text:
THWARTED QUEEN is a portrait of a woman trapped by power, a marriage undone by betrayal, and a King brought down by fear.
Cecylee is the apple of her mother’s eye. The seventh daughter, she is the only one left unmarried by 1424, the year she turns nine. In her father’s eyes, however, she is merely a valuable pawn in the game of marriage. The Earl of Westmorland plans to marry his youngest daughter to 13-year-old Richard, Duke of York, who is close to the throne. He wants this splendid match to take place so badly, he locks his daughter up.
The event that fuels the narrative is Cecylee’s encounter with Blaybourne, a handsome archer, when she is twenty-six years old. This love affair produces a child (the “One Seed” of Book II), who becomes King Edward IV. But how does a public figure like Cecylee, whose position depends upon the goodwill of her husband, carry off such an affair? The duke could have locked her up, or disposed of this illegitimate son.
But Richard does neither, keeping her firmly by his side as he tries to make his voice heard in the tumultuous years that encompass the end of the Hundred Years War - during which England loses all of her possessions in France - and the opening phase of the Wars of the Roses. He inherits the political mantle of his mentor Duke Humphrey of Gloucester, and become’s the people’s champion. The rambunctious Londoners are unhappy that their country has become mired in misrule due to the ineptitude of a King prone to fits of madness. Nor are they better pleased by the attempts of the King’s French wife to maneuver herself into power, especially as she was responsible for England’s losses in France. But can Richard and Cecylee prevail? Everywhere, their enemies lurk in the shadows.
This book is filled with many voices, not least those of the Londoners, who forged their political destiny by engaging in public debate with the powerful aristocrats of the time. By their courageous acts, these fifteenth-century Londoners set the stage for American Democracy.
~~~ (Summary from Goodreads)~~~
The detailed summary of the book gives you a fair idea about the plot. So instead of repeating it, let me just tell you all about my thoughts on the book.
When I realized that the book is based on an actual character from history, I immediately checked out “Cecily Neville, Duchess of York” on Wikipedia so that I had a basic idea about what was being narrated.
The story is narrated by Cecylle – our leading lady. I found her to be very spirited, intuitive and a character of strength. While in reality King Edward IV was accused of illegitimacy that was never actually proved, in this novel the author clearly indicated that Cecylle in fact had an extramarital affair with a handsome archer and that Edward IV was illegitimate. However, Richard accepted Edward as his son. Overall, I find her life quite sad as she paid for her mistakes very dearly and managed to outlive her husband and all of her sons.
Though at times I found the story to be a bit dragging – which could be because I don’t like to read about war, I’d rather watch them on screen – it is actually pretty engrossing for most parts. It is all about the ‘drama’ of a noble family, their relationships, their feud over the throne and a lot of violence. The relationships portrayed are often complex and the author has done a marvelous job with them. That is the best part of the book – the character development and the relationships portrayed. There’s a certain charm in the author’s writing style that makes you feel right at home even in a completely different century!
I must also acknowledge here that amount of research that has gone into writing this book is amazing. Ms.Cynthia’s dedication deserves recognition.


text:
Description or summary of the book: Research shows that early instruction in phonics is the first step to reading success. Well, here 'e' comes! This Step 2 Phonics Reader uses rhyme and visual clues to illustrate the important concept of the 'silent e'-personified here in our main character!Anna Jane Hays is a former editorial director and child development specialist for The Children's Television Workshop. She lives in Santa Fe, NM.
Estimated reading time (average reader): 2H3M43S
Other categories, genre or collection: Poetry Books for Kids, First Words, English Language: Reading Schemes
Available formats: DOC, PDF, CSV, WORD, TXT, EPUB, FB2, OEB. Compressed in ARJ, ZIP, TBZ, TAR.Z, BZ, RAR

domain: literature


text:
Guided Jet Ski Tour Available in San Ġiljan, Malta
We've added two brand-new SEA-DOO GTI 130s to our rental fleet that also includes a SEA-DOO Trixx 90 2UP and a SEA-DOO Spark 90 3UP. Our qualified instructors will give you an unrivalled and memorable experience, see below for fleet details: 2 x SEA-DOO GTI 130 - €50/€70 (1pax/2pax) 1 x SEA-DOO Spark 90 3UP - €50/€70 (1pax/2pax) 1 x SEA-DOO Trixx 90 2UP - €50/€70 (1pax/2pax) Above listed prices are for 20 minute sessions. All 4 jet skis are available for full or half-day rentals with a guided tour tailored to your interests. Prices for tours start at €195 per person. If you have any questions, we can answer those through GetMyBoat’s messaging platform before you pay. Just hit, “Request to Book” and send us an inquiry for a custom offer.
- Captain is not included.
- Trip may require hiring additional qualified personnel.
- 2 guests
- Jetskis & Personal Watercraft
- Jet Ski
We are located at San Giljan, Malta.
You’ll get directions for the exact departure location when you make a booking inquiry.
Full refund up to 5 days prior.

domain: travel


text:
Beautiful Villa il Pozzo in Tuscany
The Villa il Pozzo is a beautiful winery in the center of Chianti in Tuscany that has an 18th-century manor house along with an ancient watchtower and 60 hectares of land. Nello Gori purchased the estate in 1966. He worked with local producers and wineries before starting his own business with his wife Tina and son Alessandro to make large quantities of Tuscan and Chianti wines and export them worldwide. Currently, his sons run the winery with the help of his grandsons.
Vineyards and olive groves
The company has 60 hectares of land in Chianti Colli Fiorentini and the border of the Chianti Classico area. The vines are located on the southwest hills at a height of 250 meters. The soil has both clay, loam, and sandstone, along with beautiful shells and fossils. The stunning landscape makes the place very beautiful, and the microclimate is perfect for growing grapes. Cultivation takes place in accordance with nature and the seasons. Cabernet Sauvignon, Colorino, Merlot, Canaiolo, and Sangiovese are grown in their 30 hectares of vineyards.
Amazing products of the winery
Villa il Pozzo makes complex, distinct wines that reflect the qualities and mystery of Chianti. The cellar is camouflaged by pines, cypresses, and olive trees. It was made in the 70s and combines tradition with technology and innovation for winemaking. Duccio Gori, the youngest grandson, takes care of the production of Chianti DOCG and Tuscan IGT wines, with the help of oenologist Fabrizio Moltard. The main villa has 11 comfortable apartments with all amenities to accommodate guests.

domain: geography


text:
Maitland, Nova Scotia (NS) Business, Travel, and Local Directory
- 8 Links
Accommodations - Campgrounds & RV sites
Millpond CampgroundFamily Campground with planned activities. Our family can't wait to meet yours.
Accommodations - Country Inns
Cresthaven by the Sea Country InnCresthaven, a country inn providing bed and breakfast accommodations and lodging, lies on the shores of Maitland, one of Nova Scotia's pristine treasures.
Antiques & Collectibles
Trash and TreasuresTrash & Treasures “indoor yard sale” in Maitland, Nova Scotia. Offering 2,500 square feet of collectibles, antiques, furniture, appliances, house wares, toys, dishes and more, seven days a week, rain
Arts & Crafts - Artists
Hants Crafter's ShowcaseA showcase for crafters & artisans in Hants County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Located in the beautiful Heritage Village of Maitland overlooking the mouth of the Shubenacadie River.
Arts & Crafts - Sculptures
Wildlife Art in Wood and Stone by Joanne L. SolwayLocated in the historic village of Maitland, NS, the gallery offers original wood and stone sculptures.
Arts & Crafts - Woodcarving
Inklings In WoodOne of a kind Wood Bowls, Vases and Artistic forms artistic wood turning
Maitland Heritage Conservation Districtmuseums & heritage homes, art galleries & artists studios, antiques, river rafting, bird watching, fossil hunting & rock hounding, fine B&B’s and eco-tourism destinations.
Tours & Cruises - Outdoor Adventures
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Photo Gallery |
About Us |
This site is operated by 2022
Cedar Lake Software

domain: artistic


Xday business briefs, xx-xx-19
Gas prices continue to drop
RALEIGH — North Carolina gas prices have fallen 3.9 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.57 per gallon on May 28, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 6,092 stations. Gas prices in North Carolina are 16.7 cents per gallon lower than a month ago, yet stand 23.4 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in North Carolina was priced at $2.29 per gallon on May 28 while the most expensive was $3.29 per gallon, a difference of 100 cents per gallon. The lowest price in the state was $2.29 per gallon while the highest was $3.29 per gallon, a difference of 100 cents per gallon.
Despite police crackdown, thieves still stealing from Lowe’s in Matthews
MATTHEWS — Despite a police sting operation that led to 14 arrests, brazen thieves continue to steal from a Lowe’s home improvement store in Matthews.
Police on Friday requested the public’s help in identifying two men suspected of taking $900 in merchandise late Tuesday from the store in the 2100 block of Matthews Township Parkway (N.C. 51).
Police released store surveillance photos of the men and said they left in a car described only as a dark sedan.
So many people were stealing from the store in recent months that police and Lowe’s security set up a sting operation from mid-April until mid-May, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.
