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What are they up to now?
February 1, 2011 by Joe
It's been a few years since I've done this article, and with it being a new year, I thought I'd have a run at it again. There's been many people in Black Sabbath over the years, and keeping up with what they're all doing can be a challenge. So I've decided to research it, and see what's going on. For the record, a "member" to me means someone who is on a record (beyond a single guest appearance (like IceT or Brian May)), or played live with the band (again, beyond a guest appearance – like Brian May again). So here's a list of everyone and what they've been up to lately. If you have more recent/accurate info than I do (or if you ARE one of these people), please let me know. Tkx.
RIP: First off, I want to mention the three members of Black Sabbath that have died.
Ronnie James Dio: (if you're reading this site, you know what Dio did)
Ronnie James Dio was the vocalist for Black Sabbath/Heaven & Hell on and off from 1980 through till his death in 2010. He had three stints in the band, culminating in the 2009 studio release, "The Devil You Know". Ronnie died due to complications from stomach cancer on May 16, 2010 in Houston, TX.
Website: http://www.ronniejamesdio.com
Cozy Powell: (drummer during the majority of the Tony Martin era)
Cozy joined Black Sabbath, and was there from 1988 through 1991, and again in 1995. He was instrumental in reviving Black Sabbath's name after their popularity collapse in the mid 80's. Cozy died in a car crash on April 5, 1998.
Website: http://www.cozypowell.com (Which I started working on with Cozy, but he died, it turned into a tribute site)
Ray Gillen: (vocalist on the majority of the Seventh Star Tour, and on the Eternal Idol album – demo form)
Ray died of AIDS related complications on December 3, 1993. His version of The Eternal Idol was finally released in November of 2010 as part of a "Deluxe Edition" release of the EI album.
Website: None that I'm aware of.
Don Airey: (played keyboards on 1978's Never Say Die! album)
Since 2002, he has been the keyboardist in Deep Purple, and has spent most of that time fulfilling those duties. Deep Purple are playing Mexico in February of 2011. Additionally, Deep Purple are supposed to record a new studio album in 2011. Don released a solo album in 2008 (A Light in the Sky), as well as playing keyboards on Judas Priest's album Nostradamus that same year. He should be releasing a new solo album in 2011. He's also working on his memoirs.
Website: http://www.donairey.com
Vinny Appice: (played drums on all but one Dio era albums and tours)
Vinny was the incumbent drummer in Heaven & Hell/Black Sabbath when Ronnie died in 2010. The band played one gig in 2010, and then disbanded. Since then, Vinny has been involved with a band called "Big Noize", which has some well known names. Joe Lynn Turner (voc), Carlos Cavazo (g), Phil Soussan (b), Vinny Appice (d). You can check them out at their Myspace page. One short comment: For a band called "Big Noize", the sample track they have at Myspace is a serious slow ballad song. Doesn't fit their name.
Website: http://www.vinnyappice.com
Bev Bevan: (played drums on the 83/84 Born Again Tour, briefly returned in 1987 as well)
Bev was mostly known for his time in ELO, and also had a couple of short stints in Black Sabbath in 83/84 & again in 87. Lately, Bev has been involved in his radio show in England, which I believe is called the "Bev Bevan & Jimmy Franks Show". You can listen to it here on the BBC website. Additionally, Bev will be honoured with a star on the Birmingham Walk of Fame. You can read more about that here.
Mike Bordin: (played drums on the whole Ozzfest 97 tour, except for the last date)
Mike had the misfourtune of playing drums for the "Original Black Sabbath reunion" Ozzfest 97 tour. Most everyone was expecting Bill Ward, but I won't get into the politics of THAT now. Bordin is also well known for playing drums for Ozzy's solo band for awhile, as well as his involvement in Faith No More. FNM is what his recent activity has been about. Mike left Ozzy's band in April 2010, and played some FNM gigs, most recently in December of 2010. It appears that FNM is on hold at the moment, deciding whether to play more gigs or record an album.
Jo Burt: (played bass on the short tour for Eternal Idol in 1987)
When I last did an article like this in January of 2005, I wrote this about Jo Burt.. "I have no idea where to find information on Jo Burt. If you have any, please let me know. Might be involved with a band called "Xit18″, but I'm not sure if it's the same Jo Burt or not." That's changed. Jo has a bit of a presence now. Website, Facebook, Myspace pages. He's mostly been involved with his own project, "The Jo Burt Experience" it would appear.
Website: http://www.joburt.co.uk/ | Myspace | Facebook
Geezer Butler: (founding member – bassist on a ton of albums and tours)
Geezer was the incumbent bassist in Black Sabbath/Heaven & Hell when Ronnie James Dio died in 2010. The band more or less disbanded after a lone tribute gig in 2010. In December 2010, Geezer won the "Metal Guru award" from Classic Rock Magazine. He also appeared at the NAMM show, doing signings at the Ampeg & Samson booths. Finally, Geezer tells me he is writing for a the fourth GZR album, which he said he hopes to have released in 2011. Other than that he spends time at home playing with his Daleks & watching Aston Villa FC. ;)
Website: http://www.geezerbutler.com (which in the interest of full disclosure, I maintain)
Terry Chimes: (Drummer during 1987/1988)
Terry was the drummer for Black Sabbath from Summer of 1987 through the spring of 1988, played during the Eternal Idol tour, and some other oddball live dates in 1987 and 1988. He retired from music in 1994, and since then has operated a Chiropractor's office in London.
Website: Terry has a very small site about his past music here, and his Chiropractic firm has their website here.
Gordon Copley: (bassist in embryonic period of Seventh Star project)
Gordon was involved during the early days of the Seventh Star project as bassist. Sabbath ended up using Dave Spitz as their bassist, but Gordon does appear on the final Seventh Star album, playing bass on the song "No Stranger to Love". No idea what he's up to currently.
Laurence Cottle: (session bassist who is on the Headless Cross album)
Laurence was a session bassist who was hired to play all the bass tracks on the 89 Headless Cross album. He appeared in the music video for the title track, but that was it for him in Black Sabbath. Given he's primarily a session bassist, he's got an extremely large body of work – rather varied too (Hanson Christmas album!). His website does not appear to have been updated since 2007, and his Myspace page since 2009, so I'm not sure what he's currently up to, although he did play bass for the Don Airey band live in 2009 in support of Don's then solo album. 2011? Probably some project somewhere. :)
Website: http://www.laurencecottle.com | Myspace
Bob Daisley: (recorded bass tracks for 87 album, "The Eternal Idol")
Bob recorded the bass tracks for the Eternal Idol album (ironically almost a full year before the album was actually released). He didn't join the band after that, and went on to numerous projects. Most recently he made an appearance on the 2010 album by Thomas Tomsen, "Sunflickers". There is apparently a new "Living Loud" album under way as well.
Website: http://www.bobdaisley.com
Dave Donato: (vocals after Born Again, but before Seventh Star)
Dave Donato demoed with the band after the Born Again tour split up, but before the band itself split up in 1985. Nothing Donato recorded has been officially released. After that, he was in an 80's hair metal band called "White Tiger" (with the late Kiss guitarist Mark St. John). Last I heard of him, he was out of music and was working at a motorcycle shop in Anaheim California. However, that info is several years old, I don't know if it's still valid now. In researching this piece, I found what might be him as a photographer & DJ, but I'm trying to find out if that's the same Dave Donato or not. :)
Website: None that I'm aware of (or none that I'm positive is the same guy)
Ian Gillan: (vocals for Born Again album and tour)
After Ian left Black Sabbath in 1984, he went back to Deep Purple, and save for a year or so around 1991, he's been there ever since. He does the odd solo project here and there, too. Most recently he lent his voice to a Polish documentary called "Chopin – The Polish Years". Of more direct interest to fans of this site, he teamed up with several other musicians to record a charity song called "Out of my Mind". The others on that song are Tony Iommi, Nicko McBrain, Jason Newsted, & Jon Lord. None of which should need an explanation. This should be released early in 2011. Plus there's the ongoing Deep Purple activities (live shows in Mexico in Feb, new album in 2011).
Website: http://www.gillan.com
Rob Halford: (vocals for three single gigs – two in 92, one in 04)
Rob stepped in for three gigs, and isn't what I consider to be the "biggest" member in the band's history, but he did perform with Black Sabbath three times, so it counts. He's obviously known for Judas Priest primarily. However, Rob recently toured with his "Halford" band on Ozzfest 2010 (such as that tour was). It was also announced that Judas Priest will commence on a farewell tour in 2011 (as well as a new studio album), so I imagine prep work for that is going on now.
Website: http://www.robhalford.com
Glenn Hughes: (vocals on Seventh Star album, first few gigs of that tour)
