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The Inn at Little Washington | Virginia
The Inn at Little Washington, a 23-room inn and three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Washington, Virginia, is sprawled across a 24-acre campus of plentiful gardens, mountain views, winding trails, a farm and even playful touches like a chicken coop complete with crystal chandelier. Most recently, the often theatrical dining room invited local theater companies to create elaborate mannequin scenes at tables to compensate for the effect occupancy guidelines have had on the buzzing dining rooms. Chef and proprietor Patrick O’Connell, the subject of the recent documentary The Inn at Little Washington: A Delicious Documentary, streaming on Amazon Prime Video, was awarded the 2019 James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award. This fall, O’Connell will debut his first new restaurant in 43 years offering deceptively simple food inspired by The Inn’s early menus. Housed in the former post office with design inspired by the sidewalk cafés of France, the all-day café will be open to both hotel guests and visitors alike.
The Ryder Hotel | Charleston
Charleston‘s Historic District’s newest boutique property, The Ryder Hotel, has been thoughtfully designed by local firm Cortney Bishop Design with a nod to effortless coastal living. The warm color palette and laid-back bohemian aesthetic extends to both the 91 guest rooms and suites as well as the common spaces. The Ryder offers distinct dining experiences helmed by Gin & Luck, the award-winning hospitality group behind the renowned cocktail institution Death & Co. Guests are greeted in the lobby with a lively coffee bar and café, while a second-floor courtyard and pool deck is the perfect place to while away the day.
The Loutrel | Charleston
The 50-room luxury hotel The Loutrel in the French Quarter is inspired by the city’s many public and private gardens. A palette of lush greens dominates the color scheme, while materials reminiscent of nature, such as linen and wood, are used throughout the spaces. The Veranda Lounge brings the Southern porch experience indoors with a gorgeous, nautical-inspired bar and lots of greenery. The Loutrel’s rooftop terrace and bar offers some of the best views in town, and the private Clubroom just for guests is complete with board games like Parcheesi and chess. The hotel is focused on thoughtful partnerships, fun amenities and onsite experiences that capture the spirit of the Holy City.


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domain: design


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Many times I paint over an older painting, partly because it doesn’t work and partly because I like building layers and revealing bits of what’s underneath.
This 16X20 painting ( a small portion is pictured above) started as a very different painting . But the composition didn’t work, so I decided to paint over it. As it happened, I had just been spending time watching the astonishing series “Our Planet”, one of the most stunningly beautiful, fascinating and awe-inspiring visual experiences I have ever had. As I began painting over the older work, my subconscious, with this recent visual influence of the film, took over. Which I realized after I was done.

