text:
Tramlines to Host Music Support Safe Hub in 2024
We are thrilled to announce that Tramlines - a Sheffield-based, 50,000 capacity event produced by METHOD - has been chosen to host a fully-funded Safe Hub during its 2024 edition, thanks to the partnership between Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), Music Support, and The Christopher Meredith Foundation.
The Safe Hub, provided by Music Support, serves as a backstage sanctuary at music festivals, addressing the unique demands that often arise in the high-pressure festival environment. The idea is to offer a confidential and supportive space for artists and crew to discuss concerns with fully trained staff or volunteers, covering prevalent areas such as mental health, first aid, addiction and recovery awareness, and self-care.
Music Support is a charity that aims to provide support to peers working in the music and live events industry affected by mental ill-health and/or addiction. Their crucial work is affirmed by responses from an online wellbeing survey conducted by Music Support in 2023, which found that 75% of the artists and crew participants felt “down or depressed”, 63% suffered from “low self-confidence”, and a staggering 18% had “experienced suicidal thoughts”. Out of all these respondents, 84% said they felt a lack of support available within the industry.
It’s a testament to the Tramlines management team that mental health is being prioritised in this way, and we are proud to work with them in creating a safer and more supportive environment for everyone on site. This added welfare resource is a huge leap in the right direction, and sets an industry precedent to prioritise the wellbeing of the teams behind the scenes.
“Here at METHOD, we’re big advocates for Music Support and the work they do,” expresses James Dutton, co-founder “The live music industry operates with long hours and immovable deadlines, but the health and wellbeing of our team and family of contractors is fundamental to the success of our events. We’re delighted to see Tramlines awarded this provision by the AIF. The vast experience and knowledge that Music Support will bring to site is a great way to augment our back of house welfare facilities, and improve the support we are able to offer to the people that make it happen.”
The initiative aligns with METHOD’s commitment to accessibility, safeguarding, and promoting essential services offered by Music Support throughout the industry. We are proud to contribute to creating a safer and more supportive environment for everyone involved in our events.


text:
You could be a great networker with the ability to spot amazing real estate discounts. Still, without solid project management talents, you are bound to blow much of your possible earnings. Many rehabbers c struggle to maintain control over their renovation process. However, you can avoid many issues by developing a roadmap for your renovation project early on. Such a roadmap is called a statement of work or SOW. A well-written scope of work is the bedrock of your success as a real estate investor.
Scope of work (SOW) is a document utilized in building and construction management to detail the task to be carried out at the site. Typically, it includes a list of everything that needs to be done with the corresponding costs, duties of the parties involved, and a timeline of the deliverables. The scope of work is composed by a customer paying for the construction or a contractor accountable for it. Frequently, it’s a collaboration between them.
There are numerous factors why you ought to invest time and effort in creating a comprehensive and transparent scope of work.
If you are financing your project with a private lender, the scope of work might be a requirement.
Many real estate investors finance their rehabs via private loans. Private loans are issued by private lenders, a subset of mortgage companies that work exclusively with investors. Unlike traditional lenders, private lenders provide their borrowers with incredible leverage by basing their loans on the after-repair value (ARV) of the properties and not on their existing price tags. The ARV is determined by an appraiser who compares your property – even though it’s currently distressed – to homes with the same level of renovations as in your statement of work. For instance, if you’re planning to finish the basement, the appraiser will compare it to other recently sold homes with finished basements.
A well-written scope of work can be a factor in getting you approved for a private loan.
Though private lenders must have your scope of work to determine the ARV, how well it’s written may affect their final underwriting decision. The scope of work is an exceptional forecaster of real estate investor’s expertise. A sloppy, too general SOW is often an indicator of low attention to detail, the inexperience of managing contractors, and general lack of pride in one’s own work. “A poorly written SOW by itself is unlikely to disqualify you for a private loan, – says Kyle Sennott, the Managing Partner of New Funding Resources, a private lender serving Washington, DC, and surrounding areas. “However, in combination with other negative factors, it can definitely sway your lender’s decision.”
Working together on the scope of work can give you a preview of working with your contractor down the line.
Working on the SOW with your contractor might provide you with a good feeling of their work style, attention to detail, and general responsiveness. Contractors thrive on ambiguity, but it’s your role to make your scope of work transparent. If your contractor resists broadening certain areas, frowns on adding details, or takes too long to provide requested information, is he the right choice for your project? It might be better to cut your losses early on than to struggle with him to months once you start on your rehab in earnest.
Well-crafted scope of work helps stay clear of problems with your contractor and your private lender.
The more time you place in creating your scope of work, the fewer concerns you will have down the line. One of the key documents based upon the scope of work is a draw schedule. A draw schedule identifies how the construction funds are to be dispersed to your contractor. When you work with a private lender, a draw schedule also has another purpose. Typically, private lenders hold your construction budget in escrow. A draw schedule defines what you need to accomplish to get the next draw. A logical draw schedule based on the well-crafted scope of work helps avoid conflicts and misunderstandings. Without delays created by a back-and-forth between your lender or your contractor, your project will move along with no delays.

domain: finance


text:
Makemytrip's revenue in 2021 & 2022 (trailing twelve months' revenue) is being calculated. Their trailing twelve months' traffic rank is 659. This places them in the big enterprise category.
Makemytrip sells products in the travel and tourism category. There are other companies like Tripadvisor, Lufthansa, Flightaware, Oui.sncf, Hyatt - Anchorage, Hyatt Place - Dallas Grapevine, Hyatt Place - Boston Braintree and Hyatt Place - San Jose Silicon Valley that also sell products in similar or adjacent categories like travel and tourism services.
Makemytrip is either boot strapped or is a public company and so venture funding data for Makemytrip is unavailable.
Since Makemytrip's revenue is unknown, their valuation remains private and unavailable.
Makemytrip's headquarters is in New York, United States of America. The headquarters address is 60 East 42nd Street, Rm 411, New York, New York, 10165, United States of America.
Makemytrip make money through one-time sales.
Based on PipeCandy's proprietary Commercepedia maturity scoring model, Makemytrip's scores 65/100. We classify them as a big enterprise company.

domain: geography


text:
Tres Palacios Bay Crab With Mango and Pineapple Pico de Gallo
Fresh Gulf blue crabmeat, with its sweet, faintly marine taste, is a local treasure. This starter accents the rich, savory crab with tart and mildly spicy nuances. The key to pairing this dish is to pay attention to the tropical fruit and choose a wine with sparkle, moderate alcohol and crisp acidity. We suggest William Chris Vineyards Mary Ruth, an orange muscat and chenin blanc blend grown on the Texas High Plains at Lost Draw Vineyards and John Dale Vineyards in Brownfield. The tropical citrus aromas of orange muscat are sweet and intoxicating, but this blend combines sultry citrus notes with the sharp acidity of chenin blanc.
For 6 people ()
- 1 large mango, peeled, cut into 1/4-inch dice
- 2 serrano chilies, seeds and veins removed, minced
- 1/3 cup(s) 1/4-inch diced red onion
- 1/2 cup(s) 1/4-inch diced roasted red bell pepper
- 2/3 cup(s) 1/4-inch diced fresh pineapple
- 2 tablespoon(s) heaping, finely chopped cilantro
- 2 tablespoon(s) Texas extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon(s) medium-hot chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon(s) ground cumin
- Kosher salt, to taste
- 1 large lime's juice
- 1 pound(s) Gulf jumbo lump crabmeat, chilled
- Shredded romaine lettuce
- 1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced into 8 wedges
- Good quality white corn tortilla chips
Tres Palacios Bay Crab With Mango and Pineapple Pico de Gallo Directions
- To make the pico de gallo, combine the mango, serrano chilies, red onion, roasted red bell pepper and pineapple in a medium bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk together the cilantro, olive oil, chili powder, cumin, salt and lime juice and blend well. Pour the dressing over the mango mix and toss to moisten well. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Meanwhile, carefully pick through the crabmeat to remove any bits of shell or cartilage (take care not to break up the beautiful lumps). Line a large platter with shredded lettuce. Mound the crabmeat in the center of the platter and arrange the avocado wedges and corn chips around the mound. Spoon the pico de gallo over and around the crabmeat. Add a large spoon or fork for self-serve.

domain: food


text:
PhD Fellow Shounak Set has published an article in the Hindu BusinessLine section on ‘Mission Shakti: Retrospect and Prospect’ and the necessity for India to have an outstanding and defined space policy.
PhD Fellow Shounak Set publishes on Mission Shakti
Recent News Posts
- PhD Fellow Jai Shankar Prasad (et al.) publishes on Covid-19’s consequences for India and its democracyJune 19, 2020
- March 18, 2020
- February 11, 2020
- January 30, 2020
- SADF Round Table on ‘Normative powers in maritime affairs: India-EU cooperation in the Indian Ocean region’December 11, 2019

domain: news


text:
Please do not write on this sheet.
Copy the following sentences on your paper.
Draw brackets around the clauses.
Label them as DI=dependent clause or IC=independent clause.
Write the sentence type. (simple, compound, complex)
Diagram the sentences.
1. Before the Spanish conquered Peru, the Incas had built a walled city.
2. This tour visits the ruins of that city.
3. The Grand Canyon is a stunning sight, but Yosemite National Park also has
many impressive features.
4. New Orleans is known for its lively French Quarter, and visitors enjoy a tour of the historic sites.
5. Stay a little longer if you like. Omit
6. Although my dog can play the piano, he does not do it well.
7. After the last song, the musicians packed their instruments and got on the bus.
8. I’ll go if I can.
9. Spring came and went quickly, but I was ready for summer.
10. When you called, I was reading a book.
11. Mount Fuji in Japan has become so popular with tourists that crowding has
become a real problem.
12. You can take a large cruise ship to the glaciers of Alaska, or you can ride a
13. I’d like to see the North Pole, but I will never go.
14. My aunt has joined an investment club that investigates and buys stocks.
15. The Great Barrier Reef forms a natural breakwater for the coast of northeast
16. We had gone into the cave before our flashlight went out.
17. Although snow was predicted, the temperature has stayed low.
18. Is the universe expanding, or is it contracting?
19. After the holiday dinner is eaten, my brother washes dishes.
20. San Francisco is built on hills, and some of the streets are quite steep.
21. Because almost all parts of Hawaii are almost always cooled by winds, visitors
rarely complain about the heat.
22. If you aren’t a fan of amusement parks, you can explore the Everglades.

