text:
When the coronavirus pandemic hit the United States, most states put a hold on evictions from rental properties. In many states, those moratoriums are expiring at about the same time that more generous unemployment benefits are set to dry up.
This one-two punch could easily worsen the housing crisis for Americans already bearing the worst of COVID-19s effects. According to a weekly Census Bureau survey measuring COVID-19s impact on Americans, 20% of adults polled in May said they had slight or no confidence they would be able to pay the rent or mortgage due in June. An Urban Institute analysis of Census data found nearly 25% of black renters deferred or did not pay their rent in May, compared with 14% of white renters.
In Michigan alone, courts are bracing for as many as 75,000 landlord/tenant filings (that state’s moratorium expired in mid-June).
The result of all this is that the pandemic – which forced an economic collapse – is adding new burdens on top of the country’s serious housing problems. Even before the current crisis, the United States had a supply and affordability problem. Unless significant support is forthcoming at the federal, state, and local level, it is going to get a lot worse. The result may be higher rates of homelessness – leaving more people on the streets in the middle of a global pandemic.
Even before the pandemic, our homeless shelter system was stretched thin and not set up for social distancing. In the best of times an eviction can have a devastating effect on a family; in a pandemic with an economic crisis, the situation is amplified.
Since the nation was not prepared for the pandemic (despite warnings from various sources for years), reactive measures were developed in haste and the result was a patchwork of eviction halts with varying lengths and caveats.
- Moratoria in places like Texas have lapsed;
- Others will expire very soon – including Louisiana and Pennsylvania – while some states such as New York have announced extensions.
- San Francisco essentially made its moratorium permanent, prohibiting landlords from ever using missed rent for pandemic-related reasons as grounds for eviction. This essentially means any rent lost during the pandemic due to a loss of a resident’s income is lost forever. This is an awful piece of legislation that is likely to have a domino effect that will harm both tenants and property owners. Landlords need rental income to pay bills, provide tenant services, pay mortgages and taxes; the city needs tax income to pay workers and fund essential services.
- Federal help was limited to housing with federal assistance and that moratorium will expire on July 25.
Both landlords and tenants need to understand that an eviction moratorium is not a rent freeze – which means that overdue rent is still accumulating for tenants who have been unable to pay it. Once a moratorium expires and landlords can get court approval to take or resume eviction action, residents could be months in the hole – with little to no chance of catching up.
Even more concerning, some of the expirations coincide with the stoppage of more generous unemployment benefits (the $600 per week) that have helped keep unemployed individuals above water. Congress is still debating whether to extend enhanced unemployment benefits beyond July 31, but Senate Republicans are not in favor of such an extension.
While it may be possible (and advisable) for landlords to negotiate with tenants before evicting them, landlords are feeling the pinch. However, the cost of evicting an existing tenant may not be worth it, particularly if there is little demand from new renters.
Each property owner will have to assess how to move forward based on individual circumstances, but if a reasonable payment plan with residents appears feasible, it may be a better option than eviction.


Are you looking for the finest Polystyrene Sheets and need Polystyrene Suppliers that can handle the project? There are plenty of Polystyrene Suppliers around but how do you know when you are getting a good service from a company? Choose a supplier in haste and you might end up with Polystyrene sheets that are poor quality or overpriced. You could be let down by the standard of the Polystyrene Suppliers and decide not to use their services again. Yet there are numerous suppliers on the internet that provide a brilliant service at a competitive price. How do you spot the best Polystyrene Suppliers though? What should you consider when choosing Polystyrene Suppliers so you can buy Polystyrene sheets in confidence?
Look at how long the Polystyrene Suppliers have been making Polystyrene sheets for. The best suppliers have many years of experience in the industry. They move with the times, constantly update their service and continually improve their skills and knowledge when it comes to the manufacturing process. Polystyrene Suppliers that have over 20 years of experience in the industry are the best. You can guarantee the quality of their Polystyrene sheets. If they’ve been trading for that long the Polystyrene Suppliers must be doing something right otherwise they wouldn’t be able to secure repeat orders.
See if the Polystyrene Suppliers manufacture Polystyrene sheets in-house. Believe it or not, some don’t. They might say they custom-cut Polystyrene sheets to customer’s specification when in fact they actually outsource this process. This isn’t good. When you order products from Polystyrene Suppliers you want everything project managed in-house. The Polystyrene Suppliers should use the latest CAD technology that is computer driven and linked to hot wire polystyrene cutters.
Look at the capabilities of suppliers, are they small enough to provide you with excellent customer care but large enough to handle big orders at the drop of a hat? That’s important if you want a brilliant service from the Polystyrene Suppliers and want to order products in total confidence. Find out this information and if you discover suppliers that tick all of the above boxes you should be fine when you order products in the future.
Polystyrene Suppliers by ukushisa.co.za. Visit their website today if you’re looking for Polystyrene sheets.


text:
anchors away short scatter necklace
Kate Spade on facebook
we bedecked this gold-plated necklace with a smattering of shimmering anchors. it's the perfect finish to a striped boatneck tee and ballet flats or any outfit that needs a sea-inspired twist.
- shiny 12-karat gold plated metal
- lobster claw closure
- length: 16''
- weight: 12g
- item comes preboxed
- style # wbru6991

domain: design


text:
The Raiders won game 1 in dramatic fashion, with a 6-5 walk-off victory over North Paulding in the 10th inning. Jared Jones led the way with 2 hits and 4 RBI, including the walk-off single. Brandon Nikitaides had a timely RBI single to tie the game at 5-5. Micaiah Williams, Pierce Gallo and John Giesler also had hits during game one. Will Marconi started the game on the mound going three innings, followed by Oliver Wood and Seth McBrayer in relief. With the game going extra innings, Walton got shutdown innings from Jake Baldino and David Sickles to close out the game for the win.
In game 2 Walton had 13 hits in the 11-2 victory to sweep the series. John Giesler, Bobby Spencer, Ben Anderson and Micaiah Williams all had multiple hits. Jared Jones and Bobby Spencer each hit a home run. On the mound Bobby Spencer went 5 innings allowing only 2 runs while striking out 3. AJ Montijo closed out the game, striking out 2 and only giving up 1 hit and no runs in 2 innings.
The Raiders will play Parkview in the Elite 8 round of the State 7A playoffs. Game 1 will be at 4:30pm on May 8th at Parkview High School, followed by game 2 around 7pm. If necessary game 3 will be on May 9th at 5pm, also at Parkview High School.
A special thank you goes out to the Walton community! There was a tremendous turnout of fans who showed up early and stayed late to support your Walton Raiders. We hope to see you next week at Parkview High School!
Walton won game one against Collins Hill with a score 9-1. Luke Boynton and Jared Jones had home runs during the contest. John Giesler, Brandon Nikitaides, Pierce Gallo, Jared Jones, Ben Anderson and Luke Boynton each had multiple hits. Will Marconi pitched a compete game allowing only four hits while striking out five to earn the win.
In the second game Walton beat Collins Hill 10-0 to advance to the second round of the playoffs. John Giesler led the offense with three hits, including a grand slam HR and 6 RBI. Bobby Spencer pitched a complete game shutout giving up three hits while striking out six for the win.
Walton will play North Paulding in round two of the state playoffs. The Raiders will host a double header on May 2nd starting at 5pm. If necessary a third game will be held May 3rd. Tickets prices are set by the GHSA and are $10 for the double header and $7 for the third game.
The Walton Raiders will play Collins Hill on Wednesday April 24th in the first round of the GHSA Baseball 7A State Championship. This will be a double header starting at 5:00 pm at Raider Mountain. Tickets are $10 for the double header. Game 3 if necessary will be Thursday April 25th at Raider Mountain starting at 5:55 pm, and the single game price would be $7.
Come out and support your Walton Raider baseball program!
|TEAM||REGION RECORD||REGULAR SEASON RECORD|
|# - Region Champ||* - Clinched Playoff Berth|
Thank you to Marc Story for compiling the amazing videos. All photos were taken by Jeff Schreier Photography (https://jeffschreier.wixsite.com/photos) , Mark Baldino and Marc Story.
2019 Walton Seniors

domain: game


Izumo will not have its own AEW aircraft, will rely on E-767
JS Izumo will not be able to have its own complement of airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft after conversion into a fixed-wing aircraft carrier as it will be deemed to have offensive capabilities.
航空自衛隊 [GJSTUv1], via Wikimedia Commons
Therefore, the defense ministry has decided that the carrier will be protected by early warning aircraft such as the E-767 and E-2D from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
Read more here:: Alert5 (Air)


text:
Martin Brudnizki Design Studio’s Soho Beach House hotel in Miami Beach. Photo by James McDonald.
Martin Brudnizki Design Studios Soho Beach House hotel in Miami Beach
Soho Beach House ( Miami Beach, Florida ) Of the hotel's two pools, the outdoor pool is made for mingling with other guests.
Love this blue sofa and patterned chairs at soho house, miami // smitten studio
The Colourful Design of Soho Beach House, Miami - Bright Bazaar by Will Taylor
Situated in the Ground Floor Courtyard, Cecconi’s Miami Beach is a modern day classic Italian restaurant open to the public for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Originating in Venice and with outposts in London and West Hollywood.

domain: geography


text:
Holiday Costumes for Women
Easter bunnies, sassy St. Patrick's Day styles, Mardi Gras apparel, Patriotic attire, Thanksgiving looks and of course, tons of Christmas styles are just a few of the really fun costume looks that you can get into that will bring some new life into your next holiday celebration. Why hold back when you can really get into your next gathering with your friends and family with one of these fabulous costume looks! Whether for a party, a unique as well as special photo op, a community event or even a work gathering, your extra effort putting together a holiday costume look is likely to be what everyone is talking about. Check out our women's holiday collection today!
Everybody loves a good holiday celebration. From New Year's Day, all the way through Christmas, holidays are a huge part of our culture and something we all truly relish. Halloween has traditionally been a holiday that is celebrated by wearing costumes, and dressing up in various characters is a huge part of getting into the spirit of the festivities. Halloween is only one holiday out of many that come and go throughout the year, however. Have you considered that dressing up in a holiday costume can even further enhance many of the other holidays that we celebrate? You may not even have realized that there are many fun and exciting holiday looks available for nearly every possible holiday occasion!

