![]() Los Angeles once had to defend itself against snotty Eastern culture critics, English novelists, and middlebrow gossip columnists like Herb Caen who, from Provincetown-on-the-Thyroid, condescendingly refers to "that city down south." The implication was always that Los Angeles, the world’s most spacious city, was in a Culture-and-Sophistication League with Dubuque, Rochester, and Provo, that it was basically "bush" and that by luck or by golly it possessed none of the brittle, knowing sophistication derived from real big city problems. from "The San Diego Freeway," an unpublished song by Dave Hickey Behind the palm trees and chrome I find a stucco home, And another factory. ![]() The city of L.A., it ain't the way the posters say that it'll be. So fucked a place has rarely been better written and, contrary to present discursive apprehensions, Plagens's belletrism performs a demonstrative service to his critical ethos. To defend his adopted city from encroaching optimism he chooses, rather, to measure the full mess from extremity to center and plumb the shallow histories of its asphalt face. ![]() Peter Plagens speaks with a proprietary and intimate knowledge of Los Angeles that neither reduces his role to that of regional gatekeeper, nor lapses into the vitriol that flows easiest from the pen. A year since first reading this review, in the arts library of the author’s alma mater, I remain utterly bewildered by its impassioned, personal rhetoric.
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![]() That night, a hacker takes over television broadcasts, claiming that scientists have discovered signals that are enslaving the population and keeping them in a dream-like state, and that the only way to stop it is to shut off the signal at its source. Nada finds employment at a construction site and is befriended by coworker Frank, who invites him to live in a shanty town soup kitchen led by a man named Gilbert. While out on the street, he sees a street preacher warning that "they" have recruited the rich and powerful to control humanity. A nearly six-minute sequence in which the protagonists brawl in an alley has made appearances on all-time lists for best fight scenes.Ī homeless drifter-credited as "Nada"-comes to Los Angeles in search of a job. The film has also entered the pop culture lexicon, notably having a lasting effect on street art (particularly that of Shepard Fairey). It is now regarded by many as one of Carpenter’s best films. It initially received negative reviews from critics, who lambasted its social commentary, writing, and acting however, it later gained a cult following and experienced a significantly more favorable critical reception. They Live was a minor success upon release, debuting at #1 at the North American box office. President Ronald Reagan, as well as what Carpenter saw as increasing commercialization in both popular culture and politics. Carpenter has stated that the themes of They Live stemmed from his dissatisfaction with the economic policies of then-U.S. Having acquired the film rights to the Nelson-penned short story prior to the production of They Live, Carpenter used the story as the basis for the screenplay's structure, which he wrote under the pseudonym "Frank Armitage". Starring Roddy Piper, Keith David, and Meg Foster, the film follows an unnamed drifter who discovers through special sunglasses that the ruling class are aliens concealing their appearance and manipulating people to consume, breed, and conform to the status quo via subliminal messages in mass media. Learn more about Chemistrie Sunlenses here.They Live is a 1988 American science fiction action horror film written and directed by John Carpenter, based on the 1963 short story "Eight O'Clock in the Morning" by Ray Nelson. 12 Swarovski crystal colors (permanent or magnetic).Two clips available to reduce HEV light – Tech and Blue.Reader clip available +0.50 to +2.50, dual side AR.They simply use a small magnetic insert that goes onto your existing frames, and this allows you to apply the Chemistrie lenses on top of your prescription, seamlessly altering the lenses on any pair of glasses you have. Using a magnetic lens layering technology, these clip-ons are made to fit any frame. ChemistrieĬhemistrie Sunlenses are not quite your traditional clip-on sunglasses. We provide clip-on sunglass lenses from the following suppliers. Typically more affordable than traditional prescription sunglasses, these clip-on options fit over the wearer’s existing prescription glasses and provide solid sun protection while allowing the user to enjoy all the benefits of their prescription. ![]() When your prescription glasses wearers are looking for an affordable yet effective form of sun protection for their eyes, clip-on lenses are a perfect solution. ![]() Quantitatively, accuracy levels higher