocido como la Batalla de El Carrizal, se saldó con la victoria de las fuerzas mexicanas sobre las estadounidenses, que formando parte de la Expedición Punitiva perseguían a Francisco Villa por haber invadido Estados Unidos atacando el pueblo de Columbus, Nuevo México; las fuerzas mexicanas tenían la orden de impedir el avance de los estadounidenses hacia el interior del estado, lo que lograron de momento, aunque en la batalla murió el Gral. Félix U. Gómez, conocido desde entonces como El Héroe del Carrizal.

Sin embargo, la población del pueblo era cada vez menor, en consecuencia, el 18 de julio de 1931 el Congreso de Chihuahua emitió un decreto suprimiendo el municipio del Carrizal e incorporándolo al municipio de Ahumada, perdiendo de esta manera definitivamente el carácter de cabecera municipal; y constituyendo desde entonces una sección municipal.

Localización y demografía

Carrizal se encuentra localizado en una de las zonas más desérticas del estado de Chihuahua, en las coordenadas geográficas  y a una altitud de 1 220 metros sobre el nivel del mar, junto a la población fluye el cauce del río del Carmen, prácticamente seco de manera permanente por lo árido del clima y por ser sus aguas represadas en su curso alta para ser utilizadas para el riego en el municipio de Buenaventura, por lo que ya no llega a la población ni a su desembocadura, la Laguna de Patos, localizada a unos 40 kilómetros al norte del Carrizal.

Su principal vía de comunicación es una carretera estatal pavimentada de dos carriles que lo une al noreste con Villa Ahumada, distante unos 20 kilómetros y al sureste con la población de Flores Magón, a unos 80 kilómetros, dicha carretera ha cobrado tránsito e importancia al constituir una vía libre alterna a la Carretera Federal 45 que en el tramo entre Villa Ahumada y Chihuahua es una autopista de cuota.

De acuerdo a los resultados del Censo de Población y Vivienda realizado en 2020 ppr el Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía, la población de Carrizal asciende a un total de 65 personas, de las que 29 son hombres y 36 son mujeres.

Véase también
 Expedición punitiva contra Francisco Villa
 Batalla de El Carrizal
 Félix U. Gómez

Referencias

Notas

Fuentes

Localidades del estado de Chihuahua

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


i play an online golf game "pangya" at goa.com. when i launch the game, the display becomes distorted and "stretched". there is a setting on my monitor labeled "auto" i can select that returns the display to normal. this occurs everytime i complete a game or enter game play. ive tried every display setting in control panel i could think to try without success. anyone have any idea how to correct this annoying problem? i have a windows vista os.
When did this start? Has this always been a problem?
What is your current screen resolution set to?
its a mag innovision 17 inch flat screen. the screen resolution is 1024 x 768, and i run the ingame settings at 640 x 480 because it best fits the screen, but it doesnt matter if i run the game settings and the screen resolution settings the same, it still does this. its done the same thing on other games ive downloaded off the net, as well.
Do you know the native resolution of your monitor?
What happens if you try adjusting the ingame resolutions to something higher?
not sure what the native resolution is, but the max is 1280 x 1024. i have it set to 1024 x 768 as my preferential. the ingame settings include a full screen or widescreen display. oddly, i dont see the problem when its in widescreen mode, but i prefer to play in full screen with the image larger as its easier to play.


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Brazil turns to WTO on EU Salmonella poultry dispute; WTO reviews other issues
By Joe Whitworth on November 16, 2021
Brazil has again gone to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in a dispute with the European Union about controls of Salmonella in poultry meat.
The South American country has requested dispute consultations with the EU about measures on the import of salted poultry meat and turkey meat with pepper.
Brazil claims the EU's approach to Salmonella food safety criteria on fresh poultry meat and some poultry meat preparations intended to be eaten cooked are inconsistent with WTO's agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which creates "unjustified barriers" to trade.
The request for consultations is the first formal dispute step in the WTO process. It gives those involved an opportunity to discuss the matter and find a solution without litigation. After 60 days, if consultations have failed to resolve the dispute, Brazil may request a verdict by a panel.
Brazil has already raised a specific trade concern (STC) about the EU's Salmonella food safety rules for fresh and poultry meat preparations on four occasions since 2017.
In the EU, fresh poultry meat cannot be placed on the market if Salmonella Enteritidis or Salmonella Typhimurium are detected. Rules on poultry meat preparations require the absence of all serotypes of Salmonella in a 25 gram sample.
Brazilian officials said there is no technical or scientific evidence to justify the stricter microbiological criteria for Salmonella in salted chicken meat and turkey with pepper compared to unprepared fresh poultry.
They added the different Salmonella rules between these two product categories has adversely affected Brazilian exports of poultry meat preparations to the EU.
Seven new trade concerns
Meanwhile, the WTO Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures also met earlier this month.
Members addressed 44 specific trade concerns, seven of which were raised for the first time. Discussions covered restrictions and approval procedures for imports of animal and plant products, pesticide policies and MRLs.
Most new sanitary and phytosanitary issues related to undue delays in approval procedures. This included EU delays in authorizing imports of Samgyetang — Korean ginseng chicken soup — from Korea and China's import restrictions on fishery products, which was raised by Mexico.
Among the previously raised issues, many were about food safety. These include the EU regulatory approach to maximum levels for contaminants that was flagged earlier this year by Canada with support from the United States. Canada's concern covered cadmium in cereals and pulses and oilseeds, ergot and ergot alkaloids in cereals, and hydrocyanic acid in linseed (flax).
Also, a sanitary and phytosanitary issue was raised in 2020 and discussed again throughout 2021 by Australia, China, Russia and Chinese Taipei with support from Japan, New Zealand, Philippines and the United States on new EU rules on composite products. Composite products contain both items of plant origin and processed products of animal origin.
Japan gave an update on the food safety situation following the Fukushima nuclear power station accident 10 years ago. The United States presented results of its Food and Drug Administration (FDA) traceability challenge. The EU reported on increased official controls and emergency measures to let in certain food and feed of non-animal origin from some importing countries.
The next meeting of the committee is set for March 23 to 25, 2022. Members also agreed to hold a session in March on trade approaches to pesticide maximum residue levels, including substances not approved for use in an import market. In June, a meeting is scheduled on the use of virtual audits and verification systems in regulatory frameworks. In November, another session is scheduled to look at international standards and best practices in pest risk identification, assessment and management.
Tags: Brazil, European Union, poultry, Salmonella, Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures, turkey, World Trade Organization