domain: artistic


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The following one shot takes place after the events of "Rise of the Guardians", so you need to have seen the movie to understand this.
Mrs. Bennett was beginning to wonder if there was ever any truth to fairytales.
It wasn't always that way. In fact, in the 30-some years since being a kid, she hardly ever called her own beliefs into question. Every Sunday of her life was spent in church; singing uplifting songs, learning about angels and miracles, and making great sacrifices for the betterment of one's fellow man. These books were written by real people, who were there when it happened; who saw, and smelled, and touched, and felt… and EXPERIENCED it. That was something she could believe in, and put her faith in.
Fairytales on the other hand… those were obviously made up. Of course there was no such thing as Santa Claus, or a rabbit that hid eggs, or a fairy that took your teeth in the middle of the night. Everyone knew that. There were no eyewitness accounts or tangible proof. They were just made up stories- meant to entertain kids and preserve their innocence for just a bit longer. Cute, yes, but not something you could rely upon.
She would eventually take back that thought when a husband and two kids came into the picture.
Jamie and Sophie had the biggest imaginations by far, and without a doubt, it could all be traced back to Will. The man ALWAYS made time for his kids, even with a full-time writing job pulling for attention. After school meant playing pretend in the backyard, and every night, he made use of his old comic collection to serve as bedtime stories. Father and son (and eventually daughter) formed a bond like no other, and it was probably mostly due to the fact that Will acted much like a kid himself.
Not that Joyce didn't try either. She understood her husband had his own strengths, and she hers. He may have been the primary breadwinner, but she kept the house orderly and running. If he was helping Jamie keep balance on his bike, she was busy balancing the checkbook. If he was cleaning up after Sophie's mud pie party, she was cleaning up the house.
And if she was cooking the meals, he was cooking up stories...ALOT of stories.
Every Christmas, Will and Jamie would argue over their theories of how reindeer could fly, or how Santa could reach every house in one night. At Easter, it was always a contest of who could find the most eggs (at least until Sophie came along. After that, she always won by a landslide, mostly due to her dad and brother conveniently not looking hard enough.) When the kids couldn't sleep, he was ready with a lulling rendition of "Mr. Sandman- bring me your dream." And when Jamie lost his first tooth, he wanted to keep it as a memento, only for his dad to explain that if the tooth fairy didn't take the tooth, his adult teeth wouldn't grow in. That, and the promise of a quarter was all the more convincing the boy needed.
For Joyce's part, she never really bought into the fairytales, even as a child herself. She grew up with the stories of the real St. Nicholas, as well as the REAL reason Easter was celebrated. Thankfully, these people and those lessons weren't lost on her kids, but for them, Santa, Sandman, and the lot could still exist alongside the saints and preachers. More often than not, she'd find herself debating when would be a good time to finally raise the curtain and reveal that giant rabbits, fairies, and flying reindeer just didn't exist. And one morning, she finally found the courage to pop the question to her son-asking how he believed in Santa and the tooth fairy and the like.
The (at the time) six and a half year-old Jamie simply replied that maybe the Easter Bunny and such were just more angels. Funny -looking ones, yes, but maybe they were made to look weird since they helped kids. If the Lord made everything, then He must've made them too, right?
She never dared to question him ever again after that.
And seeing how happy he and Sophie were, she just couldn't bear to burst their bubble. Will was such a great storyteller; he could get the kids excited over anything, and made each character come alive. So she let her family have their fun. And in doing so, every holiday was brightened tenfold, with memories to last lifetimes. And even when life threw a curveball, her ever faithful husband was there to remind them all to believe in their dreams… to never lose hope that tomorrow could be better… to have fun… to see that the world was filled with mysterious and little wondrous things.
Mrs. Bennett couldn't imagine life without him... which made it all the more devastating when a sudden illness took him away from them all.
Will's sudden passing hit everyone hard. For days, Joyce could barely find the strength to do anything, except to put on a brave face in front of her kids; promising that everything would be okay. And Jamie and Sophie, God bless them, they brought new meaning to the word, resilient. Through the whole funeral, son and daughter sat arm and arm with their mother- completely silent- hands linked together to lend one another their strength. It was only when the trio arrived home that the unshed tears finally burst...tears for a man they'd never see again... never get to hear his laughter, or stories, or just see his simple smile at everything life could offer.
And although everything would eventually be okay (for the most part), as the mother had promised, it would never be the same again. Thankfully, Sophie was still quite young, so the thought of remembering every sad detail was unlikely.
But Jamie on the other hand...
Mrs. Bennett was utterly amazed at how her son managed to keep smiling; putting her at ease by helping with the chores or watching his sister. It was clear he knew he had gained more responsibility (and far too early), in having to become the man of the house. But there was no mistaking the pain in his eyes; the way he was controlling himself so as to not crack in front of his mom or Sophie. And it just made Joyce all the more worried. Will was more than just a dad, he was Jamie's best friend... and for a while, his only friend. Believing in myths, fairytales, and other supernatural things led to frequent teasing and bullying. But ever the optimist, his dad was always ready with his favorite quote to put his son at ease:
"Seeing isn't believing- believing is seeing."
And despite writing off Santa and the like as nothing more than stories, Mrs. Bennett soon found herself relying on said fairytales more than ever before. It was obvious that Will's spirit now lived on through Jamie, as he made sure to prepare Sophie for each holiday- prepping for Easter egg hunts, taking care of each other's teeth, and leaving treats for St. Nick and his reindeer. The folklore legends could always make him happy, no matter what, so his mother just kept fueling his imagination; not wanting the innocent spirit and magic to die as well. At the very least, if things became too difficult, the superstitions could keep the kids distracted.
But there was no avoiding their first Thanksgiving without their father...and trying to say grace and recite what they were thankful for, all the while staring at a lonely, empty chair, was near impossible and totally unbearable.
So that night, after putting the kids to bed, Joyce knelt to say her prayers. With hands tightly clasped, she put her heart and soul into every word she whispered aloud.
"Please Lord... I know you're taking good care of Will...but I just can't handle this by myself anymore. Sophie has her brother, but Jamie is all alone. Please... I need you to send him a friend...someone who will understand him, and like him for who he is...someone who can help him- take care of him...and protect him when I can't."
A single tear escaped her, "Please....send us an angel...the best one you have."
She wasn't sure if she was heard or not, although she did recall the moon glowing a bit brighter than usual that night, so she took it as a good sign.
Evidently, her instincts were right, for within the next few months, a few moving vans and a summer vacation caused her son to meet a whole new slew of kids; many of whom shared his interests and beliefs in his fairytale heroes. Suffice it to say, it was nothing short of a miracle, and at long last, a weight seemed to gradually lift off the entire family. Speaking of which, when the next Thanksgiving rolled around, Mrs. Bennett made it a point, from then on, to invite one of Jamie's new friends to dinner. Even if it was only for an hour or so, it was a way to fill the empty chair, so the meal wasn't so painfully quiet. For the next few years, the idea worked, and for the first time, the tiny family could heal.
It was also during that time that she heard the first rumors being passed around…
Did you see him yet?
He flew past my house yesterday.
He said we'll go sledding today.
But he told me we were building snowmen.
At first, these odd conversations were limited to just Jamie and Sophie...but eventually, nearly every kid in the neighborhood was giggling or chatting about some new friend they made. And then finally, the whispers gained a name.
You talked to him?
We had a snowball fight during recess.
Lucky! Tell Jack to visit my school next.
Jack still owes me a snowman.
Did you see Jack today?
Now normally, Mrs. Bennett wouldn't have paid much mind to the kids' ramblings-obviously, this Jack kid must've been new to the neighborhood, and everyone was just caught up in the excitement of having a new playmate. What she DID find odd, however, was that for all this non-stop chatter about the kid, not once did she ever see him herself. She had the names of all of Jamie's friends under her belt, and had every face committed to memory...so why was this one child so elusive? He never appeared at any parties; was never at any bus stop, or seen walking home from school…
And yet, her own children and the rest of the kids couldn't stop talking about how cool "Jack Frost" was...or how "Jack Frost did this or said that"...
And it was only then that a curious memory suddenly came back to her. It was so long ago, yet it stuck out so clearly in her mind...the day when Jamie lost one of his baby teeth. There was such a frigid chill that week of Easter, and she made the off comment to her son:
"Don't let Jack Frost come nipping at your nose."
She didn't quite know why she said such a thing; that was usually something her husband would say...but Will was already gone for a year and a half...perhaps she was still missing him a lot more than she thought. In any case, it was only meant as an innocent joke; just a silly lyric in a Christmas song.
But apparently, Jamie took it to heart, for his enthusiasm soon spread to his sister and his friends, and now, this mysterious Jack Frost was the talk of the neighborhood. Although, now that she thought about it, the most word she ever seem to hear about him was in the wintertime. Come spring and summer, it was as if he disappeared off the face of the earth. Perhaps he went to a different, year-round school, or was just on vacation? Either way, she finally came to the conclusion that the kid's real name was Jack, and the other children just called him "Jack Frost" as a nickname or joke.
For a while, Joyce was satisfied with that assumption...until she passed by her son's bedroom one night, and couldn't help but overhear him and Sophie whispering about their friend. She peeked in to find her daughter staring out the window; looking towards the night sky expectantly.
"Did you see him yet?" Jamie asked.
The blonde shook her head, "Nope."
Her brother scratched his chin in confusion, "It's the first day of winter. He should be here by now."
Sophie stared down at her ducky slippers; her eyes beginning to get misty. Sensing a flood of tears coming on, Jamie put a hand on her shoulder for reassurance.
"Don't worry", he explained, "Remember, he's got a whole country to cover. He'll probably get here by Friday."
His sister perked up at the news, "Really?"
The boy nodded his head and smiled with the utmost confidence, "Yep! He'll probably give us a snow day, and then we'll have a three day weekend!"
Joyce didn't know what to make of such an odd conversation...but like clockwork, an unexpected blizzard hit the town overnight, and school was canceled, heralding the three-day weekend Jamie promised... almost as if he KNEW it was going to happen.
And eventually, as winter came, went, then came again, the children's gossip sounded exponentially more like an episode of the twilight zone. It started off innocent enough:
"The snow on our sledding hill started to melt, so Jack made it flurry there some more."
"This guy was picking on me, so Jack made some ice right there on the spot and dropped it down Ted's shirt. It was so funny!"
"Jack Frost is so cool and nice. He made an ice sculpture for me when I was feeling sad."
But little by little, the stories grew more outlandish:
"Jack froze over the pond so we could skate today."
"Did you see the way Jack made that ice bridge? It was amazing!"
"Jack's going to teach us how to fly tomorrow!"
But the ultimate came when Mrs. Bennett asked Sophie how her day was, and she excitedly blurted out:
"Jack brought a snowman to life!"
The mother could only stand there, utterly befuddled, as the little girl paraded around the living room; reenacting her adventure with a real-life Frosty the Snowman- blabbing how Jack Frost commanded the sculpture to dance around and blow kisses to the girls. It was only when Jamie intervened that she finally quieted down; her older brother explaining how she was freaking out their mom. But even then, her son wasn't talking down to her. Rather, his tone suggested the story was supposed to be a secret, not necessarily that it was her overactive imagination.
Answer the mother hoped...no, WANTED to believe it was just the kid's imagination. It HAD to be. Things like this just didn't happen…
...and yet, she couldn't shut out the tiny voice in the back of her mind...that maybe...just maybe...there WAS something to these old fairytales. She found herself harkening back to holidays long past...recalling finding extra presents under the Christmas tree she didn't remember buying...or finding a few extra Easter eggs on the hunts.
And one time, she forgot to leave money for one of Jamie's lost teeth...only for him to find a coin under his pillow anyway. She figured Will must've did it, but with a wink, her husband insisted he had no part in the deed.
Now most of that COULD'VE been written off as sheer forgetfulness...but THIS was another matter entirely. Particularly at how seriously the other kids took it. Without even really realizing it, the mother found herself nearly drilling all of Jamie's friends on their encounters with Jack. And she couldn't find a single hole in any of the stories. Each individual description and account matched all the others; it was uncanny. Either all these kids could REALLY cooperate on what they were pretending...or...
