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[Cite as Commonwealth v. Riley, Thacher's Crim. Cas. 471 (Mass. 1837). NOTE: This decision concerns self-defense with a knife. To illustrate the common law right to self-defense, the court quotes Sir Michael Foster, Judge of the Court of Kings Bench and Recorder of Bristol: "In the case of justifiable self-defence, the injured party may repel force by force in defence of his person, habitation, or property, against one who manifestly intendeth and endeavors by violence or surprise, to commit a known felony upon either. It is justly considered that the right in such case, is founded in the law of nature, and is not, nor can be superseded by any law of society. There being at the time no protection from society, the individual is remitted for protection to the law of nature." (P. 474-475 quoting M. Foster, Crown Cases 273-74 (London 1776)).]
JANUARY TERM, 1837.
Where, in case of a mutual conflict between two persons, one of them declines any further combat, and retreats as far as he can with safety, and then, through necessity and to avoid immediate death, kills his adversary; it is justifiable homicide.
Where, in an affray, A. knocked down and beat B., and C., a bystander, believing that the life of B. was in danger, gave him a knife to defend himself, to prevent further mischief; it was held that C. was justified in giving B. the knife.
Parker, for the commonwealth.
Sprague and Robbins, for the defendants.
Thacher, J. The defendants are on trial for the offence of having killed one James McNally, in this city, on the 7th day of November last. It is denominated in law, manslaughter, which offence consists in the felonious and wilful, or voluntary killing of another, without malice aforethought, which would make the killing murder, but without necessity to justify the deed, or accident to excuse it. It is a case in which the public (p.472)justice is interested; a fellow-being has been suddenly, and by an act of violence, deprived of life; and it concerns the whole community to make solemn inquiry into the transaction, and to punish the bloody actors, if they have violated the law. Both these defendants are on trial for this offence, and it is for you to investigate their respective share in the transaction, and to pass on the case of each as though they were severally on trial; one may be guilty, and not the other, and both may be innocent.
The government must satisfy you that James McNally is dead, and that he came to his death in the manner which is charged in the indictment, before you can call on the defendants for their defence. That McNally is dead is clearly proved and not denied; but that Riley killed McNally, is left to be inferred from the fact, that they were engaged in a conflict in the street, Riley being at the time armed with a knife, and it appeared immediately afterwards, that McNally had received a mortal wound in the abdomen, which, on the following day, terminated his life. But the evidence stops at a most interesting stage of the transaction. We are apprized of facts to this extent only:--After McNally had twice knocked Riley down in the street, and the latter had received from Stewart the knife, he passed from the street towards the sidewalk, followed by McNally. But while McNally followed Riley, and before he had reached him, Stewart begged McNally to go home. What was McNally's reply does not appear; for the witness says, that McNally said something, which he did not hear, but ran to call the watch; and when he returned shortly after, the affray was over. You will naturally inquire, and be desirous to know what occurred between these men on the sidewalk. Did McNally press upon Riley and knock him down? Did Riley try to escape from his attack? Did he retreat to the wall? or was the attack so sudden and violent, and the danger so imminent, that no time was left for retreat? Did both or either fall, and was the wound in the abdomen the effect of accident or design? All these questions are important, and calculated materially (p.473)to influence your minds. If the evidence has left this point in doubt, so that you cannot Conscientiously say, that you believe that Riley voluntarily inflicted that mortal wound upon the deceased, you must pronounce a verdict of acquittal for both defendants. The learned counsel on both sides have argued the case, as though you would come to the conclusion, that this mortal wound was voluntarily inflicted by Riley. If that should be your conclusion, then the question will be, whether it was a justifiable or an excusable act on his part. It is wholly immaterial from whom the facts come, whether from witnesses for the government, or for the defendants. But you must first ascertain the facts, and then judge of them according to the law.
The parties had been amusing themselves at a game of cards, during which, something had occurred which gave offence to McNally; and when he first left the house, and was at the gate, he threatened to flog both Riley and Stewart. He went back into the house, and on his return to the gate, he repeated his threats. Stewart came out and said to him, "surely you will not think it worth while to whip so small a man as me." Soon after Riley came, and stepping to McNally, who stood opposite the gate, on the sidewalk, struck him, and immediately ran off across the street, and around a railing in front, on Bedford street. Stewart then interfered, and said to McNally, "go home McNally, and forgive Riley; he will not think of it in the morning." McNally replied, "the blow had no more effect on him than a blast of wind." Seeing Riley standing by the railing, he pursued him, and Riley ran some distance before McNally caught him. But Riley dodged him, and ran back to the witness, who still stood at the gate. McNally followed, and knocked him down, near to the sidewalk; and then it was, while Riley lay on the ground, and McNally was over him, that the witness says, "he saw McNally's foot going." Riley got up, and, saying it was too bad, walked off towards the middle of the street, when McNally followed, and knocked him down a (p.474)second time. When Riley arose, Stewart went to him, and gave him a knife, and told him "to use his pleasure with it." This was done openly, and in presence of all. But Riley still went off towards the sidewalk, and McNally followed him. The witness says, that both before and after Riley had received the knife, he heard Stewart beg McNally, "for God's sake to go home." During the whole affray, he says, nothing led him to suppose that Riley and Stewart, or either of them, wanted to fight with McNally; and that, with the exception of the blow at the gate, the fight was all on the part of McNally. The witness saw no signs of anger and vengeance in Riley or Stewart; but, he says he expected, if McNally should again strike Riley, he might be tempted to defend himself with the knife, although he did not think that Riley meant to kill McNally. He therefore ran for the watch to prevent further mischief.
It was under these circumstances that the wound was given by Riley to McNally; and if it was done to defend his own life, and to save himself from great bodily harm, it was within the principles of self-defence, and justifiable in law. What is deemed in law the right of self-defence, is proper to be known by you. The principles are the result of long experience and careful consideration of wise men. The law trusts nothing to rash discretion; but requires her ministers, in all cases, to regard former precedents, made by judicial tribunals after mature deliberation. There are two kinds of self-defence; the one which is justifiable, and perfectly innocent and excusable; the other, which is in some measure blamable, and barely excusable. All the writers agree, says Sir Michael Foster, that there are cases in which a man may, without retreating, oppose force to force, even to the death. They all agree, also, that there are cases, in which the defendant cannot avail himself of the plea of self-defence, without showing that he retreated as far as he could with safety, and then, merely for the preservation of his own life, killed the assailant. A homicide committed under these circumstances is excusable, notwithstanding there may (p.475)have been some fault in the defendant. In the case of justifiable self-defence, the injured party may repel force by force in defence of his person, habitation, or property, against one who manifestly intendeth and endeavors by violence or surprise, to commit a known felony upon either. It is justly considered that the right in such case, is founded in the law of nature, and is not, nor can be superseded by any law of society. There being at the time no protection from society, the individual is remitted for protection to the law of nature.
Another principle of law is worthy of your notice at this time. Where a known felony is attempted upon the person, be it to rob or murder, the party assaulted may repel force by force; and even his servant then attendant on him, or any other person present, may interfere to prevent mischief; and if death ensue, the party so interposing will be justified. In such case, it is said nature and social duty cooperate. There is a species of self-defence known to the law, which, though involving fault to a certain extent, is yet excusable. The killing in such case is voluntary, the party having the intention to kill, or to do some great bodily harm at the time the death happened at least, but to have done it for the preservation of his own life. It arises from a sudden casual affray commenced and carried on in the heat of blood; and supposes that the person when engaged in such sudden affray, quits the combat before the mortal wound is given, and retreats or flies as far as he can with safety; and then, urged by mere necessity, kills his adversary for the preservation of his own life. This last supposed case borders very nearly upon manslaughter; and in fact and experience, the boundaries are in some instances scarcely perceivable; but in consideration of law they have been fixed. In both cases, it is supposed that passion has kindled on each side, and that blows have passed between the parties; but in the case of manslaughter, it is either presumed that the combat on both sides has continued to the time the mortal stroke was given, or that the party giving the stroke was not at that time in imminent (p.476)danger. He therefore, in the case of a mutual conflict, who would excuse himself upon the ground of self-defence, must show, that before a mortal stroke was given, he had declined any farther combat, and retreated as far as he could with safety; and also, that he killed his adversary through mere necessity, and to avoid his own immediate death. If he fails in either of these circumstances, he will incur the penalty of manslaughter.
These principles are drawn from writers of the highest authority, and it belongs to you to apply them so far as they are applicable to the present case. Was it a mutual combat, or were the violent passion and the fight altogether on the side of McNally? Did he pursue Riley with a vengeful spirit? Did he use such force and violence, as made Riley believe, that his life was in danger, or that he was likely to sustain great bodily harm? In this connection you have a right to consider the relative size and strength of the parties and their dispositions and character, as they have been proved on this trial. If you believe, that when McNally had knocked Riley down, he stamped upon him with his foot, or kicked him in a vital part, of which there is some evidence in the testimony of James Devenny, who saw the whole transaction, and in marks seen three days afterwards by Dr. Flint, on Riley's person; I will not undertake to limit his right to defend himself to his own feeble hand; but I consider that he might well defend himself with the knife which he received from Stewart. Had McNally taken the life of Riley, it would have been manslaughter; for, although Riley struck him at the gate, he immediately ran off, and there was no necessity for McNally to pursue him, however much his passions may have been roused by the affront. If Stewart believed at the time, that McNally intended to kill Riley, he had a right to interfere to prevent further mischief, and to give to Riley a weapon which was necessary for his defence.
But of all these facts and circumstances, you must judge. You represent the people, and the justice of the country, and (p.477)you are bound by a solemn oath to pronounce a true verdict. There has been in this case as much testimony in favor of the mild and peaceable disposition of both the defendants, and of their general character for meekness and forbearance under provocations, as is ever to be expected in a court of justice. Merchants and citizens of the best character have attended to testify in their favor, in this hour of their peril; but if the government has made out a case of wilful and felonious killing to your satisfaction, against either or both of these defendants, you must find them guilty accordingly, notwithstanding their former good characters. But, if after a deliberate review of all the circumstances of the case, it remains a doubt in your minds, whether they are guilty or innocent, the law permits you to throw the evidence of their good character into the favorable scale, and it is to weigh on the side of mercy. Still, however, if you believe that Riley used the knife when his life was not in danger, and when he had no reasonable ground to fear any great bodily harm, you must find him guilty; and, under the circumstances, Stewart must share the same fate, unless you should believe that Riley used the knife in a different manner, and for a different purpose from that for which it was put into his hands by Stewart.
The jury, after deliberating for about twenty minutes, returned a verdict of not guilty for both defendants.