Glenn Hughes was in the band during a rather confusing part of their history. He sang vocals on the Seventh Star album, and after his time in Sabbath, he's done a bunch of things, including singing on a couple of Tony Iommi solo albums. Glenn has been touring with his solo band in 2010, and going into 2011, he's involved with a new project called Black Country Communion, which will play live dates (as well as his solo band). He's also due to ship his autobiography in May.
Website: http://www.glennhughes.com/
Tony Iommi: (everything!)
If you're reading this, I don't need to tell you about Tony's past. Going into 2011, it's been reported that Tony has been writing new music. Where this new music will come out is unknown, whether it be Black Sabbath (unlikely, IMO) or a renamed Heaven & Hell with a new singer, or a new Iommi solo album – it hasn't been said. He's also working on his autobiography, which is supposed to be out later this year. He also has recorded some material for a charity benefit to be released this spring, I believe. The "band" on the track(s) is an allstar one – Iommi, Ian Gillan, Jon Lord, Jason Newsted, & Nicko McBrain. He's also supposedly working on a "proper mix" of Born Again to release sometime this year. :)
Website: http://www.iommi.com
Ron Keel: (Ron was briefly in Sabbath in 1984)
Ron was involved in the band after the Born Again tour when Tony & Geezer tried to keep it together (see Dave Donato). Ron never recorded anything, but some demos allegedly exist (which I've never run into). After that, he formed his own band Keel, which has been together and apart over the years. He also plays country music under the name "Ronnie Lee Keel". Late in 2010, he was touring again with his Keel band after having released a new album in 2010 named "Streets of Rock & Roll".
Website: http://www.ronkeel.com/
Tony Martin: (Lead vocalist from 1987 to 1991 and 1993 to 1996)
Tony Martin sang lead vocals on 5 studio & 1 live album in the 80's and 90's. His part of the band's history is one that I will never let be forgotten on this site. Anyway, after Black Sabbath, he guested on a ton of projects, had a couple of solo albums of his own, and tours the world (but not the US) with his solo band. The last I heard of Tony, he was writing for a new solo album (supposedly called "The Book of Shadows"), but there's no word on it's progress or release. Tony doesn't have a website as such, so it's hard to get new info on him. He does have a Myspace page, but that hasn't been updated with anything new since March 2010. He did contribute some guest vocals on an album called "Victims of the Modern Age" by Arjen Lucassen's "Star One" project. That came out in October 2010. He's currently working with Dario Mollo on new songs for the "Cage 3" project (They worked together previously on two other Cage albums). Tony, you need a website, darnit!
Website: Myspace Page
Neil Murray: (Bassist from 1989 to 1991 and again from 1993 to 1996)
Neil played bass for Sabbath from 1989 through 1991 and again from 1995 through 1996. He, like his friend the late Cozy Powell were known for playing in tons of bands. Most recently, Neil has been involved in the Queen stage show, "We Will Rock You" for a few years now, playing bass in that. In fact, the last time I did this article in 2005, I had that same project for Neil as his current gig. Neil contacted me with an additional update, here's what he said about himself:
In 2010 I did a short tour in Japan with the Michael Schenker Group, following on from playing on their album In The Midst Of Beauty, and I'll be on one track of Michael's next album. I also formed a band with ex-Whitesnake original guitarist Micky Moody called Monsters of British Rock, mostly playing classic Whitesnake songs, along with guitarist Laurie Wisefield (Wishbone Ash, Tina Turner, Joe Cocker and many more), drummer Harry James from Thunder, and singer Chris Ousey from Heartland. We did a few festivals in the UK & Europe last year and we plan to do a lot more shows in 2011.
Geoff Nicholls: (Keyboardist from 1979 through 2001, with the odd bass bit here and there)
After Geoff's time in Sabbath, he hooked up with Tony Martin, and was the keyboardist for the Tony Martin band. Geoff has also written some soundtrack stuff here and there. He has continued to play in Tony's band, but what he's been up to since they last played is unknown to me. I've asked him, if I get an update, I'll update this article.
Ozzy Osbourne: (Vocalist from 1968-1979 and again from 1997 to 2005)
Ozzy released a new studio album in 2010, that being "Scream". He's been touring on that album for some time now, and continues to tour into 2011. This tour should take up most of his time in 2011. After that, who knows?
Website: http://www.ozzy.com.
Bobby Rondinelli: (Drummer from 1993-1995)
Bobby recorded the 94 album, "Cross Purposes" toured behind that, and came back halfway through the tour for Forbidden (after the US tour ended). He's also known for being in several other popular bands such as Rainbow, Blue Oyster Cult, & Quiet Riot. He's most recently been involved with a band called "Over the Rainbow", which is made up of all former Rainbow members (save one, the son of Ritchie Blackmore). They toured until mid 2010, at which point they took a breather. Bobby has said that Over the Rainbow is going to record an album, so I'm going to guess that's what they're working on, as I can't find any current info on his activities. If I find some other info, I'll update this story.
Website: Myspace.
Eric Singer: (Drummer from 1985-1987)
Eric plays drums on the Seventh Star & Eternal Idol albums, and played on the complete Seventh Star tour. He's also known for being the drummer for a far longer time in Kiss. A band he continues to play in to this day. Kiss released a new (pretty good too) studio album in 2009, "Sonic Boom". Toured behind that into mid 2010. Kiss is going into the studio this month to record a follow up to Sonic Boom, and then back out on the road again. That's pretty much what Eric has been up to. His own solo project plays scattered live dates (in fact, as I wrote this, one was announced for March 2011 in Finland). Also in 2010, one of the best forgotten albums I've ever heard was re-released, that being the first Badlands album. Eric played drums on that, and if you never heard it – man, you're missing out. Check it out.
Website: http://www.eric-singer.com/.
Dave Spitz: (Bassist from 1985-1987)
Dave played bass for Sabbath on the Seventh Star album, that tour, and a few scattered gigs in 1987. He's credited, but doesn't play on the Eternal Idol album as such (although he does make an appearance via a B-Side inclusion on the 2010 Deluxe Edition version). After that, he mostly stopped playing music and went to law school. He is currently a trial lawyer in Florida. He dabbled in small bands here and there, including one with Niko McBrain (McBrain Damage), and another called Deepset, but is currently playing in his own Black Sabbath tribute band, called "War Pigs" (as well as doing the lawyer stuff).
Adam Wakeman: (Keyboardist from 2004-2005)
Adam Wakeman played keyboards (and backup guitar) for Black Sabbath during the Ozzfest 2004 & 2005 tours. Since then, he's been the keyboardist in Ozzy's solo band, as well as his own projects here and there (including Headspace). He co-wrote five songs on the Scream release Ozzy put out last year, and continues to tour with Ozzy on that album. I saw that show in Dallas, and whenever Ozzy plays a Sabbath track, Adam comes out on stage playing guitar – which surprised me. Not that he plays backup guitar, I've known about that for years, but that he was on stage like another guitarist. :)
Website: http://www.adamwakeman.co.uk
Dave Walker: (Vocalist early in 1978)
Dave Walker is most known as being the vocalist that originally replaced Ozzy in Black Sabbath (Not Ronnie Dio). He worked on the Never Say Die album in late 77, early 78, but didn't appear on the final product. Did play live with Sabbath once on TV in Jan 1978. He's way more known as being the vocalist in Fleetwood Mac & Savoy Brown. Most recently, he's been performing with a revamped "Dave Walker Band", and they released an album in July 2010 entitled, "Crazy all the Time". They are continuing to tour into 2011.
Website: http://www.davewalkerband.com/
Bill Ward: (Founding dummer – 1968-1980, various other times)
Founding drummer in Black Sabbath from inception till 1980. Was in and out of the band several times over the next 14 years or so, until finally settling back for good behind the skins in late 1997, until the band stopped touring together after 2005. He was in the early incarnation of "Heaven & Hell", but bowed out. He's kept a relatively low profile since then, focusing mostly on his monthly radio show, "Rock 50", which has been ongoing for about a decade now. He's also been working on a new studio album (Beyond Aston) since around 1998, but what the release status of that actually is remains unknown. He made a rare TV appearance in late 2010, appearing on Eddie Trunk's "That Metal Show". You can view that episode here.
Website: http://www.billward.com/
Jezz Woodroffe: (Keyboardist, 1975 through 1977)
Jezz was Sabbath's keyboardist in the mid 70's from 1975 through 1977. He also was Robert Plant's solo band keyboardist in the 80's. In 2004, he released an album entitled "In Through the Swing Door", which is a swing Jazz cover album of Led Zeppelin songs. If you go to his website, that's still the most recently released album, although the website says he's written and released many things with his long standing writing partner, Sally Hope.
Website: http://www.jezzwoodroffe.co.uk/
You can discuss this story on my web forums by clicking here.
Additionally, if you'd like some more detail on the band's history, check out my timeline page.