domain: entertainment


text:
Fungo bats are typically only used by coaches, to consistently place grounders and pop flies to their fielders for practice purposes. And with a fungo bat in their hands, some coaches can pull off wicked accuracy – as one story goes, the late California Angels player and coach Jimmie Reese once shot an 82 on an 18-hole golf course using nothing but a putter and a fungo bat.
Many players "bone" their bats, meaning that before games, they rub their bats repeatedly with a hard object, believing this closes the pores on the wood and hardens the bat. Animal bones are a popular boning material, but rolling pins, soda bottles and the edge of a porcelain sink have also been used. Pete Rose had his own way of hardening his bats: he soaked them in a tub of motor oil in his basement then hung them up to dry.
Next, the third base fungo hits to left, who come home, third baseman cuts (again, 60' from home, about the pitchers mound). First base fungo hits to right, who throw again to second (this is where we practised cutting off doubles on balls hit into the right field corner - it's really practiseing hitting your cutoff man quickly than anything else - also the reason it's safe to do while left field goes home).
How the bat is made is what differentiates it from the typical regulation bat used by major league players. In addition to being lighter and thinner, the bat is also much longer compared to the normal bat. It ranges between 35 – 37 inches in terms of length. In terms of weight, the bat weighs between 17 – 22 ounces. Of great importance to note is the fact that the bat features a bigger barrel than the normal ones. Since it’s flatter and features a small diameter, it’s ideal when it comes to hitting ground balls as well as pop flies. This would be necessary during the fielding practice of any team regardless of the level.
For starters, we should clarify just what we’re talking about when we say fungo bat. Longer, lighter and thinner than a regulation bat (but a larger barrel), a fungo bat is typically 35 to 37 inches long, and weighs between 17 and 22 ounces. As David Allison wrote in the June 1978 edition of Country Journal, “A fungo bat looks to be a cross between a baseball bat and a broomstick.”

domain: sports


Bear and A Banjo
Americana • 43m
As part of the GRAMMY Museum’s Programs at Home series, Moderator Scott Goldman talks with GRAMMY-winning songwriter Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd, composer Jared Gutstadt, and actor Dennis Quaid about the making of the project, Bear And A Banjo. Following the discussion, Jared and Poo Bear perform a few songs from the Bear And A Banjo album. Bear And A Banjo is a podcast and fictional anthology series that centers around the unlikely musical partnership between Bear whose powerful voice can change hearts, minds, even history, and Banjo, a guitar player with a mischievous persona. Spanning through time from the 1930s to the 1970s, each episode places this duo at pivotal moments in American history where they unwittingly influence and define events that would shape the 20th century. From the wrongful conviction of blues legend Leadbelly and card games with Sonny Liston, to the wedding of Sister Rosetta Tharpe and the birth of the CIA, the healing and connective power of music is a key device in each narrative. These standalone plot lines also culminate in a song from the upcoming eponymous album produced by multiple GRAMMY-winner T Bone Burnett, featuring songs written by Burnett, Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd, Jared Gutstadt, and Bob Dylan.
Up Next in Americana
Paul Thorn came to the GRAMMY Museum on July 16, 2018 to celebrate his album Don’t Let The Devil Ride. After a dozen roots-rock records, illustrious musician Thorn reclaimed his past by celebrating the first music he was ever exposed to. The album combines strong influences stemming from Paul’s l...
The GRAMMY Museum welcomed folk legend Judy Collins to the Museum’s Clive Davis Theater on November 1, 2011. Enjoying a career full of accolades, including a GRAMMY and an Academy Award nomination, Judy Collins continues to perform globally, and almost constantly, while still making time for soci...
Larkin Poe visited the GRAMMY Museum on January 22, 2020 to celebrate their first-ever GRAMMY nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album for Venom & Faith. The Georgia-bred, Nashville-based duo's self-produced, chart-topping fourth album was recorded in Nashville in 2018 and reached #1 on B...


text:
If the Nintendo 3DS falls victim to piracy like the DS did, Dementium and Mutant Mudds developer Renegade Kid won't be able to continue supporting the platform, said studio head Jools Watsham in a recent post on his personal blog.
Watsham was responding to a report from Tiny Cartridge saying a hacker had made progress on opening up the 3DS hardware, gaining "full control" of an unmodified unit in kernel mode. The hacker, who goes by "Neimod," said he does not want to use the workaround to enable piracy, but instead is interested in doing things like disabling the 3DS's region lock.
"Piracy on the Nintendo DS crippled the DS retail market, especially in Europe," said Watsham. He cited sales numbers for Renegade Kid's 2007 title Dementium: The Ward and its 2010 sequel, Dementium 2. According to Watsham, the studio sold more than 100,000 copies of The Ward worldwide, which he characterized as "a great success for an original mature-rated title on the DS." However, sales of Dementium 2, which received better reviews than its predecessor, were less than half that of the first game.
"We'll never truly know why that was so, but many seem to believe that piracy had a lot to do with it," said Watsham.
He added, "If piracy gets bad on the 3DS, we will have no choice but to stop supporting the platform with new games." Renegade Kid launched three games on 3DS last year — the eShop titles Mutant Mudds, Planet Crashers and Bomb Monkey — and is developing ATV Wild Ride 3D and Mutant Mudds 2 on the platform for release in 2013.
Watsham exhorted 3DS hackers to "become legit developers" instead, and expressed hope that Nintendo will continue to combat piracy with firmware updates and legal measures. A 3DS software update released by Nintendo in September blocked 95 percent of the world's flash carts — devices that connect to handhelds and often enable homebrew applications — from working with the 3DS, according to a flash cart manufacturer. And in November, Japan banned the importation of R4 cartridges, flash carts that work with the DS and 3DS.
- The final years of Irrational Games, according to those who were there
- The Besties: The Best Games of February 2014
- When a successful game is a failure
- Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima will present Rockstar's BAFTA Fellowship award
- Why Watch Dogs went into hiding
- Square Enix collecting feedback for Kingdom Hearts features, special editions
- Basement Crawl review: cutting room
- South Park's Matt Stone talks game censorship
- Goofball Goals - Overview video
- Hands on with what could be one of the Oculus Rift's best launch titles
- PD Users: Defined at Last! (Humour)
- Polygon Daily Off-Topic: Do Polynauts dream of analog sheep? (Fri 7 Mar)
- Dracul: Now not a Dick
- When Gameplay coincides with the story
- Anime, Cartoons, Comics! Plight Vol. 2, No. 5: The where I yet again break the rules
- Contest: Want to go to the Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls launch party on March 24?
- Welcome to the Polygon Community!
- Which FPS are you most looking forward to in 2014?
- Owen Good, joining Polygon as senior reporter, weekends
- Polygon Daily Off-Topic: 100% Complete (Thu 6 Mar)

domain: news


File(s) not publicly available
Modelling total cost of ownership of rail infrastructure for outsourcing maintenance services
chapterposted on 2017-12-06, 00:00 authored by A Rahman, Gopinath ChattopadhyayGopinath Chattopadhyay
In the recent years, outsourcing maintenance services has becomea part of strategies for cost and risk management. Outsourcing reduces upfront investments in infrastructure, expertise and specialised maintenance facilities. However, decisions on this need to take into account the total cost of ownership rather than the usual practice of procurement cost. The primary objective of thispaper is to develop models for prediction of total cost of ownership and estimation of contract price for outsourcing maintenance services of rail infrastructure. A total cost of ownership model is developed considering procurement, maintenance, inspection and risks associated with the operation of a rail network.
Category 4 - CRC Research Income
EditorAmadi-Echendu JE; Brown K; Willet R; Mathew J
Number of Pages8
Place of PublicationLondon, U.K.
External Author AffiliationsCentre for Railway Engineering; Griffith University; Institute for Resource Industries and Sustainability (IRIS);


text:
At a panel discussion hosted by ULI Pittsburgh, experts highlighted the city’s interesting architecture, relatively affordable housing in walkable neighborhoods, and a strong outlook for the retail sector.Read More
With e-commerce’s stake in U.S. retail at less than 10 percent, suggestions of a “retail apocalypse” of brick-and-mortar stores is greatly exaggerated, panelists said during a ULI North Texas event on the retail sector. Still, panelists at an event in Dallas said the industry has to find new ways to reinvent itself and connect with customers in order to thrive.Read More
The Washington, D.C., region is shedding its reputation as a stodgy government town and emerging as a forward-thinking mecca for technology firms and young professionals. With eyes on attracting projects such as Amazon’s second headquarters, area landlords, brokers, architects, and economic development organizations are teaming up to ink leases with both high-profile and homegrown tech firms.Read More
Hong Kong has surpassed London’s West End as the world’s most expensive office market, according to new research from Cushman & Wakefield. Using proprietary data, the report ranks occupancy costs per workstation as well as workplace densities for newly developed or refurbished office space globally. At a global level, the average annual cost per workstation rose by 1.5 percent over the past 12 months.Read More
Public/private partnerships build a mixed-use, urban-scaled community in Union City, California.
Four takeaways on the use of data science to measure professionals’ interactions in new office designs based on the new Boston Consulting Group workplace at New York City’s 10 Hudson Yards.
Soaring rents have seen London’s New Bond Street rise to become the world’s third most expensive retail street, according to a report by Cushman & Wakefield. The annual Main Streets Across The World report, now in its 29th edition, tracks 451 of the top retail streets around the globe and ranks the most expensive in 68 countries by prime rental value using proprietary data.
While the $1.5 trillion tax-cut bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives is widely seen as beneficial for commercial real estate, one provision would eliminate a municipal financing tool that has been essential for housing, infrastructure, and industrial development investment for decades.
Trading Up: Dining, Leisure, Amenities, and the New Shopping Centre is the second report from the ULI Retail and Entertainment Council to look at the role that food and beverage (F&B) and leisure have in supporting shopping centers as they adapt to retail sales moving online. This year, the research extends that topic to consider how the addition of community amenities is also emerging among shopping center owners.
Ten facilities—all completed during the past five years—raise public transit’s profile with architectural flair while smoothing the way for commuters and travelers.


