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Today also sees the introduction of an additional deferral from blood donation of people with a history of specific notifiable sexually transmitted infections. This will be in effect for five years from completion of treatment of that infection.
Commenting on the changes, Minister for Health Simon Harris said: “The IBTS provides a safe, reliable and robust blood service to the Irish health system and has the necessary programmes and procedures in place to protect both donors and recipients of blood and blood products. Furthermore, the IBTS will continue to keep all deferral policies under active review in the light of scientific evidence, emerging infections and international experience.”
This change in deferral policy relating to MSM follows detailed consideration of the issues involved over the past two years. This process included the hosting by the IBTS of an international symposium in April 2016, where experts from seven countries who had either changed or were in the process of changing their deferral policy from a lifetime ban for MSM as blood donors, presented their respective stances, research and the rationale behind their decisions.
The change to a one-year deferral for MSM is supported by the most current scientific evidence available and brings Ireland in line with similar policies in the UK, Canada and elsewhere.
Minister Harris highlighted the importance of donating blood, and urged all those eligible to consider donation. “Only 3 per cent of the eligible population of Ireland are active blood donors – yet one-in-four people will require a blood transfusion at some time in their lives.”
Minister Harris concluded: “In June of last year, I accepted the recommendations of the IBTS to change their blood donation deferral policies for men who have sex with men, as well as for donors who have had a sexually transmitted infection. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the IBTS for their work over the past six months which today sees these recommendations brought to fruition within the timescale agreed.”
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domain: health


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A 14-years-old Australian girl identified as Rochelle Pryor was found dead by her dad in her bedroom moments after posting a cry for help on Facebook.
On the night she tried to kill herself, Rochelle Pryor sent a message to her friends on social media:
“Once I’m gone, the bullying and the racism will stop.”
The sweet girl who adored animals, delighted in practical jokes and dreamt of one day going to university, was desperately reaching out for help.
But it was late and only one friend replied to her post online, and later that night her father Geoffrey found her unconscious in her bedroom.
She was rushed to Perth Children’s Hospital, where she clung to life for nine days. Rochelle later died on January 10th.
Rochelle’s heartbroken parents and siblings are reflecting on her short life and searching for answers about why she chose to end her life.
The girl was doing quite well at school, where she excelled at maths. At home, she loved listening to music and playing with her pet cat Woofster.
Her 17-year-old elder sister Kyanne said Rochelle was “sweet, happy and funny” but was worried that her friends had “turned against her” and she was being bullied. She told The Australian.
“She was really upset by it.”
“There was racism involved – a lot of the time it was just random people who don’t realise what they’re saying.”
Rochelle was involved in an altercation between a man and a group of students outside her school gates in August. She came home with severe cuts on her legs. After that, she told her mother, Wendy Paterson that she didn’t want to go to school anymore.
Ms. Paterson, said her daughter’s mental health went downhill after the altercation.
Rochelle’s death has distressed fellow students at the college. One fellow student wrote on Instagram:
“My vision is so blurry from my tears … come back please.
“The last day we were talking about what colour you should dye your hair and you were thinking about… blue or purple.
“If I knew that was your last day, I would do anything to stop you. I remember telling you whenever you weren’t in the right mindset I would repeat telling you ‘I’m always here for you’.”

domain: sociology


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What does Island Time really mean?
Imagine a world where the sun kisses the horizon, where the ocean whispers secrets to the shore, and the clock seems to take a leisurely stroll – welcome to “Island Time” in the Caribbean. This isn’t just a term; it’s a lifestyle, a mindset that permeates through the archipelago’s vibrant cultures and breathtaking landscapes.
The Essence of Island Time
Island Time isn’t about being late or lazy; it’s about appreciating the moment. In the Caribbean, life unfolds like a gently swaying hammock under a canopy of blue skies and palm trees. Here, the hurried pace of the modern world gives way to a rhythm that’s in harmony with nature.
A Day on Island Time
Imagine this: Your day starts with the sunrise or maybe the call of a big red rooster, the “Caribbean alarm clock”. Breakfast is a leisurely affair, savoring fresh fruits and the morning breeze. There’s no rush, no frantic commute. The streets are alive with calypso music, and the air carries the scent of the sea and spices. People greet each other with warm smiles, taking the time to stop and chat. On Island Time, every activity has its own calm pace. Fishing boats glide on crystal waters, unhurried. Markets bustle with the easy chatter of vendors selling colorful produce and crafts. As afternoon unfolds, time seems to still be in the warmth of the sun. Later, as the sun begins to set, the sky comes alive with brilliant colors, backed by the rhythm of steel drums.
The Impact on Visitors
For travelers used to a fast-paced lifestyle, adapting to Island Time can be a bit of a shift. Initially, the change of pace might be frustrating. It can take a few days to sync with the laid-back lifestyle and the locals. But rest assured, once you settle in, the slower pace becomes incredibly soothing. However, it’s worth noting that this environment isn’t for everyone. Island Time can be a great gauge to see if the Caribbean lifestyle works for you. Those who are perpetually high-strung and struggle to relax might find it challenging to adapt, even in this serene setting. It’s an invitation to slow down, to disconnect from the outside world, and to immerse yourself in the serene pace of life. Embrace this change, and you’ll find yourself moving in harmony with the island’s tranquil rhythm.
Lessons from Island Time
Island Time teaches us some valuable lessons. It reminds us to breathe, to truly see the people and beauty around us, and to listen to the rhythms of life. It’s about being present, cherishing relationships, and finding joy in simplicity. In a world obsessed with speed and productivity, Island Time offers a refreshing perspective.
Conclusion: The Timeless Charm of the Caribbean
Island Time is the heart of the Caribbean spirit – a reminder that sometimes, the best thing we can do is to slow down and savor life’s journey. In the Caribbean, time isn’t just measured in hours and minutes, but in moments and memories. So, kick off your shoes, let the sand be your seat, and let the Caribbean teach you the art of living on Island Time.

domain: literature


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There has been no shortage of innovative machines introduced in agriculture over the past few years — and we certainly expect more to come. Arguably, one of the most unique of those designs has to be Vermeer’s ZR5-1200 self-propelled round baler. The company had one on display at the Ag in Motion farm show in Langham, Sask., in July. Grainews spoke to Corey Dalman, territory manager for Vermeer’s forage equipment line, on the show grounds to get the lowdown on what it has to offer producers.
Having walked the aisles of the world’s largest ag machinery show, Agritechnica, in Hanover, Germany, one of the things that…
[VIDEO] AgDealerTV: Vermeer’s ZR5-1200 baler
Around 2018, an engineer at Vermeer came up with the idea for a zero-turn baler while cutting the grass on his own zero-turn lawn mower. A short time later, the first prototype zero-turn baler was in field trials. The ZR5-1200 baler has now been in full production for approximately four years.
At the back, the actual baler is based on Vermeer’s existing 605 design.
“This is the same as our 605M baler, which we’ve had available in various configurations for close to 13, 14 years now,” he said. “It’s basically the same concept with some updates.”
The biggest advantage offered by the zero-turn, self-propelled concept is improved productivity in the field.
“In one of the tests I did in the Interlake in Manitoba a few years ago, we were in the same field where a customer had a 605M baler on a Fendt tractor with a CVT transmission. This (ZR5-1200) is hydrostatic, so that in my opinion is very apples to apples. He’s not shifting through gears. The big difference in the productivity with this machine was at the headlands. He would have to go out and make a big swing, whereas I could turn around and go right back down the next windrow. By the time he turned and got into his windrow, I was half-way down the field already. And that’s where the big productivity change is with this, it’s the manoeuvrability. With a tractor, it doesn’t matter how fast you bale, you still need to make a wide turn at the end.”
The baler has two operating modes — field mode, which uses the zero-turn steering system, and road mode, which reverts to a conventional steering system.
“In field mode, it will travel and bale up to 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h),” Dalman says. “It’s completely, 100 per cent, zero turn with a steering wheel. For road transport from field to field, we have what we call road mode. The (front) wheels caster in the field, like a lawn mower. But in road mode they lock up and steer like a tie rod system. That will give us road speeds up to 35 m.p.h. (60 km/h).”
Because of the large rear wheels and overall machine configuration, the baler doesn’t bounce as badly at high field speeds like a conventional pull type does. And the large radial rear wheels also offer some suspension to smoothe out the ride for the entire machine, including the operator.
“The pickup on this machine is exactly between the back wheels,” Dalman adds. “The pickup moves up and down with the baler, whereas on a pull type the pickup is independent and moves independently of the baler. The capacity of this baler is 100 per cent equal all the time because the throat isn’t closing up and expanding all the time. You’ll actually see a little more productivity out of this, even though it is the same baler (as the 605 pull type).”
To handle heavy windrow conditions, the pickup is eight feet wide. And even though it’s beneath the machine, an underbody camera allows the operator to see it on the in-cab monitor. And the upfront cab makes it easier to see any rocks or obstructions before they get to the pickup.
Power comes from a 200-horsepower, four-cylinder Cummins diesel. And it uses a hydrostatic driveline. A single multi-purpose joystick controls ground speed and several other automated functions that take over most of the tasks an operator has to manually perform on a pull-type baler.
“This baler, compared with our pull types, is all automated,” says Dalman. “On a pull type, the customer still has to run the hydraulics on the tractor to eject the bale and close the door. With the joystick in the cab, you set your ground speed. You leave the joystick there. When it gets to the point the bale is ready to start wrapping, the machine will actually slow down and stop on its own. It’ll wrap the bale on its own and close the door. Then it will just sit there and wait for you to give it the command to go again, which is the resume button on the joystick. Just like cruise control on a vehicle.”
And the baler was designed for efficient maintenance and easy updating as well, including allowing for complete removal and replacement of the baler body in just a few minutes.
“The thing most people don’t realize is the baler portion of this baler is actually removable in less than five minutes for servicing or repairs, or if you wear it out. There’s a rocker switch in the cab you push. It will actually pick the baler up and set it on the ground hydraulically.
“We sell the baler portion independently. Guys that do a lot of bales will buy another baler (body), so they have a spare machine if they have a major breakdown.”
Scott Garvey is a freelance writer and video producer. He is also the former machinery editor at Grainews.
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domain: agronomy


Woman Shoots One Of Two Burglars Dead
A glass half full.
A Southeast Oak Cliff resident shot and killed a burglary suspect who kicked in her door alongside an accomplice Wednesday afternoon.
One suspect was taken to Methodist Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The second escaped. Police cleared the area in front of the home at 7230 Concordia Lane, saying the suspect’s car had to be towed away. The vehicle had paper plates.Tweets sent from the official Dallas Police Department Twitter account said two suspects kicked in the door of the home at about 11:30 a.m. The resident was alone upstairs and heard the noise. She confronted the two burglars as they ascended the stairs and shot at them several times.The two ran out the front door and one collapsed from a gunshot wound. Police later recovered a gun at the scene, "indicating at least one of the suspects was armed." Nobody has been identified.


