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New Zealand Stag are waiting. Let us help put you on the hunt of a lifetime.
New Zealand Red Stag
At Double Guns of Nashville, we are committed to facilitating extraordinary shooting and hunting experiences in all corners of the world, and few experiences can rival that of hunting red stag from our alpine lodge in New Zealand. Working with our partners on the ground, we can facilitate unforgettable hunting trips across both of New Zealand islands.
Our Kiwi Partner
In providing our clients with hunting trips to New Zealand, we partner with the legendary Shane Quinn. Shane has been a leader in the international hunting industry for nearing 20 years, and for a good reason! He operates some of New Zealand premier hunting lodges, and has a reputation for biological conservation and high ethical standards. He was recently awarded the 2016 SCI Outstanding International Professional Hunter of the Year Award, and continues to bring clients from all over the world the natural bounty of New Zealand.
Shane is a friend of Double Guns of Nashville, and we are proud to partner with him to build upon the friendship shared by our two great nations.
Getting to New Zealand
Air New Zealand run direct flights to Auckland (on the North Island) from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Houston. Flying from the west coast, the flight to New Zealand will last approximately 12 hours. However, because you will be flying backwards across time zones, we recommend budgeting 2 days for travel time.
Once you arrive in Auckland, we would advise you to rest for a day or two to bounce back from your jet lag. From Auckland, you will take a short connecting flight to the airport nearest to the lodge of your choosing, where you will be met by a member of Shane’s Alpine Team and driven out into the “high country” to the hunting lodge.
Hunting New Zealand’s massive Red Stag is an incredible experience, but there will be a wide variety of other big game at your fingertips as well. These photos should give you a good feel for what you’d be getting yourself into…


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The calendar, worth in excess of A$4,000,000 (Four Million Dollars), has been meticulously handcrafted by master cabinet maker and Sydney resident Tim Garside.
“The materials chosen were Australian woods and veneers revolving around a complimentary theme.” he said. The choices were very deliberate taking features of the QVB itself. “You can see such features in the chequered floor, arched windows, glass in the windows and pillared arch and columns on the facade. One half of the calendar consists of predominantly Australian Red Cedar, along with Australian walnut, and Forest Red Gum, features of Gold Leaf, natural gemstones and crystal. The other side consists of predominantly Huon Pine, Birds Eye Maple, Silky Oak and Red Gum Burl along with features of Silver Leaf, natural gemstones and Crystal.”
The beautiful Calendar hasn’t gone unnoticed with hundreds of the general public turning up each day to take a closer look at the captivating display of embellishments.
Michael Neuman, Co-Director of Mondial says of the window display, “This has been over 18 months in the making and we are so thrilled to finally see our vision come to life. For us, it really is about adding that spark of wonder and excitement back into Christmas and we are looking forward to seeing the faces of both adults and children light up as they look into our shop windows and see the incredible and totally unique display.”
With secret doors and panels numbering 1 to 24, each day of December will reveal a new treasure to the public up until Christmas day. The calendar delights those interested in luxury jewellery and time-honoured craftmanship but also draws attention to the historic QVB as it continues to celebrate its 120th birthday.
This year Mondial celebrates 25 wonderful years in this special location and like the QVB herself and many of the retailers here, this advent calendar is one of a kind. The calendar has been designed to reflect the architectural style and details one sees in the famous Queen Victoria Building and it includes featured Mondial jewellery such as an extremely rare Argyle Red Diamond ring valued at $690,000.”
Some of the 24 exceptional pieces of jewellery in the Advent Calendar include:
- Mondial Red — Beyond Rare. From the Argyle Pink Diamond Tender, this 0.33ct brilliant cut is a pure Natural Fancy Red of unsurpassed colour. RRP $690,000.
- Aria — Unique and handcrafted. A beautiful pear-shaped diamond enhanced by a frame of interlaced Australian Argyle pink diamonds. RRP $58,000.
- Celestia — One of a kind. An historic 3.51ct, VVS1 Fancy Intense Yellow Argyle Diamond. RRP $275,000.
The collaborating team hope to rejuvenate the wonder of Christmas and capture the public’s imagination. and draw attention the many precious metals unique to our country. The display will also re-awaken the public’s appreciation of the natural precious materials found right here in our own backyard.

domain: design


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All the drama and beauty of the North Devon Coast
Situated near Dunster Castle & Working Watermill, RHS Garden at Rosemoor, Exmoor National Park and an abundance of charming fishing villages, you will be surrounded by stunning scenery and breath-taking history.
Price is per person sharing a twin or double room and based on 30 passengers - 10 Singles at no supplement.
Dilkhusa Grand Hotel, Ilfracombe
Out of all the hotels in Ilfracombe, The Dilkhusa Hotel has one of the most interesting histories. Originally a private house, ‘Dilkhusa’ means ‘House of the Happy Heart’ in Hindustani and was named by a Raj when he bought the building as a gift for his wife. To this day, our Ilfracombe hotel has pride of place on the Victorian seafront, just a stone’s throw from the harbour and overlooking one of North Devon’s most popular seaside resorts. The historic Dilkhusa hotel is just a few minutes’ walk from the seafront and overlooks the Runnymede Gardens where you’ll find the Landmark Theatre and Ilfracombe Museum.
Offering 98 comfortable bedrooms for singles, couples and families, with all the sought-after amenities to make your stay as relaxing as possible, including a private bathroom, flatscreen TV and free internet access, the Dilkhusa grand hotel in Ilfracombe is ready to welcome you.
The well-appointed hotel restaurant provides daily breakfast, lunch and dinner options. Guests are also welcome to visit the lounge and enjoy drinks at the bar. With a spacious entertainment suite, we warmly welcome guests to sit back and enjoy the program of regular live entertainment.

domain: travel


Contactless credit and debit cards are normal chip payment cards with an embedded antenna, or aerial. They work with a card reader only and have a maximum intended range of 5cm. However, there have been reports of unintended payments by cards that are 30cm. away from the nearest card reader. When payment is requested, a card reader sends out a radio frequency signal to which the card responds.
There is a transaction limit of £15, above which the card holder's PIN will be requested. As a further security measure, the familiar chip and PIN feature comes into play after a certain number of contactless transactions. Depending upon how high that number is set by the banks, various amounts could be taken from the holder's account without their knowledge, as they would only have to have their card close to a reader for the transaction to be effective.
It doesn't take a great leap of imagination to see how technology-savvy criminals could capitalize on the "below-threshold no-PIN" feature of the system. They are already known to collect account-compromising information by using dummy cash machines, covert card readers, and spy technology on real cash machines. How long before we see, or rather don't see, pocket covert card readers being used by criminals mingling within crowds?
The Luddite response to the threat might be to attempt to thwart progress and refuse to carry contactless cards at all. However, scientist Michael Faraday, born in 1791, invented a device which shielded its contents from electro-magnetic radiation. Static electricity and radio signals are examples of electro-magnetic radiation, and the device invented in 1836 is called the Faraday cage.
So the question becomes "how can we make a Faraday cage to protect our credit and debit cards"? After all, such devices are often built as whole rooms to contain sensitive equipment. The answer is actually very simple: a metal biscuit tin is a Faraday cage; a wrap of tin or aluminium foil is a Faraday cage; the anti-static plastic film that protects new electronic equipment is a Faraday cage.
We just need to make sure that our cards are surrounded by a piece of conductive foil or film. Crafters of card holders and wallets can easily incorporate this in their designs. Ready for the cashless society?


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A VCA occurs when a pilot enters controlled airspace without a clearance. Controlled airspace is a section of airspace surrounding an airport with a tower, and/or airspace up to a certain altitude overlying Australia. This airspace may or may not be radar monitored. The controller needs to be aware of all aircraft within hisher section of controlled airspace so as to provide a complete traffic service. Pilots are required to request a clearance before entering the airspace.
|Type:||Research and Analysis Report|
|Publication date:||21 September 1997|
|ISBN:||0 642 27453 3|

