6/22/2023 0 Comments Griffin creaturePowerful and majestic, the griffins guarded gold and treasure. The roots of this fascinating mythological creature reach from Western Europe to the Eastern edges of Indian subcontinent and beyond. They appear regularly on the coats, arms, and flags of the noble and highly respected important families in Europe. Pictured as fierce, they have gained respect over ages too. In heraldry, griffin stands for courage, leadership and strength. Sculpted in some churches, the griffin is known in Christian symbolism and depicts both the divine and the human. Traditionally known for guarding treasures and possessions, griffins are protectors from evil, slander and witchcraft as well. These legendary creatures have the body of a lion and the wings and head of eagle thus representing the kings of both animals and the birds. The griffin is a chimera or hybrid mythical creature. The griffins are popular mythical creatures used extensively in the movies and fiction novels. Ancient Persepolis was covered in stone carved depictions of griffins all across its walls, and towering statues throughout the city. Send us feedback about these examples.Early references to griffins are found in ancient Persian and Egyptian mythology dating back as far as 3300 B.C. and were often used as statues in Persian palaces. These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'griffin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Christian Holub, EW.com, 26 July 2022 Hart said the debate over the griffin missed the bigger picture. ![]() From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 15 July 2021 The Dreaming has two gates - one of horn and one of ivory, built from the bones of ancient gods that picked a fight with Dream eons ago - and is usually guarded by three gatekeepers: a wyvern, a griffin, and a hippogriff. 2023 The backlash has intensified since last fall, when the City Council began pushing to remove the department’s emblem – a winged creature known as a griffin that had adorned patches on officers’ uniforms since the 1960s. 2021 There is also an explosion of what look like giant grape vines (also wood-like), out of the pods of which erupt a crew of beasties: a gnashing cyclops, a gnashing griffin, and more gnashers. 2021 The backlash against Fitzgerald has intensified since last fall when the City Council began pushing to remove the department’s emblem - a green-eyed, red-bodied, winged creature known as a griffin that had adorned patches on officers’ uniforms since the 1960s. 2023 The backlash against Fitzgerald has intensified since last fall when the City Council began pushing to remove the department’s emblem - a green-eyed, red-bodied, winged creature known as a griffin that had adorned patches on officers’ uniforms since the 1960s. Eugene Ostashevsky, The New York Review of Books, See the colossal stone troll, the mysterious Indrik and Japanese Baku, the tooth fairy, adorable unicorns and majestic griffins. ![]() Recent Examples on the Web Only the sphinxes stand guard vainly over the rivers, which are leaving, and the lions and the griffins.
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6/22/2023 0 Comments Homeowner oyster spat collectionThe Pensacola Bay Oyster Company was founded in 2013, when local Pensacola businessman and entrepreneur Donnie McMahon realized a need for premium Florida oysters. Originally organized in the 1970s, the BFA worked closely with the newly formed University of West Florida, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and the Florida Dept of Health to identify and coordinate a monitoring program that continues to this day. The BFA promotes environmental stewardship through water quality monitoring by implementing programs that educate citizens and students about how they can help improve the quality of our environment for all persons, plants and animals from the headwaters of creeks to the Gulf of Mexico. The Bream Fishermen Association (BFA) is a well-known and highly respected organization which has assisted the city, county, state, and region as environmental stewards in protecting our northwest Florida and south Alabama waters for over 50 years. Oysters have many enemies including the starfish oyster drills (gastropods) Oyster Catcher (birds) various crabs and croakers & drum (fish). The Eastern oyster can live to be 25 to 30 years old. Oyster growth is influenced by temperatures, salinity, food availability, and periods of exposure to air and population density. The spat will take on the contour of the cultch material and will begin to resemble an adult oyster in a short time. This rate will slow as the oysters increase with age. The growth rate of the spat may be as high as 10 mm/month (1/4 “). These oysters are known to colonize dock pilings, rock jetties, and other areas wherever there is firm footing to support their weight. Oysters are found throughout the Pensacola Bay system where salinities range from 8-25 parts per thousand (ppt) and spat collection may occur in various locations. An adult oyster can filter approximately 35-50 gallons of water in a day under optimum conditions! Oysters create their own habitat by making oyster reefs, which