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By Alexa Dalby ★★★, East End Film Festival 2017, festivals, thriller, UK August 2, 2017
The Ghoul (2016)
Executive produced by Ben Wheatley, The Ghoul is a teasingly self-aware psychological thriller.
The Ghoul
CAUTION: Here be spoilers
It's is a cleverly convoluted tale that coils tightly around itself. A homicide detective is summoned to London from the north of England to be shown round a strange domestic double-murder scene. He's Chris (Tom Meeten), dishevelled, moody and apparently troubled. At the scene there's a clue that points to someone named Coulson (a jovial Rufus Jones), who is bi-polar and undergoing psychotherapy with Fisher (serious and concerned Niamh Cusack), who seems to be somehow linked to the case, so Chris goes undercover to here as a patient to try and track him down.
But is Chris a detective pretending to be depressed or an obsessive misfit who is being treated for depression and who thinks he's a detective? His only contacts seem to be his old university friend Kathleen (low-key <ahref="https://www.dogandwolf.com/2017/02/prevenge-2016/">Alice Lowe) and her husband Jim (Dan Renton Skinner) but even they seem to have their own problems and to be losing patience with him for some reason.
Fisher transfers Chris to the care of a colleague, Morland (Geoffrey McGivern), an unconventional, verbose eccentric, whose consulting room is stuffed with arcane objects and symbols of the occult that could contain clues to the film's meaning. There's a Mobius strip that Morland demonstrates to Chris, a Klein bottle, a drawing of an ourobouros – all of them things where the inside becomes the outside until they come full circle.
In writer/director Gareth Tunley's intricately written film, as seen through its central character's unreliable, possibly disintegrating, perspective is anyone who they appear to be? Events are open to contradictory reinterpretations. In fact, do they really happen? It doesn't really fit into any genre – partly shot like a police procedural, partly breaking out into poetic wide shots of the London skyline, partly a study of descent into delusion with a sense of reality being slightly skewed, a growing discordance expressed by Waen Shepherd's moody score. The cast also includes Paul Kaye, Rachel Stubbings and Sean Reynard and it's an ambitious, intriguing feature debut for Tunley.
The Ghoul premiered at the London Film Festival, screened at the East End Film Festival and is released on 4 August 2017 in the UK.
@TheGhoulFilm
201660th BFI London Film FestivalAlexa DalbyBen WheatleycinemaDan Renton SkinnerdogandwolfEast End Film Festivalfilmfilm reviewGareth TunleyGeoffrey McGivernLondon Film FestivalNiamh CusackPaul KayeRachel StubbingsReviewsRufus JonesSean ReynardThe GhoulUK
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A gloriously atmospheric 3D thriller, Wim Wenders' Every Thing Will Be Fine charts the soul's repair after a bruising trauma.


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Сквер Булгакова — сквер в Пресненском районе Москвы на пересечении Спиридоньевского и Большого Козихинского переулков.

Ранее безымянный сквер близ Патриарших прудов получил имя писателя Михаила Булгакова в 2015 году. Инициатором именования выступил заместитель мэра Москвы по вопросам социального развития Леонид Печатников. Решение было принято 20 октября 2015 года на заседании Правительства Москвы.

Вскоре после переименования было предложено установить в сквере памятник писателю, приуроченный к 125-летию со дня его рождения. Финансирование проекта обеспечил Международный благотворительный фонд П. И. Чайковского, 24 ноября идею поддержали члены комиссии Московской городской думы по монументальному искусству, а 14 декабря — комиссии по культуре и массовым коммуникациям.

Городской конкурс на создание памятника выиграл скульптор Георгий Франгулян (участник конкурса на памятник Булгакову на Патриарших прудах 1999 года). Скульптура Фрагнуляна получила высоту в 1,5 человеческих роста, писатель стоял в костюме и пальто, со шляпой в руке и папиросой в зубах. Бронзового Булгакова планировалось установить на гипсовый постамент в форме стопки рукописей.

Проект не нашёл поддержки среди местных жителей, мнение которых выразили муниципальные депутаты. После опросов общественного мнения городские власти отказались от установки памятника в сквере Булгакова, и в конце 2016 — начале 2017 года подобрали для него новое место в сквере между домами № 35—37 по Большой Пироговской улице.