“Organized retail theft is unfortunately an ongoing problem for many jurisdictions in our region,” police said in a news release announcing the arrests. “We want our citizens, business owners and visitors to know that we are highly focused on this issue and will continue to use every measure at our disposal to combat it.”
Send us your business news
Does your local business have an announcement, such as an administrative or executive hire, special event, or expansion or renovation? If so, send details to firstname.lastname@example.org.


The Unmanned Aerial Vehicles known as drones have become much easier to obtain in the past few years than they had in the past. Drones can be operated as a hobby for recreational purposes like photography, but they also perform professional services such as recording videos and inspecting bridges.
But with more people than ever now flying drones, airspace is getting a lot more crowded. And the Federal Aviation Administration claims to be received increasing reports of drones flying close to manned aircraft. Drones are forbidden from flying within 5 miles of an airport, or higher than 400 feet overall.
It is best to understand everything that is involved if you’re thinking about buying a drone. We’ve assembled 6 important points to pass along here:
1.) Drones are UAVs or UASs, and are not necessarily easy to fly.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Unmanned Aerial Systems are remote controlled or autonomously programmed. A quadcopter, a multirotor helicopter operated by four rotors, has a flight controller computer inside. Myfirstdrone.com noted that the easier models to fly are generally the more expensive drones that contain more sensors.
2.) Your drone will likely be ARF, BNF or RTF.
ARF, or almost ready to fly drones may need some assembly required to their quadcopters. The BNF means bind and fly. These units generally come without a controller. The RTF, or ready to fly model, comes ready to go, without needing any assembly.
3.) Drones are becoming more affordable.
Blade’s Nano QX is a RTF vehicle with a 2.4 GHz radio controller. The controller offers “SAFE” technology, with more sensors to improve the drone’s flight safety.
The Blade Nano runs about $80.
A UDI U818A quadcopter costs about $50. This ready to fly model comes with a camera, and an extra battery is included.
The Hubsan X4 is for beginners, and provides FPV, or first-person view. This vehicle has a 5.4 GHz receiver and a built-in camera. It costs less than $134.
4.) Take special care if you use your drone for aerial pictures.
Camera support may be useful for your vehicle, because you may want to add another camera device to improve the video or photo quality. And do not take photographs in private areas without proper permission.
5.) Learn your community’s laws and guidelines before flying.
Operators must keep their drone in sight at all times, not interfere with manned aircraft operations, and avoid any other nearby obstacles. The FAA also has rules for commercial and amateur use of drones.
6.) That same FAA now wants drone owners to register their UAV.
Drones weighing more than a half-pound to 55 pounds have to be registered, and marked with the registration number of their owner. Owners need to provide a name, home address and email to make it easier to prove their identity.
The Washington Post reports that according to the FAA, pilots have reported about three times as many encounters with drones this year than last. Stories about birds or such things interfering with a plane’s flight could cause unthinkable damage,
If an operator takes the proper lessons, follows rules and regulations and learns to fly his UAV safely, there can be room in the air for all parties.


To Non-Java ALLSTAR Network Website
Please let me remind all of you--this
material is copyrighted. Though partially funded by NASA, it is still a
private site. Therefore, before using our materials in any form, electronic or
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There are two ways to browse the site: (1) use the search button above to find specific materials using keywords; or,
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Teachers may go directly to the Teachers' Guide from the For Teachers button above or site browse as in (1) and (2).
The Vickers Supermarine Spitfire was one of the most graceful airplanes to be produced during the second World War. And, in fulfilling its wartime assignment of defending England against aerial attack by Germans, the Spitfire proved to be as deadly as it was good-looking. In fact, the Spitfire was more than the best fighting aircraft of its day--it was also a symbol of both hope and defiance for the British people during the darkest days of the war.
The plane that won the battle of Britain was designed by Reginald J. Mitchell and built by the Supermarine division of Vickers Ltd. Mitchell was well equipped for his job, for he had designed the Supermarine racing seaplanes that had won four Schneider Cups between 1922 and 1931. Supermarine S-6B, whose lines were reflected in the Spitfire, won the last of these cups at an average speed of more than 340 miles per hour.
Mitchell's small jewel of a fighter flew on March 5, 1936, and became operational two years later. With its sharply elliptical wings set at a slight upward dihedral and mounted well forward on the underside of a slender fuselage, the Spitfire was not only fast--later models could top 440 miles per hour--it was also highly maneuverable. Its speed and agility combined with heavy armament to make it one of the most effective fighter planes of World War II. It proved its superiority during the hard-fought Battle of Britain by destroying hundreds of Messerschmitt Bf-109s.
The original Spitfire was powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine of slightly more than 1,000 horsepower and was armed with eight .303-caliber Browning machine guns firing through the leading edge of its wing. Before the war ended, the fighter was powered with a 2,375-horsepower Rolls-Royce Griffon engine, and four 20-millimeter cannons replaced the Browning machine guns.
Modified and improved throughout the war, the plane was produced in over 30 different variation. A total of more than 22,000 Spitfires and Seafires (the naval version of the fighter) were produced. Built in greater numbers than any other British wartime aircraft, the Spitfire was the only plane to remain in continuous production for the duration of the war.
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Eastham family-support facility still seeks donations for addition.
EASTHAM — In the 22 years that Cape Cod Children’s Place has served as a hub of family support for the Outer Cape, the agency's duties have expanded, but the building had not.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday will celebrate a long-awaited addition of 1,300 square feet.
The expansion will enable the 28 staff members to spread out and will provide space for Outer Cape families to meet with service providers, such as the Immigration Resource Center, normally located in Hyannis and elsewhere.
When Children’s Place opened in 1995 with 3,841 square feet, it was mainly a child-care and early education facility. But in 2004, it received a grant to provide parenting classes, home visits and phone support to help parents in many other ways, executive director Cynthia Horgan said.
“Our services doubled, but our size remained the same,” Horgan said.
Children’s Place continues to have a full house of 35 preschool children in four classrooms, with a waiting list.
The addition will allow Outer Cape families to meet with Mid-Cape service groups that are ordinarily out of reach for many. A 35-seat meeting room will accommodate support groups with, for example, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The state Department of Children and Families will be able to hold training sessions for foster parents.
Another office space will allow private, individual meetings with representatives of human services agencies such as Helping Our Women, Horgan added.
There also will be a therapy play space, she said.
The parking lot has doubled in size through this renovation, Horgan said, and the facility has gained 550 square feet for storage in the basement.
The town of Eastham donated the land for the original building and provided $330,000 in block grants for the addition, Horgan said. Fundraising brought in another $350,000. Children’s Place is still accepting donations to cover the remaining $400,000 in construction costs.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at 10 Ballwic Road.
— Follow K.C. Myers on Twitter: @kcmyerscct.


text:
I’m Kiara. A wife, mother to 2 awesome girls, and an event extraordinaire. Creating events that endure is my everyday passion. When I’m not busy designing for my lovely clients, you will find me daydreaming about bringing beauty to life! I live my life with confidence, zeal, gusto, and a ton of fun. That’s important, because I use all those characteristics to plan seamless and enduring occasions. Owning a business isn’t for the faint of heart, but as you get to know me better you will realize that I have a ton of heart and am passionate about my clients.
Getting to know my couples is very important to the design process and it is equally as important that you get to know and feel comfortable with me. When you hire me I become a resource to help you bring your vision to life. I believe your celebration should be authentic to who you are as individuals and as a couple, and be as uniquely special as your love. I always encourage my clients to be true to who they are, fight for the things they want on their special day, dream BIG, be courageous and to trust their gut. I am here to support and guide you along the way. As your designer, I pride myself on delivering ideas and designs that are tailored to your vision and to you as a couple.
I look forward to working with you on a bold, confident, vibrant, and truly unique design for your wedding. I can’t wait to meet you!


Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Blue flame from sulfur burning at the Kawah Ijen volcano in Indonesia.
The electric-blue fire is often mistakenly called "blue lava", but it is in fact sulfur fumes igniting in the hot air above the lava.
Sometimes the gas cools some but not much, and condenses into liquid sulfur. It continues to burn as it flows down the side of the mountain, leading those who don't know what's happening to conclude that it is blue lava.
This blue sulfuric fire has been seen lots of times, particularly in Yellowstone National Park and at Vesuvius. But the Kawah Ijen volcano contains extremely high levels of sulfur, so the blue fire is almost constantly visible there.


text:
Monolayer cell cultures may be kept active and available for seeding of tubes, vials, dishes and plates. A constant supply of cell cultures can be maintained by routine subpassage of cell lines to new flasks. (Generally research use only.)
1. Discard medium from the cell culture flask (125 cm2). Rinse monolayer with 15 mL of Hank's Balanced Salt Solution and discard.
2. Add 5 mL of trypsin EDTA mixture (pre-warmed to 36oC) to flask.
3. Incubate the culture flask for 3 minutes (no more than 5 minutes) at 36oC. Observe after 3 minutes to see whether the cell sheet is breaking loose from the flask surface. Tap flask sharply against palm of hand to aid in loosening tissue.
