The nature of the Johnson government is still not clear, but has become more so with the announcement this week that HS2 is to go ahead in its entirety. Until recently, it had seemed that the project would be, if not dropped altogether, cut back in order to rein in its ever-accelerating budget. This is what most Tory MPs,cabinet members and even the Chancellor had wanted. But instead, the Prime Minister has decided that it will be built in its full £106 billion form. Not only that, he threw in £5 billion for buses and cycleways, as well as the promise of a £39 billion high-speed line from Manchester to Leeds. And, perhaps, a £20 billion road bridge connecting Dumfriesshire with Northern Ireland.
The ability to think big is generally a positive trait. It is easy to admire brave infrastructure projects in other countries and contrast them with the penny-pinching roads and railways which have long been a feature of UK public spending. Choked, inadequate roads which need to be expanded or rebuilt a few years later can be a false economy. As for HS2, many have been seduced by the argument that if you are going to spend money improving and building railways you should make them ‘future-proof’ by going for a high specification.
But the challenge for Johnson is how to think big on public investment without morphing into Gordon Brown. The last Prime Minister but two precipitated an unprecedented boom in construction of new schools: not that it did much for education standards. He signed off on Crossrail. But the result of his looseness with the purse strings is that he left behind a public debt crisis, running a £158 billion deficit in his last year in office. Not only that: many of those new schools and hospitals had been built with off-balance sheet Public Finance Initiative deals which have continued to be a burden on taxpayers long after he left office.
Of course, there is a difference between borrowing to invest in a project expected to pay for itself (bridges, tunnels and roads) and borrowing simply to pay day-to-day government bills. Johnson might well argue that he is building genuine infrastructure, while Brown fell into the habit of cooking the books to fund spending addiction. But not all infrastructure projects can be assumed to turn a profit. Lord Berkeley, who resigned as deputy chairman of the HS2 review in order to produce a dissenting report, reckons that HS2 will produce just 60 pence of benefit for every £1 of public money spent. If he is right, it is a pure vanity project — aimed at politicians who like cutting ribbons.
It is clear that many of the Tories’ newfound voters in the Midlands and North are not Thatcherite converts. Ask them if they would like a tax cut or more spent on the NHS, and they are more likely to choose the latter than would some Conservatives. But it would be an error to assume they will be impressed or even helped by grandiose infrastructure projects. It is not going to be the voters of Blyth Valley or Workington who fill the seats on HS2 — they will not be close enough to the line. It will be the higher earners who can afford the tickets.
This is why Johnson has promised those voters more buses and a few reopenings of railway lines closed by Dr Beeching. While critics of HS2 advocated spending money on local transport instead of high-speed rail, Boris has opted to do both. He has demonstrated, as he himself memorably put it, that his policy on cake is pro-having it and pro-eating it. Like Gordon Brown, he seems to be happy to let others worry about the cost: thinking, to paraphrase Reagan, that the bill for HS2 is now big enough to look after itself.
With £9 billion already spent on HS2 and a decade wasted on deliberations, the Prime Minister’s decision was not easy. The Treasury estimated that £6 billion a year could be saved by scrapping HS2 now, with the money spent instead on upgrading other transport. Yet time and again in his short period in office, Johnson has decided to go with the high-spending option.
Johnson has promised 40 new hospitals. He has thrown good money after bad by bailing out Flybe. During his time as mayor, he commissioned a number of poorly thought-out projects such as the Garden Bridge, the Routemaster bus and the little-used cable car across the Thames. He risks continuing this habit. It is estimated by the Institute for Fiscal Studies that the ‘net zero’ 2050 target he has embraced will cost a trillion pounds. Words like ‘trillion’ were not even used in the Labour era.
His tendency towards high spending does not bode well for public finances, which remain deep in the red even after a decade of so-called ‘austerity’. Gordon Brown proved how quickly a government can get caught out when the economy enters one of its regular recessions. Statistically, another recession is overdue. When it hits (and it is a question of when, not if), will the government have the firepower to respond?
Post-war UK politics has tended to fit a narrative. Labour governments allow spending to run out of control, which ends with a financial crisis that then has to be dealt with by the Conservatives. We have to hope that the Prime Minister will soon discover a more parsimonious side to his character which has so far proved elusive.
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As director of community services for the Community Renewal Team, Elizabeth Horton Sheff has been working pretty much non-stop over the last year to connect people in need with programs and services that can help.
"A lot of our people are just panicked. They're panicked. Some of them have been out of work for a long time," Sheff said.
For some, it's the first time they've had to rely on outside help.
“Their housing security is gone, in their minds. They’re having difficulty keeping food on the table," she said.
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The situation is not unique to Connecticut. A recent survey from the Pew Research Center found that financial concerns still weigh heavily on a lot of us. And it’s not just paying for those basic needs.
Among non-retired adults, 30% said they are worried about the amount of debt they carry, while 29% worry about their ability to save for retirement.
Three in 10 also said their financial situation has gotten worse over the last year while 44% think it will take them at least three years to get back to where they were before the pandemic.
One in 10 people in the survey don't think their finances will ever recover.
Racial and Income Disparities
The survey also highlighted racial disparities, with 66% of Black and 59% of Hispanic respondents reporting their finances are in “fair” or “poor” shape.
People with higher incomes were more likely to say they have actually fared better during the pandemic. Nearly 40% of adults in the upper income tier reported their financial situation has improved from one year ago. Among middle income earners, 32% said the same.
When it comes to spending, 42% of adults said they have been spending less during the pandemic, but the reasons vary.
Eighty-six percent of upper income adults and 70% of middle income adults said their reduced spending is the result of COVID restrictions on their daily activities. Only 44% of lower income adults said the same. The majority (55%) said they are spending less because they are worried about money.
Getting Back on Track
“Our philosophy at the Community Renewal Team is to save. Whether it’s a dollar or a dime," said Horton Sheff, who runs CRT's Financial Literacy Institute. "It's getting into the pattern of putting money away for that emergency, for that unexpected expense."
Horton Sheff understands that managing your finances can be daunting. She counsels her students to focus on what they have instead of dwelling on what they don't.
The first step to getting your finances in order, according to Horton Sheff, is to put your budget down on paper.
"Once you outline your expenses with your income, you will see where you really are. But you can't do that in your head. You have to face reality," she said.
Next: communicate with your creditors.
"Talk to your landlord. Talk to your mortgage company. See what's available to you," she said.
"Refrain from having a love-hate relationship with your mailbox. When those letters come, when those bills come, open them... Look at what you owe and decide on a debt reduction plan."
She also advises students to stay away from credit cards.
Finally, Horton Sheff said there is no shame in asking for help.
“You didn’t do this. This was of no fault of your own. There’s nothing that you did to cause this," she said.

domain: news


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Practical Guide to the Care of the Medical Patient : Expert Consult: Online and Print
"Practical Guide to the Care of the Medical Patient" is the concise and clinically-focused pocket resource you need to get through your internal medicine clerkship or residency. Dr. Fred Ferri offers his experience as a leading teacher and clinician to help you diagnose and manage more than 225 disorders, signs, and symptoms. The new hardcover ring binder lets you carry the sections you need and add personalized materials. With the fully searchable text along with practical information on diagnoses, treatment, procedures, and labs - this guide gives you convenient access to the information you need anytime you need it. It is in print and also available online.

domain: medical


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Dawn broke, casting a warm glow across the prince and his beast as they cuddled in the wooden bower.
The prince curled up more tightly against the enormous black wolf, burying his face in the plush coat. His fine silks were rumpled and his crown sparkled beside the nest of cushions and blankets in which they curled.
The wolf yawned and stretched, paws kicking as he rolled. As he did, he shrank and shifted, fur giving away to smooth skin and coarse clothes.
He blinked in the morning light and smiled as the prince pressed his nose against the skin of his throat.
‘I’m glad neither of us are morning people,’ he murmured, and went back to sleep.
Image by Eric Michelat from Pixabay.