Примечания

Скверы Москвы

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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A Very Fangirl Perspective on E3 2010
Eruditechick and Loquaciousmuse here, with our final thoughts on all things E3 2010. We tried out all of the new products from Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft and a slew of soon to be released games. Other highlights included meeting some of our favorite Tweeps, running into a nice lady from Rockstar Games who offered to send us Outlaw to the End shirts, and the Scott Pilgrim Kegger. Oh and coming into possession of a giant Sims 3 bean bag chair. That was all kinds of awesome.
Enjoy our wrap up and see you next year!
EC: Fable III. Rock Band 3. Nintendo 3DS. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. So I guess it was a spectacularly girly year for me at E3. I played just about everything I could get my hands on, and of those playable experiences, I took the aforementioned four away as my favorites of the convention.
Muse: Fable III, Rock Band 3, Nintendo 3DS, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Green Day Rock Band (yes I know it's out already), Your Shape for the Kinect
Hottie female hero
EC: [This section will be cross-posted over at GameRant.com, with more footage and in-depth review of gameplay!] Fable III takes the solid interaction ideas and progression of character abilities established in Fables II and makes them organic and tactile. No longer is there a three foot buffer, a magic force field between your hero and the world. Everything from fighting to hugging to playing with your dog has become an exercise in direct contact. Like a combination of The Sims and Red Dead Redemption, suddenly your fabled hero can directly manipulate the world as they come into contact with it, instead of being a kind of warping force that passes by and generates a reaction. This major step forward in gameplay is going to be enhanced by the fact that your hero is fully voiced, something a certain Star Wars game is also- rightfully- getting much press for. The models have been reworked so your hero isn't quite as hulking and genderless. The world is as bright, vibrant and carefully animated as Fable II, but looks even more lush. Your quest and end goal, also, are better defined. At the end of Fable II, you must make a personal choice, but the end result is ultimately that you can continue gallivanting about, hero-ing or villain-ing as is your want, extorting people for money by jacking up real estate prices or killing waves of balverines til your blue in the face. The goal for Fable III is more personal, and the way you get there will have as much effect on the outcome as your arriving. The voice talent is also RIDICULOUS. I am so excited.
Muse: I too loved Fable 3 and probably terrified the lovely British Lionhead producers who had to deal with 45 minutes of non-stop questions from myself & Eruditechick. BUT THERE WERE THINGS I HAD TO KNOW, OKAY?!?!?! I wrote about everything we learned here, but wish I had gone back on Day 3 to chat some more. In Fable 2, you could marry anyone who wanted to marry you, regardless of gender, and subsequently sex them as often as you wanted (...well...as long as said spouse is in the mood, of course.), but the sweet sweet love makin in Fable 2 happened entirely through sound - the screen always went black when anything dirty took place. I wanted to ask and make sure that nothing has changed in terms of same sex love & marriage. I saw plenty of the demo's hot female hero kissing decidedly less hot men, but will she get to kiss women as well? Does the kiss/touch feature play a role in bedroom seduction or does the screen still go completely blank? Am I total weirdo for wondering these things?!?! Would it have been totally awkward for me to ask the producers a slew of avatar-sex questions?!!? Probably. But don't act like you aren't curious also. Punk.
Awesome new drum set
EC: Pro Gameplay. In the words of Brodie Bruce, holy shit. Nevermind that the game looks beautiful, nevermind that all of your Rockband content dating back to the first game and including all DLCs, expansions and band-specific releases are exportable into Rockband 3, leaving you with a library of almost 2,000 songs, nevermind that the intricacies of gameplay- harmonies, difficulty levels- have been made exponentially more interesting- one of the controllers if a freaking Fender guitar.
Let me say that again. One of the controllers you can buy for the game is a Fender guitar, that plugs into an amp, and is a guitar. It's a guitar. It's an electric freaking guitar. And not just an electric freaking guitar. It's a goddamn Fender, and it's beautiful. This freaking electric Fender guitar also happens to be a game controller. In Pro gameplay, you are presented essentially with scrolling tablature. It teaches you how to hold chords, how to pick lines. It shows you what string to strum and what fret to hold. You play actual guitar. If you unplugged it from your console and plugged it into your amp and followed along on the screen, you would still be playing the song. Because IT'S A REAL GUITAR, ARE YOU PICKING UP WHAT I'M PUTTING DOWN? JFC, WHAT? WHAT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME WITH THIS SHIT? WHAT IS THIS, THE FUTURE?! WHAT?!
So I liked that.
Muse: Again, I'm right there with Eruditechick. HOLY FUCKING SHIT YOU GUYS. WE HAVE TO USE CAPITAL LETTERS FOR A REASON. THAT REASON BEING THAT PRO GAMEPLAY IS SO EFFING COOL YOU DONT EVEN KNOW TIL YOU SEE IT WHAT THE FUCK EFF.
We have similar ways of expressing our excitement, Eruditechick and I.
For the specifics we discovered regarding Rock Band 3 - head here and prepare for your head to explode.
In terms of gameplay, I only tried out the keyboard and the drums, but I can tell you this much - with the addition of the symbols to the drum kit, drumming just got A WHOLE LOT MORE FUN. When you see a red, yellow or orange, I believe, you have the option of hitting its cooresponding symbol instead of the drum. This allows for a bit more flexibility & interaction and also makes you feel really cool. The keyboard was incredibly difficult for me at first, but by the end of the song, I had the hang of it. I'm looking forward to mastering the technique. I felt like I was in Josie and the Pussycats playing a keyboard up there and I LIKED IT.
Only PART of the line for Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo 3DS:
EC: Oh, that's right, it IS the future. It MUST be the future, because I'm holding what's one step away from a freaking holographic projection in my hands and using it to play with a puppy. While waiting in line at the Nintendo booth for my turn with the gadget that had been having its virtues be so vocally extolled since the press conference the day prior, I had a lot of time to think about what glasses-less 3D meant to me. In my head, I could see it. I could see a shiny square with a screen that had 3D images on it. I know what 3D looks like, this wasn't difficult. I had remarkable ease, during the waiting, conjuring a mental image of what the technology should look like. Should. Not necessarily would. Then they put it in my hands and it did. My mind was sufficiently blown. Other than the severe ghosting on even the gentlest of 3D settings for the Resident Evil non-interactive trailer, the technology was insanely effective. It's like peering into a diorama, and every once in a while something is thrust up out of it, into your face. Truly impressive, also, were the 3D camera capabilities which freaked me right the hell out and made me cackle in a rather unlady-like manner (quelle surprise!, cry those of you who know me and also happen to speak French), and the movie trailers. Tangled, in particular, the next 3D animated princess-centric fair from Disney looks almost painfully enjoyable, and even more so on the 3DS. Everything is probably going to be more enjoyable on the 3DS out of sheer principle.
Muse: Yes, we had to wait in line for about an hour and a fifteen minutes to get our hands on a 3DS, but it was worth every minute. It didn't hurt that Nintendo's booth was carpeted with white, plush happiness that was quite pleasant to sit on. I'd been dying to check out this new innovation, as, unlike Eruditechick, I couldn't for the life of me figure out what it could POSSIBLY look like. The idea didn't make sense in the head and I could not conceive of an image. When I finally looked at the 3DS screen, I was overcome with a sense of awe. Yes, you have to hold it a certain distance away to acheive the full effect, but a small price to may for utter brilliance. The first game I tried out was a Samurai fighting game, and all I found myself being able to say were things like "HOW THE FUCK" "WHAT THE FUCK" "HOLY FUCK"...you get the idea. I also tried a driving game (looked amazing, but I don't like driving games), watched some 3D trailers (How to Train Your Dragon) and gameplay footage (Kingdom of Hearts), took a 3D picture (I'm obsessed with it), took a photo of myself, which automatically modeled a 3DS Sims 3 character after me (fucking cool), and possibly my favorite bit - PLAYED WITH A 3D PUPPY. I was sad to have to say goodbye. Cause it looked like an actual puppy was stuck inside and it made me sad. Upon exiting the 3DS arena, my cohorts and I looked at each other and screamed loudly "SO. WORTH. IT." Cause it was.
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood.
EC: I'm not saying it's okay to go around surreptitiously stabbing people in real life, or not-so-surreptitiously jumping off of rooftops and stabbing people as you fall upon them from great heights in real life, but I am saying that doing these things to people over XBox Live is going to make my life substantially more awesome. The environments are the same we loved so dearly in ACII, the character models are compelling and fun, and the system of who is killing whom and who is marked for death is satisfyingly complex, but presented in a straightforward manner. Do want.
Muse: I also loved this demo. Eight people got to play at once, two sessions in a row, one to learn the controls and one to actually go for it, doing your best to assassinate your target - one of the 7 people beside you. This mode was instantly more enjoyable than most Xbox Live games I've partaken in. Sure, I still got pwned by the dude who clearly plays a lot of Assassin's Creed or just stabs people a lot, but I also got one really badass aerial kill, for which I was awarded 400 points! The concept is this - Pick your assassin, pick your special ability. A photo of the person you must kill pops up in the upper right hand corner. There is a blue indicator that gets more full, the closer to get to your target. When you see your target, kill him (or her - YES, there is a playable female character!). Of course, it's never as easy as it sounds. You are not only a predetor, but prey yourself. As you are stalking your target, someone is stalking you, and more than once I found myself dead JUST as I was about to make a kill. Also, if you start running after your target, he is alerted and will in turn run away and find a place to hide. You also get points for successfully evading your predator once the chase is on. Special abilities include throwing knives, smoke bombs, changing your appearence, creating clones of yourself and more. I gotta say, it was also wonderful to revisit that universe, the controls, and the gameplay. I've missed you, Assassin's Creed, and it's only been about two months!
A whole lot more after the jump!
Attendees and Harmonix employees rocking out before we TOOK. OVER.
Green Day Rock Band
Muse: This may seem like an odd choice as it is out already, but we must have performed at least 8 Green Day songs over the course of an hour and a half and that shit DID NOT get old. Green Day is fun to sing, play & harmonize to and I'm figuring out the best way to get it without paying full price AS WE SPEAK. Plus the Rock Band demo area of the South Hall was all the way in back so apparently no one knew about it? Or maybe the people who attend E3 aren't also the type of people who like to get on stage and sing? But Eruditechick and I couldn't get enough. You've sold me with that demo, Harmonix. I'm buying it.
Your Shape for Kinect
Muse: I waited so effing long to play this but I'm SO glad I did. The moment this was introduced at the Microsoft pressy, I knew I had to demo it and would most likely purchase it. And yes, I will be purchasing it. I will be saving up my moneys and purchasing it. It scans your whole body. Your whole body! And then you see yourself as a colorful shape or YOUR ACTUAL SELF, standing next to a digitized instructer who you are supposed to mirror. It was painful to see my pathetic knee-bends in relation to perfect-fake-computer-woman, but it also gives me something to work towards in an easy to measure and understand kind of way. When I hit the yoga poses correctly, the system told me so and the system was RIGHT. You can't cheat here - it sees your whole body. My favorite category was the Gym Exercise, for which they had kickboxing available to try. You punch and kick the green boxes and it's sofuckingcool I could do it all day. Plus, again, YOU SEE YOURSELF, so you know if you are doing it correctly or looking like a complete moron. Fun fact! The producer in the room with me said I had the highest score in kickboxing all day. SUCK IT. The only thing I didn't love right away was the controls menu. Unlike the other Kinect games, where you just hold your hand out like you're using the force, here you have to contort your arm & hand into strange positions to get the desired result. Hopefully that kink will be worked out, and then I can work out. Get it?!
Things We Liked Bunches But Don't Need To Own Immediately:
EC: Kinect. Sims 3. PS Move.
Muse: Kinect Games (other than Your Shape), PS Move, Wii Goldeneye
EC: So, Kinect is pretty awesome. The concept is so fantastical that it's difficult to conceive of it permeating the industry and being something you can use for games that aren't dancing, working out or Wii party games on an XBox. That said, I desperately want Dance Central. DESPERATELY. And Your Shape looks amazing, although Muse will have to speak further to that, as she demoed it and I was too busy playing MvC3 to bother with that exercise shit. However, I will wait to get a Kinect until there is a Star Wars/Spider-Man/I Am A Super Hero and I Kick Your Ass/Respawn 1st Person Shooter for me to play on it. So plz hurry Microsoft omfg.
Muse: I definitely enjoyed this demo, even down the menus, that, as I mentioned earlier, require you to hold your hand out and keep it there, much like you are using the force and commanding someone to do something. It's fucking badass. The biggest thing I walked away from Kinect with was the feeling that suddenly my dream had true & I had acquired super powers. It makes you feel like all the power is in your own hands and I think people are really going to enjoy it. I totally get why Willow went power-mad, you guys. I got addicted after 5 minutes of gameplay. So much so that on the way out, I sneakily picked something on the menu again, because I HAD to. I just had to. We made friends with a dude from Microsoft outside of Kinect who told us about some...ways of using Kinect...with other games...that are in development...and some that are NOT in development..... but we're not sure we're supposed to repeat them, so hell no is this info going on the Internet. But keep an eye on Kinect.
EC: The Sims 3 for console basically trades the user's ability to create custom meshes and game mods for Karma Powers. This is... actually pretty reasonable, as one of the Karma Powers is, I shit you not, METEORAIN. I think I would rather have Sims3 for PC, but it would cost me lots more money, cuz first I'd have to buy a computer that could play it, and then the game, whereas I already have a 360 so buying it for console would therefore be cheaper. Either way, I'm getting it, I'm just going to get other things first.
Muse: I've never played a Sims game, but I'm sure I'd like it, especially after seeing the 15 minute demo presentation at the EA booth. I'll get it once it's discounted and have some lazy summer afternoons with nothing to do.
Erudite Chick's own hands demonstrating the PS Move.
EC: PS Move is like Wii for grown ups, not that you could tell after waiting in line for forty minutes and being put into a room with Britney Spears karaoke. Muse and I sort of stared at the PS escort guy for a minute until he was like "Oh, did you want to play.... real games?" at which point Muse was like "YOU WILL GIVE ME SOCOM4 OR PERISH" and we were promptly walked to the correct room. After watching her play through the demo level, it was my turn, and I have to say I quite liked the mechanics of it. First off, the game is great. Nice cinematics, ambiance, the bloodspray was pleasing. Utilizing the aim/fire in one hand and the move/traverse with the other took me about ten seconds to get a hold on, and then it was away we go.
The gentleman walking us through the demo nervously remarked on how vocal I was, moreso than anyone he'd had play the game in the last two days, particularly with the obscenities, and also that I had picked up on the mechanics of the game- the fact that it's best to only tap the trigger in three second bursts to combat the gun's recoil, the targeting systems- with alarming speed. I took it as the compliment it was. Verdict: Me likey, but would rather play MW2 with the Kinect.
Muse: Things you need to do in your lifetime - play a game with Eruditechick that involves her shooting people. You will not be disappointed. Somehow, Eruditechick magically picked up the controls to SOCOM4 with the PS Move in about 30 seconds. I barely got a hang of it after 5 minutes. But I still walked away wanting to play more. The controls didn't frustrate me, like the Wii controls often do - they challenged and excited me. I'm not sure what the future of shooters really is with a 'mote of any kind, but it's definitely more fun, intuitive and full of potential with the PS Move then shooters have ever been on the Wii. Also, Little Big Planet 2 was super fun and if I get a PS3 bundle with a Move, hells yeah am I getting LBP2 as my first Move game.
Wii Goldeneye
Muse: This was super fun and definitely took me back to a very specific time and place, but it's for the Wii and the graphics bother me and I'm just not adept at wiimote first person shooters. I still think people with a Wii, who also have fond memories of [getting killed a lot in] Goldeneye are going to love this.
EC: I payed as Odd Job. I killed people with my hat. V.nice would play again.
Things We Wish Had Been Awesome But Weren't:
Muse: Tron: Legacy. Rise of the Six String.
EC: Disney Sing-A-Long.
Tron: Legacy:
Muse: Meh. Got bored after a minute.
Rise of the Six String
Muse: May win for best swag (I got like 8 guitar picks and Pacman ran out of lanyards, AND I DIDNT GET A GUYBRUSH DOLL CAUSE LUCASARTS WAS ALL PRIVATE ROOMY, STUPID LUCASARTS) and playing actual strings was definitely fun, but the drums made so little sense - a sensor picks up what you are doing so you dont have to actually hit the drums - that I just became frustrated and wanted to stop early. A valiant effort, but ultimately, nothing can touch Rock Band 3 and those Harmonix sexpots.
Disney Sing-A-Long.
EC: I am completely serious. Anyone who doesn't like to get wasted with their friends and sing A Whole New World isn't a human. The problem is, they've designed the game like four year olds are going to be using it, which, sure, they are, but not without supervision. The microphone did a shoddy job of picking up notes, and the after-effects- Alvin and the Chipmunk-ing your voice, turning it into a weird toneless roar, making you sound like a robot (not GLaDOS, just... just a weird unintelligible mush of electronic noise)- all suck. The technology exists to make this stuff neat, silly, fun, cool, whatever, but they don't do it here. One would hope Disney could expend a fraction of the same creativity, ingenuity and eye for aesthetic beauty to something that uses the catalog of their best movies and greatest songs that they did on the Toy Story 3 game or Epic Mickey. But they didn't. Boo.
Bang bang bang bang bang bang bang!
The Given: Marvel vs Capcom 3, duh.
EC: It's an upgrade. That's literally all it is. And that's pretty much all one could want it to be. Though I have a particular fondness for the character design in MvC2, dating back to X-Men vs Street Fighter, the new '3D' renders are slick and fun, the special attack screens are eye popping and well animated, the combos are the same as you remember them. Deadpool is there, so you know life is awesome. He beats people to death with his life bar. I mean... yes. YES. So, clearly I will own this. It gets its own category, though, because from the moment it was announced, I knew this to be the case. Mmmn. Marvel vs Capcom. Mmmmmn.
Games We Considered Trying/Seeing, But Didn't
Muse: Treyarch. Meh. Will try it out if someone else buys it. But I'm good.
EC: I'd rather play CoD4.
Muse: Not big on Halo
EC: I'd rather watch Red vs Blue.
Muse: I've never played a Fallout game, though I do hear I would love it. As we were exiting the West Hall on Thursday, I glanced over, noticed the giant Bethesda booth and realized I had completely forgotten about the damn game. Oops.
EC: Fallout 3 was an exercise in patience for me. Which I failed. So... I dunno, I have to think about it.
Muse: I don't like terrifying, claustrophic games. There's only so much my soul can handle, people.
EC: I DO! I want it, but didn't get a chance to play.
Muse: Meant to try it out, but kept forgetting it existed. I've never played Twisted Metal so wanted to see first hand if this was something I'd be interested in buying. Oh well.
EC: I used to play this game! I'm sure I'll play it again. I'm not gonna buy it, though.
The Legend of Zelda - Skyward Sword
Muse: I wanted to try this because Ocarina of Time was one of those self-defining experiences that solidified my love of gaming in the first place. But. Wii. I don't know, man.
EC: Sadly, the more I see of what's next, the less impressed I become with the Wii. I can handle childish renderings, I'm all for style, but the blocky, chunky, pixel-y stuff... can't deal.
Muse: Really wanted to play this and convince my family to buy it for their Wii so I can go over there from time to time and play when I feel like wasting time. I LOVED the original Donkey Kong Country when I was a kid. Alas. Kinect was calling.
EC: It's on like, well, like it's predecessor, but I'm not compelled to purchase it.
Labels: Assassins Creed: Brotherhood, E3, eruditechick, Fable 3, Kinect, Music, Nintendo, Playstation, Rock Band, Rock Band 3, Video Games Games
My friend Twyst pointed me to your blog, and I'm really glad she did, because your E3 posts have been great.
I was excited for Fable 3 before, but as soon as I saw the stripey leggings, I preordered that shit. Also? Fuck yeah, Simon Pegg.
I hear you about Green Day Rock Band. Their songs are just so catchy and basically perfect for partyin' it up Rock Band style. When I get a chance I was going to pick it up used (if possible) and just get the export code for all the songs. And then maybe return it. I think that will work.
I'm really excited for the Kinect, though I agree they have to start churning out some "real games". I guess they have the Star Wars game planned--it had better be good (I'm already planning on playing a certain other Star Wars game next year). But they'd better get some other non-sport, non-family games as well. Something with fireballs would be good.
I feel like I should be excited for the 3DS, but I guess I don't know how cool it is until I've seen it. It is unfortunate for them from a marketing standpoint that you can't see the 3D when you see a photo or video of it. I guess I'll have to wait until it's in the display windows at the store.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
package com.zwh.mvparms.eyepetizer.mvp.ui.adapter;