domain: travel


text:
The political and social strife we are feeling is a collection of centuries of the same feeling. The strife has already been felt, and purged and felt and purged. Its a roaring ocean of never ending waves. All crashing agains the shores of humanity - each time we feel it it is as if it is the first time. We are engulfed and can see nothing else, hear nothing else. We speculate at broader implications, a pond in the real riptide vastness that this minutia stems from.
This is not new. We are not new and our situation is not new. This has always been, and it will always be. Highs and lows to every season. The seasons stretching out continually. Revolutions come. That is science. Waves come, that is science. There is no stillness because we are always moving, continually falling back onto ourselves. finding ourselves in the same place with different details. More details maybe, but new nonethless.
What then, do we get angry about. Do we get angry at the details? Or do we get angry at the revolution. When a man’s family is killed, he hunts the killer and then he turns against God. We assume two causes, recognizing that one is able to be killed - the other only hated.
We know that we can not fight the waves. We let the waves engulf us and then use their momentum, having no choice but to let them wash us to shore.
We plot against, and speculate on the details because we see our power over them. We focus on things we are powerful over. Things we see have been changed, we reduce reduce reduce our scope to make ourselves feel like god. We reduce our views, cleaning the narrative, distilling it into even more details. The smaller the details the larger we become, forgetting that we are details ourselves. We will get a glimpse of this “futility” “romance” “death and taxes” but not while also grasping the scope, to the same degree. We have seen the details and know that those details are not consistent with the idea of romance futility - but also that they point to the same.
We say the words “revolution” and forget the ones that have come before it. The word implying what it means - revolution - a spinning back onto ourselves, an exit from and return to the same place- but that is not what we are hearing.

domain: literature


text:
We will now transfer you to our booking site.
Thank you for your patience.
Restaurants & Bars
Whether it’s Michelin-starred cuisine in one of the best restaurants in London, a cocktail made from vintage champagne, or an indulgent afternoon tea you’re looking for, the Connaught’s bars and restaurants offer it all.
Read More >
Do you have any special requirements or certain needs we need to cater for? Please contact us on the number below and we will be happy to assist.
Call +44 (0)20 7107 8945 Email email@example.com
Share it with a friend, relative, loved one... or the world!
View Offer >
The Connaught, Carlos Place, Mayfair, London, W1K 2AL +44 (0)20 7499 7070
Maybourne Hotel Group
Copyright © Maybourne Hotel Group. 2012 All rights reserved.
Terms & Conditions


text:
BigOven Pro required (try it free)
Notice a categorization error? Let us know by clicking [alert editor] on the recipe page, in the ingredients box.
Barbecued Chimney Cake
Secret Big Easy Barbecue Shrimp Recipe Revealed...
Mini Pie Crust (LC)
Red, White, and Blueberry Trifle
S'Mores Bake - Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue
Southern Corn Pudding
Peanut Barbecue Shrimp
Glazes for Barbecued Beef
Smoked Chocolate Bread Pudding
Apple-Bourbon Glazed Bacon Pie
Bacon-Wrapped Apricot Bites Recipe
Fresh Grapefruit Cake Recipe
Hot Pepper And Scallion Pancakes with Charred S...
Bbq Quail over Andouille Pudding
Cowboy-Style "Meat Loaf"


What a waste of research grant
We have this thing in the Army called the EST 2000.
Its a weapons simulator that has recoil, albeit not much because most AR-10 derivatives like the M16A2/M4/M4A1/M100 and such don't really recoil. Your first day on the range and a drill sergeant, usually the smallest female drill sergeant in your training company, will fire it off her head, chest, one handed, etc. Its only a little bigger than a .22, its a 5.56x45mm round which is roughly equivalent to .223. You could fire .223 Remington rounds through it if you absolutely needed to in all actuality. So recoil with that particular type of rifle isn't really an issue and unless you're in a Route Clearance company, or if you're a designated marksman, the AR-10 derivatives are what you'll use. They use compressed air to simulate the round firing, and in all honesty the recoil from the air compressor can be rougher than actually from firing a round. Its sure as hell louder.
It also features a sort of multiplayer, cooperative tactical video game with dynamically scripted variables that can be modified by the operators in real time (For instance, one I recall clearly was a situation where we're defending a bazaar in Iraq from terrorists that were going to try to detonate a VBIED/Car Bomb, and the operators will throw in a moral dilemma, do I shoot the guy that I think has an AK47 under his robes thats sitting there watching the road and one of the entrances to the area or not? Because it may or may not be a weapon and if it isnt, I just shot a dude for no reason, which in the real world is generally frowned upon, the real Armed Forces isn't MW2). Its not for entertainment, the Graphics are about as good as a mid 2000's PC game. It is a very good training tool however because even the operators never see the exact same thing twice.
So no shit, It does actually work.
That being said, I dont get how another University got a research grant to find out the same thing that UCF and MIT (IIRC) both did at behest of DARPA, the Navy, the Army, and the Air Force in the 1990's when they were selling the services on the 1st Generation of the currently deployed systems.


Looking for Progress Software? www.hotfrog.sg showcases more than 6 businesses grouped by Progress Software within Singapore. To find more businesses related to Progress Software, and to filter by locality, use the left navigation menu.
Live BI created and published to mobile and web by anyone in minutes
Find it on Freapp - Free! Freapp lets you share apps
Progress Software supplies products for application development, SaaS enablement, cloud deployment, complex event processing (CEP), data connectivity and real time decision management to solution partners and end users
Probase Consulting - Provides QAD Consultants, MFG/PRO Consultants, Progress consultants, QAD services, Progress Services in Singapore and Asia. Experienced in QAD EE, MFG/PRO eB editions
WatchGuard appoints ACA Pacific Technology as Distributor in Singapore and Malaysia With our commitment to drive business values to our partners, ACA provides unparallel levels of channel sales and marketing s…
Small Business Hub
Sharing tips, ideas and advice to help grow your small business.
Create your free Hotfrog business profile
Follow Hotfrog on:
Hotfrog Small Business Hub


text:
- source: Family History Library Catalog
A Vision of Britain through Time provides the following description of Grindon from John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales of 1870-72:
- "GRINDON, a township in Norham parish, Northumberland; 7 miles SW of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Acres: 1,475. Population: 128. Houses: 27. A battle was fought here, in 1558, between the Percys and the Scots."
Grindon was a township in the ancient parish of Norhamshire within the county of Durham until 1844 and subsequently in Northumberland. It became a separate civil parish in 1866. From 1894 until 1955 it was part of Norham and Islandshires Rural District. In 1955 Grindon was absorbed into the parish of Duddo.
- Northumberland Archives previously known as Northumberland Collections Service and Northumberland County Record Office. Now based within Woodhorn Museum in Ashington and providing free access to numerous records for local and family historians alike.
- Full postal address: Museum and Northumberland Archives, Queen Elizabeth II Country Park, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9YF; Phone: 01670 624455
- There is a branch office in Berwick upon Tweed.

domain: history


text:
You can smell the black tea with abit of chocolate. I steeped the tea for a couple of minutes or so. The black tea was nice and strong but,there was not enough of a chocolate taste for me.
Black tea, cocoa, and chocolate bits.
Company description not available.
Cherry Vanilla Chocolatte Red TeaKalahari Tea
Raspberry Truffle Chocolatte Red TeaKalahari Tea
Chocolatte Green Tea Matcha MintKalahari Tea
Chocolatte Green Tea Ginger OrangeKalahari Tea
ChocoLatte Black Tea - Hazelnut MochaKalahari Tea
Energy ChocoLatte Chai Tea BlendTeavana


Operation :Remote Control
Control Way: Touch Control/Remote Control/ App
Time setting: 12 Hours
Speed settings :10 speeds
Speed Mode: Nature, Sterilization, Purification
-The 12-level HEPA filter can effectively filter PM0.3 to protect family health. Silver ion filter effectively kill harmful bacteria in the air. Nano mineral crystal activated carbon, formaldehyde removal rate up to 95%.
-Do not afraid of baby being injured by touch, bladeless fan do not hurt hands, satisfy baby's curiosity. it is an ideal summer must-have for families with children and pets.
-This bladeless room fan is designed for ultra-quiet and smooth oscillation in sleep mode. The LED will automatically turn off after 5 seconds, and the 8-hour timer will activate at the same time.
-Solve the noise problem of traditional bladeless fan. The sleep mode is as low as only 38 dBA. accompany you to sleep peacefully.
- The motor is plastic-encapsulated, and the vibration attenuation performance of the motor is more stable and efficient when running; the sealing treatment makes the sound insulation effect better and runs more quietly. This technology is widely used in the noise reduction of high-end air conditioners and hoods.
-Larger size and strong air flow can complete 5 air replacements per hour for a 620 square foot room. This oscillating tower fan can achieve the best cooling effect when used with your air conditioner. 30 ° adjustable air outlet, 90 ° swing fan, can make your room fill with fresh air faster. Provides a continuous cool breeze in hot summer to keep everyone in the room cool and comfortable.


The types of firearms that must be registered in the National Firearm Registration and Transfer Record are defined in the NFA and in 27 CFR Part 479. What are some examples?
Some examples of the types of fire- arms that must be registered are:
The frames or receivers of machine-guns;
Any combination of parts designed and intended for use in converting weapons into machineguns;
Any part designed and intended solely and exclusively for converting a weapon into a machinegun;
Any combination of parts from which a machinegun can be as- sembled if the parts are in the pos- session or under the control of a person;
Silencers and any part designed and intended for fabricating a silencer;
Short-barreled rifles; Short-barreled shotguns; Destructive devices; and, "Any other weapon."
A few examples of destructive devices are:
Molotov cocktails; Anti-tank guns (over caliber .50); Bazookas; and, Mortars.
A few examples of "any other weapon" are:
H&R Handyguns; Ithaca Auto-Burglar guns; Cane guns; and, Gadget-type firearms and "pen" guns which fire a projectile by the action of an explosive.