domain: literature


Mud Hens 4, PawSox 1: Barnes gets little support
PAWTUCKET — Matt Barnes hasn’t come close to pitching poorly in his three starts with the Pawtucket Red Sox, but he has just one win to show for his efforts.The tall right-hander from Connecticut allowed...
PAWTUCKET — Matt Barnes hasn’t come close to pitching poorly in his three starts with the Pawtucket Red Sox, but he has just one win to show for his efforts.
The tall right-hander from Connecticut allowed just two runs in six innings on Tuesday night but his teammates couldn’t get untracked at the plate as the Toledo Mud Hens recorded a 4-1 win at McCoy Stadium.
Barnes, Boston’s No. 1 pick in the 2011 draft, has allowed five hits and three runs in his last two starts (11 innings) but came away with a no-decision and a loss. He’s now 1-1 with a 2.25 earned run average. He threw a season-high 91 pitches on Tuesday and worked comfortably, a good sign considering he missed most of April with right shoulder inflammation.
Pawtucket’s bats were silenced by three Toledo pitchers. Starter Duane Below (3-0) earned the win as the Hens limited the Sox to six hits.
Barnes worked smoothly over the opening three innings and then stranded two base-runners in the fourth inning. After a smooth fifth, Barnes ran into trouble in the sixth inning. A single, walk and wild pitch put two runners in scoring position and after getting two outs, he allowed a double to Trevor Crowe that knocked in the game’s first two runs.
The PawSox made it 2-1 with their only run of the game in the seventh inning.
Toledo scored insurance runs in both the eighth and ninth innings to ice the game away.
Ryan Lavarnway started his 18th game of the season at first base on Tuesday, but he says he remains a catcher, first and foremost.
Lavarnway received a phone call during the winter from Red Sox manager John Farrell encouraging him to give first base a try if he spent time at Triple A this season. He reluctantly agreed and is learning a little bit about the position every day.
“John Farrell called me in the offseason and at first I was a little cautious to go in that direction because of the effort and the work that I’ve put in behind the plate. I feel like I’m in a good place with my catching,” Lavarnway said.
Lavarnway said Farrell told him, “I’m still viewed as a catcher first and that was really important to me,” but he’s realized that the versatility will only help his marketability and add value to his team.
“I’m happy with the way it’s gone so far. Every day I feel I get a new play in the game that I’ve never had before,” he said. “It’s a new challenge and an exciting opportunity. I still consider myself a catcher first but the added versatility will only help.”
Nava catches a break
Daniel Nava had a scheduled night off on Tuesday after playing 10 straight games since coming to Pawtucket. He’ll be back in the lineup when the series with the Mud Hens resumes on Wednesday.
He’s off to a strong start at the plate, hitting in eight of the 10 games (10-for-34, .294). He has struck out 12 times in 10 games, but he’s earned six walks and is taking his turn at all three outfield positions.
“I think he’s been terrific,” manager Kevin Boles said. “He’s made adjustments with his hitting approach. The left side looks like a shorter swing path. He’s played all three outfield positions and moved well. He moves the corner outfielders for us. He’s been very engaged. He has a great attitude, great work habits.”


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Real Madrid: Ramos' legacy and his ability to grab headlines
Following the recent saga over Sergio Ramos' future, Robbie Dunne looks at a Madrid great whose legacy nevertheless remains uncertain.
Few things are more unsettling for an opposition player than to see Sergio Ramos strut forward for a Real Madrid corner. For a centre-back, his 84 with Madrid has him first on the all-time goalscorers' list for defenders in LaLiga. Likewise, his 25 red cards are the most by any player in LaLiga; for better and worse, this is who Ramos is. The confidence he glides around the field with, the devilment in his eyes to cause maximum destruction. What’s almost worst, however, is the general inevitability of it all. From Lisbon to La Coruña, the bigger the venue, the more time that had expired, the brighter the spotlight, the more impossible the task, the more likely Ramos was to do something to wrestle your attention from the ball and onto him.
Hailing from Seville in Andalusia, where they are said to laugh a little louder, a little longer. Where they tend to be wittier and live life that little bit more to the full, he has been likened to the Spanish matador, literally, risking life and limb for his career and the fans. The more drama, the better. It is what sets Ramos apart but it could also hurt his legacy if he continues down this path after what was a needless season filled with embarrassing moments.
Attention-seeking Ramos makes himself poster boy of season of failure
In a season where Madrid's incompetence was so complete that no one individual could really be singled out, Ramos nevertheless did a pretty good job of making himself the face of their failure. The culmination of their humiliation came against Ajax at the Santiago Bernabéu when they capitulated 4-1. Ramos missed that game. He had already endured his most cringe-inducing episode of the season earlier that week. He forced a yellow card against the Eredivisie side when he pulled at Kasper Dolberg in the first leg to clean his slate for the quarter-finals and beyond. Then he was suspended when he admitted as much after the game in the mixed zone. In one fell swoop, he compounded that shame by being taped for an upcoming documentary about his life as Madrid fell to a team of upstarts. In a season to forget for everyone at the club, Ramos has plenty of competition for his more forgettable, regrettable moment.
In 2015, reports emerged that Ramos was on Manchester United’s radar. But some fairly tame speculation later and a quick flick of the wrist on a new contract and Ramos was the proud owner of a new and improved deal.
“This is not about money,” Ramos said at his most recent press conference after people interpreted reports of a move to China as another Florentino Pérez shakedown. He denied that he ever wanted to leave Real Madrid, however, and was forced out of the shadows and into the press room to say as much.
Pérez had played it perfectly, if that was in fact his plan when he went on Spanish radio and revealed Ramos’ Chinese proposal. It forced Ramos to speak where he explained that he was a Madridista and wanted to be one for life. He didn’t get a new deal because he was already the highest-paid player at the club and all he got from it was a headache and headlines. Ramos loves the latter, but not necessarily the former. It also sets the tone after Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure. No longer will Pérez be held to ransom when someone wants a new deal. Ramos is a legend at the club but he’s not Ronaldo special. He doesn’t score 50 goals a season and Madrid probably won’t ever have another player like him. So if you want more favourable terms, either get a club to pay the infamously inflated release clause, or stop talking and get back to work.
Few players and people are able to turn the attention on himself even when attention is the last thing you might want. On nights at the Bernabéu and all over Spain when Madrid players were assessing the field, not to find space and exploit their opponents weaknesses, but to find the quickest escape route off off it once the whistle blew and into the safe confines of, pretty much, anywhere else, Ramos was always there, ready to get sucked in. The manita against Barcelona was one particular example when he swiped out at Lionel Messi as he slinked between defenders and proceeded to push and punch his way off the field.
When you’re winning, you can write the headlines and set the agenda, but if Real Madrid do go through another trophyless season and Ramos walks away in 12 months' time, you wonder what his legacy will look like despite everything he has done at the club.

domain: sports


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In Ireland, the Great Famine was a period of mass starvation, disease and emigration between 1845 and 1852.It is sometimes referred to, mostly outside Ireland, as the Irish Potato Famine because one-third of the population was then solely reliant on this cheap crop for a number of historical reasons.Altogether, about a million people in Ireland are reliably estimated to have died of starvation and epidemic disease between 1846 and 1851, and some two million emigrated in a period of a little more than a decade (1845-55).
Phytophthora infestan, or “late blight,” as it’s known to gardeners and farmers, is a widespread disease found all over the world, including farms and backyard gardens in North Carolina. It was one of the first plant pathogens ever described by scientists. Dr. Ristaino first became interested in studying the pathogen when she took a sabbatical overseas ten years ago and saw firsthand ancient samples of diseased leaves from the potato famine.People couldn’t afford to pay their rents anymore and were evicted by their landlords. They were forced to move to disease-infested workhouses or to emigrate to other countries. But even emigration was no solution for many of people – they were crowded into little ships, later also labeled “coffin ships”, and many of them died on the way due to hunger, disease and other causes.
Usually just over half of the emigrants survived the long journeys.Other people, who could not afford to buy other food, were forced to eat the rotten potatoes, contracted diseases such as typhoid, and passed these on in their entire villages. Since not even the priests could afford to buy coffins for the dead, they were either not buried or just buried wearing the clothes that had died in, so no one was really safe of disease.

domain: biology


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Jamie Masters has been working since 2001 as a full time sound engineer, becoming freelance in 2005 and launching Echo Studios in 2007. Having gradually worked his way into the producer’s chair, he now splits his time between producing and engineering sessions at Echo. A self-taught guitar player, Jamie spent his teens and twenties playing in numerous guitar bands, gradually realising that the studio was where he belonged. He has a wide variety of experience in recording albums, EPs, singles and demos for both professional and amateur artists, and is a member of the Music Producers Guild.
Jamie is married to Nicola and together they have two children, Neve and Rufus (he wasn’t allowed to call his second child after a mixing desk as well… although Solid State Logic was an option for a while). He struggles to do anything before having at least two cups of coffee in the morning and you can read his blog here.
James Torselli has been a sound engineer at Echo since February 2011. An accomplished bass player, James combines working at the studio with running his band, Ryker Sear, with whom he first visited the studio in 2009 to record their debut album. He teaches guitar and bass and plays a variety of instruments including guitar, drums, violin and clarinet. He can read and write music and has written music for film. Needless to say, if you need someone to put a C major 9 in your music, then James is your man. He is a vegan whose ability not to drink tea or coffee consistently amazes Jamie.

domain: artistic


Involved and competent employees
Where and why is it important?
Demolition will not save the climate
Realising the potential that lies in the buildings we already have means we can save money while sparing the environment and society.
Rural value creation
Moelven companies are often found outside the major cities and urban areas. Many of our operations are important cornerstone companies in smaller locations, both in Norway and in Sweden.
Resource-efficient design and packaging
Material use is optimised and waste quantities reduced through resource-efficient design and industrialised production in controlled environments in the factory, on the construction site and during the usage phase.