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– Summary –
Director : Kevin Smith
Year Of Release : 2011
Principal Cast : Michael Parks, John Goodman, Melissa Leo, Stephen Root, Michael Angarano, Kyle Gallner, Nicholas Bruan, Kerry Bishe, Kevin Alejandro, Kevin Pollack, Ralph Garman, James Parks.
Approx Running Time : 90 Minutes
Synopsis: Three young high school students hook up with a local woman for a gang-bang, only to be kidnapped by the local bigoted church in order to be executed for “their sins”. As they each try and escape, Federal Agents arrive to serve the church with a search warrant, only to become involved in a almighty firefight.
What we think : Talky, sometimes-uneven Kevin Smith feature goes for the jugular a lot but misses more often than not, thanks mainly to some merely-adequate dialogue sequences that just go on and on and on, before the film descends into a kind of action-oriented shoot-for-all. It’s shocking, yes, and it’s certainly not a film for those seeking enlightenment about…. well, anything. Smith, much like his previous theologically-themed film Dogma, once more takes aim at religion – this time religious extremism – and shoots it directly between the eyes, although the extreme violence and “horror” aesthetic he gives it feels more like a crazy mix of The Crazies and Deliverance than it does an outright horror film. Worth a look.
“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” – James 1:23-27
Like many, I’ve been a fan of Kevin Smith’s work since I first saw Mallrats (I never saw Clerks until relatively recently, and must admit to finding it just a tad underwhelming – a review for another time!) and have followed his career as an independent filmmaker with keen interest. While his views on the wide variety of things he likes to talk about aren’t always the same as mine, I’m happy he has the platform with which to say them, and as long as he keeps making interesting, unique films, then I’m happy to indulge him some eccentricity. Red State, a film about extreme religious bigots and three teenagers taken hostage by them, is perhaps the least Kevin Smith-like film he’s done to date, in that it’s less a dramatic work of intellectual fiction with pointed commentary on some kind of social or political theme, and more an outright action flick masquerading as a pointed commentary on those extremist “we hate fags” kind of Christians who make other Christians look bad. I’m happy that a director is confident of his own ability to try something new by way of genre, and will always give them props when they get things right (even if it’s not all the time) and I’m happy to report that for moving out of his comfort zone, Smith has certainly succeeded in bringing us a film that stands tall amongst his oeuvre. It’s not without flaws, certainly, but the biting wit and pointed commentary Smith is known for is still present enough in between the gunfire to let us know he’s still pulling the strings.
Travis (Michael Angarano), Jared (Kyle Gallner) and Billy Ray (Nicholas Bruan) are three high school buddies who find themselves in a dangerous situation – they’re lured to an out-of-the way trailer for group sex with a supposedly willing participant (whom Jared met online), only to be kidnapped by the local extremist church, led by Pastor Abin Cooper (Michael Parks). They quickly discover their predicament is a matter of life or death, for the Pastor and his congregation preach fire-and-brimstone against the sinners of this world, and particularly the homosexuals they perceive as the ruin of mankind. As they try and make their individual breaks for freedom, they are alternatively pursued before they can escape and raise the alarm. Meanwhile, ATF agents (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms) led by Agent Keenan (John Goodman) have surrounded the church compound to serve a search warrant looking for illicit weapons – weapons the church indeed has, and uses them in a last-stand firefight during which a large proportion of the congregation is slowly picked off.
Whether you’re a Christian or not, this film is going to shock you. Not for what it represents, but rather, for the way it’s presented. Kevin Smith, who directed a film previously with themes about religion, Dogma, returns to the well for a second round – and this time, it’s a more brutal, bloody affair. This time, however, Smith isn’t painting a comedic commentary on the idiosyncratic Catholic Church, but rather the hysterical overreactions of the extremist members of Christianity who ascribe to violence and murder in the name of God – those who decry homosexuality, immorality, corruption and all facets of human society they perceive as against God’s vision for Earth and use methods of retribution as some kind of deluded “mission” from God to carry out His work (in other words, all the stuff in the Old Testament which was cast aside by the coming of Christ, who ushered in a new age of forgiveness through his death – look it up, heathen!), and he uses guns, violence and guns to portray this methodology as a failed one. Red State is the kind of film which, had it been made by any other director, would have been a pure, unfettered horror/thriller, the kind of film you watch with your eyes hidden by your hands and the ratcheting tension amping up the potential for blood to be spilled. In a method I can only parallel with Tarantino’s penchant for taking on different genre and putting his own stamp on it, Smith has made a horror film with a lot – and a lot – of talking in it. Mainly from Michael Parks’ deluded Pastor Cooper.
You get the sense that Smith was channeling Robert Rodriguez while he was making this; Red State is bloody, horrifying and gruesome when it needs to be, and startlingly shocking when it doesn’t. The motivations of the character, from the trio of sex-crazed teens journeying into the backwoods for a gang-bang, to the sermonizing Pastor Cooper building up to a gruesome, kill-or-be-killed climax, are all grist (if you’ll pardon the inexplicably suitable pun) for the mill of Smith’s take on human madness in the name of religion. For that’s essentially what this film attempts to deliver, a look into the minds who distort a truth and a belief and transform it into justification for the most horrible of acts. Whether that’s Christian fundamentalism or any other religion, it’s a big red brush Smith is using to paint on this canvas, and it covers a lot of stuff. Red State, aside from its obvious religious commentary, is actually pretty entertaining, as far as Deliverance-styled horror goes. While it never gets into Hostel territory, the film’s overt bloodiness is extreme although justified; realism for the sake of shock value is undervalued by a lot of PG13 play-it-safers these days. Nobody’s making too many films where peoples brains are shown being blown out by high velocity weapons, but Smith does.
Graphic violence aside, there’s plenty to enjoy about Red State. The Bad Guy’s aren’t always clear – the ATF agents are given a change in orders after one of the officers accidentally shoots a fleeing hostage dead (I won’t say who) to just kill everyone, regardless of their affiliation with the church. So one the one hand you have Pastor Cooper brimstoning us for twenty minutes about sin and its effect on humanity, and on the other you have a Federal agency legitimizing sanctioned murder for the sake of reputation; you can’t tell me that’s not a nice argument there. The fact that Smith’s not afraid to kill off characters who we’d assumed would survive through most of the film is also a surprising – and effective – technique for keeping us on our toes, metaphorically speaking. Who will come out of this alive? You’d be surprised, actually. Smith’s not afraid to screw with his audience, and here, he does a lot of screwing.
If there’s any flaws with the film, it’s mainly in the scripting. Smith, with his penchant for a lot of his character talking – a lot – is once more on song here, with a particularly lengthy monologue from Pastor Cooper slowly but surely ratcheting up the tension as our trio of teens suddenly realize that they’re not in a safe place, being in that church. While I normally lament lengthy monologues used to try and build character in films where character isn’t important, this time I actually found it truly frightening. You, however, might not. Pastor Cooper is, in his own mind, justifying his actions in killing people, regardless of what they’ve supposedly done or not, and as the gradual horror of this scenario begins to coalesce into a shocking moment of murder, Smith never once pulls away, never once decides taking the safe route might be better – this is blood being spilled, and he shows it. Once the ATF agents decide to take down the church, a barricaded semi-fortress in an unnamed Californian valley, the film becomes less a Deliverance hillbilly nightmare and more an outright action thriller. Once the guns start up, we’re off and running with a pure, bloody firefight. The careful character study Smith had given us for the first half of the film, is shoved aside in favor of the rat-a-tat of semi-automatic gunfire and bodies being hit with ordinance. The vague overtones to the Waco Siege of 1993 are eerie to say the least, with Michael Parks’ character set up as a semi-David Koresh styled zealot, and it’s clear that Smith may have tapped into that conspiracy theory-riddled event to prop up his own film. Not entirely a bad thing, although using a real world event to crystallize the viewer’s emotional state towards what transpires here is something I’d not have expected from such a normally creative (and individualistic) director.
Another potential flaw for some viewers might be the lack of development for any – and I mean any – of the characters within it. Instead of focusing on a single character as our main focal point, or even a small group of two or three main characters, Smith lets the film play out as it might in real life and avoids giving any single character an genuine “starring” role – because any of our characters could bite a bullet next; perhaps it’s a way of Smith keeping the audience off balance, by not allowing us to connect with a specific character, but instead making us feel something for all of them. I’m not sure everyone’s going to like this style of storytelling, although it does work on its own merits as a device in many modern nightmare-thrillers, although I think Smith’s unable to truly get the balance between this style and his own normal one quite right. In attempting to make every kill and every shot count, he sometimes overstretches the audience’s ability to latch onto something emotional within the story, and that’s where the film gets the wobbles.
One of the things I actually loved about Red State was the lack of oppressive shadows and darkness. So many films like this are virtually unwatchable thanks to the pall of a vast night setting or lots of dark rooms – Smith manages to keep this film bright and lit (for the most part) and I, for one, appreciated being able to see what was going on. Sure, there’s darkness around (particularly during the initial sexually charged sequences), but the firefight in the film’s last half occurs during daylight hours, meaning everything is laid bare in God’s bright sunshine. Smith’s carves up the screen once the bullets fly, with a solid ability to generate excitement as things go from bad to horribly worse. Humanity descending into madness was a running theme in Pastor Cooper’s sermons, and that theme is borne out in the eventual climax of the film. It’s a suckerpunch ending, the one in Red State, and I suspect it’s the kind of ending a lot of folks despise – the cop out. Smith chooses to fade to black with a “a few days later” ending, showing the fallout from the confrontation with dialogue instead of action, robbing viewers who’ve had their expectations for a final, bloody head-shot to the Pastor (I know I was expecting it, almost anticipating it, in a sense) built up over the previous 90 minutes. Horrendous people sometimes don’t always get quite what they deserve – they get worse. He he.
Red State is a remarkably shocking, brutally confronting, and altogether stimulating feature from Kevin Smith. Alongside his usual proselytizing on the dangers of unfettered religion, Smith delivers a taut, tension-filled experience into his own nightmarish world, and you’ll come out exhausted at the end. It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure, and there’s some flaws uncovering Smith’s lack of experience as an action director – mainly the fact that the film’s extensive dialogue robs the narrative of momentum crucial to building tension, a factor which will put a lot of folks off – but ultimately, Red State is a solid entry into Smiths filmography and one which points the finger at a variety of themes and punches them right between the eyes.