than 90% should be expected. Add to that punctuation insertion upon click and voice commands and smart capitalization, and you get one of the most advanced apps out there. With the right handling of these results and set of commands to the Speech-To-Text engines we are able to achieve results that do not fall in accuracy even when compared to the most professional and expensive software available on the market. In fact, all your speech is sent to Google, there it gets interpreted using powerful parallel servers and algorithms, and gets sent back to Speechnotes as a stream of possible transcription results. Speechnotes is based on Google's high-end speech-recognition engines. Another small disadvantage is that after many many notes, you might run out of storage room, so, it's a good practice to delete from time-to-time unnecessary older notes. For that - Speechnotes lets you export to Google Drive. The disadvantage is that you cannot access these documents from other computers. The advantage is that you don't have to sign in. ![]() So, where are all the automatically saved notes stored? Speechnotes stores all your data on your own computer, through your browser. No Login, registration, installation, or download needed. Other features built for productivity for both type of typing are:Īuto save that saves the document in real time upon any change, so you don't ever have to disturb yourself with it.Įxport to Google Drive (cloud saving) or download as a document to your computer.Īutomatic smart capitalization of letters at the beginning of sentences. Insert punctuation marks by speech (voice commands) or by a single click. No need to go through app modes or even stop dictation. You can also dictate and edit your text results right away, and continue dictating. This way, you can dictate when convenient and type when more appropriate. Speechnotes lets you move from voice-typing (dictation) to key-typing seamlessly. Speechnotes lets you type at the speed of speech (slow & clear speech). If you need to dictate an article though, you will find Speechnotes not only cheaper, but perhaps even better for you.įeatures Built to Increase Productivity & Efficiency for both Voice Typing & Regular Key Typingįor many of us, key-typing is slow and thus time-consuming. Dragon has these additional capabilities. We should mention though, that Speechnotes is an alternative to Dragon for dictation purposes only, not for voice controlling other software and not for voice-typing within other software. Many of you told us that in some ways, it even outperforms Dragon. Speechnotes is completely free & comparable in its accuracy to Dragon Natuarlly Speaking. Thanks a lot guys! Your feedback gives us great motivation to keep going in developing great solutionsĪ Free Alternative to Dragon Naturally Speaking Whose faith has been restored in Apps by this one." In fact, I wrote this review using the app. This is definitely my preferred dictation app. It is better and much more accurate than the other two that I have tried. "I would like to say that I am very pleased with this dictation plug in. Here are some of the user reviews we got on the Chrome store: ![]() Speechnotes is the highest ranked speech-recognition app on the Chrome-store, rated higher than 4.5 stars! Well above other online alternatives. But we are most proud of our users’ feedback. We’ve only been on air for a short while and already featured on “ProductHunt” and other international tech magazines. Reviews & Users’ Feedback (higher than 4.5 stars!) Fonts and colors all over the app were designed to be sharp and have excellent legibility characteristics. In addition to that, speaking instead of typing, enables you to think and speak it out fluently, uninterrupted, which again encourages creative, clear thinking. All other elements but the text itself are out of sight by fading out, so you can concentrate on the most important part - your own creativity. Speechnotes is especially designed to provide you a distraction-free environment.Įvery note, starts with a new clear white paper, so to stimulate your mind with a clean fresh start. No download, no install and even no registration needed, so you can start working right away.