domain: geography


On the penultimate day of the 2020 legislative session, a who's-who lineup of Utah's government and education leaders linked arms to demonstrate their mutual commitment to a delicate bargain struck over education funding.
Pending voter approval, the state would abandon a constitutional requirement that all income tax revenue be spent on schooling—considered sacrosanct by many educators. In return, lawmakers were poised to approve a 6% ($200+ million) boost to per-student funding and create a new budgeting process that, in theory, guarantees ever-increasing investment in public education during both good times and bad.
"I believe this is the proverbial win-win-win," then-Gov. Gary Herbert said at the time.
Two days later, the bad times arrived.
- Courtesy Photo
- Sydnee Dickson, Utah State Superintendent of Public Instruction
"Last year, we had a phenomenal year," state Superintendent Sydnee Dickson said during a recent interview. "The high of highs on the last day of the session, and then 11 o'clock the very next day I was standing by the governor saying schools were going to shutter."
As Utahns retreated into their homes for months of pandemic-imposed isolation, lawmakers went to work dismantling their just-approved state budget. Schools were spared from outright cuts, but the much-lauded 6% boost was trimmed down to 1.8% and the lion's share of new appropriations were placed on indefinite hold.
The impending constitutional amendment—Amendment G—disappeared into the background of a year dominated by health crises and political upheaval. But voters ultimately signed off on the change, giving lawmakers access to the income tax revenue they craved, and assurances were made to educators that the promise of significant, reliable funding increases for public education would still arrive, albeit delayed.
The question of whether, and to what degree, lawmakers would put our money where their mouths were was answered in January. In a roughly $400 million budget adjustment, SB1, they paid for school enrollment growth and inflation—as now required by law—but then kept going, adding $1,500 pandemic bonuses for teachers statewide and a 6% boost to per-student spending to what is typically a bare-bones rough draft of the year's accounts.
- Courtesy Photo
- Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan
"This is unlike any public-education base budget bill that we've seen before," Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan, said while presenting the bill on the Senate floor. "It's larger than the typical base budget bill, and this honors commitments that we made with our voters in November 2020."
By and large, the reaction from members of the education community has been a combination of surprise, relief and encouragement. The threat of a constitutional amendment had been a source of dread for years, but in interviews with teachers, school administrators and education advocates, most described feeling assuaged by the inaugural run of the new process.
"Other states have had draconian cuts in education funding," said McKay Jensen, past president of the Utah School Superintendents Association. "To be held harmless in a COVID-downturn year of great anxiety, to have commitments made to us and commitments fulfilled—this is not a bad year, this is not a flat year. Our legislative leaders deserve a lot of credit."
And by quickly dealing with what is typically an elephant in the budget, lawmakers added yet another quirk to an already atypical legislative session. Much of state government remains virtual or socially distanced, and without the flashpoint of a fight over per-student spending, some in the education community say their respective organizations have new bandwidth to consider—and disagree on—outlying pieces of school-related legislation.
But if 2021 demonstrates that the state's new school funding plan can work, the question becomes whether it will continue to work in the future.
State law now sets a minimum school funding floor that increases to match inflationary costs, but those rules can be altered or abandoned by a simple majority vote. And it is at the discretion of lawmakers to pass additional funding bumps at the start of session (as they did this year), at the end of session (as they traditionally do), or to not appropriate extra funding at all (as Amendment G gives them new license to do).
- Courtesy Photo
- McKay Jensen, past president of the Utah School Superintendents Association
"That will be the work every year, to watch that bill and watch those statutory requirements and make sure we keep them, because politics change," Jensen said. "People are supportive of us right now, but there are cracks."
When it comes to the education budget, there are a few helpful rules of thumb. First, the bulk of state funding is distributed to schools based on enrollment, using an esoteric metric called the Weighted Pupil Unit, or WPU, which is more-or-less a per-student dollar figure.
Second, every 1% increase to the WPU costs the state roughly $35 million. And third, the cost of running schools—which really is to say, paying educators—increases every year to the tune of a 2% WPU increase.
That means that from the perspective of your local school district, a 3% increase to per-student spending means money for raises and/or new programs, a 2% increase means the district breaks even, and a 1% increase puts the district in the red looking at either cuts or property tax hikes to fill the gap.
And while inflationary pressures are a reality for all areas of government, the scope and size of the public education system makes those economic winds particularly hard-felt and uniquely public-facing. At the Legislature, it's common to hear complaints that educators "always want more" because, in effect, they do.
"With growth and inflation, we would basically have to ask [for money] to get to zero every year," Jensen said. "Education financing is just so stinking complicated."
The grand "win-win-win" bargain of 2020 is meant to address that tension. In return for getting on board with Amendment G, schools will see their passive cost increases built into the next year's base budget, clearing the first funding hurdle so requests for new funding are, in fact, new.
- Courtesy Photo
- Heidi Matthews, president of the Utah Education Association
"Being able to have that from the start is fantastic," said Heidi Matthews, president of the Utah Education Association. "It's the way it should be."
But the deal goes one step further on that front. Lawmakers wanted access to the income tax because, in recent years, it has significantly outperformed the state sales tax. That meant a recurring theme of mountains in the education fund and only molehills in the general fund—which is responsible for funding essentially everything but public schools.
In exchange for blowing a hole in the income tax pot wide enough for a double-tracked Frontrunner train to roll through, a new reserve account for education was created to tuck extra funds away in times of plenty so that if and when the economy plummets, money for minimum cost adjustments will continue to be available.
"In times of uncertainty, at least our schools would have growth and inflation," Matthews said.
By including a 6% WPU increase in this year's base budget, lawmakers signaled that the required funding is a floor, not a ceiling. Hence, the collective sigh of relief from educators.
"I think it set the tone for a good session to be able to talk about collaboration and moving forward," Matthews said, "with a few exceptions."
The friendly negotiations leading into this year's legislative session came close to falling apart in December, when news broke that teachers would be excluded from the planned $1,500 hazard pay bonuses if their school district failed to offer in-person learning.
That provision overtly targeted Salt Lake City School District—the only one in the state utilizing an all-online format—and was eventually walked back. But separate, punitive legislation was introduced once the Legislature convened to maintain a sword over the district's head while it shifted to a hybrid format earlier this month.
Dickson said those and other efforts prompted discussions about the extent and limits of local district control. She said statewide guidelines related to the pandemic were developed by the State Board of Education, and Utah's districts and charter schools considered those policies in crafting their individual approaches to the school year.
"All of our teachers worked hard," she said. "It doesn't matter the setting they were in."
Fillmore, the Senate sponsor of the education budget, said he was pleased that the debate over teacher stipends was resolved.
"Every district in the state qualifies for this bonus for their teachers, and I'm grateful for that," Fillmore said. "And I'm especially glad the students in Salt Lake City get to go to school."
Give and Take
Last week, updated revenue numbers for the state showed roughly $1.5 billion in available funding for appropriations. But nearly all of that figure is "one-time" money, suited for short-term programs and purchases rather than ongoing budgets.
- Courtesy Photo
- Sen. Jerry Stevenson, R-Layton
Sen. Jerry Stevenson—R-Layton, and the Senate's budget chairman—said legislators' requests for funding far exceed the available revenue. And that gap is exacerbated by the decision to fund education at the top of the session.
"There's going to have to be some deep thought in putting a [final] budget together," he said.
Stevenson said leaving education until the end of the budget process likely would have resulted in less funding for the WPU than the 6% bump approved in January. The gains for schools put pressure on the remaining areas of state spending, he said, while taking some of the biggest funding questions off of lawmakers' plates.
"If you're being attacked by a mob, one less in the mob is a lot easier," he said.
Fillmore said he expects future base budgets to follow suit by going beyond the minimum funding increases required by law. That may not mean the full boost to the WPU will be settled at the start of each legislative session, he said, but some portion of that year's new investments are likely to be addressed quickly.
"The voters approved Amendment G knowing that would mean education would be funded more heavily, right up front," he said.
Holladay Democrat Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, a former teacher, opposed the constitutional amendment. She said she's pleased with this year's funding increase for schools but remains concerned about the long-term ramifications of expanding the uses of income-tax revenue.
"Only time will tell," she said. "But [legislative leaders] stepped up and made a commitment and did what they said."
Amendment G added services for children and the disabled to be funded by the income tax, but the true intent and impact is to allow money to move back and forth between the education and general funds.
Moss said the true test of the new growth-first system will be when other important programs are competing with education for a slice of income-tax revenue.
"How is it going to play out when they start getting money from the same source?" she said. "We haven't seen how that balance is going to work."
And Jensen, of the superintendents' association, said the good feelings around this year's numbers have not fully supplanted the apprehension over amending the constitution.
"We're conscious of playing in the same sandbox as public safety and social services," he said.
All of those unknown variables are compounded by the coronavirus, which upended the public education system in the spring of 2020 in myriad ways.
Utah has experienced a chronic shortage of teachers—the state's last-in-the-nation funding levels translate to comparatively large class sizes and low salaries—but some areas started the new school year with excess teachers after personnel delayed retirement and enrollment dipped.
"We had a number of students just disappear altogether," said Granite School District spokesman Ben Horsley. "They never showed up in another district, they just vanished."
Many if not most of those students—and thousands like them statewide—are expected to return to school as the pandemic subsides and social restrictions ease. But they may encounter an exhausted faculty, straining the state's already-high rate of turnover that sees four out of 10 new teachers quit the profession within five years.
"We could find ourselves deep in the throes of the teacher shortage again," Horsley said.
Other district representatives, who declined to speak on the record, said the rosy talk of new funding ignores the lingering pain of 2020, when state budget reductions left some districts to trim costs or dip into reserves to balance their books. Rather than a 6% increase from the Legislature this year, they say, the reality is a restoration of lost funds, plus some extra for inflation and growth.
"It's really money they already gave us, but then pulled back," one educator said.
Yándary Chatwin, spokeswoman for the Salt Lake City School District, said the district will be closer to breaking even this year than seeing a significant funding increase. But she added that administrators are pleased with the work of legislative leaders in supporting education during a challenging budget year.
"After seeing how the numbers have turned out, it's looking promising, and we're hopeful that public education will continue to be as much of a priority as the Legislature has made it this year," she said.
Jensen acknowledged that there are differing levels of enthusiasm regarding the outcome of the Amendment G vote. But he noted that in a time of significant challenges, growth and inflation were funded and new investments are being made.
"There are people in our group who actually think this year was another zero year," he said. "That's not how my household works. If I didn't get the raise last year, and I get it this year, I don't tell my employer they owe me last year's money, too."
Breaking Up the Band
With the question of WPU funding settled, the different branches of Utah's education family tree have turned their attentions to various proposals bouncing around the state Capitol.
Jensen said that's had the effect of giving oxygen to areas of internal disagreement, like a failed resolution urging schools to reconsider the use of Native American mascot or a controversial proposal to ban transgender girls from participating in school sports.
"There's a big change actually," he said. "I think that puts a little more pressure on some of these divisive or philosophical bills."
Jensen said those internal discussions do not always result in public support or opposition to a particular bill. But as to the transgender athlete bill, he said there is broad concern about the potential for litigation.
"It seems like there's a lawsuit on both sides," he said. "In keeping the state law, if it passes, we'll be open to the federal courts. If not, we're open to the state courts."
Matthews said most of the UEA's legislative requests were addressed in SB1's base budget. In the remaining days of the session, she said the union is lobbying for expanded sick leave.
"Regardless of how fast the vaccines are coming out, we don't want teachers going to school sick or having to face loss of pay for the absences related to COVID," she said.
State Superintendent Dickson said the Board of Education is seeking to restore some of the budget items cut in 2020. The board is also requesting funding to expand broadband access, bolster programs for at-risk students and early learning, and to increase the number of schools offering optional full-day kindergarten.
"We have data that shows that makes a difference," Dickson said. "And we're one of a very few states that doesn't ensure every student has that opportunity for extended-day kindergarten."
The Board of Education also took the relatively rare step of formally opposing a bill last week, voting against SB175, which would loosen the rules around special-education spending. The bill comes on the heels of a controversy-prone but politically well-connected charter school having its wrists slapped, and it sidesteps recent revisions to the state's special-education policies.
"The [school] board feels like they undertook this very long, data-driven and stakeholder-feedback-driven process to get to where we're at," said deputy state superintendent Angie Stallings, "and this bill would undo some of those things."
And Utah PTA President Laney Benedict said she is watching the progress of SB134, which deals with regulations around electronic cigarettes.
"As Utah PTA, we advocate for the whole child," she said. "Not just the education piece, not just the health piece, not just the safety. We advocate for all of those things."
- Courtesy Photo
- Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton
Outside of the education category, legislative leaders are looking to fund transportation and utility improvements, as well as offer relief to taxpayers. Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, said that while ongoing revenue is limited, the state is fortunate to be in as healthy a position as it is.
"If you had told me last March when we shut the economy down—when we sent people home and shut down businesses—that this session we'd be doing a tax cut, we'd be funding education and we'd be funding infrastructure, I probably wouldn't have believed you," he said.
Nearly every person contacted for this article commented on a spirit of collaboration that currently exists around public education, and a cooling of the perceived hostilities between districts and charter schools, between school administrators and parents' organizations, and between lawmakers and the teachers' unions.
"We all learned to trust each other a little bit more in the process of going through Amendment G," Fillmore said. "I think that probably surprised a lot of us."
Those tensions have cooled before, but they tend to rekindle. New leaders are elected, new controversies present themselves and all the while more and more children pack into the lowest-funded schools in the nation. A tenuous peace seems to be in place, but memories can be short on Capitol Hill.
"Our relationship seems healthy right now, and if nothing else that's what we can celebrate," Jensen said. "We still have a lot to talk about, but at least we're having good conversations."