With such a physical sport, it is inevitable for injuries to occur. Yoga has been known to help heal all kinds of injuries in the body, and work its magic on the most fragile and battered individuals. With the right teacher, boxers could use yoga as a means to heal their bodies from years of fights.
The most obvious connection between yoga and boxing is the physical aspect. Boxers are in peak physical form and work hard to achieve their strength. It is important for their entire bodies to be toned, not just their arms.
The following yoga poses work to strengthen the entire body, and are the perfect yoga poses for boxers.
Also known as the top of a push up, Plank requires attention to the entire body. In Plank, engage your abs, quads, biceps, and triceps to evenly distribute the weight.
Holding this pose alone won't build muscle because it's static, but there are ways to take it to the next level. Play with coming down onto your forearms with hands interlaced for a forearm push up which will incorporate the shoulders as well. Alternate between High and Low Plank a few times to get the muscles really working.
This challenging pose takes a lot of practice and even more strength. While it is necessary to have a good amount of upper body strength, to perfect Handstand, you must also have a strong core.
In the beginning, it is a good idea to practice at a wall. From Down Dog, walk your feet up behind your hands. Practice lifting one leg in the air and then using the other foot to push off the ground, trying to bring that leg up to meet the other. Switch legs to give each side the chance to keep things even. Eventually, you'll be able to use the strength of your core to slowly raise both legs at the same time.
Once in the pose, engage the arms, core, and legs to maintain balance. Your entire body will be working to keep you aloft, and the blood will start flowing to your heart and brain, making you more alert and energized.
The pose of the warrior exudes strength and power.
Stepping the left foot to the back of the mat, rotate the heel down and make sure that your front heel is aligned with the arch of the back foot. Bend deeply into the front knee and extend the arms wide, reaching the right arm forward, and the left back. The hips should be open to the left side and your gaze out over your right hand.
This pose engages the quads, core, and shoulders. The longer you hold it, the more of a challenge you'll experience. To make it a muscle building exercise, try straightening the right leg and then bending it again, pulsing up and down slowly. Make sure to repeat on the other side.
Beyond the physical benefits of these poses, each requires extreme focus and commitment. Boxers have to be completely present when they enter the ring. If they are thinking about anything other than the task at hand, their attention will wander, leaving them vulnerable to their opponent.
Part of practicing yoga is quieting the mind, harnessing attention, and gaining focus. In many poses, we literally focus our gaze at one singular point. For boxers, this will hopefully translate to a mental preparedness in addition to physical training.
Practicing yoga can offer a nice, calming counterpart to what is a mentally and physically grueling sport. Having time to connect with the inner self could create the space for a different perspective on life, beyond the experiences in training and in the ring. It can also help to leave the aggression in the ring and release stress and tension.
Are you a boxer who practices yoga? Which poses help you best? Share with us below!