text:
Home > ASUS N61JQ-X1 16-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop
ASUS N61JQ-X1 16-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop
Intel Core i7-720QM Processor1.6GHz w/ turbo boost up to 2.8GHz
4GB of DDR3 1066MHz SDRAM, 2 slots, 8GB Max
320GB Hard Drive (7200 RPM); Super Multi Optical Disk Drive; Wi-Fi 802.11 bgn
16-Inch HD LED LCD Display; 2.0MP Webcam; Bluetooth; HDMI Port; ATI 5730 Graphics Engine with 1 GB DDR3 Dedicated VRAM
Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit) Operating System
The 16-inch N61Jq-X1 is masterfully crafted to deliver premium entertainment while on the go. Featuring the powerful Intel Core i7 Quad Core processor and ATI Discrete Graphics Engine powered by Mobility Radeon HD 5730 graphics, the N61Jq-X1 redefines mobile computing with the power of a desktop inside its elegant and portable design.Now you can also enjoy the latest in graphics processing technology on-the-go with DirectX 11-enabled ATI Discrete Graphics Engine and watch your games come alive.
This multimedia powerhouse excels in entertainment with awe-inspiring HD playback on its brilliant 16-inch HD LED-backlit widescreen for a vivid entertainment experience in HD. Delight your senses with rich sound from the Altec Lansing speakers, enhanced by the unique SonicMaster design �an exclusive ASUS design that improves sound projection and quality. Plus, introduce yourself to the latest standard of USB with Superspeed USB 3.0, enabling faster transfer rates for USB 3.0-enabled peripherals � up to 10 times faster compared to USB 2.0. Enjoy your favorite HD movies, listen to hit songs, and experience the impressive visuals of the N61Jq-X1- the possibilities are virtually endless.
The N61Jq-X1 boasts 4GB DDR3 system RAM, a chiclet keyboard, a multi-touch trackpad, a high-speed wireless 802.11n connectivity, a 320GB 7200 RPM hard drive, a HDMI connectivity, a Bluetooth v2.1+EDR connectivity, a 2.0MP webcam, and plenty of other convenient features.


Ask a Mechanic Online and Get Answers to Your Car Questions
Welcome, I'm Chris (aka Moose).
Not many techs online today and we are busy busy. Sorry for the long delay. I believe I can help on this concern if you still want or need help?
Looking over this now.
Do you have a scan tool to see which codes are stored?
Yes I am familiar with LR's
Are there any symptoms noticed while driving other than the lights and warning messages?
What kind of scan tool are you using. It is odd not one module has related codes?
Your going to need a dealer equivalent tool. Generic tools can only get engine related codes and none of your warnings are engine related.
The brake light is going to come on from and low brake fluid concern or the parking brake switch.
The trans failure comes on when trans codes are stored. Based on the symptoms you mentioned about the sport mode, that can be a failure within the valve body or TCM.
The other 2 warnings are to vague to even make an educated guess.
We need more info from the vehicle to get better information to resolve this.
If you're confused on what to do now. You have already been charged the full question value. It's now time to compensate the tech that helped you. The only way I can continue to work here and help customers is by getting rated. If you're not pleased yet or plan not to rate me. Let me know so I can help more, close the post, or opt out. Please let me know if you're pleased with my help.
Hello again Chris here,
I am contacting you because the post has not been closed or rated. We have 7 days to get a post rated before it times out. When a post times out, that means its no longer on my active list (if you reply I never know it.) You have already paid the fees to get this question answered, but it appears you're not pleased, or need more help.
Let me help some more. Is there anything else you feel I could offer so you would be pleased with my help. I have the option to call you if that would be better.


text:
This has not yet been found
The museum is very small but worth a look just for the fun of it. Listening to the the guy behind the counter is the best part for many visitors... just have an open mind and ask something if he's not already talking.
There is no entrance fee but they accept donations.
At least when writing this, the museum is open Weds - Mon 11-6 (closed on tuesday). Check the home page link below for changes (see Facebook for other up to date info).
It's good to remember that highway 9 is a bit of a 'racer road' and therefore gets a lot of police attention (by the way feel free to make a cache of the highway too).
Visit the museum if it's open (otherwise it's OK to just make a quick stop).
|Published :||06/10/2015 (d/m/y) 23:26|
Please note that it is possible that the information on this page is not accurate or not up to date. Rules or regulations that are not mentioned here may apply when visiting the place or the conditions on the location may have changed.
Bigger map (motocaching page)

domain: hobby


DetailsClassy racing-look underseat for MBK Nitro / Yamaha Aerox by ODF, checker plate. Mounting parts included.
- Additional Information
Name ODF Underbody Panel rear aluminium Brand ODF-Opticparts DF Fairing Material Metal Composition Underseat
- Fits to (7)
Your product goes with the following manufacturers and their models:
Nitro 50cc LC (after 1999), Nitro 50cc LC (before 1999), Nitro Naked 50cc LC
Aerox 50cc LC (after 1999), Aerox 50cc LC (before 1999), Aerox 50cc LC CAT (after 2003), Aerox Naked 50cc LC CAT (after 2003)


text:
I was very fortunate growing up and accepted Jesus into my life at the age of five.
I was sincerely trying to do the right thing, but my life was still very empty. I didn’t have a real relationship with Him.
The preacher asked if we died that night did we know if we would go to heaven. I knew that I would not.
At eleven years old I was confused, scared and angry. I put a lot of the blame for my problems on God.
A coworker invited us to church we finally gave in. On our first visit we loved it…
When I was older, a friend invited me to a youth gathering every Wednesday, yet no one ever shared what Jesus did on the Cross.
I knew that just because my parents and other relatives were Christians, that did not automatically make me one, too.
It’s hard to remember a time when God wasn’t part of my life…
God gave me Christian parents who showered me with their love and shared with me that it was God’s love that enabled them to love me.
The only problem was, I thought I couldn’t get to God on my own by trying to live a good life and do all of the right things.

domain: sociology


Today, museums are undergoing a digital transformation.
More and more are embracing a visual influence strategy, where instead of banning photography and video, they’re actually encouraging visitors to actively take and share photos online.
Museums are lifting their curtains — curating not just art and artifacts, but these visitor (user-generated) photos too. And those collections turn into visual stories about their exhibits, culture, and visitor experiences.
By letting their personalities shine through visual influence, museums are showing the world how dynamic and fun they can be.
And a key ingredient to their visual influence strategy is CrowdRiff. These are 5 ways leading museums use CrowdRiff to attract visitors.
1 | Featuring diverse visitor experiences
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis showcases the photos their visitors have taken, with CrowdRiff galleries on each of their exhibit pages.
Every museum visitor has a unique experience. That’s something that just doesn’t come across in professional photos.
That’s why the Children’s Museum uses CrowdRiff to source visitor-taken photos, and display them in beautiful header galleries on their site. These photos capture and authentically show the variety of unique experiences people have had there.
Now, when someone wants to get a good sense of other visitors’ experiences at the Dinosphere, they don’t have to leave the site to go to Instagram or Twitter — the official website is their one stop for everything they want to know.
2 | Amplifying conversation around special events
One of the most popular events at The Royal Ontario Museum is Friday Night Live at the ROM. On Friday evenings the museum transforms into a themed social affair, where guests party beside exhibits, with food, drink, and live music.
As you’d expect, they have a hashtag dedicated for the event, #FNLROM, to encourage people to take photos.
During the event, they display a live gallery of photos tagged with #FNLROM, curated with CrowdRiff. That means more people share photos with the hashtag to see themselves up in the live gallery at the event — and outside the event, people see a flood of photos on social media, of people having a really good time at the museum, amplifying and encouraging the social conversation happening around Friday Night Live.
Then after the night is done, these photos live in a CrowdRiff gallery on their event page, for interested visitors to explore.
3 | Adding authenticity to promotional visuals
Did you know your promotional photos are 28% more effective when paired with your visitors’ user-generated photos?
Museums use CrowdRiff to harness this magic formula by curating these visuals and embedding them as galleries on their exhibit pages.
Along with their branded photos and videos, on each exhibit page, the Connor Prairie museum features a gallery of user-generated photos taken around their museum.
People know that you’re not paying visitors to post these photos, which is what makes user-generated content trustworthy. They’re unbiased and genuine visual stories.
4 | Giving website visitors opportunities to explore and discover
CrowdRiff galleries don’t just look pretty — they’re interactive and engaging. By hovering over each image, they can see the original caption and poster. They can also play the gallery like a slideshow.
CrowdRiff clients have seen their time-on-site metrics quadruple after integrating galleries.
The Museum Association of Ontario shows photos from museums all over Ontario with CrowdRiff. People can explore the gallery and discover new museums or collections by clicking images that catch their eye.
5 | Inspiring ownership and community
If you knew your Instagram photo was displayed on a museum’s official website, wouldn’t you feel pretty good? Wouldn’t you keep going back to the site to see it there (and share the page with your friends)?
Museums use CrowdRiff to display visitor photos and inspire this sense of ownership with its visitors. People can see that their own photos have real value to the museum, and it makes them feel like they have a part to contribute here.
We showcase user-generated content to give our community ownership over the museum. We want to give them a real sense that they’re involved in what the museum is doing.
Ryan Dodge, Digital Engagement Coordinator, Royal Ontario Museum
This is a gallery that the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis displays on their website, which they keep updated with CrowdRiff.
With the hashtag #atTCM, they welcome people to share their photos with everyone, and to contribute to the museum community.
By displaying their visitors’ photos, museums use CrowdRiff to show that they care just as much about its people and visitor experiences as its exhibits.
CrowdRiff can help your museum attract visitors
It’s more important than ever for museums to stay relevant with their communities — both in terms of their physical space and their online presence.
Otherwise, you’re at the risk of being left behind, as people get drawn to other places that stay on top of their radars.
CrowdRiff helps museums stay relevant, through helping them tap into user-generated content and powering their visual influence. Request a demo to see what CrowdRiff can do for you.
Header photo creds: @nelkric


text:
Former Wales assistant manager Osian Roberts has revealed how a young Ethan Ampadu announced himself on the international stage at just 15-years-old. The youngster had not yet played for Exeter City's first-team when he was invited to train with Wales' senior squad and he wasted no time in announcing himself.
Wales legend Gareth Bale knocked the ball beyond Ampadu, who is said to have given chase and produced a perfectly timed sliding tackle in his own penalty area to leave the Real Madrid star in a heap, less than a fortnight before the start of Euro 2016. Everyone in the the camp was left astonished.
“We thought, ‘Oh, my god’,” Osian Roberts, then the Wales assistant manager, told the Times. “This 15 year-old boy — what is he doing?”
Bale smirked as he rose to his feet and when the session had finished, the youngster walked over to a video analyst and asked for the clip of the challenge to upload on his mobile phone. Ampadu would return to school and make his Exeter City debut five weeks before his 16th birthday in a League Cup clash with Brentford.
Ampadu was fast tracked into the Wales set-up and made his international debut in a friendly against France. His side were 1-0 down in November 2017, and not phased by the superstars he was lining up against, he came onto the pitch and bossed experienced centre-back and captain Ashley Williams around.
“It was ‘Ash you push in there and I will drop in here,’” Roberts says. “That is Ethan: an organiser, a good communicator, very astute.”