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Electric is excited to announce today the expansion of their e-commerce platform to consumers in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and UK.
Launched in 2013, the Electric e-commerce platform allows consumers to interact with the brand, stay up to date on product releases, and follow along with athlete/ambassador happenings. Although the website is currently accessible throughout the globe, only customers located in the United States and in Canada were previously able to buy directly from the online store. Expanding direct retail capabilities to those countries is a step towards achieving the brand’s goal to become a world-class premium accessory brand. Next steps in the brand’s e-commerce evolution include expanding direct retail capabilities in other countries in EMEA, and Australasia.
Buy your products here.


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The Jordan-based Arab Bank, strategically chosen by Palestinian terrorist groups, converted various currencies into dollars then wire transferred payments to the accounts of known Hamas operatives who murdered Israeli-Americans, violated international norms barring the funding of terrorism, so, will be judged by the U.S. Supreme Court.
By Yair Altman
The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday was scheduled to hold its first hearing on a lawsuit filed by Israeli victims of terrorism against Arab Bank Plc, claiming it knowingly funded Palestinian terrorist groups, including Hamas.
The Jordan-based Arab Bank is one of the largest financial institutions in the Middle East. It has 190 branches worldwide and holds accounts for various governments and global conglomerates. Continue Reading »
The high court said it would hear plaintiffs’ arguments seeking Iranian artifacts to cover a $71.5 million judgment, since Iran funded the two consecutive suicide bombings that were carried out in 1997 by Hamas terrorists at the Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem.
The Supreme Court will hear the restitution case from a 1997 Hamas bombing in Jerusalem in which survivors are seeking Iranian artifacts to pay a $71.5 million judgment.
The high court said Tuesday it would hear arguments and determine the outcome of the case during its next term, which begins in October.
Continue Reading »
Mahane Yehuda Market.
US Supreme Court agreed to consider reviving the Arab Bank of Jordan case, of knowingly financing Palestinians to commit acts of terrorism, including suicide bombings and other attacks, that resulted in the death of scores of Americans.
WASHINGTON – The US Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider reviving litigation seeking to hold Arab Bank Plc financially liable for militant attacks in Israel and the Palestinian territories that accused the Jordan-based bank of being the “paymaster” to militant groups.
Aftermath of Jerusalem bus bombing – Photo: Wikipedia
The justices agreed to hear an appeal by roughly 6,000 plaintiffs, who included relatives of non-US citizens killed in such attacks and survivors of the incidents, of a lower court ruling throwing out the litigation. Continue Reading »

domain: law


A federal program offering rebates for energy saving major appliances is coming to Montana next spring.
The state's share of the $300 million national program is $928,000, which is enough for about 9,700 rebates. The state plans to pay $100 for new refrigerators and washing machines, $70 for freezers and $50 for dishwashers. The new purchases must be "Energy Star" rated.
"I think it's a great recovery act program for the average consumer, and will be stimulative to the industry, too," said Brian Green, energy program manager for the Department of Environmental Quality. "It's a good program for consumers to make their homes more energy efficient."
A few states have already launched their "Cash for Appliances" programs. Montana will solicit bids in January for a contractor, such as a rebate-fulfillment firm, to run the program, Green said.
"We'd like to have been able to offer it sooner, but it just takes time to get the plan approved and do the solicitation for the rebate contractor," he said.
The rebate program should begin in April.
The plan is targeted to consumers, and not for appliances used commercially or installed in new construction.
The state rebate would be in addition to any utility company rebates. Several co-ops, including Flathead, Yellowstone and Ravalli have smaller appliance rebates.


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A 1031 exchange is a powerful resource for real-estate investors planning to defer taxes on their income. But when you’re thinking about embarking on a 1031 exchange, it’s essential to fully grasp exactly how it operates and the part a skilled 1031 Exchange Timelines and Rules plays in the process. On this page, we’ll talk about a few of the benefits of utilizing a highly skilled 1031 exchange accommodator and why it’s extremely important for your personal total accomplishment.
Why Work Together With a seasoned Skilled?
There are various benefits to utilizing an experienced skilled when carrying out a 1031 exchange. A highly skilled professional will be able to help you through all the process and ensure that all your paperwork is registered properly and on time. They can offer advice about which investments might be best for the person situation and offer assistance when necessary throughout the length of the swap.
Additionally, through an professional working for you can be sure you stay certified with all relevant regulations while still consuming whole benefit of any taxation price savings readily available by way of a 1031 exchange. This may be especially beneficial if you’re inexperienced in this area or not familiar with the particulars involved in accomplishing one of these purchases effectively. Utilizing a skilled professional can give you peace of mind knowing that things are becoming taken care of properly by someone who understands what they’re doing.
For real estate investors seeking to make the most of tax price savings via a 1031 exchange, there are numerous advantages to enlisting the assistance of a certified professional holiday accommodation provider. Besides working with such specialists improve the chances that every little thing will go smoothly and remain compliant but they also provide additional services including portfolio assessment and asset managing suggestions that could confirm priceless down the line when you make decisions about where advisable to commit or what type of property can be best for one’s needs.Tagged: 1031 Exchange

domain: finance


Heating Rates in Bulgaria To Drop by up to 7.5% in Q1, 2013
Heating rates will drop by 3-7.5% starting January 1, 2013, according to Angel Semerdzhiev, Chair of Bulgaria's State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR).
Semerdzhiev, as cited by Darik radio, explained Tuesday that heating and hot water prices in Sofia would drop by 7%.
The Chair of Bulgaria's energy watchdog specified that the new heating rates of all heating utilities running on natural gas would depend on the reduction in gas prices in the first quarter of 2013.
He went on to say that gas prices would drop by more than 9.3%, as state-owned gas supplier Bulgargaz suggested.
Semerdzhiev made clear that some heating utilities were expected to come up with a price cut similar to the reduction in gas tariffs, while others would announce smaller price decreases.
The DKEVR Chair pointed out that the energy watchdog would publish the Q1, 2013 prices of natural gas and central heating by the end of next week.
- » Aurubis to Invest EUR 75 M in Its Copper Plant in Bulgaria's Pirdop
- » Bulgarian Energy Watchdog to Decide on Electricity Bills
- » Bulgaria's Photovoltaics Demand EU Recommendations in Energy Sector
- » Energy Watchdog Chair: Power Price Hike by over 10% Is Socially Unacceptable
- » Rosen Plevneliev Urges Prompt Energy Sector Reforms
- » Power Price Hike as of October is Unavoidable – Bulgaria’s Energy Minister