domain: artistic


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I am not sure that I understand this. It is OK to make parents "feel guilty" about second hand smoke (even when the science isn't there), but it is butting into people's business and improperly making them feel guilty to say that children are better off being breast feed. I definitely don't think that the government should get involved in either case, but is it me or is it just that there is a bias against making women feel that they should stay home raising their kids? Child-rearing experts have long pointed to the benefits of breast-feeding. But critics say the new campaign has taken things too far and will make mothers who cannot breast-feed, or choose not to, feel guilty and inadequate. . . .
urging women to breast-feed exclusively is a tall order in a country where more than 60 percent of mothers of very young children work, federal law requires large companies to provide only 12 weeks' unpaid maternity leave and lactation leave is unheard of. Only a third of large companies provide a private, secure area where women can express breast milk during the workday, and only 7 percent offer on-site or near-site child care, according to a 2005 national study of employers by the nonprofit Families and Work Institute.
One could also add how having a child and breast-feeding, especially when the woman is at a relatively young age, reduces the risks of breast cancer. (This study doesn't differentiate by the age of the mother when she starts breast-feeding and this average effect hides the big benefit of doing it at younger ages.)The study involved 50,302 women with breast cancer and 96,973 without the disease. According to the study, a woman's risk for breast cancer decreased by about 4.3 percent for every 12 months she breast-fed. The risk went down 7 percent more for every child born.


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Unlock the entire Houzz
58 stone brick Mediterranean Basement Design Photos
So cool. The stone, the door, the chairs.
nice combination of brick and stone
Brick and stone for wine room.
this is the color of stone I want...brick & stone mix...Brick and stone wall...Like stone and brick...Brick wall2...like the brick work...stone, brick...rock and brick work...Brick ceiling...rock ans brick...Exposed brick is nice...beautiful brick
Berriz Design Build Group
Nice stone work, scones, and door
Stunning. Love the lights, the stone work, intricacy
Door and stone/brick jam...bricks around...brick doorway...Basement stone work...brick wall...brick around door...Sconces and stone...Stone and doir...Stone and door combo
The brick is a thin cut brick and the rest of the details are painted on.
Another good cobblestone alternate. I like this better than the herringbone brick floor.
brick on one wall of the soda bar?...Brick wall...wall brick
North America's Largest Custom Marble & Bronze Designer
The Glass House
Really cool brick roof
Jon Eric Christner ARCHITECT INC.
white w stone floor
Electronics Design Group, Inc.
Entertainment Room with Aquarium Wall
Beautiful stone and sealife paintings , lighting
The Overlook at Heritage Hills
Use of space & wall stone
Murphy Bros. Designers & Remodelers
Mbros' Living Spaces
For Naomi . Stone instead of brick
Arched brick design behind bar with shelves for liquor.
Dining room add food elevator To much brick
Cool brick arching ceiling wine room...love the brick ceiling...Brick instead of stone??...Brick ceiling....brick curved ceiling

domain: design


John Avlon: Georgia Is Celebrating Confederate Heritage and History Month? Really?Roundup: Media's Take
tags: Confederacy, The Daily Beast, John Avlon, Confederate History Month
John Avlon is senior columnist for Newsweek and The Daily Beast, and the anchor of Beast TV. A CNN contributor, he won the National Society of Newspaper Columnists’ award for best online column in 2012.
I thought it was an April Fools’ joke.
There in my inbox on the morning of April 1 was an email from something called Ray McBerry Enterprises announcing the official start of “Confederate Heritage and History Month” in Georgia.
Apparently, former Georgia governor Sonny Perdue signed the annual celebration into law in 2009, joining six other Southern states in official monthlong “celebrations.” My folks live next door in South Carolina, and I’m a bit of a Civil War nerd, so there’s no inherent shock in the impulse to recognize local history, however painful the legacy.
But what did shock me was this quote from the press release: “So much is portrayed by Hollywood today that Georgia and the South were evil; when, in reality, the South was the most peaceful, rural, and Christian part of America before war and Reconstruction destroyed the pastoral way of life here.”
The South under slavery: “peaceful, rural, and Christian.” This isn’t heritage, this is wholesale historic revisionism. And it is ugly stuff....
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I’m confused. When I turn on the TV or read the newspaper, I hear about a society that sets unrealistic physical standards for women. Magazines and clothing brands are routinely boycotted for using photos of models that have been airbrushed too much. Even the most recent winner of The Biggest Loser has been criticized for losing too much weight and apparently setting a bad example for women.
In formerly polite society, I hear peers sneer and snicker about women they deem too skinny according to some arbitrary standard. The term “skinny bitches” is regularly bandied about among musical artists and other celebrities who would otherwise never use the latter word because it’s, well, disrespectful to put it lightly.
Obesity epidemic, anyone?
But America is also in an apparent tug-of-war with neighboring country Mexico for world’s most obese country according to some reports. The number one cause of death in America is heart disease—generally not caused by under-eating. So, where is this society that encourages women to be dangerously underweight? I’m not seeing it.
The #1 song in America today is “All About that Bass” by a not-airbrushed Meghan Trainor. In it, she refers to aforementioned “skinny bitches” and “stick figure” women—of one she is, proudly, not. We have clothing stores that cater specifically to “plus-sized” women in virtually every mall in America today. I’m not sure we’re quite as lacking in accommodations for non-slender women as we’re made out to be in the media.
In fact, which women’s bodies get the most positive attention in our popular culture? Unfortunately there’s no Billboard Top 100 for that but I think I can take a pretty good guess at who it might be: Nicki Minaj (of “Google my ass” fame), Beyonce, Kim Kardashian, Kate Upton, Iggy Azalea. Before them? Try Jennifer Lopez or Mariah Carey. Are these women underweight? Are their photos airbrushed to make them appear to be? Do they struggle in any way to get on the cover of popular magazines? I think that’s a “No” on all questions.
Everything in moderation
So, while the CDC says that 34.9% of Americans are overweight, we seem to be waging a war against slender, fit women. Somehow, it became that if you exercise and eat healthy, you’re now on the side of “the man” and must be resisted in any way possible. This seems strange to me.
There’s no question that young girls and women (and probably men) should pay zero attention to magazines that present any human bodies in unnaturally perfect states. That’s not good for anybody. But maybe we shouldn’t be advocating the exact opposite and telling people to embrace their less-than-slender figures. After all, it’s probably not a good idea to embrace anything that will shorten your life. That goes for under-eating and over-eating, too.


Lady Gaga debuted her video for “911” on Sept. 18, and you better strap yourself in, because it’s a wild ride. The visual starts off with Gaga waking up in the desert surrounded by a bike and pomegranates. She then walks into a town, where a guy is slamming his head on a pillow and she’s greeted by a group of various characters, including a shirtless man with an umbrella and a mom cradling what looks like a body wrapped in white cloth. The whole thing is a trip and features tons of Catholic references, but things get even stranger when the video reveals itself to be a hallucination, as Gaga wakes up on a stretcher and realizes she doesn’t have her pills.
In an interview with Apple Music, Gaga revealed that the song is about an antipsychotic that she takes, adding, “It’s because I can’t always control things that my brain does. I know that. And I have to take medication to stop the process that occurs.” Watch the full video above now.
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Flyboi Incfrontline act,Kizz Danielreturns with two brand new records which he titled “Pak N Go“ alongside with the other one titled “Pah Poh”
‘Pak N Go‘ pronounced Pack And Go, serves asKizz Daniel‘s third official record for the year, it comes after the release of his previous single tagged ‘Eko‘.
The song was produced by highly gifted music producer, the one and onlyDJ Coublon.
Listen & Download “Kizz Daniel – Pah Poh” below:-
You Need To Promote Your Music, Video, Products, or Any Promotional Biz, Feel Free To Contact CEO STREETOTMEDIA via “Call : 09066190884” Or Mail us at Streetotmedia@gmail.com
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One of the first things I noticed when I saw Apple’s long-awaited AirTags its surface, which reminds me of a giant, was polished M & M. Like real M & Ms, AirTags don’t have holes, which means you have to buy AirTag accessories to connect the device to your keys or to hang it on your handbag. While Apple didn’t include a keyring hole in the AirTags, apparently you can make one yourself without screwing them up too much.
In her demo of the AirTag published on Saturday the IFixi peoplet decided to test if it was possible to drill a key ring hole in the device, A noble service for those who do not want to pay the extra money for accessories and are willing to take the risk of destroying the thing. If this sounds like you, you’ll need a 1/16 ”drill bitaccording to iFixit.
Before you insert your drill, the first thing you must do is To do this, remove the battery. The key is to locate one of the three and successfully pierce it Notches that you can see clearly at iFixit, in the circuit board and the antenna shield of the AirTag. The notches are for the clips that hold the AirTag together. (Remember that while AirTag batteries will last more than a year without a charge, they can be replaced by pulling the back of the device off.)
iFixit determines that the position of the notches is “approximately” the position of the clips for the metal battery cover. which means that she can serve as a guide. Now you want to drill through the notch, not the clip itself. But if you’re unlucky, this supposedly won’t kill your AirTag.
In case you succeed (and we hope you are because who wants to throw money away), iFixit says that the AirTag should work as if nothing had happened. The device’s speaker, which it chimes through so you can find it if you lose it, or notify others that there is a lost AirTag nearby. was hardly affected.
There is a price to be paid to save a few dollars, however. iFixiWhen drilling a hole in your AirTag, don’t expect it to stay waterproof and dustproof. Meanwhile, MacRumors indicates that doing so will undoubtedly void Apple’s warranty.
In the end, those of you in search of your drill have a choice to make. Is it worth taking a risk when accessories are available for? $ 12.95 Or less? The waterproof thing worries me too, mostly because I had to open my door in the rain. Unfortunately, it’s a choice that each of us must make. May luck be on your side.