ĭesigned to Inspire Creativity and Keep You Focused Works entirely online in your Chrome browser. We strive to provide the best online dictation tool by engaging cutting-edge speech-recognition technology for the most accurate results technology can achieve today, together with incorporating built-in tools (automatic or manual) to increase users' efficiency, productivity and comfort. Speechnotes is a powerful speech-enabled online notepad, designed to empower your ideas by implementing a clean & efficient design, so you can focus on your thoughts. Befriend or antagonise other vampires as you learn more lore. Sims can be created as or turned into vampires, and from there, you can simplify or dramatise their dark form and make them as merciful or merciless as desired when they’re thirsty. Vampires are a media classic, yet this pack still manages to put a somewhat fresh spin on them. If you don’t like being limited to mundane gameplay, I’ve got good news: there are two other types of occult Sims in addition to the two mentioned previously. Options include, but are not limited to, ravens, Sixam owls, dragons, phoenixes, and snub-nosed leaf bats. ![]() You can choose from eleven different familiars, although as far as the community is aware, you can have as many as you want. ![]() You can focus on one or dabble in all four. There are three kinds of magic - practical, mischief, and untamed - and alchemy. Whether you make them in the character creator to start off your game or your Sim stumbles through the Glimmerbrook portal and ends up with magical abilities before dinner, they’re so much fun to play with. Realm of Magic adds another type of occult Sim to the game: spellcasters. ![]() Although magic is the only similarity between Harry Potter and this Sims pack, and a faint one at that, it’s a good way to get peoples’ attention. To the Sim players that are still salty they never got their Hogwarts letter, this pack is for you. There are also new careers, such as divers, fishermen, and conservationists the first two are rather self-explanatory, and the last allows your Sims to explore and preserve the environment, another focal part of this newer pack. There’s a heavy focus on community, as demonstrated through the people of the new island world, Sulani. If you like otherworldly gameplay, Island Living introduces mermaids to the game, and you can make them look as innocent or as vicious as you like. Though many players complain that this pack isn’t as fleshed out as it could be, I fully believe that it’s great and has something for everyone to enjoy. You also have the opportunity to open a vet clinic, no experience needed from you or your Sim, and help distressed pet parents, whose babies have come down with silly illnesses like Winterfest fever. You can dress cats and dogs alike with collars, hats, shirts, even dresses and costumes. Each pet gets their own set of three traits, which determines whether they’re affectionate or distant, obedient or mischievous, smart or…not so much. Whether your Sim adopts a pet or you make one (or five) specifically for your household, these buddies are so much fun to play with. There are dozens upon dozens of breeds of both cats and dogs to choose from, even a couple of wildcard options such as a fox and a raccoon. If you are, though, you’re in for a treat. If you aren’t much of a pet person, this likely won’t appeal to you. So if you want to purchase something to add to the base game - though it’s still fun and versatile on its own - without breaking the bank, consider this list of my top ten packs! Although there are frequent sales for all platforms, there are also over thirty packs to choose from, and the total definitely adds up. ![]() There are stuff packs, game packs, and expansion packs - the first are $10 each, the second $20 each, and the last $40 each, in US dollars. The focus today is on The Sims 4, which has three pack tiers, and each one adds something new - the larger the pack, the more content it brings to the table. Each main game in the franchise has additional content available for purchase, called packs. Each game stands alone, each full of infinite possibilities for any style of gameplay.īut wait, there’s more. Whether you’ve played since The Sims 1, only dabbled in the Freeplay app, or discovered The Sims 4 through YouTube last week, there’s nothing stopping you no need to play through the series to understand what’s happening. The newest significant addition to the franchise is The Sims 4, released on PC and Mac in 2014, then on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in 2017. You can make their lives as mundane or as messy as you desire, and really, you can do anything you want. Each instalment has gained more traction, and there have been several other games, such as The Sims Medieval and The Sims Freeplay.