Question about Elite HE4 Electric Dryer
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...king-cab)4wd truck. It's the type of cab with the 'barn-door' type of doors that swing open opposing each other with the rear door being the skinny type - not full-size like the front doors - as on ...
door and back seat speakers in my 97 nissan king cab pickup According to my listing and it doesn't say anything different about a regular or king cab but what is says is for the front speakers: 4"
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passenger door lock noise rear passenger door makes a loud buzzing noise when the doors are automatically locked king mechanism faulty and needs repalaced check to see if it locks
Question about Rheem RUUD Weather King Honeywell Furnace Gas Valve 60-100394-02 VR8205S2395
...king furnace model number 90RJ07EFS01 is giving me 4 flashing lights can any one tell me where i can get the trouble codes or tell me what the code means thanks in advance Usually on the inside cover ...
Question about 1989 Hardbody King
how do I access a car door when outside handle broke? go in the other side door and open it from the inside remove the door trim and replace the broken handle
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A malfunctioning furnace can be a major inconvenience during the colder months of the year, but it doesn't necessarily mean you need to call in a professional to fix the problem. There are a number of things you can try to fix your furnace on your own, which can save you money and get your heat back on as soon as possible.
Before you begin, it's important to understand the basic operation of your furnace. A furnace converts fuel (such as natural gas or propane) into heat, which is then distributed throughout your home using a system of ducts and vents. The furnace itself is made up of several key components, including the burners, heat exchanger, blower motor, and control circuit. Any one of these components can malfunction and cause your furnace to stop working.
Here are a few things you can try to fix your furnace on your own:
Check the Thermostat: The first thing to check is the thermostat. Make sure it is set to the correct temperature and that the mode is set to "heat." If the thermostat is not the problem, proceed to the next step.
Check the Furnace Filter: A dirty filter can restrict airflow and cause your furnace to shut down. Locate the filter in the air return duct or inside the blower compartment, and check to see if it needs to be replaced. If the filter is dirty, replace it with a new one.
Check for Obstructions: Make sure that there are no obstructions in the air vents or ducts that could be blocking the airflow. Check for debris, such as leaves or small animals, and remove them if necessary.
Check the Pilot Light: If your furnace uses a pilot light to ignite the burners, make sure that the pilot light is lit. If it is not, follow the instructions in your furnace's user manual to relight it.
Check the Electrical Connections: Make sure that all of the electrical connections to the furnace are secure and not corroded. Look for any loose wires or frayed cables, and tighten or replace them as necessary.
Check the Blower Motor: If the furnace is running but there is no heat, the blower motor may be malfunctioning. Locate the motor, and check to see if it is running. If it is not, you may need to replace the motor.
If none of these steps fix the issue, it is probably best to call in a professional for further diagnosis.
It is important to remember that furnace repair can be dangerous. if you are not confident in your ability to safely troubleshoot and fix the problem, it is best to call a professional. Also, remember to always refer to your furnace's user manual for specific instructions on how to troubleshoot and fix your particular model.
By following these simple steps, you can troubleshoot and potentially fix your malfunctioning furnace on your own and get your heat back on in no time.


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Bharat Biotech's Covaxin offers protection against the Beta and the Delta variants of coronavirus, a joint study by researchers from Pune's National Institute of Virology, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Bharat Biotech has found.
While the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) was first found in India and is the dominant strain in the country, the Beta variant (B.1.351) was first discovered in South Africa.
The study, which is a pre-print and not yet peer-reviewed, is based on samples from 20 people who have recovered from Covid and 17 people, 28 days after they received both the doses of Covaxin.
Covaxin demonstrated protective response against the two variants of concern, the study claims.
ICMR chief Balram Bhargava and is among the authors of the report. One of the authors is from vaccine maker Bharat Biotech.
The highly infectious and fast-spreading Delta strain caused the deadly second wave in India, a government study had said. It is "more infectious" than the Alpha variant first detected in the UK and is 50 per cent more contagious, research showed. Scientists, however, say there is no evidence yet of the role of the Delta variant in causing more deaths or in the greater severity of cases.
Earlier this week, another pre-print study, yet to be peer-reviewed reportedly said Serum Institute's Covishield vaccine produced more antibodies than Covaxin. The study was done by Coronavirus Vaccine-induced Antibody Titre (COVAT) involving healthcare workers (HCW) who have received both doses of either of the two vaccines that are being administered in India.
On Tuesday, the government set the maximum price private hospitals can charge for three COVID-19 vaccines - Covishield Rs. 780 per dose, Covaxin Rs. 1,410 and Sputnik V Rs. 1,145.

domain: news


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There was nobody there. I walked away from the memories.
I saw layers of humanity superimposed on each other throughout time, always here, always now! Energy in motion, constant flow, a pulse, the pulse of the Mind Essence, of the Spirit.
I met with my sister C___. She is doing well, a survivor. I might see her again, if the Spirit allows.

domain: literature


text:
Mike Binder wrote, directed and co-stars in Columbia's Reign Over Me, the latest drama to explore 9/11. Binder's dramedy is about the emotional aftermath of that dark day and the effect it still has on a man who lost his family on one of the doomed airlines. The story may be fictionalized, but there are surely people out there whose experiences and pain mirror those of the film's protagonist, Charlie Fineman (Adam Sandler, in his most dramatic role).
Charlie was a successful New York dentist when his beloved wife and daughters were killed. Five years later, he is a shell of who he once was and behaves almost as if they never existed. He lashes out in rage at any mention of them or attempt to broach the subject. Living off the settlement he received for his family's deaths, Charlie escapes into videogames as well as the music of his youth. He blocks out the world with his noise-cancelling headphones and rides alone through Manhattan on his motorized scooter.
The first step toward chipping Charlie's carefully constructed armor is when he is reunited with Alan Johnson (Don Cheadle), his roommate from dental school. Alan has a successful practice, a nice home and a great family, but he is bored and yearning for some measure of control over his life, which he feels has been ceded to his wife Janeane (Jada Pinkett Smith).
Alan dances around his own need for help, seeking advice for a "friend" whenever he encounters Angela Oakhurst (Liv Tyler), a psychiatrist who works in the same medical building he does. Alan initially spends time with Charlie simply to escape from the dullness of his home life. Charlie is like the troubled kid who hides in his treehouse fort and Alan is his neighborhood pal who comes over to play. But Alan soon realizes that he must try to help Charlie overcome his pain, which in its own way will also get Alan the help he needs. Charlie, however, is fiercely resistant to getting help. He has frozen out his parents-in-law (Robert Klein and Melinda Dillon), who eventually try to get Charlie committed to a mental health hospital after he gets into trouble. Whether Charlie is capable of and willing to move on with his life is the big question.
Reign Over Me is a hit-and-miss film, but it is Sandler's portrayal of the traumatized Charlie that nevertheless makes it a must-see. He gives a complex, nuanced performance, capturing the character's tortured, fragile nature. Sandler is often called upon to veer from vulnerability to volatility within the same scene, and he does it without ever becoming unintentionally funny. (Charlie does have his funny moments, but it's just part of his overall defense mechanism.) Sandler has made a fortune in comedy playing vulnerable man-children who often explode into violently hilarious rages, but here he takes that same character type and turns it into someone painfully authentic. This could well be the performance Sandler will be remembered for.
Cheadle, one of the best actors working today, has the lead weight to carry here. Unlike Charlie, whose problem is clearly defined, Alan's is more elusive and commonplace. He has simply lost interest in the day-to-day business of life, but -- through his relationship with Charlie -- he musters the nerve to tell off those who need to be told off and to reconnect with his wife. Still, compared to Charlie, Alan really has nothing to complain about. The story begins as Alan's, but the focus switches halfway through to Charlie. It seems as if Charlie is merely there to help change Alan's life, but once we fully understand why Charlie is the way he is, the story becomes about Charlie with Alan there to help him. Obviously, Charlie is the more interesting character, but the shift in narrative focus is noteworthy and jarring.
The rest of the cast are decent, but not necessarily remarkable. Pinkett Smith is simply there, stuck with the underdeveloped "suffering wife" role. Tyler is cast against type as a shrink, the kind of part that Diane Wiest might normally play. Donald Sutherland draws on his ample reserve of screen authority and righteous indignation to play the judge who weighs Charlie's situation, while Saffron Burrows has a bizarre supporting role as a sexually troublesome patient of Alan's.
The problems with Reign Over Me are all story-related, with Alan and his family ultimately proving too uninteresting to fully hold our attention during the spells when Charlie is offscreen. Thankfully, the fine performances by Sandler and Cheadle give the film enough of what it needs in order to recommend it.