Thanks for checking in, my fellow loungers!
Hope the weekend is off to a glorious start wherever you are in the world. I have the luxury of a long weekend here in Toronto. But there is no time to rest. Lots to do, and still enjoy the weather.
A reminder...please check in to More Than Just Lounge, our Saturday night block of programming where it's more than just.... well, lounge! It's lounge with a beat, and special tracks suited just for Saturday night. Kicking off at 18.:00 ET here in Toronto with Koop Kooper's Cocktail Nation Sneak Preview, the sounds continue to 5:00 AM, when The Hangover Show brings you back down with all-chill till 13:00 ET.
Well, take a look at this week! Luederwaldt has been relieved of his position at the top to make room for Cantoma! Papik has made a bit of a jump - I think you all just discovered Fujiko's Theme!
A big shoutout to fans of Eileezus, who have helped push her into The Top Ten this week. A well deserved jump, if I do says so myself.
Someone who is always welcome here at This is Lounge is Peter Pearson, and this recent release is no disappointment. Tune in to hear In Love With You, throughout the day and night.
Again, thank you, as always, for supporting the station and the artists. It is most certainly appreciated.


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You are here: Home / Reviews / Wizorb Review—It's a Kind of Magic
Wizorb Review—It's a Kind of Magic
It's amazing how much a simple twist can add to a genre. Wizorb is either the fifth or sixth Breakout-style (or Arkanoid-style) game released in the Minis program so far (and the second from the publisher, Beatshapers, who also brought us BreakQuest), yet it seems to have generated a lot of buzz based on its premise of adding RPG elements.
Alas, in practice, the RPG elements are fairly minor. Essentially, you can walk through a JRPG-style town and talk to people, who ask for money to help rebuild their town and, in exchange, give you a gameplay item. As you return to the town, you can see the buildings of the people you helped get rebuilt.
The town after being rebuilt
So, Wizorb is primarily a Breakout/Arkanoid-style game. Atari's Breakout was the first game in the genre, essentially being a single-player version of Pong. You control a paddle and bounce a ball towards layers of bricks, which disappear when they are hit by the ball, but not before bouncing the ball back towards you. It was a fairly simple, but fun, game. Later, Arkanoid from Taito greatly expanded the gameplay, adding power-ups and all sorts of unusual layouts, revitalizing and popularizing the gameplay for a new generation.
In practice, Wizorb plays somewhere between the two. While it features some very elaborate layouts of bricks, it really lacks the many power-ups found in Arkanoid. There are some, but these are used on demand, rather than as random drops. The whole premise of Wizorb is that you are playing a wizard, and thus, the power-ups effects are now spells. To cast them, you simply press a button—X for black magic, Square for white magic (O is used to speed up the paddle).
One of the earlier stages
What exactly happens depends on whether or not the ball is on your paddle. If it's not, X produces a fireball shooting up from your paddle to zap a block or monster, while if it is, it charges up the ball so it destroys any brick it touches, even bricks that normally take more than one hit to destroy. White magic with Square lets you control the ball for a brief moment.
The catch is that you need to spend magic to use these abilities, the current amount of which is displayed by a meter at the right of the screen. You build up the meter by catching certain drops when bricks are destroyed. The most common drop, though, is gold; magical drops seem to be rather scarce. Sometimes other things drop: keys, which can be used to open doors. Doors occur on many levels, and when you move the ball through an unlocked door, it pauses the level and takes you to an item shop where you can use gold to buy things like more lives or magic potions, or sometimes an upgrade to your paddle.
There are five different worlds, each with twelve levels plus a boss fight at the end. Every world shares the same graphic style and has the same sort of monsters, little critters that walk about the stage and which you need to kill by hitting them with the ball multiple times. On most levels, monsters are sort of a throw-in, but on a few, they are the primary objective.
Two things really determine the quality of a game like this: level design and controls. The genre was originally meant for a paddle or dial controller, which lets you do fine or gross movements with ease. That's not the case with a D-pad or a nub, but Wizorb controls as well as any game played with a D-pad. The paddle is not at all twitchy, but solid, and while a bit slow, you can speed it up temporarily with the O button, or by going into the controls menu and changing the default speed.
The level design doesn't quite match the excellent controls. While the variety is good, with lots of special blocks, the overall pace of some levels is slow, often requiring you to use indirect shots to hit one or two hard-to-reach blocks. In practice, that sort of thing is just monotonous, creating tedium, not difficulty. And while there are boss battles which are very well done and creative, they occur after twelve levels, which is a lot. Bear in mind, the original Breakout had only 2 levels, after which they apparently assumed you'd get tired of playing.
The graphics remind me of the early 90s, when PCs had VGA cards and developers would sometimes opt to use the high resolution mode but with only 16 colors. There's a lot of detail to the graphics, but it's not that colorful; things look a bit flat, but not at all blocky, like in console games of that time. The music is absolutely charming, though, and if there is one aspect that is pure JRPG goodness, it's the music.
I did like the RPG veneer to the game, though it's just begging to be developed further. The problem with Wizorb, however, is the level design—so many levels are apparently designed to be tricky, requiring indirect shots. I played nearly 15 minutes trying to get the last brick on one level. I ran into that a lot, though no others took quite that long. The size of each world was also too great—rather than having twelve stages, six would have been better. It just feels like it takes too long to get to the good stuff.
Still, despite the monotony at times, Wizorb did keep me glued to the PSP. As far as Breakout/Arkanoid-type games go, I would say it's not quite as good as BreakQuest or Bashi Blocks, but much better than the others. And its overall design is quite clever, even if the level design is not always so.
Posted by JeremyR on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 at 8:58 am
Filed under Reviews · Tagged with Beatshapers, Tribute Games, Wizorb
6 Responses to "Wizorb Review—It's a Kind of Magic"
Wolfenprey says:
Good review!! The type of game i need for summer season. Love the design. But I´ll wait to buy it a little, just in case you make another awesome contest or something…
Huicho says:
"It just feels like it takes too long to get to the good stuff."
I actually like that it was long.
"I would say it's not quite as good as BreakQuest"
…BreakQuest has a 7.5, but this has an 8.
Anyways, nice review. And you did the review pretty quick. I would give this game a 9.5. I love this game.
To be fair, Jeremy didn't review that game.
Oh, Maura did that one.
Jeremy, if you had reviewed the game BreakQuest, what would you have given it.
Shazbots says:
I know Im late to the party but I just bought this game and is very fun and addicting. I really enjoy the boss battles and the RPG take on it =)
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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These are brainstorming notes for requirements for an image format for lossless compression of multispectral and hyperspectral images.
See [references.md](references.md) for a list of articles and sample data.

## Use cases
* Archiving satellite imagery
* Viewing satellite imagery in desktop GIS tools
* Rendering satellite imagery in web tools
* Processing satellite imagery in analysis tools

### Other potential use cases
* Compressing remote sensing data before transmission
* Archiving, viewing and processing medical imagery
* Archiving, viewing and processing scientific imagery

## Requirements

### Required features for the algorithm and the file format
* support for multiple channels
* support for lossless compression
* support for 8 bit (uint8) and 16 bit (uint16) data.
* support for metadata:
  * georeferencing
  * XMP (as in geotiff files) and exif (as in jpeg files)
  * lossless metadata (converting from a GeoTiff and back preserves metadata)
* tile support (for fast viewing)
* interlacing support (like Adam7) AND/OR pyramid support (for fast viewing at lower resolutions)

### General requirements
* has to be "free"
  * not patent encumbered
  * OSI approved open source license
* has to be "simple"
  * means "design the algorithm and the implementation such that as little as possible documentation is needed to fully document the algorithm and the implementation", in other words, "if it is fundamentally hard to explain it's not simple"
  * implies making elegant choices and writing clean code.
* has to be "well documented"
  * means "not lacking any vital documentation"
  * implies documented code for the reference implementation
* has to be "reliable"
  * needs complete test suite including fuzzying
  * needs real world testing

### Desired features
* reuse open formats and standards as much as possible.
  * do not reinvent the wheel where a good solution already exists.
* use an open container like [Matroska](https://github.com/Matroska-Org/libmatroska) or RIFF (like [webp](https://developers.google.com/speed/webp/docs/riff_container)) and take advantage of the metadata infrastructure that those containers provide.
* support for a "no data" value (equivalent to an alpha channel with full transparency, but maybe embeddable in the data itself
* support for different resolutions for different channels (hard!)
* support for different bit dephts for different channels (hard)
* support for metadata for individual channels (bit depth, type of data)
* custom metadata
  * meta metadata - an embedded documentation of the custom metadata (no more undocumented "vendor tags")
* support for 32-bit floating point (float32) data
* support for signed integer data
* no intrinsic limits on number of bands
* compression at least in the same ballpark as JPEG2000 and hopefully [FLIF](https://github.com/FLIF-hub/FLIF)
* support for lossy compression without generation loss (as in [FLIF](https://github.com/FLIF-hub/FLIF))
* implementation of the "time" dimension (animation/movie, but with time tagged frames)
  * seek to time
  * intra frames compression
  * hyperspectral video

### Random notes
* take a look into video codecs. will not meed all requirements but may provide insights into compressing hyperspectral images (original idea sprouted from [a discussion in the FLIF repository](https://github.com/FLIF-hub/FLIF/issues/312), Jon suggested using an animation to encode multiple bands, I wonder why not use a video codec then?)
* take a look into other image formats
  * jpeg2000 has great implementations, but is not free
  * FLIF supports only three spectral channels plus an alpha channel (RGBA)
  * WebP also supports only RGBA
  * Geotiff has poor compression (check again, maybe it has other options).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Surely we do not need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you or from you, do we? 2You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all; 3and you show that you are a letter of Christ, prepared by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, 6who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
The commentary does not cover 2 Corinthians 3:1-6.


Another direction of our activity is dedicated improving and upgrading classical electric machines to enhance their performances and make them possible to withstand against higher stresses, hard weather (for outdoor operation), etc. and to meet MIL standards if it is required.
We offer a rather small sensorless outrunner (350 g.) suitable for light UAV incl. helicopters (up to 18" prop and for) to be improved to output ~ 25% more power, be more efficient (especially at high speed) and work under serve weather conditions.