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The battle of Jericho is one of the classic stories of the Bible, but how do people respond to it today? Do we see it as an exciting story? Or perhaps we find it a rather disturbing story sounding a bit like a case of ethnic cleansing? And as a Christian how is this part of scripture meant to encourage us in our faith today?
These aren't easy questions. Yet there is a lot for us to learn as we dive into the story!
|Israel's Faith - Jericho (Joshua 5:13-6:27) - Growth Team Sheet|
|File Size:||672 kb|

domain: library


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A LUCKY teenager has won the lottery twice in a WEEK after buying scratch cards in two different US states.
Rosa Dominguez, 19, from California, scooped more than £430,000 ($555,000) when she stopped at a petrol station as she was driving home from Arizona and bought a few scratch-off lottery tickets.
A few days later she bought a $5 Lucky Fortune ticket in her home state, this time winning $100,000.
She told the California State Lottery: "I was so nervous I just wanted to cry."
Dominguez collected her winnings and told California Lottery officials that she wants to go shopping and buy a new car.
The teen purchased the $5 Power 5’s ticket worth $555,555 at Eagle Energy in Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County.
The $5 Lucky Fortune ticket worth $100,000 was purchased at the Valero gas station in Greenfield, Monterey County.
The Lottery didn't say when the tickets were purchased.
MOST READ IN WORLD NEWS
A house was dubbed the luckiest in Britain after the last two owners including a young family scooped lottery jackpots.
Katie Fergusson, her partner Chris and their one-year-old son Hugo won a share of a £3m People’s Postcode Lottery Prize after moving into the home in Billingham, County Durham.
When the neighbour explained the previous owner won a reported £4.5m on the National Lottery, Ms Fergusson said she “took it as a sign and decided to put the postcode lottery on”.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at email@example.com or call 0207 782 4368

domain: news


text: I embossed a part of the circle using my new embossing diffuser tempate from Sizzix. I love it. The font in Celebrate DIY Steel Die is my favorite. I die cut the word from pink cardstock. To adhere the die cut word I like to use my Therm O Web Mini Dot Sticky Runner. The background is inked with a mask and distress ink. I heat embossed “happy birthday” from Sassy Birthday Stamp Set.

domain: hobby


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Let your dog express their personality with one of our unique and fun printed dog bandanas.
With a variety of styles and colors to choose from, we have something for every pet. Our adjustable size ensures that the bandana will fit your pup just right and our soft flannel material will keep them cozy. Best of all, the easy snap buttons make them comfortable and easy to put on!
🎨 Mix, Match & Save Bandana Collections:
Beautiful and very good quality I will buy again
great quality and super cute
Bought for my new fur baby! It was just delivered and the bandana is precious… I’m a little early with this as she is not even a year old yet. Nice purchase!
I love that there are so many different cute designs. I was tired of the usual plaid and wanted something that had a little more character. Now I can match the mood of my fur babies to their outfits.

domain: design


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Goldie's Craft-struction Box is chock full of endless possibilities, this kit is sure to be a favorite with your child. Construct and craft all sorts of fun things that can actually do something when finished. Like a leap bot that will actually leap, plus so much more! Includes over 275 pieces. GoldieBlox FF001. Ages 6+.
- Be the first to review this product


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Submitted by Michael Krieger of Liberty Blitzkrieg blog
I’m doing God’s work.As if you needed any more evidence of how disconnected, entitled, irrational and sociopathic the heads of financial firms in America are these days, along comes AIG’s CEO Robert Benmosche to dispel any lingering doubts. In a highly disturbing interview with the Wall Street Journal, Mr. Benmosche compares the murder of black people in the deep south based on racial prejudice and hate to the vast majority of Americans expressing disgust with the fact that Wall Street decided to suspend capitalism when it was in their best interests in order to give themselves trillions of dollars.
- Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein in a November 2009 interview
It’s war. It’s like when Hitler invaded Poland in 1939.
- Steve Schwarzman, Chairman and co-founder of Blackstone, on potential tax changes in 2010
The uproar over bonuses was intended to stir public anger, to get everybody out there with their pitch forks and their hangman nooses, and all that–sort of like what we did in the Deep South. And I think it was just as bad and just as wrong.
- AIG CEO Robert Benmosche in a Wall Street Journal Interview this past weekend
He actually compares an environment where the rule of law was often completely suspended to allow the murder of a disenfranchised racial group, to widespread public anger about the suspension of the rule of law to benefit the wealthiest, most connected people in the nation.
The craziest part of his statement is that if anything, the bailout of financial oligarchs to the severe detriment of the rule of law, free markets and the best interests of the vast majority of the American public is actually what is most similar to lynchings in the south. In both cases, the rule of law was suspended to benefit the powerful over the weak. This man is a dangerous sociopath, and he is precisely the type of person you get in charge when you bail out institutions that should have died.
More from the Wall Street Journal:
Mr. Benmosche on the government’s campaign against partial “bonuses” to be paid to hundreds of employees in the AIG financial-products unit as they unwound massive, ill-fated bets on mortgage bonds. He said “less than 10” employees were behind the bad trades.
“That was ignorance … of the public at large, the government and other constituencies. I’ll tell you why. [Critics referred] to bonuses as above and beyond [basic compensation]. In financial markets that’s not the case. … It is core compensation.
Core compensation would have been reset in the financial industry down to more reasonable levels had there not been bailouts. That’s capitalism you crony jackass.
“Now you have these bright young people [in the financial-products unit] who had nothing to do with [the bad bets that hurt the company.] … They understand the derivatives very well; they understand the complexity. … They’re all scared. They [had made] good livings. They probably lived beyond their means. …They aren’t going to stay there for nothing.
So let them go. Again, isn’t that capitalism? What about all of the people that lost their jobs and are on food stamps now because of those “10 people” at AIG? Moreover, how many of those 10 are in prison?
The uproar over bonuses “was intended to stir public anger, to get everybody out there with their pitch forks and their hangman nooses, and all that–sort of like what we did in the Deep South [decades ago]. And I think it was just as bad and just as wrong.
“We wouldn’t be here today had they not stayed and accepted … dramatically reduced pay. … They really contributed an enormous amount [to AIG’s survival] and proved to the world they are good people. It is a shame we put them through that.”
Poor babies, they had to suffer from public anger while collecting huge paychecks.
“We’re trying to find the villains [for the financial crisis]. There’s got to be a villain somewhere. The problem is that there isn’t a villain. There are villains. And they are everybody. They are the speculators in real estate. The people who flipped houses. People who lied and cheated [on mortgage applications]. Nobody did the income appraisals. … I include myself in there. I knew stuff was wrong” in the mortgage-underwriting system years before the real-estate bubble burst.
First he says there are no villains. Then he says everyone is a villain. Then he describes a small minority of the population, house flippers as villains, who by the way weren’t bailed out like Wall Street was. Plenty of people lost their homes. Bankers got record bonuses the next year. The denial and lack of perspective from these folks is mind-boggling.
Full interview here.


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Craving massive swells but pressed for time? Itching for a snowy getaway and a bass-dropping good time? Want to test your grit on a truly next-level mountain bike excursion?
We’ve got the ultimate destinations to do these feats and more this month.
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!

domain: travel


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October’s book is about my home state, Oregon. Since my parents will be visiting Matsue from Oregon later this month, I thought it is the perfect time to share this book.
This month’s book features lovely photographs from all over Oregon. Like Shimane-Ken, Oregon is famous for its beautiful natural scenery and wildlife. Even my small hometown, Ashland, is featured in the book💜. Ashland is very famous for its Shakespeare Festival and Lithia Park.
Please enjoy looking at October’s book while having your hair colored or permed!

domain: geography


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Know More About Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass is now blended into the latest addition to the world of natural health. Wheatgrass is the young grass of the common wheat plant called Triticum aestivum. They are either blend to juice into a ‘wheagrass shot’ or milled down to a fine green powder. Besides, wheatgrass has the most chlorophyll-related benefits! Hence, it can positively affect our health in various ways. Here’s why:
Supply high dose of Chlorophyll
Wheatgrass is a source of living chlorophyll. Because it is one of the best ways you can consume chlorophyll. Furthermore, it contains powerful combinations of nutrients such as Vitamin A, C, E, K and B complex. It also has antioxidants effect whereby reduce the free radical damage and strengthen the blood volume. The chlorophyll level in wheatgrass can help manage our blood sugar level too.
Lowers Cholesterol Level
Our body consists of cholesterol to make bile juice and hormone. However, excess of cholesterol in the body will cause harm to our body. It can clog the walls of the arteries and harm the blood flow and heart health. Wheatgrass can help to control the bad cholesterol and lowering the cholesterol level. Then the good cholesterol (HDL) level will be increasing in the body. Therefore, it reduces the risk of having a heart disease.
Helps in Digestion
Wheatgrass contains enzymes that are needed by our body for digestion. These enzymes will break down the food into smaller substances and absorb the nutrients. Besides, wheatgrass has detoxifying effects that can detoxify the colon walls and helps to reduce abdominal discomfort. Therefore, it improves the digestive system of the body. It can also help relieve constipation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other digestive issues.
Boost Body Immune System and Cancer protection
Wheatgrass enhances the function of the body immune system. As it has more Vitamin C than oranges and two times the amount of Vitamin A than carrots. Therefore, by adding wheatgrass into our diet can help as an extra fighter against common cold, flu while also prevent your body from contacting more serious threads of the same virus such as bronchitis. Wheatgrass benefits for overall immune function including regulating immunological activity and fighting oxidative stress that contributes to cell mutations.
Menstrual Pains Soother
One of the reasons for painful menstruation and irregular menstruation cycles is the lack of vitamin and mineral. Because wheatgrass contains vital vitamins and minerals for our body. Therefore, it ensures you will never be lacking any of these nutrients.