domain: artistic


Langley’s first two electric school buses will be coming to Aldergrove, the school board decided at Tuesday night’s meeting.
“The district is pretty excited to start out with two electric buses, the first two in the district,” said Brian Iseli, the secretary treasurer for the Langley School District.
Capital funding from the provincial Ministry of Education allows the district to buy three new buses this year, and two of those will be battery powered. However, the district will have to pay the difference in cost between electric and standard buses.
The buses cost $140,864 per bus, which is $95,000 more than standard internal combustion engine buses.
On the other hand, they’re expected to save $12,000 per bus per, year in lower operating and maintenance costs because electricity is cheaper than gas and electric vehicles have far fewer moving parts and need less servicing.
“You can see the payback is pretty good on that,” Iseli said.
Over the 10-year expected minimum lifetimes of the buses, that should let the district save $120,000 per bus, making up for the greater initial cost. He also noted that it reduces the carbon emissions bill that the district has to pay.
The district will need to spend $10,000 each for two charging stations for the buses.
Both buses are to serve Aldergrove Secondary, Iseli said.
“I think this is super news for our district,” said Trustee David Tod.
Trustee Tony Ward also thought the plan was exciting, only asking how long the buses were expected to last to ensure they paid for themselves in gas and maintenance savings.
The board unanimously approved the change.
Electric school buses have started arriving in multiple districts around the province this year.
In May the Ministry of Education announced that 13 districts, mostly in the Interior or on the Island, were purchasing 18 electric school buses.
TransLink also announced in January that it’s battery electric bus fleet, starting with a pilot project of four buses, will expand to 19. Eventually, 600 electric buses are planned by 2030.
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text:
Bethany Quin is more than a little angry about returning home to Peaks, Iowa and mostly terrified about the past being in her face again. She has a lot of anger and resentment stored up for certain people in the town and a truck load of guilt surrounding her childhood best friend. As Bethany is forced to work through the pain of her childhood and face up to the things she ran from, she does in deed find that after the winter comes the spring.
Another new author for me to read. Katie Ganshert is a treasure of a find. She has written a well paced, character driven, heartfelt novel full of lovely prose mixed amongst some great scenes of character interaction. It’s clear she is not afraid to write about conflict both internal and when the characters interact.
I loved the depths probed in this book and found the issues of lost hope, shattered expectations and new life brought to life with beautiful writing and honest prose. Bethany is at times really mean and I didn’t always like her actions, but I always wanted her to overcome the issues in her way. I loved how Evan Price wasn’t afraid to stand up to Bethany and call it like it was. Both are well rounded characters, strong and all too human.
I really liked the issues of faith presented in this story too. It was presented differently in genuine faith as compared to shallow or “fake” faith that only traps people, rather than setting them free. It’s the first novel I’ve read that tackles the faith issues from that perspective.
So a great read and I will be reading more from this great author.
Jess is a mum of two children and married to the calmest man alive. She loves to bake and go for walks. A writer of contemporary romance, Jess write stories about the heart and where love is worth the journey.


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Residents of Tetegu in the Ga South district of the Greater Accra region are blaming the Ghana Water Company Limited for the massive devastation after hundreds of homes got flooded following the spillage from the Weija Dam.
The residents told Starr News’ Daniel Nii Lartey that the GWCL did not check to unblock the water way leading to the estuary which had been blocked by residents living in Tsokome.
Over a hundred homes have been flooded following the spillage from the Weija Dam. The flooding has also affected almost a thousand residents with some seeking shelter with friends and neighbours.
Victims of the spillage have been asked to relocate to safety, as the water level in the dam has reached 14.63 metres of which the GWCL intends to spill more water till the level reaches the safe operational level of 13.7metres.
Communities mostly affected by the spillage include Glefe, Bortianor, Away, Oblogo, Tetegu, Pambros Salt, Old Barrier and Ada Kokpe.
The GWCL every year, as part of the measures to ensure the safety of Accra’s only treatment plant, spills excess water from the dam to the sea to bring the water level to its desired limit.
So far, all the four spillways of the dam have been opened to allow excess water to flow to the sea, a situation which has flooded homes around the low lying areas in the municipality.
A unit committee chairman for Tetegu Mark Mawuenyagah, told Starr News that they were not adequately informed before the dam was spilled.
In 2014, many homes at Glefe and Opetekwei were flooded, following the spillage of the Weija Dam and the enormity of the situation compelled residents to pack their belongings to safety.
Similarly, in June 2016, communities such as Tetegu, Oblogo, Pambros Salt, Lower McCarthy Hill, Weija, Bojo Beach and Ada Kokpe were inundated.


This CD was recorded in 1996 in Montreal Canada. It features some of Montreals finest including Pierre Cote on guitar, Paul Brochu on drums and Mario Parent on Keys.
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text: The diagram below shows the core themes, or main categories of GIS data. Each of the themes is associated with a Technical Working Group (TWG) that defines which authoritative datasets within a theme should be included in The Idaho Map. Currently most, but not all, TWGs are active and are led and attended by a diverse group of GIS professionals. Click on the name of the theme or choose the theme from the drop-down menu to learn more. Note that the “People” data framework theme has not been officially established yet.


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There was another update to the 2.3 PTR last night, this one containing some new changes for Rogue Subtlety talents, as well as an update to the patch notes to reflect the latest changes Blizzard has made to the 2.3 patch. You can check out the changes to the notes below; thanks to World of Raids for the images.
Mad Alchemist's Potion Effects
- Transaction logs of the last 25 actions within each tab, as well as money activity.
- Humans: Mace Skill now increases the critical strike chance with maces and two-handed maces by 1%.
- Challenging Roar: The chance for this ability to land successfully on its targets is now increased by hit rating.
- Entangling Roots: This ability will no longer be overwritten when the new Entangling Roots would do less damage.
- Feral Charge: It is now possible for the interrupt and root effects from this ability to be resisted separately.
- Growl: The chance for this ability to land successfully on its target is now increased by hit rating.
- Natural Perfection (Restoration) - Now also grants the Natural Perfection effect after being critically hit, reducing all damage taken by 1/3/5% for 8 seconds. Stacks up to 3 times.
- Natural Perfection: This talent can now trigger while the Druid is sitting.
- Tree of Life: It is no longer possible to have the bonus healing aura from this ability while not actually in Tree of Life Form.
- Expose Weakness: The triggered effect from this talent will no longer use up charges of Misdirection.
- Misdirection: If a Hunter attempts to use this ability on a target which already has an active Misdirection, the spell will fail to apply due to a more powerful spell already being in effect. This will not trigger the cooldown or cost any mana.
- Wyvern Sting: This ability will no longer be overwritten by lower ranks of Wyvern Sting.
- Ignite: This talent is no lingered triggered by damage dealt by Molten Armor.
- Righteous Defense: The chance for this ability to land successfully on its targets is now increased by hit rating.
- Blessed Recovery: This talent can now trigger while the Priest is sitting.
- Blessed Resilience: This talent can now trigger while the Priest is sitting.
- Focused Will (NEW Discipline Talent) - After taking a critical hit you gain the Focused Will effect, reducing all damage taken by 1/3/5% and increasing healing effects on you by 4/7/10% for 8 seconds. Stacks up to 3 times.
- Mind Vision: Now consumes the Inner Focus buff when cast.
- Prayer of Mending: This ability will no longer be overwritten when the new Prayer of Mending would do less healing.
- Silent resolve: This talent now benefits the triggered buffs from Blessed Resilience, Blessed Recovery, and Martyrdom.
- Dirty Deeds: This talent will no longer interfere with getting the bonus damage from the Druid ability Mangle on Rupture and Garrote.
- Hemorrhage: This ability now does 125% of weapon damage.
- Shadowstep (Subtlety) can now be used at any time, not only while stealthed. Now increases the damage and reduces the threat caused by the next damaging ability. Cooldown increased to 30 seconds. Range changed to 25 yards.
- Earth Shield: This ability will no longer be overwritten when the new Earth Shield would do less healing.
- Elemental Mastery: It is no longer possible to get two consecutive guaranteed critical strikes from using this ability.
- Eye of the Storm: This talent can now trigger while the Shaman is sitting.
- Unstable Affliction: The silence from this ability is now subject to diminishing returns.
- Blood Craze: This talent can now trigger while the Warrior is sitting.
- Challenging Shout: The chance for this ability to land successfully on its targets is now increased by hit rating.
- Enrage: This talent can now trigger while the Warrior is sitting.
- Taunt: The chance for this ability to land successfully on its target is now increased by hit rating.
- The Crashin' Thrashin' Robot is now Bind on Use rather than Bind on Acquire so non-engineers can use them as well.
- Band of the Eternal Restorer: As this item now provides some bonus spell damage, spell damage effects can trigger it. In addition, healing over time effects can now trigger it when they could not before.
- Eye of the Dead: As this item now provides some bonus spell damage, spell damage effects can now consume its charges.
- Free Action Potion: The buff from this potion can no longer be dispelled or taken via Spellsteal.
- Hallowed Wands: These items no longer work on Druids who are shapeshifted.
- Hallowed Wands: These wands no longer function in the Old Hillsbrad Caverns of Time event.
- Hallow’s End Pumpkin Treats: The larger and oranger buff no longer causes Battle Elixirs to be removed and can stack with them.
- Lightning Capacitor: This item now has a 2.5 second cooldown on acquiring Electrical Charges.
- Noggenfogger Elixir: Consuming this potion now has a shared 3 second cooldown with other types of non-combat potions.
- Ogri’la Reputation Rewards: All epic and superior quality items are now disenchantable.
- PvP Trinkets: Insignia of the Alliance, Insignia of the Horde, Medallion of the Alliance, and Medallion of the Horde now clear the debuff from Judgement of Justice.
Raids & Dungeons
Auchindoun: Sethekk Halls
- The Shadow Labyrinth Key can now be looted from the Talon King's Coffer next to Talon King Ikiss in the Sethekk Halls.
Auchindoun: Shadow Labyrinth
- Blackheart the Inciter: This stun associated with this creature’s charge ability will now properly be considered a stun for talents, abilities, and items that interact with stuns.
- High Nethermancer Zerevor's Blizzard and Flamestrike will now last their full duration.
Hellfire Citadel: Hellfire Ramparts
- The Reinforced Fel Iron Chest can now only be looted by players who are present during some portion of a successful attempt of the Vazruden and Nazan encounter. In addition, on Heroic difficulty the chest now contains a Badge of Justice for each player present.
- Karazhan Chess Event: The Dust Covered Chest can now only be looted by players who are nearby when the event is completed successfully. In addition, the chest now contains 2 Badges of Justice for each player present.
Tempest Keep: The Mechanar
- The Mechanar: The Cache of the Legion can now only be looted by players who are present during some portion of a successful attempt of the Gatewatcher Gyro-Kill and Gatewatcher Iron-Hand encounters. In addition, on Heroic difficulty Gatewatcher Gyro-Kill and Gatewatcher Iron-Hand no longer drop Badges of Justice. Instead, the Cache of the Legion contains a Badge of Justice for each player present.
- The gas clouds in Netherstorm are now always visible. Abilities on goggles that previously allowed the player to detect these invisible gas clouds will now show all gas clouds on their minimap instead. This will stack with other tracking types.