offer protection, food, and habitat to many types of marine organisms. This increases water quality by reducing the amounts of contaminants, thereby promoting water clarity by reducing sediments. During feeding, oysters take in phytoplankton, algae, bacteria, viruses, sediments, and chemical contaminants. Oysters are natural filtering mechanisms which get their food and oxygen by pumping large quantities of water across their gills. Oysters are a big part of our local ecology and found throughout various pockets along the northern Gulf of Mexico Estuaries and bayous. Interested participants can receive 75 juvenile oyster spats and begin the grow-out cycle again. Adult oysters will be measured and weighed before being installed in a living shoreline project within the same water body. Oysters will be grown out in cages for 9-12 months and returned for measurements. Participants will receive an oyster cage, 75 oysters, a rain gauge, logbook, instructions about caring for the oysters, how to clean and maintain their cage, and a point of contact. This will provide basic information on setting up and maintaining oysters under the best possible condition for your location. Interested homeowners, individuals, or people wishing to sponsor a class or student must attend a 3-hour workshop. ![]() Students and citizen volunteers will collect and gather data to assist us with the project. The project is based on the Oyster Gardening for Restoration and Education courses developed by the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance. The cages will be provided along with 75 oysters which will be counted, weighed, and measured before deployment. ![]() We will place oyster cages on private docks throughout the smaller bayous within the Pensacola Bay System. The fewer the algae, the more oxygen available for marine life. Oysters can remove nitrogen from the water like sheep grazing down a meadow. The decay process consumes oxygen, leaving the water with too little oxygen to support fish and other marine life. When it dies and falls to the bottom, it decays. Nutrient runoff, such as nitrogen, increases the growth of algae. Oysters can play a big role in improving our local waters. ![]() Examples of pollution from runoff include oil and gas from vehicles, metals from car brakes, detergents, or lawn care chemicals to name a few. When landscape changes from rural areas such as the Blackwater River State Forest to an urban area (such as downtown Pensacola), the quality of the runoff after rain events shifts from healthy (natural filtration through leaves and sand) to an impaired stormwater runoff which enters our creeks, bayous and bays after each rain event. Water quality in coastal estuaries, bayous, creeks, and bays is not as healthy as it once was, mainly due to changes in the landscape. 6/21/2023 0 Comments Hunter x hunter girls names![]() The Zodiacs' reaction to Pariston's proposal įollowing the death of the Chairman Isaac Netero, the Zodiacs gather in the Hunter Association Headquarters to decide the method of the election of his successor, as he demanded in his testament. Ensure security in the Dark Continent.Coordinate hardware using Nen abilities.Secretly collaborate with the Intelligence Team to create a post-landing defense strategy and a plan to prevent Beyond's escape.Make language analysis software in case of contact with civilizations on the Dark Continent.Obtain the passenger list of the Black Whale No.Perform background checks of the 289th Hunter Exam's candidates and the Science and Flora/Fauna Team support members.Gather information about Beyond and Kakin.Gather intelligence and plants after landing.Organization of a medical group to ensure proper medical care.Teamsįor their mission to travel to the Dark Continent, explore it, and return successfully, the Zodiacs divided themselves into teams according to the individual aptitudes of each member. Ging, on the other hand, is merely regarded as a stubborn "idiot". ĭue to Pariston's many facades and deceptive behavior, Mizaistom could not understand his alignment, so he labeled him off as an "extreme left patriot", though he still considers him incomprehensible. Gel, Kanzai, and Saccho were liberal, mostly apolitical.It should be noted that the members of this faction seem to be the closest to former Chairman Isaac Netero, at least in terms of corporate governance. Ginta, Cheadle, Mizaistom, and Botobai formed the moderate conservative front, giving importance to balance.They were considered the "hawks" of the Zodiacs. Pyon, Saiyu, and Cluck advocated for reforms within the Hunter Association.It is possible that they were disbanded following Cheadle's election and the division in teams in preparation for the voyage to the Dark Continent. Even for normal missions, the factions used to work together. They were also his sparring partners.Īccording to Mizaistom, there were three factions in the original Zodiacs. Aside from their activities as Hunters, nearly all Zodiacs had one or more jobs and qualifications outside the Hunter Association, Pariston and Ging being exceptions.