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Jennifer Lopez : biography
Lopez’s debut single, "If You Had My Love", was released in May 1999, as she began to ready her first album. Lopez became the first artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 with their debut single since Britney Spears did so with her single, "…Baby One More Time", four months prior. During production of her debut album On the 6, Lopez was aware that she received her recording contract on the premise of her looks and having an already established name in the entertainment industry, and wanted to prove she had musical talent. Prior to the debut of her music, critics wondered why she would take the risk of launching a music career. It was noted that: "If the album was a flop, not only would it embarrass Lopez, but it might even damage her career." "Waiting for Tonight", the third single from On the 6, is widely considered to be Lopez’s best song. The song was used frequently as a celebratory anthem for the dawn of the new millennium. Lopez’s musical success came as a surprise to critics; its launch made the "popular actor even more popular". Both the music industry and the public became intrigued by "this woman who seemed to have so many different talents". By the end of 1999, Lopez successfully converted herself from a film star to a pop star. She joined a select few in achieving this feat, becoming the first since Vanessa Williams (1992) and Martika (1989).
Lopez, in the accompaniment of then-boyfriend Sean Combs, wore a plunging exotic green Versace silk chiffon dress on the red carpet of the 42nd Grammy Awards on February 22, 2000. The dress "had a low-cut neck that extended several inches below her navel, where it was loosely fastened with a sparkly brooch and then opened out again," exposing her midriff and then as cut along the front of the legs like a bath robe. The dress generated controversy and media attention, with images of Lopez in the dress being downloaded from the Grammy website over half a million times 24 hours after the event. Lopez was surprised by the enormous media coverage, declaring that she had no idea "it was going to become such a big deal". Lopez returned to the big-screen in August, starring in the psychological thriller The Cell opposite Vincent D’Onofrio. With a production budget of $33 million, the film grossed a total of $104 million worldwide. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who stated that although it offers "disturbing, stunning eye candy", it is "undermined by a weak and shallow plotline that offers nothing new".
Heightened success, J.Lo and This Is Me… Then (2001–03)
During the process of creating her second album, Lopez decided to tweak her image as she began to develop into a sex symbol. She changed her stage name to J.Lo, a nickname she was given by her fans. She subsequently named the album J.Lo, which was released on January 22, 2001. The record was a commercial success, debuting at number one on the United States Billboard 200. This exact week, her romantic comedy film The Wedding Planner in which she starred opposite Matthew McConaughey, opened atop the box office. This made her the first entertainer to have a number one film and album simultaneously. The album initially spawned the hit singles "Love Don’t Cost a Thing" and "Play". April 2001 saw the public launch of J.Lo by Jennifer Lopez, her own clothing and accessory company which specialized in clothing females of all shapes. That May, Lopez starred in the romantic drama film Angel Eyes, which performed disappointingly at the box office and generated mixed reviews. In July, an urban oriented "Murder remix" of the track "I’m Real" featuring Ja Rule was released. The remix reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Following the September 11 attacks, Lopez was heavily involved in charitable activities. Joining various other artists, she was featured on charitable singles such as "What’s Going On" and "El Ultimo Adios (The Last Goodbye)" which benefited people affected by the tragedy.

domain: entertainment


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Travelling to Andalusia is easy. Documentation required varies according to the country you com from.
If you are a citizen of any European Union member state, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you only need your National ID Card or valid passport. If you are under 18 and travelling on an ID card, this should be accompanied by permission from your father, mother or corresponding guardian.
If you are from one of the following countries: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, USA, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Republic of Korea, San Marino, the Vatican, Singapore, Uruguay or Venezuela, you need a valid passport to enter Andalusia/Spain, and you will be entitled to stay up to a maximum of 90 days.
If you come from another country, you should apply for a visa from the Spanish Consulate in your place of residence, according to criteria established by the EU. You will also need to present your passport.
Given that conditions may vary, we suggest that you contact the Spanish Embassy or Consulate to verify these requirements before you start your trip.

domain: geography


Rush, Heart Inducted Into Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
rush rock (December 11, 2012)
After more than a decade of irate rants and enthusiastic lobbying from fans, Rush is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Canadian trio will be inducted into the hall on April 18 along with Heart, singer-songwriter-pianist Randy Newman, late disco queen Donna Summer and blues guitarist Albert King. Label executive and music impresario Lou Adler and producer-arranger-composer Quincy Jones are headed as Ahmet Ertegun Award -- aka non-performer -- honorees. The inductees were announced at the Nokia Theater where the induction ceremony will be held next year. It is the first time in 20 years since the festivities have been held in L.A.; it will again be open to the public and aired on HBO on May 18.


Whether light waves can travel through vaccum or not.
Whereas sound waves cannot propagate in the absence of a material medium i.e., it needs a material medium for its propagation. These waves cannot travel through vacuum. They are called mechanical waves.
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Yesterday, the markets crashed because it was expecting a stimulus and rightly so, it has been denied.
So the market, being the complete spoilt brat that it is, pouted and sulked and fell over 580 points.
Now today, there is talk of the Govt rolling back the “inadvertent” super-rich tax it levied on the FIIs. Not surprising, there is a bounce back.
When you look at the market behavior as an outsider, it does make you wonder nowadays whether fundamentals rule the market or its pure sentiments only, that too only FII sentiments. Yesterday, all the talk about growth faltering, unemployment, gloom and doom was all that we could see and read and today, suddenly, everything just vanished in a whisk as news of the FIIs tax getting exemption started marking the rounds.
Thus the way the market functions today is – give me something, give me all the attention, spoil me, pander to my needs or else I will crash!
We have one puzzling question – FIIs have been sellers. From 1st August till 22nd August, they have been net sellers to the tune of Rs.10,656 crore. On the other hand, DIIs have been net buyers, during the very same period to the tune of Rs.14,599 crore. In fact yesterday, when the markets crashed 587 points, FIIs selling was at the end of the day stood at Rs.903 crore while DIIs bought equity worth Rs.1719 crore.
There is more- in July FIIs sold a net of Rs.16,870 crore while DIIs were net buyers at Rs.20,394 crore. The trend is same all the time, whenever FIIs sell, the DIIs are buyers and buying more than what the FIIs have sold. Yet, the markets crash and we hear talk only about FIIs selling because they are unhappy about the super rich tax.
When DIIs are net buyers; they are buying more than what the FIIs are selling, yet, the markets fall. Doesn’t this mean that the DIIs, despite the growing money power have no sway over the market? They help mitigate the selling impact of the FIIs to some extent but despite buying more than the FIIs, they enjoy no or little clout. They most certainly do not have the kind of influence which the FIIs have; do you think that consistent DIIs selling will force the Govt to roll back any tax imposed on mutual funds? Or for that matter, with DIIs being net buyers, will they get benefits or can the Govt take a stand and say that what the FIIs think does not matter?
Well, as we know, the answer is a big “NO” to all the questions. FIIs continue to hold the market and the Govt enthralled and what they need and want matters more than anything else.
Will DIIs ever be able to replace this clout of the FIIs? That’s a day we all would eagerly wait for but it could take a long while. Though DIIs are pumping huge amount of money into the domestic equities, still they cannot absorb the foreign inflows. As more and more of household savings start flowing into SIPs and mutual funds, only then will we see their influence go up. Even in these uncertain conditions, savings traditionally find their way into physical assets and only when that mindset changes can we expect DIIs to grow bigger than the FIIs.
It is a generational change we are talking about but it will happen. Till then we have no option but to fuss and fret over upset FIIs.