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No related posts.
REALLY?! I never knew this!!!
nothing new here..
Post should have been called “Duh”.
Taylor Swift Sings About PAST FLAMES
Yeah.. like that’s something new.. -_-
What song is this? I’m on my phone and it won’t let me watch!
No song, just E news story on album
Oh. Its the most amazing album, I can ensure you, your money will be well spent!
Slightly/Very off topic but I officially love Ms. Swift even more this morning after finding out she is a fan of my favorite band, Green River Ordinance. She put their song On Your Own on her iTunes Celebrity Playlist in the number TWO spot! Incredible. Thanks for loving GRO and spreading their music, Taylor!

domain: entertainment


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écoutez et répétez
Personally I am interested in many different genres of music (classical voice, jazz voice, classical piano, jazz piano, accompanying), and in college I was able to take many different kinds of lessons to fulfill my needs. As a result, I feel very comfortable teaching others about all sorts of different genres of music.
For the past 20 years, I've studied and performed with keyboards, guitars and woodwind instruments while exploring a very wide variety of music ranging from classical and rock to jazz and avant-garde. Expanding and sharing that knowledge with other people in a helpful and friendly manner is something that I consummately enjoy- especially if they're beginning where I once was. My education includes a Bachelor of Music in Music Composition from DePaul University, and I've been working on my Music Education Certificate at UMSL since August 2014. Teaching private music lessons to students has allowed me to develop my interpersonal and arbitrational skills through calmly and effectively solving student issues as they've come up.
I'm a pianist, keyboardist, and singer-songwriter. I'm originally from St. Louis, MO, and I moved to Chicago in 2008 to pursue a degree and career in music. In 2013, I graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance, specializing in popular styles of music such as rock, blues, and pop. That same year I became a full time member of The Nick Moss Band, a blues/rock/jam band based in Chicago. Over the past two years I have had the privelige to play at some of the largest Blues festivals in the world, and have also played in Germany, Norway, Poland, and Canada. Before joining The Nick Moss Band, I was a member of various blues/rock and jam bands around the city of Chicago, and also played with various pop artists and singer songwriters. I am heavily influenced by blues, rock, pop, and jazz pianists. Some examples would be Elton John, Bruce Hornsby, Jerry Lee Lewis, Vince Guaraldi (Charlie Brown), Keith Jarrett, and Otis Spann. I consider myself a bit of a "late bloomer". I didn't start playing piano seriously until I was 16 years old, but a lot of hard work has gotten me to this point, and I am excited to continue to hopefully inspire others and help them love all types of music!
I have loved music from a very early age and I have been fortunate to study a variety of instruments and musical styles. I grew up studying the drums, piano, guitar, voice, and songwriting. I have been in a cover bands, original bands, jazz bands, choirs, a country band, a steel drum band, marching band, opera, a pop orchestra, a hip hop ensemble, and musical theatre productions. In college I took my studies further by learning music theory and aural skills while still performing in ensembles and writing lots of music. Now I teach and perform around Chicago! My studio is equipped with a keyboard, acoustic and electric guitars, and a cajon, as well as various percussion instruments.
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Once you’ve met with your teacher for your risk free trial lesson, continuing with Musika is easy! If you are satisfied with your lesson, all you have to do is register with us to continue! The trial will count as your first lesson if you continue, however, with our Great Match Guarantee™ if for any reason you decide not to continue then the trial is FREE. Go ahead give it a try, you really have nothing to lose.
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In home lessons are what 90% of our students request. Not only is it a convenient means to study music, but we also notice no difference in the quality of lessons done in-home or in-studio since they are typically structured the same. The main benefit of in-home lessons is the reduction in travel time to another location. Additionally, the student may be able to focus better in their own home since they are familiar with it. Piano lessons in the home offer a practical choice for your family for learning the skill of playing a musical instrument.
A keyboard or digital piano is a perfectly acceptable alternative to an acoustic piano for the purposes of lessons and practice. The major advantages of keyboards are the cheap price, portability, and the possibility of playing with headphones, which means being able to practice without disturbing others. When buying a keyboard, look to get one with a weighted hammer action and as many keys as possible although a minimum of 61 should suffice. Weighted keys will most resemble the touch sensitivity of a real piano. The most common brands are Casio, Korg, and Yamaha. If possible, look to purchase an upright or baby grand piano.
Musika piano lessons can be tailored to suit students of all abilities, whether they are beginning, intermediate, or advanced level players. For beginners, the basics will be taught. This can include learning the correct posture, hand position, and fingering technique as well as learning the notes and scales of the piano, learning basic chords and chord progressions, developing the musical ear, and learning to apply these things to simple songs. Intermediate players can start to increase their playing speed in order to perform runs, fills, and solos, they can broaden their chord playing to things like augmented chords, diminished chords, slash chords and so on as well as working on their sight reading, music theory, such as learning different time signatures, and applying these skills to more complex songs. For advanced players, they will be adding an edge to their playing, such as improvisational skills, repertoire and genre-specific work, like learning Jazz or Romantic piano.
For adults who are looking to learn to play the piano, we recommend that they do so with some clear goals in mind. Maybe you want to learn to play some of your favorite songs, pass an exam, or write your own music. Whatever the aim, the experienced teachers in our network can help unlock the skills necessary to make those goals a reality. It can take time to develop the techniques and co-ordination required to play the piano to a competent level. However, playing the piano is a great stress reliever, keeps you mentally active, and can help with your hearing and fine-motor skills.
Piano is a great first instrument for children who have never studied music before. The instructors in our network specialize in teaching younger children, and can develop an individual lesson plan for your child. The youngest age that we recommend starting piano lessons is age 4. The instructor will be able to teach your child to read music, beginning music theory and musicianship skills, and how to develop a love for playing the instrument.
Review by Roberta
My 4 year old son is quite energetic. Another piano teacher tried to teach him before Peter and could not get my son to listen to him at all. That teacher told me that my son had no interest and that we needed to wait before having my son take lessons. Peter started teaching my son a few weeks later. He quickly developed a great rapport with my son. I was astounded when my son sat down and listened to Peter during the first lesson. Peter has remarkable patience and is a natural working with children. He knows when to follow the child's lead. My son is very interested in how the piano works, so Peter takes the time to teach him about this. He is able to use my son's interests (superheroes, Lego, Star Wars, etc.) to refocus him back to playing the piano. Between lessons, he brainstorms on how he can teach my son better. For example, my son was playing the notes, but not understanding rhythm, so Peter looked into it and came back the next week with a new plan which helped. My son looks forward to his lesson every week. When he hears the doorbell ring on lesson day, he exclaims, "Yay! Peter's here!"
Review by Lucinda
Melissa is very encouraging, positive, supportive and patient. She knows how to explain the technical details of flute and music notation to kids in a way that makes sense to them. She has been reliable so far turning up on time and calling if there is a need to reschedule. I would definitely recommend her to others.
Review by Brianne Hancock
Martina has been teaching our daughter violin since early 2015. Every time our daughter has a lesson she comes away in such a great mood - she really enjoys her lessons! Martina is positive and encouraging and adjusts her teaching to help our daughter learn the best way for her learning needs. We were curious about how online lessons would work, and it turns out that they work really well. The 1:1 time and ability to teach from a distance make it work just as well as in person. We've had moves and schedule changes and Martina has been very flexible for us - which made such a big difference in making violin lessons accessible. Absolutely recommend her!
Review by Debbie E.
I had always wanted to take vocal lessons, but was very nervous about it until I had the opportunity to have Ali as my instructor. She made me feel very comfortable and helped me realize my strengths while giving me other areas to work on and strengthen. I liked how Ali had me sing out of my "comfort" zone to realize my vocal range. It is obvious that Ali loves music and sharing that love with her students. She is very good at what she does and works well with both male and female voices. I highly recommend Ali and give her solid 5 stars
Review by Maurice Romero
This is the 1st time I've ever taken lessons, and Robert has been a pleasure to work with. I've made quick progress and have enjoyed the process. I'm always listening for those tips that you can't find in a book. I can count on Robert to be strict on the fundamentals and am clear it will make a difference in the long run.
Review by Pat
Henry has been a great piano teacher since I started lessons about a month ago, and he is helping me realize a lifelong dream. He is patient, plays beautifully, is easy to learn from and a very nice person. I took lessons as a child for a year or so, but never followed up over the years. I always said that I would once I retired and found the right instructor. That time is now. Thank you Henry and Musika!
Review by Yury
I would like to thank Polina for the series of classical piano lessons I've taken recently. Polina is a fantastic teacher and a high class performer, and I'm really happy I had a chance to meet her! I believe anyone can benefit from the teaching method Polina is practicing regardless of the student proficiency - from beginners to advanced performers. It was a pleasure for me to study classical piano courses under the guidance of such an intelligent & professional teacher! Without doubt, my playing technique has improved a lot and I have signed up for the new classes online already.
Review by Jonathan
Angela is a phenomenal teacher. She is full of charisma and is a joy to work with. Most of my experience with her has been focused on working in the Alexander Technique and she seems very knowledgeable in this study. I would highly recommend her to any prospective student. I have seen myself improve dramatically in a few short weeks with her guidance (and much practice of course!)
Review by Jaima Woodiwiss
Having taken 6 years of piano lessons myself when I was young, I am very happy with Osmond teaching my daughter. He is very personable and helping her to enjoy piano. My daughter loves the fun songs she gets to play and I really appreciate how he is integrating even in the first month fingering, chords, beats, and hearing the music. She's getting a very well rounded training and she's loving it!
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Finding God in Everybody:
Seeing the Value in Everyone's Journey
What is it?
Join us for this four-week retreat series that will offer an opportunity to enter into a contemplative experience through the medium of films. These movies will help us explore the themes of God's constant compassionate mercy and deep love for us. God's love for us remains despite our humanity and even more so when we have not experienced love or feel we have failed.
How will this work?
Each person, in their own time and in the comfort of their own homes, will watch the film guided by reflective prompts. A facilitated meeting on the dates below, will allow participants to explore the themes of the featured films through discussion and personal sharing.
Where can I view the featured films?
For your convenience, we’ve noted where each of the films can be accessed next to the titles.
$40 ($32 Early Bird price before January 16th!)
The cost covers access to four nights of group discussion and reflection.
Wednesdays from 7 pm – 8:30 pm PST
Just Mercy (available on Amazon Prime, HBO and Vudu)
January 19, 2022
A powerful true story that follows young lawyer Bryan Stevenson and his battle for justice as he defends a man sentenced to death despite evidence proving his innocence.
East Side Sushi (available on Amazon Prime and Vudu)
January 26, 2022
Juana, a working-class, single mother, decides to take a job at a local Japanese restaurant. Against all odds, she fights to achieve her dream of becoming a sushi chef. Official Selection of CAAMFest, Heartland Film Festival, Napa Valley Film Festival
A Better Life (available on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play and Vudu)
February 2, 2022
Demian Bichir stars in this moving story of an undocumented Mexican worker in L.A. who tries to reconnect with his rebellious teenage son.
Harriet (available on Prime, Google Play and Vudu)
February 9, 2022
The story of the heroic abolitionist, Harriet Tubman is told from her escape from slavery through the dangerous missions she led to liberate hundreds of slaves through the Underground Railroad.