Healthy Action Step of the Day: Be genuinely interested in others.
Be genuinely interested in others. In Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy, Sarah Ban Breathnach says that "When we are genuinely interested in others, a graciousness comes over us that is compelling." This effort benefits us because it helps to bring meaning to every moment. It benefits those we are interacting with because it makes them feel like they have our complete and genuine attention and that what they're saying truly matters because they matter – something we all want to feel whether we're at work or at home.
Sarah suggests that we can start this today by not rushing our encounters with co-workers, family and friends and to act as if every conversation we have is the most important thing on our minds – no matter how busy we are. Then she challenges us to see how different we feel at the end of the day. I know for a fact that this works. When I can do this, both my mind and my body are in an entirely different place than when I rush through the day acting as if checking off my to do list is the most important thing as opposed to my interactions with others.
This entry was posted in Healthy Action Steps and tagged genuine, genuine interest, graciousness, mindfulness, Sarah Ban Breathnach. Bookmark the permalink.


18-26 RWHP are typical with this kit.
Standard finish is an OEM looking black textured plastic and also available in your cars exact body color. All painted tubes go through an in-depth process to remove all the texture, then we use only the best quality materials to give each tube a smooth gloss finish.


text:
Saints Home Runs Haunt Birds
By Adam Bertsch
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Walks and home runs haunted the Sioux Falls Canaries as they fell to the St. Paul Saints 6-4 in the back-and-fourth rubber game.
St. Paul (10-11) scored all of their runs by way of the homer on Sunday afternoon. Grant Kay finished the day three for four with a home run for the Birds (12-8). Mitch Ghelfi, Max Murphy and John Silviano all went deep for the Saints.
Both teams fell scoreless in the first inning before St. Paul got on the board in the bottom of the second. Josh Allen and John Silviano both reached on walks before Mitch Ghelfi hit a three-run home run to give the Saints the 3-0 lead.
Another scoreless inning in the third before Kay hit a three-run home run of his own. The homer came after a Clint Coulter single and a Logan Landon walk and tied the game at three.
The Canaries took a 4-3 lead in the fifth when an error by the Saints starter Eddie Medina allowed Andrew Ely to score.
The Saints retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Josh Allen reached on a two-out walk and Max Murphy deposited a ball into the right field party deck to make the score 5-4 Saints. John Silviano then hit a solo home run to right to extend the lead to 6-4.
That is where the scorign would end. The Birds gained just one baserunner in the final three innings against the Saints bullpen.
Eddie Media earned his first win of the season for St. Paul. Ty Culbreth took his first loss of the season for Sioux Falls.
After an off day on Monday July 27, a new opponent comes to the Birdcage. The Milwaukee Milkmen start a three game series with the Sioux Falls Canaries on Tuesday, July 28. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Birds fans can find information on how to watch and listen at SFCanaries.com.


We are a ministry that Serves the Families of our Youth though Evangelization Nights and Retreats. As Adults with the Blessed Responsibility of Family we can get caught up in taking care of others and forget our Spiritual Needs. Get involved and see why so many are having an Eucaristic Awakening.


Charles Son is a director based at Pictures in a Row, a production and editorial company in Hollywood, California. He has worked on a broad range of projects including narrative films, documentaries, and commercials. In addition to directing, he is an award-winning commercial editor as well as a music video cinematographer. He began his filmmaking career by making short films with his parents' camcorder as a young kid in suburban Ohio. Those films have all mysteriously disappeared into a shoebox in a basement somewhere — never to be seen again. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
Eugene Lee Yang (also known as ELY) is a narrative filmmaker who works as a freelance director, editor, and choreographer for music videos and commercials. ELY is known for his unique cinematic point of view, often seamlessly blending narrative, dance, and contemporary social issues. He founded his own production company, The Menagerie, in 2012 where he serves as Executive Producer and Creative Director, working with a diverse array of music artists and organizations. He was the Grand Prize winner of the LG Fame US contest, received an Honorable Mention in the Vanity Fair/Banana Republic commercial short film awards, and was a Fellow in Film Independent's Project Involve program. Eugene received his B.A. in Cinematic Arts Production from the University of Southern California.
Before Evelyn Lee could walk, she was crawling around with crayons in her hands attacking any clean wall she could get to. That passion eventually led her to attend the MFA program in Animation at Cal Arts where her thesis film, Kanizsa Hill, won several awards and screened at various festivals. She has worked at several postproduction and animation studios where she worked on numerous features films, television episodes, and commercial spots as a visual effects artist, a designer, and an animator. She recently began to direct viral spots and branded short films for various clients while developing her script for a feature film. She attended the 2012 Berlinale Talent Campus and was a Film Independent Fellow in 2013.
Genevieve Erin O'Brien is a Queer Vietnamese/Irish/American artist, culinary adventurer, community organizer, and educator. O'Brien lives and works in Los Angeles and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. She holds an MFA in Performance from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In 2009, O'Brien was a Fulbright Fellow in Vietnam. O'Brien uses performance, video and installation to explore notions of "home" and "homeland". Her conceptual and durational performances, one-woman shows, as well as installations and videos have been presented at galleries and public venues both nationally and internationally. She believes in unicorns and also loves noodles and dumplings.
My name is Justin Tan, a Malaysian-American comedian/filmmaker, based in LA. At seventeen, I produced my first feature film, which has played at festivals worldwide. I received my BA in Film Directing from UCLA's School of Theater, Film, and Television and have worked as a PA/Writers PA on NBC's "The Office," "Guys with Kids," and Fox's "New Girl." Most recently, I worked at 20th TV as the Development Assistant to Ruben Fleischer. As a comedian, I was a Finalist in the Laugh Factory's Laugh Bowl competition and perform improv comedy weekly at The Improv Space.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Masami Kawai is a filmmaker and activist. She participated in Film Independent's diversity program, Project Involve, and was a selected director in the Francis Ford Coppola One-Act play series. She is currently working on a documentary about her father, who was a Los Angeles based artist from the Pacific island of Amami and was part of the L.A. minimalist movement. She is also developing a feature script about a Korean-American family set against the 1992 L.A. uprising. She received her MFA from UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television and BA from Hampshire College.
Nicole Miyahara is a filmmaker from the Silicon Valley who specializes in documentary and ethnographic media. She holds a BA in anthropology and recently completed a MA in visual anthropology at the University of Southern California. There she produced and directed "The Making of a King," which examines the experiences and challenges of drag kings in Los Angeles. Her future plans are to pursue a PhD in Anthropology and Media Studies. In her spare time she enjoys exploring Los Angeles, making jewelry, and a tasty Manhattan.
Soo-Hyun Chung was born in Seoul, Korea and began working in the film and television industry in the mid '90s. She is a 2008 Film Independent Screenwriters Lab Fellow for her screenplay, Groupie. For ten years, she was a senior writer/director in the MTV On Air Promos department, where her work won her a Creativity Gold. She was the writer/director for many of the most popular MTV Artist of the Week series, a ground breaking effort to bring music back to the channel. These artists included: Tegan and Sara, MIA, Yelle, Gossip and Santigold. While still a student at NYU, she wrote the lead piece for the Village Voice's "Rock and Roll Quarterly" about her experience as a Korean female on tour with Ice-T. She also worked in publicity for nine inch nails and Marilyn Manson, while writing for magazines such as Mixmag, Surface, Big, One World, and more.
In 2011, Raymond Lai graduated from USC's School of Cinematic Arts with an MFA in Production. His thesis film, the award-winning live-action/animated sitcom pilot At Your Convenience, which he co-wrote and directed, has screened at festivals across the country. He is currently developing his first feature, the coming of age dramedy Kaiman's First Cut, which was selected for Project Catalyst at the 2013 LA Asian Pacific Film Festival, and is also directing and producing a documentary about the World Chinese Basketball Invitational Tournament, an annual basketball tournament for Chinese men and women over the age of 40.
After finishing my schooling at a British boarding school in the Indian mountains, I shifted base to the city of Mumbai to pursue my studies in Mass Media. After working extensively with the renowned Indian filmmaker 'Vishal Bhardwaj' as an assistant director for almost tree years, I also had the opportunity to edit theatrical trailers for three Bollywood films and numerous television advertisements, write plays and make my own independent Documentaries, Short Films and Music videos - a few of which have secured awards at festivals in the international arena. I'm presently honing my filmmaking skills at Art Center College of Design, Pasadena.