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Chanel Introduces First Watch For Men: Monsieur de Chanel
Watch The Beauty Of Paris In Stunning 4K
Bell & Ross AeroGT Concept
French watch brand Bell & Ross unveiled at Baselworld 2016 their own stunning concept, the Bell & Ross AeroGT. Inspired by aviation and the grand touring cars of the '50s and '60s the AeroGT is extremely low (1.10 m) and aerodynamic, the 4.7 meter-long car seems to split the air like an arrow.
"Every year, in order to create new models, I need new sources of inspiration," admits Bruno Belamich, our creative director. "Following the success of our B-Rocket motorbike in 2014, I wanted to go even further and design the Bell & Ross car. The aim was to produce a car that can 'hold its own', even amongst automotive professionals. But above all, this real challenge was a great joy," remembers the designer. "The AeroGT concept car was the starting point for the creation of a new pair of watches inspired by the automotive world – the BR 03 AeroGT models."
Bruno Belamich imagined the car propelled by a 4.2l V8 twin-turbo engine, combined with the latest 8-speed automatic gearbox, boasting 610hp, and reaching 100 km/h in less than 3 seconds.
To coincide with the AeroGT's unveiling, Bell & Ross is launched two watches, BR 03-94 AEROGT and BR 03-92 AEROGT. The first one BR 03-94 AEROGT features a satin-polished steel case measuring 42mm; is powered by calibre BR-CAL.319 and comes in limited edition of 500 pieces.
The second model, the BR 03-92 AEROGT, gets a 42mm satin-polished steel case, sapphire with anti-reflective coating and is powered by automatic mechanical calibre BR-CAL.318. l. Both watches include black calfskin stitched with red piping and ultra-resistant black synthetic fabric. No word on price. TBA.
[ Source: Bell & Ross ]
More From: Vehicles
Singer Transformed This Porsche 911 Into A Wild Off-Roader


Description: RadioShack TRC-483. 40-Channel 2-Way CB Radio. 10 weather channels for instant access to all local weather conditions and forecasts. Brand new still in plastic.
Description: Information received about broken televisions for just a DONATION REQUEST! Earn money by fixing your friends and neighbors tv''s with the information received!


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This article was published on January 23, 2014
Carl Icahn buys $1 billion more Apple shares in two days, continues to push his buyback proposal
Ken Yeung
Ken Yeung is a reporter for The Next Web based in San Francisco, CA. He carries around a big camera & likes to write about tech, startup (show all) Ken Yeung is a reporter for The Next Web based in San Francisco, CA. He carries around a big camera & likes to write about tech, startups, parties, and interesting people. Follow him on Twitter, on Facebook, and Google+.
Activist investor Carl Icahn has filed documents with the US Security and Exchange Commission today which reveal his purchase of an additional $1 billion worth of Apple stock. The move increases his holding to $3.6 billion and is a bolder move by Icahn to motivate the company's board to increase its buyback program.
Yesterday, Icahn announced that he was going to purchase $500 million worth of Apple's stock and then followed up the next day to repeat the process.
Today we have put out a seven page letter to $AAPL shareholders discussing why buyback should be markedly increased: http://t.co/O7F8S7BzWg
— Carl Icahn (@Carl_C_Icahn) January 23, 2014
Calling it a "no brainer" of a move, Icahn believes his position is sound and issued a seven page letter to Apple shareholders to sell his case:
We believe, however, that this share repurchase authorization can and should be even larger, and effectuating that for the benefit of all of the company's shareholders is the sole intention of our proposal. The company has recommended voting against our proposal for various reasons. It seems to us that the basis of its argument against our proposal is that the company believes, because of the "dynamic competitive landscape" and because its "rapid pace of innovation require[s] unprecedented investment, flexibility and access to resources", it does not currently have enough excess liquidity to increase the size of its repurchase program.
Throughout Icahn's letter, he makes reference to rumors that Apple will have larger screens for iPhone and iPads, along with speculation about what company CEO Tim Cook's new "product category" will be. The lengthy correspondence also says an Apple TV would represent one opportunity for the company to take, along with other hardware advances, although he doesn't go into great specifics.
And here's the kicker in the whole thing: Icahn wants Apple to implement his rather extreme buyback proposal, which is way more than anything that the company ever announced. He says that based on the company's current circumstances, the $50 billion amount is appropriate. Here's his rationale (emphasis TNW's):
The Board may argue that much of its cash and earnings are international and therefore subject to a repatriation tax if returned to the United States to repurchase shares. While this is true, we question why the company would not simply borrow the money in the Unites States to the extent it deems its domestic cash of $36 billion and domestic earnings are insufficient. Given that the company has $130 billion of net cash and $40 billion of expected annual earnings, and the fact that it is hard to find a better time in history to borrow money, a $50 billion share repurchase over the course of fiscal year 2014 seems more than reasonable to us. Today, Apple's outstanding ten year bonds yield 3.63%, and its five year bonds yield 2%. Apple could either continue to carry this debt, repay it from its domestic earnings over time, or repatriate cash from abroad upon the passage of corporate tax reform.
Apple announced its buyback program in 2012 and it has gradually increased from $10 billion to $60 billion in 2013. Around this time, Icahn entered the picture first saying with a tweet that he had a "large position" in the company and voiced his opinion that it was undervalued. In December, Apple urged its shareholders to vote against Icahn's $50 billion proposal and it's still on the company's annual shareholder meeting which is scheduled for February 28.
It's worth noting that Icahn's stake still prevents him from being one of the largest shareholders, but the fact that he holds this much stock could give him more leverage to pursue his cause.
Shares in Apple are up 0.77 percent today to $555.77 following Icahn's announcement.
Photo credit: YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images
Published January 23, 2014 - 9:27 pm UTC
Apple's 'Lockdown Mode' is the sharpest arrow in its security quiver