Aug 19, 2016
BREAKING MARVEL NEWS: A new poster is out for Spider-Man: Homecoming, and more details about casting, including his new leading lady being Zendaya, Marvel gets another series off the ground with The Runaways on Hulu, and Kyle Chandler may join Deadpool 2.
WEEKEND BOX OFFICE PREVIEW: Ryan gives us an inside look into Laika Studios and the stellar new movie Kubo and the Two Strings. Ben Hur looks lackluster and the reviews confirm it. War Dogs and Imperium also debut this weekend.
Star Trek Discovery reveals more, The Arrival trailer brings a different kind of alien movie, Jared Leto joins Blade Runner, a possible The Big Lebowski spin-off, a review of HBO's Vice Principals and Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly team up for Holmes & Watson.


Farrin’s Boat Shop, Walpole, ME
In Farrin’s Boat Shop is a Calvin Beal 42, which is fitted out as a patrol boat for the Maine Department of Marine Resources.
Her accommodations down below she include a V-berth, head, and a wet hanging locker. A portside galley includes a microwave, refrigerator, and coffeemaker. In the pilothouse there are two seats and an L-shaped settee with a dinette. In the cockpit the boat is outfiotted with a 17-inch hauler, an A-frame davit, open stern, and a cradle for a hard-bottom inflatable. A hydraulic winch helps in hauling in the inflatable.
This boat is nearing completion and most of the work is fairing, painting, hooking up the systems and minor finish work. She is expected to go over in spring 2021.


It seems that Volkswagen are still reeling under the weight of that scandal; a number of diesel options have been removed from the range, as have trim levels and other engines – VW are trying to cut back costs where they can, without making their line up the worse for it.
The 2017 Volkswagen CC is one such model that has been hit with cutbacks.
Introduced in 2009, the CC (originally part of the Passat family) is a relatively stylish sedan, in fact VW’s marketing says “mid-size sports sedan with shocking good looks”. Maybe 6 years ago it could have been classed as that, but now it’s just another sedan.
2017 Volkswagen CC Release date
The 2017 Volkswagen CC 4-door sedan is available right now, but truth be told, don’t expect much more than the predecessor.
2017 Volkswagen CC release date: already available
2017 Volkswagen CC Price
The VW CC lists in the region of $35,000 as an introduction, but in all honesty, you’d be better picking up the VR6 version as they are now discounted end of production models.
2017 Volkswagen CC Video
2017 Volkswagen CC Redesign and changes
This is more about what you don’t get, rather than what you do get; styling wise, the CC is near enough identical to the outgoing model year, so don’t expect anything fresh in that department.
In what can only be a cost saving measure, Volkswagen have cut the trim levels down from six options to just three – Sport, Executive and R-Line Executive. You have to remember that this model is competing against such autos as the Nissan Maxima, Lincoln MKZ, Volvo S60 and Acura TLX- if VW can’t step up, the CC will go the way of the VR6 – discontinued. It’s also worth noting that the 4MOTION all-wheel drive system has been canned as well.
2017 Volkswagen CC Specs
Speaking of the VR6; we no longer have any choices when it comes to powertrain (aside choosing whether we have a manual or auto transmission) – the VR6 version has now been dropped from the line up (a bargain to be had there – dealers are selling them at discounted rates) and we are left with a 2.0 liter turbo charged 4-cylinder which produces 200 BHP.
It isn’t a bad little motor, and 200 BHP feels enough, but we can’t help mourning the loss of the punchy V6. Volkswagen claim a combined MPG figure of 25 MPG for the CC. Transmission is either a 6-speed auto or manual.
2017 Volkswagen CC Equipment
The higher end versions will have tech such as lane departure, forward collision warning, automated emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. Expect to see Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, as is the 6.3” touchscreen infotainment.


