text:
LISTFUL THINKING: 2012 Superlatives

1 01 2013

New Year’s Day always marks a very interesting balancing act, reflecting on the old while also ringing in the new.  So while people are still thinking about 2012, let me offer up the first annual Superlatives post for the films of 2012.  I’ve already weighed in with the best and worst 10 of 2012, but what about the other 80 movies of the year?  What about the performances?  What about all sorts of other things?  This is the post where I get all sorts of stuff floating in my mind out there.

For the sake of review, I’ll go ahead and re-list my 10 best and worst of 2012.

Top 10 of 2012

10 Best of 2012: “21 Jump Street,” “Argo,” “Hitchcock,” “Killing Them Softly,” “Looper,” “Bernie,” “Zero Dark Thirty,” “Les Misérables,” “The Master,” “The Queen of Versailles

Honorable Mentions: “Rust and Bone,” “Prometheus,” “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” “Wreck-It Ralph,” “End of Watch,” “Holy Motors

Worst 10 of 2012

10 Worst of 2012: “The Grey,” “The Bourne Legacy,” “John Carter,” “Gone,” “The Vow,” “Killer Joe,” “The Paperboy,” “The Deep Blue Sea,” “The Watch,” “Casa De Mi Padre

Honorable Mentions: “Pitch Perfect,” “Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap,” “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,” “First Position,” “Keep the Lights On,” “Being Flynn

10 More 2012 Releases I Still Need to See: “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” “The Impossible,” “Promised Land,” “The Intouchables,” “Seven Psychopaths,” “Hyde Park on Hudson,” “Not Fade Away,” “Smashed,” “The House I Live In,” “Searching for Sugar Man”

5 Most Surprising Movies of 2012: “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Bernie,” “End of Watch,” “Hitchcock,” “21 Jump Street

Denzel Washington in Flight

5 Most Disappointing Movies of 2012: “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Django Unchained,” “Lincoln,” “Flight,” “The Bourne Legacy

10 Most Forgettable Movies of 2012 (in alphabetical order): “Bachelorette,” “Hysteria,” “Jeff, Who Lives at Home,” “Lola Versus,” “Man on a Ledge,” “Men in Black III,” “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen,” “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World,” “Take This Waltz,” “Trouble with the Curve

Silver Linings Playbook

5 Most Rewatchable Movies of 2012: “21 Jump Street,” “Silver Linings Playbook,” “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Argo,” “Ted

5 Movies of 2012 I’m Glad I Saw But Will Never Watch Again: “Lincoln,” “Amour,” “The Invisible War,” “Compliance,” “ReGeneration

Killing Them Softly

5 Most Underrated Movies of 2012: “Killing Them Softly,” “Les Misérables,” “Prometheus,” “Safety Not Guaranteed,” “End of Watch

The Avengers

5 Most Overrated Movies of 2012: “The Sessions,” “Lincoln,” “Django Unchained,” “Life of Pi,” “The Avengers

5 Movies That Got Better with Distance and Time: “Killing Them Softly,” “Zero Dark Thirty,” “The Master,” “Silver Linings Playbook,” “Prometheus

5 Movies That Got Worse with Distance and Time: “Brave,” “Lincoln,” “Flight,” “The Sessions,” “The Dark Knight Rises

5 Movies That Felt Shorter Than Their Runtime: “Zero Dark Thirty,” “Les Misérables,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Argo,” “Django Unchained

Keira Knightley in "Anna Karenina"

5 Movies That Felt Longer Than Their Runtime: “Lincoln,” “Anna Karenina,” “This Is 40,” “Damsels in Distress,” The Five-Year Engagement

Breakout Performances: Quvenzhané Wallis in “Beasts of the Southern Wild,”  Eddie Redmayne in “Les Misérables,” Ezra Miller in “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” Garrett Hedlund in “On the Road,” Scoot McNairy in “Argo

Silver Linings Playbook

Breakthrough Performances: Bradley Cooper in “Silver Linings Playbook,” Michael Pena in “End of Watch,” Jack Black in “Bernie,” Channing Tatum in “21 Jump Street,” Elizabeth Banks in “People Like Us

Best Exotic

Breakdown Performances: Anna Kendrick in “Pitch Perfect,” Salma Hayek in “Savages,” Tom Cruise in “Rock of Ages,” Emile Hirsch in “Killer Joe,” Dev Patel in “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

frame 01021605R

Best Body of Work in 2012: (tie) Anne Hathaway in “The Dark Knight Rises” and “Les Misérables,” Jennifer Lawrence in “The Hunger Games” and “Silver Linings Playbook

The Deep Blue Sea

Worst Body of Work in 2012: (tie) Rachel Weisz in “The Bourne Legacy” and “The Deep Blue Sea,” Taylor Kitsch in “John Carter” and “Savages

Jessica Chastain in Zero Dark Thirty

Best Heroes: Jessica Chastain as Maya in “Zero Dark Thirty,” Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk in “The Avengers,” Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean in “Les Misérables

John Carter

Worst Heroes: Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man in “The Amazing Spider-Man,” Taylor Kitsch as John Carter in “John Carter,” Jeremy Renner as Aaron Cross in “The Bourne Legacy

Best Villains: Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman in “The Dark Knight Rises,” Russell Crowe as Javert in “Les Misérables,” Leonardo DiCaprio as Calvin Candie in “Django Unchained

Worst Villains: Tom Hardy as Bane in “The Dark Knight Rises,” Javier Bardem as Silva in “Skyfall,” Rhys Ifans as Lizard in “The Amazing Spider-Man

Best Possessed Performance: Joaquin Phoenix in “The Master

The Paperboy

Worst Possessed Performance: Nicole Kidman in “The Paperboy

Best Comedic Performance: (tie) Jack Black in “Bernie,” Channing Tatum in “21 Jump Street

The Watch

Worst Comedic Performance: The cast of “The Watch

Best Cameo: Uggie in “The Campaign

Ryan Reynolds

Worst Cameo: Ryan Reynolds in “Ted

Eddie Redmayne

Best Singing: Eddie Redmayne in “Les Misérables

Worst Singing: Alec Baldwin in “Rock of Ages

That’s about all I can come up with for now … may add to this later!  Happy 2013, everyone!

REVIEW: Safety Not Guaranteed

19 06 2012

Maybe my response is partly Pavlovian due to four seasons of conditioning from “Parks and Recreation,” but I thought just about everything Aubrey Plaza said or did was hilarious in “Safety Not Guaranteed,” a quirky indie comedy featuring the comedic dynamo.  At best, her muted enthusiasm elicits gut-wrenching laughs; at worst, a good and wholehearted chuckle that leaves no after-taste of guilt.  So forget Tom Cruise’s half-baked rocker impersonation and Adam Sandler’s self-parodic baby voice; this is the summer comedy you deserve to see.  And then maybe see twice.

Plaza plays Darius, a magazine intern in Seattle working for an aspiring Miranda Priestly (a lovely cameo by Mary Lynn Rajskub, best known as Chloe from “24”).  Suffering from a bad case of cubicle tedium, she escapes by going out on assignment with Jeff, a lazy Lothario played with appropriately little decency or discretion by Jake Johnson, and a fellow intern Arnau, an Indian intern whose life motto must be “work hard, computer game harder.”  Together, the three investigate a very odd classified ad seeking a time traveling companion.

Don’t expect “Back to the Future” from “Safety Not Guaranteed,” though; this comedy follows all the antics leading up to a trip to the future with Mark Duplass’ Kenneth, the enigmatic man who placed the ad.  Darius must track him down, entice him, and then woo him into allowing her to see the details that would make an interesting piece.  The lines between the story and real feelings quickly blur, but the film has plenty of tricks up its sleeves along with an abundance of fantastic lines and nuanced comedic performances to guarantee satisfaction.  B+


Content-Type: application/http; msgtype=response

WARC-Identified-Payload-Type: text/html

WARC-Type: response

text:
Design Your Own Life Style

“The way you live your days is the way you live your life.” ~ Annie Dillard

Your life is a life style all your own, and you’re the only one designing and creating every single detail in the style that you decide.Tree shadow.jpegLarge

Out there

DarkCoffee bag.jpegOpen

In the light..

You hold the power over all energies – bringing them to light – making them so.Leaf on ground.jpegYou have your own way of seeing things.  You have your own set of beliefs that you have acquired and are holding onto – that dominate, rule and regulate and shape the outcome of each of your thoughts.

Your’e the only one who can have the final say so, you’re the final decision maker.  Even when you think you don’t have a choice, you do, you’re the one making the choice of no choice.  You’re the one holding the magic key to your life and consciously or unconsciously, whether you want to admit it or not, you’re the one creating every single moment.3 cactus.jpegYou have the responsibility for your life and you can either accept that you are the mover and the shaker of your own journey, or you can hide away and just let life pass you by because with or without you – life will pass – life will change – life will move – life doesn’t wait – life is creating it doesn’t stand still.

You’re a miracle and you have the power to reinvent and change the course of your life,  to reach for the stars – to re-design – re-shape – re-structure – to change what you don’t like.

Step into your life, sprinkle some magic and design your own unique life style.

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below, I’d love to chat.

Published by

My big joy is to inspire, encourage and empower you to live the sweetest life for you. I love to share inspiration, how to, and my own journey towards wholeness and union with our Divine Mother. Oh and I love photography and cooking. I am thrilled that you are here and sharing in this wonderful magical mystery.

2 thoughts on “Design Your Own Life Style

  1. I love that we are all different, with different skills and talents and personalities. We do have the choice to do whatever we want with our one wild and crazy life. It is best to live it to its fullest.

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: Logo

You are commenting using your account. Log Out /  Change )

Google photo

You are commenting using your Google account. Log Out /  Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out /  Change )

Connecting to %s

warcinfo:
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2020-34
publisher: Common Crawl
description: Wide crawl of the web for August 2020
operator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)
hostname: ip-10-67-67-213.ec2.internal
software: Apache Nutch 1.17 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)
robots: checked via crawler-commons 1.2-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)
format: WARC File Format 1.1
conformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/


text:
Good Morning

Two things I want to let you know about this morning.