Įach of the twelve original Zodiacs was appointed by the 12 th Chairman of the Hunter Association, Isaac Netero, because of their skills and the interest they aroused in him. However, neither Kurapika nor Leorio, the second Rat and Boar, have earned any star, and the latter lacks a field of specialization. The original group counted at least three Triple-Star Hunters (Pariston Hill, Cheadle Yorkshire, and Botobai Gigante) and just as many Double-Star Hunters (Ging Freecss, Mizaistom Nana, and Saccho Kobayakawa). There does not seem to be any specific prerequisite to be a member of the Zodiacs, as Isaac Netero simply elected people he had an interest in. ![]() Their rank is inferior to that of the Vice-Chairman, albeit not by much. The 10 th bylaw article implies that advisors can be replaced by a new chairman. However, as advisors to the chairman, they have the authority to decide on anything that is not specified in the Hunter Bylaws. ![]() In fact, although they managed the 13 th chairman election, they could do so only because Netero himself authorized them Pariston, on the other hand, appointed Cheadle as his successor without so much as consulting with them. The Zodiacs have a high standing within the Association, but it is still unclear how much of their power is dependent on the chairman in charge. The former Chairman Netero would entrust the Hunter Association to them in times of emergency, and they were also his sparring partners. They each have a codename associated with one of the Chinese zodiac signs, which most of them chose to match in appearance out of loyalty for Netero. The Zodiacs act as the chairman's counselors. 6/21/2023 0 Comments Satisfactory definition![]() ![]() The community is very helpful and gives you tips for certain production lines or guide you a bit on where to start and what you should avoid. The Graphic is top tier for a early access game, the micro and macro management is very fun and motivates you to optimize production lanes, and how to connect certain processes to get the material you want. If those two negative aspects don´t annoy you this could be the perfect game for you. Also another problem is that on lower spec PCs its pretty enduring and could face some major Performance issues in the later phase of the game. Satisfactory is not polished you see graphic bugs here and there, sometimes collision bugs and very rarely the game crashes. Satisfice definition, to choose or adopt the first satisfactory option that one comes across: the tendency of decision-makers to satisfice rather than look for the optimal solution. In his book Marketing Metrics, Paul Farris defines customer satisfaction as ‘the number of customers, or percentage of total customers, whose reported experience with a firm, its products, or its services exceeds specified satisfaction goals’. In the end you spend another 5 hours, because you added a whole factory. Potrete iniziare il corso solo dopo aver superato in modo soddisfacente tutte le procedure di ammissione. giving or affording satisfaction fulfilling all demands or requirements: a satisfactory solution. You will only be allowed to start your course upon satisfactory completion of all our admission procedures. ![]() Satisfactory is one of the games, where you say to yourself : I´m gonna add this one more thing and then I´m done for today. (meeting requirements) soddisfacente agg. Something that is satisfactory is acceptable to you or fulfils a particular need or purpose. Your success gives me great satisfaction. You cant buy server from Coffee Stain Studios the act of satisfying or state of being satisfied. "So, to be honest worth to play, and not delay." ☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs ☐ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks ![]() The system is indicated for use to replace fingerstick blood glucose (BG) measurements for diabetes treatment decisions. The Eversense® E3 Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) System is indicated for continually measuring glucose levels for up to 180 days in persons with diabetes age 18 and older. There may be instances in which patient out-of-pocket costs exceed what is detailed in INTRO and ONGOING offers. The program benefit is capped per transaction. Ascensia Diabetes Care reserves the right to change or terminate this program at any time without notice. They do not cover the cost of the insertion procedure. ![]() ‡The offers above only apply to the cost of the sensor and transmitter or sensor only. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a single shared Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program for all vigabatrin products.Please visit for limitations, restrictions, references and copyright information. The Vigabatrin REMS Program is required by the FDA to ensure informed risk-benefit decisions before initiating treatment, and to ensure appropriate use of vigabatrin while patients are treated. An optional form, the Sabril Prescription Form, is available on this Sabril website for prescribers who choose to submit the prescription through Lundbeck’s SHARE Plus program.Submitting Your Patient’s Sabril ® (vigabatrin) Prescription By clicking on the link below, prescribers will be taken to the website that manages the process and contains the required vigabatrin REMS forms. We encourage you to complete this optional Sabril Prescription Form. Indicate “Dispense as written (DAW)” or “Brand medically necessary” on the form (per your state regulations) Alternatively, if you do not want to submit your Sabril prescription through SHARE Plus, you can send a prescription directly to a certified specialty pharmacy found on the Vigabatrin REMS website.Completing this form allows you and your patients/caregivers an opportunity to benefit from the support offered by SHARE Plus We encourage you to complete this optional Sabril Prescription Form.