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Wilhelm Oxenius, född 9 september 1912 i Kassel, Tyskland, död 13 augusti 1979, var en tysk major inom Nazitysklands armé.

Oxenius deltog tillsammans med generalöverste Alfred Jodl och generalamiral Hans-Georg von Friedeburg i den tyska delegationen när Jodl undertecknade Tysklands villkorslösa kapitulation den 7 maj 1945 i Reims.

Från den 10 maj 1945 till den 3 januari 1948 var Oxenius krigsfånge.

Källor

Externa länkar

Födda 1912
Avlidna 1979
Personer från Kassel
Militärer i Nazityskland
Män


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Multiplayer: Our favourite video game villains
Doublejump·18 min read
Behind every great hero, there is a great villain to test their limits. Superman has Lex Luthor, Batman has the Joker, Super Mario has Bowser, Harry Potter has Voldemort… The list could go on and on. The video game industry is full of incredible stories with memorable protagonists, many of whom have gone on to be household names and help their franchises into the annals of gaming history, but very few of them have done it alone: this month, the Doublejump Staff takes a look back at some of the best, most memorable antagonists they've seen in their time as gamers, and why they were so important. Enjoy!
Given the nature of this discussion, some spoilers could not be avoided, so tread carefully!
Alex: Ganondorf (The Legend of Zelda series)
I grew up loving The Legend of Zelda, but not simply for protagonist Link's heroic acts, his wondrous array of items and magical abilities, or his status as The Chosen One, the Hero of Time, and so forth. A lot went into defining those games for me, but what connected every single factor was the sheer fact that I had the single purpose of taking down an epic villain; no villain has ever stood out to me more than Zelda's own Demon King, Ganondorf.
On the surface, he's a monstrous human being at a whopping 7'6", with a profoundly strong figure and dark, red hair that has somewhat surprisingly become one of his most defining characteristics, lasting even to Breath of the Wild in the form of Calamity Ganon. Symbolically, he was a literal plague upon the fictional land of Hyrule who would sacrifice anything and anyone in his quest for power. While the significance of Ganondorf's character is portrayed quite similarly across each game that he's been a part of, there are noticeable instances where fans have been granted unique insights into the Gerudo King's psyche, such as Wind Waker's depiction of him as someone who endured the vile winds of the Gerudo desert before coveting the pure winds of Hyrule.
Above all, Ganondorf has such a strong reputation for delivering memorable boss battles. Ocarina of Time was the first game I ever completed in its entirety, and I'll never forget how spectacular it was volleying spells between he and I. Even as a seven year old, it was a real "OH SHIT" moment seeing him transform into an even larger beast — it truly captured the villain's immense power and destructive personality in one physical form, and it literally made me want to crap my pants. Overcoming such an intimidating opponent was completely gratifying, and remains as one of my fondest childhood gaming memories to this very day. Stepping into the boots of the Hero of Time will always be great, but knowing that another epic Ganondorf showdown lies in wait for me at the end of my journey is a feeling that will never be anything short of exciting.
Honourable mention: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII)
For a long time I only knew Sephiroth for his incredibly difficult boss battles in the Kingdom Hearts franchise. Once I finally worked my way through Final Fantasy VII, I understood just how significant the One-Winged Angel truly is. His story stood out as a unique fall from grace, as a man of great pride, strength and intelligence discovers deeper and darker meanings behind his own existence. In the process of adopting a twisted saviour complex, Sephiroth's personality adapts into something far more ruthless and sinister. Witness this stunningly-detailed character unhinge was nothing short of epic, culminating in a final confrontation that was visually breathtaking. Needless to say, I'm greatly looking forward to getting my hands on the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Remake.
Ayden: Gravemind/Prophet of Truth (Halo)
As a child, nothing excited me more than the proposition of battling against a tyrannical alien warlord with a vast vocabulary who wanted to, inadvertently, end all life in the galaxy. That is until you added that I would come toe-to-toe with a malevolent and manipulative hivemind that controlled and willed hordes upon hordes of alien zombies. At that point, I would hardly be able to contain myself.
The Prophet of Truth, what a name. This limp, chair-riding ruler directly engaged with the Master Chief once in the entire Halo series — there were passing moments, but only one confrontation — one that resulted in the Prophet's death. We crossed galaxies, blew up rings, boarded High Charity and fought on the streets on New Mombassa, but only once did the Chief and Truth face off in the median point of Halo 3. This arch-enemy of the humans wasn't just a delusional religious leader; he was a well-versed monument of the Covenant's Great Journey. His voice and face were broadcast to the humans to scare them before he launched a full-scale attack on one of their headquarters — numerous times. He endorses the public torture of his own Elites and then he takes those Elites and makes them want to earn their right back into the Covenant. He fled High Charity as one of his close friends was infected by the Flood. He was crafty, and he was ruthless. What makes his story arc even cooler is that he was murdered by the other enemy: The Flood, the Gravemind.
The Gravemind's title really says it all: it isn't scared of death, it is death. The Gravemind brought the Master Chief and the Arbiter back to life midway through Halo 2 just to ensure that they falter the Covenant's Great Journey — even convincing the Chief to help it even whilst it murdered his men. The speech it delivers to the two protagonists is so memorable, not just in the words or how it says them, but in the fact that a space zombie hivemind has brought them back to life to, essentially, use them. It personifies the Flood and gives them a leader. It centers the Chief's fight against the Flood, it gives the player a voice to the masses of reanimated corpses that are thrown at us. For me, the Gravemind personified the T. S. Eliot quote used for Halo 3: "This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang but a whimper". I've also got to mention the gravelly, dirty voice they gave it — it was an audio match made in Heaven.
Cav: Edgar Ross (Red Dead Redemption)
Few villains in video game history have managed to boil the blood like Edgar Ross, the unscrupulous Fed who blackmails and torments repentant bandit John Marston in Rockstar's classic Red Dead Redemption. Ross kidnaps Marston's family in order to force him into hunting down his former gang mates for The Man, treats him with unequivocal scorn throughout, and ultimately (SPOILERS FOR ANYONE STILL LIVING IN 2010) betrays and murders our hero just as he seems to attain the quiet life for which he has fought and bled.