text:
Abbas: Goodbye US, Hello EU
Mahmoud Abbas, the man serving the 13th year of his four year term as president of the PA, is responding to president Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital by rejecting any role for the US in a Peace Deal with Israel. The leader of the regime from Ramallah is demanding the EU officially recognize Palestine as a state with East Jerusalem as its capital and full membership in the UN. Additionally he is requesting more European money to make up for the expected cuts in US funding. It takes a lot of money to pay for all the terrorism he incites.
Read Full Article at Israel National News: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/240622


text:
Ali Larter’s been doing a lot of baking lately, and we’ve got at least one photo to prove it. Her Candy Cane Crunch cookies, courtesy of her sister, Kristen, is a festive holiday treat that can be eaten all year long. It’s even featured in her cookbook, Kitchen Revelry, where she highlights some of her favorite recipes. It’s a “month-to-month culinary scrapbook,” so we can all partake in some of her favorite, seasonal, meals.
Photo Credit: Ali Larter/Twitter
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. sea salt
3/4 tsp. baking soda
16 tbsp. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed golden brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract or vanilla paste
2 large eggs
12 oz. good-quality white chocolate (preferably Lindt because it melts well), coarsely chopped, divided
1/2 cup coarsely crushed candy canes or peppermint candies
Makes about 3 dozen cookies
- Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F.
- Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with silicone mats or parchment.
- Whisk flour, salt, and baking soda in a medium bowl.
- Beat butter, both sugars, and vanilla in a large bowl, using an electric mixer.
- Add eggs and beat until well blended, and then add flour mixture and beat until just incorporated.
- Set aside 2 oz. of white chocolate for melting and drizzling over finished cookies.
- Add remaining 10 oz. chopped white chocolate to cookie batter.
- Form batter into golf-ball-size rounds and place on prepared baking sheets, spacing 1 to 2 inches apart. Bake until set and beginning to crack on top (8 to 10 minutes). Transfer to a rack and cool completely.
Cookie Topping Instructions:
- Melt reserved 2 oz. white chocolate in a small metal bowl perched over a small saucepan of simmering water.
- Stir with a spatula until smooth (try not to overheat or it will seize and will no longer be pourable).
- Drizzle melted white chocolate lightly over top of cookies (finish 2 or 3 at a time) and immediately press some of crushed candy canes atop each one.
- Repeat steps until all cookies are done (it may be necessary to keep bowl with melted chocolate over hot-water bath to keep chocolate melted).
- Cool cookies completely. (Cookies can be prepared 3 days ahead. Store in airtight containers in a single layer at room temperature.)

domain: food


"LASER. World of Photonics"
is the world's leading trade show for optical technologies. Since 1973,
it has taken place every two years in Munich, Germany. The event is
held in parallel with the World of Photonics Congress
– which is Europe’s largest photonics congress and is
organized in cooperation with the world’s leading organizations
in this field. "LASER. World of Photonics China"
is the leading regional trade show for optical technologies in China.
It takes place in Shanghai every year in March. With over 1,100
exhibitors and more than 29,000 attendees at these photonics fairs,
Messe Muenchen International is one of the world's leading trade show
organizers in this segment.
World of Photonics
Portal addresses the industrial and scientific communities and
users of optical technologies, giving them an excellent opportunity to
exchange information. The portal features categories such as Business
Life, Market, Products, Club
and Events and gives the virtual photonics community access to relevant
industry information that you, your employees and your company can


Air Conditioner Heat in Winter
There are a couple typical heating systems used here in the Wiregrass. The most popular is a heat pump. This type of heat reverses the air conditioner cycle and heats the inside air versus removing the heat, like we do during the hot months.
The other most common type of heat is electric heat. You can think of this as a toaster oven that the air goes through, picks up heat, and keeps you warm. This is a more expensive means of heat, so we try to keep this primarily as a backup source of heat.
The Smoke Smell
When we use electric heat for the first time during the cold months we often smell a strong burnt/ smoke smell. This is normal. During the months that it isn’t being used it collects dust and small debris. Then when we use the heat for the first time during the year we get this smell. It’s just the dust/ small debris burning off. Don’t be alarmed. As long as the smell fades and is not accompanied by smoke/ worsening smoke smell this is part of using electric heat each year.
Is This Normal?
As long as the smell does not continue to worsen and there is no obvious smoke, this is normal. Once the dust burns off, it’s gone and won’t continue through the heating season. If there is a worsening smoke smell, or if there is actual smoke, shut your unit off and call your HVAC expert. If the symptoms don’t immediately stop after shutting off the unit, call the fire department…this is not normal or common.


text:
2019 Resort Added Values!
Extra Value: Apple Leisure Group Exclusive: Free non-stop transfers.
Weddings: Receive the Secrets Wedding in Paradise Package complimentary when booking the minimum required room category for a minimum of 7 nights. Restrictions may apply. See applebeachbrides.com.
Honeymoon: Receive the Secrets Eternity Honeymoon Package complimentary. This package is complimentary when booking the Preferred Club Junior Suite Ocean View category or higher for a minimum of 7 nights. (restrictions apply*)
Secrets St. James Montego Bay, an adults-only (18+) resort, features 350 opulent suites. Set on a peninsula surrounded by the crystal-clear Caribbean, this quiet oceanfront destination offers adults the ultimate in sophistication, relaxation, romance and the privileges of Unlimited-Luxury®. Secrets St. James has been recognized by Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide for inclusion among the finest full-service resorts and spas.
In addition to enjoying all the benefits Secrets St. James has to offer, guests will have the opportunity to utilize all of the Unlimited-Luxury
® privileges available at Secrets Wild Orchid. These facilities and amenities include a total of seven gourmet, a la carte restaurants serving a variety of international cuisine, a buffet and more, ten chic bars and lounges offering unlimited premium brand beverages, an air-conditioned theatre featuring a variety of entertainment and a world-class spa with pampering spa treatments.
Upgrade to a Preferred Club suite and enjoy Preferred Club status and amenities including private check in/out, private concierge service, private pool, complimentary newspaper in room daily, complimentary internet access in suite, sun bed and soaking tub on terrace, upgraded minibar service and upgraded bath amenities, and access to the private Preferred Club Lounge serving daily continental breakfast, afternoon hot and cold hors d'oeuvres, exquisite desserts, fine liquors, and complimentary computer access.
*Please request your honeymoon package at time of booking. Not available during Christmas and New Years Eve. Subject to availability and double occupancy only. Taxes and gratuity included. Prices and package subject to change without notice. This package cannot be combined with the Secrets Wedding in Paradise Package for both to be received complimentary. The Secrets Eternity Honeymoon Package is only applicable to couples staying within three months of their wedding date. Couple must present a copy of their wedding invitation or marriage certificate at the time of check-in. Package is available to all guests when purchased at the selling price.
General Policies & Fine Print
Check-in Policy - Hotel requires a credit/debit card authorization or cash deposit upon check-in for incidentals; this will place a hold on your funds.
Convention Policy - Individuals attending a convention cannot book this property for their stay. If found attending a convention, guests may be subject to higher room rates upon arrival.
Hotel Spring Break Policy - Spring Breakers are not permitted at this Hotel. A student group consist of those that travel without parent or a responsible adult in each room. This could refer to but not limited to high school or college students booking multiple rooms. The hotel reserves the right to deny lodging to any reservation of this type.
Transfer Policy - A price may display when children stay free, if your vacation includes transfer to your hotel.
General Information - Room taxes and service fees are included in vacation price. Minimum night stay restrictions may apply. Reservation changes may not be permitted unless authorized by the hotel.
Customer Ratings & Reviews
TripAdvisor Traveler RatingBased on 7761 reviews
Beatiful resort with horrible food!
Just returned from a 5 days visit. As nice as the resort was I wouldn't return. Staff was great and the rooms were beautiful. Food & Drinks are another story! Terrible food and low quality alcohol. Only decent thing was the jerk chicken but you can bored of eating that every day. No real night life after dark.
Spectacular views 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲
We stayed at Secrets St James for 2 weeks in July 2019 & it was wonderful. Check in was great, we were given a cold towel each on arrival & a welcome drink. On route to our room on the 5th floor the views were a WOW moment, one side you were overlooking Montego Bay & the other side was the sea. Room was beautiful, we have been on lots of these holidays before & this was probably the nicest & most comfortable room we’ve ever had, helped by the gorgeous sea view off the balcony. We are from England & we do not like the AC too cold & in the room you could adjust this to suit what you wanted, perfect! Food was great but as a previous reviewer has said not the best we’ve ever had. Drinks were great & served in good sized plastic (if outside) glasses. Beach is a bit rocky but nice & private as the hotel is on its own peninsula with only the Hard Rock Cafe next door to one side. Only downside of the Hard Rock Cafe being next door is it can get noisy! We were celebrating our 10th year wedding anniversary & the hotel were amazing in helping us celebrate this, starting off with a banner on our room door & cheese & crackers in the room on arrival along with a card for us to phone when we wanted our cold beverage (champagne) delivering. We spent most of our days at the beach at the Breathless end, fantastic! Barefoot Grill at the Breathless side of the beach is amazing & in particular one member of staff that made this holiday so special was Jeselyn, she is a gem! Jeselyn looked after us every day, making sure we had drinks when we hadn’t asked for them & even taking our food order on the beach & bringing it to us on proper plates all wrapped up so we didn’t have to move off our sun beds - this is what a holiday is all about! Another member of staff that made our holiday really special was Ernel in the Barracuda Bar in the evenings. We spent every night in this bar & it was all because of Ernel, he is super friendly & a really good guy with lots of chats. We were both really sad to say goodbye to both Jeselyn & Ernel, on these holidays it’s the people that can really make it for you & these 2 certainly did that! Fabulous memories that we will never forget, Jamaica is fabulous & this hotel we would definitely recommend.
I cannot say enough good things about this resort ! We stayed in preferred and splurged on a butler , we were given two , Tajhe and Shelly , they were without a doubt the best part of our trip . We would go back to this resort again just for them. Dwayne and Dowayne at the beach bar were also great , keeping us in icy drinks all day . Staff was for the most part incredible , restaurants were good , with the hibachi grill and steakhouse standing out , top shelf liquor and amazing bartenders at the piano bar after dinner . We saw a lot of people not tipping , sadly , but not surprising. Please ! Take care of the workers here , they are worth it !! Until next time ! ❤🇯🇲✌
Had higher food expectations
The resort is nice, and the service is good. Having paid a 5-star price, I had 5-star expectations. There was plenty of 3-4 star food...fine, but not great. I expected to be wow'd more. Hmmm...200 character minimum...ok. Did I mention I was underwhelmed by the food?
We had a wonderful long weekend in Jamaica. Me and my girl stayed at Secrets and it was so nice not to have kids around the resort. I've been to all inclusive resorts with kids too and that has it benefits, but this time was just the two of us on a girls trip so was so nice to be adulting the whole time. We did a trip with this super cool boutique tour company that curated a perfect day for us in their jeep. So refreshing to see a company thinking out of the box and providing a kind of tour concept that I've never seen anywhere before, and I travel a lot. Def wroth checking them out, think they're called Epic collecive or something edgy like that. Highly recommend this hotel for friends on a trip, drinks, bars etc are all in point, plenty things to do for a long weekend in the resort, and also a few cool clubs off the resort, like Pier 1. On a Friday they have a super nice dancehall club. Thanks to all staff for making this stay so epic.