Joyce didn't want to even think about the "or"...and yet, she COULDN'T stop thinking about it. Her mind wandered back to the prayer she whispered long ago...could it be that it was finally, fully answered? In all the time that Will was gone, she had never seen her son more happy or excited to talk about his day, or hang out with his friends. And as she gave it more thought, this all strangely stemmed from one night in particular about three years ago. The details were kind of fuzzy, but she distinctly remembered Jamie and his friends sharing some kind of story...something about helping a giant rabbit and a fairy fight the bogeyman…
Well, in any case, Mrs. Bennett had enough of being left in the dark. If there was one thing she WAS sure of, it was her strong wish to finally meet this mysterious kid who seemed to brighten the whole neighborhood whenever he was in town. No matter what time, or place, or circumstances, her heart longed to see him...even if it was just once...just so she could finally quell her growing curiosity as to who this Jack person was.
"Well, no matter what he's called, he must exist", she muttered, "If only I could meet him..."
Even on Thanksgiving morning, she couldn't keep her thoughts to herself as she paced about the kitchen- preparing the table and all the dishes for the annual turkey dinner. Like every year, her and her kids had prepped most of the food the night before so it would all be ready. All that was left was to heat up the bird and everything would be set. It not only saved time, but it also allowed Jamie and Sophie to go out and play with their friends for a little while. And with a fresh flurry of snow that came overnight, they were more than excited to throw their coats on and go have an adventure.
So after filling the turkey with her homemade stuffing and setting the oven timer, Mrs. Bennett was content to just sit and relax for a bit; catch up on her reading and enjoy the peace and quiet. Every so often, she'd hear a scream or a shout, or a bout of laughter echo from outside, and she'd lift her head to find Jamie and his friends goofing off. The picture window in the living room offered a great vantage point of outside, and she couldn't help but smile at all the kids having a wonderful time out in the powdery white wonderland. It'd be a shame to break it up, but as Joyce glanced down at her watch, it was only another hour before dinner. She pondered who her son was going to pick as the guest of honor this year…
Suddenly, her thoughts were broken by the startling sounds of something hitting the window in rapid succession. She jumped at the noise; swiveling to find six, giant, fat snowballs covering her line of sight- dripping down the glass like huge raindrops. Even before she was out of her chair, she could hear the kids shouting a chorus of "sorry" through the walls. But she honestly didn't mind very much- she was just more curious as to what was going on out there.
Arriving at the window, she stared out to find Jamie lying flat on his back, pretending to be down for the count. Apparently, he had been hit with a barrage of snowballs, which would explain the "attack" on her house. But soon enough, he was up and about in a flash; yelling like a banshee as he threw snow in all directions; claiming to be the abominable snowman. The rest of the kids screamed in mock terror and scattered, while Sophie, who claimed to be the "snow fairy princess", got 'captured' by the 'monster'. Mrs. Bennett had to laugh at the creativeness of it all, with the kids formulating a plan to rescue their cute ruler from the "evil snow monster lair" (which, in reality, was just a pear tree overlooking some rose bushes). They had Sophie loosely tied up with a jump rope; sitting in a big cardboard box to serve as the jail.
"Help, I got caughted!" she yelled out, "Somebody save me!"
The mother continued to watch the game- now interested to see how the story would finish. She didn't have long to wait, for a new voice called out, "Don't worry! Your prince is here to rescue you!"
And just then, a figure suddenly dropped down from the above-hanging branches of the tree; scooping up Sophie in one fell swoop and kicking a wave of snow onto the surprised Jamie. He let loose a fit of laughter, before taking off with his prize, all the while the rest of the kids cheered for their hero. He dropped off the blonde a safe distance away; bowing and kissing her hand as he did, before rejoining his friends to defeat the 'monster' one final time.
Even though the action was now a good distance away, Joyce could only stare and blink at this new kid who suddenly joined the game. She tried studying him from her vantage point, which proved difficult due to how fast he could move. But she knew for certain it was someone she had never seen before. He was definitely older- that much was clear from his height compared to the other children. And despite the cold and the snow, he had only a dark blue hoodie for protection; not even a hat to cover his spiky, platinum blonde hair...or at least, she thought it was blonde. He was covered in so much snow, it almost looked white. A huge stick almost as long as him was held tight in his right hand, and he swung it around like a sword- gently swatting Jamie into submission. After which, he delighted in wrestling the boys into nearby snow banks, or drawing pictures in the snow for the girls. At one point, even Sophie convinced him to give her a piggyback ride, to which he happily obliged. She spread her arms out, claiming to be "super Sophie", all while the boy raced about the yard with a sprint so great, it almost appeared as if he were gliding across the ground.
It didn't take long for the mother to realize that this must've been the elusive "Jack Frost" all the children were gossiping about. And considering the way he interacted with his friends- taking time to include all of them in his fun and mischief, it was easy to see why all the kids liked him so much.
"And after all this time, I finally caught him", she muttered to herself, "I wonder..."
Her train of thought was broken by the sound of the timer going off in the kitchen. That meant the turkey was just about ready. She hadn't even noticed that she'd been watching her kids play for over an hour. But no matter- it was time for them to come in for dinner anyway. Bracing herself for the chilly air, Mrs. Bennett made her way to the front door and took one tentative step out in the snow. Raising a hand to her mouth, she called, "Jamie! Sophie! It's turkey time!"
The blonde and brunette perked up at the mention of food, and quickly said their goodbyes to all their friends, before racing toward the house. The mother surmised her cooking must've been great if she was able to call away an eleven and a six-year-old so fast, and she smiled, "Did you guys have fun?"
"Yeppers", Sophie pulled her boots off and threw her jacket in the corner, before running upstairs chanting, "Turkey! Turkey! Turkey!"
Jamie was a lot more courteous in hanging up his own jacket, before dealing with the mess his little sister left behind. During which, Joyce continued to stare out the doorway; expecting one of his friends to arrive any moment. But none showed up. One by one, each of the kids became pinpricks in the distance as they all headed for home. So she finally turned to her son and asked, "Jamie...aren't one of your friends coming to dinner?"
The boy was in the middle of slipping his shoes off, and at the question, his actions became a tad slower. But he still answered, "Uh...no."
"No?" Now the mother was a bit alarmed. None of the children had ever turned down the offer before, "Didn't Katherine come last year?"
"You mean Cupcake?" Jamie corrected the nickname, "Yeah, but she's going to her grandma's house this year."
"Oh...well, what about that nice girl, Pippa?" Joyce tried.
"She has to help take care of her brother," the boy explained.
"They're having dinner early, like us."
"Going to see relatives", Jamie shrugged. He hated to keep shooting down all his mom's suggestions, but that's just the way it was. He asked each and every one of his friends to join him for dinner, and they all had reasons for saying no. Which was fine by him, only he knew his mom wouldn't be too happy.
Or more importantly, he knew WHY she wouldn't be happy, and frankly, he didn't like it either. Mrs. Bennett stared out at the silent neighborhood; a dejected, lonely look in her eye as she quietly muttered, "...the chair's going to be empty this year…"
Jamie patted his mom's arm for comfort, although it was also partly to reassure himself. For four years now, they were able to fill the void at the table every Thanksgiving, and he figured the year would come when his dad's seat would remain vacant…he just wasn't expecting it to come so soon…or that he'd still feel upset about it. Any other day of the year, there was plenty to talk about or other things to do to distract or ease the pain a bit.
But this was different. This wasn't just another dinner, it was THE dinner...a time where the entire focus was on family and friends, and love and togetherness. Could they ever pull it off with just the three of them? It just didn't seem right. It just wasn't complete without another person to fill the table.
The boy still tried to smile at his mother, to which she smirked back, although it didn't seem very confident. With a long sigh, she slowly began to shut the front door…
...that is, until her eyes caught sight of a dark blue blob tramping through the snow. Squinting, she realized it was the older boy from earlier- still carrying the big stick and using it to take swipes at the piles of powdery frost. He now had his hoodie drawn over his head, and he paraded down the sidewalk seemingly without a care in the world.
Joyce turned to her son as an idea struck, "Hey Jamie, what about him? Did you ask him?"
The brunette was about to make his way upstairs, but stopped at the question, "Who?"
"That boy over there", she motioned outside, "I saw him playing with you all earlier. Is he new around here?"
Jamie came over to look where his mom was pointing, and he instantly caught sight of his friend. But a moment later, he faced the blonde woman- eyes full of a strange, awestruck surprise, "...you can see him?"
Mrs. Bennett raised a brow, "And just what kind of question is that?" Shaking her head, she cupped her hands over her mouth and called out, "Hey! Hey kid! Hey you!"
But apparently, the boy didn't hear her. Either that, or he didn't know he was the one being called. Quickly, the mother turned to her son, "What's his name?"
Jamie blinked; seemingly coming out of his momentary shock, "Uh...J-Jack..."
Realization dawned, and Joyce smiled, "Ah, so THIS is the Jack everyone's been talking about. I figured it was him, but I'm glad I know for sure now." Before her son could protest, she tried calling again, "Hey Jack!"
That time, it worked. The boy instantly stopped dead in his tracks, and swiveled at his name being called. The woman waved back; letting him know she was doing the yelling. Confused, he glanced around, before pointing at himself as if to say, "who, me?"
Mrs. Bennett nodded and waved again, "Yes! You! Come on over here! I wanna' talk to you!"
To her surprise, the boy ran right over; practically tripping over his own feet as he made a beeline for the house. Arriving at the doorstep, he skidded to a halt; trying to catch his breath as the mother finally got a good look at him. His blue hoodie was covered in a fine layer of snow that he hadn't bothered to brush off his shoulders. The same went for his feet- he was covered in so much slush it was impossible to even see his boots. And his pants were an oddity in and of themselves; the edges were in frayed tatters and tied up with...was that twine?
AND he was skinny...REALLY skinny... as in, he might not have eaten in weeks skinny...just what was up with this kid? Who the heck dressed him? Where did he come from?
But all her questions went out the window when the boy regained his breath and suddenly stared up at her. Even with his hood drawn up, she could still clearly make out his big, blue eyes...eyes that blinked in innocent curiosity as to why he was summoned over by this woman.
And in that moment, the mother instantly knew she wanted to invite this boy inside, by any means necessary.
So she was taken by surprise when he spoke first; his matured voice an awed whisper, "...you can see me?"
Again with that question. Why was everyone doubting her vision today? But rather than ask, she merely smiled, "With that blue hoodie against the snow, it's kind of hard not to."
The boy blinked, still shocked, as if he were surprised this lady was talking to him. He stood up to full height; his eyebrows disappearing into his hairline, "You know my name?"
"Of course", Joyce motioned to her son as an explanation. The two boys caught each other's eyes, to which Jack looked back and forth between his friend and the woman. Jamie seemed just as confused, and merely shrugged as if to say, "I don't get it either." The older boy's mouth opened and closed like a fish, and yet, no words would come out. So the mother decided to break the odd silence when she smiled, "Well, since you can't seem to find your voice, I'll start then. Our Thanksgiving dinner is just about ready, and every year, Jamie invites one of his friends to join us. If you have the time, it would be wonderful if you could come in for a little while."
Jack, for his part, remained quiet, although he leaned in a bit; his staff supporting the weight, as he seemed to hinge on every word she was saying. Mrs. Bennett took notice and added with a cough, "Although, you might want to leave your...stick, outside."
At that, the teenager blinked and instinctively gripped his staff a bit tighter, "O-oh, this? It's...um..."
"...we, uh...were just practicing his part", Jamie came to the rescue; his explanation rather hurried, "He's going to be, uh...a Shepherd...in our church's Christmas play."
"Oh", Joyce was a tad surprised at that information. That would explain the odd pants and why he was so attached to that stick...and yet, she still couldn't shake the feeling that something about this was just...off. But clearly these two were friends, and there was no way she would turn him down. Folding her arms, she smirked, "...well, if I recall, Joseph didn't wear a hoodie."
Jack couldn't help but giggle at that. The mom then turned to her son and added, "And don't tell me you're the innkeeper who won't let him in."
Jamie blushed; digging his toe into the carpet. Meanwhile, the woman turned back to the older boy- her eyes now pleading, "Tell you what; I'll let you hang onto the stick if you'll come join us for a bit. We got turkey, stuffing, potatoes, pumpkin pie- the works. What do you say?"
For a long beak, Jack just stared at the woman in total disbelief, before looking toward his friend. Jamie appeared equally surprised at this turn of events, but rather than look a gift horse in the mouth, he grinned and nodded with contained excitement. At that, the odd teenager finally led a warm smile cross his features; his voice filled with utter gratefulness, "...I'd love to."