domain: game


text:
R.E.M. iPhone App
R.E.M. have released a new iPhone application that includes an interactive guide to the band's hometown of Athens, Georgia using Google Maps.
The map examines some of the locations in Athens that have been important to the band's career. These include the location of the band's first gig at the Church Steeple, Wuxtry Records, where Michael Stipe first met Peter Buck and the Train Trestle, which featured on the cover of R.E.M.'s first album. The map also features a large number of important local places of interest.
As well as the guide to Athens the application gives users up-to-date info on all the latest R.E.M. happenings direct from the band's headquarters in Athens, Georgia. Fans can stream audio samples from the band's entire career as well as watch full length videos from every R.E.M. album. You can also view photos taken by R.E.M. fans around the world.


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Geico is still contesting whether the claim is covered in federal court and the outcome will determine whether the company has to pay the settlement.
The Missouri Court of Appeals has affirmed that Geico must pay a $5.2 million settlement granted to a Jackson County woman who claimed she unwittingly caught a sexually transmitted disease (STD) from her former romantic partner in his car.
However, the coverage question was more complicated than it first appeared and the case caused concern within the insurance industry as doubts remained as to whether there could be coverage. Geico is continuing to challenge the ruling in a federal case that will determine if the claim is covered.
In February 2021, the woman filed the suit to seek monetary damages, alleging she contracted HPV from an insured member in his automobile. She contended the man caused her to be infected with the STD despite being aware of his condition and the risks of unprotected sex. The insurance company declined the settlement, sending the case to arbitration.
In May 2021, the court found that the man “directly caused, or directly contributed to cause" the infection, awarding the woman the settlement. However, Geico filed motions seeking a new hearing of the evidence and for the award to be thrown out, saying the judgment violated the company's rights to due process and the arbitration agreement was unenforceable.
Geico appealed after those requests were denied but the three-judge panel tasked with reviewing the case found that the lower court did not make a mistake by denying the company's motions, saying Geico did not have a right to “relitigate those issues" once damages had been determined and a judgment was entered.
In a related federal court case, Geico is contesting the idea that the claim is covered under its insurance policy. The outcome of that case will determine whether the company has to pay the settlement.
Will Jones is IA editor-in-chief.


Essential dynamics is the application of principal component analysis to a dynamic trajectory derived from a simulation protocol in order to extract biologically relevant information contained in the high dimensional data. In this work, we apply the methodology of essential dynamics to protein trajectories derived from geometrical simulations, which are based on the perturbation of geometrical constraints inherent in a protein. Specifically, we show that the geometrical simulation model is highly efficient for the determination of native state dynamics. Furthermore, by the application of subspace analysis to the essential subspaces of multiple sets of proteins that were simulated under multiple modeling paradigms, we show that the geometrical modeling paradigm is internally consistent and provides results that are qualitatively and quantitatively similar to results obtained from the more commonly employed methods of elastic network models and molecular dynamics. The geometrical paradigm is therefore established as a viable alternative or co-model for the investigation of native state protein dynamics with application to both small, single domain proteins as well as large, multi domain systems.


text:
Toy Photography and Fun
At first, fun seemed one of the easiest words of our little project. For me, fun is the main reason why I started both photography and toy photography. Some four years ago, I was looking for a new creative hobby. I ended up buying a camera, and after, I eventually went into the attic looking for my old LEGO collection. It’s been fun since the beginning and only keeps on getting more fun over time.
But because this word is so important to me, coming up with a single photo that best represents it appeared to be more difficult than I thought… Continue reading “Fun”
Sharing the Adventures in The North of my Plastic Friends.

domain: hobby


text:
Slot machine casino fun right at your finger tips! Take your slots with you everywhere you go! Play whenever and where ever you want for FREE!!!- 1000 FREE starter coins to get you spinning!- Free updates- Win more with BONUS rounds and games- Play some Blackjack also to quickly double your winnings!- Spin the Wheel to win Bonus coins!- Exciting animations and cool effects- Universal for iPhone & iPad- Retina graphics- Realistic casino sounds effects- Game Center for leaderboardsDownload and PLAY for FREE now! Be careful don't hit the obstacles. Direct the player by tapping on the screen.
- The most insanely ADDICTING and fun endless flying game! You wont be able to put this down! Help the cute little Pixel Parrot keep flying and avoid all the obstacles!Just tap the screen to keep flying but be careful to avoid the obstacles or you wont last long!How far can you go? -)What's new in this version:minor bug fixes
ALWAYS RIGHT, related to it's direction!Avoid walls, don't go beyond the screen and watch out for the traps! Just an endless journey through different rooms. Rate and help us to create this game better. [WARNING]This game is very difficult.
** ALL NEW and SUPER-ADDICTIVE, play this NOW! **Play as flying captain tiny flappy spaceboy as he navigates his way through the galaxy and stars dodging dangerous pipes from crushing him!What's new in this version:- small bug fix Avoid obstacles to level up, find fantastic treasures. The lesson for today is fishing, and Baby Hazel couldn't be more excited to learn more about her uncle John's favorite pastime.
___________________________________ Cool puzzle game with icons! Relaxing music while you playGreat time killer ___________________________________ Do you like to puzzle? Brain games? Then this is a game for you! You have to pair the icons to make them disappear, but you have to do that in 1 or more moves! The beginning is very easy, but when you proceed its becoming harder and harder, so this game is only for the pro puzzlers out there.
Many drivers rarely feel the adrenalin that goes with driving on the edge.
** EPIC Mini Machines Racing! **Tear up 30 awesome tracks and race against your friendsto become the best Mini Machines Driver. Also like to pop bubbles? In this game you have to pop them! Pop them around the jelly so it won`t escape through the sides.The man himself could not fight with them and called for help. Totally new idea bound to be hours of endless fun! Spend your time mixing colors in order to result in a pattern of colors required to beat each level. If the the timer runs out a new row or column is added to the grid making your task more difficult.
This game is filled with a rich Asian Dragon theme that you will really enjoy! Feel the powers of the Dragons as you spin the reels and win loads of coins and huge bonuses! Features Storyline Menu with 9 Different Slots Worlds!


text:
Paine & Partners, LLC, a global private equity investment firm focused on investing in food and agribusiness, announced that it has made a strategic investment in QC Corporation, a leading producer and supplier of granular and dry micronutrients and ferrous sulfate products.
Founded by Don Gordon in 1971, QC began as a producer and supplier of ferrous sulfate, and today is one of the largest processors of moist and dried ferrous sulfate products in North America. Family owned and operated for 42 years, QC is the only domestic producer of all forms of technical and agricultural grade ferrous sulfate in North America. The company's ferrous sulfate products and manufacturing and processing system for moist ferrous sulfate continue to set the standard for the industry, the announcement contends.
QC currently has two independent ferrous sulfate operations, located in Cape Girardeau, Mo., and North Lima, Ohio. Ferrous sulfate has applications in fertilizers and animal feed, soil remediation and land reclamation, hazardous waste and water treatment and chemical process industries, to name a few.
After successfully launching its granular ferrous sulfate products in the early 1990s, QC built a new bulk blending compaction granulation plant in 2000, and began producing a variety of granular micronutrients. The company completed a major expansion in 2013, and QC now operates a highly innovative micronutrient business with significant growth potential, with two independent compaction granulation facilities located in Missouri. In addition to offering its own line of granulated fertilizer micronutrients, QC offers custom manufacturing and toll processing of granulated materials, utilizing its more than 25 years of expertise in compaction granulation technology.
QC notes it is one of the few micronutrient producers that can offer 100 percent water solubility in homogeneous, low dust, custom granular micronutrient formulations. Granular products also include various micronutrient combinations of sulfates, chelates, sucrates, oxysulfates and oxides, along with the capability to incorporate and granulate humates and other biostimulants with various NPK fertilizer ingredients. QC's products are formulated to help achieve better plant health and yields in lawn and garden, golf course, turf and ornamental, professional horticulture, crop production and agricultural applications.
The Gordon family will continue to lead the day-to-day operations of the business. Don Gordon has been appointed chairman of the company. Jason Gordon, Don's son, has been appointed chief executive officer (CEO). Jason has almost 20 years of experience working at QC and management roles.
"Paine & Partners is committed to providing QC with the necessary capital, expertise and resources to accelerate the granular micronutrient expansion strategy that is already in progress," said the senior Gordon. "Over the past forty years, we have built QC into a leading supplier of ferrous sulfate and granulated fertilizer micronutrients. We believe our partnership with Paine & Partners will enhance our industry leading products while maintaining our company's strong core values. I look forward to working with Paine & Partners and the entire QC team as we continue to build on our success."
The CEO Gordon said, "The investment from Paine & Partners will facilitate our continued growth and help us reach our goals across the business, particularly in granular micronutrients.
Angelos Dassios, partner of Paine & Partners, said, "Our investment in QC provides a platform for the company to enhance its already exceptional products and accelerate its growth trajectory. We see tremendous potential in QC's granular micronutrients business and believe QC can leverage cross-portfolio synergies from our agribusiness companies, specifically Verdesian Life Sciences, LLC, which focuses on plant health and specialty nutrition. We look forward to working with QC to capitalize on new market opportunities and realize QC's significant potential."