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Central Florida Endoscopy & Surgical Center offers a full range of healthcare services including emergency services. The new state-of-the-art facility serving 7 Hill Gastroenterology, PA is fully equipped to provide comfort and accuracy in Therapeutic endoscopy, colonoscopy and polypectomy, Diagnostic EGD and therapeutic dilation for strictures, and other treatment and diagnostics for digestive and nutrition disorders.
The hospital accepts various types of health insurance, but individual coverage may be variable. You should check with your insurance whether the hospital is in network or not. You can make payment via cash, credit card or debit card.
You can request an appointment with specific doctor on hospital's website or make appointment request on HealthSoul.
Do You Have Questions About Healthcare? ASK A QUESTION


Recently, the use of tactical tools such as stun guns and pepper spray has been drawing a lot of attention. Some people believe that their mere use is illegal, while other groups argue that they are an important form of self-defense. So, what’s the Truth? Are these tools legal or not?
Well, It depends on the usage situation. For example, people in different occupations have different reasons for using them in different usage scenarios, which are all different. In general, the following three categories can be summarized:
1- The first category is law enforcement. Police officers use these tools to subdue criminals and protect themselves and the public. In this context, the use of these tools is legal.
2- The second category is self-defense. Homeowners may use stun guns or pepper spray to defend themselves against burglars or other intruders. In this context, the use of these tools is also legal.
3- The third category is general everyday carry. Some people carry stun guns or pepper spray with them for personal protection, even though they are not in law enforcement or don’t have a specific reason to fear for their safety.
The legality of this usage varies from state to state. Some states have laws that specifically allow or prohibit the carrying of these devices, while other states have no specific laws on the matter. So, as you can see, It really depends on how and why you want to use a stun gun or pepper spray. Be sure to check your local laws before using one of these devices.
What is a “tactical tool”?
A tactical tool is any type of equipment or device that is used to accomplish a specific goal or task. In the military, tactical tools are used by soldiers to help them complete their missions. These tools can include everything from weapons and ammunition to vehicles and communication equipment. Tactical tools are also used by law enforcement officers and first responders. For example, police officers may use tasers and batons as tactical tools, while firefighters may use hoses and axes. In general, any type of tool that helps someone achieve a specific goal can be considered a tactical tool.
While it is perfectly legal to purchase and own a Tactical torch, there are some restrictions on how they can be used. Most states have laws prohibiting the use of lasers or high-intensity lights to blind or temporarily disable another person. As a result, tactical torches are used in police, military, search & rescue, and security, where they need to get a vision or light in dark places. Additionally, many states have laws regulating the use of knives, and it is important to familiarize yourself with these laws before carrying a knife in public. While tactical gear can be a useful and even lifesaving tool, it is important to use it responsibly and in compliance with the law.
Who can use weapons in the UK?
In the United Kingdom, there are strict laws regarding who can use weapons. Only police officers and firefighters are allowed to carry firearms, and even then, they must undergo extensive training before being authorized to do so. The general public is not permitted to carry guns, knives, rubber bullets, offensive lights, or any other kind of additional weapons accessories. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For instance, people who work in security or who regularly handle large amounts of cash may be able to apply for a firearms license. Likewise, farmers and other rural workers may be permitted to carry certain types of weapons for the purpose of pest control. Ultimately, the decision about who can use weapons in the UK is up to the individual police force or local authority.
Recent news on the use of tactical weapons in the UK
In recent years, the UK has seen a rise in the use of tactical weapons by police forces. Tasers, rubber bullets, pepper spray, and batons are now commonly used to subdue suspects and prevent violence. The benefits of these weapons are clear; they help to keep both suspects and officers safe. However, there has been some concern about the potential for misuse. In particular, there have been calls for more training on when and how to use these weapons effectively. Additionally, some have raised concerns about the long-term effects of being struck by a Taser or pepper spray. Overall, the use of tactical weapons can be a valuable tool for law enforcement, but care must be taken to ensure that they are used correctly.
The use of tactical tools is a matter of ongoing debate. Some people argue that the use of these tools is a violation of the law, while others maintain that they can be used legally if they are used in accordance with the law. Tactical tools like riffles, guns, navigation gear, weapon light, tough hook handers, assault backups and etc are designed for use in military and law enforcement operations, and as such, their use is subject to a number of regulations. In general, the use of these tools is only permitted when there is a reasonable belief that they will be used in a way that is consistent with the law. As such, the use of tactical tools can be legal or illegal depending on the circumstances.


|The CSCL Star(IMO: 9466867, Port of Registry: Hong Kong) is the first of eight container carriers of its kind ordered by CSCL. The vessel is 366 meters long, 51 meters wide and has a teu capacity of 14,000. She was delivered in 2011 by Samsung Shipbuilding & Heavy Industries, Korea and is propelled by a 72,000 KW HSD Engine. She is deployed on China Shipping's AEX-7 loop connecting Asia and Europe. Some of the Star's sisters are: CSCL Mars, CSCL Uranus, CSCL Jupiter and CSCL Venus.|
The CSCL Star arrived this morning at the Port of Rotterdam from Le Havre. She is berthed at the ECT Delta Terminal.
Click here for the current position of the CSCL Star


Boris Johnson faced Tory calls to shake up his top team last night, as a Whitehall hunt got under way to unmask the ‘chatty pig’ who betrayed him to the BBC.
Former Conservative leader William Hague led demands for the Prime Minister to pay more attention to the views of senior ministers, saying there was ‘still time for the Tories to get a grip’.
Other former ministers called for Mr Johnson to install a ‘big hitter’, such as Australian elections guru Sir Lynton Crosby, to sharpen up his top team after weeks of problems.
Concern about the No 10 operation crystallised on Monday night when a ‘senior Downing Street source’ gave a brutal briefing to the BBC calling the Prime Minister’s CBI speech ‘shambolic’.
He had lost his place for more than 20 seconds during the address and rhapsodised about children’s TV character Peppa Pig.
‘It’s just not working,’ the source claimed.
‘Cabinet needs to wake up and demand serious changes otherwise it’ll keep getting worse.
‘If they don’t insist, he just won’t do anything about it.’
The incendiary comment ignited a furious briefing war, with several government insiders blaming the Treasury – a claim furiously denied by allies of Rishi Sunak.
Boris Johnson and son Wilfred at Peppa Pig World in the New Forest
It also sparked a Whitehall hunt for the ‘chatty pig’ amid fears they could unleash further damage on the Government.
The phrase is a riff on the ‘chatty rat’ scandal, when someone leaked plans for a second national Covid lockdown last year.
Last night, it was claimed that frustrations were growing in the Treasury at No 10’s handling of recent political announcements, with Mr Sunak’s department said to be concerned about the integrated rail plan and the latest row over social care.
Downing Street robustly defended the Prime Minister yesterday, insisting that he was ‘well’ and ‘very much focused on delivering for the public’.
However, some Tory MPs warned that political misjudgements, U-turns and ill-discipline were eating away at the party’s reputation for competence.
Last week Mr Johnson privately apologised to Tory MPs for ‘crashing the car’ by trying to block the suspension of former minister Owen Paterson for lobbying.
Former Cabinet minister Jeremy Hunt said the Government was simply going through a bad patch.
‘It has been a bad month, I will absolutely concede that – not just on trivial issues like speeches going wrong but much more serious issues like parliamentary standards.
‘But I think in the end this government… will be judged on reforms for ordinary people.’
Mr Hunt acknowledged there were ‘noises off’ about Mr Johnson’s leadership within the Tory party, but insisted the criticism was not on the scale of that faced by David Cameron or Theresa May.
Richard Holden, an influential member of the 2019 intake of ‘Red Wall’ Tory MPs, told the grassroots website Conservative Home: ‘At a national level, it feels like the Government is missing chances to highlight the good work that such Conservative MPs are doing.
‘And that it is making a few too many unforced errors.’
Mr Johnson’s spokesman insisted he already consults senior colleagues on key issues, adding: ‘The Prime Minister has an entire Cabinet to draw on who provide advice, as you would expect.’
Did squealer come from Rishi’s glossy spin team?
By any standards it was a damaging briefing. In the context it was nothing short of toxic. Hours after Boris Johnson had come off stage following a ‘difficult’ speech to the CBI, a ‘senior Downing Street source’ went on the attack.
‘There is a lot of concern inside the building about the PM,’ the source told the BBC’s political editor Laura Kuenssberg.
‘It’s just not working. Cabinet needs to wake up and demand serious changes, otherwise it’ll keep getting worse. If they don’t insist, he just won’t do anything about it.’
The Prime Minister’s speech had certainly been difficult. At one point he lost his place for 20 seconds, muttering ‘Forgive me’ repeatedly as the nation’s business leaders looked on.
And his attempt to liven up a discussion about Britain’s creative power by regaling the suits of the CBI with details of his trip the previous day to Peppa Pig World also fell flat. Even allies acknowledged it had been ‘a difficult day at the office’.
But the ferocity of the briefing against him took aides aback, triggering the latest bout of what one former No 10 insider described as ‘fear and loathing in Downing Street’.
One ally of the PM said: ‘Why is anyone in Downing Street putting this out there? It is so self-indulgent, so damaging – if that’s what you really think then you should do something about it or quit, not go bleating to the BBC.’
The speech mishaps – blamed on a junior aide handing the PM a print-out of his speech with the pages in the wrong order – are only the latest cause of disquiet.
Many No 10 insiders were aghast at the disastrous decision this month to try to block the suspension of former Cabinet minister Owen Paterson for lobbying, which unleashed a fortnight of damaging headlines about Tory sleaze.
There is also unhappiness with the performance of the whips office, which has had to resort to giving rebel MPs the night off to prevent them voting against the Government.
And last night a hunt for the so-called ‘Chatty Pig’ who dripped poison in the ear of the BBC was threatening to blow apart the fragile truce between the PM and Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
While Downing Street declined to comment in public, allies of the PM were notably quick to suggest the briefing had come not from No 10 itself, but from the Chancellor’s power base next door.
As evidence, they pointed to a decision by the BBC to change the attribution of the quote on its website from ‘No 10 source’ to ‘senior Downing Street source’.
‘That is the BBC saying it is not No 10,’ said one ally of Mr Johnson. ‘I think you have to look a bit further down the street.’
Many in Government sense the hand of Dominic Cummings, the PM’s former chief adviser who has now transformed himself into Mr Johnson’s chief tormentor.
The Brexit mastermind quit No 10 almost a year ago after losing a power struggle with the PM’s wife Carrie.
But he left behind a network of aides and special advisers across government. Some retain a residual loyalty to the former No 10 supremo, which his successor Dan Rosenfield has so far failed to break.
Nowhere is this truer than in the joint No 10/Treasury team set up by Mr Cummings to try to improve relations between the historic rivals.
The original aim of the powerful unit was to wrest power away from the Treasury and prevent the Government’s purse holders blocking the PM’s ambitious plans.
It was viewed with such alarm by the then Chancellor Sajid Javid that he quit the Cabinet rather than be stripped of his own special advisers.
But his successor Mr Sunak quickly turned it to his advantage, with one source saying the unit was now a ‘wholly owned subsidiary of the Treasury’.
Several sources yesterday pointed the finger at the unit’s chief Liam Booth-Smith, who is said to make little effort to disguise his disdain for the PM.
The former think-tank boss affects the same scruffy look as Mr Cummings and is said to share at least some of his criticisms of Mr Johnson.
One former colleague claimed he was ‘not discreet’ about his criticism of the PM.
Allies last night did not deny that Mr Booth-Smith has made disparaging remarks about Mr Johnson in the past, but insisted he is not the Chatty Pig.
One said that, far from being unhelpful, he had spent Monday afternoon ringing round MPs trying to help the Government win a crunch vote on social care. ‘This is not from Liam or anyone else at the Treasury,’ said one source. ‘That suggestion is just an attempt to deflect the blame.’
Certainly there are simmering tensions between No 10 and No 11. Relations between Mr Sunak and Mr Rosenfield are said to have ‘not recovered’ from a bruising spending review last month in which the Chancellor was ordered to shell out a £35billion windfall rather than salt it away to help fund future tax cuts.
On more than one occasion, the Chancellor is said to have asked the PM’s chief of staff to leave the room so that he can speak frankly with Mr Johnson. But, as multiple sources said yesterday, it is also entirely possible that the Chatty Pig is working at the heart of Government in No 10.
‘The problem is that there are so many people frustrated with the PM at the moment that it’s not easy to narrow down who might be bad-mouthing him,’ said one.
Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, whose rising star has stalled since he formed an alliance with Mr Cummings last year, was one name on people’s lips yesterday.
Cleo Watson, another former close ally of Mr Cummings, was another although she is now based in 9 Downing Street with the Cop26 climate team.
Allies of Housing Secretary Michael Gove in No 10 were also blamed by some.
A senior No 10 source flatly denied that the poisonous briefing had come from anyone in the building, adding: ‘Everyone in No 10 is completely united in working to deliver on the Government’s priorities.’
But the prim dismissal masks a hidden anxiety – if Mr Johnson’s staff cannot unmask the Chatty Pig swiftly, what damage might he or she cause the PM next?