4. When tissue has loosened completely, add 15 mL of pre-warmed growth medium into the flask.
5. Mix cells by drawing cells and fluid up and down in a pipette.
6. Adjust the volume to 90 mL with growth medium.
7. Aliquot 30 mL of suspended cell mixture into at least one new 125 cm2 culture flask. Aliquot the remaining to shell vials at 1.5 mL each or tube culture (16 x 125 mm) at 2 mL each.
8. Incubate the culture flasks, shell vials or tube cultures at 36oC.
9. Observe daily for growth of cells (3 - 5 days) and for change in pH of medium. If the medium becomes acidic or basic, replace it with fresh growth medium.
10. Replace growth medium with maintenance medium when a confluent monolayer is obtained (usually after 2 - 3 days).
11. Replace with fresh maintenance medium once a week.
Note: Freeze first passage of cell culture whenever a new shipment is received. (See Appendix VIII).

domain: biology


text:
Working on the new Sojourners environmental resource, Holy Ground, I have examined a large body of works on environmental theology. Following is a representative, though not exhaustive, annotated inventory of these.
The Best Preaching on Earth: Sermons on Caring for Creation (Judson Press, 1996), edited by Stan L. LeQuire, is a unique, practical resource for pastors and laypeople who regularly address groups. A handful of evangelical preachers and speakers, including Madeleine L’Engle, Howard Snyder, John Stott, Cal DeWitt, Myron Augsburger, Sharon Gallagher, and our own Jim Wallis, offer powerful anecdotes and insightful analyses that can serve as grist for "newly enlightened" Christian environmentalists.
Another anthology, Embracing Earth: Catholic Approaches to Ecology (Orbis Books, 1994), edited by Albert LaChance and John Carroll, offers a helpful look at the numerous, though normally complementary, Catholic approaches to a theological understanding of the relationship among God, humanity, and the Earth. Articles on such topics as "Earthly Offerings," "A Loaves and Fishes View of Productivity," "Appropriate Technology and Healing the Earth," "Christ the Ecologist," and "Eating the Body of the Lord" are included.
Jesus the Wisdom of God: An Ecological Theology (Orbis Books, 1995), by Denis Edwards, examines the ecological crisis through the lens of the biblical concept "Wisdom." After considering the usage of "Wisdom" in the Hebrew scriptures and by Jesus, Edwards offers a compelling trinitarian argument for the care of the created order. This comprehensive work builds bridges that can truly expand the throng of Christian environmentalists.
Jay B. McDaniel casts his net even wider in With Roots and Wings: Christianity in An Age of Ecology and Dialogue (Orbis Books, 1995). Though overly optimistic at times, McDaniel’s honest and courageous willingness to pursue true interfaith dialogue using the rubric of environmental reconstruction is a contribution to several areas of study. If you are interested in pluralistic expressions of faith as well as ecology, this is definitely the book for you.
Frequent Sojourners contributor and Union Theological Seminary professor Larry L. Rasmussen offers a helpful (albeit realistic) "state of the Earth" message, an overview of interfaith interpretations of this reality, and an ethical framework through which to make our actions concrete in his Earth Community, Earth Ethics (Orbis Books, 1996). Because justice is a central assumption of Rasmussen’s work, his ecotheology is palatable to a wide variety of activists.
Ecotheology: Voices From South and North (jointly published by WCC Publications and Orbis Books, 1994), edited by David G. Hallman, if at first appearing to appeal to political correctness, actually is a tremendous presentation of the various aspects of the ecological debate that are too often neglected by all sides in this country—the marginalized, oppressed, and poor people in Third and First Worlds.
Sojourners contributing editor Rosemary Radford Ruether has edited a marvelous array of essays by women from several continents in her Women Healing Earth: Third World Women on Ecology, Feminism, and Religion (Orbis Books, 1996). The essays offer an ecological view from those who are often most involved with the Earth’s care and most dependent upon it for long-term sustenance. Women from Latin America, Asia, and Africa provide unique perspectives, including finding their own stories among those of biblical women who similarly were dependent upon the Earth for their being.
Green Guerrillas: Environmental Conflicts and Initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean (Monthly Review Press, 1996), edited by Helen Collinson, offers a similar, though more singularly focused, perspective. Included in this book are a number of success stories by organized groups of indigenous Latin Americans. Models for slowing down the devastation of the Earth are put forward in this book.
Editor Jace Weaver’s Defending Mother Earth: Native American Perspectives on Environmental Justice (Orbis Books, 1996) is a very strong and interesting work. Authors such as Phyllis Young, Russell Means, and Sojourners contributing editor George Tinker debunk myths on all sides of the debate and create space for a truly new discussion. With its strong sensitivity to justice issues, and its solid interpretations of the problems we face, this theological effort could be a monumental offering for people willing to be challenged and to change.
Economics, Ecology, and the Roots of Western Faith: Perspectives From the Garden (Rowman and Littlefield Publishers), by Robert R. Gottfried, stresses the value of relationship with the Earth. Gottfried pushes the justice question strongly as he envisions a new heaven and a new Earth, based in the value of association. He seeks to integrate this view into a new economic and spiritual relationship that will create a more just society.
(Obviously, Orbis Books has numerous theological contributions on the topic of earthkeeping and justice. These books are offered in the Ecology and Justice Series. While the series is of varying quality, most major theological and ethical issues are examined. The series is truly a major aid to this field of study.)


text:
We are still in the upswing of the busiest time in our local real estate market, when we see the highest number of sales, and we see inventory and demand increasing.
So, if you have a mind to sell this year, you still have time to get your house on the market and into the pool of available homes. Waiting until the end of May will put you into the start of the summer market, when demand slows down, inventory creeps up, and it will take even longer to sell.
Yes, it takes longer this year to sell your house than last year. The good news is that mortgage interest rates are down from the end of last year and are expected to hover between 4.25% and 4.5% for the remainder of this year. This, hopefully, will get more prospective buyers off the fence and into the home of their dreams.
Here’s another bit of good news for sellers: Job growth in south Orange County (consisting of 11 cities, 126 square miles and 608,864 people) is stable, Anthony Y. Teng, MBA CPA CITP CGMA, Dean of Advanced Technology and Applied Science at Saddleback College, reported this week at the South Orange County Economic Coalition 2019 Economic Report, which I was honored to attend as a representative of the Orange County Association of Realtors.
He further reported that the largest employers by industry in south Orange County are retail/hospitality/tourism, health care, and manufacturing.
The most significant hurdle we currently face is a housing affordability gap. South O.C. average annual earnings equal $62,559 while the median income needed to afford an entry-level home is $101,970. That’s an affordability gap of $39,411 for a single-wage earner to purchase an entry-level home in South O.C.
How do you solve a problem like that, Maria?
One way many homeowners bridge that gap is to get their spouse, partner, parent, or financially capable significant other a job in the retail/hospitality/tourism, health care, or manufacturing field so he or she can co-sign the home loan and pony up for part of the mortgage payment.
The good news for current South O.C. homebuyers is that Mr. Teng expects home values to continue to rise over the next 12 months.
He even disclosed that he’s compared his data with Jonathan Lansner’s data, and they both agree that on a scale of 1 to 5 — 1 being equal to no chance of a housing bubble and 5 being equal to the certainty of a bubble — we are at DEFCON 3 – a neutral position on a bubble and a very stable position as far as home values are concerned.
Leslie Sargent Eskildsen is an agent with Realty One Group. She can be reached at 949-678-3373 or firstname.lastname@example.org.


text:
California residents might be interested to learn about an intellectual property dispute that is going on between two of the largest sportswear manufacturers in the world. In a lawsuit that was filed in Oregon, Nike is alleging that three of its former designers violated non-compete agreements and stole intellectual property by sharing information with Adidas.
According to the lawsuit, the three designers secretly began sharing information with Adidas while still employed by Nike. The designers pitched and sold the idea for Brooklyn Creative Design Studio to Adidas. Nike claims that the idea for the studio replicates Nike’s own design lab called The Kitchen. Nike is also claiming that the three designers shared information with Adidas about Nike’s future design plans for various fashion lines.
Nike claims that Adidas was aware of the designer’s transgressions and even offered to cover the expense of any legal fallout that might arise. In addition to purchasing the idea for the design studio, Adidas offered the designers high-paying employment contracts. As part of the non-compete agreements that they signed with Nike, the designers are barred from associating with Adidas while working for Nike and the first year after their employment with Nike ends. Nike is seeking more than $10 million in damages.
Although proving that intellectual property has been stolen can sometimes be difficult, the existence of a non-compete agreement can help with the process. If a business owner believes that one of their employees has shared important information with a competing company, an attorney might be able to help the business owner to enforce the terms of the non-compete agreement.
Source: Reuters, “Nike accuses former shoe designers of taking secrets to Adidas”, Andrew Chung, December 09, 2014

domain: design


text:
DuPont Water Solutions Expands Free E-Learning and Thought Leadership Program Used by More Than 30,000 Water Industry Professionals
“Over 30,000 people already benefit from our gurus-led sessions and our growing library of over 100 hours of on-demand content provides flexible learning opportunities for professionals working in a wide range of industries.” said Alan Chan, DuPont Water Solutions
WILMINGTON, Delaware (PRWEB)
May 24, 2022
DuPont Water Solutions, the global leader in water technology, has revitalized its comprehensive program of webinars and specialized courses for water professionals, enhancing its library of over 100 hours of learning and leadership content enlightened. Live and on-demand materials are designed for people working in a wide range of industries that use water technologies, including life sciences, food and beverage, chemical processing, and water technology. municipal water supply and sewage treatment.