In a bid to check criminal activities in hotels in Nigeria, the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) yesterday unveiled plans to create an electronic data base of all staff in Nigeria's hotels as a way of tracking the work history of hotel workers.
The initiative according to the Director- General of NTDC, Otunba Segun Runsewe, would check the ease with which hotel workers move from one hotel to the other, even after committing crimes at their previous work places.
Runsewe said: "All over the world, hotel and the entire tourism business is a serious business and the resort to information and telecommunication technology has boosted the fortunes of the industry in no small way. In Nigeria, people wake up and claim to be hotel consultants without the requisite training, some even say they are the owners of Welcome to Nigeria, a tourism product reserved exclusively for countries and their tourism promotion agencies."
According to Runsewe, the introduction of the biometric system would not only be a proactive measure in arresting future problems associated with unwholesome and corrupt practices, but also a reference point for an employer who may be hiring a worker that was switching jobs. "Once you are in a data base, you cannot lie about yourself, your profile, qualification or personality."
The use of the biometric system involves the data of all staff in the industry to be stored in the system with a control centre holding the master details as backup.
In a mock demonstration before executives of Hotel and Personal Service Employers Association (HOPSEA), Runsewe disclosed that prostitutes take up hotel jobs to widen their clientele and stressed "we must sanitise the tourism sector, and adopt global best practices so that our hotels can be ranked safe. We will not allow our hotels to become a safe place for illegal and criminal activities and this staff biometrics is a further step towards achieving this goal, after hotel registration and monitoring. He explained that all hotels would be made to buy into the project by profiling their staff and any worker who commits a crime will be red flagged so that other hotel managers and owners will be careful with the person if they want to employ him or her.
President of the hotel employers association Samuel Alabi, described the plan as well thought over and assured that his association would begin the sensitisation of its members to ensure they all buy into the project. He said the association would benefit greatly from the project, which will put the biodata of actual and potential employees in the hands of hotel employers.


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Eating shellfish in pregnancy is generally safe as long as it’s been cooked1. But if you’re a fan of raw oysters, you might have to choose an alternative dish from the menu. Raw shellfish may be contaminated with harmful bacteria and viruses, and therefore carries a higher risk of food poisoning.
What seafood should you avoid when pregnant?
Never eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish. Limit lower-mercury fish, such as canned light tuna, shrimp, salmon, catfish and tilapia, to 12 ounces (two average meals) a week. Albacore “white” tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna, so limit your intake to one serving (six ounces) per week.
Can you eat shrimp if you pregnant?
Yes, shrimp is safe to eat during pregnancy. But don’t overdo it. Stick to two to three servings of seafood (including options like shrimp) a week and avoid eating it raw.
Can you have lobster while pregnant?
Seafood is a great source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for your heart. But if you’re pregnant, you’ve probably heard that you should avoid some types of sushi and seafood. The good news is that most types of seafood, including crab and lobster, are safe to eat while you’re pregnant.
What can I do to prevent miscarriage in first trimester?
How Can I Prevent a Miscarriage?
- Be sure to take at least 400 mcg of folic acid every day, beginning at least one to two months before conception, if possible.
- Exercise regularly.
- Eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
- Manage stress.
- Keep your weight within normal limits.
- Don’t smoke and stay away from secondhand smoke.
Can you eat steak while pregnant?
In addition to good food safety habits, there are certain foods that pregnant women should avoid: Rare, raw or undercooked meats, poultry, fish and shellfish. This includes rare hamburgers, beef or steak tartare, sushi, sashimi, ceviche and carpaccio, and raw oysters.
Can we eat crab during pregnancy?
When cooked, both crab and imitation crab are safe to eat during pregnancy. Practicing careful food preparation and always cooking seafood thoroughly are other ways people can protect themselves and the growing fetus from food poisoning dangers.
Can you eat oysters when pregnant?
Oysters are often served raw. And while some people can eat raw oysters without adverse effects, consuming raw oysters — or any type of raw meat or seafood — is dangerous if you’re pregnant. Pregnancy weakens your immune system.
How much crab can I eat pregnant?
As long as crab is thoroughly cooked, it is safe to eat 2 to 3 times per week maximum, with a weekly limit of 12 ounces total, says Dr. Valent. However, she encourages her patients to eat the full allotted amount of seafood, if possible, due to the nutritional benefits.
What week is the highest risk of miscarriage?
The first trimester is associated with the highest risk for miscarriage. Most miscarriages occur in the first trimester before the 12th week of pregnancy. A miscarriage in the second trimester (between 13 and 19 weeks) happens in 1% to 5% of pregnancies.
What’s the most common week to miscarry?
Most miscarriages happen in the first trimester before the 12th week of pregnancy. Miscarriage in the second trimester (between 13 and 19 weeks) happens in 1 to 5 in 100 (1 to 5 percent) pregnancies. As many as half of all pregnancies may end in miscarriage.
When should I tell people I’m pregnant?
Many women choose to delay announcing a pregnancy at least until the end of the first trimester (12 weeks into their pregnancy). This is commonly attributed to the risk of miscarriage during this time, but the 12-week mark is not a hard and fast rule you need to follow.

domain: food


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How to Use Eggshells on Tomato Plants
Coffee grounds, eggshells and tomato plants. While that may sound like the scattered remains of a half-eaten breakfast before you finally get around to doing the dishes, eggshells – much like the time-tested coffee grounds – are actually an all-natural, do-it-yourself method for fertilizing your tomato plants. Not only is there more than one way to fertilize a tomato, but you'll actually find tons of different ways to use eggshells in your tomato garden, whether you're growing them outside or indoors (and, yes, that's a thing). So next time you crack an egg, don't toss that shell.
Eggshells in the Garden: Why?
While there are lots of tall tales in the world of green thumbs, using eggshells in the garden is no mere myth; they're truly an effective, science-backed method for fertilizing tomatoes. If you've heard of eggshells and vinegar for tomatoes, that one works, too (on the other hand, North Dakota State University confirms that Epsom salt for tomato plants is a myth that may actually cause blossom end rot rather than prevent it, which is often its intended use).
But why is it that eggshells actually do the job? Essentially, eggshells, whose hard structures are made up almost entirely of calcium carbonate, deliver a strong nutritional boost to plants. Eggshells also provide plants with other essential minerals, such as potassium and phosphorus. The addition of these potent nutrients helps maximize tomato harvest, increase the production of the aromatic oils that make tomatoes so flavorful, and reduce the likelihood of blossom end rot.
It's the latter issue that really makes eggshells in the garden particularly popular among tomato growers. While many plants enjoy the minerals found in eggshells, blossom end rot is a very common cultural problem for tomato plants. Here, the tomato's hienie (a cute name for the part on top of the tomato that used to be the flower) rots and turns black as a result of too much moisture. The calcium provided by eggshells aids the tomato plant in regulating its water supply, thus helping to stave off rot.
And that's not all calcium does. This super mineral reinforces the cell walls of the plant. It also encourages balanced, healthy, and efficient water transfer and carbohydrate translocation. Oftentimes, calcium remains immobile in plants once it's absorbed rather than going to the areas where it's needed. Amending soil with eggshells or watering with eggshell tea help remedy this issue, as well.
Fertilize With Eggshells
The most direct method for using eggshells for your tomato plants is to put them right into the compost or soil. According to the L.A. Times and L.A. County master gardener coordinator Yvonne Savio, you can clean and dry eggshells and crumble them directly in the compost you use for tomatoes, just like that (a potato masher also works for crushing). For compost, by the way, the growers at White Flower Farm recommend using amendments such as kelp meal or composted manure to enhance tomato growth and yield.
Crumbled eggshells also work right in the soil itself, but be sure to do the crumbling after soaking the eggshells in water for the plants you plan to fertilize, as the shells should always be clean and dry. Add the broken shells to the soil before you sow seeds or place plants, and the shells will naturally break down over time, delivering calcium, phosphorus and potassium directly to the plant's roots. This is a slow process, though, so consider eggshells in the soil a sort of fertilizer for next year's plants.
If you have eggshells leftover but aren't ready to use them for fertilizing, you can safely store your clean, dry shells in the refrigerator or in a protected, waterproof outdoor container until you need them.
Brew Some Eggshell Tea
While eggs certainly help human bodies grow big muscles and maintain healthy bones, there probably aren't too many folks who'd want to drink eggshell tea. Plants, on the other hand, love the stuff, which is another simple and effective delivery method for getting those nutrients to your tomatoes. This one is particularly convenient for indoor tomato plants (not to mention other types of indoor plants).
This fast and loose "recipe" involves soaking eggshells in water for plants. First, rinse the eggshells clean of any yolks, whites or other egg-y reside, as always. Let the shells dry; then crumble them up into a heat-resistant pot, container or receptacle. Bring some water to a boil and pour it over the shells; then allow the shells to steep in the water until the brew reaches room temperature.
You can use this water, your completed "eggshell tea," just as you would normally use water to feed your hungry tomato babies. Remember, as Good Housekeeping points out, that your tomato plant's bed typically needs to be soaked with about an inch of water once per week, or more during the height of the summer season. And that goes for regular water and eggshell tea alike. While the calcium in eggshell tea lends tomatoes and other food-growing plants the most benefits, you can even safely use it on decorative and non-fruit-bearing plants for a little extra mineral shot.
More Ways to Use Eggshells
Eggshells are so effective as a calcium and mineral source that organizations such as the Permaculture Research Institute have used them to rehabilitate soil fertility in lands that have previously been burned and suffer from high acidity. The horticulturalists at Permaculture use vinegar to break down the calcium carbonate eggshells into water-soluble calcium acetate. To use eggshells and vinegar for tomatoes, you can follow their method.
First, clean, crush and dry the shells; then toast them until charred and mix them with vinegar at a 1:1 ratio. Shake daily for about 4 weeks to produce a dissolved solution; then add about 1 tablespoon of the solution per liter of water for foliar spraying. Yet another use for eggshells in the garden is as an easy, efficient and all-natural deterrent for certain types of common pests. Spreading shards of eggshells atop the soil right around the base of the plant can help ward off snails and slugs, acting as a pointy physical barrier against the slimy little bugs.
Eggshell-based fertilizer and eggshell tea aren't just for tomatoes. They work for cucumbers, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, Swiss chard, spinach, amaranth and (appropriately enough) eggplants, too, among others. If a plant bears edible parts that are rich in calcium, eggshells are a safe bet. Oh, and those who don't eat eggs have plenty of options for giving their tomato plants a good healthy calcium boost. As the garden suppliers at Gardens Alive! note, natural plant foods with added calcium, calcium carbonate tablets and pelletized calcium also do the trick.
- North Dakota State University: The Epsom Salt Myth
- L.A. Times: Supercharge Your Plants with Leftover Eggshells by Brewing 'Shell Tea'
- White Flower Farm: Amending Your Soil to Maximize Tomato Harvest
- Good Housekeeping: Growing Tomatoes 101: All the Tips You Need for a Healthy, Fruitful Plant
- Gardens Alive!: What Eggshells Can (and Can't) Do for Your Tomatoes
- Test the pH level of your soil before planting your tomatoes with a home testing kit. It should be between 6.5 and 8.5 for your tomato plants to grow well and absorb the extra calcium that the eggshells provide. The pH levels can be adjusted with crushed limestone or sulfur, both of which are available at most garden centers.
Dan combines his decade-long experience as a freelance writer with hands-on experience in landscaping, flooring, painting, maritime maintenance and handyman work. Previously, he's published with Black+Decker, Hunker, Geeks On Home, GardenGuides.com, Builder's Capital, USA Today and others.