domain: agronomy


Our friends over at MP3.com relaunched this week, and to celebrate we’re helping them give away some of the best new songs for free! Today, we’re featuring a live version of “The Cave” from Mumford […]
In celebration of the release of [lastfm]Maroon 5[/lastfm]’s third studio album, you can download their funky new single “Misery” for free!
If you thought [lastfm]David Gray[/lastfm] couldn’t slow it down more than Life In Slow Motion, take a listen to his new title track “Foundling.” He may be mellow, but there’s a raging fire inside this […]
Yes, they’ll always be known as “MMMBop” kids, but the [lastfm]Hanson[/lastfm] brothers (now ages 24, 27, and 29) are all grown up. On their fifth album(!), Shout It Out, the single “Waiting For This” has […]


TMany of you who had “Sir David Attenborough has meat with the Adelaide Mall plaque” on your 2021 bingo cards must have done a victory dance this week. A local conservationist recognized some “bee blurb”, attributed to the legendary naturalist, on a plaque accompanying a Westfield Tea Tree Plaza mural and alerted the relevant authorities (ie Sir David himself).
The plaque has been removed, but many more misquotes and attributions remain. If you’ve ever seen a quote with a brush adorning a black and white photo, a painted sunset, or an embroidered sofa cushion and wondered “Wait a minute …”, this quiz is for you. The Last Finished has his name attached to a Spider-Man quote on a $ 2 inspirational store fridge magnet.
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism


Malala Yousafzai’s family celebrates her Oxford graduation
Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has now 'officially graduated' from the prestigious Oxford University.
Her father Ziauddin Yousafzai shared a few pictures of the youngest activist dressed in a graduating gown posing for the camera with family and husband, Asser Malik.
Ziauddin captioned the beautiful portraits with a heartwarming note, "A moment of joy and gratitude. Malala officially graduates from Oxford University."
Malala's husband Asser Malik also posted pictures on joyous occasions and revealed the place where he first met his wife.
Asser, who is a senior executive at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), took to Instagram and wrote "the place we first met felt a little more special".
View this post on Instagram
Some Latin was said and apparently I have a degree ????????November 26, 2021
The stunning couple can be seen together in one of the pictures, while in the other picture, they accompany their parents.
Earlier, Malala tied the knot with Asser during an intimate ceremony in Birmingham on November 9. After her wedding, the youngest Nobel peace prize winner appeared in several publications to talk about her experience and why she decided to tie the knot with Malik.
Malala makes first public appearance with husband ... 08:35 PM | 18 Nov, 2021
Nobel laureate Malala Yousufzai and her husband Asser Malik celebrated their marriage at Feya Knightsbridge, ...
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Samagi Jana Balawegaya Parliamentarian Mujibur Rahuman said residents of Colombo will take to the streets soon.
Speaking in Parliament today, MP Rahuman said restaurants in Colombo have shut down due to the shortage of LP gas while residents in Colombo don’t have access to firewood to use as an alternative.
He said kerosene oil is also unavailable.
The Parliamentarian said the government should not attempt to lay blame on various groups in the event the public takes to the streets.
The MP called on the Prime Minister to take prompt steps to provide Kerosene.
Responding, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said a major unrest has been created in Colombo due to shortages of fuel and the unaffordability of food for daily consumption adding the matter will be discussed next week.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said the food crisis is not unique to Colombo adding it is prevalent across the world.
The Premier said the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has reserved USD 30 billion to address the matter while the US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned that the US is preparing to face the grimmest crisis ever faced by the world within the year and that some areas will run out of food.
The Prime Minister said the list of countries include Sri Lanka and Afghanistan adding discussions are underway to implement a special programme to address the issue.
Premier Wickremesinghe said he is striving to present a new Budget in order to provide relief to the public adding everyone must unite in these efforts.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said the next obstacle will be the collapse of small and small-scale businesses.
The Prime Minister said committees will be established at district level to implement various programmes.


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Call for Papers - The Global Responsibility to Protect Journal
Global Responsibility to Protect is the premier journal for the study and practice of the responsibility to protect (R2P). This journal seeks to publish the best and latest research on the R2P principle, its development as a new norm in global politics, its operationalization through the work of governments, international and regional organizations and NGOs, and finally, its relationship and applicability to past and present cases of genocide and mass atrocities including the global response to those cases. Global Responsibility to Protect also serves as a repository for lessons learned and analysis of best practices; it will disseminate information about the current status of R2P and efforts to realize its promise. Each issue contains research articles and at least one piece on the practicalities of R2P, be that the current state of R2P diplomacy or its application in the field.
Global Responsibility to Protect promotes a universal understanding of R2P and efforts to realize it, through encouraging critical debate and diversity of opinion, and to acquaint a broad readership of scholars, practitioners, students and analysts with the principle and its operationalization. It encourages contributions from a variety of disciplines and professions who have something to say about R2P.
Global Responsibility to Protect seeks insights and approaches from every region of the world that might contribute to understanding, operationalizing and applying R2P in practice.
The journal welcomes papers that discuss a wide variety of issues relating to the responsibility to protect; including but not limited to genocide and mass atrocities, conflict prevention and resolution, peacekeeping, refugee and IDP flows, international law and the roles of various institutions and organisations,and new and emerging crises. Perspectives from academic and practitioners, supporters or critics, are most welcome.
Questions and abstracts can be submitted to Luke Glanville at the eMail: firstname.lastname@example.org

domain: library


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During football games, most of Liberty High School’s student body sits in the cold bleachers of the student section, staying warm by yelling and jumping up and down.
But Jessica Trotter is down on the sidelines scraping mud out of the athletes’ cleats and cutting up oranges for them to eat at halftime.
“A lot of people say ‘What girl wants to spend her time with 40 guys?’ ” Trotter said.
“But I got really close with the guys when we went to subregionals,” traveling from Spangle to Centralia. “It’s a super-long drive and you’re taking naps and making memories and some of the guys would stay cute stuff to me like ‘You’re the best manager ever.’ There’s so much that goes on that not everyone in the crowd will see, and what I did with football was definitely my biggest accomplishment.”
For the past four years, much of Trotter’s free time has been consumed with managing the Liberty High School football team, as well as being the social media correspondent for 700 ESPN. Trotter also loves audio engineering and said that could very well be her future.
“Audio engineering is my main thing,” Trotter said. “I go to concerts all the time and I learned that I love working the boards.”
Although Trotter grew up a “daddy’s girl,” she said her relationship grew with mother, Beth Anne, after her parents divorced.
“I had to grow up a lot and help her, so she’s more of my best friend than my mom,” Trotter said. “I’m closer to her now than ever because she can rely on me. She puts a lot on me but I like knowing I can just go to her whenever.”
With her mother’s guidance and support, Trotter didn’t just find a love for sports and audio, but also photography and mock car crashes.
According to Liberty High football coach Mike Dewey, Trotter’s hardworking and dedicated mentality will lead her to whatever future she wants in whatever field she wants.
“The businesses that I am interested in are very sexist, as in a girl can’t do a guy’s job,” said Trotter, who plans to go to Washington State University. “However, I also heard that if you believe full heartedly and stick to it, you can do anything.”
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domain: chemistry