1- Team Wolverine is having a fundraising auction to help support their travels to the 2015 US OPEN/WBA Worlds/ISKA Worlds in Orlando Florida on July 3rd and 4th. SO check out this link please

2- Starting June 1st til August 31st it is t-shirt weather here at Cobourg Tae Kwon Do. This means you have three options. A) You can continue to wear your dobuk top during classes. B) You can wear a Cobourg Tae Kwon Do T-Shirt which we have for sale. $20 each. C) You can wear a Ontario Breaking Championships t-shirt. No other shirts are allowed.

Master Jonathan Field

Cobourg Tae Kwon Do

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: Logo

You are commenting using your account. Log Out /  Change )

Google photo

You are commenting using your Google account. Log Out /  Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out /  Change )

Connecting to %s


text:
Follow Streaming on Twitch now! I'm colouring the cover for a new expanded and remastered version of Corbie issue one in Clip Studio Paint. 👩⚔🌃🔮

· · Web · 0 · 1 · 0
Sign in to participate in the conversation

Mastodon.ART — Your friendly creative home on the Fediverse! Interact with friends and discover new ones, all on a platform that is community-owned and ad-free. Admin: @Curator. Moderators: @EmergencyBattle, @ScribbleAddict, @TapiocaPearl, @Otherbuttons, @katwylder


text:
Enable the sharp YUV option in WebP for better quality WebP images at practically no increase (often a reduction) to the file size. It costs +68 % CPU time.

Sign in to participate in the conversation
Mastodon for Tech Folks

This Mastodon instance is for people interested in technology. Discussions aren't limited to technology, because tech folks shouldn't be limited to technology either!


text:
Heterogeneity of COVID-19 outbreak in Italy

Main Article Content

Bruno Alessandro Rivieccio
Ester Luconi
Patrizia Boracchi
Elena Pariani
Luisa Romanò
Silvia Salini
Silvana Castaldi http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1716-6624
Elia Biganzoli
Massimo Galli

COVID 19 - outbreak

An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) started in December 2019 in China and was declared a pandemic on 11.03.2020 by WHO. Italy is one of the most afflicted Country by this epidemic with 136,110 confirmed cases and 16,654 deaths on 9.4.2020 (at the same date, the Ministry of Health was reporting 143,626 cases).  During these few months the National Health Service have made a great effort to cope with the increasing request of intensive care beds and all the elective activities in hospital have been suspended. Data from the different Italian regions shows different patterns of positive and dead for this syndrome. Moreover, striking differences of the observed lethality of the infections among different areas were immediately evident from the epidemic reports. It will be of critical relevance to understand the expected evolution of the first lock-down phase, driving the exhaustion of the Covid-19 outbreak.(www.actabiomedica.it)

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics Loading ...
Abstract 398 | PDF Downloads 276

1 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report – 51, 11 March 2020, https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200311-sitrep-51-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=1ba62e57_4
2 Riccardo F., Andrianou X., Bella A. et Al., Epidemia COVID-19. https://www.epicentro.iss.it/coronavirus/bollettino/Bollettino-sorveglianza-integrata-COVID-19_9-aprile-2020.pdf
3 Lai A, Bergna A, Acciarri C, Galli M, Zehender G. Early phylogenetic estimate of the effective reproduction number of SARS-CoV-2. J Med Virol 2020; : 14–8.
4 Decreto del Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri 23 febbraio 2020https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2020/02/23/20A01228/sg
5 Nacoti M, Ciocca A, Giupponi A, Brambillasca P. At the Epicenter of the Covid-19 Pandemic and Humanitarian Crises in Italy : Changing Perspectives on Preparation and Mitigation. 2020; : 1–5. NEJM Catalyst https://catalyst.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/CAT.20.0080

Most read articles by the same author(s)


text:
Click here to give a rating!

Basic information

AUTHENTIC WEAR LTD (C14746) is a company from Mauritius. Our system shows that this company is In Business. Company address: ROYAL ROAD, BARAMIA, ROSE BELLE. Company type is LIMITED BY SHARES. More precise status of AUTHENTIC WEAR LTD is Live. The date of incorporation is 1995-05-30, so the age of this business is around 25.21 years. Click here for more info...
Information in this page are provided as a guideline and have been shown for information purposes only. It is not designed to be or it do constitute the legal advice. Also, be aware that actual data could have changed since the last check!

Company information

Country or State:

Name of the business:

Authentic Wear Ltd

Company status:

In Business

Code of the business:

Other names of this business:

Want to find out? Click here.

Royal Road, Baramia, Rose Belle

Detailed company status:

  1. LIVE

Value Added Tax number:

Want to find out? Click here.

Other companies such as this one:

Want to find out? Click here.

E-mail updates of the business

Be informed when we will update any of this information about company AUTHENTIC WEAR LTD! Our system will send all the updates into your inbox absolutely for free!

Information is not correct?

Want to report a mistake or ask a question? Contact form can be found here or you are welcome to write to us: [email protected]

If you want us to delete the information fill in this form.

Comments about company on Disqus

More comments about this company here

Find everything you need about companies from Mauritius: phone numbers, addresses, fax numbers, e-mails, websites, facebook profiles, google plus profiles, reviews, feedbacks, comments and more. Just use our toll-free search:

2014-2020 ©
To the top
In order for this website to work properly we need to save cookies on your computer. Over 90% of all websites do this.
That's fine! About cookies
visitors tracking


text:
Fujian, China
Business Type:
Trading Company
Main Products:
Number of Employees:
Year of Establishment:
Management System Certification:
ISO 9001
Average Lead Time:
Peak season lead time: one month
Off season lead time: one month
OEM/ODM Service
Sample Available

Shoes, Slipper, Clothes manufacturer / supplier in China, offering Anti-Cut Stainless Steel Wire Protective Work Gloves, Promotional USB Fans, 2020 New Silicone Storage Box and so on.

Diamond Member Since 2020
Audited Supplier

Product Categories

Contact Supplier

Ms. Mark

Silicone Cup & Mug

Total 8 Silicone Cup & Mug Products


WARC-Identified-Payload-Type: application/xhtml+xml

text:
Drop-In Games

From Saturday, February 15, 10:00 am until 12:30 pm

Stop by the library for gaming fun at Drop-In Games, 10 a.m. to 12:30 on Saturday, February 15, 2020, at the McKinley Park branch of the Chicago Public Library, 1915 W. 35th St., Chicago.

The library provides a variety of new and traditional games for play at this event. Children under 11 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

Buy, sell, or rent  your McKinley Park home from Expert Realtor Jim Hankes.


text:
Why FATS are all the RAGE

As someone who has spent countless years professing, both personally and professionally, that low-fat is the best way, man, I am doing some back tracking now… And, I could not feel better! When I was in high school and college, low-fat was perceived as the only way to keep off the pounds. As a dancer, my teacher honestly and whole hearted told me to eat a raw vegetable salad with NO dressing for lunch and a poached chicken breast for dinner. Seriously… When I started studying nutrition, the low-fat ways were drilled into us. The irony was that we were also learning the biological function of fat and why the body needed the various fatty acids. It was so non-logical: The body needs fat for certain functions but nope do not eat fat. Again, Seriously?

Luckily, the nutritional community has come to our senses and now understand that fat is a valuable resource to the human body. We need it daily to balance out hormones and other nutrients; to digest vitamins D, K, A, and E; and to produce certain type of steroids. (Which is not really a bad thing. Did you know that testosterone and estrogen are forms of a steroid molecule?) So for fun, let’s list out the various functions of fat in the body and how the body would function without it. Try to not come over to my fat side!

  1. Energy: Fats are a great source of energy for most of our conscious and subconscious bodily functions. On a low-fat diet, our energy and mood levels are severely hampered. Mood swings anyone?
  1. Essential Cellular Functions and Growth: Certain fatty acids are key for growth and development of cells, especially in the brain. These fatty acids must be consumed, as they are not made in the body. With only small amounts of fat in the diet, the body will become deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, which impede cellular function and promote inflammation.
  1. Nerve and Brain Function: Our nerves and brain are highly saturated with fatty acids. The fatty acids help protect these sensitive areas and provide a barrier against the environment. On low-fat foods, a person will become very cold natured. If fat deficient, the body will grow a fine layer of hair… sexy, right?!
  1. Skin and Tissue Health: The skin has a fat barrier surrounding each cell to help regulate what goes out and what comes in. With a low-fat diet, the skin will appear thinner and present as dull.
  1. Digesting and Transporting Vitamins A, D, E, and K: These fat-soluble fats are major contributors to bone and muscular strength, to gut health, and immunity power. On low fat diets, infections will come much more often and bones will become brittle.
  1. Forming steroid hormones: Our sex hormones are actually the same chemical composition of a steroid molecule. The same goes for cholesterol. The body needs fatty acids to make the chemical structure for steroids. On a lower fat intake, the body has a difficult road to produce sex hormones, which in turn may affect fertility and libido.
  1. Insulin Balance: Insulin is the key regulator for fat storage. When insulin is high, it signals for fatty acid molecules to make it’s way into the fat cells. Once the fatty acid molecules are in the fat cells (adipose cells), three fatty acids join to form a triglyceride and then continue to grow in size (aka what appears as “fatness”). On a low fat diet, the carbohydrate percentage in one’s diet is fairly high; thus, insulin is chronically elevated and consistently sending fat to be stored inside the cells.
  1. Manage Weight: When you are consuming the right kind of fat and the right kind/right amount of carbohydrates, the body will not be able to send the fat into storage, however, burn the fat for energy.

As you can see, fat is INTEGRAL to our health, happiness, and vitality. It is INTEGRAL to our sexual and reproduction possibilities. It is INTEGRAL for our body image and confidence. Have I convinced you yet?

What is not integral to all of these things are PROCESSED, oxidized, or damaged fats. Here is a list of the go-to’s. Remember, 1-3 servings of HEALTHY fat per meal.

Coconut Oil: cold-pressed

Eggs (yep, the yolks do not disappear!): free-range, organic when possible

Meat: grass-fed, free-range, or organic versions

Fatty Fish: Wild-caught salmon, sardines, mackerel. (Wild canned salmon is a great, economical option.)

