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Happy Monday, Prosers!! Cheers to another wonderful, productive and exciting week. I cannot believe we are almost into the month of April; where does the time go?
First and foremost, I would like to take care of a few Mara Prose announcements before we dive into this week’s blog topic.
- Wednesday, March 27th, 2019 Mara Prose Virtual Book Club: I will announce the winner for our April Book of the Month. You still have time to join our group and cast your vote by clicking on the following link Mara Prose Book Virtual Book Club
- Saturday, April 6th, 2019 Prosey’s Corner Returns to Blog Talk Radio from 9a-9:30am: Nicky and I will be returning with a new show format, new featured guests and tons of inspirational anecdotes. Our first guest of the season is none other than the incomparable Speaker|Motivator|Artist|Poet Jeffery L. Miller. Please follow us at www.blogtalkradio.com/maraprosenetwork
This week I want to discuss the value that can be found in embracing your flaws and all that is you. In an effort to add more depth to this discussion, I want to encourage you to embrace your sinful nature; correction, please embrace it and correct it. It is my opinion that the majority of judgmental, intolerant and self righteous individuals fail to embrace and acknowledge their imperfections. As with any other topic, there are levels to this mastery, so let’s explore them.
Let us not waste time continuing to spout the same common catch phrases about loving yourself, taking care of yourself and not judging others. What I actually want to explore is the act of allowing forgiveness, understanding and compassion towards others to redirect your life. We all are guilty of making a mess of our lives at one point or another. Yet, we continue to allow the small snippets of time captured on social media to influence our existence and guide our next steps. Even when people post ‘no filter’ to accompany their social media posts, they are still only allowing a glimpse of what they want you to see – which is still filtering the situation. We hide behind filters because people love to shame others, and we do not want to feel exposed. It is so much easier to look at other people’s lives and soothe our own insecurities by exposing the flaws of others in order to keep the spotlight off of us. It makes us feel better to know others really do not have it as good as they portray and that we are not alone in our ineptitude. Compassion is often lacking in many, and we like to pride ourselves on being able to relate to society’s misrepresentation of what life is supposed to look like.
THE MASKS WE WEAR (A Mara Prose Poem)
You smile, you grin and no one sees your sins
You laugh, you play with no one there at the end of the day
The masks we wear are uniquely prepared
To keep the world guessing and hide our despair
Black, white and all alike experience life’s crushing blows
Young and old, we are all the same because we all fear the untold
At the end of the day, no one can say that we are not all meant to live bold
I spent many wasted years in my youth, working hard to project the image of having it all together. My deep set insecurities would not allow me to conduct myself any other way, and this often led to the exhausting habit of constantly allowing other people’s perception of me to become my truth. The problem with this method is that everyone only understands you from the level of perception they are capable and the version of “You’ they are allowed to see. This disparity led to depression, anxiety and a whole slew of other problems that made life unnecessarily challenging for me. I was also often guilty of judging others harshly and dissecting their lives based on my own assumptions and my own misery. It was not until I caught wind of friends and family members doing the same with my life, and noting how their assumptions were so far off base, that I realized a change was in order. But if I am truly honest with myself, the false assumptions were my own fault because I was projecting a false image of myself.
Therefore, when I say embracing your flaws so you can embrace others, I am not speaking of embracing superficial imperfections such as cellulite ridden thighs – I am talking about authentically admitting that you have made mistakes and you will continue to make mistakes. It is a simple fact of life. And you know what, it is OK! Until you learn to deal with your mistakes, disappointments in a balanced, accepting manner, you will always carry a heavy burden.
Life will take you through some things and they will not always be pleasant; how you embrace them will determine how you evolve. I for one, have been through quite a lot. Immaturity and selfishness wreaked havoc on my existence for many years. It has taken me quite some time to come to terms with and embrace the fact that the lack of a comfort zone is actually in my best interest. It is the only time I am focused, motivated, determined and operating at my most optimal. In my self imposed comfort zone, I become lazy, easily distracted and stray from the path of my purpose. It has taken a lot of harsh lessons to finally embrace this truth.
Harsh Lessons (A Mara Prose Poem)
It took something extreme
to bring me to my knees
It took a great fall
and losing it all
for me to stall
and simply crawl
My ego took blows
and I completely froze
Everything I had taken for granted
left me stranded
due to being reprimanded
by Life, by God, my own Foolish Pride
I looked back at this time last year
and accessed all my fears
and took note of all my tears
and somehow I persevered
They say God will humble you
and boy, did He ever
I don’t know why I thought I was so clever
I don’t know why but I know I will never
Let myself return to those silly ways
I have set the bar higher and must continue to blaze
The lessons were harsh
but they made me smart
and gave me a new start
They helped me set myself apart
and I was forced to depart
From people who meant me no good
From those who always misunderstood
From the things that were in excess
From the things that just caused distress
So I could simply evolve and be blessed
There were times I didn’t think I’d make it through
There were times that I was oh so blue
Oh, if you only knew
But I found my inner strength
For my children’s sake
And now I can be an example
since I’ve handled, dismantled and unscrambled
and took lots of gambles
But for now, let me stop this ramble since I am no longer in shambles
I’m proud but in a new way
I’m proud because despite the dismay
I overcame, I slayed and made up for those days
All because of harsh lessons…
Unfortunately for most, the perception of stepping out of your comfort zone is viewed as a negative. It is uncomfortable, messy and it has even been associated with shame at times. I am here to tell you once again, change your thoughts, change your life ~ Joyce Meyer. We have to stop allowing the world to control our perception, and even more so, stop allowing the misrepresentations of society to dictate our lives.
Here are a few steps you can take towards embracing your flaws so you can embrace others.
DO NOT BELIEVE THE LIES OF THE WORLD – social media, movies, TV shows and even commercials are fictional accounts of an exaggerated reality. There is no such thing as a reality show and these are not reliable sources to obtain your reality check. We all need to stop looking outwards, and start looking inwards!
EMBRACE ALL OF YOU – yes, there will always be less desirable aspects of people in general. It is not only important to embrace, shape and mold who you are at your core, but you must be compassionate towards others and their parallel life journeys. We all are uniquely created for a reason. We will not learn the same lessons at the same time, nor will we experience the same growth at the same pace. Stop expecting perfection and the mirror image of yourself in others, and start learning to not only embrace all that is you but all that is in others as well.
BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR SURROUNDINGS – the wrong group of friends and the wrong environments combined with unrealistic expectations are a recipe for disaster. I naturally gravitate towards those that bring me peace. I want to be surrounded by people who accept that I am not perfect, do not expect perfection from me and understand who I am at my best and at my worst. You need a group of individuals who understand that the trials you go through are not only life lessons for you, but for them as well. If they are not willing to grow with you or help you grow, do you really need them in your life?
CONVERT YOUR SHAME TO REPENTANCE – Let Go of Shame and Guilt! Stop shaming and guilt tripping others as well. Learn to repent and set an example for others on repentance. Always remember that everyone has the ability to perpetually evolve, make a comeback from a setback and stop putting a number on the amount of chances we allow to each other. If God put a number on the amount chances He allowed for us, He would have given up on us a long time ago.
Next week, I want to discuss and celebrate all those that gave me a number of chances to redeem myself. The blog post will be specifically for those who never gave up on me and for all those who continued to love, support and be there for me when I was at my absolute worst behavior.
Until next time, embrace you, embrace them and embrace ALL!
Author Mara Prose
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domain: literature


The Innova Crysta Touring Sport with the 2.4-litre diesel mill was fitted with a 5-speed manual during launch
Celebrating the first anniversary of the Innova Crysta, Toyota brought in a new Touring Sport variant earlier this year in May. The sporty looking MPV was launched with all three-engine options as the standard model – a 2.4-litre diesel, a 2.8-litre diesel, and a 2.7-litre petrol motor. Just a few months into its launch, Toyota has silently updated the 2.4-litre variant of the Touring Sport. The company has now fitted it with a 6-speed manual transmission instead of the previous 5-speed one. That being said, the 2,393cc four-cylinder motor continues to churn out 148bhp and 343Nm. Toyota has priced the updated Innova Crysta Touring Sport 2.4 at Rs 19.60 lakh. When it was first launched, the car was priced at Rs 18.91 lakh. All prices ex-showroom Delhi. Oddly though, Toyota has only updated the Touring Sport 2.4 with the 6-speed manual transmission. The standard Innova Crysta continues to be fitted with a 5-speed manual gearbox.
In terms of design and interior, the Innova Crysta Touring Sport remains unchanged. Toyota has however added a few new features including navigation option in the touchscreen infotainment system and idle start/stop function. The new 6-speed gearbox and the addition of the start/stop function might result in a marginal increase in efficiency. All other features like the 50:50 split third row, steering mounted controls, voice recognition, button start and more, remain in this updated variant as well. In terms of safety, the Innova Crysta Touring Sport comes with three airbags, ABS, Brake Assist, vehicle stability control and more.
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Pakistan, through its aviation regulator Civil Aviation Authority, is hosting the two-day meeting of Director Generals of Civil Aviation of Developing 8 (D-8) countries to discuss the ways and means for cooperation amongst member states for improving and strengthening the civil aviation sector.
The theme of the 11th meeting is “Adding Wings to Economic Growth and Social Uplift in D-8 Countries”.
The main objective of the meeting is to ensure that the economic growth of all the eight countries is accelerated and their social standing is also uplifted to the international level.
D-8 is a global cooperation amongst major developing countries which include Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.
It aims to promote and enhance joint efforts towards achieving sustainable socio-economic development through effective utilization of economic and social potential of member countries.
D-8 had also established cooperation in Civil Aviation through the implementation of a D-8 Civil Aviation Memorandum of Understanding, which was adopted in September 2007.
The purpose of establishing this cooperation is to enable Civil Aviation organizations of member states to cooperate and coordinate amongst themselves as well as with ICAO and other related regional organizations. international institutions and the industry on all matters related to Civil Aviation.
The meeting is being attended by Secretary Aviation, industry participants from D-8 countries and CEOs of aerospace industry, airlines and other major stakeholders in the field of aviation.


