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This study presents a controlled sacrificial anode (magnesium anodes) cathodic protection system for aboveground storage tanks. The proposed method is able to control the anode’s current, which leads to enhance the performance of anodes, therefore, increase the anode’s lifetime. The proposed system has been implemented in a laboratory-based tank contains saline water (5661 ppm). In this experiment, the overprotection and anode energy loss were eliminated, and the anodes lifetime has been extended 35.55 times higher compared to the conventional system. The proposed method reduced the protection current and stabilized the system overall.
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The corrosion process is an oxidation–reduction reaction concept where electrons are removed from a metal surface and replace them with oxygen from the surrounding environment [1, 2]. The conventional method to prevent metal corrosion is by coating or painting the surface of the metal. Corrosion causes waste of valuable resources, loss or impurity of productivity, efficiency, reduction, and often plant shutdowns. The corrosion can also inhibit technological progress and jeopardize safety. In corrosion control of metallic structures, the main issue with the conventional sacrificial anode system is the excessive, uncontrollable current flow by the anodes, which leads to high current flow to the storage tank and causing overprotection, coating defect, and short anode’s lifetime.
The coating method is widely used to isolate the metals from contact with the surrounding electrolytes, such as water and soil. However, the coating cannot provide full protection; thereby, corrosion will take place at the breaks in the coating . The cathodic protection (CP) is one of the most effective and economical technique to prevent structural corrosion by making the metal surface as a cathode of an electrochemical cell . The cathodic protection system can be applied to any metallic structure such as tanks, buried pipelines, ships, marine’s jetties, and any metals that have contact with electrolytes such as soil or water . The CP system can be performed either by injecting current cathodic protection (ICCP) or sacrificial anode (SA) . The ICCP system requires an external DC power source that is connected to the structure by using particular types of anodes, while CP with SA does not require any external power source. The former one is more suitable for the protection of larger structures like long pipe systems, while the latter one is more suitable for the protection of smaller structures such as tanks , which is the interest of this study. The sacrificial anode is a metal that has a more negative charge than the body of the structure. In conventional SA systems of structures in the sea and freshwater, the anodes are directly connected by welding to the body of the structure.
Olusunle et al.  investigated the effects of painted structures on SA system performance. Their study suggested that the sacrificial anode system can result in an economical and higher performance in terms of a longer anode lifetime if the metallic structure is coated instead of the bare structure .
Ekhasomhi et al.  conducted a case study for designing an SA-based CP system to protect the internal face bottom and internal shell of barrels (BBLS) crude oil surge tank. In this study, zinc anodes have been used as an SA to protect a commercial tank which was made of mild steel material. The aim of this study was to determine if the zinc sacrificial anode system was an acceptable and convenient solution to control corrosion .
Magnesium, aluminium, and zinc are the metals that are commonly used as SA . Zinc anodes are used when the soil resistivity is less than 20 mΩ, and Zinc and aluminium anodes are used in seawater. Technically, magnesium would be the best material as SA due to its higher potential. However, this higher potential causes overprotection and generates the development of hydrogen gas, which may cause coating defect and coating disbondment from the tank . In addition, due to the high current flow, the anodes will be exhausted in a short time. The conventional SA-based CP system suffers from the lack of having a controllable current/potential system. This issue encourages to have an SA system which its current and potential can be controlled .
Nustad et al.  have proposed a fixed built-in resistor to reduce the potential of the pipeline structures. In this method, a fixed resistor was embedded inside in series with the anode to drop the existing charges . However, this method did not have the flexibility to control the optimum current flow required in a CP system. The optimum current flow may need to be changed due to the change of resistance of the electrolyte, material surface polarization, and/or corrosion status of the structure.
Narozny et al.  have proposed a transistor-driven SA system implemented on a laboratory steel structure that was placed in seawater. A PNP transistor was used to control the current of the magnesium anode . However, the proposed system was limited only to the metallic structures that have very low potential compared to the potential of the anode. Also, it required an additional anode as an auxiliary electrode to be connected to the base of the transistor.
The sacrificial anode system is the most common solution for protecting structures from corrosion . The Mg is usually used as a sacrificial anode to provide cathodic protection of underground and aboveground structures such as ships, tanks, and pipelines .
In this paper, a fully controllable SA system is proposed using a variable resistor for above ground tank structures. It is shown that by optimizing the current flow of the structure, the magnesium anodes’ lifetime can be significantly improved compared to the conventional SAs.
2 Materials and method
Figure 1 shows the schematic diagram of the proposed design SA CP system. A variable resistor was proposed to be in series with the anodes where all anodes were connected in parallel and isolated from the tank body using insulator pillars to avoid a direct connection to the tank body.
In this study, three identical tanks with dimensions of 20 cm diameter and 22 cm height made of similar material were developed and coated with two layers of Samurai epoxy in order to evaluate the performance of the proposed SA system. Ribbon Magnesium anodes were used in this study as the anodic material. For all three tanks, similar anode dimensions and installation structures were applied. The dimensions of the magnesium ribbon anodes were calculated based on the consumption rate equation of the Conventional SA system for the duration of 1 month based on a specific electrolyte of saline water with a TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) of 5661 ppm as shown in Table 1 .
The most important part of designing a cathodic protection system is the required current per square meter which is called (current density) to shift the structure’s potential to a minimum − 0.85 V with respect to the copper/copper sulphate reference electrode. The required current can be calculated as follows .
where It is the total current required in amperes, i is the current density required in a unit of A/m2, and A is the surface area to be protected in a square meter, which can be either for internal or external surface area. Thereby, the weight of ribbon required for internal surface bottom or tank shell can be calculated as follows :
where W is the weight of ribbon anode, Y is CP system lifetime, and I is the amount of current required for internal tank bottom or tank shell, Z is the capacity of alloy, and U is anode utilization factor.
The length of ribbon required can be calculated as follows :
where the L is the length of the ribbon anode required, W is the total weight, and w is the weight/meter of anode ribbon.
The anode coverage for both internal and external can be calculated as follows :
where S is the ribbon anode separation in meter, d is the distance between tank structure, and ribbon anode is in meter.
Therefore, the required number of anodes for internal and external protection can be calculated as follows :
where N is the number of the ribbon anodes in parallel, D is the tank diameter in meter and S is ribbon anode separation in meter.
The saline water was made up by mixing one litre of fresh water and 11 g of sea salt. This electrolyte was used for all experiments in this study. A commercial TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) meter model EcoHydro was used to monitor the TDS of the saline in the tanks on a daily basis during the experiments to make sure the TDS level is not changed. In case of any change in the water TDS, the water was changed to keep the TDS constant. The salinity of the used water is 5661 ppm.
Out of the three tanks, one tank (Tank-1) has been used for implementing the conventional SA system. Figure 2 illustrates the magnesium anodes, which initially were welded to the internal tank shell and internal tank bottom before the tank was painted. The performance of this tank is used as the benchmark to compare with the performance of the proposed design.
Since the proposed system shown in Fig. 1 requires the anodes to be isolated from the tank body, it is the interest of this study to evaluate the influence of this isolation on the corrosion protection as well as anode lifetime before the variable resistor is applied in the system. Thereby, the second tank (Tank-2) was used to implement a system similar to the proposed design in Fig. 1, without the variable resistor as the schematic diagram is illustrated in Fig. 3. The “ON” potential measured when the switch S1 is closed while the “OFF” potential will be measured when the switch S1 is open.
In addition, the current flow of the tank was measured by connecting an ammeter in series with the circuit, as shown in Fig. 3. It should be noted that the current flows through the circuit only when the circuit is in “ON” position. The “OFF” state is only for a short time to measure the “OFF” potential of the tank. In this condition, there is no current flow through the circuit when the switch is opened.
The third tank (Tank-3) was used to implement the complete proposed design, as shown in Fig. 1. The switch S1 is placed in series in the system to allow “ON” and “OFF” potential measurements. An ammeter has been used to measure the protection current in this project, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.
Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of how the anodes can be isolated from the tank body. The busbar isolator shown in Fig. 4 is a commercially available isolator that can be used for isolating anodes from the tank body as required in the proposed Tank-2 and Tank-3. One side of the busbar isolator can be welded to the tank body, while the other side of the bus bar isolator can be fixed into the holder box, as shown in Fig. 4. It should be noted that the two sides of the busbar isolator are not electrically connected.
3 Results and discussion
After fabrication of the three tanks, the potential of the bare steel tanks before coating and installing anodes, have been measured. The initial potentials were measured in the range of − 0. 550 to − 0. 553 V with respect to the copper/copper sulphate reference electrode. This potential is in agreement with the potential of the clean and shiny mild steel reported to be in the range of − 0. 5 to − 0. 8 V with respect to copper/copper sulphate reference electrode . Since the potential values are lower than the minimum protection voltage, − 0. 850 V , the bare tank is expected to be corroded due to the environmental condition such as water, soil and humidity.
The potential of the Tank-2 and Tank-3 have been measured again after the tanks were coated, which showed around − 0. 606 to − 0. 608 V. This result shows that the protection level is increased compared to the bare tank, but it is still not enough for self-protection from corrosion, based on the CP potential criteria.
3.1 Performance analysis of Tank-1
As stated in Sect. 2, Tank-1 was used for implementing the conventional SA protection system for the purpose of benchmarking and performance comparison with the proposed system. The potential of the internal tank has been measured on a daily basis by using copper/copper sulphate reference electrode until the anodes are fully consumed, as shown in Fig. 5. The electrode was placed in the centre of the tank’s bottom to measure the potential of the tank’s bottom and to measure the potential of the tank’s wall, and the electrode was placed near the tank’s wall. It was noticed that the two readings from the mentioned set up were almost equal because of the small size of the prototype and also due to a low seawater resistivity. The low resistivity of the electrolyte made the potential drop (IR) neglected. Therefore, the copper/copper sulphate reference electrode was placed in the centre of the tank’s bottom to measure the potential of the wall and the tank’s bottom as well. The copper/copper sulphate reference electrode was used for a short time during the measurement only.
Figure 6a and b show the size of the original anode and the consumed anode taken out from the Tank-1, respectively. The results for the internal tank potential for “ON” condition shows around − 1. 6 V for the first 20 days and then started to reduce gradually till the day 32 that the potential was already reduced to − 0. 7 V. This was lower than the minimum protection potential level, as illustrated in Fig. 5. In this case, the lifetime of the conventional SA system lasts for only about 31 days based on the experimental results, which is almost closed to the theoretical one-month design lifetime. The reason for the short lifetime of the conventional SA system is due to the high current delivered by the anodes. The current of the conventional SA system was not possible to be measured as the anodes were welded to the tank body. The high current delivered by the anodes not only affected the lifetime of the CP system but also causes coating defects. Based on our observation, the coating of the internal tank was in good condition for the first 15 days, but after that, the coatings started to defect in the form of disbonding from the tank body in some parts of the internal tank. A few days later, between days 18-31, the coating has been cracked in the disbanded area and eventually toward the end of the experiment which part of the coating was separated from the tank body.
3.2 Performance analysis of Tank-2
The design depicted in Fig. 3 was implemented in Tank-2, and it was observed until the anodes were fully consumed. The potential of the internal tank has been measured by using copper/copper sulphate reference electrode every day, and the achieved result is shown in Fig. 7. The result shows that for the first 22 days, the “ON” potential was relatively constant around − 1.616 V and gradually reduced to − 1.4 V. On the 48th day, it was observed that the potential level was rapidly reduced while on the 53rd day, its potential level measured below the minimum protection level, − 0.731 V as illustrated in Fig. 7. The “OFF” condition potential was measured in between − 1.2 to − 1.3 V, as shown in Fig. 6.
On the other hand, the results of current flow show that the current level for the first 6 days was high about 80 mA before the polarization of the tank body. Then, the current reduced to around 60 mA at 11th day, and again, it dropped to about 35 mA in 31st day. After that, the current gradually reduced to about 22 mA on the day 47th and then it is reduced to about zero on the 53rd day. The drop of the potential from the day 50–53 was due to the anodes which have been fully consumed, and the image of the consumed anode is shown in Fig. 6c.
The results and observations of this experiment show that the potential level in the Tank-2 was also considered as overprotection compared to the minimum potential, − 0.85 V required for protecting the tank. Thereby, this overprotection causes the high current consumption rate of anodes and, thereby, leads to a short anode lifetime around 52 days.
3.3 Performance analysis of proposed design Tank-3
In this experiment, the proposed design depicted in Fig. 1 was implemented in Tank-3. The “ON” and “OFF” potentials and current of the internal tank have been measured by using copper/copper sulphate reference electrode and digital multimeter, respectively and the results are shown in Fig. 8. In this experiment, the current/potential of the tank body has been controlled by using a variable resistor to achieve the minimum protection potential and thereby minimum current to meet the CP criteria. In this study, the potential of the tank was set to − 1. 22 V, slightly higher than the minimum required potential to allow the tank body to be polarized. Based on this potential, the initial current was measured to be around 4.2 mA for the first 12 days and then after the tank body is slightly polarized the current flow decreased to 4 mA and then remained almost constant until the 33 days. The results suggest that in the 33rd, a full polarization of the tank body has occurred. At a current of 4 mA noticed that the “OFF” potential being increased so, the current has been adjusted to 1 mA in order to avoid the overprotection and then the current remained constant until the experiment has been stopped on the day 59th due to achievement of full polarization. Figure 6d shows the image of one example of the anodes taken out from the Tank-3 after the 59th day in comparison with the original anode shown in Fig. 6a.
Comparing the results of Tank-1 and Tank-2, it can be noted that by insulating the anodes from the tank body, the anodes lifetime can be extended to 1.67 times compared to the conventional SA where the anodes were welded to the tank body.
Comparing the performance of the setup in Tank-2 with Tank-3 it can be noticed that the isolation of the anodes without controlling the current flow does not contribute a significant extension to the anode lifetime. To further compare the performance of the three tanks, two methods were considered here, one based on the current flow and the second based on the weight of the anodes. For the first comparison, since the experimental current of the conventional SA in Tank-1 is not available, it has been calculated to be 142.2 mA based on the experimental values. The consumption rate of the anode has been calculated from the proposed design in Tank-2 based on the anode’s current output and its lifetime. The current for the Tank-1 conventional CP system has been calculated and considering the initial current draw of 4 mA in Tank-3 compared to the conventional SA. The Tank-1 shows that the proposed SA system can improve the life expectancy of the anode about 35.55 times longer. On the other hand, comparing the remaining weight of the anodes in the Tank-3 which was 31 g, to the original weight of anodes 33 g, it shows the outperformance of the proposed setup in Tank-3 by 31.4 times, which is in agreement with the results shown above is based on the current consumption.
The aim of this study was to improve the performance of the SA protection system. The application of a resistor-controlled design reduced the required current output, which is to protect the internal shell and tank bottom in saline water. The proposed design (Tank-3) is to isolate the anodes from the tank body and utilizes a variable resistor to allow full control of the tank potential/current. The proposed design has been examined experimentally and the performance was compared with the conventional SA system. The proposed design (Tank-3) has shown that the anode life expectancy improved 35.55 times (based on the current) and 31.4 times (based on anode weight) compared to the conventional SA systems. The improvement of a sacrificial anode lifetime increased up to 35.55 times, which was a significant accomplishment that never has been reported before for cathodic protection of tank applications. Also, in the proposed design, the overprotection and anode energy loss were eliminated. Thereby, by implementing the proposed design (Tank-3), the performance of the anode has been enhanced compared with the conventional SA systems. Besides the lifecycle improvement, the proposed design (Tank-3) offers other advantages such as no coating defect as well as easier anode installation and maintenance, which the anodes do not need to be welded to the tank body which they can be easily fixed. The proposed method in this study would be very helpful for industries associated with storage tanks for storing water, cooking oil, industrial oil, and gas industries.
In order to improve the life expectancy of the system, it is recommended that aluminium or zinc anodes to be considered beside magnesium anode for future work.
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Jawad, M.N., Amouzad Mahdiraji, G. & Hajibeigy, M.T. Performance improvement of sacrificial anode cathodic protection system for above ground storage tank. SN Appl. Sci. 2, 1979 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-020-03823-7