Butter (and cream): grass-fed

Olive oil: cold-pressed, extra virgin

Nuts and Nut Butters: cashews, almonds, walnuts, almond butter, cashew butter

Seeds: chia, flax, hemp

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Log Out /  Change )

Google photo

You are commenting using your Google account. Log Out /  Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out /  Change )

Connecting to %s


text:
1. Home
  2. Miscellaneous
  3. Clips and Attachments
  4. Ulticlip Standard
Ulticlip Standard
Ulticlip Standard

Ulticlip Standard

Your Price: $9.99
Retail Price:$11.99
You Save:$2.00(17%)
Part Number: Ulticlip Standard
Availability: In Stock

Ulticlip Standard

Ulticlip has a dual mounting bracket. Ulticlip works with single point attachment holsters and can also be used with holsters that use a retention slot to lock the clip in place without using a screw

100% American Made

Military Grade Black Oxide Finish

Heat Treated to RC 42-49

C-1075 Spring Steel

Wax/Oil Treated Steel – aids in smooth operation & rust inhibitor

Minimum Profile, Maximum Concealment

Over 10X The Retention Compared To Most Holster Clips

Dual Mounting Bracket

Size: 3.5? x 7/8?

Weight: .78 oz.

Mounting hardware not included.  *Purchase our 48pc. screw kit

Related Items


text:
Blood Incantation channel odd alien death metal creations on tangled mauler ‘Hidden History…’

There are a ton of conspiracy theories out there about alien DNA being woven into this earth, our origins coming from the stars, and visits from our predecessors having occurred numerous times. The question of us being alone in this universe is a preposterous one because there’s not a chance there isn’t life elsewhere (sorry, religious people!), and our study and concentration of what else is out there is a subject that keeps some people up at night.

Denver death metal alchemists Blood Incantation have had the cosmos in their DNA, and I’m not talking about the physical makeup as humans. Their music is consumed with and powered by what lies in the great unknown beyond our world, and they unravel even more of those mysteries on their mind-tangling second record “Hidden History of the Human Race,” one of the most anticipated albums of this entire year. There’s a lot of sense behind people’s fervor for new Blood Incantation creation. First, their debut “Starspawn” was a high-water mark in forward-thinking death metal, an album that established them as one of the sub-genre’s mightiest acts. Second, that lathering of delirium for a new record is based largely on wondering where they’d go next and how their sound would expand. That next step is achieved for sure in ferocity and experimental weirdness as the band—guitarist/vocalist Paul Riedl, guitarist Morris Kolontyrsky, fretless bassist Jeff Barrett, drummer Isaac Faulk—puts it into intense high gear, ripping and knifing through your consciousness and into your soul.

“Slave Species of the Gods” starts the record by tearing the lid off everything with massive riffs sweeping, the growls setting in, and everything coming to a splatter. The guitars shift and crush as the vocals continue to rage, and delirious leads light everything on fire. The soloing ignites and explores while raspy wails strike, and the track spirals out into echo. “The Giza Power Plant” lathers with loopy guitar squeals and a mauling bass leaving facial bruising. The track then shifts to thrashiness before a Middle Eastern-style melody calms and sweeps, mentally stimulating the darkest regions of your mind, as the drums proceed to powder bones. Growls and detached speaking work together as the track begins to melt rock, as a furious intensity erupts, bringing everything to a complex, brutal finish.

“Inner Paths (to Outer Space)” is mostly an instrumental piece that’s an atmospheric trail blazed, blowing into the stars, with voice transmissions messing with your mind. The music turns hypnotic and then violent, as the band chugs, growls burst through the surface, and the playing dissolves into weirdness. “Awakening From the Dream of Existence to the Multidimensional Nature of Our Reality (Mirror of the Soul)” is the mammoth closer, an 18:02-long smasher that takes up half the album’s running time. Cymbals crash before the track begins to trudge, the guitars twist and confound, and the growls dice flesh. The guitars go off as the tempo gets more aggressive, spitting speedy trickery that turns into savage chaos. Suddenly synth comes in and floats like an alien cloud, injecting sci-fi mystery, leading into a proggy burst that spreads and infects. The track heads into a calculated burn, thundering heavily before soulful soloing erupts, making strange patterns, and ending in acoustics and galactic winds that deliver alien fogs.

Blood Incantation’s rise to death metal’s supreme overlords came from their furious playing and their refusal to deliver music that’s anything less than mentally warping. “Hidden History of the Human Race” adds to their already growing legend, as it’s bound to be a record dissected and discussed for years to come. It’s terrifying that Blood Incantation really are still in their early form, because who knows what these guys will sound like 5, 10 years from now?

For more on the band, go here:

To buy the album, go here:

For more on the label, go here:

PICK OF THE WEEK: Krater smash through the Earth’s crust with crushing assault on ‘Venenare’

It’s not out of the question the earth will be pummeled by an object from outer space one day, leaving damage that could alter humanity forever, if not end it completely. Thinking about it is pretty unsettling, even though we’d likely know about it in advance and could possibly do something about it. But the destruction it could cause might be unthinkable.

That might sound like an easy way to introduce a band called Krater, and I guess it is. But that digs deeper under the surface than just a convenient name, as their brand of black metal is such that feels like something that could push the planet off its axis. The German band is delivering “Venenare,” their fourth record and one that keeps pushing the band into explosive terrain. But although the music is monstrously heavy, they also add assorted textures into their sound to provide sonic variety and also to simply scramble your brain. The band—vocalist/bassist Abortio, guitarists Ibbur, 3E.3, and ZK, and drummer Shardik—pour a ton of intensity and pure heaviness into this record, and they smother the hell out of you over these nine tracks and 50 minutes.

“Eruption” begins the album with fires crackling and guitars starting, as a dialog slithers underneath, building toward “Prayer for Demise” that blisters right away with wild howls and a pace that drives a truck through your goddamn life. Guitars burn and rain down ash, while the vicious vocals and a smothering assault lead this thing into hell. “Zwischen den Worten” changes things up by taking on a dizzying pace, going more atmospheric with chant-like vocals getting into your head. The song then swims into a proggy adventure before things speed up quickly, and gnarly growls chew away. The leads explode while group shouts strike, with everything  winding up in darkness. “Stellar Sparks” ruptures and bleeds as bellowing singing digs deep, and the track trudges faster and faster. Group shouts and chants infect while the playing goes all over the map, purposely tangling your brain wiring. The track them stomps as goth-style singing swells, with the track ending in a monstrous blaze.

“When Thousand Hearts” spills melody through the front door as detached singing confounds before the song hits the gas pedal. A relentless assault is forged and driven with commitment while soloing ignites, and Abortio wails the title over and over again. “Atmet Asche” unleashes raw growls and manic riffs as the verses smash your bones, and the leads accompany terrifying wails. The guitars stampede, but there also is a place for your mind to melt over, as gnarly growls smear, and the track forces its way across the land, creating a … um … crater in the earth. “No Place for You” enters with intensity as the song storms with a vengeance as the growls are unleashed, melodies destroy, and a brief respite turns into pandemonium as wild yelps of, “No place for you!” as major heat builds before an abrupt end. “Darvaza Breeds” is the longest track, clocking in at 10:58 and starting as a wordless call before dialog push in, the vocals blast, and the keys open up a storm cloud that spreads itself overhead. Guitars trickle as a fog thickens, and then punches land, as the hypnosis is shredded. The playing boils flesh again, the growls corrode, and gruff speak-singing splits time. Closer “Wasted Carbon” is a quick closing chapter with acoustic haunting, strange voices crawling, and everything dissolving into the ground.

Krater’s utter ferocity and strange machinations on “Venenare” leave waves of devastation behind, the kind that leaves people picking up the pieces and wondering how to rebuild. Their savage black metal is evened out by their dexterity and willingness to experiment and apply new sounds, which makes this such a fascinating experience. Everything about this hurts you all over, and all that is left afterward are the physical scars from this attack.

For more on the band, go here:

To buy the album North America), go here:

Or here (International):

For more on the label, go here:

Caïna’s Curtis-Brignell remains revealing on darkness, mental suffering with ‘Gentle Illness’

Physical injuries are pain are obvious, and no one ever questions them, because you can see someone in a cast or a neck brace or in bandages. People never seem to wonder about those things, likely because it’s something they can see. When it comes to mental wounds, those aren’t as apparent, and there are people in our society who dismiss them and wonder why people can’t toughen up. Would you tell someone with a broken back to get over it and walk?

Andy Curtis-Brignell, the creator behind long-running black metal project Caïna, has been one who let his scars and gaping wounds be displayed by the public. He’s been outspoken about the things that ail him, as anyone who follows him on social media can attest, and he also takes bullshit from assholes, because some people can’t help themselves but be shallow. Nonetheless, Curtis-Brignell never has let that deter him, and his return record under the Caïna banner, “Gentle Illness,” is here and is one of the most explosive in his catalog. It’s also one of the most diverse as this eight-track, nearly 38-minute album still simmers in black metal, but it adds more abrasive noise, jazz, and spacey visions to its palate, which adds interesting textures to a collection that’s steeped in pain.

“Wellness Policy” opens the record with noise stinging as a doctor asks a patient about her suicide attempt and what led to it. The track is dark and weighs down on you, leading to “Your Life Was Probably Pointless” that has guitars spiraling and Curtis-Brignell’s growls devastating. The track goes from heavily pummeling to pulling back and letting cold showers chill your bones, leading into strange shadows. Just then, savage fires erupt, keys plink down like ice daggers, and the track rushes out. “No Princes in Hell” is murderous in its approach while noise assaults, and the vocals hammer the mind. The track unexpectedly turns jazzy and loose, sprawling unexpectedly before the music strikes again, slashing before it bows to a cloud of noise. “Canto IV” is an instrumental cut that has beats crackling, soundwaves spreading, and voices echoing before the track reverberates and freezes out.

The title track has a sci-fi feel as it unfurls, while darkness rolls, and the track is torn from guts to chest. An electronic wave sizzles underneath a hammering salvo, and drums and beats rapidly strike, blistering, as a clip runs about overrun mental health clinics, ways to keep patients calm, and the striking line of, “Don’t think that because they’re mentally ill, they don’t know what’s going on,” soberingly sending a warning. “Contactee Cult” opens with the bass lurking, keys warming, and guitars lathering before knifing into flesh. A path of relentless, storming chaos moves forward, feeding into another jazzy bit with shimmering keys before an industrial haze swallows everything whole. “My Mind Is Completely Disintegrating” is a 7:14-long battle with panic as it slowly crawls while guitars arrive and wander, more jazz-filled pockets open and swallow you, and things spiral into the cosmos, allowing organs to rise before everything slips away. Closer “One Breath Under the Yoke Is a Fate Worse Than Death” jolts with an electronic shock, burning a path toward a sooty death march complete with fierce wails. Curtis-Brignell conjures manic hell that bursts and burns, increasing the intensity before things finally dissipate.