From beginner’s tutorials to strategic discussions on solving global problems, the program is designed to help professionals at every stage of their career. Each of the free educational webinars and specialized courses is delivered by a team of industry-leading subject matter experts with decades of experience overcoming the toughest water challenges. Sessions are tailored to specific roles and functions, ensuring engineers and operators, private and public sector utility and plant managers, and application research and development scientists and engineers, can develop their skills and understanding of water treatment technologies and how they can be used within the industry to build effective and sustainable solutions.
More than 30,000 water professionals worldwide currently use DuPont’s specialized e-learning programs that provide Certified Professional Development Hours (PDH credits). Content includes a series of in-depth technology dives led by water industry gurus discussing the fundamentals of key water treatment system components, including reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes, ion exchange resins and adsorbents, ultrafiltration membranes and closed loop reverse osmosis (CCRO) systems.
“Global water scarcity is challenging industry water professionals, including technology innovators, OEMs and those delivering projects in the field,” said Juan Carlos Pacheco Vera, Chief Development Officer commercial, Industrias Islas. “Industrias Islas has worked with DuPont for over 35 years, collaborating on many successful projects, growing the market for advanced membrane technology in Mexico and helping organizations overcome complex water challenges. Water Academy sessions, online webinars and the DuPont Water Solutions Blue Talk series of debates ensure that our team is always up to date with the latest technologies and how they can be used effectively and efficiently in a range of different applications.
“Water professionals around the world are striving to create a water-optimized world, and alongside delivering breakthrough technologies, DuPont Water Solutions is committed to continuing to equip them with the knowledge and skills to overcoming some of the toughest emerging water challenges,” said Alan Chan, vice president and general manager, DuPont Water Solutions. “Over 30,000 people already benefit from our gurus-led sessions and our growing library of over 100 hours of on-demand content provides flexible learning opportunities for professionals working in a wide range of industries.”
In addition to providing opportunities for continuous professional development, DuPont brings together the greatest minds from around the world to discuss the latest trends in the water industry and the challenges facing communities in a water-stressed world. . The Blue Talk series explores the steps needed to protect precious natural water resources and increase access to clean, healthy water for the 7.8 billion people who live on planet Earth.
“Blue Talk provides a forum for water influencers to tackle the big questions about how we can tackle water scarcity in an increasingly water-stressed world,” Chan said. . “By bringing together industry figures, we demonstrate how collaborative action is the key to unlocking the full potential of the latest water technologies, ensuring that communities around the world have access to this vital natural resource. ”
The webinars and courses offered by DuPont Water Solutions are organized into three separate libraries:
- Water Academy – Home to thousands of hours of content covering everything from an introduction to wastewater treatment and reuse technologies to an advanced guide to designing high-efficiency closed loop reverse osmosis (CCRO) solutions using the DuPont WAVE platform. Participants in DuPont Water Academy sessions deepen their knowledge of key water treatment technologies and learn how they can be applied across a range of industries to address a wide range of water treatment challenges.
- Academy of Life Sciences – Water technologies play a vital role in the life sciences, achieving specialized water treatment and separation process applications in the bioprocessing, pharmaceutical, food and beverages. Academy of Life Sciences attendees learn how reverse osmosis (RO) membranes and specially designed ion exchange (IX) resins from DuPont Water Solutions can be used for specialized applications, including water dairy products, oligonucleotide purification and medical water production.
- Blue Talk – A catalyst for hopeful discussions and a driver of innovation, Blue Talk is a series of insightful conversations with businesses, NGOs and activists. By diving into the big issues facing the water industry, Blue Talk identifies how innovation and collective action can secure a clean water future. Previous sessions include:
o A conversation with Kimberley-Clark’s Global Water Program Manager about how global sustainability challenges are solved through strong supplier relationships
o An exploration of the City Water Optimization Index in partnership with Economist Impact
o A deep dive into the root causes of water contamination in the United States with best-selling author Seth Siegel
o An assessment of how the Water Resilience Coalition can inspire collaborative action to improve water access, reliability and sustainability
Access over 100 hours of free learning and thought leadership content from DuPont Water Solutions: https://www.dupont.com/water/resources/water-treatment-webinars.html
About DuPont Water & Protection
DuPont Water and Protection is a global leader in creating water, shelter and safety solutions for a more sustainable world; enabling its customers to win through unique capabilities, global scale and iconic brands such as Kevlar®, Nomex®, Tyvek®, Corian® Design, GreatStuff™, Styrofoam™ and FilmTec™.
DuPont (NYSE: DD) is a global innovation leader with materials and technology solutions that help transform industries and everyday life. Our people apply diverse science and expertise to help customers advance their best ideas and deliver critical innovations in key markets such as electronics, transportation, construction, water, worker health and safety . For more information about the company, its businesses and its solutions, visit http://www.dupont.com. Investors can access the information included in the Investor Relations section of the website at investor.dupont.com.
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domain: chemistry


text:
How will the pandemic impact the way we think, work and interact?
COVID-19 forced most businesses into radical forms of agile working. With next to no warning, it came without a systematic change programme, training, or consultation. But, as many crises, positives can be taken from this scenario.
It has demonstrated that individuals, organisations and governments can turn on a dime if they need to. That attribute must be kept in the mind’s eye as we enter the next undetermined phase of 2020 and the coronavirus.
How exactly has this transition been possible without a change programme or proper planning? The answer to this question lies in neuroscience.
The brain’s primary purpose is to keep us physically and socially safe. It’s hardwired to aid self-preservation—anything unsafe harms our ability to transmit our genes to future generations.
From the day we are born, our brains identify what’s safe and what’s dangerous. Despite the need to challenge ourselves, we cling on to these instincts for life.
Looking back, the world before COVID-19 seems relatively simple. You’d wake up early, commute to work, join your colleagues in the office and share the same experiences. This existence brought social status, purpose and income.
Arguably, everything you need to live a content and purposeful life. This repetitive behaviour is programmed, forming deep habits.
This process helps to explain why some individuals are sceptical of change. It also sheds light on why organisations that seek to implement changes in behaviour across an entire workforce, often come into conflict with the collective’s desire to continue with the status quo.
The pandemic is a once-in-a-lifetime event. It has threatened the brain’s safety. When change like this happens so quickly, survival instincts kick-in. The new safe is working from home and, just as workers ingrained habits and patterns of thinking in the world before Coronavirus, they will develop new habits during this period.
People with little or no experience of working from home have had to become experts in remote working overnight. They’ve learned how to use collaboration tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams. They’ve had to think about the environments of their video calls.
They’ve had to think more consciously about how to work and communicate with colleagues and plan their own time. They’ve also had to broker new arrangements with family members or housemates to create a more harmonious workday.
However, parents with children whose virtual school work takes up bandwidth and city dwellers who have very little home space will have found this more challenging.
Back to the office?
Preparations are already underway to make offices safe as they get set to welcome back workers. New social distancing measures and more frequent cleaning programs are the order of the day to dispel any ‘back to work’ anxieties. But these steps may only go halfway to appeasing employees.
The daily commute will still be fraught with the risk of infection and social distancing will be impossible to maintain. Intent on keeping them safe, people’s brains will question the need to risk their safety after working from home effectively.
Health concerns aside, employees are developing new habits and patterns of thinking that are forming new neural connections in the brain.
The new normal includes waking up having a coffee and opening the laptop, it features noon walks, the participation in video calls, sharing screens, and not wasting hours of the day on crowded public transit.
Over time these new habits and thought patterns will become as hardwired as the old practices were, which will cause further resistance to a return to the old normal. Many people will struggle to embrace the old normal automatically because they are likely to be in tune with a new mental model of the world.
Even before the pandemic, the popularity in remote working was increasing. According to the Office of National Statistics, the number of UK workers who had moved into remote-working had increased by nearly a quarter of a million over a decade.
Furthermore, data for Poplus revealed remote working makes staff happier, with 55 percent of commuters in the UK reporting increased stress levels due to their commute. The pandemic is simply accelerating the inevitable.
Despite the challenges, this period in history will have shown forward-thinking leaders that home-working can play a significant role in their future workplace strategy. While it won’t suit everyone or every business function, it may serve as a starting point in the thought process.
CEO’s must determine why they need an office at all. Workers will be questioning it, so they must have the answers.
The benefits of switching to a home working model can reduce fixed office costs and energy-sapping commutes, create more time for work and socialising, cut carbon emissions and provide greater access to a skills pool unconstrained by geography.
However, forensic thinking is required to get to the nub of what offices offer organisations and how much they are prepared to invest in face-to-face office interaction now that we know the possibilities of working virtually.
Andrew Mawson is founder of AWA.
