Do you think about how you use and consume light? We live in a culture where electricity and artificial light are everywhere: inexpensive and always available in seemingly endless supply. We're so used to being surrounded by light -- it's truly at our fingertips -- that many of us don't even think about it, much less question the timing and degree of our exposure. Yet a robust and growing body of scientific research suggests that for the sake of our sleep -- and our overall health -- we all need to start paying a lot more attention to the presence of light in our daily lives.
How did we get here? After all, nearly all of human history has unfolded without electricity, and without the near-constant presence of artificial light. In the roughly 125 years since the advent of electricity, nearly every aspect of human life has been fundamentally altered. Unlike our ancestors, we're no longer expressly tied to the solar day and night or to the long and short light of the changing seasons. With the flick of a switch, we can experience "daylight" or "summer" at any time. Artificial light has enabled transformative change to the way we live, work, and play, the way we engage in relationships and community. Society and culture may have adapted readily and even voraciously to that transformative change. But our bodies have not. The widespread emergence of artificial light has ushered in new risks to health, risks our pre-electricity ancestors never had to face.
Over the past two decades, science has increasingly turned its attention to exploring the effects of light exposure to human health. What was once a somewhat shaky scientific proposition is now widely accepted, if not yet fully understood: chronic exposure to artificial light, particularly at the wrong time of day, is dangerous to health. And sleep, which can be deeply affected by light exposure, is one critical piece of the puzzle.
How does artificial light exposure disturb normal, healthy sleep? It does so in large part by disrupting the body's natural circadian rhythms. Circadian rhythms are one of the two physiological systems that regulate sleep-wake cycles. (The other is the body's own, internal sleep drive.) Circadian rhythms exist in almost all living organisms, and are influenced primarily by exposure to light and darkness. Circadian rhythms operate on an approximately 24-hour cycle, essentially in line with the solar night and day. Our sleep -- as well as many other important biological processes, including digestion, hormone regulation, and immune function -- is deeply and fundamentally tied to these sensitive and finely tuned circadian cycles, which are in turn deeply influenced by both the presence and absence of light. Light exposure alters the ebb and flow in the body of the "sleep" hormone melatonin, which occurs in circadian rhythm. Melatonin levels naturally rise at night -- in response to darkness -- and play an important role in bringing about sleep onset. In turn, the natural early morning drop in melatonin levels helps prepare for wakefulness. Evening light exposure can delay the release of melatonin, causing a shift in circadian sleep-wake cycles.
Take a moment to imagine what life was like for people living before the widespread availability of artificial light. Even with supplemental light sources such as candles or oil lamps, the most powerful light exposure came from the sun. When the sun set, darkness appeared, largely without interference. That's no longer the case. When was the last time you experienced real darkness, with no street lights or city lights, no lamplight or overhead bulbs switched on after sunset, no television screens or computers lighting up the evening? Excessive exposure to artificial light in the evening hours -- which for most of us happens daily, often in abundance -- trumps the darkness that our bodies and circadian rhythms have evolved to expect and rely upon.
When circadian rhythms are disrupted by artificial light exposure at the wrong time of day, both the quality and quantity of sleep can suffer. Over time, the health complications from poor and insufficient sleep can be widespread, numerous, and serious. Poor sleep is linked to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders. Sleep problems are associated with increased incidence of cardiovascularand metabolic disease, as well as to problems with endocrine and immune function. Sleeping poorly may increase risk for cancer. Poor sleep is also associated with sharp increases in accidental injury and death, as well as in problems with memory andcognitive function. Nearly all measures of health, safety, and performance are negatively affected by a lack of regular and routine high-quality sleep.
What's more, there's a burgeoning body of scientific evidence indicating that circadian rhythm disruption is itself deeply harmful to health. Circadian dysfunction is linked toelevated risks for cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other metabolic disorders, as well as to psychological stress and depression.
Scientists have discovered that when it comes to sleep disruption and circadian rhythms dysfunction, not all light is the same. Different wavelengths of light appear to have different degrees of effect. In particular, blue spectrum light has been shown to be especially disruptive to sleep, and to circadian function. Blue spectrum light is found in higher concentration in some energy-efficient LED and fluorescent light bulbs. High concentrations of blue-wavelength light are also emitted from the LCD screens of digital devices. Studies show exposure to blue-spectrum light at the wrong time of day has a greater effect than other light spectra on suppressing the natural release of melatonin.
It is important to be clear: light exposure isn't uniformly or indiscriminately harmful. The dangers of light exposure occur largely in the timing and in the degree. That same blue light that can have such a negative impact at night can have beneficial effectswhen you're exposed to it during the day. Daytime blue spectrum light exposure (as well as light exposure in general) can boost alertness and reaction times, elevate mood, and help maintain healthy circadian rhythms. Receiving abundant light exposure during the day can strengthen and reinforce sleep-wake cycles and improve sleep when nighttime--and bedtime--arrives. The key to healthy light exposure is to understand how light can affects the body, and to be thoughtful and strategic about when and how you use it. We need light, and we can benefit from it in numerable ways. But we also need darkness.
It's time to start thinking about light as a powerful medicine -- capable of providing tremendous benefit when used correctly, but requiring care and education in that use. Like a potent drug, it's absolutely necessary that we stay educated and aware of all of light's possible effects on our brains and our bodies. Only then can we use light effectively and well, taking full advantage of its very real benefits while minimizing its dangers and risks to our health.


text:
The Urania Worldtimeclock by Prof. Erich John
Places on the Worldtimeclock
The Weltzeituhr Start-up
Worldtimeclock facts
The Urania Worldtimeclock
During the redesign of Alexanderplatz to mark the 20th anniversary of the GDR, the designer Prof. Erich John developed the Urania World Clock at the end of 1968. Under his direction, it was built within only a few months together with 124 volunteers in so-called "Feierabendbrigaden" (effectively "after-work brigades") and it was inaugurated on September 30th, 1969 at Alexanderplatz in Berlin by the Lord Mayor of East Berlin, Herbert Fechner.
The date line as well as 146 names of cities and regions from all continents and time zones are shown on the rotunda along with the date line. The rotating dial in the middle of the clock shows their current local time or world time in all time zones simultaneously. The planetary system rotates above everything, symbolising the basics of our time measurement over the course of the planets.
With its original 80 city names from all 24 time zones, the World Clock showed the citizens of the GDR on a daily basis how vast the world is beyond the GDR's borders. Even then, its designer Prof. Erich John recognized the symbolic power of freedom in stark contrast to the Berlin Wall erected in 1961: "Many felt the confinement of the city since the building of the Wall, the impression of cosmopolitanism via a World Clock was obviously a touching thought."
Still today the World Clock at Alex is an equally popular meeting point for Berliners and guests from all around the world alike regardless of age. Not only did students from all over the world gather in the area surrounding the clock for the World Youth games in the summer of 1973, but also on October 7th 1989, when thousands of opposition members set off towards the "Palast der Republik" with the famous words "we are the people", where the state leadership was celebrating the 40th anniversary of the GDR. Just 33 days later, the borders were opened, and the Berlin Wall fell.
Since 2015 the Berlin World Clock has been a protected landmark on account of its artistic, architectural and historical meaning.
Seit November 2018 ist die Weltzeituhr erstmals in ihrer Geschichte als zeitgeschichtliches Wahrzeichen und einzigartige Designikone – rechtzeitig zum 50. Jubiläum – als Sammlerstück und Souvenir erhältlich.
Professor Erich John
On February 6th 1932, Erich John was born in the north bohemian village of Karlitz, where his parents ran a farm until the family was ousted and expelled in 1945. After an apprenticeship as a fitter in Neukloster, Brandenburg, the talented illustrator began studying wrought iron and metal design in Wismar and Heiligendamm at the age of 18. He completed his subsequent studies in design – comparable to today's industrial and product design – in 1958 at the renowned Kunsthochschule in Berlin-Weißensee, where he trained generations of designers as a lecturer from 1965 and as a professor from 1973 to 1992. In 1982 he was appointed visiting professor for "Industrial Design" at Ohio State University (USA) for one semester and was awarded the GDR Design Prize.
Erich John's works are today still regarded as unmatched in terms of functionality and design. During his multiple award-winning career John developed countless products, which in the decades since have become everyday objects not only in the GDR but also so-called "foreign western countries" such as FRG and Scandinavia. He penned amongst others, the "Erika" typewriter, the "Undine II" radio, vacuum cleaners and razors, but also microscopes for biology lessons and the "Galilean Set of Instruments" – a modular pair of binoculars.
To John design means the "optimisation of living space". His most famous work has remained a unique landmark of central Berlin since 1969: the Urania World Clock at Alexanderplatz. He has thus succeeded in shaping the future of the cityscape in a sustainable way.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Let us arrange your dream wedding!
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We are a member of one of the UK's largest independent travel groups. We are a truly independent travel agency, offering fantastic deals to holiday destinations all around the world. Our travel experience ensures we can give you first-hand knowledge and insights into wherever you want to go. We're so confident you'll be happy with us that we'll get in touch when you get back to make sure it all went just how you wanted it to.


To compliment your style and to finish off your makeup and appearance, why not try a pair (or 6!) of our Eyemazing false eyelash range. The perfect companion for an endlessly beautiful face, whether you want thin and long lashes, or full and wide, Eyemazing eyelashes provide you with an inspiring style, in a multitude of different patterns, designs and effects.


Rather than assuming a parent is in any way incapable, our trained home visitors provide long-term, clinically-supervised intensive home visits that focus on strengths and relationship-building to encourage and support the new family in its own, unique growth. The bond between the child and the parent is our client -- not the child or parent(s) themselves.
Through therapeutically grounded, curriculum-enhanced methods, our home visitors assist and support the parent(s) in their role as their child's first and primary educator, ensures that the child is developmentally on track, and promotes a healthy parent-child relationship.
Family Spirit focuses on providing culturally specific support for American Indian families. Families can enroll in either program prenatally or up until their child is three months of age.
Children arrive at preschool and kindergarten ready to learn.
Parenting promotes optimal growth and development.
Maternal behaviors promote healthy babies and children.
Our Infant Home Visiting program is a member of the Metro Alliance for Healthy Families. Both it and Family Spirit are funded in part by a generous gift from the Otto Bremer Trust, given to support our work with non-majority populations.