domain: travel


text:
Federal Building 1964 by Welton Becket architects | 300 N. Los Angeles + Temple Street
federal building. address: 300 n. los angeles street, los angeles, united states architects: welton becket and associates date: 1964
Federal Building 1964 by Welton Becket architects | 300 N. Los Angeles + Temple Street | Civic Center | Downtown Los Angeles | Architecture | Pinterest |…
Belarusian parliament building, Independence Square, Minsk
Hotel Tryp Habana Libre - Image: Hotel «Habana Libre», especialmente emblemática la
Inglewood Civic Center Municipal Courts / Los Angeles Modern Architecture
Winslow B. Felix Chevrolet Dealership 1931 by architect William Richards | 1201 S. Grand
777 Main Street (Hartford, Connecticut)
Pacific Telephone Microwave Tower 1961 by Woodford + Bernard Architects | 420 S. Grand Avenue
L.A. Times Executive Parking Structure 1972 by architect William L. Pereira | 2nd Street +
Occidental Life Insurance Tower 1963 by Gin D. Wong / Pereira Architects | Transamerica Tower
(1966)^ - Night view of a well lit Department of Water and Power building, including fountains, as seen from the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion across the ...
Equitable Life Building (Los Angeles)
Harbor–UCLA Medical Center - Image: Harbor UCLA Medical Center 20150328 (4)
Image / Mosaics in the new Federal Building
Hotel Tryp Habana Libre - Hotel Tryp Habana Libre. The three balconies which are not
Glore Forgan Staats Investments 1968 Schram + White Architects | FedEx Kinko's | 835 Wilshire |. Downtown Los AngelesArchitectsBuilding Homes Architecture
General Petroleum Building - General Petroleum Building, 2008
Hotel Tryp Habana Libre - Image: Hotel «Habana Libre» panoramio
Jonathan Club Garage 1953 by architect Earl T. Heitschmidt | 515 S. Figueroa Street
Worcester Center Galleria
Harbor–UCLA Medical Center - Image: Harbor UCLA Medical Center 20150328 (3)
Alpha / Fox Bell Theatre by architect S.
The 3,000-seat Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Project Designer Lou Naidorf, opened in 1958.
1965)#^^^ – View of the Los Angeles Civic Center looking southwest. The recently completed Federal Building is in the foreground.
First Bank and Trust Tower
City Hall Pomona, California, built in 1969, designed by Welton Becket and B.H. Anderson as two buildings joined by a central glass pavilion, ...
Cathay Bank 1962 by architect Eugene Kinn Choy | 777 N. Broadway + Alpine Street
Capitol Records Building - Image: Aerial Capitol Records Building
The Opera House in Sydney showing its massive podium
Ralph Anderson (architect) - Union Trust Building and Annex (2007).
Southern Pacific Building - Image: A&E vol LI no 2 pg ...
Mario Roberto Álvarez - Image: Somisa Building
Ralph Anderson (architect) - Broback Residence in Medina, Washington. Designed by Ralph
M. Eugene Durfee - Chapman Building, Fullerton, 1923.
Salesforce Tower - Image: Salesforce Tower during construction, January 2017
Harbor–UCLA Medical Center - Image: Harbor UCLA Medical Center 20150328 (2)
The new commercial building at 482 Bryant St. is set apart from its neighbors by
Water & Power Building and Music Center
Fred Bassetti - Henry M. Jackson Federal Building, completed 1974
John Graham & Company - 44 Montgomery (left), adjacent to the Hobart Building
Glendale Central Library, Project Designer Marvin Taff, finished March 13, 1973.
Ralph Anderson (architect) - Broback Residence, 1964.
Two Prudential Plaza (Jacksonville) - Image: Two Prudential Plaza, Jacksonville FL,
The Miracle Mile and Los Angeles County Museum of Art
... looking southwest showing the Fox Wilshire Theatre as seen from the north side of Wilshire Boulevard. Banners hang from the side of the theatre building ...
Health Services Parking Structure by architect Arthur Froehlich
The Key System Building is seen at Broadway and 11th Street in Oakland, Calif.
Caption reads: "Wilshirmart - Corner Wilshire Blvd. and Doheny Drive, Los Angeles...is Noted ...
1967)^ - An aerial shot of the Music Center and the Department of Water and Power Building.
List of tallest buildings in Arizona
1961)+#+ – View looking south on Vine Street from Yucca Street with the Capitol Records Building on the left.
Via Los Feliz Neighborhood Council
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1960)**^* - Angels Flight crossing over Clay Street. Every building on either side of the street would meet the wrecking ball within a few short years.*^^
Seattle preservationists fight to grant Googie restaurant landmark status
... took on the Los Angeles establishment ...
Identifiable landmarks include the Federal Courthouse at bottom right; Los Angeles City Hall, located at 200 N. ...
Update: Renovation of Paul Rudolph's Orange County Government Center nears completion
1960)^ - View looking northwest from City Hall toward Bunker Hill prior to construction of the DWP General Office Building and the Music Center.
All and sundry weep for the Richfield. It's not altogether true that everyone turned a blind eye during its '68-9 demo. Even the Government knew enough to ...
(1930s)^*# – Close up front view of the Warner Theatre showing the intricate Art Deco designs on the face of the building and its tower.
The Security First National Bank later became known as the Security Pacific National Bank; photogragh circa 1938. (Top: “Dick” Whittington Photography ...
The new 42-story Equtable Life Building in Sixth Avenue. June 1961. Photo: Architectural Record.
(1964)^^#* – View looking north on Flower Street from 4th Street, through the former Bunker Hill neighborhood. The newly constructed Dorothy Chandler ...
(1931)^ - View showing the El Dorado Market “mini mall”, located at 8963 Wilshire Boulevard, 2 blocks east of S. Doheny Drive.
University of California-Los Angeles
1965)^ - Aerial view of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. In the background are the Park La Brea Towers appartments. The La Brea Tar Pits can be seen to ...
Los Feliz says 400 Parking Spaces Not Enough for Hollywood/Hillhurst Mixed-User [Curbed LA] ...
The Meriwether - Image: The Meriwether tower from north Portland, Oregon
(1964)^^^* – View looking west showing the Santa Monica Freeway under construction at La Cienega and Venice boulevards.
(ca. 1939)^ – Birds-eye view of Beverly Hills looking northwest from the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Wetherly Drive. A Shell Gas Station is seen ...
Richard Meier - Modernist in White Armour [Archive] - Wired New York Forum
The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel looking from Chanin Building looking north. July 1962.


text: This amiable coming-of-age picture concerns four teenage orphans living at a Catholic convent in the Australian outback. Older than most of the other wards, they've given up hope of ever being adopted, but during a holiday trip to the seaside they begin competing for the attentions of a young couple. Though familiar as an old shoe, this is straightforward and well told, capably adapted by Marc Rosenberg from a 1963 novel by Michael Noonan. Veteran TV director Rod Hardy demonstrates a fine sense of period detail despite some curious gaffes regarding pop songs. With Daniel Radcliffe, Christian Byers, and Teresa Palmer. PG-13, 103 min.

domain: library


text:
The dramatic story of Liverpool and the Irish Potato Famine
‘The Great Hunger’ was the name given to the Irish Potato Famine of 1845 and 1846. During this entirely man-made catastrophe at least 500,000, and probably nearer 2 million people, died of starvation.
This talk tells how this all came about and what the effects and impacts were on the peoples of Ireland and of Liverpool. This is because 2 million Irish people came through Liverpool to escape poverty, exploitation, and starvation, and 300,000 of them stayed in the already overcrowded town.
The story continues with how Liverpool and its people reacted to this crisis, and how the Irish went on to become an essential part of the great community of the City. They joined the hundreds of thousands of immigrants from across the globe, who, over the centuries, also added to the wonderful cultural mix that is modern Liverpool ~ ‘The World In One City’.