The Brain’s Journey To The New Normal Post-Coronavirus

domain: sociology


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June 16th, 2010 12:33 EST
Amy Winehouse's Dad Takes Away Her Awards
"Mitch Winehouse has revealed that he keeps Amy`s awards at his house because she does not take care of them.
The `Back To Black` singer has won a host of awards, including five Grammys and three Ivor Novellos since her rise to fame in 2003, but Mitch insisted if he does not look after them they will get damaged."
Most crackheads` homes have a minimalist look, it`s not that they favor the minimalist aesthetic or philosophy, it`s just that they will sell anything of value for a couple of rocks.
I`d be surprised if an Amy Winehouse gold record isn`t displayed in the crib of a drug dealer. Mitch did the right thing by snatching her awards and keeping them in his house.
Amy isn`t the most prolific recording artist, her penchant for drugs and booze has severely limited her output. By this time in her career she should have more than five Grammys.
Let`s hope that Amy will conquer her demons, and that she will release more material, and win more awards. Then Amy`s poor dad won`t have to worry about his daughter damaging her awards.
Follow Robert Paul Reyes on Twitter: http://twitter.com/robertpaulreyes

domain: celebrity


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Situated near Williamson County Regl Airport, the historical Comfort Suites Marion offers an indoor heated pool and a patio.
This hotel is located in a leisure area and 3.6km from Williamson County Regl Airport. A 30-minute walk to the center of Marion.
This hotel is conveniently based close to eateries and a mall.
A short drive from Williamson County airport.
There are 40 spacious rooms fitted with a dressing area, a separate toilet, a microwave, individual climate control and satellite TV. They are equipped with a fridge.
A hot buffet breakfast is served every morning. Cocktails can be savored in the cocktail bar.
Guests can use valet cleaning service and laundry and such facilities as free parking and a garage.
The on-site SPA facilities include whirlpool baths and a sauna. The hotel's activities include horse riding and golf.
Wireless internet is available in the entire hotel for free.
Free private parking is possible on site.


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Title: Sapna Ke Angoor Season 2
Genre: Drama | Romance
Release Date: 2021
Quality: 480p | 720p | 1080p
Audio: AAC 2.0CH
IMDb | Angoor
Sapna Ke Angoor, the popular web series that took the internet by storm, is back with its second season! This time around, the show promises to be bigger, better and even more entertaining than before. With an all-new cast, fresh storylines, and exciting twists and turns, Sapna Ke Angoor season 2 is sure to keep you hooked.
The show follows the life of Sapna, a young and ambitious woman who wants to make it big in the world of entertainment. Along with her friends and family, she faces numerous challenges and obstacles on her journey to success. From dealing with rivalries to handling personal relationships, Sapna must navigate through a maze of emotions and experiences.
What sets Sapna Ke Angoor apart is its realistic portrayal of the entertainment industry. It showcases the harsh realities of showbiz and the struggles that artists face in their pursuit of fame and success. The show also explores themes like love, friendship, betrayal, and more, making it a complete package.
If you haven’t watched the first season yet, now is the perfect time to catch up. And for those who are already fans of the show, get ready to binge-watch season 2! You can download and watch the series on various streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and more. So what are you waiting for? Get your popcorn ready and settle in for an exciting ride with Sapna Ke Angoor season 2.
- Sapna Sappu

domain: entertainment


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Audience volunteers tell important moments from their lives. The actors immediately dramatize these true stories through scenes, movement, music and song. Besides a monthly public show partnering with other community organizations, we work with cancer survivors, teen leaders, veterans, and many other communities whose stories need to be heard. We also teach improv workshops--contact us if interested!
Mission: Social healing through theatre
Address: 21 linwood street, arlington, ma 02474


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Album artwork and audio
|Sonic Adventure 2|
|Artists|| Jun Senoue (composer & guitar)|
Takeshi Taneda (bass)
Suitable Opponent is a boss theme from Sonic Adventure 2. It plays during several of the character vs. character battles: both fights between Tails and Eggman, and the fight between Knuckles and Rouge. However, both fights between Sonic and Shadow have their own boss themes ("Shut Up Faker!" and "For True Story" respectively), probably because they are the game's main characters.
It also plays as an event theme in the extended cutscene before the second fight between Tails and Eggman, and when Rouge tells Sonic and Knuckles that the ARK is on a crash-course with Earth.


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As soon as you arrive at Railway Station/Airport, You are transferred by our representatives to Manali. After breakfast, get set to explore this picturesque town. You start your Dalhousie sightseeing with Panchpula; adorned with natural water pools and monument built in the memory of Sardar Ajit Singh (Freedom Fighter), Panchpula can be listed as one of the topmost attractions of Dalhousie. Afterwards, offer sincere in in a popular temple of Dalhousie; Bhawani Mata Mandir Pathar. Have Dinner and stay overnight in the hotel. After all sightseeing check out from the hotel & proceed for Airport/Railway Station to board the return flight/train with Happy Memories.
After breakfast proceeds to Dharamshala for full day Sightseeing including Dal Lake-placed amidst lush greenery the lake also has a Shiva temple on its banks, St. John’s Church- an Anglican church built in 1852, it is dedicated to John The Baptist, Tibetan Monastery- for witnessing the worshipping rituals of the region and Bhagsu Nag Temple- an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Snake God, Nag and Lord Shiva. The rest of the day is at your own discretion. Partake in activities like shopping, trying out local delicacies and so on. After all sightseeing check out from the hotel & proceed for Airport/Railway Station to board the return flight/train with Happy Memories.


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I have a friend who makes THE best potato salad-and I have tasted a lot of potato salads in my day. It is amazing! Anyway, she wont give the recipe as it contains a secret ingredient but says she will confirm it (the secret ingredient) if guessed. I've been shy about guessing beyond the usual stuff and I need your help!!
PS this might sound odd, but I recently tried a potato salad from a deli that I swear had a slight flavor of liverwurst. This seemed to be a flavor combo that could work but I have been unable to find any recipes that include it-I've looked everywhere! Anyone heard of a potato salad recipe that uses liverwurst in the dressing???

domain: food


The TPG research group of the University of Genoa designed and installed a complete hybrid system emulator test rig equipped with a 100 kW recuperated micro gas turbine, a modular cathodic vessel located between recuperator outlet and combustor inlet, and an anodic circuit based on the coupling of a single stage ejector with an anodic vessel. The layout of the system was carefully designed considering the coupling between a planar SOFC stack and the 100 kW commercial machine installed at TPG laboratory. A 450 kW direct-fired pressurized hybrid system was studied to define the anodic side properties in terms of mass flow rates, pressures, and temperatures. In this work, this experimental facility is used to analyze the cathodic/anodic side interaction from fluid dynamic and thermal point of view. Even if the tests carried out with this rig were produced with an ejector based anodic recirculation, results shown here for the cathode/anode interaction tests can be considered general not dependent on recirculation technology. Attention is mainly focused on the cathode/anode differential pressure value in both design and off-design conditions. For this reason, a wide experimental campaign was carried out to measure the behavior of this property in different operative conditions with the objective to avoid pressure stress for the fuel cell stack. Furthermore, the interaction between the machine and the anodic circuit is studied and discussed in this work.
Scheda prodotto non validato
Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo
|Titolo:||Analysis of the Interaction Between Cathode and Anode Sides With a Hybrid System Emulator Test Rig|
|Data di pubblicazione:||2010|
|Appare nelle tipologie:||04.01 - Contributo in atti di convegno|


text:
Gone are the days of the post-holiday trip to Boots to have your camera films developed – that was always a fun ritual. Less enjoyable though was the inevitable disappointment as you sifted through your snaps, realising that none of them did justice to the stunning scenes you witnessed on your travels – but happily experience that has gone too. The digital camera is the traveller’s best friend – and at Explorer we’ve been drawing up a shortlist of the places we want to take this most artistic of companions.
- The Cornish coast: We could write a whole post on must-photograph spots in Cornwall but we’ve just about narrowed it down to a six-mile stretch of the South West Coast path: that between St Ives and Zennor. It’s a stunning walk, presenting camera-ready fields of lavender, ancient stone circles, and dramatic cliff tops overlooking basking seals and peacock-coloured seas. Celebrate your success with a pint of local ale in the welcoming Tinners Arms in Zennor.
- The London skyline at night: As you walk across Waterloo Bridge on a crisp winter’s evening, taking in the capital’s iconic shapes and structures, you’d be hard pressed to name a more beautiful city. Adjust your settings and capture St Paul’s, the London Eye, Big Ben, the leafy Embankment, the strings of lights looping along the South Bank… For an urban night-time shot, this surely has to be a prime location.
- Cinque Terre, Italy: As you feast your eyes on this rugged stretch of the Italian Riviera, you will salivate at the picture opportunities: the rainbow colours of the buildings – and the way they jostle for position as they cling to the cliff face which in turn sweeps down to the most vivid of blue seas. The food is pretty good too.
- Romance in Venice: A city unlike any other, Venice presents a magical photo frame at every turn. Take to its streets – both watery and paved – and record the faded grandeur, the haunting beauty and the graceful architecture.
