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Scripps Becomes First in San Diego County to Treat COVID-19 Patients with Experimental Convalescent Plasma Therapy
Recovered COVID-19 patient Robert Riordan recently donated his plasma containing antibodies at Scripps Green Hospital for use as a therapy for a current coronavirus patient in the hospital's intensive care unit.
SAN DIEGO (April 24, 2020) -- Scripps Health recently became the first health care provider in San Diego County to use an experimental therapy as a possible treatment for COVID-19 patients. The treatment involves taking plasma donated by someone who has recovered from COVID-19 and transfusing it into a hospitalized patient currently battling a serious COVID-19 infection.
The idea behind the treatment – known as convalescent plasma therapy – is that people who have fully recovered from COVID-19 have antibodies in their plasma that can attack the virus when transfused into patients with serious, active disease.
On April 22, Encinitas resident Robert Riordan came to the Scripps Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at Scripps Green Hospital to donate plasma. Riordan was diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 19 after a ski trip to Colorado. He has been symptom-free since March 27. Riordan is the second person who came to Scripps to donate convalescent plasma, which will be transfused into a patient being treated in the intensive care unit at Scripps Green. The first convalescent plasma collection and transfusion took place at Scripps Green with a different donor and patient on April 1.
While the therapy is still experimental, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on March 24 allowed doctors to use plasma from recovered patients to treat those with "serious or immediately life-threatening COVID-19 infections" under an emergency approval system. Doctors can apply to the FDA to use it for their patients, and the agency will review the requests quickly and make decisions on a case by case basis.
The first convalescent plasma treatments in the U.S. for COVID-19 were performed in late March in New York and Texas, and other centers throughout the country are now adopting the therapy. Doctors and researchers will be monitoring progress closely, as they know it will take time to determine how well convalescent plasma works against COVID-19.
Research published last month in the Journal of the American Medical Society described convalescent plasma treatment administered to five critically ill COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Shenzhen, China. The patients recovered to varying degrees after their treatments, and while the study was small and only observational, it raises the possibility that convalescent plasma therapy may be helpful in treating this patient population.
The strategy of transfusing convalescent plasma has been used in the past to treat viral disease outbreaks of polio, measles, and mumps before a vaccine was available. More recently it's has been used with some effectiveness to treat patients with SARS and Ebola. During an evolving pandemic like COVID-19, plasma-based treatments can provide a critical stopgap while therapies and vaccines are being developed.
Plasma is the almost-clear liquid that remains after red and white blood cells and platelets are removed from the blood.
For more information on convalescent plasma donation, call 858-554-4340.
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News: Chinese Brand Leads India's Smartphone Market
Chinese smartphone brand Xiaomi leads the Indian market thanks to successful localization efforts and a unique go-to-market strategy. Xiaomi Inc. is an electronics and software company headquartered in Beijing. The company designs, develops and sells smartphones, mobile apps, laptops and other consumer electronics.
An article in Quartz India states that Xiaomi's success has been rapid, with their market share growing from 6% to 27% in a little over a year's time. Xiaomi first entered the Indian market in 2014 and had a rocky start until 2016, but now three of the top five smartphones in India belong to Xiaomi. According to Canalys, Xiaomi shipped close to 8.2 million units in Q4 2017, compared to Samsung's shipments of 7.3 million units. Samsung has operated in India since 1995.
Xiaomi and Samsung control more than half of the smartphone market in India. Xiaomi leads with a 27% market share and Samsung comes in second place with a 25% market share. Vivo, Oppo and Lenovo are the other companies in the top five.
A Bloomberg article said that Xiaomi has invested approximately $500 million in India in the last few years and intends to invest a similar amount in the next three to five years.
Ishan Dutt, Canalys research analyst, credits Xiaomi's rapid success to effectively localizing their channel strategy, marketing collateral and products.
Other reasons for their success include initially selling only through ecommerce channels and an exclusive partnership with Flipkart to run flash sales for new model launches. Their ecommerce-only model allowed Xiaomi to focus their strategy on building capabilities around online retail, which accounts for around 30% of India's total smartphone sales.
They recently began making moves to push sales through traditional brick-and-mortar stores to increase offline sales.
To read more, please see: Chinese brands dominate India's smartphone market.
https://qz.com/1115071/samsung-beware-how-xiaomi-is-winning-over-indias-booming-smartphone-market/
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-30/chinese-smartphone-billionaire-is-doubling-xiaomi-s-bet-on-india
Further GPI Resources on Country Specific Topics
China's Outbound Tourism Market
News: JD.com Raises Funding by Selling Stakes in JD Logistics
News: Alibaba Invests in Online Grocery Store
News: China's Ecommerce Battle
Written By: Vimal Panicker
Vimal Panicker
Director: Global Business Development
Vimal Panicker is from Mumbai, India, and currently lives in Dubai, UAE. He has 7 years of experience in the translation and localization industry including roles in project management and account management. He has worked with a range of clientele from manufacturing, hotel & hospitality, legal, government and interactive agencies from around the world. He has extensive experience working with various translation and project management platforms, tools, processes and practices for companies including Merrill Brink and United Language Group. SEPARATOR Vimal holds a Bachelors Degree in Commerce from Mumbai University and has completed the dual certification in Global Digital Marketing & Localization from Boeing Institute of International Business, Saint Louis University. SEPARATOR He loves working with a culturally-diverse team and believes in exceeding client expectations. For him, translation is not only a great medium to work with people from diverse cultures but also a great platform to connect with organizations from varied sectors and understand their business functions. SEPARATOR Outside work, he loves to watch and play football and has a great interest in fitness activities.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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God, Yes! America: 50 States of Summer Guide
by Team Popupla
Photos from left: Anthony Delanoix, David Marcu, Morgan Sessions.
Whether school's out, summer Fridays are about to begin, or you've banked your vacation days at work, there comes a time when you must face the question everyone's asking: What are you going to do on your summer vacation?
Here at Popupla, we've been compiling our lists and checking them twice (summer vacay is Christmas for us) — on the look out for cool neighborhoods to explore, festivals to attend, road trips to take, lakes to jump in, new restaurants to try, and bed and breakfasts to fantasize about. Our interests are broad, our selections permanent and fleeting, old, new, iconic, or soon to be classic. Let the vacations begin.
We'd love to hear about more things to do, places to go, people to see, fried things to eat. If you have a favorite summer happening somewhere in the good ol' U.S.A., drop us a line on Facebook, Twitter, or in the comments section below.
Finally. It's summer in North Dakota. That means viewing the world's largest buffalo in Jamestown, indulging in chocolate-covered potato chip in Grand Forks, wading through incredible sunflower fields in late summer. The very-long-running Medora Musical is a Wild West-style production staged in a natural amphitheater in the far western pocket of the state.
Get your adrenaline pumping and experience high-speed twists while traveling 60- mph on Rougarou, the new floorless coaster at Cedar Point, America's second-oldest amusement park.
It's Festivus for the rest of us throughout Oregon: Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Waterfront Blues Fest in Portland, 75th Annual Sisters Rodeo, and Balloons Over Bend.
Pittsburgh, the city with a heart of steel, is warming up its creative scene with new boutique lodging. Hotel Monaco is filled with quirky details like ceramic penguin lamps (a nod to their beloved hockey team) and a sky-high biergarten with childhood games like corn hole and Connect Four.
In conjunction with The Providence International Arts Festival, The Dean Hotel and The Avenue Concept are hosting an experimental public art event on June 13th. The full day of activites will include an all-styles dance floor, public skate park, and bites by Faust and Tricycle Ice Cream.
Head for the rolling hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where retired cyclist George Hincapie opened Hotel Domestique, an old country inn that resembles something you'd find in Tuscany. Bring your own wheels or borrow one of the hotel's high-end fleet of Carbon fiber BMC bikes for a spin on Hincapie's favorite trails.
Travel to the Great Smoky Mountains, where Instagram-worthy and gastronomic Mecca Blackberry Farm recently underwent a big expansion — a bigger brewery, a new pool (coming soon), and a casual, new farmhouse-inspired restaurant in the main house, The Dogwood. July is adventure month, filled with activities like road cycling, paddleboarding lessons, and birdwatching — all complimentary with your stay.
This August, the stylish boutique South Congress Hotel will open in Austin, along with Otoko, a 12-seat Japanese restaurant where local chef Paul Qui will mix Tokyo-style sushi and seasonal kaiseki cuisine. The hotel's other eateries are an American bar and grill, a California-inspired cafe, and coffee and juice bar Mañana.
Breathe in deep to fill your lungs with fresh air at one of America's most stunning landscapes: Zion National Park. The park offers many trails, ranging from short walks to strenuous hikes, but we're most excited about lesser known Subway slot canyon.
Festival season has officially kicked off in the Green Mountain state, with some 45 scheduled festivals. That's a lot to take in, but we have our eye on Birdfest! and the 29th Annual Antique and Classic Car Show.
Make Yorktown your port of call from June 5-7 and relive the American Revolution when a replica of the three-masted tall ship that delivered Marquis de Lafayette to the colonies arrives from France.
Read more on Popupla: Hermione Tall Ship Reenactment Hits the East Coast
You travel off the beaten path, but what about foraging it for food? Wander through the fields and forests surrounding the grande dame of American resorts, The Greenbrier, with famed forager Alan Muskat. Executive chef Bryan Skelding will turn your finds into a delicious, fine dining meal.
Grab your camping gear and head along John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Highway through Grand Teton National Park. Camping grounds dot the route, which eventually leads to Yellowstone National Park. Enjoy nature. It's why you came to Wyoming, after all.
Can you believe that the first museum dedicated to slavery in America is only opening now, in 2015? The new Whitney Plantation, about an hour from New Orleans, has an eccentric owner determined to challenge the historical narrative. You'll learn the history of slavery in the United States on a plantation tour unlike any other.
Read more on Popupla: The NOLA Guide
All sorts of charming new inns will make picturesque New England fantasies come true this summer. Salt House Inn in Provincetown is an adorable, 15-room bed and breakfast on the Cape with a daily menu of healthy homemade items served at the farm table or in a quiet corners of the garden. American history buffs should shack up at The Inn at Hastings Park, fifteen minutes from Boston. Twenty-two beautifully wallpapered rooms (with fireplaces, Americana, Frette linens) in three historic buildings are a stone's throw from the Lexington Battle Green.
It's a family affair at Bonobo Winery, the Travese City winery built from scratch by Michigander Carter Oosterhouse (HGTV's Mr. Fix It), along with his wife, brother, and sister-in-law. Chef Mario Batali consulted on the dining menu, which includes hearty pasta dishes from the Batali arsenal. The former cherry orchard has a spacious tasting room, a beautfiul patio on the lake, and plenty of chardonnay and riesling to enjoy with crostini by the indoor-outdoor fireplace.