Verrett The Greater Miami Opera has announced a major cast change for the International Series of its final production of the season, Verdi's Aida. Shirley Verrett will replace Maria Chiara in the title role.
Chiara, who was to have made her Miami debut in the production, decided to stay in Italy for the next few months because of what is said to be a serious illness affecting her husband.
Verrett sang last month for the Miami Opera's annual gala concert, but has not appeared with the company before. The popular Metropolitan Opera star is widely admired for her interpretations of Verdi.
She will perform in Aida at Dade County Auditorium in Miami April 6, 8 and 11, and at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale April 15.
-- Incidentally, if you sit near the stage for the Miami Opera's current production of Salome, look out for flying objects -- during Monday's International Series performance, conductor Willie Waters gave a potent downbeat that sent his baton flying into the fourth row.
You also may get a whiff of peanuts during the final scene. No, the soprano has not stopped for a snack while fondling the severed head of John the Baptist. The blood that drips from that head is made from peanut butter, vegetable oil and food coloring. The peanut butter helps give the substance its realistic, congealed look.
When Catherine Lamy got her turn in that scene for the National Series performance on Tuesday, she held up the prophet's head above her own and had an unpleasant surprise. The sticky "blood" dripped into her mouth while she was going for some high notes, which added expectoration in public to Salome's other crimes.


text:
Bill Status of SB2928 102nd General Assembly
Short Description: CRIM CD-FIREARMS PENALTIES
Sen. Chapin Rose - Jason Plummer - Jil Tracy, Donald P. DeWitte, Terri Bryant, Win Stoller, Neil Anderson, Dan McConchie and Rachelle Crowe
| 10/13/2021||Senate||Referred to Assignments|
Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides for enhanced sentencing for: (1) aggravated vehicular hijacking; (2) unlawful use or possession of weapons by felons or persons in the custody of the Department of Corrections facilities; (3) aggravated discharge of a firearm; (4) being an armed habitual criminal; and (5) use of a stolen or illegally acquired firearm in the commission of an offense. Adds additional protected classes of persons for which the offense of aggravated discharge of a firearm applies. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections to make conforming changes.

domain: politics


text:
I am intrigued by a new book, “Power Score“, by Geoff Smart, Randy Street and Alan Foster that was recently reviewed on Leading Blog here Are You Running at Full Power?. It explores the key factors that determine performance. Based upon research with other 15,000 careers and 9 million data points, in every major industry, it turns out only about 10% of us are running at full power!
The book focuses on what the authors call your “Power Score“. They even provide a formula to identify your personal “Power Score” that I find simple and easy to remember.
The Power Score Formula
Power Score = (P x W x R)
The elements of this formula are based on three questions you should be asking yourself and your team:
1. Do we have the right (P)riorities? (Only 24 percent of leaders do).
2. Do we have the right (W)ho? (Only 14 percent of leaders do.)
3. Do we have the right (R)elationships? (Only 47 percent of leaders do).
“The key to great leadership is to have the right priorities, the right people on your team, and the right relationships that achieve results.” (Power Score: Your Formula for Leadership Success).
According to Leading Blog’s review:
“Interestingly, their research found that where most leaders were weakest related to the who and then priorities. The relationship factor was the strongest factor by far.”
Let’s look at how the authors define these areas in a little more depth.
P – Priorities
Determined by how well the priorities are in line with the mission. Are they clear? Are they focused? Will they get us want we need? Priorities that do not have a strong connection with the mission will result in a low P score. The authors show this to be the second weakest area for most leaders. I have found many of my clients understand the importance of setting priorities, however when it comes to choosing them, they do not always select the best ones. Sometimes they are not clear enough; sometimes the are vague and unmeasurable; and sometimes they are just not in sync with the desired outcome. Understanding which priorities to set and how well they connect with the mision is critical to success.
The W scores our ability to match our team members to the priorities. Have we looked at our team over all and identified its strengths and weaknesses? Can the team accomplish priorities? How well have we matched each team member to a specific priority? How well do we develop our people, setting them for success? As the authors have stated, and as I’ve seen in many of my coaching clients, this tends to be the area where most leaders are weakest. The ability to identify personality traits, working styles and motivators within people is rarely an innate skill, which may be why it’s such a weak area among leaders.
R – Relationships
The all-critical R score focuses on Communication, Commitment and Challenge. How well is communication coordinated within our team? Does the team communicate with the right people at the right time? Is our team committed to the mission? Have we been able to get them emotionally invested in their work? Finally, have we challenged the team? Are they working together to accomplish something bigger than themselves? These elements are key to creating relationships that achieve significant results. I have found it’s rare to see a top leader who doesn’t understand the importance of relationships. In many cases it’s how they became leaders in the first place. But don’t ignore this part of the Power Score. In my dealings with my leadership clients, I have yet to see one that hasn’t benefited from developing this area even more.
I have found these three principles to be critical in helping corporate and organizational teams develop effective engagement that produces results. Through my unique Step Up Leader facilitated process, I have helped many organizations and their leaders align with the all-important P, W and R Factors, Helping them drive up their Power Score.
Power, with the right mindset, can be a beautiful thing.

domain: psychology


From March 23, the UK has been in a nation-wide lockdown meaning some people have been totally isolated from intimate contact with others, many isolating for longer due to showing symptoms of COVID-19.
The deferral policy of three months implemented on gay and bi men, according to the NHS , is put in place to ensure the safety of patients and infections that may be undetectable at the point of donation and screening.
The deferral policy originally started as a 12 month period for gay and bi men but was changed to 3 months in 2018, following an announcement from the then Public Health Minister, Rebecca Evans.
Campaign group Freedom To Donate, has recently called for an individualized approach to risk policy, writing an open letter to MPs and peers. Currently 40 signatures have been added to the letter.
“The fact it’s taken lockdown and a global pandemic in order for gay and bi men to be able to donate is absurd” said Ethan Spibey, one of the founders of Freedom To Donate.
“NHS Blood and Transplant themselves are calling for 68,000 new male donors this year”
“We say that those people exist. They are gay and bi men. That’s why we’re working alongside the government to advocate for an individualized risk based policy, a policy that would assess people on their individual risk, not their sexuality”.
Gay and bi men are not the only group to be affected by the 3 month defferal period, with the list including commercial sex workers, partners who are at higher risk and people who have had sex with sexually active people in areas where HIV is common, following an update from the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) .
Gay and bi men in Wales have donated blood following the lockdown restrictions, many donating for the first time.
“It’s the first time as a 27-year-old, bisexual man, I could donate blood” Councillor for Grangetown, Ashley Lister, told WalesOnline.
“I did not know that restrictions affecting blood donation span far wider than the community”
“The restrictions are far from perfect and yes, unfair to me as an individual”
“I am hopeful that the review which is currently being conducted is finished as soon as possible, so the restrictions can be reassessed and we can hopefully move towards a new system, but only if it is safe to do so”.
Some gay and bi men, however, are refusing to donate based on the deferral policies in place.
“I refuse to donate on the basis of the current law restricting men who have sex with men from giving blood” said Carl Tubbs from Cardiff.
“The restrictions don’t make sense in today’s society, where I’d argue that straight people have the same risks as gay and bi men”.
2020 will see a collaborative report created by FAIR (For the Assessment of Individualized Risk), exploring whether or not gay and bi men could donate without needing a deferral. The work has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Welsh Government have told WalesOnline that “Whilst eligibility for donating blood and plasma are the same for all UK blood services, we want as many people as possible to have the opportunity to donate if they can safely do so”
“The Welsh Blood Service is currently taking part in a review as part of the FAIR study and is due to report later this year”.
An active petition to the Welsh Government has acquired over 1,300 signatures so far backing the idea of an individualized risk policy.


text:
Liverpool football club record against Tottenham Hotspur, including all match details. Games won : 80. Head to Head Statistics of the Games for Tottenham Hotspur and Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool Soccer Head to Head Statistics and. Get statistics for the Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur /17 English Football League Cup, Football League Cup - Fourth Round football match.
VideoLiverpool vs Tottenham - key match stats
Einem Microgaming: Liverpool vs tottenham stats
|Rtl spielen||Casino mybet com jeux gratuits book of ra|
|BUFFALO BULLS RECREATION||Roller tuning spiel|
|Liverpool vs tottenham stats||430|
|STAKE7 TEST||Casino princess sofia|