domain: medical


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Writing is my joy and embroidery is my passion.
I also enjoy seeing 'before/after' and 'do/don't' from HGTV and the other places that change a lifestyle. But even those can be a little insane. I saw this comfy design and, on the link information, I saw that these pillows are $199.00 each. The shipping is free and you can finance it as well.
I consider this to be a less than great idea. However, with school starting, youngsters through college aged people and beyond would see this bolster pillow as a wonderful gift. As a lumbar pillow, they are an item of interest. The actual pillows
don't even have the tucked buttons, and they made with a polyester fabric.
I did find a site to show how to easily do the button tufting
. It is less than 8 minutes.
In addition to tufting a pillow, I think a little bit of embroidery can really make the gift personalized. I love these from AnnTheGran's collection of Freebies. This site has a VERY large selection from which to choose and it is my 'go to' site that I use frequently. Of course, I also purchase designs here (they don't give them to me), and I am always very happy with the quality of digitizing available.
Here are three that I found to be sophisticated and playful. I have added some suggestions for a more personalized project, but the design is what you will actually receive. Click on the design photo to go to the free design.
My thanks to each of you for joining me and checking out my blog. I am always checking to find a bargain. . .
Researchers found that a text response with an exclamation mark may make your message seem more sincere than one that ends in nothing (!) (Courtesy of Reader's Digest.)
LOL, I always think I use too many of them!

domain: artistic


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DermaPlus - The Best Skin Clinic in Pune
We believe looking our best helps us feel our best. We open our doors each morning to help our patients feel confident, inspired and happier – ready to take the world.
We are passionate about skin health, natural beauty and how it can become an integral part of your lifestyle. We are skin specialist and thrive on sharing our passion and knowledge. We give you tools to make informed skincare decisions, all in an inspiring, safe and sustainable environment.
At Dermaplus clinic, your quality assurance and high level of medical care is guaranteed with the latest state of art technology, medical grade equipment, product ranges and qualified doctors and aestheticians.
Our goal is to provide quality skincare with use of advanced technology, humane touch and all this maintaining medical ethics
The flawless, blemish and acne-free skin that you've always desired is no more a dream, but reality.Here are brilliant face care tips to get that glow you've always wanted. Browse through our beauty secrets, tackle your skincare issues and follow our tricks regularly to get beautiful skin naturally.
Routine saloon facial only provides pampering and is not treating the skin. They also generally include harsh exfoliation, which strips the skins barrier and is unnecessary, as our cells regularly turn over and fall away from the skin naturally, without the need of forced exfoliation.
Naturally gorgeous skin often starts with your diet. We spend lots of time and money considering what we put on our faces. But how much do you think about whether or not you're following a clear skin diet? Eat the correct balance of foods and you'll feed your skin the vital nutrients it needs...
Dr. Meeta is the best dermatologist I have ever been privileged to meet. She quickly and accurately diagnosed the cause of my facial acne. She listened to all of my concerns during my visit. (I cannot tell you how many dermatologists have rushed me in and out of their offices in mere minutes.) For the first time, I felt that a dermatologist was truly invested in improving my skin. I am extremely confident that my skin is in good hands. By following her advice, my skin has seen dramatic improvement. I am truly delighted to have met this extraordinary dermatologist.Rashmi Rathi


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My name is Eric Zink and I am with Beach and Country Realty in Cherry Grove, South Carolina. I moved to South Carolina in 1998 with my wife and have been living in Little River, South Carolina since I first moved down from Ohio. Since then, we have had two girls that were born and are being raised in the South. I began my real estate career in 2004 and specialize in all areas of the Grand Strand. I am licensed to sell real estate in South Carolina and North Carolina. With more than 11 years in the real estate business, I have a personal relationship with people to make certain that transactions are completed with professionalism and also making certain the client’s needs are met. See some client testimonials.
For those seeking to find a Realtor in the Grand Strand area, I am here for you. My Real Estate experience as a Listing and Buyer’s agent can help you get what you are looking for. From marketing, listing and selling residential homes, to representing clients in new home construction, re-sale homes, short sale/bank owned homes, it is my utmost important mission to serve real estate needs of my clients and customers with commitment and professionalism
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- 64% say blacks have same chance as whites to get a job
- New low of 71% say blacks have same chance to get good education
- 70% say blacks have same chance to get housing, lowest since '89
PRINCETON, N.J. -- Sixty-four percent of Americans believe blacks have the same chance as whites in their local community to get a job for which they are qualified, but the percentage holding that view has declined in recent years and is the lowest since 1995.
The only time Americans were less optimistic about blacks' ability to secure jobs was in the 1960s civil rights era, when roughly four in 10 thought blacks and whites had equal job opportunities.
Americans' beliefs that blacks enjoy equality of opportunity relative to housing and education have also declined. Currently, 70% say blacks have the same chance as whites to get any housing they can afford, the lowest since 1989 and down from a peak of 83% in 1997.
The 71% of Americans who believe black children have the same chance as whites of obtaining a good education is the lowest in Gallup's trend, including in 1962, less than a decade after the Supreme Court ruling desegregating public schools.
The results are based on the June 7-July 1 Gallup Minority Rights and Relations poll, conducted just before recent racial incidents in Minneapolis, Baton Rouge and Dallas.
Most Americans believe blacks have the same opportunities as whites in all three areas of life assessed in the new poll -- jobs, housing and education -- but fewer hold that view than at any point in at least the last two decades. One reason for the declines could be the attention given to racial and economic inequality by the candidates in this year's presidential campaign. Racial incidents involving police in recent years, and the resulting Black Lives Matter movement, could also be a factor, though declines in perceptions of black housing and educational opportunities were mostly evident this year.
Blacks Less Confident Than Whites About Equal Opportunity
Whites and blacks have different perceptions of equality of opportunity for members of racial groups. Whereas roughly seven in 10 whites believe that blacks and whites have the same opportunities to get a job, a good education and any housing they can afford, far fewer blacks agree. Slightly less than half of blacks believe that blacks and whites have the same chance to get a good education (49%) and to get any housing they can afford (46%). Even fewer blacks, 32%, say blacks and whites have equal job opportunities.
Compared with 1999 -- the first year Gallup asked all three questions in a poll with a large oversample of blacks -- both blacks and whites are now less optimistic about black opportunities in all three areas and by similar margins. Thus, while blacks and whites continue to hold widely differing views on black opportunities in the U.S., both groups are less positive than in the past about the situation for blacks.
Americans as a whole largely believe blacks and whites have equal opportunities in the workforce, in school and in finding a home, as opposed to believing blacks are disadvantaged in those areas. But fewer Americans -- including both blacks and whites -- believe equality of opportunity exists in these realms today than have done so in the previous 20 years or more. And more than 50 years after the civil rights movement began, blacks themselves are divided as to whether they have equal opportunities.
Racially charged incidents involving police, the resulting Black Lives Matter movement, and the Flint, Michigan, water crisis have all contributed to a robust national discussion about the challenges blacks face in society. And these concerns are likely magnified in the midst of a presidential campaign as the candidates react to the events and attempt to offer solutions to address the issues they raise. Barack Obama's election as the nation's first black president was a landmark achievement for blacks, but seven years into his presidency, the issues of race remain complex and are beyond what political leadership alone can change.
Historical data are available in Gallup Analytics.
Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted June 7-July 1, 2016, with a sample of 3,270 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, who had previously been interviewed in the Gallup Daily tracking poll and agreed to be re-interviewed for a later study. The sample is weighted to be representative of U.S. adults.
For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. For results based on the sample of 1,320 non-Hispanic whites, the margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. For results based on the sample of 912 non-Hispanic blacks, the margin of sampling error is ±5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. For results based on the sample of 906 Hispanics, the margin of sampling error is ±6 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. (271 out of the 906 interviews with Hispanics were conducted in Spanish.)
All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.
Learn more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works.