Mental illness and living with such condition are constant battles, something that’s never fully won, a demon that never really goes away. Curtis-Brignell captures the pressure and punishment one goes through when dealing with these deteriorating conditions on “Gentle Illness,” a record that could resonate a little too much and too deeply for those of us who suffer. Caïna’s music always is welcome in our world, and this record is devastating, but this is not music that’s easy to hear or digest.

For more on the band, go here:ïnaband

To buy the album, go here:

Or here:ïna-gentle-illness-lp

For more on the label, go here:

The Deathtrip survive madness, return original voice on black, devastating ‘Demon Solar Totem’

There are some things even darkness, uncertainty, and chaos cannot stop from coming into fruition. That saying “what’s meant to be will be” is something people may pass off as some sort of philosophical gazing, but it also holds a ton of truth. Something that is meant to materialize will do that no matter the forces that are pushing against it.

“Demon Solar Totem,” the second record from black metal beasts The Deathtrip almost didn’t happen. Maybe, in some other warped timelines, it doesn’t make its way into the world, but in this existence, it’s here, and it’s vile and strange. I could write an entire passage about this record’s volatile journey and the starts and stops the band faced creating this seven-track, 55-minute monster. But why regurgitate that entire thing? All you need to know is guitarist Host started to work on the long-awaited response to their debut “Deep Drone Master,” and as things were getting ready to commit to time, vocalist Aldrahn parted ways with the band. That led to the return of original vocalist Kvohst (formerly of Dødheimsgard and currently of Grave Pleasures and Hexvessel), who commands the album and gives it muscle in a way only he can. Bass was completed by Thomas Eriksen of Mork, and now the album has two label homes for Europe and North America, which it deserves because it is scathing.

The title track rips the top off this thing with ominous riffs cutting through the center, and that eruption leads to things turning delirious. Kvohst’s insane shrieks burst while chants ricochet off the chorus, and clean singing comes in and add more darkness. That leads into a vile passage with ritualistic cries and pummeling madness. “Angel Fossils” have riffs spiraling and growls digging into the nerves. Wails over the chorus segue into a vicious, chilling space that brings about a trancey attack and more chants that end the track. “Enter Spectral Realms” starts with leads glimmering, driving slowly until the gears are shredded. An old school black metal spirit spills into the room and sends chills, while delirious guitars scramble, and weird calls disintegrate into a haze.

“Surrender to a Higher Power” lets guitars heat up and hypnotize, and strange, detached singing is smeared over the chorus. A storming pace collides with the earth while the vocals refuse mercy, and cries of, “Surrender,” destroy. “Vintage Telepathy” is hushed at first before it bathes in slow heaviness, with singing mixing in with the perilous guitar work. “What am I becoming?” Kvohst calls before screaming, “Shadows are falling!” over and over as the song ends in echo. “Abraxas Mirrors” has noise bubbling before it’s torn apart, and maniacal wails crush souls. The pace is unforgiving and bizarre, as the title is screamed over the chorus, and savagery mixes with belts with shrieks. “Awaiting a New Maker” is the 10-minute closer that first hovers before chugging and chewing. Howls and singing blend together as the guitars transfix, with the tempo ramping up and mauling. The track steamrolls as higher vocals rise, a fog infects, and the track submits to a cloud of cavernous noise.

The Deathtrip did whatever they had to do to get “Demon Solar Totem” out into the world, and it thrives and destroys based on the strength it gained by volatility. This is a fitting second chapter in the band’s run, and now having a familiar voice back behind the mic gives them what they need to keep burning into the future. This is a terrifying, massive slab of true black metal, and we’re all better off for this music having survived and found its way into our bloodstreams.

For more on the band, go here:

To buy the album go here:

Or here:

For more on the label, go here:

And here:

Warsenal metal thrashing mad as they deliver delirious chaos with eye-raking ‘Feast Your Eyes’

At no point in time have we ever considered this site an expert-level collection of stories about heavy metal bands and the new records they release. Really, no site should declare that because that assumes you know everything, and no one does. But we’d like to think we’re pretty knowledgeable, but to say things never have flow under our radar would be a lie.

So, when I got a release about “Feast Your Eyes,” the latest album from Warsenal, I got immediately confused when I read them referred to as Canadian thrash metal “legends.” I’d like to think most bands who are deemed legends have passed through my brain before, so after doing some quick research, I deemed to issue to be the word choice by whoever wrote the piece. Warsenal have been around since 2012, and “Feast Your Eyes” (can’t confirm whether this record is based on Dominic Dijakovich’s ring skills) happens to be their second album overall. This isn’t to take away from the band that takes that speed tag quite literally as these nine songs are fast as hell, which made notetaking really difficult because things are happening so rapidly. So, the “legendary” tag is lovingly premature, but there’s enough biting material here that in time and with more crushing material like this, the band—guitarist/vocalist Matthew Rondeau, bassist Jeffrey Millaire, drummer Vincent Caron—can earn that lofty title. This record is just scathing.

“Forever Lost” gets the thing started with blinding guitar runs, nasty vocals, and riffs confounding and twisting the brain. It takes some guts to start off a record with a track this weird, though it starts to normalize itself with your psyche as it reaches its melodic, crashing end. “I Am the Blade” has the bass rumbling before the guitars catch fire and blast some killer riffs. The thrashy gang-shouted chorus is fun, and then a bluesy shift breaks in, complete with scraping wails and a very busy finish. “Lords of Rifftown” is a mauler, with more riffs that strike you before you know what’s happening, as well as a punchy chorus that should go over well live. Guitars go all over the map, including a sharp solo that leads to a crushing finish. “Insatiable Hunger” lets the riffs punch back as raspy shouts belt you, with Rondeau howling, “I’m looking for something sweeter!” That leads to the band throwing everything at the wall again, bringing it down with every punch in its arsenal.

“Doomed From Birth” has an acoustic lead in, but don’t be fooled because the hammer is on the other side. The track explodes, with a solid bassline leading the way, and the verses totally overwhelming with speed. The vocals are just spat out, as Rondeau shouts, “Cursed!” three times before the track blasts out. “You Better Run” has riffs shuffling and confusing, as the song tears into your spine, with Rondeau warning, “If you hear me coming, you better run!” Fierce screams and a pace that changes on a dime shake up your guts, while the track ends with huge body blows. “Burning Ships” is fiery as hell when it starts with speedy leads, gruff cries, and a pace that just flattens. The bass actually turns kind of proggy toward the end before the leads blaze brightly again as the song barrels out. The title track again features guitars that just go off, as Rondeau cries, “We’re spilling blood for your delight!” That kicks it into an even higher gear as the guitars go for broke, and Rondeau wonders, “Are you not entertained?” Very much so, yes. “Crystal Whip” brings the record to its end as guitars race, a rapid-fire chorus breaks ribs, and the track ends in a blaze that’ll have you covering your eyes and racing for shelter.

I didn’t mean any insult to the band over questioning the used of “legendary” in their bio, as that’s not their fault at all, and really, they’re a damn good band. “Feast Your Eyes” is one of the rowdiest albums I’ve heard this year, and their thrash chops definitely are not to be questioned. As long as the band keeps compiling killer material like they did here, they’ll be gashing people and spilling blood for years.

For more on the band, go here:

To buy the album, go here:

For more on the label, go here:

Casket Huffer deliver total war to death darkness with furious second record ‘Filth Ouroboros’

Have you ever heard a record that, silly as it sounds, seemed to have only the worst of intentions for you in mind? How could it? It’s music, and it can’t think for itself. But the people making it surely could, and hearing that type of assault always makes me feel like I need to have my guard up just in case.

The arrival of “Filth Ouroboros,” the second record from Cheyenne, Wo., death metal crushers Casket Huffer, makes me feel insecure each time I visit it. The band uses a war metal-style onslaught as its base, and obviously there’s a great deal of relentless hell when it comes to that approach, but these guys seem to push even that over the top on these eight tracks spread over an economical 40 minutes. This is the follow-up to their 2016 debut “Gospels of Scum,” and it’s an even more ferocious assault as they seem to dump fire on the fuel over all of these songs. The band—Than Wilson (guitar, bass, vocals), Eric Worthington (guitar, bass), Dylan Newbury (drums)—levels you with power and violent tenacity, making the music really seem like it is hoping for the worst for you, and it’s already got you in its grasp.

“Altars of Despondency” starts the record with a savage burst that essentially sets the tone for the record. Melody surges behind the hellish assault laid out before you, as the music works to liquify everything and turn it into lava. The track just keeps mauling from there, with riffs stabbing and suffocation imminent. “Oblivion Serpents” has smothering riffs dicing, growls killing, and a stretch that fries in a noise bath. While your skull is being beaten in, a solo squeezes out, and everything comes to a furious end. “The Antichrist Vessel” is mean and driving, as guitars stampede, and the drums unleash slaughter. The track feels like it’s storming hell, ripping apart faces, with the leads fanning the flames. “Genocide Thralls” grinds hard but also rubs your face in sludge as the band thrashes away and turns you into a blinding assault. The final minute of the track is a dizzying burst that spits shrapnel right at your unprotected throat.

The title track follows and delivers chunky guitar work that spread like a trail of lighter fluid toward an open flame. The guitars later speed and warp while the growls bury you in humiliation, and everything comes to an impossibly destructive end. “Caustic Winds” is complete chaos when it arrives, smashing you with steely riffs, maniacal growls, and drumming that sounds like it’s trying to tear through the earth. The growls churn and bury the senses, while the dizzying pace leaves no place for peace. “Aghast” is mercilessly heavy as the band war stomps all over its unsuspecting victims, while the growls sound like they’re trying to draw up bile. The song continues its murderous strength, hitting thrashy pockets and ending up in massive bursts of chaos. “Harrowing Mysticism” is the closer, and it erupts into a rampage right from the start, doing as much damage as possible. The growls light up and chew through muscle, while a tortuous attack is waged before things thicken up and trudge in a calculated pace. But before you can get comfortable, the playing is sucked into a death spiral, the guitars rumble, and the track ends in a painful pierce of sound.