2nd Annual Family Bingo @ IKE Saturday!!
Eisenhower is excited to host its 2nd Annual Family BINGO event this Saturday, November 3rd from 2-5pm in our multi-purpose room. This year our students are selling tickets for all of the AMAZING Raffle Packages we have put together. Attached is a copy of the event flyer, as well as the list of all of the Raffle Packages. If you would like to purchase any tickets just shoot me an email. There are tons of great stuff and you do NOT have to be present to win!
We hope to see you this weekend for some BINGO, Raffles, Food & Fun!
Read more about 2nd Annual Family Bingo @ IKE Saturday!!


Get this beautiful Embroidered Parasol umbrella from India, which is decorated using embroidered and lace work. Its a perfect for decoration and also perfect for sun roof in hot summer, which makes it practical item as well. This Umbrella is made in Rajasthan, India with traditional touch.


Tropical Leaves - Set of 3 is rated 4.6 out of 5 by 12.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Ellor from Get These! I've been looking for tropical leaves to make an arrangement for a large room. These were perfect! They are very large and sturdy. Exactly what I was looking for!
Rated 5 out of 5 by Hoolers from Love these leaves! Looked all over other sites for these. Found some for a lot less but they weren't in stock. These are large and look real. The 3 leaves are different designs.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Girlyboymom from Perfect touch! Love! Check the measurements. They are very large. I have them in the same vase shown on the cover of the Ballard Design catalog. Beautiful!
Rated 5 out of 5 by Psylight from Really love these. These great decorative leaves bend flexibly and are fun to arrange.
Rated 5 out of 5 by JDIndy from "fresh" lift for a bland space Inspired by a Ballard catalog pic, I popped these leaves into a large blue and white ginger jar-style vase. They give just the right "fresh" lift to a bland space on top of the bookcase in my office. The leaves are a little larger than I expected, each one bigger than a dinner plate; however, the generous size makes these high-quality, natural-looking stems even more appealing. Worth the splurge.
Rated 5 out of 5 by gigiSB from bold statement In the right vase, these make a bold statement in my foyer. I bought two sets so I would have enough to achieve the look I wanted.
Faux Boxwood Planter Filler 18 1/2"


text:
Q: Attempt to achieve high throughput in Hyperledger Fabric network Hyperledger community in the article Hyperledger Fabric: A Distributed Operating System for Permissioned Blockchains shows that Fabric achieves end-to-end throughput of more than 3500 transactions per second in certain popular deployment configurations. I'm trying to achieve this result in my project, but I'm far from it. Here I report my first results of load testing and invite you to join the investigation how to achieve a high throughput with Hyperledger Fabric and Composer
Project descriptions
We build high-load service that uses Hyperledger Fabric. Our backend system consists of HF blockchain network, several microservices (node js) which communicate with blockchain via Hyperledger Composer, message broker for communication between microservices.
Hyperledger Fabric v1.1. Hypeledger Composer v0.19.0
Fabric network (deployed with Cello):
{
    fabric001: {
      cas: [],
      peers: ["anchor@peer1st.main"],
      orderers: ["orderer1st.orderer"],
      zookeepers: ["zookeeper1st"],
      kafkas: ["kafka1st"]
    },
    fabric002: {
      cas: [],
      peers: ["worker@peer2nd.main"],
      orderers: ["orderer2nd.orderer"],
      zookeepers: ["zookeeper2nd"],
      kafkas: ["kafka2nd"]
    },
    fabric003: {
      cas: [],
      peers: ["worker@peer3rd.main"],
      orderers: ["orderer3rd.orderer"],
      zookeepers: ["zookeeper3rd"],
      kafkas: ["kafka3rd"]
    },
    fabric004: {
      cas: ["ca1st.main"],
      peers: [],
      orderers: ["orderer4th.orderer"],
      zookeepers: ["zookeeper4th"],
      kafkas: ["kafka4th"]
    }
}

fabric001-004 - AWS ec2 instances of t2.xlarge type. Initially, I used m5.4xlarge, but it costs a lot and CPU usage was always low even when Fabric starts to fail.
Fabric config:
BatchTimeout: 0.2s
BatchSize:
    MaxMessageCount: 10
    AbsoluteMaxBytes: 98 MB
    PreferredMaxBytes: 512 KB

TLS disabled.
If required I can perform new tests with any configuration.

Load testing
First of all I decided to test request to the state of the ledger (CouchDB). Blockchain is empty, only system data and few participants. Direct query requests to the CouchDB open port are very fast (~150 ms). My microservice connects to the Fabric by establishing a permanent connection for the existing identity. Requests take up ~500 ms in our system without high load. Half of this time accounts for message broker (AWS SQS is really slow). For load testing I'm using tool YandexTank. Load is going smoothly without latency increasing up to ~70 requests per second. Then latency stats degrade and at some point, chaincode starts return error messages. You can see test results here:
TEST RESULTS
There are two types of error messages that I received during iterations of load tests:
1.

[Hyperledger-Composer] undefined:HLFQueryHandler :queryChaincode()
  query payload returned an error: Error: 2 UNKNOWN: error executing
  chaincode: failed to execute transaction: timeout expired while
  executing transaction

2.

LFQueryHandler :queryChaincode() query payload returned an error:
  Error: 2 UNKNOWN: error executing chaincode: transaction returned with
  failure: Error: The current identity, with the name 'txBuilder' and
  the identifier
  '5606acbada327a8ef33134e601f990076872b31a3dda5ec0a983e04915d16007',
  has not been registered`

Chaincode container does not restart by itself, but from this time it doesn't work well. Sometimes I can't ping it, sometimes I can, but anyway latency is terrible. Only restart of the peer container can help. (I remind you that request to the ledger goes through one peer due to Composer, that's not good, but it's not the point of my investigation).
The second error is really strange because this is the only identity I use and it works before chaincode starts to fail. And it works after I restart peer.
During applying the load, CPU usage of the peer, chaicode and CouchDB are the most (as expected). I'm in the middle of a configuring monitoring system for my blockchain network and soon I will be able to share more information.
Any thoughts?

UPDATE #1
I've been advised to use c*-type AWS instances for deploying Fabric. I chose c5.4xlarge (16 vCPU) for my tests. Also, I changed Fabric config a little bit:
BatchTimeout: 1s
BatchSize:
    MaxMessageCount: 20
    AbsoluteMaxBytes: 98 MB
    PreferredMaxBytes: 512 KB

I performed the same test and, to my regret, I got the same result:
TEST RESULTS
In the figure below you can see the plot of containers CPU usage during the test which lasts 1 minute

Total CPU usage in maximum was ~ 30%. So we can see that problem of latency degradation lies elsewhere.

UPDATE #2
As performance results were very poor, I decided to continue my tests with pure Fabric without any unnecessary intermediate components. Just Fabric network and nodejs SDK. See new report here

A: I did a similar test with similar kind of setup and could achieve about 220 RPS, using 8 peer nodes, single Org. With a 2nd org, this performance would drop for sure. I used the high performance chaincode provided with fabric samples. Not sure how did they manage to get 3500 RPS.

A: First of all how many peers you have will effect on the TPS result. Almost always better if you have more peers. (But it really depends on strategy etc... many other things)
Secondly batchsize, timeout, message count all matters too. If you need higher TPS you might need bigger size and higher messagecount (like 100 for example)
Also it seemd Java SDK is a little bit faster than Node SDK. But i have not confirmed it myself. It is possible to go over 1000TPS though. (<<<< CONFIRMED myself)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Elijah Doughty's death in Kalgoorlie may yet result in murder charge
Updated September 1, 2016 — 9.39am first published at 9.38am
Charges against a man accused of killing a 14-year-old Aboriginal boy could still be upgraded to murder, as community leaders seek to move forward from the racial tension that sparked an aggressive riot in WA.
The 55-year-old man's appearance in the Kalgoorlie Courthouse on Tuesday, on a charge of unlawfully killing Elijah Doughty in a crash between a ute and motorbike that was reported stolen, was interrupted when a peaceful protest of 200 people angry about the lesser charge turned violent.
The accused, who cannot be named, appeared briefly in court on Wednesday and was remanded in custody until next month.
WA Police Acting Commander Darryl Gaunt said the manslaughter charge was based on the evidence available but it could be upgraded to murder once police conducted a full examination of the vehicles and reconstructed the scene.
Elijah Doughty's death may yet result in a murder charge. Credit:Facebook/@Elijah Doughty
Twelve officers were injured in the clash with protesters on Tuesday, while five police cars and the court building were damaged, several people were arrested and nearby businesses were forced to shut down in fear.
Acting Mayor Allan Pendal described it as the worst violence he had seen in 30 years.
Elijah's grandfather, Albert Doughty, said there had been tensions in the town, which he believed motivated the protest.
Mr Doughty told 6PR radio he told the crowd to go home, but they became increasingly agitated, chanting "justice!"
Members of the Kalgoorlie City Football club pay their respects to Elijah Doughty. Credit:Kalgoorlie City Football Club
Aboriginal elder Aubrey Lynch said that indicated those young people no longer respected their elders.
But Elijah's teenage cousin Hayley Garlett, who stood arms outstretched with her mother in front of police during the riot to try to quell the crowd, has been praised for her efforts.
"It was supposed to be a peaceful protest, I just don't understand how it got so out of control," she wrote on Facebook.
Mr Gaunt told reporters the pair showed not all Aboriginal protesters were acting unlawfully.
"What they did was incredibly brave and their family and friends should be incredibly proud of them as we are," he said.
"It wasn't supposed to be about trashing the town or terrifying people. It was supposed to be about showing their cause (and) respecting the death of Elijah."
Mr Gaunt also took the opportunity to dismiss rumours anyone other than the accused and the victim were involved, and denied a history of people running down others on bikes, but said youth crime was an issue.
Kalgoorlie MP Wendy Duncan urged people to show restraint on social media saying messages of hate made it worse, as it emerged that racist pages and comments on Facebook by a vocal minority about local indigenous people were contributing to tensions.
"Events like this, tragic as they are, are a catalyst for change and I think we need to seize that opportunity."
Attorney General Michael Mischin said "the lynch mob" attempt at justice was inexcusable.
Police Minister Liza Harvey said police resources, which included bringing in officers from other areas, were adequate.
A peaceful candlelight vigil was held on Tuesday and liquor restrictions were lifted on Wednesday.
- AAP