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Ukrainian President returns to his desk after a four-day sick leave
Russia: "We hope the opposition in Ukraine will renounce threats and ultimatums"
Thousands of demonstrators remain on the streets of central Kiev
The opposition wants more concessions from the government
Ukrainian protesters vacated the capital’s city hall Sunday in exchange for the government dropping charges against arrested demonstrators, an official said.
President Viktor Yanukovych, who went on sick leave last Thursday for “acute respiratory disease,” is seeking a way out of a deepening political crisis that has paralyzed Kiev, the capital.
Thousands of anti-government demonstrators have packed Kiev’s Independence Square since November, underscoring tensions in a country split between pro-European regions in the west and a more Russia-oriented east.
Last week, in the first concessions made by the government, the Prime Minister and Cabinet resigned, a controversial anti-protest law was repealed, and Yanukovych signed off on a contested amnesty bill for anti-government protesters.
But opposition leaders, who have received backing from the U.S. and EU governments, are pressing for more concessions.
In a statement Monday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry told protesters who have set up tents and barricades in the central Independence Square to halt their “provocative steps.”
It said one protest leader’s calls for street patrols and the blocking of public buildings “contradicted statements about the opposition’s commitment to the democratic and European values.”
“We hope the opposition in Ukraine will renounce threats and ultimatums and activate a dialogue with the government to solve the severe crisis,” the ministry said.
Special session in Parliament
Yanukovych’s online press service said Sunday that he was now feeling “good” after treatment and his condition had been assessed as “satisfactory.” It said he would return to his desk Monday.
The government’s attempts to crack down on the protests appear only to have strengthened the opposition’s resolve. Violent confrontations flared after a sweeping anti-protest law was signed two weeks ago, followed by an uneasy standoff on the streets as the battle in the political arena has heated up.
Yanukovych has resisted calls for him to step down and defended the government’s handling of the political crisis.
However, opposition parties continue to call for constitutional reforms to shift power away from the President and say a new amnesty bill – which comes into force only if protesters vacate seized government buildings and unblock roads and squares – is unacceptable.
A special parliamentary session is scheduled for Tuesday.
Activist treated in Lithuania
Deadly clashes last month were an escalation of weeks of largely peaceful public protests prompted by Yanukovych’s decision in November to spurn a planned trade deal with the European Union and favor Russia instead.
He and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on a $15 billion deal for Russia to buy Ukrainian debt and slash the price of natural gas.
The violence on the streets has raised alarm among Ukraine’s neighbors and Western governments, who have been calling for a peaceful resolution to the unrest.
Western leaders last week also voiced growing concern about reports of the kidnapping and torture of opposition activists in the country.
One, the visibly battered Dmytro Bulatov, reappeared Thursday, more than a week after he went missing. He told reporters he’d been kidnapped and tortured by his captors – who, he said, “crucified me” by piercing his hands – before they dumped him in a forest.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and White House press secretary Jay Carney condemned his cruel treatment. Ukraine’s Interior Ministry has said it is investigating what happened to him.
Bulatov on Sunday flew to Lithuania for medical treatment, protest leaders said.
READ: Ukraine leader to end sick leave, protesters remain on streets
READ: John Kerry: United States, EU stand with Ukraine’s people


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Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Bass.
Sam, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
When I was young, I had a very creative spirit and loved everything related to art. I loved to draw, paint, build and imagine all kinds of things. My mom was a huge advocate for this and filled my upbringing with all sorts of activities and supplies to help me flourish. We’d go on trips to different museums in Baltimore, where I grew up. She’d plan activities that got my creative juices flowing. For birthday’s and Christmas’s, I’d always ask for art supplies, and she’d always deliver. Most importantly she always encouraged me to be an artist, which sounds kind of funny when I think about it. Most parents would tell their kids to do something safe like business or medicine, but my mom encouraged the crazy fantasy of me being a successful artist. Thanks, mom, I couldn’t have done it without you.
Throughout school, I always focused on art. At first, I studied traditional mediums, but it wasn’t until my senior year in high school that I got into digital. I loved the versatility and possibilities of it. It was also my segue into animation. It’s a lot more forgiving making things move on a computer then on paper. Looking back, I’m glad I got years of experience drawing and painting before making things move. When drawing is fun, it makes animation fun too, and animation is just a series of drawings so for me it’s like a series of fun…HA!
In college, I studied Digital Art and Design at Towson University. It’s not a place known for their digital art program, but they are known for their affordability. And because of that, I was able to study abroad for a semester at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. I took courses in photography, web design, and 3D game design. On spring break I traveled to Cairns to do some sailing around the islands and went to Sydney to a music festival where Deadmau5 was the headliner. It was and still is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Once I graduated I was offered a part-time position as a motion graphics artist at a small studio in Columbia, MD called The Garden Creative. The company was made up of me, a college professor, and one other student who graduated a semester before me. Super small team, but that’s where I got my first taste of broadcast motion graphics. We were doing work for National Geographic, TLC, and the Discovery Channel. Soon after that, I was offered a position as a motion designer at a management consulting company specializing in government contracts in Rockville, MD called ICF International. They later changed their name to ICF. Of course, hearing that they worked on government projects didn’t sound like the best creative outlet, but I was young, working two jobs seven days a week and wanted to change that.
My supervisor’s name was Melanie Dorn Carter. She started there years before I came on and built my position and the department I worked in. While there I found out that she had worked on feature films like Life of Pi, Green Lantern, and The Chipmunks as a compositor. (Look her up on IMDB, she’s now at Double Negative working on some awesome blockbusters) I was shocked that she had that kind of experience in her career. At the time I thought I knew what I was doing but quickly found out that I didn’t know ANYTHING. Melanie has an insane eye for detail and always wants to make great work. The first thing she told me when I started was “Just because we do government work doesn’t mean it has to look like government work.” To this day, that has stuck with me wherever I go. It doesn’t matter what type of project, what kind of client, or who I’m working with, there is always an opportunity to make great work. Even now that has been the most challenging, educational, and eye-opening experiences I’ve ever had.
I learned everything I know about creating award-winning work from Melanie. How to manage my time, present my ideas, work on a team, own a project, and create high-quality polished work. She was a great mentor for me, and I’m lucky to have crossed paths with her. Now don’t assume that it was a cake walk. There were late nights, long weekends, missed deadlines, and a lot of failures before I figured it out, but I kept at it and worked hard. I wanted to be just as good as the freelancers we worked with (Sean McClintock, Laura Alejo, Elliot Lim, Nick Forshee, Marcus Bakke, Jerry Lui, Eli Enigenburg, Jules Guerin, Yaniv Fridman, Daniel Luna, and Wes Ebelhar just to name a few. Go look them up they’re all insanely talented)
After about three years at ICF, I said my goodbyes and moved to Atlanta to work for a company called MaxMedia as a Senior Designer and Animator. I wanted more responsibility and wanted to see if I could actually put the skills I acquired to use. Like most, there’s a time when you feel like an impostor. Like you aren’t actually as good as you think you are. Not for any specific reason, but because of self-doubt. For a time, I thought that I needed Melanie to make great work, but having all the knowledge and experience from working with her allowed me to make some of my best work in my portfolio. At MaxMedia I was able to manage my own projects and push myself creatively as a storyteller, illustrator, animator, and director. I got to create work for giant screens and projections, work with some really talented people and make lots of friends. Unfortunately, the company was falling into some hard times a few months after I started, but luckily I was able to get a job as an Art Director at Creative Mammals in fall 2018, and I’ve been there ever since.
All in all, the places and people I’ve been able to work with have shaped the way I approach things creatively. I love working with a client and figuring out what their story is, what makes them unique, and how we can share that with the world. With tools for collaboration and platforms for sharing work, the possibilities are limitless, and for me, that’s the most exciting thing to do for a living.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I’m an inherent creative problem solver, so I enjoy creating all types of work. I’m more interested in the quality and journey than a specific style. Figuring out how to do something I’ve never done before and succeeding gives me that reassuring feeling that I’m still able to grow and learn.
Over my career, I’ve developed and implemented skills and techniques I was taught on the job. This process has allowed me to make various types of work at industry levels.
Professionally, I work on various projects and as of late have been doing a lot more 3D focused work which has been a good challenge. I’ve been able to direct teams of artists, present my ideas to clients and develop my creative voice. In my personal work, I enjoy creating bright and colorful illustrations and animations. Sometimes they tell stories and sometimes their just eye candy. I love sketching on paper. Working something just enough so that it communicates an idea. I like making things that make me feel good, that look good, and that I wanna share with people.
Do current events, local or global, affect your work and what you are focused on?
I think art has become more consumable. We have tons of different websites, blogs, apps, and platforms to show and share work. Artists can express themselves, their ideas, and opinions to a wide audience from anywhere. No longer do you have to be in a specific city to gain a certain amount of exposure. The internet is your gallery, and the world is your audience.
Having clients can sometimes drive what type of creative I’m able to work on. Since I’ve worked on commercials, digital billboards, government PSA’s, store graphics, and unconventional formats, I have a pretty good variety of projects in my portfolio. Although, if I won the lottery tomorrow I don’t think I would stop doing this type of work, I’d only change who I do it for. I’ve been fortunate enough to turn my passion into my profession, and I’ve been able to push my creative skills to an award-winning level. I would love to work with organizations and different groups that I align with to make work that promotes, tells a story, changes behavior, or educates people on a specific idea. I love the thought of using my talents for a good cause.
Being a black male in a white male-dominated industry can be difficult. There aren’t as many high paid positions going to black men let alone black women. Fortunately, I was able to receive an on the job education in order to achieve my career goals. Not everyone has this opportunity. Being in the position that I am, I always try to share the knowledge that I’ve gained with others. Whether it’s about design, animation, or just career advice in general. Success shouldn’t be something that is given; it should be something that is earned.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
My website is the best place to see finished projects I’ve worked on, but if you’re a busy individual on the go, then social media is a pretty good alternative. I use Instagram primarily but have accounts on Tumblr, dribble, Behance, and Twitter all with the handle @artbysambass. If you’d like to support my work feel free to follow any or all of my accounts, like what I share or let me know if it’s shit. Feedback is the key to growth.
- Website: http://www.artbysambass.com/
- Email: firstname.lastname@example.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artbysambass/
Taken by Daniel Barnes