Casket Huffer’s music is not for the weak-minded or for anyone who can’t handle an outright barrage of decibels and death that can split your face down the middle. “Filth Ouroboros” is a ridiculously heavy and punishing display that sets your life on fire and sits back to laugh. This is pure devastation that will not leave you feeling good mentally or physically once it’s over, and that’s pretty much what the band seems to have in mind.

For more on the band, go here:

To buy the album, go here:

For more on the label, go here:

PICK OF THE WEEK: Swiss mystics Schammasch dream of darkness on swelling ‘Hearts of No Light’

Photo by Ester Segarra

The amount of bands doing interesting things within metal’s confines is at an almost ridiculous rate, with so much imaginative art being passed down to us on a seemingly weekly basis. It’s to the point where sometimes really strong records get lost in the shuffle because of the overflow of quality content, and it’s difficult for even us to keep up, and we get access to nearly all of it.

It’s not that Swiss burners Schammasch haven’t gotten their accolades in the United States, but considering the powerful nature of their catalog strictly based on how great it is, they really should be a bigger deal. Their fourth record “Hearts of No Light” is right on the horizon, and it’s another gigantic leap into the future for this group that keeps shapeshifting with each release. Here, the group has some added guests including Aldrahn (ex of Dødheimsgard  and Thorns) and visionary visual artist/musician Dehn Sora (Treha Sektori, Throane, Ovtrenoir) to help push the borders and expand the template. But most credit goes to the five members of Schammasch—vocalist/guitarist C.S.R., guitarists M.A. and J.B., bassist A.T., drummer B. A. W—who delve into gothic darkness, strange horrorscapes, and even some post-metal fog to color their amalgamation of black and death metal. It’s a chilling, sweeping record that never relents and always pays off with twists and turns that should enthrall you.

“Winds That Pierce the Silence” opens the record with pianos cascading and an emotional pall, as things fade suddenly before cutting back in and increasing the drama, heading toward “Ego Sum Omega” that bursts immediately and spews fire through cracks in the earth. Cavernous growls drive while daring playing sprawls all over, with a thunderous pace setting the tone and making the world fall apart. The track pulls back a bit and crawls for a while before another explosion burns, trampling bodies and causing dizziness, unleashing melodies before fading to black. “A Bridge Ablaze” has keys and beats blending together as pained speaking floods your senses, pastoral chants send chills, and the somber ending leads toward “Qadmon‘s Heir” that feels like it rips right through the universe. Growls strike as riffs maul, with the verses blasting, and C.S.R. wailing, “We are indeed dead but breathing,” before the track goes for broke. “We did come to defile the temple, for our reign is resort,” C.S.R. howls with authority as riffs swirls and chants are embedded into the crazed ending.

“Rays Like Razors” starts with the demand of, “Stab into my heart!” as tricky riffs split skulls, and the forceful push makes their momentum impossible to handle. “Those fires beyond will never rise again,” C.S.R. screams repeatedly as the guitars follow with a wave of madness, the drums destroy, and odd chants dig into your heart and blacken it. “I Burn Within You” is instantly speedy with raw howls that later are overtaken by goth-style clean singing. Carnival-style pianos then crash in, with dramatic speaking over top, and things come to a downward spiral that smashes at the bottom of the stairs. “A Paradigm Of Beauty” has guitars slicing amid strange echoes, while creaking vocals make their way into the picture. A proggy segment comes in and makes things even more adventurous, later ushering in a rock n roll-style rampage that feels jangly and edgy with sharp leads. Singing darkens everything, though it also results in a catchy pocket, while C.S.R. calls, “You gave me everything and more,” as the song ends. “Katabasis” has cold guitars greeting while the song slowly unfurls, setting a mode that finally ignites about three minutes in. The riffs punish as C.S.R. vows, “I will follow you down the path into the fire,” as the chorus smears soot. The track clobbers violently before coming to an enthralling finish. “Innermost, Lowermost Abyss” closes the record, getting started with glimmering guitars, beats mixing in, and a methodical build that lets this 15:05-long track breathe. Clean guitars wash away the charred entrails as classical-style leads enter, and the sounds spread into a trancey haze. The track feels like it’s floating in the stars before the volume builds with crackling static before everything spikes out.

Schammasch have changed themselves with each record, adding twisted new elements and exploring terrain other bands fear to tread. “Hearts of No Light” has no shortage of black heaviness and relentless savagery, but the imagination and fearless experimentation that goes into their music makes them even more dynamic and unpredictable. This is a breath-taking step into the future and even beyond this plane of existence for Schammasch, and their journey is something no one possibly could predict, which makes them a band you have to keep your eye on before they’ve defied human sight.

For more on the band, go here:

To buy the album, go here:

For more on the label, go here:


text:
Take the First Step Toward Your Mechanic Career Now!

Become A Caterpillar Mechanic, Schools, And Training Programs

Caterpillar mechanics, or a dealer technicians, as Cat calls them, repair and maintain heavy Caterpillar equipment both on job sites and at big machinery service shops. The job requires mechanical training, analytical troubleshooting, and getting enjoyment from working with your hands.

Find a diesel mechanic school near you.

What Does A Caterpillar Mechanic Do?

A Caterpillar mechanic diagnoses problems and services the company's large-scale machines. Mechanics often work as part of a team.

Where Do Cat Mechanics Work?

You'll either do your work in a dealer's shop, or travel to do repairs on sites nearby. Caterpillar equipment is used on construction and road building sites, and at agriculture, logging and forestry, and industrial power generation settings, among other places.

How Do I Become A Caterpillar Diesel Mechanic?

You can:

  • Get accepted into Caterpillar's specialized 2-year training program. Applications are open Jan-March every year. Interviews are in May, and classes typically begin in August.
  • Or, attend a diesel mechanic training program at a trade school near you. Many programs can be completed in as few as 10 months. Classes begin regularly throughout the year.

Caterpillar offers its program through participating colleges and universities. The 2-year program is called ThinkBIG, and Cat will tell you it is very competitive to enter.

You'll need an essay, letters of recommendation, and to pass a series of mechanical, verbal, and spatial reasoning tests. If you aren't accepted on your first try, the brand recommends you enter a trade school or community college to learn while you wait for the next acceptance period.

Acceptance to a trade school or community college that offers diesel mechanic training can be a much faster process. You'll need a high school diploma or GED equivalent. To get started, search your zip code on this page. You'll be directed to available programs near you.

Caterpillar Training and Trade School Programs: What You’ll Learn

While attending diesel mechanic training, you'll learn all about:

  • diesel technology
  • power trains
  • hydraulics
  • electrical systems
  • diesel engines and more

You'll learn about how engines work, learn work procedures for maintaining and repairing the total machine, and gain the technical skills you will need to work on new problems every day.

You'll also learn about the safety measures you'll need to take while making the repairs. After you learn about all of the theory and safety precautions, you'll get to work in a diesel lab and put your knowledge to use with the help of a trained professional.

What Happens After Attending Caterpillar Mechanic Training?

After graduating from a trade school or Caterpillar-partnered program, you will be qualified to work not only on Caterpillar equipment but also on a vast array of diesel-powered equipment found around the world.

You can seek employment as a service technician at a certified Cat dealer, or anywhere else diesel mechanics are employed. You can find jobs at large equipment repair shops, truck stops, and more.

In 2019, diesel mechanics made a median pay of $48,500 (bls.gov). And as a certified Caterpillar mechanic can make more than $100,000 in senior positions (empire-cat.com).

Try our ASE mechanic  practice tests.

Further reading and reference:

scroll to top


text:
Everything You Need to Know About Pollution in Medellín

Although affectionately called the ‘City of Eternal Spring’, pollution in Medellín is a serious problem. Being based in a valley, with mountains surrounding the city, Medellín’s location means it cannot easily get rid of pollutants. As a result, pollution tends to stay trapped in the metropolitan area.

There are rainy seasons in Medellín that help clean the atmosphere, and the levels of pollutants in the city fluctuate depending on the neighborhood. However, pollution is certainly one of the downsides of living in Medellín. Here’s everything you need to know about pollution in Medellín, including statistics, preventative measures, and health effects.

Pollution in Medellín compared to other cities/towns

It’s important to note, Medellín’s pollution problem is not comparable to the likes of Cairo and New Delhi, who both feature in the top seven most polluted cities in the world. However, in Latin America, the World Health Organization 2018 Ambient Air Quality Database places Medellín 9th in the list of most polluted cities and towns.

Lima in Peru, Santiago in Chile, Mexico’s Cubatão, Brazil, and several towns in Costa Rica all have worse pollution levels than Medellín. Likewise, the capital of Colombia, Bogotá, has a problem with pollution because it is also located in a valley.

The pollution level in Medellín varies in different parts of the metro area according to the city’s monitoring stations. The worst level of pollutants in the metro area tends to be found in El Centro, La Estrella, Itagüí, and the lower parts of the valley. Up in the hills in El Poblado, Envigado, and Sabaneta, the pollutant levels tend to be lower.

Image result for pollution medellin
Desde Abajo

Pollution-monitoring in Medellín

Under Colombian law, all municipalities that have a population greater than 50,000 inhabitants, or places where there is a clear problem of air pollutants, must have a monitoring surveillance system. Medellín actively monitors the pollutant levels in the city with several monitoring stations. More importantly, the city takes action when pollution levels become worse.

You can see the current pollutant levels at monitoring stations found in different parts of the Medellín metro area online here. For a monitoring system in English, AirVisual also has a great tool here

Medellín also has the Ciudadanos Científicos mobile app where you can see the current pollutant levels at monitoring stations in the Medellín metro area. The app is available for Google Android and Apple mobile phones.

Particulate matter pollution

Particulate matter pollution, also known as PM, is a complex mix of very small particles, water vapor, and gases. Common small particles can include lead, dust, dirt, and sand. When these components combine, air pollution forms. The EPA regulates two categories of particulate matter for health and welfare reasons, which are used in pollutant monitoring systems worldwide:

– PM 10 are coarse particles between 2.5 and 10 micrometers in diameter

– PM 2.5 are fine particles that are smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter

Medellín typically has more of a pollution problem with PM 2.5 and rarely a problem with PM 10. PM 2.5 comes primarily from combustion: car, bus, truck, and motorcycle engines and coal- or natural gas-fired power plants are all major PM 2.5 sources.