įor those unfamiliar, The Sims is a life simulation game that allows you to create a character and a life for them, and you essentially play god. Ever since the first titular game released in 2000, it’s been wildly popular. The Sims is a franchise that needs no introduction. ![]() If you are a die-hard fan of the hit TV show Sons of Anarchy, then you know that tattoos play an important role in the culture and story of the series. It showcases the power and struggles for dominance in this subculture. The “Angel winged skull” tattoo is also very popular among fans and is worn by many people as a way to pay tribute to their favorite show. ![]() Charlie Hunnam’s character Jax wears this tattoo to mark his commitment to the motorcycle club and stands as a reminder of what he has lost over time. ![]() One particular iconic symbol associated with S0A (short for Sons of Anarchy) is the Grim Reaper. The four main characters on the show all have distinctive meanings behind their ink work including Jax’s full-face skull tattoo on his neck, Jackson Teller’s (Jax) nautical star tattooed inside his right hand, Gemma’s tattoo of a bird in flight on her shoulder and Happy’s prison tattoos that include the “I Love You” across his knuckles. Some of the most remarkable tattoos related to this club are those that include symbols of anarchy, guns, and beatings. So it comes as no surprise to see that people in real life too want these sons of anarchy tattoos inked on their bodies. If you are a fan of the show, then you already know that the show features dozens of characters with multiple tattoo designs on their body. In addition, Sons of Anarchy featured various memorable scenes involving fights, murder, passionate romance, brotherhood, friendship, loyalty, and family bonding. They wear leather jackets representing their allegiance to the club and cover their bodies with various tattoos displaying their position in life or even some special lucky charm they believe will bring them good luck. Most fans base their tattoos on the SOA members that are clad with tattoos and often have different nicknames for each other. The show has many fans and they choose to include Sons of Anarchy tattoo designs in their body art collection. This American television show has garnered widespread critical acclaim, partly because of the way it portrays outlaw motorcycle gangs. Sons of Anarchy tattoos pay homage to the now iconic TV show as well the motorcycle gangs around the world. ![]() Not only does this variety keep combat fresh, but it creates a strong incentive to replay and experiment with different combinations. An evil neon user for instance, can make targets explode into novas of pure energy, causing chain reactions that can obliterate groups of civilians in seconds, while a benevolent neon user can slow time to a crawl to carefully incapacitate foes one by one with a series of exacting attacks. Skill trees offer more options than previous Infamous games, allowing you to either concentrating on one power or split your resources between multiple paths, and the unlockable powers differ based on your moral alignment as well. From the explosive destruction of smoke to the swift precision of neon, each set feels strong enough to hang an entire game on, and strategically switching between them during heated battles by draining power sources from around the city made me feel like an unstoppable force of nature. checkpoint into another chance to flex my super-powered muscles. Delsin’s four varied power sets turned every D.U.P. Story quibbles aside, Infamous is about feeling formidable, and Second Son doesn't disappoint. ![]() While Second Son’s individual beats and characters are well executed, the plot that strings them all together is frustratingly straightforward and limited in scope, depriving the bit players of the chance to make a meaningful impact on the core conflict. ![]() Supporting characters like the immediately interesting Abigail “Fetch” Walker are quickly introduced and brushed aside, with limited involvement outside of the two or three-mission-long arc that pertains to them. Sadly, the rest of the cast isn’t as well-utilized. Add in the icy, iron-willed villain Brooke Augustine, and the result is a conflict that boils to a genuinely affecting climax. Sure, it’s well-covered territory, but Baker imbues it with a charm, and youthful abandon that keeps it from feeling tropey or overwrought. He’s not universally likable, but the chemistry he has with his conservative, law-defending brother makes for some absorbing familial banter.ĭelsin is a young man who, like so many others, is filled with equal parts anger and idealism, and the fact that he wields such overwhelming destructive power makes that inner conflict tense, and interesting. Troy Baker’s motion-captured performance as our new Conduit, Delsin, remains believable whether he’s being a snarky, reckless jerk, or a plucky, bohemian do-gooder. While high production values are often a smokescreen for weak characters, Second Son succeeds here, too. Serene city streets turn into fiery disaster zones with gleeful regularity, and both the before and after are great to look at, despite occasional stutters when the effects get out of hand. The city of Seattle is beautifully and diversely realized, but it never looked better than when I was blowing everyone and everything around me to bits. The power of the PlayStation 4 is evident in every street-side puddle reflection and in every swirling tuft of smoke that left my flaming hands. It didn’t take long for Second Son's remarkable lighting to leave me staring slack-jawed at my screen. Load the sleigh, do do do, do do do do do.