Minneapolis is having a hyper creative moment. Try to snag a reservation at the buzzing Spoon and Stable. Or eat your very local veggies from the rooftop garden of The Bachelor Farmer. Of course, there's fancy coffee to drink, artisan products to browse, and, for a limited time only, an avant-garde architectural installation to visit.
Read more on Popupla: 11 Homegrown Spots Made in Minneapolis
The Resort at Paws Up is celebrating ten years of luxury in the wilds of Montana this summer. Horseback ride, cast a fly, round up some cattle, then hit the spa treatment tents. Finish off the night with s'mores around the campfire accompanied by tales from the ranch's very own Cowboy Poet. The opening of the sprawling Wilderness Outpost means more activities (wagon team driving), shopping (locally procured goods), and chances to take home a bit of Big Sky Country.
Activist/philanthropist Madeline Pickens rescued 650 mustangs heading to the slaughterhouse. They now run like the wind at Mustang Monument, her wild horse sanctuary in Wells, a few hours west of Salt Lake City, where guest accommodations include ten beautifully appointed and hand-painted teepees (!) as well as a lavish ten-room cabin and a cozy saloon. Resident Native Americans share their history and stories in the evenings, a lovely end to adrenaline-fueled days spent riding, rapelling, four-wheeling, and dining under the stars. It gets even better: 100 percent of the profits benefit Saving America's Mustangs.
The tiny, kitschy, seaside town known as Asbury Park is being reimagined as a hip, creative waterfront escape. The summer line-up includes DJs, food trucks, outdoor yoga classes, surf camps, beach games, and art crawls among hammock gardens, water features, and boardwalk kiosks. On the first Saturday of every month, shops, galleries, and cafes are open late for young revelers-in-culture.
Want to roam around like an eco conscious billionaire? Ted Turner Expeditions is opening up two million acres of private wild lands to bring together the Sierra Grande Lodge & Spa in Truth or Consequences and Vermejo Park Ranch in Raton (all owned by the media mogul). Custom trips include visits to Armendaris Ranch on the Rio Grande (with bighorn sheep and bison), and, later this summer, overnight access to Mr. Turner's private home at Ladder Ranch, a 156,000-acre site and fine study in conservation.
Louisville ain't just a horse betting and drinking town; it's also a fine dining one. Bourbon and brisket have risen to new heights in the form of small plates (MilkWood), gastropubs (Hammerheads), and regionally inspired vegetarian tasting menus (Ward 426). Sure, it's a departure from tradition, but what a tasty one indeed.
In a state that isn't quite sure if it's Western, Midwestern, or Southern, you'll find a hodgepodge of regional activites to keep you busy this summer. Feed your inner cowboy at Cattlemen's Steakhouse and then head to Langston's Western Wear for a pair of boots. Stroll the Oklahoma River waterfront with a stop at Redpin in Bricktown for a bowling alley and nightclub concept, and load up on hand-pulled pork and smoked ribs at urban BBQ joint Iron Star.
What rock group has four men that don't sing? Okay, okay, bad jokes aside, can you think of a better photo op than Mount Rushmore? We can't. Which is why it's high on our list of places to visit this summer. Carved into the side of a mountain in South Dakota's Black Hills region, this landmark is quintessential Americana.
If you're one of those people that likes to reminisce on your long gone days at summer camp, then we have just the place for you: Camp Wandawega, an old lake resort that's been loveningly restored and styled to perfection.
Read more on Popupla: Take Me Back to Camp
The Innkeeper's Tales: Behind the Scenes at Wandawega
Celebrate The Year of Alabama BBQ in Birmingham at Saw's Soul Kitchen. Pay homage to the godfather of Alabama's culinary scene at one of Frank Stitt's restaurants: Bottega, Chez Fonfon, or Highlands Bar and Grill. Walk it off and catch an evening symphony perfomance along the water at the new Railroad Park.
Read more on Popupla: Finger Lickin' Alabama Food Tour
Skip the buffet line on your next cruise to Juneau and sample the local flavors on the brand new Juneau Food Tours. Stops include Tracy's King Crab Shack, the local fave celebrating their 10-year anniversary. On Fridays, the Juneau Arts and Culture Center hosts Food Truck Fridays with live music (June 5 through August 14).
A scenic section of US Hwy 89 leading to Page just reopened this year after a two-year closure due to a landslide. The Sounds of Summer festival promises live music, film screenings, and dance performances till September. Hiking options in Lake Powell and Antelope Canyon are right around the corner.
Sleep with art in Bentonville's 21C Museum Hotel and dinner at their restaurant The Hive, helmed by James Beard semi-finalist Matthew McClure. A five-minute drive will get you to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art for a packed summer lineup of art trails and summer classes.
The army post-turned-national park Presidio in San Francisco is in for a busy summer. The new culture center at the historic Officers' Club kicks off its inaugural summer season of free public programming with concerts,films, art (Brit artist Andy Goldsworthy's installations are stunning), guided hikes, and more. For food, we love chef Traci Des Jardins' new Arguello, and to sleep, we're checking into in the recently restored, cozy, 22-room Popupla Favorite Inn at the Presidio.
The seasonal Dunton River Camp at Cresto Ranch reopens for their third season on June 1. Fly fish in Dolores River, hike in the San Juan Mountains, and end the night glamping in one of eight 640-square-foot tents.
Read more on Popupla: From Ghost Town to Romantic Cabin Retreat
Drop by the Westport green haven that is Terrain for a summer class: Learn how to make beach terraniums or pick up gardening hacks with a nursery expert on Saturdays. Fill hungry stomachs at their Westport Garden Café.
Dogfish Inn, opened by the folks behind Dogfish Head Brewery, begins their second season in downtown Lewes. Kayak on the river, hit the beach, hike in Cape Henlopen State Park, and grab a nightcap at Brewpub before retiring to your cozy room.
Get with the cool crowd at one of Miami's latest boutique hotels (the artsy Miami Beach Edition, the modern AC Hotel by Marriott, and the very green 1 Hotel South Beach, just to name a few). Fuel up anytime at Jean Gorges Vongerichten's 24/7 Market, have brunch in an Art Deco landmark building at 27, and end with dinner at James Beard Award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein's Seagrape.
Read more on Popupla: Miami's Hot New Boutique Hotels
This summer, head to Decatur for a modern twist on the classic meat-and-three at Top Chef Kevin Gillespie's Revival restaurant (opening in July). Grab breakfast at Cakes & Ale, shop local at Homegrown and Sq/ft, then catch an acoustic gig at Eddie's Attic.
It's a city-wide block party all summer long with back-to-back festivals in a different Chicago neighborhood every weekend. We're going to Taste of Randolph, Wicker Park Fest, and Square Roots. Stay at the recently restored Chicago Athletic Association Hotel and end the night with drinks at their historic Cherry Circle Room.
Read more on Popupla: Chicago's Top Ten Summer Musts
Explore downtown Indianopolis on foot or by bike on the eight-mile Indianapolis Cultural Trail. Start the day or take a midday break at the always bright and bustling Milktooth, run by Jonathan Brooks, one of Food & Wine's 2015 Best New Chefs.
Drive towards the endless horizon of the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Eleven thousand acres of tallgrass prairie (which used to cover the North American continent, by the way), is the temporary home of a small herd of recently introduced bison as well as host to Symphony in the Flint Hills.
The 100-year-old building in downtown Seattle just got a massive facelift and is now The Palladian, the latest from Kimpton Hotels. While you're in town, spend a few hours at the flower shop/cafe/grocery The London Plane, and take a day trip to nearby Chateau Ste. Michelle winery to catch a summer concert with wine tastings on the side.
Why not spend the summer retracing the country's musical roots? To really understand the blues, you need a Mississippi road trip. Among the abandoned jukes and meat-and-three pit stops, there are fife and drum picnics and excellent dives. Holly Springs has the Little Big Store, a historic depot chock-filled with records and music memorabilia. Clarksdale has the crossroads, Red's bar, and the Shack Up Inn (where we once walked in on a harmonica convention). Steakhouse and tamale joint Doe's Eat Place in Greenville is legendary. Come August, you'll be ready for the Rhythm and Blues Fest in Jackson.
There's been a lot of buzz about the farm-to-table scene spreading across America. And Omaha, that enclave of art, irony, and graphic tees, is no exception. From The Grey Plume's sustainable barn-inspired dining room (chef Clayton Chapman got a James Beard nod this year) to Happy Hollow Country Club's elevated take on the steakhouse, fresh and local ingredients are sweeping the menus citywide. But don't let that discourage you from heading to Nebraska for what you really want: Omaha Magazine's Inagural Fried Food Fest (June 20th).
It's all about the scenic drives! Motorists at dawn or dusk on Route 3 near the Canadian border will ultimately find Moose Alley — a well-worn corridor for the stately beasts who periodically leave the woods in search of salt. Three times during the summer season, Mount Washington's winding Auto Road opens early (June 28 at 3:30 a.m., July 26 at 4 a.m., Aug. 30 at 4:30 a.m.) for pre-dawn drives to the summit.
The spirit of the enigmatic Frida Kahlo can be seen, felt, and appreciated at this summer's show at The New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. Stroll through a recreation of Casa Azul, the artist's famed Mexico City studio and succulent garden, and view a dozen original Kahlo pieces up close. Scheduled throughout the summer are lectures, dining experiences, and Frida al fresco evenings with margaritas and music.
Read more on Popupla: Frida Kahlo Moved to the Bronx for the Summer
Sustainable everything seems to be Hawaii's more recent mantra, as evidenced by the new businesses burgeoning on the island chain and the old traditions that are seeing a resurgence in popularity. Upscale retreats wear their wellness programs like a perfumed lei: Lumeria Maui, the Westin Maui, and the Kapalua offer raw woods and solar panels and spare running sneakers. Organic farms and markets are flourishing (as they should; this is paradise, after all). And shops like Maui Kombucha feel perfectly at home.
See remnants of the great Ice Age floods, trace the Nez Perce history, and take a jet boat tour or a multi-day rafting trip through North America's deepest river gorge at Hells Gate State Park.
Manchester Whiterwater Park, Iowa's newest and largest whitewater park, just opened this spring. Kayak, stand-up paddle, and canoe down Maquoketa River, or drop by for live music and beer on June 20 for Let it Flow Riverfest.
You'll need a place to stay in Kansas City when going to see the champion Royals, the city's perennial underdogs and beloved baseball heroes. The lively Westport district has two recent additions: the urban-minded 816 Hotel in a former Holiday Inn and the new AC Hotel (a boutique offshoot of Marriott). You'll need a place to imbibe, and Julep, with its shelves of bottles and bartenders on library ladders, will not only whet your whistle but also catch your eye.
The hotly anticipated new restaurant from Per Se Alum Jeremy Hoffman and his wife Michelle is happening in Annapolis. Preseve will focus on all things pickled, canned, and fermented, down to the cocktails. Glass jars of goodness line the walls, the kitchen is open and airy, and guests tipple craft brews while paging through old cookbooks and retro pickling manuals from the 1960s.
Beat the summer crowds coming into the Bar Harbor — the gateway to Acadia National Park — by heading to the more remote Baker Island. Forty-five miles of old carriage routes are used as hiking and cycling trails. And you can have many of them to yourself.
New is nice, but sometimes a summer getaway feels best with a little nostalgia. At The Mast Farm Inn, an incredible little family-friendly getaway in the High Country of Western North Carolina, rooms and cottages reflect their 19th-century farm heritage: pine paneling, four-poster beds, cast iron stoves. An organic garden supplies the all-day restaurant on a daily basis and fuels morning breakfasts of pasture raised eggs, ham, and homemade biscuits.
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Filed under: Americana, Camping, Dude Ranch, Festival, Hiking, Midwest, Pacific Northwest, Scenic Drive, The Northeast, The South, The West, United States, U.S. Road Trips
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George Bissland Moore, född 6 oktober 1918 i Saint Louis, död 4 juli 2014, var en amerikansk femkampare.