The biggest cause of air pollution in Medellín is from vehicles (cars, buses, trucks, taxis, and motorcycles), which reportedly cause 79 percent of PM 2.5 emissions in Medellín. From 2005 to 2015, the number of vehicles in Medellín reportedly rose by 182 percent. Meanwhile, 25 percent of PM 2.5 contaminants come from fixed sources like power plants.

March to April is known as the smog season in Medellín, as the cooler weather means denser air sits atop rising air, which traps pollutants in the valley. September to October is the second transition between the rainy season and dry season, and is normally when there is an increase in the concentrations of particulate material.

Image result for pollution medellin
360 Radio

Health effects of pollution

Pollution does not have the same effect on all people. Older adults and children, as well as people with heart or lung diseases, are the most likely to be affected by pollution exposure. Even if you are healthy, you may feel symptoms temporarily if exposed to high levels of pollutants.

Several scientific studies connect particle pollution exposure to a variety of health issues, including:

– Irritation of eyes, nose, and throat

– Coughing and shortness of breath

– Asthma attacks

– Reduced lung functionality

– Irregular heartbeat

– Heart attacks

– Premature death of people with lung or heart diseases

Human bodies struggle to block PM 2.5 pollution. These particles are small enough to bypass your respiratory system’s defenses and get into your lungs, where they can even penetrate the bloodstream.

Elkin Martínez, an epidemiologist at Universidad de Antioquia, published a study last year linking up to 3,000 deaths per year in Medellín associated with pollution. This included 1,000 people that died from chronic lung disease, 500 from lung cancer and approximately 1,500 from cardiovascular disease linked to toxic gases and ultra-fine particles that pollute the air of the city.

What is Medellín doing about pollution?

The city of Medellín actively monitors pollutant levels in the city and takes action when monitoring stations start to show a red status, which means that pollution has reached a level that is harmful to health (orange and red level).

When pollution becomes a problem in the city, the actions that Medellín has taken in the past include banning outdoor activities at schools, canceling sporting events, restricting the use of private cars and motorcycles, warning residents to stay indoors and avoid outdoor exercise, closing the Olaya Herrera Airport in the city, and even making the metro system free for a while.

The city is also working to rid the city of older diesel buses with much higher emissions. The city has already replaced most of the metro feeder buses in the city.

If Medellín didn’t have its metro system, pollution in the city would be much worse. The Medellín Metro system now transports well over 288 million passengers per year. The clean and efficient system saves over 200,000 tons of CO2 emissions each year while also greatly reducing accidents and traffic in the city.

Medellín has also been increasing the number of stations for its Encicla system of public bicycles as the city looks to increase bicycle use in the city. Currently, there are more than 1,000 bicycles over 18 stations in Medellín – available for free with the Encicla program

In 2017, the Aburrá Valley Metropolitan Area partnered with the Clean Air Institute to develop a new plan to combat pollution in the city. Titled Plan Integral de Gestión de Contaminación del Aire (The Comprehensive Air Pollution Management Plan), the plan is one of the most comprehensive in Latin America, and includes key aims to establish a low-emission mobility system. Some of the goals include promoting Encicla, encouraging the metro, and discouraging the use of private vehicles.

In conjunction with the plan, Medellín enforces Pico y Placa on a daily basis. As of February 18, 2019, between 7 am to 8.30 am, and 5.30 pm until 7 pm, certain restrictions are placed on private vehicles, motorcycles, and freight vehicles depending on their license plate. Details about which vehicles are allowed on the roads during these time frames can be found here.

Image result for encicla medellin
Terminales Medellín
Like the story? Take a second to support Medellin Living on Patreon!

Leave a Reply to Jeff Cancel reply

  1. Do Not sugarcoat the harsh reality and truth about how dangerous the air pollution problem is becoming here. The primary problem here is that corruption compounds the problem here and no matter how clever the government is to develop “Temporary” fixes the system is broken because bribery is so pervasive here that we see blatant disregard for every measure put into place. Until we fix the “Mal Cultura ” problem here people will totally disregard any fixes offerred up. My lungs cry out in pain many days of the month and I can assure you that my report is common. So many expats and Native Colombians agree that the problem is getting intolerable. As more people move here in search of refuge and work and the more lenders continue to give easy credit and flood the streets with more cars and motorcycles the problem can only get worse. Ask any doctor here if you want to know how serious respiratory diseases have increased exponentially over the last 10 years directly due to our air pollution. This is NOT “FAKE NEWS” Many of us are discovering that moving out of the Aburra Valley to higher elevations may be the only viable alternative and option to escape the poisonous air here in the valley.

    • Jeff, as a four year resident of Cuenca, Ecuador , I must say that we have our share of pollution problems also . The newest problem in Ecuador is the government says that it is about to start taxing all Gringo income at the rate of 18% .This noise is coming from the newly elected president ! I was hoping that Medellin would be my redoubt. I visited with you , in Medellin ,about three years ago . I was impressed with your city . Great article !
      We shall see , we shall see .
      Patrick Trussell / 4 years in Cuenca , Ecuador .

    • This article doesn’t look like it sugarcoats to me as it clearly states that pollution is a problem in Medellín. I think the article looks well-balanced. It clearly states the facts about pollution in the city and also that pollution doesn’t affect everyone the same.

      I live in Laureles and the pollution really doesn’t affect me. But an elderly neighbor is planning to move higher up to Rio Negro as the pollution in Medellín is effecting his health.

  2. Nice balanced article with some facts! I think Medellín needs to continue expanding the metro system so there won’t need to be more cars and motorcycles on the roads.

  3. I have been visiting Medellin several times per year for the last 5 years. I have only noticed air pollution the last two times I was there. I only noticed it visually, it did not bother my breathing. I always stay in Laureles which is low like El Centro. Obviously, I wish there was no pollution, but it is not a deal killer for me. I might change my mind if I lived in it full time.

    • I’ve noticed the air seems cleaner in Medellin, even though its actually much more noxious than other cities I’ve been too. Maybe the problem is that Medellin is very green with a lot of plants, so it filters out visible smog while still leaving dangerous amounts of small particulates.

  4. Important and timely information, delivered honestly – thanks, Jeff!

    Sure many cities, especially in China and India, are way more polluted, but nobody I know wants to retire there and ones who go there for business usually never overstay. Medellin is a totally different story as it attracts a growing number of North American retirees and self-employed, for a number of reasons which are too obvious to mention or rather repeat.

    Sure less cars and motorcycles on the streets is better, but as we are not yet in the era of solar powered electric cars and bikes, the real problem is that neither government nor population in Medellin, and throughout Colombia, is seriously consider quite simple and affordable solutions such as catalytic converters, catalytic mufflers, engineered silencers, diesel particulate filters, replacement catalyst elements, among others.

    According to Wiki: ” Although catalytic converters are most commonly applied to exhaust systems in automobiles, they are also used on electrical generators, forklifts, mining equipment, trucks, buses, locomotives and motorcycles. They are also used on some wood stoves to control emissions. This is usually in response to government regulation, either through direct environmental regulation or through health and safety regulations. ”

    If Colombian people demand the government to require catalytic converters to be installed on all taxis, trucks and buses, for the starts, corruption won’t stop this from happening. More to that, I am sure the government will only be happy to make money on taxing ones who fail to comply, and the corrupted ones may also use this opportunity to get their sweet kickbacks from manufacturers and installers of such equipment. New vehicles and equipment should only be allowed in the country only if they are properly equipped.

    People will start to breath easy, they will have less pollution triggered health problems which means savings for the health care system and overall healthier and happier population (unless they frequent western junk food establishments). Would that not be a win-win? 🙂

  5. I agree NO pollution in Sabaneta. None, best air I gave ever breathed. Poblado? Fake news that the air is better there. Worst pollution in the city.

    Been plenty of places with worse air than Medellin. It’s no big problem if you know WHERE to live.

  6. Great article, thank you. I value my health and do everything I can to keep myself healthy and am extremely frustrated by the quality of the air in El Poblado. Sometimes just walking on the street makes me gag the fumes are so strong and don’t get me started on those busses and trucks in Centro.

    Recently when we had the Red Alert and the 3-day Pica Placa thing was instituted I noticed that the air cleared immediately and beautifully. I place the blame for this squarely on the local government for poor regulations and enforcement.

    Ultimately, this will affect the economy, people just won’t want to live here and why should they when Colombia is full of beautiful places where the air is clean. As much as I love Medellin, I absolutely have this issue in my mind constantly and I am completely open to taking my money somewhere else.

  7. Good article on Medellin pollution.

    According to the below article.

    PM 2.5 is 160 micrograms of pollution in Medellin. Three times Colombia’s national average and significantly higher than the World Health Organizations international average of 25 micrograms of pollution.

    PM 2.5 above 150 is regarded as unhealthy.

    If Medellin’s PM 2.5 of 160 as stated in the elcolombiano article above is correct Medellin would be in the top 5 worst cities in the world for PM 2.5 air pollution.

    • That PM 2.5 level of 160 micrograms in that newspaper article was in March last year when Medellín had a pollution problem. Typically in February to April each year, Medellín has more problems with pollution according to historical data.

      The annual average PM 2.5 level in Medellín in 2015 was reportedly 25 micrograms, so the average is much lower. The Wikipedia page you referenced uses annual PM 2.5 averages that were retrieved from the World Health Organization (WHO), so comparing a particular point in time is not a fair or accurate comparison.

      • According to the SIATA app 358. Centro ICA PM2.5 is currently 121.84 with many other locations scattered around the city at or around 100 micrograms. These reading are unfortunately now normal in 2017.

        The more publicity the growing pollution problem of Medellin gets the more likely the government will actually do something about it.

        • Hi Joe,

          Thanks. That ICA PM 2.5 reading from that Centro sensor of 121.84 is measured in iCA, not micrograms. 100 micrograms for PM 2.5 would be a red alert level in Medellín. The micrograms range for the orange pollution alert level in Medellín is 35.5-55.4 micrograms for PM 2.5. If you click on a sensor in the mobile app listed in the article above you can see the PM 2.5 microgram reading. I just clicked on the Centro sensor and it is currently reading only 34.84 micrograms for PM 2.5.