Forty-three per cent of consumers have never heard of a green mortgage, according to the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA).
But could they prove to be the future?
Just as sales of electric cars are building traction so green mortgages will follow suit, it is suggested.
Much depends on the Government and to what extent they put the squeeze on.
As with the ban on sales of petrol and diesel cars from 2030, a tough target has been set of the UK being a carbon net zero economy by 2050, meaning a drastic reduction in carbon emissions from homes as well as transport, farming and industry is needed.
As with electric cars, it is cost which is putting people off.
Air source heat pumps (ASHP) are in vogue as the Government pushes the agenda. However, the Energy Saving Trust estimates that the cost of a typical ASHP system ranges between £9,000 and £11,000, a significant sum.
So, where do green mortgages fit in.
The World Green Building Council defines a green mortgage as where a bank or mortgage lender offers a house buyer preferential terms if they can demonstrate that the property for which they are borrowing meets certain environmental standards. “In other words, a green mortgage is a mortgage specifically targeted at green buildings. As an incentive for the borrower to either buy a green building or to renovate an existing one to make it greener, the bank would offer them either a lower interest rate or an increased loan amount.”
And green mortgages are already with us.
Both Barclays and Nationwide have a green mortgage range that offers preferential rates to those buying a new-build property linked to high scoring Energy Performance Certificate results.
IMLA expects others will launch even though a survey it conducted found that 43 per cent of lenders say there is currently little demand for green mortgages. The research found that 57 per cent of lenders plan to launch a green mortgage offering.
The Association continued: “As with all attempts at innovation, green mortgages have come under fire from those who believe the market has too many barriers to entry.”
It cites the upfront costs, the length of time required to reap the rewards, mismatched incentives in the case of tenants and landlords, where the person making the investment is not necessarily the one to benefit, and the lack of financial incentives from government.
Not surprising then that there was outrage when the Government recently scrapped the Green Homes Grant scheme designed to help householders in England insulate their homes.
IMLA commented: “We need more collaboration between government, the banking sector and industry stakeholders to better understand the barriers facing consumers and the intervention that is needed to overcome those challenges. The green mortgage market can play a vital role in the journey to net zero going forward.”
Moneyfacts added: “The likelihood is that green mortgages will grow in popularity over the coming years. As consumers and the Government become increasingly aware of the negative impact energy consumption is having on the environment and the need to reduce emissions, it is likely that more incentives, such as lower rates offered through green mortgages, will be launched to help encourage greener lifestyles.”
Logic says that energy efficiency and green mortgages go hand in hand, and the more Government pressures people to change their home heating systems the more likely they are to opt for green mortgages too.
But, with 29 million existing homes in the UK to address, that is an awful lot of voters to upset, so the politicians will have to tread carefully.


|Welcome to Community Results, LLC. We are a privately owned real estate development firm founded in 2011 with a focus on building lasting communities. We develop mixed use, mixed income residential communities and acquire land for the development of speculative projects. We operate on a flexible partnership basis with landowners and acquire existing projects that provide opportunities to add value.|
Community Results takes pride in our ability to create win-win solutions that others overlook and, by
integrating core values and community goals within the development framework, we continue to
redefine the concept of what can be done. Our projects preserve the distinctive character of the
neghborhood and enhance the community-at-large by creating great places to live and work.
We choose projects that align with our core values and collaborate with community stakeholders, contractors and design professionals to shape the new standard for real estate development. Successful projects result from our commitment to a design and implementation philosophy that balances project and community needs within the natural, built and cultural environments.
We are real estate developers. As such, our core competencies include concept planning, proforma analysis, entitlement, construction management, and property management.
|Community Results -- 471 Panorama Road, Earlysville, VA 22936 -- 434.249.9641|


I am a big fan of netbooks and use a MSI Wind U100 when I am traveling and have never missed my larger and much more bulky Dell laptop. Being a big fan of computers and gadgets, my desk is full of old notebook and desktop hard drives and sticks of RAM. If you have the same sort of hardware lying around, today we are going to check out what could well be the perfect netbook for you. The OCZ Neutrino is billed as a DIY netbook and if you are the type who builds your own PCs, it’s not nearly as DIY as you are used too. The machine lacks storage, RAM and an OS. What it does have comes at a lower price. Is the OCZ Neutrino right for you? Read on to find out.
The Netbook arena is jam packed, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for one more manufacturer. In this case, OEM hardware maker OCZ. They’ve launched their first netbook, the OCZ Neutrino. The OCZ Neutrino will come with a 10 inch LED backlit LCD display with a resolution of 1024 x 600, 2GB memory, and the Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz processor.
The basic model comes with a 250GB hard drive, but you have the option to have a 250GB SSD at for additional cost, built in WiFi, Ethernet, a 1.3MP web camera and a 4-in-1 card reader.


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Two candidates filed Declarations of Intent by last week’s Feb. 10 deadline to run for a six-year term as Trinity County Superior Court Judge in the June 7 presidential primary election.
The appointed incumbent, Michael Harper, will face attorney James Underwood for the term beginning in January 2017. Both are from Weaverville.
Harper was appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2014 to complete the unexpired term of the late Judge James Woodward who retired from office early. Underwood has a private legal practice in Weaverville.
The judge’s filing period for nomination papers and declaration of candidacy runs through March 11, but the deadline to file a Declaration of Intent to run was last Wednesday, Feb. 10.
The filing deadlines are slightly different for three seats on the Trinity County Board of Supervisors and six prospective candidates, including two of the incumbents, have taken out in lieu petitions to circulate for signatures.
In District 2 (Weaverville) they are the incumbent Judy Morris and Tom Fox; in District 3 (Douglas City/Hayfork) they are Rob Oakley and Lloyal Walker, both of Hayfork, and incumbent Karl Fisher hasn’t announced his intentions yet; in District 5 (Hayfork/Southern Trinity) they are incumbent John Fenley from the Friend Mountain area outside of Hayfork and Diane Richards of Hayfork.
The filing period for supervisor candidates to submit petitions in lieu of filing fees runs through Feb. 25 followed by a filing period to make up deficient signatures with cash, signatures or a combination by March 11.
The filing period for nomination papers and declarations of candidacy for supervisor is from Feb. 16 through March 11 except if an incumbent doesn’t file. In that case, the filing period is extended to March 16.
Each supervisor’s race is for a four-year term beginning in January 2017.
Should additional candidates enter the races and any candidate fail to get 50 percent plus one vote, a runoff will be held during the November general election set for Nov. 8.
At least one statewide ballot measure has qualified for the June ballot, while two have qualified for the November ballot.
Registration deadline to vote in June is May 23.

domain: news


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Frankfurt Am Main, Germany The Ambassador is a family managed tourist class hotel located near the main train station and city center. Only a few minutes walk to most of Frankfurt's major activities, whether for business and the banking world, or cultural activities such as Frankfurt's famous museums and theater. A 5 minute walk takes you to the main train station and connections to most other European destinations.

domain: geography


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In a proclamation issued Monday declaring March 23 National Ag Day, President Joe Biden called upon all Americans to join him in recognizing and reaffirming our commitment to and appreciation for our country's farmers, ranchers, foresters, farmworkers, and those who work in the agriculture sector across the nation.
“America's agriculture sector safeguards our Nation's lands through sustainable management; ensures the health and safety of animals, plants, and people; provides a safe and abundant food supply; and facilitates opportunities for prosperity and economic development in rural America,” Biden states.
He notes that over the last year, workers and other leaders across the agriculture sector have stepped up to ensure a stable food supply in the face of incredible challenges prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Farmworkers, who have always been vital to our food system, continued to grow, harvest and package food, often at great personal risk,” Biden says. “Local farmers helped to meet their communities' needs by selling food directly to consumers. Small meat processors increased their capacity as demand for their services skyrocketed. Restaurants found creative ways to bring food to members of their communities. Grocers and grocery workers also navigated new models, such as curbside pickup and online sales.”
EPA Administrator Michael Regan also released in a statement how this past year "mangified the agriculture community’s unwavering resilience, sacrifice and indispensable contributions to American life. A strong and prosperous agricultural sector is essential to a strong and prosperous economy."
Regan says he looks "forward to working with our agricultural community on ways to achieve sustainable agriculture while creating healthy, clean and safe environments for all Americans."
Biden went on to say, “As we overcome the pandemic and build back better, we will advance an agriculture sector that works for everyone.”
He discussed his commitment to put racial equity at the forefront of the Administration’s priorities. “On this National Agriculture Day, I remain determined to address racial inequity and create an equitable space for all to participate in the great American enterprise of agriculture,” Biden says.
The first installment of that commitment comes from the $5 billion allocated under the latest COVID relief package he signed into law which offers $4 billion in debt relief and another $1 billion to address systemic racism at USDA.
Related: Are you socially disadvantaged?
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack also issued a National Ag Day message, stating we are a food secure nation because of the work of farmers, ranchers, producers and those who work in labor in our farm fields.
Vilsack notes, “Our farmers are poised to lead the way to a net zero emission future to better protect our planet and improve our soil health and water quality.”
In Biden’s proclamation he says farmers, ranchers and foresters play a critical role in combating climate change. “From sequestering carbon in the soil to producing renewable energy on farms, we will continue to innovate and create new revenue streams for farmers and ranchers while building a resilient agriculture sector,” Biden says.
“Our farmers reflect the great diversity of our country, race and gender. As well as size of operation, production methods and the products they produce and raise,” Vilsack concludes. “They also share common cause, and their pride in being a farmer, rancher and producer.”