domain: chemistry


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From Fried Chicken and Champagne by Lisa Dupar
Ok, here’s the deal. This post was supposed to be for shrimp and grits. Not just the grits. It’s the first dish we made when we got down to Florida, and it was good. And a LOT of work. And a TON of calories. And perhaps not good enough. I wanted to love it, since it was our inaugural seafood dish of the trip, and I love shrimp and grits, and most importantly the grits portion was absolutely out of this world. So I typed up the whole LONG recipe. I ate the leftovers, hoping they’d be better and encourage me to hit the “Publish” button on this post. But I just couldn’t do it. Yet the grits, they were haunting me, begging to be made famous.
Then it hit me: screw it, I’ll just post the grits! Sorry about the picture, which of course highlights the shrimp, but take my word for it, they were standard shrimp coated in a bland but very fatty tasting butter sauce. A butter sauce that these grits absolutely didn’t need, which is saying something for grits. We make gloppy grain products like grits and polenta all the time to serve as a bed for something saucy and meaty. And every time I take a bite of the base alone and think it’s bland without the sauce. NOT THESE. These are stand-alone grits. I couldn’t keep my spoon out of the pot while the rest of the dish was cooking. Of course, they’re worthy of anything you want to plop on top as well, but I think any stand-alone grits deserve their own celebration. Just talking about them makes me want to whip up another batch. Lucky for me, it’s almost lunch time…
- 2 cups half and half
- 1 cup milk
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1 tsp seasoned salt
- 1 tsp garlic, minced
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 cup old fashioned grits (we used Quaker)
- Bring half-and-half and milk to a simmer in a medium sauce pan over medium heat.
- Stir in butter, seasoned salt, garlic, pepper and cayenne.
- Slowly sprinkle grits into the simmering milk mixture, stirring constantly to prevent clumps.
- Once all grits are added, reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring frequently, until grits thicken.
- Remove from heat and serve. They’re great alone, but you can also top them with a sprinkle of green onions, herbs, cheese, bacon, or any meaty or saucy entree you have in mind.

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The goings on of Hannah Taylor - Knitwear Designer.
Thursday, 14 January 2010
I will be on duty at the exhibition this Saturday!
Just to let you know, it is my turn to be on duty at The RCA's "Work in Progress" exhibition this Saturday, and here is a sneaky peek at my display. I will be there from 12-1pm so come down and say hello as there's lots of exciting work happening, and I will be more than happy to show you around!

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I call this my cheat’s garlic bread because I have simply used a fresh ciabatta. I pick up a fresh loaf from a local bakery but you can also pick up a packet from the supermarket. Nothing beats home made bread but I think we have to be realistic sometimes. Making your own bread can be time consuming. This quick and easy way of making your own garlic bread will take a fraction of the time and stop you from being persuaded to just pick up a soggy, artificial garlic bread.
- Juice of half a lemon
- olive oil
- 1 loaf ciabatta
- fresh rosemary
- fresh thyme
- black pepper
- 5 cloves garlic
- 1Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 5 / 190 C.
- 2Slit the bread diagonally. Then tuck the pieces of crushed garlic into each fold.
- 3Stuff each fold with fresh herbs and a little drizze of olive oil.
- 4Drizzle more olive oil on top of the bread and a light squeeze of lemon juice.
- 5Garnish with more fresh herbs on top and some black pepper.
- 6Place in the oven for around 20 minutes and serve warm.