This makes Ross eminently hateable, for sure. What makes him a great villain, is the fact that as deceitful and corrupt as he may be, he's also not entirely wrong about our hero. Marston's character arc revolves around his efforts to rehabilitate himself, to walk away from a life of violence to become a regular family man. What Ross recognizes, and exploits, is the underlying savagery that Marston believes that he has rejected, but is still very much a part of him. Not only do we get to play out his undimmed proficiency in violence in the game's combat, but in his aggressive and often outright bullying behaviour towards the game's comic reliefs, bumbling snake-oil salesman Nigel West Dickens and roguish drunkard Irish. While Marston has perfectly valid reasons to dislike these characters, the way he makes a meal out of threatening them belies the imitation of gentility he tries to act out with others. The story of Red Dead Redemption is a tragedy of a man who can never escape his past, and nobody understands this better than Edgar Ross.
Even as you riddle him with bullets at the game's climax, the euphoria of the moment dissipates as you realize that in avenging John, you also fulfil the ruination of the one good thing he brought into the world: his son Jack, whose trigger finger you control. Even in the game's most cathartic moment Ross is proved right, sealing Marston's failure not just as a man, but as a father. Much more than a simple antagonist, Edgar Ross is key to Red Dead Redemption's thematic weight in a way that makes him stand alone in the pantheon of video game villains. You don't see Generic European Antagonist in the latest COD du jour packing shit this heavy.
Honourable Mention: GLaDOS (Portal/Portal 2)
While the Portal games' innovative puzzle gameplay would've made them stand out on its own, it's their writing that made them a cultural phenomenon. Key to this is the games' antagonist, GLaDOS, the murderously catty AI determined to prevent player character Chell from escaping Aperture Science. Devious, endlessly quotable yet oddly sensitive in her own arrogant, passive-aggressive way, GLaDOS is a source of near-endless, deliciously scathing one-liners (Example: "Look at you, soaring through the air like an eagle… piloting a blimp"). While her status as a villain per se is debatable (show me someone who dislikes GLaDOS, and I'll show you a joyless monster) she endures as one of the funniest and most memorable antagonists in gaming.
Damon: Vaas (Far Cry 3)
"Did I ever tell you what the definition of insanity is? Insanity is doing the exact… same fucking thing… over and over again expecting… shit to change… That. Is. Crazy."
That's Vaas Montenegro's best-known line in Far Cry 3, and it makes me think that I'm halfway to insane myself; I could play that game over and over again and because of Vaas, I wouldn't want a damn thing to change. From the moment Vaas steps onto the screen he gives off this vast aura of creepiness, and a feeling of mystery because he's entirely unhinged as a character. From that moment on, Vaas shows himself to be as unpredictable as they come, and the player is left guessing what he will do next and whether any characters will survive in his presence. You genuinely feel the danger you're in when you're face to face with him. One moment he's a calm sociopath telling you his plan and giving a monologue on what insanity is, or how he's going to kill you, and then without a moment's notice he's a raging psychopath screaming at you at the top of his lungs.
I've played plenty of games where the villains are completely outlandish and just want world domination, and yet none of them came close to being as intriguing as Vaas, or making me feel as though the stakes were high at all — they're bad just for the sake of being bad. No mystery, no mystique, and no depth to them. Vaas blew me away because he felt like an intensely personal villain with layers to him, where his motivation didn't lie in some grand scheme to destroy or take over the world. They were grounded and simple and he just felt dangerous and threatening to you. Couple that with his searing brutality, both in his demeanour and tactics that he uses throughout the game that genuinely can make you cringe, and he collectively makes for a unique villain.
What sold me on this character being one of the best villains in gaming is that whenever I was playing the game I was yearning for Vaas to make another appearance, wanting to get through the game story as quick as I could just so I could experience more of him. It's fitting that once Vaas was rather questionably killed off, the game as a whole lost a lot of the intrigue and "pizzazz" that it had with Vaas alive and menacing. This truly speaks volumes to just how large an impact Vaas has on screen, and the presence that he has. His character set the tone for not just himself, but for the overall game at an early stage — and is maintained throughout. His character was extremely memorable and kept me wanting more.
Far Cry 3 competes for the title of my favourite game ever, not just because it has sound gameplay and fantastic graphics for its time, but almost entirely because I enjoyed Vaas a very great deal. It's a great game, and there's no doubt that Vaas is the flame that ignites it.
Honourable Mention: The Joker (Batman: Arkham Knight)
Although the game is named after the Arkham Knight — a previous Robin turned bad — one can't help but see the Joker as the more impactful of the game's villains; not the biggest by any stretch of the world, but certainly the worst. I thought the utilisation of the Joker, even in death, was pure genius. He's constantly haunting Batman, completely invading his mind, body and soul. After dealing with his sick and twisted antics for so long, it wouldn't come as much of a surprise to see that Batman is constantly experiencing Joker-fuelled hallucinations, but I thought that his blood "infecting" Batman to turn him into an apex Joker was a bit of a cop-out; it would have made far more sense, and been far smarter, to have that transformation occur strictly as a result of Joker's sustained mental torture.
The Arkham Knight Joker was a very welcome new take on the classic Batman-Joker feud, and I will always remember Arkham Knight for having some of the most fantastic Joker moments in video game history.
Emily: Albert Wesker (Resident Evil series)
Albert Wesker is a badass with slicked-back blonde hair, a pair of sunglasses and an array of different viruses who wants nothing more than to dominate the human race and ultimately end the world. By constantly using newer, stranger viruses to try and become more powerful, Wesker embodies the "no pain, no gain" school of thought; his determination to become an all-powerful super-being is actually really admirable, even if it means getting knocked down a few times in the process. With that being said, knocking him down is never an easy task…