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@implementation ArchivesHotKey

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- (void)compressFile:(NSString *)file {
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- (void)compressFiles:(NSArray *)files {
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Daiya and Hana Ferris Wheel (Diamond and Flower Ferris Wheel) from the Kasai Rinkai Park was opened in 2001. 117 meters tall, it was at the time the tallest Ferris wheel in Japan, surpassing the Daikanransha Ferris from Palette Town, Odaiba which is 115 meters tall.
However, the next year it was surpassed by the Sky Dream Ferris from Fukuoka, which was 120 meters. But since the Fukuoka Ferris was closed in 2009, Diamond and Flower is again the number one in Japan.
According to a commercial, in Diamond and Flower Ferris you can have the "maximum kissing time" - a full rotation takes 17 minutes.


Back from Austin, but still in a SXSW state of mind, it's time to wind down with five more great bands from the streets of the Texas capital.
Modern Freedom, by Adrian and the Sickness (Adrian and the Sickness on MySpace).
Birds, by The Submarines (www.thesubmarines.com).
Eggshells, by Rachel Sermanni (Rachel Sermanni on MySpace).
Getcha Good, by Jenn Grant (www.jenngrant.com).


text:
@clairewillett https://t.co/pGatNPv4Rf 1 hour ago
RT @Head_Haunter_: Jack Nicholson in Mars Attacks Steven Yeun in Nope https://t.co/I80WCNuFcN 1 hour ago
Film Review: Clay's Redemption
Director Carlos Boellinger calls Clay's Redemption is an "unapologetic midnight movie". Indeed, it would be fun to end a late night with this neon-drenched action noir fantasy. Shot in the darkest corners of London, Boellinger's debut feature evokes Blade Runner, The Matrix, and Cinemax's American Gods with its lively tale of a Sleeve Walker (a sort of body-hopper) called Clay who helps a group of god-like immortals defeat a power-hungry demon. In exchange, he will earn his freedom and be settle into his final form.
Boellinger wrote the dialogue-light script with Ivo Alexander. A couple of paragraphs on a black screen set the scene for the story. There are 9 living gods who are fighting amongst themselves for the all the power, Highlander-style. Meanwhile, a demon hunts them to steal their power for its own. Sleeve Walkers are convicts forced into indentured servitude, swapping bodies whenever their old ones wear out. When the story kicks off, we meet Clay (Akie Kotabe, TVs The Man in the High Castle), strolling around town in his latest body rental. A couple of stylish immortals hire him for one last job. If he can manage to transport an important woman to safety, he can earn his freedom in a body to call his own. Of course, the enemies are powerful and lurk around every corner, and everyone wants to get their hands on the mysteriously mute Maya (played by UK musician, Nuuxs).
The best thing this film has going for it is the cinematography, also done by Boellinger. Clay's Redemption was shot guerilla style around London, using only available light. This is clearly a low-budget project, but the seams are well hidden in the visuals. Boellinger has a real eye for composition akin to Nicolas Winding Refn's stunning, but otherwise lackluster Only God Forgives. It doesn't hurt that every performer looks like a supermodel. Among those who consulted on the look of the film were production designer Tony Noble (Moon) and designer Charli Cohen.
The lively score, composed by London-based duo TwoTwentyTwo, keeps the viewer engaged, but the film shines during the fight sequences. Kotabe steps out of his CIA IT guy
pigeon hole, into that of formidable leading action man. All-in-all, Clay's Redemption isn't an instant classic, but it's a good showcase for the talents of many involved. If you enjoy cool fight choreography in visually arresting locales, there's something for you here.
Categories: Filmpinions . Tags: Akie Kotabe, American Gods, Blade runner, Carlos Boellinger, clay's redemption, Nuuxs, only god forgives, The Man in the High Castle, The Matrix . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment


Olga is currently working at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) supporting the organization of an international conference. Earlier this year she was a fellow of the International Parliamentary Scholarship (IPS) of the German Bundestag and worked several months with the office of a Member of the German Bundestag Frank Schwabe, the rapporteur of the Social-Democratic-Party Parliamentary Group on climate policy. Previously, Olga was an energy policy intern at SMA Solar Technology AG , a solar energy equipment supplier, and at VNG – Verbundnetz Gas AG, a natural gas wholesaler and importer. She also interned at a German oil and natural gas producing company, organizing trainings for managers from Russia, and worked as a student assistant for a natural gas storage operator. Her academic background is in the field of international relations and global political economy. Olga is an alumna of Studienkolleg zu Berlin, a joint program of the German National Merit Foundation and the Hertie Foundation.


If you're planning to list your home for sale, now is the perfect time to fix odds and ends.
Over the last 30 years, our inspectors have witnessed just about everything, whether representing buyers with our Home Inspection or sellers with our Pre-Listing Inspection.
We've learned that there are specific issues that must be fixed before listing because buyers not only will not like the problems, the house will be a heck of a lot harder to sell if the issues aren't fixed.
Check out our "insider's guide" below for 10 things you must fix before selling your home.
Every switch should operate something, anything. A switch should not include warning labels (e.g., pull this cord at your own risk)! Make sure all fixtures have working light bulbs. It's important not to leave any questions about the integrity of the electrical system.
Water stains are big fat red flags. Please – don't try to hide water issues, the truth will always out. If you have any concern about water intrusion anywhere, you must resolve the issue and repair damage before listing. Our inspectors are Certified Real Estate Thermographers who use infrared cameras on every inspection, including our Pre-Listing Inspection. Ask us to help you to identify active water penetration issues.
Over the millennia of human innovation, toilets were a pretty trick invention, possibly as nifty as the internal combustion engine. OK, not really, but toilets are pretty cool when you think about them. Our inspectors have seen lots of toilet weirdness, the most prevalent of which includes toilets that never stop running, or toilets that have loose bases, or toilets that require some special knowledge to operate. The beauty of toilets, other than the fact that they make stinky stuff disappear, is that they're generally easy to fix before listing.
04. Fire in the hole!
Buyers love fireplaces. They're cozy. They're for cuddling. They're romantic. And, as a side benefit, they help to reduce energy costs. But fireplaces can be a source of concern to buyers if there is any uncertainty about condition, especially for buyers who have never owned a house with a fireplace. Therefore, prior to listing, make sure all fireplaces are clean and functional.
If your sink or shower drains as slowly as a long-haul train takes to pass by, sure, the issue may be caused by a hairball. But there may be a more serious issue and because buyers are afraid of what they can't see, they'll imagine the worst possible scenario. Buy a drain snake clog remover at Amazon, Lowe's or Home Depot to clean out the clogs and muck.
What's the first thing a buyer thinks about a musty basement? Musty basement (smell) = Wet basement (thought) = Buyer running away (sound). Follow your nose, assess your basement. Does it smell musty? If yes, why? Do you need a dehumidifier? Do walls need to be sealed? Is a professional required to address water penetration issues? Our inspectors are Certified Real Estate Thermographers who use infrared cameras on every inspection, including our Pre-Listing Inspection; we can help you to identify active water penetration issues.
07. Wiggles, shimmies, and shakes.
You may know how to grab a handrail so it doesn't wiggle or shake. But buyer's won't know and their inspectors sure as heck will certainly notice; the inspection report will scream "Safety Issue." Pretend that you're the buyer – walk through the house and note items that need securing. Better yet, ask a friend to walk through the house for a second opinion. Fix all wiggles before listing.
08. Oh, oh, oh it's magic, you know-oh-oh.
If there's something in your home that requires a "magic touch" to operate, chances are it's something that should be on your list of repairs. Buyers who walk through your house expect every item to work the way it's supposed to – without banging, jerking, shoving, or secret combinations of lifting and turning. Fix your stuck windows and doors, you know what we're talking about!
Loose carpet inside, uneven walk surfaces outside. Say "trip hazard" five times fast while your neighbor walks up the path for the first time with a baby in her arms. Every trip hazard is an accident waiting to happen. When you list your home, you'll have lots of foot traffic – fix the trip hazards!
No, we're not talking about the travails of daily life, we're talking about water pressure. Is there low pressure at the shower? Does the shower lose pressure if anyone uses another water source in the house? This may seem like a minor nuisance to you, but your buyers and their inspectors won't think so. Start by checking for a clogged shower head or a shower shut-off valve that has been inadvertently knocked partially closed. If that doesn't work, retain a plumber to evaluate and fix the system.
So, did you figure out the theme?
We encourage you to work with your Realtor to identify issues before listing. We'd welcome an opportunity to deliver our Pre-Listing Inspection – we will help you to identify everything a buyer inspector is going to find anyway.