Īnother of the most popular preschool Christmas songs for kids, this video by Super Simple is catchy with repetitive, fun lyrics for your little peanut to learn. Reindeer sharks, do do do, do do do do do. Angels We Have Heard On High Auld Lang Syne Away In A Manger The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) Christmas Time Is Here Deck The Hall. This is one of the best Christmas songs for preschoolers to sing along, with a festive video to watch, too! Lyrics: There’s a Christmas version of Baby Shark. You’ll go down in history!” (like Columbus) Play in any reindeer games (like Monopoly). Used to laugh and call him names (like Pinocchio), You would even say it glows (like a flashlight), Had a very shiny nose (like a light bulb), We’ve got the funniest version of the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer lyrics for you to sing with your little one: Lyrics: One of the most popular Christmas songs for kids, also a fun Christmas song for kids to perform! He’ll come around when the chimes ring out, So fill your hearts with Christmas cheer, Santa Claus knows we’re all Gods children, Hang your stockings and say your prayers, Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, With a simple tune and easy lyrics, they’ll be singing and dancing along in no time! Lyrics: Get your little elf in the festive mood for Santa’s visit with this classic Christmas children’s song. ![]() “Don’t you cry, I’ll be back again some day.” So he said “Let’s run and we’ll have some fun, He was made of snow but the children knowĪnd the children say he could laugh and play Lyrics:įrosty the snowman was a jolly happy soul,įrosty the snowman is a fairy tale they say, ![]() One of the magical Christmas songs for kids on our list, Frosty the Snowman is great for any family during the festive season ‒ whether you celebrate Christmas or not. Sure, it’s not technically a Christmas kids’ song, and the lyrics might be a bit hard for younger kids to learn, but they’ll love to dance along! Lyrics: It’s not Christmas until someone plays this Mariah Carey tune. Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet, Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring,ĭancin’ and prancin’ in Jingle Bell Square, Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock, If you’re after fun Christmas songs for kids, Jingle Bell Rock is sure to be a hit with your little peanut.Įven if they’re too young to sing along, they’ll love the rhythm. ![]() A booklet containing wiring installation booklet with diagramsĪll the TRUE® smart battery isolators have proprietary built-in cables that use extremely adhesive-lined shrink tubes to maintain their waterproof and corrosion-proof properties.Strong copper cable lugs on a black flex cable.Flex cable with strong copper cable lugs.SBI-19 True Smart Battery Isolator Switch.Free Delivery via USPS First Class Mail.Full warranty with superb tech support.It includes cables, a connecting kit, instructions, and an automotive wiring diagram.True® automotive battery isolators fit for all vehicle (Honda, Toyota, Ford, General Motors, Yamaha, etc.).True® battery isolators guarantees to maintain the vehicle’s warranty, which requires no connection from the alternator or ignition.The SBI-19 cover is heat resistant up to 130 degrees Fahrenheit.True® products are both waterproof and corrosion-proof.It is designed for all 12V 140A vehicles with a VSR.UTV Lithium Dual Battery Connect & Monitor Kit.True Lithium Dual Battery Connecting Kit.True® Lithium Smart Battery Isolator (Patent Pending).5 pc club Car Battery Cable Set (4 Guage).True® Amalgamated Yamaha G19 Golf Cart 4-gauge battery cable set 48V.True® Amalgamated Yamaha G2,G8,G9 1985-94, 4-gauge Golf Cart battery cable set 36Volt models.True®- EZGO Heavy Duty TXT Battery cable set 4-gauge (48Volt).True® EZGO TXT 94-Up Medalist TXT Golf Cart Battery Cable Set (4 Gauge).EZGO Marathon Golf Cart – Battery Cable.UTV Lithium Dual Battery Connect & Monitor Kit True UTV-SBI-LCM.True Lithium Dual Battery Connecting Kit True UTV-SBI-LCK.True Smart Lithium Isolator UTV-SBI-19L for UTVs.UTV Dual Battery Connecting Kit – UTV-SBI-CK.True UTV Dual Battery Connect & Monitor Kit – UTV-SBI-CM.Dual Battery Voltage Meter (Dual Display).Press Release – Analytic Systems Signs 4 Year Supply Agreement with SRC, Inc.Press Release – Analytic Systems Appoints KNJ Marine Marketing as Commercial Marine Sales Reps for US North East Region.Analytic Systems is pleased to announce they have re-certified to the International Standards Organization, ISO 9001:2015 quality standard.Press Release – Analytic Systems to supply Inverter-Chargers in support of armoured vehicle fleet modernization.Based in Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Analytic Systems manufactures all its products in house, keeping jobs and creating quality in North America. The circuitry is fully encapsulated for maximum marine protection and reliability.