- The Namib Desert: One of the most uninhabited places on Earth, this vast desert provides the most epic of subjects: sand dunes. Their sheer scale is awe-inspiring, and with the desert’s clean lines of sun and shadow, and contrasts of burnt orange sand and deep blue sky, it is a photographer’s dream.
- Icelandic waterfalls: There are so many breathtaking waterfalls in Iceland that you could spend your entire snapping away, sure that you’ve got a better shot each time (thank goodness for digital cameras). Head to Hraunfossar for pure beauty, Detifoss for enormity (but prepared to be drenched by the spray), Gulfoss for its bewildering staircase design and Seljalandsfoss for height. Should you tire of tumbling water, there’s plenty more to catch your eye: puffins, lunar landscapes, glaciers and frozen lakes.


Largest human gathering in history, Hindu festival highlights the religion's growth and influence
Manish Swarup, Associated Press
Imagine everyone in Manhattan walking to the tip of Wall Street at midnight to take a dip in the Hudson River.
That's how Robert Moses, a 63-year-old photographer living in Dublin, New Hampshire, described his experience at the 1989 Maha Kumbh Mela, the Hindu festival that attracts tens of millions of pilgrims to northern India every 12 years.
“We were walking in a river of people that was probably a double-lane highway wide,” he said. “All moving in one direction, barefoot, quietly, in the middle of the night, so tightly it would’ve been impossible to walk in the opposite direction.”
For Moses, a Jew who has embraced the Hindu way of life, the ritual bathing at Sangam — the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers — was nothing short of sublime.
“I have to say that it was surprising to me that it was a very powerful spiritual experience. I had this feeling that there was this flow of light, kind of a vertical flow of light, coming down.”
The 2013 Kumbh Mela, which lasts 55 days, is now at full tilt. A sprawling tent city blankets the flood plain near Allahabad as devotees gather to wash away the sins of past lives and free themselves from the karmic cycle of death and rebirth.
The size is beyond staggering, closer to unfathomable. Imagine 7.5 square miles, 99 parking lots, 3,600 buses, 14,000 policemen, 342 miles of water pipelines, 21 million gallons of drinking water, 42,500 toilets, 14 hospitals and an average of 10,000 people lost and found per week.
As for the ultimate figure: on Feb. 10, the festival’s most auspicious bathing day, an estimated 30 million people congregated, making it the largest human gathering in the history of the world.
As Kumbh Mela grows larger each cycle — roughly 100 million will participate in 2013 — so does the number of Hindus throughout the world, including in America.
When Moses attended 24 years ago, there were only a few hundred thousand Hindus in the U.S. That number now exceeds 1.5 million and may be closer to 3 million, according to the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.
With that growth comes increased influence in the business community, religious circles and national politics, as well as an evolving definition of what it means to be Hindu in America.
Gideons of the Gita
“In the morning I bathe my intellect in the stupendous and cosmogonal philosophy of the Bhagavad-Gita.” So said Henry David Thoreau more than 150 years ago.
Travelers in motels across the country can now follow Thoreau’s practice thanks to an organization called Motel Gita, which places the Hindu scripture in motel nightstands a la Gideons International.
The Gita's growing prevalence is a testament not only to Hindus' faith, but also to their business prowess.
Indian Americans own about two million hotel rooms in the U.S. — nearly half of the total — according to the book “Life Behind the Lobby.” Half of these owners are surnamed Patel, and 70 percent come from the western Indian state of Gujarat.
“Our mission is to place a million Bhagavad Gitas in the motels across the USA,” said Nisha Chopada, a director for Motel Gita in Florida. “Right now we are at 150,000.”
The Gita — and Hinduism — now have a prominent place on Capitol Hill as well. On Jan. 3, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) became the first Hindu member of Congress. She used the Bhagavad Gita for her swearing-in ceremony.
Gabbard, who was born in American Samoa, adopted Hinduism in her teens. There is no formal "conversion" process for Hinduism, a faith largely void of dogma.
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text:
Based on the world record nomination from Asia Records Institute (ASRI) and Decision No. WK/USA.INDIA/688/2021/No.144, World Records Union (WorldKings) officially declared Tibetan Plateau as the World's largest and highest plateau on May 01, 2021.
It stretches approximately 1,000 kilometres north to south and 2,500 kilometres east to west. It is often referred to as "the Roof of the World" or the world's highest and largest plateau above sea level, with an area of 2,500,000 square kilometres (about 4 times larger than the size of Texas or France).
The plateau ‘s formation is a result of a continental collision or orogeny along the convergent boundary between the Indo-Australian Plate and the Eurasian Plate, about 50 million years ago, and this process is still ongoing.The Tibetan Plateau contains the headwaters of the drainage basins of most of the streams in surrounding regions.
Its tens of thousands of glaciers and other geographical and ecological features serve as a "water tower" storing water and maintaining flow. It is sometimes termed the Third Pole because its ice fields contain the largest reserve of fresh water outside the polar regions.
The area covers an area of 83,000 square kilometers at an average height of 4,800 meters above sea level, stretching east-west between the Tang Coh and Kunlun mountains in the Tibetan border area, Qinghai province and northwestern Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China.
According to Wikipedia


text:
|Unlock Forum posting with Annual Membership.|
If you have any books by Reginald Hill on your shelf (and have a deal?) please PM me.
9/29: I've found a few, but am still looking if you have any books by Hill.
Last Edited on: 9/29/08 4:30 PM ET - Total times edited: 1

domain: hobby


MP Bob Neill echoes Theresa May’s stance on election TV debates, saying they make ‘no difference’
PUBLISHED: 13:28 02 May 2017 | UPDATED: 13:28 02 May 2017
The Bromley and Chislehurst MP has faced some opposition from Labour leader Angela Wilkins who claims May is missing the opportunity to get into “every living room”
Bromley and Chislehurst MP Bob Neill has stated he believes TV debates will make ‘no difference’ to who is elected in June’s general election.
Last week prime minister Theresa May ruled out appearing in any live TV debates during the general election campaign, with a Conservative party spokesperson stating there is no need for the public to see May face off against Jeremy Corbyn.
The spokesperson said: “The choice at this election is already clear: strong and stable leadership in the national interest with Theresa May and the Conservatives, or weak and unstable coalition government led by Jeremy Corbyn.”
During previous general election campaigns, BBC and ITV have hosted live TV debates with all the major candidates.
Echoing the party’s stance on the debates, MP Bob Neill, said: “I don’t think it’ll make the slightest bit of differnece. The public will weigh up the parties’ manifestos and pick who they think is the best candidate regardless.
“I don’t think TV debates do any harm, but they don’t make a difference either. If they public have concerns, they can raise them with their elected MP afterwards.”
However, Bromley Labour leader, Angela Wilkins, has stated she doesn’t understand why Theresa May wouldn’t want to get into “every living room in the country”.
She said: “Televised election debates and the rows about which leaders will and will not take part have become part of every general election jamboree – it wouldn’t surprise me if there was more media coverage given to this than the debates themselves.
“What I don’t understand though is why Theresa May thinks it’s acceptable to demand a stronger mandate from voters and yet isn’t prepared to put herself up for challenge and scrutiny in a leaders debate.
“These debates have their limitations, but she can’t knock on everyone’s door during the campaign – this way she could get into every household. Clearly she’s worried she’d make a gaff or a bad impression, or that people might see Corbyn as a more genuine alternative prime minister.
“Mind you, I don’t accept her reasons for calling the election either – she just seems to want to shore up her own position and to avoid being held to account by either opposition MPs or the public.”
Theresa May called a snap general election last month, giving just five weeks to campaign. It will take place on June 8.
If you value what this story gives you, please consider supporting the Bromley Times. Click the link in the orange box above for details.


This Object is on display in the Features Section of Places Gallery
Rainwater heads collected rainwater from the roofs of many city buildings. This examplewas taken from an old brick house of about 1720 situated between Marlborough Street and Eugene Street, demolished in about 1908. The hopper that fed water into a down pipe is decorated with a finely moulded cherub's head. It's designed to be seen from ground level by being angled sharply forward and down. The quality of this piece and its visual attractiveness are important evidence of the wealth available in Bristol in the early part of the 1700s, which was spent on the relatively minor exterior details of a new town house.Few of this quality survive and many were replaced by plain cast-iron versions.


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Teen suicides spiked in the month following the release of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, with the association restricted to boys. (Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry)
Suicide attempts by poisoning are rising among teenagers in the U.S. -- particularly among girls. (Journal of Pediatrics)
The FDA announced sleeping pills like zolpidem (Ambien) and eszopiclone (Lunesta) will now carry a black box warning about dangerous side effects, such as sleep driving. (MedPage Today)
Twenty genes were identified as being associated with bipolar disorder. "By discovering new genes associated with bipolar disorder and demonstrating their overlap with genes found in other psychiatric disorders, we bring ourselves closer to finding the true genetic underpinnings of the disease and improving patient outcomes," said Eli Stahl, PhD, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. (Nature Genetics)
Compared to non-pregnant women with depressive symptoms, pregnant women with depressive symptoms were less likely to report receiving any mental health treatment -- 57% versus 49%, respectively. (Psychiatric Services)
Is LATE the newest form of dementia? (MedPage Today)
Childhood obesity may be an independent risk factor for depression and anxiety, according to new research presented at the European Congress on Obesity. "The next steps are to understand the implications of their co-occurrence and how to best intervene to promote good health," said co-lead author Praveetha Patalay, PhD, of University College London.