Wesker is fast and almost indestructible, which makes him one of the hardest villains players will face in any Resident Evil title. Despite how annoyingly difficult he is to put down (temporarily), though, I can't help but like the guy: no matter how many times you kill him, he just keeps on coming back, releasing more and more deadly viruses and becoming stronger and more durable every time. He starts off as an ally in the original Resident Evil title, right up until he betrays his fellow S.T.A.R.S. members, tries to kill them all by forcing them to fight a mutated supersoldier, and then disappears until Code: Veronica, when he returns with superhuman powers to make the player's life a living hell.
Wesker's most memorable appearance, though, is his final one, in Resident Evil 5, where he plans to release the disgusting Uroboros virus into the atmosphere in order to create a perfect human race that he can rule over. Of course, after S.T.A.R.S. legend Chris Redfield and his partner foil his plan, Wesker ends up exposing himself to the Uroboros virus, turning himself into a horribly mutated beast… Because that's just what Albert Wesker does.
Albert Wesker is one truly evil bastard, and although he looks like a badass when he's plotting to end the world, there's no greater feeling of satisfaction to be found in the Resident Evil series than when he's finally dead; it's just such a joy to defeat a villain who wants to essentially end the world.
Jake: Ryder and Big Smoke (GTA: San Andreas)
Considering all the time Rockstar Games spent delving into the lifelong familial relationship between the Grove Street OGs and their utter contempt for the Ballas and officers Tenpenny and Pulaski, it was hard to see this one coming. Even after fourteen long years, it's still difficult to find the right adjectives to describe the betrayal I felt when I watched Ryder and Big Smoke emerge from that lockup in Verdant Bluffs and realised — right along with CJ — just what that meant in the grander scheme of things. It was a heartbreaking thing to see, a lesson about true friends, and it lit a fire not only under CJ but under me too; San Andreas is the GTA title that I've come closest to 100% completing, just because I wanted to rub it into the bastards, even though they were both dead.
The most poignant and most difficult thing about battling Ryder, Smoke and the rest of the Grove Street Families wasn't their strength — which CJ very rapidly exceeds through his exploits in San Fierro and Las Venturas — or their proficiency in basically anything. It wasn't even the numbers game, which CJ never even came close to winning. Instead, it was the fact that I knew that every green-shirted snake I laid out was once a friend or an ally, the many memorable quotes and adventures Ryder and Smoke had produced in their short time, and my sympathy for a man who'd just been betrayed to the point of attempted murder by his closest and most treasured friends. As much as I hated them, it was still hard to go through with it when the time came to kill each one, simply because of all the fun I'd had running around the streets of Los Santos with them in the first place.
I've played two generations' worth of video games with a whole hell of a lot of brilliant, immersive stories since San Andreas, but nothing pulled me in quite like San Andreas was able to… All because of Ryder, Smoke, and that green Sabre.
Honourable mention: Through the Fire and the Flames (Guitar Hero III)
If I didn't know better, I'd think that Dragonforce's Through the Fire and the Flames was conceived, written and recorded for the sole purpose of horrifying gamers around the world. What was meant to be a reward for completing Guitar Hero III was more like a seven-minute torture session, its quickening pace and frantic duelling solos teaching people the world over that, yes, video games can physically hurt people. The worst part, though? We all kept on going back for more, because even finishing the song (on Hard or Expert modes) was a God-damn status symbol — the one we coveted above any other. No pain, no gain, I suppose…
Rhys: Tohru Adachi (Persona 4)
This screenshot comes from Persona 4: The Animation, rather than any of the games.
The best villains are usually the ones you least expect. Labelled the "egocentric police dick" in Persona 4: Arena Ultimax, there are no truer words when describing the villainy that is Tohru Adachi. Firstly introduced to the player as the work partner of their uncle, Ryotaro Dojima, Adachi fills the role of the bumbling detective stereotype. So much so, that his constant incompetence is actually charming and funny. Adachi spends most of the game being nothing more than a bumbling idiot, but his personality takes a major turn once it's revealed that he was the one behind the first two murders and, therefore, the instigator of the entire plot.
Cruel, sadistic and just plain sociopathic, Adachi becomes a true monster of the Persona universe. Believing the world to be "full of shit" — a belief he holds after being forced to work in such a "backward" place as Inaba and for being rejected by Mayumi Yamano — Adachi accidentally discovers the Midnight Channel and murders Mayumi Amano. Continuing in his sadistic ways, Adachi convinces Yamano's former lover that the Midnight Channel is in fact attempting to save people instead of killing them. Believing that he had covered all bases so no one would suspect him, Adachi becomes a sort of selfish child when his true nature is revealed to the party.
What I adore about Adachi, though, is how placid he manages to be until his cover is eventually blown, where he responds with a great (albeit biased) critique of the world and society as a whole. This juxtaposition and transformation into a vile and cruel human being came as a real shock to the system. I, alongside the protagonist and his friends, saw Adachi as an innocent and fulfilling comedic character; but it stays true to the talented writing staff at Atlus to make such a reveal a memorable and heartbreaking one at the same time.
Honourable mention: Ardyn Izunia (Final Fantasy XV)
We all knew it was coming upon his reveal in Final Fantasy XV's E3 2013 trailer. The suave smirk he gave and the overall composure Ardyn emitted was immediately a hit on the "I'm a villain!" scale, but no fan could prepare themselves for just how well Ardyn was written. Charismatic as all hell, Ardyn's goal throughout the game is to see Noctis rise, only to crumble at his own hands, and crumble he does. Throughout my time playing Final Fantasy XV, I got giddy whenever Ardyn was on the screen, curious to see what he was up to next and what kind of fiendish activity he will convince the party to do. Hiding a deep, dark secret that I hope is explored further in some DLC or, heck, even another game (Final Fantasy XV is the only Final Fantasy game I believe needs a sequel/prequel), Ardyn is on a whole other level and immediately becomes one of my all time favourite Final Fantasy villains.
If you're still with us, we hope that you enjoyed our little peek into the darker side of gaming's past! Of course, we've all got a finite amount of choices and a finite amount of space to write about them, so we're sure you've got a villain or two that you think deserved a spot on this list; if so, let us know over on Facebook, or join our Discord server and have a chat with us about it in real time!
Garden Story Review — Growing Pains
(Belated) Resident Evil: Village Review — An Almost Perfect Action-Horror Hybrid