domain: agronomy


With just one week until the Madison mayoral election, candidates Satya Rhodes-Conway and incumbent Paul Soglin gathered for a debate on the University of Wisconsin campus Tuesday evening.
College Democrats of UW-Madison, the Morgridge Center for Public Service, Vote Everywhere of UW-Madison and Elections Research Center of UW held the event at the Humanities building.
Because both candidates identify as progressive, much of the debate centered around how they differ in their individual views on various issues. Rhodes-Conway centered many of her responses around one theme, collaboration, while Soglin chose to take the attack to his opponent and focus on his record as mayor of the city for 22 cumulative years.
After claiming he would not run for mayor again, Soglin announced in October he had changed his mind. When asked during the debate about why this was, Soglin said there were three things that made him change his mind.
First, when he realized Gov. Tony Evers would likely win the gubernatorial race, he wanted to be able to work with Evers after working under former Gov. Scott Walker.
Second, Soglin said he was getting pressure from the community to run again— particularly from the business community and people of color.
“The third factor had to do with my obligation to the people in the community and working with you and making a difference,” Soglin said.
One big difference between the candidates is experience.
Soglin was first elected mayor of Madison in 1973, a second time in 2011 and a third time in 2015. When he was not serving as mayor, he was a fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Rhodes-Conway moved to Madison around 20 years ago for an environmental internship. She served for six years on the Madison City Council representing District 12 and has spent 13 years as the managing director for the Mayors Innovation Project.
“The challenges that Madison’s facing haven’t really changed in the 20 years that I’ve been living here and my opponent has had 22 cumulative years in office to tackle them, but they’re still facing us,” Rhodes-Conway said.
The issue of climate change is one many Madisonians are concerned about, and both candidates have similar takes on the issue, but slightly different ideas of how to solve it, particularly concerning transportation.
Soglin hopes to create incentives for people not to use their automobiles and at the same time focus on decreasing the city’s carbon footprint.
He cited the city’s current improvements that have happened under his administration, such as working on an electric bus fleet and purchasing hybrid police cars. Additionally, new city buildings are being built with increasing amounts of solar energy.
Mayoral candidate Satya Rhodes-Conway surpasses Soglin in fundraisingMayoral candidate Satya Rhodes-Conway has surpassed incumbent Mayor Paul Soglin in campaign fundraising a new report said. Rhodes-Conway raised $125,754 Read…
Rhodes-Conway wants to take a comprehensive look at all of the city’s operations to see how it could become more environmentally friendly.
Specifically, she wants to focus on how to make public transit more accessible and convenient to use.
“[Madison Metro] works for me because of where I live and where I work right here on campus,” Rhodes-Conway said. “It doesn’t work for people in other places on the outskirts of the city or who work second or third shift. We have to improve the transit system so it actually works for working people.”
Climate change and other issues the city faces are not unique, but they are solvable with new leadership and organization, Rhodes-Conway said. She hopes to find the best policies for those issues to help the city grow.
Soglin said he is not finished serving the city as mayor as there are many more issues he wants to tackle, as well as continue with the progress he has made thus far as mayor.
“I’m asking to finish this job,” Soglin said.


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As gay people, we are certainly no strangers to criticism, hatred and discrimination coming from the Catholic Church. And those who stand against equality are very fast to make claims that if marriage equality is passed, they will most certainly be sued until gays can marry in their churches. Despite all evidence to the contrary, they continue to make these bogus statements.
Of course, we see the utter hypocrisy coming from a place that has been no stranger to sexual scandals for generation upon generation, but what about the gays and lesbians who are still practicing Catholics? Specifically, what about the gay employees who continue to work for an employer which promotes intolerance against them?
One such former employee, Steav Bates-Congdon, worked as music director for St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Charlotte, NC. Steav had worked for the congregation since 2004, and parishioners claim he’d been very open about his sexuality and his relationship of 23 years since his first job interviews. So imagine his surprise when he returned from his honeymoon after getting hitched in New York, to find his job was no more.
After a visit to the church following an emergency hospital stay for a burst appendix, he was handed a note by Rev. Frank O’Rourke which stated: “Employees of St. Gabriel … are expected to live within the moral tradition of the Church. … Your civil marriage stands in direct opposition to the teaching of the Catholic Church, therefore ending your employment with us.”
In June of 2011, Steav told Rev. O’Rourke of his intended nuptials and O’Rourke responded with a “Congratulations, I’m happy for you,” and followed with “but I can’t give you my blessing.” Steav replied “I wouldn’t ask you to.” More than six months later, he was out of a job. Had O’Rourke raised any concerns at the time, Steav said they would have postponed the wedding until they didn’t have to depend so much on his income.
To add insult to injury, Steav suffers from young-onset Parkinson’s disease and participates in Michael J. Fox Foundation clinical research in the hopes of finding a cure. We hope that he is able to find another job that will pay his health insurance as the compassion of the Catholic church that once employed him has seemingly gone out the window.
Thanks to a Supreme Court decision, the church, along with 29 states can legally fire anyone they want for being gay or lesbian.


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Slots Games – What Are the Symbols on the Reels?
If you are looking to find a great place for playing free online slots, there are numerous options that you can choose from. Many of these places offer real cash slots, while others offer play money only. You could find several top online casinos with casino links to provide a variety of different slots games. All you need to do to start out playing is register and you will have access to millions of slot machines that are already laid-out before you. In this article become familiar with how to choose the best online slots for your gaming needs.
Among the first things that you should consider when looking for online slots games is where they’re offered. In most cases you want to look at casino websites that offer many different slots games. There are a few casinos that only offer one particular game. For example, when you are thinking about the slots game jackpot you wish to find a casino offering this as well as other slots games. If the slots game you are interested in does not offer any bonuses on its payouts then you should look elsewhere.
Once you have found numerous online slots games you will need to do some more research. You need to browse the bonuses offered for every specific slot machine in addition to for the quantity of your winnings on every one of them. This way it is possible to determine which slots games offer the most benefits for probably the most cash. While you may think that getting the highest payout is really a necessity, opt for that you may be capable of geting a much better bonus structure with smaller reels.
One of the things that you may notice about a number of the slots games is that there are symbols displayed in the lower right corner of the reel. These symbols can let you know a lot in what the reels are worth. For instance, the symbol for max bet can tell you that the max bet it is possible to make is the maximum amount of money that you will be able to put into the game. The symbols may also indicate which reel is being used. It is important to keep this in mind while you are attempting to play games with real cash.
As well as the slots games on the internet there are also numerous casino slots games you can play for free. In many cases these slots 빅 카지노 games will allow you to play free reels before you are required to register as a player. If however you find an online casino that offers you the chance to play slots games for free, you should benefit from it. The reason for this is due to most casinos do not make money off of the initial deposit that you make.
As well as the free slots games you could play for free, a number of the casinos will give you an additional benefit structure. In most cases you’ll get a lower payback percentage when you play their slots games with a bonus structure. The low payback percentage means that you’ll be making more money as time passes. Understand that the casino will still charge you a transaction fee as well.
Along with offering you lower payback percentages the casinos may also offer better payouts within their slot machine games. In most cases the payout will be a lot higher by using this structure than when you play with just a few coin jackpot. Understand that the bigger the casino’s jackpot gets the bigger the payouts become.
One very last thing to see about the symbols on the reels is they can sometimes represent a particular prize that is only offered by that particular casino. For example, in case a symbol is shown it could be that the jackpot is won in a slots game themed following a movie. This is a proven way that you will wish to be careful with the method that you play slots on the web. Not all of them could have these symbols printed on the reels.

domain: hobby


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There is a bubble guppies dvd in my car that my children watch over and over again. We watched it yesterday during our trip to the park. In the episode (and I paraphrase), the guppies meet a substitute teacher, Mr. Grumpfish and they say ‘Good morning,’ to him to which he replied, what’s so good about the morning. Then the guppies go through a series of events that finally has Mr. Grumpfish being engaged and hopeful for the day. This episode has always stuck in my mind because of Mr. Grumpfish’s initial response about what’s so good about a morning. I say everything. Now more than ever, we all need to keep saying those words.
To the French it’s Bonjour, or Spanish people Buenos Dias, or the Igbo’s Ututu Oma, or those who prefer English, Good Morning. There is something so powerful as simply saying these words to everyone one you meet in the morning. The simplicity and reasonableness of such a statement is profound. I grew up in a household where the first thing we all said to each other upon waking up was Good morning. We really listened when and how mornings weren’t good. Especially as related to bad dreams or sleepless nights. Every Good morning we uttered was an opportunity for rich conversations focused on our social and emotional health. Then we prayed it all away and went on to start the daily routines for the day, shower, breakfast etc.
I have been teaching my children this routine since I had the privilege of calling them mine. It seems like a trivial task. But in a world where civility is no longer the norm, where humanity hardly prevails, where we fail to listen to each other, a simply gesture, with those 2 words can go a long way. It’s one of the reasons I love running in the morning. Almost every runner you met, strangers at best, with mask or no mask, nods their heads, waves their hands, in a simple gesture that means for me good morning. Positive emotions at the start of the day may enhance satisfaction, engagement and maybe even foster wellbeing throughout the day. Positive emotions may influence creativity, triggering creative thoughts especially for those who start their day early in the morning with daily activities such as writing. Positive emotions may build positive expectancies such as hope which in turn leads to dedication or vigor for what ever plans you have for the day. Our country needs simple positive gestures like this. So as I start my day, good morning to anyone who reads this.