U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, R-Gainesville, has reintroduced a bill that he hopes will help families navigate the difficult process of international adoption.
The Intercountry Adoption Information Act, co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin, D-Rhode Island, would require the Secretary of State’s office to include in its annual report information about countries that have new policies or laws that reduce or prevent U.S. adoptions. The Department of State would also be required to include information on its efforts to encourage these countries to resume U.S. adoption.
“Millions of children at home and abroad are in need of a loving home, and families all across the globe are eager to provide them with the care and support they deserve,” Collins said in a statement. “The Intercountry Adoption Information Act will help bring families together by ensuring parents pursuing overseas adoption, like the Romano family, have access to the information required to navigate the international adoption landscape, and ultimately, to bring their children home.”
Collins was inspired by Mark and Pam Romano of Jefferson, who in 2012 were in the process of adopting two brothers from Russia when Russia halted all adoptions to the United States.
“I think I speak for every family in the process of adopting, or even considering adoption: Change is long overdue,” Pam Romano said in a statement. “Transparency and accountability are vital to any program that seeks to benefit the welfare of children. Accurate, honest information is power in its purest form.”
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, R-North Carolina, has introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.
Collins also introduced the bill last year, when it passed the U.S. House but its Senate companion stalled in committee.
The Department of State has a web page that can be searched by country to learn about the international adoption process.


The project has been a great success. Initially, it had 80 vehicles distributed among 30 driving schools, but a second phase was added, which consisted of a support plan. One year later, there were no less than 60 driving schools and a total of 150 electric vehicles. The shortage of electric vehicles slightly delayed the achievement of the goal, which was originally planned for the end of 2022.
In addition to promoting the electrification of corporate vehicle fleets, this pilot project aimed to evaluate the viability of this new business model for the industry, and also to measure the change in perception of young learner drivers who practiced on electric vehicles, in terms of electromobility.
In this project, the main contribution of IVI was their expertise in telematics applied to electric vehicles. IVI played a role in technical support in the deployment of vehicles and the implementation of measurement instruments, as well as in the scientific monitoring of the fleet. Based on their analysis of the usage data collected, IVI experts were able to validate the suitability of 100% electric vehicles for the needs of different driving schools and formulate recommendations on the best vehicles to suit their needs.


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Thursday, 18 December 2014
Last updated 18 hours ago
Dec 10 2009 | 11:36am ET
Offshore law firm Mourant du Feu & Jeune has added a partner specialising in investment funds to its Cayman Islands offices.
James Wauchope has joined Mourant du Feu & Jeune from Maples and Calder where he was a partner.
“The profile of Mourant du Feu & Jeune’s Cayman Islands office has greatly increased over recent years as has the presence and reputation of its Cayman investment funds group,” said Wauchope. “I am very excited to be joining such a strong legal team and look forward to working with so many high calibre lawyers in further developing the Cayman Islands practice.”
"Our Cayman funds team has had a very successful year and this strategic appointment confirms our commitment to the Cayman Islands and to the continued success of Mourant du Feu & Jeune’s Cayman team,” said Jonathan Rigby, managing partner of the firm.
Dec 1 2014 | 10:21am ET
As 2014 winds down, Northern Trust Hedge Fund Services executives took some time to share their outlook on trends facing the industry in 2015. Read more…
Jeff Sprecher was simply looking for a platform to trade energies when launching ICE 14 years ago but it has grown to reach the pinnacle of both the listed futures and equities world.

domain: geography


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Robert Ball Hughes
Robert Ball Hughes (1806-68), British-trained sculptor
According to the Sketch of the Life of Robert Ball Hughes, by Mrs. E. Ball Hughes, Col. John Trumbull painted this portrait and one of Mrs. Hughes in New York in 1830 (and not in 1839 as widely reported) while Ball Hughes was working on the large model for the statue of Alexander Hamilton.
Robert Ball Hughes would have been about 26 years old at the time this portrait was painted by the famous patriot and artist Col. John Trumbull. See Col. John Trumbull for more information about Trumbull. See Portrait of Elizabeth Ball Hughes for companion portrait by John Trumbull and information about possible second copies of both portraits.
If the portraits were painted in 1839 (which I doubt), they would probably have been painted in Trumbull's "painting room" in his residence at the Stillman House in New Haven, CT. Trumbull moved from New York to live with his niece, Harriet Stillman, and her husband in 1837 according to John Trumbull, Patriot-Artist of the American Revolution, by Irma B. Jaffe. Boston: New York Graphic Society, 1975, pp. 285-286. Trumbull, who had only one good eye, would have been about 80 years old when he painted these portraits (if they were painted in 1839). Ball Hughes would have been about 35. In 1841, Trumbull returned to New York where lived the rest of his life.
Copy of the Portrait of Robert Ball Hughes
The digital image above is from a very small black and white photograph of the portrait in the article The Poker Drawings of Ball-Hughes by Edward Daland Lovejoy, The Magazine ANTIQUES, September 1946, p. 175.
last update 2/20/2010
For noncommercial use, Copyright David E. Brown 2008-2010

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Genesis 42:1 When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, Why do you just keep looking at each other?
There was no grain in Canaan, due to the famine, so Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy some. It had been over twenty years since Joseph was sold into slavery, and his brothers considered him dead. The last thing they expected in Egypt was to bump into Joseph. When they saw him, in fact, they did not even recognize him.
But Joseph recognized them, and instead of revealing himself, Joseph accused them of being spies, and threw them in prison. There they had time to think, and began to reflect on their sin. Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that is why this distress has come on us (Genesis 42:21), they said.
This is the misery of a guilty conscience. The brothers saw the desperate look in Joseph’s eyes when he pleaded for his life—and they never forgot it. There were probably nights they woke up in a cold sweat, regretting what they had done. Now at last, they were getting what they deserved. Judgment Day had finally come.
Genesis 45:4 Then Joseph said to his brothers . . . I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!
The brothers were overwhelmed. Joseph’s boyhood dream was coming true before their eyes. Could this really be happening? What would happen next? Joseph had suffered because of them; now he could pay them back. But Joseph kissed all his brothers and wept over them (Genesis 45:15). Instead of justice, they received mercy (James 2:13). After so many years apart, they were a family again.
Pharaoh was pleased by this, and promised Joseph’s brothers the best land in Egypt (Genesis 45:18). He gave them carts to bring their families down, along with their father Jacob. He gave them ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for [their] journey (Genesis 45:23). Instead of being punished for their sin, they were being blessed!
This is what Jesus Christ has done for us. Instead of being punished for our sins, we have . . . every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3), wrote Paul. And that is just the beginning. Christ will say to his own, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world (Matthew 25:34). Joseph’s brothers were overwhelmed by their good fortune, and our amazement will never end.
Genesis 45:13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt.
Joseph had all the honor of Egypt, but he wanted his his father’s approval. He had done well for himself, and he wanted his dad to be proud. His father would soon rejoice that Joseph was alive, and Joseph would receive the approval that he longed for.
Sadly, there are many who crave their father’s approval but never receive it. I have sat with men in their sixties who were still deeply pained because of their father’s disapproval. You will never amount to a bottle of piss, one recalled his father saying. A day seldom passed when he did not think about that.
But Christ has promised his approval to all who truly believe in him. Well done, good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:21), he will say.
Given our many failures, this is hard to imagine. How could Christ give his approval to ordinary Christians who fail every day? The answer is found in God’s word. He forgave us all our sins (Colossians 2:13), and will reward each one for whatever good they do (Ephesians 6:8), wrote Paul. If Christ forgives all our sins, and remembers all our good deeds, then we will hear him say, Well done, good and faithful servant! And the joy of those words will ring in our hearts for ever.
Genesis 48:1 Some time later Joseph was told, Your father is ill.
After many years in Egypt, Joseph’s father was dying. But just before he passed, he gave a prophecy that the Messiah would come from Judah. The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his (Genesis 49:10).
We might expect Jesus to be descended from Joseph, since he was the most prominent son of Jacob. But Jesus’ genealogy shows that he was descended from Joseph’s brother, Judah (Matthew 1:2, 16), just as Jacob foretold. Nevertheless, Joseph does foreshadow Jesus in a number of ways.
Joseph was the special son of Jacob, and Jesus is the special Son of God. Joseph was rejected by his brothers, and Jesus was rejected by his brothers (John 7:5). Joseph was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry (Genesis 41:46), and Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry (Luke 3:23).
Joseph ruled Egypt under Pharaoh, and Jesus rules the world under God. Joseph fed the people with grain, and Jesus fed the people with bread (John 6:10-11). Joseph suffered before he was exalted, and Jesus suffered before he was exalted. Joseph’s brothers were saved by coming to him, and we are saved by coming to Christ. These surprising parallels are like fingerprints that reveal the Bible’s author.
Genesis 50:15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?
Joseph’s brothers were still afraid that he would repay them for their sins. Perhaps Joseph had treated them well only because of their father. With this in mind, they came to Joseph and said, we are your slaves (Genesis 50:18). Joseph assured them that their fears were unfounded, and that he did not hold a grudge. You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good (Genesis 50:20), he said.
This is the climactic verse of the story, and it makes an important point: God turns evil into good. It did not seem good to Joseph when he was sold into slavery, or when he was sitting in prison. But in hindsight it was clear: if he had not been sold into slavery, he could not have been promoted to such a high position. Nor could he have saved Egypt, or his family.
Paul likely had this in mind when he wrote . . . in all things God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28). God governs all things for his glory, and for the good of his people. It may not seem that way when your house burns down, or you lose your job, or they repossess your car. But if you love Jesus Christ, nothing bad can happen to you that God has not planned for your good. This is a wonderful comfort in all the trials of life.
Reflection and Review
Why were Joseph’s brothers troubled by their sin?
Why did Joseph want his father’s approval?
How did God use the sin of Joseph’s brothers for good?