text:
Posted on Aug 23, 2018
By Ellie Laks, Founder of The Gentle Barn
Almost ten years ago we rescued our very first group of veal calves. We had gotten a call from the owner of an auction house that asked us if he could call us when he had downed calves, to take them off his hands. A week later he called with six calves, all too sick to stand. As Jay was heading home with them, I started calling other sanctuaries to see if they could offer any advice on how to care for them. Every sanctuary that I called said the same thing: the only thing I should know is that veal calves don’t survive. Devastated, I got off the phone, desperate to try something the others hadn’t thought of. I reasoned that veal calves probably don’t survive because they have nothing to live for. They’ve been taken away from their moms, are stuck in a dark box, and are very sick; why would they want to live?! I had to to do something to make them want to live! By the time Jay arrived home with the six calves I had called over a hundred volunteers, and they all had signed up to take shifts with the calves throughout the day and night. If we loved them, read to them, sang to them, held them in our arms, and told them how wonderful their life would be, maybe they would want to survive. And sure enough, after several long months of breathing the life back into them, they recovered, healed, grew, and thrived. We have implemented that same method with hundreds of orphaned animals and have not lost one single veal calf since.
Star was one of the calves who right from the beginning shone so brightly. He was always kind and gentle, and although he was very ill at first, he was so receptive to our love and affections. He didn’t shy away but welcomed our efforts. He grew very tall, very fast, and we affectionately called him our big boy. Because he was raised in our laps, even when he was well over seven feet tall, when we sat with him he would lay his head in our laps, forever a lap cow. Star was fascinated with small children. He would tower over them, lower his head to face them, and would look at them as if to say, “why are you so small?!” And of course the child’s eyes would open wide, jaw would drop, and he would exclaim, “why are you so huge?!”
Dairy cows are genetically engineered to get very big, because the bigger the cow, the more breast milk they produce. The babies are taken away from their moms as they cry on deaf ears for each other, and the baby’s milk is stolen for people to drink. The baby is put in a veal crate to stand for eight weeks, and if they live that long, are sent to slaughter at eight weeks old. When we rescue them and they are allowed to live, the males grow to seven feet tall and over three thousand pounds. But even though Star was so huge, he was always gentle.
He was like a shooting star: he lit up the sky, he was brilliant and dazzling, to see him was like being witness to a miracle, when anyone saw him they couldn’t help but utter “wow”, and though grateful to have caught a glimpse of him, when his trail burned out he left everyone yearning for more. To all of you who were lucky to know him, thanks for loving our big boy with us! I hope he opened your heart as big as he opened ours. To love, to be kind, to extols gentleness to all creatures, to stand up for injustice, and to be the voice for the voiceless is what Star would have wanted of each of us!

domain: literature


text:
Customize Your Wisconsin Golf Packages
When you book one of our Wisconsin golf vacations, you have the option of playing golf at Whistling Straits Golf Club where you can tee it up at the Straits golf course which was home of the 2010 PGA Championship and mentioned in Golf publications as one of the top golf courses in the United States.
We offer various Stay and Play golf packages in Wisconsin with accommodations at The American Club which has been named a AAA Five Diamond Resort for twenty-one straight years as well as at The Inn on Woodlake.
Your golf trip will take you to The Village of Kohler, Wisconsin which is about three hours north of Chicago and fifty-five miles north of Milwaukee where you can play rounds at four championship golf courses designed by Pete Dye including the Straits and Irish courses at Whistling Straits and the Blackwolf Run Championship Course.
Destination Kohler feature nine restaurants ranging from light snacks to fine dining. You will also have an assortment of shopping options and a plenty of outdoor activities like hiking, canoeing, horseback riding, fishing and to name a few.
I can't wait! Quote and book discount Wisconsin golf packages.
with Wisconsin golf packages.
Book Golf Packages in Wisconsin
Book Cheap Golf Package Hot Deals
Instead. you will find an interactive quoting system that helps you customize a golf package that fits your needs and budget to a tee.
You choose from the best Wisconsin golf courses and first-class accommodation options. You also pick preferred tee times and play golf when you want to play.
On top of that, if needed, you can get accurate, unbiased, guidance and personalized service from one of our experienced golf specialists either online or on the phone.
PGV.com Tip - Don't forget to book your flights! We've lined up great deals for you with one of our travel partners. Find cheap Wisconsin airfares here.
"Everything was handled 1st class. Can't think of anything that you could do better" - Keith W.
"Do not change a thing. Your service by far was top of the line. My vacation planner couldn’t have done a better job. Thank you for the most memorable golfing experience of my life." - Brian C.
So what are you waiting for?
Quote and Book Your Wisconsin Golf PackagesQuote and book your golf course and accommodations for your a golf vacation at our discount Wisconsin golf packages page.
Find Hot Wisconsin golf vacation deals and discount golf package specials to other great destinations on our cheap golf packages page.
Keep in TouchWe are always adding more hot deals, information, reviews and Wisconsin golf vacation packages.
Keep checking back or better yet, subscribe to the rss feed of the Perfect Golf Vacations Blog, follow us on Facebook or Twitter and you will be the first to know of all the hot golf deals and fresh information added to our site.
Return to Perfect Golf Vacations Home


Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel back to North Korea as early as next week with a new US envoy; holding high-level talks with Kim’s regime to further complete the President’s goal of a nuclear-free Korean peninsula.
Pompeo will be joined by Steve Biegun, a former Vice President at Ford Motor Company, to advance talks that have slowed since President Trump’s historic Singapore Summit with Kim Jong Un.
.@SecPompeo announces Steve Biegun as the Special Representative for #NorthKorea, who will lead our efforts to achieve @POTUS Trump’s goal of the final, fully-verified denuclearization of North Korea, as agreed to by Chairman Kim Jong Un. pic.twitter.com/fZ9iCBMhpL
— Department of State (@StateDept) August 23, 2018
“I’m fully confident that he will be able to lead our mission in assuring a secure future for the American people and we hope a far brighter future for the people of North Korea,” said Pompeo at the State Department.
BUSTED! NY Times ATTACKS 'Absent' Pompeo During Secret RESCUE MISSION
The New York Times viciously slammed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Tuesday, accusing the senior Trump aide of being “thousands of miles away” during the President’s Iran speech; despite the fact he was in North Korea negotiating the release of three prisoners.
According to Fox News, the Times blasted Pompeo for not being on hand as the President announced his decision to withdraw from the Iranian nuclear agreement; saying he was missing at a “key moment” of the Trump presidency.
“Senior State Department officials were momentarily speechless on Tuesday when asked why Mr. Pompeo did not delay his trip by a day to be in Washington during Mr. Trump’s Iran deal announcement,” writes the Times.
“The absence of Mr. Pompeo and other top State Department officials left perplexed European diplomats privately complaining that they were having trouble getting answers from Washington,” the author added.
It became clear by Wednesday that the reason Pompeo was “thousands of miles away” was to oversee the transfer of three American prisoners from North Korean officials to US custody.
Read the full story at Fox News.
FIREWORKS: Mike Pompeo SHREDS Liberal Senator Over ‘OUTRAGEOUS’ Questions
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo unloaded on Democratic Senator Tom Udall during a fiery exchange in Congress Friday; slamming the liberal legislator’s claims the President’s foreign policy may be designed to financially benefit Donald Trump.
“Given that the president refuses to disclose his tax returns, how can you assure the American people that American foreign policy is free of his personal conflicts of interest?” Udall asked.
“Senator, I find that question bizarre,” fired-back the Secretary of State.
“I’ve been incredibly involved in this administration’s foreign policy now for 16 months now, and I have seen literally no evidence of what you are scurrilously suggesting,” he added. “It is an outrageous suggestion.”
Watch the fiery exchange above.


Quinton Reynolds recorded a shutout against the West Michigan Wolves as the Texas Jr. Brahmas picked up a 3-0 win.
The Jr. Brahmas forced Wolves\’ netminders to work without much rest, totaling 31 shots and forcing 28 saves. Kyler Patenaude made 10 stops and Chase Stanford made 18. Texas stifled West Michigan\’s power play, and did not give up a single goal while down a man. The Jr. Brahmas\’ defense was surprisingly good. Texas averages 3.0 goals allowed per game. Team\’s forwards weren\’t the only contributers offensively, and the team\’s defensemen showcased their scoring touch with two goals.
Texas additionally got points from Durkin, who also registered one goal and one assist to lead the team in points. Texas also got a goal from Nick Nitta as well. In addition, Texas received assists from Paolo DiGenova, Zach McPherson, Kurt Thiele, Ryan Dunner, and Sam Gagnon, who contributed one each.
The Wolves were held below their usual level of production. West Michigan averages 3.1 goals per game.
The Jr. Brahmas\’ Reynolds stopped 26 shots out of the 26 that he faced. Texas incurred six minutes in penalty time with three minors. The Wolves incurred four minutes in penalty time with two minors.