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Quantification and ultrasound biomarkers
Functional ultrasound imaging
Ultrasound-based therapy
Technology Research Accelerator (ART) for Biomedical Ultrasound
Economic and societal valorization
News & Job offers
Ultrasound angiography of coronaries goes 3D
Home \ News \
A recent publication of our group, published in Physics in Medicine and Biology, reports the first implementation in 3D of ultrafast Doppler for coronary flows imaging in animal models. The results were advertised in Physics World in an article emphasizing the technical achievements as well as the clinical potential of the method.
Coronary arteries are responsible for supplying oxygenated blood to the heart muscle (called myocardium) and perturbations of coronary blood flows have deleterious effects on the heart function. The associated pathologies include angina pectoris, myocardial infection, or myocardial infarct. Clinically available techniques to assess the coronary blood flows are either invasive (invasive coronary angiography), ionizing (FFR-CT, fractional flow reserve using computed-tomography), and/or limited to the visualization of large coronary arteries (MRI, magnetic resonance imaging). Our laboratory Physics for Medicine Paris proposes ultrafast ultrasound as a non-invasive and highly sensitive alternative for imaging coronary arteries. This new method was coined Ultrafast Doppler Coronary Angiography (UDCA) and provides quantification of the coronary blood flows.
In 2018, the team of Mathieu Pernot demonstrated UDCA in two-dimension in the beating heart of animal models and patients. Expanding UDCA to three-dimension imaging not only enables to capture the complex architecture of coronary arteries, but also to quantify the absolute coronary flow rate. Such quantification was not achievable in 2D, as the flow rate estimate depends on the orientation of the artery in the imaging plane.
For the first time, coronary flows were imaged and quantified in 3D in swine having a partial occlusion (stenosis) of the left anterior descending artery. As expected, a reduced Power-Doppler signal (signature of a reduced diameter) as well as an acceleration of the flow were observed in the stenosis region (see figure below). Measurements were validated through comparison with an invasive flowmeter placed at the vicinity of the imaged region.
Ultrafast Doppler Coronarography Angiography in a swine model of stenosis. Left: 3D ultrafast PowerDoppler. Right: 4D ultrafast ultrasound flow imaging. (Extracted from Correia et al., PMB 2020).
This preliminary validation study was performed in open-chest animals to ensure optimal imaging conditions. Implementation of a fully non-invasive (i.e trans-thoracic or trans-oesophagial) UDCA is a key requirement for clinical translation. Besides, the field-of-view must also be extended to cover the entire heart. Mathieu Pernot and his team are working on addressing these issues to develop UDCA for human use. The method could have a major impact in the diagnosis of microvascular coronary diseases as well as in the planning of coronary surgeries.
Full citation:
Correia M, Maresca D, Goudot G, Villemain O, Bizé A, Sambin L, et al. Quantitative imaging of coronary flows using 3D ultrafast Doppler coronary angiography. Phys Med Biol 2020;65:105013. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6560/ab8d78.
Maresca D, Correia M, Villemain O, Bize A, Sambin L, Tanter M, et al. Noninvasive Imaging of the Coronary Vasculature Using Ultrafast Ultrasound. JACC-Cardiovascular Imaging 2018;11:798–808. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcmg.2017.05.021. Maresca D, Correia M, Tanter M, Ghaleh B, Pernot M. Adaptive Spatiotemporal Filtering for Coronary Ultrafast Doppler Angiography. IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control 2018;65:2201–4. https://doi.org/10.1109/TUFFC.2018.2870083
Jun 29, 2020 | |
New advances in functional ultrasound imaging for neuroscience
3D ultrafast echocardiography: full characterization of cardiac functions within a heartbeat
Noemi Renaudin is awarded by the Fondation L'Oréal-Unesco for Women in Science
Functional ultrasound microscopy: sensing the whole brain neuronal activity at the micron scale
Thomas Tiennot receives the jury's Grand Prix at i-PhD contest for his project on ultrasonic treatment of drug-resistant depression
2023 Winter School on Therapeutic Ultrasound
Postdoc position: brain connectivity imaging using functional ultrasound imaging in term and preterm neonates
Postdoc position: real-time functional ultrasound imaging of stroke in awake mice
Postdoc position: ultrasound imaging of gas vesicles for sonogenetic bacterial diagnosis
Physics for Medicine Paris
Inserm U1273, ESPCI Paris, PSL University, CNRS UMR 8063
10 rue d'Oradour-sur-Glane, 75015 Paris, France