domain: game


text:
IMMOKALEE - After a long, sleepless night, John Hoffman, a grove manager in Immokalee, finally went home early Sunday morning relieved that his citrus trees survived.
But he wasn't so sure there would be a repeat Sunday night.
He and other local growers were worried about this morning, as temperatures for inland areas such as Immokalee were forecasted to drop even lower — into the upper 20s. A hard freeze warning was in effect for eastern Collier County overnight.
On Sunday morning, icicles formed under the trees at Barron Collier Cos.' Silver Strand North grove off State Road 29, but not on them. Just after sunrise, workers arrived by bus to pick fruit as usual with clouds spread across the sky.
"We pick seven days a week," said Hoffman, who manages the grove, which has 4,400 acres of citrus.
Wind and clouds helped keep temperatures higher than expected early Sunday. Local growers didn't expect to do as well today, with forecasts for clearer skies and lower temperatures today.
On Sunday morning, the lowest temperature Hoffman recorded at the Silver Strand grove was 30. From about 1:30 a.m. until sunrise, it was 32 degrees. Winds blew so hard that no frost settled on the trees.
"You still have to worry about the trees dehydrating," Hoffman said.
Water pumps have been running to keep the groves damp and the trees from getting too thirsty.
The grower saw some leaf damage after temperatures dipped into the 20s early last week. Young trees show it more, with brown, wilted leaves on top.
For citrus growers to see serious damage, temperatures have to drop to 28 degrees for more than four hours. If the fruit freezes, the juice cells "explode," Hoffman said. "Then it dries up."
While citrus growers have weathered the icy temperatures well, vegetable growers haven't been as lucky. Their crops are more tender and they've already seen significant damage from the record cold.
David Jamerson, an owner of Jamerson Farms, a vegetable grower off Green Meadow Road in Fort Myers, seemed sure that Sunday night would be "the bad one."
Heading into Monday, his eggplant and pepper crops had already taken a hit. "I'm still calculating right now," Jamerson said about the damages. "Everything is still covered."
On Sunday afternoon, Chuck Obern, owner of C & B Farms in the Devil's Garden growing area in Hendry County, said he'd already lost 20 to 30 percent of his crops.
He saw some damage from Sunday morning's frigid air. But there was no ice with temperatures at his farm only reaching a low of 31. He primarily grows herbs, peppers and eggplant.
He too was bracing for a worse night. "It looks like the clouds are getting gone," Obern said. "It's clearing up."
"I don't know where they come up with this global warming, but it's certainly not warm in Southwest Florida," he said.
At American Farms off Kean Avenue in Golden Gate Estates, Alex Salazar, operations manager, has been closely watching the flowers and vegetables.
On Sunday morning, the temperature dropped to a low of 30 at the wholesale farm.
"It's too early to tell if we have damage," Salazar said. "I think that we did OK."
In the 20 years that American Farms has been in business, he never remembers it being this cold for this long in Collier County.
"Usually it comes and goes," he said.
"It's not fun," Salazar added. "I can assure you."
He's been spending nights at the farm, keeping an eye on the thermometer and making sure the water is running properly.
At the Naples Airport, the low temperature was recorded as 35 on Sunday morning. It was expected to be about 30 overnight.
Forecasters with the National Weather Service predicted temperatures as low as the mid-20s in Glades and Hendry counties this morning. They were expected to dip into the upper 20s in inland Collier.
"If the winds stay up, it will keep the frost from forming," said Barry Baxter, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami.
The wind child was expected to make it feel even colder this morning.
The cold isn't over yet.
"We do have a freeze watch for Monday night," Baxter said.
A gradual warm-up is expected to start Tuesday, with the highs getting back into the 80s by Friday, he said.
"We are expecting some thunderstorms next weekend and another cold front on Sunday," Baxter said.
But that cold front isn't forecasted to be as severe.
On Sunday, Naples reached a new record for the month of January. The high temperature only reached 48 degrees on Sunday, beating a record of 51 set in 1970.
The National Weather Service continues to investigate whether there might have been snow or sleet in South Florida early Saturday.
"We heard nothing on the west side," Baxter said.
Need Help? Call us at 1-888-878-6842.
Monday-Friday: 6am-6pm / Saturday: 7am-3pm / Sunday: 7am-2pm

domain: agronomy


text:
The Role of TGFβ Signaling in Squamous Cell Cancer: Lessons from Mouse Models
TGFβ1 is a member of a large growth factor family including activins/inhibins and bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs) that have a potent growth regulatory and immunomodulatory functions in normal skin homeostasis, regulation of epidermal stem cells, extracellular matrix production, angiogenesis, and inflammation. TGFβ signaling is tightly regulated in normal tissues and becomes deregulated during cancer development in cutaneous SCC and many other solid tumors. Because of these diverse biological processes regulated by TGFβ1, this cytokine and its signaling pathway appear to function at multiple points during carcinogenesis with distinct effects. The mouse skin carcinogenesis model has been a useful tool to dissect the function of this pathway in cancer pathogenesis, with transgenic and null mice as well as small molecule inhibitors to alter the function of the TGFβ1 pathway and assess the effects on cancer development. This paper will review data on changes in TGFβ1 signaling in human SCC primarily HNSCC and cutaneous SCC and different mouse models that have been generated to investigate the relevance of these changes to cancer. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the duality of TGFβ1 action in carcinogenesis will inform potential use of this signaling pathway for targeted therapies.

domain: medical


text:
Fleece Friday: Take 15% off 1+ yards of Fleece Fabric Through 11:59 PM EDT July 29th.
Preview scale: 21.0 x 18.0 inches

Change DPI Base size is 150
pink elephant (27)
Log in or Sign up
to add a comment.
So very beautiful!!!
Posted 8 months ago.
Hello again...thanks so much for shrinking this "Pink Paisley Elephants" design by 30%...however...after measuring & re-evaluating...I think it's still too large for the 3" x 3-1/2" project I am hoping to use it for. Can you shrink it an additional 20%...making the design 50% smaller than the original instead of 30%?
Again...thanks so much,
Carolinas Girl n Guy
Posted over 2 years ago.
I own a retail store with a wholesale division. Currently...one of our best sellers is a T-shirt with a decorative pocket that we create & sew on to make a fashion statement. I ordered a swatch of your "Pink Paisley Elephants" and LOVE it...however...to be able to see & appreciate the elephant pattern...can you shrink the design by about 30%?
Please advise...and thanks so much,
fabric swatch to show true colors
dogdaze_ uploaded a fabric image for
Pink Paisley elephant :
Posted over 4 years ago.
© 2008-2015 Spoonflower Inc

domain: artistic


text:
National Access Cannabis Corp. Provides Sales Update for Retail Cannabis Operations since Federal Legalization
- NAC has achieved over $10 million in cumulative sales, since October 17, 2018 and federal legalization, from retail cannabis operations, with average gross margin of over 32 percent with consumable cannabis making up 94.2 per cent of total sales.
- The Company has 20 operational retail cannabis locations in Alberta and Manitoba, as well as an additional eight locations throughout Manitoba planned for opening by the end of Q2 2019.
- With 20 stores in Alberta and Manitoba, the Company is the largest private cannabis retailer in Canada, according to provincial licensing statistics.
TORONTO, Jan. 10, 2019 /CNW/ – National Access Cannabis Corp. (“NAC” or the “Company”) (TSXV: META), today provided investors with a corporate and retail sales update. The Company achieved $10.18 million in cumulative sales in just over 80 days of retail operation and $3.95 million in its first 50 days. The average gross margin achieved was over 32 per cent, with consumable cannabis making up 94.2 per cent of total sales. NAC is currently the largest private cannabis retail operator in the country with 20 retail locations and more than 370 employees, and provided the applicable regulations permit, intends to apply for up to 75 retail cannabis locations in Ontario (subject to regulatory approval), along with continued growth plans in other areas of the country.
We expected to see this trend of solid financial results from robust continued sales. Our momentum is strong. With our growth plans over the next 18 months we expect to remain the largest private cannabis retailer in the country and to utilize both our scale and operational expertise to drive sustained returns from our established markets and increased growth from our additional new locations for our shareholders.
Mark Goliger, CEO of NAC
The Company currently has 20 cannabis retail locations open in total, split as follows:
- 14 NewLeaf Cannabis™ stores in Alberta
- 6 Meta Cannabis Supply Co.™ stores in Manitoba
The Company plans to open an additional eight META store locations throughout Manitoba by the end of Q2 2019. The Company has also submitted the maximum of five regional applications to the Ontario retail cannabis Expression of Interest lottery taking place on Friday, January 11th.
Previous announcements regarding NAC’s retail store expansion may be found through the following links:
About National Access Cannabis Corp.
NAC delivers secure, safe, and responsible access to legal cannabis in Canada. Through its Canada-wide network of medical cannabis clinics, partner pharmacies, NAC Bio’s clinical research division, Meta Cannabis Supply Co.™ and NewLeaf Cannabis™ recreational cannabis retail stores, NAC enables patients and the public to gain knowledge and access to Canada’s network of authorized Licensed Producers of cannabis. NAC is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol (TSXV: META).
For more information, visit:


text:
Join River Music Experience, Downtown Rock Island and Bix Jazz Society for a FREE night of New Orleans jazz featuring the nationally recognized band Tuba Skinny!
NOLA Block Party with Tuba Skinny: 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, at the Great River Plaza in Downtown Rock Island (2nd Avenue pedestrian mall)
Rock Island Brewing Company (RIBCO), Daiquiri Factory and The Arena will be serving beverages from inside their establishments, and patrons may bring them into the fenced-in area of the Plaza. In addition to the brick-and-mortar bars and restaurants in Downtown Rock Island, Pee Wee’s Restaurant and Tacos Al Vapor will be serving food at the fenced-in event.
-Gate and food vendors open at 6 p.m.; music starts at 7 p.m.
-Donations will be accepted at the gate to support the Greater New Orleans Foundation’s Hurricane Ida Disaster Fund
-No outside food or beverages permitted; attendees encouraged to bring their own chair
Sponsored by: Illinois Casualty Company, Holiday Inn Rock Island, Rock Island Brewing Company, Daiquiri Factory and The Arena
ABOUT THE BAND
Genre: Traditional New Orleans Street Jazz
Formed in 2009, Tuba Skinny has steadily evolved from a loose collection of street musicians into a solid ensemble dedicated to bringing the traditional New Orleans sound to audiences around the world. Drawing on a wide range of musical influences-from spirituals to Depression-era blues, from ragtime to traditional jazz-their sound evokes the rich musical heritage of their New Orleans home. The band has gained a loyal following through their distinctive sound, their commitment to reviving long-lost songs, and their barnstorming live performances.