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Act Now on Ordinance: Guns in Public Places
Prohibiting Concealed Carry of Firearms in Public Buildings and Parks
On Monday May 9th, the entire Denver City Council will have its first consideration of a proposed ordinance (22-0401) that would prohibit the carrying of concealed weapons in all buildings and parks owned by, leased to or leased by the city and county of Denver.
Until the 2003 Concealed Carry (CCW) law, carrying of a concealed weapon in city properties, even with a permit, was prohibited in Denver. But the 2003 CCW law prohibited cities and counties from restricting the carry of concealed weapons unless "security personnel and electronic screening devices were permanently in place at each entrance to the building." In 2021, Colorado repealed that preemptive measure. Now Denver can return its public buildings and parks to being gun free zones.
Public testimony on 22-0401 will not be taken Monday night, but if you wish to speak during the general comment period from 5:00-5:30 p.m, click here to get the details. Sign up as soon as possible.
Please contact city council members and encourage them to vote to prohibit hidden handguns in Denver's buildings and parks, which includes mountain parks and the Red Rocks Amphitheater.
Even if you don't live in Denver, if you ever visit the city and its many cultural facilities or hike in its mountain parks, this ordinance is of importance to you. Please contact the at-large council members and encourage them to vote YES on 22-0401.
Denver Residents: Please contact your city council member and the two at-large council members to encourage them to vote YES on 22-0401. If you are unsure of exactly which district you are in, enter your address into the Denver City Council Interactive Map.
At-large Robin Kniech 720-337-7712
At-large Debbie Ortega 720-337-7713
1 Amanda Sandoval 720-337-7701
2 Kevin Flynn 720-337-2222
3 Jamie Torres 720-337-3333
4 Kendra Black 720-337-4444
5 Amanda Sawyer 720-337-5555
6 Paul Kashmann 720-337-6666
7 Jolon Clark 720-337-7777
8 Chris Herndon 720-337-8888
9 Candi CdeBaca 720-337-7709
10 Chris Hinds 720-337-7710
11 Stacie Gilmore 720-337-7711
kniechatlarge@denvergov.org
ortegaatlarge@denvergov.org
districtone@denvergov.org
kevin.flynn@denvergov.org
jamie.torres@denvergov.org
kendra.black@denvergov.org
DenverCouncil5@denvergov.org
paul.kashmann@denvergov.org
jolon.clark@denvergov.org
christopher.herndon@denvergov.org
district9@denvergov.org
district10@denvergov.org
stacie.gilmore@denvergov.org
Suggested text for Denver residents:
Dear Council member _________, I am contacting you to encourage you to vote YES on proposed ordinance 22-0401. Gun violence is a serious problem in our city, and the carrying of concealed weapons has been proven to increase violent crimes. I would feel far more safer going to the library, the recreation center, and, yes, to Red Rocks if I knew that people around me were not carrying hidden firearms. Please commit to increasing public safety in Denver and vote YES on 22-0401. (Please be sure to give your address so the council member knows you are a constituent).
Suggested text for non-Denver residents:
Dear Council member ______. Although I am not a resident of Denver, I do visit its cultural facilities (museums, zoos, botanic gardens, concert halls, libraries, mountain parks, Red Rocks, Western Stock Show, etc.). I am delighted that the city of Denver is considering making these facilities gun free, and I will feel safer knowing that the people around me are not carrying hidden firearms. Gun violence is a serious problem in Denver and our state, and the carrying of concealed weapons has been demonstrated to increase crimes, especially aggravated assaults. (Be sure to sign with your name and address.)
You may wish to embellish your statement with more facts:
If guns made us safer, then we in the US would be the safest country in the world. Alas, the US firearm homicide rate is 25 times that of other high-income countries. (Grinshtyen and Hemenway, 2019).
Gun rights advocates proclaimed that CCW would lower crime, but actually, the opposite is true. Rather than making us safer, an increased risk of violent crime is linked to concealed carry laws, particularly aggravated assaults and the problem increases over time. (Aneya, Donohue and Zang, 2014).
Violent crime is estimated to be 13-15% higher than it would be without concealed carry laws. (Donohue, 2017)
States with the highest rates of gun ownership also have the highest rates of gun death.
States with the weakest gun laws experience the highest rates of gun death, and states with the strongest gun laws have the lowest rates of gun death.
Many of the facilities in Denver that will be affected by this ordinance cater to a large number of children: museums, zoos, libraries, and parks.
Accidents with guns can happen and can be injurious: Even at our Colorado state capitol this year, a representative had his handgun drop to the floor. Luckily, no discharge occurred.
Guns are rarely used in self-defense (used in less than 1% of crimes), and when used, the firearm did not reduce a person's chance of being injured any more than other forms of protection did. (Hemenway and Solnick, 2015)
If the victim of an assault has a gun, he or she is 4.5 times more likely to be shot than an unarmed victim. (Branas, 2009).
Carrying firearms increases aggression. For example, multiple studies have found that a driver who has a handgun in his or her car is more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior when driving. (Bushman, 2017).
Carrying a firearm increases the aggression and hostility in the gun carrier; having a gun "may falsely empower its possessor to overreact." (Branas, 2009).
The normalization of carrying guns in public has created situations where guns are readily accessible in events when disagreements get out of hand. Just a few examples:
An 18-year-old was fatally shot during a quinceanara. (Rifle 4/24/2022)
A patron asked to leave a sports bar shot and injured a security guard. (Aurora 2/26/2022)
A Door Dash driver was shot in the face by a man who was angry that the delivery driver parked in front of the stolen car he was in. (Arvada 2/28/2022)
A teen was shot and injured during a disturbance that broke out at a house party. (Commerce City 2/25/2022)
A 63-year-old man was shot and killed after a two-car-crash at Montview and Peoria (Aurora 1/18/2022).
An adult male was shot and killed in a bar after an assault. (Colorado Springs 1/10/2022)
A 35-year-old man was shot and killed on Christmas Day during an argument. Both shooter and victim were armed (Aurora 12/25/2021).
A Juneteenth party turned into a shooting melee ending with one man killed and 4 others injured (Aurora 6/20/2021)
A disgruntled boyfriend, who was known to carry a concealed handgun, shot and killed six at a birthday party before taking his own life. (Colorado Springs 5/9/2021)
ow!
Sandy Hook Elementary School: 10 Years Later
Responding to Gun Rights Activists
Colorado Ceasefire 20th Anniversary Celebration
Denver Prohibits Concealed Carry in City Properties


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The Bungie Split Could Prove Activision's Incompetence
by Shamus Young 3 weeks 0 comments
Back in March, I made the case that the big publishers were squandering money and wasting opportunities because their leadership teams doesn't understand the business they're trying to run. Specifically, EA, Activision, and Ubisoft seem to be led by people who don't understand games or gamers. I've been trying to make this case for years, but it's an argument that's easy to articulate but hard to prove. Until now.
These executives might play games occasionally as part of the job, but since video games aren't really their main hobby, they can't tell the difference between good ideas and bad ones. If someone comes up with the idea for draconian new DRM, an executive will probably go for it because they don't understand how piracy works or why people do it. A gamer will immediately spot the problem with the system and it will make them less likely to buy the game. An executive might imagine that putting a DLC salesman into an RPG might be "immersive" for players. Someone who actually plays games will recognize how crass and obnoxious that would be.
It's easy for me to claim that Project Ten Dollar, loot boxes, the entire design of SimCity 2013, and numerous other headaches are obviously bad ideas that demonstrate how executives don't understand their customers or products. Someone else can just as easily claim that the executives are doing just fine, and things only look bad because I don't have access to the accounting ledgers that show how profitable these initiatives are. Are executives uninformed dimwits or are consumer advocates like me just being naive and entitled? Until recently, it was all speculation. But now Bungie has split from publisher Activision and taken the company's cash cow Destiny. We're about to see that it looks like to have a major game operate free of the influence of the usual bunch of AAA publishing villains.
Back in 2010, Bungie signed a 10-year agreement with the publishing giant. Either that agreement began before 2010, or Bungie somehow got out of the deal a year early. I have no idea how Bungie negotiated such a favorable contract with the infamously litigious Activision. Not only was the company able to leave the publisher, but it was able to keep its highly successful IP. It was also able to take a still-running game and migrate the entire userbase away from the publisher's platform. This contract was designed so that Bungie had the financial means to strike out on its own instead of being forced to live hand-to-mouth like so many studios seem to do when under the care of a major publisher. On top of that, this contract was apparently so airtight that Activision hasn't attempted to challenge it, despite the fact that they're losing a cash cow that made investors happy. I know everyone makes a fuss about the awesome game designers at Bungie, but I think we should give a nod of appreciation to whomever negotiated this partnership with Activision and the legal counsel that made it happen. I've never seen anything quite like this.
A few weeks ago, Bungie hosted a stream and announced The Next Chapter for Destiny 2. The presentation starts by highlighting the studio's new independence and what this means for Destiny 2. The general subtext of the video is how much better the game will be now that dumb old Activision is out of the way. It's possible that the company is just putting a good spin on a tough situation, like someone pretending to be happy after a break up. That's unlikely given that Bungie is the one that did the breaking up, but it's always good to be a little skeptical when watching a promotional video. But for the purposes of keeping this analysis simple, I'm going to take everything that's said at face value.
The first (but most trivial) change the team announced was that they were going to embrace the term "MMO" going forward. Activision apparently didn't like the connotations the genre brings with it, and was worried it would confuse the consumer. Bungie has decided to use the term because that's what the game is.
The more important change is that Bungie wants to make it easier for new players to join. If you wanted your friend to get Destiny 2 so the two of you can play together, they needed to buy a few seasons worth of DLC and spend 40+ hours pushing through the beginner content first. In the new system Bungie is rolling out, DLC becomes optional and it will be easy for new players to create characters that can jump into the game with veterans. This really highlights the difference in values that I'm always talking about. Activision thought they could make more money by selling content in bundles and strongly encouraging all players to purchase it. That makes sense if your only understanding of the experience comes from an accounting ledger. Bungie is comprised of avid gamers who recognize that these kinds of paywall policies discourage people from trying the game and lead to stagnation. The fun has to come first, because without the fun nobody will want to play the game, regardless of what pricing model you use.
The team is also going to make the game more complex in terms of stat-building and leveling mechanics. It makes sense that Activision wouldn't want to make the system too fussy. Shooters are the prestige market that all the publishers like to fight over, and Activision would be worried about scaring shooter fans away with too much nerd math. Bungie knows that anyone interested in a looter-shooter is probably going to be excited by the opportunity to make numbers go up. Again, Activision just understands the financial side of the business while Bungie has a more holistic understanding that takes the consumer's expectations into account.
I tried Destiny 2 for the first time last year. I thought it looked fantastic and the shooting felt good, but I got bored by the lack of depth. It just didn't have any interesting stats for me to think about. This change has me excited to return to the game to see what Bungie is going to do with it.
Bungie also announced a plan to roll out cross-saves and cross-play so you can take your character with you to any platform. I don't think Activision would have a good reason to oppose this, but the publisher would probably see it as a waste of resources. The company probably views players in terms of categorial demographics and don't think about the players who might want to switch between platforms. For Bungie, this is about letting players meet up with their friends and not encumbering the social aspects of the game with arbitrary corporate borders.
This is an exciting time. Bungie is effectively a "AAA indie" developer with a tentpole shooter. That's incredibly rare these days. All the classic shooter developers either sold themselves to publishers or became publishers themselves. Bungie now has full creative control over its product. If Destiny 2 becomes more successful going forward, then it will show that Activision's leadership was misguided and ultimately harmful. If the product struggles, then it will make the case that Activision was offering useful guidance and increasing the value of the product.
I know which one I'm betting on.
Shamus Young
Shamus Young is a game developer, critic, and novelist. He's just published a new cyberpunk novel. Check it out!
Related to: ActivisionBungieDestinyDestiny 2EAProject Ten DollarSimCity 2013Ubisoft