domain: sociology


text:
The Master’s Fund
The annual fundraising programme of The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries General Charity Ltd
Apothecaries’ Hall, Black Friars Lane, London, EC4V 6EJ
Charity number 284450
Why this is important
Dropping out of medicine wastes talent, money and lives. And it crushes a young person’s dreams.
You can make a difference
We can’t pay off a student’s debts. But we can give a helping hand. We know that it isn’t just the monetary value of the donation that makes a difference, but it’s the fact that somebody cares.
As a Livery Company, the Society has been helping its community for four hundred years.
We like to think that our Society still cares.
“Thank you for supporting me when I was a medical student, struggling financially when my father was made redundant.”
Grant recipient, now graduated
Today’s students live in a very different world. Some of us were lucky enough to have our University fees paid by the state. We could even apply for support grants.
Today’s students can expect to leave education with tens of thousands of pounds worth of debts.
Particularly for those studying medicine as a second degree, success or penury can rest on a knife-edge. Illness, loss of a part-time job, and suddenly the sums no longer add up.
What can we do to help?
The Society gives a grant to one or two medical students at every medical school in England and Wales, and to a small number of pharmacy students. Please note that the Society does not accept unsolicited funding applications.
You fund these grants
How much should I Donate?
Everyone can donate something to the Fund. By comparison, the annual cost of:
- A weekly takeaway coffee £135
- A weekly pint of beer £234
- A monthly meal out for one £720
Saving someone’s dreams £250?
Can you give more?
Perhaps you can afford a greater amount. Members have done the following:
Sponsor a grant to a specific School:
- Minimum £1000 per annum
Set up a named fund:
- Minimum £5,000
“The more we raise, the more we can give, the more we can help”

domain: finance


text:
The American Dental Association recommends that you brush your teeth twice each day. Along with flossing at least once, this forms the foundation of an effective daily oral hygiene routine.
Without consistency in both these measures residual food particles and plaque can harden into tartar. This can increasingly put your mouth at risk for cavities and periodontal health problems.
When brushing you teeth the ADA recommends using a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste with mild abrasives and added fluoride. This will help your toothbrush at cleaning the surfaces of your teeth while also strengthening the mineral density of your tooth enamel.
As time goes on the bristles of your toothbrush will gradually wear down and bend. In order to maintain a highly effective brushing technique, the ADA recommends replacing your toothbrush every three to four months.
When shopping for a new toothbrush make sure you look for the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance. The small logo on the package indicates that the ADA has tested and approved it for safe and effective oral use.
When brushing your teeth it’s important to focus on one tooth at a time. Brushing in a small circular motion will help ensure that all surfaces of the tooth has been cleaned. It should take you approximately two to three minutes to brush all 32 of your teeth.
If you are in the West Los Angeles, California area and you have a questions about how to maintain your oral hygiene, you should call 310-826-3399 to schedule a dental checkup at Farshid Ariz D.M.D..


text:
Deadmau5 is a techno DJ who wears a big mouse head when he plays gigs. It is diamante encrusted and has the signature cross eyes signifying the extinct nature of the mouse’s life. He is currently touring. You can check out his Myspace page by clicking here. Calvin Harris is currently at number one.
Browse: Home / Dance Remixes, Electro House, House Remixes, Techno Remixes / Calvin Harris: I’m Not Alone (Deadmau5 Remix)


text:
After over a decade of kickass performances, Rachel McAdams is finally cashing in with some major awards nominations. Heck, she already picked up a Critics' Choice Award ( Spotlight won for Best Acting Ensemble, as well as Best Picture) — and she's nominated in the supporting actress category at the upcoming SAG Awards, as well as the Oscars.
Of course, it's nice to see McAdams' considerable talents officially recognized, but it's also going to be darned exciting to watch her rule the red carpets. Whether it's watercolored Elie Saab at the 2010 Academy Awards, or red lace Marchesa at the Cannes premiere of Midnight in Paris, the lady definitely knows how to make a statement — and it'll be fun to watch her take on the upcoming red carpets with the aplomb we've come to expect from the woman who brought us Regina George.
That said, with the 2016 SAG Awards firmly in her sights, what better way to celebrate McAdams' big nomination for Spotlight than with a little throwback to her first-ever SAG red carpet? Let's head back to 2007, back in the halcyon days when McAdams was still going strong with Ryan Gosling (and had cotton candy pink streaks in her blonde bob):
Soulmates, right? Taylor Kitsch be damned (JK, ILU Tim Riggins). Back in 2007, McAdams main red carpet statement was her pink hair, which paired quite nicely with her adorable silver-patterned white frock (and matching bright white pumps).
A beaded envelope clutch and some eye-catching bracelets completed the look. It's adorable, but definitely more casual than something she would wear today — here's hoping 2016 Rachel McAdams wins (and presents!) in something a touch more showstopping. Bring on the voluminous Elie Saab and barely-there Marchesa!

domain: entertainment


text:
Although now I, happily, spend much of my time cooking for a man, I did, in my more youthful and culinarily inexperienced years, enjoy having a man cook for me. My junior year in college, I lived in a single-person dorm that was the size of a walk-in closet, and, with no kitchen of my own, my meals usually consisted of ice-cream scoop-mounded piles of the cafeteria's mystery meat du jour. But sometimes I'd pack a bag and leave campus for a weekend and be served food—delicious food—that was made just for me by a man who enjoyed indulging my every request. There were dishes I asked for over and over again, pepperoni bread and crab-stuffed chicken breast being the most frequent two. But sometimes he'd plan the meals and I'd sit at the kitchen table, greedily sipping glass after glass of wine, waiting impatiently for whatever was being prepared for me.
He liked to use onions, an ingredient which, at the time, I insisted I didn't care for. He used so many that the smell would permeate the air of his small apartment and I'd rub my watering eyes and complain that I didn't know why he had to use so many onions. He'd refill my glass and chop another onion.
The particular meal I'm thinking of now was lasagna. The man may have turned out to be a dud, but the lasagna was not. It was delicious, and I still remember it as the best lasagna I've ever had. I don't know how he made it—at the time I was interested in eating, not cooking—but, besides the onions, I remember that the sauce was heavy on red wine. When the weekend was over, I returned to my dorm, lasagna-filled Tupperware in tow, and stored the leftovers in my mini-fridge. In the following days I ate the leftovers cold from the fridge for breakfast—then, breakfast was around 11:00 am—and it was as good cold as it had been warm.
These days, I'm with a man who is wonderful but whose overly picky tastes threaten to cramp my budding culinary repertoire. He's not impressed in the least with Italian food, he insists that all pasta is the same, and he hates tomatoes and ricotta cheese. What is a lasagna-loving girl to do?
Well, I make it anyway, that's what I do. But only rarely, and only when I find a recipe that seems especially tasty. I thought maybe Martha Stewart’s Lasagna Primavera would get by Adam. There are no tomatoes in it, after all, and it’s filled with veggies, so I thought I could pass it off as health food. But he didn't like the ricotta or the frozen spinach, which is the latest addition to his growing list of dislikes. He ate one piece of the lasagna, and only after he'd doused it in Red Hot.
I hope that, in telling you this, I'm not doing this lasagna a disservice. Adam is strange and peculiar and you can't go by his tastes. But you can certainly trust me, and I'm telling you that this lasagna is wonderful. It's so good that I had to spend the next week finishing the leftovers myself, and I didn't mind a bit.
If I had to make one complaint, though, I'd say that I wish the noodles themselves had stayed a bit firmer. The recipe calls for the lasagna to be cooked for 65 minutes--is it possible for noodles not to turn soft after that long? I don't know. I used oven-ready noodles, as the recipe advised, but, if I ever dare to make lasagna again, I might try using regular noodles, soaked very briefly in hot water, and see how that works out.
I had planned to serve the lasagna with garlic knots, but making the lasagna was not a speedy process, and I didn’t have it in me to bake anything else. I found, though, that the lasagna goes really well served with a very simple side of vine-ripened, lightly salted tomatoes. Enjoy!
Adapted from Freeze-Ahead Lasagna Primavera
1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for foil
1 medium onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
6 cups whole milk
2 packages (10 ounces each) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry*
1 package (10 ounces) frozen peas
1 cup finely shredded broccoli florets**
1/2 pound carrots (4 to 5), halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg***
1 container (15 ounces) part-skim ricotta (about 2 cups)
1 large egg
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 package (9 ounces) no-boil lasagna noodles (12 noodles)
1 pound part-skim mozzarella, shredded
1 cup grated Parmesan
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat; add onion and garlic and cook until onion begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, 2 to 3 minutes (do not let flour mixture darken); whisk in milk. Bring to a boil, whisking frequently; reduce to a simmer, and cook, whisking occasionally, until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add spinach, peas, broccoli, and carrots; season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Set sauce aside.
In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, egg, parsley, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
In the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, spread a thin layer of vegetable sauce. Layer 3 noodles, half the remaining vegetable sauce, another 3 noodles, half the ricotta mixture, half the mozzarella, and half the Parmesan; repeat.
Cover dish with lightly oiled aluminum foil, and place on a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake 45 minutes, uncover, and bake until bubbling and browned, about 20 minutes more. Let cool 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
* I used my salad spinner to get the water out of the frozen spinach. It takes a while, but remove as much liquid as you can, or else your sauce will be watery.
** I added the broccoli because I had some to use up, but it’s optional. If you choose to add it, just shred it as finely as you can with a sharp knife until it looks like it does in the picture above.
*** The nutmeg is optional, too, but I really like the flavor. Nutmeg is often paired with both cream sauces and dark greens.

domain: food


Supporting your move towards a customer and service-centric organization
Creating a pivotal service operational center
Reinventing the process and organization based on models such as eTom defined by the TM Forum
Creating business and CEM use cases and service quality dashboards
Defining new quality indicators and SLAs
Providing improved visibility and quality of E2E services
Faster identification of service failures and degradations
Making the move from NOC to SOC
The communications industry is moving towards service quality management (SQM)—a move driven by service operation centers (SOCs). SOCs help break your silo-based organization to better serve your customers and drive your digital transformation.
Monitor end-to-end service quality
Monitor E2E service quality indicators from a user perspective including applications such as Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, VoLTE, VoIP, VoWifi, legacy voice as well as special operator services such as USSD.
Identify any quality degradations and prioritize service restoration based on the number of impacted subscribers.
Perform fast diagnosis with issue demarcation
Provide service issue demarcation (RAN, core, device, user, transport) and escalate trouble tickets to the right teams for further investigation and resolution.