domain: literature


text:
A study undertaken by London’s imperial college found that immunity against the novel coronavirus depletes rapidly the following infection, scientists say after sampling the London population from the first-wave bout.
The study, announced Tuesday raises concern on the prospects of waning immunity of the virus in communities around the world, which has infected over 39 million people around the world.
The paper has been published in a pre-print version and is yet to be peer-reviewed.
Scientists from the Imperial College London tracked the levels of antibody in 365,000 Brits after the April-May first wave infection and found the levels have considerably depleted during the summer.
The study found antibodies fell from 6% in the end of June to 4.4% in September, as per the College.
“Our study shows that over time there is a reduction in the proportion of people testing positive for antibodies. It remains unclear what level of immunity antibodies provide, or for how long this immunity lasts,” Prof Paul Elliott, the study author said in a statement.
He added, testing positive for antibodies of the virus does not automatically ensure immunity from the same.
America’s CDC echoed similar results claiming 10X people have antibodies than officially reported cases.
An independent private Indian laboratory chain found almost 26% of 270,000 antibodies tested on an average had the novel coronavirus antibodies.
Similarly, a study conducted by an Icelandic firm, Decode Genetics, found there was no indication that depleting antibodies post-COVID-recovery meant decreased protection against the virus, We The World earlier reported.
“It remains unclear what level of immunity antibodies provide, or for how long this immunity lasts. If someone tests positive for antibodies, they still need to follow national guidelines including social distancing measures, getting a swab test if they have symptoms and wearing face coverings where required,” the director of the program, professor Paul Elliott said.
The UK is currently preparing for a second bout of the virus after suffering the first wave in March and April. Currently, the nation is announcing lockdowns in different cities to prevent the spread.
“On the balance of evidence, I would say, with what we know for other coronaviruses, it would look as if immunity declines away at the same rate as antibodies decline away, and that this is an indication of waning immunity at the population level,” Wendy Barclay, Head of Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College London told reporters.
Reuters noted those whose infection was confirmed by the PCR testing showed a less steep decline in the presence of antibodies than those who were asymptomatic and were unaware of her infection.
But it must be noted, immunity on the novel virus is still a foggy area, with a lot of factors like the T-cells and B-cells determining a body’s immune response when contacted with the virus.
The study noted, frontline workers who were exposed to the virus continually had no change in the level of antibodies.

domain: biology


- Maintenance and Support of LAN and WAN platforms
- Network Capacity Planning and Workload Management
- Building Client/Server, Internet, Intranet and Extranet technologies
- Configuration and maintenance of firewall/Proxy server, web server, mail server, access to legacy system etc.
TISCO Group Inc networking professionals are proficient in maintaining and supporting LAN and WAN platforms consisting of domain name servers, mail servers and network routers, internet access, proxy servers, and data encryption schemes.
TISCO Group Inc is well equipped to support a rich environment of applications needed for software development and implementation. We have rich experience in setting up TCP/IP network and installation, configuration and maintenance of NIS, DNS, NFS, RPS, SMTP, POP, HTTP, FTP,WAP servers. Administration and configuration of fire wall, proxy servers, Web servers (IIS, Apache, IBM HTTP, NES) and Application server (Websphere, Weblogic).


text:
by Reynolds, Jason,
|Format:||Book on MP3 Disc 2017|
|Availability:||Available at 1 Library 1 of 1 copy|
Summary"Patina "Patty" Jones is the fastest girl on the Defenders track team. Makes sense; she's got a lot to run for. She runs for the kids at the fancy new school she's now being sent to, to show the ones who taunt her that she's gonna be something one day. She runs for her fellow Defenders newbies -- Ghost, Sunny, and Lu -- to make them proud. She runs for her little sister, Maddy, who relies on Patty to show her how to be brave and strong. And she runs for her mother, who can never run again. Like Ma says, Patty ain't no junk. And she's out to prove it. But when the pressure becomes too much, can she outdistance it?"--
|Series||Reynolds, Jason. Track. bk. 2.|
Track and field athletes
Running -- Fiction.
Track and field -- Fiction.
Diabetes -- Fiction.
Stress (Physiology) -- Fiction.
|Publisher|| Solon, Ohio :Findaway World, LLC,2017
Simms, Heather Alicia,
Playaway Digital Audio, publisher.
Findaway World, LLC, publisher.
Read by Heather Alicia Simms.
Title from Playaway label.
Release date supplied by publisher.
One set of earphones and one AAA battery required for listening.
Issued on Playaway, a dedicated audio media player.
1 audio media player (approximately 3.25 hr.) : digital, HD audio ; 3 1/4 x 2 in.


PVC 2" EZ Span Repair Coupling. This EZ Span Coupling joins standard PVC (1/2-1-1/2") in diameter pipes on new installations. And it is extremely useful when making modifications and repairs to existing pipe systems. This Coupling features a sliding section that allows users to choose the length needed without cutting the pipe. This PVC 2" EZ Span Repair Coupling must glued together with special PVC glue that's designed to create a seal that is leak proof and durable like the Pvc pipe. For the best and most secure installation, make sure the pipe is cleaned with primer, and be sure to hold the glued fitting together for 5-10 seconds. PVC is designed for both above and below ground DWV (Drain, Waste, Vent) Applications. PVC is generally used for both commercial and residential plumbing construction.
|Product:||Couplings and Adapters|
|Use:||Repair and Maintenance|
|Style:||Repair & Replacement|
|Fitting Type:||Hub x Hub|


text:
I always try to do something fun and sweet for the kids for the holidays. I want them to look back and not see what they got, but how they felt at the time. This Valentine's Day I have my long work day at PT school so I decided to start the festivities a bit early.
Today I made chocolate cupcakes using my favorite chocolate cake recipe and topped them with my secret recipe cream cheese frosting. For extra fun, we took some of the heart shaped marshmallows and dipped half in chocolate to serve as a topper. They came out super cute, don't you think?


DJ Le Spam is Miami’s Prime Minister of Funk. The man behind the renowned group The Spam All Stars, acclaimed DJ and Cuban coffee expert, Le Spam has toured the world sharing stages and putting out music with artists like Larry Harlow of The Fania All Stars, Pee Wee Ellis and Blowfly.
On a recent Wednesday night at The Standard Spa’s monthly, vinyl-only Back2Basics music series, Le Spam took attendees on a journey through the Miami Sound, playing a set to complement a screening of the excellent documentary Deep City: The Birth of the Miami Sound, presented by the film’s producer Chad Tingle.
Since the music was so good, we sat down with Le Spam to ask him some questions about Miami’s rich musical history and to have him tell us about his favorite Miami records.
And join us in The Lido Lounge this Thursday, August 27th for the next Back2Basics, featuring an all Reggae, Roots & Dub set by DJ Corey Chase and a screening of the classic film The Harder They Come.
STANDARD SOUNDS: What prompted you to start looking for Miami records?
LE SPAM: My friend Superwolf in Kansas City gave me a recording of Little Beaver’s “Party Down”. I’d been living in Miami for almost 10 years and I couldn’t believe there was all this Miami Soul music that I didn’t know anything about. It was like living on a planet and finding out about a civilization that was here before you. I got extra obsessed about looking for Miami stuff.


text:
- 10 May 21
Watch VJ Jaxson's highly anticipated live performance tonight on the Y&E Series – supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
After a spectacular run of performances, the big finale of the current edition of the Hot Press Lockdown Sessions' Y&E Series is finally here – with a special performance from VJ Jaxson, going live on the Hot Press Instagram at 7.30pm!
Following his studies in BIMM, Nigerian-born Tallaght-raised artist VJ Jaxson has emerged as a serious force to be reckoned with on the Irish scene. Drawing from his personal struggles with depression, his songs feature a unique juxtaposition of heartfelt lyrics and an upbeat tempo – carefully layered within an R&B melody. He released 'Red Pill' – the second single from his debut EP – last month.
With the support of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, we've been able to shine a light on some of the best young and emerging talent that Ireland has to offer over the last year – with a brilliant selection of acts joining Hot Press on Instagram for special live-streamed performances.
Following the remarkable success of last year's Y&E Series – which featured 120 live acts, and an audience reach of over four million – the new edition launched at the end of March, with a dazzlingly diverse selection of artists joining us over the last few weeks.
Watch VJ Jaxson on the Hot Press Lockdown Sessions' The Y&E Series, supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, TONIGHT – Monday, May 10 – live on the Hot Press Instagram (@hotpressmagazine) at 7.30pm.