import android.content.Context;
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import android.view.View;
import android.widget.ImageView;

import com.chad.library.adapter.base.BaseQuickAdapter;
import com.chad.library.adapter.base.BaseViewHolder;
import com.jess.arms.base.App;
import com.jess.arms.di.component.AppComponent;
import com.jess.arms.http.imageloader.glide.GlideCircleTransform;
import com.jess.arms.http.imageloader.glide.ImageConfigImpl;
import com.jess.arms.utils.DateUtils;
import com.zwh.mvparms.eyepetizer.R;
import com.zwh.mvparms.eyepetizer.mvp.model.entity.AuthorDynamicInfo;

import java.util.Date;
import java.util.List;

/**
 * Created by Administrator on 2017\11\28 0028.
 */

public class AuthorDynamicAdapter extends BaseQuickAdapter<AuthorDynamicInfo.Dynamic,BaseViewHolder> {

    public AuthorDynamicAdapter(@LayoutRes int layoutResId, @Nullable List<AuthorDynamicInfo.Dynamic> data) {
        super(layoutResId, data);
    }

    @Override
    protected void convert(BaseViewHolder helper, AuthorDynamicInfo.Dynamic item) {
        Context context = helper.itemView.getContext();
        AppComponent mAppComponent = ((App)context.getApplicationContext())
                .getAppComponent();
        helper.setText(R.id.tv_author,item.getData().getUser().getNickname());
        helper.setText(R.id.tv_operation,item.getData().getText());
        helper.setText(R.id.tv_date, DateUtils.DateToString(new Date(item.getData().getCreateDate()),DateUtils.DATE_TO_STRING_SHORT_PATTERN));
        ImageView face = helper.getView(R.id.iv_face);
        mAppComponent.imageLoader().loadImage(context,
                ImageConfigImpl
                        .builder()
                        .url(item.getData().getUser().getAvatar())
                        .imageView(face)
                        .build());
        if ("video".equals(item.getData().getDynamicType())){
            helper.setText(R.id.tv_video_name,item.getData().getSimpleVideo().getTitle());
            helper.setText(R.id.tv_video_detail,getDetailStr(item.getData().getSimpleVideo().getDuration()+"",item.getData().getSimpleVideo().getCategory()));
            helper.getView(R.id.ctl_video).setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
            helper.getView(R.id.ctl_follow).setVisibility(View.GONE);
            ImageView iv6 = helper.getView(R.id.imageView6);
            mAppComponent.imageLoader().loadImage(context,
                    ImageConfigImpl
                            .builder()
                            .url(item.getData().getSimpleVideo().getCover().getFeed())
                            .imageView(iv6)
                            .build());
        }
        if ("follow".equals(item.getData().getDynamicType())){
            helper.setText(R.id.tv_follow_name,item.getData().getBriefCard().getTitle());
            helper.setText(R.id.tv_follow_detail,item.getData().getBriefCard().getDescription());
            helper.getView(R.id.ctl_video).setVisibility(View.GONE);
            helper.getView(R.id.ctl_follow).setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
            ImageView iv7 = helper.getView(R.id.imageView7);
            mAppComponent.imageLoader().loadImage(context,
                    ImageConfigImpl
                            .builder()
                            .transformation(new GlideCircleTransform())
                            .url(item.getData().getBriefCard().getIcon())
                            .imageView(iv7)
                            .build());
        }
    }

    private String getDetailStr(String duration,String category){
        int seconds = Integer.parseInt(duration);
        int temp=0;
        StringBuffer sb=new StringBuffer();
        temp = seconds/3600;
        sb.append((temp<10)?"0"+temp+":":""+temp+":");

        temp=seconds%3600/60;
        sb.append((temp<10)?"0"+temp+":":""+temp+":");

        temp=seconds%3600%60;
        sb.append((temp<10)?"0"+temp:""+temp);
        String detail = "#"+category+" / "+sb.toString();
        return detail;
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