People with major depression might have decreased striatal dopamine transporter expression reflecting lower dopamine signaling. (JAMA Psychiatry)
The FDA rejected Heron Therapeutics' new drug application for their postoperative pain therapy HTX-011 -- an extended-release formulation of local anesthetic bupivacaine.
The U.K. Health Secretary announced all opioids in the U.K. will now carry addiction warning labels. (BBC)

domain: psychology


text:
Rent a holiday home with swimming pool in Crillon le Brave.
Crillon-le-Brave (Vaucluse) is known as one of the most beautiful villages near the Mont Ventoux. It is an excellent starting point for various excursions. If you want to rent this holiday home in Crillon le Brave, you can count that it is located at an altitude of 395 meters, a walk to the local bakery is a difficult climb :)
Crillon-le-Brave is also known for the magnificent 5* hotel Crillon le Brave. In 2017, the Pariente family commissioned the decorator Charles Zana to give the hotel a new style. You can go to the gastronomic restaurant La Madeleine or to the bistro La Table du Ventoux, by appointment. The Spa des Ecuries works with well-known Bamford products. You may know the Hotel Lou Pinet (St Tropez) and Le Coucou (Méribel)? These also belong to the Pariente Houses.
In 2015, Crillon-le-Brave had 475 inhabitants. In and around the village there are many holiday homes of foreign owners. If necessary, consult the website, there is an overview of useful telephone numbers. It is therefore a small town. Fortunately, Bédoin is 5 km away and Caromb 6 km away, there you can go to many more traders.
Crillon Le Brave is 750 meters from the holiday home.
The morning market is on Saturday from 8am to 12pm with local products. From August to September there is an additional night market on Thursdays from 5pm to 10pm with demonstrations and tastings of local creations and products. From the square in front of the Town Hall you have an immense view. Do not miss a walk in the typical "caladées streets", it really is a very beautiful village!
Around the town hall you will notice the many beautifully restored houses. Many of these houses belong to the Hôtel de Crillon le Brave, which has managed to preserve the authenticity and charm of the Provençal region.
In this square there is a Romanesque church, entirely built in stone. Inside you have a carved wooden altarpiece attributed to Bernus.
From the Place de l'Eglise you can reach the medieval castle. However, this is a private property and not open to visitors. But from the outside you can admire the facades to which recent ramparts have been added.
Crillon is highly developed thanks to tourism. Many secondary villas are rented in season. In summer, the population increases enormously.


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1. This reference under the I.T. Act, 1961, raises a question about allowance of a claim for losses in trade. A public company called 'Mettur Chemicals' was originally being managed by a partnership firm of Calcutta, whom we will call 'Dayaram Firm', for short. There was a regular managing agency agreement for a period of years between the Dayaram Firm and Mettur Chemicals. While that agreement was still to go for some time yet, the Dayaram Firm was willing to give up its managing agency in favour of the assessee, a private company in Tiruchirapalli. The assessee agreed to assume the managing agency of Mettur Chemicals on the terms suggested by the Dayaram Firm. An agreement in writing was then entered into, under which the Dayaram Firm resigned its managing agency, and the assessee stepped in an the next managing agent of Mettur Chemicials for a fresh term of years. The consideration for the agreement between the assessee and the Dayaram Firm was that the assessee should pay to the Dayaram Firm one-eighth of the managing agency commission which it would be receiving every year from Mettur Chemicals. This sharing agreement was duly given effect to by the assessee. Every year, soon after the assessee got its managing agency commission from Mettur Chemicals, it would remit one-eighth part thereof to the Dayaram Firm at Calcutta. This went on systematically year after year.
2. There is a special provision in the income-tax statute which allows a deduction to a managing agent who parts with either the whole or a share in the managing agency remuneration to a third party although, strictly speaking, the sharing of the managing agency commission is only an appropriation out of income and not a proper charge against it. Such a provision has been there is the taxing statue for more than 40 years now. In the present I.T. Act, 1961, the enabling provisions is s. 39. It lays down certain requirements as so many conditions to be fulfilled for the grant of the deduction.
3. In the present case, all the statutory conditions were found to have been fulfilled. The ITO was satisfied about the existence of the agreement between the assessee and the Dayaram Firm, the fixing of the latter's share as one-eighth and other requirements. Year after year, the assessee was claiming the payment made by it to the Dayaram Firm as a deduction in the computation of its taxable income. On the other side of the sharing, the Dayaram Firm was also returning the one-eighth share received by it from the assessee year after year as part of its assessable income. This was the was everything had gone on despit certain changes in the constitution of the Dayaram Firm.
4. In the assessments for 1962-63 and 1963-64, however, the ITO declined to apply section 39 of the I.T. Act, 1961. He refused to exclude one-eighth share of commission from the assessee's taxable income, but brought to tax the entire managing agency remuneration, without any deduction. The reason was not that he assessee had not paid the one-eighth share to the Dayaram Firm in these two years, but that the payment cannot be treated as one made strictly in terms of the sharing agreement dated August 26, 1940. The ITO had come to know, and had recorded a finding, that over the years the Dayaram Firm had undergone many changes in its constitution. He was informed that in the last two years, presently under consideration, the Dayaram Firm did not have in its membership any of the original partner with whom the assessee had contracted for the sharing of the managing agency commission. According to the ITO, the changes in the Dayaram Firm not only altered that firm beyond all recognition, but the end result of the successive changes brought into being what, under partnership law, was a new firm altogether, having nothing whatever to do with the one with whom the assessee had originally contracted. The officer thus justified his non-application of s. 39 on the ground that the assessee had parted with a share in the managing agency remuneration to a concern which was an utter stranger to the sharing agreement of August 26, 1940.
5. The assessee took up these assessments on appeal. Before the Tribunal the assessee did not very much urge for the exclusion of the one-eighth share from its assessment as one to which s. 39 applied. The assessee put forward the claim on a different ground. The assessee represented that whatever might be the legal position of changes in the constitution of the firm of Dayaram, the assessee, for its part, was quite unaware of the changes in that firm's personnel. It was further submitted that the assessee was going on making payments of one-eighth share of the managing agency remuneration bona fide to the firm as such. What is more, the assessee's remittances were also being accepted, in the same way, at the other end. If under the technicalities of partnership law the last two payments to Dayarams were to be construed as payments to a non-contracting firm, still according to the assessee, the fact remained that the money had gone out from the coffers of the assessee. In other words, the assessee's payments had been made either under ignorance or under a mistake. What is more, the present partners of Dayaram had appropriated the payments to themselves without any question. Their stand was that they were entitled to the share even under the agreement dated August 26, 1940. It was in these circumstances that the assessee claimed the outgoings as trading losses, contending that they should be allowed in the computation of its taxable income from business.
6. The Tribunal accepted these submissions and ordered that the one-eighth share of the managing agency commission paid out by the assessee to Dayarams as at present constituted must be regarded as payments made under a bona fide mistake, and must be allowed as business losses.
7. This decision of the Tribunal is now challenged in the present reference as erroneous in point of law. Two questions arise. One is whether the payments represent trading losses. The other is whether they are revenue losses or capital losses.
8. The principle on which trading losses can claim deduction had not so far been incorporated in the income-tax statute. What is business expenditure and which business expenditure can be deducted are all laid down by the Act. Set off of losses and carry forward of losses are also governed by express provisions in the Act. But how itemized losses in a business are to be dealt with for income-tax purposes has not been laid down by the Legislature. The law relating to allowance of trading loss is, as yet, purely judge made law. The leading case is strong & Co. of Romsey Ltd. v. Woodifield  5 TC 215 (HL). This English case laid down that a loss, in order to be allowed for income-tax purposes, must be shown to be one incidental to the taxpayer's business. Another way of saying the same thing is that the loss must be incurred by the taxpayer is his character as a trader, and not in any other capacity. In the case of Strong & Co. of Romsey Ltd. v. Woodifield, the Chimney in an inn fell on a lodger and the innkeeper had to shell out damages to the injured person. Having paid the money, the innkeeper claimed it as a trading loss. The court disallowed the claim, holding that the loss was not incidental to his trade of innkeeping and the damages had to be paid by him only as a property owner. The principle laid down by this decision has been followed in our country. In a case which arose under the Indian I.T. Act, 1922, Annamalai Chettiar v. CIT : 67ITR584(Mad) , the principle obtains, perhaps, the most succinct expression, as under (p.585) :
'The term 'business losses' does not find specific mention in this section. But, though they fall outside the purview of any of the clauses of sub-section (2) of section 10, they are allowable on ordinary commercial principles of computing profits, provided the losses are of a non-capital nature and they are not merely connected with the trade but are really incidental to the trade itself.'