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Meditation Art as wall-decor for the beautification of your space
Authentically hand painted Mandalas by Mexican fine-artist Fabiola Falco, masterfully re-printed on canvas, are ideally suited for infusing your home or office space with truly meaningful art.
The word Mandala means circle, the perfect shape. Among others, it is used as a symbol for the cosmos and eternity. Its ancestral origins are present in cultures from the Aztec, Mayan, Egyptian, Tibetan, Indian, Chinese (Oriental) cultures, to medieval cathedrals and modern icons. All mandalas are loaded with meaning and symbolism.
Mandalas maintain mankind’s essence within them. The renown psychologist Carl Jung used the process of painting mandalas for observation and understanding of his inner workings. Viewing a mandala provides a wonderful opportunity for creative inspiration and introspection. Find out about the Artist and her process here
Since each piece is custom made, please allow 5 - 7 business days for processing prior to shipping. Please note that the prices include shipping. Custom sizes, prints on different substrates as well as WHOLESALE prices quoted on request.
Mandalas in their environments
Inspiring visual suggestions how installations of various Mandalas show in a number of different living spaces.
In addition, the Mandala art is ideal for installations in office spaces for promoting mindfulness and inspiration in the working environment.
Hospitality, healthcare, wellness and other institutional spaces will also greatly benefit from the authentic infusion of vibrant colors and deeper meaning of the Artists’ creations.
About the Artist and her process
“Since I remember, the three dimensional expression has been a constant in my life. Looking for a language that would allow me to satisfy my aesthetic concerns, I studied Fashion Design at the Universidad del Valle de México. After working on several creative projects in this field, I began to explore new forms of communication and discovered painting.
In 2003 I had the opportunity to travel to Australia and visit several Keringke painting workshops and collectives. The technique captivated me and while being inspired by different painters like Gustav Klimt, Picasso, Miró and Tamayo, I have been refining my style and technique with the intention of finding my own voice ever since. During the initial time of searching I began to practice meditation and it is during these practices that the Mandalas began to emerge as a form of expression.
In 2013 I presented my first painting collection entitled "Más Allá" at the Moser Café Kultur, which was very well received. That same year I was selected to participate in the Tibet Exposition and its colors at the Sumaya Museum in Mexico City, showing two of my first Mandalas. In addition I also participated in the art auction of the Mortlet Gallery celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Faculty of Fine Arts.
In 2014 I started to develop my second collection with the theme of Mandalas titled "Puntos". The collection was presented during 2015 as an itinerant exhibition at the Bioleta Café Anniversary, at the time located at The Calendar Museum.
In 2016 I participated in a linoleum engraving workshop under the direction of Maestro Humberto Valdés and during 2017, I started to work on the engraving technique in the Soluble Pez Workshop under the direction of Master Knut Pani.
During the past years I have embraced the opportunity to participate in a Workshop of Additive Techniques under the direction of Maestro José Rincón and continue to refine my artistic abilities to express the Mandalas while developing engraving techniques to present a new collection.”
Dots - The Process
There is nothing as simple as Dots, which in essence is what this mandala collection is about. So absurd, irreverent and real. What are we, within the setting of this immense planet that we live on? Viewed from a distance with an adjusted perspective, what do you see? Millions of dots, all flowing in perpetual motion. And if you turn toward the sky at night to look at the stars, what do you see? Millions of dots, shining intensely.
The moment the paintbrush touches the canvas it forms the first dot which represents the birth of the artwork to be created...and at the end of a written story the pen traces the last dot. Among others, it is used as a symbol for the cosmos and eternity. Its ancestral origins are present in cultures from the Aztec, Mayan, Egyptian, Tibetan, Indian, Chinese (Oriental) cultures, to medieval cathedrals and modern icons. All mandalas are loaded with meaning and symbolism. Mandalas maintain mankind’s essence within them.
According to the artist: "'Dots' is my way to express a reflection of what we are, in essence, alone and in groups. We are the beginning and the end, all within the eternal existence game where it may seem that the place it starts is also where it ends.
Existence is really a mandala in a constant and eternal motion. What seems to be a beautiful drawing is only a group of dots coinciding at the same place. Coinciding, as you and I are now..."


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Entertainment retailer HMV is launching a new personalised web-based in-store service to promote local and relevant offers to customers in its bid to become a multichannel retailer.
Myhmv, which customers can log on to using their mobile devices in-store, is designed to make the retailer’s offer more locally tailored with deals and events relating to that shop.
The retailer will launch the initiative in November, after it has rolled out wi-fi to all stores.
HMV marketing and multichannel director Mark Hodgkinson said the retailer particularly aims to start a relationship with those consumers that visit its stores but don’t spend.
“We have massive footfall in stores – 130 million a year – so we’re not short of customers,” he told Retail Week. “We know that a percentage of them buy from us, but there’s a big opportunity for us to find out what the others that don’t buy do in our stores. It’s the biggest opportunity we have as a business.”
The initiative is part of the retailer’s plan to transform itself into a multichannel retailer focusing on technology, in the face of dwindling traditional entertainment sales.
As part of its multichannel plans the retailer opened a wi-fi enabled store in Cambridge last week that featured a café and mobile re-charging connection points.
The retailer also soft launched a click and collect service 10 weeks ago. Since launch, sales through the channel have increased “three-fold” according to Hodgkinson. “We know our customers like it. Now we’ll start signposting it. We will go big on it,” he said.
“We’re adapting HMV to fit the needs of our customers and making it relevant locally.”
To use myhmv shoppers must register and log in once. Every time they then walk into a store they can choose to connect to their profile to learn about offers, products and events related to that shop.
Users will be able to go to the music section of the store and stream music to their phones using in-store wifi. HMV already operates a similar ‘listening post’ app, and that will now be available through the myhmv.
HMV also plans to enable shoppers to watch movie trailers.
Myhmv will act as a loyalty scheme too, allowing customers to earn points and pay through it. HMV’s existing loyalty scheme, Pure, will migrate to myhmv.
Myhmv can also be linked to shoppers’ social networking pages, and users will be able to log in via Facebook, for example.
If the shopper allows, HMV can access information such as what artists and films that user ‘likes’ on Facebook, helping to inform HMV what kind of products that person would welcome offers on. “There’s lots of insight you can capture from a profile, if the customer allows it” said Hodgkinson.
“Myhmv joins everything up for you – when you browse on your smart phone you’ll have the full world of HMV. It breaks down barriers between physical and digital.”
Wifi will not only be available in HMV stores, but will stretch to the high street immediately outside shops, enabling the retailer to attract passers by with offers via myhmv. “In the way we use our shop windows to attract customers, we’ll use wifi too,” he said.
He was not worried about shoppers using in-store wifi to compare prices and shop more cheaply elsewhere.
“It’s the reality of the multichannel world. You can do a price check on Amazon but we’re confident in our offer, we won’t put up walls to prevent that,” said Hodgkinson. “We won’t always be cheaper but we provide great value and service, and myhmv brings a richer experience, it’s not just about purchasing product. It’s about enabling choice.”
The retailer will work with technology service providers to better fulfil customers’ entertainment needs. It is in talks with undisclosed movie and music streaming services - such as Spotify - and broadcasters, such as Sky.
He said HMV is considering offering advice in-store to shoppers confused about the array of services available.
“When it comes to delivering technology it’s all about partnerships,” said Hodgkinson. “We’re talking to digital service providers, we should be working with them not against them. There are lots of new products and services coming out and customers want some advice.”
The retailer has also extended its trade in offer from games to music and film via ‘Swap Shop’ counters in a handful of stores.

domain: economics


text:
queen elizabethit is Platinum Jubilee the celebrations are in their fourth and last day.
But for an Aussie, they certainly saved the best for last.
Perth daughter Blandine Blanchard will perform in ‘The People’s Pageant’ as she takes the Queen’s coronation route through London.
READ MORE: The Queen’s family celebrations at the Palace with music’s biggest stars for the Platinum Jubilee
He will cover the two mile route from Whitehall, to the Mall to Buckingham Palace and that is something that blows the 28-year-old away.
“There’s a crazy amount of respect for the Queen, like everyone says ‘oh I hope she sees it’, ‘is she coming?’ that’s the dialogue we all hear among the workers, even the performers,” Blanchard told 9Honey.
READ MORE: Harry and Meghan’s royal wedding cake baker unveils tribute for Queen’s Jubilee
“When you practice, they’ll be like, ‘Oh, I wonder if she can see this from her balcony?’ People ask ‘what will it look like from afar?’
“It’s incredibly nice to hear that because we’re very proud [in our work] and especially with young people who may not be as experienced as the other artists, they really give their all to make sure they’re on top of their routine and that they’ll be in tune with all the other artists – it’s kind of nice to see, it’s definitely unusual.
“I think she’ll definitely have a good show, Queen, if she sticks her head out,” she laughs.
There are rumors the Queen will stick her head out, with reports of a second appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to close out the Jubilee celebrations after the pageant.
And despite having lived in the UK for eight years, it’s a prospect that has this Aussie next to her.
“It would be the first time I’ve seen her in the flesh — I’ve always seen them walk past … but to see her on her balcony would be crazy,” Blanchard told 9Honey.
“I would definitely call my family to say I’ve actually seen her – not saying she’s leaving soon, but I feel like this might be one of the last big hoo-has.”
Blanchard, who has worked with Mahogany Carnival Arts for five years, has already participated in several major parades, including the huge Notting Hill Carnival in London.
However, she says the feeling is definitely different for this one.
“I think when we do Notting Hill we always think of our own little borough or kind of a little suburb when it’s a whole nation in that sense [and] it’s going to be broadcast around the world,” she says of the contest, which is expected to be watched by a billion people worldwide.
“It’s much deeper in its meaning,” adds Blanchard, not only highlighting the historical value of the Queen’s Jubilee, but the first time performers have really come together en masse since 2019.
“I think in many ways we’ve been through so much over the last few years, it’s just an honor to celebrate an achievement, you know.”
Before the big day, Blanchard has been busy making costumes and painting full-scale bamboo skirts, but on the day itself, the artist will transform into a performer…and a giraffe.
“[It’s] quite unusual,” she laughs.
“And certainly something that I don’t think the Queen would expect to see, but it will be a fanciful giraffe – they’ll have little top hats, little glasses, they’ll dress up for the special occasion. “
The specially constructed costume will stand over two meters tall and is made with fiberglass rods, so it’s light enough for performers to wear for hours at a time.
“[It] has a bit of a hook system that makes her head move so she looks like she’s really alive and those heads are huge – maybe not life scale of a normal giraffe head, maybe a bit more cartoony and puffy but nonetheless, it can be seen above the crowds.”
So while you watch the show, be sure to keep an eye out for this Australian giraffe.
For a daily dose of 9Honey, Subscribe to our newsletter here.
#Meet #Perth #woman #performing #Queens #Platinum #Jubilee #pageant