domain: news


text:
So you stayed in last night and had one too many cocktails (very 2020 of you) or maybe you went out with some friends and danced 2020 away (not judging)... either way today's a new year and we have the all natural solution to cure today's hangover.
Activated charcoal has been used in the emergency treatment of certain kinds of poisoning and, in the past few years, has found its way into juice elixirs with the promise of boosting energy, brightening skin, and of course, curing hangovers. A teaspoon of this magic powder combined with coconut water, which helps to rehydrate you and replenish those electrolytes that you lost, along with fresh cucumber juice, which is rich in nutrients such as vitamins A, C, K, magnesium, silicon, and potassium will alkaline your system and prevent your body from absorbing poisons and toxins.
INGREDIENTS - Serves 8 oz
- 5oz Fresh Cucumber Juice
- 3oz Coconut Water
- 1/4 Teaspoon Activated Charcoal
- 3 to 5 Lemon Drops ( Optional )
- Place the fresh cucumber through a cold-pressed juicer.
- Add 1/4 teaspoon activated charcoal, 3oz of coconut water, and 3 to 5 drops of lemon juice to the cucumber juice.
- Stir until all ingredients are mixed equally.
- Drink fresh and enjoy!


text:
Apple's new iPhone 7 eliminates the standard headphone jack, forcing consumers to use wireless earbuds called AirPods that use Bluetooth technology.
Even though Apple says the new technology will do away with cumbersome wires that constantly tangle, some experts warn that AirPods will deliver low-intensity radiowaves directly into your ear and to your brain, which can have a deadly impact on your health.
"I would be very concerned," said neurosurgeon and natural health expert Dr. Russell Blaylock. "I would never own the newer version for this reason."
"The Bluetooth technology adds significantly to the radiation exposure as it is not only in close approximation of the temporal lobes of the brain, but it remains in the ear for many hours," Blaylock tells Newsmax Health.
The earbuds are in the ears when phone calls begin and end. "It's there when the phone is first activated and then when the call ends, and that's when the greatest amount of radiation exposure occurs."
"Cellphones aren't harmless," says Blaylock, author of The Blaylock Wellness Report. "There is considerable evidence that cell phone radiation damages the brain as well as other tissues and organs."
Earlier this year, the government made the startling admission that cellphones can cause cancer. A study conducted by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), a branch of the National Institutes of Health, found that cellphones increased the risk of two types of tumors — gliomas, a type of cancerous brain tumor, and schwannomas, a rare tumor of the heart.
Numerous studies have previously linked cellphones to cancer. A Swedish study published in the journal Pathophysiology found that people who talked on cellphones over a period of 25 years had triple the risk of developing gliomas compared to those who used the phones for less than a year. Another study found a link between women who carried cellphones in their bras and breast cancer.
Still another study, also published in Pathophysiology stated that brain cancer is only the "tip of the iceberg" because the rest of the body shows effects other than cancers.
Blaylock says that the actual numbers of gliomas caused by cellphones may be much higher because many gliomas are never reported. He also expects to see a dramatic rise in brain tumors in the coming years.
"It may take over 10 years of heavy use to see a dramatic rise, and with younger ages now using cellphones for long periods and actually sleeping on them, we will definitely see a tremendous rise in brain tumors," he says.
The cellphone industry points to other studies that show cellphones are safe. Many of those have been financed by the cellphone industry, says Blaylock: "Most studies were designed by the companies and conducted for too short a time to see statistical changes."
A report published in the journal Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine found that if you keep your cellphone in your shirt or pants pocket, your body can absorb radiation levels that exceed FCC guidelines.
The process for evaluating microwave radiation from phones — which was designed by the cellphone industry and is based on a large man whose brain tissue is supposedly homogenous — underestimates the amounts of radiation being absorbed by many adults.
Blaylock agrees with critics that say the FCC guidelines are flawed. "I do not think they are tough enough in terms of informing the user of the dangers."
Protect yourself by using these strategies:
• If you buy a new iPhone, consider adding an adapter that will allow you to listen with wired headphones and ear buds.
• If you have an older phone, use a headset with cords or put the phone on speaker. The safest headsets have hollow tubes instead of wires, and are similar to stethoscopes.
• Clip a ferrite bead to the cord to reduce exposure.
• Switch ears to avoid continuous exposure to the same side of the head.
• Avoid weak signals. Don't use the phone when the signal is weak, because the phone automatically increases power — and increases your radiation exposure — to boost the signal.
• Minimize exposure at night. Keep your cellphone at least five feet from your head while you sleep.
• Turn off your cellphone when possible.
• Don't let children use cellphones. Children's brains are still developing, and no one knows the damage radiation might cause.
• Limit cell phone use to emergencies.
© 2021 NewsmaxHealth. All rights reserved.

domain: medical


text:
Rule changes led to Bruno acquittal
U.S. Supreme Court action modified statute in case against former state senator
Published 8:47 pm, Saturday, May 17, 2014
A 2010 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that retooled the federal honest services statute was a central factor in last week's acquittal of former state Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno.
Five years ago, under the looser standards that were widely used by prosecutors to convict corporate and public officials since 1988, Bruno was found guilty of federal corruption charges related to the intersection of his private income and government duties.
But the statute as used during his first trial required prosecutors only to prove that Bruno failed to disclose conflicts related to his public office and private business deals, not that he received kickbacks or bribes.
The testimony at Bruno's 2009 trial revealed that Bruno had cashed in on his political stature, reaping nearly $2 million as a consultant and salesman through two private business corporations that were managed largely by his Senate staff. Witnesses said Bruno did little, if any, work for the income.
But the evidence that Bruno failed to disclose the conflicts between his Senate work and private income, which led to his conviction, was not enough under the new standards set by the Supreme Court in another case. The conviction, and Bruno's two-year prison sentence, were thrown out based on the precedent.
Even under the prior standards, at his first trial Bruno was acquitted of the top counts in the indictment, which centered on his receipt of $1.37 million from Wright Investors' Service and $632,116 from an Albany investment banker. Wright, a Connecticut investment firm, won hundreds of millions of dollars of pension investments from New York labor union leaders and fiduciaries who were solicited with Bruno's help.
On an appeal from Bruno, the federal circuit court ruled there was enough evidence to retry Bruno under the new standards, that it was not double jeopardy and that the evidence at his first trial could support a conviction under the new rules requiring a bribery or kickback scheme as part of an honest services fraud conviction.
"Remanding for retrial ... would allow the government the opportunity to muster evidence sufficient to satisfy the new standard," the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals wrote in 2011. "We find that there is sufficient evidence in the record for a reasonable jury to find a quid pro quo ... (and that) the government's evidence would permit a reasonable jury to find that Bruno performed virtually non-existent consulting work for substantial payments."
Despite calls from Bruno supporters that the case should be abandoned, the Justice Department and many observers said there was no justification to do so. "The law changed, but then the 2nd Circuit said essentially in the face of the new law the evidence is there to support the new standard." said Daniel J. French, U.S. Attorney for New York's Northern District from 1999 to 2001. "It's hard for prosecutors to have that kind of reaffirmation by an appellate court and then walk away from a case. This is probably one of those cases that had to be tried."
At his second trial that began May 5, prosecutors now had to prove that Bruno's receipt of hundreds of thousands of dollars from Loudonville businessman Jared E. Abbruzzese was in exchange for official acts Bruno may have performed on Abbruzzese's behalf. The government focused its case on witnesses who acknowledged Bruno apparently did very little for the money he was paid. Prosecutors pushed their case on a theory Bruno was paid not for any consulting or lobbying, which was never documented, but for his political muscle.
"It's a different legal theory," said Paul DerOhannesian, an Albany attorney who attended both trials. "The first theory was concealing a conflict of interest. This time, you're looking at a bribery ... and that is more difficult to prove, as well as the corrupt intent behind it."
DerOhannesian said the government was now obligated to show an "intent" by Bruno to take a payoff, which he said is "a tough thing to do."
Yet it was a standard that defense attorneys across the nation had been clamoring for dating back decades in arguments that prior rules were resulting in unfair convictions.
The Supreme Court agreed. During oral arguments on the honest services law, Justice Antonin Scalia characterized the statute as "a mush of language" from Congress that was "inherently vague" and subject to abuse by overzealous prosecutors.
Now, the government's case was made more difficult by the fact that their evidence was circumstantial and their witnesses composed largely of Bruno's friends, business associates and former Senate staffers.
There was also no witness who would testify Bruno agreed to take money in exchange for any official act. Abbruzzese's testimony at the second trial was more polished, and he denied under questioning from Bruno's attorney that he ever sought to bribe the senator. At the first trial, he acknowledged his "global solution" to pay Bruno $80,000 for a horse the government described as "virtually worthless." Abbruzzese admitted in 2009 the horse deal made up for $80,000 Bruno had been shorted in a consulting deal set up by Abbruzzese, through a wireless communications company in which Abbruzzese had a controlling interest.
The consulting deal was ended by company executives who testified that they did not know what Bruno did for them.
After the federal jury swiftly returned a not-guilty verdict on Friday, E. Stewart Jones, who was Bruno's co-defense attorney with William J. Dreyer, said prosecutors made a fatal mistake by focusing heavily on their theory that Bruno sought to undermine the New York Racing Association's control of three state thoroughbred racetracks in order to help Abbruzzese win the rights to the multibillion-dollar franchise. "It was a fatal flaw in the government's theory of criminality ... to link his (Bruno's) desire to change NYRA to any form of official act that was in response to an Abbruzzese bribe," Jones said. "Horse racing was on the brink of suicide in this state because of NYRA, and Joe Bruno time and time again bailed them out, and he wanted them to be better and he wanted horse racing to be successful. It was an insane theory."
The government never challenged the efficacy of the projects in which they alleged Bruno's legislative decisions crossed paths with his private income.
Rather, they asserted that Bruno used the subtly of those situations, including his dealings with Abbruzzese, to cash in.
"We don't seek people's scalps, we seek justice," U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian said after the verdict. "We felt this was a case that had to be brought."
Hartunian said their office cast aside criticisms from some observers who said Bruno should not have been prosecuted because his age, health, popularity or the things he did as a Senate leader and political icon in the Capital Region.
"To those supporters of Mr. Bruno who believe that the facts were insufficient to bring him to trial, I say this: Two grand juries heard the evidence and voted to bring the charges," said Hartunian, who was an assistant U.S. Attorney during Bruno's first trial. "A jury found the defendant guilty on these counts in the first trial in 2009, albeit using a conflict-of-interest standard."
The defense attorneys built their case largely through the cross-examination of government witnesses, including many who remain loyal Bruno supporters. They also adopted a strategy to concede openly that Abbruzzese put Bruno on his payroll because of the swagger he brought as one of New York's three most powerful lawmakers.
"The value of Joe Bruno was not for the government to decide, but it was for Jerry Abbruzzese to decide," Jones said. "This was not the only consulting job he had. The fact he accomplished so much in one phase of his life (as a senator) did not preclude him from taking that and using it in other phases of his life."
Under the old standards for honest services fraud, Jones said, Bruno's conviction may have stood.
"That law was so loosely structured that virtually anybody charged with that law was going to be convicted; it was virtually indefensible," Jones said.
With Friday's acquittal, Bruno's legacy may remain tarnished by a federal investigation and prosecution that played out over a decade. Still, his status as one of the region's most popular lawmakers will remain. His name is etched on everything from a baseball stadium to the international airport that displays his bust.
The prosecution of Bruno stemmed from an aggressive FBI investigation that dogged the rags-to-riches political figure in his final years at the helm of the Republican- controlled state Senate from 1995 until his abrupt resignation in 2008, as the probe intensified.
The two criminal trials provided an unprecedented look inside New York's weak ethics rules, revealing the blurred lines between private business dealings and political duties. For Bruno, the testimony also showed that Senate lawyers and staffers routinely worked on Bruno's private business matters, handling everything from his Christmas shopping to the negotiation of his consulting contracts.
firstname.lastname@example.org • 518-454-5547 • @blyonswriter