9. The question is the present case, therefore, is whether the payment by the assessee of one-eighth share of the managing agency commission either out of ignorance or out of mistake or out of negligence can be regarded as a loss incidental to the assessee's business.
10. The Department's learned counsel, Mr. Jayaraman, urged that the decision of the Tribunal is erroneous in point of law. He submitted that while the parting of the money, for good, by the assessee might be regarded as a loss, it cannot be regarded as a loss incidental to the trade.
11. We do not accept this contention as well founded. The Tribunal in this case had recorded a finding that the payment made by the assessee to the Dayaram Firm was the result of a genuine mistake. The kind of changes which had taken place in the Dayaram Firm were not known to the assessee. Changes in partership personnel are often kept secret, and in any case they are not published. Only 'insiders' have up-to-date knowledge of these things. No doubt, the ITO came to know about the altered constitution of the firm. But that was because the I.T. Dept. has powerful antenna with which to spot out information from every nook and corner. The assessee was not so endowed, and was going on making payments bona fide, year after year to the same firm at the same address. What is more the payments were being received and acknowledged without question at the receiving end. This was the case even with the last two payments now under consideration. In these events, the Tribunal, in our judgment, was not unjustified in holding that the payments made by the assessee were under a genuine and bona fide mistake. The most efficient business organisation in the world are apt to commit mistakes owing to information gaps. The Tribunal, in our opinion was, therefore, justified in regarding these payments under mistake as incidental to the assessee's business.
12. Mr. Jayaraman argued that a mistake, as such, in not a failing peculiar to business. To err is human, he said, both in trade and in other activities. Hence, he argued, the assessee's payments under mistake cannot be held to be incidental to business.
13. We do not think we must judge the error involved in this case merely as a human failing. For, it has peculiarly business orientations. Here is a case where the Dayaram Firm has been functioning for long as a managing agent, and it yielded place to the assessee on the Commission. The assessee dealt with this commercial deal as an arm's length transaction between one concern and another. The assessee took the Dayaram Firm as an entity, and implemented the sharing agreement, in the ordinary course of business, without going into legal technicalities. For a ripened lawyer, a firm may be an abstraction, but businessmen do not go about treating commercial firms in this fashion. Hence it is that the assessee had kept on sending the share of managing agency remuneration to the Dayaram Firm which it had known as an entity for upwards of 20 years. The mistake here might not have been committed by a hardheaded lawyer who is steeped in Lindley, but it can well be attributed to business dealings as incidental to trade.
14. Mr. Jayaraman then urged that the loss must be disallowed as capital loss. We agree, on principle, that all losses incidental to trade cannot be allowed as a deduction, and only revenue losses are so entitled. There are many cases in the books which bring out a similar distinction in the realm of business expenditure, between revenue expenditure and capital expenditure. There is, for instance the well known case of Atherton v. British Insulated and Helsby Cables Ltd.  10 TC 155 (HL) which brings out of distinction by laying down that capital expenditure is that which ordinarily, results in enduring benefit to the taxpayer's trade. We do not, however, think that this doctrine of Viscount Cave in Altherton v. British Insulated and Helsby Cables Ltd. can be applied to determine the capital character of a loss. For, while capital expenditure begets an asset of a tangible nature or begets an advantage of an intangible character, a loss begets nothing, whether it is capital loss or revenue loss. We sometimes refer to a 'dead' loss, which aptly brings out the emptiness which a loss leaves behind. In one sense, all losses of a businessman are capital losses. But this is only in the sense that all losses eat into a trader's capital, in much the reverse way that all profits augment his capital. It must still be necessary to make a sophisticated distinction between a revenue loss and a capital loss for purposes of arriving at a trader's net profit. This is because nothing which smacks of a capital element can go into the reckoning of income. If it does that would distort the profit position, for tax purposes as much as for the taxpayer's own personal accounting.
15. What then must be the criteria for our distinguishing between a capital loss and a revenue loss. One test suggests itself to us readily, especially in the context of the present case. We begin with the factual finding that the loss in this case had occurred because of a mistake. To see whether the loss is on capital account or revenue account, it would we think, be proper to see what the position would have been if there had been no mistake and the payment had gone home to the right party in accordance with the binding contract. We have no doubt that if the payment had been aright, the outgoing would be deductible. The mistake might make the payment a dead loss, instead of its being in item of expenditure, but its place in the revenue account cannot be gainsaid; this is because it fails to come out as an item of legitimate business expenditure at precisely the same point where it might have succeeded as such an item.
16. We would round up the discussion with one more aspect. Right from the days of Curtis v. J. & G. Oldfield Ltd.  9 TC 319 (KB), we have been quite familiar with the position that embezzlement by an employee results in a trading loss, allowable as such in the income-tax assessment of the employer who carries on and has to carry on business with the help of of the servants and staff. Curtis v. J. & G. Oldfield Ltd. has been applied in our country in innummerable decisions notable amongst them being two Supreme Court cases, Badridas Daga's case : 34ITR10(SC) and Nainiatal Bank's case : 55ITR707(SC) . It would, however, be a mistake to suppose that only loss due to embezzlement or theft, or loss of some other kind akin to these occurrences, would qualify for allowance under the I.T. Act. It would really depend on the kind of trade and the kind of loss which we have before us. In the case of loss of money by embezzlement in a banking or money-leading business, it is loss of a stock-in-trade and hence it is readily recognizable as a revenue loss. Other kinds of loss in other business might not be as easy to place. But even they only call for an understanding of the nature of the trade and the nature of the loss to lead to the proper conclusion. So far as cases of the present kind are concerned, losses which arise owning to a mistake committed by a business in the course of his transacting business, or owing to a mistake of his servants or agents in the course of their employment must be regarded as an allowable business loss, since it would be very much incidental to the business. No other conclusion would be reasonable. A bad business judgment leading to loss in business cannot be visited with refusal to grant deduction in the computation for tax purposes. For income-tax is not a tax on business inefficient any more than it is a tax on business efficiency. To get an allowance for such a loss, however, it must be shown that the loss had arisen in the kind of transaction which, if it had come out aright, would have qualified the outgoing for a deduction as an item of revenue expenditure. In this case, as we earlier observed, this test is fulfilled.
17. The Tribunal's approach to this aspect of the question was also more or less the same. Their conclusion was as follows :
'We, therefore, hold that these payments, had they been made to the right party, could have had to be taken into account in arriving at the profits of the assessee from the business of managing agency. The fact that they were paid over to a wrong party would only mean that it is a revenue loss, incidental to the business, which the assessee has sustained.'
18. The question as sent up by the Tribunal in this reference is couched in the following form :
'Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the share of commission paid to firm D-6, represented a loss incidental to business and is a business expenditure ?'
19. The reference to expenditure appearing in the question, however, is wrong. For, as we earlier indicated, business expenditure is one thing and business loss is quite another. Having regard to the nature of the controversy controversy between the parties right through, we reframe the question as follows :
'Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the share of commission paid to firm D-6, represented a loss incidental to business and is a revenue loss ?'
20. Our answer to the question, as reframed, is in the affirmative and against the Revenue.
21. This answer must ordinarily conclude the whole of the reference in this case. However, we briefly touch upon certain other question of law which has been referred to us in this stated case. One of them is as follows :
'Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the payment of share of commission to the firm D-6 (M/s. Dayaram and Company) to whom the assessee is not liable to pay, is a business expenditure to be allowed ?'
22. The answer to this question is quite obvious. As we earlier indicated, the sharing of a managing agency commission is not an item of expenditure of the managing agent who pays the share to the third party sharer. It is not an outgoing; it is not a charge against profits. It is only an application or appropriation out of the managing agency commission after it is earned by the managing agent. The amount paid out is deductible nevertheless, provisions relating to allowance of business expenditure. In this case, as the ground that it is an item of business expenditure or even that it is special provided for under s. 39 but on the ground that it is an allowable business loss.
23. Another question propounded in this case is :
'Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Appellant Tribunal was right in holding that the provisions of section 39 will not have any application to the payment of share of commission ?'
24. The answer to this question is already plain to see. As we earlier indicated, the assessee had not chosen to argue for the allowance of the amount as being qualified for deduction under s. 39. The assessee had preferred to rest its claim on the basis that it is an item of revenue loss in its business. That being so, there is no question of applying s. 39 to this kind of consideration of the deduction claimed.
25. Yet another question for our opinion in this reference is :
'Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Appellate Tribunal was right in holding that the payment of share of commission is not a capital expenditure and is also not an application of profits after they were earned ?'
26. The first part of the question refers to the Tribunal's determination that payment by the assessee of one-eighth of the managing agency commission is not capital expenditure. In our judgment, the controversy as to capital or revenue expenditure can hardly can hardly arise in this case, because the payment is not properly considered as an item of expenditure at all. The second part of the question does arise on the facts, because the assessee parted with the one-eighth share of the meaninging agency remuneration only after earning it. But this answer does not comprehend the entire controversy in the case. Such a comprehensive answer, as respect the first question, we have discussed in the earlier paragraphs of this judgment.
27. In the result, we answer this reference in the assessee's favour and against the Revenue. The assessee is entitled to its costs. Counsel's fee Rs. 500 (one set.)

domain: finance