No Housing, No Jobs – Bonanza for NGOs, Sweatshops and AgribusinessesCapitalist “Reconstruction” of Haiti
stands guard as residents of tent city inspect “relocation”
site, Corail Cesselesse,
After all the televised hype about “Hope for Haiti,” the post-earthquake reality remains grim. Little aid is reaching survivors, almost no housing has been built, the “temporary” camps are breeding disease and liable to be swept away by the next storm, residents are facing eviction with nowhere to go, and the police and mercenary occupation troops are back to their usual practice of arbitrary arrests and raids on poor districts. All this is the result not of a natural event, but of the chaos and oppression inherent in capitalism. This is the continuing devastation of New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward (almost five years after Hurricane Katrina) to the nth degree, compounded by semi-colonial dependence. If NOLA residents got the 82nd Airborne and toxic trailers for housing, Port-au-Prince got the 82nd Airborne plus U.N. “peacekeepers” ... and no housing. Not even one-fifth of “tent camp” residents have received tents, most are still living exposed to the elements under tarps and make-shift shelters.
First there are the looters. No, not the non-existent roving bands of youths stealing food from babies that the U.S. military was supposedly sent in to control, but some of the aid agencies themselves. Most suspect is the American Red Cross (ARC), notorious in the “aid community” for its bloated bureaucracy and diverting funds. The ARC raised $430 million for Haiti, partly through appeals by First Lady Michelle Obama. People in Haiti are asking “where did that money go?” – particularly since nobody has seen any of it on the ground. The ARC refuses to make its records public, but said it had spent “or allocated” $106 million in the first two months, mainly by giving it to the U.N.’s World Food Program and international Red Cross efforts. But an ARC official argues that spending lots of money in an emergency when “everything is expensive” is “not being efficient.” The ARC is holding back the rest to be used for things like “water sanitation systems” – plus, of course, the 9 percent it charges for administration (Miami Herald, 27 April). A bitter Haitian joke says that if a local politician takes a rake-off, it’s corruption, but if an NGO takes the same cut, it’s called “overhead.”
Then there is shelter. Initially, the Haitian government vowed it would provide housing for earthquake victims on safer ground. However, when 2,000 residents were bused to the first site, Corail Cesselesse, they found a barren dust-blown plain far from the city without electricity, water supply, latrines, jobs, transportation, a place to buy food or anything at all. When President Préval showed up for a photo op, people complained they were being dumped in a “wasteland.” The bureaucrats’ talk of “decentralizing” Haiti was nothing but forcibly depopulating the capital – finishing the job for the earthquake. “Although there is open land closer to the city, landowners have not been willing to give it up,” reported the Los Angeles Times (18 April). A month and a half later, even the World Vision aid agency complains that the flimsy tents provided at Corail are inadequate for storms: “no tent or tarp is able to withstand that type of weather.” A spokesman for Oxfam asks: “Why did we pick a flood plain in the middle of the desert for this site?” (“Many Say Haiti Unprepared for Hurricane Season,” Miami Herald, 31 May).
In contrast to the perilous situation at the Corail site, the Herald writes, “Petionville Golf Club is a model of what can be done.” Disaster experts point out the sandbagging, ditches and fence around a ravine, adding that 4,000 people living in the most “at-risk” part of the Golf Club were relocated. Two things the article didn’t mention are: that the at-risk residents were relocated to the hellhole of Corail, and the manager of the Pétionville camp in the lush hills above Port-au-Prince is actor Sean Penn. Every visiting statesman passes through the Pétionville camp, and with USAID, Catholic Relief Services and the Israeli government pumping in resources, there are a few more facilities. Right across the street are boutique shops and posh restaurants catering to prosperous Haitians from the nearby gated mansions, as well as a casino and brassy nightclub for foreign aid workers. “The thumping beat of capitalism can be heard by those now living on Pétionville’s streets,” reported the New York Times (28 March). So things go better with money – lots of it – but whether any will trickle down is another matter.
As for temporary shelters, barely 2,000 have been built. (Although no more than glorified wooden boxes, they do offer some protection from extreme weather.) The American Red Cross said it had spent $30 million on materials for such “T-shelters,” but they are sitting in storage. The Canadian Red Cross was about to start building T-shelters, but they stopped. Why? In both cases because the Haitian government could not find land with clear property title to place them on. Meanwhile, some landowners, particularly several church-owned schools, have been creating obstacles to access, blocking food deliveries, destroying latrines, cutting off water, even threatening to use tear gas – doing everything possible to push camps off of their property. The Haitian government and the U.N. agreed on a temporary moratorium on forced evictions, but the minister in charge hasn’t informed anyone, and the ban is not being enforced (“As ‘Temporary’ Camps Linger, Tensions Rise with Haitian Landowners,” IPS, 9 June).
Clinton, the new neo-colonial gouverneur
of Haiti, with Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive (center) and Muhtar
Kent, chairman of Coca-Cola, launch new mango beverage at imperialist
donors’ conference on Haiti, March 31.
This brings us to the role of the “multinational” (mainly U.S.) corporations, waiting to cash in on the reconstruction. A liaison to Clinton’s HIRC told a Haitian entrepreneur that only 15 percent of the aid contracts would go to Haitian contractors (Haiti-Liberté, 16 June). U.S. debris-removal companies (Ashbrit, Ceres) are lining up at the trough, and giant construction firms like Halliburton, Bechtel, Fluor and Brown & Root are eager for action as their Iraq contracts wind up. In the countryside, the agrochemical giant Monsanto figured it would get in ahead of the competition by donating 475 tons of hybrid seeds. Peasant organizations held a protest march in Hinche that burned some of the seeds, saying they would make small growers with limited cash income dependent on annual purchases from Monsanto (producer of Agent Orange and other herbicides used in counterinsurgency warfare) and would lead to the destruction of peasant agriculture. In turn, Coca-Cola (with the endorsement of Bill Clinton) has launched a $7.5 billion “Haiti Hope Project” to produce mangos for a new mango-lime beverage, claiming this would provide 25,000 jobs for Haitian mango farmers. As with Monsanto’s “donation,” those likely to benefit are agribusinesses, not peasants.
However, the main focus for capitalist reconstruction schemes is on expanding Haiti’s role as a provider of low-wage sweatshop labor. The garment industry, Haiti’s largest employer and source of export revenue, was relatively unscathed by the earthquake: of 28 plants, 23 suffered minor damage and for most, production resumed within weeks. However, the Palm Apparel factory in Carrefour, near the epicenter of the quake, collapsed, killing some 500 workers doing overtime to fulfill their piecework quotas. Garment workers are almost entirely non-unionized, with most earning no more than the minimum wage of 125 gourdes (US$3) a day. The HOPE I and II acts passed by the U.S. Congress in 2006 and 2008 allow duty-free apparel imports from Haiti, and George Soros is building a new industrial park near the impoverished slum of Cité Soleil in Port-au-Prince to take advantage of this. But aside from the absurdity of pretending that $3-a-day jobs are a road out of poverty, the reality is that the garment industry in the Caribbean and Central America is rapidly declining as U.S. companies prefer even lower-wage Asian producers (see David Wilson, “‘Rebuilding Haiti’ – the Sweatshop Hoax,” MRzine, 4 March).
short, the plans for capitalist reconstruction of Haiti may be
U.S. multinationals, but they are a dead-end for Haitian workers,
the poor. And the pipe dreams of the “anti-globalization” movement and
“progressive” Haitian NGOs such as the Platform to Advocate Alternative
Development Policies (PAPDA) – of a new “development model” based on
“participatory democracy,” “an end to economic dependency” and an end
“neo-liberalism” – will go up in smoke because the real obstacle is not
particular policy but the workings of the capitalist system. The
reality is, as
Bruno Lemarquis, Haiti director of the U.N. Development Program,
“The same rain that is killing 200 people in Haiti is not killing
Cuba. It’s not the disaster that kills. It’s the way a country or its
are prepared.” And Cuba is prepared with an elaborate system of
for mobilization and free medical facilities because it
had a social revolution. The League for the Fourth
International insists that nothing short of that can rescue Haiti from
cycle of poverty and destruction, and in this imperialist epoch that
must be a
socialist revolution reaching into the heart of the empire. ■
To contact the Internationalist Group and the League for the Fourth International, send e-mail to: firstname.lastname@example.org


text:
Join ePHOTOzine, the friendliest photography community.
Upload photos, chat with photographers, win prizes and much more for free!
ePHOTOzine brings you a daily round up of all the latest photography news including camera news, exhibitions, events, special offers, industry news, digital photography news, announcements and launches.
The Bubble Jet i250 and i350 are small enough to be hidden away in a desk drawer and are a massive 120% faster than Canon's previous entry-level printer, the S200x.
The new Canon Bubble Jet i990 has the longest and highest nozzle-density print head of any printer with 5376 nozzles.
Digital compact aimed at professionals
Canon EOS 20D to replace EOS 10D
Professional series A4 photo printer
8.0 Megapixel, 3 frames per second.
Canon strengthen the IXUS status with the launch of their first wireless enabled digital compact camera – the Digital IXUS WIRELESS.
Four new accessories are announced alongside the Canon EOS-1D MkIII including the The EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens, Speedlite 580EX II, Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E2 and Original Data Security Kit OSK-E3.
HTC has announced a new smartphone with a camera designed for optimum image quality with an UltraPixel sensor.
Nikon today introduces Nikon 1, a revolutionary digital camera system built from scratch to offer still image and movie recording without compromise.
Following Jessops' plans to axe 81 of its shops as announced last Thursday, the photographic retail giant have unveiled exactly which stores it plans to close down.
Sony introduce a series of small cameras which they say will give a 'big performance'.
A clever photo of a family inside small boxes has helped a Nottingham photographer pick up his first national award.
Lee Filters holder for Nikon's 14-24mm f/2.8 wide-angle lens
Corel add 75 new features to the latest version of their PaintShop Pro software.
Red Digital Cinema turn their attentions to the photography market.
This year's Nikon Photo Contest will be open for entries from 1 December 2012.
The CIOB Art of Building Photography Contest 2012 winner has been announced.
The last few places are going fast for the OM-D events in Hackney. Book your place now!
Samyang has released a new wide angle 10mm f/2.8 lens.
Casio have announced a series of additions to their Exilim digital camera range.
Introducing the Lomo LC-Wide camera.
The winners of the onOne Software competition to win one of ten copies of Perfect PhotoSuite 7 have been announced.
Lexar Image Rescue 4 delivers enhanced image recovery capabilities for photographers with any memory card.
News RSS Feed
Subscribe to the News RSS feed and get instant updates.
Subscribe to News RSS Feed
Join Our Free Newsletter
1st December 2013 - 31st December 2013This December you can win one of three fantastic Intuos Pro tablets courtesy of Wacom!
Designed for creativity, these innovative pen tablets combine Wacom&rs...
1st December 2013 - 7th December 2013Santa Vanguard is back once again this year, bringing you a fantastic prize each week!
Up for grabs this week is a Vanguard Actus Plus 323CT tripod! Loved for its...
December's Photo Month
Check out ePHOTOzine's inspirational photo month calendar! Each day click on a window to unveil new photography tips, treats and techniques.