domain: psychology


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There are many ways to keep up to date with the Elon Biology Department and related student groups using social media! These are public groups and open to any interested people including current students, alumni, prospective students, parents, community members and more!
Assistant Professor of Biology Jen Hamel gave an invited seminar as part of the Biology Department seminar series on Wednesday, March 22, at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C.
The article by the Elon biologists appears in the Journal of College Science Teaching
Assistant Professor of Biology Jen Hamel gave an invited seminar as part of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute seminar series on Thursday, March 2, at the institute on Barro Colorado Island, Panama.
The Elon Noyce Scholars Program is accepting applications for summer education internships from current first-year students and sophomores who are interested in STEM fields.
Alfred Simkin, an instructor of biology at Elon, discusses his several year journey to build an alternative vehicle for commuting: an electric bike.

domain: biology


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Looking forward to this great annual event – put it in your diaries now
THE ARABIC WEEKENDER presented by Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival
17 – 19 July 2009
Launching the nation’s most significant celebration of Arab culture
The Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival is delighted to announce The Arabic Weekender 17-19 July 2009, a major three day event bursting with the sights, sounds and flavours of the Arab world.
Now in its eighth year, the Festival has become a hugely popular fixture at the heart of the city’s cultural calendar and remains the only one of its kind in the UK.
For 2009 The Arabic Weekender features a host of activity from across the Arab world in the fields of visual arts, literature, dance, film, food and music including a special performance from Palestinian hip hop group Ramallah Underground.
As ever the events will be staged across multiple venues including the Bluecoat, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, FACT, St George’s Hall and World Museum Liverpool.
On Friday 17 The Arabic Weekender will feature ‘Voyage to Arabia’, a ride along the Mersey from the Liver buildings led by elders from the Arabic community with music and dance. This event is accompanied by an exhibition of 30 individually painted wooden dhow boats at Liverpool Playhouse.
The centrepiece of The Arabic Weekender is the Family Day on July 18 taking place throughout the Bluecoat building and gardens. This is a multi art form event featuring live music, dance, storytelling, workshops, stalls and food for Arab and non Arab audiences of all ages.
The Family Day is headlined by El Andaluz, leading exponents of classical Arabic and Andalusian music. Also present will be Shafeek, a master of the Egyptian whirling dervish, and rising star Cheb Nacim performing traditional Rai spiced with flamenco, salsa and rumba.
Promising to be one of the Weekender’s highlights, a fantastic double bill concert at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (Saturday 18) features full sets from celebrated Syrian musician, Abdullah Chhadeh and Anglo-Egyptian singer Natacha Atlas.
Since its launch in 2002 Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival has grown rapidly in size and confidence, audience expectation and ambition. To capitalise on its successful foundation, and to maximise levels of funding, the organisation is busy developing plans to re-launch in July 2010 as Britain’s first fully independent Arabic Arts Festival. Key funding for LAAF 2009-2011 has been sourced from Liverpool City Council (Liverpool Arts and Cultural Investment Programme) and Arts Council England North West (Grants for the Arts Programme).
Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival has also been shortlisted for the Arab-British Culture and Society Award 2009, a prestigious honour organised by the Arab-British Centre. The Award recognises outstanding contributions to the British public’s understanding of the life, society and culture of the Arab people.
Festival programme and ticket information:
www.arabicartsfestival.co.uk or call 0151 702 5324


New Renaissance Singers concerts
AREA — The New Renaissance Singers have scheduled these performances:
• Church of Universal Fellowship in Orono, 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1.
• Columbia Street Baptist Church in Bangor, after the Downtown Festival and Tree Lighting, Saturday, Dec. 7.
• Hampden Congregational Church, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14.
The choir, under the direction of Molly J. Webster, will perform a variety of music from around the word, including songs of the season from Africa and Russia.
In addition to the main concerts, New Renaissance Singers will perform several concerts at area senior homes throughout December.
BANGOR — Robinson Ballet announced that it will hold auditions for Robinson Ballet Live 2014 12:30-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, at Robinson Ballet Studios, 107 Union St. The auditions are open to dancers age 14 to adult.
Rehearsals will be held primarily on Saturdays.
Performance dates are April 5-6 and 12-13 at Brewer Community School Performing Arts Center in Brewer.
Robinson Ballet Live 2014 will feature original choreography by Robinson Ballet artistic team Keith Robinson, Terry Lacy, Stevie Dunham and Maureen Lynch.
BANGOR — Just in time for the holiday season, Penobscot Theatre Company will present the musical “Cinderella: A New Telling of an Old Tale” Wednesdays through Sundays, Dec. 5-29, and 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 24, at the Bangor Opera House.
Stephanie Colovito, a senior at John Bapst High School who has been involved with PTC’s Dramatic Academy for more than a decade, will play Cinderella.
PTC newcomer and UMaine student Ira Kramer will play Prince Charming.
Cinderella’s father, Baron Hardup, played by Arthur Morison, cannot help his unhappy daughter — he’s completely in thrall to his wicked wife, Mrs. Badden-Rotten, played by Dominick Varney. Ben Layman and New York based Jesse Havea will flounce around the stage as the two hideous stepsisters.
Little Bo Peep, played by Jasmine Ireland, will make an appearance as a consciousness-raising anti-monarchist. Her sheep, like wooly Rockettes, will be played by Abigail Thompson, Kate Fogg, Bronwyn Beardsley, Molly Hagarety and Zivi Osher.
As the Fairy Godmother, Tina Burns sings some of the show’s most beautiful numbers and has the power to transform pumpkins into carriages.
The cast also includes Margo Lukens as the Queen, Bob Potts as the King and Charlie Hanscom as a tone-deaf trumpet playing servant of the court and Logan Bard as Prince Charming’s girl crazy companion, Dandini.
The cast is rounded out by Christie Robinson as Buttons, Cinderella’s best friend, and a rotund and expressive dancing bear.
Tickets are $30, $15 for youth under 18, and available at penobscottheatre.org, or by calling 942-3333.
Spectacular Event Center will host Princess and Prince Lunches before each Sunday show. Call theater Box Office for details and reservations.


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In all earnest, with all the seriousness in the world, the White House Press Secretary appeared on national Television – CNN nonetheless – and claimed skyrocketing prices for common goods and services are a “good thing.”
Multiple members of the Biden administration appeared on this or that Fake News network over the weekend with similar talking points, claiming prices are high because Biden has pulled the economy out of likely recession.
Jen Psaki described the unprecedented inflation Friday as “a good thing,” arguing that it means “more people are buying goods … increasing the demand.”
Jake Tapper, while being one of the biggest hacks at CNN, was brave enough to ask Psaki if a retweet by Biden chief of staff Ron Klain was “tone deaf.” He claimed that inflation was a “high class problem.”
Jen Psaki Defends Rising Prices: 'Good Thing' Because it Means 'More People are Buying Goods' pic.twitter.com/IaKVYVSCbR
— Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) October 15, 2021
The White House press secretary then went on to tout the decreasing unemployment rate, adding that gasoline prices were low during the pandemic “because nobody was driving.”
“Now, more people have jobs. More people are buying goods. That’s increasing the demand. That’s a good thing,” she said.
However, she wasn’t dumb enough to ignore the growing supply issue as ports remain clogged and trucking companies experience staffing issues.
“At the same time, we also know that the supply is low, because we’re coming out of the pandemic…”
What Psaki fails to mention, though, is the real reason why the supply chain is in such disarray.
Given the ongoing COVID-19 mitigation efforts from the White House, namely the vaccine mandate on employees, many workers have made the decision not to continue with those companies, including trucking firms. As a result, the labor market is in a total crisis and many businesses struggle to retain employees.
Not only that, gas prices are through the roof not because “nobody was driving” during the pandemic. They’re high because Biden has destroyed the Trump-era policies that kept America energy independent.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has blamed high gasoline prices on the sweeping green energy policies, such as carbon tax. The price of oil rose by 60% over the past year, reaching a seven-year-high.
The U.S. economy is currently experiencing its highest inflation rate since January 1991. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.4% in September, bringing the key inflation indicator’s year-over-year increase to 5.4%.
Author: Sebastian Hayworth


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AM News for Tuesday, 11.12.13
A Mendocino Superior Court judge Friday granted a motion to throw out evidence from a vehicle search done because the driver admitted to having the drug and a county-issued card identifying him as a medical marijuana patient.
Judge Ann Moorman ruled in favor of Mendocino Deputy Public Defender Eric Rennert's motion to suppress the evidence used to charge his client, Kevin Hawkins, 55, of Cloverdale, with possessing methamphetamine when a Ukiah PD officer pulled Hawkins over and searched his vehicle.
The officer had no reason to believe the search would turn up evidence of a crime, so proper grounds hadn't been established for the search Moorman ruled.
"The question is, does admission of the presence of marijuana alone, with a valid recommendation, provide law enforcement with probable cause to search," Rennert said.
The ruling is significant, he said, because no case law currently exists regarding that question.
"This Court is not suggesting that the presentation of the 215 card was a means of immunization from the search," Moorman wrote. "But, the totality of the circumstances included a voluntary statement coupled with the county issued card AND a complete absence of odor or impaired driving, or evidence of a larger amount of marijuana in the car." (The emphasis is Moorman's.)
The DA's Office has two weeks to appeal the ruling. If an appeal is filed, the case would go before the state Court of Appeals.
On the agenda at the bos meeting 9 am today is a verbal report by Sups Hamburg and McCowen on whether the county should adopt a clean energy financing Pace type program. Since the last board meeting, the ad hoc committee met twice with representatives of the clean energy industry in addition to local bankers, political leaders, and agency representatives. GSA Director Kristin McMenomey and CEO Carmel Angelo were also in attendance.
The Board will take public comment of up to 3 minutes each person, before deciding whether to move forward towards establishing a PACE-like program. A key issue is whether residential property loans will be included in the local program, or just commercial loans, as some have proposed. Property Assessed Clean Energy (or PACE) financing has worked in other areas, including Sonoma County, where more than 2,000 PACE-funded projects have been completed, most of them for residential housing.
PACE allows “ property owners to finance energy efficiency, water conservation and renewable energy generation improvements through a voluntary assessment which is attached to the property and paid back through the property tax system over time.
The Lake Area Planning Council (APC) and Caltrans on Wednesday, Nov. 13, are hosting the third community meeting on a project to identify potential transportation improvements on State Route 29 from the Napa County line to State Route 53.
The meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Middletown High School Multi-Use Facility.
The project is scheduled for completion late this year.
Today at 1:30 pm, in Sacramento, members of the Assembly and Senate Labor Committees will hold a joint hearing to begin investigating the hefty bill that California taxpayers foot each year in public assistance costs as a result of the fast-food industry’s low wages. The hearing comes just weeks after researchers at UC Berkeley released a report showing that low-wage, fast-food jobs cost California tax payers at least $717 million each year. The families of more than half of the fast-food workers employed 40 or more hours a week are enrolled in public assistance programs.
Stay tuned for Mind Body Health @ 9:00 AM
Marvin Trotter talks with Brenda Hoek, a nurse who teaches diabetics how to eat well and control their diet.