text:
Inspiration is hard to come by. Especially when the noise level hits high decibels.
But for Tom Morkes, an Iraq war veteran, the staggering noise and chaos on battlefield led him to some inspiring lessons which other people can draw upon. In his article 'What war taught me about writing', he shared writing tips he brought back from war - quite an unlikely place.
Tom likened writing to being vulnerable like when you are 'outside the wire' i.e. outside your comfort zone where you are exposed to danger. He wrote: 'When you write and publish, whether it's a blog post once a day or a book once a decade, you expose yourself to naysayers and critics. When you're doing your best work, your most authentic work, it leaves you vulnerable.'
But in combat zone just like in writing, if he did not go 'outside the wire' and make himself vulnerable, people who needed his support, people that matter, would be deprived. Having to go out on battlefield on a daily basis, he and his team had to take risks and from the daily risk-taking lessons they learned, they increased their success rate in case something bad were to happen.
Likewise in writing, we have to take risks and push our self to the limit to create something useful regardless of the critics. Tom advised: "Don't worry about the naysayers, critics whatever. Write for the people that matter."
Read Toms' full article here:
Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone on board flight MH370 and their families and friends.
pic credit: www.thestar.com.my


text:
A Taste of Greece: Spanakopita Spinach Pie
Create a storytelling style description of this delightful Greek dish that will transport you straight to the streets of Athens. Imagine the warm Mediterranean sun on your skin as you savor each bite of this Spanakopita Spinach Pie. This classic Greek recipe is a perfect blend of crispy phyllo pastry and a savory spinach and feta filling.
- 2 cups of fresh spinach, chopped
- 1 cup of feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/2 cup of ricotta cheese
- 1/4 cup of fresh dill, chopped
- 1/4 cup of fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup of green onions, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 package of phyllo pastry sheets
- 1/2 cup of melted butter
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a baking dish.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped spinach, crumbled feta cheese, ricotta cheese, fresh dill, fresh parsley, green onions, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Layer 2 sheets of phyllo pastry in the baking dish, brushing each sheet with melted butter.
- Add a generous scoop of the spinach and cheese mixture on top of the phyllo pastry.
- Repeat the layering process, adding more phyllo sheets and spinach mixture until all the ingredients are used, finishing with a layer of phyllo sheets on top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes or until the pie is golden brown and crispy.
- Allow it to cool for a few minutes, then slice and serve. Enjoy your homemade Spanakopita Spinach Pie!
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 6 servings
Indulge in the flavors of Greece with this Spanakopita Spinach Pie. The crisp layers of phyllo pastry envelop a deliciously savory filling of spinach, feta cheese, and aromatic herbs. Whether served as an appetizer or a main course, this Greek classic is sure to please your taste buds and transport you to the Mediterranean.
Nutritional Information (per serving): Calories: 320 | Fat: 20g | Carbohydrates: 25g | Fiber: 2g | Protein: 10g
Create a story conclusion that captures the essence of this delightful Greek recipe. Share your personal experience of enjoying this Spanakopita Spinach Pie with friends and family, and how it brings the flavors of Greece to your table. Whether it’s a special occasion or a cozy family dinner, this dish is a reminder of the rich culinary traditions of Greece.


text:
40 CFR 63.1588 - How do Group 1 and Group 2 POTW treatment plants demonstrate compliance?
(a) If you are complying with § 63.1586(b) by using covers, you must conduct the following inspections:
(1) You must visually check the cover and its closure devices for defects that could result in air emissions. Defects include, but are not limited to, visible cracks, holes, or gaps in the roof sections or between the roof and the supporting wall; broken, cracked, or otherwise damaged seals or gaskets on closure devices; and broken or missing hatches, access covers, caps, or other closure devices.
(2) You must perform an initial visual inspection within 60 calendar days of becoming subject to this NESHAP and perform follow-up inspections at least once per year, thereafter.
(3) In the event that you find a defect on a cover on a treatment unit in use, you must repair the defect within 45 calendar days. If you cannot repair within 45 calendar days, you must notify the EPA or the delegated authority immediately and report the reason for the delay and the date you expect to complete the repair. If you find a defect on a cover on a treatment unit that is not in service, you must repair the defect prior to putting the treatment unit back in wastewater service.
(c) To comply with the HAP fraction emitted standard specified in § 63.1586(c), you must develop, to the satisfaction of the Administrator, an Inspection and Monitoring Plan. This Inspection and Monitoring Plan must include, at a minimum, the following:
(1) A method to determine the influent HAP mass loading, i.e., the annual mass quantity for each HAP entering the wastewater treatment plant.
(2) A method to determine your POTW treatment plant's annual HAP emissions for all units up to, but not including, the secondary influent pumping station or the secondary treatment units. The method you use to determine your HAP emissions, such as modeling or direct source measurement, must:
(ii) Account for all factors affecting emissions from your POTW treatment plant including, but not limited to, emissions from wastewater treatment units; emissions resulting from inspection, maintenance, and repair activities; fluctuations (e.g., daily, monthly, annual, seasonal) in your influent wastewater HAP concentrations; annual industrial loading; performance of control devices; or any other factors that could affect your annual HAP emissions; and
(iii) Include documentation that the values and sources of all data, operating conditions, assumptions, etc., used in your method result in an accurate estimation of annual emissions from your POTW treatment plant.
(3) A method to demonstrate that your POTW treatment plant meets the HAP fraction emitted standard specified in § 63.1586(c), i.e., the sum of all HAP emissions from paragraph (c)(2) of this section divided by the sum of all HAP mass loadings from paragraph (c)(1) of this section results in a fraction emitted of 0.014 or less to demonstrate compliance with § 63.1586(c). The Inspection and Monitoring Plan must require, at a minimum, that you perform the calculations shown in paragraphs (c)(3)(i) through (viii) of this section within 90 days of the end of each month. This calculation shall demonstrate that your annual rolling average of the HAP fraction emitted is 0.014 or less when demonstrating compliance with § 63.1586(c).
(iii) Using the information in paragraphs (c)(3)(i) and (ii) of this section, determine a total annual flow-weighted loading in pounds per day (lbs/day) of each HAP entering your POTW treatment plant;
(iv) Sum up the values for each individual HAP loading in paragraph (c)(3)(iii) of this section and determine a total annual flow-weighted loading value (lbs/day) for all HAP entering your POTW treatment plant for the current month;
(v) Based on the current month's information in paragraph (c)(3)(iii) of this section along with source testing and emission modeling, for each HAP, determine the annual emissions (lbs/day) from all wastewater units up to, but not including, secondary treatment units;
(vi) Sum up the values in paragraph (c)(3)(v) of this section and calculate the total annual emissions value for the month for all HAP from all wastewater treatment units up to, but not including, secondary treatment units;
(vii) Calculate the HAP fraction emitted value for the month, using Equation 1 of this section as follows:
(viii) Average the HAP fraction emitted value for the month determined in paragraph (c)(3)(vii) of this section, with the values determined for the previous 11 months, to calculate an annual rolling average of the HAP fraction emitted.
(4) A method to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Administrator, that your POTW treatment plant is in continuous compliance with the requirements of § 63.1586(c). Continuous compliance means that your emissions, when averaged over the course of a year, do not exceed the level of emissions that allows your POTW to comply with § 63.1586(c). For example, you may identify a parameter(s) that you can monitor that assures your emissions, when averaged over the entire year, will meet the requirements in § 63.1586(c). Some example parameters that may be considered for monitoring include your wastewater influent HAP concentration and flow, industrial loading from your permitted industrial users, and your control device performance criteria. Where emission reductions are due to proper operation of equipment, work practices, or other operational procedures, your demonstration must specify the frequency of inspections and the number of days to completion of repairs.