Moore blev olympisk silvermedaljör i modern femkamp vid sommarspelen 1948 i London.

Källor

Amerikanska moderna femkampare
Amerikanska olympiska silvermedaljörer
Olympiska silvermedaljörer 1948
Tävlande i modern femkamp vid olympiska sommarspelen 1948
Tävlande vid olympiska sommarspelen 1948 från USA
Idrottare från Saint Louis
Födda 1918
Avlidna 2014
Män

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


On New Year's night, Jamir Leal and his two brothers were at the Playa Bar and Grill in San Pedro when Leal assaulted his ex-girlfriend. When he began to choke her, his brothers and other patrons at the bar tried to get him to stop. When PC Tyrell Rowley and PC Samir Medina arrived on the scene, it became more chaotic as Leal was clubbed and hit on the head while defenseless on the ground. Typically, when bars are open late, there should be security, or even police officers working on special duty assignment. Love News asked the officer in Charge of the San Pedro Police Formation Superintendent Reymundo Reyes what conditions would determine when security is required and as well as when officers can conduct special duties on Ambergris Caye.
Sup Raymundo Reyes OC San Pedro Police: "Police Officer were conducting motorcycle patrol, what we call beach patrol on the beachfront when they were stopped and they were informed that there was a fight inside of the establishment. When the Police Officer allegedly went inside of the establishment and tried to part the fight that is when one of the young men assaulted the officer and that is how he was manly or even if somebody attempts to pull out his weapon and he managed to at least grab this individual and take him out doing that and subduing the person. This establishments they only operate up to midnight, they don't ask for extension. Jaguars, Body Rock they do ask for that three hours extension and instead of closing off midnight they close 4 o'clock in the morning so for that period of time they are required to have security officers performing duties for that because they ask on weekly basis for an extension as we call it. They have to pay a fee to the town board for extension. If we have persons on day off these are the officers that are allowed to work what we call the Special Duty. An officer who is on actual duty cannot leave his post to perform that Special Duty because you have special assignments and that is how we have the island divided in that whenever a relief or a shift come in we Police officers assigned to hotspots: San Pedrito, San Juan, San Mateo and that is a go go everyday. You have to have Police officers in those areas.
In regards to the incident with the Leal brothers, they have pressed charges against the two officers.