text:
Bioethicists have sounded a note of caution after a failed womb transplant in the US.
Bioethicists have sounded a note of caution about womb transplants after a failed attempt at the procedure in a US fertility clinic.
In late March a participant of an American trial had to have her recently transplanted womb removed. Ironically, the reverse-transplantation was necessitated by a common uterine infection unrelated to the initial operation.
Still, Some have used the failed operation as an opportunity to question the merits of the research. Southampton Law School lecturer Natasha Hammond-Browning doubts that the procedure has a net benefit for the women involved:
“…I do not deny that for women without wombs who desire a uterus transplant, and receive one as part of one of the clinical trials that are happening, may well argue that their quality of life has been improved through the ability to experience one or two pregnancies. However, I believe that we need to ask: at what cost?…”
Other academics have enumerated various potential negative consequences that the procedure could have, and some suggest that even the ostensible benefits of the transplant have been misconstrued. As early as 2011 a group of researchers from Australia’s Macquarie University, discussed ethical problems surrounding the practice, noting, for example, that the limited nerve connections between the uterus and the recipient’s body may in fact entail an absence of the typical positive feelings experienced by a woman during pregnancy. The authors of that study did, however, note a certain inconsistency that would result from deny womb transplants to infertile women:
“Where a woman does not have a functioning uterus, it is far from clear how we might legitimately encourage use of a surrogate (with all its attendant difficulties) but withhold the opportunity to employ an (in principle) established surgical technique – namely, organ transplantation – in order to allow her to achieve a pregnancy ‘of her own’.”
US Researchers remain positive about the uterine transplant trials, despite the setbacks already encountered. The surgeon who is leading trials at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Goran Klintmalm said he and his doctors had discussed their failed transplant with his team. “What they experienced is something that helps us to fine tune our protocol and approach, to hopefully avoid having the same situation,” Dr. Klintmalm said.
Nascent concerns about womb transplants
- Can machines be moral? - March 7, 2021
- Can we synthesise Christianity moral theology with secular bioethics? - November 28, 2020
- Euthanasia polling data may fail to capture people’s considered views - August 15, 2020


text:
Do you want to see better? Are you tired of squinting at small text, or feeling your eyes water after looking at a screen too much? Do you have blurry eyesight and weakening vision? Then, Ocuprime Vision Support Formula is exactly what you need! This advanced natural supplement is basically a bunch of vision vitamins and minerals all wrapped into one formula. And, it’s here to strengthen your eyesight, stop the natural decrease of eyesight with time, and decrease blurriness! Plus, it helps rid your sight of blind spots. Now, you don’t need surgery to get better eyesight. Instead, this natural formula will take care of your vision now AND for the future! Tap below for the best Ocuprime Pills Price!
This is a powerful natural formula that utilizes herbal vitamins and minerals to rebuild your eyesight from the inside out. If you worry about vision at all, then Ocuprime Supplement is for you. Most users reported better vision within just a few weeks. Now, they can read on their tablets and phones with ease! And, even small text on a menu is clear and easy to read. One user even reported 20/20 vision at age 63! This is truly the formula that keeps your vision younger and helps you maintain one of your most important senses. The sooner you do something to take care of your eyes and vision, the healthier both will be as you age! So, tap below for this breakthrough formula and get a great low Ocuprime Capsules Cost for a limited time!
Ocuprime Vision Support Formula Ingredients
If you don’t love your vision right now, chances are, you’re worried about where it will go in the future. Thankfully, the Ocuprime Supplement Reviews are in, and hundreds of users are successfully using this to strengthen their vision, decrease vision loss and imperfections, and protect their eyes and vision for the future! Like we said, some users reported 20/20 vision even while in their 60s! And, others say this reduces eye strain from looking at electronics or a screen all day long.
On top of that, Ocuprime Pills can stop headaches from taking over your eyesight. Sometimes, when you can’t see well, you strain to look around or read something. And, all that eye strain can cause major damage over time. But, it can also cause headaches and tension in your body that makes you feel sick. Thankfully, this formula helps reduce eye strain by clearing up your vision and calming blurriness! So, tap any image on this page to start fixing and protecting your vision today!
Ocu Prime Eye Pills Benefits:
- Reduces Blurriness In Your Vision Fast
- Helps You Read Better On Screens, Too
- Good For Reducing Eye Strain From Screens
- Boosts Your Vision And Reveres Vision Loss
- Works Naturally To Strengthen Your Eyes
- Protects Your Vision Against Age- Related Decline
- Uses 100% Natural Eye Boosting Ingredients
- Go Get Better, Stronger, Clearer Vision!
How Does Ocu Prime Supplement Work?
If you spend a lot of time looking at a computer, phone, or tablet screen, or even a TV, you need this supplement. Or, if you feel like your vision isn’t what it used to be, you need this, too. If you simply want to take care of your vision and eye health now and for the future, again, you’ll love what the natural Ocuprime Pills Ingredients can do for you! Because, these ingredients work to strengthen your actual eye muscles and retinas. And, they help clear up blurriness or other symptoms you’d generally get surgery for!
So, you can skip cataract surgery, Lasik, and more. And, you can save your eyes from going under the knife. Instead, this eye focused formula works naturally to create the vision you truly want! Even if you have undergone eye surgeries in the past, Ocuprime Zeaxanthin & Lutein Supplement can help prevent future surgeries and keep your surgery results going strong. Once you start taking this, you can expect better vision all around, including less blurriness, less eye strain, and clearer, stronger vision! So, why wait? Your vision is one of your most important senses, so go protect it now!
Ocuprime Pills Review:
- Each Bottle Comes With 60 Capsules
- Helps You Tackle Any Vision Loss
- Reverses Vision Loss Naturally!
- Keeps Eyes Healthier For Years To Come
- The #1 Way To Protect Your Vision
- Makes Seeing Things A Lot Clearer!
Ocu Prime Vision Support Formula Ingredients
This formula uses two main Ocuprime Ingredients. First, it uses Zeaxanthin. And this is a powerful natural antioxidant that helps stop UV light from harming your eyes. We all know that UV light from the sun is bad and damaging for our skin. But, it also ruins your eyes over time. And, it can reduce the health of your retinas – leaving you with eye damage and poor vision. Now, this natural antioxidant is here to prevent future damage to your eyes, so you can keep the vision you do have!
Then, Lutein is the other main ingredient. And, this helps reduce eye disease and cut down on inflammation in your eyes. On top of that, this amazing antioxidant decreases age-related macular disease and prevents blindness and vision impairment. So, the more you take these two ingredients, the more you can naturally improve your eyesight and protect it for years to come! So, what are you waiting for? Tap any image on this page to score the best Ocuprime Price before this sells out!
Ocuprime Supplement Side Effects
According to their official website, there are no reported Ocuprime Side Effects right now. And, we didn’t see any customer complaints of adverse reactions either, which is good. Instead, this natural formula should be able to strengthen your vision and protect it, too. And, the longer you use this for, the better off your vision will be in the future. Beyond the two antioxidants above, the other natural ingredients include Magnesium, Grape Seed, Lycopene, Bilberry, Eyebright, and Rutin.
And, all of these ingredients are natural plant or food extracts that specifically help take care of your eyesight. So, you’re getting them at the perfect concentration to take care of your vision. And, they’re 100% natural, too. So, why wait? Your vision is important, and the sooner you act, the sooner you can keep it healthy! So, simply tap any image on this page to score the best Ocuprime Cost and get started protecting your vision today!
Order Ocuprime Zeaxanthin & Lutein Supplement!
It’s time to take care of your eyes and protect your vision for years to come! Not only can this formula keep your vision healthy for longer, but it can reverse the eye strain, blurriness, and other symptoms you’re already dealing with. So, the sooner you act, the sooner you can see your vision strengthen right before your very eyes (pun intended). Tap any image on this page to score visit the Official Ocuprime Vision Support Formula Website and get the best cost online today! Hurry, this popular offer won’t be around for long, so act now for the sake of your vision!


text:
At last all the geese are in place - and it really has not taken me very long to do. I have loved putting this together especially working out the design from a photograph and choosing the fabrics. I am very pleased with the fabrics I chose and with the overall effect. I shall have a couple of weeks on other projects and then start on the quilting!
Thank you for taking the time to look - happy stitching!
PS - notice how brown our grass is!


text:
This is the most complicated artwork we can commission. If you choose this tier then your arcade machine will have a minimum of 200 hours of artwork ! Your artwork will be applied to the machine by hand using a airbrush. The level of detail that can be applied at this level is mind blowing!
All artwork is fully customization. The artist will work closely with the customer from conception to realization to ensure that it is perfect and everything you were hoping for. Your machine will not just be a arcade machine, it will be a contemporary work of art.
At RetroGradeMachines we dedicate ourselves to bring you only the highest quality components on the market.
Tournament standard Sanwa Dieshi JLW/JLF joysticks.
Hard wearing HAPP buttons with Cherry micro-switches.
E-sports Grade BenQ monitors*
Full Range 4" internal speakers supported by dedicated stereo class-D amp with 30 Watt RMS per channel
*N.B. 24” for 70cm width Executive Edition or 22” Monitor for 60cm width Home Edition

domain: design


On October 2nd, “Leader 41”- a Facebook page supportive of the ruling “Georgian Dream” party published a post claiming that “Putin’s journalist” Dimitry Gordon has asked Volodymyr Zelensky to demand the release of the Georgian ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili. The post asserted that a similar statement was made by the member of the Russian Duma, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, indicating that Saakashvili’s arrest upset “Putin’s favorites.” The post creates the impression that Russia is concerned with Saakashvili’s arrest and demands his release.
The post of “Leader 41” is misleading. In fact, Dimitry Gordon is a Ukrainian journalist who openly criticizes the politics of the Kremlin, and he has indeed asked the President of Ukraine to demand Saakashvili’s release. Zhirinovsky’s statement about Saakashvili was sarcastic. “Leader 41” creates the impression that Russia is concerned with Saakashvili’s arrest, and demands on his release are voiced by stakeholders expressing Russian interests.
On October 1st, Ukrainian journalist Dmitry Gordon indeed expressed support for Mikheil Saakashvili and called upon the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to take action in support of Saakashvili.
Dmitry Gordon: “Mikheil Saakashvili is a great reformer and politician who has managed to turn the poorest, most criminal and corrupt country in the post-Soviet space into a prosperous state. Mikheil Saakashvili played a massive role in Ukraine’s democratization. I sincerely appreciate this person, I love him, and I believe he should be freed immediately. I urge the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, to take immediate action to release a Ukrainian citizen – Mr. Mikheil Saakashvili. I wish him self-confidence, strength, and faith in tomorrow because both Saakashvili and Georgia will be fine tomorrow. I am certain. ”
Ukrainian journalist Dmitry Gordon has made statements in support of Mikheil Saakashvili in the past as well.
Dmitry Gordon is a Ukrainian journalist who, until 2017, hosted the program “Visiting Dimitri Gordon” on “Ukraine 112.” In February 2017, Gordon announced that he was cutting ties with the TV channel because of the influence of Viktor Medvedchuk, Putin’s godfather and ideologue of the “Russian world” in Ukraine.
The confrontation between Gordon and Russian propaganda journalist Vladimir Solovyov has been going on for several years due to Russia’s occupation of parts of the southern and eastern regions of Ukraine. Soloviev said it was a slander for which the Ukrainian journalist should have been tried. In response, Gordon called Soloviev a “brutal propagandist,” and in response, Solovyov repeatedly insulted the Ukrainian journalist, calling him “incompetent,” a “scoundrel,” and a “criminal.”
The Sarcastic Comment of Zhirinovsky
The Sarcastic Comment of Zhirinovsky about the arrest of Saakashvili has been circulating among pro-governmental media and Facebook groups with a misleading context as if the Russian side was not content with the arrest of the ex-president and the leader of the Russian Liberal Democratic Party was genuinely criticizing Saakashvili’s arrest.
For more details, see the article of “Myth Detector:”
What did Zhirinovsky Say about Saakashvili’s Arrest?
The article has been written in the framework of Facebook’s fact-checking program. You can read more about the restrictions that Facebook may impose based on this article via this link. You can find information about appealing or editing our assessment via this link.