domain: literature


Well, just did an interesting test. I unlocked to OBC and did the voltage test. At the same time I had my multimeter on the battery terminals to read the voltage. The OBC consistently read close to .5 volt too low compared to the meter. With the car off the meter read 11.85 volts. I started the car and it went up to 13.6 or so. Then I turned on the headlights(keep in mind they are not coming on but I have the switch set on headlight and not parking) and the meter went down to 13.4. Then I turned the high beams on, 13.3. Then the HVAC fan and both seat heaters on high, 12.8. Finally I had the wife roll down all four windows at the same time, it went all the way down to 11.9 and the interior lights dimmed. Meanwhile, she was reading the voltage on the OBC and it was consistently .5 less than what I was getting. This to me almost points to the alternator for sure. Shouldn't, no matter what electrical load is on the car, the meter read almost a consistent 13.8 or so? This would also mean to me that there is not enough juice to fully light the ballasts on the lights, hence the flickering when they try to come on. Tomorrow, I'll take the car to autozone and get them to check out the battery and alternator and report back. I'm almost sure I'll be replacing my expensive water cooled alternator when this is all said and done.


text:
You can help make the Penn Valley Cultural Center become a reality. Gift levels come with recognition as well as our thanks! Please contact the Foundation for a personal and confidential conversation. Click on the Contact page and send an email with your thoughts or questions, or contact any board member on our PVCF Board page.
The Penn Valley Community Foundation will accept cash donations, gifts of stock or other assets, and other charitable donations and can work with donors to determine the best method to support the community center, including charitable trusts.
Our Gift Acceptance Policies are included following the volunteer information below.
To volunteer for the project by helping with:
- Community Outreach
- Help in the office
- Events throughout the year
- Serve on special committees
Please send an email to: Mary Anne Davis: firstname.lastname@example.org Your help will be greatly appreciated!
Penn Valley Community Foundation Gift Acceptance Policy
As a 501(c) 3, non-profit organization (EIN 94-3380387), the Penn Valley Community Foundation (PVCF) relies on charitable contributions to fulfill its mission. PVCF, in soliciting or accepting gifts, shall clearly represent the organization’s policies and mission which might pertain to this exchange and honor all statements about the use of the contribution. PVCF shall always disclose to potential donors any and all important and relevant information.
Every gift will be promptly acknowledged, and donors will be informed of how the gift will be recognized. Specific requests about acknowledgment will be honored consistent with PVCF’s practices and policies as noted in our business plan and as ratified by the PVCF Board. PVCF reserves the right to refuse a gift if it is determined to be in conflict with the Foundation’s mission. This policy pertains to sponsored and/or collaborating projects of PVCF.
1. Undesignated Donations – Unless otherwise designated, all donations are considered “Undesignated Donations” and go in to the General Operating Fund of the Penn Valley Community Foundation, to build, maintain, and operate the Cultural Center.
2. Designated Donations – You may designate your donation to fund any aspect(s) of the Cultural Center or the General Operating Fund of the center. These include:
i. Building Fund and specific areas within the building
ii. Program Fund (for programs presented by the Penn Valley Community
Foundation or Cultural Center)
iii. General operations of the PVCF & Cultural Center
iv. Future Expansion Fund
3. Any restricted donations are subject to board approval.
4. PVCF will not, in most cases, assume any indebtedness in connection with a gift.
a. Exceptions must be approved on a case-by-case basis by the PVCF Board.
5. Associated expenses with the conveyance of a gift made to PVCF are to be borne by the donor.
6. PVCF will assume that donors rely on their own personal advisers for tax, legal, financial and other advice concerning their gifts.
Gifts of Cash:
PVCF will accept gifts of cash to support the mission of the organization. Your contribution may be designated for a specific program or it may be left undesignated, available for meeting the Foundation’s highest priorities.
Gifts of Equipment/Furniture:
PVCF will accept gifts of new or used equipment/furniture that are determined to be of use to the Foundation. The Gift Committee shall make that determination.
Gifts of Airline Tickets or Air Miles:
PVCF will accept gifts of tickets or air miles for travel to be used by staff or board members to attend conferences/meetings as approved by the Gift Committee.
Gifts of Securities:
PVCF will accept gifts of publicly traded securities, including stocks, mutual funds, ETF’s, municipal and corporate bonds, and treasury bills and notes. PVCF staff and/or advisers will verify the ownership of the security, handle the transfer of ownership, and establish a value for deferred gift calculation purposes, as well as handle the sale, liquidation and/or investment processes related to securities. Such gifts will be reviewed by the PVCF Treasurer and such securities shall be sold immediately upon receipt.
Gifts of Real Estate:
Real estate gifts can include personal residences, rental properties, office buildings, land, and other structures. As real estate can be highly illiquid, costly to maintain, and have pre-existing conditions attached to it, any gifts of real estate will be carefully scrutinized and the decision to accept or decline the gift will be made by the Gift Committee.
The property shall be physically inspected by a representative of PVCF along with a property management consultant. The inspection is to identify any environmental, financial, legal, marketing or public relations risks, hazards or liabilities. If deemed necessary by the consultant, an environmental survey may be recommended before a gift can be accepted. The cost of the survey shall be borne by the donor. Upon review of the survey, the consultant shall recommend acceptance or declination of the gift.
Unless otherwise negotiated, gifts of property will be converted into cash at the earliest opportunity keeping in mind current market conditions and the use of property in the accomplishments of the mission of PVCF.
Gift will not be accepted that may expose PVCF to material or personal liabilities as owners of the property.
If property is encumbered by indebtedness, the donor will be requested to provide for the payment of carrying costs until the property is liquidated.
Gifts of Personal Property:
Potential contributions include art, antiques, jewelry, automobiles, etc. PVCF staff or professional advisers, when appropriate, will review the marketability, accurateness of appraisal and capabilities of PVCF to safeguard these assets until liquidation. Serious valuation problems exist in a number of proposed gifts of personal property, especially with art or other “collectibles.” Efforts must be made to obtain a bona fide appraisal or documentation of fair market value before the gift can be accepted.
Gifts of Life Insurance:
A gift of life insurance is a simple way to make a significant gift to PVCF and ensure the ongoing vital work of PVCF. “Whole” or “universal” life insurance often has cash value and can be donated to a charitable organization. The donor would receive a tax deduction for the replacement cost of the paid up policy at the time of donation, not for the face value of the life insurance.
If the policy requires continuing premium payments, the donor can continue paying those premiums and get a tax deduction for each payment if it is done in the following manner:
gift the policy to PVCF, who then becomes the owner of the policy. The donor then makes annual donations in the amount of the annual premium costs to PVCF, who then pays the policy. The donor then receives a tax deduction for every contribution for the premium payment.
Donors can also purchase a new policy, naming PVCF as the beneficiary. The premiums and tax benefits would work exactly as listed in the above paragraph.
When planning a gift of life insurance, it is important to consult your own personal tax and legal advisors.
For more information, please contact the PVCF office: 530-432-3527

domain: finance


text: 5-aminosalicylate is a fundamental treatment for patients with ulcerative colitis with mild-to-moderate disease; however, evidence for 5-aminosalicylate treatment is unclear in some situations. This review discusses the clinical guidelines and previous studies, and highlights the following points: (1) Although rectal 5-aminosalicylate is effective for proctitis, physicians should endeavor to reduce patient's distress when administering suppositories or enema as the first-line therapy. It should be clarified whether oral 5-aminosalicylate alone with a drug delivery system that allows higher 5-aminosalicylate concentrations to reach the distal colon would be as effective as rectal 5-aminosalicylate therapy. (2) There has been no direct evidence demonstrating the clinical efficacy of switching the 5-aminosalicylate treatment to other 5-aminosalicylate formulations. However, switching to a different 5-aminosalicylate formulation may be indicated if clinical symptoms are not progressive. (3) Several studies have shown that colonic mucosal 5-aminosalicylate concentration correlates with clinical and endoscopic severity; however, it is unclear whether a high 5-aminosalicylate concentration has therapeutic efficacy. (4) The maximum dose of 5-aminosalicylate is necessary for patients with risk factors for recurrence or hospitalization. (5) Optimization of 5-aminosalicylate dosage may be indicated even for quiescent patients with ulcerative colitis if mucosal healing is not obtained, and if patients have multiple risk factors for recurrence. (6) Furthermore, the discontinuation of 5-aminosalicylate is acceptable when biologics are used. Because there are many "old studies" providing evidence for 5-aminosalicylate formulations, more clinical studies are needed to establish new evidence.

domain: medical


text:
Monday, September 30, 2013
She's dressed and has hair.
Molly is now dressed and has a full head of hair made from yarn that my friend Andrea gave me. Molly has lots of hair because I don't. As you can see her clothes are made but I think in desperate need of some embelishment. When I finish the companion doll, I plan to "fancy-up" both of their outfits.