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Tag: The Walking Dead
Five Fearsome Horror Games of the Last Decade
"just because the 31st of October has passed, it doesn't mean Halloween can't remain for a few days thereafter. Enjoy my Halloween horror videogame picks"
Hands up, I'm a little late with this one. But just because the 31st of October has passed, it doesn't mean Halloween can't remain for a few days thereafter. After all, no matter what the supermarkets show you, it ain't Christmas yet! So without further ado, enjoy my Halloween horror videogame picks.
Telltale's The Walking Dead follows zombie apocalypse survivor Clementine across four emotionally gripping episodic games. Growing up and evolving from a little girl hiding in a tree house through to adulthood, as a more than capable survivor, The Walking Dead offers a new and refreshing perspective to the hugely successful TV and comic franchise. From an emotionally provocative perspective it is arguably better than its parent's narrative. As you make your own informed decisions as the story progresses, Clementine's world develops around you as a result of these choices. Some choices literally play with people's lives. The series began in 2012, and really put Telltale Games on the map. The Final Season however, marked the final chapter of Telltale as a development entity altogether, before it was even completed. Thankfully, Skybound Games saved the license, and Telltale has since been reborn. The Walking Dead is a perfect harrowing tale, perfect for Halloween, that few will ever forget.
The Evil Within is Resident Evil-creator Shinji Mikami's latest horror franchise. As expected, it is a highly-crafted, horrifying and intricate and immersive story that invokes tension and anxiety.. Whilst investigating the scene of a gruesome mass murder, detective Sebastian Castellanos encounters a powerful force that allows him to wander amongst the dead. The Evil Within is not for the faint of heart. Mikami has created a horrific, twisted world, as well as a formidable challenge. Halloween doesn't get much more interactively harrowing than this.
Another entry from the ill-fated but now resurrected Telltale Games, The Wolf Among Us is a very different tale to The Walking Dead. Based on the DC Vertigo comic series Fables, this episodic adventure pits you as Bigby Wolf as he investigates the murder of a woman in the mystical enclave location of Fabletown. As the investigation develops, the choices made not only progress this very dark fairy tale, but also lay out the difficult path of Bigby as a protagonist. Nothing is as it seems, and there is more than enough horror-laden mystery and violence to satisfy any Halloween urges. More good news – A sequel is on the way.
Another ill-fated developer tale, but you'd be forgiven for thinking that Visceral Games perfected the third-person survival horror formula with the original Dead Space. Engineer Isaac Clarke and team venture to a mining spacecraft after a blackout in communications, only to quickly discover it has been overrun by monsters. The monsters, who turn out to be mutated versions of the ship's crew, require Isaac's various nifty, upgradable cutting tools in order for them to be eliminated.
Before Alien: Isolation hit our screens, Dead Space was the perfect substitute for old-school survival horror. The required limb cutting instils both panic and preservation in equal measure. There are jump-scares and uneasiness aplenty, set against a bleak yet fantastic looking visuals. Possibly its greatest success is all this comes with a minimal plot, as the action does all the talking.
Zombi U
Zombi U was an early pleasant surprise for the Nintendo Wii U, and arguably the best non-Nintendo title to use the second-screen dynamic. Inevitably, it received a much bigger audience when it was ported to PS4 years later. Set in a zombie-apocalyptic London, you guide survivor after survivor through a Zombie-laden English capital with the hopes of escape. As you scrounge for weapons and health, you soon realise that to survive you need to avoid zombie combat as much as possible. When you die – and you will – you pick the trail up as a new character, with anything collected left where you previously bit the dust. Its a bleak, slower paced affair, with the feel of a George A. Romero movie. Only this time, you're in it.
Oh, what's that, no Resident Evil 2 remake, even with the featured image as a nod? Red herring! I am still yet to play it. What are your Halloween horror choices for this past spooky season?
Author Agent PrincePosted on November 2, 2020 Categories Features, Video GamesTags Dead Space, playstation, playstation 3, playstation 4, resident evil, The Evil Within, The Walking Dead, The Wolf Among Us, wii u, xbox 360, xbox one, zombi uLeave a comment on Five Fearsome Horror Games of the Last Decade
My Top 5 Games of 2017
2017 was some year for video games. The Xbox One and PS4 showing their true capabilities. The arrival of the Nintendo Switch. The impact of the Nintendo Switch. I cannot comment on PC and 3DS because i'm a poor man who cannot afford all of the games and systems. Man i'd love a gaming PC.
Anyway, back to 2017. Here are the 5 games I enjoyed the most. Before you skim down and click away in anger, there are some notable mentions that didn't qualify. This is simply because I only had limited experience with them, despite first impressions being excellent.
Super Mario Odyssey (Switch):-
I am yet to own a Nintendo Switch. Note the word 'yet', because there are a few games already that make it scream 'buy me'. Super Mario Odyssey is absolutely one of those games.
With just an hour or so into Odyssey, I am already in love with it, and in awe of it. The mysterious Cap Kingdom. The landscape of Cascade Kingdom. The beautiful Sand Kingdom. I've barely scratched the surface but I already know i'm in for something special.
Yakuza Kimawi (PS4):-
Whenever i see Yakuza, I immediately think of Shenmue. The combat is certainly familiar. This remake of the original, which I missed the first time around on PS2, oozes coolness. Like Mario Odyssey, I've only managed but a few minutes, but I can already tell this is going to be a time-devouring experience to remember. It is certainly reminiscent of Shenmue in all the right ways. Did I mention I miss Shenmue?
And now, let's see what's behind door #5….
#5 – Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 (PS4)
Those that know me won't be surprised by this entry, given that I love football. But even this, the 17th installment of Konami's football series, took me by surprise. Up until the series' transition onto the PS3/Xbox 360 platforms I was always a PES guy. Pro Evolution Soccer 6 is still the greatest football sim known to man. That's just scientific fact.
I did jump ship to the much-improved and package-heavy FIFA series from '09-'17. But I grew tired of FIFA's increasingly unbalanced gameplay. After a taster of the series' improving game with 2015/2016, I'm back for 2018. And it was worth the wait for many reasons.
First and foremost, Master League. The greatest league mode of any video game football simulation, is back in my life. It's had a few media-style tweaks that are pretty pointless, but mirror today's media-heavy approach. Getting yourself a edited data patch online adds to the experience much more. It isn't official, but allows you to emulate competing in the Premier League, Serie A, etc along with the Champions/Europa Leagues, which are officially licensed. It can be life-consuming, but exhilarating no less.
But what about the football itself? Master the basics and even the most novice players will be stringing one-touch passing moves together. The key is build up play, and it's as precise as you want it to be. Passing/crosses/build-up is everything. Like the real thing.
Expect a challenge the other way, also. Defending isn't easy with the games biggest gameplay issue: slide-tackling. Regardless of position, any tap of the slide button means a full-on tackle. And most likely a foul. That aside, you can press as freely and as high up the pitch as you want, and instruct team mates to do the same. Or not, if that's your tactical nuance.
And finally, the cost. I managed to get PES 2018 Premium Edition for £38 (before trade-ins). FIFA 18's standard cost is typical EA at £50/55. Plus EA want you spend even more within the game also. Don't fall for it.
PES 2018 is an excellent football title. That data edit patch is a must for any true football fan to want it, and it's worth a few minutes of hassle. As Konami would say, the pitch is ours. With PES 2018, you can make it yours.
Next, what's behind door #4?
#4 – The Walking Dead: A New Frontier (PS4)
I reviewed this back in June. Check it out for the full low-down.
Off the back of the shocking ending to season 2, Telltale's 3rd season certainly raises an eyebrow or two. Firstly, another change in lead character was initially disappointing. Disgraced baseball player Javier Carlos is an initially flaky individual, particularly around his family. But in true Telltale storytelling style, enough backstory is presented to make your own mind up. And more importantly, make the decisions. But fear not Clementine fans (me included), for she still plays a pivotal role in this penultimate season.
There isn't any change to the Telltale formula, but it's fair to say there doesn't need to be. If it ain't broke don't fix it, right? Telltale's success is in it's storytelling. Don't like how certain decisions turn out? Then it's worth a replay to see how things differ.
You want character investment? Telltale have become masters of that across most of their series. But The Walking Dead is still their best work. And come the end A New Frontier, you won't be left wanting. Except for the next series of course.
And now for #3….
#3 – Sonic Mania (PS4)
Well. Sonic Mania is quite the renaissance, isn't it? Classic Sonic graphics, classic Sonic gameplay, classic Sonic characters. And while it starts out as an HD remix of sorts, revisiting levels from Sonic 1 + 2, Sonic Mania quickly becomes so much more.
Granted if you were never a Sonic fan then 1) what is wrong with you? and 2) this could be the one to get you invested. Christian "Taxman" Whitehead has successfully created a brilliant hybrid of Sonic's best 2D elements. On top of that, there is plenty of new content to justify Sonic Mania being a whole new adventure. And unlike Sonic Generations, the last decent Sonic title, none of that 3D third-person rubbish. It simply doesn't work for the world's most well-known hedgehog.
But Sonic Mania does work. On all levels. It has odes to the best Sonic has had to offer over the last 25+ years. Granted, of the 13 Zones on offer only 4 are wholly original. But most have originally developed 'Acts' designed against old backdrops such as the Green Hill and Chemical Plant Zones. There's even a tribute to Mean Bean Machine thrown in for good measure. Add on top of that a host of unlock-able items/modes through in-game special stages, plus Chaos Emeralds to capture, and that's the longevity sorted.
And the special stages in particular are a nice addition. Reminiscent of the Sonic CD equivalent stages, they are nostalgia-tinged throwbacks to the 16-bit era. The Mode-7 racetrack-style courses are fluid and fast; something your reactions need to be as you collects rings to keep the timer going, and orbs in order to catch up to each Emerald. And you'll want to collect them, for it is the only way to fully complete Sonic Mania.
At less than £20 it's well worth it, whether you're a fan or a newcomer. Sonic Mania is a retro-based reminder that 2D Sonic is and always will be the best Sonic.
And for my #2 pick of 2017…..
#2 – MLB The Show '17 (PS4)
Now this is most definitely the surprise pick of the year. I don't watch Baseball. I don't know any current rosters. Hell I can barely even name 10 teams. But such was the praise for Sony's twelfth MLB installment i'd have been mad not to at least try it. And boy does it ever hit a home run.
MLB The Show '17 is possibly the most comprehensive sports sim I have ever experienced. Given my little knowledge of the sport, the excellent tutorials get you up to scratch with little fuss/expectation. You can pitch/bat with whatever camera view suits you best, or even choose whatever TV coverage style you want. There is local co-op, online play, season mode and a franchise mode, which gives you control over and above the team on the field.
The fielding and batting mechanics are pretty much perfect. You can swing with the tap of a button or with a swing of the analog stick. You can control all bases in sync or individually. The amount of functions and features goes on and on. To list everything MLB The Show '17 has to offer for beginners through to seasoned professionals would simply be too much.
One new feature of note is the Retro Mode; a simplistic single-game mode that provides an excellent, top-level game of baseball for single/co-op play. It is visualised with 8-bit style block-graphics and thinner backdrops. It is an excellent mode to pick up the basics of the rules and batting/fielding timings.
I haven't even touched on the 'Road to the show' mode, where you create then guide a player through their career. From managing the bases to your contract, your social media profile to your attitude.
MLB The Show '17 is incredible value for money. I picked this up for half price a few months down the line, but come March I will be looking for the best price for MLB The Show '18. It is quite possibly the best sports sim series ever made.
And finally…..#1
Come on Rey TELL ME!!!
#1 – The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Wii U)
I think it's fair to say that most who have experienced Breath of the Wild would make it their top pick. BotW is a genre-defining, mind-blowing experience that just has to be played.
The open-world environment is simply huge and awe-inspiring. The physics engine is tremendously detailed. The visuals are incredible, beautiful and, as a whole, is a brilliant adventure. Breath of the Wild takes elements from its already-greatest hits, as well as a few others (Skyrim being one example), and expands them exponentially.
There isn't much left to say about Breath of the Wild that hasn't already been said elsewhere. But there is a reason it has appeared on almost all 2017 Game of the Year listings. The anticipation alone led to 4 million sales for the Nintendo Switch, a perfect jump-start for Nintendo. It also served as a perfect swansong for the under-performing Wii U, managing to shift just over 1 million copies.
It's release on the Wii U is something I am thankful for. Being 1 of the 1 million to own a copy on Wii U, it gave me the chance to experience one of the most immersive worlds ever committed to code. I urge you to do the same if you haven't already. Breath of the Wild isn't just the best video game of 2017; it's the best game in years.
So that's my top games of 2017, what were yours? Leave a comment below!
Author Agent PrincePosted on January 15, 2018 June 26, 2019 Categories Features, Video GamesTags 2017, legend of zelda, Pro Evolution Soccer 2018, ps4, Sonic Mania, star wars, Super Mario Odyssey, The Walking Dead, top 5, wii u, YakuzaLeave a comment on My Top 5 Games of 2017
Review – The Walking Dead: A New Frontier (PS4)
The third season of Telltale's eponymous series is possibly the most curious yet. Telltale's approach to storytelling has become familiar over its various franchises. Potential outcomes have become more obvious through familiarity than merely being predictable. This latest Walking Dead installment attempts to skirt around such expectations and take it up a notch.
Like the previous entries in the series, Telltale's Walking Dead tries to keep you guessing, whilst also filled with moments of genuine emotion. Given the formula is pretty much the same throughout, the first two series were always going to have one over it's third instalment. There is nothing new here other than the continuing plot line from previous seasons and animation improvements. The voice-acting is once again among some of the best in video games. I certainly didn't expect anything different formula-wise; in fact, I'd be disappointed if it had changed.
So, Telltale mechanics? Check. Emotional and difficult choices? Check. Best Walking Dead season so far? That's much harder to answer. To delve into the specifics of the plot would be unnecessary and spoiler-ific, but of course any previous experience of the series will steer your mind in the right direction. The only reveal I will share – and possibly the most disappointing element of the game – is that you are no longer in control of Clementine in the main story. This time it's Javier Carlos, a disgraced baseball player who's current zombie-filled plight is as difficult as his family history.
Despite the lead character change once again, the game's success still revolves around what decisions are made. Moreover, it can be replayed to enact the alternatives if so desired. There are moments that feel too cliched however, or forcing shock value upon you.
On the whole though Telltale's formula is more hit than miss; the final chapter has a number of loose ends that tie up really well, leaving a sensation of hope that was missing from the end of the first 2 seasons. It also leaves off with a lot of potential story-lines for potential future seasons. I did find some of the new relationships hard to buy into, with a reliance on flashbacks to mold the character you want. There are mixed emotions to the more abrupt deaths that occur. A simple "oh, they're dead" is as much emotion as can be spared for certain characters, with little time for reflection.
Telltale rose to prominence due to the introduction of this meticulous formula back in 2012 with its first season. It may not seem they can quite recreate the success that first season had with this one, but Telltale have certainly proven they are far from bereft of ideas. You won't be left wanting once A New Frontier ends, with multiple narratives introduced and addressed along the way. The expectation is solely on the stories and how they are delivered, nothing more.
A New Frontier this is a fitting entry into Walking Dead lore. If you've experienced the previous Telltale seasons, then you know what to expect. And by the end of A New Frontier, despite it being the weakest entry so far, is still well worth your time. Your jaw may drop from time to time, and there's plenty of trauma and emotion throughout. But don't forget that in the long run none of this will probably matter.
Emotional, inquisitive, dramatic yet also comforting, A New Frontier will keep you hooked from start to finish with another solid season.
Author Agent PrincePosted on June 18, 2017 January 20, 2018 Categories Reviews, Video GamesTags joy, ps4, review, Telltale Games, The Walking Dead1 Comment on Review – The Walking Dead: A New Frontier (PS4)
Telltale's The Walking Dead Season 1: A Parent's Tale
Warning: This article contains major spoilers for The Walking Dead season 1. If you haven't finished the game yet, bookmark the post and come back when you have. Seriously. Spoilers.
Telltale Games' The Walking Dead series is the benchmark of episodic video gaming. Never has a video game been so simple in it's mechanics yet present so many conflicting and complicated narratives to deal with. Episode by episode the stakes were raised, culminating with Game of the Year awards for the first season back in 2012.
The fabulous storytelling Telltale equals if not betters that of the comic book and TV show. Regardless of the medium, The Walking Dead is a universe tinged with tragedy, unrelenting tragedy. After all, what is there to look forward to during a zombie apocalypse?
Another common theme is children. In the TV/comic series, you have Rick Grimes and his son Carl, a boy who is mentally forced into adulthood by the zombie apocalypse and its dangers.
Telltale's incarnation presents Lee and Clementine, a father/daughter (but-not-really) relationship brought together in unlikely circumstances; Lee, a convicted murderer of his wife's lover, escapes his police escort vehicle after it, and the escorting officer, meet their end via nearby walkers. With Clementine, she is spotted by Lee and found to be home alone with only her tree-house keeping her out of harms way.
Given that Lee is the main playable protagonist it is easy to forget, sympathise or maybe even empathise with this initial murderous narrative. Especially given you are tasked into ensuring his survival as if it was your own. This is a somewhat polar opposite to Rick Grimes, who is a man of the law. But as the chapters unravel, Lee often becomes the voice of reason, recognised by many as as leader, and is looking out for the child all the while. Just like Rick.
Eventually it is revealed that Lee had always wanted a family of his own. His wife's long-distance work and eventual extramarital affair ended those prospects, regardless of Lee's subsequently murderous actions. I'm not crazy enough to condone murder of course, but this narrative is repeatedly thrust upon you to test how you may or may not reason with it, and the others around you. This includes Clementine, who is only 9 years old by the end of the first season. Her eyes and mind are already being forced wide open to a world a child should never have to endure. For Lee, this is a chance at redemption. That redemption comes in the form of Clementine.
There are many characters that come and go in The Walking Dead, but Lee and Clementine's relationship is the bedrock of the first season. It's how it starts and how it ends, regardless of the decisions you make. Being a father of two myself, it is a relationship that grew deep in my heart. It toyed with my emotions if Clementine went missing; room by room searches provoked only feelings of dread. Not only does protecting Clem becomes Lee's primary focus, it became mine also.
I've played through season 1 twice. Once in 2012, and again in 2017. Both times I made choices based around Lee's position at that moment, but in fact I was making the exact choices that I would make, not Lee. At first I often decided to lie to save Clem's feelings, and felt bad for doing so. I think it's fair to say we've all told a little porky here and there to stop a child's train of thought.
However, a lot has changed in 5 years. My then infant daughter is now well into her seventh year of life, and absorbing information like a sponge. Even from age 4, the cortex begins to operate at the same level as an adults. Moreover, from age 4 a child's brain is twice as active as any adult due to the increased consumption of glucose. It makes perfect sense, as children grow and develop into adults. This also means they are more likely to trust and accept what is in front of their eyes, what they are told and what they experience is what life is. And it is this ongoing narrative that almost every conversation with Clem is asking of you.
It was evident on the second play through that I found myself being far more honest, not just with Clementine, but others also. This is where Telltale have succeeded the most; for all the black-and-white answers you can give, there are shades of grey that can equally be successful, or not so, in different ways. Even at Clementine's young age, she easily determine's Lee's criminal misgivings from the simplest of half-truths. The challenge is how you deal with that, as it is unexpected of a child only a few years old.
Then there is Duck. Remember him? Hyper little thing, around the same age as Clementine. Duck is evidently far from ready for any catastrophe due to Katjaa's mothering ways, and I would expect no less from most mother's in the same situation. In both play-through's, my instinct was to save Duck instead of Herschel Green's son. But this first major decision is a trick; Shawn dies no matter what you pick and is merely a points scoring exercise with Kenny, Duck's dad. Telltale, you bastards!
Back in 2012 my son was an excitable, full-of-beans young man who was rather hyper at times, but equally affectionate. So like Duck, the potential was there for him to get into trouble, or not be fully aware of the dangers (hardly zombie danger, but still) around him until it's too late. Throughout Duck's eagerness my instincts were always to protect a child. Even though he wasn't my own. Between a grieving mother and an increasingly unstable father in Katjaa and Kenny respectively, my inclinations were toward being their voice of reason in a world of tragedy and chaos.
When Duck meets his end after being bitten in chapter 3, the first time I took the mantle of putting him down before he returned as a zombie. This is of course a decision that 1) I hope to never ever have to make in real life with my own or anyone's kids, and 2) I would also be the one to pull the trigger. I have no idea how I would cope with that level or manner of loss. In fact the thought makes me physically sick. The second time however, the added years of parenthood hit me. I found myself telling Duck's father, Kenny, who had just witnessed his wife shoot herself in the head with Duck about to turn, that he should finish off Duck. I just couldn't do it. Damn this game. For some, such choices may seem flippant as it is but a video game. But such decisions ripped at my conscience. Such decisions should never have to be made. And it makes for heart-pounding entertainment.
This brings us poignantly onto the final scenes of the first season's final episode. People's accounts have detailed being visibly upset or distressed at what is the 'parent's' final moments of the game. It truly is a heart-wrenching scene of which I felt distinct sadness for. Unlike any other in a video game before in fact. All I kept hoping for was for Clem not to die, with the feeling of dread rapidly increasing at the prospect. Despite this, it was also incredibly touching to see how Lee and Clem's rapport had built up to this point. I'd like to think it's a similar rapport I'd have with my own daughter, given a similar situation.
In both instances, I ensured Lee was hand-cuffed to the radiator and encouraged Clem to shoot him before turning. I'm not sure if I could deal with Clem seeing a zombie Lee, and am only tentatively contemplating replaying the scene if a different way. Even by not triggering a particular outcome, Telltale is challenging me. Toying with my emotions.
Following Lee's tragic departure from the series, the focus becomes purely on Clementine. She becomes the playable protagonist. In my mind, there is no one better to encapsulate the series than Clementine. She is this Walking Dead's Rick Grimes. Visibly older, mentally stronger, Clem is now a hardened survivalist. But still just a child. The decisions you make are now hers, and not of a guardian.
Author Agent PrincePosted on February 21, 2014 July 31, 2018 Categories Features, Video GamesTags feature, Gaming, parenting, Telltale Games, The Walking Dead, video game, zombie apocalypseLeave a comment on Telltale's The Walking Dead Season 1: A Parent's Tale