The Illesheim Military Community is located in Germany in Northern Bavaria, approximately 45 minutes from the historic city of Nuernberg and two hours from Frankfurt, Germany. Storck Barracks occupies about 415 acres just outside of the Village of Illesheim. It is a subcommunity of USAG Ansbach. This installation is approximately 27 miles from Ansbach/Katterbach.
Storck Barracks is named in honor of Colonel Louis J. Storck, U.S. Army who was awarded the Silver Star posthumously for his gallantry in action near Raids, France from July 17th to 25th, 1944.
The Illesheim Military Community is located in Germany in Northern Bavaria, just outside of the Village of Illesheim. It is approximately 45 minutes from Nuernberg and two hours from Frankfurt, Germany.
Take the German Federal Highway B470 toward the town of Illesheim. Then follow the signs toward Storck Barracks. Once you pass through the inspection area at the main gate, follow the road straight to the main post. On this road, you will pass through another gate. The barracks is located on the right side.
Storck Barracks serves as the Headquarters for 11th Aviation Regiment. The 11th AVN mission is to provide support to V Corps. Major units stationed here are 2/6 CAV, 6/6 CAV, and HHD and A Co 7-159th AVN REGT.
The Illesheim military population is approximately 2,000; however, this has already changed and will continue to change due to base closures.
Storck Barracks does not have billeting facilities. They do offer temporary quarters for military families who are in-processing. However, these facilities are only for families. Single soldiers E1-E6 will be assigned to the barracks, and E7 officers will stay at a guesthouse or BOQ. Civilians will need to make arrangements with a guesthouse. If temporary quarters or permanent quarters are not available upon your arrival, rooms are available at several guesthouses in the immediate area, and most are usually pet-friendly.
The Ansbach and Illesheim military communities feature on-base housing, government-leased housing located off the installations, and housing available on the economy.
The United States Army Garrison (USAG) Ansbach Community Government housing ranges from 2–4 bedroom quarters on and off post located in Ansbach and Katterbach. The housing in the Ansbach Military Community is undergoing extensive renovations. Active duty military can choose between living in Government housing on post or Government leased housing off post. Check with the housing office upon arrival about the pros and cons of living on post or off post.
Members will be assigned to a unit in accordance with their bedroom entitlement, generally a bedroom for the member and spouse and a bedroom for each child. Positions on the waiting list will be determined by the detachment date from your previous duty station depending on eligibility criteria upon arrival. You must be command sponsored to be eligible for housing.
The Housing Office must approve all housing and negotiate all contracts for service members to receive their Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA). Apartments and townhomes/single family dwellings are available; however, mobile homes are not.
Ansbach Child Development Centers (CDC) have received DOD certification. They have two CDC buildings, one for infants and pre-toddlers and one for toddlers, pre-school aged children, and kindergarten aged children.
Programs offered at the CDCs include Full Day Part Day, Preschool Part Day, and School Age Hourly Care.
Parents or guardians can place their children on the waiting list prior to registration. Waiting list applications can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to Central Enrollment Registration (CER) before arrival to the installation.
The Family, Child Care program, offers child care for children 4 weeks to 5 years of age, in a nurturing, home environment.
School Age Services provides child care for school-age youth, from first grade through fifth grade. Youth are involved in a number of activities.
The SAS offers care in different options: Before School, After School, Before and After School and Hourly Care.
Summer Camp is offered for ten weeks in the summer when school is not in session. The camp consists of swimming, bowling, off-base field trips, arts and crafts, and more.
The School Liaison Office is located in the same office as "Central Enrollment Registration Office" in Katterbach Kaserne, building 5817 with the same hours of operations.
The Ansbach Military Community offers a wide range of educational opportunities for everyone. There are two elementary schools, a middle school, a high school, and an education center staffed to assist in college enrollment and educational testing.
Sure, Start and Pre-Kindergarten Programs, a child must be 4 years of age by September 1.
Kindergarten Programs, a child must be 5 years of age by September 1.
First Grade, a child must be 6 years of age by September 1.
There is a free bus service to all three schools for children who live on the economy. No bus service is provided for students residing in the Katterbach housing area. For students involved in High School sports and other after-school activities, an activities bus takes them home later in the afternoon.
Parents with children of pre-school age (ages 3 and up) have the option of enrolling them in German Kindergarten. Many local towns and villages have their own schools, and most accept American children. For more information and a listing of local facilities contact your local Army Community Services or Central Enrollment.
The United States Army health clinics at Katterbach and Illesheim are outpatient facilities providing high-quality primary and limited specialty health care. Serious cases are referred to local hospitals or the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.
The dental clinics at Katterbach and Illesheim provide general dentistry and specialty treatment to authorized individuals.


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Hear Lil Yachty's rap made over The Who's "Baba O'Riley"
The classic "Baba O'Riley" riff provided the music bed for producer Digital Nas' new collaboration with rapper Lil Yachty.
Hear the track below:
Via Ultimate Classic Rock
Originally part of Pete Townshend's shelved Lifehouse project before appearing on the Who's 1971 album Who's Next, "Baba O'Riley" didn't chart at the time, but it's since become a radio and concert staple. The title combines the names of Townshend's guru Meher Baba and the avant-garde composer Terry Riley, with an "O" added in tribute to Dave Arbus' fiddle-driven, jig-like segment on the original recording by the Who.
Riley's influence plays out on Digital Nas' sample, as a keyboard makes this mesmerizing circular figure. It was programmed, Townshend later revealed, using his own vital statistics.
"'Baba O'Riley' emerged from some experiments I'd been doing with tapes and synthesizers," Townshend said in a 2006 talk sponsored by AOL. "The idea was to try and translate someone's personal details into music by inputting height, weight and various other information about them, which the synthesizer could then select notes from and turn into musical patterns."
This isn't the first time the Who have provided a key element for a hip-hop track. Perhaps the most memorable is 3rd Bass' "Pop Goes the Weasel," a 1991 gold-selling hit that took shots at crossover artists like Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer. They used a portion of "Eminence Front" from 1982's It's Hard.
"Revenge" is set to be released as part of a new project by Digital Nas titled Oldies But Goodies due in the spring.
Related Topics:CLASSIC ROCK, Featured, hard rock, john eintwistle, keith moon, news, pete townshend, roger daltrey, the who
Steven Adler talks about Guns N 'Roses' painful resignation process
Ozzy Osbourne says he is not retiring and will still be playing gigs


Teen actress Kyla Matthews shines on screen in her role as Ruby Gillis on the award winning television series. Anne with an E. Ruby is an overly emotional and dramatic school friend of Anne's (Amybeth McNulty) who is completely obsessed with Anne's love interest, Gilbert (Lucas Jade Zumann). The revival series of Anne of Green Gables, known as Anne on CBC Television in Canada won Best Dramatic Series at the 2018 Canadian Screen Awards, and was also nominated for Achievement in Casting. Anne with an E follows the adventures of a young orphan girl Anne living in the late 19th century as she learns to navigate her new life on Prince Edward Island, in this new take on L.M. Montgomery's classic novels. Season One can be seen on Netflix in the US and Canada. They have just wrapped principal photography on Season 2 of Anne, which should premiere in the fall! Details TBA.
Kyla has been fast tracked as a young actor on the rise working consistently since her first role in 2016 on TV series that include Fox TV's Wayward Pines (acting alongside fellow Vancouver actress, Emma Tremblay), and Netflix's Project MC2. She also landed roles on 2 NBC pilots, Reverie and Miranda's Rights. Although the pilots didn't get picked up, the roles were amazing opportunities for Kyla to grow as an on-screen actress. Shortly thereafter, Kyla landed a much larger supporting role on the fan favourite series, Signed Sealed Delivered on Hallmark.
Producers and directors are taking notice of Kyla. She is a talent that we will be seeing a lot more in the very near future.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized on April 5, 2018 by press.