Īnalytic Systems has been building voltage converters, inverters, power supplies and battery chargers for the Marine, Military, Industrial, Telecom and Transportation markets since 1976. Their design is compatible with 12, 24 and 32 volt battery systems, and models for 2 and 3 bank battery systems are now available at a very competitive price. His team did not disappoint and came up with an Ideal Diode based design using high current MosFet transistors and custom control circuitry to reduce the voltage drop to a mere 160 millivolts at 200 amps. ![]() It also had to be compatible with both 12 and 24 volt battery systems found on most boats. Hargrove challenged his R&D team to come up with a better solution, and specified that the isolator had to drop essentially zero volts at low current, and less than 0.2 volts at full current, which he set to be 200 Amps, equal to the output current of today’s high output alternators. The isolator was dropping a full volt across its terminals, so even though the alternator was outputting correct voltage for the batteries, because of the voltage loss caused by the isolator, they never received that last critical volt that is required for full recharging. He traced the issue to a traditional diode-based battery isolator that linked t he two battery banks to the alternator. Ideal Diode technology reduces the voltage drop across the Isolator to a mere 160 millivolts even at 200 Amps of charging current so all the power of the alternator is applied to the batteries.Īnalytic Systems became aware of the need for such a product when CEO James Hargrove chartered a sailboat and noticed that even though the boat was nearly new, the batteries were not charging properly. Analytic Systems introduces Ideal Multi-Bank Battery Isolator for 2 and 3 bank battery systemsĪnalytic Systems introduces the IBI (Ideal Battery Isolator) for 2 bank and 3 bank battery systems, allowing all the batteries to be fully charged from a single alternator while maintaining electrical isolation between the battery banks. If you don’t know anything particular about your feet, buy neutral running shoes.The conclusion is that arch support cannot make a huge difference to injury risk or the performance for runners unless you have a special foot condition, in which case you should seek a specialist. We have done a meta-analysis of more than 150 studies about arch support, where we interview doctors of physical therapy, podiatric surgeons, coaches, and podiatrists. a heavy max-cushioned trainer ( Adidas Ultraboost ) What is arch support and why it matters More experienced runners can find joy in having a pair of lightweight running shoes for their speed runs.Ī light daily trainer ( Saucony Kinvara ) vs. This way, you’ll leave aside two extremes: racing flats and extremely bulky running shoes. Typically, lightweight running shoes offer less cushioning, and we therefore generally don’t recommend beginners to pick running shoes that weigh less than 250 grams. Runners usually report more comfort with more cushioning. Research has shown that comfort might go as far as improving the running economy ( source) and decreasing injury risk ( study). It’s that soft (midsole) foamy layer that makes your feet experience “walking on clouds” feeling. Additionally, no part of the shoe should give you discomfort - there should be no pinching nor uncomfortably tight areas. ![]() This means your shoe isn’t too tight nor it feels too loose around your heel or forefoot. If you’re not sure which size you need, check our ultimate size guide. Your browser does not support the video tag. Because of this, our list is different from other top-10 lists you might be browsing. We consider all ~2000 running shoes on the market, not just the 25 popular ones.īased on this, each shoe is given a CoreScore from 0-100.Our scores include aggregated ratings from +2 million runners and 10,700 experts.Our testers run 30-50 miles in each pair before submitting their in-depth review.We cut shoes into pieces and measure over 30 different parameters on cushioning, durability, breathability, and more.As an independent shoe testing lab, we purchase all shoes with our own money to stay unbiased. ![]() ![]() Unlike most top-10 rankings, we list the best running shoes, NOT the most popular ones. Here’s proof that the top 1% most popular shoes are 245 times more likely to be picked in top-10 lists, and WHY expert reviews are biased towards popular models that are not always the best shoes. We believe editors disguised as “experts” cherry-pick popular shoes to earn more. |