It's been announced that Shigeki Morimoto is going to stream live gameplay footage of Pokémon Sun and Moon at this year's Gamescom (that's Gamescom with an "M" – thanks twitter followers) in Germany! The demo will be streamed via Nintendo Germany's Twitch channel on August 18th, 8:00am PST! Check out what time that is for you here. No word on the specifics of what the stream will show, but we'll be here to watch and cover anything new that comes from it!
What are you hoping to see from the stream? Would love to see some gameplay of another early town – perhaps one new Pokémon?


text:
He died Julian (Iulianus Pomerius)
( Latin Christian writer)
Comments for He died Julian (Iulianus Pomerius)
Biography He died Julian (Iulianus Pomerius)
Julian Pomeroy; Iulianus Pomerius, mind. after 498 g. n. e., Latin Christian writer. Born in Africa (Mauritania), which left the onset of the Vandals. Ass in Arles, where the first was a teacher of rhetoric, and later a priest, and possibly the monastery. Received an excellent education. Corresponded with Ennodiem. YU.P. was a follower of the teachings of Augustine, a prominent theoretician of the spiritual life and ascetic writer. He wrote about the contemplative life (De vita contemplativa) - manual, which became a textbook of religious life in the Middle Ages, this work shows the influence of Augustine. Fragment dead works YU.P. On the soul and its properties (De anima et qualitate eius) preserved in the writings of Julian of Toledo (VII cent.).
JULIAN (Iulianus)
Julian Salvi (Iulianus, Salvius)
Julian Sands (Julian Sands)
News by themeHe died Julian (Iulianus Pomerius):
MES DND: due to the explosion in the Donetsk coal mine man died and 14 were injured
In Ecuador, explained the President's position about the visit Assange at the Embassy in London
WikiLeaks revelations only tip of iceberg - Assange
Kim Kardashian has been accused of enjoying a threesome
J.K. Rowling`s childhood home is up for sale
Bono`s eye condition is getting worse
The British opposition leader has opposed the extradition of Assange to the US
The court in London, Julian Assange was sentenced to 50 weeks imprisonment
The number of those killed in the shelling of the trolley in Donetsk increased to 2
MES DND does not confirm the deaths of more than 30 people in the explosion at the mine. Zasyadko
Know Him?
This lovely boy is now one of the main characters in 'Twilight'...