Īlternatively, you can send a prescription directly to a certified specialty pharmacy found on the Vigabatrin REMS website. It is not possible for your healthcare provider to know when vision loss will happen.Your risk of vision loss may be higher the more SABRIL you take daily and the longer you take it.You are at risk for vision loss with any amount of SABRIL.WARNING: PERMANENT VISION LOSS See Medication Guide and full Prescribing Information for complete information. It could happen soon after starting SABRIL or any time during treatment. Because SABRIL might cause permanent vision loss, it is available to healthcare providers and patients only under a special program called the Vigabatrin Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) Program.It may even happen after treatment has stopped. SABRIL can damage the vision of anyone who takes it.Your healthcare provider will explain the details of this program to you. Some people can have severe loss particularly to their ability to see to the side when looking straight ahead (peripheral vision). ![]() Tell your healthcare provider right away if you (or your child): might not be seeing as well as before starting SABRIL start to trip, bump into things, or are more clumsy than usual are surprised by people or things coming in front of you that seem to come out of nowhere or if your baby is acting differently than normal.With severe vision loss, you may only be able to see things straight in front of you (sometimes called “tunnel vision”). 6/21/2023 0 Comments Nba houston rockets roster 2014The Orlando Magic, making their first NBA Finals appearance, began the series at home, hosting the defending champion Houston Rockets. Coincidentally, this feat would also be achieved in the NHL by the New Jersey Devils that same year, when they won the Stanley Cup over the Detroit Red Wings. ![]() In addition, the Rockets became the first team in NBA history to win the title without having home-court advantage in any of the four playoff rounds since the playoffs was expanded to a 16 team format in 1984. The Rockets also became the first repeat NBA Champion in history to keep the title with a sweep. It was the second NBA Finals sweep in the 2–3–2 Finals format (after the Detroit Pistons did so against the Los Angeles Lakers in 1989). The Rockets would win a playoff-record nine road games in the 1995 playoffs. The Rockets became the first team in NBA history to beat four 50-win teams in a single postseason en route to the championship. Going into the series the matchup was compared to the Bill Russell– Wilt Chamberlain matchup of the 1960s. ![]() ![]() The pre-series hype and buildup of the Finals was centered on the meeting of the two centers opposing each other: Shaquille O'Neal of the Magic and Hakeem Olajuwon of the Rockets. The series pitted the Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic against the defending NBA champion and Western Conference champion Houston Rockets. The 1995 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1994–95 National Basketball Association (NBA) season. 1995 basketball championship series 1995 NBA Finals ![]() in Two Minutesįor speeding up the passage of time, nothing beats a Montage. You just want to give that sense of a succession of thoughts or actions compressed in a period of time. There is no right way to do a montage sequence in a novel. Or you could play out his actions, with one line for each image, compiling item after item until it fills the page, noting how the sun starts coming up by the time he’s done. All these moments could flash through his mind as he scans his stacks of papers and notes. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT – NYC OFFICES – DAYĬan you think how you might translate this montage into a novel’s scene? Instead of writing pages and pages showing everything Jerry did hour after hour until the sun came up, you could have Jerry, bleary-eyed but running on high-octane paranoia, looking around his bedroom before heading out to mail his meager five newsletters to his subscribers. He starts across the street, then stops, looks back with dread. Jerry drops the newsletters into a mailbox. Jerry slaps the labels on the newsletters. The handdrawn logo: lips whispering into an ear. He hand-cranks copies off an old drum mimeograph. Jerry types the text of an article, crosses out mistakes. The first connection: the dates of six Space Shuttle launches and six earthquakes all coinciding. Jerry flips through 100s of cards on big Rolodexes as he cross-references data. Specifically: “Industrialist Ernest Hariman Drowns.” He enters raw data on 3×5 cards: space shuttle launched, base closings, escape from mental hospital and especially the obituaries. ![]() Does the same with the San Francisco Chronicle, Le Monde, Time, the Economist and Popular Mechanics. Jerry scans a New York Times spread on a drafting table. On the wall, an American flag alongside a poster of John Lennon reading: “Assassinated 12/8/80.” In this very early scene, the screenwriter is able to pack in a lot of information by utilizing this camera shot.