domain: chemistry


text: Music 7 months ago Share Tweet Pin Share Ahead of his solo launch this week, Quavo has dropped off a brand new video. Arguably the MVP of the Migos – no shade to Takeoff and Offset – the melodic master enters a futuristic world in his latest visual for “Bubblegum.” Alongside Draya Michele, you’ll find Quavo sporting custom gear similar to the threads he, Takeoff and Offset have been wearing during their tour alongside Drake. Take a look at the official video for “Bubblegum” above and let us know what you expect from Quavo’s solo debut Quavo Huncho dropping on October 12. In related news, you can check out Quavo in our September digital cover. Bonus: Want to stay up to date on our latest Rare Norm news ?

domain: celebrity


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I’ve had my eye on the Sony α7 R series for a while now. As a hobbyist photographer that primarily focuses on landscapes, the increased megapixel count is fairly attractive. My Sony α7 III is no slouch, and the 24MP sensor is plenty capable for most of my printing needs.
18"x12" print of Mineral King taken on the α7 III
There were shots where more room for cropping would have been appreciated, but the RIV is expensive. I didn’t want to “downgrade” to the previous generation’s RIII, so the idea of switching to an R-series body wasn’t seriously considered. At least until I stumbled across a good Black Friday deal. Short story even shorter, I’m now the proud owner of a new Sony α7 RIV and Sony FE24-70mm GM.
Where do you go to break in a new camera? A national park, of course!
Having never been to Yosemite before, I wanted the full photography experience: sunrise and sunset. I left home at 3:45am so I could arrive at the Tunnel View by sunrise. I had been warned that the Tunnel View is better at sunset than sunrise, and that’s true. But it’s still breathtaking.
Tunnel View at sunrise
After soaking in the view for an hour or so, I drove back down into the valley. The juxtaposition of the bright rock faces and the dark valley was striking but challenging to photograph. The time of year added to the challenge too. The valley was deprived of color; peak fall was weeks ago, and snow wasn’t due yet. I didn’t get any shots I was particularly proud of, but I was content enough to wander around and take it all in.
El Capitan and the Merced River
The afternoon was spent biding my time until my return to the Tunnel View for sunset. I did some sight-seeing and hiking on the eastern end of the valley before. I was warned that the viewing area would be busy for sunset, so I arrived rather early and did some reading. I’m glad I got there well before sunset; the viewpoint was busy with photographers and sight-seers—complete with someone trying to take a selfie with a drone.
Tunnel View, take 2
El Capitan shortly after sunset
Taking a shot from the most iconic location in Yosemite certainly didn’t result in a unique shot, but I really like the way it turned out. Although that may be due to an emotional attachment to the moment.
I overheard a few other photographers planning their full moon shot while getting this shot. It turned out that there was a full moon tonight, and it would be rising behind El Capitan. I decided to postpone my drive home for another hour and watch the moon rise.
Thanks to my lack of experience shooting the moon with a foreground subject, you won’t be seeing a picture of said moonrise here. I did a phenomenally bad job. Seeing the moon light up the valley was still a sight to behold, and I don’t regret sticking around for it. You were also able to make out lights on the face of El Capitan after the sun set. I can’t even imaging camping on the side of that thing.
I left Yosemite shortly after 6pm and made my way home. All in all, I’m pretty happy with the new camera, and I can’t wait to see what else I capture with it.


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Thai Pavilion was the first Thai fantastic dining brand in India and is certainly one of the greatest eating places in Delhi. The Thai Pavilion legacy continues to attract gourmands on the third restaurant, which won the title of Best Thai Restaurant in the Food and Nightlife Awards. There is a Zen area to indulge in the all sensory delicacies of Thailand, with world class wines, within the restaurant.
Chinese and Japanese delicacies, handmade pizzas, pastas, and a dessert spread are included in our lavish spread. He had a sign above his door that marketed restaurants and soups. A public eating place in English, French, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, and lots of other languages, is now referred to as the institution. In Spanish, Portuguese and Italian, the word restaurante turns into ristorante. The public might purchase refreshments or meals on the restaurant. Major contributions to the event of the restaurant have been made by the French within the public dining room.
The rising variety of older people who are unable or unwilling to prepare dinner their meals at home is amongst the elements causing this. Fast food establishments could be cheap and make restaurant eating accessible to many. Restaurants can differentiate themselves on elements corresponding to pace, formality, location, value, service, or novelty themes. Fine eating, casual dining, contemporary casual, household fashion, fast informal, quick meals, cafes, buffet, concession stands, meals trucks, pop up restaurants, diners and ghost restaurants are also included. A restaurant is a enterprise that prepares and serves food and drinks to customers, but many restaurants additionally supply take out and food delivery companies. A extensive variety of cuisines and service models may be present in restaurants, ranging from inexpensive quick meals restaurants and cafeterias to excessive priced luxury establishments.
If you want to gift wrap these for somebody special, take them residence, or enjoy here over a espresso, loose… Food critic evaluations and popular critiques by most people at the second are revealed on Internet sites. Many indigenous, Spanish and Chinese dishes are found in Peru. There are many Chinese and Japanese eating places in the nation due to latest immigration from China and Japan. Our well-known, hand battered, tender Chicken Crispers include all new White Cheddar Mac & Cheese, fries, Chili’s home made ranch and your choice of two of our signature dipping sauces. The website makes use of a security service to protect it from online assaults.
The Forbes Travel Guide and theAAA rate restaurants on an identical 1 to five star scale in the US. One and two star ratings indicate more informal locations to eat, whereas three, 4 and five star/diamond ratings are equal to the Michelin one, two and three star scores. The New York City guide was the primary for the United States. The Zagat Survey compiles people’s feedback about restaurants but doesn’t pass an official crucial assessment.
The diners were Alexander II of Russia, his son the tsarevich, and King William I of Prussia. Most of the good cooks of history came from Paris, which had more than 500 restaurants. Although inns and hostelries often served paying visitors meals from the host’s table or table d’hte and beverages have been offered in cafés, Boulanger’s restaurant was most likely the first public place the place any diner might order a meal from a menu offering a alternative of dishes. One of the most effective consuming locations in France was still open in the 2020s. The English novelist William Makepeace Thackeray and the Italian composer Gioacchino Rossini lived in the same building, which later grew to become the Café Foy, an outstanding Paris establishment of the 19th century.
The Nation Is Known As Barbeque Nation
The French word restaurer means “to revive” and is used to explain a restaurant’s proprietor. Chefs are called sous chef, chef de partie and so forth. Busboys who remove used dishes and utensils are a few of the waiting employees that serve food, drinks and alcoholic drinks at most eating places.
Maintaining income, profitability and quality targets are some of the responsibilities of a restaurant supervisor. Ensuring efficient restaurant operation, in addition to maintaining high production, productiveness, quality and customer support requirements is what you’ll do. Restaurant Managers create work schedules and communicate with clients about any issues. The trend for taking a credit card deposit together with a restaurant reservation is extra than simply perfunctory. It’s a punishment for individuals who don’t show up on the night time, it drives eating places to the wall.
In some Great daily specialss, similar to these in the office, the purchasers use trays, which they place chilly gadgets that they choose from a refrigerated container and hot gadgets that they request from cooks, and then pay a cashier earlier than they sit down. The buffet restaurant is a restaurant method that uses few folks. Customers pay at the end of the meal by serving food on their own plates. The waiter nonetheless serves drinks and alcoholic beverages in buffet eating places. Food trucks are another well-liked choice for people who want quick meals.
This may embrace a bunch or hostess, a matre d’htel, a wine waiter, or both. A new route to turning into a restauranteur is to operate a meals truck. A permanent restaurant web site can be opened if there’s a adequate following. The proportion of meals eaten exterior the house in restaurants or establishments has risen from 25% in 1950 to 42% in 1990.
Two non-public dining areas can be booked for customized, five course prix fixe meals. Our chefs foraged local markets and understood the nuances of the intricate delicacies in the Royal Kitchens of Thailand and introduced again with themselves a legacy that is really unparalleled. The signature dishes at Thai Pavilion delight themselves on the authenticity, complexity and harmony of flavours. The Three Emperors Dinner was served at the Café Anglais on June 7, 1867, for three royal friends visiting Paris to attend the Universal Exposition.


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(AllHipHop News) A Canadian artist had sued Lil Kim for stealing her art from the internet.
Canadian artist Samantha Ravndahl claims that Lil Kim used her artistic representation of a zombie for a new album without her consent. The album never came out, but the Ravndahl still wants Kim to cut a check.
Ravndahl wants a minimum of $150k, according to TMZ.
The artist claims she tried to get Kim to comply with take down orders, but the art remained on social networks.
RELATED: Lil Kim May Be Facing Lawsuit For Allegedly Stealing Selfie Pic
Lil Kim has not responded to the suit at press time.