text:
When Toyota wanted to move its national headquarters to Plano in 2014, the corporation insisted the city government pass an ordinance to protect its lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender employees from discrimination by local businesses. Plano swiftly complied. Similar ordinances have been passed by city councils in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Rockwall, while one passed by Houston was overturned by a local referendum in 2015.
But the new Senate Bill 6 being proposed by state Senator Lois Kolkhorst and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick likely would overturn at least a portion of every one of those ordinances. The bill would prohibit local governments from requiring private businesses to allow transgender people to use the restroom of their identity rather than their gender at birth. By negating one portion of the local ordinances, the Legislature might force the local governments to go back and re-enact the remaining portions of their local rules, opening them up once against for debate at the city council level. A similar legal battle between the City of Charlotte and the North Carolina legislature already has resulted in an estimated loss of about $1 billion in tourism, sporting events, and corporate expansions.
But Patrick is all about your gender on the day you arrive in your birthday suit. If your heart and head later tell you that you are not the boy or girl who your mother wrapped in a blanket and nurtured, too bad. Protecting your right to pursue happiness with your new gender identity is just far too likely, in Patrick’s view, to invade the privacy of others or give cover to the sexual predators who will use it as an excuse to prey on others in changing rooms, public showers and restrooms. So the state needs to step in to tell locally elected city councils, locally elected school boards, and colleges what is best for them.
Some of the major provisions of the bill are:
- Local governments cannon pass ordinances telling private businesses how to regulate use of their bathrooms.
- Local governments cannot use company policies on bathroom use to determine whether the firm receives a government contract.
- Public schools and open-enrollment charter schools must adopt a policy designating multi-occupancy changing facilities and bathrooms by gender and restricting their use to students by the biology of their birth.
- School districts may accommodate transgender students with a single occupancy bathroom if there are “special circumstances.”
- Public buildings also must adopt gender-specific bathrooms when they are multi-occupant, but may accommodate an individual with a single-occupancy bathroom if there are “special circumstances.”
- A school district, open-enrollment charter school, state agency, or political subdivision that violates the law would be subject to a first-offense penalty of $1,000 to $1,500 and civil penalties of up to $10,500 for subsequent violations.
- The bill also would enhance penalties for crimes that occur in a bathroom or changing facility.
A coalition of Texas businesses remains skeptical of the legislation and claims it could cost Texas up to $8.5 billion in lost tourism, sporting events and corporate relocations or expansions. Chris Wallace, president of the Texas Association of Business, said corporations need to recruit employees from all over the nation and millennials are far more sympathetic to LGBT issues than people from older generations. “It’s unnecessary legislation,” Wallace said. “We don’t want to do anything to tie the hands of business to recruit workers.”
Wallace said the Patrick plan is almost identical to HB 2, the legislation that created a blow-up in North Carolina, resulted in cancelled sports events, rock concerts, and led major corporations to halt expansion plans in the state. (HB2 also contributed to the defeat of North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, a Republican. After the election, the North Carolina legislature met briefly to consider repealing HB2 but ultimately decided not to.)
Chuck Smith, CEO of Equality Texas, echoed many of the economic arguments, but he also noted that Austin, Dallas, and Fort Worth have had non-discrimination ordinances for more than a decade without problems, and San Antonio has had such an ordinance for about five years. “The legislation is completely unnecessary. Transgender people didn’t just start to exist,” Smith said. “Any legislation that would target any group of people for discrimination is morally bankrupt and wrong.”


Politics is behind FBI probe of Suarez employees’ donations
Regarding “FBI probes Suarez employees’ campaign contributions” (May 22): Well, they’re after Benjamin Suarez again. Must be an election year!
If you can remember, the same strong-arm tactics have been used against this man before. As usual, nothing will come of this latest travesty, except as fodder for the liberal hate-America crowd, including the news media. Betcha the Obama-funded union bosses are salivating!
DEL BORNTRAGER, CANTON


text:
OROVILLE — A new museum highlighting Hmong and Iu Mien cultural history is underway in Oroville.
The city of Oroville held a press conference Tuesday to hand the keys over to the Lao Veterans of America, Northern California chapter for a future Hmong and Iu Mien cultural history museum.
President Kay Cha said his organization will be working towards making a museum and space to teach youth and other communities about the Hmong heritage in Butte County.
“Our building here, its main purpose is to meet and provide history for other communities and youth to learn,” Cha said. “So someday, when they ask the youth, ‘Where do they come from?’ they know where they come from.”
Cha said many Hmong people came to Oroville beginning in 1986 after the Vietnam War and that there are many veterans in the community.
His organization was first working with people who didn’t know how to speak English and set them up with help for any resources they needed. Now, Cha said they will focus on historical education.
The building will serve both as a cultural history museum of Hmong and Lu Mien people focused around the Vietnam War and a location to meet for the Northern California Lao Veterans of America, the Butte Lu Mien American Association and the Hmong Cultural Center.
Before securing the new location, Oroville Mayor Chuck Reynolds said Hmong community members didn’t have a formal place to go to meet and gather for celebrations, and would often meet at leaders’ houses.
Reynolds met with Cha who said they had been promised a place for more than 50 years but no one followed through.
Cha said they had been meeting with Reynolds monthly before they finally found a location for the future museum, an annexed city property located on Broderick Street between Bolt’s Antique Tool Museum and the Oroville Chinese Temple.
“We have decided to present this to the Hmong and Mien people so they can gather here,” Reynolds said. “They will have a place to call their own in Oroville.”
Kae Saechao, president of Butte Lu Mien American Association said he has plans for the building as his organization works on preserving community and culture and supporting youth in education.
“We’re thankful we’re being recognized,” Saechao said. “Back then, we all lived together, we all fought together, and so we’re all brothers and sisters.”
Saechao said his goal is to put pictures of veterans along the wall with artifacts to show his community’s history and culture.
Lao veteran Vang Thai said he has many pictures and articles from the Vietnam War that he wants to bring to the museum.
“I’m very happy for the city of Oroville, and the residents of American people, Hmong, Mien, Lao people in Butte County,” Thai said.


text:
Earth Is Ours No More
With a setting unlike any other to explore and mysteries lying buried, Horizon Zero Dawn is a game you’ll want to dig deep into. This fully updated book will provide everything you need to overcome the odds and gain a deeper understanding of the game’s unique world, including the new Frozen Wilds content.
Get an Overview of How Things Work
Our breakdown of the game’s systems is as in-depth as it gets. You’ll have the benefit of countless hours’ play at your fingertips, with analysis of the skills, crafting and rewards that cover both Ultra Hard and New Game+ modes.
Plan Your Route Through the Game
We provide everything you need to plot out your own route through the game, based on your way of playing. Tackle the main quests, side quests and activities and the Frozen Wilds in the order you want, or follow our recommendations for an easy, optimal experience.
Hone Your Combat Skills
Aloy has a staggering repertoire of hunting tools and abilities to learn and master. We’ll provide all the information you need to choose the ones that suit you best. The Hunting Guide chapter lays bare all the workings of the game’s enemies, weapons, tools and combat, including all the new Frozen Wilds additions.
Dig Beneath the Surface
Our focus on dissecting Horizon Zero Dawn extends deep into the game’s story and its mysteries. This book is steeped in the game’s lore and features design insights and artwork alongside interviews with the team at Guerrilla Games.
A Beautiful Bonus
To really know everything about the world of Horizon Zero Dawn you’ll need to explore its outer reaches and collect every artifact and trinket you can. With that in mind, we’ve included a gorgeous world map poster to make sure you won’t have trouble finding whatever you desire.

domain: hobby


text:
Italian authorities arrested a mafia fugitive who was on the run for seven years. Police tracked him through a YouTube cooking channel that he started with his wife.
Marc Feren Claude Biart was arrested in the town of Boca Chica in the Dominican Republic, where he has been hiding for the last five years. The police said in a statement to NBC News, “The love for Italian cuisine allowed (police forces) to follow his traces on the web and social networks, while the love for tattoos (allowed police) to recognize the fugitive as that cook.“
Biart is a member of an organized crime group that operates between Italy and the Netherlands. The group is one of the most feared and powerful in Europe. He had been wanted for allegedly trafficking cocaine from the Netherlands since 2014.
Biart previously worked at a restaurant in Italy. He kept a low profile during his stay in the Caribbean. He was known to locals as “Marc”.
Lt. Col. Massimiliano Galasso, told NBC News that authorities had never stopped looking for Biart and had recently turned to open source intelligence.
Alerted by his wife’s YouTube activity and armed with the knowledge that Biart had previously worked at a restaurant, the officials discovered the cooking videos and realized they had their man.
Biart was arrested last week in the Dominican town of Boca Chica and extradited to Italy and landed in Milan on Monday.