When it comes to a New England vacation, New Hampshire offers some of the most authentic and iconic places to visit. This small, coastal state is perfect for year-round holidays. New Hampshire boasts some of the largest ski mountains along the East Coast, which makes it a perfect escape for couples who are looking for a picture-perfect winter escape, or somewhere to go during the holiday seasons.
During the summer time, New Hampshire is a popular destination for summer cottages, water sports, and exploring some of the beautiful landscape and scenery. New Hampshire geography consists of mountainous regions, miles of forests and woods, lakes and even pieces of the coast.
Couples who are looking for a historic, colonial bed and breakfast will be able to find the best of the best, along with those who are just looking to escape to a cabin in the woods for a weekend. Whatever your taste, New Hampshire is sure to deliver some of the best romantic getaways that New England has to offer.
Nestled in the very heart of New Hampshire's White Mountains region, the Mountain View Grand Resort is surrounded by the wonder and beauty of New Hampshire's landscape, while still offering all of the elegance and luxury amenities of first class resorts. There are 141 guest rooms and suites for couples to enjoy, each one blending seamlessly into the stunning views that are just outside the window.
Dining can be casual and fun, or relaxed and formal. Mountain View Grand Resort offers several different dining venues, each with a farm-to-table menu from casual to fine dining. Onsite at the resort, Tower Spa awaits couples who can't wait to let the stress of their day to day lives melt away with a luxury spa treatment. Along with the spa, Mountain View Grand Resort offers an array of activities, from golfing to white river rafting.
Located in Bretton Woods, the Omni Mount Washington Resort is a luxury escape that has been a retreat for famous poets, celebrities, and even presidents of years long past. Couples will enjoy any one of the resort's numerous guest rooms or suites where they can get a stunning, panoramic view of the nearby Presidential Mountain Range. The resort and rooms have a beautiful Spanish renaissance style and architecture, along with luxury amenities.
The Main Dining Room at the resort serves breakfast and dinner every day, while other onsite restaurants also offer their own unique and delicious cuisine, from a pub and steakhouse to a speakeasy style bar. Omni Mount Washington Resort has endless activities to explore, such as a golf range, a luxury spa, canopy tours and trail rides at the local equestrian center.
The Eastern Slope Inn Resort is an elegant and historic building, offering both luxury accommodations for guests as well as a peek into the past. Located in North Conway Village, the resort is part of the National Register of Historic Places. Couples will be surrounded by 40 acres of lawn and gardens, perfect for a secluded vacation while also being within quick walking distance of the nearby town. The Eastern Slope Inn Resort offers 250 different rooms and suites that have a throwback of historic charm, updated with modern amenities.
Flatbread Company is the onsite restaurant at the resort that offers organic and local ingredients, as well as artisan dishes that are handmade from an earth stone oven, perfect for breakfast, lunch and dinner. While the Eastern Slope Inn Resort does offer an indoor pool, there are even more fun activities to explore around the resort, from hiking to kayaking to ice-skating in the winter.
Perfect for a winter escape, the Attitash Mountain Village resort is located at the base of the Attitash Ski Resort in North Conway. The resort is surrounding by the beautiful mountain peaks, covered in native pine trees, offering a picturesque winter escape. Accommodations include 350 guest rooms and suites, though couples who are looking for an extra bit of privacy can rent out a townhouse or trailside accommodations, with Jacuzzis and kitchens.
The onsite resort, Matty B's, offers everyone's favorite foods, from pizza to burgers, as well as home-cooked dinners that everyone will enjoy. Matty B's is perfect for couples who are looking for casual fun rather than fine-dining. While the Attitash Mountain Village offers an array of summertime activities as well, some of the most fun will be found during the snowy season, with discount ski lift tickets and any one of the resort's Ski and Stay packages.
Nestled in an unspoiled region of New Hampshire, the Mountain Edge Resort and Spa boasts beautiful surroundings, like Lake Sunapee and the nearby New England villages. This is the perfect escape for couples who are seeking a break from the hectic big-city life. The Mountain Edge Resort offers all-suite accommodations, with one and two-bedroom suites, including a penthouse with a living room and kitchen, for couples who want to live in both seclusion and luxury.
The Mountain Spirits Tavern is located onsite at the resort, and it offers full menus along with drinks and seasonal specials. The Tavern is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 4 PM to closing. The Mountain Edge Resort offers a romance package perfect for couples that include a couple's massage and dinner for two. For nearby attractions, there are adventure parks, ski resorts, and even an opera house.
This scenic, hidden treasure is tucked away between the hills and the mountains, beckoning couples who are looking for that perfect, quiet escape among the quiet New Hampshire countryside. The Darby Field Inn offers both classic and deluxe room styles, with gas fireplaces, balconies, and even a 2-person Jacuzzi tub. Classic rooms are great for the outdoorsy couple who only need a place to sleep, while the deluxe is perfect for the couple who wants to enjoy every second in a home away from home.
The Darby Field Inn offers a full country breakfast, complimentary with every guest stay. Dinner is also served by reservation only, with a menu that changes with the seasons. The Darby Field Inn offers both therapeutic couples massages, as well as prenatal massages for the mother's to be getting in that last romantic weekend. The surrounding area offers activities for every season, from horseback riding in the summer, to cross-country skiing in the winter.
The Wentworth is located in the White Mountains region of Jackson, New Hampshire, and it offers an authentic, charming country inn experience. The Wentworth offers 61 different rooms within the Inn, which will give couples a secluded feeling that some of the larger hotels and inns can't manage. Each room offers a unique, European decor, while the available condos offer a private escape for couples seeking a little more solitude.
The Wentworth offers farm-to-table dining that specializes in local and organic cuisine. Couples seeking a romantic dinner will find just the atmosphere they're looking for at the onsite restaurant. Because of the location surrounded by Jackson Village, couples will have a blast with both local festivals and attractions, as well as outdoor activities that range from golfing next door, horseback riding and canoeing.
The Stonehurst Manor, located in North Conway, is a secluded drive away from all the hustle and bustle of the rest of the world, surrounded by natural pine and rolling hills. The Stonehurst Manor offers a peek into the past with the original 1872 ambiance and modern amenities. The accommodations range from manor rooms to mountain view wings, and even rooms with fireplaces and Jacuzzis, for couples who are looking to stay in style.
Both breakfast and dinner is included in the room price, with meals that are made fresh every day with local ingredients that make all of the favorite New England dishes taste divine. Stonehurst Manor is perfect for couples who like a bit of outdoor fun, including golf, horseback riding, and canoeing along the Saco River.
Wentworth by the Sea is a New England island experience. The hotel itself offers both historic ambiance and modern amenities This particular hotel is located on the island of New Castle, which is one of New Hampshire's oldest settlements and filled the brim with history. There are 161 different guest rooms and suites that overlook the harbor, and even have a cozy fireplace to curl up next to during the chilly autumn evenings.
Located onsite at Wentworth by the Sea are two dining venues that offer American style cuisine and two distinct dining experiences, from a waterfront restaurant to a more casual style. The Wentworth by the Sea offers a full-service spa, so couples can unwind together from their day to day life. For a day out on the water, there's the Portsmouth Harbor Cruises, or the Portsmouth Kayak Adventures.
Located along the peaceful shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, in the quiet town of Meredith, sits the Inn at Mill Falls. This 19th century linen mill has been restored into an inn that offers couples the chance to relax and rejuvenate among the quiet and quaint New England villages. There are 54 rooms available at the Inn at Mill Falls, and the Inn itself is nestled right next to a 40-foot waterfall that completes the stunning beauty of this property.
Couples will have no shortage of places to choose from when it comes to finding the perfect place to dine. The surrounding area of Meredith offers an array of restaurants that range from breakfast fare to Italian favorites. For summertime fun, the EKAL Lake Activity Center is ready to help everyone find just the thing they want to do, from stand-up paddle-boarding to boat cruises along the water.
The Inn at Ellis River offers a little more seclusion and privacy for couples seeking a place to enjoy their romantic getaway. This bed and breakfast is located at the edge of Jackson Village, and offers 21 different rooms, as well as a cottage for couples who want some real privacy. The rooms and suites at the Inn at Ellis River offer balconies that overlook all of the stunning scenery that surrounds the property, as well as fireplaces to cozy up during the colder months.
The Inn at Ellis River offers breakfast each morning to guests, with an array of fresh fruit, homemade granola, as well as freshly baked sweets like muffins and coffee cake. There are also hot entrees, like sausage and bacon or pancakes. The Inn offers several romance packages from couples, including a summer romance package, a honeymoon package, and even a babymoon package for expecting couples.
This New England farmhouse has been renovated into a quaint bed and breakfast, located in Chesterfield with beautiful views overlooking the River Valley. The Main Inn building and the connecting barn shed have been renovated in 1984 to make beautiful and comfortable guest rooms. Couples will have their choices of nine different rooms inside the Main Inn building. For a little more privacy, couples are welcome to stay in the Cottage, with only two rooms.
Dinner is served at the onsite restaurant at the Chesterfield Inn, with popular New England cuisine that has fresh and unique flavors added to the mix to make each meal unforgettable. Whether you want to explore the surrounding area by bike or hiking trail, or if you're more interested in the art and museums that Chesterfield has to offer, everyone can find something to enjoy in the surrounding area of the Inn.
Littleton is the home of the Hampton Inn, among the White Mountains region of New Hampshire. The Hampton Inn is located just a few minutes away from downtown Littleton, as well as an array of nearby attractions and entertainment. The Hampton Inn offers both standard guest rooms as well as spacious suites for couples who are looking to travel in comfort at an affordable cost.
The Hampton Inn offers a free hot breakfast with every guest's room, with favorites like eggs, bacon and coffee. For couples who are on the go, the Hampton Inn also offers healthy grab-n-go breakfast bags. Year-round fun can be had in Littleton, with the Hampton Inn as the central location to explore it all, like the Whale's Tale Waterpark or Bretton Woods with 434 acres of skiing terrain. Downtown Littleton is also full of shopping, restaurants and quaint surprises.
Visit and stay at the oldest inn that New Hampshire has to offer, in business since 1789 during the Revolutionary War. The Hancock Inn is located in in Hancock and offers nothing but hospitality that is hundreds of years old, along with modern day amenities. Accommodations include small, cozy rooms, classic rooms and superior rooms, each with period-appropriate furniture and unique decor for each room.
The Fox Tavern is open Tuesday through Saturday for dinner, and it's the Hancock Inn's onsite restaurant where couples will be able to enjoy a menu that changes seasonally, and offers all the best New Hampshire cuisine. Hancock is located in the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire, and offers an array of things to do- from shopping, to historic tours, to outdoor fun like canoeing along the river.
Black Bear Lodge is located in Waterville Valley, surrounded by nature that's close enough to touch. The Black Bear Lodge has all-suite accommodations, so couples will never have to choose between comfort and affordability. There are 107 different suites, along with different style suites including superior suites that include a kitchen, and loft suites with forest views.
Although the Black Bear Lodge doesn't include an onsite restaurant, the surrounding town of Waterville Valley offers an array of different restaurants ranging from Mexican to Italian. The location makes Black Bear Lodge perfect for couples who are seeking an outdoor vacation, with hiking, canoeing and even wintertime sports available nearby.