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I only got two new comics last week, so this post will be short.
The Wonderful Wizard of OZ, #4 of 8
Written by Eric Shanower, art by Scottie Young
I'm really enjoying this Marvel miniseries. It's charming and cute, with fun scary bits thrown in. It's adapted from Baum's book, not the famous movie.
In this issue, they've reached the Emerald City and get to talk to the Wizard. Of course he won't just give them what they want, they must kill the Wicked Witch.
Scottie Young's art is fantastic. I love his character designs, especially the Tin Man and Toto. So cute!
5 out of 5
Written by Bill Willingham, art by David Hahn
An epilogue to the Dark Ages story arc. Back at The Farm after Blue's funeral, everyone is dealing with the lose in their own way. Rose Red is seriously depressed and Pinocchio is hopeful that Blue will come back (like other dead Fables have before.)
The art for this issue is pretty good. Also, this is the first issue after James Jean's run as cover artist. I'll miss his covers, but Mark Buckingham isn't a bad substitute.
Not a very exciting issue, so I'll give it 3 out of 5


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Easter in the eyes of a child
When Easter comes, little children are filled with a bubbly joy.
Kids don’t always know why Easter is the way it is.
Not many young children even think about how Easter came to be.
Most of the time, their main focus is to get the biggest chocolate they can!
When you see them with chocolatey mush all around their mouths, your heart can’t help melting at the sight of something so cute!
But that is what is so naive and adorable about the youngest members of the world!
New South Wales, 2020
The Blazing House
You stare at the blazing fire that is scorching your face.
You have tried every thing to escape the tiny apartment set alight with fire.
When you try to scream, no words come out of your gaping mouth.
The fire starts to lick up the walls all around you.
Helplessly, you turn and run into the kitchen and try to turn on the half melted tap, but it is as dry as the Sahara desert.
You take a deap breath and almost choke to death. The ash is starting to swirl all around you like a hurricane.
That’s when you hear the fire truck wailing in the distance.
Then, you black out….
You run your fingers lightly over the Egyptian code, embedded in to the solid stone doors. No one has been in this tomb for thousands of years.
Well, that was all about to change now.
What have you done!
You think as the doors open wide as possible. As soon as you set your gaze on the ancient things lying everywhere, your mouth opens wide into a near perfect “O” shape.
What you have found is not just billions of dollars waiting to be yours, what you have found is pure history.
You take a large step, and immediately the room starts to crumble….
April 2020 NSW
Only on foggy days does it appear in the park, lurking around the rickety wire fence that blocks off a part of the park no body is allowed in.
There was not much to say about the figure cloaked in mystery.
The shadow had wide, broad shoulders, and always seemed to wear a big coat of some sort.
It didn’t help that fog clouded the path every which way, so you would never be able to truly identify the silhouette from a distance.
For a few weeks, the figure would seem to be staring over the fence and in to the blocked off zone.
What did it mean?
Why was the person here?
What did it want?
On my mind this week:
Recently I have become increasingly aware of my busy days leading me to a sense of frustration and a perceived lack of achievement come the end of the day.
I have read many pieces of advice of how to live in the present, from using nature as our ancestors did and imagining the earth as a great spirit to taking an invigorating run?
Sounds like bullshit to me and many others
but Is this really a problem though, do I need further time consuming activities to add to my seemingly busy day? Or is busyness a state of mind that I have started to use as a badge of courage as many others do?
Is the excuse of being busy a way to avoid doing some key things in my life like actually having a deep conversations with people important to me.
I don’t have three children but if I did could I pause them to re centre my thoughts and take a run or pray or meditate. This is a ridiculous proposition and I do not suggest for a moment that this is what self help writers are advocating.
Could it be that the issue you are facing is not how much you are doing but your attitude in how you are doing it?
Everyone is busy, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
in his essay written in 1932, The philosopher Bertrand Russell commented, work was an overrated virtue. His essay was titled “In praise of idleness” and the concept of embracing idleness has now become a mantra of many. But not everyone can afford to adapt this view of idleness which seemingly has extended unusually to the encouragement by some Of “feeling the presence of the rocks, earth, mountains, streams and lakes.” And pausing your “doing ” to “smell the roses” when You need it. All concepts probably foreign to Mr Russell.
Here’s the small but powerful insight God gave me.
I hope it speaks to you in a helpful way as it did to me. And that is – paying attention living in the present.
When we don’t exercise this act of mindfulness we find ourselves stuck in a mechanised state of living. Going through the motions, tired, waiting for something better tomorrow or next week, or one day when we are retired perhaps, or the day when when the kids leave home. This looking forward is fine if we are not using it as a panacea to do nothing today, to appreciate today to seize the day no matter how simple or mundane it may seem.
Heaven forbid that to add excitement in this time while we wait we indulge ourselves in other distractions such as alcohol, drugs or extra marital relationships. there are many distractions we can indulge in but that in itself is another conversation.
When steps become heavy journeying to get to the end of the day, we need to make a decision, a tiny but profound one, to fully partake of every moment of every day and cherish it for what it is!
Paying attention is a moral act. When you practice it, much deeper connection happens…with yourself and others.
In the midst of what you are doing, choose to pay attention, choose to notice.
It doesn’t take extra time, because whatever task it is you’re doing,you’re doing it already.
It doesn’t take extra time to pay attention to the pleasing colours of the veggies when you are BUSY cooking and To notice which one you find particularly attractive, if not tasty.
It doesn’t take extra time to pay attention to someones body language as you listen to that person with a hope for deeper recognition and connection.
You can think of examples for any BUSY occasion when you can remain in that moment and give and get so much more out of that interaction.
You can imagine sitting in yet another meeting, paying full attention to each speaker, and really listening? Perhaps not so much to the message, which might be quite boring, but to the person who is speaking?
On the outside, paying attention/mindfulness doesn’t look like much. But on the inside, it creates a whole new experience.
You’ll see things anew, have experiences that you didn’t have before, and the magic of every day life will unfold before your eyes. Because there really is magic to be found in the mundane. You just have to look for it.
I would love to share your journey with you and help if I can, just ask
God bless you.
The Power of Nettles to Evoke Childhood Memories and Heal the Soul
As I was walking my children to school one morning I noticed familiar green leaves poking through the dark soil. These simple Cotyledons had an appearance that awakened a feeling of recognition.
Growing up with my grandma in a village of the high mountains of the Caucuses, every season heralded a new bounty. The arrival of this bounty decreed a series of steps that were required to be undertaken to fully utilise the earths goodness and to celebrate that time of the years cycle.
Upon closer inspection the small green leaves breaking through the neglected soil were the leaves of the Common Nettle Plant. (Urtica dioica)
Childhood memories were instantly awakened and my heart urged me to revive the recipes of my grandmother in my own kitchen some 13,000 km and a lifetime away from my original kitchen of tutelage in the mountains.
In that place the pace of life was very different. Suspended high in the mountains 5000 metres above sea level Nettles grew well., funny they seem to grow equally as well next to a train track in the Melbourne suburbs. So from a place where it feels that time has stopped to a place where life is noisy and brisk the same plant has risen and aroused memories long supplanted by the certainty of life in a foreign land
In the mountains you live observing the present and when certain greens break through the soil your soul is awakened and calls you to action.
That same action has called me again and I am reminded of the foods, drinks and medicine that must be shared with friends, family and now you.
These are 3 ways of using nettle I grew up with:
Brewed Nettle Tea ( great antioxidant, anti inflammatory, provides relief for urinary disorders)
Baked Nettle Pastries
Nettle leaves applied topically at the site of pain caused by arthritis or joint pain.
I’ve enjoyed sharing my nettle memories with you, please share yours with me.
My love is all things aesthetic. My passion is God.
Mending souls and not just skin, is the way to celebrate beauty. During the past 20 years I evolved my passions experiencing my artistic visions and self-taught other skills and painting, and more. Inspired by different cultures and stories I to collect unique finds and create inspiring pieces which have stories to tell.
I love interacting with creative and inspiring people.
If that’s you let’s journey together!
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This document contains the detailed information of the standard IEEE C37.90.2-2004. Design tests for relays and relay systems that relate to the immunity of this equipment to Radiated Electromagnetic Interference from Transceivers are specified. Field strength, test frequencies, modulation, sweep rates, equipment setup and connection, test procedures, criteria for acceptance, and documentation for test results are described. This standard has been harmonized with IEC standards where consensus could be reached.
More Information on this standard can be found here.