Ĭarrying a bowl of tapioca, Jerry enters. Of course, as the plot unfolds, we realize why Jerry is so messed up. ![]() Mel Gibson plays this role exceptionally well, demonstrating the manic, erratic behavior that makes the viewer wonder just how nuts Jerry really is. In just a short bit of time and with just a few key montage images, we get a very good picture of this paranoid man named Jerry. Take a look at this short excerpt from the movie The Conspiracy Theory written in 1996 by Brian Helgeland. So whether you want to fast-forward time in your novel or flip through the memories of the past, using a montage technique may serve your story best. What about a mother whose child has been kidnapped, as we saw in the novel Predator in an earlier post? Can you picture a montage of thoughts going through her head-the worst possible thoughts she doesn’t want to consider? Your character can envision all the possibilities of an action. And they don’t have to be memories they can be “what ifs.” Thoughts of what might happen if I make this choice. Your characters can and should think the way humans normally do, and often we experience a montage of memories. What happens when you run into someone you haven’t seen in ten years? What if that person was your first love-or your violent ex-spouse? Memories Appear Often to Us as Montages Think how many things often flash through your mind when reminded of an important time or person in your life. Then there was the time she starred in the sixth-grade musical, and learned how to drive a car (wasn’t that a near-disaster!), and then high school graduation, her senior prom, her first date. Then she might recall her first baby steps, then holding her hand as she walked her to her first day at kindergarten. Whatever this character is feeling at this key moment in her life in the story can be heightened by the use of a montage scene, which is what we began looking at in last week’s post.Īs the daughter begins her long walk toward her anxious husband-to-be, she may think back to her daughter as an infant. Maybe she’s suffering from empty nest syndrome. Perhaps she’s regretted the way she raised her, feeling she’s been a failure as a mother. All the years she spent raising her daughter have brought them both to this moment. This is a key moment in this mother’s life. Has it ever happened to you-had your life flash before your eyes? What about one of your characters in your novel-has it happened to her? Think about a character in a story-let’s say a mother sitting in church waiting for her daughter to come down the aisle in her beautiful white wedding gown. ![]() 2 processes are responsible for the passive movement of fluid across membranes:.A change in the relative concentration of solute or water will cause water to shift between compartments.Water moves between compartments following osmotic gradients.Electrolytes are essential for various basic life-sustaining functions. Electrolytes are distributed in the extracellular and intracellular compartments in different concentrations. Electrolytes (Cl –), and other electrolytes Electrolytes Electrolytes are mineral salts that dissolve in water and dissociate into charged particles called ions, which can be either be positively (cations) or negatively (anions) charged. Distribution of fluid between intracellular and extracellular compartments is determined by the concentration of Na +, chloride Chloride Inorganic compounds derived from hydrochloric acid that contain the Cl- ion.The membranes are highly permeable to water but require energy to transport ions. Fluid is separated into compartments by semipermeable membranes.On the right is an image representing the exchange of water among body fluid compartments. On the left is an image showing the percentage of distribution of body fluids in males and females, in different compartments. Principal component of the cytoplasm of cellsīody fluid compartments Image by Lecturio.Interstitial fluid (¾ of ECF): lies outside blood vessels.Intravascular fluid (¼ of ECF): primary component of plasma Plasma The residual portion of blood that is left after removal of blood cells by centrifugation without prior blood coagulation.The total body water is distributed primarily between 2 compartments, namely, extracellular fluid (ECF) and intracellular fluid (ICF) compartments. Hypernatremia of the body fluid compartments. Osmolality is expressed in terms of osmoles of solute per kilogram of solvent. Edema are the clinical conditions arising from disturbances in the maintenance of osmolarity Osmolarity The concentration of osmotically active particles in solution expressed in terms of osmoles of solute per liter of solution. It can be categorized