          Keep in mind that Centro normally has some the highest pollution readings in the city. Also keep in mind that February to April is a period during the year when the historical pollution levels tend to be higher in the city.

          • HI Jeff,
            Thanks for clearing it up for me. Comforting to know that it is not as bad as I had thought.

            None the less the government needs to impose tougher regulations on trucks and motor vehicle emissions within Medellon.

    • Jeff states that over 600 cities are worse off than Medellin.
      He is using the WHO data from 2014 which used 5 sensors. According to WHO Medellin PM 2.4 measurement is 26.
      If Medellin PM 2.5 measurement was 26 there would be no pollution problem.
      I would take the WHO figures on pollution in Medellin with a grain of salt.

      • The WHO data uses annual averages for PM 2.5. The annual average doesn’t change much from year to year and reportedly the average PM 2.5 measurement in Medellín was 25 in 2015. And the city has a goal to reduce the annual average to 20 by 2020 through a number of projects including replacement of old diesel buses in the city, expansion of the metro system, expanding the public bike system and many other projects.

    • Medellin has pollution sensors that you can see in real-time on mobile apps or a website as seen in the links in the above article. Unfortunately I’m not aware of the other cities in Colombia doing something similar.

      The 10 municipalities in Valle de Aburré, including Medellín, have a detailed operational plan for addressing critical episodes of air pollution that can be seen in this detailed presentation (in Spanish): http://www.metropol.gov.co/aire/Presentacion_Aire.pdf. This presentation contains much data including the growth of population, growth in the number of vehicles, a recent history of pollution levels in Medellín and the actions taken when there are pollution “red” alerts. As can be seen on page 90 of this presentation, the number of “red” alerts for pollution have been increasing over the past 3 years but the number of “orange” alerts are decreasing. Medellín also has a strategic plan in place to reduce the average annual level of PM 2.5 pollution in the city though a number of projects, which is briefly mentioned at the end of the presentation.

  8. One of the comments here says that “bribery is so pervasive here that we see blatant disregard for every measure put into place”. The claim is plausible but no evidence is included to support it; not even anecdotal. I won’t be disappointed if there is solid evidence that air quality is damaged by bribery but such a charge deserves some back up.

  9. Medellin is a wonderful city. Unfortunately, pollution puts a dark cloud over the cities reputation (no pun intended). If the city took further steps – such as allowing Uber and Lift to enter the city, perhaps the use of cars would decline. I own two parking spots in my building but choose to use Uber or taxis so as to not contribute to both the pollution and traffic problems the city has. Uber itself does not help with their ridiculous “dynamic pricing” model which turns everyone off to Uber. Travis K needs to change Medellin management as I have never had worse service from Uber and I use it all over the world.

    • Could not agree more on both issues…

      The only substantial problems I have with Medellin are: 1. Rampant unchecked pollution (air and noise) by vehicles (especially busses and trucks + those insanely loud motorcycles) all over the city, and, 2. Often inept, unfair or inconsistent services provided by Uber (But, this is a whole other topic to be explored).

      If Medellin wants to cement the notion that they are truly a CITY OF INNOVATION, then I can think of no better place to start than tackling this problem that enshrouds every single inhabitant. The idea that Medellin is somehow this city of “Eternal Spring” is outdated, wishful thinking and frankly, misleading. To adequately address this issue will take real innovation and real GUTS.

      Since I came to Medellin a year ago (and do I love the city and it’s people), I am reminded, almost daily, of this pollution problem as I often awaken to a mild sore throat. Looking across the valley with the hope of seeing a clear future I am often met with a hazy reminder of my inaction to take care of a fundamental promise of health that I have made to myself. I’m absolutely looking for a solution. Do I actually choose to live in a city that is certified as toxic? Maybe.

      It’s an insidious problem, so it’s easy push it aside for more tangible priorities, but you have to think about it.

      • Medellín’s pollution problem has been extensively studied by the major universities in the city and many recommendations have been given to the city. Medellín already has a strategic plan in place with a goal to reduce the average annual level of PM 2.5 pollution in the city by 2020 though a number of projects, which is briefly mentioned at the end of this presentation (in Spanish): http://www.metropol.gov.co/aire/Presentacion_Aire.pdf.

        The strategic plan includes many things including increasing the public green spaces and trees per person in the city (like the big Parques del Río project); adding incentives to use natural gas for vehicles; expanding the metro system that uses electricity for the metro, cable car and tram lines and natural gas for the MetroPlus bus lines; expanding the network of public bikes in the city; improving the system of cargo transportation to use more efficient vehicles; replacing the old diesel buses used in the city; and many other projects. We’ll see if the city is successful in its plan to reduce pollution in the city.

  10. An interesting new finding from the UK where pollution levels are supposedly higher than both the USA and Latin America, is that hedgerows by the road absorb and convert traffic pollutants much more than trees, because they are at the level of the exhaust pipes. see http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39943197. Interestingly, Medellin already has widespread hedgerows on many of the main roads where there are also pedestrians. This would make it relatively easy to develop further.
    This is not, however to make light of the problem. There are some definite “no go” areas for traffic fumes, and I have always thought that there needs to be stricter control of the many little busses, which are often hardly roadworthy. Medellin’s transport policy in action: the metro, tram, metro cable reveal a city which is tackling the problem, not a city crippled by corruption. Just look towards Bogota!

  11. Hola Jeff, Great thought provoking article. Medellin should be more agressive in encouraging vehicle owners to change to electric vehicles through incentives and subsidies. The city has been very innovative before , maybe they should start thinking outside the box again. Look at the two biggest problems people have living in Medellin , 1) Traffic & 2) Pollution . These can be addressed aggressively & effectively by replacing polluting vehicles with electric vehicles. Medellin has the ability to provide the power needed . Technology for electric motorcycles and automobiles is advancing rapidly and their is no reason why Medellin can’t adapt their vehicles to this new idea. Taxis running on gas engines can be gradually replaced with electric vehicles , once again with help from subsidies & incentives. Motorcycle growth of 500 % can be harnessed by implementing an affordable replacement program to exchange gas powered motorcycles for electric motorcycles. By addressing these two key issues I believe Medellin can “clean ” up it’s act very quickly and maintain it’s status as the most livable city in Latin America. At least it’s a start ?

  12. I came to Medellin, more precisely to Copacabana little bit north of city, thinking to settle down here. Now, nearly three months later I have to admit this was an error. The reason is CONTAMINATION OF AIR:

    There is just one reason. I have asthma and first thought to be able to ventilate my lungs by going to mountain walks. But the fumes rise up there, as the towns and city are in a valley and the mountains prevent the air from moving freely.

    In two weeks I will move back to Guayaquil and pick up my Temporary Resident visa, for which I luckily got 60 days additional time to get.

    My asthma was never a big problem during altogether more than a year there (I was living in Salinas for 6 months also) and did not need medicines. Here I need and some days especially,

    I am very sorry, I like Colombia and the life here, but the only place I could live is the Atlantic Coast. Unfortunately, the rents there are out of question for me.

    There is a difference between Medellin and Guayaquil. in the latter winds from the Pacific clean the air at least couple of times a week, no mountains preventing it. With 4,50 dollars return (discount +65) I travel twice a week, 2 hours to Salinas and spend the day walking on western side peninsula, on open beaches, where the air comes straight from the Pacific. So lovely to breathe!

    I can’t, simply, live far from the ocean.

    Farewell beautiful lovely Medellin, I could cry now.

  13. I’ve been to Cuenca and find it nice but a bit too isolated, difficult to access. The government is also progressively getting more invasive into your pocketbook. Medellin was looking to be my first choice because there’s plenty of “everything”. Unfortunately, I’m mildly asthmatic and don’t want to knowingly aggravate my condition. Now, I’ve pretty much abandoned my search in South America and started looking in Eastern Europe. EU member countries are really difficult to gain long term visas, if at all.
    I came across a possible “new” first choice in the Republic of Georgia. The Black Sea resort city of Batumi seems quite interesting. One year stay with your passport, clean air, low cost of living, low crime, etc. (numbeo.com)
    I haven’t been there but I may just have to sneak a peak.

  14. Hmm. Pollution is a know health risk; there is no debate. Bad air will eventually take a toll on your health and longevity. The dirty little (not so) secret is that high levels or MERCURY particles fill the air in Antioquia due to illegal gold mining. There are many wonderful things about Medellin, but the air is dangerous at times and risky in the main. Just like smoking cigarettes, it’s deny… till you die. If you’re interested, here is one article to back this point of fact. http://www.ozy.com/fast-forward/the-illegal-gold-mining-boom-thats-poisoning-colombia/79728

  15. Jeff, thank you for creating such comprehensive article on pollution in Medellín. I would also like to know if there are seasons in Medellín when pollution is lower (for example, is there a rainy season that helps clean the air, or are there changing winds that can carry pollution away and bring fresh air in its place, etc.)

    Thanks in advance for your reply.

  16. The Medellin government probably could benefit from Wind Turbine generators and invest in improving their mass transit system. It could reduce the usage of so many vehicles causing most of the pollution. The wind turbines will produce clean energy and circulation of the air which could assist with the stagnanted pollution. Just some ideas. I’m not an expert just someone with some ideas.


text:
LHIN Champlain, ON
Info Cart -
Please note: Our database may be missing resources as we do not have a local partner in this community. (LHIN Champlain, ON)
If you know of any resources that should be in our database, feel free to help out your community by letting us know.
If you are an organization that would like to partner with us to help keep this database up-to-date, please contact us for more information.

In Conflict with the Law

View By
List view
Phone list
Map view
Filter By:

People in conflict with the law may have mental health needs, and unmet mental health needs may also lead to problems with the law.