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Get quick answers from Maru Minami Main Store staff and past visitors.


text:
Q: Passing a UK date in a URL I am passing a date in a URL in a UK format as per the following:
http://www.website.com/index.php?from_date=01/04/2013&to_date=12/04/2013
The date range is 1st April 2013 to 12th April 2013.
Then I am using the following PHP to convert it to the YYYY-MM-DD format.
<?php

$rpt_from_date = date("Y-m-d", strtotime($_GET["from_date"]) );
$rpt_to_date = date("Y-m-d", strtotime($_GET["to_date"]) );

echo $rpt_from_date;
echo "</br>";
echo $rpt_to_date;

?>

For some reason this is not working. The above returns the following:
2013-01-04
2013-12-04
It's switching the month and day around.  I want it to return:
2013-04-01
2013-04-12
Does anyone have any ideas?

A: Use DateTime object, to get php understand in which format you passing date to it.
$rpt_from_date = DateTime::createFromFormat('d/m/Y', $_GET["from_date"]);
echo $rpt_from_date->format('Y-m-d');

A: PHP is reading your time string in the US format (MM/DD/YYYY) because you are using slashes. You could use dashes to give the time: index.php?from_date=01-04-2013&to_date=12-04-2013, or convert it yourself:
$uktime = implode("-", explode("/", $_GET['from_date']));

A: I will provide the solution but it is not using the date function:
$arr = explode("/",$_GET["from_date"]);
$from_date = $arr[2]."-".$arr[1]."-"$arr[0];

Second solution is as following:
$from_date = implode(array_reverse(explode("/",$_GET["from_date"])));