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The Burchfield-Penney Art Center has met a Dec. 31 deadline by raising $8.2 million in private contributions toward its Elmwood Avenue building, now under construction.
The private money had to be in hand or pledged by then as the first step in securing a $700,000 challenge grant from the Kresge Foundation of Troy, Mich. The grant will be awarded once all funding for the project is in place.
To date, the Burchfield-Penney has raised $29.7 million of the new museum's $33 million price tag. Private support for the project was bolstered in recent weeks by a $250,000 award from M&T Bank, combined with grants from two anonymous foundations, as well as contributions from the Baird and Cameron Baird foundations and the Louis P Ciminelli, Joy and Kenneth L. and Katherine G. Koessler family foundations.
Other major support has come from the Charles E. Burchfield, John R. Oishei, Margaret L. Wendt, Mary A.H. Rumsey and Seymour H. Knox foundations.
Foundation giving is critical to the project, and more announcements are expected in the near future, said Paula Joy Reinhold, chairwoman of the capital campaign, and Ted Pietrzak, Burchfield-Penney executive director.

domain: finance


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: Procedural pain and anxiety in children can be poorly controlled, leading to significant short- and long-term sequelae, such as longer procedure times or future healthcare avoidance. Caregiver anxiety can exacerbate these effects. We aimed to evaluate the effect of interactive video game interventions on children's procedural pain and anxiety, including the effect of different types of video games on those outcomes.
: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of interactive video games compared with standard care in children (0-18 yr) undergoing painful procedures. We searched the databases MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO. We conducted random-effects meta-analysis using 'R' of children's procedural pain and anxiety and caregivers' anxiety.
: Of 2185 studies screened, 36 were eligible (n=3406 patients). Studies commonly involved venous access (33%) or day surgery (31%). Thirty-four studies were eligible for meta-analyses. Interactive video games appear to reduce children's procedural pain (standardised mean difference [SMD]=-0.43; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.67 to -0.20), anxiety (SMD=0.61; 95% CI: -0.88 to -0.34), and caregivers' procedural anxiety (SMD=-0.31; 95% CI: -0.58 to -0.04). We observed no difference between preparatory and distracting games, or between virtual reality and non-virtual reality games. We also observed no difference between interactive video games compared with standard care for most medical outcomes (e.g. procedure length), except a reduced need for restraint. Studies reported minimal adverse effects and typically had high intervention acceptability and satisfaction.
: Our findings support introducing easily available video games, such as distraction-based conventional video games, into routine practice to minimise paediatric procedural pain and child/caregiver anxiety. Copyright © 2021 British Journal of Anaesthesia
Oversett med Google Translate

domain: medical


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As the UN’s longest-standing peacekeeping mission faces a turbulent exit from the Democratic Republic of Congo, what were its critical failings, and what can the UN learn from them?
On June 7th, 2023, after an extensive visit and tour of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), senior UN official Jean-Pierre Lacroix spoke to reporters in the country’s capital, Kinshasa. The line of questioning was centered entirely around the UN’s 24-year long peacekeeping mission, known as MONUSCO. His response to these questions was brief, yet it made headlines globally: the peacekeepers should withdraw from the conflict-torn country “as quickly as possible”.
While Lacroix continued to praise the MONUSCO troops and staff, many argued that the announcement of a withdrawal of UN troops from the DRC was years too late. For nearly a decade, the UN’s peace mission, MONUSCO, has been under scrutiny from the Congolese people, criticized for perceived inefficiencies and ineffectiveness.
The inability of peacekeepers to prevent violence in the region has resulted in a loss of faith amongst the Congolese. This sentiment manifested in 2022 when anti-UN protests escalated, culminating in dozens of fatalities.
Where did MONUSCO fall short in its mission? And more importantly, what are the lessons we can learn from this for future peacekeeping missions?
Background on peacekeeping in the DRC
The DRC is ethnically diverse. Home to over 200 different ethnic groups speaking over 200 languages. It is often referred to as Africa’s metaphorical ‘heart’, and while this diversity paints a picture of potential, resource-driven conflicts and factional violence have plagued the country since 1994.
As the conflict intensified following the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the Second Congo War, the UN launched a peacekeeping mission to ease tension in the DRC. The mission, entitled the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO, initially MONUC), was launched in 1999 and established a UN presence in the country that is now inextricably linked to its modern history.
Currently, MONUSCO stands as the world’s largest and most enduring peacekeeping mission. After 24 years, the complexity of its operations mirrors that of the country it was tasked to stabilize. The failings of operations of MONUSCO in the DRC are not isolated incidents; they raise pressing questions about the United Nations’ approach to the implementation and management of its peace missions globally.
Understanding past and present failures is fundamental for the UN if it is to improve its future peacekeeping missions. Adding urgency to this introspection, ongoing protests demanding UN forces to leave the DRC have led to at least 36 deaths, including four peacekeepers, and left 170 people injured.
With this backdrop, we can trace the evolution of the MONUSCO mission from its ill-prepared launch in 1999 to its current state.
MONUSCO’s initial mandate in 1999 was underdeveloped
By the metric of its own definition, the UN Security Council’s initial intervention into the DRC was regarded as highly challenging. The task of preventing state failure and Internecine strife appeared difficult, let alone the idea of building sustainable peace in the country.
In fact, as Victoria Holt and Tobias Berkman note in their research titled “The Impossible Mandate? Military Preparedness, The Responsibility to Protect and Modern Peace Operations”, the DRC was widely understood as “an extreme environment for peacekeeping” in the 1990s.
The International Rescue Committee estimated that four million civilian deaths had resulted from warfare since 1998. Additionally, the DRC had very few roads and a severe lack of infrastructure, and rebel groups from surrounding regions had seized control of many of the country’s natural resources.
It is for these reasons that the UN’s lack of preparedness for the launch of MONUSCO was so surprising. Despite the widespread knowledge of the issues in the DRC, the UN initially sent fewer than 100 observers and police personnel, but no armed troops. This extreme miscalculation led to the UN consistently deploying additional troops between 1999 and 2003, which came to define the early stages of MONUSCO as reactive rather than a proactive measure in mitigating conflict.
Moreover, as the total number of troops deployed increased, the mandate and mission capacity underwent little change. Author Emily Rhoads described the early stages of MONUC as ‘passive peacekeeping’ amidst war. Therefore, beyond a lack of capacity, the first four years of the MONUSCO mission represented a strategic failure by the UN Security Council in the implementation of a peacekeeping mission.
MONUSCO’s failure to develop a consistent and thorough mandate
The year 2003 is often described in academic literature as a year of transition for the MONUSCO mission. This period marked a significant shift in the mission’s focus. While the UN re-emphasized its mandate to protect civilians, it incorporated new tasks, namely, supporting a transition to a more sustainable national government and overseeing national elections.
The UN expedited the deployment of troops, embracing a sprawling mandate in almost all regions of the DRC. However, it quickly it became clear that there was a disconnect between the focus of the troops deployed in the DRC and the intentions of the UN Security Council.
Nowhere was this disconnect more evident than in Bunia, a city located in the Ituri province in the North-east corner of the DRC along the border of Uganda. The crisis began to unfold as the UN Security Council pressed Ugandan forces to withdraw from the city, without giving sufficient consideration to the stabilizing influence the Ugandan army was providing.
Ultimately, the 400 troops or so who responded to the attacks in Bunia were heralded for reducing the death toll, primarily by evacuating civilians to the airport, thereby saving an estimated 11,000 lives. Nevertheless, today, the fall of Bunia is still regarded as a monumental failure in planning and communication between the UN Security Council and UN troops.
The fall of Bunia, coupled with the contentious UN-facilitated national election in 2006, dealt severe blows to MONUSCO’s credibility. It was abundantly clear that the UN had once again miscalculated its peacekeeping strategy in the DRC. In attempting to facilitate disarmament, curb violence, and establish sustainable peace, it inadvertently stoked conflict and lacked sufficient personnel to execute its ambitious mandate.
MONUSCO failed to work with the DRC government and Congolese forces
By 2010, the UN’s mission in the DRC required a substantial reassessment. This restructured mandate recognised the urgency of the UN’s impending withdrawal, prioritising cooperating with Congolese forces to secure a durable, UN-independent peace.
However, in 2012, the fall of the city of Goma in eastern DRC challenged the budding relationship between the UN and Congolese forces (FARDC). The 23 March Movement (M23), a rebel faction, seized control of the city, exploiting an unprepared and uncooperative UN/FARDC contingent as noted in a study titled, “6 Successes and Failures in Côte d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo“.
The M23 attack on Goma, alongside FARDC’s record of human rights abuses in the DRC, necessitated a surge in deployment of UN troops within the DRC, peaking at 19,113 in 2015, as recorded in the aforementioned study. To many observers, this was a marked shift from peacebuilding to peace enforcement, killing any hope of the UN’s withdrawal from the country.
Currently, with anti-MONUSCO protests ongoing, many believe that the UN must foster a more productive relationship with the FARDC if it harbors any hope of a successful exit strategy. British civil servant, Alan Doss contends that “[UN troops] cannot replace government forces to provide security for civilians in the DRC … despite the moral dilemma”.
Indeed, even the most robust peacekeeping forces cannot replace the role of the government in maintaining security. Although the moral dilemma adds a layer of complexity to the UN’s role and its peace keeping missions, the historical performance of MONUSCO confirms that any peace keeping mission without the cooperative relationship with the host government and its military is doomed to fail.
MONUSCO sexual abuse and misconduct
One of the most damning criticisms leveled against the UN’s MONUSCO, pertains to the disturbing allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by its peacekeepers. The issue is not just a stain on the mission’s record; it’s a reflection of a much deeper problem that has affected the organisation’s peacekeeping operations across the globe.
From as early as the inception of the mission, reports began to surface alleging instances of sexual misconduct by peacekeeping personnel. These ranged from transactional sex to horrific incidents of rape. Victims often included vulnerable women and children from local communities – those who the peacekeepers were deployed to protect.
In response, the UN has adapted a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual exploitation and abuse, which included mandatory training for personnel and efforts to improve reporting mechanisms and accountability within the mission. However, critics argue that the UN’s response has been insufficient, highlighting slow investigations, a lack of transparency and limited punitive actions against the accused as evidence of this inadequacy.
As for holding perpetrators accountable, the process has been fraught with difficulty. The UN does not have jurisdiction over the troops contributing countries provide; instead, it is the responsibility of the individual countries to prosecute their soldiers. This has led to a situation where many alleged perpetrators have not been held accountable for their actions, further exacerbating the controversy.
The consequences of these allegations extend beyond damage to the UN’s reputation. They have also fostered mistrust between the peacekeepers and the local communities they serve, undermining the effectiveness of the peacekeeping mission.
What to expect going forward?
Jean-Pierre Lacroix’s press conference confirms that the UN has finally recognized that its 24-year peacekeeping mission has failed, a recognition that culminated from numerous, critical shortcomings since 1999 to today.
Nevertheless, it is essential to clarify that the UN isn’t the sole bearer of blame for the DRC’s present condition. The DRC has been wrestling with issues of volatile governance, regional instability, and deep-rooted cycles of violence. In fact, many argue that the organization was faced with a Herculean task in its bid to establish peace amidst such a tumultuous context.
Yet, an area where the UN’s shortcomings are unmistakable is in its preference for a reactive rather than a proactive approach to peacebuilding. This tactic has consistently seen the organization failing to meet its targets.
MONUSCO has also highlighted important lessons for future peacekeeping missions of the UN, the most significant takeaway being the need to clearly distinguish between peace enforcement and peacebuilding. The dangers of conflating these terms within a single mandate have been made all too clear.
Moving forward, the lessons drawn from MONUSCO will be instrumental in guiding the UN towards more successful interventions and preventing the breach of its promise to bring peace.