With a Covid vaccine months away and a distracted, lame-duck president, governors are stirring as America’s first line of defense against the pandemic’s winter onslaught.
The pending departure of President Donald Trump, who has scoffed at the disease’s potency, could provide cover for strict new measures. The Republican leaders of Nebraska, Maryland, Utah, Ohio and Iowa tightened virus restrictions for their states this week, and Democrats warned residents of difficult months ahead. Many have little choice but to act, as the virus sets daily records and reality sets in among constituents.
“We may see governors that haven’t been as aggressive forced to take actions they haven’t wanted to,” said Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. “The big thing that’s going to come up is when hospital systems begin to reach capacity. That’s a very dangerous situation that no one wants to find themselves in.”
Governors face wrenching choices in gathering and apportioning supplies and an eventual vaccine, keeping economies on life support and cajoling voters to wear masks and stay home -- again. Public-health experts and some state officials said President-elect Joe Biden could take some of the burden when he assumes office Jan. 20, having made a strong national response his main issue.
On Wednesday night, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican who has drawn praise for his aggressive response to the pandemic, toughened the state’s mask mandate. Store owners will be held responsible for ensuring that all customers and employees wear them, he said. The governor also banned dancing, games and congregating at events like wedding receptions.
“I’m tired of all this Covid. I know you’re tired,” DeWine said in a statewide address. “This pandemic gives each of us a chance to serve a higher cause, a more noble purpose than just ourselves.”
Podcast: A wide-ranging discussion with Bloomberg reporters on hope for a vaccine
The Trump administration has been widely criticized for shirking a leading role in combating the pandemic, leaving states fighting for resources and formulating different policies for a national crisis. But about 72 million people voted for Trump’s re-election, to Biden’s 77 million, and the path ahead is fraught. Some hard-liners, however, are softening.
Iowa’s Republican Governor Kim Reynolds, who has opposed a statewide mask requirement, told citizens Tuesday that their health-care system was on the brink of collapse. More than 22,700 Iowans were diagnosed with Covid-19 in the past week and nearly half of its daily tests return positive, a rate second only to South Dakota, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Reynolds set mask and social-distancing rules for indoor gatherings of more than 25 people, large outdoor gatherings and salons and tattoo parlors, and said she would put more in place if needed.
“Iowa is open for business and we intend to keep it that way,” she said. “That’s why it’s time for these additional mitigation measures.”
Time Is Now
Lori Tremmel Freeman, chief executive officer of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, said that taking the politics out of public health is essential, because the disease won’t wait for the inauguration.
“We have to turn this corner on public trust,” she said. “We have to do that like, yesterday, because that is what is holding us back.”America’s Covid-19 cases have steadily climbed since September. About 123,000 were recorded each day over the past week, on track to double summer highs. Almost 62,000 patients were hospitalized Wednesday, a record that represents a 40% increase from two weeks ago, according to the Covid Tracking Project.
With more than 10 million cases and 240,000 deaths, the U.S. response has stood out on the world stage as ineffectual and scattershot. A vaccine from Pfizer Inc. may arrive this spring, but the fractious presidential transition means governors may have a major role in deciding who gets it and when.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat who chairs the National Governors Association, said Monday that his peers are discussing how to improve Trump’s distribution plan “before it does damage.” He said that the approach relies on private providers like hospitals and pharmacy chains, bypassing hard-hit communities that lack health-care infrastructure.
“We can’t let this vaccination plan go forward the way the Trump administration is designing it,” Cuomo said. “Biden can’t undo it two months later. We’ll be in the midst of it.”
It’s not just Republicans who must grapple with the surge. Cuomo, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Minnesota’s Tim Walz announced tough new restrictions this week, including for bars and restaurants. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers warned that increases “rival what we saw in New York City this last spring” and advised residents to stay home. Democratic governors like Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer who imposed aggressive rules have been targets of Trump and his supporters.
The president presented a false choice between total lockdowns and nothing, said Harry Heiman, a clinical associate professor at Georgia State University’s School of Public Health. Biden’s victory -- and Trump’s all-consuming attempt to invalidate it -- may free governors of both parties from the terror of a presidential tweet.
“There is significant relief from governors and public-health directors, because frankly they need the help,” Heiman said. “They welcome support from President Biden, whether that’s what they are publicly messaging right now or not.”
On Sunday, Utah’s Republican governor, Gary Herbert, issued a long-resisted mask mandate, a two-week restriction on gatherings and required testing for college students.
“It is time for the divisiveness to end, and for all of us, as Utahns, to unite in making whatever sacrifices are necessary to help our neighbors and to bring healing back to our state,” said Herbert, whose state voted 58% for Trump on Nov. 3.
State Epidemiologist Angela Dunn and Erin Mendenhall, mayor of Salt Lake City, praised the move, but about 50 protesters gathered at the governor’s mansion, the Deseret News reported. One of their signs: “Our immune system is our God given PPE.”
In North Dakota, where hospitals are at their limits and the state is moving to let positive-but-asymptomatic caregivers keep working, Republican Governor Doug Burgum put out only voluntary recommendations Monday.
The town of Edgeley has passed its own mask mandate. Three-quarters of voters in surrounding LaMoure County moved to re-elect Trump last week, but cases have been raging since a nursing home outbreak in October.
Edgeley, which has fewer than 600 residents, passed its measure on Nov. 2, the day before Election Day.
“People definitely wish there was a statewide mandate, and even more leadership from the federal government,” said Michelle Berry, a member of Edgeley’s council. “North Dakota is definitely to the right. Our local government just set that aside, though, and looked at our community and how important it was to take care of the health of our community.”
©2020 Bloomberg L.P.


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text:
Since a successful rehabilitation he has had loan spells as first Murcia and then Huesca
30am on Monday, said chief inspector Ariel Huesca
, spokesman of the Philippine National Police in Zamboanga peninsula.
OMAR RAMOS: A 24-year-old at Valladolid on loan from Second Division Huesca
I come from Huesca
, a small town in the North of Spain.
Teams Real Sociedad, Hercules, Elche, Numancia, Cordoba, Celta Vigo and Huesca
were the only ones who had provided their 2009-10 accounts by July 2011, he said.
The Gulf Competition jury comprised veteran Egyptian filmmaker Magdy Ahmed Aly, with Emirati poet and author Ahmed Rashed Thani and Iraqi filmmaker Kais Al Zubaidi; and the international and student competition jury was headed by Montserrat Guiu Valls, Managing Director of the Festival de Cine de Huesca
, with Bahraini filmmaker Bassam Al Thawadi and Lebanese film critic Hauvick Habechian as members.
Left-back Jose Dorado has looked the part after his move from Huesca
and lively striker Ruben Castro has been a revelation, notching eight goals in 11 matches since his move from Vallecano.
The path they were taking, in the province of Huesca
, is popular with climbers in summer but can be dangerous when snow is present, with avalanches being an added risk.
The area in the region of Huesca
, in the north east of Spain, is usually popular with climbers in the summer months but can still be dangerous when snow is present.
The researchers came to the conclusion by studying the fossil record of a new hadrosaur, the Arenysaurus ardevoli, found in Huesca
Stemming from a conference held in 2006 at the Index of Christian Art at Princeton University (the Index co- published this volume), the 8 essays of this volume present iconographic studies of painting and sculpture at several medieval Spanish monuments, including the cloister at Silos, the romanesque palaces of Estella and Huesca
, the abbey of Las Helgas, and the cathedral of Toledo.
-Curvas - Rosal'a Cuevas and Isael Huesca
, of Eugene, a daughter.

domain: geography


Hamilton Sundstrand, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), has been selected by General Dynamics Land Systems for the Stryker Modernization Generator Subsystem Engineering and Manufacturing Development verification and validation program.
Stryker is a family of armored troop transport and combat vehicles for the U.S. Army. Strykers provide unprecedented speed and flexibility in getting infantry to the fight - in urban or open environments.
Hamilton Sundstrand's generator subsystem will be capable of delivering 125kW/600vdc output power to meet the current and future needs of the vehicle and the Stryker Brigade Combat Team. The increased power generated is required to support future communication and control suites and enhanced mission packages that will enable increased interoperability across the future combat system network. Hamilton Sundstrand's Space & Defense division, in Rockford, IL will fulfill this initial contract covering development through qualification and delivery of the required highly integrated generator assemblies and generator control units for initial vehicle testing over a two-year period.
The contract award is part of the Phase I Stryker Modernization program designed to increase the combat capabilities of an already proven military vehicle by incorporating lessons learned in Afghanistan and Iraq. Improvements include enhanced engine/transmission suspension, height management system, central tire inflation systems brakes, driveline, hull structure, seats and environmental upgrades.
Related Research on ASDReports.com:


As reports suggested HTC is expected to bring its smartphone the HTC Aero in the market in this season may be at IFA in next month. The device yet exists in the reports and speculations without any official release. Recently we had some leaked snaps that were reportedly of the HTC Aero. The pictures show a back banned that was much similar to that of Apple iPhone 6. The image was reported fake by some sources but fresh leaks pointed toward the same concept.
It seems that the picture which is not any official was design according to the concept of the HTC Aero. But it was detailed enough to give us an insight. Now we have some more pics that show that the HTC Aero would arrive in the same outlook.
Several sources reported the leaked images as snaps of the original Aero smartphone. But instead of iPhone 6 the images show the device with a matching concept of HTC One. Thus the rear side may slightly match with the iPhone 6 which is actually a continuity of the HTC One concept. The same design concept was adopted in the One M7 and One M8.
Though there is much ground to accept the picture as the original HTC Aero but still it should be considered as early. Similar to last images that were rejected by most as edited current images also first appeared from the same source. Both were reported first on the Chinese famous Weibo. Thus we need to wait for a much reliable source to bring some concrete leaks about the upcoming HTC device.
The HTC Aero or the A9 as it is dubbed by many is calculated to arrive in the market with a large 5.5 inch display. Inside the device is sought to be powerful with 4GB RAM and MediaTek SoC. The camera is also expected to be exceptionally high but no details are out yet.


text:
10 reasons we love Israeli actress Moran Atias
The actress' talents extend far beyond her work on screen.
From the Grapevine recently chatted with Israeli actress Moran Atias just prior to the theatrical release of her movie "Third Person," but that story only scratched the surface of what the 33-year-old star has accomplished in her life and career. Here are 10 things you might not know about Moran Atias:
1. Her acting approach is very method.
To prepare for her role as Monika in "Third Person," Atias lived in Italy for several months without running water or electricity to better experience the lifestyle of her character. She told us that her method acting allowed her to "really get under her [character's] skin."
2. She's charitable.
Not only is Moran Atias involved with Israel's IsraAID humanitarian organization as a Goodwill Ambassador, but she traveled to Haiti following the 2010 earthquake as part of a volunteer mission for Artists for Justice and Peace. She's also worked with the group to organize and host charity events at the Cannes Film Festival and in New York.
3. She's on the cutting edge of Israeli actresses breaking into Hollywood.
“After one or two actresses have established themselves,” she told us, “other actresses saw hope so they pursued it. And I think what’s also happened in the last few years is that casting has been so global. A few years ago, you just worked where you lived. Today, everything is much more open and so easy to audition in Israel for an American show or a British movie.”
4. While in Italy, she became a model for Roberto Cavalli.
When Atias was 17, she traveled to Germany in pursuit of a modeling career. While she was there, legendary Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli discovered her and invited her to join his stable of models, which helped kickstart her modeling career in a big way.
5. She was an official spokeswoman in Milan, leading campaigns against graffiti and animal cruelty.
The city of Milan, Italy, nominated her to become their official spokeswoman to lead special campaigns against animal cruelty and graffiti in the city. She held that role from 2005 to 2006.
6. She rose to fame by acting in several Italian films.
Although she began her formal acting career at the age of 15, Atias gained stardom by working in three Italian films. In 2005, she starred as drug addict Monica in Luciano Melchionna's "Gas." She also joined the cast of Luca Luncini's romantic comedy "Oggi Sposi," and also worked with legendary Italian horror director Dario Argento ("Suspiria") on a film entitled "Mother of Tears," which became the third leg of his "Three Mothers" trilogy.
7. She became a favorite of 'Crash' director Paul Haggis.
Atias joined the cast of the Starz television series "Crash," which was based on Paul Haggis' feature film of the same name. It only took one season for the actress to become the show's female lead. She transitioned from "Crash" to working with Haggis on his next film "The Next Three Days." Those roles ultimately led to her playing Monika in "Third Person," Haggis' most recent film, which Atias actually pitched to him and helped him develop.
8. She appeared in an Israeli youth show at age 15.
As a teenager, before Atias became a major international model and actress, she appeared on an Israeli youth program called "Out of Focus."
9. She modeled for many major brands.
In addition to becoming a model for Roberto Cavalli, Atias has also modeled for many major brands including Dolce & Gabbana and BBG Jewelers, and she has appeared in various commercials.
10. She's become an American TV staple.
Not only did Atias appear on 26 episodes of the Starz series "Crash," but she's also appeared in episodes of "CSI: NY," "Rules of Engagement," "CSI: Miami" and "White Collar." She now plays Leila Al Fayeed, one of the female leads on FX's new series "Tyrant."
MORE FROM THE GRAPEVINE:

domain: celebrity


text:
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3 years ago
In this edition of the Daily Wildcat: Bill aims to attract filmmakers to Arizona, Prospects improve for grads this year, Library dean recognized nationally, UA softball

domain: library


text:
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published Date: 10 September 2013
Buy: Amazon | The Book Depository | Dymocks Australia
From the author of the New York Times bestseller Eleanor & Park.
A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love.
Cath is a Simon Snow fan.
Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan...
But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.
Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.
Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.
For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?
Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?
And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?
"Touching and utterly real." — Publisher's Weekly (summary from Goodreads)
Fangirl is an emotional coming of age story about all the things that define us.
It took me a little bit to get into Fangirl. It was slow to start and I found the writing a little clunky. At times the prose was dense, with a feeling like I was reading and reading but getting nowhere fast. Really though, this is a minor complaint, as the story and its characters make this book in the end. I mention it first up though as I think for some readers, like myself, an extra push may be needed. Cath kept me reading Fangirl. I found her to be an incredibly relatable character, encompassing so many of the worries and fears that I, and I'm sure many others, face at one time or another. Like her worry about eating at the dining hall, about deciding where to set, etc - the memories that brought back of my own fears navigating the dining hall while I was in Uni! Cath's anxieties are pretty extreme and Rowell writes them in a way that evokes Cath's feeling with a real rawness. Often I found myself not just sympathising with Cath but experiencing the sensation of my stomach dropping or my heart clenching. I became completely invested in her coming out of her shell and hoping that things worked out for the best for her. What intrigued me about Cath is that despite these almost crippling fears, she still had an attitude, always quick with a sassy comeback. Many of Rowell's characters were the same, so much more than they appear. Reagan was sarcastic and blunt, but with a heart of gold and always there for Cath and Levi; while Levi was funny and confident on the outside, but doubted himself and struggled with his own issues. Wren, 'the Mature One', quickly loses control in her determination to be someone different, and even Nick, who was smart and nice, had something to hide. Rowell's characters are real and flawed, and they drive the emotion of this novel.
It's obvious from the title that Fangirl is about fandom and being a part of something like this. It's definitely my favourite thing about the book. As someone who reads fanfiction every single day and has done so for something like 13 years, this aspect of Fangirl had me full of glee. I enjoyed the excerpts of Cath's fiction and the Simon Snow series. While the way Cath takes part in her fandom - through fanfiction, art and collectibles - is something I completely relate to, it is only representative of one way of experiencing fandom. It's different for everyone, and no one way is the right way. But what stands out for me is Rowell's portrayal of Cath's feelings about fandom. How Cath feels connected to the Snow series, that it's such a part of her she feels like it is hers a little. This, I think, is something anyone in any fandom can appreciate, even if they don't relate to Cath's experiences. Rowell has captured the heart of fandom. I have to say though, the fandom element of Fangirl is only a small part of the story and that surprised me. In hearing so much about Fangirl before actually reading it, that's all that's really mentioned. But there is so much more to this story. Rowell portrays relationships in all their forms, mental illness, social anxiety, a learning disability, alcoholism, and being yourself no matter what. So many serious issues and Rowell writes them with heartfelt authenticity.
While I found the prose to be off-putting at times, the characters and their journeys, the depths of their stories, shine bright throughout Fangirl. This is a book that I felt gets me. It's a pretty awesome feeling to end a book with.


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text:
Purpose: Hyperspectral (HS) imaging is a promising optical technique that allows the detection of both spatial and spectral information in a single data acquisition. Here we investigate the capability of a prototype HS instrument to measure the iris spectral reflectance in vivo. Moreover, we evaluate the intra- and inter-session repeatability of quantitative HS measurements of the human iris. Methods: Eight healthy volunteers (all males, average age 27 ± 2 years) participated in the study. Irises colors were classified using the grading system of Franssen et al [Grading of Iris Color with an Extended Photographic Reference Set, J Optom 2008; 1:36-40]. Each HS acquisition (duration: 4125 ms) consists of 22 images (HS cube) captured between 480 – 900 nm, in 20nm intervals. Each acquisition was repeated 6 times. The instrument was calibrated using a NIST white reflectance standard, to ensure quantitative and repeatable measurements. Reflectance was analyzed across the 22 spectral bands in an annular region of interest concentric to the pupil. Repeatability was assessed from images captured in 3 sessions, at the same exposure time, with realignment of the iris and refocusing between each session. Results: Inter-subject variability was highest at short wavelengths (Fig. 1) and reflectance exhibited opposite trends in the visible and near infrared. This might be the result of melanin scattering. The influence of water absorption is detected above 850 nm. Repeatability was highest for lighter irises and for wavelengths from 520 to 900 nm. In that range, the coefficient of repeatability (95% of confidence interval) for measurements between sessions was ±10% and ±5% for dark and light irises, respectively. The within-session repeatability was ±7.5% and ±4%, respectively. Conclusions: Automated in vivo HS imaging of the human iris appears to be reliable and reproducible. This technique could potentially be exploited for monitoring iris pigmentation changes with time induced by prostaglandin analogues. In addition, the iris spectral reflectance could be correlated with the development of certain ocular pathologies.
Imaging the human iris: a hyperspectral approach / Di Cecilia, L; Marazzi, F; Rovati, L. - In: INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE. - ISSN 0146-0404. - 59:9(2018).
|Data di pubblicazione:||2018|
|Titolo:||Imaging the human iris: a hyperspectral approach|
|Autore/i:||Di Cecilia, L; Marazzi, F; Rovati, L|
|Codice identificativo ISI:||WOS:000442932807008|
|Rivista:||INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE|
|Citazione:||Imaging the human iris: a hyperspectral approach / Di Cecilia, L; Marazzi, F; Rovati, L. - In: INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE. - ISSN 0146-0404. - 59:9(2018).|
|Tipologia||Abstract in Rivista|
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domain: biology


Spiceworks offers a set of free tools for IT network management and help desk support ticketing.
Its user portal customization is so easy
It Keep a tight rein on IT incidents and tasks: easily accept tickets, reply, add private comments, and close them out.
It provides IT Asset Management for tracking and managing hardware/software assets.
Spiceworks help desk makes it easy to incorporate knowledge creation—and on-going improvements—into everyday work.
It provides Integration with Active Directory to automatically add end users, authenticate in the portal, and tag them to tickets.
It provides a Real time chat system for resolving issues.
Its self-service portal function helps users become more productive and empowered.
It gives you the opportunity to check your network and find out what devices are connected to it.
It provides an additional feature of integrated emails.
Spiceworks inventory management system essentially provides comprehensive device information for asset management.
The Spiceworks Network Monitor provides information on observed IT for problem tracking and server performance monitoring.
Spiceworks Help Desk Software lets IT personnel stay on top of issues across the network with a ticketing system.
Spiceworks Help desk roles with role-based permissions and notifications allow tasks to be allocated across team members.
Its inventory section can be super useful in smaller networks.
It Provides dashboards to easily view the current state of your network
Spiceworks Help desk automatically inventories all the devices and lets us see at a glance the key metrics and measurements that we need to know.
It provides a great way to track communication on IT tickets between the owner and the user.
Why use it?
Spiceworks Help Desk is freely available on the website.
It provides User Self-Service to end users.
Spiceworks Help desk provides Multi-site Support.
It is purposefully built for IT professionals.
Industry’s Positive Comments
I like the options of schedule dates
For the budding IT Company, it’s a low cost solution
It is Very easy to setup
Having Spiceworks self-hosted saves us a lot of our budget each year
Great tool for ticketing system
It comes with Advertisements
The inventory system is lacking when it comes to producing accurate information.
It requires improvement in the area Windows systems.
Similar Products in Industry
Other Service Desk software products available in market are Micro Focus Service Manager, TOPdesk, Zabbix, ManageEngine Service Desk, Zendesk, IBM Maximo, SolarWinds Web Desk etc.