text:
Negrek
Summer of the Soul
Okay, going to try again on Day 1, this time hopefully without accidentally deleting everything halfway through.
Really enjoyed reminiscing with the fics already recced! There are so many old-timey fics I'd love to talk about here, and I had a lot of fun going over old favorites before settling on this one.
Fic: Raven: Emerald Fist MS by Obsidian Blade
Summary: After escaping her oppressive home in Malmarsh fighting dojo, Raven takes up the risky business of being a Pokemon trainer in the hopes of gaining control of her life. But is that really what she's getting?
This is a classic old-school trainerfic of the somewhat darker-and-edgier variety. It's got all the hallmarks of the genre from that time: protagonist is escaping from a bad/abusive family situation, rebellious but powerful starter pokémon, fakemon, and looming threat that goes beyond your normal "evil team." In this case that's a "mechyena," a mightyena with cybernetic implants and a thirst for blood, and at the time the story ended we were only just learning about the larger plot behind his attacks. Like so many stories at the time, it had its own website, too, with art, illustrated chapters, and bonus info. That's long gone, unfortunately, but the story's still available on FFN if you're looking for a trip down memory lane or simply enjoy a rollicking trainerfic, early-naughties style! The actual writing holds up pretty well, although the melodrama and the dialogue definitely read a bit teenaged. Unfortunately the story stops before the protagonist can snag her third badge, but what's there is a solid old-school trainerfic that stays true to form without literally following the "wake up, get starter, go to Route 1" path.
Also a brief shout-out to Plague, by the same author. Pokécentric story this time, which tells the story of a kabutops clan struggling to survive after war and disease have wiped out most of their number. A rather bloody, gritty, angsty look at the prehistoric pokémon world, sadly also unfinished--but if you're more into pokémon without trainers, perhaps this one's for you!
Salvage: A Story of Change and Rebirth
Banner by EnsembleOfWolves.
Reactions: kintsugi, Pen, Sike Saner and 2 others
Threadmarks Sept Day 4 - Nerd Alert!
Day 4: Share a fic involving research or science.
Fic: A Humorous Easter by St. Elmo's Fire
Summary: Émilie is so glad she's found a real doctor, one who won't poison her precious pokemon with autism-causing vaccines, just in time for Easter.
This time my recomendation is short and sweet! I'll let the fic do most of the talking.
A Humorous Easter features both real research and fake research--a double feature! I really appreciate how this fic both pokes fun at a contemporary issue and also effectively frames what that controversy would look like in a pokemon setting. The story also makes good use of the language barrier between humans and pokemon: the pokemon can't make themselves understood by their trainer, but they can understand each other just fine and take matters into their own hands.
It's a quick, springy read, driven by dialogue and dramatic irony, and it's well worth your time.
Reactions: kintsugi and Pen
ooh! catching up on a few of these I think!
day 1: the first fic you remembered reading
gonna be real, I read a lot of beginner fic when I was starting out. Mostly aura and humans fused with legendary stuff! And a lot of really dark fics on an RP board that's been lost to time, unfort D: Pouring one out for ffk & gen & kat & kae; thank you for the inspiration and hope you at least have your stories still <3
that aside, here's:
No Antidote, by Falcon Pain
Summary: Bulbasaur and his trainer had an agreement: they would make it to the Pokémon League, or go down trying. So even when faced with utter tragedy, he decides that he and his trainer will live up to their promise. By any means necessary.
Rating: T, has some death and dark themes
Wordcount: 70k, complete
Perhaps cheating, since this is 1) completed and 2) holds up really well, since it was a fic rec rather than something that child-me found and as such way above my reading/writing level. I sorta remember just staring at this in silence and being like, oh, shit, so that's how it's done. I am not really exaggerating here; the ending blew child-me's mind, and even now I think this story has covered a few concepts so well that it feels like whenever I write about them I'm just doing weird knockoffs looking at you, very toxic starter-trainer relationships & talking pokemon & creepy ghosts
Personal gushing aside, what is this? The premise beyond the summary is a bit of a spoiler, but suffice to say: Bulbasaur, his trainer Marty, and the friends they make along the way are determined to get to the League no matter what. "No matter what" soon runs headlong into training ethics, pokemon rights, systems that refuse to change, and a whole lotta tragedy.
Other reasons this fic blew my mind--the characters were all really interesting, the foreshadowing didn't really feel stupidly heavy-handed but the story all fits together in hindsight, and the mechanics of the world feel fleshed out and thought about. It's also messy and sad darkfic with ghosts and shit, so like, yes, this is probably where my tastes formed. Is good. Would still recommend for people today tbh.
Honorable mention: Wings Have We, by Giratina. Details are much-much fuzzy and as far as I can tell this isn't the complete copy, which was hosted on a few other forums and this version wasn't fully updated, but this is a cool trainer fic that had multiple interesting protagonists and a cool fan region and the battles were pretty good to kid me.
Reactions: unrepentantAuthor, The Walrein and WildBoots
Threadmarks Sept Day 5 - Gym class!
Day 5: Share a fic featuring gyms and gym leaders.
Fic: Revived by Writer4Fun
Summary: Mauville City is where dreams can be fulfilled or dashed in a heartbeat. Before becoming a trainer at 22, Ryan discovers that a new company in town isn't exactly what it seems. After finding himself in hot water, a Latias saves him before she gets captured. With a new lease on life, Ryan will do everything he can to save Latias and take down a worldwide threat.
Wordcount: 300K (Ongoing)
Most of my recs so far have been the fics I swear by, the ones I'd gentleman's-glove-slap someone over. This one is not that for me (and you can find a few of my critiques in the reviews section), but I still think it's worth sharing because it directly influenced some of my world-building!
Unlike most fic writers and miscellaneous nerds I know, Writer4Fun is a big sports fan. It shows in his handling of the world, and I think it's a welcome addition in trainer fic. His trainers care about their win/loss ratios, sporting conduct, and technicalities. And these aren't battles between kids in the woods. We spend the first few chapters with the protagonist in the Mauville gym, because he and his zigzagoon work there (a nod to the NPC in RSE and ORAS). I really appreciated that W4F took time to flesh out Mauville and the gym as more than simple checkpoints to pass through.
If you're into Hoenn fic, this one might appeal to you!
Threadmarks Sept Day 6 - She doesn't even go here!
Day 6: Share a fic about friendship highs and lows.
Fic: Find a Way Home by @Equitia
Morgan, a runaway, and Amanda, an autistic girl who barely managed to start her journey, meet and become lost together after a cave-in. Although at first their personalities seem unreconcilable, they realize just how much they have in common as they try to find their way out of Chargestone Cave.
A lowkey, character-focused fic about LGBT+ and neurodivergent friendship.
I normally try to rec stuff from outside TR, but I really enjoyed this story so far, and I think more folks should read it. (Also, maybe this rec will inspire him to write faster??)
Even from the first chapter, Morgan's relationships take center stage: the conflict with their parents, their anxious love for their swoobat, their uneasy relationship with themself, and ... enter Amanda. With the impending cave-in, there is a lot of room for conflict between those two, but I'm also rooting for them already and looking forward to learning more about Amanda. Find a Way Home definitely doesn't skimp out on exploring the inner world of its characters, but it also lovingly renders the natural world. I found the realistic depiction of Chargestone Cave really compelling!
This is also a short read--there's only one chapter up so far on TR!
Threadmarks Sept Day 7 - Composition Class
Day 7: Share a fic with a prose style that inspires you.
Fic: Those Who Will Inherit the Earth by @love
A series of unforeseen events results in a struggle for the sanctity of the planet.
Rating: M for blood and violence in the second half
Length: 30k, complete
I have to admit I stumped myself on this one because there are so many fics I admire for their prose, and I short-circuited for a few days.
Those Who Inherit is a character-driven PMD-verse drama, and the natural world is almost a character unto itself. What I admire most in love's descriptions of nature is that they signal the inner lives of the characters: The protagonist, Poppy, is very knowledgeable about plants and passionate about the environment, so the passages describing plants reflect what she notices and prioritizes. The absence of a character is marked by a patch of "ghost-white lichen." Plants and grass-type pokemon here aren't always about gentleness and nurturing either. The natural world can be foreboding and full of hidden secrets.
I don't normally read a lot of PMD, but I'm really into love's take on guilds, pokemon industries, and how pokemon interact with the natural world--but there's also a lot to like here if you are a longtime PMD fan. The partnership between the adventuring partners is lovely to see and gives the sense of a long history between Poppy and Lavender, even though we never see the beginnings of their friendship. The relationship to the guild is complicated and breaks from the patterns I see repeated a lot. Love never hits you all at once with the world-building--you learn what you need when you need it--and it's always, always kept relevant to the protagonist.
This fic is also an easy read: the chapters are short, and the characters are sweet. You want to know more about them. It definitely deserves more attention and comments, so please take some time to check it out!
day 2! school fics
gonna dig a little deep for this one and embarrass my good friend @Flaze
Fic: Pokemon Academy: Dragon's Roar | Second Year Rhapsody | Childhood's End*
i have absolutely no clue why the thread title in here is what it is.
Summary: there isn't an official one and i felt awkward making one up. see the recs.
Wordcount: a lot? curse the pre-threadmark era of forums. is probably a deadfic, sad.
Rating: Teen, some mild violence, dark situations
potential premise in a nutshell: Reggie Blaze is your typical shonen friend, loud-mouthed, excited to start his first month of classes at Pokemon Elemental Academy, and absolutely unprepared for the meteor that falls outside of his bedroom one night, bringing a pokemon that'll change his life forever.
I normally don't read schoolfic, but this one is a lot of fun--think My Hero Academia before MHA. While the earlier books are a bit older and the author's improved a ton in the decade since the first chapter, at its core are the good elements of a schoolfic--interesting characters, and lots of them! Reggie is the main guy, but for the most part his friends and enemies get to have their share of the spotlight, and the cast feels well-rounded. In general it's kind of a mashup of a few genres, mainly the school system from Harry Potter, the shonen cast from [insert shonen here], the stakes escalation from DBZ, and a dash of fakemon. The core ideas are pretty unique, a lot of the evil plots later on are pretty fun to untangle, and overall it's an interesting character study to watch these kids learn and grow across three years of fic. Fun blend of edgy ideas with light humor mixed in.
Also! This series features perhaps the only interesting pokemon tournament arc that I've seen in the entire written fandom, and watching it executed correctly shed a lot of light for me on the common pitfalls in tournament arcs in fanfic. Characters and stakes, people!
If this is your cup of tea, I'd recommend skipping to Second Year Rhapsody and starting there--there's a summary that catches you up on the events of Dragon's Roar, and even without it for the most part it stands on its own.
Reactions: Flaze and WildBoots
Day 1: a fic you liked when you were younger.
I was actually gonna share No Antidote but @kintsugi beat me to it, and I don't feel I can say enough that she didn't already! So instead I'm sharing Pokémon Ultimatum, which is one of the first fics I can remember reading. It's been revised and completed since I fell off from keeping up with it, and besides, what I remember is mostly the concepts, rather than prose.
Ultimatum is one of several fics in an expansion of the anime continuity, featuring the Team Rocket Trio as major secondary characters, but not so much Ash and Co. As I recall, the overall vibe was dark without being contrived or gratuitous, and there was a big focus on genetic experiments, particularly with legendary/mundane hybrid pokémon. I found that stuff fascinating! In particular, Team Rocket's Meowth is subject to some experiments which render him human, or very nearly human. Although the mechanism by which this was done has changed, the version I remember reading had him immersed in a tank of liquid, gradually transforming from application of a retrovirus. Sound familiar? Yes, this fic was one of the chief inspirations for the basic premise of Different Eyes!
Ultimatum is sort of an adventure-drama as I understand it, featuring a lot of conflict with Team Rocket and their experiments, taking place in a fan-region based on Great Britain. In some ways, it reminds me of @Chibi Pika's Legendarian Chronicles. The author has a lot of attention to detail and creative ideas, and I had a great time with it back in 2007. I hope I manage to read the completed version someday!
Day 4: a fic involving research or science.
The first fic I thought of was Morphic by our very own @Dragonfree, and even though I recall it being mostly about the consequences of some genetic experiments rather than the scientific method itself, I think it counts! The premise is that a team of geneticists are studying how to graft pokémon genes onto humans in order to render highly-effective pokémon medicine applicable to humans, and create a series of hybrid embryos to prove the possibility of this. Except that they are then forced to bring the embryos to term and care for them, despite their quality of life from being hybrids being... variable.
You may know one of the key characters, Dave Ambrose, from his appearance in Blacklight and other community activities in his guise as a very angry poochyena. He headed up the team, and helped raise some of the hybrids, and he swears a lot. Such a fun character. I remember particularly being a fan of his conversations with Mia, the scyther-morph, in which he's desperately trying to get her to, if not understand then at least obey, the social contract, despite her having no readily apparent empathy. Or fear. In fact, I re-read one recently, and it holds up!
I read Morphic around the time I was searching for any and all pokémorph content, and it's the only one that stood out to me through the mists of time as having any kind of thought put into it or being entertaining beyond the superficial. It's not exactly a deconstruction of the concept per se, but it did prompt in me a deeper consideration of the realities of super cool genetic hybrids. Thanks for that, Free!
Day 2: a fic that you learned from.
Those two were fics from the dawn of time. Let's have something more current - from February of this year, in fact. I try to learn from everything I read, but today I'll be talking about Parliament of Steel, by girl-like-substance.
The premise here is that an abnormally large (and sapient) magneton has been captured for study and containment by the League, and steel-type expert Jasmine has been brought in to help deal with the poor thing. The fic is from the magneton's perspective, and "parliament" is what it calls itself, as an aggregate being composed of many tiny minds. Jasmine tries to earn the parliament's trust so that it might eventually be released safely, and much of the fic is the internal conflict in the parliament over how to respond/how it is, in fact, responding.
It is very well-written, and an exceptional piece of xenofiction. It's only got a handful of reviews, largely from TR regulars, but it deserves more.
What I learned from Parliament of Steel was that you can have extremely tight parameters for a story with a very niche concept and still absolutely have it grip the reader, that wild concepts such as a magneton constituted of dozens of magnemite are absolutely worth exploring, and that a character as alien and conflicted as a hostile metallic hive-mind can still induce enormous empathy. I know these things, but I need reminding, and I appreciate any fic that teaches them to me again.
Reactions: Rainfall, Sike Saner, Dragonfree and 3 others
day 3, type matchups!
One Last Choice, by Motherflipping Oak
Summary: After a bloodbath of a tournament, a trainer finally comes to the end of their journey. One-shot inspired by Nuzlocke challenges.
Rating: T for blood and death
Length: 3720 words, complete
realizing now that a lot of fic authors just yeet type matchups out the window and i am proud of them for it. eat that canon
Nuzlocke fics are always weird to me when played straight--how do you get an ethical trainer who (potentially) gets several of their pokemon killed? It opens up a lot of weird questions: are they the only trainer who does this, or is it a normal occurrence in the world they grow up in? Does anyone else care or view them as bad for their friends dying? Why is the trainer even doing this, and to what end are these deaths meaningful? And depending on the answer to each of these questions, imo the question-hydra only really gets bigger and messier, but I think there are ways to answer them and still tell a compelling story. This is one solution.
The strength of the premise is inherently tied to the idea behind the world--dystopic, basically Hunger Games, and that helps justify the stakes and sidetracking for baubles & badges, since it isn't actually what the trainer wants, but what everyone else wants them to do for entertainment and will kill them if they refuse. Battling is much less fun when you don't get a choice and can't say no, and this is a fic that looks that unflinchingly in the eye.
Type-matchups: trainer is assigned a pokemon with massive quad weaknesses and has to confront the ethical quandry of trying to round out their team by putting other people at risk--if they catch more pokemon, then they are less likely to lose, but if they do lose, they have more blood on their hands. What choice do they have?
The story is short and you should read it.
day 4, science and research
breaking my trend and doing a TR rec, oh my!
The Alola Pokedex [FFN | TR], by Persephone
Summary: A guide to the capture, care and keeping of the pokemon of Alola. Contains references to reproduction, anatomy and violence par for the course in an Animal Planet documentary or a biology textbook. Mutually canonical with "Broken Things."
Rating: K+, for references to reproduction, anatomy and violence par for the course in an Animal Planet documentary or biology textbook.
Wordcount: 120k, incomplete, but each chapter is complete
This fic is probably the most-researched fanfic I have read, ever, in my entire life.
An important note--do not be scared by the wordcount; most of the chapters are mutually exclusive and can be read in any order, as they're basically just small articles written on different evolutionary lines in Alola. If you want to get started and aren't sure where, I honestly don't think it's a bad call to just scroll through the index for a pokemon that you think is interesting, and start with that one.
This fic is awesome because it leans into the idea that pokemon are different species than humans--and all of the messy things that training would then entail. The games tend to present us with a very sanitized version of raising pokemon, where they don't need to eat varied diets or hibernate or not be a species that would eat us/their teammates, but does that necessarily have to port to a fanfic setting? This fic is a compelling answer for "no", and provides some interesting and realistic outcomes for how humans would have to work to tame non-human counterparts, as well as some fun alt-histories for how humans and pokemon may have evolved alongside one another. A lot of the research going on behind the scenes here is primarily biology, but there are some excellent references to history, current events, literature, and folklore. The scope and depth of research is frankly baffling but greatly appreciated.
I have learned more about cryptids, duck mating, bat resistance to rabies, the history of pit viper venom in medicine, and VGC 2013 than I would have ever learned otherwise. This story is very interesting and it probably has something that appeals to you. My personal favorite is the Florges chapter for being the only written fanwork that has a higher ratio of [words:T.S. Eliot references] than my own, but there is probably a fascinating article or five in here that will make you rethink pokemon logistics, hopefully in a way that inspires your own takes!
Reactions: Chibi Pika, The Walrein, Persephone and 2 others
Threadmarks Oct Prompts and Recs Compilation
October Prompts
Tricks and Treats
Shiver-shudder. Share a fic about something that scares you.
Booooooo! Share a fic that features a ghost-pokemon.
Let's see who's under that mask! Share a fic about a mystery or a secret.
Trick! Share a fic about someone in disguise.
Treat! Share a fic that made you laugh out loud.
So sweet it hurts! Share your favorite fluff fic or a fic that made you feel some feels.
"Wow, I love that costume!" Share a fic that made you like a pokemon you hadn't previously.
Day 1 Recs: Shiver-shudder. Share a fic about something that scares you.
- Forgotten by Talarc
Day 2 Recs: Booooooo! Share a fic that features a ghost-pokemon.
- Shadow of Nostalgia by MotherFlipping Oak
- so consider this your redemption arc by somehowcoffee
- The End: Rekindled by DeliriousAbsol
- Warped Skies by Team Ion
- Clipping by Act
- In Ghostly Fashion by Negrek
- pcb0000 by Bluwikoon
- Solidarity by Skylark
- PMD: The Dreamstone
Reactions: unrepentantAuthor and kintsugi
Threadmarks October Day 1: Shiver-shudder.
October Day 1: Shiver-shudder. Share a fic about something that scares you.
Day 1: Share a fic about something that scares you.
Fic: Forgotten by Talarc
Summary: I tucked myself into a ball that I now rarely left. How many weeks? Months? How long had I been here? Floating near the centre of my poké ball, I clung to the safety it provided. The outside terrified me. How deep underwater was I now? Surely so far that I was completely cut off. This poké ball was my safe haven, the only place I could stay safe. It became my entire world.
There aren't actually too many pokemon fics about the things that scare me most--and I'm writing one of them! But there are definitely several canon mechanics that give me some fridge horror, and the idea of pokemon being abandoned in their pokeballs is one of them. This fic gives us a visceral view of what it would feel like to be trapped inside a pokeball ... and for it to be their only refuge. I also appreciate that it takes a realistic view of trauma. This situation isn't magically healed overnight and things don't simply return to normal, and that creates strain with the trainer in a way I find very human.
You'll probably like this if you liked Almost Like Flying and maybe if you liked Envy of Eden. It doesn't portray humans or training as evil, but it does ask some pointed questions about pokemon rights.
Threadmarks Oct Day 2: Booooooo!
Day 2: Share a fic that features a ghost-pokemon.
Fic: Shadow of Nostalgia by MotherFlipping Oak
Summary: The Pokemon Tower and its never-shifting fogs are home to countless eerie creatures and rumours. To Jen, it sounded like the perfect trial of guts. However, she couldn't have predicted a chance meeting with a fellow trainer whose starter has gone missing in the tower, nor getting wrapped up in the curious case of Cleyra the cubone.
I'm fudging this one a little: I'm not sure there are ghost-types here, but there are definitely ghosts.
This one-shot takes a rather optimistic approach to ghosts. I wouldn't call it a scary story—more of a mystery. MF Oak does well with stories about kids being kids, and this one is no different. I enjoyed watching Jen size up this situation with a kid's lack of fear and shrewdness. And the ending made me smile.
Here with some late September recs!
September, Day 1: It's the first day of school! Share a fic you liked when you were younger or the first fic you can remember reading.
Fic: Keeping My Sanity: Mirrorscape by purple-drake
Summary: 'Today my hair is red. It could be worse. At least my eyes are still grey.' Lance is having trouble keeping his sanity, and his reflections aren't helping...
Wordcount: ~6,000
I don't remember the first fic I read, and whatever it was, it most likely wasn't pokemon. But this is the first fic I can remember blowing my mind. It's by purple-drake, who is an absolutely amazing writer. I gulped down her pokemonn corpus, and still weep about her unfinished Lance amnesia fic, which I will probably end up reccing at a later date. But for now, I'll focus on Keeping My Sanity, a oneshot with the totally bizarre premise--what if the various portrayals of Lance in the anime, games, and manga all coexisted in a single person. If that doesn't sound too odd to you, keep in mind that anime Lance is a kind-hearted action hero and manga Lance is an eco-terrorist. There's, uh, quite a lot of daylight between them. Purple-drake plays with external differences in hair and eyes, to build a complex internal portrait. She also tackles the question of what it would actually mean to be the sort of action hero Lance is portrayed as in the anime and games. In this oneshot, Lance is assigned to keep guard during a controversial conference on placement of non-native pokemon species. When things take a turn for the worst, what choice will he make? And which part of him will make it?
I won't spoil the end, but suffice to say, it features a scene that still sticks in my mind. It's a moment I can see, hear, feel, smell, and everytime I reread I'm impressed with the simplicity and power of the writing.
September, Day 2: First bell! Share a fic that features schools, teachers, or students OR a fic that you learned from.
Fic: Unoriginality 1: An Original Trainer Story by Farla
Summary: Meet Kazikami, the blue haired seventeen year old just starting her journey, and others! Totally and utterly original, really! No cliches here!
Wordcount: ~ 33,000
Unoriginality is a classic I return to again and again. Each chapter is parodic take-down of a common pokemon fandom cliche. Some of the cliches portrayed in this fic have faded with time and feel like amusing relics of a past point in the fandom. Others are still going strong.
The chapter 'Verbose' always cracks me up--it's a warning about what happens when you push 'description' a wee bit too far. Some choice speech tags in that chapter include "she articulated orally" and "solicited the teenybopper." Other chapters useful structural bits of writing advice, like the fact that you don't have to begin your OT fic with the trainer waking up and getting their first pokemon, or dig into issues specific to the pokemon fandom, like "HOW TO GIVE YOUR STUPID TRAINER AN EEVEE." This fic made me laugh and made me learn, and when I did decide to start writing an OT journey fic, Unoriginality helped me avoid a lot of pitfalls and think a lot more critically about the story I was trying to tell. It's not holy writ--you may feel like your story demands a particular choice--but having interrogated that choice first will make your writing all the stronger.
I recommend Unoriginality to anyone who has an interest in the genre of the Original Trainer journey fic. If you're an old-hand, you'll probably nod your head in recognition at some of the cliches skewered, and if you're newer to the fandom, you'll get a humorous crash-course in what folks before you have down, and what you could do differently.
September, Day 5: Gym class! Share a fic featuring gyms and gym leaders./Day 7: Composition Class! Share a fic with a prose style that inspires you.
Fic: Quiet Mountain, Retreating by manhattan martini
Summary: "Clair, our Gym Leader, is waiting for you." — Clair, Lance, Gold
Wordcount: 3,500
Shh, yes, I know, two Lance fics for one month. But this isn't really a fic about Lance, it's a fic about Clair. Clair has gotten a bit of a bad rap in some parts of fandom because in the games she refuses to accept the player character as worthy of a badge until they take the Dragon's Den test. This fic explores what's going on behind all that. Clair here is frustrated, indignant, trying to prove herself in a community that refuses to allow her to inherit despite her worth. In the span of a oneshot, manhattan martini draws a full world replete with nuanced relationships. The character work is really strong. I know this oneshot influenced me a lot in my perceptions of Lance and Clair, and Blackthorn. The dialogue is very natural, and has some moments of unexpected humor that somehow deepen the overall sense of poignancy in the fic.
The prose style is also lovely. Each word is purposefully chosen, each detail there for a reason, and there's a striking minimalism in the descriptions that nonetheless paints a clear picture. The author's control of flow is also masterful: each sentence carries smoothly into the next. The writing in this one definitely inspired me when I first read it, and really set the bar for what concise, vivid prose can do.
If you enjoy character-studies or appreciate a superbly executed oneshot, I highly recommend giving this fic a read. Also! Features Lance handing out Halloween candy. So I guess this was an appropriate October rec . . .
Threadmarks Oct Day 3: Let's see who's under that mask!
October Day 3: Let's see who's under that mask! Share a fic about a mystery or a secret.