It is difficult to believe that The Low Road is a first novel. It has the controlled pacing of an experienced hand. With echoes of Peter Goldsworthy's Three Dog Night, Kenneth Cook's Wake in Fright and Cormac McCarthy's The Road, this is both modern tragedy and crime thriller.
Rife with images, it unfolds like a film.
The book follows two main characters who are by no means heroes: Wild, the morphine-addicted doctor whose wife and child have left him; and orphan Lee, the young criminal.
When it opens, both men have found themselves at the same squalid motel. Wild, strung out and lost, is accompanied by a medical bag. Lee has a gun, a bullet in his side and a suitcase of money on the floor. With neither of them in a fit state to go anywhere, they are forced out of the motel and on to a journey together.
As the story unfolds, they are on the run - more of a limp - through a setting and landscape that feels instantly familiar, from a murky city suburb to a property in the country. We learn about the characters as gradually and stiltedly as they learn about each other.
Womersley's language is polished and assured, each word precisely chosen, and every image finely constructed. In a world that lacks compassion, his characters are nonetheless painted compassionately and vividly. Here is Wild: "His teeth brawled in his mouth and a clump of pale hair stood out from the side of his head. His body was fraying at the edges."
It is a tribute to the authority of Womersley's style that he makes his reader care about these two characters, because they have both, in very different ways, fallen victim to their own bad decisions.
Lee is losing a lot of blood and needs the bullet removed as a matter of survival. It might seem like good luck, then, to be on this journey with Wild, who is, after all, a doctor; but Wild has been charged with medical malpractice. Very little can go right for Lee, who is being pursued by Josef, a thug too old to be doing this kind of legwork.
As time starts to run out, the question becomes: how can this end? Unrelentingly bleak throughout, the final scene, which has Lee beating a horse that has fallen in the snow, is devastating. It becomes almost impossible to read on, and almost impossible to look away.
As well as being a noir thriller, this is a violent, gritty and macabre study of the effects of crime on those who carry it out. There is little redemption, and escape appears elusive.
Thankfully, this gruelling tale of self-destruction and despair manages to remain understated even while the momentum builds.
It is a strong first novel by any standards. From the outset, it is apparent why it was shortlisted for the 2006 Victorian Premier's Literary Award for an unpublished manuscript, and it marks the debut of someone who looks as though he is here to stay.
Louise Swinn is the editorial director of Sleepers.


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As Clinton Team Takes Office, Education Lineup Is Unclear
By Julie A. Miller — January 27, 1993 7 min read
WASHINGTON--As President Clinton's Administration took office last week, there was much speculation--but little firm information--among education observers here about how it will formulate education policy.
Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley took possession of his new office on the morning of Jan. 21. He was formally confirmed by the Senate later that day, along with two other top domestic Cabinet members, Secretary of Labor Robert B. Reich and Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna E. Shalala.
Earlier in the week, the Clinton transition team announced that former Gov. Madeleine M. Kunin of Vermont would be nominated as deputy secretary of education.
Meanwhile, the announcement by the White House late last week that Hillary Rodham Clinton would have a formal advisory role on health care and other domestic issues added credence to speculation that the First Lady might emerge as an influential voice on education.
Observers here appear split on the question of whether education policymaking will be centered in the White House or in Secretary Riley's department.
Some reasoned that President Clinton's decision to give the two top Education Department posts to fellow former Governors who are personal friends indicates that he plans to take an active part in education policy himself.
"I would expect the White House to play an important role in setting policy,'' said Edward R. Kealy, the director of federal programs for the National School Boards Association.
"Hillary's staff may be writing legislation,'' he added, noting Mrs. Clinton's involvement in school-reform issues while her husband was Governor of Arkansas.
But others argued that the makeup of the White House domestic-policy staff suggests that Mr. Riley will be firmly in charge.
"There's nobody there who is particularly strong in education,'' said a Democratic Senate aide. "I think Riley's going to put a strong team in and can run without White House involvement.''
Carol Rasco, a longtime Clinton aide who was named the assistant to the President for domestic policy, is known primarily for her work in such areas as child care and welfare reform.
The members of her team--Bruce Reed, the former policy director at the Democratic Leadership Council; William Galston, a University of Maryland professor who was affiliated with the ä.ì.ã.'s think tank, the Progressive Policy Institute; and Shirley Sagawa, a former aide to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass.--bring experience on such matters as family policy and youth service, but none is closely identified with K-12 education.
Ira C. Magaziner, an expert on international business who is Mr. Clinton's senior adviser for policy development, has been active on school-to-work issues. But Mr. Magaziner will not be part of Ms. Rasco's team, and he is expected to focus on health care.
Surprise and 'Short Lists'
Transition sources said last week that Secretary Riley had "short lists'' of candidates for Education Department posts below the deputy secretaryship and was expected to make additional personnel decisions soon. Several Clinton advisers who worked on education policy during the campaign and the transition, as well as Terry Peterson, a longtime aide to Mr. Riley, were working in the Secretary's office last week, but it was unclear what their permanent status would be.
"We've only been here five hours,'' Stephen Gaskill, who said he was designated a temporary spokesman for the department, said last Thursday. "Nobody really knows anything at this point.''
Ms. Kunin's selection for the department's number-two slot was a surprise to many education lobbyists. She was a leader of Mr. Clinton's transition team and had been mentioned for a key post--but at the Environmental Protection Agency or the White House.
Many observers said Ms. Kunin's appointment would give even more weight to the state-level perspective that both Mr. Clinton and Mr. Riley bring to Washington.
Indeed, some lobbyists who represent primarily local interests expressed concern about a potential bias in the Administration toward greater state control of education programs.
Arnold Fege, the director of government relations for the National ðôá, said his organization had joined with the National Association of State Boards of Education and the Council of the Great City Schools to urge the transition team to appoint a deputy secretary "from the local level'' who would also represent "urban areas and the interests of minority groups.''
"I'm not criticizing Madeleine's capabilities, but I don't think it's the correct appointment,'' Mr. Fege said. "It's clear that Clinton simply had to find a job for her.''
Gordon M. Ambach, the executive director of the Council of Chief State School Officers, was quick to issue a congratulatory statement on the appointment--something that most major school groups here did not do.
Michael Edwards, the director of federal relations for the National Education Association, said he was "delighted'' with the appointment, however. He echoed a point made by Mr. Ambach that the President's decision to appoint two leading members of his transition team to the top two jobs in the Education Department "shows how important the department is on his agenda.''
'An Important Ally'
Richard P. Mills, the state commissioner of education in Vermont, last week said Ms. Kunin was "an important ally'' during her tenure as Governor. She served from 1985 to 1991.
"She put herself on the line to win school-finance reform,'' he said, "and there was a very large increase in education aid.''
Ms. Kunin's primary education initiative was a proposal to increase financial equity among the state's school districts.
Her original plan would have taken local tax funds from high-wealth districts and transferred the money to poorer ones. The legislature instead provided additional state aid to districts that could not meet minimum state standards without raising property taxes above the state average.
While Ms. Kunin backed Vermont's experiment with an assessment system that uses student portfolios, that program was initiated by Mr. Mills and the state school board.
Allyson M. Tucker, the manager of the Center for Educational Policy at the Heritage Foundation, said she was concerned by Ms. Kunin's emphasis on finance equity, particularly because Congress is expected to consider taking a role in persuading states to equalize district resources.
"If it's not done properly, it takes control away from local governments and increases bureaucracies,'' Ms. Tucker said.
Temporary Arrangements
The Education Department, meanwhile, was operating on something of an ad hoc basis last week.
Transition aides said Secretary Riley had chosen career employees to serve temporarily in top positions, but Mr. Gaskill, the temporary spokesman, said the list would not be released until this week.
Department employees, however, said that Mary Jean LeTendre, the director of compensatory-education programs, would serve as acting assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education, and that Emerson J. Elliott, the commissioner of education statistics, would be acting assistant secretary for educational research and improvement. Both are career government officials.
Diane S. Ravitch, the former O.E.R.I. chief, was the only top Bush official on hand the day after the Inauguration. She had been designated to oversee any necessary business until Mr. Riley's confirmation.
Department employees said that some lower-level Bush Administration appointees reported to work on Jan. 21 and others did not. One transition aide said some of President Bush's appointees would be asked to stay temporarily. But Mr. Gaskill said they would all be told that their last day was Jan. 22.
Even some career employees became anxious last month, according to department staff members, when a "hit list,'' thought to have been compiled by the department's union, began circulating that listed officials recommended for targeting by the new Administration.
According to employees who have seen it, the list included what its compilers termed "moles''--former çŸïŸðŸ political appointees who have converted to career status--and "lizards,'' civil servants who were deemed to have been too cooperative with the Republican administrations.
Agency employees said the list contained numerous errors.
Paul Geib, the president of the union, an affiliate of the American Federation of Government Employees, said the union had neither drafted nor circulated a "hit list.''
He did say the union is making a list of political appointees and had "asked our representatives who the bad managers are.''
Julie A. Miller
A version of this article appeared in the January 27, 1993 edition of Education Week as As Clinton Team Takes Office, Education Lineup Is Unclear


This optionally holds a function which looks N levels above itself on the call stack and returns the Class[_] object for the code executing in that stack frame. Implemented using sun.reflect.Reflection.getCallerClass if available, None otherwise.
Hint: when comparing to Thread.currentThread.getStackTrace, add two levels.
INTERNAL API Implements a primitive form of overload resolution a.k.a.
INTERNAL API Calls findConstructor and invokes it with the given arguments.
INTERNAL API Invokes the constructor with the given arguments.
INTERNAL API Set a val inside a class.
INTERNAL API Implements a primitive form of overload resolution a.k.a. finding the right constructor.