text:
Description - Hazardous Chemicals Handbook by P.A. Carson
Every health and safety practitioner should have a copy of this handbook as it is not simply of value to those working in the chemical and related industries, it is also of value to those studying for advanced health and safety qualifications. Safety & Health Practitioner The authors' aim with this handbook, is to provide a rapid ready-reference to help in the often complex task of handling, using and disposing of chemicals safely and with minimum risk to people's health or damage to facilities or to the environment. The book provides look-up data, and concise, clear explanations of general chemical principles, physiochemical and reactive properties, toxicities and exposure limits, flammability characteristics, monitoring techniques, personal protection and other parameters and requirements relating to compliance with designated safe practice, control of risks to people's health and limitation of environmental impact.
Buy Hazardous Chemicals Handbook by P.A. Carson from Australia's Online Independent Bookstore, Boomerang Books.
(234mm x 156mm x mm)
Publisher: Elsevier Science & Technology
Country of Publication:
Other Editions - Hazardous Chemicals Handbook by P.A. Carson
Book Reviews - Hazardous Chemicals Handbook by P.A. Carson

domain: chemistry


text:
A Tasty New Program: TRAILS & ALES
The Escondido Creek Conservancy (TECC) has partnered with the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy, the San Dieguito River Vally Conservancy, and the Volcan Mountain Foundation as part of a titillating new program called Trails & Ales! As part of this hiking series each conservancy/foundation will be providing a unique guided-hiking experience on their land, followed by a trip to a local brewery.
For more about the program, or to see all the hikes offered for the spring/summer series click here. Although this season sold out almost immediately after announcing the program, we plan to offer it again for fall 2016.
TECC’s hike will occur on Saturday, May 7th at 10:00AM-1:30PM. The hike will take approximately two hours, and the brewery visit will take approximately an hour.
Hiking difficulty: Easy to Moderate
TECC has preserved over 3,000 acres of land in the Escondido Creek watershed. Most of these lands are not available for recreation. As part of the Trails & Ales program, we’ll be giving participants access to a spectacular hike that is normally off limits to the public: the newly acquired TECC property known as the Los Cielos Reserve.
The Los Cielos Reserve is 700+ acres west of–and adjacent to–the Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve. Once slated for a housing development, TECC was ultimately able to purchase this beautiful land for preservation in perpetuity. While normally not open to the public, Trails & Ales participants will be given exclusive access to the the scenic panoramic views that Los Cielos provides.
After the hike, our intrepid group will head over to the world-renowned Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens in Escondido. All participants in TECC’s hike will receive a 10% discount of food and drinks.
Kevin Bernard is the President of TECC and a life-long resident of San Diego County. He’s also a retired police officer, so behave yourselves around him 🙂


text:
Americans will eat more meat in 2018 than any year on record. But even in the face of such a big meat problem, veganism is on the rise.
This much is spelled out by climate scientists, dietitians, and animal advocates across the globe. Eating more plants is part of the solution. Eating more meat, on the other hand, is not. Even the most modest plants like beans produce up to 46 times fewer greenhouses gases per gram of protein than beef. It’s easier to replace animal protein than ever, whether it’s with a can of beans from the back of both cupboard or brand new plant-based burger.
Almost anyone who wants to eat plant-based can eat plant-based—and making the switch now is way easier than waiting to see what the world will look like at peak meat.
Animal protein is far from the best food we can put in our bodies, and most people know that, but they eat it anyway. Amidst all the inefficiency and environmental destruction, there is something fundamentally wrong with the food system. It’s about time someone unpacked what it means to be a new vegan in a world full of meat eaters.
One in five people under the age of 35 have tried a vegan diet.
But the world’s meat problem is still in the way of plant-based progress. One does not discount the other. Let’s be absolutely certain of that. Vegans are fighting to change the future, not alienate the planet.
Americans will eat more meat in 2018 than any year on record. So will the rest of the world. Developing countries rely on meat as a cheap source of protein, but developed countries have no excuse. They’re simply eating more meat than they need.
According to scientists from the University of Oxford, peak meat may have passed. In some high-income countries, per capita meat consumption is beginning to decline. But the demand for meat is not declining where it counts. The world’s largest populations—in the United States, Australia, Brazil, China—still lead the world in meat consumption. Each one of these countries eats more meat than they did last year, 20 years ago—or 40 years ago.
Food-retail giants like Walmart are asking their suppliers for more plant-based options to meet all this demand from new vegans. China’s vegan market is forecasted to grow quickly after the country called for all 1.3 billion Chinese citizens to cut their meat consumption in half.
When will we reach peak meat?
The global livestock population is at an all-time high. Twenty-eight billion animals alive today will be killed for food. Earlier this week, the USDA called for 180,000 new cows added to the national herd in 2019, with an additional 100,000 cows by 2020. By the way, livestock farming now represents the single largest land user in the U.S.
“The [beef] economy is really strong,” said University of Idaho Extension educator and beef cattle expert Joel Packham. “The industry is producing record amounts of high-quality beef and demand is responding.”
Godfray et al./Science
Over the past 20 years, the global livestock industry has grown at an unfathomable pace—cattle by 200 million animals in the past 20 years, sheep by 200 million, ducks by 300 million, goats by 300 million, pigs by 200 million, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations—along with the world’s appetite for meat.
Not even Epic Burger founder David Friedman is willing to admit that beef’s hold on the world’s appetite may end, granted that would mean the end of the reign of burger joints like the one he owned in 2008. Despite competition from beef-burger-making behemoths like McDonald’s and Burger King, the 10-year bet he hedged on beef has paid off so far, but can it last another 10 years? He sure thinks so.
“Ten years from now,” Friedman told Fortune, “there will be higher plant consumption, but beef will always be king.”
As far as Friedman is concerned, beef still runs the show. He’s not wrong. Beef dominates the meat market and has for a very long time. Many Americans very seriously consider cheap, never-frozen beef part of their constitutional rights.
We are beginning to understand the real cost of what we eat. It’s better late than never.
We are still eating so much meat because the wheel is just starting to turn. With the help of better science and stronger communication, we are beginning to understand the real cost of what we eat. It’s better late than never. Maybe the question is not precisely when will we reach peak meat, but instead, what will we see when we get there?
The future is vegan
The world will not be a pretty place at peak meat, and we may reach it way soon than we think. That’s not all bad. According to a study on the future of food published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, if the whole world went vegan, it could save 8 million human lives by 2050, reduce greenhouse gas emission by two-thirds, and save on healthcare- and climate-related costs upwards of $1.5 trillion.
On the other side of peak meat is a necessary decline in meat consumption. Eating more plants is a big part of the solution. At this rate, most of the world will eat more plants not because they want to but because they have to, like a six-year-olds plate of broccoli.
“We’re in a non-vegan world,” a volunteer at the Blackpool Vegan and Green Festival told the Guardian. “But things are changing rapidly—and if you’re trying to go vegan, you’re a pioneer.”
Take a look at the number of new vegans from the Vegan Society, the 74-year-old community that coined the term vegan in 1944. Things are changing, and you can be a part.
Change starts today
Peak meat is a frighteningly high point for the meat industry and a frighteningly low one for vegans. This too will pass. How we get there and the viable solutions we offer on the other side will tell this story better than any numbers on a graph can. Change starts today. Choose not to eat meat and more importantly, choose to tell someone why they should too.
Going vegan happens in parts, like the chapters of a book. There’s no rush. The journey begins and ends when you turn the page. What you decide for yourself today is different than what anyone else can decide for you. So put away all the external strife. The future starts with you.
Matt is an award-winning independent journalist. His reporting has been featured in USA Today, The Washington Post, HuffPost, Vox, PBS, and NPR, among others.


Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable/fruit grown in the US. For healthy productive tomatoes, think about the order in which the plant grows: seed, seedling, root, stem, leaves, flowers and fruit. Pay attention to the needs of each part of the plant as it develops.
Seeds and Seedlings
- Research the best varieties to grow in your zone and environment. Choose by type (cherry, paste, plumb, beef, etc.) taste, and production.
- Choose determinate (bush type) plants for areas with less room and indeterminate (vine type) plants for greatest yield.
- Wrap seeds in a damp paper cloth and seal in a ziplock bag. Put in a warm place (75F-85F) and check germination before planting.
- Plant seeds indoors from late January to early April, depending on your zone and needs.
- Plant individual seeds or germinated sprouts into small pots or containers with compost based starting mix and keep moist at around 75F.
- Transplant often when roots just fill the pot—not when pot-bound. Remove the lower leaves and plant as deeply as you can each time.
- Sophisticated growers graft heirloom shoots onto disease resistant rootstock when stems are half the thickness of a pencil. See: Grafting Tomatoes
- New plants can be started from suckers. Carefully cut a sucker that is 2 1/2″ long and plant into starting mix with 1″ of the stem buried.
- For early planting out, protect with wall-of-water (or similar) plus row covers.
- Feed plants with compost tea plus a nitrogen (N) supplement as soon as true leaves form.
- Do not plant out where nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers or eggplants) were grown last year.
- Plant into rich warm (70F) soil with plenty of soil life, humus, minerals and nutrients.
- Remove leaves from the lower 3″-4″ of the stems. Plant diagonally in a shallow trench, covering the stems and gently bending up the tops of the plants.
- The root ball should be 3″-4″ below the surface. The hairs on the stem become additional roots.
- Mulch well with compost and cover with plastic (red or black), if preferred. When days get hot, add shading mulch so roots do not overheat.
- Water regularly and deeply to keep roots moist.
- When planting out, treat the soil with compost with a nitrogen (N) supplement plus mycorrhizae.
- When choosing plants, look for ones with short stocky strong stems.
- Do not plant too close together — 2 feet or more between plants.
- Support determinate plants (bush type) with tomato cages. Indeterminate (vine type) plants need larger cages, strong stakes, supporting twine or a combination of these. Choose a method that suits your types of plant and situation.
- Do not let the stem twist and compress as the plant grows heavy with fruit.
Leaves and Suckers (Mainly Indeterminate Plants)
- As plants grow, remove leaves and suckers from the lowest 6″ of the stem to increase air flow.
- Make sure leaves get plenty of light — 12 plus hours a day.
- If you intend to prune, remove suckers regularly before they are 2″ long.
- If suckers grow too long, pinch off the leaves at the tip and any additional suckers.
- Prune so that there are no more than 3 main branches. Each branch can fork to produce 2 smaller branches. Pinch off new suckers as they appear.
- If fruit are not setting well into the season, prune all lower leaves to shock the plant into fruiting.
- If leaves turn yellow with green veins, sprinkle a tablespoon of Epsoms Salts (Magnesium Sulphate) around the stem and water well.
- Foliar feed with compost tea and nitrogen (N) during the leafy growth phase of development.
- Watch flowers carefully to make sure they are being pollinated and setting fruit.
- Vibrate or agitate the plants when flowers are in bloom to distribute pollen.
- Dropping flowers are mainly caused by too high or low temperatures and/or lack of water. Water deeply and shade overheated plants.
- Reduce fertilization with nitrogen (N) rich products as flowers form on the mature plant.
- Treat soil and leaves with products high in phosphate (P) and potassium (K) to set abundant flowers and fruit as soon as buds form
- Support fruit trusses as they form to prevent lost tomatoes.
- Avoid blossom end rot by watering regularly in warm weather and making sure the soil has plenty of calcium.
- Pinch off leaf tips on branches beyond the truss to help set fruit.
- Leave tomatoes on the vine until fully ripe for the best flavor and nutrition. Harvest regularly.
Enjoy a bounteous harvest of lush, ripe, juicy tomatoes!