domain: law


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I was afraid of having kids, when my spouse gets so stressed with kids that she stops being fun, and I start to look for ways and reasons to get out of the house.
4. The Cliff of Growing Apart (empty nesters)
I was afraid that after the kids all started going to school I would be left with a total stranger to call my spouse.
While I was single, married people would often encourage me to get married the same way they might have tried to persuade me to eat caviar: they would tell me it was an expensive, acquired taste and hint that they didn't want to be the only suckers who had tried it.
There was always a smack of, "Oh man, I miss the chocolate cake of being single. Live it up while you can..."
Conversations like these always left me unsure what to expect of marriage.
Should I choose to stay single and avoid the regret and bitterness or should I choose to get married and join the band of married men stealing from their rich past to give memories to their poor present?
Then I met my soon-to-be wife and the choice seemed obvious - neither.
After I met Annie, I started noticing a different perspective on marriage that I had missed before. You see, aside from the many who freely offered up dating advice emphasizing the nightmares of marriage, there are those who quietly lived out happy lives.
They have adventures with each other, they plan fun activities with their kids, they still laugh at each other's jokes, they truly enjoy spending time together, they disagree with respect ... they have what I realized is real love.
It is a choice to find the positive in marriage and not let the fears leave our relationship on the cliffhanger of a bright future.
And while we don't always make the right choices - the key is always knowing that it is our choice.
Our adopted grandma and dear friend gave us marriage advice when we got engaged,"You make a choice to marry someone and then choose every day to make it the right choice."
I'm grateful for the choice we have to avoid the "cliffs" of marriage and I hope and pray that we can each make those choices daily to stay positive about finding a spouse and/or stay grateful for having one.
Editor's note: This article was published on Zack Oates' website, Zack's Bowl of Oates. It has been republished here with permission.
Zack Oates is an entrepreneur, husband, father, hot tubber, and author (but not in that order, necessarily). He went on over 1,000 dates before he met his wife — and wrote a book to help people do it in less and enjoy it more, "Dating Never Works ... Until it Does." In addition to earning his MBA, he just started his 7th business, was voted Top 100 Entrepreneurs, rang the NASDAQ bell, and has been featured in numerous major news publications (Wall Street Journal, NYTimes, Wired Magazine, Mashable, etc.) for his ventures. He also was a management consultant for Fortune 100 companies and international nonprofits for 3 years. In addition, he started an international nonprofit working with victims of domestic violence. He has written hundreds of dating, relationship and inspirational posts at BowlofOates.com. He has been to 40 countries, but is more proud of going to over 100 hot tubs.


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Senate Majority, Minority leaders resign
Senators Yahaya Abdullahi and Enyinnaya Abaribe have formally resigned from their positions as Senate Majority and Minority Leaders, respectively.
At the resumption of plenary, Senate President Ahmad Lawan read their respective resignation letters.
Following their defection from the party platforms on which they were elected as senators, the two top officers resigned.
While Abdullahi switched from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People Democratic Party (PDP), Abaribe switched from PDP to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
“Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe decamped from the PDP to the APGA,” Lawan said.
In addition, he has resigned as the Minority Leader in this chamber.”
Senator Yahaya Abdullahi also stated in his resignation letter that he left the APC due to a lack of internal democracy within the party.
“Politics is a local affair.
I can’t continue working for the federal government while my people live in abject poverty.
“I switched to the PDP after failing to get justice in the APC,” Senator Abdullahi said.
Senator Adamu Aliero’s (Kebbi Central) letter announcing his defection from the APC to the PDP was also read on the Senate floor.
That is the latest Naija News Today on Senate Majority, Minority leaders resign


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Street closures for weekend of June 1
Turcot Interchange closures for the weekend of June 1, 2018
In addition to the construction taking place in and around Montreal on the first weekend in June, dozens of streets will be off limits to drivers for the Tour de l'Ile on Sunday and on Friday night for Tour La Nuit.
This weekend also marks the beginning of the closure to through traffic along Camillien Houde for the summer.
The now-standard closures will take place in the Turcot Interchange from midnight Friday until 5 a.m. Monday.
- Highway 15 North to Highway 20 West
- Highway 15 South to Highway 20 West
- Highway 15 South to Route 136 East
- Highway 20 East to Highway 15 North
- Highway 20 East to Route 136 East
- Route 136 West will be closed between Exit 5 and the Pullman St. entrance to Highway 20 West
Notre Dame St. underneath the elevated sections of the interchange will be closed between Monk Blvd. and Cote Saint Paul Rd.
The eastbound lanes of Highway 10 will be closed immediately after the Champlain Bridge.
Drivers heading to the South Shore will be forced to use Exit 53 in order to take Highway 15/Route 132 from 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday.
Those coming from Highway 15/Route 132 will not be able to enter Highway 10.
The Montreal-bound lanes of Highway 25 will be closed from 11 p.m. Friday June 1 until 5 a.m. Monday June 4.
Drivers will be forced off the highway at Exit 90 and so will not be able to use the tunnel.
Those heading to Ile Charron will be able to access it via Marie Victorin Blvd.
Many roads will be closed on Friday evening for Tour La Nuit, and on Sunday for the Tour de l'Ile.
Tens of thousands of cyclists will be riding on 25 and 50 km loops that start at Jeanne Mance park -- and officials say those taking the Jacques Cartier Bridge may face delays.

domain: travel


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Rugby Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of John MacMillan as the manager of the British Columbia Canadian Rugby Championship Team (CRC).
John started his rugby career with the Pacific Pride program in 1998, where he stayed for seven years. In parallel with Pacific Pride, he was the Assistant Coach for the Canadian team from 2000-2003, including the World Cup in Australia.
“I have been busy with work and family for the last little bit. I have been doing mostly age grade based stuff and now I am excited to be stepping back into the high performance stuff,” stated John. “It’s our job to try and excite the players and to put forward a program that people will really want to be a part of.”
Any interested players that have their focus on rugby should make themselves available to participate in this program.
“We are trying to find like minded people who will put in a solid commitment. They must be willing to commit three hours a day every day”
Over the last couple of years, John has had a chance to work with a number of the young players within British Columbia. Many of these young athletes are now entering their twenties and John will be looking for them to put their hands up and challenge for this program.
“I have met and worked with many of the young players in the province over the last couple of years and there is some good promise here.”
Canadian National Team, Head Coach Kieran Crowley is pleased with John’s commitment to Rugby within British Columbia.
“It is great to see John back involved with elite rugby.” Stated Crowley “The CRC is essential in the development of national team athletes. It is the pathway to the international arena”
Match Schedule For the British Columbia CRC team will be announced shortly.
John is pleased to hear from anybody interested in being involved with the program and can be contacted at JMacmillan@pacificsport.com