Six Park Asset Management Pty Ltd ('Six Park', 'we', 'our', 'us') is bound by the Privacy Act 1988 ('Privacy Act'), including the Australian Privacy Principles ('APPs').
Ensuring the confidentiality and security of your personal information is important to us. Any third parties (for example, our suppliers, agents, or sub-contractors) that have access to information we collect are also bound by this Policy.
Copies of this Policy are available free of charge on our website or by contacting our Privacy Officer.
We collect Personal Information. Personal Information is information or an opinion about a person, which can be used to identify that person.
We may use and disclose your personal information for any of these primary purposes. We may also use and disclose your personal information for secondary purposes which are related to the primary purposes listed above, or in other circumstances as authorised by the Privacy Act.
anyone who provides a service to us.
You visiting the Six Park website.
We may also collect personal information about you from a third party, such as VEDA for identity verification services. Personal information about you may be collected from a party who has passed on your details to us because they think you may be interested in our services. If so, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that you are made aware of this Policy.
We will not collect sensitive information about you without your consent unless an exemption in the APPs applies. These exceptions provide for collection by law or to take appropriate action in relation to suspected unlawful activity or serious misconduct.
What if you refuse to provide personal information?
Unfortunately, we cannot give you the option of using a pseudonym, or using our services if you wish to deal with us anonymously. This is because it is impracticable, and may be illegal.
Who will we disclose personal information to?
Anyone with whom you authorise us to share it.
If we need to share your personal information with any of these parties they may only use your personal information for the specific purpose for which we supply it to them. We will ensure that all contractual arrangements with third parties adequately address privacy issues and will make third parties aware of this Policy.
Our systems use cloud storage servers that are hosted both in Australia and internationally. Therefore, the list of countries to which your information may be disclosed is likely to change. Where it is reasonably practicle to do so, we will update this list appropriately.
We recognise the importance of securing your personal information. There are always risks involved when you send information by the internet. You should assess these potential risks when deciding whether to use our online services. We have implemented procedures to ensure your personal information is as safe as possible. To the extent we use paper files, they are stored in secure areas. Your personal information is generally stored in our encrypted computer database.
staff are required to enter a secure login and password to access client information.
the premises are securely locked each night with access restricted to the building after hours.
You have the right to request us not to use or hold your personal information for the purposes of direct marketing, or for the purposes of allowing direct marketing by other organisations.
We must process your request to not use or share your personal information within a reasonable period of time. You may also request that we tell you the source of the information. If a request is made, we must inform you of the source of the information free of charge within a reasonable period of time.
We only use identifies assigned by the Government (for example, your driver's licence), where it is reasonably necessary for us to do so for verification purposes.
aware that non-compliance with this Policy may be lead to disciplinary action.
Any Questions, Concerns or Complaints?


There's a tea-party going on in a pink room somewhere. Tea and cake are served. What was in that tea and cake? We're not sure. The pink turns to gray. Shouldn't it have started that way? But where is here? Is it where we hear? Everything starts to melt, and fairies drip out of a functionless ear. The maggots and nymphs start to chew, on the body of Christ-ine? Naw, it's Aurora.
She stares perpetually at the sky. All day and all night.
Everything lives, dies, and eats.
We carry our homes inside us, and that includes turtles, my friend. And for matter, it's never the "end." Reality and unreality are both reality. It's all a broken cuckoo clock. No creator and no plot.
Everything is off, and off more than a bit. Was this all an accidental deadly mushroom trip?


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Full Service Plumbing specializes in sewer and septic systems, and our experienced crew can diagnose and repair the most difficult issues. We can easily and accurately diagnose any drain, pipe, sewer or septic problem with our high-tech equipment and determine the right course of action.
Be sure to call our plumbing technicians at the first signs of a slowing drain to prevent a major clog or backup. You can reach Full Service Plumbing at 954-327-8582.


text:
From Flood Geology
Emeralds—Treasures from Catastrophe
Diamonds, rubies, and emeralds—the most treasured gems on earth. Each has unique qualities that require special conditions to form. Emeralds, prized for their color, are the most unlikely of all. Emerald is the clear green gem and a rare variety of the relatively rare mineral beryl. This fairly hard mineral is composed of four elements—beryllium, aluminum, silicon, and oxygen.
Gold—In All Of Its Glitter
No other mineral has provoked so much wonder and strife. Of all earth's commodities, gold was chosen from among earth's minerals to represent God's own glory. Its unique qualities and current location on the earth are no accident, influencing the history of nations.
Diamonds Are Evidence for Evolution?
To see the newest evidence for evolution—and what Darwinists rest their faith on—look no further than the local jewelry shop! Calling the beginning of life "[o]ne of the greatest mysteries in science," LiveScience managing editor Robert Roy Britt looks at diamonds, which some scientists believe may hold the answer to that great mystery.
News About Rocks and Minerals
Do Diamonds Take Millions of Years to Form?
Jan. 3, 2019 from Ken Ham
A recent editorial reminded me of the secular claim that diamonds take billions of years to form. Is that true?
Articles About Rocks and Minerals
Crystal Clear Confirmation of a Young Earth
Can the size of a crystal further confirm the timescale in God's Word?
Jade—Beauty Under Pressure
Sept. 16, 2018 from Answers Magazine
Forming the coveted qualities of jade requires unique conditions unlike anything on earth today.
Shape-Shifting Silicon
Sept. 7, 2017 from Answers Magazine
Minerals display not only God's incredible creativity and His care for our needs, but also His unbounded love of variety and beauty.
From Where Did the Earth's Water Come?
March 13, 2017 from Answers in Depth
"Planet Earth makes its own water from scratch deep in the mantle" was the article headline in the January 27, 2017, New Scientist's Daily News.
Dazzling Diamonds by Special Delivery
July 10, 2016 from Answers Magazine
Diamonds are dazzling but definitely not "forever." In fact, they wouldn't exist without special conditions that God provided.
In-Depth Article
Did Earth's Earliest Life Leave Carbon Footprints in a 4.1 Billion-Year-Old Zircon?
Nov. 5, 2015 from Answers in Depth
Carbon residue preserved in zircon dated 4.1 billion years old does not reveal life's evolution or the time of life's beginning.
Rapid Opals in the Outback
May 20, 2015 from Answers Magazine
Only one place on Earth holds a treasure trove of precious opals—Australia's Outback.
Diamond with Ringwoodite Reveals Water Deep in Earth's Mantle
June 26, 2014 from Answers in Depth
Discovery inside a diamond in the rough shows Jules Verne wasn't far off when he wrote about a hidden ocean in Journey to the Centre of the Earth.
No other mineral has provoked so much wonder and strife.
Oct. 1, 2013 from Answers Magazine
Down in the Cave of Crystals under Mexico's Naica silver mine, you'll find crystals measuring up to 36 feet (11 m) long.
What unique forces brought emeralds to the earth's surface for us to enjoy?
Potential Evidence for The Great Oxidation Event
Oct. 29, 2011 from News to Know
Oceanic chromium pins down date for the Great Oxidation Event.
"Pass the Salt, Please"
What's one of the most sought-after commodities in human history—the only rock we eat because it's so essential to life?
Rubies & Sapphires—Sparkling Reminders of God's Judgment
God's Word gives these two stones special attention. Indeed, rubies and sapphires are mentioned more often than diamonds.
Carbon—The Building Blocks of Life
Atoms are some of the most spectacular wonders that God created and we just take them for granted.
Tiny Diamonds, Big Explosion
Jan. 10, 2009 from News to Know
Scientists are taking the gold standard for proof of extinction to the next level—with diamonds.
Diamonds Are the Latest Evidence For Evolution
To see the newest evidence for evolution—and what Darwinists rest their faith on—look no further than the local jewelry shop!
Diamonds May Offer Clues to Earth's Earliest Life
The diamond may be more than a girl's proverbial best friend—it may be an old-earther's best friend, too, if a recent Nature report is accurate.
Woman's Best Friend Disrupts Man's Plans
The Jack Hills region of Western Australia is home to diamonds "nearly as old as the Earth itself and considered the oldest terrestrial diamonds ever discovered," according to a new study.
The Rapid Formation of Granitic Rocks: More Evidence
Aug. 1, 2001, pp. 122–125
It was once thought that granitic magma was so viscous that it would take hundred of millions of years for granitic rocks to form.
Microscopic Diamonds Confound Geologists
April 1, 1996, pp. 1–2
Diamond grains discovered in high-grade metamorphic rocks (gneisses) from Norway may force geologists to rethink ideas about the Earth's crust and processes.
Creating Opals
Dec. 1, 1994, pp. 14–17
Today we admire and enjoy the beauty opals and opalized bones. But when we realize their formation resulted from catastrophic judgment, we worship God for His salvation in Christ at the cross.
Diamonds—Evidence of Explosive Geological Processes
Diamonds have been highly prized throughout history, being regarded as symbols of wealth and power.
Growing Opals—Australian Style
In a dusty old wooden shed on a side street in Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia, a bush scientist trying to discover the origin of opal has been able to 'grow' opal.
Rock Strata, Fossils, and the Flood$12.99