Download Mp3: Reminisce – Ajigijaga
REMINISCE – AJIGIJAGA AUDIO MP3 DOWNLOAD
LRR Records Boss the self acclaimed Alaga Ibile Reminisce finally drop his most anticipated single titled “Ajigijaga”
“Ajigijaga” by Reminisce was released some weeks after he was featured on Rudeboy latest song titled “Is Allowed” as the rapper showcase his talent on the effort.
Enjoy the new jam below and don’t forget to drop your comment


BASKING RIDGE, NJ - For much of the season, a young Ridge girls basketball team would play competitively but falter in the closing minutes. On Tuesday night, the Red Devils turned in a cohesive effort and raised the level of their game down the stretch.
The result was a 60-52 Ridge victory over district rival Bernards in the first round of the Somerset County Tournament.
Sophomore guard Kristin Miscia scored 12 of her 16 points and senior forward Chrissy Weyrauch netted five of her 15 points in the fourth quarter, when eighth-seeded Ridge extended its narrow advantage to defeat Bernards, the ninth seed.
Senior forward Maddie Fairhurst led Bernards with 21 points and Caroline Baratta finished with 16 points in the loss.
Ridge played the entire fourth quarter with Bernards in the bonus after the Red Devils were whistled for eight fouls in the third quarter. But Ridge played a circumspect game on defense in the final quarter and avoided the potential danger of having Bernards spend the entire final quarter on the foul line.
"Our number one concern in the fourth quarter was the number of fouls we had," said Weyrauch, who led Ridge with 10 rebounds and also contributed two assists and two blocks. "Coach (Eric Schroeder) said we can't have chippy little fouls and we had to play composed."
Exemplifying that composure, Miscia knocked down three baseline jumpers, including a pair of 3-pointers, in the fourth quarter. And, with Bernards within three points at 51-48 with three minutes left, Weyrauch shouldered a huge load and sank a couple of critical shots. She buried a 12-foot jumper in the lane with 2:40 left for a 53-48 lead, then dropped in a 15-footer with 1:58 to go to extend Ridge's lead to seven, 55-48.
"We're a young team with a lot (four) of sophomores," said Weyrauch, who was playing despite the effects of a cough and cold she's had for several days. "It's been a learning experience for them, but with each game, they're getting more experience in these end-game situations."
Junior forward Abby Ursino finished with 11 points and senior guard Sarah Korn scored eight points for Ridge.


[VIDEO] Octarium Looks Back On A Decade Of Blending Eight Voices Into One
The signature style of the vocal group Octarium is eight singers, blended into one voice. After a decade of performances, this weekend marks the group's farewell concert. Octarium anticipates continuing to perform at least once a year, over the holidays.
Octarium (pronounced ock-TAH-ree-um) is Latin for "Eight as One." And the eight-member choral ensemble has taken pride in creating one choral voice. But, as some of the core members moved away from the Kansas City metropolitan area, founder and artistic director Krista Lang Blackwood says it became more challenging to bring those voices together. Blackwood and ensemble members looked back on a decade of blending together eight voices into one.
On the "magic" of eight voices as one
Krista Lang Blackwood, Artistic Director and Founder of Octarium
"We weave together but in the end we're one voice, so I say, 'Eight singers, one voice.' When you've got eight, you've got a depth of sound and also a breadth of sound. So it's the perfect number to have a sense of breadth and largeness but not so large that you need a traffic cop to keep everything in order."
Leah Hamilton, alto, Octarium
"I think there's something magic in the mix of voices of eight. Having the different qualities of voice from female to male, I think is what gives Octarium its unique sound.
"I think in the beginning, there were a lot of reviews about how sometimes the music was a little too mellifluous or maybe too slow and I think a lot of that was just getting used to each other and maybe that slight hesitation of: 'Are you going to go? Are you going to go? Shall we all go? Ok! Let's go!' Whereas, with a conductor, the one person says, 'It's time.'
"But what that gives to the audience is this real intimacy. You get to watch all the singers connect to each other and that is not something you have with a conductor. And I think that's what makes all of us so close. We really rely on each other. It's just like a family."
On waiting to take a breath, waiting for "those moments"
Krista Lang Blackwood
"It is the most difficult kind of singing that I can think of. Because, if you are in a larger choral group, and you have a frog in your throat, and you need to breathe there are three other altos around that are going to cover you. If you are in Octarium, there is usually nobody or one. And if they are breathing at the exact same time, and that's happened. And it always makes the singers smile when two of them breath at the same time, it's like 'Oh, we're so silly.' "
Jason Parr, tenor, Octarium
"I always felt like, we were kind of like these choir Ninjas. You've got to make these tactical decisions, sometimes during concerts. Jay is the other tenor. You'll have maybe like this eight beat long hold. And so somehow you've gotta breathe even though it's supposed to be this steady note. I would say, 'How about I breathe on beat two,' and Jay's like, 'I am going to breathe on beat seven.' And so you begin it and end it and it sounds like a continual note but, in the middle, you've broken it up. You just have to be really conscious of your exits and entrances...if you do it well, nobody ever notices the difference. "
Krista Lang Blackwood
"What can eight people sing well? What can these eight people sing well? Who do I have singing tenor, what solo can I give to Jason Parr, what solo can I give to Andrea Coleman to pop out of the texture? Leah Hamilton has a great, smoky pop voice. What can I give to her to bring her out of the texture as a soloist and then have her pop back in?"
"At the end of that piece or of a section of a piece you'll hear nothing. There's no noise and then, all of a sudden you'll hear somebody go, 'Oh.' I wait for those moments. As much as we can we try to create those moments, because we feel them too. And I think there's a huge interplay between the audience and us. It's kind of like when somebody does that 'Oh!' We're all going, 'I know!' It's not like, 'Didn't we do such a great job?' It's more like, 'Wasn't that awesome, yeah!'"
On deciding to end after a decade
Krista Lang Blackwood
"About four years ago when I was in a crisis of singers, I was trying to find the right singers to do the show and I thought I could hire three new ones and train them, or I can just work this show around the ones I have and the schedules I have. I remember sitting there making a conscious decision. I am not going to hire new singers. I am not going to train new singers. I am tired. I've worked so hard with these singers, these 15 I have, to create what we have. I don't want to start over again.
"So as we end at ten, I think the singers, there is a sense of relief from some and there's a sense of sadness from everybody. But that hope that we'll still be together at Christmas."
"Just recently because there's all this talk of, you know shutting down, and only doing one concert a year has really forced me to be reflective. I went onto our YouTube channel and I noticed that "The Lord Bless You and Keep You," has, like over 20,000 hits and I was like, 'When did that happen?' And then you start to read the comments and some are like 'Thank you so much.' 'I sung this 20 years ago and it brought back such great memories.' There is one that's even 'I am playing this for my husband as he lay dying.'
"We've emotionally connected to people through this new technology. And I thought, 'How cool that my voice, and our voice, and Krista's voice, all of our voices, will be able to live on, whether we are physically together or not.' That's pretty cool. That's pretty special."
Octarium closes its 2012-2013 season with a Farewell Concert on Saturday, May 18 at 7:30 pm, Venue Visitation, 5141 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. After the end of the season, the group plans to limit its schedule to an annual holiday concert and special engagements.


text:
I just finished mixing song #18 of 20. The last two are duds so I am going to give my ears a little bit of a rest. Just for a few minutes.
I’ve finished three of the five songs that I rescued from the January album-in-a-month fail and I’m thinking that I might have been better off leaving them where they were. Two of them are okay, I guess, but I don’t think any of them are going to make it into the 10 song album I submit to RPM headquarters.
This one is on the bubble:
This one is also on the bubble, but it really doesn’t have a chance:
I have sorted all of the songs I’ve finished so far into three lists. A, B, and C. There are six songs on the A list and they are all going into the final submission. Those are the winners. There are five songs on the C list and they are definitely not going on the final submission. They will go on the leftovers album. The two songs I still have left to mix are likely going onto the C list. The remaining seven are on the B list. They could go either way. I have to re-review them and pick three to move to the A list. The 18 songs combined have a total run time of one hour and 16 minutes. If I move more than three songs from B to A I just have to make sure the leftovers run for more than 35 minutes so that it too qualifies as an RPM Challenge Album.
So many factors. At least I have a cover and a title. I figured those out weeks ago.
Not quite done yet, but I’m getting there. My ears are very tired but it’s worth it.
Happy Last RPM Challenge Day.


text:
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Olivia Benzin and Mari Nishiura were named All-American Scholars by the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) on Monday.
Oregon women's golf coach Derek Radley has announced the addition of Sofie Kibsgaard Nielsen to the team's 2018-19 signing class.
PORTLAND, Ore. – Oregon State golfers Spencer Tibbits and Ellie Slama both won the 110th Oregon Amateur Championship on Saturday.
Oregon women's golf senior Petra Salko has been named a first team Google Cloud Academic All-American, CoSIDA announced on Friday.
After posting a 9-over 82 in her first round at the 2019 NCAA Championships, senior Kathleen Scavo bounced back to finish in the top-25 of the leaderboard.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Ellie Slama carded a 2-over 75 in the final round of the NCAA Division I Women's Golf National Championships.


text:
Kevin Parker is an Australian singer, songwriter and producer known as the frontman and lead singer of Australian band of psychedelic rock, Tame Impala. Parker worked with fellow producers Mark Ronson and BloodPop on "Perfect Illusion".
Work with Lady Gaga Edit
He worked with Lady Gaga on the following song(s):
Songs from Joanne (2016):