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Europacable, the voice of the leading wire and cable manufacturers in Europe, joins European plastics associations in communicating the increasing concerns of its members on the supply situation in polymers.
Polymers in general such as polyethylene and PVC in particular, are used for the electrical insulation and the mechanical protection of cables. They also constitute key materials for the manufacturing of cable accessories such as end connectors and joints.
Several European polyolefin industrial production capabilities have declared Force Majeure over the last months. This situation is detrimental for the wire and cable industry and could lead to production shortages.

domain: chemistry


text:
Night Flowers Necklace and Earring Set
This Night Flowers Necklace and Earring Set will WOW anyone. This may be the most beautiful necklace and earrings set you'll ever DIY. This magical DIY necklace and pair of earrings are perfect for any nighttime formal occasion. The detail is incredible on both these earrings and this necklace, and you can wear them together or separately. Made using a mixture of iridescent black, gray, green, and blue cube and round beads, as well as pearls and flowers, this necklace is truly a show-stopper. People will never believe you made it yourself, either.
Project TypeMake a Project
Bead TypeGlass, Crystal, Pearl
Time to CompleteUnder an hour
Bead Technique UsedStrung
Bead Project TypeNecklace, Earrings
Read NextParisian Chic Pearl Necklace
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Sep 10, 2018
Lovely necklace. I love the way the danglers resemble little flowers and it is simply just a matter of pairing the correct beads and findings together. This necklace and earring set has a Goth look and is popular with a certain population in my area. Think this will be a big hit with them at my craft shows.
starscream16362 14 87580
Oct 27, 2017
I made this using head pins instead of wire and crimping tupes. I also used a pendant instead of the pearl flower dangles. Let me know what you think!
Oct 29, 2017
starscream16362 14 87580 I would love to se a picture of the one you made. It sounds beautiful. I have not been making jewerly long so it it hard to make. Do I need to start with something easier? This this night flower necklace and earring set is so pretty. I would love to make one for a gift.
Oct 29, 2017
SorryI see te picture now but can not get it to enlarge.
Oct 15, 2017
This is a very pretty and very easy project to make. I love the colors. They are different. Almost an irridescent glow to them. They would be beautiful to wear for an evening date. A matching set of eRrings and you will knock them out of their docks. Thanks for sharing this lovely idea.
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In April, Vivo had launched the Vivo Y17 smartphone in India with a price tag of Rs. 17,990 ($260). Now, the smartphone has gone official in Taiwan. It has arrived with a price tag of NT$ 8,900 ($289). The smartphone comes in Phantom Purple and Sapphire Blue. The sales of the smartphone will begin on July 1.
Vivo Y17 Specifications and Features
The Vivo Y17 comes with a 6.35-inch IPS LCD display. The waterdrop notch enabled screen of the phone offers HD+ resolution of 720 x 1544 pixels. The MediaTek Helio P35 powers the smartphone along with 4 GB of RAM. It has a native storage of 128 GB. There is a dedicated microSD card slot for additional storage.
For shooting selfies, the Vivo Y17 has a front-facing camera of 20-megapixel. The rear shell of the phone has a triple camera setup with 13-megapixel primary sensor, an 8-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 2-megapixel lens for adding depth effects. The smartphone is equipped with photography features such as AI beauty, professional mode, slow-motion video shooting, HDR, portrait mode, panorama, background blur, palm photo and more.
The Vivo Y17 houses a massive battery of 5,000mAh capacity. It supports 18W fast charging through microUSB. The FunTouch OS 9 based Android 9 Pie OS is loaded on the Y17.


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"The magazine," wrote Ray Rinaldi of the Denver Post, "is better curated than most, limiting itself in size while presenting some of the most readable poets around." With its basis in chapbook-length titles, The Lune 2017 proffers a unique engagement of contemporary poetry: each quarterly issue includes at least three short new collections by as many different authors. Designed to balance autonomy and interdependence, experimentation and coherence, each season's production is a real testament to the work of poets today. The 2017 collection includes four issues featuring fifteen works authored by the following inventive and prolific human beings:
Nina Pick, Thomas Phalen, Jonathan Simkins, j/j hastain, Tara Walker, Mark DuCharme, Laura Chalar, Ginger Teppner, Alicia Cahalane Lewis, Jaime Robles, Eleni Padden, Sherry Luo, Nicholas Carlos Fuenzalida, Curtis Romero, and Genelle Chaconas
Previous authors include Alan Mudd, Anne Waldman, David Mutschlecner, Ella Longpre, Jack Collom, Joanna Ruocco, Kari Treadwell, Laura Cesarco Eglin, Lisette Alonso, Marielle Grenade-Willis, Maureen Seaton, Olga Broumas, T Begley, and W. Scott Howard.


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CONTACT: Cheryl Ricci Francione, Executive Director, Greater New Jersey Chapter
- Town hall-style meeting to mobilize local community members in the
fight against Alzheimer’s disease -
Florham Park, NJ, November 23, 2018 – Bergen and Passaic County residents are invited to take part in a Community Forum on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. The forum provides an opportunity for residents of all ages to come together to ask questions about the disease, share their personal experiences, learn about available resources and discover volunteer opportunities to support families affected by the disease.
“We understand the importance of Alzheimer’s disease care and support programs and services throughout New Jersey,” said Robyn Kohn, Director of Programs & Services for the Alzheimer’s Association Greater New Jersey Chapter. “Community Forums are hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association in communities across the state, where families are invited to come together with Association staff and volunteers to mobilize our community in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.”
The Alzheimer’s Association believes no individual or family should navigate the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease alone. Community forums hosted by the Association bring together families affected by the disease with dedicated staff and volunteers to open conversation in an effort to bolster resources, programs and services to support families in their communities.
Working together with Bergen and Passaic County volunteers, the Alzheimer’s Association can ensure families have the resources needed to face the many challenges associated with the disease. Community volunteers are essential in helping the Alzheimer’s Association best serve the needs of families affected by the disease, in driving awareness and in mobilizing the community in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
The meeting details are below. Light refreshments will be provided.
Where: Englewood Health, 350 Engle St., Berrie Bldg., Rm. 5501-2, Englewood, NJ
When: November 30 at 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Register: Email firstname.lastname@example.org by November 28.


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By Sumaiya Azmi
Color, hailed as the language of design, has the power to uplift our spirits, emotions and moods. In just a glimpse, color describes a thousand things in a viewer’s mind before they have a chance to throw light on words or visuals. The fusion of colors can freshen up a space to the point where it seems almost like an entire redo!
Blending colors throughout the space is all the rage in today’s home interior vogue. But traditional color combinations might be boring and predictable at times. To add an element of surprise, uncommon color scheme is the magic bullet here! This color trend is all about clashing or combining the unexpected hues together. If your theme is intriguing and dynamic, we are here to walk you through the unique painting inspirations we’ve rounded up for your home!
Incorporated between the blue and green in the color wheel, turquoise is one of those refreshing hues that might bring both warming and cooling ambience in your space. The gentle sensation of turquoise combined with energetic orange is a decorating delight. Turquoise and orange create the perfect combination for a daring and vibrant theme.
If you desire a fun and cheerful space, the combination of yellow and pink offers an appealing statement. Whether bright yellow and pastel pink, or softer yellow with watermelon pink, the unexpected duo lends a mellow vibe to your space.
Whenever it comes to plants and flowers, we adore purple and green so much. Ever wondered how this fusion would look in your house? Well, green and purple can look alluring when used together in your den! Go for their bright and bold versions for dramatic interiors, or soften things up with milder versions that create a soothing and calm aura in your space.
The color midnight blue is a rich and deep shade of blue that resembles the depths of the celestial spheres. The strength of midnight blue coupled with tangerine creates a regal color combination that adds elegance and enthusiasm to a room.
Sage green is one of the soft, as well as earthy shades of green with slate and silver undertones that has power to bring the outdoors inside! When it comes to interior decoration, sage green and tones of red might not be the first color combination that springs to mind. However, the two complement each other quite gracefully when used together.
Balancing somewhere between blue and green, the color aqua is reminiscent of ocean waves. Fuchsia pink can be used alongside aqua for creating a spring inspired appearance. This fun duo brings a tropical flair in your space.
In Paul Klee’s words, ‘Color is the place where our brain and the universe meet’, and we all agree on that! The unique blend of colors can turn your space into a dreamland that popped out from the pages of a fable. So, unleash your imagination and go bold with these unexpected, but incredibly perfect color combinations.