domain: sociology


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Non-arm’s length loan
The Arnhem Court of Appeal recently added to the vast body of jurisprudence on the theme of non-arm’s length loans. A loan is to be regarded as non-arm’s length where it is entered into between affiliated parties subject to such terms and conditions as to expose the creditor to the sort of risk that no independent third-party lender would settle for. It is impossible in such a scenario to fix an interest rate at which an independent third-party lender would have been willing to furnish the loan on application otherwise of the same terms and conditions. Downward revaluation of a non-arm’s length loan against the result is not permissible. The reasonable division of the onus of proof would involve the inspector of taxes having to make a convincing case for the loan qualifying as non-arm’s length.
The two indirect shareholders in a company in connection with the acquisition of a subsidiary company furnished the acquiring company with a € 250,00.00 loan each. They had each borrowed the money in a private capacity from the bank, at an interest rate of 5.5% p.a. The € 500,000.00 was lent on to the personal holding company at an interest rate of 7.2% p.a., with the personal holding company in turn lending it on to the acquiring company at an interest rate of 6.0% p.a. The term of the loan was fixed at ten years. Interestingly enough the holding company’s corporation tax return mentioned an interest rate of 7.5%. The acquiring company’s loan had been given subordinate status to all of the acquiring company’s debts to the bank. No arrangements had been entered into regarding the timing of interest payment or repayment of the principal, nor had the acquiring company put up any security. The bank too had furnished the acquiring company with a loan charged with interest at a slightly higher rate, in the context of which security had been put up including right of pledge on shares, assumption of suretyship by the indirect shareholders and right of pledge on accounts receivable.
The Court of Appeal deliberated that the personal holding company had taken the bad-debt risk on board with the intention of serving and furthering the interests of its subsidiary company, this being the acquiring company. Even if it were assumed that the interest rate had been fixed at 7.5% (rather than 6%), this would imply that the surcharge for lending on the money had been fixed at a mere 0.3%. The bank charged an interest rate of 7.05% for a five-year fixed interest term, and would have charged a higher rate had a fixed-interest term of ten years been agreed. The Court of Appeal considered the additional risk margin to be so inadequate as to warrant the conclusion that no independent third party would have gone along with it.

domain: law


Let us save you a classic Google search: the Eighty-Seventh Academy Awards telecast will air Sunday at 7 P.M. E.S.T. on ABC. Fluff the couch pillows, charge the smartphone, and prepare to enjoy the Super Bowl of snark and sequins. Perhaps you’ve had the good fortune of being invited to an Oscar party, but the misfortune of only having binge-watched “Orange Is the New Black.” Problem solved: “Watch All of This Year's Best Picture Nominees in Under 4 Minutes.”
Should you require more background, and you probably do, start with Nathan Heller’s Profile of Richard Linklater, from the June 30th issue. Linklater’s movie “Boyhood” will vie with Alejandro González Iñárritu’s “Birdman” for Best Picture honors; here is Anthony Lane’s review. Our critic David Denby admired “Selma,” which was snubbed by Oscar in several major categories but contains indelibile images, and was also the film that launched a thousand Op-Eds. Nicholas Schmidle wrote a long feature about Chris Kyle, the Navy SEAL who is the subject of Clint Eastwood’s “American Sniper.” And it has been a good year for Wes Anderson, whose nominated movie, “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” is based on a work by Stefan Zweig; read Leo Carey on Zweig’s melancholy life. Richard Brody points out why the best film never wins Best Picture, and also has predictions about who will win what and why—should you care to attempt an educated guess in that silent moment when the envelope is being ripped open.
There is always more: here is a complete landing page for our Oscars-related coverage. And be sure to follow The New Yorker’s Twitter account on Sunday night, which will keep tabs on the ceremony and feature live-drawing by our cartoonists Bob Eckstein and Liza Donnelly.


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Pam Garbutt, Guest Column
Much has been said in the press recently about the Liberal government’s plan to enact legislation forcing school boards to enact the Government/OECTA memorandum of understanding.
Although the school boards and Catholic teachers in Toronto and York Region have agreed to accept the framework, it is regretful to note that Catholic school principals and their representative councils’ have never been consulted nor invited to participate in any discussions with the government even though the memorandum of understanding clearly changes the terms and conditions of all principals in Ontario.
Is the public aware that principals in both the public and Catholic school boards were granted the right to negotiate their terms and conditions by a ministry directive over a year ago?
Interestingly enough, when it suited their ends, the government chose to ignore its own directive and change terms and conditions of principals without any consultation. And they made these changes at a negotiation table with the teachers union, not with the principals of Ontario.
This is disappointing and disrespectful to say the least.
School principals are key players in ensuring the education goals of the government are fulfilled. As leaders in their school communities, they have daily connections with parents, teachers, school support staff, senior administration, trustees and most importantly, students.
Surprisingly, during this round of negotiations with teacher unions, the voice of the principal was not invited to provide perspective to the discussion regarding hiring procedures and student assessment.
It seems astounding to me that our voice of experience regarding student achievement and the need to put the very best teachers in front of students was not of interest to this government.
Catholic principals reached out to Ontario MPPs this past winter, long before the negotiation process began.
We met with every MPP in Ontario to describe our unique role and make them aware of how we serve students, teachers and staff to ensure the student success for all.
This strategy, designed to be productive and proactive, obviously did nothing to advance the discussion at recent government/teacher union tables.
To be clear, Catholic principals understand the fiscal reality of Ontario and the need for restraint. We are not willing to sacrifice high quality of education that we have worked so hard to achieve by having teacher hiring processes and diagnostic assessment practices removed without some discussion.
Our leadership and expertise should be respected and valued. We serve our school communities with integrity, professionalism and pride; and we do so for the success of each child.
Pam Garbutt, a Waterloo resident, is principal of Pope John Paul II Catholic School in Kitchener, chair of Waterloo Catholic Elementary Administrator’s Association, and a representative of the Catholic Principals Council of Ontario.

domain: politics


text:
This is a Baby Ruth Bar.
This is a King Sized Baby Ruth Bar.
There are two pieces of Baby Ruth in a King Sized Bar.
Each piece has 4 grams of protein.
Which means there are 8 grams of protein in a king sized Baby Ruth Bar.
6 slices of Oscar Meyer deli sliced, smoked turkey has 8 grams of protein.
Protein takes longer to digest and keeps you feeling full for larger periods of time.
Therefore, a making a King Sized Baby Ruth part of your lunch is just as healthy, and will keep you as satisfied as eating that turkey. ->

domain: food


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Oscar-contending directors gather for Los Angeles Times panel discussion
Just in time for the nominations, six Oscar-contending directors will get together at the Los Angeles Times to talk about their acclaimed films, their directorial visions, and whatever else is on their minds. The filmmakers -- Ben Affleck ("The Town"), Darren Aronofsky ("Black Swan"), Lisa Cholodenko ("The Kids Are All Right"), Ethan Coen ("True Grit"), David Fincher ("The Social Network") and Tom Hooper ("The King's Speech") -- will gather Saturday morning for the second annual Directors Roundtable and a closed-door conversation led by L.A. Times film writer John Horn.
And though the discussion is not open to the public, The Times welcomes questions from our readers, so please add yours to the comments section below or on the LA Times Entertainment Facebook page and Horn will select some to ask during the panel. The Envelope will be videotaping the conversation and replaying the highlights on Awards Tracker beginning Monday.
-- Elena Howe
Photo: David Fincher, left, and Justin Timberlake. Credit: Kevin Winter / Getty Images


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Pinky Up - Matcha Ice Cream Loose Leaf Tea
Perfectly sweet and deliciously satisfying, there is so matcha to love about this tea. A fabulous and guilt-free substitute for the frozen treat.
30 - 55 MG caffeine / 8 fl oz
Naturally low in calories
One tbsp | 8 oz water | 160-180 F | Steep 1-3 Minutes
Pinky Up® is about guilt-free indulgence - healthier than sugary soda, cake, and cookies, it'll perk you up and make Wednesdays feel like Fridays.