VA loans are some of the best loans, especially if you're a veteran – and nearly 60 million Americans qualify for VA benefits. Getting an online VA home loan is easier than you might have thought, and surprisingly easy, all things considered.
How do you know if you qualify for a VA home loan and what are the benefits of this kind of loan?
– Service – To be a veteran, you would have had to served actively in one of the military, armed forces.
– Discharged or Retired – A veteran in this case would not be on active duty. Therefore, if you are still active in the armed forces, you would not be considered a veteran, meaning you would not be able to qualify for an online VA home loan. In this case, you might still benefit from discounts but you will need to check.
– Discharged how? If you've been dishonorably discharged from the armed forces, you do not qualify for veterans benefits at all. You must be retired, or honorably discharged from the service, to be considered.
Look at the above information to see if any apply to you. Then, if you fall in the right category, you would be considered a veteran and be able to take advantage of the online VA home loan process.
Okay, so what are the advantages of securing an online VA home loan?
They are so many benefits of getting an online VA home loan it's hard to list them all. Literally, there are tons, and getting one can help you fulfill your dream of owning your own home.
Your first benefit is getting your online VA home loan online in the first place. Most people don't know that there are a lot of overhead costs in a office setting. These are rent for the office as well as bills to operate and these get transferred to the home loan that you are going to get. That means that you are paying for something that you don't have any control over at all.
Getting your online VA home loan helps with not having these overhead costs and helps to give you the savings.
Then, securing an online VA home loan lets you get the loan you want. If you qualify for this type of loan, you would likely pay lower interest rates and enjoy lower monthly payments. Additionally, because these costs are lower, you would have the opportunity to borrow more, going up to a larger home. Keep in mind however that for most areas of the country, the most you can take out on a VA loan is $400,000 although there are some areas where the cost is $600,000.
Getting an online VA home loan is extremely worth it, so before you check out any other options, see if you qualify – getting a higher priced home for cheaper is something that everyone wants, isn't it?