Airlines and airports are well into their digital transformation journeys. As systems become increasing interconnected with common interfaces, passenger services are set to improve and become highly personalized and convenient. Check-in and boarding will eventually become completely automated and customer-driven. The challenges ahead are not technical, says Manoj Srivastava a Senior Business Consultant from the Aviation Industry. The real issues are: regulatory policies, security, data and revenue sharing among stakeholders. The key challenge is to bring all the stakeholders in the airport ecosystem on one common IT platform and interface their IT systems together. This issue can be tackled by setting up an international authority to formulate IT and system related polices, says Srivastava.
Q. Can you update us on how airlines and airports have embraced digital technologies to offer new and innovative services?
MANOJ: Airports and Airlines are playing a significant role in the development of a country's social and economic condition. So it is very important to have common interests and action plans for both entities in the interest of offering travellers better service. Most airports are now adopting international standards and operating in integrated environments. This is especially true for private international airports. There are many systems in the airport. Even airlines that feel they can get by with a customer-centric system, definitely need interfaces with real-time access to passenger information.
Common check-in system (CUTE), self-check-in kiosk (CUSS), FIDS, BIDS, digital signage, electronic boarding gate, PA system — are systems that require direct or indirect interfaces with airline systems.
Take the example of CUTE systems (airport system) which need to interface with Departure Control System or DCS (airline system). Initially, it was very cumbersome and inconvenient for an airline to install DCS at each airport from where it operated. But with the introduction of the CUTE concept, the DCS for all airlines were interfaced or linked with the CUTE systems, irrespective of airline, system or platform.
Now airlines or Ground Handling Agency (GHA) staff can access a particular airlines' DCS system through a CUTE terminal. The CUTE system also facilitate LDCS (Local Departure Control System) for check-in process for those airlines doesn't have own DCS system. Today, all the essential IT infrastructure is readily available at the airports, so an airline just needs to plug in their services and pay as they go.
So, technically, commercially and operationally all the necessary services are available at these airports.
Normally, fully functional airports use AODB (Airport Operational Database) systems which directly or indirectly connect with all suppliers and consumers systems inside of the Airport. AODB treated as heart of the Airport system which supplies and captures all necessary data to all stakeholders/department.
Q2. How are airlines and airports making the travel experience more efficient and enjoyable for customers?
MANOJ: Most airlines and airports are closely working and jointly serving the end-customer. Both entities clearly understand the traveller's requirements. And airports and airlines work closely together to resolve technical issues at all the customer touch points and at the back-end.
Airports are also putting in a lot of effort to reduce check-in and boarding time. Systems are deployed to reduce passenger processing time and to optimize airport capacity. Today the airport is like a small city, with many amenities available for passengers' convenience and comfort.
Travellers may use their smartphones as boarding passes (all boarding-related information/data will is stored in an app). After Web check-in and self check-in kiosks, airports are also introducing facilities for passengers to weigh, tag and drop their baggage at baggage drop counter. In the near future, air travellers will not need to meet any agent at the airport, and check-in and even boarding will be a completely automated affair.
Q3. What do you see as the key challenges in this digital transformation and how can these be tackled?
MANOJ: That is a very good question. Most people assume there may be technical challenges/hindrances to connect them, but frankly, there are no major technical challenges to interface airlines and airport systems. However, the real issues are: regulatory policies, security, data and revenue sharing among stakeholders. There are many stakeholders who operate from the airport, but none of them are governed by the airport authority. ATC, Immigration, security, airlines are major tenants of the airport, but none of them are bound to follow common IT policy lead by airport. So the key challenge is to bring them all on one common IT platform and interface their IT systems together.
This issue can be easily tackled by setting up an international authority to formulate IT and system related polices. FAA, ICAO, IATA are there to formulate the aviation related policies. There's Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) at an international level. So every airline and airport needs to comply. Likewise, when it comes to sharing common IT infrastructure and interfacing applications across the industry, we must have an independent authority (each stakeholder's IT representative should be member of the authority). The authority will decide what kind of IT infrastructure is required, and if the application needs an interface for passenger convenience.
Q4. We see that legacy systems aren't going to be replaced so soon, and are still very much in operation. But how are airlines interfacing these with modern, digital platforms?
MANOJ: I have observed that many airlines (including some major ones) continue to struggle with TPF-based (Transaction Processing Facility – Mainframe computer based) reservation systems. But service providers are helping them to connect via middleware. As far as web-based passenger-service-systems (PSS) are concerned, they are using new open source technology and sharing passenger information across the platform.
Editor's note: The benefit of sharing passenger profiles is that airlines in alliances like OneWorld and Star Alliance will have access to passenger preferences, frequent flier details etc, and can offer premium services to eligible travellers. For instance, one airline will know that a passenger is a frequent business class flier of another airline in that airline alliance. It can then offer that passenger its premium services. Also, frequent flier miles can be transferred across airlines flown by that passenger.
Q. What's the future of air travel going to be like for passengers?
MANOJ: I personally feel that future air travel will be more easy, convenient, personalised, and economical for passengers. A passenger would feel like he/she is travelling on a chartered flight with a hired pilot!
This would be possible when we have standardization of regulations across the country. With new technology and more interfacing of user applications across the industry, all the ecosystem players will be tightly integrated. So airports and airlines will be able to offer customers highly personalised and exclusive services.
In future, a passenger may not need to plan travel much in advance. All the planning and reservations will be done from his/her smart phone. Using apps, a customer will access services such as flight booking, flight alert, mobile check-in, self-boarding, baggage identification (read QR code), taxi, customer care/feedback etc. In fact, many of these services are already being accessed through airline apps.
Manoj Srivastava is a Senior Business Consultant in the Aviation Industry. He has over 20 years of industry experience having evaluated and implemented industry best, economical and customer centric applications, right from PSS, DCS, CRM, IBE to the industry's most critical applications like MRO.
He has contributed significantly towards building an application for a frequent Flyer Program of a major airline. He also played a key role in the selection of aircraft, airfare, pricing, inventory and revenue management and decision support system etc.
Apart from that, he has done end-to-end project management of implementing an airline PSS and commercial application, infrastructure management, vendors, internal & external customer management.
This interview is exclusive to DigitalCreed and may NOT be republished without the explicit permission of this Editor. For article syndication enquiries, write to brian9p [at] gmail [dot] com.