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Runner-up: One-Stop Shops for Gender Equality (Argentina)
Soon after the Ministry of National Security in Argentina called for the security and police force to create "One Stop Gender Centers" which would respond to issues of gender-based violence in the workplace, the Airport Security Police created its One Stop Gender Center named "Vilma Marisa Hoyos". Established in honour of one of the first policewomen – who has since disappeared, the center pays homage to all of the pioneering women on the police force.
It has an interdisciplinary team that includes a social worker, a lawyer, a psychologist, a demographer, and is led by a communications specialist with expertise in gender. They have developed initiatives to guarantee gender equality in access to, retention, and promotions for job opportunities. They also provide information, legal assistance, and psychological support to individuals in the security forces who have been affected by gender-based violence.
Over 18 months, they have dealt with 35 cases of workplace harassment; 9 cases of sexual harassment; 27 cases of domestic/family violence; 3 cases of gender-based violence during dating; 3 cases of discrimination; and one case of abuse of a minor.


In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans six GABAergic motor neurons, known as DDs, remodel their patterns of synaptic connectivity during larval development. DD remodelling involves a complete reversal of the direction of information flow within nerve processes without marked changes in process morphology. We used a marker localized in vivo to DD presynaptic zones to analyse how the timing of DD remodelling is controlled. In wild-type animals, DDs remodel their synaptic outputs within a 3-5-hour period at the end of the first larval stage. We show that the heterochronic gene lin-14, which controls the timing of stage-specific cell lineages, regulates the timing of DD synaptic output remodelling. In lin-14 loss-of-function mutants, DDs remodel precociously. The degree of precocious remodelling is correlated with the level of lin-14 activity. Expression of lin-14(+) in the DDs of lin-14-null mutants rescues the precocious remodelling, indicating that lin-14 can act cell-autonomously. Consistent with this hypothesis, LIN-14 protein levels decrease in the DDs before remodelling. Our observations reveal a role of heterochronic genes in non-dividing cells, and provide an example of cell-autonomous respecification of neuronal connectivity.


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Human life expectancy has increased more in the last 50 years than in the previous 200,000 years of human existence.
There are more life forms living on your skin than there are people on the planet.
The average human will yawn around 250,000 times over the course of his life.
An average person in the U.S. eats 35 tons of food in a lifetime.
In an average lifetime human skin completely replaces itself 900 times.
An average person produces about 25,000 quarts of saliva in a lifetime, enough to fill two swimming pools.
The average person spends 3 months of its lifetime sitting on the toilet.
The average person takes 183,755,600 steps in a lifetime.
Men spend almost a year of their lives staring at women, a survey found.
80% of humanity lives on less than US$10 per day.
The average American spends over 5 months of his life on the phone.
A steady stream of minor accomplishments makes you more satisfied with your life than a few major accomplishments.
People with many friends live 3.7 years more than those who are isolated.
Sitting for more than three hours a day can cut two years off a person’s life expectancy.
Women live longer than men partly because their immune systems age more slowly.
In his lifetime, a man spends almost six months shaving.
Joggers live, on average, six years longer.
50% is the lifetime risk of developing Cancer for a man in the U.S.
Sleeping less than 7 hours each night reduces your life expectancy.
Women spend over 4 years (in total) of their lives menstruating.
Most people can survive for up to 2 months without eating, but people can only live up to 11 days without sleeping.
Two-thirds of all the people in the world who have ever lived to be 65 years old are still alive today.
The average British woman spends US$160,000 on make-up in a lifetime.
If everyone in the world washed their hands properly, a million lives could be saved a year.
The average person spends two weeks of his life Kissing.
1 in 5 Americans believes that the world will end in their lifetime.
Women spend nearly one year of their lives deciding what to wear.
Humans spend a third of their life sleeping. That’s about 25 years.
In a lifetime, your brain’s long-term memory can hold as many as 1 quadrillion (1 million billion) separate bits of information.
Parents of new babies miss out on 6 months worth of sleep in the first 2 years of their child’s life.
Every year, life expectancy increases by 3 months.
An average woman in the UK will own 111 handbags in her lifetime.
82% of Americans believe in some kind of afterlife.
The average person walks 75,000 miles (120,000 KM) in a lifetime or five times round the world.
An average person spends 6 years of his life dreaming.
Every cigarette you smoke reduces your expected life span by 11 minutes.
The average woman in the UK has 150 different hairstyles in her lifetime.
The probability of living 110 years or more is about 1 in 7 million.
The chances of us eating even one spider in our sleep throughout our lifetime is close to 0%.
If Earth’s history were condensed into 24 hours, life would’ve appeared at 4am, land plants at 10:24pm, dinosaur extinction at 11:41pm and human history would’ve begun at 11:58:43pm.
The average meat-eating person eats about 7,000 animals in their lifetime.


So it turns out the 2018 Patriots aren't near the end of anything...they just might be getting started. Looking refreshed, renewed, and downright dominant against an LA Chargers team that won earlier this season in Kansas City, America got a big ol' glass of woke juice...quickly remembering all the reasons they need to start worrying about & hating the team from Foxboro.
Tom Brady looked sharp--in other words, he played just like Tom Brady. The running game was subperb, but can they repeat that kind of ground performance in KC to keep the pressure off Tom and the passing game? The defense put another notch in their belt against a top NFL quarterback, but young Patrick Mahomes is this season's best and looms as a tremendous challenge in the AFC Championship. What's the plan against him going to be? Can they get him to keep turning the ball over as he did against them earlier this season, and as he has in moments of weakness during his first campaign? It doesn't happen often, but when it rains with Mahomes, it tends to pour.
And finally, the Colts blocked a punt against Kansas City...thrusting special teams opportunity right back to the forefront. Might just be a big Cordarrelle Patterson week too...
We cover all this and more in this week's REAL THING Patrtiots podcast. Enjoy and GO PATS!


Expectations high for young wrestling team in 2012-13
As the season gets under way, the MSU wrestling team aims to find an identity with a young roster as it hosts the Michigan State Open this Sunday at Jenison Field House.
After graduating senior leadership in Curran Jacobs and Anthony Jones Jr., the 2012-13 squad is led by senior David Cheza and junior Michael McClure, who will anchor a roster featuring 17 freshmen, 13 of whom are true freshmen.
In the first event of the season, the Spartans placed 18 wrestlers, including 16 top-five finishes in the Eastern Michigan Open on Saturday in Ypsilanti, Mich.
For head coach Tom Minkel, the showing at the Eastern Michigan Open is a good springboard for what the team hopes to accomplish in the upcoming year.
“Eastern Michigan was a good starting point,” Minkel said. “Obviously our competition will get stiffer as the season goes, but it gave us a chance to get on the mat and compete. There were a lot of good things, but you always come back with a list of things that guys need to work on.”
Minkel said after the loss of a solid senior class last season, the team this year is younger and closer than in the past.
“I think we had six or seven seniors in the lineup last year, so the team has an entirely different look to it,” he said. “With that said, the team that we have is a really hardworking group and I think a closer knit group than I’ve had in a while. Their commitment and work ethic is outstanding.”
One person expected to step up this year is senior Dan Osterman, who finished with a 25-17 record a season ago. Osterman said although he came in third place in the 149 pounds weight class at the EMU Open, he still is trying to improve this weekend.
“I made some slight mistakes,” Osterman said. “I got out of position and that kind of cost me a match. I’m really just trying to focus on staying in position and creating pressure and going out there and having fun.”
Osterman has the talent to get on the podium this year, but he said his goals are aimed even higher.
“All-American is definitely my goal,” he said. “That’s what I’ve been shooting for the last few years, but this year, my last year, I have a lot of experience and a lot of confidence, and I definitely want to be an All-American this year.”
For McClure, his strong performance at the EMU Open spurs him on to do better in the tougher tournament this weekend.
“Finishing 4-0 at a tournament definitely helps you go into a tournament with motivation,” McClure said. “Normally there’s some tough schools coming in, tough Big Ten schools, and I should see some tough competition.”
When Osterman and the Spartans start playing the tougher Big Ten teams later in the season, he said they need to focus and take it one match at a time.
“For me, and this is the same for many of my teammates, you can’t look at it like this is Iowa or this is Penn State, you have to look at it like it’s just another match,” Osterman said. “Don’t make it bigger than it is, because that’s when you’re going to get in trouble. Wrestle hard; that’s all you can do.”


Mangaluru: National Youth Day Celebration at Milagres College
Mangaluru: NSS unit of Milagres College, Hampankatta, Mangalore, celebrated Swami Vivekananda Jayanthi and National youth day on January 17.
Prof Lourdusamy, academic advisor, Mr Cassin Rodrigues, Vice Principal, Mr Denzil E Pinto, NSS Program Officer and student representatives offered floral tributes to the portrait of Swami Vivekananda.
Prof. Lourdusamy said Swami Vivekananda Jayanthi was celebrated all over the country as National Youth day. Vivekananda also believed that country’s future depends on its people particularly the youth and his teachings focused on human development. He also mentioned the thoughts and life of Swami Vivekananda. Thereafter, Prof Lourdusamy administered the pledge to the students.
Mr Denzil E Pinto welcomed the gathering, Ms Princita J DSouza, assistant Program officer, proposed the vote of thanks. Ms Michelle, NSS student volunteer compered the program. Total of 124 students were present.
The program concluded with National Anthem.