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...were in the lower city. The town extended up to Büyükkale, probably culminating in the palace of the local king. Both this town and the merchants’ houses were destroyed, probably by King Anittas of Kussara (after 1800). A Hittite text ascribed to Anittas tells of his conquests in Anatolia and how he defeated King Piyusti of Hattus, destroyed the city, and put a curse on the site.
...The cuneiform records of the Hittites contain a tradition of unique royal political self-expression. These documents begin with the oldest known Hittite text, the inscription of the early ruler Anittas, detailing dynastic struggles of an obscure and possibly apocryphal past. From the founder of the Old Kingdom, the firmly historical Hattusilis I (Labarnas II), came an annalistic...
...of this period have survived in the form of more or less reliable copies made in the 14th or 13th centuries. One of these concerns two semilegendary kings of Kussara (Kushshar) named Pitkhanas and Anittas. The city called Kussara has yet to be identified, but the text gives an impressive list of cities that Pitkhanas had conquered, and among them appears the name of Nesa, which his son,...
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NetScans OverviewLast updated on 27 March, 2023
NetScans periodically checks for LogicMonitor Collectors and automatically discovers resources in your network. In addition, NetScans streamline the process of adding resources to your LogicMonitor account and ensures that your environment is properly monitored.
When a resource is discovered, you can specify criteria that determine whether the resource will be added to monitoring. In addition, you can set the display name based on one of the following:
- Reverse DNS (as resolved by your reverse DNS)
- System name (from SNMP devices if you have it set in the sysName OID)
- IP address
NetScan can use three methods for discovering devices:
You can create and manage NetScans from Settings > NetScan. There are two ways of creating NetScans:


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Nutkrack strives to keep things simple, focusing on the creation and delivery of perfectly caramelized pecans. This is rooted in great ingredients and processes.
Nutkrack actually began as a mistake when found, Chef Eric Rupert, was hard at work in the kitchen, the stovetop crowded with pots and pans, when he accidentally dropped some pecan halves into the wrong pot. He set the pecans aside to cool, intending to throw them away.
When he saw them again later, he stopped and looked more closely. They had a perfect, shiny glaze as though they had been intentionally and carefully prepared. He tasted one, and was surprised at how crunchy and delicious it was. Over he next hour, he ate them all.
The next day, he set out to repeat his mistake, on purpose this time. He added a little salt to compliment the mild sweetness and perfect toasty notes of the prior day's pecans. Rather than eating them all himself, he shared the second batch with family and friends. They were a unanimous hit, and a tradition was born: Eric would prepare these accidental treats as holiday gifts, and he did so for years.
Bringing Nutkrack to the masses has been a decade-long labor of love. With Eric's son Kellen at his side, the two worked to open a production and retail space on Atwood Ave. in Madison, WI in June 2018. From there, they serve the candied pecan lovers of Madison and ship all over the U.S. Nutkrack is now available in more than 30 locations in Madison, all over the state of Wisconsin and has a growing presence in the region. They look forward to sharing some with you soon!
Enjoy your Nutkrack!
4 oz can


We urge pro-life voters to attend your Republican precinct caucuses on Saturday, February 13! See the Washington State Republican Party's Events Calendar for details.
At your precinct caucus, you will elect delegates to your county convention. Delegates to the county convention will elect delegates to the state convention. The state delegates have the opportunity to debate and vote on the party's platform. Additionally, there is potential that these delegates could decide the nominees for U.S. Congress and U.S. Senate in races that have more than one Republican running.


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These lovely tactile tumblers are thrown on the potter’s wheel, and then individually decorated by hand. No two will be identical in their decoration, however you can order a set to be the same shape.
They are accented by 24 carat gold, in a unique modern geometric design, hence the name ‘Modern Geo’.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Not suitable for use in a microwave or dishwasher due to the gold accent. The gold may dull if subjected to the harsh detergent of a dishwasher, but they are 'safe' to dishwash if you don't mind dulling the gold.
I am really drawn to rounded forms, that can be challenging to make with porcelain, as it’s a tricky clay. The geometric blocks and lines that decorate these tumblers are a great juxtaposition to the soft, tactile rounded form that sits so nicely in your hand.


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On Saturday this unique sound will be given its biggest audience ever when, for the first time, the sound of a male alto is broadcast to millions during the Last Night of the Proms.
No one knows how a traditionalist audience expecting "Land of Hope and Glory" and "Jerusalem" will react when Andreas Scholl stands up to perform arias by Handel and Purcell. But the world's leading counter-tenor is already a star attraction for the Albert Hall concert, which will be watched on big screens in Hyde Park and elsewhere.
Scholl has performed with many of the world's top players, including the Cleveland, Royal Concertgebouw and Boston Symphony orchestras, and at Glyndebourne.
But on one occasion a woman in the audience burst out laughing when he began to sing. Counter-tenors divide classical opinion, with one critic describing the sound as like "a cat trying to pass a kidney stone".
"There's a much greater acceptance of the high male voice in pop music," admitted the 37-year-old Scholl. "The classical music audience associates a deeper voice type to a man."
Coincidentally, the balladist Antony Hegarty has made it on to the Mercury Music Prize shortlist with a very similar sound, alongside more mainstream acts such as Coldplay, Kaiser Chiefs and The Magic Numbers. The winner will be announced on Tuesday night.Reuse content


The City of Shelton’s first traffic circle is now open to traffic.
The traffic circle is at the intersection of First and Alder and is part of the City’s Downtown Connector project. The intersection was scheduled to open on Tuesday. Crews will need to finish the striping and signage at the intersection.
Motorists will still encounter occasional lane closures as crews wrap up the project with Olympic Highway North set to get its final layer of blacktop which will require its closure between 7th Street and D Street for 2-3 days.


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Sims 2, 3 and 4 community forum, free downloads, games and challenges at our friendly site.
We are a talented Tag PSP & Siggy Piggy LADIES ONLY Group. . No DRAMA. . Want to have fun? Join us now!
Free forum : The Tudor Rp Group
Malaysia's most popular hi-fi, home theater discussion forum and marketplace, where enthusiasts can also find New or Used, quality hi-fi deals or home cinema equipment for sale! Free classifieds, hence we welcome as many buyers and sellers.
Free forum : Where the pimpin' PSPers come to unwind, have fun, and win some awesome prizes.
Free forum : North Texas Boys Select Soccer
A free D&D RPG site. All ages are welcomed here, literate and non-literate. We host a Dungeons & Dragons Game and entire site is solely based on it.
A fun, friendly place to discuss just about everything.
Free forum : A Group of friends dedicated to PSP tagging and snagging! Contests, challenges, friends! No blank registrations please!
Free forum : A group of friends that enjoy making tags, and siggies for snagging. All are welcomed ~ whether you make tags or simply enjoy requesting.
Free forum : General discussion: family, friends, music, movies, TV, celebrities, games, hobbies, pets, art, literature, sports, news and politics, every day life.
Free forum : For the enjoyment, education, and enlightenment of Early van enthusiasts.
NORFOLK FRIENDS FORUM IS NUMBER ONE IN NORFOLK ONTARIO CANADA
Free forum : Horse racing tips advice
Free forum : A discussion of children, their welfare, well being and lives. We must protect them, they are our future.
A bunch of freeform RPs. Don't expect to see professionalism here, but pretty much anything can be RPd. (within the rules, of course)
Free forum : Group For Pigeon Fanciers
But Why Are The Sweets Gone?. But Why Are The Sweets Gone?
Join us in a fun, active, player driven role play based on the anime Magi: The Kingdom of Magic. Create your own character using our unique systems and interact with our friendly community!
One of the best, community driven Minecraft networks out there! Survival SMP, Minigames, PVP, Skyblock and much much more! IP: oasis-mc. us
a friendly place to talk with Rams fans about DCFC, latest news, live chat room, articles, opinions, serious & humorous views on Derby County, football and life
Free forum : G3, Including 1973 to 1977 A-bodys. Chevelles, Monte Carlos, El Caminos, Laguna, 442, Cutlass, Malibu, GTO, LeMans, and other third 3rd generation A-bodys A-bodies 1974 1975 1976 SS 454
Free forum : A place to share your passion for the WR250R!
Free forum : Roleplaying forum for the Roleplaying room on Pokemon Showdown!
Free forum : Cache of Knowledge and Inspiration
Free forum : A RWBY based, Non-Canon RP. Fit for RPers from all experiences.
Chess2U is a place to discuss and share anything related to Computer Chess! So you will need Chess2U to keep up with Chess progress!
Home of all things Battrick Related, Sports and Everything Else


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Edible Flowers – Field Report May 1, 2015
It may be too early for radishes, spinach, new potatoes and all those wonderful first veggies, but it is not too early to begin eating seasonally in Edmonton! Our greenhouses are open for the season and we want to introduce you to the wonderful world of edible flowers!
The first thing to do when you’re eating edible flowers is to make sure they’re… well, edible. You can find a long list of online resources that provide lists of flowers that you may have previously only believed were ornamental. Home Cooking, Tree Hugger, West Coast Seeds, and What’s Cooking America have great (though not exhaustive) lists of edible flowers. In addition, if flowers are not a regular part of your diet, remember to add them sparingly to your meal plans and see how your body responds. Serious allergy sufferers should be careful to remove the stamen and all pollen covered areas of a flower before consuming them.
One of our favourite ways to eat the flowers in our greenhouses is to add them to fresh spring salads. Pansies, violets and begonias are some of our absolute favourites. Pansies
(which both contain vitamins A & C) are both very mild in flavour – slightly floral, slightly grassy – but big in colour. They can be beautiful garnishes on salads, fish dishes, baking, deserts and soups. The also happen to make beautiful ice cubes to add to your lemonade (or, let’s be real, gin & tonic).
are another whole world of flavour. The leaves, flowers and stems of begonias are all edible and they have a citrusy, sharp flavour. While we use the petals in many of the same ways we use pansies (as well as for snacking in the greenhouse while we water hanging baskets), the stems can be used in recipes to replace rhubarb. Begonias get some of their sharp flavour from the oxalic acid they contain so if you’re suffering from conditions like rheumatism that are aggravated by oxalic acid, you may want to avoid these.
while great at keeping pests away from your gardens and brilliantly coloured also pack some serious flavour. Their petals have a peppery, savoury taste and are also known as “poor man’s saffron”.