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Crooked Letter, Crooked LetterFranklin, Tom
Set in Mississippi, this is a novel deeply rooted in its rural landscape. Larry Ott, white and middle class and Silas Jones, poor and black, were once childhood friends, their paths converging again years later when a young girl disappears in similar circumstances to events in their youth.
With its superbly developed characters, its challenges to Southern stereotypes, and a storyline alternating between the 1970s and the present, this is a murder mystery with a difference. Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger Winner 2011.
Comments from GroupsMost members really enjoyed this book. They liked the style of writing and the way the characters came alive. Tapawera 001A great little book with a real twist at the finish. Makes you glad that we live in good old NZ & not in the USA! Winton 001Our entire group enjoyed reading this book. Even though there were lots of questions to answer we had a lively discussion. We could sympathise with the 2 main characters. Geraldine 002Simple but descriptive prose and detail. Small town prejudice, tension, victimisation, racial/moral issues. Enjoyed by all but a sad, depressing story. Wellington 107We all enjoyed this book. It made us think of `To Kill a Mockingbird`. Te Puke 001We all thoroughly enjoyed this book which prompted a long and deep discussion. A stimulating and thought provoking read. This is the first book for our club, and we were pleasantly surprised as none of us would have chosen to read it. Dunedin 085 Crooked letter, crooked letter, of all the books, one of the better. A bit of mystery, a hidden crime, not today, but back in time. When racism was still rife, it was a different way of life. Secrets kept and truths untold, saw a young man's future stole'd. Friendships made were friendships lost, to save oneself but at what cost. It made us muse, it made us talk, of different roads that people walk. And as we like to talk and muse, this book we'd recommend, to choose! Nelson 063 We loved this book. We thought the characterisation and plot were very well worked out with the tension remaining to the end. A number of us wish to read other books by Tom Franklin. Good psychological development of how different personalities evolve and why. Wellington 062 ....The racial tensions were well-drawn, and the plot managed to unfold with smooth flashbacks to the childhood events that had far-reaching outcomes for the future of both the main characters ,Larry and Silas. A thoroughly well-crafted mystery with believable characters. Auckland 037 We all rated this book highly. The plot had lots of themes and twists and turns that kept you guessing until the end. We found the rural American setting and the racial insights/tension very interesting. Christchurch 312 Some felt it took time to get into the story, but once in, we were hooked. We felt very sad for Larry - a wasted life for a very good-hearted young man; and very cross with Silas for not coming 'clean' earlier.We think the two will work things out however, and become the best of 'brothers'! Recommended for sure. Tauranga 051 Enjoyed by the majority of the group, but not entirely to the taste of some, mainly because it was a book that required almost continuous attention - not one that could be read a few pages at a time. Nevertheless, we can recommend this to other groups for the quality of the writing and its portrayal of inter-racial relationships and tensions in the southern states. Whangarei 015 Tom Franklin's book about hard times in Mississippi provided excellent discussion on several topics including racial bias versus enculturation, and what constitutes masculine behaviour. Relationships as portrayed here were discussed with enthusiasm, especially family relationships and friendships. The structure of the story was carefully and cleverly built up, but some readers found the book hard to get into, enjoying the second half more than the first half! Some members read it twice, and enjoyed it far more the second time.The author's writing style was detailed yet spare, establishing clear visuals in the mind of the reader, and the characterisation was established with pleasing realism. As a murder story it was quite unusual, and often the reader almost forgot that he/she was in pursuit of the guilty one, since the vagaries of the characters were so enthralling. We all greatly enjoyed the discussion, but not all of us would recommend this book to our friends. Readers need a good amount of perseverance in order to enjoy all that this writer has to offer, in our view! Whitby 005

domain: library


A few days ago, Jauz took to his Twitter account to let fans know that he was going to announce something big. Well, just yesterday, the music producer revealed that he will be launching his own label, which will be called Bite This and announced that the first release on his label is going to be a remix package, that will include some remixes for Claim to Be, The Game, I Hold Still, and Alpha, as well as a bonus single from Jauz.
Check out the announcement below and stay tuned for this Friday!
Welcome to the next chapter. OTDE Vol. One, with a bonus single from myself and 7 new remixes, out 11/10 on my label, @heybitethis pic.twitter.com/3C0UI2o1P0
— Jauz (@Jauzofficial) November 6, 2017