Prolific as ever, Joe filled HTP's 2003 gap year with a new solo album. "JLT" revealed a return to a more overt AOR style after the darker "Slam". The album was recorded by a cast of thousands rather than the more settled band from the previous album.
That said, the main players were still present and correct, and many familiar names took part. Keyboards were mainly handled by ex-Blacknore's Night man Carmine Giglio, although Paul Morris contributed on one track. Bass duties were divided between Eric Czar and Greg Smith, and John O'Reilly drummed throughout. Joe Bonamassa guested on three tracks, while long time associate Karl Cochran would become JLT's right-hand man throughout the decade. Main co-writer on the album was Chris Marksbury, who had come into the fold after Joe had sung a commercial which he'd written. Commercials were just another facet of Joe's very busy schedule. he was also involved in the Voices Of Classic Rock project, which gathered together veterans of 1970s-80s acts such as Glenn Hughes and Jimi Jamison (who had been asked to join Deep Purple in 1989). In 2003-2005 Joe also managed to sing sessions for Brazen Abbot (four tracks on both "Guilty As SIn" and "My Resurrection"), and on tribute albums for Rainbow and Metallica.
Following on from HTP's second and final tour in 2004, Joe was straight back into the recording studio for his next solo album. "The Usual Suspects" was released in February 2005. Musicians included Trans Siberian Orchestra bassist David Zablidowsky. Guitarists Karl Cochran and Akira Kajiyama contributed, with Joe reciprocating by singing two tracks on Karl Cochran's Voodooland project "Give Me Air" (Bob Daisley played bass) and in 2006 released a jointly credited album with Kajiyama called "Fire Without Flame".
Joe played shows throughout 2005/2006, mainly in the New Jersey area, with a band comprising Karl Cochran on guitar, Greg Smith on bass, Al Fritsch on keyboards (another contributor to the Voodooland album), and TC Tolliver (ex Plasmatics) on drums. The ad hoc nature of the shows was reflected in the rotating line-ups, with other musicians, such as Sandy Gennaro (drums) and Bruce Terkildsen (bass) taking part. As Turner pointed out at the time: "The band can vary a lot. Whenever I can, I try and include a couple of the "usual suspects" like Karl Cochran and Greg Smith...guys who have played with me on record and live before." Turner and Cochran also found time to prepare music for another of Joe's side-projects, Sunstorm.
The Sunstorm studio project was instigated by Serafino Perugino of Frontiers Records. He suggested that Joe should revisit tracks originally written for the abortive follow-up to his 1985 "Rescue You" album. Joe had previously considered re-recording the material, and in the end chose to re-make three tracks for "Sunstorm". The album also featured writing contributions from ex-Survivor singer Jim Peterik. It was released in September 2006 and took a straightforward 1980s AOR path which went down well with fans of the genre.
The producer was Pink Cream 69's Dennis Ward, who also handled bass duties, and gathered together musicians for the album. They included his Pink Cream 69 band mate Uwe Rietenaur on guitar. A second Sunstorm album "House Of Dreams" followed in April 2009, again featuring a couple of tracks written and performed by Joe in the 1980s, alongside songs written by the likes of Jim Peterik, Desmond Child and Russ Ballard. Dennis Ward was again at the helm. The changes to the studio band was the inclusion of Gunter Werno from German prog-rock band Vanden Plas and guitarist Thomas Koehne. A third album was released in 2012. which visits Joe's 1980's vocal sessions, including newly recorded versions of tracks which originaly appeared on albums by Cher and Michael Bolton. Dennis Ward was once again at the helm as producer.
Big Noize was launched in late 2006 as a live "supergroup" project. With Joe fronting a band containing guitarist Carlos Cavazo (Quiet Riot), drummer Vinny Appice (Dio / Black Sabbath), bassist Phil Soussan (Ozzy Osbourne / Billy Idol) and Joe's long-time associate keyboard player Gary Corbett.
An early press release stated that "the repertoire will feature well-known songs from each artist's catalogue" which has held true, although the band did write and record download-only track "Battlefields" before a September 2008 tour of Iraq and Kuwait. By that time ex-AC/DC / Dio drummer Simon Wright had stepped in in place of Appice, while the live keyboards slot was taken by session player Erik Norlander. The Iraq visit received some publicity, and since then Big Noize have undertaken sporadic live work, including a European tour in 2009. They last played live in 2011. No further shows are planned.
In 2006 Joe Lynn Turner and Karl Cochran began work on what is still Joe's most recent solo album. "Second Hand Life" appeared in April 2007, and featured two tracks which had been written specifically for Deep Purple Mk5's abortive follow-up to "Slaves & Masters". "Stroke Of Midnight" (credited to Turner, Blackmore, Glover, Peterik) became "One Man's Meat" on "The Battle Rages On", while the title track was never released by Purple. The studio band included latterday Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Michael Cartellone, and Joe long-time producer and writing partner Bob Held on bass. Around the same time Joe also recorded a duet of Rainbow's "Street Of Dreams" with Candice Night, for Blackmore's Night's "Village Lanterne" album.
On 30 September 2007 a live show was recorded at the United Forces of Rock festival in Germany. This was released in October as "Joe Lynn Turner Live In Germany", his first solo live album. In keeping with the recent pattern of Joe's career, the album not only featured two ex-Rainbow and two ex-Blackmore's Night members, but was also weighted heavily in favour of Rainbow tracks - which made up nine of the thirteen selections. Deep Purple's "Burn" was also included. On later 2007 shows Nena's bassist Paul Dileo filled in for Greg Smith, although Smith was back on board for Joe's next side project, Over The Rainbow.
With Ritchie Blackmore not about to take part in a Rainbow reunion, Over The Rainbow was conceived as the next best thing. With Ritchie's blessing, his son Jurgen took the guitar spot, and the band were completed by a collection of ex-Rainbow members. The final line-up was announced in January 2009, and a debut tour of the former USSR kicked off in February.
Joe Lynn Turner had been increasingly exploring is musical past, and indeed the bulk of the set lists were made up of tracks recorded and played live during his tenure with Rainbow. However the band also tackled older tracks such as "Tarot Woman", which had never been performed live by any line-up of Rainbow. Much of the interest lay with Tony Carey's involvement, and it was something of a shame when he quit the group in June 2009. Illness had already lead to Paul Morris being called in to deputise for a show in Sweden, but before that appearance took place Carey had decided to leave permanently, citing dissatisfaction with the management.
With Paul Morris onboard the line-up became more weighted towards latter day Rainbow, although they continue to play tracks spanning the band's lifetime, such as "Man On The Silver Mountain" and "Kill The King".
Joe's touring schedule was relentless, both Over The Rainbow and solo. He toured Brazil in 2009 and 2010 with pick-up bands put together by and including specialist tour organisers Garry King (drums) and Andy Robbins (bass). Further live work came in the shape of more Rainbow tribute shows: Joe toured Japan during September 2010 with Graham Bonnet and Doogie White as "The Voices of Rainbow". As of 2012 no more Over The Rainbow shows are on the cards.
.... Joe Lynn Turner, solo album discography 2003-2007 ....
.... Other notable albums 2004-2012 ....


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This will be a short post today. We are on a very old computer and could be booted out at any time….no wifi here to use the ipad. And maybe that’s a good thing as we had the most awesome hike today. Up 2200 metres on the Highmoor in uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site – some of it by car then a 3 hour hike in and out – unbelievable sites and views. We will try to get some pictures up as soon as we have wifi again. We are staying at the Cleopatra Mountain Lodge in the foothills of Cleopatra Mountain – so named because there is a profile naturally carved out of the rock face that soldiers many years back in the Boer Wars thought looked like Cleopatra – or so the story goes.
The Lodge is famed for its food and for its hundreds of types of birds – many nesting on the property. There are two tribes of baboons in the mountains just north of here. They stay away but can be sighted from the lodge. We were watched over by an eland while hiking on the moor. We could see his/her profile at the top of the hill.
It is wonderfully relaxing. We are still not sleeping really well with the 7 hour time change – waking for 3-4 hours in the night and then sleeping very well in early morning – so relaxing is very good – as is physical exercise. We have a rental car from Durban airport where we flew into yesterday from Joberg, and then drove up into the mountains. Gord did wonderfully well with left hand steering and on the “wrong” side of the road.


Country On The Coast Day 3 - Royal South
In Dr Who terms the last time we saw Royal South they were mid regeneration, where you could still see the original faces of Glen Mitchell and Sara Beth with their respective solo material forming the bulk of proceedings and the Royal South persona with Vickie Vaughan, starting to appear as their new songs started to be liberally interspersed throughout the set. With their respective back catalogues full of hit material it was always going to be difficult transition to make but one that will gradually have to happen to allow Royal South to become a living breathing entity.
Opening with their take on Phil Vasser’s “I'm Alright”, they immediately appeared to be more of a trio, with SaraBeth taking the lead but with Glen and Vikki playing a key part on backing vocals. Vicky in a white T shirt, bandana, and jeans, as ever dwarfed by her double bass, while Glen sported a gray jacket and jeans with SaraBeth with her long blonde hair was sporting a fetching green jacket.
SaraBeth centre stage, cannot help but attract attention but during “Hate Is Strong But Love Is Stronger” Glen and Vicky’s contributions gave this the real feel of a band. They introduced the festival first to the wonders of “Holla ‘n’ swalla” before then showing them “Cry Cry” with Glen chipping with some notable guitar work, with the song sounding more worked up than I remember it previously.
Feeling the urge for a singalong, Glen changed the set list and dropped his voice a bit for a glorious take on Kenny Rogers "The Gambler", it was a good move and before the first verse was out there was clapping and singing from the crowd at the Gaiety Bar. The first Royal South release albeit that it originally came out under SaraBeth’s name was “Something About It” retains something special, especially when they join as three and power out the chorus. There was an outing for the SaraBeth song “Nowhere with You” but it now definitely feels to be more of a Royal South song, with the three way harmonies giving it a new lease of life.
Glen opened the next song, a cover of Dixie Chicks “Earl” with some great guitar work, SaraBeth may take the lead vocals but again Vicky and Glen made this a complete ensemble piece, Vickie sporting a permanent smile as she power plucked while providing backing vocals. Her moment to shine in the sun was to come during her cover of Patsy Cline’s “I Fall To Pieces”, with her vocals reverberating around the Gaiety room while Glen adding some entirely apt guitar lines and SaraBeth adding percussion on shakers.
“You Rock My Rodeo” also now seems more of a Royal South song than a SaraBeth one, and who’d have imagined Glen as the “Rhinestone Cowboy”, but he was really powering out the vocals in an impressive manner, The new Royal South sassy single “Sh Don’t Say A Thing” went down a storm and the set closed with a final well known song, strangely the first outing of the weekend for “Take Me Home Country Roads” given that it is such a guaranteed crowd pleaser – All in all a well judged and well delivered set from Royal South.
Looks like that regeneration is just about complete.


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The hexadecimal color code #c1eaa1 is a light shade of green. In the RGB color model #c1eaa1 is comprised of 75.69% red, 91.76% green and 63.14% blue. In the HSL color space #c1eaa1 has a hue of 94° (degrees), 63% saturation and 77% lightness. This color has an approximate wavelength of 559.87 nm.
Art is the stored honey of the human soul.

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The position of the artist is humble. He is essentially a channel.

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No great artist ever sees things as they really are. If he did, he would cease to be an artist.

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Nintendo just recently opened up its E3 2016 Press Site. This site is overtaken with a Zelda theme, which gets a lot of Zelda fans hyped. It makes sense that Nintendo splashed on a Zelda theme to cover their site, since recent news has told us that Zelda will be the main focus of Nintendo’s E3 this year.
Upon entering the site, the above photo pops up. Then it cuts to the beginning of the trailer from E3 2014, where link just sits on Epona in an open field with his hood up. You can hear Epona neigh from time to time and there’s a faint sound of birds chirping in the background.
What’s most interesting, however, is this symbol. Most Zelda fans know this as the Sheikah eye symbol, which has made an appearance all throughout the series. What’s most peculiar is what’s surrounding the eye, and the light blue color of the symbol. This is most definitely in direct reference to the energy in the arrow that we saw Link use in the original trailer. Perhaps this game will have a strong tie to the Sheikah tribe! I guess we’ll just have to wait and see where this E3 will take us!