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As the centre of his offspring
Glows – outraged to so be lectured –
So much wisdom of the ages
Flows from father-ocean’s lectern:
‘“Take some good advice, Orion:
Watch and learn the way of heaven;
Time just moves around in circles,
From the fish becomes a turtle.”
“Onward then in time, a deluge
Caused a boar to swim the ocean;
Then the lion, Narasimha
Came before the dwarf Vamana.
“Then to life a noble hero
Sprang and rid the world of tyrants.
This made way for Rama’s charm,
Which came before the Bhagavad Gita.
“In this way the prince of paupers
Broke the wheel of earthly suffering;
Maybe, son, you’ll hear him teaching
In the realm of endless loving…”
‘“Thanks for nothing! Shouts Orion,
Show to me my loving mother.
She, at least, would save her scion.”
No; alas: She’s with his brother.’
‘Peering through the velvet darkness,
Seeks the Starman souls like-minded.
Souls who cry for freedom – ‘partners’ –
Ones to rend his endless bindings.


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An initiative of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), BioFISA after four years of operation can now boost of some achievements in fighting hunger, curing diseases as well as livestock sustainability.
NEPAD revealed to NaijaAgroNet in a press statement that BioFISA over the past four years has made effective progress in the areas of the control of HIV infection, livestock disease and development of plant genetic resources guidelines.
The Director of the NEPAD Southern African Network for Bioscience (SANBio), Prof Luke Mumba attributed the achievements to the use of biosciences at BioFISA's primary strategy and continued support from the governments of the Finland and South Africa.
According to Prof. Mumba, BioFISA has helped small-scale farmers in growing and preserving mushroom, developing fish farming and promoting indigenous knowledge systems and scientific validation of traditional remedies.
“Now that we have started making use of the treasure in Africa, there is an imperative need to now focus on preserving, protecting and responsibly sharing indigenous knowledge within African communities to build synergies,” Prof Mumba added.
Speaking about the achievements of BioFISA, a Senior Coordinator of NEPAD's CEO’s Office, Mr. Abdoul Salam Bello said the programmes has affected over 600 small-scale mushroom growers in Malawi, Namibia and Swaziland, while training more than 100 agriculture extension officers and researchers from Angola, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia in mushroom farming.
NaijaAgroNet further gathered that BioFISA which is a Finland and Southern Africa Partnership Programme to Strengthen NEPAD/SANBio currently covers eight research and development projects in 12 Southern African countries in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Seychelles, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
... Linking agrobiz, people & technology

domain: biology


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Polymeric materials play an important role in our daily life due to their vast application range. However, flame retardancy of such polymers needs to be improved for technical applications due to potential fire risk they possess. Most of the conventional flame-retardants are not biodegradable and if disposed in the landfill, microorganisms in the soil or water cannot degrade them. Hence, they remain in the environment for long time and may find their way not only in the food chain but can also easily attach to any airborne particle and can be toxic for environment and human life. Therefore, the goal of this research work is to promote the use of biodegradable and biobased compounds for flame-retardant applications. Therefore, for this dissertation biobased and biodegradable intumescent flame-retardants for Polylactic acid textiles and composites were developed. A remarkable increase in flame-retardancy in the developed textiles and a significant decrease in heat release rate, total smoke production and effective heat of combustion in composites were observed. The developed products achieved the benchmark properties as defined by EN ISO 11925-2 standard testing method, which certifies the commercial application of this product. Hence, the results in this dissertation confirmed that biodegradable and biobased additives can be used in technical flame-retardant applications with comparable properties to conventional non-biodegradable flame-retardants.
- environment friendly
- renewable resources


text: Our lodge is located near the interchange of highways 285 and 62, the two main arteries running through this town. In the Chihuahuan Desert, Carlsbad sits at 3,295 feet. “The Pearl on the Pecos” as it was once known is surrounded by interesting and beautiful natural destinations. Carlsbad Caverns National Park is just 18 miles away. Just across the Texas border to the southwest is Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Good golfing, hiking and water sports abound in this charming little town.


Cee Lo Green
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Cee-Lo Green, right, of the music group Gnarls Barkley performs at the 2006 Coachella Valley Music Festival in Indio, Calif. on Sunday, April 30, 2006.
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Janet Hand retires from banking after 45 years
ROCHESTER — Forty-five years ago, Janet Hand started her banking career as a teller with Portsmouth Savings Bank, and last week she thought it appropriate to spend the final hour of her professional life back behind the counter, serving customers.
Hand, until she stepped down on Dec. 31, was the executive vice president of Profile Bank, and just prior to the bank closing early for the New Year’s Day holiday at 1 p.m. her last customer — by arrangement — was Ruth Meader, who said she was honored to have been chosen by Hand to be the last customer of her career.
Other Profile Bank employees emerged from offices to witness the historic transaction, and by sheer coincidence, the background music in the bank featured Donna Summer singing “She works hard for the money.”
Before stepping behind the counter for the last banking hour of the year, Hand got a quick refresher from Head Teller Kay Hobbs, and when it was all over, she presented Hobbs with a small ceramic water wheel. This is a device that a teller can use to moisten their fingers when counting wads of bank notes — and Hand has had hers since her first days as a teller days in 1969.
Originally from Pennsylvania, Hand attended Gordon College, a Christian institution in Massachusetts, where she met her husband Tom. Then she attended New Hampshire College and obtained her degree in business administration.
From Portsmouth Savings Bank, Hand recalled, she moved to Hampton Cooperative Bank, first as a teller, then as head teller, and later, after completing a two-year program at the New England School of Banking (on the Dartmouth campus), she became a banking officer.
In 1992, she was recruited by Ron Pierog, then Profile Bank’s president and CEO, to serve as assistant vice president of operations and compliance at the Wakefield Street head office.
“He knew me from the banking work,” said Hand.
During the previous year — 1991 — seven New Hampshire Banks failed, including Rochester-based Bank East, but Profile Bank remained strong.
“We have always been conservative. We have not changed our policy or lending practices, and that has done us well,” said Hand, noting that the same prudent philosophy had left Profile Bank unscathed by the financial turmoil in 2008.
Hand, after her promotion to executive vice president of Profile Bank, with special responsibilities for compliance and risk management, was well placed to speak with authority on the matter.
“The changes really began with 9/11,” she said, referring to the terrorist attacks of 2001.
This led to the USA Patriot Act and anti-money laundering provisions, such as strict bank customer I.D.s, to prevent terrorism funding, said Hand.
Then, after Wall Street’s financial crisis of 2008, came the Dodd-Frank Act which further tightened banking regulations, and ensured that responsibility for compliance and risk management in a bank was now a full time senior position, if it hadn’t been before.
When Hand arrived at Profile Bank in 1992, the Sanbornville branch had been open for a number of years, but in 1994, construction began on a facility in Alton. By this time, Profile Bank’s CEO was Ken Wilman.
“Ken and I opened up the Alton branch, and it has been very successful,” said Hand.
That branch opened for business in 2005, and three years later, Profile Bank opened its fourth branch on Route 108 in Somersworth.
During her years in Rochester, Hand has also been very active in the Chamber of Commerce, serving as a board member for six years, including a year as chairman. She has served on the banquet, ambassador and parade committees among others. Profile Bank has also been a strong supporter of Relay for Life, and Hand sat on that committee, as well as working on the Spaulding High School Unaccompanied Youth Program with Marty Brennan.
“Janet is a big supporter of the Chamber and the business community. Her contributions have benefited the Chamber greatly. She will certainly be missed,” said Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce President Laura Ring, who came to Profile Bank to witness Hand’s final transactions.
Hand’s replacement at Profile Bank will be Gail Daudelin.
“In June 2014, knowing I was going to retire, I hired her from another Seacoast financial institution,” said Hand, adding that 35 years ago, she had hired Daudelin at Hampton Cooperative Bank. Although their subsequent banking careers had then taken different paths, the Seacoast banking community is such that no one really loses touch.
Now Hand is ready to start another chapter of her life, after what she describes the “wonderful journey in my banking career.”
“I am very involved with Middle Street Baptist Church in Portsmouth — I just chaired the search committee for our new pastor — and now I can spend more time there. Also, my husband, Tom Hand, has his own business, and I will join the Portsmouth Chamber on his behalf,” said Hand.
Rye-based Tom Hand makes elegant reproduction period furniture. See www.thandperiodfurniture.com.


Xiaomi confirms it has a smartwatch coming later this year
Xiaomi may no longer be one of the top five smartphone makers in the world, according to the latest numbers from IDC, but that won't be changing the company's plans to expand its business. Xiaomi has confirmed that it has plans to release a smartwatch later this year. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of info beyond that.
Liu De, Xiaomi co-founder, vice-president and head of industrial design, admitted at a press conference in Beijing that the company would be releasing its first ever Xiaomi smartwatch. He didn't give a very specific release date but implied that the smartwatch would be released in the second half of 2016. And, that's where the details of the Xiaomi smartwatch end.
We still don't know anything about specs, or even what platform the watch will run. Xiaomi uses Android on its devices, but tends to avoid Google services, so it's unclear if Android Wear will be used. The smartwatch won't be the first wearable as the company already has the Xiaomi Band fitness tracker and a Band 2 expected in a couple weeks.