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- What is the benefit of mayonnaise?
- Is mayonnaise good for your hair?
- Is mayonnaise Keto friendly?
- How bad is mayonnaise for your health?
- Is Avocado Mayo healthier than regular mayo?
- Is Hellman’s mayonnaise healthy?
- Does mayonnaise raise cholesterol?
- What is the best avocado mayonnaise?
- What is the lowest calorie mayonnaise?
- What is the healthiest oil to use for mayonnaise?
- Is it OK to eat mayonnaise everyday?
- Can mayonnaise make you fat?
- What is a healthy substitute for mayo?
- What can you replace mayo with?
- What is the top selling mayonnaise?
- What is good quality mayonnaise?
- Is Mayo a Superfood?
What is the benefit of mayonnaise?
Lowers cholesterol As well as helping with the absorption of all sorts of important minerals and vitamins, the healthy fats in mayonnaise can help lower your cholesterol.
“Mayonnaise contains mostly unsaturated fat, from 70% up to 85% of total..
Is mayonnaise good for your hair?
Mayonnaise, when used as a hair mask, adds shine and strengthens hair from root to tip. … The high amount of protein in eggs helps strengthen and thicken hair follicles. Olive and canola oils deeply moisturize hair. The healthy properties of mayonnaise also promote hair growth and reverse damage from heat and coloring.
Is mayonnaise Keto friendly?
In fact, mayonnaise is the top condiment on Keto and low carb diets. And, because it has almost no carbs and is high in fat, it makes an excellent choice for many keto recipes.
How bad is mayonnaise for your health?
One tablespoon of mayonnaise has 90 calories, and if that’s all you’re using, you’re making a relatively healthy choice. “It’s high in fat but not saturated fat,” says Keri Gans, dietician, nutritionist and author of The Small Change Diet.
Is Avocado Mayo healthier than regular mayo?
Using avocado oil ensures that the mayo is filled with what are considered good, healthy fats (the monounsaturated ones). … The condiment can be used in place of your regular mayo in all the foods you would expect, from chicken salad and deviled eggs to dipping sauce for veggies.
Is Hellman’s mayonnaise healthy?
Hellmann’s mayonnaise can be part of a healthy, balanced diet as long as you consume it in moderation. … Hellmann’s mayonnaise is made from soybean oil, eggs, vinegar and lemon juice. It is not rich in most essential nutrients and is high in calories, but it is a good source of some beneficial fatty acids.
Does mayonnaise raise cholesterol?
Hydrogenated oil These trans fats are found in packaged foods such as cookies, pastries, mayonnaise, crackers, microwave popcorn, and frozen dinners, and they’re used because they increase a product’s shelf life. You can stay away from these high-cholesterol culprits by checking food labels carefully.
What is the best avocado mayonnaise?
Primal Kitchen | Avocado Oil Mayo This mayonnaise is made from avocado oil, organic free-range eggs, and beet vinegar, and is verified non-GMO. It is one of the few commercially available mayonnaises that contain no sugar or sweeteners, making it paleo diet and Whole 30 approved.
What is the lowest calorie mayonnaise?
Hellmann’s® Low Fat Mayonnaise Dressing has all of the real, creamy taste you love, with just 15 calories and 1 gram of fat per serving.
What is the healthiest oil to use for mayonnaise?
The more olive oil I used, the better I liked the resulting mayonnaise when eating it plain, but using all neutral oil makes a better canvas for adding flavors. Safflower, canola, grapeseed and peanut oil all do nicely. Just make sure the oil is at the same temperature as the egg.
Is it OK to eat mayonnaise everyday?
Bottom line: There’s no denying that mayo is very high in fat. That doesn’t mean you should ban it for life. It can be a part of a healthy diet when eaten in very small amounts. If you’re trying to cut calories and keep the mayo, many light and reduced fat varieties are available at the market.
Can mayonnaise make you fat?
What’s more, the presence of oil makes it more fattening. In fact, a spoonful of mayonnaise has around 94 calories, which can simply increase your calorie intake unknowingly.
What is a healthy substitute for mayo?
Try These Healthy Mayo SubstitutesLow-fat plain Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt is a nutrition superstar – and a versatile one at that. … Olive oil. … Hummus. … Mustard. … Low-fat cottage cheese. … Mashed avocado. … Pesto. … Almond Butter.More items…•
What can you replace mayo with?
Use these, instead.Avocado: Creamy and dense, like mayo. – Smear on sandwiches, and save 77 calories, 9g fat, and 89mg sodium per tablespoon. … Hummus: Nutty and fluffy. Thick, like mayo. … Greek Yogurt: Tart and tangy like mayo, same texture, too. … Pesto: Oil-based, like mayo. … Nut butter. … An Egg. … More Mayonnaise Ideas:
What is the top selling mayonnaise?
Hellmann’s mayonnaise America’s best-selling condiment.
What is good quality mayonnaise?
Best All-Purpose Mayo: Hellmann’s Hellman’s combines all of what we want from mayonnaise in a single jar: it’s thick but spreadable; tangy but not too overpowering. Overall, our Test Kitchen tasters found Hellmann’s to be a great go-to for many applications.
Is Mayo a Superfood?
Mayonnaise operates as a rich source of Omega-3 fatty acids, and each component of the condiment brings more nutritional benefits. The base of olive oil is good for digestion, the lime juice offers vitamin C and the eggs deliver protein to promote healthy muscle and tissue growth.

domain: food


text:
REC Solar, a provider of solar system design and installation, has expanded into New York state. The company says it now offers turnkey solar solutions to residents across the state, with an initial focus on Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Orange counties.
REC Solar has partnered with home solar company Sunrun to offer solar leases in New York. The company expects the state's residential market to enter the U.S.' top five this year. New York enjoys an average of 180 days of sunshine annually, compared to the leading solar country Germany, which receives approximately 64 sunny days annually, REC notes.


In three-plus years of existence, Chivas USA have had plenty of achievements. The club won the Western Conference a year ago, had a player win Goalkeeper of the Year and two coaches walk away with Coach of the Year honors in successive seasons.
But there is one accomplishment the club must attain if the Red-and-White wants to achieve the ultimate level of success: the club must win a playoff series for the first time. Chivas USA will get their chance starting Saturday against fellow 2005 expansion side Real Salt Lake as the two teams will meet in the Western Conference semifinal.
"If we want to feel like it's a successful season we would have to say that getting past the first round would be necessary, especially with the way the year has gone and the way last year went," Chivas USA midfielder Jesse Marsch said. "It's been a battle for us for sure. I think that were trying to create a real winning mentality here and just getting to the playoffs can't be good enough."
In 2006, Chivas USA pieced together a competitive season for the first time and walked away with a playoff spot, helping earn then-coach Bob Bradley the Coach of the Year award. Though the end was disappointing -- Houston knocked Chivas USA out -- the club laid the foundation for future successes.
A year ago, Brad Guzan won Goalkeeper of the Year and Preki was named Coach of the Year but again Chivas USA crashed out of the postseason despite winning the conference regular season title.
This season, the club has reached the playoffs yet again. Beating Real Salt Lake in the playoffs would be an important and historic step for Chivas USA. Still, players tried to keep the focus on the task at hand.
"It's very important but we're not worried about making history, we're worried about making the best out of this season with this team," forward Alecko Eskandarian said. "We feel that we have a good group of guys that has a chance to do something special."
Eskandarian is one of several players on the squad that has been to the deep stages of the MLS playoffs before. In 2004, Eskandarian walked away with the MLS Cup Most Valuable Player award in a 3-2 D.C. United win against Kansas City.
Now, the former top SuperDraft pick said he needs to take on some added responsibility.
"I had a great experience when I was in D.C., all four years being in the playoffs," Eskandarian said. "It's a different game and maybe some guys who havent been in the playoffs might not be ready to expect that. It will be my job and the other veterans job to kind of pick up the pace in practice a little bit and show them what its going to be like."
In previous playoff failures, Chivas USA counted on a few former MLS Cup champions. This season, though, the team will have more experience than ever before and that, players said, will make a difference.
Among possible starters in Saturday's first leg in Real Salt Lake, the club could count on previous champions in Zach Thornton, Carey Talley, Marsch, Paulo Nagamura, Ante Razov and Eskandarian.
"You look on our roster and the one good thing about this year is that we have a bit more experience, we have some guys who have won some championships and have gone late in the postseason," Marsch said. "Hopefully we can bring a little of that experience to our team and hopefully it will add up to something that gives us a chance to win these big games at big moments." Chivas USA's goal is simple. The club wants to play a home game for MLS Cup. Beating Real Salt Lake and winning their first-ever playoff series thus is simply part of the task.
"If this team is looking for the championship, obviously," midfielder Paulo Nagamura said. "We are not thinking about just getting past Salt Lake. We are thinking about getting to MLS Cup. We have to play Salt Lake first and do a good job against them and then after that do a good job with other teams."
No matter what happens, Chivas USA players said they know that anything can happen in November.
"Our goal is definitely to get past that first round but with that said it's a crapshoot. It's tough in MLS. There are always upsets and things like that," Eskandarian said. "We just have to come out there and not worry about any extra pressure and winning for the first time and things like that. We just have to go in there and win the series against Salt Lake. They haven't made the playoffs either."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.