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Cost of living in Campinas, Brazil compared to Aarhus, Denmark
|Personal Care||- 27%|
These prices were last updated on May 22, 2018. Exchange rate: 1.741 DKK / BRL
This comparison is based on abundant and consistent data. It is based on 1,261 prices entered by 136 different people.
Do you live in Aarhus? We need your help!
Cost of living in Campinas (Brazil) is 35% cheaper than in Aarhus (Denmark)
Recent Prices Added
- Weekly rent - 2 bedroom (85m2) furnished accommodation in expensive area in Sacramento, California costs $3,440 (9 minutes ago)
- Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Düsseldorf costs €1,300 (19 minutes ago)
- 1 liter of gasoline in Manila costs Php56 (25 minutes ago)
- Internet connection 300 mbps, 1 month in Warsaw costs 80 zł (25 minutes ago)
- 10 eggs, large in Dublin costs €3.36 (about 1 hour ago)
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district in Ahmedabad costs ₨150 (about 1 hour ago)


Good evening, I am having problems with the heating in my car when driving and on tick over I am only getting warm air coming out, when the car is sitting and I rev and hold it at 5000 rpm the air comes out hot but as soon as I let it idle or am driving it, it goes to warm again. I have put a new thermostat in and have bled the system by putting a bottle in the header tank so the water is higher than the matrix’s and kept it filled up. I opened up thermostat housing bleed valve till the water come out with no air in and then done the same on the bleed valve going in to the heater matrix. I then ran the car till the fan kicked in and the water level dropped once this happened I turned off the engine and opened up the bleed valve going in to the heater matrix to bring the water level down to just above max. the two pipes going in to the matrix is getting hot. Is there anyone that has any ideas what this could be.
This is the Forum for all your Citroen Technical Questions, Problems or Advice.
Messages: 1 • Page 1 of 1


Yes, Robert Pattinson and Emma Watson are an item and got engaged this year. What is the latest news on their relationship? We dive into details. Plus, find out what this means for you as a fan.
Pattinson’s Big Surprise
The year 2020 was a big one for Robert Pattinson. Not only did he star in the mega-hit James Bond movie Kingsman: The Second Season, but he also got engaged to British actress Emma Watson. This came as a complete shock to fans, who had not expected the couple to make their relationship public.
While the press were still gossiping about their engagement, they both kept quiet about their relationship. In fact, Emma even went on a short break from filming to enjoy some romantic time with her boyfriend. The couple made their engagement and subsequent marriage official in a romantic ceremony in London on May 24, 2020.
It’s been a while since we’ve heard from the happy couple, but since then they have been making headlines for all the right reasons. In June, they revealed that they are already thinking about expanding their family. The actor revealed that they are going to be adding a daughter to their family in the coming months. They also plan on welcoming a son in the next few years. This news came as a shock to fans who had hoped that the couple would put off their wedding day until they could enjoy their newlywed life with Emma’s daughter, Suki.
What Is Emma Watson’s Connection To Harry Potter?
Emma Watson first rose to fame as Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter film franchise. The actress portrayed the fierce professor in all eight of the Harry Potter movies, except the final film, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows.
While fans were very happy to see her back on the big screen, they were a little surprised to learn that she was a teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The actress revealed that she took a year off to be with her husband and focused on raising her family. While raising four children alone might be challenging, Emma said that she enjoys her role as a mother. She has also been open about her struggles with postpartum depression, which she said made her feel “like a monster.”
Robert Pattinson’s Favorite Harry Potter Character
When it comes to his favorite Harry Potter character, it’s a real toss up between Professor Severus Snape and Richard Harris’s Bellatrix Lestrange. Pattinson has admitted that he is a big fan of Harris and named his favorite character after him. When it comes to Snape though, the actor says he has “always admired his restraint.” Even more so since his character was more often against the odds than anyone else’s. Besides, the actor feels that Snape is “one of the most interesting characters study because you never know what he’s thinking or feeling. The more you know about Snape, the more you respect him.”
Snape Or Lestrange?
Emma’s Bellatrix Lestrange might be the only thing standing between us and chaos. While the Avengers have gone their separate ways since the end of Avengers: Endgame, director Joe Russo has teased that the Black Widow and Ironman will reunite in the future. Since the end of that movie, fans have been questioning when, or if, they will ever see the former teammates again. While it might be nice to see these two old friends get back together, it’s more likely that we will be seeing a lot more of Emma’s dangerous and scheming character going forward.
Watson’s Iconic Role
While everyone was shocked at the revelation of Emma Watson’s engagement, it was not her acting choices that garnered her fame, but rather her activism and campaigns. In 2019, she became an UN Women’s Advocate for equality and rights, and launched a worldwide #SheReads initiative to encourage girls to read.
As part of that campaign, she dressed as Joy and gathered her readings for Christmas. She also posed for Vogue India in an intimate moment with her family, including her dogs, Bekka and Fred. In 2020, all these photos and more will be on display in the upcoming solo exhibition, ‘Emma?’ at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. The show will commemorate the tenth anniversary of the actress’ eponymous clothing brand and feature clothing and accessories from throughout her career. This will be the first solo exhibition that the V&A have held in thirty years, and it will include items from all ten of the Harry Potter films, not just the first two. It is scheduled to open on September 30, 2020, and will be on display until January 2021.
Who Is Suki Watson?
Suki is the actress’ first child with husband Robert Pattinson. The couple welcomed their daughter in June 2020, almost two years after their engagement. Suki was named after Emma’s late mother, Suki Parker, and she is the first grandchild of Parker and Richard Harris, the actor who portrayed her father in six of the Harry Potter films. While the couple are incredibly proud of Suki, they have also maintained that they will not interfere in her education or the raising of her daughter, even though they are both parents.
Is This A Rumor Or Truth?
Although most fans would say that they do not believe the rumors, a few have been graced with the honor of being at the forefront of a breaking news story. In December 2019, Entertainment Tonight said that a source close to the actress had hinted that she was in a relationship with her co-star, Tom Hanks. The news organization said that the claim was ‘‘as plausible as Ned Flanders and John Potter meeting at a Potter party’’ and that ‘‘relationship rumors are common place” when it comes to celebrities.’’ While this might be true, things are quite different when it comes to actually confirming the rumors. To this day, neither actor has ever publicly stated that they are in a relationship. Many fans have stuck by Emma and Robert, hoping against hope that their famous fair isle will one day return.
The lack of a solid confirmation has not stopped fans from speculating, however. In July 2020, it was revealed that the couple had hired a wedding planner who had already booked their wedding venue and band. The wedding date has not yet been set, but it will be held at the Chapel of St. George in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in England. This comes as a blow to Harry Potter fans hoping that the couple would choose to wed at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as it has been the venue for many an Engagement and Wedding over the years.
What Does This Mean For You As A Fan?
Since Emma Watson and Robert Pattinson are an item, it means that you will soon no longer be allowed to mention her maiden name in vain. The actress adopted the stage name of “Emma” instead of “Emma Watson” after marrying the actor in 2020. This is also an indication that the couple are going to be making their relationship a lot more public. While most fans will be happy to see the couple grow their family, others might be a little bit envious of their privacy. After spending almost two years in hiding, will they get the honeymoon surprise that fans have been dreaming of for so long?
At this point, it is quite clear that we will not know everything about Emma Watson and Robert Pattinson’s relationship, and that is exactly what makes it so interesting. With so much speculation, it is great to see that the public will still get to learn something new about one of the most interesting celebrity couples. It is also refreshing to see that they have maintained their privacy over the years and have always kept fans waiting in the loop about their relationship. Let’s just hope that this is the last time that we have to speculate about what might or might not be going on in the lives of these two incredible actors.


Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has celebrated the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso, on the ocassion of his 67th birthday today, Saturday, October 21.
Governor Yusuf sent his birthday regards in a statement via his official X handle on Saturday.
He wrote: “On behalf of my family, friends, and the Government and good people of Kano State, I congratulate my leader, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on attaining another golden year of impactful achievements.
“May the Almighty Allah reserve him in excellent health. – AKY.”


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Shelby DeHaven, ‘Doah Managing Editor
February 26, 2014
On Thursday, Feb. 13, Virginia joined 17 other states that allows same-sex marriage and the ten other states that recognize unions and partnerships from other states. This comes after a federal judge in Norfolk struck down the 2006 constitutional amendment declaring that it was unconstitutional. This constitutional amendment that Virginia voters approved banned both same sex marriage and forbid recognition of union’s performed elsewhere.
Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia wrote “Our Constitution declares that ‘all men’ are created equal, surely this means all of us” according to the NY Times.
Wright Allen stated in her 41-page opinion that “none of the reasons proponents offer for denying same-sex marriages make legitimate government interests.”
This victory for equal rights is a small one because it is already held up in appeals. Same-sex couples will still not be able to get married in the state of Virginia until the case is resolved. Experts believe that if this ruling it held after the appeal, it could cause repercussions throughout the South. Because several other Southern states have similar amendments, if Virginia’s amendment is found unconstitutional the others would be as well.
A federal judge in Kentucky also ruled on Wednesday, Feb. 12 that the state’s refusal to recognize same-sex marriage violates the 14th Amendment, which states that no government “shall…deprive any person of life, liberty or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” However, couples still cannot get married in the state.
Virginia will be the first Southern state that allows same-sex marriage.
A similar court case on same-sex marriage began on Feb. 25 in Michigan. April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse, two nurses who live in suburban Detroit, are fighting the 2004 constitutional amendment in Michigan saying that if violates their rights under the Equal Protection Clause of the United State Constitution. The originally began in 2004 when the couple fought for the right to adopt each others’ children and their lawyer told them to go further. The judge in the case allotted two weeks for witnesses and testimonies before reaching a decision.
With another same-sex victory underway in Virginia, all eyes will be watching Michigan to see what happens there.