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Nevada rural Airbnb income 5th highest in nation
Nevada rural Airbnb operators earn more on average than urban counterparts
- 32,000: The number of rural Airbnb guests in Nevada in 2016, an increase of 65 percent from last year.
- 47: The average age of Nevada’s 450 rural Airbnb hosts.
- $9,000: The average income of Nevada’s rural Airbnb hosts, compared to $7,400 for urban hosts.
Nevada’s rural Airbnb hosts posted the fifth-highest average income in the nation for the home-rental service's non-urban locations.
A report released Tuesday by Airbnb found that rural host income in Nevada averaged $9,000 in 2016. Only California, Hawaii, Delaware and Oregon reported higher host incomes last year, with California’s $11,900 leading the nation.
Nevada was also one of a select number of states where rural hosts earned more on average than their urban counterparts. In 2016, Nevada Airbnb hosts in urban areas reported an average income of $7,400.
Part of this could be attributed to the Tahoe effect, said Jasmine Mora, a spokeswoman for Airbnb.
“Minden does get some travelers to Lake Tahoe, which is just about a half hour away,” Mora said.
Airbnb’s 450 rural hosts in Nevada pulled in $5 million in total income in 2016. The hosts, who had an average age of 47, provided lodging to 32,000 guests last year — a 65 percent jump from 2015. Rural guests accounted for a little over 9 percent of the 341,000 Airbnb guests in Nevada over the same time period.
Statewide, Airbnb saw a 151 percent increase in guests in the Silver State last year. More than three-quarters of Airbnb guests hosted in the state stayed in Las Vegas, generating $35.5 million of the $47.4 million in Airbnb income in Nevada.
RELATED VIDEO: Nevada economic development wins
Reno was fifth overall behind Las Vegas, Stateline, Incline Village and Henderson. The Biggest Little City hosted 10,700 Airbnb guests and generated $1.3 million in total income. Airbnb also reported that its business has generated about $500,000 in taxes for Washoe County since 2015.
Nationwide, the home-sharing website says that 3.3 million guest arrivals occurred at rural listings in the USA over the last year, a year-over-year increase of 138 percent.
In every U.S. state, the earnings of Airbnb hosts in rural areas represented a large percentage of household income, ranging from 5 percent to 20 percent. In Hawaii, it made up 20.3 percent of household income. In California, it was 20.1 percent.
According to Airbnb’s research, there are more Airbnb hosts than corporate hotel chains in many rural communities in the USA.
In West Virginia, 75 percent of active Airbnb listings are located in rural areas, compared with 32.7 percent of hotels rooms. In New Hampshire, 71.9 percent of active Airbnb listings are located in rural areas, while 33.1 percent of hotel rooms are. In Montana, the Airbnb to hotel room percentages in rural areas are 64.1 percent vs. 28.1 percent. In Wyoming, there are 65.9 percent rural Airbnb listings compared with 31.5 percent hotel rooms.
Chris Lehane, head of global policy for Airbnb, says many of the most popular rural destinations are near national and state parks or places that play host to youth sports tournaments.
“The Airbnb platform is a platform that is supporting the middle class,” Lehane says. “It democratizes tourism, brings tourism to places that haven’t benefited from it.”
Rural Airbnb’s are particularly popular among families and young travelers in their 20s and early 30s — known as millennials — who are searching for more authentic local experiences, Lehane says.
The rural Airbnb’s are among the company’s fastest-growing segments, he says. It has also helped female Airbnb hosts. The majority of Airbnb rural hosts in almost every country studied for the report are women.
“I’m not saying we’re the solution for all the challenges rural communities are facing but I think we are a part of a broader formula to create economic opportunities,” Lehane says.
The report also shows the general growth of Airbnb across the USA. Many cities have moved to try to stem Airbnb's growth at the behest of the hotel industry. Still, 46 of the 50 U.S. states have seen at least 100 percent year-over-year growth.
The states seeing the fastest year-over-year growth are in the Midwest and South, including Oklahoma, Illinois, Arkansas, Missouri and Alabama.

domain: travel


Skoda Octavia vRS hatchback - Interior & comfort (2013-2021)
The quality cabin is a real highlight, but firm suspension means the Skoda Octavia vRS is not as comfortable as standard versions
As with most modern Skoda cars, there’s not much to complain about in terms of interior quality, which is excellent throughout the Skoda Octavia vRS. A few materials in out-of-the-way places are not quite as smart as the Volkswagen Golf’s, but the quality gap is small, and the most recent update decreased it still further. The Octavia vRS also gets sporty details to separate it from cheaper models in the range.
A comfortable interior makes the Octavia a great choice for high-mileage drivers. There’s a big range of seat and steering-wheel adjustment, so it’s easy to find a good driving position, while the standard sports seats are very supportive. The Alcantara sets fitted in the Challenge version are particularly attractive, and help add to the motorsport feel of the otherwise conservative interior.
The vRS gets 18-inch alloy wheels as standard and 19-inch alloy wheels as an option. The Challenge special edition gets the bigger wheels as standard. The 19-inch wheels make the car jolt over bumps that would be less noticeable with the smaller wheels, and they also increase the amount of tyre roar.
Skoda Octavia vRS dashboard
With a modern and very smart dash, the inside of the Octavia is an enjoyable place to be. All of the switchgear is modern and intuitive to use, while the three-spoke multifunction steering wheel is great. Large, clear dials and smart trim inlays finish off a really pleasing-looking dashboard.
All vRS models are well-equipped. Outside, they get bright xenon headlights and LED tail-lights, while 18-inch alloys and 15mm lower sports suspension give them a sporty stance on the road. Inside, the vRS has sports seats with a choice of red or grey seams.
The multifunction steering wheel has buttons to control the stereo and telephone functions, and there’s also cruise control. Better still, stainless-steel pedals and smart trim inlays give the vRS an upmarket feel. DAB digital radio and Bluetooth connectivity are also standard equipment.
Sat nav is provided, too, with an easy-to-use eight-inch touchscreen that displays clear mapping. There’s the option of a 9.2-inch Columbus infotainment system with pinch-to-zoom gesture recognition, too. However, while the latter is a great-looking system, we found it a little unintuitive; it could do with a few more physical buttons for easier use when the car is moving.
Inside the vRS, you can add luxury items like an electric sunroof, a keyless entry and start system, heated seats and full leather upholstery. As with the rest of the Octavia range, you can also specify neat features such as a small umbrella that stows in a compartment under the front passenger seat and an iPad holder that attaches to the back of the front headrest. A wireless phone charging system, called Phonebox, is also available. It allows you to drop your compatible smartphone in a cubby in the centre console, and as well as charging your phone, it'll wirelessly connect your phone to the car's aerial which boosts phone and data signals.
For around £450 you can also add Skoda's Virtual Cockpit, replacing the traditional instrument cluster with a TFT screen capable of showing five different graphical layouts. This can even include route guidance, making it easier to spot the next turn.
Opt for the Skoda Octavia vRS Challenge edition and 19-inch alloy wheels, black exterior trim (including the door mirrors, tailpipes and badges), Alcantara sports seats, keyless entry and Dynamic Chassis Control are all added for about half of the cost of ticking each option box separately when buying the standard model.


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Looks a bit like a treehopper headwise but v.short spotted wings and nothing like anything I've seen in Chinery British insect ID book.
No interactions present.
Lots of useful images therein - and vastly superior to Chinery (which illustrates badly just a handful of the 35,000 invertebrates known in the UK). Good luck.
BMIG website: www.bmig.org.uk (centipedes, millipedes & woodlice)
BMIG Newsletters ~ www.bmig.org.uk/view/resource/bmig-newsletter
BMIG Bulletins ~ www.bmig.org.uk/view/resource/bmig-bulletin
Lat/Lng: 51.8011, -1.4091
OS grid ref: SP408115


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Since this weekend is all about San Diego Comic-Con, we figured it would be just a matter of time before WB Games unleashed a new gameplay trailer for Gotham Knights. And indeed, we got it, but it’s focusing on a particular heroine – Batgirl!
In the trailer, seen below, you get a close look at how her combat comes together, as well as how she traverses across Gotham City, taking on enemies of all types. “Gotham City still has a bat, and she’s going to make sure everyone knows it,” the company notes in its description. ”Protecting people runs in her veins and will always be a part of who she is, no matter her identity. The people of Gotham need a symbol to believe in, and there’s no one better than Batgirl to be that symbol.”
We could be seeing more of the game as the weekend goes on, with WB Games primed to showcase more hero footage and maybe even a few boss fights. Fingers crossed!
Gotham Knights arrives for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X and PC on October 25th.
We’re giving away a game console of your choice! Find out how to win here.