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Some Naga tribal miscreants torched a truck near Taphou in Senapati district on Saturday evening while it was on its way to Dimapur to fetch essential commodities. With this incident, the number of trucks torched by the miscreants, during the blockade against Manipur, has gone up to 15.
The miscreants are targeting the vehicles despite CRPF personnel escorting the trucks on the two highways.
The tribals had first imposed a 68-day blockade against Manipur which was suspended on June 18 following the intervention of the Prime Minister. It was re-imposed for 20 days from August 4 and further extended by 25 days.
Freedom fighter remembered
Manipur remembered, on Sunday, Haiphou Jadongang, a young freedom fighter who had revolted against the British.
It was on this day, 89 years ago, that he was hanged to death by the British on the fabricated charge of having killed three Manipuri traders.
Jadonang (26) revolted against the collection of house tax and forced labour. He was arrested from the Cachar district of Assam, and hanged on the bank of Nambul river near the Central Jail, Imphal on August 29, 1931.

domain: politics


Last Updated on
By Tony Martins
Do you carry a handgun for protection while hunting? Some rifle hunters may consider this a silly question – some bowhunters, not so much… While hunting elk, I once walked right into a pack of coyotes feeding on a carcass in the early morning darkness, carrying only my bow. Now consider that your high-powered rifle with the mega-magnification scope dialed in for 700 yard kill shots won’t offer any more protection than a bow, if a dozen growling coyotes threatening with teeth bared suddenly attack from just 20 yards away. Recalling that potentially deadly encounter still gives me the chills today. Frankly, if carrying a sidearm is legal, it’s foolish for any hunter to not do so on any hunt. In fact, my home state of Arizona recently changed regulations to allow bowhunters to carry handguns for protection. A front page story from this week’s local newspaper cites one reason – the growing concern over wolves stalking hunters. My friend and guide Billy Bishop reports that he had to fire several shots from his pistol to discourage a pack that threatened him and his horses.
Although hunters carry sidearms for a variety of reasons, probably the most common is to dispatch wounded animals. Without question, low-powered handgun rounds are more safely and accurately discharged at close range than high-powered rounds from a rifle that is usually scoped. When hunting out west, personal safety from large predators like bears, mountain lions and wolves – which often arrive in silence – is a legitimate reason. In the south and southeast, wild hogs are the primary concern, and although I’ve never hunted in Louisiana or Florida, some toothy reptiles there warrant consideration as well. Smaller animals like coyotes, badgers, bobcats, javelina, and even raccoons have all been known to threaten and injure humans. These smaller animals are a greater concern when hunting with dogs, particularly where rabies is present. And, let’s not forget snakes – particularly the venomous varieties.
So, what’s the best handgun to carry in the field for protection? In my opinion, three factors should be considered when making that choice, (1) the type of danger that could be encountered, (2) personal preference, and (3) weather conditions. The carry system is just as important, as the gun must be available for quick retrieval to be used for defensive protection, and not stowed away in a pack or saddle bag (or left in the hunting vehicle!). Recognizing this, Eberlestock has introduced the “Nosegunner” – the first binocular chest pack to incorporate a built-in pocket for a handgun. This innovative new product was featured in my “Best of SHOT – Hunting” news story just after the 2016 show in January. Following are some popular sidearm and holstering choices, with factors and circumstances for the suitability of each. Let’s start with one of my personal favorites – the Smith & Wesson .38 Special.
I rarely go into the field without my trusty 1-1/2-inch stainless S&W in my back pocket. The .38 Special was the standard service cartridge for most U.S. police departments from the 1920’s to the early 1990’s, and it has remained the most popular revolver cartridge in the world for more than 100 years! It’s accurate, comparatively inexpensive and readily available. I vividly recall the evening my father shot a screeching bobcat out of a tree at point-blank range with his S&W 3-inch service revolver, as we cut through an orchard returning late from a rabbit hunt when I was just a youngster. Growing up with, then inheriting this blued revolver (pictured above) and its leather holster on my father’s passing, the .38 Special is truly special to me.
Several years back, young friend Josh was helping our mutual friend Richie bowhunt for elk. Richie tagged one and Josh stayed with the kill while Richie hiked out to locate his truck. An hour later sitting near the carcass, Josh heard a growl and turned around to find a mountain lion claiming the downed elk. Defenseless, Josh backed away, hollering and throwing rocks at the big cat. The lion growled aggressively and advanced toward Josh when hit. Fortunately, Richie heard Josh hollering, ran to the site and shot the belligerent lion with his one remaining arrow. After relating the bone chilling story, Josh told me he was going to buy a handgun like mine the day he turned 21 and could legally do so, and never go into the woods again without it! His 2-inch Taurus Ultra-Lite (M-85UL, also pictured above) is carried in a simple belt-clip holster, or in a pocket.
Revolvers are often favored over semi-automatics for their reliability, particularly when field conditions while hunting expose the sidearm repeatedly to dirt and debris. Where foul weather is also a consideration, single-action/stainless is generally preferred over double-action/blued, especially in coastal or desert climes where salt is a factor. Popularity of cowboy-style “sixgun” revolvers derived from the legendary Colt Single Action Army remains strong – particularly in the west, where Ruger offerings like the Vaquero (pictured above) unquestionably lead the way. When more power than a .38 is desired, the .357 Mag. and .45 Long Colt models are excellent (and stylish) choices. The 4-5/8-inch Vaqueros handle great, point quickly and are easy to pack. And, although you see lots of sexy low-slung gunbelts with leg tethers, I prefer a lightweight leather or Cordura nylon hip holster that slides onto the belt of my pants, and thus rides higher for comfort while moving about in the field.
If you hunt where the great bears roam, any sidearm will do – as long as it’s chambered in .44 Remington Magnum! This is especially important in some areas in Wyoming, where grizzly bears have learned to come to the sound of a gunshot, expecting an easy meal. In my experience, the stainless steel double-action Ruger Redhawk (pictured above) is the top choice of Alaskan guides, for two main reasons; (1) the durability of this over-built handgun, and (2) dependable stopping power, particularly in foul weather conditions. When my good friend Trent Penrod sent an arrow through the chest of an approaching 8-1/2 foot Kodiak bear at a mere 15 feet, his guide stood by his side with .44 Mag. cocked and ready. The big bruin turned away, bellowing as he ran off into the bush. A loud sigh of relief followed – not from Trent, whose adrenaline was surging off the charts – but from the guide, thankful that intervention with his gun wasn’t needed! A secondary benefit is the loud report of the .44 Mag, good for both dissuading (hopefully) aggressive and dangerous animals in close quarters, and for attracting attention when needed. Preference for barrel length varies however, and those who favor long barreled models also favor vertical shoulder holsters to pack these heavy-duty sidearms around (somewhat) comfortably. Hands down, nylon is the better choice over leather for wet weather conditions.
Moving from one of the biggest sidearms carried by hunters for protection to one of the smallest, the ever-popular .22 rimfire might seem to be an illogical choice. This chambering would certainly be considered under-powered for large animals like bears, cougars, wolves and wild hogs, even in its most potent magnum version. Nevertheless, in areas where encounters with these larger animals are highly unlikely, the .22 rimfire is an excellent choice for a number of reasons. Handguns in .22 caliber are typically smaller and easier to handle than larger caliber handguns, and they are often more accurate in the hands of the inexperienced. Furthermore, ammo is comparatively cheap, so there’s a greater likelihood that their owners will have practiced enough to gain proficiency.


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Bennet Rural Fire hosts first-ever grain bin rescue training
BENNET, Neb. (KOLN) - For the first time in the department’s history, Bennet Rural Fire & Rescue hosted grain bin rescue training at the station in southeastern Lancaster County Thursday night.
Volunteers from Bennet, Eagle and Southeast all took part in critical training that was put on by the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety. Bennet Fire Chief Tim Norris says the training was vital for the department after receiving a National Insurance award that granted a rescue tube and training to the department.
“We just don’t know anything about grain bin rescues,” Norris stated. “So now, instead of waiting for someone else, we’re going to be able to do a better job getting help to [whoever is trapped in a grain bin] faster.”
Norris added that having the equipment is a big step for the department when it comes to being prepared for future scenarios should they happen.
“This is a big adventure for us, but we’re glad because we’re gonna be prepared to help take care of our community a lot better, and our neighboring agencies are also going to be able to help us to,” he said.
Even with the tube, other equipment, and training, Bennet is still in need of other resources to have on hand to be able to properly respond to any sort of grain bin rescue.
“We calculated the total expense is about $9,000,” Norris said. Bennet has received a good chunk of that money from multiple sources, including Frontier Cooperative who provided $1,200 to purchase a grain auger. Norris says $4,000 was raised last weekend at the department’s annual pancake breakfast feed and open house.
“We could still use probably another $3,000 or $4,000 to be able to get all the equipment that we need,” he said.
As for Thursday night’s training, it included an informative power point presentation from NECAS, discussing the operations of a grain bin rescue, what to look and watch out for, how to conduct rescue operations, patient care, safety protocols, and so much more. Following the presentation, volunteers took part in training outside the fire station, cutting into grain bin steel and practicing rescue operations with someone inside a simulator, waist-deep in harvested corn.
“In the fire service, it’s a lot of hands on stuff, so you can listen all you want but until you actually get your hand in the grain and start touching tools, you’re not gonna get proficient,” Norris said. “So that why we’re here training.”
Norris added that there were so many new aspects to learn from the training, they hope to retain many of the elements that were presented Thursday night to help them when they conduct their own training in the future.
Copyright 2022 KOLN. All rights reserved.

domain: news


The Lamaas are a three piece skate punk band from the West Side of Toronto. They recently recorded and released a six-song EP, affectionately titled Bum Lyfe. We think you should start with the title track – we dug it for its balls-to-the-wall approach and overwhelmingly aggressive vibes. Fans of The Orwells, Wavves, or Diarrhea Planet could surely get into this.
You can snag Bum Lyfe EP via Bandcamp for a very affordable price.


On August 2, 2008, Yu Dan, a renowned scholar and professor of Beijing Normal University, was invited by the Los Angeles Chinese Culture Development Center to give a speech on Chinese culture at the Los Angeles China Press Center. This event was warmly welcomed by hundreds of local Chinese. Yu Dan also gave a lecture on “Traditional Oriental Culture and Modern Outlook on Life” at UCLA on July 31.
Yu Dan is a Professor and Associate Dean of the School of Arts and Media at Beijing Normal University. In 2006 her lectures on Confucianism appeared on CCTV’s popular primetime show, Lecture Room, transforming her into a cultural icon.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Yu Dan is professor of media studies at China’s Beijing Normal University. She is also assistant to the Dean, Faculty of Arts & Media, as well as the Department Chair of the Film & Television Media Department. Yu managed to become a household name in China because she abridged the works of Confucius and Zhuangzi to make it appear relevant to laymen with “colloquial re-wordings and vivid short stories”。