text:
Las Vegas - Saw this picture of the South Korea women's water polo team, and my first reaction was, somebody had an accident, got hurt, and really bad. Actually, it was crying & gobs of tears after the women finally scored a goal. Lemme explain...
Las Vegas - Nope. Not me pulling the pushcart, but do have some thoughts on how to cash...
Las Vegas - Lance Lynn did some fine work for St. Louis in 2012 (18-7), 2013 (15-10) and 2014 (15-10). After that he kinda turned into an average arm, with a 12-11 mark in 2015. Probably because he was hurting, and then missed the entire 2016 season with Tommy John surgery. In 2017, he was 11-8 for St. Loo, then split 2018 between Minnesota (7-8) and the Yankees (3-2). Nobody expected 12-4 this season. NOBODY!
Las Vegas - If you're looking to play an underdog this evening, you've come to the right place. Taking a look at Joe Musgrove and the Pirates over the Cardinals. Musgrove did not set the world on fire at Houston in 2016/17, with an overall 11-12 record, or, in Pittsburgh the last two years with a 12-16 mark. But he seems to have found something since the end of June. In his last four starts, he has allowed just 4 earned runs over 22 innings for a skinny 1.64 ERA.
Las Vegas - Gave you all the head-to-head between Serena and Simona Halep yesterday because they only played 10 times. Would take too much space to recount all the matches between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic since they have played 47 times. They have not played yet this year, but Djoker holds a slim 25-22 lifetime edge on Roger.


Try this easy 4-ingredient side dish when you need a quick veggie side. The flavors of fresh oregano and feta cheese pair well with the fresh asparagus.
Bring 1 cup water to a boil in a large nonstick skillet; add asparagus. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 4 to 5 minutes or until asparagus is crisp-tender. Drain well; place on a serving platter. Drizzle oil over asparagus. Sprinkle with oregano and salt; toss well. Sprinkle with cheese.
We just made this for dinner today. What a quick, simple, tasty vegetable side!
Used dried oregano. Served with buttery scallops in wine sauce and brown rice.
Easy and delicious. Used .5 tsp dried oregano instead of fresh. A definite do-over. Served with flank steak.


text:
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