text:
Wyrd Forums
The Writing Room
Discussions and Interests
The Hobby Room
IRON QUILL: Flames of Madness
By Fetid Strumpet
June 21, 2012 in The Writing Room
Fetid Strumpet
Vote Enabled
First, let me say how much I enjoyed writing this story. I've had an idea kicking around inside my head for a very long time but could never find the proper leverage to get it out on paper in the proper way.
One thing to know up front, this is a first draft, and it is very long, more than double the allowed word count for the entry. I would normally be editing like mad and chopping whole unnecessary sections away, but unfortunately I ran out of time on this one. I work in the entertainment industry and am currently working for a summer stock company producing 4 shows in 9 weeks, so my time is a little stretched, and I only just managed to actually finish this story, but have no time to edit it. That being the case I don't have any issues if he entry is disqualified for those reasons, however I would still appreciate any comments or constructive criticism in order to make the story better.
Secondly be aware that the story is very dark in some places, and might make for some uncomfortable reading, I know there were sections that were very uncomfortable to write. In defense of the story I feel that Malifaux is a setting indeed, bad things happen.
Here is my entery: The Flames of Madness.
A sharp noise, like the firing of a gunshot, cracked through the stifling house as a cupboard door slammed. Glass rattled in ancient window frames, and knick-knacks trembled and skittered across tables and shelves as the heavy tread of steel shod feet stamped down from the upper floors of the house. The ancient wood splintered and cracked, the boards bowing under the weight as each staccato step pounded down upon them, as the figure of a large and powerfully built man stormed down the staircase. The man's ham sized hands almost wrenched the banister free from its moorings as he used it to steady himself as he rushed down the stairs.
The man paused at the bottom of the stairs, his breathing deep and rapid, the muscles of his jaw tightening until the vibrations made him shake with anger, the tension filling his ears with a dull roar. As deafening as his fury was he still heard the short, sharp, clattering that came from the room on his left. He furiously stormed towards it, and reaching out, he gripped the burgundy drape that hung in the archway separating the rooms. Without slowing he ripped it from the hanging rod, the brass curtain rings shrieking as they hammered into the floor, scattering in all directions.
"JENNIFER ANNA O'ROURKE! WHERE ARE MY DAMN CHESS PIECES?! "
The only sounds in the room were the fading echoes of the man's bellowing, and the dull rhythmic thrumming of a small cylindrical wooden object as it rolled in a circle across the floor. Two frightened emerald eyes squeezed themselves tight in terror as the steps draw closer, the boots' hob-nailed soles clawing deep wounds into the bleached and faded floorboards. From her vantage point under the tablecloth a girl watched as the boots moved towards the windowsill where she had been playing with her "dolls" moments before.
As the man kneeled down to gather up the scattered pieces, angrily muttering to himself, his face appeared to her, visible in the space between the cloth and the floor. The girl's breath seized in her small frame and her skin was swept by waves of burning cold, as tiny icy needles cruelly jabbed into her skin. The roaring of her blood muffled her hearing and the frantic beating of her heart seemed to scream out the location of her hiding place. Her tiny fists clenched tight, crushing against her chest, and she huddled back as far as she dared. Not one sound did she make as the man continued to collect the pieces strewn across the floor. She prayed he wouldn't find her. That he would leave and she would be safe. Her knuckles were white with strain, and her lungs felt like they were being crushed between blocks of ice, but she refused to even let the smallest breath betray her.
Swiftly the last of the pieces were gathered, the dull click of each piece echoing through the room as it was thrust into a cloth bag. The man paused for a moment, silently counting to himself, and then began to jerk side-to-side, tossing items aside, hunting for something unseen. He turned towards the table and, just for a moment, the man and the girl's gazes locked on one another. Time seemed to stop, and in the eternity of that frozen moment knives of ice slide under her skin and caressed her with their merciless kisses.
The moment shattered and before she could dart from under the table and flee from the room one of the man's hands whipped out and seized hold of her wrist, crushing it in a grip like a vice. With a jerk, he wrenched her out from under the table. The motion unbalanced the table and it fell to the ground with a dull cracking sound, accompanied by the sharp screeching of glassware shattering. The girl made muted whimpering panicked sounds as he dragged her upright, face to face with him.
"Where is the Queen Jennifer?!" He snarled, his malodorous breath caressing her face, cloying its way up her nose, gagging her with its stench. "Where is it? Where is it?! Jennifer I swear if you don't tell me where you put the Queen I'm going to make you regret it!"
Tears began to stream uncontrollably from the sides of the child's emerald eyes, but her mouth was frozen in terror. She tried to pull away from him and instinctively put her other hand protectively behind her back. The man saw the motion, and realizing the significance, threw the girl to the ground and pinned her against it with one of his massive legs. Her face grated against the scarred and gouged floor, roughened splinters stabbing deeply into her cheeks. The man grabbed the hand she had hidden behind her back and forced her fingers apart, revealing a tall cylinder of white wood, carved with a waved crown at the apex of the piece. Two small dots of ink and an awkwardly scrawled smile had been drawn just below the cylinder's crown.
"How many times?! How many times have I told you not to touch my things!? Are you stupid?! I asked you a question Jennifer! I said are you stupid?
The girl continued to sob, muffled cries filling the room, but no intelligible words came from her.
"This had better be the last time, the very last time you touch my things! The next time you do I'm going to beat you so hard you won't be able to sit down for a week, now go to your room!"
The man released her, and her cries growing in volume, she fled from the room and up the stairs. A moment later a door slammed with a despairing thud. The man walked to the base of the stairs and yelled up the stairs,
"I'm going to the Shaft for the night, don't come out until I tell you that you can! If I come home and find you out of your room you'll regret it!" With that turned and exited the house, slamming and locking the door behind him.
The night air was humid, and the heat oppressive. Sweating, the man leaned against the door and covered his face with his rough calloused hands, breathing in deeply, trying to get his temper under firm control. He took deep breaths, and slowly felt the anger drain away. Its loss left him feeling hollow, weak, and ashamed. His daughter's sobs, floated on the night air towards him, their sounds muffled by the surrounding buildings. His stomach burned, and his shame filled him with self-loathing.
"John you stupid git, you need to get a hold of yourself! You're a grown man, you can't act like your supervising in the Mines with her." He said, speaking aloud to himself. "The criminals and thugs you get assigned work with might need that kind of force, but beating an eleven year old girl… what kind of man are you?" His shame burned in his belly, and acid filled his throat as he remembered the expression of terror he saw in his daughter's eyes. He held up the chess piece she had been clutching and examined the crude face she had scrawled across it. His expression became even more melancholy as he stroked the crude doll his daughter had made from the White Queen.
"More importantly, what kind of man do you want to be?" He sighed as he stuffed the Queen into its bag, and picked up the chessboard from the ground. He then pushed himself away from the door, and stood more firmly on his feet. With a final sigh he began to walk down the street, deeper into the heart of the city, his daughter's sobs fading as he went.
The night air was filled with the stench of unwashed bodies, rotting garbage, animal droppings, and coal smoke. The buildings crowded tightly together, the streets resembling nothing so much as dried up veins burrowing their way through the rotting body of a corpse. Crumbling masonry was piled in heaps, and gothic arched windows stared down over the street with empty, soulless eyes. The eerie, ominous architecture of Malifaux always unsettled him whenever he concentrated on it too much. He dropped his gaze and quickened his pace towards the merchant's square.
A night breeze trailed down the street, carrying the smells of Jasmine and spices from the nearby district known as The Little Kingdom, clearing the last of his anger from his mind. His sound of his boots, clacking against the paving stones, was drowned by the noises of the people filling the square, even at this time of the night. Malifaux citizens crowed the streets, rushing here and there, shopping, eating, and socializing, making use of the few hours the Guild allowed after the workday was done, all overseen by Guild Sentries, watching from widow's walks on the buildings above, their Peacebringers glinting, reflecting the light of the streetlamps below.
As he walked he kept himself pressed close to the walls of the shops, his gaze downcast, but looking up and challenging anyone who came too close. His expression, and large size kept him unmolested as he progressed through the city. Then a pale something in a window caught his eye. Deep within the shadowy recesses of a general goods store, a porcelain doll, in a white satin dress sat incongruously on a shelf, squeezed in between sacks of flour. The streetlamps reflected of the doll's alabaster skin, seeming to glow with an unearthly radiance. He paused, staring at the doll, considering.
The doll looked very expensive, and he certainly didn't have much Scrip. He reached into his bag and withdrew the White Queen once more, examining it for a long time, staring into the childish face that had been etched onto its surface. He had certainly acted unforgivably, and not for the first time. The anger and brutality he had once had to actively cultivate to keep his workers in line in order to meet Guild quotas had became his first, last, and only reaction at home as well. He gripped the queen tightly in his hand, his palm shaking with tension, and promised himself he would do better. Starting now he would be a better father to Jennifer, and the first thing he needed to do was to make certain she knew he meant it when he apologized to her.
He entered the shop, and several minutes later he emerged with the doll poking out of the top of his bag. The doll had been expensive, and he would only be able to afford one small drink this evening, and none at all for the next few months or so, but he felt it was an appropriate punishment for himself. He felt he deserved far worse, but the lose of his nightly indulgence for the for the foreseeable future, as well as actually being able to give Jennifer her first real doll was a good first step in actually making certain that this time he kept to his promise of being a better father. Sighing to himself a final time, he hurried toward his destination for the evening.
Across the Square, almost lost amid the elegant decay of the surrounding edifices crouched a squat stone building, seemingly carved from a single massive block of stone. There, a single covered lantern hung beside the door, giving off an eerie, blue tinted glow, which barely illuminated the sign hanging above. The lantern's light flickered and danced crazily across a painted bundle of dynamite, it's fuse sparking with garish color. Solid block letters printed above the image proclaimed the establishment within as The Blasted Shaft. His fist banged against the scarred doors a single time, and a rough voice within said, "What's need to join the M&SU"? John answered back, "Tenacity, Nerve, & Toughness ". There was the sound of a bolt sliding in its frame and the door opened, an amber light seeping out from within. John hurried within and the door was shut behind him.
Inside the door was a single room cheerily lit by multiple lanterns hanging on the walls, their warm welcoming light a direct contrast to the ghostly lamp glowing outside. There were no decorations in the room, and only a single chair could be seen positioned just to the right of the door. On top of the chair sat a heavily scarred man, his body twisted with muscles. The man's skin was almost a solid lump of scar tissue, and his hands were both missing several fingers, but his eyes shone with intelligence.
"John, you look like hell."
"Thanks Eliot, what's that make you look like, Malifaux?"
The man in the chair chuckled.
"Rough night?"
"I don't want to talk about it. What's it like downstairs," asked John.
"Slow. Not many regulars in tonight, but watch yourself, nerves are very stretched. The Guild found another one up at Simeon's Seam."
"Bad?"
"Really bad," Eliot said. "The night crew found them when they reported for shift change. The foreman and most of his crew had been ripped limb from limb. Fellas were so torn apart I heard even old Doc McMorning was having trouble figuring out which pieces went with who."
John cursed to himself and said "What about the other thing, Guild find one as well?"
Eliot nodded, "Found it just around the first bend down the mine shaft, body was so charred that there wasn't much left but blackened bones."
"Any idea who it was?"
"Doc got a bit lucky on that score, Marshalls discovered the corpse had two solid gold incisors, only one man round here fits that description."
Eliot nodded, "It's a damn shame. He was in here last night, celebrating the birth of his son, I never saw a man drink so much. The boys don't like it I can tell you. Smiles, was real popular and folks attitudes is getting really ugly. If the Guild don't find out what's going on and put a stop to it soon the boys might decide to take matters into their own hands and then a lot more folk are gonna get hurt. Watch yourself down there"
John nodded, "I'll let you know if I hear anything, thanks for the update."
Eliot nodded and leaned back in his chair, and John turned to the only other feature in the room, a sloping tunnel opening that switch backed upon itself several times as it descended below ground. Below, the sound of muted conversation and the clink of glasses could be heard, reverberating up the tunnel. John took a more firm hold on his possessions, and headed down into the bar's main room.
The tunnel opened up into a cavernous room, after descending 30 feet or so below street level. Broken tools and twisted blasting equipment were wired to the walls, and a large brutal looking bar filled one wall of the massive space. Rough-hewn tables were scattered throughout the room, each one illuminated by a single lantern sitting in the center of their boards, so that each table seemed to be a floating ball of amber in the dimly lit space. The enclosed space echoed with the muted conversations of the duty miners, and John saw that Eliot had been right, the crowd was definitely light this evening, and John could sense an undercurrent of ugly, violent tension, vibrating under the surface of the room's atmosphere. It would take very little to bring that violence to the surface, and John wouldn't have accepted a bag of Soul Stones to be anywhere near it when it finally exploded.
He selected a table in one of the shadowy corners of the room, and signaled a bar maid, ordering his single beer for the evening, and began to set up the chess set, finishing just as his beer arrived. He paid he woman, and she disappeared, attending to other customers. He sipped his beer, considering the room, and waited. He often didn't have trouble finding an opponent for a game of chess if he waited long enough, but he was doubtful if he would have any takers tonight. The bar was too sparsely populated, and the mood to dark to encourage any active participants. As the night wore on his suspicions proved accurate as he continued to sit alone and unregarded at his table.
He had just finished his beer, and was preparing to gather his things and head home when he heard someone say, "Well now, are ya looking for a game Boyo?" John turned and found a man standing behind him looking down at him. The man seemed… wrong somehow. The Blasted Shaft's regular customers were all Miners, and almost entirely members of the Miners and Steamfitters Union, which was why the owners required a password for admittance. Most of the clientele who came here arrived right after their working day was done, wearing the sweat and earth stained clothing they had worn all day long, their faces still black from the smoke from the blasting caps, or from the effort of swinging a pickaxe all day long.
This man, however, looked like he arrived fresh from a tailor's shop in Downtown. He wore a formal suit dyed a deep, almost black purple, and the trousers, waistcoat, and jacket were all of the most current fashionable cut. He wore a pair of silver Pince-nez attached to a silver chain that hung around his neck, the chain glittering coldly in the light from John's table. His cravat was immaculately tied, and a deep shade of emerald green. At his side, the man carried a battered leather medical bag, the surface of its leather worn smooth from use, and speckled with dark stains. It was more than just his incongruous appearance, however, the man seemed to radiate an unnatural aura of cold. John's skin began to prickle all over with goose bumps as the man leaned closer. And though the man wore a smile on his face, his expression seemed to be that of a man considering the best to peel the skin from your body without killing you too quickly.
The man crossed in front of the table, set his bag on the floor, removed the matching derby from his head, and sat down opposite John.
"Now then, I myself fancy a game of chess, especially over a dram, would ya care to join me?" His malicious smile flashed, and he signaled for the Barmaid, and after conferring with her for a few moments she left and shortly returned with a pitcher of water, and two squat glasses. The man reached into his jacket and drew forth a wad of scrip as thick as one of John's fingers. The main peeled off enough scrip to have bought all the drinks sold tonight thus far in the bar, and handed them to the woman. "Thanks darlin', now be a love and go play somewhere else." She clutched the scrip and darted away behind the bar, eager to be as far away from the man as she could.
The man's scalpel gaze followed her as she scurried away, and John overheard the man whisper something to himself about needing to remember that one. When she had retreated to the safety of the bar the man reached down and unlocked the brass latches on his bag and drew forth a wicked looking slotted spoon, and a small brass box, both of which he set on the table beside the glasses. The man again reached back into the bag and withdrew a rounded glass bottle with a silver bound stopper. He set the bottle on the table beside the chessboard and turned his attention back upon John.
"Now then, allow me to introduce myself, I'm after being called Solomon Brazing. And, if I may be so bold, might inquire as to your identity sir?"
John met the other man's gaze and fought not to look away, "John O'Rourke".
"Well now, Mr. O'Rourke, a fellow lad from the Isle is it. I very pleased to make your acquaintance," said the man as he removed the gloves from his hands. " I can see that you seem a minor bit suspicious, and that is no way to begin the game of kings. I'm sure you're after wondering what a fellow such as I might be doing in an establishment such as this, but that is easily explained. I'm here as a representative of the Rivière Noire distillery, perhaps you've heard of us?"
John shook his head, "Mr., I've never heard of you."
"Ah well, now that's a shame. You have now though, and soon I tell you, there won't be a person in this city who won't have heard of our company, nor experienced our magnificent product, that's a promise." His eyes again locked on to John's, pinning him to his seat. "We produce a fine new liqueur we are hoping to distribute extensively within the city, and I'm after being here to demonstrate its fine appeal. I was on my way out when I saw your game, and it has been awhile since I last played, and I am very fond of a game of chess. Shall we play a game? And if in the course of our game you should desire a sample of my unique liquor, why, you have only to ask."
So saying, the man slide one of the black pawns two squares up the center of the board, and looked up at John, "Your move."
John was taken aback, not only by the man's sinister demeanor, but also by the reversal in the proper etiquette of the game, as white was traditionally supposed to make the first move. John considered asking the man to leave, and heading home, but the crooked smile staring back at him from his own pieces stopped him. His anger at home and the pain he had caused Jenny had all stemmed from his desire to have his weekly game of chess, and to go home without playing would somehow make all the pain of the evening even more shameful. He considered, and then slide one of his own pawns a matching number of squares up the board.
As the two played Mr. Brazing began to perform a curious ritual. He unstopped the bottle he had placed beside the board and poured a measure of clear liquid into one of the glasses. John could smell the strong scent of Anise wafting from the bottle and glass, and his eyes began to water. Whatever the drink was, it was strong. Mr. Brazier replaced the stopper and then placed the slotted spoon across the glass containing the liquor. He then picked up the brass box, and opening it, slid a pair of pointed tongs from out of a slot in the lid of the box. Using the tongs he extracted a white, crystalline cube from within the box and set it on the spoon. He closed the box and set the tongs aside. He then picked up the water pitcher and slowly poured a thin stream of chilled water over the cube, dissolving it into the liquid below. John was surprised to see a strange thing happen when the water joined the liquid in the glass below. The liquor first became cloudy, and slowly turned an inky black as the water and cube where mixed together. When the cube had finally been entirely dissolved, Mr. Brazier set the water pitcher aside, and used the spoon to stir the drink, mixing the contents together. He then withdrew a crisp, white handkerchief from his pocket and carefully wiped the spoon dry, and then set both on the table.
"I believe it's your move, Mr. O'Rourke."
John started; he hadn't realized he'd been staring at the man for so long. He shook his head and said, "I apologize, I must have been wool gathering for a moment." He looked over the position of the piece on the board and chose to castle with his king.
"No need to apologize, Mr. O'Rourke. To be sure the first time anyone sees our product prepared it can be a bit… unexpected."
"It was certainly very surprising, what is it?"
"Now, perhaps you've heard of Absinthe?"
John nodded.
"Well then, you've certainly heard that it has a sinister reputation for causing madness among those who become devotees of the drink. Our proprietor has discovered how to distill a liquor identical to Absinthe, but without Absinthe's notorious use of wormwood. We're calling it 'Black Absinthe' at the moment, as a curious property of the herbs that we use in it's distillation causes any water that comes into contact with them to turn black, a strange effect, but one that causes no harm, I assure you. So saying he picked up the drink and sipped at it while the game continued.
John turned his attention back to the game, and found it just as odd as the man sitting opposite. The man seemed to play extremely badly, within the first dozen moves of so John had captured both of his bishops and knights as well as a rook and only lost a knight and a few pawns in return. Despite this seemingly insurmountable fact, John found that his own side was still under heavy attack, and that pressure was still being exerted against his king. It made no sense, what was happening shouldn't be possible. Then the oddest thing of all happened, the man suddenly moved his king out into the open, unprotected by any of his other pieces, and within three moves John had the King trapped and unable to escape.
"Mate, I think," said John.
"So it is Sir. Congratulations on your victory." The man nodded, finished his drink, and began to pack his property back into the bag at his side, leaving the bottle and the brass box on the table, however, and then closing his bag with a sharp, metallic click.
The man stood up and began pulling on his gloves. "Thank you for an enjoyable evening M. O'Rourke, allow me to present you with a minor token of my thanks for such a game as ours. Please keep the bottle and the box as souvenirs of your night. If you should happen to try them and enjoy our product please make certain to tell all your relations and friends."
He picked up his hat, place it at a jaunty angle on his head, picked up his bag and then said, "A good evening to you, Mr. O'Rourke. And with another scalpel smile disappeared back into the gloom of the bar.
John shook his head as if to clear it, carefully packed away his possessions, and regarded the bottle suspiciously. He removed the stopper and again the harsh smell of Anise assaulted his senses. Looking into the box he saw that it contained many small crystalline cubes, exactly like the one the man had used for his drink. Licking a finger gingerly, he pressed it against a few grains that had escaped the box and brought it to his lips, they tasted like sugar. He poured a small amount of the liquor into the glass, dropped a sugar cube into it and poured a very small amount of water into the glass. He shook the drink, watching it turn from a crystal clear, to an inky black in seconds. He took a small sip, and found he had been correct, it was very strong, possessing a very strong flavor of Anise, and something very bitter as well, which he supposed the sugar helped to counteract. The drink was oddly pleasant, and he finished his initial drink, and poured himself another, and then another. Soon the shape of the bar around him began to grow hazy, and the sounds of the other patrons sounded to him as if traveling through water soaked gauze. The bar continued to grow darker and darker, until he fell into blackness, and his head bounced off the table.
He awoke the next morning when the sun began to shine directly onto his face. The light burned, and his head pounded in time with his heart, each beat a hammer blow to his nerves. He felt hot behind his eyes, and his mouth felt so dry, that his tongue rasped as he drew t across his teeth. He glanced around, trying to take in his surroundings. He was in his own bed; although how he had gotten there he had no memory of. He was still wearing his clothes from yesterday, and they, and his sheets were soaked in sweat. The room was unbearably hot, and he hurried to the window to open it, and allow some circulation of the air.
As he opened the window, the sunlight shone full upon him, fresh fiery daggers jabbing into his eyes. He backed away into the room clutching his head in agony. The strange liquor he had drank the night before certainly packed a whollop, he was glad he was on the evening shift today, as he would be in no condition to work for sometime until he could shake the after effects of the drink off. He still felt uncomfortably warm, and something nagged at his brain, something he had intended to do after he got home. Then he remembered, Jennifer, he had to give her the doll and apologize to her.
Sweating and staggering he moved to Jennifer's room, and he knocked on the door, his head echoing in pain with every sharp knock.
"Jennifer you can come out now. I need to talk to you, and I have something for you."
Silence was all that greeted his knocks.
"Jennifer, I'm sorry. You have every right to be angry with me, I behaved very badly, and I want to apologize. Even Daddy's make mistakes. Please come out."
Silence was all that answered him.
"Jenny? Are you all right?" "Jenny?"
He turned the knob of the door, opened it, and looked inside. Terror seized his heart. The room had been ransacked. Furniture was overturned, demonic gouges raked the walls and the floorboards, and the bed's frame had been shattered. The bed sheets had been shredded, and speckles of crimson spattered everything.
With a cry of anguish that split his head open with pain he darted into the room, frantically searching for any sign at all of his daughter. The heat was unbearable, and even his terror couldn't cool him as in his panic he tore the room apart, searching for any sign of his daughter.
A clattering from downstairs drew his attention, and he immediately flew towards it, stumbling and almost falling down the stairs in his haste. The noise had come from the drawing room, and once again he flew towards the room, his panic destroying his reason and coordination.
"JENNY!" he screamed.
But it wasn't Jenny that he found in the room. Crouching over the fallen table from the night before was a small impish creature, approximately 4 feet tall. Its skin was a deep black, seemly drinking the light from the room. It's face was a horrifying blend of infant and feline, with high arching brows, pointed eyes, sharp, needle fangs protruding from it's mouth, and slitted eyes that glowed with smoldering witchfire in the morning light. The creature was naked, lacking any distinguishing marks of gender, and it's long, amber hair danced like a candle flame in a phantom wind.
Talons clacked across the floor as it looked up from the bag it had been digging through, crimson gore dripping off inch long talons that gleamed in the sun. A wicked smile spread across it's features, and it turned towards an open widow, the same window Jenny had been playing at the previous evening, it's muscles tensing to spring and escape.
With a tortured cry of anguish and rage John hurled himself at the creature, seizing it by the hair, and dragging it back, away from the window and escape. John began to scream
"MURDERER! MURDERER! HELP! HELP ME, THE NEVERBORN HAVE KILLED MY JENNY! HELP!"
The creature slashed at him with it's talons, raking evil furrows deep into his skin. They struggled and John got his hands around the creature's throat. His hands squeezed, and the creature thrashed in panic it breath chocked off, it's nails slicing his arms, hands, and legs to bloody shreds in a last desperate attempt to break free and escape. Tears of rage and lose streamed down John's face but his grip never faltered. Sweat dripped off of him, and he could distantly smell something in the distance burning, and the cries of his neighbors coming to his aide, but he didn't let up. He continued crushing the life out of the thing that had stolen his Jenny, stolen his chance to make things right with her. Now the last memory he would ever have of her was the disastrous scene the night before, and that image and memory would torture him for the rest of his life. He poured all of his anger, and sorrow into the muscles of his hands, exacting a terrible revenge for his loss.
Soon the creature's thrashing became more sluggish, its strikes less forceful, and then it ceased struggling entirely, its thrashing stopping entirely, and it hung limply from John's hands. He continued to squeeze for several moments more, his breathing coming in heaving sobs that shook his big frame like an earthquake. The heat and smell of burning intensified and he began to suspect that that creature had set the house on fire. Flinging it unceremoniously to the ground he staggered out of the room and toward the front door. As he staggered out into the sunlight his vision was filled by an explosion of flames and he fell into blessed cool darkness.
:crows:crows:crows
Two Guild Guardsman leaned over a table in the Malifaux city morgue, examining the two bodies laid side by side.
"What happened Doc?" one of them asked the wild haired figure examining the bodies on the table.
"This subject was killed by Compressive Asphyxiation due to a crushed larygopharynx. Perimortem bruising indicates it was killed by manual strangulation. You can plainly see the bruising caused by the attacker's fingers on the victim's skin. The other is more confusing, he seems to have expired from immolation, but all the signs indicate that the fire originated from inside the victim, exactly like all the others. The body is almost entirely carbonized and the bones are very brittle. I have to admit I'm still stumped, it's certainly a puzzler."
Doctor Douglas Mcmorning, the Guild's Coroner looked up over the bodies at the two Guild officers.
"If it is like the other cases our crispy friend here was probably responsible for the first subject's death. He was most likely overcome with irrational rage and took it out on the first person he saw, and then burst into flames himself. Past that I have no other information to give you gentleman. I'll know more once I perform the autopsies, although I'm not certain Mr. Crispy's body will tell us much, the others certainly didn't. Will you lads be at HQ, or would you like the results sent to you in the field?"
"We'll be at HQ. Find something we can use Doc, this has got to stop."
"I'll do my best, now if that will be all gentlemen, I have some autopsies to see to, Sebastian will see you out."
The Marshalls took one last disgusted look at the bodies and turned away. One of the Marshalls looked at the other and said, "Good God, what kind of monster would do that to a little girl?"
His partner looked back and said, "In Malifaux? Better question would be who wouldn't." and the two Marshall's left the room, escorted by the Doctor's lumbering assistant.
After the two Marshalls left, the Doctor hurried to the storage area and retrieved his tools, and a few… other items it was probably better if the Guild didn't find out were in his possession. He spun around and almost collided with a tall pale woman standing immediately behind him. Her dress was expensive, but badly out of fashion, and its expensive fabric was covered with dirt and bloodstains, and the lace edging was ripped and torn in several places.
"Gah! Molly! How many times do I have to tell you don't sneak up on me like that?!"
The woman's cold and distant expression didn't even flicker as she regarded him.
"Fine, fine, fine, don't say anything! If you're here that means Seamus is too, where is he?"
"Out here Boyo, looking over the results of the latest experiment. Still don't seem to have the mixture right, do I?
The Doctor sidestepped the woman in the corridor and hurried into the examining room, with Molly following silently behind.
"Not yet," said the Doctor as he came into the room. "Your 'hallucinogenic hangover' seems to be working wonderfully, as intended, but the mixture is still too volatile to work for our purposes. What good is giving the subject super strength if he just burns out right afterwards? These bones are too fragile to use for anything practical, and reanimation is certainly out of the question. And your experiments are drawing too much attention, you'd better lay off for awhile, before the Guild really starts to take an interest."
"Lay off you say? But I'm so close to figuring it out! Did you get the tests back from the previous test subject I asked you about?"
"Yes, they're in the other room let me show…" he paused as Molly was overcome by one of her coughing fits, bubbles of blood bursting from her mouth and dripping down her chin.
Seamus turned to her, "Golly Ms. Molly, you're a right disgusting baggage aren't you." Seamus then withdrew a spotless white handkerchief from his pocket and tossed it at Molly. "Clean yourself up while I have a talk with the good Doctor." And McMorning and Seamus left the room.
Molly wiped her face with the handkerchief, and then stood staring at the little girl lying on McMorning's table. Molly's expressionless eyes noticed that some of the blood had speckled the girl's face and she carefully wiped the girl's face clean. As she was cleaning the last spot from the girl's lips Seamus bellowed from the other room, "Molly girl! What's keeping ye? What's the point of my being clever if you aren't here to see it? Move your tail girly-girl." Molly took one last look at the little girl and then turned and left the room.
Some time later Sebastian entered the room, preparing to perform the autopsies himself, and the doctor seemed to be otherwise engaged. The Marshall's were expecting the results soon, and Sebastian didn't want them to grow even more suspicious, and come looking for what the delay was about. He stopped when he entered the room, and blinked once or twice. Then he walked over to the tables, and took a quick look under the table, finding nothing he straightened up, and scratched his head. The girl's body was missing. In her place, resting on the table was a white cylindrical object. Sebastian picked it up and noticed that a crude smiley face had been scrawled onto the wood in black ink. Feeling a draft he noticed that the Morgues ventilation grating had been opened and he crossed the room to re-secure it. As he did that he saw a momentary glimpse of emerald green eyes regarding him from the darkness. Then the feeling disappeared, and Sebastian closed the grating and returned to his work.
Edited June 21, 2012 by Fetid Strumpet
Mydnight
This was a lot of fun to read! I had been wondering who the gent that came to play chess was and, well you should read to find out who B-)
One point of feedback that I would mention is the introduction to the piece. While I can see establishing the character of John, as well as elaborating the situation, I think that it may be a touch long overall. I wouldn't know what to cut since it all seems important, but perhaps it could be condensed slightly?
One thing I will say is that you paint a very vivid picture, and I feel like all the major characters from the setting were appropriately portrayed. I'd be interested to see a follow up to this :-)
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A garage, a gallery
Dylan Thomas / [email protected]
Updated: December 27, 2012 - 5:44 pm
FULTON — It's not the first Minneapolis garage-cum-gallery, but somehow TuckUnder Projects' location in the very bottom left-hand corner of the city's grid, nearer Southdale than the IDS Center, makes its seem a bit unlikely.
Pete Driessen runs the show at 5120 York Ave. S., and he lives in the modest, mid-century residence on the other side of the garage-gallery's fire door. Driessen bought the place two years ago, following a divorce, and although he's made some improvements, he hasn't touched the plastic butterflies pinned to the stucco near the front door or the painted woodpecker in the big maple tree out back.
Driessen appreciates the dissonance between these kitschy signifiers of near-suburbia and the minimalist white-box gallery he's made of the tuck-under garage. A $5,000 Metropolitan Arts Council Grant paid for the new sheetrock and lighting, as well as small stipends for the artists who have shown there since this spring.
A painter who also creates scrap-wood sculptures, Driessen has made the gallery an extension of his artistic practice, an experiment in curation, hybrid space and community participation. He passes out postcards for upcoming shows at the Fulton Farmers Market, and neighbors swing by for openings.
"It's about gifting to others," he said. "It's about being generous to others."
Next up at TuckUnder Projects is "Afternoon Delight," a group exhibition curated by Scott Stulen and Jehra Patrick of mnartists.org. An early idea to place artworks throughout Driessen's living space — sort of like an estate sale — was scrapped, but Patrick said the artists were inspired both by TuckUnder Projects' Midwestern suburban aesthetic, in general, and some of Driessen's maritime-themed décor, in particular. (An interest in ships and naval iconography was inherited from his father, a Navy pilot, Driessen said.)
The work also responds to the act of opening up a home to not just friends and neighbors, but complete strangers.
"This is a pretty intimate gesture to invite someone into your home," Patrick said.
Stulen said small paintings by Andy Messerschmidt, each about the size of an LP cover, and Jason Pearson's riff on some classic Farrah Fawcett cheesecake just feel "at home" in the space.
"It's still the garage of somebody's house, and there's really no getting around it," Stulen said. "… But then you walk two feet outside the gallery and you're in Pete's raspberry patch."