text:
Q: Python: is there a way to "secretly" put text into a string? I have been programming for about 2 months so I am relatively new to Python and programming in general.
I have a class with a field that will contain strings.  I am trying to find a way to denote this string so that I can call it, but I don't want it to print the denotation.  Is there a way to have a string contain text that won't be displayed when it is printed?  This is what I mean by "secretly."  I know I could make a separate field for this, and there are more complex ways to get around this, but I am wondering if the simple, easy process I am describing is possible.
So my use for this would be along the lines of:
class A(object):
    def __init__(self, message):
        self.message = message

x = A('\\magical marker\\this is a string.')
y = A("\\other magical marker\\this is a different string")

something = x # I am going to have a variable that could be many different things

if something.message.startswith('\\magical marker\\'):
    print something
else:
    pass

but when I print something, I want it to come out like this:
this is my string
sans the magical marker.  Is there a way to do this?

A: You print something, which happens to be an instance of A. So you can define what happens when you try to print an object by defining a magic method __str__:
In [1]: class A:
   ...:     def __init__(self, message):
   ...:         self.message = message
   ...:
   ...:     def __str__(self):
   ...:         return self.message.split('}', 1)[-1]
   ...:

In [2]: x = A('{marker}my message')

In [3]: print(x)
my message

Note that printing x.message will print the whole string:
In [4]: x.message
Out[4]: '{marker}my message'

Changing that would be quite confusing.

A: How about re-programming the dot operator using properties.
class A(str):

    def __init__(self, message):
        self.message = message

    @property
    def message(self):
        return 'this is my string'

    @message.setter
    def message(self, value):
        self._message = value

x = A('\\magical marker\\this is a string.')
y = A("\\other magical marker\\this is a different string")

something = x
print x.message

This will always print 'this is my string' when you try to access the message field.

A: If you inherit from str you can simply str.replace:
class A(str):
    def __init__(self, message):
        self.message = message

x = A('\\magical marker\\this is a string.')
y = A("\\other magical marker\\this is a different string")

something = x # I am going to have a variable that could be many different things

if something.message.startswith('\\magical marker\\'):
    print something.replace('\\magical marker\\',"",1)

A: A dirty little hack would be to use strings vs unicode strings:
x = 'this is a string.'
y = u'this is a unicode string.'

if isinstance(something, str):
    print 'str'
else:
    print 'unicode'

That only gets you two different classes, though. Maybe that's all you need?

A: Other answers have clever ideas that reveal interesting parts of Python... but miss the mark on matching your code to your goals, in a minimal and idiomatic way.
It sounds like the 'marker' is extra state that you want to remember and have affect later decisions.
So best would be to make that explicit: change your A class to accept another (probably optional) initialization argument:
class A(object):
    def __init__(self, message, marker=None):
        self.message = message
        self.marker = marker

Then you later check the marker value directly and explicitly, without any 'hiding' or 'unpacking':
x = A('this is a string', marker='magic1')

if x.marker == 'magic1':
    print x.message
else:
    pass

This better describes the multifaceted nature of your A objects – even if their main purpose is carrying a string message, they've got other significant state, and it's good to give that state a distinctive name and place. You don't have to 'hide' it inside the main message – just give it its own slot.
(You might even move the conditional-logic, that determines what/whether to print, into another descriptively-named method on the A class – making instances of A responsible for their own display-rules.)

A: You could use something like this.
class SecretText(str):

    def __str__(self):
        """Return empty string."""
        return ''

    def __repr__(self):
        """Return empty string."""
        return self.__str__()

class SomewhatSecretText(str):

    def __init__(self, *text):
        """Initialize a SomewhatSecretText instance."""
        self.items = list(text)
        assert self.verify_types()
        # We have to keep some trace. Or we will
        # never be able to get the original value.
        self.message = ''.join(self.items)

    def __str__(self):
        """Return string with hidden text."""
        vis = ""
        for item in self.items:
            vis += str(item)
        return vis

    def __repr__(self):
        """Return string with hidden text."""
        return self.__str__()

    def __dir__(self):
        """
        This is so self.message and self.items aren't
        visible when dir() is called on the instance.
        """
        return dir(str)

    def verify_types(self):
        """Confirm instance items are strings."""
        for item in self.items:
            if not isinstance(item, str):
                return False
        return True

Using SomewhatSecretText, you can implement hidden text. Like this:
>>> hidden = SecretText("test")
>>> partly_hidden = SomewhatSecretText("This is a ", hidden, "!")
>>> print(partly_hidden)
This is a !
>>> print(repr(partly_hidden))
This is a !
>>> print(str(partly_hidden))
This is a !