Publicly Funded / Free Services

4200 Labelle, Ottawa, ON, K1J 1J8 Map
Areas Served: LHIN Champlain, Ottawa-Carleton
All ages
Add to Info Cart
1145 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1Z 7K4 Map
Area Served: LHIN Champlain
16 years and up
Add to Info Cart
1804 Highway 2 East, Brockville, ON, K6V 7N2 Map
Areas Served: LHIN Champlain, Ottawa-Carleton
18 years and up
Add to Info Cart
1950 Merivale Road, Ottawa, ON, K2G 5T5 Map
613-225-5900 x25
Area Served: Ontario
10 - 17 years
Add to Info Cart
Parksville, BC, V9P 2G7 Map
Area Served: Canada
All ages
Add to Info Cart
NY, United States
Area Served: World
All ages
Add to Info Cart

Private Practice Professionals and Commercial Businesses

Amanda Telford
265 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1S 2E1 Map
6 - 65 years
Add to Info Cart
Something missing from our directory? Help your community by suggesting a resource!
Can't find what you were looking for? Contact an information and referral service.
Resource Lists by Other Organizations
Catchment: LHIN Champlain
“Red Flags” is a Quick Reference Guide for Early Years professionals.Red Flags outlines a range of functional indicators or domains commonly used to monitor healthy child development, as well as potential problem areas for child development. It is intended to assist in the determination of when and where to refer for additional advice, formal assessment and/or treatment.
Posted: Sep 28, 2015
Language: EN
Catchment: LHIN Champlain
"From Rollercoaster to Recovery" is a detailed guide for families and individuals on how to navigate the addictions and mental health system in the Champlain LHIN.
Posted: May 2, 2013
Language: EN,FR
Ottawa Public Health (OPH)
Catchment: LHIN Champlain
List of mental health resources and supports located throughout the Ottawa area (Champlain LHIN).
Posted: Aug 16, 2017
Language: EN,FR
Was the information on this page helpful?


text:
Image for post
Image for post
How do I visualize an Opera?

How the hell do I visualize an Opera?

Palina Pol
Jan 27, 2018 · 6 min read

Wagner’s cycle case study

Any Wagner’s fans in the house?
Two months ago, in one of our courses our tutor asked us to choose a place / location, which we’ll have to analyze and then to create a project about it or something connected to it.
After trying to find something that would really interest me to work on, while listening to Classic music, I had a flashback about that time when I stumbled on Wikipedia upon a place called Festispielhaus, which is held in Bayreuth, Germany. An Opera house built by and for Richard Wagner, so he can play his own Operas, and mostly, to present the new Opera he was working on a several years— ‘The Ring of the Nibelungen’ — at this preciously moment I knew that this is the place I should explore (well, not physically unfortunately), because I love Germany, History, and of course, Wagner.

‘The Ring of the Nibelungen’ is a cycle of 4 epic music dramas which are based loosely on characters from the Norse sagas and the Nibelungenlied.
The cycle structured in three days preceded by a preliminary evening.
(Full cycle — four days in general)
The four music dramas are:

Das Rheingold (The Rhinegold)
Die Walküre (The Valkyrie)
Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods)

Since I also a fan of Data visualizations, Info-graphics, and everything that had to do with numbers and information , I knew it had to be a Dataviz Project.

I started to explore the web, books and every other media I could gather (including buying the vinyls), collecting the information in google sheets, defining and analyzing it.

The poster of ‘The Valkyries’ play

1. How does it feels?

One of the many things I’ve found was a written play (well… it’s not just music, but an Opera) of the cycle ‘The Ring of the Nibelungen’. I started to read it (In an English translation, the play itself in German) and I felt like this is more of a tragedy than a Drama play. All of the characters are killing each other for a gold ring (that’s where Tolkien got the Idea ha ;)), gaining anger, having a sad love stories…and I decided that I order to understand it, I need to see if it is really the way it feels — a Tragedy, or is there any ‘good vibes’ there?
I started to define the meetings between the characters in three different atmosphere feelings:
Positive, Neutral and Negative.

I decided to do a circle which will present the play, and to connect between the characters with a simple line —using the color of the feeling, which will present the meeting.
Finally I could see that the first ‘The Rhinegold’ and the last one ‘Twilight of the Gods’ both are really Negative, while ‘Siegfried’ was the most Positive, and ‘The Valkyrie’ is the most Neutral.

Image for post
Image for post
Image for post
Image for post
Image for post
Image for post
Image for post
Image for post
Image for post
Image for post

2. Geneology

It is really hard to understand the connection between the characters, since there are so many different ‘kinds’ of them (Nymphs, Gods, Humans, Dwarfs, etc) all of them have different connection (siblings, love affair, and so..) and sometimes you cannot really understand from their names whether it’s a female or a male (‘Gunther’ for example).
Since I’m a Genealogy fan (spending all of my day in My Heritage website :)),I found a couple of sources about their complicated family tree, and I wanted to create the most simple diagram that I can, in order to understand it.

Image for post
Image for post

3. The Location, of course!

Wagner had so many Operas, but at first he opened the Festispielhouse (the Opera House) in Bayreuth just for the premier of ‘The Ring of the Nibelungen’, and I really wanted to see how many times it was played there.
As I gathered the information from their Official website and other different Fan websites and news articles, I understood how important the play is, it became a part of the German people.
During the years the ‘The Ring of the Nibelungen’ , solely at the Festispielhaus Bayreuth, played more then 85 cycles ( A reminding: 1 cycle = 4 days), while the longest period of the years played was 21 years. Also I wanted to see which Directors was in charge of the plays, how many years they were on stage, how many cycles they did.
As you can see, many of the Wagner’s family members were also the Directors of the Opera.

Image for post
Image for post

4. A printed vinyl

As the cycle includes 4 music dramas, and several Acts, I really wanted to use this information to relate to something physical, and what is better than to present this information on a Vinyl?
I had this Idea that I must repeat the symbolism of the cycle and to use a circle to visualize it. After trying the simple boring pie charts and some other things, I understood that I need to relate to the Vinyl concept, a round record that starting to play from the outside to the inside (those who have phonograph would know what I’m talking about). So I decided to visualize it as it is — from the outside to the inside, imagining as it’s playing and going round and round, going by it’s genuine music timeline (‘The Rhinegold’ first, ‘The Valkyries’ second.. etc)
I defined the Acts by colors, and decided that every small string will present 2 minutes of playing.

Image for post
Image for post

I really love when Data meets Design, and I really enjoyed this small school project. Of course there is always so much more to do, a different ways to access the data or presenting solutions.
I wanted to make a simple visualizations of a very long and complicated thing (my first thought was “How the hell am I going to visualize an Opera?!”) while I’m embracing the History (therefore the colors) yet not making it an old boring complicated version of too much and too long.

Thanks for the clap 👏🏻 if you enjoyed this article. I would ❤ to hear what you think about it, your ideas, opinions, or just confessions of Classic Music and Wagner’s lovers!

I’m Palina Pol a student at the Visual Communications department in Shenkar, Tel Aviv.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch

Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore

Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade

Get the Medium app

A button that says 'Download on the App Store', and if clicked it will lead you to the iOS App store
A button that says 'Get it on, Google Play', and if clicked it will lead you to the Google Play store


text:
Home » MedTech Features » Innovation HealthJam: Dr. Joe Kvedar talks promises of Remote Patient Monitoring!

Innovation HealthJam: Dr. Joe Kvedar talks promises of Remote Patient Monitoring!

MedTech Boston is excited about another first in healthcare–Innovation HealthJam, a fully online conference with world-class leaders in healthcare technology and an open invitation for anyone and everyone to participate! Just like healthcare, the conference will run 24 hours a day from June 17-19th! The internet is continuing to democratize all areas of our life. Please take part in this important discussion.

You can chose from the following 8 topics!

  1. Patient Engagement and Healthcare Design for Consumers (I will be a VIP here!!)
  2. Technology and Older Adults: The New Era of Connected Aging
  3. A Mobile Health Agenda for Transforming Healthcare Delivery
  4. Compute for Personalized Medicine: Finding the Cause and Cure through Genomics
  5. Telehealth and Telemedicine: Emerging Opportunities in Addressing the Triple Aim
  6. Your Physician of the Future
  7. Health Innovation for Vulnerable Populations- Worldwide
  8. Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)

MedTech Boston caught up with our favorite Dr. Joseph Kvedar, Director for the Center for Connected Health, and Host of the Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), to ask him his experiences with RPM.

JK Holding Hands Out Cropped

What are you already doing with Remote Patient Monitoring?

The Center for Connected Health has developed a number of remote patient monitoring programs focusing on empowering patients and providers to improve chronic disease management and outcomes. We have RPM initiatives being implemented throughout the Partners network, including connected health programs for patients with hypertension, diabetes and heart failure.

What are some of your early findings? Are you overall very hopeful?

We are extremely pleased with our remote patient monitoring programs and foresee important opportunities to expand remote monitoring in the future. Our Connected Cardiac Care program reduced hospital readmissions by 50% for heart failure patients, and is now integrated as a standard protocol for all of Partners high risk patients via Partners HealthCare at Home. In addition, our Blood Pressure Connect and Diabetes Connect programs are helping patients achieve positive behavior change to better manage their health and provide just-in-time care to improve care management and outcomes. For example, Diabetes Connect has demonstrated that patients actively engaged in this program can better manage their diabetes and reduce HbA1c. In a recent study, we saw an average drop in A1c of 1.5%, which is significant.

Do you think we’re still early in Remote Patient Monitoring? Or do you think this will be widespread in the next 6-12 months?

As soon as our healthcare system can figure out the right economic model to compensate for remote monitoring, it will take off. The benefits to patient care and outcomes, as well as the ultimate cost savings are clear. In the context of value-based payment models, this type of care delivery model should flourish.

What are the clear benefits that you’re already seeing from Remote Patient Monitoring?

Patients feel more engaged with their providers and more empowered and better informed to make healthier lifestyle choices. And, providers are able to easily monitor patients, in real time, and intervene as needed, rather than during a predetermined office visit. As a result, clinical outcomes are improving, limited healthcare resources are better utilized and healthcare costs are reduced.

What are common misconceptions about Remote Patient Monitoring?

The biggest misconception is that patients, particularly older patients, are resistant to using technology. In most cases, we’ve found that to be untrue. The technology is incredibly simple – for example patients only need to press a button on a touch screen to submit their health data that is wirelessly collected and transmitted. Patients feel better cared for and connected. In fact, we hear from patients all the time that they don’t want to be without their remote monitoring devices, its more convenient than having to run to the doctor’s office for a blood pressure check, they feel better connected to their provider and are more satisfied with their care.

Jennifer M. Joe, MD

Jennifer M. Joe, MD

    My passion is healthcare optimization, whether that is with innovation, making scientific discoveries, or improving delivery. I love bringing people and ideas together and making projects work. With this, medicine exists to improve lives, and I will strive to always help patients and those around me.

    Similar posts

    Follow us!

    Send this to a friend