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Newsroom | News | We are Singapore: AETOS at National Day Parade 2018
We are Singapore: AETOS at National Day Parade 2018
On duty at the floating platform.
Geared up and ready to go.
APOs and SOs at the pre-deployment briefing.
Looking fly(er).
APOs Taha and Rebecca ready for duty.
Our officers were out in full force at this year's National Day Parade. More than 850 Auxiliary Police Officers (APOs) and Security Officers (SOs) stood alongside the throngs of people at Marina Bay, performing key duties such as security screening, traffic enforcement, and crowd control.
2018 marks a milestone for AETOS as it is our first year as sole security provider for this major event. This achievement resonates with many of the officers that were on the ground that day, including LCP (APF) Sendhil Kumar, who had been present at two previous years' parades . Having been an APO for almost a decade, Sendhil has accumulated a wealth of experience in event security and has been part of countless deployments – yet, the National Day Parade has always stood out to him because of the national spirit on display. To him, a united society is something to be admired: "If the people are united, they are like a strong pillar – the country will have better stability."
For LCP (APF) Thana Raj, it is the safety and security of Singapore that stands out to him. While he recognizes the strength and resilience that helped establish our nation, he is also keenly aware that these qualities will remain essential in overcoming the challenges and adversities faced by the men and women entrusted with keeping the peace. "Working as an auxiliary police officer helps to make sure that Singapore stays safe – I am just proud to do my part".
This year's parade and ceremony had many highlights, thrilling the crowds – among them, a freefall water jump by the Naval Combat Divers, the return of the Combined Schools Choir, and the largest combined Military Tattoo performance since the parade moved to its current location at the Floating Platform. Security Officer Annie Chua loves the atmosphere, finding being a part of the National Day celebrations truly enjoyable. "While we must stay constantly vigilant as it's a very important day, I'm also excited to be here and to play a part in making our National Day Parade a successful and safe event."
AETOS gears up for F1 Singapore Grand Prix 2018
AETOS provided event security for the 11th Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, having provided security for this major tourist event since its inception. More than 500 Auxiliary Police Officers (APOs) and 130 Security Officers (SOs) will be deployed each day, carrying out duties such as conducting security checks and maintaining public order.
This year's race also marks the first time our officers will provide additional crowd control and traffic management duties for the Land Transport Authority. Approximately 80 APOs will be stationed near key transport infrastructure, including MRT stations, taxi stands, and shuttle bus points.
In terms of innovative technology, enhanced vehicle management systems, integral to the operation of AETOS' cash-in-transit vehicle fleet, will be installed for the first time in certain vehicles serving the area. With access control, geofencing, and remote immobilization capabilities, this additional safety measure will reduce the likelihood of vehicle-based threats.
Launched in 2008, the Singapore Grand Prix was the inaugural night race and the first Asian street circuit for the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. An expected 73,000 fans and tourists will descend on the Marina Bay Street Circuit each day for the races, as well as concerts featuring international headliners including Jay Chou, The Killers and Martin Garrix.
NFEC Fire Safety Seminar 2018
The National Fire and Civil Emergency Preparedness Council (NFEC) held its annual Fire Safety Seminar at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre on 21st August. Over a thousand participants took part in the seminar, which included presentations, workshops and a panel discussion. Notably, the event featured the launch of the SCDF 2018 Fire Code, presided over by guest of honour Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of National Development, Ms Sun Xueling and Singapore Civil Defence Force Commissioner Eric Yap.
AETOS Chief Operating Officer Mr Jackson Lim also gave a presentation on the use of visual technologies for enhancing frontline response to emergencies during the seminar. He emphasized the usefulness of video analytics-based systems when dealing with fires, given their ability to provide visual confirmation and real-time verification.
Our AETOS personnel were present at the exhibition hall to promote our Intelligent Fire Detection System (IFDS), which uses video analytics and image processing technology to detect fires at their incipient stages. Easily integrated into any existing CCTV infrastructure and designed to complement traditional systems such as smoke and heat detectors, the IFDS is classified as a video image fire detection system by the SCDF. Such systems have been made compulsory for certain types of unmanned buildings in a new provision in the Fire Code.
Click here to find out more about the IFDS.
AETOS Secures Major Hospital Project
AETOS has been awarded a contract to supply security manpower services at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Among the factors that contributed towards securing this project were price competitiveness and positive reference checks from AETOS' existing clients in the healthcare sector, such as the Institute of Mental Health.
Said Mr. Patrick Koh, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, "Moving forward, we hope that this project and the associated downstream opportunities will help establish AETOS as the key security service provider for the healthcare industry".
The project will last for a duration of 24 months with the option to extend for another 24 months. Under the partnership, AETOS' Auxiliary Police Officers and Security Officers will carry out various duties, such as access control, visitor management and the enforcement of regulations within the hospital.