You can get the full text back using the message variable.
>>> print(partly_hidden)
This is a !
>>> print(partly_hidden.message)
This is a test!

A bonus is that you can submit any number of strings to tag together. So you could have multiple hidden pieces.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Renowned British bookmaker William Hill Poker are offering an incredibly good deal for their poker-playing customers over the next few months as they reduce the buy-in for their splendid Sunday Blast tournament to half the normal price while retaining the guaranteed $200,000 prize pool.
Yes, it's going to be a great summer for William Hill players with the usual buy-in of $200+$15 reduced to just $100+$9 over three of the next four months. That's April, June and July, just to be sure – as May is not included in the promotion!
Really, this is a fabulous deal for poker fans, with the half-price Sunday Blast dates being April 1, June 3 and July 1. Each event will start at 16:00 GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) and, of course, be priced at just $109 to enter.
However, William Hill Poker are offering satellite entry competitions that will reduce that outlay even further, so maybe it's time to get on over to this wonderful website to make your play at the huge prizes available.
The satellites have already started and players can earn a ticket to the big event without paying a penny – or cent, for that matter.
Additionally, poker players can use WHPoints to make the Sunday Blast that can be earned over three four-week qualifying stages, with the April event's period ending on Wednesday, March 28.
This will, of course, be too late for many players to make April's special Sunday Blast, but the June tournament has a qualifying period that begins on Tuesday, May 1, and ends on Monday, May 28, while the qualifiers for July's competition starts on Friday, June 1, and concludes on Thursday, June 28.
Just 350 WHPoints are required each month to be awarded a freeroll entry that will provide 20 Sunday Blast tokens for the lucky entrants. The April event's freeroll takes place next Friday at 20:00 GMT, while the June freeroll is on Wednesday, May 30, and the July event takes place on Saturday, June 30 – again at 20:00.
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Home Non-renewable Energy Pros and Cons of Fossil Fuels
Pros and Cons of Fossil Fuels
By Nina HowellLast Updated on June 11, 2020 June 5, 2020
Fossil fuels are the leading energy source today. It is used for various purposes, ranging from electricity generation to heating our homes and to power cars and trucks. Although other alternatives of energy are being developed, such as wind, solar, nuclear, fossil fuels remain the number one choice for its cost-effectiveness and reliability. Thus, the amount has been increasing each year.
However, fossil fuels are not free of drawbacks. Here, we will discuss fossil fuels along with the pros and cons of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are natural resources such as coal, oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, and natural gas. For centuries, these energy resources have powered more than half of the planet. Still, they have left severe environmental impacts, too, including air and water pollution, environmental degradation, and global warming.
This non-renewable fossil fuels supply about 80 percent of the world's energy. They provide electricity, heat, and transportation, while also feeding the processes that make a massive range of products, from steel to plastics.
Fossil fuels such as natural gas, oil, and coal are being used as primary sources of energy in different parts of the world. Even if we are aware of the fact that they are one of the primary causes of creating pollution and global warming, people are still relying on this source of energy.
Moreover, in developing countries, coal is considered the best fuel for electricity and heat production. It is used on a large scale because it is an affordable source of energy that helps to get the facilities and increase the economic level.
However, fossil fuels have several adverse effects on the environment. An in-depth look at fossil fuel's pros and cons will help us get a clear picture of this form of energy.
Pros of Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels are currently one of the affordable and cheapest forms of energy in comparison with other sources of energy. Fossil fuels have been widely used over the last 200 years. A lot of resources, money, and time has been spent on research.
The advanced technological system has made it easier to extract and use them in the most cost-effective and efficient ways like systems that harness natural gas given off during oil extraction.
Fossil fuels are the natural source of energy that does not rely on other natural systems like solar, wind, water. Countries like Germany, UK have a large amount of solar infrastructure, but only 60 percent of the days are sunny.
It is a fact that when fossil fuels are burned, it produces harmful gases like carbon dioxide that has an adverse effect on the environment and human health. Fossil fuels are a reliable energy source that can be used around the clock in any condition at any time. It can provide power even in a disaster or emergency situation.
Fossil fuels are relatively easier than transporting renewable sources of energy, such as wind, sun, and water, which are pretty impossible as well. It is easier to supply fuels through the help of pipelines.
These pipes are easily laid underground and can transport gas or oil with ease. Although it can be quite expensive at first, once the work is completed, the cost decreases drastically. Therefore, fossil fuels are a relatively cheap, effective, and reliable source of energy.
There is no doubt that fossil fuel industries have created hundreds and thousands of job opportunities for many people. Every year it creates new employment opportunities. So, abandoning the use of fossil fuels will affect the world economy and also leads to high levels of unemployment that would affect the family and country income source.
Cons of Fossil Fuels
Non-Renewable
Fossil fuels are the natural gift from the Earth, which takes millions of years to form with the help of natural processes such as anaerobic decomposition of organic matter. So, it is a non-renewable source of energy, which means there is only a finite amount of fuels available.
Unlike renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, it takes a long time to form, and once it is completely used up, then there will be nothing more left to use it again.
The main disadvantage of using fossil fuels is that it creates pollution and increases global warming. Fossil fuels are responsible for causing air pollution, land pollution, and water pollution on the planet.
The burning of fossil fuels produces a high amount of carbon dioxide and causes environmental and health problems. It also leads to climate change and affects biodiversity.
Public Health Issues
Another related disadvantage of using fossil fuels is that it has a direct impact on the health of the human being. Potentially, fatal diseases or illnesses such as lung cancer, infection, and asthma have been directly linked to the pollution caused by the burning of fuels. It is neither environment-friendly nor safe to use.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 7 million premature deaths annually are linked to air pollution. The high levels of air pollution can adversely affect people's lungs and trigger asthma. Likewise, every year millions of children die due to pollution-related diseases. People who live in areas with a large amount of traffic are at high risk.
Rising Costs
About 40 percent of the world's oil gets produced from the middle-east countries. And, the rest of the world depends on these countries to fulfill the gap. Therefore, as fossil fuels continue depleting, it loses its natural resources to provide the increasing demand each day. As a result, it increases the costs of the resources to fulfill the required demand.
Eventually, renewable energy sources will become cost-effective, environment-friendly with time as fossil fuels rise in price. Since only a few countries produce fossil fuels, there is an increase in fear of war, lower output, strikes by trade unions that can lead to price fluctuations around the globe.
Risk of Oil Spill
Fossil fuels can damage the environment in the form of oil spills. While carrying oil from one place to another, it also takes a high cost and risk. In history, there are many incidents where the oil spill caused the death of animals, birds, fish, and mammals.
It has also resulted in severe harm to aquatic life and the environment. Therefore, oil spills are dangerous to both living and non-living things either on the ground or in the sea.
Despite being cheaper, reliable, more comfortable to transport, creating employment, and many more, it has many cons as well. The major disadvantage of using fossil fuels is that it destroys the environment and creates pollution in the atmosphere. Therefore, it is essential to consider another alternative source of energy, such as solar, wind, hydropower, and nuclear power.
However, some countries have already begun generating substantial portions of electric power from renewable sources. Now, the whole world should switch their choice from non-renewable energy to eco-friendly and renewable energy and make a better place to live for all.