domain: game


ABU DHABI - The European Union’s climate policy chief Frans Timmermans has defended the controversial appointment of the United Arab Emirates’ oil chief as leader of the year-end COP28 climate conference, saying he was confident that Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber could steer the “tough cookies” of the global oil and gas sector towards the green energy transition.
Dr Al Jaber, 49, is chief executive of the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) – the world’s 12th largest oil producer – and was last week announced president-designate of the Dubai-hosted United Nations COP28 climate conference later this year.
Since his appointment on Jan 12, he has faced a backlash from climate activists, who say the UAE faces a conflict of interest in fielding someone from the fossil fuel industry.
The emissions from burning fossil fuels are largely responsible for the climate crisis, scientists say.
The United Nations has said the only way to limit the risks from climate change is to significantly ramp up investments in renewable energy and shift away from coal, oil and gas.
Climate activists fear that the conference, from Nov 30 to Dec 12, may be hijacked by the fossil fuel industry, which could play down efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as it pushes for increased oil and gas production.
On Sunday, climate activists in Davos also protested against the role of big oil companies at the ongoing World Economic Forum, saying companies such as BP, Chevron and Saudi Aramco would push for their interests.
Speaking on Monday at the summit of the annual Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, Mr Timmermans pointed to Dr Al Jaber’s “impressive track record” in embarking on sustainability policies long before anybody else in the oil and gas sector did.
The executive vice-president for the European Commission added: “We have some tough cookies in that sector that we need to address, but I want them on board, I don’t want them vilified.
“And I want him, and I will help him where we can, to convince other executives in oil and gas to finally start investing in the transition towards renewable energy.”
Dr Al Jaber was the founding chief executive of renewable energy company Masdar, which has invested in renewable energy projects in more than 40 countries. Recently, Masdar also started a green hydrogen branch, and embarked on a few feasibility partnerships with other countries on the technology.
In one such collaboration, the company on Jan 13 inked an agreement with four Dutch companies to explore transportation methods for exporting green hydrogen to Amsterdam. Masdar is also the host of the sustainability week.
Despite the green push, however, Adnoc is also aiming to raise crude oil production capacity to five million barrels a day by 2027, up from about four million barrels now, Bloomberg reported in November 2022. This will be part of the oil giant’s US$150 billion (S$198 billion) investment plan, which is higher than its previous five-year spending target.
The EU’s position appears to have softened from its stance at COP27 in Egypt last November, when the bloc pushed hard for a call to phase out all fossil fuels, as a warning to the world against investing in them.
But the oil and gas sector has assets that will be essential in a post-carbon world, such as scientific research, Mr Timmermans said on Monday.
Ms Gauri Singh, the deputy director-general of the Abu Dhabi-headquartered International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), noted that the UAE is used to being questioned about its conflicts of interest, and said it was a bold decision to host a UN climate change conference in the Gulf state.
When Irena – an intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to renewables – set up its headquarters in the Emirate more than a decade ago, it too was seen as a “highly unusual” move, she recalled.
But it showed that despite being a very large producer of oil and gas, the country is actively looking to move along the energy transition pathway and help neighbouring countries, Ms Singh noted.
Dr Victor Nian, co-founder and chief executive of the think-tank Centre for Strategic Energy and Resources, said it would be impractical to dismiss hydrocarbon players completely in a sustainable energy transition.
“The key is to identify the appropriate role of fossil fuels in shaping the transition. Sustainability is about balancing people, profit and planet, thus, cutting off fossil fuels in a haste will likely cause more problems than solve them,” he said.


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Here is this month's Die Cut With a View sketch:
Here is my take:
I used the all dolled up stack which (pleasantly) surprised me that I was able to do a boy sketch with that stack :)
The sparkle letters are making memories.
Photo corners, jewels, circle letters and flowers are unknown

domain: design


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The relationship between DRD2 TaqIA polymorphism and tobacco addiction
Esma Ulusoy1, Mehtap Çevik2, Belgin Süsleyici2
1Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Yıldız Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
2Department of Molecular Biology, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
Keywords: Dopamine, DRD2 gene, polymorphism, TaqIA, tobacco addiction.
Objectives: In this study, the relationship between tobacco addiction levels, early smoking, and DRD2 TaqIA polymorphism was investigated.
Materials and methods: The present study included 36 smokers and 12 non-smoking voluntary controls. Study groups were established as the non-smoking control group and addicted (less than 1 pack, between 1-2 packs, more than 2 packs per day) groups. Genotypes of the dopamine type-2 receptor (DRD2) gene TaqIA polymorphic region from genomic DNA isolated from oral swab samples were determined by PCR followed by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) analysis.
Results: Presence of the DRD2 TaqIA homozygous polymorphic genotype in addicted individuals who smoked two or more packs per day and the absence of non-smoker control individuals may indicate that the polymorphic TaqIA allele of the DRD2 gene is associated with smoking. It was found that individuals carrying the polymorphic TaqIA allele in homozygous (~13 years) and heterozygous forms (~16.3 years) had a lower age of starting smoking compared to homozygous wild types (~18.6 years). Mean BMI (body mass index) of the study participants was 24.66 kg/m2 (normal weight), waist/hip ratio 0.82 (no abdominal obesity).
Conclusion: The results of our study suggest that the TaqIA variant allele is related to early smoking condition. In addition, it was determined that there was a higher tendency of smoking addiction among children of addicted parents.
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.
The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.
All demographic data of the study groups were collected by Didem Duman and Aye Sena Demircio¤lu.


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Easy Street Promotions is proud partner with Acrobatique Creative, Executive Producer for the Pittsburgh Earth Day: Steel to Sustainable celebration, as the event organizer for this year's celebration.
Last year on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2015, we hosted over half a dozen events throughout the city. This year’s celebration will span four days of exciting programming featuring local businesses, sustainability education, art, fashion, live music and Pittsburgh’s role in the Earth Day movement.
On Thursday, April 21st, we invite guests to the Ecolution Fashion Show at the Fairmont Hotel. The runway show will feature recycled and reused materials designed exclusively for Pittsburgh Earth Day by local designers. This year’s event will be held in the Grand Ballroom and feature music, cocktails, hors d’ourves and original fashions. Stay tuned for ticket information!
Friday, April 22nd, the official day for Earth Day celebrations worldwide, will begin with a press conference in the City County Building and showcase 200 artifacts honoring Pittsburgh past courtesy of Rivers of Steel. The Press Conference will showcase how local businesses embrace sustainability and help to put Pittsburgh in the limelight as a new global, ecological economy.
Following the press conference, the Pittsburgh Earth Day Business Breakfast will take place at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, one of the first LEED-certified convention centers in the world, from 8:00 - 10:00 AM. The breakfast will feature a panel of innovators discussing the current climate of green industries in Pittsburgh and the future of sustainability in the city.
From 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM on April 22nd, Market Square will be filled with a mix of local vendors specializing in Earth-friendly products and services, along with organic and educational vendors and live local music!
There will also be a Food Truck Festival from 11 AM to 2 PM featuring local food trucks that will all run on solar power thanks to Zero Fossil. The Festival will take place on 10th Street along the West wing of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center and all items used will be eco-friendly.
After work from 5:00 -9:00 PM, the City will be invited back to the Convention Center for a happy hour event featuring an evening of music, a curated art exhibit featuring local artists, organic and handmade vendors and activities for all ages.
On Saturday, April 23rd, in honor of Pittsburgh’s steel past, Pittsburgh Earth Day’s Steel to Sustainable Festival will take place from 7:00-11:00 PM at the Carrie Blast Furnaces at the former U. S. Steel Homestead Works. This ticketed event will benefit Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area. The event will feature local food, craft beer, live music and the Hard Hat Art Project!
And on Sunday, April 24th, guests can join the conversation with a TEDxPittsburgh Brunch! Local TEDx speakers will share talks promoting the future of Pittsburgh and the collaborative ideas that will propel the City into even further green innovation in the years to come.


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ROMÉO ELVIS & Le Motel
The background: A rapper from Brussels close to the members of L’or Du Commun. He begins to rap with his friends at school and starts working on his first project. Now after 4 EPs, Roméo imposes his style with instrumental sounds influenced by electro.
Hometown: Uccle, Belgium
The truth: Roméo Elvis has tinnitus, which greatly handicaps him. He refers to it in many songs.
The buzz: Roméo has announced, that he will accompany La Morale 2, a tour of 29 dates and the fact that he will be playing at Dour Festival and Printemps de Bourges.
What to buy: La Morale 2