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'We're going to constantly evolve': Idles reject fashion as album two makes an impact
by Ben Homewood
September 6th 2018	at 7:00AM
It's been a big week for Idles so far, what with an AIM Awards win and a Top 5 Midweek position for their second album Joy As An Act Of Resistance.
The Bristol fivesome were nominated in four categories at last night's AIM bash, triumphing in the Hardest Working Group Or Artist section. As singer Joe Talbot and manager Mark Bent outline in the new issue of Music Week, out now, Idles have worked extremely hard to get to this stage.
"I was so frustrated for so long because no one was helping or opening doors and it got to a point where I didn't know if people were starting to feel sorry for me, coming back year in, year out trying to plug this band," Bent told us.
Talbot meanwhile, said our interview underlined the graft that's gone into the project, which is being steered by Bent, his sister Natasha, the band's agent at Coda, and Partisan Records.
"It highlights how grateful we are to Mark and how much hard work he's done, it's fucking insane," Talbot said. "I try to explain to the boys just how many hours a day he's put into us, the magnitude of what he does. I think Lee nearly shat himself when he realised how much work goes into it, it's a beautiful time."
Now that the work is paying off, though, what do Idles make of the notion that they may be fashionable? After all, a lot of people are talking about them. Here, in an exclusive extract from our conversation, is what happened when we put the idea to Talbot.
Do you feel like Idles might be fashionable now?
"No. It's an awful word but it's a very descriptive one and it's necessary. Its word that I would never use because the problem with being fashionable is that you become unfashionable, that's a fact, it has to be. But, I don't know nor do I care, I'm not in the business of thinking of our own art as an alien entity, I'm in the art, I'm in the band, I don't want to start dislocating myself from us a bunch of artists because then I start thinking about us a brand or a product to sell and that's not who I am. I'm a person trying to talk about my life. In a sea of music I'm sure we could potentially become fashionable, [but] absolutely not yet, there's no way that everything that's going on in popular culture right now has got to do with a bunch of white dudes shouting about trauma with guitars in their hands."
We don't pay attention to our peers and what's going on around us
Joe Talbot, Idles
Do you ever stop to think how you might be perceived, though?
"One of the things that we instilled in our camp is we don't pay attention to our peers and what's going on around us. We just stick to what we believe in and what we love and what we're interested in as the way forward and make our own language, start our own party. One day, if it does become fashionable, if someone turns around and says, 'You're the most trendy or cool band in the world' – which is very unlikely and I don't give a fuck whether it does or not – I'd just embrace that and make sure that we change our narrative. We're going to constantly evolve, and one thing that Mark and Natasha have instilled in us is to keep moving forward and to not bask in minor glories, but just work hard for what you love. Be mindful of the present, don't dwell on the past and don't look too far into the future, just plan for the immediate."
Subscribers can read the interview in full here.
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The highlights: Industry leaders reflect on 2021 Pt.3