text:
Alums share laughs, advice with NSU
Northwestern State is in the running for its first baseball conference title since 2005
Alums share laughs, advice with NSU Northwestern State is in the running for its first baseball conference title since 2005 Check out this story on thetowntalk.com: http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/sports/college/nsu/2015/03/30/baseball-alums-share-laughs-advice-demons/70690182/
Louisiana Published 4:38 p.m. CT March 30, 2015
Members of Northwestern State's 1995 Southland Conference championship team mingle with the NSU baseball team Saturday during alumni weekend.(Photo: Gary Hardamon/Northwestern State)
NATCHITOCHES – Standing on top of the Northwestern State pitcher mound for the first time since 2005, Blake Jones delivered a strike Saturday.
Jones was one of 10 members of the 2005 team – the last Demons' squad to win a Southland Conference championship and make an NCAA appearance.
Jones, the 2005 Southland Conference Player of the Year and a minor leaguer for five seasons, looked like he could still come in and close a game for the Demons.
Pitcher Daniel Lonsberry said Jones was the right man to throw out the first pitch as part of the NSU alumni day that celebrated the 1995 and 2005 conference championship teams.
"(Blake) did surprisingly well, right down the middle," said Lonsberry, who lives in south Shreveport and works at Gibsland Bank and Trust. "I probably would have short-hopped it.
"It's good to see people that you haven't seen in 10 years, come back and talk about old stories and live the glory days. It kind of puts pressure on the 2015 team since 1995 and 2005 won conference titles."
Lonsberry was the ace on the staff, and the Demons went 1-2 in the NCAA Tournament, beating Marist. The Demons finished 41-20 and 23-5 in the Southland, earning an at-large bid.
Ten years earlier, pitcher Zach Martin and his Demons raised a Southland regular season banner before bowing out in the conference tournament to end their season.
"We've had a great time with this group this weekend, and I hadn't laughed this hard in a long time," said Martin, who grew up in Bossier City before moving to Houston for high school. "We weren't very talented that year, but we worked really hard, had great chemistry and great coaches.
"I really think (NSU coach Lane Burroughs) has done a great job, and these guys are on the right track."
Martin was a junior pitcher for the Demons in 1995.
He was part of a championship tradition at NSU in the 1990s when the Demons won six conference championships and made two NCAA appearances.
The program won three more league titles in the first five years of the 2000s, but the Demons are in a 10-season title drought.
But NSU is in one of its best positions to challenge for a conference title since 2005.
After a 5-4 extra-innings win Sunday, NSU (16-11) is second in the SLC standings (8-3) – 1/2 game back of leader Southeastern (22-8, 9-3). The Demons head to Hammond for a three-game series starting Thursday to decide the midseason leader.
Lonsberry took a break from the 2005 team's story telling to offer a piece of advice.
"The best thing about the 2005 team was probably the camaraderie," Lonsberry said. "We were like a family. Everybody got along, and that's what it takes to win a championship."
Marcase: Coach speaks about second chances at LC baseball banquet
LC baseball looks to build on record-setting 2019
Game-tying layup propels Pineville past West Monroe
LSUA men stay perfect in RRAC play
Thaxton terrific from deep as LSUA women defeat LSUS
Avoyelles finds a spot in boys Top 10 rankings


Life insurance is a contractual obligation between the life insurance provider and the insured, wherein the life insurance company undertakes to give financial life insurance coverage to the individual in exchange for a regular premium payment that extends over a pre-defined tenure.
Given below are the reasons why you should buy life insurance at the earliest and important benefits of availing the same.
Following are some of the main reasons for purchasing life insurance online.
Are you the only breadwinner in the family? If yes, your dependents would require a regular and apt source of income for meeting their daily needs in case you pass away prematurely. In order to help them maintain their current standard of living, and also take care of unfulfilled life goals like marriage or higher education of your kids, it is essential to invest in a life insurance policy that provides the maximum returns at the least possible costs.
If you have borrowed funds from family members, colleagues, or friends; or in case you have taken up a home loan, auto loan, education loan, or a personal loan to attain different milestones; it is important that you arrange for a financial resource for repaying the same in the event of your untimely death. A life insurance plan surely comes in handy as it assists your dependents or spouse in repaying the debts to your name in your absence.
Along with providing adequate life coverage to customers, life insurance plans purchased online can be used as tools for mortgage or loan repayments. Do know that loans can be availed against life insurance plans in India and are being considered as useful sources for financing purposes. Also considered as useful investment instruments, they have the potential of delivering good returns. You may choose the sort of coverage you need by opting for child insurance plans, term life insurance plans, retirement plans, whole life insurance plans, etc.
Life Insurance policies available online provide a vast range of benefits to individuals. Following are among the most important of the lot.
Life plans take care of the uncertainties and risks that may come in the way of the happiness of yourself or your loved ones. By availing the requisite life insurance policy online, you can ensure quality lifestyle for your family even in the event of unforeseen or accidental death.
LIPs double up as long-term investments and enable you to set down your life goals and objectives. Be it for constructing your dream home or planning a blissful after-retirement life, you may choose to invest in the plan that syncs with your risk appetite, life stage, and maturity benefit goals. The conventional life insurance policies, especially of the likes of endowment plans, are known to offer specific maturity benefits as well as built-in guarantees through options like Guaranteed Cash Values, Guaranteed Maturity Values, Money Back, etc. – choose accordingly.
Life insurance policies are immensely helpful in planning for your retirement as they help you save a good amount of money across a period of time. The money thus saved is returned in the form of a steady flow of income once you retire from your professional life – obviously, with added benefits!
Tax savings u/s 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961, paves the way for tax deductions with regards to life insurance premium payments.
In case of term life insurance or life insurance with death benefits only, a lump-sum amount is given to the beneficiaries /nominees assigned by the policyholder in the event of his / her untimely death. The amount so paid comprises of the sum assured that was agreed upon at the time of the purchase of the life insurance plan and the bonus amount added across the years.
Along with death benefits, some life insurance plans also provide maturity benefits in the guise of payments, especially if the policyholder manages to survive the term. You may want to check out different life plans in terms of their features and benefits on life insurance aggregator sites like Coverfox.com before freezing your selection.


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H-Ware
S-ware
DMWTV
Deluxe VR Puts Imagination to Work in Interactive GE Store VR
Deluxe VR and GE have been working on an interactive virtual reality experience called GE Store, illustrating how GE's various businesses share and support a large, diverse knowledge base that helps them develop new systems together. GE Store embodies the notion that GE's sum is greater than its parts and company-wide collaboration can benefit customers and investors through better products and services.
VR has turned out to be a medium that suits the GE Store experience especially well because it allows the company's machinery and innovation to be captured and visualised in such an immersive way. Inside the experience, viewers choose among the disparate GE business units - Healthcare, Oil & Gas, Energy Connection, Transportation, Digital, Renewable Energy, Global Research Center or Aviation - to see how they collaborate and the results they achieve.
For instance, connecting Healthcare with Oil & Gas transports users to the ocean floor and shows how GE is using their own systems to improve underwater crude oil pipelines – medical ultrasound techniques originally developed by GE Healthcare have been repurposed by GE Oil & Gas to scan subsea oil pipelines for predictive maintenance. The overall experience is a close-up exploration of equipment and environments that viewers might not otherwise be exposed to, such as wind turbines or the inside of a jet engine.
This fusion of two divisions' creative thinking and engineering is represented in the navigation scheme of the experience. Creative director Alex Stein described it. "All around the user are blue spheres. Each sphere represents a GE division. By picking up two spheres, bringing them together and merging them manually, the user describes the combination of abstract forces in an allegorical and interactive way. Once two spheres have been combined, an interactive story plays out around the user describing the results of their collaboration."
Recognising that VR would be the most effective way to bring the project's abstract ideas to life, GE wanted to push the medium beyond its usual boundaries. Briefed on the synergies and collaborations they wanted to include in the GE Store, the Deluxe VR team's approach was first to identify interactions that would reveal where GE's divisions intersect and then design compelling visuals to drive the experience. To make sure that viewers could navigate the virtual environment easily enough, refining the interface was another focus.
"The process required some trial and error because we wanted to make the navigation and interactivity of the experience as intuitive and simple as possible, while also being fun and engaging," Alex said. "Our goal was to make the user feel like he or she is the one combining materials, contributing to the solution and controlling the experience.
"We started with very basic tools to help us identify the space and the layout of the experience, and sketched the main UI in VR so that we could quickly test how well our ideas would work in a VR space. That helped us understand what was comfortable in terms of navigation tools and what felt natural for human interaction. Also, we designed the experience so users actually have to move a bit, making them feel more involved and immersed and encouraging exploration."
Teams of artists researched each business unit in detail to flesh out concepts and storylines, and modelled the CG assets, either building new 3D models based on real GE machinery, or modifying existing high-res assets supplied from GE to run at the necessary frame rate for VR.
Juan Gomez, as real-time CG supervisor explained some production and rendering considerations. "You need at least 90 fps for VR, so the computer needs to generate a lot of data, very fast," he said. "The greater the level of interactivity and the higher the image quality, of course, the more you start demanding from the computer, so we had to modify our game engine to allow us to generate a higher quality image faster. We used the Unreal Engine on this project, designed for interactions. Finding good engine performance is one of the biggest challenges you encounter when creating a VR experience.
"On this project the user experiences several natural environments - underwater, outer space, up in the sky. During development, each one came with specific challenges. The more details you add, the more real the experience will feel. For example, at one point in the GE Store, the user is in the middle of a wind-farm environment with grass and turbines that move with the wind.
Change in the Weather
"As users change the weather, we see the grass and wind turbines moving faster. Rain starts to fall, they experience thunder and the whole environment changes to make them feel they are surrounded by a thunder storm. That ability to change the weather at will demands a real time response from the engine."
The details quickly add up and require substantial computing power, affecting the game engine performance and quality. Therefore, the producers aim to optimize and simplify tasks for the engine. New functionality in the NVIDIA video card drivers helped increase visual fidelity, performance and responsiveness. The artists also needed to develop some new anti-aliasing tools, and experiment with new hardware and software to meet the desired performance levels.
"In VR, sometimes objects or textures can appear blurred with ghosting or shimmering artefacts due to anti-aliasing, which this can bother your eyes. Obviuosly, since we always want to make VR experiences as pleasant as possible we identified the situations that introduce those artefacts and developed different techniques that help address each of one.
As a company that is recognised for innovation, GE has wanted to make VR part of its public message for some time. Through a sound understanding of what the medium can do and by working with a company like Deluxe VR, they have been able to design an experience and visual language to tell their stories. www.bydeluxe.com
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