DECORATED CHAIRS - Kimkizzies " Fussy Little Things & More..."
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Reheating a casserole? There's an app for that.
The evolution of the headset mirrors virtually everything else in the world – it has become more technologically sophisticated and a lot smarter. Case in point is the Sound ID SIX Bluetooth headset, a technological marvel which continues to impress me and the more I use it, the better it seems to get.
Two days ago I happened upon a new iPhone 4S as a replacement for my current 4 model. On the same day, I had an opportunity to go to Madison Square Garden and watch a Duran Duran concert where I was able to put this state of the art phone through its paces. I found it ironic that Simon Le Bon, the lead singer of the group said he was first in the Garden 30 years ago – and that was around the time I was introduced to PCs and programming in general. Now, here I was using the new phone as a camera in what has to be one of the harshest environments ever in which to shoot photos and videos.
Amazon's new Silk browser bundled with its new Kindle Fire will leverage it's own servers for browser proxying meaning that all the websites you surf will go through the company's cloud-based servers. Although browser proxying is not new, it has been used in the Skyfire and other browsers. Its general benefit is allowing web sessions to speed up and providing mobile browsers access to content incompatible with the browser - such as Adobe Flash.
TMC's Tom Keating has more on the privacy concerns and after reading his thoughts I realize just how fast product subsidization is evolving. You see yesterday I explained Amazon is subsidizing its tablets via Amazon Prime and cloud-computing services but now it seems Amazon will also have access to the sites you browse allowing its suggestion engine to to potentially use this data to better target products which suit your interests.
While privacy advocates may be up in arms, the reality is we sell our privacy for free services virtually every day when we use popular web portals, online email and a slew of other services such as browser toolbars.
GSM customers rejoice, finally you will be able to use your cellphones in the subways of New York. As someone who has gotten lost navigating my way around down there, I am grateful this day has finally come. AT&T and T-Mobile customers will be the first to enjoy this new service which will be a godsend for tourists who like me aren't that familiar with how to get around the tunnels crisscrossing the Manhattan underground.
The pilot program will introduce cellphone reception to the C-E platforms at 23rd Street and Eighth Avenue and three other stations along West 14th Street: the A, C, E and L platforms at Eighth Avenue; the F, M and L platforms at Avenue of the Americas; and the Seventh Avenue station that serves the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 lines.
Sadly, the project was stalled due to financing issues - lets hope we see coverage throughout the entire New York subway system and soon.


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Snoop Dogg Will Induct Tupac Into Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
The ceremony will be April 7 at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.
By Maya Lewis
Frank Micelotta/ Getty
Snoop Dogg will help to induct Tupac Shakur into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, reports The Rolling Stone. News of Snoops involvement in the hall of fame tribute first broke on TMZ.
Snoop and Tupac worked together on All Eyez on Me's, "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted," and had a history as friends and label mates on Death Row before Shakur's death in 1996.
Read Next: Snoop Dogg is set to release a lullaby album
There is no information yet as to what the ceremony will entail. The full line-up for the tribute to the late west coast rapper has not been nailed down, noted The Rolling Stone, but Snoop Dogg will be involved.
At the end of 2016, it was announced that Tupac would be inducted into the hall of fame along with Pearl Jam, Joan Baez, Journey, Electric Light Orchestra. The induction will be on April 7 at Brooklyn's Barcley's Center. An edited version of the ceremony is set to air on HBO, along with a radio broadcast on SiriusXM.
Hip-Hop, Maya Lewis, Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, snoop dogg, Tupac