into 2 types, namely, peripheral (in the extremities) and internal (in an organ or body cavity). Edema is a symptom observed in several medical conditions. Hyponatremia, and edema Edema Edema is a condition in which excess serous fluid accumulates in the body cavity or interstitial space of connective tissues. Serum sodium is the greatest contributor to plasma osmolality, which is very tightly controlled via antidiuretic hormone (ADH) release from the hypothalamus and by the thirst mechanism. Hypernatremia, hyponatremia Hyponatremia Hyponatremia is defined as a decreased serum sodium (sNa+) concentration less than 135 mmol/L. Hypernatremia occurs either from a lack of access to water or an excessive intake of sodium. Serum sodium is the greatest contributor to plasma osmolality, which is very tightly controlled by the hypothalamus via the thirst mechanism and antidiuretic hormone (ADH) release. Hypernatremia Hypernatremia Hypernatremia is an elevated serum sodium concentration > 145 mmol/L. Hypernatremia are maintained rigorously by the transport of water and substances between compartments. The relative charge and osmolarity Osmolarity The concentration of osmotically active particles in solution expressed in terms of osmoles of solute per liter of solution. Each compartment contains different concentrations of ions and osmolar molecules. A cell membrane is composed of a phospholipid bilayer and proteins that function to protect cellular DNA and mediate the exchange of ions and molecules. Intracellular and extracellular fluids are separated into compartments by semipermeable membranes, and the transport of fluid and ions is maintained by channels Channels The Cell: Cell Membrane in the cell membrane Cell Membrane A cell membrane (also known as the plasma membrane or plasmalemma) is a biological membrane that separates the cell contents from the outside environment. Intracellular fluid is present inside the cells and makes up ⅔ of the total body water. ![]() ![]() Extracellular fluid is present outside the cells and makes up ⅓ of the total body water. The adult human body is made up of 60% water and is divided into extracellular and intracellular fluid compartments. Students: Educators’ Pro Tips for Tough Topics.Maternity Nursing and Care of the Childbearing Family. 6/20/2023 0 Comments Cardinal birds![]() Habitat encroachment is another threatening factor. Unlike many other Cardinal species, this one is endangered, according to the IUCN. The Yellow Cardinal is a handsome bird with a brightly colored body contrasted by a black crest. Yellow Cardinal (Gubernatrix cristata) Image Credit: Ron Knight, Wikimedia Commons They are a relatively long-lived bird, living at least a year longer than similar species.ĩ. While they are a species of least concern, their numbers have been declining in recent years due to pressure from the pet trade. They are almost comical looking with their oversized crest and beak. The Vermillion Cardinal is a savanna bird of Columbia, Venezuela, and Bolivia. Vermilion Cardinal (Cardinalis phoeniceus) Image Credit: Fernando Flores, Wikimedia Commons Technically, this is not a species native to the United States. ![]() This species prefers wetlands of all types, whether the marshes or swamps of Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. The Yellow-Billed Cardinal looks similar to other Cardinals, except for their brightly colored beak and golden eyes. Yellow-Billed Cardinal (Paroaria capitata) Image Credit: Bernard DUPONT, Wikimedia Commons They are a species of least concern with stable numbers, according to IUCN.Ĥ. Their range is quite extensive in South America. They prefer the shrublands of their native land. Interestingly, this bird typically isn’t a migrant. However, birdwatchers have sighted it in Florida, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. The Red-Crested Cardinal calls central South America their home. Brazilian Cardinal (Paroaria coronata) Image Credit: Murray Foubister, Wikimedia Commons While the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) lists it as a species of least concern, their numbers have decreased.ģ. The color provides excellent camouflage in their shrubland habitat. Instead of being red, this one is gray with a larger crest. The Desert Cardinal, or Pyrrhuloxia, is an appropriately named bird that inhabits the American Southwest into Mexico and Central America. Desert Cardinal (Cardinalis sinuatus) Image Credit: SearchNet Media, Wikimedia Commons They feed primarily on seeds and fruits.Ģ. This bird lives in the eastern half of the country and down into Mexico. This avian also has a distinctive call of “birdy-birdy-birdy” that is hard to mistake, even if you can’t spot them in the trees. The striking color of a male’s bright-red breeding plumage is a stunning sight. The Northern Cardinal is one of the most beloved American songbirds. Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) Image Credit: TheBirdBird, Pixabay The latter are wanderers that sometimes go outside of their typical range for myriad reasons, whether due to a storm or an unplanned voyage on a ship. However, there are only two species that exist in the United States, along with one accidental species and an introduced one. The familiar red-crested avian is a member of the aptly named family, Cardinalidae, which includes other familiar songbirds, such as the Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Buntings, and Rose-Breasted Grosbeak.