text:
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – This Sunday it will be six months since the first medical marijuana dispensary opened in Arkansas.
We’re getting a look at just how much money has been spent on the drug since people could start buying it.
Employees at AR Cannabis Clinic in West Little Rock keep their ears to the phones. It’s a private company that helps patients with qualifying conditions get their medical marijuana card.
“A lot of patients have seen their doctors for years and they feel a little uncomfortable asking their doctors about medical cannabis,” manger Destiny Mora said.
They can come here and meet with a doctor. If they qualify, they can pay a fee and get help getting their card.
“As long as they already have their diagnosis they are good to come here. Our doctors do not do in-house diagnosis,” Mora said.
They say they have been so busy they are opening up more clinics across the state.
“Some of them are coming from the edges of the Missouri boarder line,” Mora said. “We’re hoping at the end of it to have 12 clinics open.”
There are a lot of people with their card already. According to the Department of Health, nearly 27,500 patients have a medical marijuana card.
Only six months in, the Department of Finance and Administration says there are 10 dispensaries open already. Arkansans have spend a total of $17.5 million on cannabis since May.
It’s a booming business only a half year in.
“The expansion is really helping,” Mora said.

domain: economics


Ibex Woolies Zip T-Neck Stripe - Women's
Where to Buy
Here's what other sites are saying:
On Sale. Free Shipping. Ibex Women's Woolies 150 Zip T-Neck Stripe Top FEATURES of the Ibex Women's Woolies 150 Zip T-Neck Stripe Top Lightweight Merino rib-knit base layer top 9in. zip neck with locking zipper pull Flatlock seams Set-in sleeves Wide cuff detail Tag-free label SPECIFICATIONS of the Ibex Women's Woolies 150 Zip T-Neck Stripe Top Form fit 100% Merino Wool 18.5 micron Lightweight Ribknit 150 g/m2
Layer up for a weekend on the slopes or for a shoulder-season trek into the high country with the Ibex Women's Woolies Zip T Stripe Top.
Built with the Ibex Woolies lightweight baselayer fabric, the award-winning, guide-approved ribbed fabric of the Ibex Woolie Zip T Stripe for Women feels luxurious and soft against your skin, yet is durable enough to withstand the most rigorous conditions. The 18.5 superfine wool yarn offers a warm, close-to-the-body fit that moves with you and keeps its shape. Naturally anti-microbial, the Zip T Stripe is odor resistant and has superior temperature regulation, and will quickly become your baselayer of choice.
- Altrec Outdoors
The women's Ibex Woolies Stripe Zip-T shirt can be used as a base layer or worn on its own, thanks to a comfortable fit and fun stripe detailing. Versatile merino wool offers high performance and great natural stretch and recovery; its smooth surface enhances softness and comfort. Moisture-wicking merino wool naturally resists odors and won't itch. Flatlock side seams are soft and designed to eliminate chafing. 8 in. front zipper with a locking zipper pull offers easy temperature regulation. The Ibex Woolies Stripe Zip-T shirt is formfitting and machine washable.
Ibex Woolies Zip T-Neck
Ibex Woolies 1 Zip T-Neck
Ibex Woolies 2 Zip T-Neck
Ibex Woolies 150 Zip T-Neck
Smartwool Midweight Crew
$84 - $95
Arc'teryx Rho LT Zip Neck
$94 - $125
Icebreaker Oasis Long Sleeve Crewe
$76 - $125
Rab AL Pull-On


text:
Welcome to Vengeance of a Human. This Attack on Titan fanfic is inspired by the story mode of the Attack on Titan 2 video game. As in the game, the main character with be an OC who experiences the events of the series, but it will be from his perspective.
This story will be a combination of the events of the video game and the anime. Most conversations, if they are not exclusive to the OC, will be from the anime; battles, however, since they are from the OC's POV, will take from the video game while significant events within those battles will be from the anime. You'll see what I mean in a few chapters. Some events will be of my own creation, which is mostly the characterization of the OC and events surrounding him that the video game doesn't touch.
For those who played the game, to answer if the OC will die at the end (which for anime watchers, the end of Season 2), that is a no. I plan to extend his presence to Season 3 and, if I do go along with this, possibly even beyond.
Anywho, enjoy the story!
"On that day, mankind remembered the fear of oppression under them and the humiliation of being caged like birds. We lived in fear of the Titans, and were disgraced to live in these cages we called walls."
I do not remember what I was doing that day. I just know that I was in the district of Shiganshina, my hometown within Wall Maria. I believe my parents sent me on an errand to buy some groceries or something of the sort. I believe that, at the time, I was walking from the store to the inner gate, as my home was located inside the Wall.
What I do remember is seeing the yellow light hail down from the sky.
The gentle breeze that was blowing suddenly stopped, as if the world itself was on pause. I continued to walk back to the gate, singing to myself, "Beyond the castle walls lies a hunter killing his prey with a surging killer impulse scorching his body, he pierces the dusk scarlet with a crimson arrow."
Out the corner of my eye, the lightning appeared, striking the ground with enough force to cause the ground to shake. I was launched off my feet, dropping my recently bought goods on the stone road. As I got back to my feet, I, as the other citizens around me did, looked to where the bolt had struck down. In awe and curiosity, we stared at a rising pillar of smoke.
"What was that?"
"An explosion by the sounds of it."
"You think the Garrison is behind it?"
"Is that...a hand?"
I quietly looked closer at the Wall, seeing what is indeed a hand. That's impossible for anyone, even a Titan, to grip the Wall. They don't grow over 20 meters, and the Wall itself is 50 meters. Yet, as a shadow crept over the town, our deepest fears, our frozen reality of a hundred years thawed and stared down on us like cattle. We were face to face with our demons, our oppressors, our extinction.
A Titan, colossal in size, stands barely a head over the Wall. Its body is pure muscle, tendons, and ligaments. Its eyes terrified us, the long row of teeth petrified us, and the kick it made to destroy the out gate made us run of our lives. The Titans have entered the city.
I ran as fast as I could towards the inner gate, wanting to return home to my mother and father. I ran without thinking of the groceries I bought. I ran with the only thought of survival, of not wanting to be ripped apart in the hands and mouths of these monsters. I was a ten-year-old boy, what else is there to do? The Garrison can handle the Titans, right?
As soon as I was on the other side of the inner gate, I paused for a moment to look for my parents. "Mother! Father! Ahh!" I was knocked to the ground by a passerby, yet I continue to look for my parents. They should have still been outside the city, so I know the Titans couldn't have gotten to them. "Mother!"
"Joshua!" I turned away from the Wall, seeing both my mother and father come to me. My mother gets to me first, helping me to my feet. "Oh, I'm glad you're safe!"
My father looks over me. "Are you hurt?"
I shake my head. "No."
"We have to get out of here, quickly!" We begin to run, my mother dragging me by my hand. Another set of rumbles stopped us as we turned to the Wall in time to see a huge boulder come our way. Time slowed as I felt a pair of hands touch and push me away, my eyes darted to the sight of my father's face before I-and the boulder-make contact with the ground.
A few groggy moments later, I push my face off the ground. I look around. The area is not as populated as it once was, but there are still people running. I turn to my back, seeing the boulder on the ground where...my parents last stood. I look at the ground underneath, seeing a red pool flow where the boulder meets the ground.
I barely had time to process what happened before a voice calls to me. "Can you stand up?" It is a Garrison soldier who touches me with a hurried tone. He seems frightened for some reason. Are the soldiers not fighting back? Are we not...winning?
"I can stand." I prove it by standing up, much to the pleasure of the soldier. He grabs my arm and pulls me.
"Run to the boat!" I followed after him, once again running for my life. The sound of breaking stone gathered my attention, in which I looked back to see dust fly out from the inner gate, covering the boulder that is now my parent's grave. At the epicenter of the cloud stands a figure, one of Titan size, but its behavior and appearance are atypical. In the brief glimpse I get of it, I can see blonde short hair, an armor-like body, and eyes that flashed red in the cloud of dust. It would be a Titan that would haunt my dreams for years, even the name it was given was enough to trigger me.
On that boat, I silently sat down, tears streaming down my eyes. I do not remember why I had gone to the grocery store for besides getting the required supplies. I do not remember much of the morning before the task. What I do remember is the yellow light, the giant's face, the debris that kills my parents, and the eyes of the Titan with the armored body.
"Those Titans...I'm going to kill them all." I turned to the right, seeing three other kids my age. I recognize them from school. The only blond of the group, wearing a blue jacket, brown suspenders, and a white shirt is the shy but smart Armin Arlelt. The girl beside him wearing a white dress, a tan sweater, and a red scarf around her neck is Mikasa Ackermann, the toughest girl I have ever met. She scared most boys, but I never felt it myself. Last of the trio stands on the side of the boat, his words being the reason I looked over to them. He is black-haired, wearing dark pants, a green shirt, and a red jacket is the hot-headed leader of the trio, Eren Jaeger. He stared at the water as his friends join him, screaming out to the land, "Every single one."
I looked away, down to my hand. A single tear dropped in my palm, and I clutched it tightly. I silently allow Eren's words to dwell on my mind. For my parents...my friends...my neighbors...my hometown...I must fight back and join the military, and the front lines of action too. Not the Military Police who rather stay safe in the capital, or the Garrison who became lax in their protective efforts. I will wear the green cloak of the Scouts, and risk my life to destroy the Titans.
And with that, if I meet the one who will be known as the Armored Titan, I will kill it myself.
Two years later, we joined the 104th Cadet Training Corps. In the time between, our lives continued to go downhill. Eren, at one point, met with his father, only to lose him to mysterious circumstances. However, he did gain a possession: a key to Dr. Grisha Jaeger's basement, which holds some secret he wanted to share with his son. Armin's grandfather died in an expedition to reclaim Wall Maria, but to us, it was a way to get rid of the excess humans residing in Wall Rose after refugees came. In the meantime, I was able to befriend each of them, Eren most of all because of how close our goals aligned.
Mikasa initially tried scaring me off, but she quickly learned I was immune to her presence. She is nothing to the monstrous Titans we all met back home. Once we had gotten use to each other, I started to learn why she is the way she is. Eren and Armin have always been of Shiganshina, but Mikasa was of an outlying village. Eren and his father saved her from slavers that killed her family and adopted her. Ever since, she's always tagged alongside Eren, like a moth to a flame. Same could be said for Armin, who met Eren while crying after being beaten by bullies.
But the day finally came for us to join the military. For the next three years, we trained together, along the way making new friends and enemies, honing our skills with the omni-directional mobility gear, and becoming machines designed to kill Titans.
For the next three years, humanity regained its dignity.