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If your a owner of website that is generally popular and your website features functions like commenting, then you are bound to get random spam comments that appear everywhere, other functions that are often targeted include contact forms, random bot users that register to your website (If it has some form of member system) and more functions that spammers generally attack. Spam bots love attacking the above features but this article will help you fight off the spam!
Here is a blank two column (Right) CSS template which you can use to get you started on building a website. All of the main divs have been styled and the layout is avaliable for you to simply paste into your favorite code editor and begin designing it to your liking. You’ll find the full source for the blank CSS template at the bottom of the page. However please read the whole page instead of skipping to the source code, there’s a couple of statements about certain CSS attributes you might want to change


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Remedies for Trifacial Neuralgia
If you have episodes of pain in your face, you might have a condition known as trifacial neuralgia. Although the pain that you experience with this condition may be severe, the duration of the pain will commonly last only a few seconds. You may experience this shooting pain when you are using the muscles in your face, such as when smiling, but it can also occur, even if you are not using your facial muscles at all.
When someone suffers from trifacial neuralgia the condition will worsen over time; generally you will have to manage the condition with medications. One of the reasons that medication is the only course of treatment for this condition is that there has not been a lot of studies conducted for other methods of treatment.
Despite the fact that there are no studies to confirm the effectiveness of alternative treatments for trifacial neuralgia, a lot of people still search for another way to relieve their pain, either because they don’t want to continue taking medication for the rest of their lives, or because they cannot afford to do so. If you do decide to try an alternative treatment for your condition, it is very important that you consult with your doctor beforehand to ensure that the alternative treatment will not have dangerous side effects, or interfere with any medications that you are now taking.
Two of the most popular alternative treatments for trifacial neuralgia are acupuncture, as well as myofascial release. Acupuncture is an ancient method of treating ailments, especially pain. It is though that most illness and pain is caused by a blockage of energy in the body, and with acupuncture this blockage can be released so that the energy can again flow correctly. To use this as a treatment for pain, the acupuncturist will insert fine needles into particular areas of the body in order to rid the body of the energy block that is causing the pain.
The other alternative treatment for trifacial neuralgia myofascial release; this technique is thought to release the tension of the muscles and nerves. Due to the fact that the pain from this condition is thought to be the result of compressed nerves, a facial massage may very well reduce inflammation and relieve the pain.
Another method of controlling inflammation in order to relieve the pain associated with trifacial neuralgia is through a lifestyle change. Getting the proper nutrition can be beneficial, especially if you increase your intake of essential fatty acids; these can be found in fish oil due to its high concentration of omega-3. This is known to be a natural remedy for inflammation. Another natural food that is thought to help with the pain is green tea, due to its high concentration of antioxidants.
It is also thought that eating a lot of processed foods that contain gluten will trigger episodes of trifacial neuralgia. Reducing the amount of gluten that you consume should help in reducing pain. The types of foods that contain gluten include wheat, barley and rye.
Another type of treatment for trifacial neuralgia is known as Advanced Strain and Counterstrain. This treatment is a method of improving the blood flow in the face; lack of proper blood flow is another theory as to why some people suffer from this condition. Although this treatment also uses massage, the difference is that you will move into different positions to encourage better blood flow.
If you suffer from trifacial neuralgia you might benefit from an alternative treatment, but be sure to consult with your healthcare provider first.

domain: medical


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Sri Lanka- Still an unexplored country
Endless beaches, timeless ruins, joyful people, a great number of elephants, surfing, cheap prices, fun trains, famous tea and delicious food make Sri Lanka irresistible.
One could say that Sri Lanka is unconscious. Passenger scores went overhead on their way to somewhere else, but years of uncertainty kept Sri Lanka away from many itineraries. Now, however, everything has changed. The earth is moving fast, as more and more people are discovering their innumerable charms. The history, culture and natural beauty of Sri Lanka, lying among the more captivated parts of India and Southeast Asia, are undeniably tempting. It’s where you haven’t been, you should.
Small country but a place for great explorations
There are few places have so many UNESCO World Heritage Sites (eight) packaged in such a small area. Sri Lankan 2000-year-old cultures can be discovered in old places where legendary temples boast beautiful details, even when hidden in caves or perch on prominent peaks. More recent are evocative colonial forts, from Galle to Trincomalee. Over the island, that thing that goes blow at night might be an elephant heading for a favorite waterhole. Sightseeing tours of Sri Lanka’s national parks meet leopards, water buffaloes, all kinds of birds and primate passages.
It’s so simple
The distances are short: see the sacred home of the oldest living tree in the world that is in the world in the morning (Anuradhapura), and become amazed by the sight of hundreds of elephants serving in the afternoon (Minneriya). Identify a favourite beach, meditate in a 2,000-year-old temple, exchange laughs and ramble around the merry village, admire the birds and flowers, keep the number of small plates coming with rice and curry. Walk around the provincial gems in Colombo, then hit some epic surf. Sri Lanka is sensational, affordable and still often uncrowded. Now is the best time to discover it.
The beaches and the rain forests in Sri Lanka
When you are ready to leave the tropical climate of the coast and the lowlands, head to the hills with their mild, greenish beauty. Tea plantation, lush rainforests, resemble walkers, tourists and those who want to see them from the thrilling train ride. Bright white and often fresh, circling on the island, no matter where you go, you’ll be close to a gem. If you defeat the inevitable weakness, you can surf and dive in world-class places without world-class crowds. And you are always just a short jump from something completely new.
[…] Sri Lanka- Still an unexplored country […]

domain: travel


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This is fucking AWESOME!
think this would look awesome on a shirt on the back bottom left with the tribal coming over the top right sholder to the middle of the chest or so
or a social network layout if you DO put it on a shirt I want one =]
Awesome idea! Thanks for the feedback :P
Gun should be at side of head not in nose, idk if the nose thing was part of the design but just saying it'd look better at side. :D kewl pic anyway.
This has inspired me to finish some pieces of my own:] thanks man.
Thanks for feedback, I hope your works are inspired enough! :D
This artist has not been scouted yet.
You are free to copy, distribute and transmit this work under the following conditions:


Remarkable, isn’t it, how many Anglos are fearful of a Muslim threat against America that doesn’t exist? At least not in this hemisphere. For this Americans of all hues and creeds can thank the civil rights movement.
All that marching, picketing, and boycotting we may now download and view in digitalized black & white equalized a lot of boats. The movement also brought into the mainstream a good number of immigrants whose origins sat outside what too many of our native born citizens saw as acceptable lands of heritage.
Southern and Eastern Europeans performed their obligations towards integration while assimilating, but having reassuring complexions and religious beliefs somewhere near the country’s predominant Christianity also eased their entry into society. The civil rights movement is the reason why the United States shouldn’t suffer Europe’s same level of random violence nor the polarization between Muslims and non-believers.
American society has yet to impose the same weight of frustration on the Muslim community. But Donald Trump and his gang are doing their damnedest to recoup lost time.
Only Anglo fright can snap the established compact America subtly demands and enforces upon every new group migrating here; to assimilate. Not erase their identities or deny their origins, though subsume their old values to our shared national characteristics.
Two masters cannot be served. Two allegiances cannot be honored.
In Europe, authorities and citizens mistakenly permitted Muslims to hold their own distinctions above whatever commonalities bound the respective country. Rather than bring the newcomers into the nation’s general fold, the immigrants and successive landed generations were left alone to form enclaves which the natives gradually found somewhat impenetrable. Across time these neighborhoods became “no-go zones” as far as the majorities were concerned.
Imagine being an American unable to walk through some areas here not because of legal strictures but from their alien natures.
On our side of the Atlantic, integration insisted Muslims add their tiles to our mosaic; to become “Americans.” While retaining heritages to which they could refer, in essence we saw them as part of our amalgamation. They quickly regarded themselves in the same manner.
Unlike the Old World, Muslims weren’t purely seen and treated as “strangers” in America. Well, not until the 2016 presidential campaign at least.
Even the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks failed unleashing the same level of anti-Muslim vitriol as has Der Trump’s crusade. Although Sikhs were targeted because of their turbans, these headpieces being mistaken for Arab kaffiyehs by trigger-happy, gun-nut ignoramuses, sane authority and a society which mostly overcame its anxieties of terrorism managed tamping down all but the most deplorable of us.
Unfortunately almost 16 years later the ignorant and intolerant now shakily hold the country’s reins. Der Trump’s political caravan and its joke’s on us ascension into the Oval Office has perverted reason and rational voices from above.
Why, hasn’t the short-fingered vulgarian’s ratbag administration given full-throated license to the already unhinged and always violence prone infesting our society to harass and discriminate against our Muslim fellow Americans? Indeed, it has.
That’s not leadership. It’s goading the mob. Once, Americans could depend on our leadership being correct and accountable. Not with Der Trump. There will be little, if any, of either under his baying, red-in-the-face, beer hall rule administration.
Despite the lingering stain of slavery, the countenancing of systemic discrimination in bondage’s aftermath, and the near extermination of the continent’s indigenous population, the United States retains one sterling virtue.
The Republic has never been convulsed by religious strife. At his most base, who can’t see Der Trump whipping up such calamity?
Until Der Trump’s spew of fear and discrimination, hadn’t Muslims fairly made themselves inconspicuous in America? It took the vile pig and his bund of anti-American reactionaries to “radicalize” Islam on these shores.
Not enough Americans realize Muslims have been part of what became the Republic since the Dutch colonized New Amsterdam. In fact those some irrationally despise and whose bona fides as true Americans they question have roots deeper than the ethnics who flooded the country during its much gloried migratory waves.
Perhaps if Muslims had drawn squeaky wheel attention to their insecurities that would’ve made them more accepted. Similar to the earliest arriving Europeans, maybe Muslims have little need to organize recognitions of their contributions to the United States. Having been present as Colonials, what would the reason have been? They have nothing to prove to themselves or others.
Not only surely Yankees, Muslims are securely Americans.
The last election illustrated a pronounced divide among our citizens. One popular thought has a gulf between elites and non-elites. Somehow today being an elite earns disparagement, while being common is an aspired status.
Not in the real world. And not ever.
Since the matter in question is outlook rather than social standing, shouldn’t the preferences swing between cosmopolitans and the uncomplicated? No surprise the latter infest the country’s less dynamic regions. That portion of our populace evolves grudgingly, if at all. They resist the new, the now, the unusual, with a vehemence suggesting life-and-death struggles. While new isn’t always better, habitual dismissal of it not only shows a closed mind, but one also hermetically sealed.
Most Americans who arbitrarily slot our Islam-following fellow citizens as religious Fifth Columnists might’ve benefited by having interactions with them. Of course that would’ve required proximity to where they resided and curiosity about the neighbors.
(To be continued)