Ĭardinals live throughout North, Central, and South America. The group includes a broad spectrum of different sized birds and specializations. They make up most of the visitors to the average backyard feeder. Cardinals are part of the order Passeriformes, or perching birds. ![]() So let's just focus on the first hour or so, where we meet our new heroes Jesse and Hector, best friends who have video cameras so they can film themselves doing dumb shit like riding a laundry basket down a flight of stairs. It's odd, to say the least, and the appearance of another series regular isn't very organic, either - and it adds even MORE nonsense to this concept to boot. I mean, the person literally shows up and explains a few things, without a single "Oh, since that happened to me I've been doing this and that", or even seeming like they are traumatized from their experience (though the trailer has footage from this scene that didn't make the final, so perhaps a longer cut will change that). However, I will say that some of it seems shoehorned in - an appearance from a returning character (not Katie) is so brief, and the dialogue so exposition-heavy, I couldn't help but wonder if it was added late in the game, as if they got cold feet about making a film that was entirely free of the increasingly convoluted mythology the series has (sort of) established. That is not the case here if anything it's more connected than the last "true" sequel (it at least explains more about what's going on) and a good chunk of it won't make a lick of sense to anyone who hasn't seen (and retained a solid memory of) the 2nd and 3rd films.īut getting into more about that would be spoiler territory nearly all direct references to the previous films are confined to the 3rd act, so I can't talk about them without ruining some of its surprises. Think Prometheus quality of the film aside, you can't say that any part of it REQUIRES you to have seen Alien or its sequels - it just adds to (or subtracts from, depending on your POV) the experience. Now, maybe Paramount has a different idea of what "spinoff" means, but in my house, that means it's something that doesn't require a full working knowledge of the flagship series - it takes place in its universe but otherwise tells its own contained stories. And yet, again and again, they sneak into Anna's apartment to continue their filmed investigation.When Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones was announced, it was as a "Latino-centric spinoff" of the series, hence the lack of a number in its title (an actual Paranormal Activity 5 will hit this October after taking a year off). The three kids discover, sitting around one of those old low-tech electronic Simon devices one night (a fun throwback detail), that the device appears to be tapped into the paranormal spirits, acting like a Ouija board, answering "Yes" or "No" questions, to the astonishment of the three kids huddled around Simon. Jesse and Hector loop in one of Jesse's cousins, Marisol (Gabrielle Walsh). There are some legitimate scares, although most of them are of the "It was just a cat!" variety. Naturally, the boys have to break into her apartment (now a crime scene) in the middle of the night to investigate. ![]() Why would those two naked ladies choose to stand in the exact spot where the camera can pick up the action through the grate?" The fact that what the boys observe is disturbingly ritualistic is erased by the reality of the real live boobs on display down there. Again, the "found footage" trope requires that you turn off your brain that pesters you with questions such as, "That apartment down there has four rooms. The boys attach the camera to a wire, lower it through the grate, and, to their amazement, observe frumpy Anna, in the nude, painting a red circle on the stomach of a gorgeous naked woman. Weird moaning sounds and bumps come up through the grate at night. Soon, the boys become curious about Anna (Gloria Sandoval), a downstairs neighbor. Their energy together feels unselfconscious it doesn't feel like acting. The only reason this banal footage has any entertainment value is because of the two actors. They do shots of tequila with Jesse's feisty grandmother (Renee Victor). Hector draws a penis on Jesse's face while he sleeps. At first, they just film each other doing dumb stunts involving laundry baskets and staircases. The only thing they have any interest in is fooling around with their new video camera. Both have just graduated from high school and seem to have no plans, no jobs, no goals. Jesse (Jacobs) and Hector (Diaz) live in a crowded apartment complex, with multigenerational family members crowded into small rooms. Evil spirits are up to their old tricks in "The Marked Ones", and this time the action takes place in Oxnard, California, in a working-class Latino neighborhood, a welcome change in style and feel from the other more generic suburban installments. |