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Call for freer access to Gaza land and sea
(Ahmed Dalloul/IRIN)
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When Jaber Abu Rjaila heard about the recent ceasefire agreement in Gaza, he rushed back to his farmland - for the first time in more than 10 years.
"We have been farmers for generations. It's our life and I'm very glad that we are back here now freely working," he told IRIN. "I've been longing for this moment."
His farmland lies in the "access-denied" and buffer zone areas close to the Israeli-built barrier, but the recent ceasefire agreement holds out the promise of an easing of naval and land controls at the border.
Oxfam says the five-year blockade by Israel has "devastated Gaza's farming and fishing industries" leading to the closure of nearly 60 percent of Gaza's businesses, according to a new briefing paper published this month. Israel imposed the blockade, it says, for security reasons.
Abu Rjaila has ambitions to plant tomatoes, parsley and zucchini for sale, and to help feed his 14-member family. But he knows he is not in the clear yet.
Israeli soldiers often use their loudspeakers to tell him to keep tens of metres from the border - and he says he still worries about "random shooting, sudden Israeli incursions, and unexploded shells".
Abu Rjaila's house and land are about 450m from the border in eastern Khan Younis, where he owns a seven-hectare farm on some of the most fertile land in Gaza.
After the ceasefire was introduced on 21 November, bringing an end to the Israeli bombardment and the firing of rockets into Israel, hundreds of Palestinians who own houses and land in these areas returned.
Officials in Gaza say the Israelis agreed to ease travel and economic restrictions, although the returning farmers faced immediate warnings from Israeli forces saying "Go away" and "Go back", often accompanied by warning shots.
Palestinian medical sources said one Palestinian was killed and over 20 injured by Israeli gunfire in the area just two days after the ceasefire, when a group including farmers visited land close to the fence.
The deputy minister of agriculture in Gaza, Ibrahim Al Qedra, told IRIN that the easing of restrictions on the 5,000 hectares in the buffer zone would reduce humanitarian needs in Gaza.
"We need to reach our border areas and lift the buffer zone restrictions to let people return to their lands, live in their houses, and farm their lands freely - we need to restore our food security."
Historically the area was a major food source for Gaza with citrus and olive orchards, and seasonal production of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and potatoes for local markets.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) confirmed the development shortly after the ceasefire was announced: "For the past few days, farmers have been allowed to access, with their equipment and vehicles, agricultural land located as close as 100m from Gaza's perimeter fence in some areas."
The ceasefire agreement regarding the easing of restrictions near the border remains vague though.
"We don't have a clear signal from Egypt about the full access; people returned to their lands voluntarily while we are still discussing the mechanisms in the current indirect negotiations to reach an understanding regarding these areas," said Al Qedra.
"We ask the public to be careful when heading there," he said.
The situation is similar for Gaza's fishermen.
Since 2006 the Israeli navy has only allowed fishermen like Mohammed Abu Riala, 32, to operate up to three miles from shore. With the ceasefire they were told they could head out six nautical miles.
"It's good news in principle. As soon as we heard about the expansion to six miles range we sailed to that spot. But we faced the same Israeli soldiers' threats through loudspeakers: 'Return, Go back or...', and several warning shots in the water, over our heads, and close to our boat."
A number of his fellow fishermen have already been arrested and taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod.
"[The six-mile range] is not enough, because the muddy nature of the seabed in this range is still almost the same as the three miles range in nature, with a minor difference in fish size and amounts," Riala told IRIN.
The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) says they are simply doing their job of protecting Israel's naval border: "Vessels that stray from the designated area are handled by the navy according to standard procedures," the IDF spokesperson unit told IRIN when asked about the arrests.
Oxfam says the Israeli government should immediately stop using the military to enforce the land and sea buffer-zones and find other ways to protect the border.
"The current negotiations between Hamas and the government of Israel represent an unprecedented opportunity - people in Gaza need more than a ceasefire, they need an end to the blockade for good," said Oxfam's country director for Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, Nishant Pandey.
For both farmers and fishermen in Gaza, there is still much uncertainty following the ceasefire.
"What we ask for is [to] sail and fish freely, with no threats on our lives in the middle of the sea - attacked, arrested, or even killed," said Nizar Ayyash, head of the General Association of Fishermen in Gaza.
"There are about 50,000 people in Gaza who depend on fishing as their principal source of income. How is 6 miles with 38 miles of coastline enough to secure better amounts and sizes of fish for more than 1.6 million people, and a proper income for thousands of fishermen and their families?" said Ayyash.
Before 2000, fishermen travelled out nearly 20 nautical miles, producing a catch of 4,000 tons a year. Catches are now down to 1,200 tons.
So far the ceasefire appears to be holding following November's eight-day conflict that led to the deaths of 158 Palestinians and six Israelis, and destroyed or severely damaged 378 houses, 80 of them in Israel.
Despite the years of false dawns, Abu Rjalia is hopeful he can replant his deserted fields: "We need our life restored," he said.
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